On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 5:47 PM, ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Sir

The Benin Atlantic Bank received your file and want to check your identity before continuing processus. kindly sent us the picture of your ID card so that we verify your identity for the rest of the process. Thank you waiting to hear from you.

atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Thank you Madam We accused receipt of your mail, we would like to know if you have a bank account 2016-05-02 15:30 GMT+01:00 ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN



atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Hello dear The Benin Atlantic Bank will come by this email to inform you that your request for a loan amount of 500,000 EDA has been accepted and validated by the Bank' s board of directors. In connection with the transfer of your loan, the bank suggests you to transfer your loan by WESTERN UNION, waiting to open an account in which you have to repay the amount of 4600.67 AED per month from 1 June 2016. However, before the transfer takes place the Bank' s administrative Board recommend paying the transfer fee which is equivalent to the sum 3500 AED and this within 24 hours. Thank you coordialement On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 3:49 AM, ATLANTIQUE BANK BENINwrote:



atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Dear Madam We are not amused if spirited us within 24 hours if you do not make the payment we' ll just cancel your loan because we have enough pending request. thank you On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 1:45 PM, ATLANTIQUE BANK BENINwrote:



atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Your file will be rejected

2016-05-03 13:23 GMT+01:00 ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN



atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Hello Madam The bank has already made available to the 500000 AED near Madame Clara, but for the rest of the transfer code you need to pay the transfer fee. The Banque Atlantique Benin thank you On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 3:02 PM, ATLANTIQUE BANK BENINwrote:



> > >

> > > > Madam I have dinner yesterday with the Director of my Bank to him

> > > > explaining that I had not informed you of the transfer fee and that is

> > > > why

> > > > you have refuse to pay, but it my understood reason for which it my

> > > > posted

> > > > your transfer receipt 2016-05-04 11:42 GMT+01:00 Clara BRUINDER < clarabruinder@gmail.com > :> > >> > > > Madam I have dinner yesterday with the Director of my Bank to him> > > > explaining that I had not informed you of the transfer fee and that is> > > > why> > > > you have refuse to pay, but it my understood reason for which it my> > > > posted> > > > your transfer receipt

> >

> > > I ask you to make me a second time trust, you have my word 2016-05-04 11:44 GMT+01:00 Clara BRUINDER < clarabruinder@gmail.com > :> >> > > I ask you to make me a second time trust, you have my word

atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Hello Madam Please kindly excuse us for the late reply, it' s because we were really busy. could you please explain your last post? coordialement 2016-05-05 0:15 GMT+01:00 ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN



>

> > Hello Dear Mrs.

> > I' m still waiting to hear from you 2016-05-06 10:59 GMT+01:00 Clara BRUINDER < clarabruinder@gmail.com > :> > Hello Dear Mrs.> > I' m still waiting to hear from you 2016-05-08 19:50 UTC+01:00, Clara BRUINDER < clarabruinder@gmail.com > :

> Good evening Madam

> I just send you the certificate of cancellation of your loan. If you want

> more loan please signed this certificate so that we could set aside your

> loan.

> Thank you

atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Hello Madam Be sure it' s been several days that we were more your news, well you want to let us know if we can set aside your transfer because the Bank to several other customers to satisfied On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 12:44 PM, ATLANTIQUE BANK BENINwrote:

2016-05-11 13:18 GMT+01:00 ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Go to internet and type Atlantic Bank Benin you will have all the information on our delivery. Have you ask information that we were unable to the given? We have nothing for you require, then Madam receive our greeting. From: ATLANTIQUE BANK BENIN atlantiquebankbenin90@gmail.com >

Date: Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:40 PM

Subject: Re: CONFIRMATION





Here is our document permissions Clara BRUINDER clarabruinder@gmail.com >

Date: Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:26 PM

Subject: Re: CONFIRMATION





Good evening Madam

As usual you still have no confidence in me or my Bank, this is not

your fault, I don' t never took you money illegally, I have huge

financial resource so it is not with 255 AED I' ll enrich me, you me do

confidence in seeking my services but if you feel good starting then

goodbye. From:Date: Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:26 PMSubject: Re: CONFIRMATIONGood evening MadamAs usual you still have no confidence in me or my Bank, this is notyour fault, I don' t never took you money illegally, I have hugefinancial resource so it is not with 255 AED I' ll enrich me, you me doconfidence in seeking my services but if you feel good starting thengoodbye. 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....
 

         

                     ,  ,    ,       ,   .
Robert Almonte, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas, has resigned in the face of allegations that he misused his office.

Almonte, who has run the federal law enforcement agency for the San Antonio-based district that stretches to El Paso since 2010, opted to quit, the Justice Department said. The department refused to release any other details.
SAN ANTONIO  A U.S. Army retiree accused of soliciting a 14-year-old girl for sex was booked into the Bexar County Jail on Wednesday.

Roque Imiola Luna, 34, was taken into custody around 4:30 p.m. and charged with online solicitation of a minor, according to jail records.
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A woman is accused of beating a woman repeatedly as her husband allegedly held her down in front of witnesses last month during a confrontation at a bar near downtown.

Valerie Hernandez, 26, and Daniel Rekks Esquivel-Carreon, 25, each face a charge of aggravated assault causing seriously bodily injury to a 26-year-old woman, according to their arrest warrant affidavits.

The two were at the Sin City Bar, 820 San Pedro, when Hernandez was approached by a woman with whom she had been feuding for some time, investigators said.

The woman told police she approached Hernandez only wanting to talk, but Hernandez and her husband said the woman pulled Hernandezs hair, according to the warrants.

As they began arguing, several witnesses said they heard cussing and attempted to stop the fight from breaking out, having recognized them as regulars at the bar, investigators said.

A bartender was able to stop one woman identified as Erika, but was unable to stop the unspecified group of others who were with the married couple. The group then began hitting and kicking the woman who approached Hernandez.

Another man working in the back told police he and a few others were attempting to break them up, but they were stopped by Esquivel-Carreon. He warned them not to get involved while standing in an aggressive stance, according to the affidavit.

Esquivel-Carreon then held the woman down on the ground as his wife Hernandez and others, who were not identified in the affidavits, continued hitting and kicking her, police said.

When officers arrived, they said the womans injuries included a swollen and shut right eye, lacerations and bleeding around her left eye, as well as swollen and red lips.

The woman was sent to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where she had to have a metal plate surgically inserted to repair the injury and was diagnosed with a fractured orbital floor bone to her right eye socket.

When the couple was interviewed by detectives May 6, Hernandez said in her mind she was defending herself, but that she may have crossed the line by continuing to hit and kick the woman as she was down.

Investigators noted that their statements on the night of the attack were not consistent with that of witnesses.

Valerie Hernandez had been released Wednesday from the Bexar County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond while her husband was still in jail. His bail is set at $50,000.

jbeltran@express-news.net
Living in San Francisco in the early 1960s, Loretta Joan Selinger Leah Acosta was imbued with the free-spirited sensibility of the time.

Later raising her six children with the same outlook, Acosta taught them to be open-minded, and respectful of other people in general, and to be myself, be unique, her daughter Elyse Druck said.

Introspective herself, Acosta was always trying to be the best person she could be, her daughter Melissa Drexler added.

Acosta, 72, died unexpectedly of heart failure Saturday.

More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday

Enduring a traumatic childhood, Acosta was emancipated at 16, attending secretarial school after graduating from high school.

Supporting herself in San Francisco, she met her future husband, a young Marine, on a double date. The couple married in 1962, just a few months after meeting.

More Information Loretta Joan Selinger "Leah" Acosta Born: Dec. 9, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: May 7, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents Joseph Xavier Von Selinger and Frieda Vivian Hoffbauer. Survived by: Husband Antonio Acosta; daughters Maria Valle and son-in-law Michael, Melissa Drexler and son-in-law Mark, Elizabeth Acosta and son-in-law Omad Moultry, Elyse Druck and son-in-law Marc; sons Anthony Acosta and daughter-in-law Mary, Alex Acosta and daughter-in-law Jessica Gonzales; 20 grandchildren; one great-grandaughter; and three siblings. Services: Celebration of life from 6-10 p.m. Sunday at the Japanese Tea Garden, 3853 N. St. Mary's St., in Brackenridge Park. R.S.V.P. by texting Melissa at 512-662-5644. See More Collapse

Traveling to San Antonio to stay with her husbands family just before he was sent overseas on assignment, Acosta immersed herself in his large Mexican-American family, learning Spanish and helping with the younger children.

Once her husband returned, the couple moved into their own home and started trying to start their own family.

All she ever wanted was to have children, Druck said. But my mom had a lot of trouble getting pregnant.

After a few miscarriages and a still birth, Acosta was ready to give up and join the Peace Corps.

She got as far as taking a physical before being rejected.

They told her she was pregnant, Drexler said. Acosta had three children in the next four years, later having three more after a 10-year gap.

My mom was still a hippie, Drexler said. While all the other little kids were outside, we were inside listening to Joan Baez and Simon and Garfunkel, doing yoga with jasmine incense burning.

Notorious for being a horrible cook, Acosta was known to open a variety of canned food, dump it all into a pot and call it Hungarian goulash, Drexler said. We ate out a lot  Hung Fongs, Panchos, and Lubys; those were our three staples.

Striving to help others whenever possible, Acosta and her husband opened their home to anyone in need, including hitchhikers and their childrens friends.

She was the champion of the underdog, Drexler said.

Returning to school when her youngest child was 7, Acosta studied nursing at San Antonio College, graduating in the late 1970s and working nights while her husband, who had medically retired after a work accident, became a house husband.

She never minded being different  was very comfortable being herself, Drexler said.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
Cambridge Holdings Inc., a Dallas developer that focuses on building medical complexes, is planning to build a specialized cancer treatment center on a 6.9-acre wooded lot in the Medical Center area.

The roughly 40,000 square-foot center is expected to break ground this summer, said Leslie DeShazer, Cambridges executive vice president and chief marketing officer, in an email. She declined to provide more details at this time, such as what type of cancers it will treat.
Multiple sources are reporting that a 54-year-old man was killed when he was buried under the weight of a garbage truck and its contents when the vehicle tipped over at a Rockford, Illinois landfill.

Details of the Fatal Landfill Accident

Gonzalo Trevino Sr. died on Thursday at the Winnebago Landfill when he was crushed under an overturned garbage truck. According to authorities, the garbage truck was carrying about 80,000 pound of building debris like, concrete, steel, and wood.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the accident, but the Winnebago County coroner says that it is likely that Trevino Sr. was killed due to blunt force trauma to both the abdomen and the chest.

Fire Chief Alan Carlson, from New Milford, stated that Trevino was unloading another garbage truck when the load from the second garbage truck shifted, causing the vehicle to tip over.

Important Information about On-the-Job Accidents

According to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

A total of 4,679 workers who were killed on-the-job in 2014.

789 Hispanic or Latino workers were killed in on-the-job accidents in 2014.

On average, there were about 13 on-the-job fatalities every day in the United States.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Posted on 05/12/2016, 9:00 am, by mySteinbach

The Wildfire Program of Manitoba Sustainable Development advises that while weather conditions have improved, there was little rain in the eastern region over the last 24 hours. South winds are expected to continue to affect fire suppression efforts.

Eastern Region

The wildfire northeast of Caddy Lake on the Manitoba/Ontario border has increased to approximately 5,800 hectares (ha). High winds caused the fire to grow to the north yesterday. Ontario continues to lead operations to control this fire.

Late yesterday afternoon, the Minnesota government provided air support to protect hydro lines near Kenora. Two BAE-146 jets from Bemidji made two flights each to drop fire retardant. Each plane carries 3,000 gallons of fire retardant per drop. Rail lines in the area were protected by fire and railway crews.

The east shore of Caddy Lake in the Whiteshell Provincial Park is closed until further notice and evacuation orders remain in effect.

PR 312 remains closed.

The Beresford Lake fire has increased to approximately 73,000 ha. Sprinkler protection continues on cabins in the area and water bombers are being used to hold fire lines. Breaks in the weather are expected to support fire crews today.

Fire came within one kilometre of the south-east corner of Wallace Lake. Sprinklers have been installed on remote cottages at Craven and Carroll lakes.

An evacuation order remains in effect for Wallace Lake, which affects 61 cottages and one lodge. Officials are monitoring conditions at Long Lake closely.

The mandatory evacuation of the Beresford cottage subdivision in the Nopiming Provincial Park continues. The Beresford and Wallace lake campgrounds are closed until wildfire conditions improve.

A water bomber group, including two CL-215 aircraft and one bird dog aircraft, from the Northwest Territories has joined the Manitoba suppression efforts.

Approximately 100 officials are working to protect cabins and property in the areas. Only minor damage to a small number of sheds has been reported at this time.

Local authorities are leading the response to support Manitoba evacuees in the region. There are a total of 38 evacuees from Manitoba cottages. All evacuees have been contacted this morning to make sure they have the most up-to-date information.

An open house for residents affected by the Caddy Lake fire will be scheduled at the local community centre. Details will be provided in the near future.

Manitoba Sustainable Development, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Southeast Whiteshell Fire Department and the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner continue co-operative suppression efforts on these border area wildfires.

Two new fires were reported at Little Grand Rapids yesterday. One was 1.5 ha, the other is 0.5 ha. Water bombers have been supporting fire crews and there were no issues containing these fires.

Travel restrictions remain in place in eastern Manitoba including the Mars Hill Wildlife Management area. Motorized back country travel is prohibited between the hours of noon to 7 p.m. in these areas. Any travel outside of these set times must be under the authority of a travel permit issued by a conservation officer.

In the Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Hunt Lake, Mantario and McGillivray Falls hiking trails are closed until wildfire conditions improve.

All burning permits are cancelled and no new permits will be issued for eastern and central Manitoba until conditions improve. The affected areas are from the United States border on the south, through the Interlake to Gypsumville and Berens River in the north and east to the Ontario border.

Air Quality and Health Effects of Smoke

Smoke levels from forest fires may vary considerably due to fire conditions and wind directions.

Check local weather forecast for smoke conditions including any public alerts about smoke or poor air quality in local areas. Those in the Brandon or Winnipeg areas can check the local Air Quality Health Index at www.ec.gc.ca/cas-aqhi/ for updates on air quality conditions.

For information about the health effects of smoke, talk to health-care providers or call Health Links-Info Sante at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) 1-888-315-9257 or online.

Additional Information

In Manitoba, a total of 58 wildfires have been recorded to date. The average for this date is 81.

Open fires (fires outside of an approved firepit) are prohibited. In most provincial parks, fires are permitted in approved firepits. In the Birds Hill Provincial Park, campfires will only be allowed in the approved firepits between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

For further general information on the fire status, maps, travel restrictions, burning permit cancellations or other restrictions go to www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire.

For additional information on restrictions in eastern Manitoba, contact the eastern region office at 204-345-1444. For information on restrictions in Ontario, call 1-807-548-1919.

To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076. The T.I.P. line is dedicated for reporting fires only. All other inquiries should be directed to the other phone lines noted above.
Posted on 05/12/2016, 2:00 pm, by mySteinbach

Today marks the 146th anniversary of the passing of the Manitoba Act by Parliament, making Manitoba the fifth province to join Confederation. This announcement was made by Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires.

Manitoba Day is a great opportunity to celebrate by taking in one of the many exciting events happening across our province, Squires said. Communities and heritage organizations large and small, from every region of our province, are showcasing what is unique and enduring about their unique piece of Manitoba history.

Throughout the province, museums and other facilities are hosting events or offering free admission to mark this special occasion.

These events include a Manitoba scavenger hunt and special Home-Grown Flying Heritage tour at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg featuring the stories of some of Manitobas most prolific pilots and inventors.

The New Iceland Heritage Museum in Gimli will celebrate Manitoba Day with the opening of Nice Women Dont Want The Vote, a travelling exhibit from The Manitoba Museum that marks 100 years since some women were allowed to vote in provincial elections.

Travel Manitobas Visitor Information Centre at the Forks will offer the chance to say happy birthday to Manitoba with free cake for the first 250 visitors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as giveaways of a limited number of Explore MB photo books and Manitoba flags.

The celebration will continue as fishing season opens tomorrow. Fishing demonstrations, giveaways and a chance to win a catfishing trip run throughout Fishing Week, May 13 to 20.

Other Manitoba birthday celebrations include The Manitoba Museums annual Manitoba Day event on Saturday, May 14 at 11 a.m., with free admission to the museum galleries, Science Gallery and Planetarium, and special educational programming throughout the day. A new temporary exhibit featuring a dinosaur dig site and other fun activities for the whole family will be open in the Discovery Room until January 2017.
Yves here. This post is an indictment of the policy positions that Clinton has taken on issues that affect women.

Another disingenuous element of the women should vote for Hillary campaign is that the efforts shes been touting to prove her bona fides, such as her intent to name a Cabinet withhalf the posts filled by women, is that shes selling trickle-down feminism. The tacit assumption is that breaking the glass ceiling is an important breakthrough for women. In fact, that is a concern of elite women. As Hillarys own record attests, and that of women CEOs (Linda Wachner to Marissa Mayer) or women in Congress (Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi are prime examples, as are Republicans like Joni Ernst from Iowa and Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia), women in positions of influence more often identify with members of their class (well off, well educated women) than middle and lower class people of either gender.

Although there is much to be said for the critique in this article, Im leery of the feminist values framing. It reinforces gender stereotyping. And Hillary making her status as a female candidate a prime reason for voting for her preserves all of that cultural baggage. tIn classes as big as men versus women, the differences among the members of the class are greater than the differences between classes.

By Anis Shivani, whose books in the last year include Karachi Raj: A Novel, Whatever Speaks on Behalf of Hashish: Poems, and Soraya: Sonnets (forthcoming June 2016). His new novel is A History of the Cat in Nine Chapters or Less. Originally published at Huffington Post

I strongly argued that we had to change the [welfare] systemI didnt think it was fair that one single mother improvised to find child care and got up early every day to get to work while another stayed home and relied on welfareThe third bill passed by Congress cut off most benefits to legal immigrants, imposed a five-year lifetime limit on federal welfare benefits, and maintained the status quo on monthly benefit limits, leaving the states free to set benefit limitsI agreed that he [Bill] should sign it and worked hard to round up votes for its passageWeeks after Bill signed the law, Peter Edelman and Mary Jo Bane, another friend and Assistant Secretary at HHS who had worked on welfare reform, resigned in protest.  Hillary Clinton in her 2003 memoir Hard Choices.

Not liking Hillary has nothing to do with her being a woman. It has everything to do with the hypermasculine values she espouses.

Hillary is that rare combination, even in our grotesque political landscape, of a smooth-talking neoliberal with the worst tendencies of a warrior-neoconservative. You couldnt say that about Bill to the same extent, but there isnt a regime change opportunity, a chemical or conventional arms deal, an escalated aerial (or lately drone) war, or an authoritarian friend in need, that Hillary hasnt liked. If we get her, we will only be setting back feminism by decades, because her policieslike welfare reformhave always come packaged under the false rubric of caring for women and children. Its like George W. Bushs compassionate conservatism, the rhetorical cover she needs to enact policies, time after time, that erode womens and childrens standing even as she claims to be their steadfast advocate.

It has been disheartening for me to read some female intellectuals, particularly in the New York literary world, rage against any criticism of Hillary. We are told its only sexism that makes us speak. Wed better check our feminist credentials. Are we, who criticize Hillary, misogynists? Then why do we have kind words for, say, Elizabeth Warren?

Weve had similar criticisms of Condoleezza Rice, Sarah Palin, and Carly Fiorina. Fiorina, for me, was the scariest person running for president this cycle; you felt that poor autistic Ben Carson, if you begged and pleaded with him for your life, just might spare you, but not Carly! Carly even made a virtue of dragging Hewlett Packard down into the pits, which is not much different than Hillarys indifference to the erosion that occurred in foreign policy during her tenure as Secretary of State, as she failed to move into a more liberal paradigm, insisting on sanctions and other punitive regimes, in countries like Iran, that disproportionately hurt women. John Kerry, once he took over, quickly picked up the dropped ball and achieved diplomatic success on a range of fronts, including climate change, where Hillary had failed.

There is a palpable deficit of feminist values in this countrys politics, after sixteen dark years of war, surveillance, vigilantism, police controls, economic servitude, and debt. To the extent that we can generalize about feminine and masculine values, the country desperately desireswell, two-thirds of it anyway, those besides Trump and Cruz fansa reinjection of feminine values. That means compassion, acceptance, and understanding for those left behind by misguided economic policies. That means valuing, once again, as this nation has done for the periods it has shone brightest, imagination, beauty, soft-spokenness, and unexpected generosity.

In the early 1990s Hillary did represent, to some limited symbolic level, a change for the better in terms of feminist valuesthough this certainly didnt translate into actual policy improvements for women or children or minorities, rather the opposite occurred in policies engineered by the Clintons. Furthermore, one could argue that it was George H. W. Bush who prompted the relative humanization of the 1990s, after the harsh Reagan-era rhetoric, promising a kindler, gentler nation, and aspiring to be the education president and the environmental president. The elder Bushs policies were to the left of either Clinton, when it came to immigration, civil liberties, clean air, disability, and many other issues.

The Clintons went out of their way to pursueoften gratuitouslypolicies that hurt women and children. The reelection seemed safely in their pockets, yet they went ahead anyway with harmful laws on crime, welfare, telecommunications, immigration, and surveillance, legitimizing right-wing discourse that was to bear full fruit in the following decade. It was the Clintons who set the stage for the massive harm that was to befall women, immigrants, the poor, the elderly, and children once they provided liberal cover to social darwinist ideas that had been swirling around in maniacal think tanks but had not been able to make it through Congress.

The Clintons have somehow managed to convince half the sane world that they should be the natural recipients of African-American votes, despite everything they have done, when in power, to erode the economic security of African Americans and other minorities; the false hope raised during the 1990s was that the economic boom, itself a mirage as it turned out, would eventually lead to significant wage gains, but that never happened.

Poor and minority women and children were drastically hurt by the welfare bill the Clintons so enthusiastically pushed through Congress, and likewise all the policies, from trade to student aid, they pursued in the name of fiscal responsibility, cutting the deficit and the debt, and playing by Wall Streets tune. On neoliberal disciplinary virtues (which in Hillarys mouth are twisted in a rhetoric of empowerment), shes little different than Milton Friedman, the greatest post-war popularizer of the free market mythos. Personal responsibility, separating the virtuous from those deserving of sanctions, is as much a credo for her as it was for Reagan, as it was for Barry Goldwater.
By Roger Bybee, a Milwaukee-based writer and activist who teaches Labor Studies at the University of Illinois. This is the first article in a three-part series, originally published in the May/June issue of Dollars & Sense

Corporate inversionsthe fast-accelerating phenomenon of major U.S. firms moving their official headquarters to low-tax nations through complex legal maneuversare causing an annual loss of about $100 billion in federal tax revenues.

But new rules imposed in early April by the U.S. Treasury Department scuttled the mammoth $162 billion deal between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and Allergan, based on relocating the official headquarters to low-tax Ireland. The Treasury rules are designed to inhibit serial inverterscorporations that repeatedly shift their official headquarters to cut U.S. taxesand to discourage earnings stripping, where firms use loans between their American units and foreign partners to reduce U.S. profits subject to federal taxation. The collapse of the Pfizer-Allergan inversion suggests that the Treasury regulations may constitute a major barrier to some future inversions. However, with firms like Johnson Controls and Tyco moving ahead with their inversion plans, stronger measures will clearly be needed to halt the tide.

U.S. corporations have pulled off about 60 inversions over the last two decades, according to Fortune. In the last five years alone, corporations have executed 40 inversions, the New York Times stated.

This fast-rising dimension of corporate globalization has immense implications for Americans. The industrial powerhouse Eaton Corp. (#163 on the Fortune 500), Medtronic, Accenture (formerly the consulting wing of Arthur Andersen), Burger King, and AbbVie (the worlds 11th-largest drug maker) are among the firms that have repudiated their U.S. nationality and shifted their official headquarters to lowtax nations. The annual toll to the U.S. Treasury from corporate inversions is about $100 billion, based on the studies of Reed College economist Kimberly Clausing. This impact is likely to worsen significantly in the near future. Another dozen or more inversions are currently under consideration, according to conservative New York Times business columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Fortune senior writer Allan Sloan, who has been outraged by inversions despite his overall pro-corporate stance, points to powerful vested interests who stand to gain: Theres a critical mass of hedge funds, corporate raiders, consultants, investment bankers, and others who benefit from inversions. (The collapse of the Pfizer-Allergan deal could cost just the major banks as much as $200 million, the New York Times reported.) These interests and their political allies have incessantly claimed that American-based multinational corporations are driven to repudiate their U.S. nationality in order to escape burdensome U.S. corporate tax rates that they call the worlds highest.

In reality, actual federal corporate taxes on 288 profitable corporations as distinguished from the official 35% rate almost all firms easily avoidwere actually only 19.4% in the 2008-2012 period, a 2014 Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) report revealed. This placed the U.S. 8th lowest among the advanced nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the CTJ found.

A just-released CTJ study went further in its scope and included state and local taxes as well as federal levies in comparing the U.S. with other OECD countries. It found combined U.S. corporate taxes at 25.7%, ranking 4th lowest in the OECD, based on U.S. Treasury figures. The OECD average is 34.1%. Only Chile, Mexico, and South Korea had a lower total burden as a share of GDP.

Despite this reality of low corporate taxes, a growing number of large multinational firms have concluded that repudiating their U.S. citizenship and inverting is the most effective means of cutting their tax burdens, avoiding possible reforms that could potentially hike their tax bills, and most importantly, gaining direct and unregulated access to untaxed offshore funds.

The 35% Myth

The fundamental realities of U.S. taxes on multinational corporations are obscured by an elite debate fixated on the official statutory rate of 35%, which is relentlessly cited as a barrier to U.S. competitiveness.

House Republican James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), for example, wrote in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel opinion piece, The current rate paid by American companies is 35 percentthe highest corporate tax rate among developed countries.

This narrativeendlessly recited by leading corporate and media elites, along with virtually all Republicans and a number of Democrats, has come to dominate much of the national dialogue. Robert Pozen, a senior fellow at the liberal Brookings Foundation, urgently called for a sharp cut in the 35% statutory rate, claiming broad bipartisan support in Congress. If theres one policy agreement between Republicans and Democrats, its that the 35% corporate tax rate in the United States should be reduced to 28% or 25%, he asserted. The current rate, highest in the advanced industrial world, disincentivizes investment and encourages corporations to relocate overseas.

Even President Barack Obama, while an outspoken foe of inversions, perversely weakened his own case against them by speaking of companies that are doing the right thing and choosing to stay here, [and] they get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. That doesnt make sense, as he told a Milwaukee audience in a typical comment.

Obama has thus inadvertently reinforced the conventional wisdom among U.S. elites that is used to justify inversions, as outlined by John Samuels of the International Tax Foundation. Today, with most of their income and almost all of their growth outside the United States, U.S. companies have a lot more to gain by relocating their headquarters to a foreign country with a more hospitable tax regime, declares Samuels. And conversely they have a lot more to lose by remaining in the United States and having their growing global income swept into the worldwide U.S. tax net and taxed at a 35% rate.
By Justin Miller, a writing fellow for The American Prospect. Originally published at The American Prospect

Who says Democrats and Wall Street dont get along?

Not too long ago, school board races were quaint affairs. Even in big school districts, candidates usually only had to raise a few thousand dollars to compete.

But as the movement to marketize public education gained momentum, advocates broadened their focus from the federal level to state and local governments. There, where campaign costs were substantially lower than in federal elections, the well-funded movement could more effectively leverage its political money.

One of the starkest casualties of that strategic shift has been the American school board election. A network of education advocacy groups, heavily backed by hedge fund investors, has turned its political attention to the local level, with aspirations to stock school boardsfrom Indianapolis and Minneapolis to Denver and Los Angeleswith allies.

In recent years, this powerful upstart operation has had tremendous, albeit somewhat stealthy, success playing politics at the local level, by cultivating reform leaders in areas with disappointing schools and a baseline desire for change. They have looked to building a state philanthropic infrastructure that can sustain local efforts beyond one election.

The same big-money donors and organizational names pop up in news reports and campaign-finance filings, revealing the behind-the-scenes coordination across organizational, geographic, and industry lines. The origins arguably trace back to Democrats for Education Reform, a relatively obscure group founded by New York hedge funders in the mid-2000s.

The Hedge Fund Connection

The hedge fund industry and the charter movement are almost inextricably entangled. Executives see charter-school expansion as vital to the future of public education, relying on a model of competition. They see testing as essential to accountability. And they often look at teacher unions with unvarnished distaste. Several hedge fund managers have launched their own charter-school chains. Youd be hard-pressed to find a hedge fund guy who doesnt sit on a charter-school board.

Consider Whitney Tilson. Straight out of Harvard, Tilson deferred a consulting job in Boston to become one of Teach For Americas first employees in 1989. Ten years later, he started his own hedge fund in New York. Soon after that, Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp took him on a visit to a charter school in the South Bronx. It was an electrifying experience for him. It was so clearly different and so impactful, Tilson says. Such a place of joy, but also rigor.

The school was one of two original Knowledge Is Power Program schoolsbetter known as KIPPwhich has since grown into a prominent charter network with nearly 200 schools in 20 states plus the District of Columbia, serving almost 70,000 students, predominantly low-income and of color.

But back then, charter schools were still a rather unfamiliar novelty to most people. Tilson, however, was convinced that they were the future of education. He started dragging all his friends, most of whom were hedge fund investors, from Wall Street up to the South Bronx to see the KIPP school. KIPP was used as a converter for hedge fund guys, Tilson says. It went viral.

Many critics of the corporate education-reform movement are quick to accuse proponents of seeking to cash in on the privatization of one of the United States last public goods. And while there certainly are those in ed-reform circles who stand to benefit from a windfall of new education technology, testing, and curriculum services, hedge funders by and large do not fit that stereotype. Theirs is more of an ideological and philanthropic crusade, rather than a crude profit-seeking venture.

As Tilson explains it, hedge fund managers almost exclusively come from well-off backgrounds and got the best educations in the world. I personally never knew what the situation was like for families forced to attend their local school in the South Bronx, or Brooklyn, Tilson says. I didnt know of anyone who dropped out of high school or collegemuch less that there were high schools where half the students dropped off.

In the mid-2000s, Tilson was on what he says was his 100th visit to KIPP. Dave Levin, KIPPs co-founder, told him that Levin was trying to open up more schools but was running into political resistance. The fact that KIPP had been succeeding without unionized teachers was threatening to many in the Democratic Party, Tilson recalls Levin telling him.

Tilson was shocked that anyone would try to stymie the growth of KIPP, which had had some promising signs of success early on; he was even more shocked that it was mostly Democratic politicians opposed to charter expansion. Why, he wondered, would the party thats supposed to be for the less well-off be standing in the way of educating disadvantaged children?

He directed his anger at what he says is the most powerful special-interest group in the Democratic Party: teachers unions. So in 2005, Tilson got together with a number of other highly educated, wealthy investors to build a political instrument to simultaneously advance pro-charter education reform and beat back what they saw as oppressive teachers unions.

Our public school systemincluding charter schoolsis a governmental system, and that means at the end of the day, its run by politicians, Tilson says. And politicians respond to votes and they respond to money. That means if you want to change a governmental system youve got to play the political game.

The list of original funders is chock-full of Wall Street A-listers. There was Joel Greenblatt, head of Gotham Asset Management and author of the seminal high-finance book You Can Be a Stock Market Genius. There were Charles Ledley and James Mai of Cornwall Capital, perhaps most well known for betting big against the subprime-mortgage market, which was depicted in the book-turned-blockbuster The Big Short. There was David Einhorn, head of Greenlight Capital, who has drawn scrutiny on more than one occasion for financial wrongdoing.

Basically, if you were anybody who was anybody in hedge funds, you probably chipped in. Tilson called the group Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), and set it with a mission to break the teacher unions stranglehold over the Democratic Party.

Early on, DFER identified then-Senator Barack Obama and thenNewark Mayor Cory Booker as promising politicians willing to break with teachers unions. DFER was instrumental in convincing Obama to appoint charter-friendly Chicago Superintendent Arne Duncan as secretary of education, and it spent a lot of time and money lobbying the administration to pursue reformist education policies like Race to the Top and Common Core. Tied to Obamas coattails, DFER was now one of the most influential political players in the ascendant education-reform movement.

All of a sudden, there were politicians all over the country who were willing to back education reform, Tilson says. We were able to raise more money, but there were also a lot more fields to play on. As it found tremendous success at the federal level, DFER tried to maximize its newfound influence to leverage reform in local politics

The Indianapolis Track

Beginning around 2010, charter advocates set their sights on Indianapolis. In 2011, the newly Republican state legislature passed a law that made it easier for new charter schools to open, quickly fueling their growth. Most new charters opened in Indianapolis, home to a struggling urban district that serves roughly 30,000 students. Many schools were failing to meet state standards, enrollment numbers were dwindling, and the clamor for a solution was growing.

At the epicenter of the citys reform push was the Mind Trust, a local education-reform group that promotes more school choice, autonomy, and charter partnerships. To do those things, the district needed a friendly superintendent and a sympathetic school board. The Mind Trust helped bring in DFER, the advocacy group Stand For Children, and the network of political money that came with them.

Annie Roof was first elected to the Indianapolis Public Schools board in 2010, aspiring to bring a parents perspective and substantive change to the school district. She was fed up with poor communication from the district and what she says were unfair school spending patterns. She raised about $3,000 and won a seat. At first, Roof was the reform member on a board that featured a number of strong supporters of the superintendent, Eugene White, who resisted integrating charter schools into the district.

Then the 2012 school board elections brought in a new wave of reformers. One was Gayle Cosby. She and her kids had attended the citys public schools, and she had taught in the district.

Several months before the election, Cosby decided to run against a longtime incumbent for a seat on the districts school board. When I ran, I felt pretty strongly about the idea of autonomy in a broad sense and felt as a teacher, a lot of what I wanted to achieve with my students was limited by a top-down feeling of control, she says.

She was independently running her campaign for several months, trying to build a rapport with local voters. Then, as the election neared, her openness to reform attracted the attention of DFER, which had recently launched an Indiana chapter to build off of the states recent changes to public-education law. It quickly zeroed in on building a pro-charter majority on the school board.

DFER pumped more than $40,000 into Cosbys campaign, hiring her a campaign manager, orchestrating several direct-mail flyer blasts, and buying up radio spots. This was unheard-of in Indianapolis school board races.

At that point, I felt a loss of control in certain respects, Cosby recalls.

The way they were able to win was through the money, through the messaging, says Cosby, adding that about ten mailers were sent on her behalf. Thats a huge sum of money; thats pretty insurmountable when the public lacks understanding about these issues. The average voter saw the potential for something shiny and new.

By the end, Cosby had raked in a total of nearly $80,000. Two other reform candidates were elected with more than $60,000 in support, including $10,000 checks from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Before she was even sworn in to her seat on the board, it became apparent that Cosbys idea of reform was different than DFERs. She and the other new board members were invited to what she describes as a secret meeting at Eli Lilly, an Indiana pharmaceutical company with major philanthropic initiatives. The meeting featured a presentation pitching a plan to expand and fully integrate charter schools into the Indianapolis Public Schools system.

It hit me fully in the face that the expectation of my role was to support a much larger, clandestine agenda in the city, Cosby says. Thats when I realized that this role I was stepping into was going to be filled with problems.

One of the new reformers was Caitlin Hannon, a Teach For America alum who had taught in IPS for two years before running. After she was elected to the board, she became the executive director of Teach Plus Indianapolis, a Bill Gatesbacked organization that amplifies the voices of young reform-minded teachers, often at the expense of teachers unions. Hannon raised nearly $40,000, including contributions from Bloomberg, DFER funder Charles Ledley, and hedge funder Alan Fournier.

In 2013, the new school board bought out the superintendents contract and began looking for a turnaround expert who prioritized charter-school expansion, autonomy, and innovation. They unanimously chose Lewis Ferebee, who had previously worked in the Durham, North Carolina, public school district, overseeing a number of struggling schools.

Ferebee quickly unveiled a plan that would cut the size of the district administrative office and begin liquidating school buildings and renting out space to outside groupsincluding charters. Soon after, he was lobbying for a state bill that would allow IPS to form compacts with charter schools to operate autonomously within the district. Much to the dismay of many state Democrats and the state teachers union, the bill passed.

By 2014, the floodgates of outside money were wide open. Though DFERs Indiana operation had shuttered due to poor local leadership, its presence was still strong in the school board elections.

By this time, Annie Roof had ticked off the local education reform organizations like DFER, Stand For Children, and the Mind Trust by refusing to play ball. Her idea of reform did not mesh with the organized reformers. What money has made that word, Im not a part of.

So the network reached into its bench and recruited one of its own. Education consultant Mary Ann Sullivan was a former Democratic state legislator in Indiana who co-authored bills to expand the state charter-school law and revamp the teacher-evaluation and licensure process. She also sits on DFERs national advisory board.

In her campaign to oust Roof, who had been elected board president, from Roofs at-large seat, Sullivan raised more than $70,000, inundating the city with mailers, phone-banking, and paid media. She trounced Roof by more than 25 percentage points.

As Roof puts it, they took out parents and replaced them with politicians.

I was incredibly disappointed with the city of Indianapolis to buy into such tactics of cheap mailers and phone calls, Roof says. School board races used to be run by those around the kitchen table. Its no longer a local election.

Elected along with Sullivan was LaNier Echols, an Indianapolis charter-school dean (who was promoted to principal after getting elected) who raised $65,000, and Kelly Kennedy Bentley, a former IPS board member who had also served as DFER Indianas treasurer.

With a near-unanimous reform majority now sitting on the board, Ferebee continued expanding charter-school partnershipsincluding handing control of one struggling elementary school over to a charter school favored by local charter advocates.

Cosby has since taken up the role as the boards main dissenter. She believes that charter special interests have completely co-opted the desire for change in the schools and have promoted an agenda that sees charter schools and privatization as the only way to fix Indianapolis Public Schools. Four seats will be up in 2016, including Cosbys, who has decided not to seek re-election as she focuses on a doctoral program.

A National Crusade

The same scenario playing out in Indianapolis has become increasingly common in school districts around the country, as national organizationsmirroring DFERs strategyhave expanded into more and more states.

DFER currently has active operations in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Students First, a group launched by former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, is operating in ten states. Stand For Children has 11 state chapters. The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now (50CAN) works in seven states so far. All of the groups have put school board races in their crosshairs.

Just weeks before the Minneapolis school board elections in 2014, which were expected to largely influence who the next superintendent would be, reports surfaced that detailed a massive influx of outside money in the race for two board seats. Both 50CANs Minnesota operation and Students for Education Reform (SFER, an astroturf offshoot of DFER) were campaigning for former Minneapolis City Council member and charter booster Don Samuels. The reports showed that the 50CAN Action Fund had raised $15,000 and SFER had raised $36,000. SFER board member Adam Cioth, who manages the Rolling Hills Capital hedge fund, provided the majority of SFERs moneyabout $23,000.

Charter advocates also set up a PAC that raised more than $200,000 from three donorsMichael Bloomberg, Teach For America board member and venture capitalist Arthur Rock, and financier Jon Sackler, who sits on 50CANs and SFERs boards. Samuels won his race.

Last year in Denver, DFER contributed a quarter-million dollars to launch the Raising Colorado super PAC, which went on to spend $90,000 running ads and mailing flyers in support of Happy Haynes, the incumbent at-large member, and Lisa Flores, a former Gates Foundation program officer who was running for an open seat. Both won.

The flood of outside money thats become a new normal in many school board elections is troubling for several reasons. And the stakes of 2016 couldnt be higher. This year alone, 640 of the countrys largest school districts by enrollment are holding elections, with nearly 2,000 seats up for grabs, according to Ballotpedia. All together, these districts educate around 17 million studentsabout 34 percent of all the K12 students in the nation.

Compared with other political races where a campaign will stretch over the better part of a year (or more), school board races are unique. Filing deadlines are much closer to Election Day, meaning that the field of candidates doesnt fully materialize until quite late and the actual races dont heat up until about two months out.

That makes it more difficult to vet candidates and learn about connections. Campaign-finance reports exposing big money often pop up latethats if the locality even includes school board candidates in its database.

The coordinated and tangled web of charter-advocacy groups political activity makes their financing hard to track. National groups and big individual donors will often funnel money to local PACs, which in turn spend money independently from a candidates campaign.

Many of these organizations operate as 501(c)(4)s and thus dont have to disclose donors or, depending on state law, even fully disclose independent expenditures. For instance, Stand For Children, which was the main funder in the 2014 Indianapolis school board races, still wont disclose how much they independently spent, though local watchdogs have gathered that it was a huge sum.

Theres significant spending happening below the surface, says Ballotpedias Daniel Anderson. Its hard to gauge whether that spending balances the scales between unions and ed-reform groups or if the scales are still tilted significantly [toward unions].

Behemoth groups sponsored by mega-billionaires like Eli Broad, Bill Gates, the Koch brothers, and the Walton family have spent hundreds of millions to launch charter schools, sponsor think tanks, and more broadly steer the ideological DNA of reform. In recent years, newer organizations have positioned themselves adjacently to that machine while focusing more explicitly on politics. Critics, though, say theres little difference between groups like DFER and those on the right. DFER has taken heat for teaming up with the Koch brothers and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in backing California referendums that attacked public education and unions, and in opposing a ballot measure to impose a tax on millionaires. Theyve also given money to a right-wing group that was a booster of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walkers anti-union agenda, and took out an ad in 2012 blasting the Chicago Teachers Union in the lead-up to a strike.

For his part, Whitney Tilson insists, Were writing the checks, but were not dictating everything thats going on. In a written statement to the Prospect, DFER National President Shavar Jeffries added: Our state chapters are not run by people flying in from Washington. They are staffed by local political organizers and education experts that are overwhelmingly from the communities they work in. But the financial influence of the outside charter-boosters is an ill-kept secret. The pushback against outside pro-charter money in local races has been steadily growing as more and more cities are impacted. That anger likely becomes more visceral when it becomes clear to voters that out-of-state billionaires are trying to tip the scales in their own backyard.

Now that weve seen two election cycles with huge sums of outside money, Im hopeful that voters in Indianapolis have become enlightened to whats really happening, says Indianapolis Public Schools board member Gayle Cosby. It could affect some change in 2016.




Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, The Art of Translation No. 4 Paris Review (guurst)

Biologists Discover Billions Of Missing Bees Living Anonymously In Sacramento Onion (David L)

Behind The Leather: PETA Surprises Shoppers With Fake Leather Accessories Bored Panda. Furzy gives gore warning.

Hollow installation by Zeller & Moye uses 10,000 tree species Dezeen (David L)

These beautiful cardboard electronics are touch-activated SpringWise. I had Frank Gehry cardboard furniture a long time agogot it super discounted on sale.

20-year review shows 90% of disasters are weather-related; US, China, India, Philippines and Indonesia record the most UNISDR

Pentagon Turns to Silicon Valley for Edge in Artificial Intelligence New York Times

Mossack Fonseca

China?

Chinese state entities argue they have sovereign immunity in U.S. courts Reuters. EM: Imagine the toxicity such legal stratagems could cause if coupled with the TPPs ISDS provision. We can devastate your environment and abuse your workers, enjoy sovereign legal immunity for doing so, and sue you for lost profits if you try to say otherwise. The Queen has expressed the uncomfortable truth about power Financial Times. Shorter: The Chinese were rude.

Obama to Make History With Hiroshima Visit as U.S. Quietly Upgrades Nuclear Arsenal (Video) Democracy Now!

Japanese hail Hiroshima visit, say apology not needed Japan Times. Calling Clive for calibration re what he sees in the Japanese language press. Japanese are very respectful of authority and some might be loath to be seen criticizing a US president to a reporter (as in the in-personl poll method may have biased the results). This may indeed be a valid sample, but Japan Times role is cheery reporting on Japan to gaijin. YY points out:

NHK 7:00 Oclock News, which I regularly watch, is actually a good barometer of median point of Japanese reactions. What is notable is that there is more coverage of the coverage of the issue of apology than whether or not such sentiment is actually sought. What was more interesting is the reporting of the immediate reactions of the Chinese and Korean governments, just to check how they would react. The Chinese spokesbody did take the opportunity to snipe at the Japanese re-militarization concerns. The Korean reaction was a bit more bland. As long as the Enola Gay is enshrined at the air and space museum, and with a shine that it never possessed as an active aircraft, apologies are pretty useless anyway. Besides the conventional fire bombings were just as horrific and more lethal.

Malaysian Leaders Stepson Allegedly Funded U.S. Property Deals With 1MDB Money Wall Street Street

Brazil Senate Votes in Favor of Rousseff Impeachment Trial Wall Street Journal

Impeachment trial for Brazils Rousseff BBC

Brexit? How can you Brits take all the scaremongering? Its enough to make someone vote for Brexit out of contrariness.

Left  moral collapse in Greece, strategic confusion in Europe Defend Democracy

Latvian Activist Arrested Over Petition to Join Russia Appeals Verdict Sputnik News (Wat)`

Imperial Collapse Watch

Edward Snowden: The Media Isnt Doing Its Job Columbia Journalism Review (furzy). Important.

Clinton E-mail Hairball

FBI head challenges Clintons description of email probe The Hill (furzy)

2016

Gay Marriage Won, But Other Liberal Causes Will Probably Struggle To Copy Its Success FiveThirtyEight (resilc). Wrong conclusion. Gays has $ (making them a desired voter group), were good at messaging, and were willing to withhold their support from the Dems. They also shifted prevailing views enough to make the change seem less radical. Other liberal causes lack the guts. And ignores that the generational trend heavily favors liberal causes.

Suite of 18 bills to combat opioid scourge set to sail through House Christian Science Monitor

Texas Republicans Inch Closer to Secession Mother Jones Resilc: Please go, vote yes. The other 49 would support it.

Anti-Trans discrimination is Sex Discrimination Atlantic (Selva T)

Maker of painkiller OxyContin loses legal battle to keep lawsuit records secret Los Angeles Times

Harvards clueless illiberalism Washington Post (furzy). FWIW, Harvard had not allowed sororities or fraternities until pretty recently, a fact this article omits.

OPEC Is Dead, Whats Next? OilPrice

Oil markets heading towards balance: IEA CNBC

Ambac sues Puerto Rico highway agency over toll road deal Reuters (EM)

11 Signs That The U.S. Economy Is Rapidly Deteriorating Even As The Stock Market Soars Economics Collapse (RR). Needless to say, this is a perma-bear blog, but the list does have some not-well-known factoids.

Jobs: How Good are the Jobs the Economy is Creating? Michael Shedlock

Macys joins American retail descent Financial Times. How about, per Class Warfare below, Macys joins American middle class descent?

Google bans payday lender advertising Financial Times

Are Newspapers Captured by Banks? Evidence from Italy ProMarket

Guillotine Watch

Chelsea Clintons Husband Closing Hedge Fund After Losing 90 Percent Of Its Money Daily Caller. You have to work to lose 90%. And have long lockups so the investors cant run away. But he bet that austerity would work!

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (Christian Science Monitor via Furzy): WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up his new kitten at the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London, Britain, in this undated photograph released on Monday. The kitten is a gift from Assanges young children to keep him company. Sporting of the embassy to let him have a pet.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Nanotechnology-enabled device detects blood clots with simple in-home test (Nanowerk News) For millions of Americans at risk for blood clots, strokes and hypertension, routine lab tests to monitor blood-thinning medications can be frequent, costly and painful.

But researchers at the University of Cincinnati -- supported by the National Science Foundation -- are developing materials and technology for a simple in-home screening that could be a game changer for patients with several life-threatening conditions.

Patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, kidney disease and others who are at risk for blood clotting are especially vulnerable when blood-thinning medication levels get too weak or too strong. This imbalance can quickly lead to ischemic (clotting) or hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes if not detected in time.

"We have developed a blood screening nanotechnology device for patients on medications like Coumadin, warfarin or other blood thinners who need to monitor their blood-clotting levels on a regular basis," says Andrew Steckl, UC professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. "Patients can soon monitor their blood coagulation characteristics from home quickly and painlessly before making needless trips to the lab or hospital."

Lab on a stick



Nanofiber membranes inside a paper-porous test strip Nanofiber membranes inside a paper-porous test strip Using nanofiber membranes inside paper-based porous materials housed within a plastic cassette, the researchers can quickly reveal the level of the blood's ability to clot, and all from the convenience of the patient's living room with a simple finger stick to draw a drop of blood.



While slight changes in the level of coagulation properties will occur normally depending on certain food intake and overall health conditions, Steckl says a major change in levels immediately shows up on the paper-based test stick resulting in clotting patterns registering on one end of the spectrum or the other and will put up a red flag before any physiological trouble starts.



This interdisciplinary research includes faculty and doctoral-student colleagues from the University of Cincinnati's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, the UC Nanoelectronics Laboratory and the UC Department of Electrical Engineering & Computing Systems in the UC College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Researchers are presenting the results of this effort, titled POC Blood Coagulation Diagnostics Using Paper-Based Lateral Flow Device, along with several other UC presenters at the 8th International Conference on Porous Media and Annual Meeting of the International Society for Porous Media, Interpore.org May 9-12, at the Hilton Netherland Plaza hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Benefits of sensitive test sticks

"This simple test is not intended to replace the very careful and accurate measurements that get accomplished in a laboratory facility, but at a relatively minimal cost a patient can do this on their own between scheduled visits or when in doubt," says Steckl. "And it shouldn't require a caregiver, as most patients can perform this test quickly on their own."

The test is designed to give each patient the ability to keep a careful check on their levels by monitoring the changes that occur relative to previous tests. The technology can also be calibrated to a specific patient's condition. For example, a patient whose normal blood coagulation rate is significantly different from the general population because of a genetic disorder can use a tailor-made test kit that includes a different porous membrane.

Using the simple technology may also help patients who have a known inherited blood clotting disorder detect concerning levels early.
New bio-glass could make it possible to re-grow or replace cartilage

(Nanowerk News) Cartilage is flexible connective tissue found in places such as in joints and between vertebrae in the spine. Compared to other types of connective tissue is not easy to repair.

The researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Milano-Bicocca have developed a bio-glass material that mimics the shock-absorbing and load bearing qualities of real cartilage. It can be formulated to exhibit different properties, and they are now hoping to use it to develop implants for replacing damaged cartilage discs between vertebrae.

Professor Julian Jones

They believe it also has the potential to encourage cartilage cells to grow in knees, which has previously not been possible with conventional methods.

The bio-glass consists of silica and a plastic or polymer called polycaprolactone. It displays cartilage-like properties including being flexible, strong, durable and resilient. It can be made in a biodegradable ink form, enabling the researchers to 3D print it into structures that encourage cartilage cells in the knee to form and grow  a process that they have demonstrated in test tubes.

It also displays self-healing properties when it gets damaged, which could make it a more resilient and reliable implant, and easier to 3D print when it is in ink form.

One formulation developed by the team could provide an alternative treatment for patients who have damaged their intervertebral discs. When cartilage degenerates in the spine it leaves patients with debilitating pain and current treatment involves fusing the vertebrae together. This reduces a patients mobility.

The scientists believe they will be able to engineer synthetic bio-glass cartilage disc implants, which would have the same mechanical properties as real cartilage, but which would not need the metal and plastic devices that are currently available.

Another formulation could improve treatments for those with damaged cartilage in their knee, say the team. Surgeons can currently create scar-like tissue to repair damaged cartilage, but ultimately most patients have to have joint replacements, which reduces mobility.

The team are aiming to print tiny, biodegradable scaffolds using their bio-glass ink. These bio-degradable scaffolds would provide a template that replicates the structure of real cartilage in the knee.

When implanted, the combination of the structure, stiffness and chemistry of the bio-glass would encourage cartilage cells to grow through microscopic pores. The idea is that over time the scaffold would degrade safely in the body, leaving new cartilage in its place that has similar mechanical properties to the original cartilage.

Professor Julian Jones, one of the developers of the bio-glass from the Department of Materials at Imperial, said: Bio-glass has been around since the 1960s, originally developed around the time of the Vietnam War to help heal bones of veterans, which were damaged in conflict. Our research shows that a new flexible version of this material could be used as cartilage-like material.

Patients will readily attest to loss of mobility that is associated with degraded cartilage and the lengths they will go to try and alleviate often excruciating pain. We still have a long way to go before this technology reaches patients, but weve made some important steps in the right direction to move this technology towards the marketplace, which may ultimately provide relief to people around the world.

The researchers have received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to take their technology to the next stage. They are aiming to conduct trials in the lab with the technology and develop a surgical method for inserting the implants. They will also work with a range of industrial partners to further develop the 3D manufacturing techniques.

Professor Justin Cobb is the Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery at Imperials Department of Medicine. He will be co-leading on the next stage of the research.

Professor Cobb added: This novel formulation and method of manufacture will allow Julian and his team to develop the next generation of biomaterials. Today, the best performing artificial joints are more than a thousand times stiffer than normal cartilage. While they work very well, the promise of a novel class of bearing material that is close to nature and can be 3D printed is really exciting.

Using Julian's technology platform we may be able to restore flexibility and comfort to stiff joints and spines without using stiff metal and all its associated problems.

Professor Laura Cipolla, from the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca, added: Based on our background on the chemical modification of bio- and nanostructured materials, proteins, and carbohydrates, we designed a new chemical approach in order to force the organic component polycaprolactone to stay together in a stable way with the inorganic component silica."

The team also includes PhD student Francesca Tallia from Imperials Department of Materials and senior researcher Laura Russo, from the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca.
Lauren Rogers, owner of Coastal Home Services, searches for mold or other concerns on a lanai while inspecting a condo in the Spanish Wells neighborhood in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The new home watch service provides customized inspections for homeowners during extended absences as well as other concierge services. (David Albers/Staff)

SHARE Lauren Rogers, owner of Coastal Home Services, checks for moisture under a water heater while inspecting a condo in the Spanish Wells neighborhood in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The new home watch service provides customized inspections for homeowners during extended absences as well as other concierge services. (David Albers/Staff) Lauren Rogers, owner of Coastal Home Services, uses an iPad to go through a customer's requests while inspecting a condo in the Spanish Wells neighborhood in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The new home watch service provides customized inspections for homeowners during extended absences as well as other concierge services. (David Albers/Staff) Lauren Rogers is the owner of Coastal Home Services, a new home watch service providing customized inspections for homeowners during extended absences as well as other concierge services. (David Albers/Staff) Lauren Rogers, owner of Coastal Home Services, searches for signs of trouble while inspecting a condo in the Spanish Wells neighborhood in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The new home watch service provides customized inspections for homeowners during extended absences as well as other concierge services. (David Albers/Staff) Related Photos Photos: Coastal Home Services - a new home watch service in Southwest Florida

By John Osborne, Daily News Correspondent

Bonita Springs resident Lauren Rogers looked before she leapt with the new home watch business she opened in January. Still, that isn't to say the leap hasn't been mildly terrifying.

By leaving her teaching career and officially opening Coastal Home Services a few months ago, the Michigan native who vacationed in Southwest Florida as a child knows she's taking a risk. But she hopes a laundry list of traditional and unusual offerings will help set her apart from the competition.

"It's definitely scary, but I really wanted to branch out and start my own company to better myself," said the 2007 Grand Valley State University grad who until last year taught locally at the elementary and middle school levels. "If there's one thing I want people to know, it's that I really do care about their homes, and I really do care about them as people and homeowners. I'm not just doing this to make a dollar, even though I need to do that, too. I'm doing this because I really want to help."

With a core business that consists of twice-monthly home maintenance and security checks for $50 a month or four visits for $80, Rogers said a minimum 25-point home service checklist is customized to each client, with a full report and pictures available online immediately after each visit.

"Clients get their own login page, where they can see instant reports, so no matter where they are we're always connected, 24/7," she said. "It's just another way to keep the lines of communication open when they're away."

Client Sue Streeter of Naples said she appreciated that sort of unfettered access.

"It's great to have such a dependable and caring service for my home," she said. "I can always depend on Coastal Home Services when I'm in a pinch and I'm at my second home in Boston because I feel my property is cared for as if it were (Rogers') own.

To tailor her business model to the snowbirds who comprise a portion of her growing client roster, Rogers also offers such services as regular vehicle starting, vehicle detailing, grocery shopping, pre- and post-storm checks, opening and closing residences for season, coordinating and supervising contractors and meeting deliveries and repair personnel. For year-round clients who might need to be away for a little while, she'll even visit with your pets for $25 per half hour.

"The expanded offerings grew out of my clients asking me, 'Would you do this?' and 'Would you do that?'" she said. "Things I never even thought of before. So I thought about it and said, 'Sure. Why not? I'll do that for you.' I'm really just looking to help out in whatever ways I can."

Rogers said clients who maintain two homes find the additional offerings especially useful.

"They really like that everything is ready to go when they get to their home in Southwest Florida," she said. "They want to show up and jump right into the pool, so they like that their groceries are stocked in the fridge and that they can have a cold beer when they get here. Everything's all set up for them so they don't have to do anything. I even put up the hurricane shutters so that everything is nice and bright and they don't feel like they're walking into a dungeon when they get here."

Furthermore, Rogers said, the list of offerings doesn't necessarily stop with those stated above.

"I'll do pretty much anything anybody asks me to," she said. "People like the fact that they can count on one person for a variety of their needs because it makes their lives a little simpler, and I love being that one person for them."

Client Peter Germain of Naples, who maintains a second home in Massachusetts, said he enjoys the fact Rogers is that person for him, too.

"From the twice-monthly reports that let us know our condo is secure and no issues to the service she provides opening the condo for us prior to our visits we could not be happier," he said of his experience with Costal Home Services.

With dreams of one day expanding her business, Rogers said she'd like to rack up as many of those kinds of endorsements as possible.

"Right now, the big challenge is the marketing and getting myself out there to potential clients," she said. "I've asked a lot of other small business owners how to grow, and everyone says it's word-of-mouth and it's very slow. Get one person and do an awesome job for them, and it will grow from there. But just getting to that point is where I'm at now, so I definitely have a long way to go."

For more information, call (239) 834-9906 or see www.BonitaSpringsHomeWatchCo.com.
SHARE

WASHINGTON  It started with bedrooms. Now it involves bathrooms. What is it about other people's private lives that make some people go nuts?

What causes legislators to create laws to solve problems that don't exist? Why do some people hate government action  except when it suits their purposes, immoral though those may be?

We are talking about the ridiculous new law in North Carolina that says that transgender men and women must use public bathrooms of the sex stated on their birth certificates, not the sex with which they identify.

For once, Donald Trump said something sane. To wit, Caitlyn Jenner may use whatever bathroom she wants to use in Trump Tower.

Ted Cruz, who to our great relief exited the race for president, tried to stir people up about the North Carolina law. "It is simply crazy ... that grown men would be allowed alone in a bathroom with little girls  you don't need to be a behavioral psychologist to realize bad things can happen."

Being transgender has nothing to do with pedophilia, for heaven's sake. And bathroom stalls have doors for a reason: privacy.

Does federal law, especially the Civil Rights Act, bar discrimination against transgender men and women? Yes, says the federal government. No, says the state of North Carolina.

Consequently, we are proud of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who gave a brilliant defense of the Obama administration's position that North Carolina's law is no better than Jim Crow laws that discriminated against black Americans. America is moving haltingly but inexorably toward fairness, inclusion and equality, she said.

She said that North Carolina's bathroom law provides no boon to society. All it does is strip individuals of their dignity and respect, she said. States cannot legislate people's identity. She asked us to write a different story from the past chapters of intolerance: America must never again rob its people of their innate dignity or treat them as second-class citizens.

That is the America we should all want, not a country that permits some states to write laws that cruelly discriminate against people for something beyond their control, for behavior that hurts nobody. States should not be able to pass laws that humiliate and discriminate against someone because of their color, their religion or their gender.

Whether or not you are a Christian conservative or a committed religious believer of any other sort, you should not be able to demand that you should be able to throw stones, humiliate or destroy the life of someone just because you don't understand the path he or she walks. That is what the Taliban does. That is what the Islamic State does.

This is a country that does not impose religious beliefs on others. At least, that was the intent of the Founding Fathers. And mothers, bless their unsung hearts.

So North Carolina's absurd bathroom law is going to the courts. North Carolina insists it has the right to pass whatever laws it wants. The federal government insists North Carolina may not pass laws that inherently discriminate, and, if push comes to shove, it may withhold billions of dollars it gives North Carolina each year in benefits.

The courts will not rule to uphold discrimination. Meanwhile, businesses and entertainers by the score are warning North Carolina that they will not do business in a state that attempts to legalize impermissible discrimination and hatred by embarrassing laws that can't and won't be enforced.

The physically beautiful state of North Carolina, now personified by the egregiously bigoted state legislature and its governor, Pat McCrory, is being ridiculed around the world and for very good reason. What they are doing is evil.

Lynch noted correctly that change is discomforting and that people fear what they do not know or understand.

But that does not give them the right to impose pain and suffering, humiliation and denial of civil rights and lack of respect on others.

It is distressing that with all our problems, causing misery and inciting anger and hatred are still front and center in U.S. politics.

As Lynch pledged to the transgender community: "We see you. We stand with you. And we will do everything we can to protect you going forward. History is on your side. ... It may not be easy. We will get there together."
Lely's Makinton Dorleant leaves Gulf Coast tacklers behind on a 65-yard kick return. At that point Lely had a 15-0 lead, but couldn't keep Gulf Coast from rallying for a wild, 47-38 victory, in this staff file photo.

SHARE Makinton Dorleant speaks to kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Dorleant, a Lely graduate, recently signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. (Kelli Krebs / Staff) American Team cornerback Makinton Dorleant, of Northern Iowa, (32) catches the ball during the second half of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl against the American Team at StubHub Center on Jan. 23, 2016. The National Team won 18-17. Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard (5) gets tangled with Northern Iowa Panthers defensive back Makinton Dorleant (2) at Jack Trice Stadium in this Sept. 5, 2015, photo. Reese Strickland/USA TODAY Sports Makinton Dorleant, sporting his University of Maryland cap, signed his agreement to play football for the Terrapins in this staff file photo.

By Andrew Sodergren of the Naples Daily News

Makinton Dorleant achieved a lifelong dream when he signed a free agent contract to play with the Green Bay Packers on April 30.

That dream may never have happened without the help of New Beginnings, an alternative school in Naples affiliated with the U.S. Marine Corps whose purpose is to help accelerate the academic progress and develop social skills in students who have been disruptive to the education of others and themselves.

Dorleant, a 2011 Lely High School graduate, attended the school in seventh and eighth grade after being kicked out of his middle school for behavioral issues. Dorleant, a communications major at Northern Iowa, was back at the school recently to talk to students about his experience at New Beginnings.

"I went through this phase when I got kicked out of middle school," Dorleant said. "I wasn't a bad kid. I never got arrested. I wasn't a gangbanger, but I didn't have discipline in the classroom. I was very wild and always trying to have fun. I didn't take anything seriously, but I really learned that discipline, that structure at New Beginnings."

Captain Eric Peltz recalls meeting Dorleant and his mother, Marie Cesar, who was hoping the school could help get her son moving in the right direction.

"He was stubborn and confused," Peltz said. "His mom told me she needed help getting through to him. He didn't have a father growing up and he was wrestling what most of the kids at the school wrestle with, the direction they're going to go in their life, the really hard choices that face them."

Peltz said he saw a huge difference in Dorleant in his second year at the school, one which made it easy to recommend him for re-entry to the public school system.

"We're very structured and that first year, he kind of fought that," Peltz said. "But that second year, instead of fighting it, he bought into it and did what was asked. Instead of seeing how much he could push or get away with, he was saying, 'Yes, sir,' and working hard in class. He was a 3.5 student when he left us. His grades were up substantially and he became one of the leaders of the platoon. It was always obvious from the beginning he was a very smart young man, very thoughtful and respectful to his mother. We just had to help him make some better choices."

The school is literally run like a military outfit, with students receiving promotions in rank when they're doing things the right way and achieving success in the classroom.

Dorleant shared an uplifting message with the current students at New Beginnings, a group that included fourth through eighth graders, ages 8 to 15. Peltz said he often has alumni come back and speak to students, praising Dorleant's speech as one of the finest he's seen given at the school.

"Makinton's a communications major, and I'd give him an 'A' for sure. His speech was exceptionally powerful and motivating," Peltz said. "He talked first and foremost that there's no such thing as a bad kid, and that's what we believe here at (New Beginnings). There are kids who make bad choices, kids put in bad positions and he reflected on that quite a bit. He told the kids they weren't throwaways and that they were sent to the school because people care so much about them."

Dorleant shared some of the heated conversations he had with instructors when he first arrived, how he often didn't agree with what was being said to him. He also told of the hardships growing up. His mother, a Haitian immigrant who worked hard for U.S. citizenship, picked tomatoes on the fields of Immokalee to make ends meet. He grew up in humble surroundings, with cockroaches sometimes roaming the floor and only one plate to eat from. His family sometimes went without electricity in their home.

"He told the students the instructors and mentors at the school were the only male role models he had," Peltz said. "It was so powerful, and the kids were dialed in like you wouldn't believe. There was a point in his talk where there wasn't a dry eye in the house, both instructors and students alike. It was very emotional for him to be coming back, standing in front of these kids. He told them he loved every one of them and he wanted them to live happy, successful lives. He also told them to listen to their teachers if they want that to happen."

Peltz said the program has seen close to a 90 percent success rate of placing students back in mainstream schools.

"It's a life-saving program, no question about it," Dorleant said. "They're not just sending these kids to a different school and forgetting about them. They're giving kids the tools they need so they can succeed in the classroom. It changes lives, it definitely saved me in a period of my life where I needed that discipline. Everything I learned at New Beginnings, I still apply in my life today."
SHARE Marilyn Minter (American, born 1948) "Clown," Marily Minter, 2002 oil and enamel on metal, 40 by 40 inches "Self-portrait with Matisse": Larry Rivers, 1995; pastel on paper 37 by 56 inches Untitled, Charles Arnoldi, 1986, acrylic and graphite on two joined papers, 79 by 85 inches Charlotte and Paul Corddry with a piece of their art collection in their home in Naples on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015. The couple donated more than 50 pieces of that art collection to The Baker Museum. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff)

By Harriet Howard Heithaus of the Naples Daily News

One day in March, Paul and Charlotte Corddry watched nearly 50 of their personally collected, internationally significant works leave for The Baker Museum in North Naples.

Within 24 hours, they were out looking at new art.

"The day after they took the paintings out of here, Paul and I went out and bought two Purvis Young pieces," Charlotte Corddry admitted.

"It was just because the walls seemed so bare and we were so interested in him as a person," she said of the late Miami-based muralist. "I still wonder why the museums aren't full of Purvis Young."

The Corddrys are a couple with a shared passion for art and the good fortune to have nearly identical tastes in it. They love the intrigue, the composition, the history behind art. They have been admiring, learning and buying art since the late 1960s.

"We never stretched ourselves. But we did put a lot of our spare money into art, there's no doubt about it," Paul Corddry reflected.

By anyone's account, they also have been thorough and retentive students, meeting the artists whose works they purchased and making lasting friendships.

They have only two requirements: that they agree on the art, and that they love it.

"When we started out we were not in it to figure out what was a good investment. We wanted art we were going to like that was going to fill our walls," Corddry said.

A $500 beginning

Both Corddrys radiate a sincerity that renders it no surprise contemporary master Robert Rauschenberg sent them four slides of his private art to choose among for a living room wall. They show up for an appointment with the Daily News the day before Charlotte Corddry is scheduled for cranial surgery for hydrocephalus. She is fine; the reporter and videographer are the ones terrified at the prospect.

The Corddrys' gift is a museum's dream in an age of astronomical art prices, when institutions can't compete with private collectors. While ArtisNaples, the museum's venue, won't specify the value of the Corddry collection, multi-million is an accurate description.

"Every time I pass by a work, I say 'Wow, we have one of this caliber here,'" Museum Director Frank Verpoorten marveled. "The works in this gift are so important we will use them frequently for permanent exhibition, as often as we can."

Already, he said, there have been requests for loans.

It's hardly where the Corddrys thought it would end when they began haunting galleries in San Francisco in the late 1960s.

"I think we were very lucky to earn enough money to do that," Charlotte Corddry said of their gift. "And that was a surprise. I never expected to become an art collector, did you?" she asked her husband.

He didn't. Paul Corddry still remembers their first purchase, a Joseph Vasica painting Charlotte fell in love with in 1968.

"The only problem was it was $500. And we were not blessed with a lot of money at that time," he recalled. They still have it in their Boise home, where a separate art collection is part of their foundation for their three children.

As their income grew, so did the prices of their art. Paul and Charlotte, a former marketing researcher for consumer products giant Procter & Gamble  "Back before they had women in marketing," she recalled soberly  moved to Boise, Idaho. Paul Corddry had become president of Ore-Ida; when it moved into a new headquarters, he commissioned a local gallery to cover its wall with $35,000 of art. In doing so, both would get to know owner Denis Ochi, and who introduced them to more artists.

"He was very big on West Coast artists. We met Sam Francis through him," Corddry said.

Friends as buyers

The late Larry Rivers, however, is indelibly imprinted in their memories. A former jazz saxophonist, a friend of Miles Davis and an early pop art innovator, Rivers exuded excitement, which was not always a virtue. He lived with six different women, marrying only two of them, and fathered as many children.

"Larry was crazy. He came here for a show and ended up throwing rolls at a dinner party, (at) which we had to tone him down," Corddry recalled.

Rivers repaid their friendship by giving up a contemporary version of a bas-relief of his youngest son. It's slightly mischievous, with little Sam Rivers relieving an itch as only a youngster would have the nonchalance would do, as he explores a playground.

"I said to Larry, 'I love this piece.' And he said, 'That's my son and that's one of the few I won't sell,'" Paul Corddry said.

"About 30 minutes later he said, 'If you want that piece, I'll sell it to you.'"

"The couple bought a lot of River's personal pieces, such as "DeChirico's Dilemma," which is in the "Naples Collects" show as well.

"He loved that piece," Corddry said. "It turns out he wanted to sell that piece to someone he knew."

The pair also bought work in the personal orbit of the contemporary artists they collected. For that reason, a work by Daria Deshuk, an artist who lived with Rivers, is in the collection. So is a piece by Helen Frankenthaler, who was married, for a time, to Robert Motherwell, whose "Open No. 174" is in the collection.

"We have a very big interest in collecting pieces that relate in some way, husband-and-wife pieces, or the three children by three separate wives or that sort of thing," explained Charlotte Corddry.

A move to London gave them an entirely new perspective on contemporary art; they came home with still more.

The Corddrys say they worked with galleries  in fact, they now work with Naples galleries as well as those in New York. But the artist was often their consultant.

"Generally, if one of the artists thought there was a piece we should have or they desperately wanted us to have it we would take it, because I value their opinion more than anybody else's, really," Charlotte Corddry said.

"The museum went through a fairly rough patch at first, and then everything sort of fell together," Paul Corddry explained.

"Frank's done a great job coming in here and the people he brought in are good. I think this place has a great future."

Once again, he said, he and Charlotte agreed:

"Let's put our art where we live."

Looking at the collection

The Baker Museum has benefited from the generosity of Paul and Charlotte Corddry with its picks from their Naples and New York homes. But do not ask Baker Museum Director Frank Verpoorten to choose a favorite among the newly donated collection.

Asked, he chooses at least four. He could go on with more, he concedes.

Among them:

A wall-commanding Robert Motherwell, asymmetrical stripes of federal blue over red with the facade of a sunny underlay peeking out ("Open No. 174: In Red with Blue Stripes," 1970, acrylic and charcoal on canvas. 96 by 47  inches.) It's part of a seminal series by the artist who coined the name of his working group, The New York School.

An enigmatic Marilyn Minter work, the hyperrealistic "Clown." Its supine face is perfectly formed but highly freckled, eyes closed, with blood-red lips and a smudge of identical color just above the nostrils.

One of Roy Lichtenstein's "Water Lilies" series ("Water Lily Pond with Reflections," 1992, screen print enamel on processed and swirled stainless steel.). It's shot through with dotted patterns and bias stripes of various colors over reflective silver. Verpoorten calls it both homage to Monet's famous impressionist series and a statement on the contemporary appropriation of art.

Jean Dubuffet's graffiti-inspired "Landscape with Person" (1980). The innovator of "art brut," Dubuffet declared art should "not strive to please the eye but to address the soul."

If you go

What: "New Acquisitions in Context" and "Naples Collects"

Where: The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., North Naples

When: Now through July 31; and now through June 19; hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays

Admission: Free on Sunday, May 15, for Community Day; regularly $10, $5 full-time student and military with valid I.D; free, ages 17 and younger and members

Something else: Docent tours 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays
SHARE Mound House in Estero Bay. Photo courtesy of Mound House museum

By Dayna Harpster, Daily News Correspondent

Southwest Florida may be known for its sunsets, but about to open on the waters of Estero Bay near the Mound House is a double feature in the theater of nature: The moonrise gets equal billing with the sunset for kayak excursions beginning this month.

Guided tours from 6 to 9 p.m. are scheduled for May 19-21 through the tidal creeks and mangrove tunnels of the bay's backwaters, giving paddlers unique views of land and water during both natural events.

"What happens is, it cools off at the end of the day," said guide and environmental educator Parke Lewis. "At sunset with full moon rise, you have a complete change in the ecosystem. You see a lot more fish, the birds come home to roost, it's a beautiful time of day to be out there. Everything you touch and see and look at is alive out there  in a fun way, not a creepy, scary way."

"We'll start out at 6:15 and leave at 6:30 and get back at end of visible light, you could say at twilight," said Lewis. "That way people don't have to worry about being out in the dark. They'll see beautiful wading birds, dolphins and manatees. It's gorgeous. And while you're paddling you're going to learn a little bit about the history of Estero Bay."

Participants should be at least 12 years old, be able to swim and able to paddle for three hours and get in and out of a kayak unassisted. "We suggest having at least some experience kayaking or canoeing," Lewis said, although he is a certified kayak instructor who can help those less experienced. There are no rapids or waterfalls to navigate.

The reward for paddlers could range from the simple enjoyment of being in a pristine natural environment to something more ethereal.

It's not lost on Southwest Floridian Cathy Chestnut that the trip leaves from the site of a 2,000-year-old Calusa Indian Shell Mound. Mound House was built by William Harrison Case and his wife Milia in 1906. It changed hands several times  one family dug up a portion of the site and installed a swimming pool  and finally benefitted from laws in the 1960s and '70s that protected Native American mounds. The site was once 14 acres, but just three remain.

Still, there are 100 species of plants and trees on the site. Recently restored to its 1920s heyday with $2 million in grants, the Mound House  owned by the town of Fort Myers Beach  is Estero Island's oldest structure on one of just two sites in Florida in which visitors can go into an underground archeological exhibit.

Chestnut, who grew up in the area and has been paddling here for more than 30 years, helped Lewis scout the route the trip will take. The long, shallow estuarine Estero Bay and its history is particularly meaningful to her.

"To be enveloped by Southwest Florida's natural environment is to feel the greatness of all that we do know and all that we don't," she said. "And I fell the Calusa did know so much more than we do today, being guided by the stars and moon and the tides, and when I am paddling I feel like I am part of that continuum.

"This will sound pretty corny but honestly when I am out among the mangrove islands paddling at dusk I channel the spirit of the Calusa and marvel at how they lived here for so long on the grit and abundance of the estuary."

Chestnut also appreciates the silence and lack of modern distractions that come with navigating the waterways. "When you're paddling, you are disconnected from modern technology and can get connected to a more profound center of the natural world."

Moonlight adds to the mystery. "It's almost like candlelight," said Lewis. "You can see what you're doing and it's just gorgeous."

Mound House offers morning tours during season, from December to April. The moonlight trips are new, appealing to the year-round resident as well as the tourist. It's something Mound House Museum Director Alison Giesen helped conceive with Lewis and is pleased to offer.

"We want to help educate our visitors and share our beautiful estuary with them. This is new for us and we're very excited," she said.

---

If you go

What: Mound House Sunset/Full Moon Rising Guided Kayak Tour Where and when: Leaving from the Mound House, 451 Connecticut St., Fort Myers Beach, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and May 20 and 21.

Cost: $30 for members, $60 for nonmembers. Tandem kayaks are provided, or paddlers may bring their own (participation limited to 12 people regardless).

Bring: Comfortable clothes for paddling, water shoes, insect repellent, camera if desired. Water, soft drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Information and reservations: Reservations and deposit ($20) are required. Call 239-765-0865. moundhouse.org
SHARE An owl was rescued by the Conservancy this week. It was found in a storm drain on Marco Island. It was renested at it's burrow close to where it was found.

By Joanna Fitzgerald

A burrowing owl and four eastern screech owls were among the 106 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include three fox squirrels, three brown thrashers and a marsh rabbit.

The burrowing owl was found with its drowned sibling floating in a storm drain on Marco Island. The owl's rescuers fished it from the water and brought it to the Conservancy. As staff began the physical exam the owlet turned and shrieked in alarm (an absolutely shocking sound) which indicated that although wet and cold, the owl was appropriately responsive. The uninjured owl was placed in an animal intensive care unit to dry its feathers and warm up.

The fledgling owl rebounded quickly from the near drowning so we planned to re-nest. Staff contacted a group of volunteers who monitor burrowing owl nests on Marco to see if they could direct us to the owl's burrow. The burrow was identified once the exact location of the storm drain where the owl was found was identified.

Hospital staff coordinated for one of our volunteers to meet members of the owl monitoring group and the rescuers for the re-nesting. There was an adult owl and another fledgling at the entrance to the burrow. "Our" baby was released as close to the burrow as possible without disturbing the other owls. "Our" baby ran to the adult, stretched its wings and took its place at the burrow entrance.

Thanks to everyone involved with this rescue and re-nesting. Often time baby birds can be displaced from their nests due to inclement weather or landscaping activities; that doesn't mean the baby can't be re-nested. Whether it is a blue jay, northern mockingbird or red-shouldered hawk, the most important factor is to get the baby back to the area it was found before too much time has passed. A re-nested bird must be closely monitored to ensure the parent birds come back and resume caring for their baby. Once the parents return, our job is done.

A Cape Coral man and his neighbor were looking at a downed palm tree when they noticed two small owlets on the ground. A closer inspection revealed two more babies inside the nest hole. The four owlets were contained in a cage while they figured out how to get them help.

After much coordination between concerned residents in Cape Coral and Naples, and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer, the four owlets arrived at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital late at night. All four babies were uninjured but were hungry and eagerly hand-fed small bites of mice.

The next day, Tim Thompson, one of our volunteer raptor re-nesters, went to Cape Coral to re-nest the owlets using a screech owl box he constructed. Tim enlisted the help of the homeowner who had found the owlets. Together they secured the owl box on a palm tree near where the original nest tree stood and placed the four babies inside.

The homeowner agreed to check the nest box first thing in the morning to see if the parents returned  unfortunately, they didn't. The nest box was undisturbed with no parents in sight.

Again we enlisted the help of our volunteers  this time Ron and Gaylene Vasaturo were recruited to retrieve the nest box and the owlets. Back at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital the owlets were settled in an animal intensive care unit and hand fed. These babies will be raised at the Wildlife Hospital until they are old enough to survive on their own.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved with this case, it truly is an example of people coming together, no matter the distance, to help animals in need. Although our re-nesting was unsuccessful, it was worth trying. Every baby deserves a chance to be reunited with its parents so it may grow up in the wild. We successfully raise orphans at our facility but nothing compares to the protection and skills a wild animal baby receives and learns from its parents.

If you find a young animal that appears orphaned, please call the wildlife hospital for immediate assistance. We will analyze the situation and decide the appropriate course of action.

Recent Releases

A red rat snake, nine eastern cottontails, an ovenbird, a northern cardinal, a grey squirrel, a diamondback terrapin, six Virginia opossums, two northern mockingbirds, a royal tern, a brown thrasher, four common grackles, a boat-tailed grackle, a mourning dove and a peninsula cooter were released this past week.

Under Construction

Our outdoor wildlife viewing area is temporarily closed to the public while our new outdoor animal recovery enclosures and guest education areas are constructed. Visitors to the Conservancy can continue to experience the nursery viewing window and wildlife rehabilitation exhibits throughout the Nature Center. Thank you for your understanding and patience while we improve our patients' recovery areas.

Opportunities to Help

Please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, memberships and donations are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida's water, land, wildlife and future.

Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239-262-2273 or see conservancy.org.
By Daily News Staff

North Naples

Authorities have arrested a Tampa man in connection with a shooting of a marked Collier County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle in January.

Benjamin Carl Piccirilli Zuk, 20, formerly of North Naples, was arrested May 6 by Hillsborough County deputies on a Collier County Sheriff's Office warrant charging him with criminal mischief exceeding $1,000, a felony.

The Collier patrol vehicle was parked in the Bermuda Isles community at Vanderbilt Beach and Livingston roads in North Naples, where it was found with two gunshots to the front passenger door slightly below the window about 1 p.m. Jan. 21, according to reports.

The patrol vehicle was a ghost car with subdued markings, assigned to the Collier Safety and Traffic Enforcement Bureau.

Zuk also faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief exceeding $200 in connection with a similar incident involving a civilian vehicle that had been shot in North Naples, according to the Sheriff's Office report

In that incident, the rear window of a 1997 Jeep was shattered and a small bullet hole was found in the windshield. The owner had parked the Jeep near the pool in the Quail Woods community Jan. 21 and found the damage when he returned to it Jan. 25.

Deputies arrested Zuk the night of Jan. 21 on unrelated marijuana possession charges. They said a search of his vehicle turned up a handgun, which was put into evidence.

Detectives submitted bullets taken from the Collier patrol car; a bullet, fragments and shell casing from the Jeep; and the handgun found in Zuk's vehicle to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for testing.

Detectives received notification April 1 from FDLE that the bullets from the patrol car, as well as the fragments and shell casing from the Jeep, came from the handgun found in Zuk's vehicle.

Detectives submitted a request April 26 to the State Attorney's Office for a warrant to arrest Zuk in both cases.
By Daily News Staff

A woman injured in the SUV rollover that killed three other Immokalee residents last weekend in Flagler County died Thursday from her injuries, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Maribel Velasquez Perez, 25, died in Florida Hospital Flagler, where she was admitted after the Saturday crash.

She was traveling with six Immokalee neighbors.

Three of them  Adonias Gonzalez Vasquez, 17; Roberto V. Morales, 19; and Vigai Lopez Roblero, 22  also died after the crash.

The other occupants  William I. Lopez, 4; Mario Lopez Roblero, 25; and Esterbano Perez Roblero, 18  were sent to different hospitals in critical or serious condition.

Velasquez and Mario Lopez Roblero were heading with their son, William Lopez, to North Carolina to work on a blueberry harvest, said Gloria Padilla, area coordinator at Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

She said the child was registered in the association's child care program and that his parents, farm workers, had lived in Immokalee for a long time.

RCMA is accepting donations on behalf of the family, Padilla said.
Senator Garrett Richter gives the 2016 class dedication during the Take Stock in Children Graduation at Bower Chapel in Moorings Park on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff)

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The race to fill a state Senate seat covering Collier and Lee counties has attracted big money, with more than $1.8 million raised so far by the two candidates and the political action committees that support them.

So far, state Rep. Matt Hudson of Naples is leading the way, having raised more than $430,000 for his senate race, campaign finance reports show. Nearly $644,000 more is available to support Hudson's campaign through the Making the Right Call for Florida PAC, a committee he chairs.

State Rep. Kathleen Passidomo of Naples has raised more than $400,000 for her senate campaign, while the PAC that supports her  Working Together for Florida  has more than $130,000 available, campaign finance reports show.

Hudson and Passidomo, both Republicans, are running to succeed Sen. Garrett Richter, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. The two Republicans will face each other in the Aug. 30 primary.

"It's going to be an expensive race," Passidomo said.

Frank Terrafirma, a Tallahassee political consultant helping two House candidates running for Passidomo and Hudson's former seats, said this much money for a state senate race in today's political climate is normal, thanks to a supreme court case that allowed unlimited funds to be raised through PACs as long as there is a strategic firewall between it and the candidate's campaign. Terrafirma also said the money represents the importance of a Republican candidate for a seat in the GOP controlled Florida senate.

"There are 26 Republican seats out of 40 total, so those 26 people run the senate. Every one of them has a lot of power," he said.

Since January, Passidomo's fundraising has picked up. She's been endorsed by both Richter and Dudley Goodlette, a former state representative and current chairman of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. While neither candidate raised money during February, when the Legislature was in session for the entire month, she raised $80,121 compared to Hudson's $33,814 in January, March and April. These numbers exclude a $100,000 contribution Passidomo made to herself in April.

It's unclear in Passidomo's campaign reports what industries favor her. Many of her donors list themselves as retired or as lawyers, which is her occupation as well. But she has pulled in at least $45,154 from the real estate industry, according to a review of donor occupations in campaign finance reports and donors whose occupations were identified by the Naples Daily News. John Passidomo, her husband, is a real estate lawyer who represents developers and land owners.

She said most of her contributions come from her district and from friends and family.

"I didn't feel comfortable going to lobbyists in Tallahassee when we were in session because they were about to vote on [my] stuff," Passidomo said.

Passidomo has raised the majority of her campaign money from this area: $289,120 from Naples and $23,350 from Marco Island. She added that now that session is over, lobbyists from Tallahassee are fair game.

Hudson who served as speaker pro tempore and chair of the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, has raised $58,256 from Tallahassee-based donors and more than $60,000 from Collier and Lee donors, according to campaign finance reports. He raised at least $137,000 from individuals, trade groups and PACS representing the health care industry, according to occupations listed on the report and donors whose occupations were identified by the Daily News.

Over all, his campaign has received $130,793 from physicians, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals, according to the Daily News analysis. He also received another $120,870 from social services including nursing homes, behavioral health, and child services.
As lawmakers negotiated how much to spend fighting Zika, Florida's chief executive, Governor Rick Scott was on Capitol Hill Wednesday pushing for a comprehensive plan to combat the mosquito-borne disease that can cause birth defects. As of Wednesday, Florida had 109 cases of the mosquito-borne illness or about one in five cases of the total diagnosed on the U.S. mainland. (USA Today)

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By Ledyard King, USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON  Gov. Rick Scott, battling a rising number of Zika cases in Florida, urged fellow Republicans in Congress on Wednesday to move quickly on a plan to combat the fast-spreading disease.

As Scott lobbied Florida GOP lawmakers to pass a comprehensive strategy, agreement seemed near on a $1.1 billion compromise that would fall short of the $1.9 billion President Barack Obama is seeking. Lawmakers said a bill could be complete later this week.

The mosquito-borne disease has been linked to serious birth defects and a variety of neurological conditions, including a form of paralysis called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

"We need to prepare before we have the crisis," Scott told reporters. "I don't know what the right bill is. I don't know what the right amount is, whether it's $1.1 billion or $1.9 billion. But we need to come together now to get this done."

The president's request has stalled in Congress for weeks, forcing federal health organizations to pull from other accounts, including anti-Ebola efforts.

"You can't sustain that for much longer," said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. "If we don't get the money that the president has asked for, that is going to have a very serious negative impact on our ability to get the job done and to do it as quickly as we possibly can."

Critics say the administration hasn't been transparent enough with its request, and they question whether the full amount is needed. Others say at least a portion should be offset by cuts in other programs.

As of Wednesday, Florida had 112 cases of the mosquito-borne illness or about one in five cases of the nearly 500 diagnosed in the continental U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All those cases have involved people who contracted the disease outside the country. The 112 cases include three reported Wednesday.

The Gulf Coast, which is warm, wet and located close to Puerto Rico, where Zika is widespread, is expected to be the first area of the mainland to see locally transmitted cases, Fauci said.

But that doesn't mean other areas of the country are safe. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that carry Zika can be found in some 30 states, Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio warned on the Senate floor Wednesday.

"This is a looming public health crisis," he said. "The time to act has come."

Unlike some of his conservative colleagues, Rubio isn't demanding that money be found elsewhere to offset the cost of addressing Zika.

Scott, who has often touted his credentials as a fiscal conservative, said he agrees.

"I understand the need to watch how you spend money," he said. "But this is an emergency. We want the funding as fast as possible."

USA TODAY reporter Susan Page contributed to this report.

Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com; Twitter: @ledgeking
Zen Asian BBQ is celebrating The Summer of Ramen in Naples-- a celebration of all types of Ramen.



Beginning May 16, the restaurant will offer Ramen specials inspired by Chef Kokos recent visit to Japan where he gained inspiration for new menu items. In addition to Chef Koko's famous Hokkaido Ramen, specials will include Shio (salt), Shoyo (soy sauce), Miso, Tonkotso (pork) and Tsukemen (broth and noodles separate with noodles dipped into broth). Toppings include: Chashu pork, chicken, pork belly, seafood, vegetables, Kimchi and Nori. A Ramen Tasting Menu also will be offered at a special price.



Zen Asian BBQs menu features Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Korean dishes created by Master Chef Koko who trained with Iron Chef Morimoto and spent five years in Japan fine-tuning his culinary expertise. Every dish includes high quality, fresh ingredients and all of Zens noodles are made in-house to order.



Located at 10823 Tamiami Trail North, Zen Asian BBQ is open from 11:30 am  3 p.m. for lunch and from 5 p.m.  12 a.m. for dinner. The restaurant also offers lunch and dinner delivery in 60 minutes or less via Naples Express Meals. To place an order online, go to NaplesExpressMeals.com or call Naples Express Meals at 239-949-7117. For more information and menus, please visit www.eatatzen.com and check out Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at zenasianbbq.



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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.
Lorna Gallagher from Bansha and Fiona Ryan from Knockavilla, Dundrum have been together for nine years. They had their Civil Partnership ceremony in 2014 and now live in Monard. They are both hoping for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum.

Lorna Gallagher from Bansha and Fiona Ryan from Knockavilla, Dundrum have been together for nine years. They had their Civil Partnership ceremony in 2014 and now live in Monard. They are both hoping for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum.

We first met at work in Johnson & Johnson in Cashel. I was over security and I met Fiona in 2006 when she came in looking for security experience after finishing a security studies course in college, explained Lorna. We were inseparable and she moved into the house I had bought a few months earlier just three weeks after we met. We worked the same hours and lived together so we spent 24 hours a day together and it still isnt enough. We are so close and have such respect for each other.

The couple booked their civil partnership through the HSE for the morning of May 9, 2014 to take place in Raheen House, Clonmel followed by the reception in Ballykisteen House Hotel. We got a call at 3pm on May 8th, the day before, saying that the registrar was sick and couldnt perform our civil partnership, said Laura. We were told that the only way we could have the civil partnership ceremony was to drive to Waterford city that evening before 5.30pm before they finished for the day. We had no choice as we had 50 guests arranged for Ballykisteen the next day. We got in the car and drove to Waterford as quick as we could for the most uncomfortable unromantic twenty minutes of our lives. Two elderly ladies read out a piece of paper to us in a meeting room of the Care-Doc offices in Waterford city. That was our Civil Partnership ceremony and this is why we deserve a yes vote on May 22, just to be able to show our love and be treated as equal and not second-class citizens to heterosexuals. We are so happy for straight couples and most of our friends are straight but they were horrified at experience with the Civil Partnership Ceremony in Waterford, she said.

For our reception in Ballykisteen Hotel the staff treated us like royalty and it really made us feel like equals, which is what we deserve. Fiona and I have respect for all ages, religions, nationalities and sexual orientation, so why should it be any difference the other way around? At the reception, Fionas 85 year-old grandfather Thomas Toomey from Dualla made a speech. It brought tears to all of our eyes as he is the only living grandparent on both sides and he said, Well, I can leave this life knowing I was at a gay wedding. said Lorna.

Lorna and Fionas guests, of all ages and nationalities came together to celebrate their partnership in what they saw was as normal as a straight couples celebration. The girls very best friend, Albert Lisiak, who is Polish living in Cashel for almost ten years, also made a great speech.

Both Fiona and Lorna told their parents they were gay when they were 17-years old. We both have fantastic parents and they said that our civil partnership was the most amazing and romantic day they ever spent and that they have never seen us as happy, said Lorna.

Lornas sister Tanya has a seven year-old son called James. He heard his aunt discussing the gay marriage referendum and said, Auntie Lolla, I dont get this gay marriage thing at all. Well you love each other and whats the big deal and why are people voting on what you are allowed to do? Anyone can marry anyone if they love each other? I dont get the big deal about it at all.

Lorna explained that since the Civil Partnership ceremony her and Fiona say they are married. It sounds like we are second class citizens when we have to say oh we are civil partners - it just doesnt sound equal or fair and that is all we ask is to be equal. A yes vote would change this. We are just normal people who have normal lifestyles and a yes vote would make us, along with every gay person in Ireland, very happy and it would mean our first anniversary of our Civil Partnership would be around the date of history being made in Ireland. It would show the rest of the world that we are a very fair and equal rights country. A yes vote says the stigma is lifted and we would feel like a united country to show love for all relationships and respect others wishes to just live happily ever after.

Fiona feels very strongly for a yes vote. A yes vote would mean that future teenagers growing up wont feel the need to move to a big city or another country just to live their lives where it is more socially acceptable, instead of staying closer to home with family and friends who accept them for the person that they know and love, and not to judge them based on who they choose to fall in love with. We are all the same and people should not judge us once we are happy and are in loving relationships.

Lorna and Fiona love children and are planning to start a family of their own very soon.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Romanias contributions to Allied security in Bucharest on Thursday (12 May 2016). Meeting with President Klaus Werner Iohannis, Mr. Stoltenberg commended Romania for its contributions to Black Sea security, its commitment to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP and its continued participation in NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Calling Romania a steadfast Ally, Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that NATO is committed to Romanias security.

The Secretary General thanked Romania for hosting important NATO assets, including the Multinational Division South-East Headquarters and a NATO Force Integration Unit in Bucharest. Both Headquarters will boost our ability to plan and exercise, and to reinforce if needed, he said. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that Romania also makes an important contribution to NATOs Ballistic Missile Defence system, hosting an Aegis Ashore site in Deveselu. This helps protect European Allies against missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area, he said. The Secretary General added that Romania is playing a key part in projecting stability beyond its borders, in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. He also paid tribute to the two Romanian officers who were recently killed in Kandahar in the service of their duties.

In their talks, President Iohannis and the Secretary General discussed key objectives for the Warsaw Summit in July, as well as the security situation in the Black Sea. Separately, Mr. Stoltenberg met with Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu and Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc. He visited the Multinational Division South-East Headquarters and participated in the inaugural ceremony of the Aegis Ashore site in Deveselu, which represents an important US and Romanian contribution to NATO's Ballistic Missile Defence.
Britain's healthcare system has been declining for years

The shocking figures, released today by the Office for National Statistics, came from the National Survey of Bereaved People.



This is a poll in which, for the past five years, relatives have been asked about the treatment their loved one received in hospitals, care homes, hospices in England in the three months before their death.



It also included care provided in their own homes, by [general practitioners] and [healthcare] services....



Varied care depending on means

(NaturalNews) There is an old expression that goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." That essentially means you can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it.It is the same with facts and truth: You can present someone with knowledge but you can't force them to accept it. So it is with the hard realities of socialized medicine; many people will never believe it is the completely wrong approach to healthcare, no matter how many examples of failure you provide them.Take Britain's healthcare system. Once held up as a shining example of how a rich, Western nation can provide socialized, government-run healthcare, the National Health Service in Britain is deteriorating, and quickly, as noted in a recent story from the which reported recently that one in eight NHS patients are literally starved of food or water in their final days, with one-in-ten dying in agony with too little pain relief.In addition, according to official government records , nearly one-quarter of families have said their relatives were not provided adequate nutrition in their last days, while 13 percent reported that their loved ones were deprived of food, and 12 percent said water was withheld.What's more, nearly 20 percent said that hospital personnel  doctors and nurses who are very likely overworked and understaffed  treated patients with respect and dignity only "some of the time" or "never," families say.Ten percent rated the care their relatives received overall as "poor."Not good for a nation that touts its healthcare system as superior to those in the U.S. and elsewhere  though Obamacare has certainly movedfurther towards Britain's than the free-market, incentives-based system it used to be.Thereported further:To be sure, three-quarters of respondents rated the overall quality of end-of-life care as outstanding, excellent or good, while just 10 percent of care was rated as poor. But three-quarters support in a national system that is highly touted as a global example, when put in context, isn't that encouraging.There were some other alarming statistics too. People living in the most deprived areas of England were more likely to rate end of life care as poor  29 percent  than those living in the least-deprived regions of the country (22 percent), indicating there appears to be a drop off in quality of care for poorer residents, based solely on feedback.What's more, those who had loved ones die in a hospital were more likely to rate their care as worse than any other place of death, which seems to indicate a decline in quality of care in English hospitals for those nearing the end of their lives.Nearly one in three people said hospital care was just fair or outright poor compared to 18 percent for home care."The survey revealed a quarter of families claim their relative was denied food and drink before their death," the news site noted.There are additional reports dating back a few years documenting Britain's declining quality of healthcare, which you can reader here here and here
Putting 'increased cancer risk' in context

Get some sun

(NaturalNews) A substantial new study has found that women who received more "active sunlight exposure" were at far less risk for cardiovascular disease, meaning they are likely to liver longer, healthier lives.The study , published in March in the, found that the avoidance of direct sun could actually be as harmful to a person as smoking As reported by, the study was conducted by Swedish researchers who studied 30,000 women, assessing the differences in sun exposure as a risk factor for all-cause mortality. The 20-year study involved the Melanoma in Southern Sweden (MISS) sampling of women aged 2564, and recruited into the study from 1990 to 1992.When sun exposure habits were analyzed using modern survival statistics, researchers made two major observations:--; and--Cancer risk tends to increase with biological age, and as such, the longer a person lives, the higher their cancer risk. "Therefore,"noted, "because increased sunlight exposure actually increases your longevity , it will also appear to increase your risk of cancer. But this does not necessarily mean that sunlight is intrinsically 'carcinogenic,' which is commonly assumed."Researchers have long known that heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. and the rest of the developed world. Since sunlight appears to reduce this most common cause of premature death  even if it increases the risk of the second-most common cause of death, cancer  the overall net affect, according to this latest research, is that a person tends to live longer. That puts the "increased cancer risk" in context.Also, as we athave previously noted, cancer misdiagnoses in particular are rampant in the U.S. and developed world. Quoting"The practice of oncology in the United States is in need of a host of reforms and initiatives to mitigate the problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of cancer, according to a working group sanctioned by the National Cancer Institute."Perhaps most dramatically, the group says that a number of premalignant conditions, including ductal carcinoma in situ and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, should no longer be called 'cancer.'"In October 2015,editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, noted that the costs associated with the cancer treatment industry had exploded, and that expensive cancer treatments like chemotherapy were being prescribed for fake diagnoses:"With $100 billion a year now being spent on toxic chemotherapy treatments that damage patients and cause 'chemo brain' side effects, a panel of cancer experts commissioned by the National Cancer Institute publicly admitted two years ago that tens of millions of 'cancer cases' aren't cancer at all."Tens of millions of people who have been diagnosed with 'cancer' by crooked oncologists -- and scared into medically unjustified but extremely profitable-- never had any sort of life-threatening condition to begin with, scientists have confirmed."Meanwhile, Adams also noted  way back in 2005  that sunlight was found to have helped prevent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but medical education did not teach that (and still doesn't)."Researchers in Australia have discovered that exposure to natural sunlight reduces the incidence of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). The researchers were trying to find out if exposure to the sun really does cause this type of cancer; instead, they found that it actually protects people from the disease," Adams noted.The latest study showing that more sunlight, not less, enhances one's life may not be earth-shattering to Adams and others who have long known of such benefits, but these findings are likely to be very useful to anyone hearing them for the first time. And perhaps they will help you get outside more this summer.
93 percent of physicians concerned about animal antibiotic overuse

FDA not doing much to help

(NaturalNews) New Zealand veterinarians have resolved to put an end to the practice of using non-medicinal antibiotics in the country's livestock by the year 2030.Southland vet and New Zealand Veterinary Association Board Member, Mark Bryan, said that the stance stems from the vets' acknowledgement that human and animal health issues are becoming more and more interconnected.In a speech at the National Rural Health Conference that was recently held in Dunedin, Bryan said that many member vets were surprised by the announcement, which was made without consulting its members. The board felt that doing so would give vested interest groups too much opportunity to interfere in the process.However, he is quick to point out that not all antibiotic use will be halted, admitting that these drugs still play a useful role in the health of animals. Instead, they are resolving to stop using antibiotics merely for the maintenance of the animals' health.The proliferation of antibiotic-resistant infections and drug-resistant bacteria is being widely pinned on the overuse of antibiotics in humans as well as livestock. These infections kill more than 20,000 people each year in the U.S. alone. American factory farms regularly give healthy animals antibiotics to boost their growth.According to Bryan, 31 of the 41 antibiotics that the American FDA has approved for use in animals that produce food, are also considered to be medically important for use in humans. New Zealand notes a relatively low usage of antibiotics in animals when compared to many countries, giving them a strong marketing advantage. In the U.S., for example, more than 60 percent of antibiotic usage is in livestock. Antimicrobial resistance is an even bigger problem in humans than it is in animals, and the association wants to increase awareness of the problem and take an active role in curtailing it.The World Health Organization reports that food-borne diseases cause one out every 20 people to become ill each year. One third of the 420,000 people who die as a result of such illnesses are children.In the salmonellosis outbreak that hit Washington last year from infected pork, samples from 10 people who were infected showed that they were resistant to multiple drugs, including streptomycin, tetracycline, ampicillin and sulfisoxazole. Further compounding the problem, is the fact that some foods travel across long distances, spreading drug-resistant bacteria and diseases over a wide area and making it harder to contain.In the U.S., a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 93 percent of physicians find the overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture to be concerning. In addition, 85 percent of doctors said that they had treated someone who had an antibiotic-resistant infection at some point during the previous year, and 35 percent of those patients either died or suffered from serious complications as a result of the drug-resistant infection.The director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, Jean Halloran, said: "This poll underscores how important it is to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics . We're calling on supermarket chains -- which have huge leverage with meat producers -- to help end the overuse of antibiotics in livestock."While some small farmers agree that this is becoming a problem, and are willing to reserve the use of antibiotics for only when they are truly needed, sweeping changes are only likely to come about as a result of federal action. The FDA, however, does not have the best track record when it comes to taking action to solve this problem. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently uncovered evidence showing that the FDA allowed 18 antibiotics for animals to stay on the market, despite being aware that they presented a "high risk" of contributing to human drug-resistant infections. NRDC attorney Avinash Kar says that this failure is part of "a larger pattern of delay and inaction in tackling livestock drug use that goes back four decades."Unfortunately, the food we eat often contains many concerning ingredients and components that we are not aware of. That's why Mike Adams, the Health Ranger , decided to test various foods in his state-of-the-art laboratory, and write the book Food Forensics , to expose this important issue to everyone who is concerned about their health.
'Not in my backyard'

Radiation exposure linked to cancer

(NaturalNews) Australia is mulling over the construction of a gigantic nuclear waste storage facility in the southern part of the country, according to a Royal Commission report that was published this week.South Australia is sparsely populated, and houses one of the biggest uranium deposits on the planet. Nuclear advocates feel it is the ideal site for a nuclear power plant as well as a nuclear waste dump.A multi-national facility of this magnitude would bring the region a huge influx of cash. In fact, estimates place the potential economic benefits over the course of the next 120 years at $73.5 billion for the region, and another $188 billion for the government, which would largely come from other countries paying for their nuclear waste disposal.In addition, the facility is expected to create 4,500 full-time jobs for its construction, and 600 full-time jobs for its operation.The Australian government is supporting the commission's report, and is ready to work with South Australia if they opt to go forward with the plan.The Director General of the World Nuclear Association, Agneta Rising, said, "The existence of a multi-national waste facility based in South Australia would grant a welcome option for many countries operating nuclear facilities today. Far from it being the case that there is 'no solution' to nuclear waste, we are now seeing multiple viable alternatives."Some people believe that gathering nuclear waste together in one site makes it easier to secure, control and keep track of, minimizing the possibilities of widespread radiation exposure across multiple cities, and reducing the chances of these dangerous materials getting into the wrong hands and used in a dirty bomb.However, others feel that the health concerns of radiation exposure are simply not worth it. Campaigner Dave Sweeney of the Australian Conservation Foundation said, "The promise of dollar signs seems to have blinded the commission to the known danger signs. High-level radioactive waste is a long-term environmental threat, not a short-term business opportunity." Nuclear waste disposal is a tricky proposition, and has long been at the heart of opposition to nuclear power by environmental groups. Nuclear waste is currently piling up in the U.S. The government was required to come up with a long-term plan for the storage of nuclear waste produced by energy generation as well as its weapons programs, but political maneuvering has resulted in nearly all of the spent uranium fuel being stored on the sites of the reactors that used it.Nevada's Yucca Mountain was selected as the site for a national nuclear waste repository . Opposition from locals and President Obama has prevented the plan from getting off the ground, even as the state has collected billions of dollars from electricity customers and taxpayers for allowing the project to take place.A Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) was put into action in Carlsbad, New Mexico, in an underground facility for storing radiation-contaminated materials from the production of nuclear weapons.In early 2014, workers at WIPP were exposed to radiation after a storage barrel there exploded, causing radioactive material to spew from the mine and up to the surface. Staff members were blamed for the incident for not following procedures, leading to questions about how safely the government can store nuclear waste.Meanwhile, high rates of cancer have been noted in the area surrounding St. Louis's Coldwater Creek, which was contaminated by nuclear waste.Exposure to radiation can lead to a number of cancers, especially leukemia, and it can take several years to develop after exposure has taken place.While iodine can be used to help people prepare for nuclear disasters, most people do not want nuclear plants or nuclear waste anywhere near their neighborhood, no matter how many billions of dollars or jobs it can generate.
Arctic didn't melt, polar bears are thriving

Kilimanjaro's snow hasn't disappeared

Extreme weather has failed to materialize

Despite false claims, Gore grows richer from climate change myth

Gore accused of massive fraud

(NaturalNews) Ten years after the release of Al Gore's, none of the film's dire climate change predictions have come to pass. However, in the decade since the documentary was produced, its creator has raked in millions of dollars from the entire "global warming" scam, and is now poised to become " our first carbon billionaire ."In the 2006 film, Gore made a number of wild claims regarding what we could expect to see happening over the next few years due to global warming, but virtually all of his alarmist prognostications have turned out to be false.For instance, the film predicted that that the Arctic could become ice-free within the next decades, and that polar bears would begin drowning. Both claims were untrue.As reported by"In the mid- to late-2000s, Gore repeatedly predicted that an ice-free Arctic Ocean was coming soon. But as usual, his fortune-telling was wrong. By 2014, Arctic ice had grown thicker and covered a greater area than it did when he made his prediction."And the polar bears?reports:"A new study by Canadian scientists once again debunks the notion polar bears are currently being harmed by global warming. Researchers with Canada's Lakehead University found 'no evidence' polar bears are currently threatened by warming ."Another prediction made in the film was that Mt. Kilimanjaro would be snow-free "within the decade." But in fact:"In 2014, ecologists actually monitoring Kilimanjaro's snowpack found it was not even close to being gone. It may have shrunk a little, but ecologists were confident it would be around for the foreseeable future."In, Gore also forecasted that storms would begin occurring more often and at higher intensities.Wrong again, Al:"Gore's claim is more hype than actual science, since storms aren't more extreme since 2006. In fact, not even findings from the United Nations's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) support Gore's claim."The IPCC found in 2013 there 'is limited evidence of changes in extremes associated with other climate variables since the mid-20th century.' The IPCC also found 'no significant observed trends in global tropical cyclone frequency over the past century' and '[n]o robust trends in annual numbers of tropical storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes counts have been identified over the past 100 years in the North Atlantic basin.'"Gore should probably take these findings seriously since he shared the Nobel Prize in 2007 with the IPCC for its work on global warming."Although Gore's claims have been thoroughly debunked by a number of experts, he has been quietly amassing a huge fortune based on the climate change scam.reports:"Gore's wealth went from $700,000 in 2000 to an estimated net worth of $172.5 million by 2015 thanks to his environmentalist activism. Gore and the former chief of Goldman Sachs Asset Management made nearly $218 million in profits between 2008 and 2011 from a carbon trading company they co-founded. By 2008, Gore was able to put a whopping $35 million into hedge funds and other investments."There is a growing consensus that Al Gore has perpetrated a massive fraud against the American public, and many believe that he should be held accountable.From"It has been reported that 30,000 scientists, including a top-tier leader of the science community as well as the founder of The Weather Channel, have come forward to sue Al Gore for fraud. Al Gore has made massive profits in the promotion of the global warming mythology, and he played a key role in getting the 'Cap and Trade' legislation passed. ..."Perhaps this lawsuit will finally give the thousands of 'dissenting' scientists a voice again."Ten years later, Al Gore needs to finally be exposed for the lies that have made him a very rich man.
When the United Nations named 2016 the International Year of Pulses, I have no doubt that many of us in the food and beverage industry (myself included) werent familiar with this culinary term. However, upon doing some research into this hot topic, I quickly came to the realization that pulses are the next group of in-demand ingredients because they leverage all of the biggest trends in the beverage industry.

So, what are pulses exactly and why are they so well positioned for growth? Pulses are a subgroup of legumes that are harvested for the dry seed. The most notable pulses are pinto, kidney, navy and lima beans, lentils and chickpeas. Theyve gained popularity because they align with the growing segment of consumers that value health, sustainability, and are vegetable-forward eaters.

Currently, pea protein is the most common way that pulses are used in beverages. Its utilized in non-dairy and plant-based beverages because it is allergen-free, available in non-GMO, has an established supply chain, and is priced competitively. Pea protein and the entire category of pulses are positioned for growth in the marketplace because they align with the following top three consumer values:

Clean-label: Though the nutritional profiles of individual pulses vary, as a group, they offer key nutrients like protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber. There is already a wide variety of innovative snacks that utilize pulses and this has paved the way for product developers to create beverages with these low-fat legumes. Beverages that incorporate pulses are well positioned for some of the hottest claims, including gluten-free, cholesterol-free, low-fat, and significant source of fiber and protein. Studies have shown that people who consume at least a half a cup of pulses daily have higher intakes of nutrients like fiber, protein, calcium and iron, as well as lower intakes of total fat. Fiber in particular is a critical nutrient in weight maintenance and weight loss, and pulses can help contribute to consumers achieving their weight goals.

Sustainability: According to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pulses are a more sustainable source of protein than most animal sources, and also have the ability to positively impact climate change. Pulses are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into the nitrogen compounds that other plants use, which means that they are able to make soil more fertile. This allows soil rich in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to sustain more plant growth. Additionally, the development of new breeds of pulses from the already genetically diverse group can yield pulses that are climate resilient and rely less on synthetic fertilizers. The FAO suggests these attributes contribute to farming methods that are more sustainable because of an ultimate decrease of greenhouse gas emissions.

Veg-centric: Theres been a recent shift in consumer focus from animal sources to plant-based proteins, as more consumers choose meat as a side dish instead of a main. As consumers eat more vegetables, they are finding variety in the preparation of this group of produce. Vegetables are being smoked, fried, fermented and pickled. Therefore, it follows suit that vegetables and other plant-based ingredients (enter pulses) will become more prominent in the beverage category. Instead of drinks relying primarily on greens like kale and spinach, beverages that highlight beets, cucumbers, romaine and celery have captured some of the market share.

Like most functional ingredients, pulses present formulation challenges to product developers. Food scientists need to find the right balance between taste, texture, appearance and mouthfeel at a price point that consumers can afford. As consumer demand for clean-label and functional products remains strong, I expect that within the next year there will be major improvements in the quality and assortment of pulse-based ingredients.

For more details on whats next in functional food and beverage category, please reach out to me at [email protected]. Id love to hear from you
Is Queensland ready to legalize medicinal cannabis?

The medicinal cannabis also known as marijuana is said to be legalized in Queensland. ABC News Australia reports that Health Minister Cameron Dick will introduce new laws that allow the usage of medicinal marijuana. The new laws aim to establish a framework for the legal use of medicinal cannabis. The new laws have been brought up because the public has showed overwhelming support for the change.

The federal Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is expected to make a decision about whether to reschedule the cannabis as a medicine by the end of the month. Once it was agreed to be legal, it will be effective on June 1.

The draft of the Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016 was released in March. According to Sky News, Mr. Dick said that 96 percent of the 1,052 people who had been surveyed supported the draft.

"To manage medicinal cannabis use in future, particularly if patient demand for this type of treatment increases, a more specific, transparent and robust regulatory framework is required," Mr. Dick told the Australian parliament on May 11, Tuesday.

The Queensland government approved Australia's first medically-supervised prescription for medicinal cannabis for an individual patient last week. The new legislation will not allow people to grow their own cannabis, even for therapeutic purposes according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Palaszczuk said the new legislation was an opportunity for local businesses to supply medicinal cannabis, and the role of the government was to help them within the Commonwealth's licensing scheme.

"I have been moved by the stories of families with young children with epilepsy, suffering life-threatening seizures, and what they have to go through on a daily basis," Palaszczuk said.

Meanwhile, a father of a young cancer patient, Adam Koessler, was fined $500 because he supplied his two-year-old daughter Rumer Rose with a dangerous drug, according to recent report of ABC AU. Rumer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer neroblastoma in 2014.

Koessler told the court that researched the benefits of medicinal cannabis on the internet, and sourced the drug from northern New South Wales and the United States. He put cannabis oil into Rumer's food.

According to Koessler, when the girl ate the food with cannabis oil, her appetite increased. However, the girl Koessler confirmed on his Facebook that his daughter passed away.
Beekeepers across United States are extremely alarmed with the continued decline in bee colonies even in summer when bees are expected to have increased their population.

"We're now in the second year of high rates of summer loss, which is cause for serious concern," said Dennis van Engelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and project director for the Bee Informed Partnership, said in a statement.

"Some winter losses are normal and expected. But the fact that beekeepers are losing bees in the summer, when bees should be at their healthiest, is quite alarming," added the professor in the same statement.

According to the Preliminary Colony Loss Results of Bee Informed Partnership, beekeepers reported a total of 44.1 percent loss in the bee colonies they are managing over the course of last year, up by 3.5 percent from the 40.6 percent of the precious study year (2014-2015).

Beekeepers reported that the winter loss rate of bee colonies have reached up to 28.1 percent, an increase of 5.2 percent from the past winter, while summer loss rate also trailed to 28.1 percent from 25.3 percent last summer.

The report was conducted by Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The continued decreases of bee colonies across the United States are attributed to natural and man-made actions. Many scientists pinpoints varroa mite, a lethal parasite that can easily spread between colonies, as the main cause of bee colonies decline. The use of pesticides in agricultural land and malnutrition caused by changing land use patterns are also considered to be major contributor in the decline of colonies.

The survey clearly shows that the honey bee colonies are in such a bad shape. Bees are considered to be vital in pollination. With the decrease of their colonies, flower and some fruit industries that solely rely on bees for pollination will also received some damage.


The climate change superstar has done it again. On his official Instagram account, Leonardo DiCaprio reposted a photo by The Weather Channel, which is about a shipdock in an apparent dried surface of Lake Urmia in Iran.

The post garnered 307,000 likes and earned him a 'climate change hero' status in Iran. His repost was also called one of the famous 'regram' on Instagram.

A news report said that his 'regram' has caused a flooding of support and attention to Iran's shrinking and dying Lake Urmia. DiCaprio has several climate change organizations under his belt and also an appointed Climate Change representative by the United Nations.

Lake Urmia has always been a climate change dilemma in Iran because it appears to be shrinking. It used to be the largest salt water lake in the Middle East but due to climate change, irresponsible infrastructures (like dams) and drought, it has started to shrink and dry up. It is evidently shown in the photo reposted by Leonardo DiCaprio. For years, Iranian environmentalists have lobbied for support from local and international groups to help them save the lake but gained very little attention.

Thanks to their new environmental hero, Leonardo DiCaprio, all eyes from all over the world are now directed towards Lake Urmia.

After the photo was regrammed by DiCaprio, Twitter was flooded with thanks and gratitude from Iranians and foreign environmentalists alike, expressing their appreciation towards the Oscar winning actor who took notice of the problem in Iran.

Famous Twitter reactions came from local TV stations, the UN and even from some government agencies in Iran.

Iran's Department of Environment thanked DiCaprio for drawing the attention of the world.

Because of DiCaprio's leadership, some Iranian celebrities also stood up to raise the awareness of their beloved Lake Urmia, making this a collective effort to save the shrinking lake.

Now there is an ongoing environmental revolution in Iran, and the National Lake Urmia Restoration Program (NLURP) has the actor to thank. According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, DiCaprio is invited by NLURP to personally visit Lake Urmia.

Eurasia Review quoted Hadi Bahadori, the head of the Committee for the Restoration of Lake Urmia, when he said "We now have cooperation from Japan, Switzerland and Australia in our efforts to save the lake and we hope that these kinds of social movements will trigger a dramatic rise in sensitivity and awareness among people all over the world regarding the state of Lake Urmia."

The Iranian government hasn't received a reply on whether or not DiCaprio has accepted the offer, but if in case Leonardo decides to fly to Iran; it will mean more exposure and awareness raised for the restoration of the shrinking Lake Urmia.
SpaceX have landed back on Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 pm this Wednesday. NASA said the SpaceX Dragon is carrying critical NASA 'science'.

Dragon recovery team on site after nominal splashdown in Pacific. pic.twitter.com/824c3YpaYG  SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 11, 2016

According to NASA's report, SpaceX Dragon was detached from the ISS from the Canadarm2 dock at exactly 9:19am of May 11.

Dragon's carrying back to Earth thousands of pounds of science and research cargo for @NASA. https://t.co/XbCVPGwLuR pic.twitter.com/3fjTSYSlOv  SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 11, 2016

SpaceX Dragon, Elon Musk's brainchild, went to the ISS for resupply mission. And it has successfully detached from the ISS and re-entered the planet at "about 261 miles southwest of Long Beach, California, with more than 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo, science and technology demonstration samples from the International Space Station" said NASA in a press release.

After the 'delivery' of NASA materials SpaceX will be returned to SpaceX facility in Texas.Astronaut, Tim Peake, gave us a preview of how the spacecraft looked like before embarking on a journey back to Earth.

The spacecraft's cargo also included human research samples of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. These are integral for on-going studies including Cardio Ox and Twin Study. NASA said the samples will provide "insights relevant for NASA's Journey to Mars as the agency learns more about how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, isolation, radiation and the stress of long-duration spaceflight".

The resupply spacecraft also delivered data from other studies conducted in microgravity inside the ISS including data for the research on the field of nanotechnology like the Microchannel Diffusion. NASA explained that this technology "examined how microparticles interact with each other and their delivery channel in the absence of gravitational forces."

Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is the only spacecraft yet to bring that much amount of cargo to space and back to Earth. During the resupply mission, it has carried BEAM, the first inflatable habitable module docked on the ISS and almost 7,000 pounds of supplies and scientific cargo.

According to SpaceX, the Dragon completed its 8th resupply mission to the ISS called the Commercial Resupply Services 8 (CRS 8). From their website, they said that during re-entry, the spacecraft carried "3,700 lbs of cargo, including 1,300 lbs of science."
The European Space Agency (ESA) has expressed their interest to build a moon village on the moon.

Of course, other agencies have heightened interest on the moon, too. Because of that intensive research were focused on the moon and the latest finding is that the moon caves of lava tubes which looks like huge pits or hole on the moon could protect the astronauts.

According to Discovery, the large pit of the Marius Hills on moon could be a lava tube also known as a skylight. These holes could provide shelter for astronauts from outside elements in space. The approximately 213 feet across with 262 to 289 feet depth lava tube is one of the few considered to be a possible skylight on the surface of the moon.

Based from the latest result of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft, tasked to map the gravitational field on the moon, they found out that there are quite a number of possible lava tubes on the surface of the moon. The holes on the ground could provide shelter for crew members of even serve as a space to hold important supplies.

NASA said "GRAIL's engineering objectives are to enable the science objectives of mapping lunar gravity and using that information to increase understanding of the Moon's interior and thermal history" in their official website. There are two GRAIL spacecraft launch to monitor the lunar activities of the moon. But aside from doing its tasks, they have also discovered the potential moon caves.

It could be a protective lunar base says Space.com. In the same reported, it was stated that because of the recent findings that the moon might have water and water ice, astronauts could stay longer on the moon and establishing ESA's dream 'moon village' might just be possible.

Scientist believe that these moon caves can be used as shelter or storage because it is beneath the surface and provides a safe escape from debris or other space elements passing through the moon in various, sometimes risky, speed.

Some scientist believes that the lava tubes could be interconnected underneath that's why they wanted to do a more in-depth study on them.

"We are really pushing GRAIL data to see anything at all... We only see them on the passes of the GRAIL spacecraft when they went quite low over the surface. But we are able to see the big ones" said Jay Melosh, planetary scientist.

If proven to be true, this new discovery might actually lead to longer missions on the moon and probably, a potential habitable village, too.
Tesla is probably the most popular electric car maker today with Model S and Model X about to hit the market. Elon Musk's company says their car could also be a weapon against biochemical using its air filter with Bioweapon Defense Mode. But a British company is about to challenge Tesla. Dyson, a new is said to have started developing their electric cars with the use of Solid-state batteries.

According to Gizmodo, the revelation of Dyson's electric car was actually an accident when some documents were revealed. Dyson is a British brand known for their vacuum cleaners, hairdryers and other home electronic items, that's why venturing into the electric car market is surprising. But they might just have the technology to do it. Dyson just bought a battery company last year called Sakti3.

The Guardian said that although Dyson didn't comment on the leaked documents revealing its plans to built electric cars, they said they are investing 1bn in battery technology.

Obviously, Sakti3 is a known producer of solid-state batteries. But what's the fuss all about? Well, as it turns out, solid-state batteries are safer and lasts longer compare to other types in the market today. Gizmodo added, "Though we don't yet know exactly what sort sort of energy density the company has achieved, Sakti3 claims that no other solid state batteries with ceramic electrolytes come close, and experts reckon it's already hit the 300Wh/kg mark."

Professor David Greenwood of the University of Warwick's manufacturing group said in an interview that have some excellent product engineering and some excellent marketing skills, so could they follow the same path as Tesla? Well, yes, probably they could."

Solid-state batteries have an increased energy density, the amount of power stored and is also safer because it uses sold electrolyte which isn't risky in terms of fire.

Although Dyson is yet to reveal more details about the electric car that could take down Tesla, researchers say that it will take a long time before they can develop a way to incorporate the solid-state batteries in an electric car.

But if they did found a way, and hopefully they do, it will be the end of petroleum. Like what Prof Donald Sadoway at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in an interview, "If we had batteries with 350 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) we'd have electric vehicles with 350 miles of range, and that's the end of petroleum."
A group of tourists aboard the Spirit of 1770 was forced to escape on life rafts when the 23-meter catarman became engulfed in flames and started sinking on the Great Barrier Reef off the central Queensland coast in Australia.

There were reportedly 46 people on board when a suspected explosion was heard in the engine room. Crew members were unable to contain the flames, so this prompted the tourists-majority of whom were Chinese and who couldn't swim-to flee the boat and save themselves.

According to Queensland police, 19 tourists were sent to hospitals in Bundaberg and Gladstone to treat suspected fractures in the ribs, chest and back pains, and other ailments such as mild hypothermia and seasickness.

The boat returning to the town of 1770-which was named after the year British explorer James Cook and the crew of HM Endeavour landed on the stretch of coast-when the incident happened. The boat was said to be 10 nautical miles from Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef when the fire broke out at around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

All 42 passengers together with four crew evacuated the burning boat on life rafts. The passengers suffered mild hypothermia as temperatures dropped below 10 degrees that Wednesday evening, but none reportedly suffered serious injuries.

Marine rescue crews were immediately sent to locate the group of tourists but they only reached shore after several hours. Police and rescue teams successfully evacuated the group to the Toolooa boat ramp in Gladstone, where paramedics were waiting to check for injuries.

According to witnesses, the fire was the biggest thing they've ever seen and the incident was a terrifying experience for them.

This is not the first time a Spirit of 1770 had trouble out at sea. In January 2015, the boat was ferrying passengers back from Lady Musgrave Island when it got hit by a "freak wave" and smashed into the shore.
The report of a Canadian teen discovering a lost Mayan city quickly spread in the internet like wildfire attracting Mayan enthusiasts and a professional anthropologist. With its popularity, experts can't turn a blind eye on the discovery.

Experts, upon examining the site in question, suggest that the apparent linear pattern in the satellite imagery is not a Mayan city, but is more likely to be an abandoned field.

In a report from the Wired, anthropologist Thomas Garrison from USC Dornsife believes that the discovered linear features under the forest canopy are a relic of a corn field.

"The rectilinear nature of the feature and the secondary vegetation growing back within it are clear signs of a relic milpa. I'd guess it's been fallow for 10-15 years," said Garrison.

Other experts went so far as to consider the discovery of the Canadian teen to be "junk" science.

William Gadoury, 15, devised a theory that Mayans construct their cities in accordance to the stars in constellation. Gadoury purseude this theory and found 142 stars corresponding to the position of 177 Mayan Cities. When he reached the 23rd constellation, Gadoury was baffled because only two out of its three stars have a corresponding city. This made Gadoury believe the existence of a yet-to-found Mayan City.

Using satellite imagery from the CSA and Google Earth, Gadoury mapped out the position of the hidden city finding a strange linear feature suggesting human intervention.

Many experts applauded Gadaury'd discovery, but they think that we can't really rely on Mayan astrology to pinpoint the locations of their cities.

"Very few Maya constellations have been identified, and even in these cases we do not know how many and which stars exactly composed each constellation. It is thus impossible to check whether there is any correspondence between the stars and the location of Maya cities. In general, since we know of several environmental facts that influenced the location of Maya settlements, the idea correlating them with stars is utterly unlikely," Ivan Sprajc, from the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies in Slovenia, told Gizmodo.
Painting has reached new heights. Google just announced their Tilt Brush app which enabled the painter to create life-size virtual reality artworks. Using a VR lens and a console, artists can paint in a virtual canvass. Tilt Brush is a new virtual reality app which according to CNN "push the boundaries of what it (painting) can represent."

Google said with Tilt brush, an artist can paint infinitely with the space around you as the canvass. An artist can paint using a console and a VR device to see the environment. After the painting is done, the artist then can view his artwork from any angle possible, giving artists an infinite option and a multi-dimensional canvass.

Tilt Brush: Painting from a new perspective https://t.co/UfkuVFiYSU  SteamVR (@SteamVR) May 3, 2016

The console or what they call the 'digital brush' will enable artists to paint. It is connected with the HTC Vive headset which is capable of life-size, 3D paint strokes. This only means that the artworks can be as huge as an entire room.

The Tilt brush can also be used with patterns or guide objects such as a mannequin to help designers in creating 3D clothing designs.

Google also said this new technology will give the artists an experience like never before. They built a library of virtual palettes which includes fire, light and a lot more.

But the best part is that this technology can help you paint life-size artworks and installations which can even turn to a museum because the artist can actually walk within the virtual creation itself.

The tilt brush app is already available with HTC vive bundle and because it is already out in the market, artists are discovering ways to use this new amazing creative technology.

"I had this idea of what I wanted to do, but when I entered the virtual space, at that moment everything changed," says calligrapher Said Dokins in an interview with CNN. While Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada said in another interview with CNN "What really struck me was the ability that this has for this to be a platform for installations in museum and gallery space."

This new immersive artwork will pave the way to the new age of art. With virtual technology the realm and reach of art is infinite therefore the artist's imagination can fly as high as it could.
Coffee lovers have another reason to help conserve the environment. Experts predict that the climate change will also affect coffee production and in turn, will result to lower yield and even scarcity in supply of coffee beans.

Eater Magazine said that a study by MIT found out that coffee production is under threat. According to the study, if the warming of the Earth continues at this rate, 80 percent of the Arabica-coffee producing areas in Brazil and Central America will be "unsuitable to the crop by 2050, according to research by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture."

SF Gate added that the supply will be cut to 50% resulting to higher price and lower production. The agriculture industry will also suffer including the coffee farmers. Your supply of coffee as you know it is definitely at risk," said Bambi Semroc of the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International.

According to MIT Technology Review, the most company most worried about the decline in coffee production due to climate change is Starbucks. They are known to be the largest coffee seller n the world.

This is why one of the companies most worried about climate change is Starbucks, which is the largest seller of coffee worldwide. Starbucks has responded both by working with farmers to improve their ability to grow coffee in a warming climate and by trying to reduce the company's own environmental impact. The farming efforts are progressing but are far from a broad fix. The attempts to reduce Starbucks's overall greenhouse gas emissions have run into even more trouble.

Not only did they invest in studies on coffee farming and cultivation, they have a network of farmers around the globe who grow and produce their high-standard coffee beans.

MIT quoted Starbucks saying "Today 99 percent of its coffee, more than 400 million pounds each year, complies" with their own standard of coffee production.

The coffee chain is also well aware of the threat brought about by climate change. They have also invested in studies to help their farmers grow coffee in warmer conditions. They also initiated efforts to lower the environmental impact from their company.

But the efforts of one company alone isn't enough to fix the problem. MIT added that the known coffee producers like Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil and Tanzania have already "begun to shrink coffee farmer's yields."

Scientist agree on one thing, coffee is not the only crop affected by climate change, and if the warming of the planet won't stop, more crops will stop growing and might eventually lead to starvation.
After disappearing for more than a hundred years, a dalmation pelican, one of the most threatened species, has been seen at the Land's End area in Cornwall,UK.

Birdwatchers were enthralled to have witnessed the prehistoric looking bird in the British landscape.

According to Mirror UK, the bird with 11 and a half feet wingspan passed by the territory due to last weekend's humid weather.

Photographs of a majestic bird circulated on social media. Based on analyzing photos, experts conclude it might be the same species recently seen in Poland and Germany.

DALMATIAN PELICAN in Cornwall (top pics by @plemanpasty) thought to be same bird as in Poland in Apr (bottom pics) pic.twitter.com/Bzoho1rete  Rare Bird Alert (@RareBirdAlertUK) May 9, 2016

"If this bird is indeed a wild bird it would be the first ever occurrence of the species in Britain in modern times," said Brian Egan, general manager at Rare Bird Alert UK told The Herald.

He also said it might just be the first of its kind to pass by UK.

Photographer Josef Fitzgerald-Patrick described the bird as "nothing you have ever seen before." The teenager is just one of the lucky few who were able totake snaps of the iconic bird. He spent three hours sighting the bird just to get a beautiful shot of it.

Dalmatian Pelican is a red-billedbird that is native in Russia, Asia and Eastern Europe particularly at Lake Mikri Prespa in Greece.

A Goliath of a bird, it is the largest of the pelican species and one of the biggest living bird species in the world.

Because of its visible population decline, the species is classified as vulnerable, with at least 10,000 population worldwide. Former declines were primarily caused by loss of habitat, shooting and hunting.

Birdlife.org describes it as a huge whitish waterbird with silvery-white breeding lumage and yellow to purple bare skin.

Its breeding site is usually on isolated islands to avoid predators.

Twitchers who tally rare bird said it is on their lists of authentic sighting.

According to Cornwall Birding, a premier birding website the dalmatian pelican was last seen circling over Alsia Mill at 10:52 on May 12.
An extremely rare and endangered Devils Hole pupfish was found dead after three men trespassed and vandalized the Devils Hole in the Death Valley National Park.

The National Park Service has released a statement on the matter recently, saying that a multi-agency investigation has led to three men identified as responsible for the April 30 crime.

The investigation revealed that the men responsible rode a highly customized blue Yamaha Rhino. Once in the restricted area, they shot a shotgun at least 10 times on gate locks, signs and security systems. The men damaged scientific monitoring equipment but were not able to completely destroy the security cameras that filmed the crime scene.

One of the men swam in the Devils Hole, a geothermal pool that is the only naturally occurring habitat of the Devils Hole pupfish. The pupfish camera installed underwater showed feet wading in the shallow shelf, unsettling the sediments and disrupting the ecosystem for the fish, which has no known natural predators.

The three men left beer cans, vomit and a pair of boxer shorts in the scene.

Park employees found one dead pupfish floating in the water. The cause of its death is still unknown, but an initial evaluation indicated that the pupfish died during the men's trespass to its habitat.

The Devils Hole is a detached unit of the Death Valley National Park in California and the only natural habitat of the Devils Hole pupfish, or Cyprinodon diabolis. Los Angeles Times reported that the extremely rare fish grow only 1 1/2 inch long and are slow-moving and docile.

The Devils Hole pupfish is an ancient creature, and has been isolated to 10,000 to 20,000 years in the spring, NBC Los Angeles reported. A recent count revealed that there are only 115 left in the habitat.

The months of April through May are their peak spawning months, so it is possible that the intruder also crushed their eggs on the shelf.

Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity said the species, which is listed on the IUCN Red List, has been on the brink of extinction for years. "The last thing they need are these idiots running amok in the last place on Earth where they still survive," she said in the same report.

A reward of $15,000 has been offered for the men's arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the park investigators at 888-653-0009.
Chippewa County Courtrooms Branch 2 was completely filled Wednesday morning. There were even a few tears, but visitors werent there to witness any sort of sentencing. Instead, laughter, applause and congratulations filled the room as the Chippewa Falls Police Departments Lt. Matthew Kelm was sworn in as the departments new chief.

For myself and for my fellow commission members, it wasnt a hard decision at all, said Paul Peters, chairman of the Chippewa Falls Police and Fire Commission. Weve watched Matt over the years, and we knew he would be good for the city, for the department and the people of Chippewa Falls.

When Kelm enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he had already narrowed his career path to two professions: An engineer, as his father was, or a police officer.

The oldest of Walter and Ellen Kelms two sons wasnt even through his first semester of college when he decided on making law enforcement his profession. It was a decision his parents, who both attended the ceremony, fully supported. But that doesnt mean they dont worry about the new chief.

I was excited for him, but as a mom, I was a little worried. Its a dangerous profession, Ellen said. But he loved his job.

As a child, she described Matt as sort of reserved and kind of shy. Did he ever get into trouble?

He did not, Ellen said.

That we know of, Walter added with a smile.

When an opening with the Chippewa Falls Police Department came up, Walter Kelm said his son was immediately impressed with the community.

When he toured this area he loved it right away, Walter said. He loved the department, the area and the people.

One of those people was his future wife, Kerry Lemke. The two were introduced by Kerrys sister, Holly, and her husband, Chippewa Falls police officer Lee Hakes.

The Lemke sisters havent strayed far  they now live across the street from each other. Matts parents also relocated in the town of Eagle Point about a decade ago so they could be near their two grandchildren, Sam and Nora.

Hes considerate, hell work with you and not be hot-headed. Hell think things through, is how Ellen described her son.

The other person who knows the new chief best, his wife, offered this description: Hes probably one of the most honorable people that I know  straight-forward, honest and he believes in what he does and his law enforcement family, Kerry said.

Sam and Nora stood beside their father as he took the oath of honor Wednesday, and Kerry secured his police chief badge as well as helped outgoing Chief Wendy Stelter pin the collar brass on him.

Retired Police Chief Joe Coughlin, who hired Kelm as an officer in 1999, said hes looking forward to seeing where he takes the department. While he doesnt remember the specifics in that interview room almost 20 years ago, Coughlin said hes confident in Kelms abilities.

I know we hired him because we thought he was intelligent and he possesses a sense of integrity which cannot be replaced, Coughlin said. Ive always had very high regard for (Kelm) and Im very happy for him.

Of course, Kelm said he couldnt have gotten to this point in his career without Stelter, who has influenced and prepared him to step into this role and continue in the positive direction the department is headed, even if they have a ways to go still.

An office assistant has been hired and Sgt. Dave BeBeau is being promoted Friday to Kelms now-vacant lieutenant position, putting the city ahead of schedule in the hiring process and one step closer to a full staff. But the city still has at least two officer positions to fill.

The Chippewa Falls Police Department has a bright future ahead of it, Kelm said. There will certainly be challenges, but we have an excellent team here, and Im honored to lead them forward.

Lt. Brian Micolichek said hes confident in Kelm leading them because he has a similar leadership style to Stelter, so he thinks that will make the department transition much smoother.

Sgt. Ryan Douglas said he appreciates the way Kelm  who learned the trick from Stelter  informs everyone of his goals.

Hes passionate about law enforcement, and he sees us as co-leaders of the department, Douglas said. That gives us opportunities to be informed and continue to make better officers of the police department for future years.
Three officers with the Oakland Police Department have been placed on paid administrative leave as a result of a sexual misconduct investigation, a spokeswoman for the department said in a statement Wednesday.

"The Oakland Police Department will not tolerate misconduct of any kind from its employees," Officer Johnna Watson said. "The Oakland Police Department holds all employees accountable for their actions on and off duty."

Swift, fair and objective internal investigations are a priority for the department, according to Watson.

Further details about the investigation, including the names of the officers, could not immediately be confirmed.
A proposed marijuana dispensary that caters to senior citizens has been granted a permit in Berkeley.

Sue Taylor, former senior outreach coordinator at Harborside Health Center, was told during a Tuesday city council meeting she will be permitted to open Berkeley's fourth overall dispensary.

The dispensary, called iCann, is proposed for 3243 Sacramento Street in West Berkeley.

When she began the proposal process last fall, Taylor told "The Hash" podcast on East Bay Express that she wants to normalize medical marijuana for older people.

She also told the podcast cannabis-infused creams and tinctures can be particularly helpful for seniors with arthritis and other physical pain. Taylor aims to help those who have never smoked before, pointing to her 89-year-old sister-in-law who experienced relief after she rubbed some cream on her knees.

"I'm gonna eliminate the stigma from this plant and [promote] its healing part," Taylor said. "I am gonna help seniors to live a better quality of life as they age. They can have fun, they can be healthy, they deserve better."

Six applicants were vying for Berkeley's single permit. A proposal to open a dispensary called BC3 at the Berkeley retail store Amoeba Music was acknowledged as a runner-up at Tuesday's meeting by Mayor Tom Bates and three council members.

According to Billy Jam, a writer for Amoeba's website who was in attendance, Bates praised the store for its contributions to the community.

The council will discuss the possibility of issuing an additional permit at a meeting on June 15.
Caltrans has a $10 million plan to keep corrosive Bay water away from high strength rods designed to secure the tower of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge in a quake.

Brian Maroney, the chief engineer on the $6.5 billion project for Caltrans, said dealing with the various water issues on the span has been grueling, but the end of its troubles with water and corrosion may be in sight.

Theres been a lot of work and its been a long hard road, he told NBC Bay Area News. But everyone has had a sense that this is important to do.

Water first became an issue on the span when high strength steel rods that hold down vital seismic stabilizers failed in March 2013. It turned out they were stewing in water for some five years and were attacked by hydrogen from the rainwater. Hydrogen makes high strength steel brittle over time.

Caltrans spent nearly $50 million on a retrofit for the broken rods and research on whether the more than 2,000 remaining similar rods were at risk of failing when exposed to water.

Then, in 2014, water became an issue again.

Caltrans discovered that the contractor bungled the grouting of many of the 400 rods that hold the tower down to the foundation in a quake. Some rods were unprotected and others only partly sealed  and more than one quarter were now stewing in water.

The source turned out to be water both from rain and from the Bay, compounding the problems. Caltrans blamed the contractor, American Bridge/Fluor, a joint venture firm, for not properly grouting the rods to keep rainwater from getting into the sleeves.

But after the rods were drained, however, Caltrans discovered that water getting in from cracks in the foundation. Those cracks were supposed to be repaired when they were spotted during construction in 2007. But the high strength glue used to seal them apparently failed, allowing saltwater to get in.

On Thursday afternoon, a three member panel -- composed of the heads of Caltrans and the state and regional transportation agencies -- is expected to vote on Maroneys plan to seal the rods for good.

Under the proposal, it could take crews two years to systematically remove all the problem grout that currently surrounds the more than 400 rods at the foundation base, then replace it with new material.

The $10 million proposed fix comes as the $6.5 billion project is now running $90 million in the red.

Maroney said the investigation was complex.

We started pulling back layers of the onion, and we found a few more problems, a few more problems, until we diagnosed the whole thing, he said.

The new grout the plan calls for will bolster the strength of the rods to resist the forces of a massive quake, Maroney says.

But Maroney acknowledges the proposal will be another hit to the cash strapped project, which is nearly complete.

Im asking for $10 million in construction funds, he says. That hurts, theres no doubt about it.

Another $10 million may be needed to protect the flooded steel foundation itself against corrosion. But on Thursday, Maroney will ask for $1 million to assess the corrosion risk to the now flooded foundation and come up with a plan to deal it. Just dealing with the grout, he says, will be major progress in dealing with the spans water problems.

I think were there  Im really excited about it. That kind of wraps up the construction of the self-anchored suspension bridge, Maroney said.

The oversight panel is expected to consider the measures at its meeting Thursday afternoon in Sacramento.
The two Alameda County Sheriff's Office deputies accused of excessive force posted bail Wednesday after surrendering to police.

Deputies Luis Santamaria and Paul Wieber, who have been placed on administrative leave, are scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

San Francisco's district attorney charged the deputies with felony assault on Tuesday, more than six months after they were seen on video striking a suspected car thief with batons in the Mission District.

The alleged assault came at the end of a high-speed pursuit involving a suspected car thief that stretched across the Bay Bridge in November.

DA George Gascon said the two Alameda County sheriff's deputies  14-year veteran and training officer Santamaria and 3-year veteran Wieber, who was undergoing field training  were charged with assault under the color of authority, assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury.

Two separate videos captured Santamaria and Wieber beating the suspect with their batons over the course of 40 seconds, striking him at least 30 times, prosecutors said.

Santamaria's attorney, Michael Rains, said the two deputies surrendered at the Hayward Police Department on Wednesday.

"It's tough. They're somber, they're sad," Rains said. "They're facing serious charges. But they know they have an obligation to face up to those charges and deal with them."

Wieber is being represented by attorney William Rapoport.
"You know, the last band I signed was the Rolling Stones..."

Not a bad way to start a conversation, but really, just a regular story told from billionaire business mogul Sir Richard Branson. Yes, he's a "Sir," and yes, he was into music way before your iPod was invented.

He's also trying to take us into space, with his Virgin Galactic competing with, among others, Elon Musk. "We're great friends, actually," Branson says when asked about the SpaceX Founder. "But obviously there's a little bit of rivalry there."

Branson was visiting Silicon Valley to speak at the Coupa Conference, and to meet with some of the hundreds of Virgin employees who work here. He says he's a bit disappointed that VirginAmerica was bought by Alaska Air ("had to give so many shares to Americans..."), and that he hopes the brand - and employees - stay.

As for space travel? Be patient. He says they're "testing and testing" the next generation spaceship, "and when the test pilots say we're ready, we'll be up and away."

So strap yourselves in.

Scott hangs with billionaires on Twitter: @scottbudman
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San Francisco's last gun shop closed its doors last fall. Now it is reopening - as a pot shop, according to a 7X7 report.



High Bridge Arms, known for fighting vigorously against the city's tough gun regulations until it permanently closed in October, is set to reopen this summer as a medical marijuana dispensary called High Bridge, the report says.

The owner, Sean Killen, intends to operate as a nonprofit with a focus on keeping medical cannabis prices low and providing it for free to those who can't afford it.



Killen, a San Jose native, used to manage nearby dispensary Bernal Heights Cooperative. Killen could not be reached Thursday.



High Bridge Arms opened at 3185 Mission St.in the Bernal Heights neighborhood in 1952. Andy Takahashi bought the business in 1988 and began exporting firearms in 1993, according to its website.



The shop closed briefly in 2010, and Takahashi had given thought to renting out the space before he decided to reopen the gun shop, despite neighbors' attempts to block it.



In October, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance requiring firearms dealers to videotape all gun and ammunition sales and share data on ammunition sales with the San Francisco Police Department.



It was the final straw for High Bridge Arms.



"Im not doing that to our customers. Enough is enough," manager Steven Alcairo told the Associated Press at the time. "Buying a gun is a constitutionally protected right. Our customers shouldnt be treated like theyre doing something wrong."
Tens of thousands of mistakes delay payment, and in some cases, prevent payment of wages to hundreds of health workers employed through Californias In-Home Support Services (IHSS) system.

NBC Bay Areas investigation found more than 150 different instances since 2010 where those IHSS providers never got paid and a neutral hearing judge with Californias Department of Labor ruled they were owed back wages.

And according to data obtained from California Department of Social Services, there were almost a half million instances of errors (422,063) involving paychecks that required human action to process from July of 2014 through June of 2015, the latest timeframe the full data is available. While those errors make up less than 4 percent of the entire statewide total processed during that time it still adds up to delays in pay for tens of thousands of workers.

NBC Bay Areas investigation found that when IHSS workers paychecks arrive late or not at all there are no provisions for penalties to be levied against IHSS. Despite millions of transactions during the course of the year reviewed, DSS data does not reflect that there is ever an error on behalf of the State of Californias IHSS.

Administered by Californias Department of Social Services and overseen by local offices throughout the state, IHSS was designed to save taxpayer money by having the state pay for approved care delivered by qualified providers in the homes of people who need long term care, called recipients. That way, people in need, the recipients, dont have to be institutionalized.

The State of California, through its IHSS program, awards recipients a certain number of provider hours a week which the state then pays for, depending on the recipients individual needs.

Providers, even family members, can get paid by the state to take care of them where they live under IHSS rules if those providers meet certain qualifications.

A year-long investigation by NBC Bay Area discovered the IHSS system is plagued by antiquated procedures. That system can often lead to paycheck delays lasting months for many workers. The Investigative Unit discovered participants frustrated by IHSS use of paper timesheets as well as recipients and providers who say mistakes with the hard copy form of reporting their hours, often leaves them in limbo, with no money and at times, little to no recourse.

I've had one woman who worked for me for three months without a paycheck, before her paycheck came, said Tonya Joy of Placer County. Im frustrated that IHSS, in home support services, they really do pass off the buck of the problems onto the recipient.

Joy depends on an IHSS worker ever since she was paralyzed from the waist down several years ago. She has to have an in-home worker help her with even simple tasks such as doing the laundry, going to the bathroom or taking a shower.

There's no monetary value that you could put on somebody like (an in-home provider) who comes (to my home) regardless if she gets paid or not, Joy said.

While Joy serves on the local Placer County IHSS Board she says the system, as its currently run, has to be reformed.

I'm talking about you know when somebody doesn't show up and their life is depending on it, said Joy. You know, if Im in the morning and I need that person to show up, if my caregivers just leave me high and dry, I don't get the chance to get out of bed.

I (would) worry sometimes, said Luci Whitestone, who used to work as an IHSS provider until moving on to another career. Like, is it (the paycheck) going to come? Am I going to get it? Especially with all the problemshappening with the system.

It's hard because rent is due as of yesterday. And so we really are facing eviction possibly if we don't pay rent, said provider Jaime Clark. We have four bills that are due car payments, car insurance. All that is due and without my check we're not going be able to pay it.

Clark has to work within the system as its currently set up.

She doesnt have a choice. She cares for her 12-year-old autistic son, Jimmy, whose condition requires constant supervision.

He is autistic with developmental disabilities. And he needs twenty four hour supervision. He cannot be left alone for any amount of time, Clark said.

Even so, the IHSS rules restrict her ability to even do simple things such as go outside with Jimmy.

That is, if she expects to be paid by IHSS.

They only pay for in home. So any time we're outside that I don't get paid for that time (outdoors), said Clark.

Jimmy Clark and Tonya Joy are just two of about 450,000 California children and adults who are disabled, sick, mentally ill or otherwise need care by workers in the home where they live and paid for through Californias IHSS.

Not all of them need in-home care permanently either.

People, such as 73-year-old Jeanne Brown, who needed constant supervision and care for three and a half years, also need IHSS care. Brown survived a myriad of health problems; everything from a hip replacement, to vertebrae fusion, reconstruction of her right foot to treatment for nerve damage in her hands.

Brown made it through those health crises in relatively good shape.

But she said that when she was getting care she was in no shape to keep up with and adhere to the IHSS antiquated rules and procedures.

I was getting care 24 (hours a day), seven (days a week), said Brown. The biggest problem that I found was they made the recipient responsible as the employer.

Even though she was often barely conscious and certainly under the heavy influence of drugs such as Vicodin or Oxycodone which she took for the pain, under IHSS rules she was supposed to supervise and oversee her own care signing timesheets and keeping track of her providers work hours.

In other words, I was supposed to take care of the hours and make sure the hours are okay on the timesheets and sign the timesheets for the people that I have working for me. I dont think I was capable of doing that job under the circumstances because of the medication and the condition that I was in, said Brown. They (IHSS) dont take that into account and they need to (take it into account).

When asked if she thought the system had taken advantage of her given her circumstances, Brown was unequivocal.

Yes, I do, Brown said. Thinking in that respect, yes I was (taken advantage of) because I would sign a timesheet and I didnt realize that there were hours they (workers) werent getting or that they werent working.

As for workers who didnt get paid, Brown said she hurt for them too.

Oh you feel so bad and so guilty because you can't help them and you can't make it better, said Brown. And you hear their suffering and (that) they can't buy groceries for their families. And you don't have money (to give them). I shared some food with my caregivers a couple of times because you know I knew what it was like. But I had no recourse.

All of the recipients and providers who spoke with NBC Bay Area said that in some instances, when the IHSS workers dont get paid they take out their frustrations on the recipients. The very people for whom they are supposed to be caring become victims.

The very first thing I would do is upgrade the technology so that the payroll can be done on line, said Jaime Clark. You could report your hours on line. Time sheets can be printed from online. Everything would be done on line, not through the mail.

According to the most recent data available from the Department of Social Services in 764 cases, a delayed paycheck directly was caused by a paper timesheet or a providers paperwork.

Despite numerous attempts to get a comment, a spokesman for Californias Department of Social Services declined to make the head of IHSS, Deputy Director Eileen Carroll, available to answer NBC Bay Areas questions about this system on camera.

Of the half dozen IHSS providers and recipients interviewed by NBC Bay Area all agreed that this paper by mail system has few checks and balances, leaving it wide open to mistakes as well as the potential risk of fraud and abuse.

Good hearted people when they get desperate enough will do bad things and that happens - It's a passive way for the government basically - I get abused, said Tonya Joy. They end up stealing from you.

I would make sure that there were enough people monitoring what's happening to the funds that they are being allocated and paid out to the employees, said Jeanne Brown.

When asked if, during her time using the IHSS system, she thought there was fraud and abuse going on, Brown, again, was unequivocal.

I do, Brown said. Im not going to lie about that.
A day after two people were killed in the South Bay off Highway 17, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday the arrest of a 43-year-old man who took off in a Prius on charges of murder, burglary, kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Sgt. James Jensen said Andre Redmon of San Francisco was booked following the Wednesday saga where first, a man inside a Redwood Estates home near Los Gatos was shot to death, and then Redmon's passenger died following a crash in Redmon's getaway Prius in Campbell about 12 miles away.

Redmon was booked on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of kidnapping for robbery and one count of burglary. He was being held on no bail.

Investigators were at the Redwood Estates home Thursday gathering evidence. They offered no motive in the crimes and did not say whether Redmon knew the victims.

At first, Redmon said he would grant an interview to NBC Bay Area. He later declined that request, but not before blurting out: "If I'm going to tell my side, I'm going to tell my attorney. I don't have one yet."

Picture of Andre Redmon on 4th floor of main jail today after he agreed to interview, then declined. pic.twitter.com/2hjO0Sin6H  Damian Trujillo (@newsdamian) May 12, 2016

The case was being reviewed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney on Thursday afternoon.

Jensen said Redmon originally dumped his getaway Prius and ran away from the crash on Highway 17 near East Hamilton Avenue in Campbell. He was arrested Wednesday night.

Deputies are linking Redmon to the two deaths, with the first reported just before 11 a.m. That's when deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 21400 block of Madrone Drive in Redwood Estates near Los Gatos. When they went inside, they found a man shot to death.

Jensen said he didn't know if anything was stolen inside the house, but he added that burglary charges can stem from intent to steal.

Two other unidentified people were injured in Redwood Estates, deputies said, adding that one person was taken to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and the second was treated at the scene. More information on them wasn't available. It's unclear how the two people are associated to the man who was shot to death.

Neighbor Phil Dutillo told NBC Bay Area he believed a father lived there with his two sons and possibly a girlfriend. Another neighbor, Alice Hoagland, the mother of Mark Bingham who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said her walk was interrupted with a swarm of deputy cars. She lives about half a block away. Crime scene tape still marked the home on Thursday.

Witnesses then called for help describing a silver Toyota Prius seen leaving the Los Gatos scene. Deputies on motorcycles spotted the hybrid on Highway 17 near Lark Avenue, sparking a chase.

At one point, the Prius crashed into a wall at the Hamilton Avenue exit. A passenger, who was found injured in the Prius, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to deputies. It's undetermined how the passenger died and what his connection to Redmon is.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday did not release the identities of the men who were killed.

Redmon is expected to appear in court Friday.

NBC Bay Area's Damian Trujillo, Robert Handa and Rhea Mahbubani contributed to this report.
Four San Francisco supervisors on Wednesday called for Police Chief Greg Suhr to be replaced, becoming the first top-level San Francisco elected officials to do so after months of sustained calls from activists for his removal.

Supervisor Jane Kim issued a statement Wednesday morning urging Mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco Police Commission to begin a search for "a new chief who can implement fundamental reform."

"Chief Greg Suhr has served San Francisco for over 30 years and we should thank him for that service," Kim said. "But even he must acknowledge that leading a culture shift in that department would be easier and faster if there was new leadership there."

Kim's call came after months of protests triggered by recent police shootings, as well as by revelations of racist text messages exchanged among officers. Most recently, protests centered around a group of hunger strikers calling for Suhr's removal drew hundreds of people to City Hall last week and over the weekend.

Kim also cited the preliminary results of a blue ribbon panel convened by District Attorney George Gascon, released on Monday, which found problems in the San Francisco Police Department in areas including oversight, accountability and data collection, disciplinary procedures and racial bias in policing.

"It is clear that we need a change to address these systemic problems and bring our city together," Kim said.

Supervisors David Campos, John Avalos and Eric Mar joined Kim's call for Suhr's removal a short time later.

"After the public unrest and the revelations of the last week, I don't have a lot of confidence in Chief Suhr's ability and commitment to implement the substantive reforms that are needed in the police department," Avalos said.

Mar said that while he had "nothing but respect" for Suhr's efforts to reform the department, the city needed to bring in someone from outside the department with a "national perspective."

"I agree that we need a new police chief," he said. "It should be a national search, and somebody who can effectively deal with systemic racism and bigotry and rebuild trust in our community."

Lee has said repeatedly that he will not ask Suhr to step down, but instead plans to focus on efforts to reform the department.

Lee and Suhr have announced reforms in recent months including a review of use of force policies, improved officer training in areas including implicit racial bias, conflict de-escalation and crisis intervention, and programs urging officers to turn in other officers who use racially derogatory language. The department is also working with the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services on a review of department practices and policies.

On Tuesday Lee announced $17.5 million in funding on Tuesday for improved police training and equipment, violence prevention programs and increased staffing for the Office of Citizen Complaints, which investigates officer misconduct cases.

"The community has asked us to fast track change and not put politics before police reforms and, unfortunately, that is exactly what this does," Lee said today in response to Kim's statement.

"No other city is working faster or more deliberately on police reforms. Anyone, including the supervisor, who wants to work with us to advance these reforms and not impede and delay our efforts is welcome to join us in this important work," Lee said.

In response to Kim, Supervisor Mark Farrell stepped in to express support for Suhr, saying "there has not been a more progressive police chief in San Francisco history."

"There is no one better to lead our police department and implement the upcoming reforms than Chief Suhr himself," Farrell said.

"Supervisor Kim is displaying election year politics at its worst, and it makes my stomach churn," he added, in a reference to Kim's current run for a state Senate seat against Supervisor Scott Wiener.

Wiener on Wednesday said that he supported Suhr and his efforts to introduce reforms needed to reduce officer-involved shootings.

"We have serious work to do to improve public safety in San Francisco and to formulate and implement much-needed reforms," he said. "Firing the chief - and calling for his firing in order to generate press headlines - won't help achieve either of those goals," Wiener said in a statement.

The calls for Suhr's removal came on the heels of yet another negative press report this week regarding a police officer who allegedly made statements with racial and sexual overtones. Police on Friday announced that the officer had been referred to the Police Commission with a recommendation for discipline up to possible termination.

However, civil rights attorney John Burris today cited the incident in a call for Suhr's resignation and an independent investigation into the department by state Attorney General Kamala Harris.

In a press conference outside San Francisco's Hall of Justice, accompanied by members of the Justice for Mario Woods Coalition, Burris said recently revealed racist statements made by officers in text messages or in person have occurred under Suhr's watch.

"It defies common sense for us to accept the notion that he is the one to lead the charge in the reform effort," Burris said.

Burris also repeated calls for a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, saying the current COPS review "has no teeth."

Lee said Monday that he asked the justice department to investigate the Mario Woods shooting several months ago, but was recently told that officials there are waiting on the results of local investigations before deciding whether to proceed.
A replacement worker for Verizon is facing drunken driving and assault and battery charges after he hit a picketing Verizon worker and a police officer with his pickup truck in Westborough, Massachusetts, on Thursday, police said.

George A. Pulling, 55, of Ohio, is charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (vehicle), 4th-offense driving under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Authorities initially said he was from Florida.

Westborough police said they were assisting with a labor dispute involving picketing Verizon workers and replacement workers staying at the Extended Stay Hotel at 180 East Main St. around 8:20 a.m. Thursday.

Verizon workers in several states have been striking since contract talks broke down in mid-April. They have been without a contract since Aug. 1, 2015.

Four police officers were assisting the replacement workers as they drove through a picket line of about 80 people. A pickup truck operated by Pulling was being escorted through the line, as picketers yelled and screamed at him.

Pulling then accelerated while in the middle of the picketers and ended up with one of those picketers  Joseph Rooney, 47, of Roslindale  on the hood of the truck, police said.

Pulling continued onto the ramp leading onto Route 9 west, where he finally stopped, causing Rooney to be tossed onto the road, according to police. Rooney was treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

One of the assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon charges was for allegedly hitting Rooney and the other was for allegedly hitting one of the police officers with the mirror on his truck.

Police said Pulling is expected to be arraigned in Westborough District Court on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Four people were killed and at least 16 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago on Wednesday.

Most recently, two women and a man were killed in a domestic-related shooting Wednesday night in the South Side Englewood neighborhood.

The 50-year-old man and two women, ages 26 and 30, were in the 1500 block of West 71st Street at 11:20 p.m. when a male they knew approached and started shooting, according to Chicago Police. The man and the 30-year-old woman were both shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The 26-year-old woman was shot in the back and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she later died.

Police said the shooting appears to have been domestic-related, and early Thursday morning SWAT teams descended on a Far South Side home believed to have the suspected killer barricaded inside.

The days first shooting left a former Cook County correctional officer dead shortly after midnight in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side.

Ira Cotton, 56, was standing on a front porch in the 7400 block of South Ingleside about 12:10 a.m. when someone walked up to him and demanded his car keys before shooting him in the left leg, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County sheriffs office.

Cotton, who worked as a correctional officer from 1983 to 2004, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Officer Cotton gave 20 years of his life to serving his community and making Cook County a safer place, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Sheriff Dart joins his friends, family and former Cook County Jail colleagues in mourning his tragic death.

The latest nonfatal shooting happened in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side.

A 25-year-old man was driving near 129th and Lowe at 10:35 p.m. when someone exited an alley and shot at him, according to police. He was shot in the leg and taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, where his condition was stabilized.

About two hours earlier, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the leg in the West Side Austin neighborhood. The boy was shot in the 1300 block of North Parkside during a drive-by attack, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

Twenty minutes earlier, five people were wounded in a Park Manor neighborhood shooting.

The five  a woman and four men  were outside in the first block of East 71st Street shortly after 8 p.m. when several people walked up and opened fire, police said.

A 27-year-old man was shot in the left thigh and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, along with a 20-year-old man shot in the arm and back, according to police and fire officials. A 32-year-old woman shot in the head and a 20-year-old man shot in the chest were taken to Stroger Hospital.

All four were in serious-to-critical condition, fire officials said.

Police said a fifth victim, a 26-year-old man, took himself to St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, where his condition had stabilized.

Earlier in the evening, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the leg in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the Southwest Side. It happened about 6:40 p.m. in the 2500 block of West 63rd Street, and his condition was stabilized at Christ Medical Center. He wasnt cooperative with investigators, police said.

Another Southwest Side shooting minutes earlier left a 24-year-old man wounded. He took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital after being shot in the side of the head about 6:30 p.m. in the 5700 block of South Kedzie, police said. His condition stabilized.

Wednesday afternoon, a man in his 20s was shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side. He suffered a leg wound about 2:15 p.m. in the 700 block of North Trumbull and was treated at the scene, police said. He was listed in good condition.

About the same time, two people were shot on the Near West Side. A 27-year-old woman shot in the arm and hip was taken to Stroger Hospital, along with a 44-year-old man who suffered a hip wound. Their conditions were stabilized after the shooting in the 2100 block of West Jackson, which police said likely was gang-related.

A pregnant woman was among three people wounded in another Chicago Lawn shooting about 12:45 p.m. in the 6900 block of South Western. A 15-year-old boy shot in the right arm and the pregnant 21-year-old shot in the foot were taken to Christ Medical Center, fire officials said. A 26-year-old man shot in the right ankle was taken to Holy Cross Hospital. Their conditions stabilized, police said.

The days first nonfatal shooting happened about 12:40 a.m. in another Humboldt Park attack. A 32-year-old man shot in the abdomen and foot in the 900 block of North Drake took himself to Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. The documented gang member later was transferred to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said. He wasnt cooperative.
Five children and young adults between the ages of 14 and 21 were arrested Wednesday in south suburban Harvey after police apprehended them with what looked like loaded, lethal weapons.

Harvey police responded to a 911 call of several people in a car with guns at a park shortly after nearby Thornton Township High School let out for the day.

But the weapons turned out to be paintball guns, and quick-thinking officers were fortunately able to defuse a dangerous situation.

"You could easily once again have a Tamir Rice in Ohio situation," said gun law attorney Travis Richardson.

"My adrenaline is still rushing. All I see is the barrel of the gun pointed at me," said responding Harvey police officer Willie Giddens.

"Given the situation, it could have went bad fast," Giddens added, saying that training was the key that stopped him from firing.

Paintball guns and recreational firearms are an increasing worry for every police department.

"I'm urging parents not only here in Harvey, but around the state, to step up and be responsible. Know what it is that your child has when he or she leaves the residence," said Harvey Deputy Police Chief Gregory Thomas.

Because of incidents like this, there is an effort to adjust state law and require paintball guns to be carried in cases and marked a special color.

Charges are pending against the five people taken into custody.
Local musician Chance the Rapper pointed to President Barack Obama as a potential replacement for Mayor Rahm Emanuel during an interview with Complex released Wednesday.

Chance, whose real name is Chancellor Bennett, said the city was in need of a new mayor and pointed to the president as a potential successor during an interview alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the Broadway smash Hamilton.

He makes a lot of great, nonpartisan decisions and hes obviously spent a lot of time in Chicago on the South Side, Bennett said.

Bennett is the son of Ken Williams-Bennett, who was named deputy chief of staff and director for Emanuels Office of Public Engagement in 2014. Williams-Bennett previously worked for Harold Washington and Barack Obama.

During the interview, Bennett reflected on meeting with the president at a young age and former Chicago mayors.

I met him when I was really young, and I still have that same impression when I see him nowadays, Bennett said. It would be awesome having a good man represent the city because I feel like we havent had that since Harold Washington."

Mayor [Richard] Daley was sick too. But, yeah, it would be awesome. There are a lot of people that need him in Chicago and the city, overall, needs it, he added.

This isnt the first time Bennett addressed local politics. During two separate appearances on Saturday Night Live, he referenced Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago Police officer who shot and killed Laquan McDonald in 2014.

He also made an appeal to Bruce Rauner earlier this year, asking the governor not to veto legislation dealing with Monetary Award Program grants.

Chance's new mixtape, 3, is scheduled for a Friday release.
With just one text you could win an entire year's worth of free Chipotle.

Not only that, but the fast casual chain must have a soft spot for Chicagoans because winners of their new "Ultimate Lollapalooza VIP Sweepstakes" will also take home a VIP trip for four to Lollapalooza's 25th annual music festival in Grant Park this summer.

How to Enter:

Text one of the following keywords: TIX, CHICAGO, LOLLA, BEATS, ROCK, CHIPOTLE, PRIZE, SWEEPS, CONCERT

Send text to: 888222

You can also enter to win by filling out your information directly on Chipotle's website here.

Participants must be over 21 years old to win and able to travel to Chicago for the Grant Park festival running from July 27 to Aug. 1. For more information, visit chipotle.com/lollapalooza.
Authorities are warning residents in south suburban Dolton of a man who is wanted for two sexual assaults and a robbery in the last week.

"We consider this person to be brazen, very aggressive," said Dolton Police Commander Darryl Hope, who was going door-to-door Wednesday to warn area residents about the crimes.

All the attacks happened in broad daylight, police said, the first on April 30.

"The first female on Woodlawn was sitting in her car talking on the phone when she was approached by subject, who made her roll down the window, open up the door, move over to other side, and then drove her to the location, a vacant property, and sexually assaulted her," Hope said.

Police say the second similar attack happened May 8 on 151st and Dorchester as the woman was walking to work. Before that assault, authorities said the man was captured on surveillance video. He is described as 5'5" to 5'7" tall, and has short twists or short natural hair. Police consider him armed and dangerous.

"He doesn't have any heart or any fear for what he does," said anti-violence community activist Andrew Holmes. "What we're trying to stop is him running up on a female and she refuses or rejects what he wants her to do and then all of sudden that weapon goes off and we have a murder out here."

Police say they believe the same man robbed a man and woman at gunpoint in their driveway on May 8.

There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest. Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to contact the police.
A group of Chicago women are traveling to Springfield Thursday to urge lawmakers not to make cuts to the states screening program for breast cancer.

The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force will lobby lawmakers to fully fund the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), which provides free mammograms and Pap testing for uninsured women aged 35 to 64.

According to Anne Marie Murphy, the task forces executive director, Gov. Bruce Rauner has proposed a 71 percent cut in funding to free screening and the complete elimination of the cancer treatment program for uninsured and underinsured women.

We have a lot of women in our community, this is the only option they have to get the screenings, Murphy told NBC Chicago. The budget shouldnt be balanced on womens lives.

Local IBCCP agencies have been forced to cut hours and services, waitlist women in need and shut down programs as a result of the states lingering budget impasse.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, no further cuts have been proposed and funding will remain the same for the program from FY 2016 to FY 2017. Additionally, the IDPHs Office of Womens Health and family services has requested a $1 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the next fiscal year.

The IBCCP detected 634 breast cancers and 1,276 cervical cancers and precancerous lesions from 2009-2014. There are reportedly 75,000 uninsured Illinois women between 40 and 64 who are currently eligible for services offered by IBCCP.

Nevertheless, the number of women served by the IBCCP has substantially decreased in previous years. In FY 2015, 20,387 women were served, compared to 27,142 served in FY 2014 and 34,442 served in FY 2013.
A couple of novice boaters who spent the night aboard their vessel after it ran aground on an islet in Queens said Wednesday that they are grateful to the NYPD for coming to their rescue.

Kevin and Jenny Huynh told NBC 4 New York that they decided late Monday afternoon to take their 22-foot boat on a maiden voyage in Jamaica Bay.

The boat, a birthday gift from Huynh to his wife, soon ran aground. Huynh said he misunderstood signs and thought the depth was 37 feet, when it actually was three feet, seven inches.

"I know the water is too low, too low," he said.

His wife cannot swim, so the couple decided to spend the night aboard the boat and wait for high tide to set them free.

"He did bring his jacket, but I only had a light sweater," she said. "How was it on the boat? It was so cold."

At sunrise, they were still stranded with dead cellphones, and no food or water.

Huynh said he didn't feel they were in danger, but his wife of 20 years politely disagreed.

So when Jenny Huynh spotted a sailboat in the distance, she shouted for help.

A short time later, an NYPD helicopter approached.

Video from a helicopter shows police rescuers hoisting the two boaters up one at a time from the marshy islet, located about a mile from the shoreline of Canarsie Pol, a small island in the bay.

The couple said they were extremely grateful to the chopper crew.

"They were so nice. They were so professional," said Jenny Huynh.

And Kevin Huynh offers this bit of advice to new boat owners: Don't launch your boat until you're properly trained.
A 30-year-old man faces five felony charges that accuse him of beating a University of Kansas woman he met on Tinder and holding her captive for five days, NBC News reported.

Shane Steven Allen is in custody at the Douglas County Jail on $100,000 pending a June 24 hearing on one count of kidnapping and four counts of aggravated battery, according to jail records and the county district attorneys office.

Allen kidnapped the 20-year-old woman on April 12, according to the charges. That night, he accused the woman of flirting with one of his friends and punched her in the eye, knocked her to the ground and beat her, the arrest affidavit said.

Allen would not let the woman go home and returned her to her sorority on April 18, according to police.
A local energy-efficiency engineer who nearly plunged to his death when he fell almost four stories through a glass floor at Philadelphia's Rodin Museum in 2012 has been awarded a $7.25 million settlement, his lawyers announced Tuesday.



Phani Guthula was inspecting light fixtures at the Rodin Museum, an outpost of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Ben Franklin Parkway, Nov. 26, 2012 when he fell 38 feet through an unsecured glass attic floor, his attorneys said in a statement.

Guthula suffered numerous fractures and trauma from "head to toe," the attorneys said, underwent more than 15 surgeries and spent more than a month and a half in the hospital as a result. He'll require lifelong medical care, the attorneys said.

"One of the Rodin's most famous sculptures is titled Gates of Hell," attorney Larry Bendesky, a member of Guthula's legal team, said. "The chilling picture of Phani Guthula falling nearly to his death could have the same title; his life has been a living hell every day since his fall."



Guthula was represented by the Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky firm. Named as defendants in the suit were the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Allied Barton Security Services, which contracts with the museum.



Lawyers said the Rodin had recently undergone renovations and that railings to keep people off the hazardous glass floor were not in place. Security officers at the museum were "uninformed and inattentive, and there was no signage to warn against a fall hazard to which everyone  after the accident  agreed existed when he almost met his death," attorney David Kwass said.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, in a written statement released Tuesday afternoon, said the attorneys' claim that there was no signage was inaccurate.



The museum was open for business at the time of Guthula's fall, and the fall was captured on surveillance video.



Lawyers said the settlement came on Friday just before jury selection was set to begin in the case.

"Mr. Guthula hopes that there are lessons learned by those who are responsible for workplace safety," Bendesky said. "The best plans and precautions are meaningless  as they were in this case  if they are not followed by everyone involved."

The Philadelphia Museum of Art released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

"The Museum confirms that it has participated in the settlement of a dispute related to the tragic accident in 2012 at the Rodin Museum. Contrary to the press release issued by the lawyers for the plaintiff, the settlement involved several parties in addition to the Museum. Unfortunately, the lawyers' press release contains other inaccurate statements about the accident  most notably the incorrect assertion that the Museum had not provided appropriate signage and other safety precautions in the attic spaces of the Rodin Museum."
Aerial footage shows police repeatedly punching a suspect who appeared to surrender after leading authorities on a chase from Massachusetts into New Hampshire Wednesday afternoon.

The Massachusetts State Police Department, one of the agencies involved in the pursuit and arrest, will investigate whether officers' actions during the suspect's arrest were appropriate, according to a news release.

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The agency said the chase began in Holden just after 4 p.m. The driver ultimately led police across Massachusetts, into New Hampshire, back to Massachusetts and finally into New Hampshire.

Thet pickup truck was stopped in Nashua after blowing two tires.

The driver, identified by Massachusetts police as 50-year-old Richard Simone of Worcester, can be seen on aerial video exiting the truck, which is surrounded by officers, and getting down to his knees. As officers approach the suspect, who puts his hands on the ground, two can be seen winding up and punching him.

Other officers can be seen around the suspect, with several appearing to get on top of him after the punches are first thrown. Simone is then handcuffed, stood up and led away.

"The pursuit, like all pursuits that involve Massachusetts State Police, will be reviewed by the department's pursuit committee," spokesperson Dave Procopio said in a statement. "Additionally, MSP will also review the apprehension of the suspect, to determine whether the level of force deployed during the arrest was appropriate."

Procopio noted that the apprehension had sparked an investigation separate from the one into the pursuit, "as the video captured by news helicopters shows a use of force against the suspect."

The department did not say in the release, or through a spokesman, which agencies were involved in the arrest.

"The Governor is aware of the situation and our office has been in contact with the Departments of Safety and Justice," the office of New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan said in a statement. "All New Hampshire public safety officials are held to the highest standards, and the Governor expects this will be fully investigated."

A Holden Police Department news release did not make note of any use of force in the arrest at the conclusion of the pursuit. The release said officers were on the lookout for the vehicle following an alert issued Monday by the Leicester Police Department.

Nashua Police have not returned phone calls seeking comment. Police in nearby Hudson, however, say the suspect "collided briefly" with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser before hitting a utility pole and continuing on to Nashua.

Hudson Police note that they only provided backup when the suspect was in town.

Simone was booked by the Nashua Police Department. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

Simone was wanted on assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and larceny charges, according to state police. Holden police tried to stop him, but he gave chase, and a state police cruiser followed.

The driver led police onto I-190 northbound, then off the highway and onto Route 117 in Lancaster  where state police were required by policy to stop partaking in the chase. When the vehicle returned to I-190, state police rejoined the response.

The chase continued onto Route 2 in Leominster east to I-495 in Littleton.

State police say Simone got off the highway again in Chelmsford, where he took several roads before hopping on U.S. Route 3 northbound. He got off on the last Massachusetts exit before taking other roads into Nashua, where the pursuit ended after about an hour.
Get used to the phrase, Made in New Haven.

City officials rolled out a new campaign on Wednesday morning that is designed to promote locally made products.

One of the companies involved is Vespoli USA a factory in New Haven where a team of 40 employees builds world class racing shells by hand.

We make them like Boeing makes the 787 aircraft, often the way Sikorski makes their helicopters, CEO Mike Vespoli said.

The company primarily sells its narrow rowing boats to high school teams in the United States, but Vespoli said they are also popular in the international market.

The Canadian Olympic team will be racing in our boat in the mens four in Rio and we have 50 international medals to our credit, he said.

New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said the city hopes to attract more businesses to open in the Elm City.

We have a new innovative culture here that are making things, she said. Theyre entrepreneurs and we want to highlight that.

Husband and wife Andrea Corazzini and Kiara Matos took a chance on New Haven five years ago after moving here from Venezuela and opened Whole G Cafe, a bakery specializing in Northern European breads.

The reason why is because German breads are healthier, Corazzini said. They use lot of grains. They use whole grains and fruits and nuts.

Matos is a ceramic artist.

My work stands out basically because of the color palette I use, she said.

Vespoli says this "Made in New Haven" branding initiative is beneficial for both the city and its business community.

Were proud of the fact that were made in New Haven, Vespoli said. Were proud of the fact were made in the USA.
A Hartford teenager is facing charges after police say he assaulted an elderly man in the middle of the street.

The attack on Sigourney Street in Hartford a few weeks ago was caught on camera and while police are still investigating, they say it lines up with the so-called knockout game.

The victim, William Prude, 66 of Hartford, said he was waving to his neighbor when someone came up behind him.

All I know is, it was just boom and Im lying there in the middle of the street, Prude said.

He said a teenager sucker punched him right outside of his home, then left him in the middle of a busy road.

Someone stopped to ask if he wanted to go to the hospital, but he declined and by that point, the suspect was gone, he said.

Theyre very lucky, Deputy Chief Brian Foley, of the Hartford Police Department, said. Its on Sigourney Street and you saw him fall into the roadway. This could have worked out much worse.

The video of the disturbing attack went viral at Hartford High School, where administrators helped police identify the 16-year-old they say is responsible.

Friends of the suspect told NBC Connecticut it was a dare.

It was to get popular and make friends and stuff, Juan Ruiz, of Hartford, said. They made him do a bet to hit the old guy and the old guy was a random guy they just picked out.

Attackers sucker punching unsuspecting victims for no reason is part of a disturbing trend that is often referred to as the knock out game.

While Prude does not understand why he was the target, he said he is thankful it wasnt worse.

The suspect is facing several charges, including assault on an elderly person and disorderly conduct.

He was referred to juvenile court.
Angela Valero was one of the shortest tenured state employees to receive a layoff notice last week.

She worked as a Correction Officer at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville since February, starting there shortly after she graduated from the Correction Academy.

"It was the best thing ever" Valero said of her job. She enjoyed the responsibility and the challenge of working for the Department of Correction.

Its comfort. Its something you could retire from. Its job security. What you would think is job security.

When she was laid off, along with nearly 200 other DOC employees over the past month, she instantly thought of the well-being of her colleagues.

It is affecting the safety and security of the facilities. You know, its putting more COs in danger working overtime and dealing with inmates can be pretty tough."

Valero, an AFSCME Union member wrote an Op-Ed in the Day of New London criticizing the governor and calling for more or higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy, said the issue is all about safety and security.

But data provided by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, an arm of Governor Dannel Malloy's administration, point to a declining prison population, meaning less need for Correction Officers.

Since May 12, 2011, the prison population has decreased by more than 2,000 according to OPM.

Governor Malloy has said if state bargaining units opened their contracts to renegotiation and givebacks, then some but not all jobs could be saved.

Valero said that's not an option. She said it goes against her colleagues.

"I wouldnt want them to touch that. I would take the layoff way before I would even let them open it. Its the most important thing.
Hundreds of homeowners whose homes have crumbling foundations went to EO Smith High School in Mansfield on Wednesday night to get an update from Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman.

"It's devastating. I have nothing," Janet Johnson, of Vernon, said.

Failing foundations are impacting hundreds of homeowners in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties and some experts fear the number is more likely in the thousands.

When Johnson discovered the problem several years ago, an engineer told her it could be fixed, she said.

"I spent $40,000 on putting two new walls in," Johnson said. "My third structural engineer told me that will fail eventually."

Johnson is one of 220 homeowners who have filed a complaint with the state and the state launched a multi-agency investigation after the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters brought the issue to light in July.

That's when Johnson realized she wasn't alone.

"Somebody has to help us," Johnson said.

Harris said progress has been made, but he can understand why people wouldn't think it was enough.

Two companies connected to the state investigation, JJ Mottes and Becker Construction, signed an agreement with the state this week to stop selling the aggregate from Becker's Quarry in Willington for residential foundations until June of next year.

"What they did admit, they'd never admitted before, which is pyrrhotite is a common denominator, that it plays a role," Harris said.

JJ Mottes and Becker Construction "continue to believe this is an issue of improper installation and not materials."

At Wednesday night's meeting, state officials asked again for patience from an impatient crowd.

"We're giving as much information as possible without blowing the integrity of the investigation," Harris said.

The state continues to ask affected homeowners to come forward.
Two more Connecticut residents have tested positive for the Zika virus, including a pregnant woman, according to the Department of Public Health.

The pregnant woman is nine weeks along and traveled to the Dominican Republic in late April. She became ill on April 28.

The non-pregnant woman returned from Puerto Rico in April and developed a rash on April 29, according to DPH.

As we head into the summer travel months, it is very important for travelers to Zika affected areas to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. This is particularly critical for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, who should postpone travel to these areas if at all possible, cautioned DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino.

Both women and their doctors have been informed of the diagnoses, DPH said.

According to the DPH, 6 out of 252 patients tested for Zika in Connecticut have had positive results.

In March, a 17-year-old from Danbury was the first pregnant Connecticut woman to find out she had contracted the Zika virus. She found out she was pregnant in March while, visiting her fiance in Hondouras. She said she is, "in a state of shock", since finding out the news.
Coptic Solidarity Announces 7th Annual Conference Amidst Efforts to Thwart Awareness of the Event Contact: Lindsay Vessey, Coprtic Solidarity, 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org



WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity will host its 7th Annual Conference in Washington, DC June 9-10, 2016. The conference theme is The Future of Egypt's Religious Minorities: Status of Copts after Two Revolutions. A Policy Day will be hosted at the Reserve Officer Association in the Minuteman Ballroom on June 9th from 11:00AM  5:30PM followed by a banquet dinner at the same location. The conference will continue on June 10th at the Omni Shoreham Hotel with a continental breakfast at 8:00AM and a full day program scheduled 9:00 AM  4:00PM.



Many high profile speakers and experts have been confirmed for the event. A complete list of confirmed speakers is available on the Coptic Solidarity website at www.copticsolidarity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Confirmed-speakers.pdf Headlining the speakers will be Mr. Naguib Sawiris and Ms. Fatima Naoot.



Mr. Sawiris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Telecom Media & Technology and founder of the Free Egyptians Party, is a global entrepreneur renowned for using his resources to modernize and democratize Egypt. He will be the keynote speaker for the banquet dinner which will be held at 6:30PM at the Reserve Officer Association. Tickets are available for purchase on the Coptic Solidarity website.



Ms. Naoot is a prominent Egyptian writer and poet and former independent parliamentary candidate who recently was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for comments deemed blasphemous to Islam. Thankfully, Ms. Naoot avoided imprisonment and is able to join us to share about increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt during the Policy Day.



Coptic Solidarity believes in a democratic, modern and progressive Egypt in which all citizens are treated equally. Despite two revolutions, life for Copts as secondary class citizens has changed little. While recognizing the positive actions of the present leadership in Egypt following the disastrous reign of the Muslim Brotherhood, Coptic Solidarity continues to call for full equality, rights and justice for all Egyptians. Discriminatory laws, including the abusive blasphemy law, must be revoked. Perpetrators of the horrific acts of violence targeting Copts, including the attack on St. Mark's Cathedral, the Coptic Kristallnacht when over 70 churches were destroyed and over 1,000 Coptic homes and business were torched, and the Maspero Massacre, must be brought to justice.



Coptic Solidarity has come under increasing attacks to prevent the organization publicizing this conference. Despite excellent security and IT support, the Coptic Solidarity website at www.copticsolidarity.org has been knocked offline several times and our Facebook account has been hacked and manipulated to block posts and advertisements encouraging supporters to attend the conference.



Coptic Solidarity calls on all concerned individuals to reject the forces of regression seeking to block positive change in Egypt, and to join us supporting the vision of a free, modern and prosperous Egypt.



The conference is open to the public and media. Interested individuals can register for the conference at www.copticsolidarity.org/events/conferences/ and purchase banquet dinner tickets at www.copticsolidarity.org/2016/04/19/7th-conference-banquet/.



Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts, of Egypt and we support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens. For more information, contact Lindsay Vessey at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org.

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Dallas city leaders Wednesday approved more than $3 million in tax money handouts to lure new businesses.

In sharply divided votes, opponents complained Dallas is too easy with the economic development cash and should be using it to boost southern Dallas. The incentives Wednesday were in Uptown and North Dallas.

Costco received $3 million to lure the company's first Dallas store to a site on the Central Expressway at Churchill Way near LBJ Freeway. North Texas Costco stores are all outside the Dallas city limits, but supporters said the company has 50,000 members who live in Dallas.

"We're getting a property that has lay fallow for almost 20 years, developed and on the tax rolls, as well as we're recouping all the sales tax we're leaking to Plano," said Councilman Lee Kleinman, who represents the area around the new store site.

The company must hire hundreds of new workers to receive the money paid installments over several years.

Councilman Philip Kingston said Costco has been seeking Dallas sites for years and would have come to the city without the grant.

"Their primary competitor has managed to make two sites within three miles of this site work, without asking for a dime," Kingston said.

Kleinman said Costco sites in the suburbs were cheaper and the company refused to build on the same Dallas site in the past without the incentive.

"That's prevented them from coming to Dallas for a long, long time," Kleinman said. "They have been looking for 10 years in Dallas for a site where they can make the math work."

Councilman Erik Wilson said there is plenty of available land in his far southern Dallas district.

"I've always said in the southern sector, grocery stores are like unicorns. We know they exist but we just haven't seen one," Wilson said.

Supporters said sales and property taxes from the North Dallas Costco site will benefit the entire city.

The City Council vote in favor of the Costco incentive was 10 to 5. The company has already applied for permits to start construction.

A closer 8 to 7 vote approved a $75,000 grant to lure advertising firm Saatchi and Saatchi to a new Uptown office building at 2021 McKinney Avenue.

One of the firm's largest clients is Toyota, which is moving its U.S. headquarters to Plano.

Kingston called the Saatchi and Saatchi grant a "waste of money." He insisted the ad firm would have chosen Uptown Dallas to satisfy the company's young, professional workers without cash from taxpayers.

"We are the insecure teenager of Texas cities if we really believe that it isn't the urban core that is drawing this tenant to this world-class building," Kingston said.

Councilwoman Carolyn King Arnold complained that both incentives should have been used in southern Dallas to reverse generations of neglect.

"It's what I call economic apartheid, segregation, and we're supporting it," Arnold said.

Dallas Economic Development officials said the firm was considering other sites outside Dallas before the incentive was arranged.

Mayor Mike Rawlings welcomed the ad company after the vote.

"We want as many Californians moving here as possible, ok, and you're going to make our city better," Rawlings said. "They're one of the best companies in the world. We're glad to have you here."

The new building where Saatchi and Saatchi is leasing space is expected to be ready this summer.
A group of Dallas area school advocates are calling on the Dallas Independent School District to remove suspensions and other extreme disciplinary measures for students in all grades lower than third grade.

The Texas Organizing Project, which includes groups like Texas Appleseed and the North Texas ACLU, is supporting a policy proposal before the school district board to ban suspensions and expulsions for Pre-K to second-grade students and make such punishments a last resort for third through fifth graders.

The Dallas ISD board was set to hear a briefing on the proposal at its meeting Thursday morning.

Prior to the meeting members of TOP held a press conference outside the district's offices. They applaud the districts current effort, but said it's a policy that has been destructive to minority students.

According to data provided by Texas Appleseed, while black boys represent 6 percent of the Pre-K through fifth-grade students in the district, they make-up 54 percent of the students who received out-of-school suspensions during the 2014-15 school year.

The new policy would eliminate suspensions or Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs for those below third grade. Instead, students would receive what's called Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. The policy calls for more staff training in the area as part of the effort.

Lakashia Wallace knows the current policy all too well. Her son was suspended in his early years of school for being disruptive in the classroom. She said teachers are simply not trained to handle that and teach too much to the test. However, she said her son found positive support and other students like him should find it as well.

"With the help of understanding individuals, teachers who were trained, principals and administrators who wanted him to be successful," Wallace said. "Yes, its possible for a student who is disruptive to get the support and over come all of these obstacles. And I'm proud he will be graduating June 4."

Texas Appleseed said the Houston Independent School District became the first district in the state to ban suspensions for Pre-K to second-grade students in February.
Denton County Constable Ron Smith does not believe a gun ban at some of the countys offices is legal under state law.

Currently signs are posted outside the Sandy Jacobs Denton County Government Center Annex in Carrollton banning guns from being carried inside, concealed or not.

Smith, whose office is in the building, said the signs first went up a few months ago but only came to his attention when several residents sent complaints to him about the policy.

"[I] told them that, number one, we should not be doing it, and number two, that I would not enforce it," said Smith, who serves as constable for Precinct 6.

Smith said personally he believes in the safety benefits of having trained concealed carries in public, but that this situation just boils down to what is allowed by state law.

Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton handed down the opinion that a similar ban inside a Dallas County building violated the states new gun carry laws. Paxton said bans in county facilities had to be limited to courtrooms and offices essential to court proceedings.

In that case, Dallas County leaders chose not to challenge the opinion and instead just move the signs to those areas.

Smith believes Denton County will come under the same fire if a formal challenge is brought up.

County Judge Mary Horn said Wednesday that the constable is entitled to his opinion on the matter, but that county commissioners would await the states opinion on Denton Countys situation.

Horn said they have been discussing this matter, as have most county leaders in Texas, and she has reached out to Paxton for an opinion on it.

A gun owner herself, Horn said she believes some laws have unintended consequences and that this may be one of them in her opinion.

Its a poorly written law, she said over the phone on Wednesday, it needs clarification.

Horn hopes the state legislature will take the law back up and give more consideration to security in government offices.

In Denton Countys case, gun carry is also banned from the main county courthouse in Denton where security checkpoints exist at the front doors, but Horn said it just wouldnt be possible to properly secure every single court room and court office individually.

While the county awaits that opinion, Smith said hes not standing by the ban at the annex.

"This needs to be uniform and if there is anything well than certainly go about it the right way with state legislators, he said.
A third person wanted in a San Antonio child abuse case in which one toddler was chained to the ground and another tied to a door with a dog leash has surrendered to authorities, Bexar County Sheriff's authorities said Wednesday.

Deandre Dorch, 36, turned himself in at the county jail late Tuesday and was charged with two counts of serious bodily injury to a child by omission, sheriff's spokesman James Keith said.

Keith said Dorch is the father of several of the eight children found alone at the home about two weeks ago. Six were inside.

Deputies have said Dorch and his wife, Porucha Phillips, 34, the mother of the six children inside the house, were supposed to be caring for the two left in the yard. Phillips, who is pregnant, and the toddlers' mother, Cheryl Reed, 30, have also been charged in the case and remain jailed. Reed was arrested last week at a San Antonio motel.

Keith said Reed's son and daughter -- the two children in the yard -- had been in the custody of Dorch and Phillips since February. A preliminary investigation shows Dorch may have threatened Reed after she left the state and that Dorch and Phillips wanted money from her.

It's still not clear who restrained the children in the yard, Keith said.

"Dorch admits he failed to get care for the two children after seeing Reed whip both children with a switch from a tree on multiple occasions between November 2015 and February 2016," Keith said Wednesday. "He told investigators it wasn't his place to report child abuse because he's not a `snitch' and he's not `God."'

Doctors have told investigators the two children in the yard had "hundreds of injuries and scars that ranged from fresh injuries to old injuries ... that could have taken place over months or years," according to Keith. The girl also suffered hypothermia.

The two were taken to a hospital after they were discovered by deputies April 29 responding to a call about a child's prolonged crying.

The children, who have been released, initially were believed to be 2 and 3 years old but authorities say they may be a year older. The six inside the house were from 10 months to 10 years old.

All eight children are now under the care of child welfare officials.

Keith said previously Reed at some point left her children with Dorch and Phillips to travel to California where to address a child-protective matter in that state. It appears all three adults moved with their children to San Antonio from California in November, he said.
A great-grandmother who suffered a diabetic episode and lost consciousness earlier this week while driving met the two people who saved her life, pulling her from her vehicle after it crashed into a creek.

Joanna Broussard has a broken collar-bone and a few broken ribs, but her doctors said she'll make a full recovery. She is expected to be released from Methodist Dallas Medical Center by Wednesday night.

Wednesday afternoon, Broussard's wishes came true: she met the strangers who jumped off the bridge and into the water to save her life.

NBC 5 viewer Anna Cruz shared her incredible video of the rescue.

Broussard was behind the wheel of her sinking SUV. Her blood sugar dropped and she blacked out while driving. She drove off the Interstate 20 bridge near Mountain Creek Parkway and ended up in the water.

The first man in the water who pulled Broussard out was 20-year-old roofer Josh Tovar.

Tovar, along with his dad Oscar, and another man, Julio Gutierrez, jumped in too.

The group of strangers worked together to pull Broussard to safety and out of the water.

After seeing NBC 5's coverage of the crash Tuesday evening and the hospital bedside interview with Broussard, NBC 5 was able to coordinate a meeting at the hospital between Broussard and her heroes.

She was able to meet the men who saved her life and give them hugs. They also exchanged phone numbers and pledged to keep in touch.

"I feel blessed that I was able to be there at the right time," said Gutierrez, an electrician with GTZ Tech Service in Mesquite. "The car started sinking. We didnt know if the car was going to go all the way under, so it was just a matter of timing."

"We needed to do something now, or wed regret later if we didnt," Gutierrez added.

Gutierrez said the water was up to his neck, and it was swift moving.

I was trying to swim back toward the vehicle and the water just wouldnt let me, he said. You actually get scared after the fact. I think its just the adrenaline rush that goes through your body.

Josh Tovar was the first man in the water who opened the driver's side door and pulled Broussard out.

A nervous Tovar shook Broussard's hand and told her how happy he was to meet her.

"I'm so glad you were there for me," Broussard said.

Tovar and his stepfather are roofers for Castillo Roofing out of North Richland Hills. They were driving along I-20 to work and they saw the splash.

They stopped their car on the shoulder to see what had happened. A small crowd had gathered.

"I saw no one was getting in, so I took off my boots and I swam in. And I got to you, and you were awake, you were conscious. I told you my name. You were talking a bit, but I could see that something was wrong. Your face looked blank," he described.

Tovar said he jumped in to help a stranger because of his family.

"I have grandparents, I have a mother, I have family members. As a person I couldnt just standby," he said. "I had to do something."

"I was shocked that nobody wanted to get in," he added. "So I went in."

"I have more faith in people. Like I said, he's my guardian angel," Broussard said.

Tovars father died exactly one year ago. Tovar said he felt his dads spirit move through him and knew he was proud.

From her hospital room, Broussard watched for the first time the video of her rescue.

"I feel great. Im glad he was there for one thing. Because until they started pulling me out of the car, I didnt know anything," she said.

The group stayed in the hospital room for almost a full hour. They chit-chatted and hugged and pledged to keep in touch.

"It just goes to show, different races, different people, theres always good in somebody," said Tovar.
Two United States senators are trying to shame major airlines into dropping their baggage fees this summer.

In an open letter sent to 12 airlines on Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., wrote that dropping the fees would reduce wait times in security due to passengers who are taking carry-on luggage.

"(The Transportation Security Administration) has informed us that checkpoints serving carriers that charge baggage fees see 27 percent more roller bags than checkpoints serving carriers that do not charge such fees," the senators wrote.

Airlines began charging customers for luggage in 2008 when American Airlines first introduced a fee. Today, major carriers charge anywhere from $15 to $50 for one checked bag.

"I never check a bag unless I absolutely have to. It's too expensive. I don't want to pay for it," said traveler Ashley Forrest.

The TSA has already warned customers of exceedingly long lines expected at airports around the country this summer, in part due to staffing and budget issues. Agency spokeswoman Carrie Harmon wrote in a statement that they expect to make improvements to the wait with "more canine use, overtime, and accelerated hiring."

However, Blumenthal and Markey argue the airlines should be doing more themselves by "putting passengers before profit."

"We were staying here for three weeks. I think I may have to pay a bit going back. So, fingers crossed. I'm a little bit nervous," said Geoff Wicks, who was returning to the United Kingdom on Wednesday from North Texas.

At a Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ticket counter, Wicks' suitcase weighed in about six pounds over the limit. His wife's was six pounds under limit, so they escaped a fee.

But others may not be so lucky.

In response to the letter, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America, a trade organization representing principle airlines, said the attention should be on TSA, not baggage fees.

"We believe a better focus would be to urge TSA officials to ensure adequate staffing and equipment is being sent to the airports where they are most needed, and encouraging a more robust effort to register travelers for TSA PreCheck, which would reduce overall security wait time," wrote A4A spokeswoman Jean Medina.

TSA has been trying to promote options, such as PreCheck, to alleviate the wait, but many arent interested in another added cost.

"If there was a solution like doing away with checked bag fees is something that is worth exploring further,: said passenger Logan Weiland.

The full statement from Medina can be found here:

"We have seen NO data to suggest charging customers to check a bag equates to a 27 percent increase in the number of carry-on items. The majority of customers who check a bag do not pay to do so. Further, the model of charging customers for services they use and value, like checking a bag, date back to 2008; this is not a new phenomenon. A recent study by Ipsos Public Affairs found that two-thirds of passengers said they prefer a la carte pricing for tickets over bundled pricing  paying only for what they want when it means their total ticket cost will be lower.

"This is a misguided attempt at reregulating an industry that has been deregulated  to the benefit of the consumer  since 1978, and would have the unintended consequence of making air travel more expensive. We believe a better focus would be to urge TSA officials to ensure adequate staffing and equipment is being sent to the airports where they are most needed, and encouraging a more robust effort to register travelers for TSA PreCheck, which would reduce overall security wait time.

"As you would have seen from our release last week, A4A has encouraged passengers to enroll in expedited screening programs like TSA PreCheck and CBPs Global Entry. We also encouraged passengers to arrive early at the airport, allowing two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. And lastly, when they experience long wait times, to use our mobile-optimized website (Ihatethewait.com) to help crowdsource long wait times by sharing pics on social media with the #ihatethewait hashtag.

"Further, our members are also encouraging enrollment in expedited screening by in some cases covering the cost of the programs for elite travelers or enabling them to use frequent flier points to pay to enroll. Our members are also in some cases, using their own staff members at TSA checkpoints (in non security roles) to help move the lines and inform passengers what they need to do to be ready to pass through security."

And the letter from U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., follows:

"Dear Carrier:

"We write in the wake of reports of staggeringly-long lines expected this summer at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening checkpoints in airports across the country. We call on airlines to take a smart, common sense step to help thwart this growing problem: stop charging checked bag fees during the coming summer months, the busiest travel season of the year. Without charges for checking their bags, passengers will be far less likely to carry them on, which snarls screening checkpoints and slows the inspection process.

"As you know, airports across the country already lament lengthy security lines that snake through terminals. Passengers report waiting for so long in these lines that they miss flights, despite arriving at the airport hours in advance.[1] Travel officials, including TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, have expressed fears of a meltdown this summer as travel increases.[2]

"There are several causes for the recent delays: Turnover and inadequate numbers of TSA personnel, suboptimal use of expedited procedures like Pre-Check, and intensified inspection after TSA screening check point lapses. We are working closely with our Senate colleagues to address these issues, including increasing resources for TSA and requiring reforms to TSAs staff allocation efforts. We were pleased to see that last week TSA announced the reallocation of some funds to strengthen short-term staffing. Yet implementing systemic reforms and truly solving the screening problems will not happen overnight, and some actions  like significantly increasing TSAs long-term budget  may not take effect until next fiscal year.

"You can take some action right away. One simple solution  even if it is not a panacea  is well within your companies control: suspend bag fees for the summer. Administrator Neffenger has publicly stated that there is an increase in checkpoint screening of baggage due to fees charged for checked bags.[3] TSA has informed us that checkpoints serving carriers that charge baggage fees see 27 percent more roller bags than checkpoints serving carriers that do not charge such fees. Many airlines started charging these fees in 2007, as fuel prices peaked, demanding $20 for the first bag and even more for the second. These practices have proliferated since then, even with fuel prices plummeting, and are now standard operating procedure at nearly every airline. A recent investigation by the minority staff of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee found that three airlines increased checked baggage fees by 67 percent between 2009 and 2014.In turn, many customers seek to avoid the fee and instead have adapted by carrying their luggage onto the aircraft  often stuffing their bags to the brim. But before its stuffed into an airplanes overhead bin, all of this luggage must still clear security, creating a baggage backup that significantly slows screening  and often boarding.

"Airlines should help solve these issues, putting passengers before profits, beginning with checked baggage fees. Screening congestion is solvable  and this step will help. Please do not stand idly as travelers stand in endless lines."

Correction: A previous version of this article stated Jean Media was a spokeswoman for American Airlines.
It's the tale of the police officer who saved a gosling with an assist from mother goose.

On Mother's Day, Sgt. James Givens of the Cincinnati Police Department helped reunite a patient mother goose with her gosling who was tied up in a balloon string, NBC affiliate WLWT reported.

Givens was sitting in his patrol car on Sunday when the mother goose began pecking at his door. After following her, Givens found the baby goose tied up in a balloon string from a Mother's Day balloon.

Concerned the geese may attack, Givens called upon his partner, Specialist Cecilia Charron, who has pets of her own, to help.

I put my foot on the balloon and thats the only way I got ahold of the baby because the baby was running off, Charron told WLWT. "As soon as we got the baby free, I set the baby down and mommy and baby went into the Mill Creek and swam off."

Givens stood nearby and recorded the event on his phone. It showed the mother goose watching the rescue of her little one. Givens posted it to YouTube on May 9 where it has since been viewed more than 700,000 times as of May 12.

It says that we are supposed to protect and serve. I guess that includes wildlife besides people, Givens told WLWT.

The Cincinnati Police Department has received calls and emails from as far as the United Kingdom and Italy thanking the officers for their compassionate work, a spokesman told NBC.

"We're getting a lot of phone calls and emails saying 'way to go,'" said Tiffaney Hardy, director of communications for the Cincinnati Police Department.
The 2016 Texas State Republican Convention is underway in Dallas, during a contentious race for president.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who backed Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential bid, was among the speakers on Thursday. While Abbott did not mention likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by name, he did call for party unity.

"America does not have the luxury to get this election wrong. Republicans must unite to prevent Hillary (Clinton) from continuing the Obama agenda from destroying our constitution," said Abbott.

There is a Trump booth at the convention, and although he has no scheduled appearance, he appears to be picking up support.

Robert Stovall, the chairman of the Bexar County Republican Party, is a delegate who originally supported Cruz for president.

"Absolutely, I am going to support our nominee," Stovall said.

Sara Legvold, of Keller, said she isn't so sure people will get on board with Trump.

"It's hard to say at this point. I am praying that they do," said Legvold.

There is a large Cruz booth at the convention, too. Cruz is expected to speak on Saturday, a homecoming after his presidential run ended.

Dianne Williams, who is also running to be a national delegate, is not ready to support Trump. She holds out hope for a contested convention.

"I plan to support the values and principles that Ted supports," said Williams.

The convention runs through Saturday at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
The annual two-wheeled frenzy that is the Amgen Tour of California returns to San Diego this weekend. For the first time the races opening stage will be run through Americas Finest City.



The race, which features some of the most accomplished cyclists on earth like Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and reigning Tour of California champion Peter Sagan, begins at 11:30 on Sunday morning at Mission Bays Ski Beach (Vacation Rd., San Diego, CA 92109) and finish back in Mission Bay at Marina Village (1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109). The finish time is expected around 3:40 in the afternoon.



Between the start and finish the riders will pedal themselves 108 miles through several parts of San Diego County. They first head south to the first of two sprint locations in Imperial Beach before heading east towards the lone major climb of the opening stage, a trek up Honey Springs Road to see who is King of the Mountain.



Theyll continue out past Lawson Peak before heading northwest through El Cajon and La Mesa. The second sprint of the stage happens at Navajo Road before heading the Friars Road and back to the beach for whats expected to be a close, group sprint finish.
After a wild brawl involving 40 students at Sylmar High School Monday, students and actor Danny Trejo took to a school meeting Wednesday night to express their frustration with the school board.

Students and parents voiced strong opinions on race and student safety.

"I don't feel safe at school! We have to walk around in groups at school because we don't feel safe," a male student stood up and said.

The lunchtime fight captured on video Monday was widely shared on social media.

Witnesses said students left the fight bloody and bruised, and many didn't feel safe.

LA Unified School District vowed to present an "action plan."

"What happened on Monday we would all agree is an unacceptable occurrence," Superintendent Michelle King said to the crowd of students and parents.

After school board members made statements, Trejo shot back, saying that administrators were not listening to the students.

"The first time Mexicans and African Americans got together, we got a black president," actor Danny Trejo said during the lively discussion. "So, good things can really happen when we get together."

LA Unified School Police were still investigating if the videos captured law breaking or just bad judgment.

"We don't need to have a black and brown divide. That's what we're hearing that this is," Rosalind Scarbrough, San Fernando Valley NAACP, said.

It wasn't immediately clear if race was the catalyst for the brawl however.

"As we review footage evidence, and interview others involved, we will decide what will happen going forward," Chief Steve Zipperman, LAUSD Police, said.

No information was released on disciplining students, citing student privacy.
Thomas Nelson to Release Jesus Always in October 2016 with an Initial Print Run of One Million Copies

Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence is the first new 365-day devotional from Sarah Young since Jesus Calling was published in 2004

Contact: Stefanie Schroeder,

Senior Publicist, 615-902-1722;

www.thomasnelson.com



NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 12, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Jesus Calling brand has helped more than 16 million people enjoy a closer relationship with Jesus, from toddlers to teens, graduates to grandparents. Now, more than a decade after the release of the original Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson is releasing her new 365-day devotional, Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence (ISBN 9780718039509, $15.99), on Oct. 4. Jesus Always will have an initial print run of one million units, the largest initial print run ever for HarperCollins Christian Publishing's gift books division.



Photo: Jesus Always by Sarah Young will release in Oct. 2016



"What an impact Young's writings have made in helping so many people develop a deeper faith and a closer relationship with Jesus," said Laura Minchew, senior vice president and publisher of Gift Books, Children's Books, and New Media at Thomas Nelson. "Sarah has been writing her second 365-day devotional for four years, and we are delighted to introduce longtime and new fans of Jesus Calling to the new book, Jesus Always."



Whereas Jesus Calling focused on peace, Young focuses on joy in Jesus Always. Written in the familiar voice readers have come to know and love, these daily devotions are the result of Young's hours of daily Scripture reading and reflection. Each devotion references corresponding Scripture passages to allow readers to expand on the daily message in a deeper way.



These devotions will provide readers with hope and encouragement, and they will show readers how they can truly embrace joyful living.



"Jesus Always is designed to increase your joy and strengthen your relationship with Jesus," said Sarah Young in the Jesus Always introduction. "We embrace joy by embracing Jesusloving Him, trusting Him, staying in communication with Him. We can choose to live this way even during our most challenging times. In fact, the more difficult our circumstances, the brighter our gladness will shinein vivid contrast to the dark backdrop of adversity." Young goes on to say, "If you belong to Him, your story has an indescribably happy endingno matter what is happening in your life right now."



Jesus Always will be supported by a massive promotional campaign with an initial advertising budget of over $300,000. Beginning in May, product awareness and a pre-order push will be generated among consumers via a coordinated promotional effort with retailers. Key influencer mailings, gifts with purchase, customized product packages and merchandising add to the pre-release buzz. Marketing will be ongoing throughout 2016 and 2017, leveraging the Jesus Calling website (with more than 25,000 monthly views), podcast (which debuted at No. 2 on iTunes' Religion & Spirituality chart), and social media platforms (which reach nearly one million fans across all sites). An industry-leading advertising campaign will include outlets such as USA Today, Southwest Airlines' Spirit Magazine, PARADE, Guideposts, and many more.



About Sarah Young:

Sarah Young's devotional writings are personal reflections from her daily quiet time of Bible reading, praying, and writing in prayer journals. With sales of more than 16 million books worldwide, Jesus Calling has appeared on all major bestseller lists. Sarah's writings include Jesus Calling, Jesus Today, Jesus Lives, Dear Jesus, Jesus Calling for Little Ones, Jesus Calling Bible Storybook, Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, and Peace in His Presence-each encouraging readers in their journey toward intimacy with Christ. Sarah and her husband were missionaries in Japan and Australia for many years. They currently live in the United States.



About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.
Detectives were searching for a man who tried to sexually assault a woman on a hiking trail Wednesday afternoon in Mission Viejo, authorities said.

The attempted assault was reported around 3:30 p.m. at the 7-mile-long Oso Creek Trail near Marguerite Parkway and La Paz Road, according to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"I just feel sad," said hiker Lori Newman. "We all feel a little angry, you know?"

The victim was walking on the trail when the man grabbed her and pulled her to the ground. The man tried to take the woman's pants off, but the woman was able to fight the man who then ran away, according to the news release.

The man was described as about 50 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a husky build and a black flat-top hair cut. The man was wearing a white shirt, khaki pants and work boots, according to the news release.

Authorities warned hikers, especially female ones, to beware and carry whistles or pepper spray, or dogs.

"It will make me think twice, it absolutely will," said hiker Margo Ferrin.

Anyone with information about the attempted sexual assault was asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7170.
Authorities Wednesday announced a $50,000 reward for information that helps detectives track down a suspect in a shooting outside a downtown Los Angeles hotel last December that left one man dead and three others wounded.

Jamaine Harrington, 32, is being sought in the killing of 22-year-old Thomas Johnson, who was shot about 2:20 a.m. Dec. 13 at 550 S. Flower St., the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Harrington is described as black, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall and 140 pounds, with brown eyes and hair braided in corn rows.

Johnson was standing outside the Standard Hotel when two groups of men got into an argument that escalated into a fight.

"After the fight ended, a suspect pulled out a handgun and began shooting at the victims," wounding two men in front of the hotel, according to the LAPD.

"Mr. Johnson ran to the rear of the hotel through the lobby to avoid getting shot," police said. "Simultaneously, the suspect ran around the hotel toward the rear and confronted Mr. Johnson. The suspect continued to fire several rounds, hitting Mr. Johnson and another victim, who returned fire with his own gun."

The Los Angeles City Council offered the reward for information leading to Harrington's arrest. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at 213-996-1891, or 877-LAPD-247.
With the promise of a hug, a woman who recognized an apparently suicidal man from church talked him down from a 160-foot radio tower in Hollywood after the spectacle stopped rush-hour traffic and jammed Sunset Boulevard for hours Wednesday.

"I told him I promised to give him a hug, and he came down," Anita McMillan Murphy said.

A 55-year-old man climbed the KTLA tower on Sunset Boulevard just before rush hour and brought traffic to a screeching halt just west of the 101 Freeway.

Sunset Boulevard was closed beginning at 4:45 p.m. between El Centro and Van Ness avenues as a man in a green shirt and white shorts climbed a massive tower and refused to get down.

The Los Angeles Police Department diverted traffic as firefighters set up large air cushions at the base of the tower.

The man climbed up and down the tall tower while smoking some type of tobacco pipe and fiddling with a cellphone.

The high-traffic area remained closed for about three hours, but the man finally came down after Murphy began communicating with him from the ground.

She said she knew the man she calls "Charles" from First Baptist Church of Hollywood. Murphy said he must have recognized her blue hair.

"I explained to him that nothings hopeless," Murphy said. "I said, 'It's too high for me to come up, but if you come down I'll give you a hug.' And he said, 'I trust you.'"

As crisis negotiators moved in, Murphy went with them.

The man was taken into custody, but before he got into the ambulance, Murphy delivered on her promise.

"He teared up and said, 'Thank you, and I want my hug.' So I got my hug," Murphy said.

It wasnt clear how the man was able to get to the tower which is on KTLAs secure lot. He was not a KTLA employee.

He will not face criminal charges and was undergoing a mental health evaluation Wednesday night. Murphy said she invited him to return to church after he is released from the hospital.

City News Service contributed to this report.
The U.S. Navy SEAL killed last week in Iraq will be posthumously promoted, the Navy announced Wednesday as his body returned to Coronado, California.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV died May 3 about 14 miles north of Mosul in an attack launched by 125 ISIS fighters, Pentagon officials said. He was part of a small force sent to fend off the attack.

Keatings body arrived at the Naval Air Station at Naval Base Coronado at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Navy announced that Keating will be posthumously promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

Keating lived in Coronado with his wife, Brooke, and her family. The two married before he deployed, the family told NBC 7.

Members of the Navy, close friends, and residents lined the streets hearse carrying the body of fallen Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV made its way to the mortuary.

His family and fellow SEALs rode close behind, surrounded by Patriot Riders on motorcycles, most of whom were veterans.

"These guys put themselves in harms way much farther than any other human being in the United States," said U.S. Marine veteran Jay Dee.

Before heading over the Coronado Bridge, the riders joined Keatings family inside the base for a short ceremony.

"If we can just show our support to them and the troops and the wounded warrior that is going home, then we hope that has some soothing effect on the family and on the fellow members of their SEAL Team One," said U.S. Marine veteran Jim Reid.

Keatings mother, Krista Keating-Joseph, told NBC 7 San Diego her son wished to be buried as close as possible to Coronado Amphibious Naval Base. Keating wanted to be near his SEAL Team One, she said, instead of in Arlington National Cemetery.

A private memorial will take place Thursday for his family and members of the SEAL community.

A processional following Keatings funeral service Friday will go through C Street and proceed down 6th Avenue, over the Coronado Bridge to Rosecrans National Cemetery.
Authorities have made a second arrest in the January murder of a Miami-Dade Corrections officer.

21-year-old Ockeeve Sinclair was located and taken into custody in Fort Pierce Thursday, according to Pembroke Pines Police.

Sinclair and 29-year-old Brian Fairweather, who was arrested in April, are both charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Daveon Hall. A Broward County Grand Jury indicted both men on the charges this week.

Fairweather remains in custody at the Broward County Jail.

Hall was found shot to death in his Pembroke Pines apartment by his mother in January. The 15-year veteran with the Miami-Dade Corrections Department didn't report for work and his mother had gone to see why.

According to an arrest report, a neighbor told police she had become involved in a romantic relationship with Hall. She said she was married to Fairweather but the two were separated.

The neighbor said Fairweather had learned of the relationship and confronted Hall a few days before the murder, the report said.

Fairweather met with detectives in February and told them he was aware of the relationship but was not upset with Hall after learning about it, the report said. He denied being involved in the murder, the report said.

But according to the report, Fairweather admitted to two people that he was involved in the murder. When he was interviewed again he said he believed an acquaintance killed Hall, the report said.

Pembroke Pines Police said this case remains an active criminal investigation.
As a Pompano Beach neighborhood remains on high alert following the attempted abduction and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl, Broward Sheriff's Deputies released a sketch Thursday of the suspect who remains on the loose.

BSO officials said the girl was walking to school around 7 a.m. Wednesday in the area of East Copans Road and 1st Avenue when she noticed a car drive past her several times.

A male behind the wheel got out of the car and grabbed her, pulling her into the car, she told officials.

The man drove around for a while before parking in an alley between Northeast 3rd Avenue and Dixie Highway near Northeast 21st Street.

There, he allegedly tried to force himself on the girl. She managed to open the passenger door and run for safety.

"She was fighting and kicking, and she finally got the door open. She jumped out and ran to the school," explained Chantale Domond, victim's mother.

Domond said the experience has left her daughter traumatized.

"My daughter, she's still terrified. She's still kind of scared. She don't sleep at night, she tosses and turns," she said.

Domond said life has been challenging and with no transportation and nine kids, she was unable to walk her daughter to school.

"I have nine children, they go to different set of schools, different times. I don't have a vehicle to drive them. If I did, this would never have happened," Domond said.

The suspect is described as a male in his 30s with a low haircut. He was driving a black four-door car.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has any information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
A Broward County School security specialist used foul language and racial epithets in social media posts mocking a student in a wheelchair but was cleared of any wrongdoing and now the student's family is speaking out.

"They just called me and told me I got a student in a wheelchair, [what the] f--- you did to get suspended in a wheelchair bro?" Christopher Jenkins says in a selfie video.

Jenkins, a security specialist, posted on social media selfie videos and videos of students, and used the n-word when talking about one of them.

"That n----- say he here for fighting, fighting. B---- you ain't fighting, you paralyzed bro. I'm gonna show you all the picture later," he says.

The student, 14-year-old Darrel Bouie, is confined to a wheelchair because of a car accident.

"He made fun of him, telling everybody why he was suspended and 'he is paralyzed, this n----- can't do this,' it was just absurd and then he shared it with social media on Snapchat," grandmother Pinky Small said.

Bouie is a student at Sunrise Middle School. He got into a fight and ended up at an alternative educational center for a couple of days and that's where he encountered that security associate.

Small says Jenkins, who works at Lanier James Education Center, is the one who posted the material.

Broward County School District officials said their police department investigated the matter, then closed their probe and took no further action. They say the incident, including any potential disciplinary measures, continues to be under review by the District.

"There is a violation, you don't video a child, there is confidentiality, as far as he is a juvenile, and you have to have consent in order to video a child," Small said.

Small took the video to school district investigators. The school's principal told Bouie's father the matter was investigated and is now over.

"As a security specialist he should know better, you don't go around videotaping kids," Small said. "It's not just the fact that he is in a wheelchair but you don't videotape anybody's kids and put them on social media, anything can happen on social media."
After losing their 6-year-old son King to gun violence three months ago, the Carter family is packing up and moving out of their northwest Miami-Dade apartment complex.



"It's time to get our of here," Santonio Carter said. "It's too crazy around here."



Just two days ago, the Blue Lake Village Apartment Complex saw yet another shooting which left two people wounded. One woman was arrested in that shooting.



It brought back awful memories for the family. Little King was playing outside with friends in February when he died in a hail of bullets. His death galvanized the community, prompting numerous rallies and community protests calling for an end to gun violence.



Police arrested four people, including three teens and the mother of one of those teens, in connection with the King's death.



For the Santonio and his fiancee Monica Smith, King's mother, moving from the apartment they shared with their young son was not an easy decision.



But after the most recent shooting, they say hearing the same shots and seeing the same crime scene signaled it was time for a change.



"It was a bittersweet moment," Carter said, "We don't wanna go just 'cause of the memories. We ain't wanna move to another spot without King coming with us, but we know he'll be there spiritually."



The family is holding onto hope that a new home will help bring closure to the whole family.



"It's better days," King's mom Monica says. "Better nights to sleep."
A minor who is charged with sexual battery in a case involving students from Braddock Senior High School appeared in court Thursday as a judge decides whether he'll be charged as an adult.

The 17-year-old suspect was accompanied by his parents at the hearing, where he was appointed a public defender. NBC 6 is not identifying him because of his age.

The teen will remain behind bars until his next court date, scheduled for June 1.

Miami-Dade Police said the teen is one of four charged in the May 1 incident at a hotel in Bal Harbour. Adrian Rene Machin, Luis Angel Rosello and Julio Cesar Fernandez, all 19, are also facing charges in the incident.

Machin appeared in bond court Wednesday where he was ordered held without bond. Rosello and Fernandez both made their first court appearances Thursday where they were ordered held without bond.

Fernandez's attorney argued for his release on bond saying there was no allegation in the arrest report that he touched the victim.

A relative of Fernandez appeared to faint during his appearance in court. She was taken into the courtroom hallway in a chair with a scarf on her head.

Sabino Jauregui, Rosello's attorney, also argued for a bond to be set, calling the arrest report "vague."

"We really don't know what happened in this case," Jauregui told reporters after Thursday's hearing.

According to the arrest report, the victim, a 21-year-old woman, was laying in bed incapacitated when she was assaulted by the minor in a hotel room. Machin and Fernandez recorded the incident with their cell phones while Rosello watched, the report said. Machin and Rosello then assaulted the woman, the report said.

Sources told NBC 6 the woman had helped the teens get the hotel room and that the incident happened during a prom after-party. Three of the suspects attend Braddock and the other is a drop-out, sources said.

Fernandez told detectives he witnessed the alleged battery and said the woman "deserved it," the report said. He also giggled when a detective mentioned the incident and said he felt no remorse for the victim, the report said.
Every seven hours, gunshots ring out in the City of Miami. Until a year ago, police only knew about shootings when somebody called 911. Now, they're using new technology that reports gunfire within seconds.

The high-powered microphones are discrete, they could be anywhere and no one knows what they look like, but according to police, they are helping reduce the amount of gunfire plaguing Miami.

Police are now recording and listening to a shooting every time it happens.

A year ago, Miami Police launched ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection program. It uses high-tech audio sensors that are deployed above the street. When a gunshot goes off, a sensor is triggered, alerting police.

"We did see an increase from one year when we weren't using it to now that we do have it. We see anywhere from 200-300 increase," said Det. Jorge Agrait with Miami Police.

Before ShotSpotter, if anybody called 911 after a shooting, it would take 3-5 minutes for information. Now police know in seconds anytime a gun is fired, including almost exactly where it happened, and how many shots.

One recording shows 43 rounds were fired in Little Haiti in October in just 12 seconds. It's the perfect example of the gun problem in Miami.

Police said things have changed since it implemented ShotSpotter. Stats collected show gunfire steadily dropped during the last six months because police were able to respond quicker and saturate hot spots with their presence.

"Since now we have information on actual locations, now we go knock on doors of the community. Was anybody hurt? Do you have any information on what was going on? Is there anything we can do to help you out?" Det. Agrait explained.

From March to March, police recorded 6,986 shots fired. Not even police know the exact location of the censors, only that they are in Little Haiti, Liberty City and Overtown.

The initial start up cost was $275,000 and maintainance is $175,000 a year.
home US Arkansas man accused of threatening to hang 7 mayors over Common Core curriculum back in jail

A federal judge has ordered a man from Arkansas to be taken back into custody over threats to seven mayors in January 2015.

According to Arkansas Online, Maverick Dean Bryan, a 55-year-old man from Mineral Springs, had admitted during a detention hearing to having written threatening letters to the mayors of Ashdown, Hope, De Queen, Lewisville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, and Prescott, saying that he would hang them from "mighty oaks" on courthouse lawns if his demand was not met. He demanded that religion be put back in local schools and have the Common Core curriculum removed.

He also reportedly told the mayors not to honor the votes of those who worship a god apart from Jesus, as well as those of atheists, communists, socialists, homosexuals, and Muslims.

Bryan also admitted to having been the one behind two advertisements on local listing Thrifty Nickel last year. He was looking for someone who would give him a loan of $23 million so he can put up a Christian army that would overthrow the government of the United States.

He was arrested, but after a detention hearing on March 28, U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven allowed Bryan to be released on an unsecured bond. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris, who objected to the judge's decision, asked U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey to look into the case. Hickey, upon reviewing the transcript of the defendant's detention hearing, decided that Bryan should have been kept in custody.

"Defendant has an extensive criminal history involving the possession of firearms. In addition to his three previous convictions involving firearms, Defendant has admitted that he was impermissibly in possession of a firearm on the day of his arrest," says the order handed down by Hickey on May 2. "Thus, Defendant has repeatedly demonstrated his unwillingness to abide by the laws concerning the possession of firearms by a convicted felon. This pattern of disobedience poses a threat to the safety of the community and gives the court little hope that Defendant would abide by any conditions set by this court."

Harris' motion for pretrial detention was granted, and Bryan was taken back to jail. Hickey will be presiding over Bryan's jury trial this month. If the jury finds him guilty, he could face up to five years imprisonment for each count of sending threatening mail to the mayors, plus up to $250,000 in fines.

Arkansas adopted the Common Core State Standards in 2010, and phased it in 2011 for Kinder to Grade 2, in 2012 for Grades 3 to 8, and in 2013 for Grades 9 to 12.
City of Miami Police served warrants and rounded up suspects on a variety of charges Wednesday.

The warrants were being served for various crimes and violations related to drugs. Police haven't said how many suspects were taken into custody or what exact charges they'll face.

The corner of Northwest 3rd Avenue and Northwest 20th Terrace in Overtown was the home base for the crime sweep.

An estimated 50 officers were working on the sweep targeting the areas of Allapattah, Wynwood, Overtown and Downtown Miami.

Police said the arrests were in response to community crime concerns. Money, drugs and other items were seized.

"We are basically cleaning up the streets for our community, letting them know that we do care. We are not going to tolerate drug sales, usage, or other crimes," said Freddie Cruz with Miami Police.

Law enforcement officers said consistency is the only way to curb the crime.

"We are consistently putting them in jail as often as possible," said Commander Jose Alfonso with Miami Police.

No further information was released on the sweep.
Publix is warning customers about a phony coupon that's been circulating on social media advertising $75 off a purchase at the grocery store.

The fake coupon claims to offer the deep discount on a purchase of $80 or more and says it expires on May 29.

"This is not supported by Publix and this coupon is not valid at any of our locations. We recommend not participating in the promotion or providing your personal information," Publix said in a statement on their Facebook page Wednesday. "Thank you for your patience as we investigate this situation."
Police are investigating a woman's death after she had plastic surgery performed at a clinic in Hialeah, investigators confirmed.

Hialeah Police said a woman was undergoing a plastic surgery procedure at Encore Plastic Surgery, when she went into cardiac arrest.

The woman was rushed to Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, where she later died. She has been identified as 29-year-old Heather Meadows of West Virginia.

Police said the clinic is fully licensed and they are investigating the death with the Health Department.

Patients continued to come and go from Encore Plastic Surgery, just hours after Meadows' death.

"I was feeling terrible for that family because she didn't even get to make it but my daughter, she just came out of intensive care," said Mirta Abreu, who said she knows what the woman's family is going through.

She said her 19-year-old daughter stopped breathing after undergoing liposuction at Encore over the weekend. She remains in the hospital.

This is the same surgery center featured in an NBC 6 Investigation earlier this week about Dr. Osak Omulepu who now works there.

The state board that regulates doctors has accused him of botching plastic surgeries while working at other clinics, and has restricted what procedures he can perform. Dr. Omulepu is fighting efforts to have his license revoked.

There's no indication that he was involved in the death that happened here recently. We do not know who performed Meadows' surgery.

"It's not worth it. It's not at all," Abreu said. "My daughter's only 19 years old, I could've lost her."

NBC 6 spoke with Meadows' aunt from her home in West Virginia, who said family members are traveling to South Florida to try and figure out what went wrong.
Eleven years ago, a Haitian girl underwent major surgery as South Florida doctors removed a massive tumor from her face.

On Wednesday, she returned to Jackson Memorial Hospital to show her gratitude to her medical team.

"Thank you. Thank you doctors," Marlie Casseus said.

Speaking through a translator, Casseus couldn't contain her gratitude. It's been a decade since doctors at JMH removed a 16-pound tumor from her face.

"I'm happy to be here in Miami after so many surgeries and I'm happy to be with you today in such a big way," said Gina Eugene, Casseus' nurse.

Because of a rare genetic disorder, Casseus underwent a 16-hour surgery in 2005. She was 14 and it was the first of many procedures at JMH that have helped her to eat, see, breathe and speak.

Casseus and more than 100 Haitian nurses walked around JMH to show their appreciation for the doctors and nurses who treated her. She even got emotional.

"I cry because I'm so happy that I'm overwhelmed," Casseus said through a translator. "I'm happy because I see again this hospital that saved my life. All doctors, all nurses, that contribute to give me a second chance."

All of Casseus' surgeries were made possible through the International Kids Fund.

"Seeing Marlie today was just an amazing day. Seeing the transformation over the years. She's come a long way with several treatments and surgeries that she has received," said Niurka Del Valle, Senior Director of Jackson Health Foundation International Kids Fund.

The now 23-year-old is healthy and strong living in Haiti, and she has some big goals for her future.

"I would love to learn photography because I love to take pictures," she said.

Casseus said she can't thank the doctors enough and will be forever grateful to them.
A competition challenging designers to envision a combination aquarium and park along the East River in Queens sparked some colorful ideas, including a winning proposal for an underwater world within New York City.

The Arch Out Loud's New York City Aquarium and Public Waterfront Competition asked designers to come up with ideas for an "intertwined public aquarium and park" at the Anable Basin along the river in Long Island City.

Arch Out Loud, a designer collective, said it became interested in that site for its potential to address social and environmental issues through the implementation of a public program, spokesman Kyle Zook said in an email.

The winning design by an architecture firm in Milan, Italy, is an underwater aquarium excavated underneath the East River in Hunter's Point, next to the existing series of luxury condo towers on Center Boulevard, and accessible from a biome pathway winding through a submerged two-level island. (See all the renderings of the winning design in the photo gallery above.)

The proposal also includes a sloped beachfront, a panoramic public space, and a floating boardwalk surrounding the basin that would include the aquarium and its sliding roof, as well as eight triple-height transparent biomes.

"The main idea is to generate an environment whereby visitors feel that they themselves are entering the water to discover the beauty of the marine life on display," the proposal states.

It's "a living shell that opens to the sky during the day to reveal the sea worlds and which closes as darkness falls to take on a 'second life' as a planetarium, protecting the arena and the biome domes within, like a shell protects the pearl."

Over 500 people from 40 countries submitted nearly 180 proposals, which were judged by practicing architects and educators, according to Arch Out Loud.

Zook said Arch Out Loud is hoping the proposals from the competition will spark a conversation on the "amazing potential" of the site, and all of New York City waterfronts.

The site is already being eyed by developers for a multi-pronged plan that includes new residential buildings. The proposal, which would have turned the Anable Basin into a public park, was turned down by the local community board in February, DNAInfo reported.

Community Board 2 said the city needs to further study how the already-growing area should be developed before approving new development plans there.
More than a dozen members and associates of the Genovese crime family were arrested early Thursday on federal criminal charges, sources told NBC 4 New York.

Seventeen defendants, with nicknames like "Grandpa," "Lazy Eye," "Fat Sal" and "Birdie," were named in an eight-count indictment accusing them of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, operating an illegal gambling business and illegal use of firearms.

The suspects charged Thursday allegedly ran an illegal gambling operation, made murder threats and conspired to commit murder to futher the illegal operation, the indictment alleges.

The alleged mobsters known as Grandpa, Baldy and Fat Sal conspired together to kill someone in 2014, the indictment states. They did so, according to the charges, to be welcomed into the Genovese family and to increase their positions in the ranks of the operation.

Defendants known as Fat Sal, Lazy Eye, Grandpa, Zeus and others also allegedly ran a large-scale illegal bookmaking and sports betting operation, the indictment states. The gambling operation raked in more than $2,000 a day, the suit says.

Sources said 14 of the suspects were arrested Thursday as FBI agents, NYPD detectives and Nassau County police conducted raids in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx and Nassau County.

Those arrested were expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan later Thursday.
A man was stabbed to death in the hallway of his Bronx apartment building, police said.

Willie Lopez, 32, was stabbed once in the chest in the apartment building on Sheridan Avenue near East 172nd Street in the Claremont neighborhood at about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

First responders found Lopez on the ground of the 6th floor hallway and rushed him to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

No arrests have been made in the killing.
A New York City mother said that two robbers forced their way into her home and bound her and her two young kids with zip ties last week before ransacking their Bronx apartment.

"When I opened the door he pushed me and he says 'Don't scream, don't scream,' and he pointed a gun at me," said Mercedes Aquino, speaking in Spanish.

Aquino said that she was inside her apartment on East 141st Street apartment in Mott Haven on May 5, according to police. They zip-tied her hands and feet and legs and began combing through the apartment.

The mother told the robbers to take everything but not to harm her children, who had locked themselves in a bedroom.

The robbers broke down the door, she said, and tied them up as well. Aquino said that after sifting through the apartment she heard them say "She doesn't want to give me the jewelry. I'm going to kill her if she doesn't give me the jewelry."

Aquino's husband, Ivan Nunez, wasn't home at the time of the robbery. He said he thinks the robbers knew about the $15,000 in jewelry he had at the home.

In all, the robbers got away with cash, rings, bracelets and necklaces.

The children were not injured in the home invasion, but Aquino said their sense of security is shattered.

"If their dad is not here they don't want to be here," she said.

The suspects are believed to be in their 20s.

Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
home World Christian migrants suffer persecution from other migrants in Germany, alarming report says

Christian migrants in Germany who left the Middle East to escape persecution are facing danger from Muslim migrants, a recent report found.

Open Doors, a faith-based organization, together with five other NGOs, conducted a survey between February and April among 231 Christian migrants who came mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The survey results showed that an astonishing 88 percent of these Christian migrants have experienced persecution and attacks from other migrants because of their faith.

Aside from this, almost 50 percent of them said they have experienced discrimination and harassment from Muslim German guards.

These instances are causing an atmosphere of "fear and panic," according to Open Doors' member Markus Rode, The Washington Post reported.

Other survey respondents said they had been insulted (42 percent), threatened with death (32 percent) and sustained an injury from a physical attack (37 percent). The victims were reportedly afraid to run to the police, which could be the reason why the magnitude of attacks against Christian refugees had not been made known earlier.

The report, which contained more than 200 stories of targeted attacks, focused on the scenario in Germany. However, experts say up to 40,000 Christian migrants overall could be suffering the same fate.

"This is only the tip of the iceberg," Rode said.

Open Doors recommends that non-Muslim refugees be kept separate from Muslim refugees in order to avoid further targeted attacks against Christians. The organization advised that non-Muslim Christians should not be made to stay in the same house where the residents are mostly Muslims.

The organization also recommended that personnel in refugee centers be given trainings so they can become aware about conflict between religions and be equipped to protect religious minorities in the camps. Aside from this, Open Doors also suggests that Christian counselors, to whom victims could confide, be made available to Christian refugees.
A 23-year-old man was stabbed to death in the courtyard of an apartment building the Bronx, police said.

Daniel Pena was stabbed at an apartment building in Fordham around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Police say officers found Pena conscious in the courtyard of 2953 Decatur Ave. with at least two stab wounds to his torso.

EMS transported him to Saint Barnabas Hospital, but he had died by the time they arrived there.

No arrests have been made and a police investigation is ongoing.
Four men used skimmer devices at multiple Manhattan supermarkets to steal the pin numbers and credit card information of at least 49 customers, police said Thursday.

The skimmer devices were installed on card readers at the checkout counter of the stores, authorities said.

The suspects were able to access the credit or debit card numbers of the victims as well as the corresponding pin numbers, police said.

They then used the information to remove money form the victims' bank accounts at ATMs in Manhattan and Queens.

The thefts occurred citywide from Feb. 27 to March 29, investigators said.

No arrests have been made in the thefts, police said.

Police ask anyone with information about the suspects to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
In a violent example of false advertising, a man in Times Square offering "free hugs" is accused of punching a Canadian woman who refused to give him a tip.

The 22-year-old woman, an Ottawa resident, had her picture taken with the man, who was holding a "free hugs" sign, at about 10:40 a.m. Thursday, police said.

The man, identified as Jermaine Himmselstein, demanded a tip and she refused. He then slugged her in the face and ran away, according to police. The woman was able to show police the picture of the hugger, who was taken into custody.

"I was aggressively asking for tips," he told reporters while being escorted out of a police station after his arrest. Himmelstein did not deny hitting the woman.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

The woman suffered blackened eyes and cuts and bruises, investigators said. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Investigators said Himmselstein has a long history of similar arrests dating back to 2013 and has targeted women in the past.

The most recent incident happened April 29, when he allegedly assaulted a woman waiting for the train at the 49th Street N/R subway station, reportedly screaming, "You will respect me when I knock you out," then running from the scene. He was charged in that incident after his arrest Thursday in the Times Square assault.

Before that, Himmselstein was arrested April 17 on a criminal mischief charge, accused of assaulting a 25-year-old woman.

In April 2013, Himmelstein threw a can of soda at a 20-year-old woman in Washington Square Park and threw water on her when she repeatedly refused his offers to hug her, according to police.

Himmelstein was arrested two more times later that month, once for allegedly sending threatening text messages, and the other in connection with another assault on a woman who allegedly refused his hugs in Washington Square Park. In that case, he allegedly told the victim, "You're pissing me off, and I assault people when I'm mad."

In August 2015, he allegedly followed a 26-year-old woman and struck her in the back of the head near University Place and 13th Street, police said.

Then in October 2015, he punched a woman in the face, knocking her to the ground in midtown, police said.

A 2013 New York Times article documenting the Washington Square Park incidents cited Himmelstein's parents, who said he had autism. His mother said at the time she had no idea how he came to the idea of offering free hugs, and that "Jermaine comes from a home where we give him hugs."

A Brooklyn woman contacted NBC 4 New York Thursday to say she watched "the Free Hugs guy" punch a woman on the Coney Island boardwalk last April.

Lemonia Sitaras said the man, whom she believes is Himmelstein, punched a woman who did not tip him. Sitaras rushed to the woman's aid until police arrived.

"It was all swollen, her face," she said.

She said by the time police officers arrived the man had gotten away.

For Sitaras, it's obvious he needs more than hugs.

"He needs help, he's hurting people," said Sitaras.

It's not clear if Himmelstein was convicted on any of the charges since 2013. A message seeking information on whether he ever served jail time in the cases was left with the Department of Corrections.

Information on an attorneyf or Himmelstein was not immediately available.

Himmelstein likely would have been subject to a city law passed earlier this year regulating costumed characters, desnudas and other street performers in the Crossroads of the World and other public spaces. The regulation is expected to go into effect this summer.
Apartment living may not seem ideal for pet owners, but don't be deterred  there are ways to make it work. Some cats, dogs and reptiles do well in smaller spaces.

Cats

About 85 million people in the U.S. own cats, according to PetMD. Cats groom themselves, don't need to be walked and make use of vertical space. This means they find creative ways to entertain themselves indoors, like climbing on windowsills or shelves  but don't forget, claws can damage furniture.

Because cats are solitary creatures, "generally speaking, they do better being alone" than other animals, said Michael Rueb, associate director of adoptions and resident care at Bideawee, a pet welfare organization and adoption center with locations in Manhattan, Westhampton and Long Island, New York. Cats also sleep a lot.

Trainers like Rueb serve as matchmakers for soon-to-be pet parents looking to adopt cats and dogs. Websites like OptimumPet.com and Purina.com offer surveys to help potential cat owners to find out which breed may be best for them.

Dogs

When it comes to indoor dogs, size isn't the only thing that matters.

"I think sociability and the energy characteristics of the dog are more important than the size," Rueb said.

Rueb gathers a wealth of information when meeting prospective dog owners at Bideawee, such as how often the owners are home during the day, the length of their work hours, if they want a high-energy or low-energy dog and if their new pup will be sharing the home with other pets.

"It's a pretty comprehensive process," Rueb said.

Before bringing a dog into your apartment, it's important to consider how much attention your furry friend will need. Puppies demand more time than older dogs. Also, "small dogs may take up less space, but some can be quite noisy," according to PetMD.

Other important factors include dogs' needs for mental and physical exercise and their interest in socializing. Some pet owners who work long hours may consider hiring dog-walkers to ensure their pups get a healthy amount of exercise.

Owners should also take into account in the environment in which the dog will live.

"Noise sensitivity isnt often mentioned as a factor in choosing an apartment dog. But how a dog reacts to noises from the buildings hallway or the sidewalk out front hugely affects his quality of life and yours," dog trainer Jolanta Benal explains on Quick and Dirty Tips.

Rueb recommends cleaning the apartment before introducing a new pup into your home and making sure valuables are tucked out of reach.

"The shelter environment, for the most part, is a very sterile environment. We don't have couches and slippers and eyeglasses laying around," said Rueb. "I always recommend that people go under the assumption that your dog is going to chew something up."

Fish and Reptiles

Fish occupy minimal space and are a low-maintenance choice for apartment dwellers. According to PetMD, there are also health benefits to owning a fish.

"For adults, just watching fish swim around in an aquarium has been shown to lower blood pressure and stress," PetMD says on its website. "For the kids, doing the same has been shown to improve hyperactivity disorders."

Other tank pets, like snakes and geckos, "are excellent pets for kids and apartment dwellers alike," according to ForRent.com. But think twice before choosing a turtle, which can carry salmonella and generally requires a larger tank, the site warns.

Pet-Friendly Apartments

Before city dwellers bring home their furry friends, Rueb checks with landlords to ensure residents are permitted to have pets. Many buildings either prohibit animals or impose restrictions on the breeds and sizes of pets allowed to live there.

For those seeking pet-friendly apartments, PetFinder.com suggests preparing documents to show you're a serious pet owner.

"Gather proof that youre responsible," the site recommends. "The more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal will be to your future landlord."

Helpful documents include a letter of reference from a current landlord, proof that your dog has attended training classes and veterinary papers showing that your pet has been vaccinated, spayed or neutered.

Other available resources include companies such as Pet Friendly Realty NYC, which connects clients with mental health clinicians to determine if they are candidates for emotional support animals.

Those who qualify receive help from real estate agents in finding suitable homes  not only in pet-friendly buildings, but also those that don't traditionally accept animals.

The service allows people to have an "advocate" throughout the process, said Matt Sutton, a spokesperson for Pet Friendly Realty.

For those seeking a home through more traditional means, rental sites such as rent.com and streeteasy.com allow users to search specifically for pet-friendly apartments.
The new acting president is calling for unity in Brazil, while the leader just suspended by the Senate is vowing to fight what she calls a coup, underscoring the deep political polarization in Latin America's most populous nation.

The disparate visions came just hours apart in the same narrow hall in the presidential palace after the Senate voted 55-22 Thursday to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, putting her vice president, Michel Temer, in charge.

Rousseff, whose popularity has plummeted amid the worst recession since the 1930s, is accused of using accounting tricks to hide large deficits in the federal budget. Opponents argue that damaged the country, but Brazil's first female president called it a baseless case cooked up so elites who loathe her leftist Workers' Party could snatch back power.

Temer moved quickly to announce a new Cabinet and said his government's first priority is to get Brazil's stalled economy going again. He also promised to support the widening investigation into corruption at the state oil company that has already ensnared leading politicians from a variety of parties and even implicated Temer himself.

Emerging a few hours after the Senate vote, Temer said it was a sober moment and made a bid for peace with Rousseff, offering his "institutional respect" for her and recognizing the impeachment campaign has caused deep divisions.

"This is not a moment for celebrations, but one of profound reflection," he said during a swearing-in ceremony for his 22 Cabinet members. "It's urgent to pacify the nation and unify the country. It's urgent for us to form a government of national salvation to pull this country out of the serious crisis in which we find ourselves."

Temer said Brazil must get its economy back on track and deal with the government budget deficit.

"Our biggest challenge is to staunch the process of freefall of our economy," he said. "First of all, we need to balance our public spending. The sooner we are able to balance our books, the sooner we'll be able to restart growth."

Rousseff warned that Temer plans to dismantle government social programs put in by her party that benefit around one-fourth of the Brazilian population, but he insisted the programs would be maintained and "perfected" under his leadership.

The economy has been predicted to contract nearly 4 percent this year after an equally dismal 2015, and inflation and unemployment are hovering around 10 percent, underscoring a sharp decline after the South American giant enjoyed stellar growth for more than a decade.

Although the specific impeachment charges against Rousseff are limited, the effort to remove her became as much a referendum on her leadership amid the economy's slump and the revelation of a mammoth bribery scheme involving the state-run Petrobras oil company.

Rousseff was immediately suspended for 180 days pending a trial in the Senate. If two-thirds of the 81 senators vote to find her guilty, Temer will serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in December 2018.

A defiant Rousseff said the action was a coup cooked up by power-hungry opponents. She has said the "chief conspirator" was Temer, the longtime leader of the centrist Democratic Movement Party that is known less for a specific ideological stance than for its skill at backroom deal making.

In what many Brazilians think could prove to be her last speech as president, Rousseff said she wouldn't give up.

"I am the victim of a great injustice," said the former Marxist guerrilla who rose to power in 2010 on the coattails of her wildly popular predecessor and mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"I fought my whole life and I'm going to keep fighting," she said, signaling that she and her supporters may intend to make good on a promised campaign of protests and strikes that could complicate Temer's government.

The scandal at Petrobras revealed deep-seated corruption that cuts across the political spectrum in Brazil and has entangled top officials from the Workers' Party and the opposition alike as well as top businessmen.

Temer has been implicated by witnesses in the scandal, but he has not been charged. The impeachment drive's main motor, former House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, has been charged in the scandal and was suspended last week as speaker over allegations of corruption and interfering with justice.

Several of Temer's Cabinet appointees have also been hit with corruption charges and other allegations.

The acting president pledged that the investigation will continue unfettered. "It deserves to be followed closely and protection against any interference that could weaken it," he said.

Temer's new Cabinet raised eyebrows because all its members are middle-age or elderly white men  a particularly sore point in this majority non-white country. Six women, including one black, were included in the 39 members of Rousseff's Cabinet when she began her second term last year.
In a setback for the Obama health care law, a federal judge ruled Thursday that the administration is unconstitutionally subsidizing medical bills for millions of people while ignoring congressional power over government spending.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer was a win for House Republicans who brought the politically charged legal challenge in an effort to undermine the law.

If the decision is upheld, it could roil the health care law's insurance markets, which are still struggling for stability after three years.

Collyer said her ruling would be put on hold while it is appealed. The White House expressed confidence it would be overturned.

At issue is the $175 billion the government is paying to reimburse health insurers over a decade to reduce deductibles and co-payments for lower-income people.

The House argues that Congress never specifically appropriated that money and has denied an administration request for it. Collyer agreed that the administration is exceeding its constitutional authority by spending the money anyway. She rejected the administration's argument that the law authorizes the money automatically because the program is considered an "entitlement" like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

House Republicans launched the lawsuit in 2014 over Democrats' objections. The GOP-led House had already voted dozens of times to repeal all or parts of "Obamacare," but those efforts went nowhere, failing to overcome opposition from Senate Democrats and the president.

So the House turned its focus to tying up money spent on the law. Republican House leaders asserted that the Obama administration couldn't spend money that lawmakers refused to provide.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the decision "an historic win for the Constitution and the American people."

"The court ruled that the administration overreached by spending taxpayer money without approval from the people's representatives," he said in a statement.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that House Republicans ultimately would lose the case.

"This suit represents the first time in our nation's history that Congress has been permitted to sue the executive branch over a disagreement about how to interpret a statute," Earnest said.

"It's unfortunate that Republicans have resorted to a taxpayer-funded lawsuit to refight a political fight that they keep losing," Earnest added. "They have been losing this fight for six years. And they'll lose it again."

The administration is expected to appeal Thursday's ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where a majority of active judges have been appointed by Democrats.

Collyer was appointed to the district court by President George W. Bush, a Republican.

About 12.7 million people are covered through insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's law. The disputed subsidies help lower-earning customers afford out-of-pocket costs, such as annual insurance deductibles and co-payments when they seek medical care.

These subsidies, called "cost-sharing reductions" are separate from the financial aid provided under the law to help people pay their monthly premiums, which would not be affected.

But that doesn't make the cost-sharing subsidies any less important. Without them, millions of people may not be able to afford to use their health insurance.

Here's why: The most popular policies are skinny plans with low monthly premiums but high deductibles and copayments. The average annual deductible for a silver plan  the kind picked by about 7 in 10 customers  is nearly $2,900, according to the consulting firm Avalere Health.

Under the law, insurers have to provide cost-sharing assistance to consumers picking a silver plan who make up to two-and-a-half times the federal poverty level, which is $60,750 for a family of four.

The government is then required to reimburse insurers for the cost of the subsidies. The administration maintains that's automatically authorized, and it doesn't have to go back to Congress for approval each year.

But Collyer rejected that argument, saying appropriating the money is up to lawmakers. "That is Congress' prerogative," Collyer wrote. "The court cannot override it by rewriting" the law.

If congressional approval is required, Congress' GOP majority can just shut off the spending. And if that happens, the administration says the only option insurers have would be to raise premiums significantly.

However, more insurers might just decide to bail out of the health law markets. Major companies already are struggling to make money on the program.

The White House had earlier argued that the House had no legal authority to pursue its lawsuit, but Collyer rejected that argument and allowed it to proceed.

In another case last year, the Supreme Court threw out a challenge to the law's subsidies for premiums. The legal issues in that case were much different.
The U.S. military conducted a defensive airstrike against al Shabab militants in southern Somalia Thursday, according to Pentagon officials, NBC News reported.

More than a dozen al Shabab militants opened fire on U.S. military advisers and Ugandan soldiers who raided an illegal taxation checkpoint in rural Somalia. An MQ-9 Predator drone that was overhead conducted the airstrike very quickly.

American officials did not fire on al Shabab themselves, nor were the Americans ever fired at, officials said. Five militants were killed and two more were wounded.

The U.S. military, which was acting in an advise and assist capacity during the raid, has about 50 personnel supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Questions linger a year after Amtrak 188 ran off the tracks in Philadelphia, taking life and limb with it, and pain persists for those devastated by the derailment.[[379291351, C]]

For Robert Hewett, the warm May evening when his world flipped upside down is burned into his memory.

Hewett, 58, is among those who suffered more serious injuries in the crash, which occurred moments after the train left 30th Street Station.[[379264651, C]]

He was sitting in the first car  the car shown crushed like a soda can in footage from the scene  and was the first victim taken to Hahnemann University Hospital that night.

"Right before I lost consciousness, I crashed head-on with another gentleman," Hewett recalled on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the derailment. "I woke up laying on a pile of rocks. All my clothes had been ripped off, I couldn't move my legs, I couldn't see out of my right eye."

SMBB

Hewett said fires burned in the field near where the train careened off the tracks, but he was too badly hurt to move himself to safety. So he waited.

"I was scared laying there," Hewett said. "I couldn't move, I couldn't get away. I started yelling for help."

Eventually, that help came. First responders carried Hewett away from the scene.

"I remember [the rescuer] saying, 'This guy's gotta go now or the whole back of his head's coming off,'" Hewett recalled.

Its been a year since Amtrak 188 derailed in Philadelphia at a curve at Frankford Junction. What has changed in the year since the deadly derailment? NBC10s Matt DeLucia is live at 30th Street Station  the last stop the doomed Northeast Regional train made  with the latest.

Hewett would be the first derailment survivor to arrive at Hahnemann Hospital, but the last to leave. The severity of his injuries required lengthy and extensive medical treatment.

Tom Kline and Bob Mongeluzzi, two attorneys representing the majority of Amtrak 188's surviving victims, said their clients want accountability on the part of Amtrak and engineer Brandon Bostian.



Authorities have said the train was traveling at more than double the speed limit the night of May 12, 2015 when it rounded the curve at Frankford Junction, off of Wheatsheaf Lane in a desolate stretch nestled between Juniata, Port Richmond and Frankford, and lurched off the tracks.

[NATL] Dramatic Images: Amtrak Train Derails in Philadelphia

Federal investigators are scheduled to meet again next week to discuss the probable cause of the crash.

For the families of the eight victims who died  and the more than 200 others injured that night  added safety measures came too late.



"This has been a trying time and a troubling time and a difficult time for all of those who were horribly devastated and lost loved ones," Kline said recently.

On the one-year anniversary of the deadly Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, doctors who treated dozens of patients recount how they handled the disaster. NBC10s Matt DeLucia has the story.

Most victims have elected not to talk publicly about their ordeal. Victims were treated at 10 area hospitals in the aftermath of the mass-casualty disaster.



Temple University Hospital received 54 patients that night. NBC10's Matt DeLucia talked with doctors from the hospital, who recounted a level of devastation they will likely never see again.

"I have never experienced anything that was to the volume that we saw that night," said Dr. Amy Goldberg, who was Temple Hospital's chief of trauma at the time. "When I walked in and saw the number of patients we had already on site and the numbers we were getting, it was rather impressive."

Thursday marks one year since Amtrak 188 derailed in Philadelphia minutes after departing 30th Street Station. NBC10s Matt DeLucia has details from attorneys for victims of the crash who say theyre still facings its affects every day and waiting for answers.

Dr. Herbert Cushing, Temple's chief medical officer, remembered the questions that raced through his mind as he traveled to the hospital's North Philadelphia campus that night.



"Do we have enough emergency rooms? Is the blood bank ready?" Cushing recalled.

Cushing said the hospital had prepared for a disaster situation like the derailment, but after living it, he feels the hospital is even "better prepared now to handle a large disaster situation."

For many of the victims, recovery has come slowly. Attorneys say they are still living with the effects of the deadly crash day in and day out.

"They feel this pain not just on the day of the anniversary of this derailment," Mongeluzzi said. "But every waking hour of their lives."
A Pennsylvania woman who was shot and killed by her boyfriend inside their Chester County home recorded her own murder on her cellphone, prosecutors said.

The boyfriend, Keith Smith, is heard acknowledging the recording and shouting obscenities at the woman before killing her, prosecutors with the Chester County District Attorney's Office alleged Wednesday. The office charged Smith with her murder.

Investigators said Smith, 43, and his girlfriend Wesley Webb were inside their home on the 300 block of Buckwalter Road in Schuylkill Township on May 2. Three children, all under the age of 14, were also inside the home at the time.

Smith and Webb got into an argument that night, according to officials, and Webb decided she was going to take two of the children and leave the home. Webb, seated on a couch in the living room, took out her phone and began to record audio of the argument, investigators said.

During the recording, Smith allegedly grabbed his single-shot, 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire, striking Webb once in the chest and killing her.

The recording allegedly captured Smith asking Webb, You want to record it now, b---h? The sound of a gunshot is then heard, before Smith shouts, F--- you! Hows that? Thats where we just went, according to investigators.

After shooting Webb, Smith reloaded the shotgun and turned it on himself, investigators said. He shot himself in the face but failed to kill himself, according to officials.

Officials say the three children were upstairs in the home during the shooting, but went downstairs and discovered Webbs body. One of the children called 911 and police arrived at the home in minutes, officials said. When police arrived, Smith allegedly admitted that he shot Webb and had tried to kill himself after. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

"This was a savage, selfish, and cowardly murder, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. The defendant did not hesitate to kill his girlfriend. But he flinched when it came to killing himself. Now, the victim is dead, the defendant is alive, and three kids have been badly traumatized.

Smith is charged with first and third degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime and endangering the welfare of children. He is being treated at a hospital where he is in stable condition and will be transferred to Chester County Prison once he is medically cleared.

It was not immediately clear if Smith had an attorney.

This case is a tragic example of technology and the law catching up to criminals, Hogan said. Until 2012 in Pennsylvania, a victims recording of her own murder would have been inadmissible under the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act. This law was changed in 2012, fixing a glaring omission. But that is slight solace for the children and family of the victim in this case.
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Police are searching for the driver of a minivan who struck a bicyclist in University City Wednesday night and then fled the scene.

Police say a former Drexel University student was riding his bike on 33rd and Powelton streets when he was struck by a red or Burgundy Ford minivan. The driver of the van did not stop and instead continued north towards 35th Street, police said.

The victim was not seriously injured during the crash and was able to ride away on his own after being checked out by responding medics.

Police say the hit-and-run vehicle had the partial tag "YBZ." They continue to investigate.
Federal investigators will meet next week to detail the probable cause of last year's fatal Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia.

The National Transportation Safety Board's meeting Tuesday in Washington will be held just over a year after the crash that killed eight people and injured more than 200 others.

The New York-bound Northeast Regional train entered a sharp curve at 106 mph, more than twice the speed limit, last May 12 and tumbled off the tracks.

The train's engineer told investigators in November he remembered pushing the throttle forward to pick up speed and then braking when he felt the train going too fast into the curve.

The engineer said there were several gaps in his memory and that he didn't remember what happened between throttling up and the curve.
Three local doctors are accused of illegally selling commonly abused prescription drugs to both dealers and addicts in our area.

Dr. Alan Summers, 78, of Ambler, Dr. Azad Khan, 63, of Villanova and Dr. Keyhosrow Parsia, 79, of Ridley Park, are all charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, health care fraud and money laundering.

Dr. Summers operated a medical clinic on South Broad Street in Philadelphia and sometimes operated under the name National Association for Substance Abuse-Prevention & Treatment (NASAPT), according to an indictment filed Wednesday. Officials say Dr. Summers employed several other doctors including Dr. Khan and Dr. Parsia. The three doctors allegedly sold prescriptions of Suboxone  a drug used to treat opiate addiction -- and Klonopin  an anti-anxiety medication -- in exchange for cash without conducting medical or mental health examinations, which is required by law.

The indictment accuses Dr. Summers of helping his customers obtain health insurance benefits for the drugs by providing false information to health insurance companies. Officials say many of the doctors customers were drug addicts or drug dealers who sold the medication.

These doctors capitalized on the addiction epidemic that is typically responsible for numerous deaths across our region, said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Tuggle. The DEA will remain vigilant in pursuing investigations in an effort to combat this serious public health crisis.

During his operation, Dr. Summers illegally sold over $5 million worth of controlled substances, according to investigators.

We have a public health crisis in this county involving prescription drug abuse that is exacerbated by doctors like these defendants, said United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Every doctor who abandons his or her ethics to engage in the prescription-for-pay culture is breaking the law. They need to ask themselves whether it is worth the money to put people in danger, to risk the loss of their medical licenses, and to lose their freedom. Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those individuals whose unscrupulous and illegal conduct contributes to this deadly epidemic.

NBC10 reached out to Dr. Summers attorney, Carrie Cinquanto, for comment.

The medical treatment provided by Dr. Summers was medically necessary and met the generally accepted standards of medical practice, Cinquanto wrote in an email. Dr. Summers is innocent of these charges and is looking forward to his day in court.




A search is on for the gunman who shot a dog in the head and leg in Cumberland County, New Jersey, then left him for dead.

The pit bull was found lying on a road near Main Street and Strawberry Avenue in Commercial Township on May 2. Rescuers took the dog to a veterinary clinic but didnt realize until May 10 he had been shot when X-rays showed bullets lodged under his jaw and near his right back leg.

"The dog is very lucky to be alive and so far is doing very well," said veterinarian Ryan Gorman of the Animal Clinic of Millville.

The dog, whom rescuers named, "Mr. Biggs," also has what appear to be puncture wounds and scars all over his body.

[NATL] Unbelievable Animal Stories: Dog Befriends Abandoned Baby Giraffe

"Its very heartbreaking," said Melanie Britton of TLC Animal Rescue. "I cant believe somebody would do this. Just leave him out there to die. Hes so sweet. He just wants love."

The bullet in Mr. Biggs' leg shattered his bones. Gorman hopes an orthopedist can find a way to avoid amputating the leg.

"Instead of being a simple break with just two pieces, there are multiple fragments," Gorman explained.

The Cumberland County SPCA has launched an investigation into the incident as the search for the gunman continues.

"I hope justice is served because this dog did not deserve this," Britton said.

TLC Animal Rescue is asking for donations to help pay for Mr. Biggs' veterinary bills, which will end up being thousands of dollars. The dog will be put up for adoption once hes in better shape.

Donations can be made online here. [[379044851, C]]
Seven Center City sites will feature attractions and events as part of PoliticalFest, a family-friendly festival covering politics and American history held in conjucntion with the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention announced the locations and each one's accompanying theme on Thursday.

The 2016 DNC will take place July 25-28 and the festival is scheduled for July 2227.

To see the full list, click here.

For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal.
Donald Trump said he may set up a commission to study his immigration policies and his proposed ban on foreign Muslims entering the U.S. The man he may ask to lead the commission is former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who has called Trump's idea of a Muslim ban unconstitutional.

Trump floated the idea of a commission Wednesday on Fox News and addressed it only briefly, not saying if this would happen if he wins the White House or during his Republican presidential campaign.

Trump's call to deny entry to Muslims from abroad until America's security has been assured is a centerpiece of his campaign. So are his proposals to deport all people who are in the country illegally.

He said a commission would examine all those issues, as well as the question of letting in Syrian refugees, and it would be "possibly headed" by Giuliani, the mayor when New York was attacked on 9/11.

Giuliani said in December that Syrian refugees should not be let in. But he said a ban on Muslims would violate the Constitution and there can be no religious test on who is allowed into the country.
Next time you leave silly messages on the world's highest mountain, beware: China is watching you.

Mountaineering officials have scrubbed graffiti from two granite tablets on the Chinese side of Mount Everest's northern base camp and plan to name and shame future defilers.

State-run mobile news site The Paper reported Wednesday that workers removed the signatures, dates, doodles and messages left by scores of visitors. They include "let's wander together," ''farewell to the mountain" and "here I come."

The graffiti grew so thick it covered the information about the mountain carved into the tablets in Chinese, Tibetan and English.

The base camp at roughly 17,060 feet is a popular tourist site and has fallen prey to the sort of behavior the Chinese government says is uncivilized and vows to punish.

Along with publicizing the names of those leaving behind graffiti, base camp management is considering setting aside separate wall space just for visitors to write their names and other messages, a local tourism official, Gu Chunlei, told The Paper.

"It's a way of getting travelers to change their habits without even knowing it," Gu was quoted as saying. Similar graffiti walls have been set up at other scenic sites, including the Great Wall outside Beijing that has long been a target for those seeking to leave a mark of their visit.

As personal incomes have risen, Chinese have become avid travelers and bad behavior by some of them has become something of an embarrassment. Along with sharp criticism in the media and online forums, the government has set up an online national database naming those involved in particularly egregious behavior and giving airlines, hotels and other travel outlets the option of refusing them service.

In 2013, a Chinese teenager scratched his name on an ancient Egyptian temple and was roundly condemned by his fellow Chinese.

Everest itself has accumulated garbage, pollution and other ills brought by the vastly increased numbers of climbers and visitors to the peak that straddles China and Nepal.
The 2016 Cannes Film Festival began with bang Wednesday.

Laurent Lafitte, a French comedian and the opening night's master of ceremonies, made a joke about the sexual assault allegations leveled against Woody Allen.

"You've shot so many of your films here in Europe and yet in the U.S. you haven't even been convicted of rape," Lafitte said. The audience, which included Blake Lively and Kristen Stewart, gasped.

"Thank you for coming tonight, sir," Lafitte continued. "Although it's the least you could do. Your film isn't even in competition. What's the worst that could happen?...Or that it's not as good as 'Manhattan'?"

Lafitte's initial joke seemingly made reference to Roman Polanski, who was arrested in the U.S. in 1977 and charged with raping a 13-year-old girl; the director fled to Europe to avoid prison after accepting a plea bargain on a lesser charge.

At a Thursday lunch for his film "Cafe Society," Allen addressed the joke. "I am completely in favor of comedians making any jokes they want," he told Variety's Ramin Setoodeh. "I am a non-judgmental or [non]-censorship person on jokes. I'm a comic myself and I feel they should be free to make whatever jokes they want."

In fact, he added, "It would take a lot to offend me. What bothered me most last night was the length of the show before the movie. I'm sitting there. I know I have a movie that's an hour and a half, I would like the introduction ceremony to be 20 minutes, half hour at the most. I don't want you to spend an hour on the show. By the time my movie comes around at the end, you're antsy in your seat. To me, that is the mistake of the show. It goes on for too long. Cut that down."

Lively, meanwhile, said Lafitte's controversial jokes weren't just aimed at Allen. "He made three homophobic comments in a row. A Hitler joke. And a rape joke. It was all within 30 seconds...What on Earth was happening?" the actress asked. "It was really confusing."

Moreover, the actress told Variety, "I think any jokes about rape, homophobia or Hitler is not a joke. I think that was a hard thing [to] swallow in 30 seconds. Film festivals are such a beautiful, respectful festivals of film and artists and to have that, it felt like it wouldn't have happened if it was in the 1940s. I can't imagine Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby going out and doing that. It was more disappointing for the artists in the room that someone was going up there making jokes about something that wasn't funny."

Lafitte's rape joke came hours after Allen's estranged son, Ronan Farrow, published an essay in The Hollywood Reporter that attacked the media for failing to challenge his director father over sister Dylan Farrow's allegations of sexual abuse. On Wednesday, New York's Jada Yuan asked Allen if he had read Farrow's widely circulated essay; the director said he had not. Farrow is a news reporter for the NBC network.

Like Allen, Lively has not read Farrow's essay. "I came home and went to bed at whatever time we finished. I haven't been in it, so I don't want to speak on something I haven't read," she told Vulture's Kyle Buchannan Thursday. "I think that's dangerous. It's definitely something that being at the festival, the media these days, you come to a film festival about film and people talk about all different types of things. You know? That can be definitely tricky to navigate, I'm sure. I don't want to speak about something I haven't read."

Earlier this week, Stewart said she was aware of the sexual abuse allegations Dylan made against Allen in the 1990s; after an investigation, police did not pursue accusations that Allen had abused Dylan, who was 7 at the time. In her open letter to The New York Times in 2014, though, Dylan condemned stars including Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone for supporting his work.

After she was cast, Stewart talked to actor Jesse Eisenberg about the situation. "I was like, 'What do you think? We don't know any of these people involved. I can personalize situations, which would be very wrong.' At the end of the day, Eisenberg and I talked about this," she told Variety. "If we were persecuted for the amount of s--t that's been said about us that's not true, our lives would be over. The experience of making the movie was so outside of that, it was fruitful for the two of us to go on with it." Eisenberg, for his part, said he doesn't recall the conversation.

Cannes Film Festival 2016: Star Sightings

Blake Lively's Cannes Film Festival Looks Through the Years
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will offer expanded trolley service to Qualcomm Stadium Thursday night for fans headed to Beyonces concert.

The Queen B takes her Formation World Tour to the San Diego stage at 7 p.m., and the sold-out concert will draw 50,000 fans to the stadium on Friars Road.

Given the massive crowd, MTS says it will offer extra Green Line trolley service to Qualcomm Stadium, plus online mobile ticketing to expedite that ride to the show.

Trolleys will depart each station every 15 minutes throughout Thursday. Starting at 4:08 p.m., Green Line trains will depart every seven to eight minutes from stations between Old Town and Qualcomm Stadium.

Beginning at 4:45 p.m., trolleys will also depart every seven to eight minutes between San Diego State University and Qualcomm Stadium.

After Beys big show, MTS says more trolleys will run in each direction until the last trains at 12:07 a.m. to the Santee station and 12:38 a.m. toward Old Town and the San Diego Convention Center. See the full trolley schedule here.

Concert attendees taking the trolley can park for free at any of the MTS park and ride stations. This includes the 1,500 free spots (after 5 p.m., lower-level only) at the Hazard Center Station, the 469 spots at the El Cajon Transit Center, the 412 parking spaces at the Old Town Transit Center and 404 spaces at the Grantville Trolley Station.

As for a quicker trolley ticketing option, riders can use the MTS mobile ticketing app, mTicket, to buy and save trolley passes directly to their smartphones prior to arriving at transit stations. After the concert, there will be a special boarding line for mTicket holders that will make for speedier, easier boarding, MTS said.

For those who choose to drive to Qualcomm Stadium and brave the busy lot, parking at the concert site costs $20 per car.
A Silver Spring, Maryland, man has been arrested in connection with a Hyattsville double shooting that left one man dead.

Fernando Baires and two other men were walking along Riggs Road on April 17 when they shot two men, police said. Both victims were taken to the hospital, where one of the men died.

Police say Baires was identified as one of the shooters, police said.

Baires is facing second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, firearm use in a felonious violent crime, attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges.

Police say Baires was arrested this week after authorities learned he was scheduled to appear at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hearing in Baltimore. He was arrested after the hearing and transported to Prince George's County.
What to Know Giant may sell eight stores in the D.C. area.

Publix and Wegman's are moving into the area.

Grocery stores are going for the high-end.

A year from now, your grocery shopping routine may be entirely different.

Workers at nine Giant stores in the D.C. suburbs say they are worried their stores could be closed or sold if the chains parent company merges with another European grocery conglomerate.

Six stores within 20 miles of Fredericksburg, Virginia could be affected, as could three Maryland locations, according to the union that represents local Giant workers. (See a list of the stores below.)

The union says it's worried the merger could lead federal regulators to force the sale or closure of these stores, because they would be close to other stores owned by the merged company. Some workers protested the possible changes Wednesday.

Giant says it has no final plans for the stores, however. Read the company's statement below.

Still, it's clear that grocery shopping is changing in a big way in the Washington area. Here's a look at which chains are making changes:

Giant

In addition to the possible merger, Giant opened a new store in 2014 near Tenleytown and has replaced a store in Burke, Virginia with one in Springfield, Virginia that is three times larger, at 57,716 square feet.

These new stores offer conventional groceries along with high-end deli offerings, wine bars and expanded organic and natural foods sections.

Safeway

Safeway, at one point, was the grocery king of the District -- which may explain why Washingtonians nicknamed each of the stores and Safeway ditched or rehabbed the poorly named ones.

Safeway, like competitor Giant, is making a play for the high-end.

When a new Georgetown location opened in 2010, Senators showed up to drink wine and munch on fancy cheese, the Washington Post reported. The Secret Safeway near Dupont Circle, which had been invisible from the street, closed in 2010; the formerly-known-as Stinky Safeway in Petworth has been renovated into one of the best-looking in the city. A hard-to-find and dimly lit Tenleytown Safeway closed just last month.

Safeway did not respond to a request for plans about new stores, but Supermarket News reports the chain is looking for new opportunities in smaller buildings.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods, the original supermarket obsession, is pretty much everywhere now, including four locations in D.C. proper and more in Bethesda and Alexandria. Plans are in the works to create the region's largest Whole Foods in Tysons Corner, according to the Fairfax County government.

Wegmans

There are no Wegmans in D.C., because there simply isnt affordable space for the huge stores, which require a minimum of 75,000 square feet. Thats about 35,000 more square feet than the average supermarket, according to the Food Marketing Institute. But once you cross I-495, you can see what all the buzz is about in the Maryland and Virginia locations.

Tysons Corner, Virginia and Chantilly, Virginia are each expected to get a Wegmans in the future, according to their website -- an announcement that nearly broke the internet. It is Americas favorite grocery store, after all.

Publix

Publix can stir up almost as much excitement as Wegmans. The southern chain is looking for competition with Northern Virginia grocery stores, NBC Washington reported in March. Publix isnt saying where those D.C.-area stores will be -- but a spokeswoman assured the public that they are coming.

However, not everything has to be big in the brave new world of groceries.

A new Forest Hills apartment complex plans to host a spinoff of Chevy Chases Broad Branch Market -- one example of a new breed of D.C. grocery stores. These stores are fairly compact (especially when compared to the superstore behemoths on this list) but well-decorated. The food focuses on ready to eat and gourmet options.

Here is a list of the stores that have been notified they could be sold, according to the UFCW union:

Giant #338 in Accokeek, Maryland

Giant #339 in La Plata, Maryland

A Giant location in Salisbury, Maryland (no number given)

Giant #234 in Stafford, Virginia

Giant #235 Fredericksburg, Virginia

Giant #243 in Stafford, Virginia

Giant #256 in Spotsylvania, Virginia

Giant #770 Fredericksburg, Virginia

Giant #789 in Falmouth, Virginia

And here is Giant's full statement:

Giant currently has no definitive plans to close stores, and they released this statement about the prospective changes: "Ahold USA, Inc., parent company of Giant of Maryland, continues to work toward the successful completion of the proposed merger between Ahold and the Delhaize Group. The merger is currently under review by the Federal Trade Commission, but it's too early to speculate on the outcome of the FTC review process. We do not anticipate any store closures as part of the FTC review process."
What to Know Larry Dawson, 66, of Tennessee, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday

Dawson was charged in the March 28 incident at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in which police say he took out what looked like a gun

Dawson faces more than 50 years in prison

A man accused of confronting police with a BB gun at the entrance of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, creating a major scare for visiting tourists and children, has been formally charged and faces more than 50 years in prison.

Larry Dawson, 66, of Antioch, Tennessee, made his first court appearance in D.C. Wednesday. He was in a wheelchair and wearing hospital clothes.

Dawson was shot by an officer after he brought what appeared to be a black handgun into the visitor's center, pulled it from his waistband and pointed it at a U.S. Capitol Police officer on March 28, investigators said.

He has been hospitalized since the incident.

Dawson was formally charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees with a dangerous weapon and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon

Prosecutors said "civilians, including children, had to crouch against walls to avoid gunfire."

A judge ordered Dawson be held in custody as the case proceeds.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17.

Dawson has had trouble with Capitol police in the past when he allegedly stood up and shouted Bible verses in October 2015 in the House Chamber Gallery.

According to court documents from the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Dawson identified himself as a Prophet of God to the people in the gallery.

According to the documents, Dawson was removed from gallery and, while being removed from the building, pushed a police officer and began to run. He was caught and charged with assault on a police officer.
Alert officers are being credited with evacuating a burning building in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Midnight Patrol Officers Ian Fleming and Barry Charest were on patrol in the south end of the city at 3:15 a.m. when they saw a home fully engulfed in flames.

The officers stopped a police vehicle and immediately ran toward the house on Cypress St. while contacting the fire department.

Officer Alexander Martens arrived on the scene and assisted in breaking down the front door of the residence.

One of the residents, Timothy Carr, 35, told authorities that additional people were asleep inside.

The three officers removed Carr and proceeded inside of the house. Heavy smoke and extreme heat forced them to exit the home and reposition toward the east side of the property where they located another individual on the first floor.

They removed a window and pulled David Provencher, 34, from the home.

Two additional people, identified as Jonathan Nickerson, 32, and Janessa Flood, 31, were also removed.

Officer Martens was treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.
A 6-year-old girl from Northern Vermont learned a tough lesson about crime this week, the hard way. Her parents said thieves targeted the cash box at the family's honor system farm stand, where the child helps sell fresh eggs she collects from her chickens.

"I feel frustrated when we're up here and they're down there stealing everything," kindergartner Mia Bourdeau said Thursday, holding a basket of eggs she collected from her familys chicken coop.

Mia and her older sister, Finlan, help their parents, Brad and Andrea Bourdeau, sell eggs, produce, firewood, lip balm, and maple syrup at a roadside stand in a quiet part of Hyde Park, Vermont. Mia said her favorite job to help with is collecting eggs from the chickens at the familys Livin' on the Ledge Farm.

But the sweet life of a farm kid soured this week, when, on two different nights, a camera recorded several people who appear to be pocketing Mia's egg money.

"It makes me mad," the 6-year-old said, in response to an necn question about her reaction to the situation.

Mia's parents said they heard other Vermont farmers were having trouble with the old honor system, where customers make their own change from a farm stand's money box, so the Bourdeaus wanted protection.

The Bourdeaus installed a simple surveillance system last year, which recorded apparent thefts on Mother's Day and again Tuesday. Several people can be seen on-camera, and it sure looks like they are stealing $10 or so each time, Andrea Bourdeau said. In one case she said, a man also takes a quart of this year's crop of maple syrup.

The family posted the video on Facebook and handed it over to the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department. The video was shared so many times, it helped give investigators solid leads, Andrea Bourdeau said, recounting a conversation she told necn she had with a sheriffs deputy.

"There's not a lot of profit in this anyway, so any little bit is a pretty big hit," said Brad Bourdeau, describing how the money comes second to the principle of the crime of targeting an honor system cash box.

"We're the type of people-- if you're hungry, if you want some tomatoes, if you want some cucumbers, you need gas money to get somewhere-- come see us. Don't take it," Andrea Bourdeau added. "That's a pretty low thing to do."

Last year, when a different thief was caught red-handed on camera, the family told necn she didn't like the social media shaming that resulted, so she came back and returned the money.

With this latest round of thefts, the Bourdeaus praised sheriff's deputies from the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department for their assistance.

Investigators have told the family that thanks to the video, they have been able to identify persons of interest in the case. No information on names of suspects was available, however, because the investigation is still ongoing.

Mia had a strong message for anyone considering trying to knock over the farm stand again. "Never steal from us," she said.
Police in Nashua, New Hampshire, say seven people were arrested for various crimes in a sweep across the city.

Jay Gladstone, 58, was arrested for possession of cocaine and also faces a firearm charge. He was arrested on May 5 as well on drug-related charges and was free on bail at the time. He refused bail and is set to be arraigned Thursday.

Jesus Cortes, 22, was arrested for possession of Clonazepam, Fentanyl and cocaine, as well as resisting detention. Bail was set at $50,000 and he was set to set to be arraigned Thursday.

Curtis Milbourn, 27, was accused of selling heroin. He refused bail and is set to be arraigned Thursday.

Bryan Schofield, 24, was arrested for failing to appear in court for a previous charge of transporting drugs in a motor vehicle. He also had an arrest warrant out by the Rockingham County Superior Court for failing to appear in court on a first degree assault charge. He was held without bail and is set to be arraigned Thursday.

Ryan Moyen, 24, was charged with selling heroin. Bail was set at $15,000 and he is set to be arraigned Thursday.

Brianna Cormier, 20, was charged with obstructing government administration and resisting arrest. She posted $200 bail and is set to be arraigned July 8.

Elisha Branchi, 28, was charged with possessing heroin and was held on $15,000 bail. She is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
A judge has denied a motion to dismiss manslaughter and other charges against a Massachusetts dentist charged with killing his wife.

The body of 65-year-old Kathleen Desilets was found on Dec. 6, 2011, beneath a broken third-floor window at the couple's Princeton home.

Prosecutors allege that Roger Desilets Jr. shoved his wife into the window during a violent struggle and she fell to her death.

Defense attorneys say Kathleen Desilets jumped from the window.

The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/1YnXksC ) reports that Judge Janet Kenton-Walker on Wednesday denied motions filed by the lawyers of 71-year-old Roger Desilets Jr. to dismiss charges.

Kenton-Walker rejected defense lawyers' arguments that evidence presented to the grand jury that indicted Desilets was insufficient to support the charges.
A leader of two Catholic churches in Vermont's largest city is on an indefinite leave of absence, during which time he cannot present himself as a priest. This follows reports of foul language and misuse of church funds, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington said.

Father Rich O'Donnell stepped down from Christ the King and St. Anthony's Parish in Burlington last year, but no one seemed to know exactly why, until messages from Bishop Christopher Coyne recently appeared in church bulletins.

"To lose a young priest who's not even in his 40s yet to something like this is a real blow," Coyne told necn in an interview Wednesday. "And especially a priest as popular as Father Rich O'Donnell is an even greater blow."

Coyne said business administrators discovered O'Donnell misused more than $20,000 of church money in less than two years. The spending Coyne described as inappropriate included gifts for parish members and employees, overly generous tips at restaurants, and mileage reimbursements for travel not associated with parish work.

Coyne said there were also complaints of locker room-style talk that left church employees uncomfortable. The parish is home to a Catholic elementary school, Christ the King.

"It was just locker room language you would never use in a business place," Coyne explained. "Employees said he would say something inappropriate, and then say, 'Oh, you know I'm just kidding.'"

Coyne praised employees of the parish for raising their concerns, acknowledging they did so for the health of the parish and despite the fondness many have for O'Donnell.

Coyne noted ODonnell has not been defrocked, so may return to service someday as a priest. But until such a decision has been made to allow that, he may not wear his clerical collar, Coyne explained.

Several parishioners told necn off-camera that the revelations were shocking and heart-breaking, adding they know Father Rich to be a kind person, who reinvigorated the parish and helped many in their personal and spiritual lives.

One parishioner said he is praying for O'Donnell and for the Christ the King and St. Anthony's Parish as a whole. The parishioner said he is confident the parish will heal from this chapter.

"We did think of priests as being something different for the longest time, and we gave them a lot of latitude because they were priests," Coyne told necn. "And we didn't hold them to the same standards that we held laymen and laywomen and others to. As bishop of the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, my standards are the same for everybody. If a priest or a layperson crosses the line, we're going to have to deal with that in an appropriate manner."

Coyne said legal advisers from both inside and outside the diocese have told him they do not see the complaints rising to the level of criminal prosecution.

An experienced and well-known monsignor is now pastor of the parish, the diocese noted.

Just last year, necn reported on one reason O'Donnell was so popular. He was working to reinvigorate his parish by engaging 21-35-year-old Catholics who may have fallen away from attending church. O'Donnell did so by launching a series of theological discussions inside a Burlington hot-spot for craft beer.

"If this is where we can meet them, that's great," O'Donnell told necn in April 2015, describing the large crowd that turned out to attend one of the theology discussions inside a Church Street bar. "I go home tonight feeling I've done the best I can for today."

Bishop Coyne recently told parishioners in a letter printed in the church bulletin that the diocese has refunded money to the parish, and in turn, O'Donnell has promised to repay the diocese for questionably-spent funds.

"When we have a sense that it's okay for him to be brought back to ministry, then we will," Coyne said. "But I'd have to have some certitude that these things would not happen again."

Coyne said O'Donnell is staying at a Catholic retreat in Connecticut known as Enders Island that promotes healing, recovery, and renewal through faith.

Necn reached out to O'Donnell Wednesday by phone and text message in an attempt to hear from him, but he has not responded. This article will be updated if he does comment.
An Easthampton, Massachusetts, man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that 35-year-old Joseph Bishop was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to the charges.

Hampshire Superior Court Judge Daniel Ford accepted the deal reached by defense attorney Rachel Weber and Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Linda Pisano.

Bishop was originally charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child and other offenses.

Police said the boy's mother reported Feb. 18 that Bishop sexually assaulted her son. Bishop is known to the mother and child. The boy told investigators during interviews that Bishop molested him.
Police in Nashua, New Hampshire, have arrested a high school teacher accused of sending nude photos to students over a social media application.

Bruce Lanctot, 40, turned himself in to police on an arrest warrant Wednesday afternoon.

Officials began investigating Lanctot, a teacher at Nashua South High School since 2001, Monday.

Lanctot allegedly reached out to the students on "Grindr" and engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the student, who he knew were students, and asked at least one victim to send him nude photos.

Several students reported receiving nude photos from him and were allegedly solicited to meet and engage in sexual conduct.

Lanctot is facing charges including indecent exposure and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was released on $20,000 cash bail and is set to be arraigned at the 9th Circuit-District Division-Nashua Court on June 15.
The sister of the suspect in the stabbing rampage in Taunton, Massachusetts, tells necn he called her Monday afternoon, speaking gibberish and saying the devil was inside him.

Kerri DaRosa says she told her brother, Arthur DaRosa, to come to their father's home in Taunton, where an ambulance took him to nearby Morton Hospital. That was around 5 p.m.

Eleven hours later - at 4 a.m. Tuesday  the 28-year-old contractor was allegedly released from the hospital and walked back to his father's home.

Fifteen hours after that, DaRosa allegedly unleashed a storm of violence that left two people dead and others injured.

So, what happened? Why was a reportedly unstable man released from the hospital in the middle of the night?

"No one would have let him out if they thought this was going to happen," said Dr. Ellen Braaten of Massachusetts General Hospital. "No one."

Braaten, a psychiatrist, says if a person with mental health issues comes to the emergency department, they would be evaluated by a psychiatrist and a risk assessment would be done.

"Is this person a danger to himself or potential harm to someone else," explained Braaten.

If hospital staff thought the person was a danger, they could order them held for 72 hours under whats called a Section 12  even if the person came in voluntarily.

"It's not really that big of a leap to think that you would Section 12 someone," Braaten said. "All you need to do is deem that someone is going to be of significant harm to themselves or someone else."

Morton Hospital and their parent company have not responded to our requests for information.

But Larry D'Angelo with the National Alliance on Mental Illness says we dont know what happened in the 11 hours DaRosa was in the ED  and human behavior is very hard to predict.

"Did he suddenly become much calmer? Less symptomatic?" D'Angelo asked. "We're weighing taking away someone's rights against the potential that something's going to happen, and it's so difficult to predict."

"It's definitely possible that someone comes in very flagrantly in crisis and, within a period of 11 or 12 hours, gets themselves together, get a plan in place for when they feel like that again," said Braaten. "So it could definitely happen ... the more significant their problems are when they come in, the less likely it is that that could happen."

D'Angelo says hospitals are often reluctant to section patients. He adds that he does not know what happened here, but a shortage of beds is a crisis statewide.

"A private psychiatric bed is less profitable for a hospital than another kind of bed," he said.

"To not have a bed would not be a reason not to admit somebody," said Braaten, explaining that clinicians tend to err on the side of caution.

Massachusetts Sen. Marc Pacheco, who represents Taunton, is calling for an independent state review to make sure proper protocols were followed at the hospital. He sent letters requesting information from Secretaries Daniel Bennett and Marylou Sudders of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Residents of Haverhill, Massachusetts, couldn't believe what they were seeing when they watched two cars go flying down a narrow, winding road and then crashing in the woods.

But what could be even more shocking is that police say this wasn't an accident. Methuen resident Josef Leavitt, 24, is accused of running a pregnant woman off the road, on purpose.

"The driver is in stable condition however she was seven months pregnant at the time," said Essex County Assistant District Attorney Stephen Patten.

Patten said 24-year-old Deanna Clarke of Haverhill was pinned inside her Jeep Cherokee that had rolled over and Leavitt allegedly took off.

The prosecution argued Wednesday morning for Leavitt to be held without bail.

"I'd say this, there is a 7-month-old baby fighting for their life and he left them in the road," Patten said.

Haverhill resident Mike Sherar said he witnessed the two vehicles side by side speeding along Middle Road right before they crashed at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"I was walking back from the barn and they went flying by," Sherar said. "My wife and I are infuriated."

The prosecution said this all started as a drug deal gone bad.

"The baby's life is in jeopardy and it's not the baby's fault," Sherar said.

Leavitt was allegedly trying to buy marijuana from Clarke's passenger. When they couldn't strike a deal, Patten said, Leavitt got in his car and started chasing Clarke's Jeep.

"The defendant, and I will quote, 'The BMW was traveling left of way and intentionally crashed into the side of the Jeep,'" Patten read off the police report.

Leavitt's public defender Michael Baldassarre argued that the eyewitness accounts are inconsistent and that Leavitt should be released on "reasonable" bail.

"This gentleman is not a flight risk, he has no history of violence, and he lives with his parents," Baldassarre said.

Leavitt's parents were in court Wednesday visibly upset and refused to speak to necn on their son's behalf.

Clarke is expected to be OK.

Her baby was delivered in an emergency C-section and is in critical condition.

Leavitt is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing next week.
Police in Brunswick, Maine, are searching for a man seen with his pants down committing a lewd act on a street corner near Bowdoin College early Thursday morning.

The incident happened at the intersection of Belmont and Oakland streets, according to Brunswick Patrol Commander Marc Hagan.

He said a campus patrol officer driving with a student spotted the man, who was squatting with his pants around his ankles. The man left the area before police could stop him.

"If I lived in that area, I'd be concerned that somebody was walking around doing this in the middle of the night," said Hagan.

He said the suspect is described as a man in his late teens or early 20s, with facial hair, wearing all dark clothing.

While it happened off campus, it was near the Mayflower Apartments, an off-campus student housing complex where a student reported being sexually assaulted by a random intruder last fall.

"We don't have anything that ties it to the incidents that took place in the fall," said Hagan, but reminded students to stay vigilant.

"I think the campus does a good job keeping us safe, but some people don't feel safe walking back home at night," said Bowdoin student John Medina, who lives in the Mayflower apartments.

He said some students have even moved to different housing due to safety concerns.

Brunswick residents who live near the area say they are also feeling concerned about the off-campus incidents.

"It's not tolerable," said Debbie Hamilton. "I never feel safe without pepper spray."

Earlier this school year, two students reported being grabbed by men while walking home at night. A sex offender from Bath, Maine was charged with secretly recording videos of students through their windows.

"It affects everybody, whether they're in the college, or not in the college," said Hamilton.

A statement from the Bowdoin College Director of Safety and Security stressed that this latest incident did not take place on the campus, or in front of the Mayflower apartments.

"We have no reason to believe that there is a threat to the campus community but, as always, we will continue to patrol areas near Bowdoin student residences and report any suspicious behavior to local police," said Director of Safety and Security Randy Nichols.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Brunswick Police.
Police in Laconia, New Hampshire, are asking for the public's help in locating a man who was last seen Monday.

David Demers, 26, was last seen leaving his Jewett Street apartment to go to the Laconia Spa store on Church Street.

He is 5'9" tall, weighs 160 pounds and has blue eyes and brown hair.

He was wearing a sweatshirt with a Monster Energy Drink logo, a black shirt, black jeans and work boots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 603-524-5252.
After a suspect lead police on a car chase from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, video showed officers punching the suspect once he surrendered.

The video has gained widespread attention and many necn viewers have spoken out on our Facebook page on both sides of the argument.

Some believed the suspect should not have run from officers to begin with, including Christopher Walch who said "Well maybe he should not of ran and risk killing everyone on the streets he went threw...you don't want to be treated like this STOP BREAKING THE LAW AND RISKING OTHERS SAFETY!!!"

Tim Decker agreed and said, "Can we stop sympathizing with those who break the law. You run from the cops and have chase through 2 states do people really expect these cops to shake his hand and say hey thanks for stopping and getting out of the car?"

Becca Tilton also agreed and said, "Why is everyone crying for this criminal who endangered countless people's lives? If he had run over a child or hurt someone you cared about you would be giving these guys an award! They have a tough job and everyone is so quick to jump on them."

However others believed the excessive use of force was unwarranted.

Diane Marie says the situation should be investigated. She added, "Why the punches?? The guy was already on the ground."

Susan Flynn agreed and believed the "police went overboard on this one."

Joe Lafko said the situation seemed "very suspect." He added, "Whether the driver led them on a chase or not he surrendered himself to be grounded and pounded there is no excuse."

The suspect is expected to appear in court and New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan said, "the footage from yesterday raises serious concerns...it is important and appropriate that the Attorney General's office has opened an investigation into the incident."
A New York man faces several charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, after he was clocked in New Hampshire traveling at a speed of 120 mph.

On May 11 just before 8 p.m., Trooper Ryan St. Cyr was monitoring southbound traffic on I-89 in New London when he observed a 2015 Kia sedan driving at the high speed.

The operator, later identified as William Cole, 25, of Kattskill Bay, did not stop, and a pursuit ensued south on I-89.

A trooper on I-89 in Warner utilized a controlled deflation device to puncture one of the Kia's tires.

Cole pulled over a couple of miles later where he was taken into custody without incident.

Cole is being charged with disobeying a police officer, reckless driving, reckless conduct, and driving under the influence of drugs.

He was transported to Concord Hospital as a safety precaution.

The investigation is ongoing and bail has not been set at this time.
The suspect seen on video being punched by police following a two-state police chase on Wednesday had been involved in another police chase three days earlier, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

The newspaper said a police officer in Millbury, Massachusetts, attempted to pull over Richard Simone on Sunday after learning that he had an active warrant. Simone refused to stop, fleeing in his pickup truck.

The officer gave pursuit, and Simone threatened to ram the cruiser, turning away at the last minute. The officer then lost track of the vehicle as it headed for Interstate 290.

Police issued an arrest warrant Tuesday charging him with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, speeding and a marked lanes violation.

Simone, 50, of Worcester, Massachusetts, appeared in a New Hampshire courtroom Thursday on a fugitive-from-justice charge. He waived extradition and will return to Massachusetts.

Two state troopers have been relieved from duty after they were seen repeatedly punching Simone during his arrest on Wednesday afternoon in Nashua, New Hampshire. Simone led police on a chase that began in Holden, Massachusetts. The chase went through several towns at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Because no one was physically injured or worse, headline writers such as yours truly felt able to characterize the August 2013 incident thusly: Verizon worker thankful 911 operator could hear him now.

Today the 73-year-old Massachusetts man who perpetrated the criminal act against that Verizon worker must be equally thankful that a lenient judge has sentenced him to only a year of probation plus an apparently long-overdue anger management class.

From a story in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:

A Westboro man who angrily locked a Verizon worker in an underground utility vault pleaded guilty Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court to kidnapping. Judge Daniel M. Wrenn sentenced Howard W. Cook, Jr., 73, of 12 Chestnut St., Westboro, to one year of probation, with six months of it supervised, and ordered him to stay away from the victim and other Verizon technicians and to complete an anger management program. He faced up to 10 years in state prison for the kidnapping charge. The family of the Verizon technician, Michael Hathaway of Worcester, said they are unhappy with the disposition that was negotiated beforehand as part of Mr. Cook's agreement to change his initial not-guilty plea. They had asked that Mr. Cook be on probation for 5 years and be placed on house arrest, to experience confinement like he had imposed on Mr. Hathaway, who as a result now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Defense attorney James J. Gribouski, in asking for the more lenient sentencing, pointed out that Mr. Cook does not have a criminal record.

Cook may not have a criminal record, but he has a well-established history of being a hot-head, according to the T&G story. The provocation in this case? Cook was upset that Hathaway had parked his Verizon truck on the grass of Cooks self-storage business. Hes very lucky not to be in prison because the victim was fortunate enough to have had his cell phone with him and was able to dial 911 after Cook locked him inside that vault.

There are civil suits pending. Cooks luck may yet run out.

(UPDATE: Very next day, very same small Massachusetts town, and a striking Verizon worker is struck by a pickup truck driven by a replacement worker who police say was drunk ... at 8 o'clock in the morning.)

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.
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Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A new Canadian study focusing on caregiver outcomes of critically ill patients reveals that caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, who have received mechanical ventilation for a minimum of seven days, are at a high risk of developing clinical depression persisting up to one year after discharge.

The study, led by Dr. Jill Cameron, Affiliate Scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network (UHN) highlights the need to consider the mental health of caregivers in post-ICU care. While caregiver assistance can be beneficial to patients, such care may have negative consequences for caregivers, including poor health-related quality of life, emotional distress, caregiver burden, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 12, 2016, the study's findings suggest patients' illness severity, functional abilities, cognitive status and neuropsychological wellbeing are not associated with caregiver outcomes. Alternatively, characteristics of the caregiver and individual caregiving situation play a significant role in determining outcomes over the follow-up year.

This study is part of Phase one of the RECOVER Program, a multi-phase project, involving 10 intensive care units across Canada, co-led by Drs. Margaret Herridge, Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute, and Cameron, in collaboration with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. The project aims to identify risk factors for patients and families with the goal of designing rehabilitation models to improve outcomes.

"In the world of critical illness, a lot of research has focused on making sure people survive - and now that people are surviving, we need to ask ourselves, what does quality of life and wellbeing look like afterwards for both patients and caregivers," says Dr. Cameron, also Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto.

"We need to intervene and support caregivers of all patients, not just the 'sickest' patients. Caregivers are not a uniform body of individuals - they have different needs unique to their caregiving situation."

From 2007-2014, caregivers of patients who received seven or more days of mechanical ventilation in an ICU across 10 Canadian university-affiliated hospitals were given self-administered questionnaires to assess caregiver and patient characteristics, caregiver depression symptoms, psychological wellbeing, health-related quality of life, sense of control over life, and impact of providing care on other activities. Assessments occurred seven days and three, six and 12-months after ICU discharge.

The study found that most caregivers reported high levels of depression symptoms, which commonly persisted up to one year and did not improve in some. Caregiver sense of control, impact on caregivers' everyday lives, and social support had the largest relationships with the outcomes. Caregivers' experienced better health outcomes when they were older, caring for a spouse, had higher income, better social support, sense of control, and caregiving had less of a negative impact on their everyday lives.

Poor caregiver outcomes may compromise patients' rehabilitation potential and sustainability of home care. Identifying risk factors for caregiver distress is an important first step to prevent more suffering and allow ICU survivors and caregivers to regain active and fulfilling lives.

A parallel companion study evaluating patients led by Dr. Herridge, also a Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto has been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. This project showed that patients who had been on a mechanical ventilator for one-week could be divided into disability risk groups using age and length-of-stay in an intensive care unit and that these groups determine one-year recovery and illuminate the details of functional disability in daily life.

"These findings will help patients and families make vital decisions about embarking on and also continuing treatment in an intensive care unit," says Dr. Herridge.

"We need to educate patients, families and the public about what we can realistically offer in terms of functional outcome and quality of life for those patients with complex critical illness and who may come to the ICU in a debilitated state or may be older. We want people to understand and make informed choices about their care, given their circumstances."

The next phase of this research will focus on developing models of rehabilitation to optimize patient recovery and a program for caregivers to better prepare them for their caregiving role, including education and information on community-based resources, access to home care, and how they can draw on social and psychological support.
Scientists have developed a material that can mimic cartilage and potentially encourage it to re-grow.

Cartilage is flexible connective tissue found in places such as in joints and between vertebrae in the spine. Compared to other types of connective tissue is not easy to repair.

The researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Milano-Bicocca have developed a bio-glass material that mimics the shock-absorbing and load bearing qualities of real cartilage. It can be formulated to exhibit different properties, and they are now hoping to use it to develop implants for replacing damaged cartilage discs between vertebrae.

They believe it also has the potential to encourage cartilage cells to grow in knees, which has previously not been possible with conventional methods.

The bio-glass consists of silica and a plastic or polymer called polycaprolactone. It displays cartilage-like properties including being flexible, strong, durable and resilient. It can be made in a biodegradable ink form, enabling the researchers to 3D print it into structures that encourage cartilage cells in the knee to form and grow - a process that they have demonstrated in test tubes.

It also displays self-healing properties when it gets damaged, which could make it a more resilient and reliable implant, and easier to 3D print when it is in ink form.

One formulation developed by the team could provide an alternative treatment for patients who have damaged their intervertebral discs. When cartilage degenerates in the spine it leaves patients with debilitating pain and current treatment involves fusing the vertebrae together. This reduces a patient's mobility.

The scientists believe they will be able to engineer synthetic bio-glass cartilage disc implants, which would have the same mechanical properties as real cartilage, but which would not need the metal and plastic devices that are currently available.

Another formulation could improve treatments for those with damaged cartilage in their knee, say the team. Surgeons can currently create scar-like tissue to repair damaged cartilage, but ultimately most patients have to have joint replacements, which reduces mobility.

The team are aiming to 'print' tiny, biodegradable scaffolds using their bio-glass ink. These bio-degradable scaffolds would provide a template that replicates the structure of real cartilage in the knee.

When implanted, the combination of the structure, stiffness and chemistry of the bio-glass would encourage cartilage cells to grow through microscopic pores. The idea is that over time the scaffold would degrade safely in the body, leaving new cartilage in its place that has similar mechanical properties to the original cartilage.

Professor Julian Jones, one of the developers of the bio-glass from the Department of Materials at Imperial, said: "Bio-glass has been around since the 1960's, originally developed around the time of the Vietnam War to help heal bones of veterans, which were damaged in conflict. Our research shows that a new flexible version of this material could be used as cartilage-like material.

"Patients will readily attest to loss of mobility that is associated with degraded cartilage and the lengths they will go to try and alleviate often excruciating pain. We still have a long way to go before this technology reaches patients, but we've made some important steps in the right direction to move this technology towards the marketplace, which may ultimately provide relief to people around the world."

The researchers have received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to take their technology to the next stage. They are aiming to conduct trials in the lab with the technology and develop a surgical method for inserting the implants. They will also work with a range of industrial partners to further develop the 3D manufacturing techniques.

Professor Justin Cobb is the Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery at Imperial's Department of Medicine. He will be co-leading on the next stage of the research.

Professor Cobb added: "This novel formulation and method of manufacture will allow Julian and his team to develop the next generation of biomaterials. Today, the best performing artificial joints are more than a thousand times stiffer than normal cartilage. While they work very well, the promise of a novel class of bearing material that is close to nature and can be 3D printed is really exciting.

"Using Julian's technology platform we may be able to restore flexibility and comfort to stiff joints and spines without using stiff metal and all its associated problems."

Professor Laura Cipolla, from the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca, added: "Based on our background on the chemical modification of bio- and nanostructured materials, proteins, and carbohydrates, we designed a new chemical approach in order to force the organic component polycaprolactone to stay together in a stable way with the inorganic component silica."

The team also includes PhD student Francesca Tallia from Imperial's Department of Materials and senior researcher Laura Russo, from the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca.

The technology still has a number of regulatory hurdles to overcome before it reaches clinical applications for both applications. The team predict it will take ten years to for both technologies to reach the market. They have patented the technology with Imperial Innovations - the College's technology commercialisation partner.

Source: Imperial College London
Scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Newcastle have uncovered the secret of the 'Mona Lisa of chemical reactions' - in a bacterium that lives at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

It is hoped the discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics and other medical treatments.

The Diels-Alder reaction, discovered by Nobel Prize-wining chemists Otto Diels and Kurt Alder, is one of the most powerful chemical reactions known, and is used extensively by synthetic chemists to produce many important molecules, including antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs and agrochemicals.

However, there has been much debate and controversy about whether nature uses the reaction to produce its own useful molecules. If it does, the identity of the biological catalysts (enzymes) responsible for performing this reaction have remained a mystery until now.

Some candidate natural 'Diels-Alderases' have been identified, but these have either been shown not to perform the reaction, or the evidence that they catalyse a Diels-Alder reaction is ambiguous.

Now, researchers at BrisSynBio, a BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre at the University of Bristol and the School of Biology at Newcastle University have conclusively shown that a true 'Diels-Alderase' (Diels-Alder enzyme) exists. They have also established in atomic detail how it catalyses the reaction.

Dr Paul Race, from BrisSynBio, said: "We found the enzyme, called AbyU, in a bacterium called Verrucosispora maris (V. maris), which lives on the Pacific seabed. V. maris uses the AbyU enzyme to biosynthesise a molecule called abyssomicin C, which has potent antibiotic properties."

To establish the details of how the AbyU enzyme catalyses the Diels-Alder reaction, the team first had to solve the atomic structure of AbyU, and then simulate the enzyme reaction using quantum mechanics methods.

Dr Race said: "Once we had figured out how AbyU was able to make natural antibiotic, we were able to show that it could also perform the Diels-Alder reaction on other molecules that are difficult to transform using synthetic chemistry."

The team are now investigating ways of using the enzyme to make molecules similar to abyssomisin C, in the hope that antibiotics are found that are even more effective than the natural molecule.

Dr Race said: "What is particularly exciting about our work is that not only have we resolved the riddle of the natural Diels-Alderase, but we have also shown that the enzyme can perform Diels-Alder reactions that are challenging to perform using synthetic chemistry. The work opens up a raft of possibilities for making new useful molecules that could, for example, form the basis of new medicines, materials, or commodity chemicals."

Co-author Dr Mark van der Kamp, from BrisSynBio, said: "The work has been a great example of interdisciplinary collaboration, using techniques from biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. As the computational chemist in the team, I am particularly pleased how a broad range of computer simulation techniques has been integral to the work, revealing details about the dynamical behaviour of the enzyme, how the substrate interacts with it, and how this interaction results in generating the Diels-Alder product."

Dr Jem Stach, from Newcastle University, was also a co-author of the paper. He said: "Nature, not only in the compounds it produces, but also the means by which it does so, is the best chemist. This has never been clearer to me than it was during this collaboration between biologists and chemists. Starting with genome gazing, and ending with new chemistry, on a journey that took in structural biology, synthetic chemistry and computational chemistry, was utterly rewarding, educational and fascinating."
An international team of scientists led by researchers from the Lomonosov Moscow State University succeeded to clarify the molecular mechanism of a drug created in Russia and designed to prevent the damaging of cell mitochondria by reactive oxygen species. This work is published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

Recently, Russian researchers, led by Prof. Vladimir P. Skulachev, managed to create an antioxidant drug that selectively accumulates within mitochondria and protects them from oxidative damage. Under the trade name "Visomitin" the drug was approved for treatment of such eye diseases as cataracts and dry eye. Prof. Armen Mulkidjanian of the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the University of Osnabruck, Germany, and his colleagues have explained why very small doses of synthetic antioxidants such as "Visomitin" could give a pronounced therapeutic effect, despite the presence of large quantities of natural mitochondrial antioxidants.

Mitochondria are intracellular structures that conduct respiration. Respiration, however, is accompanied by formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as by-products. The ROS are capable of damaging the mitochondria. Damaged mitochondria produce even more ROS, which can destroy cells and tissues, so that nature has special mechanisms, such as mitophagy and apoptosis, for elimination of damaged mitochondria and cells. These mechanisms are triggered after a signal of a disorder passes through the double membrane surrounding the mitochondria. Several laboratories have shown that it is possible to avoid the decay of cells and tissues by preventing the oxidation of a particular component of the mitochondrial membrane -- cardiolipin, because the oxidized molecules of cardiolipin are exactly the triggers of the signal chain.

The group of Prof. Vladimir Skulachev, the Dean of the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics and the Director of the Belozersky Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology, (the Lomonosov Moscow State University), has developed a line of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, the so-called SkQ-ions, specifically protecting the molecules of mitochondrial cardiolipin from oxidation. In animal trials, the SkQ-ions cured inflammatory eye diseases, helped to overcome the ischemia-simulating conditions, and even reduced the manifestation of senescence. Although similarly acting drugs have been developed and studied in the US and UK laboratories, the Russian group was the first to get an approval for their drug -- as eye drops. The researchers hope that SkQ-based drugs, in the form of pills and injections, after their certification, would help to attenuate the pathological symptoms that accompany strokes, heart attacks and serious traumas.

Armen Mulkidjanian and his collaborators have managed to suggest answers to some intriguing questions. Specifically, it was not clear why cardiolipin, of all the components of the membrane, it specifically oxidized. Molecules of cardiolipin, while making only 10-20% of total membrane lipids, are specifically targeted by ROS and, after getting oxidized, trigger the self-destruction of cells. Secondly, it was not clear why the natural antioxidants, namely coenzyme Q (ubiquinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), which are present in mitochondrial membranes in large quantities, fail in the case of cardiolipin. It remained a mystery why these substances could not protect cardiolipin from oxidation, whereas artificial, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, designed either by the Skulachev's group in Moscow, or by their counterparts in the US and the UK, perfectly coped with this task, in spite of very small doses of the administered drugs.

Armen Mulkidjanian says that the goal of the study was set by Prof. Skulachev.

'Prof. Skulachev asked our group in Germany to tackle these puzzles,' says Armen Mulkidjanian. 'Most of the work was carried out by the post-graduate students and the employees of the Moscow University, who worked in Russia and in Germany, so that their contribution was decisive. As to the research, we have developed an experimental system to investigate quantitatively the oxidation of the cardiolipin membranes and the ability of various antioxidants to prevent it. It turned out that the SkQ-ions and the molecules of coenzyme Q protected the cardiolipin membranes from oxidation equally well, whereas vitamin E performed much worse'.

To understand why cardiolipin molecules are the main target of the ROS, the researchers compared the experimental data with their previous results and the structures of respiratory enzymes. A fraction of cardiolipin molecules is occluded within respiratory protein complexes, just those that generate ROS. 'These molecules should be the first to be oxidized,' Mulkidjanian says.

The bulky, water-insoluble molecule of coenzyme Q cannot get to these "hidden" cardiolipin molecules, as opposed to small, agile molecules of artificial antioxidants, which, as shown in the study, are capable of protecting cardiolipin molecules from oxidation by accessing them both from the membrane and from the aqueous phase.

"The essence of our work is that we have proposed a mechanism that explains how very low doses of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants could provide a distinct therapeutic effect, even being applied over large amounts of natural antioxidants, which were ineffective in this case. The mechanism should be valid for the whole class of similar drugs. We hope that our findings would help to develop new drugs,' says Armen Mulkidjanian.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria most often are associated with hospitals and other health-care settings, but a new study indicates that chicken coops and sewage treatment plants also are hot spots of antibiotic resistance.

The research, led by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is published May 12 in Nature.

The scientists surveyed bacteria and their capacity to resist antibiotics in a rural village in El Salvador and a densely populated slum on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. In both communities, the researchers identified areas ripe for bacteria to shuffle and share their resistance genes. These hot spots of potential resistance transmission included chicken coops in the rural village and a modern wastewater treatment plant outside Lima.

"Bacteria can do this weird thing that we can't  exchange DNA directly between unrelated organisms," said senior author Gautam Dantas, PhD, an associate professor of pathology and immunology. "That means it's relatively easy for disease-causing bacteria that are treatable with antibiotics to become resistant to those antibiotics quickly. If these bacteria happen to come into contact with other microbes that carry resistance genes, those genes can pop over in one step. We estimate that such gene-transfer events are generally rare, but they are more likely to occur in these hot spots we identified."

While the study was done in developing parts of the world, Dantas suggested ways the data could be relevant for the U.S. and other industrialized countries. If the chicken coops of subsistence farmers are hot spots of resistance gene transfer, he speculated that bacteria present in industrial farming operations  where chickens regularly receive antibiotics  would see even more pressure to share resistance genes. Dantas expressed concern about such bacteria getting into the food system. Further, the wastewater treatment facility the investigators studied in Lima is a modern design that uses technologies typical of such facilities around the world, including those in the U.S., suggesting these plants may be hot spots of antibiotic resistance transmission regardless of their locations.

The study is the first to survey the landscape of bacteria and the genetics of their resistance across multiple aspects of an environment, including the people, their animals, the water supply, the surrounding soil, and samples from the sanitation facilities. While the densely populated slum surrounding Lima has a districtwide sewage system and modern wastewater treatment plant, the village in El Salvador has composting latrines.

Rural villagers who rely on subsistence farming, and residents of densely populated, low-income communities surrounding cities make up a majority of the global population; yet their microbiomes are largely unstudied. Most similar studies to date have focused on heavily industrialized populations in the United States and Europe and on rare and so-called pristine communities of people living a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

"Not only do the communities in our study serve as models for how most people live, they also represent areas of highest antibiotic use," Dantas said. "Access to these drugs is over-the-counter in many low-income countries. Since no prescription is required, we expect antibiotic use in these areas to be high, putting similarly high pressure on bacteria to develop resistance to these drugs."

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In general, Dantas and his colleagues found that resistance genes are similar among bacteria living in similar environments, with more genetic similarity seen between bacteria in the human gut and animal guts than between the human gut and the soil, for example. In addition, the researchers also found that bacteria that are closely related to one another have similar resistance genes, which might be expected as bacteria pass their genes from one generation to the next.

"The general trends we found are consistent with our previous work," Dantas said. "We were not terribly surprised by the resistance genes that track with bacterial family trees. On the other hand, the genes we found that break the hereditary trend are quite worrisome. Genes that are the exceptions to the rule  that are not similar to the surrounding DNA  are the ones that are most likely to have undergone a gene-transfer event. And they are the resistance genes at highest risk of future transmission into unrelated bacteria."

Of the locations sampled in the study, resistance genes that are most likely to be mobile and able to jump from one bacterial strain to another were found in the highest numbers in the chicken coops of villagers in El Salvador and in the outgoing "gray" water from the sewage treatment plant outside Lima. Not suitable for drinking, most of this water is released into the Pacific Ocean, and some is used to irrigate city parks, the researchers said.

"Soils in the chicken coops we studied appear to be hot spots for the exchange of resistance genes," Dantas said. "This means disease-causing bacteria in chickens are at risk of sickening humans and transferring their resistance genes in the process. Our study demonstrates the importance of public health guidelines that advise keeping animals out of cooking spaces."

As for the wastewater treatment plant, Dantas called it the perfect storm for transmitting antibiotic resistance genes. Such facilities are excellent at removing bacteria that are well-known for causing disease and can be grown in a petri dish, such as E. coli. But that leaves room for other types of bacteria to grow and flourish.

"The system is not designed to do anything about environmental microbes that don't make people sick," Dantas said. "But some of these bacteria carry resistance genes that are known to cause problems in the clinic. We are inadvertently enriching this water with bacteria that carry resistance genes and then exposing people to these bacteria because the water is used to irrigate urban parks."

Dantas and his colleagues suspect that the antibiotic resistance they measured in microbes that survive the plant's treatment process is driven by the presence of over-the-counter antibiotics in the sewage being treated. The researchers measured antibiotic levels before and after treatment, and while most of these drug residues are removed during the process, the fact that they're present at the beginning favors the survival of bacteria that are resistant to them.

"All the antibiotics we detected in the pre-treated water were among the top 20 sold in Peru," Dantas said. "These findings have implications for public health, perhaps in designing future wastewater treatment plants and in making policy decisions about whether antibiotics should be available without a prescription."
New Delhi: Days after Britain refused to deport business tycoon Vijay Mallya to India in a loan fraud case, Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday sought an Interpol arrest warrant against the liquor baron.



Sources said, ED has written to CBI to obtain a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Mallya from Interpol. "We have asked the CBI to pursue the case because it is the nodal office for execution of Interpol warrants in India," he said.



An RCN is issued "to seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action" in a criminal case probe.



Once the said notice is issued, the Interpol seeks to arrest the person concerned in any part of the world and notifies that country to take his or her custody for further action at their end.



The agency (ED) has been wanting to make Mallya join investigations "in person" in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case in which it registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) early this year.



The Indian probe agencies are struggling hard to make Mallya join the probe despite revocation of his passport and deportation bid to bring him back from the UK. His deportation became more difficult after Britain has made it clear that Mallya cannot be deported and asked India to seek his extradition instead.



Mallya, according to sources, left for London by the 9W122 Delhi-London Jet Airways flight at 12.54 pm on March 2, days before a consortium of banks approached the Supreme Court for his passport to be impounded.





(With Inputs from PTI)
New Delhi/Kerala: As Kerala goes to polls on May 16, both BJP and Congress engaged in a political battle over taking credit for evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.



On Thursday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hits out at Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and tweeted, "Mr Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them? Mr Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya," Swaraj said in a series of tweets.



"Mr Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens," she said in another tweet.



Earlier, Chandy said that the State government is bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel.









Reacting over Swaraj's tweets, Chandy said, "Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel."



"We are exploring legal options to take against PM for comparing Kerala with Somalia. We will also take the matter to the Election Commission. I wrote a letter to PM asking for his apology," he added.










New Delhi: The Home Ministry is likely to order an internal inquiry into the alleged irregularities in its Foreigners Division, which keeps an eye on "violations" of the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by NGOs.



A top official said the ministry is awaiting a report from the CBI, which registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs and missing of some crucial files, before ordering a departmental inquiry to examine the whole issue.



The ministry wants to ensure that all key files and documents related to Foreigners Division are in safe custody, the official said.



Some vital information was gathered by the Intelligence Bureau in last two years about activities of various NGOs following which action was taken against many of them.



The Home Ministry wants that no such key document goes missing, the official said.



Anand Joshi, Under Secretary in the Home Ministry, against whom the CBI has registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs went missing since yesterday. He was accused of taking away several files of different NGOs, including one related to Care India, a voluntary organisation.



Joshi, however, had claimed on Tuesday that CBI has not found anything from him and denied that he had taken any file to his home.



"All files were found in the Home Ministry itself. It can be verified after checking the CCTV cameras," he had said.



Joshi had claimed that he was pressurised and threatened by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad to give clean chit to some of the NGOs, including Ford Foundation, which was accused of violating provisions of FCRA.



Prasad denied the allegation. Prasad heads the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry.
New Delhi: Securing a pilot's licence is now going to be just a click away as the aviation regulator DGCA is likely to make completely online 18 major services of the 162 identified as part of the e-GCA project.



Majority of these relate to approvals including for flight safety procedures, training and licensing, engineering and flight operations, among others.



E-Governance for Civil Aviation (e-GCA) envisages online service delivery, automation of the systems and processes at the back-end and implementation of required IT infrastructure and service delivery framework.



As many as 18 services including the process of securing pilot's licence is set to go online from June 15 as part of the first phase of the e-GCA project, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said on Thursday.



As of now, majority of these functions are either manual or partially online.



All 162 items identified for this purpose are to go online by December at an investment of over Rs 80 crore, the official said, adding that Hewlett Packard has been mandated to execute the project.



The earlier timeline set by the government was March. The e-GCA project is aimed at completely automating the processes and functions of DGCA and its constituent directorates as well as provide a strong base for IT infrastructure and service delivery framework.










New Delhi: A day after airing a sting video which showed Dawood Ibrahim's house in Clifton area of Karachi, CNN-News18 on Thursday aired audio tapes in which serving police officers talk about the terror don's movements in the city.



These police officers were caught on tape saying how Dawood is surrounded by his own security men, how he moves around in the neighbourhood and how local police were not allowed at his bungalow, D 13, Block 4, Clifton, Karachi.



CNN-News18 Investigations Editor Manoj Gupta spoke to these officers in Karachi under the guise of DIG Mushtaq Sukhera. First he spoke to Akbar, the local intelligence police officer attached to the VVIP area, who readily testified the don's address next to the Abdullah Gazi mosque.







CNN-News18:Who stays?

Akbar:Dawood Dawood Ibrahim

CNN-News18: Ok, he stays here

Akbar: Yes

CNN-News18:They told me you've been here for last 30 years. So you know best

Akbar: Yes Sir. His house is very much here Sir. Proper security arrangement is also there. Sometime he comes and goes....They have constructed a mosque inside the house. We had gone to check the name of the mosque and name of the Maulana. A person came to the gate and promised to tell us everything soon. Then he came to the police station

CNN-News18: Who is the Maulana?

Akbar: Some young, child-like person they sent

CNN-News18: What is the name of the mosque?

Akbar: I am forgetting the name. It's written in my diary. I will see and tell you



Akbar said Dawood moves around once or twice a week, that it was very difficult to make out who is inside the cars, and that he last spotted the convoy fifteen days earlier.



The next man, Zaheer, who is the duty officer at the Boat Basin police Station, said local police are not kept in the loop about Dawood's movements and that it's a top-secret operation handled by a private security team along with ISI officials.



CNN-News18:So we don't know any movement?

Zaheer: One thing is sure. I am posted here from last one year. Even if he goes anywhere we don't have any information at police station level. They don't tell us about any arrival or departure. We don't know even how many people are staying inside the house

CNN-News18: But Dawood is inside?

Zaheer: Yes. This is his house



Another testimony showed that Dawood in fact has a masjid built inside his sprawling compound and that he is also a regular visitor at the nearby shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi. The senior manager there, Punhun Khan, was caught on tape saying Dawood's bungalow is right next to the masjid.



Post the sting operation CNN-News18 learned that Dawood's security is handled by SMS Security, a firm owned by Javed Chikna, an accomplice who fled from Mumbai to Pakistan after the 1993 blasts.



For the last 23 years India has made several attempts to locate and bring back Dawood Ibrahim, the underworld don who is the mastermind of the 1993 Bombay blasts which killed 257 people.






The 69th Cannes International Film Festival has kick-started and for a couple of weeks, the resort town of French Riviera will be the one-stop destination for worlds finest movies. For the last couple of years, Indian actors and filmmakers have been attending the Festival, either to screen their movies or to represent the popular cosmetic brand.However, none of our films have made a mark by winning an award in the mainstream category. The association of Indian film fraternity with Cannes has largely been that of deriving maximum publicity and to create a media buzz.The Festival began amid terrorism fear; and it has left everyone surprised with interesting line up of Hollywood and French movies. The Festival opened with Woody Allens Cafe Society, with charismatic Kristen Stewart making a glamorous presence while talking about the movie set in the 1930s on New York nightclubs.Back in India, the media circus has already begun and the actors have been enthusiastically on the French sojourn.Aishwarya Rai, who is regularly visiting Cannes for the last 14 years as LOreal brand ambassador has already flown to the destination, but not before her team articulately updated the media. Last year, it was all about her next movie Jazbaa, which was launched at Cannes.Her interviews were about her glorious motherhood and her daughter Aaradhya. This year, the focus is on Sarbjit, which will be promoted at the Cannes.Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be at Cannes for the premier of upcoming thriller Raman Raghav 2.0 in Directors Fortnight, a prestigious parallel section at Cannes, in which his previous films, Gangs Of Wasseypur and Ugly have been screened before.As the LOreal face, Ash will be joined by Sonam Kapoor and Liverpool girl Amy Jackson- clearly all set to make a glamorous presence at the red carpet. Then, the internet broke with the news of Mallika Sherawats picture at Eiffel Tower a detour to Cannes where she will be promoting her movie Time Raiders, directed by Hong Kong based filmmaker Daniel Lee. Yes, her career in movies is still on and she is not married yet, as the rumours suggested.Amid the hullabaloo of the glamour brigade, there are a few meaningful movies made by Indian filmmakers that will also find its place. However, it may not get sufficient media space. Several small filmmakers will be at Cannes with the work of art, painstakingly completed, which unfortunately will get a passing mention as all eyes are likely to be on the glamour dolls at the red carpet.The only documentary to be screened this is that of Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiyas The Cinema Travellers, presenting the decreasingrelevance of travelling talkies in rural aharashtra. Aditya Vikram Senguptas Memories And My Mother will be screened at the Cannes Atelier, a section that helps new projects get off the ground.Work of student learning filmmaking hardly gets recognition in India, but a 28-minute Nepali language diploma film Gudh by Saurav Rai, a student of Kolkatas Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) will be prominently screened. Cannes Short Film Corner will have a feast of 40 Indian short films.The larger focus will be the mainstream movies and stars. For them, Cannes has clearly emerged as the best spot for the publicity. Heres how:Aishwarya Rai: Ms Rai has already reached the Cannes to promote her movie Sarbjit, so it is just a matter of time before we get to know what she wore at the red carpet. An unspoken contest at the red carpet between her, Sonam and new entrant Amy Jackson will keep us engage for a while.Anurag Kashyap: Kashyaps gamcha-clad pictures promoting Gangs of Wasseypur are fresh in our minds, which was premiered at the Cannes few years back. This year, he and Nawazuddin Siddiqui come together to premiere Raman Raghav 2.0 at the Directors Fortnight, the parallel section at Cannes.Mallika Sherawat: She is still a part of the film industry and knows how to make a presence at Cannes. She took to Twitter to rubbish the rumours of her marriage. She will be travelling to Cannes to promote her upcoming Time Raiders, which was reportedly filmed in sub-zero temperature in China.Baahubali: This film is all set to be screened at Cannes Film Festival as director SS Rajamouli will participate in a seminar on virtual reality and technology movies in Marche du film. The filmmaker may touch upon Baahubali 2, which is underway.
Chennai: A 66-year-old retired IAS officer, a native of Punjab, is fighting the May 16 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu on the BJP's lotus symbol, in a rare instance of a north Indian testing electoral fortunes in the Dravidian heartland.



Ujagar Singh, a Sikh and a native of Khiali, about 21 km from Barnala in Punjab, is a candidate of the Akila Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (AIMKMK), an ally of BJP, from Sozhinganallur constituency in the city outskirts.



A former IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of 1977 batch, he has held various positions in the state government and retired as Special Commissioner, Government Data Centre in 2010.



Though he belongs to AIMKMK, he is contesting on the symbol of BJP in tune with the arrangement between the allies.



It is not quite usual to find a north Indian contesting election down south, especially in Tamil Nadu where political leaders often cry foul over "imposition of Sanskrit or Hindi" by parties holding the reins of power at the Centre.



Asked what prompted him to jump into Tamil Nadu politics though he happens to be from Punjab, Ujagar Singh says, "I was convinced about the welfare programmes of the party like free education. Moreover I was requested by AIMKMK chief Devanathan to fight the polls and I know him, he is a good leader."



When IAS officials from other states mostly go back to their native places after retirement, what prompted him to stay back?



He says, "Tamil people are very kind, nice and large hearted, they have no jealousy and no chauvinism like you find in some other places in our country."



"Also, my decision to stay back is in fulfilment of my promise to late Chief Minister (AIADMK founder) M G Ramachandran, a great humanist who wanted officials like me to stay back post retirement," he says, adding the idea was to continue to work for the welfare of the people.



Praising people of Tamil Nadu again, Singh says "I am very happy to be here, Tamils are such a friendly people, they help you and my entire family is settled in Chennai, though I have several of my relatives living in Punjab."



Though his spoken Tamil cannot be termed very good -- in terms of pronunciation -- he still manages to communicate well. He says, "I can read, write and speak Tamil as well. I learnt Tamil from Pandit Srinivasan in Thanjavur".



Recalling his efforts to study the language, he says "I used to devote at least two to three hours everyday to learn Tamil. Now I read all Tamil newspapers and magazines."



On people's response to his campaign, he says, "They welcome me. I am happy."



To a question on seeking votes after working nearly 40 years as a bureaucrat, he said, "I am not a politician (yet), but I tell people that I understand their problems better than other candidates by virtue of my long stint in administration. I will solve their problems."



Persons like Ujagar Singh very rarely appear on Tamil Nadu's political horizon. Nearly four decades ago, a similar name was in the poll fray in the state.



It was SD Ugam Chand, a native of Rajasthan and a business man settled in Chengelpet near Chennai. He won in 1980 and 1989 Assembly elections as a candidate of the AIADMK from Madurantakam constituency.
I want the freedom to think. Women here are conditioned. People say we are getting education but we dont have the freedom to think. In Kerala there has been technological revolution but no social revolution.

In Malapuram, nearly 2.9 lakh people live off remittances, which is the highest in India.





Marya Shakil



Associate Political Editor and Anchor, CNN-NEWS18. Her show Reporter's Project on Kerala Elections will be aired on CNN-News18. Send your feedback to editor@news18.com.





Koi haath bhi na milayega jo gale miloge tapaak se, Yeh naye mizaj ka shehr hai zara fasle se mila karo - Bashir BadrWhat defines a city's mizaj or temperament? Why are some cities difficult to negotiate? I was a journalist doing my job to understand the first Muslims of India- the mapillas in the battleground state of Kerala. The fact that I am a Muslim from Bihar visiting Kerala is incidental.Muslims and Christians together constitute over 45% of voters in Kerala and hold the balance of power in God's Own Country. At stake here is the very definition of being a minority. If it's about statistics then Muslims of Malappuram don't fit in it, as its a Muslim-majority district with over 70% population. Political scientist Andre Liebich, described minorities as those who represent-"inequality and inferiority, not merely numerical but substantial inferiority. Inferiority or subservience to orthodoxy despite economic prosperity and educational empowerment thats where the Muslims of Kerala find themselves today. Is it self-imposed and self-enforced?says Jaseela, a mother of three children who is pursuing her Bachelors degree in English from Unity Womens college in Manjeri in Malappuram.Jaseela represents Keralas glorious statistic in literacy but also the states biggest paradox. With a literacy rate of 85.5%, much higher than the national average of 65.5%, Muslim women in Kerala are the most literate across India.Jaseela is conscious of the numbers and its irony- In field of literacy we are okay but when we challenge stereotypes there is a problem. We lack decision-making power. Have power, but no authority or voice. Economical and financial independence doesn't give us that power. We need authority for our voice.Across the Muslim-dominated Malabar region girls share the sentiment that marriage is their destiny and knowledge isnt power. A number of women I spoke to reflect the feeling of a bird in a golden cage- I feel caged, We are asked to live within boundaries that's the big problem and the solution to that is marriage. If we are married then we can do things. The destiny of all girls in our society is marriage.Whats holding the literate girls of Kerala back? Why cant they come out of their cage? I ask.Religion is alright but too much spirituality is holding muslim women back. Whenever we think we are made to rethink whats right and whats wrong, we are told to stay within the boundaries of fatwas and shariah says Fasmina Sherin who started wearing a veil when she was 15. For the Kerala Muslim women, religiosity is another conundrum they have to solve.In Kozhikode, where Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at the end of the 15th century after riding the strong monsoon winds across the seas, Ruby Mohammad is trying to explore a new religious identity for herself. This 33-year-old started a designer showroom for burqa and hijab in 2000 as the hijab market lacked variety. A distinct personality to every hijabi has been her tagline as Ruby introduced veils in myriads of colours, cuts and designs. Keeping in mind the tropical climate of Kerala she even launched a special fabric that absorbs all the sweat to keep a women dry and comfortable.However it was only six years after launching her brand that Ruby chose an all- concealing burqa for herself? She says it was "a choice not a compulsion and a veil doesnt stop a woman from doing anything." Ruby further adds that her choice of apparel wont affect her choice of vote.Contrary to Muslims in other parts of India who may be moving away from ritualistic practices and symbolic display of religious identity, Muslims in Kerala are wearing it on their sleeves, quite literally. Many would say its a severe and self-critical moral code that provides the backdrop to the Muslims search for salvation. The confidence comes also from the fact that Kerala has been a melting pot of cultures, where Islam and Christianity arrived in peace and found their own place. There are many in Kerala who feel what was once the states strength may soon be becoming its vulnerability.In Kozhikode, I also met Dr Fazal Gaffoor, the president of the Muslim Education Society. MES is Keralas biggest education society which runs over 100 institutions including a medical and an engineering college. Dr Fazal Gaffoor draws on his personal experience of Keralas Muslims. He says it was almost unimaginable to see women in hijab during the 1990s, it was only with increased remittances from the Gulf did Malayali NRIs force women to wear burqas.Last year's remittances by Malayali NRIs crossed a whopping Rs 1 lakh crores. This 'imported Arabisation', as he calls it, is threatening the cultural integration of Kerala where Muslims are increasingly copying Arabs in their clothes and also gradually accepting their food habits and names. Dr Gaffoor says orthodoxy is the mother of communalism and that"both Islamic fundamentalists and Hindu communalists" are gaining grounds."Just as the Muslims, the Hindu community too is importing the North Indian culture. They are celebrating Ganesh Puja, giving their kids Sanskrit instead of Dravidian names," he says. Dr Gaffoor fears the Urdu-Hindi divide which is common in North India today may become the narrative of Kerala's tomorrow.Shariq who studies at Darul Huda Islamic University vehemently dismisses any charge of talibanisation of young Muslims in Islamic institutions in Kerala. He says ISIS is the product of modern wahhabism. With political power comes religious freedom, he says, adding that he is able to practice his religion freely only because Indian Union Muslim league is a dominant force in the political landscape of Kerala.But not very far from the university there are those like Fasmina who strongly bat for delinking of religion and politics. "Religion is a powerful weapon which the politicians are using. Why should religious leaders go hand in hand with politicians? Why we do have a political organization with a name and symbol of crescent and star like the Muslim League? Why is the BJP using the saffron colour?" she asks.While addressing the Indian National Congresss Ramgarh session in 1940, Abul Kalam Azad had said, "In political parlance the word minority means such a weak community (jamat) which, because of both its number and capacity (salahyiat), finds itself incapable of protecting itself in relation to a larger and more powerful community Here the issue of capacity (nauyat) is as important as that of number (tadad).The Muslims of Kerala have both tadad and salahaiyat. Despite having the twin oars of education and wealth, have they refused to set sail to newer shores?
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day on Thursday as a mark of respect towards sitting Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal who passed away, will now have a sitting on Friday to complete its original schedule.



A decision was taken on Wednesday to curtail the session of Lok Sabha by two days and Rajya Sabha by one day. Accordingly, the session in Lok Sabha was on Wednesday brought to an end, two days before its scheduled culmination.



According to the plan, the Rajya Sabha was also to be adjourned sine die on Thursday after the customary farewell speech as 58 Rajya Sabha MPs have retired from the House. A number of those retired have been renominated.



The Budget Session of Parliament had begun on February 23 and concluded on March 16. There was the scheduled recess between the first and second part.



However, the session was prorogued to allow promulgation of an Ordinance to bring and pass a Vote on Account for Uttarakhand, which was under President's rule.



An Ordinance cannot be promulgated when Parliament is in session. So, the House was prorogued and the second part of the Budget Session began as a new session on April 25. This session was to end on May 13 as per the schedule.



However, it was curtailed in view of the last leg of campaigning for Assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, besides the fact that the government had already completed the important legislative business it planned to accomplish in this session.



Ten bills, including the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and the Anti-Hijacking Bill, were passed during the three-week session in Lok Sabha which saw no adjournment unlike in the Rajya Sabha which had to be adjourned several times due to disruptions.



The Eighth Session of the 16th Lok Sabha, which commenced on April 25, had 13 sittings spread over 92 hours and 21 minutes.



"I am happy to inform you that in the recent past this is the first session in which House was not adjourned even for a single minute due to interruptions and I thank the entire House for cooperation extended to the Chair," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had said in her valedictory address on Wednesday.



It was the 239th session of Rajya Sabha. Congress and Opposition outnumber the government in the Upper House, which saw repeated adjournments on a number of days on issues like the imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh and AgustWestland deal.



After the passage of Finance Bill on Wednesday, there was, however, virtually no business left for the government.



Concluding the session early was being debated for the last few days, Parliament sources said.



Sources said Rajya Sabha would also have been adjourned sine die on Wednesday itself but since 58 members of the House had retired, it was decided to adjourn the House after the customary farewell speech on Thursday.



However, as the Congress member of Rajya Sabha Praveen Rashtrapal died in New Delhi early Thursday after suffering a massive heart attack, the Upper House was adjourned on Thursday after paying respects to the departed soul, immediately after the House convened.



Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari announced the news of the demise of Rashtrapal and adjourned the House for the day as a mark of respect.
Washington: Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he may set up a counter-terrorism commission to study his immigration policies and his controversial proposal to ban foreign Muslims from entering the US until America's security has been assured.



"I'm thinking about setting up a commission, perhaps headed by Rudy Giuliani, to take a very serious look at this problem. But this is a worldwide problem. And we have to be smart," Trump told Fox News.



Giuliani, who was New York's Mayor from 1994 to 2001, has called Trump's idea of a Muslim ban unconstitutional. He said that a ban on Muslims would violate the Constitution and there can be no religious test on who is allowed into the country.



The 69-year-old real-estate tycoon said the commission would examine his Muslim ban call, his proposal to deport anyone in the US illegally and the question of letting in Syrian refugees.



Trump did not elaborate on the proposal whether this would happen if he wins the US presidential race or during his campaign.



Trump's call to deny entry to foreign Muslims until America's security has been assured is a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.



In the interview, Trump reaffirmed he would ban entry of Muslims albeit temporarily into the US if he is voted to power.



"Well, we have a ban. There are obviously some very bad things going on. And we're going to figure out what's going on and we're going to be very, very careful. We are allowing Syrians to come in here. We have no idea who they are, we have no paperwork. There's no documentation. They're pouring into the country, our country by the thousands," he said.



"You see what's happening in Germany. It's a mess. You look at Sweden and some of these other countries that are taking them and it's a total mess. And I want to be very, very careful. So I'm going to be extremely vigilant and careful,"

he said.



Trump said it would be a temporary ban and went on to criticise President Barack Obama for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" after the attacks in France and= California last year.



"We have a president that won't even use the term radical Islamic terrorism. He won't even use the term," he said.



"He refuses to say the term, even after Paris where 130 people were killed or San Bernardino or any other place. Our president refuses to discuss the term. It's a real problem."



Not only here, but throughout the world. It's a real problem. So we'll figure it out, and we will get it going. But we have to be extremely careful," Trump said.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said it is ready for talks whenever India is ready and underlined that dialogue was the best option to resolve all outstanding issues.



"Pakistan's position has been stated a number of times. We are ready for dialogue whenever India is ready," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly press briefing.



He said dialogue was the best option to deal with all outstanding issues.



Zakaria said that in line with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision, "We pursue a policy of good neighbourly relations in the larger interest of regional security, progress and economic prosperity, for which dialogue to settle contentious issues is an imperative."



He said Pakistan believes in uninterrupted, sustainable and result-oriented dialogue in which all issues of mutual concern are discussed and resolved.



Talking about the alleged Indian "spy" arrested in Pakistan, Zakaria said he was apprehended in March and the Indian request for consular access was received in April.



He pointed out any consular access request is considered under Vienna convention on Consular Relations in general.



Kulbhushan Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country.



Zakaria said India and Pakistan also have a bilateral agreement, the relevant clauses of which apply on such circumstances in which Jadhav was arrested.



"He was involved in terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan. To put it simply, the Indian request for consular access has indeed been received and shall be considered in keeping with the relevant clauses of the two agreements," Zakaria said.



The spokesperson also said that the next round of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) - Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US - would be held this month to continue efforts for starting dialogue between the Taliban and Afghanistan.






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Kang the Conqueror - the powers and origin of the next big MCU villain

Here's everything you need to know about Kang the Conqueror, the next big MCU villain
Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters Looking Back Health Jewels Stitch in Time Peace Officers' Memorial Day event set for this Sunday May 12, 2016 by Michael Meier

Boundary County Public Information Officer



In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers' Memorial Day, and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, D.C. to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.



Here in Bonners Ferry, The Boundary County Chaplain Corps is sponsoring our own memorial observance on Sunday afternoon, May 15, at 2:00 p.m., under the flag in Veterans Park next to the library. The purpose of the memorial is to honor those in law enforcement across the nation who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty this past year.



Representatives from all law enforcement agencies are urged to attend, as the honor given to their fallen colleagues is also extended to those who currently serve among us. Mayor David Sims, along with the City Council, has issued a proclamation which will be read; the list of the names of the fallen will be read, and a memorial wreath laid in their honor. Idaho State Representative Sage Dixon will bring a brief address for the occasion.



The event will be held rain or shine. Please join your neighbors at Veterans Park on May 15 to honor "the Thin Blue Line." Please contact Chaplain Len Pine at 267-3327 for more information. Questions or comments about this article? Click here to e-mail!
Business sector wants sweeping changes to Industrial Court

.Representatives of five of the countrys largest and most influential business chambers met at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mt Hope, a few weeks ago to discuss the legal changes which they believe need to be made to make Trinidad and Tobago a place where businesses could grow and prosper. Their deliberations were made all the more urgent because of the countrys economic situation, which some economists are describing as a structural break in which the low prices for Trinidad and Tobagos main output, oil and gas, are likely to remain the new normal for quite some time.

Repeatedly, speakers portrayed the Industrial Court as an obstacle to their ability to run their businesses profitably and maintain the necessary discipline, claiming that the judgements coming out of the court favoured the worker at the expense of the employer and the survival of the business as a going and profitable enterprise. Dr Ramesh Ramdeen, Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) said there is far too often a lack of equity in the decisions which are handed down by the Industrial Court. He added that what we are asking for is a predictable, transparent environment, one that speaks to predictability and equity in which everyone is able to get their just due from the process. If business could grow, if business could prosper, it would enhance our competitiveness, it would allow us to survive in the global environment in which we find ourselves operating in today. Its very important that we have the right ingredients in place that would allow for an industrial relations climate that is fair to all parties concerned.

President of the Industrial Court, Deborah Thomas-Felix, will address some of these issues in her feature address on Saturday (May 14) when the Court hosts the fourth instalment of its Meet with the Court symposium at the Port-of-Spain Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. This fourth symposium is titled Layoffs and retrenchment: Is there adequate regulations and legislation.

It will explore the current global economic climate and how it is impacting on the local labour market. The court has promised presentations from a much-respected team of experts in the field of industrial relations and human resource management. Among those expected to attend are the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Ivor Archie; Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Jennifer Baptiste- Primus; representatives of trade unions; attorneys; officials of employer organisations and industrial relations practitioners.

Asked whether she was aware of the complaints of the business sector about the judgements of the Industrial Court, Baptiste- Primus said she had not heard their concerns but she had ultimate faith and confidence in the Industrial Court. She added that, The Industrial Court is a superior court of record. They conduct themselves in accordance with established universal principles so that if the business sector would have made such a pronouncement, I would invite the business sector to share with me the bases for arriving at such a conclusion.

Baptiste-Primus continued that in her previous incarnation as a trade unionist she had practiced in the Industrial Court and I can tell you, while I may not have agreed with all the judgements of the court, I respected those judgements and abided by them. She once more invited the business community to share with her the basis on which it had concluded that the court was biased in favour of workers. Baptiste-Primus seemed to find merit in concerns of the business sector that judges of the Industrial Court should not be concerned about their tenure because of any judgement they might give in a matter. She said this has been an issue for years because the judges hold their positions on contract. She said judges of the court should be appointed by an independent panel and should not be political appointees. As a matter of fact, I am very happy to share with you and the national community that one of the policy positions of this government is that the Industrial Court judges should, must, enjoy security of tenure and we will be working speedily towards the fulfilment of that policy.

The Labour Minister also said the government will be moving soon to close the gap in the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act which exempts employers from having to report to the Ministry of Labour when they lay off five or fewer workers. Many employees have taken to arranging their businesses so that they lay off workers in groups of five or smaller, managing to fly under the radar as Baptiste-Primus put it.

Speaking to journalists after the crowded business consultation at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Chief Executive Officer of The Energy Chamber, Dr Thackwray Dax Driver, said representatives of small and large companies, as well as multi-national firms were in attendance. In addition to Driver and Ramdeen, on hand to put forward the business perspective were Nirad Tewarie, Chief Executive Officer of the American Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM); Radha Permanand, Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI). Catherine Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, was present at the consultation but not at the meeting with the media.

Dr Driver said that in the current environment in which the country has undergone a structural transformation to the economy and finds itself in a situation in which low commodity prices seem set to be a feature of the economic landscape for some time to come, businesses have to restructure and we are in an extremely competitive international marketplace where the nature of work itself is also changing very quickly so businesses have to constantly be able to adapt and to change.

Dr Ramdeen said that for all business owners their employees were their most valued resource and the changes being suggested had nothing to do with reducing staff but it is having an environment that is conducive where all can benefit.
TTBizLink to add more e-services

Conducting transactions online, particularly those related to back office aspects on ones business, is an excellent way to save time and money.

This is where the Ministry of Trade and Industrys Single Electronic Window for Trade and Investment (SEW); trade name TTBizLink, comes into play. Since its launch with two e-services in January 2012, TTBizLink has expanded to offer 46 e-services to companies and individuals doing business in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). Over the next five years, TTBizLink will add 16 more e-services, including the muchrequested ability to file annual returns to the Companies Registry online rather than using the current manual process.

The additional services are being made possible thanks to a US $25 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), signed by Planning and Development Minister, Camille Robinson-Regis, on behalf of the TT Government on April 6, 2016.

The loan signing took place at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB and the 31st Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Investment Corporation, in Nassau, The Bahamas.

According to the IDB, The SEW loan offers TT a real-time opportunity to upgrade its customs systems; implement an electronic payment system for users and taxpayers; and improve the overall trade performance and business facilitation environment in the country. It also seeks to optimise and simplify foreign trade; reduce time and costs; improve domestic transactions among national government institutions and external interactions with trading partners; and update and regulate the institutional framework of the SEW. The loan will also support business processing reengineering and risk management for government agencies; an intermodal logistics platform; and interoperability with other single windows, the IDB stated on April 6.

That same day, Trade and Industry Minister, Paula Gopee- Scoon, launched an expansion of TTBizLinks e-permits and licences module along with the introduction of the e-maritime services module and the e-utilities module.

The launch, held at Hilton Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, was a collaboration amongst several Ministries and Agencies including the Health Ministry, the Public Utilities Ministry and the Works and Transport Ministry.

To find out more about the new and in the pipeline e-services, Business Day spoke with SEWs Manager of Stakeholder Adoption, Allison Bidaisee, and three SEW Specialists, Neshan Singh, Charelle Joseph-Samaroo and Shermatie Jagdeo. Bidaisee noted that once a company or individual has registered with www.ttbizlink.gov.tt they can cut out the middle man/broker/lawyer who they once paid to run around from office to office, dropping off forms and making payments et cetera. Registering with TTBizLink also allows the head of an organisation can give authorisation to certain employees to transact business on behalf of the company.

Persons seeking to import an item can also take advantage of the SEW to save time obtaining an import licence from the Trade Licence Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

For instance, if you wanted to import a refrigerator, you could do that in your own capacity by registering with TTBizLink and completing the relevant form online. Its not only easier, Bidaisee said, its cheaper too because you no longer have to pay someone to do that for you. Registering a company is another service you can do online for free and at your own convenience.

Previously, and still that happens sometimes, people pay a lawyer a great sum of money to transact that business on their behalf: to do the name search; reservation; register the business or incorporate if its a company, but you are able to do that in your own capacity, Bidaisee noted.

Joseph-Samaroo added to this, telling Business Day that through the SEW, the ministry has eliminated the need for that middle man. Persons can now submit applications for themselves from the comfort and convenience of their home/ office, for free. Singh meanwhile noted that with Government having reduced the fuel subsidy on Super and Diesel gas last month, becoming a registered TTBizLink user eliminates you having to jump in your car and waste gas sitting in traffic while you drive around to multiple agencies, multiple times, to get the necessary forms submitted. The new e-maritime services module allows maritime companies to submit their Arrival and Departure declarations online.

Singh told Business Day, We plan to automate a couple more of the (forms) in the coming year. The ability to complete your annual returns online is something which Jagdeo said should be available on the website within six months to a year. The Companies Registry currently offers four services on TTBizLink. With the IDB loan, we will add 16 more services.

This means all services offered under the Registrar Generals Departments Companies Registry right now will be included on TTBizLink, Singh shared.

She explained that once you have a company incorporated, you are required by law to file your annual returns to Companies Registry every year to let them know youre still operating and to give them some details on the companys business. Hence adding this to the list of e-services provided by TTBizLink would definitely be a priority for SEW because it is in such high demand.

If someone is having trouble or simple wants to know more about how the site works, they can either use the toll-free help desk or send an email to support.ttbizlink@gov.tt The help desk number, 800-4SEW (800-4739), is operational from 8 am to 4 pm, Mondays to Fridays, 8 am to 4 pm.
Protecting our children

The cases highlighted are literally horrific: the apparent attempt to hide an underage pregnancy which ran into complications, forcing the family to seek out the hospital and thus leading to revelations of ongoing incest and abuse. And the 80-year old man who raped and violated three underage female grandchildren. And the man in his fifties, who, having had had his young female victims removed, may be doing the same to the males.

Who recalls the case last year of apparent child slavery, where a 10-year old boy was, according to reports, put to clean a lot of land without food or water? Displaying a hole in his back, allegedly from a past beating, he stated that his biological father had been incarcerated for killing his sibling. Or the shaming of a 12-year old being beaten with a belt and uploaded to facebook? The child subsequently was made to publicly apologise for causing her mother problems. Or the child was beaten with a shovel by a female relative, seemingly because he was bullying the younger ones?

There are several obvious questions that arise with regard to what could prompt such behaviors, and, where educational institutions are concerned, the responsibility of the oversight bodies.

Research has shown that violence is self-perpetrating, meaning that one who is abused is more likely to become an abuser himself. In addition, the common practice of leaving children unsupervised can have the effect of putting them at risk of being abused by adult predators or child-on-child abuse.

The cases are often difficult to prosecute because the victims may not report the crime, and in many cases may not even be aware that a crime is being perpetrated against them. Further, in other cases, prosecution hinges on the complainant being willing to testify for the prosecution and having corroborating witnesses. It is therefore imperative that any deficiencies in the various legislations which are aimed at protecting children be addressed with haste.

Perhaps it is the historical legacy of these Caribbean islands which accustoms us to such abuse. Perhaps too, we do not even recognize abuse for what it is. Many an adult proudly asserts that after being viciously whipped at school, they would be additionally beaten when they got home. Whatever the justifications, our culture is highly tolerant of abuse, especially to children. And this might shed some light on why neighbours, despite their misgivings, are reluctant to intervene in cases they know of.

The sad fact is that we cannot eliminate every instance of child abuse. What interested stakeholders can do though, is to lay down the institutional framework to protect our young. It must not only be a legislative package, but properly resourced support mechanisms in tandem with methods to educate and empower children to be able to seek help for themselves if they are in abusive situations, knowing they will be well protected  and even sometimes, to help them recognize when abuse is being perpetrated.

Each and every one of us has a role to play in protecting our young if we truly wish to build a better tomorrow.
Self employment

For some, its a means of escaping the feeling of having someone standing over them, telling them what to do and how to do it, which can come with traditional employment. For others, its a means of adapting in the face of the changing economic conditions that threaten their finances.

With the most recent falls in commodity prices bringing a loss of export income, the challenging market conditions have contributed to higher levels of informal employment and lower salaries across many parts of the Caribbean and Latin America. These unpredictable times call for a more flexible, responsive attitude to work and an entrepreneurial spirit in the face of adversity.

Unemployment or a fear of redundancy has been the catalysts for many people becoming self-employed. According to The World Bank, the Caribbean is a region of entrepreneurs, with nearly 70% of the workforce self-employed. Similarly, 60 per cent of working Latin Americans own their own business or work for a small company, and this trend is expected to grow in the labour market in 2016.

The World Bank also reports that within the past four years, 19 per cent of new businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean were founded by someone under the age of 35. With the current market offering fewer opportunities to secure traditional forms of employment, an increasing number of young people are clearly following the trend towards self-employment.

The Caribbean does have a serious unemployment issue, especially with its levels youth unemployment. Not only is youth unemployment high relative to global levels, it is also significantly higher than adult unemployment. Data from the Caribbean Development Bank indicates that the average youth unemployment rate for countries in the region with available data was nearly 25% in 2013, compared with the adult rate of only 8%. Gender differences were also significant, with unemployment among female youth exceeding 30% as opposed to 20% for males.

Job creation can be problematic for many governments when economic conditions are less favourable. But there has been a rising trend in many countries to promote entrepreneurship and small business development to combat the lack of quality jobs available in the regions larger or multinational businesses.

The rise in going solo isnt just being seen in this part of the world. The self-employed economy is also one of the great UK success stories of recent years. According to The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) it has grown by 25% since 2009 and provides an estimated ?30 billion a year in added value to UK GDP. The latest UK labour force figures from the Office for National Statistics show a record 4.63 million people are self-employed, which is equivalent to 1 in 7 in the total workforce.

Self-employment itself can be a double edged sword for those who embark on earning a living through this form of work. A steady income keeps a family well supported and many money problems at bay, whilst self-employment income can fluctuate and bring money worries to the forefront.

Income variations make it more difficult to budget effectively and set aside appropriate amounts of money for savings. This means having the ability to see through the rough times and plan for the future is key.

This knowledge is called financial literacy, which allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions about their financial resources. Anyone in control of a small business will benefit from recruiting the services of a professional accountant who can best support them on how to get hold of sustainable finance, navigate through the government procurement process, and how to comply with regulations. Regrettably, regulations and taxes are generally designed with the larger businesses in mind and then retro-fitted to the smaller ones. Every tax or regulation break and nuance later created to help small businesses only adds to the weight of regulation that small business owners have to understand and apply.

A good financial foundation is a must. Any good accountant can be as flexible as a business needs them to be, and able to explain anything that is unclear to ensure the best decisions are made.

There are many attractions and great benefits from becoming self-employed, however the reality is uncertainty is the new norm. Anyone who makes the brave decision to go it alone will have to factor in turbulence as a very real possibility, and should develop strategies for a range of different economic, market and of course, personal, scenarios.
The state of Clico

The pertinent issue now is whether Clico is solvent or insolvent. At the heart of this matter lies the veracity of the statements attributed to the Minister of Finance that Clico is insolvent.

On January 30 2009, when the Central Bank intervened and took control of Clico, it was stated by the then Governor of the Central Bank: The objective of this rescue exercise is to restore confidence, to get the institution back to a normal condition. It was clearly stated by the then Governor that Clico has also been facing liquidity problems. Certainly that previous Governor very well knew the difference between liquidity problems and insolvency.

This raises the question: what was the problem? Could it be said that the then Minister of Finance and former Governor of the Central Bank were deceiving about the true condition of Clico? If Clico was solvent, then the present Ministers statement implies that the Central Bank was responsible for the demise of this once dominant insurance giant?

A review of the audited accounts should reveal when Clicos financial position deteriorated and simply means we must hold the authority in charge of Clico responsible for this state of affairs. Which Governor has to be held responsible for the demise of Clico? What led to such a turn of events? Was it incompetence on the part of the Central Bank?

Fundamental to this discussion is the question: should the Central Bank act as a resolution agent within our financial system? This is very relevant, and the experience of CL Financial brings this out. How can a regulatory authority monitor the performance of an institution while nursing that very institution back to financial health? Isnt there a conflict of interest here? Who determines whether it is doing a good job or is acting honorably? Is the Central Bank the only institution that can perform the role of resolution agent? What has been the experience of other countries?

In a number of institutions that are not pay box systems, the Deposit Insurance Corporation acts as the resolution agency. Was this ever discussed, and who threw cold water on the idea? Was it the Central Bank staff? Conflict of interest? Fighting for turf at the expense of the country? One just has to wonder what goes on in that black box called a Central Bank. Whose interest are they seeking?

Paul Ngai of Prescience Insurance Consultants and Actuaries valued Clicos policy benefit liabilities for its Statutory Fund as at December 31, 2014 and found that the total in the statutory fund was close to $22.5 billion. This was considered more than required for partial payments of certain policy holders liabilities. The Minister has to clarify what he is talking about, and whether this reported declaration of insolvency is the signal of an impending change in direction of the Government. It also begs the question why is the Central Bank still using section 44D, and if the Minister is right, why arent they liquidating Clico? There seems to be some inconsistency between the Ministers statement and Central Banks actions
blink | bmobile salutes excellence in media

The first of the 2016 awards went to late veteran journalist, Patrick Chookolingo, pioneer of the weekly tabloid in Trinidad. The second award was given to Reverend Dr Margaret Elcock, a broadcaster for over 20 years and the first woman to found a national radio station, Isaac 98.1 FM. Popular DJ turned businessman, Anthony Chow Lin On aka Chinese Laundry rounded off the evenings awards for his achievements in the broadcasting sector.

TTPBA President, Daren Lee Sing opened the awards function and reminded the guests that this years World Press Freedom Day theme is Access to information and fundamental freedoms: This is your right. Lee Sing noted that Trinidad continues to be blessed with an independent media and said Let this occasion serve as a reminder to publishers and broadcasters that they are accountable to the citizenry. We must never compromise ourselves and conceal the truth but report and comment on the facts.

Camille Campbell, TSTTs Chief Marketing Officer wished everyone a happy World Press Freedom Day and noted that TSTT, in its role as the only national full service provider of communications services, was committed to ensuring that everyone had access to the technology that was fostering digital communities with a larger voice to promote social improvement. Campbell stated, We are committed to continuing to invest millions of dollars into the evolving technology that has become a powerful enabler of society.

Campbell indicated that blink | bmobile was pleased to partner once again with TTPBA to honour individuals from the media whose careers exemplified excellence, and whose trailblazing trajectories played a significant role in shaping the media landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. She added On behalf of the management and staff of TSTT, I wish to thank the TTPBA for continuing to build on our partnership, and for remaining true to the cause of giving just due to the many media workers upon whose shoulders the media industry is built.

Jim Clancy, an award-winning international broadcast journalist, delivered the feature address. Clancy had the audience captivated with a recap of his time spent covering stories in war-torn territories. He commented that Trinidad and Tobago is a fortunate society and commended the TTPBA and the media for the work they were doing. Clancy asked the attendees to honour the journalists who sacrificed so much for their profession and said, Its truly an honour to be here with you today. Let us be journalists who not only explore but inspire. Let us resolve to walk together in courage here in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Maxie Cuffie, Minister of Communications and His Excellency United States Ambassador John L Estrada attended the awards function, as well as representatives from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago, Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Advertising Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the International Media Centre .
Rowley: Govt to sharpen focus on agriculture

Rowleys wide-ranging interview about Trinidad and Tobagos (TT) economy will be featured in the upcoming release of The Report: Trinidad and Tobago 2016, OBGs second publication on the countrys economy.

In its May 10 statement, OBG said Rowley shared his plans for reinvigorating the countrys agricultural industry in April when he met with representatives of the global publishing firm.

Rowley told OBGs team that the government would be looking to sharpen its focus on the (agriculture) sector through a modernisation and marketing drive. The challenge, he said, was to convince more young people of the potentially lucrative opportunities that farming offered, OBG stated.

Rowley also spoke about the key role earmarked for tourism in diversifying the economy.

He told OBG talks with private sector players on increasing room capacity were at an advanced stage, while plans to develop the infrastructure needed to support industry growth were also progressing.

During the talks, the PM discussed the structural adjustments that the leadership hopes will steer the economy away from recession. He highlighted the governments capital expenditure plans, which include several transport infrastructure projects and boosting the public bus fleet. The idea of tapping new export markets beyond the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries was also on the agenda.

OBG added that its report would contain a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for investors, including a chapter focusing specifically on investment opportunities in Tobago. It will also consider the challenges that government faces, led by the impact of low oil prices and declines in revenue and foreign exchange.

Produced in partnership with State agency, InvesTT, OBG said The Report: Trinidad and Tobago 2016 will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments.

Although a specific publishing date was not stated, OBG did say the 2016 report would include contributions from other leading representatives, including the President of Guyana David Granger and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana Hanna Tetteh.

Contributions would also be made by Republic Financial Holdings Limited, Bourse Securities, Aegis Business Solutions and the law firm J.D. Sellier. The publication will be available in print and online.

By Sasha Harrinanan

About Oxford Business Group

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of the Caribbean, Latin and Central America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Through its range of print and online products, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomics and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, insurance, energy, transport, industry and telecoms.

The critically acclaimed economic and business reports have become the leading source of business intelligence on developing countries in the regions they cover. OBGs online economic briefings provide up-to-date in-depth analysis on the issues that matter for tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide. OBGs consultancy arm
RAPE AT THE HYATT

The woman told police she tried to ward off the advances of the trade unionist in the hotel room but he overpowered her. After naming the union leader and relating the rape act, the woman was referred to the Central Police Station in Port-of-Spain, which has investigative jurisdiction as the rape allegedly occurred within its precincts.

According to police sources, at about nine oclock on Tuesday night, the woman went to the Central Police Station and reported the rape to officers who took her report and then accompanied her to a District Medical Officer in St James where she was medically examined.

The woman, who Newsday was told, appeared to be dazed and hysterical, reported that about 2 pm on Tuesday, she was asked by the union leader to accompany him to the Hyatt Regency for a business meeting.

The woman claimed she was accustomed accompanying the union leader to meetings at the Hyatt and saw nothing sinister about the location for the meeting.

She also claimed that while at the Hyatt, she accompanied the union leader to a room where the meeting was supposed to take place. But instead of other persons being in the room for the meeting, she realised it was only she and the man.

As she made to leave the room, the woman claimed, she was accosted by the union leader who became aggressive towards her.

The woman said that she tried to fight off the mans advances but was overpowered, thrown on the bed and raped. After the act, the woman said, the man took her to his vehicle, told her to get in and drove with her to the union offices in North Trinidad.

The victim then made her way to the Cunupia Police Station and lodged her report.

The woman did not report for duty yesterday at the unions offices where she works. Rumours of the rape spread like wildfire through the rank and file of the union. An employee of the trade union, who contacted Newsday yesterday, said that the matter was discussed and the union leader stoutly denied all allegations levelled against him.

The man in question, according to the caller, suggested that if a union leader had raped a staff member then the police should be called in and an investigation lodged. Newsday attempted to reach the union leader but all calls to his cell phones yesterday went unanswered. It remained unclear up to press time if he was interviewed by police. Newsday understands that ASP Ajith Persad of Port-of-Spain CID, is continuing enquiries.
Man jailed 22 years for raping schoolgirl

Now a mother of three, the woman said, I wish nobody would go through what he did to me. I dont talk about this to anyone but he should have gotten strokes as well, she said.

Baptiste was found guilty on March 15 by a jury, who was told by State Prosecutor Trevor Jones, that he had a propensity to rape women. Baptiste was charged with raping two other women, but during the hearing of the Preliminary Inquiry in those cases several years ago, he fled to the United States and remained on the run for eight years until he was arrested and deported back to Trinidad by two US Marshals.

The woman testified that in June 1997, she was 15 and attending secondary school. She recalled that at about 3.30 pm on the date in question, she was walking along Quinam Road on her way home when Baptiste pulled up alongside her in a vehicle.

Baptiste asked her if she wanted a drop home and she said, yes. She was dressed in her school uniform. The woman said that Baptiste drove her to a dirt road where he raped her. She later walked home.

Baptiste elected not to go in the witness box to defend himself. He however had called his mother to testify on his behalf. The mother said she did not go to the police with her son, as alleged by the prosecution. Jones led bad-character evidence against Baptiste, saying that in 1997, the accused was charged with raping another woman. In 2000, he was again charged with rape.

The 2000 victim was called and testified against Jones as Prosecutor Jones successfully showed to the jury Baptistes predatory propensity to commit rape. The woman told the judge and jury that on December 31, 1999, she was 20 and was a friend of the accused.

She testified that she and Baptiste went out to an Old Years Night party. After the event, the accused offered to drop her home.

Instead, he drove to a cremation site in Caroni where he struck her a blow. He then held her at knifepoint and raped her. The woman went on to tell the judge and jury that Baptiste struck her with a stone, then threw dust on her face. She testified that she hid in bushes, but was covered in blood.

After St Clair-Douglas summed up the case, the jury retired for an hour and returned with a guilty verdict.

The judge postponed sentencing to yesterday pending a Probation Officers report. In passing sentence yesterday, Justice St Clair Douglas told Baptiste the aggravating aspects of the allegation against him, were that the girl was just 15 and was dressed in her school uniform.

The judge said the fact that Baptiste offered her a ride was an indication that the rape was premeditated. Saying the courts have a duty to protect women in society, Justice St Clair Douglas said Baptiste showed, a distinct absence of remorse. When the time came for a DNA sample to be taken from the accused, he refused to submit. This case rose to the ceiling of the maximum punishment of life. The judge ordered him to begin serving the sentence from March 9, the date when his bail was revoked.
I trust the State

I place my trust in the State, whoever forms the Government, he said, speaking with Newsday hours after voting in favour of legislation to bolster the powers of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). Junkere and Senator Ian Roach were the two Independents who voted in favour of the controversial measure. Both were also the only two Independents who attended a private meeting convened by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi for the purpose of allowing senators a chance to ask questions of technocrats. High-ranking SSA officials reportedly attended.

Junkere admitted he did have concerns about the legislation, concerns which he aired last week Tuesday. Back then, he said there were legitimate concerns about effective safeguards being implemented to ensure there would be no abuse of the SSAs expanded powers.

He also suggested specific timelines be set regarding the custody of information gathered and called for a public grievance procedure.

He aired concerns about the relationship between the SSA director and the Minister of National Security. At the same time he welcomed the move to bolster the SSA. Privacy is an illusion, Junkere said back then.

Yesterday, the temporary senator said the meeting hosted by Al-Rawi on Monday had eased some of his concerns, though it was not, he said, the decisive factor.

I had concerns based on information which I did not have, Junkere said. When, in fact, I did receive that information I felt comforted.

It was useful, it was not the decisive factor. But the responses were articulated in a way that made me feel comfortable. Asked to state what he was told in the meeting, Junkere invoked the cloak of national security confidentiality. This type of conversation concerned national security, he said. It is not proper that those issues are ventilated in the public view. These are sensitive pieces of legislation and I am not in a position to express that. Junkere said despite all the objections, the SSA already had certain powers.

From my perspective the powers in the current Bill already empowered the SSA to deal with drugs and drug offences, he said. They are simply asking for an expansion of those powers to cover serious crime. He did not think substantially widening the agencys scope of operation made a difference, saying, Including other serious crimes under their remit in my respectful view does not change the nature of the SSA. Junkere said he is an attorney with Aequitas Chambers, based at Port-of-Spain. He said his practice involved a mix of civil law, family law, commercial law. My interest is purely in national service.

I belong to no political party. I am just here to serve country, he said. We live in a country that is plagued with rampant criminality. Meanwhile, asked to state his reasons for supporting the Bill, Roach yesterday told Newsday, I cannot say that in one sentence. He ended the call saying he had a dental appointment and would call back. He did not. Last week Roach spoke to Newsday on the Bill, saying, A JSC with oversight should have coercive powers as well and there should be serious penalties as well. If the Opposition put themselves in the Governments position they must ask themselves if they would support this legislation. When you are in Opposition it is one thing. All of a sudden you get cataract in your eyes. You get deaf. The meeting on Monday hosted by Al-Rawi came hours before a separate meeting on Tuesday with the Opposition senators. In 2010, the Peoples Partnership administration convened a series of meetings between the Government, Opposition and Independent members of Parliament. The Law Association was also invited to those talks, held at the Red House, some aspects of which were covered by the media.

On Tuesday night, Al-Rawi said Solicitor General Carol Hernandez had advised the legislation did not need a three-fifths majority.

He pledged to release her opinion.

Senators yesterday said they were yet to receive it. (See Page 14A)
Dont let others define you

You define who are going to be and you do so by making the right choices. It is okay to dream, dreams do come true, but you have to make the right choices and do not mind others if you have failures or shortcomings.

I have had failures and shortcomings. I learned from them and I never blamed anyone. I never said I came from a home of a single parent, I did not know my dad, I never blamed anyone on such thing, Estrada said.

The ambassador was speaking at the final lecture of the Laventille Nights - Distinguished Speaker Series 2016 at corner of Old St. Joseph Road and Erica Street, Laventille, on Tuesday night. Estrada said he has faced many challenges and has had to make tough choices when he grew up in a community where there were drugs, drug dealers and crime.

Coming back to Laventille, to TT, has been an emotional ride to me. I plan on visiting a lot of schools, a lot of youth...I have no fear. I have a lot of confidence in the youth of TT and leaders of Laventille and I hope this would help influence all of you to do the right thing. If you need to go back to school, go back to school.

If you need to turn your back on the drug trade, turn your back on it. I encourage you to have a very rich community I have heard people say just ignore that part of the country but to those of you who live in Laventille, you have the will and opportunity to make things better and during my time here I will partner with you, Estrada told the gathering on Tuesday night.

Estrada said at an early age he had to make tough choices whether he would cave in to peer pressure, do drugs to get easy money or participate in other criminal activities to remain popular. He chose not to.

I opted instead to stay to stay at home and read the newspapers and see what was going on in the world.

The US Marine Corps was a tough organisation and what attracted me to it was a sense of camaraderie, loyalty, discipline, structure and a fighting spirit. I thought I did not have what it took to be a marine.

I worked after school to help my family After my first night (of training) I wanted to go back home, but they were not sending you back home.

My trainer said you will either go home as a marine, or you are going to die trying. I wanted to be a marine.

During this time I was tested.

Fellow marines would be sniffing cocaine, using heroine, smoking marijuana, I was exposed to all of this and I had a lot of peer pressure to do the same, but I said no, Estrada said.

Estrada said as a black man and an immigrant, he never thought he would aspire to one of the highest ranks in the Marine, Sgt Major of the US Marine Corps.
Are oil companies cheating TT?

Parliaments Public Accounts Committee heard that: 1) the Ministry relies on measuring valves controlled by oil companies; 2) there are backlogs  going back years  in relation to the lab work needed to assign values; 3) there is a cosy relationship between the Ministry and the same companies it is supposed to regulate; and 4) there are major gaps in the training of inspectors who do not sign-off on inspection reports.

At the same time, there are 5) poor remuneration and human resource arrangements (including in relation to pensions and leave) for Ministry employees who are supposed to be the regulators; 6) and there are time limits to the oversight of the Auditor General.I am dissatisfied with the approach I have heard here and I think most people would be dissatisfied, Mitchell, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, said. I live in San Fernando. I have heard rumours that these multi-nationals cheat the people of Trinidad and Tobago out of considerable royalties. Is it conceivable that the people of Trinidad and Tobago have been cheated? Acting Permanent Secretary Heidi Wong said, That is a strong statement. We have always had a good working relationship with the companies and we have never come across those problems. Mitchell said, But the main aim of multinationals is profit. Wong replied, Without that evidence I would not make such a statement. Mitchell said the Auditor Generals Department had found there was no verifiable data on oil production. The Committee, chaired by Caroni Central MP Bhoe Tewarie, heard that the Ministrys inspectors inspect valves owned by the companies on platforms. Who has control of the calibration of the platform? Tewarie asked. Who manages these systems? It would be the companies, Wong said. Reports by the same inspectors were unsigned. Wong said she had only recently been in post and it appeared that a meeting had to be held to address that issue. The problem dates back to at least 2014, the committee heard. Wong said three units oversee revenue from production sharing contracts.

Assistant Auditor General Gaitrie Maharaj flagged three concerns: 1) no evidence of work being done by the production sharing contract unit; 2) payments were not functioning as they should; and 3) vouchers were not accompanied by contracts, figures therefore could not be relied upon. Wong said the Ministry depended heavily on the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) but there was a backlog of at least a year. The lack of oversight worried the committee.
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Artificial intelligence can be a game-changer through an amazing, new application---gambling.

The AI company Unanimous harnessed a software platform called UNU last weekend to assess and predict Kentucky Derby finalists.

The experiment had 20 participants who used Unanimous to narrow the field of 20 horses. The software has predicted even Oscars and the Super Bowl winners, and now it predicted the winning order of the Kentucky Derby---Nyquist, Exaggerator, Gun Runner and Mohaymen. The prediction was 100 percent accurate.

Not only the winner but the exact order of the three horses behind it were predicted. The odds of guessing the Kentucky Derby Superfecta correctly are 540-1.

Still, the Superfecta was guessed correctly, winning UNU inventor Louis Rosenberg a $10,842 payout from a $20 bet and TechRepublic reporter Hope Reese $542.10 from $1.

"I placed my $1 bet on the race at the Derby on Saturday and made $542.10 - the odds of winning the superfecta [the top four finishers in order] were 540-1," he said.

The software uses a unique form of swarm intelligence that amplifies without replacing human intelligence. A group of people logged into a UNU online forum through their smartphone or computer.

They were given a question and a set of possible answers. Each participant was given a graphical magnet that could drag a puck across the screen to what they saw as the correct answer. As there is just one puck, it might fall on any one answer. Thus, the group needed to arrive at a collective answer that suited everyone. With just 60 seconds, the group could reach any verdict.

The application of swarm intelligence has been inspired by bees, which use their type of swarm intelligence to locate a new home. UNU's algorithm taps into the collective knowledge and intuition to arrive at a unified answer.

Rosenberg hopes to use UNU even for health care and politics. "Politicians have conflicting values but not conflicting knowledge," Rosenberg says. "Forcing polarized groups into a swarm allows them to find the answer that most people are satisfied with. Our vision is to enable the power of group intelligence for everybody."
A pregnant teen from Connecticut has just been tested for the dreaded mosquito-borne Zika virus often linked to a number of birth defects especially, microcephaly- a neurodegenerative condition among babies characterized by unusually small heads.

Seventeen-year-old Sara Mujica went to Honduras to visit her fiance' in March. She thought that her rashes, headaches, and neck aches were just reactions to fish she had consumed. Upon returning to the US, she went to Danbury Hospital to get Zika test. However, last week's laboratory test results revealed that she had been infected with Zika, a global epidemic that has affected much of Latin America and the Caribbean.

"I was in a state of shock honestly," Mujica said as quoted by CBS News. "I didn't really know what to say. I didn't know what to do. I just started getting teary eyed and almost crying. I was just trying to stay strong."

Her trip to Honduras also coincided with the surge of Zika outbreaks that swept much of Latin America in the past few months from Mexico to Paraguay. Documented Zika cases in the US were all traced back to Americans who recently traveled to Zika-affected countries. Some Latin American governments like Brazil have asked women to delay their pregnancy while the Zika outbreak shows no signs of abating.

Despite the likelihood of having a baby with severe birth defects, the Catholic devout Mujica said she will keep the baby.

"I'm going to stay positive and hope my baby comes out normal... I would never give up a Down syndrome child or a child with birth defects," Mujica added as quoted by Global News.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mujica is one of the 44 pregnant women across the US who have been identified as Zika positive. Overall, there are a total of 472 people in the US who are reportedly infected with the virus, ABC News reported.
Researchers studied the correlation between the rise of religion with "political complexities, population sizes and economic development." They probed into the question of whether the elite classes' uneasiness with exceeding population growth among lower classes led to the rise of religion.



Evolutionary psychologists who wrote "Increased Affluence Explains the Emergence of Ascetic Wisdoms and Moralizing Religions" about 2500 years ago said that the rich lived a slow pace of life. They also got limited children late in life. Their consumption of food was less, as they were not so aggressive about getting food. However, the lower classes "lived fast and died young."

To limit the growth of the non-elite, the rich began to promote the concept of moralizing gods, slow life strategies and championing the spiritual rather than the material world. It also advocated "selflessness and self-discipline" which translated into a check on sex and food.

The earlier religions before the class and wealth divide did not stress on morality and spiritual fulfillment, which are the backbone of major religions today. The higher classes promoted new religions supporting morality and punishment for people who stepped out of line.

Hence, the study indicates that with rising affluence, religion would die out.

"As more and more people become affluent and adopt a slow strategy, the requirement to morally condemn fast strategies decreases, and with it the advantage of holding religious beliefs that justify doing so," said Dr.Nicholas Baumard, one of the authors of the study.

"If this is true, and our environment continues to improve, then like the Greco-Roman religions before them, Christianity and other moralizing religions could eventually vanish. The same idea could also explain the gradual decline of moralizing religion in wealthier parts of the world such as Western Europe and the northern parts of North America."
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Washington:

The US has expressed concern over narrowing of legitimate political space in Maldives, saying too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars due to the governments intolerance for criticism.

There has been little progress since last year with respect to strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Maldives, Indian-American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While we acknowledge the extended medical leave granted to former president (Mohamed) Nasheed, we remain greatly concerned about the narrowing of legitimate political space: too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars because the governments intolerance for criticism or competition, Biswal said yesterday.

We are also concerned about the fertile ground for recruitment that violent extremists find in Maldives, where the youth population struggles with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities in higher education, she said.

Maldives is also one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the impacts of climate change, and is threatened by seaborne trafficking of drugs and weapons, Biswal said.

The State Department has request a budget of USD 3.3 million for Maldives in financial year 2017. This will allow the US to continue its engagement with Maldives to adapt to the impacts of climate change, counter violent extremism and increase maritime security, Biswal added.

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Washington:

The US is actively supporting the efforts of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to unite his country to face down the threat from IS, the White House has said insisting that it would not impose an American solution on the country.

The (US) President believes that, at this point in time, we should be actively supporting the efforts of Prime Minister Abadi to unite his country to face down the threat from IS, the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

The US and the world community, he argued, cannot afford to take the risk of allowing IS to fill a security vacuum. We know that that would have a direct and negative impact on the United States national security, he said.

I think it would explain why the President has ordered more than 12,000 airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq and in Syria. Its why the President has given his military orders to implement a strategy to build up the capacity of Iraqi security forces to degrade and ultimately destroy IS.

Its also why weve pursued the other elements of our strategy to shut down IS financing and stop the flow of foreign fighters, all in an effort to degrade and ultimately destroy IS, because we know that the consequences of allowing IS to establish a safe haven inside of Iraq would be dire, both for the United States and our partners and allies around the world, Earnest said.

Responding to a question, the White House Press Secretary said the it is for the Iraqi people who are going to have to address the challenges in their own country.

Weve tried the path of the United States trying to impose a solution on these countries that are facing so much turmoil and violence, and that didnt work out very well. It didnt work out very well for the United States; it didnt work out very well for the Iraqi people, either, he said.

So we need to pursue a strategy where we are empowering the Iraqi government, the Iraqi security forces, and the Iraqi people to confront successfully the problems that are plaguing their own nation, Earnest said.

Iraq, he said, will be most successful in the fight against IS if it can succeed in uniting that country to face down the security threat that IS poses.

We believe that Iraq is stronger when its united. So thats why the President essentially made a precondition of robust US military involvement in the counter-IS effort in Iraq that the Iraqi people elect and support a Prime Minister whos committed to reforming the government in pursuing the kind of inclusive governing agenda that would unite the country to face the threat, Earnest said.

Thats exactly what Prime Minister Abadi has done. Thats why the US government has been supportive of his efforts to do so. Thats why we continue to stand with the Iraqi people in this very difficult time, Earnest said.

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Kochi:

It was an emotional homecoming for 16 Indians rescued from strife-torn Libya as they reached here today. All of them are from Kerala and are among 29 Indians evacuated after they were stranded in Libya.

They left by flight from the Libyan city of Tripoli to Istanbul, from where they came to Dubai and then to Kochi, Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said.

Anxious relatives hugged their loved ones and many were in tears after the rescued nationals arrived at Nedumbassery airport here. Three Tamil Nadu residents, who were among the 29 persons rescued, would go directly to that state from Dubai, he told PTI.

The news that they had been rescued and would return home had been broken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday at an election rally in nearby Tripunithara.

I have some good news for you. Six families from Kerala and three Tamil Nadu residents, who were stranded in Libya, will return home safely tomorrow or day after. In total 29 persons have been rescued, he had told a BJP election meeting.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a PIL seeking a direction for doubling the number of judges as recommended by the Law Commission.

A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi issued notice to the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Finance on the plea filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay.

The PIL has also sought a direction to implement the resolution of the advisory council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.

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Dehradun:

Harish Rawat today held the first meeting of his cabinet after being reinstated as Uttarakhand Chief Minister and decided to quickly implement decisions taken by his government in the past and expedite execution of Government Orders (GOs) issued earlier. The cabinet meeting was held a day after Presidents Rule was revoked in Uttarakhand.



During the cabinet meeting at the secretariat this morning, it was decided to expedite implementation of the old decisions of the Cabinet and Gos, a brief communication from the information department said. The press briefing, which was to be held after the Cabinet meeting at 12:30, was cancelled.



Rawat had regretted the heavy loss suffered by Uttarakhand due to prolonged political uncertainty in the state yesterday and promised to work hard to make up for the loss.



Rawat was yesterday restored as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 46 days after he was ousted by the Centre in a political battle that ended in a setback to Narendra Modi government as the Supreme Court put its stamp of approval on the floor test in the Assembly.



Shortly after the courts directions, the Union Cabinet recommended to the President lifting of Presidents rule to enable restoration of the Rawat government.

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London:

Describing his job of formulating monetary policy in India as a joyful and easy task, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has said complexities arise when ensuring its political acceptance and one needs to be a little more clever for that.

You cant bulldoze your way in some of these situations and therefore you have to be a little more clever... You have to understand where altering a policy from Economics 101 will make very little difference, but be politically more acceptable, he said.

Addressing Cambridge University students last evening as part of his concluding presentation at the two-day Marshall Lecture series 2015-16, Rajan said policy formulation in an emerging market like India is a fairly basic economics task as such.

A lot of policy formulation is Economics 101. Just like in industrial countries, there is a lot of stuff, which does not require deep insights of economics. To my mind, deeper insights come when you are trying to make it politically feasible, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Economist said.

Asked how easy he found his job of economic policy formulation in India, he joked: Formulation is very easy. I think it is harder to implement the policy.

On a more serious note, he added: The joy of trying to formulate policy in a developing country is that there are many more places where good policy can have significant effects. In that sense, there are lots of low hanging fruits and often no real impediment to plucking them.

You have to be a little intelligent about what fruits are easy to pick and what are not so easy to pick. And if they are not so easy, what kind of strategies to pick.

The on-leave Professor of Finance at the University of Chicagos Booth School was addressing the topic of Banks, Central Banks, and Crises to conclude his two-day lecture series organised by the Faculty of Economics of Cambridge University.

In his first lecture titled Why Banks? on Tuesday, he had used what is described as matchstick theory to conclude that banks were peculiar yet enduring structures, which offered an efficient form of borrowing.

Picking up on the same theory, he went into greater theoretical depth about the workings of the banking system and the role that central banks play.

Addressing a largely student and academic audience, Rajan however started with a disclaimer saying none of what I say today is a policy statement. It is simply a way of thinking about the world.

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New Delhi :

According to a new study, employees who feel fairly treated at workplace are more likely to be healthy, have an active lifestyle and go the extra mile for their organisation. It highlights the correlation between employees treatment and their health. For this researchers at University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK studied whether perceptions of what they call 'procedural justice', such as the processes in place to decide on rewards, pay, promotion and assignments, are related to employees' health.

Findings showed a stark relation that when hen perceptions of fairness changed, the self-rated health of employees also changed. That means employees who were treated well, fairly reported better health than others.

We all know that our work conditions also impact us when it comes to overall mood and demeanour. There exists a correlation between employees health and how fairly were they treated at workplace.

The study focused on more than 5,800 people working in Sweden. In the study participants were asked to rate their general state of health on a scale from one to five, one being 'very good' and five being 'very poor'.

As health is the major factor when it comes to overall well-being hence these findings can help raise awareness among employers and authorities that fairness at work. These findings were published in Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.
New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday reached out to the Interpol to demand that red corner notice be issued against liquor baron Vijay Mallya. The ED had earlier sought to withdraw the exemption granted to the absconding former UB group chairman. Mallya is also sought after by several banks for defaulting around Rs 9,000 crore.



On Tuesday, acting on EDs plea, a Delhi court had issued a notice to Mallya and sought his response by May 20. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom had earlier informed India that Mallya cannot be deported, however, said they are keeping open the option of the liquor baron's extradition.



"The UK Government has informed that under the 1971 Immigration Act, the UK does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK if they have extant leave to remain as long as their passport was valid when leave to remain or enter the UK was conferred," a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup earlier this week said.



India had made a request for deportation of Mallya, whose Indian passport was revoked earlier.Last month, the ED had obtained a non-bailable warrant against Mallya from a Mumbai court in a money laundering case.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed pain over the demise of Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Rashtrapal whom he described as a trade unionist who remained sensitive to concerns and aspirations of the poor. 76-year-old Rashtrapal, a Congress member of the Upper House from Modis home state Gujarat, died here this morning after suffering a massive heart attack.



Pained by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Shri Praveen Rashtrapal. My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief, the Prime Minister said in a tweet. As a trade unionist & subsequently as a leader, Shri Rashtrapal remained sensitive to concerns & aspirations of the poor & marginalised, Modi added.



An AICC Secretary, who was also in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, Rashtrapal was associated with the trade union movement of Income Tax employees in particular and the Central Government employees. He was an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax before he took a plunge into politics.



He was a elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004). He was a member from the Upper House from April 2006 to April 2012 and was re-elected in April 2012.



Rashtrapal was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam in the previous Lok Sabha. Following his demise, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day today.

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Pune:

The Italian super-bike maker MV Agusta, known as the Ferrari of the bike world, today entered the country with three of its iconic models through a distribution tie-up with the city-based Kinetic Group.

Started originally in 1923 as Meccanica Verghera Agusta, an offshoot of Agusta Aviation Company, which is embroiled in a controversy for a bribery scandal related to the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal, the company has seen change of ownership over the years. In 1945, MV Agusta was founded as a motorcycle company by Vincenzo Agusta and Domenico Agusta.

At an entry price of Rs 16.78 lakh (for MV Agusta F3-800) and going up to Rs 50.10 lakh (for F4 RR 1000-cc), ex-showroom Pune, these bikes are probably the costliest racing bikes being sold in the country now.

Kinetic has set up a separate company, MV Agusta India, and a distribution brand called Motoroyale by Kinetic, to sell the bikes which will compete with Triumph, Ducati, Benelli and Kawasaki which are in the range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 34 lakh.

The Italian company does not consider Harley Davidson as its competition as these premium American bikes are not primarily cruising models and not for racing.

The Verese, Milan-based MV Agusta makes the worlds most premium high-performance superbikes, known for handcrafted designs and extremely powerful engines which are 3- and 4-cylinders, making them as good as a car engine.

The first range of the superbikes which will be sold in the country comprises the F4 (1,000-cc), F3 (800-cc) and Brutale 1090 (cc), MV Agusta India managing director Ajinkya Firodia said, adding the F3 will be assembled at the Kinetic plant at Ahmednagar as SKD units.

He said India is the second market for the famed Italian company where it is assembling its models after Brazil. We hope to sell at least 300 units by December and corner at least 5 per cent of the 7,000-units a year superbikes market in the country. We have already sold 8 units (four F3s and 2 each of F4s and Brutales). Our target is to corner 10 per cent of the market over the next three years when the market is expected to hit 20,000 units per annum, Firodia told PTI.

Judah Immanuel Sangaran, head of MV Agusta Motor SpA Far East, said the first Motoroyale showroom will be opened tomorrow in Pune and five more will come up over the next two months in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai.

This is the perfect time for us to enter India, as we are witnessing a surge in demand for premium motorcycles. We offer the best-in-class superbikes that boast iconic designs by the renowned Massimo Tamburini as well as superior cutting-edge technology, Sangaran said.
New Delhi:

A 19-year-old girl committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in south Delhis Vasant Kunj area allegedly after being harassed by a stalker, a local youth. The girl lived in Kishangarh locality with her family. The incident took place on Tuesday. No suicide note was recovered from the girls house, police said.



The girls sister told police during investigation that a local youth named Neeraj was stalking and harassing her from the past few days. The 21-year-old had a verbal brawl with the girl after which he assaulted her and even broke her phone. The victim worked as a beautician along with her sister at a beauty parlour.

Before committing suicide, the deceased had told her sister that the boy insulted and humiliated her in public. He mother and another sister work as security guards at a mall and her father is a driver. Police said that the accused and the victim knew each other and even used to visit each others homes from last one and half years.

The call data records revealed that they were in regular touch on phone. Neeraj, who works with a private company, has been arrested by the police under IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 323 (causing hurt) and 354D (stalking).

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Muzaffarnagar:

Use of mobile phones in the district jail here has come to light after a selfie of five inmates went viral on the social media with prison authorities ordering an inquiry. A selfie of the five undertrial inmates, who were arrested in murder cases, has been uploaded on Facebook by them, Jail Superintendent Rakesh Singh said.



The selfie has gone viral on the social media, he said. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Singh said.



22 mobile phones and 30 SIM cards were seized from the possession of prisoners by authorities on March 13, after complaints about extortion calls being made by inmates.

For all the Latest Viral News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

A man, who was injured in the 2002 hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan, today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bollywood stars acquittal by the Bombay High Court. The special leave petition (SLP) sought setting aside of the high court judgement and a direction to the 50-year-old actor and Maharashtra government to pay compensation for survival of petitioner Muslim Niyamat Shaikh and his family.



The main petition filed by the Maharashtra government challenging his acquittal is listed for hearing tomorrow before the apex court. The petition filed by the injured man alleged that the high court has wrongly acquitted Salman by ignoring the material points with regard to the statement of the petitioner before the police and the trial court which had sentenced him to five years rigorous imprisonment.



The judgement of the high court also suffers from other infirmities and errors and the respondent (actor) needs to be punished for offence of culpable homicide under section 304 Part-II of the IPC, it said.



The petition said the high court was not justified in not attributing knowledge on the part of Salman in driving the vehicle at a fast speed and under the influence of liquor and treating it as a pure and simple accident and not considering it a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 Part-II of the IPC. The Maharashtra government has already challenged Salmans acquittal and sought restoration of trial courts decision.



It has said that among the errors committed by the high court was non-consideration of evidence of complainant Ravindra Patil, former police bodyguard of Salman, in its proper perspective. The family members of a man who was killed in the incident has also challenging the actors acquittal by the high court.



The high court, in its verdict passed on December 10 last year, had held that prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the actor was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident and was drunk.



The high court judgment had come on an appeal by Salman, seven months after he was pronounced guilty by trial court of running over five people sleeping on a pavement outside a laundry in suburban Bandra with his Toyota Land Cruiser, killing one and injuring four others on October 28, 2002.



On May 6 last year, a sessions court had convicted Salman in the case in which one person was killed and four others injured after his vehicle crushed them when they were asleep on a pavement.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today made a fresh offer to send 10 lakh litres of water from the national capital to drought-hit Latur in Maharashtras parched Marathwada.



The drought situation in Maharashtra is heart-rending. In a situation like this, it is incumbent upon all countrymen to assist the affected. If the Delhi government can assist you in any other way, then please let us know, Kejriwal said in a letter to the mayor of Latur.



Kejriwal also shared a copy of another letter, dated April 16, the Latur mayor had written to him thanking him for his offer to send water last month.



Kejriwal also tweeted, It is collective duty of every Indian to help if a part of our country in distress.



Last month also the Delhi Chief Minister had made a similar offer.



He had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to resolve the water crisis and sought his help in sending water to the affected areas.



In a letter to Modi, Kejriwal had said the people of Delhi are ready to send 10 lakh litres of water per day to Latur for next two months and demanded the Centre make arrangements for transportation.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Delhi Police today arrested Amit Jani, chief of Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena who threatened to kill JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, from south Delhis Greater Kailash area.



A Special Cell team arrested Jani under Section 41(1) of CrPC and will hand him over to the New Delhi district police, a senior official said.



Jani had earlier claimed on social media that he would surrender but apparently kept changing his mind.



On April 15, a loaded gun and a letter purportedly signed by Jani, threatening to behead Kanhaiya and Khalid, were found in a bus plying between Kashmere Gate and Vasant Vihar via JNU campus.



The driver of the bus took the vehicle to Tilak Marg Police Station and reported the matter, following which a case was registered.



Two days later, police arrested Janis brother Saurabh and his friend Sulabh here in connection with the incident. Later, another man was arrested but Jani had remained at large.



The police had unsuccessfully raided his office in Lajpat Nagar area and several possible hideouts in Delhi-NCR.



Jani had earlier threatened Kanhaiya over a Facebook post claiming that his men, at least 10 of whom are armed, are present inside JNU campus and can attack him anytime.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bhopal:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today took a dip in the Kshipra river with members of tribal communities at the ongoing Simhastha Kumbh, a massive congregation of Hindus, at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.



Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad (VKP), the RSS-affiliated organisation which works among the tribals, denied that it had arranged the event, which followed BJP chief Amit Shah taking the holy dip with some Dalit saints yesterday.



Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad didnt organise any function for Bhagwat ji to take the holy dip with forest dwellers. The tribals, too, go and take dip in Kshipra freely and if some of them have taken bath with Bhagwat ji, nothing more should be read into it, VKP leader Yogiraj Parte said.



The RSS chief later also addressed a Janjati Sammelan, a gathering of members of tribal communities from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other places, organised by the VKP in Ujjain.



Hindu culture has its genesis in the tribal society, Bhagwat said. The tribals have protected the forest since ages due to the sense of belonging. They have given rich forest produce to the countrymen, he said.



The sense of belonging and sharing are the tenets of the Hindu religion, he said, adding, time has come that the tribal representatives stood up for them and demand their rights.



God helps those who help themselves, Bhagwat said, citing the quote in English.



Pravin Dolke, state organising secretary of VKP, said Bhagwat did not take lunch with representatives of the tribal communities as was expected, because he reached the venue late.



Yesterday BJP president Amit Shah participated in samrasata snaan (bath for social harmony) and samrasta bhoj (social harmony feast) with Dalit saints at the Kumbh Mela.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Germany to legalize medical marijuana in 2017

Marijuana laws for both medical and recreational use are loosening across the globe. Among the countries at the forefront of laxer marijuana laws, Germany announced it would legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2017.

What makes Germanys new marijuana law unique is that it would require health insurance to cover the costs of medical marijuana in the absence of therapeutic alternatives. As a result, almost anyone in the country would be able to afford medical marijuana treatment, which is already significantly cheaper in comparison to other treatment options.

Our goal is that seriously ill people are looked after to the best of our ability, Federal Health Minister Hermann Grohe said. We want that for the seriously ill patients the cost of cannabis as a medicine will be taken by their health insurance, if they cannot be helped otherwise, he added.

German weed

Previously, patients seeking medical marijuana had to be granted special permission and were required to pay out of pocket. The German government reports approximately 647 people were granted permission for medical marijuana since April.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana. It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which can help numb pain and boost appetite. Because of this, marijuana has been approved for medicinal purposes in several countries like Australia. In the United States, approximately 24 states and DC have legalized marijuana for therapeutic use; however, the drug remains illegal at a federal level, reports IFLScience.com.

In addition to making medical cannabis legal, the law would allow the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices to cultivate the plant. More research on the impact medical marijuana has on patients will be carried out in wake of the law passing as well.

Nevertheless, requiring health insurance to cover medical marijuana is not without its downsides. Health insurance might make the restrictions attached to medical marijuana tighter than in other countries like the United States and Canada. The country is trying to make sure the program is not abused and reserved strictly for sick patients who need it.

The use of cannabis as a medicine within narrow limits is useful and should be explored in more detail, said Marlene Mortler, the countrys federal drug commissioner. At the same time, cannabis is not a harmless substance, a legalization for private pleasure is not the aim and purpose of this. It is intended for medical use only, she added.

The need for weed

If everything goes well with Parliament, the law will be passed and put into practice at the beginning of 2017. Patients will likely start asking their doctors about this ahead of time since it appears the bill will almost certainly pass. A plan is in place to make sure medical marijuana is available for patients who need it before processing facilities for the drug are approved for cultivation.

Until the government-controlled cultivation in Germany is established, which presupposes cannabis agency, the medical cannabis supply will be covered by import, explained Grohe.

On the whole, the bill appears to be a good step forward, despite the fact that restrictions centered around medical marijuana might be tightened. Nevertheless, the program is sure to provide relief to thousands of patients who desperately need it and is a reflection of a global shift in attitude towards this once stigmatized plant.

Sources include:

IFLScience

MarijuanaTimes

CNN

ATT

DW

News.Mic

Science.NaturalNews.com

Submit a correction >>
/ Carol Kaliff

NEWTOWN - A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing money from a charity he created to benefit the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, a news source said.

Robert Bruce of Nashville apologized in federal court in Hartford and admitted he used about $28,000 in donations to his 26.4.26 foundation for personal expenses, according to The Associated Press.
Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media

A walk along Route 37 near Margerie Reservoir, which straddles New Fairfield and Danbury, will be held on Sunday to show the benefits of having a multi-use path there.

Walkers will assemble at 11 a.m. at Goodie Shop, 1 Brush Hill Rd # 7 in New Fairfield.
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Republican U.S. Senate hopeful August Wolf is refusing to accept the results of what he claims was a rigged process by career politicians and insiders at the state partys nominating convention.

The aggrieved candidate embarked Wednesday on a petition drive to try to force an August primary against state Rep. Dan Carter, R-Bethel, who won 86 percent of the delegates at the partys conclave Monday in Hartford.

The 1984 Olympian and money manager from Stamford must collect signatures from 8,079 registered Republicans (2 percent of party members) by June 7 to get onto the ballot, a feat that some say wont be easy.

They should have had the convention in a train station because the whole process was just a big railroading, Wolf told Hearst Connecticut Media. We are going to take it to them like theyve never felt it before in this Senate primary.

State Republican Chairman J.R. Romano did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The establishment wing of the GOP is seeking to avoid an primary, which would allow Carter to focus on the yeomans task of challenging U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in the November election.

The way you get better in things is by competing, not by hiding in a room and saving your pennies and then getting bulldozed, which is going to happen to Dan Carter, Wolf said. Dan Carter cannot win this race. Hes a puppet.

A daunting challenge

Carter, a U.S. Air Force veteran and three-term legislator, is already pivoting toward the general election.

I am competing against Dick Blumenthal and Dick Blumenthal is the common enemy of Connecticut right now, Carter said Wednesday. The outcome of this convention was because Im a strong candidate and Im focused on Dick Blumenthal. (Wolf) can do what he needs to do.

In a previous interview with Hearst, Carter frowned upon the prospect of a primary challenge by Wolf.

To do it this way, I think, would be a misstep on his part, said Carter, who questioned whether Wolf could qualify for the primary as a petitioner. Number one, you need a network of support in the state to get the signatures. I dont believe he has that network, which I believe was his problem. Then if he did, it would be terribly difficult to raise money.

In 2014, running mates Mark Boughton and Mark Lauretti, the mayors of Danbury and Shelton, failed to collect signatures to qualify for the GOP primary for governor and lieutenant governor.

Boughton was forced to join forces with Lauretti after Boughtons original running mate, Heather Somers, snubbed him to run for lieutenant governor on her own. That left Boughton scrambling to try to find a replacement who could help him qualify for taxpayer funding under the states Citizens Election Program.

By pooling his money with Lauretti, who suspended his candidacy for governor, Boughton would have gotten $1.4 million in public funds for the primary. But it was not to be for Boughton, who bowed out of the race.

Wolf needed to get 15 percent of the vote at the state GOP convention to automatically qualify for a primary. But the political newcomer dipped below the threshold once switches were allowed and after former fashion executive Jack Orchullli of Darien dropped out of the race and urged his supporters to back Carter.

Charge of backroom dealing

Sounding much like Donald Trump earlier in the GOP presidential race, Wolf said establishment figures conspired to shove him out of the race. Among those who he singled out was state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, who gave a nominating speech for Carter.

In this case, Themis Klarides and her cronies have decided that Dan Carter is the person for the election, Wolf said. Its not their right to do that in our democracy.

Klarides pushed back Wednesday.

I think that Mr. Wolf needs a lesson on democracy, Klarides told Hearst. Its a little arrogant to assume that everybody is so consumed with the percentages that Augie Wolf had, that they went in a back room and tried to figure out how to get him out of there. Just because democracy doesnt work in your favor, you cant take your toys and go home and blame other people.

Klarides also questioned Wolfs qualifications.

I didnt think for U.S. senator a skill set was being a shot putter, Klarides said.

Wolf, who has loaned his campaign $100,000, denied that finances factored in his decision to forge ahead. Wolfs campaign has raised $540,220 and spent $456,189. Wolf said he has volunteers ready to help him with his petition drive.

They feel like I was totally victimized in the process two nights ago, Wolf said.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
Q: Besides having employees use passwords, what are other ways to keep your company safe?

A: A great question about digital security for entrepreneurs is: Where do I start? For most early stage or startup companies, its everything you can do just to have your vision play out with minimal distractions. That said, the last thing you want is to have your business sullied by being a victim of an attack.

Over the past year weve seen a dramatic increase in ransomware, a type of malware that freezes certain files on computers and smartphones then requires a ransom to unlock the files, targeting small companies. Being a victim of ransomware can have a crippling effect on your business and your fledging reputation.

Related: 6 Reasons Smart Small Business Owners Invest In Security

Beyond requiring complex passwords and that they be changed, at a minimum, once every quarter, the top four digital security measures that should be part of your company include the following:

1. Install anti-virus on every PC and smartphone and keep it current.

This may seem obvious, but Im surprised at how often I hear about companies that do not have active anti-virus software installed. Most anti-virus software includes a firewall capability which should be turned on as well. Having both active is the first line of defense against bad actors targeting your business.

2. Teach employees how to determine if an email is part of a phishing or spear phishing campaign.

Phishing or spear phishing is when scammers use email to elicit sensitive information to be used for malicious activities. This year we have seen several instances in which employees received an email from scammer posing as their CEO requesting the employees user name and password. It was surprising how many employees sent that information. Last year at Intel we launched a phishing quiz. More than 40,000 people took the quiz and 97 percent got at least one wrong.

Related: Here's How to Build a Strong Security Team to Keep Your Company Safe and Sound

In the most recent Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, phishing was a top attack vector. Find tips here on how to determine if an email is part of a phishing attack.

3. Have all employees install and use a web reputation tool when browsing.

Implanting malicious software into a website to infect devices that visit the website is a popular technique used by cybercriminals. We refer to this type of attack as a drive-by download. There are several free tools available to everyone that will alert them if they are about to go to a website that is known to contain malicious code.

4. Implement a comprehensive backup program.

This, much like installing AV on every device, should be apparent, but again Im surprised by how often companies lose everything when they are the victim of a cyberattack because they dont have its critical data backed up. You have two choices here. You can use a cloud-based storage option or you can use on premise storage. My preference is to use a physical hard drive that I keep under lock and key when not actively backing up my systems. I also back up everything at least weekly. There are several options for both cloud and on premise backup systems that have very flexible scheduling capabilities. Choose which works best for your business and be disciplined about ensuring everyone adheres to your backup policy.

I envision a day when being able to demonstrate your security posture will be table stakes for businesses or consumers who choose to use your product or service. You will be much further ahead by taking these simple steps today than have your security posture evolve as your business grows.

Related: 12 Tips to Protect Your Company Website From Hackers

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Greenwich has been hedge clipped: courtesy of Edward Lampert.

ESL Investments, the $9 billion private investment fund run by Lampert, the majority stockholder of Sears who Businessweek magazine once profiled as the next Warren Buffett and who became a poster boy for having body guards after a brazen kidnapping, is leaving town.

"ESL Investments notified its partners in April that it was relocating to Miami, Florida, effective June 1, 2012," Steven Lipin, a New York City-based spokesman for the hedge fund, wrote in an email Tuesday night to Greenwich Time.

Lipin declined to comment further, including to say what precipitated the firm's exodus from Connecticut or how many people ESL Investments employed at its 200 Greenwich Ave. headquarters.

The Commercial Recording Division of the Secretary of the State's office shows filings for ESL Investments going back to 1993.

State Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-36th District, a venture capitalist who knows Lampert, characterized the firm's departure as a blow for a town often referred to as the hedge fund capital.

"It's a terrible loss to the state of Connecticut and, in particular, to the town of Greenwich that ESL has decided to move to an out-of-state location," Frantz said. "We as a state have to do everything we can to remain competitive and attractive to businesses of all sorts. ESL's departure not only represents the loss of wonderful people and philanthropy, but also a large amount of state tax revenue."

Andrew Doba, a spokesman for Gov. Dannel Malloy, defended the business climate of the state under the first-term Democrat.

"Any time we hear of company leaving Connecticut, it's certainly not welcome news," Doba said.

"But the facts are that our unemployment rate is at 7.7 percent, nearly half a percentage point below the national average. We've created more than 16,000 private-sector jobs. And we're working every day to send the message that Connecticut's open for business."

Messages seeking comment from the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association were left with its president Tuesday night.

The trade organization represents 50 hedge funds in Connecticut, which is said have the third-highest concentration of hedge funds after New York and London.

Hedge funds, which invest in stocks, commodity futures, options and emerging market debt, are sophisticated investment pools that cater to high-net-worth individuals.

First Selectman Peter Tesei said he wouldn't want to speculate on Lampert's reasons for folding up his tent, but that the pull-out is troubling nonetheless.

"Certainly, the town wants to retain businesses," Tesei said. "We're not in a position to control the tax climate. That's set in Hartford. We can only encourage Hartford to be more sensitive to the business climate recognizing they're the No. 1 job creators."

Lampert, 49, the force behind the Sears and Kmart merger, is currently the 367th richest person in the world, with a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to Forbes.com.

In 2003, Lampert was abducted at gunpoint from the parking garage of his Greenwich office and taken to a Days Inn in Hamden. He was released unharmed two days later after promising to pay $40,000 to his captors, who were apprehended by cops after they used Lampert's credit card to order pizza delivery.

And thus, the legend of Lampert's security detail was born.

When his hedge fund moved into 200 Greenwich Ave., the only identifier was a name plate on a mail box with the name ESL Investments. An elevator would take Lampert down to a waiting black SUV in the underground garage, usually driven by an armed ex-cop turned body guard.

Lampert lives on a $25 million compound in Field Point Circle, a gated enclave that juts out into Long Island Sound with its own guard house, the same neighborhood that was once home to the late pianist and funnyman Victor Borge. The annual property taxes are $92,000, assessment records show.

Back in March, Lampert anted up $40 million for a 17,000-square-foot mansion on a private island on Biscayne Bay near Miami, according to multiple published reports.

Lampert's decision to flee Connecticut for Florida plays right into the hands of Malloy's GOP critics in Greenwich, who say that the hedge fund manager is privately bemoaning the state's tax climate but doesn't want to whine publicly because he still owns a house here.

Florida has no individual income tax, while Connecticut's top marginal rate is 6.7 percent. For corporate taxes, Florida charges a rate of 5.5 percent on all income compared to 9 percent in Connecticut, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation.

"This is a high-visibility casualty of Dan Malloy's tax policies, and his cost the state at least tens of millions of dollars," said Edward Dadakis, a Republican State Central Committee representative for Greenwich and former town GOP chairman.

"We are not going to tax our way to prosperity. Dan has got to figure that out sooner rather than later."

On the same day that the hedge fund confirmed its departure, Malloy's office announced the recruitment of Tronox Inc., a global mineral company, to the governor's home city of Stamford.

The company will create up to 100 jobs within three years as part of its $10 million capital investment in Connecticut, according to the state, which provided a $3 million loan to assist with the move.

Malloy's office also touted the results of a new report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis finding that Connecticut has the ninth fastest economic growth rate in the country and the second fastest on the East Coast, ahead of New York and New Jersey.

"All indications are the economy in our state is improving," Doba said.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
NEW MILFORD  The senior center was envisioned as a place for local seniors to gather for programs, services and fellowship.

But the centers activities have outgrown the current space in the Richmond Citizen Center at 40 Main Street, forcing the staff to cap many events at 60 seniors or to move events off-site. On Wednesday, a group of seniors gathered about a mile away in Trinity Lutheran Church to have a meal together.
TORONTO, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Alterna Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alterna Savings, has pledged to make a $10,000 donation to the Red Cross to help support emergency efforts concerning the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

"Our thoughts are with the thousands upon thousands of residents that have been affected by this fire," said Rob Paterson, CEO of Alterna Bank. "We hope that our contribution will provide access to shelter and food, and will allow for residents to be reunited with their families. We also feel that it is important to recognize the tremendous work and contributions being carried out by our fellow Canadians to help wherever possible."

Additionally, Alterna Bank has set up a fundraising page through the Red Cross to encourage staff members, clients, and members of the community, to help support the recovery of Fort McMurray. One hundred percent of the proceeds collected through the Alterna Bank fundraising page are allocated directly to the Red Cross to help provide basic necessities including food, shelter and clothing to residents who have been displaced by the fire.

About Alterna Bank

As one of the most innovative banks in Canada, Alterna Bank is bold in its approach to helping Canadians, manage, grow and save their money. Alterna Bank offers a full suite of lending and savings solutions in branch, as well as exclusive products and services through an easy-to-use digital banking platform. Alterna Bank clients also have access to the 2nd largest surcharge-free ATM network in Canada with THE EXCHANGE Network. Alterna Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alterna Savings, which is the first member-owned co-operative financial institution outside Quebec, and has been operating for over 100 years. For more information about Alterna Bank and its products please visit alternabank.ca.

SOURCE Alterna Financial Group

For further information: For media inquiries: Stephanie Cangelosi, Specialist, Corporate Communications, Alterna Savings, T. 416.213.7900 ext. 7606, M. 416-627-7164
Could gain almost $150M more in health care funding with a demographic top-up to the Canada Health Transfer

FREDERICTON, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Dr. Chris Simpson, past president of the Canadian Medical Association, urged Atlantic Canada's premiers today to push for a CMA-recommended demographic top-up to the health transfer to support providing the right care for their aging populations.

In the case of Atlantic Canada, a demographic top-up would yield an additional $149.5 million in 2017-18 for the delivery of care, Dr. Simpson said in a speech to the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.

As an equal per capita funding model, the Canada Health Transfer does not account for segments of the population with increased health care needs, such as seniors. Today while seniors account for about one-sixth of the population, they consume about half of provincial and territorial health budgets. This is exacerbated for jurisdictions with older populations; for Atlantic provinces, seniors represent 18.8 per cent of the population, well over the national average (16.1 per cent).

The CMA is not recommending that the government modify the current funding formula. Rather, the CMA recommends that the federal government deliver additional funding on an annual basis beginning in 2017-18 by means of a demographic top-up to the Canada Health Transfer. Under the CMA's proposal, New Brunswick would gain $50.7 million; Nova Scotia, $58.6 million, while Newfoundland and Labrador would add $30.5 million and PEI, $9.7 million.

"Without a demographic top-up, provinces with older populations will be challenged to meet the increased need for health care. This is not fair," Dr. Simpson said.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, the CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing more than 83,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 60 national medical organizations. CMA's mission is helping physicians care for patients. The CMA will be the leader in engaging and serving physicians and be the national voice for the highest standards for health and health care.

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association

For further information: [email protected], Tel: 613-806-1865
Business Development Bank of Canada announces payment relief for clients

CALGARY, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is announcing support for its clients in Alberta whose businesses have been impacted by the wildfires in Fort McMurray. The relief program will include capital and interest payment postponements for existing clients in the affected area.

"BDC has been reaching out to clients affected by the disaster to ensure they are safe and offer whatever support may be needed. We already know some clients have experienced a total loss, while others face serious challenges," says BDC President and CEO Michael Denham, who is in Calgary and Red Deer to meet local entrepreneurs, business leaders and representatives of Alberta's Chambers of Commerce.

"We recognize that our clients will need greater financial flexibility in the days and months ahead. If there is any way we can provide further assistance to help their business through this difficult period, we encourage them to contact us," Denham added.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires. We are heartened by the responses of Albertans and Canadians to the citizens of Fort McMurray in these difficult times. Innovation, Science and Economic Development will continue to play a leading role in helping ensure that critical emergency telecommunications are maintained, as well as supporting Albertan entrepreneurs." says the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Support measures include an immediate 3-month postponement of principal and interest for clients located in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region. BDC also stands ready to support other entrepreneurs affected with our existing lending and advisory services.

The relief assistance builds on a $500-million program announced last November to help entrepreneurs dealing with the impact of low oil prices. Of this amount, $200 million has already been provided to small and medium-sized businesses.

BDC has also donated $25,000 to the Red Cross in support of the emergency efforts.

Clients can contact BDC's call centre for more details at 18772322269 or visit www.bdc.ca.

About BDC

BDC is the only bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs. With more than 100 business centres and over 32,000 clients across Canada, it offers loans, investments and advisory services. BDC's purpose is to support Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. To learn more, visit www.bdc.ca.

SOURCE Business Development Bank of Canada

For further information: Maria Constantinescu, BDC, [email protected], 1-844-625-8321
EDMONTON, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Thanks to the generous outpouring of support from Canadians, Canadian Red Cross will provide immediate financial assistance totalling $50 million to more than 80,000 people displaced by the Alberta wildfires. Adult evacuees registered with Red Cross will receive $600 each and children will receive $300, so families and individuals can buy what they urgently need during this difficult time.

"People affected by these fires left their homes with almost nothing. We have listened to their needs and developed our plan for immediate assistance based on what we heard," said Conrad Sauve, president and CEO of Canadian Red Cross. "This financial assistance allows evacuees to purchase what they require most after this disaster."

The distribution of emergency financial assistance from Red Cross begins today and will be provided to evacuees in a number of different ways  including electronic banking transfers through email, money orders, cash cards, or vouchers  depending on people's current location in Canada and the quickest, most secure way to receive these funds.

The Red Cross is aiming to reach all evacuees to confirm their information within the next few days. To expedite this process, all evacuees who have now registered with the Red Cross are being asked to wait until they are contacted to confirm their information. Once confirmed, more information will be provided based on people's location and personal circumstances.

Those who do not receive an online payment because they do not have a bank account or email address, can rest assured that Red Cross is working hard to contact them, using the contact information provided upon registration. Evacuees who have not yet registered with Red Cross are still eligible for assistance now and in the future upon registration.

The electronic cash transfers were made possible by the generosity of Canadians who have donated more than $67 million so far, to the Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal.

Sauve noted that Red Cross help will continue. As people return home, Red Cross will work at the local level to help people and their communities rebuild and recover for as long as it takes over the years ahead.

Details regarding Red Cross recovery assistance will be announced in the coming weeks, as the emergency stabilizes and recovery efforts begin.

SOURCE Canadian Red Cross

For further information: Canadian Red Cross media line: 1-877-599-9602; Alberta media can call: 1-403-541-4431; Quebec media can call: 1-888-418-9111
OAKVILLE, ON, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The Purina Walk for Dog Guides wants to make more life-changing matches possible for Canadians with disabilities, and on May 29th, more than 200 walks are taking place across the country to do just that.

"Kiwi is an extension of my arms and legs," says Tammy Walsh who was matched with Kiwi, a standard poodle specially trained to open and close doors and cupboards, pick up dropped items, retrieve objects out of reach, and even help with the laundry. "She really is a canine personal support worker," says the Brampton, Ont., resident who uses a wheelchair.

Like all Dog Guides, Kiwi was provided to Walsh at no cost by Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, despite a price of $25,000 the charity incurs to breed, train, and match each service dog. The Purina Walk for Dog Guides is the organization's largest fundraiser, and thanks to title sponsor Nestle Purina PetCare, 100 per cent of funds raised go directly toward the foundation's six specialized programs. The annual event has gained momentum over 30 years, last year raising more than $1,195,000 nationally.

For media:

For more information or to arrange an interview or demonstration with a head trainer, please contact Jenny Gladish , Communications Manager, at 905-842-2891 ext. 298 or [email protected]

, Communications Manager, at 905-842-2891 ext. 298 or An interview and photo op with a local recipient of a Dog Guide can be arranged, where possible.

About Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides:

Lions Foundation of Canada is a national charity with a mission to assist Canadians with medical and physical disabilities by providing them Dog Guides at no cost. Its founding program, Canine Vision Canada, was established in 1985 to assist Canadians with visual impairments, and since then, the Foundation has added Dog Guide programs including Hearing Ear, Service, Seizure Response, Autism Assistance, and Diabetic Alert. To date, more than 2,300 Dog Guides have been placed with people across Canada. The cost of raising, training and matching a Dog Guide with a qualifying Canadian is $25,000, but none of that cost is passed on to the applicant. The organization receives no government funding.

To donate or participate, visit Purina Walk for Dog Guides: www.purinawalkfordogguides.com

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides: www.dogguides.com

SOURCE Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides

Video with caption: "Video: Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides breeds, trains, and matches service and guide dogs with Canadians who have physical and medical disabilities. The Purina Walk for Dog Guides is its largest fundraiser.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20160512_C6938_VIDEO_EN_688438.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20160512_C6938_PHOTO_EN_688438.jpg&order=1&jdd=20160512&cnum=C6938

For further information: Media Contact: Jenny Gladish, Communications Manager, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, 905-842-2891 x298 | 1-800-768-3030 x298, [email protected]
Call 1-800-607-2424 for 24-hour emergency claims support

CALGARY, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Economical Insurance is operating a third claims reporting centre in the Taylor Family Digital Library at the University of Calgary, providing on-the-ground claims support and emergency funds to customers affected by the wildfire in Northern Alberta. The company's catastrophe response team is also operating in the Bold Center in Lac La Biche and in the Northlands Evacuation Centre in Edmonton.

"In the five days that we've been on the ground in Northern Alberta, we have delivered $1 million in emergency funding to our customers," said Rocco Neglia, Vice-President, Claims for Economical Insurance. "This is proof positive that we are delivering on our promise to be there when our customers need us most."

Calgary Evacuation Centre  University of Calgary

Taylor Family Digital Library

410 University Ct NW, Calgary, AB

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT, 7 days a week

Lac La Biche Evacuation Centre  Bold Center

Second floor

8701 91 Ave, Lac La Biche, AB

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT, 7 days a week

Northlands Evacuation Centre  Edmonton EXPO Centre

Hall G  East Entrance

7515 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT, 7 days a week

Reporting a Claim

Policyholders and brokers can report claims to 1-800-607-2424 or fax to 1-877-681-2048. When reporting a claim, please provide the policyholder's temporary location and current phone number to help ensure a timely response.

About Economical Insurance

Founded in 1871, Economical Insurance is one of Canada's leading property and casualty insurers, with $2.0 billion in premiums during 2015 and $5.3 billion in assets as at December 31, 2015. Based in Waterloo, this Canadian-owned and operated company services the insurance needs of more than one million customers across the country. Economical Insurance conducts business under the following brands: Economical Insurance, Economical, Western General, Economical Select, Perth Insurance, Family Insurance Solutions, and Economical Financial.

SOURCE Economical Insurance

Image with caption: "Economical Insurance (CNW Group/Economical Insurance)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160511_C4395_PHOTO_EN_688413.jpg

For further information: Doug Maybee, Economical Insurance, (T) 519.570.8249, (C) 519.404.0989, [email protected]
TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - In response to the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the Green Shield Canada (GSC) Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross relief efforts. The company is also matching donations that GSC staff members make to the Red Cross. In addition, GSC, one of Canada's largest administrators of drug benefits, is making sure that impacted plan members get the medications they need by allowing Alberta pharmacies to refill prescriptions sooner than usual as many people have lost their medications or cannot access them due to the fires and evacuations.

GSC's funding will help the Red Cross get vital support and supplies including food, shelter and water to those affected by the wildfires. "Like all Canadians, our hearts go out to the residents of Fort McMurray and we want to do our part to help," said Steve Bradie, president and CEO of GSC. "Our mission and values are deeply rooted in social responsibility and charitable giving. We are committed to these core beliefs and this donation reinforces our ongoing commitment to those most in need."

GSC is also encouraging others to follow their lead in supporting the relief efforts. Steve Bradie explains, "The GSC Employee Matching Program means that GSC will match donations made by staff members to the Red Cross. With the federal and Alberta governments already matching Red Cross donations, this means that GSC staff donations will have four times the impact." In addition to staff donations, GSC hopes that others outside of GSC recognize the tremendous need and follow suit by making donations to the Red Cross or setting up matching programs.

About Green Shield Canada and the Foundation

As Canada's only national not-for-profit health and dental benefits specialist, GSC's reason for being is the enhancement of the common good. GSC seeks out innovative ways to improve access to better health for Canadians. The GSC Foundation was created in 1992 to support innovative ideas that build community capacity, strengthen public policy and advance knowledge in the health care field.

SOURCE Green Shield Canada

Image with caption: "Green Shield Canada (CNW Group/Green Shield Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160512_C4415_PHOTO_EN_689021.jpg

Image with caption: "Green Shield Canada Foundation (CNW Group/Green Shield Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160512_C4415_PHOTO_EN_689025.jpg

For further information: David Willows, Vice President, Strategic Market Solutions, 416.221.7001 ext. 4100, [email protected]
IMBRUVICA is an oral, once-daily, single-agent therapy associated with a durable response in patients with this rare B-cell lymphoma

TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Janssen Inc. announced today that Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) for IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib), an oral, once-daily, single-agent therapy for the treatment of patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM).1 Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a rare, incurable type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that begins in the body's immune system.2,3

IMBRUVICA was first approved in Canada in November 2014 for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including those with 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy, or for the frontline treatment of patients with CLL with 17p deletion. In July 2015, IMBRUVICA was approved with conditions for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

"Before now, treatment options for my patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia have been limited," said Dr. David Macdonald, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University, Hematologist, Capital Health. "The approval of IMBRUVICA is a major advancement as this agent offers a targeted, chemotherapy-free treatment option for patients with WM, as it has done for those with other B-cell malignancies. It has shown clinically meaningful outcomes for these patients, as demonstrated by a high overall response rate."

This approval for WM is based on an investigator-led, multicenter, prospective, single-arm study in 63 patients who had received at least one prior therapy. The results of the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015 by Treon SP, et al.4

The median age of patients was 63 (range of 44-86 years old) and the median number of prior therapies was two (range of 1-11).5 Patients received IMBRUVICA 420 mg once daily. After a median duration of follow-up of 14.8 months, IMBRUVICA was associated with a 87.3 per cent overall response rate (ORR; the primary endpoint), and a 69.8 per cent major response rate as assessed by investigators using criteria adopted from the Third International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia.6 The median time for patients to achieve at least a minor response to treatment was one month. 7 The median duration of response had not been reached.8

The most common adverse reactions in patients (20 per cent) were diarrhea, neutropenia, rash, nausea, muscle spasms, and fatigue.9 Four (six per cent) of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events.10 Overall, IMBRUVICA was well-tolerated and the safety profile was consistent with that observed in CLL and MCL.

About Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a rare form of cancer and in Canada there will be an estimated 150 new cases in 2016.11 WM is an indolent (slow-growing) subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.12 It begins with a malignant change to a B cell, a type of white blood cell (or lymphocyte), during its maturation, where the cell continues to reproduce more malignant B cells.13 In WM, the malignant B cells create large amounts of a certain type of antibody protein called immunoglobulin M or IgM in the blood. Antibodies such as IgM normally help the body fight infection; however, the overproduction of IgM, a hallmark of WM, often leads to a thickening of the blood (hyperviscosity syndrome).Typically, patients with WM are diagnosed after developing symptoms associated with the disease such as anemia, fatigue and night sweats.14

About IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib)

IMBRUVICA contains the medicinal ingredient ibrutinib which is a targeted inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Ibrutinib blocks BTK activity, inhibiting cancer cell survival and spread.15 The recommended dose of IMBRUVICA for WM is 420 mg (three 140-mg capsules) orally, once-daily.16

In Canada, IMBRUVICA is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including those with 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy, or for the frontline treatment of patients with CLL with 17p deletion. In addition, IMBRUVICA was issued marketing authorization with conditions for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), pending the results of trials to verify its clinical benefit.

IMBRUVICA is co-developed by Cilag GmbH International (a member of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies) and Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company. Janssen Inc. markets IMBRUVICA in Canada.

About Janssen Inc.

Janssen Inc. and Cilag GmbH International are members of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at www.janssen.com/canada/ Follow us on Twitter at @JanssenCanada

* Dr. Macdonald was not compensated for any media work. Dr. Macdonald has been a paid consultant to Janssen Inc.

References:

1 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

2American Cancer Society. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia: Detailed Guide.

Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/waldenstrommacroglobulinemia/detailedguide/waldenstrom-macroglobulinemia-w-m.

Accessed February 9, 2016.

3Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation of Canada. What is WM? Available from: http://wmfc.ca/what-we-do/what-is-wm/. Last accessed February 9, 2016.

4 Treon, SP., Tripsas, CK., et al. Ibrutinib in previously treated Waldenstrom's macroglobulimemia. N Engl J Med. April 9, 2015. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1501548#t=articleResults

5 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

6 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

7 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

8 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

9 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

10 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

11 Special Data Request to Statistics Canada: WM Incidence data from CANSIM Table 103-0550 'New Cases of Primary Cancer'; Canadian Cancer Registry  3207.

12 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Facts. Available from: http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/lymphoma/pdf/waldenstrommacroglobulinemia.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016

13 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Facts. Available from: http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/lymphoma/pdf/waldenstrommacroglobulinemia.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016

14 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Facts. Available from: http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/lymphoma/pdf/waldenstrommacroglobulinemia.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016

15 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

16 IMBRUVICA (Ibrutinib) Product Monograph, Janssen Inc. Updated March 24, 2016.

SOURCE Janssen Inc.

For further information: Media Contact: Teresa Pavlin, Janssen Inc., Office: (416) 382-5017; David Mircheff, Environics Communications, Office: (416) 969-2776
Joint Venture Partner an Experienced Consortium of Argentina-Based Firms

Initial Lithium Products Anticipated Within 15 Months of Pond Construction

VANCOUVER, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Lithium X Energy Corp. ("Lithium X", or the "Company") (TSX-V: LIX) (OTCQB: LIXXF) is pleased to announce that the Company's 50% owned subsidiary Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA ("PLASA"), which owns 100% of the Sal de los Angeles lithium-potash brine project ("Sal de los Angeles Project", or the "Project") in Argentina, has entered into a definitive Union Transitoria agreement ("JV Agreement") with Salta Exploraciones SA ("SESA") for the development of a pilot lithium production facility at the Project. Lithium X has the option to acquire up to 80% of PLASA.

The JV Agreement sets out the terms of a Joint Venture ("JV Company") for the construction, operation, production and sales of a pilot facility, designed to produce up to 5,000 tonnes per annum ("tpa") of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE"). SESA is a consortium of Argentina-based engineering and construction firms with extensive experience in the design, construction and operation of lithium brine facilities in Argentina's Puna region, where Sal de los Angeles is located.

Under the terms of the JV Agreement, in order to earn a 50% stake in the JV Company, SESA must contribute an estimated US$6 million or the required amount for the construction and operation of an initial 2,500 tpa LCE ponding facility by incurring all construction costs, including one full year of post-construction operation. PLASA shall contribute US$3.3 million for a 30% contributing participation in the JV Company and the right to commercialize the lithium products. In addition, PLASA is also fully carried for the remaining 20% for contributing brine from existing wells on the Project, including a free-flowing artesian well that is estimated to supply the operation during the initial years.

The JV Company shall have the option to increase its operating facilities to 5,000 tpa LCE upon completing a full 12-month period of cash flow positive operations on an after-tax basis. SESA shall be the operator of the JV Company under the direction of an evenly balanced Operating Committee. The JV Company ponding facility is restricted to 100 hectares (approximately 1%) of the 8,156 hectares that comprise the Sal de los Angeles property.

"This JV Agreement is a major accomplishment for Lithium X," stated Paul Matysek, Executive Chairman of Lithium X. "It represents an important step towards full scale lithium production. The agreement also secures both the financial contribution, know-how and operation of several engineering and construction groups that have been involved in the design, build and/or operation of three construction and development-stage lithium brine projects in Argentina over the last five years."

"We are delighted to have reached an agreement and feel certain that the complimentary skill sets and strong relationship of cooperation between the parties will lead to many benefits for the respective shareholders and the local communities," commented Diego Pestana, President of SESA.

"This is a major vote of confidence for the outstanding quality of the Sal de los Angeles project from a group that has worked on and/or evaluated most lithium brine projects in Argentina," added Lithium X CEO Brian Paes-Braga. "This agreement does not encumber further production on the property, leaving 99 percent of the Project available for development."

The Sal de los Angeles Project covers more than 95% of the Salar de Diablillos property located in Salta province at an average elevation of approximately 4,050 metres above sea level. The Project includes 32 mining claims covering approximately 8,156 hectares and is located near FMC Corp.'s Salar de Hombre Muerto lithium deposit, one of the world's largest lithium operations.

Pursuant to the definitive JV Agreement dated May 8, 2016 entered into between SESA and PLASA a JV Company has been formed with the objective of building a ponding facility designed to produce an initial 2,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year. The agreement has a 25-year mining term, throughout which PLASA is fully carried for 20% in return for contributing sufficient brine to the JV Company's ponding facility. SESA shall contribute US$6 million and operate the facility, as well as incur any cost overruns in the building of the initial well, pumping, piping, liming and ponding facilities capable of producing between 2,000 and 2,500 tpa LCE. PLASA shall contribute US$3.3 million over 12 months, with an initial contribution of US$200,000 within 30 days of receiving all the necessary permits.

An Operating Committee has been formed, comprised of 2 members representing PLASA and 2 members representing SESA. The Operating Committee shall direct and oversee all aspects of the engineering, construction and operation of the facilities, and is currently planning construction. The operator shall be under the direction of the Operating Committee. Pursuant to the terms of the JV Agreement, SESA shall submit detailed engineering plans within 60 days of signing for review and approval by the Operating Committee.

The ponding facility will be designed to operate using conventional evaporation-based processing with the objective of producing, initially, a greater than 30 percent lithium chloride concentrate that is intended to be commercialized. Based on a production rate of 2,500 tpa LCE operating for the 25-year mining period, the total life of mine production would be 62,500 tonnes of LCE.

PLASA reserves the right to commercialize the lithium products. PLASA shall submit the necessary applications for the required permits, including the Environmental Impact Assessment, which is in the final stages of preparation. Construction of the ponds will commence once permits have been received. Current works will focus on well construction, pumping and piping facilities.

"Retaining the commercialization of the lithium products allows the Company to maximize off-take value," stated Paes-Braga.

Approximately C$19 million has been invested in the property by previous operators, including $16.2 million in work completed at Sal de los Angeles between 2010 to 2015. Work included extensive exploration and definition drilling, pump tests, seismic & gravity geophysical surveys, basin and solution transport models, evaporation and metallurgical testing, and running a continuous pilot ponding plant on-site.

The latest resource statement for the Sal de los Angeles lithium-potash brine deposit, dated Dec. 22, 2011, estimated an inferred brine resource of 2.8 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and an inferred brine resource of 11.2 million tonnes of potassium chloride equivalent. The average inferred resource grade was estimated at 556 mg/l Li and 6,206 mg/l K. Higher grades were found in the northern portion of the Project, where sufficient land for the construction of well fields and evaporation ponds is 100% owned by PLASA.

Lithium X is treating this mineral resource as historical. This historical estimate also uses descriptions such as "in-situ inferred resource" and "recoverable inferred resource" that are not recognized terms under the 2014 CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify this historical estimate as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource for the Sal de los Angeles Project. Lithium X will be completing an up-to-date mineral resource estimate and technical report done in accordance with current NI 43-101 and CIM standards by August 30, 2016 and will replace or update the results reported in the PEA.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lithium X's Vice-President of Project Development, William Randall, P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

About Lithium X Energy Corp

Lithium X Energy Corp. is a lithium exploration and development company with a goal of becoming a low-cost supplier for the burgeoning lithium battery industry. Lithium X owns 50%, and has the option to acquire up to 80% of the Sal de los Angeles lithium brine project in the prolific "Lithium Triangle" in mining friendly Salta province, Argentina, a well-known salar with positive historical economics, grade and size. Lithium X is also exploring a large land package in Nevada's Clayton Valley, contiguous to the only producing lithium operation in North America  Silver Peak, owned and operated by Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer. Lithium X is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol LIX.

For additional information about Lithium X Energy Corp., please visit the Company's website at www.lithium-x.com or review the Company's documents filed on www.sedar.com. Join the Company's email list at http://lithium-x.com/subscribe.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Paul Matysek"

Paul Matysek

Executive Chairman

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.

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "believes", "aims to", "plans to" or "intends to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the business of the Company and the commencement of trading in the Company's shares. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Lithium X Energy Corp.

For further information: Brian Paes-Braga, President and CEO, Director, Tel: 604-609-5137, Email: [email protected]; Mario Vetro, Investor Relations, Tel: 604-687-7130 ext. 105, [email protected]
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC

SEHK: 945

WATERLOO, ON, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Manulife today announced that its employees have raised more than $50,000 that has been matched by Manulife for a total of over $100,000. Manulife has also increased its original $50,000 donation to $100,000, bringing the total contribution to more than $200,000 to assist with wildfire relief and recovery efforts in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

"Manulife employees have given generously to help their fellow Canadians in a time of great need," said Marianne Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Canada. "The work to rebuild Fort McMurray and the lives of its citizens will require patience, understanding and flexibility and Manulife is asking our customers impacted by this crisis to please contact us to see how we can help you."

Manulife Bank will defer mortgage payments for a period of time and if needed, customers can access money invested in GICs without being charged an early-redemption penalty.

Manulife Group Benefits employers may be eligible for delayed payments on benefit premiums, and their employees can have refill prescriptions processed early.

Where permitted by the plan, Manulife Group Retirement customers from Fort McMurray and surrounding area impacted by the wildfire can make withdrawal requests. Manulife will also waive withdrawal fees for customers (where their group retirement plan and legislation allows).

Manulife insurance and individual investment customers will receive assistance with expedited access to funds or an extension of payment terms. We can work with customers who have questions or concerns about their investments or insurance applications.

Manulife customers who have questions about group retirement or benefit plans, individual investments or insurance can visit our website www.manulife.ca or contact the appropriate call centre as note below.

Group benefits - 1-800-268-6195

Group retirement - 1-888-727-7766

Investments*, insurance, or Manulife Bank -1-888-790-4387

If possible, please have your policy / account number ready.

*Note: For Standard Life segregated funds or insurance products call: 1-888-841-6633

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group providing forward-thinking solutions to help people with their big financial decisions. We operate as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2015, we had approximately 34,000 employees, 63,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving 20 million customers. At the end of March 2016, we had $904 billion (US$697 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made more than $24.9 billion in benefits, interest and other payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Follow Manulife on Twitter @ManulifeNews or visit www.manulife.com or www.johnhancock.com.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

For further information: Media Contact: Rebecca Freiburger, Manulife, 519-503-6604, [email protected]
OTTAWA, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Fort McMurray in the wake of the devastating Northern Alberta wildfires.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the creation of a new ad hoc Cabinet committee to coordinate federal efforts to help the thousands of Canadians affected by the wildfires that raged through Northern Alberta in May of 2016.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Northern Alberta Wildfires will meet as required to consider and coordinate federal contributions to recovery and rebuilding efforts for those affected by the May 2016 Northern Alberta wildfires.

Chair The Honourable Kent Hehr



Vice-Chair The Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu



Members The Honourable Ralph Goodale

The Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains

The Honourable Jane Philpott

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

The Honourable James Gordon Carr

The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi

The ad hoc Cabinet committee will hold its first meeting on May 12, 2016, and will complement the ongoing efforts on the ground coordinated through the Government Operations Centre.

The people of Fort McMurray can count on the full support of this government. We will weather this storm together  and together, we will rebuild.

Quotes

"The new ad hoc Cabinet committee is part of our work to address both the urgent and long term needs of communities affected by the Northern Alberta wildfires. We are working closely with Alberta Premier Notley and local authorities to coordinate recovery and rebuilding efforts for the many thousands who have been displaced and left homeless."

 The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

"Canadians across the country have responded with generosity to the appeal by the Canadian Red Cross. The pledges made until the end of May will be matched by both the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. Canadians helping others  no matter the distance that separates them  is what this country is all about. I would especially like to thank the brave first responders who have worked tirelessly to fight this fire. We are committed to help the people of Fort McMurray and the surrounding area rise out of this disaster."

 The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

As part of its initial response, the Government of Canada will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the Fort McMurray relief effort. The commitment will apply to individual charitable donations made within Canada ; it will be backdated to May 3rd, 2016 ; and, it will continue until May 31st, 2016 . There will be no financial cap on the federal government's contribution.

Associated Links

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

For further information: PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555, This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
TORONTO, MAY 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Primus today praised the federal government for supporting a CRTC decision that will ensure Canadians have access to affordable ultra-high speed broadband from their internet service provider (ISP) of choice.

"We are extremely pleased that the CRTC's rules will allow ISPs to deliver competitive choice, price-discipline, high-quality products and new, innovative services over next-generation fibre networks," says Brad Fisher, General Manager, Primus. "On behalf of all Canadians, we want to thank the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, for promoting competitive broadband markets and fostering an inclusive digital economy in Canada."

In July 2015 the CRTC released a balanced regulatory policy that upheld long-standing rules for essential network utilities, confirming that Canada's largest telecommunications and cable providers must sell wholesale access to their fibre-to-the-home ("FTTH") wires at profitable rates. In October 2015, Canada's largest vertically-integrated telecommunications conglomerate filed an appeal demanding that the federal government overrule the CRTC's decision, which would deny network access to competitors and eliminate consumer choice.

Fisher added that Primus entered the market as a long distance reseller in 1997 with no facilities. A supportive regulatory framework has allowed Primus to grow and invest millions in its own national network, including fibre deployments in major Canadian cities. Wholesale access to fibre will allow Primus to continue offering compelling choice to consumers while making independent network investments.

About Primus

Primus is a trusted national communications provider, offering a smarter connectivity choice for Canadian consumers, businesses and wholesale customers. As Canada's most experienced digital phone service (VoIP) provider, Primus delivers leading-edge Internet and network services, award winning voice services, and cloud-based phone systems (Hosted PBX), all backed by exceptional customer service. For further information, visit primus.ca.

SOURCE Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc.

Image with caption: "Primus Telecommunications Canada (CNW Group/Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160512_C4412_PHOTO_EN_688936.jpg

For further information: For interview requests or further information, contact: Denise Gagnon, Broad Reach Communications, 416-220-6489, [email protected]
OTTAWA, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut:

"Today, we celebrate the 68th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel with our Israeli friends and Jewish communities, both here in Canada, and around the world.

"The State of Israel is a thriving and vibrant country, which Canada is proud to call a close partner and steadfast ally.

"Canada and Israel unite in their people-to-people ties, shared values, respect for democracy, and growing trade relationship. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our strong friendship.

"Although today is a joyous day, let us also reflect on the threat that Israel and its people continue to face throughout the world in the form of terrorist attacks, acts of anti-Semitism, and religious intolerance. Canada stands with Israel and will continue to promote peace and stability in the region.

"On behalf of Sophie and our children, I wish everyone celebrating Israel's Independence Day a Yom Ha'atzmaut Sameach. Shalom."

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

For further information: PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555, This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
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As Kaduna State Assembly passed the law on banning street begging in the state, beggars Wednesday protested against the law as they give ...

As Kaduna State Assembly passed the law on banning street begging in the state, beggars Wednesday protested against the law as they give the government seven days ultimatum to withdraw the law or they will occupy the government house.The beggars who stormed the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Secretarial said they are ready to sacrifice their lives against the law.The beggars who comprised of blind, deaf, crippled, both elderly, young and women with their babies said nobody can stop them from begging without providing them with alternatives.The protesters raised placards with inscription such as El-Rufai before stopping street begging, pass state disability bill.Begging can never be stopped by persons with disability in Kaduna. El-Rufai, fulfil your campaign promises before stopping begging in Kaduna. Give us 10 percent job opportunity as you promised before stopping street begging, among others.The State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai had last week assented to the bill banning street begging and hawking in the state. The governors decision didnt go down well with the disables in the state which forced them to protest his decision.Commenting on the protests Chairman Concerned Citizens with Disabilities, Julius Shemang said the passage of the street begging and hawking bill in the absent of adequate provisions made for the street beggars first contradict the agreed process reached between them and the government that solutions will be proffered before the law come into effect.We are therefore writing to register our concern before you and the State assembly categorically that the signing and passage of the street begging and hawking Bill without our Bill signed with a commission in line with Article 4 of the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities ( UNCRPD) will spell more hardship for our members.Before the 2015 general elections you mentioned during your campaign that if elected as governor of the state you will make life comfortable for our members by signing our bill with a commission.Again at a town hall meeting with stakeholders and representatives of different organizations and community leaders last year in which Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) and JNI the bill issue and street begging and hawking was tabled.The assurance you gave us again was that street begging and hawking wont be banned until solutions are preferred or put in place to improve the living conditions of our members, he said.Earlier, Former National Vice Chairman, of JONAPWD, Comrade Rilwanu Mohammed Abdullahi said they will soon occupy the state government house if after seven days they state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai refused to pass the bill to set up a disability commission in the state.We dont like street begging but we have no choice than to beg for arms to take care of our family members. Let the governor pass the bill to set of disability commission in the state.If the government failed to do that within seven days from today we will continue with the protest and take over the government house until our demands are met, he said.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended Thursday to face impeachment, ceding power to her vice-president-turned-enemy Michel Teme...





Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended Thursday to face impeachment, ceding power to her vice-president-turned-enemy Michel Temer in a political earthquake ending 13 years of leftist rule over Latin Americas biggest nation.A nearly 22-hour debate in the Senate closed with an overwhelming 55-22 vote against Brazils first female president. Pro-impeachment senators broke into applause and posed for selfies and congratulatory group photos in the blue-carpeted, circular chamber.Only a simple majority of the 81-member Senate had been required to suspend Rousseff for six months pending judgement on charges that she broke budget accounting laws. A trial could now take months, with a two-thirds majority vote eventually needed to force Rousseff, 68, from office altogether.Within hours, Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, was to take over as interim president, drawing the curtain on more than a decade of dominance by Rousseffs leftist Workers Party.He was preparing to announce a new government shortly and said his priority is to address Brazils worst recession in decades and end the paralysis gripping Congress during the battle over Rousseff.A onetime Marxist guerrilla tortured under the countrys military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff has denounced the impeachment drive as a coup and vowed to fight on during her trial.She was expected to be officially notified of the votes result at 10:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday and was planning to address the nation around the same time. A crowd of supporters was gathering outside the presidential palace to salute her as she drove off, a spokesman for the Workers Party told AFP.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, was hosted to breakfast by Prime Minister David Cameron at Lancaster House in London, ahead of t...

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, was hosted to breakfast by Prime Minister David Cameron at Lancaster House in London, ahead of the anti-corruption summit.The event was the first where both men would be seen together in public since the video of a private conversation which the British leader had with the Queen went viral.Cameron had referred to Nigeria and Afghanistan as fantastically corrupt countries, a remark that sparked a wave of criticisms.Rising in defence of both countries, Cobus de Swardt, managing director of Transparency International, told the British Prime Minister that his country had been providing a safe haven for corrupt assets.The Guardian of London also accused Cameron, Britain and the west of epic hypocrisy.However, the Prime Minister tactically withdrew the comment when he appeared at the house of commons, where he was summoned over the issue.First of all I had better check the microphone is on before speaking tips on diplomacy are useful, given the last 24 hours I have made many unforced errors, he said.The leaders of Nigeria and Afghanistan are battling hard against very corrupt systems and have made remarkable steps forward.Other world leaders also attended the breakfast meeting.Some of them were President John Mahama of Ghana; President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan; John Kerry, secretary of state of the US; and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights on Wednesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel his visit to the United Kingdo...

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights on Wednesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel his visit to the United Kingdom, as a protest against the diplomatic gaffe by the countrys Prime Minister, David Cameron.Cameron had been caught on camera telling Queen Elizabeth II that Nigeria and Afghanistan are fantastically corrupt and possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world.Reacting to the gaffe, which has gone viral, the CDHR in a statement by its President, Malachy Ugwummadu, entitled Camerons unguarded statement, said by suspending his trip, the President would have clearly taken an exception to the outburst.He said, The strongest move that the President of Nigeria can make in the circumstance and in resentment is to publicly cancel his personal visit to the UK and articulate his reasons for that decision.That way, he would have clearly taken an exception to Camerons outburst which is factually wrong and diplomatically distasteful. The Nigerian political class as well as the civil and public services are largely corrupt, but not so with the vast majority of Nigerians including those in Britain, who are shaping the economy and progress of Britain.It is no less offensive when he (Cameron) uncharitably paired us with Afghanistan. Let Nigerias junior ministers and government functionaries go to the event to contest and repudiate this malicious attack on the eve of a major summit in which both countries and others seek mutual and bilateral means of tackling this global menace.Besides, the unholy haven that Britain and other western economies provide in warehousing looted funds from Africa must be forced to dominate the discussions.Also, statistics of repatriated funds and/or their applications to develop projects in Nigeria should be published to show how Britain and other countries are undermining and underdeveloping our economy, thereby promoting corruption here.The President has, however, said he would not demand an apology for the comments.
According to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, President Muhammadu Buharis utterances outside Nigeria was the reason the British Pr...

According to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, President Muhammadu Buharis utterances outside Nigeria was the reason the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country.What do you expect from the international community when the president of a nation keeps going abroad to say that his people are corrupt? a statement signed by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, queried.He also said it was annoying that President Buhari said he was embarrassed and shocked by Mr. Camerons comment. Instead of telling Nigerians that he was shocked, Buhari should apologise to Nigerians for de-marketing the country and his people, he said.He noted that it was on record that the President had said in United Kingdom that Nigerians reputation for crime has made them unwelcome in Britain and went on to warn Nigerians to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be accepted abroad.When a president mounts the podium in foreign lands and gleefully says that his own people are criminals, that they are corrupt and that those abroad should be sent back home, why wont presidents of other countries brand all citizens of such a country as fantastically corrupt?Rather than this grandstanding from the presidency, conceited efforts should be made to redeem the image of Nigeria that the president has destroyed.
Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday described the statement credited to British Prime Minister David Cameron, in which h...

Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday described the statement credited to British Prime Minister David Cameron, in which he referred to Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country as unguarded.He said Cameron should apologise for the unfortunate statement.My attention and that of the Nigerian public have been drawn to the recent statement made by the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron in which he characterized Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country during his briefing to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth just before the anti-corruption summit which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari in London.The statements of the British Prime Minister are most unfortunate and unguarded, given the relationship between the Nigeria and Britain, two countries that share very long and deep heritage; and especially as the British PM did not state the basis on which he made such assertion which has now become public.It is also a gross disrespect and a most uncharitable disposition to the Nigerian people who work hard to earn their living and who have made very positive impacts on the lives of British people and their economy.Also, such statements coming from the convener of the summit himself, just before the commencement, suggest that either he doesnt take the summit serious, or he is deceptive in terms of his commitment to the Nigerian government in the fight against corruption.In the light of this, the British Prime Minister should render an immediate and unreserved apology to the Nigerian people and to President Buhari for those embarrassing comments. As a responsible government and former colonists of Nigeria, my advice is that Britain should handle this matter with the required level of responsibility and prudence so as to avoid a possible breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Kalu added.
Many Nigerians will wake up this morning to the desolate reality as fuel price yesterday took a major leap, rising from  86 per litr...













What are your thoughts on the increase of fuel price from N86.50 per litre to N145 per litre?

After the announcement yesterday of an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol to145 per liter, the news did not go down well with many Nigerians, as they spent the whole day venting the perceived harsh conditions that will follow. (READ REACTIONS HERE) With the new price, advocates of deregulation  the governments antidote to perennial scarcity of petrol  have carried the day, even as they are pushing for full deregulation.Marketers are free to import products and sell but not more than145 per litre, the government said.Before the announcement, petrol sold for86.50 per litre at major filling stations and for86 at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stations.Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu broke the news at the State House, Abuja.He said the decision was reached at a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It was attended by the leadership of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Labour unions (the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN).The new pump price, Kachikwu said, will ensure increased supply and stabilise the quantity of the product.Gone now is fuel subsidy, which guzzled billions of dollars in questionable deals.The meeting also approved all oil marketers to import PMS.The minister said: Following a detailed presentation by the honorable minister of state for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.All oil marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel.In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.Stressing that the government shares the pains of Nigerians, he said the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times necessitated the difficult decisions on the critical national issues.To cushion the current challenges, he said the Federal Government had made an unprecedented social protection provision in the 2016 budget.Kachikwu also stressed that improved supply and competition will drive down prices in the long term.According to him, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance, including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products.Kachikwu noted that the meeting reviewed the current exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product, which ranged on the average from N150 to N250 per litre in the black market.The meeting, he said, also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of the governments foreign exchange earnings.As a result, Kachikwu said, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.
The Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Thursday said the over 40 million Nigerian students would re-enact the Occupy Nigeria protest ...





The Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Thursday said the over 40 million Nigerian students would re-enact the Occupy Nigeria protest against the removal of subsidy from petroleum product next week.The National President of NANs, Comrade Tijani Shehu, stated this in Abuja, at a protest rally where the association called for the removal of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.He said NANS is already mobilizing Nigerias students to resist the new N145 per litre pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol.According to him, A directive has been issued to all tertiary institutions to shut down all campuses on Tuesday and Wednesday, next week. After that, they will all converge on Abuja for a mass protest.On behalf of NANS and the whole 40.1 million Nigeria students, we condemn the new fuel price and by Tuesday or Wednesday, the whole Nigeria student would occupy Nigeria. So the Federal Government should look into this before NANS mobilize the entire Nigeria students to occupy Nigeria.
Former Interior Minister, Abba Moro was Wednesday re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja over his role in the botched 2014 N...

Former Interior Minister, Abba Moro was Wednesday re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja over his role in the botched 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise.He was arraigned with a former Permanent Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, an ex-director in the ministry, Felix .O Alayebami and a firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited, on February 29 on an 11-count charge.They were charged over their alleged involvement in the botched 2014 recruitment exercise of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) while Moro was Minister.They were accused of defrauding 675, 675 graduate applicants of about N675,675,000 having been made to pay N1000 each as processing fees for 5,000 (five thousand) job openings.The four defendants also were accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in the award of the contract for the organisation of the recruitment test to Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the trial judge; Justice Nnamdi Dimgba allowed them to remain on the bail earlier granted them.He adjourned to June 8 for the commencement of trial.Their re-arraignment Wednesday before Justice Dimgba was informed by the sudden withdrawal from the case by the former trial judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere.Trial was to commence before Justice Chikere on April 27, when suddenly she brought proceedings to a close by announcing her withdrawal from the case, citing personal reasons.
Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Director General, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) has personally thanked Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakar...

Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Director General, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) has personally thanked Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Former Governor of Sokoto State and Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dauda Danlaldi,mni for their recent visit to Pakistan in order to explore Scientific Agricultural Co-operation between Nigeria and Pakistan especially between Sokoto State and Punjab Province. Pakistan today is the number fourth world exporter of rice, fifth wheat and sixth dairy producer. Sen. Aliyu Magatakadar Wammokko stated that the visit was a response to the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain during his maiden visit to Nigeria in 2014.He pointed out that the present Federal Government under the dynamic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is according agriculture top priority and that the Nigerian economy needs immediate measures to diversify for economic development and prosperity.Dr. Muhammad while responding said that the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) under the umbrella of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) will provide all possible technological assistance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria that can accelerate the achievement of food security and agricultural production.He said the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) will co-ordinate with Nigerian Agricultural Department to serve as a common platform for Nigerian Agricultural Scientists to undertake joint ventures in Agricultural Research, adoption of scientific methods to grow better crops, through highly qualified Pakistan Agricultural Scientists.He added that PARC Scientists will also offer opportunities of joint agricultural research facilities and share knowledge with Nigerian Agricultural Scientists from the platform of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad.It is hoped that the relevant Agricultural Authorities of Federal Republic of Nigeria including the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) will take immediate measures towards signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PARC and Nigerian Agriculture Department to exchange knowledge and develop new technology to boost agriculture.Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni said Federal Republic of Nigeria must strive now to attain self-sufficiency in food products besides initiating revolutionary steps in rice production and wheat farming in the shortest possible time as Nigeria has the potential to be the breadbasket of West Africa and save foreign exchange and pull many out of poverty.In the past few years, on the average, Federal Republic of Nigeria has spent in excess of 11 billion US Dollars annually importing wheat, rice, sugar and fish
President Muhammadu Buhari says meeting parents of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, on a re...

President Muhammadu Buhari says meeting parents of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, on a regular basis, is not good for his emotional state.Lamenting the plight of the parents in an interview with Christine Amanpour, a CNN correspondent, Buhari said he could not imagine his own daughter in such situation.I saw the families as a group twice. The first time, they came to visit my wife. The second, they came as a group to see me, and the less I see them the better for my own emotional balance, he said.I try to imagine my 14-year-old year old daughter missing for more than two years. I try to imagine what condition are they in. A lot of the fathers would rather see their graves, than imagine them under such condition.He also opposed the idea of showing a proof of life video to the parents, saying there was no point raising their hopes when the girls had not been rescued.During the second anniversary of their abduction, CNN made public a video of some of the girls. The video was said to have been sent to negotiators by their captors.I have not seen that video and even if I see it, I will be very careful about showing it to the family. There is no point to deliberately raise the hope of the families if you cant meet them, he said.If we know where they are, then we can organize to secure them, but if they have been divided in a group of five, ten, two all over this region of Lake Chad commission, that is Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger, there is no way we can spontaneously and simultaneously attack all those locations and get the girls and the important thing to us is to get them alive.
Suspected vandals on Tuesday night invaded Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, the home of the Minister of...

Suspected vandals on Tuesday night invaded Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, the home of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and carted away four transformers that provide electricity to the area.It was gathered that the vandals had arrived at the village around 11pm and shot into the air several times to cause panic in the areaA community source, who first related the development to our correspondent, said the community was thrown into panic because of the heavy shootings from the vandals.The source, who requested that his name should not be mentioned, said there was no power when the incident happened, adding that the darkness in the area aided the vandalism.He noted that people of the area thought the shootings were from rampaging cultists, stressing that there has been cult-related activities in the area.It was gathered that vandals had arrived at the community in a Toyota Hilux, which they used to make away with the transformers.The community had six transformers powering it, but the vandals stole four, the community source said.When contacted, the Community Development Committee Chairman of Ubima, Mr. Kingdom Elem, confirmed that members of the light committee, who had the keys to the transformers, had been arrested.Elem said the committee members were being interrogated at Elele Police Divisional headquarters, adding that the CDC, after its next meeting, would come up with solution to reconnect the electricity in the community.The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the development, saying, however, that the information at his disposal showed that no person had been arrested in connection to the theft.He said, The matter was reported, and the police sighted a truck carrying transformers in the Etche axis of the state, but when they got there, they could not see anybody and because of that, nobody was arrested in connection with stolen transformers.
The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy on Thursday reiterated its resolve to deal with the resurgence of militancy in the Ni...

The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy on Thursday reiterated its resolve to deal with the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region.The Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, said on assumption of command in Yenagoa that the navy had acquired the capacity to flush out recent resurgence of pockets of militant activities.Garba said that the CNC, under his leadership, would pursue a zero tolerance stance against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff.I wish to emphasise that there will be no hiding place for oil thieves as the command has intensified patrol of her area of responsibility with recent delivery of more platforms by the Nigerian Navy.With the recent resurgence of pockets of militant activities, I wish to specifically call on these groups of people to desist from criminal activities capable of entrenching security breach in the Niger Delta.They have no constituency; well-meaning and law abiding Nigerians will not want to associate with the militants.I, therefore, urge these criminal gangs to revert to legitimate business or face the wrath of the law,  said Garba.Niger Delta Militants have claimed responsibility for the recent blast of Chevron facility in the country.
The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), on Wednesday, commended the Federal Governments removal of subsidy from...

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), on Wednesday, commended the Federal Governments removal of subsidy from the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, which would see the essential commodity now sell for N145 per litre.The CESJET in a statement in Abuja, by its Executive Secretary, Comrade Ikpa Isaac, described the move as a gift to Nigerians, noting that the removal of the subsidy will put a lasting end to the incessant fuel crisis which have put the nation and innocent citizens at the mercy of a certain cabal.The statement read: Different revelations have emerged of massive fraud in the fuel subsidy process; trillions of naira are alleged to have been fraudulently stolen from the government purse in the name of fuel subsidy payments. It is heart rending to discover that the country is being bled on the side despite its already anaemic financial status.Comrade Ikpa said the deregulation of the downstream sector will open up the sector to private investors who hitherto developed cold feet to investing in the sector due to heavy government interference.He said, the removal of subsidy will not only break the cabal but also encourage those who have had refining licenses approved several years ago to go ahead to build the refineries. On the benefits of subsidy removal, Ikpa added that this will tackle the incessant scarcity of petrol due to importation and also the spring up of petrochemical industries alongside local refining to create jobs.Highlighting the economic benefits of the subsidy removal, the group said the move will save the economy the unnecessary pressure put on the Naira due to the heavy demand for Forex to fund the importation of petroleum products. With this removal of subsidy, we will be exporting refined petroleum products thereby earning foreign currencies to shore up our reserves, it said. He however likened the subsidy removal to the telecom revolution which according to him had freed the sector of unwarranted setbacks.It is time we do the next big thing after the great telecoms revolution that came with the liberalization of the sector in the early 2000s. We predict that the boom economy experienced with the deregulation of the downstream oil sector will make the telecoms experience a childs play, the CESJET said. Meanwhile CESJET frowned at the continuous spending of over 1 trillion Naira on subsidies and called on the government to remain resolute in its decision to remove subsidy.Nigeria in the last five years has consistently spent over 1 trillion naira that is about $5b USD annually on petrol subsidies, same country that spent less than 20 billion naira on roads in the year 2015, but spent over 1 trillion naira on petrol subsidies in same year. This is unacceptable. It is on this backdrop that we proudly demand that no group or persons should distract the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration from saving this nation from this canker worm called fuel subsidy.
Ahead of the International Anti-corruption Summit in the UK this week, a civil society group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Pro...

Ahead of the International Anti-corruption Summit in the UK this week, a civil society group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the UK authorities to extradite Nigerias former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to face charges of corruption and money laundering.In its statement signed by its executive director, Mumuni Tokunbo, SERAP argued that the charges preferred against Dieziani in UK court do not sufficiently capture the gravity of her alleged crimes and the increasing allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria.SERAPs request was sequel to the revelation by the Central Bank of Nigeria that it was carrying investigations into the roles played by banks in certain financial transactions, especially the N23 billion reportedly shared to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by officials of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to influence the outcome of the last general elections. It stated that the anti-corruption summit in London provides an important opportunity for the UK government to support the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria.It noted: As a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption, the UK government can use the convention as a basis for the extradition of Mrs Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria. According to SERAP, We believe that effective prosecution in Nigeria is feasible, and this will bring justice closer to Nigerians who are direct victims of corruption. Extraditing Mrs Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria is equally important for allowing easier access to witnesses, evidence, victims of corruption; creating a deep connection between Nigerians and the impact of the trial; and empowering victims of corruption.
WAKE FOREST, N.C. - One day before three members of the Mazzella family were shot to death, a father, mother and son tried to convince a North Carolina judge they were being threatened and stalked by next-door neighbor Jonathan Sander.

"I fear for my life and I fear for my family's life because of this monster that I see in front of my eye," family patriarch Salvatore Mazzella told the judge, according to audio of the hearing newly obtained by NJ Advance Media.

District Court Judge Ned Mangum could not be convinced of a need for legal relief. Mangum declined to issue permanent restraining orders, which would have legally ordered Sander away from the family for one year.

Northern New Jersey transplants Sandy Mazzella, 47, his wife, Stephenie, 43, and mother Elaine Toby Mazzella, 76, were shot to death 33 hours after the hearing.

Sander, 52, was quickly arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder. He is being held without bond in the Wake County Justice Center.

At the outset of the March 24 hearing, Mangum told the family, "This is your opportunity to tell me what evidence there is as to how Jon Sander has been stalking you."

Sandy Mazzella told Mangum he had been Sander's business partner and friend. The two worked together in a landscaping business until things started to unravel about six months earlier.

"He's screamed on my property in front of my face," Sandy Mazzella told the judge. "He's come on my property with a loaded gun."

Sander was represented by an attorney and did not speak during the 80-minute hearing.

The Mazzellas did not have legal counsel.

Sandy Mazzella said during the hearing that a family dog had gotten loose around September 2015 and attacked Sander's dog.

"Instead of calling the police he came on my property, right on the edge of my garage door, cocked his gun back, completely loaded, and started yelling and screaming like a lunatic. Like a maniac out of control," Sandy Mazzella said. "And my kids have to see this."

"What did he say?" Mangum asked.

"He said, 'I'm gonna kill that f---- dog,' " Mazzella said, adding that the friendship and business partnership was irretrievably broken after the incident.

"God, it's just constant, constant, constant verbal and mental abuse," Mazzella said.

Salvatore Mazzella described an alleged encounter with Sander in a Wake Forest restaurant he said left him in fear.

"I went to talk to him and he started to threaten me," Sal Mazzella said. "He said, 'You don't belong with me and I'm going to send police to your house and they're going to take you out and put you in jail.' "

"So he said he'd call the police on you?" Mangum asked.

Elaine Mazzella, mother of Sandy and wife of Sal, took the stand to show the judge two text messages Sander allegedly sent the family.

"I'll let the police know you're connected," read one text. "If anything happens to me, they're going to be knocking on your door. You're a disgrace to the entire Italian race." Another text read, "You're a liar, just like your son."

Sander's attorney, during cross-examination, suggested the friendship soured not due to alleged threats but because of "an encounter" between Sander, Stephenie Mazzella and Sander's wife, Lori.

"Texts don't lie," Sandy Mazzella shot back, apparently referring to alleged threats.

Mazzella recalled for the judge a chilling text he allegedly received from Sander: "The police can't help you and your father can't help you."

Both the judge and Sander's attorney questioned the Mazzellas about the authenticity of the text messages.

"How do you know that (Sander) is the one who sent you these texts and not some other person?" the judge asked Sandy.

"Because that's his phone number and I'm paying the bill and they're all over his shirts, too," Sandy Mazzella said.

The judge advised Sandy Mazzella throughout the hearing to provide more detail about the alleged threats, and seemed flustered when the landscaper could not.

"This is again going to be the last time I am going to try to help you," Mangum said. "What I'm looking for is (for you) to describe this in detail. Not in general, 'He threatens me.' I don't know any context of that."

During the hearing, Sander's attorney, Chris Detwiler, asked the judge to dismiss the cases against his client, saying the text messages were "insulting at worst."

"Judge, we haven't heard any threats," Detwiler said. "We have a legitimate purpose to contact the defendants. They have a business relationship. It's wrapping up. There are several issues for which Mr. Sander would have to contact them."

Mangum declined to issue restraining orders, telling the Mazzellas they had not proven a case for relief.

"I can't let your case go forward," Mangum said. "The matter is dismissed by the court. I expect everybody to keep their cool leaving this courtroom."

The next day, about 6 p.m. on March 25, Sander allegedly entered the Mazzella home carrying a Mossberg shotgun and fired at least 10 times, killing Sandy, Stephenie and Elaine Mazzella, according to Wake County law enforcement.

Salvatore Mazzella escaped by fleeing the home and flagging down a passing motorist as the alleged killer fired behind him, authorities said.

A search warrant states Sander admitted to the killings.

Sander's attorney, Alan T. Briones Jr. of Raleigh, N.C., has not returned several calls seeking comment. Mangum could not be reached to comment on this story.

Reached at his office recently, Detwiler expressed condolences to family and friends of the Mazzellas.

"This office no longer represents Mr. Sander in any capacity," the attorney said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


CARLSTADT - A multi-alarm fire destroyed a commercial building Thursday morning near Teterboro Airport, officials said.

The fast-moving blaze began about 8 a.m. inside the Safway Atlantic hoisting and scaffolding company. Vehicles and construction equipment were stored in the facility, according to fire officials.

One firefighter complaining of dizziness was taken to a local hospital for observation. No serious injuries were reported.

Officials said the fire broke out shortly after employees began working in the building and that everyone escaped.

In addition to Carlstadt, firefighters from Wood-Ridge, Rutherford, Moonachie, Wallington and Passaic were on the scene as were members of the Bergen County Hazmat Team.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
HADDON TWP. -- Police announced that a man wanted for robbing a Wells Fargo bank in the township turned himself in this week.

A man walked into the bank at 690 W. Cuthbert Blvd. at about 2:30 p.m. May 5. He handed the teller a note demanding cash and fled.

Ryan McAteer, 35, turned himself in to police following a bank robbery in Haddon Township that occurred May 5, 2016 (Haddon Twp. police).

Ryan J. McAteer, 35, a former Haddon Heights resident who now lives in Philadelphia, turned himself in to police sometime late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, the department announced on social media.

McAteer was charged with robbery and held at the Camden County jail on $100,000 full cash bail.

Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
799px-Flanders_Hotel_OC_NJ.jpg

The Flanders Hotel in Ocean City, where 42 of 150 guests who attended a wedding on April 30 fell ill, according to a report.

(Wikipedia Commons)

OCEAN CITY -- Nearly a third of the guests who attended a wedding at an Ocean City hotel last month fell ill within two days of the reception, according to a report.

Food poisoning or a norovirus is the most likely reason 42 of the 150 people who were at the April 30 wedding at the Flanders Hotel became sickened, Cape May County health officials told PressofAtlanticCity.com.

State health officials were also notified about what county health coordinator Ken Thomas called a "suspicious outbreak."

The facility passed an inspection when it learned that guests got sick and the mother of the bride told the website that she doesn't fault the Flanders.

A norovirus can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, or by touching an infected surface, according to the Center for Disease Control. It can also be spread through an already infected person.

It can be serious for young children or older adults, the CDC said on its website.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Rutgers University Commencement 2015

Students at last year's Rutgers University Commencement at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

From High Point Solutions Stadium on the Busch Campus in Piscataway, to the Prudential Center in Newark, an estimated 16,944 graduates will receive degrees from Rutgers this year.

Among them will include 10,902 students receiving baccalaureate degrees, 4,210 receiving master's degrees, and 1,830 doctorates.

And marking the university's 250th anniversary will be President Barack Obama, who will be the keynote speaker at commencement.

The convocation, commencements and other ceremonies will be spread across the state, on every campus.

Click here for a roadmap to the celebrations:

______________________________
Dan Corey, editor in chief of The Daily Targum

Daniel Corey, editor-in-chief of Rutgers' student newspaper, interviewed President Barack Obama in advance of the president's commencement speech at Rutgers. (Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

( )

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Two years ago, Daniel Corey wasn't even sure he wanted to go into journalism.

But since he had dabbled in writing for the literary magazine at Middletown High School South, Corey said he decided he might as well join the student newspaper when he began classes at Rutgers University in the fall of 2014.

"I just figured, why not?" said Corey, now a sophomore and the editor-in-chief of the paper, the Daily Targum.

Two years later, that same "why not" approach landed Corey the biggest interview of his young journalism career.

For 15 minutes on Monday afternoon, Corey conducted a telephone interview with President Barack Obama, who will deliver the keynote address at Rutgers commencement ceremony this Sunday.

Corey had time to ask the president five questions covering a range of topics from student debt to low voter turnout. The Targum published the interview today.

"I couldn't believe it happened when he agreed to it, and I can't believe it happened after it happened," Corey, 19, said Wednesday.

It's highly unusual for any reporter, let alone a college student, to land an interview with a sitting president, said Lonnie Isabel, a senior lecturer at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Media access to presidents is carefully guarded and Obama rarely holds news conferences, said Isabel, a former deputy managing editor of Newsday who oversaw the paper's Washington bureau.

"Many White House correspondents spend their entire career never sitting down for a one-on-one with a sitting president," Isabel said.

Landing the interview

While Corey's persistence played a big part in the Targum securing the interview, the paper also "really lucked out," Corey said.

When the White House announced April 14 that Obama would speak at Rutgers Commencement on May 15, Corey had an idea, he said. Why not call the White House switchboard and ask for an interview with the president?

After a short conversation, Corey was directed to the press office and told to send a formal request to interview Obama.

The White House neither granted the interview nor officially rejected the request, he said. But, fortunately, for Corey, it invited him to the first-ever White House College Reporter Day on April 28, where dozens of student journalists would have a chance to meet with White House officials and participate in a news conference with Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Corey was planning to ask Earnest if the Targum could get an interview with Obama, he said. But Earnest didn't call on him for a question, he said.

Then, Obama surprised the students by appearing at the podium. And, for his first question, the president called on Corey, pointing to the young man "right here in the red tie."

"I was just shocked," Corey said. "And I figured, well, I have the opportunity, I might as well take it."

Corey told Obama the Targum is the country's second oldest student newspaper and then posed the question: "In light of the news of you speaking at our commencement, I was wondering, would you be interested in being interviewed by our newspaper?"

Obama said he usually coordinates carefully with his press team before granting interviews but would make an exception for Corey.

"It may not be a really long interview," Obama said. "But I figured, give the college newspaper a little bit of play.

The element of surprise likely helped Corey secure the interview, Isabel said.

"I think he caught the president in a moment he was feeling generous about it, and I would imagine his press secretary and everyone else probably said 'Why are you doing this?'" Isabel said.

Talking to the president

Corey crafted his questions with the help of the Daily Targum staff and received plenty of input from friends and family who had their own questions for the president, he said.

Being on the other side of the news -- Corey participated in TV interviews and fielded phone calls from reporters between studying for finals -- also helped him prepare, he said.

Around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Corey sat in the studio of the campus radio station, where he could get a high quality recording of the interview, and waited for the phone to ring.

A White House staff member placed the phone call and then put Obama on the line.

"Hello, is this President Obama?" Corey asked, according to a transcript of the interview.

''It is," Obama replied.

Setting aside his nerves, Corey began to ask his questions, getting the president to talk about conflict with the Republican party, financial aid for college students and the role of journalists in politics.

"I was trying as hard as possible to stay tuned to what he was saying or stay glued to what he was saying while also trying to figure out what to say next," Corey said.

On Sunday, Corey and other Targum editors will briefly meet with Obama when he comes to campus, Corey said. Then, Corey will move back to his parents house in Middletown and look for a summer job.

Young journalists are often taught not to become part of the story, but Corey said he's comfortable with the fact that he made news.

"I guess it would be wrong to not at least try to get an interview with him, right?" Corey said. "It's weird having the newspaper make news, but, it's for a good cause, and I don't see why not."

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
money-monster-clooney-center-restrained.jpg

George Clooney is an investment guru who ends up paying a heavy price in 'Money Monster'

(SONY/TRISTAR)

Lee Gates is a shameless, soulless huckster.

And having the time of his life.

Five days a week he goes on cable TV, live. He dances out, does a bit of comedy shtick - he's like Chuck Barris crossed with Jim Cramer -- and then serves up a can't-miss stock tip. It's the investment of the millennium, he shouts.

You're not convinced? You hesitate and miss out? Don't worry. There'll be another "investment of the millennium" tomorrow.

"Money Monster" is supposed to be a movie about the way we live and save now, and it's got a good pedigree. George Clooney, pushing the smarm and charm, is Gates. Julia Roberts is his steely-eyed producer, and Jodie Foster directs, starting the film with an adrenaline-fueled flurry of backstage crosscutting.

Yet the movie itself feels a little out of date, taking place in the present, but emotionally invoking a world of Enrons, Bernie Madoffs, tech bubbles and Wall Street meltdowns. Are stock frauds still the American worker's biggest financial danger? Greater than flat wages, disappearing benefits and good jobs - hell, whole industries - being shipped overseas?

I'm not so sure but "Money Monster" amps up its drama, and the volume, by having one of Gates' broadcasts interrupted by a viewer who's lost his life's savings on one of those tips. He's got a genuine grievance. Also a gun, with which he takes Gates' show hostage.

He's played by Jack O'Connell, who spends the next hour and a half shouting his lines in a put-on, too-thick, New York accent. And like a couple of our political candidates this year, he talks a lot about how the system is rigged against the little guy.

He has a point. His girlfriend has a better one, though: He's an idiot. What else do you call someone who bets his entire bank account on a stock tip from some cable-TV host?

Still, this idiot is smart enough to hold Gates - and his live show - hostage for an hour and a half. Hold us hostage too, in a movie which -- told in "real time" -- really has nowhere to go.

It would help if the characters themselves went someplace, emotionally. Certainly there's plenty of reason for Gates to question himself, and what he's doing with his life, ballyhooing one half-baked investment tip after another.

His producer could do a bit of soul-searching too. "We don't do gotcha journalism here," she assures one potential interview subject. "Hell, we don't do journalism, period." But how did she get to this point? And how complicit are she, and Gates, in this financial disaster and how many others have they enabled?

Instead of really going there, though, "Money Monster" hesitates - and then, turns Gates and his crew into heroes by letting them do a last-minute (and highly improbable) bit of investigative journalism on the fly, on live TV, from a remote location, complete with clips and graphics.

Except Gates and his TV-tabloid kind aren't heroes, and Clooney - whose dad was a broadcaster, and who directed the terrific journalism tribute "Good Night and Good Luck" - knows that. Or at least he used to. These hacks are the media turned mediocre, a bunch of shills and sell-outs. The film shouldn't forgive them so easily.

Clooney, who produced "Money Monster," is a genuinely smart man, with a strong commitment to social issues. (He's also a genuine matinee idol, who holds the screen every time Foster turns the camera on him.) So why does "Money Monster" go relatively easy on these high-paid journos?

Perhaps because its stars have their own conflict of interest.

Look, for example, at the recent "Our Brand Is Crisis," another topical movie Clooney produced. It was meant to take on our corrupt political-consultancy culture. But then it cast Clooney pal Sandra Bullock, and began pulling its punches to make her character likable (or at least, likeable enough). Because she's a movie star.

As is Clooney. As is Roberts. Which means any movie they're in is going to focus on them, making them sympathetic, taking their side over any supporting character's grievance. Every story is always all about them. They're the ones who matter.

Because in the end Hollywood only likes the idea of sticking up for the little guy as long as it doesn't take time away from the big star. And it's only going to rail against the power structure if it can keep its own celebrity system safely in place.

Ratings note: The film contains strong language, violence and sexual situations.

Stephen Whitty may be reached at stephenjwhitty@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwhitty. Find him on Facebook.

'Money Monster' (R) Sony (98 min.) Directed by Jodie Foster. With George Clooney, Jack O'Connell, Julia Roberts. Now playing in New Jersey.

Stephen Whitty may be reached at stephenjwhitty@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwhitty. Find him on Facebook.


To everyone who has accused the media of manufacturing the Josh Norman-Odell Beckham Jr. feud: Norman says you're right, but you're also wrong.

The MMQB's Emily Kaplan caught up with Norman for a feature on his new life as a member of the Washington Redskins after his stunning separation from the Carolina Panthers. There is just a quick reference to Norman's infamous brawl with Beckham last season, and their subsequent run-ins since then.

But Norman does offer an interesting comment on the whole situation with the Giants' star receiver.

"The media may have made that rivalry a big deal," Norman says in the feature. "But, oh, it's real."

Make no mistake: Beckham and Norman truly do not like each other. This is not a put-on. So when attention is brought to their on-field fisticuffs, or Norman's Super Bowl media day comments, or the SportsNation Incident, or the non-comment comments both players offered after Norman signed with the Redskins, it is done because this is a real thing. And one that will now be contested twice a year, starting with Week 3 this coming season at MetLife Stadium.

Kaplan's feature is an excellent inside look at how the Redskins won Norman over, and how Norman is enjoying his new city. The story mentions the Giants were one of the teams that reached out to Norman after Carolina rescinded his franchise tag, but again, that was nothing more than due diligence.

You can read the full story by following this link; here is a brief snippet about the time Norman met House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at the White House Correspondents Dinner, because why not:

"Josh!" crooned Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, opening her arms for an embrace. "How are you? How have you been? Come, meet Mr. Pelosi!"

Norman grinned, and hugged Mr. Pelosi, too. "It's great to see both of you," he said. "How have you been?"

Norman's publicist, Jeanine Juliano, stood a few feet behind, incredulous. "Josh, do you know them?" Juliano asked later. "It looked like you were old friends."

"Nah," Norman said. "Had no idea who it was until she introduced her husband. But that's why I gave them the double-hug. I guess that's how they do it here."

James Kratch can be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find and like NJ.com Giants on Facebook.
MONROE TWP. -- Police say a Camden man broke into foreclosed properties and rented them out to unwitting victims.

Levar M. Taylor (aka Raymond Erving), 38, of Camden, is accussed of illegally entering foreclosed homes in Monroe Township and leasing them. (Salem County Correctional Facility)

Authorities believe he has pulled the scam in many towns around South Jersey, according to Monroe Township Police.

Levar Michael Taylor (aka Raymond Erving), 38, allegedly entered two foreclosed properties in Monroe, one in the 1700 block of Black Oak Road and the other in the 1600 block of White Oak Lane.

Utilities were illegally turned back on and winterization stickers placed on the closed-up homes were scraped off, police said. Taylor then posed as an agent to lease the properties.

Taylor allegedly received more than $12,000 from people seeking to lease the homes for cash in Monroe Township, police said.

The transactions were conducted under Taylor's name and his company, Financial Adjustment Bureau Corp. Neither Taylor nor FAB Corp. are licensed to conduct real estate transactions, police said.

Investigators have identified other victims in surrounding counties, police said, and are asking anyone who did business with Taylor to contact them. Police believe he has pulled similar scams in Mount Holly, Pennsauken, Willingboro and Woodbury, among other towns.

"If you have rented, leased or purchased a home from Mr. Taylor or the Financial Adjustment Bureau Corp., we encourage you to contact your local police department," police said in a release.

Anyone with information may also contact Monroe Detective Derrick Jacobus at 856-728-9800, ext 501.

Police became aware of the alleged crimes when neighbors called to report squatters in the foreclosed homes, Jacobus explained. When officers came to the homes, the residents showed them the bogus lease agreements. The victims were able to identify Taylor as the "agent."

The renters are still living in the homes, Jacobus said. "Law enforcement cannot evict them," he noted.

It will be up to the banks owning the foreclosed properties to determine how to proceed.

Taylor was charged with two counts of burglary, theft by deception, identity theft, forgery, criminal mischief and failure to register as a sex offender.

He was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility on $75,000 bail.

Housing scams of this sort are on the rise in the area, police said. Scammers are taking advantage of the wave of foreclosures that have left many homes empty. Crooks often break open lock boxes to gain entry and will even change locks on the homes.

"If your potential landlord is asking for a cash down payment or only allowing you to look at vacant, bank owned, foreclosed properties, more than likely you are being scammed," Monroe Police warned in their press release.

Police offered these tips to avoid falling victim to similar scams:

Always seek and confirm the identity of the person you're dealing with. You want a confirmable name and address or even a notarized ID. For renters, you should be able to confirm ownership of the property on county registers.

Never rent or lease a home sight unseen.

Never wire money to someone you don't know, no matter how plausible their story, and never hand over cash for rent or deposit without confirming ownership and without seeing, reading, and double-checking any lease agreement before signing.

If you're renting, it may be preferable to work with a bona fide rental agency. Some owners do legitimately rent out privately, but just be more wary when dealing with them, police cautioned.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
Residents who live near Jersey City's Hub are saying "enough is enough" to the violence in their community.

Fifteen neighborhood churches came together Saturday in the Hub's heart at Martin Luther King Drive Plaza for an event aimed at taking back their neighborhood. Organized by individual churches in conjunction with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Jersey City, the event brought out many residents who are fed up with the crime and violence.

Praise dancers and church choirs were featured, but the heart and soul of the event was to send a wake-up call to area residents.

"This is not a concert,'' Bishop Kevin E. Knight of Heavenly Temple Church of God in Christ said. "We came together to bring a spiritual awakening to the city of Jersey City. The church's involvement in society is really important."

God, he said, is the ultimate eye in the sky.

"The best way to fight crime is go to God, who has eyes everywhere," Knight said. "We have to go back to God, our source, and this is what this event is all about."

Those in attendance agreed that the churches have to go back to being a more viable force to help combat crime and violence in the neighborhood and make the community a better place for all residents.

"We need to come together to stop the violence and unite as one," Deacon Nelson Bethea of Full Memorial Church of God in Christ said.

Deacon Jerome Hill echoed that sentiment.

"I hope the community is hearing what we have to say so we can get together and pray to stop all the violence," he said.

Pastor William Statum of Church of God in Christ spoke about how he can relate to the plight of many young people in the area who are drug addicts. He shared how he began doing drugs as a young man and was addicted for many years but turned his life around and got his seminary degree.

"The churches are concerned about their community and God is concerned,"

Statum said. "We came out to let the community know that we love them and that God loves them."

Statum also acknowledged that the coming together of churches is crucial to the betterment of the community.

Bishop Knight observed that the reverence of God can make a difference in the lives of families and in the neighborhood as a whole.

"Many people live their lives as if God doesn't exist or isn't relevant, and that's why there are so many problems in society," Knight said. "This results in the breakdown of the family and the community."

The IMAJC plans on doing similar events in several areas of the city and is working on a Back to Church Sunday event on Sept. 25.

"We're all going to get under the same banner and encourage people to go back to church," Knight said.

Several residents said these events will have a great impact on the betterment of the community going forward.

"We have to keep the momentum going and this is the place to have these events, right here where we live," Lily Fleming of Metropolitan AME Zion Church said.

Residents who have lived in the area for many years look forward to the day when the area gets back to what it once was some 40 years ago.

"I recall a time when you didn't see drug dealers standing on corners and you didn't hear gunshots," longtime resident Joseph Brown said. "Before 1972, this neighborhood was a paradise. I truly hope it can return to a paradise someday and I believe it will."

For more information, visit the Jersey City Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance website at www.imajc.org or email office@imajc.org .
The white flag has been raised and the battle for Liberty State Park's future appears to be over.

The head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said today that he is no longer looking into ways to bring development to the park, adding that state officials never had concrete plans for the park privatization in the first place.

"The bottom line is we made the decision that we're going to do nothing in the park," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said in response to a question posed by state Sen. Sandra Cunningham during a Senate Budget and Appropriations hearing.

"We're not going to spend any time, any more money."

Martin's comments come six months after the DEP released an 18-page report outlining potential development projects -- which included a hotel, amusement park and amphitheater -- to be built on 38 of Liberty State Park's 1,200 acres.

Instead, Martin said the DEP will now look to its 38 other parks and 800,000 acres it manages for other opportunities for investment.

"A lot of those amenities would have helped the community but it's just not worth the resources anymore," he said, alluding to the ardent "push back" the state received from park advocates, noting Friends of Liberty State Park president Sam Pesin by name.

When reached by phone this afternoon, Pesin was cautiously optimistic and measured in his response to the news out of Trenton.

"If this is true, that they're giving up the plans, it does show that they have listened to the strong opposition of the public, of the mayor (Steve Fulop) and the Hudson County delegation," Pesin said. "I think they knew that if they were going to push privatization in the park, they were going to have to go against overwhelming opposition."

Fulop, who has served as one of Pesin's primary allies in the fight against privatization, said the DEP's decision "is a wise one."

"They just saw the tip of the iceberg with regards to the organized opposition that would have continued against any plan to develop Liberty State Park," Fulop said in a statement. "Parks and open space need to be protected in New Jersey and there were no limits to what we would have done to fight the DEP's proposal to privatize Liberty State Park."

Meanwhile, New Jersey Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel called today's development a "victory" for those who opposed commercialization at the park.

"We stood together in our efforts to protect the park from the abuse of privatization and commercial development and it worked," Tittel said in a statement.

During today's hearing, Martin pointed to the $2 million deficit the park runs each year and said the DEP was simply looking close that gap and also provide new amenities.

His decision to walk away from potential development at the waterfront park comes on the heels of an aggressive and creative campaign by advocates and elected officials to put the kibosh on any potential plans for development. Those efforts included a "picnic protest" at the park last spring, as well as a photo from a February protest that Pesin's group sent to Gov. Chris Christie.

As for the Friends of Liberty State Park's "Pet Parade Protest Against Privatization" scheduled for Saturday, Pesin said the parade will go on, despite today's breakthrough.

"Hopefully the commissioner's words today are a true nail in the coffin of these dangerous commercialization plans," Pesin said.
Vargas

Former West New York Commissioner Ruben Vargas pleaded guilty to equity skimming.

(Journal file photo )

A former West New York commissioner has admitted to collecting nearly $150,000 in rental income while being in default of a federal mortgage loan, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Ruben Vargas, 45, obtained a $417,449 mortgage from the Federal Housing Administration in September 2007 to purchase a home at 5512 Grant Place. Vargas then rented out both floors of the two-family home and used the income for personal use, rather than paying off the mortgage, officials said.

Vargas defaulted on the loan less than five months after receiving the mortgage because he was not making his payments on time. He did, however, continue to collect nearly $3,000 monthly from the building's tenants, according to the plea.

Vargas served as a commissioner with the town from May 2011 until January 2015, when he stepped down, citing personal and family matters. A few weeks later, he was hired to head security for the West New York Housing Authority.

Natalia Nova, a spokeswoman for the town, said the Housing Authority is a separate entity. A call to the Housing Authority seeking Vargas' employment status was not immediately returned.

Between March 2008 and December 2013, Vargas admitted to collecting $149,000 in rent and using the money for personal use. By law, if a person is in default of a HUD loan, rental income can only be used for necessary expenses to the property.

This is not the first time Vargas' Grant Place property has come under investigation.

In April 2011, Vargas was issued $10,000 worth of fines and violations for an illegal apartment on the first floor of the building, not having smoke detectors installed, and for having a clogged sewer pipe in the basement.

Fishman's office said HUD paid Vargas' loan, which ultimately totaled about $491,000 after interest.

Vargas will face up to five years in prison and $500,000 in fines when he is sentenced on Aug. 18.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- The sentencing of a North Jersey prostitution ring leader and two of his lieutenants who forced a 14-year-old into having sex with as many as 10 men per day has been pushed back to May 27.

In March, Michael A. McLeod, 25, of Jersey City, the boss of the ring, pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking and second-degree facilitation of human trafficking, Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy announced at the time.

David Powell Jr., 29, of Jersey City, and Demetrius James Hayward, 20, of Summerville, South Carolina, both pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to facilitate human trafficking.

Their sentencings were originally scheduled for tomorrow.

The guilty pleas came nearly six months after the trio, and one other man, were indicted on human trafficking charges resulting from an April 2015 undercover investigation into the prostitution ring run out of hotels in and around Hudson County.

The investigation began when the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force in Atlantic City received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that photos of the 14-year-old victim, who was a runaway from South Jersey, were being used in ads for a "female escort" on backpage.com, officials said.

The investigation revealed that McLeod used violence or the threat of violence to control the 14-year-old girl for four weeks, as well as an 18-year-old woman. McLeod once held a gun to the head of the 18-year-old and threatened to kill her. Other times, he beat and kicked her, authorities said.

McLeod and his deputies put the victims up at hotels where they were required to have sex with up to 10 customers a day, making up to $800 -- all of which McLeod collected, according to Lougy's office.

When the trio pleaded guilty to the charges, authorities said McLeod was being recommended to serve 18 years in state prison, including four years of parole ineligibility. The state recommended that Powell receive six-year sentence in state prison, while authorities recommended that Hayward be sentenced to five years in state prison.

The Jersey Journal's Patrick Villanova and Ron Zeitlinger contributed to this report.
Councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal, whose March 2015 arrest on a drunken driving charge resulted in one grand jury inquiry and a second one slated to begin next week, pleaded guilty today to two charges related to his arrest.

Ramchal will avoid jail time but must forfeit his City Council seat as a condition of the deal he finalized this afternoon with county prosecutors. Ramchal, a Democrat, becomes the first Jersey City council member to step down mid-term since February 2011, when an ailing Willie Flood resigned.

A request for comment from Ramchal was not immediately returned. His attorney, John Bruno, said by phone that the councilman is "relieved" that the matter is nearly settled.

"He's been seeking help and therapy as a result of this awful experience," Bruno said. "He's so grateful that he's been treated fairly by the city as well as the prosecutor's office."

As part of his agreement with prosecutors, Ramchal pleaded guilty today to assault by auto, a fourth-degree offense, and theft by deception, a third-degree offense related to allegations that he had a no-show job with a county agency. He has agreed to plead guilty to a drunken driving charge at a July 15 sentencing hearing, where Assistant Prosecutor Karyn Darish plans to ask a judge to sentence Ramchal to probation.

Ramchal will be forbidden from holding any public or elective office in New Jersey.

A source close to the prosecutor's office said a grand jury was slated to convene next week and could have considered a misconduct in office charge. A conviction on that would have landed Ramchal behind bars for at least five years.

A Guyanese immigrant, Ramchal was first elected to represent Ward B on the council in 2013 after working as a council aide to David Donnelly, the prior Ward B councilman, and as an assistant to Freeholder Bill O'Dea, his mentor. Ramchal was a senior enforcement officer at the Hudson County Improvement Authority until last June, when the county agency fired him over the no-show job allegations.

Today's news is a blow for Mayor Steve Fulop, a Ramchal ally, who has cast himself as a political reformer. The mayor declined to distance himself from Ramchal even as the allegations against the councilman mounted. Last June, Fulop told The Jersey Journal he wanted to wait until "the facts are presented."

A request for comment from Fulop wasn't returned, but the mayor's chief of staff, Mark Albiez, called the saga "unfortunate on many fronts."

"Today, Chico took responsibility for his actions and in the coming weeks, the City Council will move forward to nominate a replacement for Ward B," Albiez said.

City Council President Rolando Lavarro did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Ramchal's legal troubles began in the early morning hours of March 14, 2015, when witnesses told police he ran a red light at Communipaw and West Side avenues, colliding with a taxi that then struck an SUV being driven by an off-duty New York City cop. Ramchal had just left a St. Patrick's Day party at the Casino in the Park banquet hall.

Police say Ramchal's blood-alcohol level was .15, almost twice the legal limit. A witness said the vehicle Ramchal was driving, which was registered to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, had emergency lights activated as he drove through the intersection. At the time, Ramchal was an unpaid commissioner at the JCIA.

A passenger in the taxi went to the hospital after the crash, complaining of back pain. About a month later, on April 28, county prosecutors charged Ramchal with assault by auto.

Ramchal's troubles were aggravated when The Jersey Journal reported that GPS records from the JCIA vehicle Ramchal using showed the SUV driving around Jersey City or parked in front of Ramchal's house when timesheets he submitted to the HCIA showed he was supposed to be working. The HCIA fired Ramchal in June and county prosecutors in October charged him with theft as a result.

Ramchal's guilty plea caps a two-week period that found the 41-year-old councilman exhibiting unusual behavior. After leaving the April 27 council meeting early, he went on an extended vacation without initially telling his council colleagues where he was. In subsequent days, his social media accounts were deleted or disabled. After this reporter asked Ramchal about it on May 4, the councilman's Facebook page reappeared that night with a note saying, "Every once in awhile (sic) you just have to get away and surf the waves of life."

O'Dea said last week that Ramchal was "getting himself together so to speak." Ramchal told The Jersey Journal he was visiting his sister in Florida and wouldn't be back until May 23. He returned to Jersey City abruptly last night.

The council has 30 days to appoint a replacement. Voters in a November special election will choose the person to fill out the remainder of Ramchal's term, which expires either in June 2017 or in December 2017 if Fulop's push to move city elections to November is approved by voters this fall.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
jersey city police car.jpg

Despite being stabbed in the neck, a 22-year-old fought off a group of men who tried to rob him last night, police said.

(Journal file photo)

JERSEY CITY -- Despite being stabbed in the neck, a 22-year-old told police he fought off a group of men who tried to rob him on Woodlawn Avenue last night.

The victim told cops he was walking home from a friend's house at about 9:10 p.m. when four men approached him near Martin Luther King Drive and told him to fork over his wallet, a police report states.

The men started attacking the victim, who was stabbed in the neck with a "sharp object" when he refused to hand over his wallet, police said. However, the man was able to ward off his attacks and break free without losing his wallet, he told police.

The suspects then ran west on Woodlawn Avenue toward Bergen Avenue after the incident. The victim told police "it all happened so fast" and that he had no detailed description of the men who attacked him.

The victim was treated at Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health for a 1-centimeter laceration, police said.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
HOBOKEN -- Tensions within a large crowd erupted into a brawl outside a Hoboken bar early Wednesday morning, forcing police to call in reinforcements from several other departments and resulting in several injuries and six arrests, police said.

It was about 1:30 a.m., when Hoboken Police officers were on the sidewalk waiting for a large crowd to disperse from inside the Green Rock Tap and Grill on Hudson Street, police said.

As patrons were exiting the bar, police a verbal dispute erupted on the sidewalk.

"The verbal argument escalated into a large physical altercation," a statement from the Hoboken Police department said. "Due to the overwhelming amount of people enganged in the fight, mutual aide was requested. Officers from the Port Authority Police Department, Hudson County Sheriff's Office, Secaucus Police Department, Steven's Campus Police Department and New Jersey Transit Police Department responded to assist."



One man bleeding from a cut on his face told officers he had been hit over the head with a glass bottle and complained of blurry vision, and he was taken to Hoboken University Medical Center, police said.



Off. Robert Cuevas of the Hoboken Police was taken to the hospital for an injury to his thumb.

An employee of the bar also appeared to have been hit on the head, though he declined medical treatment, police said.

Police said six men in their 20's, all from Hudson County, were arrested: Travis Rivera, 24; Hector Solano, 27; Moses Sanchez, 25; and Robert Goodwin, 28, all of Hoboken; plus Dariel Aybar, Age: 25; and Joel Ortiz, 21, both of West New York.



It was not immediately clear what the initial dispute was about.



An employee at the Green Rock said the bar had no comment. It has a regular Tuesday night special, offering mugs of domestic beer for $1.



Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- A 23-year-old North Bergen man has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for the aggravated sexual assault of a woman he dragged off the street in West New York last July.

Danny Flores, aka Danny Portillo, formerly of 38

th

Street, was sentenced Tuesday by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Sheila Venable and will have to serve nearly 13 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Leo Hernandez said today.

The victim told police that on July 15, 2015, she had been studying at the Starbucks on Riverwalk Place and while walking home, a man grabbed her on Boulevard East near 60

th

Street, officials said at the time.

She said her attacker covered her mouth and pulled her into nearby bushes before telling her he was going to rape her and that if she screamed, he would kill her, officials said.

The victim, who was 25 at the time, said the man tried to rape her, but the sexual assault was interrupted when people walked by. The man told her to pretend that nothing happened, officials said.

West New York police arrested Flores following a nearly six-month investigation when DNA recovered from the victim's clothing led police to him.

He was originally charged with kidnapping, making terroristic threats, aggravated criminal sexual contact, attempted aggravated sexual assault and criminal restraint.

Flores will also be subject to parole supervision for the rest of his life under Megan's Law, Hernandez said.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Jane Weiner represented the state in the Flores case.
To the editor:

Who could possibly suggest that taxpayers should be deprived of their right to vote on how much we are taxed? In Clinton Township, the answer is: Your school board, which took away our 100-year-old right to vote on school taxes. The board's behavior reveals it wants no interference from the public.

In February, board President Maria Grant didn't want photos of protesting teachers in the newspaper, so she confiscated a news reporter's photographs after trying to take her camera's memory stick - and threatened to bar the reporter from the board meeting. To avoid scrutiny, Grant violated the First Amendment.

In 2004, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia didn't want a speech he gave recorded, so federal marshals confiscated a reporter's tape recorder.

Scalia later issued an apology: "I have learned my lesson (at your expense) and shall certainly be more careful in the future. Indeed, in the future I will make clear that recording for use of the print media is no problem at all."

Does Grant have more right than a Supreme Court Justice to violate the First Amendment?

Grant cited the board's "policy" about cameras, but the reporter did not violate it. And who believes Grant has the power to confiscate private property? The board owes the public and the reporter an apology.

This isn't the first time the board broke rules about transparency. A few years ago, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor found the board violated the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, citing it for repeatedly lying in official meeting minutes about its actions in meetings.

Does anyone see a pattern?

A few months ago, the Asbury Park school board voted unanimously to give voters back the right to vote on school budgets.

"One of the things we are determined to do is be more transparent and to work cohesively," Board President Nicolle Harris said. "We decided to move the election from November to April to allow voters a chance to have a say on the school district's budget. ... This change will allow more transparency. It is our goal to work together with the community and not to keep them in the dark on this, or any issues that affect the education of our children."

When the Clinton Township Council recently asked questions about the school budget, the school board attacked the council. Our board makes it clear that transparency is not a priority. The board tries to keep us in the dark by interfering with the press, manipulating meeting minutes and accusing critics of hurting the schools. What is our school board afraid of? Voters? Taxpayers? The council? Perhaps the board should visit Asbury Park to learn about transparency.

The township council can at any time give us back our right to vote on school taxes by a simple resolution - especially given the school board's efforts to keep us in the dark. Why would the township council hesitate?

Nick Corcodilos

Clinton Township

The writer is a former mayor of Clinton Township
A wine glass is filled during the Grand Tastings, part of the 22nd New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, on Friday, May 23, 2014. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)
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An early arriver awaits the live music at the Trumpet Black block party, May 11, 2015 (Photo by Doug MacCash / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
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.
KEARNEY  Paul Kenney claimed a strong victory, while Marsha Fangmeyer squeaked past Mary George to reach the general election in the University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 6 race.

Kenney received 18,029 votes in Tuesdays primary. Fangmeyer received 8,740 votes to 8,574 for George. Fangmeyer advanced by 166 votes.

Kenney of Amherst credited his success to a reputation built through community service organizations and 16 years spent on the Amherst Board of Education.

That probably helped me more than anything else, Kenney said.

Kenney is a farmer and agribusinessman, president of KAAPA Ethanol and chair of the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

In April, Kenney was endorsed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Kenney spent nearly $21,000 on his regents campaign, according to data from the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

Fangmeyer and George have not filed campaign spending reports with the NADC. Candidates do not have to disclose this information until they receive or spend $5,000 in a year.

If elected, Kenney said, his goals as regent will be to keep tuition affordable, get Nebraska high school students to attend schools in the NU system, and keep those graduates in state.

We need to keep those students here and build Nebraskas economy, Kenney said.

Fangmeyer of Gibbon said that she was pleased with her victory and is looking ahead to the general election in November.

An attorney at the law firm of Knapp, Fangmeyer, Aschwege, Besse & Marsh, she has not held public office. Fangmeyer previously served as [resident of the Nebraska Bar Association.

Fangmeyer received 1,469 votes in Buffalo County  compared to 3,691 for Kenney and 2,256 for George  but performed well in other counties in District 6.

District 6 covers 21 counties in central and eastern Nebraska, spreading from the borders of Kansas to South Dakota.

Fangmeyer said that she got her name out through yard signs and speaking anywhere that would allow me to speak.

She listed her goals as affordable tuition, ensuring that students graduate in four years to reduce student debt, inter-campus cooperation and coordination, building maintenance, and making NU accessible to all.

From the very beginning, Ive said that I want to make sure that our university is accessible to everyone in the state, whether youre the first person in your family to go to college or the fifth generation to go to college, she said.

George said that she was disappointed with the outcome of the race.

I was looking forward to serving the folks of Nebraska as a regent. However, I know that there are two strong candidates who will be able to serve in that position, and I will support them and continue to be interested in the University of Nebraska system and its growth and development, George said. I appreciate all of the support that I did receive from my friends and neighbors and folks who helped with my campaign, and I just want to say thank you to them.

Kenney and Fangmeyer are running to replace outgoing Regent Kent Schroeder of Kearney.

Schroeder was first elected to represent District 6 in 1998 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2010. Regents serve six-year terms.

The Board of Regents has eight elected members and four nonvoting student members, one from each NU campus.
Lincoln, Jefferson elementaries host kiosks for teaching kids natural science

Students at two after-school program sites in North Platte can play games to learn about one of Nebraskas most important industries: agriculture.

New kiosks at Jefferson and Lincoln elementary schools enable Kids Klub participants to play educational games on myamericanfarm.org, the website of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The kiosks were purchased with an $800 grant from the Lincoln County Farm Bureau and $1,200 from the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.

A lot of these kids dont come from farms, said Julie Hernandez, Kids Klub coordinator at Lincoln Elementary School. Theyre city kids.

Out of 60-63 students in the program, Hernandez said, maybe three come from agricultural families. Now after homework time, students can take turns and spend time together learning about planting, picking and selling crops. Other games let kids guess letters in an agriculture-related word, or match sounds and pictures.

For more photos, click here.

One recent games word was bridle, said Hernandez.

They thought bridle was bride or wedding or something, she said.

Another student who lives near horses tried to help her classmates to no avail, Hernandez said.

Fourth-graders at Lincoln Elementary School also have used the kiosk as part of an agricultural unit.

On Wednesday after school, some Lincoln Elementary Kids Klub participants gathered around the kiosk to answer trivia questions about global agriculture.

Its fun, said third-grader Asiah Harmon. Harmon said she learned how to plan a farm and all the things it goes through.

The games incorporate other subjects besides agriculture.

You really have to think, Harmon said. Theres science and math. Thats another reason why I like it.
Originally from Mackay, Queensland, Dane Gagai's Indigenous background is Torres Strait Islander.

"Culture to me is important because we need to recognise the traditional owners of the land, who are the Aboriginal people," Gagai said ahead of Round 10 of the NRL Telstra Premiership, which is Indigenous Round.

The Newcastle Knights star has been selected twice for the Indigenous All Stars and once for Queensland State of Origin.

"Growing up watching my dad play got me into rugby league  he was obviously my favourite player to watch. Then my cousin Josh Hoffman signed with the Brisbane Broncos and I knew that's what I wanted to do," Gagai said.

"I think the biggest name to come out of Mackay was Cathy Freeman. She was obviously one athlete who showed that you could make something of yourself coming out of Mackay.

"The difference rugby league makes in the Indigenous Round is raising awareness and closing the gap, bringing community together and recognising the traditional owners of the land."

Video - B1M3U4MzE6Oe1GzHc4x2P6eUy6837OqL
Hookers Mitch Rein and Josh Hodgson go head-to-head as the Dragons take on the Raiders in Round 10 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

These two No.9s are hardworking, grafting types. Solid in defence and scheming in attack. Rein has made more tackles than Hodgson so far in 2016 (382 to 310), but the Raiders rake has been more potent in attack with six try assists to Rein's none.

It is in attack where the Raiders look to have the upper hand, having scored 37 tries to the Dragons' 14 so far in 2016. When it comes to points conceded the teams are quite even with the Dragons allowing an average of 21 points per game and the Raiders 22 points.

This should be a close game to open Round 10. Which No.9 will come out on top?
For the last two years Jonathan Wright has been living more than 2000 kilometres away from his birthplace in Gilgandra, New South Wales, yet he continues to find ways to represent his Indigenous culture while in Auckland.

Speaking ahead of the NRL's annual Indigenous Round this weekend, Warriors utility back Wright gave an insight into how he maintains those links at a club dominated by strong Pacific and Maori influences.

"It's actually been quite easy, both cultures have very similar core values [to Indigenous people], with the Polynesian and Maori boys," Wright said.

"Coming over and transitioning to New Zealand has been quite easy and we can relate on certain subjects on life. The culture at the Warriors is one I join in pretty well with and do so quite easily.

"Every club I have been at it has been pretty high in terms of how the boys respect [Indigenous culture] and get involved with it.

"All clubs get involved now with jerseys, special days, community work and it's massive.

"It's a big thing the NRL is doing, they have been doing it for years now and all the players get involved."

Draw Widget - Round 10 - Panthers vs Warriors



Wright has strong Indigenous roots via his parents Victor and Tammy, with Victor helping to form the renowned NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout Carnival back in 1971.

"Both my parents are Indigenous, mum is from Gilroy in NSW and Dad is from the Dunghutti [Aboriginal group], so those are my two tribes," Wright said.

"I come from a big family, massive proud culture, and it's a big part of my life.

"This round is important to me and my family.

"I come from a massive family and rugby league is more important than anything."

Despite only two players at the Kiwi club identifying as Indigenous Australians, the Warriors work hard to respect the culture along with that of the Maori and Pacific players.

Last year when the club asked players to stage cultural acts as part of the pre-season program, both Wright and Matthew Allwood performed Aboriginal tribal dances.

Prop Jacob Lillyman said it's something the whole playing group enjoyed.

"Guys like Jono Wright  who is a very proud Indigenous man  we are always getting him to show us a few of his dance moves and that sort of thing," Lillyman told NRL.com.

"Obviously the majority of the players here are Maori and Pacific islanders, but we do have a couple of Indigenous boys and they make sure we remember it.

"It's good to have those guys around to bring a different aspect of it."

Video first featured at warriors.kiwi
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15 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Cincinnati-Style Chili

Cincinnati-style chili is celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 24.

By Danny Cross, Maija Zummo and CityBeat Staff Oct 24, 2022

Certain cities are in part defined by their native cuisines. Although at times stereotypical, one cannot debate the value of partaking in a hot slice of New York-style pizza in the Big Apple, a hunk of deep dish in Chicago or a greasy cheesesteak topped with Cheez Whiz in Philadelphia...
George Wolf was described on May 12, 1922, as "the Babe Ruth of bowling," but chickens might have had more reason to fear him than bowling pins did.

Wolf's appetite won him recognition in The Times at a bowling banquet held at Crip Binyon's restaurant in Cedar Lake to celebrate the victory of the Kiwanis Club over the Rotary Club.

"George Wolf, the Babe Ruth of bowling, last night broke all records at Crip Binyon's for chicken eating when he devoured eighteen legs, nine wings, four breasts, three backbones, two necks, one peck of potatoes, four pieces of cherry pie and three cups of coffee," the May 12, 1922, story in The Lake County Times began.

Wolf's story, while nauseating, might not be all that unusual today, in which competitive eating is considered an actual sport. Yes, there's an International Federation of Competitive Eating, overseen by Major League Eating.

Matt "the Megatoad" Stonie is considered the top-ranked competitive eater, having unseated Joey "Jaws" Chestnut as the reigning champion of the 2015 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

But let's get back to 1922 and George Wolf.

"On the return trip from Cedar Lake, Mr. Wolf's weight bent the axle of Bill McAleer's Ford," the story said.

"This morning Mr. Wolf was reported to be unconscious but breathing."

The Rotarians shared the pro-rated cost of Wolf's meal.

"It required the services of two waitresses to carry the chicken to George Wolf and another one to take the bones away," the story said.

That's the kind of detail that helps the reader envision the scene better. This helps, too:

"After the dinner the chef came into the dining room and asked permission to shake hands with Mr. Wolf.

"'I'm certainly pleased to meet you, Mr. Wolf,' said the chef. 'I would not have believed it possible for one man to eat so many chickens. I thought at first that all the Indiana ex-service men were having a state encampment and had stopped in here for dinner.'"

This being in 1922, that would have been World War I veterans  before the war was numbered.

A little farther from home, Sam Martin made the news on April 13, 1936, for eating 44 fried eggs to celebrate Easter. His previous mark was 50 in four hours.

"Sam said he was denied a new record when the cook became tired and put away her skillet," said the story in The Vidette-Messenger that day.

Martin weighed 148 pounds, the story noted. No axle damage from that weight!

"Recently he ate 30 bananas and frequently has consumed a half gallon of ice cream at one sitting," the story said.

Does that story about a half gallon of ice cream sound familiar? It did to me.

I mentioned Tony Primo in a previous blog post, written about crime in the Great Depression. The story about the ice cream binge was from January 1935, in The Times. Here's an excerpt:

"Two Quarts of Ice Cream is an Appetizer," said one headline that caught my eye. "Indiana Harbor claims one champion in the person of Tony Primo, popular auto salesman, who this week enjoyed himself when he devoured two quarts of ice cream at one sitting then went home to a large steak dinner," the story said. "Primo had a bet of one quart of ice cream with Andy Snyder and Snyder refused the bet unless Primo would eat the quart by himself. The young man proved capable and then bet Snyder two dollars that he could eat another. After finishing the second he went to a hearty dinner," the story concluded.
Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee for president, the veepstakes is ramping up.

Two Hoosiers have been mentioned by Politico as possible running mates  Sen. Dan Coats and Gov. Mike Pence.

Conventional wisdom  which has taken quite a beating in this crazy political season  says Trump needs someone with Capitol Hill savvy to help him get his legislative agenda through Congress.

The Indianapolis Star reported that Coats doesn't want the job and that a Pence campaign aide said he hasn't received any overtures from the Trump campaign.

Here's a good quote from the Indy Star story, and knowing Coats I believe it's true: "Senator Coats already has yuuuge plans for 2017  spending the summer at Wrigley Field cheering on the Cubs," said spokesman Matt Lahr.

As for Pence, it's true he did endorse Ted Cruz just before Indiana's primary, but he did so in a wishy washy way that complimented Trump. After Trump won Indiana last week, Pence endorsed Trump.

Pence is in a close re-election bid against Democrat John Gregg. If Pence would become Trump's running mate, that likely would turn over the governor's office to a Democrat. Another Republican would be so late to the race that it would be difficult to win.

To his credit and to Trump's advantage if he chooses him, Pence has plenty of experience in the House of Representatives, which he left to run for governor.

How about Hillary's running mate?

Hillary Clinton has yet to choose a running mate. It's a bit early to do so, despite Cruz jumping the gun with Carly Fiorina before the Indiana primary prompted Cruz to toss in his cards. Sanders still has a (long)shot at winning the Democratic nomination.

But speculation has already begun, with former Indiana senator Evan Bayh tossed out as a longshot by Bookmaker.eu. That gambling's favorite is Julian Castro.
Senior lecturer Diane Larson's classes in Computer Information Systems provide Indiana University Northwest students important tools for succeeding in courses throughout the university and in their careers.

And the university took notice of those efforts last month when she was among four teachers in the six-campus system to receive the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching during the Founders Day celebration in Bloomington.

The award was presented by Indiana University President Michael McRobbie at an April 8 Celebration of Distinguished Teaching dinner in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union.

"It was beautiful," she said of the event. "President McRobbie was so gracious."

IUN Chancellor William Lowe made the trip and sat with Larson and her family. "I'm so glad he was able to make the trip down," she said.

Larson's Introduction to Computing class  which often has a waiting list  offers hands-on training in word processing, databases, spreadsheets and presentations using real-world examples from area businesses and organizations. She also offers higher level classes in computer applications and logic.

"They're taking this beyond the undergrad to the graduate level, and hopefully applying it in the real world," she said.

Larson was appointed to the IUN faculty in 2002, while operating her computer training business, Compu-Train, in Merrillville. She had been an adjunct faculty member prior to that, and also taught at Purdue University Calumet.

"I always wanted to be a teacher," Larson said. "I always loved higher education."

The Computer Information System Department's classes are taken by students throughout the university, particularly as electronic record-keeping expands in areas such as health care, Larson said.

Students who major in the department's programs go on to become programmers, systems and database analysts, network engineers and Web developers  all projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to have higher than average employment growth in coming years.

The new area of data-mining and warehousing  popularly known as "Big Data"  is particularly lucrative, she said.

Larson said her experience in business  both as an owner and in computer-related positions at local steel mills  helps her in her role as a student adviser: "I take that experience, and let students know what companies in Northwest Indiana and Chicago are looking for."

Larson said she loves the opportunity to teach, and guide students through hands-on, technology-based lessons. That passion has led to "a rewarding career," and to last month's recognition.

"It's something I will cherish and remember the rest of my life," she said.
Nancy Riley was standing in the middle of a home improvement store when her cellphone rang and she got the news she had won a 2016 Chevy Malibu.

"I couldn't believe it," she said at The Times Media Co. Munster offices on Thursday. "I didn't know what to do. I thought, 'If I scream, people will wonder what's wrong with this woman.'"

But when you have 220,000 miles on your Chevy Trailblazer that's what you want to do. Instead, she called her husband.

Bill Riley was at work and told her he had just a minute to talk. Now he's glad he took the minute.

His wife was the winner of the Chevy Malibu Sweepstakes put on by the Northwest Indiana Chevrolet Dealers and The Times Media Co., a car giveaway now in its eighth year. It is one of only two car giveaways conducted by the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevrolet dealers each year, the other being the Blackhawks Chevrolet Camaro Giveaway.

Riley said she has Chevrolet in her blood, with her father, Frank O'Dea, selling the American brand for 40 years at Christenson Chevrolet up until the day he passed away in 2007. All of her cars have been Chevrolets. And now she has the Malibu.

Sales of the all-new, redesigned Malibu are up 55 percent this year in the Greater Chicagoland area, making it the best-selling mid-size sedan in the entire region, according to Mike Hillstrom, executive director for the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevrolet Dealers.

"It has a new powertrain, a new design, it has connectivity, OnStar and all that," said Smith Motors Auto Group owner Tim Roper. "It brings a whole new look and a whole new style."

The annual Malibu Sweepstakes creates excitement for auto dealers as well as the Times Media Co., said Joe Battistoni, vice president of sales at The Times.

"There's been a buzz around here all week, because everyone knows its the week we give away the car," Battistoni said as the keys were being handed over to Riley.

Entries could be filled out at nwi.com or in the newspaper and totaled 13,137 this year, which was a significant increase as compared to last year, Battistoni said.

Riley said she had entered in the hopes of winning one of the pairs of Blackhawk tickets that are given out as part of the contest during March and April. Her husband is a big fan, going to games at the United Center when he can and catching almost all the rest on television.

"I wanted to surprise him with Blackhawks tickets," Riley said. "But I surprised him with a new car instead."
As steel tariffs were kicking in, total steel imports fell 35 percent to 9.9 million net tons over the first four months of this year, perhaps providing some relief to battered American steelmakers.

Finished steel imports dropped by 33 percent to 8.4 million net tons over the same period, according to the U.S. Commerce Departments most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis data. South Korea, Turkey and Japan have been sending the most steel to the United States.

South Korean steel exports to the United States however have been down by 49 percent over the first four months as compared to the same period in 2015, and imports from Turkey have been down by 26 percent over the same period.

A flood of imports have resulted in 13,500 steelworker layoffs last year, and the idling of mills like East Chicago Tin and Granite City Works in Illinois. Imports captured a record 29 percent of the market share last year, more than when most domestic steelmakers went bankrupt and disappeared in the early 2000s.

In April, steel imports totaled 2.4 million net tons, a 20 percent decrease from March.

The U.S. Commerce Departments data showed import permit tonnage was 2 million tons in April, a 2 percent decline from March.

However, some segments saw increased imports. Hot-rolled bar imports were up 40 percent in April, and line pipe rose by 30 percent. Cold-rolled sheets, structural pipe and tube and standard pipes were all up by double digits.
A strong gas-like smell has left residents in East Chicago and Hammond with burning eyes, throats and noses.

Authorities got more than 40 calls about smells of natural gas, diesel fuel and sulfur between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday, said Ronald Novak, Hammond Department of Environmental Management director. The odor seemed to be concentrated in East Chicago and east Hammond, especially Hessville, and blew down from the north.

Residents described it as a "terrible smell" that "smells like a horrible chemical being released." People also reported smelling it Wednesday in Dyer, Griffith, Highland, Munster and Schererville, officials said.

Hammond contacted the BP Whiting Refinery and the Safety-Kleen re-refinery in East Chicago, but neither reported having any problems.

"Whiting is running normally and did not have any issues late yesterday," BP spokesman Michael Abendhoff said. "We do not believe the odors are coming from our facility."

NIPSCO servicemen responded to numerous calls across the Region, but the company had not confirmed the source of the odor or that it was natural-gas related as of Thursday afternoon, spokeswoman Kathleen Szot said.

However, anyone who thinks they smell natural gas should call NIPSCO's 24-hour gas emergency number at (800) 634-3524, she said.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management opened an investigation into the smell, but was unable to track down its origin, spokesman Barry Sneed said.

"It dissipated before we were able to find a specific source," he said.

IDEM does not regulate unpleasant odors, but they could be indicative of a leak or problem with industrial equipment that could point to a larger environmental issue, Sneed said.

Such odors are a nuisances and also a burden on public safety, since firefighters get called out needlessly, Novak said.
When Gershwin wrote Rhapsody in Blue in 1924, the world had never heard a piano concerto like this and there still has never been another like it.
MICHIGAN CITY  Twice convicted of raping girls as a juvenile, a now 41-year-old man faces the strong possibility of never getting out of prison for molesting and taking nude pictures of a young child.

Kevin Hoffman was given the maximum 50-year sentence Thursday for molesting the girl repeatedly in Michigan City starting when she was 5.

The sentence was ordered consecutive to the 25 years in a federal prison he was already serving for taking pornographic images of the girl on his cellphone.

According to authorities, the molestation happened on a regular basis until the girl was 6 when police got involved after someone living in the home picked up his cell phone to make a call images of the girl naked and blindfolded popped up on the screen.

LaPorte County Deputy Prosecutor Cathy Hurst said Hoffman was living with the girl's mother at the time.

Had it not been for the pornography being discovered, Hurst believes the girl would have told anyone.

While living in Michigan, Hoffman when he was 12 and 15 raped two girls, one at knifepoint, in Saginaw County and was sentenced to a correctional facility for children, authorities said.

After the images of the girl were discovered, she said Hoffman fled to an ex-wife in St. John prior to being taken into custody.

When the decision was made to charge him in federal court for having child pornography, a decision was made not to try him at the local level on the molesation charge.

After John Espar took over as LaPorte County prosecutor in 2015, he chose to refile the child molesting case against Hoffman to try and prevent him from ever getting out.

"Serving out the rest of his natural life in prison, I think, is the appropriate result for the likes of Kevin Hoffman," Espar said.
EAST CHICAGO  A man who drove off the Cline Avenue Bridge filed a civil lawsuit in Lake Superior Court alleging officials didnt place proper signage informing motorists the highway was shuttered, according to court records.

Iftikhar Hussain was driving with his wife, Zohra Hussain, 51, on March 28, 2015, to Indiana from Illinois on Cline Avenue when he realized the road was coming to an end. According to court records, Hussain tried to brake, but he was unable to stop his 2014 Nissan Sentra.

The couple plunged nearly 40 feet to the ground before their car burst into flames. Zohra Hussain, 51, of Chicago, was killed in the crash. Iftikhar Hussain had a fractured spine, eye socket and had burns on his arms, legs and head.

Police at the time said Iftikhar Hussain was following GPS navigation that told him to continue on Cline Avenue Bridge, though it has been closed since 2009. Information about if he was following instructions from a GPS werent included in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit names the Indiana Department of Transportation, Figg Bridge Builders, United Bridge Partners, Figg Bridge Engineers, Linda Figg, the state of Indiana and Walsh Construction Co.

Attorney Timothy Schafer on behalf of Iftikhar Hussain alleges officials were careless and negligent in properly placing barricades or concrete barriers that would have prevented drivers from getting on the bridge.

The lawsuit also claims officials did not provide adequate warnings the bridge was closed or about road conditions, according to the lawsuit. It also alleges officials didnt monitor, supervise and inspect the area to ensure that vehicles couldnt travel onto the bridge.

In a photo submitted as part of the complaint, there is space between concrete barriers that appears large enough for a car to maneuver through.

Doug Moats, spokesman for INDOT, said the department was reviewing the complaint.

INDOT does not generally comment on pending litigation, so we do not have anything to say at this time, Moats said.

Last year, INDOT officials said at least one concrete barrier and one sign were moved sometime before the crash.

The Cline Avenue Bridge was first condemned in 2009 after engineers deemed it was gravely weakened. It was demolished in 2013. INDOT turned the right of way to Figg Group in a land swap.

Last month, officials announced the long-awaited construction on the bridge would start later this month, which is expected to cost $150 million to $250 million.

Officials from Figg Group did not return calls seeking comment about the lawsuit.
CROWN POINT  After serving two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army, Reid Narjes came back home and was arrested in 2008 on suspicion of driving while drunk.

By 2013, he picked up a second charge accusing him of driving while intoxicated. This time, Narjes enrolled in the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court. On Wednesday, he along with nine other men graduated from the program that lasted 18 to 24 months.

Lake County officials were on hand to recognize the 10 men who were the first group to graduate from the specialized court program that was started in 2014. The ceremony included traditions associated with the military such as posting of colors and a bag piper.

Lake Superior Judge Julie Cantrell runs the program, which provides an opportunity for charges to be dismissed if veterans complete the program. It takes a holistic approach to resolving nonviolent criminal charges against defendants who have served in a branch of the U.S. military.

Defendants like Narjes were assigned a mentor, a fellow veteran, who appeared with them in court along with their attorney. Officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also were in court and chimed in when questions arose about services they need.

Porter Superior Court Judge Julia Jent runs a similar program for veterans. Next week, a group of veterans in that program is expected to undergo a similar graduation.

While Narjes' case was pending, he completed a CNA certificate at Ivy Tech Community College and is pursing a master's degree. His goal is to treat soldiers and veterans.

He attended the ceremony after working a midnight shift at an area hospital, and he had to return to work Wednesday night. He said the graduation marked a new beginning for him.

"I managed all the stuff I went through instead of self-medicating," Narjes said.

Cantrell told the crowd gathered inside the auditorium of the Lake County Government Center that establishing the veterans court program was her greatest accomplishment in her 20 years on the bench.

After the program, Cantrell said she interacts more candidly with the veterans than she typically does in court. There are still 43 veterans in the program, and an additional 20 are awaiting evaluation to be admitted to the court.

"It's nice to see it to fruition," she said.

One of the men she got to know was Waldo Bryant, 79, who died two weeks before graduation. She commented to the crowd how he always wore his best overalls to the hearings.

"I miss the old guy, I really do," Cantrell said.

His son, Waldo Bryant III, accepted the plaque during the graduation. He said his father was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1958. Angela Jones said in recent years their father had gotten older and didn't know his limits to using alcohol. That's what led to a charge of operating while intoxicated.

They said their father enjoyed getting the small gifts the court gave defendants who completed certain milestones. He also stopped drinking alcohol.

Jones said the program helped her family when their father became ill earlier this year, and also helped with the details of planning his funeral.

Johnnie Watson, 69, of Calumet Township, also joined the program after he was charged with operating while intoxicated. Watson said the program has kept him busy with court hearings and various appointments.

"It's been a long, hard thing," he said, wearing his U.S. Marines uniform. "I was the first one picked for the program and was the first to graduate."
CROWN POINT  A woman accused of shooting to death two Gary brothers still has not hired an attorney.

Jeri Woods, 34, of Gary, appeared Thursday in front of Lake County Criminal Judge Diane Boswell wearing a green Lake County Jail uniform.

Before her case was called, defense attorney Scott King told Boswell that Woods' family has scheduled a meeting with him, but he has not officially taken her case.

Boswell told Woods she was going to ask the public defender's conflicts section to assign an attorney to the case in the interim.

Woods is accused of pulling the trigger as Arreon T. Lackey, 18, and Antonio D. Lackey, 16, were forced to kneel and face each other on a rural, wooded property in the 7000 block of Grand Boulevard in Hobart, police said. The brothers each died from a single gunshot wound.

Woods and six other co-defendants are accused of forcing the brothers out of a motel room on June 26, 2015. Their bodies weren't found until July 17, 2015.

She was charged last September with two counts of murder, two counts of murder in the perpetration of kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping.

Woods evaded police until she was tracked in late February to Dallas where she was arrested. She was brought to Lake County in March to face the murder charges.

Also charged in the homicides are Kiontay L. Cason, Aarion J. Greenwood, Michelle F. Hughes, David Johnson V, David Johnson IV and David Johnson III. Many of the defendants in the case are related to one another.

Woods' next court hearing is scheduled for May 19.
MICHIGAN CITY  A 16-year-old was arrested Wednesday morning in a drug raid at his home in the city's Eastport area, police said.

Derek A. Lott III, of the 800 block of Cleveland Avenue, was charged with two counts of dealing narcotics and one count of dangerous possession of a firearm, police said.

Lott was automatically waived to adult court because he has a prior arrest involving a firearm, police Sgt. Ken Drake said.

Police recovered suspected cocaine, ballistic body armor, a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia in the raid about 5 a.m., according to a news release.

Police obtained a search warrant after receiving complaints about drug activity involving a person known as "Lil Lord," who was later identified as Lott, police said.

The Police Department's Street Crimes Unit was able to make multiple controlled drug purchases in the case, the release said.

Lott was being held on a $15,000 cash only bail. His next court appearance is set for May 17.

Anyone with information about drug activity, crimes or fugitives can call the department's crime tip line at (219) 873-1488.
MERRILLVILLE  After more than five years as Merrillville's 3rd Ward town councilwoman, Carol Miano has decided to resign from the position.

Miano said a number of reasons and events in her life, including a series of health issues, contributed to her decision to vacate her council seat. Her resignation is effective Sunday.

She said vacating her council seat was difficult, but serving in the position is something she can no longer continue. She has been absent from council meetings since October.

In her resignation letter, Miano thanked community officials for their support.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve our town, state and country, Miano read from the letter.

Miano has been the 3rd Ward representative on the Town Council since 2011, and she has twice been its president. She initially began serving in the position to fulfill the remainder of the term of former Councilman Lance Huish after he resigned from the council.

Earlier this year, Miano stepped down as the chairwoman of the Merrillville-Ross Township Democratic precinct organization. She had held that position since 2006. Councilwoman Chrissy Barron was later selected to serve as the organization's chairwoman.

Miano said she is pleased with what she has been able to accomplish in Merrillville, including acquiring property for a future park and helping to bring improvements to 73rd Avenue and Madison Street.

She also organized and hosted numerous town events.

Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey and Council President Richard Hardaway said Miano has been an asset to the community, and she has done outstanding work to assist senior citizens in Merrillville.

Miano in past years hosted numerous programs for seniors. A popular event was an annual shot and a beer program in which seniors received flu shots and root beer.

Guernsey said Miano is a caring person, and she has worked hard to help her community.

I hate seeing her go, he said.

Hardaway said he appreciates all the years of service from Miano.

We wish her nothing but the best, and she will always be in our prayers, Hardaway said.

It isn't certain when a caucus would take place to fill the vacant 3rd Ward council seat.

Sheriff John Buncich, the Lake County Democratic Party chairman, couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
LAPORTE  Gov. Mike Pence told a roomful of LaPorte County Republicans Wednesday night that voters have a choice between continuing to move Indiana forward or going backwards when they go to the polls in November.

Pence is facing what's expected to be a close race in his bid for a second term from Democrat John Gregg, who came within a few percentage points of defeating the governor in the race nearly four years ago.

"I'm not going down without a fight," said Pence, who vowed to combat critics of his record with the record Gregg achieved during his run as a state representative from 1986 to 2002.

He said the state during the period Gregg was the Democratic speaker of the House from 1996 to 2002 went from a $2 billion surplus in the general fund to an $800 million deficit.

He called his two-term predecessor Mitch Daniels a "great governor" and during the last 12 years "we've transformed the destiny of the state."

Pence said more Hoosiers than ever before are working and cited Indiana's ranking in CEO Magazine as the best state to do business and fifth best to start a business.

He said 130,000 net new jobs have been created in Indiana the last three years and the state's unemployment rate has dropped from 8 percent to 5 percent.

He vowed to continue furthering tax relief and other financial incentives for businesses and expressed a belief that "Indiana can take its place as the undisputed leader in the Midwest."

Gregg, on the other hand, opposed tax relief for "job creators" while serving in the Legislature, he said.

"We can either accelerate on the success we've experienced or we can literally go the other way," said Pence, who added his detractors cast in a negative light his record in hope of gaining an advantage in the campaign.

"And I like to tell people that's half right. This race is about my record and I'm going to talk about my record for the next six months, but this race is also about his record and Speaker John Gregg has a record and we're going to make sure everyone in the state of Indiana knows the difference between his record and mine."

Pence also expressed a commitment to keep growing career tech and vocational training opportunities in the schools, programs now offered in all 92 counties

Pence was the featured speaker at the annual LaPorte County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner attended by close to 200 people at Heston Hills, a banquet hall in the northern part of the county.
ST. JOHN  Just call him King Jacob.

Thats the new nickname for 18-year-old senior Jacob Kiefor, who on Saturday was named Lake Central High Schools prom king.

Kiefor, born with Down syndrome, has a smile that lights up his bright blue eyes when he talks about that night.

Wow. I was shocked. I actually did it. ... Its a good memory, Kiefor said.

His prom date, Camryn Halfeldt, a junior, said she and Kiefors younger sister, Jessi Kiefor, launched a social media campaign prior to the prom to promote Jacob for prom king.

Their campaign coupled with Jacobs popularity earned him a shot at the crown. He was one of five seniors nominated by teachers.

The announcement of his victory was met with a raucous round of cheers, applause and congratulations, Halfeldt said.

Everyone was screaming. I gave him a big hug, she said.

Melanie Bennitt, Kiefors mother, said her son has always been a very social person even as a young child.

He loves everybody and will go up to complete strangers and ask them how their day was, Bennitt said.

As a parent, Bennitt said she has always worried about her son and the reaction from others to his disability.

Bennitt credits the Lake Central School Corp., where Kiefor has attended since he was 3, for maintaining what she called a wonderful environment.

As a mom you always worry hes going to be picked on and its been the complete opposite, Bennitt said.

Bennitt said the entire school district has embraced Kiefor.

Its not like it used to be when I was in school. They look out for him and protect him, Bennitt said.

Edward Beck, the high schools assistant principal, said Kiefor is one of the most popular at a high school of some 3,200 students.

Hes so well liked by students and staff that hes the unofficial mayor, Beck said.

Halfeldt said she and Kiefor became friends through a high school organization called Best Buddies, in which special needs students are paired with other students to socialize and play games.

The invitation to the prom grew from that bond.

After Kiefor was crowned king and fellow senior Melanie Stepanovic named queen, the remainder of the night was filled with dancing at the Halls of St. George in Schererville, Halfeldt said.

He danced the entire night, Halfeldt said.

When we had our first dance, after the crowning, he turned to me and said, Thank you for making my dreams come true,  Halfeldt said.

Kiefor, who graduates from Lake Central in a couple of weeks, hopes to travel this summer with family members to either Texas or California.

Hell be enrolled in a transition assistance program this fall to help him make the transition from high school to a career, with his hopes of working in an office with his own desk.

He wants to get a career and live his life like everyone else, Bennitt said.

Kiefor said he hopes his experience with being named high school prom king will serve as an inspiration to others like him who are born with disabilities.

People like us with Down syndrome ... this is your time to shine, Kiefor said.
HOBART  Tearing down walls, real and invisible, that separate people requires cooperation, communication and a willingness to become engaged in building community, panelists said during a community forum Tuesday evening.

Eliminating systemic racism and re-visioning racial justice in Northwest Indiana also must begin with one-to-one conversations, and one place to start is in the home.

Those conversations and that passionate message resounded throughout the meeting space at Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart in the first in a series of community discussions, Tearing Down the Walls/Building Community.

Sponsored by the First Unitarian Church of Hobart, the community discussion drew dozens of area residents to engage with five panelists. They included Vanessa Allen, president/CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana; Samuel Love, an educator, artist and community organizer based in Gary; the Rev. Cheryl Rivera of East Chicagos Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and executive director of the Northwest Indiana Federation of Interfaith Organizations; Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor; and Hobart Police Chief Richard Zormier.

The Rev. Scott Aaseng of the First Unitarian Church of Hobart moderated the discussion and Hobart Police Capt. Gregory Viator provided information about Hobart police statistics as part of the question-and-answer period with the audience.

Anthony McCloud, who works at Cargill in Hammond, said he attended the forum to get some experience. Diversity  thats what our strength is.

For Maggie Reister Walters, board president at First Unitarian Church of Hobart, the forum was a joyful task of community building.

Aaseng asked three questions of each panelist who answered from her or his viewpoint and experience: What is your vision for racial justice in Northwest Indiana? What are the obstacles to racial justice? What can we do to overcome those obstacles?

My vision for racial justice is to begin a pro-active method for communication with people who are different, said Allen, who became the Urban Leagues leader in 2010 and with the help of the board of directors expanded the organization into Porter and LaPorte counties.

We all want the same things, she said.

Love said he envisions racial justice looking like his own childhood where my friends were all shades. It was like a little UN  Martin Luther King talked about the beloved community. We are building it, but we need everyone.

Racial justice might look like my family, said Rivera, who was raised in southeastern Georgia. My husband is first generation Puerto Rican. My daughter-in-law is from Iran. My sons-in-law are Jamaican-Chinese and Honduran.

Throughout the event, Rivera emphasized the need to build relationships across racial, class, religious and geographical lines. Talking about racism and justice for all tends to be uncomfortable, she said, yet it inspires one-to-one conversations.

Snedecor said this is not a black and white issue and that the roots of true justice start in the home  Look in the mirror. He also recommended a three-prong approach  home, community and schools and said job opportunities and education are paramount, especially for our young people.

From the policing perspective, Zormier said I truly feel racial justice would be greater respect and trust among all people and that all police activities would begin and end with mutual respect and trust.
MIAMI  An online gun auction website said Thursday that it wants no part in a plan by former Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman to sell the pistol he used to kill unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.

A listing for the weapon was removed from the GunBroker.com site minutes after the auction was to begin Thursday, as negative traffic about the sale exploded online. In a statement posted on its website, GunBroker.com said listings are user generated, and that the company reserved the right to reject listings at its discretion.

"Mr. Zimmerman never contacted anyone at GunBroker.com prior to or after the listing was created and no one at (the website) has any relationship with Zimmerman," the company wrote in its statement.

It added, "We want no part in the listing on our web site or in any of the publicity it is receiving."

Critics called the planned auction an insensitive move to profit from the slaying.

Zimmerman had told Orlando, Florida, TV station WOFL that the pistol was returned to him by the U.S. Justice Department, which took it after he was acquitted in Martin's 2012 shooting death.

The auction for the 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol was to begin at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday and end 24 hours later.

Zimmerman's listing had said a portion of the proceeds would go toward fighting what Zimmerman calls violence by the Black Lives Matter movement against law enforcement officers, combatting anti-gun rhetoric of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ending the career of state attorney Angela Corey, who led Zimmerman's prosecution.

The listing ended with a Latin phrase that translates as "if you want peace, prepare for war."

Zimmerman, now 32, has said he was defending himself when he killed Martin, 17, in a gated community near Orlando. Martin, who lived in Miami with his mother, was visiting his father at the time.

Zimmerman, who identifies as Hispanic, was acquitted in Martin's February 2012 shooting death. The case sparked protests and a national debate about race relations. The Justice Department later decided not to bring a civil rights case against Zimmerman.

Lucy McBath, the mother of another black teenager shot by a white man during an argument at a Jacksonville convenience store in 2012, said the auction reflected a "deplorable lack of value for human life."

"I am deeply disappointed that the man who killed Trayvon Martin is trying to sell the very gun he used to cut that precious life short to raise money," McBath said in a written statement.

The slaying of her son, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, by Michael Dunn drew parallels at the time to the Zimmerman-Martin case. Dunn told police he had felt threatened by Davis. Unlike Zimmerman, Dunn was convicted of murder.

Since Zimmerman was acquitted, he has been charged with assault based on complaints from two girlfriends. Both women later refused to press charges and Zimmerman wasn't prosecuted. His estranged wife, Shellie Zimmerman, also accused him of smashing her iPad during an argument days after she filed divorce papers. No charges were filed because of lack of evidence. They were divorced in January.

Orlando-based attorney Mark O'Mara has previously represented Zimmerman. A receptionist in O'Mara's office said Thursday that he no longer represents Zimmerman and had no comment.

Martin's parents both declined to address Zimmerman's actions in statements made through representatives.

Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said through an attorney that she would rather focus on her work with the Trayvon Martin Foundation than respond to "Zimmerman's actions."

Daryl Parks, whose firm represented the Martin family during the trial, is now chairman of Fulton's foundation. He says Fulton is pushing for policies that protect youth and address gun violence.

Fulton also founded the Circle of Mothers conference, a three-day event to help mothers who have "lost children or family members" to gun violence. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the event in Fort Lauderdale starting May 20.

In the auction listing, Zimmerman cited strong interest from collectors including "The Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC."

Smithsonian spokesman John Gibbons denied any interest.

"The Smithsonian has never expressed an interest in collecting this firearm and has no intention of collecting or displaying this firearm," Gibbons said.
VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis said Thursday he is willing to create a commission to study whether women can be deacons in the Catholic Church, signaling openness to letting women serve in ordained ministry currently reserved to men.

Francis agreed to a proposal to create an official study commission during a closed-door meeting with some 900 superiors of women's religious orders in Rome for their triennial assembly.

Deacons are ordained ministers but are not priests, though they can perform many of the same functions as priests: preside at weddings, baptisms and funerals, and preach. They cannot, however, celebrate Mass.

Currently, married men  who are also mostly excluded from the Roman Catholic priesthood  can serve as deacons. Women cannot, though historians say women served as deacons in the early Church.

The pope in no way signaled during a 75-minute conversation with the sisters that the church's longstanding prohibition on women priests will change. But asked if he would be willing to create a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons, Francis said he was open to the idea, according to the National Catholic Reporter and Catholic News Service, which had reporters in the audience hall.

The publications quoted Francis as saying: "I accept. It would be useful for the church to clarify this question. I agree."

Vatican Radio also reported on the pope's comments.

Francis noted that the deaconesses of the early church weren't ordained as they are today. But he said he would ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to report back on studies that have been done on the issue, Catholic News Service said.

Francis also said he would ask another Vatican office that is in charge of the liturgy to explain more fully why women aren't allowed to give a homily at Mass. Women can only preach at services where people do not receive communion.

Gary Diocese Bishop Donald Hying, when contacted by The Times, said it's too early to comment on the decision by Francis to create a study commission.

The Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women priests, praised Francis' willingness to create a study commission as a "great step for the Vatican in recognizing its own history."

"Biblical evidence names several women deacons, working alongside men in the early Church including: Phoebe, St. Olympias, Dionysia, St. Radegund and St. Macrina," the group said in a statement.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author, said reviving women deacons would benefit the whole church.

"The female diaconate is not only an idea whose time has come, but a reality recovered from history," he said in an email. "This is news of immense joy for the church."

From the start of his pontificate, Francis has insisted that women must have a greater decision-making role in the life of the church, while reaffirming that they cannot be priests. He has said repeatedly that he values the "feminine genius," that there's no reason why a woman couldn't head certain Vatican offices and that the church hierarchy would do well to hear more from women because they simply see things differently to men.

But history's first Latin American pope has also hit a few sour notes with women, calling Europe an infertile "grandmother," urging nuns not to be "old maids" and once terming new female members of the world's leading theological commission as "strawberries on the cake."

On Thursday, he drew round after round of applause as he spoke freely with the sisters, asking them to challenge him and lamenting how so often nuns find themselves working as "servants" for priests, bishops and cardinals in ways that "undervalue their dignity."

The sisters cheered when he suggested that priests should instead pay local women to do the housework so that the sisters could teach, care for the poor and heal the sick, Catholic News Service said.

"I like hearing your questions because they make me think," CNS quoted Francis as saying. "I feel like a goalie, who is standing there waiting for the ball and not knowing where it's going to come from."
Gordon Biffle Jr. used to prepare food in the kitchen and pretend he was doing his own "Food Network" show.

Now he's on TV.

Biffle, the co-owner of Big Daddy's BBQ in Gary and Hammond, has cooked his signature barbecue on "The Steve Harvey Show," "Windy City Live" and several other Chicago-based programs.

He started barbecuing outside his Gary home, where passersby would stop to buy his meat. Then he sold it at a church next to a flea market. Then he opened a restaurant. Then another. Then he and his wife both quit their jobs to focus on the business.

Biffle, who now lives in Winfield, since has won several awards for his barbecue. In addition, he has begun to mass produce his sauces and seasonings, and hopes to open a food truck and a Crown Point-area restaurant soon. Along the way, he has promoted himself tirelessly on traditional media (television and print) and new media (Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat).

"I always said 'I'm not going to work as hard no more,' when I left my other job," said Biffle, 45. "I come to find I work even harder. At 3 a.m., I'm always thinking about the restaurants, the issues we have, how to solve them."

More people 'take a shot'

Biffle is part of the newest generation of entrepreneurs in the Region, business owners who have to be more technology and media savvy than their predecessors.

They're also a diverse bunch, as companies are more likely than ever to be owned by women or minorities. According to government figures released in December, the number of minority-owned firms in the U.S. rose to 8 million in 2012 from 5.8 million in 2007. Meanwhile, the number of women-owned businesses was at 9.8 million in 2012, an increase of 2 million from five years earlier.

With the prospect of steady work no longer a guarantee, even for college graduates, Northwest Indiana residents are increasingly going it alone.

"It seems like more people are willing to take a shot at starting their own company," said Dushan Nikolovski, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Success at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond. "Whether it's because of the way corporations are changing, the downsizing, there is a greater entrepreneurial spirit in young people."

But he noted that success takes preparation. Eighty percent of startups fail within the first 18 months, he said, so researching whether there's a market for your product or service is essential. He added that with the rapid speed of change in the economy, written business plans are essentially obsolete.

"Companies like Apple and Zappos and Google, they've always had the ability to see what the market needs and have the ability to adapt. Startups should have the ability to adapt," he said.

With the decline in American manufacturing, small businesses play a bigger role in the economy than ever before. So you don't have to start the next ArcelorMittal to make a difference.

"Certainly we'd love to have more steel mills open up, but where would they open in the Region?" Nikolovski said. "More public and private funding should go toward helping startups and small businesses regionally."

Cleaning up in business

Breanne Stover, of Crown Point, started her company, Our Space Textile Hive, after getting laid off from her job at the mills. Needing income quickly, she thought back to the laundry bags full of dirty work uniforms she would always see at job sites. She started asking if she could wash them.

She rented out a laundromat that had gone out of business. Later, she expanded her business to bars, restaurants and mechanic shops. She began selling her own industrial work wear and uniforms. She bought a Navy laundry facility and moved it to Griffith.

Stover's story is illustrative of the new economy. She graduated with a pre-med degree, then decided, after doing an internship, that she no longer wanted to work in medicine. So she went into sales for a large corporation, was laid off and had no choice but to go into business for herself.

"It was out of necessity," she said.

She's glad the chance arose. The freedom allows her to spend more time with her kids. She gets to create opportunity for others, employing about a dozen people. She's able to come up with ideas and put them into practice, a rewarding experience.

A few years ago, she learned the importance of diversifying. When the economy crashed in 2008 and the steel industry declined with it, she had to find other avenues of income. That led her to start customizing apparel for employers, allowing her creative side to flourish.

"I think at first I was probably afraid to make mistakes," said Stover, 33. "I have learned over the years if you're making mistakes at least you're getting an education out of it. My failures have been my education."

A family-fit enterprise

Despite being raised in a family of entrepreneurs, Feras Musleh, of Crown Point, didn't always dream of running his own business. But after working in the corporate world, he realized its impersonal feel just wasn't for him.

So in 2013, he teamed with his father and brother to start an Anytime Fitness franchise in LaPorte. He had worked out at that gym in college, loving how it was open 24 hours, never packed and catered to adults.

Three years later, he's set to open his fifth location, in Lemont, Illinois.

"Once I started working for corporate America I just figured, I don't want to work for a big company, I want to work for something smaller. You feel more valued as a member of a small organization," said Musleh, 30. "I don't necessarily have to work for myself; we always have to work for someone. I just wanted to stay small. I like the whole family-owned and -operated thing."

It's the same reason he works with small, community banks: Because, as a customer, you actually get to talk to the decision-makers.

Musleh hopes to have 10 locations by the end of 2017, and also diversify into other businesses, like supplement sales.

While he still visits his gyms, technology allows him to run them from his computer in Crown Point, an opportunity that didn't exist decades ago. For entrepreneurs, other things haven't changed.

"The whole aspect of putting in the time and work, that's still the same," Musleh said. "It's not for everyone. It's a 24-7 gig. You don't get days off like if you were an employee. You have to love what you do. You have to live it."
A popular public plaza in Queens has become overrun with rats, and some residents are blaming their neighbors and the city. NY1's Ruschell Boone has the exclusive report.



People are used to seeing rats, but not like this: dozens of them darting back and forth inside the gated section of Corona Plaza.

It's a popular hangout for residents and their children, but on Monday, the rats seemed excited to be here, too.

They were everywhere. Like, by where the bushes are. Just coming back in, running in and out. It was just nasty, said Leslie San Martin, who shot cellphone video of the rats.



San Martin was walking to the 7 train at 103rd Street and Roosevelt Avenue on Monday when she heard the squeals.

"At first, I thought I saw a squirrel, and I was really kind of going crazy," she said.

It's not uncommon to see rats in this community, but people were surprised to see them so brazenly out in the open.

"A lot of families. It was entire families, kids around, because yesterday was nice weather and the rats were right there. Like, it was daytime. So this is incredible," said one woman who saw the rats.



The women said they called 311, but got the run-around.

"They said 10 or 20 days," one of the women said.

Two men took matters into their own hands after that, shoving dirt into dozens of holes to clog up the burrows. But it was clearly a temporary fix. They were back at it on Tuesday, and that's when NY1 reached out to the city.



The Parks Department referred the matter to the Department of Health, where a spokesperson said the problem would be addressed.

On Wednesday, there were inspectors and exterminators on hand for an emergency baiting.

The Health Department says it takes the infestation "very seriously." In a statement, the agency added, "In partnership with NYC Parks we have been baiting Corona Plaza regularly; the most recent baitings at this location were conducted on April 30, May 1 and yesterday."

It also said that workers would "continue to bait and monitor the area.

Some residents also want the city to crack down on people who litter.



"The people eat over here on the street. They throw inside," said one man who help plug up the holes.



"There are food vendors who shouldn't really be on the street because once they're done selling everything that they brought, they throw all the litter on the floor," San Martin said.

After NY1 reached out to the Sanitation Department, they told us they would send an officer to the area as well.


A Long Island man was shot by police in Queens on Wednesday night after he pointed a loaded gun at officers, according to investigators.

Police say they spotted Ramell Lockwood, 34, running red lights along Hollis Avenue in Queens Village just before 11 p.m. and pulled him over near 217th Street.

As they were speaking with Lockwood, investigators say he tried to drive away.

An NYPD sergeant jumped into the car and went for about a block before the car stopped.

Police said Lockwood got out and pointed a loaded gun at the sergeant, saying "I'm ready to die."

That's when the sergeant shot him in the leg.

Lockwood has been taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. He faces charges that include Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

A resident who spoke with NY1 at the scene supported the police's actions.

"I say they act the right way. Because it could've been, he could've got out of the vehicle and shooted them. They are family members too. You wouldn't wanna watch the news and see your husband - a cop - laying on the street killed by someone else. So, they acted the right way," said Queens Village resident.



Police recovered a .40 caliber Glock 26 semi-automatic gun at the scene.



Officers engaged an armed suspect following a car stop and recovered this loaded gun. pic.twitter.com/LnVRpGLgNo  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 12, 2016

They also say an officer was bitten on the arm by the suspect while taking him into custody.

The officer, along with three others, was treated at a hosptial and released.
Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is set to be sentenced Thursday after being convicted on corruption charges. Zack Fink filed the following report.



Dean Skelos was once one of the most powerful men in New York State, but on Thursday, he faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence for his corruption conviction last year.



Although Skelos has asked the judge for leniency for him and his son Adam, their fate will be determined at a time when scandal is fresh on people's minds. Todd Howe, an Albany lobbyist, and a former top lieutenant to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Joe Percoco, are being investigated for their role in an economic program boosting the city of Buffalo.

"With what is going on now with Mr. Percoco and Mr. Howe and Mr. de Blasio, added to what we just saw happen with Mr. Silver and what's going to happen this week with Mr. Skelos, you just reach a tipping point. And we may have reached a tipping point," said Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters.



Skelos was convicted on eight counts of bribery, which included using his public office to lean on companies to provide income for Adam Skelos.



Even after being indicted last year, the Long Island Republican clung to power, initially refusing to step down as majority leader.

"The very simple reason is that I am innocent. And if you are innocent, there is nothing that you have to run away from. Or hide from," Skelos said in May 2015.



Last month, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his corruption conviction last year.

Not long ago, Silver, Skelos and Governor Cuomo were once a triumvirate that made all of the key decisions about legislation and how state budget money was allocated. With two of the three now facing prison time, Cuomo is the last man standing, although the same U.S. attorney who convicted Silver and Skelos, Preet Bharara, is now investigating Cuomo's office.



Prosecutors are asking for the Skeloses to receive between 12 and 15 years in prison.



"I have absolute confidence and respect for our judicial system here in the United States of America and utmost respect for our judges and our juries," Skelos said in May 2015.



Albany watchers anticipate a harsh sentence for Skelos, given the climate here, where scandal and new allegations of corruption continue to dominate the conversation.


Starting in the early afternoon, Victory Blvd at Manor Road can often look like a parking lot.

For more than 2 years, the city has been working on a plan that would widen Victory Blvd, Manor Road and other surrounding streets, to add turning lanes.

The project also calls for eminent domain. The city is the process of purchasing property, mainly sidewalks from local business owners, to widen the streets.

But it's another part of the plan that worried Borough President James Oddo.

"Part of the existing project that we inherited was the loss of several parking spots," said Oddo.

Oddo says the city planned to remove 7 street parking spots on Victory, unacceptable the BP says.

So he and Councilman Steve Matteo developed a plan to purchase the front of this shopping center on Victory between Winthrop Place and Sommers Lane essentially saving 4 spots. The move has ended up delaying the project by at least 9 months.

"Normally I am the guy railing against delaying these capital projects. On this one I am the guy causing the delay. We proudly own it. We have pushed the city to figure out a way to bring on additional parking as close to the project as possible," said Oddo.

DOT Officials also tell us this city is looking to purchase a piece of property in this area that could be converted into a public parking lot.

But many business owners on the block including the owner of Met Foods are against the project.

"You are going to get more traffic in a congested intersection quicker. What is that going to do," said Bill Fani, Met Foods owner.

Oddo says he plans to meet with the business owners in the coming months. Construction isn't expected to begin until 2018.






William told Philip that the deadliest pathogen yet, a modified Lassa virus, was now being stored on the fourth floor of his lab, but he questioned whether they should even report its existence to their superiors. When Philip asked if he trusted the Americans to be the viruss only custodians, William replied, The threads on their containers work most of the time. In a similar but much more serious reference to Soviet incompetence, Oleg told Tatiana about the then-secret incident in September 1983 when a false alarm nearly led to the Soviet Unions launching its missiles against the United States. (It would have kept The Day After from getting on the air, but no one would have been around to appreciate the irony.)

Paige, excited to be getting driving lessons from her dad, was still burdened by her new role as junior spy reporting on her pastor. Shes good at it, though  when she mentioned a church meeting and Philip said, You should go to that, she replied, We should all go to that. Pastor Tim likes to see them all together. At the meeting, Pastor Tim took Philip aside and told him that Paige seemed sad. He suggested that Philip, Elizabeth and Paige sit down with him to reassess the whole I-know-youre-spies thing. Just when he seemed safe, the pastor wants to put himself back in danger.

Elizabeth wasnt at the meeting because one of the pieces of actual espionage shes still engaged in  using Don to get access to the fourth floor of Williams lab  was suddenly on the front burner because of the Lassa virus. You could argue that the way the writers gave Elizabeth her own Martha situation, right after the actual Martha situation, was a little on the nose  Id argue that, actually  but it was well handled all the same. Elizabeth had been enjoying her cultivation of Young-hee, finding in her a genuine friend, but when duty called, she answered as always.

A search of the couples house, executed while she was babysitting their sleeping children, yielded nothing that could be used for blackmail (besides a lone VHS porn tape hidden behind Rocky and Sophies Choice). Direct action was called for. Several ruses later, Elizabeth had straight-arrow Don drugged and naked in bed at a safe house. He had resisted valiantly, and when he woke up and found himself with an equally naked Elizabeth, he actually apologized before running off.

The scenes of Dons entrapment were cut with scenes of Paiges second driving lesson, when Philip handed her the keys to his Camaro  the joyful American coming-of-age ritual entwined with the sort of work that could lie in Paiges future. They came face to face when Elizabeth arrived home, greeted by an excited Paige, and turned away, claiming a headache. Philip patted the disappointed Paige on the head and went to Elizabeth, who told him, Im going to miss her. She was talking about Young-hee, though you couldnt help thinking that it also applied, in its way, to her still semi-innocent daughter.
Things were looking up at the beleaguered Sothebys auction house on Wednesday night.

After spirited bidding, Sothebys sale of contemporary works raised $242.2 million with fees  easily surpassing the low estimate of $201.35 million  and sold 95 percent of its offerings, Sothebys highest rate since 2009.

Only two nights earlier, Sothebys sold just two-thirds of its inventory in its Impressionist and modern sale, after a morning announcement of a $25.9 million first-quarter loss.

Given the turmoil at Sothebys  they had to cobble together a sale  it just had a more positive vibe at the outset, the dealer Lawrence Luhring said. It seemed more lively than last night.

After Christies successful contemporary art sale on Tuesday, which sold 87 percent of its offerings, the Sothebys auction helped calm a skittish art market by finding takers for the big-ticket lots and re-establishing a buoyant tone for the contemporary art market.
At the turn of the 20th century, when Claude Debussy sat down to write his haunting piano piece Clair de Lune, he had before him little more than pen, paper and piano.

Toward the end of the century, when Isao Tomita sat down to record the piece, he had before him a thicket that included a Moog synthesizer, comprising (among many other things) a 914 extended range fixed filter bank, two 904-A voltage-controlled low-pass filters, nine 901-B oscillators, four 911 envelope generators, five 902 voltage-controlled amplifiers, a 950 keyboard controller and a 6401 Bode ring modulator; several tape recorders, among them an Ampex MM-1100 16-track and a Sony TC-9040 4-track; two Sony MX-16 mixers; an AKG BX20E Echo unit; an Eventide Clockworks Instant Phaser; two Binson Echorec 2 units; and the electronic keyboard instrument known as a Mellotron.

Released by RCA in 1974, the resulting recording, Snowflakes Are Dancing, brought Mr. Tomita  who died on May 5, at 84, and was widely considered the father of Japanese electronic music  international renown. Nominated for a Grammy Award for best classical album, the record, containing Mr. Tomitas renditions of a string of Debussy pieces, sold hundreds of thousands of copies, an almost unheard-of feat for a disc at least nominally rooted in the classical world.

It also divided that world, much as the album that inspired it, Switched-On Bach, by Walter (now Wendy) Carlos, had done on its release in 1968.
With gratifying predictability, Young Concert Artists once again showcased three performers clearly bound for stardom in its annual gala concert on Tuesday evening at Alice Tully Hall. Over 55 years, the organizations track record in fostering the careers of rising performers has been remarkable, and it only distinguished itself further here.

By far the safest bet was Julia Bullock, 29, an American soprano who won first prize in the 2012 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, among several other awards. She has already established a career that many a veteran might envy, having recently sung the lead in Peter Sellarss production of Kaija Saariahos La Passion de Simone for the Berlin Philharmonics Orchestra Academy, a role she will repeat next month at the Ojai Festival in California.

Here Ms. Bullock sang Samuel Barbers masterpiece from 1947, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, based on a highly atmospheric text from the prologue to James Agees novel A Death in the Family. She rendered the gorgeous yet not oversweet melodies beautifully, but there was much more than mere vocal allure: superb diction and a compelling stage manner that would have communicated much of the meaning even if the words had not registered so clearly.
Over the last five years, Paddle8 has sought to shake up the world of online art auctions. In Europe, and for almost the same amount of time, Auctionata has tried to do the same in its own way.

Now the two online auction houses are planning to join forces.

Auctionata and Paddle8 are expected to announce on Thursday that they will merge, seeking to create a bigger specialist in selling art online with a broader international reach.

Even combined, the two do not dream of displacing the giants of the art world, the auction houses Sothebys and Christies. Both Paddle8 and Auctionata focus on what they call the middle market for art sales: objects more valuable than can be sold on eBay, but generally topping out at $500,000.

Of course, sometimes the companies run auctions for more expensive items. Paddle8 gained notoriety when it auctioned the sole copy of the final album by the Wu-Tang Clan last year, raising $2 million. (The buyer was eventually revealed to be Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive who is facing federal securities fraud charges.)
In the summer of 2014, he opened his first store, on the island of Mykonos, and his second a few months later in Athens. It seemed like an auspicious period, Mr. Koulis said, as Greece was pulling out of its economic crisis  but then, in January 2015, with a new government, the country again teetered on the edge of economic dissolution. It could have gone badly, Mr. Koulis said airily, but it was our best year yet.

On Mykonos, luxury travelers visited the new store, and in Athens, the shop was overwhelmed with Greeks looking to put their assets into high-quality jewelry with certified gemstones. Greeks love buying jewelry  its how they show happiness for special occasions, and its how they like to invest their money, he said.

This summer, Mr. Koulis will open his third boutique, on the Greek island of Santorini, another favorite among international tourists.

The general environment is negative here, and the bureaucracy makes things difficult, but our business is growing, and were taking advantage of the best things about living in Greece: the craftsmanship, the culture, the passion for jewelry, Mr. Koulis said. Plus we have the sun, the sea and good weather, so how can we not be optimistic? Everything will be great.

A market view

How does a country in financial turmoil become a hotbed of cutting-edge fine jewelry?

There were always exciting talents in Greece, but no one ever bothered to export before, because there was a lot of money in the country, said Yannis Sergakis, who spent 10 years designing for other brands before introducing his own line in Athens in 2014. With the crisis, everyone in Greece has had to look abroad for markets, but at least its giving firepower to designers to go international.

He now belongs to Hellenic Wave, a collective that represents Greek designers like Ileana Makri, Venyx and Michael Pelamidis internationally. Its first effort presented the jewelers work together at the 2015 Baselworld trade fair.
Four days after writing the letter, Mr. Laurence witnessed the first detonation of an atomic bomb, in the Trinity test, at what is now the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. He filed nothing about it to The Times and said nothing to his colleagues.

Image Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Grove asked for the services of Mr. Laurence in chronicling the last steps in developing the atomic bomb.

Technically, he was not working for Mr. James but, temporarily, for Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, who had chosen Mr. Laurence to be the publics eyewitness, on the condition that he report nothing until the bomb was used.

After the Trinity test, Mr. Laurence was flown to the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean to await the departure of the first B-29 Superfortress bomber to carry the unimaginably destructive payload.

In New York, an Army captain who was acquainted with the assistant managing editor, Turner Catledge, showed up at the newspapers headquarters off Times Square. It was Wednesday, Aug. 1. He wore civilian clothes. Mr. Catledge recalled what happened next in his memoir, My Life and The Times:

He sat down beside my desk and asked if I knew what Bill Laurence had been doing. I said I did not, and he replied that I would soon find out. He instructed, or rather ordered, me to report to a certain building in Washington the next day.

Doing as he was told, Mr. Catledge was ushered the next day into a large conference room in the capital where General Groves and a half-dozen other men waited.

The officers, guided by General Groves, told me the whole story. They told me of the test in New Mexico, and the destructive force they had revealed. I found it a frightening story. They told me next that a decision had been made to drop one or more of these bombs on Japan and that bomber crews to do so were already poised for takeoff. They were taking The Times into their confidence to ensure that we would print a full and accurate account of the bombs use and development when the time came. They also felt obligated, General Groves said, because they had taken away Laurence. They showed me the documents which had been prepared for release to the press when the bomb was dropped. I assumed that Bill Laurence had helped write those documents. They said the announcement of the bombing, when it occurred, would be made by President Truman, who was then returning by ship from the Potsdam Conference. They showed me a draft of the announcement he was to make. I was told almost everything except when and where the first bomb would be dropped. General Groves asked me to designate someone in our Washington bureau with whom they could deal when the moment came. He said they would be pleased to deal with Sidney Shalett, one of our reporters whom he knew, and I readily agreed to this.

Mr. Shalett covered the War Department, so it was a logical fit, though it sounded as if the general was the one doing the designating.
It is not exactly accurate to say no one uses the $1.1 million public dock that was installed off the shoreline of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, two and a half years ago. It was praised by city officials for the access it would give local residents to the shore and for the resiliency of its construction, but it closed after one season when the gangway snapped off and was never repaired. Then the pilings holding it to the bay floor started bending. Today, it sits more than seven miles away in Sheepshead Bay, where it was towed for storage, lashed to a bulkhead and kept behind a gate.

There, it is in almost constant use  a flock of swans and sea gulls have colonized it, coating it with feathers, feces and bits of fish.

Its always a pit in my stomach when I bike past it, to see the Eco Dock missing, said Roland Lewis, the president and chief executive of the Waterfront Alliance, an advocacy group for water access that facilitated the docks installation in October 2013 at the American Veterans Memorial Pier. For one summer, it was a home for historic ships and hosted school groups taking kayaking lessons. The real shame of the situation is how loved and used the dock was for the time it was up, he added.

Intended as a way to connect people who live in Bay Ridge to their underused bay, the 40-by-60-foot dock was the culmination of years of planning and over $800,000 in financing provided by Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, a Democrat who represents the neighborhood. (The remaining amount was provided by the offices of Michael R. Bloomberg, then the mayor, and Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president at the time). And for a season, as school children and residents took to the water off the dock, Mr. Gentile, said, We realized that dream.
Residents of about 700 apartments on the Upper East Side of Manhattan have been reduced to cooking on hot plates after Consolidated Edison cut off a gas line to their building upon discovering illegal conditions last week.

Both the utility and the New York Fire Department responded to complaints of a gas odor in the building, Yorkshire Towers, on 86th Street at Second Avenue, and found renovation work being done without the proper permits, a spokesman for the citys Buildings Department said. The department ordered a halt to some of that work until the landlord, UES Management, gets permits and brings the illegal pipes into compliance, he said.

Yorkshire Towers has been roiled by discontent over the piecemeal overhaul of the building, which was bought in 2014 by two real estate firms, the Chetrit Group and Stellar Management, for $395 million.

On Tuesday, the Buildings Department logged two more complaints, including one contending that the landlord was violating the stop-work order it received just a few days before. In all, the department has received 32 complaints about conditions in the building in less than two months.
Kwame Somburu, a 1960s radical who vainly sought elective office as a perennial candidate of the Socialist Workers Party in New York and California, died on May 3 in Albany. He was 81.

The cause was complications of kidney cancer, his son Daryl Boutelle said.

Mr. Somburu evolved from a high school dropout named Paul Boutelle, who sold the Great Books of the Western World series door to door and voted for the straight Republican ticket in 1956, into a public school teacher who adopted the name of a Kenyan tribe and embraced a Trotskyite scientific socialism forged in anti-imperialism and class-conscious black nationalism.

He renounced violence but echoed Malcolm Xs credo of gaining black power by any means necessary; organized blacks against the war in Vietnam; unambiguously declared that if it werent for crime and lies and terrorism and massacres thered be no United States; and, while insisting that he was not anti-Semitic, vigorously opposed Zionism.

In his first of nine campaigns for public office, he ran for the State Senate in Harlem in 1964 as a candidate of the Freedom Now Party, a branch of a fledgling all-black organization formed in Michigan. But after his defeat, he acknowledged that a black political mass movement was probably premature.
Updated, 12:53 p.m.

Good morning on this spectacular Thursday.

Update: Dean G. Skelos is sentenced to five years in prison, while his son, Adam, is sentenced to six and a half years. Read our story here.

New York had one politician sentenced last week, and another will be sentenced today  alongside his son.

Dean G. Skelos, the former majority leader of the State Senate, and his son, Adam, were convicted on federal corruption charges in December.

Together, they used the fathers position to pressure various companies to provide benefits, like money and a job, to his son.
Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they had charged a sixth man in connection with an alleged terrorist network based in Brooklyn, which has been accused of providing material support to the Islamic State.

The new defendant, Azizjon Rakhmatov, 28, was secretly added on Monday to a pre-existing indictment of four other men  Akhror Saidakhmetov, Abror Habibov, Dilkhayot Kasimov and Akmal Zakirov  who were accused of similar crimes in February 2015. Another defendant, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, pleaded guilty in the case in August.

In announcing the new charges, the prosecutors said that Mr. Rakhmatov, whose nationality is Uzbek, worked with Mr. Habibov and Mr. Zakirov to help fund Mr. Saidakhmetovs efforts to travel to Syria and fight with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. Mr. Saidakhmetov, 19 at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody on a jetway at Kennedy International Airport last year as he boarded a flight to Istanbul.

In the eight days before Mr. Saidakhmetov left, Mr. Rakhmatov and others transferred about $2,400 into Mr. Zakirovs personal bank account  money that was intended to pay for the trip and to help Mr. Saidakhmetov buy a weapon, court papers say. Prosecutors say that Mr. Saidakhmetov and Mr. Juraboev had spoken about planting a bomb in Coney Island and attacking President Obama on behalf of ISIS, though the authorities have not presented evidence that the men took steps beyond mere talk of these events.
5. The latest disgraced New York politician to be sentenced for corruption: Dean Skelos, the former Republican majority leader of the Senate in Albany. He was given five years in prison and fined more than $500,000 for pressuring firms to provide his son with work, cash and other benefits. The son, Adam, received a prison sentence of six and a half years and a fine.

_____
In September 2012, John Carridice, a father of four, intervened to break up a street fight in the Bronx. When the police showed up, they arrested him and charged him with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and other misdemeanor violations.

Over the next few years, Mr. Carridice, now 38, appeared 20 times in Bronx Criminal Court. Six times, prosecutors said they were not ready for a trial. Ten other times, both sides were ready, but no judges or courtrooms were available. In June 2015, more than a thousand days after his arrest, Mr. Carridices case finally went to trial. He was acquitted on all counts.

This Dickensian nightmare is all too common in the Bronx, according to a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in Federal District Court by the Bronx Defenders, which represents indigent clients, and by two private law firms. The suit alleges that backlogs in the boroughs criminal courts have led to delays so extreme  the average wait for a jury trial on a misdemeanor charge is 827 days  that they violate the Constitution.

The problem is a horribly managed court system that has neither the resources nor the incentive to move any faster, the plaintiffs say. Most misdemeanor defendants, like Mr. Carridice, are not jailed during this time, but they are required to return to court every several weeks and spend all day waiting for their cases to be called, only to be told that the proceedings are being put off for another month. Having to appear in court, time after time, means these defendants miss work, lose wages and in some cases their jobs.
Randy Barnett, a law professor at Georgetown University and an architect of the Commerce Clause-based attack on the Affordable Care Act, put it this way in a speech last week to the Heritage Foundation titled How John Roberts Gave Us Donald Trump:

But at the very moment he was called upon to teach the American people of the value of their republican Constitution, Chief Justice Roberts asserted the judicial restraint of the democratic constitution and turned them away. And that, my friends, was the end of our constitutional moment. That was the beginning of the end of constitutional conservatism as a political movement. And it kindled the resentment and populism that led to Donald Trump.

John Roberts Derangement Syndrome is how Prof. Jack Balkin of Yale Law School, in a post on his Balkinization blog, labeled the attack on the chief justice.

Even before the Trump-focused blame game started, Chief Justice Roberts was well on his way to becoming the political rights favorite punching bag. In a rambling speech on the Senate floor last month, Senator Charles E. Grassley, the Iowa Republican who heads the Judiciary Committee, defended the Republican refusal to move forward with President Obamas nomination of Judge Merrick B. Garland to fill the Supreme Courts vacant seat. Playing off an observation the chief justice had made shortly before Justice Antonin Scalias unexpected death, to the effect that the Senate confirmation process had become unfortunately divisive and political, Senator Grassley said it was the Roberts court itself that was political. Physician, heal thyself, he said, and then offered this observation:

Justices appointed by Republicans are generally committed to following the law. There are justices who frequently vote in a conservative way. But some of the justices appointed by Republicans often dont vote in a way that advances conservative policy.

In other words, could it be that the problem with Chief Justice Roberts is that he isnt sufficiently political in the right direction? That was certainly the message Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas sent last month when called the chief justice the tip of the spear in playing politics. In remarks at the Heritage Foundation, he explained: Chief Justice John Roberts knowingly, clearly and unabashedly rewrote Obamacare twice. What we are seeing is nothing more than naked politics being played by the United States Supreme Court. (By twice, Governor Abbott was referring to the chief justices majority opinion last year in King v. Burwell, which saved the statute from a contorted reading that would have stripped the federal government of the ability to set up insurance exchanges.)

In trying to understand how one of the most conservative members of the most conservative court in decades has come to be viewed by fellow conservatives as an enemy of the people, several possible explanations come to mind. Derangement may be one. A mind-clouding obsession with the Affordable Care Act is another.

But something deeper and more systemic is at work here that has little to do with the Affordable Care Act or John Roberts. The scapegoating of Chief Justice Roberts is the clearest demonstration yet of a profound shift in the political polarity of judicial activism. For decades, conservative politicians railed against the judicial activism of judges who overturned democratically enacted legislation, accusing such judges of seeking to use the power of the courts to impose their own political and social agendas. It was one of the easiest ways to score political points.
In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle in 2008, Obama said of his proposed energy plans:

If somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. Its just that it will bankrupt them because theyre going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas thats being emitted. That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel, and other alternative energy approaches.

Bankruptcies aside, the Obama years saw a steep decline in coal production in the state. According to a report published by West Virginia University, After climbing to nearly 158 million short tons in 2008, the states coal mine output has tumbled in each successive year to an annual total of approximately 115 million short tons in 2014  or a cumulative decline of 27 percent.

This was the right long-term clean-energy approach, but it hit a sour chord in West Virginia.

True to her Obama-emulating form, Clinton took a similar tack this cycle when she said during a CNN town hall:

Im the only candidate which has a policy about how to bring economic opportunity using clean renewable energy as the key into coal country. Because were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business, right? And were going to make it clear that we dont want to forget those people. Those people labored in those mines for generations, losing their health, often losing their lives to turn on our lights and power our factories. Now weve got to move away from coal and all the other fossil fuels, but I dont want to move away from the people who did the best they could to produce the energy that we relied on.

Again, smart long-term policy, but doesnt sit well in West Virginia. Clinton recently apologized for the misstatement, saying, I dont know how to explain it other than what I said was totally out of context for what I meant because I have been talking about helping coal country for a very long time.

But the apology was too little, too late for voters in West Virginia.

West Virginia illustrates the danger that accompanies the Clinton strategy of closely aligning with President Obama and his policies: Many white voters, particularly white men, detest him. Many on the right think he went too far and many on the left dont think he went far enough. The populist movements at both ideological extremes are to some degree anti-Obama movements.

As ABC News reported Tuesday about preliminary exit polls in the state, the highest level of economic concern in any Democratic primary this year and greater-than-usual turnout among men, whites, political independents and critics of President Obama characterized Hillary Clintons challenges in the West Virginia primary.

In 2014, Gallup reported on the depths of this problem for Democrats in general:

President Barack Obamas job approval rating among white non-college graduates is at 27 percent so far in 2014, 14 percentage points lower than among white college graduates. This is the largest yearly gap between these two groups since Obama took office. These data underscore the magnitude of the Democratic Partys problem with working-class whites, among whom Obama lost in the 2012 presidential election, and among whom Democratic House candidates lost in the 2014 U.S. House voting by 30 points.

These white non-college graduates are a strong base of support for Donald Trump, who exclaimed in Nevada, I love the poorly educated. Apparently, the feeling is mutual.

If Trump has a path to the presidency, it will most likely be because of Clintons  and Democrats  weakness among people who look an awful lot like the voters in West Virginia.
That might have happened if someone like Trump or Christie had been in charge. Its tragic that 11,300 West Africans died from Ebola, but the toll would have been incomparably higher  in Africa and in America  if not for Obamas actions.

Hey, Mr. Trump, do you still think that President Obama should resign for his handling of Ebola?

All of that is worth reviewing because congressional Republicans are now again trying to block a sensible effort to address a public health crisis, this time a Zika virus outbreak that is steadily moving to the continental U.S., bringing with it calamitous birth defects.

In February, Obama urgently requested more than $1.8 billion to address Zika, and Congress since then has done nothing but talk. Republicans have protested that the administration doesnt need the money, that they have questions that havent been answered or that the request is vague. These objections are absurd.

Even Senator Marco Rubio laid into his fellow Republicans a few weeks ago, saying: The money is going to be spent. And the question is, Do we do it now before this has become a crisis, or do we wait for it to become a crisis?

Rubio is right. Its always more cost-effective and lifesaving to tackle an epidemic early.

Im very worried, especially for our U.S. Gulf Coast states, said Dr. Peter Jay Hotez, a tropical diseases expert at Baylor College of Medicine. I cannot understand why a member of Congress from a Gulf Coast state cannot see this train approaching. Its like refusing emergency preparedness funds for an approaching hurricane.

We dont know how badly Zika will hit the U.S. But, the first American has just died of it, and federal health professionals are debating whether to counsel women in Zika areas to avoid pregnancy  and to me, that sounds serious.
Nearly 15 years after 9/11, the war in Afghanistan is raging and Pakistan deserves much of the blame. It remains a duplicitous and dangerous partner for the United States and Afghanistan, despite $33 billion in American aid and repeated attempts to reset relations on a more constructive course.

In coming weeks, Gen. John Nicholson Jr., the new American commander in Afghanistan, will present his assessment of the war. Its likely to be bleak and may question the wisdom of President Obamas goal of cutting the American force of 10,000 troops to 5,500 by the end of the year. The truth is, regardless of troop levels, the only hope for long-term peace is negotiations with some factions of the Taliban. The key to that is Pakistan.

Pakistans powerful army and intelligence services have for years given support to the Taliban and the Haqqani terrorist network and relied on them to protect Pakistani interests in Afghanistan and prevent India from increasing its influence there. Under American pressure, the Pakistan Army recently waged a military campaign against the Taliban in the ungoverned border region. But the Haqqanis still operate in relative safety in Pakistan. Some experts say the army has helped engineer the integration of the Haqqanis into the Taliban leadership.
Five million years ago, a massive sea monster may have eviscerated sharks and whales using gigantic teeth like this.

Murray Orr, an amateur fossil hunter, stumbled on this not-so-pearly-white in February while exploring Beaumaris Bay, a popular site for digging up ancient remains near Melbourne. At first, he had no idea what he was yanking out from the rocks.

For a moment it looked like an artillery shell, and I thought I might blow my arm off, he said in an email. But then I saw the curving pointed end and knew it was a sperm whale tooth.
European countries, which rely heavily on diesel-fueled vehicles, remain far behind the United States in their efforts to reduce harmful air pollution, according to a report to be issued Thursday by the World Health Organization.

The report, which compiled air quality readings from 3,000 cities in 103 countries, found that more than 80 percent of people in those cities were exposed to pollution exceeding the limits set by W.H.O. guidelines, above which air quality is considered to be unhealthy. And in poorer countries, 98 percent of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants were out of compliance with the health organizations guidelines.

Lower levels of pollution were far more prevalent in North America and higher-income European countries than in most other places, especially countries like India, Pakistan and China.

But in Europe, a higher percentage of cities exceeded the limits set by the W.H.O. than in North America.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.  In its quest to maintain a United States military advantage, the Pentagon is aggressively turning to Silicon Valleys hottest technology  artificial intelligence.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter made his fourth trip to the tech industrys heartland since being named to his post last year. Before that, it had been 20 years since a defense secretary had visited the area, he noted in a speech at a Defense Department research facility near Googles headquarters.

The Pentagons intense interest in A.I.  and by connection the Silicon Valley companies specializing in that technology  has grown out of the Third Offset strategy articulated by Mr. Carter last fall. Concerned about the re-emergence of China and Russia as military competitors, he stated that computer-based, high-tech weapons would give the American military an edge in the future.

Third Offset is a reference to two earlier eras when Pentagon planners turned to technology to compensate for a smaller military. In the 1950s, President Eisenhower emphasized nuclear weapons as a deterrence to larger Warsaw Pact armies. A second offset occurred in the 1970s and 80s when military planners turned to improved technology in conventional weapons to again compensate for smaller numbers.
Major Poteet also said the defense was informed in February that Colonel Pohl had approved a plan by the government to give the defendants a government-prepared summary of a substitute for the original, classified evidence that is no longer available. He provided no further details about what the alternative evidence consisted of.

Image Col. James Pohl of the Army is the judge overseeing the death penalty trial of the five Guantanamo Bay detainees accused of aiding the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Credit... Taylor Jones/Getty Images

Still, the defense lawyers offered several clues from the unclassified portion of their filing, which they submitted on Tuesday but is not yet publicly available. They said the issue traced back to several years ago, when the question of the evidences fate first arose. Colonel Pohl eventually issued an public order, at the defenses request, requiring it to be preserved, and they thought that had settled the matter.

But they learned in February, they said, that about 20 months earlier, and without their knowledge, prosecutors had obtained from Colonel Pohl a secret order that reversed his previous decision. By the time they found out, the government had already destroyed the evidence, giving them no opportunity to challenge the move.

Major Poteet said their motion portrayed this event as having created at least the appearance of Colonel Pohl colluding with the government, damaging the defendants right to a fair trial. He also said the government had said it would not allow the defense access to any other evidence of a similar kind, and would instead use similar substitutions.

The dispute may center on one of the overseas facilities where the Central Intelligence Agency formerly ran a black site prison where Mr. Mohammed was tortured before his transfer to the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2006.
James D. Travis, the advertising executive who assembled the team behind the highly successful Morning in America television commercial that helped propel President Ronald Reagan to a landslide victory in his 1984 re-election campaign, died on May 8 at his home in Chester, Conn. He was 83.

The cause was complications of heart disease, his wife, Marty, said.

For the 1984 campaign, Reagans advisers saw the need for a new media strategy. In 1980, the challenge had been to convince voters that their candidate was more than a former actor and pitchman for General Electric. The resulting ads, emphasizing Reagans years as governor of California, had the flavor of a resume. The strategy worked, but both Reagan and his wife, Nancy, were reported to consider the ads static and uninteresting.

This time around, Michael K. Deaver, the White House deputy chief of staff, turned to Della Femina, Travisano & Partners, a New York agency known for offbeat campaigns like Jerry Stiller and Anne Mearas radio spots for Blue Nun wine and the Meow Mix commercials with singing cats.

His first choice for the job, Jerry Della Femina, the agencys founder, sometimes described as the madman of Madison Avenue, failed to win White House approval, for unexplained reasons. On his way out the door, Mr. Della Femina recommended Mr. Travis, the agencys president, for the job.
IN 1857, Roger B. Taney, chief justice of the United States, wrote that Dred Scott, an enslaved man living in Missouri, had no standing to sue for freedom, on the grounds that blacks could not be citizens. They were, he declared, so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.

That ruling fanned the flames of the Civil War and is widely reviled today as the worst legal decision in American history. But this weekend, the Taney and Scott legacies will be brought together less contentiously when Lynne M. Jackson, a great-great-granddaughter of Scott, and Charles Taney, a great-great-grandnephew of Taney, meet onstage at the Actors Studio in Manhattan for a conversation about race, reconciliation and their famous forebears.

The occasion is a performance of A Man of His Time, a one-act play by Kate Taney Billingsley, Charles Taneys daughter, about a fictional meeting between a Taney descendant and a Scott descendant in a diner on the New Jersey Turnpike on March 6, 2016, 159 years to the day after the ruling was issued.

For Ms. Billingsley, 31, a member of the Actors Studio, the play grew out of years of wrestling with her complicated family inheritance. When she was growing up in Greenwich, Conn., her father, an advertising executive, instilled both a pride in Roger B. Taneys accomplishments  he was the second-longest-serving chief justice in history  and an awareness of his shameful role in the Scott case.
Near the end of Jerome Robbinss 1969 ballet Dances at a Gathering, the full cast stands poised, facing front. Taken out of context, the moment could almost be from a Broadway show. Its like the end of Robbinss West Side Story Suite, when everyone turns to the audience and sings Somewhere.

As a master of both ballet and Broadway, Robbins remains unsurpassed. The double bill of Dances at a Gathering and West Side Story Suite that entered the spring repertory of New York City Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater on Wednesday honors that dual legacy and challenges the company to maintain it.

In Dances at a Gathering, the group pose, though hinting at a Broadway finale, also has the character of an Old World daguerreotype. The sky that the dancers gaze at feels European, inflected by the Polish folk dance in the choreography, which picks up the folk elements in a Chopin score. That score is a long string of separate piano pieces (played with customary lucidity by Susan Waters), and its a marvel of Robbinss art how the ballet holds together, suggesting multiple threads of narrative, developing a poetic logic that leads to surprising, heart-catching places.

The dancers are characters, roles distinguished by the colors of their costumes. How they subtly shade those roles is crucial, and the current cast is mostly excellent. In pink, Tiler Peck has a cotton-candy delicacy that doesnt stop her from playing precisely with the music or darkening when it does. Sara Mearns, in mauve, brings out the most adult drama, the sense of youthful passions remembered. Megan Fairchild, making a role debut in green, has the air of a self-sufficient party girl, enjoying the attentions of men but untroubled when they leave her alone.
ROME  Paintings stolen from a museum in Verona six months ago have been found in Ukraine and will soon be returned to Italy, officials from both countries have said.

The 17 paintings, including works by Rubens, Tintoretto and Mantegna, were recovered by Ukrainian border guards, in what President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine described on Wednesday as a brilliant operation, The Associated Press reported.

The guards found the paintings wrapped in dark plastic bags and buried under leaves near the border with Moldova, The A.P. said. News footage dated May 6 from the Ukrainian Border Service showed border guards removing the paintings from the bags.

The paintings had been whisked off the walls of the Castelvecchio Museum in November by masked and armed robbers who tied up a security guard and an employee just as the museum was closing. In March, Italian officials announced that 12 people in Italy and Moldova  including the security guard  had been arrested in connection with the theft.
The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh has a wish list of pieces that it has always wanted for the collection. Warhols rare paint-by-number series from 1962 is one of them.

That was in my top three list, along with a 40 by 40 Marilyn and an early comic book painting, Eric Shiner, the museums director, said, adding that these are the works weve been after for a very long time.

The series consists of just five works on canvas, including the Do It Yourself (Sailboats) painting, which has been acquired by the museum, with the help of the dealer Larry Gagosian. The museum traded deaccessioned works from its collection for the painting.

Gagosian contacted me and said he was now the owner of this painting, Mr. Shiner said. He wanted to come to us first, knowing it was one of the key series we were after.
Satoko Fujii (Tuesday and Wednesday) A pianist and composer of bristling vitality within the avant-garde, Ms. Fujii is on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of her independent label, Libra. On Tuesday she convenes the Satoko Fujii Orchestra, featuring dauntless improvisers like the trumpeters Herb Robertson and Natsuki Tamura (a.k.a. Kappa Maki); the saxophonists Ellery Eskelin and Tony Malaby; and the guitarist Nels Cline. And on Wednesday, Ms. Fujii appears as part of Ikue Moris residency at the Stone, playing two sets with Ms. Mori on electronics, among others. Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., IBeam, 168 Seventh Street, Brooklyn, ibeambrooklyn.com. Wednesday at 8 and 10 p.m., the Stone, Avenue C and Second Street, Manhattan, thestonenyc.com. (Chinen)

 Fred Hersch Duo Invitation Series (though Sunday) Mr. Hersch, a sensitive and lyrical pianist, has cultivated a tradition of inquisitive duologue at the Jazz Standard; this is the 10th anniversary of his invitation series. He closes out the run with Anat Cohen on clarinet (Friday), Kate McGarry on vocals (Saturday) and Yosvany Terry on saxophone and percussion (Sunday). At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., 116 East 27th Street, Manhattan, 212-576-2232, jazzstandard.com. (Chinen)

Jon Irabagon Quartet (Wednesday) A wily, hyper-literate saxophonist who has successfully ducked in and out of the mainstream jazz tradition, Mr. Irabagon re-enlists the ace rhythm section from Behind the Sky, an album released last year: Luis Perdomo on piano, Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Rudy Royston on drums. At 8 and 9:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street, Manhattan, 212-989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com. (Chinen)

 Miles & Trane Festival (through Sunday) Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates the overlapping legacies of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with this weekend festival, which takes over all three performance spaces at Frederick P. Rose Hall. Miles Davis: The Sorcerer at 90, in the Rose Theater through Saturday, will feature new arrangements by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The Spiritual Side of John Coltrane, in the Appel Room on Friday and Saturday, is a program conceived by Joe Lovano, featuring his fellow saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (Johns son) and others, including the bassist Reggie Workman, the trumpeter Tom Harrell and the drummers Andrew Cyrille and Brian Blade. And The Iconic Miles Davis, at Dizzys Club Coca-Cola through Sunday, features the trumpeter Keyon Harrold with new-breed peers (like the drummer Chris Dave); Davis alumni (the saxophonists Gary Bartz, on Friday, and David Liebman, on Saturday); and Quincy Troupe, co-author of Miles: The Autobiography. A full schedule is available at jazz.org. At 60th Street and Broadway, Manhattan, 212-258-9595, jazz.org. (Chinen)

 Murray, Allen & Carrington Power Trio (Tuesday through May 21) Perfection is the assured new debut album by this all-star trio, with David Murray on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Geri Allen on piano and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums. Stout in its purpose, ringing with expedition, its a statement of tribute to the avant-garde hero Ornette Coleman, but also a straightforward celebration of the bonds between these players. At 8:30 and 11 p.m., Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Manhattan, 212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com. (Chinen)
A selected guide to concerts in the New York City area.

For full reviews of recent concerts: nytimes.com/music. A searchable guide to these and other shows is at nytimes.com/events.

Mac DeMarco (Sunday) Under his stereotypically trendy guise of wrinkled oversized shirts, unkempt hair and a haughty gaze, this psych-pop rocker offers indie-pop chorales with moping, ruminative lyrics that seldom veer toward mawkish. His second studio album, Salad Days, remains a default playlist for college radio stations; Another One, his mini-album released in 2015, was recorded unassumingly in his home in Far Rockaway, Queens, and is scruffily guileless to match. With Elliott Vincent Jones. At 8 p.m., Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, Manhattan, 212-353-1600, websterhall.com/events. (Stacey Anderson)

 Anohni (Wednesday and Thursday) Hopelessness, the debut studio album by Anohni, is a stunning act of navigation through tragedy. With her warmly operatic, slightly marble-mouthed warble, the erstwhile frontwoman for Antony and the Johnsons explores knotty emotional nuances  apprehension, awe, defiance  atop lush electro-symphonic arrangements by Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never. Drone Bomb Me, sung from the perspective of a young Afghan girl, haunts long past its final whimpers. Part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival. At 9 p.m. Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, Manhattan, 212-933-5812, armoryonpark.org; sold out. (Anderson)

Cage the Elephant (Monday and Tuesday) Tell Me Im Pretty, the latest album by this group of Kentucky garage-rockers, isnt half as plaintive as the name suggests; its bolstered by thick guitar riffs, trenchant yelps and glossy stadium production from Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The single Mess Around was a particularly catchy outing for the band, a simple blues- and skiffle-influenced ditty that nodded to Mr. Auerbachs hits and was packaged in a music video that lifted footage from the French film pioneer Georges Melies. Part of the Central Park SummerStage festival; with Portugal. the Man and Broncho. At 5 p.m., Central Park SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan, 212-360-2777, summerstage.org. (Anderson)
Like many sophisticated investors, the nations largest insurers drank the hedge fund Kool-Aid, pouring billions into the high-fee investment funds and helping drive hedge fund assets to over $3 trillion.

Now comes the hangover.

Steep losses in hedge fund investments during the last quarter damaged many insurance company earnings, reinforcing decisions to rethink the premises that led them to follow the Pied Pipers of finance in the first place.

The American International Group said it would cut its hedge fund exposure in half, to $5.5 billion by the end of 2017 from $11 billion at the end of last year. MetLife said it would slash its hedge fund portfolio by two-thirds, to $600 million from $1.8 billion.

The pain from the last quarter has shown up most visibly in recent insurers results, but it is also spreading to pension funds, endowments and other giant investment funds. Last month, New York Citys largest pension fund said it was abandoning hedge funds entirely, and the Illinois State Board of Investment voted to reduce its hedge fund portfolio by $1 billion.
LONDON  A former investment banker who had worked at Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted this week on an insider trading charge in what the British authorities have described as the largest crackdown on improper trading in Britain.

On Monday, Martyn Dodgson, a former banker, and Andrew Hind, a businessman and trained accountant, were convicted of conspiracy to insider deal, as insider trading is described in Britain.

Mr. Hind was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison on Thursday.

The case sprung out of an investigation called Operation Tabernula. The investigation began with a series of raids by the British authorities in March 2010.

The Financial Conduct Authority of Britain accused Mr. Dodgson of improperly sharing information from the investment banks where he worked with his close friend, Mr. Hind, as part of a conspiracy that began in November 2006 and ended in March 2010.
MINNEAPOLIS  On a recent rainy spring day, students and professors at the University of Minnesota Law School looked ahead to year-end exams and May 14 graduation as they bustled between classes. But behind the academic routine, Minnesotas administration, as at other law schools across the country, was striving to respond to the publics growing disinterest in law careers.

The number of law school applicants nationwide has plummeted, to 51,000 as of April from 88,700 in 2006, according to the Law School Admissions Council. The Great Lakes region has been hit particularly hard, catching respected institutions like Minnesota by surprise when applicant numbers went into a tailspin.

It is the reverse of a trend that began during the enrollment boom of the early 2000s, when law schools were doing so well that some began moving to become self-financing entities supported by tuition and private donations. Now, as student enthusiasm for the law wanes, financially pinched schools need to decide whether sagging applications are a temporary blip or a fundamental course correction.

David Wippman took over as dean of Minnesotas law school in July 2008, when packed classrooms were the norm. But it was not long before newly minted lawyers in Minnesota and elsewhere, some of whom had fled to law school during the economic downturn, found that their hard-earned professional pedigree did not necessarily land them jobs that would cover the six-figure cost. We really experienced a steep decline in 2010, Mr. Wippman said in an interview in his book-lined office.
LONDON  Prosecutors in Scotland said on Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against the Royal Bank of Scotlands former directors and senior management over a rights issue by the lender before its near collapse in 2008.

The Crown Office, which prosecutes criminal cases in Scotland, had focused its investigation on whether there had been criminal conduct related to the banks raising of 12 billion pounds, or about $17 billion at current exchange rates, weeks before it had to be rescued by the British government.

R.B.S., which is based in Edinburgh, received a 45 billion bailout. The government still owns about 73 percent of the bank.

Following careful examination of all the evidence seen to date, Crown counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence in law of criminal conduct either in relation to R.B.S. as an institution or any directors or other senior management involved in the rights issue, the Crown Office said in a news release on Thursday.
TOKYO  Nissan Motor announced on Thursday that it had an agreement to extend a $2.2 billion lifeline to its fellow Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors, which has been battered by a scandal over falsified fuel-economy ratings.

The deal, which buys Nissan about one-third of the company, draws Mitsubishi into a global automotive group centered on Nissan and Renault of France. The alliances combined production volume, about nine million vehicles a year including Mitsubishi, is similar to that of the industrys giants, Volkswagen, General Motors and Toyota.

The rescue has parallels with how Renault saved Nissan from collapse a decade and a half ago by buying a large minority stake in the then-ailing Japanese producer. Today, Carlos Ghosn, the executive Renault sent to Japan to turn Nissan around, is chairman of both companies.

We have been there not a very long time ago, Mr. Ghosn said at a news conference on Thursday. We have the track record to make it work.
Pens matter. Ink does not.

In the age of Amazon, evaluating antitrust concerns is sometimes twisting government officials into knots. That was made clear this week, when the Federal Trade Commission blocked the merger of Office Depot and Staples, in part by drawing elaborate distinctions between who buys pens and printer ink cartridges, and how.

The products are widely available online, of course, including from Amazon, which by some estimates accounts for half of all online shopping and has reshaped the retail industry. But big companies, the F.T.C. argued, like to shop in bulk, and often dont buy their ink from the same places as people shopping for themselves. For bulk purchases of Post-it Notes and pens, Office Depot and Staples are the primary options.

The trade commissions argument underscores just how complicated it has become to judge Amazons place in the retail industry. To put it simply: The agency does not think that the company benefits all customers equally.

The decision also shows how difficult it is for regulators to keep up with industries being reshaped almost daily by technology.
The day may come when you wont have to figure out what 15 percent to 20 percent of your check is at the end of a meal, but the earliest experiments in eliminating tipping at American restaurants have proved to be less than conclusive.

In one closely watched case, Joes Crab Shack has decided to revert to accepting tips at most of its trial locations, six months after announcing that it would become the nations first major restaurant chain to test a no-tipping policy at 18 locations.

The casual seafood chain, which is based in Houston and has more than 130 restaurants nationwide, raised its menu prices at the test sites and said it gave higher, fixed wages to its staff. At the time, Ray Blanchette, then the chief executive of its parent company, Ignite Restaurant Group, called tipping an antiquated model.

But Bob Merritt, the new chief executive, announced in a conference call with investors and analysts last week that the company was cutting back the experiment and that it would continue at just four restaurants, according to Nations Restaurant News.
Whether or not you accept the tenets of Christianity, Last Days in the Desert, Rodrigo Garcias austere depiction of the temptations of Christ, offers a quietly compelling portrait of the human side of Jesus, wrestling with his doubts while wandering through the Judean desert. Jesus (Ewan McGregor), called Yeshua, the Hebrew name for Jesus, is accompanied by a teasing, satanic doppelganger (also Mr. McGregor) whom only he can see.

In a mocking tone, the demon declares, I am a liar  that is the truth, and baits Yeshua about his faith. Yeshuas heavenly father, about whom the demon seems more knowledgeable than Yeshua, is more Old Testament then New. In the demons description, he is as vain, temperamental and easily distracted as a spoiled emperor and cares more about his power than his loved ones.

In this movie of few words, there are no extended theological debates or lengthy quotations from Scripture. What dialogue exists is down to earth and devoid of oratorical pomposity. There no parables, words of wisdom or reflections on eternal life. Yeshuas relationship to God is personal and private.

Much of the films poetic eloquence lies in the cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki (Birdman and The Revenant, among others). Filmed in natural light, the craggy desert vistas beneath a cloudy sky evoke a magnificent desolation. (The movie was shot in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California.) In its searching depth, the soundtrack by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans evokes the brooding music of Arvo Part.
In the past quarter-century or so, there have been too many Jane Austen movies and too few Whit Stillman movies. I refrained from starting that sentence with It is a truth universally acknowledged, because it isnt, and also because that would have been too obvious a way of calling attention to the Austen glut and its attendant cliches. Im happy to report, in any case, that the release of Love & Friendship mitigates both the shortage and the surfeit. Its the Whit Stillman movie that some of us have been waiting a long time for, and also a Jane Austen movie that goes some way toward correcting the record of dull and dutiful cinematic Janeism.

Based on an early, little-known epistolary novella called Lady Susan, Love & Friendship is a reminder that Austen was not only a brilliant architect of screen-friendly plots but also a very funny writer. Mr. Stillmans script accordingly abounds in rapid-fire sallies of verbal wit that require and reward maximum alertness. There is plenty of low comedy as well, a bracing silliness that places Austen in the line of British humor that extends through P. G. Wodehouse to Monty Python. The lavish costumes and lovely real estate  requirements of the genre  are offset by a fizzy, giddy mood of spirited preposterousness.
If theres one rewarding thing about many Hong Kong action directors, its that they rarely dawdle in getting to what fight fans have come for: bracing shootouts and high-impact fisticuffs and footwork. Soi Cheang, a former assistant to the likes of the Hong Kong auteurs Ringo Lam and Johnnie To, honors this tradition with the generically titled policier Kill Zone 2, a quasi-sequel to a 2005 Donnie Yen vehicle and a hearty, layered, big-budget helping of orchestrated mayhem.

Alas, there is some nettlesome exposition, involving a principled prison guard (the martial arts deity Tony Jaa) in Thailand, whose young daughter has leukemia. Her only hope is the blood marrow of an undercover cop (Wu Jing), who, betrayed, is confined in the prison. (The Hong Kong veteran Simon Yam plays a sympathetic police investigator.) An organ-trafficking ring and a corrupt warden (a dapper Zhang Jin) make life hard for our heroes, while one subplot  involving a criminal mastermind (Louis Koo) at odds with his once-loving brother (Jun King)  faintly echoes the 1990s John Woo template.

Enough of that. The meat is the set pieces, among them a boat-terminal bust that goes awry in a blaze of bullets, a raucous cellblock free-for-all and a fracas in a well-appointed high-rise chamber in which Mr. Jaa and Mr. Wu tag-team on scores of assailants. As for Mr. Cheang, here working with the action choreographer Li Chung Chi, you could certainly say he lands his punches.
The Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is a deadpan dystopian comedian, an inventor of absurd, highly regulated societies that seem to exist in hidden pockets of everyday reality. In his 2010 film, Dogtooth, a middle-class couple raises three children according to an elaborate set of codes and rituals that include assigning new meanings to common words. In Alps (2012), members of a cultlike organization impersonate the recently deceased for the benefit of the bereaved. And now, in The Lobster, Mr. Lanthimoss first English-language feature  and, perhaps, his masterpiece thus far  guests at a grand, old-fashioned hotel are given 45 days to find love or face being turned into animals.

That sounds like fairy-tale witchcraft, but there is nothing especially magical about The Lobster. (The title refers to the creature that the main character would choose to become.) Its an aggressively literal-minded movie, set in a world where metaphors are all but banished and dreams and fantasies are drab and desperate affairs. The patrons of the hotel would be ridiculous if they were not so miserable, and vice versa. They are, in every sense, disenchanted.

David (Colin Farrell), who has a hangdog expression and an actual dog at his side, is sent to the hotel soon after his divorce. His arrival provides an opportunity for the audience to be initiated into some basic rules and axioms of the movies universe, although Mr. Lanthimos (who wrote the script with Efthymis Filippou) keeps a few surprises in store for later. In the city from which hotel residents are exiled, marriage (straight or gay) is not just a sacrament but also an obligation enforced by the police. Happiness appears to be a state of dead-eyed consumerist ease illuminated by an occasional wan flicker of mirth or dread.
A judge on Thursday dismissed the charges against a mail carrier who was handcuffed and arrested in March during an altercation with plainclothes police officers in Brooklyn.

The district attorneys office had been reviewing the circumstances of the arrest  which was recorded on video  and prosecutors decided to recommend that the charges be dismissed.

The mail carrier, Glen Grays, said he was making his rounds in the Crown Heights neighborhood when he shouted at the driver of a car that almost sideswiped him on President Street. The unmarked car held four plainclothes officers. Mr. Grays said the officers quickly put the car into reverse, got out and handcuffed him, telling him at one point to stop resisting when, it appears, he would not put his arms behind his back so officers could handcuff him.

Mr. Grays, whose fiancee is a New York City police officer, was eventually taken to the 71st Precinct station house, where he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and released.
Dean G. Skelos, the once powerful Republican majority leader of the New York State Senate who was convicted with his son in December on federal corruption charges, was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison.

The sentencing of Mr. Skelos was the second instance in 10 days in which a former senior New York lawmaker was sent to prison for abusing his office. It concluded an extraordinary chapter during which two trials, held a block apart at almost the same time last year, exposed a culture of kickbacks, secret deals and nepotism in the State Capitol in Albany.

But while the crimes and the 12-year prison term of Sheldon Silver, the former Democratic speaker of the State Assembly, exceeded those of Mr. Skelos and his son, Adam B. Skelos, the Skeloses trial stood out for the gritty, unvarnished look it offered of the personal and political dealings of a family immersed in Albanys back channels.

The evidence against the Skeloses, who were convicted of bribery, extortion and conspiracy, laid bare schemes that were remarkable for both their brazenness and their familial motivation: The father seemed willing to do anything for his son.
To the Editor:

In A Better, Not Fatter, Defense Budget (editorial, May 9), you hint at but do not fully disclose the extent to which a Pentagon run amok shortchanges our way of life.

The military-industrial complex is thriving. Fully half of the Pentagon budget now enriches a vast ecosystem of for-profit contractors. Lockheed Martin, the maker of the ill-fated F-35 jet fighter, received more than $25 billion in Pentagon contracts in 2014.

Thats more than most states received in federal government grants, including Medicaid, in 2013.

And while Lockheed and others reap rewards from the Pentagons largess, Americans feel the squeeze: health care, education, infrastructure and job training must all do more with less.

Our current politics, under sequestration, ensures that this remains the case: Any increase in domestic spending results in still more spending for the Pentagon. We must re-examine our priorities.
Chancellor Werner Faymanns sudden resignation on Monday could mean the collapse of Austrias postwar political establishment, while increasing the likelihood of yet another European democracy falling prey to the xenophobic far right.

Mr. Faymann resigned after his own center-left Social Democratic Party abandoned him following a stinging victory by the right-wing Freedom Party candidate, Norbert Hofer, in a first round of presidential elections on April 24. The Social Democratic Party governs in coalition with the conservative Austrian Peoples Party. The two parties have dominated Austrian politics for decades.

Mr. Hofer is now poised to win the second and final round of presidential voting on May 22. The office of the president in Austria is largely ceremonial. But Mr. Faymanns resignation could trigger early parliamentary elections, now scheduled for 2018, that will determine who runs Austrias next government. That would give the Freedom Party a real chance to come to power, which would be terrible for Austria. The Freedom Party has its roots in Austrias ugly Nazi past. More recently, it has taken up far-right European nationalist, anti-immigrant and anti-Islam themes.

Last year, Austria was a major pathway for refugees heading from Turkey to Germany. But some 90,000 stayed in Austria. Fearful of a new wave of refugees, Austria is building  over strenuous protest from Italy  a fence on its Italian border.
We treat our politicians like criminals, and some of them become criminals. In an age-old tradition, many working criminals also turn to politics to protect and multiply their assets. Former President Asif Ali Zardari spent 11 years in prison on charges of corruption without ever being sentenced in a single case. Nobody knows how he came to own a country estate in England and a chateau in France.

There is no public debate about the armys financial affairs because we treat our generals like conquering heroes. But conquering heroes take what they think is theirs, and even while fighting very long wars inside and outside Pakistans borders, the armed forces have managed to deal in real estate, make fertilizers, run bakeries and sell breakfast cereals. All of these activities are legal, because at one point a military dictator or a weak civilian leader sanctioned them.

Pakistans history is so intertwined with plunder that some older Pakistanis who lived through the partition of India in 1947 dont call it partition or freedom: They refer to it as the time of lut, Punjabi for loot. The migrations and massacres of the day were accompanied by mass plundering of the evacuees properties, and many fortunes were made through false claims.

Take Pakistans capital, Islamabad. Its not the first capital of a country to be built on plunder, but it must be one of the prettiest that was built entirely on plunder. Half a century ago, our generals, politicians and bureaucrats picked a scenic spot, allotted lands to one another, built on them and then sold the properties to the next generation. One of the poshest areas in Islamabad was meant for working farmers. Today, its nothing but swanky mansions with acres of manicured lawns. Many of those who lecture us about corruption live there.

Politicians, generals and bureaucrats arent the only ones who think the state owes them a mansion and a manicured lawn. In many cities journalists have been promised, and in some cases given, subsidized plots in housing colonies to build homes on.

I asked a fellow journalist who is lobbying to get one of those, If its wrong for politicians and generals to get free plots, how is it right for journalists?

Its people like you who are holding us back, he told me. No surprise, then, that its rare to read an article or see a news report about the millions of Pakistanis who live in slums or are struggling for land rights.

I am a proud member of Karachis Arts Council, an organization of artists of all varieties, mostly poets. Before every annual election, the candidates for the councils executive body promise us that the council will continue its efforts to get us residential plots somewhere. Even those of us who look at the stars keep one eye on mothers purse.
There has been a steady rise in the number of strikes and worker protests over the last few years. China Labour Bulletin logged 1,379 incidents in 2014. This doubled to 2,774 in 2015, with 877 incidents recorded in the first quarter of 2016. The single biggest cause of these protests by far is wage arrears. In most cases, employers simply stop paying wages, cut overtime, and generally make life intolerable for the workers so that they choose to leave. If the workers refuse to quit and demand payment, the boss often vanishes, leaving workers out of pocket with nowhere to go.

The governments response to more worker activism has been to crack down. Government officials have been warned by superiors that they will lose their jobs if unrest occurs on their watch, and they have responded by threatening striking workers, harassing their families and using riot police to break up protests. In early December, the authorities in Guangdong went one step further and rounded up more than a dozen labor rights professionals, all working in local organizations, who had played a key role in resolving numerous disputes. Two leading activists remain in jail in Guangzhou awaiting trial.

The Chinese government is paying the price for decades of not enforcing the regulations that were put in place ostensibly to protect workers. Local officials, eager to attract investment during the boom years, were more than happy to ignore delinquent bosses and often actively conspired in their wrongdoing. The massive Yue Yuen shoe factory Dongguan, for example, had been cheating employees out of their benefits for years with the full knowledge of the local government. Workers only got full payment when 40,000 of them staged a two-week strike in 2014.

Employers who were never forced to pay employee benefits during the boom times are not going to suddenly comply when their businesses are in trouble. In the face of an unresponsive government, often the only way for workers to guarantee that delinquent bosses pay up is to take collective action, often with the help of local labor activists  experts in collective bargaining who can organize workers and get employers to negotiate with them. Last year, for example, around 2,000 workers at the Lide shoe factory in Guangzhou staged a nine-month campaign that, after many rounds of collective bargaining, finally convinced management to adhere to its legal obligations.

The Panyu Migrant Workers Center, an organization that works with China Labour Bulletin, has been instrumental in helping resolve dozens of labor disputes, such as the Lide strike, by convincing employers to negotiate with the workers. But just six months after the successful resolution of the Lide dispute, the director of the Panyu center, Zeng Feiyang, and two staff members were arrested in the December crackdown on activists. Mr. Zeng and one staffer remain in detention, both charged with gathering a crowd to disturb social order, and the center is effectively closed. The Guangdong authorities have also made life increasingly difficult for the other labor groups in the area, warning them to keep away from disputes or risk arrest.
A little over five years ago I was with my colleague Robert F. Worth in Pierre Sioufis rambling apartment overlooking Tahrir Square in Cairo. We watched as the Egyptian people rose to overthrow the 30-year-old dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak and stake its claim to citizenship, representation, dignity and the rule of law.

Bearded members of the Muslim Brotherhood, their skin scarred by the torture of Mubaraks security state, embraced secular Egyptian liberals and declared common cause. Young men and women, their eyes burning with conviction, proclaimed that the 18 days in Tahrir had given their lives meaning for the first time by demonstrating the power to effect change. They had discovered agency; they would build a better Egypt. Alaa Al Aswany, an Egyptian novelist, told the crowd: The revolution is a new birth, not just for Egypt but on an individual level. Its like falling in love: you become a better person.

Those were heady days. It was impossible not to suspend ones disbelief. The army was impassive, the Brotherhood restrained and Twitter-empowered Arab youth ascendant. Liberation unfurled in a wave unseen since 1989.

After the fall less than a month earlier of the Tunisian dictator, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, it seemed the frozen, decades-long Arab confrontation of cynical dictators and repressed Islamists  fecund in the incubation of jihadi terrorists  had given way to the possibility of more inclusive societies. If Egypt, home to about a quarter of the worlds Arab population, could see the birth of meaningful citizenship, festering Arab humiliation would be replaced by empowering dignity. The West might escape its conspiracy-fueled place in the Arab mind as the hypocritical enabler of every iniquity. That would be a more powerful boost to its security than any far-flung war in Muslim lands.
The titans of tech dont talk about it, but entrepreneurial Silicon Valley was built on government spending, in particular Defense Department funding for things like radar, semiconductors and what became the Internet. Everybody was happy about that.

Now maybe the Valley is returning the favor, building out the future of defense. The happiness of this has yet to be determined.

As John Markoff writes, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter just paid his fourth visit to the Valley. Fittingly, he spoke near Googles headquarters, and talked about the importance of putting artificial intelligence, or A.I., in our nations weapons.

He was speaking at something called the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental facility, which was started a year ago in Mountain View, Calif. Technology leaders used to come to Washington, but now Washington comes to them, too.
SAN FRANCISCO  Facebook, the largest social media network, published internal editorial guidelines on Thursday, the companys latest attempt to rebut accusations that it is politically biased in the news content it shows on the pages of its 1.6 billion users.

The 28-page document details how both editors and computer algorithms play roles in the process of picking what should appear in the Trending Topics section of users Facebook pages.

Facebook describes a list of processes it uses to display some of the most popular content across the network, including relying on algorithms to detect up-and-coming news trends as well as a team of editors who, much like a newsroom, direct how those topics are presented and decide what should be displayed to people who regularly use the service.

As the guidelines make clear, at practically every point in the process, a human editor is given the leeway to exercise his or her editorial influence.
Yesterdays love goddess is looking lovelorn today. Thats not bad news, by the way. Because this same woman is wearing loneliness just as convincingly  and affectingly  as she once sported irresistible erotic allure.

Melissa Errico, who dazzled New York in the otherworldly title role of the Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash musical One Touch of Venus in an Encores! concert production in 1996, has returned to the same stage 20 years later to demonstrate that she is equally at ease as an earthling. She is also providing a demonstration that time does not necessarily wither talent or presence.

Portraying the abjectly unattached Leona Samish in the insightful Encores! revival of Do I Hear a Waltz?, which opened on Wednesday night at City Center, Ms. Errico would not seem to be naturally wedded to her part. As seen in New York musicals of the past two decades (High Society, Amour, Passion, Finians Rainbow), this singing actresss usual persona might be summed up in a single word, lovely  as in of voice, face and manner.

Loveliness does not come to mind in connection with Leona, an aggressive and awkward American abroad in Venice, created by a holy (or perhaps unholy) theatrical trinity: the composer Richard Rodgers, the lyricist Stephen Sondheim and the playwright Arthur Laurents. Yet while Ms. Errico is objectively as attractive as ever, she makes an unsettlingly fine ugly American. Sometimes mismatches can surprise you that way.
BALTIMORE  The second trial of a police officer charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray began on Thursday and quickly pivoted to a basic question about police conduct: When does a lawful stop by a police officer turn into an unlawful arrest?

As the case against Officer Edward M. Nero opened in a windowless courtroom, it focused not on the death of Mr. Gray, the 25-year-old black man who sustained a fatal spinal injury in police custody last year, but on his arrest, with prosecutors contending that his rights were violated by police officers even before he was injured.

The defendants conduct was not that of a reasonable police officer, said a prosecutor, Michael Schatzow, who accused Officer Nero of failing to follow procedures designed to ensure Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure.

He deprived Mr. Gray of his liberty, Mr. Schatzow added.

The death of Mr. Gray touched off this citys worst riots since the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and prompted the governor to call in the National Guard to patrol the streets, and it became an indelible part of the nations wrenching discussion over how the police use force against minorities.
KEY WEST, Fla.  The firearm that George Zimmerman used to shoot Trayvon Martin in 2012 went on sale for $5,000 on Thursday, generating a torrent of denunciations and extending the notoriety of a case that galvanized the nation.

By Thursday night, however, efforts to sell the gun had fizzled.

For Mr. Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer who was acquitted of murder charges in the killing of Mr. Martin, a black 17-year-old, the announcement of the sale was the latest in a string of episodes that attracted national scrutiny. Mr. Zimmerman set off outrage in September by retweeting an image of Mr. Martin's corpse.

Mr. Zimmerman, 32, announced that he intended to auction the handgun used in the killing in Sanford, Fla. He said that the firearm had recently been returned to him by the Justice Department and that he hoped to use some of the proceeds to fight violence against law enforcement officers by members of Black Lives Matter; to ensure the demise of the career of Angela Corey, the prosecutor who put him on trial; and to counter Hillary Clintons anti-firearm rhetoric.

Mr. Martins mother, Sybrina Fulton, has been on the campaign trail with Mrs. Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee for president.
Mark Lane, the defense lawyer, social activist and author who concluded in a blockbuster book in the mid-1960s that Lee Harvey Oswald could not have acted alone in killing President John F. Kennedy, a thesis supported in part by the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1979, died on Tuesday at his home in Charlottesville, Va. He was 89.

The cause was a heart attack, his friend and paralegal Sue Herndon said.

The Kennedy assassination, one of the manifest turning points of the 20th century, was the pivotal moment in Mr. Lanes life and career. He would go on to raise the possibility of conspiracy in the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. five years later, but it was his Kennedy inquiry that made his name.

Before the presidents murder on Nov. 22, 1963, Mr. Lane was a minor figure in New Yorks legal and political circles. He had organized rent strikes, opposed bomb shelter programs, joined the Freedom Riders, took on civil rights cases and was active in the New York City Democratic Party. He was elected a State Assemblyman in 1960 and served one term.

After the Kennedy murder, Mr. Lane devoted much of the next three decades to its investigation. Almost immediately he began the Citizens Committee of Inquiry, interviewed witnesses, collected evidence and delivered speeches on the assassination in the United States and in Europe, where he befriended Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, who became an early supporter of Mr. Lanes efforts.
Oil and gas companies, already reeling from sustained low prices, see an economic burden and have vowed to fight.

It doesnt make sense that the administration would add unreasonable and overly burdensome regulations when the industry is already leading the way in reducing emissions, said Kyle Isakower, vice president for regulatory policy at the American Petroleum Institute. Imposing a one-size-fits-all scheme on the industry could actually stifle innovation and discourage investments.

The new methane rules are the latest part of a broader push by Mr. Obama to cut greenhouse gas emissions from industries across the economy. E.P.A. regulations would cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars, trucks and power plants, and new rules are in the works to reduce emissions from airplanes. Many of those regulations could face years of litigation before they can go into force.

The rules governing carbon dioxide emissions from cars and power plants, the two largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, form the centerpiece of Mr. Obamas climate change agenda. They are at the heart of his pledge under last years Paris Agreement on climate change that the United States would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025.

Reducing methane is an important part of the administrations climate change strategy because the gas is 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. It does, however, dissipate in the atmosphere far more quickly than carbon. The administration has set a goal of reducing methane emissions by as much as 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.
WASHINGTON  The head of the Transportation Security Administration faced pointed criticism from members of a House committee on Thursday during a hearing that examined many continuing problems at the agency, including long security lines at airports and suspected retaliation against employees who report security lapses.

The House Oversight Committee hearing was the second inquiry by the panel focused on management shortcomings and misconduct at the agency, which also included the awarding of bonuses to supervisors who ignored warnings about security lapses and allegations that employees who reported problems were reassigned to other airports.

A hearing last month featured three T.S.A. whistle-blowers, all of them senior managers, who said the agency remained plagued by poor leadership and inadequate oversight.

There are some very serious concerns about the performance of T.S.A., said Representative John L. Mica, Republican of Florida, a longtime critic of the agency.
WASHINGTON  Donald J. Trump and Speaker Paul D. Ryan appeared to take half a step back from their political standoff on Thursday, as Mr. Trump toured Washington for a swirl of meetings with Republican lawmakers concerned about the direction of his presidential campaign.

In public, Mr. Ryan praised Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, as warm and genuine, and declared that a process of reconciliation was underway. Behind closed doors, Mr. Trump pulled back his threat to remove Mr. Ryan as chairman of the Republican National Convention, and offered to help elect the partys candidates running for the House and the Senate.

Significant fissures remain between Mr. Trump and Republican congressional leaders: Mr. Ryan reminded the candidate privately that many voters opposed him in the primaries, and in a separate meeting with senators, several lawmakers urged Mr. Trump to modulate his tone on immigration.

But the abrupt shift in posture toward Mr. Trump, especially from Mr. Ryan, represented a remarkable turnaround. Only a week ago, Mr. Ryan took the unusual step of announcing on television that he was just not ready to support Mr. Trump. (Mr. Trump responded that he was not ready to support Speaker Ryans agenda.)
In a statement Thursday, the Secret Service said it was aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation.

Hope Hicks, a Trump campaign spokeswoman, said in an email about the posts by Mr. Senecal, We totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him.

Mr. Senecal did not immediately respond to a telephone call and Facebook message seeking comment.

The posts were revealed as Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has come under scrutiny for his associations with, and support from figures such as the former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. On Tuesday, Mr. Trumps campaign aides said a technical glitch had included William Johnson, a self-proclaimed white nationalist, on a list of California delegates they submitted to the Secretary of States office.

Mr. Senecal had worked almost 30 years for Mr. Trump, and was the subject of a profile in The New York Times in March. He spoke of knowing Mr. Trumps sleeping patterns, his culinary preferences and just the right ways to cheer him up when he was in a sour mood, once hiring a bugler to play Hail to the Chief.

When he tried to retire in 2009, Mr. Trump deemed him irreplaceable and kept him on as an unofficial historian at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the article said. But in her statement, Ms. Hicks said, Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years.
WASHINGTON  The Republican-led House of Representatives won a significant victory over the Obama administration on Thursday when a Federal District Court judge in Washington ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services did not have the authority to spend billions of dollars on a key element of the new health care law.

Judge Rosemary M. Collyer sided with the House in its challenge to the administrations funding of a program to help as many as seven million lower-income people pay deductibles, co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses under the law. Congress never provided explicit authority for the spending, she ruled.

Such an appropriation cannot be inferred, the judge said in her opinion. She blocked further spending under the program but said that order would be suspended pending an appeal by the Obama administration. No immediate disruption in the program was anticipated.

The judge had been skeptical of the administrations defense of the program from the beginning and made an crucial earlier decision to grant the House standing to sue. Courts have historically avoided being caught in the middle of fights between the legislative and executive branches.
WASHINGTON  Donald J. Trump came to Washington on Thursday to unify the Republican Party behind him.

That did not quite happen.

But here is what did: The political denizens showed once again that Mr. Trump, the reality TV star turned presumptive Republican presidential nominee, can animate the staid capital as much as any other city in America.

It helped that Mr. Trumps visit happened to coincide with the National Cannabis Industry Associations annual lobbying trip to the Capitol, and onlookers would have been forgiven for thinking that Washington had accidentally eaten the entire pan of brownies.

The least exciting part of the whole Trumpapalooza was the meetings themselves  those closed-door huddles between Mr. Trump and Republican leaders, which produced bland statements of party unity on both sides but little actual news.
Embracing the concept of keep the change, the Transportation Security Administration said it collected more than $760,000 in unclaimed cash  mostly loose coins  from travelers who had forgotten the money after passing through airport security in the 2015 fiscal year.

The agency said it makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left at the checkpoint, but at times, property or loose change go unclaimed. The coins, for instance, were left behind when passengers emptied their pockets before going through metal detectors.

Money from other countries collected over the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, made up more than $9,200, which was converted to American currency, according to a T.S.A. report in March.

What will the agency do with the money? In 2005, Congress gave the T.S.A. the authority to use unclaimed money on security operations.
DAKAR, Senegal  A suicide bomber who was stopped from entering a government compound killed at least six people, including two police officers, on Thursday in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram was suspected. Maiduguri was the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been the scene of numerous attacks by the groups fighters in the past seven years.

In recent weeks, the Nigerian militarys operations against the group had kept fighters out of the city center for the most part and residents had been starting to look ahead to a possible end of the long war with the militants.

But the attack Thursday, which also wounded more than a dozen people, shattered the citys fragile sense of calm.
Brazilians and many others are transfixed over the impeachment proceedings against Dilma Rousseff, Brazils first female president. But while impeachment is not uncommon, not all nations agree on what it means.

Lawmakers in at least a half-dozen countries, from Iran to the United States, have subjected their leaders to impeachment in recent decades. And not every case turned out badly for the politician who was targeted.

In the United States, two presidents have been impeached  Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998  but neither had to step aside during his trial. Both were acquitted.

But in Brazil, Ms. Rousseff has not yet been impeached, legal scholars say.

In Brazil, the term impeachment is used only after a conviction is made in the trial, said Daniel Vargas, a law professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro.
A headline in Global Times, which is owned by Peoples Daily, suggested that winning public trust over the case would be an uphill battle. Police struggle to convince public of proper conduct of investigation over mans death, it read.

The case has overtones of a scandal in 2003, when Sun Zhigang, a recent college graduate who had arrived in Guangzhou for a job as a designer in a garment factory, was beaten to death in police custody in Guangdong Province after being detained for not having a valid residence card. His death set off nationwide outrage and led to the revision of regulations controlling the movement of migrant workers.

Demands for answers as to how Mr. Lei died continued to mount on Thursday, with four strongly worded petitions, said to be from different groups of alumni from Renmin University, circulating on social media. Some links were being deleted by censors.

The authenticity of the petitions could not be independently confirmed, but Beijing News said it had confirmed one, reportedly written by graduates from the class of 1988.

The petition was titled: We Must Speak Out  Statement by Some 1988 Alumni of Renmin University of China on Fellow Student Lei Yangs Death.

It demanded greater rights for Chinese citizens and justice for Mr. Lei, whose family has requested an independent autopsy. The results will take about a month, news reports said.

Here are translated excerpts from the petition, which appeared on a Baidu website on Thursday but was deleted later in the day:
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  Leaders of Sri Lanka, an island nation at the foot of India, have repeatedly promised a political solution to the ethnic strife that has caused heartache and bloodshed for much of its nearly 70-year history since independence.

Committee after blue-ribbon committee has recommended that the majority Sinhalese, primarily Buddhists who emigrated from India centuries ago, relinquish some political power to the minority Tamils and Muslims, allowing them a measure of local self-governance.

And yet one president after another has failed to do so.

Now a president elected by an unlikely coalition of moderates from the two main majority-Sinhalese parties, along with the Tamil and Muslim minorities, is trying yet again at what is widely considered the most opportune moment in Sri Lankas history.

Long plagued by ethnic strife, Sri Lanka became embroiled in a civil war with the Tamils that lasted 26 years. The government finally crushed the secessionist group leading the fight in a brutal battle in 2009, in which tens of thousands were killed, most of them civilians. That government, accused of human rights abuses then and in the ensuing years, was toppled by the coalition that brought Maithripala Sirisena to power in January 2015.
LONDON  Six weeks after the Panama Papers revealed vast stores of hidden offshore wealth around the world, leaders from Britain, the United States and other nations vowed on Thursday to cooperate on sweeping measures against financial corruption.

At a conference in London, Britains prime minister, David Cameron, who two days earlier had been overheard describing Afghanistan and Nigeria as fantastically corrupt, announced strategies to clamp down on money laundering in his country.

He put forth proposals to make offshore companies that buy property in Britain reveal their true ownership, forcing those that hide behind complex financial structures to accept transparency. The same provisions would apply to firms that already own property in the country and to those bidding for British government contracts.

In practical terms, that would mean that companies buying or owning British property, or vying for state contracts, would first have to supply information on their actual ownership to a new public register.
LONDON  The calendar is filling with moments marking Britains role in molding events that changed the world.

On July 1, the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme will inspire memories of one of the bloodiest contests of World War I, which pitted French and British forces against German adversaries. A few days later, on July 6, after many delays, an official inquiry into Britains role in the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 is set to finally produce its voluminous report.

What binds the two is the ambiguous legacy of power projected onto foreign fields. World War I fueled an urge to build new orders as old empires collapsed. Borders were redrawn, countries carved up. The seeds that were sowed as Western powers like Britain faded after the world wars, have contributed to some of the most persistent problems and dangerous phenomena of the present. The Iraq inquiry is likely to shine a light on a weakened Britains uncomfortable role in trying to fix some of the mistakes that were born less than a century after the Somme.

Frail nations shaped by the victors of World War I have faced challenges of their own  the Arab Spring convulsed North Africa and the Middle East, and Iraq and Syria descended into turmoil, helping give rise to the Islamic State.
ROME  On a perfect May afternoon, with the Roman sunlight glinting off the ancient arches of the Colosseum, Officer Pang Bo adjusted his sunglasses and began his patrol. More or less. He walked around. He looked at tourists, and a few tourists looked at him. He posed for a few photographs.

In his dark-blue uniform and cap, Officer Pang is a top supervisor in one of Chinas biggest police departments, in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou. But for two weeks, he and three other Chinese police officers are in Italy with strict orders: to protect Chinese tourists.

That is, even if it isnt completely clear how four Chinese cops divided between Rome and Milan can make a difference. Or what the tourists need to be protected from.

The first day when we patrolled, the Chinese tourists saw us, and they were amazed, said Officer Pang, 44.
PARIS  It was a bad day of the kind that has become distressingly common for President Francois Hollande.

Anti-government demonstrators, tear gas and police sirens filled streets again in Paris and other French cities on Thursday, with protesters voicing their opposition to the centerpiece of Mr. Hollandes domestic agenda, legislation intended to make it easier for employers to hire  and fire  workers.

Members of his own Socialist Party were planning openly to get rid of his government, as were members of the opposition. Less than a year out from the presidential election, analysts vied with each other to pronounce his political death sentence. If the polls conducted and cited by the French news media are to be believed, voters have long since given up on him and his soothing smile, which four years ago seemed to promise a new start for France.

Mr. Hollandes smile, like that of the Cheshire cat, may soon be all that is left of him. His government survived a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly Thursday evening, two days after it resorted to a little-used power to force through the sharply contested labor law over opposition from some Socialists and others on the left. But with Mr. Hollandes support in the presidential race at 13 percent and unemployment still above 10 percent, his chances of re-election, or even of making it to the final round of voting, seem to most analysts to be vanishingly slim.
BERLIN  A lawmaker from Chancellor Angela Merkels party stunned his colleagues on Thursday when he took to the floor of the German Parliament to repeat a vulgar accusation that the president of Turkey has a venereal disease, perhaps contracted while having sex with goats.

Unbelievable, murmured one surprised lawmaker in the chamber when Detlef Seif, a member of the Christian Democratic Union, read a satirical poem about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The poem created a diplomatic firestorm when its author, the German comedian Jan Bohmermann, recited it on his national television show in March.

It so enraged Mr. Erdogan, who has sought to silence his critics at home and challenge them abroad, that he demanded Mr. Bohmermann be prosecuted under an obscure German law that makes it a crime to insult a foreign leader.
ROME  Pope Francis said Thursday that he would set up a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons in the Roman Catholic Church, a move hailed by women who have campaigned for years for a more prominent role in the church.

His remarks reveal an openness to re-examining the churchs long-held insistence on an all-male clergy. Yet the idea will face stiff resistance from those who believe that it is the first step toward ordaining female priests, something that recent popes have ruled out, citing church doctrine.

The popes comments were made during an assembly of leaders of womens religious orders and were consistent with his style: a seemingly off-the-cuff remark that opened a broad horizon of possibilities.

It came during a question-and-answer session in which he assured the nearly 900 sisters in the room that he wanted to increase the number of women in decision-making positions in the church.
MOSCOW  As American and allied officials celebrated the opening of a long-awaited missile defense system in Europe with a ribbon cutting and a band, the reaction in Russia on Thursday suggested the system had raised the risks of a nuclear war.

Russian officials reiterated their position that the American-built system imperiled Russias security. But the public discussion in Russia was darker, including online commentary of how a nuclear confrontation might play out in Europe, and the prospect that Romania, the systems host, might be reduced to smoking ruins.

We have been saying right from when this story started that our experts are convinced that the deployment of the ABM system poses a certain threat to the Russian Federation, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters in a conference call.

Measures are being taken to ensure the necessary level of security for Russia, he said. The president himself, let me remind you, has repeatedly asked who the system will work against.
Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for a fifth term as Ugandas president on Thursday. In power since 1986, he was re-elected in February after a campaign season marred by the detention of his principal opponent, voting irregularities and legal challenges. His rule has been likened to a dictatorship light; he insists this term will be his last.

President Obama told leaders of the African Union in July that, Nobody should be president for life.

Your country is better off if you have new blood and new ideas, Mr. Obama said. Im still a pretty young man, but I know that somebody with new energy and new insights will be good for my country. It will be good for yours, too, in some cases.
To make the shift to precision oncology, cancer researchers have invented a novel means to evaluate new treatments. Called a basket trial, it is a trial for which patients are recruited by the tumors genetic signature, not its point of origin in the body; a drug is thus tested against a basket of many cancer types. Last August, an international team led by researchers at Sloan Kettering published some of the first results of such a trial, for cancers with a mutation in a gene called BRAF. The doctors saw a good response in lung cancer and two rare cancers, showing the power of selecting drugs based on tumor genetics. For other cancer types in the trial, though, the drug was less effective, or there were too few patients to draw conclusions, showing how much more remains to be learned. Sometimes targeting a mutation fails because it is only one of many driving the tumor, or because the mutation occurred at random in the genetic chaos, a passenger, while other mutations do the driving. Future basket trials could help doctors tease out the distinctions.

Many such trials are now underway, including a large federally supported effort called NCI-Match. Sharon and Graces cases even helped inspire an everolimus basket trial. Carole Arenson, an 80-year-old Illinois woman, has metastatic sarcoma with a mutation in TSC2, the same troublesome gene implicated in Graces disease. Carole joined the everolimus basket trial and, in November, she learned that the tumors were shrinking. In this, the scientific investigations can be seen coming full circle, from a pair of Lazarus miracles to practical medicine that, to Carole, has felt like salvation.

When I met Lorch in his office last year, he was optimistic. Grace had just started on the Takeda Oncology drug, and the initial signs pointed to considerable shrinkage. Back in the fall of 2010, when she first received her diagnosis, her life expectancy could be measured in months. We are trying to turn [cancer] into a chronic disease, Lorch said. Right now, to have someone still alive five years after they were diagnosed and enjoying her grandkids is the best that we can do. As we spoke, though, on his computer screen was a scan with spots: masses of Graces tumor cells, within which, concealed from him, the cancer was surely plotting its next escape. Lorch sat a bit sideways on his chair, leaning back with his hand a loose fist on his forehead, as if he were bracing for impact. When her time comes, it is going to be hard to speak with her husband and all the people whove come in with her over the years. He paused. Am I dreading this? Yes. Does it motivate me to try harder to keep her around? Yes, absolutely.

President Obamas $202 million Precision Medicine Initiative, announced during his 2015 State of the Union address, seeks to study one million American volunteers to learn how genetic and other data might be used to tailor treatments. The initiative aims for progress in many ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and depression, but initially the focus is cancer. In January, in his final State of the Union address, Obama announced that he was putting Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in charge of a moonshot to cure cancer. Beau Biden, the vice presidents son, died in May 2015, at age 46, of brain cancer. The presidents mother died of uterine and ovarian cancer. For the loved ones weve all lost, Obama said before the joint session of Congress, for the families that we can still save, lets make America the country that cures cancer once and for all.

Two days after the presidents moonshot speech, I was on the eighth floor of the Charles A. Dana Building in Boston to visit Wagle at Dana-Farber. Last October, Wagle unveiled the Metastatic Breast Cancer Project, inspired partly by his involvement in Graces case and partly by frustration over the way cancer research works today. Its quite difficult to track down patients with intriguing case histories, scattered as they are across the country and protected by blankets of privacy. So instead of going through doctors or hospitals, the project makes its appeal to patients directly. Through the projects website, they can enter their medical histories and grant Wagles team access to their records, their DNA and tumor samples. Participants have started recruiting others to the project, solving a central challenge facing the scientific study of any rare phenomenon. In six months, more than 1,800 patients with metastatic breast cancer have joined, including hundreds of exceptional responders. In return, the project involves them in its decision-making and promises to share its data with any scientist who asks. A lot of patients feel like the research-industrial complex is about making discoveries and competing for grants, and in many ways they are right, Wagle said. I get it.

The project cuts against the grain of a medical system that was not designed to learn from patients. Every day in this country, doctors treat people for all kinds of disorders, and some do surprisingly well, or surprisingly poorly  and virtually all of this information is lost to science. Eric Lander, the founding director of the Broad Institute and co-chairman of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, has begun laying the groundwork for a national project he calls Count Me In, which would allow anyone to make their medical records, and DNA, available to researchers. In my opinion, Lander said, its a crime to let valuable information go to waste when a patient wants to share it.

Wagles project is Count Me Ins first undertaking. Next, Count Me In is beginning a similar effort on angiosarcoma, an understudied cancer, and two more efforts are planned this year. Precision oncology has been driven by advances in two areas: automation, responsible for the plummeting cost of genetic sequencing, and information technology, which allows the data to be recorded and interpreted. Projects like Count Me In are built on the premise that a third disruptive technology can also be brought to bear: social media.
These are good questions, in their way. Of course the first is what the entrepreneurial class calls table stakes; your cooking had better taste good. And the third is perhaps more a symptom of a world obsessed with photographic documentation than one concerned with deliciousness. But Joness second question is vitally important, particularly in salads, where the layering of textures is what differentiates the great from the merely good. You want crisp and yielding, slick and crunchy and soft, all at once.

So I roasted the tomatoes until they were almost but not quite melting. The heat concentrated their flavor, and the lime accented it beautifully. The kale joined them in the oven for the last 10 minutes or so. Cooked without oil, the greens went soft in parts and crunchy in others, and the soy and coconut bracketed their pure mineral intensity. For the dressing, I whipped together the ginger, miso, tahini, honey, olive oil, lime juice and chopped hot pepper to create a mixture far thicker than vinaigrette  one that lent itself better to drizzling over the bowl than using as something to slick every green. It is dressing as paint, perhaps, both creamy and bold. (You can thin it out a little with extra lime juice.)

The combination  the layering up, in Joness phrase  is sublime. You could certainly toss everything together, but I think the dish works better as a kind of tableau: the greens assembled across the bottom of a bowl or platter, with the tomatoes dotted across them along with the strips of shaved coconut, and the whole thing dressed simply, without tossing, the miso-tahini mixture added as you might apply pieces of mozzarella to a pizza. People will mix everything together on their own, on their own plates, as they eat.

Regardless, and pleasantly, there is no need to rush the preparation. You can assemble the recipe serially, slowly. The greens and the tomatoes come out of the oven hot. They can be served merely warm, and indeed should be. I know that food cooked with calmness and a little grace, Jones told The Guardian a few weeks ago, tastes, to me, a little better than when Im running around doing 10 million different things. Which is true as north, though generally hard to achieve. Here is a chance now. Take it.
Sixty-nine small wooden spoons hang along a gallery wall near the entrance to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. All hand carved from different types of wood and mounted on a narrow horizontal board, they include long-handled mixing spoons, two-sided ladles and a spoon so tiny its scoop is barely a quarter inch across.

The installation was made by Joshua Vogel, who founded Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co., a woodworking studio and small manufacturer of furniture and housewares in Kingston, with his wife. It is among dozens of works in Made for You: New Directions in Contemporary Design, an exhibition of one-of-a-kind creations that highlights the growing appeal of handcrafted, customized goods in an era of mass production.

The show is one of three concurrent exhibitions at the Dorsky, each with its own genre, premise and viewing experience. In Made for You, which was curated by Jennifer Scanlan, a director at the Oklahoma Contemporary museum in Oklahoma City, museumgoers can wander from furnishings to housewares to fashion. There is the white ash bench handmade by Jessica Wickham, its contours shaped by the log it was built from, and Christopher Kurtzs three-legged redwood writing desk that evokes flowing liquid. There is the whimsically asymmetrical glassware by Jill Reynolds and Daniel Spitzer of Malfatti Glass, and The Mysterious Lagomorph, a fantastical chandelier by Kathy Ruttenberg in which lit-up white resin rabbits frolic around the trunk of a ceramic tree. Three scarlet 3D-printed bracelets by Doug Bucci, who is diabetic, derive their patterns from data transmitted by the glucose monitor he wears. Three not-quite-identical porcelain vessels are versions of Sharan Elrans Unlimited Edition  1 of 6,227,020,800, representing the artists intention to design a unique vase for every person on earth.
On our first visit to Piccolo Italian Gourmet, there was no ignoring the scene unfolding six feet away. Three men in animated conversation paused to order three espressos, perhaps to quell the effects of a bottle of Romana sambuca planted squarely on their table. With the espresso came the check, which they fought over in mock battle  I got it! I got it! I got it!  until one at last waved the bill overhead in triumph.

And who wouldnt be happy to pick up the tab at these prices? You can order a golden brown arancino the size of a navel orange  stuffed with Bolognese, set in a pool of marinara and oozing strands of melted mozzarella  for $4.50. Or chicken any style  francese, Marsala, Milanese, parmigiana, piccata or prosciutto  with what is quaintly described as the vegetable of the day for $16. Textbook tiramisu is $7. Imported house wines  rosso and bianco  are $8 a glass.

Opened in March 2015, Piccolo Italian Gourmet in Port Chester is owned by Peter Neglia; his cousin Stefano Gentili is the executive chef. Mr. Gentili is a native of Rome, and the menu, according to Mr. Neglia  who waits tables and chats with patrons  is meant to honor the familys Roman heritage. In truth, the menu is more pan-Italian, offering a wide variety of crowd-pleasing pastas and panini. I would have loved to have seen more Roman specialties (spaghetti cacio e pepe, bucatini allamatriciana or braised oxtails) in the mix. Tables are crowded and the decor is stark  some would say contemporary. The uplighting behind the bar is Listerine blue-green.

Image Burrata with roasted vegetables. Credit... Suzy Allman for The New York Times

Mr. Gentili turns out some delectable little starters (puzzlingly called tapas on the menu): pan-seared shrimp swaddled in bacon; milky burrata paired with warm, chunky caponata; prosciutto di Parma and fresh mozzarella drizzled with honey-truffle oil; and tiny ruffled arugula mingled with pleats of prosciutto and shavings of Parmesan.
The menu, overseen by chef Louis Barresi, creator of the Doppio concept, is mostly spot on. On the Italian side, we started with the decadent Primi pizza, which included fontina, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses topped with wild mushrooms, prosciutto and truffle oil. Grilled octopus seems to be this years trendy appetizer, and Primis version was very good: a thick and meaty limb is grilled and served with a five-olive puree, some fingerling potatoes and pieces of cacciatorini salami. The burrata appetizer was outstanding, the moist and creamy hunk of imported mozzarella accompanied by cherry tomatoes, prosciutto and an aged balsamic vinegar.

For entrees, we especially loved chef Barresis chicken scarpariello. This dish usually arrives as a heap of potatoes, peppers, sausage and bony thighs, in quantities so large even your cousin Vinny couldnt finish it. Primis lighter version lets the chicken take center stage, using a boneless thigh and semi-boneless breast with just a sprinkle of spicy cherry peppers, a few ounces of fennel sausage, some slices of fingerling potatoes and a small pool of white wine sauce. It was the perfect portion, and the best item on the menu, which in a high-priced steakhouse is no small feat.

Speaking of steaks, the 38-ounce prime-aged porterhouse for two can easily feed three, though at $98 dollars it should probably be more flavorful. Ours was perfectly cooked and looked fantastic on the plate, pre-sliced and nicely charred on the outside, even when ordered rare. The meat itself, however, didnt have the marbling required of a truly great porterhouse. Fat is the flavor-giver for meat, wrote James Beard, and fans of Peter Luger in Great Neck or Brooklyn, for example, might find themselves slightly let down by the flavor of Primis leaner offering.

Image The Chocolate Primi. Credit... Donna Alberico for The New York Times

The bone-in rib-eye, on the other hand, was excellent. Weighing in at 26 ounces, this deliciously fatty and charred slab with its tomahawk-shaped bone will inspire plenty of Fred Flintstone jokes. It was also much more savory than the porterhouse and offered nearly as much meat, though it was considerably less expensive at $62. Add to this a side of the house Bearnaise sauce and an order of the addictive Tuscan fries, and you begin to feel like youre in a classic American steak house. (Sadly, theres no creamed spinach.)
The youngest of four daughters born to a haberdasher who had once tried to break into vaudeville and a homemaker mother who later worked as a secretary, she grew up in a big, old, drafty, kind of awful farmhouse in a rural area outside of Topeka, Kan. As a child, she took refuge in books and her own imaginative games. I just would totally immerse myself in other people, she said. I didnt have a name for it. I didnt know it was acting necessarily.

In high school, she devised her own curriculum, which included directing, dialects and theatrical makeup. She went on to study at the Academy of Dramatic Art, a short-lived conservatory program just outside of Detroit. On her cellphone, Ms. Houdyshell keeps a couple of pictures from those years. They show her with wide eyes and a pert mouth, devilish and innocent at once.

After graduation, she made the rounds of Midwestern dinner theaters, childrens theaters and the like. While playing summer stock in the early 80s, she met the director Joe Mantello, who would go on to direct her in Wicked and The Humans.

Mr. Mantello remembered those performances vividly. She was in everything  drama, musicals, mysteries, comedies, he said by telephone. And she was extraordinary in each.

In her mid 20s, after the breakup of an early marriage, Ms. Houdyshell spent a couple of miserable years in New York. I was very intimidated by the city, she said. Unable to break into the business, she switched her focus to regional theater, living out of a suitcase for more than two decades and enjoying herself tremendously until quite suddenly, she said, the itinerant life felt very sad to me.
Pell Street these days is two quiet blocks, no more, but Chinatown was born here, where Doyers Street dead-ends into Pell, where tour guides still talk of tongs and mah-jongg.

At night, on Pells eastern end, pilgrims queue for soup dumplings at Joes Shanghai. They may not notice Taiwan Bear House, which opened last June, with its teddy-bear logo suggesting just another perky bubble-tea shop.

But see those towers of empty wooden bento boxes in the window? Theyre waiting to be filled. First a bed of rice, then a layer of minced pork simmered down to a near gravy. On one side, garlicky cabbage, barely wilted in a wok, still crunchy and bright. On the other, half a hard-boiled egg, inked with soy, and a dense pressed square of dry tofu with sweet seams of star anise.

Over this may lie a pork chop hammered thin and sealed inside an improbably fluffy crust, or pork belly in slices thick as cake, with descending horizons of lean and fat, or chicken freed of its bones and deep-fried twice, so the crispy shell of skin turns chewy where it clings to the flesh.
In the past decade, medicine's understanding of cancer  how it works, how to diagnose it and how to treat it  has been changing drastically. This week, in a special Health Issue of The New York Times Magazine, we tell the stories of doctors and patients navigating this strange frontier: new tests, new drugs, riskier and more nimble ways of thinking.

We want to hear your stories, too. Have you or someone you love had a brush with this new science of cancer  with experimental therapies or advanced genetic testing  that led to a surprising outcome or a thorny moral or practical conundrum? If so, tell us about it here. A selection of submissions may be chosen for publication on The Times's website. Your contact information will not be published. An editor may contact you to learn more about your story.

Submissions are now closed. Read reader's stories here.
Educators key concerns in education funding review

12 May 2016



NZEI Te Riu Roa President Louise Green is one of 18 members of an Advisory Group announced today , tasked with reviewing the funding of New Zealands education system.



The review being undertaken by the Ministry of Education will have major implications for how our education system is funded, and includes early childhood education and schooling through to age 18.



Ms Green said the group had a big job ahead of it.



She said NZEIs fundamental commitment on behalf of its members was to maintain and enhance free and equitable access to education for all children regardless of their personal circumstances.



There are a number of points that are priorities for NZEI in ensuring a quality public education for every child, she said.



Those points are:

 Whatever changes to the system are proposed, NZEI believes more funding is needed if children's learning needs are to be met successfully. Redirecting resources to one area would mean a loss of funding to another if the overall funding and resourcing is not increased.

 Boosting quality teaching in ECE through 100% qualified teachers.

 Ensuring teacher aides, office administrators and other support staff essential to schools receive fair pay and more secure jobs.

 Meeting our obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi to support learning in and through Te Reo Maori.

 Resourcing children with additional learning needs so we have a fully inclusive education system.

 We oppose performance-based/outcomes-based or "value added"/progress based funding, either for schools or individuals, where funding is linked to student progress or achievement data, because this fundamentally distorts teaching and learning. The international evidence shows it is unfair, unreliable and inaccurate.


SCHUYLER  A former Schuyler bank employee must repay more than $100,000 she stole from the business through fraudulent loans.

Diana Sanchez, 38, was ordered to pay $108,558 in restitution to Pinnacle Bank as part of a sentence handed down Wednesday in Colfax County District Court. The Schuyler woman was also sentenced to 24 months of probation and 100 hours of community service in the case.

She previously pleaded no contest to four counts of theft by unlawful taking as part of an agreement with the Colfax County Attorneys Office, which dropped an additional five counts of the charge. Each Class III felony was punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

Sanchez is accused of stealing more than $150,000 from Pinnacle Banks downtown Schuyler location by processing nine loans from October 2010 through July 2015 using information from bank customers and nonexistent vehicles as collateral.

The defendant, who joined the bank in 1996 and worked as a residential mortgage lender, was able to access customer information through her job to create the falsified loans and pocket the money.

She processed the loan checks  ranging from $5,547 to $30,082  and cashed them with tellers at the bank, saying the customers wanted to receive the loans in cash, according to court documents.

Bank officials met with Sanchez in September 2015 after discovering the illegal transactions and she admitted to falsifying the loans, court documents say.

She was arrested Oct. 1 after bank officials reported the loan scheme to the Schuyler Police Department.

During an interview with Schuyler Police Chief Lennie Hiltner, Sanchez said she embezzled the money to catch up on bills, according to court documents.

Sanchez liquidated her retirement account to make a $45,000 payment to the bank on Wednesday, leaving the $108,558 total. She must pay Pinnacle Bank at least $500 a month as part of her sentence.
The first bundle of bus route changes to be installed as part of the Orange County Transportation Authoritys biggest service overhaul in six years will go into effect in June.

Service modifications, scheduled to begin June 12 to redirect resources from low- to higher-performing areas, include major changes from the OC Bus 360 program that the OCTA board approved in February. Officials say 75 percent of OCTA riders will not be affected by changes to the routes under the program.

The program, which OCTA staff deemed necessary to reverse declining ridership, calls for changes to 35 of the systems 77 bus routes, with the bulk of service improvements coming in June and the majority of route reductions slated for the annual October modification period.

The transportation agency administers minor route revisions and schedule adjustments three times per year.

The June changes  to 13 of the OC Bus 360 programs 35 routes  also include cutbacks.

Route 172 and Route 173 between Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach will be eliminated, as will Saturday service on Route 178 running from Huntington Beach to Irvine.

Geoff Forgie, who was riding a Route 173 bus he boarded at Orange Coast College to Huntington Beach on Tuesday afternoon, said that he wasnt aware the line would be going away, but that he could take Route 172 as an alternative. Then he learned Route 172 would be eliminated as well.

Nothing surprises me anymore, Forgie, 45, said. Over 20 years taking the system, nothing has gotten better. Every time it gets worse. Im not the only one complaining.

Forgie, who lives near the start of Routes 172 and 173 at Pacific Coast Highway and First Street in Huntington Beach, said hell be left with one bus option, Route 1, which travels to a different area. He said hes already paying more to get around via Uber, but other people are not as lucky as me.

OCTA staff recommended  and the board approved  cuts to routes with a small number of daily boardings.

On Tuesday afternoon, over an hour and a half, no more than six passengers rode the bus in each direction of Route 173, portions of which will be covered by Routes 35 and 71.

Cecilia Arzola, 47, another passenger aboard a Route 173 bus Tuesday, said in Spanish that she can take Route 71 to get to houses she cleans for a living, but it will affect me because Ill have to walk 15 minutes more.

Huntington Beach Mayor Jim Katapodis, an OCTA board member, said hes pretty confident the transportation authority will grant the city Project V funds from sales tax, allowing municipalities to start their own community-based transit circulators in areas with service shortages.

Routes 51 and 145 serving Santa Ana and Costa Mesa also will be discontinued in June, but major portions of the routes will be covered by new Route 150. A new Bravo! Route 560 will provide limited stops from Santa Ana to Long Beach via Westminster Avenue and 17th Street.

Routes 30, 35, 50, 54, 60 and 76 also will see adjustments in frequency or running time.

OCTAs 47 million boardings during fiscal 2015 were the lowest since 1997. The OC Bus 360 program is aimed at drawing 1.3 million new riders over three years.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7762, jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
Charter Communications Inc. won final regulatory approval to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. and become the second-largest U.S. cable provider, as California authorities approved the merger.

The deal could close within days of clearing this last hurdle, Chief Executive Officer Tom Rutledge told investors April 28.

Stamford, Conn.-based Charter will need to provide broadband to more customers and offer higher speeds, the California Public Utilities Commission said as it approved the merger during a meeting in Sacramento.

The deal will give Charter new subscribers in cities including New York, Dallas and the Los Angeles-Orange County area.

The company will serve about 24 million customers, compared with 28 million for Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission last week approved the deal. It set restrictions designed to prevent Charter from thwarting Web video companies that compete with the companys cable channels.

Charter last year agreed to acquire New York-based Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks LLC, a cable company based in Syracuse, New York, for $55.1 billion and $10.4 billion, respectively, according to prices at the time.
Allan Seymour got up early Wednesday to be among the first 200 in line for Sprouts Farmers Markets 7 a.m. grand opening in San Clemente and got 20 percent off his grocery bill.

Its just awesome, the Capistrano Beach resident said of the new store at 550 Camino de Estrella, which promises natural and organic foods at great prices.

I can ride my bicycle over, Seymour said. Its a great addition to the neighborhood.

Its also the newest addition to Camino de Estrella Shopping Center, the former Kmart Plaza that is heading toward completion of a $20 million facelift by two developers, Kornwasser Shopping Center Properties and Burnham USA.

T.J. Maxx opened on April 24 with a line out the door similar to Wednesdays at Sprouts. Ulta Beauty, a cosmetics store with salon services, opened May 6. Stein Mart is progressing on interior work toward a possible September opening. Renovations continue on a string of businesses at the Camino Mira Costa end of the center, originally built in 1971 as Grant Plaza.

Sean Nicholas, associate city planner, said he expects the conversion of the total site from a boxy 1970s design to Spanish Colonial Revival could be completed in as soon as three months.

Contact the writer: 949-492-5127 or fswegles@ocregister.com
By age 5, it is possible to predict, with depressing accuracy, who will complete high school and college and who wont.

These words, from The New York Times columnist David Brooks, are a stark warning  and they should be reverberating through businesses across the nation and igniting a fire for investing in our youngest learners.

Businesses need employees who are job-ready, team-capable and well prepared  but sadly, were getting far too few of them.

Its time to make the business case for early childhood investments.

The majority of fourth- and eighth-graders in any state are not proficient in math and reading, according to The Nations Report Card from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Fewer than one-third of students in all participating countries and economies reached the baseline proficiency level on the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment mathematics assessment.

Even more alarming, a report from Mission: Readiness Military Leaders for Kids found that only 29 percent of people ages 17-24 would qualify to serve in the U.S. military. The rest could not meet the physical, behavioral or educational standards for service  standards similar to those many employers use.

This failing workforce pipeline can be repaired, but we have to start early.

The foundation of many skills needed for todays jobs is established in the critical early years of life at home and school.

From birth to the first day of kindergarten, brain development happens at a pace exceeding that of any other stage of life. It is a time of rapid cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional and motor development, where hundreds of connections form in the brain every second.

The Children and Families Commission of Orange Countys readiness research found that 52 percent of O.C. children were not developmentally on track by the time they entered kindergarten.

For local business owners, this translates to a severely reduced job-ready workforce.

Business owners need to lock arms on this issue and invest in young children, post haste. Human capital investment yields the greatest return with programs targeted at children up to age 3. Not only is it in our nations best interest from a business perspective, even more important, it is the right thing to do for our children.

Indeed, in business, rarely do we have the opportunity to make an investment decision with as much evidence as we have to support the economic value of investing in early childhood development and education.

Through impactful, highly targeted programs and services, the O.C. Children and Families Commission and its community partners have positively improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. On behalf of American business leaders and ReadyNation, we are proud to align ourselves with their critical mission, and call on other businesses to join us today.

I guarantee you, the return on investment will be well worth it  and its one we simply cannot pass up.

Ken Thrasher is board chairman for Compli and a member of ReadyNation, a business leadership organization promoting effective investments in children and youth.
WASHINGTON  The director of the FBI said Wednesday that he would not be rushed into finishing his agencys investigation of Hillary Clintons emails on an election timetable. And he would not say whether the inquiry would be wrapped up by the November presidential election.

We want to do it well and we want to do it promptly, so I feel pressure to do both of those things, James Comey, the FBI director, said.

I dont tether to any particular external deadline, he said during a round-table discussion with reporters, so I do feel the pressure to do it well and promptly, but as between the two, I always choose well.

While Clinton has characterized the investigation as a security inquiry, Comey said he was not familiar with the term.

A spokesman for Clinton declined to comment on whether the campaigns view of the matter was different from Comeys. The Republican National Committee said that Comeys comments confirmed that Clinton had been deliberately misleading the public.

The FBIs case began as a security referral from the inspectors general of the State Department and the nations intelligence agencies, who were concerned that classified information might have been stored outside a secure government network. But multiple law enforcement officials said the matter quickly became an investigation into whether anyone had committed a crime in handling classified information.

As Clinton seeks to secure the Democratic nomination for president and turn her attention to Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, questions over her emails have remained a political headache  one that Trump seems inclined to compound if he can.

Hoping to brand Clinton with the kind of two-word moniker (Crooked Hillary) that helped topple several Republican opponents, Trump has made clear his intention to focus his campaign energies on Clintons emails.

Typical Hillary Clinton, Trump said Wednesday in a statement emailed by an aide. Can never tell the truth, and in this case, its a very big deal!

By contrast, her Democratic opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, has largely avoided the issue, saying months ago during a debate that Americans were sick and tired of hearing about the emails.

But for Trump, the strategy carries risk, potentially opening the door to questions about his own record of disclosures. He has faced criticism over his refusal to release his tax returns.

Comey said he had been receiving regular briefings on the status of the investigation into Clintons emails, which has included interviews with some of Clintons closest aides at the State Department on her decision to use a private server for all of her government business as secretary of state. Some emails that went through her server appear to have been classified at various security levels because of sensitive information.

Officials say that Clinton would probably be interviewed soon by the FBI. On Sunday, she said on CBS Face the Nation that the FBI had not asked to interview her, but reiterated that she would be available to law enforcement officials as necessary.

I made it clear that Im more than ready to talk to anybody, anytime, and Ive encouraged all of my assistants to be very forthcoming, Clinton told CBS.
Newly released test scores show that 37 percent of high-school seniors are prepared for college math and reading. This is just further proof of the countrys failing school system.

The United States ranks 35th in the world in math testing scores, behind countries such as Russia and Vietnam. And reading? Based on one estimate, only 36 percent of American eighth-graders score at or above grade level. Among students from low-income backgrounds, roughly 80 percent score below grade level.

This is a big problem for job creators, who depend on an educated workforce to produce the goods and services necessary to succeed in todays competitive business environment. But with 1,500 students dropping out of school each day and millions more graduating each year with limited-to-no marketable skills, the lack of a skilled workforce has become one of the business communitys biggest impediments to growth (ranking after overregulation, overtaxation and lack of access to credit).

Nowhere is the lack of qualified employees more evident than in the so-called skills gap. There are 5.6 million job openings in the country that U.S. employers cannot fill, but there are also 3.3 million long-term unemployed Americans. This suggests that its not a lack of available jobs holding the long-term unemployed back, but a lack of available skills.

Yet education reform to address the countrys failing education system and the skills gap has barely been mentioned on the campaign trail. That shouldnt necessarily be a bad thing. Education policy shouldnt be a political issue. Policymakers should help students, not resort to partisan politicking. But in todays hyper-partisan environment, even education is political.

For example, the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program was created to provide low-income students in the District of Columbia with hope for a better future  and the money needed to realize it. Using scholarships of up to $7,500, many underprivileged students were able to afford private school  giving them some of the same opportunities available to more affluent families. The average household income of children who get these scholarships is less than $21,000 a year.

Has the program worked? OSP has increased the graduation rate as much as 13 percent, providing families with limited means a brighter outlook. Its no wonder that OSP has more parental satisfaction than D.C. public schools.

But where does the program stand now? OSP is at risk of losing its federal funding (a projected $150 million over five years). Opponents pursuing a partisan agenda have criticized the program for interfering with the public school system, urging Congress to scrap OSP altogether. Better, they argue, to direct those funds to traditional public schools. But throwing more money at the problem hasnt worked before. It wont work again.

Unfortunately, OSP is just one of many successful education reforms in the country under attack by those who look to sacrifice students for their own political gain. Similar reform, in New York City, Los Angeles and other big cities, faces a yearly battle for survival.

In an attempt to cut through the partisan rhetoric around education reform and come up with real solutions to help students, the Job Creators Network is launching its 100 Cubed Initiative. The campaign will address current education problems by engaging proven problem-solvers in academia and beyond  the goal being heightened public awareness at the local, state and national level of the crisis that is our public education system and the implications that entails.

This is not a political effort, but one focused on constructive criticism and change.

Every American student should have the opportunity to attend an excellent school. This is imperative to American economic growth and competitiveness.

Bob Luddy is executive chair, and Scott Barron is executive director, of the Job Creators Networks 100 Cubed Initiative.
PORTLAND, Ore.  A passenger who authorities say forced an Alaska Airlines flight to be diverted after he didnt get a beer has pleaded not guilty in Portland, Ore., to a charge of interfering with a flight crew.

A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday says 32-year-old Luke Watts of Portland threatened to become violent if flight attendants didnt serve him a beer during a March flight from Sacramento to Seattle.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff says Watts then locked himself in the bathroom and screamed and pounded on the door. He also demanded hugs from flight attendants.

Concerned about the potential for violence, the pilot decided to land in Portland.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta on Tuesday allowed Watts to remain free while awaiting trial.
SCHUYLER  A 43-year-old Schuyler man who has been in custody since a November 2014 stabbing inside a local apartment building was sentenced to 30-40 years in prison.

Amauri Herrera-Alvarez, who pleaded no contest to attempted murder in November 2015, learned his fate Wednesday inside a Colfax County District courtroom.

The defendant, who faced up to 50 years in prison on the charge, must spend at least 15 years in prison before hes eligible for parole and will receive credit for more than 500 days already served. His family will also pay $20,000 restitution to the victim, who was stabbed multiple times in the throat and back during the attack.

According to court documents, Schuyler Police officers arrived at the scene of the Nov. 2, 2014, stabbing to find a blood-covered Herrera-Alvarez running along the south side of an apartment building at 511 W. 12th St. carrying a rope.

The suspect attempted to hang himself from a tree, but an officer intervened by cutting the rope. A knife with a 6-inch blade was found at the scene.

Herrera-Alvarez was transported to an Omaha hospital and later transferred to the Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln.

The victim, 36-year-old Yanet Ramos Diaz, was taken by helicopter to an Omaha hospital and released after undergoing multiple surgeries.

Law enforcement believes the woman and Herrera-Alvarez, who both have ties to Florida, were in a relationship at the time of the stabbing.

Herrera-Alvarez underwent a psychiatric evaluation in 2015 after the court was notified of his intentions to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. However, a change of plea hearing was requested after the defendant was ruled competent to stand trial.

In exchange for his no contest plea to the attempted murder charge, the Colfax County Attorneys Office dropped a second charge  use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony  which was also punishable by up to 50 years imprisonment.
The Obama administration will unveil on Thursday the first explicit U.S. regulation of methane emissions with a rule designed to reduce leaks of the potent greenhouse gas from oil wells.

The measure will require oil and gas companies to do a better job finding and plugging methane leaks at new wells, pumps, pipes, compressors and other equipment. It will be released by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to three people told of the plans who asked not to be identified prior to the formal announcement.

The primary ingredient of natural gas, methane is pound for pound 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the atmosphere when measured over two decades. Previous regulations pared traditional air pollutants from some natural gas wells but did not specifically target methane.

This is an incredibly important step, said Mark Brownstein, vice president of the Climate and Energy Program at the Environmental Defense Fund, in a phone interview earlier this month. Methane is responsible for 25 percent of the warming that our planet is experiencing right now, and in the United States, the oil and gas industry is the largest source of methane emissions.

New Wells

The mandates will apply only to new and modified oil and gas industry sources of the greenhouse gas, but they set the framework for the EPA to impose similar requirements on nearly 1 million existing wells and other equipment nationwide.

President Barack Obama promised the U.S. would go after methane from those existing oil and gas sources during a March summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While the EPA might not finish writing a proposed rule before Obama leaves office, the agency is set to start the work soon by formally asking oil and gas companies for detailed information about methane emissions.

Industry leaders have lobbied against the rule, describing it as unnecessary in light of companies continuing work to pare methane emissions. American Petroleum Institute Vice President of Regulatory and Economic Policy Kyle Isakower credited innovations by the oil and natural gas industry as achieving great progress on the issue. We are spending more than ever on reducing emissions, he told reporters in an April 19 conference call.

Energy companies have a financial interest in keeping methane bottled up as it moves from the wellhead to compressor stations and into storage tanks, but some gas does seep out. As proposed, the rule would require energy companies to upgrade some equipment, use special emissions-capturing techniques when completing new oil wells and regularly search out leaks.

Inspection Surveys

Under the draft rule proposed last August, those inspection surveys would generally have to be conducted semi-annually. It was not immediately clear whether the EPA had stepped up the inspection schedule in the final rule in response to environmentalists pleas for quarterly monitoring.

Environmentalists also took aim at the EPAs initial plan to exempt low-producing wells that generate less than 15 barrels per day of oil or its equivalent.

Some of these oil wells that are only producing a few barrels of oil a day are leaking huge amounts of gas, Lena Moffitt, director of the Sierra Clubs Dirty Fuels Campaign, said in a May 3 interview. To really get at the intent of this rule, they need to be covering these facilities that are leaking a lot.

The scope of the rule on new and modified sources is significant because it largely dictates how far the EPA can go with any future mandates for existing wells and equipment. Its like a gate swinging open, said Conrad Schneider, senior counsel and legal director of the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce pollution.

Climate Pledge

If they only open it halfway, existing sources will be narrow, he said. There is an opportunity to open the gate as wide as possible so a comprehensive existing source rule will follow from this.

The Obama administration has pledged to cut methane emissions 40 to 45 percent by 2025 over 2012 levels. Meeting that target requires an expansive approach, Schneider said.

But oil industry leaders warned that aggressive new rules  especially coming on top of additional proposed mandates for wells on federal land  could shut in some marginal wells and wipe out small, independent producers. Companies could spend more paring incremental methane emissions than they will recover by selling the natural gas they keep from leaking, industry groups said.

An EPA cost-benefit analysis of the rule last year assumed natural gas prices would climb to about $3.90 per million British Thermal Units. On Tuesday, futures contracts were trading at $2.17 per MMBtu.

Smaller independents, many conventional well operators, and operators of wells that are marginally economical will not be able to weather the storm until natural gas reaches EPAs assumed price, the Independent Petroleum Association of America and American Exploration and Production Council warned in joint comments last year. Wells will not be drilled or will be shut in prematurely, and other companies will simply go out of business because of EPAs erroneous assumption on the price of natural gas.
From 1949 to 1969, under a law inherited from the Nazi regime, about 50,000 men in West Germany were convicted of homosexuality. Many served time in prison.

Although the law  known as Paragraph 175 for the section it was part of in the countrys Criminal Code  was eased in 1969, it stayed on the books. As a result, another 3,500 men were convicted before the law was finally rescinded in 1994, four years after the reunification of Germany. Even then, the convictions stayed on the mens criminal records.

The German government announced Wednesday that it would finally correct what it called a long-standing injustice.

The justice minister, Heiko Maas, said the government would put forward legislation that would overturn the convictions and allow for financial compensation to the men who suffered under the legislation. Maas said the decision was reached after a study by the federal governments anti-discrimination agency concluded there was no reason the men should not be legally rehabilitated.

Maas announcement amounted to an apology for the law, which scholars and civil rights activists have long considered a mar on the countrys fraught history.

Although the ban on homosexuality dated to 1871, it was significantly strengthened in 1935 when the Nazis issued an order making all male homosexuality a crime.

During the Nazi regime, from 1933 to 1945, 100,000 men were arrested and charged with homosexuality, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Some were sentenced to castration, while 50,000 men were sentenced to serve in regular prisons, and 5,000 to 15,000 were interned in concentration camps, where they wore uniforms marked with pink triangles. Many died from hunger, disease, abuse or targeted killings, but the precise number of deaths is not known. (Female homosexuality was not prosecuted, except in Austria, which had been annexed by Germany, though lesbians were also subjected to repression.)

Germany has allowed civil partnerships since 2001, and gay couples have the same tax status and adoption rights as married couples. In 2003, the government decided to erect a memorial to homosexuals persecuted by the Nazis. The memorial was publicly unveiled in 2008 in Berlins Tiergarten, across from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Maas said the cancellations of the convictions were long overdue, acknowledging that the state has burdened itself with guilt, and that Paragraph 175 made life difficult for so many people. He said the law was unconstitutional from the start, and that the old verdicts were an injustice that hurt each sentenced person deeply in his human dignity.

In a statement, Maas also said: We will never be able to eliminate completely these outrages by the state, but we want to rehabilitate the victims. The homosexual men who were convicted should no longer have to live with the taint of conviction.

The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany, a leading civil rights organization, applauded the announcement, saying that it showed the government not only can, but must, clear the names of the men who were convicted under Paragraph 175.

The federation said the report commissioned by the anti-discrimination agency, which examined the issues surrounding the annulment of decades-old convictions, makes clear that the government can no longer hide behind spurious arguments that annulling the convictions would not be legally possible.

Maas said the study would be taken into account in drawing up legislation, which requires approval by Parliament. He urged the countrys political parties to push through the legislation, once it was introduced, without delay. How many men will be eligible for compensation, and details of the compensation process, are unclear.

Axel Hochrein, a spokesman for the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany, noted that time is short for the men persecuted under the law, and urged the government to expedite the legislation so that they could restore their dignity.
As the representative of the nations most heavily Latino congressional district, East Los Angeles Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard would be an unlikely supporter of one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys more insidious anti-immigrant programs. But her silence on the agencys efforts to implement a U.S. national ID program is notable.

REAL ID is a law Congress passed hastily in 2005. It is designed to coerce states into producing a U.S. national ID. The laws standards for drivers licenses and nondriver IDs include forcing drivers to present multiple documents for proof of identity, proof of legal presence in the United States and proof of their Social Security Number. Full compliance also may require that states share all their drivers data and documents with every other motor vehicle agency through a nationwide network of databases.

California is currently noncompliant with REAL ID, having been granted repeated compliance extensions by the federal government. Compliance would require action from the Legislature, and officials have expressed concerns in the past about both REAL IDs cost and its lack of privacy protections.

REAL IDs extensive document requirements, too, have raised concerns, with fears that they will disproportionately impact Californias large immigrant and minority communities. Migrants and minorities often have difficulty procuring the necessary documents, and they would be more likely to be asked for proof of citizenship through their drivers licenses and state IDs.

DHS has recently become more aggressive in pushing REAL ID. In January, it announced that the Transportation Security Administration will turn away travelers from noncompliant states at airport checkpoints starting in January 2018. By October 2020, the federal government expects every license held by an American to meet federal government standards.

Theres good reason to believe TSA wouldnt follow through. It has backed down from manufactured deadlines before. But the threat is driving some states to change their licensing procedures at the behest of DHS bureaucrats.

Roybal-Allard since 1993 has represented Eastern L.A. Countys 40th District, where nearly 87 percent of residents identify as Latino. She sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and is the ranking Democratic member of the subcommittee that oversees funding for DHS. Roybal-Allard is in a good position to withdraw funding from the national ID program. There is good reason to do so.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act with no hearings and very little debate. Nobody has ever articulated how the national ID would provide cost-effective security, or why the threats to every Americans privacy and data security are worth the risk.

When REAL ID came before Congress on a stand-alone vote in 2005, Roybal-Allard rightly voted against it. The House leadership later folded it into a military spending bill, which she voted for.

Since then, however, appropriators like Rep. Roybal-Allard have annually passed funding for REAL ID with little to no debate, much less oversight. The Cato Institute has found that, on average, Congress appropriated, and DHS spent, about $50 million per year on REAL ID from 2008-11. Starting in 2011, REAL ID was folded into a $1 billion-per-year State Homeland Security Grant Program that further reduced oversight of federal spending on the national ID program.

Restoring transparency to DHS appropriations and refusing to fund REAL ID would be an important step in pushing back against a federal program that will have negative consequences for many of the people Rep. Roybal-Allard represents. California and our nation would be better off with more transparency over DHS spending and an end to funding of the unwanted national ID program.

Jim Harper is a senior fellow with the Cato Institute.
It took but a moment for the Orange County Board of Education to adopt a resolution Wednesday recognizing Memorial Day.

But a proposed resolution honoring the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, failed after heated public comments.

The board didnt directly vote on the Milk resolution. Members delayed it to a future meeting, with some requesting a resolution that doesnt focus on Milk, but instead is inclusive and welcoming to all students regardless of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Board member John Bedell said he wanted less Harvey Milk and a more generic resolution honoring human dignity.

Fellow board member David Boyd, who had asked for the Milk resolution, said, If you vote it down, whether its true or not, the perception  will be this is a very anti-gay board. After the meeting, Boyd said he was bitterly disappointed.

The Milk resolution was part of a controversy-filled session.

I thought we needed a popcorn machine. It was crazy, said Laura Kanter, policy, advocacy and youth programs director at the LGBT Center OC. Kanter said she would like to see a future resolution include the LGBT community.

Kanter and many others in the audience attended the session not to address the resolution but to comment on a news release Boyd put out last month, saying he would ask for an investigation into the conduct of Board President Robert Hammond as well as a briefing from the countys legal counsel as to what constitutes a hostile work environment.

Boyds concern stems from comments Hammond made in two emails. In one, he referred to gays as sodomites. In the other, he told an employee, I hope you dont mind but I plan on asking you about your sexual orientation publicly during our next board meeting.

Boyd never got a chance to ask for an investigation. The matter was agendized for the afternoon but was moved to the morning session. Boyd arrived late and missed his chance to move the item forward. No one else took it up, so the issue died.

After the session, Hammond declined to address his sodomite comment except to say there are those who think its an inappropriate term and others, particularly on the religious right, who feel it is acceptable.

Hammond defended the second email saying he would ask an employee about his sexual orientation. The question has been taken out of context and was rhetorical, he said, a reference to the California Healthy Kids Survey. Among other things, the survey asks students if they have been bullied because they are gay or someone thought they were.

It is very inappropriate to ask an adult employee about their sexual orientation. Its beyond the pale. Its inappropriate for our schools to be asking students about their sexual orientation, Hammond said.

Sherine Smith, the Laguna Beach Unified School District superintendent, asked the board members to resolve their conflicts and work toward helping all students, including gay students who are at greater risk for depression and suicidal thoughts. The California survey, she said afterwards, is given to students anonymously and helps school districts identify numerous issues, including school climates and the extent of bullying.

Chris Tebbutt, a Laguna Beach father, said Hammonds email to the employee constituted a threat and his comment about sodomites was derogatory.

Were a world-class county with narrow-minded leadership, Tebbutt said after the session.

Others were pleased that neither issue advanced Wednesday. Some speakers condemned homosexuality  to some rounds of amen from the audience. Others criticized the survey used in schools.

Political beliefs have no place in my childs classroom, said Ryan Ortega, of Santa Ana. If anyone is going to push an agenda on my child it is going to be me.

Still others voiced strong opinions about Milk, calling him a promiscuous sexual predator who preyed on young people.

The questions about Hammond come as he is running for re-election. Asked about emails from 2014 surfacing so close to an election, Boyd said the public should know about them.

Asked whether the controversy could affect his election race, Hammond said, With some people, it will hurt; with some people, it will help.

Contact the writer: rkopetman@ocregister.com
Children from San Clementes Marblehead community squealed with delight Wednesday as they climbed, twirled, swung and did their best to challenge a new playground that opened at Marblehead Park.

That excitement will likely be repeated next year when children 5,500 miles away climb and play on playground equipment that was dismantled and removed from the park last month and is expected to find new life in San Clemente, Chile.

The playground switch is being done by the city in partnership with Kids Around the World, a local nonprofit that has brought new life to reconditioned U.S. playgrounds in communities from Kazakhstan to Ecuador.

The group plans to ship the previous Marblehead Park playground equipment and put it back together in the South American San Clemente in early 2017 with help from volunteers.

The city is really getting behind this, said Chris Marshall, regional vice president for the nonprofit. Its something that we really value.

The new Marblehead Park playground at 2400 Via Turqueza includes more features than its predecessor, including universal-access elements designed for children with disabilities and more challenging rope-based climbing features.

A contractor assembled the playground in recent weeks, after about a dozen volunteers gathered at the park April 21 to help professionals dismantle the retired playground, which served San Clemente for two decades. The city had scheduled it for replacement.

Kids Around the World and the city are storing the retired playground components. In coming weeks, the nonprofit will seek sponsorships from local service clubs, churches, businesses and individuals to help offset costs of moving the playground to a vineyard-region town of 15,000 people that shares a name with 65,000-population San Clemente.

In the summer, the organization will announce a tour package for volunteers interested in making the trip, at their own expense, to help assemble the playground, with time set aside to interact with the locals, tour the area and learn about Chilean culture.

Toby Ray, a volunteer from San Clemente who has assembled and opened Kids Around the World playgrounds in Guatemala, Mexico and the Philippines, remembers all the excited squeals he has heard.

When they open it up for the first time is the greatest moment, he said of the playgrounds. It makes it all worthwhile, after all that work.

Kids Around the World is based in Rockford, Ill., but has a West Coast office in San Clemente.

Weve built 510 playgrounds in more than 70 countries ranging from northern Iraq in refugee camps even to here, domestically, during Hurricane Katrina, said Dan Liesik, a former Camp Pendleton Marine who now works for the group and is managing the San Clemente project.

The concept was born 21 years ago, Liesik said, when Rockford businessmen traveled to their sister city, Brovary, Ukraine, and asked the mayor what the city of Rockford could do for Brovary.

You could bring a playground, the mayor is said to have replied. It took the group awhile to figure out how to make that work, but in 1994 volunteers did.

This will be San Clementes second playground donated to Kids Around the World. In 2015, a playground retired from Max Berg Plaza Park was reborn in Pillaro, Ecuador. For this one, San Clemente Mayor Bob Baker asked if the Marblehead Park apparatus could go to another San Clemente.

Justo Diaz, a public official with the Ilustre Municipalidad de San Clemente, Chile, paid a 2013 visit to then-Mayor Baker at City Hall. Baker was selected by his council colleagues to another one-year term as mayor for 2016, and when the Marblehead Park playground became surplus, Kids Around the World agreed to put together a project.

Diaz plans to visit San Clemente in coming weeks to firm up the Chilean towns welcome for the visitors.

For information regarding the Kids Around the World project, contact Liesik at 619-944-1280 or danl@kidsaroundtheworld.com. For more about the organization, visit katw.net.

Contact the writer: 949-492-5127 or fswegles@ocregister.com
A Santa Ana man led police on a high-speed chase, blasting through red lights and stops signs, before hitting and killing a pedestrian in a crosswalk, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Victor Manuel Sanchez, a 24-year-old documented gang member, was fleeing from police in a white Dodge Charger on May 30, 2013 when he hit 33-year-old Andrew Reisse as he walked through a crosswalk at the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and South Flower Street, authorities said.

Reisse was thrown about 60 feet and died at the scene, authorities said. Reisse, a software developer, was a co-founder of the Irvine-based Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset created for video games.

Sanchez has pleaded not guilty to felony murder and evading a police officer.

In his trial on Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney said Sanchez blasted through residential areas at speeds of more than 60 mph and didnt stop even after he broadsided a truck at Warner Avenue and continued south on Flower.

Birney said Sanchez was driving at nearly 100 mph when he slammed on the breaks and hit a second vehicle. The impact caused the Dodge Charger to spin and crash into Reisse, who was walking home after having lunch at Chipotle.

The chase started when gang detectives looking for someone in the area confronted men inside two vehicles stopped in the middle of the street in the 1000 block of Rosewood Court. An officer got into an altercation with one of the men, Gerardo Diego Ayala, 26, who was shot by the officer and later died at a hospital hours later.

Sanchez, behind the wheel of the Dodge Charger, sped off with two other men in the vehicle  Jesse Segura and Giovanni Bahena, who was wanted on an arrest warrant, Birney said.

After hitting Reisse, all three men jumped out of the car and ran from the scene but were soon apprehended by police.

Birney said Sanchez has a prior conviction for evading officers in an hour-long car chase that ended in Long Beach in 2008.

What Mr. Sanchez didnt do was learn his lesson, and it cost that man his life, Birney said.

Sanchezs defense attorney, Gilbert Carreon, asked jurors to reserve their judgment until after they hear all of the testimony.

Carreon said Sanchez is expected to testify and will explain his frame of mind at the time of the chase.

The crash prompted Reisses family to file a wrongful death lawsuit in 2014 against the three men, the city of Santa Ana and several other agencies.

The lawsuit, which is pending in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that the city and other defendants breached their applicable duty of care by, among other things, not falling back from the chase and not avoiding a role in Reisses death.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com
Pro-Donald Trump graffiti was spray-painted on Hillcrest High School in Riverside in an act of vandalism discovered Thursday morning.

Phrases including loves Trump underneath the schools nameplate, Hillcrest (heart) the Donald and Make Hillcrest great again, a twist on the GOP presidential candidates Make America great again slogan, were painted on the walls.

The graffiti was quickly painted over. By about 9:30 a.m., two slightly discolored blotches could be seen where the words loves Trump had been on the front of the building.

School officials are investigating, Alvord Unified School District spokesman Shawn Loescher said, but he couldnt comment on whether they think the graffiti was the work of a student or someone unconnected with the school.

Riverside Police handt identified any suspects either Thursday morning. Officer Cheryl Hayes said an officer had been sent to the school to evaulate the large amount of graffiti. The officer was stopping by nearby stores to see whether any spraypaint or toilet paper had been purchased by a potential suspect.

The officer would also drive around the school to see whether there were any cameras that couldve captured the vandalism, as the school doesnt have cameras of its own.

Missy Pofek said her sophomore son, Toby Rogers, told her the campus was trashed, with vandalism both inside and outside the school.

In addition to the walls being painted, trees were toilet papered and what looked like garbage cans sat atop tall metal poles outside the school, Pofeks son told her. More toilet paper and graffiti covered the walls inside.

Officer Hayes said door handles at the school had been spray painted and plastic wrap was left everywhere.

Pofek snapped a photo of the loves Trump graffiti when she dropped her son off at the school, on Indiana Avenue in Riversides La Sierra neighborhood.

She said her first reaction was that it would be offensive to Latino students  who make up 65.8 percent of the school, according to state data  because of the message Trump sometimes sends about the community.

That must be something that affects the entire school, she said. Obviously somebody did that to be vindictive.

Pofek says when it comes to politics, she likes to stay out of it. She said her son just chuckled at the message.

Student Andre Brown said he thinks the graffiti was a joke rather than a political statement. Because it also included the message senior 16, Brown believes the graffiti was a student prank.

Trump is real popular for saying all the crazy stuff he says, but some students dont like him, Brown said.

The 18-year-old said he doesnt plan to vote in the presidential election because none of the candidates appeal to him.

Its like (who is) a lesser evil, he said.

Contact the writer: amillerbernd@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9567, @annieanyway on Twitter
A prominent national white supremacist leader has resigned as a Donald Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention after campaign officials said his nomination was the result of a database error.

William Daniel Johnson, who has called for a whites-only United States and the deportation of other races and ethnicities, said in an interview Wednesday that he resigned for the good of the Trump campaign, which he supports.

They dont need the baggage that came along with my signing up as a delegate, said Johnson, a Los Angeles corporate lawyer who has been active in U.S. white supremacy circles for more than three decades.

Johnsons name was included in a slate of delegates that the Trump campaign submitted Monday for certification by the California secretary of states office.

After Mother Jones magazine reported Johnsons inclusion on the list, Trump officials moved quickly to remove him. Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told The Washington Post that a database error led to the inclusion of a potential delegate that had been rejected and removed from the campaigns list in February 2016.

Johnson, who has said that U.S. citizenship should be limited to white people with no ascertainable trace of Negro blood, said he though the Trump campaign staff members who added his name to the list were unaware of his white supremacist beliefs.

I was a delegate for two hours, they got inundated, and thats probably the time they said, Who is this Johnson?  he said. Nobody knows who I am. I think the Trump campaign probably knows more about me now, but you cant hold that against the vetting people in a campaign. I didnt emblazon on there that Im a white nationalist. So it was an innocent mistake on the vetting persons part.

California Republican Party bylaws permit campaigns to amend their delegate lists until June 27, when those lists are submitted to the Republican National Committee, party spokeswoman Kaitlyn MacGregor said.

Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors extremism, said it is hard to believe the Trump campaign was not aware of Johnsons beliefs. She noted Johnsons long history of high-profile white supremacist activism, and the fact that he founded the pro-Trump American National super PAC and that he has actively campaigned for Trump.

This year, Johnson recorded robo-calls supporting Trump that were used ahead of the Republican primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Minnesota.

In those calls, which received extensive national media attention, Johnson said, The white race is dying out in America and Europe because we are afraid to be called racist,  warned of the gradual genocide against the white race and complained that in the United States, few schools anymore have beautiful white children as a majority.

Donald Trump is not a racist, but Donald Trump is not afraid, he said. Then, referring to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, both of whom are children of Cuban immigrants, he said: Dont vote for a Cuban. Vote for Donald Trump.

Johnson, who has a law degree from Columbia University, said that the Trump campaign had not authorized the calls. He gave out his cellphone number and asked people to call him if they wanted.

Beirich called the Trump campaigns inclusion of Johnson as a delegate despicable.

Theres no way to not have known this; those robo-calls have been all over the press for months, she said. You have to wonder about the campaigns competence, or if this is once again pandering in some way to white supremacists.

Throughout his campaign, Trump has battled the perception that he has been at least tacitly sympathetic to white supremacists. He appeared slow to repudiate former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke after Duke praised him, and he has retweeted messages from white nationalists.

Beirich said that Trump had been careful not to offend white supremacists during the Republican primary campaign. She said she expected him to moderate his tone in the general-election campaign, but she said she found it hard to believe that any candidate would want the support of people with Johnsons views.

Its 2016. Nobody appeals to white supremacists, she said. This is the worst of American history. This is fire hoses and dogs being sicced on black people who want the right to vote  this is what this represents. This is unacceptable.

Johnson said he has been a leading voice of white supremacy since at least 1985, when he wrote a book proposing a constitutional amendment that would have limited U.S. citizenship to non-Hispanic whites of the European race, in whom there is no ascertainable trace of Negro blood, nor more than one-eighth any other nonwhite race or ethnicity.

He proposed that some Hispanic whites would be eligible for U.S. citizenship provided they are in appearance indistinguishable from Americans whose ancestral home is in the British Isles or Northwestern Europe.

Johnson has run for Congress in Wyoming and Arizona and a judgeship in California, and he has raised money for the presidential campaign of former Republican congressman Ron Paul of Texas. His campaigns have been based on white nationalist platforms, and he has even complained about fictional character Harry Potter kissing a Chinese girl in a movie, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

However, Johnson has said on his law firms website that he has long represented Japanese corporations doing business in the United States, and that he can speak, read and write Japanese. The website is written mainly in Japanese, and Johnson speaks in Japanese in a video on the site. Johnson notes that he is looking for Chinese clients.

Johnson said that he supports Trump because he speaks his mind.

He wont govern by public opinion poll; he will speak what he thinks is right, Johnson said. I believe Ron Paul was that way, I believe [Democratic candidate] Bernie Sanders is that way. And regardless of your political beliefs, that is a refreshing change.

Johnson, who said his American Freedom Party has experienced an increase in recruitment because of Trump, said he likes Trumps positions on securing our borders and keeping the jobs back in America.

But he said he doesnt think that Trump supports white supremacist causes.

I believe he does not, Johnson said. Its unrequited love.

Johnson, whose proposed 1985 constitutional amendment would have denied U.S. citizenship to anyone who was more than one-eighth Semitic, said he is not bothered that Trumps daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism when she married an Orthodox Jewish man.

I do think its better for a Christian to marry a Christian, he said. But thats not my say, and its not Donald Trumps say. Thats his daughters say.
Gene Lee poured a jug of water over his head after a recent surf session at San Onofre State Beach.

The San Clemente surfer understood when the state needed to turn off the showers in the midst of the drought last year, and he still brings water from home for his after-surf rinse. But with the rainfall and snowpack in the northern part of the state this year, he wonders if its time for the state to turn the showers back on.

Hes not alone. Surfer David Matuszak recently walked the sand at San Onofre, handing out fliers to beachgoers, urging them to write to officials, telling them to turn showers back on at state beaches.

Our position is the water crisis is over. The surfers at San Onofre did their part by accepting the fact that we lost our rinse showers, said Matuszak, who is a member of San Onofres Hawaiian Surf Club. But when the water and the rains came back  we felt it was time to turn the water back on.

For Matuszak, and others who surf San Onofre, the shower issue is a matter of public health.

The ocean is not the pristine body of water it was 30, 40, 50 years ago, particularly after a storm, he said. We have sewage. We have pesticides. We have bacteria. Being able to rinse after a surfing session is a health concern.

The state shut down showers at state beaches last July, shortly after Gov. Jerry Brown issued new rules aimed at cutting water use, statewide, by 25 percent. Part of Browns plan was to cut off showers at state beaches, which in Orange County includes Bolsa Chica, Huntington, Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove, Doheny and San Clemente.

The decision applied statewide and also affected state parks that arent on the beach.

But many city- and county-run beaches didnt follow suit.

A lot of other beaches never turned off their rinse showers, Matuszak said. They understood there is a need and a health concern for people to be able to rinse off.

On Monday, Brown issued a new executive order, directing the State Water Board to extend the emergency regulations for urban water conservation through the end of January 2017.

However, the proposed regulation also would replace the state standards with locally developed conservation regulations, based upon each agencys specific circumstances.

Southern Operations Division Chief Brian Ketterer said the state park system is still following Browns executive order to reduce and maintain the current water-saving strategies of 25 percent water reduction. He said the state saved about 18 million gallons of water by turning off the beach showers. Thats about what 120 households use in a year.

We continue to maintain our water-reduction strategies, which include eliminating or reducing irrigation of native vegetation projects, reducing water usage in our housekeeping and maintenance programs, and, unfortunately, eliminating public-serving amenities like flushing toilets and the outdoor rinse stations, he said.

With many aquifers and wells still at lower-than-normal levels, Ketterer said there may be seasonal park closures in some central California areas.

The reality is, we are asking our constituents and users, like surfers and water enthusiasts, to make a conscious personal choice on how they want to use their water during this time of extreme drought, he said.

Matuszak, who lives in Redlands but surfs San Onofre twice a week, is in the process of building a second home in Northern California. During his drives each month, hes seen the plentiful water that has returned in lakes and reservoirs. Lake Shasta, for example, was filled, the snowpack was good, and rains in January broke records, he said.

I was up here and my neighbors had 35 inches of rain in a 14-day period, he said.  Im familiar with the snowpack and water levels. They are back to normal.

Matuszak noted that the fee for annual passes to state beaches  $195  didnt change when the state shut down the water.

There are other ways they could have saved costs rather than put surfers health at risk, he said.

Contact the writer: lconnelly@ocregister.com
LAGUNA WOODS  Norah Figueroa and Lyla Wrobel thought they knew everything about each other.

After all, Figueroa has cut Wrobels hair for 25 years, and hairdressers often are a womans closest confidant.

The women met in 1991 when Wrobel came to Figueroas salon for a perm. They became fast friends, often meeting for lunches, dinners and church events.

Whenever Figueroa moved to a new salon, Wrobel followed.

Apparently, during all those years in the chair there was one subject they didnt get to.

Wrobel recently went in for her monthly hair appointment at Leisure World Barber Shop. After the usual chit-chat about kids and grandkids, Figueroa mentioned she was going to her nieces wedding in New York in a couple of weeks.

Wrobel told Figueroa her nephew in New York was getting married soon. Is the brides name Natalie? Wrobel asked, half joking.

Yes, it is, Figueroa confirmed. And the grooms name is John.

It took a moment to register, then the two Laguna Woods residents looked at each other and screamed.

Natalie is Figueroas grand-niece and John is Wrobels nephew  which means the two women will be aunties-in-law.

Im tickled pink, Figueroa said later.

I was thrown for a loop, Wrobel added. We cant believe it.

Natalie Lomeli grew up in California and John Fisk in Oregon. They both are artists in New York City.

On Wednesday they will be married in Brooklyn. Figueroa is planning to attend, but Wrobel wont be able to because of her health.

This is great! Lomeli said about the coincidence. Were so excited!

For Figueroa and Wrobel, the wedding adds a special dimension to their relationship.

We were good friends and now were shirt-tail relations, Wrobel said. We are now family.

Contact the writer: 949-837-5200 or jkarmarkar@ocregister.com
COLUMBUS  Friends of a local family hope a newly named lake will create special memories for nature lovers.

Lake Esther was officially introduced Wednesday during a dedication ceremony on the south side of the pond located just east of Columbus Community Hospital.

Known as Hospital Lake for years, the pond was christened by hospital and city officials, with family and friends of Esther Campbell and her son, Richard Otterpohl, on hand.

Otterpohl left most of his estate to the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation and Columbus Christian School Foundation after his death in 2014. Because of his generosity, the lake was named in honor of his late mother.

Our hope is that the residents of the Columbus area have as much fun here at Lake Esther enjoying Gods creation as Richard and his folks did many years ago in Minnesota, said Ken Paul, a friend and neighbor of Otterpohl.

Born in Columbus on May 11, 1934, Otterpohl graduated from St. Bonaventure High School and worked at Swansons Market. Paul said Otterpohl and his parents often traveled to Minnesota for summer family vacations, when they would rent a cabin, fish and enjoy nature.

Otterpohl was described as a man small in stature but with a big heart.

In later years, he helped to take care of his aging parents and always had a deep respect for his mother, visiting her at the hospital each day until she died in 2006, Paul said.

Because of his close connection with his mom and Otterpohls gift to the hospital, it was decided to name the lake after her.

On behalf of the foundation, we were very, very pleased to get this very significant gift from Richard. We are really pleased that the hospital has chosen to name this lake after his mother, Esther, with whom he was very close, said Con Nosal, a member of the CCH Foundation Board of Directors and childhood friend of Otterpohl.

Aside from a new name, other additions at the lake include a shelter, picnic table and grill on the southwest side of the lake. The money for that addition came from the Columbus Morning and Noon Rotary clubs, Fantastic 4-Hers, Columbus Family Practice, East Central District Health Department, Columbus Community Hospital and a grant from Rotary District 5650.

A playground will be added to the area in the future. The Next Generation Kiwanis club is raising money for playground equipment that will be handicapped-accessible. Hopes are to have the playground installed in late 2017 or 2018.

A trail will also be built around the lake that connects with the existing trail system in Columbus.

The lake has been stocked by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission with catfish, bluegill and crappie.
$10,000 for a pot of tea sounds excessive, but thats the kind of price that wealthy tea-collectors are willing pay for a few sips of original Da Hong Pao, perhaps the worlds rarest tea. With a single gram priced at a whopping $1,400, this famously pricey tea is actually worth over 30 times its weight in gold!

So what make Da Hong Pao tea so valuable? According to Chinese tea master Xiangning Wu, its mainly its rarity. There are hardly any original Da Hong Pao trees left, and the antique varieties that grow in Wuyi mountains, Chinas Fujian Province, are so rare that theyre considered almost priceless. In fact, generations-old tea makers have a special yearly ritual to Da Hong Pao  they go into the mountains every spring to pray to tea god Lu Yu for new shoots. Some reports suggest that the leaves are wiped with goats milk as they grow, and after harvest, theyre baked and then left to gain flavor for up to 80 years.

Legend has it that these original Da Hong Pao also has incredible medicinal value  it is said that the when the mother of a Ming Dynasty emperor fell ill, she was cured by this particular tea. Following the incident, the emperor clothed the four bushes that provided the medicinal leaves with great red robes. And thats how the tea got its name  Da Hong Pao  which translates to Big Red Robe. Today, six Da Hong Pao bushes growing on a brick terrace in a vertiginous limestone face, in the Wuyi Mountains, are believed to be offshoots of those original bushes.

Travel writer Theodora Sutcliffe, who recently visited Wuyishan city in the mountains to find out more about the tea, confirms this, explaining that not all varieties of Da Hong Pao are expensive. Though aged or antique versions can sell for extremely high prices, a Da Hong Pao of reasonable quality can cost around $100 per kilo in Wuyishan, she writes in her BBC report. But every genuine Da Hong Pao originates with a cutting from a single group of mother trees. And its these original trees that produce the rare and sought-after original tea.

The original bushes are so valuable that they are kept under close guard at all times, and their dark, tangled, unfinished-looking leaves are not easy to buy. Da Hong Pao leaves are so exclusive that only specialist brokers can connect wealthy Chinese buyers to the right tea producers.

Da Hong Pao has garnered interest among tea connoisseurs outside of China as well. In fact, in 1849, British botanist Robert Fortune visited Wuyishan on a secret mission to obtain a few Da Hong Pao seeds, to grow them himself in other locations like India. Where previous spies had failed, Fortune is said to have succeeded in disguising himself as a local and managed to acquire seeds, seedlings, and even valuable information regarding their cultivation. He ultimately merged these seeds with indigenous Indian tea, which Sutcliffe explains was the beginnings of an industry now worth billions of dollars a year.

Sadly, the only Da Hong Pao leaves in circulation today were harvested several years ago. As Sutcliffe writes, the 350-year-old bushes, last harvested in 2005, are now reduced to straggly bushes with no new growth. On 1 May, soon after the tea harvest begins, a red carpet will be rolled out to mimic the emperors gift, she writes. Beautiful women dressed in traditional costume will ascend the mossy steps and perform a ritual. But there will be no harvest. Which means that the scattered few grams collectors are lovingly storing, drying them each year to mature their flavor, will be more valuable than ever before. Perhaps as expensive as diamonds, given time.

If youre interested in having a taste of the rare Da Hong Pao before it completely dies out, it is currently on the menu at the Royal China Club in central London, priced at around $250 for a pot of four small cups.

Sources: BBC, The Independent
The Westhampton Library board and citizens engaged in another shouting match at last nights meeting, the board sticking by its resolve to remain self-appointed and citizens saying its about time the community was listened to.

Resident Peter Zegler asked why the board it does not conduct a poll of citizens by mail on whether an elected board should replace the self-appointed board.

When board members did not respond, Zegler then asked each member individually for their opinions on that subject.

Board president Tom Moore, husband of Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore, other board members, and library director Danielle Waskiewicz all said that Zegler was not allowed to question the board in that manner and that the board can only speak collectively.

Zegler refused a request to sit down. Waskiewicz got up and threatened to have him forcibly removed from the room. There was yelling by both sides and a brief recess was called.

The meeting was similar to the April 13 meeting which was covered by Southampton Press reporter Erin McKinley under the headline, Sparks Fly at Library Meeting.

There is no official audio or video recording of library board meetings. WHB trustee meetings are videotaped, shown on local Channel 22, and archived permanently on the village website.

$4M for Construction, Parking

Current financial plans of the library call for $3,073,579 on capital projects and $1,000,000 for purchase of land for a parking lot.

Some of the 14 attendees at the meeting wanted to know why so much money is being spent on a building that is only six years old and for parking when there is plenty of parking across the street in the Rite Aid parking lot.

The citizens said the library has plenty of funds for intellectual pursuits such as paying for a series of distinguished speakers on important topics and hosting discussion of controversial topics as encouraged by the American Library Assn.



The library has no display of materials documenting the dangers of cellphones, computers, cordless phones, iPads and other sources of electromagnetic radiation, all of which are particularly dangerous to children, babies and fetuses.



Tom Moore on Feb. 27 emailed this website that the Federal Communications Commission has determined that Wi-Fi radiation does not raise the temperature of the body and is therefore not dangerous.

An attempt to learn more about the proposal to spend $1 million on land for a parking lot was rebuffed by Moore. There was also no further explanation of the $3 million in capital projects.

A lot next to the library that was occupied by a gas station was cleared last fall and that appears to be the land that the library board has in mind. However, Waskiewicz would not confirm whether that is land under consideration.

Funds for those purposes are now committed, as recommended by the auditor, the board has said.



Citizen Calls for Elected Board

A citizen took the podium to ask that the board consider switching to elected status. Moore said that topic is always being looked at.

The board has created a 14-page report on selection of its members that is backed up by 96 pages of references. Citizens say there is no chance the current board will give up being appointed by itself.

Thirteen of the 19 libraries in the Suffolk County association have elected boards, citizens noted. Port Jefferson unionized in 1987 and changed to an elected board in 1990, they said.

Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton, the biggest library in the Hamptons, has had an elected board since 1996.

One citizen who was speaking last night was ordered to sit down by Moore. She ask, Why, because you dont like what I am saying?



Citizens at the meeting said they will continue to urge residents to vote against the library budget May 17. Rationale for this is provided by the website wflelectedboard.org.
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Bengaluru: Hundreds of dead fish found in Ulsoor lake for 2nd time

Bengaluru

oi-Sandra

Bengaluru, May 12: After several fish were found floating on the surface of the Ulsoor lake earlier this year, again hundreds of them were seen floating on Tuesday morning.

Though the authorities noticed the dead fish on Tuesday, May 10 itself and began the cleaning process, not all fish were completely removed. Residents of the surrounding area tell that fish were dying for the past two days and were found near the MEG area, thereby emanating a foul smell.

Something 'fishy' in Bengaluru lakes, but authorities won't learn

Residents complain that there has been a steady flow of sewage water into the lake which led to the drop in the oxygen levels which has caused the fish to die.

The side of the lake where the dead fish were found is covered with garbage and plastic bags.

This is the second time in the year that dead fish were found in the lake. Earlier in March, hundreads of dead fish were floating on the surface of the lake sending the authorities into a tizzy.

Prakash Javadekar, the Environment Minister had that time ordered a probe into the issue. Later he even announced funds for the cleaning up of the lakes in Bengaluru.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 10:59 [IST]
Too many pre-poll surveys for Tamil Nadu election 2016?

Chennai

oi-Shubham

Chennai, May 12: As one after another pre-poll opinions pour in ahead of the May 16 election in Tamil Nadu, experts have started questioning the basis of these surveys that are either favouring the ruling AIADMK or DMK.



Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; Two more pre-poll surveys emerge in TN

Doubting the accuracy and the method of these surveys, the observers feel that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to the sample size. They even said that the opinion polls are carried out by people who are not experienced and lack skills. They also blamed the media houses for committing the mistake of converting the percentage into votes. [List of TN poll results: 1952-2011]

The experts have also questioned the size and distribution of these surveys. One news channel gave the ruling AIADMK 164 seats in its survey results released recently, raising quite a few eyebrows. Jayalalithaa's party did not win that many seats even in 2011 when it swept the polls. The situation looks far more tight this time. They feel such results come out when the sample is clustered.

A lot is being also said about the polls not giving the third front in this election-the People's Welfare Front (PWF) led by the DMDK---any worthy mention.

Even MDMK supremo and the front's chief minister candidate Vijaykanth seemed upset with this and said the surveys meant little sense. But, according to the experts, the PWF drew attention in the beginning but faded after Vijaykanth joined it.

Some commentators even went to the extent of predicting less than four seats for both the PWF and PMK. They also said that if the DMK and Congress's coming together after the 2013 break-up doesn't convince the voters, the advantage clearly lies with the AIADMK.

The CPI(M), which is a constituent of the six-party PWF, accused the pre-poll surveys as handiwork of either of the two major Dravidian parties.

Oneindia News
TN polls: M Karunanidhi has won all 12 contests so far, two by a whisker

Chennai

oi-Shubham

Chennai, May 12: M Karunanidhi will contest the 13th Assembly election of his life on May 16 when Tamil Nadu will go to the polls. The DMK supremo and five-time chief minister of the southern state will contest from Tiruvarur, from where he had contested in 2011 and won by a record 50,249 votes.

Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; Too many pre-polls for this TN poll?

The leader, popularly known as Kalaignar and will turn 92 on June 3, has perhaps an unmatched cent per cent success record in all the 12 elections that he have contested since 1957. As a 33-year-old, Karunanidhi had contested his first election in Kulithalai Assembly constituency which was then in the composite Tiruchi district (currently in Karur district). [Tamil Nadu poll results: 1952-2011]

During campaigning this year, Karunanidhi, who will become the oldest chief minister if the DMK manages to win this electoral battle, sought votes as an "elder brother" while his son and DMK treasurer MK Stalin said his father was the "son of the soil" and himself the "grandson of the soil".

Karunanidhi will be challenged by the AIADMK's ANR Panneerselvam and CPI's S Masilamani, who is said to be a leader with a mass appeal, and will have the backing of the third front---the People's Welfare Front. The Thiruvarur constituency has won by either the DMK or the CPI(M) over the years.

A brief look at all 12 elections Karunandhi has contested since 1957:

Defeated K A Dharmalingam of the Congress by 8,296 votes at Kulithalai in 1957



Defeated AYSP Nadar of the Congress by 2,828 votes at Thanjavur in 1962



Defeated S G Vinayagamurthy of the Congress by 20,482 votes at Saidapet in 1967



Defeated N Kamalingam of the Congress by 12,511 votes at Saidapet in 1971



Defeated G Krishnamurthy of the AIADMK by 16,438 votes at Anna Nagar in 1977



Defeated H V Hande of the AIADMK by 699 votes at Anna Nagar in 1980



Did not contest the 1984 election



Defeated K A Wahab of the Muslim League by 31,991 votes at Harbour in 1989



Defeated K Suppu of the Congress by 890 votes at Harbour in 1991



Defeated N S S Nellai Kannan of Congress by 35,784 votes at Chepauk in 1996



Defeated R Damodaran of the Congress by 4,834 votes at Chepauk in 2001



Defeated D Miakhan (Independent) by 8,526 votes at Chepauk in 2006



Defeated M Rajendran of the AIADMk by 50,249 votes at Thiruvarur in 2011

Oneindia News
PM dismisses oppositions campaign on job creation, says India will be an example for the world

India Rapidly Modernising Defence Forces

Feature

oi-Lisa

By Lisa

As concerned citizens of India many of us often ponder as to how important it is for India to modernise its defence forces. There are media reports on how our defence forces are not adequately prepared as the previous Congress led UPA Government did not do much to foster indigenisation of research and development and also the previous government was hit by procurement scandals.

Here it should be noted that modernisation of Armed Forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges and technological changes to keep it in a state of readiness to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges.

The equipment requirements of the Armed Forces are reflected in the planning process which includes 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Service-wise Capability Acquisition Plan and two year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plan. Capital Procurement of Defence equipment is carried out as per Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).

Measures taken to modernise defence forces:

A number of measures have already been taken to achieve Self Sufficiency in defence production by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector. These measures include according priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors, liberalisation of the licensing regime and providing access to modern and state-of-the-art technology to Indian industry by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector.

The new Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 (DPP 2016) has been promulgated for Capital procurements and has come into effect from the 1st of April 2016. DPP 2016 gives strong support to "Make in India" by according the highest priority to Buy Indian (Designed, Developed and Manufactured) (IDDM).

In a first, the Defence Min earmarks 23 major projects under #MakeInIndia for pvt industry. https://t.co/XHXEWfjisC pic.twitter.com/eEOomkN6ob  Make in India (@makeinindia) May 2, 2016

It also focuses on enhancement and rationalisation of indigenous content and includes provisions for involving private industry as production agencies and technology transfer partners. The 'Make' Procedure has been simplified with provisions for earmarking projects not exceeding development cost of Rs. 10 crores (government funded) and Rs. 3 crores (industry funded) for MSMEs.

During last three years, 94 contracts have been signed with Indian vendors with cumulative value of Rs. 82,979.70 crore for capital procurement of defence equipment for the Armed Forces such as Aircrafts, Helicopters, Tanks, Missiles, Radars, frigates and Simulators.
16 Keralites, including infants, arrive home from Libya

India

oi-PTI

Kochi, May 12: With relief writ large on their faces, 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached here this morning.

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 AM.

The flight carrying the 16 persons landed here at 8.30 AM this morning, after which they completed immigration formalities. The relatives of the rescued Indians had been patiently waiting since the early hours and there were cries of relief as they spotted them.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the the hospital had decided to leave the area.

"I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan," said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham. Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office, there was no help.

"There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets. "Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said.

One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years. "We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called us to ask about our plight," she told reporters.

Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be re-imbursed to them. The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli yesterday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan told PTI.

"As per our request, the ambassador had got in touch with hospital, Libyan bank and Protocol officer in charge of foreign affairs in a bid to get the dues of the stranded Indians released", he said.

The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi this morning, he said. There are totally 11 children, five of them infants in the age group of one and half years and two, Kannan said.

The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said. Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts. A pregnant nurse was among those evacuated.

PTI
People in Kerala have high hopes of us: Pinarayi Vijayan

311 candidates in Kerala have pending criminal cases against them

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, May 12: There are 311 candidates in Kerala who have declared pending criminal cases against them.

Out of the 1,125 candidates analysed by the Kerala Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) 138 have declared serious criminal charges against them.

The CPI(M) has fielded the highest number of candidates with a criminal background. The report suggests that out of the 84 candidates that the CPI(M) has fielded, 72 or 86 per cent have declared pending criminal cases against them.

Criminal Background

Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 1125 candidates, 311 (28%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 138 (12%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, rape, kidnapping, dacoity crimes against women etc.

Candidates with cases related to murder: 4 candidates have declared charges related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).

Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 19 candidates have declared charges related to attempt to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-307).

Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 11 candidates have declared charges related to crimes against women.

Candidates with cases related to Rape: 1 candidate namely Shajahan. S of an Independent from Parassala constituency has declared 1 charge related to Rape (Indian Penal Code Section-376).

Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: 72 (86%) out of 84 candidates from CPI(M), 42 (43%) out of 97 candidates from BJP, 37 (44%) out of 85 candidates from INC, 13 (36%) out of 36 candidates fielded by Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.

15 (60%) out of 25 candidates from CPI, 6 (26%) out of 23 from IUML, 25 (31%) out of 80 from SDPI and 43 (11%) out of 387 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 26 (31%) out of 84 candidates from CPI(M), 23 (24%) out of 97 candidates from BJP, 23 (27%) out of 85 candidates from INC, 7 (19%) out of 36 candidates fielded by Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.

4 (16%) out of 25 candidates from CPI, 1 (4%) out of 23 from IUML, 7 (9%) out of 80 from SDPI and 27 (7%) out of 387 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Red Alert Constituencies: 48 constituencies in the Kerala assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Financial background:

Out of the 1125 candidates, 202 (18%) are crorepatis.

Party wise Crorepati Candidates: 43 (51%) out of 85 candidates from INC, 24 (29%) out of 84 candidates from CPI(M), 18 (19%) out of 97 candidates from BJP, 18 (50%) out of 36 candidates from Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.

2 (29%) out of 7 candidates from AIADMK, 17 (74%) out of 23 candidates from IUML, 9 (60%) out of 15 candidates from Kerala Congress (M) and 30 (8%) out of 387 Independent candidates have declared assets worth Rs 1 Crore and above in their affidavits.

Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Kerala Assembly Elections is Rs 1.28 Crores.

Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 85 INC candidates is Rs 1.83 Crores, 97 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.03 Crores, 84 CPI(M) candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.51 Crores.

7 AIADMK candidates have average assets of Rs 35.14 Crores, 36 Bharath Dharma Jana Sena candidates have average assets worth Rs 3.19 Crores, 25 CPI candidates have average assets worth Rs 71.16 Lakhs, average assets of 23 IUML candidates is Rs 4.21 Crores.

15 Kerala Congress (M) candidates have average assets of Rs 3.16 Crores, 7 JD(U) candidates have average assets of Rs 5.25 Crores, 5 JD(S) candidates have average assets of Rs 4.59 Crores and 387 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 43.87 Lakhs.

Zero asset candidates: 7 candidates have declared zero assets in their self sworn affidavits.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 13:23 [IST]
Who will be next chief economic advisor of India?

Who is Dr Anantha Nageswaran? All you need to know about the new chief economic advisor

Seventh Pay Commission: Modi Govt may give 30 % hike; Cabinet nod likely by June-end

India

oi-Mukul

New Delhi, May 12: In what could be termed as yet another good news for Central Government employees, Finance Ministry most likely will seek Cabinet nod for the recommendations of the Seventh pay commission by June-end.

Yet another gift for Govt employees! After Pay Commission, Centre now relaxes LTC norms

Cabinet approval is the last formality government needs to do, before increased payout will be handed over to the government staff.

Reportedly, Modi Government is aiming to implement pay commission in the month of July, after state elections will get over. Sources say that Centre will most likely give overall 30 per cent hike.

Currently, Empowered Committee of Secretaries is overviewing pay commission's recommendations. Most likely, Committee will submit its report to Finance Ministry in the first week of June, just after Assembly elections in the state.

Sources say panel has pushed for more increment than earlier proposed by the Commission in its report. Panel propses 30 percent basic pay raise instead of 14.27 per cen increment by Pay panel in its September report.

7th Pay Commission: All you need to know about recent updates of 'salary increment'

As per media reports, secretaries panel have suggested maximum salary to be Rs. 2,70,000, which is twenty thousand more than the prescribed upper limit by the pay commission. Panel wants lowest salary to be fixed at Rs. 21,000, which is three thousand more than the lower prescribed limit.

Earlier, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the labour wing of BJP met Jitendra Prasad, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pension to express their concerns about the Pay Commission.

The BMS, the largest central trade union organization in India, sought an increase in the Multiplication Factor and changes in the HRA.

Minister also assured Union that it will consider maximum possible payout for them.

OneIndia news
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

AgustaWestland- 6 nations mum, time for govt to flex muscles

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, May 12: It is now time for the Government of India to flex its muscles and get the crucial information that the CBI and ED have been seeking from seven countries regarding the AgustaWestland case.

Despite Letters Rogatory being sent to seven countries only one (Italy) has responded to the same.

The case under investigation since 2013 probing the kick backs received to push the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal can move forward only if the six countries respond and assist with the investigations concerning the money trail.

The countries that India has sought assistance from are the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Switzerland, Tunisia, Mauritius and Italy. So far only Italy has responded to the Letter Rogatory.

Time for some serious measures:

The Union Government has said that it is serious about the probe. First of all there has been a considerable amount of delay in this probe. When the probe was launched there were allegations that both the CBI and ED were slow.

However, now with the government stating that this will not turn out like another Bofors, the CBI and the ED appear to be speeding up the probe.

However, the CBI claims that the probe relating to Indian angle is almost complete. But the probe appears to be stuck in a loop with absolutely no information coming from the six countries.

These countries have been reminded several times apart from sending Letters Rogatory. It is now for the Ministry of External Affairs to push these countries through diplomatic channels and secure the information that the agencies have been asking for.

ED may visit some countries:

A team of the Enforcement Directorate will by June visit Singapore to secure details regarding the case. Singapore has not responded to India's request for details. The ED had found a money trail leading up to Singapore as well.

While Singapore has not responded to India's request, it has however given permission for a visit by the ED team. In Singapore, the money was transferred to a company called the Windsor Group.

This company had got money allegedly from Interstellar Technologies in Mauritius which was floated by middlemen Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke. The amount in question is alleged to be 2.4 million dollars.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 10:52 [IST]
AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive

AgustaWestland- CBI wants details of journalists, politicians, officials from middleman

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, May 12: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will look into the legal provisions before it agrees to an offer made by James Christian Michel to be questioned through video conferencing in connection with the AgustaWestland case.

Michel a middleman of AgustaWestland had offered to be questioned through video conferencing.

"We may consider it" a CBI official informed OneIndia while also adding that the top priority would however be to bring him down to India.

There is a red corner alert that has been issued against him and members countries of the Interpol are required to detain him, the official also added.

AgustaWestland to Rafale: Journalists under ED scanner

In a spot of bother:

The CBI has made a lot of progress where this probe is concerned. It has managed to find the links between the middlemen and the firms that had been set up both in India and abroad.

The CBI says that Michel finds himself cornered as all the evidence point directly at him. In an interview with India Today he had said that he wanted to join the probe. He also said clearly, " I cannot say that there were no kickbacks."

Michel is alleged to have received a whopping Rs 360 crore from AgustaWestland. Out of this he had spent Rs 50 crore only on managing the media.

The rest were paid off allegedly as kickbacks to influential persons. In addition to this he is also said to have invested in immovable assets in India through another firm called Media Exim.

SC issues notice to Centre on AgustaWestland

Big names could tumble out:

Michel has already assured that he would disclose details of the other two middlemen in the case, Guido Haschke and Gautam Khaitan who he had referred to as key figures.

Michel who has visited India several times was also in touch with media personalities and other influential persons.

The CBI says that specific questions would be asked. We want to unearth the entire trail in India. Already during out probe the names of several influential persons and four journalists have cropped up. Michel will be able to spill the beans on these persons.

OneIndia News
CPI-M in Kerala assails Modi for his Somalia remarks

India

oi-PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, May 12: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Kerala-Somalia comparison, the CPI-M here today said situation in the state did not become like the African country because BJP never came to power here.

"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said. Referring to Modi's Somalia remarks, Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power".

He said "Gujarat Model" development projected by the BJP was actually a false propaganda.

"It was the first communist government formed in 1957 that laid the foundation for the development path of the state with its policy on land reforms, education, health and also in other sectors," Balakrishnan said.

Taking a swipe at Modi, the CPI-M leader said whichever states that went to polls where Modi led the campaign as Prime Minister, BJP suffered defeat. "In Kerala also, the same thing is going to happen. BJP is not going to open an account in the state this time also", he said.

Kerala polls: More than statistics, PM Modi's Somalia remark has hurt the Malayali pride

Assailing the Congress-led UDF, he said political climate in the state was in favour of LDF and the "Front will come to power with more than 98 seats which it got in 2006 Assembly polls".

He alleged that it was the soft stand taken by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that paved way for the growth of "Hindutva force" in the state. Balakrishnan said UDF government had withdrawn cases against Hindutva leaders including VHP leader Praveen Togadia.

This government has refused to file any case against the VHP workers when 'ghar wapsi' was organised in the state, he pointed out. Referring to Modi's remark that CPI-M encouraged violence, Balakrishnan said 221 CPI-M workers had been killed by BJP activists since 1970.

After the UDF government came to power in 2011, 28 CPI-M workers were killed. The LDF would decide on its leader (Chief Minister) after the results are out, he said.

PTI
In Tripura, liquor shops and bars to remain closed during Durga Puja, Diwali

Crime against women unusually high in state: Tripura HC Chief justice

India

oi-PTI

Agartala, May 11: Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court Deepak Gupta today praised the governance by the Manik Sarkar government but said the crime against women was "unusually high" in the state. "Governance in the state is good.

There is honesty at the helm of affairs. I find good roads, good libraries and good dispensaries even in remote areas," Justice Gupta told reporters.

"The conviction rate is very low in the state. The main reason is that filing of FIR is very low. Police here should register FIR and start investigation immediately," Justice Gupta told a press conference.

He said crime against women is "unusually high" and matrimonial disputes were large in number in the state.

Justice Gupta has been transferred as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei of the Gauhati High Court will be the new acting Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court and take charge on May 16.

PTI
D-Syndicate raises its ugly head again: This time on the target are Hindu leaders

Dawood Ibrahims bungalow in Karachi is similar to Laden's hideout

India

oi-Jagriti

New Delhi, May 12: India's most wanted don Dawood Ibrahim lives in a bungalow in Pakistan's port city of Karchi which is similar to Osama bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad.

According to report, his bungalow is located at Clifton, an affluent suburb located in the Saddar Town of Karachi.

These details have been revealed in a sting operation cum investigation by CNN-News 18 has tracked down Dawood Ibrahim.

India's intense effort to bring him back always resulted into vein as Pakistan has always denied his presence on its soil. Though, his hideout in Pakistan is considered as world's most open secret.

It is alleged that the 1993 Mumbai blasts were organised by Dawood Ibrahim under pressure from the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan US designated him as a global terrorist with links to terror groups in 2013.

India requests 6 countries to seize Dawood Ibrahim's properties

The report claimed that he lives in D-13, Block-4, Clifton in Karachi. His bungalow is surrounded on two sides by vacant plots. It has 3 metre high walls.

"Won't be surprised if Pakistan still remains in denial mode on Dawood," said Leela Ponappa (Ex Deputy NSA.

"Dawood is Pakistan's biggest intelligence asset. He is very close to Pak Army Chief Raheel Sharif," said S Balakrishnan, journalist who earlier interviewed Dawood Ibrahim.

OneIndia News
Domestic Violence and Dowry Harassment: Why are these cases collapsing?

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, May 12: The Domestic Violence Act to protect women in distress was introduced with a good intention. However over the years, this act has been abused blatantly and nearly 90 per cent of the cases have fallen like nine pins. There are statistics that suggest that this act has been abused and used as a blackmailing tool in several cases.

What is worse is that there has also been a gross misuse of the Anti Dowry Act and several NGOs have given reports regarding the same to the Home Ministry as claimed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Surat: Husband chops woman into pieces over domestic quarrel

Men's Rights groups have been fighting this issue for years and they see hope in the statement by the home ministry when it says that these acts have been misused.

Sorry statistics

According to the statistics with the National Crime Records Bureau there were 693 persons arrested out of which 639 were chargesheeted. The convictions were just 13 in these cases, statistics have also revealed.

Several advocates who have been fighting these cases say that the reasons for the low rate of conviction are plenty. In many cases, the woman goes against the husband out of vengeance. These acts are stringent in nature and mandates an arrest immediately upon a complaint being filed.

Advocates say that in many cases, it has been found that the woman uses it as a tool to extort money. She would not just file a case against the husband but against her in-laws as well. In many cases, the money is paid off as the accused/victims are unable to bear the trauma.

The other reason for such cases to fall is because they are fake. Over a period of time even the courts can differentiate between a fake and an original case. In such cases when the complainant feels that the bluff is caught, then gradually her witnesses turn hostile and many times they do not land up in the courts which leads to the case falling.

Legal experts say that there have to be checks and balances. Eradicating these acts is not the solution as there are still several genuine cases and such women need protection.

However there ought to be a better mechanism to deal with such cases. Instead of immediately arresting people upon a complaint, the police should first probe before taking action.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 9:31 [IST]
Five held for attacking spiritual guru Bhaiyyuji Maharaj

India

oi-PTI

Pune, May 11: Five persons were arrested today in connection with an attack on the Indore-based self-proclaimed spiritual guru Bhaiyyuji Maharaj and his associates near Ranjangaon in the district on Sunday, police said.

The arrests were made tonight, said Ranjangaon police station Inspector Ashok Indalkar. The incident had occurred when Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was travelling in his car along with his associates to Indore, his hometown, from Pune.

"Maharaj, his driver and three other volunteers were returning to his hometown Indore from Pune. When their car reached near Ranjangaon on late night on Sunday, a truck dashed them from rear," Indalkar said.

The officer said that when Maharaj and other occupants got down to check is any damage was caused to the car, five unidentified persons allegedly attacked them.

He said Maharaj and his aides somehow managed to escape from the spot. "We have registered a case against five men after Maharaj's driver Prashant Deshmukh came to the police station from Indore to register a complaint," he said, adding they were booked under various sections of IPC for causing hurt with dangerous weapons and criminal intimidation.

The officer said the spiritual guru sustained some injuries in the head in the attack. Maharaj had reportedly told media persons in Indore that some people tried to block his car near Manmad in Nashik district during the same journey. Police said they are probing the motive behind the assault.

PTI
ISRO developing capability for space tourism; see 5 major players in this market

Russia to opt out of International Space Station after 2024, have its own station

Govt proposes 8% hike in budget for space research

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 11: The government has proposed eight per cent hike in budget for space research during 2016-17, Lok Sabha was informed today.

The proposed budget stands at Rs 7,509.14 crore. Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh made the remark while responding to queries pertaining to amount of money spent on space research and whether government mulls increasing the allocations.

"The government proposes to increase the budget for space research to Rs 7,509.14 crore during 2016-17. This amount is about 8 per cent increase compared to the revised estimate allocations made during 2015-16," Singh said.

Answering another query, the minister said the government spent Rs 5,168.95 crore, Rs 5,823.45 crore and Rs 6,919.87 crore during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively.

On asked whether the government proposes to open new space research centre, Singh replied in negative. He also informed the country has 24 space research centres at 15 locations including Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

PTI
Bomb materials stored by JMB terrorist at Electronic City, Bengaluru seized by NIA

Shift from the past: Pakistan terrorists using China made grenades in Valley

2 Army officers killed in accidental grenade blast along LOC in J-K's Poonch

Hand grenade found in paddy field in Punjab

India

oi-PTI

Moga, May 12: A live hand grenade was found in a paddy field in Dhurkot Ransih village in the district, police said today.

A person identified as Gurmal Singh spotted the grenade in his field yesterday and informed the police.

It was defused later in the evening by a team of army's bomb disposal experts, police said, adding, further investigation is on.

PTI
Harmonise environment and development: Bhagwat

India

oi-PTI

Ujjain (MP), May 12: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday, May 12 said it is important to frame policies which would help avoid conflict between environment and development by treading the "middle path." "Nobody says that environment should be totally damaged.

But large multinational companies arrive, they cause damage to it. World has no answer to the conflict between environment and development.

We have to avoid this conflict and find a middle path and follow it," Bhagwat said at a meet on the sidelines of the Kumbh mela here. He was inaugurating the 'Vichar Mahakumbh', a three-day international conference organised as part of the month-long Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

"We have to frame such policies which lead us to find a path equidistant from environment and development. Tathagat (Buddh) has described religion as midway. We have to make such policies that ensure people tread on a middle path," he said. "The rulers and administrators framing policies come from our society only. People should force them to frame good policies.

After that, public should follow them genuinely and examples should be put before them to educate them on the issue," Bhagwat said.

The RSS head said religion and spiritualism may not battle each other. Instead, they should find solutions to global problems in coordination with each other.

He insisted on developing a way of life which is in accordance with the present day conditions. "Mere deliberations on the issue will not serve the purpose. But we have to frame a policy so that it translates into our daily conduct also," he said.

"How the new world should develop, the model concept should be outlined on the basis of India's value system and prevailing scenario," he added. Bhagwat said even science has now understood that there are few things in this world which cannot be viewed through microscopic equipment in laboratories.

"As science is progressing, it is coming close to spiritualism. Science is a way to know the truth but it has its limitations." He also praised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for organising the 'Vichar Mahakumbh'.

"It has kept alive the tradition of thinking during the Simhastha mela."

PTI
Indira Gandhi's life through her doctor's eyes

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 12: Late Indira Gandhi wanted her younger daughter-in-law to help her in politics after the death of Sanjay but Maneka was in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv.

"Although PM was always more fond of Sonia, during the period after Sanjay's death, she became a little more inclined towards Maneka."

However, it failed to bring Maneka closer to her.Generally Sonia held the upper hand in household affairs while Maneka's views were considered by the PM when it came to political matters since Maneka had good political sense," says K P Mathur, Gandhi's personal physician.

Mathur, a former physician at Safdarjung Hospital here who served for nearly 20 years as the physician to the late PM and called on her every morning till her assassination in 1984, details Gandhi's journey as a politician and her relations with family in a new book 'The Unseen Indira Gandhi,' (Konark Publishers).

Within a couple of years of the death of Sanjay Gandhi, the book says, Maneka had to leave the then PM's house under rather trying circumstances.

"After Sanjay's death, PM's attitude towards her softened a great deal. In fact, she wanted Maneka to come and help her in politics. "But Maneka was often in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv. This grew into the formation of the organisation, the Sanjay Vichar Manch.

It was an organisation which wanted to carry on with the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi. Maneka and her associates were part of it they were known to be acting against Rajiv although I never came to know what specifically they were doing," says Mathur.

What brought matters to a head was a convention of the Sanjay Vichar Manch which was held in Lucknow, which Gandhi advised Maneka not to address.

Gandhi was touring abroad at that time and sent a message to Maneka but the latter went ahead and addressed the convention. After Rajiv and Sonia's marriage the doctor said the former PM and Sonia took to each other within no time.

"Sonia gave a lot of respect and the latter showered her with affection and regard... Sonia very soon took over the responsibility of the household."

A voracious reader, Gandhi during Sundays and other holidays relaxed with some books, especially biographies of great men.

She, says Dr Mathur, liked subjects connected with the body and the mind as well as popular science magazines and was fond of solving crossword puzzles in international publications. "Sometimes, after lunch, she played cards. Her favourite card game was Kali Mam..." says the book.

PTI
Here is why the Pulwama probe has hit a dead end

Further breakthroughs in Pulwama attack case as NIA nabs two more

Jihadist suicide attack kills 13 troops near Yemen's Mukalla

India

oi-PTI

Aden, May 12: Militants, including suicide bombers, killed at least 13 Yemeni troops outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla today, the army said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

An army official spoke of three suicide bombings and held rival jihadists of Al-Qaeda responsible, but an IS statement posted online said one of its militants was behind the attack.

It was a rare intervention by IS in the city which was held by rival jihadists of Al-Qaeda for a year until they were driven out by government troops last month.

"A knight of the knights of martyrdom, brother Hamza al-Muhajir... was able to detonate his explosives-laden car at a post of the apostates of the militia of (President Abedrabbo Masour) Hadi," the IS statement said.

Several soldiers were also wounded in the attack on the eastern outskirts of the Hadramawt provincial capital, the military official said.

The deadly assault came shortly before Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher arrived in Mukalla with several ministers on a one-day visit aimed at reviving government institutions in the city, a local official said.

One suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the gate of a base in the Khalf district, followed immediately by a second who blew up a car in the centre of the camp, the military official said. Jihadists clashed with soldiers outside the base immediately after the bombings.

A third suicide bomber targeted the nearby residence of the commander of Hadramawt's second military region, General Faraj Salmeen, but he escaped unharmed, the official said.

The commander of the province's first military region, General Abdulrahman al-Haleeli, survived a suicide bombing against his convoy yesterday that killed four of his guards.

Al-Qaeda was driven out of Mukalla and nearby coastal towns last month with support from Emirati and Saudi special forces.

The Pentagon revealed last week that "very small number" of US military personnel has also been deployed around Mukalla in support of the operation to retake the city.

The US Navy also has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault ship called the USS Boxer and two destroyers.

"It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organisation in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

The offensive against Al-Qaeda comes amid a truce and peace talks between the government and Iran-backed rebels it has been fighting with support from a Saudi-led coalition since March last year.

Jihadists of both Al-Qaeda and IS took advantage of that conflict to expand their presence in Hadramawt and other areas of the south, including second city Aden where the government has its base.

PTI
#JusticeForRohith: Why the movement is not well-covered in the media?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Maitreyee Boruah

Hyderabad, May 12: A cursory look at the Facebook page of the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice --University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad-is enough to tell us that their fight for justice for Rohith Vemula and the demand for the removal of vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile are far from over.

The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice is the main force spearheading the justice for the Rohith movement.

Then where is the news? The mainstream national media has been accused of holding a myopic view when events occur far away from the Lutyens' Delhi. What about the regional media? Why the local television channels and the print media, which generally lap up "high voltage drama", maintained a studied distance from the agonies of the students?

One of the prime reasons cited by the Hyderabad journalist fraternity and close observers of politics is the dominance of upper caste editors and reporters in newsrooms.

"The media in Hyderabad is highly casteist. The news rooms are full of people belonging to upper castes like Reddys, Kammas and Kapus, like the Telugu film industry. The students of the university are fighting against caste-based discrimination, so obviously they would face resistance in the form of censorship of news concerning students' anti-Dalit movement," said a Hyderabad-based reporter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The caste biases in newsrooms are open secrets in Hyderabad, especially among the journalists. However, no one talks about it to avoid antagonizing the biggies controlling the newsrooms. There are many instances when news reports covering issues related to the Dalits have been disapproved by the editors.

Of course, all these accusations against the managements and the senior editors of practicing caste-based discrimination remain mostly allegations only, as nobody can prove them, say Hyderabad journalists.

But, to blame the "casteist media" entirely for the lack of coverage of news from UoH, unlike JNU, would also not be fair. Experts say several factors are behind it. Initially, after the suicide of Rohith, the entire agitation was well-documented by the media.

Even few journalists attached with English newspapers from Delhi and Bengaluru camped in the university to understand the students' agitation against rampant caste biases in the higher education system. The coverage took a nosedive after students allegedly ransacked the office and residence of the vice-chancellor Podile when he resumed his duty in the later part of March.

The decision of the university to block media from entering inside the campus put a blanket ban on the coverage. In spite, of the media ban, few journalists took the extra-effort to stand outside the gate of the university for long hours to get information. Slowly, the ban tested the patience of the media contingent that decided to move ahead with other developing news.

The ban on the internet inside the campus also proved detrimental for the information to pass across the guarded gates of the university.

The students were earlier constantly informing the media about every development, which fizzled out. There is also a popular theory floating in the media circle in Hyderabad, as the university is located 28 kms away from the city, many journalists found it hard to commute such a long distance to cover news.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 12:13 [IST]
Kerala CM accuses Gov of 'acting as RSS tool' on his order to VCs to resign

Kerala wins 'Best Family Destination' 2016 award

India

oi-PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, May 11: Kerala has once again been named as the best family destination in the country at the Lonely Planet Magazine India (LPMI) Travel Awards 2016.

Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose received the award at a function in Mumbai on Monday, a release said here. The annual awards showcase the best travel experiences available to Indians and anoint the best service providers, the preferred places to stay and the destinations Indians most love to visit, it said.

Nominations for the awards are shortlisted by a panel of travel experts and professionals, following which readers vote both online and in the magazine.

Besides being judged the best place to take the family along for a holiday, Kerala was also nominated in the best destination for 'culture' and 'to relax' categories. Kerala Tourism had earlier won the Ulysses Prize of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation for its contribution as a global leader to sustainable tourism, the release added.

PTI
Maha govt declares 'drought' in 29,000 villages

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, May 12: Maharashtra government has declared drought in over 29,000 villages of the state, most of them in parched Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.

The government yesterday issued a corrigendum clarifying that wherever reference is made to a 'drought-like situation', it would be read as 'drought'.

The government had earlier this month given an assurance to the Bombay High Court in this regard.

"The state government has already taken drought relief measures in villages where the anewari (proportion of failed crops) is below 50 paise in Kharif and Rabi season. Nevertheless, in future, all instances of villages where the government has mentioned drought-like situation, the reference to the situation will be called as drought," stated a government resolution issued here yesterday.

In the wake of acute water shortage in various parts of Maharashtra, the state government had informed the High Court that it would declare drought in over 29,000 villages in the state and all relief prescribed in the Drought Manual, 2009 would be provided.

The government, in its reply to a batch of PILs on water shortage issue, had told the court that it would issue a corrigendum and clarify that wherever reference is made to a 'drought-like situation' and 'drought-affected areas', the same should be read as 'drought'.

The affidavit said the government was strictly implementing various schemes and taking measures to mitigate the water scarcity in drought-hit areas, and more particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also recently sought increased funding several Centre schemes in the state. He had, however, declined to share information on how much money the state has sought from the Centre.

Fadnavis also said that the state government had chalked out a plan to tackle drought situation in Marathwada and Vidarbha, which includes creation of a "guaranteed irrigation" plan over the next 2-3 years.

PTI
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi sworn in as pro-tem Speaker of Bihar assembly

Could be conspiracy of terrorists: Jitan Ram Manjhi on The Kashmir Files

Manjhi meets Modi, demands CBI probe into Gaya murder

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, May 12: Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a CBI enquiry into the murder on May 7 of a teenager in Gaya allegedly by the son of a ruling JD-U legislator.

"I met prime minister and urged him to hand over the Aditya Sachdeva murder case to the CBI," Manjhi told reporters after the meeting.

Aditya, the teenaged son of a businessman, was shot dead on May 7 allegedly by Rocky Yadav, 30, for overtaking the latter's vehicle on the Bodh Gaya-Gaya road.

Rocky was arrested on Tuesday and later sent in a 14-day judicial custody by a Gaya court.

He is son of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) member of the legislative council Manorama Devi, who has been evading arrest in a case pertaining to the recovery of liquor bottles from her residence in Gaya town.

"Everyday political murders are taking place in the state. Even Dalits are being murdered, most of which are not reported in the media. The law and order situation in state has collapsed," said Manjhi, the founder of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).

The BJP, which fought the last Bihar assembly election in alliance with Manjhi's party, has been continually attacking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over law and order situation, asserting that the state has been "returning to the jungle raj".

Following the killing of Aditya, Rocky's father Bindi Yadav, a criminal-turned-politician, and a bodyguard were arrested and remanded in judicial custody by a court.

IANS


Induction of Congress MLAs into BJP is death of Parrikar's legacy, says outgoing Goa deputy CM

Manohar Parrikar to visit Oman, UAE

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 12: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave on a four-day visit to Oman and UAE next week as part of India's outreach to the strategically important and energy-rich middle east through greater cooperation across sectors.

Parrikar is set to leave for Oman on May 18 during which he will call on the top leadership there and hold bilateral talks with his counterpart.

Oman, considered to be closest to India among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), had signed a military protocol with India in 1972, which led to a three-year deputation of Indian Navy personnel to man Oman's Navy in 1973. An MoU on defence cooperation was also signed between India and Oman in 2005.

Areas of cooperation include joint military exercises, military training and IT, educational courses and exchange of observers and formal visits. Parrikar will also visit UAE, which was one of the countries visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

His visit to the country will coincide with an air exercise being held between the air force of both countries. Indian fighter planes will stop by in UAE on the way back from the Red Flag air exercise in the US.

Following Modi's visit, India and UAE had decided to establish a strategic security dialogue and boost defence ties besides resolving to work together in counter-terrorism operations, combating money laundering, drug trafficking and trans-national crimes.

The two sides had agreed to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, and in coastal defence.

The UAE also conveyed to India that it will cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India. Ahead of Parrikar's visit, a flotilla of three warships had reached Dubai on May 7 to demonstrate India's commitment to maritime relations with countries in the Gulf region.

PTI
Partial Solar Eclipse 2022: City-wise timings, when and where to watch

With AQI of 259, Delhi's air on day before Diwali least polluted in 7 years

IRCTC update: 190 trains cancelled on October 24; here is the complete list

Delhi LG and CM greet people on Diwali, ask people to be mindful of pollution

PM Modi condoles demise of MP Praveen Rashtrapal

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed pain over the demise of Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Rashtrapal whom he described as a trade unionist who remained sensitive to concerns and aspirations of the poor.

76-year-old Rashtrapal, a Congress member of the Upper House from Modi's home state Gujarat, died here on Thursday morning after suffering a massive heart attack.

"Pained by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Shri Praveen Rashtrapal. My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. "As a trade unionist & subsequently as a leader, Shri Rashtrapal remained sensitive to concerns & aspirations of the poor & marginalised," Modi added.

Pained by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Shri Praveen Rashtrapal. My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief: PM  PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 12, 2016

As a trade unionist & subsequently as a leader, Shri Rashtrapal remained sensitive to concerns & aspirations of the poor & marginalised: PM  PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 12, 2016

An AICC Secretary, who was also in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, Rashtrapal was associated with the trade union movement of Income Tax employees in particular and the Central Government employees.

He was an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax before he took a plunge into politics. He was a elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004). He was a member from the Upper House from April 2006 to April 2012 and was re-elected in April 2012.

Rashtrapal was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam in the previous Lok Sabha. Following his demise, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day today.

PTI
'Havan' for Donald Trump? Hindu Sena considers him saviour of humanity

India

oi-Pallavi

New Delhi, May 12: Donald Trump may not have many fans in the US, but back in India, the Hindu Sena sees him as the only ray of hope against terrorism and Islamic terror.

On May 11 at Jantar Mantar, a group of people could be seen holding his photo (close to their hearts) with a Tilak on his forehead and a 'pujari' to pray for his victory. The logic behind is even bizarre- the members believe that he is th eonly man who can save humanity from Islam and Islamic terror.

Calling him a hero, Shiv Sena chief Vishnu Gupta said, "We believe Islam and Islamic terror are cancerous to the world. India has suffered too long because of this. Trump believes the same thing... that's why we are praying for his victory."

The havan was conducted for an hour from 12:30 pm, during which the sena members urged the Almighty to shower his blessings on Trump. When wuestioned, why they are supporting Trump for the cause, the chief said, "Who are the people joining ISIS and Jaish-e- Mohamamad? They are not Hindus or Christians, they are Muslims and Donald Trump wants to counter that."

[Read: US poll 2016: Single horse Donald Trump wins Nebraska primary race]

He further added that they would not support Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's opponent as she is secular in her approach and does not consider Islam a threat. Whereas Trump has a plan against Muslims.

The idea gets even redundant when Gupta said that the group had sent a written application to Narendra Modi, requesting him to make an appeal to the international community to garner support for the Republican frontrunner. However, they were disappointed when Modi did otherwise and said "Islam means peace" at the World Sufi Forum.

[Read: Will support Donald Trump over Clinton: Marco Rubio ]

In such a situation, they have planned to conduct several programmes to show their solidarity with Donald Trump followers.

OneIndia News
Rebel U'khand MLA moves SC against Uttarakhand verdict

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 12: A rebel Congress MLA today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Uttarakhand High Court judgement upholding the decision of the Speaker to disqualify her in the Assembly.

The plea in this regard was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi which posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.

The disqualified Congress MLA, Shaila Rani Rawat's petition was mentioned by advocate M L Sharma, who had yesterday made an attempt to stop the opening of the result of the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly but did not succeed.

She was disqualified along with eight others, who all have already challenged the High Court decision in the apex court which had refused to grant any relief of stay before the May 10 floor test.

The apex court has clarified that they will remain disqualified unless it allows their petition.

PTI
Why the extradition pact with UK is just a piece of paper

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, may 12: In matters of extradition, the United Kingdom is probably one of the worst countries to deal with. Statistics would reveal that India's success rate when it comes to extraditions from the United Kingdom is nil.

This would only mean that the Extradition Treaty that India and the UK signed in 1993 is nothing but a piece of paper.

The likes of Tiger Hanif who was wanted in blasts case At Gujarat, 1993 has not yet been extradited to India.

He has exhausted all legal remedies in the UK to avoid extradition. However he continues to make representations to the Home Secretary in the UK and is now planning on moving the European Court of Human Rights against his extradition.

In Vijay Mallya's case, Enforcement Directorate needs a Plan-B

India has not had a success rate where extraditions from the UK are concerned. In this context what one must bear in mind is that the extradition of Vijay Mallya from the UK hardly stands a chance.

British cite lack of evidence:

There are 131 extradition requests made by India pending with the UK. In almost all the cases, the accused persons have told the UK authorities that there is either a political vendetta against them or the chances of them being tortured by the Indian police is high.

Courts in the UK which are approached by such persons have not been entirely helpful either. Even if the government is considering the extradition request, the courts normally come in the way.

The courts in the UK often take a lenient view towards the accused petitioners who claim that they would be tortured. Further the courts also consider seriously when the petitioner alleges that cases had been slapped against him or her out of political vendetta.

While these contentions are all matters of debate, the courts often accept the view of the accused petitioner and cite lack of papers or evidence.

Many accused have managed to escape extradition due to the intervention by the UK courts. In the case of Lalit Modi, the government failed to have him extradited.

The case was no different where Nadeem who was charged in the murder of Gulshan Kumar. he was later acquitted in that case. Over all there are 131 requests that are pending in the UK and today the government added one more to that list while seeking the extradition of Vijay Mallya.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 11:26 [IST]
This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches

Will implement SC directives on drought soon: Government

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 12: The Centre today said it will take immediate steps to implement the Supreme Court's judgement on the drought-like situation in the country.

"We are studying the judgement. We will take immediate action to implement the directives of the apex court," Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said.

As directed by the Supreme Court, the Agriculture Ministry will call a meeting of the officials of Bihar, Haryana and Gujarat in a week's time to review the drought situation in these three states, he said. In a judgement pronounced yesterday in the petition filed by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan, the Supreme Court had asked the central government to set up a national disaster mitigation fund within three months to tackle the drought-like situation.

It had also directed the government to review the drought-like situation in Bihar, Haryana and Gujarat in a week's time, do the revision of the drought management manual by December 2016, use innovative methods of water conservation and modern technology for early forecast of drought.

The country is facing second straight year of drought because of poor monsoon. As many as ten states including Maharashtra and Karnataka have declared drought in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June).

The Centre has already released more than Rs 12,000 crore assistance to these state governments to address the drinking water, fodder shortage and other problems.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a separate meeting to review the drought situation with chief ministers of five states - Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

Modi is scheduled to meet the chief ministers of other drought-hit states in the coming days.

PTI
Rape in Bengaluru: Time to wake up to the grave threat of illegal Bangladeshi crime syndicates in India

4 militants arrested in Bangladesh: police

International

oi-PTI

Dhaka, May 12: Bangladeshi police today arrested four militants, including a key leader, closely linked to two operatives of a banned outfit allegedly involved in carrying out blasts in India two years ago.

Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the four militants form capital's Khilgaon and Fakirapul areas.

The militants belonged to Jamaatul Islam Mujaheedeen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned outfit which police say is behind a series of deadly attacks carried out on the country's secularists and liberals for the last three years.

"We have arrested four JMB operatives last night. One of them is the Dhaka district chief of the outfit," said RAB spokesman Mufty Mahmud Khan told PTI. Noting that the details of the arrest will be disclosed later, Khan said JMB's alleged Dhaka chief Abdul Baten alias Khairul Islam and three others were arrested in two separate raids at the capital's Khilgaon and Fakirapul areas.

"We suspect they were poised for a fresh terrorist attack," Khan said. Khan also said Baten was closely linked to fugitive JMB operatives Rahmatullah Masud Sajid and Mohammad Naim, the two suspects of blasts in West Bengal's Burdwan district two years ago.

On October 2, 2014 two suspected JMB operatives were killed and another injured in an explosion at a house in Kolkata's Burdwan area, just over the border with Bangladesh.

Security forces of both the countries arrested several suspects after the blast as an Indo-Bangla joint drive was launched on the borders to capture over 100 JMB men.

RAB's claim has come after inspector general of police Shahidul Haque last week accused homegrown JMB of carrying out most of the recent clandestine attacks using machetes.

"Out of 37 such murders since 2013 in the country, 25 were carried out by JMB," Haque had said last week as the main law enforcement agency was criticised for its failure to track down the killers.

Bangladesh has repeatedly ruled out existence of foreign Islamists outfits like IS and has alleged that fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami was patronising the killing spree to portray the country as an abode of foreign militants.

JMB has carried out a series of bomb attacks across Bangladesh, killing scores of people including two judges, prompting a massive anti-militant campaign.

PTI


Trump is convinced Russia didnt interfere in 2016 polls; blames US for sour ties with Moscow

US midterm polls: American media houses remember 2016, to go slow this time

Hillary Clinton writes to 8-yr-old girl who lost to a boy in class president election

Ban on Muslims from travelling to US was just a suggestion: Donald Trump

International

oi-Jagriti

Washington, May 12: Donald Trump who effectively secured the Republican presidential nomination, has taken soft stand stance on temporarily barring Muslims from travelling to the US.

"The ban was just a suggestion," Donald Trump was quoted as saying by Fox News Radio while responding to remarks by London's first Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan.

"I would not be able to travel to the US under a Trump administration because of his Muslim faith," said Sadiq Kahn in view of his proposed ban on Muslims from travelling to the US.

However, Trump had offered to make an "exception" for London's mayor which has been refused by Sadiq Khan.

Sadiq Khan on Tuesday (May 10) hit out at Donald Trump for signalling that he would exempt him from his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, saying his "ignorant" comments play "into the hands of extremists".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejects Donald Trump's Muslim exception offer

Donald Trump drew criticism after he proposed a ban on Muslims entering the US after Paris attacks that left 130 people dead in November 2015.

"It's a temporary ban. It hasn't been called for yet," Mr Trump said on Wednesday. "This is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on."

This is not the first time Donald Trump has changed his views on a variety of issues.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 11:42 [IST]
Gilani's son intends to write book on his ordeal

International

oi-PTI

Lahore, May 12: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider intends to write a book on the ordeal he had gone through in a three-year captivity of militants in Afghanistan.

"My son had written a manuscript for a book detailing his ordeal in captivity but it was burnt," Gilani said while talking to reporters at his residence here today.

Gilani, however, did not tell who burnt the papers. "The release of my son is not less than a miracle," he added. Making his first public appearance at his residence here after getting freedom from the clutches of Al-Qaeda Haider thanked the people of Pakistan for their prayers.

"I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and hard work for my return. I am thankful to have reached home safely and happily. I feel great," Haider said. To a question about his ordeal in captivity, Haider said: "It is a very long dastaan (story). Some other time I will tell you about this." He did not say no when asked he intended to write a book on his ordeal.

When asked would he continue with the long beard he had grown in Taliban's captivity, Haider said: "I was very close to God before the Taliban too." "Words are not enough to express our feeling. In three years, there was not a single moment that we lost hope and today my brother is among us," said Abdul Qadir Gilani, elder brother of Haider.

"I cannot believe that I am meeting you. Phupo, it is Allah's blessing that today I am among you. It is hard to speak about the time I spent during captivity," Haider's aunt Nighat quoted him as having said. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said he had come here to meet Haider.

"He has returned home after three years. It is very good news. First Shahbaz Taseer (son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer) was freed and now Ali Haider. I am very happy. Today is a big day as good news are coming for the PPP," Bilawal said.

Haider was recovered in a joint operation of Afghan and US forces from an Al Qaeda compound in Afghanistans Paktika province last Tuesday. According to a spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan, Brig Charles Cleveland, Haider had been held in a compound occupied in Gaylan district by Al Qaeda operatives.

"Haider was the sole non-combatant, he didnt fight back, so we picked him up," he said. Haider was kidnapped in May 2013 in Multan. During his captivity, his abductors contacted the Gilani family and demanded release of 'some prisoners' from Pakistani jails in return of his release.

PTI
Indian origin student killed in US shooting

International

oi-Jagriti

New York, Apr 13: A 21-year-old Indian origin student at Rutgers University in US was shot dead and his roommate, was seriously injured, media reported.

The shooting incident took place near the school's campus in Newark on Sunday.

The victim identified as Shani Patel, a junior economics major at the university, was shot and killed at an off-campus apartment in Newark, a spokeswoman for the Essex county prosecutor's office said.

Patel's roommate, a 23-year-old whose identity has not been released, graduated last year from the Newark campus of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Ms. Carter and the Newark police said. The roommate was in critical condition on Monday at University Hospital in Newark, reported the New York Times.

In a letter to the Rutgers University's Newark community, chancellor Nancy Cantor expressed shock and sadness at Patel's death.

At least 5 killed, several injured in US shooting

"While law enforcement is still investigating and we understand that it was not a random act that led to Shani's death, it is a shock to lose a member of our community under any circumstances," Cantor said. "Our deepest condolences go out to Shani's family and to all who knew him as a student, colleague, or friend," she added.

An award of up to $10,000 has been announced for information that leads to arrest and conviction of the accused. The motive of the shooting is yet to be ascertained.

OneIndia News (With agency inputs)

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 11:57 [IST]
A PFI linked module of 2016 and the spread of the Islamic State ideology in south India

Canadian gets 20 years in US jail for aiding Islamic State

IS launches smartphone app to turn kids into jihadis

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

London, May 12: As various governments and social media platforms are toiling hard to stop terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) from spreading its wings, The IS' propaganda arm "Library of Zeal" has released a smartphone app to teach jihadist themes to children.

Available for Android devices, the app called "Huroof" teaches kids Arabic alphabet to help them how to use deadly weapons, The Long War Journal reported.

The vocabulary taught within the app has jihadist themes. "The application was released through Islamic State Telegram channels and on other file sharing websites," the report added.

Telegram is an app that can be set up on almost any device and allows messages to be sent to users with utmost privacy.

The smartphone application has games for kids which help them memorise how to write Arabic letters in addition to including a "nasheed" (type of Islamic songs) designed to help teach the alphabet.

The lyrics in "nasheed" are full of jihadist terminology. "Other games in the app include militaristic vocabulary with words like "tank," "gun," and "rocket."

According to the report, this is the first-ever phone application built exclusively for children.

Previous IS videos have shown children being trained to use weapons and become child suicide bombers.

The Taliban recently released an Android app called Alemarah. It features Taliban statements and videos. It has since been removed from Google Play Store.

The IS had also launched an app that features news and videos showing executions and battlefield victories and propagates its agenda.

Discovered by the hacking collective Ghost security group, the app was designed to "streamline access" to the terrorist group's "propaganda".

According to a Fortune report, the Android-based app was essentially a news portal run by the Amaq News Agency - a group believed to be tied to IS.

The app, however, may not work in regions outside the IS control. According to Ghost security group, the app is not available as a download in a marketplace like Google Play store.

Instead, a link to the download is shared between IS members through Telegram app and other encrypted communication methods.

IS has also created its own social network for jihadists called "Kilafahbook" to get around social media bans by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

For IS, social media is prominent in formulating recruitment strategies.

According to theconversation.com, Facebook is a key platform to gather young fans, supporters and recruits to incite them to acts of violence by the means of propaganda and the use of Islamic grievance.

When it comes to real-time orchestrating of terror strikes, IS network works with encrypted messaging applications - including Kik, Surespot, Wickr and Telegram - that are very difficult to hack.

Ghost security group is a hacking collective similar to Anonymous that focuses solely upon counter-terrorism.

It claims to have "terminated over 100,000 extremist social media accounts" used by militant groups to recruit members.

IANS


Authorities with better understanding of where MH370 is, says Australia

MH370 breakthrough: Debris found in South Africa and Mauritius 'almost certainly' from missing plane

International

oi-Jagriti

Canberra, May 12: Two pieces of debris found on beaches in South Africa and Mauritius in March this year, are "almost certainly" from missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, informed Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Two items of debris were independently found on beaches at Mossel Bay, South Africa and Rodrigues Island in Mauritius on March 22 and 30. Both recovered items were delivered to the relevant civil aviation authorities in South Africa and Mauritius.

One part has been initially identified from the partial Rolls-Royce stencil as a segment from an aircraft engine cowling while other part has been identified as an interior panel from the main cabin.

The plane, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, had 239 people on board when it vanished on March 8, 2014. MH 370 is considered as one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

"The piece designated "Part No. 3," the engine cowling, features a partial stencil from manufacturer Rolls Royce. "The panel thickness, materials and construction conformed to the applicable drawings for Boeing 777 engine cowlings," the report states. While the stencil was not unique to the missing plane, it was consistent with the logo used by Malaysian Airlines.

MH370 debris found in South Africa" title="Suspected MH370 debris found in South Africa" />Suspected MH370 debris found in South Africa

"Part No. 4," the other piece of debris -- an interior panel -- was identified by a hinge on a closet panel. "The part materials, dimensions, construction and fasteners were all consistent with the drawing for the panel assembly and matched that installed on other" Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 craft, the report states.

In July 2015, a part of the aircraft wing was found on La Reunion island in the Indian Ocean.

OneIndia News
China's second foreign naval base to come up in Pakistan, mounting worries for India

Naval fighter jet crashes in China; crew safe

International

oi-PTI

Beijing, May 12: A Chinese naval fighter jet, conducting a night drill, crashed into a factory in east China but its crew ejected safely.

The aircraft went down in Taizhou in Zhejiang Province around 7:30 pm yesterday during a night drill over a factory, navy spokesperson Liang Yang said.

The crew ejected and parachuted to safety, he added. Part of the factory was damaged but no casualties have been reported, he was quoted as saying by state-run a news agency.An investigation into the crash in on.

PTI
Pak journalist gunned down for supporting love marriage

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, May 12: A Pakistani journalist has been brutally shot dead by the relatives of a woman for supporting her in marrying a man of her choice without the family's permission in Punjab province, sparking massive protests.

Ajmal Joyia, who was in his 30s, was going home on a motorbike when he was targeted by at least three gunmen in Lodhran district.

He was killed on Monday while his cousin, who was also riding on the same motorbike, was critically injured, police said. "Joyia was targeted by the relatives of a woman who married a man of her choice without the permission of the family," a police official said.

He had reportedly extended his support to the beleaguered couple and was said to have approached district authorities to provide the couple with adequate security, reports said. Police have arrested one of the killers while two others were still at large.

Journalists in various cities of Punjab organised protests against the killing and demanded arrest of the killers and financial compensation for Joyia's family. Honour killings are common in Pakistan and women defying family for love or marriage are often killed.

Sometimes those supporting such couple are also targeted. Last month, a teenaged girl was killed and her body was burnt in Abbotabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for allegedly helping her friend run away with a boy and marry him.

PTI
Sadiq Khan pledges to help Hillary Clinton, slams Donald Trump

International

oi-Sandra

London, May 12: A day after rejecting Donald Trump's 'Muslim exception offer', London Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged to help Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton defeat Trump.

Khan is likely to travel to US by the end of the year to discuss about the threat proposed by Trump over banning the entry of Muslims in the US.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejects Donald Trump's Muslim exception offer

Speaking to reporters, Khan said he had successfully beaten the Conservatives' Donald Trump approach to elections. "I think what we've shown' and I hope it's a lesson that Hillary and others in America take on board; hope does 'trump' fear, forgive the pun," he said.

Meanwhile, Trump had said in an interview to the The New York Times that he was happy to see Khan take over his new post and that "there will always be exceptions" to his controversial Muslim ban comments.

Will make exception for London mayor: Donald Trump on Muslims ban

Responding to Trump's 'exception' remarks, Khan said: "This isn't just about me. It's about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world."

Khan officially took charge as the London Mayor on Saturday, May 7 following the election, which saw him defeat his Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith by 1,310,143 votes to 994,614.

OneIndia News
UN peacekeepers asked to use force to 'save lives'

International

oi-PTI

United Nations, May 12: Rwanda and the Netherlands, two countries embroiled in the UN's worst peacekeeping failures, have launched a push at the United Nations for blue helmets to more readily use force to defend civilians in conflicts.

The initiative seeks to persuade countries that contribute troops to UN peacekeeping to agree to more robust action and more readily intervene instead of staying behind the high walls of their UN compounds. "The blue flag needs to stand for protection and it doesn't always," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told the gathering at UN headquarters in New York yesterday.

The failure of Dutch peacekeepers to defend Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995 has been a source of shame for the Netherlands, which has recently returned to UN peacekeeping by sending troops to Mali.

At the UN meeting, countries were urged to endorse the so-called Kigali principles, a pledge that troops in UN missions will take military action against "armed actors with clear hostile intent to harm civilians."

"We are starting a movement today," said Rwanda's Ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana, who stressed the aim was to "save lives". "The failures of our past should not dictate our future," he added. Rwanda, which was abandoned by UN peacekeepers during the 1994 genocide, has become of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping with some 6,000 troops and police serving under the UN flag.

Only 29 countries have so far agreed to endorse the principles including key troop-contributors Bangladesh and Ethiopia. Two other major peacekeeping nations, India and Pakistan, are not among the signatories and three permanent Security Council members -- Britain, France and Russia -- have yet to come on board.

US Ambassador Samantha Power cited a 2014 UN report that showed peacekeepers had failed to use force in response to some 500 attacks against civilians from 2010 and 2013. "We continue to see units retreat instead of standing their ground," said Power.

The United States endorses the principles and is urging the United Nations to give preference to countries that back them to serve in peacekeeping missions, she said. Some 106,000 troops from 123 countries are deployed in peacekeeping missions worldwide, most of which include the protection of civilians in their mandates agreed by the Security Council.

AFP
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

Delhi: 19-year-old girl commits suicide after harassment by stalker

New Delhi

oi-Preeti

New Delhi, May 12: Continous harassment by a stalker provoked a 19-year-old girl in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area to end her life, media reports said on Thursday, May 12.

The unfortunate incident took place on Tuesday, May 10 in Kishangarh village of south Delhi, when the teenager hanged herself to death inside her house.

Police claimed that no suicide note was recovered from the spot. The deceased's sister told police officials, investigating the case that a local boy named Neeraj used to stalk her sister from last couple of days.

21-year-old Neeraj reportedly met the girl and assaulted her and even broke her phone during a verbal brawl. The victim was working as a beautician along with her sister at a beauty parlour, from where she collected the house keys and reached her home.

Before taking the extreme step, she told her sister that she had been insulted and humiliated in public after which she locked herself inside a room.

Her mother and another sister were working as security guard at a mall. Her father is a driver.

According to police, accused and victim were known to each other and they even used to visit each other's homes from last one and half years. They were in regular touch on phone, according to the call data records.

Police was quick to take actiona and arrested the accused Neeraj, who is employed with a private company. He has been arrested under IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 323 (causing hurt) and 354D (stalking).

OneIndia News
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

In Vijay Mallya's case, Enforcement Directorate needs a Plan-B

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, May 12: The process to extradite Vijay Mallya has begun, but it is also a well known fact that this would be a tedious process. A lot at this point when it comes to an extradition tilts in Mallya's favour.

The Enforcement Directorate which has obtained a non-bailable warrant against him will send the extradition request to the United Kingdom.

Mallya entered UK on valid passport, can't be deported, says Jaitley

The ED would also have an Interpol Red Corner Alert issued through the Central Bureau of Investigation. ED officials say that the process of deportation would have been much easier.

However UK has quoted the 1971 Immigration Act which does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK if they have extant leave to remain as long as their passport was valid when leave to remain or enter the UK was conferred.

Attaching properties



For the probe agencies, the first priority would however be to recover the Rs 9,000 crore he owes the banks. The process of identifying the properties has already begun. Moreover the revenue officials in Goa have also allowed lenders to take physical possession of the Kingfisher Villa in Candolim worth around Rs 90 crore.

There is a lot more that needs to be done in this case, the ED official says. While attaching properties is one part of the investigation, the other relates to a case of money laundering that we are probing.

He needs to be present in order for us to make any progress in that case. Hence we have begun the extradition process, the ED official also said.

Cannot deport Mallya, but will help with extradition, UK tells India

Getting Mallya back

The Enforcement Directorate will now approach the CBI to get a red corner notice issued against Vijay Mallya. The ED would quote the three summons it has issued to Mallya failing which the court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

Following this red corner alert, the UK will go through the case files and then take a decision. India's diplomacy with the UK will be put to test. However Mallya has various options even if the UK government decides to extradite him.

Mallya can go ahead and challenge the decision to extradite him before a local court. The courts would then take a call on the matter and at times such issues do drag on for some years the officer also said.

The officer also says that normally investigating agencies prefer the deportation process as it is faster. In the case of an extradition there is a lot of procedures which are often time consuming.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 8:50 [IST]
#JusticeforAditya: Aditya died due to head injury

Patna

oi-Shalini

Patna, May 12: Following a long interrogation and search operation by the police in the Aditya Sachdeva murder case, JD(U) MLC Manorma Devi's son Rocky Kumar Yadav has confessed that he had indeed shot Aditya to teach him and his friends a lesson.

The murder of Aditya, who met such a fate for overtaking Rocky's car, has put the government of Bihar in a spot with serious questions are being raised on the misuse of power and killing innocent people.

On Thursday (May 12), Rocky confessed to his crime after a long quizzing and told the police: " I was frustrated by this and I fired in air to make the car stop."

He admitted that he fired at the back of the car which overtook him and the bullet hit Aditya Sachdeva, a 19-year-old who just appeared in his Class 12 board examination this year.

According to postmortem report, Aditya was shot down from a distance less than three feet and the reason of death was dead injury.

Speaking to Oneindia, Aditya's mother Chand Sachdeva said: "Today, the police came to our house to collect Aditya's cloth which he was wearingat the time of his murder."

She also said: "Manorma Devi must be hiding at her other residence in Bihar. The government should take action against the crime and do justice to Aditya." She also asked why the government did not take action on her after she appeared before the media recently. Manorama Devi is the mother of Rocky.

"Many other leaders from the BJP also visited us and ensured that the culprit will be punished," she said.

OneIndia News
Kerala polls: NDA candidate backs Modi, invites visits to Wayanad to see state's 'Somalia'

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-Shubham

Sulthan Bathery (Kerala), May 12: Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a backlash over his comparing Kerala with the African country of Somalia in a rally in poll-bound Kerala, he found a friend in C K Janu, a tribal activist who is contesting on the NDA's ticket from here in the May 16 election.

Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; Kerala poll results: 1952-2011



Saying PM was right in making the comparison, Janu said one should visit the Wayanad district in Kerala to witness Kerala's Somalia. To witness the poverty and starvation, one needs to visit the tribals' colonies in that district in northern Kerala, she said. Wayanad is said to be one of the most underperforming districts of Kerala in terms of tribal welfare. [PM Modi's 'somalia' remark hurt Malayali pride]

Staring from Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the social media also lashed out at the PM over his remark and hashtags #PoMoneModi and #ModiinsultsKerala trending on Twitter. The Left also criticised the PM on the issue.

Janu, who said she is contesting from Sultan Bathery after being asked directly by Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, hopes to meet the demands of her people.

Forty-five-year-old Janu formed her party Janathipahya Rashtriya Sabha in April this year and is contesting the election as an ally of the BJP. The former Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha leader had earlier accused both the United Democratic Front and Left Democ ratic Front of doing little for the tribals in the state.

Oneindia News
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The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a suit seeking to annul the primaries, which led to the election of the only female Senator from the northern part of the country, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani).

Binani won the Senatorial election for Adamawa Central District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But an aspirant, Abubakar Waziri, who was defeated by Senator Binani at the partys primary election, filed a petition to disqualify the latter.

He lost the case at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal and subsequently approached the Supreme Court.

According to the result of the primary election, Waziri secured four votes while Senator Aisha Binani garnered 1,375 votes.

Waziri was however dissatisfied and he asked the Supreme Court to annul the results of the primaries, which produced Binani.

Represented by Barr. Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, the appellant averred that the party did not give the mandatory 30-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before conducting the primary election.

But INEC insisted that there was substantial compliance by APC which enabled it to monitor primary election exercise.

The electoral umpire said the primary election was fair and transparent, leading to the emergence of Senator Binani as APC candidate for the Adamawa Central senatorial election.

Waziris grounds of appeal were:-

Whether, having regard to the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the relevant provisions of the 1st Defendants (APC) Constitution and Guidelines; and the Regulations , Sen. Aishatu was qualified as a candidate.

The Court ought to restrain the defendants (APC and INEC) from relying on or using the purported results of the 1st Defendants purported Adamawa Central Senatorial District primary election held on the 7th day of October, 2018 in Adamawa Central Senatorial District for the purpose of nominating the 1st Defendants Senatorial candidate for Adamawa Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election scheduled to hold on 16th day of February, 2019 or any other date as may be announced by the 2 Defendant.

He also sought some reliefs including:-

A declaration that the 1st Defendants Adamawa Central Senatorial District primary election purportedly held on the 7th day of October 2018 In Adamawa State in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the 1st Defendant, the 1st Defendants Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the 2019 General Elections and the Regulation for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the Independent National Electoral Commission is unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.

A declaration that it is ultra vires for the 1st Defendant to hold and organize the Adamawa Central Senatorial District primary election held in Adamawa Central Senatorial District on the 7th day of October, 2018 without having given a prior 21-day notice of its primaries to the Independent National Electoral Commission (the 2nd Defendant) indicating that an indirect method of primary election shall be used and without the democratic election of members of the Electoral college.

But when the hearing of the matter came up at the Supreme Court yesterday, the Appellant (Waziri) could not convince the five-man Panel of Justices including Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammed; Justice Chima Nweze; and Justice Mary Odili who was the head of the panel.

The appellant couldnt present his case before the court on what will be his benefit if the primaries won by Senator Binani was annulled.

Counsel to the defendant (Senator Binani), Mr. Sam Ologunorisa (SAN), faulted the appellant for wasting the time of the court.

After dilly-dallying, the appellant later opted to withdraw the case against the lawmaker.

While describing his application before the Supreme Court as a mere academic exercise, Justice Mary Odili, who presided over the hearing of the petition, ruled as follows: Appeal having been withdrawn is hereby dismissed.

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THE government of Adamawa State has inaugurated a six-member committee to lead the state in the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan, aimed at finding enduring solution to conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State, the deputy governor, Chief Crowther Seth, told the members to work in harmony and use their decades of experience in the agricultural sector to represent the interest of the state effectively.

Members of the committee are Professor Ambrose Alikidon Voh, Dr Garba Ahmed, Dr Gideon Shelpela, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim Michika, Alhaji Suleiman Umar and Malam Sajo Zakare. They are mostly vet doctors and people who have either retired from top positions in the agricultural sector or are close to retirement.

Read Also: Adamawa reduces 2019 Hajj fare by N51,000

The chairman of the committee, Professor Ambrose Voh, said on behalf of the members that in constituting the committee, the state government has shown that it is a pragmatic and action-driven government, focused on solving the herdsmen-farmers conflicts bedevilling the state.

The decision to key into the federal government programme shows the commitment of the state to tackle the farmers-herdsmen crisis. On our part, we are working hard not only to effectively represent Adamawa State in the programme but to be ahead of the other states.

The pilot states for the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan are Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Oyo.
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Hedge funds have had a rough year, which may explain why managers at the Skybridge Alternatives Conference currently underway in Las Vegas, Nevada were a little more focused on the upcoming election than their next big idea. Skybridge's annual hedge fund confab brought together a roster of big names inside the industry and out, and many of them were focused on Donald Trump. Skybridge founder Anthony Scaramucci recently announced he was getting behind the presumptive Republican nominee after previously backing Jeb Bush and the conference involved a hefty amount of fundraising work for the nominee. T. Boone Pickens, who spoke early in the first day on a panel with Sam Zell said that he was was falling inline behind Trump noting that he supported Trump's immigration policy and liked that he wasn't a politician. "He's been a success personally. So you judge the tracker by his pelts," Pickens told reporters in a Q&A after his panel. Pickens and others at the event who have lined up behind Trump spent part of their time yesterday raising money from their peers. Other speakers took a more traditional conference approach and used panels to discuss their views of the market and best investment ideas, while also acknowledging the rough period for hedge fund performance. "I question whether the hedge fund structure is the right structure for today," said Omega Advisors' Leon Cooperman. "I'm a stock picker and it...................... To view our full article Click here
Opalesque Industry Update - StepStone Group LP, a global private markets advisory and asset management firm, today announced it will acquire Swiss Capital Alternative Investments AG, one of the leading private debt and hedge fund solutions providers in Europe. Completion of the consolidation will follow customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close before year end 2016. Terms were not disclosed. Swiss Capital is an international alternative asset manager with more than US$5 billion of assets under management offering customized solutions across a variety of platforms to institutional investors, primarily in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. As part of the acquisition, StepStone will launch StepStone Private Debt and StepStone Hedge Funds, which will combine StepStones global capabilities and significant institutional client network with Swiss Capitals deep expertise in private debt and hedge fund strategies. This enhanced platform aims to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns through highly customized portfolios. StepStone already offers several private markets solutions, including private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructure, and real assets. The addition of the Zurich and Dublin offices will expand StepStones local European presence to more than 70 professionals. Swiss Capitals management team will continue to lead the private debt and hedge fund teams and is responsible for the management of these two business lines. Monte Brem, Chief Executive Officer of StepStone, commented, Private debt has become a crucial strategy as institutions facing overexposure to maturing bonds and low yields seek to diversify and replace current investments with debt instruments that can meet their return criteria. Swiss Capitals deep expertise in constructing customized private debt solutions perfectly complements StepStones approach to serving clients in other private markets. David Jeffrey, StepStone Partner and the head of European operations, added, The addition of the Swiss Capital team builds on StepStones expertise in private debt, allowing us to offer a full suite of private debt solutions, including hedge fund strategies. Swiss Capital has a proven track record of global execution that goes back nearly 20 years. Their team brings an important local presence in continental Europe, where their fluency with languages, cultures and regulatory processes are key differentiators in adding value to our clients investment decisions. Hans-Jorg Baumann, Chairman of Swiss Capital, commented, This partnership is a unique combination of complementary offerings and skills. Both institutions have long track records of exceeding clients expectations and achieving strong returns for investors. Together, we will deliver expertise in assessing, investing, managing and advising on the entire range of alternative investments. This new partnership will benefit clients greatly by providing increased insight and access into all areas of the global private markets. Marcel Schindler, CEO of Swiss Capital, added, Our expertise in investing in the full range of private debt activities and hedge funds is based on a customized approach combined with an in-depth knowledge of managing large-scale alternative investment portfolios. The combined StepStone platform allows for global expansion in investment capacity for the benefit of clients. Our robust infrastructure and investment knowledge is an edge in the alternative investment universe. Separately, StepStone also announced today that the infrastructure and real assets team from KPMG will be joining StepStone. The team is headed by James OLeary, who will become head of StepStones Infrastructure & Real Assets business. He will be based in Sydney. OLeary and his team established KPMGs institutional investment advisory business in 2011 and have been advising global investment institutions for more than 10 years. StepStone is a global private markets firm overseeing over US$81 billion of private capital allocations, including approximately US$14 billion of assets under management. It has over 170 professionals across eleven offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, La Jolla, London, New York, Perth, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Reprinted from Reader Supported News

A British general once said to Gandhi, "You don't think we're just going to walk out of India!" Gandhi replied, "Yes. In the end, you will walk out. Because 100,000 Englishmen simply cannot control 350 million Indians, if those Indians refuse to cooperate."

The progressive political battle was never for the White House. It was, is, and always has been for mobilization. The battle against plutocracy and fascism has always, in reality, been a battle against apathy.

Bernie Sanders, with this remarkable campaign, has taken the issue of American political corruption out of the shadows and placed it center stage.

While that sounds like a simple thing, it is a thing that all progressive leaders have tried -- and failed -- to do for as long as there has been an American political process. The movement is mobilized, and not a moment too soon.

Winning the Presidency

The Oval Office would more aptly at this point be called The Office of the Empire Manager. The notion that any work of social good can be achieved from the Oval Office is, at this juncture, sadly far-fetched at best.

From that perspective, Hillary Clinton is actually well suited for the office, if you want your empire managed efficiently. If you want the logic of empire challenged at its core, then you'll appreciate the scope of Bernie Sanders' achievement.

So will Bernie win the "battle" to be the democratic nominee for president? In truth, it seems like a long shot. Will he win the "war" against apathy? He already has, in extraordinary fashion.

What makes defeating apathy so important? Apathy is where corruption grows. Apathy is so valuable to the corrupt that they manufacture it and control the production of it. This is where infotainment and mass broadcasting play such an important role. The trick is to keep the population huddled beneath their security blankets, rather than pounding on doors and demanding justice.

The people who understand the magnitude of the transgressions and who want change have always been there. But they have always been relegated to three percent of the popular vote in presidential campaigning. Brave new world. We are united, we have numbers, and we are on the march. It's not about the Oval Office, it's about the country, our country. Let's win there.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.




When this 2016 presidential election is over, regardless of who becomes our next president, the Republican Party will never be the same. When in its history has it been so divided and in such a state of turmoil over its future direction? The biggest question of all is: can it survive and continue to exist as a viable political entity or will it break up into diametrically opposed factions?

The jury is out and things look very dismal for America's staunch conservatives. This party has been in the process of splintering ever since the Tea Party walked in and stirred the pot of dissension and division. In this current primary election the GOP initially had 17 candidates who, collectively, have to represent the worst set of candidates in that party's history.

Let's use the following metaphorical presentation to examine the condition of the Republican Party as the battle for its control rages on. Let's say that Trump is East and the GOP leadership is West; and the twain shall never meet. Their ideology and their positions on key issues are not even remotely on the same page.

Why Trump is running as a Republican is beyond comprehension because he gives the distinct impression of being a closet Democrat based on his past history and his general beliefs about the direction of this country. Who knows; he may be just that. In fact I'd say that a great many Republicans may be thinking that this is exactly what is happening. His candidacy may turn out be one of the most clever political schemes ever to have been carried out in America.

We know that Trump assumed command of the GOP ship of state without the authorization of the board of directors of the "company" and is taking it in a direction in which the majority of its members don't want to go. But he is in command and no matter how hard they try to remove him from his position of authority they are unable to do it; and as the party heads into a looming disaster, Captain Trump, just as the captain of the Titanic did in years past, issues the order, "Full Speed Ahead."

As this ship, under the iron-fisted command of Trump, stays on this dangerous course, many voices in the GOP are sounding the alarms, demanding that its hierarchy come up with some way to force Trump to change this reckless course and stay with the one that they have faithfully followed.

Here's a link to an article which contains the lyrics of "The Ship of State, A Republican Song" which perfectly illustrates the current condition of the Republican Party. The parts of the lyrics that stand out are, "She carries a sorty crew and needs a new commander", "There's mutiny aboard the ship, there's feud no force can smother" and "Her sordid crew shall be dismissed, to seek some honest calling."

click here

Let's recall these words of President Lincoln, the first Republican president, who said, "A house divided cannot stand." Lincoln, of course, was referring to the great divisions that existed in the country, largely over the issue of slavery, during those trying times. It's ironic how those words, now these many years later, are so very descriptive of the political party that he once led; one that is reeling from internal strife.

It's Trump against Paul Ryan, Trump against Lindsey Graham, Trump against Reince Priebus; it's Trump against the entire Republican Establishment and its ideology. The Republican Party hierarchy can't comprehend how it was so easily blindsided by this political neophyte who came out of nowhere and has managed to pull off what could be described as a hostile takeover or a political coup.

Here is how bad the GOP's current situation is: there are two following scenarios which may materialize, either of which could serve to pound the last nails into the GOP's coffin:

If the Republicans, even at this late date, find a way to derail Trump's nomination through a "brokered convention" or otherwise, he will almost certainly take his revenge against them by running as an independent 3d Party candidate; call it the Trump Party. If he does there is no question but that he will receive millions of votes from his loyal supporters in the GOP; and the net effect will be to send Hillary Clinton to the White House

Now suppose that they can't stop him and he becomes the GOP candidate; we are beginning to hear that many of this party's members, who can't possibly accept him as their nominee, are banding together and strongly considering the possibility of coming up with their own hand-picked candidate to represent the conservative movement in the party. If they do it's a safe bet that this candidate will draw millions of votes away from Trump and, once again, Hillary will easily win.

This is a catch 22, or lose-lose, situation for the Republicans because, based on these scenarios, it will be very difficult if not impossible, for them to win the presidency. It's as if true Republican conservatives find themselves standing on the deck of the USS/GOP Titanic, watching as the ship heads straight into the iceberg field, feeling completely helpless to do anything about the collision that is surely to follow.

But as bad as this situation might seem to be for the GOP there is something developing on the political horizon that could also spell big trouble for Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders is determined not to drop out of the Democratic race. There is an increasing possibility developing in which he, if he finally accepts the fact that he will not become the Democratic nominee, will make the decision to run as an independent 3d party candidate.

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During a casual conversation inside a store on a swanky shopping street located a short distance from London's fabled Kensington Palace a twenty-something retail clerk said she feels a strange sense of discomfort that she's never felt before in London, the city where this native of Algeria has lived most of her life.

She traces this alienating discomfort to the sharp increase in Islamophobia.

Islamophobia is generally defined as dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.

This London resident is an identifiable target for Islamophobia because she wears a modest headscarf that is traditional in her culture and religion - Islam. (She does not wear a full-face covering burka.)

For her and others, Islamophobia ranges from disdainful stares and caustic comments to physical assaults. A few assaults have ended in fatalities. And then there are British government policies like 'Prevent' -- the professed counter-terrorism program that seemingly is targeted solely at Muslims. Prevent enlists citizens to report actions and attitudes deemed suspicious.



Vakas Hussain (far left). Seated Suresh Grover of The Monitoring Group (center) and Rotherham 12 defendant Abrar Javid. LBW Photo

(Image by Linn Washington Jr.) Details DMCA



The Muslim community in Britain "has been targeted against the backdrop of hostility buttressed by the War on Terror," stated a report issued by the London-based Institute of Race Relations in 2013. This report warned that racial violence across Britain is not "something consigned to history" citing police force statistics from 2011/2012 documenting over 100 racially or religiously aggravated crimes per day.

Islam is the second largest identified religion in Britain behind Christianity. Half of the twenty communities across Britain with the largest Muslim populations are located in London. Muslims comprised five percent of England's population with the majority having ancestral roots in Pakistan and Bangladesh not Arab countries.

Ugly Islamophobia ran rampant during the recent mayoral election in London that ended with the historic victory of Sadiq Khan, a London born lawyer and liberal Labour Party Member of Parliament who is now the first Muslim to head any major Western capital.

Top members of Britain's ruling Conservative Party, including Prime Minister David Cameron, along with minions in the news media, pointedly painted Khan as a person who eagerly embraced Islamic extremism despite Khan's record of condemning extremism. Khan, during that mayoral campaign, tacked increasingly rightward in advocating militarized responses to terrorism.

Britain's Defense Minister, Michael Fallon defended Conservative Party campaign attacks on Khan as merely the "rough and tumble of elections" during a media interview. Yet the former co-chair of Britain's Conservative Party, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, castigated her party colleagues for unleashing an "appalling dog whistle campaign." Even the sister of Khan's Conservative Party challenger used the word "sad" to describe the tactics utilized during her brother's mayoral campaign.

Much of the news media coverage of Khan's historic election referenced the Islamophobic attacks unleashed on that man whose working-class parents immigrated to London from Pakistan. Yet that coverage omitted wider references about Islamophobia beyond noting pledges of presumptive U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump to bar Muslims, like Khan, from entering the United States. (Trump has flip-flopped saying he would not bar Khan.)

A few weeks before Khan's historic victory, Mubeen Hussain, founding member and spokesperson for the British Muslim Youth Association, criticized Islamophobia during his presentation at a conference on political policing and state racism in the United Kingdom. Hussain said many Muslims are now obscuring their religion to avoid discrimination.

"I have problems with the way the Prevent strategy is deliberately directed against the Muslim community because it links religiosity with extremism," Hussain said during that conference in London.

"This Us versus Them projected in the media feeds a polarization that affects perceptions across society. If things keep going the way they are we will become the society we are trying to prevent."

The Prevent program, according to a British government document, seeks "to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism." That document declares that no evidence exists to support claims that Prevent programs "have been used to spy on communities.

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by Kevin Stoda in Salalah, Oman

As we observe the mess that has been made of and with federalism in Iraq since 2003, there might be little wonder that most Arabs and Middle Eastern observers don't often even consider federalism as an option for peace as well as sustainable, social, and political-economic development these days. In contrast to this dubious Arab centrist oriented position, I noted at the time that the Iraqi constitution first created the land as a federation in 2005 that trying to introduce such a change in representation through war and through occupation western federalism and western democracy in Iraq was something that neo-con and neo-liberal could only fail in trying to undertake.

However, in order to be a federal regime, Iraq in the post occupation era would require a recreation of a new national identity as a federation and increasing comprehension by peoples throughout the land that federalism is not simply a western colonial concept, but is a well-recognized form of government in the Middle East, dating back 5 or more millennium.

Interestingly, in the case of Iraq, the 2003-2011 creation of a federal state in that Biblical land under USA military occupation has been the first and only time in history that American military personnel or administrators had ever actually attempted to create a federal state from scratch--since 1979, when Micronesia became a federation. In contrast to the thousands of islands that consist of Micronesia (which were already peacefully under USA control for decades as Trust Territories of the United Nations), Iraq had been centralized under Baathist/Sunni control for nearly half a century when the militarized USA coalition marched into Baghdad in April 2003.

In short, moving a state--or people--from centralized to federalized under martial law had never been attempted before by Americans and was bound to fail. (Even the British colonial leadership, which had had much more experience in creating federal regimes from scratch would have had a difficult time in keeping the Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds together after the Baathest regimes had destroyed much of representative government in both Iraq and Syria decades ago. Perhaps, the Americans should have asked the British about how to leave a federal state in the Middle East or Asia--the UK successfully did this in both Malaysia and the UAE.)

On the other hand, Arabs should not simply throw federalism out with the bath waters of the Tigris and Euphrates--which is what many demagogues and short-sighted thinkers may want to do in the Middle East in 2016.

Such typical leaders and elites in the Arab world would have us think that Middle Easterners are not interested in either democracy or federalist-peace solutions in that region of the world. ( I talk about federal-peace or federal-peacetheory here because I have shown in other writings of mine that in all of the world's modern history, federal states or regimes are the least likely state actors to actually go to war against one another.)

In fact, Arab and other Semitic federal-like covenant structures date to well-before the creation of Islam. We can look back some three to five-thousand years and observe how tribes on the Arab peninsula have dealt with each other. As the great federalist Daniel Elizar wrote, " The biblical grand design for humankind is federal in three ways: " It is based upon a network of covenants beginning with those between God and man, which weave the web of human, especially political, relationships in a federal way -- that is through pact, association and consent." [1] This federal design was clearly created or originated in the time of Moses, Elizar clarified.

On the one hand, perhaps as The Economist noted in a 2007 article, "Arab federalism, anyone?", much of the Arab World has gotten out of tune with God and federal compacts in recent decades. The Economist authors wrote, "The notion of federalism is [now] generally disliked, at least by the Arab world's predominant Sunni majority, as an old imperial device to divide and rule and undermine the umma, the community of Muslim nations--particularly, of late, in Iraq." [2]

This statement by The Economist is obviously somewhat of an over-generalization, though. Specifically, in the Arab Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates has been demonstrating great political, economic, and social advances under their federal agreements of the past 5 decades. J.E. Peterson, in "The Future of Federalism in the United Arab Emirates", has described the UAE as "the Arab world's most successful unity scheme to date." [3]

One of the main factors for the success of federalization in the Emirates over the decades, according to Peterson, has included the fact that in terms of homogeneity, the UAE is "largely Arab, Sunni Muslim, and of tribal origin." This statement by Peterson implies that federal states work well with more homogeneous peoples; however, historically federalism functions to empower diverse peoples to work together, like in the USA, Brazil or India.

Peterson also explained another factor in the ongoing success of increasing federalization among the peoples of the United Arab Emirates, i.e. the UAE citizenry have over the past 5 decades increasingly self-identified with the UAE as a federal regime. This means that they are committed to the federation in both the short and long term.

In addition, this means that any alternative movements in the UAE, like those who had initially proposed or supported the reintegration of UAE emirates with Oman, have simply died out since the 1970s. As well, the rise of radical Islamic actors have since the 1970s has been marginalized or even shut-out in many facets of UAE life, media, and society. In short, as a whole, in 2016, UAE citizens are committed to stick together and to keep out the more divisive facets of both Islam and the Arab world. they love their federation.

Unfortunately, outside of the UAE, too many people believe that federalism in the UAE was forced upon the remaining Trucial states, which formed the UAE in 1970, simply because the British were bailing out of that part of the Gulf. This is absolutely not true states Malcolm Peck, who has written on Persian/Arabian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula issues for decades .

Peck explains in his essay, Formation and Evolution of The Federation and its Institutions: "Despite a widespread perception that the United Arab Emirates and the other small Gulf Arab states are artificial creations of the British, the UAE in fact reflects in its political form and dynamics a deliberate lack of British involvement in the Trucial States' internal affairs until a late date, leaving tribal loyalties and structures largely unaffected. The effect of British intervention through the series of treaties implemented between 1820 and 1892 was to freeze the principal power relationships of tribal groupings. Thus, the Al Qawasim and the Bani Yas tribal confederations which controlled what are now the northern emirates and the emirate of Abu Dhabi, respectively, were confirmed as the dominant elements within the Trucial States. The Bani Yas eventually gained the upper hand in their rivalry with the Al Qawasim, largely because the latter's naval power had been eclipsed by the British and because the Bani Yas were a broad, land-based confederation. The initial British military intervention in the southern Gulf had the effect of altering the power relationship between the two rival groupings. More importantly, by dealing with the Trucial States as a unit, the British gave some sense of natural coherence to the grouping of the several sheikhdoms signatory to the 1820 treaty and later engagements. For a considerable period of time they were obliged to cooperate in various common, if limited, treaty obligations." [4]

In short, as in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, the United Kingdom's "benign neglect" in the Arabian Gulf throughout most of the 20th Century often led to and encouraged confederal and federal solutions in a region that was already naturally hedging towards federal solutions.
Reprinted from Consortium News

For centuries hereditary monarchy was the dominant way to select national leaders, evolving into an intricate system that sustained itself through power and propaganda even as its ideological roots shriveled amid the Age of Reason. Yet, as monarchy became a dead idea, it still killed millions in its death throes.

Today, the dangerous "dead ideas" are neoconservatism and its close ally neoliberalism. These are concepts that have organized American foreign policy and economics, respectively, over the past several decades -- and they have failed miserably, at least from the perspective of average Americans and people of the nations on the receiving end of these ideologies.

Neither approach has benefited mankind; both have led to untold death and destruction; yet the twin "neos" have built such a powerful propaganda and political apparatus, especially in Official Washington, that they will surely continue to wreak havoc for years to come. They are zombie ideas and they kill.

Yet, the Democratic Party is poised to nominate an adherent to both "neos" in the person of Hillary Clinton. Rather than move forward from President Barack Obama's unease with what he calls the Washington "playbook," the Democrats are retreating into its perceived safety.

After all, the Washington Establishment remains enthralled to both "neos," favoring the "regime change" interventionism of neoconservatism and the "free trade" globalism of neoliberalism. So, Clinton has emerged as the clear favorite of the elites, at least since the field of alternatives has narrowed to populist billionaire Donald Trump and democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

Democratic Party insiders appear to be counting on the mainstream news media and prominent opinion-leaders to marginalize Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, and to finish off Sanders, who faces long odds against Clinton's delegate lead for the Democratic nomination, especially among the party regulars known as "super-delegates."

But the Democratic hierarchy is placing this bet on Clinton in a year when much of the American electorate has risen up against the twin "neos," exhausted by the perpetual wars demanded by the neoconservatives and impoverished by the export of decent-paying manufacturing jobs driven by the neoliberals.

Though much of the popular resistance to the "neos" remains poorly defined in the minds of rebellious voters, the common denominator of the contrasting appeals of Trump and Sanders is that millions of Americans are rejecting the "neos" and repudiating the establishment institutions that insist on sustaining these ideologies.

The Pressing Question

Thus, the pressing question for Campaign 2016 is whether America will escape from the zombies of the twin "neos" or spend the next four years surrounded by these undead ideas as the world lurches closer to an existential crisis.

The main thing that the zombie "neos" have going for them is that the vast majority of Very Important People in Official Washington have embraced these concepts and have achieved money and fame as a result. These VIPs are no more likely to renounce their fat salaries and overblown influence than the favored courtiers of a King or Queen would side with the unwashed rabble.



Prince Bandar bin Sultan, then Saudi ambassador to the United States, meeting with President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas, on Aug. 27, 2002.

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The "neo" adherents are also very skilled at framing issues to their benefit, made easier by the fact that they face almost no opposition or resistance from the mainstream media or the major think tanks.

The neoconservatives have become Washington's foreign policy establishment, driving the old-time "realists" who favored more judicious use of American power to the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the neoliberals dominate economic policy debates, treating the "markets" as some new-age god and "privatization" of public assets as scripture. They have pushed aside the old New Dealers who called for a robust government role to protect the people from the excesses of capitalism and to build public infrastructure to benefit the nation as a whole.
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. =

Washington's Military Addiction

And The Ruins Still to Come

By Tom Engelhardt

There are the news stories that genuinely surprise you, and then there are the ones that you could write in your sleep before they happen. Let me concoct an example for you:

"Top American and European military leaders are weighing options to step up the fight against the Islamic State in the Mideast, including possibly sending more U.S. forces into Iraq, Syria, and Libya, just as Washington confirmed the second American combat casualty in Iraq in as many months."

Oh wait, that was actually the lead sentence in a May 3rd Washington Times piece by Carlo Munoz. Honestly, though, it could have been written anytime in the last few months by just about anyone paying any attention whatsoever, and it surely will prove reusable in the months to come (with casualty figures altered, of course). The sad truth is that across the Greater Middle East and expanding parts of Africa, a similar set of lines could be written ahead of time about the use of Special Operations forces, drones, advisers, whatever, as could the sorry results of making such moves in [add the name of your country of choice here].

Put another way, in a Washington that seems incapable of doing anything but worshiping at the temple of the U.S. military, global policymaking has become a remarkably mindless military-first process of repetition. It's as if, as problems built up in your life, you looked in the closet marked "solutions" and the only thing you could ever see was one hulking, over-armed soldier, whom you obsessively let loose, causing yet more damage.

How Much, How Many, How Often, and How Destructively

In Iraq and Syria, it's been mission creep all the way. The B-52s barely made it to the battle zone for the first time and were almost instantaneously in the air, attacking Islamic State militants. U.S. firebases are built ever closer to the front lines. The number of special ops forces continues to edge up. American weapons flow in (ending up in god knows whose hands). American trainers and advisers follow in ever increasing numbers, and those numbers are repeatedly fiddled with to deemphasize how many of them are actually there. The private contractors begin to arrive in numbers never to be counted. The local forces being trained or retrained have their usual problems in battle. American troops and advisers who were never, never going to be "in combat" or "boots on the ground" themselves now have their boots distinctly on the ground in combat situations. The first American casualties are dribbling in. Meanwhile, conditions in tottering Iraq and the former nation of Syria grow ever murkier, more chaotic, and less amenable by the week to any solution American officials might care for.

And the response to all this in present-day Washington?

You know perfectly well what the sole imaginable response can be: sending in yet more weapons, boots, air power, special ops types, trainers, advisers, private contractors, drones, and funds to increasingly chaotic conflict zones across significant swaths of the planet. Above all, there can be no serious thought, discussion, or debate about how such a militarized approach to our world might have contributed to, and continues to contribute to, the very problems it was meant to solve. Not in our nation's capital, anyway.

The only questions to be argued about are how much, how many, how often, and how destructively. In other words, the only "antiwar" position imaginable in Washington, where accusations of weakness or wimpishness are a dime a dozen and considered lethal to a political career, is how much less of more we can afford, militarily speaking, or how much more of somewhat less we can settle for when it comes to militarized death and destruction. Never, of course, is a genuine version of less or a none-at-all option really on that "table" where, it's said, all policy options are kept.

Think of this as Washington's military addiction in action. We've been watching it for almost 15 years without drawing any of the obvious conclusions. And lest you imagine that "addiction" is just a figure of speech, it isn't. Washington's attachment -- financial, tactical, and strategic -- to the U.S. military and its supposed solutions to more or less all problems in what used to be called "foreign policy" should by now be categorized as addictive. Otherwise, how can you explain the last decade and a half in which no military action from Afghanistan to Iraq, Yemen to Libya worked out half-well in the long run (or even, often enough, in the short run), and yet the U.S. military remains the option of first, not last, resort in just about any imaginable situation? All this in a vast region in which failed states are piling up, nations are disintegrating, terror insurgencies are spreading, humongous population upheavals are becoming the norm, and there are refugee flows of a sort not seen since significant parts of the planet were destroyed during World War II.

Either we're talking addictive behavior or failure is the new success.

Keep in mind, for instance, that the president who came into office swearing he would end a disastrous war and occupation in Iraq is now overseeing a new war in an even wider region that includes Iraq, a country that is no longer quite a country, and Syria, a country that is now officially kaput. Meanwhile, in the other war he inherited, Barack Obama almost immediately launched a military-backed "surge" of U.S. forces, the only real argument being over whether 40,000 (or even as many as 80,000) new U.S. troops would be sent into Afghanistan or, as the "antiwar" president finally decided, a mere 30,000 (which made him an absolute wimp to his opponents). That was 2009. Part of that surge involved an announcement that the withdrawal of American combat forces would begin in 2011. Seven years later, that withdrawal has once again been halted in favor of what the military has taken to privately calling a "generational approach" -- that is, U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan into at least the 2020s.

The military term "withdrawal" may, however, still be appropriate even if the troops are staying in place. After all, as with addicts of any sort, the military ones in Washington can't go cold turkey without experiencing painful symptoms of withdrawal. In American political culture, these manifest themselves in charges of "weakness" when it comes to "national security" that could prove devastating in the next election. That's why those running for office compete with one another in over-the-top descriptions of what they will do to enemies and terrorists (from acts of torture to carpet-bombing) and in even more over-the-top promises of "rebuilding" or "strengthening" what's already the largest, most expensive military on the planet, a force better funded at present than those of at least the next seven nations combined.

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"In this book, Rob Kall is fueling a discussion that is long overdue, one that can perhaps shake us out of our current herd mentality, back to true community and intertwined purpose. His bottom-up discourse may serve to turn us all upside down just long enough to view our current politic from a different perspective."



Dr. Mari K. Swingle, author of i-Minds: How Cell Phones, Computers, Gaming, and Social Media are Changing Our Brains, Our Behavior, and the Evolution of Our Species


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When Jay Leno still hosted The Tonight Show, he had a frequent segment called "Jaywalking." He would go out onto the streets of New York City, and ask random young people questions, such as, "Who won the Revolutionary War?" or "Who fought in the Civil War?" The answers were appallingly ignorant.

Politicians and educators argue about what has gone wrong with our educational system, but the fact that the supposed most powerful nation in the world ranks 14thin education and 24thin reading literacy means that we are failing our kids. And even though our dropout rate is falling, over three million kids drop out of high school every year. And it is worse in the realm of higher education. Over 40% of students who enter college drop out without earning a degree, in both two-year and four-year institutions.

So, what exactly is wrong with American education? If you ask teachers and students, here are the answers you get:

Secondary Schooling is Irrelevant and Political

High school students complain, and rightly so, that they are given a curriculum which has little relevance to what they will be doing in life. As well, they are forced to focus on multiple-choice achievement tests and how to best take them rather than on more important skills sets such as personal finance, problem-solving, vocational/career training, etc.

Teachers voice the same complaints, but to deaf ears. State legislators, who have political agendas, are more concerned about test scores, transgender bathrooms, and prayer in schools than they are about the real goal of preparing kids for an unpredictable future. And those state legislators determine curriculum, textbook adoptions, and, most important, funding. In 2014, for example, the Texas State Board of Education, approved textbooks which stated, among other things, that Moses and the Ten Commandments were foundational in the creation of the U.S. Constitution, and that man-made contributions to climate change were not accurate claims.

The other concerns of state legislatures are, of course, test scores, which are used to determine student grade promotions and accountability of teachers. And college admissions standards are still heavily dependent upon SAT and ACT scores.

Teachers want to turn kids into lifelong independent learners, but legislatures and college admissions committees have other things in mind.

Schooling Remains Unequal

Recent data demonstrates the glaring inequalities among public school districts, largely based upon the socioeconomic demographics of the communities they serve. Schools in poor urban communities, with a large percentage of minority students, are poorly funded, in disrepair, and can only attract those teachers who are unable to find jobs in better-paying districts.

Minority students start the "race" in a different place and if they are to get into college, must play catch up their entire K-12 schooling lives. And expectations for performance are consistently lower for students of color. White suburban children, on the other hand, do quite well.

Given that non-white students will comprise 44% of our K-12 student populations by 2020, American has a problem. These students will not be prepared for the types of jobs that await them.

College is Expensive and Wastes Precious Learning Time

The U.S. higher education system forces students into two years of general education coursework, giving them only two years to focus on their majors. For example, students who plan to go into STEM fields are forced into English and social science classes in which they must become master essay and paper writers when they would prefer to be in laboratories. They understand the stupidity of this and so look to online writing services in order to meet the requirements of courses which are a waste of time and money. Who can blame them?

America is the only country in the developed world that forces students to pay for their own college educations. In fact, it ranks 54th in public spending on education. College is out of the question for many students and those who do go have an average of $33,000 worth of debt along with that Bachelor's degree.

What is the Solution?

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Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website

Several years ago two very distinguished American scholars wrote a book, The Israel Lobby.

The book made a very understated case that the Israel Lobby has far more power over the US government and media than is good for America or Israel, as it silences constructive critics who are Israel's friends. The two scholars were demonized by the Israel Lobby as advocating the return of the Holocaust.

The Israel Lobby presented itself as just a poor little weak thing unable to stand up to all the Nazis assailing Israel. Meanwhile the US Congress was unanimously passing outrageous resolutions handed to it by the Israel Lobby.

A number of former US Senators and Representatives, including Cynthia McKinney, have publicly stated that they were removed from office by the Israel Lobby for criticizing actions of the Israeli government, such as the Israeli government's attempt to sink the USS Liberty, in which a majority of the American crew were killed or injured.

Instead of defending the US Navy, the cowardly US government was so scared of Israel that the President of the United States and the Admiral conducting the inquiry, Senator John McCain's father, rushed to the defense of Israel and covered up the incident.

The coverup has been so successful that few Americans today know that a vessel of the US Navy was decimated by an Israeli air and torpedo boat attack, and Washington did not even file a protest. Really! The US is a "superpower," and the cowardly government cannot even stand up to Israel?

What do you think will happen to these pussies in Washington when they confront by their carelessness and unjustified arrogance the power of Russia and China?

Little wonder that after 15 years of pointless conflict the US has been defeated by a few thousand lightly armed warriors in Afghanistan, and the "Mission Accomplished" pronouncement of the moron George W. Bush now requires intervention by the Russian Superpower to be accomplished.

Only Russia can bring the terrorism in the Middle East that the dolts in Washington created to an end. The low grade morons in Washington sponsor the terrorism in order to bleed the American taxpayer of money to pay the profits of the Military-Security Complex that President Eisenhower, a Five Star General warned us about going on seven decades ago.

The Americans are so incompetent that they should just depart the scene and go home and hide under their beds so scared they are of "terrorists," largely an invention of neoconservative propaganda.

But it only takes a propaganda invention, a false flag event, to scare "powerful America" out of its wits.

I became an "anti-semite" when I observed that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians resembled the Union Army's treatment, under Sherman and Sheridan, of the American Plains Indians. Wholesale genocide.

An Israeli official wrote to me asking me why I criticized Israel for doing to the Palestinians what the United States government did to the native Americans. In other words, the Western World, and Israel that allegedly suffered the Holocaust, were not required to make any moral progress in one or two centuries. Whatever the Union war criminals did to the American Plains Indians in the 19th century is perfectly OK for Israel to to to Palestinians in the 21st century.

So much for those who believe in moral progress.

"Anti-semite" has lost its sting, because every justified criticism of the Zionist Israeli government is declared to be anti-semitism. The word is so overused and misapplied as to be useless. Indeed, to be declared "anti-semite" by the Israel Lobby is to be declared a person of high moral conscience.
Global and China Lemon Oil (CAS 8008-56-8) Market 2016: Industry Analysis, Market Size, Forecasts 2021

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Global and China Levulinic Acid (CAS 123-76-2) Market 2016: Industry Analysis, Market Size, Forecasts 2021

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Douglas, Arizona Mom in The Fight of Her Life Against Breast Cancer

Jaquelin Lamadrid's life changed forever one February morning when she found a lump in her right breast. What followed for the 31-year-old mother of four was a life altering whirlwind: the consultation, the diagnosis and a double mastectomy.She now makes the 120 mile trip weekly from Douglas to Tucson for treatment at Banner University Medical Center.With more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. annually, Jaque's story is unfortunately all too common. Cancer, in any form, affects the body. But what about the mind and spirit of the patient and the patient's family.On a special episode of Arizona Week on May 13, Jaque shares "The Fight of Her Life" with host Lorraine Rivera, through an intimate look at how everything has changed since her diagnosis and what she has learned that may help others."I'm blessed, I don't look at this as a burden or as a curse on myself," said Jaque. "I look at this as a second opportunity to do my life completely different and to let all negativity go, to not hold onto grudges and to start a different lifestyle and to be thankful. Every day is a new day and you've got to move forward from there.""The Fight of Her Life" a special Arizona Week will air May 13 at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6. For full program information, visit azpm.org.AZPM is an Emmy award-winning, member-supported media organization serving all of Southern Arizona. AZPM has six public television channels and three radio stations, including PBS 6, PBS Kids and NPR 89.1. AZPM produces local content from its digital studios on the campus of the University of Arizona and is provided as a community service and educational resource. More information about AZPM, including program schedules and Video-on-Demand offerings, can be found online at azpm.org.Arizona Public Media and AZPM are registered trademarks of the Arizona Board of Regents.Arizona Public Media1423 E. University Blvd.Modern Languages Building (South)The University of ArizonaTucson, AZ 85721-0067
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www.goddardschool.com

www.goddardschool.com

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (May 10, 2016)  The Goddard School, the premier preschool focusing on learning through play for children from six weeks to six years old, announces Jillian Yagoda of Maple Glen, PA as the winner of the eighth annual Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship. Open nationwide to high school seniors who have graduated from The Goddard School Pre-K or Kindergarten program, the scholarship is awarded to one candidate who has exemplified the work ethic and perseverance exhibited by Anthony A. Martino, the founder of The Goddard School franchise system.Jillians thoughtful entry demonstrated how The Goddard School made an impact on her academic beginnings as well as her continued success beyond preschool. Jillian graduated from the Pre-K program at The Goddard School located in Horsham, PA in 2003 and this fall, Jillian will be attending The University of Maryland to study Animal Science. Runners-up Kimberly Boyd and Kyle Hurley, who attended The Goddard School located in Fishers (Brooks School Road), Indiana and The Goddard School located in Hillsborough, NJ respectively, were chosen as scholarship finalists.At The Goddard School, we prepare children with necessary 21st century skills and a lifelong love of learning, said Joe Schumacher, CEO of Goddard Systems, Inc. Through our Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship program, we proudly reward amazing students like Jillian who continue to aspire to great academic heights.The Goddard School has awarded more than $80,000 to its alumni community through the Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship program and will continue to reward bright and passionate students every year.For more information on The Goddard School, please visitAbout The Goddard SchoolLearning for fun. Learning for life. For nearly 30 years, The Goddard School has used the most current, academically endorsed methods to ensure that children from six weeks to six years old have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life. Talented teachers collaborate with parents to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners. The Goddard Schools AdvancED- and Middle States-accredited F.L.EX. Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience) reaches more than 50,000 students in more than 430 Goddard Schools in 35 states. The Goddard Schools comprehensive play-based curriculum, developed with early childhood education experts, provides the best childhood preparation for social and academic success. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit888 S. Figueroa St.Ste 1000Los Angeles, CA 90017
Latest market data proves Florida real estate is still red hot

www.feltrimgroup.com

Two more newly-published market reports show that the Florida and Orlando real estate markets are still red hot.Prices of single-family homes in Florida rose 11.8% year-over-year in the first Quarter of 2016, according to the latest data from Florida Realtors.At the same time, data specialist CoreLogic shows home prices, including distressed sales, in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area rose 8.5% in the year to March 2016.Garrett Kenny, Chief Executive Officer of experienced Central Florida agent and developer, Feltrim Group, says although the exact figures might differ between market reports, it is undeniable that real estate prices in Florida and Orlando are increasing fast.Strong property price rises in the Central Florida show that demand is exceeding supply and with record tourism figures just announced and rising numbers of people moving and retiring into Florida, that trend is unlikely to diminish any time soon.Its one reason why investors, particularly from China, Brazil, the UK, are looking to invest in our newest luxury lakeside development, Balmoral At Waters Edge.The luxury lakeside development, south of WaltDisneyWorld, which is ideal for vacation homes and rental property investors, includes a luxury clubhouse, waterpark, lakeside beach, gym and spa, gourmet kitchen, restaurant and more.Balmoral at Waters Edge features high-end Tuscan-style custom homes set within a 113-acre private gated community with three to eight bedrooms.According to Florida Realtors, the market across the state in the first three months of 2016 saw higher prices and volumes and sales took fewer days.Matey H. Veissi, the 2016 Florida Realtors President, says, In the first three months of 2016, traditional housing sales rose in Florida while distressed property sales continued to decline  which underscores stability in the states housing sector.Another positive sign: New listings for single-family homes over the three-month-period rose 4.5 per cent year-over-year, while new condo-townhouse listings rose 6.6 per cent.The median price for Florida condo-townhouse properties increased 5.5% in the last year.Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr Brad OConnor, says, This quarter marked the fourth consecutive quarter that the median sale price for single-family homes in Florida experienced an annual growth percentage in the double-digits, but Id caution that the growth rate in the overall median sale price does not directly equate to the growth rate in the value of all homes. In truth, much of the increase in the median price statistic has been a result of the increasing scarcity of distressed homes and other properties that sell in the most affordable price ranges."From January-March 2016 the median time to a contract (the midpoint of the number of days it took for a property to receive a sales contract during that time) was 53 days for single-family homes and 54 days for condo-townhouse properties.Inventory was at 4.5-months supply for single-family homes and at a 6.3-months supply for condo-townhouses.Feltrim Group began almost 20 years ago with CEO Garrett Kenny's vision of operating a world class, internationally connected real estate firm.The group is headquartered in the heart of Florida in the city of Davenport and now brings together construction, real estate, management and immigration services for international and local buyers as well as investors.Feltrim Group constantly strives to embrace new technologies, social media and traditional and non-traditional advertising platforms. Feltrim has evolved with the times and now has a multinational approach to Florida real estate and US-wide immigration services.For more details, see116 Polo Park East Blvd.Davenport Florida, USAGarrett Kenny, CEO
Beige Market Intelligence Published a new Research Report - Strategic Assessment of Worldwide Interactive Display Market in the Education Sector  Forecast Till 2021

Interactive Display in Education Sector - By Beige Market Intelligence

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/market-research-reports-education-industry/interactive-display-education-market-report/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/market-research-reports-education-industry/interactive-display-education-market-report/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/market-research-reports-education-industry/interactive-display-education-market-report/

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http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/market-research-reports-education-industry/interactive-display-education-market-report/

Interactive Display in the Education SectorAn interactive display is a dynamic information display device which can be operated by the means of touch. It is used for imparting information through connectivity with other technology products such as personal laptop, tablet etc. They amalgamate input devices, output devices, software and electronic hardware to provide an interactive experience. These comprise of networking elements, memory, processors, application software, and the OS. Interactive displays are used mainly in educational institutions, retail outlets, corporate meeting rooms, healthcare institutes, and government venues.Interactive Display in the Education Sector market research report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Strategic Assessment of the Worldwide Interactive Display Market in the Education sector for the period 2013-2021. The report provides in-depth analysis of market size, growth, trends, and market share analysis of Worldwide Interactive Display in the Education Sector market. This market research report includes a detailed market segmentation of the Worldwide Interactive Display in the Education Sector market byby Type of Components1) Interactive Whiteboard2) Interactive Projector3) Interactive Flat Paneby Geographic Segmentation1) APAC2) Europe3) Latin America4) Middle East and Africa5) North Americaby Country Segmentation1) Leading Country 1 (for each of the above regions)2) Leading Country 2 (for each of the above regions)3) Leading Country 3 (for each of the above regions)Market Share Analysis of Key Vendors1) NEC Corp2) Promethean World PLC3) Seiko Epson Corp4) SMART Technologies Inc5) Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret ASTo read the full report with TOC, please visitInteractive Display market in the Education sector  Market Size and DynamicsMarket research analysts at Beige Market Intelligence, forecast the Worldwide Interactive Display market in the Education sector to grow at a CAGR of more than 17% during the forecast period. The increasing development in the education sector especially in terms of investment is a key factor that is driving the market. Numerous counties around the world are looking at new and innovative means in the education sector and the interactive display is just one such innovation that fits the bill. Further to this, interactive displays allow for content to be streamed from other devices such a smartphones and tablets. Numerous studies have shown that there is a child`s learning ability increases considerably with interactive sessions which interactive display is able to address. Language learning in particular is one facet of education that needs continuous interaction for a proper grasp of the subject at hand.Worldwide Interactive Display market in the Education sector can be segmented based on the products which go to make an interactive display, i.e, an interactive whiteboard, an interactive flat panel and an interactive projector. Interactive whiteboards are expected to account for approximately US$ 1.2 billion of the interactive display market in the education sector by 2021. This contribution of this product has been declining slowly since 2013 and is expected to decline till the end of the forecast period. However, interactive whiteboards will still be the leading contributor to the interactive display market in the education sector. Interactive panels are expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period of approximately 20 percent.To order a free sample copy of the report, please visitInteractive Display market in the Education sector  Geographic AnalysisNorth America as of 2015 accounted for the highest share of the interactive display market in the education sector. The region is expected to account for more than US$ 1 billion by 2021. School enrolment is an indicator of the Interactive Display market in the education sector. Advanced technology is required to reach out to large group of students, thus, leading to adoption of interactive displays, projectors, and flat panels. These devices assist in demonstration with the help of colorful imagery. Also, varied learning styles can be incorporated in these devices according to the instructors style of teaching, leading to student engagement for effective learningIn terms of unit shipments, Europe is expected to account for a little over 1000 units by the end of the forecast period. One of the largest triggers for the market in Europe is the FATIH project. The project aimed at installing tablet computers in the hands of the students along with interactive whiteboards in every classroom. By 2015, more than 84 thousand classrooms have been equipped with interactive whiteboards. Thus, this region faces demand for interactive whiteboard in the era of emerging interactive flat panels.The APAC region is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 20 percent during the forecast period. Interactive Display market in the Education sector in the APAC region is largely led by the digital media market. Digital media refers to the visual, audio, and photo content which is compressed digitally. The ease of mobility of digital content and its effectiveness in reaching out to masses is the key driver of the digital media market. Digital spend is recorded the highest in Asia Pacific. It comprises of 20.1 percent of the global digital spend.Interactive Display market in the Education sector  Drivers, Restrains and TrendsThis market research report provides market overview of the factors driving and restraining the growth of the market. The report also outlines the key trends emerging in the market that will contribute to the growth of Worldwide Interactive Display market in the Education sector during the forecast period. The factors driving the growth of the market include the deployment of digital learning. In 2015, digital textbook sales were 25 percent of the US Textbook market. This is expected to grow to 35 percent by 2016. The department of Education of the US has an ongoing project called the Federal Registry for Educational Excellence which provides digital library for the education experts. The growth in digital content in the education sector is just a small part of overall digital learning through the aid of interactive displays. Learning through interaction has always been more effective than standard one way teaching. As such, an increase in digital content in any country will have a strong effect on the interactive display market.To read the full report, please visitThere are a number of factors that act as restraints to the market of which fluctuating currency rate is one such restraint. The vendors operating in the Worldwide Interactive Display market in the Education Sector have a diversified geographic presence. The fluctuation of the local currencies against the US dollar would impact the financial stability of the company in the particular region especially if a large volume of their sales were based on exports. Timely delivery of products during a profitable exchange rate is one solution which companies have to ensure minimal risk.A key trend that is expected to have a positive effect on the market is the emergence of non-calibrated systems. Non-calibrated interactive devices do not require adjusting for every usage. It has the ability to sense the requirement and perform according to changes in the environment. These projector systems can be moved from one environment to other without the hassles of setting up. Thus, the ease with which an interactive display can be used increases further and makes the product even more indispensable than what it was before.Interactive Display market in the Education sector  Key Vendors and Market ShareThe report Interactive Display market in the Education sector also provides the competitive landscape and market share of the key players. The report covers the players operating in the entire value chain of the market. The major players identified within the report NEC, Promethean World, Seiko Epson, SMART Technologies, and Vestel.The report also covers the other prominent vendors in the market such as BenQ, BOXLIGHT, Egan Visual, Hitachi, Julong Educational, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung and Mimio.To see more reports on Education by Beige Market Intelligence, please visitTable of ContentsSection 1 Research MethodologySection 2 Executive SummarySection 3 Scope of the Report3.1 Research coverage3.1.1 Definitions of interactive display3.1.2 Base year3.1.3 GeographySection 4 Market Research Methodology4.1 Common currency conversion ratesSection 5 Market Landscape5.1 Overview of worldwide interactive display market in the education sector till 20215.2 Introduction to interactive displays5.3 Technology/equipment and its benefits5.3.1 Advantages of interactive whiteboard5.3.2 Advantages of interactive flat panel display5.3.3 Advantages of Interactive Projector5.4 Bright future for interactive flat panel display5.4.1 Case scenario of usage of interactive device in education sectorSection 6 Key Market Trends6.1 Sensitivity analysis of key market trendsSection 7 Key Market Growth Drivers7.1 Impact of growth drivers across geography 2015-2021Section 8 Key Market Restraints8.1 Impact of restraints on worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2015-2021Section 9 Value Chain Analysis9.1 Value chain of the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector9.1.1 Raw material9.1.2 Manufacturers9.1.3 Distributor/dealer9.1.4 Retailers9.1.5 End-users9.2 Five forces analysis of interactive display market in the education sectorSection 10 Interactive Display in Education Sector  Market Size and Forecast10.1 Market size and forecastSection 11 Worldwide Interactive Display Market in Education Sector by Geographic Segmentation11.1 Insights and key highlights11.2 Market size and forecast  by geographySection 12 North America  Interactive Display Market in Education Sector12.1 Market size and forecastSection 13 Europe  Interactive Display Market in Education Sector13.1 Market size and forecastSection 14 APAC  Interactive Display Market in Education Sector14.1 Market size and forecast14.2 Market size of top three countriesSection 15 MEA  Interactive Display Market in Education Sector15.1 Market size and forecast15.2 Market size of top three countriesSection 16 Latin America  Interactive Display Market in Education Sector16.1 Market size and forecast16.2 Market size of top three countriesSection 17 Technology Segmentation Market Size and Forecast17.1 Interactive display market in education sector by technology segmentation 2013-2021Section 18 Interactive Whiteboard in Education Sector18.1 Market size and forecast 2013-2021Section 19 Interactive Flat Panel in Educcation Sector19.1 Market size and forecast 2013-2021Section 20 Interactive Projector in Education Sector20.1 Market size and forecast 2013-2021Section 21 Competitive Landscape21.1 Competitive scenario21.2 Market share analysis of leading vendors21.2.1 SMART Technologies21.2.2 Promethean World21.2.3 NEC21.2.4 Seiko Epson21.2.5 Vestel Elektronik21.3 Key news of leading vendorsSection 22 Other Vendors With Prominent Presence22.1 BenQ22.2 Boxlight22.3 Egan Visual22.4 Hitachi22.5 Julong Educational Technology22.6 Mimio22.7 Panasonic22.8 Ricoh22.9 Samsung Electronics22.10 Venn representation of competitive landscapeSection 23 Key Vendor Analysis23.1 SMART Technologies23.1.1 Business Overview23.1.2 Key products23.1.3 Key strengths23.1.4 Key strategies23.1.5 Key opportunities23.2 Promethean World23.2.1 Business Overview23.2.2 Key Products23.2.3 Key strengths23.2.4 Key strategies23.3 NEC Corp.23.3.1 Business Overview23.3.2 Key products23.3.3 Key strengths23.3.4 Key strategies23.3.5 Key opportunities23.4 Seiko Epson23.4.1 Business overview23.4.2 Key products23.4.3 Key strengths23.4.4 Key opportunities23.5 Vestel Elektronik23.5.1 Business overview23.5.2 Key products23.5.3 Key strengths23.5.4 Key strategies23.5.5 Key opportunitiesSection 24 Summary of Key Findings24.1 Realizing the need for interactive display solutions24.1.1 Strategic recommendation 124.2 High scope interactive display technological segment24.2.1 Strategic Recommendation 224.3 High scope geographic regions24.3.1 Strategic Recommendation 3Section 25 Summary of Report and Key TakeawaysSection 26 Appendix26.1 List of abbreviationsExhibitsExhibit 1 Various countries considered in different geographiesExhibit 2 Market size derivation of the interactive display market in education sector (revenue)Exhibit 3 Currency conversion 2013-2015Exhibit 4 Forms of interactive displayExhibit 5 Sensitivity analysis of key market trendsExhibit 6 Classification of income economies 2016Exhibit 7 Impact of growth drivers across geography 2015-2021Exhibit 8 Fluctuation in GBP between 1 Jan to 1 Mar 2016 and its effect on Pricing of Promethean ABMTS178ESTExhibit 9 Impact of restraints on worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2015-2021Exhibit 10 Geographic distribution of resellers 2015Exhibit 11 Value chain of interactive displayExhibit 12 Raw material for manufacture of interactive whiteboardExhibit 13 Five forces analysis of the interactive display market in the education sectorExhibit 14 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 15 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2013-2021 by unit shipments (thousand)Exhibit 16 Interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2015  2021 (Revenue and Unit Shipment)Exhibit 17 Penetration rate of interactive displays in primary and secondary level classrooms 2015Exhibit 18 Average class size by level of education 2015Exhibit 19 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 20 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation proportion 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 21 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (in thousand)Exhibit 22 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation proportion 2013-2021 (in thousand)Exhibit 23 Yearly revenue and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 24 Yearly unit shipment and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (thousand)Exhibit 25 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geography proportion 2013-2021 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 26 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geography proportion 2013  2021 (unit shipment percentage)Exhibit 27 Comparison of CAGR (revenue) among key geographies in the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2015-2021Exhibit 28 Comparison of CAGR (unit shipments) among key geographies in the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2015-2021Exhibit 29 Comparison of annual growth rate(revenue) among key geographies in the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2013-2021Exhibit 30 Comparison of annual growth rate (unit shipments) among key geographies in the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector 2013-2021Exhibit 31 Interactive display market in education sector in North America 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 32 Interactive display market in education sector in North America 2013-2021 by unit shipments (in thousand)Exhibit 33 Enrollment of students in public and private schools in the US 2013-2023 (in thousand)Exhibit 34 Interactive display market in education sector in North America  top three countries split 2016 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 35 Interactive display market in education sector in Europe 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 36 Interactive display market in education sector in Europe 2013-2021 by unit shipments (in thousand)Exhibit 37 Interactive display market in education sector in Europe  top four countries split 2016 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 38 Interactive display market in education sector in APAC 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 39 Interactive display market in education sector in APAC 2013-2021 by unit shipments (in thousand)Exhibit 40 Interactive display market in education sector in APAC  top three countries split 2016 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 41 Interactive display market in education sector in MEA 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 42 Interactive display market in education sector in MEA 2013-2021 by unit shipments (in thousand)Exhibit 43 Interactive Display market in education sector in MEA  top three countries split 2016 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 44 Average of public expenditure in education as a percentage of GDP in MEA 1995-2003Exhibit 45 Interactive display market in education sector in Latin America 2013-2021 by revenue (US$ million)Exhibit 46 Interactive display market in education sector in Latin America 2013-2021 by unit shipments (thousand)Exhibit 47 Average of public expenditure in education as a percentage of GDP in the Latin America 1995-2003Exhibit 48 Interactive display market in education sector in Latin America  top three countries split 2016 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 49 Worldwide interactive display market in education sector by technology segmentation 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 50 Worldwide interactive display market in education sector by technology segmentation proportion 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 51 Comparison of CAGR (Revenue) among technology segmentation in the worldwide interactive display market in education sector 2013-2021Exhibit 52 Yearly revenue and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in education sector 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 53 Worldwide interactive display market in education sector by technology segmentation proportion 2013-2021 (percentage)Exhibit 54 Comparison of annual growth rate among technology segmentation 2013-2021Exhibit 55 Market size of interactive whiteboard in education sector 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 56 Market size of interactive whiteboard market in education sector by unit shipments 2013-2021 (in thousand)Exhibit 57 Market size of interactive flat panel in education sector 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 58 Market Size of interactive flat panel in education sector by unit shipments 2013-2021 (in thousand)Exhibit 59 Cost of ownership of interactive whiteboard vis-a-vis interactive flat panelExhibit 60 Market size of interactive projector in education sector 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 61 Market size of interactive projector in education sector by unit shipments 2013-2021 (in thousand)Exhibit 62 Market share of interactive display market in education sector 2015 (US$ million)Exhibit 63 Venn representation of competitive landscapeExhibit 64 SMART Technologies business unitsExhibit 65 SMART Technologies geographic segmentationExhibit 66 Promethean World product segmentationExhibit 67 Promethean World geographic segmentationExhibit 68 NEC Corp. business segmentationExhibit 69 NEC Corp. geographic segmentationExhibit 70 Seiko Epson business segmentationExhibit 71 Seiko Epson geographic segmentationExhibit 72 Vestel Elektronik industrial segmentationExhibit 73 Vestel Elektronik geographic segmentationExhibit 74 Average selling price of technology products in worldwide interactive display market in education sector 2013-2021 (US$)Exhibit 75 Average selling price drop (y-o-y) of technology products in worldwide interactive display market in education sector2013-2021 (percentage)Exhibit 76 Growth potential of worldwide interactive display market in education sector by geographic segmentation 2015-2021Exhibit 77 Global interactive display market in education sector at a glance 2015Exhibit 78 Yearly revenue and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 79 Yearly unit shipment and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geographical segmentation 2013-2021 (thousand)Exhibit 80 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geography proportion 2013-2021 (revenue percentage)Exhibit 81 Worldwide interactive display market in the education sector by geography proportion 2013  2021 (unit shipment percentage)Exhibit 82 Yearly revenue and growth rate of the worldwide interactive display market in education sector 2013-2021 (US$ million)Exhibit 83 Worldwide interactive display market in education sector by technology segmentation proportion 2013-2021 (percentage)To know more about the report, please visitBeige Market Intelligence: We are a new-age provider of competitive business intelligence, working across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the market analysis Beige provides is comprehensive, detailed and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations become aware and make educated decisions, as far as investing or devising a marketing strategy is concerned. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis for every level of market segmentation in an industry. Beige Market Intelligence is a quality driven high end Market Research organization. Our team of experts ensure the analysis you receive is not just analyzed and smartly presented, but is completely customized based on the clients requirement. Our deliverables guarantee our current global client base does not look beyond Beige when it comes to any kind of industry and market analysis.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapanahalli Main Road,Doddanekundi V illage, Bangalore Bangalore KA 560037 INJency Jacob (media@beigemarketintelligence.com)
Beige Market Intelligence Released a New Market Research Report - Strategic Assessment of Worldwide Specialty Chemicals Market  Forecast Till 2021

Specialty Chemicals Market - Beige Market Intelligence

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-chemicals-materials-and-materials-market/specialty-chemicals-market-research-report/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-chemicals-materials-and-materials-market/specialty-chemicals-market-research-report/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-chemicals-materials-and-materials-market/specialty-chemicals-market-research-report/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-chemicals-materials-and-materials-market/specialty-chemicals-market-research-report/

Specialty Chemicals Market  Report InsightsChemicals constitute an integral part of the global manufacturing industry for that they constitute the raw materials for most of the key end use industries driving the world economy. The global chemical output, valued at $180 billion in 1970 has grown to more than $4 trillion in 2015, driven by rapidly growing demand for a wide variety of products and processes that throughout their lifecycles stand as indispensable parts in making the modern human life more comfortable and productive. Specialty chemicals play an even more important role as they stand as the pillars for innovation driving the efficiency in each end user industry, while resolving complex issues pertaining to human health and ecosystem.The word Specialty chemical is used to refer to unique molecules or mixtures of molecules that are used on the basis of their performance or function. They are also referred to "formulation" chemicals. The differentiating component between specialty chemicals and commodity chemicals is that the former has specified target segments and unique applications. Commodity chemicals or base chemicals on the other hand has more than one application and constitute a major portion of the worldwide chemical output by weight.To order a free sample report, please visitWorldwide Specialty Chemicals market research report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the worldwide Specialty chemicals market for the period 2015-2021. The report provides in-depth analysis of market size and growth of worldwide speciality chemicals market. This market research report includes a detailed market segmentation of the worldwide speciality chemicals Market by the following segmentation typesBy Application1) Paints and Coatings2) Polymers and Plastic Additives3) Agrochemicals4) Food Additives5) Homecare Surfactants6) Water Management Chemicals7) Leather and Textile Chemicals8) Construction Chemicals9) Lubricant and Fuel Additives10) Pulp and Paper ChemicalsGeographic Segmentation1) APAC2) Europe3) Latin America4) Middle East and Africa5) North AmericaMarket Share Analysis1) APAC (Degree of competition and fragmentation of vendors in the region)2) Europe (Degree of competition and fragmentation of vendors in the region)3) Latin America (Degree of competition and fragmentation of vendors in the region)4) MEA (Degree of competition and fragmentation of vendors in the region)5) North America (Degree of competition and fragmentation of vendors in the region)To read the full report with TOC, please visitSpecialty Chemicals Market  Market Size and DynamicsSpecialty chemicals is expected to account for a little under a billion US$ by 2021. As of 2015 speciality chemicals still account for less than 25 percent of the worldwide chemical output which was valued at a little over $4 trillion. Specialty chemicals as of date are priced higher than the standard commodity chemicals because of the specific application for these chemicals. Furthermore, these chemicals need to confirm to very strict environmental regulations and as such need to be of the highest quality. The price of these chemicals will continue to be higher than the standard commodity chemicals considerably as it is expected that there will be more niche applications for these chemicals by the end of the forecast period.Focussed players in the Specialty Chemicals market  Changing competitive landscape driving the marketThe application of specialty chemicals is specific to the chemical that has been manufactured and cannot be used across multiple applications as is the case with commodity chemicals. As such, speciality chemicals cannot be manufactured in large volume unless there is a concrete demand for these chemicals. In such a scenario, it was always the larger players that would dominate this market as they had the resources and could target their already large customer base. The competitive landscape has changed with a number of several specialty chemical players and commodity players integrating vertically or horizontally to make the best of this high-growth chemical market. The bargaining power no longer rests with the few of the major vendors but rather is being challenged by the rise of niche players who aspire to be the market leaders in their particular segments. These focused players constantly stave off competition and commoditization of the industry by aggressively investing in R&D to improve their product capabilities.Regulatory requirements  specialty chemicals to help address various regulatory and environmental concernsSpecialty chemicals are being used in fuel and lubricant formulation on account of them playing a major role in controlling viscosity, lubricity and thus chemical breakdown and contaminant generation during the use of combustion engines. Environment regulators across the world emphasize on reduced automotive and industrial emissions, there has been a growing need for energy-efficient combustion engines and environment-friendly fuels and lubricants. In order to constantly comply with the stringent emission standards, refiners and lubricant formulators are increasingly relying on innovative chemical compounds that can not only reduce harmful emissions but can also prolong the lifecycle of the combustion engines. Thus these compounds play a significant role in saving billions of dollars that otherwise would have been incurred in wear and tear of engine and industrial spares.To order a free sample copy of the report, please visitAPAC region leading the Specialty Chemicals market Vast market potential in the APAC region driving the growth for speciality chemicals marketThe regions chemical industry has grown at an impressive rate of over 6 percent over the past five years with the specialty chemical industry posting even a higher growth of more than 7 percent. On account of cheap factors of production, progressive government policies and huge domestic consumption, the region is the hub for chemical manufacturing, as the leading chemical companies across the world set up their manufacturing locations in the region. While the developed markets in Europe and North America are unable to keep pace with the growth of emerging markets of Asia, these markets are growing both in consumption size and purchasing power. The region is expected to account for a little less than US$ 500 million by 2021 in the speciality chemicals market.Specialty Chemicals Competetive Landscape  Market ShareCompanies that are changing the landscape of the market include Akzo Nobel, Ashland, BASF, DOW, DSM, DuPont, Eastman, Evonik Industries, Exxon Mobil, Henkel, Huntsman, Lanxess, SABIC, Solvay and Sumitomo Chemical.Table of ContentsSection 1 Research MethodologySection 2 Executive SummarySection 3 Scope of the Report3.1 Research coverage and methodology3.1.1 Definition of key terms3.1.2 Definition of key geographies3.1.3 Currency exchange ratesSection 4 Market Size Estimation4.1 Limitations of the reportSection 5 Market Landscape5.1 Introduction to the marketSection 6 Key Market TrendsSection 7 Key Market Growth DriversSection 8 Key Market RestraintsSection 9 Market Landscape Worldwide Specialty Chemicals Market9.1 Market size and forecastSection 10 Specialty Chemicals Segmentation by Geography10.1 Geographical mixSection 11 Specialty Chemicals Market in APAC11.1 Specialty chemicals in China  segmentation, market size and forecast11.2 Specialty chemicals in Japan  segmentation, market size and forecast11.3 Specialty chemicals in India  segmentation, market size and forecastSection 12 Specialty Chemicals Market in Europe12.1 Specialty chemicals in Germany  segmentation, market size and forecast12.2 Specialty chemicals in France  segmentation, market size and forecast12.3 Specialty chemicals in Italy  segmentation, market size and forecastSection 13 Specialty Chemicals Market in MEASection 14 Specialty Chemicals Market in North America14.1 Specialty chemicals in US  segmentation, market size and forecast14.1 Specialty chemicals in Canada  segmentation, market size and forecastSection 15 Specialty Chemicals Market in Latin AmericaSection 16 Segmentation by Application16.1 Paints and Coatings16.2 Polymers and Plastic Additives16.3 Agrochemicals16.4 Food Additives16.5 Homecare Surfactants16.6 Water Management Chemical16.7 Leather and Textile Chemicals16.8 Construction Chemicals16.9 Lubricant and Fuel Additives16.10 Pulp and Paper Chemicals16.11 OthersSection 17 Competitive Landscape17.1 Porters five forces analysis of the Market17.2 Overview of competition17.3 Market share analysis17.4 News and developments17.5 Mergers and acquisitionsSection 18 Key Vendor Analysis18.1 BASF18.1.1 Introduction18.1.2 Specialty chemicals portfolio18.1.3 Key strengths18.1.4 Key strategy18.1.5 Key opportunities18.2 DOW18.2.1 Introduction18.2.2 Financial performance18.2.3 Key strengths18.2.4 Key strategy18.2.5 Key opportunities18.3 Akzo Nobel18.3.1 Introduction18.3.2 Financial performance18.3.3 Specialty chemicals portfolio18.3.4 Key strengths18.3.5 Key strategy18.3.6 Key opportunities18.4 DuPont18.4.1 Introduction18.4.2 Financial performance18.4.3 Specialty chemicals portfolio  key products18.4.4 Key strengths18.4.5 Key strategy18.4.6 Key opportunities18.5 Lanxess18.5.1 Introduction18.5.2 Business units18.5.3 Financial performance18.5.4 Specialty chemicals portfolio18.5.5 Key strengths18.5.6 Key strategy18.5.7 Key opportunitiesSection 19 Other Vendors With Prominent Presence19.1 Solvay19.1.1 Introduction19.2 Eastman19.2.1 Introduction19.3 Huntsman Corporation19.3.1 Introduction19.4 SABIC19.4.1 Introduction19.5 Evonik Industries19.5.1 Introduction19.6 ExxonMobil19.6.1 Introduction19.7 DSM19.7.1 Introduction19.8 Ashland19.8.1 Introduction19.9 Henkel19.9.1 Introduction19.10 Sumitomo Chemical19.10.1 IntroductionSection 20 Appendix20.1 List of abbreviations20.2 Summary of figuresEXHIBITSExhibit 1 Key countries listed under various geographiesExhibit 2 Worldwide chemical market 2005 -2015 (revenues in billion $)Exhibit 3 Competitive structure of specialty chemicals marketExhibit 4 Worldwide water withdrawal statisticsExhibit 5 European emission standards for passenger cars -Diesel (g/km )Exhibit 6 Consumption growth charts of rubber chemicals in automotive industry 2011-2015Exhibit 7 Snapshot of market growth rates for various food additives in 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 8 Surfactant Formulations in Consumer productsExhibit 9 Global household and personal care market growth statistics 2011  2015 (revenue)Exhibit 10 Crude Oil Prices 2000-2016 ($ per barrel)Exhibit 11 Worldwide specialty chemicals market 2015-2021 (US$ billion)Exhibit 12 Geographical mix of specialty chemical market 2015 and 2021 (revenues)Exhibit 13 Specialty chemical market in APAC 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 14 Growth rate comparison chart of key specialty chemical markets in APAC (revenues)Exhibit 15 Specialty chemical market in China 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 16 Segmentation of specialty chemicals market in China 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 17 Segmentation of Japanese chemical industry 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 18 Segmentation of Japanese specialty chemical industry 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 19 Specialty chemical market in Japan 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 20 Segmentation of specialty chemical industry in India 2015 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 21 Specialty chemical market in India 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 22 Specialty chemical market in Europe 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 23 EU chemical sales by country 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 24 Growth rate comparison chart of key specialty chemical markets in Europe (revenues)Exhibit 25 Specialty chemical market in Germany 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 26 Overview of French chemical industry 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 27 Segmentation of specialty chemical industry in France 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 28 Revenue share matrix of France chemical industry 2015 ($ billions)Exhibit 29 Specialty chemical market in France 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 30 Segmentation of Italian specialty chemical industry 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 31 Specialty chemical market in Italy 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 32 Base chemical capacity in GCC 2015 (million metric ton per annum)Exhibit 33 Specialty chemical market in MEA 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 34 Specialty chemical market in North America 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 35 Specialty chemical market in US 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 36 Segmentation of US chemical industry 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 37 Specialty chemical industry in US 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 38 Growth rate comparison chart of key specialty chemical markets in North America (revenues)Exhibit 39 Canadian speciality chemical imports (% of domestic demand 2015)Exhibit 40 Specialty Chemical Market in Canada 2015-2021 (Revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 41 Speciality chemical market in Latin America 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 42 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in paint and coatings formulations 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 43 Widely used specialty chemicals in paint and coating formulationsExhibit 44 Types of functional coating and respective market shareExhibit 45 Worldwide specialty polymer and plastic additives market 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 46 End users of commonly used polymer and plastic additivesExhibit 47 Global automotive and flexible packaging markets 2011-2015 (revenue growth)Exhibit 48 Worldwide specialty chemicals consumption in agrochemical formulations 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 49 Specialty chemicals usage in agrochemicals formulation 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 50 Worldwide fertilizer consumption 2015 (kilograms per hectare arable land)Exhibit 51 Worldwide pesticide usage (kilograms per hectare arable land) in 2014Exhibit 52 Worldwide food additives market 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 53 Segmentation of food additives market 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 54 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in homecare surfactant formulations 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 55 Surfactant formulations in Household consumablesExhibit 56 Commonly used household chemical surfactantsExhibit 57 Industrial applications of water management chemicalsExhibit 58 Worldwide water management chemicals market 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billions)Exhibit 59 Worldwide water treatment chemical sales 2015 (revenues)Exhibit 60 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in leather and textile industries 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 61 Demand growth for consumer accessories in APAC 2011-2015Exhibit 62 Chemicals used in textile manufacturingExhibit 63 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in construction industry 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 64 Product composition of construction chemicals market 2015Exhibit 65 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in lubricant and fuel additive formulations 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 66 Functionality of commonly-used oil additivesExhibit 67 Worldwide specialty chemical consumption in pulp and paper manufacture 2015-2021 (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 68 Specialty chemicals in pulp and paper manufactureExhibit 69 Per capita paper consumption 2015 (kg)Exhibit 70 Worldwide paper and cardboard production 2011  2015 (in million metric tons)Exhibit 71 Specialty chemical consumption in other applications (revenues in $ billion)Exhibit 72 Scope of specialty chemical usage in mining, oilfield drilling and semiconductor manufactureExhibit 73 Porters five forces map of the marketExhibit 74 Specialty Chemicals  Market Share Analysis 2015Exhibit 75 Segment wise revenue structure of BASF 2015Exhibit 76 Breakdown of Verbund Cost advantages to BASFExhibit 77 Segmentation of sales 2014 and 2015 ($ millions)Exhibit 78 EBITDA segmentation 2014 and 2015 ($ millions)Exhibit 79 Revenue breakdown by business area 2015Exhibit 80 Revenue breakdown by end-user segment 2015Exhibit 81 Geographical segmentation of revenue 2015Exhibit 82 Segment wise financial results 2015Exhibit 83 Merger structure of Dow and DuPontExhibit 84 Revenue segmentation of Lanxess 2014 and 2015 ( million)Exhibit 85 Lanxess: geographical segmentation of revenue 2015Exhibit 86 Three-phase re-alignment program aligned with the Lanxesss strategyExhibit 87 Key revenue figures of specialty chemicals market for different geographiesTo know more about the report, please visitBeige Market Intelligence: We are a new-age provider of competitive business intelligence, working across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the market analysis Beige provides is comprehensive, detailed and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations become aware and make educated decisions, as far as investing or devising a marketing strategy is concerned. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis for every level of market segmentation in an industry. Beige Market Intelligence is a quality driven high end Market Research organization. Our team of experts ensure the analysis you receive is not just analyzed and smartly presented, but is completely customized based on the clients requirement. Our deliverables guarantee our current global client base does not look beyond Beige when it comes to any kind of industry and market analysis.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapanahalli Main Road,Doddanekundi V illage, Bangalore Bangalore KA 560037 INJency Jacob (media@beigemarketintelligence.com)
Global Thin-film Battery Battery Market Share 2016 to 2020 by 9Dimen Group

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9Dimen Group presents this most up-to-date research on Global Thin-film Battery Battery Market 2016 Industry Growth, Size, Trends, Share, Opportunities and Forecast to 2020" Market Research Report2016 Global Thin-film Battery Battery Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the Thin-film Battery Battery industry, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia) and the main countries (United States, Germany, Japan and China).Request for FREE SAMPLE Report @The report firstly introduced the Thin-film Battery Battery basics: definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The report includes six parts, dealing with: 1.) basic information; 2.) the Asia Thin-film Battery Battery industry; 3.) the North American Thin-film Battery Battery industry; 4.) the European Thin-film Battery Battery industry; 5.) market entry and investment feasibility; and 6.) the report conclusion.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentPart I Thin-film Battery Battery Industry OverviewChapter One Thin-film Battery Battery Industry Overview1.1 Thin-film Battery Battery Definition1.2 Thin-film Battery Battery Classification Analysis1.2.1 Thin-film Battery Battery Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Thin-film Battery Battery Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Thin-film Battery Battery Application Analysis1.3.1 Thin-film Battery Battery Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Thin-film Battery Battery Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Thin-film Battery Battery Industry Chain Structure AnalysisChapter Two Thin-film Battery Battery Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis9Dimen Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact UsJoel JohnTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@9dimengroup.comWeb: 9Dimen Group
Dental Implants Market to Grow owing to Soaring Demand for Cosmetic Dentistry

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Dentistry is the diagnosis, prevention, evaluation, and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, maxillofacial areas, as well as the associated and adjacent structures utilizing non-surgical, surgical, and related procedures. The market for dental devices comprises dental implants, dental biomaterials, orthodontic products and materials, dental radiology equipment, dental x-ray systems, and dental chairs, among others. A dental implant is a tooth root or artificial tooth that is surgically embedded in the lower or upper jawbone. These implants are stable, strong, and durable in nature but due to daily wear and tear, require to be replaced or retightened occasionally.Technological Advancements to Propel Dental Implants MarketThe global dental implants market stood at US$4.5 bn in 2014 and is predicted to reach a value of over US$7.8 bn by 2020. The market is expected to expand at a 9.70% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. The global dental implants market has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years owing to the increasing oral hygiene concern, the rising geriatric population, and the soaring demand for cosmetic dentistry.In addition, the growing disposable income in emerging countries is also propelling the development of the market for dental implants. A number of technological advancements within dental implant surgery such as computer-aided design (CAD), laser dentistry, and mini dental implants are also augmenting the growth of the market. The rising medical tourism is also a key factor having a positive impact on the growth of the market. On the other hand, the absence of awareness amongst people within emerging countries and the presence of few reimbursement policies for dental implants are amongst the chief factors that may restrain the growth of the market in the coming years.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements; Request for the Report Sample:Titanium Implants to Expand at 9.80% CAGR from 2014 to 2020Dental implants are made of two types of materials such as zirconium and titanium. Amongst these, the segment of titanium implants held the largest share in the market in 2014 and is predicted to expand at a 9.80% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. In terms of procedure, the dental implants market is segmented into plate-form dental implants and root-form dental implants. Amongst these, the segment of root-form dental implants is the most popular procedure within the dental implants market.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:Europe Dental Implants Market Emerged as the Biggest Market in 2014In terms of geography, the market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, Europe led the market for dental implants in 2014. On the other hand, the North America dental implants is predicted to rise at a 9.50% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. Asia Pacific is the most swiftly developing regional market owing to the increasing geriatric population in this region. Within Asia Pacific, the most rapidly developing national markets are India, South Korea, and China. In addition, the soaring costs of dental implants surgery within nations such as the UK and the U.S have also supported the development of medical tourism in various countries around the world such as Hungary, Malaysia, India, and Costa Rica.The chief players dominant in the market are Nobel Biocare, Institut Straumann AG, DENTSPLY International Inc., Danaher Corporation, Zimmer dental Inc., 3M Company, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, OSSTEM IMPLANT, and Neoss International, among others.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 StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Human Insulin Market to Rise due to Emergence of Technologically Advanced Human Insulin Delivery Devices

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Insulin regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the human body and is a peptide hormone secreted inside the pancreas through beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. Insulin helps in the regulation of glucose metabolism and causes fat tissues or skeletal muscle cells to absorb glucose from the blood. The global human insulin market is predicted to rise exponentially in the coming years owing to the increasing prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The rise in diabetic population is associated with the increasing aging population, the rise in the obese population, and the absence of adequate health services in large parts of the world.Rising R&D Investments in Drug Development and Discovery to Fuel Human Insulin MarketThe rising research and development (R&D) investments in drug development and discovery and the increasing awareness amongst people about diabetes is also stimulating the demand for human insulin. Furthermore, the emergence of technologically advanced human insulin delivery devices is also impacting the human insulin market positively. The prime trend seen in the market is the rising utilization of insulin pens for administering human insulin. On the other hand, factors such as the stringent regulatory needs for drug approval, and the limited access to and imbalanced pricing structure of human insulin in developing countries may impede the growth of the market in the coming years.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements; Request for the Report Sample:Modern Human Insulin to Expand at a 13.20% CAGR from 2014 to 2020On the basis of type, the human insulin market is segmented into modern human insulin and traditional human insulin. The segment of traditional insulin is further segmented into premixed, short acting, and intermediate-acting human insulin. On the other hand, the segment of modern human insulin is further segmented into long lasting, premixed, and rapid acting human insulin. Amongst these, in 2014, the segment of modern human insulin stood at US$19.5 bn and is poised to reach US$40.9 bn in 2020. It is predicted to expand at a 13.20% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. Modern human insulin is more effective as compared to traditional human insulin. In terms of brand, the market is segmented into modern and traditional human insulin brands. Traditional brands comprise Actrapid, Insuman, and, Humulin, whereas the segment of modern brands comprises Lantus, Novomix, Humalog, Apidra, Novorapid, and Levemir.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:North America Human Insulin Market Held the Largest Share in 2014In terms of geography, the market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, the region of North America led the human insulin market in 2014 owing to the rising occurrence of diabetes and the growing geriatric population in this region. Furthermore, the presence of technologically advanced human insulin infusion devices in this region is also stimulating the growth of the market in this region. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is poised to be the most swiftly growing market in the coming years, with India and China being the major human insulin markets in this region.The chief players dominant in the market are Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Biocon, Merck & Co., Inc., Adocia, Pfizer, Inc., Julphar, Wockhardt, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Oramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and GlaxoSmithKline Plc., among others.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 StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Foodservice Disposables Market to Reach US$27,187 mn by 2021 Driven by Increasing Traction of Home Delivery Food Services

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Foodservice disposables are use-and-throw food containers that are either disposed of as wastes or are recycled. The global foodservice disposables market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for online food ordering and home delivery services.The global foodservice disposables market was valued at US$19,200.0 mn in 2014 and is predicted to reach US$27,187.0 mn by 2021, progressing at a 5.10% CAGR during the period between 2015 and 2021. In terms of volume, the global foodservice disposables market, in 2014, accounted for 23,167 million units and is predicted to expand at a 5.80% CAGR during the period from 2015 to 2021.Paper and Paperboard Segment to Dominate Global Foodservice Disposables MarketThe global foodservice disposables market is segmented on the basis of region, end-use, raw material, and product type. Based on raw material, the global foodservice disposables market is classified into paper and paperboard, aluminum, and plastics. The plastics segment dominates the global foodservice disposables market due to its ability to hold low as well as high-temperature foods and beverages without adversely affecting the quality. As most disposables are used for home delivery services, it is imperative that the materials hold the food and beverages for a certain period of time. As paper and paperboard disposables are lightweight, the paper and paperboard raw material segment is predicted to witness more demand in the global foodservice disposables market in the years to come.Considering the ill effects of plastic on the environment, most of the home delivery services and online food ordering services have started using paper and paperboard food packaging materials. This is expected to propel the paper and paperboard raw material segment.Based on product type, the global foodservice disposables market is classified into cups and glasses, bowls and tubes, plates, trays and containers, cutlery, and mugs and saucers. In terms of volume and value both, currently, the global foodservice disposables market is dominated by the plates segment and is predicted to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. It is expected that the disposable trays and containers segment would grow at a rapid pace in the years to come.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements; Request for the Report Sample:Restaurants to Register Maximum Demand for Foodservice DisposablesRestaurants, institutions, lodging and hospitality, retail and vending machines, and others are some of the end users of the global foodservice disposables market. In 2014, the restaurants segment dominated the global foodservice disposables market and is predicted to maintain its dominance in the years to come. With the rapid growth of the working population in developing and developed regions, the demand for home delivery from restaurants is expected to increase in the near future.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:Based on region, the global foodservice disposables market is divided into North America, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. In 2014, the global foodservice disposables market was led by North America and is predicted to expand at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The global foodservice disposables market is highly competitive. The competition prevailing in the market will intensify further due to the introduction of quality foodservice disposables by the leading players. Some of the prominent players in the global foodservice disposables market are Dart Container Corporation, Anchor Packaging Inc., Gold Plast SpA, DOpla S.p.A, New WinCup Holdings, Inc., Pactiv LLC, Georgia-Pacific LLC, D&W Fine Pack LLC, Berry Plastics Group, Inc., and Huhtamaki Oyj.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 StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Flame Retardant Chemicals Market Growth and Trends in construction of buildings, textiles, and automobile and electronic Industry till 2018

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Flame retardant chemicals are halogen, nitrogen and phosphorous containing compounds which are added to plastics and rubber in order to reduce the magnitude of burning and inhibit flames. They are increasingly being used in construction of buildings, textiles, and automobile and electronic parts manufacturing.These additives do not alter the property of the parent material but delays if not completely stop the burning of the material. With the growing safety regulations with regards to fire and the extensive use of flammable materials, these chemicals have gained high importance over the past few years.These chemicals are extensively used as additives to plastics and rubber. This growth is mainly driven by the increasing demand from end user industries like construction, electrical, and electronic manufacturing. In terms of geography, Asia Pacific is the largest market in terms of consumption of these chemicals and is expected to have the highest growth in production along with consumption over the next five years. Due to their extensive use and superior quality, flame retardant chemicals are the fastest growing segment of the plastic industry.Browse Market info, get a Sample PDF with TOC:The flame retardant chemicals market based on product type can be segmented into chlorinated, brominated, antimony oxide, and phosphorous, among others. Based on end user application, the market is segregated based on use in building and construction, automobiles, wire and cables, electric, electronics and textiles.The market will show considerable growth over the next five years primarily due to the growth in the construction industry coupled with the growing demand from the Asia Pacific region. In addition, the growing safety regulations with respect to fire have increased the demand for these chemicals. There has also been a steady growth in the demand from other application sectors, especially wire and cables and electronics. However, increasing stringent environmental regulations coupled with the high cost of flame retardant chemicals acts as a major inhibitor for the market.Major opportunities in the market are dependent on the development of better quality flame retardant chemicals. The use of bio based flame retardant chemicals and at a comparatively lower cost could boost the market in the near future. The major players in the flame retardant chemicals market include AkzoNobel N.V, BASF SE, Clariant AG, Albemarle Corp, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, and Lanxess AG.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldEnquiry at:Reasons for Buying this Report:- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rate- It provides a seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.us
Cardiac Assist Devices Market Dynamics, Forecast, Analysis and Supply Demand 2015-2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Cardiac Assist Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.Heart Failure (HF) is a potentially life-threatening condition that weakens the heart muscle, reduces its ability to pump enough blood throughout the body. Even without a heart transplant, patients' lives can be extended and improved with the use of small, implantable devices called Cardiac Assist Devices.Cardiac Assist Devices (CAD) are type of mechanical pumps that work along with the heart to improve its pumping efficiency and maintain the optimum blood flow throughout the body. The devices are typically employed in patients suffering from End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure, where the chances of survival through oral medications alone become minimal. The scarcity of donor organs has led to the development of these devices.Globally, there are around 23 million cases of HF and around 5.8 million people in United States have HF. About half of the people who develop heart failure die within 5 years of diagnosis.Cardiac Assist Devices Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe Cardiac Assist Devices market is driven by aging population, increasing prevalence of HF, high adaptation rates of these devices, and new technology innovations.Increasing rates of cardiovascular diseases and aging population has boosted the cardiac assist devices market globally. The shortage of donor hearts for transplantation is also leading to an increase in adoption of cardiac assist devices in patients with end-stage heart failure.Cardiac assist devices are also being used as a Bridge-To-Transplantation (BTT), Bridge-To-Recovery (BTR) or Destination Therapy (DT), depending on the requirement of the patient and the severity of the disease. Technological advancements that make the devices more efficient and minimally invasive are expected to further drive the demand for cardiac assist devices in the future.Request Free Report Sample@Presence of alternative treatment like heart transplantation, pacemaker and etc. and the few risk which are associated with the device implantation, such as development of blood clots, respiratory failure and device failure and other surgical complications such as bleeding, kidney failure, stroke and infection. Such complication are acting as a barrier in the adoption of such treatment and devices.Cardiac Assist Devices Market: SegmentationThe global market of cardiac assist devices is segmented into following types:Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP)Total Artificial Heart (TAH)Further, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) are segmented into the following types based on the defect and placement of the device.Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)Right Ventricular Assist Device (RVAD)Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (Bi-VAD)External Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)Cardiac Assist Devices Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement and wide acceptance of cardiac surgery procedures among patients with heart problem, the global cardiac assist devices market is expected to exhibit a double-digit growth in the forecast period (2015-2025).With FDA approving SynCardia Systems Total Artificial Heart to conduct clinical studies on destination therapy, more and more end stage heart failure patient will be benefit from this nature of therapy and the market is expected to expand significantly in the forecast period.Cardiac Assist Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global cardiac assist devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.Visit For TOC@North America is the leading markets for cardiac assist devices with highest prevalent cases with heart failure, technological development, high patient awareness and reimbursement coverage for CAD implantation procedures. Europe is the second largest market followed by Asia Pacific and Japan.Cardiac Assist Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global cardiac assist devices market are Thoratec Corporation, MAQUET GmbH & Co., Teleflex Incorporated, Heart Ware International, Berlin Heart GmbH, ABIOMED and SynCardia Systems, Inc.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
ASIS Boats 7.5m Midi with Sealegs amphibious technology now released.

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ASIS is pleased to announce the completion of the first of the new production series 7.5m Asis RIBs to be equipped with Sealegs System 60 amphibious technology.The craft will be displayed at the Hitchwilco Boat Show in New Zealand on the 12th -15th May, 2016. The 7.5m Asis Midi will include the two-wheel drive and automatic braking systems as well as power steering and high quality, marine-ready Sealegs components.Powered by a 150HP Evinrude E-Tec on the water, the craft reaches speeds of up to 39 knots. Featuring Hypalon Tubes, 180 litre fuel tank and self-draining deck, the Asis 7.5 Midi is also equipped with four straddle style seats designed for additional comfort and lateral stability. It has an overall beam of 2.7m, a height of 2.3m on the wheels and can travel up to 10kph on land. The craft has a payload of 500kg.Sealegs Amphibious Enablement Kits allow any boat builder to modify their craft to benefit from amphibious abilities. Craft with this technology can travel directly between land and sea by the use of three retractable wheels with a hydraulic system linked to an inboard motor. The entire system is marinised and stays completely out of the water while underway. This means there is no compromise to on-water performance.Sealegs CEO, David Mckee Wright, said were very excited to release another unique craft equipped with Sealegs technology. It further proves that the Amphibious Enablement Kit can be adopted by a wide range of boat manufacturers.News as it was published by Sealegs:ASIS Boats is the world leader in providing advanced maritime solutions in Structural composites and marine grade Aluminum Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats and Vessels.P.O.Box 61426 Dubai UAE
ASIS Boats Delivers New Fire- Fighting RHIBS and Training to the Maldives Airport Fire Rescue Authority (ARFF)

ASIS Boats recently delivered new Fire- Fighting RHIB boats and training to the Maldives Airport and Fire Rescue Authority at their facilities located on Hulhule Island in the North Male Atoll.The Maldives Fire Rescue Services received highly customized, multi-mission, 8.0 Meter ASIS Fire-Rescue Boats. These boats were specially designed and equipped for their unique aviation fire/rescue mission to include onboard fire-pumps & fire-monitors, closed-cell foam-filled tube-sets, 20-person self-deploying SOLAS approved life-rafts and each boat equipped with a self-righting system.Each of the Fire and Rescue Boat has a heavy duty foam filled hypalon tube fitted with triple rubbing fenders, internal and external lifelines and covered by non-sked patches. They are featuring a gun metal firefighting pump, complete with exhaust, hours recorder, 12V electronic ignition starter; designed to provide continuous rated performance of 1325 l/min at 10 bar pressure and 3m lift. The monitor rotates 360 degrees and has a vertical movement of +90 to 45 degree horizontal.These fully equipped red unsinkable firefighting and rescue boats are powered by twin 115 Hp 4 stroke Yamaha engines allowing a speed of 45mph permitting them to respond quickly to calls for assistance and for maneuvers within the emergency zone.The Maldives Fire Rescue Services have one of the most challenging Areas of Responsibility (AORs).In addition to the teams responsibility for the Male International Airport itself, their on-water headquarters is situated in the very center of three active sea-plane runways which themselves see 450+ sorties a day!The Maldives Fire Rescue Team was one of the most highly motivated and skilled teams that I have had the honor to work with, said Roy Nouhra, CEO of ASIS Boats . During the training a fire broke out in Male and the team got dispatched, staying out all night to put out the fire. And they came back in the morning full of energy for the training.What a great team and great people!It was a pleasure and an honor to be part of that team continued Nouhra.The Airport Maintenance Crews were also provided detailed training in the maintenance and repair of the boats, outboard motors, and on-board fire-fighting equipment.ASIS Boats is the world leader in providing advanced maritime solutions in Structural composites and marine grade Aluminum Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats and Vessels.P.O.Box 61426 Dubai UAE
Multi-color expoxy id tokens for rfid inventory tracking (gyrfidstore)

RFID Disc Tags are widely used for inventory tracking system or Automatic production systems. The RFID Disc Tag can also work on metal surface with anti-metal layer on it, also can be attached to goods surface by adhesive layer. There are abundant size options from 12mm to 50mm. GYRFID presents several types with different material and size to suitable customers application.DIP Series- PVC Disc Tag, PVC Laminated, thickness of 1.0-1.2mmDIT Series- Clear PVC Disc Tag, clear PVC Laminated, thickness of 1.0-1.2mmFOT Series- Foil Tag, Clear PVC Sealed, Thickness of 0.45-0.7mm.STE series  Epoxy PVC Sticker, the surface covered by epoxy, thickness 2.0mmTKA series- ABS Token, ultrasonic welding ABS type, various size options.TKPPS series  PPS Token, ultrasonic welding, mini size 12mm.Features:Model number: STEMaterial: PVC + epoxyDimension: 13/ 14/ 15/ 17/ 18/ 20/ 22 / 25/ 30/ 35/ 40/ 50mm; thickness:2mmColor options: blue/ black/ green/ yellow/ whiteWater Proof: YesPersonalization Support: Silk-screen printing logo Thermal transfer printing Serial Number or UID Barcode printing and QR code printing, Photo printing Laser UID or Number Chip encodingApplication: NFC payments Patrol Guard Systems Logistic management Parcel tracking Inventory Control Automatic production management Asset tracking Device embeddedIC options:125KHz RFID: EM4200, EM4102, EM4100, GK4001; T5577; EM4305; Hitag1, Hitag2, Hitag S256  13.56Mhz ISO14443A: NXP MIFARE Classic 1K, MIFARE Classic 4K, MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE Ultralight EV1, MIFARE Desfire 2K, MIFARE Desfire 4K, MIFARE Desfire 8K, MIFARE Plus, Fudan FM11RF08; NTAG203, NTAG213, NTAG215, NTAG216; LEGIC MIM256, LEGIC ATC1024, LEGIC ATC2048 13.56Mhz ISO15693: ICODE SLI; ICODE SLI-X; Tag-it 256, Tag-it 2048 840-960Mhz UHF: Alien Higgs, Monza 3, Monza 4D, Monza 4QT; NXP UCODE G2iLAbout GYRFID STOREGYRFID Store is a brand of Go Young International Ltd, which is an online purchase platform of the RFID products.GYRFID Store sells a wide range of Cards and RFID tags embedded with 125KHz, 13.56Mhz, 868Mhz-915Mhz, as well as the personalization to apply in access control and industrial management. We also provide the accessories like lanyard, card holders, badge, ibuttons for office daily usage. We also welcome the personalization like serial number printing, offset printing, encoding service etc.GYRFID Store is located in Shanghai, China mainland. We have customers all around the globe and can ship products all worldwide.GYRFID Store will help you to make the best choices for your RFID system requirements. Shop in GYRFID Store will make your purchase much reliable and flexible.Should any of these items be of interest to you, please let us know. We will be happy to give you a quotation upon receipt of your detailed requirements.ADD:Rm1516, Qiangjin Building, QiXin Rd No.1318 ,Shanghai, 201100, China
3D NAND Flash Memory Market Regulations and Competitive Landscape Outlook to 2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the 3D NAND Flash Memory Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.3D NAND Flash Memory Market Overview3D NAND Flash memory is a three-dimensional arrangement of array on a silicon substrate. In order to achieve significant increase in density, memory cells are moved to the third dimension by stacking cells either horizontally or vertically on the top of each other to conduct charge through NAND strings.In 2012, Samsung came with 3D V-NAND, which was the first 3D NAND Flash memory chip. The ever increasing demand for solid state drives (SSD) with increasing memory space for devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops is a major factor that has contributed to the increasing demand for 3D NAND Flash memory. The need for high memory requirement and small form factor has led the research and development of 3D NAND Flash memory.The 3D NAND Flash memory offers numerous advantage such as  more scalability, enhanced performance, durability, higher level of reliability and better stability as compared 2D or Planer NAND flash memory. Thus, the use of 3D NAND Flash Memory fulfils high endurance storage and performance need of smartphones, laptops and tablets. 3D NAND Flash memory is also used in SSD as they retain data without power supply. The process of manufacturing 3D NAND is also less complicated than other alternative technologies as it utilizes same material used for producing NAND with little modifications. On other hand, 3D NAND flash memory drives are still in prototype phase and as it is a nascent technology and the cost of drives is significantly high. But the mass production of 3D NAND flash memory will significantly help lower down the prices of 3D NAND Flash Memory drives to affordable limit.Request Free Report Sample@3D NAND Flash Memory Market DynamicsThe major factor which has driven the attention of major semiconductor players in 3D NAND flash memory market is the future business profitability associated with incorporation of this technology in consumer electronic products and enterprise applications. The top vendors of 3D NAND flash memory are significantly investing on research and development to exploit its full potential along different perspectives. As the cloud based solutions and mobile computing are increasingly becoming part of daily life, the need for cost efficient, secure and reliable data storage solutions by technologies like 3D NAND flash memory is expected to drive global semiconductor market. On other hand, expensive initial prices of 3D NAND flash memory and low adoption of products like ultrabook are some of the factors that surpass the growth of global 3D NAND flash memory market.3D NAND Flash Memory Market SegmentationThe global 3D NAND flash memory market is segmented on the basis of application and geography. On the basis of application, global 3D NAND flash memory market is categorized into  consumer electronics, industrial applications, aerospace& defence, mass storage and others. On the basis of geography, global 3D NAND flash memory market is divided into seven regions  North America, Latin America, Japan, Asia Pacific Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Middle East & Africa.Request For TOC@The 3D NAND flash memory is delivering high data storage solutions to Decision Support System, media streaming and operating system paging. The global 3D NAND flash memory market poses challenge as well as opportunity for players to sustain new technology with new products for end users. Samsung has decided to mass produce 3-bit V-NAND-based SSD as a part of its strategic efforts to strengthen its position in global semiconductor industry. Most of the top players are adopting strategy of collaboration and joint ventures to extend their market shares. Micron technology and Intel has extended its partnership to create 3D NAND flash memory.3D NAND Flash Memory Market: Key PlayersSamsung Electronics Co. Ltd (South Korea), Micron Technology Inc. (U.S.), Toshiba Corp. (Japan) and SK Hynix Inc. (South Korea) are the players that dominate global 3D NAND flash memory market. SanDisk Corp. (U.S.), Apple Inc. (U.S.), Intel Corp. (U.S.), etc. among others are some of the players in global 3D NAND flash memory market.Browse Full Report@Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY
IGZO Display Market Trends and Segments 2015-2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the IGZO Display Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.IGZO Display Market OverviewIndium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) is a transparent, crystalline, thin film transistor (TFT), comprising semiconductor materials such as Indium, Gallium, Zinc and oxygen. IGZO display is considered as one of the most efficient thin film transistor to be used in flat panel displays and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels. The IGZO display is able to overcome the traditional limitations posed by silicon technology, resulting in high resolution with low power consumption. IGZO technology is increasingly adopted for display devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops and TVs which have ever rising demand for power efficiency, reliability and high resolution.The IGZO display is being touted as the technology that will drive next generation flat panel displays. Besides offering high resolution with low power consumption, IGZO display,Supports high electron mobility as compared to amorphous siliconCan be made smaller in size to achieve same performanceOffers better battery life and supports touch sensitive displays for devices like smartphones and tablets.Although IGZO technology is still at a nascent stage, it is expected to drive the market for next generation displays.Request Free Report Sample@IGZO Display Market DriversIGZO displays are affordable, and this is one of the major factors for their increased demand. As the demand for high resolution, touch sensitive and power efficient display devices like, smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions etc. increases, the demand for IGTO displays will eventually increase. IGZO technology based displays can easily replace existing silicon based displays with very little modifications. On other hand, IGZO displays face slow and negative market growth in some segments due to adoption of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) and other competitive display technology. The global IGZO display market is expected to exhibit double-digit growth in next five years for primary applications in smartphones and other displays.IGZO Display Market SegmentationThe global IGZO display market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, and geography. On the basis of product type, the global IGZO display market is categorized into smartphones, television, tablets, laptops, wearable devices, monitors, wall size displays and others. On the basis of key applications, the global IGZO display market is categorized into  home application, consumer application, industrial application, automotive healthcare and others. On the basis of geography, global IGZO display market is segmented into  North America, Latin America, Easter Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa.Request For TOC@Innovative advancement in IGZO displays are continuously focusing on making it more efficient and on increasing its performance on different applications. IGZO displays with High sensitivity sensors are driving new opportunities in various fields. IGZO displays are powering various displays that are used in medical devices such as high sensitivity sensors that can transform X-ray images into high resolution images. IGZO display technology is receiving recognition all over the world for its unbeatable capabilities and future scope.IGZO Display Market: Key PlayersSharp Corporation (Japan), Sony corporation (Japan), Apple Inc. (U.S.), Asus (Taiwan), Samsung Group (South Korea), LG Electronics (South Korea), Fujitsu (Japan), AU Optronics (Japan) are some of the top players in the global IGZO display market. Sharp Corporation was the first company who started mass production of LCD IGZO-TFT LCD panels in 2012.The basic strategy adopted by the top players in global IGZO display market is diversification and product innovation. With the continuous introduction of new innovative products and exploitation of wide range of possibilities in next generation displays, IGZO displays will dramatically transform future display market.Browse Full Report@Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY
Magnetic Materials Market to Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Magnetic Materials Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.Magnetic material are objects that can be magnetized or naturally hold magnetic properties. According to the ease of magnetization, magnetic materials can be classified into hard and soft. Hard magnetic materials retain their magnetism even in the absence of an applied magnetic field. Hard magnetic materials are difficult to magnetize and demagnetize. On the other hand, soft magnetic materials can be easily magnetized and demagnetized. They lose their magnetism when an external magnetic field is removed.Demand for effective utilization of electricity and faster transmission of data, and decreasing size of technological devices have provided an impetus to the magnetic material market.Magnetic Materials Market: Drivers & RestraintsEnvironmental concerns, government support & incentives, increasing demand from end use industries, such as demand in automotive industry for electric vehicles, demand in medical devices for body scanners and others are the driving factors for the growth of the magnetic material market. Additionally, rapid industrialization, specifically in emerging economies and demand for alternative power sources, such as water turbine and wind mill are also driving the demand for magnetic material market. However, the variation in the price of raw material can be a restraining factor in the growth of the magnetic material market.Request Free Report Sample@Magnetic Materials Market: SegmentationOn the basis of types, the global magnetic material can be broadly segmented into soft magnetic material and hard or permanent magnet. In 2014, permanent magnet accounted for more than fifty percent of market share of the global magnetic materials market in terms of volume.On the basis of application, the global magnetic material market has largest applications in automotive, industrial and electronics segment. The automotive segment is projected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period.Magnetic Materials Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of region, Asia Pacific is anticipated to have an attractive growth for magnetic material market as various multinational companies shifting their manufacturing set-ups to this region. China has the highest automobile production rate according to the 2014 automobile production rate of OICA which, in turn, is a factor behind the growing demand of magnetic material market. China and India are projected to be the dominant countries for the global magnetic material market.Request For TOC@Magnetic Materials Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players for magnetic material market are Arnold Magnetic Technologies, Hitachi Metals Ltd., Molycorp Inc., Electron Energy Corporation, Lynas Corporation Ltd., Tengam Engineering Inc. and many others.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY
Real Time Location System (RTLS) Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Real Time Location System (RTLS) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.RTLS Market OverviewReal time location system (RTLS) helps in identifying and tracking geographical location of objects and people automatically, in real time. Generally, RTLS is used within building or facility area. In RTLS system, wireless RTLS tags or badges are attached to objects or sometimes worn by people and signals transmitted from this tags are received by one fixed reference points which helps in finding the exact location of that particular tag. RTLS contains location sensors, location readers, battery powered tags, application software and network infrastructure.RTLS market share is growing rapidly because of enhanced capability of real time tracking in different business processes. Advantages of RTLS are accuracy, increased productivity and operational excellence. RTLS provide accurate tracking of desired objects which ultimately results into increase in productivity. RTLS also provides some additional benefits, such as improvement in safety and security of staff, efficient and effective logistic & supply chain operations, and smooth process operations.RTLS Market DynamicsGlobal Real Time Location System (RTLS) market is expected show high growth in the near future. The factors which are driving the growth of RTLS market are increasing government initiatives, heavy investment in RTLS technology, increasing applications into various industries, and advanced features of RTLS. On the other hand, factors which are restraining the market growth are high cost involved in deployment, privacy & security concerns, and technical issues with the system. Industrial manufacturing sector is expected to provide remarkable opportunities to RTLS market during forecasted period. Market growth of RTLS is further fuelled by contribution from emerging regions such as Asia Pacific.Request Free Report Sample@RTLS Market SegmentationGlobal RTLS market is segmented on the basis of verticals, technologies and regions. On the basis of verticals, the market is sub-segmented into various industrial verticals, such as Logistics & transportation, industrial manufacturing and processing, healthcare, retail, government & defence, education, hospitality and others. Out of all these verticals, industrial manufacturing and processing vertical is expected to dominate throughout forecasting period.On the basis of technology, the market is sub-segmented into various wireless communication technologies such as WiFi, RFID, ultrasound, infrared and ZigBee communication. Amongst all technologies RFID technology is leading the Global RTLS market with highest market revenue. It is mainly because of enhanced features of RFID technology, such as low maintenance cost, high accuracy and long battery life as compared to other wireless communication technologies such as WiFi. However, WiFi technology also provides some benefits, such as ease of deployment which is really beneficial for organizations with existing WiFi network. Latest technologies like ZigBee, are showing high market potential because of its extended battery life and high accuracy.Request For TOC@On the basis of regions, the market is further sub-segmented into seven regions, North America, Latin America, Asia  Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan as a separate region, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa. Presently, North America region is dominating the Global RTLS market with highest market share. North America RTLS market is primarily driven by increasing applications in healthcare industry and government support and initiatives. Asia  Pacific region is expected to be highest growing market for RTLS solution during forecasted period because of rising demand of WiFi and RFID technology enabled RTLS.RTLS Market: Key PlayersMajor key players in the global RTLS market are AeroScout Industrial, Zebra Technologies, TeleTracking Technologies, Sonitor Technologies, Awarepoint, Ekahau, GE Healthcare and Ubisense, Centrak, etc. Among these companies, AeroScout Industrial and Zebra Technologies are major companies in terms of market share. It is mainly because of their technologically advanced solutions, strong presence across all the geographies and extensive product portfolio. All key market players are focusing more software and application development as a part of their market growth strategy.Browse Full Report@Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY
OTI Greentech AG confirms 2015 financial figures and positive guidance for 2016

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- OTI Greentech confirms preliminary 2015 figures: Group sales of EUR 6.3 million in the consolidation period (annualized: EUR 8.7 million), negative EBITDA of EUR -2.2 million- Preliminary figures for Q1 2016: sales of EUR 2.2 million and EBITDA of EUR -0.3 million- 2016 guidance: doubling of sales versus 2015 to at least EUR 16 million and significant improvement of operating result (EBITDA)Berlin, 12.05.2016 - OTI Greentech AG, an internationally operating environmental technology group listed on the Dusseldorf stock exchange, today announced sales for the consolidation period (1 April to 31 December 2015) of EUR 6.3 million (annualized: EUR 8.7 million; unaudited) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of EUR -2.2 million based on audited consolidated figures for its 2015 fiscal year, which was marked by the integration of operations. OTI Greentech AG thus confirms the preliminary pro forma figures published on 5 February 2016.In the fiscal year ended, OTI Greentech AG focused on the integration of the new Group entities, the development of new areas of business, the securing of funds and the reduction of its cost base. As of 31 December 2015, the Group's equity ratio was 59.71 percent. The Group consolidated loss afterminority interests (including EUR 1.7 million in non-cash amortization of goodwill pursuant to German commercial law accounting rules) amounts to EUR 4.2 million.In the first quarter of 2016, the Group posted sales of EUR 2.2 million and EBITDA of EUR -0.3 million according to preliminary calculations. The Norwegian subsidiaries reported sales of around EUR 2 million and at EUR -0.05 million almost broke even in terms of EBITDA. The measures initiated in 2015 aimed at integration and cost reduction and the development of new areas of business have already shown their effects at the start of the new fiscal year.The reduction of minority interests in the Group should also have a positive effect on earnings. As of the end of 2015, the Company had acquired the remaining 49% interest in Visionaire Energy AS and the remaining 44.8% interest in VTT Maritime AS. VTT Maritime and Rada Engineering & Consultingin particular are in an excellent position to benefit disproportionally from upcoming projects in 2016. VTT Maritime has established itself as a provider of complex maritime engineering services and as an expert for the safe relocation of large installations and objects at sea.The OTI Greentech AG Group was established in April 2015 from the takeover of OTI Greentech Group AG, Zug, Switzerland, by former IP Strategy AG, Bremen. Comparative figures for 2014 are therefore not available. With its Group companies VTT Maritime, Rada Engineering & Consulting, OTI Chemicals and Uniservice Global, OTI Greentech AG has created a clear Group structure to enable long-term growth in its core areas of business.After a positive start to the current fiscal year with a well filled order book, OTI Greentech is very confident that it will be able to improve its operating result (EBITDA) significantly in 2016. The Company expects a positive EBITDA result and a doubling sales to at least EUR 16 million comparedwith 2015.The consolidated financial statements are available for download atunder InvestorRelations.About OTI Greentech AG:OTI Greentech is an internationally operating environmental technology group offering integrated product and service solutions worldwide. The Company operates in two market segments: Maritime Solutions and Industrial Solutions. The Maritime Solutions segment provides innovative products, consultancy and engineering services to the global shipping and offshore oil & gas industries. The Industrial Solutions segment provides environmentally-friendly solutions in cleaning and waste management as well as complex engineering services for infrastructure projects. Its portfolio includes the patented ECOSolut product family. The shares of OTI Greentech AG are listed on the Dusseldorf Stock Exchange.Contact:edicto GmbHAxel Muhlhaus, Dr. Sonke Knopamuehlhaus@edicto.deTel. +49 69 905505-52Eschersheimer Landstr. 4260322 FrankfurtOTI Greentech AGJohnny Christiansen, CEOinfo@oti.agTel. +49 30 220 136 900Potsdamer Platz 1, 7.OG.10785 Berlin
Europe Business Assembly - Socrates Almanac

The Editorial Board of the Socrates Almanac  an official edition of Europe Business Assembly  received an article of a world-famous oncology specialist Prof. Kew Always strive to do the greatest good for the greatest number.The article tells us about ways of treatment of various diseases, in particularly heart strokes of Black African miners working underground in the South African gold mines and cancer of the liver of sub-Saharan Black African population. Here is the brief content of the article.The gold-bearing reef in South Africa is situated at a great depth below ground level, and the work areas in which the mining of the gold-bearing ore was taking place where, as a result of the adiabatic compression of air at this depth, accordingly very hot. Obviously, these work areas have to be rendered as well-ventilated and as cool as possible by ventilation with cold air. In addition, the miners have to be fully acclimatized to working in the heat before they commence work in the ultra-deep level stopes.Cancer of the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma) is the sixth most common cancer in humans worldwide, the fifth in males and the seventh in females. It accounts for 90 to 95% of the primary malignant tumors of the liver in the sub-Saharan Black African, with age-standardized incidence rates of between 19.2 and 28.4 per 100,000 persons per year.The Black citizens of those sub-Saharan African countries with comprehensive and efficient hepatitis B virus vaccination programs in place for some years can now look forward to the time that the consequences of chronic infection with this virus, and particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, will no longer occur. In regard to the belief that we should ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER, this goal will eventually have been accomplished in respect to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in those countries in which the hepatitis B virus vaccination program was introduced efficiently and comprehensively. Given the frequency which this tumor occurs at this time and its devastating consequences, this will be a most welcome development. Sadly, at the present time, this does not apply to the Black population of South Africa.We are very grateful to professor for cooperation!The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an independent corporation of economic, social and humanitarian collaboration, founded in Oxford, UK in 2000.EBA is an interactive platform for adapting European economic programs to the standards of living in dynamically developing regions. It follows the directives of the European Union and EU programmes Good-neighbourliness and Eastern partnership.The Europe Business Assembly (EBA)2 Woodins Way Oxford, UKebaoxford9@ebaoxford.co.uk
Global Radar System And Technology Market Size, Share, Outlook and Forecast 2022 : Brisk Insights

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According to a recently published report, the Global Radar System And Technology Market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 6.8% during 2015-2022. The segmentation of global Radar System and technology market is based on type, application and geography. The report on Global Radar System and technology market Forecast, 2015-2022 (by type, application and geography) provides detailed overview and predictive analysis of the market.Browse Full Report with Toc :Increasing use of radar in the defense and military are expected to boost the market during the forecasted period of the study. The radars technology in military and defense sector, helps the military in various tracking events. Higher investment in the defense sector is witnessed in various economies, this is again a driver for the industry as there is higher demand for the better technology in this sector. Some of the challenges faced by the global Radar System and technology market are adverse climatic conditions, passive radar glitches.Scope of the reportGlobal Radar System and technology market by application, 2012  2022 ($ billion)1.1. Military and defense1.2. Aviation1.3. Marine1.4. Space industryGlobal Radar System and technology market by type, 2012  2022 ($ billion)2.1. Ground based2.2. Airborne2.3. Naval2.4. Space basedGlobal Radar System and technology market by wave form, 2012  2022 ($ billion)3.1. Continuous waves3.2. Pulsed wavesGlobal Radar System and Technology regional outlook, 2012-2022(in $billion)4.1. North America4.2. Europe4.3. Asia Pacific4.4. Middle East & Africa4.5. ROWRequest Free Sample :Company profiles5.1. Aerospace Industries5.2. BAE Systems5.3. Cobham Plc5.4. Dassault Aviation5.5. Exelis Inc.5.6. General Dynamic Corporation5.7. Honeywell International Inc.5.8. Kelvin Hughes5.9. Lockhead Martin.5.10. Northrop Gruman5.11. Raytheon5.12. Reutech Radar Systems.5.13. Rockwell Collins Inc.5.14. Saab AB5.15. Thales GroupContact 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
Geosynthetics Market Growth, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2015-2025

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-475

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-475

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Geosynthetics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.Geosynthetics is a class of synthetic products that are used mainly in construction and geotechnical engineering applications. These are versatile, highly durable materials and serve as cost-effective alternatives in geotechnical, environmental and hydraulic applications. Geosynthetics are made up of durable polymers such as High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyester, these Geosynthetics are incorporated in order to act as separators, filters, reinforcements, drainage facilitators and as liquid and gas barriers. As such, Geosynthetics, owing to their favourable physical properties includes strength, stiffness, durability and many others it is widely used in civil engineering, road industry,soil reinforcement, mining, among others.Geosynthetics Market: Opportunities, Drivers & RestraintsOver the recent past, the growing adoption of Geosynthetics across the globe has resulted in a steady growth of Geosynthetics. Moreover, increasing investments in infrastructure and environmental projects by both, developing and developed countries are likely to drive the growth of Geosynthetics market. Also increasing demand from waste treatment applications, transportation sector and regulatory support on account of enhancing civic amenities, several projects were taken by national government which has continued to fuel the growth in the Geosynthetics market. However, volatility of raw material prices used in manufacture of Geosynthetics is a major restraint to the growth of Geosynthetics market.Request Free Report Sample@Geosynthetics Market: SegmentationGlobal Geosynthetics market can be segmented into various key segments depending on the type of product, material types and on the basis of region. Based on type of product, global geosynthetics market can be segmented into geotextiles, geogrids, geocells, geomembranes, geocomposites, geosynthetic foams and geosynthetic clay liners. Geotextiles are geosynthetics made up of woven (fibers on cloth like material) and non-woven (randomly oriented fibre) materials; geogrids are used for stabilization and reinforcement of waste masses, geocells are used in earth retention applications, rail road support, for protecting bunkers and walls. Geomembranes are an impermeable membranes which are used for canal lining, tunnel lining and land fill linings. Geocomposites combine features of two or more geosynthetics and find applications in drainage among others. Geofoams are lightweight blocks which act as void filling materials in certain construction applications. Lastly, geosynthetic clay liners are fabric-like materials used for lining of landfills.On the other hand, by material types, global geosynthetics market comprises following segments HDPE, polypropylene, polyester and other polymeric alloys based geosynthetics. Lastly, depending on the geographic regions, global geosynthetics market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa.Geosynthetics Market: Region-wise OutlookAsia Pacific accounts for the largest share of global geosynthetics market and is expected to emerge as the fastest growing market for geosynthetics during the forecast period. Countries like India, China and Russia in particular, are expected to witness robust growth in adoption of geosynthetics in construction and geotechnical projects. Among the product type based segments of global geosynthetics market, geotextiles segment accounts for the largest share in market value.Visit For TOC@The global Geosynthetics market growth is driven majorly by their increased adoption in a variety of applications in construction sector, emergence of these as viable alternatives in waste and water applications has further bolstered global geosynthetics market growth. Moreover, increasing number of infrastructure development projects in developing countries and increasing demand of geosynthethics in roadways and rail construction applications across the globe has resulted in a steady growth of global geosynthetics market.Geosynthetics Market: Key PlayersSome of the participants in global Geosynthetics market are NAUE GmbH & Co. KG, GSE Environmental, Low & Bonar PLC, TenCate Geosynthetics, GEO Synthetics LLC, Huifeng Geosynthetics, Tenax Corporation, Polymer Group, Inc. and others.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Castor Oil Derivatives Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2015-2025

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-474

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-474

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Castor Oil Derivatives Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.Castor oil is one of the most multipurpose plant oils, obtained by pressing the seed of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).It is well known source of a monounsaturated, ricinoleic and 18-carbon fatty acid. Owing to its unique chemical structure and rich properties, castor oil and its derivatives find uses in many industries such as cosmetics, food, lubricants, paints, agriculture, electronics & telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, perfumeries, plastics and rubber, inks & adhesives and textile chemicals. After plant oils, castor oil is considered to be the most required oil. However, growing concerns pertaining to biofuels specially biodiesel and biopolymer across the globe is pushingcastor oil to play a much larger role in the world economy.Castor Oil Derivatives: Drivers & RestraintsGrowth of major end-use industries (includes lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) and increasing demand for sustainable products & biodegradable, on account of reducing dependence on petrochemicals is anticipated to fuel the demand for castor oil derivatives market. Also regulatory support and rising prices of alternative renewable chemicals is expected to drive the global castor oil derivatives market. However, factors influencing its manufacturing cost includes raw material availability, weather uncertainties, shortage of working capital, techniques & methods used for extraction and availability of substitute oil are resulting in restraints for the castor oil derivative market.Request Free Report Sample@Castor Oil Derivatives: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global castor oil derivatives market is segmented into Undecylenic Acid, Sebacic Acid (largest consumed castor oil derivatives), Castor Wax or Hydrogenated castor oil (HCO), Dehydrated Castor Oil (DCO) and others. On the basis of application, global castor oil derivatives market is segmented into Lubricants, Cosmetics & Pharmaceuticals (largest application segment), Biodiesel, Plastics & Resins and Others.Castor Oil Derivatives: Region-wise OutlookThe global castor oil derivatives market is expected to register a double digit CAGR for the forecast period, 2015?2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to continue its dominance on the global castor oil derivatives market. India accounts for largest production of castor oil derivatives worldwide, followed by China and Brazil. Higher demand from the US, Europe and China has resulted in the higher prices for castor as well as increase in demand for castor oil derivatives. The major castor producing countries are India, China, Brazil, Paraguay, Ethiopia, Philippines, Russia and Thailand.Visit For TOC@Castor Oil Derivatives: Key PlayersSome of players in global castor oil derivatives market are Thai Castor Oil Industries Co. Ltd., Jayant Agro Organics, Hokoku Corporation, ITOH Oil Chemicals Co. Ltd., Gokul Overseas, Bom Brazil, Liaoyang Huaxing Chemical Co., Ltd., Kanak Castor Products Pvt. Ltd., and others.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Europe Business Assembly Forums Overview

http://www.ebaoxford.co.uk/

On 22 March 2016 the Summit of Leaders Achievements-2016 was held in the capital of Great Britain. It gathered more than 120 delegates from 32 countries of the world. From Chile and Mexico to Nepal and Mongolia - this is the geography of summit participants.Main events of the summit were held in Royal Institute of Directors  one of the most prestigious business-centers of London, founded in 1903 according to the Royal Chart.The forum was opened by the Director General of Europe Business Assembly (Great Britain) Prof. John Netting.The plenary session was continued by Mr. Heinz Wehrle (Horwath HTL, Managing Partner, Switzerland), who presented a priority program of EBA Prime Business Destination and Dr. Vincenzo Costigliola, Honorary President of Academic Union, Oxford, who reported about new innovative educational projects of Europe Business Assembly.During Summit sections, which were held after the plenary session, potential investors, businessmen, scientists and medical workers presented projects and unique programs of economic development of territories and separate companies, working in the sphere of science and education, medicine and city sustainment.Director General of OPPS Build (Kirgyzstan) Ruslanbek Khamdamov presented the potential of a unique territory of Lake Issyk Kul as a potential resort during all four seasons of the year. And Mr. Rui Amorim, CEO of Ecopaint-Angola, one of the most successful companies in Africa in the sphere of urban development, presented a unique program of dynamic development of modern cities City of the Future.One of sections was dedicated to issues of science and education development and the role of distant education these days. This section united rectors of leading universities, heads of research institutes, scientists-innovators. The section participants got interested in the presentation of a new EBA project  Oxford Academic Lounge.Special attention was paid to International Socrates Ceremony Achievements  2016. During this ceremony our outstanding contemporaries as well as staffs of best companies and institutions were awarded prizes for their achievements in professional activity during 2015-2016.Among laureates were 70 successful companies and outstanding personalities from countries of Europe, Asia and Africa.Forum guests unanimously noticed the high level of summit organization, interesting arrangements of the summit and importance of this event for solving the global problems of modern civilization.On invitation of Department of culture and tourism of Odessa city council a representative of Europe Business Assembly took part in the round table Odessa-365 and investment press-tour on 24-25 February 2016. Participants of the press-tour could assess investment potential and touristic attractiveness of the main Ukrainian health resort on Black Sea at all seasons. During the round table its participants (representatives of international and national touristic organizations, and journalists) discussed ways of improvement of Odessa brand as a city of all-year visiting, including development of business, event and museum tourism, as well as attraction of foreign investment to Odessa infrastructural objects.Exposure to main sights, unique museums and natural beauty of the city also made a good impression.All participants gave a high rating to Odessa possibilities in the sphere of hospitality industry. This city is unique, because it unites huge intellectual and industrial potential, availability of the biggest Ukrainian sea port, perfect natural conditions and historical sights. This city is multicultural, the past and the present are created by representatives of 133 nationalities, and it tolerates all peoples of the world.The high level of Odessa investment attractiveness (invA + high investment attractiveness), according to the assessment of Independent rating agency IBI-rating and perspective of the city as an international resort allows recommending this city for participation in world investment projects.A special issue of EBA concerning Odessa visit was released  a Leaders times issue.See more on site Europe Business Assembly -The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an independent corporation of economic, social and humanitarian collaboration, founded in Oxford, UK in 2000.EBA is an interactive platform for adapting European economic programs to the standards of living in dynamically developing regions. It follows the directives of the European Union and EU programmes Good-neighbourliness and Eastern partnership.The Europe Business Assembly (EBA)2 Woodins Way Oxford, UKebaoxford9@ebaoxford.co.ukt. +44 1865 251 122
Power Transmission And Distribution Scenario In Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China And South Africa (BRIICS) 2020

http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/160773

http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/160773

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SummaryThe report provides an in depth analysis of T&D market in Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa. This report analyzes the T&D market in terms of infrastructure, investments and regulations. It provides information related to T&D lines, transmission capacity and substations. It discusses the key drivers and restraints impacting the market. It also provides information related to smart grid deployment in these countries, their power imports and exports and planned investments in the T&D sector during the forecast period, as planned by their utilities. In the end, the report provides a comparative snapshot of the BRIICS on their present status of power T&D.View Full Report atScopeInformation related to power supply structure in the BRIICS.Analysis of T&D market covering network lines (Ckm), capacity (MVA) and substations (units) for BRIICS from 20052020.Information related to smart grid and power imports and exports in BRIICS.Up to date information on T&D investment planned during the forecast period in BRIICS.Key regulations influencing the T&D market in BRIICS.A comparative snapshot of the BRIICS on their present status of power T&D.Reasons to buyFacilitate decision-making based on historic and forecast data related to T&D capacity, line length and substations in BRIICS.Refine business strategies with a complete understanding of the trends and developments shaping T&D markets in BRIICS.Evaluate opportunities in promising T&D markets to quantify potential returns on investmentDownload Sample Copy of this Report atTable of Contents1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 31.1 List of Tables 51.2 List of Figures 62 Transmission and Distribution Market, Overview 82.1 GlobalData Report Guidance 103 Transmission and Distribution Market, BRIICS 113.1 Key Opportunities in the Power Sector of BRIICS 143.1.1 Private Sector Participation 143.1.2 Long Distance Power Transmission 143.1.3 Integration of Renewable Energy 143.2 Major Challenges in Power Sector of Emerging Markets 153.2.1 Poor Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure Leading to High Losses 153.2.2 Lack of Competition 153.2.3 Grid Connectivity 15MarketResearchReports.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 research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Europe Business Assembly

www.summitofleaders.co.uk

The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an international corporation for the evolution and implementation of economic and social development. The company was established in April 2000 and its history shows a plethora of promising initiatives, creative growth and professional victories. EBAs activity demonstrates the capabilities and power of professional partnership. The year 2000 saw the beginning and the foundation of EBA with the signing of the memorandum of cooperation and join support with EMRC (Belgium), ICIE (Russia), The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and many other influential international organisations. Since its beginning Europe Business Assembly has awarded companies, academics and individuals for achievement in various fields at The Socrates Award Ceremony. The Socrates Award Ceremony takes place at each Europe Business Assembly Event. These awards include, The Queen Victoria Commemorative Medal given for irreproachable reputation and aspiration for perfection in business, education and social spheres. Awardees received the award for maintaining and promoting a high standard of humanitarian ethics in business, education and social spheres. The European Quality Award given to companies who have continually strived to achieve high quality in accordance to European Standard. The Best Enterprise Award and the Manager of the Year Medal is given to businesses who have achieved great success in the growth of their company alongside the implementation of best practice in the fields of environment, employment and management. The Socrates Award, for the highest standard of best practice either in business and educational institutions. The United Europe Award for the implementation of excellent best trade policy which promotes the breakdown of international barriers in business. And, The Name in Science Award highlighting individuals who contribute to the evolution of world science transforming and solving global issues.In 2001, EBA hosted its first conferences in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Neiredhaza, Hungary and Odessa, Ukraine. 2002 saw further expansion with the first Euromarket Forum held in Brussels, Belgium. The first International Meeting was held in Valletta, Malta and an additional event the Euromarket forum was held in Ukraine entitled Ukraine  EU Strategy for Entering the New World Market hosted in Kiev. In 2004, The Europe Business Assembly began its annual gatherings in Oxford. More than 6000 delegates from 56 countries have now taken part in these summits. The event is still ongoing and looks to challenge and highlight the global academic communitys capabilities to provide innovative solutions to improve and upgrade the technological tools and educational ideas. It also aims to further enhance and advance scientific studies and promote academic achievements. However, this is only a small part of what has been gained through the Oxford event. Nowadays, the Oxford Summit of Leaders creates both academic and business ties to bridge the gap between the various fields which are included in the two categories respectively. The event has allowed a vast number of businesses and educational networks to begin and flourish through networking sessions, key note speakers and exhibitions. The Oxford Summit of Leaders prides itself on the dynamic participation of leaders, respected dignitaries and international personalities including; Lord John Digby, Sirs Richard Needham and John Michael Middlecott Banham, Lord Mayors of Oxford Bryan Keen, Robert John Price, Jim Campbell and Elise Benjamin. Since this time, the Summit of Leaders has now become truly international with events in London, Vienna, Barcelona and Dublin as mentioned below. 2005 was again host to numerous conferences. It began with the EuroEducation conference held in Oxford and there was also the additional business meeting in London Investing in Europe.2006 saw the formation of the Club of Rectors of Europe (CRE). The CRE is an organisation dedicated to furthering communication and the exchange of ideas between rectors, professors, and scientists throughout the world. Members of the CRE gather at EBA events to share their experiences and discuss new ways of managing and improving their institutions. Since its beginning, the CRE has expanded into a club of more than 150 members. 2006 also saw an expansion on the business conference front; the EuroEducation conference in Barcelona, Spain and the EuropeEmpex conference concerning the international business investment forum in London, UK were also held. 2008 saw the introduction of the annual New Years and Christmas ball in Vienna, Austria, as well as further events concerning education and business in Barcelona, Malta, Jordan and UK. 2009 was a particularly fruitful year beginning with a business visit to Geneva, Switzerland. This was followed later in the year by a ceremonial reception held in honour of Anna the daughter of Yaroslav Mudry, The Queen of France in Senlis, Paris, France. The year continued with joint economic action with TTP in the Thames Valley, UK; and EBA hosted the Winsor debates. Finally the year ended with the meeting of the President of the International Congress of the Manufacturers and Business Owners, V.K Gluhikh, and the Director General of EBA, John Netting with leaders of business, science and culture in Moscow, Russia.In 2010, the Medical Tourism Summit was introduced which recognise the global growth in investment in health and wellness tourism. Furthermore, Europe Business Assembly held its first conference in Italy for The Open European Scientific Forum. 2011 was host to numerous businesses networking opportunities between EBA and other businesses. John Netting met with G. Berdymuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan in Ashkhabad; and Elise Benjamin, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, hosted a summit devoted to new management models for modern cities, mayors, city managers and scientists from 27 countries took part. Also The Summit of Leaders visited Montreux, Switzerland. 2012 saw the introduction of a new conference project for EBA, the Achievements Forum, which took place at the Institute of Directors, London, UK; and EBA hosted its first event in Ireland featuring presentations concerning investment projects held in Dublin. The event was opened by N. Murrey, Lord Mayor of Dublin and businessmen and investors from 24 countries took part in the summit. John Netting also travelled to the Islamic Republic of Iran for a working visit. He took part in meetings with spiritual leaders, well known politicians and business leaders. 2012s autumn summit was opened by the UK member of European Parliament Derek Clerk and participants from 32 countries were greeted by Lord Digby Jones opening speech. Also, Will Goodyear, president of the Club of Rectors of Europe, opened an education symposium on the problems of education in Nigeria. 2013 again saw EBAs Achievements Forum at the Institute of Directors in London, and EBAs reputation continued to grow through the third international forum for Health and Wellness in Montreux, Switzerland. The Oxford Summit of Leaders was recognised as a highly respected event in science and education, with praise from attending specialists; and the first volume of The Socrates Almanac Science and Education 2013: Oxford View was published. The Almanac has been publishing annually ever since.2014 was opened by the London Summit of Leaders Rapid Urbanisation: Economy, Society, Management. The forum was dedicated to the presentation of prospective projects and their investment. The two day event saw unique presentations from over 50 international presenters, sharing experience and best practice. 2014 also saw the formation of The Oxford Academic Union. The memorandum of the Oxford Academic Union was signed at the Oxford Summit of Leaders in October 2014. The OAU works in accordance with the CRE to support and promote international coordination with the aim of enhancing and improving education research and methods. Europe Business Assembly annually hosts two events based upon the values of the OAU for its members. Members include high level academics, rectors and university chancellors from around the globe. This year also saw the launch of the new Europe Business Assembly project The Prime Business Destination, this programme is dedicated to highlighting and assisting developing city areas in: health, wellness and tourism; education; and urbanisation. The programme aims to bring experts and investors to cities that have been identified with investment potential, allowing cities to fully reach their investment potential. The 2014 year was summarised with the Annual Vienna New Years Ball. 2015 is the 15 year anniversary of the formation of EBA and it is clear to see its continued growth and success. The first event of the year was the Achievements Forum dedicated to the presentation of Prime Business Destinations emerging cities. The cities gave presentations to investment potential in their respective regions as well as their plans for the future. 2015 will soon be full of many other events with future plans to host events in, Switzerland, Austria, Cannes, Oxford and Italy. This year EBA celebrated the 15 year anniversary of the formation and it was clear to see its continued growth and success. The first event of the year was the Achievements Forum dedicated to the presentation of Prime Business Destinations emerging cities. The cities gave presentations to investment potential in their respective regions as well as their plans for the future. Memorandums of cooperation between EBA and 12 cities were signed. The year was full of many other events in the framework of the Prime business destinations programme hosted in Switzerland, Cannes, Jordan and Oxford. Participants from more than 60 countries presented more than 120 investment and innovative projects. The Academic Union initiates and co-organised remarkable events including visiting session University of the Future; University Cities and Health Tourism  at the Near East University. In March, Prof Costigliola became the president of the Academic Union. In December 15th the Academic Lounge of Europe Business Assembly was opened by Lord Digby Jones, member of the House of Lords. The traditional Summit of Leaders and Socrates ceremony culminated the year. During Summit of Leaders in Oxford December 15th, the Academic Union international incentive Smart Education Platform was presented. It will be launched in 2016 with the author programme  Global Business for an Efficient Manager. On 22 March 2016, the Traditional Summit of Leaders Achievements-2016 was held in London, UK. The event was attended by more than 120 delegates from 32 countries around the world. After the plenary session, potential investors, businessmen, scientists and medical workers presented their projects and unique programmes of economic development. These included presentations about territories and companies working in the sphere of science and education, medicine and city sustainability.2 Woodins Way, Oxford, OX1 1HF Tel: +44 (0) 1865 251 122 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 251 113 Web-site:The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an independent corporation of economic, social and humanitarian collaboration, founded in Oxford, UK in 2000.EBA is an interactive platform for adapting European economic programs to the standards of living in dynamically developing regions. It follows the directives of the European Union and EU programmes Good-neighbourliness and Eastern partnership.The Europe Business Assembly (EBA)2 Woodins Way Oxford, UKebaoxford9@ebaoxford.co.ukt. +44 1865 251 122
Europe Business Assembly Builds Bridges Between West And East

Representatives of Europe Business Assembly took part in the work of International Round Table on topic: Social and Economic Harmony: paradigm, laws and problems. The Round table was organized by scientists of New Economic University named after Turar Ryskulov and Institute of Social Economics and Finance of RK.The event took place in Almaty on the 6th of April 2016. Participants included leading foreign and Kazakh economists, sociologists, political scientists, and culturologists. The concept of social-economic harmony discussed at the round table was first discovered by the academician of the National Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, member of Editorial Board of the Socrates Almanac,Prof. Uraz Baimuratov. During the meeting the scientists talked about the fact that his work was a promising methodological direction in a laborious and long pursuit of development that is balanced and successful in all aspects. Hence, the motto of the meeting can be the following statement: Harmony will save the world!The scientists tried to determine ways to apply the new theoretical states of social-economic harmony. Experts note that the concept allows to better reveal its essence for addressing the challenges of stable development of countries while building bridges between East and West.In his welcome speech to the participants of the round table the president of Europe Business Assembly Prof. J. Netting, in particular, noted: Nowadays, in our hard times, when confrontation between the West and the East, Islamic and Christian worlds deepened, it is very important to search for contact points and topics, which unite forward-minded people in the whole world. Such events, like yours, which aid development of intercultural communication and mutual understanding between scientists of the world, is a very important step in this direction. By uniting our efforts we can avoid a threat of World War III and aid harmonious development of our civilization.Representatives of Europe Business Assembly reviewed Investment opportunities of Odessa (Ukraine)On invitation of Department of culture and tourism of Odessa city council a representative of EBA took part in the round table Odessa-365 and investment press-tour on 24-25 February 2016. Participants of the press-tour could assess investment potential and touristic attractiveness of the main Ukrainian health resort on Black Sea at all seasons. During the round table its participants (representatives of international and national touristic organizations, and journalists) discussed ways of improvement of Odessa brand as a city of all-year visiting, including development of business, event and museum tourism, as well as attraction of foreign investment to Odessa infrastructural objects.Exposure to main sights, unique museums and natural beauty of the city also made a good impression.All participants gave a high rating to Odessa possibilities in the sphere of hospitality industry. This city is unique, because it unites huge intellectual and industrial potential, availability of the biggest Ukrainian sea port, perfect natural conditions and historical sights. This city is multicultural, the past and the present are created by representatives of 133 nationalities, and it tolerates all peoples of the world.The high level of Odessa investment attractiveness (invA + high investment attractiveness), according to the assessment of Independent rating agency IBI-rating and perspective of the city as an international resort allows recommending this city for participation in world investment projects.The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an independent corporation of economic, social and humanitarian collaboration, founded in Oxford, UK in 2000.EBA is an interactive platform for adapting European economic programs to the standards of living in dynamically developing regions. It follows the directives of the European Union and EU programmes Good-neighbourliness and Eastern partnership.The Europe Business Assembly (EBA)2 Woodins Way Oxford, UKebaoxford9@ebaoxford.co.ukt. +44 1865 251 122
Wood Pellet Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report: 2015-2025

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-484

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-484

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Wood Pellet Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.In order to meet the increasing demand for energy and fossil fuels alternative along with intensifying concerns for greenhouse gas (GHG), the demand for global wood pellet market is rapidly escalating. Wood pellet is a solid fuel that is produced by compressing biomass or organic matter. Usually, it is made from waste timber like sawdust, residues of forest and various industrial by products. Its length is 1-2 cm and generally the diameter is 6, 8, 10, or 12mm. At greatest, it is possible to produce 25mm wood pellet. Being extremely thick, it is produced at low moisture, which allows them to burn with high combustion efficiency. Over the other types of solid biomass available, feasibility in transportation, storability and high energy density, among many others are the advantages of using wood pellet and so, it is used as fuels for residential & commercial heating, cooking and generating power.Wood Pellet Market: Drivers & RestraintsIncreasing consumption of wood pellets and the policy support for heating/CHP application (either large scale or small scale plant) is the main driver for the wood pellet market. The increasing (heating) oil prices, carbon dioxide price, concerns over climatic change, demand for large scale electricity production gives the potential scope for the growth of wood pellet market. However, the fluctuation in feedstock prices and limitation of the availability of woody biomass are the major constraints for the wood pellet market. Other factors hindering the growth of wood pellet market are logistical barriers for the transportation, competition with natural gas, coal and other fossil fuels and fulfilling technical quality standards.Request Free Report Sample@Wood Pellet Market: SegmentationOn the basis of the feedstock, the global wood pellet market can be segmented into Forest and wood waste resources, Agricultural residues & waste and Energy crops. On the basis of types of pellet heating appliances, it is segmented into free standing pellet stoves, pellet stove inserts and pellet boilers.On the basis of application, the global wood pellet market is segmented intoIndustrial pellet for CHP/district heatingIndustrial pellet for co-firingPellet for heating residential/commercialOthersThe wood pellet market can also be segmented on the basis of density variance which is different for different brand as well as bags in which they are packed.Wood Pellet Market: Region-wise OutlookGlobal wood pellet market is foreseen to witness the highest growth in Europe, currently accounting for almost 80% of global consumption, followed by U.S. and South Korea. The export of wood pellet are mainly done by Russia, U.S. and Canada. South America, South Africa and Australia are the emerging regions for becoming the potential exporters of the wood pellet market. As per our in-depth analysis by 2020, the annual demand for woody biomass would rise to 305 million tons. Owing to this, the demand for global wood pellet market is anticipated to reach double digit million tons during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Wood Pellet Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players of the global wood pellet market are Corinth Wood Pellets, New England Wood Pellets, Energex, OUOsulaGraanul, the subsidiary of AS Graanul Invest, Natures Flame, Green Circle Cottondale, Weyerhaeuser, Mitsubishi Corporation and many others.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
NOVONOUS Estimates Global Mining Industry Software Market to Grow at 17.87% by 2020

Global Mining Industry Software Market 2016 - 2020

http://www.novonous.com/publications/global-mining-industry-software-market-2016-2020

http://www.novonous.com/subscription

http://www.novonous.com

NOVONOUS has announced the addition of Global Mining Industry Software Market 2016 - 2020" research report to their website novonous.comThe mining industry has faced arduous task in recent years in terms of optimizing current sites and exploring opportunities in new projects. Mining software solutions have come into play for miners to enable them to optimize mine operations. Software solutions are specifically design to plan, design, and survey both underground and surface mines. Currently industry is dominated by few players like RPM, Geovia and Maptek etc. The major sources of revenue for these companies are proprietary licensed software which is charged to customers on recurring basis. As per RPM, their new products which have been released over the last 24 months laid the foundation for the Companys impressive 63% increase in software license sales in 2015.Ambarish Kumar Verma, Managing Director of NOVONOUS Business Consulting Private Limited said Software innovation will bring the next wave of productivity improvements which will integrate major system providers to the mining industry. He also said that the Global Mining Industry Software is expected to grow at CAGR 17.87% till 2020.Most of the mining companies have not yet ventured many geographical regions and opportunities in emerging markets like Africa and South America are plenty.NOVONOUS estimates that Mining Software Industry in APAC region will grow at CAGR 24.25% till 2020. The next big market in terms of growth is North America, which is expected to grow at CAGR 20.35%. South America Market expects to grow at CAGR 14.50%.Middle East and African Mining Software Market expect to register a CAGR 10.2%; followed by Europe which is estimated to grow at CAGR 9%.Promising future is ahead for existing companies provided they diversify and customize their solutions according to the requirements of Big and Junior miners worldwide. NOVONOUS also finds that junior miners will keep on focusing on preservation of cash and assets and invest mainly in ERP solutions rather than investing on exploration software.The economic slowdown and low commodity pricing has affected the industry, as some companies are still trying to gain foothold. The reports presents profile of 10 major companies, mining associations across geographic regions. Analysis tools like SWOT, Pestle and Porter five forces have been also used to provide better insight about this market.Spanning over 130 pages and 107 exhibits, Global Mining Software Market 2016-2020 report presents an in-depth assessment of the Global Mining Software Market from 2016 till 2020.The report has detailed company profiles including their position in Mining Software Market Value Chain, financial performance analysis, product and service wise business strategy, SWOT analysis and key customer details for 10 key players in Global Mining Software Market namely; UXC Eclipse, Datamine Softwares, RungePincockMinarco (RPM), ABB, Aconex Limited, Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS), GEOVIA (Dassault Systems), MAPTEK, Triple Point Technology and GEOSOFT.Scope of Global Mining Software Market 2015  2020 Report:- This report provides detailed information about Global mining industry software market including future market forecasts.- This report identifies the need for focusing on mining industry software sector.- This report provides detailed information on growth forecasts for overall Global mining industry software market up to 2020.- This report provides detailed information on type wise (underground mines, open pit mines, hard rock deposits mines, coal and other stratified deposits mines, industrial minerals mines) growth forecasts for global mining industry software market up to 2020.- This report provides detailed information on mining phase wise (exploration and evaluation, designing and development, production, mining ERP (financial modeling, asset management etc.), training and simulation) growth forecasts for global mining industry software market up to 2020.- This report provides detailed information on geography wise (Asia pacific, Africa& middle east, Europe, south America and north America) growth forecasts for global mining industry software market up to 2020.- The report identifies the growth drivers and inhibitors for global mining industry software market.- This study also identifies various policies related to global mining industry software market.- The report identifies various credit, policy and technical risks associated with global mining industry software market.- This report has detailed profiles 22 key players in Global mining industry software market covering their business strategy, financial performance, future forecasts and SWOT analysis.- This report covers in details the competitive landscape in Global mining industry software market.- This report identifies key industry bodies and associations and their role in Global mining industry software market.- This report provides PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental) analysis for Global mining industry software market.- This report provides Porter's Five Forces analysis for Global mining industry software market.- This report provides SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis for Global mining industry software market.- This report identifies the key challenges faced by new players in Global mining industry software market.- This report provides future trends and opportunities for Global mining industry software market.- This report also provides strategic recommendations for policy makers, end users, service providers and investors.For more information and purchase this report please visit:If you are looking to access most of NOVONOUS reports at an economical subscription based rate then please visit:About NOVONOUSNOVONOUS helps organizations differentiate themselves, break entry barriers, track investments, develop strategies and see through corporate fog by providing business intelligence that works for their business.NOVONOUSNo. 579, Ground Floor, 16th Cross, 10th Main,ISRO Layout, Bangalore, India  560078Press Contact:Mr. Sudeep ChakravartyDirector - OperationsTel India: +91-80-26860858
ZEDAS Summit 2016 - a retrospect

ZEDAS Summit 2016 - a retrospect

www.zedas.com

Rail Industry meets for insights of ZEDAS Software Solutions for Rail Logistics and Asset ManagementThe fourth ZEDAS Summit took place from 21st to 22nd April 2016 in Cottbus (Germany), conducted by the ZEDAS GmbH Senftenberg. Up-to-the-minute topics such as Internet of Things, TSI TAF or Maintenance with RFID as well as the latest developments of the in-house software products zedascargo and zedasasset were on the agenda. The event was well received by over 100 participants from 47 rail transport and service companies.At the beginning Wolfgang Jahn, CEO of ZEDAS GmbH, spoke about the strategy for the company's further growth and new products and services of ZEDAS GmbH. Jens Schwendel, CEO of ibes AG from Chemnitz, talked in his presentation "Internet of things - the intelligent freight carrier - between vision and reality" about the technologies already available and the outstanding problems with the standardization. Ulrich Lieske, Authorised Representative and Head of Business Unit System Integration within ZEDAS GmbH, has highlighted in his presentation how the digital transformation now touches all areas of life and the high value IT Security must have. The conclusion is right hardware and qualified IT specialists are indispensable.Cost pressures in the Asset ManagementKey subject was Industry 4.0, that was why Ruedi Beutler, CEO of schienenverkehr-beratung.ch GmbH from Switzerland, spoke about the pressure on costs in maintenance among other speakers in the field of Asset Management.In times of Industry 4.0 a modern maintenance company must face new challenges to survive in daily competition. How these challenges can be handled with zedasasset, was extensively tested on multiple workstations on the second day in the context of software presentations.Success Story Logistics ManagementIn the field of Logistics Management Jorg Schmielewski, Head of rail services, and Roger Christoph Boungou, team leader organization and information technology, both from the Chemion Logistik GmbH in Leverkusen, reported from the experience of the introduction of the standard software solution zedascargo at a logistics service provider for the chemical and chemical-related industries.The participants could gain an impression of the latest developments on the second day at different workstations.In the exhibition area DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH, Arelion GmbH, ASE AG and PSI Transcom GmbH presented the latest developments and technologies of their companies.ZEDAS Summit will be back!Participants welcomed the active exchange with colleagues and suppliers. The participants agreed that project examples and success stories should be more in the focus ,the ZEDAS GmbH will gladly be open to that.Due to the positive feedback, the ZEDAS GmbH is planning the fifth ZEDAS Summit for 2018.ZEDAS GmbH develops software products for the logistics management of rail transport and for the asset management of vehicle fleets and technical asset management. Standard software products are zedascargo and zedasasset. The introduction and implementation of software developed in-house are our key services. We provide a 24 hour service with our solutions. ZEDAS customers are rail and transport companies and industrial companies. They include the freight transport, mining, oil, gas, chemistry, production engineering and renewable energy sectors.ZEDAS GmbHA.-Hennecke-Str. 3701968 SenftenbergGermanyUlrike GollaschMarketingTel.: +49 (3573) 7075-18E-Mail: ugollasch@zedas.com
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Avila Business Centers creates Research and Development department

The aim is to adopt new working models based on the best international practices and studies that Avila Business Centers is developing in this area.Lisbon, April 20th, 2016 - Avila Business Centers, the market leader in virtual offices and shared workspaces, has created a new department of Research and Development. This is one more step towards taking Avila Business Centers to the forefront of business centers in Portugal. The main goal of the new Department of Research and Development is to adopt new working models based on the best international practices and studies that Avila Business Centers is developing in this area. These studies, which will soon be presented to the market, reflect the feedback given by national and international companies that use virtual offices, coworking spaces and work programs at distance, a set of services that customers can find at Avila Business Centers."The paradigm of workspaces is changing and Avila's strategy is to provide an increasingly effective response to the needs of companies in the current economy seeking rational solutions with controlled costs, as well as to encourage the productivity of their work teams. Avila Business Centers wants to strengthen its leading position regarding the innovation in this market, in Portugal, and the creation of this department is a further proof that we are committed to achieve this goal", says Carlos Goncalves, CEO of Avila Business Centers .The new department of research and development will be led by Teresa Camara Jacinto, who assumes the position of Chief Research & Development Officer of Avila Business Centers and Avila Coworking, the insignia of shared workspaces of our company. Teresa has a degree in Mechanical and Thermodynamics Engineering from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa. Teresa has integrated leadership teams at Park Expo and managed several construction projects in the tourism, renewable energy and offices areas, as well as sporadically collaborating in training activities in these fields. "This is an excellent opportunity to put into practice the knowledge accumulated over the years and it is a motivating challenge, given the changes we have experienced in the use of workspaces by the new generations," says Teresa Camara Jacinto, which takes immediately functions in Avila Business Centers and Avila Coworking.This newly created department of Research and Development sets to continue the Avila Business Centers innovation track record and has already earned three Call Center trophies (2011, 2004 and 2015) as well as the 5th place on the Worlds' Coolest Offices contest of Inc magazine. Avila Business Centers has also launched myOffice, the world's first app for virtual offices. The CEO Carlos Goncalves was International Director of the Global Workspace Association and he is a member of the Advisory Board of the eOffice International Network, one of the largest networks of workspaces, based in London, and it is represented in Portugal by Avila Business Centers.About Avila Business CentersAvila Business Centers is the most prized business center in Portugal and it is the countrys innovation leader in the market of flexible workspaces. Both Avila Business Centers and Avila Coworking, offer a premium environment with the latest technology, where companies can grow in a sustainable and dynamic way. Avila Business Centers has revolutionized the market for virtual offices with the launching of myOffice app in 2010, an international pioneering platform.Founded in 2004, Avila Business Centers currently has more than 400 national and international clients and it is a member and representative of the largest network of world business centers, the eOffice International Network, in Portugal. This network has over 300 locations and it is managed from the United Kingdom. The Avila Business Centers has its premises in Lisbon, in Avenida da Republica and Avenida Joao Crisostomo.Avila Business CentersAvenida da Republica, 6, 7 Esquerdo1050-191, LisboaGPS: 38.73534, -9.14481Presscontact:Carlos Goncalves914047304cg@avilabusinesscenter.comavilabusinesscenter.com
Textile Chemicals Market Size & Share Analysis & Forecast 2014 to 2021

http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/65-textile-chemicals-market-report

http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-65

www.decisiondatabases.com

Global Textile Chemicals Market - (By Applications - Home Furnishing, Apparel, Industrial and Others. By Products - Coating & Sizing Chemicals, Colorants & Auxiliaries, Finishing Agents, Surfactants, Desizing Agents, Bleaching Agents, Yarn Lubricants and By Geography). Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2014 - 2021Textile chemicals are compounds, chemicals, or intermediates, which are used in processing and manufacturing of textile products. These chemicals are utilized for distinguished purposes such as dyeing, dye carriers, printing agents, reducers, oil and water repellants, colorants, brightening agents, surfactants, stabilizers, equipment cleaners, bleaching agents, leather tanning, soil release agents, softeners, detergents, flame retardants, flocking additives, antistatic agents, UV absorbers, oxidizers, dye migration prevention agents, liquid alkali, wetting agents, and preparation auxiliary chemicals.Browse Full Report:Textile chemicals improve and optimize products like greenhouse fabrics, flameproof furniture fabrics and durable airbags for vehicles, etc. Textile chemicals market is segmented based on its products such as coating & sizing chemicals, colorants & auxiliaries, finishing agents, surfactants, desizing agents, bleaching agents, and yarn lubricants. Coating & sizing chemicals is the major product application in the global market. These chemicals have major applications in industries like home furnishing, apparel, industrial and others. Home furnishing is the leading application in this global industry.Request Sample Report At:Asia Pacific is the leading geographic market for textile chemical, which is growing rapidly. The leading players in this market are The Dow Chemical Company, Solvay S.A., Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co. Ltd (Lonsen), Archroma (formerly Clariant), BASF SE, and The DyStar Group.Contact Us:Name : Sackshi GEmail: sales@decisiondatabases.comWeb:Contact No: +91-9928237112DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: decisiondatabases.com
Oliver Wight to host Integrated Business Planning Think Tank with events group, Industry Dynamics

www.oliverwight-eame.com

www.roninmarketing.co.uk

Leading business transformation consultants, Oliver Wight, are hosting an exclusive Think Tank for 15 carefully selected supply chain professionals in Dusseldorf, Germany on 24th May 2016. The event will focus on driving corporate growth through the use of Integrated Business Planning.Moderating the workshop are Oliver Wight Associates and thought-leaders on this topic, Liam Harrington and Debbie Bowen-Heaton who will demonstrate how organisations can overcome current and future challenges to transform their businesses, with the insights needed to ensure the IBP process delivers the value it should.IBP is a common sense process for aligning the company plans every month to help businesses allocate resources to satisfy customers in the most profitable way, explains Harrington. Companies that implement Integrated Business Planning well are more efficient, more effective and make more money than those who do not, he continues.Following on from the success of last years Think Tank, the focused session will be conducted under Chatham House rules, providing an open and honest forum where senior executives can network with their peers and share concerns over current and future issues.Guest speaker Neill Hunt, Head of Corporate Strategy at Element Six, will discuss real life case studies. The group will explore, amongst others, eight key issues: decision making for future growth; commodity pricing; reorganisation; talent development; regulatory restrictions; political uncertainty; currency volatility; and emerging technologies.The day co-hosted by Industry Dynamics, organisers of the annual Supply Chain and Logistics Summit, will commence with breakfast networking from 8:30am with the closed-door Think Tank session starting at 9:30am. Lunch will be served at 12:30pm in an informal setting to facilitate further networking.The results of the Think Tank will be released by Oliver Wight at the Supply Chain and Logistics Summit in Barcelona on 21st June 2016.Please visit the Oliver Wight website for more information or contact Zoe Davis on zoe.davis@oliverwight-eame.com.Notes to editorsAbout Oliver WightAt Oliver Wight, we believe sustainable business improvement can only be delivered by your own people; so, unlike other consultancy firms, we transfer our knowledge to you. Pioneers of Sales and Operations Planning and originators of the fundamentals behind supply chain planning, Oliver Wight professionals are the acknowledged industry thought leaders for Integrated Business Planning (IBP).Integrated Business Planning allows your senior executives to plan and manage the entire organisation over a 24-month horizon, while Oliver Wights extended Supply Chain Planning and Optimization ensures your supply chain is designed and structured to deliver best-in-class customer service with minimal costs. Using the Oliver Wight Maturity Model to pursue our globally recognised Class A standard for best practice will determine a tailored improvement journey for you to develop your organisations processes, and reach and sustain excellent business performance. With a track record of more than 40 years of helping some of the worlds best-known organisations, Oliver Wight will help you define your companys vision for the future and deliver performance and financial results that last.More informationZoe DavisOliver Wight EAMEzoe.davis@oliverwight-eame.comCaroline CrossRONIN Marketing Limited+44 (0) 20 3326 5039caroline@roninmarketing.co.ukOliver Wight EAMEThe Willows,Maisemore,Gloucester GL2 8EYUnited Kingdom
SensorSuite and Novotech Partner to Deliver Monitoring Services

Real-Time Sensor Intelligence Improves Energy and Refrigeration Management

www.novotech.com

Ottawa, ON, May 12, 2016  Novotech Technologies, a distributor of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) / Internet of Things (IoT) products, services and solutions, and SensorSuite, an IoT company that provides innovative wireless monitoring and energy saving solutions, today announced a partnership that combines award-winning monitoring capabilities and best-in-class distribution expertise to deliver Monitoring Services for property managers and business owners alike.For property managers concerned about Energy efficiencies, SensorSuites real-time sensor intelligence platform connects managers to their buildings and the machines within. Novotechs bundled Energy Monitoring Service, powered by SensorSuite, goes a step further by putting all the pieces together to help reduce operational risks while also optimizing the key assets consuming energy which range from HVAC and elevators, to air handlers, lighting, servers and security systems.For businesses that rely on accurate temperatures in freezers and fridges, Novotechs Refrigeration Monitoring Service, powered by SensorSuites newest wireless monitoring device called FridgeLink, will save energy costs and reduce the risk of inventory loss. Considering that hardware failure or inaccurate temperature readings account for the majority of losses related to spoilage, Novotechs new Refrigeration Monitoring Service can help owners plan for preventative maintenance and predict problems in advance of them happening.We are an energy management and cloud analytics platform that lets executives and managers to get more value out of their assets, space and equipment, says Robert Platek, CEO of SensorSuite. We believe our partnership with Novotech will expand our sales channel and reach more customers who are looking to optimize business performance.These Energy and Refrigeration Monitoring Services, powered by SensorSuite, are the beginning of our new Service offerings which are being designed to meet the needs of many markets and verticals, says Richard Hobbs, President at Novotech. This partnership with SensorSuite speaks to the growing demand for sensor-driven solutions that deliver almost immediate business advantages.Key Features of SensorSuite Wireless Sensors: Intuitive cloud sensor monitoring and alerting software (accessible from anywhere) Military grade, encrypted wireless mesh protocol Cellular and Ethernet gateways available Wireless hardware optimized for reliable, low power and long range operationKey Features of Novotechs Monitoring Services: Build your own bundle according to your specific needs Flexible Monitoring Packages  3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months Access to expertise and technical support from an industry leader in M2M/IoTAbout Novotech Technologies:Through strategic partnerships with many of the worlds most advanced Machine-to-Machine (M2M) / Internet of Things (IoT) manufacturers, Novotech Technologies is a leading distributor of M2M/IoT products, services and solutions. To produce tangible outcomes that include reduced costs, optimized fleets/workforces, improved productivity and enhanced customer service, Novotechs comprehensive portfolio of M2M/IoT solutions  cellular, GPS and satellite  enable immediate communication, tracking and reporting in a wide range of applications. Established in 2001, Novotech is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, with offices throughout Canada and the United States.| @NovotechM2MAbout SensorSuite Inc.SensorSuite is an Internet of Things infrastructure company involved in the design and manufacturing of turnkey, self-installing, low cost wireless sensor solutions targeted at the commercial, industrial and consumer markets. SensorSuites sensing solutions are designed to be easily installed and used by anyone wanting to remotely monitor information and activities, including: temperature, access, presence of water, light, humidity, and vibration in or around structures, machinery, and various environments.Novotech Media ContactCarolyn Gardner - Director of Marketing & CommunicationsMobile: 613.878.9294Email: News@Novotech.comSensorSuite Media ContactRobert Platek  CEOMobile: 647-284-6656Email: news@sensorsuite.com
What The Afterlife Is Like - Deceased Father Gave Answers To Brian McLaughlin, Author Of 'A Flight Without Wings - My Experience With Heaven'

Author Brian McLaughlin

http://www.brianmclaughlinbooks.com

What is the afterlife like? Author Brian McLaughlin is one of the people on Earth who can answer that question. His experience in the afterlife is the subject of his book about his near death experience, 'A Flight Without Wings, My Experience With Heaven'. In his book he details a meeting with his deceased father, who sent him back.My experience with Death didnt start with my father," McLaughlin stated."It started from the time I was observing the doctors and nurses, busy trying to revive me and assess my injuries. I understand that this is common in these types of events.Unable to directly communicate, I was just able to hear some very interesting conversation. At some point that I am unable to fit into a timeline, my attention was drawn away to a peaceful direction. The sounds of the clinicians talking as though I wasnt there, faded, and I was more interested in this peaceful path before me. I knew I was alone, yet that didnt seem to bother me or frighten me. It was a bright direction which I also hear is common.Nothing around me - and no clear knowledge of where to go Then, like a small speck on your computer screen that you might try to wipe off, this speck in my visual field became increasingly larger, and I could no longer ignore it. It became my center of focus. When I had gotten close enough, it appeared to be the shape of a person although still in silhouette, because of the brightness behind it. Closer still, I eventually recognized this person as my deceased father. Unlike I remembered him when he passed, I knew him right away, and he knew me. Neither one of us commented on how the other looked nor did I ask how he knew to be there at that exact moment."Brian McLaughlin's book about his near death experience stands apart from the rest. It is raw and it's real. There is no embellishment and no hidden agenda. While his book has a spiritual flavor certain, there is no preaching and no religious messages. It is his NDE, just as it happened. There is an important message. That message is peace.McLaughlin's experience changed the course of his life forever. It instilled in him what we all seek - certainty about life after death. And with that a peace of mind that can never be shaken, nor can it be doubted. His near death experience brought a sense of clarity. It brought a sense of real, lasting peace. He now knows with certainty that we exist forever. It is that simple message he brings to his audience, both through his book and at his speaking engagements.Brian McLaughlin will be making several live appearances in the Long Island, NY area during June, July and August, 2016:Sat. June 11 - Turn of the Cork Screw - Rockville Center, NY - Radio Interview, Book SigningSat. July 9 - Turn of the Cork Screw - Rockville Center, NY - Radio Interview, Book SigningSat. August 27 - Rockville Center, NY - Street FairBrian McLaughlin was chosen as one of '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' in 2015. Reviews of 'A Flight Without Wings' have been overwhelmingly positive. Jack Magnus, a reviewer with Readers Favorite, called the book a "well written and moving memoir that neither delves into the fanciful or dogmatic,... "Well worth reading, and is highly recommended." Another stated, "Being a mother who lost her only child I found it to be a great comfort to me." Another said, "I have read many accounts such as these, but this beautifully written account simply touched my heart in ways that previous ones have not."Mark Feuerstein, Actor (Royal Pains, USA Network) wrote: I have read it and I think its an inspiring tale of deep insight and so personal and yet so universal . . . such profound perspective.Brian McLaughlin is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at bamplaya@msn.com. 'A Flight Without Wings' is available at Amazon, Payhip and other book retailers. More information is available on his website.Brian McLaughlin is the award-winning author of 'A Flight Without Wings'. In his inspirational book, Brian vividly depicts his journey into Heaven and his following return to life caused by a massive head trauma sustained while vacationing in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico twenty-one years ago.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
CBK Engineering integrate Perle in Remote Alarm Multiplexers installed at the Rockefeller Center, Two World Financial Center & the Pepsi Building

CBK Engineering use I/O Device Servers & Industrial Switches

www.perle.com

NASHVILLE, TNMay 12th, 2016  Keeping Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), HVAC and other environmental systems operational is common sense critical. If these systems fail, business operations in any affected building face a shut-down.To prevent these types of disasters, CBK Engineering was approached by an electrical contractor in New York City to design a Remote Alarm Multiplexer system. The idea was to design a closed network with I/O Alarm closures to monitor things like temperature sensors, humidity sensors, USP fault alarms and water leak alarms. The closures would be mirrored to a master location up to 5000 ft way to trigger redundant device take over.Joe Woods, specifying Engineer at CBK Engineering comments, The key to this design was to keep the final solution as easy to install as possible. To many people, terminology like digital extension and fiber connectivity means complicated and expensive. This is not necessarily the case.The final solution contained Perle I/O Device Servers and Industrial Ethernet Switches, which were pre-configured so that the Electrical Engineer could merely plug the Remote Alarm Multiplexer in and forget about it. They are currently installed in landmark locations throughout NYC including Rockefeller Center, Two World Financial Center and the Pepsi Building to monitor UPS, HVAC and other environmental systems.For more details read the full CBK Engineering Case Study on Perle.comAbout Perle SystemsPerle Systems is a leading developer, manufacturer and vendor of high-reliability and richly featured connectivity and device networking products. These products are used to connect remote users reliably and securely to central servers for a wide variety of business applications. Product lines include Console Servers for Data Center Management, Terminal Servers, Device Servers, Remote Power Switches, Media Converters, Ethernet I/O, Serial Cards, Parallel Cards and Multimodem Cards. Perle distinguishes itself through extensive networking technology, depth of experience in major real-world network environments and long-term distribution and VAR channel relationships in major world markets. Perle has offices in 9 countries in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products through distribution and OEM/ODE channels worldwide.Perle Systems830 Fesslers Parkway, Suite 108Nashville, TN 37210Julie Mc DanielVP MarketingPhone: 1-800-46703753
Its often said that where there are new flights, increases in international property demand is sure to follow  and thats what is happening in and around Orlando, Florida. Following the introduction by Emirates Airlines in September 2015 of non-stop flights between Dubai and Orlando, it was thought that around 100,000 passengers would be expected to visit Central Florida each year. In fact, the flights have brought even more visitors - around 
The Paradigm of the office market is radically changing and the themes discussed on the 26th Edition of the Annual Conference of the Global Workspace Association, came to confirm that reality. At this meeting, made in September this year in Baltimore (USA), were debated the new workspaces market tendencies: the more recent concepts of offices, the growth of the virtual offices and the major bet of the moment: the Coworking. 
Prchard Parks Maya Clinard Orchard Parks Maya Clinard, far right, took runner-up in singles at this past weekends Section VI Girls Tennis Championships at...

Boys soccer peaking into sectionals It was not an ideal start to the 2022 season for the Orchard Park boys soccer team, dropping its first...
Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier

The board earmarked $1.54 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the dredge, designed to keep channels open and supply sand to nourish eroding beaches up and down the York County coast and beyond.
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Thursday 12 May 2016 2:51pm



Lab-in-a-Box phase 1 took science to the country. In 2016 Lab-in-a-Box phase 2 will encourage the country to take on science.

The University of Otago has gained funding for two innovative projects aimed at engaging New Zealanders, and young people in particular, to learn more about science and technology.

The two projects are among 44 Unlocking Curious Minds Contestable Fund grants announced by Science and Innovation Minster Steven Joyce this week.

The Fund was developed under the A Nation of Curious Minds  He Whenua Hihiri I te Mahara  a National Strategic Plan for Science in Society. Curious Minds is a cross-agency programme of work led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Ministers Chief Science Advisor.

Otagos latest projects:

Lab-in-a-Box 2: The country taking on science

Associate Professor Peter Dearden (Biochemistry)

$137,821

In 2015 Lab-in-a-Box was built and taken on its inaugural tour of the South Island. In 30 days over 4000 people engaged with Lab-in-a-Box, its scientists and educators. Lab-in-a-Box phase 1 took science to the country. In 2016 Lab-in-a-Box phase 2 will encourage the country to take on science. The Lab-in-a-Box will visit more remote communities (including Stewart Island) and new audiences, and will engage these communities on the key scientific issues of importance to them as well as getting them involved in a citizen science programme based around water quality.



Making a good impression: from fossils to false teeth

Professor Richard Cannon and Dr Carolina Loch (Faculty of Dentistry)

$26,106

Children from lower decile schools have fewer opportunities for hands-on science activities than pupils from high decile schools and also experience poorer oral health. This project will use childrens interest in animals and fossils to engage pupils from low decile Dunedin primary schools in a hands-on activity: making impressions of animal teeth. Accompanying videos will explain the science behind fossil formation, dental impression taking, tooth shape and function, and the importance of looking after your teeth for good oral and general health. This programme will stimulate childrens interest in a variety of sciences and lead to better oral health.
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Michigan State Police: The Amber Alert for Sapphire Palmer has been canceled. Sapphire was safely located by law enforcement in Florida.

No other details were released.
NEW YORK (AP)  CBS News veteran Morley Safer, a "60 Minutes" correspondent for all but two of the newsmagazine's 48-year history, said Wednesday that he's retiring from television.

The network will mark the occasion with an hour-long special on Safer's career Sunday after the regular edition of "60 Minutes."

"It's been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air," Safer said. "But most of all I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast."

His craggy face and voice deepened by cigarettes are familiar to all who watched television's first and still most popular newsmagazine. Safer is a living link to the show's combustible glory years with founding executive Don Hewitt, correspondent Mike Wallace and humorist Andy Rooney, when "60 Minutes" was often the most-watched show on television.

Safer's first report on "60 Minutes" in 1970 was about the training of U.S. Sky Marshals. His 919th and last, a profile of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, was broadcast in March. At 84 and dealing with health issues, Safer had cut back on work in recent years and was seen in a wheelchair at fellow correspondent Bob Simon's funeral last year.

Safer interviewed Ruth Madoff in 2011 about her husband's Ponzi scheme, and his 1983 story about Lenell Geter, a Texas man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison for armed robbery, won Geter's release.

A generalist in the show's tradition, Safer was also known for stories about the art world and profiles of Anna Wintour, Jackie Gleason and Katharine Hepburn.

"Morley has had a brilliant career as a reporter and as one of the most significant figures in CBS News history, on our broadcast and in many of our lives," said Jeff Fager, the show's executive producer. "Morley's curiosity, his sense of adventure and his superb writing, all made for exceptional work done by a remarkable man."

Fager, who was assigned to Safer's team as a young reporter, kept on his office wall a framed remnant of a curtain that was the landing place for a cup of coffee Safer once threw at him. Fortunately, Safer missed.

The Toronto-born Safer was the first Saigon bureau chief for CBS News, and his 1965 report on U.S. Marines burning the Vietnamese village of Cam Ne was a turning point in attitudes toward the war. He broadcast a report from inside China when it was still largely a closed society in 1967 and, as a Canadian Broadcast Corp. reporter, witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany in 1961.

He was a London bureau chief for CBS News in the late 1960s before joining "60 Minutes."

His departure leaves Steve Kroft and Lesley Stahl as the senior correspondents on the newsmagazine, still a fixture on CBS' schedule Sundays at 7 p.m.
Do you think downtown Midland needs a facelift?

At Mondays meeting, Midland City Council approved a contract with SmithGroupJJR, an Ann Arbor-based company that will design a concept plan for the downtown Midland streetscape.

Selina Tisdale, community affairs director, gave city council a brief history of Midlands current streetscape, which cost $1.8 million in 1993 and is now beginning to shows its age. She showed pictures of curbs starting to crumble, and pointed out trees are becoming problems for business owners and lighting equipment has become hard to replace.

Events have changed over the years as well, Tisdale said, such as the Gus Macker Tournament and Riverdays, which require adequate power resources.

One request she has heard from business owners is for creative ways to add in outdoor seating, which was not part of the original streetscape and can cause congestion along sidewalks during downtown events.

The Streetscape committee, made up of members of the Downtown Development Authority, began thinking about a new concept plan earlier in the year, and chose SmithGroupJJR as the company to design the project after interviews on April 20.

The DDA will fund the concept plan, Tisdale said, and is looking to allocate the organizations fund balance and seek out philanthropic support from the community to complete the streetscape project. The end goal is to have construction begin in early 2017.

SmithGroupJJRs initial estimates were $145,530 for Priority One, the area along Main Street, and $179,660 for Priority Two, to include Main Street and an overall design plan for the remaining downtown district. The DDA and SmithGroupJJR were able to negotiate and reach an agreement for a concept plan for Priority Two at a cost of $150,000.

The concept plan will include conversations with stakeholders and a traffic study to look at traffic patterns throughout downtown, along with a public engagement process that will include pop-up workshops and online engagement tools.

We are looking to start the public engagement process as soon as possible, Tisdale said.

Steve Arnosky, Ward 3, said the contract sounded like a lot for a study of downtown, and Tisdale replied that it was not the highest or lowest bid the streetscape committee received.

Midland resident Don Yopp spoke about the concept plan, and advised that the process should take a closer look at the priorities of downtown Midland. He encouraged officials to consider the elements that need the most attention, based on a grading system and importance to the downtown district.

The importance of the streetscape is not nearly as important as the elements downtown that attract people, Yopp said.

Four members of the city council approved the contract unanimously; Mayor Maureen Donker, Ward 2, was not present at the meeting.

SmithGroupJJR, working with DLZ of Michigan and MKSK Studios, will begin the public engagement process sometime in May and the concept plan is scheduled to be completed in mid-July. Tisdale said the DDA is aiming to have it complete at that time in order to communicate with downtown business owners about the streetscape construction to take place in 2017.
Douglas L. Koop, executive director of The Little Forks Conservancy, is leaving the area after accepting a new position.

Koop will be taking on the role of executive director of the Ann Arbor-based Legacy Land Conservancy on June 20. His last day at Little Forks will be June 15.

It is with mixed emotions that I share that I am moving on, Koop said. I leave Little Forks and the Midland area with more than 18 years of remarkable memories.

Koop joined Little Forks as its first executive director in 1997. Starting as the first staff member of the organization, Koop has led Little Forks to protect over 3,300 acres of natural lands throughout Mid-Michigan. Since completing its first land conservation project in 1999, Little Forks has helped landowners protect their family lands in seven counties across the region.

During his tenure, Koop headed a number of major fundraising projects to help grow the organization. Doug was instrumental in establishing the endowment fund, which will ensure that Little Forks can keep our promise to the lands weve helped protect forever, said Jon DeGroot, incoming board president and lead for the search committee. We also couldnt have successfully raised the $1.5 million needed to protect the 419-acre Riverview Natural Area without his leadership.

Koop counts Little Forks nature preserves among his proudest achievements. Each of the preserves is special in its own way from the logging history of the Averill Preserve to the amazing hemlock ridge at Forestview Natural Area, he said. It has meant a lot to me to be able to provide our community with access to and around the Tittabawassee River.

Koop said Little Forks Conservancys success over the years has been in large part due to the support of the Mid-Michigan community. The foundations, businesses, members and volunteers all played a role.

Because of the support of so many in this wonderful community, said Koop, Little Forks Conservancy is a strong organization with many opportunities to grow. I especially want to thank the more than 35 volunteer board members who have served with the organization by giving their time and talents to help build and sustain Little Forks.

Last year, Little Forks expanded its programming to invite more residents to participate in its work with the Conservation@Home program.

This new program is just one of the ways Little Forks Conservancy is growing to do more to protect and preserve our local rivers and natural lands, DeGroot said.

He added that the board of directors will appoint a search committee at its May meeting.

Little Forks will be hosting a farewell open house for Koop on May 25 from 5-7 p.m. at the Midland Center for the Arts Saints & Sinners Lounge. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available. For more information, contact Little Forks Conservancy at www.littleforks.org.
What took place today could very well be the last annual meeting of stockholders for The Dow Chemical Co, president and CEO Andrew Liveris told a crowd of hundreds of Dow shareholders, employees and retirees at the Midland Center for the Arts.

Highlights of the meeting included remarks addressing the upcoming merger with Delaware-based DuPont Co., the impending acquisition of Dow Corning Corp. and the future Dow company to be headquartered in Midland.

What a moment this is for your Dow Chemical Company, Liveris said in his opening remarks.

He called the DowDuPont merger the largest and most consequential merger in our sector and also announced the acquisition of Auburn-based Dow Corning Corp., its joint venture with Corning Inc., would be complete June 1.

Ive often said, Dow people are the best in the business, Liveris said during opening remarks. They are, quite literally, the human element at work.

He alluded to the companys founder, Herbert H. Dow, who Liveris described as bold and and possessing the spirit of fearless entrepreneurship. It is Herbert H. Dows example that has led the company through multiple generations of expansion, diversifying and investment in innovation, he said.

It guides us today as we make Generation 6.0 a reality, Liveris said.

The year 2015 was a pivotal year in the companys history, with ground-breaking results and gathering momentum, he added. It resulted in an all-time high of $9.6 billion for full-year earnings before certain factors, 667 U.S. patent grants and improved experimental capabilities.

Consumer Solutions, Building and Construction, and undisputed leader Performance Plastics showed strong performance despite global and currency headwinds coupled with fluctuating oil prices, he said, and illustrated a focused, disciplined, innovation-driven company that is hitting its stride. He also commented on the propane dehydrogenation facility in Freeport, Texas, and its joint venture polyethylene company, Sadara Chemical Company in Saudi Arabia, and the bold steps taken by Dow with its other joint ventures like MEGlobal, acquired by Equate at the end of 2015, and its chlorine business.

Those strategies combined to position Dow for two historic transactions, Liveris said. He began with the acquisition of Dow Corning, which has been approved by authorities and is set to join the Dow company on June 1, that he described as a hand-and-glove fit for the companies with complimentary markets.

DowDuPont represents a rare, tax-efficient merger of equals that will truly revolutionize our industry, Liveris said, with $1 billion in growth synergies and $3 billion in price synergies. The combined company will result in the spin-off of three separate companies, one of which he called the new Dow that will focus on material sciences with predicted revenue of $51 billion and headquarters in Midland.

The new Dow will be able to meet even more of the industrys needs, Liveris said. We are truly excited about this new era of growth. We are speeding towards a future even greater than the past.

Liveris shared that he has been an employee of Dow for 40 years, and has served as the CEO for the past decade, and is excited for the company to move into the next generation of its future.

This may well be the last stockholder meeting for the Dow that exists, he said. It has been, and continues to be a privilege to serve you.

Preliminary results for voting matters included "unanimous" approval of nominations for Dows board of directors; 98 percent of voters approving the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; and 87.4 percent of voters approving a resolution related to executive compensation.

At least 72 percent of voters approved a proxy access bylaw that would require Dow to include in proxy materials the name, disclosure and statement of any person nominated for election to the board by a shareholder or group that satisfies the criteria. The proxy access bylaw would also allow shareholders to vote on such nominee on Dows proxy card.
David J. Phillip | AP file photo

NEW YORK (AP)  Kroger is having a nationwide hiring event to fill 14,000 open jobs across all its supermarket chains, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer and Food 4 Less.

Candidates can apply online at jobs.kroger.com and show up to a store Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for an interview.
LANSING  Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law legislation that will prevent private companies from charging exorbitant fees for copies of deeds that are available from their county register of deeds for only $1 per page.

This law is long overdue, said Amy Bissell, president of the Michigan Association of Register of Deeds. For years citizens have been solicited by private companies charging as much as $80 or more for their own deed when they are able to obtain copies of the same deed from their local register of deeds office for as little as $1.

These companies would send letters that were designed to look like an official government mailing to lure the property owners into their scheme. We are appreciative of the legislature taking up this issue to solve this problem to protect property owners, added Bissell.

Under the terms of the legislation, the attorney general can bring action against anyone who knowingly violates the terms of the act. The court can order the person to refund all of the money paid by the victims of the scam with respect to the solicitation. In addition, the company may be ordered to pay a fine of $100 for the first violation of the act followed by $200 for a subsequent violation. Fines collected under this section shall be distributed to public libraries.

Midland County Register of Deeds Julie Atkinson published an article warning people of this scam some years ago.

We have people calling or coming into our office wondering if the very official piece of mail they received is on the up and up. We explain that we can sell them the same deed for much less and they should always come to us or use our website for official copies of their deed, she stated in a press release.

Atkinson added, By the number of people questioning us about this, just imagine how many have been unscrupulously marketed deeds for unreasonable and exorbitant amounts? At least we have a means to stop them now, so I urge anyone who receives such a solicitation in the future to bring it to my office so we can work with the Attorney Generals Office to get this stopped once and for all.

Anyone with questions or complaints may contact the Midland County Register of Deeds office at (989) 832-6820.
The Midland-Handa City Japan Sister City Committee is seeking Midland families who are interested in hosting a visiting high school student from Handa City this summer.

Families are asked to host a teen for one week during his/her stay in Midland, to provide lodging, meals and local transportation. Families are also invited to participate in several group recreational and cultural events for all visitors and their host families during the students three week visit (July 23-Aug.11).
To the editor:

American Legion and Auxiliary volunteers will distribute the familiar red handcrafted poppies honoring Americas war dead on May 19-21, designated as Poppy Days by Berryhill Post #165 in Midland.

Planned to coincide with the Memorial Day holiday, the annual event pays tribute to those veterans who have died. It also honors the millions of Americans who have willingly served their country.

It serves as well to honor the veterans with proceeds from the distribution invested in local programs for the benefit of veterans and their families.

Each nine-piece poppy is made by a veteran for veterans in Auxiliary-sponsored Poppy Shops that supplement physical and psychological therapy needed by hospitalized and disabled veterans. The veteran who makes the poppy and is paid a small amount for each painstakingly made flower. For some, it is their only income.

During the trying time of war and through the evil acts of terrorism, it has become more apparent that we need to show our gratitude and thank those men and women in uniform, including those who have paid the ultimate price so that we remain living in a free country under God. There is no better way to say Thank you than to wear a poppy as a reminder that we will always remember.

Thank you for your support.

TINA MCINTOSH

BILL SOFOULIS

Poppy Chairmen

American Legion

Berryhill Post #165

and Auxillary

Midland
A Midland father accusing of injuring his infant daughter by shaking her has avoided a jury trial entering a guilty plea in his case.

Edward Russell Huizar, 20, was charged with first- and second-degree child abuse, as well as second offense domestic violence. Last week, he pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse and second-offense domestic violence. The remaining charge is to be dismissed.

Sentencing is set for June 16 before Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen P. Carras.

Midland Police detectives began investigating the incident after receiving a referral from Childrens Protective Services on Nov. 24. At the time, the 1-month-old infant was in intensive care at Covenant HealthCare receiving treatment for brain injuries.

Doctors at the hospital indicated the injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome, states an affidavit filed in court.

The babys mother told Midland Police detectives she left the baby with Huizar while she returned to work from maternity leave. She came home from her second day back at work and found the baby had a bruise on her head. Huizar changed his explanation of how the injury occurred a couple of times, she told detectives.

Huizar told detectives he was watching the baby while his girlfriend was at work, and the baby became fussy. He said he was frustrated that the baby wouldnt stop crying so he shook her for about 10 seconds before placing her on the couch and punching the couch. He said each time he punched the couch, the baby bounced up into the air, the affidavit states.

The affidavit lists the infants injuries as abusive head trauma, post trauma seizures, retinal hemorrhages, rib irregularities and bruising on her left temple.

Attorney Dan Duke of Midland was appointed to represent Huizar. The case had been set for a jury trial next week.
New openings

The Darkness

92 min.; PG-13 (thematic elements, disturbing violence, brief sensuality, language)

A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation with a supernatural presence in tow.

Money Monster

98 min.; R (language throughout, sexuality, brief violence)

A financial TV host and his producer are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes over their studio.

Ongoing

Barbershop: The Next Cut

112 min.; PG-13 (sexual material, language)

The crew at Calvin's Barbershop come together to bring some much-needed change to their worsening neighborhood.

The Boss

99 min.; R (sexual content, language, drug use)

A convicted titan of industry emerges from jail ready to re-brand herself as America's sweetheart.

Captain America: Civil War

147 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG-13 (extended sequences of violence, action, mayhem)

Political interference in Avengers' activities causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.

God's Not Dead 2

121 min.; PG (thematic elements)

A high school teacher who answers a student's question about Jesus in the classroom faces censure.

The Huntsman: Winter's War

114 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG-13 (fantasy action violence, sensuality)

Members of the Huntsmen army combat Queen Ravenna's wicked intentions.

The Jungle Book

105 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG (scary action, peril)

An orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear and a black panther.

Keanu

98 min.; R (violence, language throughout, drug use, sexuality/nudity)

When their kitten is catnapped, two non-streetwise cousins impersonate ruthless killers to get the pet back.

Mother's Day

118 min.; PG-13 (language, suggestive material)

Three generations of mothers/daughters come together in the week leading up to Mother's Day.

Zootopia

108 min.; 2-D/3-D; PG (thematic elements, rude humor, action)

A fugitive con artist fox and a rookie bunny cop work together to uncover a conspiracy.

At the Normal

Francofonia

88 min.; unrated

A history of the Louvre during the Nazi occupation and a meditation on the meaning and timelessness of art. (May 12 and 14)

His Girl Friday

92 min.; unrated

A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying. (May 13 and 15)

Sixteen Candles

93 min.; PG (language, sexual situations)

A young girl's 16th birthday becomes an occasion for suffering every embarrassment possible. (May 13)

Gaslight

114 min.; unrated

A young woman and her new husband move back into the family home where her aunt was murdered. (May 17)

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words

114 min.; unrated

The life and times of the young Swedish girl who became one of the movies' most celebrated actresses. (May 18).
NORMAL  Uptown Normal's annual Pooch Parade and Pet Fair could be discontinued after it was canceled for the second straight year.

Officials on Wednesday canceled the May 21 event due to a recent outbreak of canine influenza in the Twin Cities, one year after a Chicago outbreak scuttled the 2015 edition.

We hate to get people excited and make a lot of plans and then cancel it year after year, said Uptown Manager Joe Tulley. Well reach out to some of our friends in the nonprofit and pet health care communities to say, 'Whats the future of this event?'

Canine influenza has sickened hundreds of dogs in the Bloomington-Normal area in the past few days, so veterinarians are urging dog owners to keep their pets away from other dogs and to call their vet if their dog shows symptoms.

"Too many questions exist about the overall level of safety that we would be able to provide for participants pets," according to a news release issued by Tulley.

Tulley said officials might talk about rescheduling" the parade yet in 2016, though the event was created to fill a hole in uptown's spring calendar.

Established in 2013, the parade proved immensely popular, drawing more than 1,000 people to uptown in 2014. Tulley said more than 60 pets paraded that year, some with "extraordinarily elaborate costumes."

Theres definite interest, Tulley said of keeping the parade going. Any event is possible if we get a bunch of support for it.

Eastland Companion Animal Hospital staff will still offer the flu vaccine and provide information about canine influenza from 1 to 3 p.m. May 21 in the uptown area. Uptown businesses also will hold sidewalk sales 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

Vaccinations will be available for a $50 fee, with a portion of proceeds benefiting animal rescue in McLean County, and no appointments are needed. That fee covers the first dose of the vaccine and a booster given two to four weeks later.

Tulley said pet owners can also attend to take a good opportunity in a nice comfortable setting to chat with professionals about canine influenza.

Though rarely fatal, canine influenza is worrisome because few dogs have been exposed to it or vaccinated against it, experts said this week. That means that nearly every dog exposed to the highly contagious respiratory infection gets sick for a week or two.

Two local experts  Dr. Kirsten Pieper of the Animal Emergency Clinic of McLean County and Dr. David Bortell of Bortell Animal Hospital  were not aware Monday of any dogs in the area that have died during the outbreak.
Its certainly not uncommon for a machinery technician to save the day during harvest season, but it is rare for one to literally save a farmers life.
BLOOMINGTON  Kelsey Heralds copper-colored hair is the longest its ever been in her 11 years.

My hair is very special. I get it from my dad, said the fifth-grader at Bent Elementary School in Bloomington.

Next week, she is volunteering to have 8 inches of hair chopped off in honor of her favorite teacher at Bent, Susan Dobson.

Dobson battled breast cancer from January 2014 to May 2015. She went through three surgeries, weekly chemotherapy treatments and hair loss while teaching fourth grade. She now is cancer-free.

After one of her students cut and donated her hair to make wigs for cancer patients last year, Dobson figured more students may be interested in the cause.

I wanted to come up with a way to pay it forward while getting students involved, she said.

She organized a hair-cutting event at Bent next week with help from the Paul Mitchell school in Normal. Bent students, parents and teachers signed up to have their long hair snipped by the stylists and donated.

There will be an assembly at Bent and well have some of our design team members cut ponytails and finish the haircut, said Tiffany Kreps, admissions team member for Paul Mitchell.

The locks will be donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to create wigs through HairUWear. The American Cancer Society will distribute the free wigs to patients who have lost their hair in cancer treatments.

"We love doing things like this in the community, and we're excited to help Susan pay it forward," said Kreps.

She said Paul Mitchell stylists usually see such hair donations from college and high school students, not elementary school kids.

Its great that these younger students are aware and able to participate in something that means so much to someone at their school, said Kreps.

When Dobson lost her hair from chemo treatments, she wore a wig to school. Kelsey said she couldn't tell the wig wasn't real.

Having hair makes you feel normal, said Dobson. It was hard to take my wig off and show the kids, but it felt comforting. They listened to my story and were very intrigued.

Kelsey said she is excited and nervous about the drastic haircut she will receive on Thursday.

I want to try something new, said Kelsey. Its awesome to know someone else out there will have my hair.

Interested students took home waivers to receive permission from parents before signing up for the cause. Kelseys mom, Amy Herald, gave the request a thumbs up.

I thought it was cool, said Herald. Its for a great cause and such a good experience for her.

Dobson said that by Wednesday she had collected waivers from 15 volunteers, including one boy and some as young as kindergartners. She will continue to accept forms through the week.

She said one parent made a note on the waiver, saying their children were willing to give up to 12 inches of hair.

Eight inches is a big deal to some of these kids, said Dobson. But theyre giving so selflessly.

Dobson said she plans on making the day special with hair accessories and treats for those donating ponytails. Many parents are attending the event to cheer on their children.

She said she hopes the event will teach students about the different, physical side to cancer.

Such good things can come from horrible things, said Dobson. I didnt know 9- and 10-year-olds were capable of such goodness and empathy.
MITCHELLSVILLE  Police have located the pickup truck allegedly stolen by a Bellflower man wanted in connection with a police shooting and have intensified their search in the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area where the truck was found, an Illinois State Police commander said Thursday.

Capt. William Sons would not disclose specifically where the truck was found, but said police are confident that Dracy Clint Pendleton is or has been in the wilderness area since the search began Saturday night.

Pendleton, 35, is being sought on an arrest warrant out of Champaign County charging him with aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with a Saturday night shooting of a Mahomet police officer Saturday night after a traffic stop.

The officer was reportedly shot in the arm and has been released from hospital care.

Sons said police are stepping up their search for Pendleton, adding patrols in the area.

We have information that he has been in the area. Weve had tips that we have been following up on. We have some pretty solid information from some earlier interview sightings that we are pretty confident that he is here or has been here, Sons said.

He added that police have had no contact with Pendleton and repeated that authorities are seeking a peaceful resolution, asking that he turn himself in to police.

Authorities closed the Lusk Creek Wilderness area on Monday. It is a large, rugged landscape of more than 5,000 acres, most of it encompassing public land within the Shawnee National Forest in northern Pope County.

Sons said the area has been closed for public safety and he warned visitors to the forest outside the Lusk Creek Wilderness area to use caution and to report suspicious activity.

Pendleton is considered armed and dangerous, and police have said he may be in possession of an AK-47. On Wednesday, the FBI issued a federal warrant for Pendletons arrest and is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The reward is in addition to a $1,000 reward offered by Champaign County Crimestoppers that can be reached by calling 866-765-8327.

Pendleton is reported to have survivalist skills and is familiar with the area, having lived in Pope County for at least one year in 2012, authorities have said.

During the exchange of gunfire in Mahomet, pPolice believe Pendleton may have been struck in the neck and could seek medical attention. He also may walk with a limp because of a previous knee injury.

He is described as white, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds. He has blue eyes and blonde hair. He was last seen at about 9:15 a.m. Monday, wearing a black shirt, camouflage pants and boots. He has shaved his beard and trimmed his hair.

Illinois State Police can be reached at 618-542-1483. Those who see the suspect may also call 911 or a local police agency, Sons said.
Day of Hope to help cancer society

BLOOMINGTON  A Day of Hope to benefit the American Cancer Society will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Central Illinois Regional Airport.

In addition to a lap for cancer survivors and a lap for caregivers, the event will include a variety of games and activities inside and outside.

Sign-up open for commuter challenge

BLOOMINGTON  The Employers Coalition for Healthcare Inc. and the McLean County Wellness Coalition are encouraging people to participate in the Good To Go Commuter Challenge.

From May 16 through 22, McLean County residents are urged to get to work by walking, biking or taking the bus. Teams and individuals may register through Friday at https://goodtogomclean.org.
NORMAL  Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday he is "cautiously optimistic" about changing how the state funds public schools, but not the reform package the state Senate approved on Tuesday.

Rauner answered questions from the media during a visit to Normal Community West High School where he spoke of his support for adequate state funding for education.

I need to study it (the Senate bill) in more detail, but on a preliminary basis it looks like it would cut most school districts amount of state money significantly and it would increase Chicagos funding very significantly. If thats the outcome, I do not support it, said Rauner.

McLean County Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel, who accompanied Rauner on his visit, said the pending bill would cost the Normal-based district $8.2 million a year.

That would be devastating, said Daniel. I agree with the governor; something has to change because were at the bottom of the barrel.

The legislation sponsored by state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, which passed on a 31-21 vote, seeks to reform the state aid formula to shift funding from wealthier to poorer school districts. While Democratic supporters say it would address inequities in one of the least fair school funding systems in the country, Republicans have panned it as a bailout for Chicago Public Schools.

A hold-harmless provision would make sure no district would lose money in the first year, but some districts would see a decline in state funding after a three-year phase-in, according to backers of the bill. The state also would begin picking up the $205 million tab for the employer share of Chicago teachers' pensions, something it already does for districts in the rest of the state.

Rauner said that when it comes to finding a successful funding formula, he is cautiously optimistic.

If we could come up with a new formula soon, that would be best. But what we shouldnt do is rush to put in a bad formula that cuts most districts and does a bailout for Chicago. That would be worse than the current ineffective formula, said Rauner.

We cant get this done in the next few weeks, but Im confident well see a change in upcoming months, he said.
BLOOMINGTON  The idea of the city of Bloomington and town of Normal sharing sales tax revenue won support Wednesday from two local business groups.

The McLean County Chamber of Commerce and the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council announced Wednesday they endorse the concept.

"Although this proposed sales tax sharing initiative is in its developmental stages with details still yet to be determined, the boards of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council support and encourage the conception and continued examination of this initiative," said the two organizations in a joint news release.

Such sharing would foster cooperation instead of competition between the two communities in attracting and retaining businesses, jobs and the revenue they would generate, the agencies added.

In April, the BN Advantage Leadership Council, a committee of local community leaders, including Mayors Tari Renner of Bloomington and Chris Koos of Normal, announced its support of the concept.

While the details of an agreement still need to be worked out, Renner and Koos said earlier it likely would cover the entire community rather than a specific zone.

It also likely would split revenue proportionally, based on population, with Bloomington getting 60 percent and Normal 40 percent.

That formula "would not only prove to be a fair distribution of revenue, but would also be in line with current sales tax revenues between the two municipalities," said the Chamber and EDC.

Any agreement would require approval from both city councils, but neither has formally discussed the concept.
BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Board of Health on Wednesday reviewed but delayed approving a new five-year strategic plan that was criticized recently by the County Board's own health committee.

The Board of Health spent more than two hours going over the plan for community public health services. The document, which has been in development for more than a year, will be brought back for consideration in July.

Last week, the County Board's health committee questioned several points of the plan, including what some members considered to be a lack of focus on mental health and the movement toward expanding fee-based services at the expense of private service providers.

Board of Health member Cory Tello said efforts to raise revenue from fee-based services could be a shield against delayed or reduced public funding.

"I feel these activities are very forward thinking," said Tello.

The health department has replaced a local hospital for delivering flu shots to State Farm workers, a move County Board member George Wendt sees as inappropriate competition by the a private company.

On the mental health portion of the plan, the board agreed to a suggestion from Board of Health member Judy Buchanan to include the county's Mental Health Action Plan as a resource. The plan was approved last year by the County Board after recommendations from two advisory panels.

The health department's website also will be expanded to include a phone number for a local crisis center, another action taken by the health department to address a County Board concern.

The health board developed a strategy to help achieve its goal to hire an epidemiologist, a position removed from consideration during the county's budget cycle in 2015.

Board of Health member Jean Turley noted that having an epidemiologist on staff will be a requirement for a federal accreditation that is not yet mandatory. The county could lose federal dollars in the future if its fails to meet all requirements of the accreditation, said Turley.

Using the argument that federal money may be lost "is a better way to sell it" with the County Board, said Turley.

"The health department needs an epidemiologist, regardless of whether we go for accreditation right away or not," said Howe.

County Board finance committee Chairman Ben Owens, who also is a member of the Board of Health, recommended that the Board of Health bring the request for an epidemiologist to the County Board well ahead of the late-summer budget cycle.

On the issue of the health department's funding, director Walt Howe told the board the agency has adequate reserve funds  estimated to be about about $3 million  to cover expenses at least through the fiscal year ending July 1.

Howe said he considers the state budget impasse "an absolute unique thing that I don't think will ever occur again."

Member Sonja Reece questioned Howe's optimism, saying, "I think it's more of an indicator of our whole economic times to come." The state's uncertain financial future requires the health agency to prioritize any potential program expansions, said Reece.
West Point is investigating whether black female cadets violated any rules by raising their fists in an informal group photo. I hope their commanders will be lenient.

The women are young. They were celebrating their upcoming graduation. Maybe they didn't understand how easy it is for some black people to alarm some white people  especially when we are black people in groups.

The 16 women were following an old school tradition by posing in historical-style uniforms before graduation later in May. Controversy erupted because of the upraised fists.

Now an investigation will determine whether the cadets violated the school honor code or Defense Department prohibitions against political activities while in the armed forces.

Meanwhile, Internet chatter about the matter has exploded.

The New York Times quoted blogger John Burk, a white former drill sergeant, as calling the pose an "overt display of the Black Lives Matter movement." Burk told the Times via email that he had "disciplined soldiers for making Nazi salutes in photos, and felt the raised fist was not much different."

And you don't have to be white to feel that way. In a post titled, "Here's EXACTLY what I'd do to the West Point cadets who took this dishonorable photo," former Rep. Allen West, a Florida Republican and retired Army lieutenant colonel, said the young women should apologize to their class and to the academy.

"(W)hat if these were 16 white male West Point cadets from the South who took a picture in uniform with the Confederate battle flag?" West asked in his blog post. "And you know those white male cadets would be in serious danger of not graduating and receiving their commission as an Army officer."

Excuse me? Confederate battle flag? Nazi salutes? If you think every raised black fist automatically means Black Lives Matter, you need to learn more about black people  just as we black folks always have been obliged to know what gestures might upset white people.

I was reminded of how, back in 1968, a similar fist-raised gesture by black American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos caused a commotion at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. As the athletes turned to face their flags as the American national anthem played, they each raised a black-gloved fist. Media exploded with chatter, as I recall, not much of it was complimentary.

In his autobiography, "Silent Gesture," Smith explained that the raised fists were not a "Black Power" salute, but a "human rights salute." But in that era of the black power movement and Black Panthers, to many folks all raised black fists looked alike.

Although the current cadets weren't talking as the matter is investigated, NPR helpfully quoted the Facebook page insights of Mary Tobin, who graduated from West Point about 13 years ago. The raised fists, she wrote, were not a "sign of allegiance to any political movement," but "an act of unity amongst sisters and a symbol of achievement."

"Our attrition rates are on par with the class at large," she wrote, "but can you imagine what it must feel like to live, train, study, eat, cry, laugh, struggle and succeed in an environment where for 4 years, the majority of the people there don't look like you, it's hard for them to relate to you, they oftentimes don't understand you, and the only way to survive is to shrink your blackness or assimilate."

It's a familiar story to many of us who ever have been one of the first members of a minority group in a school or workplace. Having an extended family of "brothers" or "sisters" who share the pain helps ease anxieties, even when your signals of celebration alarm folks who don't know much about black folks besides crime stories.

More than a century after Henry O. Flipper became the first African American to graduate from West Point in 1877, the 16 cadets in the photo represented all but one of the black women in a graduating class of about 1,000, according to the Times.

Yet, as an Army veteran from the last century, I am proud to see even that tiny percentage of black women. It signals a growing respect in this country for the contributions that every race and gender can make to our nation's defense, even if we sometimes make each other nervous.
So let's just posit that Hillary Clinton wins the presidency in November because her opponent, Donald Trump, is so off-putting that African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans  and others Trump has insulted  come out to the polls in droves.

And then what?

For all the talk about how the Republican Party has alienated minorities, what do the Democrats have to offer them in terms of long-term voter engagement?

Let's take a look at what happened when Clinton  whose husband garnered negative press last month for castigating Black Lives Matters protesters who interrupted him  stopped by East Los Angeles for Cinco de Mayo.

According to the website Fusion.net, people were upset to begin with  there were police in riot gear and on horses and in helicopters to deal with the estimated 1,000 protesters who showed up. And the eight-piece mariachi band Clinton showed up with just set people off.

Jasmin Pacheco was there to confront Clinton about her June 2014 comments supporting the deportation of unaccompanied minors from Central America. She told Fusion, "I was nervous, but then I saw the mariachis and it made me angrier. She was pandering."

Adding to the perception of offensive Hispandering was Clinton's short speech, which was almost exclusively focused on Trump's immigration demagoguery. Hitting your opponent in a weak spot is to be expected. But limiting a brief speech to one issue in which the only thing you can say is that at least you're not the other guy telegraphs a poor understanding of the challenges ahead.

A recent America's Voice/Latino Decisions poll of registered Latino voters showed, for the umpteenth time, that when you ask Hispanics about the top priorities they think the next president and Congress should address, they rank jobs, the economy and unemployment above all else.

Of course, there's no question that immigration is an important and personal topic to the overwhelming majority of Hispanics. According to this poll, 35 percent of Hispanics know someone who has been detained for immigration reasons or deported, and 57 percent know a friend, family member or co-worker who is residing in the U.S. illegally.

But the key number this particular group of registered voters articulated is this: When asked why they are motivated to vote in the 2016 election, 41 percent said to vote against Trump. Only 16 percent said they were enthusiastic to vote for Clinton and 13 percent for Bernie Sanders.

A lack of enthusiasm for Democrats isn't just a Latino thing. In a March analysis of the future of the Democratic party, The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza quoted Michael Render, the rapper known as Killer Mike who has been on the stump for Sanders, noting that his friends have lost all faith in electoral politics: "Their mantra is 'Don't be a part of the political process at all. You're leading our people into a burning house.'"

The Democrats have, for the most part, gotten a pass from communities of color who have had little choice but to support the only candidates who weren't specifically referring to them as terrorists, takers, spongers on the welfare system and/or illegal aliens.

But that's hardly what you'd call the makings of a long-term voter engagement and allegiance strategy.

The fact of the matter is that even while 42 percent of Hispanic voter respondents said that they felt the Republican Party has become more hostile to Latinos in recent years, no one failed to notice that two Hispanics were in the running for the Republican nomination.

Some politicians are figuring they can get away with alienating minorities who don't show up at polls in numbers that reflect their populations  for short-term gains.

But as the years go by, there will be no avoiding a demographic destiny that will demand that representatives of both parties not only respect minority voters but promote them within their ranks, hire them for key positions in their campaigns and administrations and address their specific concerns.

It won't be too long before simply being the lesser of two evils is not a strategy that will help Democrats stay in positions of power. The question is: Will they finally start figuring out how to really connect with voters of color, or will they simply keep counting on hyperbolic Republicans to make them the choice of last resort?
Funding decisions announced last week by United Way of McLean County were the right call for community needs, but raised a few eyebrows because of cuts to some longtime agencies.

Cuts or new appropriations should be expected when the United Way capital campaign lags behind its goal. To suggest that "charter agencies" can put their hand out first, at the expense of smaller or newer groups, is ludicrous.

Three longtime partner agencies  Bloomington-Normal YMCA, W.D. Boyce Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois  each lost funding for a single program. United Way, working with almost a million dollars less than last year, instead awarded money to new agencies whose programs help with mental health and senior transportation.

YMCA Executive Director B.J. Wilken, in a statement provided to The Pantagraph after the allocations were announced, was clearly upset that the Y, a charter partner, suffered a cutback.

United Way money should go to the best programs helping the most people; allocations should not be determined by which agency has seniority. Doing that means newer or smaller agencies never will have a chance.

United Way has fought to make campaign goals in recent years. Several factors likely come into play: donors can't give as much as in the past; they want to give directly to agencies where they have a bigger say in how their money is spent; and commuters whose donations are redirected to their home county's United Way.

Others may want to circumvent United Way peeling off part of their donation to pay for administrative costs.

But any agency that has worked with United Way could have foretold what needed to happen if the campaign failed to meet its goal. Agencies needed to look at their own books to make cuts or to consolidate programs. United Way, for instance, rewarded Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal and Western Avenue Community Center's Lawrence Irvin Neighborhood Center for collaborating with Bloomington and Normal on Teen CLUB, a juvenile intervention program.

It may be time for larger, more established agencies to broaden their own campaigns  as the YMCA already has started  rather than look for United Way help. The umbrella organization then can work more closely with lesser-known or newer groups who could benefit from United Way's name recognition.

United Way President and CEO David Taylor told The Pantagraph the funding decisions were "not a referendum on the value of those organizations. Our plan is to continue partnering with these agencies regardless of grant funding."

That's good to know. But every agency that benefits from United Way money needs to take a hard look at what is offered elsewhere in the community to see if consolidation or cuts could prevent some duplication.

United Way money deserves to be put to the best uses.
Xerium Acquires J.J. Plank Corporation for $18 Million

May 6, 2016 - Xerium Technologies on May 4 announced that it acquired the business of J.J. Plank Corporation, including its Spencer Johnston brand spreader roll line and related family of product lines for $18 million, comprised of $16.25 million in cash at closing, and the rest in future obligations.

Spencer Johnston and the other J.J. Plank divisions supply equipment used in the production of paper, nonwoven fabrics, flexible packaging, tissue converting, and food packaging.

According to Xerium, the combined company will have one of the broadest sets of capabilities with respect to spreader rolls, dandy rolls, and tissue embossing rolls in the world.

Incorporating Spencer Johnston's and the other divisions' strengths in spreader rolls, dandy rolls, and tissue embossing rolls with our existing portfolio of products is a strategically and financially compelling advancement opportunity, said Harold Bevis, President and CEO of Xerium. These product lines will strengthen our product and service offerings, add new customers to our roster, and accelerate revenue diversification.

Importantly, this acquisition furthers the Company's strategy of realigning its market presence and future sales opportunities by onboarding existing customer references and special-purpose manufacturing assets," Bevis added.

Spencer Johnston and the other J.J. Plank divisions generated 2015 revenue of $18.5 million, and are expected to be immediately accretive.

Including integration and synergies, Xerium expects the acquisition to provide an Adjusted EBITDA contribution in 2016 of $2 to $3 million, excluding transaction related costs. When fully integrated, EBITDA contribution is expected to be $6 million annually, assuming no unexpected changes to market conditions.

Xerium Technologies, Inc. is a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services. To learn more, please visit www.xerium.com.

SOURCE: Xerium Technologies, Inc.
Kadant Johnson Starts Up Steam System for Norampac's Drummondville Packaging Plant

May 12, 2016 - Kadant Johnson Inc., a subsidiary of Kadant Inc., announced that it successfully started up its ThermoMax steam system at Norampac's corrugated packaging plant in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. The new corrugator line was part of a $26 million modernization project that doubled the production capacity of the plant.

According to Kadant Johnson, the corrugator has a face-width of 110 and is designed to operate at sustained speeds of 450 mpm. It is the first of its kind in Canada.

We are pleased to have been selected by Norampac to supply our ThermoMax steam system for the new corrugator line, said Greg Wedel, president of Kadant Johnson. Our expertise in heat transfer products, process control, and systems engineering position us well for projects such as this, where product, process, and controls integration are required for maximum uptime, production, and quality.

Kadant Johnson's scope of supply included its ThermoMax steam system for the single facers, triple pre-heater stack, and hotplate sections; a PLC control system with operator stations; boiler room controls; variable moisture steam shower supply systems; engineering services; and system commissioning.

The ThermoMax steam system features supervisory control logic to ensure consistent production and reliable operations. Operators have high visibility into the system through a graphical interface. They are supported by remote diagnostics, process monitoring, and process recording. Both single facers included Kadant Johnson's patented Turbulator bars, CorrPro rotary joints, and cantilever syphon equipment on critical steam-heated rolls.

Norampac is a division of Cascades Canada Inc. The Drummondville plant produces and converts corrugated packaging from linerboard and medium.

Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier to the global pulp and paper industry and process industries worldwide. The company's stock-preparation; fluid-handling; and doctoring, cleaning, and filtration products are designed to increase efficiency and improve quality in pulp and paper production. For more information, visit www.kadant.com..

SOURCE: Kadant Inc.
The vaccine that promises to help in the survival of pancreatic cancer patients is doing the exact opposite. This cancer drug could even reportedly cause harmful effects to patients.

The Street said the vaccine by NewLink Genetics NLNK is not as effective as the standard therapy for the illness. This was what the results of a phase III study revealed on Monday.

Called the algenpantucel-L, this new vaccine targets the immune system so that it can detect and kill cancer cells inside a person's body. However, the promise of the drug did not happen in a test on patients.

The same report said the survival of patients using the NewLink vaccine was only 27.3 months while the standard therapy has a higher one at 30.4 months. Researchers are now sure that the study was not able to achieve its goal and could even have the potential of harming patients.

Zero Value

According to Fierce Biotech, the performance of the vaccine will surely lead investors to give it a zero value, as well as the entire company's HyperAcute Platform. "We are deeply disappointed for patients that the Impress Phase III study was not successful," NewLink Genetics CMO Nicholas Vahanian said.

"Given these results, we are evaluating the future of the HyperAcute platform," Vahanian added after congratulating all the people involved in the study and testing of algenpantucel-L. "We remain committed to achieving our mission of developing immunotherapies to bring patients with cancer better treatment options."

Incurable cancer

Reuters added that the vaccine could have been a big help to pancreatic cancer which remains incurable up to this point. The American Cancer Society said that more than 53,000 residents could be diagnosed with the disease this year.

The same report also highlighted that the failure of the vaccine has greatly affected the shares of the company when its shares plummeting about 33 percent. On Monday, the company's stock had more than "halved in value" for the year.
As the new elected mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, happened to be a Muslim, Donald Trump gave him a special exemption for entering the U.S. However, the Member of Parliament dissed the presumptive president of the United States for his 'ignorant' Muslim remarks.

Sadiq Khan Rejected The Immunity

According to CNN Politics, Sadiq Khan refused Donald Trump's suggestion to give him the immunity to come in the U.S. in spite of the latter's traveling ban to the Muslims. The British politician believed the television personality's Muslim claim gave an impolite outlook to the Islam community that could result to put both their countries in danger.

"It risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of the extremists," Sadiq Khan said. He, too, added that the Muslim issue was not only about him but, also it affected his friends, family and every Muslim in the word.

London Mayor Proved Donald Trump Wrong About Muslims

The Guardian added Sadiq Khan explained that Donald Trump and those people around him thought that the westerners "liberal values" were opposing the typical Muslim's way. Hence, he boasted that London is the big evidence that proved them wrong.

To recall, Donald Trump once said that he proposed a temporary travel ban for Muslims to get into the United States. Because of his controversial statement, "The Apprentice" host became a hot topic even more, as per New York Times.

Donald Trump Happy Over Sadiq Khan's Victory

However, Donald Trump revealed he was happy to know that Sadiq Khan won the mayoral position in London. He was then later asked his proposed Muslim ban also concerns the social democrat and he said that "there will always be exceptions."

Donald Trump also claimed that it was a good thing for London to have Sadiq Khan as its mayor and hope that he will perform his job very well. "Because I think if he does a great job, it will really -- you lead by example, always lead by example," he disclosed.

What can you say about Donald Trump's immunity of Sadiq Khan visiting the United States? Share us your thoughts. Write your comments below.
Sanaria Inc. developed a vaccine that shows high potential for success, protecting more than half of those who took it. A study released on Monday said that it can protect as long as one year, surpassing the protection rate of the only licensed vaccine available now.

New malaria vaccine may prevent infection for over one year https://t.co/ODgiYYOKtQ  NDTV (@ndtv) May 11, 2016

Sanaria Vaccine More Successful Than GlaxoSmithKline

Sanaria Inc., a tiny biotech company based on a Maryland strip mall designed the vaccine containing thousands of live malaria parasites called Plasmodium falciparum, which were weakened by radiation, NBC News reported. The vaccine worked on 55 percent of the volunteers, providing protection against infection and stopping the parasite from circulating in the blood.

"It is potentially a really very impressive vaccine," said Dr. Tony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which helped test the vaccine. While the vaccine is currently in the initial stages of the clinical study and only involves a handful of volunteers, 55 percent success is far better than the 30 percent protection offered by GlaxoSmithKline's vaccine Mosquirix.

The malaria vaccine provided by the drug giant won approval from European drug authorities just last year. Meanwhile, the drug designed by Sanaria is still years away from being offered in the market, reports said.

The PfSPZ Vaccine Against Malaria

The new study published in the journal Nature Medicine on Monday said that vaccine created by Sanaria has shown the longest protection so far, Time reported. The vaccine called PfSPZ was developed by Sanaria Inc with the help of scientists from National Institutes of Health and researchers from University of Maryland School of Medicine.

This medical breakthrough is important since malaria infects 214 million people every year, killing about half a million. Several teams using different principles have been trying for decades to develop a malaria vaccine, which provides long-lasting protection.

There seemed to be no hope for success until now, New York Times said. Sanaria's ultimate goal is to develop a vaccine that can fight malaria in African children.

"In Africa, we've given up to 1.8 million parasites safely," Dr. Seder said. "As we keep going up in dose, the results get better." Meanwhile, the army wants a vaccine that can provide soldiers better than 80 percent protections for six months or longer.

Don't forget to share this medical breakthrough on Facebook! To know ways on how to protect yourself from malaria, check out the video below:
Dan Brown, Tom Hanks and Ron Howard team up once more for the film adaptation of "Inferno." Poker face master Tom Hanks, who also played Robert Langdon in "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels And Demons," will star alongside Felicity Jones and Ben Foster.

The film adaptations of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels And Demons" were each well-received. Needless to say, the bar has been set for "Inferno" by these previous Dan Brown materials.

Every clue will take him deeper. This October, @TomHanks returns as Robert Langdon in #InfernoMovie. pic.twitter.com/UFLqnnCsHa  InfernoMovie (@infernothemovie) May 6, 2016

Dan Brown wrote "Inferno" as the fourth instalment to his Robert Langdon book series. People reports that the film adaptation of Dan Brown's "Inferno" is such that even director Ron is excited about the experience.

A film on the third Dan Brown book, "The Lost Symbol," was scheduled for production in 2013. However, "The Lost Symbol" film was discontinued and Dan Brown's "Inferno" was developed instead.

Time recounts that Dan Brown's "Inferno" will see Langdon trapped between impossible choices. On the one hand, Robert Langdon could make a choice that would exterminate half of the human population. On the other hand, events in "Inferno" could force Langdon to make a choice that would render mankind extinct at the century's close.

Would you pull the switch if it meant saving humanity? The choice is yours. #InfernoMovie pic.twitter.com/iaGRdEtOew  InfernoMovie (@infernothemovie) May 8, 2016

"Making these Dan Brown movies are amazing life experiences," Ron Howard expressed. "You're thrown into these environments in ways that are really stirring and kind of explosive."

"Inferno" took Howard and cast leads Tom Hanks, "Rogue One" star Felicity Jones and "3:10 To Yuma" actor Ben Foster to Italy. Among other themes on which "Inferno" focuses is the idea of Dante's Hell and how it is relates to current times.

Between filming takes of Dan Brown's "Inferno" card game was a big hit. Ron Howard gamely shares that Tom Hanks proved to be a real master of putting on a poker face. Luckily the stakes were manageable during these "Inferno" breaks costing losers only nickels and dimes.

Dan Brown's "Inferno" was originally set for an earlier release, coinciding with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." This was eventually adjusted to an October 28 release for "Inferno."
Dubbed by some as "The Dirty Harry" of Davao and the Donald Trump of the East, Davao City's Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is Philippines' next president. Rodrigo Duterte may seem firm, but read on and see his most heart-warming gestures.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is currently leading the polls in the most recent Philippine presidential elections on May 9. He faced countless criticism for his ironclad leadership. With Davao's successful peace and order, speculations emerged that he runs the Davao Death Squad, a team known for extrajudicial killings. He also made the headlines for his hasty rape remarks about an Australian missionary, and for allegedly cursing the Pope.

Despite these, however, the Filipino majority rooted for him with the hopes of having a less corrupt leader. His works in Davao led the nation into choosing him as their president. He provided the first and only 911 emergency hotline in the Philippines. He also established Davao as one of the safest places in the country. Listed below are three of the most heart-warming gestures that will give you a closer look at Rodrigo Duterte:

He Support and Stands for the LGBT Community and Women's Rights

Despite his taunts and random comments such as using the word "bayot" which is queer in their native dialect, Rodrigo Duterte respect and condemned discrimination against the LGBT community. During one of his press conferences, he even openly stated that he'll consider same-sex marriage and would allow individuals from the LGBT community to serve the country's military force.

As for women's rights, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gathered support and was praised for different sectors. He may have gathered backlashes for his rape remark, but Rodrigo Duterte fought for Women's rights and advocacies.

"I've known him for many years and have been so impressed by the women-centered programs they had in Davao," Senator Pia Cayetano said.

He Loves Children

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte may be tough and stern, but is is gentle when it comes to dealing with kids. Mayor Duterte has the biggest heart when it comes to protecting children and their rights. He makes sure that each of them will get their much-needed education and would not go through harassment and abuse.

He Fines Tobacco Smokers and Donates it to Cancer Patients

It's known all throughout the Philippines that Davao does not allow smoking in public areas. What made Mayor Rodrigo Duterte one of the soft-hearted leaders is his loving gesture towards cancer patients.

It was mentioned that Rodrigo Duterte donates a total sum of 3.2 million pesos from smoking violations between 2013 and 2015. He then donated the funds to cancer patients which were mostly kids.

Despite being swamped with countless rumors, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte made a positive change in the Philippines. Do you think he deserves the Philippine presidency? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Five men currently on the terror watch have been apprehended in Cairns, Queensland after they were suspected of trying to leave Australia by boat. The police believe that they are trying to leave Australia and head for Syria to join extremist groups.

No Passports, No Problem?

According to CNN, the passports of all five men have been cancelled. However, this did not stop them in their attempt to leave Australia by sea. The men were found in possession of a seven-meter (23 ft.) fiberglass cabin cruiser, which only contained one case of bottled water.

"We have information to suggest these men had purchased a boat in Victoria, and had driven to far north Queensland, where their intention was to depart Australia," Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said during a press conference. In addition to that, Gaughan stated that the AFP has been investigating the five men for "a number of weeks" before they were arrested in Cairns.

The Grand Plan

It is believed that the men intended to leave Australia on the boat and take their first stop in Indonesia before continuing to Syria (via Seven News). Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton offered some insight on what the suspects were planning to do.

"This is a serious attempt by five men, who are of security interest to us, who have had their passports canceled, in attempting to exit Australia, so that they can make their way through boat," Patton said. "And then ultimately, we are investigating the intention to possibly end up in Syria to fight."

None of the five men had previous terror offenses. However, the AFP, VP and the Queensland Police Service said in the joint statement that they had "potential offenses against the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act, specifically those concerning incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities." All five men are currently in police custody in Australia.
The public whipping of a 13-year-old Indian girl sparked outrage over the Internet. Her village elders sentenced her to such cruel punishment after they found out that her father raped her. Isn't she supposed to elicit sympathy from elders instead of cruelty?

Whipping Of Indian Girl Captured On Camera

The horrific scene was captured by a cellphone camera. Although a bit grainy, one can see in the video the unmoving girl tied with a rope on her waist and slumped on the ground, while the sickening sound of the tree branch hitting the girl's back can be heard repeatedly in the background.

Failure To Disclose Rape By Father

Wondering what the girl's crime was? It was not anything close to murder or even simple theft. The girl failed to disclose that she was being raped by her father, according to Washington Post. She must be regarded as the victim rather than being the aggressor.

This situation may bring many to exclaim "What!?" yet for many Indian villages, where an apparent lack of education pervades, what happened to the girl was still within the bounds of normalcy. This can be seen by the obvious apathy of the people watching the whipping before their eyes. Nobody dared to move a muscle and prevent the man from further inflicting lashes on the thin girl's back.

Supreme Court Declared It Illegal

This old Indian system utilizing cruel punishment has long been declared illegal by the Indian Supreme Court. However, incidents such as the one in Mauje, Jawalwadi continue to persist, putting the lives of many teenage Indian girls in peril.

Independent said that these Indian customs have been very hard to shake. Although there are now a lot of Indian women pushing for change, still, the voices of these individuals can only reach a small percentage of the country with 1.2 billion people.

Sexual Violence Against Women

A part of the old Indian customs makes sexual violence a subject of compromise between families, often obliterating the lasting and adverse moral effects with a few hundred rupees. Those who suffer the most are women compared to men.

The world is still waiting for India to implement concrete and relevant measures that will curb these illegal practices. If these aren't curtailed for good, more teenage girls will suffer the same fate as with this 13-year-old whose only crime was not having had the courage to divulge the rape that she experienced in the hands of her father.
Apart from genetics and living a healthy lifestyle, there's really not much you can do to grow drastically taller in a short amount of time. If you're that desperate though, there's a relatively cheap leg-lengthening procedure in India that adds a few inches to your height. However, interested takers should be warned as health experts say the surgery pose more risks than benefits.

No Pain, No Gain

According to Medical Daily, the procedure involves orthopedic surgeons breaking part of the patient's leg, usually the tibia, in order to insert metal implants around the lower leg. The metal wires and rings would stretch the leg bones and encourage growth. Patients will have to sit in a brace for a few months before they can walk again.

"It was totally worth it," an undergraduate patient from Lucknow happily expressed to Hindustan Times. "When I stood up after four months, I was in heaven. I'm 5 feet and 7-1/2 inches now. My younger brother was taller, now he's not. I can't wait for his reaction."

Despite the generally positive testimonies, health experts insist that the procedure should only be performed as a last resort to treat limb injuries or leg defects. Prospective patients should be mindful of the negative side effects which includes chronic back pains and permanent paralysis.

Cosmetic Reasons

Dr. Aman Sarin, an orthopedic surgeon in Delhi, is concerned that many patients are undergoing the operation purely for cosmetic reasons. "We often turn people away," he shared to The Guardian.

"We try counseling first, but we've had patients who even threaten to commit suicide if I refuse to do the surgery," Twice I've had to call the police in emergency situations like that."

While the leg-lengthening procedure might seem gruesome and bizarre to some, for others, the procedure helps increase their confidence, in addition to their height. "I have so much confidence now," said a 24-year-old Indian woman. "I was just 4-foot-6. People used to make fun of me and I couldn't get a job. Now my younger sister is doing it, too."

Sarin added that majority of his patients initially came from the US, Europe and China. In just 3 years, local clientele has surged exponentially. Indians now account for two-thirds of the surgeries.
Who ever said Math is easy? A group of UK parents were aghast to find a test question included in standardized test for 6 to 7 year olds, which they deemed to be difficult. The question only made use of two mathematical operations: addition and subtraction.

Yahoo reported that the question went like this, "There were some people on a train. 19 people get off the train at the first stop. 17 people get on the train. Now there are 63 people on the train. How many people were on the train to begin with?" Is this too hard?

The outrage stemmed from the seemingly agitated and stressed children who took the said standardized tests. Reports have it that the children were close to tears after taking the test due to the level of difficulty that confronted them for the math standardized test.

Parents were concerned why such a question was asked for kids who are "so young." Parents Against Primary Testing, a Facebook page, posted the Math question, but along with it also gave a wrong answer. The post was deleted, but it has already stirred an ongoing online discussion regarding the difficulty of math standardized tests.

Huffington Post reported that the correct answer was 65. Although the answer seemed non-threatening figure for 6 to 7 year olds, there were still parents who regarded the question as "too difficult" for this age group to hurdle.

@LouiseBloxham @carveresque That's the answer to the first step not the whole thing. So if they are reversing the calculation 63 - 17 +19 =x  Tarjinder Gill (@teach_well) May 8, 2016

Many parents expressed their concerns on Twitter and Facebook. Some said that the math question was a simple "trick" aimed at students. Another parent said that it was too ambiguous, which is why children found it really hard to answer, let alone some parents who got it wrong.

To make up for the wrong answer initially posted by Parents Against Primary Testing page concerning the math standardized test, it subsequently posted this: "The published answer for this is 65, so continue debating whether this is too hard." Up to now, the online debate whether the question was too hard for 6 to 7 year olds was too difficult or not is still ongoing.

Do you think the math standardized test question is hard? Should the questions be made a bit easier? Do you think it would still be a proper evaluation of children's capacity if the questions were made easy? Share your thoughts on the matter.
There are La Liga Barcelona rumors that the team may let go of Neymar to keep Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. La Liga Barcelonas ability to retain the three stars has been in doubt after it was revealed that they have enhancement plans.

Terry Gibson On Neymar

Terry Gibson believes that Neymar would be the most likely player to be sacrificed by Barca if it were forced into a sale due to planned upgrades the Nou Camp. Gibson said in a La Liga Weekly podcast that the stock of Neymar, compared to the stocks of Messi and Suarez, may cause the club to cash in.

If you asked me two months ago if Neymar would stay at Barcelona. I would have said there was no chance he would leave. Im beginning to wonder now whether there is a possibility if a club came in, said Gibson in a SkySports report.

Gibson continued the La Liga Barcelona news that Neymar, at 24 years old, is in his ideal years to be offered. He has several years to play, while Barcelona is expected to keep Messi and Suarez at any cost. In the La Liga Barcelona current season, Neymar scored 27 goals in his initial 38 games for the club.

Things Remain Uncertain

However, he has not been performing as well in recent games, garnering only three goals in nine outings. These further caused speculation that the club may release him from La Liga Barcelona soon. His goal numbers should be comparably close to Messi and Suarez if he expects to remain in Barca.

Luis Enrique will ultimately decide whether Neymar will stay or not. In the meantime, Enrique is the best person who can determine whether it will be good for the team to keep its MSN lineup.

There are also talks that former Barcelona winger Pedro will return, which will help recover the transfer fee paid for Neymar, as well as provide the same effort that Neymar has been giving. Neymar, however, is the more popular player and certainly helped La Liga Barcelona economically.

Neymars Existing Deal With La Liga Barcelona

Mail Online wrote that Neymar previously signed a five-year contract with La Liga Barcelona in June 2013. Reportedly, there are discussions to keep him at Nou Camp until 2021.

Neymars new contract with Barca will allegedly feature a buyout clause valued at around $251 million. Neymars buyout clause will stay below Messis, considering that the latter is the most valuable player in the club. As for Suarez, his basic wage is said to be at least $288,000, while Messi earns over $361,000 after tax.
Cholesterol drugs are about to get pricier. Cigna, an American world health services company, has inked a results-based deal with two manufacturers of cholesterol drugs.

Results-Based Strategy

With the new agreements, the cost of cholesterol drugs will get more expensive if customers do not lessen their bad LDL cholesterol, Reuters reported. If the medication met or exceeded a patient's cholesterol reduction, the price of the drugs is at a fixed point.

The cholesterol drugs affected by Cigna's deal are Amgen's Repatha and Praluent, which is manufactured by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. These medications cost more than $14,000 annually and are intended for patients who have high chances of developing cardiovascular diseases due to their incapability to control their LDL cholesterol with other known cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins.

Both Repatha and Praluent were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, BusinessWire wrote. These specialty medications belong to a new type of drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors.

There are no price controls on prescription medicines in the U.S. This is why insurers and pharmacy benefit managers are coming up with measures to demand price hikes to customers and restricting their access to more expensive new drugs.

Aside from its results-based deal with Amgen, Sanofi and Regeneron, Cigna also inked agreements with other pharmaceutical firms for heart failure, diabetes, hepatitis C and multiple sclerosis, BusinessWire listed. High cholesterol levels usually lead to heart diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

UK Backs Cholesterol Medications From Amgen & Sanofi

Britain's healthcare public body recently expressed its support for Repatha and Praluent, Yahoo reported (via Reuters). Both Amgen and Sanofi offered discounts to the country's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, for the drugs.

In Britain, both medications are priced more than 4,000 pounds ($5,780) per patient each year. The drugs' price is more expensive in the U.S. at around $14,000.

New Drug Lowers Cholesterol Without Side Effects

OptiBiotix, a biotech company in the U.K., recently developed a capsule that is touted to carry a supercharged enzyme that lowers bad cholesterol in patients, Express reported. Tests conducted showed that the drug, which contains microbial strains, does not have the same side effects seen in statins.

Experts are hopeful that the new drug will be further developed to the point that statins can be replaced or lowered. The medication is cheaper than statins, retailing at around 9 ($13). Optibiotix is also developing microbial strains to avert and manage diabetes and obesity.
Combating sexual discrimination is an ongoing fight, especially in cases involving transgenders. A recent argument between Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Fort Worth Superintendent Kent Scribner led hundreds of Texas residents to line up outside the meeting hall of the Fort Worth school board and join the debate about the "clarifications" made on existing gender guidelines, particularly allowing students to use the bathroom of their choice in respect to their gender identity.

The Controversial Bathroom Policy Issue

The guidelines in question allow transgender students to use their chosen bathrooms and lockers. If a person identifies herself as a girl, she can use the girl's comfort room and vice versa, regardless of her genitals. Moreso, any person should be addressed according to the gender they identify to. Staff members are not allowed to divulge information about students transitioning from one gender to another. Furthermore, the guidelines extends to those who are uncomfortable with the arrangement, providing the use of special single bathrooms to those who will request for it. Anyone who will not comply with these rules will face discipline.

According to Assistant Superintendent Michael Steinert as reported by Washington Post, these have been the guidelines since 2012 that aims to protect the safety of all students including transgenders. What Superintendent Kent Scribner did is to simply clarify and specify the policies in order to execute them. The clarifications were announced during a board meeting last month.

However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was not pleased. In an older report from Washington Post, he says that Kent Scribner should have had a discussion with parents, board members, principals and community leaders before the new policies were implemented. For him, it is the parents' right to know what happens to their children while in school. Instead of focusing on "social-engineering" schemes, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tells the media that Scribner should focus on improving education of the failing schools in his district. He is demanding the superintendent to resign if he will not remove the effectivity of the clarifications implemented.

"Campus safety should be of paramount concern for anyone in his position. Every parent, especially those of young girls should be outraged," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement as reported by Washington Post.

In the public forum on the meeting hall, Kent Scribner refused to resign and said, "I respect the lieutenant governor's opinion, but I also respectfully disagree. The guidelines do not say, nor would we ever, indiscriminately send boys into girls' restrooms nor send girls into boys' restrooms."

Pro-Scribner vs. Pro-Patrick

For those who support the clarifications made by Superintendent Kent Scribner, they think these are needed to avoid discrimination, bullying and suicide of transgenders. Fort Worth music teacher Robert Byrd agrees that the guidelines assures everyone's safety.

"So many transgender kids have problems at home. School can be a safe place," he said in the public forum as reported by the Washington Post. "If you can prevent a suicide, that's good."

Another speaker, who has worked as a counselor for more than 500 transgender people, stresses the importance of understanding transgenders. "Gender is not determined by the genitals. It is determined by the brain," she said. "Being transgender is not a choice or an illness or a character flaw. For many it's a matter of life and death."

A transgender teacher, Jeannot Boucher, also speaks up in the public meeting as reported by Dallas News. "Parents come to me and say I have a transgender child where can we go to school?," he said. "And I answer them, 'You're safe in Fort Worth, and you're safe in Dallas."

But still, there are those from the opposing side who claim that the policy represents only the minority. It will put the safety of girls and boys at risk.

As reported by Dallas News, Republican Bo French said he conducted a survey among the student population of Fort Worth and he found out that 82% of the parents were not in favor of the new policy.

Others said that their views weren't even considered, "What we do know is that the nation is mesmerized by this issue. Many people obviously have strong opinions but you've taken away their voice," Nicole Hudgens of the conservative Texas Values group said.

"My kids are grown, but I probably wouldn't let them come to a public school if they had that policy. I think it opens doors to people who are not transgender. I think there would be more abuse of it than it would help transgender kids. And in this country it's almost like the minorities are getting more rights than the majority," a certain Jim DeLong said in the public meeting as per Washington Post.

North Carolina's New Bathroom Policy

The issue comes in the middle of the legal fight between the United States government and North Carolina. According to a report by CNN, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against North Carolina's new bathroom policy that bans the use of bathrooms not intended for their biological sex. North Carolina officials back the policy that it secures the privacy of males and females, and not only attends to the interest of transgenders.

On the other hand, the U.S. government stands by its position that the policy violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin and religion. North Carolina has also received condemnation from LGBT groups, transgender advocates and private entities, as reported by CNN.

Which side do you agree with? Share your views on our Comments section!
Substance abuse is a common and prevalent problem for teenagers. Treatments and therapies have helped these teens recover from their addiction problems and finish their studies.

For 10 years, the charter school Hope Academy in Indianapolis is aiding teenagers battle their drug addiction. The school, which is located out of the state's Fairbanks Addiction Treatment Center, offers services that help teens recover from their struggles, the Atlantic reported.

Supportive Environment

Hope Academy's English, math and arts classes co-exist with regular drug testing for students. It also promotes close relationships between pupils and teachers.

Hope Academy belongs to the 30 recovery high schools existing in the U.S., which all have a distinctive approach when it comes to tackling substance abuse. Going back to school can be difficult and challenging for teenagers recovering from substance addiction, and recovery high schools are doing all they can to ensure that there's a supportive environment that will welcome adolescents.

According to the Atlantic, Hope Academy is a free and publicly funded institution. Recovery schools are usually private and charge tuition fees, which mean only affluent teenagers can afford to enroll in them. That situation, however, is changing. Andy Finch, a Vanderbilt University researcher, said some recovery high schools are now catering to needy teenagers who have limited or no insurance.

Hope Academy's Programs

Hope Academy spends $23,000 per student, an amount obtained from the state, support services and the per-student funds given to charter schools. Grants and philanthropists also help fund the recovery school.

One of Hope Academy's programs for teenagers is the STARR room, a therapeutic setting that allows students to do their academic duties in the morning with their afternoons dedicated to art projects and talking about their road to recovery with educators. Pupils will spend three weeks in the STARR room before they join traditional classes.

Adolescents aged 12 to 17 usually grapple with alcohol abuse more than any other harmful substances, HBO wrote. Aside from alcohol, many teens also use marijuana, inhalants and prescription drugs like sedatives, stimulants, pain relievers and tranquilizers.

School For Addict Teenagers Closing

A high school in Wisconsin dedicated to teenagers battling drug and alcohol addiction is on the verge of closing. Horizon High School in Madison is facing its end due to financial issues.

School Board President Michael Christopher said the school will have a $10,500 deficit per month in the coming school year, WISN.com reported. The school, which doesn't follow usual school hours, was backed by other school districts in the past. That support, however, declined as time passed.
Three students taking a medical and dental faculty entrance examinations in Rangsit University, Thailand have been caught cheating using high end gadgets.

The examination was conducted May 7 and 8, where 3,000 students took the test, has been cancelled after the discovery of an organized modus to cheat. Although cheating has been a long-time problem in Thailand, this group has taken to another level by using high-tech gadgets, the Associated Press reported.

Students Caught Cheating With High-Tech Devices

The three female students caught cheating were not alone and were working with a group. Another three people who posed as students reportedly wore eyeglasses embedded with a camera to take pictures of the test paper, as seen in the photo CNN posted.

The three people went out after sitting in the exam room for 45 minutes, which is the minimum time an examinee is required to sit in. After going out, they gave the data from the glasses to another group with a laptop waiting outside the testing rooms.

The data was then sent to the problem solving team. This group is composed of experts in different fields. School officials believe that the problem solving team is composed of many individuals to finish the test on time, CNN reported.

Questions in the exam were answered by the experts and data containing the answers were sent to smart watches worn by the students still taking the test. Photos of the confiscated smart watches displaying test answers were shown by the University Officials.

Review Package Reportedly Assisted Students To Cheat

Test makers were immediately alerted of the scam. The first watch was confiscated on Saturday morning, while the second watch was taken Saturday afternoon. School officials got the third watch and glasses the next day.

The aspiring medical school students were reported to be enrolled in different private review centres. All of them availed of a package that offered guaranteed passing for the exams. The package reportedly costs 800,000 baht (approx. $23,000).

Due to the rampant cheating incidences, Thai schools have created creative ways to combat dishonesty. Chulalongkorn University used overhead cameras to monitor examinees. Anti-cheating hats, a headband with two A4 papers on the side, were used by Kasetsart University.

One of the parents of the students caught cheating said that he did not know of the modus. School officials then questioned the student's ability to pay the tutorial fee on her own. All of the three cheating students were banned from the University and were not included in the retaking of the exams.
A 16-year-old Australian high school dropout is on the right track to becoming the next great titan of technology. Unlike normal teenager, the young man is busy with his duties as CEO of his own multi-million dollar company.

Ben Pasternak, a high school dropout from Sydney, Australia, is the founder and CEO of the multi-million dollar mobile app Flogg. The Australian teenager's app, which was launched last month, possesses the combined features of Tinder and eBay, and helps users buy and sell items within their social network.

From High School Dropout To Becoming The Next Great Titan Of Technology

Mark and Anna Pasternak, the Australian teen CEO's parents who are both university educators, told ABC News "Nightline" that they were at first skeptical about their son dropping out of high school. However, they said that their son has always been passionate with technology, which is why they supported him when he decided to move to New York City to look for funding for his mobile app.

"So, I think the deal was we said, 'Let's go to America, and see if you get funding and we can talk about it.' And unfortunately he got funding," Mark jokingly recalled.

The Australian Teen CEO Says There's Nothing To Brag About His Achievements

Ben Pasternak now runs his multi-million dollar tech company from the living room of his apartment in New York City. Amidst his achievements, the high school dropout has remained humble. He said that he feels like he is just getting started and that there is nothing to brag about what he has achieved.

The Australian teen CEO also admitted that he sometimes thought of living a life like a normal teenager. He, however, added that he is enjoying what he is doing and he has no regrets about what he has become.

The Australian Teen CEO Is Joining The League Of Successful High School Dropouts

Ben Pasternak seemed to be following the steps of some great titans of technology who dropped out of high school to establish a career in the tech field. According to the Business Insider, Tumblr founder David Karp dropped out of high school at the age of 15 to launch the blog-hosting and social network company that is now worth multi-billion dollars.

Other successful high school dropouts who became tech titans include Facebook product manager Mike Hudack, supercomputer scientist Philip Emeagwali and first internet billionaire James H. Clark.

Share your thoughts about the 16-year-old Australian high school dropout's success story. Leave some comments below.
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Immaculate Conception (c. 1505), by Piero di Cosimo (1462-1521) [public domain / [public domain / Wikimedia Commons

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(7-16-08)



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Here are some excerpts from my book, Catholic Church Fathers



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St. Athanasius



. . . pure and unstained Virgin . . . (On the Incarnation of the Word, 8; Gambero, 102)

O noble Virgin, truly you are greater than any other greatness. For who is your equal in greatness, O dwelling place of God the Word? To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin? You are greater than them all O Covenant, clothed with purity instead of gold! You are the Ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides. (Homily of the Papyrus of Turin, 71, 216; Gambero, 106)

St. Ephraem



Mary and Eve, two people without guilt, two simple people, were identical. Later, however, one became the cause of our death, the other the cause of our life (Op. syr. II, 327; Ott, 201)

The Virgin Mary is a symbol of the Church, when she receives the first announcement of the gospel . . . We call the Church by the name of Mary, for she deserves a double name. (Sermo ad noct. Resurr.; Gambero, 115)

Thou and thy mother are the only ones who are totally beautiful in every respect; for in thee, O Lord, there is no spot, and in thy Mother no stain. (Nisibene Hymns, 27, v. 8; Ott, 201)

Citing this source, J.N.D. Kelly asserts:

[W]e find Ephraem delineating her as free from every stain, like her son. (Kelly, 495)

St. Cyril of Jerusalem



Pure and spotless is this birth. For where the Holy Spirit breathes, all pollution is taken away, so that the human birth of the Only-begotten from the Virgin is undefiled. (Catechetical Lectures, XII, 31-32; Gambero, 140)



St. Gregory Nazianzen



He was conceived by the Virgin, who had first been purified by the Spirit in soul and body; for, as it was fitting that childbearing should receive its share of honor, so it was necessary that virginity should receive even greater honor. (Sermon 38, 13; Gambero, 162-163)



St. Gregory of Nyssa



It was, to divulge by the manner of His Incarnation this great secret; that purity is the only complete indication of the presence of God and of His coming, and that no one can in reality secure this for himself, unless he has altogether estranged himself from the passions of the flesh. What happened in the stainless Mary when the fulness of the Godhead which was in Christ shone out through her, that happens in every soul that leads by rule the virgin life. (On Virginity, 2; NPNF 2, Vol. V, 344)

[T]he power of the Most High, through the Holy Spirit, overshadowed the human nature and was formed therein; that is to say, the portion of flesh was formed in the immaculate Virgin. (Against Apollinaris, 6; Gambero, 153)

St. Ambrose



. . . Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin. (Commentary on Psalm 118, 22, 30; Jurgens, II, 166)

What is greater than the Mother of God? What more glorious than she whom Glory Itself chose? What more chaste than she who bore a body without contact with another body? (Virginity, II, 6; NPNF 2, Vol. X, 374)

St. Epiphanius



Mary, the holy Virgin, is truly great before God and men. For how shall we not proclaim her great, who held within her the uncontainable One, whom neither heaven nor earth can contain? (Panarion, 30, 31; Gambero, 127)

St. Jerome



There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his roots. The rod is the mother of the Lordsimple, pure, unsullied; drawing no germ of life from without but fruitful in singleness like God Himself Set before you the blessed Mary, whose surpassing purity made her meet to be the mother of the Lord. (Letter XXII. To Eustochium, 19, 38; NPNF 2, Vol. VI, 29, 39; cf. Gambero, p. 213: whose purity was so great that she merited to be the Mother of the Lord)

Indeed how inferior they are, in terms of holiness, to blessed Mary, Mother of the Lord! (Contra Pelagianos, 1, 16; Gambero, 212)



St. Augustine



We must except the holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin. Well, then, if, with this exception of the Virgin, we could only assemble together all the forementioned holy men and women, and ask them whether they lived without sin whilst they were in this life, what can we suppose would be their answer? (A Treatise on Nature and Grace, chapter 42 [XXXVI]; NPNF 1, Vol. V)

Augustine went a step farther. In an incidental remark against Pelagius, he agreed with him in excepting Mary, propter honorem Domini, from actual (but not from original) sin. This exception he is willing to make from the sinfulness of the race, but no other. He taught the sinless birth and life of Mary, but not her immaculate conception. . . . The reasoning of Augustine backward from the holiness of Christ to the holiness of His mother was an important turn, which was afterward pursued to further results. The same reasoning leads as easily to the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary, though also, just as well, to a sinless mother of Mary herself, and thus upward to the beginning, of the race, to another Eve who never fell.



(Schaff, HCC 3, 418-419)

We do not deliver Mary to the devil by the condition of her birth; but for this reason, because this very condition is resolved by the grace of rebirth. (Opus Imperf. Contra Julianum, 4, 122; Graef, 99)

And so he created a Virgin, whom he had chosen to be his Mother . . . she, with pious faith, merited to receive the holy seed within her. He chose her, to be created from her. (De peccatorum meritis et remissione, 2, 24, 38; Gambero, 219)

St. Cyril of Alexandria



Hail, Mary Theotokos, Virgin-Mother, lightbearer, uncorrupt vessel . . . Hail Mary, you are the most precious creature in the whole world; hail, Mary, uncorrupt dove; hail, Mary, inextinguishable lamp; for from you was born the Sun of justice . . . Through you, every faithful soul achieves salvation. (Homily 11 at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus; Gambero, 243, 245)

I see the assembly of the saints, all zealously gathered together, invited by the holy Mother of God, Mary, ever-virgin . . . We hail you, O Mary Mother of God, venerable treasure of the entire world, inextinguishable lamp, crown of virginity, scepter of orthodoxy, imperishable temple, container of him who cannot be contained . . . Through you, the Holy Trinity is glorified; the precious Cross is celebrated and adored throughout the world; heaven exults, the angels and archangels rejoice, the demons are put to flight, the devil, the tempter, falls from heaven, the fallen creation is brought back to paradise, all creatures trapped in idolatry come to know of the truth. (Homily IV Preached at Ephesus Against Nestorius; Gambero, 247-248)

Theodotus



Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you, you are blessed (Lk 1:28), O most beautiful and most noble among women. The Lord is with you, O all-holy one, glorious and good. The Lord is with you, O worthy of praise, O incomparable, O more than glorious, all splendor, worthy of God, worthy of all blessedness . . . spouse of God, divinely nourished treasure. To you I announce neither a conception in wickedness nor a birth in sin; instead, I bring the joy that puts an end to Eves sorrow. To you I proclaim neither a trying pregnancy nor a painful delivery . . . Through you, Eves odious condition is ended; through you, abjection has been destroyed; through you, error is dissolved; through you, sorrow is abolished; through you, condemnation has been erased. Through you, Eve has been redeemed. (On the Mother of God and the Nativity; Gambero, 271)

A virgin, innocent, spotless, free of all defect, untouched, unsullied, holy in soul and body, like a lily sprouting among thorns. (Homily VI, 11; OCarroll, 339)

If iron, once joined to fire, immediately expels the impurities extraneous to its nature and swiftly acquires a likeness to the powerful flame that heats it, . . . how much more, in a superior way, did the Virgin burn when the divine fire (the Holy Spirit) rushed in? She was purified from earthly impurities, and from whatever might be against her nature, and was restored to her original beauty, so as to become inaccessible, untouchable, and irreconcilable to carnal things. (Homily 4, 6; Gambero, 264)

Innocent virgin, spotless, without defect, untouched, unstained, holy in body and in soul, like a lily-flower sprung among thorns, unschooled in the wickedness of Eve . . . clothed with divine grace as with a cloak . . . (Homily 6, 11; Gambero, 268)

Pope St. Leo the Great

For the uncorrupt nature of Him that was born had to guard the primal virginity of the Mother, and the infused power of the Divine Spirit had to preserve in spotlessness and holiness that sanctuary which He had chosen for Himself . . . (Sermon XXII: On the Feast of the Nativity, Part II; NPNF 2, Vol. XII)



St. Sophronius



Others before you have flourished with outstanding holiness. But to none as to you has the fullness of grace been given. None has been endowed with happiness as you, none adorned with holiness like yours, none brought to such great magnificence as yours; no one was ever possessed beforehand by purifying grace as were you . . . And this deservedly, for no one came as close to God as you did; no one was enriched with Gods gifts as you were; no one shared Gods grace as you did. (In SS Deip. Annunt. 22; OCarroll, 329)



St. Andrew of Crete



Today humanity, in all the radiance of her immaculate nobility, receives its ancient beauty. The shame of sin had darkened the splendour and attraction of human nature; but when the Mother of the Fair One par excellence is born, this nature regains in her person its ancient privileges and is fashioned according to a perfect model truly worthy of God. . . . The reform of our nature begins today and the aged world, subjected to a wholly divine transformation, receives the first fruits of the second creation. (Homily 1 on Marys Nativity; OCarroll, 180)

. . . alone wholly without stain . . . (Canon for the Conception of Anne; Graef, 152)

St. John Damascene



O most blessed loins of Joachim from which came forth a spotless seed! O glorious womb of Anne in which a most holy offspring grew. (Homily I on the Nativity of Mary; OCarroll, 200; cf. Graef, 154; Gambero, 402)

So according to John of Damascus, even the active conception of Mary was completely without stain, panamomos  a view which goes far beyond the terms of the later definition of the doctrine and was open to the objections raised against it by the schoolmen.



(Graef, 154)

She is all beautiful, all near to God. For she, surpassing the cherubim, exalted beyond the seraphim, is placed near to God. (Homily on the Nativity, 9; Gambero, 403)



SOURCES

Gambero, Luigi, Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought, Thomas Buffer, translator, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, revised edition of 1999.

Graef, Hilda, Mary: A History of Doctrine and Devotion, vol. 1 [to the Reformation], New York: Sheed and Ward, 1963.

Jurgens, William A., editor and translator, The Faith of the Early Fathers, three volumes, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1970 and 1979 (2nd and 3rd volumes).

Kelly, J.N.D., Early Christian Doctrines, San Francisco: Harper & Row, fifth revised edition, 1978.

OCarroll, Michael, Theotokos: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Wilmington, Delaware: M. Glazier, 1982.

Ott, Ludwig, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, translated by Patrick Lynch, edited in English by James Canon Bastible, Rockford, Illinois: TAN Books, 1974, from the fourth edition of 1960 (originally 1952 in German).

Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity: A.D. 311-600 (HCC 3), Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974, from the revised fifth edition of 1910.

Schaff, Philip, editor, Early Church Fathers: Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers Series 1 (NPNF 1), 14 volumes, originally published in Edinburgh, 1889, available online.

Schaff, Philip & Henry Wace, editors, Early Church Fathers: Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers Series 2 (NPNF 2), 14 volumes, originally published in Edinburgh, 1900, available online.

* * * * *

As to the these were late fathers Protestant polemical canard, this proves too much, since one has to realize that many doctrines that Protestants accept (even very key ones to them) often took many hundreds of years to fully develop, as well:

1) The canon of Scripture: not finalized till 397, and it included the Deuterocanon, which Protestants (inconsistently) reject.



2) The Two Natures of Christ: dogmatized in 451 at the Council of Chalcedon. Further controversies over whether Christ had one of two wills (Monothelitism; the orthodox doctrine holds that He had two wills) went on for a few centuries more.



3) Original sin: this was finalized in dogma so late that it wasnt part of the Nicene Creed, and Cardinal Newman noted that the fathers wrote much more about purgatory than about original sin.



4) Sola Scriptura: one of the two pillars of the Reformation is virtually absent from the fathers. I have over 100 pages on this issue in my book on the fathers. This doesnt seem to give Protestants any pause, yet the Marian doctrines with regard to the fathers does. Why?



5) Sola fide (faith alone): also virtually nonexistent in the fathers, as Protestant scholars such as Geisler and McGrath have admitted.

Furthermore, many doctrines that many Protestants reject are almost unanimously or largely held by the fathers, such as baptismal regeneration, episcopal Church government (bishops), the papacy, real presence in the Eucharist, perpetual virginity of Mary, the sacrifice of the Mass, penance, purgatory, prayers for the dead, the communion of saints, veneration of the saints, theosis, etc.



Its a tough road to be a Protestant who values Church history (as, particularly, traditional Anglicans and Lutherans do), and thinks that the Church fathers were more Protestant than they were Catholic. Thats a miserably losing battle every time. But I give anyone who attempts it a lot of points for chutzpah and admirable zeal.
Tell everybody that God gives His graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from her, . . . for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her. ~ A message from the Lady of Fatima, according to Lucia

Tomorrow is the optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, the 99th anniversary of the Ladys first appearance to three children minding their sheep in a bowl-like vale on a dusty Portuguese afternoon. The children, a brother and sister and their slightly older cousin, had encountered the more-than-natural before. Three times in the year 1916 they had been visited by a messenger who called himself the Angel of Peace. He taught the children prayers and impressed upon them the importance of making small sacrifices and of spending time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Peace. Sacrifice. Prayer. Three things even children understood in that time of world war and revolution. The peace so longed for, the sacrifice so dumbly unavoidable, the prayer so constant that even an angelic visitor did not faze them. Neither did the Lady shining brighter than the sun who first appeared in the branches of a tree on May 13, 1917. The children, and the world, would come to know her as Our Lady of Fatima (the name of their town, called after the daughter of a Muslim overlord, who named her for the daughter of Muhammad, back when Portugal was part of the Moorish caliphate).

Wepeople my age, who grew up in the 1950s and 60scame to know Our Lady of Fatima not as a bearer of peace but as a harbinger of destruction meted out by the wrath of God against godless communists, not as one who invites us to joyful self-sacrifice but as a punishing judge of our failure to be pure enough, not as a model of prayer but as a keeper of terrible, apocalyptic secrets. I was in 5th grade at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish School on May 13, 1960, when rumor had it that the notorious Third Secret of Fatima would be at last revealed, setting off nuclear war with Russia. It was my friend Marys eleventh birthday, and she was inconsolable that shed never get to swim or play volleyball again. I, still 10 until October, thought to myself, Ten wasnt long enough.

Even when I grew up enough to learn how much of the story of Our Lady of Fatima had been coopted by the political and ecclesial factions of its time (and subsequent times, and even our own present time), I couldnt much warm to the Lady. And then, in 2012, through the beneficent offices of another Mary, I went on pilgrimage to Fatima. And I came home.

Heres how I described that day here in my pilgrims journal nearly four years ago:

Pilgrimage 2012, Day 3: Fatima

We pilgrims spent yesterday in Fatima. In the early morning, a tour of the Sanctuary, the huge devotional complex that encompasses the Chapel of the Apparitions on the site where the Lady most often appeared to the three children, the massive Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Sacred Heart fountain, the High Cross, the colonnades (modeled after Berninis in St Peters Square, but with arms open wide to embrace the world), and the new Church of the Holy Trinity. We took a group photo on the plaza, all 3 score and 10+ of us staring into the white-hot sun just long enough to say queso.

Then off to visit the village of Aljustrel, where the little shepherds lived, and the wooded hills of Valinhos, from which they drove their sheep each day to the small bowl-like valley called the Cova da Iria. (Which means, not at all coincidentally, the Vale of Peace.) The afternoon was our own, for lunch, shopping for religious goods among the vendors whose shops line the colonnades in town, personal devotion, and siesta. We had Mass in the early evening in the Chapel of the Resurrection, one of the new chapels on the crypt level of Holy Trinity. Then dinner together in our hotel. After dinner, many joined the Candlelight Procession.

But no itinerary can capture the ineffable peace of Fatima, the grace of the place. The dazzling sun through the trees, dancing and throwing rainbow rays as wonderfully as it did on October 13, 1917. The wedding-cake whiteness of the Basilica, stark and much more beautiful in person than in pictures, against the Mary-blue sky. The woman crossing the vast expanse of the Sanctuary plaza on her knees, a child occasionally whispering encouragement in her ear. The warm stone walls and tiled roofs of Aljustrel, and the Valinhos hillside covered with holm oaks and olives and scented heavily with pine and sage, quiet as it must have been when the children kicked up the dust on the sheep pathuntil chatty Portuguese families, 4 generations out on a stroll to visit their Mama Maria on a Sunday, pass by, smiling. The people lining up with armloads of flowers and other gifts to leave for the Lady, or purchasing candles, or writing intercessions to be posted in the gray mailboxes that I am convinced lead directly to heaven.

Its a peace and a grace, as Fr Jan Schmidt, pastor of St Margaret of York in Loveland, reminded us in his homily last night, rooted in two inevitabilities: not death and taxes, but suffering and the love of God. Fatima, no less than Lourdes, acknowledges the suffering of our fallen humanity and reaches to heal it, but here the emphasis is on those things that are out of joint with our own spirits and that of the world. Sinmost especially those breaks with innocence that disturb the peace Christ promised (not only sins of the flesh, Sr Lucia later explained, but the even worse acts of injustice against the poor and the vulnerable)and war, with its deadly consequences and collateral damage, are what the Lady came to lament.

But at Fatima, it is not miraculous water that is the instrument of the healing Mary intercedes for. It is the redemptive suffering entered into by each person who hears her messagefrom young Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to those of us who stood in the Cova da Iria yesterdaythat will make the difference. Are you ready to offer yourself to God? These words of the Lady, in many languages, hung as a banner for the outdoor Mass. They made us think, and pray, and wonder.

Personally, Fatima is the place I was least looking forward to visiting. I grew up at the height of Catholic anti-communist fervor, when the Lady of Fatima, with her scary apocalyptic secrets and messages interpreted with a heavily political slant, was used more as an ideological weapon in the Cold War than as a means of drawing closer to Mary and her Son. There is still a lot of that associated with Fatima today among US Catholics, so I was stunned to find that there is none of it visible there. What there was was peace, the same palpable presence of Gods inevitable love I have encountered at the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe at Tepeyac and in the cloister of San Damiano at Assisi. This is truly one of those places where heaven breaks through into earth in the form of sacrificial love, the twinned flames of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Marys Immaculate Heart burning away every other bit of nonsense. I am so grateful to have been there and found it unimaginably and undeniably home.

Saying Yes

On that pilgrimage, I was as broken and ill as I had ever been. Years of drinking and hoarding and obesity and untreated depression were boiling to the surface, no more able to be hidden than the secrets of Fatima. Two months later I would face the shame of confessing it all, the prospect of homelessness, and the ineffable miracles of love and friendship that brought me back to California and my family and sustain me to this day.

I didnt know it while I was there, but something in me answered Yes to the Ladys call: Are you ready to offer yourself to God? For the years left to me, I walk in sacrifice and prayerful adoration and unassailable peace.

That walk takes this blog in new directions now. It has been almost a year since Egregious Twaddle last posted at Patheos. During that time, my own journey and that of the Patheos Catholic Channel went down different paths, and the time has come to make official what has been true in practice. I am taking Egregious Twaddle back to independent blogging status, at a new WordPress site under development. Ill let readers know through social media when its up, in case anyones interested in walking with me wherever the pilgrimage goes next. Thank you for the great conversations and the challenges.

I am entirely and profoundly grateful to all at Patheos who brought me in and supported me for the years I was here. The Patheos management have been encouraging and gracious, and with all the rough edges I continue to salute them for the nobility of an enterprise that brings together people of such wide-ranging perspectives and practices. Editor Sam Rocha is taking the Catholic Channel in promising directions, and I wish him the best. My former Catholic Channel editor Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress, has grown from an idol to a friend (who is still an idol, even though she keeps writing books about how stupid idolatry is). Current and past bloggers at the Catholic Channel and beyond have become respected colleagues, dear online friends, and even the most powerful prayer circle in the world. It was, and is, a privilege to be counted in your midst.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Peace. Sacrifice. Prayer. We need them now more than ever, wherever we twaddle.

Images are all my own, copyright Joanne K. McPortland
This past weekend Christianity Today published an article by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra titled Missionary Donn Ketcham Abused 18 Children. Heres Why He Wasnt Stopped. This article was written in response the release of a report created by Professional Investigators International (Pii) on their investigation of the sexual abuse allegations that had dogged the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) since the early 2000s. If youre a longtime reader, this will sound familiar. If youre not, Ill fill you in in a moment. But for now, let me just state that Christianity Today needs to raise its bar for measuring good faith sexual abuse prevention efforts.

In 1989, a 14-year-old missionary kid visiting home from Bangladesh told the pastor at her home church that Donn Ketcham, a missionary doctor who had been in Bangladesh with ABWE since 1964, had sexually abused her. The girls pastor handed her over to Ketchams boss, who took her back to Bangladesh and confronted Ketcham, who confessed. Both Ketcham and the girl were made to sign confessions of adultery. Ketcham was let go from ABWE, with a vague reference to sexual immorality as an explanation, and returned to the United States where he taught Sunday school and continued to practice medicine until 2012. No one with ABWE reported Ketchams abuse or asked whether he had additional victims.

By the early 2000s, a number of additional now-grown missionary kids came forward with allegations of abuse. ABWE initially promised to look into matters and began its own investigation. Frustrated by the lack of progress, the missionary kids started a blog in 2011. Two months later, ABWE hired Boz Tchvidjians organization, Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an investigation, but ABWE fired GRACE after two years, claiming that there were irregularities in the investigation. For its part, GRACE claimed that ABWE had continually refused to comply with their requests for various records. ABWE then hired Pii to finish the investigation, which now, after five years, is complete.

According to the Christianity Today article:

In February 2013, after two years of investigation, ABWE fired GRACE, alleging a myriad of investigative flaws. Pii was hired as a replacement, a move that alarmed victims. . . . In turn, GRACE charged ABWE with repeated objections to providing requested documents and failing to provide GRACE with access to crucial witnesses. Pii stated that it was plagued by the same behaviors. ABWEs legal coordinator Nancy Anderson lied about and hid the existence of hundreds of documents pertaining to Ketcham at the direction of ABWE attorney Robert Showers, according to the Pii report. After Showers was removed in 2014, Pii investigators were able to access more than 7,000 additional pages of evidence.

Whats odd is that in spite of this obstruction, Zylstra finishes with the following:

ABWE has worked to create a transparent culture and a policy that will not accept even a hint of a mistake when it comes to child abuse. A quarter-century ago, the process was far too informal, said Cockrell [interim president of ABWE]. We have worked very hard at changing the culture from that perspective. There is a different culture on the field today. There is a different culture in the home office today, for that matter. Instead of dealing with whispers of abuse in housein the family-like environment on the fieldallegations are to be immediately reported to the home office, he said. Policies arent much good without the right personnel to enforce them, which ABWE believes are now in place. There was inadequate training taking place in those days for those who were responsible, and the investigation revealed there were people who knew about the abuse, Cockrell told CT. They did not follow up on the abuse, and that is totally unacceptable today. The Pii report exposed how much harm and damage was done to the victims, said Cockrell. Our greatest is concern is that we do everything we can to assist and help victims at this stage, he said. It is our hope that God will allow us to fix some things.

So lets get this straight. ABWE engaged in obstruction throughout both GRACE and Piis investigations, and yet Zylstra is ready to accept interim ABWE president Al Cockrells word that ABWE has everything fixed now? Yes, ABWE attorney Robert Showers was removed in 2014, but Cockrell was also interim president from 2011 until 2013, during the entire period of the obstruction of the GRACE investigation, and was on the board before that time. This isnt new leadership. Its the same leadership that was in place during much of the obstruction, and even before that. The Pii report does not fault Cockrell for the obstruction, but it also finds that Cockrell allowed Showers to retain his position even though he knew there was a conflict of interest. This should be concerning.

And it just so happens that the moderators of the Bangladesh MK blog, themselves among Ketchams victims, find exactly this highly troubling. Zylstra quotes a brief preliminary response from the Bangladesh MK blog moderators in her article; this response states only that the victims were still reading and processing the report. Zylstra does not include any quotes from Ketchams victims, while quoting Cockrell extensively. The Bangladesh MK blog moderators issued a more complete statement on May 10th, the day Zylstras article was published. In that statement they were highly critical of ABWE. As of this writing, Zylstras article does not yet include an update linking to this statement.

Note: Since publishing this piece, I have been informed that Zylstra did not reach out to the Bangladesh MK blog moderators in any way while writing her article, instead quoting a Mothers Day message from the groups Facebook page in a way that made it sound as though they were pleased with the findings of the Pii report and the direction of ABWE. When the blog moderators contacted Zylstra she offered to swap the quote out for a new one. They gave her a brief quote stating that they were still reading the report, but asked that it be added to the end as an addendum so that what she originally wrote would be retained for clarity. Instead, Zylstra edited the article itself and labeled the quote the groups official statement, which it is not. The article has still not been updated to include the groups actual official statement, and their perspective is thus wholly absent from an article that instead relies heavily on quotes from ABWE leadership.

Here is an excerpt from the Bangladesh MK blog moderators official statement:

RE: ABWEs Obstruction of the Investigation: It would be easy for the current leadership and board at ABWE to feel good that they were not in leadership in 1989, as the report exposes terrible mishandling by those who were. However, we believe current ABWE leaders must examine what role theyve personally played in wounding the victims too. According to the report, ABWEs obstruction and delay of the investigation continued until as recently as 2014 and potentially 2015. (See Pii Report pages 130-142.)

Zylstra may be willing to accept the ABWE leaderships statement that everything is in order now, but the victims of ABWEs failure to protect children from abuse at the hands of its sponsored missionaries are not so ready to uncritically accept the organizations current assurances. And it sounds as though they have good reason.

Heres another bit from the groups statement:

RE: ABWEs Ongoing Disregard for Reporting Laws: In the process of the investigation, Pii uncovered three other alleged child abusers. (See page 136 of the Pii report.) ABWE delayed reporting one for over four months in 2013 and, according to the report, Pii has yet to receive confirmation that ABWE properly reported the other two. . . . Its disturbing that Pii discovered ABWE was still not properly reporting allegations of abuse as of 2013two years after ABWE promised the over 4,000 churches who support them that they had adopted child protection best practices. . . . ABWE claims theyve changed, but its a really tough sell at this point. Who believes it anymore?

Check this out, from page 136 of the report:

July 31, 2013: Pii notified the ABWE legal team, Robert Showers and Nancy Anderson, of an additional alleged child abuser discovered in the course of the investigation. The notification was delivered as instructed by ABWE and for the purpose of allowing ABWE to report the alleged abuse to authorities. Pii requested permission to investigate the matter on January 1, 2014, which request was denied by Robert Showers. The ABWE Board Meeting, Special Meeting, March 29, 2011, state: It was confirmed that the ABWE Child Protection Policy approved by the Board in November 2010 addresses the issue of mandatory reporting for child abuse offenses. However, ABWE did not notify Pennsylvania authorities until December 3, 2013, just over 4 months later. Pii additionally notified the ABWE legal team of another alleged child abuser on November 13, 2013, and a third on December 30, 2013. To date, Pii has not received confirmation from ABWE that the proper authorities have been notified. Rather, ABWE stated that interviews were being conducted to determine whether or not to make such a report. The Pennsylvania Code, Subchapter E, Section 21.502 states that, Oral reports of suspected child abuse shall be made immediately by telephone and that Written reports shall be made within 48 hours after the oral report is made by telephone

This was after ABWE had created its interim policy for child protection.

Let me finish by making two specific points. In my reading, it appears that the moderators of the Bangladesh MK blog and many of the other victims they are in contact with do not feel that ABWEs current assurances that they have corrected their child protection policies can be trusted, given that even in the last five years, during GRACE and Piis investigations, ABWE carried out obstruction and failed to notify authorities of new abuse allegations as required by law. ABWE has remained under the same leadership throughout this period.

It could be that interim ABWE president Al Cockrell is completely genuine in wanting change. It is hard to know, though, whether the change he is speaking of now is any different from the change he spoke of before and during the obstruction and before and during the failure to report new child abuse allegations as required by law. All of this undermines Cockrells assurances that the ABWE has changed, and that the organization now has sound child protection policies. While I cant speak for Ketchams victims, it seems to me that Cockrell would do well to admit that the ABWEs problems with reporting and covering up abuse continued throughout the investigation period and accept responsibility for that.

And now my second point. I truly wish Zylstra, the Christianity Today article author, and been able to draw some of the above questions out in her article. The piece would have been much tighter and more interesting if the complexities at play in the current leadership hadnt been so brushed over. I worry that there is too much willingness, in evangelical circles, to accept promises of change as evidence of change. There is a willingness to be entirely too uncritical when addressing solutions to systemic problems that have beset Christian organizations. To me, Zylstras article feels like a missed opportunity.

***

Addendum

After writing the above, I found several additional bits to highlight. The first deals with the child protection policies ABWE created during the period when they were under investigation. This is from the Pii report, pages 132-133:

January, 2012: ABWE INTERIM PROTOCOL FOR CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATIONS, Effective January 2012, states, For allegations leveled against an ABWE MK or ABWE missionary, if the evidence has reached a level of reasonable belief it occurred, the Child Safety Team will turn over the investigation to an independent Fact Finding Investigative Team (presently headed by Rob Showers, at Simms Showers LLP)  to investigate the claims.  The ABWE Child Safety Team will make decisions about reporting allegations to the proper authorities NOTE: These procedures may be in violation of the Pennsylvania abuse reporting statute, The Pennsylvania Code, Subchapter E, Section 21.502, quoted below. Pii recommends that ABWE undertake a thorough review of its Child Protection Policies to determine their compliance with relevant law.

It appears that ABWE has since updated their policy once again, but their continued insistence during the period they were under investigation on conducting their own investigations of child abuse allegations before (and in some cases, presumably, instead of) reporting the allegations to the authorities is concerningand as Pii suggests, out of step with state law.

Does Zylstra mention this in her Christianity Today article? No she does not. She had a perfect opportunity to push Cockrrel on the subject of ABWEs 2012 and 2013 woefully inadequate child abuse policies and reporting systems, as outlined in Piis report, and to ask what evidence or assurances Cockrrel could offer that things will actually be different going forward, but she did not do so.

Theres another point where Zylstra could have pushed Cockrrel too. The ABWE websites FAQ section on child protection and this investigation states this:

Why did ABWE terminate their contract with G.R.A.C.E.? Concerns from some Victims/Survivors are the primary reason ABWE decided to end its relationship with G.R.A.C.E.

The Pii report makes it clear that this is at the very least only half the story. It also ignores the fact that Ketchams victims at the Bangladesh MK blog and elsewhere saw the firing of GRACE very differently, and that some of these individuals refused to speak with Pii, feeling that the investigations independence had been compromised. In other words, firing GRACE caused distress and harm to many of Ketchams victims, but this is apparently not of concern to ABWE.

Check this out from page 133 of Piis report:

February, 2013: G.R.A.C.E. was terminated by ABWE just weeks before their final report was complete based on allegations by ABWE that they had committed a myriad of investigative flaws. G.R.A.C.E. pointed out in their response on February 11, 2013, that ABWE had repeatedly failed to comply with their contractual obligations to G.R.A.C.E. These contractual breaches included repeated objections to providing requested documents and the failure to provide documents in a timely manner, if at all. ABWE further breached the contract by failing to provide G.R.A.C.E. with access to critical witnesses associated with  organization. ABWEs contractual breaches needlessly delayed this investigation and impaired our ability to fully evaluate ABWEs response to the crimes perpetrated by Donn Ketcham. When placed in the context of ABWEs conduct over the past 20 months, the termination of G.R.A.C.E. strongly suggests ABWE is unwilling to have itself investigated unless the investigation is with (ABWE) control. We pray this is not the case. NOTE: The Pii investigation was plagued by the same behaviors until Bryan Cave and its attorneys became General Counsel, with a few exceptions outlined elsewhere in this chapter.

Theres also this, on page 134:

March 13, 2013: In the document entitled No GRACE in Sexual Abuse Investigation of Missionary Kids, authored by Bobby Ross, Jr., Tony Beckett, ABWEs vice president of church relations at the time told CT (Christianity Today): We began to realize that as trained prosecutors involved in doing investigations for a child advocacy ministry, their focus appeared to be on building a case rather than finding facts.

In other words, it appears that GRACE was terminated not because of concerns for the victims but rather because GRACE insisted on a thorough independent investigation and ABWE wanted more control over GRACEs findings. That Pii faced the exact same problems until Robert Showers was removed as ABWEs legal counsel suggests that ABWE is at the very least being grossly misleading even today about the reasons they ended their contract with GRACE. And on some level they got what they wantedthe Pii report details the obstruction but lets many of the organizations leaders off the hook, finding them innocent of wrongdoing despite this obstruction.

Speaking of Pii letting people off the hook, check this out from page 170:

Jesse Eaton

There is NOT a Preponderance of Evidence that Jesse Eaton failed in light of ABWE Principles and Practices. The evidence shows that whereas Jesse Eaton had a level of administrative responsibility throughout the Donn Ketcham matter, it also shows that he worked both within the bounds of ABWE, as an organization, and his moral commitment to fulfill those responsibilities.

And then look at this, from page 51:

c. 1985, Jesse Eaton maintained in his possession a file of the Donn Ketcham matter during the time in which he was an administrator. When that assignment ended, he took that file out behind the mission house or whatever, the headquarters, and burned it up. And it was just, it was so full of crud, so full of nasty things  it was just a huge relief  to burn it up.

Youve got to admit that that is strange. The bit from page 170 is in a section where Pii goes through various ABWE employees and board members and determines who is guilty of wrongdoing and who is not. If Jesse Eaton had acted on the nasty things in his file of the Donn Ketcham matter rather than burning it in 1985, some of Ketchams victims would have been been spared what they suffered. And yet, Eaton is let off the hook, absolved of any wrongdoing.

And then theres the barn. Oh yes, an actual barn. Check out page 127:

The investigators were told there was no barn in which documents were stored. There was a barn, and there were 78 linear feet of document storage, which resulted in over 1200 insightful and clarifying documents.

That such sentences even had to be typed should be reason enough to push Cockrrel and ABWE for more than just words. As the Bangladesh MK blog moderators wrote in their statement: ABWE claims theyve changed, but its a really tough sell at this point. Who believes it anymore? Well, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and the editorial staff at Christianity Today, for one.

You can read the full Pii report yourself here.
Patna: Speaking at the state-level meeting of the bankers committee in Patna on Wednesday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to the banks to assume the role of partners in the development process of the state.

Kumar's speech, almost a repetition of his past talking points, enunciated the need for an increase in the annual credit plan that, he said, was too small at Rs. 74,000 crore.

"The need of the hour is to provide easy to secure loans to businessmen in all sectors. Also, there should be provision for renewing the Kisan Credit Card as Bihar still lags far behind in national average when it comes to Cash-Deposit Ratio," he said.

Admitting the CD Ration has gone up from 32% in 2005-06 to 44% in 2014, the Chief Minister said that it was still behind the national average of 76%.

Kumar also emphasized the need for opening more bank branches, particularly in rural areas saying while the national average puts 11,000 customers for each branch, in Bihar this number was close to 18,000.

"Due to inadequate number of banks in the state, only 389 ATM centers could be opened in Bihar in 2014-15 as against the set target of 600," he said.
Patna: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Wednesday declared the results of the Intermediate Science (I.Sc.) with 89% of the students appearing in the 2015 tests clearing the exam. This is 23 points up from the same exam held last year, officials said.

Announcing the results on the Internet, Bihar Education Minister P. K. Shahi expressed his pleasure over the improvement in the percentage of successful students while also congratulating Vikas Kumar Singh, a student of the Vidyapati High School in Maubajitpur (North) in Samastipur district, for securing the highest mark in the state with 429 (85.8%).

Singh was followed by the fellow student of the same school (South) Yashashwi Kashyap who attained 426, or 85.2%.

Three students were tied for the third best score with 425, or 85%. They are Vishwajeet Kumar of Krishak College, Nawada, Yashu Ranjan of Jagdam College in Saran, and Mohammad Aquib of L. C. College in Saharsa).

More than six lakh students had appeared in the I.Sc. Test, BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad said adding while 88.58% of the boys passed the exam, this number was higher for girls at 90.11%.

About 62,000 students were declared fail, he said.

District-wise, Nawada topped the list of successful students (98.35%) followed by Sheikhpura with 98.08% and Jamui at 97.62%.

The results for the I.Com exams will be announced on May 26 followed by IA results on May 30, the minister said.

Students could obtain their results by going to www.biharboard.bih.nic.in.
Saran: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, speaking at the Rajendra Stadium in Chhapra on Wednesday, exhorted the women of the district not to be afraid to take the law in their own hand and destroy any illegal liquor distillery if they came across one.

"Don't be afraid; if you see any distillery, just destroy it. Attack anyone who is creating trouble while being intoxicated," the Chief Minister, who is on a nationwide trip to justify his decision to impose prohibition in Bihar, said at a 'Jeevika' rally in Chhapra.

Kumar invoked the name of Mahatma Gandhi saying the dream of the father of the nation was finally realized hundred years after the famous Champaran Satyagraha.

"The foundation of social change has been laid now. The dream of Bapu has been realized and women from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh are calling me to help impose prohibition in those states. Today women are playing big role in the society and they should take all action against those who are found to be drinking," he said.
Patna: Police in Patna on Tuesday resorted to lathi charge after hundreds of students took to the street to protest what they called bungling in the result of the Bihar Board Inter Science (12) exams.

{gallery}newsimages2016/may/051116{/gallery}Students saying those who had already cleared JEE main exams had been given 5 or 6 in physics and chemistry. "In some cases, students have been awarded zero or 2001 out of a total mark of 100. How is this possible?" they questioned.

Breaching security at the Inter Council office, students vandalized the place at which point the police sprung into action and after locking the building's gate from inside, chased the students and hit them with batons.

Several students were injured in the incident while many others were taken into police custody.

According to some report, Abhishek Kumar, Roll Number 10024, was given 2001 in the physics theory with a total mark of 70. Others had received zero in Chemistry theory but 29 out of 30 in practical.

Alleging massive irregularity in marking, students said that they tried to talk to the officials for more than two hours but when they refused to meet with them, then they lost their patience and resorted to vandalism.

Denying any wrongdoing in marking, Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Secretary Harihar Nath Jha said that there could be some error in the printing of the result and it would be rectified soon.

"We are looking into the matter and any student who thinks there is a problem with his or her marks, I encourage them to come forward and file a complaint with us. We will try to rectify the error within 24 hours," Jha said.
Patna: Janata Dal  U legislative council member Manorama Devi has reportedly gone into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against her and her house in Gaya sealed by the police following recovery of liquor bottles from her home during a Monday raid in connection with the murder of a youth allegedly by her son Rocky Yadav.

Gaya District Magistrate Ravi Kumar said if Manorama Devi did not surrender by Thursday, the police will initiate the process to auction off her house and its belongings.

"These measures are being taken under the new Excise laws that were promulgated with the imposition of total prohibition in Bihar," Kumar said.

Reportedly, eight bottles of liquor were recovered from the JD-U legislator's house during a raid on Monday.

Rocky Yadav, the son of Manorama Devi and her criminal husband Bindeshwari Yadav, also known as Bindi Yadav, stands accused in the murder of 20-year old Aditya Sachdeva during a road incident in Gaya last Saturday. Bindi Yadav and his bodyguard were soon arrested and sent to jail in judicial custody for two weeks.

After remaining in hiding, Rocky Yadav was arrested from a dairy farm owned by his father on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, members of the Jan Adhikar Chhatra Parishad, the youth wing of the Pappu Yadav-led Jan Adhikar Party (JAP), burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Patna University in protest against the murder of the Gaya youth.

"Law and order has collapsed under Nitish administration and he must assume full responsibility for the murder of Aditya Sachdeva and resign from his post," the protestors said.
Iran: Poet Released After Multiple Arrests. Activist Teacher Released After Hunger Strike

05/12/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh

Keyvan Mehregan, the Iranian poet, journalist and filmmaker, was released from Evin Prison on Wednesday May 11. Mehregan's wife, Afsaneh Parchekani, reports that the prosecutor and the judge agreed to a conditional release for her husband, who had been on a furlough.



Keyvan Mehregan



Mehregan was arrested last September to serve out a one-year sentence in connection with his journalistic activities with the Shargh daily.

In 2011, he was sentenced to one year in jail and a five-year ban from journalism for the charge of "propaganda against the regime".

Since the 2009 election protests, which led to wave after wave of a widespread crackdown on journalists, Mehregan has been arrested and released on bail on several occasions.

Activist teacher released after hospital stay for hunger strike

Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroodi, the jailed Iranian teacher who was hospitalized following his hunger strike, has reportedly been released. ILNA reported on Wednesday May 11 that Beheshti Langaroodi's family, who have been at his bedside since his hospitalization, have reported that he has been released.



Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroodi (2nd left) among his family members





After his arrest last September for taking part in labour activism, he was sentenced in court behind closed doors to nine years in jail.

On April 22, he began refusing food and last week he began also refusing water to protest his sentence.

In recent years, Iranian teachers have been engaged in protests across the country to challenge their low wages and meagre benefits.
Iranian pilgrims won't be sent to Hajj this year: Minister

05/12/16

Source: Press TV

Iran says it will not send pilgrims to Hajj this year because Saudi Arabia is refusing to cooperate on arrangements for Iranians to join the annual rituals in September. "Conditions are not prepared for conducting Hajj; we have lost the time; we made our utmost effort but the sabotage is coming from the Saudis," Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati said on Thursday.





Kaaba ("House of God") in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

(photo by Mehdi Ghasemi, ISNA)





An Iranian delegation held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at thrashing out a deal, but with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran closed since January and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted they hit deadlock.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran on January 3 following attacks on vacant Saudi diplomatic perimeters in Tehran and Mashhad by angry people protesting the kingdom's execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Jannati said the Saudis had mistreated Iranian delegates headed by chairman of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Saeid Ouhadi, subjecting them to finger-printing among other hostile procedures.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas, the transport and security of the pilgrims," Jannati said.

On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari advised Riyadh against letting its political preferences affect the important Islamic tradition.

Jaberi Ansari said the Saudi government has refused to act on "its recurrent assertions that it would not let political disputes get in the way of the issue of Hajj."

Iran has been insisting that Saudi Arabia issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since Riyadh broke off ties in January.

Tehran has said it is ready to swiftly issue visas for Saudi visa officers to perform the procedure at the Swiss diplomatic mission or elsewhere in Tehran, according to Jaberi Ansari.

Saudi Arabia has also insisted that third-country airlines have to transport the pilgrims, while the two countries would previously each share half of the responsibility for the air travels.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications," Jannati said.

Another contentious issue has been security, after a massive stampede at last year's Hajj killed more than 2,400 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians.

The crush took place on September 24, 2015, after two large masses of pilgrims converged at a crossroads in Mina, near Mecca, during the symbolic ceremony of the stoning of Satan in Jamarat.
Kerry Reassures Top Bank Executives On Doing Business With Iran

05/12/16

Source: RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told top bank executives that the United States will not stand in the way if they want to do business with Iran.

Kerry told the meeting of European bank executives in London on May 12 that lenders will not be penalized for doing legitimate business with Iran because most global sanctions have been removed under Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Major British banks attended the meeting, including Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, along with other European banks.

Kerry said Washington wants to make clear that as long as banks do their "normal due diligence" to know whom they're doing business with, they won't be held to an undefined or inappropriate standard.

Kerry stressed that banks should only avoid doing business with Iranian businesses and individuals who the United States continues to target with sanctions, such as companies associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Based on reporting by AP 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
Opera, which seems determined to pack generations worth of improvements into a few short months, boasts yet another reason for you to switch browsers: a low-power mode that the company promises will extend your laptops battery life by up to 50 percent.

Like other, recent releases, the new feature will first appear as part of a developer edition of the Opera 39 browser for both Mac and Windows PCs.

This follows a native ad blocker that Opera first featured as part of a developer edition in March, and which has since become mainstream. That feature appears to help the new low-power mode achieve best results. Opera says that in its internal testing of the new build it gained an additional hour of battery life while running the browser on a Core i7-based Dell XPS 13 with 16GB of RAM, powered by a 64-bit version of Windows 10. Ad blocking was enabled, the company said.

Its extremely frustrating to run out of battery on your computer, whether you are out traveling, watching videos, or you have just left your charger behind, said Krystian Kolondra, the senior vice president of engineering for Opera, in a statement. Our new power-saving mode will nudge you when the laptop starts to consume battery, and, when enabled, it can increase the battery life by as much as 50 percent.

Operas battery life claims. The company used the Selenium automated browser tool to test 11 popular websites: adding a tab, scrolling down, then letting it sit for a minute. The cycle repeated itself until the notebook ran out of battery.

Why this matters: Suddenly, browsers matter again. Opera has garnered a lot of attention with its recent deluge of improvements; in addition to the native ad blocker, Opera rallied privacy-minded users with a native, unlimited VPN built right into the browser. Microsoft, for its part, is tying its Cortana digital assistant to its Edge browser, and reminding users that plugin-like features, such as coupon finding, are built right in. And then theres Vivaldi, the new Chromium browser by former Opera employees.

Opera A large battery icon signals the low-power mode. You can also switch this on and off in the Settings menu.

Low-power mode in action

To preserve power in the new low-power mode, Opera says that parts of the browsers code have been simplified, and its animated themes optimized. Additional improvements include reducing activity in background tabs, adapting page-redrawing frequency, and tuning video-playback parameters, according to the company. In this version, we are also testing a smarter way of managing memory, which ensures that constantly opened tabs like Gmail and Facebook will be much more responsive, Opera said in a statement.

According to Opera, the new power-saving mode will automatically be displayed when you unplug your laptop, in much the same way your OS detects when your laptops unplugged. (Youll see a large battery icon next to the search and address field, if you have any doubts.) Low-power mode apparently wont be enabled, however, until you toggle it on. As your battery power runs low, Opera may pop up a message advising you to enable the feature.

Opera didnt say exactly when the low-power mode would enter the mainstream, stable version of its browser. Still, it took about two months for ad blocking to move from the developer edition to being generally available, so we might see it by July.
The IT department of the U.S. House of Representatives has blocked access to Yahoo Mail and the Google App Engine platform due to malware threats.

On April 30, the Houses Technology Service Desk informed users about an increase in ransomware related emails on third-party email services like Yahoo Mail and Gmail.

The House Information Security Office is taking a number of steps to address this specific attack, the Technology Service Desk said in an email obtained and published by Gizmodo. As part of that effort, we will be blocking access to Yahoo Mail on the House Network until further notice.

The ban on Yahoo Mail access suggests that some House of Representatives workers accessed Yahoo mailboxes from their work computers. This raises the questions: are House workers using Yahoo Mail for official business, and, if theyre not, are they allowed to check their private email accounts on work devices?

If they use the same devices for both personal and work activities, one would hope that there are access controls in place to separate the work and personal data. Otherwise, if they are allowed to take those devices outside of the Houses network, they could just as easily become infected there, where the ban is not in effect.

The recent attacks have focused on using .js files attached as zip files to e-mail that appear to come from known senders, the Houses Technology Service Desk said. The primary focus appears to be through Yahoo Mail at this time.

The increase in ZIP and RAR email attachments that contain malicious JavaScript (JS) files has been observed by multiple security companies in recent months, including by Microsoft, which offers several recommendations, like using the Windows AppLocker group policy to restrict the execution of .JS files.

The House Information Security Office also banned access to appspot.com, the domain name used by applications hosted on the Google App Engine platform, Reuters reported.

This ban appears to be unrelated to the ransomware attacks and is in response to indicators that attackers have been using Googles platform to host a remote access trojan named BLT since June 2015, unnamed congressional sources told Reuters.

Banning an entire service because some cybercriminals abuse it seems like overkill, especially when this can cause downtime to legitimate applications. Dropbox, Blogger, Google Docs and many other free services are routinely abused by cybercriminals to host malware. Banning them all, instead of specific malicious URLs, would likely be impractical.

Former House staffer Ted Henderson called the ban a bumbling response on Twitter. Henderson is the creator of Capitol Bells, an app that helps users track floor votes taken in real time, and Cloakroom, a chat app for Capitol Hill insiders. Both apps were affected.

This Brazilian-style cyber security response is muzzling our community, Henderson said, referring to the repeated country-wide blocking of encrypted chat app WhatsApp in Brazil.
Lyft has agreed to pay $27 million to settle a dispute with drivers in California, under pressure from the judge who found the earlier proposed payment of $12.25 million was too small.

The ride-hailing company and its rival Uber Technologies are keen to settle with the drivers in class-action lawsuits, without having to agree to their reclassification as employees, which would push up their costs.

The companies currently classify their drivers as independent contractors, which does not require them to pay the drivers benefits such as reimbursement in work-related expenses.

A filing by the lawyer for the drivers in another lawsuit in a California court suggests that Uber could have to pay over $700 million in mileage expense reimbursement and phone expenses between 2009 and April of this year, if its drivers in California and Massachusetts were classified as employees. Uber has contested the figure.

A current settlement proposal, which still needs the approval of the judge, would require Uber to pay the drivers $84 million with a subsequent top-up of $16 million depending on the companys valuation if it goes public.

The new amount payable by Lyft represents roughly 17 percent of the maximum value of the classs reimbursement claim, as suggested by District Judge Vince Chhabria, according to a filing on Wednesday,

Under the revised settlement submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the crucial driver reclassification issue will again not be addressed.

The app-based ride hailing company had earlier offered a $12.25 million settlement fund, including attorney fees and other costs, besides non-monetary relief to the about 100,000 drivers. The non-monetary benefits such as prevention of arbitrary termination continue under the new settlement.

Drivers affiliated to the Teamsters Union had objected to the earlier settlement, as they said it would continue to misclassify Lyft employees in California as independent contractors.
Mozilla has asked a court that it should be provided information on a vulnerability in the Tor browser ahead of it being provided to a defendant in a lawsuit, as the browser is based in part on Firefox browser code.

At this point, no one (including us) outside the government knows what vulnerability was exploited and whether it resides in any of our code base, wrote Denelle Dixon-Thayer, chief legal and business officer at Mozilla, in a blog post Wednesday.

Mozilla is asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in the interest of Firefox users to ensure that the government must disclose the vulnerability to it before it is revealed to any other party, as any disclosure without advance notice to Mozilla will increase the likelihood that the exploit will become public before Mozilla can fix any associated vulnerability in Firefox.

The Tor browser comprises a version of Firefox with some minor modifications that add privacy features, and the Tor proxy software that makes the browsers Internet connections more anonymous, according to the filing.

The FBI had in 2015 used what it described as a network investigative technique to monitor users visiting a child pornography site, hidden on the so-called Tor anonymity network, which it had seized but kept live to identify its visitors.

The court has asked the government to produce information related to a security vulnerability that it exploited in the Tor browser. The defense wants information on the exploit to find out if the government exceeded its warrant conditions.

In its filing on Wednesday, Mozilla warned that absent great care, the security of millions of individuals using Mozillas Firefox Internet browser could be put at risk by a premature disclosure of this vulnerability, according to the filing.

The government has so far refused to tell Mozilla whether the vulnerability at issue in the case involves a Mozilla product. But Mozilla said in the filing that it has reason to believe that the exploit used by the government is an active vulnerability in its Firefox code base that could be used to compromise users and systems running the browser.

The government has also refused to tell Mozilla if the exploit went through the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP), which is a government process for deciding whether to share or not information on security vulnerabilities, according to Mozilla.

If Mozilla is not allowed to intervene in the case to protect its interests, the court should certainly allow Mozilla to appear as a friend of the court or amicus curiae, according to the filing.
The personal banking information of about 160,000 U.S. residents walked out the door of the federal governments bank insurance agency on removable media of employees departing in recent months.

During the last seven months, seven departing employees at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have left with personal banking information on thumb drives and other removable media, agency officials told a congressional subcommittee Thursday.

The FDIC, which provides deposit insurance to U.S. bank accounts, considered the data breaches as inadvertent copying of personal banking information that happened when departing employees were copying personal information to removable media, Lawrence Gross Jr., the FDICs CIO, told the House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committees oversight subcommittee.

But in one case, the ex-employee denied downloading material and resisted turning it back over to the agency, lawmakers noted. One of the data breaches is the subject of a criminal investigation, said Fred Gibson, the FDICs acting inspector general.

Lawmakers accused the FDIC of not taking the breaches seriously.

Mr. Gross, you and I are viewing this incident from a completely different perspective, said Representative Bill Posey, a Florida Republican. [You] call it a data breach. Where Im from, we call it a theft if you take something thats not yours.

The FDIC didnt immediately report the incidents as major breaches to Congress until prompted by its inspector generals office, despite new guidance from the Office of Management and Budget to report serious breaches within seven days.

Lawmakers questioned what they called a lack of transparency at the FDIC and a security policy that allows departing employees to download information from their hard drives.

Regrettably, the American people have good reason to question whether their private banking information is secured by the FDIC, said Representative Barry Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican. The agency is failing to safeguard private banking information.

The agency has a long history of cybersecurity problems, he added. Before the recent removable media incidents, a foreign government in 2011 hacked into the computers of senior officials at the agency and was undetected for more than a year.

Gross, hired as the FDICs CIO just last November, said he didnt originally classify the removal media incidents as major breaches because they appeared to involve accidental copying of files during nonadversarial departures of employees. The former employees involved have signed affidavits saying they didnt share the data with others, he said.

Still, one of Gross top priorities as CIO is to revamp the agencys policy about removable media and to add security safeguards to block downloads of personal data, he said.

Most employees now cannot download FDIC data to removable media, and the agency is adding digital rights management software to its network, he said.

At the FDIC, we are keenly aware that protecting sensitive information is critical to our mission of maintaining stability and public confidence in the nations financial system and we are continually enhancing our information security program, Gross added.
A day after pulling a man from a burning vehicle in Riverside, Santiago Portillo was still emotional Wednesday.

About 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, shortly after he arrived at the mattress store on Indiana Avenue near Tyler Street where he works as a manager, he heard what sounded like a train rumbling by. Police would later say it was a street race-turned-rollover wreck.

Portillo stood up to look over the counter across the room. Through the windows that surround his building, he could clearly see a car upside-down and burning.

It looked unreal, he said.

He grabbed his cellphone and began to record the incident, but then he saw an arm and a head  the driver was still inside the black Honda Prelude.

The 37-year-old ran outside and around the front of the building to the burning Honda, leaving his phone propped up and recording. He then grabbed the unconscious driver.

With flames and black smoke coming from the cars air vents, Portillo struggled to breathe for the few seconds his head was inside the car.

It was choking me, he said. The black smoke was choking me.

Five minutes later, Portillo said, firefighters arrived. By then the car was engulfed in flames.

The car was totaled, everything was collapsed in the car, he said.

The driver, a young man who Portillo said didnt seem older than 20, had a gash on his head and his leg was mangled.

Riverside Fire Battalion Chief Mike Staley said the young man, whose name was not released, was severely injured.

It appeared that the car had hit a light standard before rolling into the palm tree at the western corner of the Mattress Showroom. The car missed the business by only a few feet.

The crash happened when the speeding driver lost control while trying to avoid a big-rig, police investigators say.

Its too early to determine whether the injured driver will face criminal charges, said Officer Ryan Railsback. And Riverside police are still looking for a second street racer, who they say was driving a newer, white Scion TC.

Anyone with additional information about the crash may call Detective Ken Madsen at 951-826-8723.

Thinking back to the wreck makes Portillo emotional. He said he thought of the injured mans mother.

Portillo hasnt been able to reach the young man. Asked if there was anything he wanted people to know following the incident, he said, Pay it forward.

Santiago Portillo, store manager, telling the story. pic.twitter.com/07gcHcrDpZ  Anne Millerbernd (@annieanyway) May 11, 2016

Staff writer Richard Brooks contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: amillerbernd@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9567



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A few years after Riverside agreed to a $10 million settlement in a lawsuit over its use of water utility dollars, the city faces a similar legal challenge over electric fund money.

This time, the stakes could be much higher.

A resident is seeking to force the city to pay back $115 million he alleges was illegally shifted from the electric fund.

The suit, filed last month in Riverside County Superior Court by Richard Olquin, is one of several in recent years to question the city-owned utilities practice of paying a percentage of its revenues to the citys general fund, which pays for police, parks and other public services.

Los Angeles and Glendale are also among the cities being sued on similar grounds. Plaintiffs typically allege the transfers to the general fund violate state laws that require voter approval of most taxes and bar utilities from charging customers more than the actual cost of service.

Riverside City Attorney Gary Guess did not respond to several requests for comment since week. Riverside Public Utilities officials declined to comment on the electric fund transfer, but city officials responding to critics at council meetings have said the transfer is legal.

Attorney Raychele Sterling, a former deputy city attorney who was fired by Riverside in 2011, is representing Olquin. In a statement she wrote that city officials for years have ignored near-constant complaints  that Riverside Public Utilities has been overcharging customers in order to support the citys general fund.

INFLATED RATES?

Riverside Public Utilities payments of electric and water revenues to the general fund are a long-standing practice provided for in the city charter, which is like its constitution. The charter allows up to 11.5 percent of water and electric profits to be transferred each year.

As the citys third-largest revenue source after sales and property taxes, the transfer provides vital money for basic city services. The electric and water transfers totaled $45 million in fiscal year 2014-15.

Critics have complained that if the utility can give millions each year to the general fund, it must be overcharging customers on their bills.

They point to Prop. 26, a state constitutional amendment voters passed in 2010 that says charges for government services must be linked to the cost of providing the service. It also states that new charges or those that have increased since 2010 are considered taxes and must be approved by voters.

Thats the rule at the heart of Olquins lawsuit.

I have raised questions for probably two and a half to three years about how utility bills are calculated and why they include various add-on fees, said Olquin, a 51-year-old Riverside resident.

Olquin added that he didnt really get a lot of answers.

His suit alleges that in 2013, city and utility officials changed how the electric fund transfer was calculated by adding in fees that other utilities pay for access to Riversides power transmission system.

The city changed the formula to funnel more money into the general fund so it would have the cash to pay the settlement of the 2012 water fund lawsuit, Olquins suit alleges.

That change in calculation amounts to a tax increase that inflates  electric rates without regard to the cost of service and triggers the Prop. 26 requirement for voter approval, the suit argues.

Riverside City Council members were to discuss the suit behind closed doors Tuesday, May 10. A court hearing is set for June 27.

If the city were to lose or settle the case, one possible outcome is a ballot measure that, if approved, would allow the city to continue collecting the electric fund transfer. In settling the water fund suit, the city agreed to put that transfer on the ballot in 2013. Voters approved it by more than two-thirds.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pressenterprise.com
A 17-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday, May 10, on suspicion of stabbing a homeless man Friday in Corona.

The 63-year-old victim was taken to a hospital Friday after the stabbing occurred about 11:45 p.m. behind the Corona Chamber of Commerce building at 904 E. Sixth Street, said Corona police spokesman Sgt. Paul Mercado. The victims condition was unknown Wednesday.

The victim was sleeping when he was stabbed multiple times, Mercado said.

We believe it was unprovoked in an attempted robbery, Mercado said.

Officers with the Riverside County Gang Task Force arrested the suspect Tuesday and booked him into jail.

The stabbing took place across the street from Corona City Park, where Barnabas William Will Crites, 18, was stabbed to death Feb. 26.

Corona police have not arrested anyone in that incident. Flowers were arranged at the fence of the skatepark Wednesday in memory of him.
The consultant hired by Yucaipa to review establishing a by-district election system has drafted three voting boundary maps, which can be reviewed by voters.

The Yucaipa City Council on Monday held the first of three public hearings on the maps, drawn by Claremont-based National Demographics Corp.

Each of the three maps splits the city into five voting districts.

District 1 covers the northeastern part of the city, including Bryant Glen Park, in all three maps. It extends to the west to cover Crafton Hills College in one of the maps.

District 2 covers the western portion of the city, including Crafton Hills College, in two of the maps. But in the third it is still in the western part of the city, south of District 1.

District 3 is in the center of the city, which includes numerous mobile home parks, in all three maps.

District 4 is on the east, south of District 1 and north of District 5, on two maps. It is closer to the center of town, northeast of District 3, in the third map.

District 5 is along the citys southeastern boundary in two maps and completely along the southern boundary in the third map.

On Monday, the council asked that the consultant draft a fourth map, dividing the area along the 10 freeway and mobile home parks, to be reviewed at a future meeting.

In April, the council voted to hire the consultant to review changing from an at-large system to a by-district system to comply with the California Voting Rights Act and avoid potential litigation.

The act, signed into law in 2002, expands on the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed voting practices that discriminate against minority voters.

The act attempts to enhance the ability of members of a race, color or language minority group to elect candidates of their choice by challenging a government agencys at-large election system. If the groups can prove racially polarized voting is occurring in the at-large system, which is illegal under the act, they can pressure a city or school district to change to a district-based system.

Under such a system, each council member must live within the district for which they are elected and can be elected only by voters of that district.

The maps were drafted using data from the 2010 census and according to state and federal law, Justin Levitt, vice president of National Demographics Corp., said Monday.

Districts must have equal population, or be within 10 percent of other districts population; keep communities and neighborhoods together; be contiguous and compact; and follow visible natural and man-made geographical and topographical features.

Districts may need to be adjusted following the 2020 census.

The California Voting Rights Act requires that districts consider communities of protected groups, which Yucaipa does not have, Levitt said.

Theres no sufficient concentration of a single ethnicity group, nor historic community or even a more recent community of a single ethnic group, Levitt said. Its actually fairly diverse.

District boundaries also are expected to respect the decision of past voters and not create head-to-head contests between current elected officials.

Each of the proposed maps includes one current council member per district:

 District 1: Councilman David Avila

 District 2: Mayor Pro Tem Greg Bogh

 District 3: Councilman Bobby Duncan

 District 4: Mayor Denise Hoyt

 District 5: Councilman Dick Riddell

The long-term damage of this I think is devastating, said Bogh, who asked that the freeway corridor be divided up. I think its politicizing everything and if you want to ruin something you always politicize it.

Avila favored having the College District in his district. Hoyt favored having part of uptown in her district, which is an area of importance to her.

It just gives me a little bit more of that uptown for continuing that voice and that ear with businesses and property owners, she said. But, Ill be happy to represent anyone in this community. Its a great community.

Cities and school districts throughout the state have been sued for violating the state voting rights act.

Yucaipa has not been sued, but the City Council is taking a proactive approach to avoid potential litigation. No city that has fought these lawsuits has won.

The city of Highland in January lost a lawsuit challenging its at-large election system and has been ordered to establish a by-district system in November.

The city of Redlands, which had voting districts in the 1990s, will be reviewing a by-district system beginning in June.

So far more than 135 school districts, 40 cities and three county boards of education have changed from at-large to by-district system, Levitt said.

Cities across the area are looking to how to protect themselves from the impact of the California Voting Rights Act, Levitt said. The reason why they are looking to protect themselves is the expense involved.

The city of Yucaipa will hold two more public hearings on the maps, which can be viewed on the citys website: yucaipa.org, hovering over Government, clicking on Municipal Elections and clicking on Voting Districts.

Contact the writer: sandra.emerson@langnews.com; @TheFactsSandra on Twitter
Juan Manuel Banales arrived at Los Angeles Harbor College late Wednesday carrying the colorful symbols of a graduation celebration: a gold Mylar balloon that read Congratulations Graduate! and a bouquet of bright flowers.

But the tears he wiped away told the back story.

Some 20 family members and friends of his daughter, Aurora Godoy, the youngest victim in the Dec. 2 terror attack in San Bernardino, turned out to accept a posthumous associate degree conveyed on the colleges former student, who was only two classes shy of graduating.

The posthumous degree was a promise made at her funeral by Assemblyman Mike Gipson, whose son attended Carson High School with Godoy.

They followed through, which is nice, said Godoys husband, James, who attended Wednesdays regular meeting of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees meeting in Wilmington with the couples 2-year-old son, Alexander.

The nine-member board pledged a free education for the couples young son at any one of the districts community colleges.

She is indeed one of our own, said Harbor College President Otto Lee. She will always be with us and now is forever a part of our Class of 2016.

An office assistant for San Bernardino Countys environmental health division, Godoy, 26, was the youngest of 14 people killed Dec. 2 by co-worker Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. The pair later were killed by police.

Godoy attended Harbor College intermittently beginning in about 2008. She cut back her studies when she began working for San Bernardino County, first in the Registrar of Voters Office in 2013 and two years later in the Environmental Health Services Division.

This recognizes her hard work as a student and ensures that her memory remains a part of the Seahawk family, said board President Scott Svonkin.

Meeting with reporters before the meeting, James Godoy of San Jacinto said the months since the attack have been difficult.

Its been an adjustment, he said.

Mothers Day was spent visiting Godoys grave.

Lee said the young mother earned the honor, serving as a role model for students who persevere, often juggling work and family while pursuing an education.

She was taking college courses to improve her skills while working full time and having all of her family obligations, Lee told The Press-Enterprise this week. In that sense, it inspires many of our students who are going through the same thing. To get so close and be a victim of this tragedy is so senseless.

It is the first time the college has awarded a posthumous degree. Godoy will be recognized at the colleges June 7 graduation ceremony as well.

Godoy, who grew up in the South Bay as Aurora Banales, met her future husband in 2003 in the ROTC program at Carson High School, where she also was a cheerleader. They quickly became friends and then sweethearts.

She also attended culinary school after she graduated from high school in 2007.

Other posthumous honors have been given in her name by U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, and Carson Mayor Albert Robles.

Speakers at her Dec. 16 memorial service at Hope Chapel South Bay in Harbor Gateway  attended by some 1,000 friends and family members  remembered her as an outgoing young woman who loved Disneyland, baking and eating sweets. She also loved the New York Yankees and the Green Bay Packers.

Her husband said Wednesday that she was always the social point person in their union. Now, hes had to learn to become more open, he said.

Alexander, wearing a bright yellow Go Team Awesome T-shirt and Mickey Mouse sneakers, squirmed in his fathers arms as the family, surrounded by media, waited for the board meeting to begin.

The degree, James Godoy said, will be especially meaningful for his son, to know she was that close to graduating.

Aurora Godoys parents, Juan Manuel Banales and Dolores Valles of Gardena, brightened up once the meeting was underway and the degree was formally presented.

But the sadness that brought them there could not be forgotten.

It was a special day, said the father, who didnt speak much English.

But then, wiping away a tear, he added: Its very hard.
The Riverside County Sheriffs Department is investigating the death of a person in the Whitewater area.

An email from the departments Media Information Bureau said the death was reported as a suspicious circumstance by the California Highway Patrol near of Tipton Road and Highway 111.

More information was expected to become available later Thursday evening.
Visual effects of power lines and poles proposed in Lake Elsinore and adjacent areas were the primary concerns expressed by residents and officials Wednesday night, May 11, in a meeting hosted by consultants of the state Public Utilities Commission.

The commission sponsored the meeting to gather feedback on Southern California Edisons Valley-Ivyglen Subtransmission Lines and Alberhill Substation projects.

Valley-Ivyglen would consist of 27 miles of transmission lines running from a substation in Romoland through Lake Elsinore to a substation north of the city in Glen Ivy, along Interstate 15. At the same time, Edison wants to build the Alberhill substation just north of the city along I-15 in Temescal Canyon. Also proposed are power lines that would connect to the substation.

About 50 people, including numerous officials and community leaders, attended the conference, with nine individuals voicing criticisms of the projects. Most expressed concerns over the aesthetic effect on the landscape of the structures, with Lake Elsinore bearing the brunt of the impacts.

The public has through May 31 to file written comments on the projects with the commission. Comments can be emailed to VIG.ASP@ene.com.

A similar meeting is scheduled from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Cesar Chavez Library, 163 E. San Jacinto, Perris.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams@pressenterprise.com
As graduation approaches, Inland colleges are bolstering efforts to boost the number of Native Americans who enroll and earn degrees.

Four-year universities are trying to raise the low number of Native American graduates, which is directly linked to enrollment.

Officials with UC Riverside, the University of Redlands and Cal State San Bernardino say its important to knock down barriers that keep these students from pursuing college.

When students are getting their education, theyre building their capacity to build up their nations because theyre going to be the future leaders, said Heather Torres, Creating a Passion for Learning coordinator in Native American Student Programs at the University of Redlands.

Nationwide, Native Americans lag behind other racial and ethnic groups in college enrollment and completion.

Only 13 percent of Native Americans age 25 and older have a bachelors degree or higher, compared to 29 percent for the overall population, U.S. Census data show. Just 1 percent of college students are Native Americans, who comprise about 2 percent of the countrys population.

Its low because of poverty, said Dina Horwedel, public education director for the American Indian College Fund in Denver. A lot of reservation areas are so rural and remote that there few employment opportunities.

FOOD OR TUITION?

Paying thousands of dollars a year for a college education can be daunting for many Native Americans who struggle to afford tuition, housing and transportation while living off their reservations, she said.

They are forced to choose between putting food on the table and tuition, she said. The choice is obvious.

Last year, the organization awarded almost 4,000 students with scholarships to attend tribal colleges and universities. Of that number, 39 percent were the first in their family to go to college.

Native Americans represent a small fraction of student enrollment on Inland campuses. Graduation rates at some colleges are lower for Native Americans than other groups.

Over the past five years, an Inland Native American group has honored about 500 high school and college graduates at a ceremony featuring bird singing, dancing and other customs.

Were pushing our Native students to further their education as far as possible, said Vernon Motschman, coordinator of the Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc. Behavioral Health Services Native American Resource Center, based in Grand Terrace.

Motschman disputed the low numbers for college enrollment and graduation, saying that many Native students are of a mixed background and identify themselves as Latino or another category in official documents.

He said it would help if there were more tribal colleges and universities in California. Most are out of state, he said.

It can improve their success, Motschman said. It gives them a bond, which is what were trying to create for our students.

REACHING OUT

Torres, the University of Redlands official, works with tribes to build a college-going culture, reaching out to students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. She also recruits high school students and transfer students to Redlands and guides them as they apply..

Students have to feel that sense of connection while on campus or else theyre not going to succeed, Torres said.

The university also works with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to offer a Serrano language class in which younger tribal members teach college students. This helps open the eyes of Native American kids to the possibilities of higher education, she said.

Cal State San Bernardino offers scholarships through the San Manuel tribe, as well as support for students and cultural events. Third- and fourth-graders learn about Native American culture in workshops, said Tamara Holder, coordinator for the campus Cross Cultural Center.

UC Riverside had 21 undergraduates who reported they were Native American in fall 2015. Native American Student Programs Director Joshua Gonzales said his office serves about 125 students, including Native Americans and other races. It offers scholarship information, peer mentor programs and other services to help students adjust from high school to UCR.

For the past decade, a free summer residential program has brought dozens of Native American middle and high school students to UCR for a week. They learn writing and leadership skills, share tribal songs and stories and play sports. More than 90 percent who attend later enroll in some form of higher education, he said.

Its giving them that opportunity to believe in themselves, to have that confidence to say, Hey I can go on to college, Gonzales said.

CLEARING HURDLES

Some Native Americans have a historical distrust of U.S. schools because their families went boarding schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Children often couldnt speak their native languages and felt a loss of cultural identity, Gonzales said.

Elizabeth Rios, who grew up on the Cahuilla Indian reservation near Anza, plans to graduate cum laude from UC Riverside in June with an anthropology major.

Shes following in the footsteps of her mother and older sister, who both earned college degrees. She hopes to get an advanced degree focusing on American Indian history and work for a local tribes cultural resources department.

Rios, a single mom with two children, said its hard for many Native Americans to leave their close-knit families and go away to college. She called the Native American center at UCR a home away from home.

Its important to realize that as Native people, if we are going to be self-sufficient and move our people forward, we need these educational skills and we need this knowledge. We cant rely on other people to move us forward. We need to be educated within our own tribe.

Staff writer Sandra Emerson contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292 or swall@pressenterprise.com
The California Department of Transportation is closing the onramp to northbound Interstate 15 at Temecula Parkway on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Workers will be prepping the area for a project this summer that involves the installation of mulch for beautification of the ramps, according to the department.

Caltrans shut down the southbound offramp at the same interchange on Wednesday to knock out a similar job. Caltrans is advising motorists to use an alternate ramp to avoid the closure.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9698 or aclaverie@pressenterprise.com
Now that plans to pump underground water from deep in the Mojave Desert have survived a legal challenge, project developer Cadiz Inc. faces hurdles in delivering the water to customers around Southern California.

A state appeals court on Tuesday, May 10, upheld six rulings in the companys favor on various environmental and procedural challenges.

But Cadiz must now resolve two key issues before moving the $225 million project forward.

It needs the federal Bureau of Land Managements approval to use railroad right of way for a 43-mile pipeline that would carry the water to the Colorado River. The agency rejected the companys request in October.

And it needs the Metropolitan Water District of Southern Californias permission to use its Colorado River aqueduct to deliver the desert water to users in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. The MWD and Cadiz are in talks but have not worked out a deal.

The project would tap an underground aquifer from a well on Cadiz land and pump about 50,000 acre-feet of water per year to serve the Santa Margarita Water District, Jurupa Community Services District, Golden State Water Co., with customers in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, and three other suppliers.

The companys property sits in the middle of the newly designated Mojave Trails National Monument.

Cadiz President Scott Slater is confident the project will proceed and hopes to break ground this year. But in light of the obstacles, opponents and some who want to buy the water dont see it as a certainty.

We are not programming this as a firm source of water in the future, Jurupa district General Manager Todd Corbin said.

DISAGREEMENTS REMAIN

Slater said Wednesday his focus is now on showing BLM officials that the pipeline will further railroad purposes, the standard for using the right of way. The pipeline would have built-in turbines to power railroad lights and crossings, would provide water to put out fires on wooden trestles, and the project would add fiber optic cable for railroad use.

Its the same proposal BLM officials rejected last fall. In a statement Wednesday, agency spokeswoman Martha Maciel said, Because the proposed pipeline is not within the rights conveyed to the railroad, a separate BLM authorization is necessary.

Project opponents say that would require a federal environmental review.

They havent had the type of independent environmental assessment that is required by the federal government to understand the implications that their project would have on public lands that belong to all Americans, said David Lamfrom, California desert program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. His group was among those that sued to block the Cadiz project.

Slater disagreed, contending he already went through a tougher state-level review, and that the appeals court ruling settled the environmental issues. Either hell convince BLM officials that they erred in rejecting the pipeline, or Congress could act to clarify its rules that the BLM is interpreting, he said.

Failing that, Then well have to pursue our remedy, and that would be a resolution in court.

Project supporters and opponents also disagree on the effects of pumping 50,000 acre-feet a year out of an aquifer estimated to hold between 17 million and 34 million acre-feet of water, whether it would deplete natural springs that help sustain desert plants and animals, and how much groundwater would recharge the basin annually. One acre-foot of water is enough to supply two families in Southern California for a year.

This project is going to be taking out ancient groundwater on an unsustainable level, said Aruna Prabhala, staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. We just think thats heading in the wrong direction, particularly in light of Californias drought.

Other issues remain. Cadiz is in discussions with Metropolitan about using the aqueduct, water district spokesman Bob Muir said, but officials need to determine whether it has the capacity for additional users. There are also concerns about hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen, in the water.

Santa Margarita Water District spokeswoman Nicole Stanfield said the court decision has moved us one step closer to expanding our water portfolio. But Corbin of the Jurupa district is not ready to count on the additional water supply.

Were going to treat it  if available, if it gets through all of the project concerns, the environmental concerns  as a supplemental source of water, he said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pressenterprise.com
Joe Ybarra will always remember May 10.

Its the day he was born, and its the day in 1969 that he and others began the Battle of Hamburger Hill, where his actions earned him the Silver Star.

And May 10, 2016, is the day 50 friends and supporters surprised Ybarra outside the Stater Bros. on Washington Street with a banner recognizing him as a Hometown Hero.

After months of work by his family, the celebration  which included a reception afterward with a caterer, DJ and more  wasnt a complete surprise, said Ybarra, who arrived wearing a dress shirt and tie.

Its overwhelming, Ybarra said after the ceremony. I have a lot of family and friends I havent seen for years, and for them all to come today, Im honored.

Colton, one of many local cities to hold a Hometown Hero program, has put up nearly 200 of the banners since it began the program in earnest in 2013, said Deputy City Clerk Sabdi Sanchez, who manages the program.

The banners, displayed on thoroughfares, honor veterans and active-duty military personnel from the city.

Ybarra, who turned 67 Tuesday, volunteered for the paratroopers and wound up in the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division.

He is most proud of his Jump Wings as well as his Combat Infantry Badge, which is awarded to those fighting the enemy on the ground, he said.

But he also received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other awards for gallantry and service, as noted by the Army representative who read aloud Ybarras Silver Star citation for Gallantry in Action on May 14, 1969.

Sgt. Ybarra subjected himself to hostile fire numerous times as he retrieved wounded comrades and equipment, the citation reads in part. As he was returning to his element, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him, sending shrapnel into his head and face. Severely wounded, he refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his men in the assault. He moved from position to position while under intense enemy fire, voicing encouragement and directing the fire of his men. His courageous perseverance bolstered the morale, minimized the number of casualties and gave added impetus to the success of the mission.

The Battle for Hamburger Hill  Dong Ap Bia Mountain  included 72 American deaths and more than 300 wounded, a bloody toll that led to public criticism of the war because the hill itself was of little strategic value.

Ybarra left active duty in 1970 and continued as a staff sergeant in the California Army National Guard and U.S. Army reserves until 1979, according to a biography prepared by his niece, Elizabeth Delgado.

Im glad we can do this to honor him, Delgado said. He earned it 50 years ago, but he still deserves it.

Delgado said planning for the celebration, which continued for hours afterward at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, began at the start of the year and was done mostly by Ybarras wife, Denise, and sister Velia Favela.

They were helped by his nephew David Agundez, an Army veteran who contacted the local Army recruiters office and the office of Rep. Pete Aguilar, which sent a veterans representative to give Ybarra a certificate.

Family members pooled their money to pay the $475 that it cost to have the city hang the banner.

Some attended even though they didnt know Ybarra personally.

I have friends who know him, and as a veteran, I know what he did, said George Miramonte, who served from 1967 to 1970. Im happy to be able to honor him.

Contact the writer: ryan.hagen@langnews.com; @rmhagen on Twitter
For the first time ever, the Northern Territory has plucked out an Indigenous woman to represent it at the national Miss World Australia pageant finals.





Magnolia Maymuru, 19, will duke it out against candidates from the rest of Straya in July, with the ultimate goal of being the nations face at the Miss World finals in London.



If she takes that one? Well, well have snatched the crown from 2015s winner, Spains Mireia Lalaguna, and who doesnt want to see that?

Heres an artists depiction:

Speaking to Mix 104.9, Maymuru said its a very, very big opportunity to be given. Im very privileged and thankful that I was chosen for this.



I just want to do my best, and hopefully be a good role model and inspire young people.

TBH, shes already looking like a gr8 choice. The talent scout who first scoped her out for the comp praised her focus, saying her immediate response to me was Im really sorry, but Ive got my Year 12 exams so I cant do it.'

One year later, after a chance meeting with the scout in a Darwin supermarket  like there is any other way to begin a career in this industry?  the novice Maymuru signed up and, by all accounts, slayed.

Now working as a community officer for kids in her original home of Yirrkala in Arnhem Land, Maymuru mentioned shes already thinking of the young guns back home.

She said hopefully, when you little girls are older, I can open up a pathway for you to get into this kind of [fashion] industry.



Speaking to the ABC a lil later, she also repped her home, saying I wanted to break the cycle of how people see life back in community.

I hope it gives [people] a push to look at more women up in Arnhem Land. I hope it gives them an urge to come up and actually check people out rather than thinking, Theres one and thats enough.

What an absolute bloody ripper.

Source: Mix 104.9 / ABC.

Photo: Mix 104.9.
Alrighty people, its time to come together and collaborate. And listen. And debate.

Jenny Leong has put out a call to arms because today is the day that a live debate about those terrible pesky lockout laws, as part of the maaaaaassive inquiry thats happening rn.

The debate is around the main petition thats existed against the lockout laws, which gained over 10,000 signatures. And you can be a part of it!

So, its today at 4pm (but Parliamentary schedule can change at any time), at Parliament House in Sydney.

If you RSVP via Jenny Leongs website, to attend with the Greens, they can notify you of last-minute time changes.

So, heres the schedule for the afternoon:

4:00pm: Arrive at Parliament and go through security at public entrance. 4:15pm: People to be seated in chamber. 4:30pm: Debate starts. 5:00pm: Gather for a post-debate photo at the top of Martin Place.

(A big group is expected, so the Greens are allowing plenty of time for everyone to get through security and get seated.)

Now, you guys. We know that you want to scream your cause from the rooftops, wave your signs and show your support for the cause by wearing your Keep Sydney Open t-shirts, but dont on this particular occasion  signs and campaign t-shirts arent allowed in Parliament.





If you wanna go, head to Jenny Leongs website and RSVP ASAP: jennyleong.org/sydney_lockouts_petition_in_parliament

To get you in the spirit, watch the bloody excellent footage we got at the Keep Sydney Open rally last year:

Source: Jenny Leong.



Photo: Chloe Sargeant.
Well, this has just been a cracking week for gender relations at the University of Sydneys Wesley College.

Just one day after a rabidly slut-shaming journal composed by students of the residential college tumbled out of the cloisters of frattish uni life and into the public eye, a letter from the students has emerged, apologising for threatening the privacy of workers in a nearby massage parlour.

Obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald, the letter details how first-year students were charged with attaining photographic proof theyd visited Kings Court Massage Parlour as part of an initiation scavenger hunt in February.

Management told the group, who were wearing Wesley attire, to GTFO. While its generally poor form to invade a workplace and disrupt business to take selfies, sex workers can suffer very real and equally shitty consequences if their identities are compromised.

Speaking to the SMH, a manager at the facility said the threat their ignorance poses to the protection of our workers anonymity is a real one. Another worker said those pictures could be circulated. They could destroy someones life.

In light of the groups unabashed fuckery, the letter claims they sincerely apologise for any harm or discomfort that this has caused your staff or customers.

We should have assessed the particular damage that these actions and this list would create by furthering negative and false stereotypes and judgmental attitudes within the community.

A 2013 article from the unis own Honi Soit noted the make-up of the parlours staff. It cited a review which claimed workers were just students and travelers looking to make a bit of extra money.

If true, that mean the scavenger hunt could have feasibly compromised the anonymity of the students own peers.

The letter closes out with a promise to engage in any process or education which would result in greater understanding. Not seeking photos with women who rely on anonymity as trophies seems like a pretty grand place to start.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo: Brendon Thorne / Getty.
For those of you displeased about living in a world with no more new episodes of Sons of Anarchy in it, you can start breathing a wee bit easier.

The SAMCRO saga last hit screens back in December of 2014, but show creator Kurt Sutter has always been vocal about extending the life of the shows universe beyond the run of the original series.

Though initially Sutter had pondered the idea of a prequel series, set in a post-Vietnam world in the late 60s, likely centring around the nine original and founding members of the club, it would appear that a spinoff is now the most likely option, with a pilot focusing on SAMCROs direct rivals now confirmed to be in the works.

The proposed new series will take a similar tone to the OG, but instead of focusing on the Sons of Anarchy, it will revolve around the Latino Mayans gang instead.

Mayans MC will apparently be a dark, visceral family drama that takes a new look at the most American of icons, the 1% outlaw, this time reflected through a Latino lens.

And for the spinoff series, Sutter will be taking something of a backseat in terms of the actual writing of the show, instead handing over the reigns to Elgin James, who will handle the script for the shows pilot.

Sutter explained his move thusly:

I wanted to find a strong, unique Latino voice, because I didnt think a white guy from Jersey should be writing about Latin culture and traditions. Elgin is that voice.

Elgin James, for those of you with even a mild passing interest in 90s-era Boston Hardcore, is *that* Elgin James of the somewhat infamous FSU organisation; a group classified as a street gang by the FBI, and one founded by James as an anti-racist group formed in the late 80s with the express purpose of attacking, beating, and forcing white supremacists, drug dealers, Neo-Nazi skinheads, and other racist or morally-repugnant sub-groups out of the Boston-area punk and hardcore scene.

James, under his FSU banner, was also arrested and sentenced to a year in prison back in 2011 for attempting to extort $50,000 from Tony Lovato, the frontman of the pop-punk band Mest, who was the target of several FSU beatings.

While all this was happening, James made a career pivot turned his attentions to filmmaking, releasing his debut feature film Little Birds in 2012 to critical acclaim, subsequently landing his name on Varietys 2010 Directors to Watch list, alongside names like Richard Ayoade and Denis Villeneueve. The more you bloody well know.

The pilot script for Mayans MC is reportedly in development, with original Sons network FX on board to develop it.

Source: Variety.
Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney on stage during the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" panel at the FX 2015 Winter TCA on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

(Richard Shotwell)

Aniya Wolf was refused entrance to Bishop McDevitt's prom, but she may have just received an invitation to a more exclusive event.

The high school student was told to leave her prom on Friday night for wearing a tuxedo, which the school claimed was in violation of the dress code.

In addition to being invited to the prom at William Penn High School, Wolf is garnering celebrity support, including professional soccer player Ashlyn Harris of the Orlando Pride.

But the latest support comes from Philadelphia native Rob McElhenney, one of the creators and stars of the sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Aniya, I love your suit. Would u like to wear it on Sunny? https://t.co/jn01iLrZVe via abc27News  Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) May 12, 2016

UPDATE: Though the "It's Always Sunny" star specializes in comedy, McElhenney responded to a tweet from Wolf confirming that he was, in fact, not joking about his invitation:
Warm, made-to-order doughnuts have arrived in central Pennsylvania via Duck Donuts.

Think chocolate dipped doughnuts topped with peanuts, maple dipped doughnuts covered in bacon crumbles or a simple vanilla frosted doughnut adorned with red, white and blue sprinkles.

Starting May 14, customers can stop in the area's first Duck Donuts when it opens at 2097 Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Find it in the Overlook Town Center near the Noodles & Company.

Duck Donuts' founder and CEO Russ DiGilio, who lives in Cumberland County, has brought the concept north. He founded the company in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina.

"As a kid we would go to the boardwalks in South Jersey and get these doughnuts. They were made-to-order," he said. Years later at the Outer Banks, he and his family were reminiscing about those doughnuts. "At that time in the Outer Banks there were no doughnut shops," he added.

By 2011, they had opened four Duck Donuts locations in the Outer Banks.

"It started out slow in the beginning but after a few years it caught on. People would write in 'Oh, we love this' and "We would love to have this in our neighborhood,'" DiGilio said.

Every year, the push grew stronger, he added. The first franchise opened in 2013 in Waynesburg, Virgina. Now Duck Donuts is not only eyeing central Pennsylvania, it's headed to Orlando, Florida and Texas as well as Pittsburgh.

"It has taken on a life of its own," he said.

Duck Donuts allows customers to customize their doughnuts. There are dozens, if not hundreds of combinations including maple, chocolate, blueberry, lemon and vanilla frostings. (For more, check out the video.)

Toppings cover sprinkles, nuts, coconut and Oreo as well as icing drizzles in flavors such as raspberry and hot fudge.

Doughnuts sell for $12.95 a dozen, $7.30 for a half dozen and $1.30 for a single doughnut. The shop is open 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday - Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Notorious murders in central Pennsylvania: 1878-2009

View the Slideshow >>

(Gallery by Megan Lavey-Heaton | mheaton@pennlive.com)

Murder. It is universally recognized as the worst, most final crime a person can commit against another, and an offense that captures the public's fear and interest like few others.

No society is immune to the unique and disturbing horror of criminal homicide, and, over the years, the midstate has seen its fair share of killings.

View Notorious homicides in Harrisburg region in a larger map

Many were motivated by a twisted scheme to achieve financial gain, as in the case of Blaine Norris and Brian Trimble's murder of Brian's wife, Randi, in January 2003. Others, like Ernest Wholaver's murder of his estranged wife and two young daughters on Christmas Eve 2002, were committed to escape conviction for another crime, entirely.

Perhaps most terrifying were those heinous cases that have no other motive than the perpetrator's apparent pleasure in gruesome mayhem, as was the case in truck driver Adam Leroy Lane's bloody path of murder along the east coast during the summer of 2007.

Whatever the motivation, the cost is always the same; the victim is denied their right to live, and society at large is robbed of its sense of justice and safety. The following is a list of 19 of the most chilling homicides to rock the central Pennsylvania region in the last 150 years. We'll be reviewing and updating each one.


MISSION, SOUTH DAKOTA: The white headstone reads "Friend HH Bear."

Among the Lakota, Hollow Horn is a family name, but Hollow Horn Bear is a distinct family lineage of descendants of one Chief Hollow Horn Bear, who bore the name long before "the reservation time," when the federal government forced American Indians to adopt European names.

The Friend HH Bear headstone marks a grave at the cemetery at the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle.

That last familial designation is an undeniable indication to Duane Hollow Horn Bear that the person whose remains rest in that grave belonged to one of his ancestors.

The present day Hollow Horn Bear, a professor of Lakota studies at Sinte Glinka University in Mission, South Dakota, is one of about 10 Rosebud Sioux tribal members poised to begin negotiations with the federal government to repatriate the remains of ancestors buried at was once the cemetery belonging to the Carlisle Indian School.

Sitting in his office in Mission, surrounded by books on Lakota studies and scores of framed photographs depicting family and his own travels around the world, Hollow Horn Bear speaks in a deep and muted tone to convey the importance of bringing home a relative long passed but not forgotten.

"It's a cultural thing," he said on Wednesday. "I don't know if western minds can really comprehend our feelings, our emotions that go into this. They have such a stagnant, regimental way of doing things. It's hard for them to comprehend our cultural values."

On Tuesday hundreds of Lakota tribal members joined by members of other neighboring tribes gathered at the Rosebud Reservation about 25 miles south of Mission to meet with federal and Army representatives to begin the process of returning to ancestral lands the remains of nearly 200 ancestors buried there.

The ancestors died as children, having been forced by government agents to enroll at the boarding school in Carlisle, the flagship program for the government's efforts to educate and assimilate the American Indian in white ways. More than 10,000 children passed through Carlisle, and in the early years, nearly 200 of them died - most of epidemic - shortly after arriving.

Hollow Horn Bear, who infuses almost everything he does with the framework of his spiritual and cultural traditions, says it is important for tribal families to return home the remains of these children.

"That was a connection to our past, making a complete circle," he said. "When you begin your circle somewhere, you come back to that place when you are ready to exit this world."

Hollow Horn Bear invokes a poignant parallel to the idea that the remains of his ancestors are scattered all across the world. Some years ago, he visited Italy and was amazed to find an exhibition of "human remains" belonging to American Indians. He tells of a similar story out of the latter part of the 19th century dealing with a school teacher from Kansas assigned to the reservation. The teacher on weekends would walk the prairies and collect the remains of native peoples who had been put to rest in ceremonial scaffoldings. The teacher, Hollow Horn Bear said, took the bones back with him to Kansas, and they eventually, decades later after his death, ended up at a museum.

The federal government in 1990 passed a law - the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act - that enables the return of artifacts and human remains to Indian tribes.

While Hollow Horn Bear questions the exact identity of the ancestor resting under the headstone in Carlisle, he is certain it is an ancestor simply for the name.

"They had no names referred to as a Friend," said the fourth-generation Hollow Horn Bear. "There were no English first names. For you to get to heaven you had to have an English name."

Federal representatives, who on Tuesday sat through an emotional program at the Rosebud Reservation, told the gathering that it was the Army's intention to ensure their ancestors were returned. Army counsel and representative at the gathering, Justin Buller, also ensured that the federal government would cover the cost of repatriation.

Hollow Horn Bear said it was important for his people to carry out the traditional spiritual burial practices for the ancestors, once their remains are returned.

He said the ceremonies would be "nothing lavish."

"It's a way of knowing," Hollow Horn Bear said. "Our cultural teachings are that when the spirit leaves the body it is useless. It's going to return back to Mother Earth and it's put on a scaffold and it is wrapped as humanely as possible knowing that in time it's going to fall to earth and deteriorate. The insects the badgers will cleanse the bones. It's the spirit that has to make the journey back."

He said the remains will likely be wrapped in buffalo hides and prayers will be recited "to acknowledge their departure and say your journey to the spirit world is now complete. Where you are, you will find eternal bliss. Those of us who remain on earth can stop our grieving and move on and heal. To not have that we're completely lost still. Still wondering and praying how can we complete that circle for our relatives?"
WILLIAMSPORT - The Centre County district attorney was not defamed by comments after she was accused of forging a judge's signature on a court order, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann Wednesday dismissed all claims brought by District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller against a former paralegal in her office, Centre County Judge Pamela Ruest and four lawyers.

He did the same with three current or former county Commissioners C. Chris Exarchos, Steven Dershem and Michael Pipe, county administrator Timothy Boyde and former solicitor Louis T. Glantz.

But he gave her the opportunity by June 1 to file an amended complaint against them on a search and seizure issue.However, she must allege there was policy or custom of illegal searches and seizures.

"We are very disappointed and surprised," said Bruce Castor Jr., one of her lawyers, about the rulings. "It will take us a while to evaluate what the judge wrote and determine what to do."

Castor said he cannot understand how Brann reached some of his conclusions, including granting immunity to Ruest.

When she gave evidence to Bellefonte police that led to a January 2015 search of the district attorney's office, she was a witness, not a judge, he argued.

He cannot fathom how the claims could be dismissed without the opportunity to engage in discovery, he said,

Parks Miller has been outraged with all the things that have happened to her with no one being held accountable, Castor said.

"If you can do that to the district attorney, you can do it to anyone," he said.

In her suit filed last year, Parks Miller, who has been district attorney since 2009, contended she was the target of a maliciously false, personal and politically motivated power play to drive her from office and destroy her reputation.

In memorandums giving his reasons for dismissing claims against lawyers Andrew Shubin, Sean McGraw, Philip Masorti and Bernard Cantorna, the judge wrote her complaint was "inartfully" pleaded, rambled, was "spiked with vitriol" and contained extraneous background information.

Shubin, who along with Cantorna, had asked the county commissioners at a January 2015 meeting for an independent investigation of Parks Miller, said he was pleased with the decision because it vindicates the rights of citizens to speak out against even the most powerful officials.

Parks Miller became the subject of an investigation after she obtained a fake bail order as part of a sting operation to help an inmate get information against another prisoner trying to hire someone to kill an assistant district attorney.

Masorti, based on information from Michelle Shutt, the paralegal who left the district attorney's office for his, filed a complaint alleging Parks Miller had forged a judge's signature.

Parks Miller referred the allegations to the state attorney general's office, and a statewide grand jury last year cleared her of any criminal wrongdoing, finding Ruest had signed the order.

Parks Miller contended in her suit that county officials continued to make public statements inferring she was a criminal and they exerted political, financial and other pressure on the Bellefonte police to also investigate her.

Parks Miller accused Glantz of publicly mischaracterizing her relationship with Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Her suit included claims of defamation, injurious falsehood, malicious prosecution, legal malpractice, common law abuse of process, negligence, conspiracy and intentional or negligence infliction of emotional distress. She also claimed violation of her due process and equal protection rights.

Brann ruled Centre County and the commissioners in their official capacities were immune from the defamation claim, that there were no defamatory allegations against Boyde and that statements made by Glantz were not defamatory.

The judge dismissed the rest of the claims, finding they were unsupported or the county defendants had immunity.

As to the lawyers, he found their statements did not have a defamatory connotation or the claims against them were unsupported.

In denying the opportunity for Parks Miller to file a second amended complaint, Brann wrote it would fare no better and any non-futile allegations she possibly could make should have been advanced already.

Parks Miller had filed her initial complaint in Centre County court last August and it was transferred to federal court two weeks later. She filed an amended complaint in October after the defendants had filed motions to dismiss the first one.
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FILE- In this Tuesday, June 7, 2011 file photo, a US Navy officer, name not available, stands on the weapons control deck of the USS Monterey as screens display the Black Sea region, in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania. A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in the village of Deveselu, Romania becoming operational on Thursday, May 12, 2016, and officials breaking ground at a separate site in Poland a day later.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Police said the woman was making threats at church patrons as they were entering for service at about 10 a.m. Sunday.
Petersburg Borough Assembly member Kurt Wohlhueter wants to let the people of Petersburg choose whether or not retail marijuana will be allowed in town and will propose such an idea at the May 16 Borough Assembly meeting.

Wohlhueter said the assembly has not discussed the opt out option allowed by state regulations, which some communities in Alaska have already done.

I want to see if we can get it (opt out option) on the ballot in October and let the people of Petersburg decide whether we want it because that was always one of the things (state regulations) stated we would be able to employ and we have not talked about it, Wohlhueter said. Were going ahead on this thing, giving out permits and passing out ordinances and stuff to regulate the marijuana trade here but we dont even know if people want it yet.

In 2014, 58 percent of Petersburg voters supported the legalization of marijuana in Alaska a margin greater than the 53 percent state average, but Wohlhueter doesnt think that means those same voters support a retail market in town.

Youve got (58) percent of the people of in Petersburg who voted to legalize marijuana in the state of Alaska, Wohlhueter said. Ive talked to six people who voted for it but they dont want it in our town.

Wohlhueter said hes going to either propose the motion as a discussion item or ask Mayor Mark Jensen to add the item under new business at the next meeting for the assembly to vote on. The assembly would need a majority vote in favor of putting it on Octobers ballot for it to pass.

The Borough Assembly at its last meeting approved a new marijuana ordinance in its first reading and a public hearing will be held on the ordinance this Monday evening at the assembly meeting.

The ordinance is largely a reflection of the boroughs alcohol ordinance. It outlines hours of sale in retail locations similar to that of bars and prohibits the sale to minors or to intoxicated persons.

Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht is waiting to talk to the boroughs attorney about how to go about approving such an opt out because he doesnt want to waste money before hearing from the assembly.

I think because the voters have already voted on this, the assembly as a body has then stated to staff Go write an ordinance, which has passed on its first reading. For Kurt (Wohlhueter) to say Lets now send this back to the voters, weve got a lot of things going on there, Giesbrecht said.

One Petersburg business owner has already applied for a retail marijuana permit and plans to expand her business next year. Another individual has applied for a cultivation permit.

The Borough Assembly will meet Monday evening at 6 p.m. in the Petersburg Indian Association conference room.
Cooke Aquaculture announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Icicle Seafoods earlier this week. The purchase will mean new ownership for one of the largest seafood processors operating in Alaska now owned by Paine and Partners, a California-based investment group. Paine acquired Icicle in 2007.

The announcement came through a Cooke Seafood news release and means one of the largest Atlantic salmon farming companies on the Canadian east coast will now become a player in the Alaskan wild salmon market. Icicle's ground fish operations will also be part of the deal according to Nell Halse, vice president of communications for Cooke Aquaculture.

Cooke is headquartered in New Brunswick, Canada, and known as a lean, family-owned operation that began operating 30 years ago. The addition of Icicle's Washington state-based farming operation and its Alaska wild salmon operation will push the company's production over 275,000 metric tonnes (303,136 tons) of seafood annually. The acquisition of Icicle will generate $1.8 billion in annual sales, according to the news release.

Halse says Icicle's farming operation was what originally drew Glenn Cooke, president of Cooke Seafood, to the thought of purchasing the company. However, after Cooke traveled to Alaska and saw more of the wild salmon operation, including here in Petersburg, he became interested in purchasing the entire company.

"This is an exciting venture for us, it's a big move," Halse says. "We are looking forward to having the deal closed so we can actually get on the ground and spend time with people and learn from them."

Cooke has a worldwide network of cold storage and distribution facilities and the move into wild salmon will allow the company to expand its already large global portfolio. The purchase is just the latest addition for the Cooke brand that in recent years has focused on expansion and investment into new markets in Scotland and Spain. The company also purchased Wanchese Fish Company based out of Virginia last year.

"The Icicle team is excited about the opportunity to join the Cooke family of companies and to be able to focus on the expansion of our footprint in Alaska," says Christopher Ruettgers, CEO of Icicle Seafoods. "Cooke provides Icicle with a long term owner that is dedicated to the seafood industry."

A pair of Indonesian companies were working on a deal to purchase Icicle last year, but the deal fell through for unknown reasons. The Cooke purchase should be finalized within 30 days. The company looks at Icicle as an investment in Alaska and small fishing-based communities. The company is not planning any personnel changes, Halse says.

Icicle Seafoods was formed in 1965 by Petersburg fishermen who raised capital to purchase the PAF cannery assets in Petersburg.
East Jordan asks voters for fire equipment millage

East Jordan is asking voters for a 1.5 mills increase for fire equipment in the upcoming November election.
HARRISBURG  It would almost be humorous if it werent true.

Pennsylvania powerbroker John Estey admitted stealing money from a fictitious FBI company. He was supposed to use the cash to bribe lawmakers.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the FBIs fake firm, UCC, did make numerous contributions through Estey and other lobbying firms and even succeeded in getting a bill passed in the state Senate.

According to court documents, Estey told FBI investigators that he needed the contributions to move their legislation.

Some might conclude money is the grease that makes the legislative machine run.

Theyre right, Sen. Arthur Haywood, D-Philadelphia, said. Theres a significant amount of influence that those who have money have in the legislature, not only here but in cities around the state.

Haywood is a freshman senator from Philly and has concluded, in his short time in the General Assembly, that moneyed special interests get special treatment.

I do think that democracy is threatened. Its clear to me that democracy is threatened, he said.

Giving campaign contributions is perfectly legal.

Wanting specific legislation is perfectly legal.

But getting a lawmaker to write specific legislation in return for a campaign contribution is illegal.

So, Pennsylvanians are to believe that all of the people and companies that funnel money to elected officials want nothing in return?

Theres concern about how people perceive whats going on here, admits Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, but I can say to you unequivocally, Dennis, that thats not the way we operate here. We do not introduce legislation or pass legislation for the benefit of people who make campaign contributions.

Perhaps not, but Costa, the Senates minority leader, also admits that Pennsylvanias campaign finance laws are among the weakest in the nation. Hes introduced, for several years, reforms to help the public know who is giving how much to whom.

He wants more transparency and more reporting and more.

Also limits, to contributions Costa said, because when you have unlimited amounts of money making its way into Pennsylvania, in some ways it could influence access to members and thats whats taken place.

Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, chairs the State Government Committee and is generally considered a good-government proponent. Reforms to campaign finance would go through his committee. He would like a full public vetting before any changes are made.

Folmer said people without integrity will find ways to circumvent the system and believes bad intentions trump good laws every time. He says because some have ethical lapses, that shouldnt penalize honest donors. He gave an example of a mythical constituent who might want to contribute a million dollars with no strings attached.

Maybe they like Mike Folmer and like what Mike Folmer stands for, he said. Now, people could look at me very suspiciously. Whyd this guy give Mike Folmer a million dollars? It might be as simple as because he could. I dont want to trample on someones first amendment rights, either.

Free speech is also a first amendment right, but longtime lobbyist John Milliron says fewer at the Capitol are exercising it as freely since the Estey sting went public a few weeks ago.

To summarize, its nervousness, Milliron said. And its a shame. But they dont know who wore a wire for how long and if you still are.

He said legitimate lobbyists also laughed at reports that Estey was using campaign contributions to work the legislature. He said he never does that, and its generally not an accepted practice.

For most of us who are really good in this business, when we read that, thats hilarious. If thats how you get work done, youre not very good at what you do, he laughed.
Pemex boosts crude shipments to Japan through spot sales

HOUSTON/MEXICO

Petroleumworld.com 05 12 2016

Mexico's state-run oil company Pemex will increase crude exports to Japan in the coming months after selling several spot cargoes to customers including Cosmo Oil, JX Holdings and TonenGeneral, according to a company source and Thomson Reuters trade flows data.

Pemex typically sends around 1 million barrels per month of Maya crude to Cosmo Oil under a supply agreement, but the company recently negotiated additional deliveries, the source said.

The cargoes of Maya and Isthmus crudes will arrive in Japan from May through June after loading at Mexico's Dos Bocas and Salina Cruz terminals, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Mexico's crude exports have fallen in recent months amid declining oil output. Sales to the United States slightly decreased last month to some 710,000 barrels per day (bpd), but the country is eying Europe and Asia as new key markets.

As routes to Asia from Mexico are long, crude shipments must contain at least 1 million barrels to make the trip profitable. Several Suezmax tankers and very large crude carriers (VLCC) that can load up to 2 million barrels each have been booked to load in May and June with Japan as their destination.

The VLCC Ridgebury Purpose, chartered by JX Holdings, loaded a first parcel of Mexican crude at Dos Bocas port earlier this week and is now sailing to the Cayo Arcas terminal to load a second parcel, according to vessel tracking data.






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Recently, there was a news release from HealthDay that described the administration of hydrolyzed egg to egg allergic children. In the study, a certain portion of egg allergic children were able to tolerate a hydrolyzed egg product. Whether or not this led to development of tolerance was not clear from the study.

Food allergies, like other forms of allergies, have been on the rise over the past few decades. The reasons for this is unclear, but a side effect of this is that public awareness of food allergies has improved as well. Even as recent as eight years ago, when my child started kindergarten, the elementary school had no food allergy protocol in place for food allergic kids.

Now, almost every school has a program to address this growing problem. The recognition of food allergies by patients, schools, restaurant, and the general public has, as a whole, been a good thing. Now, I no longer get a blank stare when I ask a waiter if there are peanuts in the food we are ordering. Many states even have established mandatory provision of Epinephrine auto injectors in schools, in case of anaphylaxis.

Because of the increased incidence and heightened awareness, food allergy clinical research has also become mainstream. Very often, results of studies done nationally or internationally are not only published in scientific journals, but attract widespread coverage from the news media.

Some of these studies are highly technical. Others may require a deeper understanding of the scientific method or study design and execution to identify the real conclusion of the study. There may be information that is not presented in news articles that may be important to know about the way the study was designed or executed. In other cases, the conclusions may be misinterpreted.

Take this study for example, the news article actually did a pretty good job of presenting all the important facts. But 29 patients do not constitute a large study, and many of the results, which measured differences in certain endpoints when comparing hydrolyzed egg and a placebo (medically ineffectual treatment), were not statistically significant. Statistical significance addresses the likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere random chance.

In their conclusions, the authors stated that "HydE can be regarded as a safe, low allergenic product to use in children allergic to egg." But they also described in their paper that this is only a pilot study. Clearly, more studies need to be done in order to validate these results. Another point that should be recognized is that four of the authors were employees of the company that makes the hydrolyzed egg product, a conflict of interest that was fully disclosed in the paper and in the news article.

The take home message is this  the internet has given the world the ability to disseminate information at the speed of light. This has proven to be a double edged sword. In this case, it is important to know that there are very talented people working to solve the mystery of food allergies, and to provide us with novel ways to prevent and treat this important group of diseases.

On the other hand, it is important to approach information disseminated from this research directly to the public with a critical eye. Recall those exciting car commercials which show professional drivers on controlled circuits doing outrageous maneuvers, where the caption on the bottom says, "Don't try this at home," When it comes to reports of treatment of food allergies that appear in newspapers, the same advice is appropriate. Please consult your allergist or a knowledgeable health professional before attempting any self-treatment at home. If not, you may be exposing yourself, or your child, to undue risk and danger.

Have a question for the Healthy Kids panel? Ask it here. Read more from the Healthy Kids blog 
In last weeks column, I discussed my ongoing fight to protect Missourians from experiencing undue hardship at the hands of our various utility companies. Year after year, the water, gas and electric monopolies have attempted to find new ways to more easily raise rates on Missouri consumers, and 2016 has been no different. This week, the Missouri Senate spent an extended amount of time debating three utility measures.

From a financial perspective, Missouris utility corporations are healthy. Missouris utility companies are experiencing tremendous growth in stock prices with some seeing them double or even triple. Consumers enjoy some of the lowest rates in the country (we have the seventh lowest electric rates) while our utilities continue to turn a profit for themselves and their stockholders. Case in point: the average Missouri household income is roughly $50,000, while the CEO of the states largest investor-owned electric company made just under $6.5 million in 2015. And that is precisely why, during Tuesdays more than six hours of debate, I took a very active role in explaining to my Senate colleagues why there is no reason our utility companies should once again be asking for permission to make even more money at the literal expense of Missouris hardworking citizens and their families.

To add insult to injury, these utilities are using the Legislature to circumvent the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), which exists to regulate privately owned utilities and see that our citizens receive safe and reliable services at fair and reasonable rates. It serves as a counterbalance to utility corporations, who have the benefit of operating as natural monopolies because the necessary infrastructure is so expensive. Currently, Missouris utility companies must present their case before the PSC if they want to raise rates. This vetting process is absolutely critical to ensuring they can justify any rate increase, preventing wasteful spending and protecting consumer rates. Unsurprisingly, sometimes they cant.

House Bill 1717 is this sessions water utility bill. Among other provisions, it would allow Missouris water and sewer corporations to implement a rate revenue stabilization mechanism, essentially removing the PSCs oversight ability in determining rate adjustments and replacing it with a formula that guarantees an annual rate increase, even in years when it isnt necessary to cover operating expenses.

It was just two months ago that Missouris largest water and sewer company appeared before the PSC and agreed in a settlement to drop its controversial revenue adjustment proposal and cut its rate increase request by 40 percent. The settlement came on the heels of a problem uncovered by regulators  a problem the utility never disclosed during more than six months of rate case proceedings. It was discovered that thousands of meters werent recording total water usage by either under-recording or simply not recording. As a result, some residential consumers were being billed the full amount, while their neighbors a few houses down were being billed considerably less or not at all.

From faulty metering to inappropriate handling of sewer systems, this utility company clearly doesnt have its house in order. Despite the fact the PSC has identified these problems and already determined the rate stabilization method is not appropriate at this time, the water utility has come to the Legislature hoping for a different outcome. House Bill 1717 is little more than a blatant attempt to bypass the objective external oversight of the PSC.

House Bill 1804 is a gas utility bill that seeks to extend the amount of a time a gas corporation can collect an Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS), which is meant to be a temporary funding solution that gas corporations may apply for in order to more quickly recover unexpected costs, such as emergency repairs due to a natural disaster.

Right now, two Missouri gas corporations have had formal complaints filed against them by the Missouri Office of the Public Counsel (OPC) for overearning. Additionally, both companies currently collect millions of dollars from consumers through their ISRSs. The OPCs complaint states that without PSC action culminating in a rate reduction, these gas companies will likely continue charging and collecting unjust and unreasonable rates from customers through the overearnings as well as the improper adjustments to their respective ISRS matters. If passed, HB 1804 would allow these same gas corporations to extend their ISRSs from three to five years, also extending the amount of time they could go without having to make their case before the PSC.

The last utility measure is House Bill 2689, which proposes a new state energy plan that would drastically restructure the way electric rates are determined. Missouris current energy plan has been serving us well for a century. While I am certainly not opposed to making improvements if and when they are needed, as a matter that will most directly impact the average Missouri citizen, I am not willing to throw caution to the wind in order to appease utility corporations and their stockholders.

Regardless of how supporters try to paint the situation, the primary driver of HB 2689 is the fact that more energy-efficient processes and devices are resulting in decreased consumption  and this is across all utilities, not just electric. While this trend has been financially beneficial for consumers and great for conservation efforts, it has translated to falling profits for utilities, and they are now looking for ways to get back into that growth mode.

The bottom line is before we overturn our current energy policy and regulatory environment, we must fully vet what is being proposed and understand it, and three months is not long enough to conduct a thorough study. House Bill 2689 is simply too much too fast.

I have always viewed the relationship between consumers, utilities and the PSC as a three-legged stool; each leg is essential for overall success. Unfortunately, as we have seen in the three bills I just described, Missouris utility corporations are trying to sabotage that success by punishing consumers through increased rates and bypassing the PSC to get what they want, all so they line their pockets and please their shareholders.

As of today, HB 1717, HB 1804 and HB 2689 are currently on the Senate informal calendar; however, should they be brought up for further consideration, I will continue speaking against them until everyone understands what is truly at stake.

Finally, I was delighted to meet with a number of individuals from the district this week, including: Keith, Sheri, Dylan and Kailyn George, of Farmington; Madeleine Castle with St. Louis Teen Eagles; and Mike Millikan. From South Iron R-I High School in Annapolis, I met with educator Lyndal Jenkins; Mary Beth Middleton, who was chaperoning; and high school juniors: Kaden Brewer, LaRon Cornell, Mariah Hickson, Kallie Middleton, Landon Ruble, Sam Ivy, Hannah Kenyon, Rachel Chitwood, Alpine Brooks and Cassie Lange.

I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at 573-751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov; or www.senate.mo.gov/romine.
Circuit Court Judge Wendy Wexler Horn wasted no time getting started Wednesday morning on day two of the trial of Bradley Glen Turner, who is charged in St. Francois County with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the murder of 27-year-old Bobby Lee Graham Jr. on Nov. 19, 2014.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ben Campbell called Greg Armstrong, who serves as chief deputy for St. Francois County Sheriffs Department, as the days first witness. Armstrong stated he participated in the death investigation of Graham, including observation and the taking of photographs during the autopsy of Grahams body.

On the stand, he testified that he observed a cloth-like knife sheath among the items removed from Grahams body at the beginning of the autopsy. He also described the photographs he took of the wounds found on the body, including injuries to Grahams hands and particularly the numerous stab wounds that led to Grahams death.

Campbell called Dr. Russell Deidiker as his next witness, the pathologist and forensic examiner who performed the autopsy on Grahams body on Nov. 24, 2014.

He described the external and internal examinations he performed to determine the manner and cause of Grahams death. He testified he found sharp-force injuries to Grahams face and defensive types of wounds on his hands.

Deidiker explained the difference between incised wounds and stab wounds, both of which are types of sharp-force injuries. Incised wounds, he said, are inflicted when a knife is moved across the skin, creating a wound that is wider than it is deep.

Stab wounds, on the other hand, are created when knife is pushed into a body point-first, creating a wound that is typically deeper than it is wide.

He spent a significant amount of time describing the stab wounds to Grahams chest area, including a wound to the heart and another below Grahams heart that entered the lung. Another wound penetrated Grahams upper abdomen, inflicting damage to his liver. A fourth wound was found in the bodys lower abdomen; a fifth wound penetrated Grahams kidney and was inflicted through his lower back.

Deidiker testified that it was not possible to determine the order in which the wounds were inflicted, but that the stab wounds to Grahams heart and lung were significant enough to eventually lead to his death.

The doctor also described incised wounds and abrasions to Grahams hands that he said were consistent with defensive type wounds. He differentiated between the wounds that he considered to have been inflicted by a knife versus those most likely caused by scraping against another type of surface, such as rocks or the ground.

Campbell asked Deidiker to summarize the toxicology results of the blood drawn from Grahams body. He reported the tests found meth and small amounts of oxycodone and marijuana in Grahams blood.

On cross-examination, Ryan Martin, Turners defense attorney, asked Deidiker to clarify his opinion on the defensive-type wounds present on Grahams hands. The doctor stated that he could not be certain the wounds were inflicted during a struggle for a knife.

Deidiker also stated he could not be certain about the position of Grahams body when the stab wounds were inflicted.

Martin also asked Deidiker to clarify the level of meth found in Grahams system. He explained that it was difficult to determine with certainty how high Graham had been, but said he believed the level of meth was high compared to levels he had tested for in other bodies.

The prosecutions next witness was David Barton, Turners step-father. While on the stand, Barton related the events that occurred at his Washington County home in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2014. He stated he did not notice anything unusual about Turners behavior or appearance and that Turner never mentioned he had been in a fight with anyone.

During cross-examination by Martin, Barton said that Turner arrived sometime between 1:30 to 2 a.m. but that he was not paying close attention to Turners appearance or whether he had blood on his hands or clothing.

The next witness called was Nolan Dunn, who testified that he was at Grahams and Amy Harris house in Leadwood on Nov. 18, 2014. Dunn admitted he used meth with Graham and Turner in a bedroom of the house.

He also testified he heard Turner talking about the money owed to him by Sammy Dunlap and that Turner wanted to get the money that night. He said that he had planned to accompany Graham and Turner when they went out, but ended up deciding to stay home with his girlfriend instead. He said he loaned his truck to Turner and Graham since they didnt have any other transportation available.

Dunn testified that Turner returned his truck the next morning. Dunn said Turner told him he had gotten into a fight with Graham and that it was bad. Dunn said Turner told him Graham had tried to stab him, but did not say whether Graham was alive or dead and did not suggest going to see if he was OK.

On cross-examination, Martin questioned Dunn about his history of drug use and criminal convictions. He then questioned him about a knife Graham had and said he was going to use for hunting. Dunn was unable to identify the knife  which had been placed into evidence and purportedly used by Turner to kill Graham  as the same knife Graham had in his possession on Nov. 18.

Coroner James Coplin testified very briefly about his observations of Grahams body at the scene of his death under the bridge on Davis Crossing Road. It was Coplins duty to officially pronounce Grahams death at the scene and to complete the death certificate.

Marva Ruth Skaggs, Turners aunt, was called as the next witness. She testified she visited Turner while he was in the St. Francois County Jail about a month after he was arrested for killing Graham.

She said Turner told her he killed Graham in self-defense and that Graham was in possession of a large knife on the night of the incident.

Skaggs testified that Turner told her that on the night of Grahams death, the two men went together to go look at some animal traps and that Graham was acting funny the whole time. She said Turner told her Graham just started stabbing Turner and was a wild person.

Turner told her Graham had him down, but that he managed to get back up and then Graham went after him again. Skaggs said Turner told her either Graham or he was going to die.

During cross-examination by Martin, Skaggs testified that she believed Turner is not a violent person and has a peaceful nature. She confirmed that Turner told her he acted in self-defense when he killed Graham.

Grahams girlfriend Amy Harris was the first witness to take the stand after a lunch break. She testified that, for about three or four months in 2013, she and Turner were involved in a romantic relationship and they lived together for a while before she ended the relationship. She testified that Turner was abusive toward her, beating her on a regular basis, and that he tried to strangle her during one incident shortly before she broke up with him.

The majority of her testimony was focused on the evening of Nov. 18. Harris said Turner and Graham started using drugs around 7 p.m. and eventually moved the party into a bedroom. Harris said she was eavesdropping and heard them talking about the money owned to Turner by Dunlap. She said she overheard Turner saying he planned to rob Dunlap of all the money in his bank account rather than just accept the money he was owed.

Harris said they left the house between 10 and 10:30 p.m. and when Graham hadnt returned, she sent a text message to Turner about 2 to 2:30 a.m. to see if Graham was still with him. A short time later, Turner came back to her residence. She said he was wet and dripping blood from his hands and clothing. She said Turner was very quiet and seemed distant and in shock.

She said Turner told her several stories about where Graham was, including a party at a womans house.

Then the conversation changed, she said and eventually Turner told her he and Graham had gotten into an altercation and fell down an embankment and into a creek during the fight.

She said Turner told her they had pulled over to check on some traps and Graham tried to stab Turner twice in the back. Turner told her he won the fight because his knife was sharper than Grahams knife and he showed her a knife he brought back from the fight. She said he never told her how many times he stabbed Graham.

Harris said she immediately recognized the knife because it was one of her kitchen knives; specifically, she said her son regularly used the knife to clean fish. Turner also showed her Grahams wallet, which was wet; he said he got it out of Grahams pocket when he climbed back down the embankment to retrieve the keys to Dunns truck.

Harris testified that Turner was reluctant to leave her home and that even when she insisted he leave, he was adamant about staying until about 6:30 or 7 a.m. when he finally left.

He gave the knife and wallet to Harris, who later contacted the police about Grahams disappearance and likely death. She turned over the knife and wallet to police as evidence.

For his cross-examination, Martin focused on the statements Harris made while being interviewed by Det. Kenny Wakefield at the St. Francois County Sheriffs Department, particularly her description of Turners appearance when he returned to her home early in the morning on Nov. 19, 2014.

He replayed the audio recording of her saying to Wakefield that Turners coat was torn in two places on the back of his jacket and that she saw two minor wounds on his back when he lifted up his shirt to show her how Graham tried to stab him twice in the back.

Martin asked Harris if Turner ever apologized for killing Graham and she said he never said he was sorry for killing him. She said Turner said to her instead, numerous times, that he was sorry if she was going to wait for Graham, because she would be waiting a long time because he was gone.

Campbell rested his case after Martin completed his cross-examination of Harris.

Martin then called Deputy Rodney Mills of the St. Francois County Sheriffs Department as his first defense witness.

Mills was working as an intake officer at the time of Turners arrest and observed and photographed the condition of his body as part of the intake process. Mills testified that he saw a wound in the center of Turners chest and another wound on the lower part of his back. He said he remembered his encounter with Turner vividly because it was his first experience as a deputy with the department.

Martin called Norris Blair, an investigator for the Missouri Public Defenders Office, who interviewed Chad Barbee about a statement made by Graham while the two of them were incarcerated. Blair reported that Barbee said Graham had talked about getting revenge against Turner for having a relationship with Harris while Graham was in prison.

Martin called Bobby Price, who testified about Grahams reputation, including an incident where Graham threatened the witness mother and another incident where Graham appeared to be stalking another person.

Brian Lindsey was called as Martins next witness to testify about his relationship with Graham. Lindsey said he was a very good friend of Grahams and had talked with him on one occasion about Turners former relationship with Harris and the possibility that Graham would have to fight Turner.

Turner then took the stand to testify in his own defense. He admitted to killing Graham but said it was in self-defense after Graham attacked him.

He admitted to using meth with Graham and others while at Grahams and Harris home on Nov. 18. He said he saw Graham place a knife in a sheath around his left leg before they left the house together that night.

Turner testified that he had plans to meet Dunlap to get the money owed to him but denied having plans to rob Dunlap and said that it was Harris who suggested he should rob Dunlap because he was a rat.

He testified that he became nervous when Graham, who was driving Dunns truck, stopped at the bridge on Davis Crossing Road so Graham could check some traps.

Martin then had Turner draw a sketch of the road and bridge and asked him to describe what happened after they stopped at the bridge and got out of the truck.

Turner said they walked down under the bridge and Graham took out the knife and stuck it into a piece of wood. Turner said, because of where he was standing, he felt trapped and that Grahams demeanor became menacing.

He said Graham began to speak about how he knew the real reason Turner came to his house that night and he knew Turner wanted to get back together with Harris.

Turner then described how Graham attacked him from behind and attempted to stab him in the back and in the chest.

Turner said Graham was threatening to kill him and to defend himself, he took out his own knife as a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Turner said he stabbed Graham but then Graham tackled him and they fell down a second embankment.

He continued to describe the fight and that they ended up landing in the water of the creek.

He said he didnt remember how many times he stabbed Graham and that things were happening too quickly to remember exactly what happened when.

Turner said he was just trying to get away and believed he was fighting for his life.

After he managed to get away from Graham, he went back to the truck to try to warm up and catch his breath. He said he was watching and waiting for Graham to appear.

He said he dropped his knife sometime during the struggle and had spotted Grahams knife as he was making his way back to the truck so he picked it up and took it with him back to the truck.

After about 15 minutes, he made his way back to Graham because he realized Graham had the keys to the truck. He saw that Graham wasnt moving and knew he was no longer a threat. He removed the keys and Grahams wallet.

He said he didnt want to kill him and felt badly about seeing his face so he covered him the best he could and straightened Grahams body.

Turner said he intended to tell Grahams family and loved ones about what happened but he was in shock and not in a normal frame of mind, so he went ahead with his plans to meet Dunlap in Bismarck and get the money owed to him.

He said he didnt call the police because he was scared and wanted to tell Grahams family his side of things before talking to the police.

He continued to testify about his actions, including going to his parents house in Bismarck before going back to Harris house to tell her what happened and up until the time of his arrest.

Campbell took his turn cross-examining Turner, focusing on Turners account of meeting Dunlap and the confrontation under the bridge.

After Campbell completed his questioning of Turner, Martin rested his case.

Judge Horn then adjourned court for the day. The trial will resume at 10 a.m. today.
North County High School senior Kalen Kahn has become a member of a very select group of high school students from around the country.

Kahn was recently nominated and accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country.

Originally established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802, West Point is the alma mater of the majority of U.S. military leaders in the 19th and 20th century, as well as former Presidents Ulysses Grant and Dwight Eisenhower.

I am proud to nominate Kalen Kahn to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for what I am sure will be another notable chapter in this young mans life, said U.S. Rep. Smith, R-8th District. Kalen is a remarkable young man with an impressive head on his shoulders and our community will miss him while he is gone, but I firmly believe he will be a great leader and someone we can expect great things from in the future.

Each year approximately 37,000 students from around the country apply to the U.S. military service academies, but only 11-15 percent are chosen for final acceptance into one of the branch service academies. Upon graduation service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components military for a minimum of five years.
Two city boards and the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees will each hold meetings today.

Farmington

The Farmington City Council has one public hearing scheduled before the start of tonights regular session.

The public hearing is for a street vacation application of Woodchase Avenue submitted by L.J. Miller. The council will hold a first reading on the matter during regular session.

Other legislative items include second readings on an alleyway vacation between Cayce Street and Second Street, two separate changes in zoning ordinances, along with a second reading amending the public works design standards.

A first and second reading with council action are scheduled for the execution of a development agreement with the redevelopment plan for the Karsch Boulevard and Downtown Farmington TIF District, as well as an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2016 operating budget.

Council will also take action on two consent agenda items, which include a lease purchase financing agreement with US Bank Corporation for a fire truck and a construction agreement with Ameren Missouri for the Woodlawn substation.

Committee reports are also scheduled during regular session.

The public hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at 110 W. Columbia St., with regular session immediately following. Both are open to the public.

Bismarck

Bismarck Mayor Seth Radford will be recognizing Buddy Poppy Proclamation Day when the city's board of aldermen meet in regular session at 7 p.m. tonight in the old train depot on South Main Street.

Other items of business listed on the tentative agenda include the approval of three liquor licenses and a discussion of employee health insurance.

The meeting is open to the public.

MAC

The Mineral Area College Board of Trustees meets in regular session at 2 p.m. today in the boardroom on the Park Hills campus.

According to the tentative agenda, the board will hear the state of Missouri report from MAC President Dr. Steve Kurtz, Phi Theta Kappa report from Emily Murdock, 2016 summer semester enrollment report from Jean Merrill-Doss, classified report from Connie Hester and faculty forum report from Rich Flotron.

Also, Dr. Kurtz will provide the trustees an update on Central Methodist University's commencement and Dean Kay Crecelius will report on upcoming festivals, fairs and competitions.

In old business, the board will consider approval of the revised academic calendar.

The meeting is open to the public.
Pig sector payments equivalent to 2600 per producer have started arriving on around 300 approved Irish farms under a joint EU/Irish government support package agreed in September last year.

The EUs provision of 13.7m (10.8m) for sharing between Irelands dairy and pig sectors, has been topped up by an Irish government commitment which brings the total payment pot to 27.4m (21.6m).

The arrival of the cash coincides with the publication by Irelands newly elected partnership government of a 156-page policy document which declares the new administrations aims for the future, including as it relates to farming.

We will pay particular attention to the development of the agriculture and food sector, states the document. Agriculture is the heartbeat of the rural economy and schemes must be tailored to meet the challenges of farming on all types of land, across all sectors and on all sizes of farm holdings. The next generation of farmers must be supported and Ireland positioned as the highest quality food producing nation in the world, based on innovation and sustainability.

In addition, in a separate commitment to Irelands pig farmers, the statement adds: We will provide support for on-farm investment through TAMS II (Irelands on-farm capital investment support programme). The on-farm animal health and welfare scheme, provided through the Rural Development Plan, will also benefit the pig sector.

The document also declared that the new government will work with the Pig Industry Stakeholder group to enhance areas such as food safety, quality, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

A commitment was also made that the government will focus on the development of new and alternative markets to provide opportunities for certainty and growth in the pigmeat sector.

Headline image is taken from the new document.

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The linkage design leaves room for a water bottle cage to be mounted on the seat tube.

Water bottle placement isn't always the top priority when it comes to full suspension frame designs, but it looks like Cannondale haven't forgotten about the hydration pack averse crowd; the shape of the linkage allows for a bottle cage to be mounted on the lower portion of the seat tube.



Jerome is a SRAM sponsored rider, and as would be expected his bike is fully kitted with all of the latest components. An Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, a Super Deluxe rear shock  when you're one of the fastest enduro racers in the world you're granted access to the newest goodies before the rest of the world. There's a RockShox Lyrik up front, Guide Ultimate brakes to slow things down, and Truvativ's new stem and handlebar with WTB's PadLoc grips.





Truvativ's new Descendant bar and stem are mounted up front.

"Ok, that's enough... Show and tell is over."

Jerome Clementz's prototype Cannondale made its first public appearance at last weekend's British Enduro Series race, and the green machine is back again, polished and ready for EWS Round 3 in Wicklow, Ireland. Cannondale are still remaining tight-lipped about the specifics of the new frame; We're always trying new things is the official line, but we were able to take a closer look at what could possibly be the 160mm Jekyll's replacement.The bike's front triangle is constructed from carbon fiber, usually a sure sign that a bike is close to being ready for production, since carbon molds don't come cheap. Compared to the Jekyll, the ports for the internal cable routing are in a slightly higher location on the head tube, with a larger entry point that should make it easier to install or replace housing. The rear end is still aluminum, which could be how the bike remains when it's officially unveiled, but more than likely that's an indication that Cannondale are still experimenting with different pivot locations. Right now the bike is a link-driven single pivot, with the rearmost pivot located on the seatstays. Could we see Cannondale make the move to a Horst Link driven design? We'll just have to wait and see on that one.Photos: Matt Wragg
Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2)

OCO-2 uses the spectra of electromagnetic radiation (this technique is called spectroscopy) to measure levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The original OCO crashed in 2009; the second iteration launched successfully in July 2014. Its measurements are particularly pertinent as carbon dioxide concentrations reached 400 parts per million (ppm) last spring at Mauna Loa, a milestone that will make recalling carbon dioxide levels easier but will also present more serious challenges to humanity. Similar sentiments are better expressed by more thoughtful scientists.

OCO-2 is now orbiting as the head of the A-Train or Afternoon Constellation, a formation of satellites which pass over the same spot on earth within 16 minutes (playing Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A-Train," Id like to think). Formation flying is incredibly difficult for satellites, and our ability to do this so well represents tremendous technological progress for NASA, and essentially turns the A-Train satellites into one giant satellite with more sensors and instruments than would ever be possible on a single platform.

ISS-RapidScat

Launched September 20, 2014, the RapidScat experiment on the Space Station measures winds using a scatterometer, an instrument which sends out a microwave radar pulse and measures the energy reflected back. Together with ESAs scatterometers, it is possible to cover over 90% of Earth in a day, which is particularly useful if you want to predict storms or hurricanes.

Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS)

A satellite mission fit for the internet: CATS. Launched in December 2014 and hosted on the ISS, CATS senses aerosols by height. This is a critical area for climate scientists. In the latest IPCC report, aerosols represented the biggest source of climate uncertainty, yet ground based measurements cannot resolve their data by altitude. Aerosols alter the energy budget of the air column, depending on how high they are: low aerosols generally warm, but high aerosols cool (depending on the species), so knowing where they are is critical to detecting their climate signal. Beyond a lack of observations and limitations with modeling, the interaction between clouds and aerosols is complex; studying it requires a knowledge of complex chemistry, mineralogy, and physics. And while measuring dust in the air may seem like a dry topic, these little particles do everything from forming clouds (without anything to condense onto, water needs to get to -13C/8F for hours in order to spontaneously harden) to fertilizing the Amazon.
Retired Lieutenant Joseph Franklin (Photo: New Jersey State PBA)

A retired lieutenant of the Roxbury (N.J.) Police Department has died after being critically injured in a bicycle crash during the Police Unity Tour Monday, his family said.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph Franklin," Franklin's family said in a statement. "Helping others even in death, he donated his organs to those in need. We request privacy during this extremely difficult time and thank the community for their support."

Franklin was critically injured Monday during the first day of the 320-mile bike ride to Washington D.C. in honor of officers killed in the line of duty. He was taken to Morristown Medical Center following the crash, reports nj.com.

Franklin served with the department for 25 years, but his greatest contribution was the initiation of the department's police explorer program, Explorer Post 2188 in 1991, Roxbury police Chief Marc Palanchi said in a statement.

"Over 500 young men and women participated in the Explorer's Program during Joe's supervision," Palanchi said. "He gave his time, energy and provided leadership and guidance to young people effortlessly. Following the example set forth by Joe, many of those explorers went on to become police officers, while others simply went on to become productive members of society."

During his tenure with the department, Franklin graduated from the West Point Command and Leadership program in 1997 and received the William H. Sturgeon Leadership Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1993.

"If I could sum up Joe in one word best, it would be honorable," the chief said.
A federal appeals court on Thursday delayed the execution of an Alabama inmate  just hours before he was to die by lethal injection for killing a police officer  in order to review lawyers' claims that it would be unconstitutional to execute him because he is no longer competent because of strokes and dementia, reports the Associated Press.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay about seven hours before Vernon Madison, 65, was scheduled to die at 6 p.m. by lethal injection at a state prison in Atmore. The appellate court said it will hear oral arguments in Madison's case in June. The Alabama attorney general's office responded with an emergency motion to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to let the execution proceed before the death warrant expired at midnight.

Madison was convicted in the 1985 killing of Mobile police Officer Julius Schulte. Schulte had responded to a domestic call involving Madison. Prosecutors said Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car.

Attorneys for the Equal Justice Initiative say that strokes and dementia have left Madison frequently confused and disoriented and unable to understand his pending execution. They argued he has an IQ of 72, can no longer walk independently and at one point talked of moving to Florida because he believed he was going to be released from prison.
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By Megan Cassella

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against Ohio officials on Wednesday over a plan by the state to restrict the U.S. healthcare agencys access to state and federal funds, saying it was being singled out for providing abortion services.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of Planned Parenthood branches of greater Ohio and of the southwest region, said attempts to defund the healthcare agency and several affiliated programs were an extreme punishment exacted solely because abortion services are part of its range of care, court filings showed.

Agency officials also said such actions violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution for singling out Planned Parenthood and treating it differently from other healthcare providers.

Ohio Right to Life director Katie Franklin called the lawsuit frivolous.

The Ohio bill was signed by Governor John Kasich in February and bars the state from contracts with organizations that perform or promote abortions. It is set to take effect on May 23.

Kasichs press secretary, Joe Andrews, said in an email he would not discuss pending litigation, but added the governor, a former Republican presidential candidate, was pleased to sign legislation that continued our progress in moving funding to other eligible providers.

The lawsuit is the 15th filed by Planned Parenthood over access to care at its centers since mid-2015, when anti-abortion activists began releasing videos purporting to show group officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood denied wrongdoing and said the videos were distorted and politically motivated. Officials in 12 states have since blocked efforts to cut funding from the clinics, and the federal director of Medicaid, a government healthcare program for the poor, warned states in April against cutting off funds to Planned Parenthood simply because its services include abortions.

Planned Parenthood officials said they were asking the court to hand down an order before the law takes effect. If allowed to continue, the action would constitute an undue, constitutionally intolerable burden on the abortion rights of Ohio women, the filing said.

Also on Wednesday, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed into law a bill that directs the states spending of federal funds for family planning services to health centers and hospitals that provide a full range of healthcare.

The governors office said in a statement the bill would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood clinics out of federal grants for family planning programs.

(Additional reporting by Kim Palmer in Cleveland and Fiona Ortiz in Chicago)
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Mitt Romney of all people is claiming that Donald Trump has disqualified himself from the presidency by refusing to release his tax returns.

After Trump announced that he wont be releasing any of his tax returns until after the election, Romney wrote on Facebook:

It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service. Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidates representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest. Further, while not a likely circumstance, the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk to ignore for someone who is seeking to become commander-in-chief. Mr. Trump says he is being audited. So? There is nothing that prevents releasing tax returns that are being audited. Further, he could release returns for the years immediately prior to the years under audit. There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trumps refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them. Given Mr. Trumps equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume its a bombshell of unusual size. (Anticipating inquiries regarding my own tax release history, I released my 2010 tax returns in January of 2012 and I released my 2011 tax returns as soon as they were completed, in September of 2012.)

Mitt Romney, who stalled, made up excuses, and refused to release a full disclosure of his tax returns is running around claiming that Trump cant be president because he wont release his tax returns. Birthers, like Donald Trump, attempted to demand Obamas college transcripts in exchange for Romneys tax returns. As the presumptive Republican nominee, Romney blamed Obama for his refusal to release his tax returns. Romney refused to release even five years of tax returns.

Mitt Romney is not the person to be making the argument that Donald Trump is disqualified from the presidency because he wont release his tax returns. In fact, Romney is one of the last people in the world who should be discussing releasing tax returns.

The Republicans have dragged the American people into some kind of bizarre Twilight Zone where Mitt Romney is the moral compass of the GOP. The last thing that Republicans needed was their former tax dodging nominee telling their current tax dodging nominee that he has disqualified himself by not releasing his tax returns.

Every single day, the Republican Party manages to find a new way to make things worse for themselves.

We really have entered a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man, and it is called The Republican Zone.
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During an interview on Fox News, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump claimed that Muslims are telling him that they want to be banned from the United States.

While being interviewed on Fox News, Trump discussed his Muslim ban, Its temporary, and ultimately it is my aim to have it lifted. Right now there is no ban, but I would like to see there has to be an idea. There has to be something, because there is some pretty bad things going on, and I have Muslim friends, great Muslim friends who tell me you are so right. Theres something going on that we have to get to the bottom of, so well see what happens.

For years, Donald Trump has been hiding his racism and bigotry by claiming that he has minority friends. However, Trump has taken it to a new level by claiming that his Muslim friends want him to ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

Trump is claiming that the ban will only be temporary, and he seems oblivious to constitutional ramifications of his idea. When asked by Greta Van Susteren about the Constitution, Trump said, Well take a look at that.

The presumptive Republican nominee for President Of The United States of America openly promises the American people that if elected he will undertake an unconstitutional action that will be a crime.

I doubt that Donald Trump knows many Muslims, much less, has any Muslim friends. His claim that Muslims want to be banned from the US is laughable, and if we had a shred of journalistic integrity left in our corporate owned media, Trump would get called out on his claims.

Trump avoided facts getting in his way by being interviewed on Fox News by Greta Van Susteren. The media may try to spin his comments a million ways, but Donald Trump is arguing that Muslims want to be banned from the United States.
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Republicans are getting tons of media attention for Donald Trumps photo op tour of DC, but they are getting something else. Lots of angry protesters.

Matt Fuller of The Huffington Post tweeted:

Basically this guy is just doin' stand up for a very cold crowd of reporters. https://t.co/SeD5CBb9G7  Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) May 12, 2016

The paper mache head is going over very well with the press:

And the protests have started outside the RNC ahead of the Trump-Paul Ryan meeting: pic.twitter.com/g5XHfjB17U  Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 12, 2016

The reality for Republicans is that Trump is going to bring them media attention. As in seriously, when is the last time that one hundred reporters were staking out the RNC waiting for the Republican presidential nominee to show up for a chat?

The way Trump gets the media attention is by turning off waves of voters that are vital to the Republican Partys chances in 2016. Trump isnt a double edged sword for the Republican Party. He is a single sharp dagger pointed at the heart of the GOP.

Congratulations, Republicans. Youve turned a routine story into a complete media debacle, but as the protesters who met Trump in DC demonstrated, youre also selling your souls to a racist overlord who is going to destroy any chance you once at had at victory in 2016.
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Cinephiles will find the neorealism in the latest Avengers installment, "Captain America: Civil War," reminiscent of Fellini's "Le notti di Cabiria" and its underdog Esprit de Corps subtext inspired by Akira Kurosawa's "Shichinin no Samurai." Kidding. There is no depth here whatsoever and I wouldn't have it any other way. The most dangerous thing for a comic book action film is to take itself too serious and there's absolutely no danger of that here.

There is a weak attempt to politicize the Avengers  the U.S. Secretary of State wants to cede the heroes to UN control (of course he does) because, you know, it's not right that "enhanced individuals," indeed, any individuals, can operate autonomously  but that's just a plot device.

Naturally, the Captain's position is that, "the safest hands are our own." That settles it for me but is as irksome to Tony Stark as the Bat-signal going off in the middle of 'Game of Thrones' is to Bruce Wayne. This divides the Avengers along ideological lines which plays right into the hands of Sokovian villain Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) whose family was collateral damage in last year's battle against Ultron. (A plot coincidentally similar to this year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" if you're keeping score.)

At two and a half hours it sometimes feels longish but that's the consequence of servicing such a mega-ensemble. Back are Iron Man (the magnificent Robert Downey, Jr.), skipper (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)  just about everyone except Thor and the Hulk. This one also introduces Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and reboots Spider-Man (Tom Holland) as Tony Stark's protege, which makes for interesting banter. Peter Parker: "It's Spider-MAN." Stark: "Not in that onesie it's not."

"Captain America: Civil War" is everything you expect from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), fun, action and great effects from beginning to end, and, of course, an epic Stan Lee cameo.

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4 Honks

"Captain America: Civil War" is Marvels 13th film  and thats just this year. With so many superhero flicks, it feels like it, anyway. Yet there are still legions yet to receive the big screen treatment. To borrow from Red Buttons, some of the greatest movie heroes, people who, without them, the movie-going experience just wouldnt be the same, never got a picture.

Dom Swenson, the Cineplex employee who was first to fill the popcorn-tub halfway and add butter before topping-it off never got a picture.

Elaine Cobb, the loan officer at the credit union who arranged financing so a family of four could afford one of the concession combos  never got a picture.

Mitch OMalley, who was called back from his break to dispense beer because he was the only employee legal  never got a picture.

Raymond Weir, who maintained a straight face even when the 100th customer of the night asked him if the 3D glasses let them see things in 3D outside of the theater, too  never got a picture.

And, Rebekka Del Vecchio, the theater manager, who had to begrudgingly tell a group of teens to stop texting during the film knowing she would get backlash the next day in school, especially because it was with her they were texting  never got a picture.
Devendra Banhart's musical worlds are so fertile it'll take at least two nights to even attempt pathways into them.

Call it acid indie; call it freak folk. Whatever it is he does, and whatever you want to call it, it will be on display when the Walker Art Center teams up with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (under the arresting umbrella title known as the Liquid Music Series) to present "Wind Grove Mind Alone: Devendra Banhart & Friends" Friday and Saturday.

Program A, the Friday night show, will feature the super-successful songwriter doing his own solo sets, but it'll be followed by a few other acts such as Lucky Dragons (promising something interactive and experimental, both qualities favored by the Walker, where the duo evenings will be performed), Jessica Pratt, Helado Negro, and William Basinski.

Saturday night, the B program, will feature Banhart's full touring band, which is nothing if not impressive, followed by Rodrigo Amarante, Hecuba, and Harold Budd.

That's a lot of plates to spin, but don't be fooled: The main dish is Banhart himself, who has forged a unique career making music, art, books (such as the one-of-a-kind "I Left My Noodle on Ramen Street"), and a generous dose of good old fashioned celebrity (see his dating of Oscar-winner Natalie Portman once upon a time).

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In a multi-media career that has taken him from musical performances at Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, from drawings in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to Brussels's Center for Fine Arts, and into the recording studios to press eight albums, Banhart has been influenced by just about every stripe of god. His first gig was in a San Francisco church at a gay wedding, his name is a synonym for Hindu's king of Gods, Indra, and when his career really started to take off, he was discovered by Michael Gira, whose recording label is known as Young God Records.

Call him the Young Almighty, and who better to lead lucky audiences down the musical pathways of the artistic gods?

(P.S. There's even a package deal to see both nights. Don't forget to check it out.)

What: "Wind Grove Mind Alone: Devendra Banhart & Friends"

When: 8 p.m. May 13-14

Where: Walker Art Center's McGuire Theater, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Tickets: $28, no tickets available, but a wait list will begin one hour prior to the performance at the Walker box office.

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On the web: www.walkerart.org/calendar/2016/wind-grove-mind-alone-devendra-banhart-friend
A Dover man with a history of sexual contact with children will make his first appearance on new charges next month in Olmsted County District Court.

Jeremiah John Dahl, 35, was charged by summons Friday with one count each of second- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Both are felonies.

The investigation began in late June, when a day care provider reported that one of the children in her care was playing inappropriately with dolls. When the woman asked the child where she'd seen the behavior, she said Dahl had touched her genitals over her clothes several times, the complaint says.

The child told investigators that Dahl had touched her at a family member's house, not only on her genitals, but over her clothing on her chest, court documents say. The incidents reportedly occurred between June 2014 and the time she was interviewed in early July.

Dahl told authorities there was never a time when he and the child were alone together, and has no idea why the child made the claims.

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Three months later  in October  Dahl was in prison, completing a 36-month prison term he'd been given in 2010. In that case, he was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after a 14-year-old girl said he'd sexually assaulted her. Dahl was originally sentenced to 120 days in jail and ordered to attend sex offender programming.

He attended sex offender treatment from November 2010 until April 2015, when he was "kicked out for dishonest conduct," court records say. It was determined that he had violated probation multiple times, and in October the judge ordered him to serve the stayed prison term, with credit for 223 days already served.
MANTORVILLE  A West Concord man accused of sexually assaulting a boy multiple times has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Chet Robert Meyer, 41, pleaded guilty in March in Dodge County District Court to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. In exchange, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct was dismissed during Wednesday's sentencing. Both are felonies.

Judge Jodi Williamson handed down the 60-month term, with credit for 469 days already served. Meyer must register as a predatory offender and will be on conditional release for the rest of his life.

The investigation began in January 2015, when the boy went to law enforcement and reported that about two weeks earlier, Meyer made him perform sexual acts, the complaint says. The boy then recounted three other incidents of contact.

When the investigator spoke to the boy's mother, she said her son had called her at work that day and told her he was worried about HIV from unprotected sex. That's when they contacted authorities.

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Meyer admitted knowing the boy and spending time with him, court documents say, but when asked if he'd had sexual contact with the victim, Meyer "looked at the ground and said no."

Meyer has been in custody since Jan. 29, 2015.
One of three brothers who participated in a July home invasion and shooting was sentenced Thursday to more than 16 years in prison  much longer than either of his brothers, who both took plea bargains in the case.

An Olmsted County jury in March convicted Dion Lavell Abrams, 33, of one count each of aid/abet first-degree aggravated robbery, aid/abet first-degree assault, aid/abet first-degree burglary, aid/abet second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Abrams and his brothers, Walter James Abrams, 29, of Minneapolis, and Antonyo White, 25, of Rochester were all arrested in the days after the July 22 shooting.

Vondale Lamar Kincaide, 38, the alleged gunman, was also arrested. He hasn't entered a plea in the case, and remains in custody in lieu of $400,000 conditional bail.

White was sentenced in March to 93 months in prison, with credit for 159 days served. Walter Abrams was also sentenced in March to 75 months in prison, with credit for 121 days served.

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Before Third Judicial District Judge Ross Leuning handed down the sentence, Dion Abrams spoke for about 10 minutes, essentially arguing that the recommended sentence was unfair.

"I feel like I'm being punished because I went to trial," he said. "They're making me out as this bad dude, and I'm not. I did 15 years (in prison) already, and came out changed. I went to jail when I was 17, got out when I was 33  I was on the street for 21 days.

"I couldn't know what (Kincaide) was going to do," Abrams said. "I'm not a mind-reader. I understand if I did (the shooting), I'd take my (prison) time, but I didn't do it."

Leuning agreed that "a person shouldn't be punished for going to trial, but if you're found guilty, that doesn't mean you get the benefits of the (plea) deal you turned down, either."

The 195-month sentence for the first-degree assault is an upward departure of 35 months from the maximum guidelines.

The prosecutor requested 240 months, arguing the stronger punishment was warranted for a couple of reasons.

"There were children present," said Pam Larson. "They were coloring in their home, they saw an intruder put a gun to their father's head.  They've been traumatized."

In addition, Abrams was part of a group of three or more who participated in the crime, another factor that meets the criteria for an upward departure.

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Both arguments, Leuning said, were valid.

The 195-month term will run concurrently with an 87-month term for the burglary charge and a 60-month term for the firearms charge. Abrams was given credit for 281 days served.

The morning of the shooting, Kincaide was released from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Lino Lakes. Later that day, he attended a barbecue at a home in North Minneapolis.

There, he met up with several people, including the Abrams brothers. The three came to Rochester, where they visited White, the report says, who is an acquaintance of the 30-year-old man who was shot inside the home.

White knew the victim was growing marijuana in his home, and the suspects "hatched a plan to rob him," Capt. John Sherwin said the day after the shooting.

About 6 p.m., Kincaide  who by then had obtained a gun  burst into the home at 3811 14th Ave. NW, where he confronted the victim in the stairwell of the split-level house.

Kincaide demanded drugs, Sherwin said, and ordered the victim to bring his 28-year-old fiancee and three young children downstairs, too.

Kincaide told investigators that when the victim refused and became agitated, he "was afraid of what the victim would do. He didn't want to kill him, but he knew he had to calm (the victim) down, so he shot him in the leg," Sherwin said.

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The woman and their children fled and called police. White was the driver of the get-away car.

Dion Abrams picked up two more felonies in September, when authorities say he and his brothers ordered a "hit" on Kincaide. All four were in custody at the ADC.

Kincaide learned about the plan to kill him after a detainee in his housing unit delivered a message  allegedly from Dion Abrams  telling Kincaide "a check would be coming" and Kincaide should be quiet.

Abrams and his brothers were angry, court documents say, because they believed Kincaide "snitched" on them when he admitted to his role in the July robbery and shooting.

According to the criminal complaint, another message was sent Aug. 26, when a second unnamed detainee warned Kincaide that the Gangster Disciples gang had a hit out on him; the detainee claimed Dion Abrams told him about it.

That same day, workers in the ADC laundry reported finding two metal shanks that had come out of the unit that houses Abrams' brothers.

In addition, the detainee told officials, Abrams reportedly said he wanted to find someone to stab Kincaide for snitching. The man claimed he'd heard other detainees affiliated with the Gangster Disciples in their housing unit talking about the threat, too.

A third detainee told investigators that Abrams had told him to pass the word that someone "has to find the big guy Kincaide and poke him up," the documents say.

Kincaide told authorities that Dion and Walter Abrams both have a lot of "street cred" with the Gangster Disciples in the Twin Cities area, and he believes the threat. Kincaide was moved to the Mower County Jail, where he remains.

Dion Abrams said he'd heard the rumors, the complaint says, but denied they were true. The charges were dismissed after his conviction.
MINNEAPOLIS  Three Minnesota men accused of plotting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group were deeply committed to their cause and undeterred by their failures, a federal prosecutor told jurors as the men's trial opened Wednesday.

Defense attorneys countered that their clients were just talkers and did not plot to carry out killings abroad.

In opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Winter said the evidence will show how patient and determined the three defendants were to fight for the extremist group.

Winter also gave jurors a taste of some of the graphic propaganda videos they'll see, which he says inspired the alleged conspirators. One of the still images he left lingering on their screens was a line of fighters about to behead a line of prisoners.

Defense attorney Bruce Nestor said his client, 22-year-old Abdirahman Yasin Daud, was a talker, not a doer, who did not have "murder on his mind" when he sought out the Islamic State group.

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"You will have to decide what is truth, what is lies," Nestor told jurors.

Glenn Bruder, attorney for Guled Ali Omar, 21, also said his client was "all talk" and never even left Hennepin County, nor did he plot to commit murder.

Murad Mohammad, the attorney for 22-year-old Mohamed Abdihamid Farah, asked jurors to listen to the case and return a not guilty verdict.

Prosecutors say the three men were part of a larger group of friends in Minnesota's Somali community who met several times from March 2014 to April 2015 to plan how they would travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group. The men allegedly helped each other get passports and money for travel, and talked about ways to contact the Islamic State group and make passage from Turkey to Syria.

All three have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. The most serious charge is conspiracy to commit murder outside the United States. It carries the possibility of life in prison. The men are also charged with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group and attempting to provide such support.

Six other men who were part of the alleged plot have pleaded guilty to various charges, while a 10th man charged in the case is believed to be in Syria.

Young men from Minnesota's Somali community, the nation's largest, have been a target for terror recruiters. The men who have pleaded guilty said they were drawn in by YouTube videos and other radical propaganda, and believed it was their duty to protect fellow Muslims who were suffering at the hands of the Bashar Assad regime.

The FBI has said about a dozen people have left Minnesota to join militant groups fighting in Syria in recent years. Since 2007, more than 22 men have joined al-Shabab in Somalia.

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A jury of 16 was seated Tuesday night for a trial is expected to last about three weeks. The government plans to call more than two dozen witnesses and introduce 340 exhibits.
GRAND MEADOW  The Stewartville man arrested after allegedly fleeing law enforcement in a high speed chase on Tuesday now faces felony charges.

Patrick Kelly Mullay, 21, appeared in court today. He was arrested Tuesday night by the Mower County Sheriff's Office after leading deputies on a chase that reached 95 miles per hour.

He was charged with three felonies: second-degree drug possession, fifth-degree drug possession and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. He also faces charges of fourth-degree DWI; and two petty misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding, 76 mph in a 55 mph zone.

At 9:09 p.m. deputies were westbound on Minnesota Highway 16 when they noticed Mullay heading eastbound at a high speed. Officials clocked the vehicle at 70 miles per hour, Sheriff Terese Amazi said.

A traffic stop was conducted, but when deputies approached the van, Mullay accelerated and fled from the scene at speeds reaching 95 miles per hour. The vehicle slowed when reaching Grand Meadow city limits.

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Spike strips were deployed near Grand Meadow High School by a deputy who was parked nearby. The van's front left tire hit the strips, and Mullay drove across a yard and into a wheat field.

Mullay tried to drive onto 770th Avenue, but his vehicle became stuck in a ditch. He fled on foot, but deputies followed. Mullay surrendered and was arrested.

Deputies discovered a plastic bag in the vehicle. The bag contained a few grams of methamphetamine. A glass meth pipe was found In a jacket that was discarded by Mullay.

Among other items found were a digital scale and several plastic bags.

Mullay is being held in the Mower County Jail. Officials say they are waiting for drug test results.
A Rochester woman made her initial appearance Tuesday in Olmsted County District Court, where she's been charged with a pair of felony drug crimes.

Star Dawn Cruz Severino, 34, faces one count each of second-degree controlled substance crime and third-degree possession. She's been released from custody in lieu of $15,000 conditional bail, and is due back in court June 24.

The investigation began early April 25, when an officer on patrol spotted a vehicle with excessive window tint. The driver parked at a mobile home park on Marion Road, though no one got out of the car. The officer approached the car after learning its registration year was 2014, though it carried a 2016 sticker, the report says.

The officer immediately recognized the driver, Sergio Davenport, 30, who was reportedly driving on a revoked license.

Inside the vehicle were several air fresheners and a tote containing several different chemical bottles and propane bottles, the complaint says. The passenger identified herself as "Star Cruz," a name the officer recognized as having been associated with recent drug-related calls for service in southeast Rochester, court documents say.

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According to the complaint, the calls were related to local sales and cross-state jurisdictional transport of methamphetamine coming from Mexico.

A drug-sniffing dog was brought to the scene and showed "strong interest" in the car's console area, alerting to that region. Inside a purse found on the floorboard of the car was $7,729 in cash, three working cell phones, several money orders filled out in Spanish and a journal that appeared to be a ledger with a running value or total next to the name of each person, the complaint says.

Beside the purse was a cloth case containing a pipe used to smoke meth. In addition, the case allegedly held a feminine hygiene product that was wrapped around two small plastic bags that held 6.2 gram of meth.

Davenport pleaded guilty later that day to misdemeanor counts of drug possession and driving after revocation. A misdemeanor count of no proof of insurance was dismissed, and he was sentenced to a day in jail, with credit for one day served, and fined $285.
Country

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Dear Answer Man, maybe you have covered this question already and I missed it because I was in a coma for a few months. (Not really.) I heard today about a wonderful service, and it was news to me: They now have valet parking available at Mayo's Gonda building.

I am interested in the service  the cost, how much time to allow before an appointment in order to get my car parked, etc. This sounds like a wonderful service for those of us who have difficulty using parking ramps. When did it start, and is it well-utilized? I look forward to your information and will remain conscious and alert.  R.T.

Congratulations on your speedy recovery, R.T., and here's more good news: You didn't miss a report on the Gonda valet service while you were gone, mainly because I've been waiting for Mayo to respond. I'll assume that request got lost somewhere in Dr. Plummer's pneumatic tubes.

Being a resourceful reporter, I walked four blocks from the world headquarters of the Post-Bulletin to the World Famous and talked with a very helpful valet attendant. Mayo has offered the service since January, she said, and though it's a little spendy by Rochester standards, it's a good deal: $8 for the first hour, a buck an hour after that, a max of $18, with no tipping and no hassle.

No reservations are needed. You can't call ahead to have your car brought up, but it's likely a quick turnaround. The valets are working from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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The attendant I talked to said about 120 people are served on a typical day at that valet station on the Gonda's west side, and there are also valets at the nearby Charlton building and at Saint Marys Hospital.

Heart of the Queen City

My admittedly excellent item Monday on the long-ago Queen Cityneighborhood market in the old Lourdes High School area (not far from Gonda) jogged memories for many of my fully conscious readers:

"Dear Da Bomb: Yes, I remember the QC. My grandma and I used to walk there when I was spending time at her apartment. She'd let me pick out a small treat, or we'd get a box of snack crackers and go back to her place to eat them ... fond memories."  Mark Hrubetz

"I also remember the grocery store, late 1960s, early '70s. I moved away from that neighborhood so I don't know how long it remained a grocery store. Then in the late '70s or early '80s, a relative of a friend opened a little bar there, called the Wooden Nickel. It was a great neighborhood bar that served delicious chili. Thanks for your column!"  Barb Metcalf

"I remember the Queen City Market (AND John Muyres  I worked with his father). As I recall, the market was on Second Street Northwest, in the middle of the block on the north side of the street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. It was one of the last of the small neighborhood stores."  Don Hint

I'm way too young to have bought crackers at the Queen City market or slurped chili at the Wooden Nickel, but Mark, Barb and Don motivated me to do more research. The store was called the Queen City Groceryand was at 513 Second St. NW, according to city directories from the era. In the 1975 directory, the store was listed with the name Thomas Wahlberg. By 1980, it disappears from city directories, and frankly, I don't see the Wooden Nickel, but I'll take Barb's word for it.

By 1985, the old market was a real estate office, and FYI, back in the '70s, there was a real estate office nearby called Queen City.
BROWNSDALE  After a tumultuous spring, the Hayfield Community Schools Board voted to sell Brownsdale Elementary School building once it closes its doors at the end of the school year.

The building will be listed with South East Minnesota Realty by May 18, Superintendent Belinda Selfors said. The asking price is $99,000.

"The board is hopeful that the building will be used for a purpose that can support and promote the community of Brownsdale," Selfors said in an email. "All decisions in this regard have been made in the best interests of the district as a whole."

The Hayfield school district voted on March 30 to close the Brownsdale school, citing high maintenance costs and declining student enrollment.

During Monday's meeting, board members the elementary school was not of further use to the district and should be sold.

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A Realist report from 2014, listed the school property as approximately 11.23 acres of land and building structures valued at $509,9000. Replacement value of the building was estimated at $4.5 million.

Any proceeds from the sale are regulated by the state. Districts with outstanding bonds must first deposit sale proceeds in a debt retirement fund.

Mark Miedtke, president of Hayfield Economic Development Authority, said the old school could be used for housing, business incubation or manufacturing.

"We're hoping for something positive in the long run," Miedtke said. "Both Hayfield and Brownsdale need to provide what families want."
Thumbing through Untappd beer reviews can be infuriating for LTS head brewer Brandon Schulz.

Untappd is billed as a social media platform for beer lovers. Those who use it can "like" a brewery, review beers on a five-point scale, write tasting notes on reviews, follow others on the platform, comment on reviews, and even toast them via a little shaker pint glass icon.

What these people are doing  and there are a lot of them; Untappd hit over 1 million usersin 2014, according to the duo who created it  is much more than just raving or ranting about beer.

They're lauding or denigrating Schulz's passion.

Of course the negative reviews are frustrating.

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"A couple people who know next to nothing about craft beer can tank your rating on a beer that a few people have rated as exceptional, just because they didn't like the style," said Schulz. "I've had people rating IPAs as ones and twos, and then openly say in the comments that they hate IPAs."

Right to review

The reviews can be hard to stomach, but make no mistake: Schulz and his fellow Rochester brewers absolutely think that consumers have the right to review beers, and should.

But Untappd doesn't have a way of letting you know if someone is just some average man reviewing a beer, or if it's a woman with extensive, certified knowledge.

Forager head brewer Austin Jevnesaid a face to face chat at the taproom bar can help promote beer knowledge before you post a review.

"I just want honesty," Jevne said. "Tell me here, and we'll talk about it. If you don't know what the style is, like a French saison, I can explain the flavor profile to you."

Schulz profiles beer styles in LTS emails as a way to impart beer knowledge.

What is it good for?

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There seem to be two schools of thought with Untappd: that it is used as a checklist or like food review site Yelp .

But as a whole the app doesn't seem "useful for anything," according to Forager assistant brewer Zack Dunbar.

"The whole concept of the app is very absentminded," Dunbar said. "You don't know what the user is looking for," and one person's average 2.5 score may be abysmal to another.

As a business owner, Jevne said it becomes "an addiction" to read reviews about your company, because "you really want to know what people are saying."

Grand Rounds head brewer Steve Finnieavoids reviews. The brewpub doesn't even post its beers on Untappd. App users can, and do.

But he does think the app can get people talking.

"It's a good application if it gets people excited about craft beer  but as a brewer I don't hold any merit to it," Finnie said. "It's a source of frustration more than anything else, to be honest."

The former Mayo Clinic physical therapist wants feedback from other brewers and certified beer judges.

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"I gave up everything to do this, everything. Absolutely everything. 15 years at Mayo. So this is not a joke to me," Finnie said. He has a doctorate degree, held a management level job as a physical therapist, and wrote highly researched articles published in journals.

So he takes brewing very seriously. Untappd won't help him reach the upper echelon of the brewing world.

Approaching new beer

Scott Lyke, Rochester's sole Certified Cicerone(the second level of a four-level certification program), has been reviewing beers on two popular beer websites since 2003.

He puts the magnitude of properly reviewing beers into perspective by explaining how there are dozens of defined beer styles recognized by the Beer Judge Certification Program and Brewers Association. Utilizing Untappd reviews of those styles can go only so far.

"It's good baseline information, but you really don't know if you like a beer until you've tried it," Lyke said. "The best way to think about that is, 'OK, what beers do I like now? What are some other beers of those styles?' Build off that and branch out."

If you do happen to pen a review and share it with the world, just remember that somewhere, after 12 hours of crafting what's in your pint, sits a brewer, poring over it.

"You look at the wide world of craft beer, and its a much harder place to look at and say, Heres where Im going to jump in, than it was 20 years ago," Rochester Certified Cicerone Scott Lyke said.

His tip is to trust your palate; dont necessarily go by a website for whats the best version of a style.

"Drink what you like, and dont let anyone else tell you differently."

And if you want to learn more about beer, here are some resources:

"The Beer Bible" by Jeff Alworth

The Brewers Association

Cicerone.org

Northern Brewer classes
BLACK HAMMER  A friend gave me a hot tip a month ago  check out Houston County Road 4 north of Spring Grove, you'll love it.

On Sunday, worries drove me to check it out.

My wife, Debbie, and I have had our lives bogged down with home repairs  roof, plumbing, garage door  and an expensive car fix. Sunday was also Mother's Day. If we stayed home, we'd find more things to fret over.

The only good option? Road trip.

Our daughter, Angela Weiss, came along and we started out for Spring Grove  sort of.

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Driving directly to a destination while on a road trip is anathema, one should wander at whim.

We did. En route, we rented a bicycle built for four on the Root River Trail near Lanesboro. It was cumbersome, but we got to see some of the trail, birds, flowers and the Root River's riffles. I could feel Debbie relax a bit.

Next, we headed toward Spring Grove, traveling the undulating roads and hills of southeast Fillmore County. We had the roads to ourselves, I could drive 10 miles below the speed limit and not get run over. We ended up crossing the South Branch Root River and stopped to stare down at the clear water.

"I like that it's quiet," Debbie said.

We stopped at a wayside rest in Tawney, a ghost town with prosperous dreams but nothing to back them up, for a picnic lunch. The rest area was next to a gravel road and a van driver slowed when going past so as to not kick up dust. That was a wonderful gesture.

In Spring Grove, we headed to north on Houston County 4.

The friend was right. It is one of those winding roads that is there to move people but doesn't seem to be in any hurry. If rushed, I'd hate how it meanders. On Sunday, the meandering was appreciated.

We went through Black Hammer, where the tall spire of Faith Lutheran Church rose over the hill as we approached. Then it was on to farms, bluffs, rocky road cuts and more flowers. Even the dandelions were remarkable.

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We ended up in Houston and took the road back through Rushford and Lanesboro instead of Interstate 90.

Back home, work and all the problems were still there. You never escape them. But the purpose of a road trip isn't to escape but to fit a new perspective into our lives.

"It was hard work on the trail, but I liked it," Debbie said. "I liked the spring wildflowers and the quiet morning."

We are already plotting our next road trip.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan pledged to work together despite their differences after a meeting today aimed at repairing their breach and unifying a party torn over Trump's rise to the cusp of the GOP presidential nomination.

They issued a statement describing their meeting as a "very positive step toward unification" that recognized "many important areas of common ground" as well as areas where they disagree.

Ryan has yet to come out in support of Trump, a week after stunning Republicans by withholding his endorsement. But their statement suggested both are invested in tamping down the Republican infighting as they try to pull the GOP together for the fight against Hilary Clinton and Democrats in the fall.

The much-anticipated meeting unfolded today as more Republicans have begun urging the party to put the extraordinary discord behind.

"The meeting was great," Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, tweeted after. "It was a very positive step toward party unity." Priebus attended the opening meeting with the two before Trump and Ryan sat down with a small group of GOP House leaders.

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Trump entered the RNC building, the venue a few blocks from the Capitol, through a side door as about a dozen protesters who oppose his immigration positions demonstrated at the front, chanting "Down, down with deportation. Up, up with liberation." They tried to deliver a cardboard coffin to the RNC representing the suffering of immigrants under GOP policies and what they say will be the death of the party under Trump. They were not allowed inside.

Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, of Texas, walked by and remarked that Trump is "tearing people apart. You can see the circus out here. He's just bad for the country."

Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin, of New York, a Trump supporter, said it will help both the candidate and the speaker if they can work through their differences.

"I don't think it's do or die, any endorsement in particular," he said outside the building. But "Donald Trump's candidacy is strengthened with an endorsement from the most powerful person, top-ranking Republican in the country. It helps."

On the eve of the meetings, Trump eased his defiant tone of recent days. Asked on Fox News who leads the party in his view, he said Ryan. "I would say Paul for the time being and maybe for a long time," he said.

"We can always have differences," he said. "If you agree on 70 percent, that's always a lot."

The two men represent vastly different visions for the Republican Party, and whether they can come together may foretell whether the GOP will heal itself after a bruising primary season or face irrevocable rupture.

Trump, for years a registered Democrat, has offended women, Hispanics, and others while violating establishment party orthodoxy on numerous issues Ryan holds dear, from trade to wages to religious freedom. Ryan, a policy-focused conservative, insists the GOP must be a party of ideas, and has championed an agenda that has drawn Trump's scorn by pushing cuts in Medicare and other government programs.

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Indeed, a broader swath of Republican voters appears to be moving behind Trump, despite big-name holdouts such as Ryan, both former president Bushes and the party's 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney. Romney went after Trump on Wednesday over his refusal thus far to release his taxes, calling it "disqualifying" and asserting that the only explanation must be "a bombshell of unusual size."

Still, almost two in three Republican-leaning voters now view Trump favorably, compared with 31 percent who view him unfavorably, according to a national Gallup Poll taken last week. The numbers represent a near total reversal from Gallup's survey in early March.

And on Capitol Hill, where Ryan has managed to remain popular since taking over as speaker in the fall, some Republicans made clear that they would like to see him come around to supporting Trump sooner rather than later.

Rep. Tom Cole, of Oklahoma, an ally of GOP leadership, said Thursday his biggest worry about Trump is that he is "'unpredictable." Yet Trump is also a "change agent," Cole said. "That's exactly what people want right now, so in that sense he's very well-positioned for a general election."

"It seems to me they have every incentive to find common ground," he said of Trump and Ryan, "because to be successful they both in a sense need one another."

Three meetings were on tap for Trump: the one with Ryan and the party chairman, then with Ryan joined by other senior House GOP leaders and one with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Senate Republicans.

McConnell was quick to embrace the mogul after he clinched the nomination and said this week that Trump is looking like he'll be "very competitive" in November.
The city of Rochester's appointment process to advisory boards and commissions is unclear and needs revising, the city's Ethical Practices Board decided Wednesday.

The board plans to draft a letter to the Rochester City Council and mayor with recommendations to make the appointment process more transparent and more consistent.

"We're just asking them to re-evaluate the application process," said Audrey Ericksen, chairwoman of the Ethical Practices Board, after a meeting Wednesday.

The board's recommendation will ask the council and mayor to review the full process, from how openings on advisory commissions are posted to who conducts candidate interviews and how the city ensures its applicants represent a broad spectrum of the citizenship, said Annie Henderson, a board member.

The city's board appointment process has been under scrutiny since the appointment of the Heart of the City Public Advisory Committee, a joint commission between the city of Rochester and Destination Medical Center Corp.

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City residents held a rally in the rotunda of Rochester City Hall prior to a city council meeting May 2 and in public comments at the meeting asked for process changes that would lead to a more diverse pool of representatives on local advisory bodies.

City council member Michael Wojcik also balked at the appointment of Taylor Ridderbusch to the Heart of the City committee. Ridderbusch is public affairs director for Rochester Area Builders and a state-registered lobbyist.

Wojcik had submitted a question to the ethical practices board on whether a lobbyist could be appointed to a public advisory board. There was no formal complaint or allegation of wrongdoing against Ridderbusch, noted Ericksen.

The ethical practices board did not make any specific determination in response to Wojcik's question but would pursue some clarification on its bylaws. It sought to have that question included in the letter to be sent to the Rochester City Council.

City Attorney Terry Adkins, who will assist in drafting the letter, said the board could seek an ordinance amendment to make it clear that a conflict of interest only applies when a lobbyist participates in a matter that he or she is or intends to become involved in on behalf of a private interest.

"In other words, instead of a blanket conflict-of-interest disqualification, each case should be analyzed on the facts of that case," Adkins wrote in an email to the Post-Bulletin.

The board will review a draft of its letter to the council on Monday. The council also meets Monday at 7 p.m.
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear and windy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 49F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear and windy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 49F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
ST. PAUL  Minnesotans hoping to be able to pick up a six-pack at the liquor store on Sundays are out of luck.

The Minnesota House rejected a measure that would have allowed municipalities to decide whether to allow local liquor stores to open on Sundays. It failed by a vote of 70 to 56. Minnesota is one of 12 states in the nation that does not allow off-sale liquor sales on Sundays.

Supporters of the push to allow Sunday sales argue that the state's law is antiquated and dates back to the prohibition era. They argue that Sundays are one of the busiest shopping days of the week, and consumers should have the option of buying liquor on that day.

"This is America. People are supposed to be able to shop on the day they want to shop," said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester.

But critics argue that the change would hurt mom and pop liquor stores who are already struggling to compete with big box retailers. Byron Republican Rep. Duane Quam said he talked to local business owners, and they oppose Sunday sales.

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"In my district, they don't support this," Quam said.

A long history of defeat

Thursday's failed vote on Sunday liquor sales is just the latest in a long string of legislative defeats for the idea. Several groups with a heavy lobbying presence at the Capitol are opposed to the measure. They include the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, the Minnesota Beer Wholesalers Association and Teamsters Joint Council 32.

In the past, supporters of Sunday sales have had little presence at the Capitol, but that has changed. Some organizations have been created to push for the issue, including The MN Consumers First Alliance, a coalition of Minnesotans and businesses that back Sunday sales.

Supporters of Sunday sales vowed to put a spotlight on the issue during the upcoming November elections.

"With all 201 legislative seats up for election this year, we intend to keep raising Sunday sales and applying consumer pressure throughout the campaigns right through the election," the MN Consumers First Alliance said in a statement.

Meanwhile, groups opposing the measure praised lawmakers for standing in solidarity with small business owners.

"Weakening our alcohol laws to allow liquor stores to open on any day of the year sounds simple on the surface, but it's not. There would be an enormous negative impact  including higher prices for liquor stores and consumers  to both the bar and liquor store industries," Jennifer Schoenzeit, president of the Licensed Beverage Association, said in a statement.

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A tough vote for some

Two southeast Minnesota lawmakers  Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, and Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, switched their vote from a year ago to vote in favor of allowing liquor stores to be open on Sundays.

Bennett said the Sunday liquor store vote was one of the toughest so far in her legislative career. She said her local liquor stores oppose the measure because they are concerned about the additional overhead costs associated with being open on Sundays. That's why she voted against the measure last year. But this year, she said she got emails from at least 30 constituents asking her to support Sunday sales. Philosophically, she said she believes government should not dictate when a business can or cannot be open.

"As a legislator, I have to weigh all the different viewpoints and make the best decision I can for my district, and that's what I did. But it was not easy," Bennett said.

While plenty of issues at the Capitol are partisan, Sunday liquor sales is not one of them. Democrats and Republicans can be found on both sides of the issue.

Mazeppa Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski blamed well-financed special interest groups for blocking Sunday liquor sales. He said Minnesota consumers have made clear they want to have the option to buy alcohol on Sundays.

"They realize that we need to end this last fragment of prohibition because the fact remains that it makes no more sense to prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays than it does to prohibit mangoes on Mondays, tangerines on Tuesdays and watermelons on Wednesdays," Drazkowski said.

Fellow Republican Rep. Greg Davids views it differently. The Preston lawmaker said that if the measure passed, small town liquor stores would be pressured into being open on Sundays.

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"The owners of municipals and small liquor stores are very united," Davids said. "They like having Sundays off, and they see no reason why we should spread six days worth of sales over seven days."
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Southeast Minnesota has given up a lot in the way of budget compromises. It's time to invest in our future.

The Minnesota Legislature's regular session ends May 23. Senate Republicans failed to pass a bonding bill by one vote. Our own senator, Jeremy Miller, voted no. This bonding bill included a provision for $3.6 million to fund necessary safety improvements for the Lanesboro Dam.

Only one republican, Carla Nelson, of Rochester, voted yes. She told the Post-Bulletin she voted yes to support her constituents and advocate for area projects the bill would have funded. She gets it!

Rep. Greg Davids has told us we need to re-elect him because he has the power to fund our much-needed infrastructure projects. Yet, he fails to follow through on his promises. Can he explain why the House has still failed to produce its own detailed plan? How can Davids assure us that the Republicans' reduced budget is going to best serve our communities?

We've already lived with cuts to local government aid, education and infrastructure and transportation projects. Reduced budgets do not reduce needs. With a strong economy in Minnesota and a surplus; it's time to investment in Minnesota communities.

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It's time for Greg Davids to produce on the promises he makes every election cycle. In the words of a friend, "Greg Davids: all hat, no cattle."

Erika Haugerud

Preston
Three-quarters of the Power Line team met in person last night at a disclosed location (Johns kitchen) in Apple Valley, Minnesota, which happens about as often as a Halleys Comet flyby. (Paul is still in seclusion over in Eastern Europe hoping the whole Trump thing is just some kind of practical joke.) Here you can see the team hard at work in our makeshift newsroom, getting ready to have some incredible, amazing Trump steaks:

After a dinner where we naturally came up with multiple brilliant ideas (though that might have been the really fine red wine talking), we fired up the newsroom again to discover a massive Charter internet outage had taken down most of the midwest. So we did the only sensible thing at that point. We all went to bed.

We actually taped a rogue podcast (and shot some video!), which we hope to have up later today or tomorrow. And now that Ive finished writing my long suffering book (not half as much long suffering as readers next springheh), Ill get back to producing more custom video content for the site, and special reports for our VIP members.
Things got interesting in court on Wednesday. Having seated the jurors at the end of the day on Tuesday, Judge Davis began the trial by reading the indictment and charging the jury on protocol. He then invited the parties to make their opening statements. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Winter gave the opening statement on behalf of the government, previewing the evidence that the prosecutors will introduce to support their case.

The opening statement is to preview the evidence that the jury will hear during trial; it is not the occasion for argument. Winter summarized the case: This is a case about a group of men who sought to travel to Syria to kill for ISIL. Speaking for about an hour, Winter used slides and videos to illustrate his presentation. I found a few items of particular interest to stand out. They went by quickly and my notes notes are imperfect, but here is what I heard.

The three remaining defendants were part of the group to which Winter referred. They were inspired by other Minnesota men who had made it to Syria to join ISIS and take up the jihad. Let me add here that when it comes to contributing foreign fighters to ISIS, were number one. Minnesota leads the country in men who have attempted to leave the United States to join ISIS, or who have done so. That is according to the House Homeland Security report published in September 2015. MPRs Mukhtar Ibrahim, Laura Yuen and Sasha Aslanian profile several of the Minnesota men in Called to fight: Minnesotas ISIS recruits.

Abdi Nur was part of the group seeking to leave Minnesota to join ISIS. He left Minnesota in May 2014 and made it to Syria. His communications with defendants in Minnesota had not previously been disclosed to my knowledge.

Winter referred to Nurs communications with defendant Guled Omar. According to a conversation recorded by a government informant (one of the group who began cooperating with the FBI in early 2015) with Omar, Nur urged Omar to kill 16 pilots in Minnesota who had opposed ISIS in Syria. Nur allegedly provided a list of the pilots to Omar. Omar declined to take up the instructions because it could be easily tracked back.

Winter highlighted the aspirations of defendant Guled Omar. If he made it to Syria via Mexico, Omar aspired to help ISIS fighters travel back from Syria through Mexico to the United States. Imagine what they could do, Omar was recorded as saying. They could do crazy damage. I swear to god we have a big opportunity. ISIS fighters would blend in with the crowd: They already look Mexican.

If they were intercepted in the United States, defendant Mohamed Farah dreamed of killing the agent who stopped them. Referring to the FBI, Farah asserted: Im going to kill the one [that threatens us]. Everybody has that fed.

Defendant Abdirahman Daud was in contact with ISIS. He received a set of detailed instructions on the route to take to Syria via Mexico and Turkey. Winter flashed the instructions on the court monitor.

Shortage of funds is never a consideration in their plans. Money appears as needed to fund their planned travel. I will be keeping an eye out for money and Mexico.

Defense counsel made their opening statements after lunch. The governments case features one former member of the group who turned government informant and was paid for his services, one Abdirahman Bashir. The governments case also features the testimony of two of the group who have pleaded guilty. They all have deals with the government to secure their cooperation. Defense counsel attacked the credibility of the informant and the two men who have pleaded guilty.

This is standard stuff and it may or may not be effective. The best lawyer in the courtroom is Bruce Nestor, representing Daud.

Nestor stated that Daud is deeply religious. Daud is an observant Muslim. Nestor paid tribute to Islam as one of the great monotheistic religions, though ISIS may have gone off the rails with it. According to Nestor, the group of 30 or so Somalis of which Daud was a part constituted a sort of Syria study group. He implied that Daud had sought to join ISIS in Syria to contribute to the beneficent aspects of the caliphate ISIS has declared, horrific as that may be (or words to that effect). The group doesnt prove he was a member of a conspiracy. Moreover, Daud was a talker, not a doer.

Nestor focused intensely on Bashir. The defense of entrapment is limited and difficult to establish. Nestor referred to Bashirs efforts to ensnare Daud by planning the travel to Syria in early 2015 that led to Dauds arrest in California. Bashir pushed forward otherwise haphazard and fruitless plotting. Contrary to the most serious charge against him, Daud did not conspire to commit murder in Syria. Dauds mind was a stew of conflicting desires and intents.

I will omit mention of the statements offered by attorneys Murad Mohammad and Glenn Bruder on behalf of Mohamed Farah and Guled Omar, respectively. I am less interested in whether the defendants are ultimately convicted than in the evidence of the terror threat that is manifest in the governments evidence. Star Tribune reporter Stephen Montemayor provides a coherent account of the opening statements here.

The government called its first three witness. When Judge Davis adjourned at the end of the day, Charles Lister had just begun to testify as an expert on ISIS. Lister is a fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington. He will take the stand again first thing this morning.
The Wall Street Journal has an article out in the last hour about the latest Clinton scandal:

Clinton Charity Aided Clinton Friends By James V. Grimaldi HASTINGS, Neb.The Clinton Global Initiative, which arranges donations to help solve the worlds problems, . . .

Oh just stop right there. [W]hich arranges donations to help solve the worlds problems is the best bit of droll comedy writing Ive seen in a long time in a straight new story. Who needs to be president when you can solve the worlds problems by arranging donations?

Anyway, it seems the Clintons arranged a $2 million commitment from the Clinton Foundation to benefit a private company run by friends of the Clintons, and it involves that problem-solving industryclean energy!

Energy Pioneer Solutions was founded in 2009 by Scott Kleeb, a Democrat who twice ran for Congress from Nebraska. An internal document from that year showed it as owned 29% by Mr. Kleeb; 29% by Jane Eckert, the owner of an art gallery in Pine Plains, N.Y.; and 29% by Julie Tauber McMahon of Chappaqua, N.Y., a close friend of Mr. Clinton, who also lives in Chappaqua.

And here is Ms. McMahon, who looks very much like the kind of problem solver that Bill Clinton especially likes to help out:

Meanwhile, like so many green energy investments, this one didnt work out so well:

Energy Pioneer Solutions has struggled to operate profitably. It lost more than $300,000 in 2010 and another $300,000 in the first half of 2011, said records submitted for an Energy Department audit. Mr. Kleeb noted that losses are common at startups.

Losses are common at startups especially if theyre green energy startups. When are we going to start calling such projects by a more accurate name: red energy?

And if Hillary is elected president, my early bid says that the Clinton Foundation and its friends will see their donations to solve the worlds problems balloon to over $1 billion by the end of Madam Presidents first year in office is over.
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday hailed the federal Governments decision to liberalise the downstream sector of the petroleum, which effectively brought the removal of fuel subsidy form the countrys petroleum pricing template.

The Director General of the Chamber, Muda Yusuf, said in Lagos that considering the serious transparency issues that characterised the management of the fuel subsidy regime, it was inevitable that the decision had to be taken to create a level playing field for all consumers.

Mr. Yusuf said over-regulation of the downstream petroleum sector had resulted in acute constraints that the country had been facing, pointing out that the subsidy regime had put enormous pressure on government finances and the countrys foreign reserves.

According to the LCCI boss, it was long evident that the fuel subsidy policy choice was not sustainable, pointing out that the decision by the government to review and liberalize the sector was in the long-term interest of the economy and the people.

There are two components of the fuel subsidy phenomenon. The first is the actual subsidy, which is the differential between the pump price and the landing and other costs of fuel. The second [and more disturbing component] is the blatant corruption inherent in the fuel subsidy regime, Mr. Yusuf said.

He said for decades, the countrys economy had been bleeding from the corruption inherent in the subsidy phenomenon, with subsidy payments running into trillions of Naira.

In an economy with huge deficit in economic and social infrastructures, it was simply scandalous to sustain that kind of subsidy regime. It is in the overall interest of the economy and citizens for it to be discontinued, he said.

One of the critical elements of the oil and gas sector reform, particularly the downstream sector, he explained, was the complete deregulation of the sector that would bring a lot of benefits to the economy.

The deregulation policy, he noted, would free resources for investment in critical infrastructures in the power, roads, the rail systems, health and education sectors to improve productivity and efficiency in the economy, while impact positively on the welfare of the people.

Besides, he said the policy would boost private investment in the downstream oil sector, especially in petroleum product refining, adding that the ultimate benefit would be the reduction in the importation of petroleum products to ease the pressure on the foreign exchange market as well as foreign reserves.

Again he said the removal of fuel subsidy would eliminate the rampant patronage, rent seeking activities and corruption that characterise the downstream oil sector; eliminate fuel queues; guarantee products availability and create more jobs opportunities for Nigerians in the downstream oil sector.

To ensure the success of the new policy, Mr. Yusuf said the current foreign exchange policy needs to be urgently reviewed to improve liquidity and transparency in the foreign exchange market.

Only a limited success will be achieved if the current rigidities in the management of the foreign exchange market persist, he said.
Lawmakers in the Congress of the United States of America may soon vote on a bill that will allow President Barack Obama and his government to set aside all or part of Abacha loot recovered in the U.S. for victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who represents the 18th District of Texas, is sponsoring a bill, H.R. 528, which will allow the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to use money from the recovered Abacha loot that is in its

custody to provide relief for families of the abducted Chibok girls, PREMIUM TIMES correspondent in Washington reported.

Speaking on Wednesday (May 11) at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the U.S. role in helping Nigeria confront Boko Haram and other threats in Northern Nigeria, Ms. Jackson Lee sought the Committees support for H.R. 528.

I have HR 528 which I would like to bring to the Committees attention, she said, giving the title of the bill as Victims of Terror Protection Act and added that it deals with the Abacha loot which the DOJ has.

Ms. Jackson Lee was one of 10 people who spoke at the hearing, including one of the Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram terrorists on the night they were kidnapped.

The Congresswoman, who visited Nigeria on a fact-finding mission a few weeks after the kidnapping, said the bill was motivated by the plight of the families of the kidnapped girls and that the intention was to create relief fund for them and other victims.

When we were in Nigeria two years ago, families were still in pain, they are still in limbo, she said, adding Boko Haram has killed Muslims, Christians and others, theyve killed and burned mosques and churches and homes and schools.

She said while the overall question remained what we can do to bring the girls back, there are broken families out there and she believed the DOJ can begin to utilize that money asap to provide the relief these

families desperately need.

The U.S. was one of the earliest destinations late Sani Abacha and his family chose for their illegally acquired wealth.

Mohammed Abacha and his late brother, Ibrahim, opened accounts with Citibank, New York, in 1992 using the aliases Chinquinto, Gelsobella and Navarrio.

Three years later, they opened a business account with the name Morgan Procurement. The Abachas gave a US-French citizen, named Alain Ober, power of attorney over their New York and London bank accounts.

By 1999 when a U.S. Senate Committee began investigating Abacha loot, the accounts had recorded more than $110 million transactions including $47 million that passed through the New York accounts within six months and $37 million found in one account in 1995.

Mr. Ober and other officials of Citibank testified before the U.S. Senate back in 1999, admitting to moving money for the Abachas but claiming that they were not aware of their clients true identity.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed the commitment of his administration to create a public registry of beneficial owners of companies in Nigeria.

The Presidents promise followed a PREMIUM TIMES publication of the names of 106 Nigerians and firms who own companies and assets in offshore tax havens.

The revelation is part of the biggest data leak in history now known as the PanamaPapers.

The leaked database contained the internal data of Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, which was obtained by German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitunge, and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with PREMIUM TIMES and other media organizations around the world.

The Presidents commitment alongside other far-reaching measures to combat corruption and improve transparency was contained in the countrys draft statement during the anti-corruption summit in London on Thursday.

Mr. Buhari said to enhance transparency in assets ownership, his administration would establish a public central register of beneficial owners of companies.

Suggesting that the process of creating the register was already underway, Mr. Buhari said the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Bill he sent to the national assembly in February defined beneficial ownership in line with the expectations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Established in 1989, the FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

We are committed to implementing bilateral arrangements that will ensure law enforcement in one partner country has full and effective access to the beneficial ownership information of companies incorporated in the other partner country, Mr Buhari said.

The president explained that his government had already taken steps to improve transparency in companies involved in the procurement of properties and public contracts.

We are taking steps to ensure transparency of the ownership and control of all companies involved in property purchase and public contracting. Nigeria is already collating this information through the Extractive Industry Initiative process and would extend it to other sectors, he wrote.

Nigeria will establish a transparent central register of foreign companies bidding on public contracts and buying property.

As a member of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), Mr Buhari said Nigeria was already allowing better disclosure of companies in the extractive sector as required by EITI.

Nigeria is already reporting progress through the EITI working groups and will continue to work with interested countries to build a common understanding and strengthen the evidence for transparency in this area, he said.

The President said Nigeria was committed to restricting the ability of people involved in corruption to travel and do business overseas.

He said the restrictions would be imposed when there is a conviction or publicly available information showing their involvement in grand corruption.

Asset recovery

Mr Buhari told the audience that Nigeria was working towards strengthening its asset recovery laws.

Part of the mechanism the government is planning to introduce to buffer the recovery of assets laws include the non-conviction based confiscation and the introduction of unexplained wealth order, Mr. Buhari said.

The President also promised better and more transparent management of returned assets.

He added, Nigeria has limited powers under the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act, 2000 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 to recover stolen assets. In order to improve on the current legal procedures and ease asset recovery procedures, Nigeria has drafted the Proceeds of Crime Bill. The Proceeds of Crime Bill will provide for transparent management of returned assets and non-conviction based approach to asset recovery.

We commit to developing internationally endorsed guidelines for the transparent and accountable management of returned stolen assets.

We will develop common principles governing the payment of compensation to the countries affected, (including payments from foreign bribery cases) to ensure that such payments are made safely, fairly and in a transparent manner, he said.
British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was being honest when he told Queen Elizabeth II and other British leaders that Nigeria is a fantastically corrupt country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

In an interview he granted CNN in London, Mr. Buhari said Mr. Cameron was talking about what he knows adding that no one should fault the British leader. The interview aired Thursday 7pm Nigerian time.

Asked by the interviewer, Christian Amanpour, to react to what Mr. Cameron said, Mr. Buhari said: Well, I think hes being honest about it.

Hes talking about what he knows, about the two of us, Afghanistan and Nigeria, and by what were doing in Nigeria by the day, I dont think you can fault him. I hope he did not address the press. He said it privately and somehow you got to know it.

In a similar interview with the BBC in London on the same day, Mr. Buhari repeated that Mr. Cameron was talking about what he knew.

If you look at what this governmentI mean the government I am headingwe campaigned on citizen security, economy, unemployment and then fight against corruption and what I have uncovered since he came in has proved he was right, Mr. Buhari told BBCs Clive Myrie.

Before the two interviews, Mr. Buhari had responded Yes to journalists when asked if Nigeria is a fantastically corrupt country as he made his way to the venue of the anti-corruption summit that is currently underway in England.

Nigerians react

Mr. Buharis comment has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians.

Foreign policy experts who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the president had committed a huge foreign policy blunder.

Sat Obiyan, a foreign policy expert at Obafemi Awolowo University, said Mr. Buharis comment reflects the extent of his exposure.

This president is creating more damage for the country every time he travels abroad, he goes out of his way to paint his country black, Mr. Obiyan said. I think it is impolitic for this president to go abroad and continue to lambaste his country as terrible.

Mr. Obiyan, Head of Political Science Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University, further stated that, nobody says the president should go abroad and be telling lies, when hes in Nigeria, he could make a point about corruption in Abuja or Lagos, but when he goes abroad he should make the point less. He could have made his point diplomatically to avoid this foreign policy blunder, which is huge.

Chris Ngwodo, a foreign policy analyst, admitted that the presidents statement was bad but said it was unlikely to carry much impact because Nigeria is already stereotyped internationally as a corrupt country.

The president cannot be properly outraged about what David Cameron said because hed said something similar two months ago in an interview with the UK Telegraph. Youll remember the president saying Nigerians are criminals in that interview. So the president has been painting Nigeria black at the international stage for a while, Mr. Ngwodo said.

Mr. Ngwodo, however, argued that the fact that Mr. Buhari is perceived as an honest man could make it easier for the international community to engage Nigeria.

I also think his comment was a very apt response, because it exposed the hypocrisy of Mr. Cameron and the British people. The president made it clear that they are also corrupt because theyre hiding our loot.

Mr. Cameron was caught on camera ridiculing Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country on Tuesday afternoon.

In the short footage, published by British broadcaster, ITV News, Mr. Cameron told the British monarch that Nigeria and Afghanistan are two of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Mr. Camerons comment was published just as President Muhammadu Buhari departed Nigeria Tuesday to attend an anti-corruption summit organised by the UK government to be held in London on Thursday.

Mr. Cameron was briefing the Queen on the notoriety of countries expected to attend the summit during an event at the Buckingham Palace to celebrate the monarchs 90th birthday, ITV News reported.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, however, said Mr. Buhari is not a corrupt person.

But this particular president is actually not corrupt, the religious leader said. Oh yes, hes trying very hard this one.

In an earlier statement, the Nigerian presidency said it was embarrassed by Mr. Camerons comment.

The Afghan government rejected Mr. Camerons label, describing it as unfair.

A statement released by that countrys government on Tuesday said:

We have made important progress in fighting systematic capture in major national procurement contracts and are making progress on addressing institutional issues as well as issues related to impunity.

Therefore calling Afghanistan in that way and taking bold decisions by NUG is unfair.
Musa Usman Secretariat, the largest state government administrative complex in the northeast region, came under attack on Thursday as a female suicide bomber blew herself up, killing a police officer and injuring 19 others, officials and eyewitnesses said.

A witness, Musa DanYobe, said the young woman was already making her way into the Secretariat Complex, when a vigilant police officer tried to stop her for questioning.

The bomb went off as the police man was talking to her, said DanYobe. She and the policeman died and many people mostly those around the gate were seriously injured.

The source said the incident occurred at about 12.20pm.

The chairman of State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Satomi, confirmed the attack. Speaking at the scene of the blast, he said that two persons died and 19 others were injured and have been rushed to the hospital.

The attack was the first time Musa Usman Secretariat would be targeted since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency.

At the height of the insurgency in 2009, Borno state government decided to lock up two of the three entry and exit gates leaving only the main gate that was since manned by armed security personnel.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) were playing Nigerians Advanced Fee Fraud with the removal of fuel subsidy and increment of pump price from N86.50 to N145 per litre, describing the increment as wickedness taken too far.

Was the federal government paying up to N58.50 as subsidy on one litre of petrol before now? Mr. Fayose asked.

Governor Fayose, who reiterated his call on Nigerians, especially the labour movement to resist what he called this wicked act of President Buhari and his party, added that; those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest must not be allowed to get away with this imposition of hardship on Nigerians now that they are in power.

He said labour unions, civil society organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians should stand up and be counted at this crucial time in the life of the common people of Nigeria, adding that there is no justification for the increment at this period when government is not paying salaries regularly, Nigerians are losing their jobs

daily, prices of foodstuffs have gone over the roof and life has become so difficult for the common people. To labour Nigerians with this increment is wickedness taken too far!

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; In 2012 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per barrel. How then can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $40 per barrel?

It is on record that on May 2 this year, the federal government, in the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Template released in Abuja, told Nigerians that it was subsidising petrol at N12.62 per litre.

If as at May 2, petrol was being subsidised at N12.62 per litre, and now that the subsidy of N12.62 has been removed, what ought to have been added to the N86.50 pump price should be N12.62, which would have increased pump price to N99.12 per litre.

Increasing petrol pump price by N58.50 when the federal government claimed it was subsidising the product at N12.62 per litre is clear political 419, which is aimed at further impoverishing Nigerians as the government will be making profit of N45.88 on each litre of petrol bought by Nigerians.

How can any government with human feelings attempt to make profit of N45.88 per litre on Nigerians, who are no longer getting their salaries regularly? How can Buhari and his party impose another N45.88 per litre levy on Nigerians who are already facing severe hardship? This is wickedness!

Speaking further, Governor Fayose said there was no justification for the removal of subsidy and increment of petrol pump price to N145 per litre now that crude oil price is $40 per barrel when the same product was increased to N141 per litre in 2012 when crude oil was $111 per barrel.

While describing President Buhari as a hypocrite, the governor said; Nigerians should be reminded that the president once said that petrol subsidy never existed and that it was a fraud. How then can the same President Buhari tell us that he has removed the same subsidy he claimed never existed?

The reality is that these people lied to Nigerians too much. They made promises they knew they wont fulfil just to get to power. Now they are showing Nigerians their true colours. They are showing Nigerians that they have come to punish them with hardship.

Buhari and his APC promised to reduce petrol pump price to from N87 to N45 per litre; petrol is now N145. They promised to create three million jobs per year; they have instead created millions of unemployment. They said $1 will be equal to N1; $1 is now N320. They promised to create better live for Nigerians, they have instead created hardship by making prices of basic commodities to skyrocket through their lack of policy direction.
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Thursday granted a prosecutions request for a private questioning of Ese Oruru, the underage girl who was taken from Bayelsa to marry and convert to Islam in Kano.

Orurus alleged abductor, Yunusa Dahiru, is being tried on a five-count charge that includes criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.

The Judge, Aliya Nganjiwa, who granted the application, adjourned the matter to June 2.

Mr. Nganjiwa said after a careful observation of the application, he had decided that the girls testimony to be given behind closed doors.

I premise the ruling of the court on the provision of section 36 subsections 4 (a) and (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The evidence of Ese Oruru will be taken in private and in chambers, excluding all other persons other than the prosecution, the accused defendant counsels, top prison officials and any other if the accused person does not object.

It is only the evidence of the victim, Ese Oruru, that will be taken in private while the main trial will be in open court; the defence counsel have failed to show what injury or harm the accused person, Yunusa Dahiru will suffer on account of private hearing, he said.

The prosecuting counsel, Kenneth Dike, said he was delighted with the ruling.

We are sitting for the constitutional right of the victim, Ese Oruru, and we want fair trial for the interest of justice, he said.

The defense counsel, Kayode Olaosebikan, described the decision of the court as nothing unusual.

On Yunusas bail conditions, Mr. Olaosebikan said they were having challenges to meet the conditions, and disclosed that they had filed a motion to the court to review the bail conditions.

The court is asking us to bring sureties who are residents in Yenagoa; so, it has been very difficult and challenging to us to bail Yunusa, he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, secured the conviction of Babatunde Abisuga, a former accountant at the Federal Civil Service Commission, who was prosecuted on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and forgery.

Mr. Abisuga was tried before Justice Maryann Anennih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

He was arraigned alongside Mohammed Ndakupe and Hassan Mohammed Tukur (now late) on April 3, 2012 on a 12-count charge which they pleaded not guilty to.

Mr. Abisuga, through his counsel, M. A. Ebute, later prayed the court to allow him explore the option of plea bargain since the money had been recovered in full and handed over to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Justice Anennih granted his prayers and the prosecution in consideration of the request amended the charge.

When re-arraigned, Mr. Abisuga pleaded guilty to the 5-count amended charge.

Justice Anennih, in her judgment convicted and sentenced him to three months imprisonment on counts one and two and 6 months imprisonment on counts 5, 6 and 7 without option of fine.

The conviction is not to punish but to reform the accused person and to deter the public from the get quick rich syndrome, Justice Anennih added.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Meanwhile, the judge adjourned to June 7, 2016 for continuation of trial on the charges against the second accused person (Ndakupe) who pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued detention since last October.

Mr. Kanu is accused, along with two others, Benjamin Madubgwu and James Nwawuisi, of treason.

He has been in the custody of the State Security Service since he was arrested on October 14, 2015.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Mr. Kanus lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said President Muhammadu Buharis comments have contributed to Mr. Kanu being denied bail by the same court that granted him bail in December 2015.

After Kanu was granted bail on December 17, the president was heard saying at the presidential media chart that he will not leave the prison cell, for any reason. That bail was made known to Federal Government on 18th December 2015 but they failed to grant the bail, the lawyer said.

Only few days ago, he also went into the issue of whether or not Mr. Kanu should be granted bail when he visited Katsina.

Having taken him to the court, they should allow the court of law to determine the matter, Mr. Ejiofor stated.

He added that the matter which has been taken before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, is aimed at addressing the abuse of Mr. Kanus rights.

Citing article 9 (2) and (3) of the Community Court of Justice Act, Mr. Ejiofor said his client reserves the right to seek redress where an abuse of fundamental rights has been detected at any stage of a case already in a federal court of law.

Once there is violation of human rights, the ECOWAS court has to prevail, he said.

Also speaking, a member of Mr. Kanus legal team, Okere Kingdom, said IPOB has filed a complain at the community court to seek damages for the lives of those lost during rallies by its members, after they were attacked by military men.

On February 19, 2016 officers from the Nigerian Military killed over 50 harmless members of IPOB who gathered in Aba, Abia state, in secondary school to pray for their leader whose trial was scheduled to come up on that day.

This is in addition to about 13 others during a similar gathering, said Mr. Kingdom.

He said IPOB has launched a formal complaint for damages and N100 million to be paid to each family of deceased IPOB members while N50 million damages is demanded for injured members of the group.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has appealed for calm a day after the federal government scrapped fuel subsidy and increased the price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 a litre.

Mr. El-Rufai was a prominent voice against a similar policy in 2012 when the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan announced the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant petrol price increase.

The announcement, Wednesday, by the minister of state for petroleum, Ibeh Kachikwu, has generated controversy.

Many Nigerians have condemned the price hike, and have questioned the sincerity of politicians who opposed the policy in the past, but, as members of the present administration, are in support of the latest decision.

In what appeared his first response, through a Kaduna State government statement, Mr. El-Rufai urged calm and praised the orderly response of Kaduna people to the new policy.

The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm. It commends the people for the orderly response to the fuel price adjustment by the Federal Government, and requests their continued patience for the supply of petroleum products to improve, the statement said.

The governor also spoke about the arrest of beggars in the state.

Mr. El-Rufai said the prohibition of begging law will not take effect until after 60 days.

The statement added that it is the police that is currently undertaking arrests within Kaduna as part of security operations directed by the Inspector General of Police.

The Kaduna State Government has not directed the police to enforce the begging law, which is not due to come into force yet. Malam Nasir El-Rufai has repeatedly stated that rehabilitation opportunities would be offered for the disabled. The State Executive Council has just approved a Disability Policy, which is a necessary precursor to the drafting of any bill or other measures to promote the rights of the disabled.

However, the Kaduna State Government is not in a position to impede security operations that are adjudged necessary by the security agencies.

As part of preparations for the regional security summit, the Police Commands of States within the neighbourhood of Abuja which includes Kaduna, Niger and Nasarawa states and the FCT, are undertaking security operations. This includes actions to remove street beggars, hawkers and all abandoned vehicles along the major roads.

These police actions have nothing to with the Kaduna State Government. The government is engaging with the police on behalf of all residents of the state, including the disabled, for a proper management of the situation, the statement said.
The Kano State Police command has arrested 18 suspects in connection with the protest which led to the destruction of Senator Kabiru Gayas residence in Gaya Local Government area of Kano state on Wednesday.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Wednesday that the suspects were apprehended during the violence.

He disclosed that the state Police Commissioner, Maigari Dikko, who visited the area ordered the arrest of five others believed to be the mastermind of the protest.

We have arrested 18 suspects and they are now assisting us in our investigations.

Similarly, the commissioner has ordered the arrest of five others identified as masterminds of the protest, he said.

According to him, the commissioner ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to enhance security in the area.

He added that the police commissioners had visited the families of the affected politicians where he sympathized with them.

Mr. Majiya said as soon as investigation was completed, the suspects would be prosecuted.

NAN recalls that some angry youths had on Wednesday set ablaze the personal residence of Senator Kabiru Gaya and vandalized the poultry farm of House of Representatives member from the area, Abdullahi Mahmoud. (NAN).
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) will on May 12 and 13 deliberate on the new pump price announced by Federal Government.

Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to him, it is too early to make any official statement until the two bodies meet to deliberate on the matter.

He said that the meeting would discuss the new development and come out with a stand on the matter.

Mr. Korodo, however, said no official of the two oil workers labour unions was authorised to speak on the new pump price as announced by the government.

NAN reports that the Federal Government on May 11, announced a new price regime for petrol with the highest price of N145 per litre.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) said in Abuja that the new price regime had taken effect from May 11.

The NNPC, however, advised its retail stations on the outskirts of major cities to sell at prices lower than N145 per litre. (NAN)
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has criticized a Nasarawa State senator, Abdullahi Adamu, over his comments on government land ownership and herdsmen terrorism.

In a statement Wednesday, the ARG warned the Federal Government to handle the raging herdsmen clashes and attacks on communities with utmost sensitivity and justice.

Kunle Famoriyo, ARGs Publicity Secretary, said the group had just concluded a report based on a research into the herdsmen-farmers clashes, which will be forwarded to the Federal Government and National Assembly, adding that hardly was there a state in Nigeria, particularly, the 17 southern states, that had good tales about herdsmens activities.

Sadly, parochial and irresponsible statements, like Adamus, is the latest in a series of media reports in which herdsmen were absolved of their crimes against host communities and their demands advanced as of absolute rights, Mr. Famoriyo said.

Mr. Adamu, who spoke at a public hearing organized by the Joint Senate Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development and National Security and Intelligence on Tuesday, had said the nations Constitution guarantees freedom of movement and rights of Nigerians to live in any part of the country.

The senator was responding to participants who had opposed the idea of grazing reserve routes.

Nobody can stop the government from acquiring land anywhere in Nigeria. Government is government. If anybody thinks he is violent, government has monopoly of violence, Mr. Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) had said.

The ARG deplored the statement and cautioned government officials and political officers to be sensitive to the plight of victims of herdsmens terror by guarding their utterances.

The group said it was shocked by the Federal Governments claim that the herdsmen are foreigners and Boko Haram insurgents when there were verifiable data and reports showing that herdsmen terror predates Boko Haram insurgency.

Some reports dated as far back as the early 90s in parts of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State, where many farmers, for inexplicable reasons, have spent months in police detention in Abuja just because they protested the invasion of their farmlands by cows, led there by herdsmen, Mr. Famoriyo said.

Herdsmen have been labeled as militants in the Global Terrorism Index2015  due to their violent acts on defenseless Nigerians in agrarian communities, without any commensurate response from the security agencies.

If indeed they are foreigners, it is the duty of Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to ensure that non-Nigerians are denied the opportunity of making unlawful incursion into the country, irrespective of any affiliation, religious or political, that they may have with any part of Nigeria.

The statement noted that Nigerians are now aware that the proliferation of armed herdsmen indicates the potential of a people preparing to subjugate others.

Rather than assuage this fear by crushing the armed herdsmen, it is shocking that governments priority is to implement reforms that apparently favours them, the statement continued.

Herdsmen, like any people, entrepreneurs, and traders in Nigeria, should be free to live anywhere. However, if they need land for grazing, they should acquire it the same way other Nigerians [and foreigners] acquire land to live and operate their ventures  whilst they peacefully integrate into the host communities.
Today, May 12, is the second market day for Busan Contents Market 2016 at Bexco Exhibition Center, Busan, South Korea. According to the organization, there are 2,400 participants, being 60% of them buyers. The market, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary, concludes tomorrow, May 13.

Korean distributors are the stars, but there are also representatives from other countries, such us China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as ITV Studios (UK), Talpa (Netherlands) and Eccho Rights (Sweden), and two Latin American companies, Caracol TV International (Colombia) and Telefe International (Argentina). All them are here for the very first time, and have found at BCM a good business hub to explore.

It is also the first BCM for Prensario, who had the opportunity to see the best and most recent drama series from Korea. Leading companies KBS, MBC, SBS, CJ and JTBC use BCM platform to release their brand new dramas. The common denominator is romance stories, but there also are epic dramas, comedies and mystery.

KBS launches the love story Uncontrollably Fond (20x70), while MBC presents the period drama Flower of Prison (50x70). SBS exhibits the music series The Entertainer (16x70), while CJ the drama Dear My Friends (16x60) and JTBC the historical fantasy drama Secret Healer (20x70). It is a good selection of the wide offer of Korean dramas.

South East Asia buyers are very aware of the new releases from Korea and they are mostly buying romance series. Love stories always work well in our market, highlights Rachel Simon, head of acquisitions at ABS-CBN, the leading broadcaster in The Philippines. But we are also looking for mystery and suspense dramas.

Indonesian broadcasters used to program a good quantity of Korean dramas on prime time, but new competitors have appeared: First the local dramas, which are the top rated shows on TV. Second, Indian and Turkish series. We still buy Korean, but TV channels are placing them on day time. They continue to do very well, explains Sophie Djudzman, CEO of the distribution company Red Candle.

Cambodia is similar example, trying for new drama origins. In Sri Lanka, the national broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini TV Corporation is looking for all types of dramas, but must be originally produced in English, says M.A.L Priyankara, from the secretary programme procurement committee.

Korean dramas are being tested in Central Asian markets, as Pakistan or the CIS with good results. Buyers from Middle East and North Africa are in Busan looking for the best titles for their region. We still have not broadcast any series, as we mostly program Arabic content. But we are opened to see series that can fit our requests, says a buyer from Qatar.

Apart from Korea, the buyers have highlighted the quality production from Taiwanese series, whose companies are also promoting Virtual Reality content, as well as from Hong Kong and China. All these countries are well represented this BCM edition.

Drama series are the most requested genre from South Korea, but the country has a wide content offering. For instance, Arirang TV is promoting its high quality documentaries; Channel A, reality shows; and Grafizix new animation projects. They are a proof that there is much more to explore in this market.

Fabricio Ferrara, from Busan
There's nothing worse for parents than losing a child, and no danger to teen children greater than motor-vehicle crashes. That means the dramatic reduction in crashes involving New Jersey teens the past several years is great news - and convincing evidence that teen-driving initiatives work and deserve support.

In just four years, crashes in New Jersey involving teenagers have fallen 25 percent to 40,236 in 2014, the state reported recently.

A big improvement came from New Jersey's adoption in 2001 of a strong graduated-license program for teen drivers, which limits some well-known risks until they have had a year's experience behind the wheel. Fellow teen passengers are limited to one, which cuts the risk of a crash posed by having two or more distracting passengers by 80 percent. Driving late at night also is prohibited.

Other initiatives also have helped, such as Share the Keys orientations for parents and their teens. Those 90-minute sessions get parents involved in developing safe driving behaviors in their kids. School-based driver-education programs also are stronger, and some in the area use driving simulators provided by NJM Insurance.

Better still, as much as it might shock some of their elders to hear it, today's teenagers deserve a lot of credit themselves for being more responsible and better behaved.

They've reduced a lot of risky behaviors - smoking less, using alcohol less and doing fewer things that might lead to violence. That's the finding of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance over two decades.

U.S. teens cut in half their rate for currently smoking and to one third for frequently smoking from 1997 to 2013 - reversing an increase for the preceding several years. From 1991 to 2013, teens who drink alcohol dropped by about a third. In roughly the same period, the percentage of teens that had carried a weapon at least once the past month fell by about a third as well. The share of teens that had been in a fight the past year was nearly cut in half.

Better still, New Jersey's teenagers generally outperform their peers nationwide. Their rate of participation in these risky behaviors is substantially lower than U.S. teens overall, except for a slightly higher share of them using alcohol.

Sure, parents feel they can never reduce the risks for their kids (nor improve their behavior) enough.

But the next time someone complains about the communication or entertainment habits of youngsters these days, remember that they're outperforming the older generations making such complaints on a lot of the most important measures.

Our view
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.




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NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- While summer is one of the most enjoyable times of the year, it shouldn't be a time that your small business suffers. There are plenty of seasonal marketing opportunities that you can leverage, and in the latest article posted to PR Newswire's Small Business PR Toolkit, contributing author Jim Higgins offers four simple ways to boost your sales this summer:

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Summer referral program. Target your current customers by making them a limited-time offer. Offer an additional incentive if they refer new business and reward them accordingly.

Target your current customers by making them a limited-time offer. Offer an additional incentive if they refer new business and reward them accordingly. Host a free "Lunch & Learn" series. Single out a unique expertise of real value that you can share with your customers and organize this information into a series of 30-minute webinar sessions that can be delivered on a weekly basis.

Single out a unique expertise of real value that you can share with your customers and organize this information into a series of 30-minute webinar sessions that can be delivered on a weekly basis. Run a "We Miss You" campaign. Identify past customers that you haven't communicated with during the past three months and target these existing customers with a "We miss you, we want you back" message. Consider also including a limited-time offer for these special customers.

To read Higgins' remaining summer marketing strategy, visit his article here: http://bit.ly/24O9f6P.

PR Newswire's Small Business PR Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that provides small businesses and entrepreneurs the tools to develop an affordable public relations and marketing plan that helps generate interest from potential customers, engage with key audiences and grow their businesses. The toolkit features relevant content such as informative white papers, interactive webinars and how-to articles and premium access to educational resources, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of special offers designed specifically for small businesses. To request information on how PR Newswire can help your small business, click here. You can receive updates on new Small Business PR Toolkit content by following @prnsmallbiz on Twitter.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

Contact:

Amanda Eldridge

Director, Strategic Channels

201-360-6906

Amanda.eldridge@prnewswire.com

Related Links

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SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) is pleased to announce the appointment of C. James (Jim) Prieur to its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2016. The official appointment follows the signing of the Order in Council by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, AIMCo Chair, Mac Van Wielingen states, "We are very pleased with the recent appointment of Mr. Prieur to the AIMCo Board of Directors. Mr. Prieur is an accomplished finance executive who brings extensive experience to the Board. I, and my colleagues, look forward to welcoming Jim, and to working together to build upon AIMCo's commitment to our clients, and to continue to advance ourselves as a leading institutional investment manager."

Biographical Notes

C. James Prieur is a former Chief Executive Officer of CNO Financial Group, Inc. and has over 30 years of finance, investment management, risk management, and international business experience. Mr. Prieur served as Chief Executive Officer and director of CNO Financial Group, Inc. from 2006 until his retirement in 2011. CNO Financial Group is a life insurance holding company focused on the senior middle income market in the U.S. Prior to joining CNO Financial Group, Mr. Prieur had been with Sun Life Financial since 1979. He began his career at Sun Life Financial in Investments, and in 1997 he was named Senior Vice President and General Manager for U.S. operations, and became corporate President and Chief Operating Officer in 1999, a position Mr. Prieur occupied until he left Sun Life Financial to join CNO Financial Group. While at Sun Life Financial, Mr. Prieur managed multiple lines of business, including life, annuities, and health products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Asia.

He serves on the Board of Directors of Manulife Financial Corporation and Ambac Financial Group, Inc., as well as, the not-for-profit Music of the Baroque. In addition, he is a member of the President's Circle of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and The Pacific Council on International Policy.

Mr. Prieur is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School at Western University and a Bachelor of Arts from the Royal Military College of Canada.

About Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

AIMCo is one of Canada's largest and most diversified institutional investment managers with more than CDN$90 billion of assets under management. Established on January 1, 2008, AIMCo's mandate is to provide superior long-term investment results for its clients. AIMCo operates at arms-length from the Government of Alberta and invests globally on behalf of 26 pension, endowment and government funds in the Province of Alberta.

For more information, please visit http://www.aimco.alberta.ca

Media Contact: Denes Nemeth, Director, Corporate Communication, O: +1-780-392-3857, M: +1-780-932-4013, E: denes.nemeth@aimco.alberta.ca

SOURCE Alberta Investment Management Corp.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ABI Research, the leader in transformative technology innovation market intelligence, forecasts 2016 macrocell basestation spending will decline for the second year in a row, reaching US$48 billion, as operators shift CAPEX to network densification. Worldwide basestation spending will decline by two percent in 2016 and then by double digits each year thereafter.

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"The basestation spending decline means that CAPEX is shifting to less capital intensive solutions, including small cells, DAS, and Wi-Fi for densification," says Nick Marshall, Research Director at ABI Research. "While India will dominate spending in Asia-Pacific over the next few years, North America's 4G coverage is virtually complete as the region prepares for 5G along with Japan and South Korea."

The Asia-Pacific region is still the largest basestation market in 2016, but down from its 2015 peak as China completes its LTE rollout. North America will see the biggest declines as deployments for LTE coverage diminish. In 2015, Ericsson led the overall basestation market, followed by Huawei, Nokia Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, and ZTE. But those same companies will face challenges in the months ahead.

"As the 5G technology cycle gets underway, basestation vendors including Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia will face the challenge of replacing lost revenue in the short term," concludes Marshall. "While the early commercialization of 5G will certainly help to replace this lost revenue, it is not until well after 2020 that this contribution becomes meaningful. Basestation vendors must diversity to make up for this shortfall."

These findings are part of ABI Research's Network Market Tracker Service (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/service/network-market-tracker/), which includes research reports, market data, insights, and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info: Mackenzie Gavel Tel: +1.516.624.2542



pr@abiresearch.com

Related Links

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SOURCE ABI Research
LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The current tour of the global design award established by BE OPEN Foundation has come to its completion - on April 28th, at the amazing Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery BE OPEN announced and awarded the main winner of YOUNG TALENT AWARD as well as the winner in the 'Founder's choice' category.

The main prize of 16 000 Euro was awarded to the Otros Perez design studio based in Santiago de Chile. Founded and headed by Catalina and Jeronimo Perez the studio creates visual identities, graphics, communication strategies, websites, etc. The young designers have already cooperated with the Chilean Government, a number of Chilean universities and public organizations.

The main winner was selected by direct voting of the international jury consisting of acknowledged professors and designers Luisa Collina, Annabel Pretty, Umberto Tolino, Jose Allard, Fred Murrell.

Jenifer Wisler from Denver, the US, became the 'Founder's choice' winner and received the second prize of 5 000 Euro. The winner in that category gets named by BE OPEN Founder Yelena Baturina, an international businessperson and philanthropist. Jenifer is a communication designer and a graduate from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, she describes her work as "creating personable experiences that connect people" with the focus on craftsmanship.

The online voting for the YTA web choice winner (a 2000 Euro prize) is still in progress at BE OPEN's Facebook page. The winner will be chosen by Facebook users by simple majority of voices out of the 10 finalists previously selected by the jury.

Founder of BE OPEN Yelena Baturina: "It is a great pleasure to see so many young people passionate about design and eager to make design their profession. We have seen a lot of potential in the submissions from all over the world and hope that participation in BE OPEN Young Talent Award will give a step up in careers development not only to the winners, but also the shortlisted and long listed contestants - giving a talent more opportunities to change the way we live."

This tour of YOUNG TALENT AWARD has been implemented in partnership with CUMULUS International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media, curated by Luisa Collina. Cumulus is the only global association to serve art and design education and research, it consists currently of 226 members from 49 countries.

SOURCE Press Office for Yelena Baturina
SINGAPORE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Biosensors International Group, Ltd. ("Biosensors" or the "Company"), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative medical devices, today announced that it has entered into a strategic distribution agreement with Cardinal Health.

Through this distribution agreement, Biosensors will significantly increase the market coverage and penetration of its leading family of Drug Eluting Stents (DES) which include the innovative BioFreedom polymer-free drug coated stent (DCS) clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of High Bleeding Risk (HBR) patients; the market-proven BioMatrix NeoFlex and the recently introduced BioMatrix Alpha, a cobalt chromium DES with an abluminal bio-absorbable coating and the proprietary BA-9 Biolimus drug; and Chroma, a cobalt-chromium bare metal stent (BMS).

The agreement will initially enable Cordis, Cardinal Health's interventional vascular business, to sell Biosensors family of DES in various European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Over time, Biosensors and Cardinal Health will partner to further leverage their respective distribution capabilities in select regions.

"The agreement between Biosensors and Cardinal Health is an important milestone in our continuing strategy to deepen our market penetration and expand as well as diversify our product offering," said Jose (Pepe) Calle, Group CEO of Biosensors. "By working together we will be able to leverage our joint capabilities in delivering world-class breakthrough products including BioFreedom, as well as maximizing the increased market coverage and geographical footprint of the Biosensors and Cordis franchises."

Last year, Biosensors announced the exciting results of the LEADERS FREE clinical trial which confirmed the safety and efficacy of BioFreedom in one of the largest ever double-blind, randomized, clinical trials involving a DES. The data, which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine as the world's first prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial focusing on patients at high bleeding risk, demonstrated superior safety and efficacy for BioFreedom as compared to an uncoated BMS in patients who could tolerate only one month of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT)3.The LEADERS FREE trial included 2,466 patients across 68 sites in 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada and used the shortest course of DAPT ever used with an active stent.

"I am excited about the potential of the partnership," said Mr. Calle. "With our superior technologies, strong relationships with Physicians and Medical Practitioners as well as our positive partnership with the Healthcare community around the world I am confident that Biosensors is continuing to strengthen its position in the global cardiovascular care market."

Main Contact

David Chin

Tel: (65) 6213 5777

Email: ir@biosensors.com

About Biosensors International Group, Ltd.

Biosensors International Group, Ltd. develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices, aiming to improve patients' lives through pioneering medical technology that pushes forward the boundaries of innovation. Founded in 1990, we are a privately held company.

The Group currently operates through three business units ("BU"): the Cardiovascular BU, composed primarily of the BioMatrix family of drug-eluting stents and stent technologies such as BA9; the Cardiac Diagnostic BU, including Spectrum Dynamics products that offer advanced medical imaging and clinical solutions to help interventional cardiologists determine the most appropriate treatment for patients; and the Critical Care Products BU.

The Group has operations worldwide and is headquartered in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.biosensors.com.

Related Links

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SOURCE Biosensors International Group, Ltd.
Panel debate on Mega Trends at Frost & Sullivan's "Intelligent Mobility" event to discuss the changing role of the car as it increasingly incorporates services from other industries

LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In future, cars will not only remember as well as learn preferred routes and driving styles but also provide tools to monitor their users' health condition and provide additional in-car services. Health, wellness and well-being features will spread to cars. "Your everyday car commute will also be your health kiosk, with the car running a full diagnosis of your body," explains Sarwant Singh, Frost & Sullivan Senior Partner. This will make cars the next living space. They will serve as an extension of ourselves, our homes  or in the case of healthcare of our doctors. Allowing for health monitoring applications to be used, either via cloud, embedded or through devices which connect with the car, will prove to be the future central differentiation factor.

During its upcoming annual industry event "Intelligent Mobility", taking place on 29th of June at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London, Frost & Sullivan will offer a platform to meet and discuss the influence of Mega Trends on the mobility industry as well as explore possible synergies between different sectors. Mr. Singh will give the keynote speech highlighting the importance and range of different Mega Trends which have the potential to entirely alter the way cars are designed and used. "Cars will provide a variety of services - on your way to work, to the gym, to dinner  all without spending any of your personal time and while also driving largely autonomously," Mr Singh explains.

By 2025, vehicles will move from level 3 autonomy, where the driver is still required to take over in difficult situations, to level 5 where the car will operate completely autonomously. This will encourage OEMs and other companies to develop new business models for car sharing, insurance and leasing. Frost & Sullivan estimates that the revenue potential for the autonomous driving market will grow rapidly from $10 billion in 2020 to over $65 billion in 2030.

To download the Intelligent Mobility brochure and register to attend the event, please visit http://frost.ly/78.

This and many more hot topics will be discussed during the opening Mega Trends panel discussion. Industry leaders and experts such as John Fleming, Former Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Co., Chris Thomas, Founder and Partner, Fontinalis Partners and Olivia Price-Walker, Principal Consultant, Visionary Innovation, Frost & Sullivan, as well as Hubertus Von Roenne, VP Global Industry Practices, BT, will join the panel to discuss the Mega Trends influencing any organization involved or planning to get involved with mobility.

Besides focusing on Mega Trends, Intelligent Mobility will bring together industry experts on autonomous business ideas, the future of connectivity, corporate mobility, integrated transport solutions as well as new mobility concepts. The conference will be complemented by a debate at the House of Lords and the Frost & Sullivan Intelligent Mobility Awards Banquet, a black tie evening and gala dinner.

For more information on Frost & Sullivan's Intelligent Mobility event, please e-mail Jana Schoeneborn, Corporate Communications, at jana.schoeneborn@frost.com

A limited number of complimentary passes are available to members of the media. Please also visit the event website for more background information: http://frost.ly/b2

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.

The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact Us: Start the discussion

Join Us: Join our community

Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing"

Register: Gain access to visionary innovation

Contact:

Jana Schoeneborn

Corporate Communications  Europe

P: +49 (0) 69 770 3343

E: jana.schoeneborn@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
1st Quarter 2016 Highlights

- Net income of $1.1 million, or $0.01 per GAAP diluted share

- Consolidated revenue of $779.6 million

- Gross margin of 23.2%

- Adjusted EBITDA of $98.9 million, steady sequential EBITDA margins of 12.7%

- Food Segment contributed solid sequential earnings and EBITDA margin expansion

- Fat and protein pricing improvements at end of Q1 will show benefits in Q2

IRVING, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), a global leader in converting edible and inedible bio-nutrient streams into a wide range of ingredients and specialty products for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 2, 2016.

For the first quarter of 2016, the Company reported net sales of $779.6 million, as compared with net sales of $874.7 million for the first quarter of 2015. The $95.1 million decrease in net sales is primarily attributable to weaker selling prices for fats and protein within the Feed Ingredients segment and continued FX translation impacts. Overall, global raw material volumes were stronger year over year.

Net income attributable to Darling for the three months ended April 2, 2016, was $1.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the three months ended April 4, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA for Darling for the three months ended April 2, 2016 was $98.9 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $98.2 million for the three months ended April 4, 2015. The $0.7 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily attributable to increased earnings in the Food and Fuel Ingredients segments and higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment that more than offset lower finished product prices and the impact of foreign exchange.

Randall C. Stuewe, Darlings Ingredients Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said of the Company's quarterly performance, "Sequentially, our segments showed nice consistency in light of very volatile markets around the globe. Most notably, our Food segment delivered solidly with Rousselot and Sonac delivering consistent earnings. In the Feed segment, we saw our global rendering businesses once again adjust to falling protein prices during the quarter but volume increases and strengthening fat prices partially offset the headwinds. Our Fuel segment, when normalized for the blender's tax credit, showed a very consistent performance. Looking forward, we have seen both protein and fat prices significantly strengthen late in the quarter and we should see our Feed segment realize the benefit in the second quarter. Our model is clearly working and we are picking up momentum once again," concluded Mr. Stuewe.

Feed Ingredients  EBITDA $58.3 million (up 7.2% sequentially); Revenue $476.2 million (up 0.8% sequentially); Gross margin $103.5 million (up 7.0% sequentially); Raw material processed up 4.2% sequentially

 EBITDA (up 7.2% sequentially); Revenue (up 0.8% sequentially); Gross margin (up 7.0% sequentially); Raw material processed up 4.2% sequentially Food Ingredients  EBITDA $38.6 million (down 1.3% sequentially); Revenue $247.9 million (down 8.9% sequentially); Gross margin $62.3 million (down 1.0% sequentially); Raw material processed up 3.1% sequentially

 EBITDA (down 1.3% sequentially); Revenue (down 8.9% sequentially); Gross margin (down 1.0% sequentially); Raw material processed up 3.1% sequentially Fuel Ingredients  Pro Forma EBITDA $13.0 million (down 7.1% sequentially); EBITDA 13.0 million (down 32.3% sequentially); Revenue $55.6 million (down 15.0% sequentially); Gross margin $14.9 million (down 26.0% sequentially); Raw material processed down 10.1% sequentially

 Pro Forma EBITDA (down 7.1% sequentially); EBITDA 13.0 million (down 32.3% sequentially); Revenue (down 15.0% sequentially); Gross margin (down 26.0% sequentially); Raw material processed down 10.1% sequentially Diamond Green Diesel Joint Venture  EBITDA $19.3 million at entity level, $9.6 million Darling's share; DGD received $156 million tax credit, each partner received dividend of $25 million in April 2016 ; Major expansion announced to be completed in fourth quarter 2017, increasing output from 160 million gallons annually to 275 million gallons

For More Information, contact:

Melissa A. Gaither, V.P. Investor Relations and Global Communications

251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75038

Email: mgaither@darlingii.com

Phone: 972-717-0300

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com



SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.
The PanoVu Panoramic Camera is recognized by a panel of renowned industry experts, praising the camera's simple design, compact structure and easy installation

HANGZHOU, China, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision, the world's leading supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions, is proud to announce that it has received a prestigious iF Design Award for its PanoVu series camera DS-2DP1636-D 16MP 360-degree panoramic camera. The annual iF Design Award is recognized as a symbol of design excellence around the world, attracting more than 5,000 submissions from 70 different countries, and is judged by a panel of over 60 design experts.

The PanoVu camera provides 360-degree distortion-free Ultra HD images with 8 x 1/1.9" Progressive Scan CMOS sensors in one camera. This allows users to replace multiple cameras with one multi-sensor unit -- curtailing costs and reducing technical complexity. Its all-in-one design further provides user-friendly installation and configuration by only one Ethernet cable and one power supply cable. Minimum illumination at 0.002 Lux in color mode means around-the-clock, 360-degree monitoring is available.

Hikvision International Marketing Director Keen Yao says the iF Design Award is a great honor and recognition of the work done by Hikvision's dedicated designers. "We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award from such an esteemed and influential organization," he says. "The PanoVu series features a simple, clean design and compact structure that provides ultra-high-definition panoramic images, seamlessly integrating video from multiple sensors in one unit. We believe it is the best equipped high-end panoramic solution on the market."

Hikvision PanoVu Series is designed for large-scale security monitoring applications such as stadiums, city centers, airports and parking lots. The product family is available in 8 MP, 180-degree and 16 MP, 360-degree variants, allowing users to select the ideal model for their specific surveillance application.

The iF Design Awards have been conferred annually since 1954. Each year, the iF International Forum Design invites submissions from around the globe in seven disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, Service Design, and Architecture. Hikvision's award is for Surveillance Cameras in the Product discipline.

About Hikvision

Hikvision is the world's leading supplier of video surveillance solutions. Featuring the industry's strongest R&D workforce, Hikvision uses its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to design and develop innovative CCTV and video surveillance products for any security need. For more information, please visit Hikvision's website at www.hikvision.com.

Related Links

http://www.hikvision.com



SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
DUBLIN, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Dublin - Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Signals Ahead: How Fast is that Kangaroo in the Window? The One With the 256 QAM" report to their offering.

In this Signals Ahead report we provide the results of the industry's first truly independent benchmark study of how an LTE-Advanced (Rel 12) network with 256 QAM performs. This study was conducted using Telstra's 600 Mbps LTE network in Melbourne, Australia.

Highlights of the Study include the following:

Our Thanks

This study was done in collaboration with Accuver Americas who provided us with its suite of drive test products, including XCAL-M to collect the data and XCAP for the post processing and analysis of the data.

The Device

We used a NETGEAR 810S mobile hotspot (Category 11 device) with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X12 LTE modem.

The Comparison, I

Surprisingly, the availability of the 256 QAM modulation scheme in the macro network was on par with the availability of 64 QAM in an HSPA+ network, based on a comparison of these most recent results with earlier tests that we did in the operator's network in 2009.

The Comparison, II

In some lengthy drive tests we observed 256 QAM more frequently than we observed QPSK.

The Forward-Looking View

Our analysis of Ericsson Lean Carrier (ELC) - Telstra enabled and disabled the feature at our request - suggests that even higher availability of 256 QAM is likely.

The Implications

Despite the original focus of 256 QAM for small cells only, we foresee tremendous advantages associated with deploying 256 QAM throughput an operator's macro network.

*SIGNALS AHEAD SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

This report is included as part of a subscription to Signals Ahead or it can be purchased separately.

Signals Ahead is a research-focused product that is published on a periodic basis. Its clientele include all facets of the wireless ecosystem, including some of the largest mobile operators, the top handset suppliers, the major infrastructure vendors, subsystem suppliers, semiconductor companies and financial institutions, including Wall Street, Private Equity and Venture Capitalists, spread across five continent

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary

2.0 Key Observations

3.0 256 QAM Macro Network Analysis 3.1 HSPA+ and 64 QAM - A Trip Down Memory Lane 3.2 Melbourne CBD - Early Morning Drive Test 3.3 Melbourne CBD - Noontime Pedestrian Stroll 3.4 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Toorak Drive Test 3.5 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Figure Eight Drive Test

4.0 Ericsson Lean Carrier Evaluation

4.1 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Lakeside "Grand Prix" Drive Test

4.2 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Lakeside "Grand Prix" Drive Test, II

4.3 Stationary Test Results

5.0 Test Methodology

6.0 Final Thoughts

7.0 Appendix

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9jkpcm/signals_ahead

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com



SOURCE Research and Markets
"In 2016, the indirect channel has climbed into the revenue driver's seat, replacing direct sales as the primary sales vehicle for businesses worldwide," said Dave R Taylor, Impartner chief marketing officer. "Analysts estimate that as much as 80 percent of worldwide Information Technology revenue already flows through the channel, and it is only increasing. As companies struggle to find and retain experienced enterprise sales executives, they almost inevitably turn to the indirect channel as the cost-effective solution to the problem of scale."

In the new eBook, "The Top 10 Things Making Channel Chiefs into Insomniacs, and What to do About It," Impartner and members of its network of top channel strategists have provided thoughtful, meaty, practical advice on Channel Chiefs' key questions about the market today, including:

Am I giving the right margin to the channel? Do I have the right number of channel partners? Does deal registration work for me (protect margin for partners)? Are my demand gen efforts impactful and do they work through the channel? Am I getting ROI on my MDF investments? Is my channel effectively closing leads on their own, or am I still spending my resources on closing channel deals? How loyal are my partners, and how do I know? Do I have the analytical tools needed to gain insight into my channel performance? Am I recognizing and incentivizing the appropriate partner behaviors? How is "cloud" changing the game in my channel business?

The increasing focus on indirect channels parallels Impartner's own growth, which has doubled its new customer base year over year and soared over 200 percent in the first quarter alone as demand for the company's multi-award winning, out-of-the-box SaaS PRM solution catches fire with vendors scrambling to optimize the performance of their partner networks.

"A modern PRM solution is the single most important investment you can make in your channel program to truly harness the power of your partner network and ensure you have a nucleus from which to drive your channel's success," Taylor said. "Research shows that 86 percent of channel partners base their vendor selection primarily on the experience they have with the vendor's portal. Companies who adopt off-the-shelf commercially available PRM tools see an average of $8 million to $9 million in incremental revenue over companies who build their own or rely on dated portal technology.1 There is great power in a well-crafted portal."

The channel experts participating with Impartner in this eBook bring decades of cumulative channel experience working with and for companies such as Dell, EMC, Fortinet, Sun Microsystems, HP and Extreme Networks. Contributors include Gina Batali-Brooks, president, Is-Inspired, http://www.isinspired.com/; Theresa Caragol, founder, TCC Consulting, http://www.theresacaragol.com/; Daniel Hawtof, vice president of business development and channel solutions, Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, http://www.bhengagement.com/; Heather Margolis, president and founder, Channel Maven Consulting, http://channelmavenconsulting.com/; Norma Watenpaugh, founding principal, Phoenix CG, http://www.phoenixcg.com/; and Raegan Wilson, chief channel officer, Channel Squared Consulting, http://channelsquared.com/.

To download your copy of Impartner's new Channel Chief's eBook and find out how you can rest more easily, click here or go to this link: http://resources.impartner.com/top-ten-things-making-channel-chiefs-into-insomniacs. To learn more about Impartner's multi-award winning PRM solutions, click here.

About Impartner

With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883.

Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

1. Frost & Sullivan Global Partner Management Customer Value Leadership Award, 2016

Contact:

Kerry Desberg

Impartner

425-231-9529

kerry.desberg@impartner.com

Related Links

http://www.impartner.com



SOURCE Impartner
DUBLIN, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the " Analysis of the National Broadband Plans of Latin America " report to their offering.

This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the national broadband plans of Latin America and the key topics all market participants should be aware of. It considers current and future drivers, challenges and opportunities, providing readers with an unrivalled understanding of the market and where it's heading.



This market insight presents an analysis of the current status of governments' national broadband plans in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and provides strategic recommendations for stakeholders. The goals and achievements of the national broadband plans in all three countries are reviewed. A detailed analysis and insights from the national broadband plans in these countries are presented, as well as key takeaways. This study also provides lines in service (LIS) and revenue forecasts for these countries for 2014 to 2020. The revenue forecasts are segmented by technology, including wireless, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), cable modem, and ADSL.

Key Findings:



The Mexican, Brazilian, and Colombian governments implemented national broadband plans between 2010 and 2014. In Colombia , the government was able to achieve most of its goals; however, in Brazil and Mexico , the governments were unable to achieve all of the outlined objectives.

, the government was able to achieve most of its goals; however, in and , the governments were unable to achieve all of the outlined objectives. Considering this, the Brazilian government proposed a revision of the National Broadband Plan, which was made public by candidate Dilma Rouseff during the presidential election in October 2014 . However, political instability, the difficulty of legal and economic arrangements, and the fiscal deficit which does not allow the government to subsidize users in non-profitable areas have delayed the roll-out of this revision.

during the presidential election in . However, political instability, the difficulty of legal and economic arrangements, and the fiscal deficit which does not allow the government to subsidize users in non-profitable areas have delayed the roll-out of this revision. Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is still better in these two aspects and will be the long-term solution to deal with the increasing demand for high-speed Internet and advanced applications in the cloud. Although the cost of deployment has been decreasing, it is still too expensive to be used for a universal service policy.

Companies Mentioned:



AgendaDigital.mx

Mexico Conectado

Vive Digital



Report Structure:

1.Executive Summary

2.Market Overview

3.Market Trends and Analysis

4.The Last Word

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fhr7pm/_analysis_of_the

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com



SOURCE Research and Markets
LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

ENDOCUFF VISION designed to improve visualisation of the colon

Norgine B.V. today announced that ENDOCUFF VISION is now available in Belgium, Netherlands and France. ENDOCUFF VISION is a Class 1 sterile medical device attached to the end of the colonoscope that opens up the field of view by retracting folds during withdrawal. It is proven to help increase the detection of pre-cancerous polyps as part of bowel cancer screening.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130829/633895-a )

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the world [1], with nearly 1.4 million new cases diagnosed worldwide and 412,000 people in Europe.[2],[3] The detection and removal of pre-cancerous adenomas during colonoscopy substantially reduces both the development of and death from colorectal cancer.[4]

Peter Martin, Chief Operating Officer, Norgine, commented "We are pleased to announce the launch of ENDOCUFF VISION in these additional markets. ENDOCUFF VISION is a new device that is proven to improve visualisation of the colon, thus increasing the detection of cancerous and precancerous cells. By doing so it helps patients and healthcare systems by allowing the prevention and treatment of colon cancer at an earlier stage than might otherwise be possible."

Over the years, Norgine has strengthened its colon cancer prevention and detection portfolio to ensure quality in colonoscopy and ultimately enhance health outcomes for patients.

In Europe, Australia and New Zealand, ENDOCUFF VISION is available through Norgine's infrastructure including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

In the US and Canada, ENDOCUFF VISION is available through Olympus Corporation of the Americas.

To see how ENDOCUFF VISION works click here

To view the full press release go to http://www.norgine.com

Follow us @norgine

1. Ferlay J, Steliarova-Foucher E, Lortet-Tieulent J et al. Cancer incidence and mortality patterns in Europe: Estimates for 40 countries in 2012. Eur J Cancer 2013;49:1374-1403

2. Colorectal Cancer Statistics, World Cancer Research Fund International, http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-specific-cancers/colorectal-cancer-statistics [Accessed 9 May 2015]

3. Zavoral M et al. Colorectal cancer screening in Europe. World J Gastroenterol 2009;15(47):5907-5915

4. LeClercq CMC, Bouwens MWE, Rondagh, EJA et al. Postcolonoscopy colorectal cancers are preventable: a population-based study. Gut 2014;63:957-963



Media Contacts:

Isabelle Jouin, T: +44(0)1895-453643

Charlotte Andrews, T: +44(0)1895-453607

SOURCE Norgine B.V.
73% of finance leaders agree closer CIO / CFO alignment has become more important to achieving their finance transformation

Most are more concerned about the impact of change from outside their organization than from within

Over half say their existing finance system is unlikely to cope effectively with near future demands

LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The CFO has never been held more accountable for the company's success, and the ability of finance teams to extract value from company data is the key to delivering on the chief executive's expectations. Oracle's study, Modern Finance: Driving Transformation from Within, found that closer alignment between the CFO and CIO is crucial if finance leaders are to effectively help the business achieve its transformation goals.

The study, for which 1,905 finance decision makers across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were surveyed, set out to explore the risks and challenges faced by modern finance leaders and to gain more insight on what businesses are doing to address these changes.

More specifically, the findings reveal:

Nearly 40% of finance leaders admit the finance department is becoming more accountable for the business' success

45% admit they are under increased pressure to raise productivity

44% say the company is placing more emphasis on driving business growth

41% say they are being asked to reduce operational costs

Crucially, nearly three-quarters (73%) of finance leaders agree closer CIO / CFO alignment has become critical to achieving the business' finance transformation

Loic Le Guisquet, President, Oracle said: "Finance systems which have been heavily customized over the years are reaching their breaking point. For the many businesses rethinking their strategies to stay ahead of growing competition, being able to speed up innovation and adapt quickly to change are at the top of the corporate agenda. Finance should not be the ball & chain holding the company back from progress. It should be the engine pushing it forward.

"Rather than adding complexity to already-overloaded systems, companies are beginning to see the advantage of running their finance applications in the cloud and simply configuring these to suit their needs. As the nerve centre of the organization, the finance department lies at the junction of all these relationships. Their unique oversight of the business has made CFOs and their teams instrumental in helping the boardroom achieve its vision for the future."

The report further reveals that finance leaders admit that change is increasingly out of the business' control, with major economic, geo- and socio-political, and even climactic upheavals affecting companies' fortunes like never before.

Over half (58%) of finance leaders are more concerned about the impact of change originating from outside their organisation.

Roughly half as many (30%) are more concerned about change from within

44% cite macro-economic issues as a major driver of risk

40% cite increased competition and the rising cost of doing business as major external drivers of change

Finance teams need technologies that are up to the task of driving closer alignment between departments and helping the company to better manage risk. However, the study revealed that years of customisation have left businesses with inflexible and convoluted legacy systems nearing the limits of what they can handle, and that will struggle to manage the changes ahead.

61% of finance leaders have customized systems in place which have been growing in complexity over the years

54% say these are unlikely to cope effectively with the near future demands of their organisation

Configurable systems that are more flexible and easier to update are gaining some traction, but many businesses are held back from switching over by the perceived risk of moving to the cloud.

32% of finance leaders expect the cost of running a customized system to exceed that of moving to a standardized one in less than a year

Three-quarters (74%) believe the use of financial software in the cloud is critical for them to realise their broader digital transformation goals

74% also say this would allow them to innovate more quickly and effectively

Yet many businesses are resistant to change:

69% believe moving to standardised, cloud-based financial applications represents a risk to their business

45% say increasing regulatory complexity is the biggest reason for resisting or having mixed views on moving to a standardized system

37% remain unclear on the benefits and return on investment (ROI)

30% admit a lack of alignment between finance and the wider business is standing in the way of change

"The digital transformation of a business requires greater levels of collaboration between every department in the organization, from Marketing to HR. This begins with closer alignment among line-of-business leaders, whose approach to working will ultimately be reflected across the entire company," says Loic Le Guisquet.

Additional Resources

Additional Information

For this research Oracle partnered with Loudhouse Research to survey 1,905 finance decision makers the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UAE/Saudi Arabia.

About Oracle

Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Related Links

http://www.oracle.com



SOURCE Oracle
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Early detection seen as key to reducing mortality

Using its proprietary metabolomics technology, Phenomenome Discoveries Inc. had previously discovered that specific metabolic abnormalities were present in the blood of women suffering from ovarian cancer. The company has subsequently developed a simple test (OvAware) that can be performed on a single drop of blood. The performance of the test has now been verified in two large studies - one in Japan (99 controls and 112 ovarian cancer patients) led by Dr. Fumio Nomura, MD, Chiba, Japan and one in Canada (1041 controls and 325 ovarian cancer patients) led by Dr. Walter Gotlieb, MD, PhD, Montreal, Canada. In both studies, the blood test was able to detect ovarian cancer with 97% accuracy. The results of these studies will be presented by Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, Founder, President and CEO, Phenomenome Discoveries at the Cancer Diagnostics Conference and Expo in Rome, Italy on June 13th, 2016.

"Ovarian cancer is the most lethal among the pelvic cancers. The majority of the patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with metastatic spread beyond the pelvis. This is mainly due to a lack of effective ways for surveillance and early diagnosis of this malignancy,"

Dr. Fumio Nomura , Professor and Director, Department of Molecular Diagnosis and Division of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Genetics and Proteomics Organization: Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University and Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan

"Despite major progress in cytotoxic treatments, outcome of high grade serous ovarian cancer remains poor, mainly due to the absence of early detection with our present tools."

Dr. Walter Gotlieb , MD, PhD, Director, Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy at Sir Mortimer B. Davis, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada

The early detection of ovarian cancer may be much closer to reality today. Phenomenome Discoveries' cancer diagnostics, which also includes Cologic for colon cancer and PanaSee for pancreatic cancer, are based upon its unique prodrome detection technology, which identifies persons with specific metabolic abnormalities that precede the formation of specific cancers. This technology differs from traditional pathology-based cancer detection technologies in that persons who do not have these metabolic abnormalities are protected from getting the specific cancer identified by the test whereas persons exhibiting the metabolic abnormality have an elevated risk of the cancer. This technology is particularly valuable for the management of aggressive cancers, like ovarian cancer, which are difficult to detect at an early stage and which prophylactic prevention options are available.

"It is well recognized that physical bimanual examination, gynecological ultrasound imaging and the available tumor markers are not sensitive enough for early detection of ovarian cancers. Therefore, we desperately need sensitive and practical serum marker that can designate the subjects having a high risk for ovarian cancer." Dr. Nomura

"Being able to detect ovarian cancer early or being able to accurately identify high risk subjects requiring increased monitoring and prevention by risk reducing surgery is critical in order to reduce mortality from this 'silent killer'. A simple blood test would go a long way to achieve this." Dr. Gotlieb

According to the American Cancer Society, "when ovarian cancer is found early at a localized stage, about 94% of patients live longer than 5 years after diagnosis." Phenomenome Discoveries expects to apply to Health Canada for approval of the test later this year, which could make it available in 2017.

The results of the studies and more information about the science behind the test can be found at the company's website: http://www.phenomenome.com

Phenomenome Discoveries is undergoing restructuring via receivership proceedings which will ultimately result in a transfer of ownership of its proprietary technologies.

Contact:

Jamie Engen

+1-604-417-7375



SOURCE Phenomenome Discoveries Inc.
ZURICH, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A scientific publication, book and comprehensive website (http://www.luwianstudies.org) made public today by scientists at the Luwian Studies foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, advance and add weight to the view that Aegean prehistory (3000-1200 BCE) suffers from a pro-European bias.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361791LOGO )



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361792 )

The people who established Aegean prehistory as a discipline aimed to steer research interest towards Greece. As a consequence, they disregarded cultures on Anatolian soil. Despite the fact that Troy, the most important stratified archaeological site in the world, is situated in Anatolia.

On their foundation's website, researchers at Luwian Studies have today published a comprehensive database of Middle and Late Bronze Age archaeological sites in western Turkey. This unique catalog is the result of several years of literature research and field visits. It currently covers over 340 expansive settlements, including their coordinates and aerial photographs. Geographic information systems have placed the settlements into context with rivers, lakes, mineral deposits, trade routes, flood plains and farmland to provide quantifiable data on the relationship between humans and the landscape.

The number, size, and wealth of artifacts of Bronze Age sites in western Turkey shows that this region was covered by a network of settlements and petty states throughout the 2nd millennium BCE. The names of these petty states are well known from documents of that time. If these states had formed an alliance, it would probably have surpassed the Mycenaean or Hittite realms in terms of political, economic, and military power. Since western Asia Minor possessed its own writing system since 2000 BCE, it is justifiable to speak of a civilization in its own right. Many of the people in western Asia Minor spoke Luwian, a language in the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family. For this reason, the newly recognized civilization is called "Luwian."

More information: http://www.luwianstudies.org

Book reference

Eberhard Zangger (2016): The Luwian Civilization: The Missing Link in the Aegean Bronze Age. Ege Yaynlar, Istanbul. 292 pages, 148 color illustrations. ISBN 978-605-9680-11-0

About Luwian Studies

Luwian Studies is a non-governmental and non-profit foundation founded in 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland. As stated in the Canton Zurich commercial registry, the foundation's sole aim is to shed more light on the 2nd millennium BCE civilizations in western Asia Minor.

SOURCE Luwian Studies
At this moment, traditional keyboards are the dominant technology for data input into computing devices; but that is about to change, as virtual and wearable computing become more mainstream, and surfaces on which to use keyboards disappear. Tap technology enables seamless communications even within immersive AR/VR experiences where keyboard surfaces are not practical, and in wearable computing situations where screens are too small to type on.

The Tap Strap is a soft, flexible smart-textile which embeds an advanced sensing system into a small, comfortable fabric strap. The Tap Strap can be worn on either hand or on both hands simultaneously for two-handed tapping. With each tap, the Tap Strap sends a character or command to a device based on which fingers touched the surface.

Users can typically learn to tap in about one hour using the TapGenius App, a mnemonic-based learning system which combines musical and visual tutorials with a fun and engaging game.

Tap also provides a unique solution for blind and low vision users, who can now communicate on mobile devices with the speed and ease of sighted users. Tapping can be done with fingers touching anything - without the need for on-screen keyboards which can be cumbersome for those who use Voiceover and other text-to-speech features.

"Tap has the potential to become the communication mode of the future, providing fast, accurate interfacing in situations where no physical keyboard exists." said David Schick, Tap's inventor. "Tap is more discreet and accurate then voice input, and is faster and more precise than gesture-based systems."

"Tap brings an entirely new dimension to how we can interface with the digital world," said Ran Poliakine, Tap's co-founder. "Tap's fundamental technology is applicable not only to language, but also to music, gaming and control. It is a new modality that opens up a world of creative possibilities. We are partnering with creative developers and select OEMs to help us unlock its full potential. Our goal is to create an ecosystem in which our partners utilize Tap to deliver new and exciting experiences for our users.

Tap is being made available immediately to select beta users - initially in the San Francisco Bay area. Tap is expected to ship commercially before the end of 2016.

A Tap Development Kit will be available to developers to allow them to harness the capabilities of Tap into a broad range of applications including gaming, AR and VR using the Tap platform. By supporting an ecosystem of developers, the Tap value to consumers can ultimately extend to other languages, games, music, interactive AR/VR and perhaps to new and creative solutions for the future needs of computing.

A Tap reference design will also be made available to select OEMs for integration into their existing and future product lines including wearables and other innovations.

About TAP

Tap Systems, Inc. was founded in 2015 by veteran entrepreneurs David Schick, Sabrina Kemeny and Ran Poliakine. The company's debut product, Tap, is designed to provide unparalleled freedom and access to our electronic devices anywhere and at any time. The Tap Strap is a wearable Bluetooth keyboard that allows you to send messages, texts and emails by simple tapping on the nearest surface. Tap is fast, accurate, easy to learn, eyes-free, and entirely mobile.

Contact: Scott Eisenstein

scott@sepr.co

+1 212 810 6544

SOURCE Tap Systems, Inc.
MIDDLESBROUGH, England, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The future of steel-making in the UK is a burning issue for thousands of workers - but in the North East the fire has already been put out at Redcar.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366863 )

In a reaction to this situation, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) has developed a world exposition of art and technology to challenge and provoke a future vision for the region.

Opening on 25 June, the exhibition captures the industrial character of Teesside and shows how it has formed, from the extraction of raw materials to production, as well as the import/export of goods.

Teesside has always been defined by its industry and has history of making. The eminent past and economic future of the area is explored through historical documents and artifacts, contrasted with a showcase of new industrial technology and works by artists who have portrayed Teesside's steelworks.

Against the background noise of the Northern powerhouse agenda and a time in which heavy industry is considered obsolete, this project explores the current issues of global change that have affected the local economy so dramatically and provides an opportunity to look ahead at the new industries and technologies that can evolve out of Teesside's heritage and landscape.

mima director, Alistair Hudson, said: "This exhibition has been put together extremely quickly but it was essential that we should attempt something like this now rather than later. It's vital that an institute like us starts to take part in and tackles the issues that matter. The loss of large scale steel production is as much a cultural crisis as an economic one and we need to play our part in finding new industries, skills and solutions to keep the region economically healthy.

"That's why the project profiles new local industrial processes and opportunities, as well as art, to understand that creativity and business are not separate but work together to shape our society. This is more than an exhibition; it's an active project to make a real contribution to changing the situation. In doing this we revisit the history of the Institute movement, the organisations that were established in Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution, where learning through making, art, engineering and technology were all made accessible to many."

SOURCE Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
Rationalization possible as new capacity comes online

BOSTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 2, Weyerhaeuser announced the sale of all of its fluff pulp assets to International Paper (IP) for $2.2 billion. These two firms account for 39% of the global market for fluff pulp, which is used in diapers and other absorbent hygiene products. The deal may result in asset spin-offs to satisfy regulators. Along with other capacity expansion projects, this hints at further potential rationalization in the fluff pulp space. This and other trends are explored in the Outlook for the World Fluff Pulp Market, a new report from RISI  the leading source of business intelligence for the global forest products industry.

"The expected increase in fluff pulp manufacturing capacity will reduce operating rates for the industry. New plants and conversions could lead to an oversupply in the global market," said Ben Sirois, RISI economist and lead author of the Outlook.

The study explores drivers of disruption among fluff pulp suppliers, including:

Potential for further M&A , in the wake of the recent Weyco/IP deal

, in the wake of the recent Weyco/IP deal Possible over-capacity , as new plants come online faster than the market is growing

, as new plants come online faster than the market is growing Development of fluff pulp made from hardwood, to potentially challenge the dominance of US southern softwood in fluff pulp production

The study also includes supply, demand, cost, and pricing history and forecasts for the entire world fluff pulp sector.

The full Outlook for the World Fluff Pulp Market will be released in coming weeks. A preliminary forecast is available for those who pre-order the study today. To get access to the report, visit www.risi.com/fluffpulp16.

Companies with historical fluff pulp data included in the study:

Current Fluff Pulp Producers:

Arauco, Domtar, Fujian Tengrongda, Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, Klabin, Rayonier, Resolute Forest Products, SCA, Stora, Suzano, UPM, WestRock, Weyerhaeuser

Past Fluff Pulp Producers:

Celulosa Cambara, CHH Pulp & Paper, CMPC, Kimberly-Clark, Korsnas, Lwarcel, M-real, Paper Excellence, Skogall, Tembec

About RISI (www.risi.com)

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, packaging, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make better decisions. Headquartered in Boston, MA, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

For Press Inquiries, please contact:

Alan Petrillo

Communications Associate

O: +1.781.778.7592

E: apetrillo@risi.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080521/NEW122LOGO

Related Links

http://www.risiinfo.com



SOURCE RISI
ASCHHEIM, Germany, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Wirecard and Visa Europe are offering contactless wristbands at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, with the finale taking place on May 14th in Stockholm, Sweden. The Visa contactless wristband is an exclusive limited edition product, developed for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and issued by Wirecard Card Solutions. The payment solution is using the processing platform of Wirecard Technologies GmbH. The wristband can not only be used for transactions at the event areas, but also at all merchants accepting contactless payments with Visa worldwide until 31st October 2016.

If you visit Stockholm and the Eurovision Song Contest you can get your wristband in Eurovision Village in Kungstradgarden. Users can activate their wristband via a webpage and top-up the wristband with a credit or debit card powered by Visa or MasterCard. All wristbands are ready for immediate use after activation and loading is completed.

"We are delighted that Visa uses our payment platform to introduce contactless wristbands at the Eurovision Song Contest," said Thomas Wernet, Head of Sales & Business Development Issuing at Wirecard.

For more information about the Visa contactless payment campaign during the Eurovision Song Contest, please visit https://www.visa.se/eurovision-2016/en/.

About Wirecard:

Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on twitter @wirecard.

About Visa:

Visa Europe is a payments technology business owned and operated by member banks and other payment service providers from 38 countries. Visa Europe is at the heart of the payments ecosystem providing the services and infrastructure to enable millions of European consumers, businesses and governments to make electronic payments. Its members are responsible for issuing cards, signing up retailers and deciding cardholder and retailer fees. Visa Europe is also the largest transaction processor in Europe, responsible for processing more than 18 billion transactions annually. There are more than 500m Visa cards in Europe, while 1 in every 6 spent in Europe is on a Visa card. Total expenditure on Visa cards exceeds 2 trillion annually, with 1.5 trillion spent at point-of-sale. Visa Europe is an independent business with an exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual licence to use the Visa brand in Europe. Visa Europe works in partnership with Visa Inc. to enable global Visa payments in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit our website (http://www.visaeurope.com), the Visa Vision blog (vision.visaeurope.com), and @VisaEuropeNews

Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

E-Mail: jana.tilz@wirecard.com



Visa media contact:

Adel & Link Public Relations

Sabine Karl / Matthias Adel

Tel.: +49(0)69-153404535

E-Mail: visa@adellink.de



SOURCE Wirecard AG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is providing more than $1 million in grants to 33 Florida-based educational programs through its Duke Energy Foundation.

More than 100,000 students will benefit directly from the grants, which will help fund projects in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields.

"Supporting educational initiatives is an integral mission of the Duke Energy Foundation," said Alex Glenn, Duke Energy state president  Florida. "These grants help advance vital STEM-focused programs in local schools, which in turn prepare our students to become future community leaders."

The largest grant, totaling $252,000, was awarded to the Pinellas County Education Foundation to address key needs of nearly 40,000 students.

The grant will support:

STEM After School Programs in every Title I elementary, middle and high school in the county;

The Enterprise Village Program that teaches fifth graders to apply math skills in simulated businesses

Two programs that promote STEM-related innovation and career paths for high school students

Classroom grants and matching funds for STEM Academy teacher training and industry certifications.

Duke Energy's grants to K-12 local education foundations are also eligible for dollar-for-dollar matching funds through the state of Florida's School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, doubling the impact of the $1 million investment.

"Throughout Florida, teachers will be able to provide the types of hands-on learning opportunities that truly engage students because of Duke Energy's support," said Mary Chance, president of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. "Their long-term investment in both our statewide organization and our local education foundations in their service territory is making a meaningful difference, particularly in the STEM education arena."

Some of the largest donations this year include:

Pinellas County Education Foundation ($252,000)

Orlando Science Center ($75,000)

Keystone Science School ($50,400)

Foundation for Orange County ($50,000)

Pasco Education Foundation ($50,000)

Polk Education Foundation ($50,000)

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations ($50,000)

Young Men's Christian Association, Inc. ($50,000)

Christian Association, Inc. Foundation for Seminole County ($40,000)

Citrus County Education Foundation ($34,054)

Futures, Inc. Volusia County ($30,000)

Education Foundation of Lake County ($28,000)

Foundation for Osceola Education ($25,000)

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay ($25,200)

Madison County Foundation for Excellence ($20,000)

Polk State College Foundation ($20,000)

Public Education Foundation of Marion County ($20,000)

Duke Energy has given more than $56 million to Florida charitable organizations since 2000.The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of communities served by Duke Energy, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development and community impact.

Additionally, Duke Energy Florida employees volunteered more than 45,000 hours of community service within the last five years through the "Duke Energy in Action" program. A wrap-up video highlighting Duke Energy Florida volunteer events is available at http://bit.ly/DEFcommunities.

For additional information on Duke Energy's community giving programs visit www.duke-energy.com/foundation.

About Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida owns coal-fired and natural gas generation providing about 9,100 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.7 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Fla., Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.4 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 24 million people. Its Commercial Portfolio and International business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about remarkable people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Peveeta Persaud

Office: 727.820.5592

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130322/CL81938LOGO

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

http://www.duke-energy.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ state residents who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

"AARP Pennsylvania is excited to shine a light on 50+ residents who are using what they've learned to make a difference in the lives around them," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh.

Nominations will be evaluated by AARP Pennsylvania based on how the volunteer's work has improved the community, supported AARP's vision and mission, and inspired other volunteers. The award recipient will be announced in early fall.

AARP Pennsylvania Andrus Award for Community Service nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Nominee must be 50 years or older.

The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.

The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP's vision and mission.

Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible; however, teams are not eligible.

eligible. This is not a posthumous award.

For more information and an application form, contact AARP Pennsylvania at 1-866-389-5654. Online applications may also be submitted here. The application deadline for the Andrus Award is June 3, 2016.

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Espanol, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

Contact: Steve Gardner, AARP PA

(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]

or

Jacklyn Isasi, AARP PA

(267) 825-9928 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


The U.S. Navy is operationally certified the Aegis Ashore site at Deveslu Air Force Base in Romania. This officially fulfills Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, a plan to protect deployed U.S. forces and our European allies from ballistic missile attack. This milestone was marked during a ceremony on May 12 in Romania. The certification, comes at the same time as construction commences at the second European Aegis Ashore site, in Poland. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in Poland on May 13.

"It's fitting that work on the Poland site begins just as Aegis Ashore's important mission in Romania officially commences," said Brendan Scanlon, director, Lockheed Martin Aegis Ashore programs. "The lessons learned and incredible teamwork that brought the Aegis Combat System ashore will lead to even greater cost-savings and efficiencies for the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy and the sailors who protect the country and its allies."

Lockheed Martin received the contract for Aegis Ashore in Romania in 2010, which heavily leveraged the proven shipboard Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. The aggressive delivery timeline was achieved in 2015 thanks to the minimal development required to establish the on-shore system, innovations in modularity, and teamwork. The Corporation leveraged lessons learned from its more than 40 years of Aegis experience to fulfill the United States' desire to conduct new missions with existing capabilities.

The central component of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis BMD Combat System is the SPY-1 radar; the most widely-fielded naval phased array radar in the world. The Aegis system and SPY-1 radar provide the U.S. and allied nations with advanced surveillance, anti-air warfare and missile defense capabilities.

Elements of the Poland Aegis Ashore Weapon System, including SPY arrays are currently under production by Lockheed Martin. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is expected this spring to award a contract for the installation and test of the Aegis Ashore system.

As a proven world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans missile design and production, hit-to-kill capabilities, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, radar and signal processing, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/aegis/aegis-ashore.html.

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/20160512/366915

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today REMC SAVE announced that Aequitas Solutions, Inc. was one of only three (3) vendors to be awarded a contract to sell, host, implement and support Student Information Systems in Michigan. Aequitas Solutions, Inc.'s enterprise student management system, Q, known as MISTAR in Michigan, is a premier national K-12 software solution.

"Aequitas has been working in Michigan with our partners Wayne RESA and Oakland Schools since our inception in 2009. Winning the REMC SAVE contract for SIS not only allows us to extend the same services to any K-12 entity in Michigan but validates the success we've experienced in Detroit Public Schools, Wayne, Oakland and Livingston counties," says John Uhler, CEO of Aequitas Solutions, Inc. "By partnering with Wayne and Oakland we are able to provide a Michigan-specific experience, hosted, supported and managed by Michigan K-12 personnel for the entire state. Working with the REMC SAVE organization will undoubtedly help us to provide the best Student Information System experience possible and we are very excited about the possibilities this brings. This type of offering is unparalleled in the industry today."

"Oakland Schools and Wayne RESA are very excited about the opportunity to expand our collaboration on a statewide basis. The student information system support model and collaboration between Aequitas, Wayne RESA, and Oakland Schools exemplifies the State of Michigan's goal to consolidate services offered to our local districts in such a way that provides cost savings and in-depth system and best practice expertise," says Tammy Evans, CTO Oakland Schools and Steve Ezikian, Deputy Superintendent, Wayne RESA.

About Aequitas Solutions, Inc.

Aequitas Solutions, Inc. is a leader in innovative K-12 student management systems. Its mission is to challenge the K-12 industry by providing next generation student management solutions that push traditional SIS boundaries and to build lasting customer relationships based on openness, honesty, integrity, and a true sense of partnership. Q, it's highly successful solution features a full-featured student information system (SIS), innovative tools, and proactive data analysis allowing educators to more fully focus on the individual and constantly changing needs of students. Aequitas Solutions is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA with regional offices in Alaska, Michigan and Utah. For more information, call (909) 946-1600 or visit www.myaequitas.com.

About REMC SAVE

The REMC Statewide SAVE Project is provided as a service of the REMC Association of Michigan for all Michigan schools. The legislation that established REMCs (Michigan Compiled Laws Act 451 Section 380.671), and State Board of Education Rules, enable REMCs to bid on behalf of local school districts and also provide local school districts with the authority to purchase using REMC contracts. For more information about REMC SAVE visit www.remcbids.org.

About Oakland Schools and Wayne RESA

Oakland Schools and Wayne RESA are two of 56 intermediate school districts (ISDs) established in Michigan in 1962. ISDs are regional service agencies that provide a broad spectrum of services and support to Michigan K-12 public entities aimed at improving student achievement and maximizing economies of scale in staff development, purchasing, and administrative services. For more information about Oakland Schools or Wayne RESA visit oakland.k12.mi.us or resa.net

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Aequitas Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.myaequitas.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Jazeera America's original production, "Fault Lines: Baltimore Rising," was honored with a 2016 NAMIC Vision Award in the Documentary category. NAMIC Vision Awards from the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications are awarded for original programming content created for television and digital platforms that best reflect the increasingly diverse, multiethnic and multicultural viewing audience. Al Jazeera America was wound down last month.

"Fault Lines: Baltimore Rising" was recognized for its investigation into a string of alleged police brutality cases that preceded the death of Freddie Gray, whose passing sparked national protests and debate. Al Jazeera America went beyond the headlines to examine the long history of police violence in Baltimore, which has led to a distrust of law enforcement in the community and a brotherhood of silence among those in uniform.

"This award is a testament to Al Jazeera America's deep commitment to great journalism  the journalism we delivered to our viewers until the end," said Kate O'Brian, President of Al Jazeera America. "It is truly humbling to witness the recognition of such a remarkable team and to have had the opportunity to address some of the most pressing issues of our time."

"Fault Lines: Baltimore Rising" was produced by Al Jazeera America. Producer Paul Abowd and Correspondent Anjali Kamat led the team in the creation of the insightful and thought-provoking original production. A 60 second clip of the documentary is available in the 2016 NAMIC Vision Awards Winners Gallery at http://namicvisionawards.com/winners.aspx.

Al Jazeera America's US and international journalism has been recognized with nearly every major award an American broadcast and digital news organization can receive, including the Peabody, Emmy, and Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University awards.

Viewers can continue to access the compelling stories produced by Al Jazeera America by visiting http://america.aljazeera.com/.

Al Jazeera intends to expand its existing international digital services to broaden its multi-platform presence into the U.S. later this year.

Media Contacts

Molly Morse/Anntal Silver

Kekst

+1-212-521-4913

[email protected]

SOURCE Al Jazeera America

Related Links

http://america.aljazeera.com


OAKVILLE, ON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("APUC" or the "Company") (TSX: AQN, AQN.PR.A, AQN.PR.D, AQN.IR) announced today that the Board of Directors of APUC (the "Board") approved a dividend increase of U.S. $0.0385 annually per common share to a total dividend of U.S. $0.4235 per common share, paid quarterly at a rate of U.S. $0.1059 per common share.

APUC also announced today that the Board has declared a dividend of U.S. $0.1059 per share on its common shares, payable on July 15, 2016 to the shareholders of record on June 30, 2016 for the period from April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016. Shareholders can elect to receive the dividend in the amount of Cdn. $0.13613.

The common share dividend will be paid in cash or, if a shareholder has enrolled in the shareholder dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"), dividends will be reinvested in additional shares ("Plan Shares") of APUC as per the Plan, based on equivalent Canadian funds. Plan Shares will be acquired by way of a Treasury Purchase at the average market price as defined in the Plan less a 5% discount for the second quarter of 2016.

Pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and corresponding provincial legislation, APUC hereby notifies its common shareholders, that such dividends declared qualify as eligible dividends.

The quarterly dividends payable on common shares are declared in U.S. dollars. Beneficial shareholders (those who hold common shares through a financial intermediary) who are resident in Canada or the United States may request to receive their dividends in either U.S. dollars or the Canadian dollar equivalent by contacting the financial intermediary with whom the common shares are held. Unless the Canadian dollar equivalent is requested, shareholders will receive dividends in U.S. dollars, which, as is often the case, the financial intermediary may convert to Canadian dollars. Registered shareholders receive dividend payments in the currency of residency. Registered shareholders may opt to change the payment currency by contacting CST Trust Company at 1-800-387-0825 prior to the record date of the dividend.

The Canadian dollar equivalent of the quarterly dividend is based on the Bank of Canada noon exchange rate on the declaration date.

About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is a $5.0 billion North American diversified generation, transmission and distribution utility. The Distribution Group provides rate regulated water, electricity and natural gas utility services to over 560,000 customers in the United States. The Generation Group owns a portfolio of North American based contracted wind, solar, hydroelectric and natural gas powered generating facilities representing more than 1,100 MW of installed capacity. The Transmission Group invests in rate regulated electric transmission and natural gas pipeline systems in the United States and Canada. Algonquin Power & Utilities delivers continuing growth through an expanding pipeline of renewable energy development projects, organic growth within its regulated distribution and transmission businesses, and the pursuit of accretive acquisitions. Common shares, preferred shares, and instalment receipts are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.PR.A, AQN.PR.D, and AQN.IR. Visit Algonquin Power & Utilities at www.AlgonquinPowerandUtilities.com and follow us on Twitter @AQN_Utilities.

SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Related Links

http://www.algonquinpower.com


BALTIMORE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeritoxSM, a national leader in medication monitoring solutions, today presented new research demonstrating that the rate of illicit substance abuse differs by patients' insurance type. Ameritox presented this data at the annual scientific meeting of the American Pain Society.

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In reviewing more than 450,000 unique patient samples collected nationwide over almost three years, Ameritox determined that the rate at which chronic pain patients used illicit substances declines with age, is different between sexes and varies considerably by payer type.

An examination of illicit substance detection by payer type revealed the most significant findings. Tests paid for by Medicaid showed use of an illicit substance more than 16 percent of the time. When paid for by commercial insurance, workers' compensation or Medicare, the detection rate for illicit substances was cut by nearly half.

The Ameritox data also revealed that more than 22 percent of patients ages 10-19 with a prescription opioid medication tested positive for an illicit substance, most often marijuana or cocaine. Illicit drug use declined in each decade of life thereafter. The data also showed that illicit substances were detected in male patients more often than female patients: 13.1 percent among men and 8.2 percent among women.

In a separate presentation to the American Pain Society, Ameritox unveiled additional research focused on potential adherence specifically to hydrocodone. More than 180,000 unique patient samples analyzed over the same period of nearly three years were likely nonadherent to hydrocodone therapy in more than a quarter of all cases. The rate of potential adherence was just above 71 percent, with women showing a slightly better rate of potential adherence than men.

As with the data on illicit substance abuse, data was also made available on the difference between potential adherence and payers. Tests paid for by Medicaid were likely nonadherent more than 36 percent of the time. No other payer method registered a rate of potential nonadherence above 30 percent.

Ameritox's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Smith said that this research can help clinicians better tailor treatment for chronic pain patients. "Though medication monitoring decisions should always be specific to the individual patient, this information could help provide a better understanding of overall risk factors for illicit substance use," Smith said. "Medication monitoring provides crucial insights on how patient behavior may be impacting their course of treatment."

About Ameritox

Ameritox helped pioneer the prescription drug monitoring necessary to address the national epidemic of prescription drug misuse, abuse and diversion. As a trusted leader in medication monitoring, Ameritox provides medical and business professionals with health care solutions that can help improve patient care and prevent tragedy. Ameritox, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has laboratory facilities in Greensboro, N.C.

Visit the Ameritox website at: www.ameritox.com

Follow Ameritox on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ameritox

Contact: Lon Wagner

Director of Communications, Ameritox

(336) 387-7742

Email

Josh Silberberg

30 Point Strategies

(202) 304-1546

Email

SOURCE Ameritox

Related Links

http://www.ameritox.com


Each year, Aramark welcomes more than 40 million visitors and guests to the parks, zoos and museums and other tourist destinations in which it operates across the United States. This vacation season, travelers will enjoy the full scope of Aramark's hospitality and diverse interpretive, educational and sustainable programs, as well as benefit from additional attractions, amenities and events.

"We are excited for the upcoming travel season and look forward to hosting new and returning families, friends and visitors to the numerous parks and cultural attractions we serve across the country," said Bruce W. Fears, president, Aramark's Leisure division. "With the National Park Service celebrating its 100th anniversary, this summer promises to be especially exciting for travelers visiting the national parks, including the newest addition to our portfolio Yosemite National Park. Aramark is a proud sponsor of the National Park Service's Centennial Celebration and we encourage everyone to visit America's parks to experience the wonderful natural surroundings and vast educational and recreational opportunities."

Among the new programming awaiting visitors this season:

New Properties and Attractions

Yosemite National Park -- Earlier this year, Yosemite Hospitality, LLC, a subsidiary of Aramark, began managing concessions operations at Yosemite National Park . Last summer the National Park Service awarded Aramark the 15-year contract to manage Yosemite's hospitality programs encompassing lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreational and transportation service. Future plans call for upgrades and improvements to lodges and other concessioner operated facilities in the park. There will also be enhancements to nature programs provided by the concessioner and outdoor recreational activities.





-- Earlier this year, Yosemite Hospitality, LLC, a subsidiary of Aramark, began managing concessions operations at . Last summer the National Park Service awarded Aramark the 15-year contract to manage hospitality programs encompassing lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreational and transportation service. Future plans call for upgrades and improvements to lodges and other concessioner operated facilities in the park. There will also be enhancements to nature programs provided by the concessioner and outdoor recreational activities. OdySea Aquarium -- OdySea Aquarium, opening this summer in Scottsdale, AZ , named Aramark its food and beverage partner for what is being called the largest aquarium in the Southwest. Spanning 200,000 square feet, the two-level aquarium will hold more than 2 million gallons of water and accommodate up to 15,000 visitors daily.





-- OdySea Aquarium, opening this summer in , named Aramark its food and beverage partner for what is being called the largest aquarium in the Southwest. Spanning 200,000 square feet, the two-level aquarium will hold more than 2 million gallons of water and accommodate up to 15,000 visitors daily. Patagonia Lake State Park  This off-season, Aramark partnered with Arizona State Parks to manage concessions at Patagonia Lake State Park, including the campgrounds, grocery and fishing stores. A new fleet of watercraft was added to the existing offerings.





 This off-season, Aramark partnered with Arizona State Parks to manage concessions at Patagonia Lake State Park, including the campgrounds, grocery and fishing stores. A new fleet of watercraft was added to the existing offerings. Sol Duc Tent Campgrounds  Within Olympic National Park, Aramark has expanded its operations and now manages the Tent Campgrounds at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in addition to the RV Campground, Lodge and Hot Springs. Reservations are now being accepted.

Upgrades and Improvements

Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) upgraded the Lakeview rooms with new paint, carpet and fixtures. The 48' Navigator houseboats were also refreshed with new furnishings, flooring and paint. WIND, a new casual dining concept offering custom coffee creations and tea by day and wine and small plates by night, was launched.





(Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) upgraded the rooms with new paint, carpet and fixtures. The 48' Navigator houseboats were also refreshed with new furnishings, flooring and paint. WIND, a new casual dining concept offering custom coffee creations and tea by day and wine and small plates by night, was launched. Far View Lodge ( Mesa Verde National Park ) converted all standard rooms to upgraded Kiva and Kiva Deluxe View Rooms. All of the park restaurants, including the award-winning Metate Room, have new menus. The Metate Room is showcasing their ongoing support of local food producers with a new Farm to Table program every Friday and Saturday night in which one special will be prepared each evening using only local ingredients. Meanwhile, Spruce Tree Terrace is also offering a new onsite BBQ dining option Thursdays through Mondays. New activities in the park include the Far View Explorer Tour and a new interpretive campground program called Morefield Explorer.





( ) converted all standard rooms to upgraded Kiva and Kiva Deluxe View Rooms. All of the park restaurants, including the award-winning Metate Room, have new menus. The Metate Room is showcasing their ongoing support of local food producers with a new Farm to Table program every Friday and Saturday night in which one special will be prepared each evening using only local ingredients. Meanwhile, Spruce Tree Terrace is also offering a new onsite BBQ dining option Thursdays through Mondays. New activities in the park include the Far View Explorer Tour and a new interpretive campground program called Morefield Explorer. Denali Park Village ( Denali National Park and Preserve) added 48 new rooms to its property. A portion of the diesel in-park bus fleet operated by Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture has been replaced with propane fueled buses in order to reduce greenhouse gases. Additionally, tour guests will now be provided with aluminum water cans (www.cannedwater4kids.com) that help fund and deliver clean water programs while also making recycling easier and less labor intensive.





( and Preserve) added 48 new rooms to its property. A portion of the diesel in-park bus fleet operated by has been replaced with propane fueled buses in order to reduce greenhouse gases. Additionally, tour guests will now be provided with aluminum water cans (www.cannedwater4kids.com) that help fund and deliver clean water programs while also making recycling easier and less labor intensive. Lake Tahoe Cruises (Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest) is scheduled to complete major renovations to the Tahoe Queen paddlewheeler, which includes interior design renovations, exterior deck and paint improvements as well as the installation of new engines which are compliant with the enhanced Tier-3 emissions standards. Similarly, the Tahoe Paradise recently underwent a remodel and new exterior paint job. New speed boats and a pontoon boat have also been added to the marina's fleet.





(Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest) is scheduled to complete major renovations to the Tahoe Queen paddlewheeler, which includes interior design renovations, exterior deck and paint improvements as well as the installation of new engines which are compliant with the enhanced Tier-3 emissions standards. Similarly, the recently underwent a remodel and new exterior paint job. New speed boats and a pontoon boat have also been added to the marina's fleet. Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds ( Pacific Grove, CA ) will welcome guests on Friday evenings throughout the summer for "Sunsets on the Deck" which features live music, local California wines and food specials.

Renewed Partnerships

Far View Lodge ( Mesa Verde National Park )

) Glacier Bay Lodge (Glacier Bay National Park)

Denali National Park Joint Venture ( Denali National Park and Preserve)

and Preserve) Charles F. Knight Education and Conference Center ( Washington University , St. Louis )

, ) The Fluno Center ( University of Wisconsin, Madison )

Centennial News

On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th birthday. As a longtime partner of the National Park Service and America's national parks, Aramark is proud to be a sponsor of the National Park Foundation's Centennial Campaign. The sponsorship will help reintroduce the national parks and the work of the National Park Service to a new generation of Americans, inviting them to visit and get involved. For more information about the National Park Service's Centennial, visit www.nationalparks.org/centennial.

To honor the occasion, Aramark has introduced various promotions for visitors and guests.

Specials - Aramark is offering a free night's stay to those who share a birth year with the National Park Service. Centenarian's (those who are or will be one hundred or more years old in 2016) and their guest may stay free at any of the following properties: Denali Park Village, Glacier Bay Lodge, Togwotee Mountain Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Lake Crescent Lodge, Lake Quinault Lodge, Far View Lodge, Lake Powell Resort, Half Dome Village, Big Trees Lodge.





- Aramark is offering a free night's stay to those who share a birth year with the National Park Service. Centenarian's (those who are or will be one hundred or more years old in 2016) and their guest may stay free at any of the following properties: Denali Park Village, Glacier Bay Lodge, Togwotee Mountain Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Lake Crescent Lodge, Lake Quinault Lodge, Far View Lodge, Lake Powell Resort, Half Dome Village, Big Trees Lodge. Retail  Aramark has added a new line of Centennial retail items to their gift shops at their properties across the country. Centennial items include glassware, Moscow Mule mugs, playing cards and made in the USA apparel.





 Aramark has added a new line of Centennial retail items to their gift shops at their properties across the country. Centennial items include glassware, Moscow Mule mugs, playing cards and made in the apparel. Online  Aramark will be counting down the last 100 days to the National Park Service Centennial with weekly Centennial merchandise giveaways on each National Park property's Facebook page.

Aramark proudly delivers innovative hospitality, recreational and interpretive programs inside and around America's top travel destinations and vacation spots, such as Denali National Park & Preserve, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, Olympic National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Olympic National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Field Museum, Gettysburg National Military Park, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Zoo and many more.

For a full list of Aramark's travel destinations and offerings, visit www.aramark.com.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people's lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. United by a passion to serve, our 270,000 employees make a meaningful difference each day for millions of people in 21 countries around the world. Aramark is recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, rated number one among Diversified Outsourcing Companies, as well as among the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact:

David Freireich

215-238-4078

[email protected]

Erin Noss

215-409-7403

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366543

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131212/PH32713LOGO

SOURCE Aramark

Related Links

http://www.aramark.com


ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arch Coal Foundation recently named 10 exceptional Wyoming classroom teachers as recipients of the prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. It is Wyoming's longest-running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program, now in its 16th year.

The announcement was made by John W. Eaves, Arch Coal's chairman and chief executive officer. Each recipient was honored at a special assembly held in front of students and faculty at his or her individual school.

The 2016 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipients are:

Joseph Allen East High School Cheyenne Candy Dooper Niobrara County High School Lusk Sharon A. Duffey Pine Bluffs and Albin Elementary Schools Pine Bluffs and Albin James Hoffman Riverside High School Basin Meredith Huggins Jackson Elementary School Jackson Janet Lee Dubois Elementary School Dubois Chrissy Owen Summit Elementary School Casper Kelly Phelan Cody High School Cody Magen Seeley-Marotz Bain Elementary School Cheyenne Kathryn Watson Guernsey-Sunrise Secondary School Guernsey

"Each year, we are honored to recognize 10 outstanding Wyoming teachers with an Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award," Eaves said. "Once again, this year's recipients are among the best of the best from around the state. They represent the many Wyoming educators who daily bring a sense of excitement to the classroom and a sense of purpose to the learning experience. We congratulate each of them for their ability to inspire and to encourage their students to reach ever-higher levels of achievement."

"Wyoming was recently recognized as having the best education system among Western states and eighth best nationally. A state cannot have those rankings without great teachers," said Gov. Matt Mead. "I always look forward to partnering with Arch to recognize outstanding teachers and celebrate their success. These teachers make a difference in children's lives. I congratulate and thank each of them."

Teachers are nominated by the public, and a blue-ribbon panel of past awards recipients selects the annual winners. Each recipient is presented with a distinctive trophy, a classroom plaque and a personal cash award.

The Teacher Achievement Awards are underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation and are supported in program promotion by the Office of the Governor, the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Library Community, the Wyoming Education Association (WEA), Taco John's and Loaf 'N Jug.

"Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future," said Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. "Their impact reaches not only their students and their school, but also their community and our state. I'm so proud to have a multitude of excellent educators in Wyoming and grateful that Arch Coal has supported teachers through this award for generations. Arch Coal is a wonderful partner in education and in recognizing, even in difficult times, the significant and valuable contribution made by these teachers."

"The governor and legislators have made education a priority in Wyoming through investing in a great system and our Wyoming students; those dollars are paying off. Significant funding for K-12 comes directly from the mining industry and I would like to thank them for all they do to educate students in our state, as our students are truly our future. Recent reports show that Wyoming students lead the West, and the WEA is confident that support for a strong education in Wyoming will continue in the future," said WEA President Kathy Vetter.

Arch Coal and the Arch Coal Foundation have a long history of supporting educational and community causes in Wyoming. The Arch Coal Foundation also supports teacher recognition or grants programs in West Virginia and Colorado. Information about each of this year's 10 recipients, as well as past recipients, is posted at archteacherawards.com.

U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. is a top coal producer for the global steel and power generation industries, reliably serving customers worldwide. Its network of large-scale, low-cost mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. Arch Coal's Thunder Basin Coal Company operates the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines in Wyoming. For more information, visit archcoal.com.

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SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.archcoal.com


In his various roles, Arturo has developed compensation and benefits programs in more than 80 countries for organizations of all sizes in a wide variety of industries.

Fisher most recently served as Vice President of the International Practice at HUB International Midwest, and Principal and Director of the International Consulting Practice at Laurus Strategies, now a HUB International company. Fisher was also Managing Director at Global Reward Solutions and a Partner at Hewitt Associates, now Aon Hewitt.

"Arturo's expertise in Global HR and Benefits is substantial, and we are thrilled to have him in a senior position within our global practice," said Pam Enright, Senior Vice President and Director of Lockton Global Benefits.

Arturo serves at the advisory Board of Catholic Charities of Lake County and is a frequent guest speaker at domestic and international human resources forums. He has a bachelor's degree in business from La Salle University in Mexico City.

Lockton's Chicago operation is located at 500 W. Monroe Street, Suite 3400. You can reach the office at 312-669-6900 or [email protected].

About Lockton

More than 6,000 professionals at Lockton provide 48,000 clients around the world with risk management, insurance, and employee benefits consulting services that improve their businesses. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has attracted entrepreneurial professionals who have driven its growth to become the largest privately held, independent insurance broker in the world and 10th largest overall. For seven consecutive years, Business Insurance has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's employee benefits experts, check the Lockton Health Reform Blog, the Lockton Health Risk Solutions Blog, the Lockton Benefits Communications Blog or the Lockton HR Technology Blog.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367128

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090415/CG99351LOGO

SOURCE Lockton

Related Links

http://www.lockton.com


HOUSTON and SAN FRANCISCO, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MEDIA ADVISORY: Ascende, an EPIC company, today announced that Ascende Retirement Director Rob Massa is speaking at the Gulf Coast Symposium. Massa will speak on "The Intersection of Health Care and Retirement" on Thursday, May 12 at 9 a.m. at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.

With the increasing convergence between health care and retirement, it is essential for employers to implement strategic approaches to delivering these benefits. This session will provide ways to effectively coordinate the two programs for maximum employee and employer benefits.

Event Details:

Thursday, May 12, 2016

NRG Center, Room 504, NRG Center, Houston, Texas

9 a.m.-10 a.m.

Click here to add Rob's session to your agenda ( http://hrhouston16.mapyourshow.com/6_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?ScheduleID=143 ).

Ascende will also be in the Exhibit Hall at Booth 218.

About Rob Massa, Retirement Director, Ascende:

Rob Massa joined Ascende as the retirement practice leader in 2010, and in 2011, led the introduction of Ascende Wealth Advisers, Inc. He oversees a team of retirement professionals who work with clients and investment committees to help them develop meaningful retirement plan strategies, manage compliance requirements and fiduciary duties, educate employees and make informed decisions in plan operations. Prior to joining Ascende, he spent 10 years at MBM Advisors, Inc. as a vice president, principal and shareholder of the company. His entire career has been focused in the investment management and administration of qualified retirement plans through a diverse series of responsibilities, including investment advice, trust administration, recordkeeping, compliance testing, product management, legal, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities compliance and client consultation.

Rob has a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration and a minor in mathematics from the College of New Jersey. He is a licensed life/health representative, has passed the Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 securities exams, is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and a Cash Balance Consultant (CBC). In addition, he taught employee benefits at St. Thomas University for the Certified Financial Planner Program.

About Gulf Coast Symposium:

The Gulf Coast Symposium represents every facet of the HR Industry, making it the annual one-stop-shop for HR Professionals. Other shows represent just a few components of the HR Industry - the Gulf Coast Symposium brings them all together in one location.

About Ascende  an EPIC Company:

One of the largest independent employee benefits only consulting firms in the country, Houston-based Ascende specializes in health and welfare consulting, benefit plan administration, retirement and investment advisory, wellness, communications, global benefit solutions, mergers and acquisitions consulting and human resources consulting services.

Ascende also offers services unique to the employee benefits industry through the Ascendent Pharmacy Coalition, a purchasing cooperative that reduces pharmaceutical costs to employers.

For additional information, please visit http://www.ascende.com

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit www.epicbrokers.com.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

David Hock, of EPIC

650.295.4608

[email protected]

Nicole Conley

650.422.3156

[email protected]

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Related Links

http://www.epicbrokers.com


ATLANTA, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Graduating from college brings about big and exciting changes like new jobs, new cities, new living arrangements andfor many recent gradsnew needs in a car. With hundreds of makes and models to choose from, young car buyers can find it challenging to select the best match for their new lifestyles, not to mention navigating the process of actually purchasing the car. To help college graduates who are on the hunt for a new set of wheels, Autotrader experts compiled a list of Great Cars for Recent College Grads, as well as their top insights for young car buyers.

"The car that got you through your college years may not work for your new lifestyle, but the great news is that there are a lot of options on the market today," said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. "All of the vehicles we picked for this list are fun, reliable and thoughtfully designedperfect choices to fuel the next phase of your journey."

For the list, Autotrader editors rounded up nine great new and certified pre-owned (CPO) cars that are affordable to buy, lower cost to own, highly practical andin their opinionexcellent vehicles with great styling and a lot of available equipment. Each vehicle has a starting price under $25,000 and gets at least 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

The nine models that recent college grads should have on their shopping lists are:

FIAT 500X

Honda Civic

Kia Soul

Mazda3

Scion iA







Subaru Crosstrek

CPO Chevrolet Equinox

CPO Lexus CT

CPO Hyundai Sonata

"Some young car buyers may think that a new car is out of their reach, but there are many new cars that are relatively affordable, and some manufacturers even have special offers and programs designed specifically for recent graduates," Moody added. "CPO cars also merit close consideration, as they offer many of the benefits of a new car, like low mileage and bumper-to-bumper limited warranties, without the new-car price tag."

To get those car search engines started for new grads, Autotrader has rounded up the top three facts that might surprise young car buyers about the car shopping process.

CPO vehicles offer the best of both worlds. Consider CPO cars first, as a lower-cost alternative that gets you into a nearly new car. CPO vehicles are pre-owned, but they are late-model, low-mileage vehicles that have been fully inspected according to manufacturer guidelines and come with a warranty. You can likely get a CPO vehicle in a higher trim level (or class) for the same price as a lower-end new car. Credit has a bigger impact than you may think. Your credit score has a big impact on the deal you can get, as well as what programs and promotions you qualify for. It not only determines how good your interest rate will be, it also affects how much you'll pay monthly and over the life of the loan. Most advertised deals are for people with excellent credit, which many young car buyers haven't yet built. There are two kinds of test drives. The test drive you do when you're shopping should be completely different from the test drive you do when you're ready to buyand these should happen on different days. When you're shopping, get behind the wheels of two or three models you're considering to find out which ones are as good in the real world as they are on paper. Once you've decided which model you want, take a long, thorough test drive on a different day in the exact vehicle you plan to purchase.

To find out more about the selected vehicles and why the experts at Autotrader picked them for recent college grads, check out Great Cars for Recent College Grads.

About Autotrader

Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.

Autotrader is a Cox Automotive brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto, Xtime and a host of other brands. The global company has nearly 30,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 55,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

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SOURCE Autotrader

Related Links

http://www.autotrader.com


LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bentham IMF, the pioneer and world leader in commercial litigation funding, announced it is helping fund the launch of a new Civil Justice Research Institute (the "Institute") at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

Led by UC Irvine School of Law Dean, nationally renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, the Institute will study factors that limit access to America's court system, including inadequate funding of state and local courts; the increased use of compulsory arbitration clauses favoring businesses and limiting judicial review; restrictions on class action lawsuits; limits on punitive damages and other challenges, among other issues. The Institute will serve as an academic and intellectual counterweight to the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform, an outspoken critic of litigation, generally.

The only litigation funder to support an institution pursuing policy initiatives in the United States, Bentham has committed $300,000 over the next three years and is among the Institute's largest supporters. Bentham will also contribute to the Institute's growth by serving on its Advisory Board.

Ralph Sutton, Bentham's Chief Investment Officer, notes that the goals of the Institute align perfectly with Bentham's mission of expanding access to justice in a legal system distorted by the runaway costs of litigation. "Economic imbalances have an increasing impact on the outcome of civil disputes, frequently favoring parties with the deepest pockets rather than those with meritorious claims," he said. Allison Chock, head of Bentham's Los Angeles office added, "We're excited to be joining Dean Chemerinsky and UC Irvine School of Law in taking a disciplined look at the economic distortions in our system. The Institute will also look to the remedies that can help level the judicial playing field for litigants." Roman Silberfeld, a leading civil trial lawyer, executive board member of Robins Kaplan LLP, and member of Bentham's U.S advisory panel, will also chair the CJRI Advisory Board.

The Institute was announced a few weeks ago at UC Irvine School of Law. Founded in 2009, the school was the first new public law school created in California in nearly 50 years. The school has a strong commitment to public service, and all of its students are required to participate in legal clinics representing clients, with faculty supervision. The law school was given full accreditation by the American Bar Association in 2014, at the earliest possible time. In that short period, UC Irvine School of Law has been nationally recognized as a leading law school, including ranked No. 28 on U.S. News & World Report's roster of "Best Law Schools." Its faculty is ranked sixth in the country in scholarly impact, behind only Yale, Harvard, University of Chicago, New York University and Stanford University.

The Law School is led by Dean Chemerinsky, who is the author of eight books and more than 200 law review articles. He has also argued dozens of federal appellate and U.S. Supreme Court cases, and was recently named the most influential person in legal education.

"UCI is the most exciting and innovative public law school in the nation," said Mr. Sutton. "Just as UCI has rocketed to prominence, the Civil Justice Research Institute is expected to have a profound impact on legal scholarship. Dean Chemerinsky is among the nation's most respected experts on constitutional law, and the Institute is his vision."

"We are grateful for the support shown by Bentham in the launch of the Institute  not just in its financial backing but in its outspoken endorsement of our charter," Dean Chemerinsky said. "UCI Law's Civil Justice Research Institute shares Bentham's deep commitment to exploring how the doors to our civil justice system can be opened to all Americans."

To date, Bentham has funded to completion more than 180 commercial litigation matters that have generated over $1.7 billion in recoveries. The only funder to disclose details of its recoveries, Bentham's clients have retained an average of 63% of all case proceeds over the company's 15 years of operation.

About Bentham IMF

Bentham is a publicly listed (ASX: IMF) company providing access to justice for individuals and companies. Bentham has 10 offices throughout Australia, the United States, Europe and Canada and provides funding to clients in jurisdictions including the US, Australia, the UK, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Bentham has reviewed thousands of commercial cases in the past 15 years and enjoys a 90% success rate. The American Lawyer magazine has recognized the co-founders of the company among the "Top 50 Big Law Innovators in the Last 50 Years."

For more information, please visit www.benthamimf.com.

Contact: Allan Ripp 212-262-7477 [email protected]

SOURCE Bentham IMF

Related Links

http://www.benthamimf.com


OAKLAND, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations in India's highly competitive labor market focused on leadership, diversity and responsive dialogue with employees are more likely to perform well on business and talent outcomes, according to new research from Bersin by Deloitte, Deloitte Consulting LLP. The business and talent outcomes typically include improved innovation, productivity, meeting or exceeding financial targets, and engagement and retention. Summarized in a WhatWorks Brief, the research findings appear in "High-Impact Talent Management: Talent Management Maturity in India." A separate report, "Talent Management in India: Improve Maturity in Three Steps," provides a process on how Indian organizations can strengthen their talent management strategy and practices.

The research findings identified the talent practices that organizations with strong business and talent outcomes use most effectively for organizations operating in India and for Global 2000 organizations. Global 2000 organizations in this case are defined as the 454 companies in the Bersin by Deloitte survey population with more than US$750 million in annual revenue. The research also included 269 Indian organizations with more than 100 employees. The research found that 29 percent of all the organizations surveyed globally have mature talent strategies and processes in place versus just 21 percent of surveyed organizations in India. Bersin by Deloitte defines high-maturity organizations as those having clear talent strategies that align to the business strategy, a visible culture of leadership and learning, a systemic (versus ad-hoc) way of understanding and communicating with talent, and practices that embrace diversity and inclusion.

"Organizations today face substantial challenges in engaging, retaining and leading a global workforce," said Stacia Sherman Garr, vice president, talent and HR research, Bersin by Deloitte, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "This is particularly true in growth markets such as India. Our research shows that 80 percent of Indian organizations are missing out on the identified substantial financial, business and talent benefits of creating a clear, more mature talent strategy."

The research found that many Indian organizations have strong talent acquisition, performance management and formal skills-based learning activities for employees. Although these are important investments, the next steps to consider are building a culture of leadership and more aggressively communicating the organization's talent strategy. To reach the highest level of maturity, organizations should also provide a more customized and engaging employee experience that embraces employees' diverse backgrounds.

Compared to Global 2000 organizations, our research found that Indian companies:

Have lower levels of maturity overall . Only 3 percent of Indian organizations are at the lowest level of maturity, but a full 76 percent of them are at the second-lowest level of maturity. This indicates that a majority of Indian organizations have moved past the most basic talent management practices and are developing increasingly clear talent strategies with more sophisticated foundational talent processes such as talent acquisition, performance management and formal learning opportunities.

. Only 3 percent of Indian organizations are at the lowest level of maturity, but a full 76 percent of them are at the second-lowest level of maturity. This indicates that a majority of Indian organizations have moved past the most basic talent management practices and are developing increasingly clear talent strategies with more sophisticated foundational talent processes such as talent acquisition, performance management and formal learning opportunities. Excel at establishing fair performance policies, processes and systems . Overall, Indian organizations report employees have higher perceptions of procedural fairness and their organizations demonstrate higher levels of sophistication with their performance management practices as compared with G2000 organizations.

. Overall, Indian organizations report employees have higher perceptions of procedural fairness and their organizations demonstrate higher levels of sophistication with their performance management practices as compared with G2000 organizations. Communicate and integrate talent strategies more often . This involves having a clear talent strategy that is communicated throughout the organization and integrated with relevant talent practices.

. This involves having a clear talent strategy that is communicated throughout the organization and integrated with relevant talent practices. Develop more prevalent systemic relationships with talent . Indian organizations typically understand that talent is a strategic asset that requires investment in the relationship to drive enhanced performance. These organizations know their key talent from a quantitative and qualitative perspective and have processes that enable them to respond to that information.

. Indian organizations typically understand that talent is a strategic asset that requires investment in the relationship to drive enhanced performance. These organizations know their key talent from a quantitative and qualitative perspective and have processes that enable them to respond to that information. Maintain less integrated leadership development practices. Indian organizations tend to lack a systemic approach to leader growth that integrates leadership development activities with other talent management activities. For example, there may be little connection between succession- management processes and leadership-development opportunities.

Indian organizations tend to lack a systemic approach to leader growth that integrates leadership development activities with other talent management activities. For example, there may be little connection between succession- management processes and leadership-development opportunities. Implement somewhat more integrated and strategic diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts. Organizations that are able to master these factors are able to see the greatest benefit in their talent and business outcomes. Embedded D&I involves integrating it with other individual-focused talent activities, such as learning and performance management. Strategic D&I encompasses the intentional design of policies and practices that align and reinforce D&I initiatives.

Given these findings, Bersin by Deloitte's related report, "Talent Management in India: Improve Maturity in Three Steps," identifies a process leaders should follow for helping to improve talent management maturity. This process calls for organizations at lower levels of maturity to:

Strengthen core talent management practices, such as performance management. For example, leverage strengths in areas such as performance appraisal processes and goal setting to help improve accountability for employee development overall, and set the stage for a culture of learning.

For example, leverage strengths in areas such as performance appraisal processes and goal setting to help improve accountability for employee development overall, and set the stage for a culture of learning. Develop and communicate a talent strategy. Ensure that the talent strategy is widely understood and communicated to employees, especially by middle managers.

Ensure that the talent strategy is widely understood and communicated to employees, especially by middle managers. Focus on diversity and inclusion throughout all talent practices. For example, expand the investment in diversity and inclusion in the organization; clearly connect this effort to leadership development, succession, learning, performance, and other complementary talent processes.

To learn more, register to join Stacia Sherman Garr for her online webinar, "Talent Management in Growth Markets: India," May 19, 10 a.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. IST (India - New Delhi).

Those interested in learning more about Bersin by Deloitte or its WhatWorks membership may email [email protected] or call +1 510 251 4400.

About Bersin by Deloitte

Bersin by Deloitte delivers research-based people strategies designed to help leaders and their organizations in their efforts to deliver exceptional business performance. Our WhatWorks membership gives Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 HR professionals the information and tools they need to design and implement leading practice solutions, benchmark against others, develop their staff, and select and implement systems. A piece of Bersin by Deloitte research is downloaded on average approximately every minute during the business day. More than 5,000 organizations worldwide use our research and consulting to guide their HR, talent and learning strategies. For more information, please visit http://www.bersin.com.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

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SOURCE Bersin by Deloitte

Related Links

http://www.bersin.com


LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A record year, a new CEO and Gold Status partnership with Hortonworks - Big Data Partnership targets new sectors for growth

Carmen C. Carey, CEO, Big Data Partnership (PRNewsFoto/Big Data Partnership)

Big Data Partnership, Europe's largest independent big data services consultancy, today announced record financial results with 91% year on year growth from FY15-FY16.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151009/275708LOGO )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366557 )

To support its future strategy and rapid scale up, the company has also appointed CEO Carmen Carey, most recently COO at Metapack, CEO of ControlCircle (acquired by Alternative Networks in 2014), and previously COO of MessageLabs (now Symantec).

Carey has joined Big Data Partnership to help the company build on the continuing momentum the big data industry has experienced over the past two years, delivering value to an increasing portfolio of enterprise clients. The firm's 3D approach, 'Discover - Develop - Deliver', has been widely acknowledged to fast-track firms looking to implement the new generation of big data technologies, with three clear stages designed to turn complex data into actionable customer insight and solutions to deliver tangible returns.

"This is a pivotal time for Big Data Partnership as the big data industry moves into the mainstream and companies realise the potential to develop and monetise deeper business and customer insights," says Carey. "Businesses are realising the need for improved speed of transformation, and Big Data Partnership is in a unique position to enable greater analytics capabilities to support this while fostering a truly data-driven culture amongst organisations. The depth of knowledge and experience within our team is unparalleled in Europe, and we are enjoying helping our customers to innovate and pioneer the use of emerging technologies - it's an exciting time."

Big Data Partnership's expertise and potential has not gone unnoticed throughout the industry. Big Data Partnership is the first of Hortonworks' EMEA-based System Integrator (SI) partners to achieve Gold Partner status, which is testament to the quality of its work and the large number of certified professionals it is able to deploy.

The two companies have completed several successful projects and training together, with much of Big Data Partnership's team carrying Hadoop certification. The partnership will act as a foundation for Hortonworks to continue its growth and expansion into EMEA as the demand for Connected Data Platforms increases.

"We continue to see an increased demand for Hadoop in Europe as evident by the highest attendance ever at the recent Hadoop Summit held in Dublin," says John Kreisa, VP International Marketing, Hortonworks. "Our history of working together coupled with a large number of highly qualified experts at Big Data Partnership available for full lifecycle projects and training affirmed Gold Partner status," Kreisa adds.

"Becoming a Hortonworks gold partner is a great accomplishment for us and proof that the market for big data is growing very quickly," says Carey. "We're delighted to be collaborating with Hortonworks to help organisations become more data-driven through data science and the adoption of Hadoop."

Over the past 24 months, London-based Big Data Partnership has tripled in size. The company recently joined Hortonworks at Hadoop Summit in Dublin where it previewed its new service offering, the Data Capability Framework, an in-depth assessment process that helps organisations to accelerate big data speed to market and programme delivery.

About Big Data Partnership:

Founded in 2012, Big Data Partnership is EMEA's leading big data specialist solution provider. Offering strategic consulting, data science, big data engineering and certified training & support, Big Data Partnership provides scalable and reliable solutions to capture, store and analyse big data. Big Data Partnership's team has deep expertise and experience in key big data technologies including the Apache Hadoop ecosystem, Apache Spark, NoSQL and search technologies. Big Data Partnership is venture-funded by Beringea LLP. For more information, visit http://www.bigdatapartnership.com.

SOURCE Big Data Partnership
MUMBAI, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, India, a leading pharmaceuticals company, had filed a trademark violation suit in the Bombay High Court against Andheri-based company Taj Pharmaceuticals, India. Taj Pharmaceuticals was accused of facilitating the export of batches of sub-standard anticancer injections by using Emcure's brand name BiCNU.

Disposing of the intellectual property rights case, Bombay High Court passed an order of permanent and mandatory injunction restraining Taj Pharmaceuticals, its affiliate concerns or group entities and any person claiming by, through or under them from infringing Emcure's registered trademark 'BICNU' or 'Consium' or using any mark attempting to pass off any products as those of Emcure or manufacture, sell or deal with any goods to indicate that these goods are manufactured by Emcure. The Court further clarified that Taj Pharmaceuticals is not to affix any mark or indication on any of the goods with which they deal so as to suggest that those goods emanate from Emcure. "It is clarified that whatever the grievances the Plaintiffs [Emcure] and Defendants [Taj Pharmaceuticals] may have against each other, these will not extend to a claim by the Plaintiffs for damages on the cause of action pleaded in this Suit," said the Court.

Pursuant to the said order of the Honorable Bombay High Court, Taj Pharmaceuticals released a press release on April 26, 2016 stating incorrect facts about Emcure, the suit and the order passed by the Honorable High Court. Dr. Birender Saraf, counsel for Emcure, brought up the matter before the Court, seeking for direction against the press release issued. The matter was heard on May 3, 2016 and upon hearing the parties it was observed by Justice Gautam Patel in his order dated May 3, 2016 that "Rather than seeing that order in the spirit in which it is intended, Dr. Saraf for the Plaintiffs points out that the Defendants then proceeded to issue a press release that is a complete distortion. It attributes even to me personally things I never said. It attributes to me a conclusion or judicial determination that I did not make. It makes out a case that the Plaintiff was unsuccessful in its case. Nothing can be further from the truth."

It was further observed in the order that, "I note for the record that almost nothing these Defendants say on behalf of Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited is to be believed. They have no manufacturing unit. Their statements and claims on their website have been found to be false in every particular. Mr. Shantanu Singh, who watched with all in Court a YouTube video put out by the Defendants, that the claims made in that video are untrue. The Defendants do not own, operate or manage any manufacturing facility at all. They only claim to trade in generic drugs, buying from one and selling to another. Beyond this they have no expertise, technical or otherwise, whatsoever. The tall claims in the YouTube video and on their website are wholly unsubstantiated." Justice Gautam Patel further did not agree with the claim made by Taj Pharmaceuticals about their relationship with Taj Accura, Ireland.

The Court ordered Taj Pharmaceuticals to immediately issue a press release containing the full, unedited and unexpurgated content and text of the order passed by Court on May 3, 2016. However, Taj Pharmaceuticals issued a press release containing the order dated April 21, 2016 thereby not complying with the order of May 3, 2016.

The matter was again heard on May 4, 2016 in the Court and Dr. Saraf, counsel for Emcure, tendered across the press release published by Taj Pharmaceuticals on May 3, 2016 and informed the Court about the non-compliance by Taj Pharmaceuticals of the order dated 3rd May, 2016 as Taj Pharmaceuticals published the order dated 21st April, 2016 instead of the May 3 order.

Advocate Abhijit Kulkarni, counsel for Taj Pharmaceuticals informed the Court that Taj Pharmaceuticals are willing to tender an unconditional apology for publishing the press release. The Court after noting the undertaking given by the advocate, directed Taj Pharmaceuticals to further issue a press release by the end of day of May 4, 2016 stating that the contents of press release dated April 26, 2016 were inaccurate and that Taj Pharmaceuticals withdraws the same and also passed an order restraining Taj Pharmaceuticals from issuing further press releases or effecting any private circulation.

Thereafter, Taj Pharmaceuticals issued a press release dated May 4, 2016, stating that the press release dated April 26, 2016 as incorrect and unconditionally withdrawing the same in its entirety along with all the contents there in.

For more information, visit: http://www.emcure.co.in/

For more information on the press release dated May 4, 2016, please visit, http://www.prnewswire.co.in/news-releases/clarification-on-behalf-of-taj-pharmaceuticals-in-respect-of-press-release-dated-26th-april-2016-578098941.html



Media Contact:

Ajit Srimal

[email protected]

+44 7947346221

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited



SOURCE Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd
NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Long-term members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) report little or no craving for alcohol, but why this happens remains poorly understood.

In the first study to explore brain physiology in AA members, researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center found that members who recited AA prayers after viewing drinking-related images reported less craving for alcohol after praying than after just reading a newspaper. The reduced craving in those that prayed corresponded to increased activity in brain regions responsible for attention and emotion as measured by MRI, according to study results published recently in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

"Our findings suggest that the experience of AA over the years had left these members with an innate ability to use the AA experienceprayer in this caseto minimize the effect of alcohol triggers in producing craving," says senior author Marc Galanter, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse at NYU Langone. "Craving is diminished in long-term AA members compared to patients who have stopped drinking for some period of time but are more vulnerable to relapse."

The study results revolve around craving, one of the criteria physicians use to diagnose addiction. Such strong desires can persist even in addicted people who no longer use alcohol or drugs, and AA members recite abstinence-promoting prayers to reduce cravings.

"We wanted to determine what is going on in the brain in response to alcohol-craving triggers, such as passing by a bar or experiencing something upsetting, when long-term AA members are exposed to them," Dr. Galanter says.

To investigate, Dr. Galanter and his colleagues recruited 20 long-term AA members who reported no cravings for alcohol during the week preceding testing. The participants were placed in an MRI scanner and then shown either pictures of alcoholic drinks or people drinking to simulate drinking behavior in a laboratory setting. The pictures were presented twice: first after asking the participant to read neutral material from a newspaper, and again after the participant recited an AA prayer promoting abstinence from alcohol to represent the impact of AA.

According to the study authors, all research subjects reported some degree of craving for alcohol after viewing the images, and less craving after reciting an AA prayer. MRI data revealed that there were changes in parts of the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain that controls attention, and in brain sites responsible for control of emotion and the semantic reappraisal of emotion, which represents the different ways a people understand situations based on their perspectives.

"This finding suggests that there appears to be an emotional response to alcohol triggers, but that it's experienced and understood differently when someone has the protection of the AA experience," Galanter says.

In Galanter's decade-long research into the role of spirituality in long-term AA members, he and his colleagues have found that members undergo a transition from initially craving alcohol to a new status where they reported little or no craving. This reduction in craving, according to Dr. Galanter, is associated with the amount of time that passed following a "spiritual awakening" in AA, which marks a transition to a different attitude toward drinking.

Previous investigations by other researchers of the role of prayer on drinking behavior found that alcohol abusers who reported a spiritual awakening drank less after treatment for alcoholism. Research participants assigned to engage in prayerunrelated to drinkingevery day for four weeks drank about half as much as those who were not.

"Our current findings open up a new field of inquiry into physiologic changes that may accompany spiritual awakening and perspective changes in AA members and others," says Galanter. He says the study results also support the validity of a long-term AA experience in terms of physiologic changes in the brain.

In early 2016, Oxford University Press published Dr. Galanter's book What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?, which provides context for his group's studies of the psychological affects of AA.

Dr. Galanter's co-authors were Zoran Josipovic, PhD, and Helen Dermatis, PhD, at NYU Langone, Jochen Weber at Columbia University, and Mary Alice Millard, formerly at NYU Langone. The research was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

SOURCE NYU Langone Medical Center
WATERTOWN, Mass., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) (the "Company") today announced that certain of its stockholders, which include certain of the Company's executive officers and directors (the "Selling Stockholders"), intend to offer for sale 2,115,000 shares of its common stock pursuant to the Company's shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which the Company intends to repurchase from the underwriter 1,000,000 shares of common stock.

The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from this offering. No shares are being sold by the Company.

The Company's per-share purchase price for the repurchased shares will be the same as the per-share purchase price payable by the underwriter to the Selling Stockholders. The Company intends to fund the share repurchase with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Barclays will act as underwriter for the offering.

An automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of common stock was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 25, 2014 and became effective upon filing. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference in that registration statement as well as the prospectus supplement related to this offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering may also be obtained from Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-888-603-5847, or by emailing [email protected].

The offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Any offer to buy the securities may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time prior to notice of its acceptance given after the effective date.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions is a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and family life. The Company provides center-based full service child care, back-up dependent care and educational advisory services to more than 1,000 clients across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and India, including more than 150 FORTUNE 500 companies and more than 80 of Working Mother magazine's 2015 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." Bright Horizons has been recognized sixteen times as one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and is one of the UK's Best Workplaces as designated by the Great Place to Work Institute. Bright Horizons is headquartered in Watertown, MA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that express our opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, "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, including statements regarding the offering. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "projects," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or "anticipates," or, in each case, their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future, including risks and uncertainties relating to the consummation of the proposed offering by the Selling Stockholders and the repurchase by the Company and the risks identified, or incorporated by reference, in the prospectus supplement or accompanying prospectus.

Contacts:

Investors:

Elizabeth Boland

CFO  Bright Horizons

[email protected]

617-673-8125

Media:

Ilene Serpa

VP  Communications  Bright Horizons

[email protected]

617-673-8044

SOURCE Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.
Altaf Nazerali Wins Internet Libel Case Against Patrick Byrne, Deep Capture, and Mark Mitchell

VANCOUVER, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Following a lengthy five-year battle, Vancouver entrepreneur, Altaf Nazerali, was awarded a $1.2 million judgment, the highest such award in British Columbia history, and one of the highest in Canada, stemming from a series of articles that were published in 2011 on an American website DeepCapture.com, targeting Mr. Nazerali in an effort to destroy his reputation.

BC Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck ruled last Friday against the defendants publisher Patrick Byrne, CEO of online retailer Overstock.com, the website Deep Capture LLC, and the author Mark Mitchell. The Justice awarded Mr. Nazerali, $400,000 in general damages, $500,000 in aggravated damages, $250,000 in punitive damages and $55,000 in special damages.

In his 102-page ruling, Justice Affleck concluded, "Mitchell, Byrne and Deep Capture LLC engaged in a calculated and ruthless campaign to inflict as much damage on Mr. Nazerali's reputation as they could achieve." "It is clear on the evidence that their intention was to conduct a vendetta in which the truth about Mr. Nazerali himself was of no consequence." He went on to say, "not only are the defamatory words pleaded by the plaintiff damaging to his reputation, these defendants, instead of choosing to tone down their extravagant language once they were sued, chose to pile on the abuse with a narrative of multiple allegations of serious misconduct."

The defendants were also permanently banned from publishing on the internet any of the defamatory material. Judge Affleck denounced Mitchell and Byrne's actions, stating they demonstrated "an indecent and pitiless desire to wound". He stated the injunction was necessary because the American-based defendants acted with malice.

The articles falsely portrayed Mr. Nazerali as having links to al-Qaida, relationships with the Russian and Italian Mafias and further described him as a gangster, arms dealer and drug trafficker.

"The experience was devastating for myself and my family, my personal health was compromised and my business savaged," Nazerali stated, "It's the court of public opinion which is the most important. You damage someone's reputation through the Internet, it doesn't matter whether you are in Timbuktu or Salt Lake City or Chicago."

"It's been a long time coming and hopefully now I can go on to do what I do best, which is run my businesses."

For a full copy of Justice Affleck's decision, click here.

SOURCE Aly Nazerali
With a comprehensive selection of eateries, Carnival Vista features several exclusive outlets that are only on board the line's newest, largest, and most innovative ship, including Seafood Shack, modeled after roadside seafood stands that dot the New England coast, and expanded versions of Bonsai Sushi and Cherry on Top offering both indoor and outdoor seating.

International flavors take center stage on Carnival Vista, taking guests on a culinary journey around the world. Ji Ji Asian Kitchen offers a taste of the Orient; BlueIguana Cantina features fresh Mexican cuisine and a tortilla-making machine; Cucina del Capitano brings the flavors of Italy on board; and Fahrenheit 555 is a classic American steakhouse.

Several bars also serve a light menu that perfectly pairs with a cocktail or brew. Havana Bar offers authentic Cuban pastries, sandwiches and other bites while guests at RedFrog Pub & Brewery can enjoy Caribbean-inspired pub fare like grouper fingers, Jamaican-style chicken wings and more, in addition to the three different craft beers brewed on board.

Dining venues and bars featured on Carnival Vista include:

BlueIguana Cantina  Open for breakfast and lunch, BlueIguana Cantina serves authentic tacos on fresh-made tortillas and made-to-order burritos that can be personalized by diners at an extensive salsa and toppings bar.

 Open for breakfast and lunch, BlueIguana Cantina serves authentic tacos on fresh-made tortillas and made-to-order burritos that can be personalized by diners at an extensive salsa and toppings bar. Bonsai Sushi  Bonsai Sushi has been expanded on Carnival Vista to offer cooked-to-order items like Shrimp Tempura, Chicken Katsu, Omakase (Chef's Choice) and various noodle bowls, complementing a variety of sushi, sashimi and bento boxes.

Bonsai Sushi has been expanded on Carnival Vista to offer cooked-to-order items like Shrimp Tempura, Chicken Katsu, Omakase (Chef's Choice) and various noodle bowls, complementing a variety of sushi, sashimi and bento boxes. Cherry on Top  For those with a sweet tooth, Cherry on Top serves up ingredients mixed by hand and made to order. Cool concoctions include a base of ice cream and at least four toppings, from whipped cream and hot fudge to Oreo cookie pieces and pineapple chunks. Additionally, when guests order Brownie Buoy  hand-selected by kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital  a donation is made to the hospital.

For those with a sweet tooth, Cherry on Top serves up ingredients mixed by hand and made to order. Cool concoctions include a base of ice cream and at least four toppings, from whipped cream and hot fudge to Oreo cookie pieces and pineapple chunks. Additionally, when guests order Brownie Buoy  hand-selected by kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital  a donation is made to the hospital. Cucina del Capitano  A celebration of Carnival Cruise Line's deep roots in Italy  all of the fleet's captains are Italian  Cucina del Capitano serves up a variety of Italian favorites family-style.

 A celebration of Carnival Cruise Line's deep roots in  all of the fleet's captains are Italian  Cucina del Capitano serves up a variety of Italian favorites family-style. Fahrenheit 555  This classic American steakhouse offers mouth-watering steaks and other gourmet fare with impeccable service.

 This classic American steakhouse offers mouth-watering steaks and other gourmet fare with impeccable service. Guy's Burger Joint  A guest favorite, Guy's features fresh-made burgers, hand-cut fries and innovative toppings created in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri .

 A guest favorite, Guy's features fresh-made burgers, hand-cut fries and innovative toppings created in partnership with Food Network personality . Havana Bar  This popular bar specializing in mojitos and Cuba Libres has added a bar menu. From Sabor de Habana , a sampler plate, to ceviche de mariscos , ropa vieja and pan con bistec , guests can taste authentic dishes of Cuba .

 This popular bar specializing in mojitos and Cuba Libres has added a bar menu. From , a sampler plate, to , and , guests can taste authentic dishes of . JavaBlue Cafe  Featuring coffee straight-up, or perhaps with an upgrade, JavaBlue Cafe serves hot and cold drinks with a fun twist. Guests also can enjoy sweet treats and comfort snacks.

 Featuring coffee straight-up, or perhaps with an upgrade, JavaBlue Cafe serves hot and cold drinks with a fun twist. Guests also can enjoy sweet treats and comfort snacks. Ji Ji Asian Kitchen  Serving up enticing dishes in an eclectic space, Ji Ji brings not only great food, but good fortune to the table. Offering a full-service menu featuring a mix of exotic and familiar dishes designed to challenge and delight the senses, the venue offers a truly unique culinary experience.

Serving up enticing dishes in an eclectic space, brings not only great food, but good fortune to the table. Offering a full-service menu featuring a mix of exotic and familiar dishes designed to challenge and delight the senses, the venue offers a truly unique culinary experience. Pizzeria del Capitano  Pizzeria del Capitano offers five varieties of hand-tossed artisanal-style pizza, all available free of charge 24 hours a day.

 Pizzeria del Capitano offers five varieties of hand-tossed artisanal-style pizza, all available free of charge 24 hours a day. Lido Marketplace  A casual poolside eatery offering an array of international favorites, from paninis to comfort food to a New York-style deli and just about everything in between.

 A casual poolside eatery offering an array of international favorites, from paninis to comfort food to a New York-style deli and just about everything in between. Ocean Plaza  An indoor/outdoor cafe serving cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos as well as pastries and other confections.

 An indoor/outdoor cafe serving cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos as well as pastries and other confections. RedFrog Pub & Brewery  Delicious Caribbean bites are served here, but the star is the hand-crafted beer brewed on board in the line's first onboard brewery developed in collaboration with Miami -based Concrete Beach Brewery. The Caribbean -inspired brews include the aromatic and citrusy ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin' IPA, ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat spiced and unfiltered ale, and rich and creamy FriskyFrog Java Stout.

 Delicious Caribbean bites are served here, but the star is the hand-crafted beer brewed on board in the line's first onboard brewery developed in collaboration with -based Concrete Beach Brewery. The -inspired brews include the aromatic and citrusy ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin' IPA, ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat spiced and unfiltered ale, and rich and creamy FriskyFrog Java Stout. Seafood Shack  A Carnival Vista exclusive, Seafood Shack features traditional fare like New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, crab cake sliders and fried clam strips served by the bucket, with steamed lobster, snow crab, peel-and-eat shrimp and raw oysters sold by the pound.

 A Carnival Vista exclusive, Seafood Shack features traditional fare like New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, crab cake sliders and fried clam strips served by the bucket, with steamed lobster, snow crab, peel-and-eat shrimp and raw oysters sold by the pound. Serenity  Salads, sandwiches, wraps and other light fare is available at the ship's exclusive adults-only retreat.

Salads, sandwiches, wraps and other light fare is available at the ship's exclusive adults-only retreat. Shake Spot  Shake Spot offers more than just your average shakes and floats. Guests can sip on hand-crafted classics, fruity-flavored treats and even spiked indulgences.

 Shake Spot offers more than just your average shakes and floats. Guests can sip on hand-crafted classics, fruity-flavored treats and even spiked indulgences. The Chef's Table  This VIP experience starts with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for an exclusive group of 14 guests, followed by a tour to see the galley in operation. The evening concludes with an impressive full-service dinner of appetizers, entrees and desserts not found on the regular menus, all hosted by one of the ship's master chefs.

This VIP experience starts with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for an exclusive group of 14 guests, followed by a tour to see the galley in operation. The evening concludes with an impressive full-service dinner of appetizers, entrees and desserts not found on the regular menus, all hosted by one of the ship's master chefs. The Taste Bar  Offering complimentary bite-size preview offerings inspired by popular Carnival dining venues, along with a signature cocktail tied to the day's particular theme available for purchase.

Offering complimentary bite-size preview offerings inspired by popular Carnival dining venues, along with a signature cocktail tied to the day's particular theme available for purchase. American Table/American Feast  Featuring extensive menus and wine lists in the Horizons and Reflections main dining rooms with a wide range of appetizers, side dishes, entrees and desserts, as well as shareable items for the table.

Carnival Vista debuted May 1 with a 13-day cruise departing from Trieste, Italy -- the first European voyage for Carnival in three years. A variety of spectacular Mediterranean itineraries will be offered with port calls throughout Italy, France, Spain and Croatia as well as several new destinations for Carnival such as Crete (Heraklion), and Corfu, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia; and Gibraltar.

On Oct. 21, 2016, Carnival Vista embarks on a special 13-day transatlantic crossing and arrives in New York Nov. 3, then operates a pair of 11-day voyages from the Big Apple before repositioning to Miami for year-round Caribbean departures later that month.

For additional information and reservations for Carnival Cruise Line, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival can also be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival

YouTube: www.youtube.com/carnival

Instagram: www.instagram.com/carnival

Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, www.carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

About Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line" with 25 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The company currently has an as-yet-unnamed 133,500-ton ship under construction and scheduled to enter service in 2018.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366943

SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line

Related Links

http://www.carnival.com


By Sara Bowman, Senior Writer, Online Media Group, Inc.

BATON ROUGE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Developing cancer vaccines, a type of immunotherapy, has been notoriously difficult in the past, but not impossible. Most notably, there are FDA approvals for three vaccines, although two, Gardasil and Cervarix, are preemptive in nature, fighting human papillomavirus (HPV) that often leads to cancer. Gardasil, a product of Merck subsidiary Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., is a vaccine that protects against four different types of HPV, namely in girls and young women (and males with anal cancer) in helping to prevent cervical, vaginal, vulvar and anal cancers. GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix is indicated for girls and young women for the prevention of certain diseases cause by oncogenic HPV (types 16 and 18), including cervical cancer, adenocarcinoma and different grades of abnormal cell growth that can lead to cervical cancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia).

Dendreon garnered FDA approval of Provenge (sipuleucel-T) in 2010 for metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer patients who demonstrate minimal or no symptoms. Although expectations were high, Provenge was a commercial failure due to its high cost, formulation difficulties, small patient population and narrow window of extending median survival by only 4.1 months. In February 2015, Valeant Pharmaceuticals acquired all of assets of Dendreon during the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Better understanding of immunotherapies and ongoing clinical trials are providing valuable data for scientists to learn more about and advance new cancer vaccines. As listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, there are more than 1,750 clinical trials related to cancer vaccines, including trials currently recruiting for melanoma, breast cancer, blood cancers, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer and more.

OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB: OBMP) was founded by Dr. Jonathan Head and Dr. Robert Elliott, the two men behind the first patented autologous breast cancer vaccine. Leveraging technology that has been shown in hundreds of patients to be safe, OncBioMune, which only became public late in 2015, is primarily focused on prostate cancer at this point. According to the company, the decision to transition to prostate cancer was made based upon compelling research and belief that their prostate cancer vaccine, called ProscaVax, could address the 200,000 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer annually without the significant morbidities and side effects associated with current therapies, something no one else could lay claim to.

ProscaVax is a protein therapeutic cancer vaccine, which combines prostate-specific antigen PSA with the biological adjuvants interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to stimulate the patient's immune system to selectively destroy cancerous tumors without damaging healthy cells. A true platform technology, the company says that vaccines can be developed for any solid tumor by switching to antigens specific to the type of cancer.

GM-CSF is believed to be a key in cancer vaccines because of their relationship to tumor specific T-cells, a type of white blood cell that is integral in cell-mediated immunity. T-cells are the buzzword in immunotherapy and a topic of focus for companies like Kite Pharmaceuticals, Advaxis, Celldex and more. Celldex was considered a leader in the cancer vaccine space, but recently suffered a setback when a Phase 3 trial of Rintega plus GM-CSF added to temozlomide for glioblastoma was discontinued early for failing to increase median survival compared to placebo. It's not over for Celldex who has other trials ongoing in its pipeline and continues to offer access to Rintega as it decides the next step with its vaccine.

GM-CSF has been shown in extensive early research across the industry to have potent anti-tumor potential. This pertains to vaccines with GM-CSF inducing a massive accumulation of dendritic cells at the point of injection. These dendritic cells then engulf, process and present tumor antigens to activate tumor-specific T-cells, effectively slowing tumor cell growth and cell proliferation.

ProscaVax, which, in addition to GM-CSF, also uses interlukin-2 (a naturally occurring cytokine that stimulates cells to destroy cancer cells), is at the tail end of a Phase 1 study in late-stage prostate cancer patients. Data to date from the trial, which was funded in part through a $5.2 million grant from the Department of Defense, shows the vaccine to reduce the rise in PSA levels (a key measure of biochemical progression in prostate cancer) in 60% ( 6 out of 10) of patients receiving six vaccinations and an increased immune response in 89% (8 out of 9) patients at 31 weeks post vaccine. As with earlier research, toxicity has been very minimal without a single drug-related adverse event reported in the trial.

OncBioMune is gearing up for two Phase 2 studies of ProscaVax. The first is expected to be hosted at Harvard's Medical School affiliates, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with Dr. Glenn Bubley to be the Principal Investigator. This study will exclusively focus on patients at prostate cancer presentation, a time when patients are in the "active surveillance" category.

Being in the active surveillance group generally means that the prostate cancer has been caught early and the patient and the doctor have agreed to postpone therapies that can cause side effects, including impotence (inability to get and maintain and erection) and incontinence (inability to control urine flow). Instead, patients undergo regular PSA testing, DREs (digital rectal exams) and yearly prostate biopsies until the disease progresses.

Instead of forcing patients to just sit and wait to get worse, OncBioMune's ProscaVax is aiming to slow or arrest the inevitable progression and for the first time ever provide patients a safe and effective option at disease presentation.

In a second Phase 2 trial, OncBioMune is joining forces with Mexico's Vitel Laboratorios via a recently announced Joint Venture that will result in the creation of OncBioMune Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("S.A. de C.V." is akin to "Corp." in the U.S.). Broadly, the plan is to leverage Vitel's regulatory experience and distribution network to develop and commercialize OncBioMune's pipeline throughout Mexico and all of Latin America.

Manuel Cosme Odabachian, CEO of Vitel, explained in a phone interview that it was a chance meeting with Dr. Head on an airplane that introduced him to the OncBioMune. He immediately was intrigued with the vaccine technology and negotiations ensued for months between the two companies to work jointly on clinical research in Mexico. "I've been successful in the past with healthcare technologies and believe that OncBioMune's platform has tremendous potential," said Cosme Odabachian. "The demand is certainly there in Mexico and Latin America and we have the distribution networks to quickly introduce ProscaVax to the market should the Phase 2 trial result in a safe, clinical benefit to prostate cancer patients."

Cosme Odabachian and his partners indeed have a history of success. He was part of the management team at 3M Pharma, divesting his interest in the company as part of the transition related to 3M Pharma's operations in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America region being acquired in 2007 for $875 million by Graceway Pharmaceuticals. He assumed the role of Country Manager for the new startup Graceway Mexico, heading the business in Central and Latin America and expanding products into the Caribbean and from Guatemala to Brazil.

Subsequently, Graceway sold the operations for the U.S. and Canada to Medicis (who was later acquired by Valeant) and the operations in Mexico, Central and Latin America to More Pharma, who was later acquired by the Mexican drug maker and distributor Laboratorios Sanfer SA.

Again, Cosme Odabachian divested his interest in Graceway Mexico, from there moving to a position to head up the start of another company. He served as Country Manager for Chiesi Pharma, the Italy-based pharma giant, ultimately being integral to the opening of Chiesi Mexico in July 2012 as Chiesi's 25th subsidiary, with Chiesi Mexico taking over the licensed partner and registration of past decisions.

Next, he then moved on to start Avivia Pharma in January 2013. The company gained fame for developing the first gel for erectile dysfunction, marketed as Osidea GL. When Avivia was sold to Ultra Laboratorios, Cosme Odabachian went on to start Vitel Laboratorios in early 2015. As it seems, one of Cosme Odabachian's first interests with his new company is the development and hope to commercialize ProscaVax for prostate cancer. Given his track record, it would seem plausible that if the clinical trials are positive that Cosme Odabachian will be tapping his network for opportunities on all levels.

The first trial in Mexico is expected to be a 100-patient 2a/2b study of ProscaVax for the treatment of PSA recurrent prostate cancer in hormone-naive and hormone-independent patients. While the trial is anticipated to last three years, should the data be positive, the company plans to pursue an expedited pathway called a Preliminary Marketing Authorization to commercialize ProscaVax in Mexico before the trial is completed. This could happen in as little as two years, according to OncBioMune and confirmed by Cosme Odabachian. Thus, there is the potential for the young company to be generating revenue to fund future drug development.

Cancer vaccine therapies are gaining traction and they're moving closer to hitting their stride. When they do, it could transform the way cancer patients of all disease stages are treated. As with any growing industry, it takes some setbacks, such as what just happened with Celldex and Rintega  and before that Merck with Stimuvax and GlaxoSmithKline with MAGE-A3  to make meaningful progression. Celldex also demonstrated the high value that Wall Street puts on promising vaccines in development, in losing about $400 million in market capitalization upon news of the unsuccessful trial. These other new vaccines maneuvering towards and through the FDA process exemplify the next breed of promising therapies and hope that the list of FDA cancer vaccine approvals will soon be expanded.

__________________________________________________________

Online Media Group, Inc. is a strategic holding company. Through our brands, Online Media Group is a leading publisher of market news, commentary, proprietary research and videos from seasoned journalists, analysts and contributors covering the financial markets, specific industries and global economies. Leveraging our extensive distribution network and social media presence, we have cultivated a valuable audience of engaged market enthusiasts interested in all segments, which in turn delivers a variety of unique opportunities for industry partnerships, corporate communications and market exposure.

Legal Disclaimer: Online Media Group, Inc. is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide, nor claims to provide, investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release to buy, sell or hold any securities. Investing intrinsically involves substantial risk and readers are reminded to consult an investment professional and complete their own due diligence, including SEC filings, when researching any companies mentioned in this release. This release is based upon publicly available information and, while vetted, is not considered to be all-inclusive or guaranteed to be free from errors. With respect to Section 17(B) of the Securities Act of 1933 and in the interest of full disclosure, we call the reader's attention to the fact that Online Media Group, Inc. has received compensation for the creation and distribution of this article related to the company/companies mentioned in this release.

SOURCE Online Media Group Inc
ARLINGTON, Va., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 19th, Divine Mercy University will hold a Ceremonial Opening of the newly-expanded university along with a special lecture event, featuring the Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore.

President Fr. Charles Sikorsky, L.C., along with the Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, the Most Reverend Paul Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, the Most Reverend Barry Knestout, and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, DC, the DMU Board of Directors, and other honored guests will join together in a formal ceremony to officially open Divine Mercy University.

Divine Mercy University expanded from The Institute for the Psychological Sciences early in 2016 to include a new School of Counseling, with an online Master's in Counseling program. The University will now house two schools: The Institute for the Psychological Sciences (IPS), which includes the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D), and the online Master's in Psychology; and the newly established School of Counseling.

"As more and more families and their loved ones are experiencing mental health needs, we are humbled and at the same time enthused about our expansion. It is an opportunity for us to be better instruments of God's mercy by bringing love, hope and healing to the troubled, lonely and stigmatized," said DMU's President, Fr. Charles Sikorsky, LC.

Immediately following the ceremony, the Most Reverend William E. Lori will present the final lecture of the 2015-2016 Newman Lecture Series on "Religious Freedom in the Year of Mercy."

The Ceremonial Opening will commence at 6:00PM at the Hilton Crystal City in Arlington, VA, with the Newman Lecture immediately following. Please check into the lobby for location information. The ceremony and Newman Lecture are open to the public. RSVPs can be made to [email protected] by May 4th.

The Institute for the Psychological Sciences/Divine Mercy University's 15th Annual Commencement Exercises will take place the following day, May 20th at 2PM with the commencement address given by Dr. William Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College. The exercises will be held in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 400 Michigan Ave. N.E.

For more information, contact Jessie Tappel in the Office of Communications at 703-416-1441116 or [email protected].

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160504/363725LOGO

SOURCE Divine Mercy University
DENVER, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CipherPoint Software, Inc., provider of data security for platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint and Office365, today announced the availability of CipherPoint Eclipse Data Security API in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366795LOGO

With the Data Security API, organizations have the ability to identify, secure, and audit any sensitive data in the Cloud. As businesses accelerate the adoption of Microsoft Azure for custom applications, SharePoint farms and other use cases, they can utilize CipherPoint Eclipse data security capabilities for any Azure workload or cloud application to maintain their data security and privacy compliance posture. Further, CipherPoint Eclipse for Microsoft Office 365, which utilizes the API, will also be available in the Microsoft SharePoint App Store in the near future.

"Securing data in your cloud applications should be front and center," says CipherPoint CEO Mike Fleck, "and encryption with integrated access control is critical to preventing data breaches. By enhancing the data security available from and for the Microsoft Cloud, we have made it incredibly convenient to provide data security as a web service for any sensitive data in Microsoft Azure."

The CipherPoint Eclipse data security platform which underlies the API includes a centralized security policy manager and the ability to enforce policies using software agents, cloud security gateways and API clients. The platform provides data discovery, transparent encryption at rest and in use, role-based and attribute-based access controls, and real-time activity logging. CipherPoint seamlessly secures information as it moves among data center, private and public cloud use cases.

The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling finished Software as a Service (SaaS) applications and premium datasets. "In today's environment, our mutual customers rely on proactive and automated security and compliance controls such as CipherPoint Eclipse to help keep data private," said Nicole Herskowitz, senior director of product marketing, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Corp. "We are pleased that CipherPoint has taken this step to make its solutions available from Microsoft Azure to provide additional data security and privacy compliance capabilities."

About CipherPoint Software: CipherPoint centrally identifies, secures, and audits access to sensitive and regulated unstructured data on-premises and in the cloud. The CipherPoint solution is unique in keeping privileged IT administrators and outside attackers that target IT level access from being able to view sensitive information. CipherPoint products are easy to deploy and manage, and scalable to meet the needs of large organizations. For more information, visit http://www.cipherpoint.com/msazure/.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Inquiries:

Mike Fleck, CEO

CipherPoint Software, Inc.

1-888-657-5355

Email

SOURCE CipherPoint Software, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cipherpoint.com/msazure


Citi's # StandForProgress campaign wants to inspire Americans nationwide to set goals alongside America's elite athletes. By using #StandForProgress, the public can share the small or big steps they want to take this year or recognize others who support and inspire their efforts  from new jobs to saving up for a vacation to buying a home or starting a new business. Citi will capture these goals and take them to USA House in Rio to motivate America's Olympians and Paralympians.

As part of the program, Citi invited six athletes from Team Citi -- Olympic Gold Medalists Gabby Douglas, Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nathan Adrian, Paralympic Gold Medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Olympic Hopeful Carlin Isles and Paralympic Hopeful Scout Bassett  to meet students from around the country and explore how they define progress. The college students were selected from Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress, a three-year, $50 million initiative to prepare 100,000 young people for success. The video content will be released on Citi's YouTube channel throughout the spring and summer.

"At Citi, enabling progress and growth is our business," said Edward Skyler, Citi's Head of Global Public Affairs and Chairman of the Citi Foundation. "For some Americans, that means reaching the Olympic or Paralympic Games -- while for others it can mean attending college, owning a home, or starting a business. In the video series launching today, we are excited to pair several Team Citi athletes with college students who have participated in Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress to discuss how they define, achieve and motivate others to realize progress. To date, Pathways has enabled nearly 4,000 youth to have summer employment opportunities, provided access to more than 325,000 hours of mentorship and facilitated the start of 70 small businesses by young people. These stories are inspiring and uplifting examples of Americans who are pursuing their ambitions."

Two inspiring stories launch today with a window into how resilience and a focus on helping others propel people forward.

Kerri Walsh Jennings Meets University Student Abigail Hamilton

Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Gold Medalist in beach volleyball, meets Abigail Hamilton, an undaunted college student who already runs her own business. Hamilton shares how she persevered through a devastating personal loss and why she co-founded a business which takes family photographs for members of the military.

"Progress isn't always easy," said Walsh Jennings, who worked in a shoe store and had other jobs to earn money for training in her early years. "Spending time with Abigail reminded me of the everyday hopes and dreams young people have today and how we need to be cheering each other on. It's uplifting to think about all the goals people have and how every success can lift a family, a community  or collectively the country."

Rudy Garcia-Tolson Talks About Giving Back With Student Alex Torres

In the second story, four-time medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson talks with Alex Torres, who hails from New York City, who reveals how education became his ticket to a better life, becoming a first-generation college student. They explore a passion for giving back to the community -- Rudy helping other athletes with physical disabilities see what is possible and Alex educating young adults by raising awareness on mental health issues and opening the conversation to how it can have a huge impact in education, business, and life.

"You can spend your life either focused on your limitations or work hard to overcome them and reach your full potential," said Garcia-Tolson. "I'm inspired by encouraging others to take on a challenge. I love to prove people wrong. Alex and I each share a lot of personal satisfaction from overcoming obstacles and then using those lessons to inspire young people to dream big."

Supporters can follow all the #StandForProgress videos and the progress of Team Citi's athletes as they train for Team USA and Rio this summer @Citi on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAQu96dqLk0

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367200

SOURCE Citigroup Inc.

Related Links

http://www.citigroup.com


BALTIMORE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean Air Partners, a leading air quality organization in the DC-Baltimore metropolitan region, hosted its 8th Annual Awards Celebration at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Maryland. The 2016 Awards Celebration recognized the achievements of students, Solar Mowing, and Breathe DC for their dedication to improving the region's air quality. The full list of award winners can be found at www.cleanairpartners.net.

"Air quality is an important topic for our health and for the environment. The innovative approach of the organizations and the creativity of the students celebrated today is truly inspirational. We are grateful for their efforts as we continue to raise awareness in our region about air quality," says Clean Air Partners Board Chair, Brian O'Malley.

The Maryland Zoo served as an exceptional venue for the event given its advocacy work not only for animal conservation, but also for the conservation of natural resources. Special guests and speakers included:

Luke H. Clippinger, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Maryland House of Delegates. Clippinger is recognized for his work to advance alternative energy and for other important issues in Baltimore .

of Delegates. Clippinger is recognized for his work to advance alternative energy and for other important issues in . Tony Pagnotti, Meteorologist, Fox45. Pagnotti is one of many regional meteorologists supporting Clean Air Partners' work and messaging by sharing air quality forecast information with viewers.

Sharon Bowen, Education Manager, The Maryland Zoo. Bowen leads the Zoo's educational outreach efforts and programs, from free school field trips to ZOOmobile presentations.

The Clean Air Partners Most Valuable Partners were awarded to Solar Mowing and Breathe DC.

Breathe DC is the fiscal agent of the DC Asthma Coalition, a collaborative partnership with more than 90 active members. Breathe DC's mission promotes healthy lifestyles and prevents lung disease through advocacy, education, and program services, especially in communities affected by health disparities. "From Camp Breathe Happy to the Breathe Easy Home Improvement Project, our wide range of education and outreach efforts ensure we're reaching those most affected by poor air quality, and working with organizations like Clean Air Partners is important for gaining more awareness in the region," said Dr. Janet Phoenix, Manager of Asthma and Health Education Services.

Solar Mowing was awarded for providing Maryland residents with emissions free lawn services. Solar Mowing Founder and Owner Lyn DeWitt says, "According to EPA estimates, a typical gasoline-powered mower emits as much hourly pollution as 8 cars! Solar Mowing helps address this issue, and our eco-friendly services have successfully prevented about 80,000 pounds of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere from 2009 through 2016."

Laura Armstrong, Sustainability and Maryland Green Registry Coordinator with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), was honored with the 2016 Clean Air Partners Champion Award. Laura has worked with MDE for 18 years, helping businesses adopt a proactive approach to environmental management. As Green Registry Coordinator, Laura works with organizations across Maryland to promote and recognize environmental best practices.

Donald Belle was awarded this year's Clean Air Partners Champion Honorable Mention. Donald is the Environmental Outreach Educator for Prince George's County Public Schools and is a long-time environmental education advocate, particularly for the Clean Air Partners Air Beam pilot project.

The first place Clean Air Partners student awards went to:

Slogan Contest Winners

Category 1 (grades 4-6):

Jaeya Taxali

Crossfield Elementary School, Fairfax County, VA

"Find a partner to go to school. Stop Pollution! Carpooling's the solution."

Category 2 (grades 7-8):

Charlotte Walker

Blue Ridge Middle School, Loudoun County, VA

"Show you care, clean our air, ride a bike and do your share!"

Poster Contest Winners

Category 1 (grades 4-6):

Jocelin Flores-Jimenez

Sudbrook Magnet Middle School, Baltimore County, MD

Category 2 (grades 7-8):

Kara Edington

Sudbrook Magnet Middle School, Baltimore County, MD

About Clean Air Partners

Clean Air Partners is a public-private partnership that educates the greater metropolitan Washington-Baltimore region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment. For more than 18 years, Clean Air Partners has helped individuals and organizations take simple actions to reduce their impact on the environment and exposure to air pollution during unhealthy air quality days. Clean Air Partners' Air Quality App is a free resource that provides air quality forecasts and real-time health notification. For more information and to download the app, visit www.cleanairpartners.net.

About Clean Air Partners "On the Air" Curriculum and Outreach Program

The Clean Air Partners infographic, slogan, and poster contests are launched each year through the "On the Air" education curriculum. On the Air reaches tens of thousands of students across the region using hands-on activities to teach students about the affect poor air quality has on their health and the environment.

SOURCE Clean Air Partners

Related Links

http://www.cleanairpartners.net


DUBLIN, Ohio, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Choice Financial Inc. ("CCFI") filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, May 12, 2016. CCFI will host a conference call on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the results for the quarter. CCFI will make this call available for replay for one month starting approximately two hours after the call has ended. The conference call can be replayed in its entirety by dialing (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and enter conference ID "84590298".

Financials are publicly available at www.sec.gov

Conference Call Dial-In Information:



International Direct: +1 (937) 203-2407



U.S. Toll Free: +1 (877) 497-9564



Conference ID: 84590298

About Community Choice Financial Inc.

Community Choice Financial Inc. is a leading retailer of financial services to unbanked and underbanked consumers through a network of 477 retail storefronts across 15 states and are licensed to deliver similar financial services over the internet in 31 states. CCFI focuses on providing consumers with a wide range of convenient financial products and services to help them manage their day-to-day financial needs including consumer loans, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments, and money orders. Please visit www.ccfi.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements in this release other than those relating to our historical information or current condition are forward-looking statements. For example, any statements regarding our future financial performance (including, but not limited to, CCFI's ability to execute its long-term strategy and to manage operational efficiencies across its national footprint), our business strategy, and expected developments in our industry are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the current views and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, those views and expectations and the related statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are not under our control and may not even be predictable. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from our expectations as of today and any future results, performance, or achievements expressed directly or impliedly by the forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Greyson Eves, 614-798-5900

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prn/20121121/CL17742LOGO

SOURCE Community Choice Financial Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ccfi.com


(1)

Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors deem presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves. For that reason, the Company considers funds from operations ("FFO") and normalized FFO to be appropriate measures of operating performance of an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT"). In particular, the Company believes that normalized FFO is useful because it allows investors, analysts and Company management to compare the Company's operating performance to the operating performance of other real estate companies and between periods on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and other events. The Company uses the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. ("NAREIT") definition of FFO. FFO and FFO per share are operating performance measures adopted by NAREIT. NAREIT defines FFO as the most commonly accepted and reported measure of a REIT's operating performance equal to "net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures." The Company has included normalized FFO above which it has defined as FFO excluding certain expenses related to equity offerings, closing costs of properties acquired and mortgages funded, straight-line rent, deferred compensation and other non-cash items. Normalized FFO presented herein may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definition. FFO and normalized FFO should not be considered as alternatives to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as indicators of the Company's financial performance or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as measures of the Company's liquidity, nor are they necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company's needs. The Company believes that in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the consolidated historical operating results of the Company, FFO and normalized FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income as presented elsewhere herein.
DALLAS, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Momentis announces the result of an intensive consumer insights team -- new product packaging and a powerful introductory consumer offer.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366814

Understanding consumer behavior, needs and wants are key to the success of Momentis' product M-Rejuvenate. Therefore, a dedicated team at Momentis embarked on a fact-finding-mission to collect data and field research on how to best appeal to the customer with a superior product and an attractive offer.

Andrew McWilliams, Momentis CEO, states that, "We are dedicated to aligning our brand to what our customers want and to what our representatives need for building businesses. That requires data mining, listening well, and optimizing key drivers from every angle. This focus on consumers required us to evolve our product experience with improved packaging and to support our main business drivers with a new introductory consumer offer."

The result of the Momentis focus is new packaging including a crystal-like bottle with an easy turn-to-dispense design. "Our new bottle looks great on the bathroom counter and travels spill-proof in your overnight bag," says Sharon Tahaney, Momentis CMO.

Momentis has also introduced the "90 Day Get It Back Pack" exclusively for consumers to jump start their "90 Day Transformation Challenge" at an attractive price. Consumers can even get their products for free with the referral program.

"The new introductory offer giving huge savings provides a strong pull into the 90 Day Transformation Challenge and by doing so, gives added fuel to the key driver of the business, the "Free with Two" customer referral program," confirms Tahaney.

Momentis represents a new era in entrepreneurship. It is built on a shared revenue model (Uber-like), with social sharing tools for real and virtual worlds, and a keen eye on the buyer's experience every step of the decision journey. This latest step by Momentis in evolving and strengthening its consumer experience reiterates the Momentis commitment to both the consumer as well as the social entrepreneur.

About Momentis

Momentis founders recognized that the most precious commodity in the world today is time. By leveraging bio-tech breakthroughs in anti-aging combined with cutting-edge social support in home-based businesses, both aging and income generation are being changed forever. Recognized as one of the fastest growing new start companies in direct selling, Momentis has helped countless entrepreneurs get back their time  by reactivating youth with cell-signaling technology and reclaiming time with cutting-edge social sharing support and life-freeing residual income. Momentis is about helping people get it back -- the time they looked and felt their best, and the time they want to reclaim for themselves and their family.

For additional information,

Contact: Mike Adams, President

Phone: (469) 270-5533

Email: [email protected]

Or Go to: www.momentis.net

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Momentis
DUBLIN, Ohio, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health today announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Biosensors that enables Cordis, Cardinal Health's interventional vascular business, to sell Biosensors' coronary stent portfolio. Cordis will sell Biosensors' coronary stents in select countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. This marks Cordis' return to the drug-eluting stent (DES) market and the beginning of a long-term partnership between Cardinal Health and Biosensors to further leverage their respective distribution capabilities in select regions.

Cordis will now offer an expanded portfolio of products in select countries to further support the treatment of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), from access to intervention and closure. PCI is a nonsurgical procedure that often uses a catheter to place a stent to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and is expected to continue to be the leading cause of death globally for the next 20 years.

"We are very excited about this DES agreement with Biosensors, because it represents our strong commitment to expand our product portfolio to support the demands in cardiovascular care today," said David Wilson, president of Cordis, a Cardinal Health company. "While Cordis is known for developing product innovations, partnerships like this provide an opportunity to rapidly expand our unmatched portfolio and deliver increased value to customers and the patients they serve."

In the next few months, Cordis will begin offering Biosensors' robust coronary stent portfolio, which includes the BioFreedom polymer-free drug-coated stent; the BioMatrix NeoFlex DES; BioMatrix Alpha, a cobalt chromium DES with an abluminal bio-absorbable coating; and the Chroma cobalt chromium bare metal stent (BMS), in select European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Over time, Cordis will begin to sell these products under the LUMENO* private label in select countries, and both companies will continue to leverage their respective distribution capabilities in additional European countries, the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world.

Biosensors' DES with a bio-absorbable coating and the Biolimus A9 drug are supported by multiple large-scale studies, including data from LEADERS, a prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial that demonstrated that the safety and efficacy of Biosensors' BioMatrix Flex stent is comparable to that of a durable polymer DES in a population of 1,707 patients across 10 European centers. Additionally, data published in the New England Journal of Medicine from LEADERS FREE  the world's first prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial exclusively focusing on patients at high-bleeding risk receiving only one month of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT)  demonstrated superiority with respect to the primary safety and efficacy endpoints for BioFreedom as compared to a BMS in patients undergoing PCI. The trial assessed the shortest course of DAPT ever used with an active stent. LEADERS FREE included 2,466 patients across 68 sites in 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada, with a follow-up phase of two years. Biosensors' coronary stents have not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not commercially available in the U.S.

"I am proud of the role Cordis played in establishing the value of coronary stents many years ago. Today, with Cordis' strong legacy and understanding of the DES market and the business and operational expertise of Cardinal Health, we have established an unmatched, combined offering in the cardiovascular space," said Wilson.

About Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH), a global health services and products company, brings scaled solutions that help our customers thrive in a changing world. We improve the cost-effectiveness of healthcare through solutions that improve the efficiency of the supply chain; optimize the process and performance of healthcare; provide clinically proven, daily use medical products and pharmaceuticals; and connect patients, providers, payers, pharmacists and manufacturers for seamless care coordination and better patient management. Backed by nearly 100 years of experience, we rank among the top 50 on the Fortune 500 and among the Fortune Global 100. We support our partners with more than 37,000 employees in nearly 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

About Cordis Corporation

Cordis Corporation, a Cardinal Health company, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of interventional vascular technology. Through the company's innovation, research and development, Cordis partners with experts worldwide to treat millions of patients who suffer from vascular disease. More information about Cordis Corporation can be found at www.cordis.com.



*LUMENO is a trademark of Cardinal Health. LUMENO products under private label are currently not commercially available and will be distributed by Cordis upon receipt of necessary Regulatory approvals.

SOURCE Cardinal Health

Related Links

http://www.cardinalhealth.com


LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The counterfeit money detection market is expected to reach USD 3.11 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% between 2015 and 2020. Various government enforcements to prevent the circulation of fake currency notes are driving the growth of the counterfeit money detection market.



The counterfeit money detection market for the transportation industry is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period 20152020

Counterfeiting is considered as a risk in the transportation industries because the increasing deployment of kiosks and vending machines at various transportation facilities such as airports and railway stations may create chances of circulation of fake notes. This is the major driving factor for the demand of counterfeit money detectors in the transportation industry.



North America is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

North America held the largest share of the overall counterfeit money detection market in 2014. Industries such as retail and gaming are driving the growth of the said market in this region. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, followed by RoW and Europe. There are numerous initiatives as well as various counterfeiting laws and penalties have been implemented in these regions to check on the circulation of counterfeit currency. Japan and China are the leading countries in the counterfeit money detection market in the Asian region. Moreover, the rising income, high adoption of smart appliances, and rising per capita income in these countries are likely to drive the market in APAC. Some of the major players in this region are Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd. (Japan) and Glory Ltd. (Japan).



In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments of the counterfeit money detection market, extensive secondary research and primary interviews with key people have been conducted. Break-up of the profiles of primary participants is shown below:



- By Company Type: Tier 1  35%, Tier 2  45%, and Tier 3  20%

- By Designation: C-Level  20%, Director Level  60%, and Others  20%

- By Region: North America  50%, Europe  33%, and APAC  17%



The geographical segmentation in the report covers four major regions of the world: North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW. The report also profiles major players in the counterfeit money detection market. Some of the major players in this market are Crane Payment Innovations (U.S.), Glory Global Solutions (Japan), Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd. (Japan), Cummins Allison Corp. (U.S.), Fraud Fighter (U.S.), Cassida Corporation (U.S.), and Royal Sovereign (U.S.) among others.



Reasons to Buy the Report:

This report caters to the needs of leading companies, end users, component manufacturers, and other related stakeholders in this market. Other parties that could be benefitted from the report include government bodies, consulting firms, business development executives, C-level employees, and VPs. Our report would help to analyze new opportunities and potential revenue sources and enhance decision-making process for new business strategies. The quantitative and qualitative information in the report, along with our comprehensive analysis, would help to gain an edge in the market



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3629278/



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

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SAN DIEGO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- If your brand targets U.S. Hispanics, especially the bicultural segment, then you might be facing the same enigma as many other marketers: How to use Spanglish effectively in ads in order to elevate the message?

The quest for the magic formula to win with the U.S. Hispanic consumer is getting more challenging as this market evolves and becomes savvier. This evolution is one of several elements fueling a perceptual shift in messaging and communications, where it is becoming more common and accepted to see certain things that are considered very Hispanic, such as the use of Spanglish, in mainstream America. Many marketers are embracing this shift by incorporating Spanglish into their messaging tactics, but much debate exists regarding how to do use Spanglish "right." As with any new trend, fears of alienating or offending consumers, or even of sounding superficial, trouble marketers as they consider integrating Spanglish into their Hispanic strategy.

Leveraging their Hispanic expertise and the deep layer of understanding provided by the firm's U.S. Hispanic attitudes-based segmentation model, the Culturati Research & Consulting, Inc. (Culturati) team set out to solve this enigma earlier this year through primary research. In a quantitative study conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,377 U.S. Hispanics, 15 Spanglish ads were evaluated on key metrics, including some related to the use of Spanglish and cultural respect. For this study, Spanglish was defined as any combination of both English and Spanish within one ad.

The analysis was further elevated by incorporating Nielsen Spanglish ad performance data, resulting in a clear set of guidelines presented fresh off the analysis board at this year's AHAA Annual Conference. Feature in the conference's Research In-Depth Workshop segment, the session, "Using the versatility of Spanglish to deliver Culturally Relevant messages," was co-presented by Rene Sanchez, Culturati's VP, Client Strategy & Insights, and Vanessa Strain, VP, Multicultural Growth and Strategy, Nielsen.

The session presented clear guidelines on how to apply Spanglish for maximum communication effectiveness, appeal and cultural relevancy among Hispanics from all acculturation segments (Latinistas, Heritage Keepers, Savvy Blenders and Ameri-Fans). It also gave specific tips on how to avoid being offensive or sounding superficial and on how to select the right spokesperson for Spanglish ads.

"The story, not the language alone, will determine the success or failure of an ad. However, language, and in this case Spanglish, can be a great tool to elevate cultural relevancy in ads," said Rene Sanchez. "Integrating Spanglish purposefully while showing respect for both cultures and languages is key to ensure Hispanics can relate and connect to your message," he added.

Findings from this study are now available as a syndicated report. For more information contact Maggie Mariscal, Culturati, at [email protected] or 858.792.0500 Ext. 114.

ABOUT CULTURATI

Culturati is a full-service market research and consulting agency with cross-cultural and General Market capabilities. As a leader in the U.S. Hispanic space, Culturati is redefining how Hispanics are segmented and how acculturation is measured through its U.S. Hispanic Landscape Segmentation model. Founded in 2004, Culturati has helped many Fortune 100 companies uncover consumer and shopper insights with cultural sensitivity that inspires meaningful connections between their brands and consumers. For more information please visit www.CulturatiResearch.com.

ABOUT NIELSEN

Nielsen Holdings plc 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 across all devices where contentvideo, audio and textis 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 provides its clients with both world-class measurement, as well as analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries that cover more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.

CONTACT

Maggie Mariscal, Culturati, [email protected] , 858.792.0500 Ext. 114

SOURCE Culturati Research & Consulting, Inc.

Related Links

http://culturatiresearch.com


IRVING, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

1ST Quarter 2016 Highlights

Net income of $1.1 million , or $0.01 per GAAP diluted share

Consolidated revenue of $779.6 million

Gross margin of 23.2%

Adjusted EBITDA of $98.9 million , steady sequential EBITDA margins of 12.7%

Food Segment contributed solid sequential earnings and EBITDA margin expansion

Fat and protein pricing improvements at end of Q1 will show benefits in Q2

Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), a global leader in converting edible and inedible bio-nutrient streams into a wide range of ingredients and specialty products for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 2, 2016.

For the first quarter of 2016, the Company reported net sales of $779.6 million, as compared with net sales of $874.7 million for the first quarter of 2015. The $95.1 million decrease in net sales is primarily attributable to weaker selling prices for fats and protein within the Feed Ingredients segment and continued FX translation impacts. Overall, global raw material volumes were stronger year over year.

Net income attributable to Darling for the three months ended April 2, 2016, was $1.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the three months ended April 4, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA for Darling for the three months ended April 2, 2016 was $98.9 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $98.2 million for the three months ended April 4, 2015. The $0.7 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily attributable to increased earnings in the Food and Fuel Ingredients segments and higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment that more than offset lower finished product prices and the impact of foreign exchange.

Comments on the First Quarter 2016

Randall C. Stuewe, Darlings Ingredients Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said of the Company's quarterly performance, "Sequentially, our segments showed nice consistency in light of very volatile markets around the globe. Most notably, our Food segment delivered solidly with Rousselot and Sonac delivering consistent earnings. In the Feed segment, we saw our global rendering businesses once again adjust to falling protein prices during the quarter but volume increases and strengthening fat prices partially offset the headwinds. Our Fuel segment, when normalized for the blender's tax credit, showed a very consistent performance. Looking forward, we have seen both protein and fat prices significantly strengthen late in the quarter and we should see our Feed segment realize the benefit in the second quarter. Our model is clearly working and we are picking up momentum once again," concluded Mr. Stuewe.

Operational Update by Segment

Feed Ingredients  Protein meal values dipped to decade lows before rebounding in mid-March 2016 , while fat prices trended upwards during the quarter and rose sharply in late March 2016 . Pet Food premiums returned due to strong consumer demand. Global blood volumes were strong and pricing held steady. Restaurant Services experienced volume growth and non-formula pricing will show benefits going forward.

 Protein meal values dipped to decade lows before rebounding in , while fat prices trended upwards during the quarter and rose sharply in late . Pet Food premiums returned due to strong consumer demand. Global blood volumes were strong and pricing held steady. Restaurant Services experienced volume growth and non-formula pricing will show benefits going forward. Food Ingredients  Rousselot continued to deliver solid results characterized by steady performance in China , margin and volume improvements in South America , consistency in European markets, and new customer addition in the United States . Sonac edible fats margins normalized due to solid demand and rising palm oil prices. CTH was impacted by lower sales volumes but achieved improved margins for hog casings.

 Rousselot continued to deliver solid results characterized by steady performance in , margin and volume improvements in , consistency in European markets, and new customer addition in . Sonac edible fats margins normalized due to solid demand and rising palm oil prices. CTH was impacted by lower sales volumes but achieved improved margins for hog casings. Fuel Ingredients  Biofuels delivered earnings consistent with those in prior quarter, after adjusting the prior quarter to allocate the 2015 blender's tax credit received retroactive in the fourth quarter of 2015 to the 2015 quarter in which it was earned. Ecoson and Rendac had a steady quarter with solid volumes. The Ecoson bio-phosphate plant in Holland remains offline until autumn due to the Q4 2015 fire.

 Biofuels delivered earnings consistent with those in prior quarter, after adjusting the prior quarter to allocate the 2015 blender's tax credit received retroactive in the fourth quarter of 2015 to the 2015 quarter in which it was earned. Ecoson and Rendac had a steady quarter with solid volumes. The Ecoson bio-phosphate plant in remains offline until autumn due to the Q4 2015 fire. Diamond Green Diesel Joint Venture  First quarter EBITDA was $19.3 million at the entity level, $9.6 million Darling's share. DGD received a tax credit of $156 million , and each partner received a dividend of $25 million in April 2016 . Current total debt in the JV is $89.9 million after pay down of $54.7 million in April 2016 . Escalating fat prices, volatile heating oil prices, and stagnant RINs weighed on earnings. DGD performance was also impacted by downtime of approximately 18 days for scheduled plant maintenance and a force majeure declared by KCS railroad due to flooding that caused a rate curtailment of approximately 4 million gallons. In early April 2016 , a major expansion was announced that when completed in the fourth quarter of 2017, will increase output from 160 million gallons annually to 275 million gallons annually.

Reconciliation of First Quarter Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA

Darling Ingredients Inc. reports Adjusted EBITDA results, which is a Non-GAAP financial measure, as a complement to results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional useful information to investors. As the Company uses the term, Adjusted EBITDA, is calculated below:





Three Months Ended - Year over Year Adjusted EBITDA

April 2,

April 4, (U.S. dollars in thousands) 2016

2015









Net income attributable to Darling $ 1,079

$ 109 Depreciation and amortization 72,256

66,398 Interest expense

23,901

23,109 Income tax expense

1,863

2,115 Foreign currency loss

2,603

2,460 Other expense, net

1,305

509 Equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiary (5,643)

1,808 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,584

1,715

Adjusted EBITDA $ 98,948

$ 98,223









Acquisition and integration-related expenses 331

5,319

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 99,279

$ 103,542 Foreign currency exchange impact 2,260

- Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP) $ 101,539

$ 103,542









DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's share) (1) $ 9,629

$ 2,346





(1) Darling's Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) in the above table does not include the DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's share) if we had consolidated the DGD Joint Venture.

For the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $98.9 million, as compared to $98.2 million in the same period in fiscal 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased earnings in the Food and Fuel Ingredients segments and higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment that more than offset lower finished product prices attributable to lower global competing ingredient prices and the impact of foreign exchange rates as a function of the strengthening U.S. dollar as compared mainly to the euro and Canadian dollar. On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA basis, the Company would have generated $99.3 million in the three months ended April 2, 2016, as compared to a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $103.5 million in the same period in 2015. The decrease in the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA is attributable to lower finished product prices, the impact of foreign exchange rates as a function of the strengthening U.S. dollar as compared mainly to the euro and Canadian dollar and lower acquisition and integration-related expense, which were partially offset by an increase in raw material volumes.

The above Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA results for the three months ended April 2, 2016 would have been $101.5 million when taking into consideration the change in average foreign currency fluctuations of $2.3 million, as compared to $103.5 million for the same period in fiscal 2015, a reduction of $2.0 million.

Financial Update by Segment

Feed Ingredients Three Months Ended ($ thousands) April 2, 2016 April 4, 2015 Net Sales $ 476,171 $ 547,498 Segment operating Income $ 13,886 $ 35,414 EBITDA $ 58,263 $ 75,469

Feed Ingredients operating income for the three months ended April 2, 2016 was $13.9 million , a decrease of $21.5 million as compared to the three months ended April 4, 2015 . Earnings for the Feed Ingredients segment were lower due to significant decline in proteins, fats and used cooking oil finished product prices as a result of the global record-setting grain production and increased volumes from the slaughter industry which increased supply above demand levels. Looking forward, both fat and protein prices have increased and we should realize a benefit to the Feed Ingredients segment earnings in the second quarter of 2016.

was , a decrease of as compared to the three months ended . Earnings for the Feed Ingredients segment were lower due to significant decline in proteins, fats and used cooking oil finished product prices as a result of the global record-setting grain production and increased volumes from the slaughter industry which increased supply above demand levels. Looking forward, both fat and protein prices have increased and we should realize a benefit to the Feed Ingredients segment earnings in the second quarter of 2016. The Company's Feed Ingredients segment operating cash flow was negatively impacted by foreign exchange translation by approximately $1.2 million when using prior year average exchange rates.

Food Ingredients Three Months Ended ($ thousands) April 2, 2016 April 4, 2015 Net Sales $ 247,897 $ 270,157 Segment operating Income $ 21,880 $ 10,847 EBITDA $ 38,584 $ 28,044

Food Ingredients operating income for three months ended April 2, 2016 was $21.9 million , an increase of $11.1 million as compared to the three months ended April 4, 2015 . The increased earnings are mainly attributable to improved performance in the gelatin business and more normalized margins within the European edible fats business.

was , an increase of as compared to the three months ended . The increased earnings are mainly attributable to improved performance in the gelatin business and more normalized margins within the European edible fats business. The Company's Food Ingredients segment operating cash flow was negatively impacted by foreign exchange translation by approximately $0.8 million when using prior year average exchange rates.

Fuel Ingredients Three Months Ended ($ thousands) April 2, 2016 April 4, 2015 Net Sales $ 55,573 $ 57,039 Segment operating Income $ 6,122 $ 2,494 EBITDA $ 13,041 $ 9,125

Exclusive of the DGD Joint Venture, Fuel Ingredients operating income for three months ended April 2, 2016 was $6.1 million , an increase of $3.6 million as compared to three months ended April 4, 2015 . The increase is due to higher sales volumes and improved operating performances at Ecoson and Rendac with improved margins at the Canadian biodiesel facility as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 mainly related to the reinstatement of the blender's tax credit for 2016.

was , an increase of as compared to three months ended . The increase is due to higher sales volumes and improved operating performances at Ecoson and Rendac with improved margins at the Canadian biodiesel facility as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 mainly related to the reinstatement of the blender's tax credit for 2016. Exclusive of the DGD Joint Venture, Fuel Ingredients operating cash flow was negatively impacted by foreign exchange translation by approximately $0.3 million when using prior year average exchange rates.

About Darling

Darling Ingredients Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and specialty products for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into broadly used and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into valuable feed and fuel ingredients. In addition, the Company provides grease trap services to food service establishments, environmental services to food processors and sells restaurant cooking oil delivery and collection equipment. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://ir.darlingii.com.

Darling Ingredients Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the Company's first quarter 2016 financial results at 8:30 am Eastern Time (7:30 am Central Time) on Friday, May 13, 2016. To listen to the conference call, participants calling from within North America should dial 1-866-777-2509; international participants should dial 1-412-317-5413. Please refer to access code 10085015. Please call approximately ten minutes before the start of the call to ensure that you are connected.

The call will also be available as a live audio webcast that can be accessed on the Company website at http://ir.darlingii.com. Beginning one hour after its completion, a replay of the call can be accessed through May 20, 2016 by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. callers), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada) and 1-412-317-0088 (international callers). The access code for the replay is 10085015. The conference call will also be archived on the Company's website.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

Adjusted EBITDA is presented here not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company's operating performance and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with GAAP. Since EBITDA (generally, net income plus interest expenses, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is not calculated identically by all companies, this presentation may not be comparable to EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA presentations disclosed by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated in this presentation and represents, for any relevant period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, interest expense, (income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in its industry because the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financing income taxes and certain non-cash and other items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.

As a result, the Company's management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure to evaluate performance and for other discretionary purposes. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP, should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of operating results or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with GAAP. In addition to the foregoing, management also uses or will use Adjusted EBITDA to measure compliance with certain financial covenants under the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities and 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes that were outstanding at April 2, 2016. However, the amounts shown in this presentation for Adjusted EBITDA differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities and 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes, as those definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-recurring costs and non-cash charges. Additionally, the Company evaluates the impact of foreign exchange on operating cash flow, which is defined as segment operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

{This media release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding the business operations and prospects of Darling Ingredients Inc. and industry factors affecting it. These statements are identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "could," "may," "will," "should," "planned," "potential," "continue," "momentum," and other words referring to events that may occur in the future. These statements reflect Darling Ingredient's current view of future events and are based on its assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond its control, each of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, existing and unknown future limitations on the ability of the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries to make their cash flow available to the Company for payments on the Company's indebtedness or other purposes; global demands for bio-fuels and grain and oilseed commodities, which have exhibited volatility, and can impact the cost of feed for cattle, hogs and poultry, thus affecting available rendering feedstock and selling prices for the Company's products; reductions in raw material volumes available to the Company due to weak margins in the meat production industry as a result of higher feed costs, reduced consumer demand or other factors, reduced volume from food service establishments, reduced demand for animal feed, or otherwise; reduced finished product prices, including a decline in fat and used cooking oil finished product prices; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs like the Renewable Fuel Standards Program (RFS2), low carbon fuel standards (LCFS) and tax credits for biofuels both in the Unites States and abroad; possible product recall resulting from developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food or food additives; the occurrence of Bird Flu including, but not limited to H5N1 flu, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or "BSE"), porcine epidemic diarrhea ("PED") or other diseases associated with animal origin in the United States or elsewhere; unanticipated costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes related to the Company's compliance with the existing or unforeseen new U.S. or foreign regulations (including, without limitation, China) affecting the industries in which the Company operates or its value added products (including new or modified animal feed, Bird Flu, PED or BSE or similar or unanticipated regulations); risks associated with the renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana owned and operated by a joint venture between Darling Ingredients and Valero Energy Corporation, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues related to the announced expansion project; difficulties or a significant disruption in our information systems or failure to implement new systems and software successfully, including our ongoing enterprise resource planning project; risks relating to possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; increased contributions to the Company's pension and benefit plans, including multiemployer and employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans as required by legislation, regulation or other applicable U.S. or foreign law or resulting from a U.S. mass withdrawal event; bad debt write-offs; loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations; continued or escalated conflict in the Middle East, North Korea, Ukraine or elsewhere; and/or unfavorable export or import markets. These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, climate conditions, currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company's results of operations. Among other things, future profitability may be affected by the Company's ability to grow its business, which faces competition from companies that may have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Company's announced share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time and purchases of shares under the program are subject to market conditions and other factors, which are likely to change from time to time. Other risks and uncertainties regarding Darling Ingredients Inc., its business and the industries in which it operates are referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Darling Ingredients Inc. is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}

For More Information, contact: Melissa A. Gaither, V.P. Investor Relations and Global Communications 251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300 Irving, Texas 75038 Email: [email protected] Phone: 972-717-0300

Darling Ingredients Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

April 2, 2016 and January 2, 2016

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)













April 2,

January 2,

2016

2016



(unaudited)



Current assets:







Cash and cash equivalents $ 147,326

$ 156,884

Restricted cash 321

331

Accounts Receivable, net 376,346

371,392

Inventories 372,616

344,583

Prepaid expenses 40,279

36,175

Income taxes refundable 11,825

11,963

Other current assets 11,570

10,460

Total current assets 960,283

931,788 Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation, net 1,535,521

1,508,167 Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization, net 792,166

782,349









Other assets:







Goodwill 1,269,296

1,233,102

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries 256,604

247,238

Other assets 40,584

41,623

Deferred income taxes 17,362

16,352

Total assets $ 4,871,816

$ 4,760,619







Current liabilities:







Current portion of long-term debt $ 46,591

$ 45,166

Accounts payable, principally trade 170,895

149,998

Income taxes payable 7,032

6,679

Accrued expenses 227,338

239,825

Total current liabilities 451,856

441,668









Long-term debt, net of current portion 1,924,393

1,885,851 Other non-current liabilities 96,116

97,809 Deferred income taxes 368,640

360,681

Total liabilities 2,841,005

2,786,009









Commitments and contingencies





Total Darling's stockholders' equity: 1,927,330

1,870,709

Noncontrolling interests 103,481

103,901

Total stockholders' equity $2,031,811

$1,974,610



$4,871,816

$4,760,619

Darling Ingredients Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Periods Ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)









Three Months Ended











$ Change



April 2,

April 4,

Favorable

2016

2015

(Unfavorable)













Net sales

$ 779,641

$ 874,694

$ (95,053) Costs and expenses:











Cost of sales and operating expenses $ 598,893

$ 684,521

$ 85,628

Selling, general and administrative expenses 81,469

86,631

5,162

Depreciation and amortization 72,256

66,398

(5,858)

Acquisition and integration costs 331

5,319

4,988 Total costs and expenses 752,949

842,869

89,920 Operating income 26,692

31,825

(5,133)













Other expense:











Interest expense (23,901)

(23,109)

(792)

Foreign currency loss (2,603)

(2,460)

(143)

Other expense, net (1,305)

(509)

(796) Total other expense (27,809)

(26,078)

(1,731)













Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiary 5,643

(1,808)

7,451 Income before income taxes 4,526

3,939

587 Income tax expense 1,863

2,115

252 Net income $ 2,663

$ 1,824

$ 839 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests $ (1,584)

$ (1,715)

$ 131 Net income attributable to Darling $ 1,079

$ 109

$ 970













Basic income per share $ 0.01

$ -

$ 0.01 Diluted income per share $ 0.01

$ -

$ 0.01

Darling Ingredients Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015

(Dollars in thousands)









Three Months Ended







April 2,

April 4, Cash flows from operating activities: 2016

2015

Net income

$ 2,663

$ 1,824

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:









Depreciation and amortization 72,256

66,398



Loss on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets 698

47



Gain on insurance proceeds from insurance settlements 

(341)



Deferred taxes (3,705)

503



Increase/(decrease) in long-term pension liability (1,146)

261



Stock-based compensation expense 2,440

1,282



Deferred loan cost amortization 2,794

2,409



Equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries (5,643)

1,808



Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:









Accounts receivable 7,118

12,269



Income taxes refundable/payable 400

(1,857)



Inventories and prepaid expenses (21,206)

(26,511)



Accounts payable and accrued expenses 3,336

(19,985)



Other (14,962)

21,133





Net cash provided/(used) by operating activities 45,043

59,240 Cash flows from investing activities:







Capital expenditures (53,375)

(50,838)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (8,511)



Gross proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and other assets 1,424

534

Proceeds from insurance settlement 1,181

341

Payments related to routes and other intangibles 

(753)





Net cash used by investing activities (59,281)

(50,716) Cash flows from financing activities:







Proceeds from long-term debt 8,760

5,943

Payments on long-term debt (16,207)

(13,602)

Borrowings from revolving credit facility 33,000

27,428

Payments on revolving credit facility (21,000)

(37,943)

Net cash overdraft financing 

31,162

Issuance of commons stock 45

81

Repurchase of treasury stock (5,000)



Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards (1,788)

(4,469)

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation (446)

(35)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests 

(38)





Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities (2,636)

8,527 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 7,316

(13,704) Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (9,558)

3,347 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 156,884

108,784 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 147,326

$ 112,131 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:







Accrued capital expenditures $ (6,595)

$ 2,164

Cash paid during the period for:









Interest, net of capitalized interest $ 20,597

$ 26,118



Income taxes, net of refunds $ 5,114

$ 5,149

Non-cash financing activities:









Debt issued for service contract assets $ 10

$ -



Contribution of property to unconsolidated subsidiary $ 2,674

$ -

SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deans from the country's top business schools gathered recently to share their perspectives, for the first time publicly, on the future of graduate management education. The conversation was part of a symposium at Columbia Business School entitled "A Century of Impact, a Future of Innovation," which commemorated the School's landmark achievements in key areas of business over the past century and challenged the country's top academic leaders to discuss the future of management education.

"For 100 years, Columbia Business School has helped shape the modern business landscape, but its impact on the key forces shaping business is just beginning," said Glenn Hubbard, dean of Columbia Business School. "We live in a time when many leaders around the world are skeptical about our economic future. Our Centennial is an occasion to marvel at what business has accomplished, and a time to look to the future of business as an engine of global prosperity."

The panel discussion featured Dean Hubbard, Geoffrey Garrett of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Nitin Nohria of Harvard Business School; and Garth Saloner of Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The panelists surmised that the prosperity of society depends on a healthy business environment and management education has a responsibility to educate future business leaders who recognize this. There was general agreement that many of the biggest social problems of our day are, in fact, management problems and can be addressed by professional managers who understand the intersection between business and social needs.

The panel also addressed the high cost of attending business school. Dean Hubbard said, "Any transaction is about value. If you are going to any of the very top business schools, the burden falls on us to continue delivering an MBA experience that is broad in scope, not focused on narrow disciplines taught one at a time." Dean Saloner of Stanford added, "MBA students are educated today for leadership and to manage innovation, skills they will use over their lifetime."

A discussion about the value of an MBA for entrepreneurs highlighted the differences and difficulties between creatively developing an idea and building a business around it. Several panel members noted an increase in the number of students interested in startups who are not themselves entrepreneurs. Many MBA students see themselves as providing a complementary skill set to an entrepreneurial companythe ability to help transform an idea into a sustainable enterprise.

Finally, panel members offered their predictions of what business schools will look like in the next decadewith several key themes emerging:

Dean Hubbard predicted that business education would be less about individual disciplines, such as accounting and finance, and more about solving business problems by blending academic theory with immersive practical experience.

predicted that business education would be less about individual disciplines, such as accounting and finance, and more about solving business problems by blending academic theory with immersive practical experience. Dean Nohria of Harvard Business School said that MBA programs must continue to provide a commitment to leadership and general management, as well as a transformational educational experience that students can get in a two-year full-time program.

of said that MBA programs must continue to provide a commitment to leadership and general management, as well as a transformational educational experience that students can get in a two-year full-time program. Dean Garrett of Wharton anticipated that new technology will increasingly influence business education with non-MBA master's degrees continuing to grow at a healthy pace over the next decade.

of anticipated that new technology will increasingly influence business education with non-MBA master's degrees continuing to grow at a healthy pace over the next decade. Dean Saloner of Stanford noted that top schools would continue to attract the highest-level students who will come for a transformative experience through experiential learning.

Continuing through 2016, Columbia Business School will celebrate a century of success by hosting events, producing original multimedia content, sharing notable stories, and inviting participation from its remarkable community, which has served as the heart and soul of the School for 100 years. To learn more about the School's centennial celebration, please visit www.gsb.columbia.edu/centennial.

About Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is the only worldclass, Ivy League business school that delivers a learning experience where academic excellence meets with realtime exposure to the pulse of global business. Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the School's transformative curriculum bridges academic theory with unparalleled exposure to realworld business practice, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to recognize, capture, and create opportunity in any business environment. The thought leadership of the School's faculty and staff members, combined with the accomplishments of its distinguished alumni and position in the center of global business, means that the School's efforts have an immediate, measurable impact on the forces shaping business every day. To learn more about Columbia Business School's position at the very center of business, please visit www.gsb.columbia.edu.

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SOURCE Columbia Business School

Related Links

http://www.gsb.columbia.edu


DENVER, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech-savvy frequent travelers, or "connected travelers", are continuously looking for devices that streamline and improve the travel experience. According to a TripAdvisor study, 72 percent of frequent travelers use a smartphone or other wearable device as part of their travel routine.

As developments like Echo and the iWatch emerge, tomorrow's traveler's expectations are evolving. Travelers want to be informed - in real-time - of events related to their journey. They want to be alerted and informed about ways to enhance their trip, avoid potential disruptions, discover new opportunities, and make connections with other travelers.

To-date, eBags has sold more than 25 million bags, mostly to frequent travelers who take at least 10 trips per year. As these travelers seek out more smart devices, including wearables and integrated-product technologies, eBags will bring an ecosystem of these devices and services to life in a central place called the eBags Connected Traveler Hub.

Through a strategic partnership with Denver-based, IoT leader, Iterate Studio, eBags is positioning itself as the e-commerce hub for connected travelers everywhere. eBags will leverage partnerships with retailers, travel companies, top developers, and innovators in IoT to keep travelers connected. The eBags Connected Tag will be among the first proprietary products to bring connectivity in travel through a mobile tagging system attached to a traveler's luggage or bags.

"Building and partnering with unique, high-tech products and services that connect the traveler to his or her travel experiences is a natural evolution for the eBags brand," said Mike Edwards, chief executive officer of eBags. "One of the reasons 40 million people shop on eBags.com every year is because of our forward-thinking approach to product innovation. And, by working with like-minded partners, we are poised to offer a unique Connected Traveler Hub."

The partnership between Iterate Studio and eBags, created in September 2015, has tested between eight and 12 startup technologies each quarter. Now the partnership is bringing unique IoT technologies into development for the Connected Traveler Hub, which will serve as the single destination for travelers to keep all of their items connected, tracked and updated. eBags is interested in partnering with companies in this vertical that offer unique and useful connected services or products to travelers.

"Whether a weekend warrior or constantly on-the-road, we look forward to leveraging our partnership with eBags to create cutting-edge products to help travelers conveniently access information and drive the best overall experience for each traveler," says Jon Nordmark, CEO of Iterate Studio.

About eBags

With more than 20 years in travel and 25 million bags sold, eBags is the leading online retailer of luggage, backpacks and accessories. The company is devoted to helping its customers find the perfect travel gear for any journey. eBags features 67,000 products from 600 brands, including Tumi, Samsonite, Kenneth Cole, Patagonia, North Face and more. For more information, follow eBags on Facebook or Twitter @eBags or visit eBags.com.

About Iterate

Co-Located in Silicon Valley, Denver-Boulder, and NYC, Iterate Studio is a practitioner of Open Innovation in the digital space. Iterate discovers and curates emerging technologies, then implements proof-of-value tests for its global client base. For large companies, this reduces time, costs and risks associated with analyzing and deploying innovative start-up technologies. For press inquiries please contact [email protected], follow Iterate on Twitter @IterateStudio or visit IterateStudio.com.

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SOURCE eBags
PHOENIX, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Elio Motors, Inc. (OTCQX: ELIO), the startup vehicle manufacturer planning to launch a three-wheeled vehicle that will get up to 84 MPG with a targeted base price of $6,800, today announced the hiring of three key staff members who will help drive the company's preparations for commercial production of its Elio vehicle. The new hires include Phil Kosarek, Director, Safety Engineering, Occupant Restraints; Leslie Madden, Program Manager, Engineering; and Heather Wilson, Manager, Logistics.

"As we move from our development phase through testing and validation into commercial production, we need a strong, experienced team that can blaze a pathway to quality and consistent manufacturability," said Jeff Johnston, Vice President, Engineering for Elio Motors. "Phil, Leslie and Heather, who will play key roles, all excel in entrepreneurial environments and will help insure the success of our developing Production and Supply-Management systems."

Kosarek serves as director of Safety Engineering and Occupant Restraints for Elio Motors, where he is responsible for the overall safety performance and crashworthiness of the Elio vehicle. Before joining Elio Motors, he was with Altair Engineering of Troy, Mich., for almost 18 years, where he served in a progression of engineering and program management roles, leading global teams in product development, engineering and validation. He earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering Structures from the University of Michigan. Kosarek is the owner of two patents and has authored numerous automotive technical papers. He holds membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Madden is a program manager over Engineering. She will have responsibility for managing the cost and delivery of engineering services provided by suppliers to Elio Motors' eight Product Development Teams. She began her career working for General Motors as a project engineer, then as an advanced manufacturing engineer at the company's Saturn Corporation. After working briefly on a small-car structural program with engineering consulting firm Hartwick Professionals, she returned to Saturn Corporation, where she served in a product planning role in its HVAC, audio and electrical group and in a consumer marketing capacity.

Wilson has been named logistics manager for Elio Motors, a position with responsibilities that include overall management of the company's supply chain in directing and optimizing the transportation, timely delivery, stock levels and warehousing of components for the company's Shreveport, La., manufacturing facility. Before Elio Motors, she was with Allied, Inc., an Ann Arbor-based supplier of rotary and hydraulic lifts to the automotive and service industries, where she managed the company's service function. Prior to that, she was with Jmarc Engineering & Sales of Wixom, Mich.

Elio Motors, has achieved several milestones so far this year. The startup crossed the 50,000-reservation threshold for its Elio vehicle, and the company's shares began trading on the OTCQX Best Market. The company also has finalized engineering designs for the engine cradle, interior, body panels and chassis for its E-Series testing vehicles.

About Elio Motors

Founded by car enthusiast Paul Elio in 2009, Elio Motors Inc. represents a revolutionary approach to manufacturing an ultra-high-mileage vehicle. The three-wheeled Elio is engineered to attain a highway mileage rating of up to 84 mpg, while providing the comfort of amenities such as power windows, power door lock and air conditioning, accompanied by the safety of multiple air bags and an aerodynamic, enclosed vehicle body. Elio's first manufacturing site will be in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements." These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from planned operations include, without limitation, delays in receipt of adequate financing, delays in commencement of production, decreased consumer interest in the Company's products, downturn in general economic conditions, increased production costs and availability of raw materials, competition, and unfavorable market and regulatory conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers are referred to the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The information contained in this press release is a statement of the Company's present intentions, beliefs or expectations and is based upon, among other things, the existing business environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and the Company's assumptions. The Company may change its intentions, beliefs or expectations at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in its assumptions or otherwise, and it undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this press release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that the Company or persons acting on its behalf may issue.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For hi-resolution images of Kosarek, Madden or Wilson, please contact Mike DeVilling at BERLINE at [email protected] or at (248) 875-4207.

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SOURCE Elio Motors
PARIS, May 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Elior Group is participating in Seeds & Chips, the only global fair in Europe dedicated to FoodTech which will be held on May 11-14 2016 in Milan. At its exhibition stand, the Group will be presenting five startups it has been backing. As the caterer of choice, Elior Group is committed to this burgeoning sector which unites culinary tradition with technology. As a catalyst for change and innovation, FoodTech is in the process of remodeling the catering value chain and transforming our consumer habits.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160411/353501LOGO )

The Seeds & Chips summit conference concerns every link in the food chain "from field to fork". Technologies are impacting lifestyle trends; our production and distribution methods, as well as consumer habits have changed and our commitments to eliminate food waste are getting stronger. Currently estimated at over 5,000bn and involving around 40% of the world's labor force[1], the food sector must now rethink its business model. Although this industry is founded upon tradition, its future clearly lies in innovation.

Philippe Salle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elior Group, stated: "Leveraging digital technology to offer our customers new experiences is one of the eight objectives set out in our 2016-2020 strategic plan, founded upon our Life4 innovation program. This is a program with international reach and which is designed to promote sources of potential innovation that, when developed, will have an impact on our business. Our aim is to become one of the most innovative catering groups."

Life4 is focused on three levers:

1. Investing in innovation and providing an arena for startups

By providing mentoring support or acquiring stakes, Elior Group enables startups to try out their innovations in Group restaurants and establishments and gauge their feasibility in real life situations.

The five startups (Dataiku, FoodMeUp, Optimiam, Swaf, Wynd), selected by the Group are all involved in the digitalization of consumer consumption habits to provide a unique and customized experience. Data must be gathered to supply predictive programs with the information required to optimize restaurant management, drive sales and boost consumer satisfaction rates in real time.

2. Being a co-creator of platforms and/or incubators

3. Promoting local initiatives in every country and on every market

--------------------------------------------------

1. Source: Seeds & Chips 2016

For more information : eliorgroup.com

SOURCE Elior Group
SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants (EPIC), a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, announced today that Liz Miller has joined the organization's employee benefits division as a senior communications consultant. Miller will be based in EPIC's San Francisco headquarters and report to John Gaffney, director of national benefits operations.

In her new role at EPIC, Miller will be responsible for leading and expanding the company's communications practice, developing impactful campaigns to encourage positive benefits usage across client workforces and supporting new business growth through the development of sales and marketing collateral.

Miller joins EPIC from Zenefits, where as a benefits advisor she provided health and benefits consulting to clients nationwide. Miller previously worked for Aon Hewitt, where as a health and benefits consultant she developed and implemented supportive communication strategies. She also assisted HR teams with adopting consistent and effective practices that helped clients become more efficient and improve their employee services.

Before beginning her health and benefits career, Miller was a business owner providing health instruction and fitness education to the community. She also spent eight years working as a behavioral therapist, helping people increase their productivity in society.

"Liz is a disciplined, results-oriented individual and gifted communicator with a passion for service excellence," said John Gaffney. "Her diverse experience as a health services provider, entrepreneur and benefits consultant gives her a unique perspective on the needs of those she serves. We are very excited to have Liz take on a senior role within our national employee benefits communications consulting team."

Miller earned a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University as well as a master's degree in expressive therapy from Lesley University.

Liz Miller can be reached at:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

Mobile 415-852-0689

Office 415-356-4803

liz.miller[at]epicbrokers.com

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

*PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0512-Liz-Miller-300dpi.jpg

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dave Hock, of EPIC

650-295-4608

[email protected]



Nicole Conley

650-422-3156

[email protected]

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Related Links

http://www.epicbrokers.com


PUNE, India, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Epoxy Coatings Market by Technology (Solvent borne, Waterborne, and Powder-Based) and Application (Construction, Transportation, General Industrial, and Others) - Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The global market size is projected to reach USD 33.97 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 5.22% from 2016.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 111 market data Tables and 58 Figures spread through 162 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Epoxy Coatings Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/epoxy-coatings-market-260587393.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The major drivers identified for the global Epoxy Coatings Market are growing demand for waterborne epoxy coatings, high growth in end-use industries, and rising demand from developing countries. The demand from construction application is driven by growing urbanization in Asia-Pacific and RoW, which resulted into increased demand for residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure.

Powder-based epoxy coatings growing at the highest rate

Stringent government regulations in the U.S. and Western Europe, especially to reduce air pollution, will trigger the need for adopting new, low-pollution coating technologies. The demand for epoxy powder-based coatings is expected to increase in the future owing to their non-VOC emission properties, thus providing high growth opportunity to the overall epoxy coatings market.

In the past few years, powder-based epoxy coating has gained substantial popularity as a VOC-free coating technology. This market is expected to grow rapidly in the future with the development of new materials, formulations, and advancement of equipment and application processes. The growth in epoxy powder-based coatings is also driven by high demand from the end-use applications such as construction, transportation, and general industrial.

For More Info Make Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=260587393

Asia-Pacific is the largest market for epoxy coatings

Asia-Pacific is the largest market for epoxy coatings, both in terms of volume and value, followed by RoW and Europe. Countries such as the U.S., China, and Germany are the major markets of epoxy coatings. Due to the increasing demand on domestic front, rising income levels, and easy access to resources, Asia-Pacific has emerged as the leading market of epoxy coatings. South America, especially Brazil, has also emerged as a key market for epoxy coatings manufacturers. Not only is the demand for epoxy coatings expected to be strong in Brazil, but its proximity to the U.S. makes it an emerging market for setting up production facilities.

Key players in the epoxy coatings market

The key players in the epoxy coatings market are AkzoNobel N.V. (Netherlands), Axalta Coating Systems(U.S.), BASF (Germany), Berger Paints India Limited (India), Kansai Paint Company Limited (Japan), Nippon Paint Company Limited(Japan), PPG Industries Inc. (U.S.), RPM International Inc. (U.S.), The Sherwin Williams Company (U.S.), The Valspar Corporation (U.S.), and Tikkurila Oyj (Finland).

Browse Related Reports:

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http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/waterborne-waterbased-coatings-market-205422792.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

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
ANTWERP, Belgium, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Euronav NV (NYSE: EURN & Euronext: EURN) ("Euronav") is pleased to announce that today the general meeting of shareholders has approved the annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, as well as the gross dividend of USD 0.82 per share. The dividend will be payable as from 26 May 2016. The shares will trade ex-dividend as from 17 May 2016 (record date 18 May 2016).

EURONAV Logo (PRNewsFoto/Euronav NV)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150206/728388 )



The shareholders further approved the following:

Re-appointment of Mr. Patrick Rodgers as director for a term of four years, until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2020.

as director for a term of four years, until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2020. Re-appointment of Mrs. Alice Wingfield Digby as independent director for a term of one year until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2017.

as independent director for a term of one year until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2017. Appointment of Mrs. Grace Reksten Skaugen as independent director for a term of four years, until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2020.

as independent director for a term of four years, until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2020. Confirmation of the appointment by way of co-optation of Mr. Carl Steen , chairman of the board of directors, as independent director until and including the ordinary general meeting to be held in 2018.

The general meeting acknowledged the resignation of Mr. Alexandros Drouliscos, independent director, with effect as of 31 March 2016 as well as the expiry of the term of office of Mr. Ludwig Criel today.

The dividend to holders of Euronext shares will be paid in EUR at the USD/EUR exchange rate of the record date. In view of this dividend payment, investors are reminded that shareholders cannot reposition their shares between the Belgian share register and the U.S. share register from Monday 16 May 2016 until Thursday 19 May 2016 9 a.m. CET.

The minutes of the general meeting will be uploaded on Euronav's website (http://www.euronav.com) in the "Investors" section under "General Assemblies".

Announcement of second quarter results 2016: Thursday 28 July 2016

About Euronav

Euronav is an independent tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil and petroleum products. The Company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices throughout Europe and Asia. Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN. Euronav employs its fleet both on the spot and period market. VLCCs on the spot market are traded in the Tankers International pool of which Euronav is one of the major partners. Euronav's owned and operated fleet consists of 55 double hulled vessels being one V-Plus vessel, 29 VLCCs (of which 1 in 50%-50% joint venture), one VLCC under construction which was recently acquired as part of resales of existing newbuilding contracts, 22 Suezmaxes (of which four are owned in 50%-50% joint ventures) and two FSO vessels (both owned in 50%-50% joint venture). The Company's vessels mainly fly Belgian, Greek, French and Marshall Island flags.

Regulated information within the meaning of the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007.

SOURCE Euronav NV
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolent Health, Inc. (NYSE: EVH), a company providing an integrated value-based care platform to the nation's leading health systems and physician organizations, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Highlights from the first quarter of 2016 announcement include (all comparisons are to the quarter ended March 31, 2015):

GAAP revenue of $49.4 million ; Adjusted Revenue of $49.5 million , which is an increase of 33.7%

; Adjusted Revenue of , which is an increase of 33.7% Lives on platform of more than 1.2 million as of March 31, 2016 , an increase of 160%, inclusive of approximately 300,000 lives from the Passport Health Plan partnership

, an increase of 160%, inclusive of approximately 300,000 lives from the Passport Health Plan partnership New partnership agreement established with Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care

Frank Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Evolent Health, Inc., commented, "We are quite pleased with our results for the first quarter of 2016, as we delivered strong financial performance and made significant progress operationally and strategically. In the first quarter, we crossed the one million mark in terms of lives on our platform and are excited to see concrete outcomes data that demonstrate the positive impact of our clinical model in delivering higher quality, lower cost care."

"We're also delighted to announce that we have added a new provider system to our customer network: Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care, known as GPAC, with a presence throughout the state of Georgia," Williams added. "Through our partnership, GPAC will be able to leverage our clinical and financial expertise, as well as the IdentifiSM technology platform, to provide the ACO with the tools it needs to effectively manage care across a network of over 630 physicians."

"Our collaboration with GPAC will initially focus on 70,000 patients currently under value-based arrangements, with a significant growth opportunity across the state as additional lives move to risk-based contracts," Williams said. "We are excited about opening up a direct-to-physician channel in markets where large physician groups are pursuing risk-based arrangements and need support in navigating the operational complexity that is critical for financial success."

Financial Results of Evolent Health, Inc.

Evolent Health, Inc. completed a reorganization of its corporate structure on June 4, 2015 (the "Reorganization"), in connection with the initial public offering of its Class A common stock ("IPO"). Prior to the Reorganization, Evolent Health, Inc. had no operations. As a result, the financial statements of Evolent Health, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 2015, do not reflect a complete view of the operational results for the period. In order to provide consistent and comparable metrics for the periods before and after June 4, 2015, the adjusted results of Evolent Health, Inc. presented and discussed in this release reflect the Reorganization as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. The adjusted results include the operations of Evolent Health LLC for the period from January 1, 2015, through March 31, 2015, as well as certain other adjustments. See "Financial Statement Presentation" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information.

Reported Results

Evolent Health, Inc. reported United States of America generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") revenue of $49.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to zero for the same period in 2015, which does not reflect the operating results of Evolent Health LLC as noted above.

Cost of revenue was $28.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to zero for the same period in 2015. Operating income (loss) was $(175.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to zero for the same period in 2015.

Net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. was $(122.8) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which included a non-cash impairment charge to goodwill of $160.6. Net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. was $(11.3) million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Earnings (loss) available for common shareholders was $(122.8) million and $(12.6) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Earnings (loss) per share available for common shareholders was $(2.91) and $(4.22) per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments as of March 31, 2016, were $165.3 million.

Adjusted Results

Adjusted Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2016 increased 33.7% to $49.5 million , compared to $37.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 .

increased 33.7% to , compared to for the three months ended . Adjusted Cost of Revenue was $28.2 million or 56.8% of Adjusted Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2016 , compared to $26.0 million or 70.2% of Adjusted Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2015 .

or 56.8% of Adjusted Revenue for the three months ended , compared to or 70.2% of Adjusted Revenue for the three months ended . Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2016 , was $(6.6) million , compared to $(8.8) million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 .

, was , compared to for the three months ended . Adjusted Loss Available for Common Shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2016 , and 2015 was $(9.7) million and $(11.6) million , respectively.

, and 2015 was and , respectively. Adjusted Loss per Share Available for Common Shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2016 , and 2015 was $(0.16) and $(0.43) , respectively.

Business Outlook

For the full year 2016, Adjusted Revenue is expected to be in the range of $212.0 million to $220.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $(28.0) million to $(24.0) million. For the three months ended June 30, 2016, Adjusted Revenue is expected to be in the range of $51.0 million to $52.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $(7.0) million to $(6.0) million.

This "Business Outlook" section contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations are set forth in "Forward Looking Statements  Cautionary Language" and Evolent Health, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Web and Conference Call Information

As previously announced, Evolent Health, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter performance this evening, May 12, 2016, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The conference call will be available via live webcast on the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.evolenthealth.com. To participate by telephone, dial 855-940-9467 and ask to join to the Evolent Health call. Participants are advised to dial in at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register. The call will be archived on the company's website for 90 days and will be available beginning later this evening. Evolent Health invites all interested parties to attend the conference call.

About Evolent Health

Evolent Health partners with leading health systems to drive value-based care transformation. By providing clinical, analytical and financial capabilities, Evolent Health helps physicians and health systems achieve superior quality and cost results. Evolent Health's approach breaks down barriers, aligns incentives and powers a new model of care delivery resulting in meaningful alignment between providers, payers, physicians and patients. Learn more at: www.evolenthealth.com.

Financial Statement Presentation

Evolent Health, Inc. is a holding company and its principal asset is all of the Class A common units in its operating subsidiary, Evolent Health LLC, which has owned all of our operating assets and substantially all of our business since inception. Prior to the Reorganization on June 4, 2015, the predecessor of Evolent Health, Inc. accounted for Evolent Health LLC as an equity method investment. The financial results of Evolent Health LLC have been consolidated in the financial statements of Evolent Health, Inc. following the Reorganization. As a result, the financial statements of Evolent Health, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 2015, do not reflect a complete view of the operational results for the period. In order to provide a consistent presentation for the periods before and after June 4, 2015 and effectively provide comparative results, the adjusted results of Evolent Health, Inc. presented and discussed in this release reflect the Reorganization as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015, and therefore include the operations of Evolent Health LLC for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015. Including Evolent Health LLC's results for this period is not consistent with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to comparable GAAP measures. The details in the tabular presentation below reflect certain income statement line items as adjusted to reflect results from operations for the three month period as if the Reorganization had occurred on January 1, 2015. The presentation also reflects other adjustments described in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with GAAP, we present and discuss Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Transformation Revenue, Adjusted Platform and Operations Revenue, Adjusted Cost of Revenue, Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Adjusted Depreciation and Amortization, Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available for Common Shareholders, Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available for Common Shareholders and Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares, which are all non-GAAP financial measures, as supplemental measures to help investors evaluate our fundamental operational performance. In addition to the adjustments described below, each of the adjusted measures are also adjusted to reflect the Reorganization as if it had occurred on the first day of the relevant period as described in "Financial Statement Presentation" and are adjusted to exclude an impairment to goodwill we incurred this quarter, the impact of purchase accounting adjustments, stock-based compensation expenses and transaction costs related to the Reorganization, IPO and business combinations.

Adjusted EBITDA is also adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization expense, other income (expense), interest (income) expense, net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, provision (benefit) for income taxes and income (loss) from affiliate.

Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available for Common Shareholders is also adjusted to exclude net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, provision (benefit) for income taxes and income (loss) from affiliate.

Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares is adjusted to include items that would be considered anti-dilutive under GAAP during periods of loss including the dilutive effects of options and restricted stock and the assumed conversion of preferred or exchangeable securities. For periods of income, Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares is equivalent to the GAAP diluted weighted-average common shares including the assumed conversion of preferred or exchangeable securities

These adjusted measures do not represent and should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measurements, and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly entitled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of these adjusted measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is presented in the attached tables. We believe these measures are useful across time in evaluating our fundamental core operating performance. Management also uses certain of these measures to manage our business, including in preparing its annual operating budget, financial projections and compensation plans. We believe that certain of these measures are also useful to investors because similar measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies in similar industries.

Evolent Health, Inc. Adjusted Results For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(in thousands) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015









Evolent





Evolent

Evolent

Add:







Evolent









Health, Inc.





Health, Inc.

Health, Inc.

Evolent







Health, Inc.









as





as

as

Health LLC







as

Change Over Prior Period

Reported Adjustments (1) Adjusted

Reported Operations (2) Adjustments (1) Adjusted

$

% Revenue



































Transformation $ 8,114

$ 87

$ 8,201

$ -

$ 10,376



$ -

$ 10,376

$ (2,175)

(21.0)% Platform and operations 41,335

-

41,335

-

26,665



-

26,665

14,670

55.0 % Total revenue 49,449

87

49,536

-

37,041



-

37,041

12,495

33.7 % Expenses



































Cost of revenue (exclusive of



































Depreciation and amortization



































presented separately below) 28,562

(406)

28,156

-

26,454



(439)

26,015

2,141

8.2 % Selling, general and



































administrative expenses 32,095

(4,086)

28,009

-

28,451



(8,577)

19,874

8,135

40.9 % Depreciation and amortization



































expenses 3,371

-

3,371

-

1,483



-

1,483

1,888

127.3 % Goodwill impairment 160,600

(160,600)

-

-

-



-

-

-

% Total operating expenses 224,628

(165,092)

59,536

-

56,388



(9,016)

47,372

12,164

25.7 % Operating income (loss) $ (175,179)

$ 165,179

$ (10,000)

$ -

$ (19,347)



$ 9,016

$ (10,331)

$ 331

(3.2)%

(1) Represents adjustments to remove the results of purchase accounting, stock-based compensation, transaction expenses and goodwill impairment (2) Represents the operational results of Evolent Health LLC for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015

Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)

(in thousands) For the Three



Months Ended



March 31,



2016

2015

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to







Evolent Health, Inc. $ (122,812)

$ (11,319)











Add:







Net income (loss) of Evolent Health LLC -

(19,315) (1) Less:







Goodwill impairment (160,600)

-

Income (loss) from affiliate -

(11,319)

(Provision) benefit for income taxes 988

-

Net (income) loss attributable to







non-controlling interests 51,100

-

Purchase accounting adjustments (87)

-

Stock-based compensation (4,436)

(8,019)

Transaction costs (56)

(997)

Interest income (expense), net 279

32

Depreciation and amortization expense (3,371)

(1,483)











Adjusted EBITDA $ (6,629)

$ (8,848)



(1) Represents the net income (loss) for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015

Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available for Common Shareholders to Earnings (Loss) per share Available for Common Shareholders



(in thousands, except per share data) For the Three



Months Ended



March 31,



2016

2015

Earnings (Loss) Available for







Common Shareholders - Basic and Diluted (a) $ (122,812)

$ (12,609)

Add:







Net income (loss) of Evolent Health LLC -

(19,315) (1) Less:







Goodwill impairment (160,600)

-

Income (loss) from affiliate -

(11,319)

(Provision) benefit for income taxes 988

-

Net (income) loss attributable to







non-controlling interests 51,100

-

Purchase accounting adjustments (87)

-

Stock-based compensation (4,436)

(8,019)

Transaction costs (56)

(997)

Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available







for Common Shareholders (b) (2) $ (9,721)

$ (11,589)











Earnings (Loss) per Share Available







for Common Shareholders - Basic and Diluted (a) (2) $ (2.91)

$ (4.22)











Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available







for Common Shareholders (b) (3) $ (0.16)

$ (0.43)











Weighted-average common shares - basic 42,185

2,988

Weighted-average common shares - diluted 42,185

2,988

Weighted-average common shares - adjusted (4) 60,179

26,880



(1) Represents the net income (loss) for the period from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015 (2) For periods of net loss, shares used in the earnings per share calculation represent basic shares as using diluted shares would be anti-dilutive (3) Represents Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available for Common Shareholders divided by Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares as described in Note 4 below (4) Represents the weighted-average shares of all dilutive or potentially dilutive shares over the respective periods including in periods of loss. See the reconciliation of Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares to GAAP diluted weighted-average common shares on the following page.

Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted Weighted-Average Common Shares to Diluted Weighted-Average Common Shares

(in thousands) For the Three

Months Ended

March 31,

2016

2015 Weighted-average common shares - diluted 42,185

2,988 Dilutive effect of restricted stock and





restricted stock units 12

605 Dilutive effect of options 457

1,159 Assumed conversion of convertible preferred





stock at beginning-of-period -

22,128 Assumed conversion of Class B common





shares to Class A common shares 17,525

- Weighted-average common shares - adjusted 60,179

26,880

Evolent Health, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

(in thousands) As of

As of

March 31,

December 31,

2016

2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 111,292

$ 145,726 Investments, at amortized cost 20,096

9,445 Total current assets 167,566

184,463 Investments, at amortized cost 33,879

44,618 Goodwill 459,703

608,903 Intangible assets, net 171,672

163,152 Total assets 860,063

1,015,514 Total liabilities 84,401

80,935 Total shareholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. 541,524

649,341 Non-controlling interests 234,138

285,238 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit) 860,063

1,015,514

Evolent Health, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

(in thousands) For the Three

Months Ended

March 31,

2016

2015 Revenue





Transformation $ 8,114

$ - Platform and operations 41,335

- Total revenue 49,449

-







Expenses





Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation





and amortization presented separately below) 28,562

- Selling, general and administrative expenses 32,095

- Depreciation and amortization expenses 3,371

- Goodwill impairment 160,600

- Total operating expenses 224,628

- Operating income (loss) (175,179)

- Interest income (expense), net 279

- Income (loss) from affiliate -

(11,319) Income (loss) before income taxes





and non-controlling interests (174,900)

(11,319) Provision (benefit) for income taxes (988)

- Net income (loss) (173,912)

(11,319) Net income (loss) attributable to





non-controlling interests (51,100)

- Net income (loss) attributable to





Evolent Health, Inc. $ (122,812)

$ (11,319)















Earnings (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders





Basic $ (122,812)

$ (12,609) Diluted (122,812)

(12,609)







Earnings (Loss) per Common Share





Basic $ (2.91)

$ (4.22) Diluted (2.91)

(4.22)







Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding





Basic 42,185

2,988 Diluted 42,185

2,988

Evolent Health, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

(in thousands) For the Three

Months Ended

March 31,

2016

2015 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (18,408)

$ - Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (16,051)

- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 25

-







Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (34,434)

- Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning-of-period 145,726

- Cash and cash equivalents as of end-of-period $ 111,292

$ -

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE

Certain statements made in this release and in other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). A forward-looking statement is a statement that is not a historical fact and, without limitation, includes any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words like: "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "aim," "predict," "potential," "continue," "plan," "project," "will," "should," "shall," "may," "might" and other words or phrases with similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, trends in our businesses, prospective services, future performance or financial results and the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings. We claim the protection afforded by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA.

These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary materially, some of which are described within the forward-looking statements, include, among others:

The structural change in the market for healthcare in the United States ;

; Our ability to effectively manage our growth;

The significant portion of revenue we derive from our largest partners;

Our ability to offer new and innovative products and services;

The growth and success of our partners, which is difficult to predict and is subject to factors outside of our control;

Our ability to attract new partners;

Our ability to recover the significant upfront costs in our partner relationships;

Our ability to estimate the size of our target market;

Our ability to maintain and enhance our reputation and brand recognition;

Consolidation in the healthcare industry;

Competition which could limit our ability to maintain or expand market share within our industry;

Our ability to partner with providers due to exclusivity provisions in our contracts;

Uncertainty in the healthcare regulatory framework;

Restrictions and penalties as a result of privacy and data protection laws;

Adequate protection of our intellectual property;

Any alleged infringement, misappropriation or violation of third-party proprietary rights;

Our use of "open source" software;

Our ability to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information;

Our reliance on third parties;

Our ability to use, disclose, de-identify or license data and to integrate third-party technologies;

Data loss or corruption due to failures or errors in our systems and service disruptions at our data centers;

Breaches or failures of our security measures;

Our reliance on Internet infrastructure, bandwidth providers, data center providers, other third parties and our own systems for providing services to our users;

Our dependency on our key personnel, and our ability to attract, hire, integrate and retain key personnel;

Risks related to future acquisition opportunities;

The risk of potential future goodwill impairment on our results of operations;

Our future indebtedness and our ability to obtain additional financing;

Our ability to achieve profitability in the future;

The requirements of being a public company;

Our adjusted results may not be representative of our future performance;

The risk of potential future litigation;

Our ability to remediate the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting;

Our holding company structure and dependence on distributions from Evolent Health LLC;

Our obligations to make payments to certain of our pre-IPO investors for certain tax benefits we may claim in the future;

Our ability to utilize benefits under the TRA;

Our ability to realize all or a portion of the tax benefits that we currently expect to result from future exchanges of Class B common units for our Class A common stock, and to utilize certain tax attributes of Evolent Health Holdings and an affiliate of TPG;

Distributions that Evolent Health LLC will be required to make to us and to the other members of Evolent Health LLC;

Our obligations to make payments under the TRA that may be accelerated or may exceed the tax benefits we realize;

Different interests among our pre-IPO investors, or between us and our pre-IPO investors;

The terms of agreements between us and certain of our pre-IPO investors;

Our exemption from certain corporate governance requirements due to our status as a "controlled company" within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange rules;

The potential volatility of our Class A common stock price;

The potential decline of our Class A common stock price if a substantial number of shares become available for sale or if a large number of Class B common units is exchanged for shares of Class A common stock;

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and provisions of Delaware law that discourage or prevent strategic transactions, including a takeover of us;

law that discourage or prevent strategic transactions, including a takeover of us; The ability of certain of our investors to compete with us without restrictions;

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees;

Our intention not to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock; and

Our status as an "emerging growth company."

The risks included here are not exhaustive. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Our 2015 Form 10-K and other documents filed with the SEC include additional factors that could affect our businesses and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a rapidly changing and competitive environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors.

Further, it is not possible to assess the effect of all risk factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this report.

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SOURCE Evolent Health, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.evolenthealth.com


WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolent Health, a company providing an integrated value-based care platform to the nation's leading health systems and physician organizations, announced today its partnership with Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care (GPAC). The partnership will guide the development and execution of a value-based care strategy for improving patient health in Georgia.

"Our partnership with Evolent will help us provide additional tools and resources to the more than 630 physicians that make up GPAC, improving the quality of care their patients receive while allowing their affiliated providers to practice medicine in a more meaningful way," said Dr. Shahriar Sedghi, GPAC's Chairman. "This partnership reflects GPAC's commitment to making a fundamental change in the way we deliver health care in Georgia by ensuring high quality and effective care, while enhancing the patient experience and helping physicians meet the challenges of the ever-evolving health care industry," added Steve Barry, GPAC's Chief Executive Officer.

GPAC is the largest physician shared savings accountable care organization working with multiple payers across the entire state of Georgia. The broad primary care and specialist group network allows GPAC statewide reach, impacting hundreds of thousands of patients. The partnership between Evolent and GPAC will initially focus on providing physicians with additional tools to help them understand the health and risk of their patient panels like Evolent's IdentifiSM technology platform and medical economics support. Evolent will support GPAC physicians in navigating a transforming industry as the two organizations work together to expand and strengthen its current value-based care foundation, managing over 70,000 existing patients under risk agreements, with the goal of steadily increasing the lives cared for by GPAC's physicians over time.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care in their pursuit of improving care delivery to hundreds of thousands of Georgia residents," said Evolent Chief Executive Officer Frank Williams. Frazer Buntin, Evolent's Southeast Regional President commented, "The missions of our two organizations are tightly aligned as the team at GPAC believes it can fundamentally improve the way health care is delivered. We share this belief and we see a real opportunity to support GPAC and the physicians' goals of improving quality outcomes while lowering costs, and improving the care delivery experience for patients and providers alike through this partnership."

About Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care

Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care (GPAC) is the largest physician-sponsored accountable care organization in Georgia with more than 630 primary care and specialist providers in its statewide network. In achieving its mission, GPAC works with multiple payers to fundamentally change the way we deliver healthcare in our service area by ensuring high quality and effective care, while enhancing patient experience and ensuring independent physicians remain are able to meet the challenges of the changing healthcare environment. For more information, visit GPACO.org.

About Evolent Health

Evolent Health partners with leading health systems to drive value-based care transformation. By providing clinical, analytical and financial capabilities, Evolent helps physicians and health systems achieve superior quality and cost results. Evolent's approach breaks down barriers, aligns incentives and powers a new model of care delivery resulting in meaningful alignment between providers, payers, physicians and patients. For more information, visit evolenthealth.com.

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SOURCE Evolent Health

Related Links

http://www.evolenthealth.com


BEAUMONT, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- More than three years after a deadly explosion at its Beaumont, Texas, refinery, ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) has settled negligence lawsuits filed by the parents of two workers who were killed and six others who were injured in the April 17, 2013 blast.

A court order signed May 10, 2016 resolves claims filed by the parents of the deceased and injured workers, attorneys with Beaumont-based Provost Umphrey Law Firm, LLP, announced. The initial lawsuits were filed following the explosion and fire that occurred at a heat exchanger unit inside the ExxonMobil refinery. The injured workers and families of those who died argued that ExxonMobil did not take reasonable steps to warn the workers of the presence of hydrocarbons, inspect the equipment or adequately maintain the premises given the dangerous conditions that were present at the plant, which processes 344,500 barrels of oil a day.

"As a lifelong resident of the Southeast Texas community, I am no stranger to learning that many hardworking people are injured and killed while working within the refining industry. There are many products that could lead to dangerous and fatal conditions for all of the workers and the community as well, which is one reason that safety must be a top priority," says Provost Umphrey lead attorney James E. Payne.

"This was a horrific tragedy that has devastated all of the families involved," says Provost Umphrey attorney Matthew Matheny. "While the terms of the settlement are confidential, the families are pleased to have the litigation resolved although injuries sustained will continue for a lifetime."

Founded in 1969, Provost Umphrey is well-known for representing plaintiffs in cases involving serious personal injury and wrongful death; motor vehicle and aviation accidents; worksite injuries; chemical exposure and toxic torts; dangerous pharmaceutical drugs; complex business disputes; high-stakes insurance claims; and wage-and-hour employment issues. To learn more about the firm, visit: http://www.provostumphrey.com.

For more information, contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Provost Umphrey

Related Links

http://www.provostumphrey.com


CARROLLTON, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the leader in signs, graphics and visual communications, announced it is seeking franchisees at the Epicomm Experience, the 2016 Annual Conference of Epicomm, the association for leaders in print, mail, fulfillment, and marketing services. The event will take place from May 16-18 in Savannah, Georgia.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. will be the official sponsor for the conference's complimentary wireless internet throughout the duration of the event. Additionally, brand representatives will join 29 leading industry product and service suppliers as an official exhibitor in the vendor showcase. The company will target Co-Brand prospects where business owners with print-related services have the opportunity to add the nationally recognized FASTSIGNS brand to their service offering from their existing location.

"Epicomm hosts an impressive number of companies in the billion-dollar graphic communications industry, giving us an opportunity to promote our Co-Brand franchise opportunities to a large group of entrepreneurs who may want to expand their services," said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "Members of our franchisee community are benefiting from our Co-Brand programs and have prospered from our direction and ongoing support to develop and sell wide-format products. We look forward to meeting with entrepreneurs and sharing with them our Co-brand opportunities currently available across the country."

FASTSIGNS' has continued to grow through the company's Co-Brand and Conversion programs. With franchisees coming from the print and photofinishing industries, the Co-Brand program accounted for 20 percent of the franchise agreements signed in 2015, a significant increase from prior years. Launched in 2012, the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand program offers independent business operators with print-related services the opportunity to add the FASTSIGNS brand and a full-suite of sign and visual graphic solutions, while continuing to own and operate their existing business. Getting started is quick; FASTSIGNS will help finance the franchise fee with as little as $15,000 down to begin the Co-Brand process. Co-Brand franchisees consistently report that adding a FASTSIGNS franchise to their business has added value for customers, promoting long-term growth opportunities for their businesses.

The fast-growing FASTSIGNS brand currently has over 600 locations worldwide in nine countries, but is looking to expand with additional new Co-Branded and Conversion centers. Due to the ongoing worldwide need for visual communications and digital signage technology, the company expects to open another 45 to 50 locations in 2016, as well as finalize master franchise agreements in two new countries.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or 214-346-5679) or download an eBook that explores the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity at http://amzn.to/1FrnDJu.

About FASTSIGNS

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 600 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the US, Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE).

FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns.

Franchise Research Institute has named FASTSIGNS a top sign and graphics franchise and has awarded the company certification as a 2015 World-Class Franchise for four consecutive years. FASTSIGNS was also recognized by USA Today, Military Times magazine, G.I. Jobs magazine and Franchise Business Review as one of the top franchises for military veterans. For more information about FASTSIGNS franchise programs, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or 214-346-5679) or visit http://www.fastsigns.com/

CONTACT:

Sloane Fistel

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160216/333668LOGO

SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fastsigns.com


TROY, Mich., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) today announced plans to audiocast its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The annual meeting will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) at Flagstar's national headquarters, 5151 Corporate Drive, Troy, MI 48098.

The presentation will be available as a live audio webcast on the investor relations section of flagstar.com. The webcast will be archived on the website for 90 days.

Participants can listen to the annual meeting by calling toll free (800) 289-0459 or (913) 312-1234, using passcode 987537. Calls should be placed at least 10 minutes before the meeting is scheduled to begin. A replay will be available for 10 business days by calling (888) 203-1112 toll fee or (719) 457-0820, using passcode 9219242.

Any questions about the annual meeting should be directed to David L. Urban, director, Investor Relations, at (248) 312-5970.

About Flagstar

Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) is a $13.7 billion savings and loan holding company headquartered in Troy, Mich. Flagstar Bank, FSB, the largest bank headquartered in Michigan, provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services through 99 branches in the state. It also provides home loans through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in all 50 states, as well as through 26 retail locations in 19 states. Flagstar is a leading national originator of mortgage loans and a top 25 mortgage servicer, handling payments and record keeping for nearly $70 billion of home loans for over 340,000 borrowers. For more information, please visit flagstar.com.

For more information contact:

David L. Urban

(248) 312-5970

SOURCE Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.flagstar.com


OKLAHOMA CITY, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation HealthCare, Inc. (OTCQB: FDNH), which is an owner and operator of surgical hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, today announced its acquisition of a majority interest in Ninety Nine Healthcare Management ("99MGMT"). 99MGMT is a healthcare management company founded by physicians to serve physicians and their patients. 99MGMT will continue to operate from their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"A 99MGMT physician practice management relationship can yield on average a ten to fifteen percent increase in a physician's revenues net of fees," said Stanton Nelson, Chief Executive Officer for Foundation HealthCare. "99MGMT allows private practice physicians access to better resources without sacrificing decision making control and autonomy for their practice."

99MGMT provides a variety of critical practice management services relieving the hassles of running a practice, so physicians can focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Services offered by 99MGMT include practice operations, payer contracting, revenue cycle management, strategic marketing, electronic health record optimization, human resources, and ancillary service development, which complements the core medical practice.

"Our people, processes, and strategic planning lead to higher practice revenues by aligning the goals and incentives for patients, physicians, hospitals, employers, and payers. The result is higher quality of care at an overall cost savings," said Joel Ciarochi, M.D., M.B.A., CEO of 99MGMT.

"We are excited to establish this relationship with 99MGMT because we believe it will allow us to provide exceptional practice management services for our physician partners and increase the value we provide to them," said Nelson.

"While financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, we expect this acquisition will be accretive to the Company's earnings in the first 12 months following closing," said Hugh King, CFO for Foundation HealthCare.

About Foundation HealthCare  Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., Foundation HealthCare owns and/or operates four surgical hospitals and ten surgery centers in seven states. Physicians who operate in our facilities currently provide general surgeries and surgeries in such specialties as orthopedics, neurosurgery, pain management, podiatry, gynecology, optometry, gastroenterology and otolaryngology (ENT).

Foundation HealthCare's management seeks to operate each facility efficiently and effectively such that patients receive high quality, cost effective care. The Foundation team seeks to improve the performance of each hospital by recruiting physicians to operate in its facilities and incorporating additional ancillary services in their markets. These additional service lines, such as toxicology, wound care, sleep management, radiology and imaging, truly make the Foundation specialty hospital environment unique.

The Company is also an industry leading ASC management and development company focused on partnering with physicians and employees to create an outstanding patient experience, while maximizing partner and shareholder value. For more information, visit www.fdnh.com.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, forecasts and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include risks and uncertainties not in the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the risk that acquisition of 99MGMT will not be accretive to the Company's earnings in the first 12 months following closing, that the Company will maintain enough liquidity to execute its business plan, continue as a going concern and other risks including those enumerated and described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Primary contact: Brooks O'Neil, 952-239-7677 ([email protected])

SOURCE Foundation HealthCare, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fdnh.com


Showcasing a range of different industry examples at SAPPHIRE NOW, Fujitsu will highlight how it supports its customers to optimize their business processes in four areas: Assets and Internet of Things to explore new ways of doing business; improve Customer Experience through adoption of omnichannel; build a solid Analytics foundation to enable better customer insights; and make processes more agile to drive Digital Transformation . Industries specifically addressed include consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, utilities and retail.

Asif Poonja, Vice President and Practice Leader SAP, at Fujitsu says: "Navigating Big Data, the Internet of Things, Social Media and Process Orchestration while leveraging such delivery platforms as Cloud and Mobile requires careful planning and prioritization. A properly implemented, modernized digital ecosystem can deliver true business value. Fujitsu is working in collaboration with its customers and partners such as SAP to shape this digital future, from defining strategy, via planning and service deployment, through to creating the digital platform. The result for our customers is accelerated innovation, allowing them to design, develop and launch new products and services as well as enhancing existing processes."

At SAPPHIRE NOW, Fujitsu will also showcase the future of manufacturing where people, machines, materials and processes are connected and optimized by live data analytics. A simulated 'virtual factory' model will demonstrate how digitized manufacturing can help organizations gain better return on their assets, optimize their operations, lower manufacturing costs and improve customer satisfaction.

A trusted SAP global partner and advisor for over 40 years, Fujitsu has successfully helped thousands of customers worldwide to simplify, innovate and grow, including Siemens AG, Messe Frankfurt, Qatar Gas Transport Company and DPD Geopost. Fujitsu expertise with SAP applications, combined with in-depth industry and technology experience, empowers customers to achieve their business objectives. The Fujitsu portfolio in support of SAP solutions includes IoT, advanced technologies and services capabilities to deliver tailored future-proof solutions.

Fujitsu is an SAP global partner for technology, services, hosting and cloud. The global partnership between Fujitsu and SAP constantly develops solutions that enable enterprises to maximize the value of their investments in running SAP solutions. Driving innovations for the SAP HANA platform and SAP S/4HANA, SAP's next-generation business suite for a digital world, is the latest example of this successful collaboration.

Notes to editors:

Recent customer case studies

Messe Frankfurt optimizes CRM processes with SAP Hybris Marketing and CRM on SAP HANA

"The collaboration with Fujitsu on this project was excellent. We were particularly impressed with the competent team, which provided professional and very committed support in all areas of the project," say Dr. Frank Biendara, Head of Information Management and Christiane Rudiger, Head of Application Management, at Messe Frankfurt. Messe Frankfurt requires a powerful IT basis to plan and implement its extensive marketing campaigns. A large number of contacts, such as registered visitors of previous trade fairs, must be managed with different characteristics. In this context, data for targeted mailing activities must be available on a consistent basis. To optimize segmentation processes and the creation of target groups, Fujitsu implemented the SAP Hybris Marketing customer engagement solution. During this process, customer-specific algorithms were included in the solution in accordance with Messe Frankfurt's campaign structure. This project is an SAP HANA Innovation Award 2016 entry.

Automatic provisioning of SAP HANA systems running on ETERNUS DX and PRIMERGY

"Together with Fujitsu we have developed a solution for supplying SAP HANA systems to our customers in a standardized and automated manner, in a very short space of time. The cooperation with Fujitsu was excellent," says Dr. Jurgen Droletz, Project Management, Siemens AG GS IT.

All the SAP systems at Siemens' central data center were to be migrated to SAP HANA and additional SAP HANA systems were to be provided. The key requirement for a joint project between Siemens and Fujitsu was the assurance to install the systems quickly and to a high standard in a fully automated manner. To meet these requirements, the data center team at Siemens AG entered into a joint project with Fujitsu.

PRIMEFLEX solutions and FlexFrame Orchestrator help Nakilat to be future ready for running SAP HANA

"Fujitsu has reduced the resources required to run our business, which has led in turn to dramatic cost savings. We have halved our annual IT investment and when you add in the decreased manpower required to manage the SAP environment, further savings are made," says Hamad Suwaid, Information Technology Manager, Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd.

Nakilat is a Qatari Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) transport company providing an essential transportation link in the State of Qatar's LNG supply chain. The company wanted to consolidate its IT environment. It rolled out SAP HANA using the FUJITSU Integrated System PRIMEFLEX platform, combined with FUJITSU FlexFrame Orchestrator as a basis for a highly efficient private cloud.

VBH wholesale specialist migrated to SAP HANA and significantly improved customer relationships

"Fujitsu provided us with highly professional support and consulting services when migrating our business warehouse system to SAP HANA," says Oliver Maisch, CIO, VBH Holding AG.

Building hardware wholesaler VBH found that its business warehouse system was no longer performing satisfactorily. Data queries often took several minutes, testing employees' patience and slowing down service and sales processes. To resolve the situation, it decided to implement SAP HANA database technology.

Fujitsu Partner Theatre Sessions at the event include:

Tuesday, May 17, 12:00pm  12:20pm, Room theater 2

SAP S/4HANA  What's the future of my reporting and analytics?

Speaker: Ryan D'Costa and Volker Sommer

Over the years we have seen how reporting and analytics have evolved from SAP BW to SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence solutions to SAP HANA Live and now SAP S/4HANA and SAP Cloud for Analytics. This session will provide a point of view and demystify the analytics solutions and enable customers to develop their own near- and long-term strategies and roadmap with SAP HANA and analytics solutions.

Wednesday, May 18, 12:00pm  12:20pm, Room theater 2

Fast track to Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) with SAP HANA platform and Fujitsu IoT technologies

Speaker: James Zhang and Ray Russ

Learn exactly what the Internet of Things (IoT) is and how you can make it a reality in your organization with the SAP HANA platform and IoT technologies from Fujitsu. After an introduction to the industrial IoT reference model and SAP solutions for the IoT, explore key services and capabilities of the Fujitsu Connected Enterprise solution.

Fujitsu ASUG Speaking Sessions

A4695: Thursday, May 19, 11:00 - 12:00, Room S320D

Lecture Presentation: The Best Practices and Lessons Learned of SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence 15 Upgrade

Speaker: Nikhil Makhija

Greenheck Fan, a leading supplier of air movement and control equipment, relies on SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (SAP MII) to support manufacturing operational day-to-day activities. This session introduces Greenheck's journey with SAP MII 11.5, 12, 14 and the recent upgrade to 15, including the best practices and lessons learned.

A4637: Thursday, May 19, 12:30 - 01:30, Room S319

Lecture Presentation: The Ship and Debit Process with Vistex Integration

Speaker: Sachin Palande and Rajendra Sathe

Claims are subjected to a three-way match and validation with point-of-sale data, ship and debit agreement, and invoice data for buy price. Contract management for global businesses on SAP software feed from a global price management system.

Pricing and availability

Fujitsu's solutions and services for SAP solution environments are globally available from Fujitsu and certified channel partners.

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

Media contacts

Fujitsu America, Inc.

Bryan Hollar

408-746-6412

[email protected]

Finn Partners

Andrew Corcione

212-593-5844

[email protected]

About SAPPHIRE NOW

SAPPHIRE NOW focuses on how companies can enable their digital business strategy and get more from their technology investments. SAPPHIRE NOW and the ASUG Annual Conference are the world's premier business technology event and largest SAP customer-run conference, offering attendees the opportunity to learn and network with customers, SAP executives, partners and experts across the entire SAP ecosystem.

SAP, SAPPHIRE, SAP HANA, Hybris, BusinessObjects 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.

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. PRIMEFLEX and FlexFrame are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Technology Solutions 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.

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SOURCE Fujitsu America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fujitsu.com/us


"I'm very pleased and proud that the PenFed Foundation could play a role in organizing the gala and honoring the award recipients," said Foundation President and CEO James Schenck. "But it's important to remember that this event is the result of a profoundly unified effort by many key partners and numerous volunteers. We could never have done this without the generosity and support of our corporate sponsors, local benefactors and dedicated Soldiers and veterans. It's a dynamic and heartfelt example of what disparate groups can accomplish by joining forces and working together to reach a common and extremely important goal."

That goal, Schenck said, is to actively and aggressively help military community members secure their financial future by providing active duty military, veterans and their families with the resources they need to improve their lives through programs covering a wide range of financially oriented issues.

The black-tie eventwhich was planned, organized and executed by a group consisting of 90 percent volunteersdrew 600 military, government and industry leaders nationwide. Nearly every dollar of the record breaking $1.25 million raised last night will go towards helping service members and their caregivers to find the financial security they so thoroughly deserve.

In his remarks, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Honorable Robert McDonald, stressed the role the VA's partnership with the PenFed Foundation will play in reaching his goal to enhance service at the VA. "Integrating best practices from private industry can help us reach our goal to make the VA number one for customer service. And we are working closer than ever with the PenFed Foundation."

Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Deborah Lee James thanked the PenFed Foundation for leadership in serving wounded warriors, promoting financial literacy and filling in the gaps in government coverage. "Whether its providing interest-free emergency loans, or support for wounded veterans and their families, helping to purchase a home or free lodging for veterans undergoing treatment at the VA in Palo Alto, California, PenFed has been there," she said. The evening's honorees were recognized for their service and sacrifice at home, in the community, and for the nation.

Julie Keys spent more than five years living in a hotel in order to be near Staff Sgt. Keys as he endured multiple surgeries while recovering from wounds received in combat. "I just did what I had to dowhat we all would do," she said. Summing up her tenacity as an advocate for her son, she said, "He's my child, and I will fight you to give him the very best that you can give him."

Groberg, reflecting on his combat experience and the Medal of Honor, said, "I'm just honored that I was given the opportunity to serve my country as a Soldier. In a time when our enemies are trying to disrupt our way of life, I had the opportunity to face them and tell them that I'm not going to fold. This medal I wear around my neck could never represent one individual. I hope that for the rest of my life, I get to earn the right to call myself an American."

Another honoree was Joe Plumeri, vice chairman of the First Data board of directors, who received the Community Hero Award.

"Our country is such an exceptional place," Plumeri said in accepting the award. "What greater value can we provide to our country than to honor the people who protect us and serve us every day? I will tell you that I have roamed the world. I have had the good fortune to have been at many events in many countries, and believe it or not, things like this [gala] don't exist any place else. There are no organizations like PenFed that does the things that they do."

About the PenFed Foundation

Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to helping members of our military community secure their financial future. It provides service members, veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, credit-building, home ownership, and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated corps of volunteers in its mission. The credit union funds the foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the foundation provides. To learn more, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org.

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SOURCE PenFed Foundation

Related Links

http://www.penfedfoundation.org


Under the contract, General Dynamics will provide USAREUR with enterprise IT support services to include IT service management, systems engineering, data protection, cross domain solutions and information exchange, and technical advisory services management. Work on this contract will take place in multiple locations across Germany, Italy and the Balkans.

"General Dynamics has extensive experience providing mission support to defense intelligence agencies, with a particular emphasis on enterprise communications, cyber defense, systems accreditation and IT services," said Bernie Guerry, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's Intelligence Solutions division. "TMCC II will deliver mission-critical IT services to support the operational requirements of the USAREUR Warfighter and NATO coalition partners."

For more than 40 years, General Dynamics has been a trusted partner for the Department of Defense, providing global support to the U.S. Armed Forces. The company will continue to assist USAREUR's mission to improve the readiness U.S. Armed Forces operating in the European Theater.

This contract was awarded to General Dynamics One Source, a joint venture of two General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) business units: General Dynamics Information Technology and General Dynamics Mission Systems.

More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140428/81320

SOURCE General Dynamics

Related Links

http://www.generaldynamics.com


RENO, Nev., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A 19th-century carbine rifle that has been described as "a national treasure" because of its personal links to General George Armstrong Custer as well as the great Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle, will be offered for sale during a live and online auction this Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 (beginning at 9 a.m.).

The carbine comes from Custer's personal collection of firearms. It was passed through the Custer family until it was presented by Elsie Olander Custer to Dick Reyes, a well-known dealer/collector in Carson City, Nevada.

Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections, which is auctioning the gun, says the 150-year-old Sharps carbine is remarkable both because of its own story as well as the newly discovered historic significance of the Native American pictographs on its stock.

Holabird says the rifle is attributed to Black Kettle, who was killed by Custer's troops in an 1868 massacre of a Cheyenne Village along the Washita River in Oklahoma. That was eight years before Custer and his 7th Calvary were overwhelmed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

After the Washita River battle, Custer saw the carbine in a wagon full of artifacts that had been collected from the battleground and took it as a war trophy for himself. But Holabird learned even more last winter when the Custer carbine was studied by a South Dakota scholar who has only recently unlocked the code that allows translation and interpretation of pictographs such as those on displayed on the stock.

Ongoing research with Native American experts in the field of pictography indicate that the pictographs and accompanying brass tacks in the stock serve a purpose beyond that of decoration. The pictographs not only show that the carbine was the property of Black Kettle, but also detail the chief's leadership in two societies of the Cheyenne tribe.

In addition to this magnificent carbine, the Holabird Western Americana Collections auction will offer other Custer items with proven lineage, ancient Native American relics, three 20-ounce gold nuggets, and more, totaling well over $1 million, and representing an immeasurable treasure trove of historical importance.

Of special interest in the sale are additional firearms including an 1847 Colt Walker once owned by a Texas Ranger, a presentation Remington rifle from inventor "Carbine" Williams, and an extremely rare Colt Peacemaker found on the Custer Battlefield in 1933. Rounding out the collection is a refined selection of historic cowboy saddles and spurs, items from the mining camps of the West, and more than 600 mining spoons created from silver and copper.

The auction, to be conducted live at Holabird's Western Americana Collections and online through iCollector.com and Invaluable.com, is scheduled for May 13 and 14.

Holabird Western Americana Collections, headquartered in Reno, Nev., meets the needs of Americana Collectors looking for rare and new-to-market collectibles. Led by acclaimed historian, author, and auctioneer Fred Holabird, the company lists outstanding collectibles at all price points to meet the needs of collectors worldwide. Contact the office at (775) 851-1859 . Fhwac.com

SOURCE Holabird Western Americana Collections
DUBLIN, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market, By Value and Volume Analysis and Forecast, 2015-2020" report to their offering.

The global UAV market volume is anticipated to reach 4.7 million units by the end of 2020.

The global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market has witnessed a meteoric growth over the past decade. Military UAVs are considered a key component and an integral part of a country's defense system. The commercial UAVs have witnessed a huge transformation after the exemptions from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Major companies in the UAV market are targeting customers by introducing new and improved applications.

Major technological as well as financial advantages of UAVs over their counterparts are driving the UAV market globally. Despite the number of regulations laid down by governmental institutions and FAA over using UAVs in commercial spaces, the UAV manufacturers were successful in launching the UAVs in various applications such as agriculture, mining, photography, filming, product delivery, wildlife research and monitoring, and oil & gas pipeline inspection among others.

Penetration of UAVs in commercial Application

The report also provides a detailed analysis of UAV market in different segments such as market by class, by application, by payload, and by geography. A summary of the complete report is briefed in this chapter, giving a detailed insight on different segments of the UAV market.

The key drivers that will augment the demand for UAVs includes factors such as ongoing conflicts and terrorist attacks, increasing demand for actionable intelligence, need for precision farming and hyper spectral imagery, and the penetration of UAVs in various civil applications. Despite to these, the high accident rates of UAVs, and government regulations on the use of UAVs and their export has restraint the growth of the market to some extent.

An in-depth analysis of UAV applications for all regions has been covered in this report. The geographic segmentation covers major regions including North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific which are major hubs for UAV manufacturers and payload integrators. The country analysis for this market is covered in the report which included major countries such as the U.S., Canada, Italy, the U.K., Israel, France, Germany, China, India, Japan, and Brazil, among others.

At the end of the report, a thorough analysis of the key players in the UAV market is provided which focuses on a detailed study based on financials, product portfolio, key developments, competitors, as well as a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis. Some of the emerging players (which consist of startups) are also discussed under this section.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Report Scope & Research Methodology

3 Industry Analysis

4 Market Dynamics

5 Competitive Insights

6 UAV Market Size By Class

7 UAV Market Size By Payload

8 Industry Insights On Components Of UAVs

9 UAV Market Size By Application

10 UAV Market Size, By Geography

11 Company Profiles

- 3D Robotics - Aerovironment Inc. - Airbus Group (Eads) - Bae Systems - Cybaero Ab - DJI Innovations - Dassault Aviation - Elbit Systems Ltd. - General Atomics - IAI - Lockheed Martin Corporation - Northrop Grumman - Parrot - Saab Ab - Thales Group - The Boeing Company

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gtzrrx/unmanned_aerial

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


Mr. Dunmore said he heard about the SNAP program from several people, and they all advised him to contact the Hancock Resource Center (HRC). HRC, based in Waveland, Mississippi, facilitates SNAP grants in addition to helping low-income citizens with home repair and rehabilitation, housing counseling, and community development.

HRC assisted Mr. Dunmore with his SNAP grant application.

"Hancock Resource Center works to stabilize families and strengthen the community by addressing obstacles and barriers to housing," said HRC President Rhonda Rhodes. "Being able to make these repairs was an obstacle for Mr. Dunmore. It is our privilege to help him to stay in his home."

In February 2016, Mr. Dunmore was awarded a grant of $4,867 from FHLB Dallas and The First. It paid to replace rotting boards around the roof as well as install a ceiling fan in the living room, fix a broken water line in the front yard, and install a new vent in the roof over the kitchen.

"It has changed my life a lot," Mr. Dunmore said. "I've lived here since 1973 when the house was first built. The repairs have helped so much. I appreciate it very much."

Since SNAP's inception in 2009, more than $10.6 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist more than 2,000 families across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.

"The First strives to give back to our communities, so that citizens may enjoy a better quality of life," said C. Jerome Brown, senior vice president and director of Community Development at The First. "HRC is a tremendous partner to us and to SNAP applicants as the go-to source for information and support. We appreciate all they do on behalf of those in need."

In 2015, FHLB Dallas awarded nearly $1.5 million in SNAP grants that assisted 319 families. The $1 million in 2016 SNAP funding, made available in January on a first-come, first-served basis, has been exhausted. More than $21,000 of the 2016 funding was awarded in five SNAP grants through The First and HRC.

"Since it was established in 2009, SNAP has been one of our most popular programs because of the tremendous need for housing rehabilitation in our five-state footprint," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

About The First, A National Banking Association

The First, headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, began as a dream on a back porch in South Mississippi. A group of local businessmen talked about creating a bank that would take care of business by taking care of people one customer at a time... and The First was born. Now, that dream has grown from a back porch to cities and towns all over South Mississippi, South Alabama, and Louisiana. The First is more than a bank... because it is still a group of friends building relationships and taking care of business one customer at a time! The First currently has 32 locations and assets exceeding $1 billion.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $49.5 billion as of March 31, 2016, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

Contact:



Corporate Communications

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

www.fhlb.com

(214) 441-8445

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367134

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150126/171462LOGO



SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

Related Links

http://www.fhlb.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Happn, the leading dating app that enables users to discover the people they've crossed paths with in real life, today unveiled a new feature called, "See You There." This new functionality prompts users to meet up for fun activities in real life, extending the Happn user experience. The "See You There" feature will be rolled out to Happn's more than 17 million users around the world on Tuesday, May 17.

On Happn, users see a chronological timeline of people they've crossed paths with throughout their day  those who were at the same place at the same time. Using unique real-time, hyper-geolocation technology, Happn's new "See You There" feature provides users with another way to meet and connect with others as they would over the normal course of their daily routine, during day-to-day activities.

"We created Happn as a way for people to meet others who are already in some way part of their lives. We're constantly focused on enhancing the Happn experience for our users. We want happners to forge long-lasting, deep connections  the kind of relationships that begin by meeting each other in person, whether it's for love or simply to find a new friend with shared interests," said Didier Rappaport, CEO and founder, Happn. "As society evolves and becomes more mobile, the dating industry has transformed to focus on encounters, pushing dating apps to become more social in their offering. The new 'See You There' feature is designed as a seamless integration to allow people to meet as they would on any given day  during regular daily activities  whether at a party, at work or at the gym. After all, they already have a built-in shared interest: the paths they have crossed."

The "See You There" feature allows happners to share what they're up for doing within a four hour window  whether that's grabbing a bite to eat, going for a run, or catching a movie. To use the new feature, users can tap the (+) availability button on the bottom of their home screens, and then select an activity, which will be visible to other users in their timeline. Those who have crossed paths will see users who are available for a particular activity and can take that opportunity to meet up.

With "See You There," Happn users can seize the moment and meet here and now. The feature is a new way to "Crush" if there is a mutual interest in doing the same activities.

The debut of Happn's "See You There" comes on the heels of several other successful feature launches, including:

Voice feature allows users to record and send a one-minute audio clip

feature allows users to record and send a one-minute audio clip Instagram sync lets users display 30 recent photos directly from their Instagram feed, giving others added insight into who they are

sync lets users display 30 recent photos directly from their Instagram feed, giving others added insight into who they are Spotify connection enables users to send tracks to each other or add songs to their profile to express musical interests

The launch of "See You There" is also the opportunity for Happn to change their app icon. The meeting of two people is symbolized by two arrows crossing each other's path. "With this new feature, we are starting a new era in the development of our product, always putting our mission first: to encourage real-life encounters," added Rappaport.

Happn is available across the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami. Further international expansion is underway in Europe, Asia and South America, with even more new features and capabilities expected to be introduced in the second half of 2016.

About Happn

Launched in February 2014, Happn is the first mobile dating app to use real-time geolocation to help you discover people you've crossed paths with in real life. Every time you cross paths with another Happn user, his or her profile appears on your app. Currently present in more than 40 major cities around the world, including Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, Milan and New York City, the app has grown rapidly, with 17 million users since launch. Happn is available to download for free via the App Store, Play Store and Windows Store. Visit www.happn.com for more information. Follow Happn on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. #MakeItHappn

U.S Media Contacts for Happn:

Nancy Zakhary / Jo Anne McCusker

Brainerd Communicators, Inc.

[email protected]

212 986 6667

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366608LOGO

SOURCE Happn

Related Links

http://www.happn.com


SAN DIEGO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Business Awards (ABA) has named Ted Harrington "Executive of the Year." Mr. Harrington is co-owner and Executive Partner of Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), and runs their west coast office out of San Diego. This year's ABA class received more than 3,400 nominations from 44 US states and 3 countries across 2 continents. Other winners from the 2016 class include from companies such as Qualcomm, Intuit, AT&T, 1-800-Flowers, Aflac, ZipCar, and more. Mr. Harrington was one of five honorees named in the category of Computer Services.

"This award is obviously a great honor," says Mr. Harrington, "but what is most humbling is how this accolade reflects the important contributions to security research that everyone in our company has made." In particular, Mr. Harrington's award was based on ISE's research initiatives in healthcare and the Internet of Things (IoT).

On February 23, 2016, ISE published a groundbreaking piece of security research called "Hacking Hospitals" (https://www.securityevaluators.com/hospitalhack/), wherein they identified how hackers could deploy cyberattacks that could hurt or kill patients. Over 24 months, the study investigated 12 hospitals, 2 healthcare data facilities, 2 healthcare technology platforms, and 2 medical devices. According to Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman of the Ponemon Institute and a member of the research advisory board: "This study is laser-focused on protecting patients, by not just identifying the vast array of security challenges in healthcare, but also by articulating the path forward for the providers and business associates to provide better security."

ISE organizes IoT Village, which first debuted in August 2015 at esteemed security conference DEF CON. Created to investigate security flaws in connected devices, IoT Village (https://www.iotvillage.org) hosts an onsite hacking contest, talks, workshops, live exploit demos, and press events. In it's inaugural run, IoT Village served as a platform that delivered 66 critical security vulnerabilities across 27 different devices types and 18 different manufacturers. Afflicted manufacturers include prominent brands such as Samsung, Bose, Philips, FitBit, DLink and more. "IoT Village proved that security flaws are pervasive across connected devices in the current market," notes Steve Bono, ISE founder and fellow IoT Village organizer.

Award winners will be honored at a black-tie gala on June 20, 2016 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. For the full list of winners visit https://stevieawards.com/aba/2016-management-award-winners

About ABA

The purpose of the ABA is to "honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide," according to the official ABA website.

About ISE

Founded in 2005 out of the PhD program at the Johns Hopkins' Information Security Institute, ISE is a security consulting firm comprised of hackers, computer scientists, reverse engineers, and cryptographers who help companies defend against sophisticated adversaries through manual, white box security assessments. ISE is widely recognized as being the first company to hack the iPhone.

Contact:

Ted Harrington Independent Security Evaluators [email protected] San Diego, CA USA

SOURCE Independent Security Evaluators

Related Links

http://securityevaluators.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Snaps and TABLE FOR TWO (TFT) are rejoining their efforts to address both obesity and hunger. From April through November, over 100 elementary, middle and high schools nationwide are expected to participate in this unique program that provides a healthy bite for all involved. Students will receive better-for-you snacks of Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps donated by Harvest Snaps, and for each snack distributed Harvest Snaps will donate an additional 25 cents to TFT to provide healthy school meals for children in need in East Africa and our local communities. With a simple act of snacking on Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps students enable another child to receive a vitally important and nutritious school meal.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366664

Harvest Snaps and TFT aim to elevate awareness of children's obesity and hunger in their "Snappy Idea for Giving Back" campaign. One of the participating schools, Community School of Naples in Florida, has over 800 children excited to participate in the program. During a school assembly, their students gave a presentation about world hunger and obesity issues, how the Giving Back program works and what kind of school meals can be provided to children in Africa.

"As one of the participating schools, we are extremely thrilled to provide a great educational opportunity to our students. They can learn about world critical issues and most importantly, they can take a step towards the solution in a very creative and fun way," said Parthena Draggett, World Language Department Chair of Community School of Naples.

In addition, Harvest Snaps and TFT aim to raise enough donated funds to provide over 80,000 school meals to African children in Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia and simultaneously to local communities in the US. In Africa, the 25 cents from the program funds one school meal to each child, and in the US it facilitates school meal upgrades for healthier options in low-income neighborhood districts.

"We are very excited about launching our Giving Back campaign again this year. Over 50 participating schools last year gave really positive feedback, so we decided to expand the program to enable more schools to be part of it. Thanks to Harvest Snaps, students can make a difference by doing good for themselves and eating a healthier snack," said Mayumi Uejima-Carr, Co-President of TFT. "Among seven billion people in the world, one billion suffer from hunger, while one billion people are overweight or obese. What better way to learn than to take action toward these critical issues."

Harvest Snaps provides snack enthusiasts with a tasty, crunchy, green pea snack that offers necessary nutrients to help growing bodies and minds like plant-based protein, fiber, vitamin B, calcium, iron, and potassium. "We are proud to continue working on the obesity and hunger issues stateside and internationally," said Angelica Lasley, Harvest Snaps Brand Marketing Manager. "We specifically choose to work with TFT because of their unique method of educating and empowering local children to make healthier snacking choices while making a positive difference in a needy child's life both in the US and in Africa. "

TABLE FOR TWO USA (TFT-USA) is a 501(C)(3) organization that addresses the opposite issues of hunger and obesity through a unique meal-sharing program. TFT-USA partners with corporations, restaurants, schools and other food establishments to serve healthy, low-calorie, TFT- branded meals. For each one of these healthy meals served, $0.25 is donated to provide one school lunch for a student in need. It is in this way that TFT-USA has served healthy meals to both sides of the "table" and helped to right the global food imbalance. For more information about TFT-USA, visit usa.tablefor2.org

Harvest Snaps has been manufactured by CalbeeNorth America since 2001. The Harvest Snaps brand philosophy is driven by minimal ingredients and minimal processing, great taste and the naturally better-for-you benefits of a legume-based snack. Harvest Snaps SnapeaCrisps and Lentil Bean are available in six delicious flavors and offer a low sodium, high protein and fiber snack alternative in each satisfyingly crunchy bite. New this summer is the Harvest Snaps Black Bean snaps in Habaneroand Mango Chile Lime. For more information about Harvest Snaps, visit www.HarvestSnaps.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE TABLE FOR TWO USA | Harvest Snaps

Related Links

http://www.harvestsnaps.com


"We have made great strides during the last decade and our associates have been a driving force for our success here in Tallapoosa," said Masahiko Kayama, president at HPPG. "Our future is bright and we look forward to sharing even more accomplishments with our associates and the local community as we continue to make high quality products for our customers."

HPPG has expanded rapidly, starting with production of a five-speed transmission when the plant opened in 2006 before investing in innovation in 2012 to produce the six-speed transmissions currently made at the facility.

HPPG produced its one-millionth transmission on October 4, 2010, with total cumulative production now reaching approximately 2.7 million transmissions to date.

Honda has manufactured more than 21 million transmissions in America since starting production of automatic transmissions in Ohio in 1989.

About Honda

Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion. Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367126

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140415/73520LOGO

SOURCE Honda Precision Parts of Georgia, LLC
BOISE, Idaho, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA) will host its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, May 19, at 10 a.m. Mountain Time at the Idaho Power Company headquarters, 1221 W. Idaho St. in Boise, Idaho. IDACORP, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Darrel Anderson will review the 2015 performance of IDACORP, Inc. and its primary subsidiary, Idaho Power Company, and discuss initiatives for 2016 and beyond.

IDACORP, Inc. previously mailed formal notice of this meeting to shareholders who were holders of record on the record date, March 28, 2016. Attendance at the live on-site meeting is limited to IDACORP, Inc. shareholders who satisfy all of the requirements set forth in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting delivered or made available to shareholders of record.

The meeting also will be webcast at idacorpinc.com, available to both shareholders and non-shareholders. Webcast login information will be posted on the IDACORP, Inc. website the morning of the meeting. Presentation slides will be available on the website at the beginning of the meeting. All Annual Meeting webcast materials will be posted to the IDACORP, Inc. website shortly after the Annual Meeting and will remain available for 12 months.

About IDACORP, Inc.

IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA) is based in Boise, Idaho and was formed in 1998 as a holding company. IDACORP subsidiaries include: Idaho Power, a regulated electric utility; IDACORP Financial, an investor in affordable housing projects and real estate; and Ida-West Energy, an operator of small hydroelectric projects. IDACORP's origins lie with Idaho Power and operations beginning in 1916. Today, Idaho Power employs more than 2,000 people who serve more than 525,000 customers throughout a 24,000-square-mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131105/LA10343LOGO

SOURCE IDACORP, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.idacorpinc.com


"In 2016, the indirect channel has climbed into the revenue driver's seat, replacing direct sales as the primary sales vehicle for businesses worldwide," said Dave R Taylor, Impartner chief marketing officer. "Analysts estimate that as much as 80 percent of worldwide Information Technology revenue already flows through the channel, and it is only increasing. As companies struggle to find and retain experienced enterprise sales executives, they almost inevitably turn to the indirect channel as the cost-effective solution to the problem of scale."

In the new eBook, "The Top 10 Things Making Channel Chiefs into Insomniacs, and What to do About It," Impartner and members of its network of top channel strategists have provided thoughtful, meaty, practical advice on Channel Chiefs' key questions about the market today, including:

Am I giving the right margin to the channel? Do I have the right number of channel partners? Does deal registration work for me (protect margin for partners)? Are my demand gen efforts impactful and do they work through the channel? Am I getting ROI on my MDF investments? Is my channel effectively closing leads on their own, or am I still spending my resources on closing channel deals? How loyal are my partners, and how do I know? Do I have the analytical tools needed to gain insight into my channel performance? Am I recognizing and incentivizing the appropriate partner behaviors? How is "cloud" changing the game in my channel business?

The increasing focus on indirect channels parallels Impartner's own growth, which has doubled its new customer base year over year and soared over 200 percent in the first quarter alone as demand for the company's multi-award winning, out-of-the-box SaaS PRM solution catches fire with vendors scrambling to optimize the performance of their partner networks.

"A modern PRM solution is the single most important investment you can make in your channel program to truly harness the power of your partner network and ensure you have a nucleus from which to drive your channel's success," Taylor said. "Research shows that 86 percent of channel partners base their vendor selection primarily on the experience they have with the vendor's portal. Companies who adopt off-the-shelf commercially available PRM tools see an average of $8 million to $9 million in incremental revenue over companies who build their own or rely on dated portal technology.1 There is great power in a well-crafted portal."

The channel experts participating with Impartner in this eBook bring decades of cumulative channel experience working with and for companies such as Dell, EMC, Fortinet, Sun Microsystems, HP and Extreme Networks. Contributors include Gina Batali-Brooks, president, Is-Inspired, http://www.isinspired.com/; Theresa Caragol, founder, TCC Consulting, http://www.theresacaragol.com/; Daniel Hawtof, vice president of business development and channel solutions, Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, http://www.bhengagement.com/; Heather Margolis, president and founder, Channel Maven Consulting, http://channelmavenconsulting.com/; Norma Watenpaugh, founding principal, Phoenix CG, http://www.phoenixcg.com/; and Raegan Wilson, chief channel officer, Channel Squared Consulting, http://channelsquared.com/.

To download your copy of Impartner's new Channel Chief's eBook and find out how you can rest more easily, click here or go to this link: http://resources.impartner.com/top-ten-things-making-channel-chiefs-into-insomniacs. To learn more about Impartner's multi-award winning PRM solutions, click here.

About Impartner

With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883.

Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

1. Frost & Sullivan Global Partner Management Customer Value Leadership Award, 2016

Contact:

Kerry Desberg

Impartner

425-231-9529

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366847

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260238LOGO

SOURCE Impartner

Related Links

http://www.impartner.com


ANAHEIM, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikka Software, The Practice Optimizer Company, announced the launch of their extended product line at the California Dental Association (CDA) Anaheim meeting at Booth #1367. The new Practice Optimizer line has three products, Starter, Essentials and Premium, that allow dentists to individualize the data they need to take control of managing business and clinical day-to-day operations.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366364LOGO

The versions all contain analytics and insights into the financial and clinical flow of the practice. In-depth analysis, expert support and additional features are available in the Essentials and Premium versions. This line provides dentists with more options for accessing their practice data at a price that reflects their usage and needs.

Practice Optimizer Starter: Get introduced to the dental practice numbers, including the revenue produced by dentists and hygienists, as well as a practice report. This free version, with a selection of key numbers, is a good first start for dentists who are looking to begin to drive practice revenue, are new to private practice or to measuring practice analytics.

Practice Optimizer Essentials: Dive further into the data with Essentials, a 360 degree look at the practice's analytics with actionable data and methods of growing practice revenue. Features include Fee Optimizer for maximizing profitability based on fees in local zip codes, and Patient's Now for filling unexpected and sudden schedule gaps. Get ready for the day with the Morning Meeting Report, a look at month to revenue and the daily schedule. Compare practice performance on favorite Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Top 20 Procedures and total, active and inactive patient analysis.

Practice Optimizer Premium: Create new revenue streams with a deep look at specialized data and procedures. This version includes all of the aforementioned features, as well as specialty KPIs, including endodontics, accounting and periodontics. With financial systems integration, the practice's accounting numbers are included in the analysis for a comprehensive look at practice health and trends over time. This version also includes a Consulting Service with dental experts, a team that helps practices exam their numbers and achieve their growth and retirement goals.

Additional apps are available for further customization of data needs, including Call Optimizer for automatic display of patient health and financial details during incoming calls, and PatientHomePage for patient communications.

Sikka Software's HIPAA and HITECH compliant cloud connects with 96% of practice management systems to extract the data for analysis so each dentist can view their unique practice information and benchmark trends against national averages.

Vijay Sikka, CEO of Sikka Software, said:

"For the last 12 years, Sikka Software has provided dentists with the data and analysis required to measure practice performance and uncover additional revenue. With our new product offerings, we can help more dentists get the information that is critical to their financial health and clinical practice without creating data overload."

Visit Sikka Software at booth #1367 at CDA Anaheim for more information and to receive special pricing on the new product line or click here.

About Sikka Software

Sikka Software Corporation is revolutionizing the retail healthcare industry via its platform cloud, analytical tools, apps and big data leadership. The retail industry includes over 2.1 million providers worldwide and over 600,000 in the United States. The Sikka Platform Cloud allows seamless compatibility with over 96% of the dental, veterinary, vision care and hearing care markets in the United States. Sikka Software Corporation has over 17,800 installations and is experiencing strong growth and market presence in the retail healthcare big data space. For more information, please visit www.sikkasoftware.com.

Media Contacts:

Geoff Martin

Sikka Software

408-876-4040

Alitta Boechler

Sikka Software

408-359-3014

SOURCE Sikka Software

Related Links

http://www.sikkasoftware.com


COLUMBIA, Md., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This year international signage and graphics franchise company Signs Now is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1986, Signs Now (a member of the Sign & Graphics Division of Alliance Franchise Brands) is an industry pioneer and leader in professional graphics solutions, providing high-quality sign and graphics products for a diverse, global clientele.

"Over the last 30 years Signs Now has not only grown as a network, but has demonstrated tremendous expertise within an industry that is ever changing," said Division President Ray Palmer. "We have an extremely talented group of franchise members who are constantly innovating and mentoring, and we look forward to seeing what they do over the next 30 years."

To mark this milestone, Signs Now locations across the country will be holding customer promotions and highlighting the talents and history of the Signs Now brand.

"Our loyal customers have made the last 30 years possible," remarked Palmer. "We want to show our appreciation and highlight testimonials and success stories with Signs Now locations across the country."

After just four years in business, Signs Now grew to over 100 locations in 1990. Hitting the international scene, the brand opened its first Canadian location in 1991 and its first U.K. location in 1994. Now with nearly 200 locations across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Signs Now continues to grow and innovate. After the acquisition by Allegra Network LLC in 2005 and the inclusion in the formation of Alliance Franchise Brands, Signs Now is a part of one of the world's leading print and graphic communications franchisors.

In addition to a strong network, Signs Now has launched several innovative industry programs that truly set the company apart from the competition. The Signs Now Signature Fund  a nationwide program designed to help unite and strengthen local communities with the assistance of Signs Now franchise owners  has helped numerous non-profit organizations in regions across the country.

In keeping with the strengthening of and involvement in local markets, in 2011 Signs Now announced the adoption of the Green Initiative, a program promoting the value of "green" sign-making technology among franchise members. And in 2012 Signs Now selected the Electronic Document Scholarship Foundation (EDSF)  an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the document management and communications industries  to administer a yearly $10,000 scholarship program for graphics students.

"We are extremely proud of the diversity of the programs Signs Now has offered over the years," stated Palmer. "And we will continue to put our customers and members first in keeping with the company mission and values."

About Signs Now

The Signs Now service base includes solutions such as digital imaging for outdoor and indoor signage, exhibit and vehicle graphics, magnetic signs, banners, window graphics, ADA signage, dimensional letters, directional systems and other visual communications tools for businesses worldwide. For more information on Signs Now, call (800) 726-9050 or visit the website at www.signsnow.com.

Signs Now is a member of Alliance Franchise Brands LLC, a world leader in marketing and visual communications, linking more than 600 locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The company's Sign & Graphics Division  headquartered in Columbia, Maryland  comprises the Image360, Signs By Tomorrow and Signs Now brands of sign and graphics communications providers. Its Marketing & Print Division  headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan  comprises the Allegra, American Speedy Printing, Insty-Prints, Speedy Printing and Zippy Print brands of marketing, printing, mailing and digital services providers. For more information about Alliance Franchise Brands, please call (877) 728-7446 or visit www.alliancefranchisebrands.com.

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SOURCE Signs Now

Related Links

http://www.signsnow.com


Prior to Answer, Wagner also served as an HR Executive within the Airline, Consumer Products, and Technology industries. In his most recent position as a Global Professional Development Executive with Dale Carnegie Training, he delivered world-class Leadership, Human Relations, and Team Performance programs. Wagner is a seasoned public speaker and has delivered expertise advice on retention and success planning for the Microsoft Convergence Conference, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and several others.

Wagner is a veteran of the United States Air Force and the California Air National Guard. He has earned a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne.

"It's wonderful to join Answer during an exciting time of growth and advancement in the insurance comparison shopping space," said Wagner. "I look forward to leading the company's commitment to grow its top-notch team of talent."

To view Answer's open positions or apply online, visit www.AnswerFinancial.com/Careers. Comprehensive benefits are available to employees including day-one health, dental and vision insurance, matched 401K, and tuition reimbursement.

About Answer Financial Inc.

Answer Financial, through its agencies Insurance Answer Center and Right Answer Insurance, is one of the largest independent personal lines agency operations in the nation, providing auto and home insurance policies directly to consumers and through a broad network of marketing partners. Answer Financial serves the growing segment of self-directed consumers searching for the best way to save money on insurance by providing one easy place to shop, compare, and buy insurance. By leveraging technology and partnerships with top-rated insurers including sister company, Esurance, Answer Financial can provide real-time comparison rates for virtually every consumer. Customers can purchase online or over the phone with the guidance of an insurance expert. Answer Financial is a member of the Allstate family of companies.

www.AnswerFinancial.com

Answer Financial(R) Inc. offers insurance products and services through its insurance agency licensed affiliate Insurance Answer Center, LLC (California License # 0B99714); in New York as Insurance Answer Center, LLC, an Insurance Agency; in Michigan as Insurance Answer Center, LLC, an Insurance Agency; and in Missouri as Answer Financial. Answer Financial affiliated agencies are not insurance companies, but act as agents for certain insurance companies. Answer Financial's affiliate Right Answer Insurance Agency, LLC (CA License #0H52358) operates as an insurance broker in California and an agent in all other states. Answer Financial is paid commissions and may receive other performance-based compensation for its services. The compensation received by Answer Financial and its employees may vary by insurance company. Not all insurance products and services are available in all states. Rates are subject to change.

Contact:

Adrienne Lutovsky

Marketing Communications

[email protected]

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SOURCE Answer Financial Inc.

Related Links

https://www.answerfinancial.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that EPIC Senior Consultant Jim Baker will speak at the seventh annual EFCG's HR Executive Conference on May 12 and 13. Held at the New York Yacht Club and Harvard Club, the conference is intended to identify and provide insight into global HR and Compensation policies, issues and metrics.

Baker's presentation, "Thinking Twice About Your Benefits Compensation & Strategy," will address how to manage chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart care and mental health, through employee engagement and aggressive care coordination. He will also speak on the evolution of healthcare purchasing and network contracting.

About Jim Baker, Senior Consultant at EPIC:

Baker is an accomplished employee benefits professional with 20 years of experience in managing employee benefit plans for clients of all sizes. His expertise is in working with clients on their comprehensive employee benefits and wellness strategies with a focus on plan flexibility and health outcomes. In his time with EPIC, Baker has led multiple due-diligence efforts for his clients, as well as for The Carlyle Group. His understanding of a client's position within the private equity life cycle has led to effective strategies resulting in a favorable impact to EBIDTA. In addition to his Private Equity work, Baker also leads a team of benefit consultants whose primary role is to support clients with strategic direction and plan oversight.

He began and spent 18 years of his career with UnitedHealthcare in a multitude of roles.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit www.epicbrokers.com.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dave Hock, of EPIC

650-295-4608

[email protected]

Nicole Conley

650-422-3156

[email protected]

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Related Links

http://www.epicbrokers.com


SANTIAGO, Chile, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kincannon & Reed, the leading global retained executive search firm serving the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors, today announced that Juan Pablo Buc Calderon has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Working from Chile and Peru, Juan Pablo will serve Kincannon & Reed's agribusiness and food clients throughout Latin America.

Prior to joining Kincannon & Reed, Juan Pablo worked extensively in Chilean agriculture, occupying key executive positions in recognized companies in the fruit export sector and agribusiness. He brings a deep understanding of the agricultural production value chain and its challenges, and serves as a trusted adviser to producers, suppliers, and buyers of food products both in Chile and abroad.

Among his previous positions, Juan Pablo worked in the production area for Del Monte Fresh and David del Curto, and developed his executive commercial career at SQM, a global leader in specialty fertilizers. He is also the founder and general manager of Exactta Agroheadhunter, with more than 10 years of recruitment experience in both Chile and Peru.

David Turner, Managing Partner for Latin America, commented, "Chile and Peru are important markets in the Latin American region. They are relatively stable and growing in sectors like aquaculture, produce, and wineries; however, they have been underserved as global market members. Juan Pablo's regional expertise and background are a perfect match with Kincannon & Reed's status as the only executive search firm with global coverage in agribusiness."

Juan Pablo holds an MBA from Tulane University, and an Ingeniero Agronomo degree from Universidad de Chile.

About Kincannon & Reed

Kincannon & Reed is the only retained executive search firm focused exclusively on the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors. Founded in 1981, the company serves clients throughout the world from locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. The firm's motto is "We recruit leaders for organizations that feed the world and keep it healthy." For more information, visit www.KRsearch.com.

CONTACT: Michael Laskoe, +1 434 882 0564 [email protected]

SOURCE Kincannon & Reed Global Executive Search

Related Links

http://www.krsearch.com


ORLANDO, Fla., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kore Inc., an SAP partner and emerging leader in the enterprise bots category, today announced a new suite of bots that will be available for demonstrations at SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference being held May 1719 in Orlando at booth #1450. Kore Bots help users to communicate more simply with business-critical systems running SAP solutions through natural language, in the form of text and voice, on a variety of platforms including SAP Jam, Skype, SMS, Amazon Echo and email. Kore's Bots integrate with SAP solutions including SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors, Concur, Ariba and others through SAP HANA Cloud Platform.

As part of Kore's OEM partnership with SAP, the company has successfully completed its SAP solution qualification and received certification from SAP Integration and Certification Center. In addition, Kore is a 2016 SAP Pinnacle Awards finalist for OEM Partner of the Year.

Today, the average employee uses as many as 30 applications at work. Getting a job done requires toggling between multiple apps with distinct interfaces, in numerous places, which hurts productivity. Kore simplifies the way people work by naturally connecting them with the enterprise applications they already use from wherever they are communicating. How? With bots. Kore Bots connect smoothly with SAP solutions. With natural language users can receive alerts, get reports, execute direct actions and complete workflow tasks. Instead of wasting valuable time navigating disparate interfaces, users simply speak to, email or message their Kore Bots and the bot carries out a task for them.

"Today's workforce is bombarded with alerts, notifications and emails," said Raj Koneru, founder and CEO of Kore. "They waste hours weeding through applications to get one task done. Our vision is to change how the workforce  from services to supply chain to sales to HR  communicates with the business-critical systems companies rely on. SAP's commitment to helping clients 'Run Simple' matches naturally with our goal of empowering people to work simple. We're excited to demonstrate these integrations at SAPPHIRE NOW and highlight our partnership with a company dedicated to helping enterprises maximize their operations, productivity and potential."

In addition to workflow efficiencies, there is also a clear business impact that helps reduce costs and drive growth:

Increase agility by using natural text and speech to perform complicated tasks that normally require multiple interactions

by using natural text and speech to perform complicated tasks that normally require multiple interactions Accelerate productivity by reducing response time between receiving alerts and taking associated actions

by reducing response time between receiving alerts and taking associated actions Reduce complexity by enabling users to interact with SAP solutions from familiar social and messaging platforms like SAP Jam, SMS, Skype and email

by enabling users to interact with SAP solutions from familiar social and messaging platforms like SAP Jam, SMS, Skype and email Increase user satisfaction by providing users with a modern and innovative way to work with systems of record

by providing users with a modern and innovative way to work with systems of record Deploy quickly and efficiently because the creation of new bots only takes a few hours instead of the weeks or months it typically takes to build custom apps and integrations

The Kore platform is available for Android, iOS and desktop at www.kore.com.

Visit Kore at SAPPHIRE NOW at Booth #1450 to see a LIVE demo and view Kore's presentations at the following dates/times:

Wednesday, May 18 , 11  11:20 a.m. , Partner and SME Solutions Topic Area 1

, 11  , Partner and SME Solutions Topic Area 1 Tuesday, May 17 , 1  1:20 p.m. , Digital Enterprise Platform Topic Area 3

Listen to Raj Koneru (CEO at Kore), Vic Bhagat (Former CIO and EVP at EMC Corporation), and Uddhav Gupta (Global Vice President of Platform-as-a-Service at SAP) discuss how bots will revolutionize enterprises of the future on SAP Radio.

SAPPHIRE NOW focuses on how companies can enable their digital business strategy and get more from their technology investments. SAPPHIRE NOW and the ASUG Annual Conference are the world's premier business technology event and largest SAP customer-run conference, offering attendees the opportunity to learn and network with customers, SAP executives, partners and experts across the entire SAP ecosystem.

About Kore

Kore is a bot-based messaging platform that empowers users to communicate with SAP systems as easily as they communicate with people. Kore Bots are lightweight services that connect directly through SAP HANA Cloud Platform, allowing users to send and receive information in SAP systems. At the user's direction, these bots deliver alerts, perform tasks and provide reports. The result is a fluid conversation between employees and systems they rely on to do their jobs. Kore provides bots for SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors, SAP Hybris Cloud for Customer, Ariba and Concur and comes with more than 100 other bots that empower users to work simply.

SAP, SAPPHIRE, Hybris, SuccessFactors, Ariba, SAP HANA, Concur, Jam 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.

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SOURCE Kore

Related Links

http://www.kore.com


PANGYO, South Korea, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea will host an all-expenses-paid acceleration program for 40 high-potential startups from around the world this autumn. The first of its kind in Asia, the program is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, which was created in 2013, as part of President Park Geun-hye's initiative to transform Korea's economy.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366908

Startups selected for the acceleration program, known as the K-Startup Grand Challenge, will receive $4,100 per month to cover living expenses, along with free round-trip flights to Korea for three team members.

The government will further provide them with offices and lab space in its $160 million Startup Campus in Pangyo. The campus is within walking distance to the R&D labs of many Korean tech giants, which have signed on to mentor the startups. It is also just 14 minutes from Gangnam by subway.

At the facility's opening ceremony held on 22 March, President Park Geun-hye said, "I hope that the Startup Campus will become the cradle of creative economy, a gateway that links Korean startups to the world." The president also expressed the government's support for the campus and its initiatives to help Korea step up as Asia's startup hub.

Based on online applications, representatives from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP), the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) and four accelerators, will select 160 startups to participate in pitch competitions that will be held online and in cities around the world.

Judges will narrow the field to 80 startups, each of which will send a representative to Korea for an intensive week of pitching and interviews from August 8 to 15. They will also have opportunities to network with Korean startups, major companies and investors, while experiencing the world's most technologically advanced country.

The most promising 40 startups will be invited to stay for the three-month acceleration program, led by SparkLabs, DEV Korea, Shift and ActnerLab, four of Korea's most successful accelerators.

The program will culminate with the K-Startup Grand Challenge Demo Day in early December, where the startups present their achievements in front of investors. The top 20 startups will receive approximately $33,000 in no-strings funding and the top four startups will receive between $6,000 and $100,000 on top of that. There are also opportunities for additional equity investments from the accelerators and outside investors.

"Korea offers the best technology infrastructure in the world, combined with a population of tech-savvy early adopters who are hot on startups. That, along with our central location makes us the ideal country to establish a foothold in Asia," said Choi Yanghee, Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning. "We're already home to the world's top names in consumer technology, semiconductors and gaming, and we're eager to host the next generation of high-tech companies."

Applications will remain open to startups across a broad range of industries through June 14. Startups can apply and find more information at http://www.k-startupgc.org.

About the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning

Korea's Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) sets, manages and evaluates science and technology policy; supports scientific R&D; develops national human resources policy; researches and develops the production and consumption of atomic power; plans national information protection strategies; and manages radio and broadcast TV policy. With a primary goal of creating jobs and developing new economic opportunities for South Korea the MSIP develops and leads initiatives that support the introduction of technology into a range of traditional industries such as agriculture, and supports the adoption and development of ICT by startups and SMBs. The MSIP was formed in February 2013, as part of a reorganization plan initiated by President Park Geun-hye in an effort to bolster South Korea's Science and ICT industries.

About the National IT Industry Promotion Agency

The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) is devoted to enhancing the competitiveness of Korea's technology industries, in order to contribute to overall economic growth. Formed from the merger of several governmental organizations, NIPA participates in policy research related to technology. It provides training and support for technology companies, students and employees. It helps establish new distribution channels and markets for Korean companies, and offers support with overseas marketing. NIPA further supports international exchanges, cooperation, and overseas expansion related to Korea's IT industry.

Press Contact:

Nathan Millard

G3 Partners (Agency of Record)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +82-10-8723-7702

Skype: nathanmillard

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE K-Startup Grand Challenge

Related Links

http://www.k-startupgc.org


The Rainforest Alliance's widely-regarded third-party certification process helps ensure millions of acres of working forests and farms are managed according to rigorous sustainability standards. Many items in the Kroger family of stores feature the green frog seal, such as Private Selection Coffees, Private Selection Roses, and Home Sense tissues and other rolled tissue products.

Clearwater Paper is a key supplier partner to Kroger. The company has been producing bath tissue, facial tissue and rolled paper towels for Kroger's Home Sense brand since 2010.

Read more in Kroger's efforts to ensure a responsible and sustainable supply chain in the company's sustainability report at sustainability.kroger.com.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering  a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service  in addition to our 2,231 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,387 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


CINCINNATI, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Mike Schlotman, Kroger's executive vice president and CFO, will address investors at the BMO Capital Markets Farm to Market Conference on Thursday, May 19, 2016 during the following times:

9:30 am ET Q&A Session

10:50 am ET Panel Discussion

These presentations will be broadcast online at ir.kroger.com. Click on "Events, Presentations & Webcasts" to access the event. The presentation will be available in an archived format for one week following the conference.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering  a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service  in addition to our 2,231 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,387 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


VISTA, California, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Leica Biosystems and UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine announce a collaboration that will accelerate innovation and the adoption of digital pathology.

Collaborating with Leica Biosystems, UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine pathologists Dr. W. Dean Wallace, Dr. Bita Naini, and Dr. Fernando Palma Diaz, will help advance digital pathology (DP) by testing products and providing insight into the impact of DP on daily workflows in a high volume clinical pathology laboratory. (PRNewsFoto/Leica Biosystems)

Leica Biosystems and UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, a leading clinical pathology institution, announced today a collaboration that will accelerate innovation and the adoption of digital pathology (DP). Leading edge product testing will be conducted with UCLA to validate DP in a high volume setting. This joint effort builds upon the existing relationship between UCLA and Leica Biosystems that was established in 2011.



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160510/365621 )



The pathology team at UCLA, led by Dr. Scott Binder, senior vice chair, will be working with Leica Biosystems Aperio ePathology on innovative technology for pathology. Dr. Binder's expert team, headed by Dr. W. Dean Wallace, associate director of anatomic pathology, will be testing and providing quantitative feedback on current and next generation products intended to advance digital pathology in the United States, from bench research to full clinical adoption.

"By working with Leica Biosystems, we have the opportunity to help shape the digital pathology industry. By testing products and providing real insight as to their clinical utility, we are hoping to define how pathology imaging products can improve the daily workflow processes. The primary goal is to better understand how these products perform in a high volume clinical environment," said Dr. Wallace.

Puneet Sarin, vice president and general manager of Pathology Imaging at Leica Biosystems, stated, "We are truly excited about this collaboration. UCLA is an ideal partner. They are considered leaders in their field. Further, the collective team can provide quantitative data about how future, cutting edge products will impact lab workflows and turnaround time in a very demanding, high volume lab setting."

About Leica Biosystems

Leica Biosystems (LeicaBiosystems.com) is a global leader in workflow solutions and automation, integrating each step in the workflow. As the only company to own the workflow from biopsy to diagnosis, we are uniquely positioned to break down the barriers between each of these steps. Our mission of "Advancing Cancer Diagnostics, Improving Lives" is at the heart of our corporate culture. Our easy-to-use and consistently reliable offerings help improve workflow efficiency and diagnostic confidence. The company is represented in over 100 countries and is headquartered in Nussloch, Germany.

About UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA has been a leader in innovation in the field of telepathology. Furthermore, UCLA provides expert diagnostic services to doctors and patients to enable optimal treatment decisions based on the latest cutting edge research and diagnostic studies using state-of-the-art instrumentation. Each year, approximately 6 million clinical lab tests, including nearly 100,000 anatomic pathology cases, are analyzed to guide the care of patients in UCLA Health System, and through our referral network regionally and nationally.

For more information go to: http://pathology.ucla.edu/.

Media Contact(s): Kristin O'Neill, Manager, Global Brand Marketing,

[email protected] +1-847-821-3537



SOURCE Leica Biosystems
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 24th annual food drive this Saturday, May 14. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need in the community.

Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable goods next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on May 14. Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food agencies. Visit www.nalc.org/food to learn more.

It's the nation's largest single-day food drive and is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

With the economic struggles many Americans face, the Letter Carriers' Food Drive is as critical as ever. Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including millions of children, senior citizens and veterans.

"As letter carriers, we are honored to be able to help people in need," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "On a daily basis we see the struggles in the communities we serve, and we believe it's important to do all we can to help."

People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, peanut butter, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday. The nation's 175,000 letter carriers will collect the donations and bring them to local food banks, pantries or shelters. National partners assisting the NALC in the food drive are: U.S. Postal Service, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, United Way Worldwide, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, Valpak and Valassis.

This year's effort includes a public service announcement with award-winning actor and director Edward James Olmos. Television networks and stations can use this link to find and download high-quality 30- and 60-second versions of the PSA, in English and Spanish.

In its 23 years, the Letter Carrier food drive has collected more than 1.4 billion pounds of food, and in each of the last 12 years it has collected more than 70 million pounds. The goal this year is to build on that success, given the continuing problem of hunger in the United States.

People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

The 280,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country's oldest labor unions.

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SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers

Related Links

http://www.nalc.org


BOSTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nursing is the largest healthcare profession with options for career advancement and personal fulfillment. If you are searching for a college major, or thinking about changing careers here are our top 7 reasons to become a nurse.

Personal fulfillment and job satisfaction is our top pick. There is nothing more appealing about a job than loving what you do and feeling good about yourself at the same time. A survey done by AMN healthcare on nurses found nurses of all ages are very satisfied with the choice of their careers and love the intrinsic rewards of nursing.

Nurses have job security. The nursing field is booming, job data shows a continued demand for nurses and emerging fields in biotechnology and research are creating new positions. Hospitals, physician practices and outpatient clinics are continually searching for good nursing talent.

Nurses are respected. It is wonderful to be respected and have people appreciate you. A recent survey from Gallup finds that nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States, with respondents rating nurses highest for honesty and ethics.

Good pay. Per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $66,640 in 2014. Nurses in management can make as much as $98,000 to $130,000 per year.

Flexibility. If you are the type of person who does not want to work 9 - 5, a flexible schedule may be another reason to look at nursing. The most common nursing job is a staff nurse in the hospital, which offers 3 shifts. Home Healthcare nursing offers flexibility with nurses working out in the field on a per diem basis. Whatever hours work for you; you can typically find it in nursing.

You can become a RN in 2 years. If you are changing careers and do not want to spend another 4 years in college, or do not have the financial resources for a 4-year degree, you can become a RN in 2 years by earning an associate's degree. Earning an ADN is the most common choice for registered nurses and will land you an entry level nursing job.

Career development and growth. There are countless directions you can take with a nursing degree. From choosing a specialty like oncology, infectious disease or surgical nursing to going into clinical research. You can also take your career out of the hospital and work for a pharmaceutical, biotechnology or medical device companies who offer various positions for clinicians.

If you think nursing might be for you check out our quiz, Do you Have What it Takes to be a Nurse. For career advice and nursing jobs visit Med Career News.

Contact: Lisa Manley, 978-792-8136, [email protected]

SOURCE Med Career News

Related Links

http://www.medcareernews.com


FULLERTON, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Milton Security Group Inc., the adaptive network security appliance manufacturer, has released ENDPOINTInformer, an agent that scans endpoints for their current security compliance that works in conjunction with the EdgeWall, the industry leading inline NAC Milton Security offers.

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ENDPOINTInformer, a pico-agent that is run on Windows  workstations and other endpoints, works with the assistance of the EdgeWall to determine if the endpoint should be allowed access to the network, through the use of highly granular settings configured by the administrator. ENDPOINTInformer works continuously, to ensure the security compliance of the systems meets the requirements of the network.

The EdgeWall System is the industry's only inline Adaptive NAC appliance. It works with any equipment already on your network and gives you the flexibility that is necessary to handle any scenario that may arise. ENDPOINTInformer provides an alternative method to the EdgeWall System's traditional scanning methods, allowing deployments to scan endpoints without having to change any user, firewall or settings on the end client and with further granularity.

"A few of our customers had very restrictive environments, presenting challenges for many endpoint health check solutions on the market," said Resham Ganglani, CEO of HaloData. "We turned to Milton Security for help getting adaptive scanning deployed to our customers and ENDPOINTInformer provided exactly what we needed."

"We were excited for the challenges our partner HaloData presented and are proud that we were able to provide a solution," said Jim McMurry, CEO of Milton Security Group. "We believe every organization should have the best network security possible and ENDPOINTInformer allows us to provide that security to even more environments."

ENDPOINTInformer, as part of the ever expanding Informer suite of solutions, joins USBInformer and EDGEInformer. We are going to Make Endpoint Security Great Again and we accomplish that with the Informer Series.

In a world where BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) has become the norm it is necessary to have the ability to enforce security policies on devices that come and go within your network. ENDPOINTInformer breaks down the challenges that BYOD presents and comes preconfigured to accept instructions from the EdgeWall with specific security policies that are catered to your network's needs.

ENDPOINTInformer is being released now for Microsoft Windows  systems, with Apple Mac OSX, Linux, Android  and iOS  versions coming in Q3 2016

EdgeWall is available now in various configurations that can fit your requirements from 50 to 500,000 endpoints, starting as low as $4 per endpoint for large installations.

About Milton Security Group, Inc: Over 500 companies have suffered public data breaches in 2015 alone. Milton Security's goal is to provide organizations with unparalleled levels of internal endpoint security. Milton's network access control solution, the EdgeWall, provides peace of mind by giving a company complete control over who is on their network, what machine they're using, when they're on, and what they're doing with their access. For almost 9 years, Milton Security has allowed C-level executives to rest easy, with complete confidence that their network is secure when using EdgeWall technology.

#MakeEndpointSecurityGreatAgain #MakeNetworkSecurityGreatAgain

About Halodata International Pte Ltd:

Halodata is a Product Distribution and an IT Security Company in South East Asia. They distribute many award-winning Data Security Solutions across the region. Their reach goes beyond 25 major cities and multiple resellers. With offices in Indonesia and Singapore, Halodata strives to provide the optimum in data security products and solutions for all technology sectors. www.halodata.biz

For more information, visit www.miltonsecurity.com or call (888) 674- 9001.

Media Contact: Lydia Coulter

Milton Security Group Inc.

261 E. Imperial Highway

Suite 550

Fullerton, CA 92835

Main: 888.674.9001

http://www.miltonsecurity.com

Email

SOURCE Milton Security Group, Inc.

Related Links

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CHICAGO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MODOBAG, the revolutionary new concept in luggage, announced it recently tapped the expertise of some of the leading names in engineering and design, in advance of an anticipated consumer launch this summer. MODOBAG is the world's first motorized, smart and connected carry-on that gets savvy travelers, tech enthusiasts and urban day-trippers to their destination up to three times faster than walking.

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"When MODOBAG soft-launched last Fall, we unveiled one of the most innovative products to hit the travel industry since wheels were introduced 40 years ago," said Kevin O'Donnell, founder of MODOBAG. "This spring, we partnered with some of the leading names in engineering and design to surpass even our own demanding technology expectations."

Michael Carvajal, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate and faculty member, who has worked with entrepreneurs across numerous consumer segments to bring products from concept to prototype to market, partnered with the MODOBAG team as a consulting engineer. Carvajal was previously a member of MIT's CityCar project that investigated urban mobility systems and designed a two-passenger folding electric vehicle using an innovative Robot Wheel technology.

Boyd Bruner, O'Donnell's partner and head of technology at MODOBAG says Carvajal's expertise was a big boost to his team. "Here's a guy with two patents to his name, that challenged us to explore new ways of doing old things as we fine-tune the design and technology components of MODOBAG. His input was invaluable."

"The MODOBAG team is hyper-focused on bringing a product to market that has never been done before," said Carvajal. "This is one of the most unique urban mobility projects I have seen in a long time, and I was happy to share my insight and experience as they finalize their prototype."

MODOBAG has also formed a relationship with one of the hottest names in consumer development and design. Product Development Technologies (PDT), a regular winner of the prestigious awards, including Awards for Design Excellence (ADEX), Spark Awards, Good Design Awards and more, is providing insight as MODOBAG designers and engineers put finishing touches on a sleek new design of the MODOBAG chassis, dashboard and exterior compartments.

Bruner points to several new features that have recently been incorporated into the design and technology of Modobag, including:

ballistic nylon shell with 2000 cubic inches of internal stowage space, 85 percent of the space found in a standard carry-on. Cushioned exterior stowage compartments

fully optimized touch control dashboard with LED backlighting

retractable steering column with ergonomic accelerator and handlebar. A redesigned one-touch braking system

24 volt Lithium-powered electric motor, with an expanded 96 wattage hours

maximum speeds up to 8 mph with extended range of 6 miles

polyurethane composite wheels of soft durometer to ensure smooth transport via motor or pull-behind options

two USB ports to charge phones and/or portable electronic devices

companion iOS and Android GPS navigation apps to track MODOBAG's location anywhere in the world

illuminated electro luminescent branding on the exterior of the bag

All the components of the MODOBAG meet or exceed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) standards and requirements.

O'Donnell says there is a tremendous amount of positive energy at MODOBAG in anticipation of a new crowdfunding campaign and consumer launch. "Each day our team rededicates itself to our mission of changing the way the world travels. We really are breaking new ground. Our launch is going to be epic."

For more information on MODOBAG, visit www.modobag.com.

MODOBAG Contact:

Tim Ryan

312.919.3989

Email

SOURCE MODOBAG

Related Links

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In a major ruling, Judge Rosemary Collyer, an appointee of President George W. Bush, said the administration does not have the power to spend money on "cost sharing reduction payments" to insurers without an appropriation from Congress.



Collyer's decision doesn't immediately go into effect, however, so that the administration can appeal it.



"This is not the first time that we've seen opponents of the Affordable Care Act go through the motions to try to win this political fight in the court system," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.



Earnest said Republicans are trying to "refight a political fight that they keep losing. They've been losing this fight for six years, and they'll lose it again."



At issue are billions of dollars paid to insurance companies participating in ObamaCare so they can reduce customers' out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles for low-income people.



The House GOP argued that the administration was unconstitutionally spending money on these payments without Congress's approval.



But the administration said it did not need an appropriation from Congress because the funds were already guaranteed by the healthcare reform law in the same section as its better-known tax credits that help people pay for coverage.



Collyer ruled that the section only appropriated funds for tax credits and said the cost sharing reductions require a separate congressional appropriation, which the administration does not currently have.




Advocates from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington met with over 130 House and Senate offices today to urge them to support the Patients' Access to Treatment Act. If passed, the Patients' Access to Treatment Act would improve the lives of the 1.6 million Americans living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by limiting cost-sharing for complex and expensive medications.

"Living with a chronic disease like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is extremely costly. In fact, studies estimate that the total annual financial burden of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the United States may exceed $31 billion when you factor in both direct and indirect costs to patients," said Michael Osso, President & CEO of CCFA. "We need to be working to decrease the financial burden of these diseases, not increasing the cost to patients needing these specialty medications."

Patients' Access to Treatment Act

Many health insurance policies are moving critical medications, such as biologics, into "specialty tiers" that utilize high patient cost-sharing methods known as "co-insurance." This specialty tier, often the highest tier, now commonly requires patients to pay a percentage of the cost of medication - anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent, which can often be hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month for a single medication - rather than a fixed co-payment amount.

The Patients' Access to Treatments Act, introduced by Congressman David McKinley (R-WV-1) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA-24), would enable patients to better afford the medications they need by imposing limits on cost-sharing in insurance plans. It would restrict cost-sharing for specialty drugs, like biologics, to the level of cost-sharing for other non-preferred drugs. Insurers determine patient cost-sharing by listing drugs in specialty tiers, non-preferred tiers, preferred tiers, and generics tiers. Cost-sharing is highest for specialty drugs, and higher for non-preferred drugs than for generics or preferred drugs.

"We thank Congressman McKinley and Congresswoman Capps for championing this important piece of legislation and urge Congress to take swift action and pass HR 1600. Doing so would help make living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other debilitating chronic illnesses less burdensome and more affordable," Osso said.

IBD Day on the Hill

Today's legislative visits mark the culmination of CCFA's 14th annual IBD Day on the Hill. In addition to meeting with legislators about the Patients' Access to Care Act, advocates also asked legislators to join the Congressional Crohn's & Colitis Caucus. Chaired by Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), the bipartisan Caucus was created in 2011 and works to raise awareness of IBD, support IBD medical research, and protect patient access to care. There are currently more than 71 caucus members from 26 states and the District of Columbia.

About Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affects 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest non-profit, voluntary, health organization dedicated to finding cures for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research; providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public; and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information visit www.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, or email [email protected].

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SOURCE Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

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"Excellence in nursing is absolutely vital to quality patient care and the patient experience, and that's why it's always been a fundamental part of our work at AMN Healthcare," said AMN Healthcare President and CEO Susan Salka. "Beginning this year, we are doing something special to recognize our nurses on assignment for their exceptional service that impacts the lives of patients across thousands of facilities nationwide."

While always part of the nursing environment, travel nurses have become critically important due to the worsening nurse shortage and the growing need for workforce flexibility in the increasingly complex healthcare industry. Research has clearly showed that temporary and travel nurses are equivalent to permanent staff nurses in terms of quality of care, cost and patient satisfaction.

"Travel nurses provide enormous value to our nation's healthcare system," said Ralph Henderson, AMN Healthcare President, Professional Services and Staffing. "With conclusive evidence of their benefit to healthcare, hospitals and health systems are increasing their mix of temporary RN's to provide the highest quality and most efficient patient care."

As part of Nurses Week, May 6 through May 12 -- Florence Nightingale's birthday -- the Commitment to Excellence Awards honors clinicians for their exceptional service. The following four outstanding travel nurses were chosen from among a multitude of nominees whose overall excellence made it difficult to select the winners. These nurses showed an unwavering commitment to excellence in the nursing profession that goes far beyond their job requirements. The nominations were a testament to the high quality of nurses that AMN Healthcare has on assignment.

Innovation Award for ongoing pursuit of personal and professional excellence through innovation and the advancement of patient care.

Sean Wallace, RN, BSN, an Emergency Room nurse on assignment at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT

"Sean is an extraordinary nurse. He has knowledge, experience and truly cares for his patients. He is adaptable to change and is able to see the big picture Management has been listening to his input about changes that need to be made to make it a better hospital."

Passion Award for exemplifying the highest standards of professional excellence through leadership and extraordinary commitment to service throughout their healthcare community.

Kenny Hancock, RN, BSN, a PCU nurse on assignment at MedStar Health, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

"Kenny embodies what it means to have a passion for nursing In nursing school, he created a mentor program at our university so that new students would have an experienced graduate to help them along the way. Kenny is passionate about caring for others."

Customer Focus Award for demonstrating an unwavering dedication to the improvement of patient care across all specialties and embodying the core values of the nursing profession in actions and words.

Kimberleigh Harvey, RN, BSN, MSN, a Med/Surg nurse on assignment at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY

"Kimberleigh is ALWAYS positive - no matter what the situation. She handles everything with control and poise. She consistently wins peer-nominated awards at the hospitals where her assignments are - not an easy feat for a traveler."

Overall Commitment to Excellence Award for all of these qualities, and continually striving to improve patient care through education and innovation, displaying an unmatched passion for the profession.

Brianne Carruthers, RN, BSN, a PICU nurse on assignment at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego

"Brianne is perhaps the most compassionate and giving RN I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Her respect for the profession as well as her passion for caring for others is not only inspiring, but humbling. She is a dedicated travel nurse while still juggling her PRN job back home in CO, and her mission work in Nicaragua. She is selfless and brilliant."

Honorable Mention

Jessica Tellier, RN, BSN, PICU. "Jessica navigates her contracts around numerous international medical missions. It seems as soon as she returns, she is already planning/booking her next mission trip. She is caring and selfless in giving so much of her time and medical skills to villages that are severely under developed and cared for! As a Peds CVICU RN, her talent is top notch and it is wonderful that she gives her time to work with high acuity patients in limited resource areas."

About AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare is the leader and innovator in healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services to healthcare facilities across the nation. The Company provides unparalleled access to the most comprehensive network of quality healthcare professionals through its innovative recruitment strategies and breadth of career opportunities. With insights and expertise, AMN Healthcare helps providers optimize their workforce to successfully reduce complexity, increase efficiency, and improve patient outcomes. AMN delivers managed services programs, healthcare executive search solutions, vendor management systems, recruitment process outsourcing, predictive modeling, and other consulting services. Clients include acute-care hospitals, community health centers and clinics, physician practice groups, retail and urgent care centers, home health facilities, and many other healthcare settings. For more information about AMN Healthcare, visit www.amnhealthcare.com.

About Good Samaritan Hospital, a Member of the Westchester Medical Center

Health Network

Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, is a 286-bed hospital providing emergency, medical, surgical, obstetrical/gynecological and acute care services to residents of Rockland and southern Orange Counties in New York; and northern Bergen County, New Jersey. The hospital is home to a recognized cardiovascular program, comprehensive cancer treatment services, the area's leading Wound and Hyperbaric Institute and outstanding maternal/child services that includes a Children's Diagnostic Center. Good Samaritan Hospital also provides social, psychiatric and substance abuse services and its certified home care agency supports residents of the Hudson Valley and beyond. For more information about Good Samaritan Hospital visit bschs.bonsecours.com or follow the hospital at Facebook.com/BSCGSRMC or Twitter.com/BSCHS

About Rady Children's Hospital

Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego is a 520-bed pediatric care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, Southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Rady Children's is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and is the region's only designated pediatric trauma center. In June 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rady Children's among the best children's hospitals in the nation in all ten pediatric specialties the magazine surveyed. Rady Children's is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations to support its mission. For more information, visit www.rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo.

About MedStar Health

MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar's 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health's patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.

About Waterbury Hospital

Waterbury Hospital is a 357 bed hospital with approximately 2,000 employees which serves Waterbury and 11 surrounding communities in Western Connecticut. Waterbury Hospital also forms the cornerstone of the Greater Waterbury Health Network, a family of healthcare-related services in the community.

Media Contact:

Jim Gogek

Corporate Communications

AMN Healthcare

(858) 350-3209

[email protected]

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 360 Cloud Solutions, a NetSuite Solution Provider since 2002, today announced that NetSuite, the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials/ ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites, has recognized 360 Cloud Solutions as a recipient of a NetSuite 5-Star Award. NetSuite's extensive network of developers and partners is crucial to helping enterprises of all sizes realize the benefits of cloud computing, enabling them to increase productivity, reduce costs, and streamline operations.

360 Cloud Solutions was one of the first solution providers to join the NetSuite Solution Provider Program, and since then has been helping organizations throughout numerous industries including distribution, professional services, apparel, ecommerce, field service and software.

"As a company that is dedicated and committed to NetSuite, it is rewarding to receive the NetSuite 5-Star Award again," said Rufus Lohmueller, 360 Cloud Solutions' CEO. "Every day, our team is focused on either helping companies implement NetSuite or supporting existing clients, and without our customer base and the partnership we have with NetSuite, this would not have been possible. We are honored to receive this award."

Launched in 2002, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program is the industry's leading cloud channel partner program, providing hundreds of channel partners with a cloud solution to offer prospective customers and grow their businesses as well as industry-leading margins and incentive programs. With cloud computing at the forefront of the hottest trends and cloud ERP leading the way, channel partners representing on-premise products are continuing to build new practices based on NetSuite's superior cloud business management suite. Designed to help solution providers transform their business model to fully capitalize on the revenue growth opportunity of the NetSuite cloud, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program delivers unprecedented benefits that begin during recruitment and range from business planning, sales, marketing and professional services enablement, to training and education. For more information about the NetSuite Solution Provider Program, please visit http://www.netsuite.com/portal/partners.shtml.

About 360 Cloud Solutions

360 Cloud Solutions focuses on improving businesses performance through the strategic integration of pure cloud-based business software. Since 2002, 360 Cloud Solutions has been helping fast growing companies successfully leverage NetSuite for Financials/ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), CRM, omnichannel commerce and more. With offices around the U.S. in Arizona, North Carolina and Utah, the 360 Cloud Solutions' team visits the client on-site and starts each engagement with a comprehensive review of the client's business processes. Clients find 360 Cloud Solutions' services and expertise valuable from the start of a NetSuite implementation through to ongoing support. To learn more about how 360 Cloud Solutions partners with clients, please visit http://www.360cloudsolutions.com.

About NetSuite

NetSuite Inc. is the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and omnichannel commerce software suites. In addition to financials/ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites, NetSuite offers a broad suite of applications, including financial management, ecommerce and retail management, commerce marketing automation and Professional Services Automation (PSA) that enable companies to manage most of their core business operations in its single integrated suite. NetSuite software allows businesses to automate operations, streamline processes and access real-time business information anytime, anywhere. For more information about NetSuite, please visit www.netsuite.com.

NOTE: NetSuite and the NetSuite logo are registered service marks of NetSuite Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE 360 Cloud Solutions

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Three years in the making, Prisons Today calls on the most current scholarship in the fields of sociology and criminology, but presents concepts in a broad, direct, and interactive way. Innovative filmmaking elicits personal connections to the U.S. criminal justice system, and digital interactives encourage reflection on the purpose and effectiveness of American prisons. A call to action section suggests steps that visitors can take to help shape the American criminal justice system moving forward.

"The United States now has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, by far, with 2.2 million citizens in prison or jail, and yet we have no national prison museum," says Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President, Director of Interpretation and Public Programming at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. "Many Americans see criminal justice reform as the civil rights challenge of this generation. It's time to address this subject with honesty and critical thinking, and there's no better place to do so than Eastern State Penitentiary."

Visitors to the exhibit are greeted by an oversized graph depicting the number of people in U.S. prisons and jails in 1970 (the year Eastern State Penitentiary closed) and 2015, compared to the violent crime rates in both years. The number of incarcerated people has increased by nearly 600%. The rate of violent crime, which has risen and fallen throughout these years, is now nearly identical.

"There is now bipartisan agreement that the U.S. incarcerates too many people," Mr. Kelley says. "We titled that first graph 'Mass Incarceration Isn't Working' to make it clear that the real questions revolve around what our nation should do now."

Criminal Justice Policy Video Wall:

A fast-paced video installation by Greenhouse Media synchronizes a vintage television set with six flat screens, summarizing criminal justice policy decisions dating back to the 1960s. Television appearances include:

President Lyndon B. Johnson announcing his War on Crime

announcing his War on Crime Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan calling for a War on Drugs

and calling for a War on Drugs President Bill Clinton signing his 1994 crime bill

signing his 1994 crime bill State legislators announcing their own mandatory minimum sentencing and three-strikes laws

Although the effects often took decades to manifest, each of these policy shifts increased the rate of incarceration in the U.S. The video ends with many of the architects of these changes, Democrats and Republicans alike, admitting the failure of these policies and suggesting that it is time for real change.

Between showings on the video wall, an Instagram feed curated by Lisa Riordan Seville and Zara Katz, producers of @EverydayIncarceration, occupies the massive screens, putting human faces on this modern-day period of mass incarceration.

What Are Prisons For? Interactive:

A set of touch screens designed by Interactive Mechanics invites visitors to vote on what values they believe the U.S. prison system should be pursuing. The visitor can slide icons on the screens to rank the four recognized rationales for incarceration:

Retribution (an eye for an eye)

Deterrence (setting an example)

Rehabilitation (breaking the cycle of crime)

Incapacitation (confining dangerous people)

The interactive then asks if there are other factors the visitor believes may have driven the recent prison boom, such as profit motives, racial control, hiding poverty/addiction, or other problems. A final set of charts will compare the visitor's responses to those of other visitors.

The digital interactive is also available online at www.EasternState.org/PrisonsToday. Users from anywhere in the world can contribute their answers to the growing database presented in the exhibit.

Personal Stories Video Installation:

A three-screen video installation by documentary filmmaker Gabriela Bulisova highlights the lives of people currently involved with the U.S. criminal justice system:

Kiya is growing up largely without her father, a man serving a long sentence. She's been in the foster care system for most of her life.

Adan has had run-ins with the police, dropped out of school, lived on the streets, and engaged in illegal activities. But now, with the help of Latino service organization Congreso de Latinos Unidos, he has earned his GED, enrolled in college, and speaks of his hopes for the future.

Phil (shown below) is serving life without the possibility of parole. He runs a restorative justice program called "Let's Circle Up" inside his maximum-security prison.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel sees the need for prisons and incarceration to keep society safe, but he speaks passionately about his concern for the men and women under his care, and about their prospects upon release.

Secretary of Corrections sees the need for prisons and incarceration to keep society safe, but he speaks passionately about his concern for the men and women under his care, and about their prospects upon release. Jesse Krimes , an artist and outspoken critic of mass incarceration, made art while in prison and then blossomed upon release.

Early Experiences Matter Interactive:

This set of interactive tabletops asks visitors to reflect on how their personal backgrounds and upbringings may have affected their interactions with the criminal justice system. Statistical predictors of incarceration include:

Household income during childhood

Funding of elementary and high schools

Exposure to real-life trauma or violence as a child

Influence of peers and role models

Race/Ethnicity

Each visitor completes a digital questionnaire one side of the table, and, if he or she chooses, shares the answers on his/her partner's desktop. Results can be tallied to state whether the visitors' peer groups are experiencing high or low rates of incarceration. The exhibit asks, "How have these factors impacted your relationship with the criminal justice system?" and, "If your answers look a lot like your partner's, why do you think that is?"

Killed in the Line of Duty:

Prisons Today is housed inside workshops alongside Eastern State's Cellblock 4. A small plaque marks the spot where prisoner Joseph Taylor murdered Officer Michael Doran in 1884. It reminds visitors that law enforcement is a dangerous and important occupation.

Change and the Future:

A set of graphic panels highlights individuals, organizations, and policies that are making improvements to the criminal justice system, finding specific answers to reduce the need for incarceration, and helping individuals transition back into life beyond the walls.

The exhibit ends with a digital interactive called Postcards to Your Future Self. The visitor answers a set of questions designed to encourage reflection:

"How do you think the criminal justice system will change in the next three years?"

"If you could tell one person about your thoughts today, visiting this exhibit, who would it be, and what would you say?"

Three digital "postcards" are then sent to the visitor: the first in two months' time, the second in one year, and the third in three years. Each postcard includes some of the visitor's thoughts while touring the exhibit, paired with information about current developments in criminal justice policy and ways to become involved, all tailored to the visitor's interests.

About Prisons Today:

Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration is the next step in Eastern State Penitentiary's continued focus on issues of contemporary corrections. It acts as a companion to The Big Graph, which compares the U.S. rate of incarceration to all other nations in the world and illustrates the racial breakdown of the U.S. prison population over time. Eastern State also hosts The Searchlight Series, a free monthly discussion series about crime, justice, and the American prison system.

The exhibit is included with standard admission to the historic site. Regular daytime programs, including "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour narrated by actor Steve Buscemi, guided Hands-On History tours, history exhibits, and artist installations, are also included in admission. Tickets are available online at www.EasternState.org, or at the door subject to availability.

About Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site:

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and Al Capone.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The penitentiary is open seven days a week, year round. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students and children ages 7-12. (Not recommended for children under the age of seven.) Tickets are available online at www.EasternState.org or at the door, subject to availability. Admission includes "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; Hands-On History interactive experiences; history exhibits; and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.

For more information and schedules, the public should call (215) 236-3300 or visit www.EasternState.org.

Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

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SOURCE Eastern State Penitentiary

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Guests taking advantage of the offer will also receive a limited-edition NOWFE poster designed by Italian artist Franco Alessandrini, who has called New Orleans home since the 1970s. One of his most famous pieces, a statue entitled "Monument to the Immigrants," is on display half a mile from the hotel in beautiful Woldenberg Park.

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, a Crescent City tradition for more than 20 years, is a celebration of regional flavors that draws more than 10,000 people every year. At the festival, which takes place May 26 through May 29, 2016, attendees can meet celebrated chefs and winemakers while sampling food and drink from hundreds of renowned restaurants and wineries. The NOWFE is a nonprofit organization, and all proceeds benefit initiatives that support food education.

"We couldn't be more excited to announce the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience Package," said Ted Selogie, general manager of JW Marriott New Orleans and president of the NOWFE executive committee. "There is, without question, no better way to understand the soul of New Orleans than through its cuisine."

Travelers can continue their epicurean journey when they return to the hotel with tantalizing Brazilian steakhouse fare at Fogo de Chao and creative cocktails and appetizers at the chic lobby lounge.

After attending unforgettable NOWFE events, all of which are just moments from the hotel, travelers can return to luxurious guest rooms and suites featuring designer bedding, elegant marble baths and stunning French Quarter vistas.

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience Package is valid for stays between May 26 and May 31, 2016. To apply the offer to a reservation at JW Marriott New Orleans, use promotional code CUE when booking online, or call 1-800-228-9290.

About JW Marriott New Orleans

Situated in the heart of the illustrious French Quarter, JW Marriott New Orleans at 614 Canal St. in New Orleans, LA offers quick access to Jackson Square, the French Market, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk and an extraordinary selection of dining and nightlife. The luxury hotel features 30 floors with 494 guest rooms, 7 suites, an executive lounge, 2 restaurants, a fitness center, outdoor saltwater pool and 18 event venues with more than 21,000 square feet of total space. Complimentary wireless internet access is provided in all public areas of the hotel, including the lobby. For information, visit www.marriott.com/MSYJW or call 1-504-525-6500. Like JW Marriott New Orleans on Facebook, and follow the hotel on Twitter and Instagram.

Sign up now for Marriott Rewards and get on the fast track to earn points for free hotel stays, room upgrades, flights, credit card purchases and deals with Marriott partners.

Learn more about JW Marriottand Marriott International Inc.

Media Contact

Ted Selogie, General Manager

1-504-525-6500

[email protected]

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SOURCE JW Marriott New Orleans

Related Links

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JUNO BEACH, Fla., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) will provide a live webcast of its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which begins at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET) on Thursday, May 19, 2016.

Participants can access the webcast on NextEra Energy's website, www.NextEraEnergy.com, by clicking the link provided on the home page. A replay of the NextEra Energy annual meeting webcast will be available on the website for 30 days.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company with consolidated revenues of approximately $17.5 billion and approximately 14,300 employees in 27 states and Canada as of year-end 2015, as well as approximately 45,000 megawatts of generating capacity, which includes megawatts associated with noncontrolling interests related to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) as of April 2016. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., NextEra Energy's principal subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company, which serves more than 4.8 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the United States, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from eight commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2016 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

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SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.

Related Links

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LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Focusing on promoting tourism and other marketing initiatives, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China together with the China National Tourism Bureau Los Angeles office held on Tuesday a presentation themed "Beautiful China, Amazing Ningxia."

"Ningxia is an extremely exciting chapter of a beautiful China, ranking number 20 out of the world's 46 must-go tourist destinations chosen by the New York Times," said the Vice Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Wang Heshan.

"On the occasion of the first China-U.S. tourism year, high level tourism talks will be held in Ningxia this September. I believe the rich and unique tourist resources of Ningxia strongly complement the U.S. tourism market and has a great potential for interaction," he said.

In 2015, China and the United States together contributed to over 16 percent of the outbound international tourists in the world. A total of 120 million Chinese people traveled overseas in 2015, making it the third year in a row that China topped the list of international outbound travelers, according to statistics from the China National Administration of Tourism. Chinese tourists spent 194 billion U.S. dollars across the world last year.

The United States has welcome a growing number of Chinese visitors in recent years. Booming Chinese tourism and increasing outbound Chinese visitors attracted U.S. tourism companies to expand their businesses to China. The event here in Los Angeles attracted over 100 industry profressionals from the United States.

Shantha Mony, the CEO of local Dream-Ality Travels just finished her visit in China in March. "China is a big market and we value it so much," she said.

For Dick Bublitz, his travel agency has not opened any route to China yet, and he attended the meeting to learn more about China. He said his company is willing to start a China trip soon.

"In the China-U.S. tourism year, more flights have been opened between our two countries and China has offered more services to U.S. visitors," said Wang Yanjie, director of China National Tourist Office Los Angeles. "Meanwhile, many programs have been planned to further promote tourism cooperation between both countries."

SOURCE Tourist Office of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
HONG KONG, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nord Anglia Education (NYSE: NORD), the world's leading premium schools organization, has announced today a new collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The collaboration will see the two institutions develop and implement a science, technology, engineering, visual arts and mathematics (STEAM) program across Nord Anglia's 42 schools worldwide.

Launching in September 2016, the program includes the development of a series of in-school challenges for students aged 8  12 years old which focus on the juncture between the five STEAM disciplines. This recognises that many of today's innovations arise from the intersection of these different subjects; from art and engineering to technology and science.

In addition to the in-school activities, the collaboration will see students across the Nord Anglia network travelling to Massachusetts to participate in an exclusive program each spring, providing them with the opportunity to learn directly from lecturers and students at one of the world's leading STEAM institutions. Nord Anglia STEAM discipline teachers will also benefit from unique professional development opportunities through annual workshops and ongoing training with MIT staff, hosted by the MIT Museum.

Core to the collaboration is the reflection of MIT's philosophy of 'Mens et Manus', 'mind and hand', which calls for a hands-on approach to problem solving. Through this approach, Nord Anglia students will develop key transferable skills, such as flexibility, creativity and communication, which can be employed across all academic subjects, and in future careers.

Andrew Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive Officer at Nord Anglia Education, said "As educators, it is our role to ignite our students' ambitions and prepare them for tomorrow's challenges. This new programme with MIT will ensure that our students are equipped with the skills they will need in the future workplace, and that they learn these skills in an inspiring way.

"This is an exceptional opportunity for both our students and teachers to benefit from the expertise of one of the world's preeminent education institutions. With our performing arts curriculum developed in conjunction with The Juilliard School, and this exciting collaboration with MIT, we have placed excellence at the core of our already world class offering, positioning our schools at the forefront of innovative education."

John Durant, Director of the MIT Museum and Founder of the Cambridge Science Festival said, "Collaborating with Nord Anglia has enabled us to develop something truly exciting. The activities we have created for Nord Anglia students take a unique approach to problem solving, working across disciplines and promoting collaboration between students in the creation of innovative solutions to real world challenges.

"We hope the collaboration with Nord Anglia will inspire students and staff alike, and provide students with key transferable skills that can be employed throughout their lives."

The initial programme will launch in 13 inaugural schools in September 2016, and is expected to expand to educate more than 35,000 students at Nord Anglia's 42 international schools in following years. This new venture comes one year after Nord Anglia Education launched its performing arts collaboration with The Juilliard School.

For further information, please contact:

Investors:

Vanessa Cardonnel

Corporate Finance and Investor Relations Director  Nord Anglia Education

Tel: +852 3951 1130

Email: [email protected]

John Rouleau

Managing Director, Investor Relations  ICR

Tel: +1 203 682 8342

Email: [email protected]

Media:

Sarah Doyle

Head of Brand  Nord Anglia Education

Tel: +852 3951 1144

Email: [email protected]

About Nord Anglia Education, Inc.

Nord Anglia Education (NYSE: NORD) is the world's leading premium schools organization. Our 42 international schools are located in China, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America. Together, they educate more than 35,300 students from kindergarten through to the end of secondary education. We are driven by one unifying philosophy  we are ambitious of our students, our people and our family of schools. Our schools deliver a high quality education through a personalized approach enhanced with unique global opportunities to enable every student to succeed. Nord Anglia Education is headquartered in Hong Kong SAR, China. Our website is www.nordangliaeducation.com.

SOURCE Nord Anglia Education, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nordangliaeducation.com


NEW YORK, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The purpose of this notice is to inform you about developments with respect to the litigation in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the "Court") captioned In re Rite Aid Corp. Stockholders Litigation, Consol. C.A. No. 11663-CB (the "Consolidated Action"), previously described in the proxy statements referenced herein, including the dismissal of the Consolidated Action and an agreement to pay a total of $75,000 in full satisfaction of plaintiffs' counsels' attorneys' fees and expenses in the Consolidated Action ("Plaintiffs").

Plaintiffs commenced the Consolidated Action on behalf of themselves and a putative class of Rite Aid stockholders to challenge the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between Rite Aid and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. ("WBA"), pursuant to which Rite Aid stockholders will receive $9.00 in cash for each share of Rite Aid stock they own upon consummation of the merger (the "Merger" or the "Transaction").

On November 24, 2015, Rite Aid filed a preliminary proxy statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Schedule 14A (the "Preliminary Proxy Statement") that, among other things, described the background of the Transaction, the fairness opinion issued in connection with the Transaction, and certain financial information generated by Rite Aid's management.

Plaintiffs' complaint identified items that Plaintiffs alleged should have been disclosed to Rite Aid's stockholders, the purported absence of which they alleged deprived Rite Aid's stockholders of the ability to make a fully informed decision whether to vote their shares in support of the Transaction.

On December 21, 2015, Rite Aid filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC (the "Definitive Proxy Statement"). The Definitive Proxy Statement supplemented the original Proxy Statement to include certain additional information, which Plaintiffs allege had the effect of mooting certain of Plaintiffs' disclosure claims. The Definitive Proxy Statement is accessible on the SEC's website at:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/84129/000104746915009328/0001047469-15-009328-index.htm

On December 28, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Expedited Proceedings, seeking to have the Court schedule a preliminary injunction hearing with respect to their claims prior to the stockholder vote on the Merger. Defendants opposed the motion. On January 5, 2016, the Court denied Plaintiffs' motion, finding that Plaintiffs had failed to state a colorable claim.

On February 4, 2016, Rite Aid stockholders voted to approve the Merger. The Merger, which is expected to be completed in the second half of calendar 2016, is subject to the satisfaction of certain remaining customary closing conditions as set forth in the Merger Agreement and discussed in detail in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

Thereafter, Plaintiffs filed with the Court a Notice and Proposed Order Voluntarily Dismissing the Action as Moot and Retaining Jurisdiction to Determine Plaintiffs' Counsel's Application for an Award of Attorneys' Fees & Reimbursement of Expenses, which the Court granted.

As a result of negotiations that occurred after the dismissal of the Consolidated Action, Rite Aid has agreed to pay Plaintiffs' counsel a fee of $75,000 in full satisfaction of Plaintiffs' counsel's claim for attorneys' fees and expenses in the Consolidated Action. The parties to the litigation have agreed that payment will be made within ten (10) days of final dismissal and closure of the Consolidated Action. The Court has not been asked to review, and will pass no judgment on, the payment or amount of the $75,000 agreed-upon fee or its reasonableness.

Plaintiffs' counsel are Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC and Robbins Arroyo LLP.

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Related Links

http://www.ksfcounsel.com


EBUS uses a bronschoscope equipped with ultrasound capabilities to "see" beyond the walls of the airways and detect diseased tissue, lymph nodes or lesions. Suspect lymph nodes can then be sampled using a special aspiration needle. This new needle provides a larger sample size, which can provide more material for molecular biomarker testing, potentially leading to more targeted therapy for the patient. Representing a 72 percent increase in inner surface area over the Olympus ViziShot 21G needle and 144 percent increase over the ViziShot 22G needle, the ViziShot FLEX 19G is the largest EBUS-TBNA needle on the market.

In July 2013, The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced new recommendations for lung cancer screening for people at high risk for lung cancer, leading to increases in CT screening. Many of these patients require follow-up care that could, by USPSTF estimates, prevent roughly 14% of the 160,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Recent CMS increases in reimbursement for procedures related to lung cancer diagnosis allow hospitals to more readily build their lung cancer program. Around the same time, the American College of Chest Physicians changed its lung cancer guidelines, now recommending Endobronchial Ultrasound over surgery for lung cancer staging.

Benefits of the ViziShot FLEX 19G EBUS-TBNA needle include:

Larger sample size: The large 19G EBUS-TBNA needle enables substantial tissue collection, even in highly challenging areas enabling genetic biomarker testing to determine the correct therapy.

The large 19G EBUS-TBNA needle enables substantial tissue collection, even in highly challenging areas enabling genetic biomarker testing to determine the correct therapy. Better access during EBUS-TBNA: The ViziShot FLEX 19G provides unprecedented flexibility allowing the Olympus EBUS scope to flex up to 84 i for improved access to difficult-to-reach areas and improved sample acquisition. The echogenicity of the needle (its ability to be better seen via ultrasound) also improves precision and control.

The ViziShot FLEX 19G provides unprecedented flexibility allowing the Olympus EBUS scope to flex up to 84 for improved access to difficult-to-reach areas and improved sample acquisition. The echogenicity of the needle (its ability to be better seen via ultrasound) also improves precision and control. Safety: All of Olympus' EBUS-TBNA needles offer an advanced design with proprietary safety features including a double-locking mechanism to help avoid accidental needle protrusion protecting the patient, staff and the EBUS scope.

All of Olympus' EBUS-TBNA needles offer an advanced design with proprietary safety features including a double-locking mechanism to help avoid accidental needle protrusion protecting the patient, staff and the EBUS scope. A proven track record: Unlike other companies that supply EBUS-TBNA needles, Olympus has a proven track record since introducing the first ViziShot EBUS-TBNA needle to the market in 2005. Multiple clinical studies have shown a consistent diagnostic yield above 90%.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control, with more than 400 Americans each day dying from the disease. [i]i Early diagnosis and accurate staging of lung cancer can lead to improved treatment. Other diseases are also better managed via EBUS-TBNA. The large specimens made possible with the ViziShot FLEX 19G may also help to improve diagnosis of lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system and sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease affecting the lungs and lymph glands.

"This development is an important contribution to the growing field of targeted therapy and will please pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, thoracic oncologists, and pathologists," said Kurt Heine, Group Vice President of the Endoscopy Division at Olympus America Inc. "We're excited about our team's efforts to further advance diagnosis of lung disease and lung cancer staging."

Designed with performance and patient safety in mind, Olympus' full suite of diagnostic and therapeutic devices help physicians deliver value to patients and help healthcare facilities meet the following key healthcare reform initiatives:



Increased quality of care: Olympus' endoscopic platforms contribute to easier, more precise access to complicated anatomy, while maintaining the highest safety standards. The ViziShot FLEX 19G needle can yield a larger sample, which can help with targeted therapies.

Olympus' endoscopic platforms contribute to easier, more precise access to complicated anatomy, while maintaining the highest safety standards. The ViziShot FLEX 19G needle can yield a larger sample, which can help with targeted therapies. Decreased costs: The ViziShot FLEX 19G needle may reduce the pursuit of ineffective procedures, which can be costly for little pay-off in terms of patient outcomes.

The ViziShot FLEX 19G needle may reduce the pursuit of ineffective procedures, which can be costly for little pay-off in terms of patient outcomes. Enhanced patient satisfaction: Targeted therapy can lead to better outcomes, which can lead to improved patient satisfaction.

"Today so many options exist for patients  but without a good understanding of exactly the problem we're up against, the range of solutions can create more uncertainty," said Alexander Chen, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine.[ii]i "There is an increasing demand on bronchoscopists to provide more tissue for the purposes of biomolecular testing. The ViziShot FLEX 19G needle helps us feel more confident that we're obtaining larger specimens. I've been impressed with the early results with this needle and like all Olympus ViziShot needles it also has the double-locking safety mechanism."

The ViziShot FLEX EBUS-TBNA 19G needle will be demonstrated at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference to be held May 13-18 in San Francisco, Calif. Healthcare providers are invited to visit the Olympus Booth 2127 for a hands-on product demonstration. For more information about the ViziShot FLEX 19G needle, please contact Olympus customer service at 1-800-848-9024 or visit our product page.

About Olympus Medical Systems Group

Olympus Medical Systems Group, a division of global technology leader Olympus, develops solutions for healthcare professionals that help improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for their patients. By enabling less invasive procedures, innovative diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, and early stage lung cancer evaluation and treatments, Olympus is transforming the future of healthcare.

For more information visit Olympus at medical.olympusamerica.com.

[i] When used with the Olympus BF-UC180F 2.2mm channel EBUS bronchoscope. Data on file.

[ii] Centers for Disease Control and Detection: Deaths: National Vital Statistics Reports, Final Data for 2012. NVSR Volume 63, Number 9. 85 pp. (PHS) 2014 -1120, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr63/nvsr63_09.pdf

[iii] Dr. Chen is a paid consultant of Olympus.

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SOURCE Olympus Medical Systems Group

Related Links

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When Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley was a sergeant several years ago, he learned about the Oregon Accreditation Alliance, which helps police agencies elevate their professional standards from the way officers handle a traffic accident to how meals are served at the county jail.

I have always felt like we had a top-notch agency, but this tells the voters who support our levy that we are providing professional services for their tax dollars, Riley said.

And, he added, it's a mark of honor for all 184 staff members, whether they're patrol deputies, dispatchers or work in the jail.

Soon after being named sheriff in 2014, Riley enrolled his office in the process that took two years and nearly 500 man hours to complete.

The official recognition of that hard work by dispatcher Nathan McIntyre and Staff Sgt. Micah Smith was made Wednesday morning, when Ed Boyd of the Oregon Accreditation Alliance presented Riley with a framed certificate of completion during a meeting of the Linn County Board of Commissioners.

Riley said some police agencies have the resources to dedicate a staff person part-time to compiling the information needed to meet the more than 104 standards and more than 400 requirements within those standards.

We asked Nathan to work on this four or five hours per week, when he could fit it in with his dispatching duties, Riley said. Micah is his direct supervisor and they kept me informed on a regular basis.

The office joins an elite group of law enforcement agencies in the state, Ed Boyd told commissioners Roger Nyquist, John Lindsey and Will Tucker.

Accreditation is all about standards. Our profession and our agencies are all about standards. We have standards to become a law enforcement officer; standards to graduate from the police academy; standards to be certified as an officer or deputy and standards for the varying levels of certification we hold through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

Boyd said only 34 percent of all law enforcement agencies in the state are involved in the accreditation program and about 24 percent hold state accreditation.

The LCSO becomes the ninth sheriffs office accredited out of 36 counties and the 42nd municipal agency so honored. Other local agencies accredited are the Albany Police Department, Benton County Sheriffs Office and Corvallis Police Department (national accreditation organization).

In my opinion, it takes courage for an organization to take on the rigorous accreditation process, Boyd said. Anytime the Chief Executive Officer of an organization invites a third-party into their department to review and inspect everything associated with their operations and render an opinion as to whether they meet a set of best practice standards for a given profession, that by itself shows commitment, transparency and dedication to excellence.

A few of the standards checked include everything from constitutional requirements to how deputies make arrests and take custody of those arrested; use of force; firearms and ammunition; chain of command; job descriptions; work conditions; health and safety; fiscal management; complaints and disciplinary procedures; training and career development and public information.

Staff Sgt. Smith said the process involves determining what standards the office has in place and then gathering supportive data that shows staff have been trained, understand and utilize those standards.

For example, our standard might be that a deputy wears a protective vest when working an accident, he said. We needed to find an officers report or photograph of a deputy talking about putting that vest on, or showing him or her wearing one at the scene.

Smith said that was repeated for every single standard.

And, he said, there were a few areas where improved language or procedure upgrades were in order.

Not counting staff time, accreditation cost about $2,400 to participate and become a member of the Oregon Accreditation Alliance, plus about $500 for computer system upgrades to allow interfacing of information.

Smith said all of the upgraded information is now available to staff members online if they have any questions about the offices current standards and procedures.

I think this also gives us somewhat of a Teflon coating, Sheriff Riley said. It tells attorneys, judges and the community that we are compliant with todays standards at all levels of our operation.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) today announced that Questrade, an online retail brokerage based in Canada, has adopted Broadridge's end-to-end foreign exchange and liquidity solution, Broadridge FX and Liquidity (FXL).

Questrade is fully deployed on the FXL system on a hosted basis, and is utilizing the client portal, cash management statement processing function, and position management and risk management capabilities to support its corporate currency exchange and global payments (delivery versus payment) business. Through FXL, Questrade is fully compliant with the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) requirements for statements and confirmations.

"The FX market has evolved significantly and the need for a truly global, efficient and scalable modern system is more important than ever," said Edward Kholodenko, Questrade's President and CEO. "We selected FXL to help increase efficiency by providing a modern portal, FX processing and integrated, cross-asset class functionality with high levels of straight-through processing."

Since Broadridge's acquisition of FXL  formerly TwoFour Systems  in January 2015, seven new clients have adopted the solution. The solution supports banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, liquidity providers and payments firms in more than 80 locations globally, providing round-the-clock support, straight through processing and real-time aggregation of global currency positions.

"The adoption of FXL by leading firms such as Questrade is a reflection of an imperative across the industry to renew and standardize systems in light of an increasingly complex operational and regulatory environment," said Steve Davis, general manager of Broadridge FXL. "Our goal with FXL is to remove some of the complexity and burden to allow our clients to focus on meeting regulatory requirements as well as business expansion and growth."

The FXL platform can be deployed as an end-to-end solution or integrated on a component-basis to service a specific need within foreign exchange, order management, risk management, cash management or treasury departments. It is available on a hosted basis or as a managed service.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) is the leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for broker-dealers, banks, mutual funds and corporate issuers globally. Broadridge's investor communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With over 50 years of experience, Broadridge's infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America, and processes on average $5 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day. Broadridge employs approximately 7,400 full-time associates in 14 countries. For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Media Contacts:

Kate McGann Erica Sunkin Broadridge Edelman +212-981-1395 +212-729-2126 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

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HBX ConneXt offered a full day of academic exploration and community-building for HBX past and current participants. It was also an opportunity for the HBS faculty and administrators that developed the first HBX offerings to meet their students and welcome them to Harvard Business School. The HBS team included Prof. Bharat Anand, faculty chair of HBX and creator of the CORe Economics for Managers course; Prof. Jan Hammond, creator of the CORe Business Analytics course; Prof. V.G. Narayanan, creator of the CORe Financial Accounting course; Prof. Clayton Christensen, creator of the HBX Disruptive Strategy course; and Patrick Mullane, executive director of HBX.

"Today is about community, a chance to nurture relationships," said Anand, as he welcomed attendees in a packed HBS auditorium during a morning session. "The story of HBX is still being written, and you will help shape that narrative."

Anand described HBX's origins from an idea about how to leverage technology to extend the School's mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world. He also explained how the design of HBX was rooted in the School's famed case-method pedagogy. Some of these principles  active learning and peer interaction  sparked online and offline collaboration that eventually inspired HBXConnext. "Online going physical  it's not something we ever imagined," he noted.

After opening comments, three HBX students shared their stories and best practices with attendees through a moderated panel. "As I moved forward in my career, I realized that in order to be successful in any organization, I would have to contribute, and to contribute I had to learn," said Carlvin Dorvilier, a past participant of HBX CORe. "Being able to speak the language of business in job interviews helped me land a dream job at Tumblr."

HBX ConneXt attendees had the opportunity to participate in faculty-led case study sessions in Harvard Business School classrooms. They also participated in breakout sessions in the Harvard University Innovation Lab that included hearing presentations on the MBA program, having their resumes reviewed and professional headshots taken, listening to new research from Professor Christensen's Forum for Growth and Innovation, and participating in conversations in an "HBX Innovation Room" about new content offerings and formats.

The closing session for HBX ConneXt included remarks from Professors Hammond and Narayanan, as well as a panel discussion about the future of online education led by Prof. Anand with Anne Dwane, partner and co-founder of GSV Acceleration; Chip Paucek, CEO and founder of 2U Inc.; and H. Lawrence "Larry" Culp, former president and chief executive officer of Danaher Corporation and currently a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School.

"Talent is widely distributed, but opportunity is not," said Dwane. Focusing on HBX, she said, "The more opportunities people have to discover and be discovered creates a level of engagement among peers that supports the realization of potential as individuals."

When asked about the future of online education and how it would be viewed by employers, Paucek noted that while online programs are increasingly viewed favorably, participants in HBX courses can "play an important role in helping make online education even more mainstream. Your energy, intellect, and the quality of Harvard Business School's digital offering can help encourage even broader acceptance of online education."

In a closing session, Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria took questions from ConneXt attendees, covering a wide range of topics, from the future offerings of HBX to ways in which the School can help facilitate the HBX community.

"In the end, we want to have impact with the education that we offer, said Nohria. "Our goal is not just to inform people. Our goal is to allow them to be transformed and make progress in achieving the dreams of their own life. To allow them to become leaders who make a difference in the world."

HBX is currently accepting applications for summer cohorts of HBX CORe and Disruptive Strategy with Clayton Christensen.

About HBX

Founded in 2014, HBX  Harvard Business School's digital learning initiative  is changing the way individuals learn about business. HBX was established to expand the reach of Harvard Business School and to further the School's mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world. While still in the early days of online learning on a global scale, HBX has a jump-start with more than 100 years of business education experience with Harvard Business School and a passionate faculty whose vision has been reimagined for the digital age. Find us online at hbx.hbs.edu.

Since HBX began offering its unique online learning models (HBX CORe, HBX Courses and HBX Live) to students across the world almost two years ago, more than 7,000 have participated in CORe alone. HBX CORe is a three-course online business fundamentals program offered in varying durations (from as few as 8 to as many as 18 weeks). Unlike other online programs, the unique HBX learning model effectively marries Harvard Business School's renowned case study method approach to teaching with an interactive, online, community-based curriculum in a way that provides an opportunity for individuals to learn business fundamentals by joining a supportive global network of HBX learners who are regularly called upon to engage within the course platform through online discussions, shared insights, peer feedback, and private Facebook groups. This combination of benefits enables students to learn from and network with a cohort of committed learners from around the globe in a truly unique way.

About Harvard Business School

Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as more than 80 open enrollment Executive Education programs and more than 60 custom programs. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who have shaped the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

Media contacts:

Monica Higgins for HBX

(774) 773-9571

[email protected]

Jim Aisner

(617) 495-6157

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366990

SOURCE Harvard Business School
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot National, Inc. ("Patriot National or "the Company") (NYSE: PN), a leading provider of technology and outsourcing solutions, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Highlights:

For the quarter ended March 31, 2016:

(Comparisons to the corresponding prior-year period)

Total Revenues increased 50% to $64.6 million

Total Fee Income increased 51% to $64.9 million

GAAP Net Income was $3.4 million , or $0.12 per diluted share

, or per diluted share Adjusted Earnings was $5.8 million , or $0.21 per diluted share

, or per diluted share Adjusted EBITDA of $15.7 million , up 45%

, up 45% Operating Cash Flow of $10.3 million , up 25%

, up 25% Q1 operating efficiency initiatives result in $7 million of annualized savings; $400,000 realized during the first quarter

of annualized savings; realized during the first quarter Patriot Technology Solutions' PN InsuranceExpert was awarded new contracts from an existing client valued at $3.2 million , with an additional $3.0 million expected from contracts in process

Recent Developments:

On April 4, 2016 , Patriot National announced the upcoming launch of PN BidExpert software, a first of its kind competitive online marketplace to connect insurance carriers, underwriters and risk managers with loss control engineers.

, Patriot National announced the upcoming launch of PN BidExpert software, a first of its kind competitive online marketplace to connect insurance carriers, underwriters and risk managers with loss control engineers. On March 31, 2016 , the Company launched Patriot Risk Consultants, a subsidiary that offers loss and safety consulting services across a broad spectrum of industries nationwide.

, the Company launched Patriot Risk Consultants, a subsidiary that offers loss and safety consulting services across a broad spectrum of industries nationwide. On March 3, 2016 , the Board approved a share repurchase program for the Company's common stock of up to $15 million . To date, the Company has repurchased 1.4 million shares.

, the Board approved a share repurchase program for the Company's common stock of up to . To date, the Company has repurchased 1.4 million shares. On February 29, 2016 , the Board formed a committee of independent directors to explore strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.

Management Commentary

"I am pleased to report that our first quarter 2016 fee income increased 51% to $64.9 million, up from $43.0 million in the first quarter of 2015," said Steven M. Mariano, Chief Executive Officer of Patriot National. "Our first quarter results were ahead of our internal operating plan and we are reaffirming our full year 2016 outlook of total fee income of $270-$280 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $73-$78 million. Our guidance excludes contribution from any future acquisitions made in 2016.

"We have built a comprehensive platform that we believe is a significant competitive advantage that positions us to increase revenue, margins, profitability and ultimately shareholder returns. Today, we work with 139 insurance carriers and 4,100 insurance agencies and we offer a broad menu of products and services beyond workers' compensation.

"Since our IPO, we have successfully integrated 18 acquisitions, and we have focused our efforts on driving operating efficiencies. During the first quarter, our planned operating efficiency initiatives resulted in $7.3 million in total annualized expense savings, $400,000 of which we recognized in the first quarter. For the remainder of 2016, we will continue to seek additional expense savings through more efficient operations.

"In the first quarter, we had several big technology wins for Patriot Technology Solutions' PN InsuranceExpert, InsurePay, and DecisionUR. PN InsuranceExpert was awarded new contracts from an existing client valued at $3.2 million, with an additional $3.0 million expected from contracts in process. As of the end of the first quarter, InsurePay, our automated payroll solution, now has eight national carrier contracts up from one national carrier contact when we acquired them last June. The revenue from these contracts will accelerate throughout the year. We were also awarded a new national carrier contract for DecisionUR, which provides automated utilization review solutions for injured workers. Our technology team continues to develop new innovative solutions for the insurance industry, such as PN ClaimsAlert, a mobile application that streamlines incident reporting for companies, and PN BidExpert, a first of its kind interactive online marketplace to bring insurance carriers, underwriters and risk managers together with loss control engineers. We anticipate that our robust pipeline of standalone technology customers will continue to gain traction in 2016."

Operating Results

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

Total revenues were $64.6 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared with $43.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. Total fee income was $64.9 million for the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 50.9% compared with $43.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in fee income during the first quarter of 2016 was primarily due to the Company's acquisitions in the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2016. Organic fee income of $48.4 million grew 12.5% year-over-year.

Total expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were $58.3 million, compared with $51.1 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase was largely attributable to the acquisitions closed during the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2015.

First quarter 2016 GAAP net income was $3.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.19 per share, in the first quarter of 2015. Adjusted earnings for the first quarter of 2016 were $5.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with Adjusted earnings of $4.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015. Patriot National defines Adjusted earnings and Adjusted earnings per share as net income (loss) adjusted for cost for debt payoff, non-cash stock compensation costs, net realized gains (losses) on investments, increase (decrease) in fair value of warrant redemption liability, acquisition costs, severance expense, public offering costs and the income tax effect related to reconciling items.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 was $15.7 million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $10.8 million for the first quarter of 2015. Patriot National defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted for income tax, interest, depreciation and amortization, net realized gains (losses) on investments, increase (decrease) in fair value of warrant redemption liability, costs for debt payoff, non-cash stock compensation costs, acquisition costs, severance expense and public offering costs. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 was largely attributable to a combination of organic growth and the Company's acquisitions closed during the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2016.

Operating Cash Flow for the first quarter of 2015 was $10.3 million, compared to $8.2 million for the first quarter of 2015. Patriot National defines Operating Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA less income tax expense, interest expense and capital expenditures.

Summary Financial Results





Three Months Ended March 31,













In thousands, except per share amounts

2016

2015

Change Total Revenues GAAP

$ 64,607

$ 42,993

50.3%













Total Fee Income

$ 64,867

$ 42,992

50.9% Organic

$ 48,384

$ 42,992

12.5% Acquisitions

$ 16,483

$ -

n/a













Net Income (Loss) GAAP

$ 3,401

$ (4,816)

n/a Earnings (Loss) per diluted share

$ 0.12

$ (0.19)

n/a













Adjusted EBITDA

$ 15,659

$ 10,828

44.6% Adjusted EBITDA margins



24.1%



25.2%

(4.2%)















Adjusted Earnings

$ 5,799

$ 4,427

31.0% Adjusted Earnings Diluted EPS

$ 0.21

$ 0.17

23.5%













Operating Cash Flow

$ 10,316

$ 8,226

25.4%















A Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures is provided in the following financial tables.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

At March 31, 2016, the Company had liquidity of $61.8 million, comprised of $11.8 million in cash on hand and $10.1 million available under the revolving credit facility. Additionally, the Company's credit facility provides for an incremental $40 million term loan through an accordion feature.

At March 31, 2016, the Company had total debt of $136.7 million. The Company's leverage ratio, comprised of total debt to trailing 12 months Adjusted EBITDA (including the proforma effect from acquisitions), was 2.3x.

On March 3, 2016, Patriot National's board approved a $15 million share repurchase program for the Company's common stock. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company repurchased 992,182 shares of common stock. Subsequent to March 31, 2016, through May 12, 2016, Patriot National has repurchased an additional 368,275 shares.

Outlook for 2016 Financial Guidance

Patriot National has reiterated the Company's prior financial guidance for 2016. For the full year ending December 31, 2016, Patriot National currently expects the following financial results.

(millions)



2016





Range Total Fee Income



$270 - $280







GAAP Net Income



$24 - $30 Adjusted Earnings



$28 - $34







Adjusted EBITDA



$73 - $78 Operating Cash Flows



$48 - $54

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and audio webcast with analysts and investors will be held on Friday, May 13, 2016 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the results and answer questions.

Live conference call: 844-881-0136 (domestic) or 412-317-6745 (international)

Conference call replay available through June 3, 2016 : 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international)

: 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international) Replay access code: 10085269

Live and archived webcast:ir.patnat.com

The Company is enabling investors to pre-register for the earnings conference call so that they can expedite their entry into the call and avoid the need to wait for a live operator. In order to pre-register for the call, investors can visit http://dpregister.com/10085269 and enter in their contact information. Investors will then be issued a personalized phone number and pin to dial into the live conference call. Individuals can pre-register any time prior to the start of the conference call on May 13.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, this press release provides information regarding Adjusted earnings and earnings per share (non-GAAP adjusted), Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA.

A reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to both Adjusted earnings and Adjusted EBITDA can be found in the accompanying table. Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Patriot National compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA only as a supplement.

We have presented Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA in this release because they are key measures used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short and long-term operational plans. In particular, we believe that the exclusion of the amounts eliminated in calculating Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA can provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors.

Adjusted earnings and earnings per share, Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are as follows:

Although depreciation and amortization expense are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs or tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;

Operating Cash Flow does not reflect changes in working capital that may represent a reduction in cash available to us; and

Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted Earnings or Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.

About Patriot National

Patriot National, Inc. is a national provider of comprehensive technology and outsourcing solutions that help insurance companies and employers mitigate risk, comply with complex regulations and save time and money. Patriot National provides general agency services, technology outsourcing, software solutions, specialty underwriting and policyholder services, claims administration services, self-funded health plans and employment pre-screening services to its insurance carrier clients, employers and other clients. Patriot National is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information about Patriot National, please visit www.patnat.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may include statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook," "Guidance," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements, including the potential that revenue, net income or Adjusted EBITDA could finally be determined to be below the range discussed in this press release. For example, we may not be able to place insurance policies for our clients, our expenses may be higher than we expect, we may have difficulty integrating new acquisitions, new acquisitions may not perform as anticipated, as well as those matters contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we base these forward-looking statements on assumptions that we believe are reasonable when made, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and that results may differ materially from statements made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statement that we may make in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce the results of any revision to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments.

Media and Investor Contacts:

Cindy Campbell

Director of Investor Relations

Patriot National, Inc.

(954) 670-2907

[email protected]

Julie MacMedan (310) 622-8242

Financial Profiles, Inc.

[email protected]

FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW















Patriot National, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)





























Three Months Ended March 31,













In thousands, except per share amounts

2016

2015













Revenues









Total Fee Income

$ 64,867

$ 42,992

Net investment income

35

1

Net losses on investments

(295)

-

Total Revenues

64,607

42,993













Expenses









Salaries and related expenses

23,640

14,468

Commission expense

13,136

8,889

Outsourced services

3,570

2,462

Other operating expenses

9,797

6,331

Acquisition costs

614

604

Interest expense, including $152 and $85 of deferred loan fees

1,412

1,258

Depreciation and amortization

4,717

2,303

Stock compensation expense

1,424

2,535

Costs related to extinguishment of debt

-

13,681

Decrease in fair value of warrant redemption liability

-

(1,385)

Total Expenses

58,310

51,146













Net income (loss) before income tax expense

6,297

(8,153)

Income tax expense (benefit)

2,859

(3,352)

Net Income (Loss) Including Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiary

3,438

(4,801)

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

37

15

Net Income (Loss)

$ 3,401

$ (4,816)













Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share









Basic

$ 0.12

$ (0.19)

Diluted

0.12

(0.19)













Weighted Average Common Shares









Basic

27,407

25,163

Diluted

28,037

25,163



Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)





























March 31,

December 31,

In thousands

2016

2015

Assets









Current Assets









Cash

$ 11,774

$ 8,372

Short term investments

-

3,173

Total cash and investments

11,774

11,545

Restricted cash

19,786

16,055

Fee income receivable

9,877

8,159

Fee income receivable from related party

20,618

27,036

Net receivable from related parties

414

499

Other current assets

2,761

2,046

Total current assets

65,230

65,340

Fixed assets, net

5,224

5,092

Goodwill

122,465

118,141

Intangible assets

82,374

75,681

Forward purchase asset

48,826

28,120

Advance on facilitation agreement

2,000

2,000

Other long term assets

11,329

11,428

Total Assets

$ 337,448

$ 305,802













Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)









Liabilities









Deferred claims administration services income

$ 9,608

$ 10,639

Net advanced claims reimbursements

3,014

1,835

Income taxes payable

2,323

2,996

Current earn-out payable

8,082

10,556

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

36,961

32,809

Deferred purchase consideration

1,672

6,128

Revolver borrowings outstanding

29,932

18,032

Current portion of notes payable

5,500

5,500

Current portion of capital lease obligation

1,632

2,232

Total current liabilities

98,724

90,727

Earn-out payable

6,837

1,827

Notes payable, net of deferred loan fees of $2,255 and $2,352

97,370

98,648

Warrant redemption liability

48,826

28,120

Total liabilities

251,757

219,322













Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)









Total Patriot National, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

85,889

86,715

Less non-controlling interest

(198)

(235)

Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

85,691

86,480

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

$ 337,448

$ 305,802



Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

















Three Months Ended March 31,













In thousands

2016

2015













Reconciliation from Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:









Net Income (Loss)

$ 3,401

$ (4,816)

Income tax (benefit) expense

2,859

(3,352)

Interest expense

1,412

1,258

Depreciation and amortization

4,717

2,303

EBITDA

12,389

(4,607)

Decrease in fair value of warrant redemption liability

-

(1,385)

Costs related to extinguishment of debt

-

13,681

Net losses on investments

295

-

Stock compensation expense

1,424

2,535

Acquisition costs

614

604

Severance expense

927

-

Public offering costs

10

-

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 15,659

$ 10,828













Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA margins:









Total Fee Income

$ 64,867

$ 42,992

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 15,659

$ 10,828

Adjusted EBITDA margins

24.1%

25.2%































Three Months Ended March 31,













In thousands, except per share amounts

2016

2015













Net Income (Loss)

$ 3,401

$ (4,816)

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

37

15

Income tax expense (benefit)

2,859

(3,352)

Net income (loss) before income tax expense

6,297

(8,153)













Adjustments to Net income (loss) before income tax expense:









Decrease in fair value of warrant redemption liability

-

(1,385)

Costs related to extinguishment of debt

-

13,681

Net losses on investments

295

-

Stock compensation expense

1,424

2,535

Acquisition costs

614

604

Severance expense

927

-

Public offering costs

10

-

Total

3,270

15,435













Adjusted net income before income tax expense

9,567

7,282

Income tax expense at statutory rate

3,731

2,840

Adjusted Net Income Including Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiary

5,836

4,442

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

37

15

Adjusted Earnings

$ 5,799

$ 4,427













Calculation of Adjusted Earnings Per Common Share









Basic

$ 0.21

$ 0.18

Diluted

0.21

0.17













Weighted Average Common Shares Outsanding









Basic

27,407

25,163

Diluted

28,037

25,439













Statutory Tax Rate

39.0%

39.0%



















Three Months Ended March 31,













In thousands

2016

2015













Reconciliation from Net Income (Loss) to Operating Cash Flow:









Net Income (Loss)

$ 3,401

$ (4,816)

Income tax (benefit) expense

2,859

(3,352)

Interest expense

1,412

1,258

Depreciation and amortization

4,717

2,303

EBITDA

12,389

(4,607)

Decrease in fair value of warrant redemption liability

-

(1,385)

Costs related to extinguishment of debt

-

13,681

Net realized (gains) losses on investments

295

-

Stock compensation expense

1,424

2,535

Acquisition costs

614

604

Severance expense

927

-

Public offering costs

10

-

Adjusted EBITDA

15,659

10,828

Less: Income tax expense

(2,859)

-

Less: Cash interest expense, excluding $152 and $85 of deferred loan fees

(1,260)

(1,173)

Less: Purchase of fixed assets and other long-term assets

(1,224)

(1,429)

Operating Cash Flow (1)

$ 10,316

$ 8,226





(1) Operating Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less income tax expense, interest expense, and capital expenditures



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SOURCE Patriot National, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.patnat.com


The awards were given to Pentagon Police Sgt. Ronald Beasley (from Bowie, Md.), Officer Joseph Simpson (from Fulton County, Ga.), Officer Martin Rodriguez (from Waldorf, Md.) and Officer Robert Tharpe (from Kingsville, Texas), and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Donald Revell (from Spartanburg, S.C.) for their response to a Pentagon employee who was suffering from a cardiac arrest at the Pentagon in February.

The police officers arrived on the scene to find an unconscious and unresponsive victim on the floor and Col. Revell performing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the victim. Immediately, they went into action, assisting with the CPR, securing the area, requesting emergency medical personnel, and retrieving an Automated External Defibrillator, which they used to revive the victim. The DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic, the Pentagon's onsite medical unit, responded soon after and provided additional medical treatment.

"Getting recognized is fine, but saving a life to me is more important," said Simpson, who assisted the colonel with chest compressions. "That is why I put on my uniform every day. Having a son and a family myself, I felt that I would want someone to do that for me if I was in a time of need."

Although it's one of the most secure buildings in the world, the Pentagon's more than 27,000 employees are not immune to medical issues. The police officers of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency are often the first responders to incidents there and are trained to respond to a wide variety of crises, to include life-threatening medical emergencies. The Pentagon Police are dispatched to more than 450 medical incidents each year, which range from sprained ankles to more critical medical emergencies.

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SOURCE Pentagon Force Protection Agency
CALGARY, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX:PMT) - Perpetual Energy Inc. ("Perpetual", the "Corporation" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement to sell its 30 percent partnership interest in Warwick Gas Storage LP ("WGS LP") for $20 million. The transaction includes the disposition of Perpetual's share of WGS LP's approximately $8.3 million of debt net of working capital held by the partnership. In addition, Perpetual will receive a net dividend of $0.5 million at closing, for effective total value of approximately $23 million. The transaction includes the gas storage reservoir and facility as well as 9,207 net acres of surrounding lands and associated wells and infrastructure with current net production of 470 Mcf/d (the "Buffer Land Assets", collectively with WGS LP, the 'Disposed Assets'). Closing is expected to occur on or around May 25, 2016 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Based on the Company's third party engineering report prepared by McDaniel and Associates Consultants Ltd. ("McDaniel"), as at December 31, 2015, the Buffer Land Assets include 316 Mboe of recognized proved and probable natural gas reserves valued at $37 thousand.

Estimated 2016 funds flow from the Disposed Assets is forecast to be $2.9 million, virtually all of which is attributable to funds flow from the gas storage business in WGS LP and previously expected to reduce Perpetual's share of debt within the partnership. As such Perpetual does not anticipate 2016 funds flow to be impacted by the disposition.

The transaction strengthens Perpetual's present financial situation, augmenting the Company's ability to manage near term liquidity and downside risks associated with the current uncertain and volatile commodity price environment.

As the WGS LP disposition provides improved liquidity, Perpetual is further extending the acceptance date for its previously announced proposal to swap its senior notes (the "Securities Swap Proposal") to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on May 25, 2016, or such later time and date on which the Securities Swap Proposal may be further extended by Perpetual.

Certain information regarding Perpetual in this news release including management's assessment of future plans and operations may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the expected timing for the closing of the sale of its interest in WGS LP and the Buffer Land Assets, the ability of the Company to manage near term liquidity. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the forecasts and projections contained in the forward-looking information contained in this press release, which assumptions are based on management analysis of historical trends, experience, current conditions, and expected future developments pertaining to Perpetual and the industry in which it operates as well as certain assumptions regarding the matters outlined above. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially from those anticipated by Perpetual and described in the forward looking information contained in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of performance and is subject to a number of risks or uncertainties, including without limitation those described under "Risk Factors" in Perpetual's Annual Information Form and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2015 and those included in other reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities which may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) and at Perpetual's website (www.perpetualenergyinc.com). Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking information is based on the estimates and opinions of Perpetual's management at the time the information is released and Perpetual disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

About Perpetual

Perpetual Energy Inc. is a Canadian energy company with a spectrum of resource-style opportunities spanning heavy oil, natural gas liquids and bitumen along with a large base of shallow gas assets. The Common Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "PMT". Further information with respect to Perpetual can be found at its website at www.perpetualenergyinc.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE Perpetual Energy Inc.
TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Petbulb (http://petbulb.com/), a new company and mobile app for pet owners that will launch soon on the App Store and Google Play, is looking to turn the tech startup funding model on its head. Rather than court venture capitalists, Petbulb plans to leverage the strength and passion of the pet owner community with its Petbulb Advisory Group. The company will give stock options to pet owners who sign up for the group via email prior to the app's official launch. Advisors will collectively own 5% of Petbulb.

Petbulb Home Page (PRNewsFoto/Petbulb) Petbulb Features Page (PRNewsFoto/Petbulb)

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"At Petbulb, we believe pet owners can and are already making the world a better place," says CEO and Founder Paul Ikhane. "We believe they are an uncommon breed, that is why we are passionate and devoted to creating a community where we can learn and support each other, share our fun and exciting moments with our pet family with people who understand, and a community through which we can save on vet bills, pet health insurance and pet care with exclusive group deals."

Members of the Petbulb Advisory Group will serve as "ambassadors" for the app. They will enjoy early access to the app and all of its features, and their input will be pivotal in how Petbulb evolves. Everyone in the Petbulb community will benefit from the money-saving specials on pet products and services that won't be available anywhere else.

Core features of Petbulb include the "Pet owners profile" and up to "3 pet family Profile" associated in the pet owner's account; a "Support" post to request for advice or tips from the community; the ability to post videos and pictures, and add comments to both; a chat tool to connect with other pet owners anywhere; a local deals section full of offers unique to the Petbulb community; and a familiar social component where members can send and accept friend request, follow others and be followed.

Petbulb's founders have some ambitious plans for how to make the app even more useful. The company hopes to add a tool that will allow owners to monitor their pets from anywhere. Looking beyond the technology, Petbulb intends to work together with organizations that save animals from needless euthanasia, as well as fight to protect wild animals from poachers. In the long term, Petbulb has an eventual global expansion in mind, which will bring all the world's pet owners, animal lovers and activists together in a diverse digital community.

Petbulb has already committed to pledging 1% of its profits to charity. The company has also signed a partnership with Toronto Animal Services

About Petbulb

Petbulb is a Social + Deals Mobile App for Pet Owners founded by Paul Ikhane and Margaret Nieradka. Petbulb helps Pet Owners with similar pets, breed or interests to Connect, Network, Share information and fun and Save on Pet Expenses through pet deals.

Contact:

Paul Ikhane

647-786-4156

Email

SOURCE Petbulb

Related Links

http://petbulb.com


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year the Pilgram Group will be the presenting sponsor of the Riverwalk Burger Battle taking place on Friday, May 13, 2016 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Huizenga Plaza. In its seventh consecutive year, the event draws more than 1,200 burger lovers from all over South Florida, eager to sample and vote for the burger that wows their palate.

"We look forward to this event every year," said Miguel Pilgram, Founder of the Pilgram Group. "The Pilgram Group is dedicated to building stronger communities and this is one of the top events that brings the community and culinary world together!"

In addition to the unlimited burger tasting and live music, all event goers will be treated to a French-Fry Bar. Each guest will receive three drink tickets to complement their burgers. General admission tickets are $45 and VIP tickets are $125. Visit http://bit.ly/burgerbattletkts to purchase tickets.

The Pilgram Group owns NY Subs & Wings, a well-known, local favorite counter-casual restaurant that serves wings, subs, cheesesteaks and wraps. "Quality and consistency are two themes that run through everything we do," said Pilgram. "From serving up the best quality food to renovating commercial properties all across Broward County  our goal is to exceed expectations, by a long shot."

With the new NY Subs & Wings counter-casual restaurant currently undergoing renovations at 107 SW 6th Street, customers can still enjoy mouthwatering wings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday  Friday at the food truck located at 100 SW 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. On Tuesdays the NY Subs & Wings food truck is stationed outside the New River building at 200 Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

To connect with the Pilgram Group visit http://bit.ly/pilgramgroup or call (954) 522-0330.

About the Pilgram Group

The Pilgram Group is a Fort Lauderdale-based management, investment and renovation company committed to creating stronger communities. From residential and multi-use development projects to restaurants and refurbishment projects, the Pilgram Group is working to connect Fort Lauderdale's residents, working professionals and visitors to smarter, more efficient and sustainable development projects. Supporting organizations such as, the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Gilda's Club of South Florida, the United Way of Broward County and Rebuilding Together Broward, the Pilgram Group is invested in creating a brighter future for Broward County.

MEDIA RELEASE CONTACT

Laurie Menekou, (954) 732-0754 (or)

[email protected]

SOURCE Pilgram Group

Related Links

http://pilgram-group.com/


PUNE, India, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "PMI Foam Market and Other High Performance Foam Core Market by Type (PMI, PES), by Application (A&D, Wind, Sporting Goods, Transportation), by A&D Sub-Application (Interior, Exterior), & by Region - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The global market is projected to grow from USD 43.1 Million in 2015 to USD 77.1 Million by 2021 at a CAGR of 10.2% between 2016 and 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )

Browse 65 market data Tables and 44 Figures spread through 115 Pages and in-depth TOC on "PMI Foam Market and Other High Performance Foam Core Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pmi-foam-and-high-performance-foam-core-market-113556278.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The PMI foam market and other HPFC market is dominated by the aerospace & defense application. They are widely used in this application along with composites as they provide additional strength. The increase in demand for fire and smoke & toxicity retardant products encourages the use of reliable components made from HPFC in this application. HPFC also has good dielectric properties.

Rising use of composites in aerospace & defense industry to drive the PMI foam market and other HPFC market

The use of composite materials and related core materials, including HPFC, in the aerospace & defense industry has gained momentum in the past few decades. The use of PMI foam core is increasing in components of helicopters, missiles, and space vehicles. Similarly, PES, PEI, and other HPFC materials are increasingly being used in radomes and interior aerospace & defense applications. The aerospace & defense application is estimated to witness high growth due to the increasing use of PMI foam in aircraft such as Airbus A340, Airbus A380, Gulfstream Aerospace G150, and Comac's ARJ21 and C919. In addition, increasing delivery numbers of these aircraft is also anticipated to drive the PMI Foam Market and other HPFC Market in the next five years.

The primary benefits of HPFC are reduced weight, emissions, and maintenance costs. High impact strength in comparison to honeycomb core product is also increasing the use of HPFC material in this application. These benefits of HPFC encourage its use in the aerospace & defense industry.

Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=113556278

Europe is the largest market for PMI foam and other HPFC

Europe is the largest market for PMI foam and other HPFC. The growing aerospace, wind energy, sporting goods, medical, and transportation industries in the region, which are the major applications of HPFC, is driving the PMI foam market and other HPFC market in Europe. The growth is also attributed to high demand for HPFC, especially PMI foam from companies, such as Airbus SAS (France), Airbus Helicopters (France), Westland Helicopters (U.K.), and composite part manufacturers from Europe.

The major players in the PMI foam market and other HPFC market include Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Diab Group (Sweden), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), 3A composites (Switzerland), and BASF SE (Germany).

MarketsandMarkets broadly segments the PMI foam market and other HPFC market on the basis of type, application, aerospace & defense sub-applications, and region. The study covers more than seven countries of the four main regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the RoW.

Browse Related Reports:

Nomex Honeycomb Market by Application (Aerospace & Defense, Transportation, Sporting Goods and Others), Aerospace & Defense, Sub Application (Interior and Exterior), and by Region - Global Forecasts to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nomex-honeycomb-market-197303057.html

Core Materials Market for Composites by Type (Foam, Honeycomb, and Balsa), by End-Use Industry (Aerospace, Wind Energy, Marine, Transportation, Construction, and Others), and by Region - Global Forecasts to 2021

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/core-material-market-146879627.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
LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Militarisation and Modernisation of Police Technologies: Platforms & Vehicles, Lethal & Non-Lethal Weapons, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Surveillance & Screening, Communications & Services

Visiongain assesses that the global Police and Law Enforcement market will reach $7.08bn in 2016. It is therefore critical that your strategic planning is timely and your forecasting plans are in place to take advantage of the market opportunities presented in this report.

Visiongain's report will ensure that you keep informed and ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage.

The report will answer questions such as:

 What are the prospects for the overall Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market?

 Where are the major opportunities within the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market?

 Who are the key players within the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market?

 What are the drivers and restraints underpinning the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market?

5 Reasons to buy. Why you must order and read this report today:

1) The report provides detailed profiles of 9 leading companies supplying Police & Law Enforcement Equipment and also market share analysis of the leading 5 companies

- Airbus Group

- Textron Inc.

- Finmeccanica SpA

- TASER International Inc.

- Digital Ally, Inc.

- Aeryon Labs Inc.

- Glock GmbH

- MD Helicopters Inc.

- Safariland Group

2) The study reveals where and how companies are investing in the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market. We show you the prospects for the following 11 national markets which are further segmented by the 5 submarkets

- China

- France

- Germany

- India

- Israel

- Japan

- Russia

- Saudi Arabia



To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on [email protected]

- Turkey

- U.K.

- U.S.

- Rest of the World

3) The analysis is also underpinned by an exclusive interview with a leading expert

- Jean Marc Royer, Marketing Manager, Parapublic and Law Enforcement Market Segment, Airbus Helicopters

4) Our overview also forecasts and analyses these 5 submarkets from 2016-2026. These are revealed at the global level and for each of the leading 11 national markets

- Platforms & Vehicles

- Lethal & Non-Lethal Weapons

- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- Surveillance & Screening

- Communications & Services

5) See details of 317 unique contracts relating to the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market

Competitive advantage

This independent 283 page report guarantees you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 227 tables and figures examining the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market space, the report gives you an immediate, one-stop breakdown of your market. PLUS national market forecasts, as well as analysis, from 2016-2026 keeping your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals.

Who should read this report?  Anyone within the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment value chain.

 Police Commissioners

 Lethal Weapons Contractors

 Chief Technologists

 Solutions Architects

 Technical Support Officers

 Law Enforcement Consultants

 Counter-Terrorism Officers

 Chief Executive Officers

 Chief Financial Officers

 Chief Operating Officers

 Business Development Managers

 Marketing Managers

 Technologists

 Suppliers

 Investors

 Banks

 Government Agencies

 Consultancies

How will you benefit from this report?

 This report you will keep your Police & Law Enforcement Equipment knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind.

 This report will allow you to reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable market data.

 You will learn how to exploit new technological trends.

 You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment market.

 You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships.

Don't miss out

This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the Police & Law Enforcement Equipment sector. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. Order the: Police & Law Enforcement Equipment Market Report 2016-2026: Militarisation and Modernisation of Police Technologies: Platforms & Vehicles, Lethal & Non-Lethal Weapons, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Surveillance & Screening, Communications & Services now. We look forward to receiving your order.

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on [email protected]

To request an exec summary of this report please email Sara Peerun at [email protected] or call Tel: +44 (0) 20 7336 6100 or click on https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1633/Police-Law-Enforcement-Equipment-Market-Report-2016-2026

Companies Mentioned in this Report

3D Robotics, Inc.

3M Ceradyne

3M Cogent

Aardvark Tactical, Inc.

Accenture

ACELEC

AECOM Technology Corporation

Aeronautics Ltd.

AeroVironment Inc.

Aeryon Labs, Inc.

Agusta Aerospace Services

AgustaWestland Inc.

AgustaWestland North America Inc.

AgustaWestland NV

Airbus Americas

Airbus China

Airbus Corporate Jet Centre

Airbus Group

Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland

Airbus Helicopters Espana

Airbus Japan

Airbus KID-Systeme

Airbus Middle East

Airbus ProSky

Airbus SAS

Airbus UK

Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC

American Eurocopter

Ansaldo

Ansaldo Energia

AnsaldoBreda

AOT Public Safety Corporation, Inc.

Apple Inc.

Arianespace

Armacel Armour Corporation

Armatix GmbH

Armor Express

Arotech Corporation

Arveka TGS

Astrium

ATK Launch Systems Inc.

ATK Space Systems Inc.

Atlantic Tactical

ATR

ATRiCS

Audi AG

Avco Corporation

Aviat Networks

Aviation Industry Corporation of China

Avicopter

Avigilon Corporation

Avio SpA

AXON Public Safety UK Limited

Axon Public Service Canada

BAE Systems plc

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

BCV Investments SCA

Bell Helicopter

Beretta S.p.A

Blackberry

The Boeing Company

Bond Helicopters Europe

Brainwave Science LLC

Brammo, Inc.

Brugger & Thomet AG

Cadillac Gage Textron Inc.

CAE, Inc.

Caliber Companies

CarteNav Solutions, Inc.

Cassidian

Cassidian Communications

Cessna Aircraft Company

Cessna Finance Export Corporation

Chongquing General Aviation Co.

Christie

Chrysler Group LLC

CIMPA

Coban Technologies, Inc.

Cobbs Industries

Cobham

COI Ceramics, Inc.

Colt Manufacturing Company LLC

Combined Systems, Inc.

Condor Non-Lethal Technologies

Condor S.A. Industria Quimica

DAHER-SOCATA

DANIELI Group

Dassault Aviation

DCD Protected Mobility

Defense Technology

Deloitte

Deutsche Bahn

Digital Ally International, Inc.

Digital Ally, Inc.

Donges GmbH & Co. KG

Dornier Consulting

DRS Technologies, Inc.

DuPont

DynCorp International

EADS

EADS Defence & Security

EADS EFW

EADS Innovation Works (R&D)

Edesix Ltd.

EDRA Aeronautica

Elbit Systems, Ltd.

Elephant Talk Communications Corp.

Endeca Technologies Inc.

Enterprise Control Systems Ltd.

Eurocopter Holding

Eurofighter GmbH

Exclases Holdings Ltd

Fabbrica D' Armi PietroBeretta S.p.A

Familiar Inc.

FATA

Fata Engineering

Fata Gulf

Fata Hunter

Fata Shanghai

Fiat S.p.A.

Finmeccanica Finance SA

Finmeccanica S.p.A

FLIR Systems

FN Herstal

Ford Motor Company

Forjas Taurus S.A.

Frasca International

Fritz Kappner Sacke- und Planenfabrik

GEN2 ROBOTICS LLC

General Dynamics Corporation

General Dynamics Information Technology

General Electric

General Motors Corporation

Genetec, Inc.

GIE ATR

Globo

Glock America S.A.

Glock Asia Pacific Limited

Glock Middle East FZE

Glock, Inc.

Greenlee Textron Inc.

The Gun Shop

Harris County Constables

Heckler & Koch

Helibras

Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd.

Helmut Hofmann GmbH

Hitachi

Honeywell

HUS Unmanned Systems

IBS Sigma, Inc.

ICOP Digital, Inc.

IdeaForge Technology

IES Interactive Training

INAER Spain

INEX/ZAMIR

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

International Police Technologies, Inc.

Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. (IWI)

Israel Weapon Industries US, Inc.

Joint Stock Company Sukhoi Civil Aircraft

Kanders & Co, Inc.

Karbon Arms

Kautex Inc.

Kustom Signals

L-1 Identity

L-3 Mobile-Vision, Inc.

L-3 WESCAM

Lawmen Supply Company

Lawmen's Safety Supply Inc.

Lenco Armored Vehicles

Lenco Industries

Libyan Italian Advanced Technology Co

Lockheed Martin Corporation

LRAD Corporation

The Machine Lab

MBDA Group

MD Helicopters, Inc.

MediaSolv Solutions Corporation

Medical Devices Ally, LLC.

Meggitt Training Systems

Mercedes-Benz

Metal Storm, Inc.

Metallwerk Elisenhutte GmbH

Metron Aviation

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace

MorphoTrust USA

MP Ally, LLC.

Mustang Survival Inc.

Mustang Survival Mfg

My Green Fleet

National Helicopters, Inc.

NEC Corporation

OnAir

Optical Solutions Australia

Orbital International LLC

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital, Vista SpinCo Inc.

OTO Melera SpA

OVIK Special Vehicles

Pacific Safety Products Inc.

PAE Group

Panasonic

Panavia Aircraft GmbH

Patria Helicopters AB

Patriarch Partners LLC

PCA Electronic Test

Pivotal Power

Plasan

Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney Canada

Premium AEROTEC

PZL Swidnik

QinetiQ Group plc

Qnap Security

Quadrant Security Group

RedXDefense

Remington Arms Company LLC

Rolls-Royce

RSG Aviation, Inc.

Ruag Ammotec GmbH

Russian Helicopters

Safariland LLC.

SAFRAN S.A.

Satair

SC Elettra

Selex ES

Setolite Lichttechnik GmbH

ShotSpotter

Siemens

Sig Sauer GmbH

Sikorsky Aerospace Services

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation

Sogerma

Specialist Aviation Services Ltd.

Spot Image

Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co. KG.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

Subacquei SpA

Summit Partners

Surrey Satellite Technology

Survival Armor

Synectics plc

Tactical Command Industries

Tactical Safety Responses Limited

Tactical Systems Network (TSN)

Tarmac Aerosave

TASC Aviation

TASER International Europe SE

TASER International, B.V.

TASER International, Inc.

TeleCommunications Systems, Inc.

Telespazio Argentina

Telespazio Group

Telespazio Hungary Satellite Telecommunications

Teleste Corporation

Textron Atlantic LLC

Textron Aviation Finance Corporation

Textron China Inc.

Textron Communications Inc.

Textron Far East Pte. Ltd.

Textron Fastening Systems Inc.

Textron Financial Corporation

Textron Fluid and Power Inc.

Textron Global Services Inc.

Textron International Inc.

Textron IPMP Inc.

Textron Management Services Inc.

Textron Realty Corporation

Textron Rhode Island Inc.

Textron Systems Canada Inc.

Textron, Inc.

Thales Alenia Space Group

Toyota Kenya

TRAK International, Inc.

Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc.

Turbomeca

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)

U.S. Investigations Services, LLC

UI International

Ultra Electronics Forensic Technology

Uniflight LLC

United Technologies Corporation (UTC)

United Uniform Company

US Investigations Services LLC

Vauxhall Motors Special Vehicles

Vector Aerospace Corporation

Vimicro International

Vista Merger Sub Inc.

Vista Outdoor

ViviSat LLC

Watchguard

Westminster Insurance Company

Whitehead Sistemi

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on [email protected]

SOURCE Visiongain Ltd
LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) is a semi-crystalline, high performance (or high temperature) engineering plastic that possesses exceptionally high mechanical, high temperature properties and chemical resistance, rendering it to be the alternative of choice for metals and thermosets. Commercially, PPS is available in different forms and grades such as compounds, fibers, filaments, films and coatings. PPS resin is generally reinforced with various reinforcing materials, specifically glass fibers, in order to improve its mechanical and thermal properties. Such compounds primarily find application in injection molding processes. Unfilled PPS resin can be melt spun and melt blown to produce fibers and fabrics that are used for conveyor belts, flame-resistant clothing and filtration media. PPS resin is also made into films and coatings.



The polyphenylene sulfide market study reviews, analyzes and projects the global market for polyphenylene sulfide for the period 2012-2022 while discussing the global PPS resin installed capacities. Global market for polyphenylene sulfide product types analyzed in the report include PPS compounds and other PPS products such as fibers, films and coatings.



Market for polyphenylene sulfide application areas analyzed in the study include automotive, electrical & electronics, industrial and other applications. Further, the report estimates and projects the global polyphenylene sulfide market in terms of volume in metric tons and value in USD by geographic regions covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. As a value addition, the report also discusses the global market for PPS on neat resin basis.



Global volume consumption of PPS projected to reach 189.4 thousand metric tons, valued at US$2 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2016 and 2022. Automotive forms the largest application of PPS in terms of volume consumed, with a market share of 41.5% in 2016 and is expected to maintain a 2016-2022 CAGR of 6.6%. However, the fastest volume CAGR of 11.2% over the same period is likely to be recorded by industrial applications of PPS, the market for which is projected to stand at 59.7 thousand metric tons in 2022. The growth in industrial applications is mainly attributed to the Asia-Pacific region, led by China, where PPS consumption in filter bags and coatings is expected to witness high growth during 2016-2022 period.



This global market report includes 115 charts (includes a data table and graphical representation for each chart), supported with meaningful and easy to understand graphical presentation, of the market. The statistical tables represent the data for the global market by geographic region, product type and end-use applications of PPS. This report profiles 21 key global players and 33 major players including PPS resin manufacturers and PPS compounders across the North America  8; Europe  9 and Asia-Pacific  16. The profiles include business overview, product portfolio, PPS resin capacities, addresses, contact numbers and the website addresses.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3656101/



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

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"We are delighted to have Steve fill this important role at Primrose, especially during this period of unprecedented Primrose Schools growth. His demonstrated leadership, business savvy with multi-unit corporations and strong character will help us sustain our commitment to service excellence as we continue to expand," said Kirchner.

Most recently, Clemente was President of Field & Stream, a subsidiary of Dick's Sporting Goods. Prior to joining Dick's, he spent five years with the Nebraska Book Company, rising from Sr. Vice President in charge of operations to President and CEO before joining the company's board of directors.

He began his career as an Executive in Training at Target Stores and enjoyed a 15-year trajectory there, culminating as a Group Vice President in charge of $3.3 billion in operations. He was widely recognized for creating collaborative cultures and mentoring high-performance executives, and his team led the company in customer service and financial profitability.

Clemente holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and a master's degree in business administration from Webster University.

In addition to this new Primrose role for Steve Clemente, the company also announced the promotion of John Teat to Vice President of Franchise Finance.

Teat joined Primrose Schools as Managing Director of Franchise Finance in November 2009. His previous experience includes more than 25 years in the banking and finance industry, where he dedicated much of his time to creating national franchise lending programs for many franchise brands  including Primrose Schools.

"John's wealth of experience in banking, network within the finance industry and knowledge of the Primrose system have been invaluable," said Kirchner. "His tremendous efforts have led to new, innovative lending programs that support our ability to open new schools and serve more children and families across America."

Teat holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master's degree in banking and finance from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Teat and Clemente will both serve on the Executive Team for Primrose Schools.

About Primrose Schools

Founded in 1982, Primrose Schools is the nation's leader in providing a premier early education and care experience in more than 300 schools in 25 states. Each Primrose school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life, and offer an environment that helps children have fun while nurturing Active Minds, Healthy Bodies and Happy Hearts. Primrose is the first early childhood education organization in the country to receive AdvancED Corporation Systems Accreditation under the new Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, and explore our blog.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366705

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150128/172112LOGO

SOURCE Primrose Schools

Related Links

https://www.primroseschools.com


Atmospheric Science

John Schroeder

Professor, Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Geosciences

Texas Tech University

Schroeder visited affected areas after both hurricanes Rita and Katrina to deploy instrumented towers that gather high-resolution storm data at a time when most conventional observation systems fail. He can offer insight into how hurricanes develop, move and react to various meteorological elements. He is an expert on hurricane winds and has been actively intercepting hurricanes since 1998.

Bio: http://geosciences.ttu.edu/people/Schroeder.php

Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]



The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:



-- Robert Korty

Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences

Korty is an expert on how hurricanes affect oceans and how climate affects hurricanes.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- John Nielsen-Gammon

Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences

Nielsen-Gammon serves as Texas State Climatologist and is an expert in severe storms, how hurricanes form, the history of Texas hurricanes, rapid formation of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the history of severe storms and hurricanes in the past 100 years. He is great with the media.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Richard Orville

Professor of Atmospheric Sciences

Orville is an expert in severe storms, the formation of storms and lightning, and the damage caused by severe storms and hurricanes.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Steven Quiring

Associate Professor of Geography

Quiring is an expert on hurricane damage to electrical power systems and power outages. His work is funded by the Department of Energy and he runs models to predict the number and location of power outages up to four days prior to hurricane landfall.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Rhenyi Zhang

University Distinguished Professor in Atmospheric Sciences

Zhang led team that found that aerosols tend to weaken the development of hurricanes and cause a hurricane to fall apart earlier.

Study: http://goo.gl/MQges5

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Building/Engineering

Daan Liang

Assistant Professor, Construction Engineering Technology, Texas Tech University

Interim Director, National Wind Institute

Liang used satellite images and aerial photos along with ground survey results to investigate building damage caused by Katrina. He used various probability models to study how the construction of buildings affects their vulnerability against severe windstorms. Recently, his research is focused on the advancement of remote sensing technology in documenting and assessing wind damage to residential structures.

Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/dean/faculty/faculty.php?name=Daan%20Liang

Contact: George Watson, [email protected]



Ernst Kiesling

Research Professor, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University

Executive Director, National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA)

Kiesling recommends homeowners who live above the flood plain in hurricane-prone areas buy a storm shelter for their home. As was seen in Houston preceding Rita, evacuations are stressful and expensive. They often put immense strain on traffic corridors, leading to traffic jams and  in the case of Houston  fatalities. By using in-home shelters, some families who are not required to evacuate can remain where they are and ease the traffic flow. However, Kiesling urges buyers to look for an NSSA seal when they buy a safe room for their home, because not all shelters are verified to be fully compliant with current standards for storm shelters and provide full protection from extreme winds. Kiesling has more than 35 years of experience in the design, standards-writing and quality control of storm shelters.

Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/about/Personnel/staff/ernst-kiesling.php

Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]



Larry Tanner

Research Associate, Civil Engineering

Texas Tech University

Tanner completed a six-month investigation working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation assessment team on the wind damage to residential structures from Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana. He also was a member of the FEMA mitigation assessment team that studied Hurricane Katrina. He led a team that recorded wind and water damage along the coastline in Louisiana and Mississippi. Much of the damage done by Katrina, he said, resulted from structures being built below the base flood elevation, or the elevation flood waters will rise during a 100-year storm event (meaning the storm only has a 1 percent chance of happening in a year).

Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/dean/faculty/faculty.php?name=Larry%20Tanner

Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]



Brian Christensen

Owner

Restoration 1

Restoration 1 is one of the nation's fastest-growing emergency mitigation and restoration franchises. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based franchise offers 24-hour emergency water extraction, mold remediation, drying, dehumidification, fire and smoke damage restoration, storm-response services and general maintenance and cleaning services for home and business owners.

Christensen is the owner of four Restoration 1 locations. He used to be in the construction industry, and was the superintendent at a large concrete company. He was in charge of manufacturing, shipping, and construction of hollow core for multi-story buildings. This is where his passion for building collided with his wanting to help others. His Restoration 1 location does all the training for the new locations throughout the United States. It is also a way to lend support to new locations with the corporate trainers to make Restoration 1 the premier restoration company in the U.S. He is available to discuss: disaster response and restoration; water damage; sewage cleanup; fire and smoke; mold remediation.

Contact: Natalie Passarelli, [email protected]



Derek Niederquell

1-800 WATER DAMAGE

Heavy rains, strong storms, and hurricanes can quickly saturate the outside ground and increase the possibility of incurring water damage in a home basement or crawl space. Niederquell, can provide expert insights on preparing for and recovering from flooding and water damage. To prevent and minimize water damage before it happens, Niederquell recommends homeowners take the necessary precautions before the heavy rains begin, including: 1) Review current insurance policies to see if flood damage to your home and belongings is covered. Even if you do not live in a high-risk area where flood coverage is federally regulated, flood insurance can still be an invaluable investment; 2) Check the perimeter and roof of your home for any potentially problematic areas where water could enter. If necessary, contact a professional to make any needed repairs before major damage can be done; 3) Create copies of all personal documents, including insurance policies, medical information, birth certificates, and store on an upper floor, ideally in a safe-deposit box. 4) If alerts are indicating there is a flood risk, elevate personal belongings and shut off electricity to areas of the home that might flood.

1-800 WATER DAMAGE is a national leader in the property restoration and water damage industry.

Website: http://www.1800waterdamage.com

Contact: Stephanie Fanelli, [email protected]

Climate Change/Environment

Samuel Brody

Professor, Marine Sciences and Urban Planning; George P. Mitchell Chair in Sustainable Coasts

Texas A&M

Brody directs the Institute for Sustainable Coastal Communities (ISCC) and the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores (CTBS), headquartered at Texas A&M at Galveston. He helps conserve and protect the Texas shoreline, bays and waterways. He prepares coastal communities to absorb, adapt and respond to hurricanes, coastal storms and flooding.

Website: http://www.tamug.edu/CTBS/

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



Michael Fletcher

Commercial Segment Manager

BASF

Fletcher, a building science expert at BASF, is available to discuss the future of urban coastal resilience and five solutions to protect urban coastal cities around the globe.

BASF is a global leader at the forefront of resilient and sustainable design solutions. Recent reports show a perilous climate shift is only decades (not centuries) away, and consequences include killer storms far worse than Hurricane Sandy that left behind $32 billion in damage, as well as rising sea levels sufficient enough to begin drowning coastal cities by the end of the century. With the help of fellow industry leaders including Terreform ONE and the Stevens Institute's Center for Coastal Resilience and Urban Xcellence (CRUX), BASF has identified five solutions for urban coastal resilience from its Creator Space New York Tour (https://goo.gl/TAjixe), which used Red Hook Brooklyn as a microcosm for resilient design for solutions that could be applied to Guangzhou, China; Miami; Mumbai, India -- cities facing the greatest overall cost of flood damage. These five solutions are featured in a white paper BASF recently released, which you can view here: https://goo.gl/iyLfpY.

Contact: Lauren Aust, [email protected]



The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:



Andrew Dessler

Professor of Meteorology

Dessler conducted groundbreaking research that found that previous calculations of Earth's climate sensitivity neglected an important factor: the warming that would occur if atmospheric carbon dioxide is doubled.

Study: http://goo.gl/B3RWwQ

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



Glenn Jones

Professor of Marine Sciences

Jones found that the goals of the "Paris Agreement" at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015 are almost impossible to achieve

Study: http://goo.gl/LRMSwY

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



Xinsheng Liu

Associate Research Scientist, Bush School of Government and Public Service

Liu published a paper in Climatic Change that argues that the hurdles to climate change policies are business interests, partisan predispositions and political ideology.

Paper: http://goo.gl/jIE0CE

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



Pete van Hengstum

Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences

Van Hengstum is an expert on how global coastal systems responded to previous climate, sea-level and anthropogenic changes with the goal of predicting how these systems will respond to future changes.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



Craig Wilson

Senior Research Associate, Center for Mathematics and Education

Wilson, a butterfly enthusiast, researches the impact of climate change on the migration of Monarch butterflies.

Research: http://goo.gl/3BJAQL

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Disaster Response

Kipp Branch

Senior Partnership Development Officer

MAP International

Branch, an expert on hurricane disaster response and medical supplies, has 23 years of relief work experience working in 30 countries and five continents. He's been deployed by MAP to or coordinated logistical planning for Hurricanes Fran, Gilbert, Georges, Mitch, Floyd, Katrina, Rita, Felix, Debby and Sandy, plus tsunamis and typhoons in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines. MAP also coordinated huge hurricane relief responses to Hugo and Andrew.

MAP International is an Atlanta-based global health relief nonprofit that delivers medicines, medical supplies and health services around the world in response to man-made and natural disasters, to people living with neglected tropical diseases and in severe poverty. MAP has built an unmatched expertise in the logistics and supply chain management of medicines and healthcare services, and has spent decades building relationships with governments, health ministries and dozens of on-the-ground NGO partners. A large part of MAP's success is due to its relationships with some of the nation's top pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, AbbVie and Merck, which donate medicine and supplies or provide them at reduced cost, so that a $1 donation allows MAP to ship $60 worth of essential medicines and supplies. Each year, MAP provides more than $330 million in essential medicines to 10 million people in more than 100 countries. Since its 1954 founding, MAP has provided $5 billion in medicines and supplies to more than one billion people in 115 countries. MAP has an independently audited 99 percent efficiency rating (less than one percent of its budget is administrative costs) and a four-star Charity Navigator rating.

Website: http://www.map.org

Contact: Anne Isenhower, [email protected]



The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:



-- Robin Autenrieth

Head, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering

Autenrieth is an expert in water cleanup, environmental damage of waters from hurricanes and floods, and contaminated water and the many problems it poses.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Jean Louis Briaud

Professor of Civil Engineering

Briaud is an expert in erosion and "scour," the remains of buildings damaged by seawater. He also is proficient in how water sweeps away materials or bridges and soil compaction in levees.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- John Cooper

Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Outreach Coordinator, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and the Center for Housing and Urban Development

Dr. Cooper's areas of interest include principles of inclusive planning and plan quality. His research and outreach focuses on emergency management, disaster planning and mitigation, with a primary focus on socially vulnerable populations and communities.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Walter Gillis Peacock

Professor of Urban Planning

Peacock serves as director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and is a professor in the urban planning program. His research has focused on evacuation, restoration and long-term recovery from disasters, disaster mitigation and resilience.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- John Jacob

Professor and Director, Texas Coastal Watershed Program

Jacob is an expert on resilient coastal communities -- or how coastal communities can rebound from coastal hazards like hurricanes.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Rick Mercier

Professor of Engineering and Director, Offshore Technology Research Center

Mercier is an expert in off-shore drilling platforms, hurricane damage to oil rigs or any deep water off-shore structure and oil rigs cut off from production.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Michelle Meyer

Assistant Research Scientist, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center

Meyer's research specialization includes evacuation and risk perceptions among vulnerable populations, including elderly and people with disabilities, social networks and collective action that promote disaster resilience.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Carla Prater

Professor, Urban Planning Program; Associate Director, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center

Prater's specialties include evacuation, hazard management policy and recovery from natural and technological disasters.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Robert Randall

Director, Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory

Randall can discuss off-shore and experimental measurements, construction near water sites and dredging and open-water disposal.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- George O. Rogers

Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Senior Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center; Director, Urban and Regional Science Graduate Program

Rogers' research has focused on warning systems, risk perception and sustainable development.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Shannon Van Zandt

Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Director, Center for Housing and Urban Development; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center; Director, Master of Urban Planning Program

Dr. Van Zandt's areas of interest include post-disaster housing recovery, social vulnerability, community resilience and hazards mitigation.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Heather Wade

Coastal Community Planning Specialist, Texas Sea Grant College Program

Based in Port Aransas, Wade is an expert in environmental hazards management, hazard mitigation, post-disaster redevelopment planning and evaluating how well communities are prepared for and can recover from hurricanes.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Yu Xiao

Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture; Fellow, Urban Planning and Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center

Dr. Xiao's research interests are in local and economic development, economic resiliency, and disaster management and recovery with a focus on disaster impacts on business and regional economies, business mitigation and recovery.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Economic Impact

Bradley Ewing

Professor, Operations Management

Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University

Ewing has studied the economic impact of hurricanes and tornadoes. He can speak to the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes in cities like Oklahoma City; Corpus Christi; Wilmington, N.C.; Miami; and Nashville.

Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/rawlsbusiness/people/faculty/eel/brad-ewing/

Website: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/rawlsbusiness/

Contact: George Watson, [email protected]

Hurricane Preparedness

Dr. Andrew Schroeder

Director of Research and Analysis

Direct Relief

At Direct Relief, an organization that runs the nation's largest hurricane preparedness program for prepositioned medical aid, Dr. Schroeder specializes in the application of geographic information systems (GIS) for humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and response, and global health. During his tenure, Direct Relief has received numerous awards and recognition for work in disaster preparedness, including the President's Award from Esri for excellence in GIS mapping. Direct Relief was also named to Fast Company magazine's list of the 10 most innovative non-profits. Schroeder is also a member of the core organizing group for UAViators, the humanitarian UAV network. He received his doctorate in social and cultural analysis from New York University and his Masters in Public Policy from the Ford School at the University of Michigan.

Contact: Tony Morain, [email protected]



Sheldon Yellen

CEO

BELFOR Property Restoration

Yellen is available to speak to: tips for hurricane preparedness, including how to secure your home or business in the event of a possible storm; what to do during a hurricane to help minimize damage; what homeowners and businesses can do immediately after they experience a hurricane; when and why to call a professional if your home or business has experienced hurricane damage; and case studies and examples of BELFOR's past experience restoring homes and businesses after a hurricane.

Yellen is chief executive officer of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., a diversified services company that owns BELFOR Property Restoration, the global leader in disaster recovery and restoration services. Yellen joined the company in 1984 and has since led BELFOR from a family-owned business established in 1946 to a $1.5 billion entity with operations in 31 countries with more than 300 offices employing 6,400 men and women. Today, under Yellen's leadership, BELFOR Property Restoration has grown to be the world's largest property restoration firm. BELFOR Holdings, Inc. is also the parent company of the BELFOR Franchise Group which encompasses 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, a leader in the water damage remediation industry; DUCTZ, the nation's largest air duct cleaning and HVAC restoration franchise organization; HOODZ, the authority in kitchen exhaust cleaning and compliance; Greenblendz, manufacturer and packager of green and natural products for household, personal care, baby and pet; ecoSTORE USA, providing plant-based household cleaning products made from plant and mineral based ingredients; and The Professional Group, a full-service, professional building maintenance, preferred building services, ground services, plantscaping service, supply company, and more.

Website: https://www.belfor.com/en/us

Contact: Megan McMonagle, [email protected]



Robbie Endris

Senior Director, Child Support Solutions

Xerox

Endris was executive director of Louisiana's child support agency in New Orleans during the 2005 arrival and aftermath of the storm. In the midst of the disaster, families needed their child support income and the ability to talk to the state agency. New Orleans employees needed help, too. From Endris' experience leading up to, during, and after Hurricane Katrina, she has three major tips for state agencies to help prepare for and respond to the next inevitable disaster: 1) supporting people first  staff and customers; 2) continuing the mission and the work; 3) recovering and rebuilding for the future.

Contact: Trevor Eckart, [email protected]



Rachel Dowty Beach

Visiting Assistant Professor, Fire Science Department; Coordinator, Online Master's Degree Program in Emergency Management

University of New Haven

The editor of the book "Dynamics of Disaster: Lessons on Risk, Response and Recovery," Dowty Beach can talk about food security in times of crisis; the cultural elements of disasters; how municipalities should prepare for weather emergencies such as hurricanes; and how they should prepare for a variety of crises, such as terrorist attacks, oil explosions, and others. Her research addresses how cultures affect groups and organizations in times of crisis, such as during the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She has a Ph.D. in science and technology studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a background in biology and environmental restoration, especially following oil spills in wetlands.

Contact: Karen Grava, [email protected]



David Underwood, P.Eng.

President

ASHRAE

To ensure building resiliency during disasters, such as hurricanes, the key is to consider long-term solutions at the beginning of projects. Engineering experts have provided guidance on preparing for natural disasters through a series of original content articles at the website below. Underwood and other engineers can speak to steps that should be taken during the design, construction and operation of buildings to help ensure occupants and buildings remain as safe as possible.

Underwood is president of ASHRAE (founded as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers), a 55,000-member international engineering association. The society writes standards and other publications and funds research related to a range of built environment issues, including building safety, energy efficiency, refrigeration, etc.

Website: www.ashrae.org/resiliency

Contact: Jodi Scott, [email protected]



Amy M. Landry

Loss Control Engineer

Risk Strategies Company

"My top tips for hurricane preparedness are to check the roofs for loose debris, blocked drains or visible deficiencies now -- before hurricane season becomes more active -- and again before a storm is forecasted to hit. Equally important is to review and update the company response plan to ensure information, personnel and vendors listed are up-to-date and accurate."

A Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), Landry assists clients in identifying property-related risks and ways to mitigate them, including analyzing exposures to catastrophes with the assistance of modeling where appropriate. She also oversees and manages insurer loss control visits and managing client responses to any resulting recommendations. Prior to Risk Strategies Company, Landry was a senior risk engineering consultant with AXA Matrix Risk Consultants. She has also worked as senior risk engineering consultant with FM Global Insurance Company. In addition to being a CFPS, Landry is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). She is a 2002 graduate of the University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering.

Website: http://www.risk-strategies.com

Contact: Jackie Fraser, [email protected]



Christie Alderman

Vice President of Client Product and Services

Chubb Personal Risk Services

The key to proper protection during hurricane season is to not be caught off guard. Alderman can provide holistic and actionable advice to help homeowners take proactive measures throughout the year to prepare for hurricane season. Specifically, she can address the critical steps and best practices individuals and families should follow to protect their homes, valuables (i.e., fine art, jewelry, cars, water-related property, etc.) and, most importantly, themselves, before, during and after a hurricane hits.

Alderman manages the strategic design and enhancement of products within Chubb's PRS lines of business (home, liability, valuable articles, etc.). She oversees the development and management of client services  helping customers avoid losses and building positive customer experiences. With on-the-ground expertise, Alderman can share how individuals and families can stay one step ahead of Mother Nature by taking appropriate precaution and safety measures. Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is distinguished by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence, superior claims handling expertise and local operations globally.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiealderman

Website: http://www.chubb.com

Contact: Leigh Browder, [email protected]



Justin Mihalik

President, New Jersey Chapter

American Institute of Architects

Mihalik is an expert on the topics of hurricane preparedness, disaster response and recovery. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Mihalik co-chaired the AIA Regional Recovery Working Group, which brought together architects from across the region to workshops focusing on rebuilding after the storm. At these workshops, they shared best practices in promoting resiliency, sustainability, health, safety and welfare.

Contact: Shlomo Morgulis, [email protected]



The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:



-- Sherry Bame

Professor, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center

Dr. Bame has a special interest in health systems planning and policy, environmental health, and health-related disaster planning, particularly related to 211 call centers and unmet needs.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Eric Bardenhagen

Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center

Professor Bardenhagen's interests include natural and cultural resource planning, natural hazards and disaster planning for national parks.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Meri Davlasheridze

Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences

Davlasheridze is an expert on economic impacts of natural disasters, vulnerability, adaptation, and general public policy concerning disaster mitigation and recovery; researches effectiveness of federal and local disaster policies in mitigating hurricane-induced property and employment losses.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Wesley Highfield

Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences

The Center for Texas Beaches and Shores seeks to conserve and protect the Texas shoreline, bays and waterways.

Website: http://www.tamug.edu/CTBS/

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Jennifer Horney, Ph.D., MPH, CPH

Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Science Center School of Public Health

Dr. Horney has tremendous experience in responding to public health disasters, including Hurricanes Charley, Isabel, Katrina, Wilma and Irene. She created the EpiAssist program to bring specialized public health skills to disaster areas.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- William "Bill" Merrell

George P. Mitchell '40 Chair in Marine Sciences

Merrell developed the "Ike Dike" idea of a "coastal spine" like that found in the Netherlands to mitigate the force of hurricanes.

PDF: http://goo.gl/7jVrd4

Website: http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Andy Vestal

Director, Texas Extension Disaster Education Network

Vestal can discuss both pre- and post-storm needs, including general safety, food, people with special needs, health issues, restoring the home, financial recovery, tree care, pets, animals and septic systems.

Website: http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/hurricanes.php

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Insurance Issues

Dan Weedin

Toro Consulting

Weedin, a resiliency, risk management, and insurance consultant, is available to discuss strategic crisis management planning, disaster recovery, and insurance coverage issues. His background includes two years as an insurance company underwriter, 16 years as a commercial agent, and the past 11 years as a consultant helping his clients make the best possible decisions about managing risk and resiliency. He has been quoted on the topics of insurance and risk management by many publications, including Best's Review, Insurance Journal, American Express OPEN for Business, the Society of Human Resource Management magazine, US News & World Report, and various online publications. He also speaks internationally on the subject and is a faculty member for the National Alliance, presenting continuing education seminars for insurance agents.

Website: http://www.DanWeedin.com

Contact: [email protected]



Ken Enscoe

Senior Claims Director - Catastrophe Operations

Nationwide Insurance

Enscoe is responsible for catastrophe response strategies, planning and resource management for all companies within Nationwide across the continental United States. He has led the CAT response in many significant events, including the four 2004 Florida Hurricanes, Katrina, Ike, Irene, Sandy and many other catastrophes.

Contact: Lauren Scolnic, [email protected]



William Stander

Executive Director

Florida Property & Casualty Association

Stander can discuss what Florida-based homeowners insurance companies are doing to prepare, assignment of benefits (AOB) issues, and the Florida insurance marketplace. Stander is executive director of the Florida Property & Casualty Association (FPCA), which represents Florida-based home insurers to foster and promote a healthy and competitive Florida insurance market. Through its lobbying and communications teams, the FPCA works to educate Florida lawmakers, regulators and homeowners on issues and policies that affect property and casualty insurance. The organization is recognized as a source for timely information on insurance legislation and regulation, as well.

Website: www.fpcaonline.org

Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]

Roger Desjadon

Chief Executive Officer

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Desjadon can discuss homeowners insurance, emergency repairs and hurricane preparation tips. He served as CEO at Prudential Property & Casualty, and was regional VP at Travelers Property and Casualty. He also served as chief administrative officer at Prudential Life Insurance. As CEO, Desjadon has had more than a decade working with the company, its agents, adjustors, and policyholders on mitigation, emergency procedures, and getting claims adjusted as soon as possible to ensure that the policyholder's health, wellbeing and residence recover from a storm.

Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]



Clint Strauch

President

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Strauch can discuss homeowners insurance and hurricane preparation tips. He has 26 years of multi-line insurance experience and served as general manager of Allstate Insurance Agency. He earned a BA from Florida State University and holds the Certified Insurance Counselor designation.

Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]

Pet/Animal Issues

The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:



-- Garry Adams

Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Adams is well-versed on numerous public health issues, diseases stemming from disasters and treatment strategies for dealing with large numbers of injured or sick from disasters.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Murl Bailey

Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Bailey is an expert on zoonotic diseases (those passed from animals to humans) and problems that can arise if this occurs, etc.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Wesley Bissett

Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Bissett is an expert on displaced pets, pets relocating to unfamiliar areas, pets facing isolation and separation anxiety, etc.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Deb Zoran

Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Zoran is an expert on displaced pets, pets relocating to unfamiliar areas, pets facing isolation and separation anxiety, etc.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Paul Carlton

Special Assistant to the President of the Health Science Center

Carlton is an expert on general disaster relief, creating emergency medical facilities with little or no advance warning; he was instrumental in establishing the military's first field portable hospital unit decades ago.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]



-- Bill Moyer

Professor and Head of Large Animal Clinical Services

Moyer was put in charge of converting Texas A&M's Large Animal Hospital into special human needs hospital that served hundreds of elderly and special needs patients during Hurricane Rita and will take a similar leadership role if such plans are needed again.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Sociology/Behavior

Stjepan Mestrovic

Professor of Sociology

Texas A&M

Mestrovic is an expert in lawlessness in times of crises.

Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]

Technology/Communications

Bob DiLossi

Director of Crisis and Testing Management

Sungard Availability Services

DiLossi oversees the recover-to-cloud product testing, provides daily customer service to more than 5,000 customers, and handles regional disaster events, which he has done with his team since 1998. DiLossi manages the crisis management program and has extensive experience supporting customer projects, disaster recovery tests, continuity planning, center operations, disaster events, conduct table top business continuity exercises, high availability implementations, project implementations, and pre- and post-test planning activities. He can discuss: disaster recovery; best practices and recovery strategies; training for disaster preparedness; importance of testing; and technology in disasters.

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdilossi

Website: http://www.sungardas.com

Contact: Katie Lamb, [email protected]



Tormod Larsen

Chief Technology Officer

ExteNet Systems

Larsen is available to discuss hurricane preparedness and disaster response from a unique standpoint -- discussing the communications aspect in the face of a disaster. When a disaster occurs, many times communication becomes a challenge -- networks get bogged down or damaged, and it can be incredibly difficult to communicate with loved ones at a time when it's most important. Certain types of wireless network infrastructure solutions can help to quickly solve these challenges, or even prevent them from happening.

Contact: Danielle Beer, [email protected]



Todd Piett

Chief Product Officer

Rave Mobile Safety

As Rave Mobile Safety works with thousands of 911 call takers around the country, Piett can discuss hurricane preparedness tips such as the components of a family communications plans, as well as the importance of consumers to always call 911 in an emergency (some don't, relying instead on mobile apps that promise -- but don't always -- connect to 911, which in an emergency is obviously very dangerous.) As an Emergency Number Professional, Piett is very knowledgeable about the topic.

Piett can also discuss why it is important for consumers to create private online safety profiles to share with emergency dispatchers  before an emergency occurs. Rave's Smart911 is one such site that offers a free, private profile that can provide critical details about a person's home (e.g., how many units or floors are in an apartment building), details on family members (such as medical and mental health conditions), and even the number of pets living in a home that could be invaluable in dangerous situations.

Websites: www.ravemobilesafety.com and www.smart911.com

Contact: Amy Krigman, [email protected]

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FULLERTON, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulmuone Foods Co., Ltd. announced on May 9th it has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Vitasoy USA Inc., which includes the NASOYA, AZUMAYA and SAN SUI brands in North America. This acquisition solidifies Pulmuone's position as the world's leading tofu company while strengthening its operations in South Korea, U.S., Japan and China. Pulmuone had previously announced it had entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire Vitasoy USA Inc. on March 24th.

This acquisition provides bi-coastal production and logistics capabilities as well as a national sales and distribution platform," said Mr. H. Y. Lee, CEO of Pulmuone Foods Co., Ltd. "We are especially excited about expanding the brand beyond the tofu category through our innovative product development and with our multi-channel business base. We look forward to bringing our customers and consumers more healthy and tasty products."

The acquired business, now known as Nasoya Food USA LLC., joins the Pulmuone family of healthy and nutritious brands and will be a part of our significant expansion in the U.S. M&A will continue to drive future growth for Pulmuone in North America and globally.

Ross Gatta has been appointed to lead the Nasoya Food USA business as CEO. The acquired operations will remain in Ayer, MA with significant investments planned to grow the business.

About Pulmuone Co., Ltd.

Established in 1984 and committed to providing authentic wholesome food products, Pulmuone Co., Ltd. is a Korea-based holding company with more than 1.8 trillion KRW (approximately USD $1.5 billion) in annual sales. The company is engaged in the management of subsidiaries, primarily in the food manufacturing and food ingredients distribution businesses. Currently the company has 25 affiliates, including Pulmuone Foods Co., Ltd and Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc. and is a leader in refrigerated all-natural food products. The company's U.S. portfolio includes the Monterey Gourmet Foods brand, featuring all-natural pastas and sauces, and the Wildwood brand, offering meat alternatives such as tofu, salsas, hummus and dairy alternatives. Committed to the health of its customers and to sustaining the environment while contributing to society, today Pulmuone is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a policy initiative for businesses committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

About Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc.

Pulmuone Foods USA Inc. was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Fullerton, CA. Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc. is committed to providing authentic wholesome foods featuring the highest quality, all-natural ingredients. A leader in refrigerated all-natural food products, the company's portfolio includes the Monterey Gourmet Foods brand, featuring all-natural pastas and sauces, and the Wildwood brand, offering meat alternatives such as tofu, salsas, hummus and dairy alternatives. Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc. is a wholly owned affiliate of Pulmuone Co., Ltd., a Korea-based holding company with more than 1.8 trillion KRW (approximately USD $1.5 billion) in annual sales. In the U.S., the company has corporate, sales and food science headquarters in Fullerton, California with manufacturing facilities in California and New York.

Pulmuone Foods USA, Inc. Contacts:

- Mr. Doseok Kim (714) 450 - 7871

- Mr. Ross Gatta (714) 864 - 9729

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SOURCE Pulmuone Foods Co., Ltd.
SUISUN CITY, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The northern division of Richmond American Homes of California, a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is honored to receive the Building Industry Association (BIA) of the Bay Area's 2016 Excellence in Home Building award for Best Design Center and Experience. This prestigious award recognizes homebuilding industry leaders in a wide range of categories, including home design.

The BIA of the Bay Area is a non-profit organization dedicated to "promoting housing for people of all income levels and the production of quality homes." Its 400-plus members include homebuilders, suppliers, trade contractors and other industry professionals from 14 counties.

"We are extremely excited that the BIA has acknowledged us with this outstanding award," said Carolyn Tarnay, Richmond American's Northern California Home Gallery Manager. "Our team is honored to be recognized among the best in the industry. But perhaps most important is the daily feedback we receive from our customers who often say the Home Gallery is one of their favorite aspects of buying a Richmond American home."

In an effort to provide customers with a design experience that is second to none, Richmond American's Northern California division unveiled its state-of-the-art Home Gallery in January of 2015. Its unique design and vision was a collaborative effort of Richmond American's team lead by Vice President of Merchandising Heidi Sheldon; Director of Merchandising Sara Bechtold; Architectural Design Specialist Megan Oscarson; Sr. Manager of Creative Services Corey Meadows and Sr. Manager of National Marketing Alyson Benn.

Met with outstanding reviews from homebuyers and industry professionals alike, the innovative showroom truly delivers a customer-focused home design experience. After purchase, buyers set up an appointment with a design consultant at Richmond American's Home Gallery, which is arranged into a series of inspiring interactive vignettes. Instead of simply visualizing the end result, buyers can actually touch samples of the finishes and fixtures they are selecting for their new homes.

All the finish options in Richmond American's Home Gallery are organized into beautifully coordinated color studios, which helps eliminate the guesswork for homebuyers. The builder also offers a variety of options so buyers can enjoy a unique, personalized and exceptional home at any price point.

To learn more about Richmond American's Home Gallery and exciting new homes and communities in northern California, call 925-730-5770 or visit RichmondAmerican.com.

About MDC

Since 1972, MDC's homebuilding subsidiary companies, which operate under the name Richmond American Homes, have built and financed the American dream for more than 185,000 homebuyers. MDC's commitment to customer satisfaction, quality and value is reflected in the homes its subsidiaries build. MDC is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Its subsidiaries have homebuilding operations across the country, including the metropolitan areas of Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Riverside-San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Northern Virginia, Orlando, Jacksonville, South Florida and Seattle. MDC's subsidiaries also provide mortgage financing, insurance and title services, primarily for Richmond American homebuyers, through HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company, respectively. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit WWW.MDCHOLDINGS.COM.

SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.richmondamerican.com


TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX: RIC) (NYSE MKT: RIC) ("Richmont" or the "Corporation") announces operating and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, driven by record results from the Island Gold Mine. The Corporation will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 12, 2016, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (details below). (All amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.)

First Quarter Highlights

During the quarter, Island Gold produced 26,589 ounces of gold (26,031 ounces sold), an increase of 147% over the same period in 2015. Increased production for the quarter was a result of higher than expected grades of 11.31 g/t proceed and record mill throughput of 834 tonnes per day. Total production was 32,369 ounces of gold (32,239 ounces sold), a 25% increase over the prior year.

Revenues were a record $52.6 million ( US$38.3 million ) at an average realized gold price of $1,629 per ounce ( US$1,186 per ounce) an increase of 41% over the prior year period. Cash costs of $806 per ounce ( US$587 per ounce) and All-In Sustaining Costs (AISC) of $1,100 per ounce ( US$801 per ounce), a decrease of 18% and 12% respectively over the prior year.

( ) at an average realized gold price of per ounce ( per ounce) an increase of 41% over the prior year period. Cash costs of per ounce ( per ounce) and All-In Sustaining Costs (AISC) of per ounce ( per ounce), a decrease of 18% and 12% respectively over the prior year. Earnings of $8.5 million ( US$6.2 million ), or $0.15 per share ( US$0.11 per share), an increase of 85% and 67% respectively over the prior year period.

( ), or per share ( per share), an increase of 85% and 67% respectively over the prior year period. Operating cash flow (after changes in non-cash working capital) of $17.3 million ( US$12.6 million ), or $0.30 per share ( US$0.22 per share), an increase of 90% and 76% respectively over the prior year.

( ), or per share ( per share), an increase of 90% and 76% respectively over the prior year. Net free cash flow of $1.1 million ( US$0.8 million ), or $0.02 per share ( US$0.01 per share), as compared to neutral net free cash flow in the prior year.

( ), or per share ( per share), as compared to neutral net free cash flow in the prior year. The strong cash balance was maintained after taking in account expenditures related to aggressive development and exploration during the quarter. The cash position of $61.2 million ( US$47.1 million ) at the end of Q1, together with the anticipated cash flow from operations, is expected to fully fund the completion of the accelerated development program at Island Gold Mine in 2016.

"Richmont has reported another consecutive quarter of improved operational performance and solid financial results primarily driven by another record quarter from the Island Gold Mine, where higher than planned grades and improved mining and milling productivity supported production results that exceeded expectations. The success of the first quarter has allowed Richmont to preserve its cash balance, which is expected to fully fund our capital development program at Island Gold and position this core asset for continued production growth and significant free cash flow generation beginning in 2017." stated Renaud Adams, President and CEO. He continued, "During the second quarter we will continue to monitor the grade profile and productivity improvements from the Island Gold Mine in order to determine whether a revision to our 2016 guidance estimates is warranted."

2016 Guidance

Supported by another record production quarter from the Island Gold Mine primarily related to positive grades reconciliation and improved mine and milling productivities, Richmont remains on track to achieve the high end of 2016 production guidance and the low end of cash costs and AISC guidance. Throughout the second quarter, the Corporation will continue to monitor grade reconciliation at Island Gold and will make a determination on whether any future adjustments to guidance estimates are appropriate. It is expected that any updates would likely be issued as part of the second quarter disclosure.

Financial Highlights

(in thousands of $, except per share amounts) Quarter ended

March 31, 2016 Quarter ended

March 31, 2015 Revenue from mining operations 52,634 37,210 Net earnings per share, basic 0.15 0.09 Operating cash flow, per share 0.30 0.17 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share(1), (2) 0.36 0.18 Net free cash flow, per share(2) 0.02 0.00 (1) Before changes in non-cash working capital.

(2) Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures contained in the First Quarter Management's Discussion & Analysis.

Operational Highlights



Quarter ended

March 31, 2016 Quarter ended

March 31, 2015 Gold produced (oz) 32,369 25,859 Gold sold (oz) 32,239 24,791 Cash costs per ounce ($)(1) 806 979 AISC per ounce ($)(1) 1,100 1,255 Realized gold price per ounce ($) 1,629 1,496 Cash costs per ounce (US$)(1) 587 789 AISC per ounce (US$)(1) 801 1,011 Realized gold price per ounce (US$) 1,186 1,205 (1) Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures contained in the First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis.

Island Gold Mine Highlights

ISLAND GOLD MINE Quarter ended

March 31, 2016 Quarter ended

March 31, 2015 Gold produced (oz) 26,589 10,764 Gold sold (oz) 26,031 8,923 Cash costs per ounce ($)(1) 674 1,414 AISC per ounce ($)(1) 855 1,843 Realized gold price per ounce ($) 1,628 1,503 Cash costs per ounce (US$)(1) 491 1,139 AISC per ounce (US$)(1) 623 1,485 Realized gold price per ounce (US$) 1,186 1,211 Underground tpd 853 552 Mill tonnes 75,906 43,785 Mill tpd 834 487 Head grade (g/t gold) 11.31 7.87 Recoveries (%) 96.3 97.2 Sustaining Costs ($000's) 4,713 3,828 Project Costs ($000's) 6,987 4,307 Non-sustaining exploration costs ($000's) 3,770 435 (1) Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measures contained in the First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis.

At the end of the quarter, the Island Gold Mine reported more than 5 years of operations without lost-time injury.

Production from the Island Gold Mine was a record 26,589 ounces of gold (26,031 ounces sold), an increase of 147% over the same period in 2015 and an 87% increase over the prior quarter.

Higher production for the quarter was a result of higher than expected grades of 11.31 g/t gold processed and record mill throughput of 834 tonnes per day. The higher grade realized in the quarter was primarily the result of a positive grade reconciliation (mined vs reserves) of 44%, as well as a strategic decision to increase the ratio of development ore from the higher grade second mining horizon (55% versus a planned 40%).

Reconciliation to reserves indicated tonnage was in-line with the reserve model, and a 44% gain in grades. The December 2015 Reserve & Resource estimates apply a capping grade of 95 g/t gold on high grade values. The Corporation will continue to monitor the grade reconciliation to reserves before reassessing any potential impact on guidance.

Reserve & Resource estimates apply a capping grade of 95 g/t gold on high grade values. The Corporation will continue to monitor the grade reconciliation to reserves before reassessing any potential impact on guidance. Cash costs per ounce, including royalties, were $674 (US$491) , or 52% lower than first quarter 2015 cash costs of $1,414 (US$1,139) , primarily driven by an increase in the head grade during the quarter and higher mill throughput.

, or 52% lower than first quarter 2015 cash costs of , primarily driven by an increase in the head grade during the quarter and higher mill throughput. AISC per ounce decreased to $855 (US$623) down 54%, as compared to first quarter 2015 AISC of $1,843 (US$1,485) . AISC during the quarter included $4.7 million of sustaining capital, including $2.1 million of underground development costs, $0.3 million in electrical upgrades, $0.7 million of delineation drilling, $0.3 million of surface infrastructure, $0.3 million for capital lease payments and $1.0 million on other assets.

down 54%, as compared to first quarter 2015 AISC of . AISC during the quarter included of sustaining capital, including of underground development costs, in electrical upgrades, of delineation drilling, of surface infrastructure, for capital lease payments and on other assets. During the quarter, the Corporation spent $7.0 million in non-sustaining project costs related to the accelerated development of the deeper resources, which included advancing both the main access ramp ( $2.1 million ) and the east ramp ( $1.9 million ), fixed assets ( $2.0 million ), exploration & delineation development drift on level 740 ( $0.8 million ) and costs associated with the mining and milling expansion studies ( $0.2 million ).

in non-sustaining project costs related to the accelerated development of the deeper resources, which included advancing both the main access ramp ( ) and the east ramp ( ), fixed assets ( ), exploration & delineation development drift on level 740 ( ) and costs associated with the mining and milling expansion studies ( ). Updates on the Island Gold 86,500 metre exploration drilling program released to date continue to demonstrate the significant potential for resource growth, production growth and mine life extension of this cornerstone asset both along strike above the 1,000 metre level, as well as in the vertical extension below the 1,000 metre level. As of the end of the quarter, approximately 60,000 metres of drilling were completed with the remaining 26,500 metres to be completed by the third quarter of 2016. Exploration drilling costs of $3.8 million were incurred in the quarter.

Beaufor Mine Highlights

BEAUFOR MINE Quarter ended

March 31, 2016 Quarter ended

March 31, 2015 Gold produced (oz) 4,615 7,963(1) Gold sold (oz) 5,037 8,831(1) Cash costs per ounce ($)(2) 1,398 905 AISC per ounce($)(2) 1,730 1,000 Realized gold price per ounce ($) 1,648 1,489 Cash costs per ounce (US$)(2) 1,018 730 AISC per ounce(US$)(2) 1,260 807 Realized gold price per ounce (US$) 1,200 1,200 Underground tpd 323 367 Mill tonnes 29,318 29,751 Head grade (g/t gold) 4.96 8.44(1) Recoveries (%) 98.7 98.6 Sustaining Costs ($000's)(3) 1,674 840 (1) Production and sale includes 1,624 ounces from the milling of slag accumulated at the Camflo Mill. (2) Refer to the Non-IFRS performance measured contained in the First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis. (3) Sustaining costs includes capitalized underground mine development and expensed exploration drilling.

At the end of the quarter, the Beaufor Mine reported 30 months of operations without lost-time injury.

Production for the quarter was 4,615 ounces (5,037 ounces sold), a 42% decrease over the prior year period and an 18% decrease over the prior quarter, primarily as a result of lower than expected grades mined in Zones M-MF and 12. Production in the first quarter of 2015 included 1,624 ounces of gold that was processed by the milling of slag accumulated at the Camflo Mill.

Cash costs for the quarter were $1,398 per ounce ( US$1,018 per ounce), a 54% increase over the prior year period and 29% higher than the prior quarter. AISC for the quarter increased by 73% to $1,730 (US$1,260) per ounce over the prior year period and a 14% increase over the prior quarter. AISC are expected to decrease as higher grades stope mining in the new Q Zone begins in the second half of the year.

per ounce ( per ounce), a 54% increase over the prior year period and 29% higher than the prior quarter. AISC for the quarter increased by 73% to per ounce over the prior year period and a 14% increase over the prior quarter. AISC are expected to decrease as higher grades stope mining in the new Q Zone begins in the second half of the year. Underground productivity at the Beaufor Mine averaged 323 tonnes per day, in-line with planned levels.

Development of the Q Zone advanced as planned during the quarter and the mineralized structure was reached in late March 2016 . Development in ore was initiated before quarter end, with stope mining planned for the second half of the year.

Monique Mine Highlights

Production at the Monique Mine for the quarter was 1,165 ounces (1,171 ounces sold). A decision was made to process the remaining stockpile pad and a total of 16,063 tonnes at an average grade of 2.31 g/t gold were processed in January.

Cash costs for the quarter were $1,185 per ounce ( US$863 per ounce), including approximately $715 per ounce ( US$521 per ounce) of non-cash charges that were incurred in 2014 but are accounted for in 2016.

First Quarter and Recent Corporate Highlights

On February 9, 2016 , Richmont announced a 187% increase in Mineral Reserves and Resources as of December 31, 2015 , including a 206% increase in Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine to 561,700 gold ounces (net of depletion) and a 95% increase in Mineral Reserves at the Beaufor Mine to 63,850 gold ounces (net of depletion).

, Richmont announced a 187% increase in Mineral Reserves and Resources as of , including a 206% increase in Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine to 561,700 gold ounces (net of depletion) and a 95% increase in Mineral Reserves at the Beaufor Mine to 63,850 gold ounces (net of depletion). On February 11, 2016 , Richmont announced its 2016 operational outlook, which estimates another record year at the Island Gold Mine that includes a potential production increase of up to 22% and a decrease in All-In Sustaining Costs.

, Richmont announced its 2016 operational outlook, which estimates another record year at the Island Gold Mine that includes a potential production increase of up to 22% and a decrease in All-In Sustaining Costs. On February 24, 2016 , Richmont announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Barnes to the Corporation's Board of Directors effective immediately. Mr. Barnes serves as an independent member of the Richmont Board, and is a member of the Corporation's Audit and the HR and Compensation Committees.

, Richmont announced the appointment of Mr. to the Corporation's Board of Directors effective immediately. Mr. Barnes serves as an independent member of the Richmont Board, and is a member of the Corporation's Audit and the HR and Compensation Committees. On February 25 and May 5, 2016 , Richmont provided updates on the previously announced Island Gold exploration drilling program, which continues to demonstrate the significant potential of the Island Gold Mine.

Upcoming News & Events

Exploration update (Late June / early July).

Phase 2 exploration program (early July).

Q2 2016 preliminary production preview (mid-July).

Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis

The financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found on the Corporation's website at www.richmont-mines.com or under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Webcast and Conference Call

A webcast and conference call will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016 starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Senior management will be on the call to discuss the results.

Conference Call Access

- International & Toronto: 1-416-764-8688 - Canada & U.S. Toll Free: 1-888-390-0546

Please ask to be placed into the Richmont Mines 2016 First Quarter Results Conference Call.

Conference Call Live Webcast

The conference call will be broadcast live on the Internet via webcast. To access the webcast, please follow this link:

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1159345&s=1&k=091F297ECBCF0B3FCDA94611973F11E8.

Archive Call Access

If you are unable to attend the conference call, a replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, May 19, 2016 by dialing the appropriate number below:

- International & Toronto: 1-416-764-8677 Passcode: 669767# - Canada & U.S. Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541 Passcode: 669767#

Archive Webcast

The webcast will be archived for 90 days. To access the archived webcast, visit the Corporation's website at www.richmont-mines.com or follow this link:

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1159345&s=1&k=091F297ECBCF0B3FCDA94611973F11E8.

About Richmont Mines Inc.

Richmont Mines has produced over 1.6 million ounces of gold from its operations in Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland since beginning production in 1991. The Corporation currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario and the Beaufor Mine in Quebec. Founded in 1981 and with more than 35 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian asset base and to successfully advance its next phase of growth. Richmont routinely posts news and other important information on its website (www.richmont-mines.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation and disclaims any responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, grade of ore mined and unforeseen difficulties in mining operations that could affect revenue and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in Richmont Mines' Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release.

Cautionary note to US investors concerning resource estimates

Information in this press release is intended to comply with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which differ in certain respects with the rules and regulations promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), as promulgated by the SEC. The Reserve and Resource estimates in this press release were prepared in accordance with Regulation 43101 adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators. The requirements of Regulation 43-101 differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

U.S. Investors are urged to consider the disclosure in our annual report on Form 20-F, File No. 001-14598, as filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which may be obtained from us (without cost) or from the SEC's web site: http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Regulation 43-101

The geological data in this news release has been reviewed by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a qualified person as defined by Regulation 43-101.

Richmont Mines Inc.

Ticker symbol: RIC

Listings: TSX  NYSE MKT

Web Site: www.richmont-mines.com

Visit our Facebook page

SOURCE Richmont Mines

Related Links

http://www.richmont-mines.com


BELLEVUE, Wash., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Second Amendment Foundation today announced that it has started a new working relationship with the Ukrainian Gun Owners Association (GOA), a member organization of the International Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights (IAPCAR), which SAF founder Alan Gottlieb played a key role in creating.

"UGOA's efforts and successes are having a positive impact not only in Ukraine, but cross Europe and the United States as well," Gottlieb observed in an open letter to members of the organization. "Internationally, we greatly appreciate all that you are doing to advance the human right of self-defense."

Gottlieb met with George Uchaykin, chairman of the UGOA supervisory board, and Tony Kovar, the UGOA's United States representative earlier this year at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas. Representatives of the group are tentatively scheduled to participate in this year's Gun Rights Policy Conference in Tampa, Florida Sept. 23-25.

"I've been very impressed with UGOA's work so far," Gottlieb said. "This is a very active group, and I see a pretty busy future for them in Europe. As one of the premier American firearms rights organizations, SAF is only too happy to offer any support and assistance we can, and I expect they may benefit from our experience in defending the rights of gun owners to help guide them as they make progress in their homeland."

One thing that has already happened, Gottlieb noted, is that UGOA is expanding both the quantity and quality of English language articles published on their website. That site, he revealed, has garnered more than 4.5 million visits annually. Eventually, SAF will be able to post articles and news directly to the UGOA website's English language page.

"I think from a small beginning something big is going to grow," Gottlieb predicted. "We look forward to working with our Ukrainian colleagues for the cause of gun rights on the international stage."

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

SOURCE Second Amendment Foundation

Related Links

http://www.saf.org


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, created to honor the father of American old school tattooing, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, has partnered with Fleet Week New York to support and celebrate service members at this year's Fleet Week, which kicks off Wednesday, May 25, and continues through Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will participate in existing events, and create some new ones, including a Sailor Jerry "Block Party" on Sunday, May 29, featuring Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum cocktails, an outdoor concert, and a special appearance by actor and military supporter Norman Reedus, who will lead a toast to the troops. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is taking this opportunity to raise awareness of and funds for the Norman Collins Initiative at The Aleethia Foundation, a military charity which supports wounded, injured and ill service members. People wishing to learn more about Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, Fleet Week activities and the Aleethia Foundation can stop by the Sailor Jerry "Home Base" at 348 West 44th Street during Fleet Week. Visit www.sailorjerry.com to learn more about all the Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Fleet Week activities.

Reedus, who currently stars on both AMC's The Walking Dead and a new motorcycle show debuting next month, Ride with Norman Reedus, is a longtime supporter of the military and motorcycles. He will arrive on a custom motorcycle to the Sailor Jerry "Block Party" at Hudson River Park's Pier 84, adjacent to the U.S.S. INTREPID, a WWII-era aircraft carrier which today serves as New York's Sea, Air & Space Museum. As part of the celebration Reedus will lead the assembled crowd in a Toast to the Troops with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, thanking military attendees for their service. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum commissioned the custom motorcycle specifically to be donated to a member of the military, and following Reedus' ride, it will be gifted to the chosen recipient through The Aleethia Foundation.

"I'm a huge supporter of our military and thankful for their efforts," shared Reedus. "I was excited to lend a hand to the cause and look forward to the event. We're throwing a free concert for everyone, and I'll arrive on this incredible bike that Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum custom built and which it will give to a member of the military later through Aleethia. It's going to be an awesome day, and I hope the men and women of the service have a great time. They deserve our appreciation and our gratitude."

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was created to honor Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, a Navy vet who built his rep inking soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu where he established his legendary tattoo parlor and himself as the undisputed father of American old-school tattooing. Collins was born on January 14th, 1911, and quickly found his passion for tattooing while traveling the country, hopping freight trains with a man named "Big Mike" who taught him the hand-pricking method. At 19, Collins joined the U.S. Navy where he was exposed to the art and culture of Southeast Asia. Following his naval service, Collins made WWII-era Honolulu his home and continued honing his skills as a tattoo artist. Sailors on Shore Leave in Honolulu would wait in line for hours outside Collins' Hotel Street tattoo shop to be inked by the master himself. Not one to rest idly, Collins also became a licensed skipper of a large three-masted schooner, played the saxophone in his own band, and frequently hosted a radio show. These personal passions are now celebrated through Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and shared with likeminded individuals.

"Norman Collins was a military man with a profound appreciation for the service and those who serve," shared Josh Hayes, Senior Brand Manager  Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. "Supporting Fleet Week, which in many ways is a modern equivalent to Shore Leave in Collins' time, is the right thing to do and we at Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum look forward to thanking, supporting and celebrating our amazing Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen through all of the events we have planned with our Fleet Week partners."

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will participate in official Fleet Week events including the annual Parade of Ships marking the arrival of ships to New York Harbor, a Welcome BBQ in Brooklyn, and many more.

To shine a light on Collins as part of the Fleet Week festivities, and to help Service Members navigate around town for Fleet Week fun beyond the official events, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is creating a "Home Base" that opens Wednesday, May 25 and closes Saturday, May 28. This venue, located at 348 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), will celebrate Collins through an installation that pays homage to the man and his legend, and serve as a one-stop source of activity for Service Members in town during Fleet Week. Bars, restaurants, landmarks and other NYC locations will be included on Fleet Week maps that will be available at "Home Base" for all who wish to collect one.

"Home Base" will open daily from Wednesday, May 25-Saturday, May 28 from noon  9pm. Special activities available to all include complimentary haircuts from Frank's Chop Shop (available Wednesday and Thursday from 1-4pm) and complimentary tattoos by Three Kings (available Friday from 5-8pm and Saturday from 1-4pm). Haircuts and tattoos are limited to a first come first serve basis; those wishing to participate will be required to sign in. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum invites service members and supporters to stop in and sign up.

A video confessional booth will be set up within "Home Base" allowing visitors to share their stories  about the service, their tattoos, or their Fleet Week experience  with friends and loved ones via social media. Sailor Jerry will post select messages and video content throughout the week on its social channels and its Fleet Week microsite.

"Fleet Week is an amazing time in New York City every year, and this year is expected to be one of the biggest," added Hayes. "We are honored to participate and proud to take the opportunity to shine a light on the important work The Aleethia Foundation does every day. We hope that through our 'Home Base' activities, our 'Block Party,' and the help of Norman Reedus, we will raise awareness of and funds for Aleethia to continue their efforts on behalf of those who have served."

The Aleethia Foundation supports wounded, injured and ill service members with short-term therapeutic recreation, small financial grants, family emergency aid, assistive technology items, home improvements to assist with an injured service member's mobility and other basic needs. The latest initiative is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for brain injuries suffered while on active duty.

Over the past six years, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum has raised nearly $200,000 for The Aleethia Foundation, with nearly $50,000 raised in 2015 alone. This year, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is expanding efforts with a series of national and local campaigns that will support and raise funds for Aleethia through the Norman Collins Initiative at The Aleethia Foundation.

Fleet Week New York, now in its 28th year, is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea services. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. The weeklong celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984. More than 4,000 people are expected to visit New York to enjoy Fleet Week this year.

To learn more about Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum's Fleet Week activities and for a calendar of events, log onto www.sailorjerry.com.

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts and the world's third largest blended Scotch, Grant's, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder triple malt whisky and Drambuie.

William Grant & Sons has been honored as "Distiller of the Year" by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge ten times over the past 15 years.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson's Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Flor de Cana Rum, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

SOURCE Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

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http://www.sailorjerry.com


PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandata Technologies, LLC, a leading national provider of information technology solutions to the home care industry, announces the release of the next generation of its mobile workforce solution, Santrax Point-of-Care (SPoC). In this latest version, Sandata has partnered with DeVero, Inc. to create a fully integrated solution that leverages the nationally proven Santrax Agency Management platform and the DeVero Electronic Health Record.

"We're proud to partner with Sandata to bring the best of our solutions to the marketplace. Sandata's SPoC solution, powered by DeVero, is designed with the clinician in mind. We make the clinician's experience easier than paper forms and don't require them to go through extensive training, allowing rapid implementations without interrupting patient care. The application is simple to use while the data drives powerful functionality behind the scenes," says Eric Gordon, VP of Sales at DeVero.

Designed to work on any mobile device, SPoC enables remote workforces to collect data and access patient information at the point of care and is designed to provide remote access to both clinical and non-clinical information. SPoC will enable Home Health Agencies to reduce clinical inconsistencies and documentation errors, enhance communication, eliminate costs associated with paper forms and printed charts, and streamline the process of assessment completion and submission.

Care IV Home Health, who has provided a wide variety of home care and home health services to urban and rural areas of Arkansas since 1993, has successfully implemented Santrax Point-of-Care (SPoC). The Care IV caregivers are now leveraging this best-in-class, HIPAA-compliant solution to do all their clinical documentation online.

"We are very pleased with the ease-of-use of the SPoC solution and our clinical teams are thrilled with the efficiencies they have gained in the field. This latest version of the Sandata solution will substantially improve our ability to provide care to our patients," says Steven Hammond RN, Vice President and General Manager of Care IV.

About Sandata Technologies:

Sandata provides a complete package of information technology solutions, which includes scheduling, time and attendance, billing, payroll, compliance and clinical applications for the home care industry. Sandata's suite of products includes Santrax Electronic Visit Verification, the market leading time and attendance product, Santrax Agency Management and Santrax Payer Management, web-based software solutions with features including voice biometrics to perform speaker verification, and a jurisdictional view dashboard solution for states and other payers, municipalities and the home care agency markets, Santrax Member Management, an ADA Section 508 compliant member portal for self-directed members to view, modify and approve worker timesheets, and Santrax Point of Care, an innovative data collection and remote chart access tool giving field workers the ability to collect both clinical and non-clinical information at the point-of-care.

Sandata has over 3,500 provider agencies across the United States processing more than 125 million verifications annually.

About DeVero:

DeVero delivers intelligent, adaptable technology that revolutionizes healthcare data capture, management and integration. Thousands of organizations, including Gentiva and Kindred at Home leverage DeVero at the point of care to power real-time data intelligence that drives measurable business value. Efficiently collect, share and integrate patient and population data from any location, using any device. Based in Silicon Valley and founded by tech and healthcare experts, DeVero was born to create innovative solutions to common business challenges.

For additional information about Sandata, please visit: www.sandata.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366922LOGO

SOURCE Sandata Technologies, LLC

Related Links

http://www.sandata.com


HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has had a good start in 2016. At EUR 3.3 billion, revenue for the first quarter of 2016 was slightly above the prior year level. At constant currency, the growth rate was 2.4 percent.

The Automotive business reported a growth rate of 2.4 percent compared to the prior year (+5.0 percent at constant currency), once more outpacing the increase in production volumes of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (+0.9 percent). From a regional perspective, it was primarily strong demand in China and Asia/Pacific that contributed to the additional revenue. The Aftermarket business was also very successful.

Schaeffler AG CEO Klaus Rosenfeld said: "Despite the challenging environment, 2016 has started off well for us. At constant currency, our Automotive business continues to grow significantly more rapidly than the market."

Revenue in the Industrial business decreased by 6.9 percent (-5.5 percent at constant currency). While certain sectors, such as wind energy and two wheelers, reported considerable growth rates, the low commodities and oil prices and the resulting economic uncertainties have adversely affected revenue, especially in the raw materials sector and the distribution business.

Rosenfeld commented: "The environment in the industrial business remains demanding. We are continuing to work diligently on improving the efficiency and competitiveness of our Industrial business under our 'CORE' program."

Trends in the four Schaeffler Group regions' revenue differed. Revenue in Schaeffler's Europe region was down slightly by 0.5 percent (+0.2 percent at constant currency). The Americas region reported a drop in revenue of 5.6 percent (-0.1 percent at constant currency), a reflection not only of the weak industrial business but also of the uncertain economic situation in Brazil. Driven by the buoyant Automotive business, revenue in the Greater China and Asia/Pacific regions increased significantly by 5.5 percent (+8.0 percent at constant currency) and 9.9 percent (+13.4 percent at constant currency) despite the adverse impact of currency translation.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) declined by 3.0 percent to EUR 421 million compared to the prior year. At 12.6 percent, the EBIT margin level remained high. The company increased its net income by approximately 52 percent to EUR 253 million (prior year: EUR 167 million).

CFO Dr. Ulrich Hauck stated: "The improvement in net income is mainly the result of our significantly improved financial result."

The financial result for the first quarter of 2016 amounted to minus EUR 65 million (prior year: minus EUR 176 million). The prior year financial result had reflected one-time charges related to the early redemption of bonds.

The Schaeffler Group generated cash flows from operating activities of EUR

206 million (prior year: EUR 184 m) in the first quarter of 2016, representing an improvement of 12 percent over the prior year quarter. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 318 million (prior year: EUR 244 million), bringing the capex ratio (capital expenditures in relation to consolidated revenue) to 9.5 percent (prior year: 7.3 percent). The resulting free cash flow was minus EUR 112 million (prior year: minus EUR 60 million).

Net financial debt amounted to EUR 4.9 billion as at March 31, 2016 (December 31, 2015: EUR 4.9 billion). On this basis, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA before special items was 2.1 at the end of the quarter (December 31, 2015: 2.1). On April 28, 2016, rating agency Standard & Poor's upgraded Schaeffler AG's company rating to BB from BB-. The rating improved as a result of the reduction in Schaeffler AG's debt using the proceeds of the listing in October 2015 as well as the successful placement of additional common non-voting shares in April 2016.

The company confirmed its guidance for 2016 as a whole. The Schaeffler Group continues to anticipate revenue growth of 3 to 5 percent at constant currency, an EBIT margin of 12 to 13 percent before special items, and a free cash flow of approximately EUR 600 million for the year as a whole.

Key figures





1st three months







in  millions

2016

2015

Change



Income statement















Revenue

3.343

3.339

0.1

% - at constant currency









2.4

% EBIT

421

434

-3.0

% - in % of revenue

12.6

13.0

-0.4

%-pts. EBIT before special items 1)

421

441

-4.5

% - in % of revenue

12.6

13.2

-0.6

%-pts. Net income 2)

253

167

51.5

% Earnings per common non-voting share (basic/diluted, in ) 3)

0.38

0.42

-9.5

%

















in  millions

03/31/2016

12/31/2015

Change



Statement of financial position















Total assets

12,607

12,480

1.0

% Shareholders' equity 4)

1,609

1,568

41

 millions - in % of total assets

12.8

12.6

0.2

%-pts. Net financial debt

4,909

4,889

0.4

%

















- Net financial debt to EBITDA ratio before special items 1) 5)

2,1

2,1













1st three months







in  millions

2016

2015

Change



Statement of cash flows















EBITDA

598

604

-1.0

% - in % of revenue

17.9

18.1

-0.2

%-pts. EBITDA before special items 1)

598

611

-2.1

% - in % of revenue

17.9

18.3

-0.4

%-pts. Cash flows from operating activities

206

184

22

 millions Capital expenditures (capex) 6)

318

244

74

 millions - in % of revenue (capex ratio)

9.5

7.3

2.2

%-pts. Free cash flow

-112

-60

-52

 millions





1st three months











2016

2015

Change



Value added















ROCE (return on capital employed, in %)

18.5

22.0

-3.5

%-pts. ROCE before special items 1)

22.1

22.8

-0.7

%-pts. Schaeffler Value Added

228

246

-7.3

% Schaeffler Value Added before special items 1)

228

253

-9.9

% Employees















Headcount

85,016

83,331

2.0

%

















1) EBIT, debt to EBITDA ratio, EBITDA, ROCE, and Schaeffler Value Added before special items for legal cases and restructuring. 2) Attributable to shareholders of the parent company. 3) Earnings per share were calculated in accordance with IAS 33. 4) Including non-controlling interests.



5) EBITDA based on last twelve months. 6) Capital expenditures on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.

Automotive











1st three months











in  millions 2016 2015 Change Revenue 2,576 2,515 2.4 % - at constant currency



5.0 % EBIT 372 343 8.5 % - in % of revenue 14.4 13.6 0.8 %-pts. EBIT before special items 1) 372 350 6.3 % - in % of revenue 14.4 13.9 0.5 %-pts.









Industrial

1st three months











in  millions 2016 2015 Change Revenue 767 824 -6.9 % - at constant currency



-5.5 % EBIT 49 91 -46.2 % - in % of revenue 6.4 11.0 -4.6 %-pts. EBIT before special items 1) 49 91 -46.2 % - in % of revenue 6.4 11.0 -4.6 %-pts.









Prior year information presented based on 2015 segment structure. 1) EBIT before special items for legal cases and restructuring.









Forward-looking statements and projections

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial consequences of the plans and events described herein. No one undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this press release. Statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or events should not be taken as representation that such trends or events will continue in the future. The cautionary statements set out above should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Schaeffler, or persons acting on its behalf, may issue.

You can download the interim report as at March 31, 2016 from www.schaeffler.com/ir.

About Schaeffler

The Schaeffler Group is a leading global integrated automotive and industrial supplier. The company stands for the highest quality, outstanding technology, and strong innovative ability. The Schaeffler Group makes a key contribution to "mobility for tomorrow" with high-precision components and systems in engine, transmission, and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The technology company generated sales of approximately EUR 13.2 billion in 2015. With around 84,000 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world's largest family companies and, with approximately 170 locations in more than 50 countries, has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, and sales companies.

Schaeffler is a recognized development partner for global automakers and suppliers. To serve the North American automotive market, Schaeffler operates development centers in: Troy, Mich.; Fort Mill, S.C.; Wooster, Ohio; and Puebla, Mexico. The company's 600 North American engineers and technicians, who are supported by a team of more than 6,700 global R&D engineers, drive development in the region by utilizing state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment, computational tools and CAD systems. Schaeffler Automotive has headquarters in Fort Mill and manufacturing facilities in: South Carolina; Missouri; Ohio; Ontario, Canada; Puebla and Irapuato, Mexico. For more information, please visit www.schaeffler.us.

SOURCE Schaeffler

Related Links

http://www.schaeffler.us


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to:

http://zlk.9nl.com/spectrum-brands-holdings-spb

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, California, 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


Dec. 15, 1924  May 7, 2016

Alice Bryant, 91, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday.

She was born in Roseburg to Robert and Gladys Findlay. Alice married Edward T. Bryant on Aug. 18, 1946, and they had children Velma and Keith. She was very involved in their school and club activities. She was active in the Methodist Church, helping in many ways at church events.

Ed and Alice enjoyed square dancing, belonging to card groups, and camping with the family. Card games with her friends gave Alice much enjoyment. She also enjoyed sewing clothes, costumes, and baby quilts for family and friends.

Alice is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Velma and Wayne Harris; grandchildren and their families: Christopher Bryant and son Hunter; Sherman and Pam Harris and their sons, Grant and Bradley; Blake and Erika Harris and their sons, Gunner and Gavin; and Carley and Scott Frey and their children, Spencer and Alison; as well as sister Betty Miller and husband Les.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ed in 1980; and son Keith in 2002.

Ma to the family, was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. We will miss her love and always positive support.

A viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Fisher Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the Albany First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Alices memory may be made to the Albany First United Methodist Church or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, sent in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
TORONTO and SEATTLE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - SOCAN, the member-based organization that represents the performing rights of more than four-million music creators and publishers, has purchased Seattle-based MediaNet (www.mndigital.com). The addition of this pioneer business-to-business music technology provider offers 360-degree music rights administration to SOCAN members.

MediaNet is the creator of powerful music and metadata delivery technologies that work with streaming services, download providers, media search, and other media discovery tools to provide an exhaustive catalog of music, while ensuring that creators and music publishers, including artists and all relevant rights owners, are properly compensated for their work.

The MediaNet acquisition will have immediate benefits for SOCAN members' digital performances, as the potential for increased matching on radio, TV and in areas such as nightclub performances is substantial. With MediaNet, SOCAN will be able to identify digital performances from around the world in real-time, with access to granular performance data to make better decisions, identify trends and increase revenue for members. This comes with a level of data accuracy and transparency that few, if any, music rights organizations in the world can provide.

With more than 51 million sound recordings in its database, each containing a unique audio identifier, MediaNet will provide SOCAN with authoritative information pertaining to master rights (sound recordings), and will augment already strong matching capabilities for all kinds of performances and reproductions of music on radio, digital, live, satellite, film and TV and other delivery of music to public audiences.

In keeping with SOCAN's vision to lead the global transformation of music rights, the acquisition and integration of MediaNet's technology will make SOCAN the leader in accurate matching of music data, one of the most significant challenges facing the digital music ecosystem worldwide. The benefit of robust, accurate matching of repertoire to rights-owners is significant to SOCAN's existing and future members, and will especially increase revenue streams for all whose music is played on digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and other services relying on uploads.

"The music ecosystem is in need of data and accuracy and, with MediaNet, SOCAN is the first major music collective to meet this need," said SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste. "The expanded family of MediaNet and SOCAN creates an unbeatable combination that will help drive proper compensation for SOCAN's membership base of songwriters, composers and music publishers and potentially for all parties involved in the music value chain."

For SOCAN's more than 135,000 members the acquisition of MediaNet brings immediate dramatic improvement in digital match-rates and the speed of distribution of digital royalties. For digital service providers this means a new dimension of accuracy for matching musical works with rich ownership data.

MediaNet will continue to operate under its current name, with all of its 34 employees continuing at the organization's Seattle offices. MediaNet CEO Frank Johnson and the company's leadership team will remain in place.

"SOCAN is a leader in ushering the transition from physical to digital through a commitment to data and artist advocacy," said MediaNet CEO Frank Johnson. "We are thrilled to join the SOCAN family and realize our shared goal of pioneering high-scale technology solutions that ensure fair and accurate royalty administration."

The acquisition was completed in May 2016, the terms of which are undisclosed.

Headwaters MB acted as financial advisor and Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC as legal counsel to MediaNet in this transaction. Venable LLP, Gowling WLG and KPMG advised SOCAN on the matter.

About MediaNet

MediaNet maintains one of the largest B2B rights-managed, global music catalogs of more than 51 million tracks and a database of over 4.1 million rights holders and their respective works. MediaNet's database of rights holders encompasses composers, publishers, administrators, PROs, collection societies, performers, labels, and distributors. MediaNet leads the music industry by hosting the only commercially available catalog of sound recordings connected directly to a comprehensive database of rights, ownership, and songwriting splits. MediaNet enables accurate royalty administration for streaming music apps, subscription services, and download stores. MediaNet has powered many popular digital music services worldwide including Beats Music, Pulselocker, CUR Music, Songza, Target, and Univision. www.mndigital.com

About SOCAN

SOCAN is a member-based organization that represents the Canadian performing rights of more than four-million Canadian and international music creators and publishers. SOCAN is proud to play a leading role in supporting the long-term success of its more than 135,000 Canadian members, and the Canadian music ecosystem overall. SOCAN licenses more than 125,000 businesses in Canada, and distributes royalties to its members and music rights organizations around the world. SOCAN also distributes royalties to its members for the use of their music internationally in collaboration with its peer societies. www.socan.ca

SOURCE SOCAN
STATE Optical is the collaboration between husband and wife team, Scott and Amanda Shapiro, eyewear executive Jerry Wolowicz, entrepreneurial cousins Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley, and award-winning eyewear designer Blake Kuwahara. Mr. Kuwahara is a former optometrist whose eyewear is celebrated by fashion media and worn by celebrities.

Benefiting from Mr. Kuwahara's fashion eye, STATE's eyewear combines groundbreaking design with an optometrist's POV, focusing as much on look and style as fit and comfort.

"It's important for me that eyewear not only looks good on the face, but feels good in the hand. It's both visual and tactile," said Mr. Kuwahara. "It's about the subtleties of the curves and the attention to the milling and polishing that makes a frame special. Because I was able to work directly with Marc and Jason on the execution of the frames, we were able to bring those nuances out in this collection."

Each frame's temple tip echoes the STATE logo, a pyramid comprised of 21 individual "dots" (representing America's 21st state, Illinois) skillfully cut then filled by hand with clear epoxy and polished. The acetate palette is sophisticated and nuanced with colors and structures chosen specifically to enhance the frames' silhouettes and flatter the face.

STATE becomes one of a few eyewear brands designed and manufactured exclusively in America, with an office and factory headquartered just outside of Chicago. The company promotes a culture of thoughtfulness through craftsmanship, and prides itself on employing an elite group of skilled artisans who take pride in handcrafting each pair of glasses, which is an arduous process that takes 70 steps to complete. All frames are fully manufactured on premise using top of the line machinery sourced from all over the world.

"Right or wrong, Americans have an immediate connotation to something that's made in Italy. Made in France. Made in China," said Scott Shapiro, CEO and Co-Founder of STATE Optical Co. "It's been so long since products were regularly made here in the US, that this generation's palate has been cleansed. STATE was founded to redefine what it means to be 'made in America,' and do something that's never been done in our industry; produce gorgeously crafted American luxury eyewear."

To find out more, go to stateopticalco.com.

About STATE Optical Co.

STATE Optical Co. is a family-owned and run eyewear company based out of Vernon Hills, IL. The company's proprietary manufacturing plant exclusively makes STATE eyeglasses and sunglasses. STATE is a collaboration between industry staple Europa International and lead craftsmen (and cousins) Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366900

SOURCE STATE Optical Co.

Related Links

http://stateopticalco.com


AUSTIN, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Shirts, a brand under the umbrella of BuildASign.com, recently unveiled the Allied Shirts' Troops Program, which offers free, personalized t-shirts for friends and families of military service members.

In time for Memorial Day and the upcoming summer patriotic holidays, the Allied Shirts' Troops Program is launching to give customers a way to support and thank troops for their service and sacrifice. Customers can choose from four designs or start from scratch to create their free personalized t-shirt allowing them to express their pride, gratitude and love for their service member.

"Our company has been a strong supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces since our inception and we are always looking for new ways to show our gratitude to those that serve," said Ari Franklin, Apparel Division Manager at AlliedShirts.com. "We saw the Allied Shirts' Troops Program as a great way to extend our respect for service members and give their friends and family a way to show their love and support."

The launch of the Allied Shirts' Troops Program comes after years of great success with BuildASign.com's Troops Program - a philanthropic effort within the company's self-sustaining, philanthropic arm: the Giving Program. Through the Giving Program, the company has contributed more than $1 million to over 1,700 local and national nonprofit organizations. It has also received national recognition for its donation of more than 337,000 welcome home banners and signs (valued at more than $10 million) to the friends and families of military service members returning home from deployment.

To order a personalized troops shirt, customers can go to alliedshirts.com/troops to start customizing their own design. The free design applies to a white unisex tee and does not include shipping costs.

In addition to AlliedShirts.com, BuildASign.com also operates EasyCanvasPrints.com. It currently has over 300 employees and generates sales across the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.

About Allied Shirts

Allied Shirts is obsessed with T-shirts, and they want you to be as well. With a great selection of top-notch shirts at fair prices and an easy-to-use design tool for making your shirt as unique as you are, Allied Shirts is personally committed to holding the quality satisfaction of your shirt to the highest regard. For more information about Allied Shirts and their Troops promotion, please visit AlliedShirts.com.

About BuildASign.com

BuildASign.com is a leading online custom printing provider of signage and home decor items. Products include signs, canvas, apparel, business cards, car wraps and more. Founded in 2005, the Austin, Texas-based company now operates over 40 websites with operations in four countries. Through the BuildASign.com Giving Program, the company has contributed more than $1 million to over 1,700 local and national nonprofit organizations. It has also received national recognition for its donation of more than 337,000 welcome home banners and signs (valued at more than $10 million) to the friends and families of military service members returning home from a deployment. To learn more visit BuildASign.com.

For more information, contact:

Megan Allsup

[email protected]

617-461-9242

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366600LOGO

SOURCE BuildASign.com

Related Links

http://www.BuildASign.com


HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Syncora Holdings Ltd. ("SHL" or the "Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("SGI") and Syncora Capital Assurance Inc. ("SCAI"), today provided statutory financial results for SGI and SCAI for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

As of March 31, 2016, SGI's policyholders' surplus remained largely unchanged compared to December 31, 2015 with adverse loss development to Puerto Rico-related exposures being offset by reserve releases in RMBS credits. For SCAI, policyholders' surplus decreased as compared to prior year-end, primarily as a result of adverse loss developments on its Puerto Rico-related exposures. Updated information on SGI and SCAI's Puerto Rico-related exposures can be found in their first quarter 2016 Operating Supplement. Although SCAI and Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority ("PREPA") continue to negotiate in good faith to reach agreement with respect to SCAI's participation in PREPA's recovery plan, no agreement has been, or may ultimately be reached.

The Company continues to actively pursue its strategic initiatives to increase value for Company stakeholders and continues to engage in discussions with certain stakeholders and the New York Department of Financial Services. In addition, the Company reaffirmed its plans to hold an investor call in the second quarter of 2016.

Financial Highlights

The Company has posted on its website at www.syncora.com, Statutory Quarterly Statements as of March 31, 2016 and the first quarter 2016 Operating Supplement for its subsidiaries, SGI and SCAI. Highlights of SGI's and SCAI's statutory financial results as of March 31, 2016 are as follows:

SGI

SGI's policyholders' surplus increased by $1.6 million from $1,086.9 million as of December 31, 2015 to $1,088.5 million as of March 31, 2016. The increase was due to positive net income during the quarter, partially offset by a lower investment in SCAI as a result of the subsidiary's lower policyholders' surplus position.

SGI's net income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $8.4 million. Net income was primarily attributable to net investment income of $7.0 million, partially offset by net underwriting losses of $2.2 million. Included in net underwriting losses is a $2.8 million benefit primarily from RMBS reserve releases and improved recoveries on certain other loss exposures, offset by adverse Puerto Rico developments as discussed above.

As of March 31, 2016, SGI had $6.5 billion and $1.5 billion in net par outstanding and claims-paying resources, respectively, as compared to $6.6 billion and $1.5 billion as of December 31, 2015, respectively.

SCAI

SCAI's policyholders' surplus decreased by $7.6 million from $192.1 million as of December 31, 2015 to $184.5 million as of March 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a net loss during the quarter, partially offset by lower contingency reserves as a result of the continued run-off of the insured portfolio and refundings.

SCAI's net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $11.8 million. Net loss was mainly due to adverse loss developments on SCAI's exposures to Puerto Rico, offset by earned premium primarily as a result of refunding activity during the quarter. Total premium accelerations for SCAI were $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as a result of refundings and the Company's remediation activities.

As of March 31, 2016, SCAI had $20.6 billion and $587.9 million in net par outstanding and claims-paying resources, respectively, as compared to $21.7 billion and $599.2 million as of December 31, 2015, respectively.





















Statutory Balance Sheets













As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015



















Syncora Guarantee Inc.

Syncora Capital Assurance Inc. ($ In Thousands) 2016

2015

2016

2015



















Admitted Assets















Bonds $ 939,570

$ 872,251

$ 354,625

$ 363,341

Common stocks -

-

21,388

18,390

Preferred stocks -

-

2,629

2,599

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term 78,640

138,547

71,986

72,960

Derivatives 97

521

-

-

Other invested assets 225,048

229,094

8,687

5,449



Total cash and invested assets 1,243,355

1,240,412

459,315

462,738

Investment income due and accrued 3,151

2,930

2,523

2,190

Net uncollected premiums and reinsurance assets 844

1,461

995

1,134

Other assets 4,290

4,643

2,756

2,843 Total Admitted Assets $ 1,251,640

$ 1,249,446

$ 465,588

$ 468,905



















Liabilities, Surplus and Other Funds















Losses and loss adjustment expenses $ (48,441)

$ (45,406)

$ 52,918

$ 40,622

Unearned premium revenue, net 110,342

111,061

155,983

163,483

Contingency reserves 86,776

85,147

57,612

62,253

Other liabilities 14,420

11,688

14,563

10,440 Total Liabilities 163,097

162,489

281,075

276,798



















Capital and Surplus















Common capital stock 15,000

15,000

2,500

2,500

Preferred capital stock 200,000

200,000

-

-

Surplus notes 584,334

584,334

200,000

200,000

Gross paid-in and contributed surplus 2,046,972

2,046,972

219,000

219,000

Unassigned funds (1,757,763)

(1,759,349)

(236,987)

(229,393) Surplus as Regards Policyholders 1,088,544

1,086,957

184,514

192,108 Total Liabilities, Surplus and Other Funds $ 1,251,640

$ 1,249,446

$ 465,588

$ 468,905

















































































Statutory Income Statements













For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015



















Syncora Guarantee Inc.

Syncora Capital Assurance Inc. ($ In Thousands) 2016

2015

2016

2015



















Underwriting Income















Net premiums earned $ 3,246

$ 8,077

$ 11,212

$ 9,141

Net losses (benefit) and loss adjustment expenses (752)

14,237

13,663

1,436

Other underwriting expenses incurred 6,233

8,512

6,528

5,613



Net underwriting gain (loss) (2,236)

(14,672)

(8,979)

2,093



















Investment Income















Net investment income 7,032

6,561

4,182

3,828

Net realized gain (loss) 732

816

(4,098)

2,678



Net investment gain (loss) 7,764

7,376

83

6,505



















Other Income















Other income 11

75

7

129 Pre-Tax Income 5,539

(7,220)

(8,889)

8,726



















Federal and foreign income taxes (benefit) incurred (2,887)

(1,027)

2,950

1,995



















Net Income (Loss) $ 8,426

$ (6,193)

$ (11,839)

$ 6,732





















About Syncora Holdings Ltd.

Syncora Holdings Ltd. (OTC: SYCRF) is a Bermuda-domiciled holding company. Syncora Guarantee Inc. and Syncora Capital Assurance Inc. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Syncora Holdings Ltd. Further information can be found on www.syncora.com

Contact

Michael Corbally

Syncora Holdings Ltd.

1 212 478 3400

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains statements about future results, plans and events that may constitute "forward-looking" statements. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek," "comfortable with," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the Company's historical filing with the New York Department of Financial Services, and in the Company's, Syncora Guarantee Inc.'s and Syncora Capital Assurance Inc.'s GAAP and statutory financial statements posted on its website at www.syncora.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SOURCE Syncora Holdings Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.syncora.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Synopsis

Timetric's 'The Cards and Payments Industry in Hong Kong: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2019' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Hong Kong cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including check payments, credit transfers, direct debits, payment cards and cash transactions during the review period (20102014).

The report also analyzes various payment cards market operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, and transaction values and volumes during the review period and over the forecast period (20152019). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.



The report brings together Timetric's research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies, recent changes in regulatory structure and profiles of card issuers operating in the country.

Summary

Timetric's 'The Cards and Payments Industry in Hong Kong: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2019' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Hong Kong cards and payments industry, including:



 Current and forecast values for each market in Hong Kong cards and payments industry, including debit card, credit and charge cards. It also includes detailed analysis of the prepaid card market.



 Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, cash transactions, checks, direct debits and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.



 E-commerce market analysis.



 Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



 Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit and charge cards.



 Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.



 The competitive landscape of Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



Scope

 This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



 It provides current values for Hong Kong cards and payments industry for 2014, and forecast figures to 2019.



 It details the different demographic, economic, infrastructural and business drivers affecting Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



 It outlines the current regulatory framework in the industry.



 It details marketing strategies used by various banks and other institutions.



Reasons To Buy

 Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Hong Kong cards and payments industry and each market within it.



 Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



 Assess the competitive dynamics in Hong Kong cards and payments industry.



 Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Hong Kong.



 Gain insights into key regulations governing Hong Kong cards and payments industry.

Key Highlights

 To capitalize on the increasing cross-border trade between Hong Kong and mainland China, and cater to the fast-growing Chinese population working and studying in Hong Kong, banks are issuing multiple-currency payment cards. For instance, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), in collaboration with UnionPay, launched the ICBC UnionPay Dual Currency Platinum Card in July 2015. This card comes with UnionPay's QuickPass service, which enables cardholders to make payments by tapping the card across 5 million QuickPass terminals worldwide. While Hong Kong-based and overseas expenses are settled in the local currency, expenses made in mainland China are settled in the Chinese currency. Similarly, Banco Nacional Ultramarino partnered with UnionPay to introduce a triple currency credit card in August 2015, which can be used in Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau.



 The uptake of alternative payments among Hong Kong consumers is gaining traction with the emergence of number of alternative payment instruments, such as MasterPass  a digital wallet introduced by MasterCard in July 2015. MasterPass enables customers to make online payments with an enrolled payment card using a mobile phone, and customers are not required to disclose card details with every purchase. Consumers can set up a MasterPass account by visiting MasterCard's website, and signing up with a participating bank such as Bank of East Asia, China Construction Bank, Dah Sing Bank and DBS Bank.



 To offer a more convenient and faster checkout, Visa launched its online payment service, Visa Checkout, in December 2015. This service allows users to pay for online purchases via their smartphones. Visa Checkout stores the user's personal information and uses a username and password for authentication, in order to streamline the ordering process. The service enables consumers to make purchases by using a smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC, and consumers are not required to leave the merchant's website to complete a transaction. PayPal had previously launched One Touch, a similar instant checkout service, in November 2015. One Touch can be activated from the PayPal website, and can be used to skip the login process at eligible websites to accelerate the payment process.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03688718-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


CANTON, Mass., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation (DDBRCF) today announced that six organizations have become Platinum Partners, representing the highest level of DDBRCF sponsorship available, including a combination of both cash and in-kind contributions. The six Platinum Partners are Maplehurst/Weston Food, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA (MZB), Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Reily Foods Company, Rich Family Foundation and S&D Coffee & Tea.

The Platinum Partners' generous investments in The DDBRCF totaling $1 million over two years, support grants to regional and national charitable organizations that directly impact the lives of sick and hungry children in local communities. In addition, many of the companies' employees will volunteer alongside Dunkin' Brands' employees and Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees at local events across the country including the Annual Week of Service, which will take place October 17-21, 2016.

"On behalf of The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation and Dunkin' Brands franchisees throughout the country, we welcome our Platinum Partners and thank them for their generous support," said Karen Raskopf, Dunkin' Brands' Chief Communications Officer and Co-Chair of The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. "Their contributions will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission to positively affect the lives of sick and hungry children in our communities."

In 2015, The DDBRCF awarded $1.5 million in grants to more than 100 local charities. More than 1,600 Dunkin' Brands employees, franchisees and employees of franchisees participated in 70 events at local food banks across the country to provide 450,000 meals to families. Since 2006, The DDBRCF has donated more than $11 million to charities that support sick and hungry kids as well as our troops at home and abroad. The DDBRCF raised a record $3.6 million in 2015 to support its mission of serving neighborhoods through hunger relief, children's health and safety initiatives. More details about the Foundation can be found in The DDBRCF's 2015 Neighborhood Impact Report, which can be accessed at http://www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation.

About The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation

The mission of The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation is to serve its neighborhoods by taking care of their basic needs: hunger, children's health and safety. The DDBRCF brings together a wide network of stakeholders, including franchisees, crew members and employees to serve their local communities. Launched in 2006, The DDBRCF has granted more than $11,000,000 to local charities.

CONTACT:

Lindsay Cronin

Dunkin' Brands

781-737-5200

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110525/NY08540LOGO

SOURCE The Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation

Related Links

http://www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The daughter of the President of the United States of America, Malia Obama, has announced she'll be going to Harvard University, but not until September of 2017. With the extra time between school and college, Obama is taking what's commonly called a "gap" year  a break between High School and University. And she'll be better off for it.

Taking a "gap year" is common practice across Europe and Australia, but something that's only just really starting to catch on in North America.

Experts have been extolling the virtues of the gap year for several years. Numerous studies indicate gap year takers tend to be more employable, more likely to succeed at their goals, build social networks easier, and in many cases, even have shorter paths to graduation.

Jurgen Himmelmann, CEO of The Global Work & Travel Co., says Obama's decision makes excellent sense. "Let's set aside the fact that she's the daughter of the current US President. Obviously, that's going to help. But, whether her last name is Obama or not, getting out and experiencing the real world, while being able to fund her travels without touching her savings money for future tuition is a very wise decision."

The Global Work & Travel Co. is one of the largest youth travel companies in the world, with offices in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. "Each summer we're seeing more and more bookings out of the United States," says Himmelmann. "Obama's decision will no doubt spark interest even further."

Himmelmann adds that to be truly effective, a gap year doesn't mean a student is sleeping in on a couch all day. "We've sent over twenty-thousand young travelers on life-altering and meaningful trips," says Himmelmann. "We routinely connect our travelers with roles as diverse as being au pairs / nannies in London, ski attendants in the Canadian Rockies, bar tenders on island resorts off Australia's Great Barrier Reef, rescuing sea turtles in Costa Rica, plus over 100 other experiences money can't buy. It's the opportunity to truly get out and experience a different part of the world that makes the difference in a gap year. Something you simply cannot do at home, by watching TV, or even at university."

Popular gap year activities include taking overseas seasonal jobs in the hospitality industry. "We have connections with resorts all over the globe who are constantly looking for gap-year-makers to diversify their workplace. If you're concerned about the ability to find work during a year away from school, there's no need to be with a network as established as ours," says Himmelmann.

Volunteer trips are also a popular choice. "You may not make money like you would working behind a bar, but there's no denying the life-changing perspective that six weeks working with orphaned baby monkeys in South Africa or rehabilitating neglected elephants and puppies in Thailand can give a person," he adds. "Never in the history of mankind has the world been so accessible, and affordable, and you'd be silly not to take advantage of that while you can."

For more information:

Juuso Klemola

+61 7 5528 4813

Email

SOURCE The Global Work & Travel Co.

Related Links

http://globalworkandtravel.com


Following a successful career as a lawyer, Kogut was inspired to leverage her legal and management experience to drive change for animals as the Executive Director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. In 2013, she brought her diverse background to the Petco Foundation, one of the largest non-profit organizations funding animal welfare work in the United States, to propel its impactful, lifesaving work forward.

"Since joining the Petco Foundation, Susanne's strong passion and leadership have had an enormous impact on the lives of countless animals and families across the country," said Charlie Piscitello, president, Petco Foundation and chief people officer, Petco. "She is a true steward of the Petco Foundation's mission to help create a better world for animals and the people who love and need them."

As one of the few women currently leading a national animal welfare organization, Kogut also advocates for the achievements of women in animal welfare and the critical role that female leaders will continue to play in solving complex issues in the pet industry.

She has spearheaded the Petco Foundation's efforts to work with key influencers in the pet industry, driving interesting and innovative collaborations to solve critical animal welfare issues. She also serves as an advisor to Petco regarding pet industry issues and their effects on animal welfare, pushing for impactful solutions that assure the best care for animals and are in the best interest of all parties.

"It is such an honor to be recognized by Pet Age with the 'Women of Influence' Award," said Susanne Kogut, executive director, Petco Foundation. "I've always been passionate about animal welfare and am privileged to collaborate with Petco as well as the thousands of animal welfare organizations and local communities that work tirelessly to improve the lives of pets nationwide."

For more information about the Petco Foundation, please visit www.PetcoFoundation.com, Twitter.com/PetcoFoundation and Facebook.com/PetcoFoundation. For more information about the Pet Age "Women of Influence" awards program and to see a complete list of honorees, please visit www.petage.com.

About Petco and the Petco Foundation

With more than 50 years of service to pet parents, Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,430 Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including more than 115 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop; prescription services and pet supplies from the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier, Drs. Foster & Smith; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has invested more than $150 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.

Petco Foundation: Reba Collins, (858) 886-6550, [email protected]

Edelman: Parinaz Farzin, (323) 202-1892, [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160510/365949

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160510/365950LOGO

SOURCE Petco Foundation

Related Links

http://www.PetcoFoundation.com


NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (TWN) (the "Fund") announced today the acceptance of the resignation of two of its Directors.

At its Annual Stockholders Meeting held on April 19, 2016 (the "Meeting"), Joe O. Rogers and Chih T. Cheung were not re-elected as Directors by stockholders. Pursuant to the Fund's by-laws, each of Joe O. Rogers and Chih T. Cheung were deemed to have tendered to the Board his resignation as a Director, with such resignation to take effect 30 days after the date of the Meeting unless the Board unanimously decided to reject that Director's tender of resignation, in which case the Director would continue in office until his death, resignation or removal or until his successor shall have been elected and shall have been qualified.

After considering the implications of the failure of Joe O. Rogers and Chih T. Cheung to be re-elected by stockholders, the Board regretfully accepted the resignation of Mr. Cheung. The Board also unanimously decided that, in view of the need to select a new Chairman to replace Mr. Rogers and to provide a period of transition of the Chairmanship from Mr. Rogers to the new Chairman, it would not accept the deemed tender of resignation by Mr. Rogers but would accept his resignation effective at the conclusion of the Board's meeting in October 2016.

The Fund is a diversified closed-end investment company, which seeks long term capital appreciation primarily through investments in equity securities listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Shares of the Fund are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "TWN."

For additional information on the Fund, including information on the Fund's holdings, visit the Fund's website at www.thetaiwanfund.com or call 1-877-864-5056.

SOURCE The Taiwan Fund, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.thetaiwanfund.com


The Maternal Assessment Center offers advanced services to women who need special care during pregnancy. Nursing specialists from the Maternal Assessment Center work with each patient and her personal physician to manage specific conditions, such as the onset of labor, obstetrical and gynecologic conditions, and surgical emergencies. If necessary, the Maternal Assessment Center will provide the patient with direct admission to the hospital's Labor & Delivery unit.

"The Maternal Assessment Center's expansion provides our patients and their families with a warm and comforting environment during a stressful time," said Ashley McClellan, The Woman's Hospital of Texas Chief Executive Officer. "Our goal is to continue to provide women with resources to enhance their pregnancy care and promote positive outcomes."

The Woman's Hospital of Texas is the premier facility for pregnant women in Texas. The Maternal Assessment Center expansion allows The Woman's Hospital of Texas to better serve the women of Houston and outlying communities.

About The Woman's Hospital of Texas

The Woman's Hospital of Texas opened in 1976, and has remained the state's premier facility dedicated to the health of women and newborns. With the recent addition of the Pediatric Center, the hospital has expanded that level of high-quality care to include their youngest patients. Located near the Texas Medical Center in the heart of Houston, The Woman's Hospital of Texas offers 397 licensed beds, including a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 650 board-certified physicians, The Woman's Hospital of Texas offers expertise and an outstanding level of care in breast health, imaging, gynecology, obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy and minimally-invasive surgery. The Woman's Hospital of Texas is accredited by The Joint Commission. It has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG), as a NAFC Center of Excellence: Continence Care in Women and is a designated Baby-Friendly Facility. For more information, visit our website at www.WomansHospital.com.

About HCA Gulf Coast Division

HCA Gulf Coast Division is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency centers, and diagnostic imaging facilities. It offers a complete continuum of specialized health programs and services that meet the needs of Greater Houston and South Texas' residents and businesses. HCA affiliated facilities in the Gulf Coast Division include: 13 hospitals, 8 ambulatory centers, 7 off-campus emergency centers, and a regional transfer center that provides one-phone-call access and support for patient transfers into and out of the HCA Gulf Coast Division Affiliated Hospitals, as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. For more information, visit our website at www.HCAGulfCoast.com.

Debra Burbridge

Vice President of Marketing

713-852-1506 office

281-851-6275 cell

[email protected]

Kim Mathes

Marketing Director

713-852-1528 office

832-294-1064 cell

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366923

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121205/DA24802LOGO-b

SOURCE The Woman's Hospital of Texas

Related Links

http://www.WomansHospital.com


Oct. 20, 1930  May 8, 2016

Clydene (Smith) Serpa died peacefully Sunday, May 8, 2016. She was 85 years old.

Clydene was born on Oct. 20, 1930, to Clyde and Eulice Smith and was the youngest of their four children. She married Gordon Tex Serpa on Sept. 8, 1960.

From early on Clydene was a natural in front of a camera. After high school she signed with a Portland based modeling agency and began a career as a professional model. As time went on Clydene left the limelight of modeling to pursue her other passion of arts and crafts which led to her opening Clydenes Floral Craftory.

In the early 70s she left the big city life and moved to St. Louis, Oregon, a small farming community outside of Woodburn. Not really cut out for the farming life, she went back to school to get her teaching certificate in early childhood development. After working for several years at the Woodburn Daycare she moved to Albany in 1983 to be near her son and first grandchild.

Clydene is survived by her son, Scott and wife Frances Serpa; grandchildren Jennifer Medina, Carl Serpa and David Serpa; as well as three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; sisters Ramona LaBarre and Donna Mae Loders; brother Stafford Smith; daughter-in-law Glenda Serpa; and granddaughter Mary Serpa.

A viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Fisher Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Finley Sunset Hills Cemetery in Beaverton.

Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
SUGAR LAND, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC), a leading provider of high purity specialty hydrocarbons and waxes, today announced that it will webcast its 2016 Annual Stockholders' Meeting on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Central. The meeting is being held at the Sugar Land Marriott in Sugar Land, Texas.

The live broadcast of the meeting can be accessed through the following link: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=119671. The live and archived webcast of the meeting will also be available on the Investors' section of the Company's website: www.trecora.com

About Trecora Resources (TREC)

TREC owns and operates a facility located in southeast Texas, just north of Beaumont, which specializes in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing. TREC also owns and operates a leading manufacturer of specialty polyethylene waxes and provider of custom processing services located in the heart of the Petrochemical complex in Pasadena, Texas. In addition, the Company is the original developer and a 35% owner of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co., a Saudi Arabian joint stock company.

Investor Relations Contact:

Don Markley

The Piacente Group

212-481-2050

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150106/167307LOGO

SOURCE Trecora Resources

Related Links

http://www.trecora.com


AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unique Fabricating, Inc. ("Unique" or the "Company")(NYSE MKT: UFAB), which engineers and manufactures multi-material foam, rubber, and plastic components utilized in noise, vibration and harshness management and air/water sealing applications for the automotive and industrial appliance market, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended April 3, 2016.

First Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments (1)

Revenue of $40.0 million in the first quarter 2016 versus $32.4 million in the first quarter 2015, an increase of 23.3%, quarter-over-quarter

in the first quarter 2016 versus in the first quarter 2015, an increase of 23.3%, quarter-over-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $4.4 million , including $1.2 million for non-cash charges specifically related to depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock awards, versus $3.5 million in the year ago period, including $0.9 million for non-cash charges specifically related to depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock awards (2)

, including for non-cash charges specifically related to depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock awards, versus in the year ago period, including for non-cash charges specifically related to depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock awards Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.21 versus $0.17 in the year ago period (2)

versus in the year ago period Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share payable on June 7, 2016 for stockholders of record as of May 31, 2016

per share payable on for stockholders of record as of Subsequent to quarter-end closed accretive and synergistic acquisition of Intasco Corporation and Intasco USA Inc. (together "Intasco"), to broaden solutions offering, production capabilities and expand reach into new markets

(1) In the first quarter of 2016, Unique's results were for a thirteen week quarter ended April 3, 2016, compared to a twelve week quarter ended March 29, 2015. As a result, the two periods may not be directly comparable. (2) For a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted diluted earnings per share please refer to the financial tables below.

"This was a strong start to 2016 for Unique, and we continue to be encouraged by favorable industry trends in both the automotive and industrial markets," said John Weinhardt, Chief Executive Officer. "The acquisition of Intasco, which closed on April 29, 2016, significantly broadens our solution offerings, production capabilities and expands our reach into new markets. The specialized processes and customized nature of Intasco's offerings provide an attractive, high-margin growth opportunity to augment our financial performance and further capitalize on the operating leverage inherent in our business model, which we believe, will enable meaningful profitability expansion and increased free cash flow."

Weinhardt added, "The favorable industry tailwinds for greater fuel efficiency and the need for quieter vehicles continue to drive demand for our multi-material foam, rubber and plastic components. We remain focused on the innovation of new products that support the organic growth of our business with both existing and new customers, while opportunistically evaluating strategic acquisitions, like Intasco, that augment our product portfolio and accelerate long-term growth."

First Quarter Financial Summary

In the first quarter of 2016, Unique's results were for a thirteen week quarter ended period April 3, 2016 compared to a twelve week quarter period ended March 29, 2015. As a result, the two periods may not be directly comparable.

Total revenue for the quarter ended April 3, 2016 increased to $40.0 million, up 23.3%, or $7.6 million from $32.4 million during the same period last year. The increase was driven by the acquisition of Great Lakes Foam Technologies, Inc. which closed on August 31, 2015, as well as from the introduction of new products and increased market penetration.

Gross profit for the quarter period ended April 3, 2016 was $9.6 million, or 24.0% of total revenue, compared to $7.9 million, or 24.4% of total revenues, for the corresponding period last year. The slight decrease in gross margin was primarily due to a change in product mix and reduced labor productivity.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended April 3, 2016 was $4.4 million compared to $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase is primarily a result of earnings generated from higher sales in this year. Please refer to the financial tables below for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended April 3, 2016 was $0.21 compared to $0.17 in the first quarter of 2015. The increase is primarily a result of earnings generated from higher sales in this year, partially offset by an increase in shares outstanding as a result of the company's initial public offering in July 2015. The diluted weighted average shares outstanding increased from approximately 7.0 million in the first quarter last year to approximately 9.8 million this year. Please refer to the financial tables below for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results.

Net income for the quarter ended April 3, 2016 was $1.8 million, or $0.19 per basic and diluted share, compared to $1.2 million, or $0.18 per basic and $0.17 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015.

Further non-cash purchase accounting impacts associated with the Company's acquisitions are detailed in the Purchase Accounting Impacts and Other Effects table below accompanying this release.

Balance Sheet Summary

As of April 3, 2016, the Company had approximately $1,450,000 in cash and cash equivalents, as compared to January 3, 2016, when the Company had $727,000.

Total debt outstanding as of April 3, 2016 was $33.5 million compared to $31.0 million as of January 3, 2016.

As of January 3, 2016, the Company had $7.0 million of available unused capacity, further subject to borrowing base restrictions and outstanding letters of credit, under its $25.0 million revolving credit facility.

As previously announced, on April 29, 2016 Unique Fabricating, NA, Inc. and Unique-Intasco Canada, and Citizens Bank, National Association, acting as a syndication agent with other lenders, entered into a new senior secured credit facility providing for borrowings of up to the aggregate principal amount of $62.0 million, consisting of a revolving line of credit up to $30.0 million to Unique Fabricating, NA, Inc., a $17.0 million principal amount Term Loan to Unique Fabricating, NA, Inc., and a $15.0 million principal amount Term Loan to Unique-Intasco Canada. These borrowings were used to finance the acquisition of Intasco and to repay the Company's existing senior credit facility, which was terminated.

2016 Outlook

As previously announced, for the base business, management expects:

Full year 2016 revenue of $160 million to $163 million

Full year 2016 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.84 to $0.87

Full year 2016 adjusted EBITDA of $18.0 million to $18.5 million

This outlook has not been updated following the Intasco acquisition which closed on April 29, 2016. As previously announced, Intasco generated approximately $17.8 million in revenues, with net income of approximately $2.6 million and EBITDA of approximately $3.6 million, based on unaudited financial results for the 12 month period ended January 31, 2016.

The Company expects to provide an update on their 2016 outlook to reflect this acquisition when a full financial review has been completed.

Declaration of Dividends

Unique's Board of Directors approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share on May 12, 2016. The dividend will be paid on June 7, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 31, 2016.

Quarterly Results Conference Call

Unique will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the call, please dial 1-888-510-1765 (toll-free) or 1-719-457-2661 and reference conference ID 8211064. The conference call will also be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://uniquefab.investorroom.com.

Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website for at least 90 days. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available from 12:00PM ET on May 12, 2016 until 11:59PM ET on May 19, 2016 by dialing 1-877-870-5176 (United States) or 1-858-384-5517 (international) and using the pin number 8211064.

About Unique Fabricating, Inc.

Unique Fabricating, Inc. (NYSE MKT: UFAB) engineers and manufactures components for customers in the automotive and industrial appliance market. The Company's solutions are comprised of multi-material foam, rubber, and plastic components and utilized in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) management, acoustical management, water and air sealing, decorative and other functional applications. Unique leverages proprietary manufacturing processes including die cutting, thermoforming, compression molding, fusion molding, and RIM injection molding of polyuerethane to manufacture a wide range of products including air management products, heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), seals, fender stuffers, air ducts, acoustical insulation, door water shields, gas tank pads, light gaskets, topper pads, mirror gaskets and glove box liners. The Company is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.uniquefab.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's or the Company's industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements including statements relating to the Company's 2016 Outlook to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by this press release. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, our expectations about revenue, EBITDA, and earnings per share. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended January 3, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and in particular the Section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Unique Fabricating does not intend to update this information, unless required by law. Reference to the Company's website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon into this press release.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share in this press release to provide a supplemental measure of our operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, non-recurring integration expense, non-cash stock awards, transaction fees related to our acquisitions, and restructuring expenses. We calculate Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share based upon earnings before non-cash stock awards, non-recurring expenses, transaction fees, and restructuring expenses, including the tax impact associated with these adjusting items. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are useful performance measures used by us to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance and earnings on a consistent basis from period-to-period and to provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than measures under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) can provide alone. Our board and management also use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations, and as a performance evaluation metric in determining achievement of certain compensation programs and plans for Company management. In addition, the financial covenants in our senior secured credit facility are based on Adjusted EBITDA, as presented in this press release, subject to dollar limitations on certain adjustments.

Investor Contact:

Hayden IR

Brett Maas/Rob Fink

646-536-7331/646-415-8972

[email protected]

UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)









Thirteen Weeks

Ended April 3,

2016

Twelve Weeks

Ended March 29,

2015 Net sales $ 39,982,504



$ 32,430,507

Cost of sales 30,382,558



24,506,645

Gross profit 9,599,946



7,923,862

Selling, general, and administrative expenses 6,554,601



5,243,437

Restructuring expenses 35,054





Operating income 3,010,291



2,680,425

Non-operating income (expense)





Other income 49



7,294

Interest expense (341,122)



(859,354)

Total non-operating expense (341,073)



(852,060)

Income  before income taxes 2,669,218



1,828,365

Income tax expense 835,567



635,629

Net income $ 1,833,651



$ 1,192,736

Net income per share





Basic $ 0.19



$ 0.18

Diluted $ 0.19



$ 0.17



UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets



(Unaudited)





April 3,

2016

January 3,

2016 Assets





Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,449,494



$ 726,898

Accounts receivable  net 25,851,332



20,480,186

Inventory  net 13,807,396



14,585,611

Prepaid expenses and other current assets:





Prepaid expenses and other 1,393,465



1,494,697

Refundable taxes 



55,477

Deferred tax asset 



1,063,721

Assets held for sale 2,033,327



2,033,327

Total current assets 44,535,014



40,439,917

Property, plant, and equipment  net 18,985,893



18,761,178

Goodwill 19,213,958



19,213,958

Intangible assets 19,434,212



20,139,213

Other assets





Investments  at cost 1,054,120



1,054,120

Deposits and other assets 124,958



120,742

Total assets $ 103,348,155



$ 99,729,128

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity





Current liabilities





Accounts payable $ 12,955,977



$ 11,430,662

Current maturities of long-term debt 2,644,310



2,519,069

Income taxes payable 643,242





Accrued compensation 2,143,613



2,283,833

Other accrued liabilities 827,487



1,159,028

Other liabilities 44,359





Total current liabilities 19,258,988



17,392,592

Long-term debt  net of current portion 13,152,393



13,906,993

Line of credit 17,695,240



14,595,093

Other long-term liabilities





Deferred tax liability 4,695,628



5,774,452

Other liabilities 



46,874

Total liabilities 54,802,249



51,716,004

Stockholders' Equity





Common stock, $0.001 par value  15,000,000 shares authorized and 9,626,431 and 9,591,860 issued and outstanding at April 3, 2016 and January 3, 2016, respectively 9,627



9,592

Additional paid-in-capital 44,495,238



44,352,188

Retained earnings 4,041,041



3,651,344

Total stockholders' equity 48,545,906



48,013,124

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 103,348,155



$ 99,729,128



UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



Thirteen Weeks Ended April 3, 2016

Twelve Weeks Ended March 29, 2015 Cash flows from operating activities





Net income $ 1,833,651



$ 1,192,736

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 1,132,356



847,040

Amortization of debt issuance costs 24,780



74,270

Loss on sale of assets 3,067



8,333

Bad debt expense 31,837



34,219

(Gain) loss on derivative instrument (2,515)



18,560

Stock option expense 39,098



5,908

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation (34,900)





Deferred income taxes (15,103)



225,778

Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:





Accounts receivable (5,402,983)



(2,251,575)

Inventory 778,215



(346,050)

Prepaid expenses and other assets 152,493



45,510

Accounts payable 741,232



1,262,869

Accrued and other liabilities 171,481



13,462

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (547,291)



1,131,060

Cash flows from investing activities





Purchases of property and equipment (655,136)



(1,150,048)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 



500

Net cash used in investing activities (655,136)



(1,149,548)

Cash flows from financing activities





Net change in bank overdraft 784,082



285,380

Payments on debt and in-kind interest (629,678)



(4,458)

Proceeds from revolving credit facilities 3,075,686



398,970

Expenses of in process equity offering 



(371)

Post acquisition payments for Unique Fabricating 



(755,018)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants 103,987





Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation 34,900





Distribution of cash dividends (1,443,954)





Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 1,925,023



(75,497)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 722,596



(93,985)

Cash and cash equivalents  Beginning of period 726,898



756,044

Cash and cash Equivalents  end of period $ 1,449,494



$ 662,059

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow Information 

cash paid for





Interest $ 318,483



$ 438,420

Income taxes $ 75,965



$ 188,000

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow Information 

non cash investing and financing activities for





Accretion on redeemable common stock $ 



$ 754,816



UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA



Thirteen Weeks

Ended April 3,

2016

Twelve Weeks

Ended March 29,

2015 GAAP Net income $ 1,833,651



$ 1,192,736

Plus: Interest expense, net 359,086



859,354

Plus: Income tax expense 835,567



635,629

Plus: Depreciation and amortization 1,132,356



847,070

Plus: Non-cash stock award 39,099



5,908

Plus: Non-recurring integration expenses 12,486





Plus: Transaction fees 185,375





Plus: Restructuring expenses 35,054





Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,432,674



$ 3,540,697



UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share



Thirteen Weeks

Ended April 3,

2016

Twelve Weeks

Ended March 29,

2015 GAAP Net income $ 1,833,651



$ 1,192,736

Plus: Non-cash stock award 39,099



5,908

Plus: Non-recurring integration expenses 12,486





Plus: Transaction fees 185,375





Plus: Restructuring expenses 35,054





Less: Tax impact (85,151)



(2,054)

Adjusted Net income $ 2,020,514



$ 1,196,590









Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 9,833,049



7,006,590

Net income per share





Diluted - GAAP $ 0.19



$ 0.17

Diluted - Adjusted $ 0.21



$ 0.17



UNIQUE FABRICATING, INC. Purchase Accounting Impacts and Other Effects



Thirteen Weeks

Ended April 3,

2016

Twelve Weeks

Ended March 29,

2015 Non-cash purchase accounting impacts





Customer relationships amortization $ 605,175



$ 438,308

Trade name amortization 55,664



51,382

Non-compete amortization 44,162



41,631

Less: Tax impact (220,694)



(184,714)

Net income effect $ 484,307



$ 346,607









Net income per share impact





GAAP - Basic $ 0.05



$ 0.05

GAAP - Diluted $ 0.05



$ 0.05



SOURCE Unique Fabricating, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.uniquefab.com


ARLINGTON, Va., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ASI Government (ASI) announced today that the company has won a five-year, $461 million indefinite-delivery, indefinitely-quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the U.S. Army. The contract is known as Program Management Support Services 3 (PMSS3).

Under PMSS3, ASI will support the Army Program Executive Office (PEO) Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) headquarters, as well as its directorates, project and product offices, and related organizations. Support services include:

Project/product management

Business process reengineering (BPR)

Information systems security

Contingency planning

Physical security

Enterprise design, integration and consolidation

Systems operation and maintenance

Integrated logistics support

Dr. Timothy W. Cooke, ASI's President and CEO, said, "We are truly honored to provide program management support to the Army PEO EIS. ASI's performance-based approaches will help make PEO EIS a leader in achieving desired information technology (IT) acquisition outcomes in its portfolio of communications, logistics, medical, finance, personnel and training, and procurement solutions. We look forward to working on these vital programs."

PEO EIS enables information dominance by developing, acquiring, integrating and deploying IT systems to meet the Army's demands today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. ASI's program management professionals are trusted advisors who help assess baselines, create and implement project plans, manage risk and change, and measure program performance.

About ASI Government

In 2016, ASI celebrates its 20th anniversary. For two decades, the firm has supported federal civilian, defense, homeland security and intelligence community program and procurement organizations in harnessing powerful, but often underutilized, acquisition levers to cut costs and improve performance. ASI's unique approach couples program management and procurement consulting with award-winning knowledge tools. ASI's market-leading consulting offerings include Procurement Transformation, Category Management and paradigms co-created with the government: Performance-Based Acquisition and Acquisition of the Future. ASI knowledge, productivity and learning tools include the Virtual Acquisition Office, Applied Learning Online and Tailored Acquisition Portal, which collectively serve more than 45,000 eligible password holders across 130 federal organizations. Find ASI on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE ASI Government
CONWAY, Ark., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyenalyze, the leader in CPA-friendly restaurant back-office solutions, today announced that U.S. Pizza Company is using the company's CPA-friendly back office restaurant solution  comprised of POS-connect PC applications and mobile apps. Created through a collaboration between restaurant managers and CPA's, the Eyenalyze platform is built to provide the powerful business tools usually reserved for national chains to regional and independent restaurant operators.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas with 14 locations, U.S. Pizza Company has garnered numerous "Best of" and Reader's Choice awards for their delicious pizza, salads, their patio dining and even their cold beer.

"Eyenalyze is a product I've been looking for my entire 30 years in the restaurant business. Seeing profit and losses of all 14 locations on a daily basis will save our company thousands of dollars every year," said Drew Weber, chief operating officer, U.S. Pizza. "In addition Eyenalyze allows me to quickly teach managers of our 14 U.S. Pizza locations to manage their breakeven point and how menu mix affect the store."

Eyenalyze provides real-time analytics and key indicators such as Daily Net Sales, Weekly Cash Flow, Ingredient Cost Controls, Labor, and Daily Gross Profit to restaurant owners and managers via the web and mobile phone. Eyenalyze's patent pending API retrieves daily POS sales numbers as well as controllable profit data directly from suppliers including food service, payroll, alcohol and credit card companies. Eyenalyze "crunches" the data nightly, creating an accurate and up-to-date picture of daily restaurant profitability which can be exported into accounting software with ease, saving time and providing useful data that can help lower operating costs. The easy-to-read reports are accessible online at any time through any web or mobile device.

Eyenalyze's companion iOS app, compatible with both iPhone and iPad, incorporates all aspects of back-office management software into a clean, user-friendly experience. With Eyenalyze for iOS, restaurant managers and owners can easily take a glance at daily sales, food cost, labor, bottom-line and more all from their mobile device.

"We're honored to have Fillin Station Grill using Eyenalyze to optimize their business while providing clear operational visibility and, in turn, increased profitability," said Michael Rasmussen CPA, CEO of Eyenalyze. "Whether you are a single location operation or a multi-state franchise, we provide a powerful set of CPA-friendly business management tools to restaurant owners and managers enabling them to more easily compete with national chains."

Eyenalyze features:

Provides clear, daily profit analysis with your morning coffee

Provides easy-to-read reports compiled from POS data

Provides at-a-glance monitoring of deliveries, invoices, and food cost

Inventory utilities assist with store organization, supply count and menu plate costing

Manage employee shift, rate and salary

Fully compatible with major vendors including Ben E. Keith , Performance Food Group, US Foods and Sysco Corp

Pricing and availability

To learn more or to schedule a free demo of Eyenalyze, please visit Eyenalyze.com. Eyenalyze for iOS is available for all subscription customers as a free download at the iTunes App Store. To participate in the Eyenalyze ecosystem as a reseller, data provider, or customer, please visit Eyenalyze on the web at www.Eyenalyze.com.

About Eyenalyze, Inc.

Founded in 2013, Conway, Arkansas-based Eyenalyze is the first company to provide complete near real-time analytics developed by restaurant operators, for operators and advisors. Eyenalyze's proprietary, patent-pending API retrieves daily updates from POS, Vendor/Supplier, Ingredient/Menu, Payroll, Credit Card, and Banking systems. Eyenalyze tools, accessible via web or mobile device, enable restaurants to optimize nearly all back office operations, increasing gross and profit margins and creating a platform for success that is not often available to the small independent operator.

SOURCE Eyenalyze

Related Links

http://www.Eyenalyze.com


MUMBAI, India, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- THL Zinc Limited, an overseas subsidiary of the Company, has agreed to extend the maturity of the loan of USD 1.25 billion, which was taken for a term of two years in May, 2014, from Cairn India Holdings Limited, an overseas subsidiary of Cairn India Limited (CIL), subsidiary of the Company, for a further period of two years.

The extension is on arm's length at a revised rate of interest of LIBOR + 450 bps in the first year and at LIBOR + 475 bps in the second year, on terms that are market standards including change of control provisions and will continue to be secured by a guarantee from Vedanta Resources Plc.

About Vedanta Limited (Formerly Sesa Sterlite Ltd.)

Vedanta Limited is a diversified natural resources company, whose business primarily involves producing oil & gas, zinc - lead - silver, copper, iron ore, aluminium and commercial power. The company has a presence across India, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Ireland and Liberia.

Vedanta Limited is the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, a London-listed company. Governance and Sustainable Development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company is conferred with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 'Sustainable Plus Platinum label', ranking among the top 10 most sustainable companies in India. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information please log on to www.vedantalimited.com

Vedanta Limited

(Formerly known as Sesa Sterlite Limited)

Vedanta, 75, Nehru Road,

Vile Parle (East), Mumbai - 400 099

www.vedantalimited.com

Registered Office:

Sesa Ghor, 20 EDC Complex,

Patto, Panaji (Goa) - 403 001

CIN: L13209GA1965PLC000044

Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements"  that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should" or "will." Forwardlooking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different that those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:

Communications

Roma Balwani Tel: +91 22 6646 1000 President  Group Communications,Sustainability & CSR [email protected]



Investor Relations

Ashwin Bajaj Tel: +91 22 6646 1531 Director  Investor Relations [email protected]



Sunila Martis

Manager  Investor Relations





Vishesh Pachnanda

Manager  Investor Relations



Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150422/740375

SOURCE Vedanta Limited

Related Links

http://www.vedantalimited.com


NAMUR, Belgium, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE MKT: VNRX) today announced that it is initiating a study with DKFZ, the German Cancer Research Center, to evaluate VolitionRx's NuQ blood tests for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

This collaboration follows VolitionRx's announcements last year of highly encouraging data from two preliminary studies for pancreatic cancer detection. Results from a 59-patient trial with Lund University in Sweden, published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics, demonstrated a detection rate of 92% (23 of 25) of pancreatic cancer cases at 100% specificity using a panel of four NuQ biomarker assays and the classical CA19-9 cancer biomarker. A second study with Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen in Denmark, demonstrated that a panel of two NuQ biomarker assays and the classical cancer marker CEA (carcino-embryonic antigen) in an age and gender adjusted panel detected 95% (19 out of 20) of pancreatic cancers at 84% specificity.

Professor Hermann Brenner, epidemiologist at DKFZ said, "VolitionRx has demonstrated some very encouraging early results for pancreatic detection using the Company's NuQ blood-based diagnostic tool. This larger trial with DKFZ will provide a more extensive opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of Nucleosomics technology for pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a high-unmet medical need worldwide."

Dr. Mark Eccleston, VolitionRx's Business Development Director, said, "We are delighted to be working with a world class institution such as DKFZ to advance our pancreatic cancer tests. Our preliminary studies indicate that NuQ tests can identify disease-associated nucleosomes in the blood of patients with pancreatic cancer, and differentiate those from healthy populations as well as those with other benign pancreatic diseases. Our goal at VolitionRx is to complete this trial by the end of this year and if successful, to begin the regulatory work to sell clinically in 2017, starting in Europe."

VolitionRx's proprietary NuQ blood tests are based on biomarker assays that can identify fragments of chromosomes, called nucleosomes, circulating in the blood and analyze them for epigenetic modifications that signal that cancer is present.

The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is currently just 7.7%1, due to late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of the cancer. Screening for this cancer is only currently recommended for individuals considered at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer, as the only available methods are expensive or invasive techniques.2 CA19-9, the only blood based biomarker for pancreatic cancer, has relatively low accuracy and is therefore used mainly for monitoring treatment response and disease progression. Despite this limitation, there are still over 46 million CA 19-9 tests performed in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Japan annually.3 Either replacing or augmenting this test would be the first target for VolitionRx in bringing a pancreatic blood test to market.

VolitionRx's Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Reynolds, added, "VolitionRx plans to launch its first commercial product, a blood test for colorectal cancer, later this year. Because our two preliminary trials for pancreatic cancer have produced such outstanding results, we anticipate this will be followed soon after by a NuQ panel test for pancreatic cancer. This trial with DKFZ allows us to expand our analysis very quickly, with results expected by the end of the year, in a large sample set with a world class institution. If successful, this would be a game changing breakthrough in the diagnosis of this very deadly cancer."

Results from on-going clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of VolitionRx's biomarker assays, include:

Colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous colorectal adenomas

Interim results from a 4,800 patient retrospective symptomatic population study (Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen , Denmark), released September 9, 2015 : Panel of four NuQ  biomarker assays detected 81% of colorectal cancers at 78% specificity and 67% of high-risk adenomas. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/531/volitionrx-demonstrates-nuqr-blood-test-detects-81-of)

, Denmark), released : Panel of four NuQ biomarker assays detected 81% of colorectal cancers at 78% specificity and 67% of high-risk adenomas. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/531/volitionrx-demonstrates-nuqr-blood-test-detects-81-of) Results from a completed prospective study of 121 patients referred for colonoscopy (CHU Dinant Godinne - UCL Namur, in Belgium ), released December 8, 2015 : Panel of four NuQ  biomarker assays detected 91% of colorectal cancer cases at 90% specificity and also detected 67% of high-risk adenomas. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/542/volitionrx-demonstrates-more-than-90-accuracy-for)

), released : Panel of four NuQ biomarker assays detected 91% of colorectal cancer cases at 90% specificity and also detected 67% of high-risk adenomas. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/542/volitionrx-demonstrates-more-than-90-accuracy-for) Results from a retrospective study of 430 patients referred for colonoscopy (Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen , Denmark), released February 17, 2016 : Panel of five NuQ biomarker assays demonstrated 75% accuracy in detecting highest-risk pre-cancerous colorectal adenomas and also detected 86% of early (stage I) colorectal cancers at 78% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/550/volitionrx-demonstrates-75-accuracy-in-detecting)

Pancreatic cancer

Results from a 59-patient retrospective study ( Lund University, Sweden ) published in Clinical Epigenetics online journal (http://www.clinicalepigeneticsjournal.com/content/pdf/s13148-015-0139-4.pdf), October 7, 2015 : Panel of four NuQ  biomarker assays plus CA 19-9 classical biomarker detected 92% of pancreatic cancers at 100% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/534/volitionrx-announces-publication-of-results-from-pancreatic)

University, ) published in Clinical Epigenetics online journal (http://www.clinicalepigeneticsjournal.com/content/pdf/s13148-015-0139-4.pdf), : Panel of four NuQ biomarker assays plus CA 19-9 classical biomarker detected 92% of pancreatic cancers at 100% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/534/volitionrx-announces-publication-of-results-from-pancreatic) Interim results from a 4,800 patient retrospective symptomatic population study (Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen , Denmark), released October 22, 2015 : Panel of two NuQ biomarker assays and the classical cancer marker CEA (carcino-embryonic antigen) detected 95% of pancreatic cancers at 84% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/535/volitionrx-demonstrates-nuq-blood-test-detects-95-of)

Prostate Cancer

Results from a 537-patient retrospective study (Surrey Cancer Research Institute at University of Surrey, United Kingdom ), released April 20, 2016 at the AACR Annual Meeting: A single NuQ biomarker assay detected 71% of early stage I prostate cancer cases and 86% of late stage IV prostate cancer at 93% specificity, which is significantly higher than the commonly-used PSA test reported to detect 53% of prostate cancers at 73% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/561/volitionrx-announces-study-results-showing-nuq-blood-test)

Lung cancer

Interim results (73 of 240 patients collected and assessed) from a prospective study (Liege University Hospital, Belgium ), released November 19, 2015 : Panel of four NuQ biomarker assays detected 93% of lung cancers at 91% specificity and differentiated lung cancer from the common lung disease, COPD. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/540/volitionrx-demonstrates-nuq-blood-test-detects-lung)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Results from a retrospective study of 78 patients referred for colonoscopy (Liege University Hospital, Belgium ), released March 9, 2016 : Preliminary data demonstrated 86% accuracy in detecting Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a fatal lung disease, at 80% specificity. (http://www.volitionrx.com/news/press-releases/detail/551/preliminary-data-demonstrates-86-accuracy-in-detecting)

References

1. National Cancer Institute. "SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Pancreas Cancer." April 2016 . Accessed April 26, 2016. 2. Canto MI, Harinck F, Hruban RH, Offerhaus GJ, Poley JW, Kamel I, et al. International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening (CAPS) Consortium summit on the management of patients with increased risk for familial pancreatic cancer. Gut. 2013 Mar. 62(3):339-47 3. Research and Markets. CA 19-9: 2013-2018 Test Volume and Sales Forecasts by Country and Market Segment: Hospitals, Commercial Labs, POC Locations -- France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK, USA. November 2014.

About VolitionRx

VolitionRx is a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for cancer and other conditions. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid  an indication that disease is present.

VolitionRx's goal is to make the tests as common and simple to use, for both patients and doctors, as existing diabetic and cholesterol blood tests. VolitionRx's research and development activities are currently centered in Belgium as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market first in Europe, then in the U.S. and ultimately, worldwide.

Visit VolitionRx's website (http://www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube.

About DKFZ

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, or DKFZ, is the largest biomedical research institute in Germany. It is a world-renowned research institute engaged in basic and clinical research aimed at developing effective methods for cancer detection, prevention and therapy. With access to trial samples across clinical centers in Germany, DKFZ performs multiple Government funded and collaborative research projects with corporate partners.

Visit DKFZ's website (https://www.dkfz.de) for more information.

Media Contacts

Louise Day, VolitionRx

[email protected]

+44 (0) 7557 774620

Kirsten Thomas, The Ruth Group

[email protected]

+1 (508) 280-6592

Investor Contacts

Scott Powell, VolitionRx

[email protected]

+1 (646) 650-1351

Lee Roth, The Ruth Group

[email protected]

+1 (646) 536-7012

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release may be "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, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the effectiveness of the Company's bodily-fluid-based diagnostic tests as well as the Company's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. For instance, if we fail to develop and commercialize diagnostic products, we may be unable to execute our plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include the Company's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products in the clinical IVD market; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in the Company's development pipeline or any other diagnostic products the Company might develop; the Company will face fierce competition and the Company's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid technological change; and other risks identified in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Nucleosomics, NuQ and HyperGenomics and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE VolitionRx Ltd

Related Links

https://www.dkfz.de


Winner of the Last Gadget Standing at the 2016 internationally renowned Consumer Electronic Show, VUZE has been highly anticipated since for the first time it puts ordinary consumers as well as professional photographers and movie makers on an equal footing to create VR regardless of their budgets or technical knowhow.

Available at www.vuze.camera for $799, the pre-order bundle includes everything a person needs to capture and relive every part of the world around them in breathtaking detail. While people need to register a pre-order to secure this price, no payments will be taken until shipping begins in the fall. The bundle includes:

VUZE camera  a sleek attractive design within a point-and-shoot form-factor makes VUZE incredibly easy-to-use. Highly portable, lightweight and ergonomically designed, VUZE can fit into most trouser pockets!

Software Studio - offering near real-time processing and state-of-the-art stitching and at the push-of-a-button.

VR headset

A purposely engineered "selfie stick" which cleverly transforms into a tripod

Detachable, multiple purpose handle for additional holding options

Stylish carrying case for easy transportation and safe keeping

VUZE is a game changer for VR. It is like having two cameras in one, since it can easily generate 3D and 2D content and can seamless switch between both outputs. With 8 Full HD cameras for 2D content, it boasts superior quality to existing 2D 360 cameras, which typically use 2 to 4 cameras. Costing just $799, VUZE is truly a consumer option and at a fraction of the price of current 3D VR cameras that include the Nokia OZO ($60,000), the recently announced Facebook Surround 360 ($30,000) or Google Jump ($15,000).

It produces VR content in minutes with the VUZE Studio, which uses a powerful algorithm that automatically carries out a host of complex editing and stitching functions such as camera calibration, vignette, fisheye and perspective correction. This is done in moments and at a touch-of-a-button. Once created, people can share this content on any VR platform such as YouTube or Facebook or any VR headset. The VUZE software will automatically optimize the content for the platform with just one click.

"With VUZE, we are democratizing VR content creation and putting it in reach of everyday consumers," said Shahar Bin-Nun, CEO HumanEyes Technologies, the company behind VUZE. "Whether it's mini documentaries, garage band videos, capturing baby's first steps or a relatives wedding or birthday, VUZE allows people to capture and experience content in an utterly realistic way never thought possible."

VUZE has revolutionized and simplified every aspect of capturing, sharing and enjoying immersive content. Its key features include:

8 Full HD cameras that simultaneously capture videos and sound to facilitate full stereophonic and 360 spherical content in both 2D and 3D

Each camera uses lenses that capture 120 horizontal FOV and 180 vertical FOV that together generate 4K stereoscopic 3D 360 VR content

Portable, lightweight design. Dimensions 4.7"X4.7"X 1" (12 cm x 12 cm x 3 cm)

Remotely controlled by a dedicated iOS and Android app

Up to one hour of video capture

Renders easy-to-edit H.264 HD video files that can be transferred to any computer

Stylish design of the camera will be available in yellow, red, black and blue

Touch of the button post-product that offers near real time processing (one minute of processing for one minute of footage) and state-of-the-art stitching

Available on MAC and PC

"As a movie maker and storyteller, I am excited by the prospect of VR to engage audiences," said Nir Sa'ar, acclaimed director of Summertime. "With my short movie Summertime, VUZE helped me take this to a whole new level with the ability to transport my audience into the character's world, fully immersing them in the story as it unfolds. The simplicity and affordability of VUZE opens a world of possibility for other film makers and consumers alike. With such amazing technology open to everyone, content is only limited by our imagination."

You can see clips of Summertime here and other content created by VUZE can be seen here. If you watch online, you will see the 2D quality, but a VR headset is required to experience VUZE in its true 3D glory.

To order and be one of the first to receive VUZE, visit www.vuze.camera

About VUZE

VUZE was created by HumanEyes Technologies, a leader in photographic 3D and computer vision. Founded in 2000, and headquartered within the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, HumanEyes Technologies, currently holds over 70 patents in various fields of 3D associated technologies.

The company's leadership includes industry visionaries such as Prof. Shmuel Peleg, a world expert in computer vision and image processing and Benny Landa, known as the father of digital printing and former founder and CEO Indigo Digital Printing acquired by HP in 2002.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366665



HumanEyes Technologies Media Contacts:

Ian Twinn / Tandem Marketing Communications

[email protected]

(917) 306-7270



SOURCE VUZE

Related Links

http://www.vuze.camera


SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- YouAppi, a pioneer in data-driven mobile customer acquisition, has found that there is a tremendous variance in the download of travel apps according to country, region and season. This data is based on campaigns for 45 leading international travel apps running in 62 countries including Expedia, Hotels.com, Lyft, Gett, Yandex Taxi.

Travel apps are on the rise

Summer may be high season for travel but it's not the high season for app downloads in the US and Asia, according to research from YouAppi. In the US, travel app downloads peak in November  January, while in Asia, travel app downloads peak between September  November. Only in Europe do travel app downloads actual peak in the summer  June, July and August.

For a better visualization, view YouAppi's 'Travel Apps are on the rise' Infographic:

http://www.youappi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/YouAppi-Travel-Infographic.pdf

There are a number of reasons explaining this data. First, according to the Department of Transportation, in the US, the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's holiday period are among the busiest long-distance travel periods of the year. The Chinese New Year, an important holiday for traveling, undoubtedly contributed to the surge in travel app usage in November in Asia. Second, though summer is the peak traveling season, most trips are planned in advance and travel apps have been enhancing their functionality and usability in order to make them indispensable to travelers year-round. Among Americans, the winter months are also peak seasons for travel to southern destinations like Florida and the Caribbean.

Beyond this, companies in the travel industry are migrating communications and marketing to mobile apps. Uber is shifting customer service from email to in-app communications while Dutch airline KLM announced that customers can now receive flight confirmations, boarding cards, reminders, flight status updates, and customer service directly through the Facebook Messenger app.

The trend to mobile is supported by data from retargeter Criteo which found that 20-30% of travel bookings in 2015 were transacted via a mobile device. And for same-day hotel bookings, the percentage transacted via a mobile device climbs to 58%. Beyond browsing, mobile app conversion rates average 13% for travel apps, greater than the 11% conversion rate on desktop for travel websites.

With frequency of usage a key criterion for app success, travel app marketers have understood that their apps need to be used monthly if not weekly, year round. Therefore, travel app marketers have been marketing their apps throughout the year with year round content to generate continuous usage.

The only exception to the data presented was found in France, where travel app downloads peaked in December and were more evenly distributed throughout the year.

This data is based on hundreds of thousands of Travel App downloads in 62 countries for leading travel apps managed by YouAppi's teams in San Francisco and New York in the US, and in China, India, Israel, Singapore, Germany and the UK.

"With travel apps seeking to emulate the most successful and used apps  like Facebook, YouTube, Google Search and Pandora  which are used on a regular and continuous basis, we're seeing travel apps broadening their range of content and offers and marketing their apps for year-round usage," said Eyal Hilzenrat, YouAppi's VP Products & Partnerships.

Since 2012, YouAppi has been combining the power of machine learning with proprietary predictive algorithms, enabling the world's leading apps to find the right customers at the right conversion price across countries and verticals, based on post-install event analytics. The company's OneRun Platform conducts real-time multi variant analysis to understand the KPIs for each app. This is facilitated by the ongoing management of campaigns that deliver mobile app recommendations while analyzing over 250 terabytes of data daily. YouAppi drives customer acquisition via 15,000 campaigns for 450 leading advertisers, offering one single point to streamline mobile media buying.

About YouAppi

YouAppi is a fully managed solution for premium mobile brands, providing one single point to streamline their mobile media buying. YouAppi's OneRun platform combines the power of machine learning with our proprietary predictive algorithms, and cohort technology, to analyze the mobile content consumption patterns of over 1.5B users, converting data into profitable users. For more information, visit www.youappi.com.

Contact info:

Jennifer Shambroom

Chief Marketing Officer

YouAppi

t: +1-415-278-1727

e: [email protected]



Uriah Av-Ron

PR for YouAppi

www.YouAppi.com

t: +1-646-755-6120

e: [email protected]

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366775-INFO

SOURCE YouAppi

Related Links

http://www.youappi.com


SALT LAKE CITY, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Women Tech Council (www.womentechcouncil.org), a non-profit, today announced its 2016 industry partners. The partnerships enable opportunities, visibility, mentoring and networking for women in technology. The Women Tech Council was created 9 years ago to build a community of collaboration and performance around women in tech. Headquartered in Utah, where more then 5000 tech companies are located, the Women Tech Council has a community of more than 10,000 that work together for this cause.

"Our organization has always focused on the impact women have on the technology economy. The support for that focus is demonstrated by our list of partners. We bring companies and individuals, men and women, together to change cultures, increase retention, expand the pipeline and have impact on the bottom." Said Cydni Tetro, president and founder WTC and CEO 3DplusMe.

"I work everyday with our industry partners," said Sara Jones, VP Partnerships and founder and CEO IFINIDI, "they represent some of the best companies in tech. They are committed to women in technology because they recognize the impact that diverse teams have on the bottom line. Our partnership enables us to work together to make a real difference in companies today and for future women in tech".

The 2016 industry partner companies are:

Elite:

Adobe (www.adobe.com) changing the world through digital experiences. We help our customers create, deliver and optimize content and applications.

(www.adobe.com) changing the world through digital experiences. We help our customers create, deliver and optimize content and applications. Ancestry ( www.Ancestry.com) the world's largest online family history resource.

www.Ancestry.com) the world's largest online family history resource. Governor's Office of Economic Development (www.goed.utah.gov): Provider of rich business resources for the creation, growth and recruitment of companies to Utah and to increase tourism and film production in the state.

(www.goed.utah.gov): Provider of rich business resources for the creation, growth and recruitment of companies to and to increase tourism and film production in the state. Health Catalyst (www.healthcatalyst.com) Leaders in Healthcare Data Warehousing, Analytics, and Outcomes Improvement.

(www.healthcatalyst.com) Leaders in Healthcare Data Warehousing, Analytics, and Outcomes Improvement. Lucid Software (www.golucid.co) Lucid's lineup includes Lucidchart, the popular diagramming application used to create compelling and attractive visual communications, and Lucidpress, a recently launched publishing tool used to create print and digital content with ease.

(www.golucid.co) Lucid's lineup includes Lucidchart, the popular diagramming application used to create compelling and attractive visual communications, and Lucidpress, a recently launched publishing tool used to create print and digital content with ease. OC Tanner (www.octanner.com) a human resource consulting and services company that designs and helps implement employee recognition programs for clients in the U.S., Canada , India and Europe .

(www.octanner.com) a human resource consulting and services company that designs and helps implement employee recognition programs for clients in the U.S., , and . RizePoint (www.rizepoint.com) (Formerly Steton) is the global leader in software solutions that proactively safeguard enterprise compliancefor both internally-imposed standards and externally-imposed regulations.

Premier:

Domo (www.domo.com): A new form of business intelligence (BI) an executive management platform delivered as a service that helps managers and executives transform the way they run their business.

(www.domo.com): A new form of business intelligence (BI) an executive management platform delivered as a service that helps managers and executives transform the way they run their business. Grant Thornton (www.grantthornton.com): U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global audit, tax and advisory organizations.

(www.grantthornton.com): U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global audit, tax and advisory organizations. Instructure (www.instructure.com) makes software that makes smarter people. Products include Canvas LMS, Bridge and Canvas Network.

(www.instructure.com) makes software that makes smarter people. Products include Canvas LMS, Bridge and Canvas Network. Intrepid (www.intrepidagency.com) A strategic communication agency partnering with clients from diverse industries nationwide.

(www.intrepidagency.com) A strategic communication agency partnering with clients from diverse industries nationwide. Pelion Venture Partners (www.pelionvp.com) Pelion is an early stage venture capital firm empowering good ideas and the entrepreneurs behind them.

(www.pelionvp.com) Pelion is an early stage venture capital firm empowering good ideas and the entrepreneurs behind them. School Improvement Network ( www.schoolimprovement.com) creates online training resources that make good teachers great, and help change students' lives for the better.

creates online training resources that make good teachers great, and help change students' lives for the better. Verite (www.verite.com): A worldwide digital communications agency specialized in digital advertising campaigns.

(www.verite.com): A worldwide digital communications agency specialized in digital advertising campaigns. Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu) is an accredited national university offering online, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Innovation:

Ballard Spahr (www.ballardspahr.com): Law firm based in Salt Lake City with a focus on public finance and financial services.

(www.ballardspahr.com): Law firm based in with a focus on public finance and financial services. HireVue (www.hirevue.com) Provides video job interview technologies combined with recruitment screening and evaluation tools for employers.

(www.hirevue.com) Provides video job interview technologies combined with recruitment screening and evaluation tools for employers. Stoel Rives (www.stoel.com) Business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout the United States .

(www.stoel.com) Business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout . Tanner (www.tannerco.com): A public accounting firm, offering a wide array of tax, assurance, and consulting services.

(www.tannerco.com): A public accounting firm, offering a wide array of tax, assurance, and consulting services. TEKsystems (www.TEKsystems.com): A leading IT staffing and services company specializing in technical staff augmentation and direct placement services, IT project management and comprehensive workforce management solutions.

(www.TEKsystems.com): A leading IT staffing and services company specializing in technical staff augmentation and direct placement services, IT project management and comprehensive workforce management solutions. Truenorthlogic (www.truenorthlogic.com) is the K-12 expert in implementing actionable, web-based software solutions to support an educator's entire professional growth cycle

(www.truenorthlogic.com) is the K-12 expert in implementing actionable, web-based software solutions to support an educator's entire professional growth cycle Vivint (www.vivint.com): Vivint is the largest home automation company in North America and is dedicated to protecting families, saving energy, and simplifying lives.

(www.vivint.com): Vivint is the largest home automation company in and is dedicated to protecting families, saving energy, and simplifying lives. ViaWest (www.viawest.com): ViaWest is one of the largest privately-held data center and managed services providers in North America .

(www.viawest.com): ViaWest is one of the largest privately-held data center and managed services providers in . Xactware (www.xactware.com) Xactware Solutions provides computer software solutions for professionals involved in estimating all phases of building and repair.

Visionary:

Diversified Insurance Group (www.diversifiedinsurance.com) offers the property, casualty and healthcare risk management expertise you need to protect your assets and your employees - making your job easier without busting your budget.

(www.diversifiedinsurance.com) offers the property, casualty and healthcare risk management expertise you need to protect your assets and your employees - making your job easier without busting your budget. Durham Jones & Pinegar (www.djplaw.com): Offering a full range of legal services to a diverse client base, from large public companies to private corporations to individuals.

(www.djplaw.com): Offering a full range of legal services to a diverse client base, from large public companies to private corporations to individuals. eBay (www.ebay.com): The world's largest online marketplace, where practically anyone can buy and sell practically anything.

(www.ebay.com): The world's largest online marketplace, where practically anyone can buy and sell practically anything. Holland & Hart (www.hollandhart.com): Delivers integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes, from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 corporations.

(www.hollandhart.com): Delivers integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes, from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. MarketStar (www.marketstar.com): An established authority in strategic sales and marketing outsourcing, go-to-market systems and business intelligence.

(www.marketstar.com): An established authority in strategic sales and marketing outsourcing, go-to-market systems and business intelligence. Orbital ATK (www.orbitalatk.com): Development and application of space technologies for practical benefits here on Earth.

(www.orbitalatk.com): Development and application of space technologies for practical benefits here on Earth. Pluralsight (www.pluralsight.com) the global leader in high-quality online training for serious software developers and IT pros.

(www.pluralsight.com) the global leader in high-quality online training for serious software developers and IT pros. Utah Valley University College of Technology & Computing (http://www.uvu.edu/tc/) preparing students for successful careers or advanced study in a dynamic, technology-based, global environment.

(http://www.uvu.edu/tc/) preparing students for successful careers or advanced study in a dynamic, technology-based, global environment. The Advent Group (www.theadventgroup.com) Custom designed promotional products with exclusive brands: Promote your corporate brand in a way no one will forget.

(www.theadventgroup.com) Custom designed promotional products with exclusive brands: Promote your corporate brand in a way no one will forget. Verisage (www.verisage.us) We create value through technology. One simple concept drives all that we do  creating value for our clients.

If you are interested in learning more about working with the Women Tech Council please contact us at [email protected].

About Women Tech Council

Founded in 2007, the Women Tech Council is an organization that is focused on networking, mentoring, visibility and opportunities for women in technology. We provide leadership, resources, and mentoring for women while maintaining a strong bond with the business community supporting avenues for top technology talent and visible sponsorship opportunities. We support women in technology companies, women in technology roles in other companies, and women-owned and women-operated technology companies. We pride ourselves on recognizing women leaders and entrepreneurs in the technology business and supporting them.

For more information on Women Tech Council, visit: www.womentechcouncil.org

FOR INFORMATION: Kristin Wright, Women Tech Council, e-mail: [email protected], 951-262-1458

SOURCE Women Tech Council

Related Links

http://www.womentechcouncil.org


"We are pleased and honored to welcome Kyle to our Bank Board," said Randal R. Greene, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Kyle is well-recognized and a highly accomplished executive who brings a high level of expertise in healthcare real estate development; and we look forward to his leadership in assisting us with opportunities as we continue to build market share in Richmond."

Woolfolk is the managing partner of Woolfolk Properties, LLC, a commercial property management firm, as well as the managing partner of Woolfolk Medical Group, LLC, a healthcare real estate development company founded in 1989. He served as president of Woolfolk Construction, Inc., a commercial general construction firm headquartered in Richmond from 1991 to 2010. Projects of merit include: Medical Office Buildings and Surgical Centers at Bon Secours-St. Francis Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center and CJW Hospitals.

Woolfolk attended the School of Architecture and Building Science at Auburn University. He is currently Chairman of the Board for Bon Secours-Richmond Healthcare Foundation and has served as past president for YMCA of Midlothian, Midlothian Rotary, VCU-Business School Real Estate Circle of Excellence and Chesterfield Business Council.

"Bank of Lancaster has a long standing history of helping small businesses and homeowners achieve their goals," said Woolfolk. "Relationships are everything in banking and I believe Bank of Lancaster has more great opportunities throughout the Northern Neck and now Richmond. I am excited to be part of this team of professionals that constantly seek to improve their products, services and solutions for our clients."

About Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc.

Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. is the bank holding company for Bank of Lancaster and Bay Trust Company. Founded in 1930, Bank of Lancaster is a state-chartered community bank headquartered in Kilmarnock, Virginia. With eight banking offices located throughout the Northern Neck region and in Middlesex County, and three banking offices in Richmond, Virginia, the bank serves businesses, professionals and consumers with a wide variety of financial services, including retail and commercial banking, investment services, and mortgage banking. Bay Trust Company provides management services for personal and corporate trusts, including estate planning, estate settlement and trust administration.

For further information, contact Randal R. Greene, President and Chief Executive Officer, at 800-435-1140 or [email protected].

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367131

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150128/171934LOGO



SOURCE Bank of Lancaster

Related Links

http://www.baybanks.com


PLAINFIELD, Ill., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI), announced today that they will deliver a comprehensive course in skin and wound management for 200 nurses in Ohio as part of a collaborative effort with the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA). The ODM, with the approval of the CMS, has awarded a half-million-dollar grant to the state's largest organization representing skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to provide wound care training and certification programs for nurses.

The training, provided through the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA), will be taught by the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI), the leading provider of comprehensive courses in the fields of Skin, Wound, Diabetic and Ostomy Management. Upon completion of the course, nurses who meet the eligibility requirements and successfully complete the exam by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) will become board certified in wound care earning the credentials, WCC (Wound Care Certified).

"We are very pleased to be part of this collaborative effort and provide our Skin and Wound Management Course to the nurses of Ohio's skilled nursing facilities," said WCEI Co-Founder/Clinical Instructor Nancy Morgan, RN, BSN, MBA, WOC, WCC, DWC, OMS. "It's an honor and privilege to train these fine nurses on today's standards of wound care."

"This collaborative effort will enable Ohio's skilled nursing facilities to become even more proficient in the care and treatment of residents with complex skin conditions," stated OHCA Executive Director Peter Van Runkle. "Further increasing the clinical skills of our caregivers will also provide measurable health benefits to our residents."

The grant funding to OHCA comes from civil money penalties paid by SNFs, which accumulate in a state account called the Residents Protection Fund. A series of federal laws, regulations, and guidelines govern how the money in this fund is to be used. CMS recently has urged states to use the money for approved purposes, subject to the agency's review.

At ODM's urging, OHCA submitted the wound care training proposal, which revolves around four sessions to be held this summer in the Columbus area. A total of 200 slots will be available for participants.

The course will be available to both OHCA members and non-members, with preference to nurses from SNFs ranking in the bottom 25% on one of the CMS pressure ulcer Quality Measures.

About Ohio Health Care Association

The Ohio Health Care Association is a non-profit association of more than 900 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, representing over 80,000 individuals. Many OHCA members also provide a variety of home and community-based services. OHCA is the largest long-term care association in the state, and the only chartered Ohio affiliate of the American Health Care Association, representing more than 12,000 long-term care facilities nationwide.

About the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI)

Founded in 2003, Wound Care Education Institute, Inc. has grown to become the leading educational center of excellence for wound care and ostomy education in the United States. WCEI's mission is to develop multi-disciplinary wound care professionals by offering training programs based on current standards of care and evidence-based research. To date, WCEI has trained over 30,000 wound care physicians, therapists, nurses and sales/marketing professionals. Visit WCEI's website for information on educational programs at www.wcei.net.

About National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWCO)

NAWCO is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the advancement and promotion of excellence in wound and ostomy care through certification for nurses, therapists, and physicians. NAWCO offers 4 multidisciplinary certification programs and is the largest and fastest growing credentialing organization in the field of wound care and ostomy. For more information about NAWCO certification programs, visit www.nawccb.org.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160318/345727LOGO

SOURCE Wound Care Education Institute

Related Links

http://www.wcei.net


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQX: ZDPY), a strategic real estate development firm whose primary mission is to identify, develop, and manage sophisticated, safe, and sustainable properties in emerging industries, including the licensed medical marijuana industry, today announced Bryan McLaren, Chief Executive Officer will present at B. Riley & Co.'s 17th Annual Investor Conference on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 12 p.m. PT. The conference will be held May 25-26, 2016 at Lowes Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Management will be available during the day on May 25 for one-on-one meetings. For more information about the conference or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with management, please contact Hayden IR at [email protected]. A live webcast of the group presentation will be available at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/brileyco17/zdpy. This webcast will be archived for 90 days following the live presentation.

About B. Riley & Co.

B. Riley & Co., LLC is a leading investment bank which provides corporate finance, research, and sales & trading to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients. Investment banking services include initial, secondary and follow-on offerings, institutional private placements, and merger and acquisitions advisory services. The firm is nationally recognized for its highly ranked proprietary equity research. B. Riley & Co., LLC is a member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.brileyco.com.

About Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQX: ZDPY):

Zoned Properties, Inc. is a strategic real estate development firm whose primary mission is to identify, develop, and manage sophisticated, safe, and sustainable properties in emerging industries. The Company acquires commercial properties that face unique zoning challenges and identifies solutions that can potentially have a major impact on the cash flow and value generated. Zoned Properties, Inc. targets commercial properties that can be acquired and potentially re-zoned for specific purposes. Zoned Properties does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law such as the Controlled Substances Act.

SOURCE Zoned Properties, Inc.
Every once in a while, a couple of seemingly unrelated news stories interact in unexpected ways.

So it was in Wednesdays Democrat-Herald, with a pair of stories both involving the Linn County Board of Commissioners.

The first story was not unexpected: The state of Oregon, joined by a variety of interested parties, has filed a motion to dismiss the countys lawsuit regarding management of 700,000 acres of state forest trust land.

Heres the heart of the countys case: When the state took over management of these lands in the 1930s, the idea was that they would be managed in such a way as to provide the greatest permanent value to the counties. For years and years, that phrase was interpreted in such a way to maximize the timber produced on those lands.

But over the last two decades, the states Department of Forestry has expanded the definition of greatest permanent value so that it now includes other values in addition to just timber: fisheries protection, for example, or recreation. The result, the lawsuit charges, has been a reduced timber cut on these lands, and a loss of substantial revenue to the counties in which these lands are located. The Linn County lawsuit puts the total damage (both in the past and extrapolated into the future) at about $1.4 billion. (The argument is very similar to the lawsuit Oregon counties plan to file against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, over the management of federal land in those counties.)

In any event, Linn Countys lawsuit argues that expanding the definition of greatest permanent value and reducing the revenue produced by those lands amounts to a breach of contract between the state and the counties.

The state, joined by a variety of environmental groups, moved this week to dismiss the lawsuit, a very typical legal move in the early stages of a case. (And, believe us, we are still very much in the early stages of this case.) The states argument appears to hinge, to some extent, on the definition of greatest permanent value. The state contends that the phrase is meant to refer to the state as a whole and not merely to the counties with the state lands. Furthermore, the state relies on a 2006 opinion from the Oregon attorney general that the state does not have a contractual duty to elevate timber payments above other priorities when managing state payments.

Other environmental groups have objected to the lawsuit on grounds that its filing threatens to undermine efforts to find a balanced approach to forest management. That may be true, but its not germane to the issues in the suit. And the fact that the suit was filed in the first place suggests that at least one party in these negotiations has little faith that the efforts underway would result in a truly balanced approach.

Which brings up the second news story: On Tuesday, Albany resident Tom Cordier approached the county commissioners, seeking allies for his petition to require voter approval before the city imposes a storm water utility tax. Cordier asked for the boards support because the tax would cover county-owned property within the city limits.

The board wisely demurred: Roger Nyquist, chair of the commission, said he didnt want to give Linn County residents the impression that the city of Albany and Linn County government were fighting.

Of course, that all happened during the same week that commissioners got the latest update on their legal fight against the state. You know what they say: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. (mm)
SWEET HOME  Several dozen Sweet Home residents turned out for Tuesday evenings City Council meeting, and they had plenty to say about everything from how former City Manager Craig Martin parted with the city to what the councilors visions for the citys future entail.

Their comments took up more than two hours of the 2 1/2 hour meeting held at the Jim Riggs Community Center.

City attorney Robert Snyder set out game rules for the session, noting that due to the citys separation agreement with Martin, the councilors would not talk directly about issues leading up to his forced retirement after 18 years with the City.

But Theresa Brown wanted to know who is going to pick up the daily management role Martin held. The council did not have a city manager pro-tem in the wings and has scheduled a May 17 meeting to discuss that issue.

Mayor Jim Gourley said that in the short term, Finance Director Pat Gray will act as Interim Clerk, a position required by City charter, but she does not want to take on the Interim City Manager position.

Public Works Director Mike Adams said he would consider doing the job, but wants to talk more in-depth with the councilors about what they envision the job entailing.

Brown said it appears the council had a lack of forethought about the issue. She said, Leadership isnt a mandate, its the transparent influencing of people.

Theres no question we need better processes, councilor Jeff Goodwin said. But sometimes, you just have to trust the City Council. Were all here for different reasons, but the question is, do you trust who is sitting at this table? We want whats best for the city.

Goodwin said his goals for the city are progress, beauty, cleanliness, safety and health.

He said that it can be extremely frustrating for councilors, because the public doesnt participate at the councils twice-monthly meetings and provide input on a regular basis.

The door is always open, Goodwin said. Not many people show up for council meetings, and we have openings on several city committees. We want you to be involved.

Councilor Dave Trask assured the public that he did not take the Martin issue lightly.

Theres never a good time to do something like this, Trask said. If it would have happened two years ago, the outcome would still be the same. We made the decision, now we move forward.

Gary Jarvis said he is a former union president who understands the difficulty of making decisions on tough issues.

But Jarvis said members of the community deserve more information than was released, and since contract negotiations are underway, the timing could not have been worse.

Tim Swanson was angry with the way the council handled the issue.

Im not satisfied, I want more, Swanson said. It feels like you are hiding something. Like there is a coalition among some of the council members.

Swanson challenged the councilors to stand up, be honest and let the truth fall where it falls and not hide behind executive sessions.

Mayor Gourley said his vision for the City includes promoting recreational opportunities, working collaboratively with agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, and with other communities like Brownsville, Lebanon and Albany to promote regional industrial growth.

New councilor James Goble believes the community must capitalize on the numerous recreational opportunities in the area.

Goodwin said his major goal is to clean up drug activity.

We need more law enforcement, Goodwin said. People are fed up with drugs.

Former police chief Bob Burford questioned the councils recent decision to make an offer to buy the former Sweet Home Ranger District building for $750,000.

Burford said an architect recently gave the City finance committee an estimate of $1.2 million to $1.8 million to remodel the building, bringing the total cost to as much as $2.5 million.

I dont know if this is a good idea, Burford said. This needs careful study, due diligence on your part and input from the community.

The current City Hall needs extensive upgrading to make it safe in the event of an earthquake, has floors that are sagging and walls that degrading.

Building a new City Hall could cost as much as $3.5 million.

The city has been setting aside funds for almost 20 years knowing a new building was needed and has accumulated about $1 million.
Aizawl, May 10 : Mizoram will stop importing poultry, pigs and cattle from Bangladesh as well as other states after several thouand animals died due to diseases, an official said here on Tuesday.

"We have asked the district magistrates to take suitable steps to stop import of chickens, birds, ducks, eggs, cattle and pigs from Bangladesh and neighbouring states of the northeast in view of the diseases among cattle and pigs," an official of the animal husbandry and veterinary department said.

Several thousand pigs and cattle have died in the last few weeks in Mizoram, especially in Champhai district in eastern part of the state due to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and foot and mouth disease.

He said: "Samples from the dead pigs and cattle being tested in the laboratories in and outside the state. Experts were sent to bordering Champhai and other districts to take appropriate steps to prevent further spread of the diseases."

The state government has issued an order banning sale of all domestic animals from other villages within and outside the disease-affected districts in Mizoram.

The government also asked the people not to sell or consume pork, cattle meat and poultry products in the disease-affected and adjoining areas.

Mizoram shares an unfenced international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh, causing immense scope for smuggling of animals, drugs, arms and ammunition and other things across the border.
Washington/London, May 10 : Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has said London's new mayor Sadiq Khan could be an "exception" to his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. Khan has rejected Trump's offer.

Khan, a Muslim, was elected to run the British capital last week.

On Monday, Trump said he was "happy to see" that Khan was voted in, according to the New York Times.

Asked about how his proposed ban would affect Khan, 45, who is also a member of Britain's Parliament, Trump said: "There will always be exceptions," the Times reported.

"I think if he does a great job, it will really - you lead by example, always lead by example. If he does a good job and frankly if he does a great job, that would be a terrific thing," Trump was quoted as saying.

However, Khan rejected Trump's offer on Tuesday.

"This isn't just about me - it's about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world," Khan said.

"Donald Trump's ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe - it risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of the extremists. Donald Trump and those around him think that western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam - London has proved him wrong," the Guardian quoted him as saying.

Trump's "ignorant" views of Islam "could make both our countries less safe," Khan added.

Trump called for the ban in December after Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, a married couple, killed 14 people in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. The Islamic State said the two were its followers.

In an interview with Time, Sadiq Khan said he would like to go to the United States to meet with American mayors.

"If Donald Trump becomes the president I'll be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I can't engage with American mayors and swap ideas," he said. He said he planned to visit the United States before January in case Trump wins the presidential race.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10 : Twenty-nine people belonging to six families from Kerala and three from Tamil Nadu will reach Kerala on May 12 after evacuation from Libya, a senior official said on Tuesday.

"These families includes infants. They will travel from Tripoli to Istanbul and will land in Kochi via Dubai at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday," the official posted in the Kerala Chief Minister's office told IANS.

Several of those evacuated were working in Zawiya Hospital in Libya's Sabratha city.

After the death of a Kerala nurse and her son in shelling at their house in Sabratha in March, relatives of Keralites working in Libya had been demanding their quick evacuation.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government appreciated the support from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's office for the evacuation.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10 : Branding the Congress as the recruiting agency of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan has hit back at Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the latters statement the other day that the CPI-M had paved the way for the emergence of the BJP in India.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Achuthanandan charged the Congress with having provided support to the communal venom-spewing BJP.

Terming Congress as manure for a rotting BJP, the Marxist veteran pointedly referred to how the Congress was surrendering power to the BJP in States ruled by them with the leaders of the party defecting en masse to the BJP.

To buttress his point, Achuthanandan cited the case of Arunachal Pradesh, where rebel Congress leader, Kalikho Pul, became Chief Minister of the State after he, along with 18 other Congress legislators, broke away from the Congress to cobble together a coalition government with the support of the BJP.

The Marxist veteran also added that Gegong Apang (a former Congress stalwart) who had served as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh was now with the BJP.

Flagging the crisis in Uttarakhand, VS accused the Congress of having served power in the State on a platter to the BJP.

In Gujarat, former Chief Minister of the State and Congress leader Narhari Amin along with his supporters flocked to the BJP, he added.

Stepping up his tirade a notch, Achuthanandan also dug up the past links to the Congress of some of the present Union cabinet members.

Former chief of Himachal Pradesh Congress unit and Congress Working Committee member Chaudhary Birender Singh is now a union minister, Achuthanandans post said, adding that we all know the past of Najma Heptulla (former general secretary of the Congress and grand-niece of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad), and union minister Inderjit Singh Rao was a minister in the UPA government, too.

Achuthanandan also accused Oommen Chandy of slaving like a Sangh Parivar worker for the BJP even while being part of the Congress, adding that for this purpose, Chandy installed SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan as a middleman.

A test dose of this (nexus) was witnessed in the Aruvikkara by-election, VS wrote, adding that Oommen Chandy has been trying out this experiment across Kerala for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Bari (Italy), May 10 : Police in Italy on Tuesday arrested two Afghan and a Pakistani asylum-seeker with alleged links to the IS terror group and plotting to attack Rome and other targets in Europe.

Police in the southeastern port city of Bari arrested 23-year-old Afghan Haim Nasiri on international terrorism charges and his compatriot Gulistan Ahmadzai on charges of aiding illegal immigration.

An unnamed Pakistani suspect was arrested in the northern city of Milan and arrest warrants were issued for two other Afghan asylum-seekers and a Pakistani, police said.

Three of the suspects are accused of international terrorism and two of aiding illegal immigration, according to the arrest warrants.

All five suspects allegedly belong to an IS-linked militant cell accused of planning attacks on Rome's Colosseum as well as on other targets in the Italian capital and in Britain, France and Belgium, investigators said.

The cell had been established in Puglia "to carry out violent attacks with the purpose of international terrorism, in Italy and abroad", the arrest warrant said. It also gave support to would-be suicide bombers and jihadis especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the warrant.

The cell's attack plans focused on Rome and London but it was also active in France and Belgium, according to the arrest warrant.

Photos and videos of Bari, Rome and London were among material found in the mobile phones of one of the suspects detained in Tuesday's anti-terrorism operation, officials said.

Rome's ancient Colosseum and Circus Maximus sites featured in the material as well as footage of presumed targets including airports, ports, shopping centres and hotels.

Investigators also found recordings of prayers and images of weapons and mutilated US soldiers, as well as a caricature of US President Barack Obama on the suspects' phones.

"They were getting ready," Bari public prosecutor Roberto Rossi told journalists.

Nasiri, who was domiciled at the Bari-Palese centre for asylum seekers, had been granted "protection status", which is similar to refugee status, earlier this month.

He was photographed with Bari's Mayor Antonio Decaro during a march in September held in various Italian cities in support of integrating immigrants in the country.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10 : Urging Narendra Modi not to bring "disrepute" to the Prime Minister's Office, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday told him not to compare Kerala with Somalia.

In a hard-hitting letter to Modi, Chandy decried certain observations by Modi at election rallies in the state.

"You made statements that had nothing to do with reality and likened Kerala to Somalia. This is unbecoming of a prime minister and has created a great deal of agony," he said.

"You spoke of a Kerala boy eating from a waste dump at Peravoor (where the temple tragedy took place killing 110 people). Two probes on this were done and the truth was far from what you said.

"I can assure you that no child in Kerala takes stale food. In Kerala, 25.02 lakh school students are provided with free mid-day meal, and egg on one day and milk on another day in a week," he said.

"For five years, Kerala had been providing rice at one rupee to 94 lakh people. Now, this was being given free of cost, making us the second state in India to do so, he said.

"The facts being so, what was your motive behind saying such a blatant lie to the people of Kerala?"

The chief minister said Kerala's human resource had caught the attention of the world.

"Yet, you compared Kerala to Somalia that is reeling under poverty and internal strife. Is it not a shame for the prime minister to pronounce that a state like Somalia exists in the country?" asked Chandy.

Chandy also took on Modi on the issue of political violence and murders in Kerala.

He pointed out that he had urged the Modi government to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the murder of former Communism Party of India-Marxist leader T.P. Chandrasekharan but this had not been conceded.

Chandy also refuted Modi's allegation that there was a "solar scam" in Kerala, asking why did he then praise the use of solar power at the Kochi International Airport while speaking in California recently.

"I wonder whether it befits a prime minister to feel disgraced during the time of elections and proud on other occasions?" asked Chandy.

Chandy said Modi claimed in his speeches that Kerala had a special place in his heart.

"If that is the case, then you could have been sincere with your statements on Kerala.

"The high office of the prime minister has been graced by stalwarts from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh.

"With a great deal of regret, let me point out that they never attempted anything that brought disrepute to the office of the prime minister like you have done," he said, and asked him to withdraw his comments.

Modi is reaching Kerala for a third time on Wednesday to address election rallies.
Paris, May 11 : Fierce protests broke out across France after the government forced through controversial labour reforms.

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the National Assembly in Paris on Tuesday, calling for President Francois Hollande to resign, with the protests continuing late into the night, BBC reported.

The government said the reforms are essential to help cut high levels of unemployment. The changes would make it easier for employers to hire and fire but opponents fear they will also enable employers to bypass workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks.

Police used tear gas against protesters in Grenoble and Montpellier. Lille, Tours and Marseille also saw demonstrations.

In Toulouse, two young protesters were injured in clashes with police, according to Le Parisien daily.

The decision to invoke an article of the constitution to force through the reforms was made after the government failed to reach a compromise on the bill with a group of rebel MPs within the country's largest Socialist Party.

This tactic has only been used once before under President Hollande, again to push though disputed economic reforms.

The only way the bill can now be stopped is by the motion of censure - a vote of no confidence - that was filed by two right-wing parties on Tuesday.

Between them they have 226 of the 288 votes needed to topple the government on Thursday.

Fresh protests are set to be held on Thursday to coincide with the confidence vote.
New Delhi, May 11 : The central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that ousted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat had the legislative majority and his government would be restored as soon as President's Rule was revoked in the hill state.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi informed the court that Rawat got 33 votes in his favour while as 28 legislators voted against him in the floor test held on Tuesday.

He said the central government, which dismissed the Rawat-led Congress government on March 27 citing misgovernance, would withdraw President's Rule on Wednesday.

"I am requesting we may be granted leave to revoke President's Rule and thereafter Harish Rawat's government will be restored," Rohatgi told the court.

The attorney general said: "I have advised the government to take this course."

As Rohatgi informed the Supreme Court of the floor test result, the bench, comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, modified its April 22 order. The judges had had on that day taken an undertaking from Rohatgi that President's Rule won't be revoked so long the top court was seized of the matter.

The court asked the central government to inform it by Thursday of its action on withdrawing President's Rule. The next hearing of the matter has been listed for Friday.

The court, however, said it would hold hearing sometime in September on the central government's plea challenging the Uttarakhand High Court order that quashed the President's Rule on April 21. The then Uttarakhand Chief Justice K. M. Joseph had lashed out at the central government for acting like a "private party" and dismissing the state government by invoking Article 356.

The court said it was necessary to examine justifiability of the imposition of the President's Rule as the same had been quashed by the high court citing several reasons.
In order to lease the land at Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. pays Cuba $4,085 each month. In 2007, former Cuban President Fidel Castro noted that Cuba, in protest of American occupation, has refused to cash the checks for decades.
United Nations, May 12 : Microsoft said on Wednesday that there is no silver bullet that will stop terrorist use of the internet.

Steven Crown, vice president of Microsoft Corporation, told the UN Security Council that for the internet industry, the challenge of terrorist propaganda and communication is daunting.

"If there were an elegant solution, industry would have adopted it," said Crown at a Security Council debate on counter-terrorism. "But there is no single answer; there is no silver bullet that will stop terrorist use of the internet."

He said another unfortunate truth is that there is no universally accepted definition of terrorism or extremism, neither at the international level nor at the regional level, Xinhua reported.

According to statistics provided by Crown, within 15 minutes of the Paris attacks last year, there were 7,500 tweets; within two weeks, there were 1 million views of videos on the internet praising the attacks.

The Security Council requested on Wednesday a "comprehensive international framework" to counter propaganda by terrorist groups to motivate others to commit terrorist acts.

In a presidential statement adopted here, the Security Council noted the urgent need to understand how these groups, such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, recruit others and to develop a counter narrative campaign to amplify active denouncers of these groups.

The council asked its Counter-Terrorism Committee to present a proposal on the framework with recommended guidelines and good practices by April 30, 2017.

At the meeting, UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson also called for more of study and research on how violent extremists are using the internet and social media.

He noted the need to listen to affected communities, engage at the grassroots level, partner with faith leaders, women and young people to respond to extremism at local level.
United Nations, May 12 : Afghanistan has blasted Pakistan for spawning global extremist terror by promoting the Taliban, "the precursor of today's terrorists" rampaging across the world, and called for targeting those responsible for it "within state structures."

"It was the Taliban and their backers who characterised the kind of terror that we witness today from various violent extremist groups," Afghanistan's Deputy Permanent Representative Nazifullah Salarzai said Wednesday at the Security Council. "One can easily trace how the Taliban facilitated the creation of al-Qaida, Daish, and their ilk along with the divisive, hateful ideology."

While avoiding any direct mention of Pakistan, he made clear Islamabad's role saying that "circles within state structures outside of our frontiers" used ideology and violent behavior to promote the Taliban in pursuit of their political objectives.

"Targeting the promoters and drivers of such policies, who use violence in pursuit of political objectives within the state structures, especially in the security apparatus, is absolutely crucial to deal with the threats of violent extremism," Salarzai declared.

Wednesday's Council debate was on "Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism." But Salarzai said in Afghanistan's case the focus should instead be on the initiation, enabling, and facilitation role of political actors and their use of radical ideology for short term gains."

Tracing the antecedents of the current terrorist organisations, he said, "The creation of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 1994 opened the current tragic chapter of terrorism in the world. Before the crafting of the Taliban, terror in its current behavior and form was little known to the world. The Taliban came into existence before groups like aI-Qaida, aI-Shabab, Boko Haram and Daish gained notoriety."

To drive home Pakistan's role in promoting the Taliban and setting off the chain reaction of global terror, he diplomatically posed a series of rhetorical questions: "So the question is how and why did the Taliban come into being? We need to ask ourselves how did they learn to drive tanks and fly jets overnight, stage conventional warfare, and capitalize on prolonged political conflict in our country? Who trained them? Who provided them with supplies? Who financed them? Who provided them with safe havens and orchestrated their spring offensives year after year?"

"Tension between military and civilian control in politics, an inherent

struggle emerging from militarism in society," was one of the factors behind "circles within state structures" in the neighbor backing the Taliban, Salarzai said.

Another was the regional rivalry between nations coupled with "excessive anxiety and suspicion," he said.

"Let us not forget," Salarzai stressed, "that it was under the Taliban that Afghanistan became the jumping board for international terrorism, when thousands of young men received training and logistical support in terrorist camps. This was the precursor of today's terrorists carrying out deadly attacks in Asia, Europe, US, Middle East, Africa and elsewhere."

The repeated strong criticism of Islamabad in a global forum brings to the fore Afghanistan's split with Pakistan after President Ashraf Ghani's conciliatory approach failed.

When he was elected two years ago, Ghani had hoped its southern neighbor would help rein in the Taliban and bring it to the negotiating tables. But he felt betrayed by Islamabad when it emerged amid preparations for talks with the Taliban that its leader Mohammed Omar had died in Karachi in 2013 and Pakistani leaders had withheld the crucial information from Kabul.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
New Delhi : Can infrastructure be sustainably built in a developing economy? As India undergoes a developmental period, this question assumes importance.

Infrastructure growth is likely in railways, roads, airports, smart cities, large industrial units, super technological communication systems and the like. One of the major factors in infrastructure development is civil construction. In this sand, soil, cement, aggregate and steel are forerunners.

With shrinking utility services, the requirements of legal environmental restrictions and advocacy and desirability of sustainability, the cost of construction is steadily rising.

To overcome the above situation, it is possible to use the huge amount of dredged material from various ports. At the moment this material is dumped in the sea.

Every year, ports such as Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatanam and Chennai on the east coast of India produce millions of tonnes of dredged material. A similar situation also exists on the west coast.

Dredging is essential for navigation, remediation and flood management of waterways.

Use of dredged material can reduce the quantities of primary resource needed for activities such as construction and habitat creation. Some countries do already make extensive use of dredged material. In Japan, more than 90 percent of dredged material was used in the past.

In India, a new capital city of Andhra Pradesh is coming up at Amaravati. An area covering 30 villages between Vijayawada and Guntur, some 35 km away from Amaravati town has been marked for capital development.

Pitched as a world-class riverfront capital city, Amaravati will be an energy-efficient and green city with concentration on industrial hubs. The Andhra Pradesh government, through the Capital Region Development Authority, has acquired some 30,000 acres of land.

Expected to be completed by 2018-19, the Seed Capital Area (SCA) of 16.7 sq.km. will be home to about 300,000 residents. The business hub is expected to generate about 700,000 jobs in various sectors, including government. There will be a thriving, state-of-the- art Central Business District (CBD) for business and living.

The master plan envisages nodes and corridors for a transit-oriented development approach. So, there will be an integrated network of 12 km of Metro railway, 15 km of Bus Rapid Transit system, seven km of downtown roads, 26 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads and 53 km of collector roads.

The plan for the capital city has huge potential for infrastructure, civil engineering and construction activity.

It is possible that the dredged material from the ports on the east coast could be easily used at Amaravati. Depending upon properties of dredge material, it could be used for brick-making. Initially, some trials may be required for this purpose, but once it is found to be useful, it would be the most sustainable process for development.

The dredged material could also be used for several other purposes such as landfill caps and covers, beach nourishment, top soil creation and enhancement, habitat creation or restoration, reclaiming of mined land and parks as well as in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and horticulture.

If the dredged material is sold to the Amaravati Capital Project, it would generate a huge business. The capital project is planned to be developed in three stages and over 10 years. Financially, that would be highly beneficial to all dredging companies and also to Andhra government which could use the material for sustainable development.

There's a historical example of such sustainable development happening.

In the sixties of last century, laboratory experiments were conducted to find out whether fly ash waste from thermal plants could serve as a partial replacement for cement. After successful trials, researchers came to the conclusion that fly ash could be used in making concrete. At present, about one-third of fly ash replaces cement in making concrete.

There is no reason why dredging material cannot do what fly ash did for the construction industry.

(12.05.2016 - Arun Bapat is a research seismologist formerly at Central Water & Power Research Station, Pune. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at arunbapateq@gmail.com)
United Nations, May 12 : Propaganda over social media that is contributing to the global spread of terrorism has to be monitored and countered, India has appealed to the international community while expressing concern that the fight against terror was being hobbled by a lack of cooperation.

"The Hydra-like monster of terrorism continues to spread across continents in developing and developed countries alike, aided by the targeted propaganda of hatred over the ever growing social media networks that were designed to bring people together," India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin told the Security Council Wednesday. "The misuse of social media to disastrous effect by terrorist groups needs to be monitored carefully and countered, with due safeguards for respecting freedom of expression."

Countering the propaganda on the social media requires a "positive and balanced narratives about the fallacies of extremist ideologies and successes of peaceful co-existence need to be projected more widely," he said speaking at a debate on "Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism."

The General Assembly was simultaneously holding a debate on Peace and Security and at both meetings Akbaruddin brought up international failures in fighting terror.

Shuttling between the two meetings, at the Assembly he criticised the UN's ineffectiveness and lack of focus in dealing with terrorism and suggested creating an anti-terrorism czar at the UN.

"Here at the United Nations there is a disaggregated counter terrorism infrastructure with no effort to tie them together in a seamless weave under a high level functionary," he said. "We need to address this."

"The fight against terrorism is not succeeding so far because there is insufficient international cooperation," he said at the Council.

"Narrow perceived interests have often prevented the framing of legal frameworks for international cooperation and even the effective implementation of sanctions that could restrict possible threats," he said.

Efforts to adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism have stalled for over 20 years because of differences over defining terrorist organisations and terrorists.

Meanwhile, China's veto has prevented Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, who is behind the January Pathankot air force base attack, from being put on a UN sanctions list as a terrorist and action against Pakistan for freeing Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the Lashkar-e-Taiba mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed.

Outlining the complexities of terrorism recruitment, Akbaruddin said at the Council that foreign terrorist fighters were of vastly varying ethnicities, social backgrounds, education qualifications, economic status with only the age bracket of mid-teens to mid-20s and their male gender being common factors.

"The ideological framework guiding the terrorist groups, is their real strength. It is built upon very specific and extreme arguments," he said. "Active engagement of local community and religious leaders may be necessary in disseminating more moderate and mainstream teachings challenging the radical and motivated interpretations."

At the Assembly debate he raised the issue of the reform and expansion of the Council, which has been held up for decades. "When the UN was created, its main focus was maintaining peace between the then established powers" he said. "The world has moved on. The centre of gravity of the globalised economy continues to shift in a profound way."

"At the same time, we are faced with efforts to spin issues of Reform of the Security Council in an endless manner," he added.
Islamabad, May 12 : Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the hanging of Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman and said it has extreme concerns regarding the execution.

Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakria, during his weekly briefing, said the acting high commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned to record Pakistan's strong protest against the hanging.

The Foreign Office further stated that Pakistan has "extreme concerns regarding the hanging" and that the office issued a statement in this regard on Wednesday.
New Delhi, May 12 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a day after his government was reinstated following a floor test as per the Supreme Court order.

The chief minister said the hill state's development remained his focus, adding that President's Rule left Uttarakhand in a "mess".

"Our focus remains to bring back on track the development momentum generated during our (earlier) rule... we were growing at the rate of 13.5 percent," Rawat told reporters after meeting Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

"Imposition of President's Rule has left the state in a mess," he added.

Asked if he would also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, the chief minister said he would meet them if he gets invited.

"I will meet everyone in my state's interest. I will meet the prime minister and finance minister (Arun Jaitley) if I get invited," he said.

Rawat said his style of politics was not confrontational and stressed that development is his main agenda.

Earlier on Thursday, Rawat presided over a cabinet meeting in Dehradun, during which a number of important decisions were taken.

On Wednesday, President's Rule was revoked in Uttarakhand.
New Delhi, May 12 : A temple priest has been arrested on the charge of raping a minor girl in west Delhi, police said on Thursday.

Accused Rajesh Shukla, 45, allegedly raped the five-year-old girl when she visited the temple in Samata Vihar area on May 9 evening.

Shukla was arrested from Mukundpur area after the girl's family lodged a complaint.

A case was registered against Shukla, a native of Uttar Pradesh, under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
New Delhi, May 12 : Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's two-day visit to India from Friday will further cement bilateral relations, the external affairs ministry said on Thursday.

"We are confident that his visit will contribute to further strengthening the close and cooperative relations between India and Sri Lanka," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said in a release here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner in Sirisena's honour here on Friday.

Sirisena is scheduled to address the valedictory session at the 'Vaicharik Mahakumbh' being held as part of the 'Simhastha Mahakumbh' in Ujjain in Madhaya Pradesh on Saturday.

He will also go to Sanchi for a visit to the Sanchi Stupa and attend a function by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, during which he will unveil a statue of Angarika Dharmapala, the release said.
New Delhi, May 12 : India on Thursday said Pakistan's present nuclear policy has been a cause of concern internationally, and its battlefield atomic weapons were causing such apprehensions.

"There have been international concerns about Pakistan's nuclear policy. Tactical nuclear weapons are at the heart of such concerns," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media here.

He was responding to a question on former Pakistan ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani's comment that Pakistan's policy on tactical nuke weapons continues and will continue to create such weapons.

Asked about what India was doing to bring back underworld don Dawood Ibrahim from Pakistan, he said government was pursuing the matter.

"Dawood is a UN-designated global terrorist and a fugitive of the Indian law. At several points of time, his details have been shared by India with Pakistan government, including his possible locations in Pakistan. We will continue to pursue this matter and we expect Pakistan to hand over this international terrorist to us," Swarup added.

The MEA spokesperson said India has not cut any aid to Nepal, and was committed for its overall development.

"We are spending $50 million to $60 million to assist Nepal every year. India is fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development. There is no aid cut," he added.
New Delhi, May 12 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday targeted Kerala Chief Minister Ommen Chandy over his remarks that his government had paid for evacuation of 29 Keralites from Libya, asking who had paid for thousands of Indians from the state evacuated earlier.

Sushma Swaraj, who is recuperating from an illness at AIIMS here, made a series of tweets following Chandy's remarks made in the run up to assembly polls in the state on May 16.

There has been an exchange of words earlier between Congress and BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks comparing some aspects of Kerala to strife-torn Somalia.

"Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens," Sushma Swaraj said in one tweet.

"Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya," she posted, adding that they evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen.

The tweets were in response to comments by Kerala chief minister, who is furious with Modi for crediting his own government for bringing back the Indians from Libya.

Earlier this week, Modi told a large crowd while campaigning for the upcoming polls that his government had rescued families stuck in Libya.

"Our government has saved six families and evacuated 29 people. The Indian government is committed to working for people who go abroad to work, we have always tried to help them. It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to tell you that they are coming back and will be united with their families soon," he had said at the election rally.
This book offers a vivid and warm view of growing up in a Catholic family in mid-century America, and what it was like to feel called, as a young woman, to make religious vows.

Called: The Making & Unmaking of a Nun, a memoir by Marge Rogers Barrett, tells of her youth as part of a large family in a small prairie town in Minnesota; of her calling by God; and of her new calling to marriage and life as both mother and teacher. Along the way, we meet her remarkable family, both reveling and suffering with her as she experiences sometimes joyful, sometimes difficult times. In the end, this is a story of resilience and spirited immersion in all that life has to offer.

Kathleen Norris writes, This book offers a vivid and warm view of growing up in a Catholic family in mid-century America, and what it was like to feel called, as a young woman, to make religious vows. Its a familiar story: entering a convent at a young age, and leaving some years later for a vocation as a married woman and mother. But Marge Barrett has told it in such a way that the reader can experience what these times and places were truly like.

And this from Sister Mary Kraft: This book is an absolute delight to read! It is also a wonderful reflection on a life formed by the love of a family that continues to be passed on to new generations, all the while enriching a broader surrounding community. Readers see and reflect with the author as she grows from a child to an adult, most often questioning the meaning of life with a sense of good humor. As indicated by the title, this includes five years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, a time during which the values of family and community really take hold in an ordinary life that becomes quite extraordinary with each passing day. This book will encourage others to reflect on their lives and on the call to share a meaningful life with those who surround us."

Charles Baxter adds, Marge Barretts Called is completely alert to the sociology of growing up Catholic in the Midwest, and the portraits of her family members--both the fortunate and the afflicted--are lovingly detailed. The book is really a spiritual autobiography whose centerpiece is the mystery of vocation. Along with that, it is also a record of its time: popular music, Gene McCarthy, Elvis, selling insurance, children being let loose to wander around all day, the Martin Luther King assassination, the War in Vietnam. I found all this very moving, and the book itself to be entirely beautiful.

Patricia Hampl is impressed by the trove of mid-century history Marge Rogers Barrett has mined in this engrossing memoir. Hampl adds, Her early years as a nun offer a fascinating glimpse into that (now improbable) life, but the idea of being called is much bigger, and becomes the powerful metaphor firing this probing memoir of a life first formed by certainties and mysteries, those two Catholic pole stars. Catholicism here isnt simply a religion, but a culture filled with contradiction, beauty, and frustration, especially as the changes of the Sixties tumble the certainties of faith. Barrett is an ardent, wonderfully unruly daughter in a big devout family before and after the seismic changes of Vatican II. She makes her way out of the double cocoon of family and small town Minnesota into a larger, more dismaying world without breaking her profound bond with the past. This is what memoir does at its best--gives us an individual life in order to give us our shared--or lost--history.

Marge Rogers Barrett has published a book of poems, My Memoir Dress, and her poetry and prose have appeared in numerous journals. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota, teaches at the Loft Literary Center, and conducts workshops aound the country. She and her husband live near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.

UPCOMING EVENT

Tuesday, May 31, 7:00 p.m., book launch and celebration, Loft Literary Center,

1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN.

To order by mail, send $20 per book + 6.35% tax (CT only) + postage of $7 for 1 book, $9 for 2, $12 for 3-4, $20.00 for 5+ books, international postage $18 US for 1 book, $26 US for 2, $35 US for 3+.

Personal checks payable to Antrim House at 21 Goodrich Rd., Simsbury, CT 06070.

Or order at http://www.antrimhousebooks.com/barrett.html (all lower case).

Or from: https://mira-booksmart.myshopify.com/products/called-the-making-and-unmaking-of-a-nun

You can find Marge on the web at:

http://www.margebarrett.com
Robert Anderson, M.D. The field of reproductive medicine and most importantinfertility patients benefits from collaborative care and idea-sharing.

Ovation Fertility is proud to announce that the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine has joined its growing network of the nations top fertility clinics and labs. The addition of Ovation Fertility Newport Beach is further evidence of a strong commitment to collaboration in the field of reproductive medicine.

Today Ovation Fertility has a presence in California, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. This growing roster includes some of the countrys leading high-complexity laboratories and partner-fertility centers. Patients benefit from the collective experience and knowledge of more than 65 of the nations top fertility specialists. Together, Ovation Fertility partners work to help a global infertility population build families.

Achieving More Together as Ovation Fertility Expands

Robert Anderson, M.D., founder and director of the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine, is excited to join the Ovation Fertility family. The field of reproductive medicine and most importantinfertility patients benefits from collaborative care and idea-sharing. Strategic alliances empower us to accomplish more for our patients and to further advance our research. This is where the field of reproductive medicine is headed, and we are proud to move into the future with Ovation Fertility.

Ovation Fertility Chief Executive Officer Nate Snyder reiterated the importance of recruiting elite fertility centers, scientists and clinicians. Adding Ovation Fertility Newport Beach made sense for us. The centers experience, IVF success rates and commitment to innovation align with our goals, and we look forward to working together to shape the future of fertility care.

Ovation Fertility Ovation Fertility, founded in 2015 by a consortium of thought-leading reproductive endocrinologists, is a national fertility service provider offering all aspects of fertility treatment for intended parents, including embryology, andrology and genetic testing as part of the in-vitro fertilization process. Ovation Fertility partners with prominent physician clinics that are committed to reducing the average cost of a live birth through IVF by advancing the industry standard in fertility treatments. For more information, visit http://www.ovationfertility.com.

Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine  Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine specializes in providing high-quality fertility testing, diagnosis and treatment to patients struggling with infertility and reproductive endocrine disorders. Since founding the center in 1992, Dr. Robert Anderson has worked to bring the most advanced care to infertility patients from around the country and the world. Dr. Anderson combines compassion with the latest developments in reproductive medicine to help couples conceive. For more information, visit http://www.socalfertility.com.
Brigitte Kruse on the Mic 2016 is the Year of the Female Auctioneer!

On May 1, 2016, Brigitte Kruse, of GWS Auctions, LLC officially made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The record was for the Largest Abandoned Property Auction in World History.

In January 2016, over 500,000 items were sold in four auction rings. Ms. Kruse managed four rings, simultaneously on the auction day. She describes the day as "electric" and said this was "the sale I have been training for my entire life." Ms. Kruse is one of the only auctioneers to work a court supervised, abandoned property auction this size in the industrys history. When being awarded the contract, she prevailed against some of the toughest competition in the country (all of whom were male auctioneers).

Ms. Kruse is a fifth generation auctioneer from the prestigious "Kruse Auction Family." She has dreamed of becoming the first woman auctioneer in the Guinness Book of World Records since she was a small child girl living in Houston.

GWS Auctions, LLC is scheduled to sell an exclusive, private island and a royal family collection at auction in June of 2016. Brigitte Kruse will also be conducting auctions in seven different countries between now and 2018.

When asked, Ms. Kruse wanted to say the following on the record:

"Be yourself, listen to the client, get the deal, uphold integrity, breathe and make history."

She went on to say that people like her grandfather Jack Kruse, her other grandfather Stephen Gamble, her cousin Matthew Kruse and Senator Dennis Kruse of the NAA Hall of Fame have been her most valued mentors.

Ms. Kruse earned her Graduate Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) designation from the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and is a USPAP compliant appraiser. She also serves as an ambassador for the NAA. She speaks several languages and is one of the only auctioneers in the world who can conduct professional auctions in five different languages. Her husband, Mike Sislyan, can also auctioneer in Russian and Armenian. This L.A. based, auction industry power-couple are an auction phenomena!

Outside of the auction industry, Ms. Kruse is a mother of two. In addition to working 18 hour days, she and her husband are also full-time providers for their six-year-old son and three year old daughter (who is being trained to be a future auctioneer).

Brigitte Kruse never stops and no one works harder at getting the sellers as much as possible through the auction method. This young lady is on the climb, and the auction industry is thriving with her!

About Brigitte Kruse and GWS Auctions, LLC

Brigitte Kruse is the sole owner of GWS Auctions, LLC, which has offices in Beverly Hills and three other locations in Southern California. She has relationships with auction houses worldwide. Ms. Kruse has sold millions of dollars worth of real estate, abandoned property, antiques, jewelry and art in auction.

GWS Auctions is one of the industry's leading experts in abandoned property, eviction, real estate, antiques and jewelry auctions. She has worked with several of the nation's leading law firms and has assisted with royal family and celebrity estates.

For information about her upcoming auctions, please visit: http://www.GWSAuctions.com, or call Brigitte Kruse at: 877-958-1008.
The Advisory Board provides CAN with critical perspectives on needed or proposed legislation affecting day-to-day residential/ownership rights in common interest communities. The CAN Advisory Board attends CAN Legislative Receptions, Town Halls with Senators and Members of the State House of Representatives and other statewide community association leaders.

"CAN continues to cultivate and grow partnerships and friendships, ensuring our communities are represented by folks knowledgeable of issues critical to community association living," said Alan Garfinkel, CAN Chairman and Katzman Garfinkel Founding Partner.

CAN considers all qualified candidates representing community associations who can bring a broad range of perspectives from across the state of Florida. Desired attributes include a demonstrated history of: (1) distinguished service and desire for further contribution; (2) performance at the highest level of experience in a variety of areas, including but not limited to, advocacy, community association living, community association management, insurance, emergency preparedness, and construction; (3) positive community association participation and leadership and must currently be actively involved. CAN represents a cross-section of our entire statewide community so geographic residential location of Board Members is also considered.

All Candidates must acknowledge that CAN is a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization providing thoughtful well considered information to Florida lawmakers and the 9 Million Florida residents owning homes or living in common interest communities.

CAN Advisory Board 2016 vacancies:

1) Volunteer Board Seat 3

2) Volunteer Board Seat 5

3) Licensed Community Association Manager 2

4) Licensed Community Association Manager 4

5) Coalition Leader 1

6) Coalition Leader 2

7) CAN Certified Business Partner 1

8) CAN Certified Business Partner 2

9) At Large Seat 1

If you are interested in serving on CAN's Advisory Board, please click the following link to apply: https://communityadvocacynetwork.wufoo.com/forms/can-advisory-board-application/. The call for nominations is open through June 15, 2016 and the new CAN Advisory Board will be announced by July 15, 2016. For any additional details or questions please email info(at)CANFL(dot)com.

About the Community Advocacy Network:

The Community Advocacy Network (CAN) is Floridas leading voice for the interests of 60,000 community associations. CAN helps to lead the fight against over-regulation of private residential communities by state and local governments. Each year since its inception in 2007, CAN spearheads important State legislative reforms designed to protect and enhance Florida Community association living. CAN continues to foster financial stability and operational integrity to all common-interest ownership communities statewide. CAN was established by the Community Association Law Firm Katzman Garfinkel. For additional information please contact info(at)CANFL(dot)com.

About Katzman Garfinkel:

Katzman Garfinkel is a statewide Florida Law Firm devoted to all aspects of community association representation. Named Top Choice Community Association Law Firm by the readers of the Florida Community Association Journal, Katzman Garfinkel has offices strategically located throughout the State of Florida to serve your communitys individual needs and goals. Our Firm offers residents living in every type of community association comprehensive services, including general corporate representation, litigation, covenant enforcement and delinquent account collection. In addition, we offer property insurance claim recovery and construction defect representation on a full contingency basis. Katzman Garfinkel is the 1st and only Law Firm in Florida to offer community associations the option to pursue their delinquent account collections without any costs or fees charged to the association. For more information, please visit: http://www.LikeYourLawyer.com or contact us today toll free @ 800-393-1529.
Well keep working to find new ways to engage our employees and improve the work environment at iHire. Wed like to make it five years in a row! Vickie Krolak , Administrative Manager

For the fourth consecutive year, iHire was recognized for its workplace practices, earning two AWE Awards: the Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval Award and the Health and Wellness Seal of Approval Award.

The Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval Award celebrates companies with outstanding corporate culture, management methods, work environment flexibility, and employee engagement/communication programs. As a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE), iHire evaluates employees on their performance (rather than their presence) and encourages self-management among staff members.

The Health and Wellness Seal of Approval Award is given to organizations that demonstrate superiority in health and wellness education, awareness, and assessment initiatives. Monthly educational programs, newsletters, wellness challenges, healthy food options, and gym discounts are among iHires various wellness offerings.

2016 marks the 17th year that AWE has recognized excellence in the workplace. The 62 award-winning companies represent organizations of all sizes and in all industry types from across the United States. All award recipients undergo a rigorous assessment process led by an independent review panel of business professionals and master's- and Ph.D.-level students in the fields of business, industrial and organizational psychology, human resources, diversity and inclusion, environmental science, and public health.

We take pride in our company culture and the happiness, health, and wellness of our employees, said Lisa Shuster, iHires Chief Administrative Officer. Receiving recognition from AWE for the fourth year in a row means a lot.

It means we must be doing something right, iHires Administrative Manager Vickie Krolak added with a smile. But well keep working to find new ways to engage our employees and improve the work environment at iHire. Wed like to make it five years in a row!

About iHire, LLC:

iHire offers a network of niche job boards dedicated to specific professions, enabling job seekers and employers to reach their employment goals by focusing their searches. iHire provides job seekers a single place to find jobs that are posted all over the internet, including places like small and large business websites, government databases, and industry associations in addition to other services such as resume writing/formatting. For employers, iHire provides straightforward hiring tools including search engine optimized video postings to help fill open positions quickly and cost effectively. iHire understands that successful recruiting isnt about a lot of resumes; its about the right resumes. Thats why iHire offers a niche focus with network reach, enabling employers a fast, affordable way to reach the right candidates. Visit http://www.ihire.com for more information.

About AWE: The Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1999 by Montgomery County, MD and Discovery Communications. Over the past 17 years, AWE has been dedicated to empowering employers to build excellence in the workplace as a means of supporting the quality of life for employees, their families, and the community at-large. AWE is dedicated to increasing the number of excellent workplaces within the business community through education and recognition, as a means to enhance the quality of life of its citizens and empower economic growth. For more information, please visit http://www.excellentworkplace.org/.
Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) announced today, in partnership with presenting sponsors Global Payments and SAP, along with the TAG Mobility, Cloud, Data Science & Analytics societies, they will be hosting the inaugural Internet of Things Symposium on July 19, 2016 at the Renaissance Waverly in Atlanta.

"The Internet of Things is an opportunity for the world to reduce waste and massively increase efficiency through data driven decision making," commented Walt Carter, CIO, Primary Capital Mortgage, LLC. The Internet of Things Symposium will allow executives and technologists a platform for ideation and knowledge exchange.

The goal of the one-day conference, which is expected to attract more than 500 attendees, is to explore the exploding IoT industry and its impact on our States economy and business ecosystem. Confirmed keynote presenters include:



Nayaki Nayyar, GM and Global Head of IoT and Innovation GTM, SAP

Daryl C. Plummer, Managing Vice President, Chief of Research and Chief Gartner Fellow

Wienke Giezeman, Founder, The Things Network

Featuring a rich program that will explore this sixth wave of technological innovation and how IoT is transforming virtually every aspect of our lives.

If you think about it, Georgia has one of the most powerful technology ecosystems in the world. The cadence at which our senior executives get together to share ideas, solve problems or simply give back through organizations like TAG is simply unprecedented, commented Todd Peneguy, IoT Symposium Chair. The TAG IoT Symposium is specifically designed to galvanize a core group of our communitys leaders around the importance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and start to position Georgia as a global leader in a market thats expected to be more than $7 trillion by the year 2020.

In addition to the keynote presentations, Georgia executives will be featured in panel discussions that will focus on key elements to Georgias success in IoT: Infrastructure and Education. Innovators such as Alan Dabbiere, founder of Georgia-success-stories Manhattan Associates and AirWatch, will take the stage to speak on the world of possibilities in IoT.

More programming information, sponsorship information, and registration is available at http://www.IOTGA.org.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 34 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAGs mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgias technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.

For more information, visit the TAG website at http://www.tagonline.org or TAGs community website at http://www.hubga.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.
The Horton Group is hosting The View from Main Street: The New Distress Research Indices and What They Tell Us About the Healthcare Market on June 9 for business executives and investors in greater Chicago, Milwaukee and northwest Indiana. Part of Hortons Future Forum programming, the exclusive event will be held at Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois, from 89:30 a.m. and features speakers Bobby Guy and Robert Dempsey, co-creators of the Polsinelli/TrBK Distress Indices.

Guy and Dempsey will discuss the implications and opportunities their research reveals about the healthcare industry. Unlike most market indices, which rely on public company data, the Distress Indices use criteria that include both public and private companies, providing a broader picture of what is happening on Main Street as well as Wall Street. This data was the basis for the Polsinelli/TrBK Healthcare Distress Report: Causes of Healthcare Distress, which examines the reasons distressed businesses have given for their struggles. During the event, Guy and Dempsey will offer valuable insights about success and failure in the healthcare industry, with a critical look at the market as it exists now, following implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Guy is a deal lawyer and entrepreneur who spends his time fixing, buying, and selling healthcare companies. He is a shareholder with Polsinelli P.C., and co-founded Polsinellis office in Nashville, Tennessee, with Dempsey in 2015. A frequent author and speaker, Guy has appeared on Fox News and is regularly quoted in the press on healthcare issues, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNNMoney and others. Dempsey is a lawyer and entrepreneur who started two companies, a technology firm and the venture that produces the Polsinelli/TrBK Distress Indices.

Hortons Future Forum is a series of events that offers essential insight for business leaders interested in understanding, identifying and managing future risk. Future Forum helps leaders navigate upcoming opportunities as well to position their companies for success.

Registration is complimentary, but seats are limited. For more information and to register, visit http://www.thehortongroup.com/events/healthcare-distress-research-indices.

About The Horton Group

The Horton Group is one of the largest privately held insurance brokers in the country. With over 300 employees in five states, Horton offers insurance, employee benefits and risk advisory solutions to lead clients with complex needs and limited resources to a higher level of performance.

800.383.8283 / http://www.thehortongroup.com
Dr. John Y. Walz will be the next president of MSOE I strongly believe in the MSOE mission  preparing students for exceptional careers as leaders and entrepreneurs. The success of the university in fulfilling this mission is remarkable."

Dr. John Y. Walz will be the next president of Milwaukee School of Engineering, effective July 1, 2016. Walz is only the fifth president in the universitys 113-year history.

Walz earned a bachelors degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. After six years as a process support engineer for Shell Oil Company, Walz left to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 and returned to Tulane as an assistant professor. In 1997, Walz joined Yale Universitys faculty as an associate professor of chemical engineering and in 2002 he became the departments chairman. In 2005 he became professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech and in 2012 Walz became dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky.

Many sectors of our economy are undergoing massive change, and higher education is no exception. Universities throughout our country are facing challenges of degree relevancy and the value students receive from their education, said Scott Moon, chairman of the MSOE Board of Regents and chairman and CEO of DLSM Inc. This year, MSOE was recognized as offering the best value of any Wisconsin college. Our goal is to increase MSOEs relevancy in this changing world by preparing high-impact students for the jobs of tomorrow. Our measure of success is the impact we make in terms of graduate job demand and ultimate job-creation within our society. The MSOE Search Committee looked for a new leader capable of expanding on this important recognition.

After a more than 18-month search with over 400 applicants, I am extremely pleased to say that we have found the right leader for MSOE: Dr. John Walz, Moon continued. Dr. Walz understands the challenges facing higher education and is very well equipped to handle these challenges. He has the right character, background and skillset to move MSOE forward.

I am extremely honored and pleased to be joining MSOE as its fifth president. I strongly believe in the MSOE mission  preparing students for exceptional careers as leaders and entrepreneurs. The success of the university in fulfilling this mission is remarkable, and there is no doubt that as our society becomes more advanced, MSOEs importance and global impact will expand, said Walz. I look forward to working with the Board, the universitys leadership team, faculty, staff, students and alumni to continue moving MSOE forward as a national leader in innovative higher education.

As dean of the UK College of Engineering, Walz initiated and led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for advancing the college, the goals of which were used to define the targets of an on-going fundraising campaign. He has also made major investments to improve the retention and success of undergraduate engineering students. Walz is a strong supporter of Project Lead The Way, which is directed from the UK College of Engineering for Kentucky.

Walz has received honors and awards from the universities where he has taught as well as from the National Science Foundation, who awarded him a Research Initiation Award in 1993 and a Faculty Early Career Development Award in 1997. In 2010, Virginia Tech recognized the Chemical Engineering Departments achievements, chaired by Walz, with an Exemplary Department Award. Walz is past-chair of the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (2011).

Walz and his wife Moira have three daughters. Megan is pursuing her graduate degree in biosystems and agricultural engineering at the University of Kentucky, Bridget is studying architecture at Virginia Tech, and Emily is a high school student.

Dr. Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) hailed the selection of Walz as the new president of MSOE. Dr. Walz has had a distinguished career in business, education, academic leadership and in chemical engineering. MSOE is known as an entrepreneurial and innovative university with a profound impact, not only on students, but on the economy and on the broader community. It looks to me like a perfect match.

Dr. Hermann Viets retired after 24 years of service as president of MSOE June 30, 2015. Dr. Matthew Panhans, P.E., professor and former chair of MSOEs Mechanical Engineering Department, served as interim president while a nationwide search was conducted for Viets successor. Panhans will continue in his role until Walz assumes the presidency. Panhans then will remain at MSOE as a professor and special advisor to the president.

MSOEs past presidents include:



Oscar Werwath, founder, 1903-1948

Karl Werwath, 1948-1977

Robert R. Spitzer, Ph.D., 1977-1991

Hermann Viets, Ph.D., 1991-2015

Milwaukee School of Engineering is an independent, non-profit university with about 2,900 students that was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelors and masters degrees in engineering, business and nursing. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; a 96% placement rate; and the highest ROI and average starting salaries of any Wisconsin university according to PayScale Inc. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.
Imarc announced today the launch of a new intranet for JetBlue, the 5th largest airline in the United States. Imarc partnered with the airline on the strategy, user experience, web design and development of its intranet, HelloJetBlue.

The new intranet is core to how the airlines 18,000 Crewmembers work, collaborate and communicate daily. It provides unprecedented two-way communication thats personalized, highly usable and responsively designed. Users now have personalized content, news, company updates, tools and powerful search at their fingertips, on-the-go.

Were always doing exciting things for our clients, but what makes JetBlue so special is we care just as much, if not more, for our Crewmembers. Because if our Crewmembers are happy, our customers are happy, explains Jonathan Weitz, Former Digital and Online Communications Manager. Intranets can often be top-down, one-way communication. We wanted to completely change that.

The digital agency performed a comprehensive strategy and planning phase to initiate the project; Imarc user tested sitemaps, surveyed 2,300 JetBlue Crewmembers and interviewed key stakeholders to understand their pain points with the current intranet. From there, the agency crafted personas to represent the different workgroups and work types, mapped Crewmembers daily tasks and rolesand even device usageensuring they were designing a flexible intranet for each users specialized needs.

Dave Tufts, Imarc CTO explains, We had a lot of ambitious goals for HelloJetBlue; we needed to completely modernize the original intranet, understand the companys internal workflows, solve for its unique challenges, provide crewmembers with easy access to the daily resources they need, encourage collaboration and communication; all while reflecting JetBlues world-renowned brand and reputation.

The results of the new intranet speak for themselves. HelloJetBlue boasts an array of first-time features, including mobile-friendly responsive design, real-time operational status notifications, streamlined filtering, powerful search, social notifications, commenting and custom tools. The website is built on a powerful back-end, as well. Imarc used all open-source libraries to a develop a custom system thats tailored to JetBlues unique needs. HelloJetBlue is built on the digital agencys custom CMS, SiteManager, to provide full-site control and is scaled to support millions of hits, everyday.

It was an honor to work with Imarc. They demonstrated, very early on, a true ability to understand our business and solve for our needscreate a new intranet site, one that would increase engagement and foster community. Imarc delivered incredible results, taking our former site to new heights. We couldnt be happier with their work and subject matter expertise, remarks Jonathan Weitz.

To explore HelloJetBlue, please visit http://www.imarc.com/work/jetblue.

About Imarc

Imarc is an adaptive, full-service digital agency with a strong focus on web, mobile and custom application solutions. Since 1997, the agencys team of experienced engineers, UX engineers, designers, strategists and business and marketing experts has been helping over 300 clients do business better. The award-winning, 28-person agency with offices on both coasts has sustained steady growth since its inception and is proud of its many long-term client relationships across different industries. Today Imarc continues to be a premier digital agency that attracts top talent and creates smart solutions for forward-thinking brands. For more information, please visit http://www.imarc.com
Why do some construction companies thrive while others just barely survive? With the recent upturn in the construction industry, its more critical than ever for businesses to be aware of the factors that could affect their growth and prosperity. The Horton Group aims to help contractors overcome challenges as well as seize new opportunities by hosting the executive leadership event, Past, Present and Future: How Contractors Succeed and Which Trends are Emerging for the Future. The event is part of Hortons Future Forum and will tour to three cities in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

Numerous contractors, from small to large, struggle to retain clients and maintain a foothold. However, other companies gain traction, build backlogs, run profitably and penetrate new areas of specialization. During this event, speaker James Schug from FMI will present several case studies and distill the relevant factors that make these companies unique and successful. He will help attendees:



Understand the business imperatives for surviving in the construction industry

Recognize the common mistakes contractors make

Build a company fit for the challenges ahead

Schug is a principal and engagement manager for FMI, the leading management consulting, investment banking and people development firm for the construction and engineering industries. A frequent speaker at industry events, Schug has served in leadership positions on various local and national non-profit industry associations and for a national builder, as well as served for more than a decade as an army officer. He earned a bachelors degree in quantitative economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a masters degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri. Additionally, he has completed post-graduate work with Cornell University in Achieving Competitive Advantage and is certified in Lean Six Sigma.

How Contractors Succeed and Which Trends are Emerging for the Future events will be held on June 21 at the University Club in Milwaukee, on June 22 at Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois, and on June 23 at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Hortons Future Forum is a series of events that offer essential insight for business leaders interested in understanding, identifying and managing future risk. Future Forum helps leaders navigate upcoming opportunities as well to position their companies for success.

Registration is complimentary, but seats are limited. For more information and to register, visit http://www.thehortongroup.com/how-contractors-succeed-and-which-trends-are-emerging-for-the-future.

About The Horton Group

The Horton Group is one of the largest privately held insurance brokers in the country. With over 300 employees in five states, Horton offers insurance, employee benefits and risk advisory solutions to lead clients with complex needs and limited resources to a higher level of performance.

800.383.8283 / http://www.thehortongroup.com
Celebrating 10 Years of Drink One for Dane and the fight to end ALS Dutch Bros' Drink One for Dane day raised $758,500 for MDA as the fight continues to end ALS.

Friday, May 6, marked Dutch Bros annual Drink One for Dane day. On this day, Dutch Bros celebrated 10 years of fighting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS and, with the help of the community, raised a record breaking $758,500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, MDA.

All 263 Dutch Bros locations in seven states donate proceeds from their days sales to MDA in support of ALS research and family services. This record breaking year surpassed last years donation by nearly 50 percent  bringing the companys total donation over the past 10 years to over $2.53 million. Funds will benefit MDA in hopes of finding a cause and a cure for ALS.

"The impact that is made by our community is beyond what I could have ever imagined," said Travis Boersma, Dutch Bros co-founder. "My mind is blown every year by the generosity of our customers, franchisees and broistas. Thank you."

Drink One for Dane day will always be a way the Dutch Bros family can honor its late co-founder, Dane Boersma, who passed away from this disease in 2009. Dutch Bros, as a company, is still influenced by Danes inspiration, love and passion for music, a compelling future for all and good vibes.

ALS is a disease that impacts so many lives within Dutch Bros and its communities. It is an incurable disease that affects the parts in the nervous system that control muscle movement. Most people who are diagnosed with this fatal disease usually lose their battle within three to five years.

The results from this years Drink One for Dane day and the outpouring of support from the Dutch Bros community on this 10th anniversary of the event is nothing short of astonishing. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is incredibly grateful for Dutch Bros continued support and partnership in the fight against ALS, said MDA Senior Vice President & Scientific Program Director, Grace Pavlath. This investment will help MDA make enormous strides in developing treatments and, ultimately, a cure for ALS.

Together, we are making a difference to end ALS. Dutch Bros will continue to rally for those affected with this disease until a cause and a cure is discovered.

###

About Dutch Bros Coffee

Dutch Bros Coffee is the countrys largest privately held, drive-thru coffee company, with over 260 locations and over 5,000 employees in seven states.

Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas and a private-label, Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drink. The rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish. Every ingredient is measured, every process timed, and every cup perfected.

With a mission of, Making a Difference, One Cup at a Time, Dutch Bros donates over $2 million annually to nonprofit organizations and local causes selected by local owner-operators.

Dutch Bros. Coffee is headquartered in Grants Pass, Ore., where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, brothers of Dutch descent.

To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit http://www.dutchbros.com, like Dutch Bros Coffee on Facebook or follow @DutchBros on Twitter.

Contact: Jen Wheatley, pr(at)dutchbros(dot)com, 541.226.7787
Amy Pecoraro, RE/MAX Achievers

RE/MAX Achievers in Lombard, Ill., has been acquired by Amy and Michael Pecoraro. The office, located at 123 W. St. Charles Road, has long been a fixture in Lombard, and so has Amy, its new managing broker. She is a respected and successful local real estate broker with 24 years of professional experience who has been part of the community for her entire life.

Pecoraro grew up in Lombard and settled there with Mike, who was from nearby Villa Park, Ill., as they raised their five children.

Her decision to move to RE/MAX developed after Coldwell Banker closed its Lombard office.

I wanted to stay in Lombard, and when the opportunity arose to acquire RE/MAX Achievers, it seemed like the obvious choice, she said. The RE/MAX brand is highly respected in this market, and it will allow me to create the kind of real estate brokerage that both Realtors and their clients will find conducive.

Pecoraro has brought to RE/MAX Achievers not only her own sales team, which now includes seven other agents and her personal assistant, but also several other of her former Coldwell Banker colleagues. As a result, RE/MAX Achievers quickly grew from 14 to 23 affiliated brokers, and Pecoraro expects that number to increase further in the weeks ahead.

Her objective is to pursue two broad goals. The first is to give RE/MAX Achievers the right atmosphere.

Lombard is in many ways a small town, and I want this office to deliver caring, personalized service so that is has that small-town feel, Pecoraro said.

Her other goal is to make sure that from a business perspective, RE/MAX Achievers offers an industry-leading working environment in four key areas.

We want to offer our brokers the best in market materials and support, the most competitive pay scale, top quality training and a profit sharing plan to help secure their future, Pecoraro explained.

She noted that RE/MAX Achievers has a proud tradition in Lombard, and she looks forward to continuing it, especially its support for charitable efforts locally and nationally, including Childrens Miracle Network and the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

Pecoraro admits that shes a bit surprised to find herself leading a real estate brokerage.

My goal when I was younger was to be a math teacher, and I started selling real estate as strictly a part-time job to help our family finances, but Ive really come to enjoy the work and the people, and now with RE/MAX Achievers Ill have the opportunity to take that involvement to a new level in a community to which I feel very connected, said Pecoraro. Its an exciting opportunity, and Im thrilled to have it.

Mike Pecoraro, who works for United Airlines, is her partner but does not plan to be involved in the day-to-day operations of RE/MAX Achievers.

A grand reopening event is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, in the office parking lot. The public is welcome, and the event will offer food and refreshments, games and fun giveaways. For further information, call RE/MAX Achievers at 630-678-0300.

RE/MAX agents consistently rank among the most productive in the industry. In 2015, RE/MAX Northern Illinois agents averaged 18 transaction sides. RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989 and is continually growing. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of more than 2,250 sales associates and 106 independently owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its mobile real estate app, available for download at http://www.illinoisproperty.com, provides comprehensive information about residential and commercial property for sale in the region. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX, a global real estate organization with 104,000+ sales associates in 90+ nations.

EDITORS NOTE: RE/MAX is a registered trademark. Please spell in all caps. Thank you. This release is posted at blog.illinoisproperty.com.
Dr. Andrew Levi, founder of Park Avenue Fertility, has once again been awarded Castle Connollys accredited Top Doctor Honor in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility for 2016. Selection is determined through peer nomination by other doctors in various fields and then thoroughly reviewed by a physician-led research team to ensure that the very best physicians are selected for the distinction of Top Doctor.

Park Avenue Fertility is a leader in the arena of modern fertility treatments. Their Connecticut offices in Fairfield, Norwalk, and Trumbull offer a variety of services including natural cycle in vitro fertilization (NC-IVF) which requires little or no stimulatory medications, traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF), advanced treatment for recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine insemination (IUI), surrogacy, egg donation, genetic screenings and analysis, and treatment of male infertility. Park Avenue Fertility also offers a free test that can help determine a female patients egg reserve and provide insight on recommended treatment options.

Dr. Levi is pleased to be ranked among the Top Doctors in his field in Connecticut. Our center is committed to helping our patients maximize their reproductive health so that they can achieve their fertility goals. We are constantly evolving our technology so that we offer the best, most effective treatment options available.

Multiple national media sources including The New York Times, USA Today, Good Morning America, 20/20, Redbook, Town and Country, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, and many more distinguished publications and media outlets have recognized Castle Connollys 20-year Top Doctor award program. Through comprehensive and unbiased research that has been moderated by top professionals, Castle Connolly provides patients with an annually updated list of the best in health care.

Contact Park Avenue Fertility at 855-901-BABY or 203-372-6700 to learn more about fertility treatments in the New York metro area. Park Avenue Fertility proudly serves Ansonia, Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Darien, Derby, Easton, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden, Litchfield, Madison, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Canaan, New Haven, Newtown, Norwalk, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Ridgefield, Seymour, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Walcott, Wallingford, Waterbury, Weston, Westport, Wilton, Woodbury and Fairfield County Infertility.
Eagle Surgical Products, LLC, today announced it will demonstrate Electro Lube, an anti-stick solution for electrosurgery, May 14-17 at the American College of Gynecology (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Washington D.C. at booth #445. The conference brings together leaders in womens health to discuss the latest in scientific innovation and clinical best practices for obstetrics and gynecology.

OB/GYNs deal with one of the most sensitive areas of the body, making it vital for instrumentation to remain clean and avoid sticking to tissue and causing thermal spread, says Tim Reese, president of Eagle Surgical Products, LLC, the sales and distribution company for Electro Lube. Since Electro Lube helps prevent eschar buildup, it is an excellent tool for OB/GYBNs, making ACOG an optimal venue to spread awareness of the different types of instrumentation that can utilize the product.

OB/GYNs are utilizing Electro Lube at some of the nations top hospitals, including Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the UCLA Healthcare System, as well as local clinics like Renaissance Womens Group.

Devin Garza, OB/GYN, Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery  Epicenter Mentor Surgeon, Intuitive Surgical, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, at Renaissance Womens Group, Austin, TX, explains that Electro Lube keeps patients safer by reducing the need to re-cauterize the same tissue.

When you are close to vital structures you want to minimize thermal spread, and if you have to keep coagulating bleeders in the same area, you get thermal spread, says Garza. Electro Lube gives me cleaner seals. Im using it in almost all of my laparoscopic cases, but if Im assisting a colleague and they dont have it, its like night and day. Everyone I know that has used it wants it. Its frustrating without it.

Electro Lube representative Tim Reese will be at booth #445 during ACOG to demonstrate how OBGYNs can utilize Electro Lube on instruments such as cutting forceps, kleppingers, loop electrodes, bipolar forceps, curved hot scissors and robots.

Members of the media interested in speaking with Reese can contact Elizabeth Hilton at ehilton(at)crosswindpr(dot)com. For more information on Electro Lube, please visit http://www.electrolubesurgical.com.

###

About Electro Lube

Electro Lube is an anti-stick solution for electrosurgery designed to keep instruments clean. Electro Lube was developed under the premise that a clean surgical instrument is a more predictable instrument. Electro Lube helps minimize the number of interruptions during surgery by keeping tissue from sticking to the instruments and the instruments from sticking to the tissue. To learn more about Electro Lube, visit us at http://www.electrolubesurgical.com or follow us on Twitter at @Electro_Lube.
Aarkis technology and expertise in this area allow us to simultaneously optimize campaigns for both user acquisition and listing volume, resulting in a double win for our clients.

Aarkis deep vertical expertise helps classified ads mobile apps achieve stronger return on investment (ROI) through programmatic advertising. Equipped with insightful expert knowledge and cutting edge technology, Aarki is one of the leading providers of programmatic advertising to developers of mobile apps focused on classified and local advertising. The company has leveraged its institutional knowledge and learning in this area to consistently deliver robust and high performing mobile advertising.

As the number and popularity of classified ads apps grow, mobile app marketing is key to driving user base and listings expansion. In the recent past, Aarki has helped several classified app developers, including Close5, Kijiji, and Letgo aggressively expand their user base through robust mobile advertising. Having run several app marketing campaigns for classified ads apps over the years, Aarki has expert knowledge that it routinely leverages to improve the performance of new campaigns.

Vertical-specific expertise combined with proprietary machine learning and multivariate technologies puts Aarki in a unique position to help classified ads apps with their user acquisition campaigns. On a recent campaign for a popular classified app, for example, Aarki utilized multivariate testing and machine learning technology to identify the best performing creative variants and media placements. As a result, Aarki was able to achieve thousands of high quality users in just a few days.

Despite rapid category expansion, many classified ads apps are still having a tough time finding active users who generate listings, said Sid Bhatt, ceo of Aarki. Aarkis technology and expertise in this area allow us to simultaneously optimize campaigns for both user acquisition and listing volume, resulting in a double win for our clients.

For more details on our classified ad mobile apps offerings, please visit http://www.aarki.com/classified-ads-mobile-apps

About Aarki

Aarki is transforming mobile app marketing through unified optimization of creative and media. It delivers superior results using proprietary machine learning technology for performance optimization. The company's customer base includes leading brands, agencies, and app developers. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Aarki is a global company with offices in Beijing, Manila, Tokyo, and Yerevan. For more information, please visit http://www.aarki.com or follow us on Twitter: @aarkimobile.

Contact

Raj Misra

svp and global head of marketing

media(at)aarki(dot)com
The National World War I Museum and Memorial is Americas leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. Through global partnerships and scholarly research, the Museum can tell the stories about those who defended our liberty and facilitate ongoing reflection and thoughtful dialogue about the challenges to peace as we look to the future.

The David T. Beals, III Charitable Trust, Bank of America N.A., Trustee has generously responded to the National World War I Museum and Memorials Call to Duty Centennial Capital Campaign with a $1 million gift to expand the Museums education and public programs.

The gift will fund the creation of the David T. Beals, III Education Fund at the Museum for the development of exceptional educational resources and to expand the Museums outreach and collaboration with K-12 schools, higher education and community partners.

The extraordinary generosity of the David T. Beals, III Charitable Trust will enable the Museum to expand our outreach to schools and educators  including digital curriculum resources, diverse public programs and scholarly research partnerships  to further our mission as Americas leading institution dedicated to interpreting, understanding and remembering the Great War and its enduring impact, said Dr. Matthew Naylor, president and CEO of the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial.

Through global partnerships and scholarly research, the Museum will be elevated to an international stage where it can fulfill its vital responsibility to tell the stories about those who defended our liberty and facilitate ongoing reflection and thoughtful dialogue about the challenges to peace as we look to the future, he said.

David T. Beals, III was a military veteran who served during World War II in Europe as a lieutenant colonel with the 9th Armored Division and was awarded the Bronze Star. After returning from the war, he joined the 35th Division of Missouri National Guard as a staff officer and retired as a colonel. Beals was an outdoorsman, expert horseman and spent significant time on his farm.

David Beals was a decorated veteran and avid supporter of the arts and education which makes this gift from the Trust a natural fit to benefit the Museums future, Naylor said.

The National World War I Museum and Memorial Call to Duty Centennial Capital Campaign was launched in 2014 to raise funds to meet four primary goals:

1. Construction of a new exhibition gallery

2. Renovation of outdoor gathering space

3. Support of education programs and opportunity funds

4. Increase the Museums endowment

To enable construction of a new exhibition gallery and renovation of existing outdoor space, the Museums Call to Duty Centennial Capital Campaign has also collectively received more than $5 million from the following:



Hall Family Foundation

Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation

Jack F. and Glenna Y. Wylie Charitable Foundation

Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation

Sunderland Foundation

Sosland Foundation

The Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) also awarded the Museum $1.8 million in tax credits to support the project.

The National World War I Museum and Memorials Call to Duty Centennial Capital Campaign continues with future funder announcements expected by Memorial Day. The general public is also welcome to make contributions to the campaign at theworldwar.org.

About the National World War I Museum and Memorial

The National World War I Museum and Memorial is Americas leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as Americas official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National World War I Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.

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ProJet Center FBO at Leesburg Executive Airport Its easy to see why Leesburg is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for private jet travelers in the DC Metro Region.

ProJet Aviation, a private aviation hospitality company providing aircraft management, jet charter flights, and flight support (FBO) services at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), received high honors in several categories in the FltPlan Pilots Choice Awards. The rankings are based on the results of an annual survey of FltPlan's 157,000-plus active users.

"The Pilots' Choice Awards is a pilot survey, not a reader survey..." said Ken Wilson, president of FltPlan. "Because pilots are the people who use the FBOs, they are best able to judge the quality of the FBO services that they receive.

ProJet earned a #2 ranking in the Ace Award Category, which recognizes those FBOs who received the most votes at airports with 4,000 or fewer arrivals per year. The company also captured the #3 spot in the competitive Northeast Region, jumped from #22 to #12 in the Star Award Category, and from #39 to #13 among all FBOs in the nation.

"This FBO team understands who our clients are, and more importantly - we understand who we are. We pride ourselves on meeting and exceeding hospitality expectations everyday, said Julie OBrien, Director of Flight Support and Marketing for ProJet Aviation. Its easy to see why Leesburg is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for private jet travelers in the DC Metro Region.

Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO) is the closest general aviation airport to Washington DC, the Dulles Technology Corridor, and Virginia's growing horse and wine country. ProJet has been providing flight support services at Leesburg since 2010.

###

About ProJet Aviation

ProJet Aviation is the DC metro region's premier private aviation company, dedicated to helping people accomplish extraordinary things through the wonder of flight. ProJet provides aircraft management, worldwide charter flights, and flight support (FBO) services at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), the general aviation gateway to Washington DC, the Dulles Technology Corridor, and Virginia's Horse & Wine Country. Founded in 2007 as a partnership between former airline pilot entrepreneur Shye Gilad, and noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, ProJets aviation hospitality mindset combines the operational integrity of the worlds best airlines with the refined service of a world-class resort. ProJet holds an ARGUS safety rating, and is one of the few operators certified to conduct charter flights into Washington Reagan National Airport (KDCA). The companys numerous accolades include recognition as a Washington Business Journal Best Place to Work, Loudoun County Service Business of the Year, and an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company.

About FltPlan

FltPlan was established in 1991 and has grown into the largest flight planning company in North America. More than 157,000 registered users file more than 50% of all N#-registered flight plans -- more than 70% of all N#-registered flight plans for jets and turboprops.The free FltPlan Go app for iOS, Android, and Windows is an indispensable companion to the FltPlan.com website and incorporates essential and beneficial features and tools for in-flight and offline use.
Lua is a secure mobile messaging solution now available on the GSA.

Today Lua, the leading mobile-first enterprise communication solution, along with partner Sengex, the integrator of mobile cyber and data security for government agencies, announced Luas availability on the Sengex platform through the GSAAdvantage Schedule 70 contract.

The GSA (US General Services Administration) establishes long-term government contracts with commercial firms to provide access to millions of commercial products and services at volume discount pricing. Luas products and services can be ordered directly from GSA Schedule contractors or through the GSAAdvantage online shopping and ordering system.

DoD and government organizations have entrusted Lua for mobile messaging based on its unmatched security, traceability and accountability, said John Meincke, President of Sengex. The addition of Lua within our GSA offerings portfolio further enable these organizations to have a well established vehicle to obtain the Lua solution in parallel to the value-add services that Sengex offers with the platform.

Already proven as a respected solution with the healthcare sector for its HIPAA compliance, the availability of Lua on GSA not only addresses their requirements for mobility security, but also creates opportunity to enhance the efficiency of communications across agencies during disaster recovery operations and public health events, such as the current Zika situation.

Government organizations require secure messaging to do their jobs in real-time. The addition of Lua on GSA in conjunction with our partnership with Sengex greatly simplifies the process, said Lua CEO and Founder, Michael DeFranco. Lua meets the rigorous demands for a secure mobile communication and collaboration tool for interoperability at every level of command. Top agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and the National Guard, rely on how well they can communicate and coordinate inside and outside their organizations. Lua offers a simple and secure solution that requires zero training.

The Department of Homeland Security offers grants for public entities to deploy solutions like Lua for emergency response and better interoperability. Learn more at https://www.dhs.gov/safecom/funding.
James Krulder (right) after accepting his award. FEM looks for individuals who have been recognized by their colleagues as having made a significant impact at the beginning of their career, showing they are the future movers and shakers of the industry.

The Director of International AutoSource, James Krulder, won the "Global Mobility Rising Star of the Year" award at the Forum for Expatriate Managements (FEM) annual awards, the 2016 Americas EMMAs. The award ceremony was held on May 5, 2016, in Philadelphia, PA. At the awards, International AutoSource was also given Highly Commended recognition in the category of Employee Benefits and Services Provider of the Year.

The FEM Americas EMMAs celebrate the best and the brightest of the global mobility industry. This was James third nomination in the category; in 2015, he received an honorable mention. James entered the global mobility industry in 2012 as the General Manager of International AutoSource, an Expat car program offering car leasing, financing, and rental solutions without a local credit history. Since then, he has committed himself to growing the programs and services offered, improving the overall Expat experience.

The Global Mobility Rising Star of the Year award is given to an individual who has been working in the Global Mobility Industry for 1-5 years. FEM looks for individuals who have been recognized by their colleagues as having made a significant impact at the beginning of their career, showing they are the future movers and shakers of the industry.

To even be nominated was an honor, to win was one of the most humbling experiences of my career, said James Krulder, this award doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the extremely dedicated and passionate team at International AutoSource.

About International AutoSource

For over 50 years, International AutoSource has been providing value-added services and benefits specifically designed for expatriates and the global community for short and long-term assignments. Their programs offer full-service personal transportation solutions for financing, purchasing, leasing and rental without a local credit or driving history. Through outstanding service, value and support IAS strives to make assignments into a foreign country as seamless as possible while saving customers valuable time, money and resources. For more information, please contact International AutoSource at 516.496.1816, email at intlauto(at)intlauto(dot)com or visit their website http://www.intlauto.com.
Nexonia has attended SuiteWorld since the first conference in 2011, and were thrilled to be a Gold Sponsor this year.

Nexonia, a leading provider of web and mobile business financial management solutions, today announced its Gold Sponsorship of SuiteWorld 2016, NetSuites annual user conference for customers, partners, media and industry analysts, being held May 1619 in San Jose, Calif. NetSuites SuiteWorld 2016 is the #1 Cloud ERP conference, with more than 8,000 expected attendees coming together to get inspired, network, celebrate cloud success, gain industry knowledge and share insights and best practices.

Nexonia has attended SuiteWorld since the first conference in 2011, and were thrilled to be a Gold Sponsor this year, said Neil Wainwright, CEO of Nexonia. SuiteWorld is the largest gathering of NetSuite customers, partners and professionals in the world and were delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our unbeatable Nexonia SuiteApp, as well as the hundreds of product features weve tailored specifically for NetSuite users.

All of Nexonias highly-configurable SuiteApps for NetSuite will be showcased at SuiteWorld 2016, including Nexonia Expenses, Nexonia Timesheets, Nexonia Purchase Orders and Nexonia Accounts Payable. For years, Nexonia has had a seamless two-way integration specifically with NetSuite customers in mind, offering hundreds of feature integrations that will be showcased at the event.

To learn more or receive a demo, please visit us at booth 808 in the SuiteWorld Expo at the San Jose Convention Center.

About SuiteWorld 2016

NetSuites SuiteWorld is the #1 Cloud ERP conference, being held at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. on May 16-19. SuiteWorld 2016 will bring together NetSuite solution providers, independent software vendor (ISV) partners, industry thought leaders and representatives of the approximately 30,000 companies and subsidiaries from across the globe running their business on NetSuites cloud-based business management suite. Attendees of SuiteWorld can fully explore the NetSuite ecosystem, network face-to-face, and help shape the next evolution of cloud computing services.

For registration and additional details, please visit http://www.netsuitesuiteworld.com. To join the SuiteWorld conversation on Twitter and Instagram, please use #NSW16.

About Nexonia

Nexonia Inc. is a provider of leading web and mobile expense, time and other business financial management solutions, including: Nexonia Expenses, Nexonia Timesheets, Nexonia Time Off, Nexonia Time Allocation, Nexonia Purchase Orders and Nexonia Accounts Payable. Nexonias simple-to-use and highly customizable applications are fully integrated with ERPs, credit cards and other systems supporting a variety of businesses. Nexonia solutions are designed to streamline the reporting and approval process, improve human resource management and enhance operational efficiency. To receive more information, visit http://www.nexonia.com or call 800-291-4829. Chat with Nexonia today on Twitter: @nexonia. Follow Nexonias updates on LinkedIn: Nexonia

NOTE: NetSuite and the NetSuite logo are service marks of NetSuite Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Extension of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program through 2019 has set the stage for industry practitioners to make longer-term investment plans with greater confidence. Community development opportunities and challenges will be addressed by Amias Gerety, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, and Annie Donovan, director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, during their keynote speeches June 2 and 3 at the Novogradac 2016 Spring New Markets Tax Credit Conference in Washington, D.C.

Were happy to announce Amias Gerety and Annie Donovan as our keynote speakers for the 2016 Spring New Markets Tax Credit Conference, said Nicolo Pinoli, CPA, conference chairman and partner at Novogradac & Company LLPs Portland, Ore., office. Attendees will have the chance to hear Amias and Annies insights on the future of the NMTC program and the continued availability of this effective capital source for low-income communities.

Gerety oversees Treasury Department programs that include the CDFI Fund. He was previously the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Financial Stability Oversight Council and senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions. He joined Treasury in 2009 before being nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Assistant Secretary in 2015.

Donovan, as the CDFI Funds director, administers community development programs, such as the NMTC, the CDFI program, the CDFI Bond Guarantee program and the Capital Magnet Fund program. Before joining the CDFI Fund, Donovan was chief executive officer of CoMetrics, senior policy advisor to the White House and chief operating officer of Capital Impact Partners.

The Novogradac 2016 Spring New Markets Tax Credit Conference will be June 2 and 3 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel.

The two-day event will feature a double-track agenda with panel topics on getting to a successful closing, avoiding recapture and more. In addition, there will be two pre-conference workshops June 1, NMTC 101: The Basics and NMTC 201: NMTC Compliance.

The conference is co-hosted by BakerHostetler, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CapitalOne Commercial Banking, Chase, Dentons, Husch Blackwell, Nixon Peabody, Squire Patton Boggs, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. Sponsors include First NBC Bank, Holland & Knight, National Trust Community Investment Corporation, Dudley Ventures, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Kutak Rock LLP, Greenline Ventures, Smith NMTC Associates, SunTrust, Blank Rome, Bryan Cave, Enterprise, Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, Lathrop & Gage LLP, Mannatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, Stinson Leonard Street, Citi Community Capital, Perkins Coie, PNC Bank, Strategic Development Solutions, Twain Financial Partners and Law Office of Mark D. Foster. An exhibitor is Ariel Ventures LLC.

Conference details and the complete conference agenda can be found at

http://www.novoco.com/events/conferences/nmtc/2016/washington/index.php.

About Novogradac & Company LLP

Novogradac began operations in 1989 and has since grown to more than 500 employees and partners with offices in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Long Beach, Calif.; Dover, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis; Boston; New York; Chicago; Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Naples, Fla., Raleigh, N.C.; Iselin, N.J.; and the greater metropolitan areas of Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Detroit; Kansas City, Mo.; and Seattle.

Specialty practice areas include tax, audit and consulting services for tax-credit-assisted affordable housing, community revitalization, rehabilitation of historic properties and renewable energy. Other areas of expertise include business valuation, preparation and analysis of market studies and appraisals of multifamily housing investments and renewable energy tax credits.

For more information about the Novogradac 2016 Spring New Markets Tax Credit Conference, please contact the Events Desk at (415) 356-7970 or by email at events(at)novoco(dot)com.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, like the Civil Rights Act and the War on Poverty, was part of Lyndon Johnsons Great Society. Its origins are often elided or its simply considered an inevitable byproduct of his sweeping programs. But radical overhaul of the United States immigration policies  arguably the central debate in 2016s presidential race  was neither inevitable nor an afterthought. Wendy L. Wall says the 20-year push to reform the policy was the most important social movement in U.S. history youve never heard of.

Wall, a historian who joined Binghamtons faculty in 2010, received a highly competitive fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities to research how Cold War politics and efforts by ethnic, religious, civic, patriotic and labor groups to spur, shape or halt immigration reform transformed vast swaths of American life.

When President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, he downplayed its importance, she writes in her proposal to the NEH. [This] is not a revolutionary bill, he declared. It does not affect the lives of millions. It will not reshape the structure of our daily lives, or really add importantly to either our wealth or our power. Few predictions have proven faultier.

The act did away with a system of national origins quotas in place since the 1920s that heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe. It replaced this with a system that favored the reunification of families and, to a lesser extent, skills. This opened the door not only to Southern and Eastern Europeans, but also to millions of newcomers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It also put a ceiling for the first time on immigration from the Western Hemisphere, greatly contributing to illegal immigration from Latin America.

Neither popular writers nor historians of postwar America pay much attention to how we got the Immigration Act of 1965, she says. Its often portrayed simply as the product of a great liberal moment  we got the civil rights and the voting rights, and the Immigration Act got thrown in there too.  Im interested in both how we got the act, and why it took the shape it did.

Immigration reform then was just as contentious an issue as it is today, she says. The Cold War was raging, and proponents of reform argued that failure to make changes in the policy was offending the newly decolonized people of Asia and Africa that the United States wanted to keep out of the Soviet Unions orbit. Ethnic groups such as Greeks and Italians used Cold War rhetoric too, arguing that population pressure in their home countries encouraged social unrest and provided a fertile ground for communism.

There were also people on the other side of the equation, people who didnt want to open the borders. They said, Ah, well, if we open the borders, then well have all these spies coming in, Wall says. Its a familiar argument in 2016, with some politicians seeking to limit or ban immigration from Muslim countries because of the fear of terrorism.

Andrew J. Rotter, Charles A. Dana Professor of History at Colgate University, recommended Wall for the NEH fellowship. He says any book she produces will be carefully researched and beautifully written, in part owing to her background as a Wall Street Journal reporter.

Wendy has an astonishing knack to make history come alive through the prism of current events  in this case, the (often poisonous and nearly always ill-informed) debate over immigration, Rotter says. Her story promises to place these debates in a deep and illuminating context.
Zip, the free question answer app that has everyone weighing in on everything from what to eat to whose argument is right, is now available on Microsoft Windows devices in addition to the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android.

We received a very generous grant from BizSpark, via Microsoft, that has helped us build Zip into the successful app it is today, states Ric Militi, founder. We felt compelled to make sure its available on their devices, too.

One of the fastest growing social media apps, Zip has only been up and running for a little over seven months on Apple and Android devices and its already averaging 700,000 to 1.3 million user engagements per week with topics ranging from fun and lighthearted to philosophical and newsworthy.

Curious about how many people agree with a particular political viewpoint?

Undecided on what would be better: a chai tea or coconut latte?

In need of a quick and easy icebreaker?

Users can either browse for questions to lend their expertise to, or pose their own puzzlers. To ask, all they do is type in an AND/OR question, set how long they want their question to stay active, and then wait for the answers to come rolling in from across the country on a variety of topics.

With 100% anonymity, users have complete freedom to ask any question without repercussions and answer with total honesty. Folks from every state are weighing in on the thought-provoking, opinion-based questions of the moment.

We are thrilled to offer Zip on the Windows platform, said Militi. And we hope all their users thoroughly enjoy the experience, too.

About

Zip is the latest product to come out of the San Diego based, technology think tank Crazy Raccoons LLC. It launched into the app marketplace in October 2015, shedding light on the millions of questions running through peoples heads during every second of every day. From settling arguments to answering business questions, Zip brings knowledge and fun to the palm of your hand.

Zip is available for FREE at the App Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android and the Microsoft Platform.

For additional information and to download, please visit http://www.thezipapp.com or contact chelsea(at)chicexecs(dot)com.
VeinViewer is the only device of its kind clinically proven to improve the patient experience and impact the quality of care when inserting peripheral IVs

Christie Medical Holdings, a global leader in near infrared vein finding technology, will be showcasing VeinViewer Vision2 and VeinViewer Flex at the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) 2016 annual conference.

VeinViewer by Christie reduces the time needed to place an IV catheter and improves first-stick success rates by up to 100 percent. VeinViewer technology uses near infrared light to create a real-time high definition image of patient veins projected directly on the skin. VeinViewer also lets clinicians see valves and bifurcations, which aids in pre-stick decision making for the point of insertion. In post-assessment procedures, clinicians can assess the patency of the vessel to help avoid complications. The use of VeinViewer helps hospitals meet the guidelines for patient care and safety laid out by the INS.

In its recently released Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, INS recommends that vascular visualization technology be used to increase success with venipuncture and decrease the need for central vascular access device insertion. Additionally, INS calls for the use of vein visualization technology, including near infrared light technology, by clinicians for patients with difficult venous access or after failed venipuncture attempts.

VeinViewer is the only device of its kind clinically proven to improve the patient experience and impact the quality of care when inserting peripheral IVs, says George Pinho, president, Christie Medical Holdings. In light of the recently updated Standards of Practice by the INS that highlights the benefits of vein visualization technology, were excited to demonstrate VeinViewer at INS 2016 so clinicians can see firsthand the positive impact our technology has on venous access and patient care. Christie Medical Holdings will be at INS 2016 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center, Florida, in booth 703, from May 16-18.

To learn more about Christie VeinViewer Vision2 and VeinViewer Flex, please visit http://www.christiemed.com.

About Christie Medical Holdings, Inc.

Christie Medical Holdings Inc. is a global company based in Memphis, Tenn., that discovers, develops and commercializes medical technologies. The companys market-leading product, VeinViewer, is manufactured in the USA. It is a mobile vascular imaging system that allows health care providers to clearly see accessible vasculature as a real time HD image, directly on the surface of the skin. Christie Medical Holdings Inc. is owned by Christie Digital Systems Inc., a global visual technologies company and a subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP:6925). For more information on Christie Digital Systems or Christie Medical Holdings, visit http://www.christiemed.com.

For cautions associated to Christie Medical Holdings products, please visit http://www.christiemed.com/cautions.

Follow us on Twitter @christiemed

Christie is a trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc., registered in the United States of America and certain other countries.
Bluetick Inc., a leading integration and land management software company, has announced it will exhibit at the 2016 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The North Dakota Petroleum Council, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, and the Government of Saskatchewan  Ministry of the Economy, will be hosting the 2016 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. The event will be held from May 24-26 at the Bismarck Event Center, located at 315 South 5th St. in Bismarck.

Bluetick provides integration for production data, reporting and more, with the vision to provide solutions with measurable value for customers with unwavering customer support. Their flagship products  the Remote Monitoring and Control (RMC) automation system and the Land Management System (LMS)  are proven in the Oil and Gas industry. Bluetick employs the most talented software developers and engineers to architect, integrate and support their dependable systems.

Bluetick Land Management (LMS) software allows operators and brokers to streamline the land management process, reduce project time and costs, and enhance business initiatives with real-time map integration. Land Management System (LMS) is a robust, real-time, tract-based Esri ArcGIS integrated land administration system that manages the entire life cycle of permit and lease acquisition projects all in one web-based package. In addition, the integrated GIS mapping functionality ensures that the user can easily provide detailed maps to its stakeholders.

Benefits of Bluetick Software:



Reduce project time and cost

Manage all land personnel, from contractors to in-house lease analysts

Automates land functions and reduces the need for paper files

Improves data accuracy and eliminates redundant data entry

Streamlines and simplifies the land and lease management process

Improves business decisions

Improves data security, backup of data and availability

24/7 access to the system and data

Bluetick Remote Monitoring and Control (RMC) helps operators optimize oil and gas production, enhance compliance and safety, and improve workforce efficiency. Top producers notice key improvements in their operational and financial performance, including the following benefits:



Accurate Production Data and EPA reporting via remote monitoring with configurable reports and trends

Remote shut-in reduces the risk of costly spills

Data collection and analysis deters equipment failure and extends equipment life by early detection of anomalies

Real-time data maximizes recovery by avoiding equipment failures and drives efficiency

SMS alerts, Voice callouts and emails improve the response time to a field issue and maintain operational uptime

Leverage existing hardware to minimize Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

Reduce the need for additional personnel and infrastructure expenses

Information available 24/7 from anywhere in the world

To learn more about Bluetick and this months upcoming event, visit their website at http://www.bluetickinc.com.

About the Company:

Bluetick Inc. provides remote monitoring and control automation solutions to the midstream and upstream oil and gas marketplace. Blueticks Remote Monitoring and Control (RMC) system solutions helps operators optimize oil and gas production, enhance environmental compliance and safety, and increase workforce performance. Blueticks Land Management System (LMS) software automates the entire lifecycle of permit, lease, and ROW acquisition projects, including land records administration and complete GIS mapping interface. For more information please visit our website http://www.bluetickinc.com.
Tour the inside of a crime laboratory, thanks to a partnership between Stetson University College of Laws National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law and the Law Enforcement Innovation Center at the University of Tennessees Institute for Public Service.

Crime Lab Essentials, the second complimentary webinar in the Capital Litigation Initiative: Crime Scene to Courtroom Forensics Training series funded by the US Department of Justice, will take you inside the state-of-the-art Metro Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory.

The webinar developed for prosecutors and defense attorneys working on capital cases will be available from 12- 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25.

Visit https://stetsonuniversitycollegeo.regfox.com/crime-scene-webinar-2-bja to register.

The Crime Lab Essentials webinar features a tour of the crime lab conducted by forensic scientists that covers five forensic disciplines: latent prints, firearms, forensic biology (DNA), drug identification and toxicology. After describing a mock crime, forensic scientists from the crime laboratory will demonstrate a behind-the-scenes, step-by-step look at laboratory analysis and report writing.

Webinar panelists include Director of Stetsons National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law, Professor Carol Henderson; Director of the Metro Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory Ann Talbot; and attorney Christine Funk.

The Crime Lab Essentials webinar training will also discuss quality assurance, laboratory errors, chain of custody and evidence security.

The webinar is part of an eight-part series that educates lawyers about using forensic science in death penalty cases, from evaluating the crime scene to defending or prosecuting death penalty cases in court.

Attendees who complete the series will be eligible for free CLE credits.

For more information, contact Stetsons Office of Professional Education at 727-562-7898 or email ope(at)law.stetson.edu.
Las Vegas Women In Technology Awards #LVWTA These awards symbolize the great accomplishments of many outstanding women working in tech in Las Vegas, says Lori Nguyen, founder of the Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards.

The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards (#LVWTA), presented by the Las Vegas Community Tech Fund, HiTech Las Vegas LLC, and WomenAdvancing, holds the third annual award ceremony to acknowledge the tremendous contributions made by women in the greater Las Vegas metro area to the technology field. The celebration takes place on May 20 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Fresh Wata at 3905 W. Diablo Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118. The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards invites the community to attend the event and celebrate the phenomenal women working in technology in Las Vegas. Tickets are $25. The event is open to the public. RSVP at http://bit.ly/LVWTA_RSVP.

The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards will be presented to five women representing technology industries including: Robotics, Information Technology (IT), Computer Engineering, 3D Printing, New Technology Products, Tech Startups and Tech Entrepreneurs. Five awards will be granted for High Tech Woman of the Year, High Tech Rising Star, High Tech Community Service, High Tech Entrepreneur and High Tech Mentor.

Were excited we have grown this award tremendously over the last three years. Its an honor to celebrate and recognize the amazing women working in technology in Las Vegas, says Melissa Skipworth, chapter lead of WomenAdvancing Las Vegas and co-presenter of the Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards.

The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards is pleased to announce 2016 #LVWTA Event Sponsors Cox Business, Link Technologies, and MGM Resorts International. The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards is grateful for the support of the 2016 #LVWTA Community Sponsors including Bongiovi Law Firm, BlurbIQ, Casino Direct Marketing Association, City of Henderson, College of Southern Nevada, Diamond Group Marketing, Elev8 Consulting Group, Exhibit Fair International, Las Vegas Interactive Marketing Association, Nevada State College, SIM Las Vegas, University of Nevada Las Vegas. The 2016 #LVWTA volunteer external panel of esteemed judges include prominent community members in the local academic and technology sectors. The 2016 event emcee is Andrea Rishmaw.

These awards symbolize the great accomplishments of many outstanding women working in tech in Las Vegas. We are grateful for our sponsors, businesses, local community, volunteers and judges for helping us launch the third annual award ceremony, says Lori Nguyen, founder of the Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards.

About the Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards #LVWTA

Founded in 2014, HiTech Vegas LLC., and WomenAdvancing Las Vegas launched the Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards (#LVWTA) to recognize the achievements of leading women in technology fields working in the greater Las Vegas metro area. The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards encompass the various sectors of technology as a whole to recognize and promote the advancement of women in technological careers. The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards are awarded annually to five women representing technology industries including: Robotics, Information Technology (IT), Computer Engineering, 3D Printing, new technology inventions, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Learn more at http://www.VegasWomenTechAwards.net.

About The Las Vegas Community Tech Fund

The Las Vegas Community Tech Fund is a non-profit organization, who is establishing a large fund to create a true, centralized, Las Vegas Technology Community. The Las Vegas Community Tech Fund (not for profit) will be established by means of sponsorship and donations used solely to market the leading Las Vegas technology companies (brands) and organizations to technology and engineering professionals located in Las Vegas or visiting Las Vegas on How to Plug in to Las Vegas Tech Community with many programs targeted at education, mentorship, funding for start-ups, connecting employers and resources for technical staffing, and many more programs. The Las Vegas Community Tech Fund will have a board of officers, a Corporate Board consisting of 15-20 leading Las Vegas based technology companies with an expanded Advisory Board Members of 200-300 Las Vegas technology advisory charter members. Through Corporate sponsorship, Advisory Board Members annual dues and donations, this non-profit entity will pool all the funds into one non-profit tech fund. All funds will be used to create and establish the Las Vegas Tech Community. Learn more at 702.800.5539.

Media Inquiries:

Angela Delmedico

Elev8 Consulting Group

Ph: 702.706.8250

Web: http://www.elev8cg.com

###
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, shareholder at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, spoke at an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin breakfast co-hosted by the firms Austin Real Estate Group. Giuliani, global chair of the firms Cybersecurity, Privacy and Crisis Management Practice, drew from his personal experience and shared insights into how growing cities can effectively face challenges including gentrification, affordable housing, and transportation. Attendees at the recent event included clients and friends of Greenberg Traurig and ULI Austins annual sponsors.

We very much appreciated the Mayor spending the morning with us at the ULI Austin Sponsor breakfast, Carey Gunn Venditti, Real Estate shareholder in Greenberg Traurigs Austin office and chair of ULI Austins Womens Leadership Initiative, said. His insight on the various issues and challenges we are experiencing with Austins rapid growth was informative and thought-provoking, and we are thankful for his generosity in sharing his time and wisdom with us.

During his two terms as Mayor of New York City from 1994 through 2001, Giuliani pursued an ambitious agenda highlighted by advancements in both economic and social policy. His innovative and energetic approach to urban governancein issues ranging from policing to privatizationhas been studied and emulated by cities across the U.S. and internationally.

We are pleased we were able to pair Mayor Giuliani with such a great organization as ULI Austin for this event, said Darrell R. Windham, co-managing shareholder of the Austin office. We are proud of Greenberg Traurigs involvement with ULI and of our fellow shareholders, Carey Gunn Venditti and Joshua Bernstein, for their involvement in the leadership of the Austin Chapter. Carey is chair of ULI Austins inaugural Womens Leadership Initiative and Josh serves on the ULI Austin Advisory Board.

Real estate shareholders Venditti and Bernstein co-hosted the event and were joined by Windham and other shareholders Demetrius G. McDaniel, Kendyl T. Hanks, Karen M. Kennard, and Elizabeth C. Rogers. Real estate associates Emily Jung, Jennifer Cook Purcell, and Kaitlin J. Van Dyk also attended.

Venditti and Bernstein counsel investors, developers and owners in the acquisition, disposition and development of land and the purchase, sale, leasing, operation, and administration of income producing properties, including various commercial, mixed-use, multi-family, office, retail, planned community, and condominium projects.

Greenberg Traurig sponsors ULI on a national level and locally as a Platinum Sponsor.

About the Urban Land Institute

The ULI provides leadership in the responsible use to land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. ULI is an independent global nonprofit supported by members representing the entire spectrum of real estate development and land use disciplines.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas

Greenberg Traurig has more than 100 attorneys in Texas, serving clients from offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston.

About Greenberg Traurigs Real Estate Practice

The Greenberg Traurig Real Estate Practice is a cornerstone of the firm and recognized leader in the industry. The firms real estate attorneys deliver diversified and comprehensive legal solutions for property acquisition and investment, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. The team draws upon the knowledge and experience of nearly 300 real estate lawyers from around the world, serving clients from key markets in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The groups clientele includes and broad range of property developers, lenders, investment managers, private equity funds, REITs and private owners. The firms real estate team advises clients on a variety of matters across a broad spectrum of commercial, recreational and residential real estate, including structured equity and debt and the hybrids.

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.
To be recognized as a Platinum Elite Dealer recipient validates our vision of being the home improvement company homeowners can trust to delight and make them House Proud, said Rick Wuest, President and CEO of Thompson Creek Window Company.

Thompson Creek Window Company has been recognized as one of ProVias 2016 Platinum Elite Dealers. This prestigious status is reserved for contractors who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to selling and installing ProVias products. During an awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 20th, 2016 Brian Wuest, Vice President of Thompson Creek Window Company, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

To be recognized as a Platinum Elite Dealer recipient validates our vision of being the home improvement company homeowners can trust to delight and make them House Proud, said Rick Wuest, President and CEO of Thompson Creek Window Company. We look forward to our regional expansion with our exceptional ProVia partnership for the grand opening of our new factory in the next upcoming weeks.

This is the tenth consecutive year that Thompson Creek Window Company has received a Platinum Award from ProVia. 2016 was the first year for ProVia to recognize various levels within the Platinum awards program, with the Platinum Elite award being the highest recognition. Thompson Creek Window Company was among a select few dealers to have received the Platinum Elite Dealer Award.

Brian Miller, ProVias President and CEO said, We truly appreciate the opportunity to partner with Thompson Creek Window Company. Their people strive for excellence in every aspect of the organization. As a result, homeowners who buy from Thompson Creek Window Company receive the highest level of products and service for a truly satisfying home remodeling experience.

About Thompson Creek

Thompson Creek Window Company is a privately owned and family-operated manufacturer and installer of energy-efficient home improvement replacement products. Founded in 1980, Thompson Creek Window Company began as a manufacturer of maintenance-free, energy-efficient vinyl windows. Since that time, Thompson Creek Window Company has evolved into one of the leading specialty home improvement contracting companies in the nation. The companys product mix includes replacement windows and doors, vinyl siding and a clog-free gutter system. Thompson Creek Window Company is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland and began construction on a new 117,000-square-foot building in Upper Marlboro to house its new manufacturing and warehousing operations expected to be completed June 2016. Thompson Creek employs over 400 people in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD region.

About ProVia

Headquartered in Sugarcreek, Ohio, ProVia is a leading manufacturer of professional-class entry doors, storm doors, patio doors, windows, vinyl siding and manufactured stone. The professional-class designation reflects the companys high level of quality, service and customization. ProVia has been an ENERGY STAR Partner with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy since 2002, and has won the prestigious ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for Door Manufacturing four times, and the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award four times. The company employs approximately 500 people at its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Sugarcreek, Walnut Creek, Baltic and Zanesville, Ohio, and Booneville, MS.
We are honored to receive this distinction from SmartCEO, and are proud to represent the many family-owned businesses that play a big role in the strength of America's economy.

ROSS Companies, a leader in multifamily acquisitions, property management and renovation, today announced that it was named an honoree in the large company category Monday night during the Family Business Award ceremony.

ROSS earned the distinction for its innovative approach to the acquisition, property management, and renovation of apartment communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. SmartCEO recognizes family-owned businesses that have built a legacy that will last for generations to celebrate the more than two-thirds of privately held businesses in the U.S. that are family owned.

We are honored to receive this distinction from SmartCEO, and are proud to represent the many family-owned businesses that play a big role in the strength of Americas economy, said Scott Ross, president of ROSS Development & Investment and ROSS Renovation & Construction, two affiliates of parent company ROSS Companies. Beth [Ross] and I have built ROSS Companies to acquire, manage and renovate apartment communities that will endure for many generations to come.

Established in 1983, ROSS Companies has built a competitive advantage through its people, who have deep and broad knowledge of Mid-Atlantic rental markets. The company has been acquiring and managing apartment communities in the Mid-Atlantic region since its inception, enabling it to develop an unmatched understanding of every intricacy of the apartment market in the region. In fact, the senior leadership team brings more than 100 years of multifamily industry experience in the Mid-Atlantic.

Because of our experience, we know what services and amenities apartment residents are willing to pay more to have and what submarkets perform better than others no matter the classification of the apartment community, said Beth Ross, president of ROSS Management Services, an affiliate of ROSS Companies.

ROSS has been able to sustain its leadership team and associates throughout the company because of its strong culture, which is built on its core values and basic principles, which include transparency, integrity, honesty, accountability and an open door policy.

We take great pride in our proven ability to deliver a superior product along with the highest levels of returns and service to our partners and residents, Ross said. We accomplish this, time and again, through integrity, honesty, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to our employees professional development.

About ROSS Companies

ROSS Companies, founded in 1983 in Bethesda, Md., is a recognized leader in multi-family acquisitions and investment, development, property management and renovation. With a managed portfolio of more than 11,000 apartment homes in 32 communities, the privately held company is one of the most active multifamily real estate firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. ROSS Companies is comprised of three affiliates  ROSS Development & Investment, ROSS Management Services and ROSS Renovation & Construction. In 2015, ROSS Development & Investment is celebrating its 31st anniversary and ROSS Management Services is celebrating 26 years in business. In March, ROSS Management Services was honored for the second straight year with a National Resident Satisfaction Award from SatisFacts. In 2015, 19 ROSS-managed apartment communities were awarded the Apartment Ratings 2014 Top Rated Award, reflecting ROSS Companies unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. These annual awards recognize communities with outstanding resident satisfaction ratings as measured on ApartmentRatings.com. For more information about ROSS Companies, visit TheRossCompanies.com.
Jason Sherman At Watchguard, Entomo helped us solve some knotty channel management problems.

Entomo, Inc., a leading provider of channel revenue management software and services, today announced that Jason Sherman has joined the company to lead Internet and IT Operations. Jason brings a wealth of global B2B market experience with P/SaaS, mobile, enterprise software and hardware offerings in numerous industries including security, industrial and automation systems.

I first encountered Entomo as a customer, and Ive been a fan of the technology and solutions ever since, said Jason. At Watchguard, Entomo helped us solve some knotty channel management problems. Since that time, the platform has become even more powerful and I jumped at the opportunity to join the team."

Jason has over 20 years of experience in IT and engineering roles, most recently as a co-founder and principal for Shear Blue, where he led technology engagements with global clientele. Jason also has served as Director of Product Development for WildTangent during its expansion into global markets. Previously, as Director of IT Services for WatchGuard Technologies, he helped scale the IT function to support multi-year 100% YOY growth, resulting in a successful IPO. Jason has a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Were thrilled to have Jason join our team as we enter this next phase of growth, said Suresh Kumar, VP of Engineering and Services, Entomo. Jason has a successful track record of building out technical operations. We know hes up to the challenge of scaling our SaaS operations further to keep up with customer demand.

About Entomo

Entomo is a leading provider of cloud-based channel management software and services. We help businesses effectively manage distribution channel complexity to maximize revenue, reduce costs, improve partner performance and collaboration and ensure compliance at all levels. Entomos SmartHub is the industrys most flexible, scalable, and comprehensive enterprise channel management platform, enabling automation and simplification of all channel-related workflows and processes, and seamlessly integrates with leading ERP and CRM systems. Entomo is SSAE16-compliant and supports the channel management activities for global enterprises including Broadcom Corporation, Dolby Labs, Elo Touch Solutions, Keysight Technologies, Kingston Technology, Microsemi Corporation, Toshiba, Qorvo Inc., and Targus International. Entomo is privately held and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, with offices in the Silicon Valley, Asia, and Europe.
...we have direct contracts with five of the STAR methane programs founding companies, and our branded products support almost all 41 of the founders.

Natural gas pipeline components manufacturer R.W. Lyall announced today it has seen a boost in production thanks to programs like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge, which launched last month at the Global Methane Forum in Washington, D.C.

Lyalls Marketing Manager Greg Hernandez said upgrading and replacement of natural gas delivery systems play a significant role in program compliance, which means manufacturers like Lyall and others in the natural gas distribution market should benefit from the high demand for new and improved products.

According to the EPA, many participants plan to overhaul entire systems, which will include replacing cast and ductile iron gas distribution systems with modern polyethylene pipes; several companies are already in the process. Hernandez said Lyall specializes in the fittings for these types of systems. Residential meter set change-out processes can also be a factor. For example, change-out and service methods that incorporate rubber bag technology may need to become a thing of the past. Every time the bag is removed during a change-out or service call, it releases its total volume of gas into the air. While this amount is pretty small on an individual level, the picture becomes alarming when you consider the millions of change-outs and service calls done each year. The LYCO A-9 Bypass Valve, technology we invented eliminates the bagand the release of gasaltogether, he said.

Weve been making innovative prefab products and meter set valves to help some of the countrys biggest natural gas utilities reduce stray methane emissions for four decades. Of course, its a great business to be in, Hernandez said, but leaving work every day feeling like our efforts might help make the world a better place thats the motivator.

When we learned several of our utility customers would serve as founding partners in one of the EPAs most ambitious programs in history to reduce methane emissions, we were obviously thrilled. Right now, our branded products support almost all 41 of the founders.

Program founders who are also long-time Lyall customers include Southwest Gas, CenterPoint Energy, Consumers Energy, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), and Southern California Gas Company.

About R.W. Lyall

Lyall is a privately held corporation founded in 1970 by Robert W. Lyall. Lyall built the company with the intent of manufacturing the best pipeline components available to the natural gas industry. With an emphasis on quality and a business philosophy that puts the needs of the customer above all else, Lyall succeeded in that mission. Today, his children and the entire Lyall team maintain this legacy of quality with continually expanding operations that now include 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space in three facilities, located in Corona, Calif., New Berlin, Wis., and, now, Dickenson, N.D. More than 250 employees produce and distribute 22 Lyall product lines across North America.
Veran's SPiN Thoracic Navigation System

A newly published study that followed 50 patients referred for bronchoscopy or surgery demonstrated that a physician using Veran Medicals thoracic navigation technology successfully and accurately diagnosed 83.3% of patients with suspicious peripheral lung nodules, which had previously been considered difficult to access. Interventional Pulmonologist Dr. Abhijit Raval at AnMed Health, a community hospital in Anderson, South Carolina followed these patients for two years, and the published study results are now available in Lung Cancer Management (http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/lmt-2015-0007).

The Veran technology has significantly increased our confidence to accurately reach smaller PPNs. The ability to collect staging samples and to accurately biopsy the lesion in a single procedure is very encouraging to streamline patient care, said study author Dr. Abhijit Raval.

Published diagnostic yields vary depending on nodule location and size but range from 50-70% with traditional lung specialist tools. Veran Medicals SPiN Thoracic Navigation System utilizes proprietary Always-On Tip Tracked instruments with tiny electromagnetic sensors in the tips to safely and precisely navigate physicians to hard to reach targets. Published research confirms that those lung nodules move when a patient is routinely breathing creating a moving target for the lung specialists trying to reach them. Unlike older navigation technology, Verans exclusive 4D inspiration/expiration respiratory gated technology compensates for this natural respiratory movement. Verans technology ensures physicians can confidently and accurately reach target nodules even if a patient coughs, moves, or simply breathes in and out during the procedure.

The differences between older electromagnetic navigation technology that maps patients lungs based on total lung capacity (arms up, lungs full of air) and Verans more dynamic mapping system that enables respiratory gating are critical to achieve a more accurate representative location of the lesion. said Dr. Raval. Verans technology eliminates the documented inaccuracies of traditional Electromagnetic navigation systems that base their mapping on a single CT scan when the patients lungs are full of air.

48 patients had a total of 61 lesions biopsied. 19 patients were diagnosed with malignant tumors that required therapy. More than half of the lesions accessed were less than 2cm in diameter.

The evidence is clear that early diagnosis of lung cancer dramatically improves the chance of survival, said Veran CEO Jason Pesterfield. Verans SPiN Thoracic Navigation system and SPiNPerc are transforming the physicians ability to accurately access and diagnose hard to reach Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPNs) and to provide cost-effective care for the 2.7 million SPNs found annually in the US.

Encouragingly investigators documented a promising trend that diagnostic yields improved significantly (from 80% for first 25 patients to 87% for next 23 patients) due to a learning curve with the technology. One pneumothorax was noted with no additional complications reported.

Noting the high number of positive scans in the National Lung Screening Trial, study investigators reported that community hospitals will be challenged to provide a minimally invasive method to consistently reach these lesions and rule out cancer. The new Veran mapping system that was evaluated in this study shows promise to help lung specialists meet this new challenge, said Dr. Raval. Verans system adds numerous new tools to the lung cancer diagnostic armamentarium, which now includes SPiNPerc, a navigated transthoracic needle that was released after the completion of our study.

About Veran Medical Technologies

Veran is a privately held medical device company headquartered in St. Louis, MO. The companys main focus is assisting physicians in the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. In the United States, lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined.

Veran has developed and commercialized an FDA cleared, next generation electromagnetic thoracic navigation platform called the SPiN Thoracic Navigation System. Verans breakthrough technology has been adopted by leading cancer centers throughout the United States. Veran provides physicians with a full line of bronchoscopic brushes, needles, forceps and steerable catheters with tiny electromagnetic sensors embedded in the tips for precise navigation. The combination of these proprietary Always-On Tip Tracked instruments and Verans exclusive patient respiratory gating technology enables physicians to accurately access lung nodules by accounting for nodule movement during patient breathing, a common challenge for lung specialists.

Another challenge lung specialists face is that approximately 40% of lung nodules lie outside of an airway, making them very difficult to reach endobronchially, and traditionally requiring an additional procedure. Verans SPiN Thoracic Navigation System is the first and only FDA cleared technology that enables Pulmonologists or Thoracic Surgeons to safely and accurately access lung nodules outside of an airway using SPiNPerc, a navigated transthoracic needle. With SPiNPerc, Veran combines endobronchial navigation with percutaneous navigation, allowing physicians to access all lung nodules in a single procedure, regardless of nodule size or location. This eliminates the cost and risk of unnecessary procedures and empowers physicians to provide a same day diagnosis for their patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer has been proven to save lives.
We are proud to support the efforts of UNCF to help the institutions remain viable and competitive college options - Carol May, the Walmart Foundation

UNCF announced today a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation, which will provide mini grants and technical assistance to selected UNCF-member institutions to assist with accreditation efforts and also support a summer professional development conference geared toward enrollment management.

Over the last nine years, the Walmart Foundation has granted more than $3.2 million to UNCF. This announcement is an additional $500,000 to support UNCFs Institute for Capacity Building (ICB), a network-wide initiative that helps strengthen member colleges and universities. Through the Walmart Foundations support of ICB, funds and technical assistance can help institutions in areas such as accreditation reaffirmation, enrollment management, fundraising or any area where unforeseen technical assistance may be needed.

For 2016, six UNCF-member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were selected to participate: Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC; Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, TX; Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC; Saint Augustines University in Raleigh, NC; Spelman College in Atlanta; and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. In addition to these six HBCUs, Walmart Foundations grant provides support for two more institutions as they prepare for their reaffirmation reviews with their accrediting bodies: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or the Higher Learning Commission.

Once again, the Walmart Foundation has provided significant investments in UNCFs Institute for Capacity Building, which in turn, supports our member institutions, ensuring theyre properly equipped to function and best serve students, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. While HBCUs make up only three percent of the nations colleges and universities, these historic institutions graduate nearly 20 percent of African Americans who earn bachelors degrees. By investing in their continuous improvement, the Walmart Foundation is helping to ensure that HBCUs are able to invest in better futures for the students who attend these valuable institutions.

The six selected institutions are preparing for upcoming reviews from SACSCOC, their regional accrediting body. Each will receive a $15,000 mini grant, in addition to technical assistance from content-area experts. The funds and technical assistance will better prepare the institutions to receive full accreditation upon completion of their review. For HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, programs that provide assistance and support during the reaffirmation of accreditation process are instrumental.

As a result of targeted implementation activities, anticipated outcomes include improved fiscal operations and processes, improved staff competencies and capacities, updated policies and procedures manuals, timely report submission and full compliance with the accrediting body. Since the beginning of the Walmart Foundations support of ICB, almost the entire network of UNCFs 37-member HBCUs have received grants to assist in various areas of the accreditation process.

In addition, the grant will support the 2016 UNCF ICB Enrollment Management Institute, to be held July 21-22 in Atlanta. All of UNCFs member institutions will be invited to the institute, which is geared toward staff who work in enrollment management, including those in the admissions and registrar offices. The institute includes a panel featuring selected presidents from UNCF-member institutions, sessions hosted by industry leaders and a networking reception. The goal of this two-day institute is to equip attendees with the necessary tools to help them achieve their short- and long-term enrollment and retention goals.

The Walmart Foundation has supported the work of UNCF over the last few years by investing in the institutional capacity of HBCUs. We are proud to support the efforts of UNCF to help the institutions remain viable and competitive college options for students to achieve outcomes that will move them to and through graduation, stated Carol May, Program Officer of the Walmart Foundation.

The Walmart Foundations renewed commitment builds upon Walmarts 2007 grant of $700,000 to UNCF, which served as the catalyst for bringing the Fiscal and Strategic Technical Assistance Program (FASTAP) into the organizations Institute for Capacity Building to provide more targeted programming geared to the specific needs of UNCF-member institutions. In 2010 and from 2012 through 2015, the Walmart Foundation presented additional grants of $500,000 annually to UNCF to help FASTAP develop new and enhanced interventions.

###

About Philanthropy at Walmart

By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Womens Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmarts giving, visit http://www.foundation.walmart.com.

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 more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter, @UNCF.
Austal officials joined ship sponsor U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and many distinguished guests in celebrating the christening of the nations 14th littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Manchester, here Saturday, May 7, 2016.

Manchester (LCS 14) is the fifth LCS in Austals 11-ship, contract worth over $3.5 billion. With its shallow draft of 14 feet, the Austal-built Independence-variant LCS is an advanced high-speed and agile 419-foot aluminium trimaran combat ship that combines superior seakeeping, endurance and speed with the volume and payload capacity needed to support emerging missions.

On behalf of Austal USAs shipbuilding team, one of the most talented that Ive ever worked with, we are proud to provide our sailors with an amazing warship that will honor the great city of Manchester as she defends our nation, said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. Were equally excited to share this celebration with an amazing patriot in Senator Shaheen who has served in her role as both Governor and Senator, and now gives her spirit as the sponsor to this awesome ship.

Shaheen, the only woman in U.S. history to be elected both a Governor and a United States Senator, has served in the Senate since 2009. She has been committed to serving the citizens of New Hampshire for decades and is known for her common-sense leadership, hard work and dedication to improving the lives of the middle class As New Hampshire's Governor, Shaheen helped create nearly 67,000 new jobs while keeping New Hampshire's tax burden the lowest in the country. She and her husband, Bill  a New Hampshire native - live in Madbury and have three daughters, Stefany, Stacey and Molly (Matron of Honor), and seven grandchildren.

Traditionally, the christening of a ship is where the ship's sponsor blesses the ship by breaking the bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship and ceremonially gives the ship its name. The roll of sponsorship represents a lifelong relationship with the ship and her crew.

The future USS Manchester (LCS 14), will launch in mid-May and is scheduled for delivery in 2017. She has a maximum speed of more than 40 knots, a voluminous 28,000 sf mission bay, and a flight deck capable of simultaneously holding two H-60 helicopters.

Austals LCS program is in full swing with three ships delivered and seven ships under construction at this time. Montgomery (LCS 8) conducted acceptance trials late last week. Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and Omaha (LCS 12) are preparing for trials. Final assembly is well underway on Tulsa (LCS 16) and modules for Charleston (LCS 18) and Cincinnati (LCS 20) are under construction in Austals Module Manufacturing Facility.

The company has also been contracted by the U.S. Navy to build 10 Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF). Of the 10 ships included in the $1.6 billion block-buy contract, six have been delivered.

-ENDS-

About Austal

Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 27 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of revolutionary ships for governments, navies and ferry operators around the world. More than 255 vessels have been delivered in that time.

Ships

Defence vessels designed and built by Austal include multi-mission combatants, such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the United States Navy and military high speed vessels for transport and humanitarian relief, such as the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships for the U.S. Navy and High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman. Austal also designs, constructs, integrates and maintains an extensive range of patrol and auxiliary vessels for government agencies globally, including the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program for Australian Border Force. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Mobile, Alabama and in Henderson, Western Australia.

Austal has been at the forefront of the high speed ferry market since the early days of the industry. Our market leading designs of high performance aluminium vessels have long been at the heart of Austals research and development. Today, commercial ship construction is centred on our shipyard in Balamban, Philippines.

Systems

Austal has expertise in integrating complex systems into its ships, including ride control, ship management, and communication, sensors and weapon systems.

Support

Austal provides a wide range of support services, including through life support, integrated logistics support, vessel sustainment and systems support. These services are delivered through our global support network in the USA, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East together with partner shipyards worldwide.

ENDS

Follow Austal USA on: Flickr | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Further Information:

Austal USA Press

uspress(at)austalusa(dot)com

(251) 445-5911
Today, the stakes for brands on social media have never been higher, as 1 in 3 people say that if a company doesnt respond to them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, they will switch to a competitor. For years, brands have been using social as a promotional mechanism, currently pumping out 23 messages for every 1 response given to a consumer  and their customers are fed up. New research from Sprout Social displays the ever-widening gap between what customers expect and what brands deliver on social.

The newest Sprout Social Index reveals that a majority of people expect to hear back from a brand within four hours of sending a message; in reality, people wait an average of 10 hours before receiving a response. Even worse, the data found that while consumers send 18 percent more social messages to brands than they did last year, nine in 10 of those messages go unanswered.

Now, consumers are biting back. In fact, 36 percent of people will publicly shame a company that ignores them on social, while a quarter are less likely to use a brands product or service.

For years, Sprout has been talking about the importance of social engagement, and this study underscores its effect on a brand's bottom line, said Scott Brandt, CMO of Sprout Social. There is a clear disparity between what people want and what most brands are providing on social. Unless brands start closing that gap and meeting consumer expectations, people will take their loyalty and money elsewhere.

For its Q2 2016 Index, Sprout surveyed 1,000 individuals with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and collected metrics on the social interactions of 15 key industries, observing the disconnect between brand behavior and customer demands. The data reveals that if brands do meet customer expectations, they could turn the situation around. A few key takeaways include:

- 90 percent of people have used social in some way to communicate directly with a brand.

- Brands respond to only 11 percent of consumer messages, yet theyre sending 23 promotional messages for every one response given to their audience.

- Three in four people have had a negative interaction with a brand on social media, but 75 percent say theyre likely to share a positive experience on their personal profile.

- 14 percent of people are less likely to post negative things about a brand or service if a company responds on social.

- 42 percent of people are more likely to use a brands product or service, and more than a third have more brand loyalty if they get a response.

For more information and to download the full report, visit Sprout Socials blog.

About the Data

The Sprout Social Index is a report compiled and released by Sprout Social. All referenced data is based on 247,000 public social profiles (93,000 Facebook; 114,000 Twitter; 40,000 Instagram) of continually active accounts between Q1 2015 and Q1 2016. More than 2.9 billion messages sent and received during that time were analyzed for the purposes of this report. Some data may have shifted from the last Sprout Social Index report due to a shift in the social profiles analyzed; however, all overarching trends remain consistent. Industry classifications were based on LinkedIn industry categories. In some cases, closely related industries were merged into a single overarching industry. All messages analyzed that were considered casual mentions or not in need of a response were excluded from engagement, response rate and response time calculations with the intention of eliminating noise. Analysis of which messages required attention was done using Sprouts proprietary technologies. Response time and response rate calculations were done using Sprouts Engagement Reporting technology found in the Sprout Social product.

This consumer survey was conducted by Survata, an independent research firm in San Francisco. Survata interviewed 1,062 online respondents between April 08, 2016, and April 11, 2016. For further information, visit http://www.survata.com.

ABOUT SPROUT SOCIAL

Sprout Social offers social media engagement, advocacy and analytics solutions for leading agencies and brands, including Hyatt, Microsoft, Uber, Zendesk and Zipcar. Available via web browser, iOS and Android apps, Sprouts engagement platform enables brands to more effectively communicate on social channels, collaborate across teams and provide an exceptional customer experience. Bambu by Sprout Social, a platform for advocacy, empowers employees to share curated content across their social networks to further amplify a brands reach and engagement. Headquartered in Chicago, Sprout is a Twitter Official Partner, Facebook Marketing Partner, Instagram Partner Program Member, LinkedIn Company Page Partner and Google+ Pages API Partner. Learn more at sproutsocial.com and getbambu.com.
William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty announced today that the company has been recognized as an Official Honoree in the real estate website category in the 20th Annual Webby Awards. The company was honored for the cutting-edge new website it launched in 2015.

Hailed as the Internets highest honor by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is widely recognized as the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of web industry experts including Tumblr founder David Karp, Executive Creative Director at Refinery29 Piera Gelardi, musicians Questlove and Grimes, Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram Eva Chen, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, late night television host Jimmy Kimmel and creator of the .gif file format Steve Wilhite.

The premier real estate brokerage serving Connecticut, Westchester County, N.Y., and the Berkshires, Mass., was the only residential real estate brokerage named in the real estate website category. The company was selected from nearly 13,000 submissions from all over the world, with Official Honorees representing the top 20% of all entries.

We are constantly impressed by the extent of creativity showcased by our Webby Honorees, David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of The Webby Awards, expressed to William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty. Your work continues to further the scope of innovation, setting the standard of excellence on the Internet.

The recognition came after the company spent 18 months completely redesigning its website, launching in the summer of 2015 to immediate accolades from the trusted real estate news source REAL Trends. Describing the site as one of its personal favorite websites with amazing integration of live listings on the homepage, REAL Trends recognized williampitt.com as the #1 real estate site nationally in the category of Best Design, #3 in Best Mobile Experience, #3 in Best Neighborhood Pages, and #5 in Best Overall Real Estate Website.

Standout features include property video clips on the home page, robust content on every listing page, full-bleed high-resolution photography, site customization according to the users location, the ability to custom tailor the site with personal preferences, and detailed community information and local knowledge such as accessibility to area schools and precise travel times to Grand Central in New York City. Visitors can also delve into the sites international side, choosing from 17 languages and dialects, and converting prices into more than 50 currencies updated daily with the latest exchange rates.

"We set out to create a website that offers an unparalleled experience in the real estate industry. The Webbys recognition along with our other recent accolades is a wonderful acknowledgement of that mission," said Vin Socci, Chief Operating Officer of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty. Our site not only delivers the best possible presentation for our listings, but also provides a totally unique user experience that is custom tailored to each individual real estate consumer."

The website redesign was completed in tandem with a re-launch of the companys entire online platform including its internal intranet, Agent Connect. This new solution is responsive across all devices, and was designed with the goal of making the agent experience as effortless and convenient as possible. Agent Connect provides easy and immediate access to every tool and resource a sales associate will need on a day to day basis, from editing listings to managing leads, downloading or ordering marketing materials, and enrolling in online training courses.

This is an honor that belongs to our entire team, said Paul Breunich, President and Chief Executive Officer of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty. I am so proud of our company for achieving the Official Honoree designation from The Webby Awards, a testament to all of the hard work we have put into our new web platform.

###

About William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty

Founded in 1949, William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty manages a $3.9-billion portfolio with more than 1,000 sales associates in 28 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York. William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty is the largest Sotheby's International Realty(R) affiliate globally and the 28th-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. A full-service real estate firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty provides ancillary services including commercial services through its affiliation with Building and Land Technology, a second-generation development company based in Stamford, Connecticut; William Pitt Insurance Services; and an award-winning global relocation division. For more information, visit the website at williampitt.com.

Sotheby's International Realty's worldwide network includes approximately 18,000 sales associates located in approximately 825 offices throughout 61 countries and territories.
Donella Rapier will join BRAC USA in July 2016 Donella is a great addition to the BRAC family, bringing talent, expertise and commitment to our work of ending poverty, Sir Fazle said.

BRAC USA, the US affiliate of BRAC, a global leader in creating opportunity for the worlds poor and the worlds largest non-governmental development organization, today announced the appointment of Donella Rapier as its new President and CEO. Donella will succeed BRAC USA founding President, Susan Davis, who completed ten years of outstanding service in December 2015.

BRAC is a development success story, spreading anti-poverty solutions born in Bangladesh to 11 other developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Donella brings over 30 years of extensive experience in finance, fundraising and non-profit management to BRAC's US-based affiliate.

For the past four and a half years, Donella served as the Chief Development and Administrative Officer at Accion, a pioneer and global leader in microfinance and financial inclusion, whose work spans nearly two dozen countries. Previously, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Partners In Health, a global healthcare organization working in remote places where healthcare alternatives are limited or otherwise nonexistent, such as Haiti, Rwanda and Malawi. Prior to that, Donella spent more than a decade in senior leadership roles at Harvard University, including Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development and Chief Financial Officer for Harvard Business School. Donella received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She began her career at Price Waterhouse.

BRAC USA is enormously fortunate to have someone with Donellas range of skills and depth of experience as the new leader of our organization, said Lincoln Chen, Chair of BRAC USA's Board of Directors. She is a skilled builder of organizations and is deeply committed to empowering people and communities in situations of poverty.

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, applauded the appointment.

Donella is a great addition to the BRAC family, bringing talent, expertise, and commitment to our work of ending poverty, Sir Fazle said.

I am truly honored to be joining the remarkable BRAC family of organizations, said Donella Rapier. BRAC has made an enormous difference in the world and, by many measures, is one of the most successful organizations driving social change. I am eager to dive in and build on the excellent foundation laid by a decade of pioneering work to further BRACs reach and potential for even greater impact.

Donella will join BRAC USA full time in July 2016.

ABOUT BRAC

BRAC is a global leader in creating opportunities for the world's poorest people. With more than 115,000 employees, it is the largest non-governmental organization, touching the lives of an estimated 138 million people in 12 countries with a wide array of poverty alleviation programs, including microfinance, education, healthcare, women's empowerment, legal rights training and more. To learn about BRAC, visit http://www.brac.net.

ABOUT BRAC USA

Formed in 2006, BRAC USA is an independent, US-based affiliate of BRAC that advances and supports BRAC's global mission to end poverty. Learn more at http://www.bracusa.org.
Joseph Doyle, M.D. We stand behind our research and recommendationsfor women younger than 38, we recommend freezing 15 to 20 mature eggs, giving them roughly a 70 to 80 percent chance of at least one live birth.

Shady Grove Fertility has published the largest study in the U.S. on pregnancy rates from egg freezing. The overall goal of this study was to measure the probability that womenaccording to their age at the time of egg retrieval and the number of eggs frozenwill go on to have at least one, two, or three children using their frozen eggs at a later date. The study design included four different groups: women who electively froze their eggs, women who needed to freeze their eggs unexpectedly during a fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, couples who electively chose not to fertilize all of their eggs, and women freezing prior to cancer treatment.

The study compared success rates based on the different stages of the process: from thawing the eggs, to fertilizing the eggs through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), embryo and blastocyst formation, to implantation of the embryo, and then having a baby. Of the 128 IVF cycles from egg freezing, 32 cycles were for women who had electively frozen their eggs and returned with the desire to achieve pregnancy.

Shady Grove Fertilitys Joseph Doyle, M.D., along with Kevin S. Richter, Ph.D., Robert Stillman, M.D., James R. Graham, M.S., Joshua Lim, M.S., and Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D., comprised the studys research and publication team. The study, Successful elective and medically indicated oocyte vitrification and warming for autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF), with predicted birth probabilities for fertility preservation according to number of cryopreserved oocytes and age at retrieval was published in the February edition of Fertility and Sterility.

Through December 2014, Shady Grove Fertility physicians had performed 1,171 egg freezing cycles for 875 women intending to use their eggs later for IVF treatment. As of January 2015, 117 of these women returned to undergo 128 egg thaw cycles, using a total of 1,283 frozen eggs.

The results from these 128 egg thaw cycles included 51 viable pregnancies, resulting in 55 children and 8 more on the way at the time of the study (12 of the pregnancies were twins). In addition, 62 good quality blastocysts remain in storage from these warming cycles for future attempts.

Pregnancy Probability Calculated Based on Age at Time of Freezing and Number of Mature Eggs Frozen

Estimating the probability of egg freezing producing a baby greatly depends on the age a woman decides to freeze her eggs as well as how many eggs she has frozen. Shady Grove Fertility stands behind our research and recommendationsfor women younger than 38, we recommend freezing 15 to 20 mature eggs, giving them roughly a 70 to 80 percent chance of at least one live birth. For women 38 to 40 years old, we recommend freezing 25 to 30 mature eggs, giving them a 65 to 75 percent chance of at least one live birth, advises the studys lead author Doyle. These recommendations can be individualized according to the specific family building goals of the patients.

Shady Grove Fertility started a dedicated Egg Freezing Program in 2009; ever since, we have worked tediously to improve treatment optionsnot only to improve the egg freezing technique but also to ensure the best possible outcomes for women when they return to have a baby, says Doyle. We are proud to be able to publish delivery rates that will better inform women of the opportunities available through egg freezing, adds Doyle.

About Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence offering patients individualized care, innovative financial options, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. Since 1991, more than 40,000 babies have been born to patients from all 50 states and over 35 countries around the world. Shady Grove Fertility physicians actively train residents and reproductive endocrine fellows and invest in continuous clinical research and education to advance the field of reproductive medicine through numerous academic appointments and partnerships with Georgetown Medical School, Walter Reed, and the National Institutes of Health. Today, 34 reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, Ph.D. scientists, geneticists, and more than 600 highly specialized Shady Grove Fertility staff care for patients in 18 full-service offices, and five satellite sites throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. For more information, call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.
Thosh Collins, 2015 We are longtime supporters of SWAIA and Indian Market and are looking forward to creating a beautiful magazine for the 95th Santa Fe Indian Market, said Bruce Adams, publisher of the Santa Fean.

Santa Fe Indian Market is pleased to announce that the Santa Fean Magazine will publish the beloved Indian Market Magazine. We are longtime supporters of SWAIA and Indian Market and are looking forward to creating a beautiful magazine for the 95th Santa Fe Indian Market, said Bruce Adams, publisher of the Santa Fean. The Santa Fe New Mexican will once again produce this years Santa Fe Indian Market booth guide.

In addition, SWAIA has published the official 2016 schedule of events for Santa Fe Indian Market and Indian Market Week. For a full list of events, please visit,SWAIA's website.

2016 INDIAN MARKET SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16



NATIVE CINEMA SHOWCASE (NCS)

Begins Tuesday August 16 through Sunday August 21.

No-charge and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Location: New Mexico History Museum

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18



INDIAN MARKET EDGE PREVIEW RECEPTION

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. As part of the official kick off event: donors, sponsors, select artists, tribal leaders, and media will gather for a reception to celebrate the start of Indian Market 2016. The reception will highlight Indian Market Edge (IM: Edge): a contemporary art show including native artists, galleries and the organizations that represent them. A private press preview precedes the reception from 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Ticketed event Contact Tammie Touchine at 505-983-5220 or ttouchine(at)swaia.org

Location: Santa Fe Community Convention Center

INDIAN MARKET 2016 KICK OFF PARTY

8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. The Kick Off Party features a preview of IM: Edge at the Convention Center. DJs, VJs, light installations, urban art battles, muralists, and performing arts, and dancing officially launch Santa Fe Indian Market 2016.

No-charge and open to the public.

Location: Santa Fe Community Convention Center

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19



BEST OF SHOW CEREMONY AND LUNCHEON

11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. This exclusive event brings together top award-winning artists, their families, and the Indian Market community to announce and celebrate this years best, award-winning artwork. Ticketed event (except for SWAIA members). For tickets or membership information, contact Tammie Touchine at 505-983-5220 or ttouchine(at)swaia.org

Location: Santa Fe Community Convention Center

SNEAK PREVIEW AND GENERAL PREVIEW OF AWARD WINNING ART

Sneak Preview: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. & General Preview: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. SWAIA members get an early look at the winners during the Sneak Preview hours, while the publics first chance to see the winning artwork takes place immediately after.

Ticketed event Contact Tammie Touchine at 505-983-5220 or ttouchine(at)swaia.org

Location: Santa Fe Community Convention Center

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20



95TH ANNUAL SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET ON THE PLAZA!

7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The 95th Santa Fe Indian Market transforms the City of Santa Fe, with nearly 900 of the continents finest Native American artists exhibiting their artwork in booths filling the Santa Fe Plaza and surrounding streets

No-charge and open to the public

MARKET STAGES MUSIC & DANCE PERFORMANCES

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Plaza stage and Cathedral Park is the setting for a number of exciting events and programs. Music and performing artists fill the stages for visitors to augment their Indian Market experience.

No-charge and open to the public

GALA AND AUCTIONS

6:00 p.m. La Fonda Hotel hosts a glamorous and popular event, the Annual Gala and Auctions. The fundraiser for the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA), the organization that produces the Indian Market, begins with a silent auction and cocktail reception at the hotels La Terraza. Ticketed eventTo reserve seats contact Tammie Touchine at 505-983-5220 or ttouchine(at)swaia.org

Location: La Fonda on the Plaza

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21



95TH ANNUAL SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET ON THE PLAZA!

8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.

FASHION CHALLENGE/NATIVE AMERICAN CLOTHING CONTEST

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Among the many cherished traditions at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Native American Clothing Contest is one of the most beloved and anticipated events. The contest includes categories for traditional and contemporary Native fashions featuring children and adult participants with award prizes in a variety of categories.

No-charge and open to the public

Location: Main Stage on the Plaza

MARKET STAGES MUSIC & DANCE PERFORMANCES

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No-charge and open to the public

The 95th annual Santa Fe Indian Market takes place downtown Santa Fe on August 20 and 21, 2016.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Audrey N Rubinstein

505 490 5029

audrey(at)jlhmedia.com

###

ABOUT SWAIA:

Founded in 1921, The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Inc. (SWAIA) is an advocate for Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market as the finest Indian art event in the world; cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. swaia.org
Ray Chevrolet Celebrates 25 Years Weve been active in the community from day one, explains Scarpelli. We feel its very important to give back to the people who have supported us these past 25 years.

Starting with a handful of employees and a small inventory in 1991, Ray Chevrolet now has over 130 employees, a huge selection of over 650 new Chevy vehicles, and is one of the most recognized businesses in Fox Lake. Thats quite a trajectory.

The community has really grown and weve grown right along with it, says Ray Chevrolet president Ray Scarpelli.

At noon on Monday, May 23rd, a ceremony marking Ray Chevrolets 25th anniversary will take place at the dealership. Scarpelli and his employees will accept a plaque from General Motors marking their 25 years in business. The public is invited to attend.

Theyre the ones whove made our success possible, says Scarpelli.

This success is supported by Ray Chevrolets numerous customer service awards, including the 2016 Customer Satisfaction Award from DealerRater, a car dealer review website. Scarpelli says customers and the community always come first.

Weve been active in the community from day one, explains Scarpelli. We feel its very important to give back to the people who have supported us these past 25 years. As one example, since 1991 Ray Chevrolet has donated cars to local high schools for drivers education classes.

Whats the secret behind Ray Chevrolets quarter-century of success? Above all, treat customers with respectthe way youd like to be treatedand theyll stay loyal, explains Scarpelli. Our 25 years in business proves it.

Ray Chevrolet also serves the surrounding communities of McHenry, Spring Grove and Round Lake, and is located at 39 N Route 12 in Fox Lake, Illinois.

Contact:

Tom Templeton

Marketing & Technology Director

ttempleton(at)raychevrolet(dot)com

847-587-3300

###
Volunteer nurse Natalie Bullock examines Vololonirina onboard the Mercy Ship in Madagascar, Africa I introduced myself and pointed to the outpatient tent, reassuring her that soon shed be out of the hospital and would no longer need to cover her face.

Since 1978, volunteer nurses have cared for patients in over 81,000 surgeries onboard the hospital ships operated by Mercy Ships, a global faith-based nonprofit organization. As the world acknowledges International Nurses Day, Mercy Ships recognizes this professions critical contribution to delivering life-changing and life-saving healthcare to patients onboard Mercy Ships. Some of the patients have waited decades for medical help. The Africa Mercy, the worlds largest charity hospital ship, would not be able to deliver healthcare services without its crew of exemplary volunteer nurses.

One patient named Vololonirina had a facial tumor that started to grow in her cheek when she was just 12 years old. Finally, 32 years later, she found hope and healing onboard Mercy Ships, where the tumor was removed. Nurse Natalie Bullock from Kankakee, Illinois, helped care for Vololonirina after the operation.

Bullock remembers when she first met Vololonirina. I first saw her sitting in the waiting area, awaiting her admission for surgery. She had a beautiful blue scarf covering the lump on her face and seemed fearful. I introduced myself and pointed to the outpatient tent, reassuring her that soon shed be out of the hospital and would no longer need to cover her face. I didn't think she would even remember me because she was so reluctant to make eye contact, recalls Bullock. Weeks later, she was discharged and arrived at the outpatient clinic, smiling, with the tumor gone and the same blue scarf draped over her shoulders. Not only did she remember me, but she invited me and a few others to her village to meet her family. They were sure she was incurable and said they couldn't believe she would ever have a normal-looking face again.

Bullock has been volunteering with Mercy Ships since 2012. Patients in the wards under her watchful care have had burn contractures, tumors, orthopedic deformities or obstetric fistulas. While she enjoys all specialties of nursing, she comes to the ship with 15 years of women's health nursing experience. During this field service in Madagascar, she has put that experience to use by leading a team to open a new land-based fistula center that cares for women who become incontinent after childbirth injuries. Bullock plans to stay in Madagascar after the ship sails to continue her work at the center. See a short video about Bullocks volunteer service with Mercy Ships here: Stories of Mercy: Natalie Bullock

Mercy Ships requires approximately 750-800 nurses of all kinds to volunteer for a new 10-month field service in an African country each year. There are about 100 nurses onboard at any given time. Some volunteer for two weeks to several months of service. Others give years and call the ship their home. In the past two years while in Madagascar, the nurses have cared for patients after more than 2800 free specialized surgeries, helped train 1791 healthcare workers in capacity-building medical courses, and helped mentor 137 medical professionals. Mercy Ships volunteer nurses come from countries around the world and are part of the ships global community of over 400 volunteers in various positions from 45 nations.

For information about how to volunteer as a nurse with Mercy Ships during the 2016-2017 Field Service to Benin, West Africa, go to: http://www.mercyships.org/volunteer

###

About Mercy Ships:

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $1.2 billion, treating more than 2.54 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,600 volunteers from 45 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on http://www.mercyships.org

For More Information Contact:

Mercy Ships Public Relations Coordinator

Tel: (903) 939 7000

Email: us.media(at)mercyships.org

http://www.mercyships.org

For Intl: Diane Rickard

International Media Manager

Mercy Ships

Diane.rickard(at)mercyships.org

http://www.mercyships.org

Hi-res photos and general Mercy Ships B-Roll video footage are available upon request.

About International Nurses Day: International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. In the U.S., National Nurses Week was first observed from October 1116, 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. President Nixon later proclaimed a "National Nurse Week" in 1974. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proposal officially designating May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses," now known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day. In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the holiday into the current National Nurses Week celebrated from 6 May to 12 May.
Our store has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with an incredibly dedicated and passionate off-road community here in Temecula. We are looking forward to introducing our new store with a huge event this weekend.

The San Diego and Inland Empire regions of Southern California will be celebrating along with 4 Wheel Parts as the global leader in off-road performance product sales and installation will host a tandem of grand reopenings this Saturday, May 14. The locations in Temecula and San Marcos will be opening their doors to customers on Saturday morning to pristine, new state-of-the-art showrooms and installation facilities designed to better serve the local off-road community.

The stores are the newest locations to receive this complete makeover featuring a more user-friendly environment, allowing visitors the opportunity to explore the newest innovations in the performance off-road aftermarket. As the latest locations to receive a complete redesign, the Temecula and San Marcos stores join the companys total of 74 stores serving off-road enthusiasts throughout North America.

Our store has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with an incredibly dedicated and passionate off-road community here in Temecula, said Store Manager, Peter Gutierrez. We are looking forward to introducing our new store with a huge event this weekend.

The free events at both locations will treat guests to a festive atmosphere where visitors have a unique opportunity to examine products from leading manufacturers while enjoying activities that include hourly giveaways, vendor and vehicle displays, RTI Ramps, car crush contests, DJs and free tacos.

At San Marcos, N-FAB, Bilstein, and MasterCraft will be among the participants while fans visiting the Temecula location will be able to enter for a chance to win a set of Deegan 38 wheels and meet X Games icon and short course off-road racing champion, Brian Deegan courtesy of Mickey Thompson. Lucas Oil Products will also be in attendance at Temecula with a number of vehicles from their popular off-road racing series including the #38 of Brian Deegan.

We are thrilled to bring the next generation of 4 Wheel Parts stores to San Marcos with a giant celebration, said store manager, Victor Rosales. Were proud to be unveiling our brand new store as we share the event with the entire San Diego off-road enthusiast community.

The free, family-friendly gatherings will offer discounted grand reopening specials on a variety of products while ASE-certified technicians will be onsite with promotional installation discounts on select parts. The Temecula and San Marcos stores join 4 Wheel Parts roster of 74 retail locations across the United States and Canada.

What: 4 Wheel Parts Grand Reopening Celebrations

When: Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m.  5 p.m.

Locations: Temecula, California

27310 Madison Ave #104,

Temecula, CA 92590

(951) 491-0923

San Marcos, California

630 Nordahl Rd. #G

San Marcos, CA 92069

(760) 752-8697

Free Admission

About 4 Wheel Parts 4 Wheel Parts is the global leader in truck, Jeep, SUV and off-road performance products. With 74 locations across the U.S. and Canada and growing, 4 Wheel Parts Service Centers install all the products they sell. Maintaining the nations largest inventory of off-road tires, ARB air lockers, tires and Warn winch parts, 4 Wheel Parts serves customers across the country and around the globe. Life is Better Off-Road. Visit them at 4wheelparts.com or call toll-free 877-474-4821.
Jo Ellen Bleavins, President Weve seen great success at Eagle Ridge and have had a talented group of leaders get their start at the community. We are thrilled with the growth opportunities for Gardant and our ability to have staff grow within the organization. Past News Releases RSS New Affordable Assisted Lifestyle...

Heritage Woods of Moline to...

New Affordable Assisted Living...

Gardant Management Solutions -- the largest assisted living provider in Illinois and the management company for Eagle Ridge of Decatur-- has announced promotions for four area residents.

Weve seen great success at Eagle Ridge and have had a talented group of leaders get their start at the community. We are thrilled with the growth opportunities for Gardant and our ability to have staff grow within the organization, said Rod Burkett, Chief Executive Officer for Gardant Management Solutions.

Jo Ellen Bleavins, who has served as the Chief Operating Officer, is the new President. She will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Gardant portfolio. Bleavins experience as chief operating officer, vice president of operations and regional director have well-prepared her for one of the companys top positions. Her leadership role will support Gardant as it continues to carry out its mission and position the company for the future.

During her career with Gardant, Bleavins has led the opening or acquisition of more than 50 communities. She brings to her position 20 years of administrative experience in assisted living, supportive living and long-term care.

Bleavins, who served as administrator when Eagle Ridge opened in 2003, holds both an MBA and BS in Nursing from Millikin University.

Kristi Ruderman has been promoted to Gardants newly created position of Project Coordinator. She will activate strategies that lead to successful completion of new developments and acquisitions.

Rudermans experience for Gardant began at Eagle Ridge as the marketing director in 2003. She then went on to hold positions of administrator, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, and most recently, Regional Director of Operations. In the past six months, she has led Gardant teams through two successful acquisitions: an assisted living and memory care community in Rantoul, Illinois and an assisted living community in Atlanta.

She brings 25 years of experience in the senior care industry to her new position. Ruderman earned a B.A. in Mass Communication/Psychology from Western Illinois University.

Amy Bretz, who has served as the Eagle Ridge administrator since 2012, has been promoted to Regional Director of Operations for Gardant. She will oversee the companys properties in central Illinois.

During her time at Eagle Ridge, Bretz led a team that achieved three deficiency-free surveys from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The community also experienced low staff turnover, recorded high occupancy, and benefited from excellent resident and employee satisfaction.

She earned a psychology degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Amy Noonan, the marketing director at Eagle Ridge, has been promoted to District Director of Marketing, Sales and Engagement for Gardant. While working at Eagle Ridge, Noonan spent time mentoring new marketing directors at other properties. She will now oversee marketing efforts for Gardant communities in the central and southern regions of Illinois.

Noonan earned her marketing degree from Millikin University.

Gayla Hislope has been promoted from the Director of Nursing position to the new administrator at Eagle Ridge of Decatur. Ashley Higar is the new marketing director for the community.

Eagle Ridge of Decatur was the first affordable assisted living community to be developed in Macon County, and it has been serving older adults and their families for the past 13 years. Steve Horve, of Forsyth-based Horve Builders, is the primary owner of the property.

Gardant operates 44 assisted living, senior living and memory care communities in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, the Metro East area of St. Louis, and other locations in northern, central and southern Illinois, as well as Georgia and Indiana. The company ranks as the 14th largest assisted living provider in the country.

For more information about Gardant Management Solutions or the assisted living, senior living and memory care communities the company operates, click here or call 1-877-882-1495.
For entrepreneurs and innovators everywhere, bubblee is where ideas, communities and markets connect.

bubblee, a Metro Maryland technology startup, is unveiling a web-based platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to connect with their neighbors to solve pressing issues, while simultaneously stimulating local economic growth. The bubblee platform is a virtual local business ecosystem which brings together the best minds to deliver innovations for challenges in various industries, including education, health, energy, and transportation.

Startup founders are often so busy building their product that they have little to no time to go out and find customers, said David T. Nguyen, bubblees Founder and CEO. Since ninety percent of startups fail, we want to bring the buyers to them so they have a better chance of succeeding and thriving in the marketplace. For entrepreneurs and innovators everywhere, bubblee is the place where ideas, communities and markets connect. Our mission is to unleash the magnificence of every human being and bring joy to the entrepreneurial experience.

bubblee allows businesses and organizations searching for innovation to post their challenges online. These challenges can range from finding a quality-focused software development company to identifying a caterer for a vegan wedding. Every challenge will have a monetary value and will be visible to the community of local innovators who are searching for projects and customers. The innovators can use bubblee to view new business opportunities and propose solutions.

In the traditional marketing model, a startup has to prepare a business plan and market entry strategy to grow the business, said Irna Hutabarat, who leads bubblees marketing effort and has reviewed many business plans while at MIT. They then have to pitch their ideas repeatedly in order to win that hard-earned first customer. This is time-consuming and soul-crushing. bubblee works like a reverse pitch, where the customers present the problems that true innovators can solve.

In addition to connecting the market to the innovator, bubblee also offers lean collaboration that enables users to oversee and execute projects together online. The lean collaboration allows teams to manage project workflow from any location, allowing for reduced dependence on email communication, better management of virtual teams, and lower overhead cost. The lean solution also has a performance measurement suite which allows team member to rate and review each others work.

There are many technologies out there that connect the buyer to the seller. What makes bubblee unique is that once the connection is made, a project can be managed and reviewed within the same web-based platform, said Mariam Elisashvili, bubblees product manager. bubblee has one of the most sophisticated lean collaboration platforms available in the market today.

On May 12, 2016, when bubblee is launched at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce GovConNet Procurement Conference in Maryland, anyone with Internet access and an email address can open a bubblee account. Once registered, a user can explore the different features of the platform, including the innovation ecosystem, lean collaboration solution, and performance measurement suite. Access will be free for early adopters.

About bubblee

bubblee is the world's most revolutionary window into innovation and creativity within a local business ecosystem. Founded in Montgomery County, Maryland, bubblee empowers creative, trailblazing, and performance-driven pioneers to showcase their brilliance online, connecting their vision to the market. We also enable community members, such as business owners, non-profits, consumers, or government officials, to identify, collaborate with, and provide income-generating opportunities for their local entrepreneurs, who make up the backbone of the economy. To learn more about how we can stimulate economic growth and accelerate the commercialization of brilliant ideas together, visit http://www.bubblee.com.
We have leveraged our wealth of experience and used it to deliver a comprehensive yard management solution that is extremely flexible, highly configurable and cost effective for all sizes of operation.

C3 Solutions, a leading provider of yard management & dock scheduling solutions, is proud to announce the worldwide availability of C3 Yard, the newest component of its SaaS logistics optimization product suite - C3 Hub.

Since its founding in 2000, C3 has gained the confidence of clients around the world and across many industries including retail, grocery, distribution, manufacturing and parcel post. Throughout the past 16 years, C3s mission has been to provide fully advanced applications that transform logistics operations into dynamic flow-through centers.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION - UNDER A SINGLE ROOF

The new C3 Yard functionality resides on the industry-leading SaaS platform - C3 Hub. C3 Yard is offered in conjunction with C3s best-of-breed dock appointment scheduling module (C3 Reservations). With this latest expansion, C3 Hubs product suite now provides a single, powerful and flexible solution empowering companies of all sizes to manage their entire logistics lifecycle. From planning to final execution - including fully automated communications and complete visibility for all parties - every step of the way.

After sixteen years of commitment to providing enterprise yard management solutions, C3 has chosen to re-invest in YMS and redefine how companies manage their yards, states Nicholas Couture, President and co-founder of C3 Solutions. We have leveraged our wealth of experience and used it to deliver a comprehensive yard management solution that is extremely flexible, highly configurable and cost effective for all sizes of operation.

YARD MANAGEMENT FOR COMPANIES OF ALL SIZES

Traditionally companies that implemented yard management solutions had large, high-volume operations and required an enterprise level application that was integrated to all aspects of their supply chain. Smaller operations could not cost justify an enterprise YMS solution and had to settle with a stand-alone less robust systems.

This all changes with C3 Yard!

C3 YARD MAIN BENEFITS



Gain visibility - Of trailers in the yard and trailers en route to the yard.

Increase gate throughput  streamline driver check-in with our intuitive gate management screen that supports pre-arrival details and integration to in-cab systems.

Drastically reduce detention costs - monitor trailer dwell time and automatically notify carriers as trailers become available.

Optimize task assignment and the use of resources - Maximize the efficiency of yard trucks drivers and reduce number of required yard truck drivers.

Maximize investment in WMS, TMS and ERP systems - C3 Yard can be integrated to communicate with other supply chain systems

Exceed customer service levels  C3 Yard helps plan daily DC activities to ensure on-time deliveries

Improve inventory management - know what inventory is sitting in the yard and where. Provides visibility down to the SKU level

Improve dock management - avoid double handling, reduce congestion at docks and optimize door utilization.

Utilizes Industry Standard Devices - All C3 Yard mobile applications run on Android or iOS devices.

C3 YARD HIGHLIGHTS



Multi-site - allows customers to manage their yard operations at the enterprise level.

User friendly features including drag and drop yard driver task creation, mobile applications and business rules automation.

Real time visibility on yard activity: colour-codes, zoom function, complete yard inventory, exportable trailer lists and one-click access to vehicle details and history

Alerts on trailer maintenance, idle assets, late arrivals/departures, refused shunter tasks and other time-sensitive events based on priorities and user preferences.

Reports and dashboards on key performance indicators such as driver productivity, gate activity, trailer status, time in yard, dock door usage, etc. C3 Yard's data store also allows customers to build their own reports

Integration to other supply chain systems such as TMS and WMS for increased automation and extended visibility.

Yard Driver process optimization through automated task assignment and optimized trailer movements. Reduce bobtail and eliminate radio communications with C3 Yard's shunter management features.

Business rules engines that drive yard operations based on unique yard processes

We invite you to contact C3 Solutions experts for more information on C3 Yard

About C3 Solutions

C3 Solutions is an information technology company specialized in yard management (YMS) and dock scheduling (DSS) systems. Since its founding in 2000, C3 has gained the confidence of clients around the world and across many industries including retail, grocery, distribution, manufacturing and parcel post.

Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Canada and privately owned, C3 is dedicated to developing, implementing and supporting the most complete yard management and dock scheduling products on the market today. For more information on C3s products, schedule a free on-line demonstration. http://www.c3solutions.com
If you or someone you know has a brain tumor, its important to get the most accurate information possible about how to find the right doctor and what the best options are for treatment and relief of symptoms. Past News Releases RSS

In recognition of Brain Tumor Awareness month, CURE Media Group, the nations leading consumer digital and print media enterprise focused entirely on patients with cancer, has launched a CURE Connections brain tumor video series unique to the needs of patients and loved ones affected by a brain tumor diagnosis.

To help provide patients, families and caregivers with helpful information, the video series shares important insights from Joon Uhm, MD, an associate professor of neurology and director of neuro-oncology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and Jennifer Serventi, RPA-C, CCRP, a neuro-oncology research associate from the University of Rochester Medical Center. Unique perspectives on the management of a brain tumor are further discussed by Dellann Elliott Mydland, founder and president of the advocacy group, EndBrainCancer.org, and Megan Patton, a patient with brain cancer.

More specifically, the brain tumor video series provides viewers with clinical information, provided by Dr. Uhm and Serventi, regarding strategies for detecting and treating brain tumors such as glioblastoma. Patton discusses her journey as a patient with brain cancer, and Mydland highlights resources available through EndBrainCancer.org and remarks on how the organization advocates for patients.

If you or someone you know has a brain tumor, its important to get the most accurate information possible about how to find the right doctor and what the best options are for treatment and relief of symptoms, stated CURE Connections series host and highly respected medical correspondent, Dr. Philippa Cheetham.

Mike Hennessy Jr., president of CURE Media Group, added, CURE Connections recognizes the remarkable breakthroughs occurring in brain tumor research, and our goal is to provide viewers with this educational information. We want to give patients and their loved ones the resources needed to take a proactive role in their care.

About CURE Media Group

Combining science and humanity to make cancer understandable, CURE Media Groups flagship product, CURE magazine, is the indispensable guide to every stage of the cancer experience. With nearly 1 million readers, CURE is the largest U.S. consumer publication focused entirely on cancer, with broad distribution to patients with cancer, cancer centers and advocacy groups. CURE Media Groups offerings also include its online resource, curetoday.com; live meetings; a resource guide for the newly diagnosed; and the Extraordinary Healer oncology nursing award. It also offers CURE Connections, a video platform designed specifically for patients with cancer that features information, stories, advice about the cancer journey and subscription options to receive updates. Cure Media Group is part of Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc., a full-service health care communications company offering education, research, medical media and the acclaimed OncLive platform of resources for the practicing oncologist.

# # #
Curly Hair Solutions is excited to join the line up of world-class brands making an appearance at this years Spotlight Day in New York City. Its no surprise Curly Hair Solutions will be among some of the worlds best brands: Sephora, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, to name a few. With an impeccable reputation, no nonsense products, and the curly hair aficionado himself, Jonathan Torch steering the ship, Curly Hair Solutions has earned its place amidst the beauty world's elite.

Spotlight Day, hosted by Beauty Press, an international PR network connecting beauty brands with beauty editor alike, will take place on three days throughout the course of the year in New York City. Its a unique chance for brands to network with some of the buzziest bloggers in the biz as well as build lasting business relationships. Beauty Press boasts a long list of established clientele, which makes connecting with digital media influencers and traditional print publishers much easier than cold calling. And if thats not enough awesomeness, brands can also look forward to gaining more social media traction worldwide.

Curly Hair Solutions is absolutely thrilled to be a part of Spotlight Day by Beauty Press

and cant wait to kick off the festivities at the Midtown Loft & Terrace, an upscale event space in the heart of New York City. There is simply no better way to connect with the media in the digital sphere than Spotlight Day by Beauty Press!

What: Curly Hair Solutions attends Spotlight Day by Beauty Press

When: Wednesday May 18th, 2016

Where: The Midtown Loft & Terrace - 267 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

For more information about Curly Hair Solutions full line of hair care products including the Curl Keeper collection, visit http://www.frizzoff.com.

About Curly Hair Solutions: Curly Hair Solutions curly hair products perform 100% of the time, on every curly head, in all weather conditions, without the use of silicones. Our ingredients are natural, biodegradable and are not tested on animals. Our products have been perfectly pH balanced to match our environment to our bodies resulting in healthier, shinier, and a more controllable result every time.
WS 2012 R2 Storage Spaces DataON Storage is an important part of our cloud partner ecosystem

DataON Storage, trusted provider of hyper-converged platforms for the Software-Defined Datacenter, today announced the company has been accepted into the Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance (ECA) program. This collaboration reinforces DataONs commitment to delivering tightly integrated Microsoft Azure-tuned and 100% certified Storage Spaces solutions to customers requiring a comprehensive approach for accessing both private and cloud-based applications. DataON is currently presenting Storage Spaces architectures at the exclusive invitation only Microsoft Cloud and Hosting Summit in Bellevue, WA from May 10-12, 2016. DataON is currently presenting Storage Spaces architectures for hybrid cloud deployments at the exclusive invitation only Microsoft Cloud and Hosting Summit in Bellevue, WA from May 10-12, 2016.

DataON Storage has spent the last 1200 days developing and fine-tuning todays datacenter using Storage Spaces and built on a certified Scale-Out File Server platform in order to profoundly simplify IT deployments, said Trenton R. Baker, vice president business development and channel sales, DataON Storage. Our expanded relationship with Microsoft is an important evolution in DataONs expanding dedication to deliver a Software-Defined Datacenter bringing even more cloud infrastructure innovations and business value to the Microsoft cloud marketplace.

DataON has been a Microsoft Storage Spaces partner since its inception and this new association will continue to accelerate its relationship with Microsoft Corp. to develop and deliver next generation hyperconverged solutions for virtualized Microsoft data centers. As part of the Enterprise Cloud Alliance program, DataON Storages hyper-converged Cluster-in-a-Box (CiB) appliances, SOFS-Platform (Scale-Out File Server), Microsoft Azure Cloud Stack ready architectures and Storage Spaces Direct compatible solutions will be integrated with Microsoft cloud technology. DataON chief focus areas for integration and certification will be with Windows Server 2016, Hyper-V, Nano, Storage Spaces Direct, and Microsoft Azure Stack (MAS).

Worldwide enterprise IT leaders have experienced for years the benefits of DataONs Cluster-in-a-Box hyper-converged infrastructure appliances purpose-built for Storage Spaces deployments with simplified deployments, seamless scalability, continuously availabilitywithout sacrificing costs or quality, said Chris Lwanga, Principle PM Manager, Microsoft. Microsofts relationship with DataON Storage is an important part of our cloud partner ecosystem as more enterprises leverage Microsoft Azure.

In addition to joining the Enterprise Cloud Alliance (ECA) program, DataON Storage is currently a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner with competencies achieved in Gold Hosting, Silver Datacenter and Silver Midmarket Solution Provider among others. With best-in-class certified capabilities and a commitment to exceed Microsoft customers evolving storage needs, DataON has distinguished itself within the top 1 percent of the Microsoft partner ecosystem.

To earn a Microsoft Gold Competency, ecosystem partners must successfully complete exams (resulting in Microsoft Certified Professionals) to prove their level of technology expertise, and must submit customer references that demonstrate successful projects while meeting specific revenue plateaus. These certifications signify to the market that DataON Storage has demonstrated the highest level of skill and achievement guaranteeing high standards of reliability and ensuring the resiliency of its customers IT infrastructure, enabling them to focus on their key business competencies.

Tweet This: DataON Storage joins Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance for Storage Spaces hybrid-cloud deployments

About DataON

DataON Storage is the trusted provider of agile OS-agnostic storage and hyper-converged platforms for Software-Defined Datacenters and Small to Medium Businesses. As a Microsoft Gold Partner of certified storage solutions, DataON offers ultra-resilient petabyte scalable and high IOPS solutions built to simplify storage strategies for software-defined storage data, desktop virtualization (VDI) and private cloud. More available at http://www.DataONstorage.com,

call +1 (888)726-8588 or comment via @DataON.
Doug DiPasquale opened his first Minuteman Press franchise in Lansdale, PA when he was 22 years old. Now 32, Doug owns his second center in Eagleville, PA The positive growth the Philadelphia region is seeing this year is not surprising to me. We provide products and services that businesses are already using every day. Past News Releases RSS Minuteman Press International Gets...

Minuteman Press Owner Mark Calis...

Minuteman Press Franchise in...

Minuteman Press International is finding the Philadelphia region to be fertile ground for franchise success in 2016. Total sales volumes have increased 19% across the region in the first quarter 2016, and already there have been five grand openings this year in Philadelphia and surrounding areas in Eastern Pennsylvania.

"The positive growth the Philadelphia region is seeing this year is not surprising to me. We provide products and services that businesses are already using every day. Our franchise owners have an advantage of being in an industry that offers products and services that do not require the need to generate interest in them. Its obvious to me that the Minuteman Press franchisees are getting our message out to more businesses than ever before," said Richard Hornberger, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President for the Philadelphia region.

Richard added, Minuteman Press International provides the training, support and resources to help our franchise owners realize their visions of owning their own business, even if they have no previous business experience. These are just some of the reasons weve been experiencing such growth in and around Philadelphia."

5 Grand Openings in Philadelphia / Eastern Pennsylvania

Eagleville, PA  When Doug DiPasquale first started franchising with Minuteman Press in 2006, he was 22 years old. For ten years, Doug has owned and operated the Minuteman Press design, marketing and printing franchise in Lansdale, PA. In April 2016, Doug became the latest Minuteman Press owner to buy a second center. His Minuteman Press location is located at 2938 West Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19403.

Bala Cynwyd, PA  Jude Arijaje came to the United States from Nigeria in 2000, and his first job in Philadelphia was as a parking lot attendant. Jude then worked as a real estate agent before franchising with Minuteman Press in 2008, when he opened his center in the heart of Philadelphia at 1717 South Broad Street. Already a member of the Minuteman Press International President's Club for top performers, Jude became an owner of his second center in Bala Cynwyd, PA in January 2016. Jude bought the franchise for sale from longtime Minuteman Press owner Jack Pressman, who retired after 22 years in business. The center is located at 301 Montgomery Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

Newtown, PA  John Stranford worked in management for a large healthcare organization, on the benefits side of the insurance business. After reaching as high as he could go on the corporate ladder, John decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning his own business. In 2015, John bought his first Minuteman Press franchise in Morrisville, PA. Then, in January 2016, he bought his second center in Newtown, PA, which is located at 281 N Sycamore St, Newtown, PA 18940.

Glenside, PA in the Keswick Village  Charles and Lyn Church are opening their brand new Minuteman Press design, marketing and printing franchise on June 1, 2016. Charles comes from a background in sales and marketing, while Lyn works with non-profit organizations. Their new Minuteman Press center is located in Glenside, PA inside the historic Keswick Village, which serves as a cultural hub and thrives as a commerce center.

Paoli, PA  Barry and Philip Kitain are the latest father and son franchise team to get started with Minuteman Press. Barry is an attorney who once worked for a large auto repair franchise as a site selector. Barry's son Philip comes from a management background with a home improvement manufacturer. Their Minuteman Press center is set to open in Paoli, PA on June 1, 2016.

We have not found a limit to the size that an individual Minuteman Press franchise owner can grow their business," commented Richard Hornberger. He continued, "However, if a Minuteman Press owner wishes to expand their footprint and reach a larger geographical area, then opening another center in another area is an option they can employ."

Richard concludes, "I'd like to welcome Charles and Lyn Church and Barry and Philip Kitain into the Minuteman Press franchise family. Also, congratulations to Doug DiPasquale, Jude Arijaje, and John Stranford on becoming the newest multi-unit Minuteman Press franchise owners."

Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at http://www.minutemanpressfranchise.com.

About Minuteman Press

Serving the business community for over 40 years, Minuteman Press customer service driven business model provides digital print, design and promotional products and services to businesses from concept review through to completion. Today we are much more than just print; we can provide anything you can put a name, image or logo on! Our new slogan  We Design, Print & Promote YOU!  indicates the wide variety of products and services we offer that go beyond printing. For more information about our products and services or to find your local Minuteman Press, visit http://www.minutemanpress.com.

About Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press International is a number one rated business service franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Started in 1973 by Roy Titus and his son Bob, Minuteman Press began franchising in 1975 and has grown to over 930 locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press has been rated #1 in category 24 times by Entrepreneur and 12 times in a row, including 2016. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise. Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at http://www.minutemanpressfranchise.com.
Geniene Stillwell Past News Releases RSS Attorney Geniene Stillwell Examines...

Geniene Stillwell, principal attorney of Stillwell Law Office, recently filed a complaint for damages in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles (Case No. BC610717) on behalf of a client who reported alleged illegal, unsafe and fraudulent practices at his place of employment, the defendant, which supplies airplane parts to major commercial jetliners and the government. Court documents state that the plaintiff was tasked with preparing the companys Heat Treating Department for a scheduled NADCAP audit, during which time the plaintiff discovered that not only were employees not complying with the mandated procedures, but that the company was allegedly perpetuating fraud and falsifying records in order to be able to get the parts out to customers and fulfill its orders.

According to court documents, the plaintiffs supervisor allegedly expected him to tow the company line and lie to the NADCAP auditor regarding what was really going on in the Heat Treating Department. The plaintiff said he was not going to lie or cover up the defendants failure to follow required procedures and its unsafe processes, and that he would not lie to the NADCAP auditor.

The plaintiff allegedly made written complaints detailing the defendants alleged illegal, unsafe and fraudulent practices, stating his belief that he was being retaliated against for reporting the same and trying to correct it. According to court documents, the requirement that the plaintiff support the defendants alleged fraudulent activities and lie to NADCAP, and then to be reprimanded for trying to rectify the alleged fraud, was causing him extreme anxiety and stress, and the working environment had become intolerable by allegedly forcing him to have to lie to auditors, be complicit in fraud and put himself at risk for criminal sanctions. The plaintiff felt he had no choice but to go on leave prior to the NADCAP audit.

The plaintiff is currently under doctors care for anxiety and stress, allegedly as a result of the defendants treatment towards him. Court documents further state that under these conditions, the plaintiff, in essence, has been constructively terminated.

About Geniene Stillwell, Stillwell Law Office

Geniene Stillwell provides expert legal representation to employees involved in employment law disputes. Geniene has had a successful track record of mediating, arbitrating and litigating employment law cases for over 20 years. The Stillwell Law Office is dedicated exclusively to the practice of employment law, and has obtained several multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of individual employees. For more information or a consultation, please call (949) 494-4744. The law office is located at 384 Forest Ave., Suite 23B, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
By engaging a recognized top performing integrator like Thermo-Trol, OSIsoft will be able to better support key customers...

OSIsoft, LLC, a global leader enabling operational intelligence, and Thermo-Trol Systems, Inc. today announced that Thermo-Trol has become an OSIsoft ecosphere partner. Together the two companies will focus on providing the OSIsoft PI System to Federal, Local Government and Commercial customers, with Thermo-Trol providing prime contract execution and ongoing support for projects engineered in Southeast Virginia.

Floyd Evans, President and CEO of Thermo-Trol stated, We have experienced the rapidly expanding deployment of Smart, M2M and Industrial IoT devices throughout the markets we serve. That, coupled with the escalating adoption of mobile devices has driven the need for securely bridging Operations, Business and Enterprise systems. The OSIsoft PI System is the de facto standard in industry for Operational Intelligence and will be the cornerstone for deploying a robust and secure data infrastructure for our customers.

OSIsofts Partner EcoSphere includes a range of training and certification programs designed to help build and enable partner and customer success. It is an extensive and robust partner community focused on delivering solutions that meet the needs of OSIsoft customers.

The PI System is capable of scaling from 500 data streams to 10 million plus on a single server. Likewise, OSIsoft has customers globally and we provide 24 x 7 support, added Steven J. Sarnecki, VP Federal & Public Sector for OSIsoft. But the key with all these efforts is being able to act locally. By engaging a recognized top performing integrator like Thermo-Trol, OSIsoft will be able to better support key customers like Dominion, HRSD, the U.S. Navy and NASA, as well as many others.

About Thermo-Trol Systems

Thermo-Trol Systems is a premier Systems Integrator specializing in all aspects of Building Automation Systems, Energy Management Systems, Industrial Controls, SCADA, HVAC Services, and Training. Founded in 1967, Thermo-Trol Systems, Inc. is a privately held company providing turnkey control system solutions for facilities, with emphasis on Industrial, Federal Government, or Large Complex Projects. In a highly competitive bid marketplace, Thermo-Trol Systems has set the standard for ensuring superior products and services at competitive prices. The companys motto we bring clarity to all projects involving complexity has advanced many projects from conceptual design to ongoing long-term sustainability, by utilizing Custom Dashboards, Systems Graphics, Performance Analytics, and Energy Cost-Saving Programming. For more information, visit us online at http://www.thermo-trol.com.

About OSIsoft, LLC Federal

OSIsoft is the global leader enabling operational intelligence. As the maker of the PI System, OSIsoft has delivered the premiere open enterprise infrastructure connecting sensor-based data, operations and stakeholders, and enabling real-time, actionable and predictive operational intelligence for over 35 years in over 110 countries. OSIsofts government clients have long embraced the PI System to deliver real-time asset health, holistic cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and enterprise energy management.

Today various civilian agencies including the Department of Energy, the Department of Interior, the National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as a broad number of installations in the Department of Defense use the PI System. As a result of the PI Systems unrivaled speed, reliability and scalability, 100 percent of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations are able to ensure the security and stability of our nations power grid.

Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, LLC is privately held and headquartered in San Leandro, Calif., with regional offices located worldwide, including the Washington, D.C. metro area. Learn more at http://www.osisoft.com/federal and http://www.osisoft.com.
2016 Notes & Words most successful to date.

Brainchild of author Kelly Corrigan (The Middle Place, Lift, Glitter and Glue), Notes & Words is an annual fundraising event that brings authors and musicians together to perform on one stage. The event just wrapped-up its seventh year with thousands of audience members turning out to support UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital Oakland.

The evening began with TPG hosting a private customer cocktail reception at the Claremont Hotel and Spa. The intimate setting was held in the Hillary Tenzing room which showcases stunning art and photography that was collected by the Claremonts own Richard Blum on his personal travels to Tibet and Bhutan. The boardroom is dedicated to the famous mountaineer, a friend of Blums, and his infamous Sherpa. The duo was first to climb to the top of Mount Everest - a fitting local for an agency that deals in corporate travel.

The adventure continued as TPG and guests made their way to the Fox Theater. Kicking off the show was a young woman whose talents were recently discovered in the emergency room at Childrens Hospital. Previously unknown, she blew the audience away with her strong voice. Kelly Corrigan served as the evenings Master of Ceremonies, and she read a passage from her book, Glitter and Glue. The piece was about her ongoing volunteer work at Childrens Hospital. Accompanied by a cello, Kelly described her time holding preemie babies in the neonatal intensive care unit while their parents are away at work. Writer and publisher, Dave Eggers, and writer and actor, BJ Novak, played off each other with their intelligence and wit. Rock and Roll band, The Stone Foxes, got the audience on its feet, but it was Chris Martin from Coldplay who stole the show. The charismatic performer pulled themes from previous speakers, and had an audience member record him with an iPhone and then accompany him on stage. For his heartfelt finale, Chris played with the children from the Oakland School of Performing Arts.

The evening ended with an afterglow party in a VIP tent hosted and designed by TPG and Dalton Fine of So Fine Event Design. The tent environment emphasized simple elegance with neutral colors and decor elements pulled from nature. The hit of the after party was the silent disco  supplied with headsets, audience members could choose which DJ they wanted to tune into while the danced. The big surprise was MC Hammer who mixed tunes effortlessly and worked the crowd. Those guests wanting to end the evening on a quieter note could remove their headsets and enjoy an engaging conversation.

All in all, the evening was a success, and Notes and Words coordinators stated that it the most successful fundraiser to date.
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.

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A construction crane toppled into a kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City and narrowly missed a classroom this morning, leaving dozens of children and teachers in panic.

The incident happened at 9:30am on the construction site of the Toplife Tower project in District 10. Without warning, the crane suddenly toppled into the pre-school and landed just 20cm from a classroom.

The children screamed in panic as the collision shook the building before being escorted to safety by their teachers. No injuries were reported.

Parents hastily picked their children up from the school after hearing the news. Photo by Hai Hieu.

I saw the crane swing back and forth before it collapsed. I didn't really pay much attention to it until I heard a very loud bang. Many people panicked. I saw dust flying through the air and heard screaming from the school, said a woman who witnessed the incident from across the street. I was afraid that something might have happened to the kids and was trying to help, but then I saw the teachers leading them to safety."

Many parents rushed to the school to pick up their children, but were met by a blockade that surrounded the area.

The toppled crane truck at the scene. Photo by Hai Hieu.

According to the project investor, the crane encountered technical problems while operating and tilted, causing it to collapse into the pre-school. This is an unwanted incident. Fortunately, it did not cause any casualties. We are working to fix the damage, said a company representative.

Local authorities are working with related parties to investigate the cause.
Around 600 delegates from Vietnam and the international community are taking part in a conference being held in Hanoi which aims to enhance integration and promote cooperation in science and technology between Southeast Asia and Europe.

The conference is part of the ASEAN-EU Science, Technology and Innovation Days 2016 (STI Days) event held annually on a rotational basis between ASEAN and EU countries, reported Vietnam News Agency.

Hosted this year by Vietnams Department of Information Science and Technology, the conference featured 15 workshops with nearly 600 delegates from over 40 countries, along with 24 exhibition booths.

Hopefully, through the three-day conference, the participants will identify the potential and priority areas of cooperation between the two regions on scientific research and innovation, said Chu Ngoc Anh, Vietnams Minister of Science and Technology.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Thanh said the EU has always been regarded as an important cooperation partner in science, technology and innovation in Vietnam and ASEAN's strategic vision. "The event will contribute to the further development of science and technology in ASEAN, Thanh said.

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, Kostas Glinos, confirmed the importance of cooperation between ASEAN and the EU on issues that both parties share interests in, such as IT and medicine. He said he hoped that research and innovation in the ASEAN region will be enhanced through their cooperation.

STI Days are the platform for existing bi-regional R&D initiatives and projects between Southeast Asia and Europe to present their project results, network and establish dialogue between political decision makers. The event is also a chance for researchers, policy makers, companies and stakeholders to discuss issues of mutual concern and offer new prospects for cooperation.

This year's event will run from May 10 to 12.
Vietnams PM to make first foreign visit to Russia next week

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will make his first foreign visit to Russia from May 16-20, Vietnams Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

While in Russia, Phuc will attend a high-level conference to celebrate 20 years of foreign relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Russia, the statement said.

Phuc was appointed prime minister in early April.

From April 23-29, Vietnams new Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich also visited Russia on his first overseas visit since being appointed to the position.

Russia is Vietnam's largest arms supplier. In 2009, Vietnam signed deals to buy six diesel-powered 636 Kilo-class submarines from Russia to modernize its navy. Five of them have already arrived at the Cam Ranh naval base in the central region.

The two countries also have strong ties in the energy sector with their main oil and gas companies operating in both countries.

In another development, U.S. President Barack Obama will make his first visit to Vietnam from May 22-25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.
Yale University Press is honoring the fashion designer Alexander McQueen with two different publications at Book Expo. Alexander McQueen: Unseen by Robert Fairer debuts in November. The presss art and architecture publisher, Patricia Fidler, notes, What really grabbed me about this book is that McQueen himself is very evident in the photographs behind the scenes at fashion shows. Its interesting to watch and see glimpses of him trying to pin somebodys dress together, and you see these amazing, creative costumes and fashion designs.

In addition, the press is showcasing an earlier book that it distributes, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty by Andrew Bolton, which was published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in conjunction with its Costume Institute exhibit of the same name in 2011. That book has never gone out of print, Fidler tells Show Daily, and we want to celebrate that fact. Here at BEA we want to make sure that accounts and everyone in that particular world are aware that we have this extraordinary book on our backlist and were pleased to be able to have a complement to it. Theres never ever going to be a book that competes with the Metropolitan book, but theres more to learn about, understand, and appreciate with regard to this particular designer. The new publication has a completely different angle on who McQueen was than the earlier book.

As to why there is such a fascination about the designer who died at the pinnacle of his success at the age of 40, Fidler says, We ask ourselves that question a lot. I think there are multiple answers. Part of it is, sadly, that he is someone who took his own life at a very young age, and some of the intrigue is people trying to understand that. Theres also the mystery associated with someone who was just becoming world renowned. His work was being acknowledged in a way that he had long struggled to achieve. And theres the fact that the designs are gorgeous, fantastic, surprising, innovative, and beautiful, and that many famous people have worn his clothing. That continues to keep his name in the spotlight.

To help promote the two books, Yale University Press is conducting a raffle at its booth (610) for one of McQueens unique skull-design scarves. The raffle runs from this afternoon through Friday morning. The drawing for the winner will take place Friday afternoon. We thought it would be nice to have a raffle to call attention to the fact that we have these books on our list, Fidler says, and that it would be great to have somebody walk away with an actual McQueen garment.
In Journey, Aaron Beckers wordless debut picture book, a lonely girl embarks on a voyage of adventure and danger after going through a magic door she draws on her bedroom wall. The author followed up that 2014 Caldecott Honor Book with Quest, and now brings the girls enchanted excursion to a close in Return (Candlewick, Aug.), which he is eager to introduce to booksellers at BEA. Becker, who has worked as an artist on animated childrens films for several studios, including Lucasfilms, Disney, and Pixar, had long aspired to write a childrens book. That had been my goal since I was in my 20s, in the late 1990s, he recalls. I was so excited about having Journey published that I didnt think about doing another book for quite some time. I thought maybe I was done. But Becker had a change of heart after receiving Caldecott Honor recognition: It was icing on the cake, and it made me excited to tell more stories. I put a lot of pressure on myself to create Journey, and this award was like someone saying, What youre doing is worthwhile. It legitimized something that is very private, and made it easier to move on to Quest.

Becker explains that he didnt initially conceive of his inaugural book as wordless. I started with a vision of a girl in a boat entering a walled island castle, and from there etched out a story in thumbnail form, he says. When I went to add words, I realized that there was no need for them, which surprised me. Though it wasnt premeditated, this was obviously a format that comes naturally to me, perhaps because of my film background. The idea of storyboards and storytelling through frames seemed very normal.

The authors own real-life journeyshe has lived in rural Japan and East Africa, and has backpacked through South Pacific islands and Swedenhave fueled his creative vision. As a boy of 10, he visited the walled island of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, which many years later inspired the imposing castle that appears throughout the Journey trilogy. Though Mont Saint-Michel gave me a visual starting point, he says, I expanded the castle, and the rest of the books world, outward to include other things that inspire melike buildings in Florence and other parts of northern Europe, and the architecture of Asia and the Middle East.

More recently, the author, who lives in Massachusetts, and his family journeyed to Spain while he finished his watercolors for Return, and worked with filmmakers on a documentary about his creation of that book. Currently, the author is juggling several potential childrens book projects. One is a wordless picture book, some involve writing, and some involve a lot of writing, he notes. One result of the Caldecott Honor is that it gives me the luxury, as a book creator, to play with different ideas, without feeling pressure. Thats a good spot to be in, and Im taking full advantage of it.

Fans of his fantasy trilogy can meet Becker today, 1:302:30 p.m., when he autographs lithos from Return at a ticketed signing at Table 6.

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
Despite the popularity of bestselling Italian author Elena Ferrante, who was recently named one of Time magazines 100 most influential people and whose latest novel, The Story of the Lost Child, was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, the flow of translations between the U.S. and Italy continues to be one-sided. Very few books are coming to our shores.

Italy is the worlds sixth-largest importer of U.S. books and magazines, and its publishers acquire a disproportionate number of American titles. In 2013, the countrys publishers bought 2,500 American titles, and sold only 168 to their U.S. counterparts. Between 2012 and 2014, according to research on Italian literature conducted by Chad Post of Open Letter Books and Three Percent, nearly three times as many French books and twice as many German books were translated into English. During that same period, only 174 books were translated from Italian and published in the U.S.

As part of its efforts to increase the flow of Italian books into the U.S., the Italian Trade Commission established a Publishing Task Force in Chicago to promote Italian authors and publishers. This year the task force is putting its promotion muscle behind Andrea Molesini and his award-winning debut novelalso his English-language debutNot All Bastards Are from Vienna, which came out earlier this year from Grove. Inspired by wartime notebooks kept by his great-aunt during WWI, Molesinis historical novel received a starred, boxed review in PW. This is a powerful tale of endurance, sacrifice, love, and wars suffering and cruelty, wrote the reviewer, who also praised the books powerful depiction of a familys strength and mankinds justification for wars barbarity.

While the classics are the classics, were trying to open the market to contemporary authors, the task forces Elena Phillips says of the decision to bring over Molesini. Were trying to show that theres a new wave of writers who can touch anyone, and praises Molesinis novel as very engaging. What she thinks will most appeal to American readers, she adds, is his ability to capture the conflict between different generations, to depict the effects of war, and to show that although everything changes, everything stays the same. History repeats itself.

Molesini will be signing both the English-language edition of his novel and the Italian edition, published by Sicilian publisher Sellerio, in the Italian Pavilion (booth 1205), today, at 2 p.m. In addition, he will be in conversation with Marcello Barison of the University of Chicago and PW reviews editor and author Mark Rotella. The chat takes place at the Italian Cultural Institute, 500 N. Michigan Ave., #1450, 79 p.m. The latter event is free, but RSVPs are requested through EventBrite (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/andrea-molesini-and-friends-tickets-24515348066).

Although Molesini is the only Italian author the ITA is bringing to BEA, it has a large display of books, from childrens books to coffee-table books, art, archeology, photography, travel, sport, and fiction. Among the Italian publishers represented are 24 Ore Cultura, White Star Edizioni/De Agostini, and Guerra Edizioni.

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
May 11, 2016 | 06:12 pm PT

I would rather have a drink at a local cafe than at a global coffee chain.

Many may still remember Youve got mail, an American romantic comedy from 1998, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) runs a small bookstore, which struggles to survive due to fierce competition from the rich Joe Foxs (Tom Hanks) large chain store just across the street.

At the end of the film, the fate of Kathleens bookstore is not unveiled; however, I have seen small businesses which have been struggling like Kathleen everywhere I have been to, in Vietnam and many other countries.

Local small and medium-sized enterprises have to struggle painfully to compete with chain retail stores of foreign or domestic global corporations, which have an absolute advantage in capital, suppliers, distribution channels and are willing to bear losses for years to push small businesses into bankruptcy and capture the market. Victory is always in favor of the capitalist tycoons.

In the U.S., the year 2013 witnessed mergers and acquisitions of more than 23 percent of SMEs into large corporations, according to Dun and Bradstreet reports. "Businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37 percent chance of surviving four years (of business) and only a nine percent chance of surviving 10 years. Restaurants only have a 20 percent chance of surviving two years.

Within five years, (you can note this prediction and see if it is right), all independent electric retail stores or small mobile phone stores in Vietnams largest cities will most likely disappear, replaced by large retail chains of Pico, HC or Vinmart.

So if you were an owner of a small retail electric store, what would you do now?

I am not going to talk about the pains of SMEs.

Instead, I would like to argue why we, the consumers, should support independent local businesses. That is, why we should buy fish sauce of a domestic brand, handmade coconut oil, choose books from the small store of Kathleen rather than the big alternatives like Joes big bookstore chain.

1. The money that goes into your local community stays in the community

For every 100 dollars you pay a locally owned business, 68 dollars will stay and enrich your community, instead of large chains, according to Civic Economics  Andersonville Study of Retail Economics.

Local businesses directly purchase input materials and employ people locally. These businesses tend to buy services from other local businesses in the area, thus creating a sustainable and healthy business community.

For example, a fish sauce manufacturer in Phu Quoc will use all the input materials, from fish and salt to packaging and labeling, available locally. It will then promote, distribute and sell the fish sauce in your community, indirectly creating a local ecosystem of service providers for its own business. Therefore, locals in the region like you and your neighbors are those who benefit the most when you consume the local product.

Would you expect similar benefits from global corporations or large retail chains?

2. Local businesses are part of distinctive local culture

What would you think if in 20 years time, you look around Vietnams streets and find they are flooded with global brands like Starbucks, McDonalds, Zara and 7-Eleven while local shops and products that symbolize your Hanoi and Vietnam are gone?

Local businesses add character to the current storm of mass production. Such character adds intrinsic value and diversity to the economy, especially in the food and beverage sectors.

Lets thank the local businesses which give you 100 different tastes of ice cream to enjoy, instead of just several boring tastes of Vinamilk brands which can be easily found in any supermarket; and the taste of authentic Phu Quoc fish sauce, instead of artificially flavored bottled sauces. These businesses give you the taste of home.

Even when I travel, whether it is to Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Seoul or Paris, I always search for local businesses as they are the soul of a countrys economy and cultural identity.

3. Youre encouraging young people to start a business

Each cent you spend on local products or services is an encouragement to the young to change their lives and the image of their hometown and country. It gives them an opportunity to prove themselves against the big guys in the market.

With the power of a consumer, you can help support a healthy and fair competition - a playing- field without monopoly.

4. Learning to love in a different way

It is easy to fall in love with a handsome billionaire or a famous brand backed by a professional agency.

It is easy to say I am a fan of Starbucks, but not everyone is willing to say that you love a local coffee brand.

It is time we learn to love simple things in an honest way rather than chase after a handsome rich man or love something just because it is trendy. Anyone of us might do start-up one day, so giving local businesses a chance today is also giving yourself a chance tomorrow.

Hieu Ha Trung is overseas business director of VCCorp, a young traveler and works in start-up and internet business. He trusts in the good of human's instincts.
In the late 1970s, at age 23, British college student Alan Harper traveled across the Atlantic to Chicago, where he had no job, no friends, and no family. He came for one reason only: to listen to the blues. In his new book, Waiting for Buddy Guy: Chicago Blues at the Crossroads (Univ. of Illinois), Harper chronicles his pilgrimage to a city and a music scene that was undergoing great change.

It was quite a revelation to have a friend play for me the original Robert Johnson song that Led Zeppelin borrowed for their Lemon Song, and the original Howlin Wolfs Little Red Rooster, which became a single for the Rolling Stones, Harper says of first hearing the blues in England. It engendered in me a desire to find out more, because these people, the original blues musicians, seemed to be lost in the mist. At the time, the blues wasnt very fashionable in England, he says. I found it difficult to find out more about the blues, which made it an intriguing quest.

Harper was determined to hear Chicago blues live in its element, in the smoky bars and played by the musicians who shaped the American music form into a rich, significant genre. But while there was glamour to a 20-something crossing paths with his musical heroesblues giants like harmonicist Big Walter Horton and pianist Sunnyland Slimwhat Harper felt most in Chicago was a sense of community. Thats whats stuck with him all these years later, and thats why he is thrilled to be back in the Windy City.

I heard some great music, Harper says, but its the people that have lingered in my memory, the musicians, the club owners, the record label people. I felt really privileged to be, albeit temporarily, a part of the blues community in Chicago.

But it was also a city and a community that was changing. The black Southern roots of Chicago blues were beginning to lose their hold when Harper arrived. As white fans and white musicians came to the blues in larger numbers, guitars replaced the harmonicas and pianos, and the blues as Harper and others knew it, began to fade away.

White fans who came to the blues from rock music  a bit like me, says Harper, focused on just the small part of the blues that influenced the white practitionersthe Stones, Clapton, people like that. Because that white fan base was such a huge potential market, it atrophied the blues, explains Harper. White blues fans loved it to death.

If you know where to look, you can still catch glimpses of the old Chicago blues, Harper assures Show Daily, and maybe hear some piano music between all the guitars. And while hes in town, he plans to do just that.

Buddy Guy, of course, is still alive, Harper says. He has a famous club, which Ive never visited, called Legends, and I want to go to that. And of the clubs I used to hang out in, theres two that remain: one is called B.L.U.E.S., and thats on North Houston Street, and across the street is the Kingston Mines. So I should go up there and see whats going on. He recommends that blues fan visiting Chicago do the same.

Harper will be signing today at the University of Illinois booth (614), 11 a.m.noon.

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
The striking similarities between Pulitzer Prizewinner Robert Olen Butler, who teaches at Florida State University, and the narrator in his latest novel, Perfume River (Atlantic Monthly, Sept.), who is a Florida State University teacher named Robert and, like the author, a Vietnam veteran, leads readers to wonder if the book is in some way autobiographical. Butler maintains it is not. Graham Greene, the great British novelist, once said, and Im paraphrasing here, All good novelists have bad memories. What you remember comes out as journalism; what you forget goes into the compost of the imagination. Im a pretty good novelist and I have a really bad memory. I have virtually never written in any mode in any book what could in any real significant way be called autobiographical.

He tells Show Daily that what became Perfume River did not start out as a novel. Hed been commissioned to write stories for two different literary magazines, and then he wrote a third. All of a sudden I thought I had a collection of short stories, which would be a direct descendant of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, his Pulitzer Prizewinning book. While that book was about Vietnamese exiles in America in the early 1980s who had to reinvent who they were, in these new stories, Butler says, the Americans have been exiled into the country of incipient old age and imminent death, and have to redefine who they are in light of that, and [they] discover that who they are was deeply shaped by their experience in Vietnam.

Then Butler had an encounter with a homeless man in a health food store that he frequented. I bought him some dinner and over the next week or two, that experience became a short story. But as soon as I began writing, I realized that all of this was a novel.

His earlier A Small Hotel, about a marriage that is falling apart, had themes that resonate in his latest novel. That book is also about the extension of family and the way in which the present and the past are always in intimate dialogue with each other, the author says. Those elements were suddenly here now as well, so those two books of my past, two important books for me, suddenly spawned this novel.

A veteran of Book Expo, Butler notes, I was at Book Expo when it was the ABA conferenceI love it! Im good at working a room and I love shaking hands with booksellersI adore them. Im looking forward to shaking 4,000 hands.

Today, he will be shaking hands and signing galleys of Perfume River in the Autographing Area at Table 3, 34 p.m. Tomorrow, Butler is participating in the Hot Fall Fiction 2016 panel, 12:1512:45 p.m., at the Downtown Stage.

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
Zygmunt Miloszewski, one of Polands bestselling novelists, has made the long trip to Chicago to celebrate Rage (AmazonCrossing, Aug.), the third in his thriller series (after Entanglement and A Grain of Truth) featuring state prosecutor Teodor Szachipronounced Shutskia man of indeterminate middle age who doggedly pursues cases of the most gruesome sort. In Rage, someone is killing domestic abusers, and it falls to Szachi to find and prosecute the murderer.

You may get the impression that Szachi is past his prime because hes so grumpy, angry, and bad-tempered, says Miloszewski. Well, the truth is Poles are not exactly the most joy-radiating nation in the world. We make up for it with irony and black, fatalistic humor.

Miloszewski (pronounced Mewasheffski) says he started to write crime novels because he sees the genre as ideal for describing a society, its issues and its dirty secrets. I wanted to give my readers as complex and complete a picture of Poland as possible, and thats why each part of this series take place in a completely different city: metropolitan Warsaw, the picturesque medieval shithole of Sandomierz, and Olsztyn, once German, now Polish, the capital of a beautiful province, a holiday destination. My novels tackle such topics as the shadow of the Communist era, Polish xenophobia, violence against womenall these themes are considered national taboos. His world-weary prosecutor, he says, is the only link between the three books.

Of him he says, I like the way he changes as he grows older. There are characters in fiction who never change, James Bond for example, and there are characters like Henning Mankells Kurt Wallander, who gradually turns from a middle-aged policeman into an old man, saying his good-byes. I prefer the latter optionI think the opportunity to follow a character through the decades is a great advantage in writing a series.

Rage, set in Olsztyn, he says, was originally going to be a novel about the tensions between the Poles and the Germans. But once I was sitting in the local library, trying to stay awake as I browsed through the most local of local papers, something caught my attention: a large number of articles on domestic abuse. I decided to talk to people, and learn more. And I found out that despite my knowledge, education, and the fact Im married to a feminist, I know very little about violence against women. So I thought again. And wrote a different book than I had planned.

Today Miloszewski signs ARCs at Table 11 in the Autographing Area, 1:302 p.m. Tomorrow, 78:30 p.m., he will be joined by Sara Paretsky and Laura Caldwell for a discussion of crime writing sponsored by the Polish Book Institute at Open Books, 651 W. Lake St.

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
Although the members of a panel discussing possible changes to standard publishing contracts didnt agree on all points, there was one idea that gained support from all four panelists on Wednesday morningthe possibility of eliminating different royalty rates for different formats in favor of a flat rate that would cover all book formats.

The panel, moderated by Authors Guild executive director Mary Rasenberger, came one year after the guild began its Fair Contract Initiative aimed at opening up discussions about how authors can become more like true partners with publishers.

Rasenberger noted that the most recent guild survey of author income found a decline in earnings in recent years, especially since the advent of e-books. Morgan Entrekin, president and publisher of Grove/Atlantic, said his authors receive more of the revenue pie than before, a fact reinforced by Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch who noted that HBGs author costs have risen by 50% over the last 15 years, driven in large part by higher advances. Both publishers agreed that the authors who are having the most difficult time are midlist authors. Entrekin guestimated that brand authors probably have the leverage to get 60% or 70% of all revenue of their book sales.

The idea for the flat royalty came in a debate about whether the e-book royalty rate should move from the current 25% to 50% as advocated by the guild. Entrekin and Piestsch were against the idea and Pietsch pushed back against the contention that the 25% rate is unfair. He noted that while the guild likes to compare the 25% e-book royalty rate to the roughly 30% rate for hardcovers, the e-book rate is much higher than the royalty rate paid on trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks.

Pietsch said he would be happy to talk to authors about a flat rate across all formats that would cover the lifetime of a book. Entrekin said he is always doing a variety of deals, including a flat royalty rate as well as profit sharing. I am open to anything at any time, Entrekin said, adding that being flexible on contracts is one advantage he has over his larger competitors.

Jonathan Lyons, a literary agent and lawyer, said he too would be interested to talk about a flat royalty rate or profit sharing with publishers.

One point of contention between the two publishers and Guild was over the length of contracts and the reversion clause. Entrekin said between one-third to one-half of the books he publishes lose money and that he needs to be able to depend on revenue from long-time sellers to balance his books.

Pietsch also said HBG loses money on many of its books and that a clause that forces publishers to renegotiate with authors of good sellers after seven to 10 years would put the entire financial dynamic of publishing in question. He said he is willing to discuss a renegotiation with successful authors, but is opposed to being forced to open up discussions by a contract clause that could put the book up for competitive bidding.

Pietsch and Entrekin also said they are willing to talk to authors who are looking to get their rights back on a case by case basis. Entrekin said publishers dont want to sit on things that arent selling. Lyons said that at a minimum, authors should be able to get rights back to an area that publishers are not interested in exploring any more, such as translation rights.

The session ended with Rasenberger noting that since the guild released the 11 points in its Fair Contract Initiative earlier this year, it has begun talking to publishers about altering the standard contract. We have got push back from some, cooperation from others. We know this will be a long process.
Its more intimate, its closer to home (for some), and it puts a spotlight on the sometimes overlooked Chicago and Midwest publishing scene. This is what some BEA attendees had to say about this years show, back in the Windy City for the first time in 12 years. But, for all those excited about the change of venue, others expressed reticence about whats lost when the event leaves its standing locale of New York City.

The move to Chicago has meant a smaller show. Reed Exhibitions, which oversees BEA, does not release preliminary attendance numbers, but estimates in the press put the exhibition space on this years show floor down nearly 20% from last years show at the Javits Center in New York. Certainly the major New York City publishers have a smaller presence at this years show, having sent fewer staff members, put on fewer parties, and set up smaller booths.

Nonetheless, as many attendees pointed out, BEA is not only for the major publishers. Reeds Brien McDonald, who is overseeing this years show, said the size of this BEA isnt a surprise, nor is it reason for concern. We knew that the move would shrink the show floor a bit, but the real value is in the new audience.

When asked if he was concerned about the fact that the change of venue resulted in fewer high profile authors and celebrities headlining this years showa complaint among some attendeesMcDonald said this year is our most diverse and reflects the discovery BookExpo can provide.

And, speaking to the notion that moving the show to Chicago was bringing in a different crowd, McDonald pointed out that over 1,000 new attendees from the Midwest are attending this years BEA, and that the show saw a 10% increase in VIP attendees.

Many booksellers who dont often make the trip to New York City for BEA came out to Chicago this year, according to American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher, noting that 65% of the ABA members attending this years show have not been to BEA in the past two years. Teicher said that the stat validates the whole idea of moving the show around.

While Teicher acknowledged that BEA leaving New York is something the major publishers are "concerned about, he appreciates the show tipping its hat to the fact that the industry exists beyond the boundaries of Manhattan. Were a national business, and our members are everywhere. Its not that we dont love New York; its expensive.

Aside from the trip to Chicago taking a smaller bite out of their wallets, many booksellers said they were relieved at the change of pace. Its a nice excuse to see a city and, by extension, bookstores, that I am far less familiar with, said Jake Cumsky-Whitlock of Kramerbooks & Afterwards in Washington, D.C.

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of San Franciscos Books Inc., said having the show repeatedly in New York was getting tiresome. It was becoming, he said, a little too much like the horse coming back to the barn. He then added: I hope we see more booksellers from other parts of the country.

For those on the show floor Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the show opened, steady traffic was an encouraging sign.

So far, so good, said Heather Fain, director of marketing strategy for Hachette Book Group, when asked how the show was shaping up early on. Although Fain admitted that the show is more costly for a house like Hachette, when its not in New York, she said the move was allowing them to experiment with different ways of staffing the event, testing how many employees they need to effectively run their booth.

Russell Perreault, publicity director at Penguin Random Houses Vintage Anchor imprint, said he was loving being in Chicago. Its nice to go back to your hotel, instead of your apartment, he said. For him, having BEA move around is a good thing. Among other things, he noted, it gives publishers a chance to see different booksellers.

Heather Doss, national accounts manager at HarperCollins, said she appreciated the roomier feel McCormick Place offered, as compared to the Javits Center in New York City. I dont feel like the aisles are as crammed, she said. It could be that theres less traffic or fewer publishers [here], but its easier to get around. And all the bloggers and accounts Ive talked to seem to be happy.

Ellen Adler, publisher of New Press, wasnt aware that the show opened at 1 pm. When she arrived at her houses booth and saw the aisles were empty, she was panicked. I thought: This is the end of our industry. Needless to say, she was relieved when the crowds started flooding in after the floor opened.

For all the Midwest publishers who were happy to see the show back on their home turfand manyweresome noted that they would still like to see BEA work to bring exhibition costs down. Kristin Gilpatrick, marketing manager at Wisconsin Historical Society Press, said her house was sending staff to the show but was disappointed it couldnt take a booth.

Its not affordable for a small independent press to attend BEA, she said. I was so excited when I heard BEA was going to be in Chicago, but Im disappointed at not being able to have a booth. She then added: It would be nice if, moving forward, [Reed] had some options for smaller presses. Right now its out of our price range.

Eric Obenauf at Ohio-based indie Two Dollar Radio expressed a similar sentiment. Although hes attending the show, and his house is co-hosting a party, he didnt take a booth. Until they make BEA affordable for small presses, we wont have a table, he said. Still, he appreciates the new venue. Its important to make the New York publishing establishment get off their asses once in awhile and venture out into the Heartland.
An hour after the BookExpo America show floor opened on Wednesday afternoon, approximately 50 people gathered in a conference room to hear a panel of booksellers discuss best practices for store events.

The panel featured an A-list of booksellers from both general and childrens specialty bookstores: Megan Goehl, childrens book buyer at BookPeople in Austin, Tex.; Cynthia Compton, owner of 4Kids books & Toys in an Indianapolis suburb; Becky Anderson, co-owner of Andersons Bookshops in the Chicago suburbs; and Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Tex. Sourcebooks national sales manager Heidi Weiland moderated.

When scheduling events, the booksellers suggested, focus both on the intended target audience and reach out to the local community by partnering with an organization or group to attract that audience. Koehler suggested building relationships with local organizations by noting what community organizations customers belong to. Keep track of who is who, what theyre doing, and what your customers are engaged in, she said.

Compton, disclosing that the biggest fear of booksellers is that you will do everything right in promoting an event, and no one will show up, suggested that booksellers keep in close contact with partner organizations beforehand to prevent such a situation. Check in with them before the event; hold them accountable, she said. She also emphasized that the bookseller not leave the author alone, ever, and that its a good idea to have them come a little early to sign pre-orders. Koehler said that with YA author events, its essential that the author be informed that he or she is expected to promote the event on social media to their fans to bring an audience into the store.

Anderson admitted that she has seeded audiences with her children when attendance has been sparse, and Koehler said that teen employees who come in after school to shelve books and perform other tasks are required to attend late afternoon author events that are held in the store after school visits and to ask questions.

While discussing how to build relationships with schools, the four booksellers were adamant that booksellers should reach out to media specialists and teachers and build relationships with them. Its a lot of bureaucracy, but its very important to reach out to be on [school districts] bid lists, Koehler said, while Anderson told the audience to invite teachers and librarians to open houses to start building a relationship with them. Audience member Dave Richardson of Blue Marble Books in Ft. Thomas, Ky., said that since teachers and librarians are over-worked, parent-teacher organizations can be engaged as allies in bringing authors into schools.

All four panelists urged audience members to take advantage of Scholastics release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child this summer to organize store events. There are so many Harry Potter fans out there, Goehl said, This is a really great opportunity to engage your community.
Several area organizations are partnering to boost appreciation of the Quad-Cities' natural places and awareness of ecological issues in the region.

River Action has worked with WVIK-FM, the Q-C NPR station, to start a new RiverPlay Podcast Project. The Figge Art Museum has had a tallgrass prairie exhibit this summer, as part of a new TallgrassQC initiative, involving WVIK and other partners.

"We want to offer local writers an opportunity to engage in that form, also to really think about local places," River Action development director Kate Kremer says of the podcast project. River Action and WVIK sought submissions to produce eight three-minute radio plays by local writers about local natural places.

The segments now are posted on WVIKs new environmental website, TallgrassQC.org, where they will be available to stream or download. The plays "will be tiny soundscapes of Quad-Cities parks and wild places that audiences can listen to in the very parks and wild places in which the plays are set," according to riveraction.org/node/258.

Kremer got the idea for such "smartphone plays" by reading about this emerging genre of theater that takes advantage of mobile technology. Listeners can go to that particular location (such as one done on the Staten Island Ferry in New York), press play and be submerged in that environment.

"This idea immediately resonated with me in the context of River Actions work with the river, of course, and also with the QC Wild Places program, which works to highlight and increase access to the many wild places in and around the Q-C," Kremer says.

"My hope is that this series will offer listeners the opportunity to develop a more intimate relationship with the Quad-Cities many parks, while opening their ears and eyes to the vast possibilities of these natural spaces," she says, noting that a photo of each play's subject accompanies the podcast online.

The local NPR station is increasing its commitment to environmental news on air and through the website TallgrassQC.org, which includes links to news stories (and WVIK's site), the Figge's "Picturing the Prairie" exhibit, Nahant Marsh Education's Center's Pollinator Conference (that took place in June), as well as an events calendar.

TallgrassQC partners include Jackson Elementary School in Davenport, John Deere Foundation, Nahant Marsh, Russell Construction, Eagle View Group of the Sierra Club, Joyce and Tony Singh Family Foundation, Uncommon Ground, WQPT (the area PBS station) and WVIK.

"The whole gist of Tallgrass  beyond the events happening this summer  as the initiative continues into the future, the website exists to aggregate various content, various events," WVIK general manager Jay Pearce says. "Anything going on in our river basin, we want to promote their activities, send people to their website."

"There's a lot of groups doing a lot of good work," he adds. WVIK will join Harvest Public Media, a collaborative of reporters at public-radio stations nationwide, which generates content for member stations, Pearce says, noting the station also will benefit from Illinois Newsroom to increase local environmental reporting for broadcast.

On June 1, the coalition put in about 700 plants of various species that once dominated the Iowa prairie landscape, off 2nd Street in downtown Davenport near the Ground Transportation Center.

Iowa once had 30 million acres of such plants, Nahant Marsh executive director Brian Ritter says. Now, only about 30,000 scattered acres are left in the state.

TallgrassQC wants to raise awareness of the prairie as part of the Quad-Cities' past as well as its future, says Tim Schiffer, the Figge's executive director and a member of the group.

The model prairie will be a display of natural beauty, Ritter says, but it will have a practical application, too. In time, he says, it will become a habitat for wild things  butterflies, bees and other animals.

"It can have huge implications on pollinators."

Many of the animal species have been declining, including bees and monarch butterflies. The declines, particularly with monarchs, have sparked pushes to restore habitats the animals need for food, shelter and breeding.

The plants, all about 6 inches tall, are spaced evenly  ranging from bright green to warm gold-brown. When they were planted earlier this summer, some looked like kitchen herbs with tender, tongued or lobed leaves. Others were wild little tufts of blades.

When mature, some will grow to 8 to 10 feet tall, Ritter says. The root systems will extend two or three times farther in the other direction. The Davenport patch is a mix of grasses and wildflowers, he says. When the latter bloom, there will be yellow, lavender, blue, purple and white flowers.

That end result will take time, Ritter says. Some of the plants will take a few years to mature enough to flower, he says. "Prairie is something that requires patience."

TallgrassQC got its beginnings by organizing an exhibit at the Figge Art Museum, Schiffer says. That display features art focused on or inspired by the prairie, including highly detailed, realistic drawings of prairie plants by George Olson.

The fourth-floor exhibit (including photos at Nahant Marsh, prairie photos, fiber sculptures, pencil and watercolor botanical studies, and photos of fireflies) will run through Sept. 4.

There will be regular profiles of prairie restoration efforts in the area on WVIK, and a butterfly release at the Nahant Marsh Education Center on Sept. 17. The website includes recordings of short environmental-themed plays premiered by River Action and QC Theatre Workshop (from April and May), as part of this year's RiverStages series of staged readings.

Contributors Jonathan Turner and Anthony Watt are writers on staff with The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus newspapers.
When asked by a custons officer why he was traveling to Bangkok, one young Vietnamese passenger thought it would be a funny idea to reply: To bomb it at Noi Bai International Airport.

The passenger, 20, was immediately siezed by customs officials. He later admitted that it had been a thoughtless joke. The passenger was fined $180 for the prank.

People who spread or provide false information about explovises will be fined. Photo for illustrative purpose only.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the passenger violated regulations regarding Spreading rumors or providing incorrect information about bombs, mines, explosives, radioactive materials or chemical weapons, but not having caused serious consequences or affected the normal operation of flights.

In the first three months of this year, the numbers of passengers who violated security regulations increased by 15 percent compared with the same period last year. The number of cases in which passengers spread rumors about the presence of explosives fell by two.
While the curly-haired boy lies hooked up to ventilators in a Kaiser pediatric unit, lawyers for his parents and the hospital were in federal court Wednesday, fighting over who has the right to determine whether he is legally dead.

His mother, Jonee Fonseca, has filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction that would bar Kaiser from disconnecting Israels ventilator. She and Israels father, Nathaniel Stinson, want him stabilized with breathing and feeding tubes installed so he can be transferred to another hospital or long-term care facility.

In his remarks, one of Fonsecas attorneys, Kevin Snider, said time is of the essence, based on Kaisers description of the continual care required to keep Israels vital signs monitored and his organs functioning. As things stand, he would not be able to continue on for much longer. We are trying very hard to keep him stable so he can be transferred to someplace else.

The couple and their relatives said they have contacted numerous hospitals and long-term care facilities, as far away as Canada and New Jersey, but none has agreed to accept their son unless he is off a ventilator and has a feeding tube and a breathing tube installed.

Its one big roller coaster of emotions, said his mother, a pharmacy technician in Vacaville. These doctors are telling you theres no hope, but then you go see your son and he moves to your voice and your touch.  You realize there is hope.

After questioning attorneys on both sides for about an hour, Judge Kimberly Mueller said she would issue a ruling by the end of this week.

Kaiser physicians and their attorneys have repeatedly expressed sympathy for the parents plight but said there is nothing that can be done to change the 2-year-olds irreversible condition.

In a statement issued after the court hearing Wednesday, Dr. Chris Palkowski, chief of staff at Kaisers Roseville Medical Center, said Our hearts go out to this family as they cope with the irreversible brain death of their son. We continue to offer our support and compassion to the family during this sad time. We will continue to follow the courts directions.

Fonseca, 23, said she held her son in her arms at Kaiser on April 22 and he took a deep breath apart from the ventilator, followed by another deep breath 30 minutes later. She also said Israel moved his neck, shoulders and head, as if trying to get comfortable.

Kaiser officials maintain that those movements are not signs that he will ever recover. While it is understandable that a parent in plaintiffs situation would want to look for any sign of improvement or brain function, in Israels case, what the parent may be noticing has nothing to do with Israels brain function.

In court documents, Dr. Michael Myette, the toddlers primary care physician at Kaiser, stated that Israels movements are involuntary spasms that emanate from the spine and are not indications that his brain is responding to external stimulus.

Nearly a month has passed since Israel was declared brain dead  three times  by different physicians.

According to court documents filed by Kaiser Permanente attorneys, Israel has been treated by three hospitals since April 1, when he was taken to a Mercy Hospital emergency room. Given his severe condition, he was transferred to the University of California, Davis pediatric intensive care unit where he suffered a respiratory attack that led to cardiac arrest. UC Davis physicians declared him brain dead, but his parents chose to have him transferred to Kaiser Hospital in Roseville for a second opinion.

Kaiser followed Californias Uniform Determination of Death Act, part of national standards that determine brain death, based on separate examinations by two physicians, at least 12 hours apart in the case of children. Kaisers determination of brain death was upheld by a California Superior Court ruling last month.

The parents attorneys have gathered support from doctors and a religious professor in their case against Kaiser.

An expert witness for the family, pediatrician Dr. Paul Byrne, who flew in from Ohio for Wednesdays hearing, said he has visited Israel several times in the hospital, including Tuesday night, and has seen him seemingly respond to his mothers touch and voice.

Hes a beautiful little boy. He has movements, not reflexive movements, but what I would call purposeful movements, Byrne said. Theres a good chance he can get some recovery, but you cant tell how much.

Byrne represents the Life Guardian Foundation, a religious-based organization that believes life does not end when a person is still breathing. Brain death is fake death, he said Wednesday. Israel is a living boy. Hes not dead.

Byrne, who is not medically licensed in California, also consulted with the parents of Jahi McMath, the Oakland teenager who was declared brain dead in 2014 after cardiac arrest and complications from sleep apnea surgery. Her parents fought to keep their then-13-year-old daughter alive on a ventilator and eventually won permission to transfer her to New Jersey, which allows brain-dead patients to remain on life support if there are religious objections to ending that support. McMath has remained in New Jersey ever since, hooked up to breathing apparatus.

John A. Nash, a minister and a professor at Beulah University, a Christian college in Atlanta, said he has known Israels parents for years and is familiar with their deeply held beliefs regarding the end of life. As Christians, he said in a court filing, they do not believe that human life ends until the heart stops beating.

In the last 28 days, an online fundraising effort, Save Israels Life on GoFundMe.com, has raised about $12,600 for his medical expenses.

The couple, who also have a 1-year-old daughter, are on paid disability from work to tend to Israel and make court appearances.
In 2006, Senator Chuck Grassley was exactly right when he said, A Supreme Court nomination isnt the forum to fight any election. Its the time to perform one of our most important constitutional duties and decide whether a nominee is qualified to serve on the nations highest court.

In 2016, hes exactly wrong when saying, We continue to stand by our commitment to not move forward on a Supreme Court nominee until after the next President has been sworn into office.

In public office since 1959, first in the Iowa legislature and then in the U.S. Congress, Iowans and others have respected Grassley. Bowing to the Greater God of party politics, he now shows disrespect by refusing to perform his constitutional duty.

President Obama has done his sworn-to duty by nominating an individual he believes qualified for the Supreme Court. The constitutional process now requires Grassley and the Senate to do their sworn-to duties by holding hearings to determine whether or not this individual is indeed qualified!

Senator Grassleys website calls him a workhorse but has serving Iowans for 57 years been too long at work? He has now tarnished his reputation and lost the respect of large numbers of people around the country. Iowans are smart and will remember in November! Senator, Iowa voters elected you to do the job and you swore to do it. Youre now breaking your oath to the people youve sworn to serve. Stop the partisan politics, and do your job!

William D. Seaver,

Milan
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 6.4MW locomotives, which have a maximum speed of 200km/h, will be delivered later this year for operation in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania. Railpool already has 14 Vectron locomotives.

"The short-term availability of the Vectron locomotives enables us to respond flexibly to current customer demand," says Railpool's CEO Mr Torsten Lehnert.

Siemens says it is able to respond quickly to orders for Vectron locomotives as it maintains an inventory of underframes, driver cabs, locomotive bodies, frames and bogies in its factories. "The locomotive's machine room has fixed positions for all components and is individually fitted once the customer has placed an order," says Ms Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens' high-speed, regional trains and locomotives business unit.
Electrified rail transit in Phoenix, Ariz., host city of the 2016 APTA Rail Conference, has been growing rapidly. Valley Metro recently opened two extensions to its light rail networkthe Central Mesa LRT and Northwest Extension LRT. Kearny, N.J.-based MAC Products, Inc. won the OCS (overhead catenary system) component contracts for both, and completed them ahead of schedule.

The Central Mesa LRT is a 3.1-mile double-track extension from Sycamore/Main St. (a former terminus) in West Mesa to Hobson/Main St. in Central Mesa. Construction began in the summer of 2012, with MAC supplying OCS components beginning in July 2014. The extension opened for revenue service Aug. 22, 2015, seven months ahead of schedule.

The 3.2-mile Northwest Extension LRT runs north on 19th Avenue from Montebello to Dunlap Avenue, servicing more than 5,000 riders per day. Construction began in January 2013 with MAC supplying OCS components beginning in December 2014. The project was completed at the end of 2015, three months ahead of schedule.

For more than 40 years, MAC Products has designed and manufactured a wide variety of high-quality products for both overhead catenary and third-rail transit systems throughout North America, said President Ed Russnow. On both Valley Metro projects, MAC manufactured and supplied the OCS material from the poles outcantilevers, balance weight assemblies, section insulators, hangers, mid-points, fixed terminations and jumpers, along with substation pad-mounted disconnect switches. In addition, MAC also provided engineering and training support to the contractor for dealing with design changes and field condition requirements.
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Just as Netflix prepares to premiere Orange Is the New Blacks fourth season worldwide, Spains subscribers have been told that Movistar+ will keep the series for at least another year.





The shows third season is not yet available through Netflixs Spanish catalogue, but the SVOD platform premiered it worldwide all at once, whereas it has been gradually released on the Telefonica pay-TV platform.But for the fourth series, Movistar+ plans to emulate Netflix. On 18 June, a day after Netflix releases it, Movistar+ will air the entire fourth season in Spain through Yomvi, its online TV and VOD service.Despite being one of Netflixs largest successes, the SVOD platform cant broker the agreements reached with Canal+ (now Movistar+) prior to its arrival to Spain . When signing the distribution agreement in 2013, Netflixs plans didnt include a Spanish operation, which is why the company sold Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards to the pay-TV platform.After winning four Emmy awards and been nominated for four Golden Globes, Orange Is the New Black is returning with the same cast, led by Taylor Schilling, although with new faces too, like Brad William Henke, Mike Houston, Kelly Karbacz and Jolene Purdy.
Two days have passed with no Uber or Lyft service in Austin, Texas. Though Austin has a reputation of being filled with tech-savvy millennials, it is now the largest U.S. city without ridesharing. Local policymakers blame Uber and Lyft for pausing their operations in the city, but the Austin City Council pushed ridesharing out by regulating in search of a problem.

In December 2015, the Austin City Council approved an ordinance that would require ridesharing drivers to go through fingerprint background checks. The ordinance also included restrictions on picking up and dropping off passengers and requirements on maintaining a physical presence in the city, fee payments, and proprietary data sharing.

Though the ordinance went into effect on February 1, 2016, the fingerprint requirements were given steadily increasing compliance rates, which had to reach 99 percent by February 1, 2017. Rather than altering their business models, Uber and Lyft took their protests to the voters by setting up a challenge to the ordinance called Proposition 1. Their efforts were rejected by voters last weekend, and the companies pulled out of Austin on Monday.

After the vote, Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweeted that The people have spoken clearly tonight. Though Austin policymakers clearly want to claim that they have a popular mandate to regulate ridesharing, only 17 percent of the citys registered voters weighed in on Prop 1. This means the final tally of 56 percent against to 44 percent for was clearly not a mandate. Additionally, the ballot languagewhich was crafted by the City Councilwas widely seen as confusing.

Low voter turnout worked against the ridesharing companies. They were able to get 65,000 signatures to create the ballot, but only 38,539 people voted to accept Prop 1.

Uber and Lyft spent a combined $8.6 million trying to overturn the citys regulations. This was by far the most expensive campaign in Austins history. The companies fought the ordinance because they viewed the battle as a line in the sand (similar to how they treated New York Citys proposed cap on the companies growth, or how Airbnb viewed San Franciscos homesharing restrictions). Other cities are considering fingerprint requirements, too, so Uber and Lyft needed a strong showing to dissuade other local policymakers from following through on their fingerprinting proposals.

Uber claims that because of the companies pauses in operation, over 10,000 ridesharing drivers will lose their jobs. Though most of these drivers work part-time (half of Uber drivers work under 10 hours a week and 80 percent of Lyft drivers work under 15 hours a week), the lost opportunity to earn extra income will be sorely missed. This is to say nothing of the loss of reliable, convenient transportation options that Austin residents now face.

In trying to increase public safety by mandating fingerprint background checks, Austin policymakers are placing their constituents at greater risk. Perhaps nowhere is this unintended consequence clearer than with drunk driving. Uber has been documented to lower both drunk driving arrests and fatal accidents, partly because taxis are difficult to find late at night. For example, in Austina city with the highest number of downtown bars per capita in the United Statesthe number of available taxis drops at midnight. This is when alcohol-related crashes and DUI arrests are at their highest levels.

Complying with the fingerprint background check requirements would mean the process for approving new ridesharing drivers would take longer and cost moreall without additional public safety benefits. Ridesharing relies on the ability to quickly bring on new drivers to meet ever-increasing rider demand, and the companies already have their own background checks.

Though fingerprinting sounds secure, there are many problems with this type of background check. As the Cato Institutes Matthew Feeney told me, Fingerprinting is not as effective as Hollywood might have you believe. The FBI fingerprint database is incomplete, in part because it relies on police departments and other local sources adding relevant data and keeping that data updated.

In addition, Feeney told me that the FBI database includes the fingerprints of people who were arrested but later found not guilty. This is important because, as a 2013 National Employment Law Project study noted, around a third of felony arrests never lead to any conviction. Relying on fingerprints for rideshare background checks might sound appealing, but it will almost certainly result in otherwise qualified and safe drivers being denied the opportunity to use ridesharing services.

No background checks are completely fail safe, but ridesharings safety record shows that the companies current policies are working well. The safety standards that Uber and Lyft voluntarily adopted are even stricter than those required of Austin taxis. In addition to providing safer transportation than taxis, ridesharings business model makes it very easy to police drivers. The locations of both parties are tracked through the duration of the trips, and identities are verified. In other words, if people commit crimes while driving for Uber or Lyft, they must want to get caught.

While only three companies control all of Austins taxi permits, this regulation appears to be a case of bureaucrats simply not being able to stand a successful industry that polices itself through consumer feedback and operates with minimal government oversight.

In addition to public safety concerns, one of Austins main justifications for the fingerprinting was that Austin taxi drivers are required to go through the process. The new regulations were nothing more than a way to level the playing field, according to the regulations proponents. However, there are two ways to level a regulatory playing field. One involves placing additional hurdles on new technologies while the other focuses on lowering existing barriers. To help taxis better compete against their ridesharing competitors, local policymakers should focus on cutting red tape so that taxis can become more like Ubersnot the other way around.

There are a few paths forward from here. First, assuming none of the other ridesharing startups catch on in the city, Austin could remain without ridesharing if the companies pauses continue. Second, Uber and Lyft could decide to comply with the regulations. Third, the Austin City Council, after feeling the backlash from their constituents, could decide to overturn the rule. Fourth, state policymakers could pass legislation that overrides Austins requirements. The last option may be the most likely to happen, as Houston also passed fingerprint requirements (Uber is threatening to halt its operations there, something Lyft did in November 2014).

Austin residents who either drive or ride with Uber and Lyft are going to feel the pain of the citys regulatory overreach. Their problems may extend to the residents of other cities that are considering fingerprinting requirements. Instead of imposing unnecessary costs and time commitments on promising new business models, cities should take this opportunity to lower their pointless restrictions on legacy transportation options.

Jared Meyer is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and the author of the forthcoming monograph Uber-Positive: Why Americans Love the Sharing Economy. Follow him on Twitter here.

This piece originally appeared in Forbes

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BeIN has launched Turners fourth flagship childrens channel Cartoon Network Hindi direct-to-home (DTH) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).





The channel, aimed at the regions large South Asian expatriate community, will also be available via Etisalats E-Vision and du TV in the UAE. Content on the Hindi channel includes Ben10, Powerpuff Girls, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Adventure Time as well as Indian-produced cartoon series.The launch of Cartoon Network Hindi continues to build on our popularity and position as one of the leading dedicated kids channels in MENA. It will be the first international cartoon channel available in Hindi throughout the region and we are proud to see it move into this newly developed chapter said Tarek Mounir, vice president and general manager Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Greece & Cyprus, Turner The channel joins other Turner childrens channels Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Cartoon Network Arabic already airing in MENA.
Russia moves to seize British estate owned by fugitive banker - report

MOSCOW, May 12 (RAPSI)  Moscows Tverskoy District Court has has ordered the seizure of an estate in UK, worth 140 million, owned by the former head of the Bank of Moscow Andrey Borodin, Kommersant newspaper reports on Thursday.

In late 2010, Russia launched a criminal case against Borodin and his former first deputy Dmitry Akulinin on charges of large-scale fraud involving funds from Moscow city budget. They were accused of lending 12.7 billion rubles ($193 million) to a shell company Premier Estate via Bank of Moscow. According to the newspaper, now damages allegedly caused by Borodin and his accomplices exceed 62 billion rubles (about $935 million).

Borodin, whose Bank of Moscow functioned as the capital's chief investment vehicle under its then-mayor Yury Luzhkov, fled to the UK in 2011. In November 2011, the Russian Interpol bureau put Borodin and Akulinin on the international wanted list. In March 2013, Borodin was granted political asylum in the UK.

According to investigators, the real estate, for which Borodin paid 140 million, was purchased at the expense of the funds illicitly transferred from the Bank of Moscow. The transaction was carried out in 2011. By that time both Borodin and Akulinin had already been named codefendants in a criminal case being accused of a large-scale fraud, according to Kommersant.

Investigators believe that purchase of expensive property might constitute a money laundering scheme.

The estate belonging once to Prince Frederick, then Prince of Wales and eldest son of King George II, is located near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire and is the most expensive UK country house ever sold.
Court to examine insurers 10 mln claim against Vnukovo over Total CEO plane crash

MOSCOW, May 12 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has declined a motion asking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by five foreign insurance companies seeking to recover from Vnukovo Airport 10 million in damages resulted from the crash of Total CEO Cristophe de Margeries aircraft in 2014, RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom on Thursday.

The court has also rejected a motion to suspend the respective legal proceedings. Both petitions were put forward by Vnukovo Airport, a defendant in the case, which insisted that the plaintiffs representative lacked necessary credentials. The court also ruled to bring into proceedings Alfastrakhovaniye company as a third party. The hearing is set for June 15.

Vnukovo Airport, Vnukovo International Airport and State ATM orporation are named as defendants in the case. Plaintiffs are Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance ltd, Tokio Marine Kiln Insuranse ltd, Mapfre Global Risks Compania, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company  Great Lakes Reinsurance.

The companies have already paid 1 million euro to suffering parties as a compensation for life insurance of the aircrafts crew and passengers as well as 9 million for Falcon 50 EX airplane. Now they seek to recover their losses from persons they believe are responsible for the incident.

Christophe de Margerie died in a plane crash at Vnukovo airport on October 21, 2014, when his planes wing hit a snow plow. Among the victims were three crew members, all French citizens.

Lead airfield service engineer Vladimir Ledenev, snow plow driver Vladimir Martynenko, air traffic controller Alexander Kruglov, airport flight manager Roman Dunayev, and dispatcher Nadezhda Arkhipova stand charged in the case.
Ousted opposition-minded Russian mayors detention extended till September 4

MOSCOW, May 12 (RAPSI)  The Kirovsky District court in Yaroslavl has extended the detention of ousted Yaroslavl Mayor Yevgeny Urlashov, who stands charged with soliciting a bribe, till September 4, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday.

Hearings in the case will begin on May 23.

The criminal case opened against Urlashov is one of the biggest bribe cases in Russia recently, considering Yaroslavls population (600,000) and the fact that Urlashov, an opposition candidate, defeated the candidate from the ruling party at the 2012 mayoral elections.

Investigators believe that Urlashov and his accomplices extorted a bribe of 45 million rubles (about $692,000) from businessmen.

The police arrested Urlashov on July 3, 2013.

He pleaded not guilty and said that his prosecution was politically motivated.

Urlashov, a member of the ruling United Russia party in 2008-2011, was a candidate for the opposition during mayoral elections in 2012. He achieved a landslide victory over a United Russia candidate Yakov Yakushev. A member of billionaire-turned-politician Mikhail Prokhorovs Civic Platform party, Urlashov planned to run for the Yaroslavl regional parliament in September 2013.

On July 18, 2013, Urlashov was removed from his mayoral post.

In December 2014, a court found another accomplice of Urlashov, Maxim Pokalainen, guilty on bribery charges and sentenced him to five years in prison.
The Federal Aviation Administration's funding extension lasts until July. The House version of the FAA reauthorization includes spinning off Air Traffic Control into the ATC Corporation, a federally chartered, not-for-profit monopoly. The Senate version does not include this measure. Congress needs to pass a bill by the end of July, or the FAA will run out of funding.

Competitive Enterprise Institute fellow Marc Scribner is puzzled that I oppose the pseudo-privatization provisions in the House's Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016. He asks whether I have lost my mind or my principles. He describes me as leading the conservative opposition to the pseudo-privatization of the nation's air traffic control system. Scribner flatters me, but I am just one of a growing number of people and organizations concerned about the flawed policy provisions.

As former chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor, I understand the disadvantages of the power given by the bill to the air traffic controllers' union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Such power would make it harder to achieve the efficiencies that should come with privatization. With no competition, no freedom of entry, and powerful unions, innovation opportunities would be limited.

The same union would continue "as the exclusive representative for those employees..." until another one is chosen. Since it's time-consuming to decertify a union, workers are likely stuck with NATCA.

Scribner, along with Chairman Bill Shuster, writing in National Review, asserts that employees would not be able to strike. Everyone is "able" to strike-the question is: is there a significant penalty (including being fired and large fines) to act as a deterrent?

Fact: new employees would not be government workers, so they would not have to take an oath not to strike, as they do now, and so they would not risk being fired if they decided to do so.

Yes, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute applies and states that striking is an unfair labor practice. But there's no financial penalty for an unfair labor practice, such as being fired or fined.

If there were a strike, the General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority would investigate the unfair labor practice charge and then could serve a complaint on the union. "The Authority then conducts a hearing on the complaint not earlier than 5 days after the date on which the complaint is served," (italics added) according to the U.S. Code (5 U.S. Code  7118).

That means that travelers would have to wait for at least 5 days while the air traffic controllers are on strike before even getting a hearing-and the hearing can take days to resolve. Americans cannot manage that long with air traffic controllers on strike.

At the risk of repeating what I have written elsewhere, the existing union contract would hold for the new ATC Corp, including wasteful "official time" provisions. "Official time" is time spent working for the union instead of the taxpayer. In 2012, the latest data available, 19 air traffic controllers, 18 of whom earned six-figures salaries, were on full-time official time. Removing this perk would save over $3 million annually-but it could not be done in the near future under the existing bill.

The union would negotiate with the ATC Corp on all compensation and conditions of employment, and it would have to approve which services and personnel were transferred from the FAA to the new ATC Corp, and vice versa.

True privatization allows the entity to cut costs and adopt new technology. The NextGen technology for air traffic control systems requires less manpower than does today's technology. Under the proposed bill, unions would be able to prevent the technology from being implemented-or require workers to be kept on, even though they might not be needed.

Amtrak and the Post Office are federally chartered unionized entities, similar to the proposed ATC Corp. Amtrak lost over $300 million last year, and the Post Office lost over $5 billion. Scribner's coworker, CEI's Vice President for Strategy Iain Murray, wrote in 2010, "[Amtrak's] failures are not due to a lack of funds, but to chronic mismanagement, which is inevitable under Amtrak's current organizational framework...Dishing out money to a single company-such as the Post Office-that faces no competition is a recipe for waste and mismanagement."

The Competitive Enterprise Institute cannot recommend that the union provisions be dropped from the bill because it is not a disinterested player. It is partnering with a lobbying organization, AirportsUnited, set up in 2014 by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), to shepherd FAA reauthorization through Congress.

In December 2014 ACI-NA CEO Kevin Burke told Airways News, "This time, we're working not only with airports, but outside groups and communities...Our goal is to get 218 [House of Representatives] members to clear it and the majority of the Senate. If we do that, we've done our job."

Reason Director of Transportation Policy Robert W. Poole, Jr., wrote in 2013, "The ATC corporation, by removing its employees from the constraints of the civil service system, could seek and attract highly skilled engineers and program managers, compensating them at market rates-and holding them accountable for delivering results. " The House bill as structured would not free government workers from these civil service constraints so these benefits are less likely to occur.

The proposed ATC Corp keeps the worst of the civil service system while throwing out its benefits, such as the no-strike oath. True privatization would be beneficial, but the House needs to remove the union favors and add a no-strike clause before its bill becomes law.
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President Barack Obama recently announced a new push to enroll people with outstanding student loan debt in programs that make it easier to pay back. Specifically, the Department of Education is promoting so-called income-driven repayment plans, where borrowers do not make a fixed payment every month, but instead contribute a certain portion of their income towards their student loan balance. These plans are not newthe White Houses initiative is mostly to raise awareness.

It is a good idea in theory, and will certainly make payments more manageable for borrowers. However, the scheme has one major problem for taxpayers: if students have not repaid their loans in full at the end of a fixed period (generally 20 or 25 years), any remaining balance is forgiven. Those who borrow the most receive a massive taxpayer subsidy.

President Obamas latest push may be unnecessary, as income-driven repayment plans have become far more popular in recent years. In the last two years, the share of federal Direct Loan borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans has doubled from 11 percent to 22 percent. The share making level payments (a fixed amount every month) or graduated payments (payments which go up with time) has declined from 84 percent of borrowers to just under three-quarters. People with student loans are rapidly learning about these plans, and using them.

In principle, income-driven repayment is a good way to pay back student loans. Since college is an investment that leads to higher earnings down the road, it makes sense that students who see a higher return on investment (a higher income) should pay more than those for whom the investment fails. Stocks are a good paralleltraders invest a certain amount in a company, and receive higher or lower returns depending on how the company performs. This idea of financing college through student equity rather than student debt dates back to Milton Friedman and has counted former Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio among its modern proponents.

The trouble is that under the current design, students often will not pay back the full balance of the loan, due to loan-forgiveness at the end of a 20- or 25-year period. We do not yet have good data on how many students will utilize this provision, but Department of Education calculations show that a typical undergraduate borrower could receive around $25,000 in loan forgiveness.

But wait, isnt loan forgiveness a good way to help distressed borrowers? Not so. This brings us to an interesting paradox in the economics of student loans: the most distressed borrowers have borrowed the least. While stories of elite college graduates with six figures in debt dominate headlines, in reality default rates are much higher among those who have borrowed less than $5,000.

Borrowers further behind on their loans, a proxy for financial distress, took out much less on average. A borrower in current repayment has an average balance of $30,100, compared to just $15,400 for a borrower in default.

This has much to do with the characteristics of borrowers themselves. Students who attend poor-quality institutions and/or do not finish their degrees do not borrow as much, but are also much less likely to find well-paying jobs. Individuals with college experience but no degree earn 35 percent less and have an unemployment rate two points higher than those with bachelors degrees. Low earnings and joblessness, obviously, can lead to financial distress and cause delinquency or default on loans.

Graduating from law school with $100,000 in debt is stressful, no doubt, but such students are not likely to have trouble finding jobs that will enable them to pay down their loans. But if you drop out of college, even with only $10,000 in debt, just finding a decent job can be difficultlet alone making student loan payments.

After 25 years of making payments under income-driven plans, those most likely to have a forgivable balance are those who have attended the pricier, better colleges and taken out more in debt. Those enrolled in income-driven repayment plans have an average unpaid balance of $51,000, compared to just $22,000 for those in level and graduated plans. Why should taxpayers, many of whom lack college degrees themselves, subsidize those former students with the best career prospects, and the expensive colleges which educate them?

Some distressed borrowers may get relief from loan forgiveness, but most benefits are likely to flow to the law and business school graduates who have borrowed the most. Loan forgiveness, in other words, is largely a subsidy for the upper-middle class. Taxpayers already subsidize student borrowers to the tune of $170 billion; there is no reason to layer another subsidy on top of this, least of all one so regressive. While income-driven repayment has merit as an idea, policymakers should remember that the operative word is repayment.

This column originally appeared at Forbes.

Preston Cooper is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow him on Twitter here.

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Bindi Irwin enjoyed a mother-daughter outing with mom Terri Irwin this week.

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The 17-year-old Australian conservationist and her mom attended the Los Angeles premiere of "The Nice Guys," a new action-comedy starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling , on Tuesday.

Irwin and her mom turned heads in complementary black ensembles.

The teenager sported a sleeveless dress with peep-toe pumps, while Terri wore a blazer over a dress with boots.

The "Dancing with the Stars" Season 21 winner is the daughter of Terri and late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, who died at age 44 in 2006.

Terri and Steve are also parents to 12-year-old son Robert.

"Dad was the strongest person I've ever known," Irwin told People magazine in October. "And when the strongest person is taken away, you kind of go, 'Oh my goodness. What are we going to do?'"

"As a family we've gotten so close. The three of us, no matter where we are in the world, we'll always stick together," she shared. "We can count on each other on the good days and bad days ... I'm a strong individual but I know I can always just lean on them."

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Terri and Robert temporarily moved to Los Angeles to support Irwin while she competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015. The teenager returned to the ABC reality competition Monday to guest co-host with Tom Bergeron

"Missed my other family @dancingabc! Tonight was spectacular and @tombergeron love you so much, it was great to be back in the ballroom," she wrote of her appearance.

Irwin reunited with her boyfriend, American wakeboarder Chandler Powell, during her stay in Los Angeles.

The conservationist will return to the city in November for the Steve Irwin Gala Dinner, a fundraiser in her father's honor.
Student has gun pulled on him while driving

A student reported to University police that a male pulled a gun on him and pointed it at him while driving on Epps Bridge Parkway Monday evening.
At 5 p.m. on May 15, all final grades for the spring 2016 semester are due. While some students celebrate graduation, the kickoff of summer vacation or the beginning of study abroad and internship adventures, others will log into Athena with more than their GPA on the line.
After an oil spill on May 12 in the Gulf of Mexico, oceanographer and marine scientist Dr. Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia, immediately sent a team of researchers to the gulf to investigate the effects of the oil.
Tango Tacos Bar & Grille owners Lorena and Isac Alvarez

SHARE Spicy camarones a la Diabla The burrito bowl

By Marc Beauchamp

The best of both worlds is how Lorena and Isac Alvarez describe their new restaurant on historic Front Street in Cottonwood.

Think of Tango Tacos Bar & Grille, which opened in the former Cottonwood Eatery location in March, as a fusion of Mexican and American cuisines.

We lunched there recently after a visit to our tax preparer, whose office is across the street.

I ordered the spicy camarones (shrimp) a la Diabla and my wife had the burrito bowl.

A few tables away we spied friends Bill and Wilma Magladry of Palo Cedro. They were sharing an order of fish and chips, after a long horseback ride on the old Kite ranch in northern Tehama County. Bill Magladry, a retired Redding surgeon and world traveler, pronounced the meal as delicious as in Greenwich on the river Thames.

We kept the burgers and the steaks and other popular items on the former Cottonwood Eatery menu, Lorena Alvarez told me.

If youve been to Cottonwood in the past couple of years youve probably seen the snazzy red Tango Tacos trailer parked in an empty lot on Main Street. Other family members have taken over that business, allowing the Alvarezs to focus on the first of what they hope turns into multiple restaurants. Cottonwood has treated us with so much love, Lorena Alvarez said.

At the restaurant fish tacos are super popular along with the homemade tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and shrimp cocktails.

Weve been really busy, Alvarez said.

On Yelp.com Nick T. of Redding gave the restaurant five stars for the tacos al pastor and the torta with carne asada. A hidden Cottonwood gem, he wrote.

Also on Yelp Lorena Alvarez noted that the restaurant has the same breakfast cook as the Eatery did and the same portion sizes.

The linen under the glass-topped tables is a nice touch.

And I like that they serve wine from neighboring Burnsini Vineyards.

But its the food at Tango Tacos Bar & Grille that will draw me back again  and well before next tax season.

My camarones were spicy hot, just as Id ordered.

And I look forward to trying other things on the menu or the special board.

Don S. of Mount Shasta wrote online after a recent visit: Had the goat on Sunday last. Have lived in Mexico and it was really authentic. The tortillas were house-made.

Buen provecho!

go now 

Tango Tacos Bar & Grille

Address: 20828 Front St., Cottonwood

Phone: 347-1717

Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Social media: Facebook

Owners: Lorena and Isac Alvarez

Established: March 2016



Sample menu items:

Burrito bowl $9.99

Camarones a la Diabla $13.99

Fish tacos (3) $12.99

Fish and chips $13.99

Country fried steak $12.99

California burger $10.99

Grilled salmon $18.99

Surf and turf $24.99
Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Timothy Wilkins is handcuffed after being sentenced to jail Wednesday for having sex with an underage girl.

SHARE Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Timothy Wilkins testifies on the witness stand before his sentencing Wednesday in Shasta County Superior Court.

By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight

A former emergency room doctor was taken into Shasta County Jail custody Wendesday after being sentenced in Superior Court to 210 days for having sex with an underage girl he once treated as a patient.

Timothy William Wilkins, 41, was also ordered to serve and successfully complete a 90-day adult work program and placed on formal probation for three years.

Wilkins faces up to five years in prison should he violate probation, which includes a number of strict terms and conditions, including having no contact with minors, excluding his own children.

He must also successfully complete a sex-offender treatment program, but will not have to register as a sex offender unless he fails to complete the course or violates probation.

Wilkins, who worked at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills at the time of his June 2014 arrest, pleaded guilty in February to four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, as well as two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one misdemeanor count of providing lewd material to a minor.

Under his plea bargain pact, Wilkins, represented by Redding defense attorney Joe Gazzigli, faced up to a year in Shasta County Jail and three years' formal probation.

Probation officials recommended a 120-day jail sentence for him, along with the 90-day adult work program and probation.

But Deputy District Attorney Sarah Murphy, who said Wilkins violated his oath as a physician to not harm people, pressed for a 270-day jail sentence, saying the probation recommendation of 120 days was much too lenient.

She also ridiculed assertions made by Wilkins that he believed the 16- or 17-year-old girl with whom he had sex was 22 years old.

"That's absolutely a farce," she said, adding that he was well aware of her young age.

Superior Court Judge Dan Flynn agreed with Murphy, saying Wilkins was placed in a high position of trust as a doctor.

"He was aware during the relationship she was a minor," he said after a hearing in which Wilkins took the witness stand to repudiate statements made by his victims and her mother contained in probation and police reports.

Wilkins, who was charged with 13 felonies and four misdemeanors, was placed on administrative leave from Mayers Memorial Hospital and he surrendered his medical license.

He will not be allowed to practice medicine for five years, Murphy said, adding that he can then attempt to have his license reinstated.

In addition to the sexual intercourse charges, prosecutors alleged that Wilkins provided alcohol and showed pornographic images to the girl and her younger sister.

According to a Redding police report released after his arrest, the teenager's mother she said she found a series of text messages and photographs on her daughter's cellphone suggesting a sexual relationship with Wilkins.

The mother later confronted her daughter, who said she and Wilkins were "together," a police investigative report says.
SHARE

Firefighters in Tehama County battled a house fire that destroyed a home late Wednesday night, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

A man and his dog escaped the fire unharmed, according to reports.

Dispatchers at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday reported the fire on McCann Avenue, south of Bowman Road just more than a mile west of Interstate 5.

Responding crews found the home ablaze. The fire spread to surrounding vegetation but was quashed, according to the Cal Fire.

The fire destroyed a home and attached garage, Cal Fire said. No injuries were reported and crews cleared the area by about 2:45 a.m. Thursday.

A cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight District 4 candidates Walter Albert (from left), incumbent Bill Schappell, Wally St. Clair and Steve Morgan participate Wednesday night at the League of Women Voters forum in the Shasta Lake City Council chambers.

SHARE Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight People attend the District 4 League of Women Voters candidates forum Wednesday in Shasta Lake. Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight A man reads candidate statements at the District 4 League of Women Voters forum Wednesday at the Shasta Lake City Council chambers.

By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight

SHASTA LAKE  The candidates for the District 4 Shasta County supervisor's seat presented themselves Wednesday night as visionaries for a strong economy. How that economy would materialize in the North State varied from the four candidates as they were hosted in a forum here by the League of Women Voters of the Redding Area.

Candidate and small business owner Walter Albert positioned himself as the candidate for the future, as someone who would remove barriers to bring new tech industries to the North State.

Candidate and retired retail manager Wally St. Clair suggested his experience as a manager with the Redding JC Penney makes him the most experienced candidate in the roster, as he knows how to work for people.

Candidate and electrical contractor Steven Morgan believes there needs to be better two-way communication between the citizens of the county and the Board of Supervisors. If elected he would hold formal town hall meetings to hear people's concerns.

Incumbent Bill Schappell said he listens to people's concerns and throughout the forum he reminded the audience that as a former business owner he knows how to deal with employees and also government agencies. Schappell said he has held the supervisor's position with conservatism, constitutionalism and strong Christian values in mind.

District 4 includes the city of Shasta Lake, Lakehead and northern Shasta County. The forum was moderated by Susan Wilson, who fielded questions from the audience on recreational marijuana, water and homelessness. The forum was co-sponsored by the Record Searchlight.

The recommendations of the Blueprint for Public Safety surfaced throughout the forum, but Schappell and Morgan expressed concern of a proposed sales tax with the city of Redding, which would pay for a majority of services laid out in the Blueprint recommendation list, which includes more jail space, police officers, firefighters, and a mental health stabilization center.

St. Clair, Morgan and Albert favor expanding mental health services, but Schappell feels the county has to grow out existing programs to better serve people.

Schappell grew frustrated as the time limit was enforced during the forum on complex issues like a recent item voted on by the board, which removed elected officials from receiving longevity stipends.

"You have to give more time to elaborate if you want to educate the audience. It's not something that can fit  I try to be as honest as I can with the people I work with," said Schappell after the forum.

St. Clair felt the audience had a good understanding of the type of supervisor he would be. His closing comment suggested voters not to vote with emotion or allegiance, but for the person who would best serve them.

Albert said he felt right, that his ideas were presented in the best capacity.

"I'm running because the current leadership in the county does not have the vision or direction for the future," said Albert.

Morgan exhaled and laughed after the forum. He feels his time working in a naval yard, where he supervised a number of people, has galvanized him to be a dutiful leader.

When asked from the audience what big topic the Board of Supervisors will vote on in the next year, each candidate differed.

Morgan felt water would be a vital subject. St. Clair would see the Blueprint recommendations carried out. Albert sees marijuana coming before the board. Schappell listed crime, homelessness, economic development, and bringing in businesses from other parts of the country.

UPCOMING FORUM

What: District 3 League of Women Voters forum

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Millville Grange, 22037 Old 44 Drive, Palo Cedro
Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight

District 4 candidates, Walter Albert, from left, incumbent Bill Schappell, Wally St.Clair and Steve Morgan participate Wednesday evening at the League of Women Voters Forum at the Shasta Lake City Council chambers.

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The League of Women Voters of the Redding Area will host the three candidates and one incumbent for the District 4 Shasta County supervisor's seat.

The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. at the city of Shasta Lake City Council Chambers at 4488 Red Bluff St. All questions asked of the candidates will be provided by the audience.

The Shasta County Arts Council and the Record Searchlight will co-host the forum.
Whiskeytown Falls.

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By Damon Arthur of the Redding Record Searchlight

National Park Service officials invite people out to Whiskeytown Lake this weekend for hikes, music, activities and scientific surveys.

Park Service officials call it a "BioBlitz," where the public can work with scientists to look for specific plants and animals at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

Jennifer Gibson, the chief of interpretation and resource management at Whiskeytown, said there also will be arts and crafts, information booths, music and other activities for families at the event.

Much of it will be based at the Whiskeytown Environmental School.

National parks and recreation areas across the country are holding BioBlitzes in connection with the National Park Service's 100-year anniversary.

During a typical BioBlitz, scientists, naturalists and others go out in the field for an intense study of plants and animals in a specific region. But Gibson said the BioBlitz at Whiskeytown this weekend will be less formal and more fun.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, a group plans to look for native bees as opposed to European honeybees  in the Tower House area at the western part of the recreation area off Highway 299.

Another group will head up the Brandy Creek Trail at 10 a.m. Saturday looking for lichens on rocks, Gibson said.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, scientists will set up nets at the environmental school to catch bats and put on a presentation about the nocturnal animals. A second bat presentation is planned for noon Saturday at the school.

"People tend to go 'eww' at bats, but they are fascinating animals," Gibson said.

There will also be arts and crafts projects for kids set up at the school on Saturday, she said.

"We're trying to highlight the (school) as the center of environmental education in Shasta County," Gibson said.

If you go

Here are some of the activities planned during the bioblast at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area on Friday and Saturday.

Friday

Bat Chat from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Saturday

9 a.m.: California Native Plant Society hike up Brandy Creek. Meet at the lower Brandy Creek Trailhead.

9 a.m.: Wintu Chapter of the Audubon Society bird walk around lower Clear Creek. Meet at the Guardian Rock trailhead near the lower Clear Creek bridge.

10 a.m.: Kids crafts and activities at the Whiskeytown Environmental School.

10 a.m.: Identify bees and butterflies in the Tower House District. Meet at the Tower House District parking lot off Highway 299.

10 a.m. Join members of the California Lichen Society for a bioblitz along Brandy Creek. Meet at the Brandy Creek trailhead.

10 a.m.: Learn about geocaching at the Environmental School.

11 a.m.: Meet at the Environmental School and look for bugs in the creek.

Noon: Local Indians for Education presentation at the Environmental School.

Noon: Scientists discuss bats during a presentation at the environmental school.

1 p.m.: Jim Dyar Band performs at the Environmental School.

1 p.m.: Ppresentation by Amanda Shufelberger, who photographed the only known wolverine in California.

If you go

Here are some of the activities planned during the BioBlitz at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area on Friday and Saturday.

Friday

Bat Chat from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Saturday

9 a.m.: California Native Plant Society hike up Brandy Creek. Meet at the lower Brandy Creek Trailhead.

9 a.m.: Wintu Chapter of the Audubon Society bird walk around lower Clear Creek. Meet at the Guardian Rock trailhead near the lower Clear Creek bridge.

10 a.m.: Kids crafts and activities at the Whiskeytown Environmental School.

10 a.m.: Identify bees and butterflies in the Tower House District. Meet at the Tower House District parking lot off Highway 299.

10 a.m. Join members of the California Lichen Society for a BioBlitz along Brandy Creek. Meet at the Brandy Creek trailhead. 10 a.m.: Learn about geocaching at the Environmental School.

11 a.m.: Meet at the Environmental School and look for bugs in the creek.

Noon: Local Indians for Education presentation at the Environmental School.

Noon: Scientists discuss bats during a presentation at the environmental school.

1 p.m.: Jim Dyar Band performs at the Environmental School.

1 p.m.: Presentation by Amanda Shufelberger, who photographed the only known wolverine in California.
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By Ryan Sabalow

A 28-year-old Redding man was arrested Friday night after he allegedly pulled on a knife on Walmart employees who tried to stop him after he tried walking out of the store pushing a shopping cart loaded with merchandise he didn't pay for.

Robert Levi Stevens took off running after he pulled the knife from his pocket and thrust it at a security guard and other employees at the Walmart on Dana Drive, Redding police Sgt. Jay Guterding said.

Redding police officer Paul Harvey, who was in the parking lot on routine patrol when the call came in at 10:07 p.m., quickly took up the search, calling in a California Highway Patrol helicopter to help.

Guterding said Stevens was spotted from the air running west behind businesses along Highway 44. Officers on the ground captured him at the Churn Creek Road highway over crossing.

Guterding said that as he ran, Stevens left a trail of stolen clothes, which were found by police K-9 Yari after the arrest. In total, Stevens tried to steal $1,700 worth of merchandise, Guterding said.

Stevens was booked into the Shasta County jail. He was being held this morning in lieu of $50,000 bail on suspicion of robbery, burglary and possessing a controlled substance.

Reporter Ryan Sabalow can be reached at 225-8344 or rsabalow@redding.com.
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Community colleges charge lower tuition than just about anywhere else. Theyre open to everyone. They offer the kind of technical training employers want. And they can serve as an affordable steppingstone to a four-year degree.

As President Barack Obama said in the fall: Theyre at the heart of the American Dream.

But while plenty of community college students graduate with a degree that leads to a better job, or to a four-year college, many community college students drop out. And a growing number of students are taking on debt they cannot repay.

States have focused more on reducing the debt students accumulate at four-year colleges than at community colleges. But some of the steps theyre taking could help community college students, as well.

Most states are now partly funding public colleges and universities based on whether students graduate on time. And some states are tackling community college costs by creating scholarships that eliminate tuition, as Obama has proposed.

In 2000, 15 percent of all first-time college students seeking degrees at a public two-year college borrowed. Twelve years later, 27 percent did. At Michigans Macomb Community College, where Obama spoke, just 6 percent of students take out federal loans. But of those students, who typically owe $5,170 at graduation, 18 percent default on their loans.

Working-class people poured into state community colleges and expensive for-profit trade schools when the economy soured. Although for-profit colleges tend to charge higher tuition, research shows that in recent years typical for-profit and two-year college borrowers have similarly high default rates.

Thirty-eight percent of two-year college students who started to repay their loans in 2009 defaulted within five years, as did 47 percent of for-profit college students, said a September study led by Adam Looney, an economist at the Treasury Department. Just 10 percent of students who attended selective four-year colleges defaulted over the same period. The vast majority of two-year colleges are community colleges, the study noted.

Default rates are now falling, along with enrollment at community and for-profit colleges. But Looneys study warns that many borrowers who attend the institutions will continue to struggle in the student loan market.

Many community college students start out with the odds against them. They tend to be older, live in poorer communities and have little family wealth to support them  36 percent have family incomes of under $20,000, according to the Community College Research Center at Columbia University.

Still, community college students historically havent had to borrow to finance their education. Tuition usually runs a few thousand dollars a year  from $1,400 in California to $7,500 in Vermont. Low-income students who qualify for the maximum federal Pell Grant  $5,815 this year  usually find that their grant covers tuition.

Yet increasingly, community college students are borrowing. In Virginia, one of the few states to publish detailed student debt information, the share of community college students graduating with debt has more than doubled over the past decade.

In 2014-15, when community college tuition was $4,080, 37 percent of Virginia graduates who earned a two-year degree that prepared them to transfer to a four-year college had debt, up from 15 percent a decade ago. Among graduates who earned a two-year occupational degree, 41 percent had debt.

(Virginias community college system says the state debt figures are too high, but that may be because the state is calculating debt differently. The state looks at debt owed at the point of graduation, which may include debt from other institutions.)

Theyre borrowing for things just beyond the cost of tuition and fees. Theyre borrowing to live, said Tod Massa, who oversees the states postsecondary education data.

Many community college students need to borrow to pay for textbooks, transportation, food and rent, even if theyre working while they go to school. The total cost of attending a Virginia community college rose from $9,410 a year to $15,083 over the past decade for full-time students who live with their parents, according to state data. Students who live on their own pay more.

More Virginia community colleges include federal student loans in financial aid packages now than in past years, which also could be pushing up student debt.

Policymakers tend to focus on stories of scary-high debt, such as a graduate student who owes six figures. But students who owe much less are more likely to default.

The typical loan in default is around $5,000. Thats total, thats not per year, thats all that someone borrowed, said Susan Dynarski, a University of Michigan professor of public policy, education and economics.

At Old Dominion University in southeast Virginia, for example, the average graduate with federal debt leaves school owing $23,900, according to federal statistics. Seven percent of graduates default on their federal loans within three years. But at nearby Tidewater Community College, where the average graduate with debt leaves owing $10,250, twice as many graduates default.

Student loans can create a snowballing crisis for borrowers. Debt that cannot be repaid can lead to default, fees from loan servicers, a damaged credit score, and eventually the garnishment of wages or government benefits. In some states, people can lose their professional licenses or drivers licenses as a result of defaulted student loans.

A lot of factors determine someones ability to repay their loans, including what kind of job theyre able to get after graduation  which can depend on their major and the local economy  and whether they graduate at all.

The small size of loans in default suggests that many borrowers dropped out, Dynarski said. And students who drop out dont get to enjoy the financial payoff of a higher credential.

At colleges that serve more lower-income, minority and first-generation students, such as community colleges, graduation rates are typically lower. About 38 percent of students who entered public two-year colleges in 2009 graduated, or transferred and completed a four-year degree, compared to 61 percent of students who started at a four-year college, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

States are taking a few steps to hold down college costs and put pressure on all colleges to make sure students graduate. As of fiscal 2015, 26 states were spending part of their education funding to reward outcomes such as graduation rates. And 10 more were moving in that direction, according to HCM Strategists, a consulting firm.

Many states, including Virginia, increased funding for all higher education institutions this year and asked colleges to hold down tuition. Tennessee, Oregon and Minnesota have created scholarship programs that make two-year colleges tuition-free for students who meet certain requirements.

Some researchers and advocates say tuition-free programs dont go far enough because paying for living expenses  not tuition  is the biggest financial problem most community college students have.

To tackle that, Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of educational policy studies and sociology at the University of Wisconsin, said states could increase grant aid or follow Minnesotas example and extend work-study opportunities.

States also have started to take some steps to help borrowers who are struggling with existing student loan debt.

Virginia state Del. Marcus Simon, a Democrat, said his colleagues in the Legislature have long considered student debt to be a federal issue. But he thinks the state can help. This year, he put forward bills that would allow students to refinance their loans through a state authority, require student loan servicers to get a license and create an office to inform and assist borrowers.

We want to create a system where theres some regulation, theres some oversight, and theres just some basic information that you have to get about your loan, Simon said.

Refinancing likely wouldnt be an option for borrowers who are behind on their loans, or have damaged credit. But all borrowers could benefit from more information and assistance.

Some borrowers dont know the difference between a grant and a loan, let alone that some federal programs will reduce their monthly payments to nothing while their incomes are low. The fact that people with low earnings are defaulting shows that not enough of them have enrolled in those programs, Dynarski of the University of Michigan said.

Last year, Indiana began requiring all institutions that enroll students who receive state financial aid to provide students with an annual estimate of their total loan debt and future monthly repayments. A new Nebraska law requires all publicly funded postsecondary educational institutions in the state to provide that information to students.

Colleges, which are penalized by the federal government for high default rates, are trying to help students graduate and keep them from falling behind on payments.

To keep students on the path to graduation, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the largest two-year college in Virginia, has redesigned remedial math classes and hired counselors to work with freshmen to help them find a major and schedule courses. The school also has contracted with a company that sends delinquent borrowers automated phone calls and another that counsels them over the phone.

Some colleges warn students not to take out too much money for living expenses, and some will deny loans.

We see a significant number of students who are coming to us with existing loan debt, said Joan Zanders, head of financial aid and support services at NOVA. If a borrower owes $70,000 from prior education, say at a for-profit college, it makes no sense whatsoever for them to dig a deeper hole for themselves to get a certificate.

NOVA officials say theres a link between financial education and academic success. When students can budget their financial aid money and pay their bills, theyre more likely to stay in school. So NOVAs required orientation course now includes a unit on how to stick to a budget, manage credit cards and understand student loans.

Like community colleges across Virginia, NOVA saw a spike in borrowing during the recession. Now, Zanders said, its actually going down. She said she thinks this is partly due to the improving economy and partly due to better outreach.



2016 Stateline.org

Visit Stateline.org at www.stateline.org

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Shasta County's 3rd Supervisorial District stretches from the eastern edge of Redding to Lassen County. Cattle dot the rural landscape, traffic lights are few and residents take care of themselves and one another.

The supervisor who represents District 3 faces a complex job to bring the area's concerns and issues to the Board of Supervisors as well as see the big picture of all the county's issues.

Incumbent Pam Giacomini faces two challengers on the primary ballot: fellow rancher and businesswoman Mary Rickert and retired school teacher Janet Chandler.

Incumbent Pam Giacomini has been an effective supervisor for District 3. She's a fourth-generation resident of eastern Shasta County, and operates her family's longtime, grass-fed cattle operation in Hat Creek. Her agriculture connections are deep and wide. She has worked for the California Farm Bureau, lobbying on issues related to national forests, water and agriculture. She works with the Burney-Hat Creek Community Forest and Watershed, Spring Rivers Foundation and the Shasta County Farm Bureau.

During her four years on the board, Giacomini has championed the needs of her district, including helping implement an emergency rebuilding ordinance for people who lost homes in fires. That directly benefited property owners affected by the Eiler Fire in 2014 that ravaged the Hat Creek area. If re-elected, she said she'd like to extend the heart of that ordinance and clear red tape to the rest of the building codes. She also is working on an agritourism ordinance that would open tourism to smaller farms of less than 5 acres.

Her stands on other issues take into consideration her connection to the people in the 3rd District. She voted with other supervisors to support in concept the public safety measures promoted by the Blueprint for Public Safety Implementation Team that would be paid for by a half-cent sales tax increase in Redding. But, she told us earlier, "I think we could find efficiencies in the budget," she said about meeting the county's needs. "The residents would be impacted and they need to have a say."

Public safety is a significant concern in the eastern part of the county, which lacks 24/7 coverage by Shasta County deputies. The substation in Burney reopened just recently, and Giacomini said she worked with the Sheriff's Office on making that happen. She also pushed the county to return tax dollars raised from the motels and hotels in the eastern part of the county to be used there.

While Giacomini has performed solidly this past term, she faces a significant challenge in Rickert.

Rickert is also a cattlewoman and businesswoman who has extensive experience serving on various boards. She recently left the statewide California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Board to run for supervisor. While on that board, she worked closely with her fellow board members to open their eyes to the special needs rural communities face.

She brought members of the State Water Board to eastern Shasta County so they could learn how a proposed grazing regulation would not work in the North State. A few months later, the water board changed its regulation to allow for different rules for different parts of the state.

While she has a solid grasp of the rural needs of District 3, she also is connected to pressing social issues the county struggles with. She served on the Mental Health Board for 10 years, and also worked with NAMI to teach law enforcement de-escalation techniques when working with mentally ill people in crisis.

She says the county needs someone on the board who has a deep understanding of mental health issues, homelessness and rehabilitation services. It also needs someone with the energy to advocate for those issues.

"Let's find a reason to make it work instead of why we can't make it work," she sums up her way of approaching problems.

She too welcomes the cooperation between the city and county on the Blueprint for Public Safety. She'd also like to work with the Sheriff's Office on funding 24/7 coverage for eastern Shasta County, and to find ways to keep Mayer's Memorial Hospital open and viable.

We support Mary Rickert for the Supervisor District 3 seat. She would bring fresh energy to the board and champion for social causes as well as the rural needs of her constituents. She has a grasp of not only the challenges District 3 faces but also what all Shasta County residents struggle with.

Chandler, the third candidate in the race, would not be an effective supervisor. She would tilt at windmills of conspiracy  she's under the misconception that the California Air Resources Board is a private company and therefore has no regulatory power. She talks of a mysterious "government agency" that drops off "marginal" people at a motel in Fall River Mills. She's adamantly against bringing affordable housing to the district, pointing to opposition to a proposal in Burney to build affordable apartments several years ago. "People went to the county and said they don't those people here," she said, apparently unaware that there are people with lower incomes living in District 3. She may represent a viewpoint of some residents, but she would not work effectively with the rest of the board.

Giacomini has served the people of District 3 well, but we feel it's time to bring fresh, focused energy to the board.
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I am a retired captain with the Redding Police Department and have lived with my family in Redding since 1979. For the past 14 years I have worked in the private sector and interact with many businesses and families. Redding is in a crisis mode because of crime and criminals.

I take exception with the Record Searchlight's notion that the attempt by our government leaders to "take back our community" is a "sham." If anything is a "sham," it is the $155,000 the Matrix Consulting Group charged to tell us we don't need any more police officers. Don't blame our leaders for asking for outside help. Be thankful they chose to use only the aspects of the recommendations that will actually work.

If you had lived in Redding during the 1990s you may have a whole different opinion on what the city needs to return to the wonderful place it was when you moved here. In 1994 Redding had: an abundance of parolees and sex offenders, gang murders, 15 drive-by shootings, graffiti was everywhere, there were three extremely unsafe neighborhoods, school violence, racial hatred and hate crimes, numerous homes and businesses that were dilapidated, filthy streets and highways, and a crime rate going up 15 percent a year. From 1993-1996 we eliminated 73 criminal street gangs. Our community came together and turned this city around, and it could not have been done with today's Redding Police Department resources and the overcrowded jail.

You don't have to believe me. To find the truth move from your office inside the secure Record Searchlight building to one in downtown Redding. In addition, have an open door policy and allow your bathroom to be used by the public. That's what downtown businesses do. Just so you'll know, before you unlock the front door you're going to have to wake the people sleeping in front of it and ask them to move. After they cuss you out, you will notice gang graffiti on the front door, human fecal matter and hypodermic needles in the bushes. If you had put the blue recycle can out, it will be dumped over with the contents strewn across the parking lot. Be prepared to hire private security to protect yourself and your employees, because the Police Department doesn't have the resources. Finally, I highly recommend you don't take part in this year's "take a child to work with you day."

Many of our leaders were born and raised in the Redding area and lived the decay of the 1990s. Unlike you, they understand local history and "what works." They are here for the long haul and don't get to rotate through Redding like editors do. We will be dealing with your political correctness long after you're gone. So you go ahead and sit at your desk and take shots at our leaders who actually have the responsibility to protect local businesses and residents. Our leaders can be successful with or without a knowledgeable newspaper editor.

Steve Davidson lives in Redding.
This is to ensure airports dont become dormant assets

The government is set to allow airlines have a greater say while deciding locations for new no-frills airports.

This is to ensure that the Narendra Modi governments grand plan of developing regional connectivity by building low-cost airports does not produce dormant assets.

Under this plan, airlines will be asked to submit a detailed plan on the viability of the location, following which the ministry will consult the government of the state where the airport will be built.

A senior civil aviation ministry official said airlines will be asked to furnish specific details like the capacity they want to deploy, type of aircraft they will fly and expected occupancy levels. This will help us decide whether the players themselves are interested in developing the route, the official said.

The draft civil aviation policy had mooted the idea of developing no-frills airports to boost regional connectivity.

New airports that will be built should be demand driven.

Developing infrastructure without knowing its potential does not make any sense, said Rajiv Nayan Choubey, secretary, civil aviation.

According to data provided by Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in Parliament, there are 30 airports in the country from which no aircraft took off or landed after these became operational.

In 2014-15 and 2013-14, these airports earned a revenue of Rs 0.69 crore (Rs 69 million) and Rs 0.40 crore (Rs 40 million) and incurred an expenditure of Rs 11.13 crore (Rs 111.3 million) and Rs 12.97 crore, respectively.

Beside these, there are 25 airports termed operational that see no flights as airlines dont find the locations viable.

A senior airline executive said the ghost airports were the result of minimal consultations with airlines.

Airports Authority of India is not competent enough to decide the strategic location or viability of airports, many times location of regional airports is influenced by political reasons.

Involving airlines is a positive step, the executive said. While presenting the Budget for 2016-17, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the government was drawing up an action plan for revival of around 160 airports.

According to experts, the decision to make airlines a major part of the stakeholders consultation process should be made mandatory.

"Till date consultations with airlines regarding airport infrastructure has been inadequate or missing, no matter how critical the project is, this has resulted in a waste of taxpayer money, said Kapil Kaul , chief executive officer, South Asia of consultancy firm CAPA.

The image is used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters
In a strong indictment of Centre and states handling of the drought situation, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said if state governments maintain an ostrich-like attitude, Centre cannot wash its hands of constitutional responsibility, since the buck stops with it.

The apex court, giving its judgment on a public interest litigation by Swaraj Abhiyan on drought, also directed Centre to constitute a national disaster response force, as mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, within the next six months.

It also directed it to set up a disaster mitigation fund within three months, as mandated by the Act and formulate a national plan on disaster management at the earliest.

The apex court also urged the central government to update the drought management manual by December 31 in a manner which gives proper weightage to both amount of rainfall and crop-sown area, before declaring drought.

The new manual should use standardised nomenclature for drought; have less state-specific parameters and highlight the need for using modern technology to make an early determination of drought.

The Bench said if Centre and state governments fail to respond to a developing crisis or a crisis-in-the-making, then the judiciary can and must consider issuing appropriate directions, but a Lakshman rekha must be drawn.

Surely, if a state government maintains an ostrich-like attitude, a disaster requires a far more proactive and nuanced response from the Union of India, the apex court said, in its 53-page judgment, while citing Bal Gangadhar Tilaks quote, The problem is not lack of resources or capability, but the lack of will.

It pulled up Bihar and Haryana for their continued denial of having a drought-like situation but said that towards the fag end, Gujarat admitted the existence of drought in its five districts.

Risk assessment and risk management gives way, in Gujarat, to crisis management, it said.

The apex court also said that it was known in October 2015 that several districts in these three states were facing varying degrees of drought yet, no preparatory steps appear to have been taken to tackle a possible disaster.

The Bench directed the secretary, agriculture ministry, to urgently hold a meeting within a week with the chief secretaries of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana to review the apparent drought situation with all available data.

WHAT THE APEX COURT SAID

Agriculture ministry should hold a meeting in a week with chief secys of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana to assess drought situation

Centre should define time limit for declaration of drought

Centre should revise drought management manual to provide relief to calamity-hit farmers

The image is used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
There have been more than 500 hearings and 180 adjournments so far.

Lenders to defunct Kingfisher Airlines fear their legal battle for dues from the carrier and its promoter would face a hurdle, with the UK rejecting Indias plea to deport Vijay Mallya.

Public sector bank executives said the recovery and legal processes to bring him back were separate.

After lenders rejected Mallyas repayment offer in the Supreme Court last month, he has not come back with a revised one, though he has re-peated his commitment to pay back lenders.

Mallya offered to pay Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion) as settlement.

But rejecting the offer, lenders indicated a settlement should be reasonable and cover principle plus interest.

Lenders estimate the dues to be more than Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion).

This is contested by Mallya.

The UK government on Tuesday told India it could not deport Mallya, who is facing money-laundering charges in India, but could consider an extradition request for him.

The UK governments response came nearly a fortnight after Indias request.

Deportation is done at the government level through an executive order after vetting the evidence produced by a country, where the fugitive is required for any offence he or she may have committed there.

But extradition is a process where evidence against a fugitive is produced before the court for vetting.

In extradition, a judicial decision is taken for sending back a fugitive to the country where he or she is required to face law. It is normally a longer process than deportation.

Mallyas Indian passport has been revoked.

There is also a non-bailable warrant against him.

Mallya had left India for the UK in March.

The head of recoveries of a Mumbai-based state-owned bank said loans to the airline have been non-performing for three years and these have almost 100 per cent provisions.

Banks will continue to press ahead with the auction of Kingfisher Airline headquarters building, brands, and Mallyas property in Goa (Kingfisher Villa).

The auctions of the airline headquarters building and the Kingfisher brand have failed to attract even one bid.

The perception now is that Mallya, declared wilful defaulter by State Bank of India, would continue to fight a legal battle right up to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court had in April dismissed Mallyas plea for protection from disclosure of his assets and those of his family, in India and abroad, to Kingfisher Airlines lenders, saying no tangible grounds have been raised to maintain secrecy of information.

It asked the debt recovery tribunal in Bengaluru to 'expeditiously decide' within two months the pleas of banks and financial institutions for recovery of their loans.

A State Bank of India-led consortium of banks, which had lent to Kingfisher, is involved in more than 20 cases in various courts, including the debt recovery tribunal, from June 2013.

There have been more than 500 hearings and 180 adjournments.

Image: Vijay Mallya. photograph: PTI
Mallya might continue to elude ED, CBI interrogation in the short term but could still be extradited to India

It is unlikely that Indian investigating agencies will be able to interrogate industrialist Vijay Mallya on Indian soil anytime soon. The United Kingdom has told New Delhi that its laws do not allow it to deport Vijay Mallya to India.

In Mallyas case, the UK has asked the Government of India to consider requesting mutual legal assistance and initiating extradition proceedings.

However, extradition to come through is not only a much more time consuming process than deportation but will also, at least on paper, provide Mallya several opportunities to block the move by the Indian government on such pretexts that he is being persecuted for his political views or that his human rights will be violated.

The recent case of former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi, who continues to live in the UK, aside, India hasnt had a happy record in getting people wanted in India extradited from the UK.

The most famous of these was the failed extradition of musician Nadeem Saifi. One part of the famous Nadeem-Shravan musician duo, Nadeem was charged for being part of the conspiracy to murder T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar. But the evidence against him was found to be weak by UK courts and Indias extradition request was rejected.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: The UK government has informed us that under the 1971 Immigration Act, the UK does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK if they have extant leave to remain as long as their passport was valid when leave to remain or enter the UK was conferred.

At the same time, Swarup said, the UK acknowledges the seriousness of the allegations and is keen to assist the Government of India. They have asked GoI to consider requesting mutual legal assistance or extradition.

India can ask the UK to extradite Mallya to India under the India-UK extradition treaty of 1993, or request for any other legal assistance under their bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty signed in 1992.

Mallya is a non-resident Indian (NRI) with UK residency permit since 1992. The external affairs ministry cancelled the passport of Mallya on April 24 but he is living in the UK on a valid UK visa, and his name is in the UK electoral rolls.

While deportation is an executive decision for immediate removal of an individual from one country to another where he is wanted for alleged crimes committed, extradition is a more complex and protracted legal process decided upon by the judiciary on the basis of the evidence it receives from probe agencies of the country seeking extradition.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) website, India has extradition treaties with 37 countries and extradition arrangements with eight. It also gives detailed dos and donts that prosecuting agencies need to follow to lodge a request for extradition.

India also has mutual legal assistance agreements with 39 countries. Such agreements allow signatory countries to offer each other legal assistance in prosecuting a wanted person, including confiscation of their property in the country of their refuge.

In recent times, India has managed to secure extradition of criminal Abul Salem from Portugal and deportation of gangster Chhota Rajan from Indonesia.
The passage of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code will add to the attractiveness of India as a destination for long-term foreign investment, a top American business advocacy group has said, hours after the Rajya Sabha gave its assent to the bill.

"The passage of this Bill will establish an entrepreneur-friendly legal bankruptcy framework for speedy, efficient and consistent resolution of insolvencies for companies and individuals," president of US-India Business Council Mukesh Aghi said.

"The Bill is another feather in the cap of the government's drive to improve the ease of doing business for both domestic and global investors," he said on Wednesday.

USIBC looks forward to the successful implementation of the new Bankruptcy Code in the coming months, Aghi said.

On June 7, USIBC will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the guest of honour for its 41st Annual Leadership Summit and will recognise this significant development during the gathering of senior Indian and American leaders from the public and private sectors in Washington, a media release said.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday gave its assent to the new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, almost a week after the bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament.

Photograph: Joshua Lott/Reuters
The company said the dress code issue involving Thorp at its central London office was "not a PwC policy".

A British outsourcing firm on Thursday reversed its policy requiring female employees to wear high-heeled shoes at work after widespread public backlash.

"With immediate effect all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes," Portico said.

The announcement follows revelations by a London-based receptionist Nicola Thorp who was told to wear shoes with a "2 inch to 4 inch heel" when she arrived for work at finance company PwC last December.

Thorp, 27, refused and was sent home, leading to her setting up a petition calling for the law on the dress code to be changed, signed by over 50,000 people.

"I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms. I said 'I just won't be able to do that in heels'... I said 'if you can give me a reason as to why wearing flats would impair me to do my job today, then fair enough', but they couldn't," she said.

"I think dress codes should reflect society and nowadays women can be smart and formal and wear flat shoes. Aside from the debilitating factor, it's the sexism issue. I think companies shouldn't be forcing that on their female employees," Thorp added.

The company said the dress code issue involving Thorp at its central London office was "not a PwC policy".

Portico, a firm which hires reception staff for corporate offices like PwC, later said it was "committed to being an inclusive and equal opportunities employer" and actively embraced "diversity and inclusion within all our policies".

"We are therefore making it very clear that with immediate effect, all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes or plain court shoes as they prefer," said Simon Pratt, managing director.
G erman software company SAP will hire 1,600 people in India in 2016, its largest recruitment drive in the country. erman software company SAP will hire 1,600 people in India in 2016, its largest recruitment drive in the country.

This is not a big number against hiring by Indian information technology services companies but SAP has an engineering staff count here of 6,500.

As hiring by IT services companies slows because of automation and onshore recruitment, global technology companies are ramping up their engineering and research presence in the country. Google, Microsoft, Oracle and Cisco are hiring engineers in India.

Over 10 years, SAP Labs in India has become the second biggest R&D hub for the company, said Dilipkumar Khandelwal, managing director.

Of the 1,600 people SAP wants to hire this year, 600 will be fresh campus recruits from 60 engineering colleges. Last year, the company hired 1,200 engineers.

Google is looking at hiring people for Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

"We will build a huge new campus in Hyderabad, said Sundar Pichai during his maiden visit to India last December, after taking over as Googles chief executive officer.

Microsoft is on the lookout for about a million square foot office space in Bengaluru to house 7,000 employees.

Its India-born chief executive officer, Satya Nadella, is keen on tapping local engineering talent as the company makes inroads in the Indian market.

Oracle in February announced it would invest $400 million to build a 2.8 million sq ft campus here, the companys largest outside its headquarters.

It will accommodate over 11,000 employees.

India provides Oracle its second largest employee base, with 40,000 staff and 2,000 job openings.

All these companies are undergoing transformation, said Anand Subramaniam, engagement manager and project lead at consulting firm Zinnov.

India can play a leading role because there is a large base of talent. While being bolstered by the cost perspective, India also has the scale and the skill sets, he added.

India has also emerged as a favoured location for captive technology units of companies like Walmart, Lowes and Daimler.

RESOURCE POOL

WHY GLOBAL TECH FIRMS WANT INDIANS?

Shortage of STEM (science, tech, engineering and maths) graduates in the US

Easy availability of such talents in India, cost-effective

Access to pool of talents in Indian tech varsities

Craze to hire millennials seen as early adopters and identifiers of change

INDIA R&D IN FOCUS BY GLOBAL TECH FIRMS

SAP plans to hire 1,600 more for India R&D in CY16, highest for firm in a single year so far; expands Bengaluru campus

Oracle has committed $400 mn for R&D centre

Google plans to hire more engg staff in Hyderabad, Bengaluru

Microsoft plans to expand in country

The image is used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Reuters
IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Kashmir's youth are being radicalised.

The once-alienated separatists are ready to return to their old haunting ground.

The ruling PDP-BJP coalition finds itself on the defensive over almost every issue of governance.

Mohammad Sayeed Malik identifies the many challenges that Kashmir's first woman chief minister needs to overcome.

As Mehbooba Mufti gets into stride, negotiating the hazardous bends and curves of Kashmir politics, she seems to be making the right kind of noise -- underplaying rather than overplaying her hand.

After her formal installation on April 4 in Jammu, Mehbooba has been going about her arduous task in a business-like manner without being ostentatious. She maintains her familiar streak of reaching out to the alienated people in general and the polarised Kashmir youth in particular.

That she was a reluctant entrant into the power game, following her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's demise on January 7, no longer reflects from her sure-footed stride from the saddle. She seems to be cultivating a functional, moderate profile, in contrast to the vacuous flamboyance of her political counterparts in the Abdullah dynasty.

The moment calls for a closer look at the dynamics of the Kashmir scenario in order to assess Mehbooba's possible options, challenges and prospects of governance in the days to come.

Governance in J&K is substantially arduous, unlike elsewhere in India.

Also, Mehbooba happens to be the state's first woman chief minister. For the nascent political arrangement to succeed it is important that New Delhi's (so far alleged) magnanimity (vis-a-vis Mehbooba) is also seen to be believed, unlike in the case of her father.

It is a different question that Sayeed's own clout carried enough steam to keep their common boat afloat even in the face of the Centre's graceless indifference, if nothing worse.

Before exploring the contours of the current scenario in Kashmir it would be useful to recall some of its basic parameters having a bearing upon the course of contemporary events.

A look back illuminates an uncommon, deeply interactive relationship between the overall socio-political situation and its corresponding security dynamic in this perennially troubled border state.

It has been so since 1947 when India's military was professionally baptised in the state, following the tribal invasion from Pakistan. Because of that, the public space has come to be shared by the societal, political and security dynamics, in varying degrees.

The tone and tenor of the dominant sentiment on the ground usually reflects the sum total of linkages within this paradigm.

In best of times, socio-political stability has been its richest dividend and, conversely, in worse times, mismatch between the component-dynamics breeds volatility and across-the-board negative sentiment.

Today, 69 years after Independence, although the political and social landscape has changed beyond recognition, the logic of the basic corelation between society, politics and security continues to prevail.

Right now the most striking feature of political dynamics appears to be the palpable feeling of tentativeness on the ground. The fog of political uncertainty is ominously over the horizon with a perceptible disconnect between the political class and the masses.

It is so in spite of the fact that the existing political power arrangement at the top seems to be in no danger of crumbling, at least not in the near future. Yet, de-stablising bush fires at societal, ethnic and regional levels continue to cause concern.

Compulsion of the fractured electoral mandate in 2014 scripted an unlikely alliance between politically and ideologically incompatible entities in the 'larger interests of the state.' The first few months of the Peoples Democatic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance have been forgettable. Their coalition was seen struggling to remain afloat and it looks to be nowhere nearer to embarking upon its grand 'agenda of alliance.'

Perhaps the one positive feature is the ability of its leadership to somehow stem the drift and survive to halt their boat just short of hitting the proverbial iceberg perennially floating just below the surface.

Considering the odds, it is no mean achievement. It can safely be assumed that, as of now, the leadership at the top remains wedded to its commitment to make their contraption survive and, hopefully, also deliver.

Even so, high stakes are involved in the ultimate fate of the existing arrangement. It has the potential to at least blunt the vicious cutting edge of regional and ethnic tension which has been a major contributory factor in keeping the Kashmir pot boiling, apart, of course, from aggravation of its tedious external dimension.

The current scenario looks to be anything but encouraging; more so for those whose business it is to deal with and contain its toxic fallout.

Blinking lights on the dashboard project a discomforting scenario.

For one, while the overall security situation is showing steady improvement over the past few years and the intensity and level of violence have substantially come down, thanks mainly to the men in uniform, its corresponding political, administrative and social dividends are nowhere in sight.

Secondly, radicalisation of youth and sectarian and regional polarisation over mundane issues expose the vulnerability of the entire mainstream class.

Thirdly, the separatist camp which was made to lick its wounds inflicted by resounding rejection of its poll boycott now finds it tantalising to return to its old hunting ground.

This aspect of the scenario virtually puts a question mark over the capability of not only the ruling coalition partners, but the entire mainstream political spectrum to deliver where it matters most.

None of them has addressed or shown concern about alienation and radicalisation of youth which is fast reaching the danger mark, if it has not already touched that point.

Motivational gains achieved with universally acclaimed legitimisation of electoral and democratic processes, especially since 2002, have been allowed to go down the drain. The potential benefits of massive participation in successive elections to the state assembly, national Parliament and panchayats are yet to be realised.

At the end of it all, the course of events on the ground is going to be determined by the quality of governance provided by the disparate ruling coalition. So far there has been really nothing to write home about.

The coalition finds itself thrown on the defensive over almost every issue of governance from flood relief to jobs, from power supply to health facilities and from the non-existent Sainik colony to the National Institute of Technology fracas and medical college admissions.

And this is a disquieting dynamic of the political scenario in this instability prone border state.

Coming to the external dynamic, hardening of position across the Line of Control, by Pakistan, over the bilateral relationship with India in general and over the Kashmir issue in particular has been a major aggravating factor.

Looking from Srinagar, New Delhi does not seem to be soundly advised on this particular issue.

Historically, the clogging of channels of bilateral communication between the two countries has acted as a negative political dynamic on the ground in Kashmir where it has a destabilising manifestation.

The origin of the related security dynamic of this paradigm lies in the tumultuous events of 1947-1948. The picture then was just the opposite of what it is today: Fauj (army) and awaam (government) used to be on the same page and, significantly, on the same wavelength.

Myopic politicking from time to time played havoc with that ideal balance. And today, there is total estrangement between fauj and awaam.

As a result a host of humanitarian issues have cropped up. Absence of the rule of law, curbs on civil liberties, violation of human rights and denial of justice to the victims of official high-handedness are combustible issues.

One of its ominous political manifestations is the surcharged confrontation over the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts issue. The recent bloody incidents in Handwara are a case in point.

Public discourse in Kashmir is dominated by issues arising out of over securitisation of the apparatus of governance. De-escalation in the level of violence over the past few years is yet to reflect itself on the ground with gradual dismantling of the extra-Constitutional draconian regime.

So long as these emotional issues remain unresolved, stability on the ground would be near impossible to achieve, irrespective of achievements in other spheres of governance.

More importantly, it also hinders the all-important process of emotional integration.

Mohammad Sayeed Malik is the elder statesman of commentators on Kashmir affairs.
'So what if Modi is prime minister of India? He is bound by laws.'

'He cannot be in the Himalayas and study in Gujarat at the same time.'

'Modi cannot have two dates of birth.'

'Everything cannot be coincidental just because he is Narendra Modi.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with school children. Photograph: PTI

The controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications continues to brew with the Aam Aadmi Party adamant on disclosing what the party claims is the PM's 'lies.'

Roshan Shah, a Canadian citizen and an Overseas Citizen of India, filed a Right to Information application in Gujarat in 2013 and demanded that Modi, then the Gujarat chief minister, make his educational qualifications public.

For three years, Shah tried hard to get details of Modi's educational qualifications, but failed.

A couple of days ago, Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a press conference in New Delhi where they displayed Modi's degrees.

Shah told Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com why he believes Modi's degrees are fake.

You were the first person to file an RTI for Modi's educational qualifications.

Are you happy now that Delhi University has shown Modi's BA degree and Gujarat University has done likewise with Modi's MA degree?

It is next to impossible. This is fabricated.

Modi has a history. He is a habitual offender. He does wrong, then he creates evidence or destroys it.

This has happened even during the controversy over his marital status.

The same holds true regarding his salary information, which was wrong. His IT return was wrong. Nothing of this person is true.

More than 70 RTIs have been filed regarding his educational degrees. No educated person will tolerate such insults and would rather just show the degree.

Which year did you file the RTI for Modi's educational qualifications?

I filed an RTI for Modi's educational qualifications in 2013. Gujarat University did not give me any reply (when Modi was chief minister).

In 2014, I filed the same RTI with the Prime Minister's Office. They told me they do not have this document, which is right.

Today, no MP or MLA provides their documents like degrees or resumes or birth certificates to any government department.

Even though they don't provide their documents to the Election Commission or to any government department, they get elected and draw salaries or pensions.

It is a shame on our democracy. It is a shame on our system.

Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley showed Modi's first year, second year and third year BA results and you still doubt their authenticity.

He (Modi) is trying to prove what he has written in the affidavit. So he will have to change and create it.

If you look at Rajeev Shukla's video (Truth about Modi: External link). In that he says he left his home after finishing school.

Now, I have a record (to prove) that Modi did his pre-science in 1967-1969 from M N College, Visnagar, Gujarat. So if he was out of Gujarat, how did he do his pre-science?

I have his marksheet and that too is fabricated.

But we are talking about his BA degree. He did that in 1975.

Without pre-science, you cannot do BA. Earlier Class 11 was the equivalent of the SSC board and Class 12 was the equivalent to pre-science.

Only after pre-science could he do BA. After pre-science, he took a one year break and he took admission in the Swaminarayan Arts College in Ahmedabad. This was in 1970-1971. He attended the college which was registered.

Now he says he had gone to the Himalayas. How can Modi be in two places at the same time?

Aren't you making allegations about the prime minister?

(Interrupts). These are records. Just because the Aam Aadmi Party did not disclose these documents nor did DU does not mean that these documents don't exist.

These documents were not highlighted by the media, but I have shared these documents on my Facebook page.

Why do you doubt Modi's degrees?

At first I saw the Jashodaben video and found that Modi was married to her, but didn't disclose this information (in his election affidavit).

Then I checked his 2012 affidavit and found that he showed only Rs 1.5 lakh (Rs 150,000) income (annually) which was impossible. And in that too he got Rs 54,000 IT refund!

In both these instances, he lied.

In 2016, the Gujarat government's finance department reply was totally contrary to what he declared about his salary. They declared he received Rs 7 lakh (Rs 700,000) salary, while he declared he received a Rs 1.5 lakh salary.

I am showing Gujarat government records. I got a reply from RTI saying he got Rs 7 lakh (Rs 700,000) as salary (annually).

You tell me how is it possible to get a refund of Rs 54,000 on an income of Rs 1.5 lakh?

This is what his affidavit (external link) says.

Roshan Shah, crusading for the truth.

Will you be satisfied if Modi shows his original degree?

Of course, I will be satisfied if it is verified. There is an assessment of paper whether it is fabricated or not. Why should I doubt it?

Nobody should doubt it and he should have come forward and done it.

If someone asks me for my degree certificate, I will give it the very next day. Why create controversy and use government resources?

You have written in your affidavit and you are a public authority. He should have given it in 2013.

Forget Modi, he is just one example. There is Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, Shankar Chaudhary (Gujarat minister).

If you take every affidavit of every elected representative, you will find that around 30 to 40 per cent of them are lying. They are doing so because the Election Commission is not supposed to scrutinise it.

Do you think the Election Commission must scrutinise these documents?

I am a Canadian citizen and I contested the Lok Sabha election. I am an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India).

The day I filled the form at that time I said I am a Canadian citizen and told the Election Commission that if they want to stop me they can stop me. The Election Commission has no power to do any scrutiny.

How can a Canadian citizen contest Indian elections?

How did Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi win? How did they contest? They were OCIs earlier and only later on became Indian citizens.

If you check the candidate nomination form there is no column mentioning 'Indian citizens.'

In the election form nowhere does it ask you to declare that you are an Indian citizen.

When you take the oath at that time too nowhere do you have to say, 'I declare I am an Indian citizen.' It only says, 'I owe allegiance to the Indian Constitution.'

It does not say I declare I am a citizen of India. I have been told by a high court lawyer that four Gujarat MLAs are foreign nationals.

Why are you doing all this if you are a Canadian citizen?

The system is very corrupt. In 2001-2002, Modi bailed out an RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) leader's son who defrauded me in business. At that time, I had a serious kidney problem.

If I had died my family would have been living a hand-to-mouth existence. They changed SBI (State Bank of India) records to trap me. I was told by the police that there was an order from above.

So it is personal.

No, it is not personal. They indulged in forgery with me. If anyone proves that I am wrong, then I am ready to be in jail for life.

Do you belong to any political party?

No. So what if Modi is prime minister of India? He is bound by laws.

Modi's critics say if he was roaming around in disguise as a Sikh during the Emergency, how did he get time to study and appear for exams?

I have no idea about that. All I am saying is that he cannot be in two places at the same time.

He cannot be in the Himalayas and study in Gujarat.

Modi cannot have two dates of birth.

Everything cannot be coincidental just because he is Modi.

What is the problem with the proof of Modi's degree?

The date of birth is different. In M N College, his date of birth is different from that mentioned in the Gujarat University register.

One place he mentions his date of birth as September 17, 1950. In another place he shows August 29, 1949.

Then you see his BA degree and MA degree certificate, the name Narendra Damodardas Modi has been written in the same handwriting.

You mean to say he did his BA from Delhi and MA from Gujarat, but both certificates show the same handwriting?

Yes. The handwriting is the same for the name.

When you make these allegations against Modi, you are also making allegations against Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah.

Tell me one thing: Why did Amit Shah produce a duplicate marksheet? He should have asked Modi to give the original one.

He should have shown original degrees at the press conference and put the matter to rest.

Why should he give a duplicate copy at a press conference? When Gujarat University says they have the original, why are they showing duplicates to the media?

The Delhi University registrar has confirmed that Modi's degree is real, then the matter should be put to rest, should it not?

The RTI has not come to a logical conclusion. The registrar of Delhi University making a statement does not mean anything.

Let him give a certified copy which will then be produced as evidence in court. Media reports are not evidence in court.

Are you going to file a case against Modi's degree?

If not me, someone else will.

These are totally bogus records. If Modi shows some other degree which is contrary from what is out in the media and that makes logical sense, then there may not be any case.

Or if the university makes a new degree, then it is a different matter. Currently the degree which is out does not make logical sense at all.

Modi's Delhi 1978 University degree was computerised and not handwritten. Can you comment on that?

Mark sheets are handwritten. Everyone's degree is handwritten, but only Modi's marks (of 1978) are typewritten. How come?

In 1974, he enrolled and he passed out in 1979. Computers were not there in 1978 and till date no other person has come and shown his computerised degree of 1978.

By the way, the duplicate copy says that it is verified with the original.

If any person wants a duplicate copy, then you have to pay a prescribed fee with an application form. Only Modi can request a duplicate.

I cannot request your duplicate marksheet. There is an RTI filed on this matter as to who requested Modi's duplicate certificates with Gujarat University.
Biju Ramesh's campaign may be different from what voters in Kerala are used to.

But he is determined to do things his way... or rather, Amma's way.

A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com reports from Thiruvanathapuram.

IMAGE: Biju Ramesh, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa's hope in Kerala. Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com

Biju Ramesh is worth Rs 161 crore or Rs 1.61 billion. Clearly, the richest candidate by far in the Kerala assembly elections.

Ramesh, whom folks who follow Kerala politics would know, made headlines for his alleged payment of a bribe of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) to Kerala's then finance minister K M Mani on behalf of the Kerala Bar Owners Association -- of which he is the working president -- to renew the licences of bars forcefully shut down by Oommen Chandy's government.

That controversy compelled Mani, one of the state's most formidable politicians, to resign as minister.

Biju Ramesh is on a different mission these days -- to secure a seat for J Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Kerala!

He is contesting the election from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on an AIADMK ticket.

In the idyllic summer setting at Velliathurai, a beachfront area in Thiruvananthapuram, a banner sporting 'Amma' Jayalalithaa and her mentor, the late Tamil movie superstar MGR would otherwise look out of place if not for a beaming photograph of Ramesh next to his symbol, the hat.

Ramesh can't use the AIADMK's two leaves symbol in Kerala; that symbol has been allotted to the Kerala Congress-Mani by the Election Commission.

The liquor baron arrives in a convoy of cars.

After the handshakes, garlands and photography sessions, Ramesh picks up the mike to criticise Chandy's governmment before doing what his party does best in neighbouring Tamil Nadu -- promising countless freebies.

Mixer-grinders. Fans. Goats. Uniforms and books for students. Free rice. Marriage grants. 8 grams of gold...

When this correspondent asks Ramesh how the Tamil Nadu government -- that is, if the AIADMK is re-elected to power -- would use state funds to distribute such sops in Kerala, Ramesh insists, "Amma will give."

I remind the booze baron that Amma intends to bring prohibition to Tamil Nadu, which makes his position as the bar owners association president untenable. Unfazed, Ramesh declares: "I will resign as president of that association."

IMAGE: Ramesh's supporters flash the victory sign even as his support staff gears up to distribute more pamphlets. Photograph: Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com

Elaborating on how his business interests don't stop him from his social responsibilities, Ramesh highlights several initiatives he has taken to help students with their studies, feeding the hungry and helping the needy.

If he is elected, Ramesh tells me he will mediate in the prickly Mullaperiyar dam issue between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Why would people vote for him when there are Congress, CPI-M and BJP candidates also in the fray? Simple! Because they have seen all the good things Amma is doing in Tamil Nadu.

The Velliathurai roadshow didn't stop with Ramesh's exit. Entertainers emerged from a van, dressed as MGR and one of his heroines. The audience finally had something to cheer about.

You can see the Video here.

This is now what voters in Kerala are used to, but Biju Ramesh is determined to do things his way... or rather, Amma's way.
Buoyed by the Uttarakhand assembly floor test result, Congress on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding his apology in Parliament and sacking of the minister who "advised" him to impose

President's rule in the state.

"The prime minister should apologise in Parliament and sack the minister who advised him to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand," party spokesman Kapil Sibal told reporters.

He, however, did not name the minister.

Sibal also steered clear of questions whether President Pranab Mukherjee should also quit in the wake of the Supreme Court revoking President's rule in the hill state.

"It is not for me to say what the President should have done and I do not wish to comment. I don't think it is proper for me to make any comment on the actions of the President, who is a high constitutional functionary," he said.

He, however, insisted that it is "not correct" to say that the President does not act on his own and acts in the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

"The President can return the file only once" in the event of such proposals, he said.

Targeting the prime minister, Sibal alleged that the highlight of Modi's two-year rule was attack on the Constitution.

"The problem is that Modi forgets he is the prime minister of India and not a RSS pracharak," Sibal said even as he assured Congress' full cooperation to the government if it "worked properly."

"While Make in India has remained a start-up, 'Fake in India' has been launched with the product ready," he said, taking a dig at the prime minister.

Attacking Modi for targeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland issue, he said, "The prime minister should understand the fundamental thing that when Parliament session is on, charges are made inside the House."

Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, said, "Even after trying every trick in the book to topple Opposition states, Modi government has been brought to its knees. It's a victory of democracy."

"Uttarakhand has taught BJP a bitter lesson. No matter how hard they try they can neither intimidate the Congress party or subvert democracy," he said on Twitter.
Going on the counteroffensive, the Congress will be giving privilege motions against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Rajya Sabha on Friday accusing them of "lying blatantly" during the AgustaWestland debate.

The All India Congress Committee also announced that the party will file defamation case against a US-based website, www.pguru.com, whose material was used by Swamy in Rajya Sabha debate. It alleged that the website is linked to the Sangh Parivar.

Friday is the last day of the Upper House during the current session.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh told reporters that both Swamy and Parrikar have "blatantly lied" in Parliament by creating a "web of deceit" in front of the people.

Noting that the defence minister authenticated documents in Lok Sabha, he claimed it was not the judgement of the Italian court.

Insisting that the Italian judgement has nothing, he claimed there is "no accusation against the Congress leadership" in the verdict.

"It is a lie that the Italian judgement has indicted the Congress leadership.

"Swamy has made baseless allegations. He said he was reading from the Italian judgement," Ramesh said, adding the BJP leader authenticated a 13-page document in Rajya Sabha, which consists of two pages of an email from "Swamy to Swamy", a news report and nine pages from the website.

"Swamy has spoken big lies in Rajya Sabha on May 4 and has used false documents. We will not allow him to go scot free. The duo of Swamy and Parrikar have attempted to mislead the nation, for which they will have to pay the price," said Ramesh.

Claiming that the nine pages from the website are "false", he said the party would be filing a defamation case against it.

He claimed that besides Swamy, S Gurumurthy and IIM professor R Vaidyanathan are linked to the website being run by a person named Shri Aiyar from the Silicon valley.

Ramesh also claimed that Swamy wanted Vaidyanathan be made the next Reserve Bank of India governor in place of Raghuram Rajan.
Malaysia on Thursday said the two more pieces of plane debris found in South Africa and Mauritius almost certainly belonged to its jetliner flight MH370, bringing the total number of fragments believed to belong to the missing aircraft to five.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said following the thorough examination by international experts, the Malaysian Safety Investigation Team concluded that both pieces of debris are consistent with panels found on a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft.

As such, the team has confirmed that both pieces of debris from South Africa and Rodrigues Island are almost certainly from MH370, Liow said.

This complements the results from the previous examination in March during which the team confirmed that the Mozambique debris were almost certainly from MH370, Liow added.

Thursdays announcement brings to five the total pieces of plane debris from MH370 discovered from various spots around the Indian Ocean.

The two pieces of debris discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island were an engine cowling piece with a partial Rolls-Royce logo and an interior panel piece from an aircraft cabin.

MH370s disappearance is one of the worlds biggest aviation mysteries. The plane vanished from radar on March 8, 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people, including five Indians, on board.

The jetliners journey is believed to have ended somewhere in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean about 1,800 kilometers off Australias west coast.

Despite a two-year investigation costing millions of dollars, only one piece of debris has been confirmed as coming from the aircraft -- a 6-foot-long wing flap that washed up on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

Australian officials last month had said the two pieces of debris recovered from beaches in Mozambique almost certainly belonged to the missing flight.

Australia is leading the massive multi-nation search in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be the final resting place of the Boeing 777.

The relatives of several passengers aboard flight MH370 have filed suits against the Malaysia Airlines amid doubts about the official explanation for the planes disappearance.

Image used for representational purpose only.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who is seen as a staunch opposer of growing Islamic radicalism across the world, has now found support from the right-wing group Hindu Sena, which held prayers in New Delhi on Wednesday for his victory in the United States presidential elections to be held later this year.

A priest chanted hymns and members of the Hindu Sena made offerings to fire, as they sat holding posters of Trump, with We love Trump written in bold letters.

President of the Hindu Sena Vishnu Gupta said Trump was the only saviour of mankind.

The entire world is suffering due to Islamic terrorism. All these bomb blasts across the world are linked to Islamic terrorism. There is only one saviour of mankind and that is Donald Trump. We have done Yagya today and prayed to god that people of the US elect Trump as their President, Gupta said.

Gupta also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'disappointed' him by recently claiming at the first World Sufi Forum that Islam has no connection with terrorism

The Hindu Senas move triggered swift reaction from the international media.

The New York Times wrote, Donald Trump may find it tough to get Republican leaders behind his campaign, but he's got some faraway fans trying to get the gods on his side.

TIME said, Trumps apparent disdain for the people of the worlds second most populous nation doesnt seem to faze a right-wing Indian group that is now praying -- yes, literally praying -- for Trumps victory.

Trump has won both supporters and detractors for his blunt talk and hardline proposals, including a proposed ban on Muslims entering the US.

The billionaire real estate developer has positioned himself as the answer to growing Islamic radicalism across the world.

The Hindu Sena came into the limelight last year when Gupta complained to the Delhi police that Kerala House serves cow meat and it was subsequently raided by the police, sparking strong reactions.

Image: Hindu Sena members hold a 'yagna', praying for the victory of Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump in US Presidential elections at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI
Santosh Bhardwaj, the marine engineer who was rescued after being held in captivity in Niger delta in Nigeria for over a month, on Thursday expressed gratitude towards the Centre for its efforts to rescue him from the clutches of the pirates.

Bhardwaj, who reached his residence in Varanasi on Wednesday, said the pirates took away all their money and belongings.

They took over the ship, we hid but they held the ship captain hostage. Later on, the pirates took all our money, and other belongings then held us captive in their hideaway. The Indian Government contributed a lot, especially External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj. The government was in constant touch with the Embassy and our company, Bhardwaj said.

The pirates basically wanted money, they then contacted the company we worked for and asked for ransom money. We were very scared at first. We didnt know what to expect but the pirates said they wanted money, and wont harm us, he added.

Swaraj had on Wednesday informed that Bhardwaj, who was kidnapped by pirates near Nigeria on March 26, has been rescued.

Swaraj took to Twitter and said, 'I am extremely happy to inform that Shri Santosh Bhardwaj has been rescued from pirates in Nigeria.'

Bhardwaj, an engineer in Singapore-based shipping company Transocean Limited, was kidnapped along with four colleagues from different countries when their ship Sampatiki was at sea, around 30 nautical miles off Nigerian capital Lagos.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has sent letters to parents of the students who are on an indefinite hunger strike against punishment imposed in connection with the February 9 event, asking them to instruct their wards to call off the fast and adopt "constitutional" means.

On 15th day of the strike on Thursday, three more students including Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad rebel Pradeep Narwal, who had quit the students' outfit in February citing difference over handling of the issue by the Bharatiya Janata Party, joined the indefinite fast.

Other two students are JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora and former JNUSU President Ashutosh who has been debarred from the hostel for one year.

Meanwhile, members of 40 women's rights and human welfare organisations have written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking revocation of punishment to students in connection with the controversial event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Reacting to the letter sent to parents, fasting student Shweta Raj, who was admitted to AIIMS on Wednesday after her health deteriorated, said "if the administration has courage it should talk to us and not scare our parents by sending them intimidating letters. We are adults and conscious activists".

So far, 13 students, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, have withdrawn from the fast while 7 others are still continuing with the strike.

While Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya had earlier this week moved the Delhi high court challenging the punishment, eight more students approached the court on Thursday over the issue.

The administration had yesterday appealed to the students to call off the strike as the matter is sub-judice.

The varsity had earlier this week formed a four-member committee to look into demands of agitating students.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested in February in a sedition case over the event and are out on bail now.

While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000, Umar, Anirban and a 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.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Maharashtra has declared drought in over 29,000 villages of the state, mostly in parched Marathwada and Vidarbha regions where the grim situation was earlier described as drought-like.

The government through a corrigendum on Wednesday clarified that wherever reference is made to a drought-like situation in the state manual, it would be read as drought, in accordance with an assurance it gave to the Bombay high court recently.

The opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, however, said on Thursday the Fadnavis government was not serious in addressing the situation and the belated move was only meant to avoid judicial action.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on his part said the villages that have now been declared as affected by drought were already receiving benefits from the government and that the Drought Manual provided only for the word drought-like.

We had already declared a drought-like situation in these villages. All the benefits which are needed to be given were accorded. The high court asked us why drought-like and not drought (is used in reference to the affected villages). We pointed out that the Manual was adopted more than 25 years back and it provides for the word drought-like. There is no word as drought in the manual, Fadnavis said.

We also pointed out that even if we call it drought by effecting changes in the manual, it will not attract anything new to be done. What we have done or doing will continue. Court asked us our willingness to change the manual and introduce the word drought. We said we are ready to do that. So we did that and conveyed it to the court, he added.

State Congress president and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said the government is not serious in tackling the drought and that the decision has been taken keeping in mind the monsoon season which is due shortly.

The government is simply not serious on tackling drought. They were scared that the courts might take action against them and thus chose to simply adhere to the court and make the necessary changes, he said.

Also, the government knows that monsoon is soon to arrive and thus they would not have to do anything much even if they bring in the word drought. This is clever tactics played by the government, Chavan said.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the government was prompted by the fear that the court would come down on it if it dithered on the issue.

People are asking this for the last eight months and the government suddenly wakes up now. They are scared of action by the court and hence they decided to declare drought. This decision, along with CMs meet with the prime minister besides seeking additional funds to tackle drought have all been done keeping in mind the monsoon season, which is barely two months away, Malik said.

The government on Tuesday issued a corrigendum clarifying that wherever a reference is made to a drought-like situation, it would be read as drought.

The state government has already taken drought relief measures in villages where the anewari (proportion of failed crops) is below 50 paise in Kharif and Rabi season. Nevertheless, in future, all instances of villages where the government has mentioned drought-like situation, the reference to the situation will be called as drought, stated a government resolution issued on Wednesday.

In the wake of acute water shortage in various parts of Maharashtra, the state government had informed the high court that it would declare drought in over 29,000 villages in the state and all relief prescribed in the Drought Manual, 2009 would be provided.

Image: People fill their containers with water from a village in Osmanabad. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
Delhi police on Thursday arrested Amit Jani, chief of Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena who threatened to kill Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, from south Delhi's Greater Kailash area.

A Special Cell team arrested Jani under Section 41(1) of CrPC and will hand him over to the New Delhi district police, a senior official said.

Jani had earlier claimed on social media that he would surrender but apparently kept changing his mind.

On April 15, a loaded gun and a letter purportedly signed by Jani, threatening to behead Kanhaiya and Khalid, were found in a bus plying between Kashmere Gate and Vasant Vihar via JNU campus.

The driver of the bus took the vehicle to Tilak Marg Police Station and reported the matter, following which a case was registered.

Two days later, police arrested Jani's brother Saurabh and his friend Sulabh here in connection with the incident. Later, another man was arrested but Jani had remained at large.

The police had unsuccessfully raided his office in Lajpat Nagar area and several possible hideouts in Delhi-NCR.

Jani had earlier threatened Kanhaiya over a Facebook post claiming that his men, at least 10 of whom are armed, are present inside JNU campus and can attack him anytime.
The law firm at the center of the Panama Papers scandal says it is filing suit against the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists for the leak of information it says is false.

The public gained its first access to the Panama Papers records of over 200,000 secret offshore companies when the ICIJ put a searchable database online earlier Monday.

The database, built on just a portion of the 11.5 million documents leaked from Panama's Mossack Fonseca law firm, reveals more than 360,000 names of individuals and companies behind the anonymous shell firms, the ICIJ said.

The law firm urged the ICIJ to cease and desist prior to the leak online, but it moved ahead with the release.

"The Consortium has forced us to start aggressive legal action to protect ourselves from acts such as these, which, since they are crimes, must be taken to the proper bodies for due process," the company said in a statement released yesterday.

The Panama Papers reveal the full extent to which the world's wealthy, alongside criminals, create nominee companies to stash and transfer assets out of sight of the law and tax officials.

Reports already published in April based on the explosive dossier linked some of the world's most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron and others to unreported offshore companies.

The new database can be searched by individual and company name and address, and shows links between those in the records.

But it gives no information -- beyond their name -- on the full identities of those behind the companies, nor of the underlying assets linked to the accounts.
An Indian-American woman elementary teacher from Texas has been honored by US President Barack Obama at the White House for her excellent work in the field of education.

Revathi Balakrishnan, a gifted teacher at Patsy Sommer Elementary School, was also named 2016 'Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year'.

"It is not work for me. It is actually a passion," said 53-year-old Austin-based Balakrishnan who has taught in the district's talented and gifted programmes for nine years.

Currently teaching math classes in third through fifth grade at Sommer, Balakrishnan, who was honoured last week, will now represent Texas in the 'National Teacher of the Year' competition.

"I'm an Indian-American, so I think the Indian community is feeling a lot of pride and joy," Balakrishnan said, adding that about 30 per cent of the students at 'Sommer Elementary' are Asian or Indian.

"I feel proud to represent those and I can convince a lot of younger generation Indian kids to turn to teaching for a career. So I feel I can actually have some impact on that," she said.

Balakrishnan has taught at 'Sommer Elementary' for six years before teaching at Forest North Elementary for three years.

Originally from Chennai, Balakrishnan was a systems analyst with Liberty Mutual, managing databases and programming for about 12 years before becoming a teacher.

Terming her style of teaching as "no nonsense", Balakrishnan, who earned her economics degree from University of Madras, attributes her success in the field of education to her love of teaching.

She said the excitement of teaching, learning with students and the opportunity to shape students who are the "leaders of tomorrow" drives her.

"Not one day is the same, which is what I like. I don't like structure. I just go with the flow and I love what happens," Balakrishnan said.

The 'National Teacher of the Year Programme' identifies exceptional teachers in the country, recognises their effective work in the classroom, engages them in a year of professional learning, amplifies their voices and empowers them to participate in policy discussions at the state and national levels.
With relief writ large on their faces, 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached Kochi on Thursday morning.

Twenty-nine Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 am.

The flight carrying the 16 persons landed here at 8.30 am on Thursday morning, after which they completed immigration formalities. The relatives of the rescued Indians had been patiently waiting since the early hours and there were cries of relief as they spotted them.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the hospital had decided to leave the area.

I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan, said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham.

Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of external affairs minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandys office, there was no help.

There were a lot of promises, but no help, one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets.

Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines, another nurse said.

One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years.

We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called us to ask about our plight, she told reporters.

Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be re-imbursed to them.

The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli on Wednesday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan told PTI.

As per our request, the ambassador had got in touch with the hospital, Libyan bank and Protocol officer in charge of foreign affairs in a bid to get the dues of the stranded

Indians released, he said.

The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi on Thursday morning, he said.

There are totally 11 children, five of them infants in the age group of one and half years and two, Kannan said.

The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said.

Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts.

A pregnant nurse was among those evacuated.
Amidst the blazing heat, women line up the streets offering mor (buttermilk), water, local snacks while supporters wait for a glimpse of their mother AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa at an election rally in Tirunelveli, southern Tamil Nadu.

Rediff.coms Saisuresh Sivaswamy reports from ground zero.

IMAGE: J Jayalalithaa's supporters await her arrival at an election rally. Photograph: PTI

With just a few days to go before Tamil Nadu goes to the polls, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalithaa upped her campaign, covering all 22 constituencies in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi the southern tip of the state, on a single day.

On Thursday, at a huge rally in Tirunelveli where an estimate of over 50,000 supporters had gathered, Amma in a speech lasting almost an hour said that if she was re-elected, she would take action so that the states medical students wouldnt have to take the Supreme Court-mandated National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. If need be, I will enact a legislation to ensure this, she said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court clarified that the NEET would be the only way for students to get admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses across the country. This order by the SC is a blow to students in Tamil Nadu where entrance exams are banned by a law passed in 2007.

Highlighting the differences between the self-seeking Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government of M Karunanidhi and her own selfless administration, Jayalalithaa also spoke of her plan to introduce prohibition on alcohol in the state. We will start by cutting down the number of stores selling alcohol, shutting down bars attached to such shops, providing medical help to those affected by alcohol dependence, all leading to full prohibition.

The rally at Tirunelveli comes following Ammas 15 guerilla-style meetings across Chennai on Wednesday.

IMAGE: The plastic bag containing a cloth cap, water and biscuits kept for supporters at the rally. Photograph: Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com

Hours before the arrival of Amma, the ground filled up with people. There were buntings, floats, balloons, giant TV screens, old M G Ramachandran songs being played, a huge phalanx of khaki-clad men and women.

And the crowds kept surging despite the blazing heat, which has claimed a few deaths in the previous election rallies. After all, for them Amma is god, for whom they will willingly lay down their lives.

In addition to the decorations, every seat at the rally contained a plastic bag bearing a cloth cap bearing Ammas image, three pouches of water, a Britannia Marie biscuit packet, and a packet of Glucon D (no, not Amma brand, not yet at least). There was also a rubber arm band in the AIADMK colours.
Previously unseen photographs of then-US President George W. Bush during 9/11 have been released.

The photos, published by the Presidential Library, were captured before and after the 2001 terrorist attacks, and show Bush in a scheduled visit to a Florida primary school and then having to address the nation.

Rediff.com takes a look at the image clicked by then White House photographer Eric Draper that reveal the immediate reaction and response of the United States' then Commander-in-Chief.

IMAGE: Shock is seen on the presidents face as he confers with staff aboard Air Force One during the flight from Sarasota to Barksdale air force base. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: President George W Bush watches television coverage of the attack on the World Trade Center, in a classroom at the Emma E Booker elementary school in Florida. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Director of Communications Dan Bartlett points to news footage of the World Trade Center Towers burning, September 11, 2001, as President George W. Bush gathers information about the attack from Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: After departing Offutt air force base in Nebraska for Washington DC, Bush talks on the phone with Vice-President Dick Cheney from Air Force One. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Tapping on the desk hewn from the timbers of the HMS Resolute, President George W Bush makes the stand in the Oval Office, "Make no mistake about it, my resolve is steady and strong about winning this war that has been declared on America." Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Lt Col Cindy Wright talks with Bush en route to Washington on 11 September 2001 aboard Air Force One. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Led in prayer by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, right, President George W Bush joins his Cabinet as they bow their heads, September 14, 2001, before beginning their meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Newly released images show president George W Bush in the moments before and after hearing of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Here the president is seen with his Chief of Staff Andrew Card. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: President George W. Bush talks on the telephone with Vice President Dick Cheney and others, September 11, 2001, during the flight from Sarasota, Florida to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

IMAGE: Bush prepares a speech to the nation at the Florida school. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Bush reviews his speech before addressing the nation from the Oval Office. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: President George W. Bush surveys the damage to the Pentagon from the presidential helicopter, Marine One, September 14, 2001, as he travels to New York City. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: Pledging support for New York, President George Bush talks with Governor George Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, September 13, 2001, in a televised telephone conversation from the Oval Office. "Mr. President, you would be proud of the leadership and the cooperation we've seen here," said the governor. Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

IMAGE: "...I will carry this," said President Bush during a joint session of Congress, September 20, 2001. "It is the police shield of a man named George Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others. ...This is my reminder of lives that ended, and a task that does not end." Photograph: Eric Draper/Courtesy of the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum
A special court on Wednesday reserved till May 13 its order on the bail application filed by senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal who was arrested in a money laundering case in connection with the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam.

Special Judge of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court, PR Bhavke heard the arguments of lawyers of Bhujbal and Enforcement Directorate before reserving the order.

The court also extended the judicial custody of Bhujbal and his nephew and former MP, Sameer till May 25. The duo is lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

Bhujbal's lawyer Prasad Dhakepalkar told the court that the application for bail is based on medical grounds as the former minister is suffering from various ailments and needs constant monitoring by doctors.

Though there is a restriction on granting bail to an accused arrested under PMLA there is an exception for those who are old, for women and those who are unwell, he said.

Dhakepalkar said Bhujbal is suffering from multiple diseases and his condition may worsen if he is not granted bail.

However, the ED opposed the application saying Bhujbal's health is being monitoring twice in day by chief medical officer in the jail and that all possible treatment has been extended to him.

The agency had filed two FIRs against Bhujbals and others under the anti-money laundering laws, based on FIRs filed by Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau, to probe alleged irregularities in the construction of the state guest house 'Maharashtra Sadan' in Delhi and the Kalina land-grabbing case in Mumbai.
Mumbai police on Thursday issued licence to two dance bars as the per the new guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra government.

Licences were issued to Raj Naik of Sai Prasad Bar at Andheri and Bharat Thakur of Indiyana Bar at Tardeo, a senior official told PTI.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to grant licences to eight dance bars within two days and asked the owners to give an undertaking that they would not engage employees with criminal antecedents near the dance area.

Of the eight dance bars, two owners were out of town. The remaining six dance bar owners had to reach Mumbai Police Headquarters, pay fee of Rs 2 lakh and obtain licenses, police said.

Of these, four bar owners could not reach the headquarters on time and they will be given licences on Friday, the officer said.

According to the new conditions, dance bars must be at least a kilometre from any education or religious institution, their timings restricted between 6 PM and 11.30 PM, and liquor not to be served in the performance area.
A sum of Rs two crore was on Wednesday seized from the residence and other premises of a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate and his son at Karur, a senior electoral officer said.

Income Tax authorities recovered the cash from the residence and other premises of Aravakurichi DMK candidate KC Palanichamy and his son KCP Shivaraman at Karur, the officer said.

IT authorities had carried out the 'raids' on receiving information and a probe was on to ascertain the nature of the money seized, the officer said.

IT and electoral officials have been conducting searches at many places in the state to check inflow of illegal money.

In Madurai, a local All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary was arrested near Tirumangalam on the charge of attempting to bribe voters and Rs 81,000 seized from him, police said.

On a tip-off, police rushed and arrested Jeevanandam, Secretary of AIADMK's Periyavaakaikulam, when he was trying to distribute money to voters in the village, they said.

Police said it seized Rs 81,000 cash from him.
Diplomatic and Congressional sources tell Rediff.com that for all intents and purposes, the F-16 sale is dead.

Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com reports from Washington, DC.

Nisha Desai Biswal, the Obama administration's point person for South Asia, has acknowledged that the administration has heard the United States Congress' concern over the proposed sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan loud and clear, and admitted that supply of these planes to Islamabad is in limbo.

Diplomatic and Congressional sources told Rediff.com that after the administration, in a surprising about-face last month -- after being enthusiastic about the sale and shrugging aside India's concerns -- told Pakistan that if Islamababad wanted the planes, it would have to pay for it and United States taxpayers' money would not be approved by Congress to subsidise it, for all intents and purposes, this deal was dead.

Appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific to seek Congressional support for the administration's foreign aid request for South Asia for fiscal year 2017, Biswal -- the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs -- said, 'Let me start by saying we have a very important relationship between the United States and India and we also have a very important relationship between the United States and Pakistan.'

'Each relationship stands on its own merits and in furtherance of our goals and interests with both countries, we don't see them in any way as being zero-sum,' she said.

'The F-16 platform is one that we have felt has been used successfully in combating terrorism and that has been the basis on which the administration put forward the notification to provide additional eight F-16s,' Biswal told the subcommittee.

"However," she added, "we understand the very serious concerns that have been raised by Congress and those concerns are right now being taken into consideration. And, so, I don't have an update for you with regard to that notification and where it goes."

"I will say that we have recognised the concerns that Congress has raised with us," Biswal added.

She was responding to questions by subcommittee chairman, Representative Matt Salmon, Arizona Republican, who asked Biswal 'if the sale is in limbo right now' and recalled that at the previous hearing of the full committee 'there was a loud voice' over the proposed sale to which India had objected.

'I do believe that the administration has listened to what Congress said,' Salmon said, and told Biswal, 'I believe you are trying to be responsive and I want to compliment you for that because this was across the aisle.'

'This (concern about the sale),' Salmon pointed out, 'wasn't just Republicans or Democrats -- this was across the aisle. A lot of concern was expressed and to its credit, I believe the administration is taking these things into account and I want to thank you for that'

Last month, in the wake of some powerful US Senators, led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican, putting a hold on US taxpayers' money being used to subsidise these sales to Pakistan, State Department Spokesman John Kirby had said, 'While Congress has approved the sale, key members have made clear that they object to using foreign military financing to support it.'

'Consequently,' Kirby said, 'Given Congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose.'

On February 11, the State Department had informed Congress about its decision to provide Pakistan with 8 fighter aircraft at an estimated cost of $700 million and all the lobbying against it by the Indian government seemed to have come to naught.

Senior administration officials from Secretary of State John F Kerry downwards argued that it was 'a legacy sale' and Pakistan needed the aircraft to assist in its counter-terrorism efforts.

But Senator Corker put a hold on the sale, arguing that it would not let the Obama administration use taxpayers' money to subsidise these sales, particularly when it was hard to justify when Islamabad was not coming down hard against terrorist organisations operating from its territory, particularly the Haqqani Network, and that safe havens for these groups continued to exist in Pakistan.

'Effective engagement with Pakistan, we believe, is critical to promoting the consolidation of democratic institutions and economic stability in supporting the government's counterterrorism activities and capabilities,' Kirby, expressing the administration's disappointment over the Congressional hold, said.

'As a matter of long-standing principle, the Department of State opposes conditions to the release of appropriated foreign assistance funds,' Kirby complained. 'We believe that such conditions limit the President and the secretary (of state's ability to conduct foreign policy in the best interest of the United States.'

Salmon, at an earlier House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing, asserted that Pakistan 'too often does the bare minimum to keep the money flowing without real change. Pakistan's priorities are seriously misaligned with our own.'

'Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgment and timing of such a sale,' Salmon said. 'Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some questions whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan has asserted.'
The widow of a slain Dalit youth, who was hacked to death in March this year in a case of honour killing, allegedly attempted suicide on Thursday and has been hospitalised, police said.

Kausalya, 19 fell unconscious at her in-laws' house near Udumalpet in Tirupur district after consuming poisonous cow dung powder and was rushed to a government hospital in that town.

The police, quoting her relatives, said she was depressed after the death of her husband.

Doctors attending on her said her condition was stable.

Communist Party of India-Marxist and Tamil Nadu secretary G Ramakrishnan, who visited the hospital, told reporters that the need of the hour was strong counselling for Kausalya.

He said he would try to convince her not to resort to take such drastic steps.

Kausalya had survived the March 13 attack when three persons attacked her and her 22-year-old husband Shankar with sickles in full public view near a bus stand in Udumalpet, allegedly at the behest of her father, a caste Hindu who was opposed to their inter-caste marriage.

Shankar had died on his way to the hospital.

Kausalya had blamed her father, who surrendered before a local court in Nilakottai in Dindigal district, for the attack.

Video footage of the attack had gone viral triggering an outrage. Five persons, including the girl's mother, were arrested.

Kausalya has been staying with her in-laws ever since she was discharged from hospital on March 28.
'Drought in the 1990s was essentially the drought of a poor India.'

'This 2016 drought is of a richer and more water-guzzling India.'

'The severity and intensity of the drought is not about lack of rainfall.'

'It is about the lack of planning and foresight, and criminal neglect.'

On Wednesday, May 11, the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre and states for its tardy response to the drought ravaging India.

Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com on the huge crisis which affects 330 million people in 10 states.

And please do read the related heart-rending reports at the bottom of Rashme's special report.

IMAGE: The young and the old are tasked with fetching water in drought-hit Latur, Maharashtra. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

A dance of death is taking place in the drought-affected villages of Marathwada.

Kevalbai Kamble, 45, was standing in a queue for over two hours in the drought-affected Latur district to fetch water from a borewell. The intense heat took its toll. She collapsed, was rushed to the local government hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.

In Beed, Sachin Kengar, 9, slipped and drowned while trying to draw water from a well whose water levels had fallen by 30 feet or so. The villagers tried to revive him, but failed.

A few days earlier, Yogita Desai, 12, died of dehydration while making her fourth trip in the day to draw water from a borewell. The day on which she died, the temperature in Beed, one of the seven drought-affected districts in Marathwada for the third year in a row, was over 42 degrees Celsius.

Over 330 million people across ten states of India suffer severe water shortage due to the failure of the monsoons. Telangana and Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh are amongst the worst affected and children have being entrusted with the task of making multiple trips to borewells and wells to draw water in blazing temperatures.

Already, government estimates that more than 200 people have died due to heatstroke.

Met department officials say they have not recorded such high temperatures for April in the last 100 years.

Farmers remain the worst affected in these drought-affected regions and suicides are rising alarmingly in these areas. On an average, National Crime Recording Bureau statistics highlight that there are over 10 farmers' suicides every day in Maharashtra for ten years in a row.

Suicides have gone up 42 per cent. On an average 3,685 farmers in Maharashtra have taken their lives every year from 2004 to 2013.

If this situation was not alarming enough, water availability in India's 91 reservoirs has reached its lowest levels in a decade, with stocks in Maharashtra presently dipping to 2 per cent of their total storage capacity according to the Central Water Commission. Levels in aquifers have also reached an all time low.

The government now depends on the monsoon to help end this drought without bothering to analyse that its policies have brought the country to this pass.

"Indian inequality is reflected in the way the government distributes water with India having the largest number of people without access to water," points out P Sainath, author of the acclaimed Everybody Loves A Drought.

" "There is a massive rural to urban diversion of water taking place," explains Sainath who has extensively reported on farmers' suicides. "While water is rural (in its generation), its consumption is urban. And even in the cities, slum dwellers receive between 40 to 70 litres per person per day while those living in (the posh) Malabar Hill in Mumbai get up to 500 litres per person per day."

"Water allocation is extremely lopsided," he adds. "Maharashtra has 38 districts. While Mumbai, Pune and Thane receive 53 per cent of water allocated in the state, 17 districts receive only one per cent of the drinking water. Beed gets one percent of the drinking water though it is the most drought affected."

The problem of drought is directly linked to irrigation because while the government has allocated Rs 1.8 lakh crore (Rs 18 trillion) for irrigation purposes, no financial allocation has been made for rural communities that do dry farming.

"A large swathe of farmers do not receive irrigated water. Why are we not promoting the growth of millets and pulses which are in such a short supply?" asks Sainath.

"In order to grow dal and pulses, the farmers need an assured income and for that we need a price policy. It is this lack of policy which has seen farmers move to high yielding crops and hybrid varieties in water deficit areas thereby lowering the ground water table even further," explains Sainath.

"The Economic Survey for this year highlighted that the average income of farmers was Rs 20,000 per annum. The average income per hectare for a farmer is as little as Rs 3,000. The government has deliberately kept agriculture impoverished, forcing farmers to leave their land. This is being deliberately pursued," he adds.

Speaking at the National Consultation on Drought in the capital, Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment, says, "Drought in the 1990s was essentially the drought of a poor India. This 2016 drought is of a richer and more water-guzzling India.

"This classless drought makes for a crisis that is more severe and calls for solutions that are more complex," says Narain. "The severity and intensity of the drought is not about lack of rainfall; it is about the lack of planning and foresight, and criminal neglect. The drought is human-made."

"Drought and food security are critically linked," says Richard Mahapatra, editor, Down to Earth. "Drought-prone districts account for 42 per cent of the country's cultivable land. For maintaining food security, even at the current nutritional levels, an additional 100 million tonnes of food grains need to be produced by 2020. According to estimates, 40 per cent of this additional supply has to come from these districts."

Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan has stressed that the government must invoke the drought code in all these drought-affected areas so that farmers can be provided with proper relief as has been established by the drought manual.

Yogendra Yadav, national convenor, Swaraj Abhiyan, expresses the fear that the drought is turning into a famine especially in Bundelkhand, Marathwada and Telangana where villagers face an acute food scarcity.

Yadav evoked the real picture of drought through a letter from a Marathwada farmer which formed the basis of the PIL filed in the Supreme Court.

"There is a possibility that the drought will get worse in the future," says Yadav. "This is a policy induced disaster."

Environmental activist Darryl D'Monte believes the water crisis in Maharashtra has got worse because farmers, instead of growing millet, sorghum and other cereals have moved to growing water-guzzling sugarcane. D'Monte believes Maharashtra's powerful sugarcane lobby has deliberately ignored local climatic conditions in pursuit of profits.

Failed harvests have forced farmers to mortgage their land in order to buy seeds and fertilisers. Their failure to return these high interest loans have driven them to suicide.

Unfortunately, politicians do not seem to have any understanding of the problems being faced by the majority of Indians because they continue to indulge in tokenism rather than take effective steps towards mitigation.

Sunita Narain has suggested a three-pronged action plan to combat drought. The steps she has recommended include the need to build more water harvesting structures as part of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act programme. All non-essential use of water including the watering of lawns to hosing down cars needed to be stopped and strong targets needed to be set to ensure reduced water consumption year on year.

Farmers possess traditional wisdom and if they had been allowed to follow their indigenous water management practices, this drought could have been avoided.

Instead, decades of groundwater abuse and populist water policies combined with climate change and an erratic monsoon have turned practically the whole country from Haryana to Bihar and from Maharashtra to Karnataka into a vast dust bowl.
Signalling newfound bonhomie, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the powerful House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday met face to face for the first time and vowed to unite the party to ensure victory in the November polls.

IMAGE: Donald Trump arrives at the Republican National Committee for a meeting with Paul Ryan on Capitol Hill in Washington, US. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

"The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents," Trump and Ryan said in a joint statement after their meeting at the Republican National Committee headquarters near the US Capitol.

The two leaders said they are "totally committed to working together" and called for "shared principles" and a "conservative agenda".

The much anticipated meeting comes a week after Ryan said he is not ready yet to support Trump as the party's presidential nominee.

But, in a softening of stance, Ryan on Tuesday had indicated that he may back Trump after getting to know him better.

Trump, 69, emerged as the party's presumptive presidential nominee after winning the Indiana primary in which he defeated Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Cruz and the other Republican candidate Ohio Governor John Kasich dropped out of the race soon after.

"It is critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall," Trump and Ryan said in their statement, according to which the two leaders had a "great conversation".

However, they also acknowledged that their were differences between them.

"While we are honest about our differences, we recognise that there are also many important areas of common ground," the statement said.

"We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there is a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal," it said.

"This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification," said the statement, which fell short of a formal endorsement of Trump by Ryan.

Ryan said he would work with Trump to prevent Clinton of the Democratic party from entering the White House by winning the November general elections.

"We want to beat Hillary Clinton," Ryan told a crowded news conference at the Capitol Hill soon after his meeting with Trump.

"We had a very encouraging meeting. Look, it's no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences. We talked about those differences today. That's common knowledge. The question is: What is it that we need to do to unify the Republican Party and all strains of conservative wings in the party? We had a very good and encouraging, productive conversation on just how to do that," Ryan said.

"It was important that we discussed our differences that we have. But it's also important that we discussed the core principles that tie us all together; principles like the Constitution, the separation of powers, the fact that we have an executive that has gone way beyond the boundaries of the Constitution and how it's important to us that we restore Article I of the Constitution," Ryan said.

"It's the principle of self-government. We talked about life and how strongly we feel about this core principle. We talked about the Supreme Court and things like this. I was very encouraged with what I heard from Donald Trump today," he said.

"I do believe that we are now planting the seeds to get ourselves unified, to bridge the gaps and differences. And so from here, we are going to go deeper into the policy areas to see where that common ground and how we can make sure that we are operating off the same core principles," Ryan added.

The two leaders met for 45 minutes to discuss a series of issues and draw a road map to sort out their differences.

"I was very encouraged with this meeting, but this is a process. It takes a little time, he said in response to a question.

However, Ryan did not give a 'Yes' or 'No' answer if he has endorsed Trump.

"I think this is going in a positive direction. And I think this was a first, very encouraging meeting," he said.

"It is important that the kind of conversation we had is between the two of us. And no offense, I don't want to litigate our conversation through the media, because I think when you're beginning to get to know someone, you have a good conversation of trust between each other," Ryan said.

"So, I want to keep the things we discussed between the two of us, because they were very important and they were personal in some senses. And that means we talked about what it takes to unify, where our differences were and how we can bridge these gaps going forward, so that we are strong as a party going into the fall," Ryan said.
Over 200 teachers from across India and abroad have written to Delhi University's vice-chancellor asking him to revoke Professor G N Saibaba's suspension so that he can rejoin his college.

Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com

GN Saibaba's harassment continues unabated with the principal of Delhi's Ram Lal Anand College showing an apparent disinclination toward the professor's application to rejoin the faculty.

Dr Saibaba, who teaches English, suffers from 90 per cent disability. He was arrested by the Maharashtra police for alleged Maoist links, but was released from Nagpur prison following a Supreme Court order issued on April 4, whereby he was granted unconditional bail.

Dr Saibaba arrived in Delhi on April 8 and immediately informed the college principal of his desire to rejoin duty at the college at the earliest.

Professor Saibaba's letter sent on April 8, read: 'This is to inform you that I was released from detention on April 7 following the Supreme Court order date April 4 2016. As I have been suffering from health problems, I will go in for a medical check up in the next two to three days and I shall see you in your office as soon as possible.'

Professor Saibaba received a reply from the college asking him to submit all his papers adding that there should be no gaps in service.

The principal also informed Dr Saibaba that a decision on his rejoining would be taken by the college's governing body as 'this decision was not in his hands.' Another teacher at the college pointed out that the principal is also a member of the governing body.

The governing body asked Umesh Sharma -- a member of the governing body of two other Delhi colleges -- to look into Professor Saibaba's case.

According to Delhi University rules, a person is not permitted to be a member of three governing bodies concurrently.

Professor Saibaba made his way to his college on April 22 only to be disallowed an interaction with students in the English literature department.

A group of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists gherao-ed him and accused him of being a 'terrorist' and of being 'anti-national.'

The principal sent Professor Saibaba a letter scolding him for entering the college without the governing body's prior permission.

The principal's letter asked how he had entered the classroom to hold an interactive session with the students, video clips of which were posted on social media.

'The governing body has taken a serious note of your aforementioned unauthorised conduct of entering the classroom during your suspension without any written permission from the competent authority,' the letter stated.

'You are hereby asked not to enter the college except the office area with the college administration's permission as this creates law and order problems. Violation of this will be treated as misconduct and interference in the activities of the college and you shall be further liable for actions for the same,' the letter warned Professor Saibaba.

Umesh Sharma -- the one-man committee appointed by the college management to examine Professor Saibaba's case -- has issued a letter asking for his medical records and information regarding his foreign travels which Dr Saibaba believes is another form of harassment.

Over 200 teachers from across India and abroad have written to Delhi University's vice-chancellor asking him to revoke Professor Saibaba's suspension so that he can rejoin his college.

'We appeal to you to intervene and reinstate Dr Saibaba without any further delay as you are the head of the university under which Ram Lal Anand College is directly maintained as a department according to the university ordinances,' the letter states.

'Further, the highly reprehensible orders such as banning the entry of a permanent employee under temporary suspension must be dealt with firm action are taken against the hooligans who attacked and abused Dr Saibaba in full public view,' the letter added.

Teachers from Oxford University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of New Mexico, Stanford University, universities in Brazil and South Africa as also professors from colleges in Delhi have signed this letter.

Professor Saibaba also points out that he is facing financial pressure. 'Central government employees under suspension are entitled to receive 75 per cent of their salaries,' the professor said, 'but I have been receiving only 50 per cent. That has created a difficult situation for me financially.'
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.
Nigeria: Babies and children dying in military detention

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 11 May 2016 Related Document(s) "If You See It, You Will Cry" - Life and Death in Giwa Barracks Cite as Amnesty International, Nigeria: Babies and children dying in military detention, 11 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342d924.html [accessed 25 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.

Eleven children under the age of six, including four babies, are among 149 people who have died this year following their detention in horrendous conditions in the notorious Giwa barracks detention centre in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Amnesty International reveals today.

Evidence gathered through interviews with former detainees and eyewitnesses, supported by video and photos, shows many detainees may have died from disease, hunger, dehydration, and gunshots wounds. The briefing, "If you see it, you will cry": Life and death in Giwa barracks, also contains satellite imagery which corroborates witness testimonies.

"The discovery that babies and young children have died in appalling conditions in military detention is both harrowing and horrifying. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the high death rate of detainees in Giwa barracks but these findings show that, for both adults and children, it remains a place of death," said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International's Research and Advocacy Director for Africa.

"There can be no excuses and no delay. The detention facilities in Giwa barracks must be immediately closed and all detainees released or transferred to civilian authorities. The government must urgently introduce systems to ensure the safety and well-being of children released from detention."

Amnesty International believes that around 1,200 people are currently detained at Giwa barracks in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Many were arbitrarily rounded up during mass arrests, often with no evidence against them. Once inside the barracks, they are incarcerated without access to the outside world or trial. At least 120 of those detained are children.

Detention and deaths of children

At least 12 children have died in Giwa barracks since February. Children under five years old, including babies, have been held in three overcrowded women's cells. In the last year there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of detainees in these cells rising from 25 in 2015 to 250 in early 2016. Unsanitary conditions mean that disease is rife. Amnesty International understands that there were around 20 babies and children under five in each of the three cells.

One witness told Amnesty International that they saw the bodies of eight dead children including a five-month-old, two one-year-olds, a two-year-old, a three-year-old, a four-year-old and two five-year-olds.

Two former detainees reported that two boys and a girl, aged between one and two years old, died in February 2016. One of the detainees, a 20-year-old woman, who had been held in a women's cell for more than two months in 2016 told Amnesty International: "Three died while we were there. When the children died the reaction was too much sadness."

The other witness, a 40-year-old woman detained in Giwa barracks for more than four months, told Amnesty International that soldiers ignored pleas for medical attention: "Measles started when hot season started. In the morning, two or three [were ill], by the evening five babies [were ill]. You will see the fever, the [baby's] body is very hot and they will cry day and night. The eyes were red and the skin will have some rashes. Later some medical personnel came and confirmed that this is measles."

After the deaths of these children she says that more regular medical checks began. She told Amnesty International: "Every two days the medical personnel will come to the yard and say 'bring out the children who are sick'. The doctor will see them at the door and give them medicine through the door."

Despite these measures, it appears that children have continued to die. Between 22 and 25 April a one-year-old boy, a five-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl died.

Boys over five, arrested alone or with their parents, were held in a single cell. As with all detainees at the barracks, they were denied access to their families and held incommunicado.

Two boys who were detained in this cell told Amnesty International that they got no family visits and they were not allowed out of the cell except to be counted by soldiers.

One of the boys described how families arrested together were separated on arrival at Giwa. "Their father was in a cell and mother inside the women's cell and the girls stayed with the mothers."

Describing conditions of detention he told Amnesty International: "It is hunger and thirst and the heat  these are the main problems." The other boy detained in the same cell confirmed: "The food was not enough. There was very little food."

Mass public releases of detainees, including young children and babies, earlier this year, have demonstrated that the detention of children in Giwa barracks is no secret.

On 12 February 2016, at a release ceremony for 275 Giwa detainees who had been wrongly held on "suspicion of being involved in terrorist or insurgent activities," Major General Hassan Umaru, stated that among the 275 detainees released were "142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged, 50 children of cleared females." According to military statements, media reports and witness statements, the military has released at least 162 children since July 2015.

Detention and deaths of adults

At least 136 men have died in detention in Giwa in 2016 including 28 men who appeared to have gunshot wounds.

Photographic and video evidence of emaciated corpses of 11 men and the body of child under two years old has been forensically analysed by an independent expert. A former detainee told Amnesty International: "In the morning they open the cell and take the urine and stool [buckets] outside. Next the coffin [corpses] will be taken outside."

Bodies were brought to a mortuary in Maiduguri and from there Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) personnel took them in rubbish trucks for burial in unmarked mass graves in the Gwange cemetery.

One witness told Amnesty International that since November 2015 a BOSEPA rubbish truck has visited the cemetery two or three times a week where staff bury the bodies separate from the public area of the cemetery.

Photos taken inside the cemetery show recently dug graves in the area visited by the BOSEPA workers. Satellite images taken on November 2015 and March 2016 show disturbed earth in this location.

Horrific detention conditions

According to witness testimony, conditions were worst in the men's cells. One 38 year-old man who spent four months in Giwa in 2016 told Amnesty International that inmates received about half a litre of water per day. "There is a small plastic bowl for food. People use it for small children. It is just that for each meal."

Another man, recently released after five months detention in the barracks, told Amnesty International: "There is no mat inside so you sleep on the floor. It is very congested. You can lie down, but only on your side and you cannot turn from one side to the other."

Detainees have no washing facilities, their cells are rarely cleaned and disease is rife. Another former inmate told Amnesty International "No-one has a shirt so you can count the ribs of their body. There is no cleaning, so you live in disease. It is like a toilet. Me and my brother were sick inside the cell. Diarrhoea was common."

Despite steps taken to improve conditions in Giwa barracks in 2014 and 2015 with detainees receiving food three times a day, as well as blankets, sleeping mats and increased access to sanitary facilities and medical assistance, recent mass arrests appear to have erased some of these gains and death rates are on the increase.

"Faced with an enemy as brutal as Boko Haram a key challenge for the Nigerian military is to defeat them whilst still fully respecting human rights and the rule of law. This is a challenge that they seem to be failing," said Netsanet Belay.

"Deaths of detainees in north-east Nigeria are nothing new. But as overcrowding increases so does the number of emaciated corpses emerging from Giwa barracks, with babies and young children among the dead.

"Almost a year after our findings revealed that huge numbers had died in detention, it is now time for President Buhari to uphold his pledge to launch an urgent investigation into these deaths, release the children and shut down Giwa barracks detention centre without delay."

For photos, satellite images and a copy of the report: visit https://amnesty.box.com/s/3g27l903xwlxnnh7x62z3srivgr6a0zo

See Amnesty International report on deaths of detainees from June 2015 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/06/nigeria-senior-members-of-military-must-be-investigated-for-war-crimes/

Background

At least 149 detainees have died in the detention facility in Giwa barracks, Maiduguri between January and 28 April 2016. The deadliest month was March with 65 deaths. April saw 39 deaths including eight babies and children.

Concerns about conditions in Giwa barracks and other military detention facilities have been raised since 2013. In June 2015, an Amnesty International report revealed that 7,000 detainees had died in military detention in Nigeria since 2011 as a result of starvation, thirst, disease, torture and a lack of medical attention. The report revealed that in 2013, more than 4,700 bodies were brought to a mortuary from Giwa barracks.

In February 2016, the Chief of Army Staff told Amnesty International that conditions in military detention were significantly better than documented in Amnesty's report. He stated that Giwa barracks and other military detention facilities in the north-east are "holding centres" and suspects are rapidly transferred to a detention facility outside the north-east.

Overcrowding in Giwa barracks is a consequence of a system of arbitrary mass arrest and detention in Borno state. As the military recaptured towns under Boko Haram control during 2015, nearby villagers fled to these military-controlled areas. People, particularly men and teenage boys, were arrested as they arrived in towns such as Banki and Bama, or after spending time in internally displaced people's (IDP) camps. Amnesty International has documented three cases of such mass arbitrary arrest in 2016 involving several hundred people. These arrests appear to be arbitrary, random profiling based on the individual sex and age rather than evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Amnesty International wrote to the Chief of Army Staff on 12 April 2016, requesting a response to its evidence and further information on deaths in detention. On 20 April 2016 the Chief of Army Staff replied, directing Amnesty International to the office of the Attorney General. There was no response to the evidence raised in the letter. Amnesty International wrote to the Attorney General and Chief of Defence Staff on 27 April 2016. No response has been received to date.

Released detainees are likely to face stigma as a result of their detention. The government must therefore urgently establish mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of former detainees, especially children.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Bangladesh: Nizami execution will not deliver justice

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 10 May 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Bangladesh: Nizami execution will not deliver justice, 10 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342e384.html [accessed 25 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami today is a deplorable move by the Bangladeshi authorities which will not deliver justice to the victims of war crimes, Amnesty International said today.

Motiur Rahman Nizami, the current chief of Bangladeshi political party Jamaat-e-Islami, was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail today. He was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh in October 2014 after he was convicted of charges relating murder, torture, rape and the mass killing of intellectuals during Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971.

"We are dismayed that Bangladeshi authorities have executed Motiur Rahman Nizami. The victims of the horrific events of the 1971 Liberation War are entitled to justice, but taking another life is not the answer," said Champa Patel, Amnesty International's Director of the South Asia Regional Office

"The death penalty is always a human rights violation, but its use is even more troubling when the execution follows a flawed process. There are serious questions about the fairness of Motiur Rahman Nizami's trial - and of proceedings before the ICT more generally - that have not been addressed. Victims of past atrocities deserve better than a flawed process.

"We urge the Bangladeshi authorities to join most of the world by turning its back on this cruel and irreversible punishment, and impose a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty with a view to its eventual repeal."

The government has a duty to ensure accountability for war crimes, and it is positive that the Bangladeshi authorities are taking steps in this direction. But many credible organizations including Amnesty International and the UN have raised serious and important issues around the fairness of the ICT trials which have not been addressed.

"Today's decision comes at a politically sensitive time for Bangladesh, and all sides must ensure calm prevails across the country. Security forces should ensure that the right to peaceful protest is respected, while political leaders on all sides should call on their supporters to refrain from human rights abuses," said Champa Patel.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner.

Background

At least 197 people were sentenced to death in Bangladesh in 2015, including four people sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Bangladesh carried out four executions in 2015, three of whom were sentenced by the ICT.

The ICT is a Bangladeshi court set up by the Government in 2010 to investigate mass scale human rights violations committed during the Bangladeshi 1971 Independence War. Amnesty International welcomed the Government's move to bring those responsible to justice, but insisted that the accused should receive fair trials without recourse to the death penalty. The proceedings of the Tribunal in previous cases were marked with severe irregularities and violations of the right to a fair trial.

During Motiur Rahman Nizami's trial the prosecution was allowed to call on 22 witnesses, while the defence was arbitrarily limited to only four. According to Nizami's legal team, the defence was also prevented cross-examining a key prosecution witness. The defence team was also only given three weeks to prepare for trial, while the prosecution were granted 22 months to conduct their investigation.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Philippines: New President should break cycle of human rights violations, not compound them

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 10 May 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Philippines: New President should break cycle of human rights violations, not compound them, 10 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342e864.html [accessed 25 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.

If President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is serious about introducing change in the Philippines, he must turn his back on the history of human rights violations and end the prevailing culture of impunity, Amnesty International said today.

Rodrigo Duterte, the former Mayor of Davao city, is set to become the newly-elected President of the Philippines after leading the voting in the 9 May 2016 election. Duterte's principal rivals have conceded defeat.

"If Rodrigo Duterte is serious about bringing change to the Philippines, he should address the dire human rights situation in the country and put an end to extrajudicial executions, unlawful arrests, secret detention as well as torture and other ill-treatment," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's Director for South East Asia and the Pacific.

During the course of the presidential election campaign, Duterte has issued a series of inflammatory statements that, if enacted, would contravene the Philippines' international human rights obligations, including his promise to reduce crime rates by shooting suspected criminals.

"As leader of the Philippines, the President-elect must protect and uphold human rights, not reject them. This includes the right to life, due process and fair trial," said Rafendi Djamin.

"The way to bring about true and lasting change for the Philippines is by putting in place robust, transparent and accountable mechanisms to bring about an end to longstanding human rights violations. Threatening to introduce a culture of impunity, as Rodrigo Duterte has done in recent weeks, will only exacerbate the problems that he campaigned to resolve."

Background: First 100 days

In November 2015, Amnesty International published a human rights agenda for the Philippines' next President outlining five areas which should be top of their human rights agenda in their first 100 days. These include:

Putting an end to extrajudicial executions, unlawful arrests, secret detention, enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment.

Issue an executive order that clearly states the administration's commitment to prioritize putting a stop to the practice of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in the country.

Ensure immediate and effective implementation of Administrative Order 35 guidelines to address torture and other ill-treatment, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances.

Create and prioritize a viable presidential commission to review all cases of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, including victims of vigilante groups such as the Davao Death Squad.

Establish control and accountability over the military, police and other state-sponsored forces, and ensure witness protection.

Revoke Executive Order 546, which directs the Philippine National Police to support the military in its counterinsurgency work, including through the use of militias and paramilitary groups.

Ensure that the military exercises full control over all state-sponsored militias and paramilitary groups, and that the Department of National Defense clearly define and differentiate their purposes, chain of command and accountability mechanisms, or otherwise disarm and disband them.

Disarm and disband all private armies.

Implement through an executive order a clear and transparent mechanism that prevents the appointment or promotion of persons who face allegations or have records of grave human rights abuses from the Commission on Human Rights to senior levels of government, law enforcement and the judiciary, as well as for the provincial, regional and national command posts for the military.

Ensure the safe and voluntary return of the displaced, and embed human rights protection in the peace process.

Order the relevant Departments to take stock of the current situation of long-term displaced populations in Mindanao due to conflict and disasters, and ensure the full compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

Make human rights a priority integrated across government bodies.

Declare as a presidential priority bill the charter of the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines, facilitating its approval in both legislative branches;

Through an executive order, integrate all human rights principles into government policies and practices.

Ratify key treaties on human rights and international humanitarian law.

Immediately sign the Optional Protocol of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to facilitate the process of ratification within the new administration's term;

Immediately sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances as a step towards ratification; and,

Immediately ratify the international Arms Trade Treaty.

Duterte was the only candidate who did not provide a response to the agenda.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Cote d'Ivoire: Trial of Simone Gbagbo opens

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 9 May 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Cote d'Ivoire: Trial of Simone Gbagbo opens, 9 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342ecb4.html [accessed 25 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.

While today's trial of former first lady Simone Gbagbo is an important step towards ending impunity in Cote d'Ivoire, Amnesty International maintains that the Ivorian authorities should reconsider their refusal to comply with their obligation to surrender her to the International Criminal Court (ICC) pursuant to an arrest warrant against her on charges of crimes against humanity.

Simone Gbagbo is set to go on trial today in Abidjan on charges of crimes against humanity related to the post-election violence in 2010-2011. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence that ensued when her husband Laurent Gbagbo refused to relinquish power after losing an election.

"Unless Cote d'Ivoire applies to the International Criminal Court to again challenge the admissibility of her case they must immediately surrender Simone Gbagbo to the ICC," said Gaetan Mootoo, West Africa researcher for Amnesty International.

"If the domestic trial continues, Cote d'Ivoire must ensure its proceedings comply with international human rights law standards, including the right to a fair trial. Cote d'Ivoire must show the world it is serious about delivering post-conflict justice to victims of all crimes."

Background

Simone Gbagbo has been charged by the ICC with crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts. An arrest warrant was issued against her on 22 February 2012.

In 2014, an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber rejected a challenge by Cote d'Ivoire against the admissibility of the case, which was confirmed on appeal in 2015. Cote d'Ivoire has so far refused to surrender her to the ICC.

Simone Gbagbo's husband, the former President Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude, an ally of Gbagbo's and leader of a militant youth group, are currently on trial before the ICC for crimes against humanity in relation to the post-election violence.

Simone Gbagbo was previously convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on 10 March 2015 on charges of participation in an insurrectional movement, conspiracy against the State, and disturbing public order.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
The dark side of Rio 2016: 20 families win fight to stay in their homes, against all odds

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 9 May 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, The dark side of Rio 2016: 20 families win fight to stay in their homes, against all odds, 9 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342f114.html [accessed 25 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.

It is a story with an unthinkable ending. A true fight of David against Goliath.

On the one hand, 20 families living in the ruins of what was once a vibrant community of 600 families set up five decades ago in front of what is now Rio's Olympic Park - and one of the city's property hotspots.

On the other, the unbreakable will of Rio de Janeiro's authorities, determined to vacate the land, despite having awarded the community the right to be there for a century.

Months of brutal fighting followed, in the courts and the streets - with more than half the community's inhabitants harassed to leave their homes and some violently evicted.

Maria da Penha, a 51-year-old mother of one and the most vocal member of the community, is finally smiling - albeit with caution.

Against all odds, the relentless campaign she headed for months managed to secure an agreement with the local municipality to allow the 20 families still standing to remain on their land. The local municipality agreed to build new homes from them - with construction due to start in May.

"There is still a lot of distrust because of everything the authorities have done to us, everything we went through. But when they start building the houses they promised, that will be a victory for us, for everybody who supported us and for the city as a whole. We are waiting for a happy ending," said Maria speaking at the church that has become her home after the house she had built was demolished last March.

A rocky road to victory

Tucked away in one of Rio de Janeiro's upcoming districts, 45 minutes from the fashionable Ipanema beach, barely 30 houses stand in the ruins of the neighbourhood that once housed some 600 families.

The few residents that remain are surrounded by reminders of the long and painful battle to hold onto their homes - piles of rubble, graffiti, burnt bags of rubbish, discarded toys and broken TV sets.

A year ago, Vila Autodromo was a vibrant community. It was known as one of Rio de Janeiro's few "peaceful favelas", a survivor of the relentless drug war that has blighted millions of lives. It had restaurants, a park for children, a cultural centre and a church.

But after the site became a property hotspot in one of the most expensive cities in South America, and with the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games looming, the authorities decided that the community had to go.

Maria and her neighbours fought back in the courts, spending years battling to remain on land they had the right to occupy.

A long battle

Perhaps without realizing it, through the seemingly endless battle to protect her community Maria da Penha Silva and many of her neighbours became activists. She moved to Vila Autodromo nearly three decades ago with the hope of a peaceful life. But a few years later, authorities began harassing families to leave their homes.

The latest threat came as soon as Rio de Janeiro was awarded the Olympic Games and the authorities begun scouting for locations for new facilities. This beautiful stretch of land, overlooking a lake, was a top choice.

Building work began almost immediately. The authorities wanted to ensure that by the time Rio welcomed the world, a perfectly neat park was the only thing standing between the Olympic Park - with its gymnasia, pools, arenas and media centre - and the busy road connecting it with the town centre.

Some residents were offered money or new apartments if they left. Many who moved now complain that their new accommodation is dangerous and badly built. Those who rejected the offer were slowly pressured to leave. Water and power were cut off, rubbish collections were cancelled and eventually the municipal guard showed up with bulldozers, evicting people from their homes without notice. Maria and others were badly injured during the evictions.

And so Maria lost the three-bedroom house that had taken her six years to build. She now lives with a neighbour, her few possessions packed in garbage bags liners and cardboard boxes in what used to be the community's church.

"Everything has been very difficult. I'm lucky to have had the strength to resist this. They knock down our homes but they cannot knock down our right to be here," says Maria.

Maria spends her days and nights walking around the community, checking on the neighbours who have become her family, and showing visitors what the place used to be like.

And it takes some imagination to picture the scene she describes with such passion. To picture the house that she built, to see the streets freed of rubble and rubbish, to imagine the 500 trees that once ringed the community and protected it from Rio's punishing heat. In fact, you can barely hear Maria speak above the deafening noise of trucks helping build the Olympic Village next door.

Today, Vila Autodromo and the Olympic Park spell out much that is wrong with Brazil. This symbol of Rio's international status lies beside the site of Maria's tragedy, across the abyss separating the wealthy few from the marginalized masses in South America's largest economy. Shiny, new buildings on one side, rubble and desperation on the other.

Their fight is an example to many other communities who, across Brazil, continue to fight for their right not to be kicked out of their homes.

Despite the agreement they managed to secure with the authorities, many questions remain as to how it will actually be implemented and when the residents of Vila Autodromo will have their new homes.

But for now, Maria is happy.

"They left me without money, without a home, without anything, but I was never going to give up. There are things you cannot put a price tag on. You cannot put a price on your happiness or on your human rights."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Mexico: Indigenous environmental activist named 'prisoner of conscience'

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 9 May 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Mexico: Indigenous environmental activist named 'prisoner of conscience', 9 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57342f7d4.html [accessed 25 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A Mexican man unfairly imprisoned in what appears to be a punishment for his peaceful activism against illegal logging must be released immediately and unconditionally, Amnesty International said as it named him a "prisoner of conscience".

Ildefonso Zamora Baldomero was arrested in November 2015 in the Indigenous Tlahuica community of San Juan Atzingo, 80km south-west of Mexico City. He is accused of participating in a burglary in July 2012.

"Ildefonso Zamora is being punished for speaking out against the damage being done to his community's territory and environment. He should have never been imprisoned in the first place and must be released immediately and unconditionally. Protecting the environment and defending human rights are not crimes," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

The burglary charges against Ildefonso Zamora are based on a series of fabricated testimonies. The prosecutor registered the testimonies of eyewitnesses who described the events using the exact same words as if reading them from a script, the crime scene was not preserved, and the evidence was not properly handled.

His arrest is part of a series of threats and harassment in relation to ahis anti-logging campaigns. In 2007, his son Aldo was murdered and his son Misael was injured in an attack which hasn't yet been fully investigated.

Speaking from prison, Idelfonso Zamora said: "I work to stop illegal logging, and that has cost me dearly: my son's life and my freedom. I want to continue working for my community because illegal logging is destroying large parts of the planet earth."

"Ildefonso's story represents the way many human rights defenders and grassroots activists are treated all over Mexico. He must not be made to languish in jail for a second longer. Instead, the Mexican authorities should re-direct their efforts to find those responsible for the attacks and political persecution against him and his family," said Erika Guevara-Rosas.

Prisoners of conscience are people who have been detained because of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs, or on the basis of their ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation or other status. It is a distinction Amnesty International only gives to individuals who have neither used nor advocated violence.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Thailand: UN Review Highlights Junta's Hypocrisy

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 11 May 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Thailand: UN Review Highlights Junta's Hypocrisy, 11 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573430774.html [accessed 25 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Thai government's pledges to the United Nations Human Rights Council to respect human rights and restore democratic rule have been mostly meaningless, Human Rights Watch said today. Thailand appeared before the council for its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva on May 11, 2016. The UPR is a UN examination of the human rights situation in each country.

On February 12, the Thai government submitted a report to the Human Rights Council, saying that it "attaches utmost importance to the promotion and protection of human rights of all groups of people." However, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta has severely repressed fundamental rights with impunity, tightened military control, and blatantly disregarded its international human rights obligations.

"The Thai government's responses to the UN review fail to show any real commitment to reversing its abusive rights practices or protecting fundamental freedoms," said John Fisher, Geneva director. "While numerous countries raised concerns about the human rights situation in Thailand, the Thai delegation said nothing that would dispel their fears of a continuing crisis."

The NCPO junta, led by Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, has engaged in increasingly repressive policies and practices since taking power in a May 2014 coup. Central to its rule is section 44 of the 2014 interim constitution, which provides the junta unlimited administrative, legislative, and judiciary powers, and explicitly prevents any oversight or legal accountability of junta actions.

Instead of paving the way for a return to democratic civilian rule as promised in its so-called "road map," the junta has imposed a political structure that seems designed to prolong the military's grip on power. A draft constitution, written by a junta-appointed committee, endorses unaccountable military involvement in governance even after a new government takes office.

The government has enforced media censorship, placed surveillance on the Internet and online communications, and aggressively restricted free expression. It has also increased repression against anyone openly critical of the junta's policies or practices. For example, in April, military authorities detained Watana Muangsook, a former minister, for four days for posting Facebook comments opposing the draft constitution, for which a referendum is scheduled for August 7.

Since the military takeover, the government continues to prosecute those it accuses of being involved in anti-coup activities or supporting the deposed elected government. At least 46 people have been charged with sedition for criticizing military rule and violating the junta's ban on public assembly. On April 28, eight people were arrested and charged with sedition and computer crimes for creating and posting satirical comments and memes mocking General Prayut on a Facebook parody page.

The government has made frequent use of Thailand's draconian law against "insulting the monarchy." The authorities have brought at least 59 lese majeste cases since the May 2014 coup, mostly for online commentary. On December 14, 2015, the junta brought lese majeste charges in military court against a man for spreading sarcastic Facebook images and comments that were deemed to be mocking the king's pet dog. Military courts have imposed harsh sentences: in August 2015, Pongsak Sriboonpeng received 60 years in prison for his alleged lese majeste Facebook postings (later reduced to 30 years when he pleaded guilty), the longest recorded sentence for lese majeste in Thailand's history.

Since the coup, the junta has summoned at least 1,340 activists, party supporters and human rights defenders for questioning and "adjusting" their political attitude. Failure to abide by an NCPO summons is a criminal offense subject to trial in military courts. Under junta orders, the military can secretly detain people without charge or trial and interrogate them without access to lawyers or safeguards against mistreatment. The government has summarily dismissed allegations that the military has tortured and ill-treated detainees but has provided no evidence to rebut these claims.

The government has increased its use of military courts, which lack independence and fail to comply with international fair trial standards, to try civilians  mostly targeting political dissidents and alleged lese majeste offenders. Since May 2014, at least 1,629 cases have been brought to military courts across Thailand.

Thailand's security forces continue to commit serious human rights violations with impunity. No policy makers, commanders, or soldiers have been punished for unlawful killings or other wrongful use of force during the 2010 political confrontations, which left at least 90 dead and more than 2,000 injured. Nor have any security personnel been criminally prosecuted for serious rights abuses related to counterinsurgency operations in the southern Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala provinces, where separatist insurgents have also committed numerous abuses. The government has shown no interest in investigating more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings related to then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "war on drugs" in 2003.

Thai authorities as well as private companies continue to use defamation lawsuits to retaliate against those who report human rights violations. The authorities have also brought trumped-up criminal charges against human rights lawyers to harass and retaliate against them. For example, on February 9, Bangkok police brought two charges against human rights lawyer Sirikan Charoensiri connected to her representation of pro-democracy activists in June 2015. There has been no progress in attempts to bring to justice perpetrators in the killing of land rights activist Chai Bunthonglek in February 2015, and three other activists affiliated with the Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand, who were shot dead in 2010 and 2012.

In November 2015, an international accrediting body recommended downgrading the status of Thailand's National Human Rights Commission based on concerns about its ineffectiveness, lack of independence, and flawed processes for selecting commissioners.

Thailand signed the Convention against Enforced Disappearance in January 2012 but has not ratified the treaty. The penal code still does not recognize enforced disappearance as a criminal offense. Thai authorities have yet to satisfactorily resolve any of the 64 enforced disappearance cases reported by Human Rights Watch, including the disappearances of prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit in March 2004 and ethnic Karen activist Por Cha Lee Rakchongcharoen, known as "Billy," in April 2014.

Although Thailand is a party to the Convention against Torture, the government's failure to enact an enabling law defining torture has been a serious impediment for enforcement of the convention. There is still no specific law in Thailand that provides for compensation in cases of torture.

Thailand is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Thai authorities treat asylum seekers as illegal migrants subject to arrest and deportation without a fair process to make their claim. The Thai government has forcibly returned refugees and asylum seekers to countries where they are likely to face persecution, in violation of international law and over protests from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and several foreign governments. These include the deportation of two Chinese activists to China in November 2015 and 109 ethnic Uighurs to China in July 2015.

Thai authorities have regularly prevented boats carrying ethnic Rohingya from Burma from landing, providing rudimentary assistance and supplies and returning them to dangerous seas. In May 2015, raids on a string of camps along the Thailand-Malaysia border found Rohingya had been held in pens and cages, abused, and in some cases killed by traffickers operating with the complicity of local and national officials. Thailand hosted an international meeting to address the thousands of Rohingya stranded at sea. However, unlike Malaysia and Indonesia, Thailand refuses to work with UNHCR to conduct refugee status determination screenings for the Rohingya, and instead holds many in indefinite immigration detention.

The Thai government has stepped up anti-human trafficking measures. However, migrant workers from Burma, Cambodia, and Laos remain vulnerable to abuses by traffickers facilitating travel into Thailand, and employers who seize workers documents and hold workers in debt bondage. New temporary ID cards issued by the Thai government to migrants severely restrict their right to movement, making them vulnerable to police extortion. Trafficking of migrants into sex work, bonded labor, or onto Thai fishing boats for months or years remains a pressing concern.

"No one should be fooled by the Thai government's empty human rights promises," Fisher said. "UN member countries should firmly press Thailand to accept their recommendations to end the dangerous downward spiral on rights by ending repression, respecting fundamental freedoms, and returning the country to democratic civilian rule."



Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
The Poor Are the First to Fight in Nagorno-Karabakh

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Vusala Alibayli & Marianna Grigoryan Publication Date 11 May 2016 Cite as EurasiaNet, The Poor Are the First to Fight in Nagorno-Karabakh , 11 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5734327e4.html [accessed 25 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.

In Armenia, they are called heroes; in Azerbaijan, martyrs. One lived in a stone house with a dirt floor and no roof; the other in a mud hut with a dirt floor and a tarpaulin roof.

While the opposing forces hold seemingly irreconcilable positions on Karabakh's fate, most of the soldiers who died in action during Armenia and Azerbaijan's April 2-6 conflict had a common trait - they came from socially vulnerable families.

Long frustrated by alleged corruption within their respective armies, that fact agitates many ordinary Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Military service in both countries is obligatory for males once they turn 18. Most Armenians serve for two years; Azerbaijanis for 18 months.

Online and offline, a major complaint heard in both countries is the same - soldiers without influential connections or the ability to pay bribes are the ones who bear the brunt of combat. The sons of the wealthy or government officials are believed to be shielded from dangerous assignments.

There is only anecdotal evidence to back this impression. Given the natural sensitivities about security, information on the deployment of individuals and units is not publically available. Meanwhile, casualty lists that indicate slain soldiers' ages, names and hometowns are released in Armenia, but not in Azerbaijan.

Nonetheless, the general public still suspects discrimination in assignments. And with cause, some analysts and activists believe.

Lists of the 97 Armenian and Karabakhi soldiers killed did not include the names of men known to be the sons of senior officials or wealthy businessmen, noted Armenian human-rights activist Artur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, which works with military abuse cases, and Edgar Khachatrian, the head of Peace Dialogue, which also deals with soldiers' rights.

The Armenian Defense Ministry has refused to release demographic information about its conscript-based army, Sakunts added.

"On the grounds of confidentiality, there is no such mechanism to be able to control or find out how many children of state officials serve, who serves where, and so forth," said Khachatrian. "But the study of fatalities shows that not a single official's son died. According to our information, no son of an official serves on the frontline."

Nor did sons of privilege seemingly feature in the official list of 31 Azerbaijani soldiers killed in combat. (Independent estimates put the number up to roughly three times higher.)

"Pictures, interviews with soldiers' families show their social condition clearly," said Cesur Sumerenli, chairperson of the Caspian Defense Studies Institute, a non-profit think-tank in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. "We investigate through media, social networks and the result is almost all of [the fatalities] are from poor and ordinary families. We did not see any minister's [or] official's son or relatives in the list [of those killed]."

The home villages listed for those killed in combat make that distinction plain.

For the past month, in the hamlet of Lachin, in Azerbaijan's frontline region of Aghcebedi, blue-red-and-green national flags have hung over the entrance way to the house of 20-year-old soldier Ulvin Mammadov, who was killed by a mortar.

The mud hut has electricity, but no potable water. In this isolated area, salty soil prevents farming. Only cattle breeding provides an income. Unemployment is widespread.

Perhaps for that reason, Mammadov, raised in a family displaced amid the hottest phase of the Karabakh conflict, lasting from 1988-1994, opted to stay in the army once his 18-month-term of service ended. "His parents had [financial] difficulties raising him," said Mammadov's grandmother, Goyush Elvendova. "Our living conditions are obvious."

As for all soldiers killed in the line of duty, the Azerbaijani government covered Mammadov's funeral expenses. His family will receive the standard monthly pension of 185 manats ($121). Surviving family members of "national heroes" receive 200 manats ($133).

Some 400 kilometers to the east, in the western Armenian region of Aragatsotn, an Armenian family also struggles with loss amid grinding poverty.

The Sloians had to bury their own son twice - once for his body and then, five days later, when his severed head arrived.

Two months shy of discharge, 19-year-old Private Kyaram Sloian reportedly died when he stayed by an injured comrade during the Azerbaijani assault on the Karabakhi district of Martakert. He was killed and allegedly beheaded, though details remain unclear. Azerbaijan denies responsibility for the beheading.

The Armenian government paid 700,000 drams (about $1,463) for his funeral and another 1.4 million drams (roughly $2,925) for the tombstone. Surviving families receive a onetime payment of at least 3.7 million drams ($7,731).

Such assistance, including additional aid from private Armenian citizens, was welcome. None of the eight members of Sloian's family has permanent work. The father, Kyalash, and a brother, Hamik, occasionally found work in Russia, but, now that the Russian economy is tanking, labor migration is no longer an option. The two now try to scratch out a livelihood from the land around their village.

In both Armenia and Azerbaijan, those who can shield their sons from frontline service often go to great lengths to do so.

One elderly woman in the Azerbaijani frontline region of Tartar told EurasiaNet.org that her family paid over 2,000 manats ($1,327) to an intermediary to ensure her grandson got a post at a "good" base, away from the frontline. She did not identify the middleman.

"We got a loan from the bank and now I pay 70 manats ($46.43) a month from my pension [in interest]," the woman, who requested anonymity, recounted.

In a bid "to stop complaints and prevent corruption," the state conscription service claims it provides soldiers with "transparent" information online or via SMS about their assignments. Officials could not be reached for further comment.

In Armenia, bribery is believed to be prevalent as well. In the past, families tried to arrange matters before their sons were entered into a lottery used to determine assignments. Some simply left the country.

The government maintains that the lottery, which can be attended by family members, guarantees transparent and fair assignments. Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian denied on April 16 that only soldiers from impoverished families tend to be sent to the frontline.

"That does not exactly correspond to reality," he told journalists from local media outlets. Ohanian claimed that his own son, whose name he did not give, is an officer who, like the sons of "many other high-ranking officials," serves on the frontline.

"There are many sons of state officials who serve in the army," he asserted. "I am not going to name them one by one now."

Finance Minister Gagik Khachatrian also has claimed that his two sons "have always been on the frontline."

One former military correspondent challenges these claims, however. Sons of senior officials may be registered as serving on the frontline, but "do not actually serve," or, if they do, "have a privileged status on their military base," alleged Zhanna Alexanian, who now runs the Reporters for Human Rights non-governmental organization.

In Azerbaijan, where heated protests erupted in 2013 over non-combat deaths of soldiers, many complain about a two-class system for soldiers, but few speak publicly. "The difficult thing is that most families keep silence," said Beyali Azizov, who believes his son, Elkhan, died in 2010 from hazing. "Some people are so poor that they made peace with fate. That's why we cannot solve problems in the army."

The government's minimal tolerance for public criticism does not facilitate matters. Azizov, who was arrested during the 2013 protest, has attempted to establish an NGO of soldiers' parents to push for reform, but the government has denied it registration. His campaigning now occurs on social media.

"These problems, especially social injustice, will last forever if the system remains the same," he said.

Military expert Sumerenli believes that "transparency and accountability" must be essential reform elements so that assignments for conscripts are "done in front of society, a group of NGOs or the media. Everyone should see who goes where and how."

He advocates for scrapping conscription and, like neighboring Georgia, establishing a contract-based army, as in "democratic and NATO countries." Military service "will become like a job, no matter if you are a soldier or an officer," he said.

Within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, military service has long attracted the indigent, but complaints of favoritism exist, too.

So far, though, neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia appears likely to scrap conscription to address concerns about equitable frontline assignments. "Only children of poor people fight on the frontlines," said 66-year-old Azerbaijani IDP Aligulu Humbetov, who lost four family members in the 1988-1994 fighting. "It was always like that and will be like this forever."

Editor's Note: Vusala Alibayli is a freelance journalist based in Azerbaijan. Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Armenia and editor of MediaLab.am. Nazik Armanakyan is a photojournalist based in Armenia and working for Armenianow.com. Famil Mahmudbeyli is a freelance photographer based in Azerbaijan.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Uzbekistan: Labor Migrants Looking Beyond Russia

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 10 May 2016 Cite as EurasiaNet, Uzbekistan: Labor Migrants Looking Beyond Russia, 10 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573432d94.html [accessed 25 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.

When spring arrives, countless working-age men and women in Uzbekistan have traditionally embarked abroad in search of work.

This year, the annual migration is taking place against the backdrop of economic stagnation in the main regional labor market, Russia, and grumbles among officials in Moscow about a migrant-driven spike in crime rates. On top of that, Uzbek President Islam Karimov's failure during a recent visit to Russia to secure a deal on simplifying migration rules for Uzbek citizens is galvanizing jobseekers to explore alternative destinations, although the options are meager.

According to Russia's official migration data for January, there were 1.9 million Uzbeks working in Russia, marking a 15 percent drop over the number during the same period in 2015. The Central Bank in Moscow has said that remittances to Uzbekistan have plummeted, totaling $3.059 billion in 2015, down from $5.653 billion the year before.

April and May are the traditional months when most start leaving for Russia, although Tashkent residents Suyun Usmanov and his wife actually returned home from Moscow in March. Usmanov said that finding a job with a worthwhile salary has become tough in Russia.

"Migrant laborers can normally expect [monthly] pay of 20-30 thousand rubles (around $300-400), but if you want to have anything left over to send home, you need to make at least 40-45 thousand rubles per month," Usmanov said.

The cost of living in Russia has gotten much more expensive with last year's introduction of a new work permit. Obtaining the document requires migrants to undergo a battery of tests for HIV, tuberculosis, drug addiction and skin diseases. Permit holders must also buy health insurance, get a taxpayer identification number and pass an exam testing their knowledge of the Russian language, history and laws. All this has to be done within one month, or applicants face fines of 10 thousand rubles.

Once migrants have jumped through all the hoops, they must pay 14.5 thousand rubles for their work permit and another four thousand rubles every month to renew the document. All told, this costs almost $1,000 per year.

Russian government officials have taken to worrying out loud that financial pressures are driving migrants to crime. At the end of March, President Vladimir Putin held a meeting of top security officials, demanding that more be done to contain what he cast as a crime wave. "The unremitting crime rates among foreign citizens are causing serious concern, particularly since crimes of this nature draw a lot of public attention," Putin told the officials.

The remarks were broadcast on television regularly over a five-day period. Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said there had been 58 thousand recorded crimes committed by foreigners in 2015, an almost 6 percent increase over the previous year.

Moscow chief prosecutor Sergei Kudeneyev told Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper in an interview last year that citizens of former Soviet Central Asian nations were responsible for committing the bulk of crimes attributed to foreigners in 2014. "If you create a ranking of criminality, you will find citizens of Uzbekistan at the top. They have committed 2,522 crimes; next is Tajikistan, with 1,745 crimes; and in third place there is Kyrgyzstan, whose citizens committed 1,269 crimes," Kudeneyev told the newspaper.

Migrant laborers are themselves often targets of crime, be it physical intimidation at the hands of racist gangs, or being defrauded by unscrupulous employers. "Russian companies often use gray schemes. There is no transparency and they are often corrupt, which pushes migrants toward criminality. The conditions are not right for migrants to legalize their status and get above-board employment," said Anvar Nazirov, a political analyst in Tashkent.

Uzbek authorities are not making things any easier for migrants.

Uzbek media reported that a deal was in the offing to streamline requirements for Uzbek laborers wanting to work in Russia. But 2015 came and went without a deal. Karimov's visit to Moscow last month brought no breakthroughs on this front either. Instead, the focus of relations has been on increasing exports of Uzbek produce to Russia and possible oft-rumored arms deals.

All this is compelling many Uzbeks to consider other options. Nearby Kazakhstan has long been a favored alternative. Cotton harvesting starts in the fall and pay for that work in Kazakhstan is far better than in Uzbekistan. In addition, people in economically depressed western Uzbekistan flock to neighboring regions of Kazakhstan, typically for construction work. In some instances, there are also more skilled and qualified jobs going around.

Sarvar Hamidjanov, 22, said he first went to Kazakhstan when he was 17. These days, he and another nine natives of the city of Andijan have jobs as woodworkers at a furniture factory in Almaty. The monthly salary is $500, while board and food are paid for by the employer, Hamidjanov said.

"I like working here. The locals are very tolerant toward us, and we learned Kazakh very quickly. Our stuff sells well here. A couple of years ago, I went to Russia to earn some money, for about three months, but I couldn't get used to it, so I came back to Kazakhstan," he said.

Hamidjanov said that once he puts aside enough money, he wants to open a furniture business in Andijan.

The challenge for Hamidjanov and others is that Kazakhstan is now faring as badly as Russia as a result of the falling prices for oil, so options are dwindling there for the time being.

Lately, the United Arab Emirates has started drawing more interest, although the labor market there has mostly been cornered by Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Chinese and Egyptian guest workers.

Gulnoza said she and her husband worked at a supermarket in Dubai for five years. Every month, they earned $3,000 between the two of them. Out of that, $500 went toward rent for accommodation, leaving behind a relatively tidy sum, Gulnoza said. "There are enough jobs to go around in the UAE, so that's why many of our people work here. The main thing is not to break the migration laws, and they will leave you alone. With the money we earned here, we were able to buy an apartment and a car back home," said Gulnoza, who asked for her surname not to be published.

Growing numbers are heading to Turkey. According to varying estimates, there are around 50 thousand Uzbeks living and working there. But that destination has been gravely complicated by the war in Syria, which means migrant laborers returning home for holidays are often subjected to interrogations upon arrival because of the government's overriding concern about keeping a tight lid on Islamic radicalism.

Police and community leaders, as part of government antiterrorism activities, are tasked with keeping tabs on families of people who have gone to Turkey for work. One woman who worked in Turkey, Sevara Saatova, wrote on her Facebook account that she was summoned to a police station immediately upon her return to Uzbekistan.

"To begin with, I couldn't understand why I had been summoned. And then they explained why this was all happening," she wrote.

The ultimate preferred country among all emerging work destinations is South Korea, where Uzbeks primarily work in factories. Salaries in South Korea for Uzbeks are said to vary between $1,500 to $2,000 per month.

In an interview with a Tashkent television station, the head of the Uzbek agency for foreign labor migration, Ulugbek Nazarov, said 16.5 thousand Uzbeks are officially registered as working in South Korea. Looking to capitalize on this trend, the two countries in March signed a tentative memorandum of understanding on allowing for greater numbers of Uzbeks to go to South Korea in the future.

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Kyrgyzstan: Government Report Exposes Scale of Prison Torture

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Anna Lelik Publication Date 2 May 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Kyrgyzstan: Government Report Exposes Scale of Prison Torture, 2 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573433db4.html [accessed 25 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.

When the police wanted to extract a confession out of K.D., they put a plastic bag over his head and injected in a pungent vinegar solution that made his lungs burn.

Such tales of abuse in police stations and penal facilities are commonplace in Kyrgyzstan. But what is unusual about this story is that it is one of many featured in an annual report authored by a government body. The 90-page document, published earlier in April by Kyrgyzstan's National Torture Prevention Center, draws on interviews with 1,283 people who have spent time in either pre-trial detention facilities or prison.

The center was set up in 2012 following the country's adherence to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The robust nature of its reports strongly suggests it has managed to preserve a streak of independence, despite being a state entity.

The most recent report revealed that there had been 199 alleged instances of torture in 2015, but said that the real number of such cases was impossible to ascertain since so many acts of abuse go unreported. Of those detainees who said they had been tortured, 85 percent said that law enforcement officers resorted to the maltreatment as a way of extorting confessions.

"K.D. was tortured at the Pervomaisky station in Bishkek by police officers trying to secure a confession," according to one account in the report. "They put a plastic bag on his head and using a syringe they injected a vinegar mixture inside the bag. They closed the bag tightly so that the victim breathed vinegar fumes."

In one instance, another witness, Samat Temirchiyev, claimed to have jumped out of the third floor of a police station in the town of Sokuluk out of fear of being beaten. "He was admitted to the intensive care unit at the local hospital. When asked why he had resorted to such extreme measure and told that he should have appealed to prosecutors, he said he trusted nobody. And then the police threatened him with more torture," the report said, citing Temirchiyev's testimony.

Last November, three years after those events, the Supreme Court acquitted four police officers charged with torture over Temirchiyev's case.

The National Torture Prevention Center said that while beatings remain the most common form of maltreatment, reports of suspects being asphyxiated with plastic bags increased in 2015. This method was used in 70 percent of the cases of claimed mistreatment in pretrial detention facilities, the report said. Asphyxiation is favored because it leaves noticeable traces in the victim's lungs and eyes for only a few hours, thus making such abuse hard to prove.

Other common forms of abuse documented by the report include psychological pressure and verbal humiliation. Deprivation of food, water and sleep, along with the use of tasers and placing needles under fingernails were reported less frequently.

Particular attention was paid in this year's National Torture Prevention Center findings to conditions in juvenile detention facilities. The reports details instances in which minors were placed in cells together with adults or people of the opposite sex, which is illegal. In 80 percent of cases, minors said they were not told the reason for which they were being arrested.

Out of the 54 children interviewed, 38 claimed they were tortured or abused.

"When they brought me for questioning the first time, a police officer came into the room and said: 'Maybe we should shoot him?' and he pulled out a gun and showed it to me. I was so frightened and signed the confession. Then they took me to a different place," one 17-year old boy told the authors of the report.

Even young offenders are not spared beatings and solitary confinement, which takes place in tiny cells known as "cups."

"Once, because we would not let the prison wardens into our cell, eight of them came and dragged us out by our feet and hands, beat us and put us inside the cup. We spent about two or three hours in there, while our cell was searched by staff," one interviewee said.

Official reactions have varied from outright denial and frustration at public complaints to acknowledgement and an acceptance of the need to improve.

Olzhobai Kazybaev, a press officer at Bishkek's main police department, denied in remarks to news website Kloop.kg that any mistreatment took place in detention facilities. "It is not possible that anybody is beaten because nobody is given access to the cells, and the cells are equipped with video cameras. If someone complains, we can watch the recordings," he said.

Referring to the reported incidents in the juvenile institutions, Alexander Niksdorf, a spokesperson for the State Penitentiary Service, told EurasiaNet.org it was sometimes necessary to employ robust methods to maintain discipline.

"They did not allow the prison workers into the cell or come out for checks, and they insulted the prison workers. So basically these kids were violating the rules set for prisoners. Naturally there has to be some reaction to such behavior," Niksdorf said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ernis Osmonbayev acknowledged that there are problems in facilities under his ministry's purview and that steps are being taken to tackle them.

The Interior Ministry is stepping up training and monitoring in an attempt to address torture-related issues.

Changes are being made in the way the performance of a police officer is evaluated, including the de-emphasis of arrest quotas, which would encourage officers to use illegal methods in securing confessions. When questioned by members of parliament on the quota issue recently, Interior Minister Melis Turganbayev said that although arrest figures are kept for statistical purposes, the police are scrapping the practice of hitting targets.

Sadyk Makhmudov, who works at the Osh-based Luch Solomona human rights center, said the Torture Prevention Center has had a positive effect by giving victims somewhere to turn. Still, court hearings on these matters drag on for long periods, sometimes years, making the process of seeking justice an exhausting one.

"If we implement all the laws we have - and they are good laws when used the way they are supposed to be - I think there would be even more positive change," said Makhmudov, whose organization received 24 reports of torture in 2015.

Since purpose-designed legislation on torture was introduced in Kyrgyzstan in 2003, the courts have returned only one guilty verdict, in 2014. In that case, two police officers in the southern town of Bazar-Korgon were sentenced to 11 years in jail for torturing minors to extort incriminating statements from them.

In 2015, Kyrgyz courts filed 34 criminal cases over allegations of torture, a big increase from the six of the year before. Yet, those figures make up a small proportion of the 220 and 199 complaints in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

"This year we submitted several cases to the prosecutor's office. Despite having enough evidence of torture being committed, our motions to initiate a criminal case were refused for various reasons," said Khusanbay Saliev, a lawyer at the Bir Duino human rights organization office in Osh. "We play a sort of ping-pong where the local prosecutor's office rejects [our motion], we appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office, who refuses, and then sends us back to the local prosecutor."

Editor's note: Anna Lelik is a Bishkek-based reporter.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Russia: What Interior Ministry Reform Means for the Migration and Drug Control Services

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Sarah Calderone Publication Date 9 May 2016 Cite as EurasiaNet, Russia: What Interior Ministry Reform Means for the Migration and Drug Control Services, 9 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5734346a4.html [accessed 25 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.

In its usual top-down fashion, the Russian government recently merged the Federal Drug Control Service and the Federal Migration Service into the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Perhaps the most alarming point of all the Interior Ministry changes is the creation of the National Guard, a specialized armed force that will operate under the command of President Vladimir Putin's former bodyguard and report to the president. The BBC reports that the National Guard is ostensibly designed to combat terrorism and organized crime, but presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also mentioned that it could be used to "maintain public order." This could prove especially useful to the regime in influencing the outcome of parliamentary elections this autumn.

While outside attention has understandably focused on the creation of the National Guard and its potential ramifications, the absorption of the Drug Control and Migration Services by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also significant. It is not the first time that these services have been reshuffled; Putin has separated and merged these agencies in the past. Anatoly Kucherena, chair of the Interior Ministry's Public Council, indicated that the latest move is meant to make the operations of these agencies more efficient.

But the real question is: will the reforms address in meaningful ways the deepening social challenges associated with labor migration and widespread narcotics use in Russia? Probably not.

Russia right now is grappling with a burgeoning addiction crisis, with an estimated three million citizens currently addicted to drugs; millions more are estimated to be abusing alcohol. Ella Paneyakh, a lecturer at the Institute for the Rule of Law at European University of St. Petersburg, wrote in Slon that under the Interior Ministry, despite clear problems associated with authorities' reliance on a criminalizing approach to drug use, the Drug Control Service is unlikely to undergo reforms.

Current policies seem to be aimed more at containing the drug problem in Russia, rather than actually solving it. According to TalkingDrugs, the Russian government continues to refuse to reconsider its ban on opioid substitution therapy and opposes needle exchange programs, even though the number of HIV cases is growing at an alarming rate. By moving the Drug Control Service to the country's main policing organization, the Russian government is sending the signal that it will disregard alternative therapies and continue on the current path of conviction and punishment for drug users.

When it comes to the migration issue, there are numerous reasons for concern about folding the Migration Service into the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to a report published by Gazeta.Ru, the Migration Service is set to undergo a troubling 30 percent reduction in personnel. This means there will be fewer resources devoted to establishing viable and efficient migration mechanisms.

In January 2015, the Russian government adopted several changes to the existing migration law, including the introduction of a new work authorization document and a required comprehensive examination on Russian language, history, and law. To receive work authorization, migrants must collect several documents, including examination certificates and medical clearance, within 30 days. The time it takes to collect and submit these documents often exceeds the allotted timeframe, leaving many migrants in legal limbo. Additional delays and problems due to staff cuts seem likely, given the challenges associated with these expanded requirements.

The Migration Service move is consistent with a government pattern of heightened emphasis on surveillance. In March, the Interior Ministry unveiled plans to purchase surveillance equipment for mass events. While this news may be driven mostly by government concern about the possible increase in domestic opposition to its policies, it could also have far-reaching consequences for migrants. The Migration Service will have greater access to the Interior Ministry's surveillance capabilities, and migrants, whether in Russia legally or not, can expect to experience much more scrutiny and, as a result, violations of rights. The renewed connection between the Migration Service and Internal Affairs also raises the possibility that potential flaws or abuses in the new system could result in legitimate labor migrants being conflated with suspected religious extremists.

It is important for activists, scholars, and international observers to monitor President Putin's use of the National Guard, especially given its potential to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, it is equally important to observe how the Migration Service's merger into the Interior Ministry will affect guest workers living in Russia. The reforms may enable the Kremlin to establish a greater level of control over segments of society deemed troublesome, but they also stand to make migrants more vulnerable than ever to arbitrariness and abuse.

Editor's note: Sarah Calderone is an independent researcher on Russian and Eurasian Affairs. She is a Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and completed a Fulbright research grant in Ekaterinburg, Russia, where she studied adaptation and integration efforts for migrants from former Soviet states.

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Moldova: Separatist Transnistria Region Reorienting Trade from Russia to EU

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 4 May 2016 Cite as EurasiaNet, Moldova: Separatist Transnistria Region Reorienting Trade from Russia to EU, 4 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573434ac4.html [accessed 25 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.

In a situation that seems sure to vex the Kremlin, the separatist entity of Transnistria is growing trade-dependent on EU-oriented Moldova.

Transnistria - a strip of land straddling the Dniester River and the Ukrainian border - broke free from Moldova with Moscow's help in the early 1990s, amid the collapse of the Soviet Union. Transnistrian leaders adamantly reject Moldova's political authority. But they seem willing to listen when money speaks, and do not seem shy about taking advantage of Moldova's connections to the European Union.

Under the Association Agreement signed between Moldova and the EU in 2014, Transnistria, which the international community sees as part of Moldova, also received the right to tariff-free exports to the EU, so long as its exporters meet sanitary and labeling rules, along with other requirements.

Although the agreement expired this January, the EU appears to have allowed it to continue. The official reason is unknown, but the strategy is plain - use the attractions of duty-free exports to the EU to revive the ties between the Moldovan government in Chisinau and Transnistria, a predominantly Russian-speaking region.

So far, there are no indications that Transnistria is considering a return to the Moldovan fold. But its exports to the EU now dwarf those to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Russia, the long-time financial sponsor of Transnistria's de facto government, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia comprise the EEU.

In the first three months of 2016, 58 percent of the region's reported $49 million in exports made it to the EU, and only 6 percent to the EEU, Transnistria's de facto State Customs Committee reported. Overall, according the breakaway territory's economic ministry, 27 percent of Transnistria's supposed $189 million in exports in 2015 went to the EU, while shipments to Russia declined by nearly seven percentage points to 7.7 percent.

According to the region's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, exporters to the EU rank among Transnistria's largest taxpayers. Shipments reportedly include clothing, shoes, textiles and metal.

Russian imports still dominate in Transnistria, but there is no indication that the breakaway region's export trend will start tilting back in Moscow's direction anytime soon. Battered by lower oil prices and international sanctions for its behavior in Ukraine, Russia has seen a 10 percent drop in gross domestic income over the past year, the World Bank reported in April. Its ability to provide budget support for Transnistria, or the region's breakaway cousins of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, has long been in question.

"The Association Agreement with the EU has provided new opportunities for businessmen from Transnistria, and for the region's economy," said analyst Iulian Groza from Chisinau's Institute for Reform and European Policy, a pro-EU think-tank.

Forty-nine-year-old Italian businessman Roberto Guardigli is among those taking advantage of the new openings. Attracted by the region's fertile soil, favorable climate and undeveloped market, Guardigli in 2008 set up an agricultural company, Lander Agroprim, with 120 employees in the southern Transnistrian town of Dubasari. Today, Lander Agroprim exports 80 percent of its sunflower, barley, wheat, flax and corn crops to EU members Italy, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. Guardigli wants to encourage that trend. "I want to do more investments, to build more warehouses for agricultural machinery," he said.

Moldova's tolerance of such investments differs sharply from the policies of Georgia or Azerbaijan toward foreign investments in their own breakaway regions. Russia-backed Abkhazia and South Ossetia both view Tbilisi's own trade deal with the EU as suspect, while Azerbaijan bars any travel to (much less investment in) Nagorno-Karabakh that does not occur with Baku's blessing.

Transnistria-based companies that want to export to the EU face certain requirements that serve Chisinau's interests. They must be registered in the Moldovan capital and allow Moldovan customs officials to review their wares. So far, Transnistria's de facto officials usually, though not always, look the other way.

Despite the de facto rulers' political dependence on Moscow, Transnistrian companies, predicted Adrian Lupusor, an economist for the independent Moldovan think-tank Expert-Group, "will put pressure on the Tiraspol representatives to become more cooperative" with Chisinau. The Association Agreement with the EU "will create natural prerequisites for the country's reintegration."

"If [de facto government] representatives from Tiraspol will not cooperate with Chisinau, local companies will have difficulties in accessing the European market," Lupusor added.

With peace talks between Transnistria and Chisinau still suspended, everyday business interaction plays a role beyond trade.

Analysts and de facto officials in Transnistria would not comment about trade arrangements with the EU. The EU delegation to Moldova did not respond to a request to assess its policy toward the breakaway region.

The trade allowances for Transnistria do not work all in one direction. Last December, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Transnistria President Yuri Ganin told local reporters that Brussels had "assumed certain obligations to ensure that the institutions of Moldova will not impede our exports and imports" to the EU.

According to one local exporter, pragmatism primarily drives Transnistrian entrepreneurs' interest in the EU market. "[W]e want to create and sell new products," said the representative of a footwear company, based in the northern Transnistrian town of Tighina, which exports its shoes to Germany and Italy. "We are now at the stage when we all fear [economic decline], but at the same time we understand that we must do something. And that means a shift towards the EU market."

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Kazakhstan: Do State Subsidies Help or Hurt Media Market?

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Aktan Rysaliev Publication Date 27 April 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Kazakhstan: Do State Subsidies Help or Hurt Media Market?, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5734350e4.html [accessed 25 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A government program in Kazakhstan intended to generate good news has produced only negative headlines of late.

In February, authorities arrested prominent journalist Seitkazy Matayev on various charges of fraud and embezzlement. One line of inquiry involves the alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds handed out as part of a program popularly known as the state order.

The case is drawing increased attention to what the government casts as a measure to aid the development of media, but what critics deride as little more than a Soviet-style mechanism for producing rose-tinted accounts of current events.

The system for subsidizing media in Kazakhstan was established in 2010 and consolidated several other lines of funding for government-friendly outfits. State media outlets get expenses covered through the system, while private sector peers are required to compete for allocations.

The fraud allegedly perpetrated by Matayev is said by investigators to have dated from 2010 through 2015. Over that period, the Communication, Informatization and Information Committee concluded five deals with the KazTAG news agency, which is run by Matayev's son, Aset. Senior managers in the committee also facing prosecution reportedly told investigators that Matayev allegedly used his influence to sideline rivals for government tenders so that KazTAG secured the contracts.

KazTAG representatives declined to comment to EurasiaNet.org about the investigations.

Some of the criminal complaints against Matayev, who is president of the National Press Club and head of the Union of Journalists, highlight shortcomings of the state order.

Some of KazTAG's revenue is raised from subscriptions. But investigators argue that the agency acted fraudulently when it put articles paid for by government telecommunications company Kazakhtelecom behind its paywall. Investigators say KazTAG received 260 million tenge ($775,000 at the current rate) from Kazakhtelecom to publish the material.

Media sector observers contend that when the government pays websites and television station to publicize its own policies and achievements, it acts as a disincentive for media to improve under its own steam and compete for advertising revenue. "If you consider that the amount (of money) spent by the media state order is larger than the entire advertising industry of Kazakhstan, you start to understand that the mass media market has been deformed and undermined," said Diana Okremova, head of the Legal Media Center foundation.

The specific items paid for through the state order are never explicitly identified, but they seem easy to spot and usually consist of wordy primers on government programs or laudatory accounts of economic developments and the work of state employees. A piece published in state newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda in December, titled "A Crisis Is a New Opportunity," captures the style well in its praise for President Nursultan Nazarbayev's administration and government policy in general.

News is strictly filtered, according to those tasked with creating the content paid for by the state. "When we fulfill the state order, nobody in government tells us what and how to write, and they also do not impose restrictions or prohibitions," Sergei Nesterenko, deputy editor of Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, told EurasiaNet.org. "There is a system of self-censorship. We know from experience what to report, and what not to report."

The most distinctive feature of the state order, however, is the lack of transparency. Little to nothing is known of how decisions are made about whom to finance and why.

"At the start of the year, we received, after five years of making inquiries of government bodies, a response from the Finance Ministry with concrete sums about state orders," Okremova said. "If in 2010, the [Communications Committee] poured 17 billion tenge into the media, in 2015 that figure had reached 43 billion tenge.  If you then add local state orders (from regional authorities), the sum climbs to 45 billion tenge. For that kind of money, you could build about 30 schools."

Okremova said 10 media outlets receive the funding without having to compete for it, while others have to go through the tender process. The latter account for about 10 percent of overall funds allocated, she said.

According to a recent analysis by the Almaty-based MediaNet International Center for Journalism, about 70 percent of media organizations in Kazakhstan somehow receive funds via the state order. And that number is growing.

Financial agreements with recipient outlets detail what is to be provided in terms of column-inch space in newspapers, or minutes of broadcast time. The outlet is then required to provide the government with a summary of how it has fulfilled its contractual duties.

The Communication Committee does not make internal reporting on the state order available to the public, citing confidentiality provisions.

The state program distorts the media market by keeping outlets that otherwise would fail on life support. Speaking at a media conference in November, Katerina Myasnikova, director of Ukraine's Independent Association of Broadcasters, painted a stark picture based on her own country's experiences.

"When you work by the state order, you never think about what your audience expects of you," Myasnikova said in remarks cited by Forbes Kazakhstan. "The audience of large subsidized media companies drops daily and when you cut off their financing, they don't survive long."

Editor's note: Aktan Rysaliev is a pseudonym for a journalist working in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

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Uzbekistan: Between Russia and the West

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 25 April 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Uzbekistan: Between Russia and the West, 25 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573437c84.html [accessed 25 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.

Mindful of the diplomatic tightrope walk that his government performs between West and East, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov headed to Russia on a rare foreign trip on April 25.

Talks during the two-day visit are expected to focus on security cooperation - Uzbekistan is reportedly eager to snap up some new Russian military technology - while also possibly finalizing a debt forgiveness deal that will see Moscow give up on $865 million it is owed.

If Russia expects undying gratitude, however, it need not bother, since Uzbekistan will all the same continue to cultivate its friendship with the United States and other partners in Asia.

Russia's State Duma ratified the deal to write off the bulk of Uzbekistan's debts in late March, leaving Tashkent with only another $25 million left to pay. But Uzbekistan sees this as no act of generosity, but rather considers the deal as fair quid pro quo for relinquishing its claim to its stake in Russia's Diamond Fund, a vast collection of riches inherited from the Soviet Union.

Uzbek media have remained silent about the details of the debt waiver, so there are few details about how the debt accrued and what calculations the government in Tashkent performed in working out its share in the Diamond Fund.

Tashkent-based political analyst Anvar Nazirov suggested the valuables in question may have been spirited away by the Russian imperial army during their conquest of the Kokand and Khiva khanates, and the Bukharan emirate. These may have included rare manuscripts, diamonds, gold and silver. Later, the Bolsheviks also did their own share of looting from the treasures of the Emir of Bukhara.

"Uzbekistan should not relinquish its rights to these artifacts. These are a historical and cultural legacy of the Uzbek people. Sooner or later, Russia will have to return them to their rightful owners, as the Germans did after World War II," Nazirov said.

Such historical resentments flavor attitudes to this day.

Unlike its neighbors - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - Uzbekistan has persistently snubbed overtures to enter the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. It has also kept the Collective Security Treaty Organization security bloc at arm's length.

"On some foreign television channels, you can see examples of praise for the era of Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin, and the times of the Soviet Union. We have no time for such things. We have our own model of development that is in tune with the aspirations of the people. I want to reiterate that there will be no return to the past. Uzbekistan will never be part of entities resembling the former Soviet Union," Karimov said in a speech to parliament in January 2015.

Karimov notably said in that same address that he would never allow the deployment of foreign military bases in Uzbekistan - a remark that could as easily have been addressed to the West, the United States in particular, as to Russia.

Nazirov said he believed that Russia's policy toward Central Asia should be read as straightforward post-Soviet neocolonialism. "This is reminiscent of the doctrine of limited sovereignty, which the United States adopted toward Latin America back in the day," he said.

But St. Petersburg-based expert on Central Asia, Sergei Abashin, said relations between Moscow and Tashkent were overall not too bad.

"There is no warm friendship, but there is also no conflict. A balance of interests has been established, and both sides are eager to maintain it," Abashin said.

Still, Uzbekistan's foreign policy posture has evolved markedly since the turbulence of the past few years in Ukraine. Tashkent has been clear in its opposition to Russia's behavior in Ukraine, and has spoken in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Nazirov said that Uzbekistan has adopted a multi-vector foreign policy - a wonkish term, once much used by Kazakhstan's diplomatic corps, that stands for simultaneously nurturing relations among a variety of sometimes mutually hostile partners. "Tashkent doesn't want to spoil relations with Russia, but at the same time it deals closely with the United States, South Korea, Japan, China and NATO. This is not an attempt to maintain a balance, but a reflection of the realities in Central Asia," he said.

Uzbekistan's proximity to Afghanistan nudges it toward cooperation with the European Union, the United States and NATO. Karimov has repeatedly stated that the drawdown of NATO-led troops in Afghanistan was overly hasty, and he has used that position to pressure the West into helping him bolster the country's defenses.

Uzbekistan is also eager to secure cutting-edge technology and financial resources, which is where Asian, European and US assistance is seen as especially critical.

Yet while keeping Russia at a distance, Uzbekistan still sees its former colonial master as a useful partner in security matters. Last year marked a decade since the signing of the Russia-Uzbekistan Treaty of Alliance Relations, a pact that grew out of Uzbekistan's estrangement from the Western international community following the bloody crushing of mass unrest in Andijan in 2005.

In economic terms, the figures speak for themselves.

Russia is Uzbekistan's main market for exports. And Uzbekistan has the fourth largest trade turnover with Russia among the former Soviet republics. Russian ambassador to Uzbekistan, Vladimir Tyurdenev, told reporters in Tashkent in December that trade between the two countries in the first three quarters of 2015 had fallen by 29.2 percent year-on-year, to $2.14 billion, because of the depreciation in the value of the ruble.

"But in some areas, there has in fact been an increase. For example, over the same nine months, deliveries of Uzbek fruit and vegetables to Russia increased by 78.4 percent," Tyurdenev said.

Russia's Gazprom recently reached a deal with Uzbekneftegaz to supply 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year.

The fate of the two countries is far more intertwined than Tashkent would prefer, as the plight of Uzbekistan's 1.9 million migrant laborers in Russia attests. The Central Bank in Moscow has said remittances to Uzbekistan in 2015 sunk to $3.06 billion - a sharp drop from $5.65 billion in 2014 and $6.69 billion in 2013.

Sunnat Yunusov, who has worked as a cook in a Moscow restaurant for five years, said he earned around $1,100 monthly before the collapse of the ruble. That has now dropped to around $500. He still has no intention of returning to his home country, however.

"I can't even make that money back home. Mind you, it is difficult for Uzbeks to find work now in comparison with the Kyrgyz. They are already in the Eurasian Economic Union, so Russian employers tend to give them preference," Yunusov said.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Karabakh: The Anguish of Conflict Lingers for Civilians

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Marianna Grigoryan Publication Date 21 April 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Karabakh: The Anguish of Conflict Lingers for Civilians, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573438bf4.html [accessed 25 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.

Now that the fighting has subsided in the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, civilians on the Armenian side are struggling to restore a sense of normalcy.

Thirty-four-year-old Lilit Ohanian, a teacher in Mataghis, one of the frontline villages that was caught up in the April 2-5 fighting, recounted that an intensive Azerbaijani assault prompted her to flee from her house in her nightgown, taking her four children in hand.

Ohanian, who is now living with her children in a village outside of the Armenian capital, Yerevan, described the experience as "deja vu." She was also displaced, she said, during the hot phase of the conflict, lasting from 1988-1994. "When I was 10, I can remember my mom holding my hand and fleeing in the same way to save our lives. Now, I did the same with my 10-year old," she recounted. "History gets repeated."

Many Armenians interviewed by EurasiaNet.org said that the brutality of the early April bout of fighting eclipsed that which they remembered during 1988-1994, a period when hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and tens of thousands killed.

Gayane Nazunts is another Armenian who is trying to come to terms with tragedy. She learned via the Internet that Azerbaijani soldiers allegedly had shot and killed her elderly parents, Valera and Razmela Khalapian, along with her 92-year-old grandmother, Marusya Khalapian, in their home in the tiny village of Talish, in northern Karabakh.

Online photos of the Khalapians' bloody bodies have helped prompt calls in Armenia for an international investigation into the Azerbaijani army's conduct during the early April fighting. Nazunts told EurasiaNet.org that when the attack on Talish began, she was in the village but could not reach her parents' house, located on the outskirts along a road leading into town. Together with her four children, Nazunts fled the hamlet, eventually taking refuge in a brother's house in the Armenian city of Abovian, roughly 380 kilometers to the west.

Safety concerns kept her from returning to Karabakh for her parents' and grandmother's funeral. Only roughly two weeks after their April 2 deaths was she able to visit their graves. "Nobody knows what to say, how to console the people who lost their relatives and households," said Nazunts' sister-in-law, Malina Nazunts. "This is a pain with no end in sight."

The fighting in early April resulted in dozens of casualties and wounded on all sides, as well as, according to UNHCR, the displacement of hundreds of "mostly women, children and older people." Many headed to Armenia proper to find temporary lodgings with family and friends. Men stayed behind to keep an eye on their property.

Officials in Baku have denied allegations that Azerbaijani troops abused or terrorized ethnic Armenian residents in Karabakh.

Locals tell a different story. "The village is in an awful state," claimed Melita Khalapian, board chairperson for the Talish Fund, a local fundraiser.

In addition to the deaths of the Khalapians in Talish, officials in Armenia and Karabakh allege that Azerbaijani forces mutilated the corpses of 18 Karabakhi soldiers, and beheaded one Armenian soldier's corpse. Photos of the 18 bodies have been released. The circumstances of the beheading remain murky. An international investigation has not yet commenced.

At an April 9 press conference in Yerevan, James Warlick, the American co-chair of the Minsk Group, which oversees the stalled Karabakh peace process, described the Group as "deeply distressed" by the photos and reports of alleged atrocities, but no further statement has been made.

Authorities in Yerevan contend that Azerbaijani forces committed war crimes, including the indiscriminate firing of mortars at civilian areas. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told Armenian Public Television in mid-April that his ministry has sent "an appropriate letter" to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and stated that "the process will continue."

Spokesperson Tigran Balaian told EurasiaNet.org that the ministry is "preparing packages with solid evidence to be sent to the appropriate destinations" for international organizations to consider the matter further.

Yerevan also has floated the idea of an international war crimes tribunal, a body that Baku has said it would welcome. Azerbaijan claims Armenian soldiers committed atrocities as well, but, so far, it has not elaborated on its claims.

Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Armenia and editor of MediaLab.am.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Title Submission of The Redress Trust, the Coalition Ivoirienne pour la Cour Penale Internationale and Lawyers for Justice in Libya on the Draft Policy Paper on Case Selection and Prioritisation of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

Publisher REDRESS

Publication Date April 2016

Country Libya

Other Languages / Attachments French

Cite as REDRESS, Submission of The Redress Trust, the Coalition Ivoirienne pour la Cour Penale Internationale and Lawyers for Justice in Libya on the Draft Policy Paper on Case Selection and Prioritisation of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573442a94.html [accessed 25 October 2022]
Magic and murder: albinism in Malawi

Publisher IRIN Author Madalitso Kateta Publication Date 11 May 2016 Cite as IRIN, Magic and murder: albinism in Malawi, 11 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573443d74.html [accessed 25 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.

Mbango Chipungu has a good job and lives in an upmarket suburb of the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, but he can't remember the last time he went out at night.

Certainly not since early 2015, and the start of a wave of "ritual killings" of people born with albinism: an inherited genetic condition in which the body fails to produce enough pigment, or melanin.

Since January last year, there have been 17 recorded murders of people with albinism in Malawi, and 66 cases of abductions and other related crimes.

"Anyone born with albinism in this country is living in fear of attack, no matter how socially connected one is," said Chipungu, a 32-year-old graduate and civil servant.

Albinism affects roughly one in 17,000 people globally, but in sub-Saharan Africa the incidence is higher, typically as common as one in 5,000. In Tanzania, it is one in 1,400.

People with the genetic trait often experience taunting and discrimination. They can be accused of being "ghosts" or "witches" or derided in other ways for somehow being less than human.

There is also a belief in the magical properties of their bodies. Their "difference" supposedly boosts the efficacy of potions or amulets made from their hair, eyes, skin, limbs and organs. People born with albinism are hunted, killed and dismembered, or their graves dug up by criminal syndicates in search of their bones.

The belief  common in so many religions  is that literal or symbolic cannibalism allows communication with spirits and deities, and is used by those wishing power and money.

These "occult economies"  the use of magical means for imagined material ends  mirror the mysteries of the 21st century market, where money flows seemingly abundantly and effortlessly. In the almost literal worshipping of wealth, people turn to familiar arcane forces for a helping hand.

Transnational trade

This ultimate commodification of the human body is big business. According the police in Dedza, central Malawi, two "albino hunters", arrested for the kidnapping and murder of 17-year-old Davis Machinjiri, had smuggled the body across the border to Angonia in Mozambique, where they had been promised $66,000 by "witch doctors".

Jeremiah Banda, a Malawian traditional doctor, believes the wave of killings has spread from Tanzania. "The use of albino body parts in magical medicine is common among East African traditional doctors, mostly those from Tanzania, where there is a belief that albinos possess special powers and their parts can bring good luck when used in magic concoctions," he told IRIN.

Malawian police also seem eager to externalise the problem. Following the arrest of 10 men in connection with the abduction and killing of a 25-year-old woman with albinism in Lilongwe, police spokesman Kondwani Kandiado said "our current information indicates that there is a Tanzanian link in the recent wave of albino abductions and killings in the country".

Body parts are bagged, transported and sold in "underground markets", he told IRIN.

According to a 2009 report by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an intact body of someone with albinism in Tanzania is worth around $75,000  suggestive of a trade only affordable for the already rich and powerful, whose wealth is probably not based on productive labour.

Signs of success

The Tanzanian government's response was initially slow in having an impact, but it has included a ban on "witch doctors" and a crackdown on unlicensed traditional healers, with more than 200 arrested in the first three months of 2015. It has also, in some cases, placed children with albinism in protected homes.

Malawi is now the centre of international attention on the issue. Amnesty International said in a statement earlier this year that "it is deeply worrying that there's poor security for people with albinism in Malawi despite an increasing number of attacks against them".

Speaking at the end of a week-long, fact-finding mission last month, the UN's independent expert on human rights and albinism, Ikponwasa Ero, said the situation in Malawi was an "emergency" and people with albinism were threatened with systematic extinction.

"The situation is a potent mix of poverty, witchcraft beliefs and market forces, which push people to do things for profit," she said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Pointing to the government-led success in Kenya and the role civil society has played in Tanzania to combat the problem, she added: "[If] we can focus resources and energy and elevate the issue for just a couple of years... the difference will be massive."

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has ordered the police to "shoot on sight" anybody caught in the act of abducting or killing people for ritual purposes.

A more practical move is for the courts to hand out tougher sentences to people found guilty of persecuting people with albinism. In a landmark case last month, the Association for People with Albinism in Malawi applauded a 17-year jail sentence for a man found guilty of the murder of his niece.

Last week, the two men accused of the murder of Machinjiri, whose body was found in Mozambique, were both sentenced to 25 years in prison.
How does someone from the isolated high desert of Nevada come to play such an integral role on psychologys global scene?

A review of Joseph Hendersons life to this point reveals the subtle web of personal connections extending from his aunt Ethel to Thornton Wilder to analyst Elizabeth Whitney to Jungs associate Peter Baynes and the Cornfords of England. Any path to greatness depends upon such interpersonal connections, but even more important is the effort that goes into making the most of them. Henderson was up to the task, and his storehouse of energy and profound sense of purpose kept him in Jungs inner circle. After World War II ended, he and his wife Helena visited Zurich every two years until Jung died in 1961.

These connections led to Henderson delivering his first paper to an international audience of professionals in 1954, on the subject of transference -- a well-known phenomenon that take place during a typical analysis in which the patient unconsciously redirects his or her feelings toward the analyst. Mainstream psychology saw this effect as something that must be outgrown and discarded, but Henderson argued it was better for the relationship to evolve into a symbolic friendship, which is different from an ordinary friendship because it retains some quality of the original transference. This sounds like a trivial distinction to the casual observer, but such nuances were significant to the Jungians as they sought to distinguish themselves from the Freudians.

Jung was deeply interested in American Indian culture and its influence on modern Americans. In that framework, his relationship with Henderson was one of mutual learning and respect.

Somehow, I think Joe experienced Jungs shamanistic qualities because those same qualities and symbolic imagery were emerging from his own psychic life and rootedness, which went back in time and place to his origin, to Elko, Nevada, and the spirit of shamanism inhabiting that land, wrote Groesbeck in The Shaman from Elko.

Henderson saw firsthand the primitive nature and frightening unpredictability of Jungs character, and interpreted its significance to analytical psychology:

The same shamanic tendency, freed from any tricksterism, was an essential part of the psychological doctor who came to the rescue over and over again during analysis, placing the healing fingers of his intuition upon our symptoms. He diagnosed and cured them frequently before we ever had a chance to describe them or even to complain of them.

If that uncanny level of perception sounds supernatural, so does its appearance on the broader screen of American culture.

I have found in my American patients that their hero-figure possesses traits derived from the religion of the Indians, the medicine-man or conjurer of spirits, Jung wrote in an essay titled Mind and Earth.

The shaman is best defined as that ancient form of medicine man who, through his direct connections and experiences with the spirit world, could function as a mediator of healing in finding the lost soul of the patient and restoring him to a whole life, wrote Groesbeck. The Henderson method of analysis and, most importantly, Joes whole personal being and demeanor are best described by that image.

Indeed, the term psyche is Greek for soul. This concept is distinctly different from mind (nous) or spirit (pneuma) in the platonic scheme of things -- distinctions that have been lost or ignored in modern times. To Jung, the psyche was an organic, self-regulating energy system as real and structural as the bodys nervous, circulatory, endocrine or other systems. Any imbalance or dysfunction activates a compensatory response in an effort to regulate the organism. The psyche is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past and contains its full history. Just as a human embryo exhibits the evolutionary stages of earlier life forms, so the psyche contains vestigial patterns from mans early history and pre-history. These patterns are called archetypes and they can be thought of as inherent structure-forming forces similar to those that form crystals out of matter in the physical world. As such, the archetypes cannot be directly experienced; they can only be observed indirectly after they have expressed themselves in what Jung called an archetypal image. These are the living symbols that make up our dynamic reality, just as the physicist David Bohm theorized an implicate order behind every manifestation of physical reality on the quantum level.

The archetypes can also be thought of as instincts, and those instincts can conflict with whatever system of self-identification the ego has constructed. We tend to think of the ego as our self, that conscious part of us that makes up our individuality. This is where Jungian terminology gets confusing. Beyond the ego, Jung believed there was a deeper and more complete core to the psyche, which he labeled the Self with a capital S. It includes all of the primitive inheritance of the psyche -- a sort of supreme archetype very similar to the idea of a Christ within. Christians connect with this divine core of consciousness through a religious act of faith, but psychology gets to the Self through a process of integrating the archetypes. It can be a difficult process, presenting its own brand of demons that must be overcome. The first of these is the shadow, which to Jung was made up of everything the ego had rejected or failed to identify with, whether good or bad. It is the nature of the human psyche to project these characteristics onto other people, particularly enemies, instead of recognizing them as belonging to each of us.

Getting to the core Self is like entering a circular maze. Once the shadow has been recognized and assimilated, the next archetype to be encountered is the anima or animus -- depending on the sex of the individual. Jung believed the psyche of men contained an inner female component that drew its attention and vice versa, just as the opposite sex draws the biological organisms attention for sexual reproduction purposes. Failure to recognize this can lead to what analytical psychologists consider a form of possession by the opposite archetype, and this is certainly the case for many individuals through the first half of their lives as they meet and marry and raise a family. It is generally only in the latter half of life that individuals face the challenge of integrating this contra-sexual aspect of their personality.

The next archetype to be encountered is also sexually oriented, but this time not based in the opposite sex. For men it is the wise old man and for women it is the great earth mother, and reaching this level of the psyche brings great power to the individual. It is the point of true liberation from his father or her mother. Once this level of consciousness has been assimilated, the Self is not far away -- nor is the risk of becoming inflated with power and mistakenly believing that one has become a demigod.

But in view of the profound insights he has obtained, there is nothing surprising about this sort of hubris  wrote Jolande Jacobi in The Psychology of C.G. Jung.  everyone succumbs to it for a while in the course of a deliberately deepened individuation process. But the forces that have been activated in the individual by these insights become really available to him only when he has learned in all humility to distinguish himself from them.

Once the foreign and seemingly contradictory elements that lurk in the primal psyche have been integrated, one becomes open to the uniting power of the transcendent function and its ability to resolve problems that seem insurmountable. Like an astronaut whose rocket has taken him above the earth, one can see that day and night only appear to be opposites; in reality they are different aspects of a greater whole. This level of consciousness is called individuation, and it is as much about becoming a part of humanity as it is about being a complete and fulfilled individual.
No subject provided a more complete prefiguration of depth psychology than medieval alchemy. Its a topic Jung devoted decades of his life to studying, and entire volumes to writing about. The strange sequences of illustrations and recipes for primitive scientific operations were found to reflect psychological processes that for the most part go unnoticed by people because they take place in the subconscious.

The stage for understanding this bizarre relationship was set by another Austrian from Freuds inner circle, named Herbert Silberer. His classic Problems of Mysticism and its Symbolism makes a Freudian interpretation of an old Rosicrucian text and relates its messages to alchemy.

It was another German text from the 16th century, however, that caught Hendersons attention and eventually led to his last published work.

Splendor Solis, translated The Splendor of the Sun, contains 22 colorful illustrations that take the viewer deeply into the strange world of alchemical symbolism.

I do not remember how I happened to discover the beautiful illuminated manuscript by Salomon Trismosin called the Splendor Solis, but there it was in the library of the British Museum, near where I was studying for my final examinations for graduation from medical school, Henderson wrote. I was permitted to look at this magnificent alchemical treatise, and in it found many of the same colors and color sequences I had seen in my dreams 

It left a lasting impression on him:

While the three series of plates in the Splendor Solis were originally intended to illustrate the symbolism of alchemy, I found that they could express significant stages in any deep process of discovery.

He obtained a set of transparencies from the British Museum in 1968, and used them frequently to teach students about the symbolism of the unconscious.

Five centuries after this remarkable work was created, Henderson and Dyane N. Sherwood of the C.G. Jung Institute in San Francisco teamed up to write Transformation of the Psyche: The Symbolic Alchemy of the Splendor Solis.

Sherwood was introduced to the work during her training in 1993 when she viewed a videotape of Henderson explaining its symbolism. After Henderson turned 95, Sherwood proposed turning his lecture into a book. She originally intended to serve as its editor but ended up contributing to the book as a co-author.

In certain ways, the multi-stepped processes of alchemy are a more elaborate form of the three-step initiation cycle outlined by Henderson. Initiation starts with a separation, then an ordeal that is equivalent to the elements of alchemy being subjected to fire or dissolved in water. Then there is a trial or testing of the separated substances as they coagulate into something new. The same dynamics can be seen in the shamans otherworldly death, in which his body is torn to pieces and reassembled out of an indestructible substance, enabling him to journey between this world and the next.

The alchemists believed that to make the philosophers stone, the hard substance had to be made soft or spiritual, and the soft substance had to be made hard or given form, explain Henderson and Sherwood. This also is like the work of analysis, where inflexible or hardened attitudes are softened, while too malleable or undeveloped aspects of the personality are strengthened and differentiated.
FRIDAY

Western Heritage Classic

The 2016 Western Heritage Classic will continue at 7:30 a.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. A bit and spur show will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a ranch rodeo at 8 p.m. and a dance at 9 p.m. For a full schedule of events, go to www.westernheritageclassic.com.

Ranch gathering

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will conduct a ranch gathering at 5 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. Registration will be followed by a complimentary beef dinner. Information on law enforcement and legislative issues will be presented. Admission is free. To RSVP, contact 800-242-7820 Ext. 192 or rsvp@tscra.org.

Art reception

An opening reception for three new exhibits will be presented from 5-7 p.m. at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. The exhibits are 'Authentic Texas: People of the Big Bend,' the West Texas Photographic Society Annual Exhibit and new works by members of the center.

Dance

DESDEMONA  A dance will begin at 7 p.m. at the Desdemona Activity Center. Admission is $5. Concessions will open at 6 p.m.

'My Fair Lady'

As part of the Paramount Film Series, a showing of 'My Fair Lady' will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Robert Holladay will give a lecture on the film at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, military and children. For more information, visit paramount-abilene.org.

Dance

OPLIN  A dance featuring Muddy Creek will be 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the Oplin Community Center. Admission is $5. Information: www.grandoleoplin.com.

Other ...

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science, 650 East Highway 80.

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu.

Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary, 6 p.m., 2555 Grape St. 325-793-9699 or 325-480-6175.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

SATURDAY

Western Heritage Classic

The 2016 Western Heritage Classic will continue at 8 a.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. A bit and spur show will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a ranch rodeo at 8 p.m. and a dance at 9 p.m. For a full schedule of events, go to www.westernheritageclassic.com.

Car show

SWEETWATER  The sixth annual Nolan County Cruisers Classic Car Show will begin at 8 a.m. at Newman Park. Registration will be open from 8-11 a.m. Vehicle registration is $20.

Run for animals

The 5K Run & 1 Mile Run/Walk for Homeless Animals will begin at 8 a.m. at Nelson Park, 2070 Zoo Lane. Registration will begin at 6:45 a.m. Race day registration is $35 for the 5K and $15 for the 1 mile run/walk. Proceeds will go to Rescue the Animals, SPCA. To register, go to www.abilenerunners.com or RescueTheAnimals.org.

Kayaking class

COLORADO CITY  A basic kayaking class will be presented from 9 and 10:30 a.m. at Lake Colorado City State Park. Regular park entry fees will apply. Space is limited. To register, call 325-728-3931.

Movie at the library

A free showing of a 2008 G-rated animated movie will begin at 11 a.m. at the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1401 S. Danville. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Participants are invited to bring a sack lunch and a pillow.

Chautauqua

BUFFALO GAP  The Chautauqua Learning Series will continue with a history film of the audience's choice from 11 a.m. to noon at Buffalo Gap Historic Village, 133 N. William St. Admission is free.

Book signing

Sisters Linda Broday and Jan Sikes will sign copies of their books from 1-3 p.m. at Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St.

'My Fair Lady'

As part of the Paramount Film Series, showings of 'My Fair Lady' will begin at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, military and children. For more information, visit paramount-abilene.org.

Benefit musical

MERKEL  A benefit musical and hamburger supper will be presented from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Hall. A bake sale will be open. Admission is $10. Proceeds will go to Skyelar Grace, an infant who was placed in hospice care.

Square dance

TYE  The Key City Squares will sponsor a square dance at 8 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 10 a.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 10 a.m. to noon, 2043 N. Second St.

Celiac Support Group, 10 a.m. to noon, Abilene Regional Medical Center, Classroom 2. 325-721-5645.

Abilene Creative Arts Club, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Buffalo Gap Historic Village, Rode Gallery. 325-514-0665.

Aglow International, 6 p.m., The Crossover, S. First and Poplar streets. 325-829-8826.

SUNDAY

Western Heritage Classic

The 2016 Western Heritage Classic will continue with a cowboy church service and a bit and spur show at 9 a.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. For a full schedule of events, go to www.westernheritageclassic.com.

Cemetery meeting

MAY  The May Cemetery Association will conduct its annual meeting and decoration day at 1 p.m. at the May Community Center. Participants are encouraged to bring a covered dish. A memorial service and business meeting will follow lunch.

Anniversary celebration

The Association of Congregations will conduct its 30 year anniversary celebration at 2 p.m. at the Abilene Woman's Club, 3425 S. 14th St. Cliff Stewart will be the speaker. Refreshments will be served.

Procession

The 17th annual Corpus Christi procession and coronation of the Blessed Mother will begin at 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 837 Jeanette St. A potluck dinner will follow.

Other ...

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., South Pointe Church, 3050 Buffalo Gap Road.

Out & About Group LGBT AA Meeting, 6 p.m. Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, Lower Level Parish Hall, 602 Meander St.
In Review: '88's have '50s, '60s rock down to a science

EDITOR'S NOTE: This tory first appeared in the Abilene Reporter-News on Monday, Aug. 4, 1986.

By Danny Reagan / Entertainment Writer

'Isn't it time you made a date with an 88?'

That's the promotional slogan used by Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's, whose roots grow from Abilene soil.

The 88's, five of whose six members are local natives, made a slight detour in their 'Don't Mess With Texas' tour and stopped off at Butterfield Junction Sunday night.

The resulting blend of fast-paced medleys, nostalgic renderings and a refreshing dose of humore kept a full house of music lovers of all ages hopping on the dance floor all night long.

'We're going to do some more commercials,' said Johnny Dee during a break in the action Sunday night. Dee, whos real name is Keith Landers, hinted that the success of his group's statewide anti-littering television commercials has opened the doors for similar ads in other states. The band's new visibility also should help get its third album off the ground soon, 'if we can work out a few things with the investors,' he explained.

Landers, who has seen the band grow in popularity over the years, was in on the ground floor back in 1968 when the rock 'n' roll band 'Cadillac' formed. That band eventually evolved into taoday's group which has seen many 'looks' over the years. Sunday, the band was in traditional luau party garb.

For more than 10 years, the ever-touring 88's have performed before what Landers estimates are 'millions of people,' from local birthday parties to 'Real People' audiences to sold-out clubs all over the country. They have performed with such notables as Dick Clark, Ricky Nelson, Bob Hope and, believe it or not, Marlon Perkins on TV's 'Wild Kingdom.'

The small-club atmosphere of Butterfield Junction seems best for the 88's sound. The blasts from the past just seem more authentic, and the lively repartee with the audience is an important part of their act which would be lost in a larger auditorium.

T-Bone Keltone, the bass player who Landers introduced as 'the coolest guy to ever come out of Cooper High School,' turned in a chillingly realistic imitation of Buddy Holly with a medley of hits from that late, great rocker which included 'That'll Be the Day,' 'It's So Easy to Fall in Love,' 'Maybe Baby' and 'Rave On.' Later in the evening, Keltone led the 'Group' segment. Diana Ross, among others, was mimicked perfectly.

Landers, sometimes pouring popcorn over his head or sticking a cigarette in his ear, brought off his own impersonations rather well. Singing 'Don't be Cruel' and 'Jailhouse Rock,' he gave the Elvis impersonators a run for their money. His version of Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman' was right on the mark.

The entire band can sound like so many different groups. From the Beach Boys to the Lovin' Spoonful to Chuck Berry, the 88's have the duplication of vintage rock 'n' roll down to a science. And their smooth four-part harmony on many of the old rock ballads shows the value of having performed together for so long.

'Isn't it time you made a date with an 88?'

'Doo-wah diddly-diddy dum diddy-doo!' Which translated Sunday night into a resounding 'Yes!'

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story first appeared in the Abilene Reporter-News on Monday, Aug. 4, 1986.

By Danny Reagan / Entertainment Writer

'Isn't it time you made a date with an 88?'

That's the promotional slogan used by Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's, whose roots grow from Abilene soil.

The 88's, five of whose six members are local natives, made a slight detour in their 'Don't Mess With Texas' tour and stopped off at Butterfield Junction Sunday night.

The resulting blend of fast-paced medleys, nostalgic renderings and a refreshing dose of humor kept a full house of music lovers of all ages hopping on the dance floor all night long.

'We're going to do some more commercials,' said Johnny Dee during a break in the action Sunday night. Dee, whose real name is Keith Landers, hinted that the success of his group's statewide anti-littering television commercials has opened the doors for similar ads in other states. The band's new visibility also should help get its third album off the ground soon, 'if we can work out a few things with the investors,' he explained.

Landers, who has seen the band grow in popularity over the years, was in on the ground floor back in 1968 when the rock 'n' roll band 'Cadillac' formed. That band eventually evolved into today's group which has seen many 'looks' over the years. Sunday, the band was in traditional luau party garb.

For more than 10 years, the ever-touring 88's have performed before what Landers estimates are 'millions of people,' from local birthday parties to 'Real People' audiences to sold-out clubs all over the country. They have performed with such notables as Dick Clark, Ricky Nelson, Bob Hope and, believe it or not, Marlon Perkins on TV's 'Wild Kingdom.'

The small-club atmosphere of Butterfield Junction seems best for the 88's sound. The blasts from the past just seem more authentic, and the lively repartee with the audience is an important part of their act which would be lost in a larger auditorium.

T-Bone Keltone, the bass player who Landers introduced as 'the coolest guy to ever come out of Cooper High School,' turned in a chillingly realistic imitation of Buddy Holly with a medley of hits from that late, great rocker which included 'That'll Be the Day,' 'It's So Easy to Fall in Love,' 'Maybe Baby' and 'Rave On.' Later in the evening, Keltone led the 'Group' segment. Diana Ross, among others, was mimicked perfectly.

Landers, sometimes pouring popcorn over his head or sticking a cigarette in his ear, brought off his own impersonations rather well. Singing 'Don't be Cruel' and 'Jailhouse Rock,' he gave the Elvis impersonators a run for their money. His version of Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman' was right on the mark.

The entire band can sound like so many different groups. From the Beach Boys to the Lovin' Spoonful to Chuck Berry, the 88's have the duplication of vintage rock 'n' roll down to a science. And their smooth four-part harmony on many of the old rock ballads shows the value of having performed together for so long.

'Isn't it time you made a date with an 88?'

'Doo-wah diddly-diddy dum diddy-doo!' Which translated Sunday night into a resounding 'Yes!'
Halloween events, fall festivals pack October in Abilene, Big Country

From family-friendly to frightful, there are plenty of opportunities to don the costumes and scare up some treats.
'There's a rat in mi kitchen what am I gonna do?

I'm gonna fix that rat that's what I'm gonna do,

I'm gonna fix that rat.'

 reggae band UB40

Let's get to the bottom of what's turning into the local news story of the year  The Case of the Rascally Rodent in the Strawberry Smoothie.

Folks are lining up on both sides. Some believe the woman who posted on Facebook that she and daughter found a rat, DOA (but what a way to go out!), by an overturned smoothie cup in their vehicle. Some don't believe her, and have gone all CSI with their personal investigations.

OK, I'm talking about me.

This is way better than Agatha Christie or Michael Connelly, or even an 'X-Files' episode. R is for rat, Sue Grafton.

You can't touch this, Chief Inspector Clouseau.

Needing to satisfy my curiosity and because I was thirsty, I went Tuesday afternoon to the scene of the allegedly sullied smoothie  the Dairy Queen on North Mockingbird. It's hard for me to go 'undercover,' you know, with this beard. But I was not recognized. Whew.

I ordered a strawberry smoothie, though on another day I would've order the pineapple mango one. Or maybe the mocha Moo-latte or the Blizzard of the Month. A Belt-buster sounded good, too.

I studied the menu thoroughly, part of my 'undercover operation.'

Medium strawberry smoothie, I said. Extra rat.

I didn't say that. That would've given me away.

I watched the woman who took my order make it. Right there in front of me. Filled my cup with ice and dumped it into a clear blender. Added the right amount of syrupy strawberry, some low-fat yogurt and blended. Whirrrrr! No rat would survive that.

The smoothie was poured into my cup, the lid attached and it was given to me.

I miss a lot at magic shows, like how the rabbit gets in the hat and how the woman sawed in half never has stitches when we see her again. But I did not see rat added.

Could it have been dropped ever so quickly into the round opening of the lid? It's possible.

But the smoothie is thick. I tried an experiment, dropping a clementine (those tiny, sweet oranges) into my cup back at the office. No rats were going to be harmed in my investigation. We already had one very dead rat, according to the woman's photo on Facebook.

My clementine (I guess one weighs as much as a small rat ...) stayed on top. I had to poke it with my straw to get it below the surface.

I was beginning to doubt the story.

Now, like Agent Mulder, we all want to believe. We want to believe that someone put a rat in the cup. That's gross, yucky and, well, sort of funny. When it's someone else, of course.

Years ago, back in high school, my best friend (who shall remain anonymous) and I did a dastardly deed. This guy kept bugging us and we had vowed revenge. He brought his lunch every day and liked chicken salad sandwiches. By lunch, his brown bag was aromatic. So ... what if it wasn't chicken salad? What if it was ... Mighty Dog?

I know. Either my reputation has spiked or sunk to a new low.

Yes, we made a Mighty Dog sandwich, got into his locker and switched it.

Yes, he sat at our table, took out his sandwich and, about to take a bite, stopped. Rats!

He opened his sandwich and took a sniff. Shrugged. Put it back together and took a big bite. And another.

My buddy and I busted a gut. OMG! before OMG! Revenge of the nerds.

He was four bites in before he, well, spit it out.

When we sat down, he was a bit pale and was chugging a 7UP. What's wrong, we asked, all innocent and concerned.

'My sandwich did not taste good.'

I confessed our sin to Stanley Whisenhunt, the retired Wylie ISD superintendent, years ago. He laughed as much as we did that day back in 1975. If Al Gore invented the Internet, we invented getting pranked.

So, it's possible that an employee dropped a rat, post-blending, into the cup. Or the employee was distracted by someone else while someone else put the rat in the cup. 'Drink sabotage,' it is called. Right out of a Porky's movie.

A 'person of interest' is the Burger King.

Maybe a suicidal rat dove in. Drowning in a smoothie is much better than ... well, I think of the snow cone flavor called 'Frog in a Blender.'

My investigation casts doubt on this claim, but it might have happened. Why would the woman go to this much trouble? Yet, DQ doesn't want people thinking about rats when they hear the slogan 'That's what I like about Texas.'

I keep expecting Allen Funt to pop in, but he died in 1999. Did the woman get 'Pranked'?

You know who is the most outraged in all this? Trump. Guy can't get a minute of publicity. But he did invite Hillary to talk about their differences, over smoothies.
Tina Jones, principal at Bowie Elementary, was named Elementary Principal of the Year for Region 14's education service area, according to a news release from the Abilene Independent School District.

Jones, who has led the south Abilene school for the past eight years, will be recognized with 17 others June 15 at the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisor Association awards reception in Austin.

Members of the 20 TEPSA regions across the state annually honor elementary school leaders for outstanding service to the association. Award recipients are chosen for their 'commitment to advancing the principalship and the association, as well as serving as a voice for Texas students.'

Jones is a native Abilenian who attended school at Valley View Elementary, Franklin Junior High and Abilene High School.

Prior to joining the Bowie staff in 2008, Jones was principal at College Heights Elementary for five years. She began her career as a second-grade teacher at College Heights in 1990, and also taught nine years at Ortiz Elementary. She was also instructional coordinator at Ortiz from 2001 through 2003.
A group of doctors, as well as their spouses, provided students at Ortiz Elementary with a little extra protection for their noggins Thursday morning, just in time for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exams.

The Texas Medical Association and the Big Country County Medical Society Alliance teamed up for the Hard Hats for Little Heads, gifting helmets to students at the school who own bicycles, rollerblades or any other means of transportation on wheels.

'It's really a good idea,' Dr. Tushar Shah, a local pediatrician, said. 'Lots of times, when I talk to parents and I ask them what do (their children) do to be active, they say, 'Oh, they ride a bike.' 'Does he have a helmet?' 'No, he just rides in the backyard.' But you can fall in the backyard. I think it's important you have a helmet at all times. Most of the kids think they're a better rider ... and it might not be their fault, it might be someone else who hits them.'

Students on Thursday also received information about safety and how to properly wear the helmet.

Twitter: @TimothyChippARN
Decades of study that included primitive cultures and the dreams of Hendersons patients culminated in his most treasured work. Thresholds of Initiation describes how all individuals come to transitional points in their lives -- from child to adolescent, adolescent to young adult, adult to middle age and beyond -- and each transition involves a general pattern that can include separation from peers, an ordeal of varying intensity, and a trial or challenge that pushes us to a higher level of strength and maturity.

Joseph L. Hendersons interest in native cultures was piqued during a visit to Pueblo tribes in the Southwest, where he witnessed a Hopi snake dance. Here he was asked to treat another visitor -- a young man whom everyone could clearly see was dominated by his mother. After hearing Hendersons psychological prognosis, the man replied that he had been told the same thing by a Kiowa shaman.

This story points to the predominantly extraverted nature of Western culture, Henderson wrote. Indian culture, in contrast, evokes the introverted dimension of life that reveals the subjective nature of human experience -- the inward experience of family, culture, the gods, and the individual. It was Jung who reconnected Western society with this level of reality, Henderson argues. Jung enabled us to know what we have been missing; namely, an introduction to the world of archetypal images that the tribal societies and many of the Far Eastern cultures embodied in their rituals, an iconography from before the beginning of history.

Thanks to influences like Alan Watts, many educated people in the mid twentieth-century awakened to the softer, more feminine religious orientation of the East. As a child in Elko, Henderson was raised as a Christian but soon broadened his perspective:

From the moment I was confirmed in the Episcopalian Church at the age of seventeen I ceased to be an active churchgoing Christian, he wrote. My religious experiences from then on have been strictly my own 

He was drawn to the simplicity of Taoism, which -- like both Christianity and Jungian psychology -- is filled with references to the compensatory nature of reality. Yet, when asked by a young boy during a visit to Fiji whether he was a Christian, Henderson responded with a resounding yes. So, you see, one cannot deny the religious identity with which one has initially been imprinted, though mature development of a religious attitude may travel far from its place of origin, he wrote.

It is religion that provides a basis for morality in any culture, yet a scientific discipline like depth psychology required one to be at home with any religious persuasion -- or lack thereof. Many of the patterns of behavior traced by the Jungians stood outside a religious frame of reference, so Henderson adopted a new frame. He saw life as a series of transitions, or passing through gateways, from a lower to a higher level of awareness, in a process called initiation. This doesnt mean religion is rejected -- in fact it was just the opposite with most Jungians. Henderson, like his mentor, made frequent and detailed references to biblical passages as often or even more often than any other source. The Bible is filled with descriptions that fit the psychological context of initiation as well as other principles we now label psychological.

Hendersons Thresholds of Initiation describes the process of psychological growth in detail. For example, the wayward youth -- or the adult who simply refuses to grow up -- may be caught up in the Trickster cycle. Its a phenomenon that is all too common in todays society.

The irresponsible, power-driven, pleasure-loving attitude toward life that can move into antisocial behavior was described by Henderson in terms of the trickster archetype, wrote biographer Thomas Kirsch. To escape it, the archetype of initiation is needed. Henderson postulated that this archetype acted to convert the trickster cycle into a hero cycle. He further postulated that the trickster cycle was under the aegis of the mother archetype and that the hero archetype would be under the influence of the father. This holds true regardless of the individuals gender.

Kirsch goes on to explain how the next stage of development, should it be reached, is that of the true initiate:

The initiate was the one who had submitted fully to the initiation archetype with its rites of vision, trials of strength, and ordeals, and was willing to be remade into an adult man or woman who could take a responsible place in society  as part of a wider whole that she or he did not need to try to avoid or dominate, explained Kirsch.

This is where the false sense of individuality gives way to the real depth of individuation:  it meant the search for individual identity within the context of a respectful attitude toward both the collective unconscious and the consciousness of ones social group. The option to such behavioral development was not a pretty one, for the person who gets stuck in any of the previous cycles will suffer from disturbing dreams or even physical symptoms of psychological origin.
The city of Abilene's sales tax rebate for May is $3.89 million, representing March sales.

That total is 4.72 percent below last year, and 5.66 percent below the projected fiscal year 2016 budget amount, according to Mike Rains, director of finance for the city.

The rebate brings in $2.91 million to Abilene's general fund and $971,507 for economic development.

A total of $63,706 is from prior periods, audit payments, future payments and unidentified payments.

For the period of October through May, sales tax is 3.27 percent below last year and 4.23 percent below the projected fiscal year 2016 budget amount.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Wednesday he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $767.7 million in local sales tax allocations for May, 1.1 percent more than in May 2015.

Those allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report tax monthly and sales made in January, February and March by quarterly filers.

'The cities of Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth saw noticeable increases in sales tax allocations,' Hegar said in a statement, noting that energy-centric cities such as Houston, Odessa and Midland continued to see decreases in sales tax allocations.
The primary runoff for outgoing state Sen. Troy Fraser's seat has gone fully negative.

In the final weeks of the campaign, state Rep. Susan King, R-Abilene, and Travis County eye surgeon Dawn Buckingham are trading barbs in public appearances left and right, criticizing each other over issues such as an unreleased 911 call, ties to a for-profit college, claims of rural credibility and their respective political records.

In this sprawling district  one that spans roughly 20,000 square miles, from the Hill Country to Abilene  King has billed herself as an effective lawmaker with a love of guns, the support of veterans' groups and deep ties to rural Texans. She has sought to paint Buckingham as a Travis County suburbanite who in past years made political donations to Democrats. King's campaign team has also scrutinized Buckingham's past position on the board of governors of the for-profit National American University, which has campuses in Texas and has been criticized as 'predatory' by a veterans' group.

Buckingham, meanwhile, has run as a conservative reformer seeking to move the Senate chamber farther to the right. She has attracted the support of high-profile Republicans including former Gov. Rick Perry, as well as Tea Party stalwarts such as state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford. Buckingham has accused King of being a liberal in disguise who supports expanding government programs. Buckingham's campaign manager has also publicly questioned why King sued to block a 911 call she made in Abilene last year from being released to the public. Last year, the lawmaker temporarily withdrew from the Senate race to seek treatment for depression.

King and Buckingham both declined, through spokesmen, to be interviewed for this story.

But the fireworks were on full display at a recent televised debate in Abilene. A moderator first asked each candidate what she would do about the city's State-Supported Living Center, which houses people with profound disabilities. The center is Abilene's fourth-largest employer, according to the local chamber of commerce.

King said she had supported the center with state funding during her time in the Texas House. Buckingham said the facility performed 'God's highest calling' and promised to be a 'strong, conservative fighter for State-Supported Living Centers.'

Then the candidates let loose on each other.

'I feel it's a little disingenuous for my opponent to say that she supports the State-Supported Living Centers, as she was one of the forces behind the broad recommendation to close the centers, including Abilene,' King said, referring to Buckingham's appointment to the Sunset Advisory Commission. That commission evaluates whether state agencies are operating efficiently enough, and in 2014 made a recommendation to close down some of the state-supported living centers because of infrastructure problems.

Buckingham said the commission's proposal never directed the Abilene center specifically to close.

'Again, Susan King has issues with the truth,' she said. 'You've seen her lie about her record, telling you she's a conservative when really she's a liberal.'

The two candidates also clashed over identity.

Asked how she would improve life for rural Texans, King made mention of the Senate district's 'very unusual' makeup that includes large swaths of rural land with 'a suburban area at [its] end,' an apparent reference to Buckingham's residence in Travis County, near Austin.

'Don't be confused by lies and accusations that the King campaign continues to throw,' Buckingham told the audience. She said she had a 'very rural heart,' lives in a small town and was endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau.

Sam Martin, a professor of political communication at Southern Methodist University, said that while suburban and rural voters both tended to align with the Republican Party, the 2016 presidential race had revealed significant rifts between them.

'In some ways this is a microcosm, I would guess, of what's happening on the macro level with the Republican presidential nomination,' she said.

Martin said it was not uncommon for political strategists in deep-red districts to try to 'tap into that resentment' voters might feel along geographic or class divisions.

The negative rhetoric is a notable departure from the March primary race, which originally featured six candidates. At times, those contenders appeared to struggle to make a name for themselves on crowded stages. King once joked she had run into voters on the campaign trail who had mistaken King and Buckingham, the two female candidates in the race, for each other.

Two of the other four candidates have endorsed in the runoff: Jon Cobb, the third-place finisher, is supporting King, and Ryan Downton, the sixth-place finisher, is supporting Buckingham.

Downton said in a statement it was 'very clear' that Buckingham would 'fight for the values that are important to conservatives across the district.'

Cobb, on the other hand, told the media outlet Quorum Report that he had endorsed King because Buckingham had given 'personal money to the most liberal Democrats that hate our conservative beliefs,' referring to donations Buckingham made between 2005 and 2012 to Austin Democrats such as state Sen. Kirk Watson and state Rep. Donna Howard.

King placed first in the original contest, with 27 percent of the vote. Buckingham finished second with 25 percent.

The winner of the Republican runoff on May 24 will face Democratic candidate Jennie Lou Leeder in November.
Don Wright, Abilene

So  you voted in the Republican Primary and can vote in the runoff election May 16-24!

You may be weary of negative campaigning in the past year. I would point out that Mr. Glenn Robertson is the candidate for Congress in the 19th district who used attack ads in the primary. Further, the ads were based on inaccuracies and half-truths. He attacked Michael Bob Starr for supporting his troops in a nonmilitary parade. He attacked Jodey Arrington as being responsible for loans that went bad in the recession of 2007/2009 when Arrington's Washington job had nothing to do with those loans.

Mr. Robertson has aired the same ad in recent days without correcting the inaccuracies. He has begun to air a new ad that is positive about himself, touting his opposition to candidates or officeholders with Washington experience.

This is hardly a position from which to protect or promote Dyess Air Force Base!

He is wearing his Christianity as a great badge, vowing to protect pastors' sermons from some as-yet-unknown censorship (First Amendment?).

I am convinced that Mr. Arrington, Mr. Robertson and even myself all fit under the umbrella of God's grace and love together.

I encourage you to strike a blow for civility and positive campaigning by voting for Jodey Arrington! He is best qualified to represent the 19th district of Texas in the United States Congress.

And don't forget Susan King in the Texas Senate race. Every vote for Susan in the primary is needed in the runoff.
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The four-story Henderson Bank Building has been an Elko landmark for more than eight decades. It is named for the banking family of Jefferson and John Henderson, who gave Elkoans and ranchers support during financial difficulties, earning a reputation for trustworthiness and reliability.

Jefferson Henderson was born in Fayette, Missouri in May 2, 1832. He married Sarah Watts Bradley, the daughter of Nevadas second governor, Louis Broadhorns Bradley, on June 30, 1857. In Missouri, he owned a pharmacy before moving to Elko in 1876 with their five children, Louis, Belle, John, Joseph, and Charles.

Jefferson managed his father-in-laws ranching company before he purchased a failing local bank. Jeff became president of the Henderson Banking Company on January 1, 1880, later located at the corner of Fourth and Railroad Street where the Silver Dollar Saloon is today. The Henderson family worked in various positions with Louis as vice president, John as cashier, and Sarah and Belle serving on the board of directors.

John took over the company after the death of Jeff in 1902. The Henderson Bank gained a reputation for honesty, paying depositors in cash, gold and silver, rather than bank-issued scrip. It also helped struggling ranchers. In a family history by Johns son Joseph Henderson, he wrote that one of the chief functions that my father performed in Elko County was to help the cattle and sheep ranchers survive.

Other members of the Henderson family became prominent in other areas. Most notably, younger brother Charles was appointed to the United States Senate in 1917 and served one term. In 1943, the town of Henderson, Nevada was named in his honor.

In 1925, John Henderson sold controlling interest the Henderson Banking Company to George Wingfield, owner of several banks in Nevada. Four years later, Wingfield built the four-story Henderson Bank Building on the corner of Fourth and Railroad Streets.

Noted as the tallest building in Elko County, it cost $300,000 and featured electric lights, marble, and fireproof construction. First tenants included attorneys Morley Griswold, Milton Reinhart and Dr. W.A. Shaw and Dr. Harry Gallagher.
Ouk Kimseng, an undersecretary of state at the Information Ministry, explains a new directive that tells the media how to refer to top government officials.

Media outlets reporting on Cambodias highest-ranking officials will have to use their full honorific titles, or else face state retaliation that could end their ability to gather and disseminate the news in the authoritarian Southeast Asian country, the government said on Thursday.

Starting in July, all media must use the full, honorary titles on first reference for Prime Minister Hun Sen; Chairman of the National Assembly Heng Samrin; Chairman of the Senate Say Chhum; and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.

The order requires media outlets to append the Khmer word samdech to all of their titles. Roughly translated, the word means lord. All the officials that fall under the requirement are members of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, in English, becomes Lord Prime Minister and Supreme Military Commander Hun Sen. In Khmer, hes Samdech Akeak Moha Sena Padey Techo Hun Sen.

The Information Ministry announced the change on Thursday during a nearly three-hour meeting at its Phnom Penh headquarters, telling journalists they must show respect for Cambodias highest leaders.

"We want you to state the full title of leaders in the story's lead or first sentence," said Ouk Kimseng undersecretary of state at the Information Ministry, who led the meeting. Subsequent references can drop the long title, he said.

During the meeting, ministry officials warned that legal action will be taken against media that don't comply.

While Hun Sens government already tightly controls the media, news outlets can lose their licenses to operate if they fail to comply with the directive.

Opposition target

The new rule appears to be aimed at media outlets that the government views as supporting the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party or outlets that lean toward the West. Pro-government media already use the honorary titles.

For international media outlets broadcasting in the Khmer language such as RFA, the ministry will essentially block RFA broadcasts on FM radio stations if they fail to follow the new directive. RFAs policy is to use functional titles, such as prime minister or foreign minister, without honorific titles.

When asked about the directives impact on foreign media, Ouk Kimseng gave a love-it-or-leave-it answer using an old Khmer proverb.

If you want to follow the stream, you have to stay in the channel, he said. We want to work in a country with integrity, with laws and customs. Once we cannot do that work, we should not be here. We must use this word. If youre are not satisfied, leave.

The move comes as Hun Sen appears to be launching a new effort to crack down on dissent as national elections approach.

While Hun Sen and the CPP have ruled the country for three decades, Cambodias ruling party suffered a dramatic drop in support during the countrys last election in 2013, and could see even more erosion in the 2017 commune elections and 2018 general election.

During his time in power, Hun Sen has exerted strong control over the media, and dissent is a risky proposition.

Hun Sen and the CPP have attacked dissenters with lawsuits, and the government has thrown Cambodian National Rescue Party lawmakers in jail on what many see as questionable charges.

Written by Sothearin Yeang for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Bereaved parents in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan on Thursday marked the eighth anniversary of the devastating 2008 earthquake with a new strategy in their bid to win compensation and transparency from local officials, a key activist said.



Parents who lost children in the widespread collapse of school buildings have applied to file a lawsuit at the Mianzhu People's Court in one of the areas worst-hit by the earthquakeaccording to activist and writer Tan Zuoren.



More than 80,000 people, thousands of them schoolchildren, died in the May 12, 2008 earthquake that devastated mountainous regions of the southwestern province and especially school buildings.



But years-long campaigning for compensation and for financial assistance promised as part of the reconstruction program have yielded nothing, parent activists told RFA.



Sichuan-based Tan, who was jailed for five years in May 2009 for "incitement to subvert state power" after he tried to probe the deaths of schoolchildren in the 8.0 magnitude quake, said he was aware of the attempt to file a lawsuit by bereaved parents from the No. 2 Fuxin secondary school in Fuxin, but didn't know if the court had accepted the application.



"They said that they would give them a response today, but I still don't know what that response was," Tan said. "I don't know whether the court has accepted the case or not."



"The court is no longer taking orders from local government or [ruling Chinese] Communist Party secretary, but from the next level up in the hierarchy," he said.



Tan said he was taken to a police station on Thursday, and is still under tight police surveillance.



"Today is a politically sensitive date, and I was taken by police down to the police station to make a statement," Tan told RFA. "I am under close surveillance."



Change of strategy



Tan said he had advised the quake parents not to lodge any more complaints, in a change of strategy that tries to bypass a nationwide "stability maintenance" domestic security process.



"Lodging complaints comes under the heading of stability maintenance, but if they file lawsuits, one by one, as individuals, on a topic that is appropriate for civil lawsuits, they can just keep doing that, even if it doesn't work at first," Tan said.



"That way, there is always someone there fighting for the cause."



Tan said the parents' new strategy is in line with government slogans about ruling China by law.



"They need a bit more technique, rather than going off en masse to petition, which leads to a disastrous outcome."



The bereaved families say they want an inquiry into allegations of shoddy construction of "bean curd" school buildings, many of which collapsed while other buildings remained standing.



But lawyers have been warned off accepting cases linked to Sichuan's child quake victims, on pain of losing their license to practice.



And parents who petition have been subject to beatings, arbitrary detention, and other forms of official harassment.



'New generation' of victims



Official figures show that 5,335 children died in the quake, although unofficial sources say the number could be as high as 10,000.



Sichuan-based Huang Qi, who founded the Tianwang rights website, said that Beijing's post-quake reconstruction program has also created a new generation of victims from forced evictions and demolition of homes deemed "dangerous" in the wake of the quake.



"There seems to be some relaxation compared with previous years regarding memorial events for the May 12 earthquake," Huang said.



"But the post-quake reconstruction led to a huge amount of land being taken over by the government at rock-bottom prices, creating a new generation of earthquake victims," he said.



"But the parents of the schoolchildren are still the biggest group fighting for their rights in connection to the 2008 earthquake," he added.



Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
ELKO  A California man was arrested after a dozen roosters, suspected to be used in illegal cock fighting, were found in his vehicle Tuesday morning.

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper stopped a white Chrysler 300 at about 6 a.m. and made contact with the driver, later identified as Jose R. Ortiz, 30, of Salinas, said NHP Sgt. Alex Perez.

The trooper suspected criminal activity and also detected the odor of marijuana, leading to a search of the vehicle, said Perez.

The driver surrendered less than an ounce of a green, leafy substance, he said.

Additionally, 12 roosters suspected to be used in cock fighting were located in boxes throughout the vehicle. The same number of sharp blades used for cock fighting were also found.

Ortiz was arrested on Interstate 80 five miles west of Elko for driving with a suspended license, speeding 16 to 20 miles over the limit, possession of a controlled substance, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, trafficking a controlled substance, conspiracy to instigate or attend fights between birds or other animals, and manufacture, sale or buy an object to attach to bird with intent to be used for fighting.

When Ortiz was transported to the Elko County Jail, methamphetamine was also found on his person.

His bail was listed at $48,870.

City of Elko Animal Control took charge of all of the roosters, said Perez.

The Free Press agreed not to disclose their location until it can be determined if a rescue group or another party can find safe quarters for the birds.
In spite of government directives mandating that North Korean high school students serve in the military after they graduate, children of the countrys wealthy families can duck active service by the payment of bribes or through childhood selection to a prestigious academy, sources say.



By government order, all North Korean men must now enter the military on graduation at age 17 or 18 and serve for 13 years, with women joining on graduation at the same age and required to serve from seven to eight years.



This is a policy recently enacted by the armys central command. You cant avoid recruitment even if you are a girl or the child of a top executive, a source in the isolated, one-party states North Hamgyong province told RFAs Korean Service.



Exemptions are routinely made, though, for young North Koreans placed on an advanced academic track through enrollment in the countrys elite Number One High School, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



This is why wealthy families and the families of top executives do everything they can, and spend whatever they have to, to ensure their children are accepted to the school, he said.



Even for those forced into the military after graduation, family money paid to their assigned units guarantees a quick return home on extended medical leave.



The sons and daughters of wealthy families only have to wait out their six-month period of basic training and then offer money to be allowed to go home, he said. These families will spend up to U.S. $500 in foreign currency each month to help their children avoid service.



Dangerous posts



Meanwhile, military conscripts from less well-off families are frequently assigned to dangerous posts at nuclear-weapons installations or to construction brigades after they finish their basic training, a source in South Hamgyong province said.



Though officially in uniform, these soldiers have in reality been put into forced labor, the source said.



Soldiers mobilized to work in the capital Pyongyang, at the Huicheon hydroelectric power station, or at racetracks are being pushed into construction work with only corn kernels for their meals and not enough time for rest, he said.



Its common at visitors centers to see families weeping miserably on seeing their children suffering from malnutrition and weakness, he said, adding that soldiers parents will frequently argue with escorting officers because they do not want to see their children sent back.



Families of lower-class background are unable to take their sons or daughters out of the army, though, even if their children may die during their military service, he said.



Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Jackie Yoo. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Tran Thi Hong, the jailed pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh 's wife, with their youngest daughter in an undated photo.

Local police in Vietnam subjected the wife of an imprisoned Mennonite pastor to an intense interrogation about a meeting she had two months ago with a U.S. religious freedom delegation that visited the Southeast Asian nation.

Tran Thi Hong, wife of pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh, told RFAs Vietnamese Service that she received a request from local authorities where she lives in Gia Lai province in Vietnams Central Highlands at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, instructing her to come to their offices in 30 minutes to work with them a euphemism for an interrogation.

Her husband, a prominent activist and pastor of a banned church, is serving an 11-year prison sentence in southeastern Vietnams Binh Duong province for undermining unity by maintaining ties with dissident groups and distributing material deemed to have slandered government authorities.

Hong, who suffered injuries from beatings by authorities on April 14 following the March 30 meeting with members of the U.S. delegation, responded that she could not meet with them because she had yet to recover from the earlier abuse.

About an hour later, they told some members of the communes Womens Union to go to my house and force me to come there, she said.

The Vietnam Womens Union (VWU) is a mass organization with provincial, district and communal offices that implement policies of the communist government and programs for women and children.

I was alone and could not resist them, so I went, Hong said.

Ten people, including provincial police, city police, and members of the government-backed Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Womens Union and the communes Peoples Committee, took turns questioning her until 7:30 p.m., she said.

I was very tired during the talk, she said. They checked my blood pressure and saw that I was tired. They interrogated me about my meeting with the U.S. delegation on religious freedom on March 30. They told me the meeting was a violation of Vietnamese law.

Hong told the authorities that the meeting did not violate any domestic laws, and that she and one of her children had been stopped, harassed and robbed while they were on their way to meet the American diplomats.

I told them about the meeting with the U.S. delegation and questioned them about whether there is anything wrong with that? she said.

I answered some questions and ignored others, Hong said.

Religious freedom delegation

David Saperstein, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, led the U.S. diplomatic delegation that examined the state of religious freedom in Vietnam.

Four diplomats visited Hong at her home in at her private residence in Hoa Lu commune of the city of Pleiku in Gai Lai province.

Local police, who prevented her from going to a hotel for the meeting, escorted her back home and remained in the vicinity until delegation staff members arrived, Saperstein told RFA in an interview on April 5.

On April 14, local authorities forced Hong to go to the Hoa Lu commune office where they asked her about the meeting. It was there that they severely beat her, later depositing Hong outside her home where her neighbors found her, she said.

Vietnam's constitution guarantees freedom of belief and religion, but religious activity is closely monitored and remains under state control. Authorities routinely harass pastors and members of churches that have not registered with officialsa measure taken to manage and control religion.

Because of her husbands incarceration, Hong and her four children have suffered harassment and beatings by authorities at other times in the past, she said.

Police monitor her activities, keep constant watch over her house, and have hurled stones at it, she said.

I told them very clearly yesterday that I have been deprived of my human rights, Hong said. I have been beaten and humiliated so many times that I have no energy to work. I demanded an immediate end to this situation.

Hongs revelations of fresh mistreatment at the hands of authorities come as senior U.S. diplomats are visiting Hanoi to prepare for a trip there by President Barack Obama later this month.

Reported by Gia Minh for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Political and business elites from the former Soviet Union will face more public scrutiny of their expensive real-estate holdings in Britain under a new plan announced by Prime Minister David Cameron on May 12.

Under the initiative, aimed at cracking down on inflows of dirty money, foreign companies that own or buy real estate in Britain would have to sign up to a public registry disclosing the properties' beneficial ownership. It is a response to the use of secretive offshore companies to shield the true owners' identities.

Precisely how the new rules will be enforced is unclear. But with numerous wealthy officials and businesspeople from Russia and other former Soviet countries having snapped up pricy properties in London in recent years, the initiative could ultimately force them into the spotlight.

Heres a look at some of these individuals and their relatives whose possible ownership of British real estate could be revealed under the new rules:

Igor Shuvalov

A first deputy prime minister under President Vladimir Putin, Shuvalov has publicly acknowledged owning foreign real estate. In his mandatory income disclosures, he has stated that he rents an Austrian home and a 483-square meter apartment in London. But anticorruption crusader Aleksei Navalny last year accused Shuvalov of obscuring his actual ownership of the London property. He posted a British land registry document showing that ownership of the property, which overlooks the River Thames, was transferred in 2014 to a Russian company controlled by Shuvalov and his wife for a listed sale price of 11.44 million pounds ($18 million). Cameron's new transparency initiative, Navalny said on May 12, could force Shuvalov to reveal that "he is renting the apartment from his own offshore."

The Aliyevs

Documents from the trove of leaked materials known as the Panama Papers have revealed that the daughters of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev -- Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva -- control a secretive offshore company set up in the British Virgin Islands last year to help manage their multimillion-dollar real-estate holdings in Britain, according to media outlets that have seen the documents.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which is one of the Panama Papers' partners, reported last year that a 10,500-square-foot London mansion worth more than $25 million was owned by an Isle of Man-registered firm that, in turn, was previously owned by Aliyev. The president and his wife transferred their shares in the firm to their daughter, Leyla, in 2010, the report said.

The OCCRP has tied the Aliyev family to other multimillion-dollar properties in London formally owned by offshore firms as well.

WATCH: The Mansion On the Heath (OCCRP)

Andrei Guryev

For seven years, mystery and wild speculation swirled about the ownership of London's largest private house, known as Witanhurst. A British Virgin Islands-registered firm called Safran Holdings Limited purchased the house for 50 million pounds ($72.2 million) in 2008 and rumors had long linked it to Yelena Baturina, Russia's richest woman and the wife of former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, and even to President Vladimir Putin. But an article published last year in The New Yorker magazine confirmed that the home is owned by the family of billionaire Andrei Guryev, who served 12 years in Russias upper house of parliament.

The New Yorker quoted Guryev's spokesman as saying that Guryev is not the "legal owner" of the home but rather a beneficiary of the firm that owns it.

Andrei Yakunin

The son of former Russian Railways head and Kremlin insider Vladimir Yakunin, Andrei Yakunin owns an eight-bedroom mansion in London worth 35 million pounds ($50 million), the Sunday Times reported in March. The younger Yakunin, a London-based investor with a British passport, owns the property through a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands called Terphos Financial Corporation. The report also said he has a registered address at a London home worth around 10 million pounds ($14.4 million) and owned by another offshore firm, Diamondrock, whose beneficiary could not be immediately established. The elder Yakunin, a longtime close associate of Putins, is among the Russian officials sanctioned by the United States in response to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Roman Rotenberg

Rotenbergs father and uncle -- Boris and Arkady, respectively -- have been judo partners of Putin's and control sprawling industrial conglomerates believed to be worth billions of dollars. Navalny and other anticorruption activists have linked Roman Rotenberg to a $4.7 million London mansion registered to a Cypriot firm called Loktan Services Limited. Reportedly a British citizen, Roman Rotenberg was sanctioned by Washington last year for alleged involvement in evasion of Ukraine- and Russia-related U.S. sanctions.

'Kleptocracy Tour'

Several of the above-mentioned homes are part of what London-based anticorruption crusaders call a Kleptocracy Tour that was launched recently. Organizers take guests around the city on a bus to show them the palatial homes owned by some of the richest people from the former Soviet Union, including Russian tycoons Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska, and Ukrainian billionaires Rinat Akhmetov and Dmytro Firtash.

WATCH: A Kleptocracy Tour Of London
Britains supreme court has dismissed damage claims by hundreds of Iraqi civilians who allege they were mistreated by British forces.

Iraqi law imposes a three-year limit for such claims to be brought.

The supreme court ruled on May 12 that the same limit should apply in English courts, upholding a previous appeal court ruling.

https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2016-0003-judgment.pdf

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the judgement was a "big step in the right direction" and would "save the taxpayer millions."

The claimants brought action against the British Defense Ministry, alleging they suffered unlawful detention and maltreatment in Iraq between 2003 and 2009.

The claims were made by 14 lead claimants representing the group of 600 Iraqi civilians.

Based on reporting by the BBC and The Guardian
Russia-backed Crimean authorities have detained four Crimean Tatars on suspicion of being members of an Islamic group that is banned in Russia.

Crimea's de facto prosecutor-general, Natalia Poklonskaya, said the four men detained on May 12 were suspected members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia designates a terrorist organization.

She said three were being investigated for participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, and one was being investigated for organizing terrorist activities.

A leader of the Crimean Tatars, Zair Smedlya, and human rights lawyer Emil Kuberdinov condemned the detention of the four men, calling it the "continuation of repression against the Crimean Tatars" by pro-Russia authorities in the Ukrainian peninsula.

The arrests occurred during a visit by Russia's recently appointed presidential human rights ombudsman, Tatyana Moskalkova, to the peninsula.

Several Crimean Tatars were arrested earlier this year for allegedly being Hizb ut-Tahrir members, a move Tatar activists called "politically motivated.

Russia has been heavily criticized by international rights groups and Western governments for its treatment of the Crimean Tatars since Moscow annexed the peninsula in March 2014.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, a London-based Sunni political organization, seeks to unite all Muslim countries into an Islamic caliphate. It says it does not advocate violence.
Nadia Savchenko turned 35 yesterday.

Nadia Savchenko spent her second consecutive birthday in captivity yesterday.

And Nadia Savchenko spent that birthday alone.

She spent it alone because Russian officials refused to allow Savchenko's 78-year-old mother to visit her.

Now this isn't exactly surprising considering the petty cruelty and duplicity that has characterized Moscow's treatment of Savchenko from Day 1.

And this wasn't the only unpleasant birthday greeting Russia had for its hostage.

Reports emerged yesterday that Moscow is insisting that Kyiv grant a full pardon to two captured Russian military intelligence officers before they can be exchanged for Savchenko.

And at the same time Russia is also insisting that Ukraine pledge to imprison Savchenko for her full 22-year sentence.

As a result, lawyers for both sides are saying that an exchange is looking increasingly unlikely.

So let's put this in context.

Moscow wants a full pardon for Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Aleksandr Aleksandrov.

Both are admitted Russian GRU officers.

Both were captured on Ukrainian territory and convicted in what was widely seen as a fair trial of participating in an attack on Ukrainian forces near Luhansk.

And from the outset, both had full access to the OSCE, the Red Cross, Russian consul, human rights activists, and journalists.

And Russia is insisting that Savchenko -- who was kidnapped on Ukrainian territory and forcefully brought to Russia to face a face a show trial in Russia on transparently fabricated charges -- serve out her full sentence.

The whole thing is an insult wrapped in mockery inside of a lie.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
Donald Hill, a retired senior editor and correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty whose half-century career also included working for newspapers in Virginia and serving as vice president for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, has died. He was 85.

Don, as he was known to friends and colleagues, died in Prague on April 23 of complications from Parkinson's disease.

At age 65, when many people already enjoy retirement, Don joined RFE/RL in Prague in 1995. During his time at RFE/RL, he distinguished himself with his elegant writing and crisp editing. He retired from his position in 2005 at age 75.

A native of Corvallis, Oregon, Don's father was a U.S. Army officer and a graduate of West Point, taking his family along to posts that included Korea and Panama.

After a stint with the U.S. Army in Germany and Korea, Don took a job with The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Virginia. Assigned to the maritime beat, he soon showed the skill as a wordsmith that would be a hallmark of his career in journalism. He authored an award-winning series of stories chronicling his adventures while hiking the length of the James River, from its headwaters in western Virginia to the sea. He rose to become city editor for the newspaper.

Don later became Washington bureau chief for Landmark Communications, a newspaper chain that included The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, as well as the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Roanoke Times, both in Virginia. A highlight of his tenure in Washington was his coverage of the Watergate hearings that led to the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974.

At RFE/RL, Don was also known as a fashionable dresser who rarely wore anything other than a tie and jacket. He was always generous with his advice to younger staffers. He was outspoken about his former struggle with alcoholism and proud that he had not had a drink for several decades.

Jeremy Bransten, director of RFE/RL's Central Newsroom, said, "Don was a newsman to the core and a mentor, but more importantly he was dapper, witty, self-deprecating, and kind. He was the definition of a true gentleman. He made our world a better place."

Don once asked a fellow journalist what he thought was the most important article one could write.

"Perhaps reporting a big story about the president. Or covering a war, a revolution, or an earthquake," the younger journalist answered.

"An obituary," Don said. "Think about it. What other newspaper clip would be carried in somebody's wallet for years, possibly for decades?"

In addition to his widow, Maggie Ledford Lawson of Prague, survivors include his former wife, Eva Fuhrman; a sister, Jocelyn Williams; his children from a previous marriage: Donald Hill, of Ijamsville, Maryland, and Susan Zambory, of Burke, Virginia; five step-children: Edward Lawson and Sarah Russell, both of Rural Retreat, Virginia., Charles Lawson of Wytheville, Virginia, Margaret Rose Lanahan of Asheville, North Carolina, and Laura Rosbottom of Raleigh, North Carolina.

His ashes will be scattered at Laurel Fork in Virginia's George Washington National Forest.

Frank Csongos was a friend and colleague of Mr. Hill at RFE/RL.
Ukraine and its allies have adamantly rejected Russia's claims that Kyiv is developing a "dirty bomb" to use against Moscow's forces, and Ukraine's foreign minister says he has invited experts to visit Ukrainian facilities to see for themselves that Ukraine has nothing to hide.

Russia's claims that Kyiv is planning to deploy a so-called dirty bomb -- a conventional warhead laced with radioactive, biological, or chemical materials -- came in a series of calls between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his counterparts from several NATO countries.

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.

Britain, France, and the United States issued a joint statement on October 23 dismissing the claim after Shoigu's calls with their defense ministers in which the Russian minister presented no evidence for the claim.

"Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," according to the statement.

But Russia doubled down on its assertions, which come after weeks of military defeats for Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine.

"According to the information we have, two organizations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called dirty bomb. This work is in its final stage," Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said on October 24.

The chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, later on October 24 spoke by phone with British Chief of Defense Staff Tony Radakin, who rejected Russia's allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict.

"The military leaders both agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the U.K. and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to facilitate deescalation," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Gerasimov also held a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, General Mark Milley, to discuss the risks of the use of a dirty bomb in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin-controlled RIA Novosti news agency.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on October 24 weighed in on Moscow's repeated allegation, saying NATO also rejects it.

Stoltenberg said he had spoken with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace "about Russia's false claim that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory."

"NATO Allies reject this allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine," he said on Twitter.

Moscow's claims that Ukraine could employ a dirty bomb raised concern that Russia could use such a device and blame Kyiv.

A senior U.S. military official said the United States has seen no indication that Russia has decided to use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons in Ukraine, including a dirty bomb.

The official, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, also said the Ukrainians are not building a dirty bomb.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price also said the United States has not seen any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon but said there would be consequences for Russia whether it used a dirty bomb or any other nuclear weapon.



"It would certainly be another example of President Putin's brutality, if he were to use a so called 'dirty bomb.' There would be consequences for Russia whether it uses a 'dirty bomb' or a nuclear bomb. We've been very clear about that," Price told reporters.



He did not provide details about those consequences.

Ukraine earlier called the accusation that Ukraine was building a dirty bomb absurd, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog accepted his request to send experts to Ukraine to refute Moscow's claim.

Kuleba said he invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "urgently send experts to peaceful facilities in Ukraine which Russia deceitfully claims to be developing a dirty bomb."

Kuleba said Ukraine has always been transparent and has "nothing to hide."

The IAEA said later on October 24 that it was preparing to send inspectors to two Ukrainian sites.



IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed in a statement that both locations are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors.



The IAEA "is aware of statements made by the Russian Federation on [October 23] about alleged activities at two nuclear locations in Ukraine," Grossi said, adding that both were already subject to its inspections and one was inspected a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or material were found.



"The IAEA is preparing to visit the locations in the coming days," it added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Kuleba in a phone call on October 23 that the world would "see through any attempt by Russia to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation [of the war]."

Blinken and Kuleba discussed the U.S. and international commitment to continue supporting Ukraine with "unprecedented security, economic and humanitarian assistance for as long as it takes, as we hold Russia accountable," the State Department's call readout said.

They further noted ongoing efforts to manage the broader implications of the Kremlins war in Ukraine, it added.

With reporting by AFP
Iran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual hajj pilgrimage, the latest sign of tensions between the two archrivals.

Iran said Saudi "incompetence" caused a deadly stampede during the hajj in September that killed at least 2,426 people. Tehran said the disaster killed 464 Iranian pilgrims.

Ali Jannati, Iran's minister of culture, said talks between Tehran and Riyadh had been trying to "resolve the issue" of security for months, but failed to make any headway.

"The sabotage is coming from the Saudis," Jannati was quoted as saying by the state-run IRNA news agency.

"They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing visas or security and transport of the Iranian pilgrims."

The Saudi minister for the hajj, Mohammed Bintin, said the Iranians had "insisted on a number of unacceptable demands."

Tensions have escalated between Saudi Arabia and Iran in recent months -- particularly in January, when Iranian protesters ransacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and set fires inside after Saudi authorities executed an outspoken Shi'ite cleric.

As a result, Riyadh cut diplomatic relations with Tehran.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told top bank executives that the United States will not stand in the way if they want to do business with Iran.

Kerry told the meeting of European bank executives in London on May 12 that lenders will not be penalized for doing legitimate business with Iran because most global sanctions have been removed under Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Major British banks attended the meeting, including Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, along with other European banks.

Kerry said Washington wants to make clear that as long as banks do their "normal due diligence" to know whom they're doing business with, they won't be held to an undefined or inappropriate standard.

Kerry stressed that banks should only avoid doing business with Iranian businesses and individuals who the United States continues to target with sanctions, such as companies associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
ELKO  A police officer driving in the parking lot of the Red Lion Hotel and Casino on Idaho Street noticed an Elko man known to have an active warrant and subsequently arrested him Tuesday.

Roy A. Sam, 34, was found to have a cigarette pack in his pocket with small zip-close bags containing suspected methamphetamine, during a search prior to the arrest, said Lt. Ty Trouten.

There were three bags containing 1.5 to 2 grams that tested positive for methamphetamine, he said.

Marijuana was also located.

Sam was arrested at 2065 Idaho St. for possession to sell a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of one once or less of marijuana, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear after bail for a misdemeanor.

His bail was listed at $31,870.
Iraq says it has retaken around two-thirds of the territory seized by the Islamic State (IS) in the militant group's lightning-fast sweep across the country's north and west in 2014.

"Daesh's presence in Iraqi cities and provinces has declined. After occupying 40 percent of Iraqi territory, now only 14 percent remains," government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said in a televised statement on May 11.

That calculation appeared rosier than recent estimates from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last month that IS had lost 44 percent of the territory it held in Iraq.

Iraq's military, along with Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Shi'ite Muslim militias, and Sunni tribal fighters, all backed by U.S.-led coalition forces, have recaptured several cities in the past year, including Ramadi, Tikrit, and Baiji.

Yet IS still manages to launch deadly attacks in areas under the government's nominal control. On May 11, car bombs in Baghdad killed at least 93 people.

Iraqi officials say they will retake the northern city of Mosul this year, but in private many question whether that is possible.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
It's been a banner week for the Kremlin's propaganda machine. At home, and across the border in the parts of Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists, Russian military hardware was out on display for the May 9 Victory Day parade marking the defeat of the Nazis in World War II.

But the biggest propaganda victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin may not have been broadcast by his state-run propaganda outlets like RT, but by Western news outlets which accepted Russia's offer to report exactly what the Kremlin wanted them to in Syria.

Earlier this year, the Russian military and Russian private mercenaries played a key role in helping the Syrian government recapture the central Syrian city of Palmyra, a fabled and ancient city known for its historic ruins, from the hands of Islamic State (IS) extremists.

In the first few days of May, the Russian military escorted teams of international journalists across the war zone to observe a concert in Palmyra's ancient amphitheater. The reporters were treated to a magnificent performance of famed musicians conducted by Valery Gergiev, the conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and a fierce supporter of Putin.

The Washington Post's Andrew Roth detailed the entire trip, focusing on the steps that the Russian government took to ensure that the journalists who participated in this guided tour only wrote positively and on the subject that their Russian minders desired. Other news agencies seemed more than happy to toe the Russian line.

Glowing Reports

CNN's article on the event nearly glows, highlighting the significant military operation needed to get the journalists to a concert near the front lines of the battle against IS fighters. It notes that just this past July, IS militants filmed themselves executing 25 prisoners in the same theater. There is only one line in the article that even resembles criticism -- that famed cellist Sergei Roldugin, "who was recently named in the Panama Papers as having moved hundreds of millions to offshore companies, a claim he denies," played in the concert.

Euronews posted a similar story, though the French news outlet did note a caveat: its media facility in Syria is "provided by the Russian Ministry of Defence and our reporting is not subject to any military control." That article carried a quote from the head of St Petersburg's State Hermitage museum who told the audience that the UNESCO heritage site could have been saved.

Without naming names he appeared to criticize the US-led coalition.

"Look at its geographical situation. The battle for Palmyra went on for so long and many of the exhibits were able to be smuggled out. [The militants] approaching Palmyra could have been bombed into the ground in an instant, but they weren't. Well our guys weren't there back then!" said Mikhail Piotrovsky, the museum's director.

Curiously that quote was published without noting that Palmyra's "geographical situation" is at the center of the country on a key road between the Syrian government's capital city, Damascus, and Iraq -- far from the U.S.-led coalition's campaigns against IS strongholds in northeastern Syria and western Iraq.

Neither CNN nor Euronews note that, according to new documents obtained by Sky News, the Russian-led offensive to retake Palmyra culminated in a deal between the Syrian government and IS forces that allowed the terrorists to remove their heavy weaponry in exchange for the retaking of the city.

Neither report notes that the main target of both Russian and Syrian air strikes are groups that have fought IS, not IS itself. And neither article mentions the fact that, according to the detailed database maintained by the Violations Documentation Center in Syria, at least 100 civilians were killed by the Assad regime in Palmyra prior to IS's arrival, most of whom were killed while in detention.

No Wider Context

Instead, both articles read exactly how the Russian government would like them to read -- Russia helped Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad liberate this ancient city from the most brutal terrorists.

Worse yet, the wider context of events in Syria is completely missing from both the CNN and Euronews reports. While Russian cellos were playing mournful tunes for those killed by Islamic State terrorists, at least 30 refugees were killed as bombs tore through a camp for internally displaced persons near the border with Turkey. Activists said air strikes -- possibly Russian -- were to blame. Euronews, however, ran a special report on how Russian soldiers are demining the ruins. That report does not ask the question that Reuters asks -- if IS planted the mines so that they would explode when the Syrian and Russian soldiers captured the city, why didn't any of them go off?

CNN also reported that the Russian mission in Syria is much larger than media reports had previously suggested. The CNN correspondent noted that he was impressed by the "professionalism of the troops and the pristine state of the equipment they were using," and concluded that "while the exact size of Russia's military presence in Syria is still unclear, the things we saw while embedded with them indicate that it is bigger and more sophisticated than most believe."

That the Russian government is brazenly showing off its forces in Syria should come as no surprise. Independent analysis conducted by our team at The Interpreter, an RFE/RL partner, advanced the argument months ago that, when Putin was claiming that he was withdrawing from Syria, large numbers of Russian forces were staying to fight.

When Putin announced his withdrawal from Syria, he wanted the world to think he was serious. He wasn't. Now Putin wants to send a different message: he's not going anywhere. And uncritical reports from the front lines only help him to underscore this message.


United Nations human rights experts have called on Kazakh authorities to stop the detention and criminal prosecutions of activists who publicly protested the government's plans to privatize agricultural land.

Hundreds of Kazakhs have taken to the streets in several cities over the last two weeks in a rare show of public dissent against the government.

Some of the protesters have been charged with inciting public discord.

In a statement on May 12, the UN experts called on the Kazakh government to "immediately end all forms of persecution and take effective measures to protect civil society."

The protesters rallied against a plan for the large-scale privatization of farmland that would allow foreigners to lease local plots for up to 25 years.

President Nursultan Nazarbaev on May 5 had to impose a moratorium until 2017 on plans to privatize state-owned agricultural land.
Kyrgyzstans parliament has voted to reject a bill on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive foreign funding.

After the bills third reading on May 12, lawmakers voted 65-46 against the legislation, which rights activists denounced as discriminatory and contrary to international human rights standards.

Originally proposed in 2013, the bill was based on Russias 2012 foreign agents law, which NGOs say has been used to silence dissent.

In April, the latest draft of the proposed Kyrgyz legislation switched the controversial foreign agent label to foreign noncommercial organization. It also watered down the heavy reporting burden for NGOs that receive foreign funding to a simpler requirement to publish annual expenditure and funding reports online.

Despite the changes, rights advocates continued to oppose the text.

Based on reporting by 24.kg and The Diplomat


BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities say they have detained and charged three leading members of the People's Parliament movement.

The State Committee for National Security said on May 12 that the three suspects had been charged with plotting to forcibly overthrow the government."

Source close to law enforcement agencies in Bishkek and eyewitnesses told RFE/RL that the suspects are the movement's leader, Bekbolot Talgarbekov, and his associates Torobai Kolubaev and Marat Sultanov.

The politicians were detained after police searched their homes following a session of the People's Parliament in Bishkek on May 12.

At the meeting, the members of the movement publicly warned they would organize mass protests if President Almazbek Atambaev refuses to resign by May 17.

They also said that "Russia would support" them.
Pakistan's military has sentenced five alleged Al-Qaeda militants to death over a deadly bus attack and the killing of a prominent rights activist last year.

The army said on May 12 that its top commander, General Raheel Sharif, had confirmed the death sentences.

It said the five men perpetrated a May 2015 attack on a bus in the southern city of Karachi in which about 45 members of the minority Ismaili community were killed.

The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The military said the men were also involved in other attacks, including the killing of rights activist Sabeen Mehmud in Karachi in April 2015.

Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts after gunmen stormed a school in the northwest in 2014 in an attack that left more than 150 people dead.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
As presidential inspections of Russian military equipment go, this was not a good one.



President Vladimir Putin traveled to the Black Sea city of Sochi on May 12, where he met with military officials and weapons suppliers eager to show off some of Russia's latest technology and equipment.



According to Russian news reports, the man who served as Putins tour guide -- General Aleksandr Shevchenko, the director of the Russian Defense Ministrys Main Armored Directorate -- was eager to show Putin the specially built armored model of an SUV built by the Russian automotive giant UAZ.

With television cameras rolling, the entourage -- which included the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov -- walked to the front passenger-side door and Putin tried to open the door. An officer appearing to be Shevchenko went to help him, pulling on the door handle -- until he pulled it off.

As Putin appeared to smirk, and with Gerasimov visibly appalled, video broadcast by the Kremlin-friendly TV channel LifeNews showed Shevchenko tossing the broken handle through the open window onto the passenger seat, and then reaching in and struggling to open the door from the inside.

Well done, Putin was quoted as saying by Vedomosti.

After failing to open the front door, Shevchenko then goes to the rear passenger door and opens it, though its unclear from the video whether Putin ended up climbing in.

The incident wasnt the first time that Putin has found himself at the mercy of malfunctioning machinery.



Five years ago, he was treated to a test drive of a new- model Lada, whose manufacturer has a less-than-stellar reputation for quality. Putin took the wheel in front of the cameras but had a hard time getting the car to start.

There have been other smirk-worthy equipment malfunctions in recent years, too.

In 2015, during the Victory Day parade in Red Square-- where Russian and Soviet weaponry has been shown off for decades -- a next generation T-14 Armata tank stalled and had to be towed away by another vehicle.

During the same event, in the procession leading up to Red Square, a Buk M-1 antiaircraft missile launcher appeared to catch fire, spewing smoke across the thousands of parade watchers. Firefighters ultimately showed up to extinguish the blaze.
originally posted to the BBG website - www.bbg.gov

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2016  The Broadcasting Board of Governors condemns the targeting of independent journalists in Russia-annexed Crimea following police searches on Tuesday of the homes of seven residents of the peninsula, including some who have worked as RFE/RL contributors.

The Moscow-backed Crimean Prosecutor Generals Office says it has launched a criminal case against one of these people, Mykola Semena, alleging that he engaged in extremism and agitated for violations of Russias territorial integrity on the basis of his journalistic work.

The prosecutor also called for the closure of RFE/RLs Crimea Realities website, one of the last remaining sources of independent news on Russia-annexed Crimea, claiming that the website seeks to discredit the Russian Federation, incites interethnic hatred and promotes extremism.

The charges being considered against Semena are baseless and are aimed only at silencing independent voices and dissent, BBG CEO and Director John Lansing said. Threats to the free practice of journalism must neither be made nor tolerated by any government.

Journalism is not a crime, BBG Chairman Jeff Shell said. Reporters from RFE/RL and indeed all media outlets must be allowed to do their work in Crimea without fear of intimidation or arrest.

This morning, U.S. Embassy in Kyiv spokesman Jonathan Lalley said, The United States strongly condemns the detention of journalists in Crimea and calls for a halt to raids on media organizations by Russian occupation authorities. He added: These actions are further examples of the Russian governments growing crackdown on independent voices in Russia and Russia-occupied Crimea.

RFE/RLs Crimea Realities website was launched in March 2014, immediately following the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The site publishes content in the Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian and Russian languages in an effort to provide all audiences affected by the annexation with informed analysis and an independent and balanced account of the peninsulas news.

Upholding freedom of the press is one of the BBGs top priorities in its efforts to support accurate, objective journalism around the world. Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, is ranked Not Free, according to Freedom Houses 2015 Freedom of the Press Findings.

About the BBG

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international media. Its mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti). BBG programming has a measured audience of 226 million in more than 100 countries and in 61 languages.
UPDATE: RFE/RL's Crimean news desk, Krym.Realii, has welcomed the May 13 decision by Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor to unblock its news website in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea. Read more here.

----

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 -- Volodymyr Prytula, the chief of RFE/RLs news website Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities), says that neither the websites editors nor RFE/RL was warned of claims or allegations against the site before Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor began to block access to it last night. Denial of access to the website has been reported in many cities in Russia and Russia-annexed Crimea.

Some observers are expressing concern that blocking Krym.Realii may be the first step towards banning RFE/RL in its entirety in Russia.

"This is an aggressive act that uses the outrageous pretext of extremism to censor RFE/RL and prevent audiences in Russia and Crimea from learning the truth about the annexation," RFE/RL Editor in Chief Nenad Pejic said in a statement on May 12.

"We condemn it as an attack on RFE/RL's operations and the public's fundamental right to freely access information," he added.

Crimea's Moscow-appointed, de facto Prosecutor-General Natalia Poklonskaya posted a statement on May 12 saying that Russia's Internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, had launched measures to block and shut down the site. Her office had earlier issued a call for the website's closure on April 19, claiming it seeks to "discredit the Russian Federation, incites inter-ethnic hatred and promotes extremism." A contributor to the website was arrested that day, drawing a sharp rebuke from U.S. Embassy in Kyiv spokesman Jonathan Lalley, who called it an example "of the Russian governments growing crackdown on independent voices in Russia and Russia-occupied Crimea.

According to Roskomnadzors website, decisions to block access to Krym.Realii were adopted in September 2015 in connection with Russia's law on extremism; it is unclear why these decisions are being implemented now.

Krym.Realii is one of the last remaining sources for independent reporting about Russia-annexed Crimea. It is published in Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean-Tatar languages, and has logged an average of 2.2 million visits monthly to its website over the past 12-month period.
Few activists today can speak firsthand about the creation of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia's oldest operating human rights organization, 40 years ago.

Lyudmila Alekseyeva is one of them.

At 88, she is Russia's best-known human rights activist and among the last Soviet-era dissidents still active in the country.

She is also one of the group's founders and its current head.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service this week, Alekseyeva recalled how fellow dissident Yury Orlov first came up with the idea to establish the Moscow Helsinki Group.

"In early May 1976, he called me and asked, 'Lyuda, the weather is beautiful, would you like to go for a walk in downtown Moscow?'" she said. "We were on friendly terms, but we usually met only for work. I understood that he was inviting me to talk outside, since our homes were tapped."

The pair met and Orlov laid out his plan to establish an organization that would monitor the Soviet Union's compliance with the principles enshrined in the Helsinki Accords.

The accords were signed in August 1975 by the Soviet Union, the United States, Canada, and all European countries except Albania, which became a signatory in 1991 -- 35 states in total.

The goal was to reduce tensions between the communist bloc and the West and uphold respect for fundamental freedoms.

Alekseyeva immediately backed Orlov's proposition.

Days later, on May 12, 1976, the Moscow Helsinki Group was created, with Orlov, Alekseyeva, and a dozen other prominent dissidents as founding members.

Promising Academic Career

At that time, Alekseyeva had already been campaigning for a decade.

An archaeologist by training, she had grown disillusioned with the Soviet Union and abandoned what had started as a promising academic career.

She defended dissidents who had run afoul of Soviet authorities, including writers Andrei Siniavsky and Yuli Daniel, sentenced to prison for criticizing Soviet authorities in the foreign press.

She also clandestinely worked as a typist for the Chronicle of Current Events, the leading "samizdat" underground publication detailing human rights violations in the U.S.S.R.

She says her typing skills proved invaluable to the group, which regularly sent reports to all Helsinki Accord signatories denouncing the Soviet Union's human rights violations.

Soviet authorities immediately retaliated.

Alekseyeva says only three of the group's founders, including herself, evaded arrest.

She eventually fled to the United States with her family in 1977.

WATCH: Lyudmila Alekseyeva On Her Hopes For Russia

The Moscow Helsinki Group quickly ceased its activities.

"Those who had not been imprisoned announced that they were halting their work, because absolutely all its members faced jail," she recalled. "This was the right thing to do. If they had been arrested, there would have been no group left anyway."

In the United States, Alekseyeva continued advocating for human rights and took up freelance work for RFE/RL and Voice of America.

In 1985, she published her first book, Soviet Dissent, devoted to the history of the dissident movement.

In 1990, she issued Thaw Generation, an autobiography co-authored by Paul Goldberg.

Tireless Campaigner

The Soviet Union collapsed the following year, and in 1993, after 16 years in exile, Alekseyeva and her husband were finally able to return home.

She soon grew into a leading figure of the human rights movement, tirelessly denouncing rights abuses under former President Boris Yeltsin and his successor, Vladimir Putin.

She has vigorously denounced rampant abuse against civilians in war-ravaged Chechnya and, later, the killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya and rights campaigner Natalya Estemirova.

Both women had actively worked to uncover atrocities committed against the local population by pro-Moscow law-enforcement officials and separatist rebels.

Alekseyeva has also taken a strong stand against a raft of Kremlin initiatives, including the introduction of harsh new restrictions on nongovernmental organizations in Russia.

Her crusade for human rights elicited international praise and accolades, including the Sakharov Prize, the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

It also earned her enemies.

In 2006, Russian authorities accused her of involvement with British intelligence. She was vilified by pro-Kremlin youth groups, who branded her a Nazi and one of the nation's greatest foes.

In March 2010, she was assaulted at a Moscow metro station while paying her respects to the victims of a bombing attack there a few days earlier.

WATCH: Rights Activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva Attacked In Moscow

Alekseyeva, already walking with difficulty, was famously detained on December 31, 2009, for leading an unsanctioned New Year's Eve protest dressed up as Snow Maiden.

But despite her acerbic attacks against the Kremlin, her age and the respect she inspires have shielded her from more serious trouble with authorities.

Last year, she agreed to return to rejoin the presidential human rights council, which she had quit in 2012 citing interference from the Kremlin. She said she would use her seat on the council to fight against the persecution of NGOs under what's been dubbed the "foreign agent" law and to denounce what she described as the rollback on human rights and democratic freedoms in Russia.

Alekseyeva has chaired the Moscow Helsinki Group since 1996.


This time every year, hospitals across the country pause to recognize healthcare professionals for their work and commitment to you  our community. I have had the privilege of operating rural hospitals in many states, and for almost two years now, I have had the honor of leading this exemplary Nevada community hospital. It is a responsibility that I take seriously.

My job is made easier by the outstanding individuals that I am supported by on a daily basis. We are proud, and fortunate, to have an exceptional team of nurses, physicians and employees. They can stand shoulder to shoulder with providers in any setting  including those in larger hospitals and academic settings. You will not find a more caring, competent and compassionate group of caregivers. It is because of them, and their commitment to this community, that I am proud to join the American Hospital Association for National Hospital Week and honor the hard work, commitment and dedication of the men and women at NNRH who make safe, high-quality healthcare available to the people of Elko.

We consider it a privilege to serve the healthcare needs of our community, and we are continuously looking for new ways to advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier. Lets face it, when you come to us, you are often at your most vulnerable. But each day, our employees strive to enhance quality care and patient safety; expand the services we provide to better meet the needs of the community; improve our patients healthcare experiences; and reach out to people in need. In the last two months, we have had a 20 percent increase on our patient satisfaction scores as a result of the great work of our people.

As I walk the halls every day, I am proud of what we do to contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of our region. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community  with or without insurance coverage  has access to the care that they need. This is why we provided more than $7.2 million in charity care, uncompensated care and self-pay discounts in 2015. In the last year, we also invested $1.2 million in equipment and other capital at our hospital. This included state-of-the-art additions to our CT and MRI capabilities, as well as a bedside monitoring system that provides continuous electronic monitoring for our most fragile patients. In addition, NNRH paid almost $700,000 in taxes to our community and contributed nearly $500,000 to about 37 community organizations and local non-profits.

We are committed to supporting our community inside the walls of our hospital and beyond, and we are proud that we can continue this hospitals nearly century-long legacy of providing quality healthcare to people throughout this region. I hope the community will join me in celebrating all of our dedicated employees during this special week. If you know our employees personally, please give them a hearty job well done and thank them for their service.
Chinas biggest oil and gas producer says it is planning to start laying a second domestic oil pipeline in June that will allow increasing Russian crude supplies.

CNPC said on May 12 that the 942-kilometer pipeline between the border city of Mohe and Daqing in northeastern China is expected to be completed by October 2017.

The project runs parallel to an existing spur off of Russias East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline.

The two pipelines will have a combined annual capacity of 30 million metric tons of oil.

Russia started sending crude supplies to China from the spur off the ESPO pipeline in 2011.

The two neighbors are also considering building a second natural-gas pipeline to transport as much as 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from West Siberia to China over 30 years.

Based on reporting by Bloomberg
A suspected member of a militant group linked to Al-Qaeda has been jailed in Russia's Urals city of Magnitogorsk, local authorities say.

According to a May 12 statement by the local branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB), a suspected member of the Jannat Oshiklari militant group was found guilty of taking part in the activities of illegal armed groups and illegal weapons possession and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison.

Investigators said that the convicted man, whose name was not disclosed, is originally from Central Asia and fought for several months alongside Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

He was arrested in September in Russia's Chelyabinsk region bordering with Kazakhstan.

Jannat Oshiklari, also known as Tawhid wa Jihod, is an ethnic Uzbek Islamist militant faction fighting in Syria.

The group is believed to have ties to Al-Qaeda.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
The Moscow Helsinki Group is marking the 40th anniversary of its founding in 1976. The group became one of the leading avenues for exposing human rights abuses in the Soviet Union. Its founders became legends of the Soviet dissident movement and of international human rights activism generally.

August 1, 1975: The Soviet Union and 34 other countries sign the Helsinki Accords as part of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The so-called third basket of the agreements obligates signatory states to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief."

May 12, 1976: At a press conference held in the apartment of Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov, a group of activists announces the formation of the Moscow Helsinki Group. The original members are: Yury Orlov, Natan Sharansky, Lyudmila Alekseyeva, Aleksandr Korchak, Malva Landa, Vitaly Rubin, Yelena Bonner, Aleksandr Ginzburg, Anatoly Marchenko, Pyotr Grigorenko, and Mikhail Bernshtam. Ten other activists soon join the organization, whose purpose is to fact-check the Soviet government's implementation of its Helsinki commitments and forward reports of violations to other signatory states.

During its six-year existence, the original Moscow Helsinki Group produces and smuggles 195 reports out of the Soviet Union. Its information is discussed at the international Helsinki follow-up meetings in Belgrade in 1977 and Madrid in 1980.

Similar groups are later created in Warsaw Pact countries and, subsequently, in other Soviet republics. The U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch was also originally a Helsinki Watch group.

WATCH: The Moscow Helsinki Group (MacArthur Foundation)

June 1976: An appeal from the Moscow Helsinki Group prompts U.S. Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick to create the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which includes representatives of the U.S. legislative and executive branches.

January 5, 1977: Aleksandr Podrabinek and several other activists found the Working Commission to Investigate the Use of Psychiatry for Political Purposes as an offshoot of the Moscow Helsinki Group. Between 1977 and 1981, the Working Commission smuggles information about 50 individual cases of punitive psychiatry to the West.

January 8, 1977: An explosion occurs in the Moscow metro system. The Soviet press is quick to blame the Moscow Helsinki Group dissidents for the incident. The group issues a statement denying involvement and restating its commitment to nonviolent protest.

1977: According to a Western study of the Soviet human-rights movement, less than a year after the creation, KGB Chairman Yury Andropov reports that "the need has thus emerged to terminate the actions of Orlov, fellow Helsinki monitor Ginzburg, and others once and for all, on the basis of existing law."

February 1977: Alekseyeva takes advantage of an offer from the Soviet government to leave the country. She settles in the United States, where she continues to work for the Moscow Helsinki Group. She also contributes to the broadcasts of Radio Liberty and Voice of America. Three other leading members of the group also go into exile, while activist Pyotr Grigorenko is stripped of his Soviet citizenship while undergoing medical treatment abroad.

May 18, 1978: Moscow Helsinki Group founder Yury Orlov is sentenced to seven years in a prison camp and five years of internal exile.

June 21, 1978: Vladimir Slepak is sentenced to five years of internal exile.

July 14, 1978: Natan Sharansky is sentenced to three years in prison and 10 years in a strict-regime labor camp.

July 21, 1981: The Working Commission to Investigate the Use of Psychiatry for Political Purposes ends its work when its last member, Feliks Serebrov, is sentenced to five years in a labor camp followed by five years of internal exile. Earlier, Podrabinek and other commission members were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to seven years. Anatoly Koryagin, who served as the commission's psychiatric consultant, got seven years in prison and five years of exile for "anti-Soviet activities."

December 1981: By the end of 1981, only three Helsinki monitors -- Yelena Bonner (wife of physicist Andrei Sakharov), Sofia Kalistratova, and Naum Meiman are not in prison.

1982: Acting on an appeal by Andrei Sakharov, the International Helsinki Federation (IHF) for Human Rights is founded, creating "a unified international committee to defend all Helsinki Watch Group members." Czech rights activist Karel Schwarzenberg is its chairman from 1984 until 1991. In 1989, the IHF, together with Polish activist Lech Walesa, is awarded the European Human Rights Prize.

September 8, 1982: Yelena Bonner officially announces the dissolution of the original Moscow Helsinki Group, in part because of an arrest threat against the 75-year-old Kalistratova and in part, Bonner says, because the KGB had used the organization to send agents abroad under the guise of dissidents.

1986: The Soviet Union agrees to strip Yury Orlov of his Soviet citizenship and expel him. After his conviction in May 1978, Orlov serves 18 months in Moscow's Lefortovo prison. He then serves the rest of his prison term in two camps in Perm Oblast. He develops tuberculosis and other illnesses while in prison. In 1984, he is exiled to Siberia. In October 1986, he is allowed to leave the Soviet Union. His Soviet citizenship (along with that of 23 other prominent exiles) is restored in 1990 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He has been on the faculty of Cornell University since 1987.

1989: Alekseyeva restarts the Moscow Helsinki group together with activists Vyacheslav Bakhmin, Larisa Bogoraz, Sergei Kovalyov, Aleksei Simonov, Lyov Timfeyev, and Boris Zolotukhin.

1993: Alekseyeva returns to Moscow from exile in the United States. In 1996 she becomes the chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group.
KYIV -- Ukraine's ombudswoman Valeria Lutkovska urged the countrys authorities on May 12 to shut down a Kyiv-based website for "violating Ukrainian laws on information and personal data." *

Earlier this week, the website Myrotvorets revealed the personal information of more than 4,000 journalists who it said were illegally accredited by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Lutkovska's call comes a day after the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, Dunja Mijatovic, expressed concerns about the safety of journalists in Ukraine following the leaks, after which some of the journalists on the list received threats.

On May 11, Kyiv's city prosecutor's office said it had launched investigations into the leaks, calling the matter an "obstruction of the professional activities of journalists."

* An earlier version of this story misidentified the ombudswoman as Russia's presidential rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova.
The United States has activated a missile-defense site in Romania, prompting an angry reaction from Moscow.

Senior U.S., NATO, and Romanian officials on May 12 attended the opening ceremony of the $800 million system in Deveselu, a village in southern Romania that used to host a Soviet air base.

U.S. and NATO officials have said the Romanian site -- along with a second one due to become operational in 2018 in Poland -- is intended to protect Europe from possible ballistic-missile threats from Iran, and is not aimed at Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg underscored the latter point during the inauguration ceremony, saying that missile defense "does not undermine or weaken Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent."

The office of Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has cast doubts on the true intentions of the program, questioning the need for protection against Iran following the deal negotiated in 2015 that curbs Iran's nuclear program. Various Russian officials have argued that the missile base poses a threat to Russia, see it is a Cold War-style show of force, and say it will further complicate Moscow's relationship with NATO.

The activation of the site comes amid troubled ties between NATO and Russia in the wake of Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula two years ago, and despite Moscow's long-standing objections to NATO and U.S. missile-defense plans.

The system in Deveselu -- technically known as Aegis Ashore -- is tasked with shooting down rockets as part of a larger defense shield. The site covers 170 hectares and is equipped with Aegis radar and 44 land-to-air SM-3 missiles that have a 500-kilometer range. It is the first onshore installation of the larger system, parts of which have been deployed on U.S. naval ships in the Mediterranean and which will ultimately extend across Europe.

When asked at the ceremony whether the sites in Romania and Poland could develop technology that could counter Russian missiles, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said: "No, there are no plans at all to do that. This is for the broader defense against a threat that is outside the Euro-Atlantic area of operations."

Nevertheless, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 12 that Moscow was already taking measures for "securing the necessary level of security in Russia."

The comments added to speculation that Russia might deploy Iskander missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave, which is wedged between Poland and Lithuania.

Stoltenberg, who earlier on May 12 met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, noted that Moscow had unilaterally terminated cooperative dialogue about missile defense in 2013.

On May 13, Polish and U.S. officials will break ground at the second planned missile-defense site, in the Polish village of Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea. The site, which is expected to become operational by 2018, is located near Kaliningrad.

The NATO missile shield has been partly operational for several years, thanks to a radar site in Turkey, a missile-defense command center in Germany, and four U.S. warships with interceptor missiles on board that are based in southern Spain.

The Deveselu facility is expected to be placed under NATO control in July, at the alliance's summit in Warsaw.

With additional reporting by RFE/RL's Mike Eckel and material from news agencies
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has urged Serbian political leaders in neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina to prevent street protests scheduled for May 14 from turning violent.

Both the opposition and the ruling party in Bosnia's autonomous Serbian region, the Republika Srpska, have called on supporters to take to the streets of the capital, Banja Luka, for demonstrations ahead of local elections in October.

The opposition will protest against unemployment and corruption, while the ruling party urged people to express support for government policies.

Vucic said Serbian intelligence had seen indications the protests could turn violent. He said he had spoken to Bosnian Serb leaders, including the republic's president, Milorad Dodik.

"We don't need conflict," Vucic told a news conference on May 11. "Peace and stability are conditions without which Serbia cannot progress."

Dodik has repeatedly tried and failed to persuade opposition leaders to cancel the protests, but says he does not envisage any problems with having two rival protest meetings on the same day.

Vucic's remarks reflect pressure that Belgrade feels from the West to support stability in the Balkans if it wants to make progress in talks on joining the European Union.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
ON MY MIND

Russia's Justice Ministry has gone all Kafka on us. Or more accurately, it has gone more Kafka.

The Justice Ministry proposed this week to amend Russia's notorious law requiring NGOs that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register as "foreign agents."

Now the Justice Ministry wants to include criticism of the law itself to be considered "political activity." So, as Vedomosti cleverly put it in a headline, criticizing the law on foreign agents proves you are one.

You really can't make this stuff up.

Meanwhile Russia's registry of foreign agents grew to 81 organizations in 2015, a threefold increase over 2014.

IN THE NEWS

Russian prosecutors are targeting opposition leader and anticorruption crusader Aleksei Navalny with a new criminal investigation.

Russian prosecutors have opened a criminal case into Mikhail Prokhorov's RBC media group.

The United States' European missile defense shield goes live today.

Pro-Russian authorities in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula have blocked access to RFE/RL's Crimea news website, Krym.Realii.

Lawyers say a proposed prisoner swap to release kidnapped Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko may not happen.

Russia's Justice Ministry says criticizing a law requiring foreign-funded NGOs to register as "foreign agents" makes one --- a foreign agent.

WHAT I'M READING

Decoding Russian Diplomacy

Anybody who wants to understand Russian foreign policy and the factors and motivations driving it should read Vladimir Frolov regularly. Here's the latest from the Moscow-based foreign affairs analyst, "An Unclear Message: Why Russia Is Afraid To Reach An Agreement With The West," in Slon.ru.

Putin's Hydra

New York University's Mark Galeotti has penned a new report for the European Council on Foreign Relations, "Putins Hydra: Inside Russias intelligence."

"Putin has the intelligence and security community he wanted: a powerful, feral, multi-headed, and obedient hydra," Galeotti writes. "But it is Putin himself, and his dreams of Russia as a great power, that is the real victim of this badly managed beast. The agencies reinforce his assumptions and play to his fantasies rather than informing and challenging his worldview."

Transatlanticism In An Age Of Russian Aggression

The Transatlantic Academy's annual report argues that unity is essential for the West in order to counter an increasingly aggressive Russia.

The Western response to Russian aggression has in fact been robust and effective, and Western unity has been critical to limiting the damage created by this incursion, Transatlantic Academy Executive Director Stephen Szabo writes in the reports introduction. But the true test will be whether this unity can be maintained.

The Operative-Autocrat

Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at of the Brookings Institution and co-author of the book Mr. Putin: Operative In The Kremlin, has a report for The Bulletin Of Atomic Scientists titled: Putin: The One-Man Show The West Doesnt Understand.

"Vladimir Putin, the operative-as-autocrat, is without precedent either in Russian history, or at the top of a modern state anywhere else in the world," Hill writes.

Putin's Nuclear Brinksmanship

Writing in The National Interest, the Brookings Institution's Steven Pifer, a former United States ambassador to Ukraine, argues that it is time to push back on Russia's nuclear threats.

Putin's Lack Of 'Helicopter Money'

According to a piece on Open Wall, the blog of Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Open Russia organization, "somehow, somewhere, the Kremlin needs to find money to throw at the population, before the Duma elections in September." The problem is, there isn't enough money.

"Elections are won with helicopter money -- throw money at the people below (and stuff the ballot boxes), and victory is almost assured. The problem for the president is that he also needs to keep his retainers happy. Until recently, there has been plenty for everyone to feed at the trough, but as the recession deepens, the number of feeding places is diminishing; and as every keeper knows, sooner or later, animals bite the hand that feeds them."

Kyiv-based journalist Ian Bateson has a piece in Open Democracy arguing that the decline in Western media coverage of Ukraine has negative consequences for the country's democratic development.

"This slipping coverage matters for Ukraine because media scrutiny is necessary for accountability," Bateson writes. "Media as a check on government abuse of power is a cornerstone of any democracy. But foreign media is especially important in Ukraine both because it is what Ukraines western bankrollers read and watch, and because Ukrainian media doesnt play that role."

Worst Places In Europe To Be Gay

Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia are respectively the least LGBT-friendly countries in greater Europe, according to a ILGA's Rainbow Europe list.

Peter Piper Picked A Peck Of Panama Papers

And the best headline alliteration award of the week goes to...The American Interest for -- Putin's Panama Papers Problem.
A man in Pakistan has allegedly gunned down his wife, mother-in-law, and a female cousin over suspicions they were having relations with other men, police say.

The killings were carried out on May 11 with the help of two accomplices in the Balochni area of Faisalabad in the eastern province of Punjab, police said.

"Three women were killed for honor as the accused suspected that they were in relationships," local police chief Mushtaq Ahmad told dpa.

The suspects were all on the run, and police said they had launched a manhunt.

So-called honor killing by male relatives is widespread in Pakistan, most often targeting women believed to be in extramarital relationships, or who marry against their family's wishes.

Last week, police arrested more than a dozen men in the Abottabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province after village elders authorized the killing of a teenage girl for allegedly helping a friend to run away with a boy and marry him.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP
Two more political parties in Macedonia have said they will join a boycott of parliamentary elections on June 5, throwing into question the viability of the polls.

The early elections were called last month as part of a European Union-brokered deal to end political deadlock linked to a wiretapping scandal.

But two more parties said on May 11 that they would join opposition Social Democrats in their election boycott -- both representing Macedonia's Albanian minority in parliament, or about one-third of the population.

Like the Social Democrats, the Albanian parties said they will not take part until a free and fair vote can be held.

The Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, a junior partner in the coalition government, said it would not register candidates by a midnight deadline on May 11.

The opposition Democratic Party of Albanians also said it would not register candidates.

All the parties boycotting the elections want electoral rolls to be brought up to date, media to be freed from government control, and ruling party officials to be prevented from running government bodies.

Macedonia has been in turmoil since February 2015, when the opposition accused then-Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his counterintelligence chief of wiretapping more than 20,000 people.

The wiretapping exposed tight government control over journalists, judges, and the conduct of elections.

Adding to opposition concerns about the VMRO ruling party, President Gjorge Ivanov this year pardoned 56 officials involved in the scandal despite street protests and international demands that he reverse the move.

The EU has threatened sanctions against Macedonian politicians if they obstruct efforts to end the crisis.

Representatives of the ruling party could not immediately be reached for comment, but it has said it will go ahead with the election despite the boycott.

Analysts and diplomats question, however, whether the elections can be held with only one party taking part. They say a postponement is likely.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa
Ukraines parliament has approved a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko to become the country's new prosecutor-general.

Lawmakers voted by 264-to-37 to approve Yuriy Lutsenkos candidacy on May 12, after removing the need for nominees to the chief prosecutors post to hold a law degree and reducing required legal experience.

Some lawmakers shouted shame as the bill passed, while others alleged procedural violations.

After the vote, Poroshenko signed a decree confirming Lutsenkos appointment.

The 51-year-old Lutsenko is a former interior minister and the head of Poroshenko's parliamentary faction. His university degree is in engineering.

The post of prosecutor-general is seen by the West as crucial for Ukraine to tackle entrenched corruption.

In February, Poroshenko fired the previous prosecutor-general, Viktor Shokin, after being criticized for failing to indict corrupt officials.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and Bloomberg
Pro-Russian authorities in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula have blocked access to RFE/RL's Crimea news website, Krym.Realii.

Web users in Ukraine, Russia, and Russia-annexed Crimea complained on May 12 that the site was inaccessible.

Instead, a notice appears saying, "Access denied, as the site has been added to the list of banned sites."

"This is an aggressive act that uses the outrageous pretext of extremism to censor RFE/RL and prevent audiences in Russia and Crimea from learning the truth about the annexation," RFE/RL Editor in Chief Nenad Pejic said in a statement on May 12.

"We condemn it as an attack on RFE/RL's operations and the public's fundamental right to freely access information," he added.

The de facto prosecutor of Crimea, Natalia Poklonskaya, said on May 12 that Russia's Internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, had launched measures to block and shut down the site.

But Roskomnadzor's spokesman said on May 12 that only one page on the Krym.Realii website -- an interview with a leader of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body, the Mejlis -- was blocked.

Crimea's Moscow-backed Supreme Court branded the Mejlis as an extremist organization and officially banned it in April.

Russia has been heavily criticized by international rights groups and Western governments for its treatment of Crimean Tatars since the annexation of the peninsula in March 2014.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax
IVANO-FRANKIVSK, Ukraine -- A court in Ukraine has sentenced a blogger to prison who had urged conscientious objectors not to fight against Russia-backed separatists in the countrys east.

The Ivano-Frankivsk City Court in western Ukraine found Ruslan Kotsaba, 49, guilty of obstructing the countrys armed forces on May 12 and sentenced him to 3 1/2 years in jail.

The judge ruled that the time Kotsaba spent in pretrial detention since his arrest in February 2015 must be counted as "one day for two." Therefore, it is considered that Kotsaba has already served two years, six months, and eight days of his sentence.

Kotsaba was arrested after he posted a 12-minute video urging people to dodge the military draft. The clip was viewed more than 300,000 times.

Kotsaba's lawyer, Ihor Sulyma, told RFE/RL that his client's sentence will be appealed.

With reporting by AFP
An Uzbek citizen has become the sixth individual to be charged by the United States in a conspiracy to support the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

U.S. prosecutors said on May 11 that they arrested Azizjon Rakhmatov, 28, and charged him with conspiracy in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

Prosecutors said Rakhmatov belonged to a domestic support network for individuals seeking to join IS, donating his money and working to raise funds to help others to travel to Syria to fight for the group.

The investigation began when Abdurasul Juraboev, an Uzbek national living in Brooklyn, came to law enforcement's attention after making a post on an Uzbek-language website that supported IS, prosecutors said.

The probe revealed that Juraboev and a Kazakh national living in New York, Akhror Saidakhmetov, planned to travel to Syria to join IS, prosecutors said.

Rakhmatov and co-defendants Abror Habibov, Dilkhayot Kasimov, and Akmal Zakirov helped fund the efforts of Saidakhmetov, who was arrested in February 2015 at John F. Kennedy International Airport attempting to fly to Istanbul, prosecutors said.

Jurboev pleaded guilty in August. Charges are pending against the others.

Based on reporting by Reuters
An Uzbek imam is facing embezzlement charges for allegedly misusing mosque donations to build a chicken coop.

A law enforcement official in the eastern province of Andijon told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service on May 12 that the imam of the Kholid-ibn-Valid mosque in the town of Asaka has been accused of diverting $27,000 earmarked for charitable purposes and mosque maintenance.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the imam, his aide, and a mosque accountant spent the money to purchase chickens and build a large chicken coop.

A mosque representative told RFE/RL that the chicken coop was built as an investment "because under Islamic rules we aren't allowed to lend the money to earn interest."

"We were planning to sell the chickens in the future and return the money and profits to the mosque," he said, adding that "this act was done with good intentions of safekeeping the mosque's money."

Asaka authorities say the chicken coop had not been registered as mosque property.

Earlier, mosque officials had claimed that the money was spent for mosque renovation works.

The law enforcement official said the imam and his aide are facing theft and embezzlement charges, while the accountant was dismissed from his job.

He didn't disclose the imam's name, citing an ongoing criminal probe.

In 2015, an imam in Tashkent's Yashnabad district was accused of embezzling some $2,800 of mosque donations.
6

A helicopter amid one of the 2015 blazes around Lake Baikal. According to a recent article in The New York Times, global warming has led to an earlier melting of snow and ice in northern regions of the world, meaning trees dry faster in the warm weeks of spring. Such changes have been cited in still-smoldering fires in Canada, as well as Siberia's current blazes.
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The latest front cover from El Jueves. El Jueves

The editor of Spanish satirical magazine El Jueves, Mayte Quilez, was assaulted on the doorstep of her house in Barcelona on Wednesday, after returning from a jog, the local publication El Nacional reported.

The assailant was wearing a hood, and without saying a word to the journalist, punched her in the face before fleeing the scene. Quilez sustained minor injuries.

The assault came a day after the latest edition of the magazine hit the streets. The front page carries a cartoon criticizing the rise of the far right in Europe. Under the headline Plague of Neo-Nazis, the image depicts a demonstration held by dozens of far-right protestors wearing military garb. A woman and her son are watching the protest, and the youngster asks: Why are they bald Mom, do they have cancer? The mother responds: I wish

This weeks front cover! If you are a Nazi and you are offended, we dont give a shit. Remember Stalingrad.

In 2014, the magazine waded into controversy when it pulled a front cover image satirizing the abdication of former King Juan Carlos. The incident prompted the resignation of the main artists from the weekly publication. On another occasion, the High Court ordered the magazine to be pulled off the shelves after it featured a cartoon on its front cover of King Felipe VI  at that time still Crown Prince  and his wife Letizia maintaining sexual intercourse. During Spains Transition to democracy, a number of issues were censured for offending the Church or the state.

Thanks to all of you for your interest. I am from Aragon and cant be kept down by a moron.  Victim of the assault Mayte Quilez.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has saved more than $300,000 a year on its energy bills since it upgraded its Broad Street headquarters through a contract that leaders there initially thought was too good to be true.

It sounded to me like a lottery scam email, DMV Deputy Commissioner David Mitchell said Wednesday of the contract that essentially uses the energy savings to pay for the upgrades. It was, in fact, a way for us to do things wed never been able to afford to do.

Mitchell was among a group that led dignitaries and elected officials on a tour of the buildings upgraded skeleton, from the heating and air system to the windows and elevators. Trane, the contractor that performed the work, guaranteed the DMV would see at least $284,000 in annual savings. And if the agency didnt, Trane would owe the DMV the difference.

Such performance contracts have become more popular in the state in recent years, with dozens of other public institutions signing off on similar projects. In October 2014, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order urging state agencies to pursue performance contracts as part of his plan to reduce energy consumption at state buildings by 15 percent.

At the DMV, energy consumption has dropped more than 30 percent.

Larry Cummings of Trane said that many government bodies put off maintenance needs after the recession began in 2007.

A 2014 study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that the states universities had more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs.

The idea of the performance contracts is that they allow agencies to make much-needed structural upgrades without draining their budgets.
The Petersburg City Council decided during a special meeting Thursday to further investigate allegations made by Mayor W. Howard Myers about one of its members.

Myers on May 3 filed a formal complaint, asking the council to take disciplinary action against Ward 1 Councilwoman Treska Wilson-Smith for what he alleges are her abuse of power and continued refusal to abide by council rules.

Vice Mayor Samuel Parham said after the 45-minute meeting, which happened behind closed doors, that the council decided to hold off on this matter to pursue some of the citys more pressing problems.

At this point in time in the city of Petersburg, we have bigger issues. We have to be getting on with the business of the city. And right now, we are dealing with the issues first, and we are keeping this in closed session upon further investigation, Parham said, adding that the complaint remains on the table.

Under the city charter, the City Council  of which Myers is a member  has the power to censure or expel one of its own. The law requires that the body act on a formal complaint within 30 days.

The council has not set a date to consider Myers allegations further.

Myers said in a phone interview Thursday that he does not wish removal on anyone, but as a council member you should be representing your constituency ethically and morally. And you should represent the council the same way and follow the rules and procedures.

Wilson-Smith has denied the allegations brought forward by Myers.

The accusations have nothing to go with it, she said Thursday. This is very stressful, and I have no idea what he wants. I really dont know.

Under city law, any member of City Council may submit, in writing, a complaint containing allegations of misconduct by another member of the body and request a disciplinary hearing. The council may grant such a request only if the complaint alleges an unlawful or unethical act by a council member that has interrupted or interfered with the performance of an official duty or function of the body, or otherwise damaged the dignity and integrity of council and the public trust.

City Attorney Mark K. Flynn said that Thursdays special meeting was not a formal disciplinary hearing but that the council met to consider the mayors complaint.

They can only vote to censure or expel a council member when the member is present and has due process rights, Flynn said.

Wilson-Smith did not attend the meeting at her lawyers advice. Myers was absent because he had made the allegations.

In his complaint to the City Council, Myers lists 11 alleged infractions by Wilson-Smith, including sharing attorney-client privileged information with members of the general public, wasting city resources, disregarding council rules repeatedly, and improperly using city funds for personal events.

Myers also alleges that Wilson-Smith has attended taxpayer-funded events with her spouse, for example when she and her husband traveled twice together to the National League of Cities Day in Washington.

This just makes no sense, accusing me to use city money for my husband to go to trips with me, when my husband sleeps in the same room with me and drives me to the event, Wilson-Smith said. There is no extra cost to the city, because the city pays for all of us to have a room. He just shares the room with me.

Wilson-Smiths relationship with Myers has been strained for some time, partly because her husband, Larry Akin Smith, is an outspoken critic of the mayor.

Through his Facebook group called C2C Call to Citizens, Smith has started a movement seeking to change the citys leadership. And Smith has taken credit for the ouster of former City Manager William E. Johnson III and the subsequent departure of City Attorney Brian K. Telfair in March.

Smith has since called for stripping Myers of his mayoral duties  a demand that his wife underscored by making a formal motion last month to unseat the mayor. The motion failed because Flynn, the new city attorney, advised the body that under city law it lacked the power to remove a mayor without cause.

Myers alleges that Wilson-Smith aligned with her husband to have the mayor and vice mayor removed from City Council and be replaced by her. He also accuses her of having retaliated against the former city manager and former city attorney for not being bullied against her way of thinking.

Myers formal request for disciplinary action against Wilson-Smith came after he asked the council in a letter in early April for an initial review of what he called her official misconduct in her role as a city official.

Wilson-Smith said Thursday that she is aware that many of the allegations are largely based on her husbands role as a local activist, but she denied having aided his efforts by sharing confidential information with him.

Sometimes if I am studying my package (of City Council business papers) I might run it by him and ask him, What do you think this means, but I dont share confidential stuff with him at all, and I never have, she said.

The feud between Myers and Wilson-Smith could further poison the atmosphere on a City Council struggling to overcome Petersburgs severe financial problems. A recent audit found overspending of the citys total general fund budget by $1.8 million and a total budget shortfall of nearly $6 million.

Myers said the goal of a disciplinary hearing would be to allow the council to move forward in conducting city business and to cease being a divisive council.

He declined to say what action he is hoping the body will take.

Thats up to council. I am not part of the deliberations, because I am the one who filed the complaint, Myers said.

Under city law, after a disciplinary hearing the council must adopt by resolution any findings it makes based on substantial evidence and any decision to take disciplinary action against the council member who is the subject of the complaint. While all evidence must be presented in public, state law permits council to conduct portions of this process in closed session.
Dilma Rousseff will walk out of the presidential palace of Planalto, stripped of her post by the Brazilian Senate, after a historic session that lasted over 17 straight hours. A simple majority, 55 members out of 81, voted to suspend her from her presidential duties for up to six months while she stands trial. There were 22 votes against, and one abstention.

Senators Eunicio Oliveira, Renan Calheiros, Marta Suplicy and Raimundo Lira talking in the upper house. Cadu Gomes (EFE)

Rousseff is accused of manipulating the national budget to disguise the real state of the deficit and increase public spending ahead of her 2014 re-election campaign. Rousseff claims all presidents have indulged in this practice, and says the move against her is a personal revenge by the former lower house speaker, Eduardo Cunha, who is being investigated for corruption.

The Workers Party leader will walk out the front door in a sign that she respects the lawmakers decision but disagrees with it. She will then retreat to Alborada Palace, her official residence, where she is allowed to remain in her new condition as ghost president.

With their vote, senators have decided to put Rousseff on a political trial that will last up to six months. During that time, members of the upper house will debate whether the suspended president is guilty of asking public banks for money in order to balance the national accounts. A final vote likely to be held in October will decide whether Rousseff finally goes.

Rousseff herself has described her vice-president Michel Temer as a traitor and the father of the conspirators

The president is also hampered by a vast kickbacks scandal affecting Petrobras, the state oil company, which she once headed. She has not personally been accused of corruption, although her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was recently taken in for questioning over a real estate deal.

The impeachment process effectively ends 13 years of rule by the leftist Workers' Party. In the interim, power will automatically be held by her vice-president, Michel Temer, who was a Rousseff ally until a month-anda-half ago but is now considered her worst enemy. Rousseff herself has described him as a traitor and the father of the conspirators.

Supporters of impeachment  mostly center and right-wing parties  discussed the budget manipulation during their speeches, but mostly justified their decision on the disastrous state of the Brazilian economy, which is contracting at an annual rate of 3% of GDP.

Opponents used a simple argument: one cannot oust a president who was chosen by the people with 54 million votes, merely by alleging fiscal maneuvering, which they see as a minor offense or by talking about the economic situation. Thats what the polling stations are for, note Rousseffs backers.

A marathon session

Still, the plenary session in the Senate did not exhibit the shocking and somewhat ridiculous excesses on display at the lower house, when the latter debated the issue a few weeks ago. On that occasion, deputies indulged in yelling, chanting, confetti throwing and extemporaneous statements such as I am voting for my aunt, who cared for me as a child.

And then there was the deputy Emir Bolsonaro, who dedicated his vote to a known torturer from the days of the dictatorship. Rousseff, a guerrilla fighter in her youth, was tortured and held prisoner for three years in the 1970s.

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Meanwhile, street marches were being held in Brasilia and Sao Paulo both in favor of Rousseff and against her. But attendance was much lower than on the day that Congress voted, signifying that the Brazilian people have, to some degree, accepted the result of the vote. All the opinion polls had been forecasting for days that lawmakers would vote in favor of trying Rousseff.

While the senators took turns on the podium, Vice-President Temer was meeting with members of his next cabinet. With one eye on the economy and the other on the austerity measures that he feels are necessary to straighten out the country, the new president will address the nation at 3pm on Thursday, local time.

By then, Rousseff will already be a president without the presidency. There is one precedent in Brazil, Fernando Collor de Melo, who was impeached in 1992 and resigned one day before the definitive trial. Rousseff has already announced that she will never resign, and that she can only be removed by force from the post she earned legitimately at the polls.

English version by Susana Urra.
Dominion Virginia Power officials plan to hold a public meeting Tuesday on a proposed electrical substation in eastern Henrico County.

The utility wants to build the facility at 7000 Osborne Turnpike to reduce the number and duration of outages and meet increased energy demand. Currently, power flows 6 miles to reach the area and is vulnerable to being knocked out by natural events or by such incidents as vehicle crashes, said Bob McGuire, director of transmission project development and execution for Dominion.

One of the key issues were dealing with (in the Varina area) is this lack of reliability, McGuire said.

In some areas along the state Route 5 corridor, the number of power outages are double Dominions average, said Nam Nguyen, manager of distribution system planning.

In terms of duration, our system averages 120 minutes, Nguyen said. There are some customers in the Varina area that experience six times that amount.

Additionally, the substation would add electrical capacity to the area, Nguyen said. Outside of urban areas, the utility likes to service 2,500 to 3,000 customers on a single circuit.

(The current system) has to carry almost 5,000 customers on this circuit, which is much more than we typically design for our distribution circuit, he said.

The substation would sit on a 10-acre property that is crossed by a set of high-voltage transmission lines Dominion owns. It would tap into those lines and provide an additional route for power to flow.

The actual electrical equipment mostly will be on a 1.5-acre portion of the property shielded from the road by a berm, fences and vegetation, officials said.

The property, formerly the site of Vulcan Quarry, was chosen last year after a search for a property in the area near transmission lines. In July, Dominion held a community meeting where some expressed displeasure about its proximity to homes and others said its promise of more reliable power outweighed any negatives.

We spent the last eight months taking those comments and considering them, McGuire said, adding that reassessing other sites was included.

Were back at the same site, he said.

Dominion plans to present some tweaks it made to the proposal in response to last years concerns and gauge area residents feedback again.

We will do our very best to work through all the input that weve been given, balance it with the electrical needs that there are for this community, and certainly, the reliability and safety needs, said Le-Ha Anderson, media relations manager with Dominion.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in the auditorium of Varina High School at 7053 Messer Road. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and a presentation is set to begin at 6 p.m.

Dominion plans to bring its proposal for a public hearing at the June 9 Planning Commission meeting, and utility officials hope it moves forward for another hearing before the Board of Supervisors on July 12. If final permits are approved in September from the countys Board of Zoning Appeals, work on the substation could begin in mid-2017, McGuire said.
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Maj. Ron Lantz, of the Albemarle County Police Department, to serve as Albemarles next police chief, replacing Col. Steve Sellers, effective June 1.

Its truly an honor. I appreciate the opportunity and I hold this in high regard, take this very seriously and I will give you 110 percent as your new chief, Lantz said shortly after the boards approval.

Lantz has served as the deputy chief for the county police department since 2012 and has been responsible for the implementation of the countys community-based model of policing, commonly known as geo-policing.

Before joining Albemarle County, Lantz was part of the Fairfax County Police Department as the district station commander. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership from University of Charleston and is currently enrolled in courses at Liberty University, working toward a Master of Science with a focus on criminal justice and public administration.

Lantz is also a graduate of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Drug Commander Academy, the FBI National Academy and the Virginia Association of Police New Chief/Deputy Chief School.

County Executive Tom Foley introduced Lantz to the Board of Supervisors during their Wednesday meeting without any reservations whatsoever as he made his recommendation.

He exhibits the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and leadership and his vast experience, skill and integrity make him an ideal person to continue the tradition of excellence which is a hallmark of our police department, Foley said in a news release.

Lantzs appointment comes shortly after Charlottesville named Col. Alfred S. Thomas Jr., previously the chief of the Lexington Police Department, as the citys next police chief.

Lantz frequently commented on Sellers  with whom he worked with while they were both in Fairfax County  and how much he learned from him in the last three and a half years and how that helped prepare him for this new role.

I studied hard for it, worked hard for it and the last couple years, three and a half years, getting to work with Col. Sellers as his No. 2  what a great person to learn from and great opportunity for me to take his ideas and my ideas and mesh them together and become the chief in Albemarle County, he said.

Sellers, who has been the countys police chief since January 2011, announced his retirement December 2015. Before Sellers spent five and a half years as the police chief in Albemarle County, he had served in the Fairfax County Police Department.

In his retirement letter to Foley, Sellers urged him to consider internal talent from the police department during the nationwide search for a new chief and said the departments shift from response-driven policing to a community policing model was the result of hard work from his staff.

Sellers said he was extremely relieved to see Lantz taking over the police department.

Im relieved as a departing police chief to know that he has the skills and abilities to sort of take the department and the community to the next level, Sellers said. If it had been somebody else I wasnt familiar with or really didnt know their capabilities, I might not leave with the amount of comfortability that I have now.

After his time as police chief comes to an end, Sellers said he plans to spend time with his family and nine grandchildren and travel to places such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Cuba.
After ongoing discussions between Ivy Lake property owners in Forest and Liberty University broke down, the two parties are headed to court.

Ivy Hill Recreation LLC, one of Liberty Universitys subsidiaries, filed a lawsuit against more than 400 property owners, businesses and others on April 27 over who should pay for repairs to the lakes dam. Ivy Hill Recreation is asking a judge to declare those landowners responsible for paying a total of $1 million toward that work.

In the suit, filed in Bedford County Circuit Court, Liberty argues residents benefit from the lakes proximity and should bear a substantial part of the burden of paying for state-mandated repairs to the dam. Homeowners say the price theyve been asked to pay is too steep, and that Liberty should pay for the brunt of the repair work since it owns the lake.

Liberty University is a relative newcomer to the Ivy Hill community. It received the 112-acre Bedford County lake and its dam in 2008 as a gift from a developer, and formed Ivy Hill Recreation LLC to manage the Ivy Lake property in 2012.

In 2009, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation notified LU the dams spillway must be repaired to handle a worst-case scenario storm, a price tag LU initially estimated at more than $2 million but later said could be done for about $1 million.

According to DCR, the dams spillway capacity is not adequate to handle a large storm event and hundreds of homes and residents would be in danger if it fails. The state has labeled the dam a high hazard.

In 2014, Liberty University announced plans to lower the lake by 20 feet while repairs were made to the dam.

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., told The News & Advance in January 2014 lowering the water level would give the university additional time to resolve construction issues, potentially forestalling any enforcement action that could require draining the lake and/or removing the dam.

Jenn Fries, a 2005 graduate of Liberty University, lives in the community with her husband, Gary. She said she and her husband feel residents should be partially responsible for dam repairs, but not for the total $1 million. She is disappointed, she said, with how Liberty has handled the situation with homeowners.

Fries suggested having residents donate what they could to help the lake, but not be required to pay $600 per year for the next 20 years for the repairs, as Ivy Hill Recreation is asking in the suit.

Normal families cant afford to maintain something like this unexpectedly. We feel that Liberty didnt represent all of the homeowners, she said. They didnt seem to evaluate it in a way that would be beneficial to the community.

David Corry, general counsel for Liberty University and its facilities such as Ivy Lake, said an appraiser has looked at the value of the properties, size of lots, and amount of view to determine how much to assess each homeowner.

On average, property owners on the shoreline would pay about $700 annually; other Ivy Hill property owners would pay $306 annually, Corry said, adding if a property is both lake front and on the road over the dam, the two figures would be combined.

If a judge rules in Libertys favor, a homeowners association would be formed and would be responsible for collecting the money, among other duties.

Fries argued Liberty owns the lake and the dam and just because something has gone awry doesnt mean they can just leave and dump it on their neighbors.

That becomes a real burden on our families, she said. We may have to sell our home  we may not be able to afford that.

Fries said she feels like she doesnt have a voice in the matter and she has been a big supporter of Liberty in the past.

The lawsuit states if the DCR-required repairs are not made, Ivy Lake may be drained and the dam closed or removed in accordance with the Dam Safety Act.

This would negatively impact the value of the real estate, both abutting Ivy Lake, and in the surrounding subdivisions, it reads.

Liberty has spent more than $100,000 to recertify the dam with DCR and investigate possible solutions for repair, the lawsuit said.

Some of the defendants have agreed to share in the required costs to repair the dam but others have questioned if it is their legal duty to contribute to the costs of maintaining the lake, the lawsuit reads.

Were not sharing the cost of anything, said Ivy Lake resident John Butler. Liberty has given us many proposals and many of them, we wouldnt accept. They are just totally out of the ballpark.

IHR and Landowner Defendants are all using and receiving the benefits of the Ivy Lake Property easements, reads the lawsuit. Therefore, they are jointly responsible to bear the burden of the costs of maintaining and repairing the Ivy lake Property easements and owe a duty of contribution to each other towards that burden.

Corry said the university originally offered to repair the dam at its own expense and then have the homeowners take over the long-term maintenance of the dam.

An earlier version of the plan we had worked out was that LU would do the repairs to bring the dam into compliance under the condition that the homeowners would take care of maintenance afterwards and own it and LU would become a tenant, he said.

He said the homeowners came back with a counter-proposal.

The owners didnt mind Liberty fixing the dam, but they wanted us gone, he said. Were not going to repair the dam and then leave.

Corry said some of the homeowners proposed taking over the lake and then buying Liberty out.

Liberty made a deal with those homeowners, who agreed to cover the cost of the repair and in return LU would loan them up to $1 million interest-free over 20 years and give the lake and dam to them.

Liberty would absorb the difference if its more than $1 million to repair the dam to DCR standards.

This is now what Liberty is offering in the lawsuit.

Corry said 133 landowners of the 400 or so in the subdivision signed onto that plan. The lawsuit seeks to compel the remaining residents to agree to the terms.

Homeowners have 21 days to respond after they have been served. Notices began arriving the first week of May. Defendants have yet to file a response to the court.

We dont expect the court case to be resolved any time soon, Corry said. It could take 18 months.

The option to breach the dam and drain the lake moves front and center if the judge agrees with the objecting landowners, Corry said.

Butler said he thinks it will cost Liberty millions more to remove the dam and feels if Liberty leaves the decision to the state, it still will be responsible for the cost.

I think Liberty has spent enough in legal costs and time that they could have fixed this and been long gone, Butler said.

Corry said Liberty cant contribute to the benefit of private property owners, even if it has unlimited money  it has a fiduciary obligation to only do what is in the best interest of the university.

If Liberty were to continue to use the lake after the dam was repaired, it could only justify paying what it would be worth to have a lake amenity for its students and crew team. Liberty thought about $1 million was all that could be justified for this value, Corry said.

At the end of the day, Corry said he believes the law stipulates people who have easements are required to be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of them.

Its true that every prior owner of the lake has undertaken to pay the maintenance and repair costs, however the maintenance and repair costs have always been minor compared to the repair DCR would require, he said.
WYTHEVILLE, Va.  A Wytheville man shot by police this week when they responded to an early morning break-in call at a rental home was convicted last year of assaulting a female teenager at Walmart, according to court records.

The Virginia State Police identified the 60-year-old shooting victim Thursday as Daniel Lee Osborn. The rental home owner said Osborn was a handyman who recently cut the grass at the West Main Street property being rented by a woman.

According to police accounts, the female occupant came home at approximately 1:40 a.m. Wednesday and found an open window. She left and called police to report a possible break-in.

When two Wytheville police officers arrived, they found the back door open and could see a person moving around inside the house, police said. Within seconds, the person came toward the officers pointing a handgun at them.

Shots fired! Shots fired, an officer yelled shortly after arriving, according to a radio archive from Broadcastify.

Police said both officers shot at the man and that he sustained several gunshot wounds. At least two shots apparently struck him in the arm, according to radio traffic. Before the shooting, the occupant told the officers that she had a firearm in a bedroom.

Officers performed first aid on the man until he was transported to Wythe County Community Hospital and then flown by helicopter to Holston Valley Medical Center in Tennessee. He remained there Thursday being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said one officer who fell and was injured while taking cover was also taken to the Wythe hospital for treatment.

The town requested the state police investigate the shooting and the break-in.

The officers, who have not been named, have been placed on paid leave until an internal investigation and the state police investigation are completed and turned in to the commonwealth's attorney, according to a statementby Wytheville Police Chief Rick Arnold.

According to Wythe County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records, Osborn was arrested in April 2015 by police after a 17-year-old female claimed that Osborn abducted and assaulted her at Wythevilles Walmart.

The abduction charge was later dropped, but Osborn was convicted of assault and battery, given a one-month jail sentence and placed on probation for six months.

Osborn was initially held without bond. He appealed and was later released on bond pending his trial.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the day he acted to restore voting and other civil rights to more than 206,000 felons was my greatest day as governor.

McAuliffe, speaking Thursday evening in an African-American church in Richmonds Church Hill neighborhood, drew a standing ovation with a full-throated, impassioned defense of his surprise decision on April 22 to sign a blanket order for restoration of civil rights for ex-offenders, of whom almost 3,100 already have registered to vote.

He reminded the audience of nearly 100 people of the 114-year history of Virginias constitutional disenfranchisement of convicted felons, many of them black. He scorned critics who have called his action a political ploy to help Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton win the presidency and his former aide Levar Stoney become mayor of Richmond.

Those who know me know this has nothing to do with politics, the Democratic governor said from the pulpit at 31st Street Baptist Church. This has to do with justice. This has to do with morality.

McAuliffe introduced Stoney, who sat in the third pew, and credited Stoneys work as secretary of the commonwealth for enabling the governor to issue a blanket restoration that some of his predecessors had considered but declined to do.

But in remarks after the speech, the governor said his appearance was not designed to boost Stoneys bid to be elected mayor in November.

This is his race, McAuliffe said. Everybody knows were like brothers and best friends, but its his race.

The audience inside the church included a throng of Democratic office holders  members of the Virginia Senate, House of Delegates, and Richmond City Council, including Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, a former city councilwoman who organized the forum to help answer peoples questions about restoration of rights.

We stand lock-step with you in this long-overdue action of restoring thousands of Virginians their voting rights, their civil rights, and really their human dignity, McQuinn told the governor.

The Rev. Morris Henderson, senior pastor at 31st Street Baptist Church, praised McAuliffe for ending what he called the systematic disenfranchisement of black voters who have completed their sentences for felony convictions.

He displayed the wisdom and the moral fortitude  what did I say? Moral fortitude  that none of his recent predecessors had shown, Henderson said.

Dont be dissuaded, my brother, the pastor told the governor. Forget what your political naysayers might say. ... This may well be your finest hour.

McAuliffe called the action deeply personal, based on conversations with and letters from people who had waited decades to be able to vote. He reminded the audience that in the past, a felon would have to complete a 13-page, notarized application to the governor and pay all fines and accumulated penalties.

You know why it was 13 pages, he said. You know why it took a notary. It was to make it hard.

The governor also brushed off criticism that his order restored rights for felons convicted of violent crimes, and said he didnt care a whit about the details of an analysis his secretary of the commonwealth released Wednesday showing that almost 80 percent of those whose rights were restored had been convicted of nonviolent offenses.

Once youve paid your debt to society, I want you to have a job, I want you paying taxes, I want you back in the system, he said.

McAuliffe also took a swipe at Republican critics. I think big, I act big, he said. Some folks on the other side think small and act small.

Earlier Thursday, Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, said on a conference call arranged by Democrats that the restriction on felons voting rights that McAuliffe sought to undo disproportionately affects African-Americans and that it was no accident.

Scott said McAuliffes action helps reverse a vestige of the discriminatory restrictions  including poll taxes and literacy tests  that date to the state constitution implemented in 1902. Democrats ran state government when that version of the state constitution was implemented.

Republicans in the state legislature have criticized McAuliffe for the April 22 blanket order, saying it exceeded his authority under the current state constitution, implemented in the early 1970s. They have retained a prominent conservative lawyer to mount a legal challenge against the governors action.

Scott accused Republicans of voter suppression, saying they have been doing everything they can possibly do to deny the right to vote.
Missing Spaniards found alive after 10 days adrift in South China Sea Vietnamese fishermen rescued couple and are taking them back to the island of Borneo

Marta Miguel and David Hernandez have been found alive. EL PAIS

More information Rescued Spaniards arrive in Borneo after 10-day sea ordeal

Two Spaniards who went missing on May 2 near the coast of Malaysia have been found alive, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed.

David Hernandez, 30, and Marta Miguel, 30, were rescued by Vietnamese fishermen. The Madrid residents were in the company of two other people, the daily The Star reported, quoting the Malaysian maritime agency.

The Spaniards were on what was meant to be a two-hour sea journey with their boss and a fellow worker at a resort. They are now on their way back to the island of Borneo, where the Spanish consul is awaiting them. Both are reported to be in good health, according to the ministry.

Everyone is crying for joy, said Davids sister, Sandra Hernandez, on the television show Espejo Publico, which is aired on the private network Antena 3. All I know is that theyre all right.

The vessel disappeared on May 2 as it was covering the route between the island of Balambangan and the district of Kudat. The preliminary evidence suggests an engine failure caused the 12- to 15-meter ship to go adrift.

A boat used in the search operation. MALAYSIA MARITIME ENFORCEMENT AG (EFE)

On Sunday, Malaysian authorities found one of the engines from the missing boat.

The Spaniards, one Chinese national and a Malaysian citizen were rescued in Vietnamese waters on the South China Sea, around 200 miles from Borneo.

Relatives who flew to Malaysia to help with the search were able to talk to the pair over the phone following their rescue, said Davids sister.

English version by Susana Urra.
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.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A federal appeals court rejected a bid Thursday by former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship to remain free while the court considers an appeal of his conviction related to the deadliest U.S. mine explosion in four decades.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced the ruling in a brief statement the same day Blankenship was scheduled to report to start serving his one-year sentence.

Blankenship's attorneys filed an emergency motion with the appeals court Tuesday, noting that he's was scheduled to head to an unspecified California prison.

A federal Bureau of Prisons website indicated Blankenship was not yet in the agency's custody.

Federal prosecutors declined comment. An attorney for Blankenship did not immediately comment on the ruling.

"Today we saw Don Blankenship go to federal prison where he belongs," Booth Goodwin, the former U.S. attorney who brought the case against Blankenship, said in a statement to The Associated Press. "It was a long road, but I am pleased to see him finally start to pay for his criminal conduct."

Blankenship was sentenced April 6 to a year in prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine for conspiring to willfully violate mine safety standards at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch coal mine, which exploded in 2010, killing 29 men.

The thought of Blankenship heading to prison was little satisfaction to Tommy Davis, who lost three family members in the 2010 tragedy and worked at the mine that day himself.

"It is what it is," Davis said. "It really don't mean a whole lot to me, because he didn't get what he needed. He wouldn't even have went to prison if he'd done what he needed to do as a CEO. I would still be fishing with my son and my brother and hanging out with my nephew and still worked with 29 good men."

But Gary Quarles, whose son Gary Wayne died at Upper Big Branch, felt differently.

"I think it's finally time he went to jail," Quarles said. "I'm very happy about it."

The appeals court previously set a May 31 deadline for initial briefs on Blankenship's conviction appeal.

Federal prosecutors in Charleston had said allowing the 66-year-old Blankenship to continue his $1 million bail would be contrary to federal law, which allows appeals to delay jail sentences only in "exceptional circumstances."

"None of defendant's contentions raise a substantial question likely to result in reversal," Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby wrote in an April 25 court filing.

According to federal law, defendants can remain free pending appeal if they can show their arguments on appeal raise a substantial question of law or fact likely to result in reversal, an order for a new trial, a sentence that does not include a prison term, or a substantially reduced jail sentence.

In the prosecution's filing, Ruby said the amount of time Blankenship serves in prison while his appeal is pending is not a relevant consideration.

"It makes no difference whether his sentence is a year or 40 years  the sentence cannot be stayed," Ruby wrote.

Blankenship's attorneys say he could serve much, or all, of his sentence before an appellate decision on the appeal is reached.

During the trial, prosecutors called Blankenship a bullish micromanager who meddled in the smallest details of Upper Big Branch. They said Massey's safety programs were just a facade  never backed by more money to hire additional miners or take more time on safety tasks.

Blankenship's attorneys believe he shouldn't have gotten more than a fine and probation, and have promised to appeal. They embraced Blankenship's image as a tough boss, but countered it by saying he demanded safety and showed commitment to his community, family and employees.

At Upper Big Branch, four investigations found worn and broken cutting equipment created a spark that ignited accumulations of coal dust and methane gas. Broken and clogged water sprayers then allowed what should have been a minor flare-up to become an inferno.

Blankenship disputed those reports and said he believed natural gas in the mine, and not methane gas and excess coal dust, was at the root of the explosion.
Democrat senator Elizabeth Warren. Jacquelyn Martin (AP)

More information La guerra de Elizabeth Warren contra Trump

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has launched an online crusade to keep Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump from reaching the White House. A week ago, Warren, one of the few US politicians as outspoken as Trump, began a Twitter series to denounce a candidate she calls a sexist, xenophobic bully. Trump, an avid Twitter user, immediately responded by tweeting: Goofy Elizabeth Warren didnt have the guts to run for POTUS.

Im going to fight my heart out to make sure @real Donald Trumps toxic stew of hatred and insecurity never reaches the White House, the 67-year old tweeted. Before Bernie Sanders made his bid for the White House, Warren, a former academic, looked like Hillary Clintons toughest rival for the nomination and the hope of progressives within the Democratic Party. She declined to run in the primaries and has kept a low profile over the last year. Until now.

Trump, an ostentatious billionaire property magnate, embodies everything that Warren has fought against since entering politics in 2010. The real Donald Trump, she tweeted last week, has built his campaign on racism, sexism, and xenophobia. But Trump is cool with being called an authoritarian and he graciously accepts compliments from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Theres more enthusiasm for Donald Trump among leaders of the KKK than leaders of the political party he now controls, Warren added.

Trump, an ostentatious billionaire property magnate, embodies everything that Warren has fought against since entering politics in 2010

Trump immediately took up the gauntlet. As is his custom, first he chose a nickname for his victim. Warren is Goofy just like former Secretary Hillary Clinton is Crooked and his primary rival and fellow party member Senator Marco Rubio is Little Marco. Then, he found her weak spot and jabbed away. Trump attacked the senator over her claims of Native American ancestry, something her opponents previously used against her when she ran for the Senate in 2012. Warren detractors say she has used this hard-to-prove claim to bolster her career.

Goofy Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clintons flunky, has a career that is totally based on a lie. She is not Native American, Trump tweeted. Lets properly check goofy Elizabeth Warrens records to see if she is Native American. I say shes a fraud!

Warren reminded her followers of the Obama citizenship controversy during his 2008 presidential campaign. We saw what happened when birthers like @realDonaldTrump attacked @BarackObama. They lost big. American voters knew better, she wrote. President Barack Obama laughed off the claims that he was not indeed American and thus a legitimate candidate and the White House published a copy of his birth certificate.

Warren mocked Trumps nickname for her saying For a guy with the best words thats a pretty lame nickname. Weak!

So far, Trump has emerged from these kinds of tussles unscathed. Over the course of his campaign to win the Republican Party nomination, he has attacked immigrants, mocked US military veterans and insulted women. He has dominated the Republican primary race, despite widespread opposition from within the party.

As for Warren, rumor is that shes in the running for veep once Clinton secures the nomination, but for the moment, shes focusing her attention on destroying Trump.

Might the Donald have met his match?

English version by Dyane Jean Francois
RICHMOND  As deaths caused by opiate overdoses in Virginia continue to climb, a lifesaving drug is becoming more widely available.

In a joint event Wednesday with Gov. Terry McAuliffe, CVS Health announced that naloxone  which reverses the effects of opioid overdoses  can now be purchased without a prescription in CVS pharmacies.

For the past three years, opioid drug overdose has been the No. 1 cause of unnatural death in Virginia, and last year about 1,000 Virginians died of drug overdose, according to a news release from CVS. Highly addictive opioids include prescription painkillers as well as the illegal narcotic heroin.

Heroin-related deaths in Virginia tripled from 2011 to 2015, McAuliffe said Wednesday. Naloxone is proven to reduce and reverse overdoses.  Its easy to use, its safe and its nonaddictive.

Naloxone was first approved in 1971 and works by reversing the effects of opioids on the brain. During an overdose, breathing significantly slows, but naloxone can revive the individual. It is administered through nasal spray or auto-injector.

Two months ago, the city of Virginia Beach Police Department mandated the use of naloxone, and since that time we have saved a life every week, Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said Tuesday. Increasing access to naloxone does save lives.

CVS began rolling out its naloxone program on April 1, and it has now been implemented in its more than 500 Virginia locations, 27 of which are in Richmond.

Any individual may now walk into a CVS pharmacy and purchase naloxone. CVS spokeswoman Erin Britt said Wednesday that the company accepts most forms of insurance.

If a customer wanted to pay with cash, the cost would range from $60 to $90.

The pharmacist not only provides the medication to the customer, but also gives instructions on how to administer the drug and other safety directions, such as calling 911 and staying with the overdosed individual until help arrives.

CVS naloxone program is possible because of a law passed last year by the General Assembly, which provides that a pharmacist may dispense naloxone following an oral, written or standing order issued by a prescriber.

CVS received a standing order from a Virginia physician that applies to all its customers regardless of whether they have an individual prescription.

Standing orders are not uncommon, Britt pointed out. Pharmacists also use standing orders to administer flu shots.

Other pharmacies are also pushing to make naloxone more accessible. Walgreens announced in February that it plans to make the medication available without a prescription in 39 states, including Virginia, by the end of this year.

Pharmacies usually work on their own to get a standing order from a physician, but Health and Human Resources Secretary William Hazel said that the state will assist them if requested.

People need to know they can come in and get it, Hazel said after Wednesdays event. If your son or daughter is using something or youre worried about it, the important thing is to know that you can come in. You dont have to explain it, you can get [naloxone]  thats what were trying to highlight with this.
RICHMOND  A review of old blood-typing cases prompted by the recent exoneration of a man who spent 33 years in prison for a murder he did not commit won the blessing of the Virginia Forensic Science Board on Wednesday.

Were going to move forward with reviewing the cases that weve pulled from those three years, whether or not we get approval from you, because thats our responsibility, Linda Jackson, director of the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, told board members, drawing some chuckles.

The pilot effort will focus on 200 sample cases from 1982, 1986 and 1990. The department will report back to the board at its August meeting on whether initial findings indicate a larger effort is needed.

The review stems from the case of Keith Allen Harward  exonerated by the Virginia Supreme Court in record time and released from prison last month  who was convicted of the 1982 murder of a Newport News man and the rape of his wife. He was convicted largely on bite-mark testimony that was proved wrong by DNA testing.

Harwards lawyers alleged in court papers that simple blood typing conducted by a forensic serologist for the department more than 30 years ago showed that Harward was not the assailant  but the test results were not included in the serologists formal report or in his later testimony.

The Innocence Project said the same former serologist, David Pomposini, who worked for the department from 1981 to 2012, also did blood typing in the case of Troy Webb, wrongfully convicted of a Virginia Beach rape, imprisoned in 1988 and cleared by DNA in 1996.

Brandon Garrett, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law who has studied wrongful convictions, said Pomposini also failed to exclude Webb, who should have been excluded, as the perpetrator in that case.

Pomposini could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Prior to DNA testing, blood-typing tests were often done on biological evidence to narrow the universe of possible perpetrators. About 80 percent of people leave antigens in secretions such as saliva or sperm that reveal their blood type. The other 20 percent of the populations blood type cannot be determined from secretions. Evidence showed that Harward was a type-A secretor.

Harward was tried and convicted twice: once in 1983 for capital murder  with the conviction overturned on legal technical grounds  and for first-degree murder in 1986. He was sentenced to life both times.

In a formal certificate of analysis introduced at Harwards trials, Pomposini said he could not determine a blood type using secretion-typing tests from seminal fluid left on the rape victim. No transcript is available of the 1983 trial, but Pomposini testified in the 1986 trial that his tests indicated that either the assailant was a nonsecretor, or a secretor who did not leave enough evidence of blood type to detect.

Pomposinis formal findings and testimony enabled the prosecutor to argue in his closing to the jury in the 1986 trial that while the blood-typing of the sperm, which had to have come from the rapist, did not include Harward, it did not exclude him, either.

Last year, the department turned over Pomposinis lab notes in the Harward case to the Innocence Project. The notes show that Pomposini identified antigens in sperm presumed to have been left by the assailant that indicated the assailant was blood type O  powerful evidence of innocence never shown to Harwards trial lawyers as required, the Innocence Project contends.

According to an affidavit from Gary Harmor, the executive director and chief forensic serologist at the Serological Research Institute in Richmond, California, Pomposinis lab notes show he unequivocally identified antigens consistent with a type-O secretor.

Amy Curtis, counsel for the Department of Forensic Science, told the Forensic Science Board, which oversees the department, on Wednesday that the department routinely conducted blood group typing until the early 1990s, when DNA testing became available. The allegations about the blood typing done by the department in the Harward and Webb cases prompted the review now underway, she told the board.

The review team will be two department forensic scientists. It is also hoped they can find a serologist from outside the department to review randomly selected cases, Curtis said.

The review will look at 200 cases  100 each from the departments eastern and northern laboratories  focusing on lab notes, test results and trial testimony to determine if there are any problems. Appeals court opinions will also be examined by a legal research engine for cases that might be reviewed.

If the review team decides there may have been an error, efforts will be made to locate the prosecutor and defense lawyer in the case. The department will test any remaining biological evidence if requested and the prosecution and defense agree, or upon a court order.

Jo Ann Given, a board member and also on the departments scientific advisory committee, said that most serologists transitioned into DNA testing and most of them have since retired, so it may be difficult to find qualified volunteers. Pomposini also began doing DNA work for the department before he left its eastern lab.

Jackson, the departments director said: We are doing this because of allegations in those exoneration cases.  Weve looked at those two cases. We want to pull more cases from those years to really get a better understanding of what the practices were back then.

The goal in such reviews, Jackson said, is to see if something was an isolated incident or whether there was a systemic problem that needs to be addressed. We really are in the very beginning of this, she said.

Garrett, with the UVa. law school, attended Wednesdays meeting, as did Shawn Armbrust, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.

Im impressed that they are promptly conducting a broad investigation, beyond just Pomposinis cases but also looking into other serology cases, Garrett said.

Armbrust said, Its great that the department is taking this on in the wake of the problems exposed by the Harward case. Its exactly the reaction we hope for when these cases reveal systemic problems, and we hope it will motivate other labs and actors in the criminal justice system to do the same.
WYTHEVILLE  A Wytheville man shot by police this week when they responded to an early morning break-in call at a rental home was convicted last year of assaulting a female teenager at Wal-Mart, according to court records.

The Virginia State Police hasnt identified the 60-year-old shooting victim, but the rental home owner identified him as Danny Lee Osborn, a handyman who recently cut the grass at the West Main Street property being rented by a woman.

According to police accounts, the female occupant came home at approximately 1:40 a.m. Wednesday and found an open window. She left and called police to report a possible break-in.

When two Wytheville police officers arrived, they found the back door open and could see a person moving around inside the house, police said. Within seconds, the person came toward the officers pointing a handgun at them.

Shots fired! Shots fired, an officer yelled shortly after arriving, according to a radio archive from Broadcastify.

Police said both officers shot at the man and that he sustained several gunshot wounds. At least two shots apparently struck him in the arm, according to radio traffic. Before the shooting, the occupant told the officers that she had a firearm in a bedroom.

Officers performed first aid on the man until he was transported to Wythe County Community Hospital and then flown by helicopter to Holston Valley Medical Center in Tennessee. He remained there Thursday while being treated for injuries that were not life threatening.

Police said one officer who fell and was injured while taking cover was also taken to the Wythe County hospital for treatment.

The town has requested a state police investigation of the shooting and break-in.

The officers, who have not been named, have been placed on paid leave.

They will remain so until an internal investigation and the state police investigation are completed and turned in to the commonwealths attorney, according to a statement by Wytheville Police Chief Rick Arnold.

According to Wythe County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records, Osborn was arrested in April 2015 by police after a 17-year-old female claimed that Osborn abducted and assaulted her at Wythevilles Wal-Mart.

The abduction charge was later dropped, but Osborn was convicted of assault and battery, given a one-month jail sentence and placed on probation for six months.

Osborn was initially held without bond. He appealed and was later released on bond pending his trial.

He successfully completed his six months of probation in December.
The Lamberts Meadow Shelter and campsite along the Appalachian Trail, situated between McAfee Knob and U.S. 220 in Daleville, have been closed to hikers as a result of bear activity.

Trouble with bears began last weekend. There were numerous reports of bear sightings at the shelter and campsite from Saturday through Monday, Diana Christopulos, president of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, said Thursday.

Hikers reported bears getting food that had been tied up in a tree and even entering the shelter. There are believed to be five or six bears in the vicinity.

Christopulos stressed that the bears didnt attack anyone, nor did they exhibit any aggressive behavior; they were simply looking for food.

Numerous groups, including the trail club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, National Park Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, discussed the bear activity and made the decision to close the shelter and campsite Wednesday.

Christopulos said she expects the problem is that people have been leaving food at the site for the last few years, and the bears have come looking for it again. There were several sightings at Lamberts Meadow last year too.

Bears are smart, Christopulos said, and theyll figure out food is there.

Its hard to say how long the shelter and campsite will be closed, Christopulos said, but she expects it will be at least a few weeks.

Its really hard to anticipate because in a situation like this, what youre hoping to do is make food not available and create a situation where the bears are like, well theres no food here we should get back to our old ways, she said.

Ridgerunners, trained employees who patrol and monitor the AT to assist and advise hikers, will be in the area to get a sense of whats going on, Christopulos said.

Christopulos said she believes this is the first time a shelter and campsite have been closed in the 120-mile stretch patrolled by the Roanoke trail club, but that this happens regularly in other areas like Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (The Associated Press reported Thursday a 49-year-old hiker said he was bitten on the leg by a bear through his tent on Tuesday night at Spence Field Shelter on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)

In the meantime, hikers can use a temporary campsite a few miles away just south of Hay Rock. But the site does not have water, Christopulos warned, so visitors will need to stock up elsewhere.

Christopulos advised hiking in groups of four or more, and said not to run away if you see a bear. Stand your ground, she said, and make noise if a bear comes near you.

And, of course: If they come towards your food and they really want your food, give them your food.

There are lots of bears in the Carvins Cove area, Christopulos said, so theres plenty of food in the area for them. But snagging a hikers granola bar is a lot less work, she said.

This is way easier than just scrounging around in the woods, Christopulos said. Its all here, its like a buffet.

These particular bears seem to know how to get food out of trees, Christopulos said, so hikers who want to camp in the area should bring along a bear canister, or use a more sophisticated two-tree method to hang food.

Christopulos said shes not sure if people who leave their food behind or make it easily accessible to bears are just sloppy or think theyre doing the bears a favor, but people should not be feeding them.

Christopulos said there are plans to install bear-proof or bear-resistant containers to store food at the Lamberts Meadow and Campbell shelters in the future.

For more information on how to deal with a bear encounter, Christopulos suggested checking out the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website.
RA MoD: Serviceman was killed immediately after OSCE monitoring

On May 11 and 12 overnight in the northeastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border the Azerbaijani side again fired sporadic shots from different caliber rifle and sniper weapons toward the Armenian positions. The RA Armed forces confidently keep the border situation under control and take retaliatory actions only in case of targeted violations by the adversary. According to the operative information of the NKR DA, on May 11 starting from 19:30 until early hours of May 12 the adversary violated the verbally agreed ceasefire agreement firing from weapons of different caliber including grenade launchers and mortars. On May 11 at about 20:00 in one of the military units stationed in the northern direction of the DA, serviceman Armen Hrayr Martirosyan (born in 1996) received a fatal gunshot wound by adversarys shot. Investigation is underway to find out details of the incident. The NKR Ministry of Defense shares the heavy grief of the loss and expresses its support to the family, relatives and fellow servicemen of the killed soldier. As a result of the retaliatory actions initiated by the DA vanguard units, the adversarys activity was quelled. It is notable that the incident happened immediate several hours after the OSCE monitoring in the NKR Martakert region on the same day, which proves that the Azerbaijani side neglects the mediation efforts directed to the resolution of the NK issue and once again states the necessity of the immediate investment of the investigation mechanisms of incidents. RA MoD
Randy Formica was named Wednesday as Blacksburgs new director of engineering and GIS  a position that he has held on an interim basis for seven months.

I am very excited about leading an amazing team of professionals and working closely with the community and other town departments to move Blacksburg forward, Formica said in a statement released by the town.

Formica has been Blacksburgs town engineer for 22 years and earlier worked at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and for a consulting company, the town news release said. Last year he became the towns interim engineering and GIS director after Adele Schirmer stepped down from that position to become the city manager of Social Circle, Georgia.

Randys role as interim was first to effectively run the department day to day and ensure projects and policies were completed and implemented as established by the town council, wrote Chris Lawrence, Blacksburgs deputy town manager for community development, in an email Wednesday.

His role effectively doesnt change, but I believe now as the permanent director he will have a stronger eye to the future.

He will work closely with our departments to ensure quality infrastructure projects are planned and carried out.

His role will also be to provide leadership as part of our effort to improve our business climate as businesses and developers interact with the town.

This will be done with a keen eye towards the best interest of our citizens, community as a whole, and future residents.

Formica oversees a staff of 13 people in his new role.

His new annual salary will be $118,905, up from the $103,396 that he was paid before becoming interim director, Lawrence wrote.
During 22 years Baku used the negotiations process as a cover

Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyans answer to ARMENPRESS news agency Question: Mr. Kocharyan, today marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the 1994 ceasefire agreement by Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, how can you comment the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in April?  Answer: First, lets note that the signing of the 1994 May 12 ceasefire agreement became possible because the Azerbaijani leadership initiated direct talks with the Nagorno Karabakhi leadership. This proves the progress of the settlement issue is possible only by the full participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations. Lets also note, the maintenance of the 1994 ceasefire is the international obligation of the sides, and the April 2-5 Azerbaijani military offensive against Nagorno Karabakh is a gross violation of this obligation and a blatant aggression. The Azerbaijani aggression of April proved to everyone that during the previous 22 years, Baku used the negotiations process as a cover to acquire weapons and solve the issue by military means, which was the main reason of the maintenance of the status quo in the conflict zone. The urges of the Minsk Group Co-chairing countries for strictly maintaining and strengthening the 1994 trilateral ceasefire are quite understandable, as a basis of a peaceful negotiating process.
First Azerbaijan must return the occupied territories of Nagorno Karabakh (video)

Azerbaijan can achieve its cherished goals through recognition of Nagorno Karabakh, says Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan. He thinks that from the full package of negotiations documents Azerbaijan is trying to single out everything connected with the return of territories, But before bringing forward territorial demands, Azerbaijan itself must at least return the occupied territories of Nagorno Karabakh and recognize Nagorno Karabakh. As in case of recognition it will deal with an entity, which is authorized to discuss such issues. The Republic of Armenia cannot resolve such issues without Nagorno Karabakh. It is the shortest way, by which Azerbaijan can achieve its cherished goal, said Shavarsh Kocharyan noting that he is talking about the regions of Martuni, Martakert, Shahumyan, which are under Azerbaijans occupation. Touching upon the demand of Russias Ambassador Ivan Volinkin to show a document according to which Russia is selling weapons to Azerbaijan, Shavarsh Kocharyan replied, It is obvious that Russias Ambassador to Armenia shouldnt have answered that question. There are other bodies in Russia, to which that issue was presented. Watch the video for details!
Minister: Wounded soldiers to be transferred abroad if treatment is impossible in Armenia (video)

Some servicemen wounded during April war have been transferred to the rehabilitation center of Red Cross, said Minister of Health Armen Muradyan after the Government sitting. He states that positive changes have already been recorded. Parents of two wounded soldiers claim that their children need treatment abroad, in reply to the question whether there is a such need, the Minister replied, Yesterday I met with the parents of Ruben and Aram, who claim that their children need treatment abroad. We discussed their condition. Are they ready for transportation and have all the resources been exhausted in Armenia? The parents expressed their viewpoints. Of course, in case of this issue we cannot refrain from emotional component. The discussion was very alert and they got convinced that the means of treatment, which they imagine abroad, are also possible in Armenia. But irrespective of everything, the parents claim that their children should receive treatment abroad. So, the Minister said that the treatment activities abroad will be organized with philanthropists support, The wounded servicemen will not leave abroad at the expense of state means, as the state is obliged to ensure the treatment abroad only if it is impossible in Armenia. In this case it is possible to organize treatment in Armenia, thats why the servicemen will leave abroad without state support.
(jingdaily.com) - The recent terrorist attacks in Europe led to a 24 percent global Chinese tax-free spending decline in March as sales in Asia grew significantly, according to a new report by Global Blue. The tax-free shopping providers newly released Globe Shopper Report: China Edition finds that this drop comes after the growth rate slowed to 11 percent in January and only 5 percent in February. The terrorist attacks in Paris in November and Brussels in March were a significant factor in this drop, according to the report, which says that 56 percent of respondents in a survey of 5,000 regular Chinese travelers said that safety was an important factor in choosing a destination. While Europe cooled, Asia saw a much stronger Chinese tax-free spending growth rate of 32 percent for the first quarter of this year, with Chinese shopping hotspot Japan seeing an especially significant growth rate of 50 percent. Chinese tourists made 54 percent of all tax-free purchases in the APAC region.
Lucara Diamond has recorded first quarter revenues of $50.6 million or $649 per carat compared to $29.6 million or $278 per carat, a year earlier.

It said its net cash position was $144.3 million during the same period under review, up from $87.5 million during the same period, last year.

Lucaras earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the period was $30.7 million against $11.9 million, a year earlier.

The company also noted that the first exceptional stone tender for the year achieved $51.3 million, resulting in its year to date revenue exceeding $100 million.

It also completed the transfer of its shares of Mothae Diamonds and the site bulk sample plant to the government of Lesotho.

This saw the company being released from any rehabilitation liability for the Mothae Project, which had been accrued in the accounts for approximately $2 million.

Meanwhile, Lucara chief executive William Lamb said the sale of the Lesedi La Rona diamond, the 1,109 carat stone discovered last November in Botswana had commenced.

(It) is resulting in a great deal of interest and excitement for this magnificent, historic stone, culminating in an auction during the month of June," he said.

Lamb said Lucara's exploration programme continues to advance and with the deep drilling of the Karowe resource due to commence in the second quarter, the company was excited by the prospects for the remainder of 2016 and the potential organic growth opportunities.

The company said it maintains its forecast to spend approximately $3.7 million for deep drilling in the south lobe of the AK6 kimberlite and south lobe in Botswana with the goal of converting inferred resources below 400 metres depth to an indicated resource.

An exploration budget of up to $7.0 million was also forecast for advanced bulk sampling and drilling work at its two Botswana prospecting licenses.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Sharmazanov: Vocabulary of Co-Chairs reminds of vocabulary of Serzh Sargsyan (video)

Serzh Sargsyans reply to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will take place within period set by law, said today the NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov during the briefing with journalists at the NA by touching upon the statement of the Co-Chairs in Vienna. The statement reads: In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet. Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Eduard Sharmazanov says that the vocabulary of the Co-Chairs reminds of the vocabulary of Serzh Sargsyan, The vocabulary is in line with his statements in terms of both the reinforcement of confidence-building measures and maintenance of ceasefire. We can see that there is no issue on the new package of negotiations. There are proposals, which Serzh Sargsyan talked about. Eduard Sharmazanov adds that the pessimistic statements of those political figures, who condemned that the conditions of Serzh Sargsyan did not meet our interests and would result in the conflict between the Co-Chairs and Armenia, didnt come true. He also touched upon the interview of Armenias Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan to one of Austrian newspapers, where Mr Kocharyan supports that arms embargo be imposed against South Caucasus states. Shavarsh Kocharyan is a serious political figure, he is among those few people who fully master the Karabakh issue, he is a patriot, my senior friend, he expressed a very interesting viewpoint. The RA is a peace loving state, we only preach peace, we have never been delighted with the arms race and have always criticized it. While Azerbaijan is getting armed, Armenia should be guided by If you want peace, prepare for war principle. It is not only about Azerbaijan but also Turkey. Unfortunately, we live in the region, where we have two neighbors, and like Hitler and Mussolini Aliyev and Erdogan are competing, who is more fascist and Nazi.
Stornoway Diamond Corporation has announced the discovery of a kimberlite at its 100-percent owned Adamantin Project in Quebec, Canada.

The company said that to date, 11 distinct kimberlite bodies have been identified, with intersections of up to 13.7 meters of undiluted kimberlite. The geological findings show that this latest kimberlite is located close to, but is distinct from, the Renard kimberlite cluster.

Drilling at the site commenced in March, following till sampling at Adamantin during 2015, which had confirmed the presence of indicator mineral anomalies. Stornoway said that kimberlite had been intersected in 18 of 78 drill holes testing 72 geophysical targets. The intersections are thought to represent at least 11 discrete kimberlite bodies.

The company said to its knowledge this was the first new kimberlite field to be discovered in Quebec for more than 10 years. It also suggested that if melting ice had not curtailed its drilling targets that more kimberlites may also be uncovered, although they have collected enough sample material to arrive at a preliminary sense of diamond content.

We are encouraged by the early drilling at Adamantin, which has discovered a spatially extensive field of kimberlite emplacement in an area that we knew to have promising indicator mineral chemistry and where we had already found a diamond in till, said Stornoway president and CEO Matt Manson.




Following a series of defaults that rocked the industry since January 2016, involving amount to the tune of over $60mn by parties in Mumbai and Surat, diamantaires are now urged to follow the KYC norms to minimize the risk of defaults.

Recently, a diamond trader from Surat, who operated for the last one-and-a-half-decade, disappeared from the market without paying pending dues of $1.20 mn to 35 traders.

The police have extended a helping hand and promised to deal with the cases of defaults in a swift manner. The police asked the traders and manufacturers to identify the parties and maintain their personal and financial records.

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) regional chairman Dinesh Navadiya, said "We have urged diamond traders and manufacturers to implement KYC norms when they strike a deal in precious diamonds with anyone.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




Botswana Diamonds said a large diameter drilling (LDD) programme will start soon on its Prospecting Licence 186, which is part of the Maibwe (Brightstone) block of licences in Gope, Botswana.

Maibwe Diamonds was a privately-held company controlled by BCL a state-owned copper and nickel producer in Botswana.

BCL had a 51 percent stake in Maibwe.

Botswana Diamonds owns 15 percent of Maibwe and had a free carried interest in the project up to bankable feasibility study.

It said the LDD drilling for macro diamond evaluation, to be undertaken by Maibwe Diamonds, was a follow up on diamond drilling conducted last year on PL 186, which found a number of diamondiferous kimberlites.

The drilling should confirm the 2015 results and gain a clearer understanding of the grade and size frequency distribution of diamonds, it said, adding that work on the other licences within the Maibwe block was also planned.

We now know there are diamonds on PL 186. The upcoming drilling is to establish the grade and quality, said company chairperson John Teeling.

The project was separate from the Botswana Diamonds/Alrosa joint venture.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Singapore state investment company Temasek Holdings Pte is backing the Singapore Diamond Investment Exchange (SDiX) through its venture-capital unit Vertex Venture Holdings, as per a report in Bloomberg.

SDiX said in a statement that Investors can trade single stones as well as so-called baskets of investment-grade diamonds electronically for physical settlement. At first, the bourse aims to support spot trading, with plans for derivatives and exchange-traded products.

The Exchange also mentioned that this move is a shift away from a centuries-old system where diamonds are largely traded manually and bilaterally in marketplace-style bourses. Investors with little access to pricing information in the past will now have a benchmark price to value diamonds as an asset, it said, adding that Vertex Venture is among the backers.

We may expect volatility in the coming days because its the first time in the world that a commodity exchange opens for diamonds, Alain Vandenborre, executive chairman and founder of the SDiX. "In a few weeks, the price will stabilize and we will reach a benchmark price. It will be a consensus in the market."

Other early investors include Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, and Hsieh Fu Hua, chairman of United Overseas Bank Ltd., a former head of Singapore Exchange Ltd. and a former president of Temasek.

Trading hours are from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with broker members in Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Dubai.

By providing the first ever transparent and open price-discovery mechanism for diamonds, the exchange unlocks a major opportunity for investors to trade diamonds as an asset class, Vandenborre said in the statement. The bourse is entirely independent of the diamond industry, and fully regulation-ready.

Vertex has a 19 percent stake, according to Vandenborre.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




In India, demand on the auspicious day of 'Akshaya Tritiya' remained quiet due to high prices of gold. But despite the low sales volume jewellers across the country feels that Akshaya Tritiya 2016 has provided the much needed boost to the sector.

In Mumbai, jewellers have registered good sales across the metro as people had come out in good numbers to make purchases.

In Pune, there was demand for light-weight jewellery and gold bullion. Increased gold price were well received by consumers, and buying was brisk throughout the day.

Though the total transaction this year is less than last year, but considering the past sentiments of the market, this is definitely a good start for the industry.

Gujarat registered good sales across the State. While people were interested in buying lightweight gold jewellery, there was good movement in diamond jewellery sales as well. Again, though the sales figure is less in Akshaya Tritiya 2016, comparison to last year, it has improved the sentiment in the market.

Over all, compared to last year, there is a 5 per cent surge in sales in south India. Coin sales were reportedly poor, but sales of ornaments is said to have picked up dramatically.

In Chennai (South India), sales were reported to be good and customers were buying gold in smaller quantity because of high rates. High gold prices had pulled down the sales by 15 to 20 percent with people buying low caratage gold jewellery to get the best deal out of their budget.

Similar trends were seen in North India, where jewellers have done good business. Compared to bullion, movement in jewellery was more. High gold price did not affect the sales of gold jewellery.

That people were making purchases even amid high gold prices, shows that the sentiment attached to the yellow metal is still strong and the nature of buying gold will not change in India.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished




Union Pacific will spend $78.6 million improving its infrastructure in Nebraska this year. The planned spend is on top of the $200 million the railroad has invested in its infrastructure in the state between 2011 and 2015.

The majority of UPs Nebraska improvements, $71 million, will be spent to maintain track and another $7.5 million will be spent to maintain bridges. Key projects that the Class 1 will progress in the state with the investment include:

$10.5 million to undercut 62 miles of track between Fremont, Columbus and Silver Creek

$6.3 million to replace more than 35,000 crossties in the line between Sutherland, Oshkosh and Broadwater

$5.9 million to undercut 35 miles of track between Overton, Lexington and Gothenburg

We constantly evaluate our customers needs to make targeted investments that enhance our efficiency and deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily, said Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president  Public Affairs, Northern Region. Continuing to aggressively invest in our infrastructure is an important element in Union Pacifics unwavering safety commitment.

Union Pacific plans to spend $3.675 billion across its network this year, following investments totaling approximately $33 billion from 2006-2015. The railroad said the investments contributed to a 25-percent decrease in derailments over the past 10 years.

The railroad has also outlined its plans for California, Texas, Illinois and Arkansas within the past few weeks.
RTD

A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 10 at the future Sky Ridge Station for Denver's Southeast Rail Extension Project.

The extension will add 2.3 miles of light rail to the existing 19-mile Southeast Rail Line. The project also includes three new stations, 1,300 parking spaces and the purchase of eight vehicles. The first phase of the Southeast Rail Line opened in 2006 as an alternative to busy Interstate 25, running from I-25 and Broadway through the University of Denver south to the Douglas County line.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Regional Transportation District (RTD) $92 million through its Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program for the project in April. The funds represent 41 percent of the $233.1 million total project cost.

The federal funds allowed RTD to give Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. the notice to proceed with construction. BBII is the construction contractor selected by RTD to build out the extension transit project and will begin construction on May 16.

The remaining cost is being covered by local funding sources. RTD says an unprecedented $25 million in cash and an estimated $3 million in land and right-of-way permits from the city of Lone Tree, Douglas County, Coventry Development and the Southeast Public Improvement District made the Southeast Rail Extension a reality for the region.

By expanding light rail south of the city, we are creating efficient new access to Denver and all the city has to offer for residents in the greater metropolitan area, said FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers. This investment will improve connections for residents along the I-25 corridor who want to access Denver International Airport or jobs, school, medical care, and other vital services in Douglas County and downtown Denver.

The start of construction on the Southeast Rail Extension is another shining example of how important collaboration and innovation are to completing the FasTracks vision, said RTD Board Chair Tom Tobiassen. This project wouldnt be happening without the support from the local jurisdictions, as well as our federal partner. It is because of our strong partnerships that we continue to expand public transportation throughout the Denver metro area and create a city that is ready for the future.
Joshua Caldwell/Hyperloop One

Hyperloop One, formerly Hyperloop Technologies, officially changed its name to coincide with the company's successful propulsion open-air test of the high-speed transportation concept.

The North Las Vegas test lasted about 12 seconds, but that was long enough for the company to declare the success a historic milestone that Hyperloop One says will be the first of many full-scale tests.as the company reinvents transportation to eliminate the barriers of time and distance.

Hyperloop One is participating in privately-funded feasibility studies to examine the economic and social benefits of hyperloop routes in Finland and Sweden. Hyperloop One is partnering with FS Links Ab, a company based in the Aland Islands in the heart of the Baltic region, to develop the technical, commercial and policy case for a strategic link between Stockholm and Helsinki. The company is also participating in a feasibility study with Arcturan Sustainable Cargo of Los Angeles to determine how Hyperloop One can streamline the movement of containers from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to reduce congestion and pollution. The company has recently joined with the founders of Cargo Sous Terrain in Switzerland to investigate how Hyperloop One can help create a completely tunneled cargo transport and logistics system throughout Switzerland.

The overwhelming response weve had already confirms what weve always known, that Hyperloop One is at the forefront of a movement to solve one of the planets most pressing problems, said Hyperloop One Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Shervin Pishevar. The brightest minds are coming together at the right time to eliminate the distances and borders that separate economies and cultures.

The concept of a hyperloop was born from Elon Musk, who envisioned a way for people and goods to move over land at speeds traveled by airplanes through low pressure tubes that ride on an air cushion. Musk, of Tesla and SpaceX fame, is currently holding a competition for university teams and independent engineering teams to design the best hyperloop pod. Interest in the concept has launched private companies to pursue the separate hyperloop efforts, including Hyperloop One. Hyperloop One is also sponsoring a separate hyperloop-focused competition.

Hyperloop One has also developed strategic partnerships transportation, engineering, operations, architecture, construction, passenger and freight economics, station design and tunneling experts. Hyperloop One partners include AECOM, which is building the test track for Musks hyperloop pod competition, Amberg Group, ARUP, Bjarke Ingel Group, Deutsche Bahn Engineering and Consulting, KPMG and SYSTRA.

While Hyperloop One has tapped the expertise of companies with distinguished rail portfolios and track is visible in the test, a fully-developed hyperloop will not have traditional rail infrastructure elements.
Canadian stocks were little changed Wednesday despite surging oil prices, as retailers struggled amid downbeat earnings news.

A number of major companies listed on the NYSE including Disney and Macy's had a lackluster quarter, raising concerns about the U.S. writ large.

Base metal stocks, which have been volatile of late, jumped 5 percent.

Energy stocks rose 1 percent.

Crude oil prices ralled after a surprisingly big drop in U.S. crude oil inventories.

June WTI oil was up $1.57, or 3.5%, to settle at $46.23/bbl on Nymex. This was the highest closing price since November.

SNC-Lavalin Group (SNC.TO) will send most of its information operations to back-office supplier CGI Group Inc. in a $500-million deal. SNC shares were flat.

In the telecom sector, Canadian regulators denied an appeal by BCE of a decision that limits wholesale wireless rates its telecoms charge each other.

BCE was down fractionally.

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Market Analysis
Prime Minister calls for fight against corruption: Do we have an efficient army? (video)

A regular Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. Before proceeding to the agenda, the Prime Minister made a statement. Dear Colleagues, The four-day war has forced all of us to rethink our work and refer once again to the Presidents speech of February 12, 2016. Are we developing? Are we fighting against corruption? Do we have an efficient army? The answer is yes. The question is whether is it enough to face new challenges? I feel that I will express a shared opinion if I say not. We need to become a more efficient State by doubling and tripling our efforts. Yes, our resources are limited, thought, in my opinion, the lack of resources can be offset by two factors, the first is the use of more effective models, and the second is how long they will take to come into effect. During a recent question and answer session at the National Assembly, I noted that we were going to initiate a series of discussions involving members of parliament, including the opposition, as well as other social actors. But what matters most is the speed at which we will implement the decisions adopted during the proposed discussions, which will cover a wide range of items, including economic development, fighting corruption in healthcare and education and many other issues. From the 14th day of this month, we are proceeding to regular weekly discussions. As it appears to be impossible to involve all interested parties in this process, I suggest that all those who have recommendations to make should submit them to Minister-Chief of Government Staff David Haroutunyan. His e-mail address is available at the Governments official website. I should note that there are several noteworthy studies into Armenias development scenarios. A vivid example is the Gulbenkian Foundation-published Armenians in 2115 report. I do believe that studies to that effect should become a subject of in-depth consideration. Of course, discussion is not an end in itself. Each discussion should lead to specific actions, a government decisions or a legislative initiative within a short time span. We have already identified a number of problems and developed relevant solutions. Here, I would like to announce some approaches. Firstly, although we have a finalized budget, we need to resort to a stricter regime of savings. We must form a less expensive apparatus of government. We need to reduce those costs that do not materially affect the actual result - business trips, maintenance costs, repairs, utilities, service cars and so on. Some of the aforementioned steps need to be taken today. In this regard, I instruct the Ministry of Finance and the Government Staff to come up with proposals and recommendations at the next Cabinet sitting. Secondly, the State management apparatus should become more compact. Indeed, this will take more than a day to complete, but we need to have a detailed analysis before the start of the 2017 budgetary discussions. The public sector optimization effort will cover SNCO, PIU, affiliated agencies and standalone units. I look forward to having sober and realistic proposals on the part of government agencies. To ensure that the proposed activities are carried out in a systemic and well-organized manner, I hereby suggest that the Deputy Prime Minister submits a draft government resolution on the establishment of a working group under his leadership. I believe that this approach should be adopted by our colleagues from other branches of government. Dear Colleagues, I am fully aware of the fact that these two approaches may cause certain social tension associated with the reduction of jobs in government agencies. But, let us be outspoken: the above considerations have prevented us from making such a move for the past many years. Today, however, the issue of security of Artsakh and Armenia poses other problems. The situation we have is a non-standard one, which compels us to resort to non-standard steps and make non-standard decisions. The third area where tangible results can be achieved with the shortest possible delay is the fight against corruption. First of all, let us state the following two key principles. Corruption should be subject to separate measurement, including through public opinion polls. Both public agency supervisors and law enforcement authorities must come up with public reports based on the dynamics of corruption indicators. We will draw relevant conclusions, which may include personnel changes, should figures get worse or remain unchanged. In this connection, the publics expectations and the proposed solutions will be discussed during upcoming meetings. The second principle is the conflict of interest. We need to introduce stringent mechanisms that might rule out the participation of public officials and persons associated with them in State programs and State procurements. Dear Colleagues, As the head of the executive, I am fully aware and understand that all the aforementioned measures will prove ineffective if we fail to provide for lasting and sustained economic growth. They should help attract additional financial resources, create new jobs and alleviate the social tension. Over the past 2 years, I have repeatedly faced public criticism about the lack of political will to fight against monopolies. I agree that the Government has not shown sufficient consistency in exposing the monopolies and has failed to initiate a public dialogue in good time. Now, the time has come to get things right. I hereby instruct the Minister of Economy and suggest that the Economic Competition Protection Commission should cooperate with Armenia-based international organizations in the shortest possible time - 3 weeks at maximum  in a bid to analyze the situation with the monopolies operating in Armenia, assess their impact on free competition and propose relevant solutions; I am also urging the newly formed State Revenue Committee to ensure adequate budget receipts, implement soft management practices with regard to small and medium enterprises, provide for efficacious risk management in tax and customs administration, minimize interference in business activities and create equal conditions for economic entities. Please rest assured that we will solely abide by considerations of economic expediency. This is all for the time being. In conclusion, let me emphasize once again that the Government has enough political will to implement these steps. We will henceforth review the steps completed on a regular basis and assess only the most specific results.
A report released by Oxfam America has exposed the dangerous and harsh working conditions inside U.S. poultry processing plants, including the lack of adequate bathroom breaks.

In addition to low wages, worries about job security, and standing for long hours in cold, wet noisy plants, about 250,000 poultry workers in the U.S. are denied adequate bathroom breaks, according to the report.

This comes even as the poultry industry is enjoying record profits. The poultry industry sells 8.5 billion chickens annually, at a wholesale value of $50 billion.

Oxfam America launched its campaign for poultry worker justice in October 2015 with an extensive expose on conditions inside poultry processing plants.

Its report, Lives on the Line, is based on three years of research and interviews with dozens of current and former poultry workers and experts. The latest report uncovered the cruel realities inside these cold, noisy and dangerous plants.

To cope with the denial of adequate bathroom breaks, poultry workers wear diapers to work as well as restrict intake of liquids and fluids to dangerous degrees. The workers are thus compelled to urinate on themselves or purposefully dehydrate themselves. They are also in danger of serious problems.

The situation is particularly hard for women, who face biological realities such as menstruation, pregnancy, and higher vulnerability to infections, even as they struggle to maintain their dignity and privacy when requesting breaks, Oxfam said in its report.

Almost all workers interviewed by Oxfam reported being denied bathroom breaks outright or having to wait an unreasonably long time to use the bathroom  up to an hour or more. Workers also reported being fined if they are late returning from the bathroom.

The top four chicken companies control roughly 60 percent of the domestic market in the U.S. - Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Perdue, and Sanderson Farms. Oxfam urged these companies to ensure that workers have bathroom breaks necessary to stay healthy, safe, and dignified at work.

It called upon the companies to develop specific commitments that workers have access to bathroom breaks whenever they are needed, make these policies public, and ensure that staffing levels at each stage of the processing process are sufficient to provide workers the opportunity for replacement when they need a bathroom break.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Lena Dunham paid tribute to Nick Lashaway, former actor on "Girls," who was killed in a car accident last week. Lashaway, 28, died in a three car crash in Massachusetts on May 8, while Dunham remembered him on Instagram yesterday.

"Just heard the incredibly sad news that Nick Lashaway was killed in a car accident on May 8th. Nick was such a talented, funny and kind person and we were so lucky to have him as a part of the 'Girls' family," Dunham wrote.

"We will always remember the week we shared with him, his playful smile, his easy instincts, how much he made us laugh even when we had to stay up all night in the woods."

Lashaway appeared as a character named Frank in an episode which aired during the second season of "Girls."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Entertainment News
Hyundai Xcent is currently sold only in petrol and diesel engine option. But, a leaked document now confirms that Hyundai Xcent will also be offered with factory fitted CNG option very soon. This new Xcent CNG variant will be offered exclusively on the mid spec S variant and will be open for sale to both private owners and fleet operators in the country.

The Xcent CNG powertrain will be based on the BS4 compliant 1.2 liter Kappa engine. Yes, as per the document, Hyundai will launch the Xcent CNG with BS4 petrol engine, and not the BS6 petrol engine from Grand i10 NIOS.

This could probably help the company use-up BS4 inventory before the deadline arrives on 1st April 2020. This BS4 petrol 1.2 liter engine delivers 81 PS @ 6000 rpm, but with CNG, it will deliver 66 PS @ 5600 rpm. The CNG engine will get mated to a 5 speed manual only.

Hyundai Xcent CNG in the mid spec S variant will see similar features as seen on the latter with Bluetooth connectivity, tilt steering, rear AC vents, 2 DIN audio system with USB and steering mounted controls. It will also get rear seat central armrests and safety features among which will be dual front airbags, central lock, rear parking sensors, passenger and driver seat belt reminder and speed alert. ABS and EBD will be offered as standard.

New Hyundai Xcent CNG is expected to be launched in the coming days. As on date, Hyundai Xcent S petrol variant is priced at Rs.6.47 lakhs. CNG variant of the same could be priced in the range of Rs 6.8  7 lakhs, ex-sh. Once launched, this Xcent CNG will take on the likes of Maruti Dzire, Tata Zest in the segment.

Apart from this, Hyundai is also actively testing the new gen Xcent compact sedan which is based on the Grand i10 Nios. It is slated to be unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo in Feb next year. Like the new gen Hyundai i10 was called the Nios, the new gen Xcent will be called the Hyundai Xcent Aura.

It will borrow much from the i10 Nios in terms of features and will be seen with similar looking boomerang shaped LED DRLs, honeycomb front grille, chrome door handles and C shaped tail lamps with LEDs. It will sit on 15 alloy wheels which will boast of a dual tone colour scheme while other features will include ORVMs with turn indicators and a shark fin antenna.

The new Hyundai Aura will be powered by the same 1.2 liter BS6 petrol engine as seen on the Grand i10 Nios. This engine will comply with BS6 emission norms while the 1.2 liter diesel engine lineup will be upgraded prior to the 1st April 2020 deadline. The engines will get mated to a 5 speed manual transmission as well as with AMT.
Maruti Suzuki India is the largest car maker in the country, and are hoping to start limited operations soon

After shutting down operations at its Gurgaon and Manesar plants for more than three weeks, Indias largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki hopes to start operations from April 15. The companys chairman RC Bhargava told CNBC TV18 that if the lockdown continues in its current form, it would be devastating for the company.

Mr Bhargava expects that some relaxations will be allowed post the 21-day lockdown period. The government will probably announce a range of industries that will be allowed to restart operations from April 15. PM Narendra Modi is all set to deliver his speech to the nation in a few minutes. Update  PM Modi has extended the lockdown till 3rd May 2020.

If restrictions are lifted for the auto sector, Maruti Suzuki will start limited operations. Mr Bhargava expects that lockdown will henceforth be enforced as per coronavirus hotspots and not as a blanket ban on all forms of economic activity. He said that areas in a city are likely to be tagged as colour-coded zones based on the number of infections detected in a given locality.

These zones will be Red, Orange or Green, with Red being the area where significant infections have been reported. On the other hand, Green zones will be marked as safe and will have limited restrictions. Mr Bhargava said that Maruti Suzuki plants in Gurgaon and Manesar are unlikely to be tagged in the Red zone. This will make it possible for the company to start limited operations from April 15.

Providing details about how the company has been handling the current challenges, Mr Bhargava said that not even a single employee has been laid off or not paid. He said that this is in line with government directives to support employees throughout the lockdown period. Mr Bhargava said that the company has also paid its vendors to ensure that the ecosystem can be sustained post the lockdown.

To ensure that its employees stay protected from coronavirus and to avoid contamination of its production facility, Maruti Suzuki will be carrying out extensive training of its employees. They will be provided detailed instructions about precautions to take before leaving their home, while travelling to office, while entering the factory premises, while working at the plant, while visiting the canteen, when exiting the plant and after reaching their home. Instructions will be provided in local languages so that each and every employee is aware of whats expected from them.

Mr Bhargava said that operations will be started in a staggered manner in the next few weeks. He said that full production would not be possible in the next 1-2 months. Even the dealerships and suppliers will be looking at a similar timeline, in terms of achieving normal operations, like earlier.

Source
Varun Motors was adjudged best Maruti Suzuki dealer for 2016 from as many as 415 dealers across the country. This is the second time that Varun Motors has received this award. The announcement was made at the All India Maruti Suzuki Dealers Conference held in Singapore recently.

The first time was in 2014 and while it lost this position in 2015, it gained it back once again in 2016. This outstanding success is due to the collective achievements of each of the dealerships 4,800 employees.

On receiving this award, Varun Motors announced that they are aiming to sell over 30,000 passenger vehicles in the current fiscal, an increase of 15% as compared to sales in 2015-16 when a total of 27,000 units were sold. Of these 27,000 units, 25,000 units were sold through showrooms while the balance 2,000 units were via their NEXA outlets.

Speaking of overall sales in Hyderabad, Varun Motors accounts for 44% of vehicles sold by the company while on a national level, the dealerships contributes 2.2% to company sales. Set to explore newer markets and extend their reach beyond Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Varun Motors has also set up dealerships in Karnataka with a new showroom in Bengaluru. Varun Motors also plans new outlets this financial year with an investment of INR 60 crores.

As on date, Varun Group operates 12 showrooms, 9 rural outlets, 15 used car showrooms and 29 workshops. The Group has also set up 13 driving schools both in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is also into hospitality, sales of Bharat Benz vehicles and construction.

Speaking about the award for most sales, it went to Indus Motors of Kerela. Indus won the No 1 in sales award for 10th consecutive year. They sold 35,282 cars during 2015/16.
UIC: Will the issue of arms sales reach the UN Security Council?

There is an important noteworthy suggestion in the recent interview that the RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan gave to the Austrian Die Presse regarding the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. The Idea During the interview, the Deputy Foreign Minister expressed the following point: The Armenian side has continuously been raising that issue, including on the level of our president. We understand what is going on and we have every reason to be dissatisfied. Russia says that if they do not sell it, others will. I favor the complete arms embargo for all the conflict sides in the region. The three OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, the USA, Russia and France, can reach that decision in the UN Security Council. That would be a right approach. This noteworthy statement contains two main messages. In the first place, it emphasizes once again that the Armenian side is not going to be silent on the unacceptability of the arms sales by Russia. The second message aims to draw international communitys attention on the circumstance that there are provisions of international law that could allow to ban Russia and any other country from selling arms to the conflict sides. If this idea of the Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister does not remain on the pages of the Austrian newspaper and becomes part of Armenias foreign policy, we will be able to clearly see who is in favor of bloodshed in the region and who is not And, most importantly, it may become possible to really stop the continuous arms support to Azerbaijan by Russia and other countries. The Problem is Russia Nevertheless, it is little likely that the UN Security Council might adopt such a decision as Russia has the veto right in the UN Security Council. Taking into account the circumstance that other UN Security Council members do not have particular interest in keeping the conflict hot and do not have arms sales business with the conflict sides, they will probably favor such an embargo. But the Russian Federation, which has recently been trying to justify its strategy of selling weapons, will probably make use of its right to veto in order to protect its interests of continuing the business and keeping the region hot. It is worth reminding that according to the agreement reached in Budapest in 1994, OSCE Minsk Group member countries should refrain from selling arms to the sides of Karabagh conflict. Only two Minsk Group member countries have violated that agreement and they are Russia and Turkey. Russia also violates the unwritten diplomatic rule according to which you cannot mediate a negotiation process and at the same time break the fragile stability of the conflict. In other words, you cannot state that the conflict should have an exclusively peaceful solution and at the same time arm both sides. And though Russia continues to claim that it is maintaining a balance, the difference in the volume of arms supplied to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed Forces is not a secret to anybody. Anyway, there is a hope that if the issue really reaches the UN Security Council, Russia will not use its veto right against the resolution of arms sales embargo to Karabagh conflict sides due to international pressure and in order to save the peacekeepers face. Anna Pambukhchyan, Union of Informed Citizens
Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car

I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ...
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

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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
Artsakh responds to the OSCE Minsk Group statement: Armenpress

Nagorno Karabakh responds to the OSCE Minsk Group statement, which stated it is time for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet. In the interview with Armenpress, David Babayan, spokesman of the Nagorno Karabakhi President, says there is no alternative to the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations. A lot of time is needed to restore the full format, but it has no alternative, especially after this four-day war. Azerbaijan started a war against us, and the whole world knows this. But Azerbaijan does not want to negotiate with us. Is this a reasonable approach? Of course not. We understand there are difficulties, but anyway we will work towards fully restoring the negotiations format, Babayan said. According to him, if decisions towards establishing peace are made during the meeting, then the forthcoming meeting would be justified. He says time will show. I think the international community must fully participate in the settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Nagorno Karabakhi conflict. It is not about changing the negotiations process, its about another attitude. For example, it is unacceptable when the First European Games, the UN forum, Formula 1 and similar events are held in Baku. This is simply immoral, because the aggressor gets encouraged by this. Therefore, the international community must display a cautious attitude, Babayan added. More on the source website
The Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Leao Talalelei Tuitama, has unveiled the Ministrys plan to further strengthen Samoas ability to ensure the safety and quality of its food supply.

We are taking action for the future to ensure that Samoans continue to access safe and suitable food locally and at the same time ensuring that Samoas food business operators continue to produce safe and good quality food for both domestic and international markets, he said.

To achieve this we introduced a modern Food Act in 2015, we are finalizing new food safety and quality regulations with a strong scientific foundation and are developing guidelines on food recall for both government and food business operators.

On Monday 2 May 2016, the Director General for Health, Leausa Toleafoa Dr. Take Naseri, advised a combined group of government officers and food business operators that Food production has been industrialized and its trade and distribution have been globalized.

As a consequence, the diversity and quantity of food available to populations around the world, including our Samoan population, has increased significantly.

However on the negative side, he warned that the manufacturing and pre-packaging of food have extended and complicated the food production and consumption chain and increased the chance for food to become contaminated

In the interest of protecting public health and limiting the spread of any problem, there is a need to have in place strong and effective response mechanisms such as rapid and efficient outbreak response and food recall processes that result in decisive action and the rapid removal of unsafe food from the market; and informs consumers of the problem when unsafe food has reached them.

Assistant C.E.O, Maee Ualesi Silva, advised the gathering of government officers and food business representatives that the Division of Health Protection and Enforcement (HPED) of the Ministry of Health was actively consulting with the food industry in the strengthening of the food recall system for Samoa and emphasized that the Food Safety Unit of the Ministry of Health was responsible for providing oversight of any food recall and for enforcing and coordinating actions among all food business operators while also ensuring that communication with consumers, businesses, relevant international bodies and competent authorities in other countries was clear, sound and effective.

Maee emphasized however that food business operators have primary legal responsibility for ensuring the safety of food under their control and consequently they are also primarily responsible for the removal of unsafe food from the market in cooperation with the competent authorities.

The Director General of Health said the commitment to protecting peoples health and safety is the main focus of the Ministrys plan to further strengthen Samoas ability to ensure the safety and quality of its food supply but also emphasized that a cooperative relationship among public health officials, other government agencies and industry is also important for the food industrys contribution to Samoas economic growth and social wellbeing.
The National Council of Churches celebrated its 50th birthday yesterday at the Tofamamao Centre, Leauvaa.

There, the Council members were joined by the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to mark the special occasion.

The Chairman, Deacon Leaupepe Kasiano, led the celebration, acknowledging everyone who has played a role in the development of the Council since its inception in 1966.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa delivered the keynote, highlighting the Councils role in the development of Samoa over the years.

Speaking about the church in general, Tuilaepa said the government and the church are working hand in hand to development programmes to build people physically, spiritually and mentally.

The Councils Executive Secretary, Reverend Mauga Motu said there are five founding members of the N.C.C. They are the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Catholic, Methodist, Seven Day Adventist Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints.

What the churches leaders in past years wanted was for all the churches to work together, he said.

Five other churches have since joined the N.C.C. These include the Anglican Church, Congregational Church of Jesus in Samoa [E.F.I.S], Protestant Church, Pentecostal and Nazareth Church.

Rev. Mauga said the door remains open for other churches to join.

During the ceremony yesterday, Rev. Mauga acknowledged Prime Minister Tuilaepa, his wife Gillian and their children for their support in paying the lease at the office where they have been operating from at Mulinuu.

His Highness Tui Atua was given the honor to cut the cake and wish the National Council of Churches a happy birthday.
Think a minuteIn the year 1830 Joe moved into a small community in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Even though Joe was a kind, honest and good citizen, from the day he moved to town he was rejected and ridiculed.

Wherever he went people laughed at him, and when they saw him walking their direction they would quickly cross to the other side of the street. Even the windows of his house were regularly broken by men throwing rocks in the night.

Joe continued to go his quiet way and ignore the insults. But one day as he was walking down Main Street he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around to look, a group of men attacked him. Joe fought back, but they overpowered him and dragged him off to jail. These men lied and told the authorities it was Joe who started the fight. But Joe refused to pay any penalty since he knew he had done nothing wrong, so they locked him in jail.

From his jail cell, Joe began to write letters to his family, telling them the truth of how the town was unfairly judging him. His son then sent the letters to a local newspaper, and soon newspapers across the nation were printing Joes story of persecution. The pressure from public opinion finally forced the town leaders to set Joe free.

Interestingly, years later Joe lived to see two U.S. Presidents and men all over America do the exact same thing for which Joe had been wrongly judged and persecuted. For during that time in America, people believed that all respectable men were clean-shaven, and Joe Palmer had dared to wear a beard!

It is so true: You cannot judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, some peoples beliefs go only skin deep. They just follow what others tell them is right and wrong, instead of thinking for themselves and looking deeper for what is really true and important in life. Joes town was a perfect example of the blind leading the blind. Fortunately, Joe knew better. He knew that the beard on his face was not the real person he was in his heart and character.

Dont let other people rent space in your head. Never let others rob you of your freedom to think for yourself, and choose what you believe is the true way to live.

In fact, it is not just your right, it is your responsibility. We all are made in Gods likeness with a conscience and mind to think and a will to choose. So wont you take the time now to think through all the evidence of Jesus life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection, and see that it clearly makes the best sense to live your Makers way. Just think a minute
Artsakh Ombudsman addresses letter to Eurovision organizers

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic Ombudsman addressed a letter to Eurovision 2016 organizers: The letter reads as follows: Dear ladies and gentlemen of the EBU and the Reference Group, My name is Ruben Melikyan. I am the elected Human Rights Defender of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), a democracy located between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I should proudly and humbly protect the freedom and human rights of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, approximately 150 000 peaceful civilians -- men, women, children and elderly -- all living between two European countries. I am a European, whose country is denied access to the European community and whose flag has found itself amidst anger, fear, embarrassment, shame, and most importantly, apathy. This resulted in your official statement of May 11 of 2016. First of all, on behalf of the people of Karabakh, I would like to express my strong disagreement with your statement's language that described the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a mere territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We, the people of the NKR, have been exercising our fundamental and undeniable right to self-determination since 1991 by declaring and defending our independence from Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. It was done in full conformity with International Law and then-applicable Soviet Constitutional Law. Thus, your description of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is inaccurate and offensive to my people, and adds injury to an insult. Secondly, I would like to kindly draw your attention to the events of April 2-5, 2016, which probably determined the song contestants very understandable personal motivation to exhibit the NKR National flag. I'd also like to kindly draw your attention to the facts, well-documented in the Interim Public Report of the NKR Human Rights Defender, recording all the atrocities and violations committed by Azerbaijani military forces from April 2 to April 5 of 2016. We documented beheadings that happened in Europe, murders and dismemberments of elderlies that happened in Europe, intensive shellings of schools and dwellings that happened in Europe just 40 days ago. And as a responsible European, who cares about European values and seeks democracy and peace, the song contestant merely called for peace and unity amidst these barbaric atrocities by exhibiting the flag of the NKR, for the people who have lost their lives, just 40 days ago, on a land that is our home. Nevertheless, you threatened to sanction the participant, silencing an adequate and humble expression of her freedom of speech. Europe is united over the values of fundamental human rights, and at the core of these values is freedom of speech. As the subject of the speech is of extraordinary importance, there should not be any restriction whatsoever for freedom of expression. ISIS-style beheadings and other terrible war crimes of Azerbaijani armed forces were committed just 40 days ago, and Azerbaijan is threatening openly to repeat them if my people do not obey the rule of Azerbaijani Republic, a country with state-fueled policy of Armenophobia. Ladies and gentlemen, These circumstances can be named no other way but extraordinary. Accordingly your statement on enforcement of your Rule 1.2.2.2h can be named no other way but an overreaction to a mere reminder of the situation by a mere exhibition of a National Flag. I kindly call for your conscious as Europeans to remember the fundamental values of Europe, incorporated in the teachings of John Locke, Voltaire, Kant, and not of the likes of Hitler and Mussolini. I kindly call upon you to take the side of peace and unity. And finally I kindly ask you to remain in the framework of the Song Contest format and to not enter the field of international politics. Relating links

http://ombudsnkr.am/Interim_Public_Report_NKR_Omb_FINAL.pdf http://ombudsnkr.am/Legal_Assessment_May_2_human_shielding_use_of_indiscriminate_weapons_FINAL.pdf

Sincerely, Ruben Melikyan Human Rights Defender of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh Republic)
Village headman cursed: residents of Garni again closed the road

The residents of Garni village today closed Yerevan-Garni road for an hour. They got angry that Aram Harutyunyan, Chairman of the State Committee of Water Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia, Kotayq Governor Karapet Guloyan and other employees left them beside the culture house of the village and entered the building. Then they asked to enter and discuss the issue, but the people answered that they had nothing to discuss. They didnt leave, they remained inside. Then the village headman urged the villagers to enter, but the residents didnt succumb and there was conflict situation. The village headman started cursing and entered into conflict with residents, village resident Sara Petrosyan told A1+. With the help of bodyguards they were trying to make the people enter the culture house, and jostle broke out, added Sara Petrosyan. To remind, by a government decision, an irrigation system is being constructed in the gorge that will take water from the Azat River and send it to Kaghtsrashen and Narek communities in Ararat province. The villagers claim that the Garni gorge is jeopardized and say the water will be piped to irrigate the lands and fish farms belonging to the Prime Minister. Even public discussion hasnt been organized on this issue.
Statement of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs

22 years ago, on May 12, 1994, a termless agreement on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, signed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the Azerbaijani Republic and the Republic of Armenia through the mediation of the Russian Federation, entered into force. This agreement, as well as the February 6, 1995 trilateral agreement on strengthening the ceasefire, signed under the auspices of the OSCE, still remain the only real achievement, which laid the foundation for peace talks and created conditions for the activities of the mediators on finding a just and final solution to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. Before April 2, 2016, the ceasefire was generally maintained, despite the incessant attempts of Azerbaijan to destabilize the situation on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan. The NKR authorities have repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the purposeful actions of the Azerbaijani side, as a result of which ceasefire violations were becoming more and more threatening in their nature and scale. Official Stepanakert has been urging the international community to condemn the deliberate policy of Azerbaijan of escalating tensions and derailing the negotiation process conducted under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. We have repeatedly pointed out that without an adequate and targeted international response, the consistent and purposeful actions of Azerbaijan on fomenting a war in the region will become irreversible. In the early hours of April 2, Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the agreements of May 12, 1994 and February 6, 1995, launched a large-scale offensive along the entire Line of Contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy weaponry, artillery and combat aircraft. Only thanks to the decisive actions of the NKR Defense Army, which gave a fitting rebuff to the insolent rival, on April 5, Azerbaijan was forced to ask, as in 1994, through the mediation of the Russian Federation for the cessation of the hostilities. It has been generally maintained, despite the recurrent violations by the Azerbaijani side. Even after the failure of the military venture of April 2-5, Azerbaijan has not abandoned the idea to solve the conflict by force, as evidenced by the statements of the Azerbaijani officials, including at the highest level. Moreover, Azerbaijan tries to unilaterally denounce the ceasefire agreement of May 12, 1994, which is an obvious continuation of the policy on disrupting the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict and instigating a war in the region. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being committed to an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict and making every effort to fully restore the ceasefire, is at the same time prepared to stop, in the strongest terms, any attempts of Azerbaijan to unleash another aggression. Ensuring full compliance with May 12, 1994 agreement and the practical implementation of the February 6, 1995 agreement, which contains a set of measures on early warning and crisis stabilization is the only way of creating the necessary conditions for the resumption of the peaceful settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.
In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Standard Oil to be broken up, doing what many thought Congress should have done already.

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The Supreme Courts decision in the case of Standard Oil of New Jersey v. United States, handed down 105 years ago on May 15, 1911, was a turning point for both the American government and interstate business. And like any important Supreme Court case, the decision wasnt without controversy.

John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in Ohio in 1870. The business grew quickly and spread throughout the United States. In 1882, Standard Oils principle stockholders came together to turn the business into the nations first trust. This trust would involve more than 40 corporations that were connected through complex, impenetrable legal structures, and would eventually control 90 percent of the petroleum business, from drilling to refinement to retail.

Fearing the effects of growing monopolies not only in oil but in tobacco, sugar, and steel, Congress attempted to establish government regulation through the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, which forbade every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce. In 1892, under the terms of this act, the Ohio Supreme Court ordered Standard Oil to dissolve and distribute its share through 20 companies.

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The action made little difference to Standard Oil, which operated in several states. It simply shifted its assets and interests to Standard Oil of New Jersey, well outside the jurisdiction of the Ohio Supreme Court, and continued to dominate the market.

Individual states did not have the power to restrain this interstate behemoth; only the federal government could. But the Sherman Act was so broadly worded that a literal interpretation of it would cause more harm to the countrys interstate commerce than allowing the trust to continue and the monopoly to grow. For 12 years, the act proved useless for breaking up anything but trade unions.

In 1900, journalist Ida Tarbell wrote an expose on Standard Oil, accusing them of gaining market advantage through unfair business practices, including buying up essential supplies to keep them out of competitors hands, undercutting competitors prices until they folded, and striking secret deals with railroads for exclusive low rates for transporting oil.

With the public crying for justice and fairness, President Theodore Roosevelt took action in 1902, and his Department of Justice filed a federal anti-trust suit against the company. The case lasted over two years, called 444 witnesses, and produced a 14,500-page report, which concluded, in 1909, that Standard Oil should be dissolved. Standard Oil appealed, but on May 15, 1911, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling.

Not for the last time was the argument made that the Supreme Court was forced to do the work that Congress wouldnt.

The Post had always supported Roosevelt and his progressive principles for both government and business, but this judicial interpretation of federal law had the editors and many others worried. Though the Post approved of the outcome  the dissolution of a monopoly  it was wary of the precedent of judicial legislation that had been established. The following two editorials from 1911 illustrated to Post readers the dilemma that was the Standard Oil Trust.

For a Commission on Trusts Originally published on June 17, 1911 President Taft sent a special message to Congress in which he said, concerning the Sherman Anti-Trust Act: The Supreme Court in several of its decisions has declined to read into the statute the word unreasonable before restraint of trade. May 15, 1911, in the Standard Oil decision, the court did read the word unreasonable into the statute, and Justice Harlan cogently objected that this amounted to legislation on the part of the court. But the court had to legislate because Congress persistently refused to. The Oil Trust was formally organized in 1882, controlling about 90 percent of the countrys petroleum industry. In 1892 the Supreme Court of Ohio solemnly pronounced it an illegal combination in restraint of trade. The trust promptly reorganized in New Jersey and continued exactly as before. Meanwhile, it had become evident that the separate states could not possibly exercise effective control over the great industrial combinations that were steadily increasing in number and power, so in 1890 Congress made a poor bluff at discharging its duty to control them by passing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which simply forbade them to exist. Of course they continued to exist and to multiply until a large portion of the countrys interstate industry was conducted by them. When the Supreme Court came to decide the Standard Oil case, it faced the alternative of literally interpreting the statute, thereby disorganizing an important part of the countrys commerce, or of bringing the law into some sort of consonance with the facts. It chose the latter course, and the net result is that with regard to this important problem of control over monopolistic interstate industrial combinations the country stands virtually where it stood 30 years ago. A combination that would then have been illegal under the common law is now illegal under the Sherman Act as interpreted by the court. More than 20 years ago another phase of this same problem  namely, the need of some sort of effectual control on behalf of the people over monopolistic interstate business  came before Congress. That phase of the problem concerned the railroads, and Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission. For a long while the commission was moribund; but of late years it has been steadily building up an effectual control over the railroads. It has accumulated and studied a mass of facts in that relation, and Congress has added to its powers when experience has shown such additions to be necessary. Will Congress create, along the same lines, an Interstate Trust Commission; or will it, for another 10 or 20 years, relegate this growing trust problem to nine estimable gentlemen  trained in law but not in legislation or economics, much burdened with other duties and responsible only to themselves  who constitute the Supreme Court?
Indianapolis, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/12/2016 -- Bob Trebilcock, Modern Materials Handling magazine's Executive Editor recently spoke with Greg Conner, Bastian Solutions' Indiana Regional Director. Last month, Modern Materials Handling featured MHI's Young Professional Network (YPN) and Conner was the winner of the 2015 Outstanding Young Professional Award.



Conner spoke about what attracted him to the industry. "It was a complete coincidence, and I think that is one of the biggest challenges we have when it comes to getting new folks involved in our industry. There really isn't an awareness. For instance, you really don't get much exposure to materials handling in college unless you happen to take the right class or get an internship. My introduction was through the job interview process. I went to college in Indiana at Purdue, and when I was looking for a job, I found this company that was doing things with automation and robots. I'm not sure I knew that they were doing it in warehouses, but what they were doing sounded cool, so I interviewed with them. And when I learned more at the job interview, it was cool. But back then, in 2005, if you went to a company's Website, you didn't see videos and case studies. That's the void that YPN can fill. It provides a lot of information about the industry to young professionals who might not know about the industry," noted Connor.



To read the entire article, go to: http://bit.ly/1SgHCPp



Bastian Solutions will exhibit at booth #307 at the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC). The conference will be at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI from May 15-18.



About Bastian Solutions

Bastian Solutions (http://ow.ly/LaOTe), a global material handling systems integrator and expert in e-commerce fulfillment automation is an innovator in the fields of material handling automation, goods-to-person systems, wearable AR technology, supply chain software, and robotics.



Bastian Solutions is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, with an additional 16 domestic offices and 7 international offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, and Qatar. Uniquely positioned, Bastian Solutions offers customers complete and innovative turnkey material handling systems, from design and simulation, all the way through installation and operations. Modern Materials Handling named Bastian Solutions 2015 Top 20 Systems Suppliers Worldwide.



Bastian Solutions provides integrated material handling systems reducing the total cost of order fulfillment and delivery cycle times for its customers; tremendous productivity gains and a quick return on investment are ensured. Automating supply chain logistics with harmony between material flow, information flow, and operational processes, yields a unique and important competitive advantage.



Follow Bastian Solutions on Twitter @BastianSolution.
Aegina, Greece -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/12/2016 -- For many years, Konstantinos has worked as a consultant helping small and medium size businesses worldwide to grow their revenue by using innovated internet marketing strategies and techniques. In 2010 he published his first eBook with the title "SEO Master Using the Power of WordPress" which has been in the top 10 selling books of Amazon's digital marketing chart for several months.



The year 2010 was also the time when the crises stroke the Greek economy, a phenomenon which the Greek Government and every Greek businessman thought was circumstantial. This wasn't true at all. After 6 long and difficult years, Greek economy is still straggling and so are Greek businesses.



Konstantinos committed in helping Greek businesses by establishing in Greece a small web design firm called Kataskeui Istoselidon, meaning Web Designer in Greek. A simple brand name that each and every one of his fellow countrymen can understand.



The firm's main objective was to convince as many small business owners as possible that the first step to a worldwide success was the creation of a great CMS WordPress website. John Fouskas a civil engineer, owner of a small construction company called Anakainisi Spitiou, a graduate of NTUA, said his company now has a fighting chance in this economic crises battle. His company, with the help of Konstantinos, now has a modern CMS business website and several new customers from many different countries.



It's easier for a Greek small business owner, who usually doesn't know anything about internet marketing, to be convinced to invest time and money on the internet, when he makes the first step in cooperation with you.



A survey found that only 9% percent of Greek small businesses (SMBs) has a modern CMS, mobile friendly website. Although another study revealed that almost 75% present of Greek SMBs has an outdated simple HTML website, created back in the days.



The challenge for Konstantinos is to help this 75% present of Greek SMBs to embrace and accept all the new technologies that today's internet marketing has to offer, by doing the first step which is the creation of a modern website.



It's much simpler for those who don't know anything about internet marketing, to get involved in the process by building a website in collaboration with the developer. The content collection and creation for their websites and the close cooperation with the web designer gives them a small idea about how things work.



Then, the website creation is easier for them to proceed to the next steps of the internet marketing, which are social media marketing, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, ppc advertising, email marketing, etc.



This week, Konstantinos has organized a big presentation event, in which he will explain in details, that accelerated growth and agile marketing tactics aren't just for big businesses. He will also review examples and how-tos on internet selling techniques that he has successfully deployed with enterprise level marketing teams, focusing on search engine marketing, paid advertising and sales leads.



About Konstantinos

Konstantinos is the founder of the web design firm Web Designer GR and Creative Shop and also a bestselling book author. He helps companies all over the world grow their revenue.



For more information about us, please visit https://www.kataskeuastisistoselidon.gr



Contact Info:

Name: Konstantinos Kreouzis

Organization: Web Designer GR

Email: postmaster@kataskeuastisistoselidon.gr

Phone: 0030-2103001233
Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/12/2016 -- In a recent article released via his firm's website, Darwin F. Johnson delved into his state of practice's history involving workers' compensation rights. As it turns out, Georgia was one of the initial states to put workers' rights at the forefront of debate. The catastrophic work injury attorney serving Atlanta gave a brief analysis of Georgia's legacy, then offered his own thoughts.



According to Johnson's research, Georgia (along with Alabama) was the first state to pass an Employer Liability Act, which dictated that an injured worker has the right to sue his or her employer for lost wages and medical expenses related to a workplace accident. The legislation went into effect in 1855, years before other states that were considered far more progressive and industrialized enacted similar legislations. According to Johnson's article, employers tended to be favored over employees in the eyes of the law up until the mid-19th century, during the advent of the industrial revolution in the United States.



Johnson went on to argue that Georgia's early involvement in workers' rights activism helped bring other issues, ones which we take for granted today, into the limelight. For example, it is with partial thanks to Georgia's early role in the workers' rights movement that other "issues faced by working people [were] addressedsuch as minimum wage, child labor and discrimination in the workplace," argued Johnson.



Darwin Johnson is considered among the best workers' compensation attorneys who serve Savannah, GA. Recently injured workers who are interested in Johnson's counsel may visit his website, or call 404-692-6482 to schedule a complimentary consultation.



About The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson

The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson provide legal defense for individuals all throughout the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. He provides effective legal defense for individuals unjustly injured while at the workplace, and gets them the compensation they need. Clients of Darwin F. Johnson don't pay unless he delivers compensation.



Reach the Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson today by phone at 404-692-6482.



For more information, please visit http://www.darwinfjohnson.com.
A team of scientists from Florida Atlantic University has uncovered the 14,000-year-old bones of Bison antiquus  a large-horned, extinct relative of the modern bison  at the Old Vero Man site in Florida.

Sometimes referred to as the ancient bison, Bison antiquus is a direct ancestor of the extant American bison (Bison bison).

The species arrived in North America approximately 250,000 years ago from eastern Asia and eventually ranged from Florida to Oregon.

It disappeared from the Mid-South around 10,000 years ago, finally dying-out around 5,000 years ago.

According to paleontologists, Bison antiquus was approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, 15 feet (4.6 m) long and weighed close to 1,600 kg.

The newly-discovered bones of this species were found just 10 feet (3 m) below the grounds surface during the final stretch of the 2016 excavation efforts at the Old Vero Man site.

The Florida Atlantic University scientists identified Bison antiquus using an upper molar.

This finding is especially significant because of the meticulous documentation that has been involved, said principal investigator Dr. James Adovasio.

Along with the fact that bones like this have never been found on land as part of a calculated archaeological effort.

Others like this have all been found underwater, in sinkholes or streams.

Team member Dr. Andrew Hemmings added: we couldnt have asked for a better representative species from that era.

We now know that people were here in Vero Beach at that time.
Vinny Desautels, a 7-year-old boy from Roseville, California spent more than a year growing his hair to donate it to cancer patients. After a month when he sent his hair to Kids' Cancer Twigs, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma.

Ron Desautels from Summerville South Carolina and Vinny's grandfather said that Vinny had been growing out his hair for over a year so that it could donate it to making wigs for cancer patients. He further said that Vinny felt very happy about it, that he was helping someone else. His grandfather described him as not a selfish guy and that he's like the ones that broke the molds, according to ABC News.

Vinny's mother, Amanda Azevedo is a hair stylist. She volunteered in a local lymphoma foundation. She fixed the hair of the former cancer patients for an event and she brought Vinny with her.

Vinny asked then her mother what was she doing. She explained to Vinny the ruthlessness of cancer that fighting this disease would mean losing their hair. She said it was tough especially for women. She then said to Vinny that she was just doing something small to help. Vinny then wanted to help too and he decided to grow his hair and donate it to the cancer patients, according to Washington Post.

After a month when he selflessly donated his hair, Vinny came home from school complaining about knee pain. His parents sighted a lump on his right hip. Vinny also had a swollen eye, which they thought caused by a seasonal allergy.

Vinny's parents brought their son to an emergency room. He was then sent to a hospital in Sacramento for further testing. This includes CT scan, MRIs and blood test. The tests revealed that Vinny had tumors on his hip and in the bone around his eye. His physician confirmed that Vinny has Ewing's sarcoma, which is a rare form of cancer that forms in bones or soft tissues.

The condition of Vinny has touched the lives of many people across the country and in other parts of the world. His grandfather, Ron, had created a GoFundMe page, which is entitled "Victory for Vinny" to raise donation for Vinny's medical expenses. It raised more than $86,000 in 9 days.

Ron said that they had FaceTime a couple of times and the past weekend. He said that Vinny was always upbeat. Vinny said to him, "Hey, I'm going to do everything I can to get better."

"He's just a happy little guy. It's just unreal," said his grandfather.
Hyperloop One, Elon Musk's high speed transportation concept held its first propulsion test on Wednesday morning on a half mile track built in the Nevada desert. The propulsion system used a metal sled that went on a two-second trip, with speeds of about 116 miles per hour before crashing into a pile of sand.

According to cnet.com, the propulsion system shot the metal sled along a short track at 2.4Gs, which is roughly equals to accelerating from 0 to 53 miles per hour in a second. The company is attempting to bring Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's vision of a futuristic transportation to life. The company imagines the hyperloop network to be a series of tubes that connect metropolitan areas. The low pressure tube inside the tube can hold between 10 to 30 passengers at a time. Using magnets, the pods will most likely reach speeds of up to 700 miles per hour.

The company hopes to do a full system test before the year ends. The company was recently awarded over $80 million in a second round of funding. They then launched Hyperloop One Global Challenge, a competition among individuals, companies, and government to be the first to host a hyperloop network. The competition will provide the technology while the competitors submit their comprehensive case of how that should be used in their location. Deadline for entry will be on September 15, 2016, with the winner being announced in March 2017.

Earlier this week, a company from Los Angeles called Hyperloop Transportation Technology (HTT) which is led by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) revealed it wants to use magnetic levitation to run the Hyperloop. CBS San Francisco also reported a third company from the city to be working on its own system. Officials say that they expect the final Hyperloop product to be launched by 2020, and is believed to be ready for passengers by 2021.
Google engineers have proposed the new set of emojis depicting the women in work all around the globe. The proposed emojis highlight the professional women that include the software engineers, scientists, nurse, doctor, office workers, farmers, businesswomen, and rock stars, among others.

Google presented 13 new female emojis depicting career paths ranging from medicine to music. https://t.co/ILwFXIZXFd pic.twitter.com/wPDt6gYEGv  Women Entrepreneur (@WomenEnt) May 11, 2016

.@Google proposes a new set of emojis to better represent women in the workplace: https://t.co/JASfBRUCqz pic.twitter.com/Mq8n2wMJOX  InStyle (@InStyle) May 12, 2016



There are 13 new professional emojis in all.

Making unicode emoji less basic with 13 true-to-life representations of professional women: https://t.co/aSOBFkKMGa pic.twitter.com/BfKMSSXgpg  Google Design (@GoogleDesign) May 11, 2016

The developers said that no matter where you look, women are gaining visibility and recognition as never before. "Isn't it time that emoji also reflects the reality that women play a key role in every walk of life and in every profession?"

Google Employees Propose New Emojis Focusing on Professional Women  https://t.co/cr1UWkzh5L pic.twitter.com/R9sxS9eZw0  Mental Floss (@mental_floss) May 11, 2016

CBS News reports that the developers include Agustin Fonts, Rachel Been, Nicole Bleuel and Mark Davis. They announced their proposals at the Unicode Consortium. This is a non-profit organization that sets the international standards for characters and text to make them appear consistently in devices and computers.

The developers also stated that they recognize the importance of having an inclusive representation of all people in emoji, whether they identify with a specific gender or not. They further said that they believe an egalitarian, sensitive and compelling representative of gender in emoji is extremely important.
Sean Durkin, president of Northern Fund Management America, summed up the current situation: The flow of funds has slowed down for shipping, the equity market is probably at its lowest point for shipping companies over the last 20 years, and new money coming in from financial sponsors is slow.



The influx of private equity (PE) during the last few years, seen as an alternative financing source for owners after the retreat of European banks, is also coming to a point of fatigue due to the prolonged downturn of shipping. People are tired of hearing market recovery next year when it never does, said Philip Clausius, managing partner at Transport Capital.

The financial structures that we think will work in todays market are those with more downside protection and additional layer of protection for people coming from outside of the (shipping) industry, and this trend will play out in the next 12-24 months, Clausius said at the Capital Link China Shipping Forum held in Shanghai this week.

Hsu Chih-chuen, chairman of Eddie Steamship Corp and Courage Marine, said in the event that PE is coming onboard, they would want to own senior equity interests while the shipowners themselves would have to own junior equity interests.

Hence for example if a ship with a $100m value were to drop by 20%, the PE will still get all their money back while the owner will lose money, Hsu said.

Clausius pointed out that the public markets are firmly shut at this point as public investors have come to realise that this is a very volatile industry. Why should public investors buy into a new company when there are all those existing ones? So the public markets are shut until we see some degree of sustainability. I am not very optimistic on public markets until at least the first half of 2017, he commented.

Fresh financing for new start-ups is also virtually non-existent in this current market as banks are not willing to engage with companies that have no track record. There is capital available for shipping but it is a challenge for banks to find good quality, strong companies with good projects. Banks need to ensure that they do not have to face losses when they find themselves in a downcycle like offshore at the moment, said Christos Tsakonas, regional head of Asia, corporate bank department of shipping, offshore & logistics at DNB Asia.

We are watching the supply side of the industry very closely as it is important that we do not incentivise owners to deploy more new vessels, Tsakonas said.

Aaron Sen, head of ship finance Asia Pacific and deputy global head of ship finance at Nord, agreed that money is available but banks wont be doing deals on a high leverage basis. Sen added: Furthermore regulations like Basel III are not incentivising banks to be very open to increase their lendings not only to shipping but to other industries as well.

For banks like Credit Suisse which does not yet have a substantial ship financing portfolio, the current shipping downturn however has not prompted the Zurich-headquartered bank to totally shy away.

The big question is how can we get the right business in an environment that we are not that familiar with, said Mario Behe, global head of ship & offshore drilling finance at Credit Suisse. We need to take small steps to avoid mistakes because mistakes in this industry are incredibly costly.
Built to last for 50 years, the 200-tonne bollard pull vessel will be Finland Transportation Agencys eighth icebreaker and one of the largest ever built. Built for emergency response and oil spill recovery, the vessel is powered by two 6.5MW stern Azipods and one 6.0MW unit supplied by propulsion company ABB. Although she will operate on LNG most of the time, her diesel engines allow for propulsion flexibility and have a power output of 21MW.

The Finnish-flag vessel, classed by Lloyds Register will take on fuel at a new facility currently being built at Vuosaari on Finlands coast. With 800 cu m of LNG tanks on board, stored vertically amidships, the Polaris will have an endurance of up to 30 days whilst operating on gas in ice-breaking mode.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, owned by United Shipbuilding Corporation of Russia since the end of 2014, has a range of ice-classed vessels under construction including a 44,000 dwt condensate carrier and two ice-breaking offshore supply ships in the covered construction hall which will operate on the Yamal offshore oil field off north-west Russia.

Altogether, 27 ice-classed ships are being built for operation in or through the western region of the North West Passage. Navigation through these waters has dramatic implications for shipping because safe navigation through the Passage could dramatically reduce voyage times between Asia and Europe.

Ice-class vessels currently under construction include 15 LNG tankers of 170,000 cu m built under construction at Daewoo for Sovcomflot and other Russian owners, six Arctic tankers being built at Samsung Heavy Industries, two 44,000 dwt condensate carriers  one being built at Arctech Helsinki and a close sister in China  two ice-breaking offshore support vessels, and two ice-breaking tugs for port operation on the Yamal project.
Will the North and South Korea Conflict Ever End?

Merging any two countries together is an extremely complex process and establishing any kind of unified Korea is no exception. Among the largest obstacles facing those who actually want two join the two countries are the economic and political consequences.

First, absorbing North Korea's economy into South Korea's could be a giant disaster, or at the very least, a very expensive endeavor. Experts estimate that South Korea's economy is 43 times larger than that of North Korea. South Korea's Financial Services Commission recently released a report estimating that unification would cost $500 billion over a 20-year period. Others estimate the economic cost could be even higher, creating a financial shock as large as the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse. It's extremely difficult to predict how an economic merger would work because North Korea, as in other aspects of its society, withholds a great deal of information when it comes to finances, economic growth, etc.

There are also considerable political ramifications here. Kim Jong Un leads a charge of police, army, and party officials that have a tight grasp on all political decisions. Kim Jong Un's recent (and violent) consolidation of power underscores the political atmosphere in North Korea. By unifying the countries, those in power in North Korea would be forced to swiftly relinquish their authority. And considering North Korea has hardly even acknowledged the recent UN resolution that denounces human rights abuses in the country, chances are the situation will not be changing any time soon.

Learn More:

U.S. Institute of Peace: Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity (via the U.S. Institute of Peace)

"At the meetings and talks, the two sides have reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and had frank discussions on various issues related to realizing the advancement of South-North relations, peace on the Korean Peninsula, common prosperity of the Korean people and unification of Korea."

Korean Reunification Cost: South Korea Says Developing North Korea's Economy Would Cost Billions of Dollars (via International Business Times)

Joint Statement of North and South: July 4th, 1972

"In an effort to remove the misunderstandings and mistrust, and mitigate the heightened tensions that have arisen between the South and the North as a consequence of their long period of division and moreover to expedite unification, the two sides reached full agreement in respect of the following issues."

U.S. Office of the Historian: The Korean War, 1950-1953 (via U.S. State Department)

"The Korean War began as a civil war between North and South Korea, but the conflict soon became international when, under U.S. leadership, the United Nations joined to support South Korea and the People's Republic of China (PRC) entered to aid North Korea. The war left Korea divided and brought the Cold War to Asia."

The Sinking of the Cheonan (via the New York Times)

BBC: North Korea Profile

A chronology of key events in North Korean history.
Related on TestTube

How Powerful Is Ethiopia?

How Oil Is Transforming Africa

President Obama recently visited Ethiopia, the first sitting U.S. president to do so. Near the end of his trip, Obama spoke at a press conference and, when asked whether the U.S. would assist Ethiopia combat dissenting political groups, said: " "Our policy is that we oppose terrorism wherever it may occur. And we are opposed to any group that is promoting the violent overthrow of a government, including the government of Ethiopia, that has been democratically elected."

His remarks elicited some criticism from human rights advocates, who say Ethiopia is a far cry from an ideal, open democracy. In the country's May elections, the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front party won yet again, extending their dominance more than 25 years straight.

While those in power live well, much of Ethiopia's population lives in poverty. The World Bank reports that 30 percent of Ethiopians live below the poverty line. Several watchdog groups attribute this to rampant corruption between business and government sectors. Transparency International issued a report saying there is minimal transparency in public institutions, widespread bribery, and little to no oversight of government employees.

For those trying to change things in Ethiopia, it can be very challenging if not outright dangerous. Political dissent is heavily suppressed. During the 2005 election, police killed 22 protestors. It's also common for journalists and political activists to be imprisoned and tortured by authorities. Yet, in spite of all this, Ethiopia remains an important U.S. ally in the region, where extremism is on the rise.



Learn More:

Ethiopia (freedomhouse.org)

"In 2014 the Ethiopian government continued to suppress free speech and associational rights, shattering hopes for meaningful reform under Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn."

Can Ethiopia's Resource Wealth Contribute to its Growth and Transformation? (worldbank.org)

"Ethiopia has averaged a 10.7% economic growth rate over the last 10 years, more than double the annual average of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which was around 5.2%."

Overseas Business Risk - Ethiopia (gov.uk)

"Ethiopia is a federal democratic republic with its separate regions demarcated on ethnic lines."

Corruption Perceptions Index 2014: Results (transparency.org)

"Poorly equipped schools, counterfeit medicine and elections decided by money are just some of the consequences of public sector corruption."
Related on TestTube

Why Ethiopian Jews Are Protesting In Israel

How Powerful Is Kenya?

Main party wins 100% of the Ethiopian vote

Ethiopia held a new round of elections last month, the first in five years. The leading party, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, is set to take 100% of the vote and the 546 seats in the country's parliament. Africa's second most populated country has long been under control of that one group, which is a coalition of four smaller regional parties. In the last election, one opposition member and one independent were able to secure seats in Parliament-the rest went to the Democratic Front.

Critics say this stronghold on political control trickles down to the distribution of foreign aid and job creation. Opposition leaders have even said the Democratic Front may have been involved in the recent deaths of three of its politicians who lost in the election.

For its part, majority officials maintain that its success in the election is reflective of the Ethiopian voters. The coalition told The New York Times that voters are happy to see the direction Ethiopia is heading: investing in infrastructure, growing the economy, and reducing poverty. Getachew Redan, an adviser to Ethiopia's Prime Minister, said policy priorities will largely continue unchanged once the new members of parliament officially take office.



Learn More:



Ethiopia 'launches military attack inside Eritrea' (bbc.com)

"Ethiopian forces have launched a military assault on positions inside Eritrea, Ethiopian officials have said."



Ethiopia country profile - overview (bbc.com)

"Ethiopia is Africa's oldest independent country and its second largest in terms of population."



If we want to understand African history, we need to understand the Battle of Adwa (qz.com)

"The northern Ethiopian town of Adwa is the place my grandfather called home."
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Related on TestTube

What Would Happen if Climate Change Sped Up?

Fall As You Know It Is Disappearing

According to new NASA research, from 1992 to 2001 Antarctica gained more ice than it lost to melting at the rate of 112 billion tons of ice every year. Climate change had us believing that the polar ice caps were melting. If the globe is getting hotter, then how can Antarctica be gaining ice? Sadly, research still states, unequivocally, that Antarctica is losing ice at a fantastic rate across most of the continent. Ice has increased in "East Antarctica and the interior of West Antarctica." But other parts of Antarctica are still melting. To be clear gaining sea ice is actually a bad thing.

There's an annual cycle of sea ice melt and freeze: ice is at it's lowest point in February and March, and thickest in September and October. According to paper about to be published by NASA Goddard, global warming and climate change are actually increasing the sea ice. Melting glaciers have been depositing freshwater into the Southern Ocean, and since saltwater has a much lower freezing point; it can get colder before freezing. This paper's conclusion is that the top layer of water surrounding Antarctica has been diluted by the massive freshwater melt from the ice shelves and freezes more easily today than in previous decades.

Learn more about Global Warming and Climate Change on TestTube

The 2012 study is one of several studies that have found an increase in sea ice accumulation each decade. In a few more years, the new author James Hansen says, "it will be clearer," because the sea ice will continue to expand. The overall ice trend is still more melting than freezing. Plus saltwater underneath the freshwater dilution is still warming thanks to the overall climate trend. NASA scientists are quick to say that it is very difficult to accurately measure all of these things, because of snow levels sitting atop the ice, and the constantly changing landscape of such a large area.

In 2013, the UN blamed the increasing sea ice with a .27 millimeter-per-year sea level rise. However, what this study is showing us is that there's more than meets the eye going on here. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say that the seas are unequivocally rising, but now we aren't 100 percent sure why, which is scarier to think about. Moving forward, scientists know they have to learn even more about what is causing the sea level rise, because it might not just be ice melt. The oceans have warmed about 0.1 degrees Celsius over the last century, in the top 700 meters, and though that seems small, that's just an average. Something so small, over something as large as the ocean, could completely change the topography, weather, and expected behavior of the largest single entity on Earth.

How does this study make you feel? Please let us know in the comments.

Learn More:

NASA Study: Mass Gains of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater than Losses (NASA)

"A new NASA study says that an increase in Antarctic snow accumulation that began 10,000 years ago is currently adding enough ice to the continent to outweigh the increased losses from its thinning glaciers."

Is Sea Level Rising? (NOAA)

"Sea level indicators suggest that global sea level did not change significantly from then until the late 19th century. The instrumental record of modern sea level change shows evidence for onset of sea level rise during the 19th century."
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After months of intense protests demanding that Mayor Ed Lee fire Police Chief Greg Suhr, four city supervisors joined the chorus Wednesday and demanded a national search for a new chief.

Supervisors Jane Kim, David Campos, John Avalos and Eric Mar said they had lost faith in Suhrs ability to reform the department, changes that critics say are needed after a number of fatal police shootings and the revelation of racist text messages sent among some officers.

While the sentiment of the four is not wholly surprising given their political stances  they are among the most progressive members of the Board of Supervisors  the chief had until now maintained the public support of the entire board.

Eroding support

Their statements Wednesday indicate that Suhrs political support is eroding, even as some moderate supervisors said they still supported him wholeheartedly.

Hes become a distraction to the department, and I think the police need a leader now more than ever and we should start the transition, Kim said. Im not asking to fire Chief Suhr today. Im asking that we start looking for a chief thats going to be able to implement the reforms we want to see and regain the trust of the community.

The protests against the chief were driven by the racist text messages and the fatal police shootings of four minority men in the past two years. None was carrying a gun, but three were carrying knives and one had a stun gun he carried as part of his job as a security guard.

The latest shooting, in April, spurred five San Francisco residents to go on a 17-day hunger strike they ended Saturday. They had pledged not to eat solid food until Lee fired Suhr or he resigned.

But Suhr, a charismatic and popular figure both at City Hall and among the Police Departments rank and file, said he was committed to staying on and reforming the department to emphasize de-escalation practices and violence prevention.

On Tuesday, Lee reiterated his commitment to keeping Suhr as chief, saying to replace him would delay implementation of reforms. The Rev. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP, also said Tuesday that he wanted Suhr to stay.

Up until Thursday, no supervisor had called publicly for Suhrs ouster. As recently as last week, Campos said he didnt believe replacing Suhr would forward the goal of reform.

Blue-ribbon panel report

But the preliminary findings released Monday of a blue-ribbon panel of three judges created by District Attorney George Gascon to investigate bias in the police force appears to have changed minds. The panel found that the department had some outdated policies and that it does a poor job tracking officers conduct so it can root out problems, among other issues.

Campos said in light of the report he now believes Suhr must go.

Even though I think the answer is systemic change, I dont believe Greg Suhr can be the chief that actually implements that change because he has become such a distraction, Campos said Wednesday.

I dont have a lot of confidence right now in his ability and commitment to lead the department to reform, Avalos said.

Supervisor Malia Cohen also indicated she believed Suhr must be replaced but didnt say so outright.

Police reforms do not work unless the leader of the department wholeheartedly believes in them and can ensure that the rank and file strictly follow those policies, she said. We have seen the existing use of force general order on time and distance is not being followed. This is not just a policy problem, it is an implementation problem.

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.

Mar said: Though I have nothing but tremendous respect for Chief Suhr ... I think its time for new leadership that can address this systemic racism and bigotry and rebuild trust between the communities and the police.

But Supervisor Mark Farrell said Wednesday that Suhr has his unwavering support.

He has been the most progressive police chief we have seen in decades in San Francisco. And I believe there is nobody in a better position to implement the upcoming reforms than Chief Suhr himself, Farrell said.

Supervisor Scott Wiener accused Kim  his opponent in the race for state Senate  of being motivated by a desire for media attention.

We have serious work to do to improve public safety in San Francisco and to formulate and implement much needed reforms. Firing the chief  and calling for his firing in order to generate press headlines  wont help achieve either of those goals, Wiener said in a statement.

Mayor Lees statement

Lee also said politics were at work: The community has asked us to fast-track change and not put politics before police reforms and, unfortunately, that is exactly what this does, the mayor said in a statement. I am working with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Police Commission, the chief and the community to expedite reforms to fundamentally change how we work with all of our communities.

Suhr can only be fired by the mayor or the Police Commission.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
Political gridlock in Sacramento and Washington threatens to stall planned improvements to the Bay Areas crowded and congested transportation system, according to a study released Wednesday by a national transportation research group.

Just three of the Bay Areas 20 most-critical transportation projects are fully funded, 11 have only partial funding and six arent likely to get enough money to even break ground until at least 2020, the report said.

When you look at the most critically needed projects, the ones that are going to keep the system moving and keep people safe, most of those dont have the funds they need, said Rocky Moretti, a spokesman for Trip, which conducted the study.

Terminals struggle

Trip, which advocates for congestion-relieving projects, released the report in downtown San Francisco across the street from the Transbay Transit Center construction site, a project struggling to find funding for its second phase: a Caltrain extension.

The extension is among the mostly unfunded, and endangered, projects listed by the group along with reconstruction of the interchanges of Interstate 680 and Highway 4 in Martinez and of Interstates 80, 680 and Highway 12 in Solano County. Also unfunded or underfunded are BART improvements to increase capacity and service, the widening of Highway 152 heading from Gilroy toward the Central Valley and congestion-based pricing to reduce traffic in San Francisco.

Trip, a national transportation research group that advocates for congestion-relieving projects, used data from Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to choose the top 20 projects, then ranked each either green, yellow or red, depending on their funding.

What makes Trips assessment so valuable and so timely is that the report looks at the entirety of our transportation puzzle rather than just two or three pieces of it, said Dave Cortese, MTC chairman and Santa Clara County supervisor.

The report also ranked projects in the Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego areas.

Critical projects all over the state are being shortchanged and threatened with delays because of the Legislatures failure to find a way to fund transportation projects, said Will Kempton, executive director of Transportation California, a statewide transportation advocacy group and a former Caltrans director.

We have not been making the investment in infrastructure we need to for several years, and its catching up to us, he said.

Giving a green light to critically needed transportation projects in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the state is going to require increased funding from all levels of government, Will Wilkins, Trips executive director, said in a statement.

Unfortunately, too many of these transportation projects are facing yellow or red lights and potential state funding cuts could slow their progress even more.

Green, yellow rankings

The Transbay Tube seismic retrofit for BART, Munis Central Subway and Transbay Transit Center construction  all well under way  are the only projects given green rankings, meaning enough money is lined up.

Maintenance of streets, roads and highways leads the top 20 list and has a yellow ranking, signifying only partial funding.

Also ranked yellow are the rest of the top five projects on Trips list: region-wide improvements to the Bay Areas largest transit systems, seismic retrofitting of the Golden Gate Bridge, construction of MTCs planned express lane network, a BART extension to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, and infrastructure improvements at the Port of Oakland and former Oakland Army Base.

Trip chose the top projects, the organization said, based on their potential for relieving traffic congestion, improving safety, supporting economic development and improving physical conditions.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan

Top Bay Area transportation projects lack funding

Trip, a national transportation research group, ranked the 20 most-needed Bay Area transportation projects and rated the sufficiency of their funding. Green ratings signify fully funded projects, yellow partially funded and red largely unfunded.

(1) Maintenance and improvement of local roads, streets and highways. Yellow.

(2) Region-wide improvements to BART, Muni, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and AC Transit. Yellow.

(3) Seismic retrofitting of Golden Gate Bridge. Yellow.

(4) Construction of regional express lane network. Yellow.

(5) BART extension to downtown San Jose, Santa Clara. Yellow.

(6) Infrastructure improvements at Port of Oakland and Oakland Army Base. Yellow.

(7) Reconstruction and improvements to Interstate 680-Highway 4 interchange In Martinez. Red.

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.

(8) BART Transbay Tube seismic retrofit. Green.

(9) Replacement and expansion of Transbay Transit Center. Green.

(10) Region-wide maintenance of state highways and bridges. Yellow.

(11) Interstate 80-Interstate 680-Highway 12 interchange improvements in Solano County. Red.

(12) BART Metro program to expand capacity, service on the central core of the system. Red.

(13) Region-wide freeway ramp metering and other technological traffic management. Yellow.

(14) Implementing VTA express lane network throughout Santa Clara Valley. Yellow.

(15) Construction of Caltrain rail extension to Transbay Transit Center. Red.

(16) Central Subway. Green.

(17) Highway 152 realignment and widening between highways 101 and 156 in Santa Clara County. Red.

(18) Marin-Sonoma Narrows widening. Yellow.

(19) Maintenance and operations of state toll bridge system. Yellow.

(20) San Francisco congestion pricing program. Red.
Mobys Porcelain is a buoyant coming-of-age story set in the filthy, dangerous New York City of the 1990s that the musician and DJ adored. Moby, who grew up poor in Connecticut, arrives in Manhattan a guileless, sober, Christian vegan and claws his way to modest success in the techno and rave scenes. By the end of the funny, bighearted and raw book, with his career in free fall and his personal life in a degenerate shambles, only the veganism has stuck.

As Porcelain (Penguin Press; $28) concludes, Moby is preparing to release Play, assuming it will be his obscure swan song; the album, which combined electronic music with old blues and gospel recordings, ended up selling more than 10 million copies. He spoke by phone from Los Angeles, where he now lives.

Q: What made you decide to write a memoir?

A: A few years ago at a party, I was talking about what New York had been like when I first moved back there in the late 80s. The people I was talking to were stunned because theyd only known New York in its current incarnation, which is very clean and finance-driven and absurdly affluent. One of them said, Wow, why dont you write this down as a memoir? And maybe self-involvedly, I thought that was a good idea.

Q: New York is almost as important a character in Porcelain as you are.

A: When I lived there, it was almost hard for me to distinguish between where my identity ended as an individual and where it began as a New Yorker. The city influenced my worldview, the music I made, my politics, everything. In a very odd way, my narrative in the book almost inversely mirrors the narrative of New York. At the beginning, Im sort of lighthearted and naive and optimistic, but the city is a burned-out, postapocalyptic, crack-ruined, urban-blighted environment. By the end, the city is becoming much more gentrified, and Ive become a burned-out, blighted person.

Q: You captured so well the daily rhythm of your life, both at home and on tour. Did you consult old journals or talk to people youd spent time with back then?

A: For some reason, I just remember everything. Id always assumed that everybody remembers everything.

Q: You felt like an outsider much of the time. I wonder if that made you a more perceptive observer of things.

A: I feel like you would never feel compelled to question your environment if you thought you had a preordained place there. The extent to which one is an outsider, it does lead you to become hyper-aware of every last detail. The tricky thing is I think most people believe that their memory is relatively infallible, but there are countless studies showing that memory is completely fallible. So maybe Im just working under a delusion and people who are in the book are going to be furious that Ive misremembered everything.

Q: Youre hard on yourself in the book about behavior youre not proud of. Was it painful to revisit difficult times?

A: I feel like it should have been. And I wonder whats wrong with me that Im so sanguine about this process of taking things that probably should be hidden and putting them out in public for potentially lots of people to read, stuff thats gross and tawdry and humiliating. In most peoples lives theres a longing to experience connection with other people, but at the same time, we present ourselves in these constructed, anodyne ways. I think I just saw a greater utility in being as messy and honest as possible.

Q: Youre very wide-eyed and innocent in the beginning, so the downward spiral toward the end is jarring. As a reader I felt sort of protective of you by then.

A: One part of writing a book of which I hadnt been aware is talking to the legal department and figuring out what I could be sued for. One of the first people to read the book was this wonderful woman (in Penguins legal department), and the first thing she said to me was So, I just finished the book. Um, is everything OK? I thought that was very sweet.

Q: I enjoyed your descriptions of the music-making process. Did writing Porcelain have anything in common with making music?

A: To an extent, yes. When Im working on music, Im not thinking too much about the technical aspects; Im thinking about how the music is resonating with me emotionally. In writing this book, I felt similarly. I wanted it to be well written, ideally, and to be interesting, but ultimately I wanted there to be an emotional core that I responded to.

Q: Did you have any literary role models as you wrote?

A: The one book that I kept going back to was The Journals of John Cheever. Theres a level of brutal honesty in those journals. The attempts Ive made at being honest and revealing cant begin to compare. But I realize the absurdity of being a college dropout musician trying to write his first book and trying to be inspired by arguably the greatest writer of the 20th century. To be clear, I dont think Ive come close to writing anything of the quality of John Cheever.

Q: Porcelain concludes in 1999. Would you consider a sequel?

A: Oh yeah, Ive already started trying to write it, but the next 10 years were years of weird levels of fame and weird depths of bottoming out, so its really salacious, with tons of name-dropping. Im trying to figure out how to write the next book in a way that doesnt seem like this tautology of degeneracy and depravity.

Q: Youre descended from Herman Melville, and your name comes from that relationship. Do you feel a connection to him?

A: I cant imagine the presumptuousness of me as someone whos just written a book saying that I feel a connection to Herman Melville as an author, but as a family member, yes. Were both morbidly self-involved, vaguely self-loathing, really critical New Englanders.

Q: Do you have a favorite work by Melville?

A: Its an obvious one, but Id probably go with Billy Budd.

Barbara Spindel has covered books for the Daily Beast, Salon, Details and Spin. Email: books@sfchronicle.com
Federal prosecutors are investigating Theranos for allegedly over-hyping its blood diagnostic technology to investors.

Thats pretty ironic, since the people most guilty of grandstanding may be the feds themselves.

Theranos, a high-profile Palo Alto startup founded by superstar entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, is no doubt a hot mess. The company, which investors valued at $9 billion, has run afoul of regulators for not properly managing one of its laboratories. Moreover, critics say Theranos technology, designed to diagnose a host of diseases from a small amount of blood, simply does not work. (A Theranos spokeswoman declined to comment but did confirm the criminal probe.)

Before running into trouble, the company also boasted a board of directors heavy on former military officials and secretaries of state but light on medical and regulatory experts  people who might have advised Theranos on how to properly deal with investigators from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which recently found that practices in its California testing laboratory pose immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety.

Sounds like serious stuff. A shutdown of the lab may well be in order if Theranos doesnt clean up its act. But a criminal probe? Im no lawyer, but hyperbolic pitching of a new technologys potential is not necessarily a crime. If it were, wed need to build a few new prisons in Silicon Valley. Even the Securities and Exchange Commissions parallel investigation of Theranos seems kind of odd, since the agency normally oversees public companies whose shares are widely traded on the market. Theranos is private, and a once-rumored IPO seems unlikely now, given its other troubles.

Rare investigation

Tthe Justice Departments probe into Theranos especially caught my eye. Federal prosecutors rarely investigate securities fraud at privately held startups, if ever.

The Theranos investigation is extremely unusual, said Eric Havian, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Justice Departments San Francisco office now with the Constantine Cannon law firm. In fact, in all of my time at the U.S. attorneys office, I cant think of a single one.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, which is part of the Justice Department, does not break down inquiries between public and private firms. But according to the agency, business fraud cases accounted for only 9.1 percent of all federal investigations and prosecutions in 2012, the most current data.

The feds are also investigating Theranos for allegedly misleading government officials, possibly laboratory regulators. These cases are even more rare: Just 3.5 percent of investigations and prosecutions in 2012 were of a regulatory nature.

Moreover, while the SEC typically fines a company for breaking the law, the Justice Department wants to put someone in prison. Last fall, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said prosecutors will focus more on holding top executives, not just the company, accountable for fraud. The move was prompted by the feds failure to prosecute people responsible for the housing crisis that resulted in the great recession.

High bar

But winning convictions against individuals in these cases is pretty tough, absent a smoking-gun document that clearly shows an executive intended to commit fraud. Simply proving someone was reckless or negligent is not enough, former federal prosecutors say.

In other words, prosecutors already must meet a high standard to prove that someone like CEO Holmes intentionally misled investors. Which begs the question of why the Justice Department, with its finite resources, wants to pursue this particular case.

Theres also the question of who are the supposed victims.

In most corporate fraud cases, were talking about ordinary people with 401(k) plans who owned shares in publicly traded companies through their mutual funds. With Theranos, the investors the company allegedly conned are sophisticated venture capital firms like ATA Ventures, Continental Ventures, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson  people who are supposed to know what theyre doing.

In the end, we must follow the money. The Justice Department and the SEC are most likely willing to target Theranos because the company is a unicorn  a startup that has yet to go public but boasts a multibillion dollar valuation. One reason unicorns are worth so much is because these companies are starting to attract money from investors normally content with stocks and bonds but who now want a piece of hot, pre-IPO startups: pension funds, endowments, and mutual funds.

Indeed, earlier this year, SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White told a conference that the agency is looking harder at unicorns.

But if thats the case, then Zenefits would seem like an easier target than Theranos. The San Francisco maker of human resources software, once valued at $4.5 billion, has already admitted that it broke the law when it allowed people to sell insurance without a license. The company also said founder Parker Conrad resigned as CEO after the board discovered he had created a software program that allowed people to cheat on an online, pre-license course.

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Zenefits, however, is not nearly as high-profile as Theranos and Holmes, who has graced the cover of Fortune magazine. And under new CEO David Sacks, Zenefits has been quite transparent about its problems and is working hard to fix them.

And lets face it: Insurance is pretty boring, especially when compared to a revolutionary blood diagnostic technology that strives to change global health care as we know it.

Prosecutors are probably trying to make an example out of Theranos, Havian said. You dont want to go after a small company thats not sophisticated. You want to go after a company which should have known better.

Going too far

But a criminal probe seems like overkill. If anything, Theranos is guilty of exaggeration and cutting regulatory corners. So let agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission deal with the company.

You got to do the hard work, Robert Nussbaum, chief medical officer of San Francisco diagnostic company Invitae, previously told me. You got to do the years of work and clinical studies. You cant get five people together and jump-start it into a (multibillion dollar) medical company. It just doesnt happen.

Theranos created a lot of public relations but with little transparency, he said. People didnt really know what they were doing. It was kind of a black box.

Prosecutors instinctively like to say they go after criminals no matter the circumstances. But we know thats not quite true. The Justice Department only has a certain amount of time and money, so they carefully choose big-impact cases.

The result: selective justice.

Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee
NetSuite co-founder Evan Goldberg, who was adopted shortly after birth, had never heard of the BRCA mutation until his birth mother contacted him about 15 years ago.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, she had tested positive for one of two genetic abnormalities in the genes linked to the increased risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, and wanted to contact her biological son in part to share that information.

Now Goldberg, who also carries the mutation, wants to spur research into such cancers with a $10 million donation that creates the BRCA Foundation, a collaboration among UCSF, Stanford and Harvard, including the latters affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, that will begin officially next week. The donation also helped start the new UCSF Center for BRCA Research, which helps patients navigate the difficult decisions they often have to make when they learn they carry the mutations.

For me, the BRCA Foundation was a combination of an intellectual interest and a philanthropic interest in catalyzing new ways of looking at cancer ... and, of course, the personal interest in one day helping to treat and cure BRCA cancers for individuals and families such as my own, said Goldberg, the father of three children between the ages of 11 and 17, speaking in an interview at his companys San Mateo headquarters.

Public awareness of BRCA mutations received a huge boost three years ago when actress Angelina Jolie disclosed she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy after she learned she carried a faulty BRCA1 gene, the same mutation that Goldberg has.

The two BRCA mutations account for between 5 and 10 percent of all breast cancers, according to federal health statistics. In addition to a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer (Jolie later opted to have her ovaries removed), it heightens the risk of pancreatic, prostate and other cancers. Both fathers and mothers can pass the defective gene on to their children.

Charitable investments

Goldberg, 50, is part of a wave of maturing Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who are investing their considerable wealth in charitable endeavors. Health has been a major recipient of such generosity, but these high-tech philanthropists are focusing on specific medical issues or institutions that have touched their lives.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, last year gave $75 million to San Francisco General Hospital, where Chan trained as a pediatric resident.

Last month, Sean Parker, the former Facebook president who helped found Napster, donated $250 million to create a collaboration with six institutions, including UCSF and Stanford, to advance cancer immunotherapy research. This follows earlier gifts from Parker, a lifelong sufferer of allergies and asthma, dedicated to allergy, autoimmune and malaria research.

This week, Oracle founder Larry Ellison pledged $200 million to the University of Southern California to create a new cancer research center called the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine.

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For Goldberg, focusing his philanthropic efforts on cancer  BRCA cancers specifically  made sense.

Goldbergs biological parents were, like his adoptive parents, of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, a point thats significant because European Jews have a greater inherited risk. Among the general population, 1 in 400 to 800 people carry the mutation; among Ashkenazi Jews, the proportion is as high as 1 in 40. Goldbergs biological sister, Lexy Mayers, also carries the mutation and serves on the board of the new foundation.

Goldberg said he also believes that much of what hes learned from the business world can be applied to cancer.

While science is revealing that some cancers may be more similar to seemingly unrelated tumors based on their genetic makeup, the field remains largely balkanized by the organ  breast, colon, prostate gland  in which the tumor was found. The tumors molecular structure can dictate which treatment would be most effective.

You dont treat a company that sells services the same way you treat a company that makes products. We organized a whole company around that fact, he said of NetSuite, which creates integrated cloud-based computing software for businesses. It seems to me the cancer research world was ripe for that kind of reorganization.

Goldberg said the BRCA Foundation will eventually create a large repository of data about BRCA-positive individuals to help drive research.

We come from Silicon Valley, so we think of how to use big data, how to use technology and how to use social networking to make medical science move faster, he said.

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Goldberg said the data alone could improve peoples lives quickly and dramatically.

Better research

Were going to be able to do better research with better data, and better research comes from more people willing to get tested and being willing to engage in clinical studies, he said.

While the BRCA Foundation is just getting off the ground, UCSFs BRCA clinic, created with a portion of Goldbergs donation, has seen nearly 200 patients since it opened in early February. The center can help patients with decisions about preventive surgeries like Jolies, increased screenings or fertility.

Dr. Pamela Munster, the new centers co-director who also runs UCSFs early-phase clinical trial program, learned she carried the BRCA2 mutation after being diagnosed in 2012 with an early form of cancer that had spread throughout one breast.

But Munster found herself trying to navigate a system that was equipped to help her make decisions about her cancer, but not about reducing her future risk.

Even for an educated consumer like me, that proved to be a challenge, she said. Genetic counselors are really outstanding, but theyre not clinicians. You can get a summary of what BRCA is and what the general recommendations are ... but the reality is, how do you get this done?

Road map for care

UCSFs BRCA clinic, which is designed to help patients develop a road map for their care, is one of the few such centers in the country. Experts could identify only one other center dedicated to helping BRCA-positive patients, the Basser Center for BRCA, which opened in 2012 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

The Goldberg-backed center and foundation arent limited to helping individuals who test positive for BRCA. People who test negative for BRCA can develop tumors genetically similar to those found in BRCA-positive patients, which means they may respond to the same treatments.

Goldberg said hes banking on his resources and experience to help as many people as possible.

Taking those lessons and applying them to other efforts that are philanthropic and are going to help the world, theres nothing more satisfying than that, he said.

Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vcolliver@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @vcolliver
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The 20-year-old grandnephew of longtime public defender Marla Zamora was arraigned Wednesday in the psych ward of San Francisco General Hospital for allegedly stabbing the attorney to death Friday at her Potrero Hill home, officials said.

Reporters and members of the public were not allowed at the arraignments unusual venue, but a spokeswoman for the court said afterward that Angelo Zamora was arraigned on one count of murder and that Judge Edward Torpoco, who visited the hospital, scheduled a plea entry hearing for Thursday, though the defendants need to appear was waived. The judge set bail at $10 million.

An arraignment initially scheduled for Tuesday at the Hall of Justice was postponed because the defendant was not medically cleared for court, although officials were barred by health privacy laws from elaborating on his condition.

Marla Zamoras ex-colleagues in the public defenders office, where she worked for 29 years, filled the courtroom Tuesday. Many said they came to make sure her grandnephew was assigned a good attorney, because Zamora strongly believed in the right to fair counsel.

Were supposed to hate him, said Mark Jacobs, an attorney in the public defenders office. But thats not what she would have wanted. Shed want us to love him.

Gerald Schwartzbach, a Marin County attorney, was appointed to represent Angelo Zamora after conflicts of interest were declared by both the public defenders office and the San Francisco panel usually assigned in lieu of the former, given that so many in both departments had worked closely with Marla Zamora over the years.

Marla Zamora retired after three decades of representing those accused of crimes from murder to burglary. But the case against Edwin Ramos, a gang member accused of killing a man and his two sons in a drive-by shooting in 2008, brought her back to the courtroom. Prosecutors said he mistook one of the victims for a gang rival, but Zamora argued that her client was wrongly blamed for the triple murder and that the true killer remained free.

She would do back-to-back murder trials, really serious cases, and she never shied away, said Carmen Aguirre, an attorney in the public defenders office and close friend of Zamoras. It was just her spirit of being an advocate.

Ex-colleagues said she blazed a trail for women and minorities to gain leadership positions in the public defenders office. Outside court Tuesday, they exchanged memories of her generosity and gregariousness.

She made everyone feel special, said Rebecca Young, an attorney in the office, remembering how Zamora would freely and sincerely dole out compliments. Shed make you feel like youre a million dollars.

Though Zamora went into private practice after the Ramos case, she still kept close tabs on happenings in city government.

A neighbor and friend of Zamoras, who gave only his first name, Rodney, was with her the evening before she was killed. He said they played piano and discussed San Francisco politics, the real estate market and the Mission Bay arena.

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After one of her last cases as a private attorney, Zamoras client couldnt afford to pay her, so she accepted payment in the form of marble for some home-improvement work, according to her lifelong friend and childhood next-door neighbor, Julie Holt of Castro Valley.

The law and helping the little guy  that was what she was all about, Holt said. For her, it wasnt about the money. It was about the person.

Beyond her career, Zamora cared deeply for her family, including her nephews, and was always willing to lend them a hand, said John Kapetanic, a friend of Zamoras since high school.

There was no half-relationship with Marla, said Aguirre, of the public defenders office. She just gave this sense that she would take a bullet for you. ... Im starting to feel the sun through the rain because I dont have a bad memory of Marla.

Kimberly Veklerov and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov, @jennajourno
The personal information of 10 million California students, including not only names but also health records and Social Security numbers, must be provided under federal court order to lawyers suing the state Department of Education in a data dump that has some parents and privacy experts fuming.

The order issued this month by a U.S. District Court judge in Sacramento  the latest development in a long-running legal case over state oversight of special education  has prompted both the plaintiffs and defendants to point fingers over the impending release of records on every child who has attended a California public school since 2008.

The private data, likely to be released this year, will be handed over under seal, monitored by a special magistrate as well as a security expert, and available only to a handful of legal representatives. In addition, parents can pull their kids off the disclosure list by filling out a form and mailing it by April 1 to the judge, Kimberly Mueller.

Statewide concerns

But the court seal and opt-out provision havent dispelled statewide concerns over the use of student data, the lack of parent notification and the possibility of a security breach. On Wednesday, many districts across the state were scrambling to provide information and inform parents.

Parents deserve to know when the government is sharing their childrens most sensitive information, said Jim Steyer, the founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a family advocacy group based in San Francisco.

While we understand the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are obtaining this data for limited purposes with good intentions, he said, the court and the parties should be doing everything they can to ensure that the parents of the millions of affected children know why their Social Security numbers, behavioral and medical records, and other information are being shared.

Widespread data storage

The case comes amid a national conversation over student privacy, with concern growing over information security as schools increasingly use computers, online learning programs and cloud-based software to teach children and store data. Student information is no longer sitting in filing cabinets  its stored on multiple computers at schools, district offices and state buildings.

The federal Department of Education has created a special office dedicated to data privacy, confidentiality and cybersecurity in schools, explaining, Gone are the days when textbooks, photocopies, and filmstrips supplied the entirety of educational content to a classroom full of students.

The federal court case in Sacramento was initiated in 2008 by Morgan Hill parent Linda McNulty, through her organization California Concerned Parents, to address what she believed was a failure of the state to monitor school district compliance in providing special education services. The lawsuit gained class-action status in 2012.

Special-needs students

Since then, the plaintiffs have fought to get state data  without identifiable student information  to bolster the allegations, information the state has declined to provide, McNulty said. The plaintiffs believe the data will reveal violations that could include a failure to identify special-needs students at an early age, or a disproportionate identification of Latino children as mentally disabled.

The attorneys dont need to know who the kids are, just what happened to them, McNulty said. We have been over and over and over possible alternatives to get this data, she said. The state has completely stonewalled us over the last three years.

State officials deny the claims in the lawsuit, and said Wednesday they were also trying to protect student privacy.

Were in a lawsuit that we are fighting vigorously, said Peter Tira, a spokesman for the state Department of Education. We are obligated by a court order in this case to produce this information, but at this point, the information has not yet been turned over to the plaintiffs and we are continuing to fight to protect students rights in this case with every legal means and resource at our disposal.

Tira said the state provided all the information it had on special education students last year, with identifying information redacted, but that the plaintiffs continued to pursue deeper access.

Opt-out information

For now, the state and school districts are posting the opt-out information on their websites, but many districts have yet to directly notify families of the court order.

In San Francisco, where the district has put the information on its website and plans to put it on every schools individual site, a few concerned parents have contacted officials to question the release, said district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe.

We want to make it clear that were not a party to the litigation, Blythe said. We dont know what information the (Department of Education) needs to release. We just want to make sure parents can file a form to opt out.

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Data already available

Not all parents are concerned, however. Thats because dozens if not hundreds of people already have access to the same student data, from the school secretary who processed the parent emergency information forms to teachers who input grades, as well as district staff and state workers, said San Jose mom Nancy Jacques, a member of California Concerned Parents.

Under the court order, the data will be handled carefully, she said. My sons data is more protected in this circumstance, she said, than it is when its traveling from districts to the (state) with access by many people.

The plaintiffs attorneys need the vast amount of data, McNulty said, because they plan to study random samples in a bid to bolster their suit.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jtucker@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @jilltucker

How to opt out

For more information on the federal court order related to California student records, or to get an opt-out form, go to www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/ws/morganhillcase.asp.
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The taxpayer-supported Teach for America program, which supplies enthusiastic if inexperienced teachers to thousands of schools in lower-income areas across the country, has fallen out of favor in San Francisco.

The citys school board made clear this week that staffing some of the citys neediest classrooms with recent college graduates who are on a two-year teaching stint and with just five weeks of training is no longer acceptable.

The board had been set to vote Tuesday night on a new contract to obtain 15 teachers for the upcoming school year  after reaching similar agreements each of the last eight years with the national nonprofit, which receives federal grants, private donations and fees from districts.

But before the vote, Superintendent Richard Carranza pulled the contract from consideration, acknowledging he didnt have support despite a statewide teacher shortage and a local need to fill at least 500 teaching jobs by August.

The 15 teachers would have been placed in science, math, special education and bilingual education classrooms  the hardest positions to fill, Carranza said.

I respect the boards authority to make these decisions, Carranza said in an interview Wednesday. I just think its a missed opportunity for us to fill 15 classrooms (with) very scarce candidates out there.

Pipeline of educators

Connor Radnovich/The Chronicle

Though the district wont hire any new Teach for America teachers, the 15 heading into their second year will continue to receive support, officials said.

Teach for America, often referred to as TFA, has long been considered a valuable pipeline of new teachers, especially in low-income communities. The young teachers dont have full credentials, but are billed as cream-of-the-crop college graduates with a desire to spend at least two years teaching in some of the countrys poorest communities.

But over the past several years, the organization has been condemned by critics, including teachers unions, as a crutch that fills the countrys neediest classrooms with inexperienced and cheap labor.

Our goal as a district should be to get experienced, highly prepared, fully credentialed teachers with a track record of success into our high-needs, high-poverty schools, said school board President Matt Haney. For now, I believe that we should press pause on our contract with TFA, as we consider how best to address our own challenges of getting the best, most-prepared teachers where they are most needed.

Financial ties questioned

Others, including school board member Jill Wynns, have opposed Teach for Americas financial connections to supporters of charter schools and market-based education reform.

Teach for America was started in 1990 by Wendy Kopp, a Princeton University graduate who envisioned a domestic version of the Peace Corps. The organization provides five weeks of summer training before the school year starts, while school districts pay the teachers salaries as well as a stipend to Teach for America.

Teachers in the program have an intern credential and must enroll in a full credentialing program while they are teaching.

Carranza said he doesnt share concerns about the teachers lack of experience and training.

Ive seen enough TFA teachers, and some are phenomenal and some need work, he said. Thats no different from any first- or second-year teacher in classrooms Ive seen.

San Franciscos current crop of Teach for America recruits includes Kamaria Carnes, who is finishing her second year in the program as an English teacher at Everett Middle School in the Mission District. She studied psychology at the University of Washington, but knew she wanted to teach.

I really settled on the fact that I want to be in education and work with students really for the rest of my life, she said Wednesday during a break between classes.

Teach for America offered a way for her to gain experience and an income while earning her teaching credential through Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She has support from not only her professors and Teach for America, but also the organizations 100 alumni still working in the district.

Carnes said she has taken on a range of roles at Everett, including starting a student council and helping set the culture and expectations as the eighth-grade lead teacher. No school board members have visited her class, she said.

Pathway of educators

Next year, she will remain at Everett as a full-fledged district teacher.

To lose that pathway of educators is a loss, she said. Nothing can prepare you for the day to day of teaching.

District leaders, however, have complained that Teach for America workers contribute to heavy turnover in high-needs schools. Just 17 percent of the programs teachers are still with the district after five years, officials said.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

I actually commend the district and the superintendent for making that decision to back away from TFA at least for the time being, said Lita Blanc, president of the United Educators of San Francisco teachers union. TFA actually does institutionalize turnover as a way of life.

Yet the school board did not acknowledge that Teach for America teachers are more likely to stick around during those first five years than other instructors, said Beatrice Viramontes, the organizations senior managing director in San Francisco.

Overall, 90 percent of the groups teachers come back after their first year of teaching, compared with 56 percent of those who are new to the teaching profession in general. In addition, most of the programs teachers stay for a third year after their two-year commitment ends, said both the organization and the district.

It was disappointing that was not acknowledged, Viramontes said. The thing they focused on was the inexperience and the type of training.

While Teach for America is considered an alternative pathway into the profession, its not the only one in San Francisco. There are also about 80 interns who are teaching while studying for a full credential.

Demand for Teach for America remains strong in other local districts, Viramontes said, with an expected placement of 180 first-year teachers in Bay Area schools this fall in vacant classrooms, including in Oakland, San Jose and Richmond as well as charter schools in San Francisco.

Deeply disappointing

Still, many districts started this school year without enough teachers  and that is likely to happen again, she said.

The reality is for some schools, principals choose between TFA, which comes with a rigorous selection process and support for two years, or an emergency teacher or a substitute, Viramontes said. Knowing that emergency teachers and long-term subs may be the reality for some of our students is what is deeply disappointing.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
For his book, Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success, Michael DAntonio asked Donald (I would bomb the s out of Isis) Trump about medical deferments that got him out of being drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Trump removed a shoe to explain the heel spurs, wrote DAntonio, reports Gar Smith. Referring to his time as a student at New York Military Academy, he also told the author, I felt that I was in the military in the true sense because I dealt with those people.

Nonetheless, a Military Times survey of active personnel found that Trump (54 percent) is favored over Hillary Clinton (25 percent), and he is also favored over Sanders (51 to 38 percent).

P.S.: Sing to yourself the lyrics of Rik Myslewski, who created  for Daily Kos  Donald Trump: The Very Model of a Post-Modern Major-General:

I am the very model of a crass, bombastic narcissist,/ Well-loved by ladies even though decisively misogynist,/ Politically I love to get progressives panties in a twist,/ Opponents feel like theyve received a probe from a proctologist. And so on.

P.P.S.: Meanwhile, The Chronicles David Wiegand was watching Good Morning America one morning this week when Republican strategist Kellyanne Conway, proclaiming the glory of Trump, said the grand wizards of the GOP were moving to support his candidacy. Those pointy party hats will sure be the ultimate in convention chic.

P.P.P.S.: Bernie Sanders has come (to The Chronicle on Tuesday, May 10) and gone. He may have treasured his talk with the editorial board, but Im here to talk about the intimate view I had: As what my colleague Michael Gray dubbed a human drone, I was peering out the third-floor window when the motorcade arrived. Situated at the window of my aerie years ago, Id glimpsed the scalp of Al Gore. This time, it was Sanders dome that was gleaming in the sunlight.

(This particular view provided an opportunity to comment on an aspect of the present political picture thats been largely ignored. Donald Trumps taken a lot of heat for the comb-over-like arrangement on his head, but I havent read anything yet about Sanders Caesar-like comb-forward. Ive been inclined generally to be tougher on the Donald than the Bernie, but fair is fair. His hair looks as though hes walked through a wind tunnel, backward ... maybe its a metaphor for what its like to be a progressive.)

Keeping in step with the opening of the San Francisco branch of Spin, Susan Sarandons house of pingpong, City Arts & Lectures will host writers Pico Iyer and Geoff Dyer on May 25, playing pingpong onstage at Nourse Theater and talking about their work. Its not clear whether the conversation will occur pre-, mid- or post-game, but if thats still under discussion, I think City Arts founder Sydney Goldstein ought to take her planning cue from the Kentucky Derby. I dont know if Nyquist would have been able to win had he been forced to make conversation while running.

Wavy Gravy called to say that hes just back from Jazz Fest in New Orleans, where he introduced Dr. John, and that his 80th birthdays being celebrated with a benefit May 22 at the SOMO Village Event Center in Rohnert Park. Im only 80 once. Its a big deal, he said. There, the plugs done, now the item: I asked Gravy whether he attended Jazz Fest in his full clown regalia. Of course, he said, I even sleep in them sometimes. Because he goes to bed wearing them, or hes wearing them when he happens to fall asleep? There, you caught me on that one, he said.

Bill Pollock of No Starch Press, which specializes in computer books, put a collection of volumes about hacking on the site Humble Bundle, which sells groups of books at pay-as-you-like prices (with a portion going to charity). In short time, he sold almost 60,000 books and took in more than $800,000. Apparently, in literature  and who knows? perhaps in life  the ability to hack is the modern version of losing 20 pounds overnight, the modern version of alchemy.

Open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

If Donald Trump wins, our family is moving to Hawaii.
Why is Gose, a tart and slightly salty style of German beer that dates back a thousand years  and nearly went extinct  experiencing a renaissance in the United States?

You can thank the booming popularity of sour beers, which have been embraced by craft brewers and consumers alike.

Demand is high, and while barrel-aged sour beers take time to produce  often a year or more  Gose (pronounced GOES-uh) does not. According to certified cicerone Sayre Piotrkowski, whose current gig is overseeing the beer list at Valencia Streets Brasserie Saint James, Gose can be made in a couple of weeks. Thats about the same time it takes to make many other non-sour beers. As with many sour styles, the lactobacillus bacteria, which produces lactic acid, is responsible for Goses clean-tasting tang. (Some breweries simply add lactic acid to the finished product.) Coriander and salt  yes, you read that correctly  are often added too, contributing to Goses classically bright, saline, citrusy flavor profile.

The result: an easy-drinking style thats refreshing, mildly tart and lower in alcohol. Its also more affordable than barrel-aged sours. For Piotrkowski thats a win-win: Gose delivers the novelty of a beer that is sour at fresh beer prices.

If its calling itself Gose, it should be cheap and something you drink on a hot day, he says.

So as we head into the warmer months, here are six things you should know about Gose.

1. Steeped in history

First off, while the beer is most associated with the German city of Leipzig, it gets its name from the Gose River, which cuts through the German town of Goslar, where it is considered to have originated in the Middle Ages. (Production of the beer shifted from Goslar to Leipzig in the mid-18th century.)

2. It really did almost go extinct

There were dozens of Gose brew houses in Leipzig in the early 20th century, but World Wars I and II, plus the rise of Communism and the Cold War, all helped contribute to the beers near extinction.

Gose was almost gone, says Piotrkowski.

How gone? According to Piotrkowski, several years ago, when Garrett Olivers The Oxford Companion to Beer was released, Gose wasnt even included. Today, youll find hundreds of entries on the beer on the Beer Advocate website.

Everybodys got a Gose now, he says.

3. Gose is a bit of a rebel

Traditionally made with slightly salted water and spiced with coriander, its the only style that breaks Germanys beer purity law Reinheitsgebot, notes Dennis Yadroff, general manager of Oakland brew-centric restaurant Hogs Apothecary, which has been known to pour a Gose or two. The 500-year-old law states that only four ingredients  cereal malt, water, hops and yeast  can be used to make beer. The exception has been made for Gose, as its considered a regional specialty.

4. More mellow than other sour beers

While Gose may be less complex than its long-aged counterparts, its not any less enjoyable. Piotrkowski offers a cheese parallel, likening lighter, quickly made sour beers like Gose and Berliner Weisse to a fresh chevre, whereas a more complex or aged brew, such as a Lambic or Gueuze, would be more like an Epoisses.

Yadroff thinks the beers growing popularity can also be attributed to its mild tartness, and that Gose serves as a gateway beer on the way to more aggressive sours.

If you drink kombucha or eat Greek yogurt, youre ready for Gose, Piotrkowski says.

5. Many Nor thern California producers are adding their own twist

While traditionally spiced with coriander, a number of modern brewers are changing up the formula, including adding fruit to the mix.

Northern California stalwart Anderson Valley Brewing Company is considered by many to be one of the leaders in this new Gose revolution, with several varieties of Gose, including a blood orange and a briny melon. Others have jumped on the bandwagon, including Berkeleys just-over-a-year-old Fieldwork Brewing Co., which offers a rotating list throughout the year, including a version made with Petit Verdot grapes, along with a tart cherry Gose and a lime-sea salt variety called Ancient Mariner. According to Fieldwork founder Barry Braden, head brewer Alex Tweet is also working on some barrel-aged sours, ready anywhere between one and three years from now.

Other Northern California Gose producers include South San Franciscos Armstrong Brewing Co., whose Moes Gose sticks to a more traditional coriander flavor profile. Almanac Beers Golden Gate Gose also highlights coriander, with the addition of lemon verbena; the San Francisco brewery has also made versions with Meyer lemon and ginger. Chicos Sierra Nevada makes a prickly pear-flavored Gose called Otra Vez. . Capitolas Sante Adarius Rustic Ales also occasionally produces a version called There She Gose.

If youre looking to try a German-made Gose, those are harder to come by. The two that consumers are most likely to see in the U.S. are Ritterguts Gose and Leipziger Gose by Bayerischer Bahnhof.

6. Food pairing

When it comes to pairing with food, Yadroff says Gose is an excellent match for the acidic, bright and savory flavors of Japanese and Korean food. While wine becomes metallic due to high acidity of components such as kimchi, and hoppy beers dont interact with spicy flavors well, Gose is the perfect bridge.

Braden is a fan of pairing his brewerys lime-forward Ancient Mariner with Mexican food and the tart cherry Gose with grilled seafood.

Due to the beers inherent saltiness, Piotrkowski cautions pairing Gose with salt-forward dishes and ultimately feels the beers are best enjoyed as an aperitif. But he does think Gose works well with fresh farmers cheese or burrata. Or, he suggests, Gose is the perfect liquid for cooking up a pot of mussels.

Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sfritsche@sfchronicle.com

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Where to get it

These pubs, brewery tasting rooms, restaurants and bottle shops often feature one or more Gose among their beer selections. They might not always be on the menu, however, so its best to call ahead.

Toronado: 547 Haight St., S.F. (415) (415) 863-2276. www.toronado.com

Alamo Drafthouse/Bear vs. Bull: 2550 Mission St., S.F. (415) 549-5959. www.drafthouse.com

City Beer Store: 1168 Folsom St., #101, S.F. (415) 503-1033. http://citybeerstore.com

The Beer Hall: 1 Polk St., S.F. (415) 800-7416. www.thebeerhallsf.com

The Willows: 1582 Folsom St., S.F. (415) 529-2039. www.thewillowssf.com

The Crafty Fox: 1700 Mission St., S.F. (415) 416-6602. http://craftyfoxsf.com

Monks Kettle: 3141 16th St., S.F. (415) 865-9523. http://monkskettle.com

Healthy Spirits: 1042 Clement St., S.F. 415-682-4260. https://healthyspiritssf.com

The Good Hop (Oakland): 2421 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. (510) 338-6598. http://thegoodhop.com

Hogs Apothecary: 375 40th St., Oakland. (510) 338-3847. www.hogsapothecary.com

Fieldwork Brewing Co.: 1160 6th St., Berkeley. (510) 898-1203. http://fieldworkbrewing.com

Armstrong Brewing Co.: 415 Grand Ave., South San Francisco. (415) 745-2739. http://armstrongbrewing.com/

Anderson Valley Brewing Tasting Room: 17700 Highway 253, Boonville. (707) 895-2337. http://avbc.com
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Chris Strachwitz, the founder and driving force behind the long-running Bay Area independent label Arhoolie Records, spent more than five decades documenting the work of American folk, gospel and blues musicians operating on the fringe.

This week, he announced that the imprint has been acquired by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the national museum.

More than 350 Arhoolie albums will become part of the Smithsonian Institutions collection, with the extensive catalog  including seminal records by artists like Texas bluesman Lightnin Hopkins and zydeco king Clifton Chenier  getting a new life in a variety of formats.

Since Im not King Tut, I cant take my Arhoolie baby with me, Strachwitz, 84, said in a statement. It was Moe Asch, founder of Folkways Records, who told me in so many words, Chris, youve got to think about what you are going to do with all your stuff when you kick the bucket.

Strachwitz added that he was encouraged to broker the Smithsonian deal by the Savoy Family Cajun Band and a hefty donation from the Sage Foundation, which is headed by Laura and Ed Littlefield. Ed Littlefield is a California businessman and philanthropist who has served on the boards of corporations such as General Electric, Bechtel and Hewlett-Packard.

I am very pleased that Arhoolie has found a new home at the Smithsonian, where they are committed to keeping everything in print and available to the public by one method or another, Strachwitz said in the statement. It has been fun running Arhoolie Records for the past 55 years. I plan to continue to produce records and assist the staff at Smithsonian Folkways where I can.

Strachwitz, whose longtime business partner, Tom Diamant, will retain a 40 percent share of the label, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations at Down Home Music, his record store in El Cerrito that is stuffed with Tex-Mex, hillbilly, Cajun, New Orleans jazz, country blues and R&B offerings, and the Arhoolie Foundation, which includes Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, T Bone Burnett, Linda Ronstadt and former Chronicle Pop Music Critic Joel Selvin on its advisory board.

The Smithsonian deal includes recordings Strachwitz collected from three South Texas regional labels specializing in Mexican music and music from the Peruvian label Discos Smith.

If theres anything that deserves to be taken up by a national museum, its Arhoolie, said Dan Sheehy, director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. To take something like this and not just preserve it but push it back out in the public as broadly as we can is like a dream come true.

An immigrant from an aristocratic German family who arrived in Reno in the fall of 1947, Strachwitz said he found solace in the forlorn voices he heard on blues records aired during late-night radio programs broadcast from Los Angeles.

Inspired by music sleuths Asch, who founded Folkways, and Alan Lomax, known for his field recordings, Strachwitzs interest in authentic American music led to a 1960 pilgrimage to Houston to see Lightnin Hopkins perform.

In November of that year, Strachwitz established Arhoolie Records, the name derived from a field holler, pressing 250 copies of the labels first release by 67-year-old retired bluesman Mance Lipscomb, Texas Sharecropper and Songster.

Strachwitz brought Lipscomb, who had never left his hometown, to perform for more than 10,000 people at the 1961 Berkeley Folk Festival at UC Berkeleys Greek Theatre.

In those early days, you didnt know any of these people, and you had to be a detective to find them, Strachwitz told The Chronicle in an earlier interview.

He made it his mission to champion traditional jazz and blues acts by touring the country recording music, befriending musicians, producing concerts and reissuing old stuff he loved.

Strachwitzs big break, however, came in his Berkeley living room. He recorded the first version of Country Joe McDonalds anti-Vietnam War anthem, I-Feel-Like-Im-Fixin-to-Die Rag, in exchange for the songs publishing rights, not knowing it would become a central part of the ensuing Woodstock documentary.

The residuals helped him move his record company out of the basement of Jacks Record Cellar, a store at Page and Scott streets in San Francisco, to a building he bought on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito in the early 1970s, which he later expanded with the opening of Down Home Music.

Arhoolies biggest successes came with the harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, the accordionist Flaco Jimenez and the Cajun band Beausoleil. The Rolling Stones covered Youve Gotta Move, a Mississippi Fred McDowell country blues song recorded by Strachwitz, on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers.

Strachwitz and his miniature music empire were the subject of the 2014 documentary This Aint No Mouse Music!

I have the utmost admiration for Chris, said Sheehy. Hes a cultural champion. Hes a true believer in musical legacy. Were really going to hold up his work so more and more people can admire it and make it part of their lives.

Aidin Vaziri is The San Francisco Chronicles pop music critic. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF
War would rage for two more years, but the Allies had started their march.

The Chronicles front page from May 12, 1943, covers a meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during a critical time during World War II.

Prime Minister Churchill arrived (in Washington, D.C.) tonight against background of an Allied victory in Tunisia and German jitters over invasion, for more war talks with President Roosevelt, read one of the many stories on the war on The Chronicles front page.

His swift trip to the United States after the sudden collapse of Axis arms in Tunisia led to conjecture that he had come for a final checking over of plans for hammering open another front on the European continent and perhaps to project Allied strategy even beyond that point.

While the Allied leaders were meeting at the White House, the fighting went on in Africa.

British armored forces and troops are advancing far up the coast roads on either side of Cap Bon peninsula after closing its mouth and have taken about 20,000 more prisoners who are being concentrated near Beni Aichon on the south coast, a New York Times story on the page read.

Here in the U.S., confidence in the Allied advancement was building, and it was apparent in the story with the strong headline War Digest: Nazis Taste Bitter Fruit of Annihilation.

Few things are as confusing as a great victory in battle, and it is not yet possible to describe exactly how the latest triumph has been achieved, the story by Peter D. Whitney read. But the Allied headquarters spokesman stated for the record yesterday that all Axis resistance, on Cap Bon and elsewhere, is collapsing. The Germans are experiencing at last that annihilation they loved to deal out to less military peoples.

Another round: While troops were battling in Africa and elsewhere, Americans at home got a shot of good news: A substantial roll-back in the retail and wholesale prices of whiskey, gin and other types of liquor is being prepared by the Office of Price Administration.

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.

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.

Chronicle Covers is a project that highlights 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

(Click to enlarge)




Gov. Jerry Brown and the states top water officials have announced plans to ease Californias emergency water conservation rules. But Brown also issued an executive order to let Californians know that in some ways the drought will never be over.

The new rules, which are expected to be approved by the State Water Resources Control Board on May 18, do away with the statewide mandatory water conservation targets that have been in place since June 2015.

Brown had ordered a 25 percent cut in urban water use statewide. Cities and water agencies had to reduce water usage by amounts that ranged from 8 to 36 percent, with fines for failure.

The cuts were historic  the first time that California had ever enforced mandatory water use reductions. They were a reflection of how drastic the states four-year drought had become, and they were effective. The states overall urban water use has dropped by almost 24 percent from 2013.

Since June 2015, two big things have changed the states water picture.

Water worries Gov. Brown orders permanent water restrictions for California

The first was El Nino. Californias northern half got a dousing this winter. Shasta and Oroville reservoirs, the states largest, are more than 90 percent full. The snowpack hasnt fully recovered, but its far better than it was this time last year.

El Nino isnt enough to pull California out of drought conditions, which are expected to persist for a fifth year. But it eased the pain, and it gave credence to the second issue: the growing chorus from local water agencies about how the strict targets failed to reflect local water supply conditions.

So the state is rolling back the rules. Now, local agencies will be allowed to set their own water conservation targets based on their abilities to meet demand. Theyll also have to issue monthly reports to the state.

Its a shift thats disappointing to environmentalists. When the state asked, Californians showed that they were able to save water. Now the fear is that, with the rules loosened, they may return to less-stringent habits.

Dont open the spigot just yet, though. Some of the drought rules will become permanent. Practices like hosing off sidewalks, washing cars with hoses that lack nozzles and watering grass in public street medians will be banned permanently.

Its an attempt to enshrine conservation as the states new normal, and its needed.

Although the current drought will eventually ebb, climate change and population growth suggest that theres no going back to the wasteful old days.

Enforcement will be key. The new reporting requirements should help the state develop best practices. The state also must keep track of which agencies are keeping their promises.

Brown has also asked the state board to develop long-term standards for indoor residential use, landscape irrigation, industrial and commercial use, and leaks. Increased attention to these areas will help target specific opportunities for everyone from homeowners to manufacturers to conserve.
 House Speaker Paul Ryan may not be ready to endorse Donald Trump, but California House Republicans are falling in line to support the nominee, whether or not they can bring themselves to speak the real estate moguls name.

Trump is meeting with GOP leaders in Washington on Thursday, presenting a spectacle unprecedented in modern politics: The partys leaders, including not just Ryan but former presidents and presidential nominees, refuse to endorse the man who crushed a primary field crowded with the GOPs stars, rising and faded alike.

Many of the conservative intelligentsia see the endorsement as a breach of their principles, while political analysts look at polls and see Trump as an electoral disaster who will repel far more voters than he attracts.

For House members running their re-election campaigns, however, embracing Trump has become something of an inevitability.

The honorable thing

This is the process that we all signed on to, and all the candidates signed on to, said Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a 14-term veteran who said earlier that late first lady Nancy Reagan would have been horrified by Trumps antics.

Supporting the winner is the honorable thing to do, Rohrabacher said, and that, regardless of what Nancy Reagan might have thought of Trumps decorum, that was for the voters to judge, and they decided that, everything considered  including Donald Trumps personality  they preferred Don Trump to the other candidates. My fellow Republicans should grow up and admit that we have to do what the voters want to do, and were not in control, the voters are.

The top California House Republican, Majority leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, parted ways with Ryan on Friday and signed on as a Trump delegate. Former presidential contender Marco Rubio said Wednesday he would support Trump over Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Third-party option

Although the Never Trump conservative opinion leaders are still fantasizing about a third-party option, many lawmakers running for re-election are urging the party to unify.

Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista (San Diego County) labeled such voices Beltway doyennes  the consultant and donor classes, established opinion writers, think-tank officials and other Washington wise men. Issa had predicted earlier that Trump would be a national Todd Akin, alienating women the way the 2012 Missouri GOP Senate candidate did with his phrase legitimate rape.

On Monday, Issa called Trump the obvious choice for anyone who opposes Clinton.

Support the nominee

A more common refrain on Capitol Hill, especially among vulnerable Republicans, is to say they will support the Republican nominee, without saying Trumps name, even though all his challengers have left the field.

Butte County Rep. Doug LaMalfa said through a spokesman that he will support the nominee. Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare, who has declined to comment on the presidential race because he chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said through his spokesman that he will endorse whomever is named the official nominee at the convention.

Rep. Jeff Denham of Turlock (Stanislaus County), whose seat Democrats are targeting in a long-shot bid, tweeted weeks ago in a virtual town hall, I will be supporting the Republican nominee.

Some members are still holding out, including Rep. David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County), whose seat Democrats are also targeting, and Rep. Steve Knight of Antelope Valley (Los Angeles County), widely seen as the most vulnerable GOP House incumbent in California.

Rep. Ken Calvert of Corona (Riverside County) issued a statement saying he wants to discuss the issue with fellow Republicans to see how we can unify as a party to defeat Hillary Clinton and maintain our majorities in Congress.

Ryan an outlier

Ryan increasingly appears to be an outlier in Washington, where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who along with top House and Senate Republicans is also meeting with Trump on Thursday, has endorsed the real estate tycoon as the top vote-getter.

Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California, warned that Trump will damage anyone who endorses him, calling him the political equivalent of Chernobyl. Its not just a matter of losing this November's election. Hes capable of poisoning the political landscape for them for many years to come.

Schnur predicted that the party will have to be rebuilt around people who stood up to him. Once the election is over, he predicted, youll have an emerging generation of young voters who associate Trump with the Republican brand, and thats a stain thats not going to wash out for a long time.

But with a new Quinnipiac poll this week showing Trump neck and neck with Clinton in several swing states, some Republicans are beginning to admire what one GOP lobbyist called Trumps animal feel for politics, overcoming reservations many have about his flouting of GOP policy orthodoxy.

Trumps positions on such things as trade, the minimum wage and national defense just shows that were flexible, Rohrabacher said. The American people are looking for principles, yes, and the Republican Party certainly has that, but we are also looking for practicality, which implies flexibility, adding that he thinks Trump will attract people who have sat on the sidelines for decades.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter@carolynlochhead
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City workers will have to forgo their afternoon fix of Snickers, Doritos and other yummy but not-so-healthy snacks if they rely on a vending machine on city-owned property.

The Board of Supervisors passed legislation Tuesday by Supervisor Mark Farrell to ban sugary and fatty items from the approximately 150 vending machines on city property  including at City Hall and the airport.

The legislation also encourages restaurants that contract with the city to offer healthier food options. The Stow Lake Boathouse and the San Francisco Zoo could still sell buttery popcorn, but they are being nudged to offer healthier alternatives. An apple, anybody?

City government can and should lead by example, and this policy continues to cement San Francisco as a national leader on health policy and encouraging healthier lifestyles, Farrell said in a statement after the legislation passed.

One group of city employees gets a pass: Vending machines with standard fare will remain in buildings occupied by the Department of Emergency Management, which run the 911 call centers. Employees argued they needed a sugar fix to get through long nights.

The supervisors voted 10-1 to pass the legislation, but not before some lively discussion.

Now we are micromanaging whats in the vending machines? Board President London Breed asked before giving the legislation a very, very hesitant aye.

Supervisor Malia Cohen gave the legislation an enthusiastic aye!

Supervisor Aaron Peskin offered the lone vote against it.

There are a thousand adults who work in this building who can make their own choices about what foods they consume, and I for one think we should be able to get a Kit Kat bar out of the vending machine, Peskin said.

Also, Cohen will announce Thursday a November ballot measure to tax sugary beverages. It will be the second try at passing a soda tax in San Francisco  voters narrowly rejected the first attempt in 2014.

 Emily Green

Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider, @emilytgreen
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The convergence of fashion, art and technology has never been hotter  witness Claire Danes dress from the recent Met Gala. Designer Zac Posen laced the gown with glow-in-the-dark fiber optics, giving this years theme, Manus x Machina, a delicate and breathtaking interpretation. Meanwhile, at the new B.A.D. Space gallery in Dogpatch, started by Breanna Alexander de Geere, an inaugural exhibition is offering an inquisitive take on the same subject.

Hybrid Love, curated by de Geere, is artist Pia Myrvolds introduction to San Francisco. Born in Norway, based in Paris and active on the international art scene for over two decades, Myrvold is known for her multimedia and wearable art projects. The exhibition, a natural progression of a friendship the two developed while collaborating in Paris and New York, includes a series of 3D prints and sculptures, animation work and an impressive selection of garments from Myrvolds Cybercouture archives, offered for sale. Incorporating digital prints, 3D printing techniques and unorthodox nylon fibers, the garments may not perform visual stunts, but according to Myrvold and De Geere, the fashion-technology connection runs much deeper.

Q: How does the exhibition fit into San Franciscos tech-oriented atmosphere?

A: De Geere: Its a perfect fit  the digital work Pia has been doing, the 3D animations, the digital printing of the clothes. Pia has a mind-set that clothes should be for the human body, in a scientific, intellectual, not trend-based way, and the tech community responds well to that.

A: Myrvold: My art projects often combine design, architecture, new media and programming. I was excited to come to San Francisco because I have been working with art and technology for more than 25 years. Id like to use my visits here to get in dialogue with the technology community.

Q: Who is the target audience for the clothing collection?

A: De Geere: The clothes cross over many age ranges. Theyre fit for an intelligent woman, someone who appreciates art, higher-quality fabrics, and somebody who wants to put together a wardrobe that lasts and own something totally unique. The cuts, the techniques being used allow the customer to wear something she cant buy at Neiman Marcus.

Courtesy Pia MYrvoLD

A: Myrvold: The psychographics of San Francisco align this collection: timeless, wearable designs in high-quality fabrics. Releasing the pieces as limited-numbered editions creates collectible art pieces, so by showing in a gallery, theyd appeal to the art crowd, the people who collect art and regularly go to openings and cultural events.

Q: Whats behind the decision to produce some of the garments in San Francisco?

A: De Geere: I wanted to be able to control quality and provide business to local factories, and also to monitor the process closely. We even printed some of the sculptures here, from a file Pia sent us  it was such a global artist-production connection.

A: Myrvold: It was challenging for the factories we found here, as my designs are very difficult to produce; and also the small volume is reflected in the price.

Q: How does the exhibition touch on the informational overload were constantly surrounded by?

A: Myrvold: There is a lot of information without specific value or that is experimental and needs too much attention, such as new apps that are great but distracting. I try to link human and historic context that grounds us to both past and future; to create visual connections that are also emotional and intuitive.

A: De Geere: From a fashion perspective, the way Pia puts her items together gives you a simple, personal wardrobe  its done, and you can mix and match in so many ways. The simplification is of such value these days. From an art perspective, her video paintings give you a feeling thats both calming and surprising  just like social media saturates you and also gives you a break from reality.

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.

Q: Theres a general feeling of an art revival in the Bay Area these days. Would you attribute it to the tech boom? And is a fashion revival next?

A: Myrvold: There is a real buzz coming out of the city. I have been attracted to the level of new innovation and the community of talent here for many years, and I feel like the international players on the art scene here also want to link their galleries to the success stories of the Silicon Valley world. In line with Silicon Valleys innovational direction, I think the new art were seeing is not safe and has an innovative edge.

De Geere: Ive been involved in the fashion world in San Francisco over a decade, and have seen many attempt to give fashion a proper place. It would be interesting to see the power of the market here  whether theres a market for art, and whether people can support local designers, whether it will bring bigger brands or improve factories. The way it will trickle down is exciting.

Flora Tspavosky is an East Bay freelance writer. Email: style@sfchronicle.com

B.A.D. Space Gallery 2360 Third St., S.F. Hybrid Love runs through June 26. www.badspacegallery.com
Yvonne Portra

Posing in front of Facebooks giant thumbs-up like button logo became popular not long after Facebook moved into its Menlo Park headquarters in 2011. But it wasnt until last fall that the social media giant started hosting the equivalent of an old-school community social on weekends at 1 Hacker Way.

Beyond the usual fresh produce and flowers, the Facebook Farmers Market features craft beers and wine, live music from a solar-powered stage, childrens entertainers, cooking demonstrations and local artisans. Although the market began in October as a year-round Sunday event, its new incarnation, which debuted April 30, takes place from 2 to 5 Saturdays through Dec. 3, with a different theme each week.
Maria Jenson can see Twin Peaks and the Bay Bridge from her office on the 10th floor of SFMOMAs new building. An incredible view, she said. Shes got about another week with it. A few days after the museum reopens with its new $305 million addition and renovation, Jenson will be moving to SOMArts, a smaller, but in some ways just as critical, art space tucked underneath an Interstate 80 overpass.

There, shell take on the role of executive director for an organization that, in the midst of soaring housing prices resulting in displacement of grassroots arts, is seen by many as an essential part of the citys arts ecosystem, offering up an accessible space for artists and curators of all levels.

Its a smaller office, a scrappier building. Its not the sexiest of locations for the city, she said. But theres something that Im drawn to. I feel very responsible to take the torch for now and see what kind of art we can emanate from that place. Its a very magical place.

Jensons jump from SFMOMA, where shes managed community relationships and public partnerships for nearly three years, was announced Wednesday. The timing  with SFMOMA set to reopen this weekend  isnt lost on her. She delayed her SOMarts start date just to make sure she could be there for the opening. But she knew it was the right move.

Right now, were at a very challenging moment, Jenson said. We have SFMOMA, Gagosian (Gallery, about to open). We have all these wonderful projects, but then we have all of these other artists and creative people out there who are still trying to find their way into the stream, and there are fewer opportunities.

Everybody needs a place to cultivate their ideas, and I think the cultural centers really provide that opportunity.

Making art accessible

SOMArts is one of six cultural institutions funded, in part, by the city and dedicated to making art opportunities accessible to all residents. The network includes, for example, the Bayview Opera House, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center. Unlike the other centers, though, SOMArts doesnt serve a specific constituency. Its mission is broader, offering room for large-scale exhibitions and performances with an emphasis on the countercultural and the emerging.

In the past year, exhibitions there have explored the intersection of art and alternative spaces and critiqued an overwhelmingly white art world by showcasing only artists of color. In July, curators Karen Seneferu and Melorra Green will present The Black Woman Is God, a show that includes more than 60 artists examining the role of black women as innovators, healers and social change-makers throughout history.

Itll be nice to see how Maria can find a narrative for these different curatorial projects, so that you can get a kind of clear sense of the SOMArts identity, said Frank Smigiel, who worked with Jenson in his role as SFMOMAs associate curator of performance and film. I wonder if her task right now is to make its history better known and then also to make its future clearer. I think thats what we all have to do with the way the larger Bay Area is shifting for the arts.

SOMArts move is bold

Kary Schulman, a prominent voice in the Bay Area arts scene as head of the citys Grants for the Arts Program, called the move bold. Shes worked with Jenson in her community relations role at SFMOMA. Schulman said Jenson always seemed to be everywhere at once, constantly building relationships. News of the move to SOMArts surprised her.

We dont see that very often. We dont see someone from a large organization going to a community organization that frequently, Schulman said. I think SOMArts is, of course, a key space for the San Francisco arts community. The contacts and  the sort of personal connections that Maria has, I think will really serve them well.

Jenson has a background in theater, dance, acting and writing, but about 10 years ago something shifted for her. At the time she was living in Venice (Los Angeles County) with her husband, Kevan Jenson. The more she got to know the art scene there, the more she realized how fractured it was. People would go into a gallery, and unless they knew the artist or knew other people, they would just sort of stay in their own little groups that they showed up with.

She wanted a space where people would feel comfortable, where they might actually talk to each other. So, she put some art up on her walls, invited some friends over, set out a few bottles of wine and called it Salon Oblique. What started out with 35 people, turned into a series that became standing-room-only and started drawing press. After a while, even established artists wanted in.

When Jenson moved to the Bay Area in 2010, she started ArtPad, an art fair held at the Phoenix Hotel  essentially another experiment in building community through art, though at a much larger scale. After three years of that, she made her way to SFMOMA.

Jenson will have her hands full with SOMArts, taking over at a time when art venues are struggling to stay open and artists leave for the East Bay and beyond. Jenson already has confronted this issue as one of the stewards of Arts for a Better Bay Area, a group that recently helped push through an increase in city arts funding.

She wants to listen

Jenson is cautious about making any big declarations about the direction she might take SOMArts. Instead, she said, she wants to listen to the staff and the community. She did note the many tech neighbors  including Airbnb  during a recent drive around the area. Jenson said she wants to engage with them, even if that means some rowdy town halls. How do we make collaborators and partners of those people who we feel owe a responsibility to the city? she asked. She also recognizes the growing importance and stature of the cultural centers and hopes to increase SOMArts visibility locally and even internationally.

These cultural centers, theyve become like oases in the city, Jenson said. Thats why its so important that they continue to thrive because we dont want to lose our artistic soul. We have to provide these venues and these opportunities for the artists that are still able to survive in the city and the Bay Area.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @RyanKost
Four hunger strikers called off their 10-day protest Wednesday at San Francisco State University after the schools president agreed to provide an additional $480,000 in funding to the College of Ethnic Studies.

After a four-hour meeting inside the administration building, the four students and President Leslie Wong signed an 18-point statement that also provides for hiring two new Africana studies professors, creating a program in Pacific Islander studies and hopefully implementing a requirement that all students take an ethnic studies class in order to graduate.
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Humpback whales have been swimming into San Francisco Bay in unprecedented numbers over the past two weeks  even leaping out of the water near Alcatraz  in a sight that has thrilled boaters, alarmed marine biologists and harked back to a famous wayward whale three decades ago.

As many as four humpbacks at a time have been spotted flapping their tails and breaching in bay waters, apparently feeding on anchovies and other schooling fish during incoming tides.

I had never seen humpback whales before, and it was awesome, said Lauri Duke, 54, of Rocklin (Placer County), who volunteers at the Marine Mammal Center and Golden Gate Cetacean Research and happened to spot the leviathans during visits over the past two weekends.

There were at least three in the bay and out in the channel last Sunday, and four or five the Sunday before that, said Duke, who photographed the animals from Fort Point. They were mostly coming partially out of the water, showing their tails.

Marine expert surprised

Mary Jane Schramm, the spokeswoman for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, said she saw humpbacks in the bay from her desk off Crissy Field Beach in the Presidio.

Ive been in this game for a lot of decades, and this is the first time Ive heard of this many humpbacks coming in this far, she said.

Its normal, Schramm said, for gray whales to wander into the bay, but humpbacks generally feed farther offshore and are not accustomed to navigating shallow water and narrow straits like those in San Francisco Bay.

She and other marine experts are concerned that the beasts could swamp boats while breaching, be hit by a ship or get spooked by looky-loos who paddle or sail out to see them.

If they head any direction except west they could get into big trouble, said Schramm, adding that the potential for disease and skin problems is greater in fresh and brackish water. The deeper they get into the bay, the more acoustically confusing it becomes.

Schramms biggest fear is that the giant bay intruders will go the way of Humphrey, the famous 40-ton humpback who caused pandemonium in 1985 when he swam through the Carquinez Strait, up the Sacramento River and into a creek near Rio Vista.

The Solano County city became the focal point of a whale craze, attracting 10,000 people a day as experts tried desperately to turn the lost animal around.

Humphrey went back to sea after 25 days, only to return in the fall of 1990, getting stuck on mud flats near Double Rock, just off the Candlestick Park parking lot. He remained stuck for 25 hours, until volunteers, helped by a 41-foot Coast Guard boat, pulled him free and sent him back to the ocean.

Delta and Dawn swim in

In 2007, a mother humpback and her calf, later dubbed Delta and Dawn, also lost their bearings and swam up the Sacramento River all the way to the ship-turning basin in the capital. The whales found their way out again but suffered wounds, probably from boat propellers.

The recent influx, experts said, may be the result of an unusual concentration of anchovies near shore  a phenomenon that also occurred last year, when fishermen and whaling boats reported large numbers of the cetaceans near the Golden Gate.

Unlike gray whales, which generally make a beeline to Alaska, humpbacks slowly move north after giving birth in Mexico and Central America, feeding all along their migration route, Schramm said.

Humpbacks are unique among whales, known for their complex vocalizations that sound like singing and for their acrobatic breaching, an apparently playful activity in which they lift nearly their entire bodies out of the water before splashing down.

Before 1900, an estimated 15,000 humpbacks lived in the North Pacific, but the population was severely reduced by commercial whaling. In the 20th century, their numbers dwindled to fewer than 1,000.

An international ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1964 and the whale population has since rebounded. Between 75,000 and 80,000 humpbacks now live in the worlds oceans, and many of those survivors migrate through the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

The recent gathering of humpbacks is just the latest head-scratching happening off the Golden Gate. Last year at this time, an unusually large number of dead whales, including grays, a humpback and a sperm whale, turned up along the Northern California shoreline.

Marine scientists are looking at a variety of factors, including environmental changes, food distribution, predator behavior and the practices of the shipping industry.

For now, Schramm urged boaters, paddleboarders and news helicopters to stay away from the whales.

If you are in a small boat and a humpback breaches near you, you could be swamped or it could land on you, she said. Its dangerous, so for your own safety and to prevent wildlife disturbance, dont approach them.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
The Exploratorium, San Franciscos pioneering hands-on science museum, has a new leader right out of Silicon Valleys high-tech design world.

Directors of the 47-year-old museum said Wednesday that Chris Flink, a partner at Ideo, a international design firm, will become the institutions new executive director.

He succeeds Dennis Bartels, a longtime expert in developing new tools for teaching math and science who resigned in June for health reasons but remained in the museums leadership until January.

George Cogan, chairman of the Exploratoriums board of directors, said Flinks appointment was the result of a months-long international search for a leader who would redefine what it means to be a science center in the 21st century.

Flink, 44, has been a partner at Ideo for 18 years and has headed the firms Consumer Experience Design practice. In a statement Wednesday, he said he has been specially attracted by the way the Exploratorium intertwines science with art as a means of encouraging individuals to explore the world around them.

He is also a consulting faculty member at Stanford Universitys departments of engineering and business, and a founding faculty member of the universitys famed Institute of Design, known as the d.school, where he teaches courses in human values in design and advanced product design.

Flink is married and has two daughters. He is a resident fellow at Stanford and the family lives on the campus.

The Exploratorium was founded in 1969 by physicist Frank Oppenheimer. It was located at San Franciscos Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina until it moved to Pier 15 in 2013.

David Perlman is The San Francisco Chronicles science editor. Email: dperlman@sfchronicle.com
WASHINGTON  With hundreds of U.S. forces now operating on the ground in Syria and Iraq, Rep. Barbara Lee led a bipartisan effort Thursday to insist that Congress debate escalating U.S. ground combat overseas against the Islamic State.

President Obama sent 200 additional ground troops to Iraq and 250 special operations forces to Syria last month, using the war resolution Congress passed 15 years ago to approve the invasion of Afghanistan.

On Thursday, three House Republicans and five House Democrats stood outside the Capitol to demand that Speaker Paul Ryan allow debate on a new war resolution, arguing Congress has a clear constitutional obligation to approve wars, but that GOP leaders are shirking that responsibility for political reasons.

Lee, D-Oakland, said Republican leaders dont want the responsibility for the undeclared war against the Islamic State, which she said has been under way without any debate in Congress for two years at a cost of $19.5 billion. Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against the war in Afghanistan, said the Congressional Research Service found that the Afghanistan war resolution has been used 37 times to authorize military actions since it was passed.

The group said it intends to offer amendments asking for a war authorization on a pending defense bill, but have had no assurance from Ryan or other House GOP leaders that the amendments will be permitted.

We are at war, said Rep. Scott Rigell, a Republican representing a southern Virginia district near the giant naval base at Norfolk. Rigell noted the May 3 combat death in Iraq of Navy SEAL Charlie Keating, the third U.S. soldier killed in operations against the Islamic State.

This mission (against the Islamic State) had mission creep before it started, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Massie argued that Congress needs to debate the military mission in Syria and said he has asked GOP leaders about a new war resolution but was told that the president already has one.

Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County), said the failure by Congress to approve a new authorization of the use of military force violates the constitutional principle that war-making powers should not be vested in a single person, the president.

Two liberals, Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said opinions on what a new war authorization should include vary widely, but that is all the more reason to have a public debate over the purpose, scale and timeline of the war against the Islamic State.

Obama requested a new war authorization Feb. 11, 2015, that would permit limited ground combat operations, but Congress has not acted on it.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com
Lyft Inc. and its drivers in California proposed a $27 million settlement of their lawsuit over pay and work expenses Wednesday, more than twice the amount that a federal judge rejected as inadequate last month.

The settlement, which requires court approval, would compensate drivers for some of their costs in fueling and maintaining their vehicles. It would not specify their employment status  an omission, that, Lyft said, reaffirms the drivers status as independent contractors rather than employees.

Drivers on the Lyft platform will continue to be independent contractors, the company said. Lyfts general counsel, Kristin Sverchek, said the terms of the agreement would help to preserve (drivers) flexibility to control when, where and for how long they drive on the platform.

The drivers lawyers, Shannon Liss-Riordan and Matthew Carlson, said the settlement does not resolve for the future the question of the drivers status. They called the agreement a fair resolution that would provide significant payments to Lyft drivers who have put a lot of their time into this company.

The announcement comes five weeks after Lyfts larger rival, Uber Technologies, negotiated a similar settlement with its drivers that would pay them $100 million, also subject to court approval. A group of drivers in Los Angeles are challenging that settlement.

The drivers status was the central issue in both cases. Employees are entitled to minimum wages and overtime, and must be reimbursed for workplace expenses. Both Lyft and Uber contend their drivers are independent contractors, noting that they determine their own work hours, provide their own cars and decide which passengers to accept. But the drivers, with support from Californias labor commissioner, have cited both companies extensive control over their working conditions, including fares, routes and reimbursement.

The Lyft settlement will be submitted to U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of San Francisco, who last month rejected a $12.25 million settlement that he said shortchanged the drivers as well as the state of California. Under California law, the state would get 75 percent of any penalties awarded by a jury if the case went to trial.

Chhabria noted that lawyers in the case, when they negotiated the initial settlement in November, had estimated potential reimbursement for the drivers at $64 million. That amount has since grown to $126 million, he said, due to a significant increase in the number of Lyft drivers and passengers in California.

Lawyers for the drivers said Wednesday the new settlement was based on the new data, which showed that mileage driven for Lyft in the state had roughly doubled.

Under the settlement, they said, those who have driven more than six months for Lyft would receive more than $6,000. Lyft said fewer than 1,000 of its drivers in California were considered full time, working more than 30 hours a week in at least half the weeks they drove.

The company said the settlement would also limit its authority to deactivate, or fire, drivers. It will be allowed to do so only for specific reasons, which were not spelled out in Wednesdays announcement.

Chronicle staff writer Carolyn Said contributed to this report.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison pledged $200 million to the University of Southern California to create a center designed to combine traditional medicine with holistic approaches to treat and prevent cancer.

The gift, announced Wednesday evening at a fundraising gala in Santa Monica, will establish the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, an interdisciplinary cancer research center headed by Dr. David Agus, director of USCs Norris Westside Cancer Center and the Center of Applied Molecular Medicine at the universitys Keck School of Medicine.

The new institute will invite mathematicians, physicists and other scientists to collaborate with cancer researchers from the traditional disciplines of medicine and biology, said Ellison, the Redwood City software makers executive chairman and chief technology officer, at the event. We believe the interdisciplinary approach will yield new insights currently hidden in existing patient data.

Ellisons donation, the largest single gift USC has ever received, is among a wave of recent of multimillion donations to cancer research.

Entrepreneur Sean Parker announced a $250 million gift last month to create a San Francisco research institute involving six U.S. institutions focused on the promising field of cancer immunotherapy. In March, Johns Hopkins University announced its new cancer immunotherapy center with $125 million from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other philanthropists.

Ellison, 71, has signed the Giving Pledge, a campaign led by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the wealthiest individuals to dedicate the majority of their net worth to charitable giving. Ellisons planned institute will be in Los Angeles and include a care clinic, think tank, library, education and outreach programs and wellness classes.

We will create a new paradigm, where patients and researchers have the opportunity to interact, and where research is not taking place in an isolated silo, Agus said in an Oracle news release. I believe, with Larrys support, we can advance our research to the next level, allowing the most effective treatments to benefit patients who are in urgent need of new therapies  today.

Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vcolliver@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @vcolliver
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The 20-year-old grandnephew of longtime public defender Marla Zamora was arraigned Wednesday in the psych ward of San Francisco General Hospital for allegedly stabbing the attorney to death Friday at her Potrero Hill home, officials said.

Reporters and members of the public were not allowed at the arraignments unusual venue, but a spokeswoman for the court said afterward that Angelo Zamora was arraigned on one count of murder and that Judge Edward Torpoco, who visited the hospital, scheduled a plea entry hearing for Thursday, though the defendants need to appear was waived. The judge set bail at $10 million.

An arraignment initially scheduled for Tuesday at the Hall of Justice was postponed because the defendant was not medically cleared for court, although officials were barred by health privacy laws from elaborating on his condition.

Marla Zamoras ex-colleagues in the public defenders office, where she worked for 29 years, filled the courtroom Tuesday. Many said they came to make sure her grandnephew was assigned a good attorney, because Zamora strongly believed in the right to fair counsel.

Were supposed to hate him, said Mark Jacobs, an attorney in the public defenders office. But thats not what she would have wanted. Shed want us to love him.

Gerald Schwartzbach, a Marin County attorney, was appointed to represent Angelo Zamora after conflicts of interest were declared by both the public defenders office and the San Francisco panel usually assigned in lieu of the former, given that so many in both departments had worked closely with Marla Zamora over the years.

Marla Zamora retired after three decades of representing those accused of crimes from murder to burglary. But the case against Edwin Ramos, a gang member accused of killing a man and his two sons in a drive-by shooting in 2008, brought her back to the courtroom. Prosecutors said he mistook one of the victims for a gang rival, but Zamora argued that her client was wrongly blamed for the triple murder and that the true killer remained free.

She would do back-to-back murder trials, really serious cases, and she never shied away, said Carmen Aguirre, an attorney in the public defenders office and close friend of Zamoras. It was just her spirit of being an advocate.

Ex-colleagues said she blazed a trail for women and minorities to gain leadership positions in the public defenders office. Outside court Tuesday, they exchanged memories of her generosity and gregariousness.

She made everyone feel special, said Rebecca Young, an attorney in the office, remembering how Zamora would freely and sincerely dole out compliments. Shed make you feel like youre a million dollars.

Though Zamora went into private practice after the Ramos case, she still kept close tabs on happenings in city government.

A neighbor and friend of Zamoras, who gave only his first name, Rodney, was with her the evening before she was killed. He said they played piano and discussed San Francisco politics, the real estate market and the Mission Bay arena.

After one of her last cases as a private attorney, Zamoras client couldnt afford to pay her, so she accepted payment in the form of marble for some home-improvement work, according to her lifelong friend and childhood next-door neighbor, Julie Holt of Castro Valley.

The law and helping the little guy  that was what she was all about, Holt said. For her, it wasnt about the money. It was about the person.

Beyond her career, Zamora cared deeply for her family, including her nephews, and was always willing to lend them a hand, said John Kapetanic, a friend of Zamoras since high school.

There was no half-relationship with Marla, said Aguirre, of the public defenders office. She just gave this sense that she would take a bullet for you. ... Im starting to feel the sun through the rain because I dont have a bad memory of Marla.

Kimberly Veklerov and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov, @jennajourno
A husband and wife from Emeryville face a litany of charges after they allegedly tried to force a 15-year-old Pleasant Hill girl into prostitution, officials said Thursday.

Police said the girl met 27-year-old Christopher Crutcher on a bus in Contra Costa County and he talked her into staying with him and his wife at their Emeryville home. While living with Crutcher and his 26-year-old wife, Jadonna Alfay Thibodeaux, the couple tried to get the girl to work as a prostitute and Crutcher had sex with her, authorities said.

During their search for the girl, who was reported missing April 28, Pleasant Hill detectives looked through her phone records and found a number associated with Crutcher, officials said. Investigators called him May 1, but he denied knowing the girl or where she was, police said. Hours later, she was found at a BART station in Pleasant Hill.

On Wednesday morning, Emeryville police searched the couples house near San Pablo Avenue and 54th Street, found a loaded Glock pistol inside the residence and arrested the couple. Four children inside the residence, ages 3, 7, 11 and 14, were handed over to Child Protective Services, according to Emeryville Police Chief Jennifer Tejada. The younger two are the biological children of the suspects. Police did not find evidence that the four children were abused.

I think it just illustrates the influence an adult can have over a juvenile and create some kind of trust relationship, Tejada said of the 15-year-old girls alleged abduction. The message of this story is just be wary of being approached by adults.

Crutcher faces eight charges: contributing to a minors delinquency, abduction of a minor with the intent to prostitute, illegal possession of a firearm, willful cruelty to a child thats likely to produce great bodily injury, pimping a minor under 16 years of age and committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child. He was also arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, and possessing a fully loaded 30-round magazine for the Glock pistol.

Thibodeaux faces charges for child endangerment, abduction of a minor with the intent to prostitute and pimping a minor under 16 years of age.

They are being held without bail in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and are scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Alameda County Superior Court.

Anyone with information about the case can contact detectives at (510) 596-3774.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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William Ayres, the former go-to child psychiatrist for San Mateo County social service agencies who turned out to be a serial molester of boys, has died in state prison at the age of 84.

Ayres died of natural causes at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on April 20, Terry Thornton, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Thursday.

He was serving an eight-year prison term for sexually abusing five boys between 1988 and 1996. He pleaded no contest in 2013 after a lengthy legal saga that involved one hung-jury trial and a stint in Napa State Hospital, where doctors said he faked dementia to avoid court hearings.

Ayres was a former president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Throughout a career that spanned four decades, he became a pillar of child counseling in San Mateo County, seeing hundreds of young patients sent to him by the countys pediatricians, social workers and juvenile justice system.

Unbeknownst to those officials, however, Ayres developed a practice of bringing boys into his soundproof office for medical exams and then fondling or masturbating them after making them undress.

He was arrested in 2007. At his sentencing hearing six years later, victims called him a monster and a master manipulator, and likened him to a wolf spider, known for its hunting skills.

He was a destroyer of all those boys, the mother of one victim, who gave his name only as Carl F., told Ayres as he sat in the courtroom in a wheelchair, mostly looking down.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Thursday that he was glad this sad story has come to an end.

The term evil  you have to use that selectively, he said. This time its appropriate. This was an evil man who committed evil acts, and now I hope his victims can move on.
It's doesn't feel like summer yet, but it's already cap and gown season in the Bay Area.

With time being a flat circle and all, it's college graduation time again (didn't that just happen?!). This weekend, UC Berkeley holds its general commencement, kicking off Bay Area graduation season. The University of San Francisco follows soon after with commencements beginning on May 19.
Mark Lane, the defense lawyer, social activist and best-selling author who concluded in a blockbuster book in the mid-1960s that Lee Harvey Oswald could not have acted alone in killing President John F. Kennedy, a thesis supported in part by the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1979, died Tuesday at his home in Charlottesville, Va. He was 89.

The cause was a heart attack, his friend and paralegal Sue Herndon said.

The Kennedy assassination, one of the turning points of the 20th century, also was the climactic moment of Mr. Lanes life and career. Before the presidents murder in November 1963, Mr. Lane was a minor figure in New Yorks legal and political circles. He had organized rent strikes, opposed bomb shelter programs, was a Freedom Rider, took on civil rights cases and was active in the New York City Democratic Party. In 1960, he was elected an assemblyman and served one term.

After the Kennedy murder, Mr. Lane devoted much of the next three decades to its investigation. Almost immediately he began the Citizens Committee of Inquiry, interviewed witnesses, collected evidence and delivered speeches on the assassination in the United States and in Europe, where he befriended Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, and one of his early supporters.

By the time President Lyndon Johnson appointed the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination, Mr. Lane had emerged as one of its important independent experts. He testified to the commission in 1964 and served as a legal counsel to Marguerite Oswald, the suspects mother.

Rush to Judgment

In August 1966, Mr. Lane published the results of his inquiry in Rush to Judgment, his first book, which dominated best-seller lists for two years. With a trial lawyers capacity to amass facts, and a storytellers skill in distilling them into a coherent narrative, Mr. Lane asserted that the Warren Commissions conclusion that Oswald was the lone gunman was incomplete, reckless at times, and implausible.

He coined the term grassy knoll to describe a green expanse of Dealey Plaza in Dallas that Mr. Lane argued was the source of several of the shots fired at the president.

The book raised doubts about Oswalds marksmanship and the expertise of police agencies. And he sought to ridicule the Warren Commissions conclusion that one magic bullet could strike and grievously injure Kennedy and Gov. John Connally and still emerge essentially intact.

Mr. Lanes findings were disputed aggressively by the government. Still, the financial success of Rush to Judgment, and its conclusions prompted the development of a new assassination genre in nonfiction  by those who believed and did not believe in a conspiracy  that eventually counted more than 2,000 titles.

Mr. Lane was among the genres most active contributors. In 1967, the same year he produced a documentary film version of the book, with the same title, the New Yorker magazine writer Calvin Trillin called Mr. Lane one of the foremost Kennedy assassination buffs. In 1968, Mr. Lane published A Citizens Dissent to respond to the defenders of the Warren Commission report.

In 1973, Warner Brothers released Executive Action, a feature film based on Rush to Judgment starring Burt Lancaster that Mr. Lane wrote with help from Dalton Trumbo. In 1991, Mr. Lane produced a second documentary on the Kennedy assassination, Two Men in Dallas, and in 1991 he published a second book, Plausible Denial, that argued the CIA was involved in the Kennedy murder.

Mr. Lane relished the heightened national attention that came with his high-profile causes. In 1968, the comedian Dick Gregory chose Mr. Lane as his running mate in several states in a write-in presidential candidacy for the Freedom and Peace Party. The campaign collected nearly 50,000 votes.

In 1970, while working with Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Mr. Lane befriended Jane Fonda and appeared with her on The Dick Cavett Show on ABC. In 1974, he represented the American Indian Movement and joined William Kunstler in successfully defending Russell Means and Dennis Banks, who led the 71-day Indian uprising at Wounded Knee in 1973, against federal charges of conspiracy, assault, and larceny.

During this period, Mr. Lane also joined Gregory and other civil rights leaders in investigating the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He took on James Earl Ray as a client and unsuccessfully sought the release of Kings assassin. In the mid-1970s, Mr. Lane worked with Rep. Thomas Downey, D-N.Y., to draft legislation that in 1976 established the House Select Committee on Assassinations, with Downey as its first chairman, to investigate the murders of Kennedy and King.

Flawed investigations

In its final report in 1979, the House committee went further than any branch of government to support the central points of Mr. Lanes thesis about Kennedys murder. It concluded that the FBI and the Warren Commission investigations of the assassination were flawed.

The committee also found that while Oswald fired three shots, one of which killed Kennedy, a high probability existed that a second gunman was present and that the president was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy. The committee, though, was unable to identify the other gunman or the extent of the conspiracy.

But Mr. Lane also came under criticism from the committee for providing evidence about the King assassination that they regarded as unsubstantiated: In many instances, the committee found that Lane was willing to advocate conspiracy theories publicly without having checked the factual basis for them, wrote the authors of the final committee report. In other instances, Lane proclaimed conspiracy based on little more than inference and innuendo. Lanes conduct resulted in public misperception about the assassination of Dr. King and must be condemned.

Mr. Lane was undeterred. It seems clear, he wrote in 1992, that the people of this nation have a different agenda from the politics of suppression, disinformation, perjury, and subornation of perjury readily embraced by their leaders.

Mark Lane was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 24, 1927. He was the middle of three children of Harry Lane, an accountant, and Betty Lane, a secretary. He served in the Army after World War II in Vienna and returned to Brooklyn to earn an undergraduate degree and, in 1951, a law degree at Brooklyn College.

In the 1970s, Mr. Lane moved to Charlottesville, where he practiced law.

A man with a strong personality and a yen for visibility and risk, Mr. Lane consistently cultivated and attracted high-profile clients. In the 1960s he worked with Jim Garrison, the district attorney in New Orleans who was investigating the Kennedy assassination in a case that Oliver Stone featured in the 1991 movie JFK.

Jonestown suicides

In the late 1970s, he represented Jim Jones, head of the Peoples Temple in San Francisco. He was in Jonestown, Guyana, on Nov. 18, 1978, the day that Rep. Leo Ryan was killed and when more than 900 other people died of cyanide poisoning. Mr. Lane survived by fleeing into the jungle. In 1979, he published The Strongest Poison about Jones and the killings.

In the mid-1980s, Mr. Lane successfully defended the far-right Liberty Lobby and its publication, the Spotlight, in a defamation case brought by E. Howard Hunt, the CIA agent and Watergate co-conspirator. Mr. Lanes passion about the Kennedy assassination never seemed to wane, His final book about the killing, Last Word: My Indictment of the C.I.A. in the Murder of JFK was published in 2011.

His autobiography, Citizen Lane, was published in 2012, with an introduction by the actor Martin Sheen. A documentary of the same name, written and directed by the actress Pauley Perrette, came out in 2013.

Ive earned all of the friends I have in the world  Bertrand Russell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Dick Gregory, just as an example of them, Mr. Lane says in the film, but more than that, Ive earned every one of my enemies, every one of them, and Im proud of that.
1 Texas blast: Someone deliberately started the fire that triggered the fatal explosion in West, Texas, three years ago, government investigators said Wednesday. They did not identify any suspects. Their conclusion was based on a re-enactment of the fire performed at a research lab in Maryland, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest.

2 Texas handguns: Texas has quietly reached a milestone: More than a million residents now have handgun licenses, one of the biggest citizenries in the country authorized to carry concealed and unconcealed firearms. There are now 1,017,618 active handgun license holders in Texas, according to the Department of Public Safety. Texas numbers far exceed those in several other states. Oklahoma has more than 251,000. South Carolina has 276,084. Washington state, 534,978. Tennessee, 555,865. At least one state has more license holders: Florida, with 1,743,954.
1 Training death: The Army says a 101st Airborne Division soldier has died from injuries suffered during a live-fire training exercise at Fort Polk, Verson Parish, La. A statement from Fort Campbell says the soldier died May 10 after participating in the event at the Joint Readiness Training Center. The soldiers name wasnt released pending notification of kin.

2 Poultry workers: A report from international advocacy group Oxfam says poultry workers in the United States labor in a climate of fear, with some forced to wear diapers on the job. It says many workers are afraid to ask for permission to go to the bathroom. The report says a worker at a Simmons Foods plant in Arkansas told Oxfam that she and many others resorted to wearing diapers. A Tyson Foods worker says in the report that many workers at his North Carolina plant have to urinate in their pants. Tyson says there is currently no evidence these allegations are true. Simmons Foods had no comment.
Aaron Flaum/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  The U.S. tried repeatedly to deport Jean Jacques, an immigrant living in the country illegally, but his native Haiti wouldnt take him back after he served more than a decade in state prison for attempted murder and committed multiple parole violations.

Each time Jacques was arrested on a parole violation, he would serve a sentence in state prison and then be released to immigration custody. At least three times, Haiti refused to take him back, so Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in early 2015 did the same thing they do thousands of times a year  they released a violent criminal immigrant from jail.
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When it comes to solving 21st-century challenges, an influx of coders in hoodies to a given city doesnt cut it. While Silicon Valley may be the default region associated with startups, the landscape is becoming increasingly cutthroat. Meanwhile, it often seems like two disparate communities with conflicting interests -- theres tech, and then theres everything else.

This disconnect knocked the Bay Area down to the number-two slot in a ranking of cities most conducive to startup growth in Innovation That Matters, the second annual report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, incubator 1776 and FreeEnterprise.com. Instead, Boston earned the highest placement in the index.

Boston entrepreneurs actually reported much better connections to their community overall, said Donna Harris, co-founder and co-CEO of 1776, during a telephone press conference highlighting the reports key findings.

While the San Francisco Bay Area is the clear leader in total startup activity, its lack of a cohesive community and declining quality of life for residents helped move Boston to the top spot, the report said.

Related: 6 Global Alternative Cities to Silicon Valley to Start Your Company

Startups rarely succeed in a vacuum. Cities that foster mutual respect and collaboration among existing corporations, universities and other civic institutions create the ideal conditions for a thriving startup sector. Being able to openly share ideas and navigate regulations are key, as are a high concentration of talent and capital, according to the report.

Given the various parameters, world-class American cities were not the only metropolises the Chamber Foundation and 1776 featured. Economically challenged cities such as Baltimore and Pittsburgh ranked eighth and 18th, respectively, thanks to their highly connected communities and growing populations of young people.

Each city has its strengths as well as challenges yet to overcome. For example, while Denver has the highest quality of life for entrepreneurs among the 25 cities studied, it ranks 23rd for its attractiveness to international talent.

Curiously, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., also made the list, coming in at third. Whether the ongoing North Carolina bathroom bill controversy will drive away startups going forward is yet to be seen, but Harris acknowledges the possibility. As startup ecosystems are emerging all over the country, entrepreneurs increasingly have choice of where they put their businesses, she said during the conference.

Related: 5 Cities You Wouldn't Expect to Have a Thriving Startup Scene

Going further, entrepreneurs may gravitate toward geographical areas where particular industries have thrived for decades, but past leadership in a given field does not always translate to a city producing successful digital companies in that space. For example, while Atlanta has long been known for its dominance in electrical power, the city is less welcoming to startups in the energy sector more broadly.

Eventually, entrepreneurs will move on from the on-demand delivery of things to solving harder problems, Harris said. Here are the 25 cities best positioned to address those challenges in 2016.

1. Boston

2. Bay Area

3. Denver

4. Raleigh-Durham

5. San Diego

6. Austin

7. Los Angeles

8. Philadelphia

9. Washington, D.C.

10. New York

11. Seattle

12. Chicago

13. Portland

14. Pittsburgh

15. Nashville

16. Minneapolis

17. Salt Lake City

18. Baltimore

19. Dallas

20. Houston

21. Atlanta

22. Miami

23. Phoenix

24. Kansas City

25. New Orleans

Related:

New Report Labels Boston a Better Hub for Startups Than San Francisco

6 Alternatives to Silicon Valley With Better Weather Than Portland

Starting Up in Nashville: What Music City Offers Entrepreneurs

Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomes Victoria Kwakwa, WB Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific (Source: VNA)

Congratulating the guest on her appointment to the new post, the PM expressed his hope that with her deep understanding of the Vietnamese country and people, the WB official will continue to help Vietnam with infrastructure and renewable energy development as well as the project on land database and educational cooperation.



As one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Vietnam wishes to receive WB assistance to implement measures responding to this phenomenon in both short and long terms, he said.



The Government leader also suggested the bank maintain its ODA provision to help Vietnam address difficulties during the economic development process.

Kwakwa, who was WB Country Director in Vietnam before being appointed as WB Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, hailed PM Phucs drastic moves to develop the private sector as a good start to help enterprises overcome difficulties and grow stably.

She compared notes with the host on measures to counter drought in the central and Central Highlands region and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

The WB is willing to help Vietnam access preferential loans to develop renewable energy in order to reduce negative impacts of climate change, which is part of the countrys commitments at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the WB official stated.

Vietnam is one of the five nations to receive the priority to carry out the program, she added.

She also affirmed that the WB will continue helping Vietnam in restructuring debts, and addressing pressures and burdens on the State budget./.
Russell Yip/The Chronicle

Of course I had to ask Sen. Bernie Sanders about former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons private email account when he came to a Chronicle editorial board meeting Tuesday. When Sanders famously offered that he didnt want to hear about those damn emails  the focus of an FBI investigation  during the first 2016 Democratic primary debate, he forfeited a potent issue. (Some Democrats fear the Department of Justice actually might indict Clinton after she wins the nomination.)

So I asked Sanders: Do you think the secretary of states use of a personal server was safe and legal? Are you worried that foreign intelligence services might have hacked her account? Forget about whether shes indicted. Clintons unforced error of using a homebrew server is the real story. It was reckless. In 2013, the Romanian hacker known as Guccifer released information about her personal account after he drilled into the AOL emails of former Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal. If Chinese and Russian operatives were paying attention  how could they not?  Clintons use of an unsecured system opened a door for their prying eyes. Former CIA Director Michael Hayden calls the secretary of states decision to use a private server for official correspondence Clintons original sin.
The project will be carried out from 2016 to 2018. The publications will be used in teaching and studying at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.

The announcing ceremony (Source: vtv.vn)

Jointly implemented by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, the project forms part of a cooperation agreement in economy, culture and science-technology between the two Governments.

Thongsalith Mangnomek, Director of the Lao academy, said that Vietnam and Laos shared a lot of cultural, historical and economic similarities.

The Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) originated from the Indochinese Communist Party (founded by President Ho Chi Minh in 1930), he said, adding that it is the only political force leading the Lao people to victories in the cause of national liberation and on the path to socialism.

The Resolution adopted at the 9th National Congress of the LPRP reiterated that the study of Ho Chi Minh Thought is significant to the Lao revolutionary cause./.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  Malaysias government said Thursday that two more pieces of debris, discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island off Mauritius, are almost certainly from Flight MH370, bringing the total number of pieces believed to have come from the missing Malaysian jet to five.

The aircraft mysteriously disappeared more than two years ago with 239 people on board, and so far an extensive underwater search of a vast area of the Indian Ocean off Australias west coast has turned up empty.
LONDON  Two days after being overheard describing two nations as fantastically corrupt, Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans Thursday to clamp down on money laundering in his own backyard.

Cameron, who led a one-day summit meeting on corruption on Thursday, outlined proposals to make offshore companies that buy property in Britain reveal their true ownership, forcing those that hide behind complex financial structures to accept transparency.

The same provisions would apply to firms that already own property in the country and to those bidding for British government contracts, Camerons office said before the summit meeting.

In practical terms, that would mean that companies buying or owning British property, or tendering for state contracts, would first have to supply information on beneficial  that is, real  ownership to a new public register. Foreign companies own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales, more than 44,000 of which are in London, according to the British government.

Cameron hopes that his announcement, along with indications that other nations may follow suit as well as efforts to automatically exchange information on true ownership, will overcome resistance to change. However, transparency campaigners have called for even more action directed against tax havens.

After Cameron spoke, Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated the prime ministers call for transnational action against corruption.

We have to say no safe harbor anywhere for criminals and corrupt leaders, Kerry said.

He also noted a growing sentiment that the rules of capitalism were rigged against ordinary people, which he said was being reflected in the vitriol of the U.S. election season.

People are angry, and the anger is going to grow unless we shut the doors and we prove that there is a fairness that can be established, he said.

The gathering is being attended by around a dozen prime ministers or presidents, including President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan.
Waste of Money

KRQE investigative reporter Larry Barker has an interesting report on how officials

in capital outlay money. An abandoned museum site is something Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith is calling a real abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Follow the Money

Meanwhile, KOAT has been

that two elected officials spent on economic development trips to Europe that total more than $20,000.

Downwinders Invite Obama to Tularosa

Now that President Obama has decided to visit Hiroshima, Tularosa

want him to come and visit their town. Russell Contreras reports the so-called Downwinders are upset that they were not included in the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act program, which provides a $50,000 payout as compensation for health problems.

Bold Statements

Chris Nedbalek, who is running for a spot on the bench in Lincoln County, surprised some folks at a candidate forum earlier this week, when he admitted

when he goes hiking in case he is attacked by a pack of aggresive dogs that roam the woods. Nedbalek is trying to unseat incumbent 12th Judicial District Judge Dan Bryant in the June 6 primary.

Campaign Finance Reports Visualized

Data journalist Sandra Fish charted the latest 2016 campaign finance reporting. Her report, at

, shows Republican Secretary of State Nora Espinoza was the top fundraiser between April 5 and May 2. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Espinosas Democratic opponent this fall, was the top spender during the same time period. Meanwhile, Advance New Mexico Now was the top political action committee fundraiser. See all the charts here.

Insurance Rates Expected to Rise

Dennis Domrzalski reports, After sitting out a year on New Mexicos health insurance exchange because it couldnt get a 52 percent rate hike,

.

Either way, New Mexico Insurance Superintendent John Franchini says he wouldnt be surprised if everyones rates go up another 20 percent next year.

PRC Votes for New Chief

Public Regulation Commissioners voted 3-2 to offer

, its chief of staff job nine months after Ken Ortiz rejected an offer to head the agency.

New Planets Discovered

This is cool for people who love to star gaze and think about the universe. NASA has announced the discovery of

, more than doubling the number of known exoplanets found with the Kepler Space Telescope.

"This gives us hope that somewhere out there, around a star much like ours, we can eventually discover another Earth," said Ellen Stofan, chief scientist at NASA headquarters in Washington.



The unmanned Kepler space observatory, which launched in 2009, has been scanning 150,000 stars for signs of orbiting bodies, particularly those that might be able to support life.

Ski Season Numbers Look Good

Back here on earth, it was a pretty good ski season in New Mexico. More than 938,000 people hit the slopes. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that this season's totals marked

of 783,000 visits and a 3 percent increase from the 2014-15 season.

Santa Fe Reporter
NZX's former chairman Andrew Harmos has defended former chief Mark Weldon's communications over the Clear Grain Exchange purchase and denied the stock exchange operator had ever committed A$100 million to the business.

Ralec and NZX are in the second week of a trial expected to last nine weeks 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 claims NZX, which bought the platform for A$7 million with the potential for further earnouts, failed to fund the exchange enough to ensure it could meet its targets. The case pre-dates much of NZX's existing management, having first hit the courts in 2011. Today Harmos appeared exasperated to be questioned over what if anything NZX had committed to Clear, the same line of questioning Ralec's counsel Tim North QC had used with another witness, former NZX director Neil Paviour-Smith.

"I feel like a planet in an infinite orbit of the same question," Harmos said in response to questioning from Ralec's QC Tim North about the meaning of the word 'commitment' as used in internal documents.

"You're implying a commitment of a legal nature, this indicates the board committing to the next step of the strategy," Harmos said. "There is no commitment, there is nothing in the accounts which reflects a contingent liability or a commitment to do anything which could not be resiled from. This was the next step in a strategy of which every step had to prove its way up in order for the strategy to be fully implemented - this is just normal business practice. This is board language, this is chief executive language, this is not a legal document."

Paviour-Smith had also denied NZX ever committed to a specific investment in Clear, and said the stock market operator had only committed to an Agri-Portal strategy.

Harmos disagreed with North about the A$100 million figure which Ralec says was NZX's financial commitment to the project, and which it is arguing NZX did not fulfil and therefore failed to fund the project's development adequately.

"I wouldn't call [A$100 million] a valuation of a prospect - it's rudimentary, it's not even rule of thumb," Harmos said. "The board knows that if all goes well, all along the way, management's estimate at this stage was it might justify and require an investment of around that level to generate the value that is referred to. It's telling the board that if we embark on this thing, you need to understand it could involve this amount over time."

Ralec QC North said Weldon had spoken to Richard Koch, managing director of Australian agricultural news business ProFarmer which NZX acquired in 2008, for analysis of Clear and had been informed Clear was five to ten years away from making money. North asked Harmos whether he was informed of this as the information "would have affected Weldon's rational decision making in acquisition of the business model."

"That would have been one of a vast number of inputs into management's due diligence process, and to expect that specifically to have been raised with me - all I can tell you is it wasn't raised with me, and I'm not surprised," Harmos said.

Weldon's communication has previously been brought up by North, who said last week that Weldon had been eager to acquire the grain exchange and develop an agri-portal.

"Weldon was 100 percent committed in relation to the acquisition on June 2, 2009, before any representations to the board," the court heard last week. "There was a difference between what the board was informed about and what Weldon and his team knew. The representations were never things the board relied upon because they weren't told about them."

North today said that Weldon had assured Grant Thomas, one of the exchange's former owners, that the board had committed to a financial investment.

"In fact, Mr. Weldon and Mr. Thomas did meet and talk about the execution of the agri portal, and he [Weldon] told them it was a no-brainer and the money would be paid. Are you aware of that?" North asked Harmos, who replied that it sounded like hearsay and he was not aware of it.

North said he would put that claim to Weldon, who is due to give evidence next week.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Delegat Group, the winemaker that retails under brands including Oyster Bay, says it has completed the 2016 harvest, with yields in New Zealand up 33 percent on a difficult 2015.

the total harvest was 35,837 tonnes, with New Zealand making up 33,236 tonnes of the total.The group also owns vineyards in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, which yielded 2,601 tonnes, up 56% on a year ago.

Last month Rabobank said it expected wine production volumes in New Zealand to be significantly higher than in 2015 when unseasonably cool weather led to a much lower harvest.

Delegat managing director Graeme Lord said that the 2016 vintage "has delivered excellent quality in all regions with ideal weather conditions prevailing throughout the growing season". It says it will have appropriate inventory to achieve planned future sales growth of 3.17 million cases by 2020. The company is focusing on boosting sales in North America and growing the Barossa Valley Estate brand worldwide to hit those numbers.

Delegat stock rose 0.2 percent in trading at $6. They've risen 1.5% since the start of the year.

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At the signing ceremony (Photo: baodongthap.vn)

Accordingly, the two localities will increase cooperation in exchanging information to ensure political security and social order in border areas; making favorable conditions and coordinating to protect the safety of demarcated landmarks, stabilising the whole border line.

In addition, the two sides will work together to help border residents facilitate agricultural production; continue to increase goods import and export as well as other trade and service activities, based on the trading agreement signed by the two Vietnamese and Cambodian Governments; and make the best conditions for people to go through each locality for study and medical treatment.

Chairman of the Dong Thap provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Duong affirmed that the cooperation agreement will help promote socio-economic development in each locality, especially in border areas, contributing to strengthening the solidarity between the two provinces.

In 2015, trade exchanges between Dong Thap and Pray Veng provinces were reported to take place in convenient conditions, contributing to raising the trade turnover through border areas between Dong Thap province with Cambodia to USD75 million.

The Vietnamese province provided over 30 million kWh of power for Pray Veng province, and held medical check-ups in which free medicine worth over VND350 million was provided for poor people.

In addition, Dong Thap province assisted 126 Cambodian students studying in the University of Dong Thap and the Dong Thap provincial Medical College, including 25 students receiving full scholarships earmarked from Dong Thap provinces budget.

The two side have regularly exchanged information to maintain political security and social order in border areas. So far they have completed border demarcation in all 10 locations./.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
MUMBAI: Domestic electronics company iBall, in partnership with Intel and Microsoft, on Wednesday launched a series of laptops starting at a disruptive price of 9,999.

The products, launched under its sub-brand "iBall CompBook", address the need of affordable computing and narrow the gap between consumer requirements and the devices currently available in the market, the company said in a statement.

"iBall CompBook" laptops will be available in two variants -- 11.6-inch Excelance for 9,999 and 14-inch Exemplaire for 13,999.

"Our latest products are focused on innovation with pricing as we understand the needs of young India and most of the digital gaps can be bridged if technology is made affordable," Sandeep Parasrampuria, director and CEO, iBall, said in a statement.

The company has also offered laptops for business users that are available with the Windows 10 Pro and features like secure boot, domain join, bit locker and remote desktop -- starting at 19,999.

While "iBall CompBook" Excelance comes in royal blue colour, the Exemplaire is available in choco colour.

Excelance weighs less than 1.1 kg and Exemplaire is almost 1.5 kg. Both of them come with 10,000mAh battery.

The laptops are backed by Intel Quad Core Processor clocked at the speed of up to 1.83 GHz along with the pre-installed Windows 10 Home.

The devices are powered with 2GB RAM and 32GB in-built storage, which is further expandable up to 64GB with Micro-SD slot.

Read Also: Low-End Smartphone LAVA A67 Hits Indian Smartphone Market

Indian Origin Indus Trounces Apple and Microsoft in Smartphone OS Market
BENGALURU: Since the genesis of this decade, lot of innovations has been rolled-out for the online retail market, revolving around the integration of payment gateways and smart transaction methods. Companies partaking in online retail are gradually realizing how online stores, like traditional stores doesnt require any other retailer for maintaining their online presence. Headquartered at Noida, Paytm, the e-commerce firm has addressed this concern with their recent announcement of partnering with 1,000 brands so that these companies can make use of Paytms platform to open their stores. The list comprises of big companies such as Puma, Samsung, Samsonite, Casio, and Lakme. Moreover, taking a look from a strictly regulatory perspective, with marketplaces not being allowed to control prices, ROIs can prove to be a significant entity.

"True power of online platforms is in connecting sellers and brands directly with the end customers. The platform that we have created for brands gives them complete control of their online presence," says Amit Bagaria, Vice President, Paytm.

The latest announced from Paytm is preceded by Flipkarts move of entering into tie-ups with some of the renowned electronic and apparel brands including HP, Wildcraft, Peter England, Bosch and, @Home. This partnership will allow these companies to orchestrate brand hubs on Flipkarts digital marketplace. A significant facet of the move is that the initiative will allow sellers not recognized by the platform to still do business through their personal seller store, analogous to the fashion prevailing in offline stores.

Bagaria adds, "From a customer perspective, the shopping experience on these stores is far superior, since the brands directly engage with customers, just like in offline stores."

The concept of brand stores was introduced in 2012 with Snapdeals launch, followed by companies like Flipkart and Amazon treading the same lines. Paytms move takes the same initiative to altogether different strata, combining utmost visibility into the process. Furthermore, with this move Paytm plans to shift 90 percent of its structured (branded products) to brand stores. These online brand stores enable brands to control inventory, pricing, promotions, and lastly sellers who can sell in their store. These independent online retail stores are also boosted with the ability to run promotional campaigns and tag their physical stores, enabling them to generate sales for their offline channels.

Read Also: United States' Highest Paid Tech CEOs

JSW Steel in the Fray to Acquire Tata Steel UK
CHARLESTON: Democrat Bernie Sanders today squarely defeated Hillary Clinton in West Virginia, in a reminder to the frontrunner that she was yet to wrap up her own presidential nomination before taking on Republican Donald Trump, who cruised to victory in two more states.



The 74-year-old Vermont Senator, Sanders, easily won the primary in West Virginia by more than 15 percentage points but acknowledged that he has an uphill climb in terms of becoming the party's nominee.



Sanders' win is unlikely to prevent the 68-year-old former secretary of state from emerging as the presumptive Democratic nominee - given that she has a massive lead over him in the delegates count, but at the same time ensuring that Clinton's ticket for the race to the White House is not a cake walk.



Sanders has won 19 states to Clinton's 23, but she is 94 per cent through the way to winning the nomination - just 144 delegates short of the 2,383 required.



As a consolation, Clinton won the Nebraska primary, but she is not getting any delegate from it. The delegates were allocated in the March 5 primary, which was won by Sanders. Clinton received 10 delegates as against Sanders' 15.



Addressing a rally in Salem, Oregon - where the primary is scheduled for next Tuesday - after the victory, Sanders said: "We now have won primaries and caucuses in 19 states. Let me be as clear as I can be. We are in this campaign to win the Democratic nomination."



He said he would continue his fight till the end of the primary season.



Sanders said the country should not elect Trump while also hinting that he would seek to unite the party in a general election if he fails to win the nomination.



"Our message to the Democratic delegates who will be assembling in Philadelphia is, while we may have many disagreements with Secretary Clinton, there is one area (where) we agree. And that is, we must defeat Donald Trump.



"And after all the votes are cast and counted and this contest moves to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the delegates will decide which candidate is the strongest nominee to take on Donald Trump in November. All of the evidence indicates that I am that candidate," he said.



In the Republican camp, the sole candidate Trump won both the primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska taking his total delegate count to 1,107.



Trump now needs just 130 delegates to officially become the presidential nominee of the party in July.



After the win, the 69-year-old real estate tycoon tweeted: "Thank you West Virginia!" and "Thank you Nebraska!"



"It is a great honour to have won both West Virginia and Nebraska, especially by such massive margins. My time spent in both states was a wonderful and enlightening experience for me," Trump said in a statement.

Read Also: House Republicans Press Speaker To Back Triumphant Trump

'Hillary Clinton Ahead of Donald Trump Nationwid; Deadlocked in Key States'

Source: PTI
WASHINGTON: Vermont senator Bernie Sanders today won the West Virginia primary defeating Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton by more than 15% points even as the former US secretary of state looks set to secure the party nomination.



However, Sanders' win is unlikely to prevent Clinton from emerging as the presumptive Democratic nominee, given that she has a massive lead over him in the delegates count.



At a campaign rally in Oregon, Sanders acknowledged that he has an uphill climb in terms of becoming the party's nominee, but said he would continue his fight till the end of the primary season.



As a consolation, Clinton won the Nebraska primary, but she is not getting any delegate from it. The delegates were allocated in the March 5 primary, which was won by Sanders.



Clinton received 10 delegates as against Sanders' 15.



In the Republican party, the sole candidate Donald Trump won both the primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska taking his total delegate count to 1,107.



Trump now needs 130 delegates to officially become the presumptive nominee of the party.



This seems to be a forgone conclusion given that he is the only candidate left the in fray.



"It is a great honour to have won both West Virginia and Nebraska, especially by such massive margins. My time spent in both states was a wonderful and enlightening experience for me," Trump said in a statement.



"I learned a lot, and that knowledge will be put to good use towards the creation of businesses, jobs, and the strengthening and revival of their economies. I look forward to returning to West Virginia and Nebraska soon, and hope to win both states in the general election," he said.



"Likewise, my time spent last week with the great people of Oregon will hopefully lead to another victory next Tuesday," said Trump who was attacked for the first time by Sanders.



In his victory speech in Oregon, where the primary is scheduled for next Tuesday, Sanders said the country should not elect Trump.



"Our message to the Democratic delegates who will be assembling in Philadelphia is, while we may have many disagreements with Secretary Clinton, there is one area (where) we agree. And that is, we must defeat Donald Trump," Sanders said.



"And after all the votes are cast and counted and this contest moves to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the delegates will decide which candidate is the strongest nominee to take on Donald Trump in November. All of the evidence indicates that I am that candidate," he said.



A latest opinion poll released today revealed that Sanders defeated Trump in a hypothetical match in the November general elections but Sanders conceded that he has an uphill climb.



He was referring to the latest delegate count, according to which Clinton lead Sanders by 1,705 to 1,415 in pledged delegates and 523 to 39 in super delegates. Thus she has an overall lead of 2,228 to 1,454. Sanders now hopes that super delegates would tilt towards him.



"Now, we fully acknowledge we are good at arithmetic, that we have an uphill climb ahead of us, but we are used to fighting uphill climbs. We have been fighting uphill from the first day of this campaign when people considered us a fringe candidacy," Sanders said.

Read Also:India, U.S. To Hold Talks On Hike In Working Visa Fee

U.S. Presidential Primaries: House Speaker Ryan Hints Support For Donald Trump

Source: PTI
CITY HALL -- Experts think the city would be nuts to sterilize male deer to control Staten Island's growing herd.

"It's difficult for me to come up with all the reasons why this is a really stupid plan," said Bernd Blossey, a ecologist at Cornell University who consulted City Hall on deer management strategies in November. "It's ridiculous from the onset."

Several wildlife experts said the plan won't work because the city is ignoring basic deer biology and conventional herd management practices, not to mention past attempts.

"This plan has very low likelihood of success," said Paul Curtis, another ecologist at Cornell who was part of the city's interagency deer task force. A few bucks in Ithaca, N.Y. were given vasectomies as part of a multi-year study on deer controls in and around the campus there.

"We could only do three vasectomies -- it wasn't safe for the deer and wasn't safe for us," Curtis said.

'A UNIQUE APPROACH'

The Parks Department plans to sterilize all male deer roaming the borough, starting with a $2 million effort during this fall's rutting season. Hundreds of bucks would be given vasectomies and released back onto Staten Island parkland during the three-year study.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials argue that this is the fastest and most humane way to limit further growth of the potentially dangerous white-tailed population.

Spokeswoman Natalie Grybauskas said that the city is confident that the plan could be implemented before the problem increases.

"New York City -- and Staten Island in particular -- is unlike any other urban, suburban or rural area that has experienced deer overpopulation, and that is why the City has chosen a unique approach," Grybauskas said. "We welcome input and advice but this situation is vastly different than in any other place in the country."

Most of what is known about deer sterilization focuses on controlling female fertility, so what the city is planning has never been attempted at this scale.

"Perhaps because of the uniqueness of the Island, it certainly has merit," said biologist Robert Warren, of the Deer Laboratory at the University of Georgia. "But it is an experiment."

'RANDOM AND PROMISCUOUS AND CHAOTIC'

A 2014 aerial survey found 763 deer in Staten Island's green space and some ecologists think there may be more than 1,000 now. The city surveyed the entire borough earlier this year and preliminary data is expected later this spring.

An unchecked and expanding herd can harm forests and private property, spread tick-borne illness like Lyme disease and wander into roads more often, increasing the risk for deadly vehicle collisions.

Some experts said the city's plan won't really counter any of that. Sterilizing borough bucks is expected to cut the population by 10 to 30 percent annually, but hundreds of deer that remain could still wreak havoc even without reproduction because they can live a decade or more.

"Spread of Lyme disease, collisions, impact on native vegetation or animals -- that will continue," Blossey said.

And that's under a best-case scenario that assumes all bucks are sterilized. The city partially decided to sterilize males because they can be operated on year-round and there are fewer of them.

"It's more random and promiscuous and chaotic than that," said Al Cambronne, author of "Deerland." "One buck can breed many doe."

The city also believes males will be easier to capture, but experts said the biggest bucks that breed with the most doe have the widest ranges and don't respond as well to sedatives.

Experts also argue against the city's assertion that deer won't continue to migrate from New Jersey -- how so many ended up on Staten Island in the first place.

Sterilizing males is also meant to be more humane because vasectomies can be performed fairly quickly while deer are standing up. But fewer fertile males in the herd means females would be in heat multiple times in a year, increasing the likelihood of vehicle collisions or premature death from late-term births.

"It's an incredibly foolish idea," said John Rasweiler, a reproductive zoologist who has served on deer management groups on Long Island. "$2 million the first year? Absolute lunacy, particularly since it's not going to work."

'SHORT-SIGHTED'

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has to approve the city's sterilization plan. The agency does not recommend fertility control programs to mange deer populations because of their "limited effectiveness" and "inability to quickly reduce deer-human conflicts."

Fertility control will only be permitted by the state as part of a scientific study, which is what the city will propose. The city comptroller's office has to approve the contractor before that happens.

Ann Arbor, Mich., spent $35,000 this year to hire federal sharpshooters to kill 63 deer as part of that city's deer management plan. More than 1,000 pounds of venison were donated to feed the hungry.

A deer specialist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources -- which had to approve the Ann Arbor cull -- called the Staten Island sterilization plan "short-sighted."

"This is a future solution to a problem that exists today," deer specialist Chad Stewart said.

'MOST MODERN THINKING'

Hunting is illegal in New York City, but euthanizing deer is not. The city said this would be more expensive than sterilization.

But the decision may have been more about politics than limitations to the city's $82 billion budget.

The city also decided to only use lethal controls as a last resort because of pushback during public outreach, as well as the potential for lawsuits that could hold up implementing any plan. (Two lawsuits to prevent future culls in Ann Arbor are pending.)

De Blasio already has a difficult relationship with animal rights activists. His support of a ban on horse carriages -- a politically disastrous effort that fell flat earlier this year -- is part of a sprawling federal investigation.

The same anti-horse carriage group called the sterilization plan "smart, effective, and humane" on Tuesday. De Blasio insisted the plan wouldn't be tainted by association.

"It is very consistent with, I think, the most modern thinking of how we deal with animal issues," de Blasio said Tuesday.

Jim Sterba chronicled several human attempts to manage deer in "Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds."

"Arguing there are non-lethal solutions delays the inevitable conclusion that most communities come to -- that they've got to kill some deer," Sterna said.

This article was corrected to clarify that the vasectomy effort is expected to eventually reduce Staten Island's deer herd 10 to 30 percent annually, not 10 to 30 percent overall.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The American eel, a somewhat mysterious fish, is small and transparent when it enters Richmond Creek in Freshkills Park and swims into Staten Island's Bluebelt. It is nearing the end of a 2,000 mile journey from the Sargasso Sea.

Its final destination is the watershed of the Greenbelt, where it will live for about years and grow to maturity. Then, females will reverse the journey to lay their eggs back in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Florida. They die there and their young begin the cycle again by swimming north.

When the eels arrive in the Richmond Town section of the creek, they get counted in a study being conducted by the state Department of Conservation and supported by the city Department of Environmental Protection.

The two agencies have been assisted in the last five years by young citizen scientists at St. Clare School, cub scouts with Pack 25 and some veteran students who continue to contribute to the program.

The eels arrived in March, a month early this year, a reflection of a warm ocean and harbor. The count will wind down in about a week, but six thousand have been counted -- more than in any of the past three years.

Their thriving is a good indicator of the cleanness of the water, something particularly gratifying to the DEP.

"The city has spent $10 billion over the years on wastewater treatment plants and Bluebelt infrastructure,'' said Eric Landau, deputy commissioner with the DEP. "The rewards of this significant investment can be seen here and in the harbor water. Quality is better than it has been in generations.''

"It's really fabulous to work to develop the next generation of environmental stewards on Staten Island and throughout the city," added Landau.

It is all about connections as far as Pam Bailey is concerned.

"The kids really learn how this little creek leads into New York Harbor, which leads to the larger ocean,'' said Bailey, the leader of Cub Pack 25. "It is great for them to learn they are connected to the whole wide world. The younger they are when they learn that, the more chance they will make more of an effort in conservation and to make a better environment."

The Richmond Creek project is the southernmost site of 12 extending to the Catskills, where volunteers are counting the eels every day and releasing them above the next barrier or dam, to give them a boost on their way. In addition to counting the eels, water and air temperature is measured.



Coming from the Sargasso Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the eels take advantage of the New York Harbor estuary to transition from salt water to fresh water fish.

"We will let them go above the dam -- that's where they want to go, upstream,'' said Chris Bowser, educator with the Hudson River Estuary Project and Research Reserve, a DEC program. "That way we won't count them twice either.''

He was in the water, taking the eels from the net. A wide-mouthed and cone- shaped fyke net is used to collect the juvenile eels that measure approximately two to three inches in length. They are also known as glass eels because they are clear.

Robert Bailey began five years ago as a Cub Scout because he thought it would be interesting. Now a student at the Harbor High School on Governors Island, he said he began exploring upstream, where he saw a beaver dam, and downstream, where he observed large carp in a pool.

"We are trying to map out the streams," said the Great Kills resident, who is now in Boy Scout Troop 125.

His friend and fellow scout, Ben Holko, joined him in the last two years and they are teaching Cub Scout Andrew Haddad what they have learned.

Rob Brauman, an ecologist with the DEP, had a special treat -- a large snapping turtle that was cooperatively showing off its big strong mouth and claws. It is one of a number of predators the eels meet in the stream, including bull frogs and carp.

"The number of eels surges when there is a new moon and a full moon," said Mary Lee, science coordinator at St. Clare School in Great Kills. "So when I am teaching them about the tides and the moon, we are making all these connections. And when they come here, they can see how much higher the water is during a spring tide."

It is nothing if not hands-on science. To count the eels, they are poured into a student's hand and other students count as they as they plop into the bucket below.

On Wednesday, there were only seven eels in the net, but they have had hundreds, and they once had more than 1,000, said Ms. Lee, who has been to the site three times a week over the last 10 weeks, supervising student volunteers.

"This is not a manufactured lab experiment,'' said Bowser. "It is real animal conservation, a census of an animal that we don't know a lot about. The info the students are gathering will be part of the state's annual report."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rev. Michael Reilly, the principal of St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Huguenot, is at the center of a media firestorm after a blockbluster lawsuit filed by three current teachers accused him of age discrimination, making homophobic, misogynistic and racist remarks, and creating a hostile work environment with the constant usage of profanity.



The lawsuit also names as defendants vice principal Robert Richard, dean of men Greg Manos, the school, the Archdiocese and Cardinal Timothy Dolan.



Reilly sent a letter to parents on Wednesday labeling the allegations "false and absurd."

Here are a few key excerpts of the allegations made in the lawsuit:

"Since his appointment as principal by the Archdiocese, Father Reilly has unleashed a constant stream of rude, crude and inappropriate remarks including saying the word 'f---' in almost every sentence in some form. He calls the women 't----'... He also refers to women as 'b------.' Father Reilly calls people, both students and faculty, who he suspects are gay, 'fags' and 'faggots.'"

"He referenced an African-American teacher as one whose black ass 'he would kick back to the jungle.' "

"In reference to another, he said he wanted 'his gay a-- out in the street.' He routinely called an administrator at the school a 'fat faggot.' "

"Father Reilly was obsessed with getting rid of the older teachers. An older teacher that was ill was dropped off by her husband who was also sick. Father Reilly said of the husband, 'he drops her off like old f------ laundry.' After the husband's death, a friend drove the teacher to where the kids were dropped off. Father Reilly went crazy, banged on the hood of the car and screamed at the driver to never let this woman off at that place again. This same teacher was weak and students would carry her books. Father Reilly screamed at the teacher and the students and had the teacher sign a statement that she would not allow students to help her with her books. Father Reilly moved this same teacher from a room downstairs to distant classrooms where she had a hard time navigating the stairs to get to her class on time. All day, defendants Father Reilly and defendant Richard would call over the public address system for this teacher to report immediately to a distant classroom. When asked to go easy on the teacher, Father Reilly replied, 'f--- crusty, she's a vodka-s-------

b---- that we don't need.' Shortly afterwards, the teacher died."

"Another elderly teacher was a daily communicant. He was battling cancer. The teacher had to take a few days off for chemo treatments. Father Reilly responded 'Doesn't he know his life is over?' 'What's he going to do next?' 'Come in on a gurney with an I.V. I'll have to kick him to the f------ curb."

"Kicking someone to the f------ curb was one of Father Reilly's favorite expressions."

If you'd like to read the lawsuit in its entirely, you can
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Every time Zahin Rejuan, 23, wanted to go to a wine bar, he said he'd have to travel to Brooklyn, Queens or Manhattan. And even then, most establishments didn't have as inviting an atmosphere as he had hoped for.

Rejuan, who was born in Bangladesh, said his native culture has helped him learn how to be a good host. Borrowing entertaining techniques from his heritage, Rejuan decided he wanted to create a unique business combining a wine bar and Hookah lounge.

"I wanted to bring an exciting, new atmosphere closer to central Staten Island that allows guests to experience an intimate wine bar environment and allows you to have a hookah, whether it's your first time or you're a seasoned smoker," he added.

SMOKING HOOKAH

While he was searching for a spot for his wine bar, Rejuan saw how Hookah, a water pipe that is used to smoke flavored and sweetened tobacco, was catching on in the borough.

"People always enjoy something that is new and fresh; it (hookah) creates excitement. When you want to spend some time with friends or a partner, smoking a hookah can be a very enjoyable experience," he said.

However, Ambiance Wine & Hookah bar uses flavored molasses in the place of tobacco to achieve the Hookah experience, said Rejuan.

He chose a location in a quiet spot in a fairly new shopping center in Bulls Head, and opened Ambiance Hookah & Wine Bar in November.

"Generally, wine bars are smaller, more intimate spots, and hookah lounges are relatively the same. They both achieve the same concept of social interaction experience. Ambiance so far has had an incredible experience, and we plan on repeatedly making sure we deliver a memorable experience to every single person who walks in," said Rejuan.

Zahin Rejuan, owner

Address:

1949 Richmond Ave., Bulls Head

Website:

www.Ambiancewinebar.nyc

Home Community:

Prince's Bay.

Telling Trait:



"I truly enjoy having guests over in my space, making them feel welcome and appreciated."

CREATING AN AMBIANCE

One of the most important elements of Ambiance Hookah & Wine Bar for Rejuan was creating "the perfect ambiance," of a very intimate and relaxing atmosphere.

Entering the dimly lit establishment, patrons are immediately greeted with hookah scents mixed with the aroma of the chef's specialty eats, such as fried Oreos, three cheese panini, mozzarella carrozza, fried calamari, penne vodka, and flank steak. In addition to a variety of wines, Ambiance Hookah & Wine Bar also has several signature drinks, such as Ambiance Margaritas, which are traditional margaritas topped with red wine.

"We have the lighting dimmed to accent our paintings and chalkboard with menu items. There is soft candle light on every table as it flickers and reflects light off of your significant other or friends' faces. The music we play during the week is soft background music, such as down tempo with vocals. On weekends, it's a little more upbeat with deep/progressive house music," said Rejuan.

INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

Rejuan said he uses the customer service skills he acquired formerly working in sales to launch the business and keep it going.

"One of my most favorite aspects about sales was the fact that every sale was a storytelling experience. I enjoyed being able to guide clients from the very first impression to making sure they were absolutely satisfied with their entire experience, to making sure we established a great relationship past the sale," he said.

If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com.

FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- They're at it again.

Almost a year after Susan Wagner High School was victimized by a spate of bogus bomb threats, the Sea View school was the subject of a similar hoax Thursday morning.

Students were briefly evacuated a little before noon after a bomb threat was phoned in, according to a source with knowledge of the incident.



Students were taken to nearby streets and police blocked off Manor Road to traffic until the school was given the all clear.

There were no arrests in Thursday's incident, the source said.

In an unrelated incident, police were at New Dorp High School on Wednesday after investigating a rumor of a student-led school shooting. The rumor was deemed not credible.

Susan Wagner was the victim of a series of phony bomb threats last May, which forced evacuations on several consecutive consecutive days.
CO2's Role in Global Warming Has Been on the Oil Industry's Radar Since the 1960s

Posted on 12 May 2016 by Guest Author

This is a re-post from Inside Climate News

The oil industry's leading pollution-control consultants advised the American Petroleum Institute in 1968 that carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels deserved as much concern as the smog and soot that had commanded attention for decades.

Carbon dioxide was "the only air pollutant which has been proven to be of global importance to man's environment on the basis of a long period of scientific investigation," two scientists from the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) told the API.

This paper, along with scores of other publications, shows that the risks of climate change were being discussed in the inner circles of the oil industry earlier than previously documented. The records, unearthed from archives by a Washington, D.C. environmental law organization, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), reveal that the carbon dioxide questionan obscure corner of research for much of the 20th centuryhad been closely studied since the 1950s by some oil company researchers.

By the 1960s, the CO2 problem was gaining wider scientific recognition, especially as President Lyndon B. Johnson's science advisers and leading experts brought it to the attention of the White House in 1965.

"If CO2 levels continue to rise at present rates, it is likely that noticeable increases in temperature could occur," SRI scientists Elmer Robinson and R.C. Robbins wrote in their 1968 paper to API.

"Changes in temperature on the world-wide scale could cause major changes in the earth's atmosphere over the next several hundred years including change in the polar ice caps."

Ten years later, the world's leading oil company, Exxon, would launch an ambitious in-house research program into the emerging science of climate change, as detailed by InsideClimate News last year in an investigative series. Beginning in 1978, Exxon researchers hoped their work would identify the risks climate change posed to the company's business and earn it a seat at the table when policymakers moved to limit CO2 emissions, according to internal documents. By the late 1980s, the company and its allies would instead challenge the scientific basis for strong action on climate change.

In a new series of articles, ICN begins to examine how the industry confronted pollution concerns during the infancy of climate research in the mid-20th century. It is based on hundreds of public documents assembled by CIEL, along with others gathered by ICN.

The documents trace early academic research into rising carbon dioxide levels. They show how the oil industry monitored that published work, and help explain the beginnings of its own research. They also show how industry's reaction to mid-century regulation to curtail other forms of air pollution, such as smog, helped shape its approach toward the risks of carbon dioxide.

The documents reveal a deep and persistent interest by industry in the CO2issue, according to Carroll Muffett, a lawyer who is president of CIEL. If it is shown that oil companies knew fossil fuels posed dangers to the public, he said, the industry might become vulnerable to product liability complaints.

"From a products liability perspective, these documents raise potential claims that oil companies failed to warn consumers about a potentially serious risk linked to their products," he said.

Muffett's institute, an advocacy group that provides policy research and legal counsel on energy and environmental matters, is releasing its findings just as several state attorneys general have begun investigating how much oil companies knew about climate change and what they decided to do with their knowledge.

"Once the companies learned this science, they can't unlearn it," Muffett said. "Everything they did after this is done against the backdrop of the information they have from at least the 1950s onward.

"This to me is a critical point," he said. "When Exxon and other companies are funding climate change denial in later stages and focusing on uncertainties, how does what they are saying now compare with what they knew at a much earlier stage?"

Exxon has responded that its scientists at the time found that "many important questions about climate change remained unanswered and more research was needed." A spokesman for API did not respond to requests for comment.

Pollution Concerns Begin Rising

By the late 1940s, industrial pollution from the wartime surge and post-war boom began alarming the public. In particular, smog increasingly plagued Los Angeles, garnering the attention of the press and new pollution-control agencies. The sky turned a pale yellow, residents routinely became nauseous and their eyes burned, children were forced to play indoors, and acres of crops withered.

Members of the Highland Park Optimist Club in Northeast L.A. wear smog-gas masks at a banquet, circa 1954. Credit: Los Angeles Times photographic archive, UCLA Library

By the early 1950s, new science pointed to the oil industry as a major culprit, showing that nitrogen oxide emissions and uncombusted hydrocarbons from car tailpipes and refineries formed smog when exposed to sunlight.

As new agencies spawned new regulations, API and similar organizations set up a task force called the Smoke and Fumes Committee to monitor air pollution research and to commission projects by a handful of key consultants, including SRI. Originally affiliated with Stanford University, it was the industry's main pollution consultant, and eventually became an independent firm in 1970.

The work of the Smoke and Fumes Committee armed the industry for a prolonged struggle against what it considered overzealous regulation, which was based on what the oil companies and SRI called flawed science.

Meanwhile, a growing number of academics had turned their attention to rising CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, tracing where the gas came from and the role that certain "sinks," such as the oceans and forests, played in absorbing it.

Roger Revelle, the director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and his colleague Hans E. Suess published a landmark paper in 1957 about increasing CO2 emissions and the role of the oceans in absorbing some of it. The media, including The New York Times and Time magazine, sporadically wrote stories about increasing CO2 in the atmosphere.

Scripps scientist Charles David Keeling installed machines at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii to measure carbon dioxide levels on a regular basis.

The years between 1957, when Revelle first concluded that the oceans would not absorb all industrial CO2 emissions, and 1960, when Keeling accurately measured atmospheric concentrations and showed that they were definitely increasing, ushered in a new age of expanding climate research.

Already, some oil company scientists were conducting basic CO2 research, including several with Humble Oil, which eventually became part of Exxon.

By then, it was generally accepted that the burning of fossil fuels had released significant quantities of additional CO2 into the atmosphere, with some studies putting manmade emissions at 13 percent above natural levels since the Industrial Revolution began.

Humble's researchers studied the fingerprints of fossil fuel emissions in the wood of growing trees. Only a small fraction of the CO2 from fossil fuels showed up. Deciphering what was happening to the restmostly absorption into the oceanswas a major focus of research into the carbon cycle then.

As Humble's scientists explored issues like whether the varying climate in wet and dry conditions might influence the rate of carbon uptake by trees, their work intertwined with the rapidly evolving field of climate studies.

A paper by independent scientists in 1958 determined that Revelle and Suess had probably underestimated how much CO2 would build up by the year 2000. The rise could be enough, they noted in passing, to have considerable implications for planetary warming.

A Presidential Spotlight

The report by Robinson and Robbins to API in 1968 was an unusually plainspoken assessment of the risks of CO2 emissions within the walls of industry. It is significant not as original research, but as confirmation that the industry recognized a consensus reaching the highest levels of government.

"It seems ironic," the report said, "that given this picture of the likely result of massive CO2 emissions so little concern is given to CO2 as an important air pollutant."

The SRI report emerged after the carbon dioxide problem had caught the attention of the White House.

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2016 Canberra International Music Festival: A Mexican Wave and Festival Finale: Viva Brasil. 2pm and 6pm Sunday, May 8. Percussion ensembles Tambuco and Speak Percussion joined prominent Canberran percussionists in an afternoon treat at the National Gallery of Australia. While the concert was framed by large percussion ensemble works, the centre featured contemporary pieces for percussion, tape recordings or electronic sounds. That combination offered a unique insight into a contemporary realm which we don't often experience in Canberra. Percussion ensemble Tambuco performed impressively. Throughout the performance, the intense concentration of every musician was incredible to behold, as they explored a highly diverse sound palette. Paul Barker's Stone Song, Stone Dance was an entertaining showcase of Tambuco's skill. A "rock soup" story of sorts, Tambuco proved that anything can be an instrument, creating a rich variety of sounds from "authentic, locally sourced" Canberran rocks. In this way, the audience came to appreciate that it is not necessarily instruments, but rather great musicians, that make great music. The evening finale concert drove that message home, beginning with Tambuco performing again from memory and with impeccable precision. Tambuco was strongest when all on the same instrument, as in Gonzalez's Bulerias and Pascoal's Cuarteto para Cacerolas, which was a light-hearted audience pleaser.

The following movements from Milhaud's Saudades do Brasil were a colourful romp around the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Arranged by artistic director Roland Peelman, those short polytonal snippets into Latin America were a complete delight. The opening movement, Sorocaba, which was performed by Peelman and the Boccherini Trio, was especially full of colour with noticeable warmth from the strings. These pieces segued into Villa-Lobos's Melodia Sentimental, performed by exquisite soprano Louise Page. She is well-known to Canberra audiences, and the piece alone justified why she is so deservedly popular. Apart from her voice, which was charming and soaring as always, her smile said it all; she was perhaps walking along an exotic beach after dark, extolling the glories of the moon, and the audience was right there with her. The same can be said of Page's performance of Villa-Lobos's most popular work, Bachianas Brasileiras No 5. Perfectly matched by cellist Paolo Bonomini, the two soared melodically in what was certainly an audience favourite. These vocal works framed Andrey Lebedev's performance of Three Preludes for Guitar, also by Villa-Lobos. It was great to hear these staples of the guitar repertoire performed with such a rich tone. Loading
Cleaners at Parliament House are sick and tired of being treated like dirt.

They haven't had a pay rise for four years, while watching Canberra's rates and rents skyrocket.

Luzia Borges (front) says she and her fellow Parliament House cleaners "don't even get 'thank you'." Credit:Jamila Toderas

As well, the population of the building is now said to have risen to 10,000 when Parliament is sitting, but the cleaning workforce has been cut dramatically, putting a huge workload on the remaining, tired staff.

Luzia Borges thinks her 28 years' experience cleaning offices at Parliament House now counts for nothing.
An expert public service fraud investigator who published a helpful guide to government departments was charged with disclosing sensitive information, despite basing the book entirely on publicly available content.

The bizarre case came before Magistrate Peter Dingwall for sentencing on Thursday, and he had no hesitation in making a non-conviction order for the long-serving senior public servant.

A top fraud investigator was bizarrely charged for writing a helpful guide for the public service, despite basing the book entirely on publicly available information.

"This is one of the clearest cases for [a non-conviction order] that I've seen in my 26 years being here," Mr Dingwall said.

The man had considerable experience in fraud investigation, studying it at length, working in the private sector and in government departments and at the Fair Work Ombudsman.
National Australia Bank is clamping down on mortgage lending to foreign buyers of Australian property, joining other banks in requiring these customers stump up bigger deposits.

NAB on Thursday confirmed it would lower the maximum loan-to-valuation ratio for lending to foreign buyers to 60 per cent, from 70 per cent, as first reported in the Australian Financial Review.

Clients of NAB-owned advice firms were not properly informed about the firms' business relationships with the bank. Credit:Carla Gottgens

The bank is also reducing the amount of "foreign source" income that it will include in loan assessments, to 60 per cent, from 80 per cent, and it will no longer recognise self-employed income from overseas.

"All foreign home loan applications are considered on a case by case basis and assessed under strict verification standards for employment and income, as well undertaking stringent risk processes," a NAB spokeswoman said.
The Reserve Bank has signalled tighter rules to clamp down on excessive credit card surcharges.

RBA assistant governor for the financial system Malcolm Edey says the central bank will make recommendations about surcharging on May 20 following a review of credit card payment rules.

A damning audit has found defence staff are misuing taxpayer money.

He said the RBA's preferred method has charges expressed in percentage terms.

"Among other things, this would rule out the current system of fixed-dollar surcharges in the airline industry, which would appear to result in significant over-recovery of payment costs on low-value fares," Mr Edey said.
Winter seems to be an even longer and colder season with an election in the middle of it.

But fortuitously, the rain came down as the Prime Minister took the short journey up the driveway of Yarralumla. Sixteen minutes later, the election campaign was under way.

But over the next 24 hours there was not a word about the rain or water or climate change. Our researcher and economic forecaster Charlie, who regularly raises critical environmental issues, says that before this long winter election is up, climate and water will be playing a part.

Malcolm Turnbull knows a lot about water. Former prime minister John Howard appointed him to a special ministerial role about water in 2007 and most voters hope he hasn't forgotten what he learned because we all know we have no future without the miracle liquid.
Mr Turnbull defended his involvement in the company when questioned on Thursday. "Let me say to you that the company of which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian-listed company and had it made any profits - which it did not, regrettably, - it certainly would have paid tax in Australia, but obviously you haven't studied the accounts of the company concerned," he said.



"As the article acknowledged, there is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever." The use of Mossack Fonseca services - again while politically unfortunate for Turnbull - is not in itself illegal. According to The Australian Financial Review in the 1990s, the Prime Minister and former NSW Premier Neville Wran were both on the board of a company serviced by Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. The documents obtained by ICIJ and shared with the AFR - which are not part of the publicly searchable database - show that Turnbull and Wran were on the board of Star Mining NL and its subsidiary in the British Virgin Islands, Star Technology Service, which had been incorporated by Mossack Fonseca two years earlier.

The company was set up by Mossack Fonseca to explore development of an estimated $20 billion Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log, but Turnbull has said that he didn't know it was incorporated by the law firm or a registered office. And in response to allegations Star Technologies had made donations to Russian politicians - which in itself is concerning - Mr Turnbull's spokesman told Fairfax Media on Thursday the Prime Minister was not aware of any such donations in the time "during or prior to" being a director. Mr Turnbull and Mr Wran joined the board of Star Mining on October 29 1993, after mining entrepreneur Ian MacNee sold Star Technology to Star Mining in return for cash and shares. In December 3 1993, Turnbull and Wran were appointed directors of Star Mining's subsidiary in the British Virgin Islands, Star Technology Services Limited. This company held the group's stake in the Sukhoi Log prospect, a joint venture called LenaGold. He and Mr Wran resigned from Star Mining and Star Technology in September 1995.

The use of a British Virgin Islands company was common at the time for companies that wanted limited visibility and whose entities would not be subject to audit. The AFR also reports a note from a Mossack Fonseca employee stating that half of Star Technology's shares were "bearer shares", which were to be converted to registered shares. Bearer shares are not used much now - the banks hate them as it allows ownership of the company to change without the bank knowing, and leaves the financial institution exposed. But in the 1990s, bearer shares were more common - it made it easier to move shares from one entity to another or one person to another without registers being kept. The mere fact the Turnbull-linked company was represented by Mossack Fonseca, even if unknowingly, is a bad look.

Mossack Fonseca acted for whoever chose to come to it for its services in order to make profits. The firm has publicly denied wrongdoing. A spokesman told ICIJ that Mossack Fonseca relies on intermediaries such as banks and other law firms to review the backgrounds of the customers that they refer to the firm. It should have had proper due diligence. The confidential source who leaked the Panama Papers, known as "Joe Doe", said he did it because he thought Mossack Fonseca was behaving unethically. The ICIJ also reports that Mossack Fonseca made money by creating shell companies that have been used by suspected financiers of terrorists and war criminals in the Middle East; drug kings and queens from Mexico, Guatemala and Eastern Europe; nuclear weapons proliferators in Iran and North Korea, and arms dealers in southern Africa. Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan told a parliamentary hearing last month that the Panama Papers leak is not a "one off", with dozens of other firms running similar operations around the world. "They rely on the ever-dwindling secrecy havens," he said.

The crooks will now likely end up in jail - on Wednesday the Australian Taxation Office confirmed that it soon expects the police to lay charges against some of the shadowy Australian cases appearing in the list. The ATO has identified 800 Australian taxpayers in the data, and according to Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston, has now linked 140 of them to an associate offshore service provider located in Hong Kong. Around 80 names have also matched with names on the Australian Crime Commission's serious and organised crime intelligence database. Globally, a hunt for some of the world's worst criminals is underway. Governments are also exploring how to follow OECD recommendations on law changes that will stop the use of tax havens. But international cooperation is lacking.
Australia currently has a de facto ban on e-cigarettes due to a historical classification of nicotine as a schedule 7 dangerous poison. Sale, possession and use of nicotine in a vaporiser is an offence.

E-cigarettes are at least as effective as nicotine patches or gum in helping smokers to quit. For those who are unable to quit, e-cigarettes can substitute for smoking by providing the nicotine to which smokers are addicted without the smoke that causes almost all of the harm ("tobacco harm reduction").

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices that simulate a smoking experience. The devices heat a nicotine-containing liquid to produce a mist that the user inhales. The inhaled vapour does not contain tobacco, tar or carbon monoxide, and is generally agreed to be much safer than smoke; probably about 95 per cent safer. Nicotine itself has relatively minor health effects.

The future of electronic cigarette regulation is starting to be defined. Reviews and guidelines have recently been published in Britain, the US and European Union, with attitudes and recommendations varying widely from one jurisdiction to another. Australian federal and state governments are also developing legislation that will have life-or-death implications for hundreds of thousands of smokers.

But e-cigarettes are freely available as consumer products in the UK and have been warmly embraced by the scientific and public health communities. A landmark report published last week by the Royal College of Physicians concluded that e-cigarettes have the potential to make a major contribution towards preventing premature death and disease due to smoking, and encouraged their widespread use by smokers. The report was in agreement with a comprehensive report commissioned by Public Health England in 2015.

Attitudes to e-cigarettes are much more cautious in the US and the European Union, where they are regulated as tobacco products. Under the American Food and Drug Administration's new "deeming regulations" and the EU's revised Tobacco Products Directive, all devices and solutions will require extremely costly and onerous approval, which will force all but the very largest companies out of the market. Prices will increase, innovation will be reduced and a black market created. On the other hand, deadly cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products will remain freely available.

Prohibition is not working in Australia, and it is easy to purchase nicotine online or through a thriving black market. The federal government has commissioned a discussion paper to guide e-cigarette policy, prepared by the Public Health Unit at the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, both of which have previously expressed negative views on e-cigarettes. Also of concern is that the process is shrouded in secrecy and is only taking advice by invitation.

Decisions on how to regulate e-cigarettes should be based on evidence, not on ideology, politics or other bias. Some organisations have been historically locked into a single-minded focus of destroying tobacco companies, cigarettes and nicotine. It can be difficult to see that using nicotine to reduce harm may now be part of the solution. Our priority should be to reduce the health risks for current smokers, of whom two out of three will die as a result of their habit.

Overseas research has found that many of the concerns raised about e-cigarettes are not grounded in evidence. E-cigarettes are much safer than smoking and have helped millions of smokers to quit. There is no evidence of a "gateway" (that e-cigarettes lead non-smokers to smoking) or that they "renormalise" smoking in the community  vaping is almost exclusively confined to smokers and recent ex-smokers.
So, Sadiq Khan has been elected the new mayor of London: a man who, if Donald Trump is elected president of the United States, would be barred from entering the country because he's a Muslim.

Re-read that sentence. A Trump presidency. A Muslim mayor of London. A ban on Muslims entering the US (which Trump has only recently reiterated as a pledge to be delivered in his first 100 days). There is not a single element of that I could even have imagined writing as recently as a year ago.

And yet I can think of no story that better distils the times; that so efficiently captures something so much greater than itself.

This isn't simply the story of a Muslim, a populist and a policy. It's not even simply a story of multiculturalism and nationalism. It's the story of two completely irreconcilable, contradictory worlds that after decades of circling, are now colliding. To this end, Trump and Khan are but two more or less inevitable  even if until recently unthinkable  symbols.
In 1979, Schallert was elected president of the 46,000-member Screen Actors Guild, a post held at one time or another by James Cagney, George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston and other screen notables. Most of them had little to do but conduct meetings and issue statements. With Schallert it was different.

Though usually seen in secondary roles, Schallert's lean, friendly face was familiar for roles in two classic sitcoms  as Mr Pomfritt, the frustrated English teacher to Dwayne Hickman and his pals in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and as the harried father alongside Patty Duke in The Patty Duke Show.

William Schallert was a veteran TV performer and Hollywood union leader who played Patty Duke's father on television and led a long, contentious strike for actors.

In 1980 he led the union as it staged a 13-week strike over such issues as actors' pay for films made for the new cable television industry.

He told the Los Angeles Times his message to actors was that "we have to respect ourselves as artists" and recalled the pre-union days when actors were sometimes expected to work until midnight and be back at work six hours later.

Schallert said in 2008 that his greatest accomplishment as SAG president was the formation of a committee for performers with disabilities.

"We had established committees for all of the various ethnic minorities, women and seniors. I'm a big beneficiary of that right now because I'm 85 and I still work."

Among his later TV roles were guest shots on Desperate Housewives and True Blood. In all, Schallert appeared in hundreds of movies, television series and specials, playing characters and walk-ons. He was a messenger in Singin' in the Rain, a Union soldier in The Red Badge of Courage and an admiral in Get Smart.
It suits Labor to keep climate change under the election radar, given the party's well-based fear of a 2013-style scare campaign. The Coalition has already wheeled out the "carbon tax mark II" and "massive energy tax" lines amid questionable claims that Labor's policy will hike electricity prices.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, however, doesn't want to focus on global warming either. He knows the issue reminds voters of the rift between his "climate science is settled" colleagues and the climate sceptics who coalesce around former leader Tony Abbott.

The share of coal in our power generation is increasing. Credit:Michele Mossop

What's more, Mr Turnbull knows that the government's expensive Direct Action plan that uses taxpayer funds to pay polluters to reduce emissions will have to become a price-based scheme  akin to Labor's policy  to be a credible long-term solution.

But try as they might, neither party can avoid global warming.
The peak body for the visual arts in Australia is among dozens of arts organisations counting their losses today, while others are celebrating a more secure future as the Australia Council announces the recipients of its new Four Year Funding program.

While 128 groups were successful in receiving multi-year funding worth $70,000 to $300,000 annually, more than 50 arts organisations are thought to have missed out, including the National Association for the Visual Arts, longstanding literary magazine Meanjin and the Centre for Contemporary Photography.

St Martins Youth Theatre, which staged The Bacchae at the 2015 Melbourne Festival, is among 128 Four Year Funding recipients. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Yet 43 organisations, a third of successful applicants, are receiving multi-year Australia Council funding for the first time under the new program, chief executive officer Tony Grybowski says.
It's not difficult to pick out relevant lines from the 11 tracks that comprise the group's seventh album  "we ran out of love and innocence," Cheney sings on the becalmed With Enemies Like That  and you can speculate about what exactly "it" entails, but Cheney doesn't want to address the song's underlying inspiration. If anything, he's still surprised that he's allowed Shift to be released as it is.

"Some of it has been chosen and some has been forced," notes Cheney carefully, sitting in the Fitzroy office of his record label, Dew Process. "There's been a lot of unhappy times and I feel like I've got through it and I'm better for it, but there were moments where I thought this would ruin me."

But on the trio's new album, Shift, there's a palpable change: the songs are laced with an anger, and sometimes acceptance, that is self-lacerating and obviously personal. It sounds as if the group's lyricist and chief songwriter, Chris Cheney, has been through an almighty upheaval.

As one of Australia's leading rock 'n' roll bands, with a succession of hit albums and sold out tours spread over almost two decades, The Living End are no strangers to blistering riffs and confrontational lyrics.

"It's the most personal record. Every time I sat down to write lyrics it was straight from the heart and brutally honest," he says, shifting his weight on a chair that he won't find comfortable for the length of this interview. "We wanted to shock and inspire and come out with stuff where people would go, 'I can't believe this is the Living End'."

Shift, which is out now, is the first Living End studio album in five years. Cheney has spent much of that time in Los Angeles, where he and wife Emma and their two young daughters relocated in 2011. He regularly returns to Melbourne, where he was born and raised in the outer eastern suburb of Wheelers Hill, to work with his bandmates, double bassist Scott Owens and drummer Andy Strachan.

"We've been through all the bullshit a band can go through. The only tension now comes from wanting the best result," Cheney observes. "With Shift we could have gone in there and fallen into the same comfort zone and come out with something that sounds like the Living End, but that would have been boring. But we made something brand new and fresh, and that was exciting and we wanted to stick with that."

In Los Angeles Cheney has a side project, The Jack Tars, where at the age of 41 he's the gun kid guitarist alongside veterans such as The Damned's frontman Captain Sensible and Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom. All of the group resurrect songs from their individual back catalogue  Cheney's contribution is The Living End's breakthrough 1997 hit Prisoner of Society  and in a way it adds to the stage persona of the fearsome, untouchable musician that Cheney has long sheltered behind.

"I don't like letting people into my own world. I've always sugar-coated my lyrics, or baulked the issue, or said that it was a story about a character," he concedes. "There are lyrics this time that I cringed at when I wrote them, and I asked myself if I wanted to say that and sing that, and the answer was yes, I do. That's what makes a great song, that's what makes great art."
Last week the political and public service realms in Canberra were abuzz with the federal budget. But one bit of news that caught my attention was former Labor politician Peter Garrett returning to his true calling by rejoining his Midnight Oil band mates for a national tour next year.

I missed the one-off shows the band played in 2009 at the Royal Theatre while Garrett was a front bench minister, and given their reputation as a fearsome live act it would be a blast for The Oils to return.

This announcement was quite timely as the superb Midnight Oil exhibition at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre is due to close this weekend. How cool it would be if the band decided to sign off the exhibition by playing a full set somewhere near Lake Tuggeranong?

Lately, I have been listening to the Oils next to a bunch of Australian punk bands featured on the recently released ABC Records compilation Stranded. This combination works for me, but as definitive Australian music documentary series Long Way to the Top makes clear, the pub rock and inner city scenes once regarded each other with considerable suspicion.

Bands like The Oils, Cold Chisel and INXS cut their teeth in suburban pubs and RSL clubs while punk/underground bands like Radio Birdman and The Birthday Party fired up crowds in inner city venues, performing wild sets to a devoted sub-culture that wouldn't be caught dead in a footy club.
What's this? A Bachelor love scandal brewing across the ditch? Oh, the horror of it all!

Our antipodean cousins are working themselves into a lather today after The Bachelor New Zealand's winning couple announced their split just two days after Monday's finale.

Bachelor Jordan Mauger dumped winner Fleur Verhoeven on Wednesday afternoon, seven weeks after filming the lavish final episode where he gave her a $NZ22,000 ($20,466) commitment ring.
Over the 13-part series they take in Noosa, head out to an Indigenous community in Beswick, near Katherine, snorkel the Ningaloo and Great Barrier reefs, do a four-wheel-drive in the desert, visit an outback cattle station and take in the ocean-lover's playground that is Exmouth in north-west Western Australia.

He says the dishes they create on the show are accessible, fun and draw from their surroundings in supporting local producers wherever they can.

"We have a great relationship off-camera and basically it just transfers," says Quinn of their TV appeal. "Dan and I are basically just knocking about and there's two cameras there capturing it."

The new recruits are jovial, enthusiastic co-hosts: the show is mainly unscripted giving them free rein to let their natural, good-humoured selves come through, amid chatter littered with bro lingo. "Muhammad Ali couldn't smash you like that," is, for example, Churchill's way of describing one dish's garlic and chilli hit.

Churchill, 26, and Quinn, 29, who hail from Sydney's Northern Beaches and are both MasterChef alumni, are following in the footsteps of Curtis Stone and Ben O'Donoghue who manned the first incarnation of this show for ABC over 2003 to 2006.

"There's a lot more to see in Australia than we currently know as iconic Australia or what we think we know Australia is. There's many, many more stories to tell, there's many more people to meet," says Quinn of what he took from the whole experience.

"There's so many adventures to be had just in our backyard. I've been one to save up my money and get overseas and experience cultures and cuisines and people from all over the world, but this trip has shown me that there's so much on offer in our own backyard. We should be exploring home first, then checking out the rest of the world second."

It's no coincidence that Churchill and Quinn are ambassadors for Tourism Australia: Surfing the Menu doubles as a stunning advertisement for the country's natural beauty and charms. The original series aired in more than 70 countries and signs from an international TV trade show in Cannes last month hint that the reboot will have a similar reach.

Quinn says he understands why Australia is captivating to foreign audiences. "You know, we're lucky enough to be surrounded by this incredible beauty but it's not hard to sell Australia, really.

"We are such an incredible nation packed full of really special people who are always really positive and upbeat, and I think that resonates really well with other cultures. We are such a young country but a country that's also packed and steeped in our own special history. So it's a great privilege and an honour to be able to represent Australia on the world stage through our food, through our beautiful locations and through the people that live in the country.
What with how busy she is trying to save both the free world and her faltering marriage, it is little wonder Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) has not had time to get to acting classes. If she had, the Secretary of State would surely have learnt to emote a little more convincingly, to articulate a little more clearly, to move a little less woodenly. And what is with that white trenchcoat? I mean, it looks great and all, but is the walk from the Oval Office to the War Room really so chilly that she has to wear it ALL THE TIME? Maybe she is just trying to keep her blood at the optimal temperature for date night with husband Henry (Tim Daly), who reckons burgers and bowling is the shortest route to reconnecting with their younger selves. Pity then he has to jet off to Pakistan to save the world from certain annihilation after terrorists hijack the nation's nuclear weapons. "How was your day, Hon?" "Same same. Yours?" "Oh, the usual." I'll say this for Madam Secretary: it makes saving the free world look positively routine. Karl Quinn

Seven, 9pm

When a young wife is murdered while dressed as a cheerleader in her home in Glenport Village, a planned community for convicted sex offenders, there is no shortage of suspects, including her husband (cheerleader fetish? Tick). But as the team probe the assortment of "perverts" who inhabit the village, they come to a startling realisation: the community has been doing a pretty good job of policing itself to ensure that whatever its citizens' impulses, they are kept largely in check. Although it finally plays out like just another procedural  complete with the most overstaffed FBI investigation in history  what makes this episode kind of fascinating is that the fictional Glenport is in fact modelled on a real-world equivalent, Miracle Village in Florida. Yes, really. Karl Quinn

Pay: 60 Days In

CI, 9.30pm

It is white-knuckle stuff as the innocent volunteers going undercover as prisoners inside Indiana's violent, overcrowded Clark County Jail finally get locked up. None of the jail staff knows what is going on, and it is clear that the hundreds of surveillance cameras chronicling this exceedingly dangerous experiment are no deterrent to inmates prone to violence. Of all the volunteers it is burly policewoman Tami who is best prepared, but she is immediately concerned for her own safety. How mousey housewife Barbra will cope remains to be seen. Over on the men's side of the jail it is cocky teacher Robert  the guy who is deluded enough to think that he is about to blow the whistle on a taxpayer-funded country club  who is in the most imminent danger. The other inmates immediately sense that there is something strange about him and they quickly conclude that he is a cop. A terrible idea very well produced. Brad Newsome
And the union was not going to budge in Fremantle, claiming time and time again it "should be a Maritime Union seat". The MUA felt it had unfinished business in the port city after botching its chance prior to the 2013 state election to install one of its acolytes Adrian Evans in Fremantle, when a deal was cut to give United Voice member and former Union WA boss Simone McGurk the seat in exchange for Joe Bullock's number one ticket on the Senate. This time around MUA got its way, without even getting a bloodied nose... until this week at least. There is nothing unusual about Labor power brokers stepping aside and letting a union-backed candidate getting preselected for a seat in WA. The WA Labor party is jammed-packed with former union officials who were rewarded for being loyal foot soldiers.

But after Labor's abysmal performance at the WA Senate re-run in 2014, Mr Shorten had threatened to sever the ties between the unions and the ALP. His vow to have a more "inclusive", "membership-based party" has never eventuated. Former WA Premier Carmen Lawrence told Fairfax Media after Mr Brown's preselection that the fact only a handful of union heavyweights were controlling the preselection process was disfranchising rank-and-file members, preventing party reform and alienating voters. Party members, she said, felt like nothing more than spectators who were forced to turn up on election day to staff polling booths as unions worked on creating their own fiefdoms. "It's not democratic  it's an autocracy," she said, adding that the concentration of power in union hands was "obscene".

"With the unions shrinking you are selecting from a narrower class of people... from a shallower gene pool, rather than the broader community." With the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and MUA set to merge into one of the most powerful unions in the country, Dr Lawrence said unions would only have more muscle in the preselection process. Another WA Labor stalwart and ex-WA Premier Peter Dowding on Wednesday praised Mr Wilson but also had a dig at the behind-the-scenes work of the unions. Former Labor senator Chris Evans had also warned the party after the WA Senate re-run debacle in 2013 that unions were meddling too much in the preselection processes. "If Josh was preselected he would be a eminently suitable candidate," Mr Dowding said.

"I think just because you are a unionist you shouldn't be excluded, but it shouldn't also be the only criteria." Murdoch University political expert Ian Cook said the problem with "union hacks" making their way to Parliament was they were nothing more than drones serving their faction. "One of the main problems is that unions are no longer run by people - let's face it, mainly men - with imagination," he said. "When they had money, unions once invested in researchers and others who brought something more interesting to the party than just a factional line. "But that was a long time ago. I think this is frustrating for many member of the ALP, including those who believe in unions and who may well be members of unions. It affects their morale."
Melbourne man Anthony Murphy has lost a High Court bid to give people more time to enrol to vote before the next federal election.

Mr Murphy, who also unsuccessfully challenged the East West Link in the High Court in 2014, led a challenge to a law that suspends voter enrolment a week after an election is called. They argued it was unconstitutional because it disenfranchised voters. Tens of thousands of people had failed to vote in the last election because they tried to enrol during the suspension period, Mr Murphy said in court documents.



The High Court unanimously rejected their application on Thursday, and ordered Mr Murphy to pay the Commonwealth's costs. It will publish its reasons for the decision at a later date.

Anthony Murphy has lost his High Court bid. Credit:Justin McManus

Activist group GetUp, which raised money to indemnify a person it had considered adding to the list of plaintiffs in the case, offered to refund donors on its website.

Asked whether GetUp would fund Mr Murphy's costs, its democracy campaign director Josh Genner said "At this stage it's with the Commonwealth to decide whether they pursue (costs). It's our hope they will understand and respect that a man of humble means was bringing on a case solely and wholly in the public interest."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had his first unscripted moment of the election campaign, confronted by a single mother worried about educational opportunities for her two sons.

Melinda, who approached Mr Turnbull as he was leaving an engineering company in Moorabbin outside Melbourne on Thursday, said parents in that area were left disadvantaged because some could not provide the same opportunities others can.

"The cost of school is going up and up and up and yet we're not getting any more money and now you're going to take the family tax benefits away. It's not just single mums you're hurting," she said.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has changed his tune on what he once christened a "seniors' tax" by endorsing the Turnbull government's changes to superannuation.

Conceding there remained "a degree of anxiety" among voters about the crackdown on super tax concessions, he said there were no easy ways to reduce the budget deficit.

"Sometimes one good cause trumps another good cause," he said. "I think it's a gutsy call by the government."
The conservative Coalition MP issued a press release on Wednesday stating he had received an assurance from the government that no refugees would be sent to Sarina, in the Mackay region of Queensland.

But Fairfax Media has learnt Mr Christensen was motivated less by employment prospects and more by an "urban myth" that claimed a local workers' camp would be turned into a camp for refugees.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has cautiously defended Nationals MP George Christensen's opposition to resettling Syrian refugees in his electorate, agreeing it would be difficult to find them jobs.

This is even though the town of Sarina is not actually in Mr Christensen's electorate - it is in the neighbouring seat of Capricornia, about 37 kilometres south of Mackay.

Coalition MP George Christensen. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Asked about the matter on Thursday, Mr Turnbull defended Mr Christensen's position, saying an economic downturn in the area made it less likely refugees would be able to find work.

"What he's saying is because there aren't a lot of jobs around it's better for refugees who come in the humanitarian program to be located in places where there are more opportunities for work," the Prime Minister said.

"George is entitled to express an opinion about his own area, but plainly the objective when you bring in refugees into Australia [is] to put them in a position where they are given the skills and the opportunities to get into work."
Cash-strapped services that provide free legal help to family violence victims will share in a one-off $30 million funding boost but lawyers warn it comes amid greater cuts and will not solve the national legal aid crisis.

Attorney-General George Brandis announced on Thursday that $30 million of the Turnbull government's second $100 million family violence package - announced in last week's budget - would go to a select group of legal aid commissions, community legal centres and family relationship centres over the next three years.

Senator Brandis said the money would help deal with "family violence matters at the coalface where these present first, when women come to legal assistance providers ... in fractured domestic relationships and they tell of the violence and threat that they have suffered in their own homes."
Tony Abbott's former chief of staff, Peta Credlin, has rounded on Malcolm Turnbull's campaign team for appearing elitist after cancelling a planned street walk in Western Sydney on Wednesday following questions over last year's leadership change.

In a damning assessment, Ms Credlin, who lost her job along with Mr Abbott in the September coup that installed Mr Turnbull as Prime Minister, poured scorn on the tactical retreat. Speaking on Sky News, she said that the decision to abandon a walk through of a shopping precinct with Lindsay backbencher Fiona Scott sent a bad message to voters.

"I was surprised that they were flat-footed," said Ms Credlin of the Turnbull campaign team.
Shoppers would pay an extra 50 a litre for milk in a plan being pushed by desperate farmers, after major dairy companies slashed the prices they pay for raw milk.

An emergency "milk levy" was one idea backed by dairy farmers and councillors who held a crisis meeting in the south-west Victorian town of Terang on Wednesday night.

Farmers are also demanding the Turnbull government urgently intervene to address a situation they say threatens the livelihood of producers and the viability of Australia's milk exports.

Chris Gleeson, president of grassroots farming collective Farmer Power, said the proposed levy meant a typical consumer would spend an extra $50 on milk a year, "which would solve the crisis of the dairy industry and have food security for our nation".
A parent at a western Sydney public school claims her child was asked withdraw from NAPLAN exams because it could affect the school's overall average mark.

In a letter to the NSW Department of Education, the mother says her child was "invited to withdraw" to "stop him from becoming stressed about the test". She elected for him to do the tests, which concluded on Thursday with maths.

The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority strongly discourages schools from withdrawing students from tests as it prevents the individual's progress being measured over their schooling career. Since 2008, educators have been concerned that standardised testing could lead to increased competitiveness between schools.

The President of the NSW Teachers' Federation, Maurie Mulheron, said that concerns about students being asked to withdraw from testing had been bubbling around the private school sector for years.
Walcha, where Joyce played footy, could be still merged with Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra and Uralla but conveniently, this proposal is still being considered. What's the bet it's after July 2?

Premier Mike Baird, Minister for Local Government Paul Toole, and Deputy Premier Troy Grant address the media on local council amalgamations. Credit:Janie Barrett

Also on hold, for no particular reason, is the merger of Newcastle and Port Stephens, and that of Maitland and Dungog. Both were recommended by their delegates. They overlap with Paterson held by the Liberals' Bob Baldwin, who is retiring. A redistribution means it's now a notional Labor seat by 0.4 per cent.

The unpopular merger of Bathurst and Oberon, which overlaps with Calare, held by the Nationals, is thankfully held up by court action. Despite a margin of 15 per cent to the Nationals, this seat could be vulnerable from the "tree change" factor. Also held up in the legal process are mergers in Prime MInister Malcolm Turnbull's seat of Wentworth (18.9 per cent); in Liberal Trent Zimmerman's seat of North Sydney (10 per cent) and in Liberal Craig Laundy's marginal seat of Reid (3.4 per cent).

In Baird's own neck of the woods, he's done an about-face on his earlier plan for two councils on the northern beaches. Tony Abbott, in the seat of Warringah (15.9 per cent), will be relieved because those in Warringah Council faced obliteration; the new candidate for McKellar, which spans Pittwater and part of Warringah councils, Jason Falinski (18.8 per cent) less so. The good burghers of Pittwater hated Warringah so much they seceded in the 1980s.
Sydney's most high-profile insider trading trial has pitted former school friends against each other as the defence barrister for Oliver Curtis, investment banker and husband of PR queen Roxy Jacenko, accused the star witness of turning on a "good mate" to reduce his own jail time.

Mr Curtis, 30, is charged with conspiring with his childhood friend, John Hartman, to commit insider trading offences that netted the pair an alleged $1.43 million between May 2007 and June 2008.

Mr Hartman, who has already served jail time for insider trading, is the prosecution's star witness.
An investigation into complaints into the governance of the historic Rookwood Cemetery, and that members of some religions were charged thousands more for burial than others, has resulted in resignations and the axing of its board.

The chairman of the board of Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust, Robert Wilson, resigned on Wednesday afternoon, said the Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair.

Headstones at Rookwood cemetery. Credit:Rick Stevens

The remaining board was dissolved by the NSW Government following an investigation into the cemetery's prices, burials and governance.

The investigation was prompted by complaints from the Jewish and Muslim communities, which said their communities were being charged more for burials than others and that they were being disadvantaged by the governance and management practices being adopted.
A teenage girl has been stabbed in the back during a robbery on a street in Sydney's west.

The 14-year-old girl was walking along Swinson Road in Blacktown with a 15-year-old boy about 8.30pm on Thursday when they were confronted by a man, who threatened them and demanded the girl hand over her backpack.

A struggle broke out and the girl was stabbed in the back, before the offender fled with her bag.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the girl at the scene before taking her to The Children's Hospital at Westmead with injuries that police said were not life-threatening.
The release of Disney's Finding Nemo more than a decade ago kicked off a continuous decline of wild clownfish populations as people rushed to buy their very own 'Nemo'.

Australian scientists are concerned the upcoming release of Finding Dory could see another spike in the sale of ornamental marine species.

Dory and Marlin from Finding Nemo. Credit:Pixar

Researchers from the University of Queensland and Flinders University at Adelaide have created The Saving Nemo Conservation Fund to stop the taking of wild ornamental marine species like the clownfish from the wild.

Marine biologist and co-founder Anita Nedosyko said she was working at an aquarium and researching clownfish when Finding Nemo was released in 2003.
Instagram changed its logo and, predictably, the internet was not entirely pleased. To put it bluntly: It freaked out.

The popular app ditched its old-timey camera icon - the one that actually looked like a camera - and replaced it with a square symbol that evoked a camera, rendered in the vivid colours and simple lines of the "flat design" aesthetic. It was sleek, minimalist and, according to many users, kind of basic.

The new Instagram logo that left users less than impressed. Credit:Instagram.com

The company said simplicity was the goal. In a blog post, it said the new logo reflected the app's explosive growth in popularity over the past five years from a photo-sharing service to "a global community of interests" whose users share more than 80 million photos and videos each day.
A Supreme Court jury on Thursday found Mr Gant, 60, guilty of two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and one of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception involving the three artworks. Muhammad Aman Siddique Credit:Ken Irwin Mr Siddique, 67, was found guilty of two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and one count of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception. In her closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Susan Borg said the art fraud had its origins after Mr Gant bought an authentic Whiteley painting, View From The Sitting Room Window, Lavender Bay, at auction for $1,650,000 in March 2007. Ms Borg said this painting was then sent to Mr Siddique's Collingwood studio a short time later and Mr Gant used it as a blueprint to create fake paintings.

The prosecutor said much had been made during the trial of how art dealers from esteemed auction houses were convinced the three paintings were real. "Auction houses that work on a commission basis, on the sale of such work, you might think they might have a vested interest in saying how terrific something is ..." she said. Wendy Whiteley, widow of Australian artist Brett Whiteley. Credit:Jesse Marlow Ms Borg said none of the art dealers had the same intimate knowledge of Brett Whiteley's work as his widow, Wendy, who was adamant the paintings were fakes. What the jury was not told during the trial was how police suspected more forgeries had been created in Siddique's Collingwood studio and sold but there was simply not enough evidence to prove it.

The Crown was also not allowed to introduce evidence from Richard Simon over a conversation he claimed to have had with Mr Siddique when delivering a number of doors to his Collingwood studio. The eccentric Whiteley was known to paint many artworks on doors. Mr Simon claimed he argued with Mr Siddique over the quality of the door frames in November in front of Mr Gant. "I said to him (Mr Siddique) that he knew what he was getting, that he was getting oversized doors," Mr Simon told police. "He (Mr Siddique) then said, 'The artwork to be painted on these doors is worth over a million dollars, I can't have joins'." Ms Borg argued Mr Simon's evidence was fundamental to the Crown case as it allegedly showed how Mr Gant and Mr Siddique were involved in a joint criminal conspiracy.
A controversial suggestion that a 50 cent levy be applied to every litre of fresh milk sold has divided the dairy industry, with some describing it as a knee-jerk response to an industry in crisis.

But farmers have again called for an increase in the price consumers pay for supermarket milk and blasted the major supermarkets for selling fresh milk as cheap as $1 a litre, saying the price did not properly reflect the value of the product.

Dairy farmer Paul Mumford on his Won Wron farm. Mr Mumford does not support a 50 cent levy on fresh milk sales. Credit:Joe Armao

Victorian dairy farmer Chris Gleeson, president of the group Farmer Power, warned some farmers could lose up to $250,000 between April and June after Australia's dairy processors slashed the price they pay them for milk recently.

"The carpet has been pulled from underneath those farmers. It's shattered their confidence," Mr Gleeson.
Five Melbourne men suspected of trying to travel to Indonesia on a seven-metre fishing boat in a bid to get to Syria could be kept in custody under an application being prepared by federal police.

It is understood the AFP could apply to hold the men for up to seven days without charge as they piece together the bizarre plot, in which the five allegedly towed a boat from Melbourne to far north Queensland in a plan to fight with Islamic State in Syria.

The application could be made as early as Thursday morning.
The teenager accused of fatally crashing a mini-motorbike into a woman while she was on a zebra crossing faces going back into custody, for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

Caleb Jakobsson, 19, was granted bail by a Supreme Court judge last year, after three weeks in custody, on charges over the death of Andrea Lehane, who was hit by a so-called "monkey" motorbike outside a Carrum Downs shopping centre on September 23 last year.

Caleb Jakobsson was granted bail by a Supreme Court judge last year. Credit:Eddie Jim

Ms Lehane, a 34-year-old mother of two, suffered critical head injuries when thrown up to seven metres, police allege. Her family had her life support turned off two days later.

Mr Jakobsson last month had his bail revoked after police alleged he had breached a court order eight times by failing to abide by a curfew, but he was granted bail again by magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg.
Hundreds of refugee supporters have shut down part of Melbourne's CBD to protest against the Turnbull government's offshore detention program.

The protesters initially locked themselves inside the lift well in the foyer of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection building on the corner of Lonsdale and Spring Streets.

Protesters inside the Immigration Department building in Melbourne on Thursday evening.

The rally blocked the entrance to the immigration department building and prevented staff from leaving the office for more than an hour.

When police eventually convinced protesters to leave the building, they marched up and down Lonsdale Street, bringing trams and traffic to a standstill.
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has refused to step down. Credit:Heather McNeill "But in the end its just untenable. "It's not about personalities or about whether Lisa is a good person or not. It's about looking after the ratepayers and this capital city. "Stand aside Lisa, this cloud sitting on top of us is not allowing the place to function." However the lord mayor is standing firm. The West Australian reported that believed that she still had the support of the majority of the council.

"I am standing firm. I am not resigning, I am waiting for the SAT," she said. Fellow councillor Janet Davidson disagreed with Councillor Limnios' stand. "That is obviously his view. I don't think it will be the majority view among the other councillors," she said. James Limnios' move on Thursday represents a major change in his loyalties. In October last year he signed a statement issued by the then Deputy Lord Mayor fully supporting Lisa Scaffidi. "As Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, I, Rob Butler along with fellow councillors Jim Adamos, Lily Chen, Janet Davidson, James Limnios, Judy McEvoy and Keith Yong give out united and full support for Lisa Scaffidi - our current Lord Mayor. We are so proud of our collective achievements under her leadership and vision," said the statement.

He told 6PR that the situation had changed too significantly for him to continue backing her. "There are new circumstances, a new report that confirms what was said by the CCC and a whole lot more," he said. "It has changed because the ratepayers of the city of Perth feel that it can't continue this way. I need to step up for my people. This is not about me." The CCC report saying that Lisa Scaffidi has failed in her duties as Lord Mayor by not disclosing gifts was published on October 5, 2015. The councillors statement pledging their support for her was published two days later.



Australian Federal Police refer Perth mayor Lisa Scaffidi to the Corruption and Crime Commission after US investigators found BHP Billiton gave her flights and tickets to the 2008 Beijing Olympics worth up to $US36,000 as part of a wider probe into the firm's entertainment of foreign officials, for which it was later fined $32 million.

Scaffidi tries to take control of Kings Park, UWA, Crown Casino, the new Perth Stadium and Oxford Street in Leederville among other lucrative landmarks by incorporating them into redrawn City of Perth boundary maps. The grab for greater cash and control later fails when Colin Barnett abandons amalgamation plans.

CCC declares she failed in her duties by accepting a raft of undeclared gifts and trips

Claims she "would've disclosed my underwear" if she knew she had to in relation to the CCC findings, despite being on council for almost 10 years



Scaffidi pledges to release crucial documents in her defence but claims CCC Act prevents it. CCC then urges her to release them  she doesn't. Councillors at the City of Perth, including James Limnios, pledge their support for Lisa Scaffidi.

Deputy Mayor Rob Butler found to have also taken undeclared trip, later dumped by voters

City of Perth ratepayers told they can't change postal votes in wake of Scaffidi misconduct

Dumped from Local Government Standards Panel, which hears misconduct complaints against councillors

Documents reveal she and council spend $1m hosting parties and guests at Council House



Narrowly avoids defeat in council elections.

Forced to accept greater transparency measures to help City of Perth Act pass in Parliament

Threatens to quit after Local Government Department launches its own review into her conduct

Councillors sack City of Perth CEO Gary Stevenson, who pushed for greater transparency from council

Imposes unofficial media ban on City of Perth council and staff in wake of CEO sacking



Subiaco Mayor says Scaffidi and council are too unstable to take on Subiaco residents

Admits there are even more undisclosed overseas trips she has taken that are being probed

Tells those worried about safety of Jacob's Ladder to "get a grip" and they deserve a "working over" for raising concerns about its future. It was closed indefinitely for urgent repairs soon after.

Attacks respected Nine News journalist Liam Bartlett on social media about his "botox" and "bad breath"

WA Premier says Scaffidi's reputation is damaged and calls for department to finalise investigation and make it available to the public.
A Mandurah teacher accused of secretly filming students in a primary school toilet while they changed has made a brief appearance in court.

The 58-year-old, who cannot be identified due to a suppression order, is charged with 27 counts of indecently recording a child under 13 years old, 15 counts of attempting to indecently record a child under 13 years old and 10 counts of unlawfully installing an optical surveillance device.

Police will allege the man, who lives in Perth's southern suburbs, recorded children using a hidden camera on a pen hanging on a coat in the toilets. Credit:Eddie Jim

He appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday, hiding his face from awaiting media with his hoodie as he entered court.

The case was adjourned until June 9 to allow police to complete a report into devices seized from the teacher's home.
Nashua: An hour-long police chase that began in the US state of Massachusetts and stretched into New Hampshire ended with a sudden burst of violence, as video footage showed at least two officers repeatedly punching the driver as he got out of his vehicle.

The brief and violent incident was captured on camera by a helicopter overhead and was broadcast on live television. One of the agencies involved in the chase said it was now reviewing the "use of force" in the arrest.

Video captured by the helicopter showed the pickup truck, allegedly driven by 50-year-old Richard Simone, being followed by multiple police cars as it travelled down a tree-lined street in the town of Nashua on Wednesday afternoon, local time.

Simone's vehicle stops in a dead-end street and more than half a dozen officers, one with a police dog, can be seen in the video approaching the vehicle as Simone climbs out, gets down on his knees and begins to lie down on the street.
Beijing: When do you know your country's police force has a major credibility problem? Perhaps when the court of public opinion sides instead with a man alleged to have visited a brothel just two weeks after his wife gave birth to their first child. On their wedding anniversary.

The murky death of 29-year-old Lei Yang while briefly in police custody has set social media in China alight, with accusations of police brutality resonating widely and propelling the case into what is now a major national news story.

Wife of Lei Yang speaking to the media after the case went viral.

And what should have been a routine police bust of an illegal brothel masquerading as a foot massage parlour in outer-suburban Beijing has instead shone a rare light on the extent of the public's distrust in law enforcement, in a country where the police, judiciary and media are all controlled by the government, and where the police has a reputation for operating above the law without being held to account.

The public outcry even sent law enforcement officials scrambling onto state television to provide an exhaustive account of events. But this too has been met with widespread cynicism and disbelief, and prompted angry claims from Lei's family that police were "misleading public opinion".
Brazilian media reported she planned to receive the advice in the company of former president and mentor Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Workers' Party ministers and supporters. Pro- Rousseff supporters stand draped in flags in front of heavy police presence outside the Congress in Brasilia on Wednesday, Credit:Bloomberg The session's presiding senator will then visit Vice-President Michel Temer, himself the subject of impeachment requests and corruption probes. Mr Temer will assume the presidency for the duration of the trial and is likely to preside over the Rio Olympics in August. Brazil's ambassador to Australia, Manuel Innocencio Santos, said he expected Brazil to go back to "business as usual" as early as Friday, as Mr Temer has already assembled a new ministry. Fernando Collor, senator and former president of Brazil, speaks during a session of the lower house to vote on the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff. Credit:Bloomberg

Mr Temer planned to swear in new ministers on Thursday afternoon, Senator Romero Juca, head of his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), said. Among the changes expected are a reduction of ministries from 32 to 22, and a reduction in the number of bureaucratic staff in those ministries that remain to help with cost reduction. Ministers aligned with Ms Rousseff's Workers' Party were expected to resign en masse. Members of the senate attend a session of the lower house to vote on the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia on Wednesday. Credit:Bloomberg "I'd like to believe it will be business as usual. Now Brazilians can concentrate so that the Olympics run smoothly," Mr Santos said. Outside Congress, where a metal fence was erected to keep apart rival protests, about 6000 backers of impeachment had earlier chanted "Out with Dilma" while police used pepper spray to disperse gangs of Rousseff supporters, who hurled flares back. One person was arrested for inciting violence.

Police keep watch outside the Justice Ministry during protests. Credit:Getty Images Rousseff supporters, including indigenous tribespeople, repeated their message that the impeachment process was a coup engineered by the media and the elite. Popularly re-elected in October 2014, Ms Rousseff has however lost most of her support base amid a political crisis that saw her popularity crash to 10 per cent in the latest polls. Indigenous tribe members attend a demonstration against Rousseff's impeachment in Brasilia on Wednesday. Credit:Getty Images On Tuesday, she appeared to reflect on her time as president, and the 13 years of Workers' Party rule.

"I carry with me the strength of the women and the men who have become protagonists of their rights, subject of their rights in these last 13 years," she said, at a national convention for women's policies. An anti-impeachment demonstrator is frisked after clashes with police outside the National Congress building while the Senate vote is held. Credit:Getty Images "I carry with me the 63 million Brazilians who had no medical care and now have, through the More Doctors program. I carry in me the strength of the 36 million Brazilians who have left poverty. I also carry all of the more than four million who entered the university. And I carry all those children of bricklayers who became doctors." Before the vote, Ms Rousseff's official Facebook page said she would continue to fight. An anti-impeachment demonstrator is carried on a stretcher by rescue workers after being overcome by police pepper spray at a demonstration in Brasilia on Wednesday. Credit:Getty Images

"Disloyalty and betrayal drive me to fight. I will never stop looking after the Constitution and the rights we have conquered." Ms Rousseff is accused of breaking budgetary laws by taking loans to boost public spending and mask the sinking state of the economy during her 2014 re-election campaign. The Presidential Guard Dragons Independence change the Brazilian flag on the Palacio do Planalto. Credit:Getty Images Glenn Greenwald, of Wikileaks fame, who runs his online publication The Intercept from Rio de Janeiro and has been denouncing the impeachment process as a travesty of democracy, again weighed into the debate on Wednesday with an opinion piece titled Brazil's Democracy to Suffer Grievous Blow Today as Unelectable, Corrupt Neoliberal is Installed.

"Whatever damage [Workers' Party] PT is doing to Brazil, the plutocrats and their journalist-propagandists and the band of thieves in Brasilia engineering this travesty are far more dangerous. They are literally dismantling  crushing  democracy in the world's fifth-largest country," Greenwald wrote. Greenwald argues media interests, chiefly the Globo group, has deliberately helped construct the pro-impeachment narrative, by printing and broadcasting propaganda favouring Ms Rousseff's removal. The political crisis has left Brazil deeply divided, with many outraged at Ms Rousseff for presiding over an economic collapse and colossal corruption, epitomised by a sprawling scandal over bribery at state-run oil giant Petrobras. As each senator spoke during Wednesday's marathon session, one former supporter spoke of his change of heart. Cristovam Buarque, a former staunch Workers' Party member and education minister in the Lula administration said the party had abandoned its social remit.
CAYMAN ISLANDS:--- Mr Jude Scott, CEO of Cayman Finance said the publishing on Monday of the online database of entities, officers and intermediaries linked to the Panama Papers release showed links to the Cayman Islands to be relatively minor in scale in terms of the volume of data.

Of the 214,000 offshore companies set up by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, only 104 had a link to the Cayman Islands, these being of the typical range of business expected of a global financial hub such as Cayman, Mr Scott said.

Cayman Finance and the Cayman Islands have no tolerance for those who choose to violate our laws, he said. Unfortunately, no jurisdiction in the world is free from the threat of criminal financial activity. Top jurisdictions ensure appropriate law enforcement authorities are empowered and informed fully to prevent crimes, investigate and apprehend criminals. On these efforts the Cayman Islands has been a leader.

The Cayman Islands financial services industry has been a recognised for decades as a strong international partner in combatting corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion. We meet or exceed all globally-accepted standards for transparency and cross border cooperation with law enforcement. The Cayman Islands is a transparent jurisdiction, Mr Scott said.

Mr Scott said Caymans financial services industrys collaborative relationship with government was supporting further enhancements to the jurisdictions legal infrastructure to promote even greater transparency with law enforcement.

These enhancements include a new agreement to provide UK authorities access to beneficial ownership information with the utmost urgency, but in a way that is also appropriate for our jurisdiction. These further include a newly announced prohibition on the use of bearer shares, repeal of Caymans Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law and new data protection legislation that will be on par with what is in place in the European Union, he said.

Combatting global financial crime requires a unified legal, social and law enforcement approach  and not just by any one jurisdiction, but by all G20 countries and International Financial Centres. We will continue working with those who pursue practical solutions that also recognise the critical role International Financial Centres like the Cayman Islands play in the global economy, Mr Scott said.

For more information about Cayman Finance visit www.caymanfinance.ky
PHILIPSBURG:--- Five members of The Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle recently returned from the Annual District 7020 Conference and President's Elect Training which was held in the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

Attendance at this event offered the incoming president and secretaries of all Rotary clubs in the district an opportunity to learn more about Rotary and to prepare for the upcoming Rotary year which starts on July 1, 2016. Incoming president Veronica Jansen-Webster and incoming secretary Kishor Mirchandani attended the conference with Assistant District Governor Louis Wever, President David Antrobus and Rotarian Denise Antrobus.

The highlight of the conference was the awards ceremony in which the District Governor awarded the clubs for the work they have done in their respective communities. The Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle collected seven awards:

The Public Image Award for profiling the work of the club in the media

The Club Builder Award for the 2nd highest growth percentage in membership in the district

The Club Builder Award for the 2nd highest actual new members in the district

The Club of the Month Silver Award

The Assistant Governor's Award for the Mid Isle member who is the Assistant Governor of our area.

A Special Posthumous Award of Recognition from the district for deceased Mid Isle Rotarian Ramesh Manek who was recognized not only by the district, but by the international founder of the World's Greatest Meal to End Polio for his efforts in the district to help eradicate polio from the world.

The seventh and most prestigious award was the District Governor's Award for Excellence - Gold.

The Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle is pleased to receive this recognition for it's work in the community and would like to thank all the sponsors who have assisted us to do good in our community and the world. We would also like to thank the media for their cooperation in getting the word out about our activities and helping us to reach people when inviting them to participate in our activities. We look forward to your continued support of Mid Isle activities as we all join together in Service above Self.

For more information about Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle or if you would like to join one of our meetings

contact us via our Facebook page: www. facebook.com/rotarysxmmidisle
The Cayman Islands Law Society and the Caymanian Bar Association have endorsed the anti-corruption statement released by UK and Irish professional bodies including The Law Society of England and Wales, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Alasdair Robertson, President of the Cayman Islands Law Society said Financial crime is a serious global problem that requires a unified legal and law enforcement response. The Cayman Islands legal profession is committed, alongside its colleagues in the UK, to fight against corruption in all forms.

Members of the Cayman Islands Law Society and the Caymanian Bar Association have, for many decades, played a key role in assisting the Cayman Islands government to develop and implement legislation that promotes effective transparency and cross border cooperation with law enforcement and tax authorities. This legislation meets, and in many cases exceeds, international regulatory standards and comparable regimes in G20 countries.

Abraham Thoppil, President of the Caymanian Bar Association, added The Cayman Islands has a strong record of promoting transparency through close collaboration and compliance with the relevant global regulatory bodies, in line with international standards and we, alongside our partners in the Cayman Islands, will continue to work to promote effective transparency and cross border cooperation in order to encourage global tax compliance and to ensure Cayman is trusted as a well regulated, cooperative and transparent jurisdiction.

- ends -

The Cayman Islands Law Society ("Law Society") is the professional association that represents the entire private sector legal profession of the Cayman Islands. Membership is open to persons who are admitted as Cayman Islands attorneys-at-law. The Law Society currently has over 400 members.

The Caymanian Bar Association was established in 1988 after senior Caymanian attorneys perceived the need for an organisation to address issues of particular relevance to Caymanian attorneys and effectively to represent the views of Caymanian attorneys who were, and are, a minority in the profession in the Cayman Islands. To that end, all Caymanians (as defined in the Immigration Law (2015 Revision)), who are admitted to practise as an attorney in the Cayman Islands and possess a current practising certificate, are eligible to be members of the CBA. Most Caymanian attorneys that are eligible have joined the CBA, and today it represents the interests of more than 200 Caymanian attorneys.

The Cayman Islands has international agreements to share tax information with authorities in nearly 90 other countries. The jurisdiction is recognised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international bodies as having transparency and standards consistent with those of other major developed countries. The Cayman Islands is Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliant jurisdiction and has accepted the FATF Forty Recommendations on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Nine Special Recommendations on Countering Terrorist Financing. The Cayman Islands is also a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee for the Promotion of Law studies (Commissie Rechtsgeleerdheisbevordering) installed by the Honorable Minister of Finance, Mr. Richard Gibson on February 5th 2016, has completed part of their assignment by conducting an exploratory survey in which the following main topics were addressed:

a) The need assessment (for the study)

b) The academic background;

c) The financing of the study.

A total of 96 surveys were returned from the private and public sectors and from students of the secondary schools. The findings will serve as basis for the wider study that will include extensive interviews with members of the political, economic, and civil societies on the island, as well as the explorations of partnerships with universities on Aruba, Curacao, and the Netherlands offering law programs.

Following the survey the Committee commissioned two experts in the persons of Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, president of the University of St Martin (coordinator of the feasibility study and business plan) and Dr. Peter Klik retired former Dean and Lecturer of the law faculty of the University of Curacao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez (formerly the University of the Netherlands Antilles) to produce a feasibility report and a business plan for establishing a law faculty on Sint Maarten, and, or, creating the facilities to allow interested Sint Maarteners to obtain their law degree.

For this purpose Dr. Klik was invited to Sint Maarten on May 11th 2016 to further work out the agreement of his task and to commence the research to obtain the information for the reports.

On May 11th 2016, Dr. Klik paid a courtesy visit to the Finance Minister, Mr. Richard Gibson. The team of experts will be holding various meetings with several stakeholders in the coming days.

The target date for completion of the feasibility study and business plan is June 30th 2016.
PHILIPSBURG:--- A male suspect well-known to police with initials A.F.A has been arrested on Tuesday May 10th 2016 at approximately 09.30 p.m. in connection with an ongoing attempted assault with a deadly weapon, attempted manslaughter and possession of illegal drugs investigation. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Public Prosecutors Office. The incident took place on January 23rd 2016 on the Soualiga Boulevard in the vicinity of the Festival Village in Philipsburg.

While conducting a search of the suspect a large kitchen knife and 16 small plastic bags each containing an amount of marihuana, prepared for distribution, was found and confiscated for further investigation. The suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Another male suspect with initials R.O.N.R. was arrested by police on the Walther Plantz Square on Wednesday May 11th 08.35 p.m. This arrest was made based on a warrant for his arrest as a suspect in numerous serious criminal activities such as, armed robbery and rape. At the moment the suspect realized that the police was about the approach him, he took off running to avoid his capture. A warning shot was fired by police. The suspect did not stop and continued fleeing. While running away the suspect lots his footing on two occasions causing him fall to ground. As a result of this the suspect sustained injuries to his face. The suspect also resisted heavily against his arrest, but was quickly brought under control by the arresting officers. He was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station for further investigation. At the police station the suspect was treated at by paramedics for the injuries he sustained and then taken to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. After treatment the suspect was brought back to the police station where he remains in custody.
EnSync Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results

MILWAUKEE, WI  (Marketwired)  05/11/16  EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba a leading developer of innovative energy management systems for the utility, commercial, industrial and multi-tenant building markets, today announced third quarter fiscal 2016 results, ended March 31, 2016.

Successfully signed an agreement for the sale leaseback of the Companys first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) project in Hawaii;

The construction of the remaining PPA projects in Tranche 1 is approximately 85 percent complete, with the Company actively pursuing the sale of the remaining projects;

Entered into a strategic alliance with Open Access Technologies International, Inc. (OATI) which is focused on providing connectivity and management capability for a utility to utilize distributed energy resources through OATIs GridControl and webSmartEnergy command, control and communications platform in conjunction with the EnSync Matrix Energy Management platform managing the distributed energy generating assets;

In addition to the newly signed agreement with OATI, progress continues to be made on the existing system installation at the facility in Bloomington, MN, with the Phase I installation expected to be completed in the current quarter and the Phase II expansion being scheduled for late this summer;

EnSyncs Cayman Islands installation is essentially complete and awaiting permit closeout, which is expected to occur this quarter, and is already yielding excellent marketing results as a reference project in the region;

Commencing the compilation of PPA projects in Tranche 2, and

Continued focus on operational efficiencies has resulted in a reduction in operating expenses from $4.3 million in the previous quarter to $3.6 million in the current quarter.

Brad Hansen, president and chief executive officer of EnSync Energy Systems, commented, We are extremely pleased with the ongoing progress with our PPA business model. Project execution has been better than expected and investor development is progressing well. The conclusion of our successful sale-leaseback agreement for our Honolulu Christian Church power purchase agreement (PPA) is an important milestone in the history of EnSync. Policies at the local, federal and global level remain supportive with reductions or eliminations in net metering programs and implementation of time of use rates and demand charges creating an inflection point for accelerated growth in energy storage behind the meter. EnSyncs products and energy management capabilities are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these policy and regulation changes setting the stage for continued company growth, as we further the deployment of our solutions around the world.

Mr. Hansen continued, In addition to our PPA project opportunities, we continue to provide our products and solutions through straight system sales. Our previously announced installation at OATI in Minnesota, where we are providing our Agile Hybrid Energy Storage and Matrix Energy Management solutions will soon be complete. Additionally, our Cayman Technology Center project in George Town, Grand Cayman, remains on target, and will be a key reference project as we look to penetrate the Caribbean marketplace. Lastly, our strategic alliance with OATI provides us with a key sales channel to North American utilities and will help us take a leading market position in enabling the owner of distributed energy generation resources to provide supply response on demand and ancillary services to the grid operator or utility.

Jim Schott, chief financial officer of EnSync Energy Systems, commented, We made significant strides in our commitment to reduce our operating expenses during the quarter. Our objective to reduce operating expenses (excluding depreciation), to below $3.8 million per quarter by the beginning of next year was accomplished two quarters earlier than committed, with operating expenses of $3.6 million during the third quarter. We will continue to look for efficiencies in our cost structure, while maintaining our commitment to grow the business on a go forward basis.

Mr. Hansen concluded, We are making progress towards executing against our strategic objectives, but still have plenty of work to do. Our near-term focus is on the successful sale of the remaining Hawaiian PPA projects in our initial tranche, as well as the successful delivery and launch of our solutions in Minnesota and the Cayman Islands. Longer term, we feel confident in our pipeline, including in Hawaii, where we are beginning to enter into agreements for our second tranche of PPA projects, and are working hard to develop additional opportunities throughout the world. We believe we have a tremendous product portfolio with a strong pipeline of project opportunities that will allow EnSync to end calendar year 2017 at a cash flow break-even run rate.

Total revenue for third quarter which ended March 31, 2016 was $0.1 million compared to $0.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, and $0.6 million for the three months that ended March 31, 2015. Total costs and expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $3.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $4.7 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2016, and $3.8 million in the year ago third quarter. Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $(4.0) million, or $(0.08) per basic and diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $(4.5) million, or $(0.10) per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, and $(3.5) million, or $(0.09) per basic and diluted share, in the year ago third quarter.

Current backlog for components, systems and engineering services is approximately $2.1 million. Additionally, the Company has acquired PPA contracts valued at approximately $13.0 million, including the newly signed agreements for Tranche 2.

The Company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2016 with total assets of $40.5 million, including $21.8 million in cash. As of March 31, 2016, we have cumulative project costs of $7.3 million related to purchase power agreements. We plan to recover these costs before the end of our fiscal year as we sell or finance these projects.

Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT)

Domestic participant dial in #: 888-797-2983

Participant passcode #: 6959431

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. A replay of the call will be available later on the same day via the investor relations section of the companys web site at until June 12, 2016.

Domestic replay #: 888-203-1112

Replay passcode #: 6959431

EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, is enabling the future of electricity with advanced energy management systems critical to a global economy becoming increasingly reliant upon the expansion of renewable energy. Whether part of the grid power transmission and distribution network, or behind the meter in commercial, industrial and multi-tenant buildings, EnSync technology brings differentiated power control and energy storage solutions to electricity-challenged environments. Our technologies also serve as the system level intelligence in microgrid applications, by seamlessly integrating multiple generation and storage assets to deliver power in remote and community level environments not served by the grid, or areas electing to use the grid secondary to microgrid assets. In 2015, EnSync incorporated power purchase agreements (PPAs) into its portfolio of offerings, enabling electricity savings for customers and providing a stable financial yield for investors. EnSync is a global corporation, with a joint venture in AnHui, China at Meineng Energy, as well as a strategic partnership with Solar Power, Inc. (SPI). For more information, visit: .

Certain statements made in this press release 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 that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as believe, expect, may, will, should, could, seek, intend, plan, estimate, anticipate or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release may address the following subjects among others: our ability to monetize our PPA assets, statements regarding the sufficiency of our capital resources, expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses and our expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Lytham Partners, LLC

Robert Blum, Joseph Diaz, or Joe Dorame

(602) 889-9700

Michelle Montague

(262) 735-5676
GSX Solutions White Paper: Why IronPort Monitoring Is Critical for Your Business

BOSTON, MA  (Marketwired)  05/12/16  [], the global leader in proactive, consolidated monitoring and reporting of Unified Communication environments, including Microsoft, IBM, BlackBerry, Cisco ESA, SQL Server applications, today announced a new white paper to discuss why Cisco IronPort monitoring is critical for your business and how GSX Solutions can help track IronPort health, performance and usage. One of the primary functions of Ciscos IronPort appliance is mail security, including encryption, anti-spam, and antivirus. IronPort acts as a critical part of the messaging environment, making visibility into the status of its health and usage a must for businesses.

This GSX Solutions white paper will explore why IronPort monitoring is critical for businesses, the common issues administrators face, and how GSX Solutions supports organizations using it by:

Monitoring IronPort health, performance, usage, as well as network availability and latency, while simultaneously testing and troubleshooting the messaging environment.

Proactive end-to-end IronPort monitoring to avoid any issue before it affects your business lines.

License Management to prevent any unexpected critical service failure.

Easier troubleshooting, reducing the mean time to repair (MTTR).

Agentless architecture for fast and non-intrusive deployment.

To access the white paper Why IronPort Monitoring is Critical for Your Business please click here:

GSX Solutions is the global leader in non-intrusive, agentless analysis and management of consolidated enterprise collaboration, messaging environments including infrastructure, cloud, networks, database, mobility, operating systems  all from a single platform. Whether for on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments, GSXs solutions are designed to not only assess the performance of applications themselves, but to monitor all components that might impact the quality of performance. GSXs goal is to enhance the end-user experience through agentless robot users to proactively collect all applications data; a modern platform to visualize and analyze the information with insightful reports and forecasts while helping IT administrators to meet ROI goals.

GSX is a Microsoft Systems Center Alliance Partner, and a Microsoft Silver Partner on Messaging competency. For more product information and partner opportunities, please visit .

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
Rheinmetall with a good start to fiscal 2016: high order intake and increased earnings in the first quarter

Consolidated sales up 2 % to ?,180 million in the first quarter when adjusted for currency effects

? Operating earnings for the Group improve by ? million to ?1 million

? Strong order intake in Defence of around ?50 million and significantly improved earnings

? Automotive maintains profitability at high level of 8 %

? Order backlog reaches new high of ?.3 billion

? Rating outlook improved from negative to stable

The Dusseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group started the new fiscal year with a slight increase in sales and a sharper rise in earnings. The Group?s order backlog has reached a new high.

The Dusseldorf technology group has confirmed its annual forecast for 2016 and continues to target consolidated sales of roughly ?5.5 billion and an operating margin of around 6 % for the fiscal year.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG: Having obtained important orders and performed successfully overall, we are on track to achieve our targets for 2016. In the first quarter, which is typically rather weak in this industry, the Defence sector impressed with a high order intake, increased sales and a further improvement in operating earnings. Automotive still shows high profitability and has maintained sales and earnings at the good level of the previous year.

In the first quarter of 2016, Rheinmetall generated consolidated sales of ?1,180 million, a slight increase of 1 % (same quarter of the previous year: ?1,173 million). Adjusted for currency effects, the growth was 2 %, with the proportion of business activities abroad increasing to 76 % after 74 % in the first quarter of 2015.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased from ?22 million to ?31 million, growing by ?9 million or approximately 40 %. This positive development resulted from the good business performance of the Defence sector.

At the end of the first quarter, the order backlog in the Rheinmetall Group amounted to ?7.3 billion, which represents growth of ?247 million on the comparative figure for the previous year.

In April 2016, the rating agency Moody?s raised its outlook for Rheinmetall?s Ba1 rating from negative to stable. This improvement was made possible by the positive development of the earning situation, Rheinmetall?s conservative financial policy and good liquidity profile, and signs of increasing defense budgets.

Defence: strong order intake and recovery of operating earnings

At ?526 million, the Defence sector?s sales rose by ?17 million or 3 % in the first quarter compared to ?509 million in the previous year. Adjusted for currency effects, the growth was 6 %. Operating earnings improved by ?11 million year on year to ?-17 million.

Rheinmetall Defense posted a high order intake of ?948 million in the first quarter of 2016, exceeding the prior-year figure of ?542 million by 75 %. The sector?s order backlog reached a new record value of ?6,865 million at the end of the quarter. The Electronic Solutions division acquired the largest single order with a volume of ?390 million. It was commissioned by an international customer to modernize air defense systems, delivery of which is expected between 2017 and 2020.

Rheinmetall won another strategically important, high-volume order in Poland, where the Group was awarded a contract for the comprehensive modernization of 128 Leopard 2 battle tanks. For Rheinmetall, the project entails a total order volume of around ?220 million. ?130 million of this was posted in the first quarter of 2016.

Rheinmetall formed the Vehicle Systems division as of January 1, 2016, thus creating a leading military vehicle manufacturer in Europe, which is expected to generate sales of ?1.4 billion in 2016. For this purpose, existing activities in the field of military tracked and wheeled vehicles were brought together in a new division. Rheinmetall is therefore the only provider in the West that covers the complete spectrum of military tracked vehicles and tactical and logistical wheeled vehicles.

Automotive still highly profitable

Rheinmetall Automotive generated sales of ?654 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decline of 2 % from the previous year?s figure of ?664 million. When adjusted for currency effects, the decline was 1 %. This is primarily explained by the economic weakness in the market for large-bore pistons, the continuing decline in automotive production in Brazil as well as the planned phase-out of a substancial contract concerning the Mechatronics division.

With operating earnings of ?52 million, the margin target of 8 % was achieved once again.

The joint ventures in China, which are not included in the sales figures for the Automotive sector, increased their sales slightly in the first quarter of 2016. In the first three months of the year, their business volume amounted to ?214 million (Q1 2015: ?212 million).

Recent orders obtained underscore Rheinmetall Automotive?s successful international positioning with both Mechatronics and Hardparts and in the Aftermarket division. For example, the latest order of mechatronic components for a Chinese automotive manufacturer had a total value of ?85 million.

A large order for steel pistons, piston pins and rings for a renowned automotive manufacturer obtained recently by the Hardparts division entails lifetime sales of ?118 million. Rheinmetall Automotive will produce piston modules for three-cylinder

engines of a large American automotive manufacturer with a total value of around ?33 million.

In the first quarter of 2016, Rheinmetall Automotive extended the partnership for the development and sale of piston systems with the Japanese piston ring specialist Riken, which has been in place since April 2015, and acquired a 30 % stake in Riken Automobile Parts (Wuhan) Co. Ltd. in China.

Two companies, both market leaders in the fields of piston and piston ring technology around the world, have thus come together in a pioneering global partnership.

OUTLOOK

Sales growth in both corporate sectors

In 2016, Rheinmetall expects the growth to continue and sales to rise by more than 5 % to around ?5.5 billion, compared with about ?5.2 billion in 2015. As in the previous year, this growth will be driven by both corporate sectors. This positive development will require the global automotive sector to remain stable overall and large projects in the Defence sector to be implemented according to schedule.

For the Defence sector, sales are expected to grow to around ?2.8 billion after just under ?2.6 billion in 2015, because the sales forecast for 2016 is relatively well covered by the current order backlog. The development of sales in the Automotive sector will be determined by economic factors. Experts from IHS currently expect automotive production to rise by 3 % this year. In this context, Rheinmetall Automotive expects sales to grow to around ?2.7 billion in 2016 as a whole.

Improved earnings and further increase in profitability at Defence

Rheinmetall anticipates further improvements in Group earnings in fiscal 2016. In connection with the sales growth in 2016, profitability is expected to continue increasing in the Defence sector, with a forecast return on sales of between 4.5 % and 5.0 % based on operating earnings before interest and taxes. Profitability is expected to remain stable at Rheinmetall Automotive in 2016, with the return expected to be about 8 %. Taking into account holding costs of around ?20 million, this results in an expected return of about 6 % for the Rheinmetall Group.
New Twistlock Runtime Combats Active Threats Targeting Containerized Apps

Posted by Publisher Internet

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  05/12/16  , the leading provider of container security solutions, today announced the release and immediate availability of , a set of automated capabilities that defend against active threats targeting container environments. This is the markets first completely automated threat protection capability, designed specifically to detect and stop sophisticated runtime attacks  including APTs and zero-day exploits  against containerized applications.

Leveraging the immutable nature of containers, Twistlock Runtime utilizes a declarative security model to build runtime protection. It performs static and dynamic analysis of container images and derives a set of declarative DNA profiles for the containers. The profiles fuel both container-specific and global smart rules to protect the production environment from active threats. One example of a declarative profile is a set of whitelisted processes that should run inside a particular container, which Twistlock Runtime can build automatically from image analysis and use that to enforce the correct runtime behavior for protected environments.

Declarative security is the only way to execute predictable and accurate runtime protection, said John Morello, CTO of Twistlock. Twistlock Runtime represents a brand new way of approaching runtime security  declarative, measurable and with minimal false positives. APTs and active threats invariably trip the profiles and the corresponding rules, and therefore can be detected by us. As more and more critical applications move to the container environment, Twistlock Runtime gives organizations a proactive defense layer that allows them to get ahead of the threat curve, while enabling the adoption of container technologies.

With Twistlock Runtime, system administrators, security and operations teams can declaratively stipulate security policies applied to hosts, container engines, containers and applications, while having the confidence that these policies are carried out in the production environment with minimal required manual overhead.

Twistlock Runtime offers many runtime defense features and benefits, including:

: A feature that automatically builds runtime DNA profiles for each container based on static and dynamic analysis of the container image, and serves as the baseline for runtime anomaly and threat detection.

: The smart rules are derived from the profiles directly to enforce policies and desired behavior in runtime. They also respond to changing threats and environments, leading to adaptive and targeted protection.

This includes leading commercial threat feeds as well as Twistlocks own threat research and is added on top of open source threat and vulnerability feeds that already power Twistlocks products.

The industrys first known approach  which takes static analysis knowledge of container images and from that, directly derives runtime protection rules, as opposed to traditional security measures that involve disparate code analysis and runtime protection.

Twistlock Runtime doesnt require admins or Ops teams to manually administer defense mechanisms, tune policies, or play catch-up to the latest threats.

Twistlock has once again carved a new path for developers innovating in container environments, said Ben Bernstein, CEO of Twistlock. The launch of Twistlock Runtime, which follows the General Availability release of the Twistlock Container Security Suite and the free Developer Version, represents the next step in creating a comprehensive multi-layer security environment for containers, giving organizations the peace of mind they need to safely innovate in this space.

Twistlocks Container Security Suite, which was announced and released in November, is the only dev-to-protection security product available on the market today. Twistlock Runtime is a component within the Container Security Suite. Existing Twistlock customers can enable Twistlock Runtime as part of the product refresh. Twistlocks technology has been adopted by organizations across many industry verticals, including financial services, healthcare, media, hospitality, consumer technology services and government agencies. Many of these customers have deployed Twistlock in both development and mission-critical production environments, leveraging the solution to protect live services and valuable customer data.

To learn more about Twistlock Runtime, see

To learn more about Twistlock Container Security Suite, see .

For a 30-day free trial of the enterprise container security suite, see .

Follow us on Twitter:

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Twistlock provides markets first known solution for container security. Twistlocks technology addresses risks on the host and within the application of the container, enabling enterprises to consistently enforce security policies, monitor and audit activity and defend against threats in container environments. Twistlocks mission is to provide an enterprise-grade security stack for containerized applications, so organizations can confidently adopt and maximize the benefits of container technologies. For more information, please visit

10Fold

Travis Anderson

925.271.8227
CloudLock Receives IBM PartnerWorlds Ready for IBM Security Intelligence Validation

WALTHAM, MA  (Marketwired)  05/12/16  , a leading provider of Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and Cybersecurity-as-a-Service solutions, today announced it has received IBM PartnerWorlds Ready for IBM Security Intelligence designation for its CloudLock Cloud Security Fabric. As a result, CloudLock has been validated to integrate with products to help better protect customers around the world.

Amidst an ever-growing cyber-threat landscape, modern security teams face an incredibly daunting challenge, said Manolo Gonzalez, VP, Platform and Technology Alliances at CloudLock. We are thrilled to work with a security leader such as IBM to deliver impactful integrated security incident and event management (SIEM) and CASB solutions that not only streamline operations but enable deeper levels of actionable insight and control for both on-prem and cloud applications, for our customers worldwide.

The proliferation of enterprise cloud application adoption presents new challenges  and opportunities  for security teams to protect sensitive assets across cloud and on-premise environments. As demonstrated by CloudLock in the Q3 2015 Cloud Cybersecurity Report, organizations have an average of 540 unique, user-enabled cloud applications that go unvetted by IT and security staff. These threats of data breaches and the rise of cloud malware compound the challenge to remain secure and compliant with access to corporate systems.

The CloudLock Cloud Security Fabric is the cloud-native CASB and Cloud Cybersecurity Platform that helps organizations securely leverage the cloud for apps they buy and build. CloudLock delivers security for any cloud application and platform, including IaaS, PaaS, and IDaaS and orchestrates security across an organizations existing investments.

The CloudLock integration with IBM Security QRadar simultaneously addresses cloud and on-premises cyber threats with advanced incident detection intelligence, providing effective threat management across the hybrid IT infrastructure. With cross-platform visibility, customers can develop in-depth analytics dashboards and cross reference security incidents across environments.

The Ready for IBM Security Intelligence alliance is designed to promote technology collaboration and integration to expand and enhance security coverage, collapse silos of information, and increase situational awareness and insights. With the PartnerWorld program and Ready for Security Intelligence validation, IBM supports collaboration with its Business Partners to enable the integration of product capabilities and improved security capabilities for mutual customers.

For more details on CloudLocks solution visit and CloudLock for IBM Security QRadar SIEM on .

CloudLock, the leading CASB and Cybersecurity-as-a-Service provider, offers the Cloud Security Fabric enabling enterprises to protect their data in the cloud, reduce risk, achieve compliance, manage threats and increase productivity by continuously monitoring and protecting more than one billion files for more than 10 million end users daily. CloudLock delivers the only complete, risk-appropriate and people-centric approach to cloud cybersecurity. Learn more at .

CloudLock Press Contact:

Stephanie Olesen

Inkhouse

+781-966-4100
Gainsight Announces New UI and Product Capabilities to Bring Customer Success Technology Into the Next Generation

Posted by Publisher Hardware

OAKLAND, CA  (Marketwired)  05/12/16  Gainsight, , announced today a major product release that will push Customer Success software into a new era. B2C applications like Facebook and Snapchat have set new expectations for easy-to-use interfaces and personalized interactions. Customer Success teams can benefit from adopting similar approaches to their own workflow  to connect with customers in really innovative ways. The cornerstones of the platform enhancements are two major updates  a streamlined UI of the core Gainsight product and a video communication product called for one-to-one personalized video communications. The next generation of the Gainsight platform was debuted on stage today at Gainsights in Oakland, the largest conference for the Customer Success industry with over 3200 members of the community in attendance.

The product release is anchored by the introduction of a sleek new user interface. It brings an intuitive refresh to Gainsights core modules, including the Customer360 page, a unified view of the health of the Customer, and Cockpit, a centralized workflow for proactive, automated alerts.

Gainsights new user interface is compatible with both Salesforce Classic as well as recently released Lightning Experience. With this new release, Gainsight users will experience the same consistent, intuitive user interface, regardless of which Salesforce edition they select.

Also included in the new release is a video communications product called . Using technology acquired from , Gainsight customers can now send a 60 second, personalized video to a customer right from the Gainsight platform. Customer experiences with user-centric apps like Facebook and Snapchat have driven a similar expectation of a responsive, personal experience in the world of B2B customer interaction.

Putting a face to a name establishes the credibility of a seller with a potential buyer and lays the foundation of a personal relationship between Customer Success Manager and valued client. Video communication has already gained traction in the B2B Sales world with vendors like increasing their momentum in the market.

Businesses are making their teams and outreach more and more digital, and video is leading the way, says Sati Hillyer, Founder and CEO of OneMob. Were excited to see Gainsight validate the impact video is having across the entire customer lifecycle. Its clear that customer success is the lifeblood of any organization and the Customer Success team needs to connect in a more personal and engaging way. We believe companies that leverage video centric solutions like OneMob and now, Gainsights Gsnap, will lead the charge to improve customer experience across business.

Gainsight announced an integration with , the leading solution for product data gathering and analytics. The integration will provide another option for Gainsight customers to feed the most meaningful product usage metrics into Gainsights robust health scorecard, workflow for automated alerts and more.

Ensuring radical visibility into product insights is key to improving the onboarding experience for any service-oriented business, said Todd Olson, chief executive officer at Pendo.io. We believe that the best indication of customer value attainment comes from adoption signals, and together with Gainsight, are on a mission to transform the way recurring revenue businesses manage their customer outcomes.

The integration with Pendo.io adds to the existing data connectors in Gainsights Technology Partner Program. Over 40% of Gainsights customers have adopted one of the existing robust integrations with: , , and .

Gainsight technology partnerships go beyond data ingestion to use the insight derived from the Gainsight platform to drive action across the company. The powerful integration between Gainsight and , , has been adopted by 50% of joint customers. With this integration, users can view key Gainsight data points within a widget in the Zendesk Ticket Screen, create a notification for the Accounts Customer Success Manager from the widget and directly feed their Zendesk ticket history into Gainsight.

The shared tools, data and insights provided by the Gainsight integration with Zendesk has changed the way our customer-facing teams do their jobs, said Amy Ferguson, Customer Success Manager at Inkling. The Support team now has visibility into the overall health of the customers they work with and Customer Success Managers are up-to-date on their customers support activity.

This release also enhances , the Best Practice repository that integrates Customer Success best practices directly within the Gainsight platform. The release adds the capability for Customer Success teams to import pre-built automation rules as well as pre-built reports from Vault into a customers instance in in a few clicks. Customers can now view best practices proposed by Gainsight and the broader community across various business processes such as managing risk or different stages of the customer lifecycle.

Released less than 6 months ago, Vault has had asset downloads by over 100 different Gainsight customers and has seen usage increase steadily every month. Vault now contains over 200 assets for download including:

50 business automation rules

60 reports

42 playbooks

29 surveys

43 email templates

Learn more about Gsnap:

Hear from Gainsights customers:

Join Gainsights growing team:

Gainsight, the Customer Success company, helps businesses grow faster by reducing churn, increasing upsell, and driving customer advocacy. Gainsights product helps you touch customers effectively, track customer health consistently and transform the way your company orients around the customer. Gainsight provides a 360 degree view of customers and drives retention across Customer Success, sales, marketing, executive and product management. Learn how leading companies like Adobe, Box, DocuSign, HP, Marketo, Nutanix and Workday use Gainsight to help their customers succeed at .

With funding from Salesforce Ventures, OneMob is a digital experience platform for businesses. Within minutes, reps can get started using OneMob to improve the way they outreach with prospects, customers and colleagues. The OneMob platform includes a robust video and content management system, customizable and integrated distribution platform, and powerful analytics engine for real-time tracking and ROI measurement. In less than 2 years, OneMob has created a global brand with fortune 500 customers including Cisco, LinkedIn, Yelp, Cvent and others. They were recently awarded Gartner Cool Vendor for CRM Sales and Aragon Hot Vendor for Sales Enablement. For more information about OneMob, visit: .

Pendo was founded when alumni from Rally, Google, Cisco and Red Hat combined their heads and hearts to build something they wanted but never had as product managers  a simple way to understand and attack what truly drives product success. With powerful analytics, in-application user feedback, and contextual guidance designed to help companies measure and elevate the customer experience within their applications, Pendo is on a mission to improve societys experiences with software. Proudly built in North Carolina but engineered to scale globally without losing that soul. For more information, visit: .

Zendesk provides a customer service platform designed to bring organizations and their customers closer together. With more than 75,000 paid customer accounts, Zendesks products are used by organizations in 150 countries and territories to provide support in more than 40 languages. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, Zendesk has operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Learn more at .

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We must tell someone all our life story if we expect to live long or happily.

The BB clearly says that it should be someone who understands what we're doing. They should be able to keep a confidence.



Thqr means we want to go to someone who is a proper appointed authority (on alcoholism). I want someone who knows the alcoholic mind because they themselves are alcoholic, and who has walked the path before me (has experience).



If I want the proper feedback (and we should get some), I will go to someone else in the 12 steps.



Many people do not choose their own sponsor for various reasons. Getting a fresh perspective is a good reason. If this is the case, unless we missed the point in our writing they should not control us and ask us to re-write in the style they did or focus on semantics etc., they should just be listening for the substance.



If I did all that work, I want to give myself the best I can and keep it within the 12 steps.



One other thing. We are really all the same, our pride just tells us we're not. There's probably nothing in there that would cause anyone to keel over with shock. I thought there was in mine but to my surprise my sponsor told me about those few things that what I said I did was actually common. What a relief.



What a relief to have someone accept you even after you tell them the darkest crannies the of your life.
May 11, 2016

Help honor the best businesses and entrepreneurs in Arizona



Nominate your favorite for a Spirit of Enterprise Award

TEMPE  Do you have a favorite business or entrepreneur that you would like to shine a spotlight on? If so, you can help them gain recognition by nominating them for the 20th annual Spirit of Enterprise Awards hosted by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.



The awards recognize some of the states best companies and entrepreneurs for creating jobs, boosting our economy and delivering great service to customers. Past winners include Infusionsoft, Total Transit (Discount Cab), Ollie the Trolley, Kitchell, China Mist, and Sundt Construction.



The prestigious event has become one of the top business gatherings in Arizona and is attended annually by hundreds of Valley business and community leaders.



Each year, we honor Arizona businesses that positively impact our communities while also exhibiting strong business ethics, positive work cultures and excellence in entrepreneurship, says Christie Kerner, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the W. P. Carey School of Business. We are proud to celebrate the success stories that drive our local economy and also serve as roles models for aspiring entrepreneurs while exemplifying the spirit of innovation in Arizona.



Businesses can be nominated for up to three of the six Spirit of Enterprise Award categories. Also, one minority-owned business will win the Minority Enterprise Award. Companies started by ASU students are eligible to win the Student Entrepreneur Award. Find out about the nomination categories here: http://wpcarey.asu.edu/research/entrepreneurship/spirit-award-requirements.



Primary requirements include that a company is:



A for-profit enterprise;



Incorporated, headquartered or having a majority of its business operations in Arizona;



Employing at least three full-time employees or partners.



Student-run businesses do not have to meet the three-employee requirement.



Award nominations will be accepted until June 24 here: https://wpcarey.asu.edu/research/entrepreneurship/soe-event



Then, nominated businesses will have until July 31 to fill out an awards application.



Winners will be announced at a luncheon Friday, November 18 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa.



For more information on nominating a company, applying for the awards, or attending the luncheon, call (480) 965-0474, e-mail WPCentrepreneurship@asu.edu or visit www.wpcarey.asu.edu/spirit.



Each year, the Center for Entrepreneurship expands its annual celebration of entrepreneurship beyond Arizona to honor an entrepreneur who embodies the spirit values of ethics, energy, and excellence in entrepreneurship through the National Founder of the Year.



This year, Mario Martinez is being honored as the National Founder of the Year. Mario is well known in the entrepreneur community for his generosity and determination to improve growth opportunities for our local companies. After exiting his technology company in 2013, he has been almost wholly engaged in giving back and helping to grow the next generation of entrepreneurs.



The Spirit of Enterprise awards are just one focus of the Center for Entrepreneurship, which helps hundreds of businesses each year. The center helps venturing students gain access to entrepreneurship expertise and experiences through multiple pitch competitions as well as expert office hour programs. The center also offers companies a chance to recruit and meet with top student talent, while allowing students to get hands-on business experience. The center is a gateway to access other ASU entrepreneurship resources. It is self-funded and utilizes community sponsorships and volunteers to sustain its activities.
Guest Editorial





By Natalia Castro | MAY 11, 2016

Isolating political thought in higher education

Immediately upon entering adulthood, students are forced to make the largest decision of their adult life, barely 18-year-old students must decide the higher education institute of their choice, or if they want to go at all. Common considerations include cost, location, and notoriety, but for many a key consideration is far less obvious  the politics of individual schools.



While many colleges tout open-mindedness and diversity, this is done on a superficial level, where diversity is defined by characteristics of race, socioeconomic status, and language. To clarify, these are extremely important margins for ensuring an inclusive educational environment, but what about intellectual diversity?



Often colleges neglect the ideological barriers they themselves are creating. For conservative students, these forms of isolation and lack of opportunity are common.



Harvard University's own Crimson newspaper embarrassingly had to explain in an Oct. 2015 report, "The Elephant in the Room: Conservatives at Harvard," that conservative students on campus often feel overwhelmed by the liberal presence of students and faculty. This isolation prevents students from working on political campaigns and silences students in classrooms.



But the effects are significantly more far reaching than this. Self-identifying conservative students are less likely than ever to attend ivy league schools due to the schools' liberal bias. The American Conservative's Rod Dreher in the July 2014 piece, "To Hell With Ivy League Schools" tells the story of students who attend years of ivy league college and never understand the deeper value of their experience, because their positions have drove them into silence. One student explains upon visiting an ivy league campus, he realized students were not openly discussing issues and finding common ground as hoped, but instead only reestablishing and pressuring views he did not agree with, fear of alienation pushed him to decide on a school far less notable but significantly more depoliticized.



As conservative students refrain from the elite class of colleges or select schools with less political leaning, the voices of conservatives in academia are consistently silenced. While the easy attack is to say that these students are letting their own fears prevent their success, the reality is much more impactful.



The conservative Leadership Institute tells stories of students given zeros on assignments consistently because they refused to write papers questioning their religious and political views. Or, of students who openly espoused conservative views in classrooms had professors ignore their input or allow a team of liberal students to attack their views-not constructively but oppressively. Fear does not simply come from isolation by other students, but getting bad grades due to political beliefs.



The problem stems from a confusion of open mindedness being inherently linked to contemporary liberal ideals, a fiction that educators often perpetuate. As professor emeritus at State University of New York at New Paltz Mark Sherman elucidated in March 2011 Psychology Today piece, "Does liberal truly mean open-minded?" the common problem with associating "liberal" with "inclusive" is that it immediately discredits the opportunity for conservatives to be seen as inclusive as well, silencing their philosophy as wrong.



Sherman wrote, "if you are a strong believer in both science and social change, it is more than reasonable to be a liberal. But to a good academic, the science  data evidence, and, when possible, experimentation  should come first." Sherman explained that for liberal professors, such as himself, in an academic setting there is a necessity to provide balance for students.



As the university system pushes for an "open" and "inclusive" campus, but only defines this in a liberal context, they achieve the exact opposite  a campus which isolates and rejects those who do not conform to the liberal mindset. Sherman provides a positive example of how educators can rise above that bias.



Professors take an active role in perpetuating this stigma by pushing conservative students into a singular characteristic, while giving liberal students many points of identification. While liberal students can be seen as "activists" for an array of causes and issues and often have clubs on campus which represent the span of these advocacies, conservatives are limited to having a "Young Republicans Club" and experience strong push back from professors, students, and the university system when an attempt is made to expand past this. Essentially, conservative students are allowed to advocate for one "wrong" view, usually accused as racist and classist, while liberal students can advocate for a range of views, seen as inclusive and scholarly.



A lack of accountability in universities toward professors and school administrators discriminating against conservative students is having a direct impact on educational success and the environment within campuses. By neglecting the position of conservative students, universities are effectively silencing student ideas and preventing their development, the exact opposite of the goals of education and academic inquiry.



Being a conservative should not mean your educational advancement is less significant, and luckily some institutions do work to counter this by supporting conservative clubs, focusing on variety in course options, and hosting events which open the door for political participation. My own university has held student forums and invited presidential candidates to campus from both sides of the aisle; the opportunity for dialogue unites students by allowing students to share viewpoints and gain understanding.



Similarly, these forums force professors to discuss political theory in the context of both conservative and liberal views, because they are unavoidably close to campus. However, despite some clear successes, the compulsory liberalization of the educational system seems to have created the perception that conservatives on campus are less meaningful. Sadly, this impression only silences the goal of open communication in academia, rather than promoting it.



Natalia Castro is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government, and a student at George Mason University.
Guest Editorial





By Frosty Wooldridge | MAY 11, 2016

U.S. Army Special Forces Officer Speaks Up On Banning Muslim Immigration

As we both know, Islam cannot be reformed because Islam considers itself to be perfect, complete, universal, and final! Anyone who attempts to reform Islam is accused of blasphemy and can be killed as an apostate.



Legal and illegal immigration invasion continues at the hand of our presidents and virtually all Congressional critters in Washington, DC. They flat-out wont enforce our laws to stop this invasion. They wont rescind the 1965 Immigration Reform Act to stop the legal invasion. Immigration turns our country inside out of itself. Immigration displaces all of us out of our culture, language and ethos.



With this accelerating Muslim invasion facilitated by Muslim Barack Obama, I scream in the night at our fate as Islamic numbers grow in our country.



After reading my interview with Canadian Tim Murray on Banning all Muslim Immigration: The Prudent Thing to Do, I received a letter from a retired Special Forces Army Green Beret.



He spells it out as to what we face with Muslims in America:



Good morning Mr. Wooldridge, Mr. Smith said. I just want to give you some well-deserved positive feedback to let you know that your message is getting out and that you are being heard by other like-minded patriots!



I have been studying Islam both personally and professionally now since the early 1980s, with real world experience serving with Special Forces in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, Bosnia, and Iraq...to name a few. Understanding the mind (modus operandi) of this most dangerous enemy has been my passion at every level - and that is why your writing resonates with me!!



As a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret (Retired) with a graduate degree in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies (special emphasis on Islamic Studies), I have been following your body of work for quite some time now...and I could not agree with you more! I applaud you sir!!!



You are one of the most reasonable, realistic, and articulate voices "crying out from the wilderness" for Americans to wake up and smell the coffee...before it is too late. Our so-called political elites, at all levels, have and are selling us out - and they are unfortunately using Islam as a "proxy army" to destroy the fabric of our nation right before our eyes.



I am a solid Trump supporter because I honestly believe that he too, not only understands the threat, but will do something about it as well. Given the state of our nation, I honestly believe that Trump is our last great hope to take our country back from the establishment and the globalists who have been moving us further and further towards the regressive left...we are almost at a point of no return, and that is why this 2016 election is so very important!! Islam has declared war on us and we must fight back...and I'm not talking about the phony and misguided "War on Terrorism" - which is a blatant sham designed as a pretext to control the people under an Orwellian police state - e.g. the Patriot Act.



Frankly, I'm a hardcore hawk and advocate of outlawing Islam, deporting (encouraging self-deportation) all Muslims from America, and not allowing them into our nation for any reason unless they are monitored closely. Why?



Because I fully understand the 1400-year history of Islam and the existential threat that it poses to the West in general and to America specifically! Muslims are not here to assimilate, they are here to dominate!



I do not and will not sugarcoat Islam and I am not politically correct and multi-culturally sensitive...period! I am also an advocate of bulldozing all 2,000 + mosques and/or Islamic Centers in America and replacing them with Christian churches. Why? Because Islam is not a true religion in the sense that the uneducated Western mind can fully understand. The propaganda is that Islam is a religion of peace that has been hijacked by a few radicals from within, but this could not be further from the truth...Islam is not a religion of peace! Why?



The "relatively" non-violent (Five Pillars of Islam) Meccan Period has been abrogated within Islam by the Medinan Period (Sixth Pillar of Islam which is Political Islam = jihad) and therefore, does not in my opinion deserve protection under our First Amendment!



The abrogated Meccan Period is still only about 13 percent of Islam, while the Medinan Period is 87 percent of Islam and takes precedence!



Personally, I would have no problem extending our First Amendment protections to the Meccan Period, with the understanding that Islam (reform) outlaw and remove their Medinan Period of jihad...but that will never happen!! As we both know, Islam cannot be reformed because Islam considers itself to be perfect, complete, universal, and final! Anyone who attempts to reform Islam is accused of blasphemy and can be killed as an apostate. According to Islam, peace will come only once the last non-Muslim (Kafir) has been subdued (Converted to Islam, subjugated as a semi-slave dhimmi under the brutal yoke of Islam, or killed) under Islam.



Keep up the great writing...I am always disseminating your great work on to other open-minded patriots so that they too can begin to fully understand this dangerous Islamic Trojan horse! Stop the Islamization of America! May God bless you.



Fellow American, as you can see from Mr. Smiths compelling statements, we stand eye-ball deep in Muslim trouble with the 4 to 7 million of those savage barbarians in our country already. Theyre not here to integrate, but to conquer us. Just one look at Europe illustrates our fate if we fail to stop all Muslim immigration. The sooner we stop them from coming into our country, the better chance we have of containing, and at some point, forcefully deporting every last one of them back to the Middle East or Africa or whatever hell-hole they created somewhere in the world.



Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents from the Arctic to Antarctica to see the effects of immigration, environment and overpopulation up close and personal. He authored: America on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans.
Guest Editorial





By Robert Romano | MAY 11, 2016

Hillary Clinton will increase Democrat composition of federal judiciary to 67 percent by end of first term

How many appointments will the next president make to the federal judiciary? And what might that mean for the American people's First and Second Amendment rights?



Since 1952, U.S. presidents have nominated and had confirmed an average of 163 federal judges, including 1.6 Supreme Court Justices, every 4 years.



The important factors are deaths and retirements. Meaning, a President Hillary Clinton may get to seat about 160 federal judges or so, including one or two Supreme Court Justices or maybe four.



Which would come atop the 462 judicial appointments already seated by Democrat presidents, including four Supreme Court Justices  out of the 853 currently seated federal judges according to data compiled by the Federal Judicial Center.



The current partisan composition of the federal courts including district and circuit courts of appeals 54 percent to 46 percent in favor of Democrats.



Now, of the 165 oldest judges currently on the courts born on or before 1946, 113 of them were appointed by Republicans. Meaning, if those 165 die or retire in pretty much that order  Democrats would yield a net gain of about 113 judges.



Meaning, a potential President Clinton might replace 53 Democrat judges and 113 Republican judges by 2020, bringing the number of judges appointed by Democrats to 575.



That would bring the partisan composition of federal courts to 67 percent Democrat. Two out of every three judges will have been appointed by Democrats, and who knows what might happen on the Supreme Court?



And that's just in her first four years in office.



That should be a sobering assessment even for the most ardent #NeverTrump whiner. Are they certifiably insane?



Contrast that with a Republican win in November by presumptive nominee Donald Trump, who some party members now suggest they cannot support. He might only get a net gain of 53 judges, bringing the Republican total to 445, or 52 percent of the total, since Trump would mostly be replacing Republican judges.



Going forward, if one assumes Clinton actually wins two terms, the Republican judicial outlook looks even bleaker. In her second term, if you take the next 176 oldest judges born on or before 1951, 101 of them were appointed by Republicans, too.



A second Clinton term might net another 101 judges for Democrats, bringing their federal judge total to 676  or 79 percent of the total.



Just to keep balance, then, means Republicans really, really need the White House for about the next 8 years.



Now, the death and retirement rates will certainly vary, but the key point is that since 1952, the partisan composition of the federal judiciary has been somewhat balanced in accordance with the composition of the White House. It went from 8 years Republican (1953-1960) to 8 years Democrat (1961-1968) to 8 years Republican (1969-1976) to 4 years Democrat (1977-1980) to 12 years Republican (1981-1992) to 8 years Democrat (1993-2000) to 8 years Republican (2001-2008) to 8 years Democrat (2009-2016).



So, it tends to go back and forth. But throw more than two terms in a row for one side or the other, and the balance of the courts will shift dramatically almost overnight.



Which, if the only thing one cared about was ensuring that the judiciary not become overly partisan, then a Clinton presidency would be nothing short of a generational catastrophe.



Has #NeverTrump considered the true, judicial consequences of a Clinton presidency?



What does one suppose might happen to the Second Amendment individual right to keep and bear arms, upheld in the Heller 5-4 decision? Or the First Amendment right to say what you like during elections, upheld in the Citizens United 5-4 decision?



The answer is that with the Supreme Court's current composition at 4 to 4 with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the risk for the American people is that the First and Second Amendments might be summarily reinterpreted if Clinton wins. Throw in subsequent applications of those decisions at the district and circuit level with scores of new liberal judges, and who knows how bad it might get?



If Republicans cared about nothing else than who appoints judges to uphold a constitutional, limited government with strongly interpreted Bill of Rights protections, then they cannot allow Clinton to win under any circumstances. There is too much at stake.



We suspect cooler heads will prevail, and the madness of #NeverTrump will end shortly. No less so than because the very Constitution hangs in the balance, and Republicans  and the country as a whole  cannot afford to wait another four years for conservatives to begin restoring their ranks on the federal judiciary. Time's up.



Robert Romano is the senior editor of Americans for Limited Government.




Carefree's New Speed Trap

Looks like they are finished working on Tom Darlington and the speeds are set at 25 MPH. This has to be the slowest speed limit for a major arterial in a City/Town. Ive been up there twice now and each time I have observed police monitoring the traffic with a Radar Gun. Luckily I havent been nailed but given the unreasonable speed limit many of us here on the South end will avoid going up there to Shop and Dine. I hope the City gets lots of revenue as the local business owners will lose some on this.



Gerry Coon

Terravita

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Carefree's Future Matters

Friends of Carefree, there was no Executive Session this month! The regular Council meeting was held at 5 p.m.



Before we provide the usual council meeting recap wed like to give you a brief summary from the 3 Budget Workshops that were held in April. The new Fiscal Year (2017) begins July 1st. The proposed FY17 Budget, to be tentatively approved at this meeting, will be $6.2M. Projected Revenue from all sources is $6,214,728. About 54 oercent of that is expected from local sales tax. The remaining $2.9M is obtained from State Shared Revenue and local fees. Expenses are projected to be $6,213,270. The good news is that the new $6.2M budget will include about $150K for median revegetation! There is very little in new capital or other expenses. However the Town is actually expecting less income from Sales Taxes compared to the present fiscal year.



Our Observations of the Bicycle Lane Project



As you have probably observed, the ADOT Bicycle Lane Project is winding down, to the relief of merchants and residents alike. Temporary lane and side line stripping is essentially done. The surface treatment must cure for several weeks before the permanent stripping is applied. You may also have noticed that the bicycle lanes are not the uniform 5 feet wide we were originally told was the Federal requirement. In fact, many sections are only 3 or 4 feet wide, with some near the town core actually about 2 feet wide. This is good news since traffic lanes will not be as dramatically affected (narrowed) as they might have been had 5 foot wide bicycle lanes been implemented. Unfortunately sections of our medians did take a beating, so narrowed now that mature tree limbs have been hit and broken off by large trucks riding in the left lanes especially east of the town core. Other sections of the medians were shortened, some disappeared entirely. How less desertscape and more blacktop enhances our Village life remains a mystery to us.



Sections of the road surface coatings appear to be unevenly applied but the town administrator has stated that he is not aware of any aspect that does not comply with the ADOT (project manager for our bicycle lanes) quality assurance procedures. By contrast, the section of Tom Darlington from Carefree Highway to the Carefree town boundary appears to have been held to higher standards by Scottsdale, since they are responsible for that section of the roadway and used no Federal funds. Interestingly, no bicycle lanes were provided. We suspect that when you take free money from the government you live with their quality standards.



Town Council Meeting, May 3, 2016 at 5 p.m.



The Council meeting was the second expeditious affair this year lasting just 40 minutes.



Items 1 - 7, Consent Agenda: All items were related to routine town business (meeting minutes, bills, financial reports, event permits, etc.), Approved 7  0.



The Mayor requested that Item 11 be taken out of order.



Item 11, Spirit of Carefree Award: This annual award is presented to an individual who demonstrates broad community involvement and initiative to help make Carefree a better community for its residents. Carefree resident and commercial property owner Harry Vardakis was presented with the 2015 award. Local artist Peggy Pettigrew Stewart created the beautiful award and described its meaning and significance. Harry was gracious as he humbly accepted the award. Photos can be viewed here: http://www.carefreesfuturematters.com/photos.html.



Item 8, Call to the Public: No one spoke.



Item 9, Current Events: The Mayor asked the town administrator to provide an update on the Bicycle Lane Project. Mr. Neiss stated that the slurry sealing has been completed and the final stripping should be done in a few weeks.



Vice Mayor Crane mentioned that a significant Bashas remodeling project will begin in July and should be completed in November. The renovation will include Starbucks, a new look, and new features including grills to prepare hot dogs and burgers.



The Mayor asked Gina (Marketing) to provide an update on Ray Villafanes activities. Ray will be here from May 15th  25th to create another large sand sculpture, in the amphitheater area, which is hoped will last through the summer. The theme for this and future works will remain a secret for now.



Gateway footer construction is expected to begin next week. The steel fabrication is underway with orders placed. [You may have noticed the 26 new faux gas lights are now operational, many currently illuminating vacant properties and empty parking lots.]



The Mayor mentioned that information and candidate packets for the upcoming Town Council election(s) could be found on the town website, or in Town Hall.



Item 10, Second Reading of the Carefree Privilege Tax Code: The Privilege Tax is better known to most of us as the Sales Tax. As a result of changes to the State Model City Tax Codes, Carefree 2012-2014 Tax Code amendments need to be adopted. Mr. Neiss stated that this is essentially a housekeeping measure.



Approved, 7 - 0.



Item 12, Town Council Chambers & Meeting Space rental: With the current lease in the Post Office building expiring July 31st, and the 33 Easy Street building unavailable for at least a year, the Holland Community Center (34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale) has become the preferred option for rental space. Although not in Carefree, it addresses all the requirements outlined by the town administrator which the other locations cannot provide on a consistent basis. Rent is to be $4,000 per year and can result in a saving of almost $40,000 compared to a lease extension on the current space.



Approved, 7 - 0.



Item 13, Carefree FY17 Town Budget: After 3 budget workshops the Council has tentatively adopted the 2017 budget. The bottom line number is now set ($6.2M) and cannot be changed, although individual line items can be changed or moved. A Special Meeting will be held on June 7, just prior to the regular council meeting, in order to complete the process and formerly adopt the new budget. Approved, 7 - 0.



[This was yet another meeting during which we endured the Carefree does not have a Property Tax reminder from the town administrator. I cannot recall one instance when the former, 25+ years, town administrator lamented over a lack of local Property Taxes or even mentioned the subject.



During the budget workshops Mr. Neiss lectured that the midpoint value of a Carefree home is $535,000. In Scottsdale, the local property tax on that value is $3,175, and in Phoenix it is $2,925. These taxes are in addition to the County and School District taxes levied on Carefree, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. Carefree does not impose a local Property Tax. What Mr. Neiss continually fails to realize, or acknowledge, is that no Property Tax in Carefree was by design  the founding fathers he frequently references (when it suits him) wanted it that way. It is also one of the reasons many residents chose/choose to live here. No Property Taxes and small government are the envy of smart communities all across the country. To our knowledge, Mr. Neiss does not live in Carefree.]



Item 14, Town Council Updates: The Mayor mentioned that the Liberty/BMSC comprehensive agreement is on track and will be taken up by the ACC in June. The agreement is expected to be approved.



Mr. Neiss advised that the Planning and Zoning Commission will take up the matter of setting commercial building height at 30 feet during their meeting next week (5/9). Once they agree to town staff recommendations they are expected to forward the recommendations to the Council for consideration and approval in June.



Councilman Farrar humorously mentioned that May 4 is his birthday.



Happy Birthday Grandpa Mike!



Item 15, Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:40 p.m.



Respectfully submitted by Jim Van Allen and John Traynor

Back

Decline to sign! Say NO to leftist Ballot Measures in Arizona

Leftists and union bosses from California are currently collecting signatures for three bad propositions they want to put on Arizona's November ballot:



-An anti-free speech measure that would put your name and personal information onto a publicly-available government database if you donate to non-profit organizations. It would also give state bureaucrats the power to audit and investigate conservative organizations for the "crime" of supporting the causes and issues we believe in.



-A measure to increase the minimum wage to a job-killing $12 per hour and keep young people and low-skilled workers from climbing onto the bottom rungs of the career ladder, with a special exception for the union bosses (if companies agree to unionize, those companies would be exempt from a job-killing mandatory paid leave scheme).



-A measure to cap the pay of hospital CEOs, which is part of an effort to try to unionize hospital employees (so the same union system that ruined Detroit's economy would now run our hospitals).



Visit http://action.americansforprosperity.org/uaMzN73 to take action against these leftist ballot measures and share the petition with your friends and family!



For Liberty & Prosperity,



Tom Jenney

Americans for Prosperity Arizona

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According To PVT South

Dearly Beloved, The Fat Lady is singing and Trump is the last man standing, so it is full speed ahead to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. On Wednesday May 4 Fox News had a poll with Queen Hillary winning 54 to 41. (According to Harry Reid maybe--Give me a break).



Very early on a few days before the election President Carter was supposed to be beating Ronald Reagan, and how did that poll turn out? Time to get a grip. I must repeat myself. The Queen is going down 49 states to 1 but she doesn't know it yet. When it happens America can start humming again. Some boo birds will think the election was rigged so the National Guard should be at the ready in all 50 States. (A result of 8 years of Obama Care).



Obama created the Tea Party and the Republican Congress created Trump. So the American people are really confused about what is going on in Washington. Everyone knew the fix was in for Hillary, because that's how Democrats do things. But it was a shock to many when Trump came along and the Republican Establishment with its self righteous members went berzerk. Makes you wonder what Charles Krauthammer, George Will and Karl Rove the Mo, Larry and Curly of high politics will do when The Donald is on top of the ticket. Now they may wait to see who is on the bottom. Dearly Beloved, it won't be Jeb, but a short list according to PVT South should be Rudy Giuliani another New Yorker with a great resume. Newt Gingrich who understands Congress and how it works and Chris Christie who has been a good in your face Governor.



Vladimir Putin the Russian leader looking at the United States today must be thinking how in the Hell did they win WW2? Easy. That generation understood the problems with Germany and Japan and did whatever it took to win the war. This generation is too politically correct and all about what government can do for me and is incapable of winning anything.



One last thought--Will the United States be a number one world power in the future or is 70 years long enough?



PVT South

Email

I am not voting FOR anyone  just AGAINST

In 1990, I resigned from the GOP, and became a proud Independent (aka "unaffiliated" or "disenfranchised" voter). I had decided the Republican and Democrat parties were the two wings of the same loathsome socialist carrion-feeder. Since then, my usual vote has been of the "write-in" variety: NONE OF THE ABOVE. Since Reagan left office, the GOP has offered one RINO wimp after the other, indistinguishable from the run-of- the-mill Socialist-Democrat.



I am fed up with wimpy RINOs! Jeb and Marco should have run as the de facto Democrats they are. Ditto McCain and Romney the last two times.



However, this time I will definitely cast a vote for someone, the first since 1990, and it will be for Donald Trump. It will be a vote cast AGAINST the Marxist running against him. Hillary Clinton is the product of political indoctrination by Marxist theorists and terrorists, such as Saul Alinsky. She climbed to power on her husband's coattails, conveniently turning her back on his multiple affairs and illicit behaviors, despite her claims to "protect and defend" women.



In addition, she has proven to be a congenital liar, who is so convinced of the veracity of her statements she could probably pass a polygraph examination! I remember when she bragged to the New Zealand press corps she had been named Hillary in honor of the Kiwi apiarist's feat in conquering Mount Everest  except that the lady was already six years old when Sir Edmund climbed the mountain. Then, there were her lies concerning the whereabouts of the Rose Law Firm's records which miraculously appeared on a tabletop in the White House. And, of course, there is her account of landing under sniper fire in Bosnia, which caused her and Chelsea to have to run in a serpentine path to avoid being hit.



The LameStream EneMedia are firmly entrenched in her camp, as they are in the camp of Sheikh Hussein al-Obamastan, the IslamoMarxist poofter currently occupying our White House.



No, I will grit my teeth and pinch my nose when I cast my vote, which will be AGAINST the Marxist enemy, not for Trump. I just hope he has enough common sense to choose an ultraconservative female, such as Judge Jeanine Pirro, as his running mate. Pirro is a "take-no-prisoners" ultraconservative, and a beautiful woman, not that appearances matter. Sadly Jeanne Kirkpatrick is long-gone, as she would have fulminated the Left as either president or vice-president. They say one should set a thief to catch a thief, so why not set a woman to offset Shrillary's appeal to the heady vapors of estrogen?



Finally, I leave you with this:



Satan' Sister - a limerick



So here's to that virago, Hillary,

Whose voice is both grating and shrillary:

We'll prevent her election,

And thus save our nation

From a fate that's far worse than the pillory.



(Indeed, her voice causes the immediate curdling of milk  while it's still inside the cow!)



Jean-Pierre A. Maldonado

Lafayette, Colorado

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The Holocaust: Now we can forget

We are now past the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day activities and editorials. It seemed to me that there were fewer remembrances this year. Maybe this is inevitable. I wonder how long it will take before this horrible event is completely forgotten. How important is it to remember? What lessons should we learn? Even in years when there are many remembrances, there is very little said about HOW the Holocaust could have occurred in what was arguably one of the most advanced nations in the world. This is the real answer to the question of why it is so important to remember this event. How could intelligent and well-educated people commit such atrocities and why did so few speak out? Naturally, I want to offer my own answer, an answer which is as simple as it is frightening: the unchecked growth of government. Once power is centralized in the federal government there is a disincentive to criticize its actions for fear that you may jeopardize some provision of the law that benefits you or your friends.



Can it happen again? Can it happen in the United States? Look at our own federal government. Each day our governments power over the people increases, both through the maze of entitlement programs and through the increasing number of special interest laws, rules, and regulations. And our education system (the government schools) teaches children that government is good and that we should obey our government leaders, (he who pays the piper calls the tune). Therefore, the graduates of this system are not instinctively inclined to question the actions of the government.



The way to prevent a Holocaust from ever happening again is to remember that government has only one proper function, the protection of our liberty. We should keep it limited to that function. Eternal vigilance is the price of that liberty.



Roy Miller

Phoenix

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Surviving a nuclear attack

At www.ki4u.com/goodnews.htm there is information about how to survive a nuclear attack (e.g. by a rogue nation) and how the government might minimize casualties.



Alex Sokolow

Santa Monica, California

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The truth is long overdue!

The newest revelations regarding the repeated deceptions carried out by Hillary Clinton and President Obama are finally coming to light. They have exposed the betrayal of President Bush's agreement with Israel. Both Hillary and Obama have blatantly ignored Bush's 2004 vital agreement with Israel. They have done everything in their power to wiggle out of those commitments, despite their having been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Senate 95-3 and by the House of Representatives 407-9 in a letter to Israels Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.



President Bush's letter acknowledged the risks Israels proposed unilateral disengagement from Gaza represented  and assured Israel that America would do its utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to impose any other plan than the Roadmap envisioned by President Bush on June 24, 2002. The US would maintain its steadfast commitment to Israels security, including secure defensible borders. Its strongly committed to Israels well-being as a Jewish state.



It understood that an agreed, just, fair and realistic framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any final status agreement would need to be found through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than in Israel. It accepted as part of a final peace settlement that Israel must have secure and recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. It acknowledged that in light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers, it would be unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations would be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of the Six Day War, that all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution had reached the same conclusion.



President Obamas attempt to disavow Bushs commitments was first orchestrated by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Also, since coming to office in January, and contrary to the agreement, President Barack Obama has repeatedly called on Israel to halt all settlement activity in Palestinian areas, a demand rejected by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



It will be interesting to finally learn whether American citizens can accept much of the disinformation our current president along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have misrepresented to the American people. Will learning the facts be reflected in the outcome of the vote?



Esther Levens, CEO & Founder

voices@unitycoalitionforisrael.org

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The end of the Bill of Rights is at our fingertips

I recently got my first "smart phone" (I've been a late adopter in that particular area of technology). One of the first things I noticed about it was that I could use my fingerprint, rather than a pesky pass code, to unlock it. Much more convenient, isn't it? A password can be forgotten, but it takes pretty severe physical trauma to lose one's fingerprint. If your hand gets cut off, your phone is the least of your worries, right?



Unfortunately, the convenience of "biometric" identification comes with a cost. When you take that route, at least two judges (first a Virginia circuit court judge and now a federal judge in California) have ruled, you can be forced to put your finger on the phone to unlock it.



This has serious and unfortunate implications for rights protected by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the US Constitution.



Fourth Amendment: Even when there's a valid search warrant for a premises -- or a phone -- actually executing the warrant is law enforcement's job, not yours. If the door is locked, they can break it down, but you don't have to unlock it for them. If they find your hidden compartment full of evidence, they find it. But you don't have to show them where it is, or even tell them that it exists. And that's how it should be.



Fifth Amendment: Giving the police access to your phone is no different than telling them about every call you made, every text you sent, every note you wrote, etc. It is testifying against yourself, which you cannot constitutionally be required to do.



The usual response from proponents of unlimited state power to such arguments is that the framers of the US Constitution couldn't possibly have imagined a future of "smart phones," unbreakable encryption, and so forth.



Maybe they're right. But what the framers COULD imagine was the possibility that the Constitution would require occasional amendments to keep up with changing times. Those who want to repeal the Fourth and Fifth Amendments have clear instructions for doing so. All they need is the support of two thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three quarters of the states' legislatures. A high bar, but not at all unclear.



Until and unless that happens -- and it won't -- resist much, obey little. And secure your phone with a long and complex pass code, not with your fingerprint.



Thomas L. Knapp

William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism

Back


My View



BY DON SORCHYCH | May 11, 2016

The Donald and illegal immigration

There is no letup by The Donalds critics despite the fact Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus conceded Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president.



I have subscribed to National Review, The Week and the Weekly Standard for many years. They are now devoted anti-Trump messengers. Even Time Magazine, the liberal weekly, is less toxic than the three. These businesses remain open because of donors and high-priced subscriptions; many other publications have dropped subscription rates to as little as $10 per year.



I changed my voter registration from Republican to Independent many years ago, recognizing that all the promises Republican politicians made were bogus.





That is how Trump got attention  by telling the world through social media he would build a wall on the U.S.  Mexican border and deport illegal aliens.



That was the initial shot heard around the world and Trump has followed his first promises with non-politically correct fusillades.



Trump sensed and spoke opinions our cowed PC sensitive voters felt but kept their lips zipped. Trump provided them with a new outlet of non-PC outspokenness and they love it and him.



I think Trump will secure the borders and I hope he will begin and end deportation successfully.



When Arizona passed Prop. 200 and SB 1070 there was serious self deportation for a while until the courts weakened the laws. Federal laws were and are being broken minute by minute at the border and by visa overstays.



Jeff Foxworthy, the famous southern wit said:



If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for entering and remaining in the country illegally  you might live in a nation that was founded by geniuses but is run by idiots.



If you cross the North Korean border illegally you get 12 years hard labor.



If you cross the Iranian border illegally you are detained indefinitely.



If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.



If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally you will be jailed.



If you cross the Chinese border illegally you may never be heard from again.



If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.



If you cross the Cuban border illegally you will be thrown into political prison to rot.



If you cross the U.S. border illegally you get 



A job, drivers license, social security card, welfare, food stamps, credit cards, subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house, free education, free health care, a lobbyist in Washington, billions of dollars worth of public documents printed in your language, the right to carry your country's flag while you protest that you don't get enough respect, and, in many instances, you can vote.



I just wanted to make sure I had a firm grasp on the situation!*



It's time to wake up America!



Although Mexico has stiff regulations to prevent illegal immigration they expect us to have open borders. Lack of success in border control is often caused by drug cartels buying off politicians.



There is no one thing to show the corrupt nature of the establishment better than illegal aliens and the obvious coordination between parties to keep them here. The truth of the matter is Republicans want cheap labor and Democrats want their vote.



Democrats insist Trump will lose because of his fearless rants about illegal aliens who rob, kill and rape. I think he can overcome that stigma because Hispanics who became legal the hard way dont want competition from illegal aliens nor have illegal aliens visit their criminality on them.



*The first appearance we found of this list of penalties for entering foreign countries illegally and benefits of entering the United States of America illegally was on April 24, 2010 at www.FellowshipoftheMinds.com.
May 11, 2016

Annette Reichman first deaf and visually impaired superintendent In ASDB's 104-year history



PHOENIX  Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) Board President Mark Syms proudly announced today that the board of directors has unanimously chosen Annette Reichman to serve as ASDB's next superintendent. Ms. Reichman was chosen through an intensive and highly competitive application process, a process which has been praised by ASDB's many stakeholders as highly transparent, inclusive and comprehensive. Ms. Reichman will assume her new role as superintendent on July 25, 2016. In the months following her start date, Ms. Reichman will transition into her new role with the support of outgoing interim superintendent Marv Lamer.



"On behalf of the ASDB board of directors, I am pleased to announce that we have chosen Annette Reichman as ASDB's next superintendent," said Board President Mark Syms. "Annette Reichman is a remarkable leader whose impressive background, first-hand insights and dynamic vision for both deaf education and blind education make her uniquely qualified to lead ASDB into a new era of education excellence."



Annette Reichman's entire 30+ year career has been devoted to supporting children and adults who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. For the past 11 years her professional focus has also extended to supporting children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. Ms. Reichman has served as the Director of the Office of Special Institutions within the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) for the past 11 years. In this role, she has conducted monitoring and oversight of federally-funded special institutions, including the American Printing House for the Blind, Gallaudet University, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.



Previously, Ms. Reichman served as the Chief of the Deafness & Communicative Disorders Branch of the DoED (1999-2005) where she helped coordinate vocational rehabilitation activities with State Coordinators of the Deaf and helped expand nationwide training opportunities for American Sign Language-English education interpreters.



From 1985 through 1999, Ms. Reichman served in various leadership capacities at the Valley Center of the Deaf for Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, including Agency Director. As Agency Director she oversaw 200 relay service operators (who help connect deaf and hearing phone users) and 25 staff who provided direct services to the local Deaf community, including interpreting referral services, educational support services, vocational services and independent living skills training. During her initial residency in Arizona, she was also active in the local Tucson and Phoenix Deaf communities.



"I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as ASDB's next superintendent," stated Annette Reichman. "I know, firsthand, the challenges deaf individuals and blind individuals must rise to if they are to succeed in college, career and life. With the help and support of the greater ASDB community, I will ensure that students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, visually impaired and deaf-blind will not just 'get by' in mainstream society upon graduation, but rather, thrive, succeed and prevail."



Annette Reichman has overcome tremendous challenges on her path to success, challenges that parallel those faced by ASDB students. Ms. Reichman lost most of her vision in her left eye at the age of 13 due to a retina detachment. As a consequence, she faced ostracization and bullying throughout much of her teenage years in rural Nebraska. She found the strength to not drop out of school and ended up graduating from the Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped.



By early adulthood Ms. Reichman was faced with a new challenge: she had completely lost hearing in both ears. Very quickly she learned to thrive in the world of the deaf, becoming highly proficient in American Sign Language and finding acceptance and a home within the Deaf community. Later in life, Ms. Reichman received cochlear implants to restore partial-hearing. Three years ago, she lost the remaining vision in her left eye after a second retina detachment.



After receiving a bachelors in Psychology from Gallaudet University (an American university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) and subsequently a masters in Rehabilitation Counseling with the Deaf from the University of Arizona, Ms. Reichman dedicated her career to helping individuals who faced similar life challenges: individuals who are deaf, blind or deaf-blind. As superintendent, Ms. Reichman's life journey will come full-circle.



"As superintendent, it will be my charge to ensure that every student is given the resources he or she needs to be successful in their chosen career and personal life," said Ms. Reichman. "I can think of no higher calling, nothing more satisfying, than empowering every ASDB student with a high-quality education."
May 11, 2016

Border Report



Nogales CBP Officers seize almost $648K in drugs



TUCSON  Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales seized more than 137 pounds of illegal drugs and arrested four individuals during multiple weekend smuggling attempts involving cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine.



Officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 32-year-old female Mexican national for further questioning and a secondary inspection of the Toyota sedan she was driving on May 6. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to drugs in the vehicle, officers removed multiple packages from the seats containing more than 14 pounds of heroin worth approximately $249,000; nearly 17 pounds of cocaine worth close to $190,000; and almost 39 pounds of meth in excess of $116,000.



On May 7, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 17-year-old male Mexican national from Nogales, Sonora for further inspection when he entered through a pedestrian lane. In the teens shoes, officers found more than two pounds of heroin worth almost $41,000.



On the same day, officers at the DeConcini crossing found more than 57 pounds of marijuana, worth close to $29,000, in a Nissan truck belonging to a 20-year-old male Mexican national from Nogales, Sonora. A drug-detection canine alerted officers to the drugs hidden under the trucks bed liner.



On May 8, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred a 36-year-old Phoenix man for a secondary inspection of the Ford truck he was driving and found nearly eight pounds of meth, worth an estimated $23,000, in the spare tire.



Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and turned the subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations.





Douglas CBP Officers seize $240K in marijuana



TUCSON  Customs and Border Protection officers at the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona arrested three Mexican nationals during separate weekend incidents involving attempts to smuggle almost 480 pounds of marijuana into the United States.



Officers on May 6 referred a 23-year-old female Mexican national from neighboring Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of her Isuzu SUV. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alert led officers to discover more than 200 packages of marijuana, weighing nearly 277 pounds and worth more than $138,000.



Later in the day, officers referred a 24-year-old female Mexican national from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for secondary questioning. During a search of the womans Chevrolet sedan, officers found more than 132 pounds of marijuana worth in excess of $66,000.



On May 8, a narcotics-detection canine helped officers locate more than 70 pounds of marijuana, valued in excess of $35,000, in a Ford sedan driven by a 30-year-old man from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.



Officers seized the vehicles and drugs, and turned the subjects over to Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations.



Woman stopped at border wearing meth-stuffed bra



TUCSON  Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 29-year-old Tucson woman May 5 after finding nearly $5,700 worth of methamphetamine stuffed in her bra.



After officers working at the Port of Nogales Dennis DeConcini pedestrian crossing questioned the woman, they referred her for a secondary inspection and found multiple packages containing nearly two pounds of the drug.



Officers seized the drugs and turned the subject over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations.



Have guns, will not travelto Mexico



TUCSON  U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested one man May 4 for attempting to smuggle three handguns  with magazines  into Mexico through the Port of Nogales.



Officers selected an southbound Audi Crossover, driven by a 37-year-old Mexican national, for a secondary inspection and found two 9 mm Berettas and a .38-caliber Colt hidden under the vehicles front seat.



Officers seized the vehicle and contraband, and referred the subject to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations.



CBP Officers confiscate $272K in hard drugs



TUCSON  Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three people during separate attempts to smuggle nearly 30 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales on May 3.



Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 32-year-old Tucson woman for further inspection of her Volkswagen and found more than 20 pounds of cocaine, worth almost $230,000, in the rear quarter panels.



Earlier in the afternoon, officers at the Morley pedestrian crossing referred a 25-year-old Mexican woman for a further search. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers removed more than four pounds of meth, valued at more than $12,000, found wrapped around the womans calves.



Officers at the DeConcini pedestrian crossing found nearly 3 pounds of cocaine, worth almost $30,000, taped around the legs of a 22-year-old Nogales, Arizona man after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the drugs.



CBP officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations.



Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.



CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nations ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.



Binational operation nets $12.5M in pot, 467 arrests



TUCSON  The Tucson Sector Border Patrol, supported by Air and Marine Operations, participated in a binational operation with Mexico between April 17  30 that resulted in the arrest of 467 subjects and the seizure of 25,000 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $12.5 million.



Operation "Double Threat" (U.S.) and "Relampago Azul" (Mexico), coordinated by the Tucson Sectors Foreign Operations Branch, involved mirrored patrol operations designed to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating on both sides of the border.



Authorities used a targeted enforcement approach to focus on illegal activities in high-traffic areas around Nogales. Throughout the operation, U.S. officials analyzed traffic trends and patterns in coordination with Mexican authorities and deployed assets based on joint risk assessments.



In addition to the drug seizures and arrests, the operation resulted in a 44 percent drop in illegal entries in the area of Nogales, Arizona; identification of 11 stolen vehicles found in Mexico; and the seizure of $250,000 in U.S. currency and $16,392 worth of Mexican pesos. Mexican authorities made a major contribution with regard to these seizures.



"The binational operation shows how the integration of information and mirrored enforcement can further secure our borders," said Tucson Sector Chief Paul Beeson. "Some of these drugs were seized in Mexico before they even had a chance to cross the border and further endanger our communities. Our ability to work in a coordinated fashion with our law enforcement partners in Mexico contributes to a safer border environment for us all."



Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
May 11, 2016

Governor Doug Ducey Takes Action On Firearms Bills

PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey has taken action on three firearms bills. The governor signed SB 1266 (firearms; state preemption; penalties) and HB 2338 (educational institutions; firearms; rights-of-way).



Additionally, the governor has vetoed HB 2524 (uniform firearms transfer compact). His statement is below:



"I was glad to sign Senate Bill 1266 and House Bill 2338  two pieces of legislation that protect our Second Amendment rights. Earlier this year I signed House Bill 2224 (private firearm transactions; prohibited encumbrances), reinforcing my commitment to allowing the exchange of firearms without government intrusion. I have signed several other firearms bills, with a commitment to safeguarding our liberties relating to firearms.



Arizona has led the nation in ensuring the right of our citizens to keep and bear arms, and I intend to preserve that status. That is why Im vetoing House Bill 2524.



This bill is unnecessary. As a strong supporter of the Constitution, the Second Amendment and the Tenth Amendment, I believe its important that Arizona continue to chart its own course and retain its sovereignty. I see no reason for Arizona to tie ourselves to other states decisions on public policy relating to the transfer of firearms. We know whats best for our state, and I trust the citizens of Arizona and their elected leaders to continue to make wise decisions to protect our Second Amendment rights, whenever and wherever those rights are infringed."
May 11, 2016

Historic Bill to Protect Famed Salt River Wild Horses Heads to Governors Desk for Signature

PHOENIX  HB 2340 to protect the famed Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest cleared its last hurdle in the Arizona legislature today with a 51-2 vote in the House of Representatives to approve the bill and send it on to Governor Doug Duceys desk for signature.



Last summer, the U.S. Forest Service almost removed and disposed of the Salt River wild horses as stray livestock. HB 2340 clarifies that the horses are not stray livestock and sets the stage for preserving them for future generations.





This is a historic day for horse advocates, the Salt River wild horses and for the public, which would not stand for the removal and disposal of this herd that is so historically and economically significant to the State of Arizona,  said Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG). We are so proud of our legislators for listening to the voice of the people and standing firm for protection of these irreplaceable Arizona treasures.



We are especially grateful to Rep. Kelly Townsend, the bills sponsor, for her dedication to saving our wild horses, and to Governor Ducey for his support for protecting this historic herd, Netherlands added.



Citizens across Arizona and the United States are cheering this victory for the cherished Salt River wild horses, said Suzanne Roy, Director of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, a national coalition. We are pleased to have worked alongside our coalition partner, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, to ensure passage of this important bill to save the Salt River wild horses. This is a great day for wild horses in Arizona!



Right now, SRWHMG horse riders and supporters are waving the Arizona and American flags atop a hill at Coon Bluff in the Tonto National Forest in support of this victory for the Salt River wild horses.





In addition to establishing that the horses are not stray livestock, HB 2340 criminalizes killing or harassing a Salt River wild horse, and codifies their humane management through a cooperative agreement between federal, state and local authorities and the SRWHMG.



The latest rescue of a Salt River wild horse foal on Sunday night by the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group field team is a great example of humane, community-based wild horse management in action. The foal, Pacman, had injured legs (possibly caused by barbed wire) and subsequently developed a severe infection. He is currently receiving intensive treatment at an area veterinary hospital.



The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is raising funds to cover the veterinary costs associated with saving the little foals life. Donations can be made here.



The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is an Arizona non-profit organization established to protect, monitor and scientifically study the Salt River Wild Horses. The SRWHMG has been spearheading the effort to secure lasting protections for this iconic and beloved wild horse herd in the Tonto National Forest.



The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) is dedicated to defending Americas wild horses and burros to protect their freedom, preserve their habitat, and promote humane standards of treatment. AWHPCs mission is endorsed by a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, public interest, and conservation organizations.
By Linda Bentley | May 11, 2016

Transgender war continues over Target policy and N.C. law

Its a matter of common sense and common decency

AUSTIN, Texas  After Target announced its inclusivity policy stating it would welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity, the American Family Association pledge to boycott Target stores, as of this writing, has garnered around 1.2 million signatures.



Ken Paxton



On May 3, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Target Chairman and CEO Brian C. Cornell, as chief lawyer and law enforcement officer for the state of Texas, asking him to provide the full text of Targets safety policies regarding the protection of women and children from those who would use the cover of Targets restroom policy for nefarious purposes.



While noting Target is free to choose such a policy for its Texas stores, Paxton advised Cornell that voters in Houston recently repealed by a wide margin an ordinance that advanced many of the same goals as Targets current policy.



Despite the vast number of people pledging to boycott Target over this policy, Target doubled down and stated, Inclusivity is a core belief at Target.



Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also weighed in on the issue by posting a statement on his Facebook page, I will not spend a single dollar with a business that allows men to use womens bathrooms, and inviting people to sign his petition to Keep men out of womens restrooms.



During an interview on Inside Texas Politics Patrick discussed his support for legislation that would keep men out of womens restrooms and locker rooms, stating Its a matter of common sense and common decency.



North Carolina set off a firestorm after passing House Bill 2 (HB2), An act to provide for single-sex multiple occupancy bathroom and changing facilities in schools and public agencies and to create statewide consistency in regulation of employment and public accommodations.





The bill, which took effect on March 23, was introduced in response to a Charlotte ordinance that would have otherwise allowed transgender individuals to use the facilities that matched their gender identity rather than their biological sex.



Vanita Gupta



Last week, however, Vanita Gupta, principal deputy assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, wrote a letter to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory claiming compliance with and implementation of HB2 is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that McCrory and the state were engaging in a pattern of practice of discrimination against transgender state employees and resistance to the full enjoyment if Title VII rights of transgender employees of public agencies.



Pat McCrory



The DOJ determined HB2 is facially discriminatory against transgender employees on the basis of sex because it treats transgender employees, whose gender identity does not match their biological sex  differently from similarly situated non-transgender employees.



In her letter, Gupta goes on to explain the violation: Under HB2, non-transgender state employees may access restrooms and changing facilities that are consistent with their gender identity in public buildings, while transgender state employees may not.



She concluded by requesting McCrory to advise the DOJ by the close of business on Monday, May 9 whether he will remedy these violations of Title VII, including by confirming that the state will not comply with or implement HB2, and that it has notified employees of the state and public agencies, consistent with federal law, they are permitted to access bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity.



The DOJ threatened to withhold federal funding from the state until it cedes the DOJs demands to expand the interpretation of Title VII to include trangender as a protected class.



McCrory, along with his Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry, responded to Guptas letter on Monday morning by filing a complaint in U.S. District Court against her and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch seeking declaratory judgment.



The DOJ threatened legal action against McCrory, Perry and other because they intend to follow its state law requiring public agencies to generally limit use of multi-occupancy bathroom and changing facilities to persons of the same biological sex, which plaintiffs assert is a common sense privacy policy.



The complaint calls the DOJs position baseless and a blatant overreach, stating, This is an attempt to unilaterally rewrite long-established federal civil rights laws in a manner that is wholly inconsistent with the intent of Congress and disregards decades of statutory interpretation by the courts. The overwhelming weight of legal authority recognizes that transgender status is not a protected class under Title VII. If the United States desires a new protected class under Title VII, it must seek such action by the United States Congress.



The complaint also asserts the DOJ has similarly overreached in its interpretation of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) and states, Even if VAWA specifically includes gender identity as a protected class, the North Carolina law is not discriminatory because it allows accommodations based on special circumstances, including but not limited to transgender individuals.



Calling the DOJs threat real but misplaced, the complaint states: North Carolina does not treat transgender employees differently from non-transgender employees. All state employees are required to use the bathroom and changing facilities assigned to persons of their same biological sex, regardless of gender identity, or transgender status.



The complaint cites a number of cases in which courts have consistently found Title VII does not protect transgender or transsexuality and says defendants threaten to force plaintiffs to implement their reinterpretation of Title VII and VAWA while ignoring the bodily privacy rights of plaintiffs employees, which it claims would expose plaintiffs to actual liability under Title VII, VAWA, and other provisions protecting the bodily privacy rights of employees in the workplace.



Because there is an actual controversy between the parties over whether plaintiffs may follow North Carolina law regarding bathroom and changing facility use, plaintiffs claim: A declaratory judgment will serve a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal issues, and will afford relief from uncertainty, insecurity, and controversy giving rise to the proceeding.



Plaintiffs seek a declaration from the court that they are not violating Title VII or VAWA by following state law regarding bathroom and changing facility use.



Just hours after McCrory filed the complaint, the DOJ filed a countersuit against North Carolina with Lynch calling HB2 state sponsored discrimination against transgender individuals.
May 11, 2016

Governor Doug Ducey: I will not sign legislation that threatens Arizonas water future

PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey released the following statement on his veto of Senate Bill 1268 and Senate Bill 1400.



Arizona enjoys a proud and longstanding reputation as a global leader in water management. Historically, weve planned ahead for the needs of our citizens and the future of our state but these bills undermine those efforts. While I appreciate the sponsors efforts to protect Arizona from federal overreach, Im concerned S.B. 1268 and S.B. 1400 would encourage a patchwork of water ordinances throughout our cities and leave our water supply securities in peril.



Ensuring the certainty and sustainability of Arizona water is a top priority. I will not sign legislation that threatens Arizonas water future.



I look forward to working with legislators to build on the success our state has experienced with the Groundwater Management Act of 1980, and the hard work of leaders from Carl Hayden, to Mo Udall and Jon Kyl, by implementing additional conservation opportunities and exploring new, sustainable water sources for our state.



The governors veto letter can be viewed here: http://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/sb1268_and_sb1400_veto_letter.pdf
My View

MAY 11, 2016

There is no letup by The Donalds critics despite the fact Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus conceded Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president.



I have subscribed to National Review, The Week and the Weekly Standard for many years. They are now devoted anti-Trump messengers. Even Time Magazine, the liberal weekly, is less toxic than the three. These businesses remain open because of donors and high-priced subscriptions; many other publications have dropped subscription rates to as little as $10 per year.

Guest Editorials:

By Natalia Castro | MAY 11, 2016

Immediately upon entering adulthood, students are forced to make the largest decision of their adult life, barely 18-year-old students must decide the higher education institute of their choice, or if they want to go at all. Common considerations include cost, location, and notoriety, but for many a key consideration is far less obvious  the politics of individual schools.



By Frosty Wooldridge | MAY 11, 2016

As we both know, Islam cannot be reformed because Islam considers itself to be perfect, complete, universal, and final! Anyone who attempts to reform Islam is accused of blasphemy and can be killed as an apostate.



By Dr. Joseph Horton | MAY 11, 2016

There is much talk and action right now on the issue of a minimum or just wage. Typically, those who favor raising the minimum wage tend to the liberal camp. However, some of those who want to raise the minimum wage are social conservatives or have conservative sympathies. They are concerned about those people who are working long hours at honest work, perhaps even achieving supervisory positions while still earning less than $15 an hour. There are too many people working jobs that would have once been careers who do not earn a living wage, and this has consequences.

By Robert Romano | MAY 11, 2016

How many appointments will the next president make to the federal judiciary? And what might that mean for the American people's First and Second Amendment rights?



Since 1952, U.S. presidents have nominated and had confirmed an average of 163 federal judges, including 1.6 Supreme Court Justices, every 4 years.


Who did it best: Cast your vote for the high school football player of the week

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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea
A new study identifies 2007 OR10 as the largest unnamed body in our solar system, and the third-largest dwarf planet. (Haumea has an oblong shape that is wider on its long axis than 2007 OR10, but its overall volume is smaller.)

A faraway object nicknamed "Snow White" is considerably larger than scientists had thought, and is in fact the third-largest dwarf planet in the solar system, a new study suggests.

Snow White is about 955 miles (1,535 kilometers) in diameter rather than 795 miles (1,280 km) wide as previously believed, according to the new study. That makes it the largest still-unnamed object in our solar system, NASA officials said. (The dwarf planet has not yet been formally named and currently goes by the placeholder designation 2007 OR10.) NASA released a new video of the dwarf planet Snow White along with its new size figures.

If the new measurement is accurate, the only known dwarf planets bigger than Snow White are Pluto and Eris, which are 1,475 miles (2,374 km) and 1,445 miles (2,236 km) across, respectively. [Meet the Solar System's Dwarf Planets]

Fourth place belongs to Haumea, which is 1,195 miles (1,920 km) across in the longest direction but has an oblong shape and is therefore less voluminous than Snow White. The 890-mile-wide (1,430 km) Makemake comes in fifth, NASA officials said.

A new study identifies 2007 OR10 as the largest unnamed body in our solar system, and the third-largest dwarf planet. (Haumea has an oblong shape that is wider on its long axis than 2007 OR10, but its overall volume is smaller.) (Image credit: Konkoly Observatory/Andras Pal, Hungarian Astronomical Association/Ivan Eder, NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI)

However, there is some uncertainty surrounding Snow White's newly determined size; the object's diameter may actually be as large as 1,000 miles (1,610 km) or as small as 814 miles (1,310 km), according to the new study, which has been published in The Astronomical Journal.

One of the people who discovered Snow White back in 2007, California Institute of Technology astronomer Mike Brown, urged people to take this uncertainty into account before giving the dwarf planet the third-place trophy.

"Be a little skeptical that 2007 OR10 is the third-largest dwarf planet, please. It has the least well measured size. Could easily be [smaller than] Makemake," Brown said via his Twitter account, @plutokiller, on Wednesday (May 11).

(Brown's Twitter handle refers to his role in the reclassification of Pluto from full-fledged planet to dwarf planet back in 2006. Brown and his colleagues have discovered a number of large objects in the outer solar system, including Eris and Sedna, that helped spur the International Astronomical Union to rethink its definition of "planet.")

A mysterious dwarf planet

Snow White orbits the sun every 547.5 years on an extremely elliptical path, getting as close to the star as 33 astronomical units (AU) and as far away as 101 AU. One AU is the average distance from Earth to the sun  about 93 million miles, or 150 million km. For perspective, Pluto orbits the sun at an average distance of 39.5 AU, and completes one lap every 248 years.

The size revision should help researchers better understand Snow White's composition and evolution, researchers said. For example, the object probably has an even darker surface than scientists had thought (because a larger amount of area is reflecting the same amount of light).

Artist's illustration of 2007 OR10, nicknamed "Snow White." Astronomers suspect that its reddish color is due to the presence of irradiated methane. (Image credit: NASA)

Previous observations had suggested that Snow White is reddish, perhaps because of the presence of methane ices. The new results bolster this interpretation, researchers said.

"Our revised larger size for 2007 OR10 makes it increasingly likely the planet is covered in volatile ices of methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen, which would be easily lost to space by a smaller object," lead author Andras Pal, of Konkoly Observatory in Budapest, Hungary, said in a statement. "It's thrilling to tease out details like this about a distant, new world  especially since it has such an exceptionally dark and reddish surface for its size."

Pal and his colleagues studied observations of Snow White made recently by NASA's Kepler space telescope, as well as archival data gathered by the European Space Agency's infrared Herschel Space Observatory, which ceased operations in April 2013.

Kepler was built to hunt for exoplanets by noting the tiny brightness dips these objects cause when crossing the faces of their parent stars from the spacecraft's perspective. And Kepler did just that for four years, until the second of its four orientation-maintaining reaction wheels failed in May 2013 and the telescope couldn't point with the required precision. [Gallery: A World of Kepler Planets]

But Kepler team members soon devised a way to stabilize Kepler's position in space using the two remaining reaction wheels and sunlight pressure, and the spacecraft embarked upon a second mission called K2 in 2014. Kepler is still searching for exoplanets during K2, but it's also studying a variety of other cosmic phenomena and objects  including Snow White.

Kepler measured Snow White's reflectivity, and the Herschel data allowed the study team to determine how much solar radiation the dwarf planet absorbs and later radiates as heat. Combining the two types of information allowed the researchers to calculate Snow White's size, NASA officials said.

The team also determined that the object is rotating extremely slowly, completing one spin every 45 hours. Snow White's surface brightness also appears to vary from place to place, researchers said.

The dwarf planet 2007 OR10, nicknamed Snow White, as seen by NASAs Kepler space telescope. (Image credit: Konkoly Observatory/Laszlo Molnar and Andras Pal)

Official name coming soon?

Snow White may not be the biggest unnamed object in the solar system for much longer.

"The names of Pluto-sized bodies each tell a story about the characteristics of their respective objects," Meg Schwamb, who discovered Snow White along with Brown and David Rabinowitz of Yale University, said in the same statement.

"In the past, we haven't known enough about 2007 OR10 to give it a name that would do it justice," added Schwamb, who's currently at the Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. "I think we're coming to a point where we can give 2007 OR10 its rightful name."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
A mysterious darkening star might not be home to an alien megastructure after all. Instead, the dimming that apparently occurred over the course of a century may actually have resulted from how telescopes and cameras have changed over time, researchers said.

Last fall, a star named KIC 8462852 made news when scientists found unusual fluctuations in the object's light. The star is an otherwise-ordinary F-type star, slightly larger and hotter than Earth's sun; it sits about 1,480 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.

But astronomer Tabetha "Tabby" Boyajian of Yale University in Connecticut and her colleagues, along with citizen scientists from the Planet Hunters crowdsourcing program, found something odd. They discovered dozens of strange instances of the star darkening over a 100-day period when they analyzed data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope.

The dimming events blocked up to 22 percent of the light from KIC 8462852, now nicknamed "Tabby's Star," making these events far too substantial to be caused by planets crossing (or "transiting") the star's face. Scientists also ruled out several other possible explanations, such as an enormous dust cloud. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Alien Life]

Such analyses raised the possibility that astronomers had detected signs of alien life  specifically, a Dyson sphere, a megastructure built around a star to capture as much of the sun's energy as possible to power an advanced civilization. (In science fiction, Dyson spheres  which are named after mathematician and physicist Freeman Dyson  are often depicted as solid shells around stars, but they could also be spherical swarms of giant solar panels.)

So far, astronomers at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institutein California analyzing Tabby's Starwith the Allen Telescope Array have not detected any radio signals that would indicate the presence of an alien civilization. Scientists at SETI International in San Francisco and their colleagues have also failed to detect any laser signals from Tabby's Star.

Still, in January, astronomer Bradley Schaefer of Louisiana State University reviewed archived photographic plates of the sky taken from 1890 to 1989 and found signs that Tabby's Star had dimmed by about 20 percent over the past century. He noted that this finding was difficult to explain by natural means. For instance, Schaefer calculated that it would require 648,000 comets, each about 125 miles (200 kilometers) wide, passing by the star in the past century to cause such dimming.

Now, however, researchers suggest this seemingly century-long dimming trend might not be real. Instead, the apparent darkening may just be due to how astronomical instruments have changed over time.

In the new study, scientists pored over DASCH (Digital Access to a Sky Century @ Harvard) data. This is a collection of more than 500,000 photographic glass plates taken by astronomers at Harvard in Massachusetts between 1885 and 1993 that the university is digitizing.

"It is exciting that we have these century-old data, which are incredibly valuable for checks like this," study lead author Michael Hippke, an amateur astronomer from the German town of Neukirchen-Vluyn, told Space.com.

The researchers looked not only at Tabby's Star, but also at a number of comparable stars in the DASCH database. Results showed that many of these other stars experienced a drop in brightness similar to that of Tabby's Star in the 1960s.

"That indicates the drops were caused by changes in the instrumentation, not by changes in the stars' brightness," study co-author Keivan Stassun at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, said in a statement.

"Now, what does that mean for the mystery? Are there no aliens after all? Probably not," Hippke said in an email. "Still, the daylong dips found by Kepler are real. Something seems to be transiting in front of this star, and we still have no idea what it is."

The best explanation so far for this dimming may be that a giant comet fragmented into thousands of smaller comets that are now crossing in front of Tabby's Star, some scientists say. To help solve this celestial mystery, amateur astronomers around the world are working with the American Association of Variable Star Observers to find new dips in the star's brightness, Hippke noted. Other groups, such as the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope, have also joined the effort, he said.

"Observing further dips in different colors can reveal information about the chemistry of the transiting object, which might confirm or reject a cometary origin," Hippke said.

The scientists will detail their findings in the Astrophysical Journal.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The Expedition 47 crew poses for the three millionth image taken aboard the International Space Station on April 30, 2016.

To suggest that the astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been "snap happy" would be an understatement of astronomical proportions.

The orbiting outpost's crew recently took the three millionth photograph since the space station's first residents began sending back images in November 2000.

"15 years, 3 million photos, and 1 beautiful planet," NASA flight engineer Jeff Williams wrote on Twitter. [Earth From ISS: Stunning Time-Lapse Video From Astronaut Photos]

Williams, who is the first American astronaut to embark on a third long-duration mission on the station, posed with his Expedition 47 crewmates to take the three-millionth shot.

"Excited to mark this photography milestone with my crew," he tweeted on May 5.

The photo, which was taken a few days earlier on April 30, shows Williams with his fellow NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, British astronaut Tim Peake of ESA (the European Space Agency), and Roscosmos cosmonauts Yuri Malenchenko, Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin. The six crewmates were captured floating inside Zvezda, the station's Russian service module.

The image is similar to one taken in the same module on Dec. 4, 2000 by the first expedition crew. At that time, Zvezda was one of two modules that comprised the orbital laboratory.

Since then, more than a dozen rooms have expanded the size of the complex, adding numerous locations for photos to be taken. But the space station's increased volume has been the focus of only a fraction of the snapshots that the astronauts and cosmonauts took over the past 15 years.

"These [photographs] include shots of science, thousands of maintenance photos for engineers on the ground, views of life on board and tons of our beautiful planet," described NASA spokesman Dan Huot in a video segment about the three-millionth image.

In fact, a majority of the photos taken on the space station have been of Earth  including a prior milestone image.

"1 millionth ISS photo," wrote NASA astronaut Don Pettit in his caption for a March 2012 shot of the Earth blanketed by a green aurora.

That photo was one of hundreds in a time-lapse series, an imagery technique that Pettit was among the first to demo in space and that partially accounted for the increased rate at which photos have been recorded on the station.

It took 12 years for the astronauts and cosmonauts to take the first one million images, but only four years to take two million more.

If all three million of their photos were printed out as 4 by 6 inch snapshots and then laid out side by side, they would extend longer than the International Space Station is high above the Earth.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
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Brussels, May 12, 2016 (SPS) - President of the Conference for Support and Solidarity with Sahrawi People (EUCOCO) Pierre Galand stressed Wednesday in Brussels that the recent months have been "essential" for the Sahrawi cause, regretting that the UN Security Council has not already set a schedule for the self-determination referendum.

"There is a noticeable awaking of the international community. The recent months have been essential for the Sahrawi cause," Galand told APS on the sidelines of the tribute-week devoted to Sahrawi political prisoners held since Monday in Brussels University.

For Galand, the verdict issued on 10 December by the EU Court of Justice (CJUE), which cancelled the agreement inked in 2012 between Morocco and the EU as it affected the occupied Western Sahara, as well as the UN Secretary General's visit in the region and the extension of the Minurso mandate to the great displeasure of Morocco, "are significant advances."

"Moroccans are currently upset because the international community did not rally round to Morocco and supports the UN," he said, hailing the UN Security Council's position that "reaffirmed that what the UN Secretary General did was coherent and part of his mission."

Galand "hailed" the UN Security Council's decision to extend the Minurso mandate and demand the restoration of this mission within three months.

The UN Security Council's resolution reaffirmed the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.SPS

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Don't go: Why Connecticut is better than Florida
Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORDGovernor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law last Friday funding for a program creating an entrepreneurial learners permit program co-authored by State Rep. Caroline Simmons-D-144 and State Sen. Scott Frantz-R-36th.

The new program, which goes into effect July 1, provides up to $1,000 in reimbursements for state licensing and permitting costs to first-time entrepreneurs in the information services, biotechnology, and green technology industries.
B rexit risks killing the golden goose of Londons thriving tech sector, entrepreneurs have warned.

Business lobbying group London Firsts letter to the Evening Standard was backed by representatives of 53 tech businesses including Debbie Wosskow, chief executive and founder of home exchange club Love Home Swap.

Signatories also included Alastair Lukies, the Prime Ministers fintech business ambassador and former Monitise boss.

The letter warned: The tech sector is now a golden goose that offers young people entering the workforce high-wage, high-skill jobs. We believe it would be a mistake to put one of our most thriving and innovative sectors at risk.

It added: London is the business capital of the European Union, which is why so many of our start-ups have chosen to base themselves here rather than elsewhere in Europe. EU membership means firms can hire not just the best minds in Britain but also get specialist skills from the continent, enabling companies like us to deliver the best products and services.

The letter comes alongside a KPMG report for London First warning of the triple threat to the capitals 69 billion fintech sector from a Brexit including trading restrictions, difficulties hiring talent and slower economic growth.

Full list of signatories:

Michael Seres, Founder, 11 Health

Daryl Woodhouse, Head of Strategy and Leadership, Advantage Business Partnerships Ltd

Michael Kent, CEO and Founder, Azimo

Marta Krupinska, Co-Founder and General Manager, Azimo

Eric Mouilleron, Founder and CEO, Bankable

Hussain Al Hilli, Co-Founder & COO, Byoot

Jeff Tijssen, Head of FinTech and Partnerships, Capco

Eric van der Kleij , Managing Director, Entiq and Chairman of UKTI GEP Advisory Group on FinTech and Blockchain

Daniela Menzky, COO, CyNation

Shadi A Razak, Director of Cyber Security & Compliance, CyNation

Alastair Paterson, Co-Founder and CEO, Digital Shadows

James Chappell, Co-founder and CTO, Digital Shadows

Damian Kimmelman, CEO and Co-founder, DueDil

Justin Fitzpatrick, COO and Co-founder, DueDil

Dinesh Dhamija, Co-founder, Ebookers

Gaia Arzilli, Head of External Engagement, ENTIQ

Chris Ward, Senior Developer and Director, GladWard Limited

Aftab Malhotra, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, GrowthEnabler

Jonas Cronfeld, CEO, Hanky

Omar Hassan, Chief Executive Officer, Inevert

Vanessa Lee Butz, Managing Director, Interchange

Christoph Rieche, CEO, iwoca

Adizah Tejani, Head of Ecosystem Development , Level39

Debbie Wosskow, CEO and Co-Founder, Love Home Swap

Glen Channon, Co-Founder, milkmanenergy.com

Rekha Mehr MBE, Founder, Moonrekha

Monica Kalia, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Neyber

Chris Edson, Co-founder, OurPath

Eileen Burbidge, Partner, Passion Capital

Axel Katalan, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Pointr

Sean Dooley, Director, ROW Group

David Wilkinson, Managing Partner, Soho Strategy

Jonathan Grubin, Founder & CEO, SoPost

Ian Livingstone CBE, Chairman, Sumo Digital

Rich Pleeth, Founder, Sup

Bindi Karia, Advisory Board, Tech London Advocates

Russ Shaw, Founder, Tech London Advocates

Roudie Shafie, Lead, Tech London Advocates EU Group

Simon Kleine, Lead, Tech London Advocates EU Group

Matt Wilkes, Managing Director, The Code Distillery

Kristo Kaarmann, Co-founder, Transferwise

Taavet Hinrikus, Co-founder, Transferwise

Mark Martin, Urban Teacher

Steve Berry, Chairman and Founder, Waterbridge Capital Ltd

Clement Daudy, Managing Director, Wilmore Finance Ltd

Ben Stockman, Director, Wordsmith Digital

David Angell, Director, Wordsmith Digital

Jack Parsons, CEO, Yourfeed

Alain Falys, Co-Founder and CEO, Yoyo Wallet

Alastair Lukies CBE, Prime Ministers Business Ambassador for FinTech

Joe Warren, Managing Director, Powervault

Sam James, Managing Director, Hassle.com

Tom Adeyoola, Founder, Metail
T he chief executive of TalkTalk has dubbed BTs 6 billion package of investment in faster broadband a shameless attempt to bribe the regulator into being nice to them.

Dido Harding launched her attack on BT, the owner of most of the UKs telecoms infrastructure, as she applauded Margrethe Vestager, the European Comissioner who yesterday blocked Threes merger with O2.

She said British regulator Ofcom should now show the same steel by hiving off Openreach from BT.

Weve been absolutely clear from the beginning that [a merger] would have been extremely bad for consumers. Consolidation from four [mobile operators] to three is bad news, she told the Standard.

BT responded: The whole industry, including TalkTalk, will bene fit from that investment as will consumers and businesses across the UK.

Harding made her comments as she revealed the full impact of last years cyber attack on Talk Talk, in which 100,000 customers had their details stolen.

Full-year profits at the telecoms group halved, falling from 32 million to 14 million after exceptionals of 83 million.

The budget telecoms and broadband group said 42 million of exceptionals were down to Octobers cyber attack, including the cost of supplying customers with free TV, phone and data upgrades to compensate them for the distress caused by the breach.

However, Talk Talk said it had bounced back strongly from the attack, with 148,000 new subscribers joining in the last quarter, while the rate at which customers were leaving  the churn  was also at its lowest ever.

Sales at the FTSE 250 company came in ahead of expectations, rising 2.4% to 1.84 billion.

Harding said: Our customers really appreciated our open and honest approach to dealing with it.

The dividend, which some had suggested could be under threat, is up by 15%.
T he Government White Paper on the future of the BBC published today contains eye-catching plans to require the disclosure of the salaries of its best-paid stars and a proposal that will force viewers to pay the licence fee if they want to watch programmes on iPlayer. The BBC Trust will also be abolished, to be replaced by a new governing board including ministerial appointees, while the Corporation will lose its right to adjudicate on complaints, which instead will be dealt with by the broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

But despite the Government billing todays document as a major overhaul, the reality is that the proposed changes fall well short of the radical surgery once predicted. Ideas such as forcing the BBC to move the timing of some of its most popular programmes have been ditched, while the licence fees future has been guaranteed for the next 11 years. All this is good news for viewers. It can be forgotten too easily what a national asset the BBC is. Its mixture of original, varied and high-quality programmes provides a huge public benefit that is sometimes under-appreciated. Bringing the Great British Bake Off, Wolf Hall, Strictly Come Dancing and David Attenborough to our screens enhances national life, as do many of the Corporations less heralded programmes. The flood of awards won by the BBC at last weekends Bafta ceremony only served to confirm this obvious point.

Nor do the benefits of the BBC stop at these shores. The BBC World Service, whose funding has been thankfully ringfenced, gives Britain extensive soft power influence that conventional diplomacy would struggle to replicate.

Some dangers remain, particularly over the ministerial power to appoint members of the new BBC governing board. This must not be misused and turned into a device for pressuring the Corporation. BBC bosses too should ensure that the focus on value for money continues now that the worst threats have been removed.

BBC changes revealed

But overall, todays Government backtracking is welcome. Changing something that works so well would have been foolish and out of keeping with the essence of Conservative philosophy. A final fact is worth remembering too. For all the vogue for US and Scandi drama, turn on the television overseas and the gulf between the quality and range of output available for British viewers and those abroad becomes immediately apparent. The BBC is the main reason for that. It is a national institution that should be celebrated and its future must be safeguarded.

Corruption in London

The series of new policies announced today by the Prime Minister to counter money laundering and corruption, which aim to stop this countrys property and financial markets being exploited by those made rich through crime, are welcome and overdue. It is distasteful to Londoners that the use of opaque corporate vehicles to buy prime property has, too often in the past, allowed the laundering of dirty cash in this city, and worse still that professionals involved in facilitating corrupt transactions are able to escape sanction. The test of Mr Camerons new laws will be in the detail. But if they work as promised, London can only gain.

Turner Prize buttocks

The sculpture by Londoner Anthea Hamilton of male buttocks that features on todays Turner Prize shortlist has been described as a forceful act of opening. The mind boggles. Its not Michelangelo, but at least this, and the other intriguing entries, show that our citys creativity is still flourishing.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has confirmed its forecast for the growth of the Ukrainian economy by 2% this year and expects it will remain at the same level in 2017.

"Ukraine's economy is expected to return to growth in 2016 against the background of the previous macroeconomic regulation and rebalancing, supported by structural reforms, although investors' confidence remains weak," reads a review of economic prospects for the region the EBRD operates in.

The bank said the country's economy reached the lowest level during the second half of 2015. In general, over the past year it fell by 9.9%, a year ago by 6.6%, and in U.S. dollar terms Ukraine's economy halved, from about $180 billion in 2013 to $90 billion in 2015.

The EBRD noted the dependence of net private capital inflows to Ukraine with the resumption of the IMF program, political stability and keeping the pace of reforms in the key areas such as banking and energy, privatization, rule of law and administration of justice.

The bank also noted the importance of continuation of international funding for the country to further increase international reserves.
D escribing another country as fantastically corrupt just before meeting its leader is, of course, unlikely to feature in any Foreign Office guide to diplomacy. But as David Cameron prepared to welcome Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari to his anti-corruption summit in London today, the accuracy and significance of his brutal assessment of Britains former colony should be neither overlooked nor regarded as something of only passing interest to this country.

As I found on a visit to Nigeria earlier this year, the West African nation is, as President Buhari himself has conceded, so riven by corruption that the prospects of many of its 180 million-strong population are being seriously undermined, to their intense frustration. The stories I heard ranged from accounts of small-scale bribes being given to police to escape traffic penalties to testimony from a judge about pressure, sometimes physically threatening, being brought to bear on the justice system by big men and their associates.

The published facts are startling too: a study by the consultancy firm PwC calculated that corruption has already cost Nigerias people around $1,000 each and reduced the countrys GDP by at least $113 billion  one fifth of its total  with even greater losses predicted to follow unless the problem is brought under control. Nigerias information minister Lai Mohammed stated recently that his country lost $6.8 billion in public funds between 2006 and 2013 to just 55 people.

Hundreds of billions of pounds are estimated to have been plundered from Nigerias oil industry, which should have generated enough money to bring national prosperity, but has instead simply heightened the gulf between its rich elite and the impoverished mass of the population.

The dire state of Nigerias infrastructure and the shabby conditions in which many Nigerians live provide visible evidence of this misuse of resources, while the scale of corruption also deters foreign investment, pushes up the prices of basic goods, and affects the quality of public services.

This matters to Britain, and London in particular with its large Nigerian diaspora community, almost as much as it does to Nigerias long-suffering people. Trade between our two countries totalled 6 billion last year and could grow much more with Nigeria, already Africas largest economy, forecast to enter the worlds top 20 by the end of this decade. An expanding Nigerian middle class, highlighted by some of the impressive young entrepreneurs I met in Lagos, will enhance this opportunity for commercial and cultural exchange. More negatively, continued widespread poverty in such a large country as Nigeria could risk dangerous instability with consequences across Africa and beyond.

For now, the immediate focus will be on how much todays summit achieves and whether the Prime Minister responds adequately to legitimate concerns about Britains role as a conduit for money laundering and a haven for stolen assets. Certainly, Nigeria is right to ask for the return of plundered wealth held here. Genuine transparency about property and company ownership to prevent future abuses is needed too.

The diplomatic squall over Mr Camerons unguarded remarks will subside. But, as Nigerias travails illustrate most vividly, the purge on corruption must be intensified.
H eathrows latest announcement and its commitments to the communities around the airport arent worth the paper theyre written on. Broken promises are the norm in our experience.

Every week we experience breaches of night and day respite agreements, so how can we possibly trust the new later starts offer?

We already desperately need transport improvements to deal with the existing airport capacity, so the proposed improvements simply will not be enough if further expansion goes ahead.

Finally, at the time of the Terminal 5 inquiry, Heathrows management categorically stated that the airport would not need a third runway before quickly reversing their stance, so any promises made not to pursue a fourth runway will fall on deaf ears. We simply cannot trust Heathrow to stay true to its promises.

Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth (Lab)

For far too long the Government has dithered and delayed making a decision about airport expansion. The time for excuses is over.

On behalf of thousands of residents in west London we welcome the announcement from Heathrow that it is committed to meeting and exceeding the Airports Commissions conditions, which will now enable a new runway to be built. The move strips the Government of any lingering excuses for not supporting Heathrow expansion.

Last year the Airports Commission made a clear and unanimous recommendation that Heathrow should be expanded. But instead of making a decision in December the Government claimed that it needed more time to consider the environmental impact.

There are now no more goalposts to move because the case for Heathrow expansion is overwhelming. It is time to get on and build it.

Rob Gray, campaign director, Back Heathrow

Heathrows latest promise to reduce night flights and curb noise and pollution if allowed a third runway is somewhat desperate. There is already an excedance of the critical limit on nitrogen oxides around the local reservoirs and this is predicted to get far worse if expansion goes ahead.

It should also be noted that, as of yet, there has been no sign of the results of the Governments work on environmental impact.

The Rev Andrew McLuskey

What should those of us whose lives are blighted by aircraft noise and who were heartened by Sadiq Khans declared rejection of a third runway at Heathrow make of the new mayors appointment of Andrew Adonis as his transport supremo?

Lord Adonis supported Heathrow expansion when he was Transport Secretary in the last Labour Cabinet, in 2009.

Elizabeth Balsom

Sheridan does not deserve this tirade

It was with great displeasure that I read about the unnecessary attacks on actress Sheridan Smith after she missed another performance of Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre [May 10]. At what point will we all realise that the pressures put on those in the public eye sometimes lead to them feeling they need some space?

The emotionally challenging role she played in The C Word and her fathers recent cancer diagnosis would surely have taken their toll on her. Yet so-called fans and theatregoers were only interested in subjecting her to a tirade of idiotic comments, even though they were instead treated to a fine performance by Natasha Barnes.

The hypocrisy of how she is being treated is quite astounding. If she had suffered a physical injury that prevented her from performing, get-well messages would have flooded in, but emotional distress has no physical signs  we simply expect people to grin and bear it.

Those attacking Smith should think back to the last time they were under pressure before judging her  Im sure that then they were not a particularly funny girl or guy either.

Dave Robertson

Give private renters more protection

We congratulate Sadiq Khan on his victory last week. In his campaign he called the election a referendum on the housing crisis  now he needs to turn words into action. There are more than two million private tenants in London, with some paying huge rents and fees and others facing eviction, and most have little chance of owning their home. Londoners are being forced out of their city while vital workers are tempted to move to more affordable parts of the country.

If the Mayor wants to secure the citys future, he not only needs to ramp up the building of affordable housing but must also make renting in London a long-term option, with protection from rent hikes and security over ones home.

Betsy Dillner, Generation Rent, and five other signatories

Hopper ticket will help commuters

The mayors announcement that he will introduce a one-hour hopper ticket on Londons buses from September is great news [May 9]. Huge numbers of the capitals commuters rely on buses to get into work every day but transport costs have become an increasingly heavy burden to bear, so this will offer some much needed relief.

By making travel cheaper it will undoubtedly help Londoners on lower incomes. These steps, however small they may seem, make a massive contribution to helping people to stay in work which benefits all of us.

Florence Eshalomi, Labours London Assembly transport spokesperson

We must stay in to reform the EU

While Crispin Blunt claims Brexit would stop the EU developing into a superstate [Comment, May 9], I would suggest otherwise. Many of the EUs smaller members are wary of Franco-German domination and welcome Britains leadership in the EU.

Mr Blunts assertion that we would have the weight to count, if not to command, alone also ignores the fact that much of this weight stems from our key role in the EU. Surely it is better for us to argue our case for the kind of EU we want, rather than walk out and abandon our friends?

John Sankey
A n art show featuring a 10-metre-high sculpture of a mans backside has been nominated for the Turner Prize.

Sculptor Anthea Hamiltons bare-faced cheek was rewarded by judges who shortlisted for the 25,000 art award which has previously won by Grayson Perry and Damien Hirst.

The work is called Project for door (After Gaetano Pesce) and is set into a brick wall and shows a mans hands clutching his backside.

Creator: artists Anthea Hamilton

Hamilton has refused to identify her model, whose behind was 3D scanned, but reportedly said he is a graphic designer who works with several contemporary artists.

It forms part of her New York show Anthea Hamilton: Lichen! Libido! Chastity! which includes white water pipes decorated to look like giant cigarettes and a suit designed with a brick wall pattern.

Sic Glyphs 2016 by Michael Dean

The Londoner is one of four artists - three of them women - shortlisted for the prestigious prize.

The buttocks artwork was inspired by an idea by Italian designer Pesce, who proposed making it as a giant entrance for a Manhattan skyscraper that never went ahead.

The curator of the New York gallery where it was initially shown said the work built on the original hypothetical idea.

Ruba Katrib said: In Antheas work, the ass breaks out of the wall of the exhibition space in a forceful act of opening.

Also on the shortlist is Michael Dean, whose show at South London Gallery included sculptures made from corrugated iron shop shutters, and photographer Josephine Pryde for a San Francisco show that includes close-up photographs of peoples hands and a working model train set covered in graffiti.

Helen Marten, a former pupil of Central St Martins, completes the list with work from two shows including sculptures made from discarded objects including lumps of concrete, bits of cardboard and twigs.

The prize, which often attracts controversy for the avant garde nature of the work, hit the headlines in 1999 when around 2,000 people a day visited to see Tracey Emins My Bed complete with stained sheets and empty bottles.

Work by all four shortlisted artists will be on show at Tate Britain in Pimlico from September 27 until January 8 with the winner announced in December.
Review at a glance









 Im on a new journey, declared will.i.am, Black Eyed Pea, solo artist, reality show judge and, most of all right now, businessman. Im transitioning from music to tech.

What that exactly means is far from clear. The former William Adams will play Wembley Stadiums Capital FM Summertime Ball next month, but he has new toys to play with and, to the audiences bemusement, he spent much of the evening hawking his forthcoming smartwatch, Dial.

If will.i.am is getting out of music after selling almost 40 million albums, this may be the right moment. Last nights show was delayed for 30 minutes to allow flustered Albert Hall staff to fill the swathes of empty seats near the stage with people from the even more sparsely occupied top tier.

Those who did turn up were richly rewarded. The 41-year-old was a calorie-burning frontman, a pointer in the finest hip-hop tradition and when he mashed his Heartbreaker with Justin Biebers Sorry and then his That Power with Snap!s The Power, he was an autocue-assisted showman.

Sandwiched between solo and Black Eyed Peas segments, will.i.ams DJ set promised little, but it gave more when fellow Voice UK judge and Kaiser Chief Ricky Wilson charged around stage singing along to I Predict A Riot and Tinie Tempah lurched his way through Girls Like.

Finally, apl.de.ap and Taboo joined will.i.am for a Black Eyed Peas near-reunion, although former The Only Way Is Essex star and Voice UK contestant Lydia Lucy was a nervous, charisma-challenged substitute for the missing Fergie. Where Is The Love?, Pump It, I Gotta Feeling and a sweary Prince anecdote turned potential defeat into victory, but, tellingly, will.i.am was most animated when he begged parents to send their children to computer science classes. If he really is transitioning, musics loss is techs gain.

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
T he Tate Modern will launch its long-awaited extension on Friday June 17, opening the doors to its Switch House building for the first time.

Incorporated within this new part of the gallery will be the Switch House Bar on the first floor and Switch House Restaurant on floor nine.

The venues will focus on sourcing high-quality ingredients from across the UK, and will also serve Tates own-blended wines, the gallerys own gin made by Sacred distillery in Highgate, and a beer brewed especially for Tate by Bermondseys Four Pure.

Dishes in the restaurant will include duck pastrami with dates, blood orange salad and balsamic jelly; trout with leek vinaigrette, air-dried ham and a horseradish veloute; and cured haddock with golden beetroot, samphire and cockle consomme.

Not your typical gallery grub: Cured haddock with golden beetroot, samphire and cockle consomme

Puddings will feature a coconut cream with Victoria sponge, mango compote, mandarin gel and an orange and almond tuile.

The bar will serve rotisserie chicken and a wide selection of craft beers, while cocktails and wines will also feature.

30 must-try dishes in London restaurants 1 /41 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants Bone marrow on toast with parsley salad at St John Not only has this dish kicked off countless wonderful meals over the course of St Johns 25 years, but it also gets credit for putting British cooking back on the global culinary map. Roasted bone marrow, coaxed out onto toast, cut perfectly with salad of parsley, shallots and capers. A nose-to-tail revolution, and utterly divine. Whole turbot at Brat Tomos Parrys talents with a turbot first came to feverish acclaim at Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fishers, but they are now the star attraction at his Michelin-starred solo spot. This whole fish  grilled Basque-style, over hot coals and in a specially designed cage  softens as if it has melted, and is basted at the table in an emulsion made with its own juices. Benjamin McMahon Marinara at 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Superlatives should be used in moderation  but heck it, this might just be Londons best pizza. This under-the-radar London iteration of a Naples pizzeria serves an unrivalled marinara: just tomato sauce, oil, garlic and oregano. No need for any more  with a sauce this good and a base so fine and perfectly charred, you can stop mourning your cancelled Italian holiday at first bite. Luciano Furia Clay pot baked pork and crab glass noodles at Kiln When we say Kiln is one of the hottest spots in town, we mean it  hang over the counter at the Thai barbecue and youre not far out of range for the odd flame. Baking in the heart of the swirling heat is this must order: shimmering glass noodles, coated with a silky sauce enriched with fatty slicks of Tamworth pork belly and improbably unctuous crab meat. Lamb chops, Melabes Perhaps because its quietly tucked in among its unassuming neighbours down on the wrong end of High Street Kensington, Melabes is often overlooked by Londons food lovers. An unwarranted shame, as this partly Middle Eastern, partly Mediterranean set-up is really very good; it is somewhere to pick and choose from bits and pieces, and put a meal together yourself. The lamb chops, which come all smokey and burnished from the grill, are perfect; pink as a Vegas sign inside, but the fat all soft and dripping and delicious. A must, whatever the order. Steak tartare imperial at Bob Bob Ricard Theres Press For Champagne buttons, lobster in your mac and cheese and anything that stays still long enough gets gilded  there is no point in going small at Bob Bob Ricard. Steak tartare is a luxurious pick at the best of times, but the Imperial upgrade here comes with a dollop of caviar  even without the finishing touch, the tartare itself is one of the best in the capital. Bacon naan at Dishoom Londoners spent decades believing bacon in a bap with some ketchup (or brown sauce, but lets not have that argument now) couldnt be beaten  and then Dishoom came along. This breakfast sandwich fills a fresh naan with bacon, a slathering of cream cheese, a luxurious tomato and chilli chutney, coriander and an oozing fried egg if you feel so inclined. Hangover be gone. Cacio e pepe at Padella Five years ago, you would have thought anyone queuing for pasta in London to have lost their minds  this dish changed that. The starlet of Padellas much coveted is this plate of pici  hand-rolled fat worms of eggless pasta  with a mirror-shine sauce of parmesan cheese and pasta. Simple but unrivalled  and itll set you back just 6. Jamon croquetas at Barrafina A dish like this should be elusive  it is far too easy to eat seven portions of croquetas in a single sitting, which is why we presume Barrafina makes you queue. Very sensible. As the crunchy coating gives way to the oozing centre, enriched with the flavour of Spanish jamon (the best ham in the business), were already planning our next visit. Biang biang noodles at Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles There are oodles of noodles in the capital, but Guirong Weis triumphant take is one of the finest. First finding followers at her north London restaurant Xian Impression (soon to reopen for dine-in, but not yet), the dish of has inspired a whole spin-off restaurant in Spitalfields. Thick, hand-pulled, chewy noodles soak up all the spice and zing of the special sauce they swim in  very special indeed. Souffle Suissesse, Le Gavroche Le Gavroche  the street urchin  is perhaps not for everyone. It is a Mayfair time machine, a reminder of how things were done once upon a time. Fortunately, it happens that how things were once done was very well indeed, and lunch or supper here is a masterclass in traditional French luxury (and often, happily, includes very large glasses of wine). Staff make the place, anyone who has been gently teased by the twins pretending to be each other will know. A tendency towards the old ways does mean the cooking offers little in the way of evolution or revolution, but new, after all, isnt always better. Michel Roux Jrs cheese souffle, baked on double cream, stuns, so overwhelmingly tasty, utter decadence that clings to the taste buds. Buttermilk Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Around the Cluck / 12:51 James Cochran found his signature dish early on, but its good it should stay with him for the rest of his career. While he has chops, and can do more beyond, theres something special in the way he works with his chicken; hotly spiced, gorgeously crispy, beautifully soft on the inside. A long-standing favourite and, though 12:51 cant operate as it did before, there are tables at his new project Around the Cluck, which is operating out of the same site. Breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall Your Full English is not full in comparison to the Hawksmoor breakfast at the steak connoisseurs Guildhall restaurant. The mind-boggling two-person spread swaps bacon rashers for an entire smoked chop, serves its bubble and squeak with short rib, puts trotter meat into its baked beans, and adds grilled bone marrow to all the usual trimmings. Cauliflower shawarma at Berber & Q Its not often that the main event at a barbecue restaurant is the veg, but Berber & Q have achieved just that. The cauliflower shawarma here is cooked on their flaming grill until softened and charred, before being doused liberally in tahini, pomegranate molasses, coriander, pomegranate seeds and a scattering of dried rose petals. BBQ Butter Chicken Wings at Brigadiers Brigadiers is a bold, boisterous sort of place: a labyrinthine City dining room, packed to the rafters with beer and Indian food that is indisputably gutsy. But arguably its finest moment comes in one of its smallest packages  these chicken wings may be diminutive, but are mightily spiced, deftly charred and dripping with ghee-fuelled succulence. Beef brisket bun at Smokestak David Carters Shoreditch restaurant occupies itself by giving the entirety of Kansas City a run for its money on a daily basis. The star turn at this lauded barbecue restaurant is its beef brisket bun  the meat is soft and juicy, riddled with its fats in the centre, while charred and treacle-like on the outside, paired perfectly with pickled chillies. To remember it is to salivate, we assure you. Snails, LEscargot LEscargot is one of Sohos old aristocrats and in its grand, beret red dining room there is always a mischievous sense of fun  perhaps because it is still such a smart, suited, chandeliered place, and people are often drinking themselves rather silly. The clue to good eating is in the name; the snails come still clinging to their shells and submerged in their butter and parsley sauce. Dive in; you will emerge stinking gloriously of garlic. It wont matter a jot; roll on the red wine and settle in for a long, comforting night. Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House Yes, there are some high quality chops on offer at this 150-year-old Clerkenwell restaurant but blimey, leave room for the chips. Fine slices of potato are stacked into architecturally sound wedges, and confited until shatteringly crispy on the outside and devastatingly soft in the centre. They have been much imitated in recent years, but never bettered. Smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis Jeremy Lee cooks many things to a legendary level at Quo Vadis  his pies could so easily have also made this list  but he gets the nod here for his unrivalled take on the fancy sandwich. Smoked eel, horseradish cream and Dijon mustard, served with red onion pickle  a combination so popular Lee says he nearly ran out of eel on post-lockdown reopening. Classic bao at Bao London has buns in abundance, but we still bow down to the fluffy superiority of Bao. The Taiwanese restaurant has become a cross-town favourite, thanks to its pleasingly pert rice buns (they are genuinely very pert, no crassness intended) and carefully considered fillings. The classic order comes filled with braised pork, fermented veg, coriander and a dusting of peanut powder. Carol Sachs Potato and roe, Core by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth has a knack that must infuriate other chefs; she is able to take the simplest of ingredients  say, a single carrot and a smattering of lamb mince  do something devilish with it and charge rather a lot for it; so good are the results, though, that few mind. Smyths sorcery is perhaps best witnessed with her signature, the potato and roe. It is simply a potato on a plate in a little sauce, but then it is also perhaps the best potato dish in the world; it has this wonderful salty richness, a certain seaside intenseness. It is glorious; so too is the smoked chicken that tends to come as an amuse bouche. Youll be treated here. Omelette Arnold Bennett Dont worry, no Arnolds were harmed in the making of this dish. Alongside impeccable service and an arguably perfect dining room, you could add another highlight to your breakfast at The Wolseley by ordering this creamy, haddock-filled dish, named for the writer who inspired its creation while staying at the Savoy. Fish pie, J Sheekey Long an actors favourite, J Sheekeys glamour has never lost its lustre. Its kept its regulars and charmed newcomers with a menu that plays the greatest hits of fine dining favourites. Seafood is Sheekeys thing; simply done sole is beautiful here, crab comes three ways, brill brushed in butter has a meatiness thats beyond satisfying. The fish pie is famous though, and rightly so; beneath the flaking pastry is a sea of cream, mustard and white wine, in it bobbing cod, haddock and salmon. It is simple but never fails; it does on its own for lunch, but is a failsafe at supper, too. John Carey The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun Theres a cheeseburger on every high street in the capital  but not all of them are created equal. Patty & Bun has got the classic combination down to a tee with its curiously named Ari Gold burger: a fat, 35-day aged patty is served medium rare, and topped with gooey American cheese, smokey house mayo and tangy pickled red onions. Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung Few dishes in the capital have been known to cause queues of four hours. Thats exactly what the world-famous xiao long bao dumplings did when top Taiwanese restaurant group Din Tai Fung first opened in Covent Garden. An intricately folded out layer (made by chefs trained for at least 18 months) gives way to succulent meat and a broth you could take on by the bowlful. Pig's trotter, the French House Upstairs in the Soho local, Neil Borthwick is quietly running one of the areas best kitchens. He orders in particularly good oysters, does brilliant things with brill and with his pigs trotter, has a dish that is rich and fatty, but with a beautiful salty cut that makes it madly moreish. The menu tends to change often upstairs in the French, but have this if its on. That little dining room is somewhere to go in early for lunch and stay until late, eventually spilling down into the pub below, to drink pints  they do pints now, not just halfs  all while merrily reliving the joys upstairs. Peter Clark Dover sole with crab butter at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill There are so many delights at Bentleys, its tricky to pick a single one. This could so easily have been a plate of rigorously sourced oysters, the fish pie, the decadent Royal seafood platter (pictured). It is however, the Dover sole that wins. A sublime piece of fish always, expertly cooked without fail  choose it either filleted with beautiful crab butter, or grilled and whole for a simple pleasure. Over in the City, Corrigan does similarly brilliant things with lobster at Daffodil Mulligan. Ragu, Lina Stores Sohos Lina Stores  the pasta bar, not the longstanding Italian deli it comes from  is the sort of restaurant one longs for; small, fun, friendly, not too pricey. They do small plates of near perfect pasta; their ragu, whether lamb or veal, is a gem. A good ragu is hard to find  too often theres too little meat, or meat not cooked for long enough  but here, they spend the time over it, cooking slowly, carefully. No restaurant can compare with a Nonna, but Lina gets gratifyingly close. Porterhouse steak, the Guinea Grill London is not short of steakhouses, but the Guinea does not number among them. A pub  a proper one  it is tucked down a Mayfair sidestreet, away from everything and yet still perpetually busy. Besides the small bar is a dining room that looks much as it must have done when the likes of Sinatra was in (or Bette Midler, or Kylie, or Regan, or, or, or), where theyve served prime Aberdeen Angus cooked on a smoking hot grill. The Guinea is all about having a good time  pints, red wine, brandies, the lot  but they cook beautifully, and their handling of a good piece of beef is second to none. Puree de pommes de terre, Le Comptoir Robuchon The late Joel Robuchon may have been the most decorated chef of his and perhaps any other era, but his signature stayed humble  mashed potato. Until youve had it, it is hard to believe it could be quite so good; mash, after all, is mash. No matter the scepticism, it will always surprise; it is almost silly that so little could taste of so much. A side, it will match almost everything on the menu; of which, the lamb with aubergine on the menu of classics is extraordinarily good.

The bar will serve pastries for breakfast from 7.30am, while both venues will offer coffee thats been roasted across the river at Tate Britain in a WWII Nissen hut.

The new building will also boast a 10th floor viewing gallery, treating visitors to impressive cross-river scenes.

Food and drink options in Tate Moderns existing Boiler House building already include a ground floor cafe, a members bar on the 5th floor and a restaurant on the 6th floor.

The new restaurant and bar will both open on June 17, along with the extension. Visit tate.org.uk.

Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum

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O nce Edinburghs less glamorous sister, all eyes are on Glasgow again this year. With one of the worlds premier art schools, its a culture junkies paradise with historic architecture, trendy dive bars and gourmet treats youll only find north of the border

Art class

The original Glasgow School of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, may have been devastated by fire two years ago but its still standing and worth a visit for its iconic Art Nouveau architecture. Also worth a trip are the new Reid Building, and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum  one of the citys grandest properties. (gsa.ac.uk; museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk)

Food for thought

Deep-fried Mars Bars, tatties and square sausages are Scottish culinary classics, so a visit to the kitsch University Cafe on Byres Road is a must. If youre looking for something a little smarter, head to the much-loved Ubiquitous Chip (above), an airy three-floor brasserie serving delicacies such as Galloway roe deer and Scottish smoked salmon (ubiquitouschip.co.uk)

Straight to checkout

Glasgows Vintage Guru on Byres Road specialises in stylish second-hand designs, and is the go-to store for everything from a 1960s summer dress to a pair of original Levis. In the heart of the Ruthven Mews area youll find the Glaswegian legend that is Relics  an Aladdins cave of bric-a-brac, brimming with eccentric homewares and Art Deco furniture at bargain prices. (vintageguru.co.uk; Relics, Dowanside Lane, G12)

Barras Art and Design

Market force

The historic Barras Market has quickly turned into a home for hip creative types who have been priced out of the city centre. BAaD (Barras Art and Design) is a hub in the middle of the market where graduates from the Glasgow School of Art sell jewellery, clothing and art each weekend alongside the barrow boys offering their odds and ends. (baadglasgow.com)

The grand hall at Blythswood Square Hotel

Bed down

Treat yourself to a little luxury during your stay. Blythswood Square Hotel lives up to its five stars, with 93 rooms (kitted out with bespoke marble tubs and extra-large beds), an award-winning spa and a breakfast buffet with a Scottish spin  think make-your-own Bloody Mary stations and a signature hot porridge served with Scotch whisky. Rooms from 160 (townhousecompany.com)

The hotel's hot porridge breakfast

Bottoms up

Head to Finnieston for some of Glasgows best bars; check out The 78, a vegetarian pub, or The Ben Nevis, which offers brilliant whiskies and craft beers. More centrally, try Nice n Sleazy for live music and DJs. (the78cafebar.com; The Ben Nevis, 1147 Argyle Street, G3; nicensleazy.com)

The legendary Nice n Sleazy bar in Sauchiehall Street

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D o you live in Converse but go weak at the knees for Hunter wellies? Are you into unpasteurised dairy products bought at source  by which you mean that nice farm shop with the reassuringly expensive jams? Do you yearn for a noseful of fresh air, as long as theres an artisan cafe within sniffing distance? Yes? Youre not alone.

Alexa Chung bounces from London to the Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk, Jack Guinness regularly visits Porthpean House in south Cornwall, while Mark Ronson and Nick Grimshaw hit up North Cadbury Court in Somerset. Now Kate Middleton is on British Vogues 100th anniversary cover sporting wilderness chic  green trilby, Burberry trench  the shoot having taken place in Norfolk to reflect her love of the countryside, according to editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman. With neighbours such as the Marquess of Cholmondeley at Houghton Hall holding regular low-key getaways for Londoners, the shires have never been so glam.

Its not just high society getting in on the act. Airbnb reports a year-on-year surge from Londoners wanting short-term rentals in properties in Hertfordshire and Mid Wales (up 193 per cent), Cheltenham and Gloucester (162 per cent) and East Kent (200 per cent). Tom Dixon, MD of chic camping company Canopy & Stars, specialists in converted horseboxes and hipster hunting cabins, says a quarter of their guests are young, city dwelling professionals looking for a chance to connect with the outdoors.

The fences that divided us from the rest of England are coming down  and its nothing to do with rural budget cuts. I used to think that when it came to town and country you had to pick a side, says writer Esther Walker. Now she and her husband Giles Coren split their time between Kentish Town and the West Country. Town life and country life complement each other  a bit like how some people say having an affair saved their marriage.

Of course, theres only so far well go. We dont like cobwebs (were not scared, guys, we just have allergies) and its a big relief that Oxfordshires Soho Farmhouse lets out wellingtons for the weekend so we dont have to wear the leaky boots dad handed down (plus, theres also former fashion editor Alex Eagles boutique for additional rustic supplies). Further south, Londons style set swap FROWS for hedgerows by hopping on the train to Bruton every weekend (two hours), where the small towns Hauser & Wirth gallery has been hailed as the next Guggenheim. In the winter, we kayak across flooded fields and in the summer we picnic by the river, says designer Alice Temperley, who splits her time between Notting Hill and Somerset. London may have our heart but the West Countrys not a bad mistress.

Romantic getaways - in pictures 1 /10 Romantic getaways - in pictures CimaRosa Venice, Italy Venice, Italy. Doubles from 145 including breakfast. Nebesa Soca Valley, Slovenia Livek, Kobarid. From 165 for two including breakfast. Casita La Laguna Costa de la Luz, Spain Paloma Baja, Tarifa, Andalucia, Spain . From 76 per night for two, self-catering. Ion Hotel near Thingvellir National Park, Iceland Nesjavellir vid Thingvallavatn, Selfoss, Iceland. Doubles from 180 room only. Cartshed Cottages North Norfolk, UK Sharrington, Norfolk. Cottages for two from 121 per night, self-catering. Chateau la Thuiliere Dordogne, France Saint Front-de-Pradoux, Dordogne, France. Doubles from 115, room-only. Pylaia Hotel Astypalaia, Greece Chora, Astypalaia, Greece. Doubles from 73 including breakfast. Boutique Houseboat Berlin, Germany

Still, there are hurdles. Weve had a few awkward experiences at the local pub when weve brought friends down from London, says Lucy Carr-Ellison, half of glossy catering team (and ES columnists) Tart London, who weekends at her boyfriends place in Somerset. You have all the farmers, then you have a friend whos dressed for Maddox.

So how to get it right? Leave the Stan Smiths at home and invest in a second-hand Barbour, says Walker, who snapped up hers for 80 at Camden Vintage. Prepare yourself for patchy mobile reception: bring a map and forget all about Uber. Lastly, pack provisions (or make sure that Ocado delivers). The hardest thing to track down is herbs, sighs Walker. It took us months to realise that everyone grows their own. Hey you, hipsters, the countryside is calling. Fingers crossed youre not in a black spot.

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A n interiors expert says Londoners need look no further than good bedding, black-out blinds and a few London-themed accessories to transform their homes into an Airbnb goldmine.

A high-quality mattress, cotton sheets and, for an extra touch, pillows and posters with pictures of London buses and black cabs, are key to a good rating on the DIY rental website, according to John Lewiss Tony Berardis.

It does not take a lot of money to transform your room in to a great Airbnb booking, he said. From our feedback and research, having a comfy mattress with a mattress topper is essential, plus nice, clean sheets, ideally Egyptian. A black-out blind is also a must.

Then there are the small things. We found that making a room look like it is very London  with a red-white-and- blue theme or with pillows and cushions with London buses or black cabs on it  appeals to people.

We also suggest prints of maps or providing guidebooks and notebooks too. And finally  an umbrella.

Airbnb, which was founded in San Francisco in 2008, is now in more than 34,000 cities and 191 countries. It has reported a 73 per cent increase in the number of rooms in London since April last year.

The firm also revealed the number of people looking to book Airbnb rooms in London is up 86 per cent over the same period. It means the capital is now the third most-visited Airbnb city in the world, behind Paris and New York, with 983,000 visitors in 2015. The average room rate in London is 79 a night.

Research conducted by Mr Berardiss team revealed that the biggest barrier for Londoners signing up to be an Airbnb host is the potential impact on their daily routine, with many citing getting the room ready for the next guests as their biggest issue. This month, Mr Berardis is hosting masterclasses in John Lewiss flagship Oxford Street store to teach users how to attract more guests to their home.

The masterclasses, which run from May 19 to 22, will be led by Mr Berardis and other experts and will cover topics such as how to get started, room essentials and turning a room around in 30 minutes. John Lewis is also selling a 925 starter pack with a double mattress, sheets, mattress toppers and curtains.

Follow Lizzie on Twitter @LizzieEdmo

The best Airbnbs in the UK - in pictures 1 /9 The best Airbnbs in the UK - in pictures Dragon House, Westhall Escape to one of the most diverse properties in the UK (Picture: press) Peaceful Yurt, East Sussex Be at one with nature in this peaceful yurt (Picture: press) St Pancras International Clock Tower, London St. Pancras clock tower (Picture: press) Old Smock Mill, Kent See spectacular views of the Kent countryside from Old Smock Mill (Picture: press) Vine Cabin, Leciestershire Vine Cabin is a peaceful retreat in the wilderness (Picture: press) Railway Carriage Carriage, Cardigan Bay Retreat to a converted railway carriage by the coast (Picture: press) Jack Sparrow House, Falmouth Jack Sparrow house is a quirky retreat in the Cornish countryside (Picture: press)

...But location is key

For the past two years, Renee Lacroix has been letting her room in Hackney while she goes abroad.

The fashion designer, 30, earns between 1,000 and 1,500 a year from Airbnb, which pays for her holidays as she is self-employed.

Her housemates all also rent out their rooms in the three-bed flat. She says that at peak times such as Christmas, she can get up to 50 a night for the double room, which has a shared bathroom, but more commonly earns 25 to 30 a night.

She said: I think the flat is popular due to its location. We are a five-minute walk to Hackney Central Overground which means guests are about 25 minutes to Oxford Circus.

In terms of the room, it is quite large for a double so we always get couples. The essentials of a good room are a comfy bed and it being clean. I always get a cleaner in before someone stays. Also small touches like guidebooks, Post-It notes and an umbrella are good little touches that people notice. Basically, anything you can do to make it feel like a hotel experience.
I n an era when scepticism about politicians is a default setting, one category of this maligned species defies the trend of snitty disapproval. Big city mayors in the triumvirate of New York, Paris and London are having a sunny time.

Sadiq Khan, bouncy newcomer to this mayoral in-crowd, is the latest beneficiary  a lot of Right-leaning Londoners and Labourites who werent enthusiasts for Khans political heritage nonetheless warmed to the picture of him striding to City Hall with his wife Saadiya and merry supporters. Bill Witherss Lovely Day might well have been the soundtrack  even the Zac pack seemed reasonably gracious in defeat.

Khan has just got his Transatlantic blessing with a prime spot on Christiane Amanpours CNN show. And his election has spurred interest across Europe  mainly on the grounds that he is a Muslim in the city hall of a major capital, at a time when bombings in Brussels and Paris have risked dividing diverse cities. A skirmish with Donald Trump over whether Khan would escape the proposed ban on Muslims entering a Trump-led US didnt hurt Sadiq Khans appeal as a voice of reason either.

Mayors bridge tradition and modernity in a way that many voters, especially younger ones, warm to  at least for a while. New Yorks Bill de Blasio swept to power on a wave of indignation over inequalities in the city and has acted as a forerunner for Bernie Saunders on the populist Left of US politics, preaching the need for more state intervention and a willingness to hammer the top one per cent (which turns out, strangely enough, to be harder to do in practice).

Sadiq Khan's first official day as London Mayor 1 /17 Sadiq Khan's first official day as London Mayor Mayor of London Sadiq Khan makes his way to City Hall from London Bridge Station in London Jeremy Selwyn London Mayor Sadiq Khan boards a bus stop after leaving his home in Tooting Jack Taylor/Getty Images London's newly elected mayor Sadiq Khan speaks to supporters as he arrives for his first day at work at City Hall Hannah McKay/EPA Sadiq Khan is embraced by a supporter as he arrives at City Hall Hannah McKay/EPA Mayor of London Sadiq Khan waves as he arrives at City Hall Jonathan Brady/PA Sadiq Khan won support with his 'common touch' Jeremy Selwyn Sadiq Khan is mobbed by supporters at City Hall Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan arrives at City Hall Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan arrives at City Hall in London Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at City Hall Jeremy Selwyn On the Tube: Sadiq Khan Stefan Rousseau/PA Sadiq Khan on a sunny morning at City Hall Stefan Rousseau/PA Breakfast time: Sadiq Khan is offered croissants Hannah McKay/Reuters

The third of the trio, Anne Hidalgo, sped through the Channel Tunnel to be photographed with Khan in London, which she once less than tactfully called a suburb of Paris.

All three preside over cities where changes to demographics and the challenges of social cohesion are most keenly felt  and have surfed that wave to power. It is also their biggest risk factor. De Blasios popularity is rooted in appeal to Hispanics and African-Americans, with falling ratings among white New Yorkers. Hidalgo is a socialist who has, rather shrewdly, clad her Leftish approach in a call for progressive humanism  she insists on being ferried around in a Renault Zoe, hardly a stylish motor but admirably green, and has cannily allied herself with chic subcultures. She held one of her first campaign rallies in Pariss Bataclan Theatre to the beat of the Rolling Stones Harlem Shuffle. No one present could have anticipated the massacre of young concertgoers at the Bataclan at the end of last year.

By dint of shared fears of terror attacks, she is likely to develop a particular bond with Khan. Mayors have to reassure the public about safety, as far as that can be guaranteed, but preserve freedoms along the way. They also need to can unite cities, if the worst happens.

Even Ken Livingstone, a remorselessly divisive figure, did so with an uplifting speech about the defiant spirit of London after 7/7. Hidalgo is seen by more Conservative Parisians as a bit of an unreconstructed Leftie. But she softened hearts after the Bataclan shootings by wandering the traumatised streets the next day. I found people wanted to touch, she says. They wanted to hug. It was a very physical need.

What mayors believe is important but far from the only reason for their success. Adept ones can be crowned by the same electorate from different parties in a sudden switch  if they capture the imagination of a capital. So London has elected Red Ken, Blue Boris and now sort-of red Sadiq, just as Paris has an attraction to smart Left-Bank socialists  but also provided the wily Conservative Jacques Chiraq in the early 2000s, when he built the mayoralty into an alternative power centre to Giscard dEstaing.

The new mayors, however, feel distinct from the old machine politics. Strikingly, all three incumbents are all from mixed or minority ethnic backgrounds. So often did Khan remind us that his father, an immigrant from Pakistan, was a bus driver that Labours deputy leader Tom Watson was driven to tweet: Remind us what you dad did...

Hidalgos grandfather was a refugee from the Spanish Civil War and she grew up in a Spanish-speaking neighbourhood of Lyon. De Blasios Italian surname is only part of a tangled family story  he was brought up as Bill Wilhelm in a family with a largely absent, alcoholic father, his parents divorced and he adopted his mothers family name.

All three are united by the swirling immigrant experience that shapes their cities. That makes them more instinctively comfortable than many of their predecessors with the diversity of their metropolises. The one person who probably wasnt surprised to find a Muslim as mayor of London was Sadiq, says an aide.

Explainer: What are Sadiq Khan's plans for London?

Because voters elect mayors directly and the party machine plays less of a role, we have come to feel more familiar with them and their families. Hidalgos husband, Jean-Marc Germain, is a French politician with his own public profile, while Saadiya Ahmed is a practising lawyer, like Boris Johnsons wife Marina Wheeler.

But London's new first family has a different social world and tribes of followers. The Johnsons are used to split-ticket schooling (state early, private later). The Khans, state-school themselves, have sent their children to a high-performing south London comp. But, like Wheeler, Saadiya has her own world of work and friends, and like all three of the mayoral spouses, she uses her own name. The joy of being married to a mayor is that no one is that bothered if you forget your lipstick or wear sandals without a pedicure.

In some ways its far nicer gig being a mayor than a prime minister. You get the glitz of the capital and invites to some of the most exciting places in the world, but you can distance yourself from national government and its problems. Bosses of increasingly powerful cities are allowed a personality and flaws. They can shoot from the hip in a way that seasoned national politicians often avoid.

De Blasio outraged many New Yorkers by opposing the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park but he also won plaudits from those who had felt the spectacle, however charming, seemed rough on the poor old horses in an age more aware of animal cruelty.

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They can be chic (Hidalgo is always well-groomed, while eschewing the flashiness of premier league female socialists such as Segolene Royale), or adopt le Style Boris and have a crumpled shirt stretched across a large belly at the opening of the Beijing Olympics. This horrified the prim Chinese: we Londoners just concluded wed seen him looking a lot worse. De Blasio, lest you were wondering, looks every bit as chic as Jeremy Corbyn.

It is also easier to relate to a mayor: a model set up brilliantly by the great popular New Yorker, Ed Koch, who would greet random passer byes by inquiring, Howm I doin?. You can be gay without a big fuss  Klaus Woworeit (dubbed Wowi) was mayor of Berlin until 2014 and announced at a party conference, Im gay, and thats just fine  going on to coin a slogan for the cash-strapped German capital, Poor but sexy. De Blasios wife Chirlane McCray is African-American and speaks the language of modern intersectional politics with the perfect fluency of a feminist theory reading group, announcing that she once identified as lesbian before she opted for the heterosexual life.

You can also be a lot ruder than your national political peers and get away with it. The Moroccan-born mayor of Rotterdam roused cheers far beyond the Dutch city when he upbraided would-be Jihadists and their supporters: If you do not like it here may I then say you can f*** off. Bristols election of a straight-talking, mixed race new mayor in Labours Marvin Rees is also testament to how quickly cities can warm to the mayoral model.

Ethnic diversity and how to reconcile it with a sense of civic unity has been at the heart of many of these mayoral contests. Its one reason why Zootropolis, the cartoon allegory of a melting pot threatened with discord, strikes home. The animals live in harmony, until the predators are blamed for a spate of unprovoked attacks and fear messes up the ecosystem. The metaphor may be crude and the nostrums simplistic but Mayor Leodore Lionheart has a point when he declares: In Zootropolis, anyone can be anything. Mayoralties are vehicles for aspiration and ways of breaking the political mould. Whoever you voted for, shout out for that.

Anne McElvoy is Senior Editor at the Economist. Follow her on Twitter @annemcelvoy
A n asylum seeker arrested in an Italian counter-terror operation is alleged to have travelled around London and the rest of the UK scouting potential targets.

Hakim Nasiri, from Afghanistan, posted pictures of himself outside Buckingham Palace and the Shard, and was also pictured on a train travelling through south-east London.

The 23-year-old was arrested with two other men this week after pictures of potential targets in London, Paris and Rome were found on mobiles.

Targets in London are said to have included the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, West India Quay, the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in Royal Victoria Dock the South Quay footbridge to Canary Wharf, and an Ibis Hotel on Victoria Dock Road.

An airport, port and shopping mall are feared to have been on a possible hit list drawn up by a group "making preparations", according to Italian prosecutors.

Vincenzo Molinese, a military police colonel in the town of Bari where Nasiri was arresred, told the Daily Mail that images found on Nasiri's phone of him apparently holding a machine gun "were probably taken in the back room of a supermarket in England".

Nasiri was arrested at a home for asylum seekers in Bari on Wednesday. He is understood to have been held on suspicion of subversive association with the goal of international terrorism.

Two other men, Afghan Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29, and Pakistani Zulfiqar Amjad, 24, who were arrested in Milan on suspicion of aiding illegal immigration, had obtained international protection status in Italy.

Two more suspects are thought to have returned to Afghanistan.

At a news conference on Tuesday, prosecutor Roberto Rossi said there was no evidence an attack was imminent, but added: "It is clear they were making preparations."

Analysis of phones seized from five men found filming in a shopping centre in Bari in December uncovered photos of sites in London, Paris and Rome, as well as images showing "ideological hatred of the West and support for terrorism in Afghanistan", prosecutors said.

They reportedly included images of disfigured US soldiers and dead British troops being repatriated.


Ukraine has recovered 17 paintings, including works by Peter Paul Rubens, Jacopo Tintoretto, Antonio Pisanello, Giovanni Caroto, Andrea Mantegna, which were stolen by armed robbers from the Castelvecchio museum in Verona last November, State Border Guard Chief of Ukraine Viktor Nazarenko said on Wednesday in a report to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The Ukrainian authorities will now invite Italian experts to authenticate the paintings  which have an estimated value of more than EUR16 million ($18.3 million) and prepare for them to be handed back, his office said in a statement.

Footage released by the president's office showed Ukrainian border guards unwrapping the paintings, which had been covered with plastic sheets.

The art works were found about 1.5 km from the border with Moldova in Odesa region on May 6, 2016, the statement said.

For his part, director of operational search activity department of the State Gorder Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsyhykal said that the operation conducted by the Italian law enforces was called "Twins" because two brothers stole the paintings. One worked as a security guard at the museum. They imitated an attack on the guard and stole the paintings. The theft was commissioned by someone in Russia, probably by a private collector in Chechnya, he said.

Poroshenko said recovering the paintings showed what Ukraine was capable of.

"Today, this brilliant operation reminds the world about the efficient struggle of Ukraine against smuggling and corruption, inter alia, smuggling of works of art," Poroshenko said.

The paintings were stolen on November 19 by thieves, who acted just after the Verona museum's 11 staff had left, but before a remote alarm system with the police station had been activated. They tied up the museum cashier and forced an armed guard to hand over keys to his car, which they used to get away.

In mid March Italian police detained ten citizens of Moldova on suspicion of involvement into the robbery in Verona museum.
T wo young men have been seriously injured after a second double shooting in the capital in the space of a few hours.

The pair were taken to hospital after being found with gunshot wounds following the attack in Brixton, south London, at about 7pm.

One of the men, who is in his 20s, is fighting for his life while the other was said to be in a critical but stable condition.

The attack in Marcella Road came just hours after a double shooting in Forest Gate, east London, which also left a man fighting for his life.

Police were called to Marcella Road in Brixton at about 7pm / @LAS_JRU/Twitter

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said it was too early to say whether ot not there was any link between the incidents.

One man has been arrested in connection with the Brixton attack.
A fashion fraudster who claimed to have designed jeans for Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Paris Hilton has been jailed for five years after his clothing empire was exposed as a front for a 1 million tax fraud.

Harrow and Oxford-educated Sheel Khemka, 42, styled himself as a designer to the stars, appearing in a feature in Vogue that hailed his Lofli range as the next definite mega success story and the perfect denim butt hug.

But investigators from HMRC were called in when suspicions were raised about his trading activity, trail of unpaid bills and VAT claims.

They discovered that Khemka had only imported jeans worth 24,000 from the US, which he passed around an elaborate web of 12 companies using false names and invoices to claim he was selling millions of pounds worth of designer garments in order to claw back VAT.

He used money from the fraud to fund a lavish lifestyle, boasting to a US blog that he enjoyed fine wines and Mayfairs designer boutiques and when feeling lazy took a cab to Harvey Nichols to shop in search of the perfect red.

He bought a Mercedes and put a 200,000 downpayment on a 1.5 million home in a Grade II listed 18th-century tower in Gloucestershire.

Grand designs: Khemka bought the Roundhouse in Cirencester for 1.5 million

Khemka submitted 12 VAT repayment claims between May and October 2009, receiving almost 498,000 in refunds. A further 11 claims totalling more than 500,000, submitted during 2009, were not paid out.

Khemka based his business in London with satellite offices across the UK, which were often rented shortly before a visit by HMRC inspectors to check the repayment claims. The small quantity of designer jeans bought from the US were moved from business to business with new packaging and labels, in an attempt to show that they had just been imported.

Khemka printed fake invoices, sales orders and other documents shortly before each meeting with HMRC, and asked local accountancy firms to sit in on the visits for an air of legitimacy.

He was arrested in central London in November 2011 and later charged with cheating the public revenue.

At the time of his arrest Khemka told HMRC officers that he held no business records. The details were discovered on his computer by investigators, who also uncovered financial transactions between the retail and wholesale companies Khemka controlled. Evidence was also gathered by interviewing witnesses in the UK and America.

Khemka was found guilty following a trial at Croydon crown court and was yesterday jailed for five years. He was also banned from operating as a company director for seven years. The fraudulently obtained money has been paid back.

Sentencing him, Judge Nicholas Ainley, said: The scheme was dishonest from the start. I have severe doubts if jeans existed at all and you set up companies using the hijacked identities of friends. This was a sophisticated and well-planned fraud from which you used a lot of money on yourself  200,000 to buy a house.

Alan Tully, assistant director of the Fraud Investigation service at HMRC, said: Khemka set up this fraud through greed, to fund a lavish lifestyle at the taxpayers expense. Using the proceeds of his crime he bought a luxury home in Gloucestershire and a top-of-the-range Mercedes car. If he had not been stopped by HMRC officers he would have stolen millions of pounds of VAT. This was a sophisticated fraud that involved detailed planning and forgery, all for the benefit of one criminal.
A man is fighting for his life and another has been seriously injured after a double shooting in east London.

Medics treated two men in their 20s at the scene in Forest Gate before they were rushed to hospital by London Ambulance Service.

Police had been called to reports of shots fired in Anna Neagle Close at about 3.20pm on Thursday afternoon.

The road was sealed off for several hours as police and paramedics swamped the area.

Sealed off: Police guard the scene / Thom Sanders

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Two men, both aged in their 20s, were taken to hospital.

"The more seriously injured is in a critical condition. The second man is described as serious but stable."

Gang police are investigating and four men have been arrested.

Injuries: Medics took two people to hospital / Thom Sanders

A spokeswoman for LAS said: "We were called at 3.20pm to reports of a shooting at a road off Dames Road, E7.

"We treated two patients at the scene and took them as a priority to hospital."
A man has been stabbed to death in south London  reportedly at a mental health centre.

Police said they were called by paramedics to an address on Brighton Road, Croydon, shortly after 2.30pm on Thursday.

A man believed to be in his 60s was found at the scene suffering stab wounds and later died from his injuries, Scotland Yard said.

Another man, 40, has been arrested by murder detectives. He is also receiving treatment at a south London hospital for a hand injury.

Police declined to confirm the exact location of the stabbing, but the Croydon Advertiser reported it took place at the Southleigh Community Centre, an independent mental health hospital on Brighton Road.

The unit is run by Inmind. When contacted by the Evening Standard for comment, a woman who answered the phone said: Im very busy at the moment. Youll have to call back at a later date.

Amar Tanna, who manages the Fushia Indian restaurant across the road from the hospital, said police had cordoned off the building, with forensics officers going in and out for much of the afternoon.

"It's been closed off all day," he said.

"There were guys in white suits. They've been at it all day."
A teenager tied up by a masked knife-wielding robber during a terrifying raid on his 5 million home managed to fight off his attacker with an umbrella.

George Zelonka, 19, freed himself after the raider, masked and dressed in black, burst into his bedroom, bound his hands with cable ties and screamed: Im going to kill you.

Describing the scene as like a Tarantino movie he told how he was forced to lie on the ground as the man waved the blade in his face.

Fearing he was about to die he leapt to his feet and managed to snap the cables before turning the tables on the robber in his Hampstead home.

George Zelonka with the umbrella he used to chase off his attacker / Nigel Howard

Police today praised the courage of the film studies student who pursued the burglar barefoot for more than 100 yards along the street brandishing the umbrella until he vanished empty-handed onto Hampstead Heath.

"I could only see his eyes, and he kept saying he was going to kill me"

A CCTV picture taken on the familys security camera shows the student wielding the brolly as he chases the raider during the incident on Tuesday.

Today George told the Standard: Im not a hero, the adrenaline just kicked in.

He was in his bedroom revising for exams at the familys detached house when the robber, wearing a flesh-coloured mask, burst into his bedroom brandishing a 9in knife at 5.45pm.

The raider forced him face-down to the ground and waved the blade in his face screaming: Im going to kill you before binding his hands behind his back.

George said: When he was tying me up I felt completely helpless, I couldnt contact anyone and I was totally at his disposal.

He had this skin-coloured mask so I could only see his eyes, and he kept saying he was going to kill me.

It could be my paranoia from watching too many Quentin Tarantino movies but I heard him going for plastic bags and something inside me just said get up.

George managed to wrestle himself free by snapping the ties and got back to his feet.

He said: Ive no idea how I broke the cables but it definitely scared him. I shouted at him You have no idea who youre messing with and the dynamic completely changed.

Weapon of choice: The hefty umbrella George used to chase off the knifeman

He was backing out jabbing his knife at me to keep me away. In the end he actually asked me can I go now?

I grabbed the umbrella and followed him out. Its quite heavy and I thought I could do some damage with it so I kept chasing him.

The adrenaline had taken over and the situation could have got worse, so when he reached the Heath I decided it was best to let him go.

The teenager returned home and called his father, a property developer working in the City, who dialled 999. His mother is on holiday in Thailand.

Police arrived minutes later and a major search was launched with three patrol cars, two mounted officers and a detective scouring the Heath. Stormy conditions meant it was not possible to launch a helicopter for an aerial search and the robber managed to slip away.

Georges father Paul Goldstein today praised his sons heroic actions.

He said: When he phoned me to tell me hed been tied up and threatened with a knife I first thought it was a prank to get out of revising. But when I said shall I call the police? and he said yes I knew it was serious.

I think he saved his own skin by being so aggressive and making a lot of noise, he didnt let himself become a victim.

He turned the tables whereas most kids his age, even men my age, would have had a heart attack.

This guy had him face down with a knife and suddenly within seconds it completely turned around. Its amazing, hes never even been in a fight before. I think this will be the making of him.

Mr Goldstein added: We dont know what the mans intentions were. He walked straight past my office with my computer, a wallet with cash and cards just lying there.

I hope they catch the guy who did this because it clearly wasnt his first time and he could do it again. He needs to be off the streets, thankfully the police are all over it.

Police are hunting the robber who was dressed in all black and is described as being of Oriental appearance.

In a newsletter sent to local residents, local PC Edward Bromilow sought to dispel fears the latest raid was connected to a series of violent robberies in Hampstead earlier this year.

He wrote: During the attack, this young man was threatened with a knife and tied up. However, showing bravery far beyond that of his years and his peers, he broke his bonds and challenged his attacker who fled the house and was chased onto Hampstead Heath where he was lost.

The police were called and a large police response ensued with around three patrol cars, two mounted officers, the duty officer and the on-call CID detective sergeant. The helicopter was requested but couldnt take off due to bad weather.

Unfortunately, the attacker was able to slip away, but we are following up a number of leads.

He added: I understand many of you will draw parallels to the horrible burglaries last year, however at this time - there is no information to suggest this is part of a linked series of crime.

We have lots of questions and very few answers, we are yet to establish who this man was and what his motives were.

PC Bromilow, who joined the Finchley and Frognal team in March, added: Whilst it is true we are seeing a new trend in the crime patterns of people being burgled whilst they are in, this is the first and only incident of this nature since I have been in post.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: There were no reports of any persons injured at the address and the suspect, who reportedly had a knife, fled the scene with nothing.

 The suspect is described as Eastern Asian in appearance and wearing dark clothing.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information can call Camden CID via 101.
M embers of a suspected terror cell accused of targeting the UK smuggled 600 immigrants into Europe at 5,000 per head, according to reports.

Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29, from Afghanistan, was recorded by police boasting of his people smuggling.

Another member of the alleged cell, Hakim Nasiri, is facing terrorism charges after being photographed outside the Shard and on a train in south-east London. He was also pictured holding an assault rifle in a supermarket believed to be in England.

Police believe Nasiri was part of a five-strong terror gang scouting potential terror targets including London hotels and restaurants.

In telephone intercepts recorded by police on May 5, Ahmadzai was recorded telling another trafficker identified as Mama that he had threatened to shoot a rival who wanted to cut his people smuggling business in the head. Ahmadzai was about to leave for Hungary when he was arrested, police said.

Ahmadzai is one of three men arrested in Italy on Tuesday. They are believed to be part of a five-man cell that was planning terror attacks in the UK, Italy and France. Two other men are wanted by police.

Ahmadzai and Zulfiqar Amjad, 24, a Pakistani, have been accused of people smuggling while Hakim Nasiri, 23, an Afghan, was facing terrorism charges.

An Italian prosecutor has said the suspects lived in Britain at some time.

In a telephone conversation recorded by police, Amjad allegedly said: The Greek route is blocked, dont you know that? Going from Turkey to Greece is a problem because Greece has paid Turkey to not allow illegal immigrants through.

The gang is alleged to have had links to Islamic State and used a migrant centre in Bari as a base.

The three men had been granted refugee status in Italy which would have enabled them to take advantage of Europes open borders to move freely around the continent.
T hree teenagers were arrested after a boy was attacked with a machete in the early hours of this morning,

Police said the 17-year-old victim was stabbed in the leg just after midnight in Chadwell Heath.

His mobile phone was taken before one attacker fled the scene in Back Lane on a bicycle.

Police officers gave chase and arrested him on suspicion of assault.

Two other youths were also arrested nearby on suspicion of robbery.

A London Ambulance spokesman said: We treated a man at the scene for a stab wound to the leg and took him to hospital.

The three males, two aged 17 and one aged 15, remain in custody at an east London police station.

Anyone with information should call Barking and Dagenham MPS on 101.
L ondon schools should be stripped of their powers to choose which pupils to accept, researchers at the London School of Economics have said.

Control over admissions should be given to local authorities or an independent body to make the process fairer and less complex, said their report.

It warned that applying to secondary schools in London was now so complex that schools are choosing pupils rather than parents choosing schools for their children.

Under the proposed system, schools would still set admissions criteria, such as proximity to the school, but an independent body would not only decide if children had met those conditions but also offer places.

The report, published by the LSEs department of social policy, said: No schools should carry out their own admissions  that is, decide if applicants meet the admissions criteria  as the incentives to choose the most desirable pupils are great.

Professor Anne West, co-author of the report, said children whose parents could navigate the complicated system had an advantage and that simplifying it and taking it out of the hands of schools would make it fairer.

She said: Academies, church schools and free schools can all have very different criteria, which makes it very difficult for parents.

The report stated: The fact that admissions decisions are carried out at school level is problematic. It is not possible to know what goes on behind closed doors.

The number of London secondary schools controlling admissions has doubled to 80 per cent since 2001 because of the rise in academies and free schools. The proportion selecting by aptitude has doubled to 10 per cent in the same period and the use of catchment areas has tripled to 18 per cent.
A street artist has created art using a power washer on pavements to raise awareness that dropping on London's streets pollutes the sea and rivers.

The art at Kings Cross were made by spraying water onto dirty pavements using stencils, which leave outlines of animals to highlight how littering affects wildlife.

Street artist Paul Curtis, who goes by nickname Moose, specialises in what he calls clean art.

The campaign by Keep Britain Tidy is being funded by the 5p carrier bag charge, in association with Lidl UK.

He said: "Theres a huge volume of people passing though the Kings Cross area, but the litter remains a constant, no matter how many times the waste collection vehicles pass by.

People in London seem very desensitised to litter, and they don't relate their action of dropping litter to the harm it ultimately does to the environment.

By bringing marine wildlife to the doorsteps of Londoners, I wanted to dramatise the real and lethal impact the urban community is having on hundreds of these innocent marine creatures."

Some of the animals created include turtles, fish and seabirds, as Moose hopes to show how urban litter can end up in waterways and impact on marine life.
R esidents were celebrating today after Sainsburys abandoned plans to open a supermarket in their north London neighbourhood.

Actress Janet Suzman was among those who protested against a Sainsburys Local opening on the site of a former toy shop in Haverstock Hill, next to Belsize Park Tube station.

Campaigners twice staged demonstrations, saying the proposed store would harm local traders and cause problems with its deliveries, and more than 740 people signed a petition against it. The group also successfully campaigned to stop a Tesco opening at the site last year and want other chains to stay away.

Dame Janet said: I am not naturally a shops campaigner but I was irritated by the greed. I think that the big guys  and by that I mean the big corporations and conglomerates  should stay away from our villages.

These supermarkets belong in car parks outside small towns, where there are no other small shops. They are killing high streets. The worst thing is the delivery trucks on small streets around London. They dont mind if they get a parking ticket and just plonk them in congested zones. They are polluting behemoths which no one loves and are unwanted.

However, the campaign was criticised by Theo Blackwell, cabinet member for finance on Labour-run Camden council, who said protesters are making it seem like the area is too posh for average family shops used by normal people.

Campaign leader Jessica Learmond-Criqui welcomed the decision by Sainsburys which came after it failed to reach a deal with site owner Sasha Traders, which has permission for six storeys of flats and ground-floor retail unit.

She said: If our response to Sainsburys had any part to play in their decision I would like to thank them for listening to us.

I would urge the developers to look for a tenant which the community sorely lacks, such as a hardware store. Its a conservation area and we should be guardians. Mr Blackwells comments were a bit hurtful and had elements of class war which I think were totally unnecessary.

A Sainsburys spokesman said: We have been unable to agree a commercial deal with the developer and have decided not to progress our plans at Belsize Park station.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has denied reports on plans to privatize state-owned company PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia.

"Ukrgazvydobuvannia is a state-run company, it needs to be successful and belong to the state, and therefore to the Ukrainian people. Privatization of such a company cannot be allowed under any circumstances. I think either Yulia Volodymyrivna [Tymoshenko] has been misled, or Yulia Volodymyrivna is misleading. There are no such plans and there won't such plans," he told reporters after the second Energy Efficient Partnership Forum.

Groysman said he would not allow any attempts to destroy the system of work at the company.

"But if law enforcement agencies have questions, they should ask them in a civilized way and get answers in a civilized way," he said.

In his opinion, there are no grounds to remove the current management of the company.
B rixton Market traders are appealing for help to restore 15 historic barrows, which have been in use for almost 150 years, to their former glory.

They need a total of about 45,000 and those who pledge 100 in a crowdfunding campaign will have their names carved on the restored items.

Stuart Horwood, head of Brixton Market Traders Federation, said: The market has been here since 1870 or so and the barrows have been used since then. They are in desperate need of a facelift. We want to do it properly to get another 10 years service out of them.

The watch-seller, 57, who has been at the market since 1984, said the cost was high because of a lack of suitably skilled craftsmen. One wheel made by a wheelwright can cost 750. There are very few people in the country now who can restore them so its been a challenge. Doing something properly usually means expensive, he added.

Restoration project: trader Stuart Horwood with one of the Brixton Market barrows / Alex Lentati

Lambeth council is giving about 10,000 and the Heritage of London Trust some 15,000. The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise about 14,000. Lambeth and the trust have been fantastic and have both put their hands in their pockets. But we need about 45,000. Id ask people to please help keep our barrows rolling. We need all the help we can get, said Mr Horwood.

Save Brixtons Historic Barrows hopes to complete the project by September. There are two types: the market barrow used to display goods, and the feed barrow for moving items around.

The Heritage of London Trust was responsible for preserving the capitals cabmens shelters. Its director Dr Nicola Stacey said: Its a great way for local people to support the trading families.

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/save-brixtons-historic-market-barrows
A man has died after falling from a building in the City of London.

The man, who was thought to be in his 40s, was found injured after plummeting from a building close to Fenchurch Street station.

Paramedics rushed to his aid after being called at about 4.50pm, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were reports the man had fallen from the ninth floor of a hotel.

A spokeswoman for City of London Police said officers were investigating the circumstances and trying to contact his next of kin.

Road closures remain in place at Crutched Friars and Pepys Street.

This page is being updated.
S cores of City workers were forced to flee their offices this afternoon after a chemical incident was sparked by a gas leak from a fridge.

Two people were treated by paramedics as about 100 were evacuated from buildings near Liverpool Street station shortly before 3pm.

A 100m stretch of London Wall between Moorgate and Old Broad Street was cordoned off by police.

A spokeswoman for the London Fire Brigade said: "The chemical was ammonia leaking from fridge in an office on the third floor.

Leak: About 25 firefighters were called to the scene / Helen Sandford

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found elevated readings which have now returned to acceptable levels."

Read more

Engineer Glenn Horton, whose H+H fire protection consultancy firm is just up the road from the evacuated offices, described the incident as it unfolded.

He said: "We can see at least four fire appliances, two ambulances and other vehicle.

"It's just between Finsbury Circus and Old Broad Street. All taped off."

He added: "I am a former fire officer and to me they seem fairly relaxed - no real panic."

Roads reopened after firefighters declared the area safe shortly after 4pm.
A receptionist sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels today celebrated a climbdown by the firm - but said that make-up was her next target.

Actress Nicola Thorp, who was employed as a temporary worker by PwCs outsourced reception firm Portico, sparked an outcry after being told to leave on her first day after turning up in flat shoes.

Portico has now pledged to review its guidelines following accusations its dress code was sexist.

Ms Thorp, 27, welcomed the decision but said the fight had only just begun - and she would now target bosses who expected their women staff to wear make up.

Outraged: Actress Nicola Thorp

She told the Standard: I am pleased that the battle over high heels I have had has highlighted the problem and made a difference, but there is so much more to do, it is just one battle.

How can wearing high heels make you better at your job? The same goes for make-up - women should not feel pressure to wear make up at work. Why should women have to paint their faces to please their bosses?

Ms Thorp, an actress who has appeared in Dr Who but who has been working in temporary jobs through a recruitment agency, has set up a campaign called Who are You Wearing? to fight against women being judged by which designer label they are wearing.

These big corporate firms are world leaders in many respects but the way in which they treat women in 2016 is ridiculous. I have asked women to come forward with their stories of inequality in the workplace and so many have contacted me,2 she said.

I am going to fight on to address this ridiculous situation. I find it difficult to grasp that in the corporate world women in 2016 cannot go into the office without make up without being judged harshly. Things need to change.

Ms Thorp said lots of women had come forward with similar stories

Ms Thorp, from Hackney, has launched an online petition to make it illegal for companies to require women to wear high heels at work and it has 11,000 signatures.

It came after Portico staff told her she had to wear two to four inch heels as part of the dress code for the position at offices in central London.

Nicola Thorp sets up petition after being forced to wear heels at work

Ms Thorp had told the company that a nine hour shift escorting clients around the building in heels would be uncomfortable but claims her complaints were ignored.

She said she was laughed at when she complained that the demand was discriminatory and sent home without pay after refusing to go out and buy a pair of heels.

She said: I was a bit scared about speaking up about it in case there was a negative backlash.

"But I realised I needed to put a voice to this as it is a much bigger issue I dont hold anything against the company necessarily, because they are acting within their rights as employers to have a formal dress code, and, as it stands, part of that for a woman is to wear high heels.

"I think dress codes should reflect society and nowadays women can be smart and wear flat shoes.

Simon Pratt, managing director of Portico, said a review of the uniform policy was underway and that PwC had asked it to review and revise its policy.

Mr Pratt said: We are totally committed to being an inclusive and equal opportunities employer, actively embracing diversity and inclusion within all our policies and procedures.

"We are therefore making it very clear, that with immediate effect, all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes or plain court shoes as they prefer.

"We are proud to have an Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation, which involves a high degree of consultation and teamwork within our business and we are glad to take this opportunity to make a further improvement to our practice.

A spokesman for PWC said: We are pleased that Portico has responded to our concerns and is updating its uniform policy with immediate effect.

PwC places a great deal of emphasis on providing a progressive working environment for all of our people and we feel strongly that this must include third party employees working in our offices. We are reviewing our supplier uniform codes to ensure they are aligned with our own values.
A Labour councillor's light-hearted idea of holding a race to see who can get the furthest using Sadiq Khan's new bus-hopper ticket has been praised as "brilliant".

Jonathan McShane, who represents Haggerston ward on Hackney Council, tweeted his idea on Tuesday after the new Mayor of London announced he will implement the ticket, which allows two bus journeys within a 60-minute window, from September.

His suggestion has since become a huge talking point online, with many speculating about how far you could travel within the time constraints of the new bus ticket.

Reddit user Harberton said the longest bus route in London is the X26, which runs from Croydon to Heathrow and linking another journey to the full length of the route would be the best use of the ticket.

They added: "Get on the second last N9 of the night at 04.45 from the Royal Albert Hall. This arrives at Heathrow Central Bus Station at 05.44. Quickly tap onto the first X26 at 05.45.

"This would be 23.75 miles on the X26 to Croydon plus about 13 miles on the N9. So that's almost 35 miles."

Explainer: What are Sadiq Khan's plans for London?

Others hailed the suggestion as "brilliant", with one Twitter user adding: "Rule #1, you're not allowed to tell the bus driver."
A huge battle over the future independence of the BBC erupted today despite a string of concessions by the Government on reforms.

Peers threatened a showdown in Parliament if David Cameron presses ahead with plans that they fear will allow him to pack the corporations new governing board with political cronies.

The long-awaited shake-up was unveiled in the Commons today in a White Paper from Culture Secretary John Whittingdale. Its most controversial proposal is scrapping the BBC Trust and replacing it with a new overarching unitary board regulated by the independent watchdog Ofcom.

Although the Government has conceded that a majority of the board members will be selected by the BBC itself, there are concerns that as many as six could be appointed by ministers.

BBC bosses broadly welcomed the White Paper, which did not include some more radical proposals for reform, but said there was still deep concern about the make-up of the proposed board. The BBC has wanted just the chairman and deputy chairman to be government appointees.

BBC director-general Lord Hall said: We have an honest disagreement with the Government on this. I do not believe that the appointments proposals for the new unitary board are yet right. We will continue to make the case to government. It is vital for the future of the BBC that its independence is fully preserved.

The plan sparked immediate opposition from across the political spectrum with warnings that it was a step towards turning founder Lord Reiths 94-year-old corporation into a state broadcaster.

Former Tory party chairman Lord Fowler said it would be mad to put the BBCs reputation at risk by allowing government interference in it.

In particular, he warned against allowing government placemen or women to be appointed by No 10 to the corporations new board.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester called for a fence to be put around the BBC to protect it. The Government can pack the new board with political appointees. There should be no political appointees at all, he said.

He also called for the BBCs Charter to be approved by both Houses of Parliament to limit the government of the days ability to meddle with the corporations running.

James Corden- BBC a cornerstone of everything Britain stands for

Unless the Government backed down, he vowed to press ahead with a private members Bill on safeguards for the BBC, which he claimed was backed by scores of peers including former BBC director-general Lord Birt, film producer Lord Puttnam and Labours Lord Alli, former boss of production company Planet 24. Lord Alli cautioned the Government against taking a step towards a state broadcaster, not a public service broadcaster.

However, Tory backbench MP Philip Davies dismissed the warnings from peers as drivel. The Lords are becoming increasingly ludicrous and irrelevant, he said. He would have preferred the reforms to have been more radical but believes they were always going to be modest with Mr Whittingdale as Culture Secretary.

Rona Fairhead, chairman of the BBC Trust, said: While there are many things we strongly back and endorse in the White Paper, the current proposals for the unitary board require further consideration. In terms of the process, we think the chairman and deputy chairman should be appointed by the Government through an independent public appointments process. After that, we want a board that is the right size, with the right balance of skills and the right talents, appointed in the right way.

We recognise that the Government has moved but we need to debate these issues to ensure the arrangements for the board achieve the correct balance of independence, public oversight and operational effectiveness.

Senior BBC sources said it had been a really hard fight to persuade Mr Whittingdale to drop proposals in earlier drafts of the White Paper such as top slicing of licence fee revenue. This would have forced the BBC to hand over a chunk of the licence fee to commercial rivals to spend on areas such as childrens programming.

Other abandoned proposals included making the BBC sell its stake in UKTV  a portfolio of commercial channels such as Dave  or its profitable commercial arm BBC Worldwide. Suggestions that the BBC would be required to end rating wars by, for example, dropping the Saturday night scheduling of audience pleasers such as Strictly Come Dancing have also failed to make the White Paper. One senior BBC source said: Overall our reaction is a sigh of relief.
T ory minister Priti Patel today accused EU supporters of playing the war card in a bid to scare people off from voting for the Leave campaign.

The comment, which she planned to make in a speech, was seen as a veiled attack on David Cameron, who has warned that Brexit could make future conflict more likely. Jobs minister Ms Patel was also set to claim that quitting the EU would free small business from red tape.

Speaking at The Business Show at ExCel, Ms Patel was to say: Weve heard that the rest of Europe would put up barriers making trade impossible, even though such an approach would hit their stagnating economies hard.

Weve even seen the war card be played and been told that the security and peace of Europe is at stake if we vote to leave.

And on top of all the scare stories and spin, those wanting to remain have talked down British business and their entrepreneurial zeal.

It follows the Prime Minister saying in a speech: Can we be so sure peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash to make that assumption. Brexit backer Boris Johnson has already described Mr Camerons warning as demented.

Ms Patel was also highlighting re-search from think tank Open Europe suggesting that the costs on business of dozens of EU rules totalled more than 33 billion. Just think of the jobs that you could create and the investments you could make in expanding your businesses, if you were not bound by these burdens, she was to say.

She claimed future trade would come from fast-growing economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America.@JoeWatts_
A n agony aunt and former magazine editor has died after losing her battle with depression.

The body of Sally Brampton, 60, was found washed up on a beach in Sussex.

Ms Brampton, who worked as an agony aunt at The Sunday Times, launched Elle magazine in the 1980s but later began writing about the black wilderness of clinical depression.

In her 2008 memoir, she said she decided to write about depression because sharing can bring us out of the dark and into the light.

Former friends and colleagues of the writer paid tribute to her after her death.

Journalist Tony Parsons said: "Choked to hear that Sally Brampton has died - a great journalist, a lovely woman and as editor of Elle UK she gave me work when I had none.

PR consultant Lynne Franks said: As an agony aunt she used her own pain and her own suffering to try to help others, and she did a lot of good for a lot of people. But the only demons she could not help were her own.

She was funny, irreverent and generous of spirit. It is heartbreaking news.

Ms Brampton, who lived in London for 35 years, is believed to have recently moved to the coast.

Her body was found on a beach in Bexhill on Tuesday and she was declared dead at the scene at about 3.10pm.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "A woman's body ... was spotted around 2.30pm [on Tuesday] and pulled ashore by a member of the public.

An air ambulance landed on the beach, but sadly the woman was declared dead at the scene.

There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances."
T he Queen showed that every little helps, even for a royal, at the Royal Windsor Horse Show when she received a Tesco gift card.

Her majesty was pictured looking absolutely delighted when she picked up the prize for her horse Barbers Shop.

As a result of Barbers Shop winning the Tattersalls & ROR Thoroughbred Ridden Show, the Queen received a winners trophy and a 50 Tesco voucher.

She was photographed in a non-official capacity during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire.

The Queen holds her Tesco voucher / PA

The event was called off yesterday after the heavy downpour flooded the events car parks.

Yesterday the Queen was at the centre of a growing storm after being recorded on camera calling Chinese officials very rude.
A disruptive female passenger punched a pilot in the face after being ordered to leave his plane.

The woman was arrested at Manchester Airport before the departure of the easyJet flight to Cyprus on Wednesday.

The airline issued a statement which read: EasyJet can confirm that the police were called to attend flight EZY1973 from Manchester to Paphos prior to its departure on 11 May to assist with a disruptive passenger.

The passenger was subsequently arrested. The safety and well-being of passengers and crew is always easyJets priority.

Whilst such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board and always push for prosecution.

It is understood the woman attacked the captain of the plane as she was being led away.

The flight, which was due to depart at 2.10pm, eventually took off shortly before 4pm.
Ukraine in the period of the non-heating season seeks to pump 8.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to its underground gas storage (UGS) facilities, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.

"We project that we will pump 8.2 bcm of gas to UGS facilities," he said.

The minister said that gas would be purchased in Europe. If Russia offers a competitive price and signs the required protocol, some gas could be purchased in Russia, he added.
A n online fund set up by embarrassed Manchester City fans after a 12-year-old visiting supporter was assaulted has hit nearly 1,000.

Arsenal-mad Emerson Butler was left with a bloodied face after being punched in the face by a middle-aged man in an unprovoked attack outside the Etihad Stadium following a two-all draw on Sunday.

After news of the attack broke, ashamed Man City fans set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the teen.

The campaign page reads: We are raising money to show Emerson that the majority of Manchester City fans are decent, caring human beings.

The Etihad was always a ground that Emerson looked forward to coming to with his Dad and we would like to raise money so we can invite Emerson and his Dad back as our guests and show him a proper Manchester City welcome.

Fans: Emerson and his dad / PA

Emerson had been walking outside the ground with his father, Richard Butler, when they came across a group of around 10 City fans.

Following a good-natured exchange, one of the fans hit Emerson in the face while his Dad was distracted.

Mr Butler, 47, went public with Emersons story in a bid to unmask his attacker.

Describing the incident, he said: It was completely out of the blue. Guys of that age hitting a child  it just doesnt make any sense to me.

I cant comprehend what could have been going through his mind.

The former Arsenal season ticket holder, who now lives in Darlington, confirmed Manchester City club officials had been in touch to offer them a VIP trip when City next play Arsenal at the Etihad.

Greater Manchester Police said they were investigating the unprovoked attack outside the ground.

Visit Emersons Go Fund Me page to donate.
A student is suing one of Britains leading plastic surgeons over claims her nose collapsed following a botched operation.

Mijin Zahir, 27, went under the knife of Shailesh Vadodaria in July 2010 in search of the ideal nose with perfect symmetry. However, she says he botched the procedure, leaving her with a kink in it and weakened cartilage that led to the right side collapsing.

Mrs Zahir, of Colindale, needed two more operations to fix the damage, the High Court heard, and is suing the surgeon for negligent surgical technique.

Mr Vadodaria, who has clinics in Harley Street and Edinburgh, is fighting the claim for damages, arguing: A surgeon cannot be held negligent because the result is not perfect.

He has appeared in magazines and on TV talking about plastic surgery, including on Channel 4s Embarrassing Bodies. He describes himself as one of the UKs leading cosmetic surgeons.

Defence: Shailesh Vadodaria denies negligence / Champion News

In court yesterday Mrs Zahir told Mr Justice Garnham that before the operation she had had a straight and very symmetrical nose. The procedure was meant to shave the cartilage and slim her nose down.

However, Christopher Stephenson, for Mrs Zahir, said she was left with an irregular nose tip, asymmetrical nose and collapsing right side, and struggled to breathe out of her other nostril. In any medical procedure there are a range of acceptable outcomes. We say this was outside that range, he said. But Ranald Davidson, for the surgeon, told the court: The results of cosmetic procedures are variable. A surgeon cannot be held negligent because the result is not perfect. Mrs Zahir talks about her nose not being ideal. Any surgeon cannot produce an ideal result. One cannot guarantee perfect symmetry.

He said 15 to 20 per cent of nose jobs needed to be redone: She was given adequate warning regarding the risk of revision surgery and residual asymmetry. There is a risk inherent in these procedures of creating asymmetry.

Mrs Zahir had sued for up to 100,000 but is understood to have agreed to accept 35,000, plus substantial costs, should Mr Vadodaria accept blame.

The surgeon, of Rickmansworth, hit the headlines last year when one of his patients died from an infection after he performed an 8,000 Brazilian bum lift on her. A coroners inquiry found she died from complications related to the operation, but Mr Vadodaria was not implicated in any wrongdoing.

The High Court hearing continues.
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after his wife and mother-in-law were found with slashed throats at their California home.

Dave McCann, 49, allegedly killed his wife Tierney Cooper McCann, 36, and her mother, Judith Cooper, 68, after breaking into the family home before going on the run.

Police said McCann also allegedly threatened to kill his sister-in-law before dumping his getaway car, riding a bicycle and hitch-hiking for 150 miles.

He reportedly then stopped using cash points and his mobile phone for four days before a homeless man tipped off police that he had sought refuge at a coastal camp.

Ms Cooper McCann's sister, Cortney Rider, told local media the McCanns' marriage had broken down and his business was struggling.

Handcuffed: Dave McCann allegedly went on the run for four days / Clovis Police Department via AP

The day before the killings he had allegedly visited the family home to collect some belongings without incident.

Ms Rider said she awoke the following morning to find McCann breaking down the door of the house in Clovis, near Fresno, and before she could call the police he slit her sisters throat.

She said: "He looked at me and said, 'you're next', and I immediately ran out of the front door and ran to the next door neighbours.

"My mum was hiding in the master bedroom having it locked and he busted down the door after not being able to catch me. He went back to the house and he slit my mum's throat in the back bedroom."

Ms Rider said that despite being fatally wounded, her sister went to their mother's aid after McCann left.

She added: "She was able to walk back to the bedroom and lay with my mum and they both died together.
T his is the heart-warming moment an excitable dog is reunited with his overjoyed owner two years after it was stolen.

Jose Andaverde, from Colombus in Wisconsin, had given Chaos to a friend in 2014 when he fell on hard times but his beloved pet was never returned.

Chaos, named because of his size and bags of energy, was finally handed back to Mr Andaverde after being found by a Winnebago County Services staff member in her driveway two weeks ago.

A video of their emotional reunion released this week shows Chaos seeming hesitant at first before he seems to recognise his old owner and starts jumping up and down, licking Mr Andaverdes face.

And the pooch becomes so excitable he even knocks the glasses off his long-lost owners head.

Mr Andaverde said he began to cry when he got the call from Winnebago County Animal Services saying his pet had been found and traced through an identification number on his collar.

He said: I was speechless and I couldnt stop smiling. I just couldnt believe it."

Mr Andaverde described the find as a miracle. He said: I couldnt get to the shelter fast enough. I couldnt wait for it to open so I could see Chaos.

He went on: I havent been happier. This has taken a huge weight off of my shoulders and has made my entire week.

Mr Andaverde said Chaos laid his head on his shoulder for the entire 90-minute drive back home.
A zealia Banks has had her Twitter account suspended following her attack on Zayn Malik.

The US rapper, who launched a racist and xenophobic attack on Tuesday, appears to have been banned from the social media site.

Despite deleting the offending tweets, Banks has had her entire account taken down and her tweet history wiped.

Neither Banks nor Twitter have yet commented, leaving it unclear whether or not it was the rapper or the social media site who got rid of the account.

Thousands of people called for Twitter to step in earlier this week when Banks posted a number of racist slurs on her public account.

After accusing Malik of copying her music video, she went on to call him a curry scented b****, f*****, a sand n***** and a p*** before branding his mother a dirty refugee who wont be granted asylum.

After her attack on Malik, Banks went on to hit out at the British music scene, causing her to be dropped from the forthcoming Born & Bred music festival in East London.

Rinse FM, who host the event, tweeted to say: ANNOUCNEMENT: We have decided to cancel Azealia Banks headline appearance at Rinse/Born & Bred Festival.

Rinse/Born & Bred Festival is a celebration of rave culture and have been created for EVERYONE. We celebrate inclusivity and equality.

After tweeting and promptly deleting apologetic tweets, Banks went on the rampage again on Thursday morning.

Reports later emerged that the Home Office were investigating the stars comments and considering whether or not she would be allowed to return to the UK in the future.


A n actress thrust into the West End spotlight as Sheridan Smiths understudy has thanked fans for their support after receiving rave reviews.

Natasha Barnes has been praised for her show-stealing performances after taking on the lead role in Funny Girl for the past three nights.

The Savoy Theatre said Barnes, 26, had blown the roof off, swiftly winning over audiences disappointed by Smiths continued absence.

Barnes tweeted yesterday: I want to thank each and every one of you for all your support this week, we are all so grateful xxx.

Barnes, who studied theatre at Ringwood Sixth College near her familys Hampshire home, has credits in West End shows such as American Idiot, Chess and Spring Awakening, after making her acting debut as Alice in a 2000 BBC Radio production of Alice Through The Looking Glass.

Her big break came when she was cast in the original run of Funny Girl at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Smith quit the run following her fathers diagnosis with cancer in March.

Barnes stepped into the role and at the time told theatre blog BroadwayWorld: Sheridans such a hard worker. She genuinely loves going on every night and she genuinely gives 100 per cent.

Theres no in-between - she either cant do it, or she gives everything.

Smith partied until 7am after the TV Baftas on Sunday, in which her performance in The C-Word lost out in the Best Single Drama and Best Actress categories.

She subsequently hit back at a critics saying she was not strong enough to perform.

Although the actress has since missed two subsequent shows a Savoy spokesman insisted: She isnt pulling out.

Sheridan Smith doesn't look happy about losing a BAFTA

We fully support Sheridan during this really difficult time and are encouraging her to take as much time off as she needs.

Follow @StandardShowbiz for more news.
W hether its new work by Radiohead, Rihanna or Beyonce, we are approaching a time when the surprise album has ceased to be particularly surprising. Thankfully, theres still a way to add some thrilling drama to a blockbusting modern album release. How? By actually trying to listen to the thing.

Where once  basically, in black-and-white times  you would simply head to a shop to fork out for a CD or, in a later era, click buy on iTunes, now there are myriad options and considerations  from Queen Bey-style exclusive deals and delayed physical releases to inlay card download codes that effectively let you pay the artist directly, to free music libraries supported by ads.

Its a music-streaming revolution, and now theres a new kid on the block. This month, Berlin-based service Soundcloud announced a new subscription service that puts it in direct competition with big beasts Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.

Soundcloud was previously popular with under-the-radar musicians as a way to share tracks and was used by big-name acts including Kanye West and Lily Allen. Meanwhile, Spotify announced this week that it is moving into videos  watch out, Tidal.

So what exactly do the main players offer? And whos best placed to triumph in an industry that racked up 3 billion last year? Heres everything you need to know to stay on track.

Spotify

Fan base: nearly 100 million active users (including 30 million paying subscribers).

Worth: 5.5 billion

What you get: Still the streaming food chain equivalent of a T-Rex, Spotify (founded in 2006) is a slick beast with more than 30 million songs, seamless social media connectivity, a free ad-supported version (unlike Apple Music) and clever fixes to the choice paralysis that comes with a monster catalogue. These include Running Mode, which matches tunes to your workout, and Discover Weekly, which delivers an algorithmically curated new 30-track playlist to you every week.

What you dont: Spotifys contentious freemium model means there are some library gaps. Some of the major Spotify refuseniks, such as The Beatles, have relented but Taylor Swift pulled her catalogue in 2014 because she says the company hurts music sales, while Adele hasnt yet made her mega-seller, 25, available via the service for the three people who dont already own it.

Celebrity backers: proving that his business decisions are better than his hairstyle choices, Justin Bieber has discreetly invested a substantial amount in the Swedish company.

The drama: Too many artists to name have taken issue with what they see as Spotifys unfair royalty payments and damaging message about free music. Radioheads Thom Yorke called it the last desperate fart of a dying corpse.

Tidal

The fan base: three million users.

Worth: Jay Z paid around 39 million to acquire Tidal from Norwegian company Aspiro.

What you get: launched in spring 2015, Tidals appeal is the fact that it is artist-owned and touts the higher sound quality of its 25 million tracks. There is no free option but 19.99 a month gets you the vaunted lossless audio (which takes up far less memory on your phone) and a growing raft of Tidal-only releases. Lemonade, whatever the truth about Becky with the good hair, can currently only be streamed on Tidal, and Kanye and Rihannas recent albums debuted on the service. Its the only streaming service with Princes back catalogue too.

What you dont: social media links are limited and at 19.99 a month its pricey (although there is now a more basic 9.99 tariff).

Celebrity backers: its basically a pop G-20 summit. Jay Z is joined on the board of co-owners by Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye, Chris Martin, Madonna, Jack White, Alicia Keys, Daft Punk, Nicki Minaj and more.

The drama: Tidal has had a choppy first year under Jay Zs stewardship, changing CEO three times and having to contend with a lawsuit from John Emanuelle, a musician who alleges that the company didnt obtain licenses for his bands songs.

Apple Music

Fan base: more than 13 million users.

Worth: There have not been any official figures released but, for comparison, iTunes alone is thought to be worth 6.4 billion.

What you get: Launched to great fanfare last summer, Apples foray into music streaming charges the standard 9.99 a month (recently lowered to 4.99 for students) for 30 million songs and makes a stand-by offering no free option. Subscribing also gets you access to Zane Lowe-fronted global radio station Beats 1 and a growing stable of first-week exclusive releases, including Drakes recent meme-ready epic Views.

What you dont: theres that lack of a free tier and, although Lemonade is now on iTunes, even Apple hasnt been able to get Beyonces must-listen new album onto its streaming service.

Celebrity backers: Dr Dre and industry bigwig Jimmy Iovine both have senior roles. Glossy ads have also featured everyone from Mary J Blige to James Bay.

The drama: Taylor Swift prompted a swift U-turn on the Cupertino companys initial decision to not pay artists during customers three-month free trial period. Now Apple CEO Tim Cook is all but in her squad and Swift has appeared as an adorable klutz in a series of Apple Music ads.

Soundcloud Go

Fan base: too early for an official figure but Soundcloud has an estimated 175 million monthly users.

Worth: 478 million

What you get: for 9.99 a month Soundcloud, launched in 2007, unlocks ad-free access to all-new licensed music and, its trump card, 125 million community tracks comprising DJ sets, remixes, podcasts and (were guessing here) far too many ill-advised Ed Sheeran covers. Ariana Grande was an early adopter. Theres a free ad-supported version too.

What you dont: despite recently signing landmark licensing deals with Universal and Sony there are gaps in the library. It also lacks some of the music discovery bells and whistles bundled with Apple Music and Spotify.

Celebrity backers: serial tech investor Ashton Kutcher put money into the company in 2011.

The drama: Soundcloud was once a swearword of sorts in certain record company boardrooms thanks to claims that it didnt compensate songwriters properly. It settled a lawsuit with UK licensing company PRS late last year.

Follow @Jimfam and @StandardShowbiz for more news.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has expressed concern today about published personal information of journalists, who were accredited in Donbas, on Mirotvorets [Peacekeeper] website, as she thinks it creates even greater threat to the safety of media representatives.

"This is a very alarming development which could further endanger the safety situation for journalists. Journalists report on issues of public interest and they should not be harassed for doing their job," the OSCE press service quoted Mijatovic.

Mijatovic noted concern expressed by media community in and around Ukraine about the leaked list, and said it was worrying that some journalists on the list already received threats.

As reported, Myrotvorets (Peacekeeper) website published files listing some 4,500 journalists accredited in the DPR and LPR. The list includes the full names of the Ukrainian and foreign journalists, their cell phone numbers, and the duration of their stay in the DPR and LPR.

A number of Ukrainian and foreign journalists have issued a statement expressing their indignation at a publication on the Ukrainian Mirotvorets website of the database of contacts from various media outlets of DPR and LPR. They demanded that the Mirotvorets website to immediately remove the information about journalists' personal data from the open access. They also demand that the Ukrainian politicians and MPs stop manipulating this information. They claim opening criminal proceedings by law enforcement agencies on the fact of Ukrainian law violation on personal data protection, pressure and threats to journalists, which are specified in the list.

Kyiv prosecutor office has put in the information about criminal offence commitment on the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations provided by the Part 1, Article 171 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (obstruction to legal professional activities of journalists).
Liberty Counsel Supports Ohio Pastor Protection Act

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 12, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- Liberty Counsel sent a letter in support of State Representative Vitale's leadership in sponsoring HB 286, known as the Ohio Pastor Protection Act. HB 286 specifies that no ordained or licensed minister and no religious society is required to solemnize a marriage or allow property to be used to host a marriage ceremony if the marriage does not conform to the minister's or society's sincerely held religious beliefs.

While ministers, churches, and religious societies already have a constitutional right to perform or host only those marriage ceremonies that conform to their religious beliefs, HB 286 is necessary to provide clarity in a statute so that the common person does not have to review voluminous court opinions.

"The Ohio Pastor Protection Act is a positive step toward upholding the constitutional rights of pastors and religious organizations," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "This law sets forth clearly the religious liberty protections of clergy and churches regarding the solemnizing of marriage," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
Coptic Solidarity Announces 7th Annual Conference Amidst Efforts to Thwart Awareness of the Event

Contact: Lindsay Vessey, Coprtic Solidarity , 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- Coptic Solidarity will host its 7th Annual Conference in Washington, DC June 9-10, 2016. The conference theme is The Future of Egypt's Religious Minorities: Status of Copts after Two Revolutions. A Policy Day will be hosted at the Reserve Officer Association in the Minuteman Ballroom on June 9th from 11:00AM  5:30PM followed by a banquet dinner at the same location. The conference will continue on June 10th at the Omni Shoreham Hotel with a continental breakfast at 8:00AM and a full day program scheduled 9:00 AM  4:00PM.Many high profile speakers and experts have been confirmed for the event. A complete list of confirmed speakers is available on the Coptic Solidarity website at www.copticsolidarity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Confirmed-speakers.pdf Headlining the speakers will be Mr. Naguib Sawiris and Ms. Fatima Naoot.Mr. Sawiris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Telecom Media & Technology and founder of the Free Egyptians Party, is a global entrepreneur renowned for using his resources to modernize and democratize Egypt. He will be the keynote speaker for the banquet dinner which will be held at 6:30PM at the Reserve Officer Association. Tickets are available for purchase on the Coptic Solidarity website.Ms. Naoot is a prominent Egyptian writer and poet and former independent parliamentary candidate who recently was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for comments deemed blasphemous to Islam. Thankfully, Ms. Naoot avoided imprisonment and is able to join us to share about increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt during the Policy Day.Coptic Solidarity believes in a democratic, modern and progressive Egypt in which all citizens are treated equally. Despite two revolutions, life for Copts as secondary class citizens has changed little. While recognizing the positive actions of the present leadership in Egypt following the disastrous reign of the Muslim Brotherhood, Coptic Solidarity continues to call for full equality, rights and justice for all Egyptians. Discriminatory laws, including the abusive blasphemy law, must be revoked. Perpetrators of the horrific acts of violence targeting Copts, including the attack on St. Mark's Cathedral, the Coptic Kristallnacht when over 70 churches were destroyed and over 1,000 Coptic homes and business were torched, and the Maspero Massacre, must be brought to justice.Coptic Solidarity has come under increasing attacks to prevent the organization publicizing this conference. Despite excellent security and IT support, the Coptic Solidarity website at www.copticsolidarity.org has been knocked offline several times and our Facebook account has been hacked and manipulated to block posts and advertisements encouraging supporters to attend the conference.Coptic Solidarity calls on all concerned individuals to reject the forces of regression seeking to block positive change in Egypt, and to join us supporting the vision of a free, modern and prosperous Egypt.The conference is open to the public and media. Interested individuals can register for the conference at www.copticsolidarity.org/events/conferences/ and purchase banquet dinner tickets at www.copticsolidarity.org/2016/04/19/7th-conference-banquet/ Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts, of Egypt and we support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens. For more information, contact Lindsay Vessey at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org
Russia blackmailed Ukraine on the issue of prisoner exchange in Donbas, said Iryna Gerashchenko, Ukraine's first deputy parliamentary speaker and representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group.

"As we can see from the claims [by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov], Russia continues blackmailing Kyiv with hostages, demanding amnesty for the militants, and tying it to another clause of the Minsk agreements: the release of illegally imprisoned persons. I think it is this position that is an answer to the question as to why the hostage-release operation over the Easter failed," Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook on Wednesday after talking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who attended a meeting of Normandy quartet ministers in Berlin.

"I responsibly declare, that we use all possible international platforms and mechanisms, for the sake of securing the release of our guys. And, this pressure on Russia must come not only from Ukraine, but from the whole world," she added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Lavrov told reporters after the ministerial meeting, that Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to the Donbas prisoner exchange, under the principle fixed in the Minsk agreements.
Kyiv prosecutor office has launched a criminal probe into the alleged "obstruction to legal professional activities of journalists" following the media reports on the publishing of personal details of those journalists that have obtained accreditation in the self-proclaimed Donets People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

"Some unidentified individuals, operating at one of news websites," published the personal data of some of the journalists who had allegedly, obtained accreditation in LPR and DPR, the press service of the metropolitan prosecutors revealed on Wednesday. These actions have already had negative effects. In particular, some of the journalists have received threats related to their work.

"On May 11, 2016, the Office of the Prosecutor of the city of Kyiv entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations, a piece of information related to a criminal offence falling under the Article 171 part 1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (obstruction to legal professional activities of journalists)," the press service said.

The Chief Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv has been ordered to conduct the pre-trial investigation. Kyiv Prosecutor's Office is in charge of procedural control.

According to earlier reports, the website called Mirotvorec (Peacekeeper) published some files containing lists of about 4,500 journalists who had obtained accreditation in the DPR and the LPR. The lists contain the full names of the Ukrainian and foreign journalists, their mobile phone numbers, and their periods of stay in the self-proclaimed republics.
The Cabinet of Ministers on May 11 decided to allocate UAH 134 million for building the Odesa-Reni highway, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"You can already count on this resource and use it to the full," the prime minister told the leadership of Odesa region at a conference call.

As reported, in late April President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan and Head of Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili to accelerate the construction of the Odesa-Reni road. The officials defined sources of funding from the national budget, customs revenues and those from EU states. It was also agreed the construction will begin in late May.
When my husband and I traveled to the valley nearly nine years ago, Gering High School principal Eldon Hubbard had us climb in his pickup and he drove us all around Gering. I have to admit, I wasnt paying close enough attention to all the parts of Gering. I was looking at the Scotts Bluff National Monument and really wanted to visit there. Since living here, weve taken advantage of visiting the monument and other protected areas, including Agate Fossil Beds, Toadstool Geologic Park and Chimney Rock. Two years ago, we traveled to Idaho to visit Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

These places have been set aside for all of us to enjoy and protect.

I never gave much thought about the economic impact I might have on these areas until I read the BBC Research and Consulting study conducted for the Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy organization. The report shows the protection of public lands provide a large boost to small businesses.

During his tenure, President Obama has designated 17 new national monuments and two monument expansions. The sites include the Harriet Tubman Underground Railway National Monument and Mojave Trails National Monument. It is our responsibility to preserve our historic sites and protect wildlife habitat. In doing so, we will continue to be able to view the scenery our ancestors did while participating in recreational activities upon those lands.

The study found national monuments designated by President Obama drive $156 million in local annual revenue and created more than 1,800 jobs per year.

This preservation of public lands benefits local economies and small businesses as they attract visitors to these often-rural areas. Monument visitors spend money on entrance fees, lodging, meals and other retail items from local businesses during their tripproviding an economic boost to local communities, according to the report from the Small Business Majority. These economic benefits to rural communities are an important component when considering the total value of public land protection.

A key finding in the study included, National monument visitation results in approximately $58 million in labor income per year, with the lodging industries produces the most labor income in the local economy ($10.5 million). Other key sectors supported by visitor spending include restaurants ($7.4 million) and gasoline ($8.7 million).

U.S. Senator Harry Reid said in a statement to Think Progress, Too often, we only view land as valuable when it is being developed, mined, drilled or logged, but, as this report shows, we can protect the most magnificent areas of our nation while also providing real opportunities for local economies.

Sometimes, it takes a presidents pen to remind us of the things that matter. According to the Wildlands Conservancy, it tried several times to create the Mojave Trails National Monument through legislation, but failed. With the help of Senator Feinstein, they asked President Obama to create the monuments by way of an Antiquities Act designation.

On Feb. 12, the White House issued a proclamation designating the Mojave Trails National Monument.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the president the power to protect public lands through a national monument designation. According to the SBM, it has been used by 16 presidents  eight Republicans and eight Democrats. President Roosevelt used it first to protect Devils Tower on Sept. 24, 1906. He also used it to create the Grand Canyon National Monument.

The Mojave Trails National Monument needed to be preserved. The area is home to the Pisgah lava flow, which is the most researched place in North America studying the effects of volcanism on evolution. The Amboy Crater, an extinct cinder cone volcano, is here and is already a national natural landmark.

Bighorn sheep roam the Cady mountains and indigenous plants can be found in the Sleeping Beauty Valley. It is the site of the Marble Mountains fossil beds. Visitors can see 550 million year old trilobite skeletons. Trilobites were the first animals with skeletons and eyes.

According to the Wildlands Conservancy, wildlife and recreational corridors connect two national parks and 13 wilderness areas  a refuge for campers and explorers, bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and fringe-toed lizards.

Surely thats worth preserving for future generations. And this is just one of the new sites. We have a way to preserve historical sites and lands filled with beauty while creating revenue for rural, local economies.

National parks and monuments are part of our heritage that we have said should remain natural for all to enjoy. Now, theres additional proof they provide a valuable economic incentive. We dont need to destroy nature to make a profit.

Not everything needs to have a building or a mini mart placed on it to make it better. Sometimes, its beautiful just as it is.
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Rada renames population areas in Crimea as part of decommunization campaign

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has renamed 75 population areas in occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol as a part of decommunization campaign.

Some 255 parliamentarians backed the respective resolution at the parliament sitting on Thursday.

The parliament considered recommendations from the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and renamed 5 districts, one city and 69 villages of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

According to the document, Kirovsky district was renamed to Isliamteretsky district, Krasnoperekopsky to Perekopsky, and the town of Krasnoperekopsk to Yany Kapu.

The changes will take effect from the moment the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is returned to the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
Despite the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Donbas, Ukraine has not refused to take part in peacekeeping operations, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Ihor Dolhov has said.

"Today Ukraine hasn't refused to take part in any peacekeeping operation since the start of the ATO  we continue to faithfully fulfill our international commitments. This is confirmation of a very clear policy, but it also means that when we're in trouble, we can count on support," Dolhov said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday. He added Ukraine receives assistance from the partner states.

"Actually we get it [assistance], and not in the form of fighting units, but in the form of training on Yavoriv training range [Lviv region], in the form of setting special operations forces and training of instructors of tactical medicine," the deputy minister said.

Speaking about the participation of a group of Ukrainian military men in the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade "LitPolUkrBrig", he said it isn't a new project, but the extension of pre-existing format, because the Ukrainians and the Poles began to work in Kosovo as a part of KFOR (Kosovo Force).

"This brigade is the approaching to NATO standards, the headquarters is located on the territory of a NATO member country  Poland, and our officers are already working together with Poland and Lithuania staff, who're already establishing interaction. Participation in this team does not mean that we prevent some resources from taking part in the ATO. We should continue the training of other battalions (squadrons). There will be a military police squadron as a part of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade, which will consist of one troop from each country. It is a new experience for us, since the Ukrainian squadron will be trained in accordance with the procedures and standards of NATO. Canadian specialists are responsible for this," Dolhov said.
Thursday, 12 May 2016 12:25:35 (GMT+3) | Shanghai

On May 11, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Zhejiang Province announced that construction work in the province is to be halted from August 26 to September 6, against the backdrop of the 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit (September 4-5).

Accordingly, cities within 300 kilometers from the main venue for the G20 Hangzhou summit, including Hangzhou, Ningbo, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Quzhou, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Taizhou and Lishui, will have to halt all construction work for the period in question, which is expected to negatively impact demand for constructional steel.
Wednesday, 11 May 2016 23:56:09 (GMT+3) | San Diego

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), awarded the Automotive Excellence Award to Honda R & D Americas, Inc. and Gestamp for their work in implementing advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) innovations in a hot stamped rear frame. The award was presented today at the 15th annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar in Livonia, Mich.





Shawn Crichley, principal engineer, vehicle design-body and Brad Klein, senior engineer from Honda R&D Americas, Inc. along with Kou Khang, platform director from Gestamp, received the award for their GDIS 2015 presentation, titled, Special Presentation: Advanced High-Strength Steel Breakthrough Technology.





The goal of the project was to reduce rear frame mass and design complexity, while maintaining performance through implementation of hot stamped high-strength steel. The result was a 20 percent weight reduction compared to previous models and full realization of the rear frame crush mode.





In 15 years of GDIS, winners of the Automotive Excellence award have demonstrated significant contributions to steel in the marketplace and the Honda and Gestamp project was no exception, said Jody Hall, vice president of the automotive market, SMDI. The project implemented an innovative hot-stamping process with localized soft zones to create crush initiation sites. This combination allowed them to achieve mass reduction and reduce part count, while maintaining all performance metrics.


Wednesday, 11 May 2016 00:05:30 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo

A split in Brazil s flats producer Usiminas is becoming more likely, as the companys shareholders, Ternium Techint and Nippon Steel, have faced a series of legal disputes over the last few years and remain opposed.





Usiminas is looking to approve on Thursday major changes in the companys executive board. Additionally, non-official conversations and several media reports point that the companys split has been gaining steam.





Unnamed sources quoted by local media said recently discussions could result in the separation of the companys two units: the Cubatao mill, located in the city of same name in the state of Sao Paulo, and the Ipatinga mill, located in the city of same name in the state of Minas Gerais.





If an agreement is reached by the two diverging sides, Nippon Steel could assume the Ipatinga mill, while Ternium would own the Cubatao asset.





On the other hand, the two diverging sides, whose legal disputes became public in 2014, have recently partnered to not let CSN, a competitor and a minor shareholder at Usiminas , appoint members for the Usiminas board.





The move is expected to give a decision-making power to minority shareholders.





As the companys split discussions advance, market analysts say CSA, the mill in which Vale sold back a stake to ThyssenKrupp, could partner with Ternium if a division in Usiminas takes place.





Whether or not the split happens, market sources say Ternium and Nippon should fight to together to not allow CSN to gain influence in Usiminas








Thursday, 12 May 2016 16:23:49 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

In March this year, Turkey's rebar exports amounted to 636,607 metric tons, down 10 percent compared to February and falling by 12.2 percent year on year, according to the data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, the revenue generated by these exports totaled $209.7 million, decreasing by 36.2 percent compared to March 2015 and down 8.9 percent month on month.





In the January-March period of this year, Turkey's rebar exports amounted to 1.94 million mt, falling five percent, while the value of these exports decreased by 34 percent to $636.45 million, both compared to the same period of the previous year.



In the given period, Turkey's largest rebar export destination was the UAE which received 398,963 metric tons, down 1.79 percent year on year. The UAE was followed by Egypt with 391,210 metric tons and the US with 305,635 metric tons.



Turkey's top 10 rebar export destinations in the first quarter:

Country Amount (mt) January- March 2016 January- March 2015 Y-o-y change (%) March 2016 March 2015 Y-o-y change (%) UAE 398,963 406,230 -1.79 162,710 171,297 -5.01 Egypt 391,210 71,107 - 122,588 46,074 166.07 USA 305,635 370,171 -17.43 41,160 98,453 -58.19 Israel 168,526 106,582 58.12 66,859 30,852 116.71 Yemen 139,764 191,609 -27.06 21,897 36,618 -40.20 Iraq 94,070 199,565 -52.86 62,070 87,176 -28.80 Ethiopia 63,356 30,654 106.68 32,498 502 - Colombia 56,614 26,761 111.55 7,700 16,818 -54.22 Oman 43,859 45,531 -3.67 22,918 14,310 60.15 Chile 43,291 16,231 166.72 20,976 10,141 106.84

Turkey's main rebar export destinations on country basis in the first quarter of the current year are presented in the chart below:




Thursday, 12 May 2016 10:06:51 (GMT+3) | Shanghai

Hebei Province-based Chinese steelmaker Xuanhua Iron and Steel Co. (Xuanhua Steel), a subsidiary of major Chinese steel producer Hebei Iron and Steel Group Co. (Hebei Steel Group), has stated that it supplied 1,000 mt of high-strength anti-seismic rebar for Shenzhen Metro on April 29.

As the designated supplier for Shenzhen Metro project, Xuanhua Steel said that it will supply a total of 18,000 mt of steel for Shenzhen Metro.
Thursday, 12 May 2016 13:47:55 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

The long-standing weakness of demand for Turkish merchant bar in the export markets combined with the declines seen in global billet prices have caused Turkish merchant bar export offers to soften over the past two weeks.



Turkish merchant bar export prices have decreased by $20/mt in the period in question to the following levels:

Product Price ($/mt) Angle 500-510 IPN-UPN 510-520 Flat bar 520-530 IPE 510-520

All prices are on FOB basis and for June shipment.
President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday said that the ballistic missile defence shield at Deveselu is not targeted against any state, pointing out that is has a strictly defensive role.

"I am saying it once more as clearly as it can be: Aegis Ashore isn't directed against any state, it has a strictly defensive role," Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, according to agerpres.ro Iohannis commended Stoltenberg for his participation in a ceremony to take place at Deveselu, showing that this marks the strengthening of cooperation in respect to the Strategic Partnership.Representing the Presidential Administration in the activation event at Deveselu will be presidential advisers Bogdan Aurescu, Dan Mihalache and Ion Oprisor.Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos will also participate in the activation ceremony of the Aegis Ashore missile shield at Deveselu.
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos stated on Thursday that Romania insisted on increasing the NATO presence in the Black Sea and that advanced talks with Bulgaria and Turkey on this matter are in progress. "It was Romania's initiative and Romania has been very active in building this possibility of a presence [of NATO] in the Black Sea. We are aware that in order for this structure to exist, the implication of other partners in the Black Sea is needed. We are in quite advanced talks with our Bulgarian neighbours and our Turkish friends to build together this NATO presence. Once it is built, we hope to have participation from other allies in these exercises. Our intention is to present this project at the Warsaw NATO Summit, a topic I've already talked with the President and with the Secretary General," Ciolos said in a joint press conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

In his turn, Stoltenberg said he talked with President Klaus Iohannis a sufficient presence of NATO both in the Black Sea and on land. NATO's naval presence in the Black Sea has been increased already, as a saftey measure on the eastern flank of the Alliance following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and Russia's destabilizing behaviour in eastern Ukraine, he explained.

Agerpres
Former First Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze has said she will continue to participate in Ukrainian reforms as the head of an advisory group to the Ukrainian interior minister.

"I am staying on the team and, having accepted the minister's proposal. I will be in charge of a specially created team of advisors. There are more challenges now because the [law-enforcement] reforms. I'll continue working with the Ukrainians and my Ukrainian friends, resisting corruption and lawlessness. Our team won't just continue with police reform, but we'll also continue our reforms in other areas, focusing on the stability what has been achieved," Zguladze said in a post on the official Interior Ministry website on Wednesday.

Zguladze also said that in December last year, 12 months after her appointment, the term of her agreement with the president and the minister expired.

"I did not leave in December so I could endure a difficult transition period from the old police force to the new police . However, even now, with the new Cabinet, I can't forget this experience we have had together," Zguladze said.

"If the court system, prosecutor's offices and customs (service) et cetera aren't reformed, we won't lose the police, we will lose the chance for a new Ukraine. But if we succeed, then Ukraine will change not only its destiny, but the future of Europe as well. I do believe in that," Zguladze said.

The Cabinet at a meeting on Wednesday accepted Zguladze's resignation from the post of the first deputy interior minister. At the same time, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that Zguladze accepted his proposal to continue her work of the Interior Ministry by leading a group of special advisers.

Zguladze in 2005 was appointed as Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, a post she held until 2012.
The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has obliged Stockman Interhold S.A. (British Virgin Islands) to transfer its shares in Assofit Holdings Limited, the project company of Kyiv-based Sky Mall, to ownership of Arricano Real Estate Plc (both based in Cyprus).

Arricano Director General Mykhailo Merkulov said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday that LCIA issued the verdict on May 5, 2016 in the arbitration on ownership rights to Assofit.

"Litigation over Assofit Holdings Limited, the project company that invested in Sky Mall, lasted for over five years in several jurisdictions, including in LCIA. The company presented the interests of its shareholders  Arricano and Stockman The headline-making decision of the court is that within one month, until June 5, 2016, Stockman is to transfer shares in Assofit to Arricano for $0," Merkulov said.

He said that under the court decision Arricano can demand to refund losses seen when the company lost control over Sky Mall from Stockman if the latter does not transfer its shares in Assofit to Arricano.

Head of the law group involved in the lawsuit to return Arricano's assets, Yevhen Maleyev said that the company is to achieve the restoration of the structure of Assofit's assets at the moment when arbitration began to return control over management and financial flows of the mall.

He said that Assofit is to restore control over Prizma Beta LLC (the formal owner of the mall) shares of which were transferred to other companies. The mall with all its facilities, which were transferred to bank Pivdenny in 2014, is to be returned to ownership of Prizma Beta. Assofit is to return some $100 million worth of loans.

Merkulov said that the return of control over Sky Mall could be delayed if officials do not help in the matter.

"We cold return Sky Mall by legal actions as prescribed in law, this is the issue of time. This could take 10 years, and with political will this could happen in a month," he said.

Arricano Real Estate Plc, a leading developer on the Ukrainian real estate market, builds shopping and leisure centers.
Updated at 3:30 p.m.

COPENHAGEN, denmark  Denmarks government will recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 stealth fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp., people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evading jets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

The selection by Denmarks minority Liberal government follows intense public debate about the cost of modernizing the countrys air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament, where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen called a press briefing for Thursday morning on the issue, but the government declined to comment further.

The recommendation, first reported by Denmarks TV2 News, will be followed by a public comment period of 30 days, said one of the people, who was not authorized to speak publicly. The final number of jets could shift during this period.

If confirmed, the decision will mark a setback for Boeing, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensive last-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is made in north St. Louis County.

The four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon consortium also was a contender.

News of the recommendation emerged as doubts were raised over a crucial parliamentary committee hearing scheduled for Friday.

All three bidders have been invited to present their jets, but Denmarks Conservative Party said Lockheed and Boeing had been told by Washington not to participate. A spokesman for the U.S. embassy confirmed they had been advised to stay away.

Airbus Group said it still planned to attend and called for a healthy and transparent public debate.

Although viewed by many as an outside contender, Eurofighter appears to be gambling on parliamentary support for a European solution after a bitter spat between U.S. rivals. The German government is expected to throw its weight behind the bid by sending defense state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence.

At approximately $100 million per jet plus infrastructure and spares, the F-35 is the most expensive of the three planes being considered after cost overruns and delays.

The United States says that will fall to about $85 million per plane by 2019.

Some of Denmarks biggest parties including the Social Democrats have raised concerns about the economic impact of fighter purchases at a time of spending pressures.

Lockheed, Boeing and Airbus said they had not received any official notification from the Danish government. The Pentagons F-35 program office had no immediate comment.

Denmark is one of eight original partners that helped fund development of the F-35 and flies Lockheed F-16 jets alongside Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands.

Its decision is being watched worldwide as several other nations prepare to decide how to renew fleets. Lockheed is chasing further deals in Canada and elsewhere.
BERLIN  Germany looks set to abstain in a European Union vote next week on the continued use of glyphosate in weed killers because ministries run by different parties remain at odds over the chemical which some experts say could be carcinogenic.

Glyphosate is used in many herbicides including Monsanto's Roundup, despite a dispute between EU and U.N. agencies over whether it causes cancer.

Experts from the EU's 28 member states will hold a closed-door meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels to discuss a draft proposal, seen by Reuters, to extend by nine years approval of the herbicide.

Last month, European politicians advised that glyphosate should only be approved for another seven years, rather than the 15 proposed by the EU executive, and should not be used by the general public.

The European Commission said the new draft takes into account the opposition and maintains the proposal to ban some products because of the substances they combine with glyphosate, which could add to risks.

It said the banned "list of co-formulants" includes POE-tallowamine from glyphosate-containing pesticides.

"The common agreement remains that the attention must be focused on co-formulants," a spokeswoman for the Commission said. "If need be, they will lead to a review of the approval of the active substance."

An EU source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least one big member state maintained opposition to renewal, which the EU executive says is needed to prevent a legal vacuum when the existing authorisation lapses at the end of June.

But Germany's conservatives (CDU) and their junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD) cannot agree on a common position. If the German government cannot reach agreement, it will abstain from voting.

"It's proven that glyphosate has negative effects on the environment. That needs to be fully taken into account for the approval," Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, an SPD member, told Reuters.

"Given that there is still uncertainty about the health risks associated with glyphosate, the SPD-led ministries will not agree to the approval of glyphosate," she said.

Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU)  sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU)  has, up until now, signaled that he would agree to the weed killer being approved.

Martin Haeusling, a German lawmaker for the Greens in the European Parliament, said a qualified majority for the approval was not certain if Germany abstained from voting.

Environmental campaigners have demanded a full ban on glyphosate.

"It is scandalous that the Commission is ramming through an EU approval for glyphosate to be used with no restrictions, despite the very serious concerns about the impact of this toxic substance on public health and the environment," said Green member of European Parliament and food safety spokesperson Bart Staes.

"Clearly banning glyphosate would be the responsible course of action," he said.
CHICAGO  U.S. lawmakers have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to explain why it published  and then withdrew  documents related to its review of glyphosate, the chemical in Monsanto Co.'s Roundup herbicide, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

The documents, which included a report that said glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans, were posted by the EPA on April 29 and taken down from a website the government agency manages on May 2.

The letter, sent from the agriculture committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, marks the latest salvo in an ongoing debate over the EPA's role and influence in U.S. agriculture.

According to the letter, which cites a May 2 story by Reuters, the committee is looking into the EPA's recent actions related to the agency's multi-year review of potential risks tied to glyphosate and atrazine, another popular chemical used in agricultural herbicides.

The documents are part of the EPA's registration review of glyphosate and its potential human health and environmental risks, which started in 2009.

"We are troubled that EPA mistakenly posted and later removed documents related to assessments of two different chemicals within one week," according to the letter, signed by the Republican and Democrat leaders of the committee.

"These mistakes indicate systemic problems with EPA's management of its chemical review and publication processes."

The letter was sent to the EPA on Wednesday. The committee, which is conducting an oversight into the EPA's recent actions, will consider what action to take after it receives a response from the agency.

The EPA told Reuters on Thursday the agency has received the letter "and will respond appropriately."

The letter also asked the EPA who is in charge of overseeing the risk assessment process for chemicals and for a step-by-step description of the agency's approval process for publication of such assessments.

The committee also wanted to know what steps still needed to be taken to finalize and issue the glyphosate report, which it had expected in July 2015.

"We are concerned that EPA has continually delayed its review of glyphosate," the letter said.

On April 29, the agency posted a series of documents, including a report marked "FINAL" from the EPA's cancer assessment review committee (CARC). That report found that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the world's mostly widely used weedkiller, was "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans."

Another document also published on the regulations.gov website that the EPA manages and pulled down on May 2, was a preliminary assessment of the ecological risks of atrazine. Among other things, the report stated that atrazine effects exceeded EPA's "levels of concern" for chronic risk by 198 times for mammals, and 62 times for fish.

At the time, the agency told Reuters it took down the glyphosate report and other documents "because our assessment is not final." The agency said the documents were "preliminary" and that they were published "inadvertently."
From our online report on politics and government. STLtoday.com/politicalfix

Chesterfield wins more tax money  The Missouri Legislature on Thursday approved Chesterfield's push to retain a bigger share of the sales tax revenue collected within the retail-rich city's boundaries.

But the bill, which now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon, doesn't also include permission for St. Louis County to seek voter approval in unincorporated areas for a new half-cent sales tax to hire new county police officers. The two issues had been teamed previously.

The Chesterfield-related measure, which also benefits some other cities in St. Louis County, was approved 103-39 in the House after it was endorsed by a House-Senate conference committee. The Senate approved it earlier.

The measure would revamp distribution of an existing 1-cent countywide sales tax so that less money generated in Chesterfield and some other cities goes to a pool shared by some other municipalities and the county.

Under the bill, cities such as Chesterfield generally could keep at least half of the revenue from the 1-cent tax they generate. In 2014, Mayor Bob Nation has said, his city was allowed to keep only 46 percent.

Nation has said the extra revenue is needed because the city has expenses related to the extra development. Other big winners include Fenton, Maryland Heights and Green Park.

The sponsor - Rep. Mike Leara, R-South County - said the bill "removes the disincentive (to) growth in retail and development" in cities required now to give up a large percentage of their resulting tax revenue.

But officials in some other cities have said Chesterfield is just looking out for itself. Their governments wouldn't get as much money from the pool as they would under current law. (Mark Schlinkmann)

Big brewers win right to lease coolers  A bill to let Anheuser-Busch InBev and other breweries lease coolers to retail stores as a way to promote their brands was passed Thursday by the Missouri House and sent to Gov. Jay Nixon.

The measure, which backers say also would help retailers, cleared the House on a 94-59 vote.

Its part of a package of changes to Missouri alcohol laws. Some other provisions would make it easier to buy large containers of beer  known as growlers  at convenience stores and other outlets and allow customers of wineries and restaurants to self-dispense up to 32 ounces of wine. Table-top dispensing of beer already is allowed.

Opponents of the cooler provision complain that it is aimed at helping the big beer companies regain market share lost to the growth of smaller craft brewers.

Supporters say retailers could load the portable coolers with any kind of beer. Opponents contend that it is doubtful a retailer would stock, for example, a Budweiser-labeled cooler with craft brews.

The legislation is Senate Bill 919. (Mark Schlinkmann)
CHICAGO  A year after Monsanto Co. sparked a massive consolidation race in the agrochemical industry by bidding for a rival, the worlds largest seed company now finds itself in the uncomfortable role of takeover target.

Monsanto shares rallied as much as 12 percent on Thursday on new reports that Bayer AG and BASF SE were interested in the Creve Coeur-based company, highlighting the drive for more mergers in the sector.

Bloomberg News reported Bayer was exploring a bid for Monsanto, while financial news website Street Insider reported that BASF was looking at a Monsanto acquisition.

Monsanto, Bayer and BASF all declined to comment.

Talk of such deals has swirled for months as Monsanto faced mounting corporate woes and rivals met with advisers to weigh various deal combinations.

Both Bayer and BASF have been exploring tie-ups with Monsanto for several months, but valuation concerns have made a deal elusive, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The sources said both were concerned about the price Monsanto shareholders would want, emboldened by recent deals.

Consolidation has been spurred by high inventories and low prices for agricultural commodities.

ChemChina agreed in February to acquire Switzerlands Syngenta AG for $43 billion after Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont inked a deal to combine into a $130 billion company in December.

Still, some analysts were skeptical such a deal involving Monsanto would go through, or were even necessary for Bayer or BASF even though combining businesses would be complementary.

This is a rumor of a speculation of a company talking to an investment bank doing M&A, said Bernstein analyst Jonas Oxgaard said. It doesnt get any more vague than that.

DIFFICULT YEAR

As recently as a month ago Monsantos management denied the likelihood of any near-term deals. Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant said on an analyst call the company no longer saw large-scale M&A as an opportunity. Smaller research and development or commercial partnerships were more likely.

That was just the latest headline in a difficult year.

Before Thursdays merger talk boosted its stock, Monsantos market cap had fallen 28 percent in the past 12 months as its four largest rivals announced bids to merge.

On top of that, U.S. regulators delayed approval of a key new weed killer, dicamba, and glyphosate, the herbicide key to its Roundup weedkiller, was labeled a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

U.S. securities regulators said in February the company would pay $80 million in a settlement over accounting violations.

Overseas, Monsanto is embroiled in a royalty fight over cotton seed pricing in top grower India, and a similar battle over soybean royalties in No. 3 soybean grower Argentina. And the lack of timely import approval from the European Union derailed the launch of its next-generation GMO soybean seeds in the United States and Canada this spring, as major grain companies said they would not accept the crops.

Amid the setbacks and challenges, the Monsanto management team has remained largely intact, leading analysts to conclude it performed adequately during boom times, but may have been overmatched by the wave of change.

DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY

The difficult headlines along with their significant slowdown in growth, which has impacted the valuation more than the headlines, is definitely an opportunity (for an acquiring company), said Brett Wong, senior research analyst for agriculture at Piper Jaffray.

In recent years Monsanto has taken on a substantial debt load, in part for a $10 billion share buyback program, which could make it unappetizing to potential bidders.

Over the last two years its debt-to-equity ratio has jumped to 2.17 from 0.23, according to Reuters data. Monsanto stock is down nearly 30 percent and it has sold a large amount of bonds, putting debt at more than twice the value of its equity.

Any deal between Bayer and Monsanto would raise U.S. antitrust concerns because of the overlap in the seeds business, particularly in soybeans, cotton and canola, two antitrust experts said.

Bayer is No. 2 in crop chemicals, with an 18 percent market share, according to industry data. The largest, Syngenta, has a 19 percent share. Monsanto is the leader in seeds, with a 26 percent market share, followed by DuPont, with 21 percent.

Still, a U.S. antitrust review involving any combination could include a product-by-product analysis or a broad look at a suite of products, similar to the Justice Department review of the now-scuttled merger of oil services giants Halliburton and Baker Hughes, said Seth Bloom a veteran of the Justice Department now at Bloom Strategic Counsel.

Monsanto rose as high as $100.85 before easing to $97.92, up 7.6 percent. Bayer was down nearly 5 percent while BASF shed 2.1 percent.

Burger reported from Frankfurt. Additional reporting by P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago; Diane Bartz in Washington D.C.; Arno Schuetze and Georgina Prodhan in Frankfurt; Mike Stone in New York; Freya Berry in London; Anet Josline Pinto in Bengaluru.

________

Our earlier story, by Reuters, at 9:10 a.m.

Shares of Monsanto Co. rallied as much as 12 percent on Thursday on new reports that Bayer AG and BASF SE were interested in acquiring the worlds largest seed producer, highlighting the drive for further consolidation in the sector.

Both Bayer and BASF have been exploring a combination with the Creve Coeur-based ag giant for several months, but valuation concerns have made a deal elusive, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that Bayer was exploring a bid for Monsanto, while financial news website Street Insider reported that BASF was also looking at a Monsanto acquisition.

Monsanto, Bayer and BASF all declined to comment.

Monsanto shares rose as high as $100.85 before easing to $98.64, up 9.2 percent, giving it a market capitalization of about $44 billion. Bayer shares were down 4.5 percent while BASF shed 1 percent.

High inventories and low prices for agricultural commodities have pressured the industry to consolidate.

ChemChina agreed in February to acquire Switzerlands Syngenta AG for $43 billion, while Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont inked a deal to combine into a $130 billion company in December. Monsanto made a bid for Syngenta last year.

Monsanto has long argued it needs to buy or team up with a large crop chemicals maker as farmers increasingly look for one-stop shopping for seeds, pesticides and digital services such as satellite-guided spraying and harvesting.

Citing sources, Reuters reported in March that Monsanto had approached Bayer to express interest in its crop science unit, including a potential acquisition worth more than $30 billion.

Bayer is the second biggest player in crop chemicals, with an 18 percent market share, just behind Syngenta, which has a 19 percent share. Monsanto is a leader in seeds, with a 26 percent market share, followed by DuPont, with 21 percent.

______

Our earlier story, from Reuters, posted at 7:36 a.m.

Germanys Bayer AG is exploring a bid for Monsanto Co., Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

State-owned ChemChinas deal for Syngenta and a merger between DuPont and Dow Chemical has dramatically changed the agricultural landscape in a matter of months.

The Creve Coeur-based company, valued at about $40 billion as of Wednesdays close, made a bid for Syngenta last year.

Monsantos shares were up 17.7 percent at $106.30 in premarket trading on Thursday. Bayers shares were down 3.8 percent at 96 euros.

Both companies declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

Monsanto has long argued it needs to buy or team up with a large crop chemicals maker because farmers will increasingly look for one-stop shops offering seeds, pesticides and digital services such as satellite-guided spraying and harvesting.

Bloomberg reported in March that Monsanto has been in contact with both Bayer and Germanys BASF SE about deals in agricultural chemicals.

Street Insider, citing sources, reported late on Wednesday that BASF was considering a bid for Monsanto.

BASF, whose shares were down slightly at 68.15 euros, declined to comment.

If Bayer goes ahead with a bid, it would raise pressure on BASF to consider an offer, Bloomberg said on Thursday, citing the people familiar with the matter.

But the sources told Bloomberg no decision had been made and that Bayer could decide against a bid or pursue other transactions with Monsanto, including joint ventures or asset sales.
Updated at 4:50 p.m. with closing stock price

Getting long-struggling Sears to stop bleeding cash has been about as easy as closing the U.S. military prison in Cuba, according to Chief Executive Edward Lampert.

Speaking at the companys annual shareholders meeting Wednesday, Lampert compared his quest to President Barack Obamas struggle to close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay.

Its not so easy, said Lampert, who is also the retailers biggest investor. Our focus right now is to show people that we can get this company back to profitability.

More than a decade after he merged Sears and the formerly bankrupt Kmart, Lampert, 53, is still trying to find a formula that will lift the chains out their protracted slump.

The hedge fund manager has invested heavily in digital operations and a loyalty program, the latter of which accounts for about three-quarters of sales. Yet the company has posted losses for five straight years.

Lampert intends to return to profit this year, though thats not a formal forecast, Lampert told reporters after the meeting at the companys headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill. To do so, Sears is closing stores more aggressively, he said.

Sears fell 11 percent to close Thursday at $11.30. The shares were down 38 percent this year through Wednesdays close.

Once the biggest U.S. retailer, Sears has been selling and spinning off assets as it continues to use more cash than it generates.

A large portion of its most valuable store sites went into a real estate investment trust that brought in about $2.7 billion in proceeds last year.

The move followed previous transactions that separated its Lands End clothing unit and most of its Canadian business.

Yet the retailer lost $1.1 billion last year, making a total of $8.2 billion in losses since 2012, as its cash burn accelerated. That trend prompted the companys largest shareholder after Lampert to take a more active role.

Bruce Berkowitz, chief investment officer at Fairholme Capital Management, was named to the Sears board in February. While Berkowitz told his investors that much of the cash burn was voluntary and that he expected it to improve, it does not build confidence or trust among all of Sears constituencies, he said on a conference call in February.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has supported the president's nomination of Yuriy Lutsenko, leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, for the post of the country's prosecutor general.

A resolution to this effect, which was submitted by the president on Thursday, was supported by 264 parliamentarians in the meeting on Thursday evening.
In response to Anheuser-Busch's move to temporarily rebrand its flagship Budweiser brand with the name "America," a small Michigan craft brewer unveiled a new brew this week with the name "Murica."

Execs with tiny Saugatuck Brewing  which produces about 15,000 barrels per year, according to press reports  said the move was intended to "make people laugh," and apparently garner some publicity.

In a post on Facebook, the craft brewer said, in part: "We're here to make beer named after America great again. ... Unlike other 'America' beers, our brewery is completely American owned. What does it taste like, you ask? Freedom. It tastes like Freedom."

The word "Murica" is used to make fun of how some people pronounce "America," and appears frequently in social media.

"Murica" beer won't be among them, though. There are no plans to actually make and sell the brand.

"This is a joke," a brewery exec told MLive.com, a news website operated by Booth Newspapers.

Although Anheuser-Busch's move was widely panned, presidential candidate Donald Trump took credit for the decision.
German lovers of classical music may find themselves talking about a little winery in Augusta.

A wine column published last year in the German-language magazine Crescendo praised the Norton grape in general and the Norton Reserve wines made by Holy Grail Winery in particular. The column (as translated by A.M. Mallinckrodt) called it "an excellent wine, with a full taste and strong hints of coffee, dark berries and chocolate."

Here's the kicker, or perhaps the coda: Crescendo is a magazine devoted to classical music and arts. The wine columnist who wrote the article, John Axelrod, is also Principal Conductor of the Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan.

Winery owners Lonnie and Sharon Stonebreaker said they learned about the article when tourists from Luxembourg came to sample their wines.
Every summer St. Louis business leaders gather for an event put on by St. Louis Community College to hear a report about the state of the local workforce.

The report contains important statistical analysis that policymakers use to devise strategies to recruit and grow companies. Where are the gaps in finding workers? Is higher education doing its job? What do employers need?

This year when the report is presented there will be a surprise at the end.

Stamped on the back will be this phrase:

Made in Kansas.

In April, the community college awarded the annual bid to produce the workforce report, which is gathered through a painstaking effort of calling and interviewing hundreds of business leaders with a detailed questionnaire and then analyzing and tabulating the results. Traditionally, the work has gone to a St. Louis company.

This year, St. Louis Community College awarded the workforce report bid to the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan.

That decision didnt go over too well with Mark Vogel, the senior partner at Avant Marketing Group, the St. Louis company that produced the report last year.

After being notified that a Kansas nonprofit won the bid over a St. Louis firm (two of them bid on the job, as did another Missouri company), Vogel fired off a letter to the community college outlining his outrage.

What is most frustrating and disturbing is that STLCC is encouraging out-of-region investment by rewarding this project to an out-of-state organization, Vogel wrote. Though I am sure the Docking Institute is highly qualified for this project, by selecting them, you are taking important investment dollars out of region  only to benefit the Institute and employment in the state of Kansas.

Avant won the bid for the 2015 workforce report for a cost of $38,000. The year before, the bid went to a different St. Louis company, Stakeholder Insights, at a cost of $31,700.

Vogel says the work actually cost much more than he bid, but his company did the work for less than cost because its an important study and its a good investment in the community.

When you contract an out-of-state vendor, none of those project dollars return to the St. Louis market, Vogel wrote. When you contract within St. Louis, those dollars are used to pay St. Louis workers, and those dollars remain in our market. It can be viewed as much of an investment in the local economy as much as a projected cost.

This year, the community college reduced the scope of the bid, requiring only 750 phone surveys instead of the 1,200 from the 2015 report. It listed its budget as $38,000, the same as what was paid to Avant last year. Avant bid exactly that price. Stakeholder bid $37,500.

Several out-of-state companies bid less. Dockings bid, at $30,084, was the lowest among qualifying bids.

We had a competitive process, said Kedra Tolson, the coordinator of marketing and communications for St. Louis Community College. We were looking for a good, solid price, and it was a good bid.

Tolson said there was no requirement in the process that required a local company to be chosen or even scored higher. She said the community college rarely imposes such a requirement in its bidding.

Vogel believes thats a mistake, especially for a project that is so important to the St. Louis business community.

There should have been some forethought when they released the request for proposal to restrict it, Vogel said in an interview. I would prefer one of our competitors in town get the business rather than somebody in Kansas. That money will never come back to the market.

Each year the workforce report has been produced, one of the leading issues raised by employers is the shortage of skilled workers.

Thats one reason why local civic leaders have stepped up support for increased investment in higher education and workforce training initiatives, including those at St. Louis Community College.

The investment in education is expected to lead to a payoff so that local businesses can find workers locally, improving the opportunities for the region to grow economically.

When it comes to producing the sort of work that goes into the workforce report, however, there is no shortage of St. Louis skilled labor.

St. Louis Community College just chose not to hire it.
FERGUSON  A St. Louis County judge has ruled against the city of Ferguson in three cases that stemmed from arrests when protesters gathered after a prayer vigil outside the Police Department on Aug. 11, 2014, following the shooting death of Michael Brown.

The defendants  Keith Rose, Michael Lhotak and Jasmine Woods  all had been charged with failure-to-comply, a charge that the U.S. Justice Department has accused Ferguson police of routinely abusing.

The city alleged that all three defendants had disobeyed officers orders to leave the area during the August protest. The defendants were represented for free by the nonprofit Arch City Defenders and lawyer Justin Farishon.

In an order dated Tuesday, Judge Joseph S. Dueker found Rose not guilty. Rose learned of the decision Wednesday.

In the other two cases, he went even further, granting motions for judgment of acquittal  an unusual step that means the evidence was so weak no reasonable person could find the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The cases were tried in April and cost the city thousands of dollars in legal fees.

During the trials, the prosecution could not produce witnesses to the alleged crimes, the officers who made the arrests, or anyone who could say that the defendants heard the order to disperse.

City Attorney Stephanie Karr, Fergusons chief prosecutor and a lawyer with Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and OKeefe, has defended the prosecutions, saying in an email, that violations of law are contrary to the public health, safety and welfare. Therefore, the public interest is served by taking action to prevent further violations of the law by making offenders accountable.

Karrs colleague J. Patrick Chassaing served as the prosecutor in the trials and said that some demonstrators threatened the lives of the police officers, their spouses and children during the Aug. 11 protests. He said the cases were pursued in order to deter others participating in future protests from assuming there are no limits or parameters to their activities...

Last week, the city posted an advertisement for a new prosecutor.

Officials have said they no longer want to have the same lawyers from the same firm serving as prosecutor and city attorney.

On Monday, protesters held a demonstration at Fergusons municipal court and then marched to Karrs home.

During the Lhotak and Woods trials, Dueker remarked that Chassaing had merely argued that because the defendants had been arrested, they must be guilty.

In a press release Thursday, Arch City said that Chassaings arguments violated the most fundamental tenet of the countrys legal system: the presumption of innocence.

Without pro-bono representation, I would have been forced to plead guilty to a crime I didnt commit, Rose said in the statement.

Dueker has yet to rule in two other failure-to-comply cases. These resulted from arrests made during a protest on Aug. 14, 2014, and also were tried in April.

Two additional Ferguson failure-to-comply trials are scheduled for next week in St. Louis County.

The city has said it is considering appointing an interim prosecutor while it searches for a new one. On Thursday, City Manager DeCarlon Seewood said that decision has yet to be made.

For the moment, Karr is listed as the lawyer in the upcoming trials, according to the court files.
BONNE TERRE, Mo.  A man who killed two people in a drug dispute and a sheriffs deputy in a subsequent shootout was put to death Wednesday in what could be Missouris last execution for some time.

Earl Forrest, 66, went to the home of Harriett Smith in December 2002 and demanded that she fulfill her promise to buy a lawn mower and mobile home for him in exchange for introducing her to a source for methamphetamine. During an argument, Forrest shot Smith and Michael Wells, who was visiting Smiths home.

Forrest later fatally shot Dent County Sheriffs Deputy Joann Barnes after she arrived at Forrests home.

Missouri has executed 19 men since November 2013. But the remaining 25 death row inmates either have appeals still pending or other reasons they will not face imminent execution.

Forrests fate was sealed hours before his punishment when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to halt the execution and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, turned down a clemency request.

According to court documents, Forrest had been drinking when he went to Smiths home in the southern Missouri town of Salem. Wells was visiting Smith at the time. An argument ensued, and Forrest shot Wells in the face. He shot Smith six times and took a lockbox full of meth valued at $25,000.

When police converged on Forrests home, he fatally shot Barnes and injured Dent County Sheriff Bob Wofford, according to court documents. Forrest was also injured in the exchange of gunfire, along with his girlfriend, Angela Gamblin.

Death row dwindling

Missouri has been one of the most prolific states for executions in recent years, second only to Texas. The state has executed 19 prisoners since November 2013, including six last year. Forrests execution was the first in 2016.

Missouris death row population is dwindling. Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, said juries today are less likely to opt for capital punishment, in part because of greater awareness of how mental illness sometimes factors in violent crime. Just 49 people were sentenced to death nationally last year, the fewest since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty as a possible punishment in 1976. No one was sentenced to death in Missouri in 2014 or 2015, Dunham said.

As these executions take place, fewer and fewer people are being sentenced to death, so the death penalty is withering on the other end, Dunham said.

None of the 25 other men remaining on Missouris death row face imminent execution.

Sixteen have yet to exhaust court appeals and arent likely to do so soon.

Execution is on hold for nine others. Two were declared mentally unfit for execution. Two were granted stays because of medical conditions that could cause painful deaths from injections. Two had sentences set aside by the courts due to trial attorney errors. One inmate was granted a stay while his innocence claim is reviewed. One case was sent back to a lower court to consider an appeal.

And in one unusual case, inmate William Boliek was granted a stay by Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan in 1997. The case wasnt resolved before Carnahan died in a 2000 plane crash, and a court determined that only Carnahan could overturn the stay. Nixons office has said Boliek will not be executed.

Executions nationally are on the decline. In 1999, 98 people were executed. That fell to just 28 in 2015  a 24-year low  and 14 so far in 2016.
UNIVERSITY CITY  A woman who has operated a dog grooming business for a dozen years in University City is out nearly $100,000 after two workers stole from her, police say.

"I'm just trying to go on with my business, go on with my life," the business owner, Donna Brothman, said Thursday after learning that charges had been filed against the suspected thieves, a mother-daughter team who worked for Brothman many years.

Brothman, of TLC Grooming, said she is grateful that an honest co-worker tipped her off about the thefts before she lost everything. And she's working hard to make sure her business survives the financial hit.

From July 2014 to November 2015, an employee who ran the front desk and handled the checkbook at TLC Grooming teamed up with an employee who bathed dogs and stole thousands from the company, court records allege. TLC Grooming is at 602 Old Bonhomme Road.

Charged with felony stealing are Janice Elaine Daniel, 56, and her daughter, Diana M. Daniel, 29. They both live in the 11000 block of St. Girard Lane in St. Ann. Charges were filed May 4. Bail for each was set at $50,000.

The felony charge is stealing over $25,000. That crime is punishable in Missouri by a prison term of five to 15 years.

According to University City Detective Ann Dreifke, Brothman discovered more than $100,000 had been stolen from her business. She found out that some of her checks had bounced and that her account was overdrawn. She also found more than 160 checks missing from her checkbook.

Police say numerous checks, made payable to both Janice and Diana Daniel, had been written on the company's account.

Brothman said a co-worker tipped her off to some discrepancies. Unbeknownst to Brothman, the business' landlord was about to kick her out because of overdue rent that Janice Daniel was supposed to be paying from the company account, Brothman said. Police say the Daniels claimed Brothman had given them permission to take the money as long as they would pay it back. Brothman denies that. Police say the money wasn't repaid.

Brothman said she is glad that she found out about the missing money in time to stay in business and before all of her resources were drained. Insurance covered about $25,000 of the theft, she said, and she borrowed money from a relative to get caught up on rent.

"Whether it's God or the universe, somebody saved me at the very last minute, when I was about to be evicted from my business and they were about to take the very last money that I had," she said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Diana M. Daniel.
EAST ST. LOUIS  Robin Thompson, 25, of Park Hills, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court here Thursday to a charge of conspiring in sex-trafficking of a minor.

Prosecutors said after Thompson's husband, Marcus Thompson, recruited a girl from Illinois for prostitution last year she helped traffic the minor in the sex trade.

The Thompsons took the girl to Florida, Georgia and Louisiana as part of the trafficking, according to a release from James L. Porter, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Robin Thompson faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced Sept. 15. Sex-trafficking charges are still pending against her husband.

The Thompsons were charged in August after a 15-year-old alleged that she was enticed from the streets of Madison into a cross-country prostitution ring involving at least five girls. That victim claimed that one girl died in her arms and that they were beaten and threatened with being fed to alligators in a swamp if they tried to escape.

Court records mention only two others who were trafficked by the Thompsons. All three of them were advertised for sex services on Backpage.cm, the court records say.

A photo of Robin Thompson was not available.
ALHAMBRA  A resident of the Hitz Memorial Home here was charged Thursday in Madison County with aggravated arson after telling authorities she set the place on fire because she was angry at the staff.

Linda J. Braun, 67, was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

One employee suffered smoke inhalation but no residents were hurt when a fire extensively damaged two rooms and caused smoke and water damage to 13 others about 9 p.m. Wednesday in the home at 201 Belle Street, officials said.

The blaze was on the nursing home side of the facility; Braun resided on the independent living side, which was unaffected.

Sprinklers put out the fire. Other areas affected include a common room and offices. Ten residents were displaced.

The injured employee, a woman, was sickened by smoke during the evacuation and treated at the scene, the Madison County Sheriffs Office said.

Officials said Braun called the Illinois State Police shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday to confess. A statement from the sheriffs office says she told deputies she stated the fire deliberately because she was angry over staff members trying to boss her around.

It also says she told them she set the fire in an empty room and never intended to hurt anyone.

Officials said there was no formal damage estimate but the loss was expected to be substantial.
FERGUSON  A man has been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his father inside their Ferguson home on Tuesday.

Jesse Reise, 32, was also charged Thursday with armed criminal action, according to court documents, and was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Police said they were went to the Ferguson home Reise shared with his father, Joseph Reise, about noon Tuesday after someone called 911 saying he was going to kill himself. They arrived at the home, in the first block of Lee Avenue, to find Joseph Reise dead, but they say his death was no suicide.

The elder Reise, 58, had been shot in the head, police say in court documents. There was a .380-caliber casing near the body, but no firearm. His son was gone.

Two people identified the voice in the 911 call as that of Jesse Reise, police said.

Jesse Reise was arrested later in the day in Wayne County, in southeast Missouri, according to documents. He was carrying a .380-caliber handgun with ammunition that matched the spent casing found at the murder scene, police said. Officers also found a notebook; one handwritten statement in the notebook said "Dad passed with me telling him I love you, I love you."
Visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco said Wednesday that his country will exempt visa for Chinese tourists from June 1, the 21st Century Business Herald reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and King Mohammed VI of Morocco have signed a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries, agreeing to strengthen tourism cooperation and simplify visa procedures.

At present, about 15,000 Chinese people travel to Morocco annually. Moroccan Minister of Tourism Lahcen Haddad said he hopes the number can reach 100,000 by 2018.

So far, Chinese tourists can travel in the North African country in group through travel agencies and there are no direct airline services between the two countries.
GRANITE CITY  At least 300 students and staff were evacuated from the campus of the Southwestern Illinois College campus at 4950 Maryville Road after lightning struck the roof of the library.

Fire erupted from the roof of the building at the Sam Wolf Granite City campus Thursday about 10:10 a.m., according to Nancy Levault, campus executive director.

The Granite City Fire Department was called and the building was evacuated, she said. The fire was contained to the roof area near the library and was contained within 35 minutes of its discovery, Levault said.

"All of the students were safe," she said.

Levault said the campus would reopen at 3 p.m. and evening classes will be held.
The gunman was identified as Orlando Harris, 19, a recent graduate of the school. One survivor heard him say he was 'tired of everybody' in the school and that his gun jammed at one point.
University of Missouri-Columbia graduate assistants have filed a lawsuit against the schools Board of Curators in an attempt to be recognized as employees under state law.

Graduate assistants are students pursuing advanced degrees. They are either paid or compensated through benefits to teach classes, grade papers and conduct research.

In April, graduate assistants voted 668-127 in favor of forming a union.

The vote set up a legal fight between the board and the Coalition of Graduate Workers because the University of Missouri System does not recognize graduate assistants as employees.

Graduate assistants have been protesting on campus since last fall in response to being stripped of their health insurance subsidies on the eve of the school year.

The university eventually restored the subsidies on a limited basis, but graduate assistants continued to protest what they describe as the gradual erosion of their benefits going back several years.

The friction between the two sides led to the union vote.

Connor Lewis, a graduate assistant in Mizzous history department, said the lawsuit could have been avoided. The two sides have been in talks since the winter of 2015.

My impression is that (human resources) and the universitys general counsel were committed to forcing us down this legal road from day one, he said.

The lawsuit asserts that Mizzous more than 2,600 graduate assistants should be classified as public employees. Public employees have a constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, the suit says.

Christian Basi, a spokesman for the Columbia campus, did not comment specifically on the lawsuit but called graduate assistants an integral part of the university community.

Given this invaluable role, the university has continued to work collaboratively with graduate students to address many of their ongoing concerns, he said.

Since the uproar last fall, Mizzou has increased the minimum pay for some graduate assistants, restored health subsidies through the 2016-17 school year and entered into talks to provide graduate assistants with affordable housing.
JEFFERSON CITY  People with criminal records could have an easier time wiping certain convictions from their records.

On a 25-7 vote Wednesday, the Missouri Senate sent a plan to overhaul the expungement process to Gov. Jay Nixons desk.

The proposal would require a person to wait three years after completing the ordered sentence or probation period before a misdemeanor could be sealed and seven years for a felony. Certain crimes, such as some violent sex offenses, would not be eligible.

Current law requires a person to wait 20 years for a felony and 10 years for a misdemeanor before being eligible to file a petition with a judge for expungement.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, earlier said the proposal was allowed to move forward in exchange for Democrats halting their objections to legislation requiring voters to show identification at polling places.

A proposed referendum on the voter ID proposal zoomed out of the Senate soon after the expungement legislation was approved.

Senate leaders said earlier that there was no such deal.

The changes outlined by the expungement legislation could be expensive. According to a financial analysis of the proposal, the additional number of people filing for expungement could trigger the hiring of hundreds of workers to process the requests.

The legislation prohibits a person from being eligible if he or she has been subsequently found guilty of any misdemeanor or felony offense.

During debate in the House, Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, said the measure would give second changes to thousands of Missourians who are unable to work because of their felony records.

I dont see this as being soft on crime, said Rep. Joe Don McGaugh, R-Carrollton.

Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, said it would help many of his constituents who had done stupid things and now couldnt get jobs.

Thats huge, he said.

The measure moved out of the House Wednesday on a 143-12 vote.

The legislation is Senate Bill 588.
Chuck Raasch Chuck Raasch is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Chuck Raasch 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

WASHINGTON  All the many players were there.

Inside the Ronald Reagan Conference Center, behind a line of yellow police tape, a handful of United States senators, including Missouris Roy Blunt, were meeting Thursday with that lightning rod of a likely Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Fresh off a meeting minutes before and eight blocks away with House Speaker Paul Ryan, where a similar tableau of protest and protection had unfurled, Trump arrived near high noon in a squadron of four black Suburbans.

The tank-like vehicles disappeared into a subterranean driveway under the headquarters of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, an organization that has raised $55 million to elect Republican senators. Led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, senators  driven from offices three blocks away on Capitol Hill  came and went through a side door.

It was another act of Trump Theater in D.C., one that ended with Ryan declaring himself encouraged but not ready to endorse. Cable networks covered it live and perpetually on a level once reserved for events such as Reagan-Gorbachev nuclear detente summits or the beginnings or endings of wars.

But this is Trump-mania, and no act is too small  not even an image of the billionaires jet plane sitting on the tarmac at Reagan National Airport. CNN interrupted an interview with a Trump surrogate who is on the network as much as some of its correspondents with the breaking news of a Trump tweet.

Great Day in DC, it said, which is also what your average D.C. tourist might have tweeted to friends back home at that very moment.

Parsing that tweet, and dissecting Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebuss declaration that the Ryan-Trump meeting had been cooperative and positive, kept the live cable theater going for several more hours.

At fortress NRSC, a phalanx of big men in dark suits and stern looks assembled out front, earpieces in right ears, Secret Service pins on left lapels. Eight metro police officers stood at ease in front of them, and police cars guarded the intersections where cable satellite trucks also loomed.

This is a familiar post-9/11 Washington formation, human barriers to the stand-and-wait, stand-and-chant crowds co-mingling on the perimeter.

Across the street, that stand-and-wait crowd of journalists marked its forward territory with a bank of a dozen television cameras. Famous faces talked through a couple of the cameras to voices in far-away studios. A couple dozen other reporters and photographers milled, hoping for a furtive photo opportunity or shouted quote, although they had been told there would be no press availability of any of the participants, including Blunt, after the meeting.

Still, you never know when news breaks out and all this standing in front of a building pays off.

Behind the journalists, a smattering of protestors  as many as 50 in the stand-and-chant crowd at one point  held up professionally printed anti-Trump signs. Cameras clicked and rolled. Sometimes led by members of Code Pink, the anti-war group that often disrupts congressional hearings, they chanted slogans such as racist, sexist, not okay  Donald Trump, go away and this is what democracy looks like.

Well, scripted democracy, anyway.

Joining in the anti-Trump chants was Brad Woodhouse, a professional Democrat and self-described campaign surrogate for President Barack Obama. He is president and CEO of Americans United for Change, a deep-pockets liberal group that has been involved in fights ranging from then-President George W. Bushs Social Security reform; to the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare; to Obamas current nominee for the Supreme Court, whose confirmation is being held up by the very senators across the street.

Woodhouse has also headed up Correct the Record, a pro-Hillary Clinton group that is paying pro-Clinton users of Facebook and other online sites $1 million to counterattack anti-Clinton posters on social media. Woodhouse is a frequent talking head on some of the same networks whose cameras were lined up a few feet away.

Fifty minutes passed with no sign of a breakup of the private assemblage. Most of the protestors melted away, some heading for lunch at a nearby row of restaurants. Two young people, professional dog walkers on what looked like a daily route, momentarily occupied the space, then moved on, bewildered looks on their faces.

An elderly tourist barked: Wheres the pro-Trump rally?

Suddenly, movement!

The four Suburbans exited, Trump behind the tinted glass of one. An officer pulled down the police tape. The men in black were gone.

Only the cameras remained.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia can keep its abortion license after the state health department tried to revoke it last year under what a federal judge called political intimidation.

U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey in a Wednesday ruling said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services treated the clinic more harshly than other outpatient surgical centers and had no rational basis to justify its treatment of Planned Parenthood.

(We) celebrate this legal victory and the impact it will have on our patients and future patients and their access to safe and legal abortion in Missouri, said Laura McQuade, president of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.

The clinic still needs to find a doctor with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital to restart abortion services under state law. The state planned to revoke the clinics abortion license last December after the University of Missouri ended the privileges of the doctor who provided abortions. Previous court decisions temporarily blocked the state from revoking the license after the clinic sued.

In a deposition, state health regulator John Langston suggested that the department feared retaliation from Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, who is the Senate appropriations chairman and leads a committee investigating Planned Parenthood.

The state health departments actions likely were the result of political pressure being exerted by Missouri legislators and the Departments perception that if it did not act in accordance with the legislatures desires, its budget would be cut, Laughrey said in her ruling.

In a statement, Schaefer said he makes no apology for my role in uncovering that tax dollars were being used to enable abortions in Missouri. He had argued that the public University of Missouri helped facilitate abortions by granting privileges to the Planned Parenthood doctor.

The clinic provided from 200 to 240 medication abortions between August and November 2015, when Dr. Colleen McNicholas had privileges through the UM health care system.

The clinics abortion license will expire June 30 and probably would not be renewed without a doctor on staff with privileges at a local hospital. McNicholas status with the university is under review, and Planned Parenthood is talking with other doctors in the Columbia area who have privileges elsewhere including BJC HealthCares Boone Hospital Center. Abortion providers at Planned Parenthoods St. Louis clinic have privileges at BJCs flagship Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

An upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Texas abortion laws also could affect the situation in Missouri. If the court rules that hospital admitting privileges place an undue burden on women seeking abortions, the same requirement for Missouri clinics could be nullified.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY  Flyers wanting a cold beer or a Bloody Mary before boarding their flight at Lambert-St. Louis Airport would no longer have to stay in the bar under legislation advancing in the Missouri Legislature.

The proposal, which was part of a larger piece of legislation moving through the Senate Wednesday, would enable establishments at the airport to apply for a permit that would allow patrons to leave the premises with an alcoholic drink.

During a debate on the measure Wednesday, Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, said the change would ensure passengers dont miss their flights by allowing them to grab a beverage and then return to their gate to drink it.

In an airport, sometimes you cant hear your flight, Sater said.

Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, said the proposal makes sense.

Sometimes those little places where you can have a drink or eat are pretty filled up, Schupp said.

Under the proposal, the drinks must be in containers that display the retailers name or logo.

The measure moved out of the Senate on a 26-6 vote. It must be voted on in the House before the legislative session ends at 6 p.m. Friday. If approved, it would go to Gov. Jay Nixon for his consideration.

The legislation is Senate Bill 867.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers moved Thursday to get the state in line with previous court decisions when it comes to sentences for juvenile murderers.

The House and Senate have approved legislation that would offer judges two options for sentencing juveniles convicted of first degree murder.

The changes are in response to a number of court cases that left Missouri out of whack with federal guidelines.

In 2005, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing a juvenile to death was unconstitutional, leaving Missouri with only one option for juveniles convicted of first-degree murder.

In 2012, the high court ruled that allowing only one sentencing option for those juveniles  life without parole -- also was unconstitutional

In March, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a group of 84 inmates who were sentenced as juveniles should be granted a parole hearing after serving 25 years of their life sentences.

Under the plan heading to Nixons desk, a juvenile murderer could be sentenced to between 30 and 40 years, or life.

You can still have life without parole. But it cannot be the only option, said Rep. Robert Cornejo, R-St. Peters.

The measure passed the House on a 141-1 vote. The measure moved out of the Senate on a unanimous vote.

Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, said the new guidelines will serve as a reminder to judges that minors are still developing and could turn their lives around.

These are kids and they should be treated differently, Colona said.

The legislation is Senate Bill 590
JEFFERSON CITY  The debate over prescription drug monitoring in Missouri could be over for the year as opponents stalled a vote in the state Senate on Thursday.

With time running low before the Legislature is forced to adjourn Friday, its unclear whether the measure will again be brought up for debate.

The proposal, which advanced narrowly through the House in early March, had encountered headwinds all legislative session.

Missouri is the only state without a prescription drug monitoring program. Under the measure, the state Department of Health and Senior Services would start tracking all federal Schedule II through Schedule IV prescriptions in the state.

Proponents say the programs are an important tool in deterring opioid abuse and doctor shopping  when addicts visit multiple doctors in pursuit of similar prescriptions. The programs allow doctors to compare notes and address addictions before they spiral, supporters say.

But opponents, led Thursday by state Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, say that other states have encountered problems with their databases and that the programs encroach on personal liberties.

Were saying we want every citizen of this state to give up a little bit of their liberty, Schaaf said, to take your privacy away from you  and put this sensitive information in this government database so that we can use that information to prevent someone else from breaking the law.

Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, the Senate sponsor, said that supporters had added numerous protections, such as reducing the time the data can be stored, requiring audits and encryption and preventing law enforcement from obtaining warrants based solely on the information.

We have done about everything that we can to address the concerns of individuals in this body, he said. Through the process, we believe that this bill accomplishes a great deal of things. Again, this legislation will save lives.

Both sides have accused the other of preventing the passage of a drug monitoring program.

Schaaf has his own legislation that would place tighter controls on how information is stored and how doctors can use it. He has said that supporters could either pass his version or tack on a referendum clause to Schatzs bill.

They couldve compromised five years ago, Schaaf said. I offered. They refused. It is absolutely the fault of the proponents of this bill that there is not a (drug monitoring program) in place.

But Schatz has said that there is little wiggle room with Schaaf when it comes to negotiations.

Are you just at the point where, you know, again, this is your way or no way? Schatz asked at an April hearing.

Meanwhile, in the absence of a statewide program, local programs have started to gain traction. St. Louis County has begun implementing its own program, and officials in St. Louis, St. Charles County and Jackson County have expressed interest in joining.

The legislation is House Bill 1892.
China on Wednesday suggested the United States, when talking about "freedom of navigation," make a distinction between commercial ships and warships.

Freedom of navigation for commercial vessels has never been obstructed in the South China Sea, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a daily press briefing.

U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said on Tuesday in Vietnam that freedom of navigation operations were important to smaller nations.

"If the world's most powerful navy can not sail where international law permits, then what happens to the ships of navy of smaller countries?" Russel told reporters.

The United States appears to advocate freedom of navigation for military vessels in the South China Sea, which is against international law, said Lu, noting that no other country in the world would even suggest such a thing.

According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign vessels enjoy the right of innocent passage through territorial seas, but military vessels are not endowed with the same right, said Lu.

The United States refused to ratify the UNCLOS and introduced "freedom of navigation" operations in 1979. These operations have met with opposition from the very beginning, especially from smaller nations, he said.

"We hope the U.S. will respect basic facts when talking about the feelings of smaller nations," he said, suggesting the United States sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible to give its words on international law more force.

China on Tuesday expressed "resolute opposition" to a U.S. warship patrol in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.

The warship, USS William P. Lawrence, illegally entered Chinese waters near the islands on Tuesday without the permission of the Chinese government.
It appears a push to create statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies is stalling in the final days of the legislative session in Jefferson City.

Lawmakers are required to quit at 6 p.m. Friday, and a move was afoot Thursday to filibuster a bill that would strip local governments of control over companies such as Uber.

Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, said he was prepared to stall a vote on the Senate floor unless his concerns are addressed.

Those concerns include fingerprint-based background checks, and what he says is a failure by Uber to work with the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission.

"I do plan on getting up and talking about it, for quite some time," said Keaveny, the minority floor leader. "Maybe we can work something out, but right now we're not even talking."

UberX, an app-based service in which drivers use their own cars to ferry passengers, has been pushing for regulations that would allow its drivers to work without undergoing fingerprint-based background checks, which has been contentious during its entry to the St. Louis region.

Uber says it conducts its own thorough background checks of drivers, many of whom drive less than six hours a week, but not fingerprint checks, which the company describes as onerous.

"The people of Missouri deserve a vote  not a filibuster," Uber Missouri General Manager Sagar Shah said in a statement Thursday.

That statement came in response to what Shah described as a move by Kansas City senators Ryan Silvey, a Republican, and Democrat Jason Holsman "to deny the people of Missouri a vote" on statewide regulations, which Shah says would give 10,000 Missourians "the opportunity to work on demand."

House members earlier this month voted to add regulations for ride-hailing companies to a bill that includes requiring companies such as Uber and Lyft to conduct background checks on drivers and pay a $5,000 annual fee. The companies would not have to follow local rules and pay some taxes.

The Department of Revenue could require fingerprint checks on drivers after August 2019 under that measure.

A state law requiring vehicle-for-hire drivers to have fingerprint checks is specific to St. Louis and St. Louis County, where such drivers are governed by the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission.

On Sept. 18, the taxi commission voted to allow ride-hailing services, but required drivers to be fingerprinted and possess a Class E Missouri commercial driver license, also known as a chauffeurs license.

That same day, Uber launched UberX even though drivers had not met the requirements set by the taxi commission, and the company filed a federal lawsuit against the commission alleging anti-competitive practices in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

UberX has operated in defiance of commission regulations since then.

On Oct. 5, the commission filed its own suit seeking to have Uber barred from operating. The suits are being heard in federal court.

Ride-hailing companies were dealt a blow this month when voters in Austin, Texas, shot down a campaign by Uber and Lyft to end fingerprint-based background checks for drivers. Both companies said they'd leave in such a rule were to be in place, and both did so after the vote.

Staff writer Jack Suntrup contributed to this story from Jefferson City.
UPDATED at 11 a.m. Thursday with latest on power outages, Normandy High School classes canceled and small tornado confirmed near Sullivan

A third wave of thunderstorms pushed through the metro area Thursday morning, flooding some streets.

The heaviest storms, which hit Wednesday afternoon, brought large hail and high winds, downing trees and damaging cars and a few homes. The second wave of storms, with lightning and additional hail, hit the area Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service expects Thursday's storms to move to the east by midday. As of 10 a.m., rainfall of 1.5 inches was recorded at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport from noon Wednesday through Thursday morning.

The forecast for Friday is for sunshine and a high of 77 but with a chance for another round of heavy storms in the afternoon and evening.

The weekend forecast called for highs in the 60s both Saturday and Sunday.

A Weather Service survey team confirmed that a small tornado touched down about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Crawford County, Mo., south of Sullivan, Mo. The team rated it as an EF-1, the second-lowest category, with winds from 85 p.m. to 110 mph. No one was hurt.

Classes at Normandy High School were canceled Thursday because of a power outage, the school reported on its website.

Ameren reported as many as 36,000 customers without power Wednesday afternoon. As of 10:30 a.m. Thursday, about 9,500 were without power, mainly in west and north St. Louis County. The heaviest concentrations were in the Ferguson and Spanish Lake areas.

By Thursday morning, fewer than 100 customers in Illinois were without power.

During the big storm Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service says it had official reports of hail as large as four inches in diameter in Cottleville about 1 p.m. Neighborhoods in western St. Charles city reported three-inch hail.

Jim Kramper, a meteorologist at the Weather Service office in Weldon Spring, said the largest hail generally fell along a line from Cottleville and Weldon Spring into St. Charles. Kramper said 3.5-inch hail hit the weather office.

He said the Weather Service received numerous reports of damage to vehicles. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport reported .8 inch of rain in that storm.

Colene McEntee, spokeswoman for the St. Charles County Emergency Management Agency, said two of those locations were the Camelot subdivision in Weldon Spring and CitiMortgage in O'Fallon. No one was injured, police said.

On Wednesday night, officials in Washington County, Mo., reported multiple swift-water rescues in the northern part of the county by 9 p.m. No one was seriously injured.

Hail of 1.25 inches was reported in Festus during that storm, which was heaviest to the south of St. Louis.

During the storm Wednesday afternoon, reports of hail of one inch or less were widespread through the area, as well as of damaging winds. There was hail of 1.75 inch in University City. On the Illinois side, hail of 1/2 to one inch was reported in Millstadt and New Athens. Wind of 76 mph was reported in New Baden.

There were also reports of large trees down.

A large tree fell and damaged three houses in the 6900 block of Dale Avenue east of McCausland Avenue, where another fallen tree blocked traffic. Firefighters rescued the pet dog of the family whose home was most damaged on Dale.

"The rear of that house was pretty much ripped off, and firefighters heard the dog whimpering in a back room," said fire Capt. Garon Mosby. "They pulled away debris and got it loose."

Mosby said no one was injured.

Ferguson also reported large trees down, temporarily blocking streets.
A lack of revenue is among the enormous challenges facing historically black colleges around the country, but inadequate finances is no excuse for the kinds of lapses evident at Harris-Stowe State University.

The midtown universitys failure to have working emergency-call stations is inexcusable. And, although we believe ex-offenders deserve a second chance, the failure to provide proper oversight in hiring felon Tammy Kimbrough as human resources director suggests a severe level of laxity.

University President Dwaun Warmack needs to account for hiring Kimbrough and other administrative gaffes reported Sunday by the Post-Dispatchs Koran Addo and Jeremy Kohler.

One of the more serious problems is allowing public-safety operations to be commanded by Ricky Perry, a former East St. Louis police officer who resigned from the force after showing up drunk to a burglary call. Perry was a defendant in eight police brutality cases during his career in Illinois.

Warmack, 39, is the third president to run Harris-Stowe since 2011, following Henry Givens Jr.s resignation after more than 30 years.

Equally troubling is the schools pattern of low academic performance, which predates Warmacks arrival. Its 10 percent graduation rate is among the lowest in the country. Starting salaries for graduates are $20,000 lower than the national average.

Warmack should make his first priority raising achievement. Even with money on the line, in the form of competition for part of $33 million from a performance funding bill passed by state lawmakers, Harris-Stowe has been slow to address the challenge.

Theres nothing wrong with helping ex-offenders get their lives back on track, but Warmack went too far hiring and then protecting Kimbrough in a job where she would be charged with sensitive tasks such as hiring, firing and payroll. Her convictions were for mail fraud, theft and embezzlement. Warmack said he didnt know of Kimbroughs two prison stints, noting she had passed background checks and had a recommendation from a previous employer.

Its debatable whether Warmack erred in keeping her on staff, although no longer overseeing payroll. Employees have a responsibility to be forthcoming about criminal histories before taking on sensitive jobs. She left her position in December, and a university website lists her as being on disability leave.

Warmack remains optimistic about the schools growth potential. He is working to add the first graduate degree programs, teaming up with St. Louis University and Washington University to offer dual degree programs and forming partnerships in the community. He secured a $500,000 gift from Emerson last year for scholarships.

These are good signs for a university that is among the most accessible higher-education options for students in St. Louis.

Warmack must ensure the school campus is safe for students, and that their interests always come first. Harris-Stowe is a university, not a social services agency.
I can assure you the only thing Spire cares about is profits over people. Their executives sat in silence and stared at us as we told them if they raised their rates again, people would suffer.
File photo

The case of Lei Yang who was found dead while in police custody is developing into a diverted course. Five days have passed since his death on Saturday, and the media has begun to discuss whether the hand job Lei received at the foot massage place was an act of soliciting prostitution.

According to reports, Lei Yang allegedly walked out of the foot massage place in suburban Beijings Changping area at 9:14 pm on Saturday. He was then apprehended by plainclothes in the name of soliciting prostitution. The police claimed that Lei launched a fight twice to try to get away. At 10:05pm, Lei was rushed to hospital. At 10:55pm, Lei was pronounced dead.

On May 11, police released footage to media in which the prostitute gave details about Leis activities in the foot massage store. While the public is asking how Lei died in the custody, this very footage of the prostitute was all that the police could provide. It says nothing about the cause of death, nor does it tell anything about the fight that Lei allegedly launched.

Lei Yang lost his life, leaving behind a wife and a baby daughter less than one month old. The justice awaiting him and his family has nothing to do with whether or not he had sought extramarital sex. The justice is neither based on true or false that hand job does not constitute prostitution or soliciting prostitution is a violation of law but not a crime. The very fact that the police released this footage thus seems ridiculous.

Should justice be the sole concern, the focus should be: What happened between 9:14pm and 10:55pm on May 7, 2016 that led to Lei Yangs death? What did the police do to him, and what the police did not do to him? The police said that their camera was broken during the fight, and two cameras in the residential block where Lei was caught happened to be not working these days. Now that the Changping Procuratorate has started investigation into Lei Yangs death, we will wait and see.

Leis case is similar to that of Freddie Gray. On April 12, 2015, Baltimore Police Department officers in the United States arrested Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American resident of Baltimore, Maryland. Gray sustained injuries to his neck and spine while in transport in a police vehicle and died on April 19. The case triggered the widely-publicized Baltimore protests in 2015. Both cases involved men injured and died during police officers apprehension. Yet the difference is that the focus of the U.S. media has never shifted from how Gray died to why Gray was arrested.

In face of justice undone, for us, the least we can do is not to turn it into national revelry of gossip. For the Changping police station, they need to stop acting evasive and give up the hope of diverting public opinion with gimmicks. In the context of the Rule of Law, Lei Yangs cause of death should be answered by truth that can stand up to the test of laws.



Related Videos:

Man Found Dead in Police Custody: The Police's Version of What Happened

Man Found Dead in Police Custody: The Witness Told the Press What He Saw
The mysterious death of a 29-year-old Beijing man who was found dead in custody on Saturday evening has sparked public outrage.

The family of Lei Yang was told on early Sunday morning that Lei died after having a heart attack in police custody. He was reportedly detained for allegedly soliciting a prostitute in a foot massage parlor.

On Wednesday, police released footage to media. In the video, one of the women detained for suspicion of working as a sex worker in the foot massage store was asked, according to your experience, did Lei visit similar place like yours before? Did he do that on a regular basis?

Why was this question being asked?

The suggestive question might be raised in order to divert publics attention from the core, actual question: how did Lei Yang die? Who is responsible for his death? Instead of squarely answering this question, the police tried to prove that Lei did solicit prostitute. They deliberately tried to construct an image that Lei was in fact no innocent. While Leis family and the public demand the truth of Leis death, the police turn a deaf ear to the outcry and strive to cover up the truth.

No matter what Lei did in the foot massage parlor, or whether he was a regular customer in terms of soliciting prostitution, none of these can justify what the police did to him. It is apparent that the plainclothes are not complying with the protocol when they are detaining brothel frequenter outside of a suspected brothel. A thorough explanation and report is needed to clear away all the questions of how a young man, who showed no sign of violence, died mysteriously in police custody, regardless he was guilty or not. The police must answer why they detained Lei.

Facts shall be proven by evidence; the burden of responsibility shall be determined by law. The core questions in Leis case are whether or not the police had brutal acts, and if it were the brutal acts that caused Leis death. The police claimed that the camera held one officer at the scene was broken in the chaos, so the evidence is permanently missing. Such a claim is definitely not convincing, and it has already raised doubts.

Besides, the Changping police didnt even try to avert suspicion. Yes, investigation is launched, yet the police is playing dual roles in this probe; they are both the subject of the investigation and the ones investigating. How does that explain their compliance with the protocols then? If the law enforcement is at fault, they should be held accountable. Failure to impose the investigation under procedural justice will not win the public's trust and clear out their suspicions.

994

Related Videos:

Man Found Dead in Police Custody: The Police's Version of What Happened

Man Found Dead in Police Custody: The Witness Told the Press What He Saw
LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks climb as Sunak wins keys to Number 10

Monday, October 24, 2022 - 17:23

Stocks took confidence from Rishi Sunak being named the new UK prime minister on Monday, amid hope that a period of haphazard and market-spooking policymaking has ended.

"Markets have signalled Rishi Sunak will be given time to deliver, with gilt yields falling and the British economy getting a tentative second chance to get back on track. But there's no getting away from the scale of the challenge that faces the new prime minister. The last few weeks have left the UK economy badly bruised, and the volatility of the pound today lays bare the huge task ahead," said AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 44.26 points, or 0.6% at 7,013.99 on Monday. The FTSE 250 ended up 131.00 points, or 0.8%, at 17,337.55. The AIM All-Share closed up 2.14 points, or 0.3%, at 787.54.

The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.8% at 701.69, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.8% at 14,815.98, and the Cboe Small Companies ended up 0.8% at 12,233.81.

Sunak replaces former leadership rival Truss, who announced her resignation on Thursday last week.

Market and political turmoil overshadowed Truss's stint as PM. The pound and bond markets were pummelled last month after a poorly received mini-budget.

On Monday, however, the pound spent much of the day above the $1.13 mark, before fading back in afternoon dealings.

The pound was quoted at $1.1295 at the London equities close Monday, up from $1.1203 at the close on Friday.

Elsewhere, new figures did little to calm fears of a recession.

A survey found UK private sector output has fallen for the third straight month, fuelling fear that the country is headed for a "deep" recession.

The S&P Global/CIPS flash UK purchasing managers' index composite output measure fell to a 21-month low of 47.2 points in October, from 49.1 in September.

In the FTSE 100, Pearson ended the best blue-chip performer, ending 7.3% higher on Monday.

The London-based education publisher said its trading in the nine months to September 30 was "strong", with underlying sales up 7% year-on-year.

Looking ahead, Pearson said it is on track to deliver at least 100 million of cost efficiencies next year, and it remains on track to deliver group sales and adjusted operating profit in line with consensus expectations for 2022.

Pearson Chief Executive Officer Andy Bird said: "We believe Pearson is well positioned for the future, and we are confident of being able to navigate the challenging macroeconomic environment."

Auto Trader rose 2.0% after selling its Webzone subsidiary, which operates under the Carzone brand in the Republic of Ireland, for 30 million.

Auto Trader noted that Carzone is the second-largest automotive marketplace for Irish retailers and consumers.

The Dublin-based operation brought in revenue of 4.9 million in the year ended March 31 and operating profit of 1.3 million.

In the FTSE 250, Bank of Georgia closed up 4.0% as Chair & Chief Executive Officer Irakli Gilauri renewed his contract for two more years until the end of 2025.

Senior Independent Director David Morrison said: "Irakli has led Georgia Capital since its demerger from BGEO [Group PLC] in 2018 and during this time he has developed the company into a unique institutional investment business in Georgia."

China-focused investment firms had a rough session on Monday, with traders fretting after Xi Jinping secured a rare third term as leader of ruling Communist party in China, signalling his grip on power has no end in sight.

Fidelity China Special Situations dropped 9.8%, JPMorgan China Growth & Income fell 9.9% and Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust declined8.6%.

Investors are fearful that Xi and his allies will continue with gruelling Covid lockdowns and other policies that have punished the world's second-largest economy.

Despite these fears, China's economy grew 3.9% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to official data released Monday, beating forecasts.

Beijing last week delayed the release of the third-quarter growth figures - along with a host of other economic indicators  as the country's leaders gathered in Beijing for the five-yearly Communist Party Congress.

China had been expected to announce some of its weakest quarterly growth figures since 2020, with its economy hobbled by Covid-19 restrictions and a real estate crisis.

Nonetheless, many economists continue to think China will struggle to attain its 2022 growth target of around 5.5%, and the International Monetary Fund has lowered its GDP growth forecast to 3.2% for 2022 and 4.4% for next year.

In European equities on Monday, the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt both closed up 1.6%.

The euro stood at $0.9877 at the European equities close Monday, up against $0.9802 at the same time on Friday.

Private sector output in the eurozone remained in sharp decline in October, flash data showed Monday, as energy intensive sectors are hit by higher bills.

The S&P Global flash eurozone composite purchasing managers' index fell to 47.1 points in October from 48.8 points in September.

Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP148.82 late Monday, higher compared to JP148.03 late Friday.

Japan's services and manufacturing sectors are expected to improve in October, flash data showed, as activity and order book levels were boosted by the recent easing in international border restrictions and the launching of the Nationwide Travel Discount Programme.

The au Jibun Bank flash Japan services business activity index improved to 53.0 in October from 52.2 in September, indicating a second successive month of expansion and the strongest performance in four months.

Stocks in New York were in the green at the London equities close, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.2%, the S&P 500 index up 1.0%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.4%.

Inflation concerns and challenging demand conditions weighed on the US private sector in October, the latest flash data from S&P Global showed on Monday.

The headline flash US PMI composite output index registered 47.3 in October, down from 49.5 in September. Consensus, as cited by FXStreet, had expected a reading of 49.1.

Brent oil was quoted at $90.88 a barrel at the London equities close Monday, down from $92.84 late Friday.

Gold was quoted at $1,648.76 an ounce at the London equities close Monday, higher against $1,643.70 at the close on Friday.

In Tuesday's UK corporate calendar, HSBC will publish its third-quarter results and Whitbread will post its half-year results.

In the economic calendar, there is a US consumer confidence reading at 1400 BST after Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill speaks at 0900 BST.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Lei Yang's family

On the evening of May 11, 2016, Lei Yangs family made the following announcement on Chinas microblogging site Weibo: The Changping Procuratorate, where we have been to many times, has intervened and launched a investigation. Beijing Changping district police, as the party involved in this case, should wait until the final results from the investigation of Changping Procuratorate, rather than making explanation everywhere and misleading the public opinion.

According to Caixin, Beijing Changping district police made the announcement that at the night of May 7, they apprehended six people at a foot massage place; all of whom were suspected of soliciting prostitution. When the law enforcement officers were transporting Lei back to the station for investigation, Lei tried to resist and escape. Subsequently, police had taken coercive measures. During the transportation, Lei suddenly felt unwell. The police rushed him to the hospital. Lei died after all the rescue measures were proven ineffectual.

The woman who provided sex service at the foot massage place said was interviewed, saying that Lei did receive hand job she gave to him.

Chen Youxi, an attorney, believes that the Beijing Changping district police should excuse itself in the role of investigator in the case. Not only should the autopsy be conducted by the third party, all the evidence, surveillance footages, and witnesses should be under the control of a separate investigation group formed by procuratorate and police station from other regions.

With regard to the report from police and the sex workers testimony, firstly, it is inappropriate to publish the video now. With the investigation ongoing, the police cannot be aired on TV regarding the case. Secondly, the womans testimony is not totally trustworthy. She is now in the hands of the Changping police, so it is entirely possible that her words could have been manipulated, Chen said.



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Research shows a link between the virus, poor brain development

Researcher Xu Zhiheng explains findings of a Chinese team studying the Zika virus in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

A research finding by Chinese scientists that was published in a leading academic journal identified a direct link between the Zika virus and microcephalya disorder in which the head is small due to a defect in brain development.

The research was a collaboration between Xu Zhiheng, principal investigator at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Qin Chengfeng, a professor of virology at the Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology under the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

The authors published their findings on Wednesday in Cell Stem Cell, a monthly journal that focuses on important findings in stem cell research. They showed that mouse fetuses injected with the Asian Zika virus that were carried to term displayed characteristic features of microcephaly.

As expected, the virus infected neural progenitor cells, and the brains revealed genetic signs of viral entry, altered immune response and cell death. The authors said that's direct evidence that Zika infection causes microcephaly in a mammal.

The Zika virus has broken out in South America and been spreading around the world since 2015including China.

"Zika is not a newly discovered virus, but its breakout in 2015 attracted more attention than ever before because more than 6,000 babies born in Brazil from March 2015 to March 2016 were diagnosed with microcephaly. Most of these babies' mothers were infected by the Zika virus," Qin said.

Until now, no direct connection between Zika and microcephaly has been found. According to Xu, mutations of about 30 human genes could cause microcephaly.

Recently, a research team of scientists from the United States and Brazil published a finding in Nature, showing that the Brazilian Zika virus strain could lead to birth defects.

But the Chinese research went further, Xu said. The most surprising finding was that it was mostly neural progenitor cells that became infected at the beginning, and mostly neurons infected at a later stage, five days after injection, when the presence of Zika virus increases several hundredfold.

"However, almost all cell deaths were found in neurons other than neural progenitor cells," Xu said. "This indicates that neurons, not neural progenitor cells, are prone to induced cell death by the Zika virus."

Xu said he hoped the finding would lay a good foundation for further research and control of the virus. The animal model, together with the global data sets of infected brains, "will provide valuable resources for further investigation", he said.

Symptoms generally mild

Zika is a virus that is primarily spread by mosquito bites. In general, the symptoms known to be caused by the virus tend to be mild. They include fever, rash, pain in the joints and pink eye. Symptoms usually occur two to seven days after infection. Many people who are infected do not show any symptoms, and those who do can be treated easily. Zika was first found in Africa and spread to Asia and Latin America. The virus is spreading rapidly in Latin America, while Thailand and the Philippines are the most Zika-infected countries in Asia.
Danny Keaney, left, and his relative, Sean McDermott, who was a driving force of the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1926.

DURING the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916  when Irish Republicans mounted an armed rebellion against British rule  one of those who stood out as a driving force behind the revolt was Sean McDermott, or Sean MacDiarmada in Gaelic, and he paid for it with his life.

Today, Thursday, 12th May, one of his relatives, Stratford-upon-Avon resident Danny Keaney, will be joining others in a vigil outside the former Kilmainham Jail in Dublin where McDermott was executed by firing squad exactly 100 years ago at the age of 33.

Dannys link to McDermott is through his grandfather, Simon Keaney. Simons mother and McDermotts mother were sisters, which made Simon and Sean first cousins.

I first became aware of Sean McDermott when I was seven or eight years old when my grandfather, Simon Keaney, told me about the cousin in Ireland who fought the British, Danny told the Herald this week.

At that time I just thought it was an Irish story. It was only later that I found out all the facts.

Danny, a retired small business owner, is now aged 68 and over the years has steeped himself in the story of Sean McDermott and his role in the tumultuous events of Easter 1916 when the rebels launched their ill-fated bid for independence at the General Post Office in Dublin.

I dont want to make any comments on the rights and wrongs of the rising, said Danny.

But I am intensely proud, as is the rest of the family, of Sean giving up his life for something he believed in, which was freedom for Ireland from British rule.

I am looking at this from a purely historical angle. There are enough people who have got a lot to say about the rights and wrongs of it.

Sean McDermotts significance in the fight against British rule was considerable.

He was a member of the seven-man military council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the forerunner of the IRA, and an organiser for Sinn Fein.

He was also one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of the Republic of Ireland.

Some historians have said the seven signatories were mad and Sean McDermott the maddest, said Danny.

McDermott had a great influence on the future republican leader Michael Collins, who was jailed for his part in the Easter Rising but later played a leading role in the negotiations with the British government that led to the creation of the Irish Free State.

In fact, Michael Collins admired Sean McDermott so much he said of him: He didnt seek glory as a personal investment but as a national investment. He was not Sean MacDiarmada. He was Ireland.

Although Sean McDermott committed very little to paper  for obvious reasons, given the enormity of what he was planning  he is notable for one immensely controversial public statement.

He was the first to make a speech asking Irishmen not to join the British Army to fight in the First World War, said Danny.

Danny  who is the author of the book about his upbringing in Stratford called Shakespeares Children  is taking part in todays vigil outside Kilmainham Jail, which is now a museum, with his cousin Tess Woods, who lives in Ireland. She was invited by the Irish government to attend all the Easter 1916 commemoration events.
Meeting Her Parents is the title from Bezts latest piece which was just completed on the streets of Aalborg in Denmark.

In town with the good people from Kirk Gallery, the Polish artist created a stunning piece of work showing a young man holding flowers behind his back. As usual with Bezt from Etam Cru, the technique is stellar and the end-result is beautiful.

Take a look at more images after the break and then check back with us soon for more street art updates from the Nordic countries.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker looks on during a meeting at the Capitol Hill in Rome, Italy, May 5, 2016. REUTERS/Max Rossi

BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of the European Commission said on Thursday it would be a catastrophe if Britain voted to leave the European Union, but he did not expect that to happen.

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking at a conference on Europe at the German Foreign Ministry, said it was up to Britan to decide whether to exit the bloc in a June 23 referendum, and the decision would have far-reaching consequences for Britain and Europe.

"He who leaves the table, may no longer eat at this table ... but that won't happen," Juncker said. Asked if Britain's exit from the EU would be a catastrophe, he said, "Yes."

(Reporting by Berlin Newsroom; Editing by Paul Carrel)
Stow, MA (PRWEB) May 12, 2016

Classic Metal Roofs, LLC announced the addition of a new team member to serve as project and safety manager. Kevin Scanlon joined the metal roofing company's team in early April, bringing with him several years of experience in construction and sales.

Scanlon's top priority is to create a safe work environment for every metal roof installer on every job site. His responsibilities include developing and implementing safety plans for projects, visiting job sites to ensure compliance with all regulations, performing safety training and equipment inspections and dealing with any emergency situations that may arise.

"My love of roofing comes from years of working construction, which is how I paid for my degree from the University of Connecticut in 1989," said Scanlon. "The pride roofers take in their jobs is deserved, and a safety plan will be implemented that respects that pride. The aspect of getting the proper materials on site and creating a safe workplace for installers is very important to me. It will be a priority. I look forward to input from the crew leads and installers only improving."

In addition to ensuring every job site is safe for employees, Scanlon also handles a significant amount of planning. From calculating materials and personnel needed on a site to obtaining the appropriate permits for each location and coordinating the installation schedule, Scanlon's role is critical in ensuring the successful installation of every metal roof. His goal is to complete all objectives before their deadline while maintaining a 100 percent customer satisfaction rate.

Scanlon will also serve as a point of contact for all of the company's employees, from the sales team and management to on-site crew leads and installers. He will be stationed centrally in Northeast Connecticut, about an hour from most of the company's other service areas, allowing him easy access to each job site.

"My experience in the difficult world of sales gives respect to the sales team and management, from which our work comes," said Scanlon. "I hope to be a liaison between all aspects of the company and handle any challenges that arise."

To learn more about metal roofing services from Classic Metal Roofs, LLC, call the company's toll-free line at 866-660-6668, visit http://www.classicmetalroofs.com or stop by one of the company's four New England locations in Stow, Mass.; Nashua, N.H.; East Berlin, Conn. or West Warwick, R.I.

About Classic Metal Roofs, LLC:

With a motto of providing "the best roofs under the sun," Classic Metal Roofs, LLC specializes in the installation of metal roofing systems on residential and commercial buildings across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. With a reputation as the premier metal roofing contractor in Southern New England, the company provides Energy Star-compliant, LEED-approved roofing systems to promote sustainability.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/new-project-safety-mgr/classic-metal-roofs/prweb13403420.htm
RICHMOND, Va., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) announced the election of all nine directors nominated at its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders today. The board members re-elected were William H. Bolinder, G. Kent Conrad, Melina E. Higgins, Thomas J. McInerney, David M. Moffett, Thomas E. Moloney, James A. Parke, and James S. Riepe, while John R. Nichols was elected today as a new independent director. Nichols, 54, served as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Federal National Mortgage Association from August 2011 until August 2015.

"Genworth would like to recognize two directors who are leaving our Board of Directors  Nancy Karch and Chris Mead," said James S. Riepe, Genworth non-executive chairman of the board. "Ms. Karch joined the board in 2005, while Ms. Mead joined our board in 2009. Their continued and unyielding commitment to Genworth have been invaluable, and we are grateful for all of their efforts on behalf of our Company."

At the annual meeting, stockholders also approved the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation and ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as Genworth's independent registered public accounting firm for 2016.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a Fortune 500 insurance holding company committed to helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and address the financial challenges of aging through its leadership positions in mortgage insurance and long term care insurance. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth traces its roots back to 1871 and became a public company in 2004. For more information, visit genworth.com.

From time to time, Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of genworth.com. From time to time, Genworth's publicly traded subsidiaries, Genworth MI Canada Inc. and Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited, separately release financial and other information about their operations. This information can be found at http://genworth.ca and http://www.genworth.com.au.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genworth-financial-announces-results-of-annual-meeting-300267813.html

SOURCE Genworth Financial, Inc.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSB), a pioneer and worldwide leader in the secure and reliable exchange of business information, has been recognized by HRO Today Services and Technology Association with two prestigious awards: HR Employer of the Year and Excellence in Engagement Strategy in North America.

Globalscape's list of local, regional and national "Best Companies to Work For" awards was just one factor for the HR Employer of the Year nomination. The HR team has also recently implemented a company-wide individual development program that leverages training and mentorship to strengthen five core business competencies -- communication skills, personal development, operational knowledge, project management and sales skills, highlighting the company's focus on the personal and professional growth of all employees. HRO's Excellence in Engagement Strategy award recognized Globalscape's corporate values and the emphasis the HR department puts on creating real programs and initiatives to ensure that employees have a work-life balance, reliable channel for organization or departmental feedback, a wealth of professional development programs and an opportunity to engage with the culture.

The HRO Today Services and Technology Association Awards recognize excellence in the HR industry in Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America and Asia Pacific.

Supporting Quote:

Andrea Farmer, Vice President of Human Resources at Globalscape

"We are honored to be recognized as HR Employer of the Year as well as be acknowledged for our engagement strategies. At Globalscape, we constantly strive to create a 'work hard-play hard' culture where our employees feel they have support at every level of the company, both professionally and personally. We have learned and evolved over the past 20 years but one thing that doesn't change is our ability to adapt to the needs of our employees. We would not be able to effect change within the company without our fantastic employees, who constantly push us to go above and beyond."

For more information on Globalscape's awards and recognitions, please visit: https://www.globalscape.com/company/awards

About Globalscape

GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSB) is a pioneer in the reliable exchange of mission-critical business data and intellectual property. Globalscape's leading enterprise suite of solutions delivers military-proven security for achieving best-in-class control and visibility of data across multiple locations. Founded in 1996, Globalscape's software and services are trusted by tens of thousands of customers worldwide, including global enterprises, governments, and small and medium enterprises. For more information, visit www.Globalscape.com or follow the blog and Twitter updates.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains 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. The words "would," "exceed," "should," "anticipates," "believe," "steady," "dramatic," and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2015 fiscal year, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2016.

GLOBALSCAPE PRESS CONTACT Contact: Ciri HaughPhone Number: (210) 308-8267 Email: [email protected]

Source: Globalscape, Inc.
Supermarket supports government campaign to address labour shortages through the implementation of convenient new Hybrid Payment Kiosk.

BASINGSTOKE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sheng Siong Supermarket, Singapores third largest retailer, has introduced Glorys CashInfinity secure closed cash management solution, making shopping faster and more convenient for their customers. The solution from Glory Global Solutions, a global leader in cash technology solutions, complements Sheng Siongs latest move in addressing manpower challenges in the industry. First piloted in December 2014, the Glory CashInfinity solution is being rolled out in stores island-wide.

The cash payment kiosk accepts, authenticates and dispenses cash for customers; speeding up transactions, improving overall security and increasing cashiers productivity. The Glory solution reduces time spent on performing cash reconciliation tasks by up to 50%.

The solution automatically collects the customers payment and dispenses change accurately, removing the need for manual payment to a cashier. This ensures greater accuracy in cash payments, and frees cashiers to spend more time with customers to serve them better. The system also affords more flexibility and versatility as more time can be spent performing other duties such as stock management and merchandising.

Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive Officer, Sheng Siong Group, said, We are the first supermarket to implement full self-payment kiosks in Singapore. 70% of Sheng Siong customers still prefer to use cash and 30% prefer card, therefore the unique ability of the system to accept both forms of payment and act as an ATM for cash withdrawal fits perfectly. The CashInfinity system is a crucial investment in our efforts to enable customers to enjoy smoother checkouts with accurate payment handling and better service.

Speaking alongside Mr Lim , Ben Thorpe, Managing Director for Glory Global Solutions Asia Pacific region, said, Amid the growing labour crunch and increasingly competitive business environment, Sheng Siong Group identified that through the adoption of self-service technologies they could go much of the way to addressing these challenges. We look forward to working with Sheng Siong Group over the course of the roll out and further assisting them in their continued quest to best serve the needs of their customers.

-ENDS-

About Glory Global Solutions

Glory Global Solutions is the global leader in secure cash management solutions. Operating across the financial, retail, cash centre and gaming industries, businesses in more than 100 countries rely on our solutions to enhance staff efficiency, reduce operating costs and enable a better customer experience.

Headquartered in the UK, Glory Global Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of GLORY Ltd. Employing over 3,000 professionals worldwide with dedicated R&D and manufacturing facilities across Europe, Asia and North America, Glory Global Solutions is GLORYs international sales and service organisation. Built on a rich customer-focused, technology-driven heritage spanning almost a hundred years, GLORY is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of cash management, vending and automatic service equipment.

For further information please visit www.gloryglobalsolutions.com or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/glory_global

About Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd

Home-grown Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd (Sheng Siong Supermarket in short) was established in 1985 by Mr Lim Hock Eng, Mr Lim Hock Chee and Mr Lim Hock Leng, who are brothers. Back then, it was only a small supermart below a block of HDB flats, selling groceries and food at reasonable prices and providing the heartlanders with good service. As time passes by, Sheng Siong Supermarket progresses steadily, unaffected by the economic downturn or recession. Today, it has already become a household name and a grocery retail chain with 40 stores island-wide and more than 2000 employees. Sheng Siong Supermarket is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sheng Siong Group Ltd which was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange in August 2011. The annual sales turnover of Sheng Siong Group Ltd as at 31 December 2015 was S$764.4 million.

www.shengsiong.com.sg

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511005016/en/

Media:

Glory Global Solutions

Paul Race

Director of Global Marketing Operations

M: +44 (0) 7887 052366

[email protected]

Source: Glory Global Solutions
State's largest Investor-Owned Water Utility Continues Growth in the Hudson Valley

MERRICK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New York American Water today announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase the New Windsor, NY-based Beaver Dam Lake Water Company. The water system acquisition agreement has been forwarded to the New York State Public Service Commission and other regulatory agencies for approval. New York American Water will provide the systems 155 customer accounts located in the Towns of Cornwall and New Windsor with water service. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. This acquisition continues the expansion of the companys operations in the states Hudson River Valley Region.

We bring a wealth of customer-focused operational and engineering resources, as well as the considerable financial and technical strength of our national parent, American Water, said Brian Bruce, president of New York American Water. We are committed to make the necessary capital investment to ensure our new customers in Cornwall and New Windsor receive water service that meets and routinely surpasses state and federal water standards.

New York American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water company in New York, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 350,000 people. American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 130th anniversary this year, the company employs 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006551/en/

New York American Water

Peter A. Eschbach, 856-782-2316

[email protected]

Source: New York American Water
Water shortage and related problems of access to water and sanitation might limit economic growth and job creation, says UN report

Half of the worlds workers - 1.5 billion people - are employed in eight water and natural resource-dependent industries. Water shortage and related problems of access to water and sanitation might limit economic growth and job creation in coming decades, according to the World Water Development Report 2016 with the theme of Water and Jobs, launched in China on 11 May in Beijing.

Promoting high-quality jobs while preserving the environment and ensuring sustainable water management will reduce poverty, promote growth and create a future with decent work for all. said Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General for Natural Science, UNESCO. She unveiled the latest edition of the UN World Water Development Report together with the representatives of ILO, FAO and UNESCO in China. Representatives from the China Water & Power Press and other partner organizations witnessed the launch of the report.

Despite its vital significance, water does not always get attention it deserves. Water is key to human survival, environment and economic development. One fifth of 2 million work-related deaths every year are caused by poor quality drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

Opportunities for employment, growth and decent jobs are contingent upon the sustainable management of water resources and the provision of water-related services said Stefan Uhlenbrook, coordinator of the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), which produces the report.

Launched globally on World Water Day, in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the report demonstrates the key role that water plays in the transition to a greener economy, an issue of great significance for China.

The United Nations World Water Development Report is produced by the WWAP, hosted by UNESCO, for UN-Water - the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater related issues. The report presents an exhaustive account of the state of the worlds water resources. Until 2012, the report was published every three years. It became an annual publication devoted to a specific water-related theme in 2014.

The launch event was organized by UNESCO, ILO and FAO, co-organized by Peking University, Beijing Youth Daily, China Water and Power Press with the support of the Tasly Group.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/11/16 -- NuVista Energy Ltd. ("NuVista") (TSX: NVA) announces that the following matters were approved at the annual and special meeting of the shareholders of NuVista held on May 11, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta. Each of the matters is described in greater detail in the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and Information Circular dated March 24, 2016 (the "Circular").

1. Fixing the Number of Directors

By resolution passed via ballot, the number of directors to be elected at the meeting was fixed at nine members. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes Votes For Percent Against Percent ------------------------------------------------ 131,887,143 99.69% 407,015 0.31%

2. Election of Directors

By resolution passed via ballot, the following nine nominees were appointed as directors of NuVista to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of NuVista, or until their successors are elected or appointed. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Name of Nominee Votes Votes For Percent Withheld Percent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keith A. MacPhail 131,648,443 99.59% 545,841 0.41% W. Peter Comber 131,804,802 99.71% 389,482 0.29% Ronald J. Eckhardt 132,095,159 99.93% 99,125 0.07% Pentti O. Karkkainen 131,804,730 99.71% 389,554 0.29% Ronald J. Poelzer 131,330,126 99.35% 864,158 0.65% Brian G. Shaw 132,076,159 99.91% 118,125 0.09% Sheldon B. Steeves 131,531,118 99.50% 663,166 0.50% Jonathan A. Wright 131,785,181 99.69% 409,103 0.31% Grant A. Zawalsky 115,872,463 87.65% 16,321,821 12.35%

3. Appointment of Auditors

By resolution passed via ballot, KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, were appointed as auditors of NuVista to hold office until close of the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly appointed, and the directors were authorized to fix their remuneration. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes Votes For Percent (%) Withheld Percent) ------------------------------------------------- 131,933,563 99.73% 360,596 0.27%

4. Non-Binding Advisory Resolution on Executive Compensation

By advisory resolution passed via ballot, NuVista's approach to executive compensation was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes Votes For Percent Against Percent ------------------------------------------------ 131,292,511 99.32% 901,773 0.68%

5. Approval of Amendments to Stock Option Plan

By ordinary resolution passed via ballot, certain amendments to NuVista's stock option plan were approved. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes Votes For Percent Against Percent ------------------------------------------------ 109,397,841 82.76% 22,796,443 17.24%

6. Approval of Directors' Deferred Share Unit Plan

By ordinary resolution passed via ballot, NuVista's Directors' Deferred Share Unit Plan was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes Votes For Percent Against Percent ------------------------------------------------- 117,377,532 88.79% 14,816,752 11.21%

INVESTOR INFORMATION

NuVista is an independent Canadian oil and natural gas exploration, development and production corporation with its Common Shares trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NVA".

Contacts: Jonathan Wright President and CEO (403) 538-8501 Ross Andreachuk VP, Finance and CFO (403) 538-8539

Source: NuVista Energy Ltd.
LONDON, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- A recent study by Western University researchers, published in the Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, reveals that the use of the Aerobika device, has a significant impact on quality of life for study patients suffering from chronic bronchitis, a disease that accounts for almost 70% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnoses globally.[1] These study results show significant promise for millions of people suffering from COPD worldwide.

COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in North America, accounting for 29% of hospitalizations[2] and 1.5 million physician visits each year[3]. Those affected struggle to breathe, experience frequent hospitalization and face the risk of premature death. COPD also causes a high economic burden, with costs to the North American healthcare system estimated in the billions. Until now, there has been no significant nonpharmacological method to treat COPD patients with Chronic Bronchitis.

The Aerobika* device was evaluated in patients with a clinical diagnosis of COPD, conducted at The Robarts Research Institute, affiliated with the Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London Canada. The findings indicated that for those sputum producing patients, daily use of the Aerobika* device for three to four weeks produced significant improvements in clinical and patient reported outcomes. These included improved lung capacity, improved ease in mucus clearance, increased exercise tolerance and improvement in quality of life -- significant results for COPD researchers and patients.

"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with chronic sputum production have worse clinical outcomes and accelerated lung function decline. Currently, there are few therapies available to support these patients and the results of this study are promising. After three or four weeks of using the Aerobika* device daily, for COPD patients with chronic sputum production there was an improvement in how easily sputum could be coughed up and an improvement in quality-of-life," says Dr. Sarah Svenningsen, lead author on The Robarts Research Institute study.

"Patients suffering from COPD now have a safe and easy-to-use method to address the unmet need of mucus clearance, which can potentially reduce the need for hospitalization," says Dominic Coppolo , Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Monaghan Medical Corporation. "Since its introduction to the market, the Aerobika* device has already achieved a high degree of acceptance within the COPD patient population in the US."

Dr. Jason Suggett, Group Director Science & Technology for Trudell Medical International concurs. "This research addresses a real and pressing concern in the treatment of COPD. Patients often take multiple medications for various conditions and medication adherence can be low. The Robarts Research Institute team's study is an important validation of the positive patient outcomes experienced through this novel drug-free treatment."

Additional quality of life evidence will be presented at the American Thoracic Society Conference in San Francisco on May 18, 2016.

About The Aerobika* Device

The Aerobika* device is hand-held, easy-to-use, and drug-free. When the patient exhales through the device, intermittent resistance creates positive pressure and oscillations simultaneously, which stents open the airways, mobilizes and assists in moving mucus to the upper airways where it can be coughed out. This may also aid in improved drug deposition. The Aerobika* device is available in Canada, Mexico, and select European countries including the UK and Germany through TMI and in the US via Monaghan Medical Corporation. https://www.trudellmed.com/products/aerobika

About Trudell Medical International (TMI)

TMI designs, develops and manufactures a wide range of medical devices and is home to the world-renowned Trudell Medical Aerosol Institute. From the flagship AeroChamber* Brand of Valved Holding Chamber (VHC) and the latest award-winning Aerobika* device, to custom designed products and systems, our best-in-class respiratory management products are sold in over 110 countries. Their efficacy has been validated in hundreds of peer-reviewed articles from various medical journals. https://www.trudellmed.com/

About Monaghan Medical Corporation (MMC, USA)

MMC, an affiliate of TMI, offers leading aerosol drug delivery devices and respiratory management products including AeroEclipse* II BAN, AeroChamber* Plus* brand aVHC, and the Aerobika* device exclusively in the United States. Our strength lies in product development around core capabilities in mechanical design complimented by collaboration with a state-of-the-art aerosol research laboratory. We focus on developing cost-efficient, outcome-based solutions for our customers. http://www.monaghanmed.com/

About The Robarts Research Institute

Opened in 1986, Robarts Research Institute at Western University is a medical research facility in London, Ontario, with more than 600 people working to investigate some of the most debilitating diseases of our time, from heart disease and stroke to diabetes, Alzheimer's and many forms of cancer. http://www.robarts.ca/

Social media and additional links

Twitter

@AerobikaOPEP

@TrudellMed

@MonaghanMedical

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFkCOz_WZ8TcVs4sBC4P8qA

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHIPAhxCCD6VDrKVvxdzWsQ

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/trudellmedical

[1] American Lung Association. Trends in COPD (Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema): Morbidity and Mortality. March 2013

[2] Centre for chronic disease prevention and control. Editorial board for respiratory disease in Canada, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 2001

[3] Balter MS et al. Canadian Guidelines for the management of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: Executive summary. Can Respir J 2003;10(5):248-258.

Embedded Video Available: https://youtu.be/n7X3QP8HJKA

For more information contact: Jennifer Williams Director, [email protected]

Source: Trudell Medical and Monaghan Medical Corporation
Customers may also redeem Go FarTM Rewards to contribute

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) announced today that the company will donate 100,000 Canadian dollars to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts related to the wildfire that has been burning in northern Alberta, Canada. The fire, which started May 1, 2016 near Fort McMurray, has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents.

Wells Fargo stands in support of the many people who have had their lives and livelihoods uprooted by this disaster, said Perry Englot, managing director of Wells Fargos Calgary Energy Group. We hope that our contribution will help the Red Cross provide critical services to those who were displaced.

Additionally Wells Fargos Go FarTM Rewards customers can contribute any amount of their redeemable rewards balance as a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief from today through May 16 by accessing their rewards account at GoFarRewards.wf.com or calling the Go FarTM Rewards Service Center at 1-877-517-1358.

Wells Fargo employs over 600 team members in Canada, with offices in Montreal, Toronto, Mississauga, Calgary, and Vancouver.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortunes 2015 rankings of Americas largest corporations. Wells Fargos vision is to satisfy our customers financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006476/en/

Wells Fargo & Company

Jennifer Dunn, 202-303-2966

[email protected]

Source: Wells Fargo & Company
BEIRUT (Reuters) - An aid convoy was refused entry to a besieged Syrian town on Thursday, the Red Cross and United Nations said, blocking what would have been the first supplies to its residents for more than three years.

The organizations said their joint delivery was stopped at the last government checkpoint on the way into Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus. The town is held by rebels and besieged by government forces.

The United Nations said this month that Syria's government was refusing U.N. demands to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of people.

"Despite having obtained prior clearance by all parties that it could proceed," the convoy was not allowed through, a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and U.N. said.

"Daraya has been the site of relentless fighting ... and we know the situation there is desperate", said Yacoub El Hillo, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria.

"Civilians trapped here are in need of humanitarian aid. We were hoping that today's delivery of life-saving assistance would have been a first step and lead to more aid being allowed in."

The ICRC's Syria head, Marianne Gasser, said it was "tragic that even the basics we were bringing today are being delayed". The supplies included medical aid, nutrition items for children and hygiene kits.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said government forces shelled parts of Daraya on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the government.

The town borders a military airport used by Russian planes which have been conducting air strikes since September to support President Bashar al-Assad in the five-year-old civil war.

U.N. experts estimate around 4,000 civilians are trapped there, senior U.N. official Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva on Thursday, before news emerged of the blocked convoy.

The United Nations was hoping to send assessment teams into other besieged areas across Syria in coming days, but was struggling to reach people caught up in new crises still emerging in the conflict, he added.

Teams had also so far failed to reach the al Waer suburb of the city of Homs, which Egeland said seemed to meet the criteria for a siege: full military encirclement, no humanitarian access and no movement for the civilian population in or out of the area.

"Al Waer is one of these places where heartbreaking things happen, where we have a convoy fully loaded, standing for days as it did last week, with supplies that we know there is a desperate need for. And then in the end you are told you have to unload," he said.

In total, U.N. aid convoys still did not have government permission to reach around half the 905,000 people they want to help, Egeland said.

In one small step forward, a U.N. de-mining assessment mission had visited the central city of Palmyra, recently re-taken from Islamic State, and de-mining might soon be allowed, Egeland told reporters.

The United Nations had also received a conditional green light to go into Arbin, Zamalka and Zabadin, but with supplies for fewer people than were in the towns, he added.

(Reporting by John Davison; Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc, the world's largest maker of heavy equipment, is ready to move swiftly into the Cuban market once the U.S. trade embargo is lifted, Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said on Wednesday after meeting with Cuban ministers in Havana.

The detente between the United States and Cuba has raised hopes that full commercial ties will soon be restored between the former Cold War foes.

Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), based in Peoria, Illinois, is one of several U.S. companies looking at ways to gain an early foothold in the Communist-ruled island, which had been largely off bounds to U.S. business for more than five decades.

Oberhelman said he had been "warmly received" over the past two days by various ministers on his first trip to Cuba.

"We have talked about a number of projects," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event celebrating a donation by Caterpillar to the foundation that preserves the heritage of U.S. writer Ernest Hemingway in Cuba.

"I think the most interesting one in the near term would be the Mariel harbor ... making an efficient modern harbor that competes with others around the world."

Cuba is staking much of its economic future on the Mariel port, west of Havana, seen as a potential distribution center for the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Caterpillar has already named an official dealer for Cuba, the privately held Puerto Rico company Rimco.

Rimco representative Caroline McConnie said the dealer was in talks with U.S. authorities about getting a license allowing it to sell certain Caterpillar products in Cuba despite the U.S. trade embargo.

President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in December 2014 to end Cold War-era animosity and restore diplomatic relations, but the trade embargo remains in place because only the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress can lift it.

Asked when he expected the embargo to be lifted, Oberhelman said: "For me, the answer is not soon enough."

Once it was lifted, Caterpillar could move quickly to sell products in Cuba as it is used to dealing in emerging markets, he said, speaking on the veranda of the farm just outside Havana where Hemingway lived for 21 years.

"The idea is for our dealer to set up a facility here in Cuba," he said. "We would supply most of our products from Brazil."

(Editing by Leslie Adler)
Tourists from China pose for a group photo in front of a Taiwanese flag, in Taipei, Taiwan May 5, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

By Ben Blanchard and Faith Hung

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China and Taiwan have added tourism to their bones of contention since the pro-independence opposition swept to power in January elections, trading accusations about who is to blame for a decline in Chinese visitors to the self-ruled island.

China has made no secret of its dislike for incoming President Tsai Ing-wen, who takes office on May 20, and for her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has traditionally favoured independence.

Since the polls, Taiwan has accused China of effectively kidnapping its citizens from Kenya on suspicion of involvement in fraud, and reacted angrily to China casting doubt on its observer status at the World Health Organization.

Now the Chinese tourists who visit Taiwan - 4.2 million last year - have become the focus of discord.

The number fell 10 percent on month to 363,878 in March, according to Taiwan's Tourism Bureau.

That is still up on a year ago, but those who service the visitors, including the bus companies that shuttle tour groups around, say they are feeling the pinch.

"Chinese tourists took about 4,000 tour buses a month this time around last year, but now it's only 2,800," said Lu Shiao-ya, chief of the National Joint Association of Tourist Buses.

"China is using its tourists as a bargaining chip against Taiwan's new government," he added.

If Tsai's inauguration speech next week upsets Beijing, which still claims the island as its territory after the defeated Nationalists fled there at the end of the civil war in 1949, many fear China could really turn the screws on tourist numbers.

"This kind of political interference would only result in hurt feelings for people on either side of the Taiwan Strait," said Tung Chen-yuan, spokesman for Taiwan's incoming government.

The travel industry is nervous.

"Everyone is waiting to see how China will react to the inauguration speech," said Golden Kou, a vice president of EVA Airways, Taiwan's second-largest carrier.

Two tour agents said they had been told to restrict the numbers they send to Taiwan since the election.

"The National Tourism Administration told us in February and March to cut the number of tourists we send to Taiwan," an agent in the coastal city of Xiamen, which lies across the strait from Taiwan, told Reuters.

"From Xiamen the number of tourists has fallen sharply, down more than 50 percent," said the agent, who asked to be identified only as Chen.

An agent in Guangdong province, who gave her family name as Kuang, said Chinese were "still fascinated with Taiwan", but government had cut the numbers allowed to visit.

A Beijing source with knowledge of China's policy on Taiwan tourism said there had been technical problems in some provinces, including Henan, which ran out of application forms for Taiwan tourist permits.

The Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment, and the relevant office at the China National Tourism Administration declined to comment.

Chinese state media blames Taiwan.

This week, the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily said Taiwan's fiddling with the quota system was causing the fall in numbers.

(Story refiles to correct gender of travel agent in paragraph 16.)

(Additional reporting by Benjamin Kang Lim in BEIJING; Editing by Will Waterman)
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) logo is seen at the FDIC headquarters as Chairman Sheila Bair announces the bank and thrift industry earnings for the fourth quarter 2010, in Washington, February 23, 2011. REUTERS/Jason Reed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of Congress on Thursday grilled the main U.S. banking regulator about a recent raft of data breaches, highlighting two incidents where workers downloaded more than 10,000 sensitive and private records onto portable storage devices before leaving the agency's employ.

After the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp uncovered those two breaches, it conducted a review and found five other instances when employees improperly stored and took personal information for tens of thousands of individuals, according to Representative Barry Loudermilk, a Republican who chairs a House of Representatives subcommittee on oversight and technology.

Altogether, more than 160,000 people were affected, Loudermilk said at a hearing covering the breaches.

"To date, FDIC has failed to notify any of those individuals that their private information may have been compromised," he added.

The highest-ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, Representative Don Beyer, said the concerns were shared by members of both parties and added the FDIC was too slow in notifying Congress about the breaks in data security. It should have informed lawmakers within seven days of the incidents, he said.

The FDIC's chief information officer and chief privacy officer, Lawrence Gross, told the hearing the agency is working to eliminate employees' use of portable media and has installed technology blocking most employees from downloading data from its systems to DVDs, CDs and flash drives.

It is also looking into "digital rights management" software limiting the time period someone can access information and putting up other barriers to redistributing information.

Gross, who started his role in November, said he is conducting a "top to bottom review" of the agency's information technology policies and planned to hire an independent third party to conduct an assessment.

The FDIC has said the downloads were inadvertent.

But members of Congress remained skeptical that the breaches were not intentional.

"In at least one case...a former employee who downloaded such data was evasive about her actions and not cooperative when initially confronted," said Representative Bill Johnson.

"Some FDIC employees also suggest that it was highly improbable that this former employee's actions were accidental. In addition this former employee is now working for a U.S. subsidiary of a non-U.S. financial services company which raises additional concerns."

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
A car dealer stands in front of the logo of Hyundai Motor at its dealership in Seoul, South Korea, April 25, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

By Hyunjoo Jin

SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> and affiliate Kia Motors <000270.KS> plan to launch three low-cost sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in China, their biggest market, from next year, people with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

Making cheaper models, their first for China, marks a shift for the South Korean automakers, whose strategy of appealing to price-conscious Chinese buyers with older model versions has faltered as local brands surge.

Hyundai and Kia's China market share slid to a 7-year low of 8.9 percent last year from 10.4 percent in 2014, according to company data, hit by the rise of Chinese rivals including Great Wall Motor <601633.SS>. The drop in annual sales was the biggest among the top 10 automakers in China, data from IHS Automotive showed.

Latecomers to China when they began making cars there in 2002, Hyundai and Kia rank third behind Volkswagen and General Motors (NYSE: GM). But Chinese brands are gaining share by aping Hyundai's original formula: sleek, but affordable, smaller models. The battleground has shifted from sedans to SUVs, which are increasingly popular and affordable partly due to the slide in oil prices.

Hyundai plans to build a compact, no-frills SUV at its planned factory in Changzhou starting in November 2017, and a subcompact SUV at its new Chongqing factory in 2018, two of the sources told Reuters.

Kia will follow with its own subcompact, entry-level SUV in 2018, another two people said, with one adding that Kia also plans to produce its mid-sized SUV in China next year.

"After missing out on a segment where Chinese have a head start, Hyundai is rushing to build small SUVs," said one of the individuals, declining to be named as the plans are private.

LOCAL ENGINEERING

Hyundai and Kia will also make more use of Chinese suppliers to source cheaper, lower-spec parts and bring down costs, another official with direct knowledge of Hyundai's engineering told Reuters. The two automakers, which have a joint research and development center in the Chinese city of Yantai, are also stepping up local engineering, he said.

Hyundai said it is taking steps to defend its position against Chinese rivals.

The group is "internally examining from various sides to develop differentiated SUVs that give customers a more practical value by continuing in our cost-cutting efforts," it said in an emailed response to Reuters' queries, and plans to "realign its line-up to range from lower-priced models to high-end cars to respond to demands from diverse customer bases."

Hyundai also said it is "developing parts and specifications" that are best suited to local needs as part of its efforts to be price competitive.

Some industry experts warned that introducing low-end SUVs could undermine the Korean automakers' quality and brand image.

"Going downmarket into low-cost SUVs may actually damage the brand in the long term," said James Chao, Asia-Pacific managing director at IHS Automotive.

"CRISIS MODE"

In China, Hyundai and Kia have simultaneously sold two or three generations of the same model, a strategy that helped rapidly boost sales by targeting diverse customer groups.

Until late last year, Hyundai sold three generations of its Tucson SUV in China simultaneously. The oldest, based on the 2006 model year, is no longer available.

But the South Koreans, whose value-for-money image with sedans such as the Elantra positions them between other mass-market foreign brands at the higher end and Chinese brands at the lower end, were caught off-guard by the surge of cheaper Chinese SUVs.

"Whereas Chinese-brand car and SUV offerings were once looked upon with disdain or rejected outright, they're now increasingly accepted," said Michael Dunne, president of Hong Kong-based consultancy Dunne Automotive, citing "a clear sea-change" in buyer perceptions about Chinese brands.

The stakes are high for Hyundai as its two planned Chinese plants will boost its combined production capacity with Kia by nearly 30 percent to 2.7 million vehicles a year in 2018.

One Hyundai executive in China said his colleagues worry about being replaced because of sluggish sales. A mid-ranking sales official at Hyundai's China operations described a "crisis mode". Neither wanted to be identified as they are not authorized to speak with the media.

Both Hyundai and Kia replaced their top China executives last August.

($1 = 6.4983 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin, with additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in BEIJING and Jeeheun Khang in SEOUL; Editing by Tony Munroe and Ian Geoghegan)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The overhaul of the small crude distillation unit at Exxon Mobil Corp's 344,600 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in Beaumont, Texas is expected to be slowed due to a fatal accident, sources familiar with plant operations said.

A contract worker died after he was struck by a portion of a giant heat exchanger included in the overhaul of the 110,000 bpd Crude A CDU at about 12:30 a.m. CDT (0530 GMT) on Wednesday, the sources said.

An Exxon spokesman declined to discuss the pace of planned maintenance at the refinery. The company has not said what units are shut down for the work.

"We are currently focused on the investigation and the tragic incident today, it would be inappropriate to comment or speculate on timelines at this point," said Exxon's Todd Spitler.

The worker's name has not been released. He was an employee of AltairStrickland, an industrial engineering company specializing in refinery and petrochemical plant projects.

AltairStrickland did not reply to phone messages requesting comment.

KBMT-TV in Beaumont said the deceased worker was 37 years old and from Brownsville, Texas.

In addition to delays stemming from work being stopped at the location of the accident, the investigation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration could also slow or temporarily stop the overhaul, the sources said.

Exxon shut the small CDU on April 22 for a revamp scheduled to finish by June 30. The work is to prepare the unit for an expansion of the refinery with the eventual addition of a third CDU that would at least double the Beaumont refinery's capacity.

The refinery's large CDU, the 240,000 bpd Crude B Unit, remains in operation at the Beaumont refinery.

CDUs do the initial refining of crude oil coming into a refinery and provide feedstock for all other units.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba in Houston and Vijaykumar Vedala in Bengaluru; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Biju Dwarakanath)
By Ted Siefer

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Police in New Hampshire have arrested the man suspected of wounding two officers in separate shootings early Friday that prompted a tense manhunt in a residential neighborhood of Manchester, the state's largest city, authorities said.

Ian MacPherson, 32, was apprehended around 5:00 a.m., three hours after he allegedly shot a policeman in the face and torso. The officer had tried to apprehend him on suspicion of robbing a gas station the previous night.

The suspect then shot a second officer as police converged on a neighborhood on the west side of the city in an effort capture him.

One of the officers was treated and released and the other was hospitalized in Boston in stable condition.

These men behaved courageously, Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard said at briefing Friday afternoon. Even after a second officer was down they continued at their own peril to pursue the subject.

Willard said the suspect yelled Im your man, as he exchanged gunfire with the police.

Willard said area schools were closed and residents ordered to shelter in place through mid-morning out of an abundance of caution.

MacPherson has been charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is slated to be arraigned on the charges on Monday.

The search involved city and state police from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which lent a helicopter to the effort.

Michael Ayers, 20, who lives in an apartment building at intersection where the second shooting occurred, said he was awoken around 2:30 a.m. by the sound of gunshots and commotion.

There were cops with flashlights firing rounds back and forth, said Ayers. It was very unsettling because three more rounds went off while I was looking out my window.

(Reporting by Ted Siefer; Editing by Dan Grebler and Cynthia Osterman)
The latest data released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) shows that China's revenue from international tourism in 2015 amounted to $11.4 billion, taking Spains former ranking as second in the world. The U.S. remains first with $17.8 billion.

As for spending and visits to overseas countries, China ranks first in the world, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The spending of Chinese tourists abroad witnessed a year-on-year increase of 25 percent, reaching $292 billion, followed by the U.S. ($120 billion), Germany ($76 billion) and the U.K. ($63 billion). The number of Chinese people traveling abroad grew 10 percent overall and totaled 128 million, the data showed.

Global revenue from tourism in 2015 rose 3.6 percent, amounting to $1.4 trillion with an average daily spending of $4 billion per day. The number of international tourists increased 4.4 percent to reach 1.2 trillion.

The growth rate of tourism worldwide has exceeded that of merchandise trade for four consecutive years. The tourism industry accounted for 7 percent of world exports and 30 percent of exported services in 2015.
Smartphone with Mossack Fonesca logo is seen in front of a display of U.S. banknotes in this illustration taken April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Panama, rocked by a recent major tax scandal, has joined around 100 countries in an agreement to share financial information automatically to tackle tax evasion, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said on Wednesday.

The information sharing scheme was already in the works when Panama came under pressure after the leak of thousands of confidential documents from a Panamanian law firm in April showed their failure to cooperate in global efforts to clamp down on tax evasion by the rich and powerful.

Bahrain, Lebanon, Nauru and Vanuatu are also signing up to the agreement on automatically swapping tax information, which around 100 countries have now joined. Such exchanges are expected to start in September 2018, the Paris-based OECD said.

"These political commitments to join the fight against tax evasion must be turned into practical reality, through implementation of the standards and actual exchange of information," OECD chief Angel Gurria said in a statement.

(Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Haggling over Greece's latest round of debt relief is likely to run down close to the wire again, Slovenia's finance minister said on Thursday, and he called for the cost of the aid to be more evenly shared.

Unusually smooth talks between Greece and its fellow euro zone members on Monday have sparked hopes that a deal might be possible at a meeting on May 24. But Dusan Mramor told Reuters it could end up being a familiarly drawn-out affair.

"There are certain possibilities that we could have a deal (at a May 24 Eurogroup meeting) concerning the package," Mramor said, referring to Greece's promises on previously agreed measures and for 'contingency' plans in case things go off track.

"The bigger question though is debt reprofiling or restructuring, and there I think it will take much more time."

Greece needs to reach a deal so that it can receive more bailout cash to cover debt repayments maturing in June and July.

Slovenia is in one of the most sensitive positions regarding the Greek debt relief talks. As a share of annual economic output it provides more to the Athens bailout pot than any other euro zone member.

It also needs to borrow to fund its share of the money and is paying as much as 4.5 percentage points more on that debt than Greece is paying for the actual bailout loans.

"This for Slovenia of course is a problem," Mramor said. "We want countries of the Eurogroup to have a similar exposure expressed as (a proportion of) GDP."

"We want solidarity (with Greece) but solidarity should be shared equally."

One related concern is that more hard-fought late-night talks over Greece could look like bad PR for Europe just as Britain votes on its membership of the larger European Union.

Like almost all other European policymakers, Mramor said he wanted Britain to stay in the bloc. "The UK belongs to Europe and Europe belongs to the UK," he said.

SCHENGEN SHAKES

Another major European concern he has is the possible breakdown of the EU's borderless travel arrangement, Schengen, as a result of the millions of refugees that have flooded in from Syria and other troubled states.

The European Commission approved a six-month extension of controls in several parts of the Schengen area last week.

He said measures taken recently such as the deal with Turkey to take back refugees had hopefully reduced the threat to Schengen. But he agreed with the Italian economy minister's view that a collapse of Schengen would be more "destructive" than a euro zone crisis.

"There is no question that is would be extremely costly. There are different estimates, but all these estimates are just huge. Austria alone has said $6 billion euros I think," Mramor added.

"So I understand Pier Carlo (Padoan). For Italy which is a big exporter, these hours standing on the border is just a nightmare for the businesses."

On Slovenia, he added that it was on course to cut its budget deficit to 2.2 percent of GDP this year from 2.9 percent in 2015, although there could be additional costs for the government if a high level court rules a recent bail-in was unlawful.

(Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. forces in Somalia called in an air strike on Thursday that killed five fighters from the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab, the latest in a series of U.S. military operations targeting the organization, the Pentagon said.

The U.S. forces had been advising Ugandan soldiers with the African Union mission (AMISOM) during an operation against an illegal taxation checkpoint when the Ugandans got into a firefight with 15-20 al Shabaab fighters.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said no American forces were wounded on the ground during the incident, which took place west of Mogadishu, the capital.

"U.S. forces were not involved with this firefight. We were nearby but not directly involved ourselves," Davis told a Pentagon news briefing, adding that the American forces were further back from the fighting, acting in an advisory role.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, denied al Shabaab took any casualties from what he described as a U.S. drone strike.

He also said the U.S. forces, after arriving in armored vehicles, were repulsed by al Shabaab fighters. "There were no casualty. The U.S. forces retreated," he said.

The United States has about 50 military personnel inside Somalia and has repeatedly targeted the group in recent months, including a strike on a senior al Shabaab leader in April and another on a training camp in March that killed some 150 fighters.

On May 9, U.S. forces were working to advise Kenyan forces and Somali soldiers as they conducted a raid on another illegal al Shabaab checkpoint.

"U.S. forces participated only in an advise and assist role and did not encounter a direct threat in this event," said Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Baldanza.

Al Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but has remained a potent antagonist in Somalia, launching frequent attacks in its bid to overthrow the Western-backed government.

The group, whose name means "The Youth," seeks to impose its strict version of sharia, Islamic law in Somalia, where it frequently unleashes attacks targeting security and government targets, as well as hotels and restaurants in the capital.

Al Shabaab was also behind deadly attacks in Kenya and Uganda, which both contribute troops to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; additional reporting by Feisal Omar in Mogadishu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler)
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 10, 2016

WEYCO GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wisconsin 0-9068 39-0702200 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

333 W. Estabrook Blvd. P. O. Box 1188 Milwaukee, WI 53201 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code: (414) 908-1600

(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:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)  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 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Weyco Group, Inc. (the Company) held its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 10, 2016. There were 10,676,668 outstanding shares eligible to vote as of March 21, 2016, the record date for the 2016 Annual Meeting. At the meeting, the following actions were taken:

(i) The shareholders elected two directors to the Companys Board of Directors for terms expiring at the Annual Meeting in the year 2019. The directors elected, as well as the number of votes cast for, votes withheld and broker non-votes for each individual are set forth below:

Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Broker Non-Votes Tina Chang 8,865,415 111,974 884,529 Thomas W. Florsheim 8,848,868 128,521 884,529

The terms of the other directors of the Company continue until the Annual Meeting in the years set forth below:

Director Term Director Term John W. Florsheim 2018 Thomas W. Florsheim, Jr. 2017 Frederick P. Stratton, Jr. 2018 Robert Feitler 2017 Cory L. Nettles 2018

(ii) The shareholders approved a proposal to ratify the Audit Committees appointment of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2016, with the following votes:

Amount Votes for approval: 9,837,405 Votes against: 6,439 Abstentions: 18,074 Broker Non-Votes: -

* * * * *

Signature

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 hereunto duly authorized.
If you love old English-style castles, you could own this one for $425,000 plus GST.

To live in a castle is the stuff of fairytales, but it's a story that could come true for an investor looking to buy in the North Waikato.

The castle, world famous in Mangatawhiri, is on the market for the first time in 26 years.

The building was purchased in 1990 by Doris and John "Jack" Pratt, who saw it as a fantastic business venture, and gave it the great reputation it was known for.

Supplied The North Waikato castle is complete with a large kitchen and walk-in chiller.

Doris passed away in 1996 and John passed away in 2002, which meant the castle was handed down to their three daughters Tiena Pratt, Gail Saunders and Georgina Carter.



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Tiena said it had been leased out since then, but it was never as successful as when her parents had been in charge.

Supplied Teina Pratt says the building would be a perfect cafe or art gallery.

"My father had run it with food and icecreams and he was very passionate, a lot of people knew him. He was quite an identity. People would stop and he would give them directions."

She said her parents were supposed to be retiring, when they fell in love with the castle all those years ago.

"Mum and dad bought 10 acres across the road after spending a lifetime of building businesses. They couldn't resist the opportunity, they thought it wasn't being run properly, so they ran it for a couple of years.

"My father had the vision to operate it really well and expanded it with food items and ice creams and made it such a great stopping point and made it so friendly. He would give the time of day to people. It would be so nice to find another operator for it."

After a few years, the Pratts then leased out the castle so they could retire. It passed through multiple hands, but was closed for two years in 2010 when the Mangatawhiri Expressway was built, which meant traffic passing the castle was minimal.

It was then taken on by a tenant, who hoped he could turn it into a successful business, but failed.

"He had all the ideas, but not the ability to bring it back to its former glory. So now we've cleaned it up and made it sparkling again and giving the opportunity to someone to buy it."

She said while there had been a decrease in traffic when the bypass was built, numbers of passers-by were now picking up again.

"A lot of people use that road now, it's getting a lot of traffic again ... it's a beacon in the middle of the countryside."

The building, which is for sale for $425,000 plus GST, had its first viewings on the weekend, and Teina said there had been plenty of local interest.

She believed the building would be a perfect cafe or art gallery.

"I think the local mothers down there, they certainly want to see a cafe down there. There's nowhere for the local mothers to gather.

"Because it's such an iconic old building it really would loan itself to an art gallery. It's a beautiful old building and it's got so much character and it's so well known, you just need to say 'the castle' and people know what you're talking about.

"(We will be) sad, we are quite sentimental about it, it was a great part of my parents' life, that's for sure. It was a great part of their success story."

She believed the castle was a great price.

"What can you buy in Auckland for that price? I definitely think it's a bargain, we just need someone with a vision."

The castle is being marketed by Barfoot and Thompson.

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CentrePort chief executive officer Derek Nind says the port's plans to deepen Wellington Harbour will bring increased connectivity and economic benefits to central New Zealand.

A proposal to deepen Wellington Harbour is expected to keep freight costs down for importers and exporters in Manawatu, and the rest of central New Zealand.

CentrePort is looking to dredge the harbour so it's at least 14.5 metres deep at all points, to allow for the growing size of international cargo ships.

CentrePort chief executive Derek Nind said if central New Zealand cannot provide a cargo connection to the rest of the world the supply chain would move northward.

He said every scenario in the Ministry of Transport's 2014 Future of Freight Scenarios Study showed a significant increase in costs for Manawatu businesses.

In all but one scenario those costs would increase by more than 100 per cent on the status quo. Even in the best scenario, costs would increase between 11 and 50 per cent.

None of those scenarios included CentrePort maintaining its access to international freight.

International shipping vessels had been increasing in size over time, and more ships were carrying the equivalent of more than 6000 shipping containers, Nind said.

Currently, the harbour can only accommodate ships with a maximum capacity of 4500 shipping containers.

"If we deepen the harbour we can keep that international freight coming through Wellington. That will keep costs for the Manawatu closer to the status quo and allow them to remain competitive."

Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said CentrePort was the city's local port, and a key part of the regional economy.

"Toyota, Steelfort, Fonterra, they all export and import through CentrePort," he said.

"If we don't support our local port, the ramifications for business are massive, [and] central New Zealand would be the biggest loser."

Centreport runs a 30-car train to Palmerston North and back every day, carrying imports.

Nind said this made the local rail hub into a de facto inland port, and CentrePort was looking to build on that benefit.

If a suitable site can be found, the port will establish a container servicing depot in Palmerston North within the next six months.

This would allow the port to perform on-site repairs to the containers, and optimise their use, he said.

The idea is to unload containers filled with imported goods, and refill them with export goods, at the depot. This will maximise the time the containers are full and travelling, bringing down freight costs for Palmerston North businesses.

The port will apply to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for a resource consent to dredge the harbour in June.

Nind said that process would take nine to 14 months.They would dredge to a depth of 12.5m "relatively quickly after that," and deepen it to the full 14.5m in the next couple of years.
Blueberries are well-known for their health benefits but research has shown that they could be used to treat breast cancer.

Blueberries are well known for their antioxidants and taste but new research reveals that they might also help in the battle against breast cancer.

Research by Massey University PhD graduate Dr Janyawat Vuthijumnonk has found that animals that consumed blueberries as part of their diet had a 50 per cent lower rate of mammary tumours.

While the research has only been done on animals at this stage, it may indicate that the consumption of blueberries could lead to a better chance of healthier breast tissue in humans.

Supplied Dr Janyawat Vuthijumnonk's thesis suggests the risk of breast cancer could be reduced through increased consumption of blueberries.

Vuthijumnonk said some of the properties of blueberries reduced the number of free radicals in the the body, caused a decrease in new blood vessel formation and increased beneficial bacteria. "[Which are] all elements which help in the fight against breast cancer," she said.

In her research, Vuthijumnonk said the animals were given blueberries in liquid or pomace (pulped) form.

"Interestingly, tumours found in animals that received [blueberry fibre in pomace form] were smaller and less aggressive than in animals without blueberry intervention or in animals that received blueberry juice."

Estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in breast cancer promotion, was lower in those that consumed the pomace diet.

That fact meant that both fibre and the chemicals in blueberries played an important role in fighting the disease, she said.

Environmental stresses and the manner in which humans and animals react to them vary, so blueberries' efficacy was not certain.



Vuthijumnonk said for that reason she could not say blueberries would definitely prevent breast cancer in individuals, but her research indicated increased consumption on a wider scale could benefit the population.

The 35-year-old, who hails from Thailand, said she would like to do further studies on the combined effect of blueberry consumption and traditional medicine.

She said she also suggested the fruit should be investigated as a post-surgery supplement for breast cancer patients.

Vuthijumnonk graduated during Wednesday's ceremony in Palmerston North.

She has returned to Thailand, where she will work as a lecturer at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, in Chiang Mai.
Amber Donaldson of Kaukapakapa, right, is finally pleased to be in Nelson for her friend, Jasmin Batley's birthday after a challenging series of events travelling from Auckland to Nelson with Jetstar.

A distressed teenage passenger stranded by flight delays says she was ignored by Jetstar staff and later told she would have to find her own accommodation for the night.

Family and friends of Amber Donaldson, 15, are furious at what they say is the airline's uncaring attitude to the teenager who was stranded at Auckland Airport for seven hours as her flight to Nelson was delayed, then cancelled by bad weather.

The unaccompanied teenager, who was in a moonboot with a broken foot, was so distressed at being told of the final cancellation she had what witnesses described as a panic attack at the Jetstar service counter.

Long distance flight nightmares Share your stories, photos and videos. Contribute

"It was like I couldn't breathe and I couldn't feel my hands and feet at all," she said on Thursday.

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However, she said no Jetstar staff offered help. Two other passengers put her in the recovery position.

The airline said its staff were not aware of the incident.

When she regained her composure, Amber said she was told by Jetstar staff she could stay in the terminal overnight or get accommodation at her own expense.

Amber's family lives two hours north of the airport and and despite repeated calls, they received little information about the flight delays. At one stage her mother was told Amber had boarded the cancelled service.

The saga began when Amber left her Kaukapapa home, north of Auckland, for a long-anticipated flight to Nelson on Wednesday afternoon for her friend Jasmin Batley's birthday.

Low cloud in Nelson resulted in delays and cancellations to outgoing and incoming flights .

"I started to get worried about what I'd do if I couldn't go, and then my phone battery ran out," Amber said.

She was able to get the last seat on a scheduled 6.15pm flight, but that flight was also cancelled at 6.45pm, sparking her distress.

The passengers who came to her aid, Jax Hawkins and her sister Carla Vandersar, were waiting in the service queue when they realised the girl in front of them was in need of assistance.

"I wasn't feeling the best myself but you couldn't do nothing when there's a 15 year old who was clearly not okay," Hawkins said.

Hawkins said another passenger had asked a Jetstar employee for a chair for the distressed girl, but was told it was a staff chair.

The two women helped Amber rebook on a 7am flight on Thursday, and put her up with them in their motel room for the night to avoid having to return home.

Now in Nelson, Amber can afford a smile after the challenging start to her trip.

She is incredibly grateful to Hawkins and Vandersar for the help they provided.

"They were so lovely  I would have been lost without them,"

Amber's mother Rosemarie had become aware of her daughter's plight through Jasmin's mother Zoe Bradshaw and both women had made various calls to Jetstar to no avail.

Once Rosemarie did make contact, she was told that Amber had boarded her flight and was on her way to Nelson.

However, when she finally heard from her daughter still stuck at the airport, she was furious.

"I was in tears all night thinking about it," she said.

"Their customer guarantee says they'll be able to respond 24/7, but that's not the experience I had."

A Jetstar spokesperson said that unfortunately because of bad weather in Nelson on Wednesday, like other airlines they had a large number of customers who had flights which were cancelled or delayed.

The company would be contacting Amber and her parents to find out what happened.

"We're very sorry to hear about Amber's experience, as our team are trained to assist customers and offer help and advice, especially to young travellers or those who need assistance.

"Our team at Auckland were not aware of Amber's incident in the airport. They may have been distracted trying to help other customers affected by the inclement weather to get re-booked on flights."

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The Chamber of Senators plenary session is held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on May 11, 2016. The Brazilian Senate on Wednesday started the plenary session debating the voting for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia. (Xinhua/Andre Dusek/AGENCIA ESTADO)

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 12 -- The Brazilian Senate voted in favor for an impeachment trial against President Dilma Rousseff, suspending the president from office.

President Rousseff will be suspended until the Senate submits the case to a final trial, which will happen in up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer will take over in the period.

The Senate gave the go-ahead for the impeachment trial by 55-22 in the early hours of Thursday.

In the impeachment trial, it will take a two-thirds majority to remove Rousseff from the presidency permanently.

Analysts say this may not be difficult as the opposition managed to get two-thirds in the first voting.

Temer, whose Brazilian Democratic Movement Party recently left the ruling coalition, is seen as a spearhead in the impeachment of Rousseff. Media reports say he has an entirely new Cabinet prepared and intends to make significant changes, shifting the direction of the administration.

The president and vice president have yet to make any public statements on the latest developments.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 --The Four people, including a Chinese national and two Spanish tourists who went missing at sea in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state, were found safe after being picked up by Vietnamese fishermen, Malaysian maritime officials said Thursday.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general Ahmad Puzi Kahar told Xinhua that the four were drifting at sea before being rescued by Vietnamese fishing trawlers that were passing by.

Malaysia has been in contact with the Vietnamese authorities on the arrangement to get back the four people, he said.

China's Consulate-General in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, confirmed to Xinhua that the Chinese national had been rescued, saying he had made contact with his family.

Sabah regional maritime director Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the four were safe and in good health. He told a press conference that Malaysia's navy and maritime agency vessels had been dispatched to take them back to Sabah.

The four people, including one Chinese, two Spanish tourists and a local went went missing on May 2 when they travelled on a speedboat in Sabah Kudat area but failed to arrive at the destination.

China's Consulate-General said earlier that the missing Chinese citizen was from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and was operating a vacation resort in Sabah.
KATHMANDU, May 12, 2016 -- Students of nursing participate in a rally on the International Nurses Day in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 12, 2016. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. This year the International Nurse Day is celebrated with the theme "Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving health systems' resilience". (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa)
(Global Times) 10:41, May 12, 2016

US destroyer the USS William P. Lawrencesailed in the South China Sea near the Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands on Tuesday and China expressed its "resolute opposition" to the US move. A single warship does not constitute a major threat to the Chinese islands and their facilities, but is a way in which Washington displays its maritime hegemony. Contention over the South China Sea between China and the US will continue.

China's island construction in the Nansha chain has achieved huge progress. The US has no strength to obstruct this, but it is trying to weaken China's strategic triumph by sending more patrol warships, pushing forward the South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines and strengthening alliances.

The result of the arbitration is expected to be announced soon. Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines, who has adopted a hard-line approach to China, will leave office soon, while president-elect Rodrigo Duterte has shown flexibility over the South China Sea issue.

As the Philippines' stance toward China and the US remains uncertain, the US is attempting to seize the initiative by sending warships.

China and the US have different focus for their South China Sea acts - China focuses on island-building and the US on putting on a performance. As long as the two do not aim at a direct confrontation, a military clash is unlikely. The US has sent warships time and again, but their effect is diminishing. What is unpredictable is how the ruling on the South China Sea arbitration will paralyze the situation.

What is predictable, though, is that it will bring China more public opinion pressure from the US and Japan, but it won't generate any real impact. It seems Duterte's new administration will have less interest in the arbitration and countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam are not expected to take any concrete actions.

China and the US are competing with each other to win support from ASEAN. The limited contest between the two fits the interests of ASEAN countries who would like to strike a balance between them. Beijing and Washington will not give up on their diplomatic efforts in this regard, but there is little room to break the current situation.

If the South China Sea eventually becomes the main stage for strategic rivalries between China and the US, it will benefit China more. The whole of Chinese society will be more resolute and it means China would have the chance to solve its peripheral and strategic problems at the same time. But the US, whose acts are prompted by greed, will view the South China Sea as its burden sooner or later.

China will invest long-term energy in the South China Sea. It is not an easy task, but we can always handle it. The South China Sea issue is about our territorial disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines, while with the US it is also a strategic dialogue between a rising power and an existing one.
Justice Minister Amy Adams today welcomed the Law Commissions comprehensive report on improving criminal law relating to family violence victims who commit homicide acting in self-defence.

A terrible consequence of family violence is that some victims are driven to killing their abusers  as a result of often years of abuse, says Ms Adams.

Between 2009 and 2012, there were 126 family violence deaths and ten were identified by the Family Violence Death Review Committee as involving a killing by a victim of family violence of their abusive partner. All defendants were women.

I asked the Law Commission to prioritise this report to address the long-standing and complex issues of self-defence in relation to family violence victims who commit homicide, highlighted particularly in the Family Violence Death Review Committees Fourth Annual Report in 2014, says Ms Adams.

The Law Commissions key recommendation relates to the law of self-defence.

The law currently states that for a person to use self-defence a threat needs to be imminent. The Commission has proposed that in family violence cases, a person should be able to claim self-defence even when they are responding to a threat that is not imminent.

The recommendation is based on the Commissions view that the requirement for the threat to be imminent is not well suited to victims of family violence, as the threat in this context is likely to be based on a history of violence and ongoing, rather than a one off event.

The Law Commissions proposals around self-defence would represent a significant departure from the law of self-defence as it currently stands and therefore needs careful thought and discussion, but we need to ensure the law appropriately responds to victims of family violence.

We will carefully consider the Commissions recommendations as part of the significant work we are doing to address family violence, says Ms Adams.

Other supporting recommendations in the report include:

a change to the Evidence Act 2006 allowing a broader range of evidence about incidents of family violence to be provided to support a claim of self-defence

continuing education of judges, crown prosecutors and defence lawyers to improve understanding of family violence within the criminal justice system

Ministry of Justice to undertake further work to address the three strikes system as this may have unintended consequences for victims of family violence who kill their abusers. The report suggests that the Ministry consider how the law could be changed to allow appropriate sentencing in deserving cases.

Source: Office of Amy Adams.
Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the appointment of an advisory group to consider possible changes to the education funding systems.

The group comprised of school, early childhood education (ECE) and union leaders will test a number of proposed directions for change to improve the ECE and school funding systems to better support our kids to receive the best possible education, says Ms Parata. It will hold its first meeting on May 20.

The Government agrees with the sector that the present systems are unduly complex and do not sufficiently direct resources to where theyre needed, particularly for those most at risk of under-achievement. We also share the sectors concern that the decile system has created false perceptions about the quality of individual schools.

Group members bring skills and experience from across the early learning and schooling sectors, including from private, integrated and Maori medium settings. Their insights will be critical.

Its important to remember we are still in the very early stages of the funding review and no decisions have been made. The Ministry will also seek input from the wider education sector, says Ms Parata.

The advisory group will be chaired by Peter Hughes, the Secretary for Education. Wider sector engagement will run until 31 August 2016.

Further information and membership of the Advisory Group can be found here.

Source: Office of Hekia Parata.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board director of nursing Julie Robinson believes traditional perceptions of nursing are no longer accurate and the profession has evolved.

The variety of roles nurses play and the contribution they make across the community, not just in the hospital setting, is huge now, says Julie.

Many still see nurses as people who take temperatures and comfort their patients but, whilst those are important roles, nursing is much more complex than that.

Nurses work in intensive care, the Emergency Department, neonatal, primary care, to name but a few. It is a psychologically, emotionally and physically demanding job but nurses are amazingly resilient and passionate and turn up day after day to help others. We want to acknowledge that today.

As part of the day, registered nurse Nitin Scaria has introduced a Hi-5 for Nurses initiative, with colleagues greeting one another with Hi-5s to celebrate the day.

Rather than limiting the celebrations to our nursing teams, we wanted to share the celebrations throughout the organisation, says Nitin.

By the end of the day, were hoping the Hi-5 will be passed on and all staff throughout the organisation will Hi-5 each other, celebrating nurses day together. A bit like a Mexican wave which often spontaneously breaks out at sporting events.

Nitin once worked in a bank but loves his new job.

I was earning good money and had great hours, but there was no job satisfaction. Seven years ago I retrained as a nurse and I havent looked back.
A Lotto player in Opotiki has won $500,000, while a Tauranga player has walked away with $25,285 from last nights draw.

The $500,000 winning ticket was sold at Te Kaha Holiday Park in Opotiki and Bethlehem Four Square and Lotto sold the $25,000 winning ticket.
Bay of Plenty is a top tourism hotspot according to recent statistics.

Figures have shown that the Bay is on an upward trend this year compared to last year.

The number of guest nights for the region in March 2016 were up 17.5 per cent compared to results the previous year.

MP Todd Muller says figures like these show how popular the region is for visitors.

Tourism is extremely important for our country and our region and it is good the see that we are gaining numbers of visitors and guest nights.

Nationally we had we are seeing record numbers of tourists arriving with 3.2 million in the past year, so it is great that we are seeing the flow on effect in our area.

With the recent accolade from our friends in Canada our region should continue to be a popular spot for international and national travellers. Mount Maunganui has been described as a rival for the Caribbean which I endorse wholeheartedly and am sure will continue to bring the visitors flooding in, says Todd.

Mount Maunganui beach has been voted New Zealands best beach for 3 years running by TripAdvisor and the drawcards for our region are numerous with not only the beach and the mount but lots to do and great places to stay.

A significant amount of work has been done to get our region on the map for tourism and I would like to acknowledge Rhys Arrowsmith who recently stepped down after four years as CEO of Tourism Bay of Plenty for his great achievements in this regard.

Kristin Dunne-Powell as the new CEO will continue the efforts fantastically, and I look forward to working closely with her as I did Rhys.
It cranked and cranked. Then it cranked some more.

Eight to 10 men with avgas coursing through their veins, all in hi viz, all with hearts in mouths and hopes soaring at about 30,000 feet and beyond, were standing by.
(Global Times) 11:03, May 12, 2016

The White House announced Tuesday that US President Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima during a G7 summit in Japan later this month, a visit Japanese people have long been waiting for. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by atomic bombs at the end of World War II, and Japanese society has to a large extent portrayed itself as a victim of the war in the way it records its history, rather than as an aggressor.

Until fairly recently, high-level US officials had not visited Hiroshima, nor had they attended anniversaries of the atomic bombings in Japan. But the situation started to change in 2010, and this year, John Kerry became the first serving US Secretary of State to visit Hiroshima. Obama will become the first ever sitting US president to do so.

Obama has been pushing hard for his vision of a "nuclear free world." Yet the decision to visit Hiroshima is sensitive and has immediately triggered dissenting voices in the US.

There is barely any country that has responded to his proposal for a world without nuclear weapons, and the Nuclear Security Summit(NSS) Obama hosted has also turned out to be not as successful as he expected.

Moreover, the NSS remit has changed from eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide to nuclear power safety. Since the clock is running out on Obama's presidency, the NSS may come to an end. Therefore, a visit to Hiroshima will help him hype up his glorious ideology again.

Japan, on the other hand, cannot help but over-interpret it. Although Japanese officials were too embarrassed to ask, still, Japan's public opinion pretentiously tossed out the question - will Obama apologize for the WWII bombing? The answer they received from the White House is negative.

Japan's right-wing forces have always been trying to whitewash the country's cruel, heartless and reckless role as an invader during WWII. Meanwhile, they have never been willing to deeply reflect why it suffered the only two atomic bombings aimed at civilian targets in human history.

Nuclear weaponry is not some great technology that deserves developing and promoting. More than 70 years ago, the use of the first atomic attack in history cost numerous lives in Hiroshima. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with Obama, president of the world's largest nuclear power, propagating his concept of a world without nuclear weapons there. However, the question that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would very much like to ask, but does not have the nerve, will never be heard by the world.
Philip Hammond visited the Rock on Wednesday, the first time a UK Foreign Secretary has done so since David Miliband was there in 2009

Gibraltars Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, and Philip Hammond in Main Street on Wednesday. :: SUR

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was in Gibraltar on Wednesday, where he held several meetings and made absolutely clear his belief that a vote to leave the EU would be devastating for Gibraltar.

This was the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary to the Rock since 2009, when David Miliband held the post, and Mr Hammond managed to pack a great deal in to his short visit.

As well as meeting representatives of the Royal Navys Gibraltar Squadron, the Gibraltar Defence Police, the Royal Gibraltar Police and HM Customs, Mr Hammond also visited the Gibraltar Stronger In office in Main Street and held a press conference with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo at No. 6 Convent Place, the Gibraltar equivalent of 10 Downing Street.

With regard to the EU referendum, in which the people of Gibraltar have a vote, both men stressed the importance of the EU for the Gibraltarian economy, which they say is inextricably linked to the single market.

When it came to other consequences of a vote to leave, the Foreign Secretary didnt mince his words. He said that Britains commitment to Gibraltar is absolute and unshakeable and will endure whatever the result of the EU referendum but, with the best will in the world, Britain would not be able to solve all the challenges that Gibraltar could face if the UK voted to leave the EU on 23 June.

I genuinely believe that the threat of leaving the European Union is as big a threat to Gibraltars future security and Gibraltars future sovereignty as the more traditional threats that we routinely talk about, he warned.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo agreed with his comments, and pointed out that Spain has already indicated that it would immediately place the sovereignty issue on the table if the UK voted to leave the EU.

The UK and Gibraltar governments insist that they would never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor would they enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.
The file photo shows the scene of 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo: Xinhua]

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the massive Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan which claimed around 90-thousand lives.

Since then, authorities have set up the world's most active early-warning earthquake network in the provincial capital, Chengdu, to try to prevent the massive loss of life from happening again.

The fast warning system is not meant to forecast a catastrophe.

Instead, it becomes active after an earthquake breaks at its epicenter.

Through it, its hoped cities some distance away can still be alerted before the destructive seismic waves arrive.

Designers of the network say the early-warning of anywhere from 5 to 12-seconds might be enough time for people to take shelter ahead of the impending shaking.

Chen Hong, director of the Institute of Crustal Dynamics, says the system is designed mainly to help those who might be a significant distance away from where the quake strikes.

"The best example of this technology is the system in Japan. Most of the major earthquakes which hit that country originate at sea. But, of course, its the people on land who are affected. But if the quake hits, say 100-kilometers off-shore, there is still time for the network to be effective."

Two-years ago saw the final installation of some 5-thousand monitoring stations throughout the province of Sichuan.

It covers aproximately 2-million square kilometers, and has links to the northwest in Gansu's captial, Lanzhou, as well as south in Yunnan's provincial capital, Kunming.

Through its design, people in the area can download an app to their smartphone to recieve real-time warnings.

Schools and residental areas also have the ability to link-in to the network through a terminal to provide automatic warnings when a quake has struck.

When the massive quake hit Wenchuan County in Sichuan in 2008, it hit at around 2:30 in the afternoon when children were in the midst of their afternoon classes.

It was later determined many of the schools in the quake-zone weren't built to withstand a significant earthquake.

This revelation has led to seismic reinforcement being put into all new buildings.

When Sichuan was rattled by another quake centered near the northern city of Ya'an in 2013, all of the buildings constructed after Wenchuan 5-years earlier managed to withstand the shaking.

But beyond the warnings and building reinforcement, Chinese officials are also thinking beyond the immediate disaster.

This includes the idea of catastrophic risk protection, which includes the creation of a pool of available money to cope with the aftermath of a disaster.

Chen Hong with the Institute of Crustal Dynamics says its an idea which is already being adopted in Japan and the United States.

"Catastrophic risk protection still isn't an option being provided by the insurance industry in China. But we are currently studying and borrowing the experiences of Japan and the US, where the losses in disasters can be shouldered by the government and rest of society."

Its estimated the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake did around 130-billion US dollars worth of damage.

Much of the rebuilding in Sichuan has been financed through taxpayer-funded infrastructure grants, as well as low-interest loans, put out at the start of the global financial crisis in early 2009.
BEIJING, May 11 -- China on Wednesday suggested the United States, when talking about "freedom of navigation," make a distinction between commercial ships and warships.

Freedom of navigation for commercial vessels has never been obstructed in the South China Sea, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a daily press briefing.

U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said on Tuesday in Vietnam that freedom of navigation operations were important to smaller nations.

"If the world's most powerful navy can not sail where international law permits, then what happens to the ships of navy of smaller countries?" Russel told reporters.

The United States appears to advocate freedom of navigation for military vessels in the South China Sea, which is against international law, said Lu, noting that no other country in the world would even suggest such a thing.

According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign vessels enjoy the right of innocent passage through territorial seas, but military vessels are not endowed with the same right, said Lu.

The United States refused to ratify the UNCLOS and introduced "freedom of navigation" operations in 1979. These operations have met with opposition from the very beginning, especially from smaller nations, he said.

"We hope the U.S. will respect basic facts when talking about the feelings of smaller nations," he said, suggesting the United States sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible to give its words on international law more force.

China on Tuesday expressed "resolute opposition" to a U.S. warship patrol in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.

The warship, USS William P. Lawrence, illegally entered Chinese waters near the islands on Tuesday without the permission of the Chinese government.
Several Bland County High School students received honors recently during the Virginia Senior Beta Convention in Williamsburg. In all, 43 BCHS students attended the event.

One student, Isaac Thornsberry, won best in show in the arts category.

This is an opportunity for students to meet new people and build friendships from year to year, said Beta sponsor Kelly Shelton. It also provides students with a way of showcasing their academic and artistic abilities. The trip makes it possible for some students that wouldn't have the chance otherwise to travel beyond the limits of southwestern Virginia.

During the convention, students compete in categories that include French, woodworking, social studies, advertising, agriculture, math and art.

The majority of Bland students competed in either an academic or artistic category.

One student, sophomore Isaac Thornsberry, won first place in the mixed media category, along with best in show in the arts category. Other first-place winners are junior Danielle Cormier in drawing and Kyle Dillow in woodworking. Dillow created a musical instrument out of a chair leg.

Sophomore Rebecca Grace Clemons placed third in English Division I testing. Ian Niday played the bagpipes and placed 2nd in special talent.

He has been waiting since his sophomore year to be able to compete with his bagpipes, and was finally able to do so, Shelton said.

Two of the students, Cormier and Clemons, will compete at the National Beta Convention in New Orleans in late June.

Cormier said she has been drawing for as long as I can remember.

She said she was surprised and happy to win first place. Her large drawing depicts a crying Japanese Geisha. It took her three full days to create.

Ive always had an interest in Asian cultures, said Cormier, daughter of Paul and Shirley Cormier. I had to think of something creative with some emotion. It just kind of popped into my head.

Thornsberry, who placed best in show, said he enjoys art, but likes math better.

I figured I might have a chance to win in mixed media, but when I heard I won best in show, I was pretty surprised because there was just so much talent there. I didnt think they would choose mine to be best in show.

Thornsberry, son of John and Lori Thornsberry, said he discovered art in fifth grade and has never stopped creating.

His winning work is an abstract of a dog and cat in chalk pastel and tempera paint. He said it took him two to three weeks to complete.

I love animals; I plan on being a veterinarian, so I figured I would do something like that.

To reach Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, ext. 35, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com.
China to work with Algeria to promote ties with Arab, African countries: FM

DOHA, May 11 -- China is ready to work with Algeria to further develop its relations with the Arab world and with Africa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Abdelkader Messahel, the Algerian Minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and the Arab League. Both Wang and Messahel were in the Qatari capital to attend the 7th Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum, which is scheduled to open on Thursday.

Wang said Algeria, as a major African country and an important member of the Arab League, commands unique influence in regional and international affairs.

Algeria is at a crucial stage in its development and China stands ready to serve as the most reliable partner in the country's efforts to diversify its economy, Wang said.

Messahel, for his part, said Algeria hopes to expand its role as the gateway to Africa and wants to further cooperate with China in the areas of infrastructure and nuclear energy, among others.

Wang also briefed Messahel on the historical facts about, and China's principled position on, the South China Sea issue.

Messahel said Algeria fully understands and supports China's position on the issue, and supports the settlement of relevant disputes through direct dialogue.
The Weibo post also includes contact information. Officials remaining in Libya can be reached via +216-2948-5589. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Chinese authorities have decided to shut down the country's embassy in Libya amid the worsening conflict in the country.

The announcement, made via the foreign ministry's official Weibo account, is also warning against Chinese national visiting Libya.

In announcing the temporary closure of the Chinese embassy, the Foreign Ministry says it will still maintain some officials in the country in case of emergencies.

The Chinese embassy in Libya will be shut down until at least November.
A senior named Shi Xin at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power recently became an Internet sensation thanks to his expert drawings done in ballpoint pen. Though he is majoring in public art, he has not received any professional training on drawing with pen.

In the past two-plus years, Shi finished nearly 50 works, including traditional Chinese paintings, landscape painting and paintings of animals. The works are so vivid and detailed that viewers cant help but notice even a tiny water drop on a rose.

According to Shi, it usually takes him 10 to 15 days to complete a work. Despite his young age, Shi's achievements in this area are amazing. For example, hair and fur are notoriously difficult to illustrate, but in Shi's work every hair is carefully detailed.

After his work was posted on Weibo, many netizens expressed admiration for his skill.
Parts of a car being examined by detectives with the forensic unit at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office are laid out on tables as photos are taken at the Forensic Services Building. "We moved into this facility in November 2013 and it's made a huge difference in our daily operations," said Detective Sgt. Kyle King, crime scene supervisor with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

SHARE Robert Newman (left) and Scott Prouty, forensic services detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, take photographic evidence of a vehicle believed to be involved in the 1992 homicide of Mary Ellen Wise at the Forensic Services Building. "Anytime we have a vehicle that's too big to bring into our lab, we are able to bring it in here," said Detective Sgt. Kyle King, crime scene unit supervisor with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) The forensic services unit with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office moved into a new facility in November 2013. "Our old garage space was maybe a third this size and didn't allow for us to get all the way around the vehicle," said Detective Sgt. Kyle King, crime scene unit supervisor. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

By Lamaur Stancil of TCPalm

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY  The centerpiece from a 1992 cold case  a red Honda CR-X  has arrived at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office for a new investigation.

Detectives there now have the facility and the expertise to take another look at the case and try to solve it. The county paid $1.7 million a few years ago for the forensics unit facility designed to improve the Sheriff's Office's ability to inspect and preserve vehicles involved in crimes.

The analysts now work in a climate-controlled garage with plenty of room for them and the vehicles. That's compared with the previous facility, which was the equivalent of a single-car garage, said Detective Sgt. Kyle King, who is in charge of the forensics unit.

"We had just one bay and no air conditioning," King said. "My guys had to schedule times to do their work, and you couldn't move the car around inside if you needed access to a certain part of it."

USED REGIONALLY

The new garage, combined with the covered vehicle storage lot, makes the Indian River facility one of the best in the area for handling cars for evidence.

"In our old facility, you'd be sweating in the summer," King said. "You don't want to contribute DNA to the car."

Bullet holes, blood drops and drug residue are what forensic analysts at the Sheriff's Office are examining in connection with the vehicles.

"We do a lot of work for other agencies," King said. "Some don't have the covered storage, so they want to keep their vehicles here. Others want to use the bay area."

Vero Beach police and neighboring sheriff's offices, such as St. Lucie and Brevard, are among the agencies that have used the Indian River facility and requested help from the analysts there. The cooperative efforts fall under mutual aid agreements, in which the agencies help each other with a variety of resources without charge.

The old facility was 4,500 square feet, compared with 13,000 square feet for the newer one, which opened in November 2013 on the east side of the Sheriff's Office campus at 4055 41st Ave.

"We had to come up with something for them," Sheriff Deryl Loar said. "With the training they receive, we now have to perfect mix of professional trained crime scene people with the best facility in the area."

It also includes evidence storage space and rooms designed for using laser technology to re-enact crime scenes.

The fenced-in storage area has room for several dozen cars under its metal covering. King said the goal is for his staff to process a car for evidence and get it back to its owner. In other cases, the car is held for trial or the owners do not claim them.

The cars vary in their conditions. Some are in good condition, while others are riddled with bullet holes or bear the dents and tears from accidents. The availability of the garage provides more assurance the cars can be maintained in the condition they were in when first recovered by law enforcement. That couldn't be said of the previous lot at the Sheriff's Office.

"There was no way to protect the cars from the elements, other than putting a plastic cover over a broken window," King said.

Story continues below the graphics.

BN/IMPOUND

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Create pie charts LATEST INVESTIGATION In April, a car involved with a decades-old homicide was taken from Pennsylvania to the impound lot at the Sheriff's Office. The Honda CR-X was what 39-year-old Mary Ellen Wise drove when her killer forced her to travel across three counties and withdraw money at two banks before she was shot and killed in 1992. Decades later, the Honda was turned in to a junkyard in Pennsylvania to be sold for parts. But late last year, Indian River County Sheriff's Office Detective Greg Farless reopened the case and made calls to track down the car. He learned the engine and other parts under the hood were gone, but the interior of the 1990 Honda was intact. MORE | Scroll down to read two articles from 1992 that were printed in Treasure Coast Newspapers about the Mary Ellen Wise case. "I talked with a forensic expert, and he said it's possible that DNA could still be found in the car," Farless said. "The car was inspected in 1992, but we could still find DNA material in the car. And there's new technology we have now that we'd didn't in 1992." He's taking that long shot opportunity to solve the homicide of Wise, who was kidnapped on the morning of Nov. 2, 1992. The assailant confronted her inside her home in the 800 block of 23rd Place Southwest in Vero Beach. He forced her to drive to a bank in Melbourne, then back to Indian River County to take money out of the now defunct-Bank of Vero, Farless said. Wise used the far lanes of the drive-thru lanes, where tellers told investigators at the time they didn't notice anyone else with her. Wise was found dead one week later in a field near Angle Road, west of King's Highway in St. Lucie County, Farless said. The car was abandoned outside a bar on Indian River Drive near Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce, he said. Article originally published Nov. 5, 1992: Vero woman is reported as missing VERO BEACH  Detectives from the Indian River County Sheriffs Office are investigating the disappearance of a 39-year-old woman from the Vero Highlands subdivision. Mary Ellen Wise, 805 23rd Place SW, was reported missing by her live-in boyfriend, John Matranga, 31, at 11 p.m. Monday, reports said. Matranga said he saw her at 7:20 a.m. Monday before going to work at Florida Shutters, he said. When he returned home at 5:20 p.m., she was gone. Her car, a 1991 red Honda CRX, and her purse were missing. Matranga reportedly found a torn red robe, which he had never seen before, in the mailbox across from their house. Investigators found blood on the garage floor, said spokeswoman Theresa Woodson. They are testing to see if it is human blood. Investigators discovered banking transactions Tuesday afternoon indicating that Wises disappearance may not have been voluntary. Wise is described as a white female with blonde hair, 5-feet-3-inches, 150 pounds, who sometimes wears glasses. Article originally published Nov. 11, 1992: Body is missing woman FORT PIERCE  Investigators on Tuesday identified the decomposed body of a woman found Sunday in woods west of Fort Pierce as that of the Vero Beach woman reported missing a week ago. Mary Ellen Wise, 39, probably was killed either Nov. 2 or 3 when she was struck in the head with an unknown object, sheriffs officials said. Officials identified Wise through dental records and injuries she received from a car accident several years ago. Wises live-in boyfriend, John Matranga, reported her missing the night of Nov. 2 after not hearing from her since leaving for work that morning. A Fort Pierce man found Wises body Sunday in a wooded area off Angle Road. At a news conference Tuesday in Fort Pierce, investigators from the St. Lucie County and Indian River County sheriffs offices said they have more questions than answers in Wises death. Theres no way to tell if this is something random or something otherwise, said Detective Larry Smetzer of Indian River County. We have half a dozen theories, any one of them plausible. Investigators re-searched Wise home in the Vero Highlands subdivision Monday night, including the garage where a small pool of blood was found. Officials said the blood was from Wise. The woman, who detectives described as friendly, outgoing and sensible, made two withdrawals from her bank account the day she was reported missing: one from an automatic teller in Melbourne at 11:46 a.m. and another from a drive-through at a Vero Beach bank at 1:30 p.m. Although she was the only one seen during both withdrawals, the teller for the drive-through transaction remembered Wise because of the amount of the check and that it was made out to cash, Smetzer said. Investigators declined to say anything further about those transactions. Wise red 1990 Honda CRX was found by Fort Pierce police Wednesday in the parking lot of the Ramp Raw Bar & Diner on Seaway Drive, where it had been sitting for about a day, St. Lucie County Sheriffs Lt. Robert Miller said. Officials said they found physical evidence in and about the car but would not elaborate. Smetzer said Wise received a monthly payment from a settlement she got from a car accident in the early 1980s. It was not a lot of money, he said, and investigators have no motive for the killing.
By Melissa E. Holsman of TCPalm

STUART  Federal authorities arrested a former The Grace Place youth pastor Monday in Ocala on a charge of enticing a minor to engage in a sexual relationship.

Jeffrey Brian Mobley, 24, of Ocala, was in court before a federal judge Monday during a first appearance, where he was informed of the charges against him.

In a seven-page complaint, Mobley is accused of coercion or enticement of a minor by using his position as a youth pastor to persuade a 14-year-old girl into having sex on several occasions at his former Stuart home and at a Stuart hotel.

Mobley was ordered to be held without bond pending the results of a detention hearing and preliminary examination at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Ocala. The judge also assigned Mobley a public defender.

If convicted, Mobley faces a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and the requirement he register as a sex offender, according to a news release sent Monday evening by the Department of Justice.

The complaint, unsealed Monday, accused Mobley of having another sexual relationship with a girl when she was 16 and 17 years old. Shes now 18.

The Martin County Sheriffs Office was alerted to the case in September by the 14-year-old girls mother, records show, nine months after Mobley quit his youth pastor position at The Grace Place.

Senior Pastor Rick Addison, who has been with The Grace Place for 22 years, said he didnt know about the investigation or charge until Monday. He said Mobley, who came to the church in 2013 from Findlay, Ohio, showed no signs of inappropriate sexual behavior with minors while there.

Mobley left the church in mid-December, Addison said, to get married and move to Ocala with his bride.

There was nothing in Mr. Mobleys behaviors that would have evidenced this kind of alleged misconduct going on, Addison said Monday. The church understands we werent turning a blind eye to something that was obviously going on.

Mobley passed the churchs background check, Addison said, adding there was nothing else in his past that raised any concerns before he was hired as a youth pastor.

The Martin County Sheriffs Office was alerted by the 14-year-old girls mother Sept. 25 after she became suspicious when her daughter skipped school without permission on Sept. 17.

The mother read the girls journal of that day, which detailed events of Mobley picking her up from school and taking her off campus without the parents knowledge, according to the criminal complaint.

The girl also discussed going to a motel room and drinking beer with Mobley.

Detectives discovered Mobley and the girl were using a Twitter account and direct messages to exchange nude pictures with each other. Mobley also emailed the girl videos of the two having sex at his home, according to the complaint.

Last Tuesday, the 18-year-old girl who was part of The Grace Places youth program told investigators she, too, spent time drinking beer and having sex with Mobley at his home on Grafton Avenue in Stuart. She said hed pick her up from school and take her to his home to have sex.

Martin Sheriff Will Snyder said the two girls may not be the only alleged victims.

I have intimate knowledge of the case and we are aware of the possibility of another victim, said Snyder, without elaborating.

It appears to be a classic case of somebody who has legitimate authority and using it for illegitimate purpose. Unfortunately its not uncommon to find people who have positions of authority over young people to use that position improperly. Weve seen it in many areas  and they use that in this despicable way.

Addison said the church was deeply saddened about the illegal sexual allegations against Mobley.

Anyone who attends The Grace Place consistently knows that we adhere very strongly to the biblical guidelines for sexual relationships, and do not in any way condone, approve nor excuse the alleged actions, Addison said. Our primary concern is the lifelong affect that Mr. Mobleys alleged actions will have on the young ladies involved. And our concern rests primarily in making sure we can do everything we can to facilitate their emotional, relational and spiritual healing.
By Paul Ivice, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers

FORT PIERCE  The owner and an employee of the company that fumigated the Palm City home in which 10-year-old Peyton McCaughey was poisoned each were sentenced Thursday to one year in federal prison.

Grenale Williams, 53, the owner of Sunland Pest Control Services Inc., the West Palm Beach subcontractor that performed the fumigation, and Canarie Deon Curry, 40, who was pest technician with Sunland, each pleaded guilty March 10 to one count of using chemicals improperly.

U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez said that one year was the maximum sentence for the charge, a misdemeanor, but indicated they could have faced more severe penalties.

Martinez set a hearing on restitution for Aug. 8 for claims any victims may file in the next 30 days.

"The government agreeing (to charge only the one misdemeanor count) is the only reason you're getting one year," Martinez said.

He said other potential charges had been filed and "had you gone to trial and the government proved the underlying facts, you'd be facing a lot more than a year."

Both men asked to be allowed to surrender on June 1, but Martinez ordered them taken into custody immediately.

Martinez also gave the corporation, Sunland Pest Control, which is now defunct, the maximum sentence of a five-year probation.

The sentences for the two men and the corporation are followed by a period of supervised release matching the length of the sentence.

Martinez also agreed to a request by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi Mazer that if the men return to working with pesticides during their supervised release they must complete enhanced education and training beyond the required state certification.

In a statement to the court, Williams expressed his "deepest apologies to the family" and said he met with Peyton's father during a deposition for the civil lawsuit Carl and Lori Ann McCaughey filed in September against Terminix International Co. and Sunland Pest Control.

Williams said he wanted to apologize earlier, but was advised by his attorney not to say anything while the civil suit is pending.

Sunland failed to have two people trained in the use of restricted use pesticides; failed to properly aerate the fumigated space, including opening the garage door; and failed to conduct a required clearance of air with an approved and properly calibrated detection device in the three-bedroom home in the 1400 block of Naomi Street in Palm City where the McCaugheys lived, Mazer said.

Though the investigation by Florida's Department of Agriculture into the fumigation at the McCaughey home determined that Sunland Pest Control used the restricted-use pesticide Zythor instead of Vikane, which it had been directed by Terminix to use, Mazer said the outcome would have been the same regardless of which chemical was used.

Court documents show that Sunland Pest Control's access to Vikane had been suspended by Dow Chemical because of debts owed.

Peyton is undergoing intense physical therapy to regain motor skills he lost after exposure to the pesticides.

OTHER COVERAGE
Blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee caused green foam 7-10 inches high on the shore Wednesday near the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam, according to Kenny Hinkle Jr., president of the activist group BullSugar.org. (KENNY HINKLE JR./CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

By Tyler Treadway of TCPalm

A possibly toxic blue-green algae bloom is not enough of a concern for federal officials to stop Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River.

"No agencies are saying it poses a threat," Army Corps of Engineers spokesman John Campbell said Thursday.

The agency is still awaiting lab tests to determine whether the bloom is toxic, and some local activists say it already has entered the St. Lucie Canal.

MORE | Is Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae bloom a toxic threat to St. Lucie River?

Social media: Residents react to blue-green algae bloom in Lake Okeechobee

The lake's level remains a concern, Campbell said. Its elevation was 13 feet, 9 7/8 inches Thursday morning, less than half a foot higher than the average lake level for May 12. The corps wants it to be at 12 feet, 6 inches by June 1, the start of the summer rainy season.

Discharges will remain at their current level until at least May 20: a daily average of 420 million gallons that's a mix of lake water and stormwater runoff from western Martin County farmland.

Follow our Lake Okeechobee discharge meter for daily updates.

The bloom stretches over 33 square miles in the southern end of the lake, Terri Bates, water resources director for the South Florida Water Management District, told the district board Thursday.

District staffers took water samples and sent them Wednesday to the state Health Department.

WHERE IS IT?

The algae had come out of the lake, through the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam and into the C-44 (St. Lucie) Canal Wednesday afternoon, a member of a lagoon activist organization claimed.

"There was a green foam 7 to 10 inches high around the edge of the water just below the dam," said Kenny Hinkle Jr., BullSugar.org president. "You could also see blue-green algae in the water in the pool below the dam and also in the C-44 heading downstream."

The shoreline was still green Thursday morning, Hinkle said, but algae was no longer visible in the water.

"There was a west wind Wednesday that must have blown it to the dam," Hinkle said, "and there was an east wind Thursday that must have dispersed it."

A sample of the algae "sure looks like microcystis," said Mark Perry, executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society. Microcystis is a type of blue-green algae that can contains toxins that cause nausea and vomiting if ingested and rash or hay fever symptoms if touched or inhaled. Drinking water with the toxins can cause long-term liver disease.

Recent research has linked a toxin in blue-green algae that can trigger neurological diseases such as Parkinson's. Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease.

Conditions in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, where lake water enters the estuary, are prime for algae blooms: barely any salinity, lots of nutrients in the lake water and water temperatures in the mid-80s.

Since discharges started Jan. 30, more than 110 billion gallons of lake water have been dumped into the St. Lucie River.
Patrick Murphy thanks supporters in November 2012. (TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS FILE PHOTO)

By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and his parents are inextricably linked to a California man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to reimbursing family and friends for their donations to his son's congressional campaign  a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

The Murphys are not involved in that criminal case, but their connections to Babulal Bera and son U.S. Rep. Ami Bera smack of legally skirting donation limits  whether intentional or not  by essentially swapping maximum amounts.

The Murphys and Beras donated $5,200 to their own sons' campaigns in 2013, the maximum allowable amount at the time. About a month later, Murphy's mother, Leslie, contributed $5,200 to Bera's campaign, and 14 days later each of Bera's parents donated $5,200 to Murphy's campaign, federal records show.

Former federal elections officials said the donations to Murphy's 2014 re-election and 2016 bid for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's seat are legal, but Republicans have accused him of skirting campaign contribution caps.

"These are baseless attacks and just another desperate attempt by Republican Super PACs who want nothing more than to distract from the issues that matter to Florida voters," Murphy campaign spokeswoman Galia Slayen said via email Thursday, adding Babulal Bera did not arrange a swap.

Babulal Bera also donated $5,000 to Murphy last year, without his parents making a corresponding donation to Ami Bera.

Still, Murphy donated Babulal Bera's $10,200 to three nonprofits  Renewal Coalition, Big Bend Homeless Coalition and government watchdog Common Cause Florida  his campaign announced Thursday, one day after Treasure Coast Newspapers asked about the donations. Murphy is not returning the $5,200 from Bera's mother, who wasn't prosecuted.

Babulal Bera could face up to 30 months in prison for the fully or partially reimbursed donations to his son's campaigns in 2009 and 2011.

OTHER DONATIONS

Murphy has benefited from at least one other such corresponding donation from the father of a Pennsylvania House candidate. In 2013, Robert Strouse donated $5,200 to Murphy; four days later, Murphy's father, Thomas, donated $5,200 to Kevin Strouse's failed campaign.

Incidentally, the Beras and Strouses donated $5,200 to each other's sons' campaigns two days apart that same year.

It's not illegal "for one to agree to contribute to a campaign based on an understanding that another person will contribute to a campaign of your choice," said Kenneth A. Gross, former associate general counsel of the Federal Election Commission. But it's a "creative" way to exceed donation limits, said former commission Chairman Michael Toner.

"It's creative in a sense they are trying to broaden the number of people who can give" to a campaign, Toner said.

Per policy, commission spokeswoman Judith Ingram would not say Thursday whether the agency is investigating Murphy's donations, as was requested in November by Doug Head, a former Orange County Democratic Party chairman. Head donated to the Senate campaign of Murphy's primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando.

In an unrelated case, the GOP-aligned group Senate Leadership Fund is urging Murphy to return a $100,000 donation made to a pro-Murphy super PAC in 2012 by a friend who pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife in 2014, according to political news website The Hill. Murphy gave anti-domestic violence groups the $16,400 that same friend donated to his campaign.

Murphy also donated $1,000 he received from All Aboard Florida's parent company in 2013 to Florida Not All Aboard, a group that opposes the high-speed trains.
SHARE The original artist rendering of the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans Nursing Home in Tradition. The federal government changed its requirements for such facilities after this version of the project was approved. The new version will cost $58.9 million, instead of the originally projected $39 million. Al Carter, deputy director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, addresses the audience inside the Tradition Town Hall in Port St. Lucie about the history and overview of the site selection process on April 8, 2015 for the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home during a preliminary design meeting. (FILE PHOTO)

By Editorial Board

Building Florida's seventh state veterans nursing home  this one in Tradition  is proving to be no easy task.

State veterans affairs' and Treasure Coast officials have been forced to navigate several bureaucratic challenges, including federal guidelines that mysteriously morphed into requirements and failed attempts to resolve outstanding issues with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Despite these challenges, Florida and Treasure Coast officials remain optimistic the 120-bed Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home in Tradition will become a reality.

"The nursing home is not in danger," said Glenn Henderson, project coordinator for St. Lucie County. "It has encountered a setback, but we are fully confident it will be constructed."

For the sake of veterans throughout our region, local, state and federal officials need to facilitate the completion of this project.

Failure is not an option.

The proposed facility would serve veterans living in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee and Highlands counties, as well as those in portions of six neighboring counties. The service area is home to more than 211,000 veterans, almost half of whom are 65 and older, according to federal officials.

Until recently, the project appeared to be a foregone conclusion. The state had agreed to pay 35 percent of the $39 million cost, with the remainder coming from the federal government. Construction on the facility  on the south side of Southwest Tradition Parkway, across from the Brennity at Tradition retirement community  was set to begin in January and be completed by 2018.

But then, project proponents encountered a bureaucratic twist that forced them to scramble to keep the project moving forward.

In short, the rules changed.

In June 2011, about the same time the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs applied for federal grants to build four veterans nursing homes in the Sunshine State, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released its "Design Guide for Community Living Centers."

Unlike a conventional veterans nursing home, which state VA officials had planned to build in Tradition, "community living centers" are more compartmentalized. They consist of buildings with 10 to 12 single-resident bedrooms,"with full baths, and all the common areas necessary to accommodate the residents in a residential environment," according to the guide.

Community living centers also are more expensive to build, staff and maintain.

Under the new model, the construction cost for the Tradition facility jumped from $39 million to $58.9 million.

Here's the bureaucratic twist: The design guide clearly states: "This volume is meant to be a guide, not a code or regulation."

At some point, however, the guidelines became requirements.

In one of his final official acts as executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, Col. Mike Pendergast sent a letter, dated March 3, to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald.

"It is important to note that there was no formal notification provided from the USDVA central office to indicate that from a particular date forward, any states building state veterans' nursing homes or applying for new grants would have to build them to (Community Living Centers Design Guide) standards vs. conventional nursing home standards," Pendergast wrote.

Treasure Coast Newspapers asked federal VA officials to provide documentation showing states are required to build nursing home facilities to community-living-center standards.

"There is not a separate document that was provided notifying the states of this change," Henry Huntley, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said via email. "It was information provided at a national meeting where all states had attendees present."

You'd think something this important  i.e. changing construction guidelines to requirements  would have a verifiable paper trail.

The omission suggests state officials are the victims of a bait and switch.

When state VA officials failed to receive assurances from the federal VA that the latter would cover 65 percent of the construction cost to build a conventional veterans nursing home in Tradition, state officials withdrew their original application and reapplied for a larger grant to build a community living center.

State officials were able to do this by April 15, the annual deadline for grant submissions. They should know by November if the grant has been approved. If the state receives the additional funding, construction will be delayed by a year.

It's possible Florida could lose its place in the federal pipeline following the decision to reapply for a larger grant. One factor suggests this isn't likely to happen.

Florida is considered a state of highest need with respect to caring for veterans. Based on veteran populations, Florida ranks third behind Texas and California.

"Neither Texas nor California has veterans affairs projects pending," said Col. Alfred "Al" Carter, deputy director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. "The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has told us informally we should be at the top of list for receiving approval of the grant."

Then there's the need for additional state funding.

While the 2017 Legislature will need to approve an additional $8 million for the project, this money won't come out of the general fund. Instead, "the state VA has money in its trust fund to cover the cost," Carter said.

The impasse over construction standards was a major setback for project proponents. But state VA and local officials have done yeoman's work to keep the project on track. And they are getting help from several federal lawmakers, including Reps. Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee, Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, and David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, who have reached out to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and expressed their support for the new grant application.

"When we get down to the nitty-gritty, we need to do right by the veterans," St. Lucie County Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson said. "Yes, cost is important, but our veterans deserve to have a home here."

Agreed.
At around 4 p.m. on May 9, three construction workers were buried at a drainage construction site which collapsed due to the rain in Suizhou city in central Chinas Hubei province.

To avoid secondary damage to the workers, firefighter Cai Wei excavated the debris on top of the trapped workers with bare hands, instead of using a shovel or crowbar. Though his palms and hands were severally abraded, Cai successfully rescued the three trapped workers.
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By Editorial Board

SUNNIER OUTLOOK: The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday revised estimates for Florida's 2015-16 orange crop, predicting 81.1 million boxes will be produced  up 7 percent from last month's estimate.

For Florida's faltering citrus industry, that's good news. Unfortunately, the future looks less sunny when you realize that even if the USDA's current estimate is correct, this year's crop still will be 16 percent smaller than last season's 96.9 million boxes.

A decade ago, the yield was 242 million boxes.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam cheered news of the higher estimate, but cautioned that until the citrus greening disease that's decimated the industry can be halted or slowed, "we're witnessing the not-so-slow decline of Florida's signature crop."
State workers take down a Confederate national flag on the grounds of the state Capitol on June 24, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley ordered Confederate flags taken down from a monument at the state Capitol. (AP Photo/Martin Swant)

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By Jeffrey Berger

Our country is unique in practicing the most liberal form of free speech in the world. Yet the right to free speech is by no means absolute. With freedom comes responsibility.

Civil and criminal laws govern our conduct. The right to free speech does not include fraud, imminent incitement, perjury, theft of intellectual property, sedition, slander, smut or breaches of national security.

European nations guarantee free speech with a few notable exceptions. Invasions of privacy, hate speech against ethnic or racial minorities, any infringement of human rights and Holocaust denial are prohibited and punishable by law.

In America, bigots may denigrate any nationality or minority group with impunity. Holocaust denial  no matter how repugnant  is legal. There is no express right to privacy in our Constitution.

Political speech removes many constraints imposed by civil law. Appeals to prejudice. Character assassination. Deception. Defamation. Racism. The derogation of women and disabled people. Bombast and vulgarity have become standard operating procedure.

In America of 2016, political discourse has devolved to the point where no smear goes to waste.

Cyberspace is the most lawless place of all. Anonymous trolls will commandeer online discussions. Scammers will spam your email box with cons and malware. Hackers seek ways to steal your identity. Bullies have driven vulnerable teenagers to suicide. Everywhere in cyberspace, there are predators and stalkers, sadists and sociopaths.

Years ago, Kathy Sierra, a popular author of computer books, was forced to cancel all public appearances after a group of men  calling themselves the "Mean Kids"  threatened her with gang rape, violence and death.

Last month, Illma Gore, a Los Angeles-based artist, received thousands of death threats after her controversial portrait of Donald Trump went viral on the Internet. Early this month, she reported she was ambushed and savagely beaten by an unknown assailant.

Last month, Marcus Owens, an honor student at the University of Iowa, was assaulted by three white men yelling racial epithets. He sustained multiple injuries including deep gashes, broken teeth and a damaged eye socket, news outlets in Iowa reported.

Intimidation is not free speech when minorities, women and other targeted groups are menaced in their homes and forced to live in fear. Negative stereotypes create toxic environments that compromise the human rights of innocent people.

In every community, there are unhinged hotheads hooked on adrenaline who will lash out in anger, often without provocation. Taunts and threats serve only one purpose: to manipulate and dominate those whom they hate and condemn them to silence. Here is a point to keep in mind: Any threat of assault is tantamount to real assault  and the province of law enforcement.

No community is immune to controversy. In March, students at the Freshman Learning Center in Vero Beach distributed a racist flier with a Confederate flag. The Indian River County School Board rejected calls to ban the flag and amend the School Code of Conduct.

"We can't legislate morality," claimed Superintendent Mark Rendell.

Yes, we can. Rendell and the School Board used bad faith arguments to kick the perennial can down the road. Thousands of years of human history  from Hammurabi and Moses to the present  teach this lesson: Codes and commandments are the oldest forms of behavioral modification.

How can a symbol of racial hatred and persecution engender a positive and safe learning experience? It can't. After the murder of nine parishioners in Charleston last year, the South Carolina Legislature voted overwhelmingly to remove the Confederate flag from state grounds. In contrast, our local officials chose moral cowardice.

With each passing year, we drive all standards of civility and honesty further into a savage wilderness. We equate freedom with excess and excess with freedom.

We covet freedom but spurn responsibility. Reckless rhetoric and sleazy sound bites are the signature traits of demagogues who abuse the institutions of democracy and undermine democracy itself.

As parents, citizens and voters, we have a mutually shared responsibility to raise the standards of public discourse. We can start by making better choices.

Jeffrey Berger is a documentary filmmaker and journalist who is retired and living in Vero Beach.
Gov. Rick Scott flanked by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, (left) and Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, makes his way to the podium to deliver his State of the State address on the first day of session Jan. 12 in Tallahassee. (AP File Photo/Steve Cannon)

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By Paula Dockery

The biggest story of Florida's 2016 legislative session was Gov. Rick Scott's failure to get passage of his top priority  a $250 million pot of money to lure businesses to the state to boost Florida's job numbers and to reach the 1.7 million jobs Scott promised in his first campaign.

There are many fascinating facets to this defeat:

The Legislature, controlled by Republicans, denied the Republican governor his top funding issue.

The incoming Florida House speaker, Richard Corcoran, who has been a close ally of Scott's during and before his time in the House, was the major force in nixing his quarter-billion-dollar incentive pot, calling it corporate welfare.

Gov. Scott, in his sixth year, still hasn't developed a good working relationship with the Legislature or a strategy for pushing through his top priorities using the power bestowed on the office.

Enterprise Florida, the public-private partnership started 20 years ago by Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, was celebrating what it perceived to be a few high-profile victories in luring businesses to Florida, including the Hertz Corp. and the Navy Federal Credit Union.

The state had a sizable increase in projected revenue over last year, when Scott received about half of the $85 million he requested for Enterprise Florida's Quick Closing Action Fund. This year he received none of the $250 million requested.

Enterprise Florida's 64-member board  appointed by Scott and comprised of heads of major corporations  reached out to legislators for the funding, along with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, to no avail.

One conservative group led the opposition to using taxpayer dollars for the closing fund. The group  Americans for Prosperity  aggressively campaigned against government waste and what it called "corporate giveaways." Many House Republicans heeded its call.

The state Senate  often on the outs with Gov. Scott  was willing to partially fund his request, but the House  more often his ally  refused any funding.

Gov. Scott blamed the Legislature for killing Enterprise Florida by not pouring money into its recruitment fund and he warned that thousands of potential jobs would be lost.

But where was the action?

For a guy who based his entire campaign on creating jobs, who branded himself the "Jobs Governor" and who answers every question regardless of the topic with "jobs," he really didn't put up a fight.

As governor, Scott has the power to veto bills, line items in the budget or the entire budget. He also has the ability to call the Legislature back for a special session. But, on this  his top priority  he did nothing.

Prior to session, Scott embarked on a bus tour and ran TV ads to sell his $250 million taxpayer-funded job recruitment tool and his plan for $1 billion in tax cuts  mostly for businesses. Scott funded this campaign with money raised by his political committee, Let's Get to Work.

Was it more about campaigning for it than really getting it?

To be clear, Enterprise Florida still exists. Influential people still serve on its board. The Legislature funded the agency for the coming year with $23.5 million for operations and most of its other programs.

After the Legislature denied Scott's $250 million in incentive funding, the dominoes started to fall.

The agency's CEO, Bill Johnson, abruptly resigned his $265,000 position.

Gov. Scott asked for staff and agency cuts.

He also called for a financial review and audit of Enterprise Florida  not a bad thing but definitely an about-face for an agency whose praises he sung.

Perhaps Scott is focusing on his next race. Is he afraid of alienating the growing number of conservatives opposed to corporate welfare?

Enterprise Florida started as a public-private partnership that was to operate with equal funding from each, but 90 percent of its funding now comes from taxpayers. The agency is based in Orlando but has offices throughout the world with 90 employees and a payroll of $9 million. Last year, the Enterprise Florida board gave out $900,000 in bonuses.

The Enterprise Florida board also spent $10 million on a Florida branding campaign with a new slogan  The Future Is Here.

Enterprise Florida's future is not so clear.

Paula Dockery is a syndicated columnist who served in the Florida Legislature for 16 years as a Republican from Lakeland. She can be reached at PBDockery@gmail.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO/ Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Palm Beach County Vice Mayor Hal Valeche unveils the LImestone Creek Historic Marker.

SHARE PROVIDED PHOTO/ Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Several former school students pose in front of the LImestone Creek Historic Marker. PROVIDED PHOTO/ Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation director Eric Call speaks on the need to interpret and teach local history.

By Bibi Baksh, PROVIDED TO THE COURIER NEWSWEEKLY

On Saturday, April 30, more than a century after the first "Jupiter Colored School" was opened in the Limestone Creek Community, residents, officials, volunteers and others gathered inside Palm Beach County's Limestone Creek Park to celebrate the installation of a marker that commemorates the community's vast history.

The ceremony centered on the strides in education in the Limestone Creek Community, the oldest African American community in the North Palm Beach area, in the past century.

School located in African Methodist Episcopal Church ...

Denied access to Jupiter's public schools by the laws of segregation, the community opened a school of their own in 1905.

The first "Jupiter Colored School" was located in the local African Methodist Episcopal Church.

"This was a community that had nothing, but they made sure their children got a decent school, good teachers," said Jamie Stuve, the CEO & President of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, in Jupiter, an organization that helps preserve "history shaped by nature" of the Loxahatchee River region.

When the 1928 hurricane destroyed the church, community member L.M. Davis donated an acre of his homestead for the construction of a new school.

The community pooled their limited resources and even built a school bus for their children. Matching funds from the Rosenwald Fund, created by Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Co, enabled the community to construct a two-room school with a kitchen, and to hire two teachers for grades one through eight.

graduating class of 1941 ...

The graduating class of 1941 raised funds to construct a sidewalk over the drainage ditch at the entrance to the school and, along with their principal, autographed the remaining concrete.

In 1956, the school was renamed the L.M. Davis Elementary School  in honor of the man who donated the land and drove the school bus.

High school students were transported 20 miles south to attend Industrial High in Riviera Beach until Jupiter public schools began to be desegregated in 1967.

'interpret it and teach it' ...

"The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department is steadfast in preserving our history, but more than just preserving it, we need to interpret it and teach it," said Eric Call, director of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, at the ceremony.

Limestone Creek Park is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department.

The department operates more than 80 regional, district, community, beach and neighborhood parks, spanning several thousand acres.

Visit pbcParks.com to learn about opportunities for healthy, happy living.

Bibi Baksh is with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.
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Google on Thursday introduced Gboard, an app that combines search with a new soft keyboard for mobile devices running iOS.

Gboard, which supports glide typing, allows users to perform searches from the keyboard without leaving the application theyre in. Once the information is found, they can paste it into their application without leaving the keyboard.

Information from searches appear as cards on the screen. With a single tap, the information on the card can be pasted into an app such as iMessage.

Searches, which are conducted by pressing the G button at the top of the keyboard, can be for more than Google search results. Users can search for emojis and gifs, too.

Gboard initially will be available only in English  although support for other languages is in the pipeline.

iOS First?

Google typically introduces cool apps on its Android platform before iOS, but thats not the case with Gboard  its available only for iOS devices.

They may be saving Gboard as part of an Android upgrade, suggested Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Google also might be trying to gain insights into iPhone users that it otherwise cant get.

Googles business model is very dependent on advertising and profile quality, noted Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy.

On iOS, Google has the least access to this, but Googles hope is that will improve with this new keyboard, he told TechNewsWorld.

More Productivity

Another possibility is that Google is making a play for increased relevance to iPhone users.

Though Gboard has some interesting mechanical features, the real power under the hood is Googles integrated search functions, which Apple is actively competing against, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Introducing Gboard first for iOS is an obvious ploy by Google to demonstrate its continuing relevance for Apple customers, he told TechNewsWorld, but its unique qualities also act as a competitive feint by providing valuable features to iPhone users that they cant get natively.

A Google spokesperson was not immediately available to comment for this story.

Third-party soft keyboard apps began to proliferate with the introduction of iOS 8.

Personal preference plays a big role in the choice of a keyboard, Tirias McGregor told TechNewsWorld.

However, all keyboards have some things in common.

Solutions like Googles Gboard and glide typing are designed to simplify and speed up common tasks. That can be a real boon when youre under time pressure or are trying to create a complex message on a keyboard of limited size, noted Pund-ITs King.

However, every one of these solutions works somewhat differently, he added, and it requires a certain amount of practice or training to become proficient.

Keyboards Here to Stay

Third-party keyboards can provide more functionality than native keyboards, like search, sharing and swiping  the ability to enter text by dragginig a finger from key to key on the keyboard, Moor Insights Moorhead acknowledged.

Many times, though, these keyboards interrupt the natural flow of how an OS was designed to work with a keyboard, he pointed out.

Because soft keyboards and small screens are a taxing combination for typists, research continues on a keyboard replacement. The most obvious candidate is speech, but that has it limitations.

Speech doesnt scale well, remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

It works fine if youre sitting in an office by yourself  but imagine a bunch of people in cubicles all trying to use speech at once, he told TechNewsWorld.

There are a myriad of different UI options that researchers and developers are looking at for the future. I think the industry should look at it as a state of and not or, suggested Moorhead.

Keyboards will continue to be important, he said, but will be augmented with voice and visual techniques.
Microsoft last week announced the acquisition ofSolair, a move to expand its global Internet of Things business.

Solairs IoT customization and deployment solutions, which are built on Microsofts Azure cloud platform, have helped a wide range of businesses improve efficiencies and profitability, according to Microsoft.

The integration of Solairs technology into the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite will continue to enhance our complete IoT offering for the enterprise, said Sam George, partner director for Azure IoT.

Solair is an important part of [Microsofts] ongoing efforts to build the intelligent cloud, Microsoft spokesperson Lenette Larson noted.

The companies are familiar with each others technology, as Solairs IoT applications are built on the Azure platform, but they did not previously work together, she told the E-Commerce Times.

Solair, which was founded in 2011, has always focused on helping customers quickly and easily gain access to the huge benefits of IoT, CEO Tom Davis said.

By building our solutions based on real customer requirements that allow them to gain real value, Im confident that Solairs technology and talent will be able to make an important contribution to Microsofts Azure IoT Suite and Microsofts broader IoT ambitions, he said.

Ready Made

The acquisition takes place amid a major push by Microsoft to expand its presence in the IoT business. In March, it introduced a series of Azure IoT Starter Kits to help developers test new devices for proof of concept and prototypes.

At its Build conference, Microsoft announced the Azure IoT Gateway SDK, which helps companies deploy legacy devices and sensors to the Azure cloud without having to replace existing infrastructure.

Solairs offering, regional focus and vertical market expertise complement Microsofts cloud-based IoT offerings, said Alfonso Velosa, IoT research VP at Gartner.

It has specific vertical element capabilities for connecting to industrial and light commercial assets that complement the overall Microsoft Azure IoT Suite. It also had experience working with Microsoft and some of its partners on projects in Europe. So it did not need to buy them, but it made sense for them to acquire them, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Solair not only gives Microsoft additional IoT software and technology, it also has a track record of success in major enterprises worldwide, said Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies.

So Solairs team gives Microsoft proven skills and practical experience in real-world IoT deployments, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Microsoft likely will continue to acquire companies in the IoT space. It has been building some of these capabilities for years, but it makes sense for it to work with partners and acquisitions such as Solair, Velosa noted.

Overall, the peer group of companies for Microsoft, such as SAP, Oracle, IBM and so forth, are all evolving their solutions at roughly the same pace. They all need to finish building out their go-to-market strategy, their vertical market solutions, and their full ecosystem that can align with customers on a global and vertical industry basis, he said.

Each of them has some pluses and minuses, but at the moment theyre all still ramping up their capabilities for the IoT market opportunity, he added.

Keep the Coffee Coming

Solair has deployed its IoT cloud-based applications to help theRancilio Group manage its coffee machines, which it sells to the hotel, restaurant and cafe sector.

The Solair IoT apps help Rancilio manage everything from managing coffee supplies to remote programming of maintenance and avoiding sales losses when the machines are not working.

In Japan, Solairs IoT platform has helped factories monitor production lines, according to Microsoft. The companys Smart Factory Advisor application has been used to help boost manufacturing capacity and optimize energy efficiency, George said.

Star Rises

Solair has developed a reputation for helping the Italian IoT market play catchup to some of its more advanced rivals in the UK and Nordic countries, Andrea Siviero, a senior research analyst at IDG, and Gabriele Roberti, research manager at IDC Italy, wrote in a February blog post.

The companys IoT applications included a suite of seven specific software modules that extrapolate value from data and provided measurable business value and insight, they wrote.

It worked with an extensive list of technology vendors that helped this IoT ecosystem work in tandem with client needs, they wrote. On the infrastructure side, it relied on Microsofts Azure platform as well as Eclipse, MultiTech and Seco. On the sales and implementation side, it worked with NTT Data, Vodafone and Altea.

One area that stood out was Solairs ability to deploy a fully operating IoT system in just two weeks, which they said was important not just for new installations, but for expanding deployment among existing clients.
An arbitration panel has been established by the International Court of Arbitration at the unilateral request of the Philippines to settle disputes in the South China Sea. However, attempts by the panel to expand and abuse their own power triggered concern from the international community.

The panel has not only neglected basic facts, it has also violated international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). By meddling in affairs beyond its jurisdiction, the panel is endangering the peace and stability of the South China Sea region. Such malicious intent is the very opposite of justice.

Some voices in the international community are now trying to justify the panel by comparing it to organizations such as the International Court of Justice and the U.N. But, in fact, the arbitration panel is nothing more than a temporary team established in response to an allegation by the Philippines.

Whats more, four of the five arbitrators are European. They do not represent global, diverse perspectives, nor do they offer the outlook of different legal systems. Four of them were appointed by Shunji Yanai, a biased Japanese former president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

During the hearing, the panel not only rejected China's historical practice in the South China Sea, they also deliberately neglected China's legal interests. Therefore, its clear that neutrality is not a priority for the temporary group. Instead, what the panel has pursued since its establishment is the expansion of power. It is well known that South China Sea disputes boil down to disagreements over territory and maritime demarcations.

However, territory issues are beyond the purview of UNCLOS, and the Chinese government made a statement of optional exception on issues related to maritime demarcation in 2006 under Article 298 of UNCLOS. As a temporary organization established on the basis of UNCLOS, the arbitration panel has absolutely no jurisdiction over the case. To settle disputes through international judicature such as arbitration is to resort to a third-party settlement method, which was long ago ruled out by both China and the Philippines.

Articles 280 and 281 of UNCLOS entitle the contracting states to independently choose a path to settle disputes. The panel has turned a blind eye to these facts. In order to break with the settlement procedures described by UNCLOS and establish their own jurisdiction, the panel willfully denied the previous consensus reached by China and the Philippines. In doing so, it has violated China's right to independently choose a means of settling disputes as a sovereign state and a contracting state of UNCLOS.

Moreover, during the arbitration process, the panel clearly abused its power. Neglecting China's claim over all the Nansha Islands, they separated what they deemed the Chinese Nansha islands and reefs from all the rest. At the same time, they said nothing about the islands and reefs illegally claimed by the Philippines, calling the issue one of legal position rather than sovereignty. In this way, they denied China's maritime interests in the region.

Some international judicial bodies abuse power for sake of their own interests, but the most common motive is to simply declare ones presence. In the case of the South China Sea arbitration panel, the motive was a kind of political provocation that went beyond just showing muscle.

China will never accept the results of the arbitration no matter what the panel decides. As a founder, vindicator and constructor of the international law that is now being violated, China has always opposed actions that provoke or intensify existing conflicts.

The misguided views of other countries will never shake China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territories, and to protect regional and international peace and stability through the proper application of international law.

The article is edited and translated from  Source: People's Daily
Google is working on a hardware product to rival Amazon's Echo personal voice assistant. The device, codenamed Chirp, will resemble the company's OnHub wireless router according to a new report from Re/code.

Sources say the device, which we first heard about earlier this year, won't make an appearance at next week's I/O developer conference, suggesting there still may be some unfinished work to complete. The goal, the publication says, is to launch the device by the end of the year.

Unlike Amazon, which had to develop its Alexa voice assistant specifically for the Echo, Google is already ahead of the curve as its Android platform has shipped with such capabilities for a while now. Moving its AI to the home, however, would be a first for the search giant.

The aforementioned OnHub router, which Google launched last summer, seemed like the perfect candidate for such functionality. The device already resembles Amazon's Echo - adding a microphone and speaker couldn't be all that difficult, one would think.

Echo has been a surprise hit for Amazon despite the potential privacy implications that come with inviting yet another always-listening device into users' lives. It arrived in late 2014 and immediately found a following among techies. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimates Amazon has already sold three million units in the US (Amazon doesn't release sales figures for its devices).

Google declined to comment on the matter.
Canadian carrier Telus will roll out Android 6.0 Marshmallow to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on May 23.

Most users are keenly waiting for the latest Android operating system to arrive on their smartphone. Many Samsung devices such as the international variant of the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge+ and more have already received the new software in many regions.

According to a Telus forum, the carrier has scheduled the Marshmallow rollout to its Galaxy Note 4 handsets.

Following the update, Galaxy Note 4 will get a new Air Command menu, which is found on the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6. Reports also suggest that Android 6.0 for Galaxy Note 4 will allow users to take notes even when the screen is off, a feature that is available on the Galaxy Note 5.

"When ideas come flowing, you want to put pen to paper right away. Simply taking out S Pen lets you do just that even when the screen is off," says Samsung.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow is packed with an array of new features such as Google Now on Tap, which gives additional information on what is displayed on the screen.

The operating system also brings some power management tools such as Doze and App Standby modes, both of which can preserve battery life.

The software update will also bring better security to the Galaxy Note 4 by allowing users to define what to share with which apps and when.

Samsung is also bundling a variety of new features with Android 6.0 Marshmallow for its Galaxy devices. The Korean company says that two of the most useful features that users can experience are Samsung Internet 4.0 and Cross App.

With Internet 4.0 users can better manage passwords, cookies, history and more. It also has a secret mode that allows users to freely use the Internet without leaving a trail of their browsing history.

Cross App can conveniently open some apps from within another app.

"For instance, while using messaging apps, users can access their photos and videos and send them to whoever they are talking to, without exiting the messaging program. They can even take new photos with the in-app camera and share them right away," says Samsung.

The Galaxy Note 4 has been one of the most popular phablets. The device is still popular, even after the launch of its successor  the Galaxy Note 5.

Owners of the Galaxy Note 4 should have a strong Wi-Fi connection and full charge to ensure seamless software update. Customers can also go to Settings > About device to check if they have received a software update. Android 6.0 Marshmallow update may weigh about 1.4 GB.

Telus' Galaxy Note 4 customers will only have to wait a few more days before they get the software update and start experiencing the new features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Photo: Karlis Dambrans | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Experts have debunked a Canadian teen's discovery of an ancient Mayan city using star maps.

To each his own, or so the famous saying goes. While teens are expected to enjoy life, party away, and be active outdoors, some opt to embark upon scientific projects that appear to be suited way beyond their age.

Such is the case of William Gadoury, 15, from Quebec. Through his great interest in ancient Mayan history, conventional technique, and modern technology, he was able to discover a forgotten Mayan city.

Many were pleased and amazed by this school boy's feat, but experts cannot come to fully believe and support the claim.

The Truth Behind The Teen's Discovery According To Experts

A few years back, Gadoury won a contest and was able to present his theory that Mayan cities were correlated with constellations. Scientists from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) noticed him and helped the teen explore more.

The agency opened its RADARSAT-2, a satellite that monitors sea ice and shipping in the country. The satellite was turned to Mexico, the location where Gadoury predicted the presence of an ancient Mayan civilization. True enough, manmade structures were detected on that spot.

Satellite imagery not only tremendously helps experts study ancient civilizations but also tames down hindrances for more scientific discoveries. One proof of its wonder is the teenager's feat. However, the images shown as per analysis were not exactly what the boy thought they were.

Experts think that the square in the images is most probably a forgotten location, and another area may be a small dry lake or remnant of what used to be a jungle.

Mayans Did Not Build Cities As Per Constellations

Experts are also not convinced that the Mayans built their settlements and cities based on constellations. Although they did have constellations, there is no full list of all of them, making the theory difficult to test.

Arcaeoastronomist Anthony Aveni says the Mayan constellations, except Scorpio, have nothing to do with the modern star maps. He adds that the bizarre features of different locations may be attributed to different parameters such as swamp mud, among others.

Regardless of the star map used, there are good chances to find a settlement in a given area. Because Maya was densely occupied during the Classic times, the place was stripped of trees, and towns were relatively close to one another.

"So at any given point you would be likely to find an archaeological site," says Susan Milbrath from the Florida Museum of Natural History.

For archaeologist Richard Hansen, the location looks very proximal to the ancient city of Uxul, but it is not really "long-lost."

More Work, Brighter Future

The outlines cannot deny that there is really something in the location. However, ground missions are necessary to validate or refute the presence of the structures in the dense area.

CSA's Daniel Delisle says the images give an array of information, but experts need to go underneath the forest canopy location to discover if there is anything in it. Nonetheless, the initial images suggest linear features that signify the presence of infrastructures underneath the vegetation.

Whatever the truth is, one thing is for sure. Gadoury has become known to the world and his work has opened up a bright future for him. In fact, the school boy has been invited to write in a scientific journal and attend national science fairs and international conferences.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The 2017 Ridgeline pickup from Honda got its design cues from the original version but took it a bit further with better styling and technological advances.

Honda also priced the latest model a bit more than the competition, confident that the new version has features that are much better compared with most other pickups available in the market.

The new Ridgeline pickup is slightly bigger than the previous generation model. Its wheelbase and overall length are now 3 inches longer. Even the pickup box has been made longer by 4 inches. However, its seating capacity has been retained and is still considered as one of the best in its class.

The Ridgeline also boasts a versatile rear seat for those who need more cargo space options.

"Fold the rear seats up to fit unwieldy items like a TV or bicycle. Even folded down, there's enough space underneath the seats to store bulky cargo," says Honda.

One unique feature is the Truck Bed Audio System which turns the bed into a speaker. Each bed side wall contains two weatherproof audio exciters (transducers) while the bed rear wall also has a pair inside. All in all, the system is made up of six exciters which then transmit vibrations to the bed walls, instantly turning the bed walls into resonant speakers.

The Ridgeline is powered by 3.5-liter V6 engine that comes with a 280-horsepower and 262 lb-ft torque. The two-wheel-drive model has a city driving mileage of 19 miles a gallon while highway driving is at 26 mpg and combined driving is at 22. Likewise, the all-wheel-drive configuration has 18 mpg in the city while highway and combined driving are at 25 and 21 mpg respectively.

In terms of design, Ridgeline features a unibody build as opposed to body-on-frame option which allows the pickup to save on weight and generate fewer rattles and squeaks. Moreover, it's built with independent rear suspension which allows it to exude car-like riding appeal.

The new Ridgeline model will retail at a starting price of $29,475 with additional destination charges set at $990. While it's cheaper than the previous model by $100 for the base version, it's priced higher than the Toyota Tacoma ($25,030) and the Chevrolet Colorado ($25,725).

Company spokesman Sage Marie explained that the pricing for the new Ridgeline model is attributed to its better ride, quietness, handling and safety structure compared with other pickups. The automaker expects that the latest Ridgeline version will gain a double-digit percentage of buyers in markets such as California.

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A major outbreak of yellow fever in Angola, as well as two smaller flare-ups in Congo and Uganda, are now practically under control. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to be vigilant in the event the disease erupts elsewhere as a global epidemic.

Transmitted by the same mosquito carrying the Zika virus, yellow fever is quite difficult to identify early on and yet spreads quickly. Worries involve some countries high vector densities as well as the bugs thriving in abnormal El Nino weather of the last year.

Dr. Sylvie Briand, director of the Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases of the WHO, said that yellow fever cases in Angola have reached 2,267 suspected and 696 confirmed cases as of May 9. The death toll is at 292.

She added that 90 percent of the 41 confirmed cases in Congo were from Angola, while Uganda has seven confirmed illnesses in rural areas.

What we hope is that El Nino will not be faster than we are, Briand announced at a Geneva press briefing. We are concerned for other countries that have high densities of mosquitoes.

Yellow fever has no particular treatment and proves deadly in up to 50 percent of patients who develop severe jaundice in the late stages of the condition. A vaccine provides 90 percent protection against it after 10 days, which increases to 99 percent after three months.

One injection, lifelong protection. Its the best vaccine I know, Briand said, adding that before immunization, yellow fever outbreaks delayed the Panama Canal construction and drove Napoleon to give up his planned conquests in North America.

Luanda, the capital of Angola, is now nearly 100 percent vaccinated, but this has consumed the worlds entire emergency stockpile. Briand warned that the vaccine supply may become stretched if new outbreaks strike in the months to come.

One risk of transmission is through Angolas foreign oil workers, who may take the disease home with them. Portugal and China, for instance, have strong links to the African nation.

Commenting in JAMA, Dr. Daniel Lucey and Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University urged greater WHO involvement in the stewardship of yellow fever vaccine and preventing the diseases further spread globally. They called it likely the last opportunity to make sure that the agency is empowered and well-equipped in emergency preparedness and response.

Four vaccine manufacturers currently produce 60 to 70 million doses every year, but only 6 million are allotted for emergency use. Luanda consumed 7.2 million doses.

The WHO continues to coordinate with governments at risk of yellow fever coming from southern Africa. Each year, around half a million people travel back and forth from Portugal to Angola every year, with the formers government actively pursuing vector control and enforcing traveler vaccination.

Nigeria, which suffered yellow fever deaths by the thousands in an outbreak back in the 1980s, is still deemed at risk.

For Briand, it is time to take mandatory traveler vaccination very seriously. She noted, however, that current vaccine supply is insufficient to address needs, and theres also the matter of tracking population movement and whether vaccine coverage is enough to block transmissions.

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When the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists first released the Panama Papers, it named a number of high-profile individuals from various countries with offshore accounts. Now, with more data revealed, the documents have unveiled more names, including Harry Potter star, Emma Watson.

As it is, it is not illegal to have an offshore account or company. However, the Panama Papers did shed light on how the rich and powerful are using the system to hide their wealth and reap tax advantages. Offshore accounts are supposed to be private as well, and that layer of protection makes doubly attractive.

In a statement released by Watson's representatives, they said that the actress has an offshore company set up solely for the purpose of keeping her anonymous and safe.

"Emma receives absolutely no tax or monetary advantages from this offshore company whatsoever  only privacy," they added.

Watson's representatives also said that the UK requirement to publicly disclose the companies' shareholders has already jeopardized the actress in the past, given that a lot of information is being made available to the public.

The offshore entity in question is Falling Leaves, which Watson set up in 2013. She bought a property in London a month after setting up the company in the British Virgin Islands. It is estimated that the actress' net worth is $50.5 million.

Other figures identified in the Panama Papers include: Vladimir Putin, Lionel Messi, Simon Cowell and Jackie Chan.

Watson has appeared in a number of movies through the years but is still most recognizable to people as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies. This year, she is set to star alongside Tom Hanks in The Circle and Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast as Belle. The actress did say, however, that she'd like to spend a year just reading literature and getting HeForShe off the ground. HeForShe is a UN initiative focused on gender equality.

In light of this, Watson was one of the signatories of an open letter addressed to Sadiq Khan, urging London's new mayor to erect a statue of the suffragettes in Parliament Square.

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Samsung's Galaxy Note 6, according to leakster Evan Blass, will be released in the United States on the week of August 15.

The information contradicts previous reports that the Galaxy Note 6 will be launched in July. While this timeframe could still hold true for certain markets, it seems Samsung fans in the United States will have to wait a month longer before getting their hands on the device.

Blass tweeted the claim under his @evleaks account, with his words suggesting that the actual release date could be adjusted forward a few days from August 15.

What else do we know about the highly anticipated flagship smartphone from Samsung?

High-End Specifications

A leak posted on Chinese website Weibo claimed that the Galaxy Note 6 will have a 5.8-inch QHD display with 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution, and powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 823 processor, the Adreno 530 GPU, and 6 GB of RAM.

The Snapdragon 823 is an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 820, which is currently found in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, so users can expect more processing power from the Galaxy Note 6 compared to the current flagship smartphones.

Other rumored specifications for the Galaxy Note 6 is that it will have up to 256 GB of internal storage and a 4,200 mAh battery, along with infrared focus support and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

USB Type-C

The Galaxy Note 6 will reportedly be the first Samsung smartphone to feature USB Type-C connectivity. The LG G5 and HTC 10, the latest flagship smartphones from two Samsung rivals, both offer USB Type-C connectivity, and Samsung could be the latest manufacturer to implement the new standard.

Retina Scanner

It has also been rumored that the Galaxy Note 6 will be featuring an upgrade to the fingerprint scanner technology that has been featured in the latest wave of flagship smartphones. The device is said to be packing a retina scanner, which is a camera that will scan the eyes of the person holding the Galaxy Note 6 and unlock it if the person is the owner.

Android N

The timing of the Galaxy Note 6's release will coincide with Google's planned release of the next version of its mobile operating system. Known for now simply as Android N, the upcoming OS is said to come pre-installed in the Galaxy Note 6.

Samsung has not confirmed any of the information that has been released about the Galaxy Note 6, but if all these are true, the smartphone will be a tough one to beat in the highly competitive smartphone industry.

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"You shall not pass," said Gandalf The Grey, a character in the iconic movie trilogy, Lord Of The Rings. In real life, officials warned visitors to stay away from New Zealand's "Lord Of The Rings Volcano" due to a potential eruption.

Mount Ruapehu, which is located at the Tongariro National Park in the North Island, last erupted 9 years ago. The landscape was immortalized in director Peter Jackson's trilogy as the wasteland of Mordor.

New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) issued a warning asking trekkers to steer clear of the Summit Hazard Zone, which is located within 2 kilometers of the Crater Lake's center.

The GNS Science raised the Volcanic Alert Level to 2, which lifted it from "moderate to heightened unrest" due to increased activity.

Since mid-April, the lake's temperature increased to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) from 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahreinheit).

"There are more signs of life at the volcano," said volcanologist Brad Scott.

Thousands of people cross the popular "Tongariro Crossing" each year, which is a 20-kilometer (12-mile) passage that allows people to pass three volcanoes near the area.

"We recommend climbers, trampers and walkers do not enter the zone. Guiding companies should also heed the advice and not take people into the zone," said DOC Operations Manager for Tongariro Paul Carr.

Dr. Harry Keys from DOC's Technical Advisor Volcanology added that rivers that drain the Summit Hazard Zone and Crater Lake could suddenly rise.

Keys warned that people who are walking towards the Whangaehu, Whakapapaiti, Whakapapanui and Mangaturuturu streams should be wary of any possible lahar noise from upstream and cross the streams as fast as possible.

The DOC and GNS Science are continuously monitoring the Mount Ruapehu's activity. The DOC has also informed several local government groups including the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and New Zealand Police about the situation.

Mount Ruapehu is New Zealand's biggest active volcano, which started erupting approximately 250,000 years ago. It has 3 major peaks, namely Paretetaitonga, Tahurangi, and Te Heuheu.

After it became an iconic landscape in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Mount Ruapehu quickly became a popular attraction among trekkers and movie fans alike.

Photo: Katarina Dzurekova | Flickr

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The automaker using Nikola Tesla's first name just announced its first two electric vehicles. There's a buggy with a range of roughly 125 miles per charge and a semi-electric semi-truck that can be driven from South Florida to New York without having to stop to recharge or refuel.

While Tesla Motors has been focusing on fueling consumer cars with electricity, Nikola Motor Company, now out of stealth mode, has been designing its electric semi-truck.

The Nikola One, as the electric semi-truck is called, is still just a concept. But what a compelling concept the commercial transport vehicle may be, if Nikola Motor Company can push to production a final version with its specs.

The electric semi-truck has a range of up to 800 to 1,200 miles on a single charge of its 320 kWh battery, which Nikola Motor Company estimates comes at half the cost of the fuel needed to power a diesel engine given that distance.

The One's flat-out ridiculous range is attributed to a turbine and regenerative braking, which restore some of the battery's charge while the truck is being driven. The turbine isn't electric, however, and requires either gasoline, natural gas, or diesel to run.

"The turbine outputs nearly 400 kilowatts (kW) of clean energy straight to the batteries, keeping them charged  a powerhouse unlike any the world has seen before," the company states. "This proprietary turbine has the ability to turn on and off within seconds  another first in the transportation industry."

Under load, the electric semi-truck can go from zero to 60 miles per hour (mph) in under 30 seconds. Its top speed for driving uphill is 65 mph.

The Nikola One's fact sheet may sound like fiction to some, but Nikola Motor Company Founder and CEO Trevor Milton asserts that he and his company have been quietly collaborating with some of the U.S.' brightest minds to "design vehicles that have previously been thought impossible to design."

"Nikola has built the truck of the future and will hold that title for quite some time," Milton says.

The Nikola Motor Company hopes to show off prototypes of the One and the Zero UTV later this year. The One's MSRPs will range from $350,000 to $415,000 and the Zero has been priced at $42,000.

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The case of a criminal gang kidnapping a man from north Chinas Shanxi province has attracted a lot of attention. Shanxi police announced on Thursday that the two kidnappers had been shot dead and the hostage had been saved.

The kidnapped man, surnamed Zan, is the chairman of the board of a company in Datong, Shanxi province. He was kidnapped on his way to work on Tuesday morning. Soon after, the kidnappers demanded a $20 million ransom.

Over 500 policemen were assigned to deal with the case, and it took them over 10 hours to find the suspects. After a gun fight, the hostage was rescued and the two suspects were declared dead. Two vehicles, two pistols, four clips and 31 bullets were also recovered. The case is still under investigation.
Payless pulled out from its shelves the "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" light-up shoes following a report that it may cause fire to break out.

Attila and Jovan Virag from Texas complained over the weekend that the light-up sneakers they bought for their 2-year-old son from Payless caught fire. As a result, the Payless ShoeSource Inc. has removed the said shoes from its stores.

Jovan said the pair of sneakers was left in the backseat of their car overnight. The next morning, they discovered that the backseat was on fire. They believe that the shoes caused the fire because, Jovan said, there was nothing else in the car but the shoes and some clothes.

Jovan expressed relief that the fire did not happen when her son was wearing the sneakers because the toddler would not be able to complain or remove the shoes in case it was getting hot on his feet.

Attila opened the remaining shoe and found that lithium batteries are used to light up the shoes. Lithium batteries have caused several fires in the past, including the e-cigarette that exploded in a teenager's face and caused blindness.

Following the report, Payless released a statement about the incident citing how important customer safety is for them and that they are removing the product from their stores, including their online shop.

"We are continuing to work with the family and local authorities in Houston to better understand the circumstances of the car fire and what may have caused it," Payless said in a statement.

The Harris County Fire Marshall's office is presently investigating the case to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The Jake and the Never Land Pirates shoes are mainly sold in North America, but are also being sold at Payless Australia and Payless.com.

Photo: Nicholas Eckhart | Flickr

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The massive hunt for Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, both 14, launched last July when they set out on a fishing trip off the coast of Florida and never returned. Their boat supposedly capsized, and their families have been looking for them ever since.

Now, Stephanos' iPhone has been recovered, but Apple told the family on May 10 that data could not be restored.

A Norwegian supply ship discovered the boys' boat off the coast of Bermuda back in March. The phone was still on the boat, and it was eventually given back to the Stephanos family. A team of engineers at Apple was asked to extract information from the device. However, the family was just informed that the phone could not be effectively restored.

Despite the recent news, Blu Stephanos is not giving up. The father of Austin Stephanos is going to push for further testing on the phone in hopes of learning what may have happened to the two boys.

The iPhone had been submerged in seawater for approximately eight months. Stephanos said in a statement that he truly believes Apple's team of engineers did everything they could to get the phone working again, and thanked them for their help. The iPhone is in several pieces, according to the Stephanos family attorney Michael Pike. Testing required the engineers to dissemble it in order to run diagnostics.

The Stephanos and Cohen families were hoping to find information such as photos, emails, text messages or last-known GPS data from the iPhone. Although Apple was not able to successfully reboot the phone, it claims that there may be other experts in the field who could continue its work. The company has offered to hand off the iPhone to another tech expert if the families can agree on one to help.

The capsized boat was initially seen two days after the boys disappeared around Daytona Beach, but drifted out to sea. It didn't resurface until March 18 when it was spotted off the coast of Bermuda.

Initially, the discovery of the phone prompted the Cohen family to file a lawsuit against the Stephanos family and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They wanted the phone to be examined to determine where the boys were before they disappeared. The two families eventually settled on letting Apple handle the matter.

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In an interview with CNBC on May 11, Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that, through discussions with tech innovators, he has identified brewing tension between Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley. Now, he is calling for change within the government to address these issues.

Carter stated on CNBC's Power Lunch that Silicon Valley perceives the government is "slow," and therefore, challenging to work with on all things tech. He perceived this as a signal to initiate change within the government in an attempt to "stay agile." Carter also specified the need to compete with those around the world who intend to harm the U.S.

"We've got to be the best because we're protecting the greatest country on Earth," Carter said on the news program.

While speaking to a group of reporters on May 11, Carter gave a prime example of the government's move to use more tech, citing electronic techniques used by U.S.-led coalitions to disrupt jihadist forces. At the event, he noted that these tactics could potentially be used by other U.S.-led efforts against the Islamic State in various countries.

The U.S. Secretaries of Homeland Security and Commerce were also present at the news brief, which was held at the headquarters of the Intel Corporation. Carter continued to speak about the government's tech efforts, announcing an expansion of the Pentagon's technology innovation unit. A new facility will be constructed in Boston, and a recruiter will be hired to bring in tech company leaders.

The over-arching goal is to recruit more innovative tech experts for the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental. The DIUx was initially formed to strengthen relationships with tech innovators and Silicon Valley. Over time, participants will work on scouting breakthrough and emerging technologies that could potentially help the Department of Defense. Reserve Military Lead Doug Beck, Army Lead Karl Gossett, and U.S. Cybercom Lead Ernie Bio are just some of the many individuals leading the DIUx team, which is made up of about 20 experts.

At the event held at Intel, tech and security company officials expressed hope that the government would hasten the adoption of private-sector innovation, specifically in the areas of robotics and machine learning.

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Decades ago, in the ancient land of the mid-1990s, a little company called Konami released a game called TMNT IV: Turtles in Time.

It was not the first of its kind, nor would it be the last  but for years to come, it would be touted as the greatest side-scrolling beat-em-up ever released. Everything  from the controls to the graphics to the litany of classic characters  was perfect.

Gamers hoped that something would come along and capture that lightning in a bottle a second time. Unfortunately, such a game never came to be: even when Turtles in Time was remastered back in 2009, Ubisoft failed to recreate that same magic. Over the course of the past few decades, TMNT games have only gotten worse  for many, the newer games are nothing but licensed attempts to capitalize on nostalgia.

There is hope, however: Platinum Games, the studio behind series like Bayonetta and Vanquish, are currently hard at work on TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan. More-so than any other game before it, Mutants in Manhattan has the potential to surpass Turtles in Time  and if the recently-released gameplay trailers are any indication, Platinum Games might be able to do just that.

To be frank, it's been a long time since there's been a TMNT game worth caring about. As previously mentioned, even Ubisoft's Turtles in Time was a flop  what was once a fun, vibrant, light-hearted game became a drab mess with terrible controls.

Thankfully, Platinum Games doesn't seem to care about revisiting the past: instead, the studio has created a game in the same vein as classic TMNT games while simultaneously bringing the series to modern gaming. From the looks of things, Mutants in Manhattan is the best of both 3D action games and classic side-scrolling beat-em-ups ... and that's just the sort of game for which fans have been begging.

Trailers are just the tip of the iceberg, though: until gamers actually get their hands on it, there's no telling if Mutants in Manhattan will actually be worth playing. Sure, the visual style is great, and it seems to play off the same over-the-top tone of the TV series, but it could still end up as a repetitive slog of a game.

Hopefully, that won't be the case.

TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan is due out on May 24.

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Although the fate of Eren, Mikasa, Armin and others hangs in the balance, Attack on Titan fans might not find out what happens next to these beloved characters for at least another year.

Although the anime series' second season was originally slated for 2016, it now seems that it won't be released until 2017.

SelectaVision, a home video and streaming distributor, recently stated that season two in 2016 just won't happen. Also, an interview with Mission Tokyo, as well as a Facebook comment, suggests that Attack on Titan manga publisher Kodansha has confirmed that season two will not arrive this year. SelectaVision, though, does put the release in 2017, hopefully in January.

So what's the reason for the holdup on the new season? It seems that the series doesn't want to jump ahead of the manga, which hasn't released enough new material for a full season of the anime. Although the anime could proceed with an original story line separate from the manga, it seems that Kodansha doesn't want that.

There are also rumors that the manga is getting close to the climax of the series, with recent issues having Eren attempting to take down the Colossal Titan by himself. This could serve as an important story arc in the anime, as well, so waiting is possibly a good idea.

Fans of the anime, though, probably won't be happy with this latest delay. The first season of the anime series aired in Japan in 2013, meaning that a new season won't appear until four years after that. Considering most television series get a new season every year, will fans get tired of waiting?

Attack on Titan tells the story of a future world where gigantic humanoid Titans have taken over Earth, forcing the rest of humanity to live in walled cities. But the Titans have started attacking the walls and the people living in those cities, so it's up to an elite group of soldiers to defeat them and protect their kind at all costs. The manga and anime series also inspired a series of live-action movies that were released last year, as well as several video game adaptations.

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The BBC asks, Should governments step in to regulate work emails and so rescue harassed staff from the perils of digital burnout? France will actually soon vote for or against a measure that will give employees the right to disconnect, as the BBC puts it.

Suddenly, I want to be a French citizen. Even if the vote is not passed, I want to live in a country that recognises that we need offline time  at least, offline from work communication.

Again from the BBC, the French government says the problem of permanent connection is universal and growing  and that intervention is needed. The proposal, roughly speaking, is that there will be a ban on e-mails in the evenings and on weekends.

Benoit Hamon, member of the Socialist Party in France, told the BBC: Employees physically leave the office, but they do not leave their work. They remain attached by a kind of electronic leash  like a dog. All cheers for candidness.

Some of you might remember the famous French 35-hour workweek, which began in 2000. Of course, it couldnt really continue that way  only seven hours a day?!  and there were soon commentators  like Adam Chandler of The Atlantic  who suggested that the truth isnt as simple as that: There are plenty of misconceptions about Frances infamous 35-hour workweek, which perhaps go uncorrected because they limit opportunities to make jokes about the French. As one French economist explained in 2014, the 35-hour standard isn't the law of the land, but simply a threshold above which overtime or rest days start to kick in.

Overall, the 35-hour workweek is so un-American, I might hold a rally against it if I were American. Why, some of us Americans work four jobs! (That woman died in 2014 as a result of her negligence combined with the fact that she had pretty much no time to sleep.)

Jokes and tragedies apart, its absolutely fantastic  at least for me, as a non-technocrat and non-bureaucrat  to see the French even considering intervention in such a seeming micro-matter as official e-mail.

Sure the French like to eat slowly and relish their cheese and wine at cafes, unlike the English who, in the majority, grab a sandwich for lunch while at their desk. But the government stepping into work-life balance? Thats something.

Digital Burnout
Anonymous hacktivist group DDoSes nine more banks in OpIcarus campaign to protest against corruption

The hacktivists collective, Anonymous had launched a 30-day operation called OpIcarus, against all central banks and major financial institutions, claiming that it would be one of the biggest attacks in its history. The hacktivist group, who have collaborated with fellow hackers Ghost Squad Attackers, are targeting bank websites worldwide.

It started with the Bank of Greece with Anonymous successfully being able to bring the website down. However, a Bank of Greece official said: The attack lasted for a few minutes and was successfully tackled by the banks security systems. The only thing that was affected by the denial-of-service attack was our website.

The hacking collective has no structured organization and members take part in different operations whenever they like. According to a YouTube video, Anonymous said that its attack on banks is an extension of Operation Icarus, a campaign the collective previously launched against Wall Street. Its now bringing it back over the next month.



In a later video, Anonymous extended its proposed targets to include MasterCard and Visa, Bank for International Settlements, all central banks, the IMF and the London Stock Exchange and every major banking system.

Our message is clear. We will not let the banks win. We will be attacking the banks with one of the most massive attacks ever seen in the history of Anonymous, the group said.

Originated in 2003, Anonymous adopted the Guy Fawkes mask as their symbol for online hacking. In a statement to AnonHQ.com, the cyber attackers said:

This is just the beginning. We wont stop until all focus is back on the banks where it belongs and all to big to jail institutions are held accountable for their crimes.

Now that we are uniting our groups, it will only be a matter of time before the whole international banking cartel who are responsible for worldwide economic terrorism, can expect to expect us.

The banks that have been attacked recently under the Operation OpIcarus include: The Central Bank of Cyprus, The Central Bank of New Zealand, Central Bank Montenegro, The Central Bank of France and the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Tthe hacktivists have posted online how-to instructions, targets, dates and downloadable tools to carry out the attacks in an effort to get as many people possible behind the campaign. DDoSing seems to be the method of choice which, in the simplest explanation, overloads a website with traffic to cause it to successfully seize up and shut down.

The last 12 months have seen two thirds of large British businesses coming under cyberattacks or breach.

Outcomes from the Cyber Security Breaches Survey, undertaken by Ipsos Mori for the Government, show a quarter of large firms experiencing a cyber breach did so at least once a month.

As a result, businesses are now been requested to better protect themselves.

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: The UK is a world-leading digital economy and this Government has made cyber security a top priority.

Too many firms are losing money, data and consumer confidence with the vast number of cyber attacks. Its absolutely crucial businesses are secure and can protect data.

It was also disclosed that seven out of 10 attacks on all firms involved viruses, spyware or malware, which could have been averted, and how only a fifth of businesses have a clear view of the dangers of sharing information with third parties.

The Government has pledged to invest 1.9billion over the next five years to confront and prevent the crime, as well as a new National Cyber Security Centre that will provide security support.

Steve Jewell, cyber security expert and technical director at S-IA, a company that provides software used by Government departments including the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence against cyber-attacks said the danger from cyber attackers continues to progress.

Mr Jewell said: The threat is growing, the threat is evolving. You need to make sure you get the best out of your protection and dont just rely on the technology.

Its also about the people that use it and their training.

In terms of organised crime, it is still on the increase but there are things companies can do to combat these threats.

There are holes in peoples security.

Its an ever-evolving threat and no-one that stands still and thinks they have something that is protecting them, it is a question of how many days that will last until something circumvents it.
Swedish court orders that ThePirateBay.Se and PirateBay.Se to be forfieted to the state

It seems like the worlds most popular torrent website will lose its iconic .se url soon. The Swedish Court of Appeal has today ruled that The Pirate Bay will have its Swedish domains confiscated. ThePirateBay.se and PirateBay.se will both be forfeited to the state. The Appeals court order effectively seals thepiratebay.se and piratebay.se fate but Pirate Bay co-founder Fredrik Neij has vowed to fight it out in the Swedish Supreme Court.

The .se ordeal for The Pirate Bay started in 2013 when anti-piracy prosecutor Fredrik Ingblad filed a motion in the Swedish lower court against Punkt SE (IIS), the organization responsible for Swedens top level .SE domain.

Ingbland argued that since The Pirate Bay is an illegal site the domains are tools used to infringe copyright and should be suspended. Ingbland also said the domain authority, IIS was also responsible for copyright infringement.

IIS thus through course of fate ended up fighting on behalf of The Pirate Bay. IIS refused to suspend The Pirate Bay .se domains till the courts decided the matter.

The case was heard in April 2015 and a month later the Stockholm District Court ruled that The Pirate Bay should forfeit both ThePirateBay.se and PirateBay.se. The District Court also fined IIS closed to $40,000 in costs however both TPB and IIS moved to appeals court against the verdict.

This morning, however, the Svea Court of Appeal handed down its decision which upholds the decision of the Stockholm District Court.

In common with the District Court ruling the Court of Appeal finds that there is a basis for confiscation since the domain names assisted crimes under the Copyright Act, the Svea Court of Appeal said in a statement.

If TPB cofounder, Neij or TPB dont move to Supreme Court against the verdict, the .se domains are set to be forfeited to the Swedish state and The Pirate Bay will have find alternative country urls.

However, speaking with TorrentFreak a few minutes ago, Neij denied that he is the owner of the domains and will file an appeal to the Supreme Court to protest.

I will appeal on the grounds that I do not own the domain and that I did not commit copyright infringement as I am not involved with the site anymore, Neij told TF.

The future of thepiratebay.se and piratebay.se will now depend solely on Neijs appeal in the Swedish Supreme Court.
Here are the top 8 websites to learn ethical hacking

Everybody wants to learn to hack in todays age. However, this is not an easy task until you have a basic knowledge of computers and network security. For beginners to know, there are two types of Hacking Ethical (White Hat) and Unethical (Black Hat). Unethical hacking is considered illegal while ethical hacking may be regarded as legal.

We provide you with a list of websites that offers you white hat content. However, it is important to note that as a beginner to not perform any hacking & cracking tactics that breach any cyber law.

Hackaday is one of the top ranked sites that provide hacking news and all kinds of tutorials for hacking and networks. It also publishes several latest articles each day with detailed description about hardware and software hacks so that beginners and hackers are aware about it. Hackaday also has a YouTube channel where it posts projects and how-to videos. It provides users mixed content like hardware hacking, signals, computer networks and etc. This site is helpful not only for hackers but also for people who are in the field of Digital Forensics and Security Research.

This hacking forum allows you see the discussion on hacking and cracking. However, you need to be a member on this site to check out queries and answers regarding ethical hacking. All you need to do is register to get your ID to get an answer for your queries there. The solution to your queries will be answered by professional hackers. The Remember not to ask simple hacking tricks, the community people here are very serious.

HackThisSite.org, commonly referred to as HTS, is an online hacking and security website that gives you hacking news as well as hacking tutorials. It aims to provide users with a way to learn and practice basic and advanced hacking skills through a series of challenges, in a safe and legal environment.

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The International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a member-supported professional organization. The EC-Council is known primarily as a professional certification body. Its best-known certification is the Certified Ethical Hacker. CEH, which stands for Comprehensive Ethical Hacker provides complete ethical hacking and network security training courses to learn white hat hacking. You just have to select the hacking course package and join to get trained to become a professional ethical hacker. This site helps you to get all kinds of courses that make you a certified ethical hacker.

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As the name suggests, SecTools means security tools. This site is devoted to providing significant tricks regarding network security that you could learn to fight against the network security threats. It also offers security tools with detailed description about it.

Also read: Here is how you can learn hacking in 3 steps
Her murder occurs amid extremely violent attacks against the residents of Molleturo who are resisting illegal and legal mining. | Read More
Vietnam Rivers Network, the countrys largest advocacy group for water resources protection, has demanded the government reject a plan to build six power plants and seven ports along the Red River, saying the massive development will badly affect the ecosystem and many lives.

The US$1.1 billion plan, proposed by Xuan Thien Company, also involves dredging half of the 556-kilometer river to ease movement. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, which backed the plan, have recently submitted it to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for approval.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Vietnam Rivers Network said that building more hydropower plants and dredging the river will negatively affect the flow and the irrigation system, causing water shortages for agricultural activities and daily use to millions of people in Hanoi and seven Red River Delta provinces.

The group also said the project will obstruct the migration of fish and badly affect the ecosystem.

In addition, the combined capacity of six power plants  228 MW  will add less than 1 percent to the nations total electricity output, which is too small to justify the environmental impacts, according to the group.

The government is looking to reduce the country's dependence on hydropower, following claims of mismanagement at many local plants and their environmental damages.

Since 2012, hundreds of existing and planned hydropower plants, mostly of medium and small size, have been reviewed. The government scrapped nearly 420 proposed plants at the end of 2013.

The total generation capacity of the country is expected to reach 42,300 MW this year. Hydropower plants account for 30 percent, according to media reports.
The US "accelerating" the lifting of a lethal arms embargo against Vietnam would reflect trust between the two countries, Reuters quoted the Vietnamese foreign ministry as saying.

Vietnam would "welcome the United States' acceleration to fully lift the lethal arms sale ban on Vietnam," the ministry said in a respond to Reuters questions, just over a week ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama to the country.

The former foes normalized bilateral relations in 1995. Washington eased the embargo in late 2014, and lifting the ban would be "consistent with the development trend of the comprehensive partnership" and "demonstrating trust between the two countries," Reuters quoted the ministry as saying.

Vietnam has strengthened its armed forces in recent years with weapons imported from various countries. The ministry said, however, that Vietnam's policy was about self-defense, and that the "procurement of defense equipment... from partner countries is completely normal, in accordance with a defense policy of peace," according to Reuters.

"We are not allied or linking militarily with any country against other countries," the ministry was quoted as saying.
A border guard officer in Vung Tau questions a man for alegedly stealing from a Portuguese ship May 11. Photo credit: Dong Ha/Tuoi Tre

Border guards in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam on Wednesday arrested seven people for allegedly stealing from a Portuguese cargo ship.

The team was informed early on Tuesday that a group of people stole dozens of paint cans from the ship when it was anchored around 20 sea miles offshore.

Nguyen Nhuan Quynh, chief commander of the provinces border guard unit, said a special task force had been set up to keep tabs on the suspects for the past three months.

The case is under further investigation.
Ho Chi Minh City has announced a plan to move and cut down 300 trees on Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1 to make space for a bridge connecting to District 2 and a metro station.

Hoang Nhu Cuong, an urban development official, said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the metro station in front of Ba Son Shipyard will affect 16 trees, 12 of which will be felled.

Work on the metro station is scheduled to start this November.

Cuong did not reveal how many trees will be cut for the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge that will link Districts 1 and 2.

District 2 can now be reached via the Saigon River Tunnel and the Thu Thiem 1 Bridge. The district is home to many new residential projects which will soon form what many hope to be a modern suburb.

Dong Van Khiem from the citys Union of Science and Technology Associations said at the conference that most trees on Ton Duc Thang are more than 60 years old.

They are mahogany trees, which local urban planners have named in a list of trees that should not be planted because their massive roots can damage the streets.

A representative of the contractor responsible for building Ba Son metro station said it costs around VND5 million (US$223) to chop down a tree but four times more to move and replant it elsewhere.

Cuong said the trees that are moved will be replanted at parks while timber from the other trees will also be used for public purposes.

Ton Duc Thang is considered one of the most beautiful streets in Vietnams southern metropolis thanks in large part to its massive canopy of trees.

But several were cut down in late 2014.
Vietnam's Northern Airports Authority has fined a man VND4 million (US$186) for making a bomb hoax that delayed a flight from Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport by nearly three hours on Thursday.

Le Nguyen Tuan Tung, 31, may face additional punishments, including a ban on flying, when the case is forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, news website Dan Tri quoted the airport authority as saying.

Tung told a flight attendant on board a VietJetAir flight from Hanoi to the resort town of Nha Trang that he had a bomb in his luggage.

The flights crew informed Noi Bai International Airports security agency which launched checks over the flights passengers and their luggage, forcing the flight to be delayed. It was not resumed until 10 a.m.

Tung later told the authority that he was joking about the bomb.

In March, Nghiem Tho Hoan, 41, was banned from flying for six months, after he jokingly told security guards that there was a bomb in his luggage, as he was undergoing security checks before boarding a VietJetAir flight from the Central Highlands town of Buon Ma Thuot to Hanoi.

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A file photo of Formosa's large sewage pipe going straight into the sea. Photo: Nguyen Dung/Thanh Nien

The government of Ha Tinh Province said on Wednesday it will quickly set up a monitoring station to check wastewater discharged from a Taiwanese-invested steel plant, suspected to be responsible for the mass fish deaths along the central coast.

Dang Quoc Khanh, chairman of Ha Tinh Peoples Committee, told the press the construction of the station is urgent and the provincial government will finance the project, Zing.vn reported.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will oversee the project, he said.

He expected the onsite station at the plant of Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company, a major firm in Vung Ang Economic Zone, will finish in one month.

The station will automatically collect and analyze samples from Formosas sewage pipe and will be linked to existing stations managed by Ha Tinhs Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Earlier on May 1, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the environment ministry and Ha Tinh authorities to build the station as soon as possible.

Hundreds of tons of fish were washed ashore in early April in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, apparently killed by industrial effluents.

Suspicion has centered on Formosa, which admitted it has a large sewage pipe going straight into the sea. But it claimed all its discharged wastewater had been treated.

Officials have said they could not find any connection between Formosa's discharge and the disaster yet. Local and foreign scientists are assisting them in the investigation.

The environment ministry has admitted that response to the disaster was slow.
A 42-year-old man has been given a one-year flight ban after telling a security officer at Vinh Airport last November there was a bomb in his hand luggage.

In a note recently sent to airlines operating in Vietnam, the Northern Airports Authority required them not to provide services for Tran Tien Doan, a primary school teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, until January 15, 2017.

According to the authority, Doan said "My luggage contains a bomb" to a security officer at Vinh Airport in the central province of Nghe An before boarding a flight to HCMC in l ate November last year.

The authority also criticized his disruptive behavior, without elaborating.

He was not allowed to board the plane, even after no bomb was found.

Doan later said he was only joking, adding that he was drunk at that time.
A 20-year-old man has been given a six-month flight ban after telling a security officer at Hanois Noi Bai Airport that he was flying to Bangkok for a bomb attack.

Dao Hong Long was also fined VND4 million (US$180) for the joke. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam did not think he had intentionally threatened aviation security.

The case happened in March when Long was about to board his flight VJ901 from Hanoi to Bangkok.

At the screening area, a security officer asked him about the purpose of his trip and he answered that he was "going to bomb Bangkok." He repeated the answer when being asked again.

The man later said he was only joking, after he was banned from boarding.
A US senior official and 10 ambassadors will join an expedition to Son Doong, the world's largest cave in central Vietnam, this May, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and ten ambassadors from countries such as Argentina, Australia, Italy and Sweden will start the week-long adventure on May 11.

UNESCO Vietnam said the expedition will play a key role in promoting the cave.

The diplomats will be trained and assisted by le ading cave explorers from Oxalis Adventure Tours, the only operator licensed to bring tourists to the cave in Quang Binh Province. The diplomats will pay for the trip themselves.

Son Doong is nothing short of a new found treasure for the province, giving it an impressive 90 percent increase in tourism revenues last year.
Sunshine through a section of Son Doong Cave at around noon. The tour to the world's largest cave, offered by Oxalis, is opened for 500 tourists each year and tickets have been fully booked for 2016. Photo credit: Ryan Deboodt

Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam has reported a remarkable 90 percent increase in tourism revenues this year thanks to successful promotions of its largest cave in the world.

The province government said at a meeting this week that its tourism revenues has surged to VND179 billion (more than US$8 million), thanks to 3.9 increase in tourist arrivals, including a 9 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors to 46,900.

It said the successful figures result from promotion efforts of the worlds largest cave Son Doong inside the provinces Phong Nha-Ke Bang cave system, especially after it appeared in the popular American talk show Good Morning America last May.

The program was aired live from En cave, a feeder to Son Doong, as technical requirements did not the team to go deeper, after they had explored Son Doong earlier for footage, bringing more than one ton of specialized equipment, and ABCs MC Zinger Zee called the cave Avatar.

It was the first live feed from the Southeast Asian country for Good Morning America, the number one morning show in the US.

Son Doong, or Mountain River, stretches for around five kilometers with at least 150 individual grottoes, shimmering rivers running through them, a dense subterranean jungle that keeps growing thanks to shafts of sunlight through the fallen stretches of the cave ceiling, and fossilized corridors, which prove there was life inside millions of years ago.

Local man Ho Khanh discovered the cave in 1991, and in 2009 he helped British cave experts explore it.

A tourist explores a platform inside Son Doong. Photo credit: Ryan Deboodt/Oxalis The cave has been praised as one of the most surreal places on earth. US magazine Smithsonian even named the cave the greatest place to see in the 21st century.

Son Doong was first opened to tourists on a trial basis in August 2013. The local tour operator Oxalis which is the only one providing tourism services at Son Doong is charging tourists US$3,000 each for a one-week tour.

The tour is opened for 500 tourists each year and tickets have been fully booked for next year.

Quang Binh this year has opened more caves in and around the nature reserve to tourists, including Tu Lan, Tien, Va and Nuoc Nut, all of which have amazed tourists with their captivating limestone structures and primeval sight.
An edes aegypti mosquito is seen inside a test tube as part of a research on preventing the spread of the Zika virus

Scientists in Brazil have uncovered a new brain disorder associated with Zika infections in adults: an autoimmune syndrome called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, that attacks the brain and spinal cord.

Zika has already been linked with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome, which attacks peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, causing temporary paralysis that can in some cases require patients to rely on respirators for breathing.

The new discovery now shows Zika may provoke an immune attack on the central nervous system as well.

The findings add to the growing list of neurological damage associated with Zika.

According to the World Health Organization, there is a strong scientific consensus that, in addition to Guillain-Barre, Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly, though conclusive proof may take months or years. Microcephaly is defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.

Brazil said it has confirmed more than 940 cases to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating nearly 4,300 additional suspected cases of microcephaly.

In addition to autoimmune disease, some researchers also have reported patients with Zika infections developing encephalitis and myelitis - nerve disorders typically caused by direct infections in nerve cells.

"Though our study is small, it may provide evidence that in this case, the virus has different effects on the brain than those identified in current studies," Dr. Maria Lucia Brito, a neurologist at Restoration Hospital in Recife, Brazil, said in a statement.

ADEM typically occurs in the aftermath of an infection, causing intense swelling in the brain and spinal cord that damages myelin, the white protective coating surrounding nerve fibers. It results in weakness, numbness and loss of balance and vision, symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis.

Brito presented her findings on Sunday at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Vancouver. The study involved 151 patients who visited her hospital between December 2014 and June 2015. All had been infected with arboviruses, the family of viruses that includes Zika, dengue and chikungunya.

Six of these patients developed symptoms consistent with autoimmune disorders. Of these six, four had Guillain-Barre and two had ADEM. In both ADEM cases, brain scans showed damage to white matter. ADEM symptoms typically last about six months.

All six patients tested positive for Zika, and all had lingering effects after being discharged from the hospital, with five patients reporting motor dysfunction, one with vision problems, and one with cognitive decline.

At least 13 countries have reported cases of Guillain-Barre linked with outbreaks of Zika, according to the World Health Organization, and WHO believes that Zika likely is the cause.

Dr. James Sejvar, a neuroepidemiologist for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the ADEM cases linked with Zika do not appear to be occurring at the same accelerated rate as cases of Guillain-Barre, but said doctors should be on the lookout for ADEM and other central nervous system illnesses.

"Of course, the remaining question is 'Why?'" Sejvar said. "Why does Zika virus appear to have the strong association with GBS and potential other immune/inflammatory diseases of the nervous system?"

Sejvar, who has studied Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in Brazil and is involved in a major clinical trial of Guillain-Barre in Puerto Rico, said he hopes future studies will shed more light on such questions.
A family member of a passenger onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which went missing in 2014 holds a banner during a gathering in front of the Malaysian Embassy on the second anniversary of the disappearance of MH370, in Beijing, China, March 8, 2016.

Two pieces of debris discovered in South Africa and the Mauritian island of Rodrigues are almost certainly from the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 jetliner, Malaysia's transport ministry said on Thursday.

Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board, shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing, in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

Investigators believe someone may have deliberately switched off the plane's transponder before diverting it thousands of miles off course, out over the Indian Ocean.

"The team has confirmed that both pieces of debris from South Africa and Rodrigues Island are almost certainly from MH370," Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement.

Liow said the findings support results from a previous examination in March, during which the team confirmed that another piece of debris found in Mozambique was also almost certainly from MH370.

A first piece of the Boeing 777 washed up on the French island of Reunion in July 2015. Malaysia and French authorities confirmed the flaperon was from the aircraft.
(L-R) Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Ukrainian FM Pavlo Klimkin, French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault and German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier pose for a picture prior to talks at the Villa Borsig guest house of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin on May 11, 2016

Key powers failed to clinch a breakthrough in talks Wednesday seeking a lasting peace deal in Ukraine, with negotiations stumbling over the thorny issue of local elections in the rebel-held zone.

"The result is, at the very best, mixed," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier after hosting the talks with his Russian, Ukrainian and French counterparts.

Even if there had been "clear progress" on the issue of security in war-wracked eastern Ukraine, Steinmeier said the "political process remained difficult and without a breakthrough today".

Germany and France are spearheading efforts to end the fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Kremlin rebels -- whom the West believes are backed by Russia -- in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland.

Although a peace deal was agreed in Belarussian capital Minsk in February 2015, a truce has been frequently violated.

Both sides have also been unable to break a deadlock on organising local elections in the rebel-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

In a sign of the hostility over the issue, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said the Russians had presented a version of electoral legislation for the polls.

But he told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that "we are capable of writing Ukrainian legislation by ourselves, and we don't need any advice," according to remarks reported by Interfax agency.

Steinmeier on Tuesday expressed exasperation at the pace of the talks, complaining that "in terms of seeking a political solution, things have been moving along at snail's pace".

"It cannot go on like that," he said.

The pro-Moscow rebellion has now killed more than 9,300 people and, along with Russia's annexation of Ukraine's strategic peninsula of Crimea, it has plunged Russia's relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.
Malaysia said on Thursday that a coastal search needs to be conducted around South Africa and Mozambique for potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

A piece of debris was found along the southern coast of South Africa on March 11, while another one was found off the coast of Mozambique this month.

"There is a need for us to search the South African coast to find more debris. Malaysia is sending a team there and we are currently awaiting approval from the South African authorities," said Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai on Thursday.

"The coastal search will be by a Malaysian team and focused around South Africa and Mozambique."

Liow, however, said the location for underwater search need not be changed.
Johnny Begue, who stumbled across a piece of plane wreckage from the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on the beach

A resident on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion who last year found a wing fragment from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 said on Sunday he had come across a second possible piece from the missing plane.

Johnny Begue, who found the "flaperon" part while cleaning a beach last July, told AFP he handed over the new suspected object to police immediately after finding it last Thursday.

He said he was out jogging by the sea shore when he found the object measuring about 40 by 20 centimetres (15 by eight inches), which had a blue mark on the surface and was grey underneath.

Begue said it was of the same lightweight "honeycomb" construction as the flaperon piece.

The flaperon he found remains the only piece of debris identified with certainty as having come from the flight.

Begue said he has been combing the island's shores ever since.

"When there's bad weather is when you should look, when the sea tosses up a lot of stuff," he said.

Police have not contacted Begue since he handed over the new object on Thursday, he said.

The Gendarmerie Brigade for Air Transport -- the police unit which investigated the first find -- could not immediately be reached by AFP for comment.

MH370, a Boeing 777, was carrying 239 passengers and crew when it vanished on March 8, 2014, on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Begue's reported find came three days after an American amateur investigator found suspected MH370 debris in Mozambique, some 2,100 kilometres (1,300 miles) west of Reunion.

That object, which is about a metre (3.25 feet) long, has been sent to Australia for expert analysis.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said last Wednesday that initial information indicated a "high possibility" it came from a Boeing 777.

An international team of investigators probing the loss of flight MH370 will issue a statement on Tuesday, the second anniversary of the plane's disappearance.

The unprecedented Australian-led hunt for wreckage from the flight is expected to finish its high-tech scanning of a designated swathe of seafloor in the remote Indian Ocean by July.

Australian, Malaysian and Chinese authorities plan to end the search -- projected to cost up to $130 million (120 million euros) -- at that point if no compelling new leads emerge.
Heads up to prevent injury from falls Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at...

Signs that point to the best time for retirement Ive been thinking a lot about retirement lately. One of our amazing staff members, who has been with Senior Concerns for the last 13 years, retired last month. It just doesnt seem real. I always thought of Dana as young. Certainly not the person to...

Rethinking the mandatory retirement age How old is too old for working at a job? Last week a news story hit my inbox and it really got me to thinking about age and retirement. The article noted that Target Corp. abandoned its mandatory retirement age of 65 for its CEO,...

Tips to promoting a healthy nights sleep for children Question: Help, please. My daughter is almost 2 years old and has been an easy child to put into her own bed. Yet in the past few weeks she is purposefully stretching out the bedtime routine longer and longer. She wants more: more stories, more...
A Storm in a D Cup. Amelia Ryan accompanied by John Martin on piano. Teatro Vivaldi, ANU Arts Centre, dinner and show at 6.30pm, Saturday, May 14.Tickets $70/$80/$90 depending on seat location. Bookings 6257 2718.

Amelia Ryan's life has had its challenges, which she has used to her advantage to create A Storm in a D Cup. It is an autobiographical cabaret show "about the mess that was my 20s", she says. Ryan has been touring with it around Australia and internationally to Edinburgh and New York for the past five years, winning awards including the 2012 Sydney Fringe Springboard Prize for most promising performer and the Adelaide Fringe Weekly Award for Best Cabaret.

Amelia Ryan delivers an autobiographical cabaret in her show, A Storm in a D Cup.

Not bad for a girl who grew up in the coastal town of Bombo, New South Wales. When she was 10, she discovered her father's homosexuality after finding a pamphlet about gay married men on the coffee table.

"I think it was an accident."
A standoff between the ACT Asbestos Taskforce contractors and a Mr Fluffy homeowner has culminated in police being called to a condemned Mr Fluffy residence.

Leo Carvalho began his blockade outside a neighbour's house at 4 Barrow Place about 7am on Thursday.

Leo Carvalho of Lyons is concerned about unsafe Mr Fluffy demolitions and protested outside his neighbour's home on Thursday morning. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Mr Carvalho - who bought and lived in Dirk Jansen's former home for more than a decade before it was revealed the home was riddled with loose-fill asbestos - refused to move out of the path of the trucks as they attempted to access the property.

Mr Carvalho, who lives behind 4 Barrow Place, said he had been pushed to take such dramatic action after two years of "not getting the right answers" from the ACT Asbestos Taskforce and the ACT government.
Accounting software outfit Xero has pushed back plans for a US listing until it establishes a stronger growth profile than Intuit, the dominant US accounting software group, as the Kiwi company continues to build its global platform.

"We won't be [listing in the US] for capital; we'd do it for the brand," Xero founder Rod Drury said. "We have to show faster growth there than Intuit."

Xero founder Rod Drury: "We're emerging as the only global provider on a cloud platform." Credit:Janie Barrett

Intuit, the dominant player in the US market, generates just 5 per cent of its revenue outside of the US, while Xero's strength is in Australasia and, increasingly, the UK now that it has been able to establish online links with most UK banks.

"Intuit is still a US domestic business," Mr Drury said. "We're emerging as the only global provider on a cloud platform. The US is making only a very slow transition to the cloud."
McKeon takes a swipe at CBA There was no need to worry that Thursday's AMP shareholder meeting would be dominated by the sudden departure of its chairman, former Australian of the Year Simon McKeon. There was plenty to distract shareholders even before he took a swipe at its rival, Commonwealth Bank, and the scandal engulfing its insurance shop CommInsure. "It's difficult not to feel distressed by these stories, which remind us all of the importance of life insurance at the most vulnerable times of a person's life," he said of the alarming reports into CommInsure's treatment of some customers and a whistleblower. But by the time he got to this part of his speech, AMP's shares were already tanking after it reported that insurance claims were higher than expected, and cash flows from its wealth arm had dropped severely.

Who cares about the whys and wherefores of a chairman stepping down abruptly after less than two years because of "a change in my circumstances", when investor circumstances changed 8 per cent to the negative within the space of a few hours. McKeon had few words to enlighten investors on the exact reasons for his departure, but he had plenty to say on the issues of ethics and culture engulfing the sector. "In recent months, you would have seen media coverage relating to the management of life insurance claims at one of our competitors," he said. Not that AMP claims to be perfect. "We don't pay every claim, and we don't always get it right, but we are committed to being absolutely open and fixing our mistake if we're in the wrong."

Westfield Panama Westfield's other co-CEO Peter Lowy has quashed queries about whether it is "our" Westfield mentioned in the Panana Papers. Peter and Frank said they went "online and researched the Westfield named and checked in the companies and found that none were related to us". Pity our PM Malcolm Turnbull could not say the same thing. And there is absolutely no need to mention the Lowy's Liechtenstein adventure, which caused all that misunderstanding in 2008.

My O Myer Pulling a logistics guy into the top job at a retailer is kind of like pulling out a knife in a gun fight. That is the adage underlined by John Fletcher's "adventurous" tenure at what was then known as Coles Myer. But the new man at Myer, Richard Umbers, is showing that he is keen to change the conventional wisdom. A warm autumn and warnings that Malcolm Turnbull's double dissolution could crimp sales did not persuade Umbers that he should rein in his profit forecasts, which had been upgraded a little at the first-half result.
China's appetite for meat has made billionaires out of two of the country's largest animal-feed providers.

Bao Hongxing, chief executive officer of closely held Twins Group, China's fifth-largest animal-feed producer, has a $US1.8 billion ($2.5 billion) net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Chen Yuxin, founder of closely held Sichuan Tequ Investment, Sichuan province's biggest animal feedmaker, has a fortune valued at more than $US1 billion.

Pigs at a farm in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China. Credit:Bloomberg

The two tycoons are benefiting from growing demand for healthier livestock as the world's most populous nation, which is no stranger to food scandals, prods farmers to provide higher-quality pork, chicken and beef. The country's also seeking to reduce its dependence on cheaper, low-protein staples such as rice, corn and soybeans.

"It is impossible to lose money in the animal-feed industry in China right now, unless you have an internal management problem," said Wang Qian, a Shanghai-based agriculture analyst at Guotai Junan Securities. "Fewer than 20 per cent of China's livestock farming companies make their own feed and are self-sufficient, while 80 to 90 per cent of them have to buy feed from feed companies."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the 7-Eleven scandal has taken a "new and disturbing twist" following the sacking of the independent panel charged with assessing back pay claims for exploited workers at the convenience store chain.

Mr Shorten was referring to the company's shock decision yesterday to sack former competition tsar Allan Fels from overseeing the independent panel and to instead bring it in house.

The panel was set up in the wake of an investigation by Fairfax Media and Four Corners revealed systemic wage abuse at the company's stores with workers being paid as little as $5 per hour and franchisees providing false records of who had worked at their stores.

The sacking of the independent panel sparked a furious response from Professor Fels who described the new proposed panel as "bogus" and a "triumph" for dodgy franchisees.
A victim of the 7-Eleven wage fraud scandal has hit out at the move by 7-Eleven to dump the independent panel and warns that it has put fear into the many workers who had lodged claims based on a pledge that their identity would be protected.

Pranay Alawala -- who has risked deportation by coming forward as a victim  says the decision was a disgrace and that the government needs to step in and offer protection to the thousands of workers who had now been sold out by 7-Eleven.

"I am feeling scared for all the workers who have put in submissions because they are no longer protected," he said.

Mr Alawala's concerns came as Fairfax Media obtained a copy of the new terms of reference for the new internal panel set up by 7-Eleven after sacking an independent panel it set up last year.
Forcing a female employee to wear high heels or imposing any other gender-specific dress codes at work could breach Australia's discrimination laws, experts have warned.

A case in London this week has gained global attention and raised legal questions, after a 27-year-old receptionist complained she was sent home from work for refusing to wear high-heeled shoes. She had turned up for a temporary job as a receptionist and greeter, a role that required her to walk all day.

Legal experts in Australia said enforcing a dress code for female employees to wear high heels risked violating state and federal equal opportunity legislation, and could land employers in strife.

"An employer can set a standard of dress in the workplace as part of a reasonable and lawful direction; for instance, requiring someone to wear high-quality business attire," Herbert Smith Freehills employment partner Tony Wood said.
No sympathy for people with $1.6m Much has been said about the changes to be made to super but very little about the changes to the pension rate from January 2017. When assets reach $823,000 the pension cuts out. Assets include household furniture, cars and term deposits; in fact, everything except the family home. With term deposits returning about 3 per cent, I must say I don't feel too sorry for people with $1.6 million. Royal Declerck, Mount Martha Please come clean on mistakes Wouldn't it be refreshing if the Coalition admitted it wasted the revenue bonanza of the mining boom by giving significant concessions and bonuses mainly to middle and higher income earners, and that this is a substantial contributor to our recurrent "debt crisis"? And that dismantling these concessions and bonuses is a necessary component of its economic plan  to increase revenue and release funding for infrastructure and productive investment. While the adjustment to top-end superannuation is welcome, there is a long way to go.

Gill Riley, Doncaster East Post wide of mark The "new and improved" (and more costly) postal services are a disgrace (The Age, 12/5). Two legal contracts were recently sent from Ireland to my Melbourne address by International Express post with the promise of four to six working days delivery. It took nine days for the envelope to arrive in Sydney (for heaven's sake) and then a further six days to get to Melbourne. On trying to track the parcel I was told by Australia Post that it was not classified as Express Post, when the original service receipt and envelope were clearly marked as this. With deadlines to meet, I returned the contracts to Ireland by air courier. It took 48 hours and the company delivered what it had promised. Sure it cost more, but I will use this service again. It is all about reliability and trust, something Australia Post and its Irish counterpart evidently don't understand. These days you have to allow a minimum of a week to get a letter across Melbourne and Australia Post lauds this as innovation? David Greenwood, Armadale

In hands of market I sympathise with Dani Blain and other dairy farmers (Letters, 11/5) over the cut in the farm gate price for milk. The reality of a market based system, however, is that the "true value of (y)our product" is what someone is willing to pay for it, not what it costs to produce. Most rural communities, including those built on dairy farming, choose to be represented by politicians and organisations who hold as core tenets the primacy and efficiency of the market. That farmers end up leaving the industry is OK if it's what the market demands. So, too, if the product is no longer an affordable basic staple because of any reduced production. But we can all sleep soundly in the knowledge that "the market will take care of it". Brendan Harrison, Bacchus Marsh IPA's ire is selective The Institute of Public Affairs is secretive about its finances but confirmed financial backers include BHP Billiton, British American Tobacco, Esso, Caltex, Shell, Gina Rinehart and Rupert Murdoch. For its policy director Brett Hogan to express ire at an artwork that depicts a polluting coal mine as an ageing smoker is a badge of honour that artist Gabrielle de Vietri should be proud to wear ("Climarte posters draw think tank's ire", 11/5). After all, the IPA is the recipient of tax-deductible donations for so-called "research" used to prop up blatant political campaigns. It has spent the money of some of the richest people in Australia and the world to malign the work of the world's top climate scientists.

If the IPA wants accountability for spending from the public purse, maybe it should take a good hard look in the mirror and question whether its slogan of "voice for freedom" is applicable when it invests resources attacking an artist who is surely free to express her view too. Pauline Hopkins, Beaconsfield Darlings in conflict An artwork comments on two IPA darlings  "coal and tobacco"  and suddenly another of the IPA's loves, "free speech", is forgotten? Alice Palmer, Fitzroy North

Debate worth having Graeme Madigan (Letters, 11/5) identifies the weakness in the campaign for a republic, and that of the 1999 campaign  the insistence on a "minimal change" model. We got side-tracked in 1999 by a focus on how to fill the position of president. There was none of the necessary threshold discussion on the powers of the new role, surely necessary before determining what lines of accountability are needed, hence how to appoint/elect or remove. Why haven't we seen this discussion? I'd say it's because it would lead to a broader examination of the constitution itself, and what sort of society it is intended to enable and protect in the 21st century, remembering that our constitution was written in the horse-and-buggy days of the late 19th century. These are real questions and might even result in a shared perspective that challenges the effectiveness of our current system of representation, government, elections, and notions of citizenship. Now that would be a republic debate worth having. John McCombe, Merrijig Sorry reminder

Not only does the budget leave foreign aid and climate change in the dust, but we're not even looking after our own. Indigenous Australians have cared for this land for more than 60,000 years and what recognition do they get? National Sorry Day is around the corner, but these days it's more of a sorry reminder of the injustices Indigenous Australians still face. Where's the funding for more health care? The life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is still significantly lower than that of non-Indigenous Australians. And then there are imprisonment rates. Indigenous children aged 10 to 14 are 30 times more likely to be incarcerated than any other community member (Editorial, 12/5). This budget is about keeping white Australia happy, and that's nothing to be proud of. Emma Hardy, Carlton Is compliance optional? That the Coalition's "intern plan may be illegal" is not surprising (The Age, 12/5), because it's the responsibility of Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who is two-faced about compliance with the law. She has told unions "we must all comply with workplace law" at construction sites, but has said nothing about apparent non-compliances by Peter Dutton's Department of Immigration and Border Protection at offshore detention centres. Under the federal Work Health and Safety Act, the department has a duty  which it can't lawfully delegate to another government or to contractors  to ensure the health and safety of "other persons" (including asylum seekers) is not put at risk. The "extended geographical jurisdiction" makes that duty apply offshore. Yet increasingly horrific evidence keeps exposing the department's apparent non-compliance.

Max Costello, North Melbourne Wages not part of slogan The PM's Jobson Growth plan might just have saved hundreds of 7-Eleven stores. By using a system of rotating interns in all their stores they will once again have a sustainable model. The interns will have the "jobs" and 7-Eleven the "growth". Pity about the lack of wages, but that is not part of the slogan. Graeme Scarlett, East Malvern Get a life

I generally enjoy reading the Letters page as it often contains quirky thoughts. However, when an overdone theme  "Jobson Growth"  appears in eight successive letters, it's time for The Age and its correspondents to get a life and try some originality. Garry Bryce, Malvern Shorten embarrassed Claims by Bill Shorten and Chris Bowen that Labor is "united" are fanciful. Candidates in important Labor seats have offered a different view on asylum seeker policy, specifically turn-backs and offshore processing, in the process embarrassing Mr Shorten. Should Labor win these members will be demanding that the policy of turning around boats and offshore processing be dumped. If their view prevails, we will end up with a repeat of the Rudd/Gillard mess. Coke Tomyn, Camberwell

Let's hear from you Peter Reith discussed the pain that would face a re-elected Coalition government (Comment, 10/5). The 21st century is certainly not going to be easy for any country, and Australia will need forward-looking, thoughtful, curious leaders, open to new ideas and different ways of doing things. But unfortunately there exists in the Coalition numerous hard right-wingers, who are preventing the development of rational policies on climate change and a range of social issues. The Coalition may well have forward-looking people but they don't seem allowed to open their mouths in public. Caroline Williamson, Brunswick The main concern Mark Bradbeer (Letters, 1/5) the concern of Israel advocacy groups is not that the play Tales of a City by the Sea humanises Palestinians but that it dehumanises Israelis.

Danny Samuels, Malvern No place for fickleness How amazing to see so much written in The Age by the Collingwood bashers about the "attention-seeking" Eddie, the "incompetent" Buckley and the "under-performing" players. To those members threatening to tear up their memberships, please do. There is no place for fickle supporters in this wonderful club which happens to be going through a lean time but still has the largest number of supporters, members and haters. Collingwood will be back. It will always be the most famous club in Australia. Go Pies! Helen Buckley, Richmond AND ANOTHER THING...

Politics A hung parliament is the most democratic form of government if it forces groups to work together. Lesley Taskis, Kingsbury The Coalition's intern program should be called PaTHS (prepare, trial, hire, sack).

Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley Did the good folk at 7-Eleven head office design the intern program? Craig Dickason, Heatherton Perhaps the PM and Treasurer were Boy Scouts. It would explain the Job for a Bob a Week scheme. Steven Scheller, Benalla

The Coalition's plan for Jobson Growth won't work unless it uses the tried and true "10-point plan". Damian Willcox, Ashwood Say "Jobs and Growth" over and over; it pretty soon becomes "Grubs and Jokes". From political slogan to political epithet. Stuart Boydell, Coburg Went to Jobson Growth cafe. The owner had a new toaster, new coffee machine, and new sign saying "cash only".

Les Field, Blackburn South When will the Libs introduce the wife of Jobson Growth, Laura Norder? Rod Oaten, North Carlton Heard Jobson Growth is an old mate of Warren Terra. Patricia Thorpe, Footscray

Are some of our politicians' relationships in trouble? So many are appealing to the public for Man Dates, or do they just want to experiment? Jeff Welch, Hastings Another death in custody on Nauru. How many people have to die before Dutton gets the axe? Dave Mack, Macclesfield, SA Authorities should have let the IS boat leave Australia. It would have been interesting to see Indonesia's response to boat people turning up on its shores.
Literary magazine Meanjin and the Centre for Contemporary Photography are among up to 50 arts organisations to have lost funding from the Australia Council as it prepares to announce its four-year funding round.

More than 150 organisations have applied for funding that could secure their future. Each applicant was notified of the result by the Australia Council on Wednesday and Thursday, but the full list of recipients has been embargoed by the council until 7am Friday.

An exhibition at the Centre for Contemporary Photography. Credit:J Forsyth

Former arts minister Senator George Brandis diverted $105 million the Australia Council in the 2015 budget to a new fund, the National Program for Excellence in the Arts, administered by his office.

The Australia Council had proposed a six-year funding program to secure the future of organisations but lowered that to four years after its funding was reduced, and cut the number of annual grant rounds it distributes.
With a new X-Men about to open, it looks like Michael Fassbender is launching another big-budget action fantasy movie franchise.

The first trailer for Assassin's Creed, just released online, has the two-time Oscar nominee as a former death row prisoner, Callum Lynch, who wakes confused in a hospital bed.

"Where am I?" he says.
Gervais said he only recently realised that Trump could actually become president. "I should have realised sooner. Think about it: we live a world where there are warnings on bottles of bleach - we have to tell people not to drink bleach. "In that world, Trump can be president. And in a sense, you get what you deserve. That's democracy, baby! It's just a really odd thing to have this man who's meant to be the most powerful man in the world act like a Twitter troll." Gervais, whose cutting barbs have been a highlight of his Golden Globes hosting, said he still believed jokes should be told about anything. "No harm comes from exposing taboos," he said. "You can tell jokes about race, about disability, about sex, without them being racist, disablist or sexist.

"Some people don't get that. 'Ooh, you can't joke about that.' That's ridiculous. It's almost like joking about a terrible thing is worse than seriously believing a terrible thing." Gervais said he was proud of a controversial joke he made about Jenner at the Golden Globes this year. "It wasn't transphobic at all," he said. "At no point did I make fun of her transition. I had to call her Bruce because the joke was, 'I've changed, not as much as Bruce Jenner.' "Bruce Jenner is the person who changed. Even if you acknowledge the fact that transgender people say they're always that gender, the joke is about change. "I respect that Caitlyn Jenner is a she, which is why I then said, "What a year she's had. Became a role model for trans people everywhere, bravely breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. Didn't do a lot for women drivers.'
Mulvany will deliver a rousing defence of the theatre, pointing to its importance in giving a voice to the marginalised.

"The telling and sharing of stories does indeed save lives. It saved mine," she says. "I have been involved in and witnessed plays that have spoken out about issues that are all but ignored by that same questioning press, those same pompous politicians who rarely bother to turn up."

Mulvany prefers to think of the theatre sector as a house rather than an industry  "... a house of many, many, many rooms. And many many many tenants".

"But I can't help but notice that the tightening fist around our industry at the moment is causing us to close down in more ways than one," she says. "Companies are becoming shrewd  and not in a good way. There seems to be an unhealthy competitiveness. A suspicion. A fear of transparency."

Mulvany also takes aim at the theatre companies and members of the profession who failed to speak against the funding cuts that threaten small and mid-sized arts organisations: "The silence from certain individuals and companies in the industry was deafening."
By the end of the engrossing first episode it's clear that Wolf Creek the series is no linear story about a hunter and his prey. There are multiple wheels in motion and the milieu has suddenly become much larger and more populous than those of the films.

Stan's much-anticipated six-episode miniseries has much of what made Greg McLean's 2005 movie such a breakout hit  first and foremost the terrifying John Jarratt as serial killer Mick Taylor. But it also brings plenty of new elements into play.

It's Wolf Creek all right, but not as we know it.

The series is built around a compelling performance by Australian Lucy Fry (11.22.63) as an American tourist named Eve. Eve is a brilliant young athlete with a prescription drug addiction, so her police-officer parents (Robert Taylor and Maya Stange) have brought her and her little brother on holiday to Australia in the hope that the Outback will keep her out of trouble. No such luck.

John Jarratt's hunter becomes the hunted in the new Wolf Creek TV series. Credit:Sam Oster

Having driven through a great stretch of gloriously rugged desert, they set up camp by a billabong and are almost immediately befriended by Taylor. They think he's nothing more than a friendly pig shooter with somewhat rudimentary social skills  but viewers know otherwise. And it's here that the episode, directed by McLean and Tony Tilse (who also directs the rest of the series, apart from the final episode which will be helmed by McLean), becomes as deliciously tense as you would expect.

Surely Taylor's outsized and outdated brand of bonhomie can only last a few moments before giving way to an explosion of violence.

In any event, we're soon being introduced to a bunch of other characters, notably a detective played by Dustin Clare. Many others drift in and out as the early episodes blow by  they include Miranda Tapsell as a randy cop, Deborah Mailman as a roadhouse waitress, and Richard Cawthorne and Eddie Baroo perfectly cast as a pair of criminal brothers.
Redland koala populations have crashed by 80 per cent from 1996 to 2014 and may be in terminal decline, according to a report for the Queensland environment department.

Heavy development is thought to be behind the crash, as well as disease, dog attacks and car strikes, with the report showing protection measures have failed to curb the decline, the Redland City Bulletin reports.

The dead koala on the road side at Redland Bay Road.

The University of Queensland study by Associate Professor Jonathan Rhodes, Dr Hawthorne Beyer, Dr Harriet Preece and Professor Clive McAlpine says the declines are rapid and likely increasing in the area east of Brisbane.

The difference between the Pine Rivers and Redland is likely due to the latter  a koala stronghold 20 years ago  having been more heavily developed.
The Turnbull government has directed $30 million to frontline legal assistance providers for victims of family and domestic violence, in an announcement made in the Coalition's second-most marginal seat on Thursday.

As the $30 million formed part of the $100 million in new funding announced in last week's federal budget, it was not an election pledge but was, as a spokesman for Minister for Women Michaelia Cash described it, "set in stone".

Attorney-General George Brandis announced the $30 million funding on Thursday. Credit:Andrew Meares

Attorney-General George Brandis announced the measure at Woody Point on Thursday in the marginal seat of Petrie, north of Brisbane.

Senator Brandis said 79 per cent of family law matters dealt with by legal assistance providers involved allegations of domestic and family violence.
Labor will spend almost $400 million on teaching scholarships to encourage recent graduates with science, technology, engineering and maths degrees to continue their study and become STEM teachers.

Every STEM teacher in an Australian secondary school will be qualified in their relevant subject by 2020 under a Shorten Labor government, part of Labor's drive to ensure all Australian students take a STEM subject to Year 12.

Making the key announcement on Friday, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and shadow education minister Kate Ellis will say Labor will invest $393 million to provide 25,000 teaching scholarships over five years to recent STEM graduates.

The investment will better equip students with the skills needed to secure employment in the knowledge-based growth industries of the future, they will say.
The Australian Federal Police says it doesn't have enough evidence to prosecute former Liberal minister Mal Brough for copying former speaker Peter Slipper's diary.

In an application to the Federal Court on Thursday Andrew Berger, barrister for the AFP, said investigators wanted access to all text messages and phone calls between Mr Brough and Mr Slipper's former media advisor James Ashby.

"What [the AFP] can get so far isn't enough to bring the investigation to a head," Mr Berger said.

The AFP needs the court's permission to use evidence from a civil case in a criminal prosecution. In this case, the evidence includes hundreds of sometimes lewd text messages sent and received from Mr Ashby's phone in 2012 that were used in his case against Mr Slipper for sexual harassment.
Asylum seekers have been released from the Manus Island detention centre but the Turnbull government has denied responsibility for their welfare, despite claims they are lucky not to have been "chopped up" by locals wielding machetes.

Papua New Guinea chief migration officer Mataio Rabura told Fairfax Media that detainees were now free to leave the Manus Island centre after that nation's Supreme Court ordered the facility was illegal and unconstitutional, and the detention must end.

Asylum seekers at the Manus Island detention centre. Credit:Andrew Meares

He said about 850 male asylum seekers and refugees at the detention centre had been encouraged to relocate to a nearby transit facility "where they can go and come", adding that detainees were being bused in and out of the detention centre each day.

Manus Island MP Ron Knight said most detainees were too "wary" to move to the transit centre and expressed concern about their release.
"They're after the next big thing" says Sophie Ullin, head of art at the Leonard Joel auction house. "They're all looking for the Brett Whiteley of the future".

She's referring to the collectors who took part in the latest Leonard Joel fine art sale, held in Melbourne on March 22. The auction saw strong interest in the mid-value category, loosely defined as the $5000 to $10,000 range of estimates. Auctioneer John Albrecht said this segment was the strongest he'd seen, a reference to the intensity of competition among bidders and the numbers on the sale room floor.

Dorothy Braund's 1965 painting Three Summer Shapes. Sold for $7000.

A prime example was The Man with a Ladder, a 1929 pastel on paper illustration by Jessie Traill showing the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It sold for $26,840 (including buyer's premium), more than five times the upper estimate of $5000.

At the other end of the timeline was Robert Jacks' 1985 abstract, Metropolis #16, selling for $8500, well above estimates of $5000 to $7000. Jacks emerged on the Melbourne art scene in the late 1960s but interest in his work has spiked since a retrospective was held at the NGV shortly after he died in 2014. Investors now see him as a man with potential.
"It's consumer driven and that's the 21st century," Dr Jones said. "And there's a business imperative by some of the after hours services to increase their profit. I think this is an important debate for our society to have around appropriate use of after hours services." He was also concerned that deputising services were allowed to hire GPs in training or overseas doctors who had not yet been admitted to the RACGP because they were deemed to fill an "unmet need". "We want quality driven after-hours services, we want these services to be accredited to RACGP standards, and we also believe the doctors who are providing the services should at least be fellows of the RACGP," Dr Jones said. It has become increasingly rare for general practitioners to make house calls and most of them now use deputising services that allow them to outsource their after-hours calls to locum agencies. Family Practice Medical Research Centre medical director Graeme Miller said it was difficult to tell what people were using the services for because there had been so many changes to the Medicare Benefits Scheme item numbers.

"There's a lot of allegations going around that some of these are not emergencies and the patients should go to their GP during the day, but you can make exactly the same allegations about people in the emergency departments," Associate Professor Miller said. The financial impost to Medicare from urgent after-hours visits was much less than what the same patient would cost the public health system if they went to emergency, he said. The average cost of a patient presenting at the emergency department is $578. Newcastle GP Lee Fong said medical deputising services were crucial, but some companies were creating demand with marketing campaigns that emphasised a free service. "It might cost $130 for someone to be seen at 11 o'clock at night and when that's appropriate, that's great, but when it's driven by marketing for convenience that's not the best use of our dollar," said Dr Fong, a clinical director of GP Access After Hours, which provides a telephone advice and home visit service rostered by 250 GPs.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said she would be "extremely concerned" if deputising services were classifying calls as urgent when they were not. "It is fraudulent to claim the Medicare rebate on services or treatment which has not been provided," Ms Ley said. The May budget allocated $66.2 million to Medicare compliance. National Home Doctor Service chief executive Ben Keneally said 80 per cent of calls to 13SICK were classified as urgent, but the assessment was up to the individual GP. "We don't give our doctors any advice on that because they've got to make their independent decision," Mr Keneally said.

"The way most doctors think about it is, 'Was the patient genuinely concerned about their illness and did it need treatment when I arrived?'." Patients used the service 1.5 times a year on average, he said, which implied they were not using it instead of their normal GP. About 70 per cent of the GPs employed were not fellows of the RACGP, but junior doctors or overseas-trained GPs who were required to work 10 years in Australia before they could be admitted to the college, he said. "Because they're willing do the work." "Our doctors have full medical registration, at least two years post graduate experience as hospital residents and specific experience in emergency and paediatrics." A 2014 review of after-hours sector commissioned by the federal government called for an urgent examination of the rapid escalation of after hours services being billed to the MBS.
The Australian Tax Office has launched a recruitment drive to crack down on tax avoidance by large multinational companies and wealthy individuals.

The job advertisements come after Treasurer Scott Morrison announced an additional 390 staff would be added to the 1300-strong taskforce at a cost of $680 million over four years.

ATO staff were told of the recruitment drive on the same day Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was named in the Panama Papers as the former director of an offshore company set up by Mossack Fonseca.

ATO deputy commissioner Erin Holland told staff the office would advertise internally and externally for multiple positions from junior staffers to senior executives.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption should be stripped of its power to hold public hearings "to prevent the undeserved trashing of reputations", the watchdog's inspector, David Levine, has recommended.

Mr Levine also wants consideration of an "exoneration protocol" which would allow people found corrupt by ICAC but who are not later convicted on criminal charges to have the records "expunged" or the finding set aside by the Supreme Court.

The recommendations are contained in Mr Levine's long-awaited report on ICAC's powers delivered to Premier Mike Baird on Thursday.

Mr Levine was asked by Mr Baird to review ICAC's powers following the report of an expert panel comprised of former chief justice of Australia Murray Gleeson and barrister Bruce McClintock, SC, in July last year.
The new Queanbeyan-Palerang Council has got off to a rocky start, with one of the two former mayors appointed as administrator for the next year.

On Thursday Premier Mike Baird sacked hundreds of mayors and councillors and announced the creation of 19 new councils across NSW and Sydney, in a move accelerated to bring the process ahead of the July 2 federal election.

Tim Overall has been appointed administrator of the new council. Credit:Jamila Toderas

The government has appointed an administrator to each council  mostly former public servants, council managers and former Coalition MPs  until the local government elections in September 2017.

The unelected administrator has the power of mayors and councillors  but can't change development plans.
Central Queensland locals have been praised for their generosity in donating clothes, hot water and blankets to a group of Chinese tourists who were forced to evacuate their burning boat in the Whitsundays on Wednesday.

Police said 46 people, most of them Chinese tourists on a sightseeing tour, were aboard the Spirit of 1770 when the engine caught fire just before 4pm.

Crew members were unable to contain the blaze and flames engulfed the catamaran before it sank, about 10 nautical miles off Lady Musgrave Island, which lies off the coast of Gladstone.

The group of tourists evacuated the vessel in life rafts about 4.30pm, after the crew realised the fire was unable to be contained.
The extradition of an alleged bikie from Serbia to face a murder charge over a 2012 shopping centre carpark shooting is a Queensland first, police say.

Alleged Bandido Bogdan Cuic, 28, was flown into Brisbane and charged on Wednesday night, more than a year after he was arrested in Serbia to face extradition.

Australian and Serbia do not share an extradition treaty, contributing to what Acting Detective Superintendent Damien Hansen said was already a "very difficult murder investigation".

He said Mr Cuic fled the country the day after 22-year-old Jei "Jack" Lee was murdered outside the Sushi Train at the Warrigal Square shopping centre in April 2012 in an alleged drug deal gone bad. He said the 28-year-old was a Bandido at the time.
An immediate independent inquiry must investigate how a third person has died in as many weeks at the Nauru detention centre, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said in Brisbane on Thursday morning.

Senator Hanson-Young also said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has "failed a test of leadership" for not rejecting Queensland MP George Christensen's decision to reject Syrian refugee's wanting to re-settle near Mackay.

Greens Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Larissa Waters in Brisbane. Credit:Tony Moore

"This is a testing point for Malcolm Turnbull and his campaign," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"He has failed today to be a leader who stands up for decency. He has failed today to be leader who stands up against people in his own party who want to bear the racist drum and it is simply not good enough."
A full bench of up to seven judges in Australia's highest court will make the final ruling on whether Gerard Baden-Clay murdered his wife Allison in 2012.

On Thursday morning, the High Court granted the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions leave to argue Baden-Clay's murder conviction should be reinstated.

Baden-Clay, 45, was convicted of the April 2012 murder of his wife Allison, 43, following a Supreme Court trial in 2014, however, the charge was downgraded to manslaughter on appeal.

The legal team for the one-time Brisbane real estate agent successfully argued in the Queensland Court of Appeal that there was enough evidence to prove Baden-Clay killed his wife but insufficient evidence to prove he did so with intent.
Queensland scientists have helped identify 74 genes that could play a role in how much education a person completes, a global study has found.

The study, conducted by the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium, analysed the genetic information from 300,000 people mostly across Europe, USA and Australia who had participated in previous studies where their education had been recorded.

How long you pursue your education could be down to not only social and environmental factors, but also genetics.

UQ Queensland Brain Institute's Professor Peter Visscher was involved in the study and said the 74 genes were a "very tiny fraction" of the estimated 20 per cent of DNA variants associated with levels of education.

"Educational attainment is a complex phenomenon, and mostly influenced by social and other environmental factors, but we knew that genes play a role too," he said.
Childcare workers and kindergarten teachers are not required to be vaccinated in Victoria, a parliamentary committee hearing has heard.

The Department of Education and Training has confirmed staff at early childhood centres are not included in recent legislation that requires children to be vaccinated before they can attend childcare or kindergarten.

Childcare staff are not required to be fully vaccinated in Victoria.

In January, the Andrews government's "no jab, no play" laws came into effect, aimed at improving the state's vaccination rates.

But on Thursday a Victorian Public Accounts Estimates Committee heard there was no mandate for staff at childcare facilities to be fully immunised.
Western suburbs residents will soon have an alternative to the West Gate Bridge peak hour traffic crawl to reach the city.

Starting next week, Melbourne's first commuter ferry service will begin a two-week trial from Wyndham Harbour, a housing development in Werribee South, to Victoria Harbour in Docklands.

Passengers will disembark near the NAB building, on the corner of Bourke Street and Harbour Esplanade.

During an eight-week trial, a single service will depart from Werribee South at 6.40am, arriving at the Docklands terminal just before 8am.
Barrister Ben Mallick caused ripples in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday when he seemed to suggest a young woman indecently assaulted by a taxi driver had brought it on herself.

"She sat in the front seat ... she was advised by her mum not to do that," Mr Mallick, acting for driver Omar Hassan, told the court.

"She can avoid this happening by doing what other women do ... by sitting in the back seat."

A social media backlash quickly erupted, and some of his colleagues were aghast, but on Thursday Mr Mallick told Fairfax Media he had chosen his words poorly, and had not intended to suggest the young woman had invited unwanted attention while she was being driven home from a Ringwood nightclub in the early hours of November 3, 2013.

"It was an inappropriate statement," Mr Mallick told Fairfax. "I didn't mean it that way."
Mr McCormack said he didn't want to make a scene and so left with his father by his side, but later wrote he felt a deep sense of embarrassment and shame about the incident. His father resigned from his position on the school's board soon after. Mr McCormack told Fairfax Media he was touched his father had also left the event to support him. "My parents are both incredibly supportive of me and who I am and everything I stand for," he said. "So that was really amazing, it brought a tear to my eye as I got in the car and drove off with Dad."



Mr McCormack, a budding fashion designer said he felt he was discriminated against.

"It cut me quite deep. I'm usually very confident, very outgoing and it's really affected me," he said. "My confidence has been really shaken." Since Mr McCormack posted his story on Thursday night, his post has been widely shared, with more than 14,000 'likes' and 4000 comments on the post. He said he wants the school to recognise their actions were hurtful. "I want to stand up for everyone out there, children and young people who don't know who they are and might not feel accepted by their school because I think it's really important that people should be able to wear what they want and be who they are," he said.

The budding fashion designer struggled in primary school and high school before he came out as gay at the end of year 11. He said he "is not out to get the school in any way, shape or form". "I have great memories of the school, I had a wonderful time there - a really great education.



"I was just a little disappointed, a little hurt that they decided to single me out at this particular event." Angus's 'inappropriate' clothing Credit:Facebook But headmaster Matthew Maruff has defended the decision and said the young man was turned away from the Foundation Day Celebration because he was inappropriately dressed.

"The issue is what someone wears at the appropriate time and appropriate place," Mr Maruff said. "It's just regrettable, it really is." Mr Maruff denied the incident was about anything other than the young man's attire, describing allegations Mr McCormack was discriminated against for his sexuality as "outrageous". He said Mr McCormack was turned away from the event because he had not adhered to the dress code. "It is about context," Mr Maruff said.

Though he did not see Mr McCormack on the night, and therefore could not comment on what he wore, Mr Maruff said he was made aware it was inappropriate for a person seated in the VIP section at the event. "What we would call lounge suit would be the appropriate attire," Mr Maruff said. He said Mr McCormack would have known what he was expected to wear because it was consistent with the school's core values. "It is upsetting, but we can't alter those core values for one person," Mr Maruff said. He said he was keen to make amends with Mr McCormack and his family over a cup of tea and a discussion to "make sense of it together".
Five Melbourne men suspected of trying to travel to Indonesia on a seven-metre fishing boat in a bid to get to Syria could be kept in custody for at least another two days without charge.

The Australian Federal Police had an extension granted for an extra 20 hours questioning time and 48 hours holding time for the men, who were arrested on Tuesday.

The men are suspected of towing a boat from Bendigo to far north Queensland in a plan to fight with Islamic State in Syria. The extension will allow the AFP more time to piece together the odd plot, which is believed to include a rendezvous in the central Victorian city.

Musa Cerantonio, Shayden Thorne, Antonio Granata, Kadir Kaya and Paul Dacre had their passports seized previously because of extremist activity.
A prominent DJ and another Melbourne nightclub figure have been accused of swallowing about a kilogram of ketamine and attempting to smuggle the drug through customs at Melbourne Airport last month.

DJ Kasey Roy Taylor and club promoter Robert Charles Oung are both expected to face charges of importing a marketable quantity of the drug, which is commonly used as an anaesthetic by doctors and veterinarians.

Melbourne DJ Kasey Taylor has been a mainstay on Melbourne's clubs scene for more than two decades.

The men were arrested by Australian Border Force after returning from Asia and detained at the Alfred Hospital until the drug had passed through their systems.

They were examined under the Customs Act, with each man allegedly ingesting about 500 grams of the drug, which can also be used for recreational purposes.
He look thoughtful and decided to remain silent. It was a wise move. George Williams - seen here with his daughter-in-law Roberta - was let out of prison for his wife's funeral in December 2008. Credit:Jason South Carl said they had nothing to do with the hit and, incidentally, had nothing to do with the recent murder of Kinniburgh. He was, as usual stretching the truth. Police now allege he offered two hitmen $200,000 to kill The Munster and then welched on the payment. Carl Williams' gold-plated coffin is carried from St Therese's church in Essendon in April 2010. Credit:Vince Caligiuri

The death of George Williams from a suspected heart attack finally ends the Williams' crime dynasty, which was responsible for nearly a dozen murders. It comes as no surprise, as he has battled heart disease for years and was told the only chance of long-term survival would come with a heart transplant. George Williams outside the County Court in 2011. Credit:Joe Armao The vision of Williams Senior leaving court showed a bloke who looked like an average grandfather more likely to be a grey nomad than an active criminal. But looks were deceiving. George and Carl were active and prodigious drug producers, which led to their conflict with the Moran clan that caused the so-called Underbelly gangland war.

George and Carl Williams enjoy a meal near court in 2004. Credit:Jason South It was on October 13, 1999, that Carl was shot in the stomach with a .22 derringer handgun wielded by Jason Moran in a park in Gladstone Park. Part of the feud was due to a dispute over the ownership of a pill press. A couple of months later the mystery pill press was found  not by the Morans but by police. On the morning of November 25, 1999, police arrived at a housing commission home in Fir Close, Broadmeadows, to serve arrest warrants, but no-one was home.

Later that day Detective Sergeant Andrew Balsillie was passing, and noticed two cars at the house. He recalled his team to issue the warrants and, after bursting in, found a pill press, 30,000 tablets and nearly seven kilograms of speed valued at $20 million. Carl Williams was found hiding in a bed upstairs (his bed attire suggested he was not having a quick snooze  he was wearing a loud, red Mambo shirt). And George was found hiding between a bed and the wall in another room along with a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol. Former head of the Purana Ganglands Taskforce, Superintendent Andrew Allen says, "George was a key figure. He pulled many of the strings but he stayed in the wings.

"He was smart enough to play dumb." Police say that when he was confronted about his son's murderous activities he simply responded, "That's Carl being Carl." Carl Williams as a boy and with his family, parents, George and Barbara and his brother Shane who later died. Credit:a When offered police protection George just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I've got nothing to worry about." Carl Williams was found guilty of one murder and later pleaded guilty to a further three, but only after his father persuaded him to change his plea.

"George brokered the deal," says former Purana chief Jim O'Brien. "Carl wouldn't say a word without George's imprimatur. George was up to ears in it all." Eventually the father and son were reunited in prison, with George doing time over drugs and Carl serving life with a minimum of 35 years for several murders. Then Carl tried to do a deal promising to tell all if a number of conditions were met. Carl Williams and his father George Williams leaving court after a bail hearing in 2004. Credit:Jason South

These included a reduced jail term for him and his father's massive tax bill to be waived. As an added inducement, it is alleged Carl and George were taken from prison and allowed to keep company with a couple of attractive ladies who were paid for their time. Before he could testify, Carl was murdered in 2010 inside Barwon Prison. In 1997, his brother Shane died of a drug overdose, then his mother Barbara took her own life in 2008. Now George has joined them. And our streets remain awash with drugs.
You're a young Australian artist with a growing international reputation and slew of upcoming exhibitions in cities around the world.

First up, travel to New York for your solo exhibition at a major art fair. Or so Hamishi Farah, 25, hoped.

'I was furious, and a bit confused but also I'm a black boy who was raised in white Australia,' says Hamishi Farah. Credit:Penny Stephens

But what unfolded was more like a real-life episode of Homeland. You know, the one where people of colour get locked up without charge.

Farah, an Australian citizen of Somali heritage who describes himself as a black contemporary artist, left his hometown of Melbourne on April 24 and flew to Los Angeles International Airport.
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has challenged her critics to call a motion of no confidence against her, but reiterated she has no plans to step aside.

Ms Scaffidi called an emergency press conference on Thursday afternoon after her deputy James Limnios broke ranks and called for her to step aside.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi fronted the media on Thursday following calls for her to resign. Credit:Heather McNeill

He released a statement saying her role had become untenable, but the lord mayor hit back at her critics, claiming she had the numbers to withstand a motion.

"I would ask them to move a no confidence motion, if they believe they have the numbers," she said at the conference outside Council House.
Detectives investigating the shooting death of Mitch Finnerty in Banksia Grove last month have made an arrest.

The 23-year-old was shot in the driveway of a friend's house on April 26.

Mitch Finnerty with his newborn son, Cruz. Credit:Facebook

Two other people were also shot and wounded in the attack. They were long time Coffin Cheater bikie Paul Mule and his 24-year-old son.

The dead man's girlfriend gave birth to their son just a few weeks before he was shot.
London: Britain has raised the terror threat level from dissident Northern Ireland militants to "substantial", meaning an attack on the British mainland is considered a strong possibility, Home Secretary Theresa May said on Wednesday.

She said the decision by the domestic intelligence agency MI5 to increase its risk assessment from "moderate" reflected an ongoing threat posed by dissident Republican groups in the British province opposed to the 1998 Good Friday accord that largely ended three decades of violence.

A man walks past a mural marking unionist territory in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, last week. Credit:Getty Images

"As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place," Ms May said in a statement.
London: A former manager of Australian banknote company Securency walked free from court on Thursday, after being sentenced to 30 months' jail for bribing an official at Nigeria's mint.

Peter Chapman, Securency's former manager of African business, had paid the bribes while under "considerable pressure" from his superiors at Securency to achieve sales, judge Michael Grieve QC said.

Peter Chapman outside the court in London. Credit:Nick Miller

They had encouraged or at least connived in the corrupt activity, and the company benefited from "highly lucrative" sales in Nigeria of the plastic used to print banknotes: orders worth around 30 million ($47 million).
Bangkok: Thirty years after a popular uprising forced the Marcos family from the Philippines, the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos has cried foul after falling short of pulling off a return to Malacanang Palace.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos jnr claimed election irregularities after the latest counting for Monday's vice-presidential election showed him 230,000 votes behind social activist Leni Robredo, the widow of a former interior minister who ran on a ruling Liberal party ticket.

His campaign office asked election officials to stop the count, citing "an alarming and suspicious trend", but elections commission chairman Andres Bautista said "these accusations are not true  we are committed to being impartial, to be neutral".
Vatican City: Pope Francis has agreed to set up a commission into whether women could serve as deacons, local media reported on Thursday, a potentially historic move that could end male dominance of the Roman Catholic clergy.

Deacons are ordained clerics who sit just behind priests in the Church hierarchy. They can preach and officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but are not allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick.

Pope Francis may be exploring giving women a greater role in the church. Credit:AP

Attending an international meeting of nuns at the Vatican, the pope was asked why women could not serve as deacons, with one delegate suggesting it would be a good idea to create a commission to study the issue.

"I think so. It would be good for the church to clarify this point. I agree," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA. A Vatican spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny the comments.
Moscow: As US and allied officials celebrated the opening of a long-awaited missile defence system in Europe, the reaction in Moscow on Thursday was darker: a public discussion of how nuclear war might play out in Europe and the prospect that Romania, the host nation for the US-built system, might be reduced to "smoking ruins."

"We have been saying right from when this story started that our experts are convinced that the deployment of the ABM system poses a certain threat to the Russian Federation," the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters in a conference call. "Measures are being taken to ensure the necessary level of security for Russia."

Russia has robust missile capabilities as well. A Russian S-400 air defence missile system seen during a military parade in Red Square. Credit:AP

The United States has asserted that the anti-ballistic missile system would protect only against "rogue" states, particularly Iran, and provide no protection for either Europe or the United States from Russia's far larger arsenal of nuclear missiles. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization site will be controlled by a US officer.

The system, called Aegis Ashore, was essentially transferred from a seaborne launchpad onto land in Romania, at the Deveselu air base. The United States on Friday planned to break ground on a second site, in Poland, that should be completed in 2018. But a deputy US defence secretary, Robert Work, reiterated Thursday there are "no plans at all" to strengthen this missile umbrella to protect against Russia.
Washington: Donald Trump's grip on the Republican presidential nomination has drawn a scathing new leadership-level attack on the New York billionaire, with the GOP's 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney accusing Trump of attempting to conceal "a bombshell of unusual size" by refusing to release his tax filings.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump dug in on his earlier refusal to release his tax returns, telling the Associated Press that he would not overrule his lawyers and release the documents while he was being audited by the Internal Revenue Service.

Mr Trump insisted he was not obliged to publish his returns before the November 8 election unless what he describes as a "routine" audit by the IRS was concluded. Arguing that voters were not interested, he said: "There's nothing to learn from them."
Republicans spent an entire primary cycle searching for Donald Trump's weak spot, to little avail.

But Elizabeth Warren, a liberal, 66-year-old first-term Democratic senator from Massachusetts, seems to have come up with an answer - or at least a way to rattle the New York billionaire.

Last Friday evening in the US, tensions between Mr Trump, 69, and Ms Warren spilled into a Twitter war, which spanned four hours and more than a dozen posts and insults - "Goofy Elizabeth Warren," he called her; a sexist, racist, xenophobic "bully," she countered - on both sides.

The back-and-forth, which played out in public rat-a-tat-tat bursts, 140 characters at a time, also offered a vivid preview of how the six months until Election Day could unfurl, with the popular Ms Warren emerging as a unifier of the Democratic base and Mr Trump- so far, at least - still unable to resist small provocations as he tries to become a more disciplined general election candidate.
Donald Trump arrives to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan on May 12. Credit:AP "While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground. We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal. "We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Party's history. This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification." Demonstrators protest Trump and the Republican party outside its headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit:Bloomberg The statement prompted this tweet from Washington Post analyst Chris Cillizza: "Yes, folks, Paul Ryan is going to endorse Donald Trump. Not today but he's going to endorse."

The best that Representative Greg Walden, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, could muster was this: "While I may disagree with the rhetoric Mr Trump uses and some policy positions, he is the better option than Hillary Clinton." Ryan said he's not ready to fully back Trump without a clearer commitment to conservative principles. Credit:Bloomberg At a subsequent press conference, Ryan argued that in sounding out Trump on abortion, limited government, the constitution and executive power, they were in broad agreement. "We talked about life, the supreme court," Ryan said. "I was very encouraged with what I heard from Donald Trump today. We are planting the seed to get ourselves unified, to bridge the gaps and differences. At stake for Donald Trump going into the meeting was access to the deep pockets of Republican donors, a point made by one protester. Credit:Bloomberg

"It was our first meeting. I was very encouraged, but this is a process, it takes a little time "I thought he was a very good personality. He was a very warm... gentleman. I actually had a very pleasant exchange with him." The clearest signal that Ryan was climbing down was his newly stated preparedness to fill the traditional speaker's roll as chairman of the Republican convention at which Trump expects to be anointed as the GOP nominee in Cleveland Ohio in July - earlier Ryan had offered to step down. And proving that pettiness is alive and thriving in GOP-land, Ryan later tweeted a picture of himself greeting a bunch of school kids in the capital. With the message: "My most important meeting of the day." Commentator Jon Ralston parodied Ryan's comments thusly: "I disagree with our nominee on his disparaging remarks about every demographic and can't fathom what his positions are. But I support him."

Oddly, Trump remained silent for several hours after his meeting with Ryan had ended. He said nothing publicly  no tweet, no statement  till shortly after 2pm when he tweeted baldly if accurately enough: "Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well! #Trump2016" Trump and Ryan, along with a good many others in the Republican establishment are poles apart on a wide range of issues. In a left-right policy mash-up, Trump wanders to both ends of the spectrum, happily changing his position from day to day or from one week to the next, putting him out of step with GOP orthodoxy on trade and aspects of economic policy, gun control, foreign policy, immigration, health care and a range of hot-button issues, like abortion, same-sex marriage and transgender bathroom access. In the face of Trump's insistence that he would not bow to Ryan and the rest, the speaker was up against a wall as he went into Thursday's meeting with Trump, doubly so because at a Wednesday a meeting of pro-Trump, rank-and-file congressmen told him he had to get behind the reality TV star. Ryan's supporters argue that his objective is to protect the modern Republican policy portfolio. But others see him protecting his policy turf with an eye on a future presidential run of his own which likely would be made all the more difficult by the inevitable re-engineering of GOP policy under four or eight years of a President Trump.

Seen as a force for party unity when he was drafted reluctantly as speaker late in 2015, Ryan stands for a kinder immigration reform, cuts to a range of entitlement programs and free trade that were all the go when he stood as the GOP vice-presidential nominee in 2012. But in the era of Donald Trump all that he stands for has become anathema for a party swathe that does not share his seeming revulsion at Trump's bombast and his attacks on Muslims, women and Hispanic migrants. At stake for Trump going into the meeting was his access to the party machine and its willingness to work with his campaign; and in particular, his access to the deep-pockets of the donors who traditionally put up hundreds of millions of campaign dollars. Meanwhile, down-ticket Republicans are making themselves into semantic pretzels as they attempt to stand with and against Trump, lest they risk damaging their re-election chances in close contests in November. In New Hampshire, Senator Kelly Ayotte, left reporters utterly confused when she declared in the same breath that she would "support the nominee" but that she wasn't "planning to endorse anyone." In Pennsylvania, Senator Pat Toomey wrote that Trump would have to 'earn' his endorsement  and then he went on to lambast Trump's 'manner and his policies' along with his "vulgarity, particularly toward women." The remarkable aspect of the Trump campaign is the candidate's utter disdain for political convention which historians will judge as an act of brillianceor lunacy.

He insists that his White House run will be as successful as that of the insurgent Barack Obama, but he's contemptuous of the huge and costly data-driven targeting of voters that under-pinned the Obama campaigns - "I've always felt it was overrated. Obama got the votes much more so than his data processing machine. And I think the same is true with me," he told the Associated Press on Wednesday. And though a good 60 per cent of Americans disapprove of him, he claims he has 'a mandate' from the primaries and that this thing called 'party unity' is not all that it's cracked up to be. In a long interview with The New York Times this week, he claimed that 'word of mouth' would carry the raw, unpolished Trump to victory, not mainstream media coverage and certainly not the policy nip-n-tuck and milder manners demanded by the GOP heavies. He would continue to hold huge rallies, despite the violence and racial slurs that upset so many of the party poobahs and he would maintain Twitter and TV lashing of his opponents because Americans admired his aggressive, take-charge style  his authentic self. In the same way that he's demanding more showbiz in the party's convention, which reportedly would include a nightly speech by Trump, he likened the campaign to a Broadway show. Trump wants party unity  but only up to a point. He told the Times that his eight million Twitter followers mattered more to him than the backing of Ryan.
Paris: Grabbing breasts, tweaking thong underwear, hitting a female aide in the face - top French politicians stand accused of all this and more, in a wave of allegations emerging that have women asking: How do we make it stop?

In 2011, Dominique Strauss-Kahn's scandals exposed widespread sexism in French politics, prompting uproar and hope among feminists for a new era. And in 2016? Little has changed, activists say. On Wednesday they held a protest outside Parliament to say enough is enough.

A woman with a fake beard attends a Paris protest on Wednesday to demand an end to widespread sexism in French politics. Credit:AP

What prompted the renewed anger were recent media reports and a book, L'Elysee off, which allege misconduct by two government ministers and a deputy parliament speaker. The accusations pose yet another problem for President Francois Hollande's embattled government.
Fremont, Calif., Home to More EV Drivers Than Any Other ZIP Code in California, Adds Eight New Public Chargers to Meet Growing Demand

 SEE ALSO: California Government Seeks New Ways To Screw Public Using Energy Concerns

FREMONT, CA - May 12, 2016: Things just got easier for electric vehicle owners looking to recharge in Fremont. The Fremont Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the City of Fremont, Prologis, Inc., Gridscape Solutions and Delta Products Corporation to install two new dual-port Direct Current (DC) Fast Charging stations on the corner of Fremont Boulevard and Warren Avenue. In addition, six Level 2 dual-port charging stations have been installed within Bayside Business Park.

Fremont, Calif., is ground zero for the electric vehicle movement in the United States and home to celebrity-status electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors. With Tesla delivering more than 50,000 vehicles in 2015, the City is continuing to invest in an electric-powered future.

Fremonts 94539 ZIP code has rebated more electric vehicles than any other ZIP code in California, and the city is home to approximately one third (32 percent) of all EV drivers within Alameda County. The EV charger installation project, funded by the California Energy Commission Grant under PON-13-606, is part of a larger effort to build a citywide infrastructure of public EV charging stations that can accommodate Fremonts growing number of EV drivers.

Were interested and active in economic development within our city, and were committed to achieving this in a responsible and sustainable way. The addition of these charging stations is critical to our progress and success in this goal, said Cindy Bonior, President and CEO of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

The new charging stations and the open payment processing kiosks have been operational since December 1, 2015. The Level 2 chargers are able to recharge a vehicle in two to three hours. The DC Quick Chargers, supplied by Delta Products Corporation, are able to fully recharge an electric car battery in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. The chargers are equipped with both SAE Combo and CHAdeMO ports, and can achieve industry-leading power conversion efficiency of 94 percent.

Vipul Gore, CEO and founder of Gridscape Solutions  the company that managed the project and provided the open payment processing kiosks and cloud-based managed OCPP network software service  predicts that by its third year of operation, this project is estimated to divert 133,000 kg of greenhouse gas emissions annually, replace approximately 957,000 conventional vehicle miles with EV miles, save 40,000 gallons of fuel annually and generate significant revenue from EV charging services for both Prologis and Gridscape.

With this latest installation, electric vehicle owners now have the option to charge up at a total of 26 different DC Fast Charging ports and 56 Level 2 charging ports within Fremont. The Citys other public charging stations are located at Pacific Commons Shopping Center, the Tesla factory, Ohlone College, Lucky Supermarket on Mowry, and Whole Foods Market, which houses the most heavily utilized stations out of NRGs entire DC-charging network in California. Looking ahead, the City of Fremont has secured funding to install an additional 17 dual-port Level 2 public charging units throughout the Downtown area, and BART has been funded to install another 23 units at the Warm Springs BART station.

Fremont is a major traffic corridor for the Bay Area with vehicles flowing in from I-880, I-680 and the Dumbarton Bridge. The EV charging stations provide Fremonts 3,915 electric car owners, as well as commuters, with a quick and convenient method to charge their cars while working or exploring the City, said Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison. Were excited to be able to offer these stations to our residents, employees and visitors.

The City of Fremont is doing a tremendous job of creating the public infrastructure necessary to foster a high adoption rate of electric vehicles, said M.S. Huang, President of Delta Products Corporation. Were delighted to contribute our cutting-edge EV quick charging technology to the Citys initiatives, as they perfectly align with our mission to offer a complete range of proven EV charging solutions for a cleaner environment.

Delta and Gridscape are two Fremont-based companies with proven experience and expertise in building and installing EV infrastructure. Their contributions to this project illustrate the breadth of Fremonts clean tech industry and the strength of its local supply chain.

To celebrate Fremonts progress towards a more sustainable future, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new charging stations will take place today, Thursday, May 12, at Bayside Business Park at 10 a.m.

For additional information on electric vehicles in Fremont, please visit http://www.fremont.gov/2057/Electric-Vehicles.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A good ol Manitoba social this Saturday will raise money to give a refugee family a warm welcome to the province.

Laura Warkentin from Landmark said she is acquainted with a group of Winnipeggers sponsoring a Syrian refugee family.

I dont know a better way of raising a large amount of cash in one night, she said. A lot of people are excited about the idea, coming out, and getting together and having a good time.

The Social for Syria will take place at Landmark Arena on May 14 from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Warkentin said the Syrian family arrived in Canada in late February, settling in at their new home in Osborne Village.

I have never seen the family since then not smiling, she recalled. They are so happy and so thankful to be here. It makes it all worth it.

Silent auction prizes will be available at the social.

The Syrian husband and wife, Mohamed and Magda, will be on hand to meet supporters.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/05/2016 (2357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Find these stories and more in the May 12 issue of The Carillon.

Heroic efforts

Reporter Ian Froese talks with a Fort McMurray firefighter with Southeast connections about his experience battling the communitys devastating blaze.

IAN FROESE | THE CARILLON Read about the Asian Cultural Festival and more in the May 12 issue of The Carillon.

Faithful scrutiny

Reporter Adriana Mingo reports from Seine River School Division where trustees are raising concerns again about the type of organizations allowed to deliver religious instruction in schools.

Play ball

Sports editor Terry Frey shares as the Carillon Sultans get ready for the start of a new season.

Dearly beloved

The Carillons annual wedding anniversary section celebrates the special anniversaries of many Southeast couples.
For Dogs, its Trick and Treat Its almost Halloween, a great time to teach your dog a trick and give him a treat. Most trainers are fans of trick training. Its not as silly as it...

Muzzle is not a bad word If you see a dog in a muzzle, you immediately think the dog is aggressive. Right? Well, this is not always true. Unfortunately, seeing a dog in a muzzle carries...
The online hyperlocal news service, Ripple.co, could hardly have enjoyed a more auspicious launchpuff-piece publicity and an enviable collection of A-list investors who ploughed $4 million in startup funds into the fledgling enterprise.

But, in a Darwinian marketplace that moves at lightning speed and twitches to the whips and whims of social media, it took less than 24 hours for Ripple.co to hit a humiliating snag.

In some ways, it was a genius idea, said Jake Dobkin, the publisher of Gothamist, the popular collection of websites that cover local news, cuisine, culture, and events in New York and seven other cities. But, in the end, Dobkin added, its exactly the kind of stupidity that you would see on [the satirically spot-on HBO sitcom] Silicon Valley.

On Wednesday afternoon, Dobkin discovered that Ripple had raided Gothamists New York site alone of 270 stories, essentially posting a weeks worth of proprietary content as its own without permission or payment; Dobkin immediately began railing against Ripple in a relentless Twitter assault, and sending Ripples founder, an Egyptian-born Armenian tech entrepreneur named Razmig Hovaghimian, a cease and desist email.

If they dont respond to the email, they get the official version from my attorney the next day, Dobkin told The Daily Beast, adding that in this case, he didnt need to resort to lawyer-written threats.

This isnt innovation, @onrippleits just theft, Dobkin tweeted. I cant believe you launched without talking to any of the local publishers you pirated.

Likewise, Michael P. Ventura, managing editor of DNAinfo.com, another popular online local news service, protested Ripples rampant rip-off of his own material. Ventura, in any event, is apparently no novice at confronting such editorial larceny: His Twitter feed features a photo of Jason Robards playing Ben Bradlee in All The Presidents Men, with the caption: Any of you guys got scoops of your own or are we just ripping off DNAinfo again?

The 40-year-old Hovaghimianwho late Wednesday phoned Dobkin to apologize and removed all the Gothamist content from Ripple.coresponded to The Daily Beasts request for comment with a text message attributing the glitches to no easy technical challenges, and referred to his open apology on the Ripple.co site.Today, a day after our launch, it is abundantly clear that I have let many of you down, Hovaghimian wrote. And some of youlike Jake Dobkin, publisher of Gothamistlet us have it. I really messed up, and I am truly sorry.

That was a very different tune from the one that had played just before when the app went live on Tuesday, as the influential tech site Recode and the Medium spinoff Matter, which describes itself as a multiplatform content studio and intellectual-property incubator, celebrated Ripples birth in terms usually reserved for the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Hovaghimian had easily raised millions from an all-star team of venture capitalists that included Googles Eric Schmidt, Vice Medias Shane Smith, and even the folks behind Matterwhich crowed in tech-speak: We are proud to announce that Matter Ventures has made a fifth non-accelerator investment, in Ripple.co! The city-focused news platform powered by local journalists and storytellers has raised $4M in funding to tackle hyperlocal news discovery through a combination of location technology and a contributor community.

Which prompted DNAinfos Ventura to tweet: powered by=stolen from???

Burlesquing other passages in Matters hagiographical account, Ventura added: And by uncover and amplify you mean copy and paste And: Sorry, I meant steal and pass off as your own.

Hovaghimianwho in 2013 sold his last creation, Viki, a global version of Hulu, to a Japanese corporation for a whopping $200 millionconceived Ripple with the same surefire business model that had worked so brilliantly at Viki: free labor and free content.

Viki relied on free labora volunteer army of translators who helped caption their favorite shows in 100 different languages, the Recode story reported. Hovaghimian figures the same ethos will compel people to write about whats happening down the street. Eventually, he says, hell be able to share revenue, likely from ads, with his top producers.

Dopkin observed that in technology-focused Silicon Valley, content is usually a minor concern. Nor do the Valleys digital gurus respect the blood, sweat, and tears frequently required to produce it, he said. The content is just like one small ingredient in their stewalthough in this case, its the main ingredient.

Dobkin said he realized that Gothamist was being ripped off around noon Wednesday, after seeing a tweeted complaint of theft from a DNAInfo writer in Chicago, and wondered if the same thing had befallen his own site. It didnt take long for him to discover that it had.

Wed been burgled, he said. The annoying thing is we make a live feed available with thumbnails and 75-word excerpts to use, so its like I put out all this free food, and you come in and you dont want the free food. Instead you break into my refrigerator and take everything.

Dopkin compared Ripple.co to rampaging raccoons in a home invasion.

In due course, Dopkin said, Hovaghimian phoned to ask forgivenessand Dobkin had the clear impression that Gothamists cease and desist demand was not the only trouble the tech entrepreneur was attempting to tamp down.

I imagine he was having a very bad afternoon, Dobkin said. He said they made a mistake, that basically they had permission from a few publishers to ingest their feeds, and that the coding got messed up. Long story short, they ingested our full feed. I thought it was a pretty big mistake to make. He promised to remove the full feeds of anyone who hadnt opted in by giving explicit permission.

Adding insult to injury, their formatting of our stories was all messed up, Dobkin said. So not only were they stealing, they werent even representing the content correctly.

He added: I think in San Francisco, they dont really understand content that well. It takes a lot of work by a lot of journalists who take a lot of time to make it, and theres no way to automatically produce it. But I can see why someone would not want to pay and accidently go down this path.
Donald Trump is the real deal in the eyes of Americas most prominent white nationalist.

Appearing Wednesday afternoon on CNNs The Lead, corporate attorney and American Freedom Party chief William Daniel Johnson laid out the case for the presumptive Republican nominee whose xenophobic policy suggestions have long tantalized white supremacists and xenophobes throughout the 2016 campaign.

Mr. Trump is the real deal, Johnson gushed to host Jake Tapper. He will not govern by public opinion poll. He says whats on his mind.

Johnson, who previously ran for president with the catchy slogan Diversity Is a Codeword for Genocide, was famously selected as a California delegate for Trump earlier this week before the campaign quickly scrambled to nix his role following outcry.

Trumps camp blamed Johnsons appointment on a database error, and the white nationalistwhose law firm unironically assists Chinese businesses with coming to the U.S.happily backed away so as not to negatively impact Trumps efforts, he told The Daily Beast.

We live in a society where white people hate white people who like white people, he explained. And me being a white nationalist doesnt sit well with some people. So I understand his campaigns concerns.

Asked by CNN whether he believes the white race is superior, Johnson played coy: I believe that Western civilization is declining and dying out in every country around the world that has traditionally been white. Europe is being replaced by immigrants from Africa; America is the same thing happening here. And so I believe that we need to be aware of this precipitous decline in the white race.

The whites now are so afraid to be proud of their heritage because theyre called bad names if they are.

Despite his desire not to harm The Donalds efforts, Johnson has previously caused the campaign some headaches. After the lawyer contributed $250 to the campaign in September 2015, Trump agreed to return the funds over concerns about his racist views. Nevertheless, Johnson went on to fund outwardly white supremacist radio ads on Trumps behalf in a number of states, and set up a 24/7 hotline for Trump supporters who feel that theyve been marginalized by society for their beliefs.

Johnson himself is familiar with being marginalized, as he lamented to CNN: In todays society, theyre passing around the word racist more and more and everybody is being called a racist nowadays. So that term and all of these invectives are having less meaning. Everybody is being called that so it doesnt mean much anymore.

Pressed further on his views, Johnson added, I do believe that when you replace one people with another, that is not a good thing, whether it takes place in Mongolia or in Sweden. However, he noted, I think that Donald Trump has to be a president for all peoples.
HONG KONG  The Chinese Communist Party is increasingly wary of a foreign footprint on Chinese soil, and the paranoid PR campaign its waging to raise public awareness of nefarious foreign plots has grown truly bizarre.

Last month, a man named Huang Yu faced judgment in a Chengdu courtroom. He was a computer scientist embedded in a research unit that worked for the Chinese government. The units projects are related to national security.

Huangs charge? Obtaining state secrets and selling them to a foreign intelligence agency. His sentence? Death.

Shortly after the conviction, party media aired a TV special that provided some details about his crimes, the consequences, and his trial. In the program, Huang was described as a man who went from being a little employee to a big spy.

The saga began in 2002, when, apparently, Huang reached out to spy agencies by contacting them online. It wasnt long before he was being paid $5,000 per month by foreign elements, with occasional bonuses. Over a period of 13 years, Huang met with foreign intelligence agents 21 times to leak 150,000 documents, including 90 that contained confidential state secrets. His total compensation, according to the televised report, totaled $700,000.

The television program included testimony from Huangs former colleagues, who suggested that he was never suitable for the job, that he was not dependable, that he was an average worker with a bad attitude. To complete the checklist of elements in current Chinese propaganda videos, Huang himself was placed before a camera to confess his crimes.

After Huang was arrested, 29 employees in his former unit also received varying degrees of punishment. His wife and brother-in-law are serving five-year and three-year prison sentences, respectively.

Huangs case was aired as part of a media campaign rolled out for Chinas first National Security Education Day on April 19 that oftenthough accidentallyturned comic.

In a video released online to educate the public about Chinas Counter-Espionage Law, for instance, a narrator says, Recently, our security sector has worked hard to arrest a group of strange people who clamored to be our friends, including James Bond, Tom Cruise, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jason Bourne, and Mr. Bean!

What? This joke isnt just lost in translation. Its perfectly flat in the original as well.

Another episode features Marvel and DC superheroes and villains as it demands that Chinese citizens identify potential foreign spies who may have infiltrated their communities and workplaces.

The medium did not match the message, however, and the intended viewers quickly pointed out the irony: if foreign influence is toxic and hostile, why use movie and comic characters created by Americans and Britons to draw in viewers?

Beijings Xicheng district, a financial center that is also home to many foreigners who work in the Chinese capital, saw a different kind of blitz.

A poster comic titled Dangerous Love uses 14 frames to trace the journey of a young, brown-haired civil servant named Xiao Li: She attends a dinner party hosted by an expat, falls in love with him, then, like Huang Yu, leaks confidential documents to him. Once the man of her dreams disappears, Xiao Li is arrested by the police for aiding a foreign spy.

In two final frames, police officers regurgitate paragraphs of legalese relevant to Xiao Lis circumstances, warning readers of lengthy jail sentences if they provide information to foreign groups.

In fact, last November, Chinese security officials set up a hotline for citizens to report the activities of potential foreign agents. Want to file a report? Dial 12339.

While it is rare for China to announce publicly the arrests of potential spies, a few high-profile cases have been reported during the presidency of Xi Jinping. Last May, China detained two Japanese nationalsone near a military facility close to Shanghai, and another near Chinas border with North Korea. A few months before that, a Canadian couple who operated a coffee shop in Dandong, a city along the northeastern border, were also detained on suspicion of stealing state secrets. The couple is affiliated with a Christian group that provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans.

Foreign businesses and non-governmental organizations are having a tougher time in China, too.

On March 10, new rules kicked in to regulate the online content of foreign firms. The language is hazy, and it is unclear how the policy will be enforced as its scope covers only servers located in China, but the rules did state that online media of all formstext, video, audio, gamesmust serve the people, promote socialism, and do no harm to Chinese national interests. In particular, the spreading of rumors, an accusation often hurled at political dissidents, is banned.

In April, Chinese web censors blocked the iTunes movies and iBooks services offered by Apple Inc.

Later that month, the Chinese government passed a new law to allow security forces control over foreign NGOs operating within mainland China. Again, the laws language is murky, stating that foreign NGOs are not allowed to engage in political or religious activities, or act in a way that damages Chinese ethnic unity. It will come into effect on the first day of 2017.

The paranoia extends to preparation for armed conflict with an unnamed foe.

This month, the Chinese military released a rap-rock recruitment video that states war can break out at any time, and that the armed forces are waiting for the order to kill, kill, kill. The CCPs sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is featured prominently.

The Chinese navys latest recruits are fishermen based on Hainan Island. Reuters reports that the fishing fleet is receiving four months of military training, beginning in May. They are being drilled for search and rescue operations, and are developing skills to safeguard Chinese sovereignty. They will also receive subsidies for fuel and ice. In return, the fishermen are charged with the task of gathering information on foreign vessels that appear in waters near Chinese shores. Some Chinese fishing vessels carry small arms.

The same report quotes an adviser to the Hainan government: 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.

All of this does not suggest the Chinese public is on the same page as the CCP. Dangerous Love and the cartoons that were produced for Beijings National Security Education Day were largely ignored, or even derided. The rap-rock military recruitment video likely wont lead to increased enlistment, as young Chinese citizens typically have no interest in joining the armed forces. And yet these productions, including Huang Yus confession video, reflect how the CCP communicates its self-image: The party thinks it is constantly under attack, and it struggles against foreign infiltration. The implications may be unsettling, as China continues its military buildup in the South China Sea. To paraphrase a famous truism, even paranoids make enemies.
ROME  At what was meant to be a love fest for 900 nuns at a meeting of the International Union of Superiors General at the Vatican on Thursday, Pope Francis didnt just rock the boat; he may have created a tidal wave.

During the question and answer session of the meeting, one of the sisters at the conference brought up the fact that women had served as deacons in the early church.

Then, according to the National Catholic Reporter, she asked the pope, Why not construct an official commission that might study the question?

Francis then said that he had discussed the matter of those early deaconesses with a professor several years earlier, but that he remained unclear about what role they actually served.

What were these female deacons? Francis said he asked the professor, according to the National Catholic Reporter. Did they have ordination or no? It was a bit obscure. What was the role of the deaconess in that time?

Then, apparently thinking out loud, he endorsed the idea.

Constituting an official commission that might study the question? Francis asked. I believe yes. It would do good for the church to clarify this point. I am in agreement. I will speak to do something like this.

The pope went on to address other concerns from the group of sisters, and dole out advice like take a deep breath and get more sleep and then revisited the topic. I accept, the pope said. It seems useful to me to have a commission that would clarify this well.

Deacons in the Catholic context act as a sort of priest-lite: they cannot perform the sacrament of the Eucharist (give holy communion) and they dont have to take the vow of celibacy; in fact many are married. But they can perform any number of ministerial roles, from baptisms to funerals, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, which is something many of the worlds Catholics just might appreciate.

Quoting canon 1024 of the Code of Canon Law, Catholic website Crux points out that at the moment, only a baptized male can receive the sacrament of ordination, so the law does not presently permit female deacons. Crux editors then question whether Francis will change the law, which is within his powers as pope.

As exciting as this is for roughly one half of the worlds Catholic population (the female half), surely not everyone will be pleased at the idea of women nudging one step closer to the all-male clergy club that rules the Catholic Church.

Almost immediately, liberal priests tweeted their praise. Father James Martin, a prolific author priest from New York, tweeted that the news filled him with immense joy and that, Women deacons would be able to baptize, preside at marriages and funerals, and preach at Mass. It would be an immense gift to the church.

A more conservative priest tweeted, Has @Pontifex forgotten about this 2002 study about diaconate where issue of women deacons was examined? referring to a Vatican study that all but nixed the idea.

Even if the special commission Pope Francis promised today does pave the way to the ordination of women deacons, they may never have a hope in Hell of being allowed to enter the full priesthood. But they are certainly one step closer than they have ever been before.
Six plaintiffs filed an $800 million lawsuit (PDF) against former Federal Drug Administration chief Margaret Hamburg and health giant Johnson & Johnson, accusing them of hiding the dangers of the antibiotic Levaquin to increase profits.

There are many unconvincing claims in the lawsuit, but that the lethal effects of the drug were not adequately communicated to physicians is not one of them.

The pain is almost unbearable in both legs and left shoulder, a user named Diane wrote on Consumer Affairs in October. I am now walking with a cane. Ruptured tendons, which Diane was diagnosed with, are a rare but serious side effect of Levaquin, as are a host of other physical and mental issues.
A city square is a physical pause in the urban landscape. Its a deliberate gap that interrupts the mass and clamor of buildings and streets, breaking up the flow of daily business and creating a space where people can come together, by design or happenstance. City squares are planned absencestheyre defined, first of all, by what theyre not. A city park already has a definition (grass, trees, paths) that tells you how its to be used: for leisure, for recreation, as a withdrawal from the city, with the illusion of being in nature and often alone. Squares, unlike parks, dont take you out of the city. As an extension of urban life, neither natural nor solitary, theyre of the city as well as in it, but with a function that alters through history. Because of their very emptiness, they are full of possibility.

Their essential feature is open space, and their essential function is sociability. Where much in the modern city is private and inaccessible, squares are for the public. People gravitate to them in order to yak, kibitz, palaver, gossip, argue, show off, watch, eavesdrop, play, protest, hustle, con, love, fight. In the case of Italian piazze, French places, and Spanish plazas, the restaurants, cafes, and shops that line the perimeters encourage the ease of human encounters. But their openness can also give city squares a feeling of desertion. Theyre places where people with time on their hands hang outthe jobless, the old, the lonely. In The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs quoted an Indiana woman on her town square: Nobody there but dirty old men who spit tobacco juice and try to look up your skirt. The square in front of the Paris city hall used to be called Place de Greve and was for centuries a place for unemployed Parisians to gather in search of work, which gave French its word for labor strike.

What determines a squares atmosphere and use isnt its shape or architectural details but mainly its location and scale. Some squares leave the visitor dwarfed and conspicuous, with no comfortable way to linger, as if the message is to keep moving. Look at pictures of the Zocalo, the vast central square in Mexico City, or Red Square in Moscow: huge paved plazas surrounded by beautiful architecture, with hardly anywhere to sit, making the people in them look like clusters of pigeons. Even squares built to a more modest scale can seem like pockets of isolation at the heart of a city, where the urban buzz suddenly goes quiet. Ive never felt lonelier than crossing a Tuscan piazza at two in the afternoon, nor more spooked than hurrying through Bienville Square in Mobile, Alabama, at four in the morning, at the end of the 1970s.

City squares seem to be waiting for a crowd to fill them upto assume a collective character and confer a public identity on private individuals. They possess a theatrical quality, as if the square is a stage and everyone in it a performer, even if the assigned role is that of an audience member. Many squares are best known for occasions when large numbers of people assemble there for a single purposeto celebrate, to remember, to hear music, race horses, salute a leader, overthrow a government, attend a parade or an execution. City squares are where rulers and their people meet, sometimes with unpredictable effects. A gathering of citizens can turn into an obedient herd, a violent mob, or a voice for hope. Squares can become instruments for autocratic control or democratic change.

Being communal, squares reflect the civic culture of a city and a civilization. Times Squarewhether the sleazy 1970s version (preserved forever in Midnight Cowboy and Taxi Driver) or the more recent corporate-neon fantasylandrepresents the naked capitalism of New York, open to all comers. That its not so much a square as a series of intersections surrounded by stores, theaters, and offices, rendered nearly indistinguishable by the ubiquity of advertising, only emphasizes Times Squares fluid, malleable American character. The Place de la Republique in Pariswhose 19th century grandeur was achieved by the destruction of eighteenth-century theaters and cafesis a perfect expression of French republican pride, never more so than on January 11, 2015, when up to two million people gathered there to march for free expression and secularism after the terrorist attack on the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo. In Pyongyang, the manufactured capital of North Korea, Kim Il-sung Square, more than eight hundred thousand square feet in area, is designed for vast military parades and anti-imperialism rallies in which individuals dissolve into an undifferentiated mass of movement and color. Squares are places where people go to shape an idea of society itself. For this reason, they are contested spaces.

From City Squares by Catie Marron Copyright  2016 by Catie Marron. Reprinted courtesy of Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

George Packer is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America and The Assassins Gate: America in Iraq and other titles.
Oh, P.J. ORourke, say it aint so!

Over the years, ORourke has led more than a few people to the lotus land of libertarianism through humor, invective, and stunning reportage from war zones. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys, he once helpfully explained.

And yet here he is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.

"Hillary is wrong about everything, he averred. She is to politics and statecraft what Pope Urban VIII and the Inquisition were to Galileo. She thinks the sun revolves around herself.

Still, he continued, Trump Earth is flat. Well sail over the edge. Here be monsters.

Like Little Marco Rubio, ORourke is particularly worried that a President Trump, however short-fingered, would have access to the nuclear codes, but unlike the Florida senator, he just cant find it in himself to vote for The Donald or go full third party.

Hillary Clinton is particularly awful from a libertarian perspective (conservatives can at least get behind her neo-con foreign policy). Beyond the character defects, such as lying about being shot at in Bosnia and refusing to admit she used a ghostwriter for her books and newspaper columns, there is her almost-unbroken string of failures as an unrepentant hawkish secretary of state. During her tenure as senator from New York, she voted for the Iraq War and the Troubled Asset Relief Program while being adamantly against illegal immigrants and same-sex marriage. Shes terrible on pot legalization, consistently opposing and dragging her feet on joining the 21st-century majority that supports treating marijuana like booze, and shes been slagging NAFTA and free trade at least since her 2008 run against Barack Obama.

The one thing she never switches sides on is the Second Amendment. Despite decades of declines in gun-related crime and violence while gun laws have been relaxed, shes made gun control a top issue in her campaign, even threatening executive action if Congress doesnt do her bidding.

As my Reason colleague Matt Welch has copiously documented, Clinton has been antagonistic toward free speech and permissionless innovation in the tech sphere going back to the 1990s, when she supported the V chip and her husbands attempts to force a ratings system on cable TV, classify encryption programs as munitions (thus subject to export controls), and mandate backdoors into all communications equipment. To this day, she sees Edward Snowden only as a traitor and even called for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites to deny online space to terrorists. They cannot permit the recruitment and the actual direction of attacks or the celebration of violence, said the woman who falsely accused a YouTube video of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Theyre going to have to help us take down these announcements and these appeals.

Even worse, Clinton waved away the First Amendment like so many purged emails: Youre going to hear all of the usual complaintsyou know, freedom of speech, etc. Christ, how many misbegotten drone strikes on innocent people and hospitals are hidden in that etc.?

You know who else has talked about closing that Internet up in some way, right? And who further elaborated, Somebody will say, Oh, freedom of speech, freedom of speech. These are foolish people.

That would be Donald Trump, who is himself a libertarian nightmare for any number of reasons, the first being that he takes conservatives seriously when it comes to reactionary positions on immigration, abortion, trade-protectionism, and the dumbest-possible iteration of American greatness.

Which brings us to Trumps highest-profileand certainly richest--libertarian supporter: Peter Thiel. The tech billionaire has had a hand in more than a few companies that have radically transformed modern life, especially the modern online life that Trump has called out for scrutiny. Thiel co-founded PayPal and was an early investor in everything from Facebook to Friendster to LinkedIn to Quora to Lyft, all of which have vastly expanded peoples ability to act, move, and especially speak more freely. Toward that latter end, he also supports the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Yet Thiel, who donated millions to a Ron Paul super PAC in 2012 and also gave money to Rand Paul in the current election cycle, is pledged to be a Trump delegate in the California Republican primary. Trump hasnt just yammered on about shutting down the Internethe also wants to open up our libel laws so he can sue the press for negative coverage. Whats American for aye, caramba?

Thiel has so far declined to say exactly why hes become a Trump delegate, but we can guess a bit. Like ORourke, he doubtless (and correctly) realizes that either Clinton or Trump will be the next president and as a libertarian, making a deliberate choice, even just between Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein, is valued.

Thiel has a history of supporting Republicans, whom I suspect he assumes are less immediately hostile to innovation and business (Im not convinced, but then again, hes the billionaire). Clinton is famously anti-Uber, Airbnb, and the whole sharing economy, an unfortunate trait she shares with progressive (and hypocritical) anti-hero Bernie Sanders. Trump seems to have little or no interest in what used to be the New Economy, but he is at least a businessman.

Like Trump, Thiel has a long history in calling out political correctness wherever he finds it and, despite his libertarian bona fides, isnt dogmatically averse to government assistance in the business sphere. As a college and law school student in the late 1980s and early 90s, he founded the Stanford Review, which editorialized against speech codes and leftist groupthink, and he co-authored The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and the Politics of Intolerance at Stanford.

Perhaps even more important, Trumps signature phraseMake America Great Againmight scratch Thiels worry that our most innovative days as a nation are behind us. His 2014 best-seller, Zero To One, chided millennials for thinking small when it came to entrerpreneurship and praised big-picture CEO (and PayPal co-founder) Elon Musk, whose success with Tesla, SolarCity, and SpaceX has been greased by $5 billion in government subsidies, loans, and tax credits. Trump, too, is unapologetic about mixing politics and business when it works to his advantageand especially when it comes to mega-projects. One of Thiels biggest ventures, Palantir Technologies, got early seed capital from the CIA and counts numerous government agencies among its clients.

Thiel remains deeply pessimistic about the future. In a 2015 conversation with Mercatus Center and George Mason University economist Tyler Cowen (who shares his anxieties about a slowdown in technological advance), Thiel claimed, Its not at all clear that were living in anything resembling a democracy. Rather, he suggested, the representativeness of government has been largely superseded by these very unelected agencies of one sort or another, which really drive most of the decision-making. Within the binary choice of Trump or Clinton in 2016, theres no question that Trump at least gestures toward a future, even if it is one shrink-wrapped in 20th-century nostalgia for a less diverse country and American political and economic hegemony that is simply (and thankfully) impossible in a far-more-globalized world.

Not so long ago, Thieland ORourke, for that mattercounseled folks to look beyond politics for the real meaning of life. Politics is about interfering with other peoples lives without their consent, wrote Thiel in 2009. Thus, I advocate focusing energy elsewhere, onto peaceful projects that some consider utopian. For him, that meant ventures focused on things such as seasteading and life extension. In 2010, ORourke published a book titled Dont Vote: It Just Encourages the Bastards.

Those sentiments still ring truer to me than actually endorsing and voting for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. At the very least, Id urge either of themnot to mention the rest of the countryto think about going outside of the major parties and voting Libertarian as a way to potentially drag politics into the 21st century.

Voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil and its not at all clear to me that the road to better candidatesnot to mention smaller governmentruns through either Cleveland or Philadelphia this summer.
For the first time there are indications that when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 hit the water its fuselage was torn open by the impact.

Australian investigators have now identified a piece of wreckage found on a remote Indian Ocean island as almost certainly being part of closet door in the forward cabin of the Boeing 777 that went missing on March 8, 2014.

Four other pieces of wreckage so far recovered were from external parts of the jet: a wing control surface called a flaperon, found on Reunion Island; two pieces of a horizontal stabilizer, found near Mozambique; part of an engine cowling, found on the east coast of South Africa.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has announced that examination carried out by Geoscience Australia of the two latest pieces of debris to be discovered, the piece from a closet door and part of a Rolls Royce logo from an engine cowling, has matched them with parts specific to the Malaysian 777.

Until now experts have held open the possibility that the airplanes cabin might have remained intact after impact while the other more vulnerable parts like the wings and the tail broke awaysimulations made of the last minutes of the flight have the jet, out of fuel, gliding in a spiral toward the ocean, with possibly one wing hitting the water first. This left the possibility that the fuselage and central core of the wing would have swiftly sunk to the bottom of the ocean. In view of the discovery of the closet door that scenario now seems highly unlikely.

The survival of part of an engine cowling is less of a puzzle. The engines would shear away from the wings on impact and, because of their weight, sink rapidly. The external cowling with the Rolls Royce logo is, however, far lighter. This fragment floated the farthest distance, to the South African coast.

This kind of breakup would be consistent with what happened to the Airbus A330 in the crash of Air France Flight 447 into the South Atlantic in 2009. In that case pieces of cabin wreckage and 50 bodies were found floating once the crash site was located within days of the disaster. In the case of Flight 370 there was a complete absence of such precise knowledge of the crash location.

The story of the closet door shows the remarkably accidental nature of the way debris has been discovered and collected. It washed up on a beach on Rodrigues Island, east of Mauritius. As exclusively reported in The Daily Beast, the island lies atop a volcanic ridge and is encircled by a coral reef. There is a gap in the reef near the Mourouk Ebony Hotel, where a current apparently carried the debris to the beach where it was found by two holidaymakers.

The haphazard distribution of the debris discovered so far from Flight 370, stretching well over 1,000 miles west from Rodgrigues Island to the South African coast, suggests that there could be many more pieces that remained afloat for more than 500 days from the day of the 777s disappearance. As the closet door shows, each piece has its own story to tell to investigators.

Curiously, though, the largest piece of debris, the flaperon, remains in the custody of judicial authorities in France while the rest is with the Australians.

Meanwhile, the $180 million undersea search for wreckage 1,700 miles off the coast of Australia has been temporarily suspended because of bad weather as the Southern Hemisphere winter sets in. Of the 46,000 square miles of the designated search area some 5,700 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut, remain to be searched.

And time is running out. The search is due to end within six weeks.
The violent felon who claims to be Princes son published a rap track that discusses killing the legendary musician, The Daily Beast has learned.

Carlin Q. Williams, a 39-year-old who filed the first paternity claim against the rock stars estate, also goes by the hip-hop moniker Prince Dracula.

On Facebook pages and rap websites, Williams has referred to himself as the Son of Prince. Indeed, the Kansas City, Missouri, native publicly called the Little Red Corvette hitmaker his father for yearseven in song.

While Williamss tracks fantasize about packing guns, selling dope, and killing cops, they also appear to mention offing Prince himself. The song Slo Life begins: Im a maniac / I stare Prince in his tits / And I stop his nerves from jumping / I just cut him to bits.

The lyrics continue, Now could you imagine killing the man who brought you into this life?

Meanwhile, the songs refrain appears to target Prince again: Why did my father sell his soul to the devil for fame? Change his name, start doing drugs, till he seen some Purple Rain

Its unclear when the catchy rhymes were published on ReverbNation, but a relative of Williams, Yng Henson, was posting Facebook links to Prince Draculas music as early as 2013. Another now-defunct link was posted in 2010.

In a bombshell court filing this week, the felon claims his mother, Marsha Henson, met Prince in the lobby of a Kansas City, Missouri, hotel in July 1976. The pair allegedly swilled wine before heading to another hotel to have sex.

Henson claims she didnt have intercourse six weeks before meeting the Purple Rain hitmaker and didnt have sex again until after Williams was born.

Williams is being represented by one of Princes former attorneys, Patrick Cousins, of West Palm Beach, Florida.

A representative for Cousins told The Daily Beast that Williams contacted the law firm years before Prince died, hoping to get in touch with the superstar. Cousins allegedly blew it off at the time, according to his spokesman, Bruce Lewis.

Whether the (heretofore) childless, twice-divorced Prince ever knew of Williamss existence is uncertain. A law firm rep told The Daily Beast that Cousins was an experienced lawyer for Prince, and he just didnt bother him with it.

Last week, a Minnesota judge ordered Princes blood to be preserved for future DNA tests of potential heirs. The judge also gave any potential heirs just four months to file a notice with the court or estates special administrator.

If Williams is found to be Princes son, he stands to inherit everything: the icons vault of unreleased material, his music catalogue and his Paisley Park home and recording studioall valued at about $300 million.

The shocking discovery would leave Princes only full biological sister, Tyka Nelson, and a phalanx of Princes half-siblings with nothing. According to reports, Nelson and the other kin relied on Prince for allowances and housing.

Others vying for a piece of the Purple Rain pie continue to emerge out of the woodwork. Another possible love child, a Minnesota mystery man in his 30s, has also been identified but doesnt appear to have filed a claim.

As The Daily Beast previously reported, Williams is locked up at a high-security Florence, Colorado, prison on a federal weapons charge of being a multi-convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Hes due for release in 2020.

Court records show he has a brutal history of violence against womenincluding holding a girlfriend captive, then chasing her down the street knife and threatening to kill her. In another incident, he assaulted a woman with a hot curling iron.

His rap sheet includes domestic violence, motor vehicle theft, driving on a suspended license and crack cocaine trafficking and possession. Hes violated probation multiple times but never served more than six months in county jail, according to court documents, until the feds nailed him on the weapon charge.

In sentencing documents, the prosecutor stated, Williamss prior criminal conduct  demonstrates that he is likely to commit similar crimes in the future and that he is a significant danger to the community.

According to court papers, Williams was arrested after walking from a stolen auto, then fleeing officers on foot and resisting arrest until cops used a Taser on him.

Lewis told The Daily Beast there wasnt yet a timeline for Williamss paternity test to be administered. But Williamss incarceration will have no bearing on the test or possible future inheritance, he said.
The war to reclaim Iraqs second-largest city from the self-proclaimed Islamic State has been pushed back yet again, three Pentagon officials told The Daily Beast.

Where officials once hoped to launch the campaign to reclaim the city of Mosul by the end of year, officials believe a year from now is optimistic, as one defense official explained.

Its the latest adjustment to the keystone battle against ISIS, one that has been plagued by U.S. miscalculations about the abilities of the Iraqi security forces. And the pushed backed timeline reinforces a growing belief that for all the U.S. training of Iraqi forces, local ground forces cannot reclaim the city on their own.

Just two months ago, President Obama said on Charlie Rose, My expectation is, is that by the end of the year, we will have created the conditions whereby Mosul will eventually fall. That no longer appears to be the case. Last month, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told Capitol Hill that the Iraqi forces would be in a position to envelope Mosul by next month. As it turns out, all the troops needed to surround Mosul wont even finish their training by then.

The closer the march toward Mosul comes, the harder it looks to actually accomplish, a campaign that the U.S. military once said could happen as early as March 2015. In recent months, a number of factorsmilitary, political, and practicalare slowing down the timeline, the officials explained to The Daily Beast.

The Iraqi forces still need to improve their logistics, like maintaining their equipment and weapons and moving troops. They need to train more troops and their Special Forces need rest after reclaiming the cities of Ramadi, Hit, and Tikrit, the defense officials explained.

They dont have the forces right now, one defense official explained. Its not going to happen. They cannot sustain it.

Currently, Iraqi forces about are about 50 miles south of Mosul and 20 miles north. Their goal is to eventually retake smaller cities around Mosul that are under ISIS control and eventually isolate the ISIS Iraqi capital. Indeed, a U.S. service member, Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Cardin, died helping Iraqi forces move a few kilometers north toward Mosul.

Meanwhile, ISIS has set up a series of berms and explosive protections around the city, which at its peak was home to 2 million people. After all, ISIS has had more than a years notice of the impending campaign.

Politically, the Iraqis have yet to determine how to govern Mosul the day after it falls, as one official explained. Kurdish Peshmerga forces will be key in the liberation of Mosul, which famously fell into ISIS hands June 10, 2014, after Iraqi forces took off their uniforms and fled. What role will the Kurds have in Mosul when it is no longer under ISIS control? And how much of the city will remain under the central governments control?

More important, Iraqi Prime Haider al Abadis grip on the country is precarious as Shiite leader Muqtada al Sadr has called for protests against Abadi.

Some Iraqi government officials are pushing for the liberation of the central Iraqi city of Fallujah before Mosul. Fallujah is a Sunni-dominated city, and the mostly Shiite government suspects that that restive city is home to ISIS fighters threatening security in the capital. Such arguments were only bolstered this week after suicide bombers attacked three parts of the capital Wednesday, killing more than 100 people in the deadliest attack in months.

On Thursday, twin bombings struck western Baghdad, killing at least five police officers.

The calendar presents additional challenges to the Mosul campaign. Iraq already is bracing for additional attacks as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan starting the first week of June. In the past, ISIS has often chosen to mark Ramadan by launching spectacular attacks across the world. Such forbidding expectations of ISIS will likely keep the Iraqi security preoccupied with securing currently held territory, rather than claiming new land.

The Iraqis have vowed to fight through Ramadan, defense officials said.

And from July until October, Iraq will likely be too hot to launch the kind of sustained campaign needed to reclaim Mosul, as temperatures will easily reach 120 F. At best, U.S. officials believe Iraqi forces will move forward a few towns between now and October, one defense official explained.

U.S. officials are pushing the Iraqis to resolve the problems that have kept the campaign against Mosul from progressing, particularly during the inevitable summer lull.

They can use that time to their advantage, and that is what we are pushing for, a second defense official explained.

The U.S. rhetoric about the campaign for Mosul is much like what happened in the run-up to the fight to take back the central city of Ramadi from ISIS. For months, the U.S. military said the fight for Ramadi was imminent, only to push the date back. When the campaign began last fall, it took five months to claim the city, which is only a fifth of the size of Mosul. Iraqi Special Forces led that campaign, while Iraqis only agreed to go in with the help of a heavy U.S. air campaign.

Between the explosives left by ISIS and air assault, Ramadi was all but destroyed when ISIS finally fled.

Ramadis fall was a huge boost for the Iraqi forces, even as a shell of a city. Some had hoped it would lead to a quicker Mosul campaign. But while some fear pushing Mosul further back slows much needed momentum against ISIS, U.S. officials believe it is better to wait. Mosul is bigger and heavily entrenched by ISIS, making its liberation far harder.

Yes, momentum will be lost but that is not a showstopper, the second defense official explained. The important thing is that the enemy cannot be allowed to regain momentum.
The Obama administration may soon release 28 classified pages from a congressional investigation that allegedly links Saudis in the United States to the 9/11 attackers. A former Republican member of the 9/11 Commission alleged Thursday that there was clear evidence of support for the hijackers from Saudi officials.

But in Florida, a federal judge is weighing whether to declassify portions of some 80,000 classified pages that could reveal far more about the hijackers Saudis connections and their activities in the weeks preceding the worst attack on U.S. soil.

The still-secret files speak to one of the strangest and most enduring mysteries of the 9/11 attacks. Why did the Saudi occupants of a posh house in gated community in Sarasota, Florida, suddenly vanish in the two weeks prior to the attacks? And had they been in touch with the leader of the operation, Mohamed Atta, and two of his co-conspirators?

No way, the FBI says, even though the bureaus own agents did initially suspect the family was linked to some of the hijackers. On further scrutiny, those connections proved unfounded, officials now say.

But a team of lawyers and investigative journalists has found what they say is hard evidence pointing in the other direction. Atta did visit the family before he led 18 men to their deaths and murdered 3,000 people, they say, and phone records connect the house to members of the 9/11 conspiracy.

The FBI did initially suspect something was off when their agents descended on the Sarasota house shortly after the attacks, tipped off by suspicious neighbors who had always found the family aloof.

Investigators found signs that the occupants had left in a hurry. Food was left on the counter and the refrigerator was stocked. Toys were still floating in the backyard swimming pool. Dirty diapers were left in a bathroom. It also looked like the people who lived there werent coming back. The mail was piling up outside, and the door to an empty safe was wide open. Three cars remained parked in the garage and driveway.

The FBI later said it came up with reasonable answers to explain this odd behaviorbut not until after the Tampa field office opened an investigation that claimed to find numerous connections between the family and the 9/11 hijackers.

The final answers about what really happened in Sarasota may lie somewhere in those 80,000 pages. To be sure, not all of them concern the FBIs investigation of the Saudi family. The documents represent the entire case file of the 9/11 attacks at the Tampa field office. But some subset surely will reveal more about what the FBI knew, and when, and why it reached a different conclusion.

For the past two years, U.S. District Court Judge William Zloch has been going through the files, page by page, to determine what information that pertains to the Saudi case can be released.

But based on about three dozen pages that had been made public already under the Freedom of Information Act, and the work of the reporters, this is the picture that emerges of life at 4224 Escondito Circle, a three-bedroom house in an exclusive community called Prestancia, in the weeks before 9/11.

The house was occupied by a Saudi couple, Abdulazzi al-Hiijjii and his wife Anoud, and their three small children. Anouds father, Esam Ghazzawi, a financier and interior designer, owned the home, along with his American-born wife, Deborah.

The family largely kept to themselves. A neighbor told the Tampa Bay Times that Abdulazzi said he was a student, and that his wife was religious. He would come over for a cigarette and a drink and to get away from that praying every two hours, the neighbor said.

But the familys behavior, and undoubtedly their national origin, drew new suspicion after the 9/11 attacks. In April 2002, based upon repeated citizen calls, the FBI opened an investigation, which revealed many connections between a member of the family and individuals associated with the terrorist attacks, according to one of the few released documents.

Those jaw-dropping claims remained largely unknown for years. In part, thats because the FBI now says that the initial reports came from an agent who couldnt support his suspicions. Investigators later interviewed members of the family and found they had left the U.S. because Abdulazzi had just graduated and gotten a new job in Saudi Arabia.

The Sarasota family also had no connections to the 9/11 terrorists, the FBI concluded. (Their names are redacted in the reports, for privacy, but they have been publicly confirmed.)

Case closed? Hardly. In 2011, a pair of Irish journalists, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan, who were publishing a book on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, contacted Dan Christensen, a veteran Florida reporter. Theyd heard about the Sarasota family and had a confidential sourcean unnamed counterterrorism officialwho claimed to have detailed knowledge of the FBIs investigation into the couple, including analysis of phone records that showed calls to and from the house connected to the hijackers. Whats more, the source also said that visitor logs from the security gate of the community showed that Atta, along with co-hijacker Ziad Jarrah, had come to the house, and that those logs had been turned over to the FBI.

The journalists teamed up and published an expose on Christensens independent news site, FloridaBulldog.org, and on the front page of the Miami Herald. The story was an instant sensation, prompting the FBI to publicly declare that the case had been investigated and found to have no merit.

Sen. Bob Graham, the Florida Democrat who had led the congressional inquiry that produced those 28 pages on Saudi connections, was stunned by the Sarasota allegations. The FBI hadnt given Grahams committee any information about the family or their suspected ties to Atta and other hijackers. Even the initial reports the FBI later said proved wrong werent disclosed to congressional investigators, Graham said. The journalists findings open[ed] the door to a new chapter of investigation as to the depth of the Saudi role in 9/11, Graham said at the time.

The FBI continued to publicly knock down the Sarasota connection. Graham eventually confronted the bureau and asked to see files from the Tampa field office. As he told The Daily Beasts Eleanor Clift for a forthcoming article, Graham saw records that did show alleged contacts between the family and three hijackers, and further lines of inquiry that investigators could follow.

Later, Graham himself was confronted by the FBIs then-deputy director, Sean Joyce, who told him, Basically everything about 9/11 was known and I was wasting my time and I should get a life, Graham said.

For his part, Christensen took the government to court, suing under the Freedom of Information Act for the files and records to substantiateor refutehis sources claims.

Thomas Julin, Christensens lawyer, told The Daily Beast that initially the FBI claimed it had no records. But when Julin told officials that Graham was willing to testify that hed actually seen some, the Justice Department admitted to having found 35 pages of material, which it released.

Its those pages, many of which bear heavy redactions, that show the FBI agents initial suspicions, the fact that an FBI case was open, and that investigators had found many connections between the family and the hijackers. There are also letters and memos from FBI officials dismissing the 9/11 connection as unfounded.

Those 35 pages were all the FBI could find about the alleged Sarasota conspiracy, officials insisted.

Zloch, the judge in the case, was not persuaded. He ordered the FBI to conduct a new search of its files, using a method that Christensen and his lawyer suggested. This time, they hit the mother lode.

The FBI found some additional responsive documents which it produced, Julin said. But it also found 80,266 pages of material in the Tampa Field Office of the FBI which had been marked with the file number for the FBIs PENTTBOM investigation.

PENTTBOM, which stands for Pentagon/Twin Towers Bombing, is the codename for the FBIs investigation of the 9/11 attacks.

The judge ordered the FBI to hand over all 80,000-plus pages on May 1, 2014. He is still going through them to determine which may be released and has given no indication when he might finish.

Zlochs task is made all the more painstaking by the strict security rules governing review of classified documents, even for a sitting judge. The files are kept in a secure facility, and he can only remove a portion at a time.

Its still not clear how many of the files from the Tampa field office relate to the investigation of the Saudi family and the house on Escondito Circle. But Christensen believes those files will reveal the underlying reasons for the FBIs early suspicions. And hes prepared to be proven wrong.

The FBI, for instance, says that phone records searches showed no links to the house and the hijackers. Christensens confidential source says the opposite is true. If the FBI is right, Christensen asks, then why not just release the information and put the dispute to rest?

Ive spent five years on this. Ive got other things to do. If theres nothing to this, then tell me, Christensen told The Daily Beast.

The public record so far has hardly allayed Christensens and others belief that theres more to the Sarasota story than the FBI is telling. Indeed, they say, the FBI is contradicting its own investigators. Graham told The Daily Beast that the FBI questioned the reliability of the agent who filed the first reports about the family and possible connections to the attackers. They said he was not a good writer and should not be taken as the last word, Graham said.

But that agent was reportedly promoted after the 9/11 attacks and assigned to a counter-intelligence task force. The bureau doesnt usually give new jobs to agents who cant do basic field work, particularly on the biggest case in FBI history.

As far as Christensen is concerned, the truth will out. But the FBIs silence is telling.

Not to be content with just the 80,000 pages, though, Christensen has also been pressing to get those 28 pages from the congressional inquiry released. They have an appeal pending before the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel, an obscure group within the National Archives that has the power to declassify the material, in whole or in part.

An Archives official wouldnt comment on the appeal, except to say that the panel has yet to officially take it up. According to a public docket, the appeal was filed in July 2014.

President Obama could elect to declassify the pages himself. Or he could defer to the judgment of the panel. Doing so would give him some political cover. It would also allow the president to make good on his commitment to finally let the public see what those pages have to say.

If that day finally comes, credit will surely go to Graham, who has pressed for their release for years. But some share may also be claimed by Christensen and Julin, whose hunt for the Sarasota connection led them to shake loose the 28 pages, too.

Both men said that the release of that better-known material may ultimately help bring the Sarasota files to light.

If the 28 pages are declassified, that might persuade the judge to move forward, Julin said. He doesnt think the congressional report has anything to say about Sarasotabecause, after all, Graham has said the FBI gave his committee nothing on the casebut the material might help Judge Zloch see the wider significance of the events in Sarasota and persuade him that some or all of the records have not been properly classified, Julin said.

Christensen noted that the Obama administration didnt publicly acknowledge that it might soon release the 28 pages until after Graham and other lawmakers appeared in a recent episode of 60 Minutes about the controversy. He said he hopes the judge saw the show, and that the intense national interest thats brewing around Saudi connections to 9/11 might resonate with him.

Two years or waiting for the judges ruling may be close to an end. I believe this is not a stalling tactic at all. The judge is doing what he has to comply with rules for handling classified information, Christensen said. But I would urge him to speed it up.

 with additional reporting from Eleanor Clift.
A website affiliated with the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) has published the names, email addresses and phone numbers of all the journalists and media workers who had received press accreditations from the breakaway Donetsk Peoples Republic in eastern Ukraine.

Since the publication late last week, dozens of war reporters on the listprofessionals who have done their jobs through two long, grueling years of conflict, risking abduction, humiliation, and murderbegan to get abusive phone calls and messages via email and social media. But Ukrainian security service officials continue to insist that there is nothing wrong with publishing the list.

The published list includes 4,508 journalists from all over the world. Some of those mentioned have suffered in Donetsk detention centers during the conflict, as even the accreditations they had did not help keep them safe. At least six journalists have been killed since the conflict began in 2014.

The first targets for the trolls unleashed by the SBU were Ukrainian journalists. Freelance reporter Roman Stepanovich received a message on his email: Let you die, a separatist beach! Glory to Ukraine!

Yekaterina Sergatskova, an anchor at Hramadske TV, felt frustrated: "Now they accuse us of helping the terrorists, she told The Daily Beast. This is a project curated by the SBU and praised by Anton Geraschenko [at the Interior Ministry]. He was the one who originally initiated that project, as far as we understand.

The principle of press freedom is supposed to be protected by Ukraines constitution. Several international groups, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), condemned the leak and denounced the support it received from Ukrainian state officials.

From the first days of the conflict in Ukraine in April of 2014, each of the media assigning reporters had to apply for an ATO card, issued by the Ukrainian security service and a DPR accreditation, issued by the self-proclaimed and Russian-backed Donetsk administration.

The paperwork allowed thousands of Western, Russian, and Ukrainian journalists to travel across checkpoints to interview soldiers, officials and devastated, deeply traumatized civilians caught in the crossfire on both sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. But many in Ukraine disagreed with the idea that journalists were supposed to cover the war on both sides of the front line.

This new scandal has divided Ukraines politicians and law enforcement officials into those who felt ashamed about the published list and those who praised the group, called Myrotvorets (Peacemaker), which brings together dozens of Ukrainian hackers backed by state officials.

Myrotvorets insists that those on the list have been collaborating with terrorists. Myrotvorets hackers claim the news coverage of the self-proclaimed DPR supported the agenda of the separatists propaganda.

On Tuesday this week, Anton Gerschenko, an adviser for Ukraines Ministry of Interior, praised Myrotvorets patriotic hackers in a post on Facebook: Thank you, guys, for everything you have done and will do, he said.

The CPJ report cites the Geraschenkos statements along with his recommendations for Ukrainian law enforcement to impose control over broadcast programming and cable networks, to prevent distribution of information that could destabilize Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as impose control over accreditation of reporters, specifically those from Russia. Geraschenko was also in favor of deportation of reporters found in breach of national laws, and developing legal and technical resources to block online content that incites to violence and destabilizes Ukraines national security.

Another senior SBU official, Yuriy Tandit, declared that Ukrainian authorities were planning to check some journalists willing to work on the opposite side of the front line. Such a leak is not dangerous, Tandit said. I do not think that it endangers these people, at least not by Ukrainian authorities or law-endorsement structures. The SBU spokesman also said that Ukraine was not planning to impose sanctions on honest journalists who tell the truth.

The outrage among advocates of a free press could be heard around the globe.

Journalists are not partisans. They are there to cover all sides of stories and conflicts and they must remain free to do so, said David Weisbrot, the chair of the Australian Press Council. These kind of acts will have a chilling effect on the willingness of journalists to risk their lives and cover this important story. Just as in the aftermath of World War II we needed international treaties and efforts to allow humanitarian efforts in war zones, it seems that, unfortunately, we need to make the same kind of efforts for journalists who are doing their job today.

On Wednesday, a group of Ukrainian and international journalists, including Hromadske TV, Novaya Gazeta, Gazeta Wyborcza, the BBC, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, and The Economist, published a statement condemning the release of the private information.

What Ukrainian officials referred to as not a dangerous leak was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, a serious issue for a country planning to join European Union. The petition had a positive effect: Ukrainian prosecutors began to investigate the persons who violated the countrys constitution.
Tabloid rumors have swirled around Caitlyn Jenner since before she was Caitlyn Jenner.

But its rare for a mainstream news outlet to lend them credence the way that CBS News did when they relayed the rumor that the most famous transgender woman in the world might detransition and return to living as a man.

That particular piece of hearsay started with Ian Halperin, author of the tell-all Kardashian Dynasty: The Controversial Rise of Americas Royal Family, who told The Wrap that he had heard from multiple sources that Jenner regretted her transition and might transition back.

Those whispers were amplified by a range of tabloids including The Daily Mail and, of course, Fox News, but it was shocking to see CBS and The Washington Post rush them to print so soon. After all, Halperin hadnt named any of his sources and Jenner had not yet provided comment.

It seemed like little more than gossip. Probably because it was.

It didnt take long for a Jenner rep to categorically disavow Halperins claims, telling the New York Daily News, Not worth commenting on such an idiotic report. Of course its not true.

CBS, in turn, was forced to update its headline from Reports: Caitlyn Jenner Regretted Sex Change, May De-Transition, to Caitlyn Jenners Rep Responds to De-Transitioning Report.

But why did the rumor that Jenner would detransition take hold so quickly and so forcefully? Why would major media outlets relay it without conducting a simple fact check, cowardly attributing it to Halperin but choosing to publish anyway?

The answer is deeper than just the endless pursuit of scandal in service of page views: Detransition stories appeal to a particular and disappointingly large audience of people who want to believe that gender transition doesnt work, that its not a proven form of therapy, and that no one can be happy once they have crossed the gender divide.

In reality, detransitioning is extremely rare. As Vocativs Tracy Clark-Flory reported, it is estimated that only 1 to 2 percent of people regret surgical intervention during a transition. Choosing to end hormone replacement therapy before seeking surgery may be more common, but it is still infrequent compared to those who choose to continue treatment.

But uncommon experiences have a way of surfacing on the Internet, and detransition tales are no exception. Last year, transgender blogger and activist Zinnia Jones catalogued as many of them as she could find. The truth, she found, was often more complex than tabloids would have you believe.

Some detransitioners, Jones discovered, dont express regret over their transition but still think detransitioning is the right choice. Others reported detransitioning not because they were dissatisfied with their treatment but because of the discrimination they experienced afterward. Some even retransition later on.

For example, when a young British transgender woman named Ria Cooper expressed regret over her hormone therapy in 2012, The Daily Mail jumped on the story, writing that she has decided to change back in to a man after suffering huge mental anguish as a woman. Vice followed up with her last year and learned that she was planning to go back on hormones and raise money for surgery.

The press will do anything for a story, Cooper said, noting that her earlier decision to stop taking hormones had come in the midst of a mental breakdown.

But its not just the press writ large that loves a good detransition story; its the conservative press in particular. The Federalist repeatedly publishes articles by noted detransitioner Walt Heyer, who openly advocates against transgender rights and believes that 20 percent of trans people experience regret.

As Clark-Flory notes, the far-right outlet Breitbart and conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh have both jumped on the detransition bandwagon.Even The Wall Street Journal gave column inches to anti-LGBT psychiatrist Paul McHugh, who claimed that a 2011 Swedish study suggests that sex reassignment surgery increases the risk of suicidea citation that is relished by the far right because it seems to support the sex change regret storyline.

Cecilia Dhejne, the lead author of that study, later told TransAdvocate that her work was being willfully misrepresented.Of course trans medical and psychological care is efficacious, she said. A 2010 meta-analysis confirmed by studies thereafter show that medical gender confirming interventions reduces gender dysphoria.

In fact, Dhejne and her co-authors had warned against McHughs misinterpretation in the study itself, writing that the results should not be interpreted such as sex reassignment per se increases morbidity and mortality. Their work was not intended to scare people away from seeking sex reassignment surgery but, as the authors concluded in the study, to inspire improved psychiatric and somatic care after sex reassignment.The boring truth about transgender health care is that it is effective. There are standards of care that have been developed by qualified professionals. And those standards of care, as Dhejne told TransAdvocate, have been tested multiple times.

But when you need to cater to an audience that doesnt want to accept the validity of transgender identity, those facts are often left out. Thats certainly what has happened in Jenners case.According to The Wrap, Halperin said that one source told him that Jenner was experiencing sex change regret and that the transition had been much harder than she anticipated.

Based on his research, The Wrap reported, Halperin believes that Jenner will de-transition in the next couple of years.

What The Wrap didnt report, of course, was any of the medical research cited above, which shows that detransitioning is rare and which suggests that claims like Halperins should be taken with a whole shakers worth of salt. CBS didnt cite that research, either.

Spreading detransition tales with no confirmation and no context isnt just an appeal to a lowest common denominator, its a decisionconscious or notto tell uninformed opponents of transgender health care exactly what they want to hear.

Every outlet that decided to piggyback on The Wraps scoop will be updating their stories with comment from Jenners representative if they havent already. But the damage has been done. The rumor doesnt have to be true. It just has to stick.
Diageo to launch Johnnie Walker Island Green

Diageo Global Travel will be launching Johnnie Walker Island Green, a new and rare blend of Scotch whisky, as a travel retail exclusive from July 2016.

The whisky showcases the same blended malt craftsmanship as Johnnie Walker Green Label but with a greater influence of smoky, maritime malt whisky.

As the first blended malt, travel retail exclusive from Johnnie Walker, Johnnie Walker Island Green is set to transform the Scotch category, helping Scotch drinkers explore malts through a trusted and well-known brand.

Doug Bagley, managing director of Diageo GTME, says: The launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green is a true game-changer for the Scotch Whisky category in travel retail. For the first time ever, we are able to offer our customers an exclusive blended malt whisky from the biggest spirits brand in the channel, strongly supported with the backing of Johnnie Walker investment and marketing activation.

Malts is the fastest growing category in travel retail, growing at twice the rate of the overall Scotch category, but the scale of variants, ages and flavours can be overwhelming to shoppers. Research shows that seven out of 10 malt shoppers drank blended Scotch before entering into malts, so we believe the launch of Johnnie Walker Island Green will act as an incredible signpost for those shoppers who want to explore the category. As a travel retail exclusive, Johnnie Walker Island Green also offers these consumers access to something special which they cannot buy elsewhere.

Thanks to the immense skill of the whisky makers at Johnnie Walker, and our unrivalled access to over 40% of the industrys inventory of malts, we believe we have an incredible special blended malt that will be immensely popular with consumers either as a treat for themselves or as a special gift.

Johnnie Walker Island Green captures the distinctive style of individual mature malts from the four main whisky regions of Scotland with added prominence given to island malts. As with Johnnie Walker Green Label it offers all the character of single malt but with a wider flavour experience.

Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker master blender, says: As whisky makers, were passionate about flavour, and creating this exclusive travel retail variant of our blended malt whisky has given us an opportunity to showcase a rare blend of rich malts. We wanted to preserve the character of each of the malts in this whisky but at the same time create a different, more intense flavour experience for travellers.

Stuart Morrison of the Johnnie Walker blending team, says this has been achieved by giving Caol Ila from the island of Islay a greater influence in the blend: The added prominence of the smoky, maritime nature of Caol Ila has been very carefully balanced with robust fruity Highland malts including Clynelish, lighter Lowland malts represented by Glenkinchie and the characteristically sweet and fragrant Speyside style of Cardhu.

Were fortunate to have access to so many classic malt whiskies and weve been able to make a unique, full bodied blend where flavours of peat-smoke combine with a rich, fruity sweetness and the comforting warmth of pepper and spice flavours that are characteristic of single malt but with greater depth and complexity amplified by the unique island style. Its a flavour profile that is best explored either neat or on the rocks.

Johnnie Walker Island Green will be available exclusively in travel retail outlets globally from July 2016 retailing at US$60 for a 1L bottle.

12 May 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor
However, the prospect of these damages has not convinced everyone to oppose the mine. Whilst the majority's resistance has been successful in blocking the progress of the Xolobeni project, their efforts to protect land and life have exposed them to harassment, threats, physical assault and murder.

Divide and conquer

According to Ryley Grunenwald, director of The Shore Break, a film that explores the struggle over the Amadiba community's future, says MRC's presence in the area has caused deep and increasingly violent social division between the small minority who support the mine and the majority who do not:

"MRC's local partners, XOLCO, are a minority group who will benefit from the mining and are hell bent to override the majority, who call XOLCO 'the crooks of the village'. For more than a year there have been violent attacks, night raids and assaults on anti-mining community members."

XOLCO, which stands for the Xolobeni empowerment company, is one of two community empowerment groups set up by MRC in the Xolobeni area. The other, Blue Bantry, has a 50% shareholding in Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd, which owns the Tormin Mineral Sands project in the Western Cape, and therefore benefits from MRC's operations.

Zukulu says MRC has intentionally divided the community, targeting leaders in an attempt to weaken community resistance to the mine: "The mining company has co-opted a traditional leader- our Chief - and as a result he may now not resolve the conflict as he is an applicant as well."

Chief Lunga Baleni, who MRC claims to have consulted over permission to mine in Xolobeni, a traditional leader of the Amadiba People, is a director of XOLCO. Both Baleni and Zamile Qunya, an MRC employee and director of Blue Bantry, are reported to have helped bail out individuals who have attacked anti-mining members of the Amadiba community and to have taken part in attacks themselves.

Since MRC's arrival on the Wild Coast, opponents of the mine say such attacks have taken four lives and that many others have been injured, creating a climate of fear in the area.

"People are now leaving in fear of being attacked. We have had babies being born in the bush as people sleep there in fear of being attacked", says Zukulu.

Video: The Shore Break documentary trailer (May 2015) from Ryley Grunenwald on Vimeo.

'You cannot have development without blood'

In what campaigners say is an escalation of the violence facing mining opponents on the Wild Coast, on the 22nd March 2016 Sikosiphi 'Bazooka' Radebe was shot in the head eight times and killed in front of his young son.

Up until his death, Mr Radebe was Chairman of the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), a group formed in 2007 to oppose MRC's Xolobeni project and claim the environmental rights of the Amadiba community.

Hours before his death, Radebe called fellow ACC member Nonhle Mbuthumba to check on her safety. He told her that he had heard about a 'hit-list' that included his name, hers and that of another ACC member, Mzamo Dlamini.

The perpetrators of Radebe's murder, who posed as police officers on their approach to his home, remain at large.

In a statement released after Radebe's death, MRC denied any responsibility for violence against opponents of its operations. Despite the testimony of local people and findings by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism this statement also dismissed claims that the majority of local people are opposed to the Xolobeni mine.

MRC has consistently denied playing any role in the conflict that has occurred since by its arrival on the Wild Coast and insists it does not support violence. However, the company has been heavily criticised over its engagement with local communities and for comments made by company employees that have been interpreted as condoning violence against mining opponents at two of its South African mines.

In an email sent to local stakeholder's at the company's Tormin mine on South Africa's Western Cape and obtained by South Africa's Sunday Times, MRC's Executive Chairman Mark Caruso is reported to have threatened to "rain down vengeance" on those who opposed the mine:

"From time to time I have sought the Bible for understanding and perhaps I can direct you to Ezekiel 25.17. 'And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee'."

In relation to the Xolobeni project, The Bench Marks Foundation that Mark Caruso's younger brother and business partner, Patrick, has made similarly disturbing comments.

The group write that at a 2007 community meeting following the murder of community activist Scorpion Dimane, Patrick Caruso responded to the bloodshed that had occurred since MRC's arrival by saying:

"Well, there is always blood where there are these types of projects ... in my experience you cannot have development without blood."

Protests, petitions and British billionaires

The murder of Bazooka Radebe has intensified international advocacy efforts in support of the Amadiba Crisis Committee in recent weeks, with campaigners exposing and applying pressure to MRC's connections to the UK and Australia.

In London campaigners from several UK-based organisations gathered on the 5th May to call on British property magnate and mining investor Graham Edwards to help put a stop to violence and killings associated with MRC's Xolobeni mine.

Leaflets handed out to passers by campaigners highlighted the fact that, as the sole owner and director of AU Mining Limited, Edwards - who doubles as chief executive of UK property giant Telereal Trillium - holds 96 million shares in MRC, amounting to an estimated 23.6% of the company.

Protestors dropped a banner proclaiming "No Mining Amadibaland" from a walkway, read statements from Amadiba community leaders and filmed messages of solidarity outside the central London offices of Edwards' investment firm Telereal Trillium.

Ahead of MRC's Annual General Meeting in Australia on 25th of May, the campaigners urged Mr Edwards to listen to the wishes of the majority of the Amadiba community and use his influence within MRC to encourage the company to abandon its conflict-ridden interest in Xolobeni.

Speaking at the protest, Dr Andrew Higginbottom said that if Edwards' fails to influence MRC to abandon Xolobeni, he should divest and save his reputation from being sullied by association with MRC:

"MRC should respect the wishes of the Amadiba community and walk away. Edwards and his family are the beneficiaries of this mining ... he has a moral responsibiilty for MRC's conduct."

Last September Edwards (or by another account his wife barrister Georgina Black) bought a luxury property on Sydney's prestigious Rose Bay waterfront, 'Indah', for a reported AU$27 million (see photo).

Another future for Amadibaland

As well as bearing witness to the pain and anger of the Amadiba Community in central London last week, protestors carried with them the hopes of the Amadiba People. These were most succinctly summed up by a placard that read "Graham Edwards, MRC, Hands-Off. Xolobeni is for Farming and Tourism".

Those who oppose the mine, like the members of the ACC, have an alternative vision for the future of their community, based on sustainable eco-tourism and traditional small-scale agriculture, says Sandy Heather of non-profit organization Sustaining the Wild Coast

"Small-scale community-based eco-tourism and related livelihoods projects - village-based accommodation, hiking trails, school leadership trails- have the potential to provide decent work for approximately 200 people indefinitely whilst respecting ecological integrity", says Heather.

"The mining will provide approximately 150 low level jobs, which may still be an overstatement, for 22 years, whilst destroying the entire ecological integrity of the area as well as the social, cultural and livelihood fabric."

Nonhle Mbuthumba, a forthright member of the ACC, is confident that those who oppose MRC's mine will be victorious. In a statement of solidarity sent to campaigners in London, she wrote:

"There will be no mining on the Wild Coast. There will be life, there will be peace and there will be development supported by the people."

Action: Protest at MRC's annual shareholders meeting in Subiaco, Western Australia, on 25th May 2016.

Hal Rhoades is Communications and Advocacy Officer at The Gaia Foundation which is working with communities resisting unwanted mining operations in KwaZulu Natal and worldwide. He is also a regular contributor to Intercontinental Cry.

Sign the AVAAZ petition to ask Graham Edwards to divest from MRC.

Watch The Shore Break, Ryley Grunenwald's film documenting the struggle over the future of the Amadiba community and South Africa's Wild Coast.
Taking advantage of Brazil's present political turbulence, as the battle to impeach President Dilma Rousseff reaches its climax, reactionary politicians are quietly rolling back environmental and indigenous protection laws in defiance of the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Environmentalists say that if the bill known as PEC 65/2012, now at the Senate committee stage, is approved, it means that major infrastructure projects will be able to go ahead regardless of their impacts on biodiversity, indigenous areas, traditional communities and conservation areas.

Instead of a careful if somewhat slow licensing process which involves scientific assessments including biological, botanical, anthropological and archaeological studies, developers will merely have to present a proposed study of environmental impact to be allowed to begin - without actually having to carry out the study.

And once a project is under way it cannot be cancelled or suspended by the environmental protection agencies.

A chorus of protest - but who's listening?

Environment organisations, both governmental and non-governmental, have protested strongly at the bill's implications. For Marilene Ramos, the president of the official agency for the environment and renewable resources, IBAMA, (in Portuguese only) it means Brazil is going in the opposite direction to developed countries and will no longer be able to control infrastructure projects.

Indigenous leader Nara Bare, of COIAB - the Coordination of Indian organisations in the Brazilian Amazon - said: "Brazil presented targets in Paris but doesn't do its homework, protecting the forest and us who live in it."

Carlos Bocuhy, the president of PROAM, an environmental NGO, says the effect of the bill will be to end environmental licensing: "It is completely absurd; it is as though the act of applying for a driving licence entitled you to drive a lorry."

The Climate Observatory (in Portuguese only) sees the bill as "a bad joke", even more so in a country that has just suffered the worst environmental disaster in its history, the bursting of a dam of toxic mud in Minas Gerais state on 5th November last year. The calamity destroyed all animal and plant life and a major river nearby, and could be the world's worst disaster after Chernobyl.

Greenpeace director Marcio Astrini said of the bill that "if it becomes law, it will act as a factory of tragedies."

Senators' enormous personal stakes in environmental destruction


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By Laura Acchiardo, laura.acchiardo@thegleaner.com

After approximately a year and a half, the city of Henderson is prepared to move forward on a handicap accessibility project at Central and Newman parks.

At their meeting Tuesday, city commissioners approved an agreement between the city and the Kentucky Department for Local Government (KDLG) to help fund the $100,000 playground project.

The KDLG is providing an $80,000 grant to fund the project, where KDLG will give $40,000 and the city will match the amount. On top of the $40,000, the city is providing an additional $10,000 and Henderson Leadership Initiative raised $10,000 for the project.

"A year and a half ago members of the Henderson Leadership Initiative approached the city to create handicap accessible equipment in our public parks," said Assistant City Manager Buzzy Newman.

Members from the Riverview School community worked with HLI to create the design for the playground project.

According to Newman, the project will take a little more than three months to accept bids, award the project to a contractor and complete construction.

In other business:

Commissioners passed an amendment to a purchase agreement with Alert Tracking Systems for the 911 systems upgrade. There are four items of clarification in the amendment, including the number of handheld scanners to be provided and transferring data from the current system to the new one.

The board approved the submittal of the city's 2016-17 action plan for the Community Development Block Grant. The city anticipates receiving $212,949 in CDBG funds this upcoming year. The CDBG will fund projects including housing repairs with the Kentucky Changers Program rehab program and the Emergency Shelter for Women and Children.

The community calendar is up and running on the city of Henderson website. People and organizations are able to add events to the calendar and events can be organized by category. The calendar can also be found on other websites such as Henderson County Tourist Commission.

Mayor Steve Austin declared the month of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness. Austin presented the proclamation to Mike Austin, who expressed concern for motorcyclists and their safety.

Mike Austin, mass transit, and Lt. Mike Polley, Henderson Fire Department. were honored at the meeting for their 20 years of service to the city.
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Progress stalls on Case, United Auto Workers negotiations. Here's why.

After weeks of progress, contract negotiations between Case New Holland Industrial and United Auto Workers have come to a standstill. Here's why.
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NORWALK  Amid growing local concerns, the Connecticut Department of Transportation played to a full house at City Hall on Wednesday, during a public information meeting on the estimated $600 million replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River.

Up to 140 people packed the Community Room for the afternoon session. Others came to an evening session. Each session began with a presentation by the DOT, followed by a question-and-answer period. Display boards showed preliminary design options for the project.

Vincent Penna, owner of A.J. Penna & Son Excavating Contractors, stands to lose his contractor's yard on Goldstein Place to the railroad bridge replacement.

"They're going to be working here for four to five years; you're putting me out of business," Penna said. "We started the business in 1947. We got this piece of property for our contractor's yard. There's a better way, or another way of (replacing the bridge), without taking my livelihood and (that of) 45 people that work for me."

Penna said he understood that the bridgework represents "progress." But, he added, "don't stand here and tell me you care about the people."

James I. Mason, assistant director in the DOT Office of Rights of Way, said he had worked before with property owners in Penna's position and helped them re-establish their businesses.

"Have some confidence in us and some trust in us to allow us to get you from (point) A to B," Mason said.

The DOT plans to begin the bridge replacement in mid-2018 and to wrap work up in four to five years. The project also entails signal and catenary work along the Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line to the east, construction of a dockyard to the north, and replacement of the East Avenue and Fort Point Street bridges.

James A. Fallon, the DOT's manager of facilities & transit, said the department would do everything it can "to minimize disruption to the surrounding community as we go through the project.  We certainly want to complete it in a safe and efficient manner."

Those comments didn't alleviate the concerns of property owners near the project. A number of speakers insisted that communication with the DOT remains a problem.

"There's going to be a tremendous effect on all of those small buildings, and you're not talking about it," said Patsy Brescia, a former city councilwoman and owner of the building at 213 Liberty Square. She said she fears that the building, although not slated for taking, will be under construction cranes.

The situation is different for Tony D'Andrea, owner of Select Plastics at 217 Liberty Square. That property would be taken to allow access to the construction site.

"I was here 15 months ago," D'Andrea said, referring to a public information meeting last year. "I was assured no properties would be taken for this project. My Christmas present was a letter of condemnation."

DOT officials last held a public information meeting on the project in Norwalk in February 2015, at which time the conceptual phase of the design was complete.

Design work is now 30 percent complete and the state department, after having considered options from rehabilitation to replacement, has settled upon two basic designs for the new bridge: a vertical lift bridge and a bascule bridge that would pivot open from one side. Both designs would allow vessels to pass beneath.

Chris Brown, associate vice president and senior project manager with HNTB Corp., the lead engineering firm engaged by the DOT, said a 240-foot, vertical-lift bridge would cost the most to build -- $425 million to $460 million. But Brown said that design would also offer the most advantages in terms of shortest construction duration and keeping the river channel open during construction.

At the meeting, DOT officials also laid out the preliminary design for the western approach along North Water Street. The plan calls for replacing the west abutment and retaining wall, which runs flush against Ironworks SoNo, a residential development, at 1 North Water St.

The DOT plans to sequence the construction and build the new bridge in "two halves," with no more than two of the four railroad tracks being out of service at any given time. The bridge, which was built in 1895 and suffered problems in 2014, carries up to 175 trains and 125,000 passengers daily, according to the DOT.

Rodney Chabot, former chairman of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, asked for assurances that the DOT has a backup plan should "Murphy's Law" strike.

"If that (bridge) is blocked, the whole Northeast Corridor shuts down," Chabot said.

Years ago, trains were diverted through Danbury when the Walk Bridge was temporarily out of service, Chabot said.

Said Fallon: "We will make sure that we have every contingency covered."

Mayor Harry W. Rilling said he and other local officials have had up to 20 meetings with DOT officials over the last several months to monitor the project.

"Based on the number of people in the room, you can tell how important this project is to the city of Norwalk and how we have to manage it in a way that's going to reduce the impact on our community," Rilling said.
May 10

Jose Aldana, 19, of 18 Lawrence St., was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, and sixth-degree larceny. He was held on a $50,000 bond and given a court date of May 20.

Raul Padilla-Caballero, 33, of 58 Meadow St., was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was given a court date of May 11.

Jessmarie Rodriguez, 29, of 1215 North Ave., Bridgeport, was charged with two counts of second-degree failure to appear. She was issued a $10,000 bond and given a court date of May 20.

Gerald Patrick, 35, of 54 Chamberlain St., New Haven, was charged with possession of a shoplifting device, sixth-degree larceny, and organized retail theft. He was issued a $5,000 bond and given a court date of May 20.

Kelly Thomas, 19, of 440 Hollister Ave., Bridgeport, was charged with second-degree failure to appear. He was issued a $500 bond and given a court date of May 20.
NORWALK  Following the arrest Monday of Ollen Martinez on allegations he stabbed and robbed a "good Samaritan" who was giving him and a then-unknown accomplice a ride home from a bar in March, the alleged accomplice was arrested by police on Tuesday.

The alleged accomplice, Jose Aldana, 19, of 18 Lawrence St., was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree assault, and sixth-degree larceny.

Police said that the 'previous arrestee' had provided information that led to Aldana's arrest.

According to police, Aldana voluntarily came to police headquarters and confessed, and upon learning of the warrant for his arrest, he turned himself in to police headquarters Tuesday evening.

The charges stem from a March 27 incident in which the victim said he offered to give the suspects a ride home from El Mexicano Restaurant at 22 Wall St. about 3 a.m.

As the male victim was driving in the area of South Main and Meadow streets, he told police one of the passengers grabbed him from behind and stabbed him in the neck with a blunt object.

The other passenger, who was sitting in the front seat, reportedly demanded cash and took the driver's wallet.

Police said they were sent to Norwalk Hospital at 4:30 a.m. on the report of a victim who had been stabbed with a blunt object in the back of the neck and Norwalk Police Department's Detective Bureau assumed the investigation.

Martinez, a Norwalk resident, was later identified by the alleged victim from a photo lineup, which led to the warrant for his arrest, police said.

Martinez, 23, of 8 Snowden St., was charged with second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, conspiracy and sixth-degree larceny.

He was issued a $50,000 bond and given a court date of May 19.

Aldana was held on $50,000 bond and given a court date of May 20.
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Meridian Society marked its fifth annual Meridian Derby on May 10 at Fairmount Park Racetracks Top of the Turf in Collinsville with more women and a more dazzling selection of hat fashion than ever before.

This is the biggest SIUE Meridian Derby so far, and the best, said Alicia Lifrak, Meridian Society president.

Approximately 250 women, all sporting eye-catching hats, attended Tuesdays Derby luncheon. We have 25 more participants than last year, said Julie Babington, Meridian Society member and director of Annual Giving at SIUE.

Today is not a fundraiser, said Lifrak. Its a fun event that brings together influential women (and some men, too) who share an interest in doing good for the community, and gives them exposure to the Meridian Society. The fact that we also get to wear great hats is just a bonus!

The Meridian Society, an auxiliary organization of the SIUE Foundation, promotes womens leadership and invests in SIUE community-based projects. Some of the special guests for this years festivities included: Rachel Stack, vice chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation; John Navin, dean of the School of Business; Curt Lox, dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior; Venessa Brown, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion; Kay Werner, SIUE First Lady emeritus and a Meridian Society founding member; Helen Damon, a Meridian Society founding member and Deborah Hunt, Meridian Society membership chair.

Its nice to be around women who are philanthropic, regardless of what the project is, said Stack. Stack has been a member of the Meridian Society for the past three years.

"Weve increased our membership by 33 percent, she added. Our goal is to have 100 members by FY17. Currently, we have 63 members.

This is my second time at the Derby, Brown said. I thought it was a great opportunity to come out and enjoy a wonderful afternoon, see a diversity of women in a beautiful array of hats, and more importantly, celebrate the great work of the Meridian Society does. I plan to become a member.

We funded six projects in April, said Werner. Of the donations and monies we receive, 75 percent goes to fund projects and 25 percent goes to the endowment. We are looking for more members to fund more projects and build our endowment.

Laura McCleod, SIUE alum, said she is thinking of joining the Meridian Society. She attended the Derby for the first time and brought 12 women and one man to the event: I think what they do is excellent. These are a group of women who are working hard to affect positive change in our communities.

Perhaps bringing the most guests to the luncheon was Deborah Hunt, Meridian membership chair and SIUE alum. Hunt brought approximately 96 people.

The luncheon also featured the popular derby hat contest. The winners included: Jackie Smith of East St. Louis and SIUE alum (best hat award), Molly Hantla of Edwardsville (biggest hat award) and Marcy Pinnell of Edwardsville (best member hat award).

Smith, donned from head to toe in her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority colors of pink and green, said she would like to join the Meridian Society. I just love the whole affair. The people are so nice and cordial.

These are a wonderful group of women with a servants heart, said Pinnell.

For more information or to join the Meridian Society, contact Babington at (618) 650-2378 or jbabing@siue.edu.
Julia Biggs/Intelligencer

Edwardsville Township Supervisor Frank Miles presented the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education with an Edwardsville Township flag at the boards general meeting Monday night. The flag displays the townships new logo which had been created by EHS students Drew Brinkman, Eden Vitoff and Jeff Schulz.

Miles thanked the board for supporting the various partnerships between Edwardsville Township and the many District 7 schools and groups. For the past two years, we have worked with the EHS Student Council and the nurses at Nelson Elementary and Leclaire Elementary to distribute Thanksgiving baskets to families in need, Miles said. Student Council has also been a great friend to the Township and has volunteered at our events at Township Park including our hugely popular Touch A Truck.
An Edwardsville woman could face up to 20 years in federal prison at her sentencing in August on charges of healthcare fraud and money laundering.

Bridget Brasfield, 45, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of healthcare fraud and one count of money laundering related to her chiropractic office in Granite City.

During her plea hearing, Brasfield admitted to submitting approximately $500,000 in false and fraudulent bills to various health care benefit plans, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. The submissions were made to Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Coventry Insurance.

They claimed that a medical doctor had provided services to her patients at her office when, in fact, the doctor was out of the country when those services were claimed to have been provided.

Brasfield also admitted that she had been engaged in a financial transaction that involved criminally derived proceeds from her health care fraud. That transaction involved $12,000 in criminally derived funds that she transferred in violation of federal money laundering statutes, prosecutors say.

The violations occurred between January of 2011 and January of 2014.

For at least the past decade, Brasfield had been a chiropractor at Physical Medicine Clinic, on Madison Avenue in Granite City, according to Madison County court records. Two years ago, Brasfield Chiropractic LLC declared bankruptcy in federal court, and in March of 2016 Brasfield declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. She lived in the 7000 block of Hearthstone Boulevard in Edwardsville.

The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Health Care Fraud Task Force with active investigations by several federal departments including the US Railroad Retirement Board, the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration.

The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranley R. Killian and Scott Verseman.

The U.S. Attorneys office also announced that a 28-year-old Caseyville woman has pleaded guilty to charges involving an armed robbery of a convenience store in Caseyville.

Jenna McGlasson pleaded guilty in federal court to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

The incident happened on June 25, 2015. McGlasson entered the store wearing a dark hoodie over her head and pointed a gun at the clerk, according to a news release from the US Attorneys Office. She then hopped up onto the counter, opened the cash register and tried to steal the cash inside.

McGlasson is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 2, 2016. She faces a sentence of from seven years to life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Kapsak is the prosecutor.
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Linkedin Amien Sunaryadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The old adage, every cloud has a silver lining, could well be true. The current slump in global oil prices, which has shaken even the upstream oil and gas business, is in fact a golden opportunity for the sectors development in Indonesia, if we take advantage of it.



The crash of world oil prices, from a sustained US$100 plus per barrel to around $30 to 40 per barrel, has brought serious challenges for the national upstream oil and gas business.



Efficiencies are the only way to address these challenges.



The government needs to make immediate changes across the board to ensure that the national industry can keep pace and compete with other countries.



There is no point in talking about offering incentives. As the first step, eliminating disincentives should be the top priority.



This includes eliminating constricting regulations, such as tax policies. Although the oil and gas sector is still the largest contributor to non-tax state revenues, its contribution is not as large as it used to be.



But it should be remembered that excessive taxation will stifle the industry.



Investment will slow, yet substantial investor funding is needed to drive exploration.



But the discovery of new oil and gas fields has become scarcer and scarcer, especially in the eastern parts of Indonesia, where conditions are far more difficult.



One example of these onerous tax policies is the Value Added Tax ( PPN ) charged on the use of joint gas pipes, which oil and gas contractors ultimately charge to the government under the investment cost recovery scheme.



The cost recovery scheme is regulated through the tax restitution mechanism.



But the problem is that process of refunds takes months, even years, to complete, which affects the cash flow of contractors. This results in losses for the contractor.



At first glance, these losses seem insignificant, but visits to ports, fabrication companies and plants supporting the upstream oil and gas business in Batam some time ago revealed that all were operating at just 30 percent of capacity.



More than 100,000 workers had lost their jobs. All this was the result of the decline in upstream oil and gas activities.



This means that upsetting contractors in the upstream oil and gas sector has an adverse impact on supporting industries, which employ hundreds of thousands of workers.



Ultimately, this will have a negative impact on tax revenue as well.



Another type of disincentive was the Land and Buildings Tax ( PBB ), which contractors previously had to pay during the exploration phase.



Although this policy has been revoked, it continues to have an impact.



As a result of late filing, several cases before the Tax Court have not been decided. The total amount of tax involved is Rp 3.1 trillion ( $233 million ), or the equivalent of the cost of drilling two deep water wells.



Another common disincentive is the long and complicated licensing processes at national and local levels.



To eliminate these disincentives, there needs to be better understanding and coordination between state agencies, who must not get caught up in sectoral egotism.



Also, the proposed revision of the Oil and Gas Law No. 22/2001, which is included on the list of legislation to be deliberated in 2016, should be accelerated.



Having a new oil and gas law should provide a joint legal basis for the oil and gas industry, including to mitigate the frequent potential conflict between statutory provisions.



In other words, this law should be lex specialis ( overrides a law that only governs general matters ).



However, this new law minimizes loopholes for abuse. Detailed regulations are needed. For example, regulations on energy resilience in the Oil and Gas Law must be complemented by other articles about preventing damage to forests, as mandated by the Forestry Law. In this way, potential conflict is avoided.



It is crucial that the government and the House of Representatives undertake detailed and systematic mapping of such conflicting provisions. Otherwise, the newly revised Oil and Gas Law will do nothing more than repeat past mistakes.



The new Oil and Gas Law is also important to explain the existence of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities ( SKKMigas ), which still hangs in the balance. As the business partner of oil and gas contractors, SKKMigas could take the form of a special state enterprise ( BUMN Khusus ).



However, unlike state enterprises, which seek to maximize profits to be paid out in the form of dividends to the state treasury, the task of a BUMN Khusus is to secure the state the largest share possible of oil and gas revenues.



With these changes, this crisis could prove to be a blessing for the national upstream oil and gas business.

***

The writer is head of the Special Task Force for the Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities ( SKKMigas ).

---------------

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.
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Linkedin Lailatul Fitriyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The horrific tragedy that happened to 14-year-old Yuyun early in April has shocked us all. Predictably, not long after this incident, some politicians and talking heads jumped on the bandwagon to deliver an unwanted diagnosis about what has gone wrong with our society.



Fahira Idris, a member of the Regional Representatives Council ( DPD ), blames the unregulated consumption of alcoholic drinks as the root cause of the rape and murder. This is, of course, a deeply misleading conclusion, considering that firstly, the occurrence of sexual and gender-based violence ( SGBV ), especially in Indonesia, is not reducible to one root cause, and secondly, that crimes cannot be whitewashed by attributing them to random external factors.



The occurrence of SGBV and the experiences of the survivors needs to be addressed in a way that accounts for its multi-faceted and multi-layered dimensions. While I wholeheartedly support the wave of SGBV advocacy following this tragedy, I must say that simply looking at the issue from a secular-feminist standpoint is not enough.



Secular feminist perspectives might give us an insight into how the patriarchal socio-cultural and political structures have created this misogynistic environment within which female bodies are regarded as mens property. However, one must also ask what the factors are that strengthen, or even legitimize, the presence of patriarchal socio-cultural and political structures in Indonesia.



One of these factors is the more legalistic, sharia-based approach to understanding Islam. The fact that Muslims account for approximately 90 percent of the Indonesian population is enough to show how significant the implications of their understanding of Islamic teachings are. The ascent of more literal-legalistic readings of Islamic teachings means that women can be degraded into second-class citizens, or even worse, into merely mens property.



There are at least three reasons for this. First, the Koran was revealed within the context of 7th century Hijaz and thus some of the verses, when read literally, would only amount to specific instructions for people who lived at that time in that region.



Second, a legalistic approach to understanding Islam reduces the vast and complex Islamic tradition into a simplistic judgment on what is wrong and right without criticizing the power play behind it.



Third, the mechanistic methods through which some contemporary Indonesian Muslims shape their understanding of Islam only serve the status quo ( read: a bunch of men and women whose interests are at stake in the religious market ) and exclude alternative readings and voices ( read: progressive Muslim scholars and activists ).



Enter Islamic feminism, a body of approaches, theories and activism that aims to reclaim Islamic traditions ( theology, jurisprudence, exegesis, etc ) and give them back to the voiceless and marginalized groups such as women, the disabled and non-cisgender groups. In Indonesia, this movement is best represented by scholar-activists such as Prof. Musdah Mulia, Kyai Husein Muhammad, Neng Dara Afifah and many others.



Within the realm of Islamic feminism, a legalistic and sharia-based approach to understanding Islam is criticized and questioned. Islamic feminism offers an antidote to Islamic legalism by shifting the focus from debates over right and wrong towardthe daily challenges faced by marginalized groups, including domestic violence, child abuse and LGBTQ ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning ) advocacy. In other words, Islamic feminism highlights what Muslims are supposed to do in the face of oppression and injustice, rather than turning Islam into a competition of superficial piety.



What is the role of Islamic feminism in curbing SGBV cases like Yuyuns? Islamic feminism provides the tools for women and non-cisgendered groups to tackle misogynistic interpretations of Islam. This is important in light of the 2016 Annual Report of the National Commission on Violence Against Women ( Komnas Perempuan ), which mentioned shari online dating services and religious marriage providers among the sources of SGBV, which reached 16,217 documented cases in 2015.



The promotion of early marriages by some elements in Muslim communities have exacerbated the situation. Instead of being reminded of their capacities and potential, girls are being told that they can only be good Muslims when they submit themselves to the will of their imam ( husbands ); polygyny becomes a common practice, even valorized through films and soap operas; LGBTQ groups are attacked for their negation of heterosexual orthodoxy; and men are deemed as leaders just because the Koran appears to say they are.



In a world where the promise of heaven for women depends on their submission to men and where heterosexual orthodoxy is deemed sacred, the prevalence of SGBV is to be expected.



What is surprising is not what happened to Yuyun, but the involvement of some Muslim women in taking an antifeminist stance on the promotion of early marriages and polygyny. This needs to change.



We cannot pretend to solve a problem when we are still a part of the problem. We need to start shifting our focus from our love affair with Islamic legalism to a wider perspective to understand Islam embodied in Islamic feminism. This might not bring Yuyun back ( nothing ever will ), but it will desacralize the place of men in our society; after all, we do not need their permission in order to attain heaven.

***

The writer is Nostra Aetate Fellow 16 at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Mike Stobbe (Associated Press) New York, United States  Thu, May 12, 2016

For decades, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant have been advised to take folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects.

But a new study suggests it may be possible to get too much of a good thing  very high levels of the vitamin in mothers' blood at the time of childbirth was linked to higher risk of their children developing autism years later.

Other research points to an opposite relationship between folic acid and autism, showing that adequate amounts of the vitamin at the time of conception can significantly reduce the risk.

Indeed, some experts raised questions about the new research. They note the findings are preliminary numbers, and based on a small number of families seen at only one hospital.

Also, the analysis is based on measures of the vitamin in mothers' blood at the time of delivery, which may not reveal much about what was going on in the women's body at the time of early fetal brain development.

Even the researchers themselves said there's no cause to change current public health recommendations. "We are not suggesting anyone stop supplementation," said one of the researchers, M. Daniele Fallin of Johns Hopkins University's school of public health.

But it raises an intriguing question that should be explored in other research, Fallin said. Two outside experts agreed.

"It's a finding that has plausibility," said Dr. Ezra Susser, a Columbia University professor of epidemiology and psychiatry. He said other researchers have wondered whether too much folic acid can cause problems.

The findings were presented Wednesday at an autism research conference in Baltimore.

Folate is a vitamin found in foods that is important in cell growth and development of the nervous system. A synthetic version, folic acid, is used in supplements and is used to fortify flour and cereals.

(Read also: Ensuring pregnant women, children are well nourished)

Decades ago, researchers found certain levels of folic acid could prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine. In the early 1990s, U.S. health officials began recommending that all women who might become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. And in the late 1990s, federal regulations began mandating that folic acid be added to flour, bread and other grain products.

Those steps are considered one of the great public health success stories of the last half-century. Officials estimate that 1,000 birth defects are prevented each year because of it.

The new researchers followed 1,391 children who were born at Boston University Medical Center in 1998 through 2013. About 100 of them were later diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

The researchers went back and looked at levels of folate and vitamin B12 in the blood of the children's mothers at the time of childbirth. They found that 16 of them had very high levels of folate, and 15 had extremely high levels of vitamin B12.

Those are very small numbers of cases. But they represent significantly higher proportions than were seen in moms whose children who didn't develop autism.

If both levels are extremely high, there is more than a 17-fold greater risk that a child will develop autism, the researchers said.

Most of the moms in the study said they took multivitamins  which would include folic acid and vitamin B12  throughout their pregnancy. But the researchers say they don't know why some women had such high levels in their blood.

It may be related to taking too many supplements and eating too many fortified foods. Or there could be a genetic reason that caused some women to absorb more folate than others. Or there could be a combination, they said.

Many studies of autism focus largely on white children in middle- and upper-income families. This one drew mainly from low-income and minority families, the researchers noted.
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Linkedin Jake Coyle (Associated Press) Cannes, France  Thu, May 12, 2016

The 69th Cannes Film Festival opened Wednesday with stormy skies, heightened security, the premiere of a new Woody Allen film and resurrected sex abuse allegations against the 80-year-old director regarding his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow.

Allen brought his 1930s Hollywood romance "Cafe Society," along with stars Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, to Cannes to kick off the French Riviera festival. But just minutes before their press conference, a column by Allen's son Ronan Farrow was posted online by The Hollywood Reporter in which he reiterated sexual abuse allegations against his father. Farrow questioned Cannes' continued embrace of Allen and chastised the press, who he said don't ask "the tough questions."

"That kind of silence isn't just wrong. It's dangerous," wrote Farrow. "It sends a message to victims that it's not worth the anguish of coming forward. It sends a message about who we are as a society, what we'll overlook, who we'll ignore, who matters and who doesn't."

No reporters asked Allen about Farrow's column or the decades-old sex abuse allegations at the press conference and Allen's publicist didn't return an email requesting comment Wednesday. Allen has previously denied that he molested Dylan, allegations first leveled in 1992 when Dylan was seven and Allen and Mia Farrow were in the midst of a bitter divorce.

The high-profile placement of Allen's latest comedy as the Cannes opener was perhaps too glaring a spotlight not to escape controversy. Allen, a Cannes regular, came to the festival with 2015's "Irrational Man," although that film played in a less prestigious slot out of competition.

At the black-tie opening ceremony Wednesday, French comic Laurent Lafitte drew groans for a joke directed at Allen.

"You've shot so many of your films here in Europe and yet in the U.S. you haven't even been convicted of rape," said Lafitte, referencing filmmaker Roman Polanski, who fled the U.S. after pleading guilty in 1977 to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot in Los Angeles.

(Read also: Two Indonesian films heading to Cannes 2016)

The famed festival is coming six months after the Paris terrorist attacks that killed 130 people and as France remains in a state of emergency. Security has been elevated, with increased bag checks and bomb sweeps. Festival president Pierre Lescure says about 500 highly-trained security agents will be on guard around Cannes' red-carpeted headquarters, the Palais des Festivals.

Opening day was still a starry affair. Along with Stewart, "Cafe Society" brought Blake Lively to the Croisette. Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick also serenaded festivalgoers with an acoustic performance of Cindi Lauper's "True Colors" in a promotion for the upcoming DreamWorks Animations release "Trolls," in which they voice the main characters.

"We are Anna and Garfunkel," Timberlake announced.

The jury that will decide Cannes' prestigious Palme d'Or award was also introduced. Led by "Mad Max" director George Miller, it includes Donald Sutherland, Kirsten Dunst and "Son of Saul" director Laszlo Nemes. Over the next 10 days, they will screen an especially strong slate of films vying for the Palme, including new releases from Pedro Almodovar, Jim Jarmusch, Asghar Farhadi, Andrea Arnold, Sean Penn and the Dardenne brothers.

"Without film festival like this, we wouldn't see movies and they wouldn't become famous like 'Son of Saul,'" said Dunst. "We need these festivals to promote filmmakers. Without them, we probably wouldn't be working. We'd just be in big blockbusters all the time."

But the day effectively belonged to Allen, even though "Cafe Society" drew weak reviews. In the film, Eisenberg stars as a Bronx nebbish trying to make it in Hollywood, where his uncle (Steve Carell) is a powerful agent. He becomes smitten with his uncle's assistant, played by Stewart.

Allen, who's also prepping a six-episode series for Amazon, said he doesn't feel old.

"I'm 80. I can't believe it," deadpanned Allen, speaking to reporters with a hearing aid. "I'm so youthful, agile, nimble, spry, mentally alert that it's astonishing."

"Cafe Society," which opens in theaters this summer, is the latest in a long list of films by Allen to feature an affair between an older man (Carell) and a younger woman (Stewart). Asked if he would ever consider making a movie about a 50-something woman who gets together with a 20-something man, Allen called it "a perfectly valid comic idea."

"I just don't have any material on it, anything really to draw on," said Allen. "I wouldn't hesitate if I had a good story."
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Linkedin Syamsul Huda M. Suhari and Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Gorontalo/Manado  Tue, May 10 2016

In the wake of a public outcry over their belated response to gang rapes in Gorontalo and North Sulawesi, the police in both provinces have only now started talking about their investigations into the brutal sexual assault cases.

The gang rapes in Gorontalo and Manado only made headlines a few days after the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Bengkulu. The Bengkulu case occurred in early April and attracted nationwide concern not only because of the brutality of the crime, but also because of the limited exposure of the case and the belated response of the police.

The Gorontalo Police said they were investigating the alleged involvement of two of their personnel in the extended sexual abuse of a 19-year-old girl, identified as STC, from Manado, North Sulawesi. The investigation is being carried out by the Gorontalo Polices internal affairs division.

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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang, Agus Maryono and Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap/Semarang/Jakarta  Wed, May 11 2016

After leaving the public wondering for months, the Central Java Police said Tuesday 10 foreigners from China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal and Zimbabwe, in addition to five Indonesians, are on the list to soon face the firing squad.



Central Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Liliek Darmanto said four of the foreigners to be executed were Chinese, two Senegalese two Nigerian, one Pakistani and one from Zimbabwe.



The release of such detailed information has raised speculation that the executions will happen within the next few days.



There are a total of 15 drug traffickers to be executed on Nusakambangan, Liliek told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that he obtained the list from the Attorney Generals Office (AGO).



But I cannot mention the names of each convict. It is the jurisdiction of the AGO to announce the details. However, I can tell you that there are women among the convicts, he added, emphasizing that none of the female convicts were from the Philippines.



Lilieks explanation thus clearly excluded Filipino drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, who escaped execution last year when her alleged boss was arrested in the Philippines and the local authorities requested the Indonesia government reopen the case.



As the execution date approached, the Central Java Police sent 150 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel who will carry out the sentence to be ready on the secluded prison island of Nusakambangan.



According to Liliek, each convict will face 10 shooters, who will be accompanied by two guides in charge of the lighting equipment.



Meanwhile, 34 other convicts from across the country have been transferred to the prison island. Most of them are drug traffickers and five of the 34 are also on death row.



Three of the five Indonesian convicts are Suryanto, Agus Hadi and Pudjo Lestari, who were transferred from the Batam Penitentiary. The other two are Freddy Budiman, who was transferred from the Gunung Sindur Prison in Bogor, and Zulfikar, who was transferred from the drug prison in Jakarta.



There has been no confirmation that the five convicts will be among those soon to be executed.



Despite the detailed information and growing security activities within and around the Nusakambangan prisons in Cilacap, West Java, authorities in Jakarta are still tight-lipped, declining to speak about the issue.



National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the National Police headquarters has yet to get the list of all the convicts, although his office has sent its best and most experienced personnel to Nusakambangan upon the request of the AGO.



According to Boy, the National Police will usually get the complete list at least 14 days before the day of execution.



But we dont have it yet, he said. No matter what, our personnel are ready to carry out the job anytime the attorney general gives the order.



Meanwhile, Attorney General M. Prasetyo said his office has yet to decide when the third round of executions would actually take place and how many convicts would be executed.



We have made the preparations and have coordinated [them with all relevant parties]. We will later determine the time and how many persons are to be executed, Prasetyo said.



Prasetyo said Freddy is among the AGOs prime candidates for execution, adding that he would push for the drug lord to be included in the list since the AGO fears that Freddy is using all legal avenues as a pretext to buy more time.



There should be certainty about when he would file for a case review; we cannot wait too long, Prasetyo said.



As date for the executions draws near, calls from human rights campaigners for a review of the policy have grown louder. The Jakarta-based Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) has argued that, There is no proof yet that shows the death penalty effectively reduces narcotics-related crimes.



Prasetyo has insisted that no matter what the government would carry out executions despite assertions that capital punishment does not deter drug traffickers.



Although we have conducted executions [twice], drug cases continue [in the country]; imagine if [we] dont [carry out the executions], he said.



Suherdjoko contributed to this report

_______________________________________

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Linkedin Amien Sunaryadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 11 2016

The old adage, every cloud has a silver lining, could well be true. The current slump in global oil prices, which has shaken even the upstream oil and gas business, is in fact a golden opportunity for the sectors development in Indonesia, if we take advantage of it.

The crash of world oil prices, from a sustained US$100 plus per barrel to around $30 to 40 per barrel, has brought serious challenges for the national upstream oil and gas business.

Efficiencies are the only way to address these challenges.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Wed, May 11 2016

Reports of a gang-rape that occurred in January emerged from North Sulawesi on Monday, following the outrage over the gang-rape and murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Bengkulu. The latter case was also belatedly reported after the girls body was found on April 4.

Police are investigating the possible involvement of two police officers in the North Sulawesi crime, where the victim was reportedly raped in three locations by a group of 14 to 19 men. The parents of the 19-year-old girl reported the case to Manado Police on Jan. 30; the case was handed to the provincial police on Feb. 16 and developments remain unclear.

As horrifying as these incidents are, the more chilling aspect is the uncertainty facing the victims. Will reporting the crime help to ensure the perpetrators arrest and subsequent punishment? Can survivors feel safe after the criminals are convicted and then released? The shadow of reprisal from perpetrators, more so when they have powerful connections, partly explains the slow or non-existent progress of such reports, even in the Bengkulu case, where the parents have lost their child forever.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 11 2016

Upon the mention of Jembatan Lima subdistrict in Tambora, West Jakarta, the clothing business and fires may come to mind.

The densely populated area is known for its home-based clothing businesses, where fires mostly caused by short circuits occur almost every month.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 11 2016

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has moved from scrutinizing alleged bribery connected to the draft bylaws on the Jakarta Bay reclamation project to looking into its permits by questioning Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama on Tuesday.



KPK spokesman Yuyuk Indriati confirmed its investigators were expanding the scope of the investigation to probe into alleged irregularities involving the permits issued by Ahok.



[Ahok was questioned] with regard to all permits he has issued during his tenure, Yuyuk said.



Yuyuk further said that KPK investigators also grilled Ahok to find the reasons behind his proposal for a 15 percent contribution fee from developers, adding that the KPK also sought to scrutinize Ahok about the discussion between Jakarta administration and Jakarta legislative office over the zoning bylaws.



After his eight-hour questioning as a witness in the case, Ahok refused to comment on the probes expansion. Instead, he said that the KPK investigators only collected his testimony in order for the antigraft body to build a strong case against Jakarta councillor Mohamad Sanusi and property developer Agung Podomoro Land (APL) president director Ariesman Widjaja.



Ahok also pointed a finger at one of his predecessors, Fauzi Foke Bowo, with regard to the issuance of controversial permits, given the fact that it was Foke who issued the first reclamation permits.



The governor defended several developers that had started construction on some of the 17 artificial islets in the reclamation area, despite their lack of permits, by saying it is not a problem because the Jakarta administration would impose fines on developers for their misconduct.



The probes expansion came despite an earlier statement by the chairman of the antigraft body, Agus Rahardjo, that the KPK wanted to focus on the alleged bribery connected to the zoning bylaws for the reclamation project that so far has implicated Sanusi and Ariesman.



Despite objections from environmentalists and local fishermen, Ahok allowed the creation of four of the total 17 islets to go ahead in 2014, one of them for APL, while Foke in 2012 issued eight permits to developers, including one for the Agung Sedayu Group (ASG), the owner of which, Sugianto Aguan Kusuma, has been slapped with a travel ban over the bribery case.



In addition to the cases of bribery, the KPK earlier said it had opened a new preliminary investigation to net new suspects in the reclamation case, but it remained unknown whether the new probe would focus on the bribery or the permit irregularities.



The opening of the new probe raises concerns that Aguan and his son Richard Halim Kusuma, who is the ASGs president director, as well as Ahoks expert staffer Sunny Tanuwidjaja, could soon be named suspects in the case given the fact that the three have been banned from traveling.



Ariesman allegedly bribed Sanusi in order to get help from the Jakarta legislative office to lower the 15 percent contribution fee to only 5 percent, which is expected to be inserted in the zoning bylaws.



Sunny, after his questioning on April 11, acknowledged that he mediated a number of meetings between his boss and some businessmen, including Aguan, to discuss the reclamation project.



Sunny also said that the KPK had bugged his conversation with Sanusi when they talked about the contribution fee for developers.



Under the 15 percent scheme, the city administration could reportedly collect about Rp 48 trillion (US$3.6 biliion) from developers, but if the bylaws are passed, developers will only pay a 5 percent contribution fee, about Rp 28 trillion, to the citys coffers.



However, after the arrest of Sanusi and Ariesman, the passage of the draft bylaws has been delayed.

______________________________________

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Linkedin Slamet Susanto and Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta/Jakarta  Wed, May 11 2016

Hundreds of anticommunism activists staged a rally on Tuesday outside the Yogyakarta Police headquarters, voicing their rejection of all forms of communism and threatening to act on their own if the police did not side with them.

Grouped under the Anticommunist Red White Elements, the group said it consisted of 24 elements in the city. They were said to have staged the rally to prevent another group, Save Jogja, from taking to the streets.

Save Jogja, comprising pro-democracy and tolerant-minded activists, planned to stage a rally at the same spot to protest the move by police to disband a commemoration of World Press Freedom Day at the office of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Yogyakarta on May 3.

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Linkedin Michael Martina, Greg Torode and Ben Blanchard (The Jakarta Post) Beijing/Hong Kong  Wed, May 11 2016

China scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday as a US navy ship sailed close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, a patrol China denounced as an illegal threat to peace which only went to show its defense installations in the area were necessary.

Guided missile destroyer the USS William P. Lawrence travelled within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-occupied Fiery Cross Reef, US Defense Department spokesman, Bill Urban said.

The so-called freedom of navigation operation was undertaken to challenge excessive maritime claims by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, which were seeking to restrict navigation rights in the South China Sea, Urban said.

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Linkedin Ita Fatia Nadia (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

A wave of hope for reconciliation, and controversy, surged as the first government-sponsored national symposium dealing with the 1965 violence, was held on April 18-19 in Jakarta. Historians, experts, 1965 survivors and their advocates spoke of the 1965 events and the importance of national reconciliation.

Expectations for reconciliation after a humanitarian tragedy of such magnitude are very closely related to history and our collective memory. What is the public memory of that political struggle and ensuing bloodshed, and what kind of political convictions shape the way it is seen today?

Collective memory and belief are a vital basis on which to build reconciliation, because individual memory is very closely connected with the collective memory of the community in which a person lives, and is also constructed by history.

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Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu  Thu, May 12 2016

The government has reinforced the military and police personnel in Poso, Central Sulawesi, tasked with hunting down members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group led by Santoso, alias Abu Wardah.

Operation Tinombala task force spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday the joint forces had arrived in two waves.

The first wave of 350 police officers arrived in Palu on May 9 and were temporarily put up at the Labuan Police Academy dormitory, while the second wave of 350 soldiers arrived on Tuesday evening.

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Linkedin Maria Cheng (Associated Press) London  Thu, May 12, 2016

The rate of abortions in the developed world has dropped to an all-time low while remaining steady in poorer regions, where nearly 90 percent of the abortions worldwide occur, researchers say in a new study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet.

In the first analysis of global abortion trends since 2008, scientists found that 56 million abortions are performed globally every year among women aged 15 to 44, and that about one in four pregnancies ends in abortion. Nearly three-quarters of abortions are obtained by married women.

The researchers used government data and modeling techniques to calculate their estimates.

The rate in rich countries fell to an all-time low between 1990 and 2014, from about 46 abortions per 1,000 women in 1990 to 27 abortions per 1,000 women in 2014.

But in the developing world, the rate remained virtually unchanged, at about 37 abortions per 1,000 women.

"Family planning services do not seem to be keeping pace with the increasing desire for smaller families," said Gilda Sedgh of the Guttmacher Institute, a US research group that supports abortion rights and the paper's lead author.

The world's highest rate of abortions was in the Caribbean, at about 65 abortions per 1,000 women. The lowest rate was in North America, at 17. The biggest drop was in Eastern Europe, where the abortion rate fell to 42 abortions per 1,000 women from 88.

There was no difference in the incidence of abortion in countries where the procedure is legal versus where it is heavily restricted or outlawed.

"The obvious interpretation is that criminalizing abortion does not prevent it but rather drives women to seek illegal services or methods," wrote Diana Greene Foster of the University of California in San Francisco, in an accompanying commentary. She said the new estimates could help researchers predict the consequences of policies including expanding family planning programs, liberalizing abortion laws and developing new birth control methods.

Researchers also said about 225 million women in the developing world aren't able to access birth control.

Women in other studies have said that was because they feared the side effects of contraception methods or were worried about the stigma of not being married when seeking birth control.

The study was paid for by governments including Britain, the Netherlands and Norway, several UN agencies and others. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ina Parlina and Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

The government has again failed to provide details regarding its efforts to secure the release of four Indonesian hostages from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the southern Philippines.

In his speech to announce the release of the four hostages on Wednesday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo only attributed the success in releasing the sailors to the four-point action plan signed during a recent trilateral meeting in Yogyakarta between Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia on maritime security.

I thank the Philippine government, which has provided great cooperation for the second time in securing the release of our citizens, Jokowi said. And I am grateful that Indonesias initiative to hold the trilateral talks has produced results.

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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post)  Thu, May 12 2016

The rampant poverty in Jakarta can often make one forget that the citys middle and upper class residents also face their own problems.

Amid the creature comforts of living in billion-rupiah apartments in the heart of the capital, they must contend with the disruption of a noisy nightclub nearby.

After four years of putting up with noise from nightclub Lucy in The Sky, residents of the Sudirman Mansion apartment block on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, have finally reached their boiling point. They have threatened to sue the nightclub whose activities, they say, create noise that disrupts their comfort.

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Linkedin Mauricio Savarese (Associated Press)  Thu, May 12, 2016

THE IMPEACHMENT CASE: The proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff are based on accusations that she broke fiscal laws in 2015 to hide budget problems. The main allegation is that her administration delayed moving treasury funds to state-owned banks to pay for government programs. Her critics say that made public finances look better than they were. Rousseff insists the practice is not an impeachable offense, pointing to other Brazilian presidents who used such creative accounting techniques and were not punished in any way.

INCIDENCES OF CREATIVE ACCOUNTING: The fact-checking website Aos Fatos counted such incidents involving state-run bank Caixa Economica Federal. It says Rousseff used creative accounting during her first five years in office 35 times more than the combined total of the two previous presidents, Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Allegations against Rousseff also include funds for all federal programs and the state-run banks BNDES and Banco do Brasil. The case against her cites only irregular accounting maneuvers done in 2015, which was the first year of her second term, because Brazil's constitution says a president can be impeached only for wrongful acts in the current term.

DILMA ROUSSEFF: In 2011-2015, Rousseff's administration used creative accounting in delaying payments to Caixa totaling almost US$10 billion. These funds were paid back, but Brazil's fiscal laws say state banks should not make loans to the federal government. Rousseff denies those were loans. The funds involved unemployment benefits, bonuses to public workers and Bolsa Familia benefits, which is the government's flagship social program to provide minimum incomes for the poorest Brazilians. The delays stopped after a government watchdog ruled in October 2015 that the creative accounting mechanisms used by Rousseff were irregular.

VICE PRESIDENT MICHEL TEMER: Questions have been raised on how the case against Rousseff might affect Temer, who is next in line to take over her duties. As acting president when Rousseff was on trips outside Brazil, he authorized creative accounting measures. Temer argues he was not responsible for the economic policies and says his signature doesn't mean any involvement in the decision to delay payments.

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA: Silva, who was Rousseff's mentor and predecessor, used similar accounting practices in September and November 2003 and in November 2006, shortly after his re-election. The amounts involved totaled $144 million. The funds were for unemployment benefits and Bolsa Familia benefits.

FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO: Now an opposition leader, Cardoso issued similar decrees while president to delay payments to Caixa four times involving unemployment benefits. The first was in September 1996 and three more came in 2002, totaling $125 million at current values. The Bolsa Familia program did not exist at the time.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Jakarta city administration has prepared a series of possible solutions for three city thoroughfares  Jl M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto  in anticipation of traffic caused by the removal of the three-in-one traffic restriction starting next week.

Andri Yansyah, head of the city transportation agency, said on Thursday that the motorists would be guided to pass through alternative roads when main thoroughfares were overcrowded.

Motorists traveling to North Jakarta from South Jakarta, for example, will be directed to pass through less crowded roads like Jl. Panglima Polim and on toward Jl. Majapahit. If they are on Jl. Sudirman, they can alter their route to Jl. Pintu Gelora 1 or Jl. Bendungan Hilir to avoid the traffic, Andri said.

The agency had isolated the 45 most crowded areas in the city and these, Andri added, will receive serious attention namely by deploying an increased number of agency officers and traffic police to help motorists seek alternative routes.

Another solution may be to alter traffic lights, extending the duration of the green light in areas that are prone to serious traffic gridlock, he added.

More buses will be deployed along Corridor 1 of the Transjakarta busway network, from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in North Jakarta, to provide an alternative to motorists who would like to shift to public transportation. Busway infrastructure will be improved to make sure that private cars do not pass along Transjakarta lanes.

Separately, Riri Asnita, head of the City Bina Marga (Road) Agency planning division said that Bina Marga was in the process of improving the barriers separating Transjakarta corridors from common road lanes and fixing potholes along Jl. Thamrin and Jl Sudirman.

Riri explained that improvement potential was limited at certain sites due to the mass rapid transit (MRT) project. If possible, we will fix those parts of the road that are not affected by the MRT project, Riri said on Wednesday.

According to Andri, the city administration may also discuss the possibility of enforcing cashless payment for all toll road users with the toll road operator PT Jasa Marga in order to speed up the payment process.

If the proposed solutions to not solve the traffic problem, the Jakarta police may impose traffic restrictions to replace the three-in-one system. An odd-even police plate number may be implemented temporarily prior to the citys electronic road pricing (ERP) system, he added.

The administration remains open to any suggestion and we hope discussions can be conducted transparently, Andri added. (bbn)
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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The number of drug convicts keeps rising despite the implementation of the death penalty, showing that capital punishment is not that effective in fighting drug-related crime, activists have said.

At least 16 NGOs grouped in the Anti-Death Penalty Civil Society Coalition told a press conference that the death penalty was not the solution to address crime in Indonesia, especially crime related to drugs.

The coalition's statement comes ahead of the third round of executions of drug convicts, which many expect to be conducted very soon.

Indonesian Drug Victim Advocacy Brotherhood (PKNI) head Totok Yulianto said there had been a rise in the number of drug convicts despite the executions carried out in 2015.

Under the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the government has conducted two rounds of executions.

Six death row inmates were executed on Jan.18 last year, followed by eight more in the second round on April 29, 2015

Totok said there were 65,566 drug convicts recorded in January 2015, adding that that number had rose to 67,808 people by May 2015.

"Even though the government had carried out executions in January and April. This shows that the death penalty does not create a deterrent effect. This is data from the directorate general of corrections," Totok said, as quoted by Kompas.com on Wednesday.

Impartial director Al Araf said punishment in the modern era no longer followed the principle of retaliation; rather, it was aimed at correcting the behavior of someone who has broken the law.

"We do not support criminal acts at all. We reject the death penalty and instead lean more toward life sentencing, because the death penalty clearly violates human rights principles," he said.

Given the nation's fragile justice system, procedural violations in the implementation of the death penalty were still common, Araf added.

Citing the example of Zainal Abidin's case, whose appeal was rejected almost immediately, Araf suggested this was because the convict, found guilty of possessing 58.7 kilograms of marijuana in 2000, had already been listed in the second round of executions.

"Just imagine, the legal process hadn't yet finished, and when he lodged his appeal it was rejected within four days. This is clearly outside of the principles of justice," he added.

Meanwhile, police have said the third round of executions was ready to be carried out in May 2016. The firing squad has been prepared for the execution of 15 drug convicts.

The Central Java police, in charge of Nusakambangan prison island where the convicts will be executed, said it was awaiting instructions from Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo.

So far, the Attorney General's Office has not disclosed the execution date or the identities of the convicts. (liz/dmr)
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Linkedin Savas Alpay (The Jakarta Post) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Thu, May 12 2016

Highly desired infrastructure development and financial inclusion solutions are two different things, but both aims to help alleviate poverty and improve peoples welfare.

Infrastructure development projects will promote employment during the running of the project and upon completion of the projects, which increase investment-driven growth. Meanwhile, disadvantaged peoples increased access to finance services will also drive more economic activities.

It seems that the infrastructure and financial inclusion remain major challenging issues in Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia.

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Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) East Manggarai, Flores  Thu, May 12, 2016

A sustainable program facilitated by the Agriculture Ministry has helped local farmers in Kampung Sok, Compang Ndejing village, Ranamese district, East Manggarai, to enjoy a great harvest of hybrid corn they planted on 250 hectares of land.

The Agriculture Ministrys staff expert, Ruswandi, said corn was one of commodities developed by the government under its sustainable agriculture program. President Joko Jokowi Widodo is aiming to strengthen Indonesias food resilience and independence as well as improve the prosperity of farmers in the country.

Ruswandi said the Agriculture Ministry had obtained Rp 30.6 trillion (US$2.30 billion) from the 2016 state budget (APBN). Such a huge budgetary allocation, both to improve the farmers prosperity and to achieve the targets of anew paddy field opening program, reflected President Jokowis high attention to the agriculture sector, he added.

One of the sustainable agriculture programs is growing the corn. Data shows that Indonesia harvests 2.6 million tons of corn and 1.5 million tons of soya beans per year. The Agriculture Ministrys programs are focused on improving the prosperity of farmers in areas across Indonesia. Food availability and farmer prosperity are highlighted in President Jokowis programs in the field of agriculture, said Ruswandi.

He was speaking during the hybrid corn harvest in Compang Ndejing village, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday. Officials from the East Nusa Tenggara Agriculture and Food Resilience Agency and the East Manggarai administration attended the event.

Ruswandi said the Agriculture Ministry had continued to develop its sustainable agriculture program, which was focused on organic farming. He said the government aimed to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers as many natural materials could be processed into fertilizers that would effectively maintain the fertility of soil.

Ruswandi said geologically, the Greater Manggarai area, which covered Manggarai, East Manggarai and West Manggarai, was not suitable for mining. Thus, all local leaders must prioritize the management of farmland in the area.

He said mining could damage the environment and this was a fact that could be witnessed in all areas across Indonesia. A land damaged by mining could not be used again.

Robertus Ongo, head of food resilience at the East Nusa Tenggara Agriculture Agency, said the administration had named East Nusa Tenggara a corn producing area.

Citing the agencys data, Ongo said both corn production and corn farming areas in East Nusa Tenggara had continued to increase. As of 2016, there was 81,000 hectares of corn farms in 23 regencies and municipalities across the province.

Amid a long dry spell caused by uncertain weather, farmers in all villages in East Nusa Tenggara have continued to increase corn planting to support their food resilience. We express our thanks to all farmers in East Nusa Tenggara, said Ongo.

He further said in terms of producing corn seeds, the East Manggarai regency ranked first, followed by the Sikka and Nagekeo regencies.

We thank the East Manggarai administration, which has continued to support its farmers to grow corn and other horticulture plants, he said.

East Manggarai Regent Yoseph Tote said 53 percent of residents in the regency were farmers. They not only cultivated paddy fields but also planted corn and other horticulture plants on critical land.

We are grateful farmers in Compang Ndejing village can benefit from this dry land by planting hybrid corn. They are the pioneers of a movement to plant hybrid corn on critical land. The East Manggarai administration will continue to pay attention to farmers by developing infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, dams and embung [small artificial lakes], said Yoseph. (ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

The government is looking to grant a commercial license to Pondok Cabe Airport in South Tangerang, Banten, on the condition that it serves as an extension to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.

Suprasetyo, the Transportation Ministrys director general for air transportation, said the ministry would only allow both airports to operate if they agreed to operate under a single management.

[A commercial license] will be given to Pondok Cabe if both airports agree to operate under the same management, Suprasetyo said Tuesday.

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Rising public concern over gang-rape cases that have come to light recently has led to a call from mental health experts for an emphasis on character building from early childhood to prevent deviant behavior in later life.

"Although peer pressure is common among children, what happened was [caused by] conduct disorders. Such acts could lead to psychopathic behavior in the future," child and adolescent psychiatrist Suzy Yusna Dewi told thejakartapost.com. The doctor was speaking about the case in Bengkulu where 14 adolescents raped and killed a teenage girl.

Gang rape and murder cases across the nation catapulted into the media spotlight following the death of a 14-year old schoolgirl named Yuyun. Her tragic story has captured the world's attention and brought the battle against sexual violence to the forefront of Indonesias public sphere.

With several more cases revealed afterward, sexual violence, and specifically gang rape and murder involving children as both victims and perpetrators, has given rise to questions about children's upbringing.

Suzy said that from a very young age children must be instilled with self-confidence and taught how to control their emotions, both of which are equally important as stepping stones to developing mature problem-solving skills in life. This is important for childrens ability to differentiate between right and wrong despite peer pressure, she added.

Referring to the case of the 14 young men who consecutively took turns in raping the teenage girl until she died, Suzy said group dynamics had played an important part.

In such cases, the perpetrators took on two roles, namely the provocateur and the follower, said Suzy.

In these cases, there is always a lead figure who is feared and followed by the rest of the group, she added.

In this case, Suzy continued, the followers lacked problem-solving skills, were impulsive and did not have the capacity to think about the consequences of their actions.

This psychological condition contributes to lack of individual regret, or even a lack of understanding that their acts were wrong, she added.

The psychiatrist went on to say that from early childhood, kids need to learn to see the chain reaction of their actions from beginning to end and understand the positive and negative consequences of their choices.

Further, Suzy expressed disagreement about the imprisonment of the convicted rapists, saying that jail would only exacerbate criminal tendencies. She said the prison environment would make the convicts more vulnerable to acts of sexual violence from fellow inmates.

"It would be better for them to enter rehab, and to be assessed and evaluated as part of their treatment," Suzy said.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Kasandra Putranto also expressed the necessity for research into the psychological profiles of the 14 men, seven of whom are underage, to find out the group dynamics.

"What we are doing now is merely assuming. We need to look at the cause to see how their mentality was shaped in such a way that teenage boys, who at their age should be sweet children focusing on study, prayer, meeting friends, were capable of such brutal acts," Kasandra said.

Referring to an example of a case where two children of a similar age displayed opposite behavior - in that they successfully foiled a rape and stood up to perpetrators in defense of the victim - Kasandra said there needed to be further research into the psychodynamics of an individual that could lead to such contrasting behaviors.

She emphasized the importance of comprehensive action to address the causes of sexual assault, including mental education within the family regarding influencing behavior, as well as overcoming cultural practices that had a negative impact.

According to Kasandra, parents especially play a major role developing the character of a child.

"Talk about values to the children to teach them to respect themselves and others. Every mother should teach their son to respect women - to respect their mom and therefore have respect for other women," she said.

Further, Kasandra also called for sex education to be accompanied by moral education.

Children need to have a healthy understanding of sex, she continued, adding that they need to be taught that such intimacy should be valued within a marriage bond.

"Cultural practices such as haphazardly 'marrying kids off' (kawinkan saja), which is still common in underprivileged areas, doesn't actually put a stop to reckless sexual urges," Kasandra said.

Standard community practices also need to be positive to contribute to positive character building, she added. (dan)
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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

People are afraid of communism because they do not understand it and just accept the single narrative of history provided by the government over the past 50 years, an expert has said in the wake of recent suppression of leftist activities.

Dave Lumenta, an anthropologist at the University of Indonesia (UI), said most people had no access to the countrys history except through what was taught in schools.

However, those lessons just depicted the chronological order of historical events, not the cause and effect of each event, he said, adding that the history of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) had also never been told.

On the other hand, Dave said the single narrative of the 1965 mass killings provided by the government had formed collective memories among people in which communists were regarded only as unconscionable atheists.

Some parties received political legitimation after 1965, including the military. Hence, they have an interest in preserving the old narrative of 1965, Dave said on Wednesday, referring to the Dwifungsi (dual role) of the Indonesian Military (TNI) during the New Order era (1966-1998), with members actively involved in politics and business.

In fact, it is going to be dangerous if the government keeps nurturing extremist right-wing movements, he added.

At the third ASEAN Literary Festival in Jakarta last week, which featured discussions on the 1965 massacre, protestors accused event organizers of seeking to promote communism and demanded the annual event be shut down. The event proceeded under police protection.

Meanwhile, the police arrested two clothing sellers in the Blok M shopping mall in South Jakarta on Sunday who were selling T-shirts of German heavy metal band Kreator. The shirts displayed a picture of the hammer and sickle logo used by communist organizations worldwide. However, the police have released them, saying that no treason or insult to the country had occurred.

"Currently, a lot of merchandise and activities reference communism. The President has given an order to take action against this," National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said at the State Palace on Tuesday.

The kidnapping and murder of six Army generals on Sept.30, 1965, led to a purge of PKI members, sympathizers and their families by the military under Soehartos leadership. It is estimated that between 500,000 to 1 million people with any sort of leftist connections, regardless of their age or level of involvement, were massacred.

Soeharto seized power in 1966 with the controversial March 11 Indonesian Presidential Executive Order (Supersemar). The prevention of the dissemination of communism, Leninism and Marxism in Indonesia was later stipulated by a decree of the Temporary Peoples Consultative Assembly issued in 1966.

Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said on Wednesday that the truth-revealing process of the 1965 tragedy was often hampered by propaganda claiming it was an attempt to revive the PKI. Hence, he called on President Joko Jokowi Widodo to not be distracted from his commitment to resolve the long-neglected case.

If the propaganda of communisms revival is still being maintained and affirmed by the government, the main victim will be civil liberties, Hendardi said.

Meanwhile, Ida Ruwaida Noor, a sociologist at UI, said the government needed to create policies that helped erase the stigma suffered by 1965 victims. Survivors and relatives of the victims were commonly stigmatized and discriminated against to this day.

There should be a structural intervention by the state as that stigma has a historical dimension, she said. Basically, the family, school and press could be the medium to alter the publics perspective. (vps/bbn)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Foreign Ministry in cooperation with Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), will establish an Indonesian Islamic Center (IIC) in Kabul, Afghanistan, to strengthen religious cooperation with Afghan clerics.

Fazal Ghani Kakar, the founder of Afghanistans NU, an independent NU that closely cooperates with the Indonesian NU, said the IIC would be built on a 10,000 square meter plot of land in Kabuls Ahmad Shah Baba Mina area donated by the Afghan government.

"With the ICC, we could further strengthen our ties [...] Afghanistan is now in dire need to learn [about moderate Islamic teachings] from Indonesia as well," Kakar said.

The IIC would consist of four buildings, including a Grand Mosque, where the Afghan NU would deploy one of its clerics to disseminate Islamic teachings, and a library that would comprise books that could teach young Afghani not only about Islam, but also Indonesian culture, Kakar said.

The center would also have a social house to accommodate exchange visits between Indonesian and Afghan ulemas, where they would come together and learn from each other's experiences, Kakar said.

In addition, Kakar said, a clinic would be built within the IIC for Afghan people, who were affected badly by the prolonged conflict and in need of treatment, since numerous healthcare facilities in the area had been damaged by the war.

The statement was made at the end of the two-day International Summit of the Moderate Islamic Leaders (ISOMIL), organized by NU in Jakarta and joined by more than 300 participants including Muslim figures from 35 countries.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the government had recently begun constructing the IIC in the Fatiha building, around 500 meters from a mosque in Ahmad Shah Baba Mina.

The IIC was hoped to encourage cooperation among Muslim academics and clerics from Indonesia and Afghanistan to promote moderate Islamic views, Retno said.

NU deputy chairman Maksum Machfoedz said his organization had mainly assisted the government in advocacy in order to push for the establishment of the IIC to facilitate religious cooperation with Afghanistan.

Besides, the NU also provided scholarships for Afghan students to study about Islam Nusantara, a tolerant form of Indonesian Islam that upheld values of peace, modesty, and cultural respect, at NU universities, Machfoedz said.

"The cooperation should be followed up by setting up another event like ISOMIL to pursue world peace," Machfoedz said.(dmr)
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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Philippine government has handed over the remaining four Indonesian sailors previously held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants, and their return to Jakarta is now expected within a day.

"They are currently onboard a KRI warship in waters bordering Indonesia and the Philippines where the handover was conducted," Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told journalists on Thursday.

Following their release, the hostages were in the hands of local authorities in Sulu, where the men underwent a medical check-up before their return.

A team from Indonesia was deployed to their location and confirmed that the men were in good condition.

Arrmanatha said the crewmen would immediately sail to Indonesia, and their arrival was expected in the capital city on late Thursday or Friday afternoon.

He said a recent trilateral meeting between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had played an important part in contributing to the swift release of the hostages.

Foreign ministers and military commanders of the countries mentioned above met in Yogyakarta on May 5 to discuss maritime security.

The spokesman refused to disclose details behind the release. He said government discretion was in the interests of the safety of those involved.

Citing the complex situation in the southern Philippines, Arrmanatha said revealing identities and details of the negotiation processes could pose a danger to the participants.

"Since the very beginning, the government's priority has been the safe release of the hostages," he said.

As with the release of ten sailors earlier this month, the negotiations involved many elements from both government and non-governmental parties, Arrmanatha added.

The four sailors worked as crewmembers onboard the Henry, a tugboat, and the Christie, a barge, sailing in Malaysian and Philippine waters in mid-April when they were taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militant group. (dan)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

A cleaning service worker, Karlina, with a Jakarta-based outsourcing company, received the Golden Hearted award on Wednesday after returning a missing wallet containing Rp 6 million (US$450) to its owner.

The award was a symbol of appreciation from the company specializing in providing various services. Karlina had been tasked by her office with working at a hospital in Tangerang, Banten. She said that the wallet was found in the basement of the hospital and was immediately handed over to a security post.

I found a wallet containing a lot of money, Karlina was quoted as saying by kompas.com, adding that she was not aware of the exact amount of money in the wallet.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

East Jakarta municipality deployed a health team to Cakung to administer the rabies vaccine to hundreds of dogs and cats on Wednesday.

East Jakarta Mayor Bambang Musyawardana said the program was aimed at preventing the spread of rabies to residents.

 The rabies vaccine program is free, Bambang said on Wednesday as quoted by beritajakarta.com.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

Fusion jazz band Krakatau, famous in the 1980s, will release a new album to mark their comeback to the countrys music scene.

Under a new name, Krakatau Reunion, the band has prepared 11 new songs, which, according to the members, reflect their maturity.

We were in our 20s when we started and in terms of our music skill, we were so energetic that the music we created was a bit here and there, Dwiki Dharmawan said in a press conference on Tuesday.

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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

Indonesia is hoping to seal a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia in 2017, followed by a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with the European Union in 2018.

Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong said the CEPA would be beneficial in increasing non-oil and gas exports. Indonesia started working on the CEPA four years ago under then trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu, but it was shelved.

"Australia is one of our neighboring countries, but ironically we have limited trade with it. As for the CEPA, President Joko Widodo gave me two years [to finish it], and we are intensively working on it," he told thejakartapost.com on Thursday in Jakarta.

Lembong acknowledged that Indonesia lagged behind Vietnam and Philippines in market access. While enjoying a commodity boom, Indonesia neglected the downstream industry while the other countries worked hard to attract investors and create free trade access.

"Seven to eight years ago, they put out the red carpet for all investments, even small ones. Now, their non-oil and gas exports reach $160 billion while ours is only $150 billion," he said.

By entering into a CEPA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Vietnam has comparative advantages of a 15 to 17 percent tariff barrier over Indonesian products to the European and North American markets.

"We can no longer rely too much on the oil and gas trade. We must look to service goods and lifestyle products," Lembong said.

The ministry plans to improve the appeal of lifestyle products such as attire, furniture and jewelry by offering a joint program between polytechnic schools and designers.

"Last year, the value of Indonesian jewelry exports reached $5 billion. We are aiming to increase the contribution of lifestyle products, but we need to make them more appealing," he said. (ags)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

Indonesia and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have agreed to cooperate further in infrastructure and sharia financing system development by creating a better role for private entities.

The commitment will be cemented in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Member Country Partnership Strategy for 2016-2020, to be signed on the sidelines of the 41st IDB annual meeting in Jakarta from May 15 to 19.

It is IDBs commitment to helping and encouraging Indonesias development, which has been discussed intensively by both the government and private entities, said a macroeconomic and international finance expert staff member at the Finance Ministry, Andin Hadiyanto, on Wednesday.

The MoU focuses on infrastructure development, human resources capacity building, sharia financing, increasing the role of the private sector and a reverse linkage program, he said. He declined to specify the value of the project.

As a country with the worlds largest Muslim population, Andin expressed belief that Indonesia would benefit from the upcoming IDB meeting in Jakarta as it would be able to increase its capacity as a center of Islamic economic development in the region.

About 2,700 participants from 56 member countries are scheduled to attend the meeting, consisting of top leaders, ministers, senior officials and business players. The event will focus on six major topics, IDB Indonesia country director Ibrahim Shoukry said.

The topics are coordination and technical cooperation for development among IDB members; the development of economic resilience for member countries; advancing sharia investment to achieve sustainable development goals; sharia innovative financing for poverty reduction; micro sharia market for inclusive finance; and a sharia approach in infrastructure funding.

IDB has been operating in Indonesia and has worked in several important areas such as infrastructure, higher education and community-based development worth US$4 billion in recent years, Ibrahim said.

IDB secretary and chairman Ghassan al-Baba highlighted the universality of sharia financing, despite its strict principle in accordance with Islamic principles, such as forbidding sharia-based financing to be disbursed to liquor, casino and pork-related business.

"Islamic financing has become an alternative financing tool, but it is not restricted to a specific religion. It can be referred also as ethical financing," he said, adding that Islamic loans provided prudent measures as they had to be backed by real assets.(sha/ags)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

Indonesias tax office will launch an investigation into 272 Indonesian taxpayers whose names are mentioned in the Panama Papers, a leak of documents posted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

The office has identified 272 taxpayers from 1,038 taxpayers listed in the Panama Papers who own the tax identification number (NPWP). Of these, 235 taxpayers reported their annual tax assessment (SPT) and 137 others have received tax collection letters (STP).

"But it is still being decided whether they are related to the Panama Papers or not. There are 78 taxpayers who have been summoned in relation to the Panama Papers, and we will examine the data again," said tax office head Ken Dwijugiastiadi at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

Mekar Satria Utama, the tax office's director of counseling services and public relations, added that the tax office was still identifying around 800 other individuals and companies mentioned in the data. During the process, the tax office will check whether the taxpayers included the information in their SPT or not.

"From the Panama Papers we have identified 1,038 individuals and companies, consisting of 28 companies and 1,010 individual taxpayers. If the taxpayers cannot clarify their position, then we may conduct further examinations and even an investigation," he said.

The tax office, he continued, previously retrieved data on Indonesian taxpayers with offshore companies from G-20 countries. According to him, there are around 6,500 Indonesian names on the list.

The ICGJ made data on 200,000 entities associated with Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca available on its website on Monday. The data contains basic information about individuals and companies, trustees and foundations set up in 21 jurisdictions.

The database has revealed how some tiny countries in the South Pacific, such as Samoa, Niue, and Cook Islands, have become favored places to set up more than 13,000 offshore companies and trustees. (ags)
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anakhanum Idayatova - Trend:

The issue of liquidation of Buta Insurance OJSC, an asset of Turkey's NAB Holding, will be considered at the general meeting of the insurance company's shareholders, said the company's message published May 12 in Azerbaijani official media outlets.

It is noted that the meeting of shareholders will be held June 24.

Chairman of the Management Board of Buta Insurance OJSC Gambar Suvanverdiyev told Trend May 12 that the liquidation process is linked with the insurance company's merger with Gunay Insurance OJSC.

"The company has no debts, and it works in normal mode," he said. "But only one insurance company should remain in the market in the process of consolidation. That's why the company's shareholders decided to transfer all active portfolio of our insurance company to Gunay Insurance OJSC. Our employees will also continue to work at Gunay Insurance OJSC."

Suvanverdiyev refused to name the volume of the insurance company's portfolio to be transferred.

Buta Insurance OJSC started its activity in 1996 (then it was called Anglo-Azerbaijan Insurance Company). Since 2000, the insurance company has continued its activities as the Thames Insurance Group. In April 2012, the company was acquired by Turkey's NAB Holding. By decision of the new shareholders, in July 2012, the insurance company was renamed to Buta Insurance.

Currently, shareholders of Buta Insurance are Bank of Baku OJSC, Qafqaz Leasing OJSC, Baku Electronics LLC, Auto Azerbaijan LLC and Baku Service Company LLC.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Thu, May 12 2016

About 100 Association of Islamic Students (HMI) members in Semarang, Central Java, staged a rally Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Saut Situmorang.

The protesters staged a rally at a traffic circle on Jl. Pahlawan, before moving to the Semarang Legislature and police headquarters.

The protesters claim that a statement made by Saut during a TV talk show discredited the student organization. On the talk show, Saut said many HMI members were intelligent as shown by internal tests, but that some became corrupt after taking official positions.

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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

Pedophiles and child rapists may soon be subject to harsh penalties, including chemical castration and the death penalty, with President Joko Jokowi Widodo having decided on Wednesday to issue a tough new regulation against sex crimes.



Jokowi gave his consent for the issuance of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) which will serve as a new legal basis to deter people from committing sex crimes against children, ordering officials to finalize the draft immediately after he announced the sexual abuse of children as an extraordinary crime that also needs extraordinary measures.



The government expects the House of Representatives to approve the Perppu, which will introduce a maximum sentence of 20 years, lifetime imprisonment, while those found guilty of committing premeditated murder after committing a sexual crime against a child may face a death sentence.



The existing Child Protection Law was revised in 2014, but the amendment sanctions a maximum 15-year term of imprisonment for rapists, as stipulated in Article 81, and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for the murderer of a child.



The Perppu will also impose chemical castration for convicted pedophiles and child rapists, another controversial sanction.



It [chemical castration] can be given [to the convict] during or after serving a prison sentence, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said.



He later ensured that chemical castration would not be a compulsory measure, saying that the court would determine first whether or not such a sanction should be imposed.



The government is also mulling over a plan to enforce ankle monitors containing tracking chips for convicted pedophiles and child rapists post prison term and imposing further social sanction by publishing their identity to the public.



However, opposition to the Perppu, particularly with regard to chemical castration and the death penalty, was voiced on Wednesday by a number of rights activists whom deem the the sanction an unsatisfactory solution to reducing case numbers. Activists argued that, even in the countries where chemical castration has been implemented, questions have been raised about whether or not the measure had worked as a deterrent.



Castration is not a solution. We believe that it will extend the chain of sexual abuse [], because it is also a form of sexual torture, said Lathiefah Widuri Retyaningtyas, an activist from the Perempuan Mahardhika group.



Deputy chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence against Woman (Komnas Perempuan), Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, also voiced similar concern, questioning why the government should focus punishment on the genital organ of perpetrators of sexual violence when the problem is actually in their heads?



Both Komnas Perempuan and Perempuan Mahardhika argue that, rather than ratifying the castration regulation, it would be better to have the House of Representatives deliberate the anti-sexual violence bill which they claim stipulates both punishment and rehabilitation for perpetrators, recovery for victims and also restitution.



Deputy Chairman of the House Commission VIII overseeing religion and social affairs Ledia Hanifa Amaliah signaled that, although the bill has been listed on the 2016 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), the commission was still busy deliberating other bills.



Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani said the decision was made after numerous ministers and officials, including the religious affairs minister, health minister and KPAI, reviewed the plan thoroughly. (wnd)

__________________________________________

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Linkedin Erika Anindita Dewi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is scheduled to open the Golkar Partys national congress in Bali on Saturday, an organizing official says.

The main item on the agenda, the election of a new party chairman to replace Aburizal Bakrie, would be attended by some 3,600 participants from across the country, the congress's public relations coordinator Meutya Hafidz said on Thursday.

When the election of the party chairman and the closing ceremony will be held depends on the situation during the congress, she said, adding that the congress could be extended if participants needed more time to discuss important issues.

The steering committee of the congress has announced the chairman candidates: House of Representatives Speaker Ade Komarudin, former House speaker Setya Novanto, lawmaker Airlangga Hartarto, deputy chairman of People's Consultative Assembly Mahyudin, former deputy House speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, lawmaker Azis Syamsuddin, businessman Indra Bambang Utoyo and South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

But, according to a source at the congress, only two candidates have strong support from congress participants: Ade and Setya.

Political analysts have said that each of those two candidates was close to different persons in the government. Ade is reportedly close to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, while Stetya reportedly has a link to Jokowi through Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

The State Palace has denied such speculation. (bbn)
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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

Residents of Dadap in Tangerang regency, Banten, have appointed lawyers from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) to represent them in possible legal battles against the local administration following their forcible eviction on Tuesday.

Like Kalijodo in North Jakarta, an area earlier demolished by the Jakarta administration, Dadap is also known as a red-light district. Many sex workers from Kalijodo reportedly moved to Dadap after Kalijodos closure.

Yes, we will accompany the residents of Dadap. We will try to find an out-of-court solution such as that suggested by the National Commission on Human Rights, said LBH Jakarta lawyer Tigor Hutapea as reported by kompas.com on Thursday.

LBH Jakarta may take legal action against the local government if the residents wish to do so. Tigor said he would discuss the matter with the residents.

The residents of Dadap have argued that the eviction will not only affect those operating in the red-light district, but also those living in regular residential areas. Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, however, has promised not to evict residents living in Dadaps standard residential areas.

The residents are disappointed because Ahmed has been reluctant to meet with them to discuss the eviction plan. We visited the regents office in early May. The regent promised to meet with us. But we cannot meet with the regent. We only met the secretary, said Aldy, chairman of a local youth forum.

Armed with various sharp weapons, Dadap residents clashed with security officers on Tuesday when the local government tried to evict them from the area. The clashes occurred in the morning and took place again in the afternoon.

They threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at security officers, who escorted the workers demolishing the properties in the area. In response, the security officers shot tear gas to disperse the crowd, made up of hundreds of people. (bbn)
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Linkedin Cemara Dinda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

Entering its fifth year, Manifesto the contemporary art biennial hosted by the National Gallery in Central Jakarta reflects on urban flow in society.

Under the theme Arus (Flow), this year Manifesto presents a bold collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, art installations, videos and murals from 35 established artists, including Agus Suwage, Entang Wiharso, F. Sigit Santoso, Ronald Manulang, Teguh Ostenrik and Yani Maryani Sastranegara.



From May 4 to 30, the public will get the chance to immerse themselves in contemporary works that deconstructs the notion of a non-utilitarian perspective of art, to an instrument of expression.



Asikin Hasan, one of two curators for the exhibition, said the selected artists express what troubles our society today and explore areas through which we can improve. This is especially unique in the rapidly expanding realm of technology, urbanization and mass media.



This conviction contributes to a flow that has inspired them [and] to the potential role of art in that it is considered capable of encouraging a change either personally, socially and culturally, he said.



The other curator, Rizki A. Zaelani, said they had tried to arrange the artworks in such a way that the gallery space was maximized and thus allowed the different mediums to merge.



I try to see similarities in each and every [artwork and organize them] into a coherent narration of the theme, to create a flow, he said during a press tour at the opening of the biennial exhibition recently.



In the exhibition, critical views on urban issues take center stage.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

A number of visiting foreign Muslim leaders have expressed their interest in the concept of Islam promoted by the Indonesian government, Islam Nusantara.

Introduced by Indonesias largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Islam Nusantara is a tolerant form of Islam that upholds values of peace, modesty and cultural respect.

NU secretary-general Helmy Faisal Zaini said some of the foreign leaders wanted to adopt Islam Nusantara, since the paradigm could be adapted to other countries local heritage.

Lebanese cleric Amin Kurdi, who is also a grand imam of the Lebanese State Mosque, said the attraction of Islam Nusantara were its teachings that told Muslims to be tolerant and spread love and peace.

"Personally, I'd like to push for the establishment of NU [in Lebanon], since the NU has experience in disseminating good, moderate and tolerant Islam," Kurdi said.

Beirut already has an NU special branch committee (PCI NU) to represent the Indonesian NU in Lebanon, as one of 40 countries around the world that have become special members of the NUs central board.

Lebanon is among 10 countries, including Russia and Lithuania, that have announced plans for the establishment of independent NU organizations following the International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders (ISOMIL), recently organized by NUs central board in Jakarta.

More than 300 participants from 35 countries, including Muslim figures from Iran, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, attended the two-day meeting, where the clerics endorsed the NU's Jakarta Declaration.

NU central board deputy chairman Maksum Machfoedz said there were currently five countries that had own independent NU organizations, namely Afghanistan, Turkey, Tunisia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The Afghan NU was established in response to an initiative by the Indonesian NU when the NUs central board invited Afghan clerics to Jakarta in 2011 to assist in peace efforts in the war-torn country, Machfoedz said.

"We keep assisting them in the process [...] two years ago, we even have brought them to Gajah Mada University to learn about Pancasila (Indonesias state ideology)," Machfoedz told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday.

Fazal Ghani Kakar, the founder of the Afghan NU, said the Afghan government had supported the organization since its establishment in 2011.

According to Kakar, there are currently 6,000 local ulemas in 22 NU representative offices across 34 provinces of Afghanistan registered with the Afghan Justice Ministry.

"We are running independently, however, we get support from the Indonesian NU and Indonesian Embassy in Kabul from time to time," Kakar said.

In Afghanistan, especially, the five general principles promoted by NU, namely moderation, tolerance, justice, balance and participation, served as effective elements in creating a change of mentality among different groups in the country that kept clashing with each other, Kakar said.

Afghanistan, home to radical militant group Taliban, has suffered from war for more than four decades, with millions of lives lost.

The NU central board hoped that more independent NUs would be established soon in the countries currently hosting NU special branch committees, Machfoedz added. (bbn)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Ketapang, West Kalimantan  Thu, May 12 2016

Two new steam-fueled power plants in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, are expected to start commercial operations in July, with the expectation that they will solve electricity shortages in the area.

The Rp 339.5 billion (US$25.5 million) project is expected to produce a total of 20 megawatts (MW) of electricity for Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). Meanwhile, state-owned construction firm Wijaya Karya (Wika) served as the contractor that built the plants.

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Linkedin Amir Vahdat (Associated Press) Tehran  Thu, May 12, 2016

Iran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual haj pilgrimage, an Iranian official announced Thursday, the latest sign of tensions between the two Mideast powers after a disaster during the event last year killed at least 2,426 people.

Iran said Saudi "incompetence" caused the Sept. 24 crush and stampede in the holy city of Mina during the haj, which is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The Islamic Republic has said the disaster killed 464 of its pilgrims.

Negotiations between Shiite power Iran and the Sunni kingdom had been trying to "resolve the issue" of security for months, but failed to make any headway, said Ali Jannati, Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance.

"The sabotage is coming from the Saudis," Jannati said in comments carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. "They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing visas or security and transport of the Iranian pilgrims."

The state-run Saudi Press Agency did not immediately report the news.

The decision not to attend haj comes as tensions remain high between the two countries since the Jan. 2 execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has called the cleric a dangerous terrorist who stirred dissent in the country's predominantly Shiite east, something denied by his family, who say al-Nimr never advocated violence nor picked up a weapon.

Al-Nimr's execution sparked widespread protests in Iran, which views itself as the protector of Shiites around the world. Demonstrations outside of Saudi diplomatic posts in Tehran and Mashhad turned violent, however, and saw protesters storm the buildings.

As a result, Riyadh cut diplomatic relations with Tehran. The two countries also support opposing sides in Syria's long civil war and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country.

Since Saudi diplomatic posts remain closed in Iran, kingdom officials had told the Islamic Republic its citizens would need to travel to embassies in other countries to apply for visas for the hajj, Jannati said. He described that as another sticking point in the failed negotiations.

Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, also blamed Saudi Arabia for the failed talks.

"If no agreement is reached on these issues, Saudi Arabia will be responsible for shutting the way to sending Iranian pilgrims," Ansari said.

The disaster in Mina was the deadliest in the history of the annual pilgrimage, according to an Associated Press tally of the dead based on state media reports and officials' comments from 36 of the over 180 countries that sent citizens to the haj. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since Sept. 26, and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.

Last year's haj, which drew 2 million pilgrims, also saw a crane collapse in Mecca kill 111 worshipers.

Iran called for an independent body to take over planning and administering the five-day hajj pilgrimage, but the kingdom's ruling Al Saud family likely would never give up its role in administering the holy sites. That, along with Saudi Arabia's oil wealth, provides it major influence in the Muslim world.

This isn't the first time Iran has boycotted the haj. In 1987, demonstrating Iranian pilgrims battled Saudi riot police, violence that killed at least 402 people. Iran claimed 600 of its pilgrims were killed and said police fired machine guns at the crowd. Iran boycotted the haj in 1988 and 1989, while Saudi officials severed diplomatic ties over the violence and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post)  Thu, May 12 2016

The government is determined to use gas that will be produced by the Masela block in Maluku to support the local petrochemical industry instead of shipping it overseas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The gas-rich Masela block, which will be developed under an onshore scheme, is estimated to be able to produce 1,200 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas and 24,000 barrels per day of condensate for 24 years, based on figures from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli argued on Wednesday that it would be a waste to produce such a large amount of gas and have the majority of it exported abroad. The ministry has calculated that if the LNG is sold at US$7.2 per million British Thermal Units (mmbtu), it would generate returns of around $2.52 billion per year.

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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad is gearing up to mass-produce its latest assault rifle, the SS2 V5 Silencer, which the company says is the quietest rifle ever produced in Indonesia and designed for silent operations.

The SS2 Subsonic rifle caliber 5.56 millimeter was unveiled to the press on Wednesday, along with the G2 Elite caliber 9 millimeter and the SPR 2 caliber 12.7 millimeter. It is claimed to effectively hit targets at a maximum range of two kilometers.

Pindad president director Silmy Karim said the SS2 Subsonic rifle was a modified version of Pindads best-selling rifle SS2. He claimed the rifle was quieter than the MP-7 manufactured by Heckler & Koch Germany.

When I first tried it, it even surprised me. I have tried the MP-7, and this one is quieter. I can only hear a short hiss. This subsonic rifle is specifically designed for ambush and silent assaults in special military operations, he said, as quoted by tribunnews.com on Wednesday.

Pindad corporate secretary Bayu A Fiantono said the superiority of the SS2 riffle assault had been proven in the last two years at international events, such as the Brunei International Skill-at-Arms Meet, the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meeting (AASAM) and the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet.

Pindad is ready to commence mass production of the SS2 Subsonic. However, we need to wait for a purchase contract from the Indonesian Army (TNI) and National Police as the main buyers, he said.

Silmy highlighted that Pindad engineers were obliged to keep innovating in weaponry design and manufacturing. Starting in 2016, the company eyes to create at least one new weapon variant every three months.

The company is also working on a new combat vessel. Equipped with a turret tank, the armored vehicle is set to be displayed at the Indo Defense exhibition in late 2016. The boat can run at a maximum speed of 40 knots. It is the first [of its kind] in the world, Silmy said. (ags)
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

Trend:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has started the second session of a four-day workshop for women entrepreneurs who want to develop their entrepreneurial skills and use the leadership techniques to make their businesses a long-term success. On 12 May 2016 sixteen women entrepreneurs representing various sectors of the economy attended the second session of the workshop.

"EBRD works hard to help women entrepreneurs unlock their potential, strengthen their skills and encourage their participation in business. We offer practical trainings for women to develop essential entrepreneurial and leadership skills therefore helping them turn their ventures into durable businesses." says Jeff Ferry, Associate Director, EBRD Advice for Small Businesses, South Caucasus and Russian Federation.

The workshop is a part of the EBRD's Women in Business programme, funded by European Union, Sweden and the Early Transition Countries Fund. Over 50 million will be made available from the EBRD for credit lines channelled through partner financial institutions for on-lending to women-led SMEs. This is combined with 9 million in donor funding, enabling risk mitigation funds and technical assistance to partner banks, as well as business advice, training and mentoring for women entrepreneurs.

Since starting work in Azerbaijan in 1993, the EBRD has helped over 800 enterprises access consulting know-how to help them develop and grow. The European Union has provided 3.7 million to support this work in Azerbaijan since 2003 and Swedish International Development Agency contributes 47 million Swedish Kronor to the development of women entrepreneurship in Eastern Partnership Countries.
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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

A panel holding an ethics hearing on the case of two Densus 88 counterterrorism squad members involved in the arrest of terror suspect Siyono has ruled that the agents only breached procedure.

The panel rejected allegations that the Densus 88 agents had engaged in torture and violence that led to Siyonos death, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said.

"We see no indication of deliberate murder. They [Densus 88 members] were on duty [during the incident]," Boy was quoted as saying by kompas.com on Thursday.

Siyono's death was accidental due to the negligence of Densus 88 agents in guarding Siyono in the car, in which the terror suspect was being transported unrestrained, Boy said.

Two Densus 88 members, identified only as Adj. Sr. Comr. T and Insp. H, will be punished for violating procedure stipulated in a National Police chief decree during the arrest of Siyono. The two agents will be demoted and are required to apologize to their superiors.

They will be transferred from Densus 88, with Adj. Sr. Comr. T and Insp. H to serve for four years with other units.

Not only did Densus 88 breach procedure and transport the suspect unrestrained, the investigation noted that there was another violation in that more agents should have escorted Siyono when he was transported by car.

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah central board and Siyono's family plan to report the two Densus 88 members to the police, accusing them of murder.

"We will accept the complaint. However, in this case all will be sent to police investigators to collect corroborating evidence," Boy said.

Siyono, thought to be a leader of Neo Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), was escorted by only two Densus 88, one who drove and one who sat beside him, inside the car en route to the alleged location of the groups weapons cache.

He died under suspicious circumstances while in Densus 88 custody four days after his arrest. Reports say his body was covered in wounds and bruises, including on his head, raising suspicions that police abuse had led to his death. (afr/dmr)
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Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

The police have criticized the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office for rejecting for a third time the case dossier on Jessica Kumala Wongso, who is suspected of murdering Wayan Mirna Salihin.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto called on the prosecutors to accept the final revision of the case dossier to enable the case to go to trial.

Let the judges decide so that there is legal certainty. We shouldn't be bothered with all these problems, said Moechgiyarto as reported by kompas.com on Thursday.

Police have 120 days, or until May 28, to prepare the dossier. If prosecutors do not accept the dossier before the deadline, Jessica will be released and the case closed.

The prosecutors said the case dossier had been rejected because the police had failed to provide strong evidence to implicate Jessica in Mirna's death.

Moechgiyarto stressed that the police had done their best to complete the document before submitting it to the prosecutor's office. He argued that based on the law, the police did not need to collect two items of evidence.

Based on Law No. 8/1981 on the Criminal Law Procedures Code , there is no obligation to collect two pieces of evidence, he said, countering the prosecutors argument that the police had not collected enough evidence.

If we want to uphold justice, the case should proceed to trial. Let the judges decide, he said.

Jessica was named a suspect in the murder of Mirna, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee at Olivier restaurant at Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta, on Jan. 6. Jessica shared a table at the restaurant with Mirna and another woman, Hani, at the restaurant. (bbn)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Tembagapura Police in Mimika, Papua, are questioning 21 residents who allegedly trespassed into a mine owned by US-based gold and copper mining company Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) early Thursday. They are accused of taking tailings from the mining site located at Mile 74.

We have taken 97 residents into custody for questioning. Currently, 21 people are still undergoing questioning at the police station, Tembagapura Police chief First Insp. Hasmulyadi told thejakartapost.com on Thursday.

The incident began when around 400 local residents tried to enter the Mile 74 area to take the tailings at around 1 a.m. on Thursday, but at Mile 73, they were blocked by around 120 security personnel. Prevented from entering the site, the residents tried to burn security posts and damage several vehicles belonging to the company, said Hasmulyadi.

The police chief further said the invasion seemed to have been triggered by residents suspicions that the mining company had shut down its operations because in the past month, it had not channeled tailings into a river near the mining site. Traditional miners used to take the waste to find gold left over in it.

It seems local residents were provoked by the fact that the company had stopped its operation because there was no more tailings, while in fact, the waste was not channeled into the river because waste channeling equipment was damaged, Hasmulyadi said.

Papua Police chief Paulus Waterpauw deplored the invasion and called for an investigation into the case. I have ordered the Security Task Force commander Sr. Comr. Joko Priadi to go to Tembagapura to investigate the incident. I also have asked the Mimika Police chief [Adj. Sr. Comr. Yustanto Mudjiharso] to continue to monitor the security situation in Tembagapura, he said. (ebf)
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Manila  Thu, May 12, 2016

On the Philippine campaign trail, Rodrigo Duterte was alternatively seen as a looming despot with a hot temper or a hands-on administrator who could eradicate crime and corruption.

A captivating speaker, the longtime mayor of Davao peppered his impromptu speeches with obscene remarks, tales about his sexual adventures and outlandish plans, prompting crowds to laugh but often making it tough to know whether he was joking or dead serious.

Now that an unofficial count has shown that Duterte has won the presidential race by a huge margin, Filipinos and governments around the world wait to see how the 71-year-old will actually steer his Southeast Asian nation that has posted robust growth despite still-widespread poverty. Here's a look at his policy pronouncements, mostly culled from his speeches and campaign staff.

CRIME AND CORRUPTION

Duterte has repeatedly vowed to wipe out crime and corruption in three to six months, warning lawbreakers they would be shot to death if they try to resist. Philippine police officials doubt this monumental task can be achieved, especially in such a short time.

POLITICAL SYSTEM

The mayor has long complained that the country's south, where his city of Davao is located, and the countryside have long been shortchanged in budget and resource allocations by the central government. He wants to turn the Philippine government into a more decentralized, federal system that will give more power to the provinces and weaken Manila's power.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

He says he's open to talks with China on territorial conflicts, but also declares he will travel by jet ski to one of the artificial islands that China has built atop reefs in the South China Sea and plant a Philippine flag there. He says China should abide by an upcoming decision by a UN arbitration court in a case filed by the Philippines regarding territorial claims, but he also asks why longtime allies America, Australia and Japan did nothing as Beijing built its artificial islands.

UNITED STATES

Duterte describes himself as a "socialist" with a "cold" relationship with America. His spokesman Peter Lavina says that started when US authorities took an American suspected in a 2002 hotel bomb blast out of Davao without Duterte's knowledge. Duterte says he has reservations on the periodic presence of US troops in the country but plans to send an envoy to the US Embassy and other diplomatic missions to extend a hand of friendship.

MILITARY AND POLICE

Upon assumption to the presidency, Duterte says he will immediately double the salaries of soldiers and police to discourage corruption of the force he will use to wage a bloody war against criminality. He will recruit 3,000 more policemen to enhance law enforcement and has pledged to harness a rarely used constitutional power of the president to pardon officers  and himself  if they face lawsuits as they battle criminals.

ECONOMY

A lawyer, former prosecutor and congressman, Duterte acknowledges he has a poor grasp of the economy and will have to assemble a team to advise him and "copy" existing programs that suit his populist stance. He's inclined to oppose new mining contracts and won't allow foreign investors to own land.

POVERTY

The macho mayor associates himself with the lower class, and says he would continue a government program that provides cash to the poorest of the poor to encourage parents to ensure their children will attend classes and receive subsidized health care. More than 4.4 million Filipinos are currently benefiting from the monthly handouts. He has vowed to stop a government land redistribution program that he says has failed to ease the plight of peasants.

CHURCH

Duterte, who was raised Catholic but now says he doesn't follow any specific faith, started out his campaign on the wrong foot with the church when he cursed Pope Francis for creating a monstrous traffic jam in Manila, trapping him and many other motorists. He later apologized and said he plans to travel to the Vatican to personally say sorry to the pope. His strong support for birth control and contraceptives  he welcomes condom donations and offers cash to residents who agree to undergo ligation or vasectomy  puts him on a collision course with the church.

GENDER ISSUES

Acknowledging he has three girlfriends and a partner after an annulment of his first marriage, Duterte caught attention during the campaign with his sex jokes and other offensive comments, including on wanting to be the first to rape an Australian missionary who was abused and killed by inmates in a 1989 jail riot. But his spokesman says Duterte's presidency will be gender-sensitive, citing a Davao city regulation that prohibits discrimination against women and LGBT people and ensures equal opportunities for them. He has assembled lawyers to help women in domestic violence cases and has banned swimsuit competitions in local beauty pageants. He says he supports same sex-marriage because "everyone deserves to be happy."

INSURGENCIES

Duterte, who has negotiated with communist rebels for the release of soldiers and policemen kidnapped by the insurgents in the past, says he will open peace talks with the Maoist guerrillas and hammer out an autonomy deal with Muslim rebels.

DICTATOR'S BURIAL

Duterte says he will allow the burial in a national heroes' cemetery of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose body has been displayed in a glass coffin in his northern home province. This may spark a political storm. The current president and left-wing activists have opposed such a burial, citing the plunder and massive human-rights violations that happened under the dictator, who was ousted in a 1986 revolt.
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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang and Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap/Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

The police in Cilacap, Central Java, appointed on Wednesday religious clerics to spiritually prepare drug convicts for the firing squad, but Attorney General M. Prasetyo denied reports that the executions of the convicts would take place any time soon.

Prasetyo also expressed his dissatisfaction that the Central Java Police had revealed on Tuesday the number of convicts to be executed and their nationalities.

The authority belongs here. The final decision is made here and we havent made any decisions, Prasetyo said at his office on Wednesday.

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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Thu, May 12 2016

Six districts in two regencies in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) are expected to experience food shortages until the end of the year.

The current number is considered significantly less than the 60 districts categorized as food insecurity districts in 2010, an amount that accounted for almost all eight regencies in NTB.

The number has dropped compared to 2010. Data showed as many as 60 food insecurity districts five years ago, while only six districts remain categorized in 2015, five in North Lombok and one in Sumbawa, said NTB Food Security Agency (BKP) head Hartinah on Wednesday after the launch of the Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas (FSVA) for NTB.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

After graduating from a state vocational school (SMK) in Jakarta last year, 18-year-old Taufik Ashari has spent the past several months searching for jobs that his information, communication and technology degree qualifies him for.

After dozens of rejected applications, Taufik, however, said he would continue to search.

Ill keep trying to get a job that is relevant to my educational background, a computer technician for example, he told The Jakarta Post at a recent job fair.

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Linkedin (Associated Press) Goodyear, Ariz., United States  Thu, May 12, 2016

A solar-powered airplane that landed in Arizona last week is headed to Oklahoma on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey.

The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from Phoenix Goodyear Airport about 3 a.m. Thursday with a destination of Tulsa International Airport.

It departed from northern California in the early hours of May 2 and landed at the airport southwest of Phoenix 16 hours later. Last month, it flew from Hawaii to California.

The globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.

After Oklahoma, the plane is expected to make at least one more stop in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey.

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.

Ideal flight speed is about 28 mph, although that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest.

The plane had a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and three-day trip from Hawaii to California's Silicon Valley.

The crew was forced to stay in Oahu, Hawaii, for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan.

Project officials say the layovers give the two Swiss pilots  Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg  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.

The solar project began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation.
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

Commuters will have to revise their strategies to get to and from Jakarta during the week as the city administration is set to fully revoke the three-in-one traffic policy next week.

The regulation had no significant impact in reducing congestion so it will be officially ended next Monday. Roads in the capital will still be congested regardless of the policy, Transportation Agency head Andri Yansyah said on Tuesday.

The administration had suspended the regulation, in which cars using major thoroughfares like Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, had to carry at least three passengers, since April 14 while it examined what effect, if any, it had on reducing congestion. Along with implementing the suspension, the administration deployed 600 extra Transjakarta buses.

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Linkedin Bradley Klapper and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) Washington  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Obama administration grappled with a renewed show of force by Islamic State militants on Wednesday as they advanced again toward the ancient Syrian crossroads of Palmyra and exposed the Iraqi capital's frailty through a series of deadly car bomb attacks.

American officials said the US wasn't shifting its strategy for defeating the extremist group in either country. But the violence across the two central IS battlefields illustrated how the US-led campaign remains dependent on weak allies and even sometimes local leaders and forces that Washington opposes.

The developments overseas contrasted with more positive news at home, as FBI Director James Comey declared that fewer Americans were now traveling to enlist with IS as its brand suffers in the United States.

Whereas a couple of years ago investigators saw six to 10 Americans heading to the Mideast each month to join the fight, Comey said that number has averaged about one a month since last summer.

"There's no doubt that something has happened that is lasting," he told reporters. But agents are still evaluating more than 1,000 cases to gauge levels of radicalization and potential for violence. The threat remains high after the Islamic State-inspired attack in San Bernandino, California, in December that killed 14 people.

In the broader war against IS, the most complicated situation is in Syria.

There, the US hopes President Bashar Assad and his Russian backers can hold off a fresh offensive near Palmyra several weeks after they pushed IS out of its world-famous ruins and neighboring city. The militants on Wednesday seized a key rocket-launching site about 40 miles away, according to media reports and activists, effectively isolating government forces in Palmyra from supply routes elsewhere in the country.

"We certainly do not want to see ISIL expand the territory that they control and we certainly do not want to see ISIL put at risk once again such a historically and culturally significant city," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

But Earnest said the US wouldn't coordinate defense efforts with Assad's military or Russia in the event the city faces another capitulation.

That leaves few other options for any intervention that might be deemed necessary. The US has a small contingent of special forces in Syria, but on the ground it primarily depends on Arab and Kurdish forces, several of which see Assad as a greater enemy than Islamic State militants.

Beyond its relics, Palmyra is important because of its location between the IS stronghold to the north and the capital of Damascus in the south. Losing the city again would thus provide IS a major logistical gain and propaganda coup.

And it would add further evidence of the militants' surprising capacity to inflict losses on its enemies, after killing a US Navy SEAL last week in Iraq. The special warfare operator, Charles Keating IV, was part of a quick reaction force that moved in to rescue U.S. military advisers from a firefight started by about 100 Islamic State fighters about 14 miles north of Mosul.

In Iraq, the US strategic thinking is more straightforward. The United States is backing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's attempt to break months of political deadlock through government reforms and a Cabinet reshuffle.

But three separate car bombings in the capital on Wednesday, killing more than 90 people and wounding at least 160, highlighted how weak his government's control over security remains. IS claimed responsibility for all three attacks, claiming they targeted Shiite militiamen; it was the deadliest day in Baghdad this year.

Earnest condemned the bombings, calling them "abominable." But he said al-Abadi was determined to protect his people, and unite Iraq's different factions against their common foe, and the US would help.

"This is a problem that the Iraqi people are going to have to solve when it comes to addressing the challenges in their own country," he said. "We've tried the path of the United States trying to impose a solution on these countries that are facing so much turmoil and violence.

"That didn't work out very well. It didn't work out very well for the United States. It didn't work out very well for the Iraqi people either. So we need to pursue a strategy where we are empowering the Iraqi government, the Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people to confront successfully the problems that are plaguing their own nation. (bbn)
Details added (first version posted on 09:29)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anakhanum Idayatova - Trend:

The issue of liquidation of Buta Insurance OJSC, an asset of Turkey's NAB Holding, will be considered at the general meeting of the insurance company's shareholders, said the company's message published May 12 in Azerbaijani official media outlets.

It is noted that the meeting of shareholders will be held June 24.

Chairman of the Management Board of Buta Insurance OJSC Gambar Suvanverdiyev told Trend May 12 that the liquidation process is linked with the insurance company's merger with Gunay Insurance OJSC.

"The company has no debts, and it works in normal mode," he said. "But only one insurance company should remain in the market in the process of consolidation. That's why the company's shareholders decided to transfer all active portfolio of our insurance company to Gunay Insurance OJSC. Our employees will also continue to work at Gunay Insurance OJSC."

Suvanverdiyev refused to name the volume of the insurance company's portfolio to be transferred.

Buta Insurance OJSC started its activity in 1996 (then it was called Anglo-Azerbaijan Insurance Company). Since 2000, the insurance company has continued its activities as the Thames Insurance Group. In April 2012, the company was acquired by Turkey's NAB Holding. By decision of the new shareholders, in July 2012, the insurance company was renamed to Buta Insurance.

Currently, shareholders of Buta Insurance are Bank of Baku OJSC, Qafqaz Leasing OJSC, Baku Electronics LLC, Auto Azerbaijan LLC and Baku Service Company LLC.
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Linkedin Indraswari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12 2016

I write this article in grief and anger, as I follow last months case of the brutal rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Bengkulu.

The victim  a 14-year-old girl - was walking home from school on April 2, when she was dragged into bushland and allegedly gang-raped and murdered by 14 males. She was first hit with a stick, stripped and tied, before the 14 perpetrators took turns raping her, some more than once.

Her corpse was thrown off a nearby cliff. It was found days later, naked and bound.

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Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado  Thu, May 12 2016

The case of an alleged gang rape in Manado, North Sulawesi, has been called into question after a witness denied that any sexual assault took place.

The witness, identified only as Yuyun, has repeatedly said there was no violence against the alleged victim. I was with [her] for four days and there was no rape. Had the rape really happened, I would have become a victim too as I was with her, Yuyun told the media at the North Sulawesi Police office in Manado, on Wednesday.

Yuyun said the case began in January when she and the alleged victim were invited by a woman, identified as Memey, to go to neighboring Gorontalo by car. On Jan. 24, they picked up the alleged victim from her office.

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Linkedin Noel Foo (The Star/ANN) Kuala Lumpur  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Cabinet is lifting the freeze on hiring foreign workers for four sectors, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The decision was made in light of appeals from the manufacturing, construction, plantation and furniture-making industries, which are facing a major shortage of workers.

In view of the acute shortage, we have to lift the suspension to allow these sectors to bring in foreign workers, said Liow.

However, he said that the Cabinet was already looking to improve the system for hiring foreign workers, after which they would gradually lift the hiring freeze for other sectors too.

On other sectors, we will go on a case-by-case basis, while waiting for the creation of a more foolproof, transparent and accountable system, he added.

Workers are important for the productivity of these sectors, so if employers face too many uncertainties in hiring workers, that will not go well for the nations economic growth, he said.

Liow added that it would take time for the Government to engage with the various industries to better understand the situations that each sector faced.

However, he emphasized that it was important for the Government to regulate and have proper control over the hiring of foreign workers in Malaysia.

The Star reported recently that a survey by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers showed that 84% of manufacturers were facing a labor shortage, with half of them claiming that they had not been able to fulfil existing orders.

The survey showed 146 companies required 13,270 new workers this year to meet their business needs and replace unfit or returning workers.

Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the illegal foreign workers rehiring program must be made more efficient to assist manufacturers, who were facing a manpower shortage due to the freeze on foreign workers since February.

Only 55,000 illegals have been rehired so far, out of the estimated 1.4 million said to be in the country.

Late last month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that a decision on the freeze on foreign labor would be announced soon.
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Linkedin Karlos Manlupig (Inquirer.net/ANN)  Thu, May 12, 2016

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has sent its heartfelt congratulations to presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte.

On behalf of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [MILF] and the Bangsamoro people, it is with great pleasure and gladness on my part to extend our heartfelt congratulations to you on your historic victory, MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said in a letter sent a day after the elections.

It is indeed a historic victory because for the first time in the history of this country, a true son of Mindanao in whose veins Moro blood runs is now the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines, Murad said in his letter that was also posted in the MILFs Facebook page.

Despite the loss of the administration candidate, who had been expected to continue the peace process, Murad said the MILF was confident that Duterte would pursue the peace efforts in Mindanao.

The MILF as a revolutionary organization that represents our peoples struggle for self-determination, remains highly optimistic and confident that your victory would carry with it our hopes and aspirations for peace and justice in Mindanao. Your defense of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before and during the election campaign has in fact infused these optimism and confidence among our people, which should explain why they overwhelmingly supported your candidacy, Murad said.

Furthermore, your message of justice, freedom, equality and social justice resonates with our aspiration for genuine change. This was emphasized when we signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro [FAB], and subsequently the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro [CAB], wherein it is stipulated as a matter of fundamental principle that the status quo is unacceptable to both the MILF and the GPH. Your platform for system change precisely captures this principle, Murad said.

It is thus in our best interest that your advocacy for federalism entrenches our aspiration for genuine self-rule in our homeland through the implementation of the CAB to put an end to the debilitating conflict that breeds anarchy and stimulates the rise of extremism, Murad added.

The tough-talking mayor visited the main camp of the MILF in February where he had a dialogue with some of the top leaders of the organization.
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Linkedin Intan Tanjung (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, May 12, 2016

Traveling solo is a big step as it puts you outside of your comfort zone. Understandably, many women do not have the courage to travel alone; they tend to go in groups or at least with a close friend.

If you have never done it but are eager to challenge yourself, there are some things you can do to prepare, especially for overseas travel. The most important concern is, of course, safety, but there are also other things that you should add to your list of considerations.

Mentality

The most important element of preparation is mentality. You must have confidence and belief in yourself, and assure yourself that it is safe to visit your destination alone.

Start by reading articles or books about traveling solo and about the destination you want to visit. Try to get used to going out by yourself; see if you can visit restaurants or join a crowd without any company and see how you feel.

Make sure you prepare all the travel essentials to help yourself feel safe on the journey, which will help you enjoy your solo trip later. And, by the way, although you will travel by yourself, most of the time you will likely not be alone and will end up joining others you meet on the way.

Listen to your instincts

The hardest part of mental preparation is making your own decisions. You have to trust yourself and listen to your instincts because that is your best defense system.

Dont worry about other peoples opinions or be afraid that youll offend someone. You only have yourself to rely on throughout the trip, so you must know yourself very well.

One step at a time

Start your solo trip by visiting a close destination, and take it further one step at a time.

Its not wise to embark on a solo trip to a dangerous or complex country. Our suggestion is to go to a place where you have a colleague or friend. Then, once you have more confidence, you can go a level up for your next destination.

(Read also: Among Asian citizens, Indonesians most likely to travel solo in 2016: Survey)

Prepare required documents

Print out copies of your identification, insurance, plane tickets, hotel bookings and emergency contacts and put them in separate places: in your suitcase and other bags. Also store the files on an online drive.

You should carry a copy of your identification with you at all times as well as a hotel address and emergency contact. Keep your passport in your hotels safe or, if youre in a hostel, store it in a cabinet with your own lock.

Emergency contacts

Always have an emergency contact and update him or her whenever you move and tell them what is happening. You may not be aware that danger is near, but a friend listening to your story might be able to sense it.

Take note of the license plates of vehicles that you travel in and share them with your contact.

Extensive research

Wherever you go, always do extensive research beforehand. Learn not only about the location of your accommodation, but also the current situation of surrounding areas as well as your desired tourist sites.

Learn also about local scams and precautions.

Emergency exits

It is very important to plan an emergency exit strategy. You must take note of your countrys embassy or consulate address as well as their telephone number.

(Read also: 10 lessons you learn from living solo)

Learn which best hospital is best in your destination and whether it will accept your health insurance or not. Also, find out about the scenario for a medical evacuation, just in case.

Extra cash

You must have a plan for extra cash, just in case you get robbed or lose your suitcase. You can ask a friend to send emergency money if needed via Western Union or MoneyGram and agree on a secret passcode.

Try to divide your cash and keep it in separate places: in your luggage, secret pockets, shoes, etc.

Safety mechanism

Plan your safety mechanisms and always bring along one thing that can be used as a weapon, for example a wooden stick. Always carry with a padlock, extra batteries for your gadgets, conventional clothes to blend in with locals and clothes with hidden pockets to hide your hotel keys and important notes.

Its advisable to wear a ring that looks like a wedding band and say youre married and your husband is waiting for you at your hotel if a stranger asks. It is also important to bring simple first aid supplies and medicine with you at all time.

Printed map

It may be old fashioned, but your GPS will be useless if the battery is flat. That's when you realize that printed maps are important.

Carry less

You may want to look chic, but theres no point packing your wedges or other unnecessary stuff. Just bring basics like T-shirts, one dress, flip flops and simple make-up.

It might be hard to find someone to help you to carry your luggage, but you can always buy cheap clothes when you arrive instead of carrying heavy bags. (kes)
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Linkedin (China Daily/Asia News Network)  Thu, May 12, 2016

Shanghai Disney goers will have another attraction to visit this summer as the toymaker Lego has opened its largest retail store in the world at the resort.

The store is decked out with giant Lego dragons and walls filled with multi-colored plastic bricks, aimed at attracting both children and adults.

"I like castles... Because castles are very beautiful and I like beautiful houses."

(Read also: Shanghai park triggers huge Disney rush)

"I hope Lego can gradually attach importance to the Chinese market, and produce the landmarks accordingly."

Lego's is setting up a factory in China which should be operational in 2017 in Jiaxing, 100 kilometers from Shanghai.

Jacob Kragh, the general manager of Lego China, said entering the Chinese market was crucial.

(Read also: From Lego to Barbie: Meet 4 adults who are into toy collecting)

"Because in China we have many children that are still out there without having a good quality play experience, and this is the reason why we feel that in order to be successful in the long run, we have to make sure we reach more Chinese children."

The company now has 250 designers, and launched 350 products last year.

The Shanghai Disney theme park is slated to open on June 16.
Moscow, Russia, May 12

By Orkhan Yolchuyev - Trend:

A meeting of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan is planned to be held next week in Vienna, Austria, said Mariya Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry.

She made the remarks answering Trend correspondent's question on Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the briefing in Moscow May 12.

Zakharova said that the meeting is planned with the participation of foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries - Russia, France and the US.

The meeting's aim is to try to strengthen the ceasefire regime, to reduce the military risks, and to agree to strengthen concrete confidence-building measures, noted Zakharova.

The Russian official added that the meeting is only being planned.

"We proceed from the assumption that such a meeting can and should contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the zone of conflict and to create conditions for the resumption of the negotiation process aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement," said Zakharova.

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.

Edited by SI
Coming up on Sunday, State Sen. Daniel Squadron is hosting his annual community convention. Its an opportunity for constituents in the 26th Senate District, which includes the Lower East Side, to weigh in on the issues important to them.

The event takes place this year at P.S. 124, 40 Division St., from 2-5 p.m. Heres the link if youd like to RSVP.

A few days ago, Squadron sent an email to constituents detailing some of the the issues that have been raised at past conventions and how his office has addressed them. A sampling::
Moscow, Russia, May 12

By Orkhan Yolchuyev - Trend:

Russia sees the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict only through peaceful, political and diplomatic means, based on the internationally recognized documents signed by Baku and Yerevan, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, told reporters May 12.

The corresponding solution to the conflict should be found based on this international framework, the international legal platform, and by using the political and diplomatic methods, she added.

"We hope it will be so. There is no alternative way, such as, for example, the use of force," said Zakharova.

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.
Details added (first version posted on 17:53)

Moscow, Russia, May 12

By Orkhan Yolchuyev - Trend:

Russia sees the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict only through peaceful, political and diplomatic means, based on the internationally recognized documents signed by Baku and Yerevan, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, told reporters May 12.

The corresponding solution to the conflict should be found based on this international framework, the international legal platform, and by using the political and diplomatic methods, she added.

"We hope it will be so. There is no alternative way, such as, for example, the use of force," said Zakharova.

She pointed out the Russian leadership has a clear position on the issue.

"Russia understands well the complexity of the situation," said Zakharova. "Russia understands which methods can really, not in words, calm down the situation."

"Russia's role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is quite big. We put forward a number of proposals in the past years and those proposals have been bringing the sides closer to finding a final solution," she added.

Zakharova noted that unfortunately, at the last moments, those agreements have not been reaching the final phase for various reasons, but Russia has been constantly initiating proposals to encourage the process.

Russia carries out the military and technical cooperation openly and on the legal basis, added the spokesperson.

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.
Earlier this month, the G7 Youth Summit (Y7) took place in Tokyo, ahead of the official meeting of World Leaders in Ise-Shima. This meeting saw a handful of young professionals and leaders - from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the USA, Japan and the EU (Cameroon, Norway and Turkey were observers) - come together to create a single, insight-driven document. This document will be used to advise G7 World Leaders on policy development regarding the global issues to be discussed during the G7 meeting.

Japan will host the G7 Summit at the end of this month. It is hoped that this meeting of World Leaders - to which Obama recently confirmed his presence - will symbolise a renewed partnership and commitment by the G7 countries to act symbiotically on pertinent global issues.

International Security, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Migration and Refugees will be the main topics of conversation, and it is expected that the G7 collective will galvanise an international and coordinated response to such challenges. This will hopefully pave the way for global cohesion on such efforts.

The G7 is undoubtedly geopolitically dated; however, this does not negate from the fact that the countries constituting this group have an arsenal of capabilities and resources to contribute. They can make significant headway on resolving global issues and creating a precedent for international cooperation. Arguably, someone has to take the initial step, and the initial step - if it is to have longevity - is best taken in coordination with other powers, young and old.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, made his commitment to youth clear by his self-appointment as Minister for Youth, and other world leaders are now realising the need and importance of youth-led policy development. Not only are younger generations next in line to inherit these global challenges, and therefore have a fundamental right to voice opinion, they are also remarkably capable of giving astute and innovative advice regarding policies and the role of youth-led development in resolving certain issues.

The outcome of the G7 Youth Summit resulted in rather compelling novel ideas, advocating for a change in the current policy status-quo. The document called for world leaders to ensure safe passage of refugees and recognise that hosting refugees is a public good, as their skills and experience are a benefit to countries and should be integrated into resettlement-programmes. Another key focal point was investing in research regarding country-specific basic-income and creating a share/ circular economy.

The outcome document recognised the need for educational-reform, and the inadequacies of the G7 countries current education system in responding to fast-paced changes in the world were highlighted. Modern-day education must incorporate elements of active citizenship and participation in positive societal-creation through integration. This means reducing gender and educational inequality, encouraging public-private involvement in the education sector to better equip learners for the working world, and preparing the next generations for a labour market that is changing, given technological advances and an ever aging global demographic.

Many may dismiss the Y7 as being a form of whitewash, under which governments feel they have reached the requirement of participatory democracy; however in a world where more and more young people are taking an active role in their societies and holding governments accountable, the role of young people is no longer passive.

Thanks to vast technological advancements and the fortunate position many in the G7 countries find themselves, particularly in regards to access to education, resources, networks and capital, their role is increasingly active and significant.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anakhanum Idayatova - Trend:

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU department, reminded Armenia of the obligations undertaken by the country after it signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Armenia is party to the NPT, Kocijancic told Trend May 12, commenting on the recent statement by Armenian former prime minister, MP Hrant Bagratyan.

Bagratyan said on April 29 that Armenia has a atomic weapon. When asked by journalists to clarify, Bagratyan replied that Armenia has an opportunity to build atomic weapon.

"Article II of the NPT states that each non-nuclear weapon State Party undertakes not to receive, from any source, nuclear weapons, or other nuclear explosive devices; not to manufacture or acquire such weapons or devices; and not to receive any assistance in their manufacture," Kocijancic said. "Armenia has joined the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State Party and we have no information that it would have withdrawn from the Treaty."

Armenia has been a party to the NPT since 1993, and in 1997 signed the Additional Protocol on its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which means the activities in its nuclear facilities have been regularly verified by the IAEA, she said.

"Further, Armenia has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits nuclear testing, i.e. putting serious limitations on the development of nuclear weapon capabilities," Kocijancic said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anakhanum Idayatova - Trend:

The OSCE Minsk Group (MG) Co-Chairs call for a highest-level meeting between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, says the message on the organization's website May 12.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE MG, ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, James Warlick of the US, and Pierre Andrieu of France, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the message said.

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.

In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs believe the time has come to hold the meeting, the OSCE website said.

Foreign ministers of the OSCE MG co-chair countries are prepared to facilitate the highest-level meeting next week in Vienna, said the message.

There can be no success in negotiations if violence continues, and there can be no peace without a negotiation process, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs said, reiterating that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Aygun Badalova - Trend:

The biggest problem of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) is that it tries not to hurt anyone in the issue of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azad Garibov, a leading research fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies (SAM) in Azerbaijan and editor-in-chief of Istanbul-based quarterly academic journal 'Caucasus International', wrote in his article in the US international affairs magazine 'The National Interest'.

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.

The OSCE MG tries to seem neutral, and this near-obsession with neutrality does not allow it to be fair and impartial, Garibov wrote in his article. It is claimed that openly naming Armenia as an aggressor country and calling for the fulfillment of UN Security Council resolutions-which entails unconditional withdrawal of forces from Nagorno-Karabakh-might discredit the OSCE MG in the eyes of Armenian side, said the article.

However, it does not mean that OSCE can play this game of neutrality over justice forever, the article said.

"The Minsk Group's co-chairs avoid making clear-cut statements about their positions on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," said the article. "They avoid bringing up the fact of occupation; they make general and vague statements at best, or indeed make contradictory declarations depending on whether they are in Baku or Yerevan."

However, when there is need for a firm position, the co-chairs state that Armenia and Azerbaijan should find a solution themselves since it is their problem, and that the OSCE MG will support any decision they make, Garibov wrote.

The lack of interest and consequent lack of commitment on the part of the OSCE MG co-chair countries to the resolution process is another visible setback, the article said.

In fact, the OSCE MG co-chair countries represent the key global power centers (assuming France's informal representation of the EU), Garibov wrote.

Thus, if willing, they have the necessary geopolitical weight to pressure the aggressor to compromise, which would eventually bring about a long-awaited and greatly overdue breakthrough in the peace process, the article said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @AygunBadalova
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov will pay an official visit to Baku May 12, a source in Azerbaijani government told Trend.

During the visit, Mitov plans to meet with Azerbaijani leadership and hold talks with his Azerbaijan counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

The talks will focus on the development of bilateral relations, the possibilities of expanding the trade and economic relations, the prospects for cooperation in energy, transportation, cultural and education exchange and other spheres.

The Bulgarian minister and Azerbaijani officials will also discuss the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Asebaa
Gov. Kristi Noem spends over $4 million on reelection campaign

Gov. Kristi Noem has spent millions on her bid for reelection, according to the latest campaign finance report filing.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anakhanum Idayatova - Trend:

Even talking about nuclear things is dangerously destabilizing, the former analyst at the CIA and the US Department of State, publicist Paul Goble exclusively told Trend May 12.

He was commenting on the statement earlier made by Armenia on possession of a nuclear weapon.

"I do not believe that Armenia has or could soon produce nuclear weapons," said Goble. "I suspect what it does have is some stockpiles of highly radioactive materials that could be employed to render this or that area uninhabitable."

"The Soviet Union had so many places where such things were kept that it is unlikely there isn't some in Armenia," he said.

Earlier, Armenia's former prime minister, MP Hrant Bagratyan said during a press conference that Armenia has a nuclear weapon.

Asked by journalists to clarify his remarks, Bagratyan said Armenia has an opportunity to create a nuclear weapon.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by head of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation Ramazan Abdulatipov.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and his own behalf, the president thanked Ramazan Abdulatipov and the brotherly people of Dagestan for their respect for the memory of outstanding statesman and public figure Aziz Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev praised the unveiling of the statue of Aziz Aliyev in Makhachkala yesterday, and highly appreciated the relevant decision of the head of the Republic of Dagestan. The president said a large Azerbaijani delegation attended the unveiling ceremony.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Abdulatipov for warm and sincere words about National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Aziz Aliyev during his speech at the ceremony.

The president noted that Aziz Aliyev was an outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan and Dagestan. The president said that the people of Dagestan always respected and paid tribute to Aziz Aliyev and highly appreciated what he had done for the development of Dagestan and strengthening of relations between the people of Azerbaijan and Dagestan.

President Ilham Aliyev said such good traditions are among significant factors in the development of the bilateral ties between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan and cooperation between Dagestan and Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev hailed the fact that the head of the Republic of Dagestan was the editor of "Aziz Aliyev and Dagestan" book, and thanked him for finding time to write the book, and for highlighting Aziz Aliyev`s services to Dagestan and Azerbaijan and his activities during the years of the Great Patriotic War.

The head of state said the days of culture of Dagestan start today in Azerbaijan, describing this as a significant event for Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev said that Dagestan always was and will be a native land for Azerbaijani people. He further underlined that Azerbaijan-Dagestan brotherhood played a vital role in the development of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which the two countries regard as strategic.

The head of state said Azerbaijan is greatly satisfied with ongoing development processes, stable public and political situation in Dagestan under the leadership of Ramazan Abdulatipov, and extended his congratulations on significant accomplishments.

Ramazan Abdulatipov in turn thanked the president of Azerbaijan for warm words and his attention to the issues of cooperation with Dagestan.

"The foundations of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan were laid by our national leaders Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin. Today, as the leader of the modern Azerbaijan, you continue the policy of developing our relations, which are based on strategic cooperation," Abdulatipov said to President Aliyev.

"Vladimir Putin emphasized the role of inter-regional cooperation in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani ties back in 2001. My visit is based on that stance, and we develop our cooperation with Azerbaijan. Yesterday we celebrated the unveiling of the statue of outstanding statesman of Russia, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Dagestan Aziz Aliyev. Aziz Aliyev had repeatedly said that we were a single nation. Indeed, our historic ties, thousands of years old, have common roots, similar cultures and traditions. At the same time, we have been bound together with the Russian people for more than 200 years," said Abdulatipov.

Abdulatipov recalled his previous meetings with President Ilham Aliyev, and emphasized the importance of the head of state's position on the Russian language and culture.

During the meeting they also exchanged views over different areas of cooperation.
Hot Springs County Library Youth Services Librarian Sue Hurd, assisted by teacher Sharon Cordingly, gifts books to first-grade students at Ralph Witters Elementary as part of the Wyoming Reads celebration.

The annual Wyoming Reads celebration for first-graders was held at the Ralph Witters Elementary library on Tuesday.

Hot Springs County Library Youth Services Librarian Sue Hurd read a book to first-graders, explained Summer Reading at Hot Springs County Library and presented students with a free...
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

Trend:

"The End of the line" documentary, which was produced on the initiative of the International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA), has been held at Nizami Cinema Center.

Vice president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.

Shot by the UK's Blue Marine Foundation, the film was translated into Azerbaijani through partnership with IDEA Public Union.

Rory Moore, project manager at the Blue Marine Foundation, hailed Leyla Aliyeva`s role in preserving marine fauna.

After the presentation participants of the event viewed the exhibition on the protection of marine environment.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold $9.8 million to 8 banks through an auction held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), said SOFAZ in a message May 12.

Meanwhile, CBA itself acquired $35 million at the auction.

SOFAZ will continue selling foreign currency through auctions in 2016.

The foreign currency is sold as part of SOFAZ's transfers to the Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged to stand at 7.615 billion Azerbaijani manats in 2016.
Details added (first version posted on 14:57)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Iranian delegation led by the country's Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati will visit Azerbaijan on May 15-17, Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry's message said May 12.

A joint business forum will be held within the Iranian delegation's visit, said the message.

Besides officials, the Iranian delegation will also include entrepreneurs, presenting the private sector of the country's agriculture.

During the visit, a meeting in extended format is expected to be held between the Iranian delegation and Azerbaijan's Agriculture Ministry, said the message. A press conference will also be held.

The ministry also said that the delegation will hold meetings with representatives of other ministries and departments.

The trade turnover between Iran and Azerbaijan increased by 53 percent and totaled $41.4 million in the first quarter of 2016, as compared to the same period of 2015, according to Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan are developing successfully in all the directions, said Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijan's economy minister.

He made the remarks at an Azerbaijani-Russian business meeting on May 12 in Baku.

Mustafayev said the regular mutual visits of officials and joint events demonstrate the interest in deepening mutual relations.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia develop successfully and have reached the level of strategic partnership, he added.

"Azerbaijan and Dagestan have common historical and cultural roots," said the minister.

"The Days of Culture of Dagestan, held in Azerbaijan, will be a new phase in the development of cultural, as well as trade and economic relations," added the minister.

Mustafayev pointed out that Azerbaijan is the main consumer of Dagestani products and the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Dagestan increased in the first quarter of 2016.

The minister also invited Dagestan's business community to Azerbaijan.

Edited by EA
Baku, Azerbaijan, May. 12

By Emil Ilgar - Trend:

About 1.75 million Iranian tourists visit Turkey annually, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi, who serves as the Iranian co-chairman of Joint Iran-Turkey Economic, Commercial and Cultural Commission announced on May 12.

"Iran wants to receive Turkish tourists as well," Vaezi said during a meeting with Mahir Unal the minister of culture and tourism of Turkey, IRNA reported.

Vaezi also said that Iran is keen to have a $30 billion-worth trade turnover with Turkey.

According to official statistics, Turkey's tourism income in 1Q16 reached $4 billion, about 16 percent less than in the same period last year. The country's total tourism income reached about $31.5 billion in 2015.

Turkey exported $3.67 billion to Iran and imported $6.1 billion from this country in 2015. in total the trade turnover decreased by $2.43 billion last year, compared to 2014.
Details added (first version posted on 16:43)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Dagestan stands ready to offer preferences to Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, said Ramazan Abdulatipov, head of Russia's Dagestan Republic.

He made the remarks at the Azerbaijan-Russia business meeting in Baku May 12.

Abdulatipov pointed out that Dagestan is interested in expanding the relations with Azerbaijan, adding that there are opportunities to create joint enterprises in Dagestan.

Azerbaijan and Dagestan can cooperate in the spheres of construction, tourism and services, he added.

The effective use of the existing potential can make it possible to significantly develop the trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Dagestan, according to Abdulatipov.

He also noted that Azerbaijan and Dagestan have a potential to increase the trade turnover by dozens of times.

The trade turnover, which stood at $160 million as of 2015, doesn't correspond to the level of the Azerbaijani-Dagestani relations and it can be significantly increased, added Abdulatipov.

The trade turnover between Dagestan and Azerbaijan stood at $161.1 million in 2015, according to Russia's North Caucasus Customs Directorate.
In this July 29, 2015, file photo, French police officers carry a piece of debris from a plane known as a flaperon in Saint-Andre, Reunion Island. The barnacle-encrusted part was the first trace of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared two years ago. Malaysia's confirmation on Thursday, May 12, 2016, that other debris found in March 2016 came from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 brings to five the number of parts that have been recovered from the aircraft that vanished two years ago. (AP Photo/Lucas Marie, File)
In this June 28, 2013, file photo, Sanford police officer Timothy Smith holds up the gun that was used to kill Trayvon Martin, while testifying in the George Zimmerman trial, in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Fla. The pistol former neighborhood watch volunteer Zimmerman used in the fatal shooting of Martin is going up for auction online. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Joe Burbank, Pool, File)
TAUNTON - Authorities Wednesday praised the actions of civilians and an off-duty Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff as brave and heroic in stoppin
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

The Agency for Entrepreneurship and Investment of Russia's Dagestan and Azerbaijan's Caspian Invest Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement on May 12 in Baku.

The document was signed by the head of the Dagestani agency, Bashir Magomedov and head of the Caspian Invest Ltd., Aydin Huseynov.

During an Azerbaijani-Russian business meeting in Baku May 12, the Caspian Invest Ltd. commercial director Namig Rahimli said the company will build a greenhouse complex, a logistics center and a trade house in Dagestan.

Since its establishment in 2003, the Caspian Invest Ltd. has offered consultancy, engineering and investment advisory services to its clients in both private and public sectors, in partnership with its international partners.

The company actively operates in various areas, including finance, energy, transportation and others.

Edited by EA
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

It will be possible to export the Israeli gas to Europe through Turkey at least after four years, Israel's Consul-General in Istanbul Shai Cohen told the Hurriyet newspaper.

Currently, Israel has a real potential to supply its natural gas to European markets, he added.

The diplomat noted that first of all, the approval of Knesset (Israel's parliament) is needed for starting the supply of Israeli gas to European markets through Turkey.

Earlier, the CEO of Turkish Turcas Petrol A.S. Batu Aksoy said that 15 energy companies have expressed interest in joining the consortium which is planned to be created for transporting the Israeli gas to Europe through Turkey.



Experts believe that even if Israel starts to export its natural gas through Turkey, it will have to use Azerbaijan's TANAP project for this purpose.

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.

Currently, 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: @rhafizoglu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an apology, not silence, to Kerala for comparing the state with Somalia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Thursday.

"Modi left Kochi last night without withdrawing his remarks. Malayalees all over the world are upset over the remarks of the PM," Chandy said in a Facebook post.

He was referring to the prime minister's remarks made at election rallies he addressed for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"With the pride of the Malayalees deeply affected, none expected silence from PM. Instead what all thought was he would withdraw the statements and apologize. Keralites continue to expect that the PM would apologise," said Chandy.

Modi said on Sunday that "the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia" - provoking protests across the state.

Modi also cited media reports that said tribal children in Peravoor were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump to make his case that the state had not been properly governed.

Chandy said Modi's comparison of Kerala, whose high social indicators are widely acknowledged, with Somalia was absurd.

After the protests, Modi was expected to retract his statement and apologize but he did not, Chandy said.

On Wednesday, Modi continued his attack on Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), without responding to criticism over his controversial remarks.

Chandy earlier wrote to Modi urging him not to bring "disrepute" to the Prime Minister's Office by airing "baseless remarks" about Kerala.

The BJP, which has never won an assembly or Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has been making a valiant attempt to defend Modi.
Calling for a "Sangh-(RSS)-mukht-Bharat", Bihar Chief Minister on Thursday told the BJP and RSS not to preach nationalism and said his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) will expand in Uttar Pradesh.

In his first visit to Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar launched a bitter attack on both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

"Today the BJP is talking about nationalism whereas the veterans of the BJP and the RSS played no role in the independence movement," Nitish Kumar told a public rally at Pindra area here.

"When Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) was fighting against the British, when freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad gave their lives for the country, they (BJP and RSS) were not there.

"But today they are preaching nationalism," the veteran politician said. He quickly added: "We don't need nationalism lessons from them."

Of the RSS, he said: "They pretend to be nationalist but the fact is that tricolor is not their flag. Their real flag is bhagwa (saffron)."

The chief minister alleged that the Modi government had failed on every front.

"They promised to bring back black money in 100 days. Have they delivered?

Instead, "they delivered Love Jehad and Ghar Wapsi and, during the Bihar elections, they raised the issue of beef", he said.

Nitish Kumar pointed out that Modi had in his 2014 Lok Sabha election speeches promised to give Rs.15 lakh of black money his government would bring home from abroad to every Indian. Now he was mum on the issue.

"They speak in two tongues. Before elections, they speak one language and after election something else."

Saying he wanted a "Sangh-mukt-Bharat" (RSS-free-country) and "sharab-mukt-samaj" (liquor-free-society), Nitish Kumar said that if the BJP can be defeated in Bihar, it can be defeated in other states too.

He urged people in states going to the polls to choose "wisely", rejecting those whose election promises remained unfulfilled even two years after Modi took office.

Nitish Kumar said the JD-U was "now planning to spread in UP in a big way". Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, will see assembly polls early next year.

Claiming that the liquor ban was a success in Bihar, he dared Modi to ban liquor in BJP-ruled states too.

"Modi comes from Gandhiji's state. Why doesn't he go for liquor prohibition? Why don't they (BJP) ban liquor in all-BJP ruled states?"

He said he would address a public rally in Lucknow on May 15 to seek a ban on liquor.
Tension between the litvish Degel Hatorah and chassidish Agudas Yisrael factions of Yahadut Hatorah has become a way of life. Machlokes is not news, but it now appears the situation may be bubbling over and Degel leader Moshe Gafne is hinting at the possibility of breaking away and partnering with the Shas party.

Gafne and Agudahs Yaakov Litzman spoke with Mishpacha Magazine. Gafne accuses Litzman and Agudah of selling out our interests, expressing angrily that Litzman takes part in official visits and befriends those who work against chareidi interests, citing a recent joint official visit between Health Minister Litzman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett who heads Bayit Yehudi, to Yavne. Gafne calls Litzmans actions disgraceful, accusing him of siding with the enemy, in this case Bennett and his dati leumi party.

Gafne explains that while he is working to oust Bennett and his party from the coalition, preferring to replace him with the Machane Tzioni party, Litzman sabotages his efforts at the expense of the chareidi agenda. Gafne feels Machane Tzioni with its left-wing socialist agenda is far more chareidi-friendly than Bayit Yehudi and its dati leumi hawkish right-wing agenda.

Litzman fires back, with persons close to him citing how Gafne blew it when signing coalition agreements following elections prematurely, resulting in significant losses to the chareidi tzibur. Agudah blames Gafne for the lack of budgeting for chareidi education, due to his jumping the gun, deciding to sign before consulting with others involved.

The tit-for-tat continues was accusation pertaining the committee that appoints the nations dayanim, as well as other areas, each accusing the other of compromising chareidi interests. Backers of Litzman explain the health minister is furious as Gafne expanded the attacked to the religious leadership, with Gafne accusing Litzman of failing to comply with the instructions of the Pnei Menachem of Gur ZTL ZYA, who set a limit of two consecutive terms in office and at the time, opposed accepting a cabinet position, as Litzman did after consulting with gedolei yisrael shlita and obtaining their approval.

Firing back, Litzman stated Gafne should do his homework for it wasnt the Pnei Menachem who said this.

Gafne feel in fact, the litvish camp in Israel is far larger than the chassidish and therefore, Agudah has too much representation and making it worse, he exclaims some of them do nothing while the others simply cause damage.

He adds that it is no secret that relations between Degel Hatorah and Shas today are the best event, hinting a split may be on the agenda.

Litzman cited he does not believe this will be so and Gafne is simply blowing off steam, stating the two factions will not split and run independently of one another.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

An old hand grenade was found on a runway at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Wednesday morning, Memorial Day in Israel. The grenade was found by a maintenance crew working on the shoulder of runways 21 and 26. It is pointed out the area in which it was found was an air force facility in the past.

A police bomb demolition team was summoned to remove the grenade. Planes were diverted to other runways until the all clear was given.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
Detectives from the Central Unit of the Shai Police traveled all the way to Afula in order to falsely detain a father in front of several of his five young children, despite his explanations of the mistake to the policemen. Honenus legal staff immediately started preparing a civil suit for false detention, which is only one of many suits filed recently under similar circumstances.

The incident occurred on motzei Shabbos, the eve of 1 Rosh Chodesh Iyar. Etiel Zuaretz, a Shilo Bloc resident was staying with his family at the home of relatives in Afula. Approximately an hour and a half after Shabbos ended, two policemen from the Afula Police suddenly arrived and called out to Zuaretz to come out into the yard and claimed that his car had been involved in a traffic accident.

Zuaretz, surprised, went out to the street holding his four-month old daughter. Several police detectives from the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of Shai Police who were waiting in ambush on the street, quickly surrounded him and informed him that he had violated an administrative order and therefore was being detained.

Zuaretz attempted to explain that the order was applicable only in Yehuda and Shomron. However, as Zuaretz reported to Honenu, a detective by the name of Shai Erez twisted his arm and ordered him to hand his baby to his wife or else he would, Knock him to the ground with his baby.

Etiels wife presented the order, which was signed by the IDF Central District Commander to the policemen, and read out loud the part of the order which states that the order applies only to the regions of Yehuda and Shomron. When Zuaretz is in those regions he is under house arrest at night. Zuaretz had also of his own accord informed the police that he would spend the last day of Pesach and the Shabbos which immediately followed, in Afula and not at his temporary home at which he is staying for the duration of the administrative order.

Despite Zuaretzs explanations he was taken into the police car in front of his children, one of whom burst into tears, and informed that he would be taken to the Shai District police station.

Only after they reached Modiin and Zuaretz had explained to the policemen over and over again that a mistake had occurred, did the detectives stop the car. After several minutes of phone calls the police understood what the mistake was. They made a U-turn and at dawn returned Zuaretz to Afula. He was released without an apology for the false detention. He was neither taken to a police station nor interrogated.

Zuaretz contacted Honenus staff, who clarified the details and began preparing to file a civil suit against the police and detectives of the Central Unit of the Shai District.

Honenu notes that this is a particularly serious incident in which a team of detectives was sent a long distance for the specific purpose of carrying out a false detention. Honenu Attorney Menashe Yado recently filed civil suits in several similar cases of false detentions of Jews under administrative orders which are currently being arbitrated in various courts.

Honenu: The police and the ISA have decided to obsessively torment a particular public with ceaseless harassment and false detentions. We hope that the courts will put the police in their place and that the police will be penalized for their illegal actions.

Zuaretz was served an administrative detention order in October 2015. As with all administrative orders, no evidence was presented and he was not brought to trial.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The ceremony hosted on the campus of Tel Aviv University for Memorial Day did include a female vocalist despite earlier reports this would not be so, out of respect for the chareidi bereaved participants.

Sivan Shaked, who attends the universitys School of Music, was tapped to perform at the event. The university decided to include Sivan at the end, taking part in the singing of Hatikvah, the national anthem. Organizers explain that this was not done deliberately to offend anyone, but simply to respectfully remember the fallen.

It is pointed out the event was sponsored by the Ministry of Education headed by Bayit Yehudi, and the ministry preferred not comment on the last-minute decision to include a female vocalist.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 12

By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) forecasts Turkmenistan's GDP growth at the level of 6.5 percent and 7.1 percent in 2016 and 2017 respectively, EBRD report said.

The bank's experts note that the Turkmen economy's growth was 6.5 percent in 2015, as compared to 10.3 percent in 2014. The improvement in Turkmenistan's growth in 2017 the experts link to the fact that the country is a largest exporter of energy raw materials.

EBRD report said that the risks to this latest outlook include continuing political tensions, as well the possibility of a sharp deceleration in growth in China, a prolonged weakness in commodity prices and a possible further drop in the price of oil.

The report also said that the weak commodity prices and recession in Russia are continuing to put pressure on the economies of Central Asia.

Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of the gas reserve volume and exports gas to China and Iran.

Edited by SI
Prominent rabbonim shlita who reside in Jerusalems Old City are calling on authorities to take the Jewish population into consideration this Ramadan. They remind authorities that the Jews in the Old City suffer during Ramadan as Muslim worshippers overrun the area and often shout kill the Jews and similar epithets.

Seeking to avoid a repeat of previous years, the rabbonim led by HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl Shlita, both residents of the Old City, sent a letter to Jerusalem Police Chief Yoram Levy, asking him to prohibit the Muslims from walking through the Jewish Quarter. Rav Cohen heads the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael and Rav Nebenzahl is mora dasra of the Old City.

They call on preventing a reoccurrence, to man the Old City station around the clock, and to increase the border police presence from Kikar Tzahal to Shar Yaffo.

They conclude saying In light of the serious escalation in the security situation, the writing is already on the wall, and we are warning before you and requesting to personally act to prevent additional tragedy chas vsholom.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
On Tuesday the New York Daily News reported that the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, Rav Aaron Teitelbaum gave a Drasha to his thousands of followers in response to the city Education Departments investigation into its schools for failing to provide adequate secular education as required by law.

These are bad times for us Jews, said the Satmar Rebbe. We need to pray to Hashem that (city officials) should not interfere with the upbringing of our children.

Worthless  snitches in the community are urging the government to take action which the government doesnt even want, the Rebbe continued.

Last summer the Education Department announced that more than a dozen private schools would be investigated to make sure their curriculum follows secular education standards.

Nearly a year later, the review is continuing, though advocates say the Education Department is just stalling.

This speech is concerning in many ways, said Naftuli Moster, who founded Young Advocates for Fair Education, a group that works towards making yeshivas meet secular standards required by state law.

Most concerning is the apparent collusion between community leaders and the (department) which might explain why the city investigation stalled early on, he added.

The Satmar Rebbes address was transcribed and distributed to followers living in different areas, the Daily News reported.

The Rebbe also says the city has long ignored the state law regarding secular education.

To put it bluntly, they simply turned a blind eye to what was going on by the Jewish children, he said. They didnt want to look.

City authorities say the review is active.

We take this matter very seriously, said Education Department spokeswoman Toya Holness to the Daily News.

(Source: Onlysimchas)
Sadiq Khan, who was elected as Londons first Muslim Mayor last week, told The Jewish News that he plans to lead a trade delegation to Israel, in response to a question about his campaign promise to visit the Jewish State.

Ive not even had my first Monday at work to be fair, Ive had six hours sleep since Wednesday. But Im keen to make sure Im the most pro-business mayor weve ever had and that means going on trade missions including to Tel Aviv, he said.

In the interview, Khan also said he believes it is important to improve Jewish-Muslim relations in London.

A self-described moderate Muslim, Khan attended a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony with British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis on Sunday in his first official appearance as London Mayor.

Weve got to accept there are some people who say theyre Muslim, some people of the Jewish faith who dont like the fact Im here, that Im sitting next to the chief rabbi, he told The Jewish News.

My message to those people is we live in the greatest city in the world and have to go get along. Im the mayor of London, the most diverse city in the world, and Ill be everyones mayor. No preferential treatment ,but I have a role to build bridges. My signing-in ceremony was deliberately designed to show the sort of a mayor Ill be and I started as I mean to go on.

During the election campaign, Khan went out of his way to court the Jewish community and was the first Labour MP to denounce the anti-Semitic comments of his predecessor, Ken Livingstone. During the campaign, a kippah-clad Khan attended a Seder and met with shoppers at a kosher market. I accept that the Labour Party in the last two elections is not the natural place where Londoners of the Jewish faith have placed their vote. So thats why its really important for me to spend time understanding the issues, talking and listening, he said.

But one unavoidable sore spot for Jews regarding Khans record is the work he did while a human rights lawyer, prior to becoming an MP, on behalf of anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. Khan fought to get the exclusion order banning him from entering Britain overturned. Khan at the time defended himself by saying that even the worst people deserve a legal defense though he was technically not defending Farrakhan at the time but rather challenging the government.

(Source: EJP)
House Speaker Paul Ryan came under pressure Wednesday from a few Republicans to endorse Donald Trump quickly, saying that the partys unity should be paramount, but most say any reconciliation will likely take some time.

Ryan, who is scheduled to meet with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on Thursday morning, is finding plenty of support from other lawmakers who said they share the speakers goal of binding Trump to conservative policy stances.

Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he believes Ryan has made a mistake by withholding his endorsement.

He needs to find a way to bring the party together. Hes the leader of the party right now and you have a presumptive nominee. They have to work together, Labrador said Wednesday after a Republican caucus meeting. You dont have to agree with Trump on everything. I sure dont.

But Peter King, a New York Republican, said that even behind closed doors, Republicans werent putting Ryan on the defensive.

He didnt take any heat at all, King said. By doing that, Paul showed that there are real questions. He brought it out.

Ryan is already dismissing the notion that Thursdays highly anticipated meetings will yield any actual endorsement of Trump. Weve got a process were just getting started, Ryan told reporters Wednesday, adding that this process of unification will take some work.

For his part, Trump offered a softer, more conciliatory tone toward Ryan Wednesday, a break from earlier this week when he had suggested that Ryan might not be fit to serve as chairman of the Republican National Convention in July. Trump has since said he would like Ryan to do so.

I think Im doing very fine with Paul Ryan. I have a lot of respect for Paul Ryan, Trump said on Fox News Channel. Were going to have a meeting tomorrow. Well see what happens. If we make a deal, that will be great. And if we dont, we will trudge forward like Ive been doing and winning, you know, all the time.

This all adds to a big build-up to Thursdays meetings across the street from the Capitol at Republican National Committee headquarters. The first session will include Trump, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Ryan. A second meeting will include Trump, Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry. McCarthy and Scalise have already lined up behind Trump. Trump is also to meet with Senate Republican leaders later in the day.

In public, Ryan continues to underscore that he has a responsibility to get House Republicans re-elected, which he says requires setting and enunciating clear policy positions during a national campaign. But the rhetoric and demeanor of Trumps campaign so far, and some of his policy positions and shifts, leave some in his party worried about what he really stands for, and concerned that the presumptive nominee could hurt their party.

Ryan is also thought to be making calculations about his own political future, perhaps contemplating his own presidential bid in 2020.

Pressed by reporters, Ryan has refused to publicly discuss which specific policies he will bring up with Trump, or what, exactly, he might ask of him or want to hear. During Wednesdays meeting, some of his colleagues said they hoped the two men would come together quickly, though.

Rep. David Brat, a Virginia Republican known nationally as having defeated former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a primary in 2014, said he thinks that Trump and Ryan need to agree Thursday that they will write a new Contract with America that could unite the party against likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

On the Senate side, several senators, including James Inhofe of Oklahoma, said that Ryans move is not helping.

I didnt really appreciate his comments. I think at that time, that you know, hes the nominee, hes going to be working together, and they have to establish a workable relationship, and I think they will, but thats not a good way to start, he said Tuesday.

Other senators, however, see Ryan as simply trying to help unite the party. And many House Republicans  including Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, a co-chairman of a group of House centrists  say they theyre not ready to back Trump yet, either.

Given the very few policy statements weve seen from Trump so far, and the contrary ones, and the David Duke debacle, they raise a lot of concerns, said Dent. My point is that think the speaker struck the right tone the other day in his caution.

Whatever happens after Thursdays meetings, most other members echoed Rep. Steve King of Iowa in saying they dont think a resolution between Ryan and Trump can happen in a day. I dont think you can just simply flip a toggle switch, said King, who had been a backer of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for president.

King was among others at the meeting who suggested Trump needed to meet or otherwise reach out to all House Republicans, not just Ryan.

I think the most important thing that Trump could do is give a nationwide major policy speech that is an outreach to the conservatives. Similar to what Mitt Romney did four years ago in New Orleans where he talked about faith, morality and the Constitution, said King. Its important for Donald Trump to look a camera in the eye, level with us and do the outreach.

Another member, Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas, told colleagues and Ryan that he wanted a meeting set between Trump and the entire conference. And still other smaller groups of House Republicans  such as the executive board of the conservative Freedom Caucus  were also reaching out for a meeting with the Trump camp.

But Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, one of a original group of about seven House Republicans who endorsed Trump before he became the presumptive nominee, said he sees his colleagues coming around.

We Trump supporters used to be able to meet in a phone booth, he joked.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg  Billy House, Laura Litvan
Federal authorities in New York have indicted a man on charges of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers and other officials announced the unsealing Wednesday of the superceding indictment naming Azizjon Rakhmatov.

Hes been added to the case involving Abdurasul Juraboev, who pleaded guilty in August.

Authorities say Juraboev planned to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of the Islamic State and threatened to commit extremist acts in the U.S., such as killing the president or bombing Coney Island.

Three other men have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Rakhmatov, an Uzbek, provided travel expenses for one of them.

There was no immediate information on an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

(AP)
[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times]

In honor of the wedding of the authors daughter this evening, please find below some Psakim from rav Elyashiv ztl regarding weddings. Unless otherwise noted, these psakim were heard from Rav Elyashiv ztl by either Rav Lipa Israelson or one of his brothers.

THE WEDDING CHUPAH

________________________________________

MESADER KIDDUSHIN

1. One should only conduct a wedding under the auspices of a Rav or Talmid Chochom that is knowledgeable in matters of Kiddushin. He is clled the Mesader Kiddushin.

2. Someone who married a woman through a Mesader Kiddushin who is a Reform Rabbi rl, should ask a shailah if there is validity to his Kiddushin and marriage. It is possible that he must perform a Chuppah anew.

3. There are those who have the custom that the brides father comes to greet the groom at his home in order to accompany him to the Chuppah. Similarly, the mother of the groom comes to greet the bride. However, with the agreement of both sides it is permitted to forego this custom.

THE CUSTOM OF SHOSHVINIM

4. The custom is for two people to bring the groom to the Chuppah, one on the right and one on the left. They are called Shoshvinim. The wives of the Shoshvinim bring the bride to the Chuppah. The father of the groom accompanies him on the right, and his mechutan accompanies the groom on the left. The mother of the bride is to her right and the mother-in-law is to her left. The Shoshvinim also accompany the groom to the bedekin which is called the Hinoma.

WHO ARE THE SHOSHVINIM

5. The common custom is for the parents of the bride and groom to be the Shoshvinim. When this is not possible, some have the custom for the Shoshvinim to be the father and a sister of the groom or bride, or a mother and a brother of the groom or bride. Similarly, the Shoshvinim could be any husband and wife, even if they are not the groom or the brides parents.

6. There is no problem if the Shoshvinim are from a second marriage, such as if the grooms mother is married to a second husband, who is not the grooms father. She can be on the left of the bride and her husband can be on the right of the groom, and vice versa. There is no problem with either way. Some, however, are careful about this. However, if there is a need to do it in this manner, there is no need to be concerned.

*** Please Subscribe to an Exciting Weekly Parsha Sheet on the Topic of Emes written by the reviewer, Rabbi Hoffman*** Send an email to [email protected]

THE BEDEKIN

7. Before the Chuppah, the groom is escorted by the Shoshvinim ad the two witnesses to the womens section, to the place where the bride is sitting. The groom covers the head of the bride with a veil or some other designated garment. This is called the Hinoma. According to many authorities, the covering of the bride with a Hinoma is called the Chuppah.

8. The bride and groom should have in mind that the covering of the veil on her head is a Kinyan of marriage just like Chuppah.

It is the custom for the Mesader Kiddushin to tell the father of the bride that he should go to his daughter and tell her that the covering is a form of Kinyan and is not just a mere procedure alone.

9. On account of this, the witnesses as well need to see the groom actually coverin the bride. They should be aware that this is a Kinyan, as mentioned above.

10. There is no need to have the groom acquire the veil.

11. It is perfectly acceptable to make the Chuppah in the evening, there is no need to make it in specifically in the daytime.

12. Chuppah is a Kinyan of marriage. Therefore, the bride and groom must know and have the intention that the Chuppah is creating the marriage.

13. However, in regard to all matters discussed above where the bride and groom must have these things in mind, if they did not have such an intention at the actual time itself, but they did know beforehand that they had to have that in mind, there is nothing to be concerned about and it is perfectly fine.

14. The groom does not have to acquire possession of the place of the Chuppah.

15. It is the custom to make the Chuppah under the sky as a good sign that their descendants should be likened to the stars in the sky. One should be very stringent in the matter and not change the custom.

16. It is the custom to throw upon the groom wheat kernels during the time that he comes to cover the bride. Nowadays the custom is to throw colored paper. There is no concern of following the ways of the gentiles in this.

CUSTOMS OF THE CHUPPAH

17. Some have the custom for the groom to wear a Kittel during the Chuppah. Others have the custom to wear the Kittel in such a manner that it cannot be seen from outside. However our (Rav Elyashivs) custom is not to wear a Kittel at all during the Chuppah.

18. One must place ashes on the forehead of the groom in the spot wear he wears Tefillin to commemorate the mourning of Jerusalem. This is placed before one goes to the Chuppah.

19. Some have the custom of placing the ashes when he wrapped in paper so as not to soil the clothing of the groom.

20. One places the ashes on the head and not on the Kippah.

CANDLES

21. The Shoshvinim hold lit candles in their hands when they escort the groom and bride, and during the Chuppah.

22. There is no need for the bride to remove all her jewelry before the Chuppah.

23. There is also not need to undo the knots in ones clothing. Nor is there a need to empty all the items in ones pockets.

24. The Kallah and the female Shoshvinos surround the groom seven times, before they bless the blessings of Airusin.

25. After the circling, the bride stands to the right of the groom and they face east. In Jerusalem they face toward the Temple mount. The Mesader Kiddushin faces the bride and groom.

26. After the blessings of Kiddushin, the groom breaks a whole cup made of glass with his right foot [so that it not cause damage it is the custom to wrap the glass in paper].

27. If they forgot to bring a glass, it is permitted to take a glass from the hall on the condition that one pays for it afterward.

28. A left-footed person breaks the glass with his left foot which is considered like his right foot.

THE WEDDING RING

29. The custom is to marry with a ring. There are reasons for this cited in the Tikkunei Zohar. It is possible to marry with either a gold or silver ring.

30. The wedding ring must not have a precious stone. However, there is no problem if designs are etched onto the ring, nor is there a problem of how many karats of gold are in the ring.

31. It is our custom that the ring be round and not rectangular.

32. The Mesader Kiddushin shows the ring to the witnesses at the time of the Chuppah and asks: Is the ring worth a shaveh prutah? They answer, Yes. It must be said in a language that the bride understands.

33. If the ring was purchased from the funds of the grooms father, the groom should ask the father to give him permission to take ownership of the ring. The groom should acquire it  that is he should hold it in his hand and intend to acquire it as his own.

34. The Mesader Kiddushin should ask the groom before the Kiddushin if the ring belongs to him.

THE WITNESSES

35. One must designate two kosher witnesses that are kosher for testifying  that is the Mesader Kiddushin or the groom should designate the witnesses. It is emphasized that only they are the witnesses to the exclusion of others.

36. The Mesader Kiddushin tells the groom to say: I am designating you as witnesses for the bedekin, the kiddushin, the Chupah, and the Yichud room.

37. The witnesses should be checked and investigated that they are not related to either the groom or the bride, or to each other. Witnesses that are related are pasul  invalid.

38. One may not take the Shadchan as a witness to the Kiddushin. Even though technically he is kosher, because he has a bias to the matter.

39. A mechutan (ones other childs in-law) is technically permitted to be a witness. However, ideally it is preferable to take another witness so that it will not appear that they are related.

THE BIRCHAS AIRUSIN

40. Before the groom gives the ring to the bride, the Mesader Kiddushin recites two blessings: Borei Pri HaGafen and vtzivanu al haArayos.

41. Ideally, there should be ten men present who have reached the age of Bar Mitzvah at the time that the blessing is recited.

42. The groom should not recite this blessing himself, rather the Rabbi who is arranging the wedding recites it.

43. It is forbidden for the bride and groom to interrupt with speech between when the blessing is recited and the giving of the ring.

44. The person reciting the blessing must have in mind to be Motzi the groom and bride their obligations in the blessings. The bride and groom must have in mind to have their obligation fulfilled. They answer Amain to the brachos. The Kallah should also answer Amain to the blessings of Airusin. There is no hefsek interruption in doing so between the Hagafen blessing and her drinking the wine. This is because the blessing is on her account, and that she is a participant in the blessing.

45. The bride and groom and at least nine others who are present must hear the blessings from the person reciting them.

46. Any blessing that must be recited in front of ten people, one must be careful to ensure that at least ten [Torah and Mitzvah observing] people should hear it from the mouth of the person reciting the blessing and not through a microphone. For if they hear the blessing on through a microphone  they have not fulfilled their obligation. It is as if they have recited the blessings of the Choson alone. One must be very careful in this for at times even those who are standing next to the person reciting the blessing do not hear his voice itself but only the microphone.

47. After the blessing the bride and groom drink from the Kos Airusin  just a sip and nothing further. The Mesader Kiddushin does not have to drink from the cup.

*** Please Subscribe to an Exciting Weekly Parsha Sheet on the Topic of Emes written by the reviewer, Rabbi Hoffman*** Send an email to [email protected]

GIVING THE RING

48. Before giving the ring, the veil is lifted from before the bride for a brief moment so that the witnesses will see her face [When they lift the veil so that the bride can drink, one may also lift it a bit higher so that the witnesses will see her.] The Mesader Kiddushin asks the witnesses whether the wedding band has the value of a shaveh prutah. The witnesses respond, Yes. Similarly, he should ask the groom if the ring belongs to him.

The face of the bride should be covered when he gives the ring.

Before giving the ring the grooms says to the bride aloud, so that the bride and the witnesses can hear: Harei at mekudeshes li btabaas zu kedas Moshe vyisroel.

The groom places the ring with his right hand upon the right hand of the bride.

He places the ring on the finger next to her thumb.

The witnesses should try to see the groom placing the ring on her finger.

If one of them is left handed, he should place it with his stronger hand (or on her stronger hand if she is left-handed).

The groom gives the Kallah the Kesuvah before witnesses. The custom is that the Kallah gives the Kesuvah to her mother.

THE KINYAN

49. How is the Kinyan made? One of the witnesses takes a handkerchief that belongs to him, and give it to the groom. The groom lifts it up in front of the witnesses for the purpose of Kinyan. He has in mind to obligate himself in all of the obligations set forth in the Ksuvah. The custom is for the groom to return the handkerchief to the witness.

50. The witnesses must sign onto the Kesuvah after the Kabalas Kinyan.

THE TIME OF KABALAS KINYAN

51. There are those who have the custom to make the Kinyan after the writing of the Kesuvah prior to going to the Chupah, and then the witnesses sign on the Kesuvah.

However, it is worthy to do the Kinyan under the Chuppah, after the Kiddushin, and after the reading of the Kesuvah until the word, Vkanina. Then the kinyan is performed and the two witnesses sign. After the witnesses sign the reading of the Kesuvah is continued until the end of the names of the witnesses. This is how it is worthy to proceed.

DATE

52. They should be careful to ensure that the date written in the Kesuvah be on the same day as the Chuppah and the Kiddushin.

A CHUPPAH THAT WAS DELAYED

53. If they see that the Chuppah is going to be delayed until after sundown, and the date on the Kesuvah is before sundown, the Kinyan should be made in front of the witnesses before sundown. This is even if it is still before the Chuppah and the Kiddushin. However, this is not so ideal, therefore it is preferable under such circumstances when the Chuppah is delayed until after sundown to write the next days date on the Kesuvah.

54. It is proper to indicate in the Kesuvah the last name of the bride and the groom, such as Reuvain Ben Yaakov lmishpachas [to the family]_____. Likewise, the witnesses should also include their last name. For example, Shimon Ben Yaakov Weiss, aid [witness].

55. One should not write after the brides name Shtichye [she should live  a common term], so that it not appear as another name of the bride.

56. If the groom is a Levi, one should write, HaLevi each time one writes his name. When they write his name the first time and the last time where his fathers name is included [or her name if her father is a Levi], one should also write, HaLevi there as well.

57. Someone who is called by his nickname, such as if his name is Yoseph and they call him Yossi, there is no need to write anything in the Kesuva other than Yoseph.

58. Foreign [or Yiddish] names such as Fayga or Fruma should be spelled with an Aleph at the end. However, if they normally spell it with a Hay at the end, then it should be written with a Hay.

59. After the Kesuvah is read, the cup of wine is filled and the blessings are recited again, the Borei Pri HaGafen and six additional blessings  these are known as the Sheva Brachos.

60. The groom does not recite these blessings. Rather, others are honored with reciting them.

61. One may honor a number of people with these blessings and there is no obligation that one person recite them all or a portion of them. However, the first blessing of Hagafen should not be separated from the blessing of Shehakol Bara lichvodo.

62. These blessings are not an obligation of the bride and groom. Rather, they are an obligation upon the gathered congregation at the Chuppah. Therefore, there is no need for the bride and groom to have in mind to fulfill their Mitzvah with these blessings.

63. It is the custom of Ashkenazim after the Chuppah to have the bride and groom seclude themselves in the Yichud room (See Ramah EH 55:1).

64. It is proper for the groom to acquire use of the Yichud room from the owners of the wedding hall. That is, he should give a prutahs worth of coinage to the owner of the hall or its director with whom one transacts with in regard to weddings.

65. After the Chuppah before the bride and groom enter the Yichud room, the witnesses should examine the Yichud room to ensure that it is empty of people, and is closed from all sides, and that there be no windows even ones thata re very high, whee it would be possible to glance into the room.

66. Afterward, the bride and groom should enter the Yichud room, and they lock the door from the inside. The witnesses stand outside for five miutes.

67. This yichud is called Nissuim according to many Rishonim. Therefore, the bride and groom should have in mind that they are making a Kinyan Nissuin.

68. It is the custom for the bride and groom to eat in the Yichud room.

SUMMARY OF THE PROTOCOLS AT THE CHUPPAH

 The writing of the Kesuvah with all its details

 Kinyan of the Yichud Room from the administrators of the wedding hall

 Kinyan of the ring to the groom

 Preparing the glass and the wine for the wedding blessing and Sheva Brachos

 Preparing the glass to be broken and the candles for the Shoshvinim

 Checking to ensure that the witnesses are kosher and are not related to the wedding parties

 The groom designates the witnesses and says, I am designating you as witnesses for the Henoma, the Kiddushin, the Chuppah, and the Yichud room.

 The placing of the ashes on the head of the groom.

 Lighting the candles for those who accompany the groom.

 Covering the bride with the veil (the Hinuma) by the groom.

 It is on the witnesses to see the covering of the bride with the veil. They should know that this is also part of the wedding process.

 The bride and groom should have in mind that the covering of the veil is for the wedding process.

 The bride encircles the groom seven times.

 The bride and groom have in mind to be yotzeh with the blessings being recited.

 The Mesader Kiddushin recites the HaGafen and the blessings of marriage.

 The groom and bride taste from the cup.

 The cup is lifted in front of the bride in a manner that the witnesses will see her.

 The Mesader Kiddushin asks if the ring belongs to him.

 The Mesader Kiddushin asks the witnesses if it has the value of a prutah.

 He should warn the groom that he should complete the saying of Harei aht before he gives her the ring.

 It is upon the witnesses to make sure that they hear the harei aht from the mouth of the groom.

 It is upon the witnesses to see the giving of the ring from the hand of the groom to the hand of the bride.

 The breaking of the glass.

 Reading the Kesuvah.

 Performing the Kinyan and the witnesses signing on the Kesuvah

 The giving of the Kesuvah from the groom to the bride in front of witnesses.

 The bride gives the Kesuvah to her mother.

 Sheva Brachos.

 The groom and bride taste from the cup.

 The witnesses check the Yichud room to ensure that it is empty and locked.

 The bride and groom enter the Yichud room and lock the door from inside.

 The witnesses wait for five minutes outside of the Yichud room.

CORRECTING A KESUVAH

It may be worthwhile to print this next part out and save it for emergencies at a wedding, because it happens more often then we think. In statistics that this author has kept, it happens on average between 1% and 2% of the time. However, it can also happen almost ten percent of the time as well depending upon the experience of the Mesader Kiddushin.

A mistake is made in the Kesuvah itself at the wedding. A frantic call is made to a Posaik: We have no other Kesuvah  what should we do? [The reader may wish to print this in case of emergencies].

At times, the Posaik cannot be reached, in which case calls are made to Posaik after Posaik. Sometimes, when the Posaik can be reached, he may suggest that the Kesuvah be re-written by hand. All this is often done behind closed doors and can often lead to delays at the wedding.

There is, however, another possibility, of which many Rabbonim are unaware. It is possible to repair the mistake, as long as the following three conditions are fulfilled:

One notes on the bottom of the Kesuvah that the correction was, in fact, made

The notation references the line where the correction was made

The witnesses attest to the correction.

This is called a Kiyum of the correction. This concept is found in chapter 44 of the Choshain Mishpat section of Shulchan Aruch subparagraph 5.

HOW TO NOTE THE CORRECTION

The mistakes generally fall into four categories:

A missing letter A missing name or missing word A misspelled letter or word An extra letter or word.

We will go through the correction of each of the above cases.

If a letter was left out of the original, one may add that missing letter in its place even above the area, and one adds the following notation at the bottom of the Kesuvah:

Letter X on line Y was added. Vehakol sharir vekayam, and then the witnesses sign.

The Hebrew for this is:

 ___      .

If an entire word or name was left out, the word is added in place  above the area and one adds on the bottom of the Kesuvah:

Word X on line Y was added. Vehakol sharir vekayam, and then the witnesses sign.

The Hebrew for this is:

 ___      .

If just one letter was incorrect, it can be crossed out, erased, scratched off, or written over [called ha-avaras kulmus] in its place and one adds on the bottom of the Kesuvah:

Letter X on line Y was erased [or written over] Vehakol sharir vekayam and then the witnesses sign.

The Hebrew for this is:

 ____      

If it was written over, then the Hebrew notation that is to be added is as follows:

 _____  ____     

If it was a word and not just a letter that was corrected, use the above formulation but replace  with .

If there was an entire extra word that was crossed out, erased, or scratched off, then one adds on the bottom

 _____  ____    .

TWO SITUATIONS IN WHICH CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE

The Kesuvah can be corrected in either of two situations:

1] when the witnesses did not yet sign the document  in which case the notation is to be made above where the witnesses sign.

2] After the witnesses have already signed  in which case the same witnesses must sign again below the notation of the correction.

In the second case, the correction can even be made several days later.

Please note that one cannot make a correction on top of a correction on a Kesuvah. You get one chance. [See Nachalas Shiva 3:23]

The above is based upon the psakim of Rav Yaakov Yishayahu Blau ztl, author of the Pischei Choshain (and one of this authors first Poskim  dating back some 40 years ago). See Kovaitz Tevunos Aryeh Vol. II.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

*** Please Subscribe to an Exciting Weekly Parsha Sheet on the Topic of Emes written by the reviewer, Rabbi Hoffman*** Send an email to [email protected]
Dozens of FBI Agents, the Orange County Sheriffs Department, the Sullivan County District Attorney, and other law enforcement agencies are raiding multiple locations in the village of Kiryas Joel, YWN has learned.

The agencies confirm they are executing search warrants at the villages public safety building and the United Talmudical Academy.

Authorities have not released specifics about the current investigation.

The United Talmudical Academy is under investigation for the federal E-Rate program, which pays for computer connectivity in nonpublic schools.

DEVELOPING STORY  CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
Prosecutors used disturbing tactics that secured a 27-year prison sentence for Iowa kosher slaughterhouse executive Sholom Rubashkin, according to a letter signed by more than 100 former U.S. attorneys general, judges and others.

The April 19 letter urges Kevin Techau, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, to rectify the injustice done to Rubashkin, who was convicted in 2009 of bank fraud and money laundering charges in the wake of a historic raid by immigration agents at his familys Postville meatpacking plant, Agriprocessors.

The letter comes as defense attorneys detailed new evidence in a March filing suggesting that prosecutors knowingly allowed false and misleading testimony at a sentencing hearing that U.S. District Judge Linda Reade relied on in handing down the lengthy sentence. Among the signers accusing the prosecutors of misconduct are four former attorneys general, the Cabinet official appointed by the president to oversee all prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice: John Ashcroft, Ramsey Clark, Edwin Meese III and Michael Mukasey.

Other signers include former U.S. senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, Republican mafia prosecutor and New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Kenneth Starr, a former appeals court judge who led ethics investigations into President Bill Clinton in the 90s. Former Federal Bureau of Investigation directors Louis Freeh and William Sessions signed the letter as well.

Its a unique amount of support from political heavyweights that will grab the attention of U.S. Department of Justice officials tasked with deciding how to respond, said law professors contacted by The Des Moines Register whose names were not on the list.

But its hardly the first time Rubashkin supporters and notable figures, including former judges and members of Congress, have publicly weighed in with concerns about how prosecutors and Reade handled the controversial case, said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School and former federal prosecutor familiar with the case. For instance, more than 80 former federal judges unsuccessfully asked the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 to hear an appeal from Rubashkin, calling the sentence unjust.

Can renewed pressure convince Techau and others that the convicted executive was wronged and deserves a chance that could put him on a path toward freedom?

Theres nothing to be lost by trying, but it hasnt worked so far, Levenson said. Unless they come up with new facts. Thats really the important thing. Not that you have big names, but that you have facts and law on your side.

Federal prosecutors have until May 20 to file a response to the allegations by Rubashkins attorneys. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Young said the office would not publicly discuss the claims outside of the filing.

READ MORE: DES MOINES REGISTER
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12



By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:



Iran's Mesbah satellite is ready to be launched into the orbit, an Iranian official said.



Mohsen Bahrami, the head of Iran Space Organization has said that the country is planning to build new sattlites dubbed "Mesbah 2" and "Nahid", Tasnim news agency reported.



Mesbah satellite weighs 75 kilograms and is designed to circle the Earth 14 times a day. The satellite was never launched as both Russia and Italy refused to cooperate with Iran on space projects.



Mesbah cost Iran about 100 trillion rials (about $4 million) to be built.



Earlier in January, Mahmoud Vaezi, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology announced that building a communication satellite and a remote satellite were on the country's agenda.
It was eyes down for investors as Rank Groups update reported a full house of revenue growth.

The firm behind Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo said like-for-like revenue for the 19 weeks to May 8 was up 3 per cent.

But punters are migrating from the bingo halls to casinos, according to the figures.

Revenues for Grosvenors digital business were up 35 per cent. Rank said that while the number of customers was broadly stable, customer spending per visit had increased.

Meanwhile, total revenue for the Mecca brand fell 1 per cent, hit by a round of closures last year.

Mecca Bingo owner Rank Group said like-for-like revenue for the 19 weeks to May 8 was up 3 per cent. But punters are migrating from the bingo halls to casinos, according to the figures

The online bingo business is being rolled out with new content and changes to the way it works, which management hopes will give it a boost.

The firm is predicting profits for the year will be flat at 78million, disappointing analysts at Shore Capital who said we see this as too low given the uniqueness of the groups casino offering, bingo stabilising and the opportunity to build a multi-channel gaming operation.

Rank shares marched up 4.5 per cent, or 10.6p, to 248p.

Challenger bank Aldermore presented its first quarter update yesterday, following hot on the heels of rival One Savings Bank (up 3.4 per cent, or 9.4p, to 282.9p) the day before.

The lender, which was founded in 2009, is involved in residential and commercial mortgages, and asset and invoice finance.

Extra demand for buy-to-let mortgages ahead of the new stamp duty levy for landlords helped boost lending at the firm, though experts are concerned this may tail off now the surcharge is in force.

Net lending is up 6 per cent since the start of the year, with 327million of buy-to-let loans made in that time. Aldermore now has about 74,000 buy-to-let customers.

Peel Hunt has a buy rating on the stock with a target price of 235p. Aldermore advanced 3 per cent, or 5.5p, to 190.5p.

Packaging and paper producer Mondi wrapped up the results for the first three months of the year.

The firm said strong performance in consumer packaging, uncoated fine paper and its South Africa division had offset lower selling prices and margin pressure in other areas of the business.

It also warned that planned maintenance closures could hit profits for 2016 by around 55million.

Mondi acquired a corrugated plant in Poland last month which is set to be upgraded.

Shares wrapped up 0.7 per cent, or 9p, to 1358p.

The FTSE 100 fell back just shy of 1 per cent, or 58.3 points, to 6104.19.

Catering firm Compass was among the highest climbers of the day, as hungry investors drove the price up 1.6 per cent, or 20p, to 1271p. The business provides food and support services in various industries including healthcare, education and leisure.

The firms profits climbed 9.6 per cent to 461million in the six months to the end of March, egged on by strong performance in North America, where more than half of its business is.

Meanwhile, Burberry was out of fashion after Bernstein cut its target price for the stock. Shares retreated 2.5 per cent, or 29p, or 1140p.

On the alternative market, life sciences company Horizon Discovery revealed two agreements with an undisclosed provider of market leading next- generation sequencing, which is a rapidly growing area of cancer treatment. Its concerned with editing your genes so your body can recognise abnormal cells.

Horizon is providing a reference standard, which is basically a benchmark or toolkit for firms which make the tests that diagnose diseases such as cancer. Horizons toolkit lets labs check their tests are working.

It has not disclosed the finances of the deal or who it is with  although some experts believe it is with Illumina, a market leader in the field.

Analysts at Numis were positive on the news, because as this type of treatment becomes more accurate and affordable, the broker said up to 30 per cent of the millions of people across the world who are diagnosed with cancer could be treated in this way.

Horizons share price gained 1.5 per cent, or 2.5p, to 172.5p.

Website ads dont appear by accident  its because you searched for something, or a site you visited. Advertisers pay for the spots and software that put them there.

Taptica provides the technology that makes sure relevant ads appear and it works with big names such as Amazon, Disney, Facebook and Expedia.
It may have become famous for its trucks, but it was woodchips, plane rentals and airports that boosted sales for Stobart Group.

After being founded with one lorry in the 1960s, it is now involved with aviation and rail, and is the UKs number one supplier of biomass.

The firm, which also owns London Southend Airport, was back in the black to the tune of 10million for the year to February 29, from a 9.4million loss last year.

Sales grew from 116.6million to 126.7million and it proposed a final dividend of 4p a share.

Chief executive Andrew Tinkler said he planned to return 300million to shareholders from the sale of 12 assets, ranging from properties to financial investments.
The 500,000 'free riders' who watch the BBC for free on iPlayer will be forced to pay the licence fee - but experts say it will be easy to get round it.

The Government is closing the loophole allowing people to avoid paying 145.50-a-year by watching TV on their computer, tablet or phone.

The corporation is also being encouraged to charge viewers extra if they want to watch repeats of hit shows like Bake Off, Strictly and Sherlock if they are more than 30 days old.

In a series of BBC reforms the Culture Secretary John Whittingdale paved the way for the introduction of a separate subscription for the streaming device.

Big changes: The 500,000 people who watch BBC live - or its shows - via iPlayer for free will now have to pay the licence fee

Mr Whittingdale said online viewers who do not also have a TV licence would no longer get a 'free ride' to watch shows such as Sherlock, left, and the Great British Bake Off, won last year by Nadiya Jamir Hussain, right

The BBC will be able to trial an additional subscription service to ensure that those watching hit shows outside the 30-day catch up window are made to pay extra.

The corporation will also be ordered to put password controls on its iPlayer service to ensure people have to pay up.

It could also lead to BBC fans in foreign countries paying to subscribe to services.

The government's white paper on the future of the corporation, published today, is expected to include plans to force iPlayer viewers to sign in before watching.

It will put a stop to those who currently access the service online but do not buy a TV licence because they don't watch live television.

Culture secretary John Whittingdale will also ask the BBC to trial an additional subscription service to ensure that those watching hit shows outside the 30-day catch up window are made to pay extra.

John Whittingdale, who has been under huge pressure over BBC reforms, and finally set out Government policy today

The corporation has been considering adding password controls to allow viewers to personalise the service.

But bosses are concerned that a future government could charge people a separate fee for iPlayer as well as their TV licence.

Last month Mr Whittingdale pledged to rush forward legislation to close the iPlayer loophole.

He said: 'The BBC works on the basis that all who watch it pay for it. Giving a free ride to those who enjoy Sherlock or Bake Off an hour, a day or a week after they are broadcast was never intended and is wrong.'

Technology reporter David McClelland, a regular on BBC's Watchdog, warned the system could be open to abuse and it would need policing to be properly enforced.

He said: 'Obviously there would need to be many different user names per television licence because households will potentially have many family members in them.

'You will inevitably get people who will try to subvert the system. You might have a household of two people with 30 people trying to register under the licence.

'What's to say I wouldn't be able to share my user name and password with my mum and dad who may not wish to pay the television licence but still want to watch Match Of The Day because Leicester FC are doing well?

'The BBC will have to look at how to try to stop that.'

Dr George Buchanan, director of the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design at City University, said anyone 'technologically savvy' will easily be able to get around the charge.

He said just as many British internet users now use proxy servers to access material only available in the US, the iPlayer proposals can also be 'circumvented'.

He said: 'The practicalities are going to be quite hard to enforce consistently.

'You will have a lot of people who have technological friends who will be able to circumvent these rules relatively easily, and those who are not so technologically savvy will have to pay whack.

'I would say probably half the population could pretty easily get access to it without paying.

'Those who are less technologically literate will pay over the odds. However, there will be a certain degree to which some people decide to pay up because it is easier.'

Dr Enrico Bonadio, senior lecturer in intellectual property at the City Law School, said the introduction of a verification process for BBC iPlayer can be seen as part of a wider trend in which publishers try to protect and make consumers pay for their content in the internet age.

A spokesman for the DCMS said a statutory instrument to bring in the change will be laid before Parliament 'in the coming weeks'.

The changes to force viewers to 'verify' they are licence fee payers will be brought in 'later this year', the spokesman added.

Viewers were outraged by the decision to start charging for the iPlayer and some questioned how the BBC would enforce the new charge
Commander of Orumieh's Shohada Corps volunteer (Basij) Force Brigadier General Abeddin Khorram announced on Wednesday that his forces are due to stage massive exercises codenamed 'Towards Beit al-Moqaddas' on Thursday and Friday.

General Khorram said that 47 Basij battalions will take part in the military maneuvers.

'The two-day military exercises will be held near Orumieh city May 12-13,' he added.

The Towards Beit al-Moqaddas drills started over three years ago and have been conducted in 28 provinces of the country so far.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Fatih Karimov - Trend:

Director of Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) Abouzar Ebrahimi Torkaman has arrived in Baku to meet with Azerbaijani officials to discuss boosting cultural ties.

During the three-day visit, Ebrahimi Torkaman is scheduled to meet with senior Azerbaijani officials, including Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev, Iran's Embassy in Baku told Trend May 12.

Ebrahimi Torkaman will also meet with the President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Akif Alizadeh and officials from the Caucasian Muslims Office.

He is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Iranian cinema days in Baku on May 14.

Within the Iranian cinema days, the '143rd Hollow' will be demonstrated on May 14, 'A Bite of Sugar' on May 15, 'Today' on May 16, and 'Painting Pool' on May 17 at the Nizami Cinema Center.
Addressing fire safety Living in San Diego County, the threat of fires is constant, that is why I have made fire safety one...

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12



By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:



Recent corruption allegations against a senior Iranian insurance official have triggered hot media debates.



Following serious allegations by mostly conservative and hardline media, accusing Central Insurance Company of Iran of paying unusually high salaries to a group of its senior managers, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia set up a group to investigate the issue.



The outcome of the investigations suggested that the payments were all legal, made within the law. the mentioned media reports were described as "wrong interpretations".



However, Head of Central Insurance Company of Iran Mohammad Ebrahim Amin, offended by the harsh accusations, resigned following the announcement on the outcome of the investigations.



In a letter to Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia, the former head of the state-run insurance company said that it was impossible for him to proceed, as his honesty has been questioned.



Criticism against Central Insurance Company of Iran sparked after Iranian media published copies of the payslips of three managers at the mentioned company, who were receiving unusually high payments.



Reacting to the media reports on the payments, Central Insurance Company of Iran announced that the mentioned figures in the reports were the sum of delayed payments of the past seven years, and they were all settled at once.



In the meantime, Iran's Supreme Audit Cour has confirmed that the managers who received the payments, have returned the total sum to the company's banking account, a move aimed at showing good will.



Supreme Audit Court also announced that the court will continue to probe into the issue.



According to the media reports three managers of the insurance company together received 1.8 billion rials ($59,300 according to official rate on May 12) in the last month of the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20).



According to the data revealed by the insurance company, one of the mentioned managers for one month in 2009, received about 85 million rials ($2800 according to the official rate on May 12).



This is while, according to IranTalent (a leading job site for Iranian professionals) the maximum salary of an Iranian manager in 2015 was estimated to be around 113 million rials (about $3700). However the former deputy head of Iran Supreme Audit Court, Abbas Mohseni, said that the maximum level of the payments to managers should not surpass 55,000,000 rials (about $1800).



Now with the resignation of Mohammad Ebrahim Amin, a group of Iranian media outlets close to moderate President Hassan Rouhani, suggest that the stepping down of Mohammad Ebrahim Amin will inflict a major harm to the country, since he is skilled and honest.



Considering the outcome of the investigations and the media tone in Iran, it appears that political games in the Islamic Republic have claimed another victim, Mohammad Ebrahim Amin.



Farhad Daneshvar is Trend Agency's staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Farhad_Danesh
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Emil Ilgar - Trend:

Despite Washington's desire, Bashar Assad will remain in power in Syria, says the Iranian Armed Forces' Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi.

"The US government needs the Takfiri groups for influencing the results of the upcoming presidential election," he claimed, Mehr news agency reported May 12.

Iranian officials refer to the extremist Sunni armed groups, in particular in Syria and Iraq, as Takfiri.

However, Firouzabadi didn't explain how the US government can affect the election results.
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By Philip Newman

Daja Robinson, 14, was on her way home from a Sweet Sixteen party when a bullet smashed a window on a Q6 bus she had just boarded and killed her. Now, nearly three years later, Kevin McClinton, 24, has been convicted of her murder.

The conviction of McClinton came following a three-week trial before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak. McClinton, of Rosedale, has been held without bail since his arrest and extradition from South Carolina in November 2013. He faces 25 years to life in prison on sentencing on June 8,2016.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the girl was en route home from a party the evening of May 18, 2013, when she walked to a bus stop at 125-60 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica.

Authorities allege that Shamel Capers, then 15, of Brooklyn opened fire at the Q6 bus and McClinton, then 21, grabbed the handgun from Capers and resumed the gunfire, striking Daja in the head. She was dead on arrival at a Queens hospital.

Capers, arrested July 14, 2014, is awaiting trial.

Raymond Kelley, the New York City police commissioner at the time, said he did not believe McClinton intended to kill DAja, but was firing at someone else in the bus.

As we near the sad third anniversary of the death of this young and talented 14-year-old, let her loved ones take a modicum of comfort in the knowledge that her killer has been brought to justice and now faces spending the rest of his life in prison when he is sentenced June 8, Brown said.

The slain girl was a student at Cmapus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights.

On the first anniversary of Dajas death, dozens of friends and supporters of the slain childs family held a walk which formed at 116th Road and Sutphin Boulevard and proceeded to the site where Daja, an only child, was killed

The victims cousin, Glenda Daniels, said it rained on the mourners.

It was sad, but it was beautiful, she said.
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By Madina Toure

State Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) said Gov. Andrew Cuomos announcement that only 143 out of 5,000 nail salons are guilty of wage violations indicates that he has been unfairly demonizing Asian nail salon owners. Most of the salons are in Queens and Brooklyn.

Cuomo said Monday the New York State Nail Salon Industry Enforcement Task Force has directed 143 nail salons to pay $2 million in unpaid wages and damages to 652 employees.

New York state is cracking down like never before on the unscrupulous individuals that take advantage of the hardworking people they employ, Cuomo said. A fair days wage for a fair days work is a principle that this state was built upon and this administration is committed to stopping employers who exploit workers and deny them what they are rightfully owed.

Kim said the announcement lacked transparency because Cuomo has not indicated how the figures were obtained, including comprehensive data for all the business owners inspected.

He also said that when the $2 million amount is divided up among the 600 employees, its like roughly $2 to $3 a day for each employee.

Those workers that are getting the back wages, even if theres one store, those workers deserve (it)Im not trying to downplay any of the bad operators and what theyre guilty of, Kim said. What I am questioning, though, is the one year of selective enforcement and the outcome that the governor produced. Does that warrant the decision making?

After a New York Times investigative report in May on nail salon abuses of personnel, Cuomo launched a task force and imposed emergency regulations May 18 to crack down on violations.

Kim has argued that Cuomo has extended his state of emergency three times to unilaterally take punitive measures against nail salon workers and owners.

The assemblyman and state Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Brooklyn) are pushing for new legislation that would require the task force and other relevant state agencies to disclose more specific information about the sites probed.

Kim said Cuomo and his task forces use of state resources likely led to micro-targeting of mostly Asian-American small business owners.

The Transparency in Enforcement Act would require state agencies to be more transparent in inspections by reporting on all closed or pending cases and making the region, gender and race of the business owners public information.

In May 2015, Cuomo formed the Nail Salon Industry Enforcement Task Force to tackle exploitation and abuse of nail salon workers.

The governor said the task force, which is led by the state Labor Department, has opened investigations into more than 450 nail salon businesses and has completed 383 to date.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

A criminal case may be initiated against the leader of the Turkish opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the country's TV channel TRT Haber reported May 12.

The reason for Kilicdaroglu's criminal prosecution may be his latest statement regarding Turkey's possible transition from parliamentary form of government to a presidential one.

This will be possible only through bloodshed, Kilicdaroglu said.

These words by the opposition leader in Turkey were regarded as an attempt to call to a civil confrontation in the country.

Earlier, a source in Turkish presidential administration told Trend that adoption of a new constitution is very important for Turkey.

The source also said that it is necessary, first of all, that the new constitution gets vote of the Turkish parliament. If the parliament isn't able to adopt a new constitution through a voting, there will be a national referendum, the source said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 12

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Replacement of Turkish prime minister which is expected to happen in late May will lead to further strengthening of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's power, Soner Cagaptay, Turkish Research Program Director in the Washington Institute believes.

"[Prime-Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu's resignation means further consolidation of power in the hands of a man who is already the most powerful politician in Turkey since the country became a multiparty democracy in 1950," Cagaptay told Trend by email.

Turkish ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party will hold an extraordinary congress and elect a new party leader on May 22. In Turkey the head of the ruling party also serves as a prime minister. The current prime minister and head of the government Ahmet Davutoglu decided to resign after some disagreement with President Erdogan.

Davutoglu said he would step down after an extraordinary party congress and not run for the office again. Five candidates, including Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication Binali Yildirim, Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, and the ruling party's vice chairman Mehmet Ali Sahin have been nominated for the position of the ruling party's new chairman.

Cagaptay believes that the new prime minister will be hand-picked by Erdogan and will be more compliant to Erdogan's aspirations to alter the Turkish constitution to his liking to introduce an executive-style and omnipotent presidency.

The expert expects that few people will even recall the name of the new leader, much like in Jordan or Morocco, where all-powerful kings overshadow little-known prime ministers.

Cagaptay noted that Erdogan is de facto head of government and head of the ruling party in addition to already being head of state.

"This personalization of power and the hollowing out of political and civil institutions make the country increasingly vulnerable. When Erdogan eventually leaves office, there will be few institutions left standing to keep it together," the expert believes.

Edited by SI

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
SHARE A student pilot prepares for takeoff in a T-6 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The Air Force is facing a shortage of pilots. Contributed Air Force photo/82nd Training Wing Public Affairs A student pilot and pilot instructor check the T-38 systems and functions before taking off at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The Air Force faces a shortage of up to 500 pilots and is considering incentives to keep them in the service. Contributed Air Force photo/82nd Training Wing Public Affairs Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training students pilots fly in formation in the T-38 at Sheppard Air Force Base. The Air Force faces a pilot shortage as airlines hire away personnel. Contributed Air Force photo/82nd Training Wing Public Affairs A student pilot runs a safety check on his oxygen equipment as part of his pre-flight process at Sheppard Air Force Base, . The Air Force is facing a pilot shortage.

By Times Record News

Sheppard Air Force Base officials said the Air Force is facing a pilot shortage, but they are taking steps to retain current pilots and meet production demands for new ones.

"The Air Force is currently about 500 pilots short of requirements," Col. Paul Moga, 80th Flying Training Wing vice commander, said. "And that number is projected to reach 800 by 2022."

Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program officials said they remain laser-focused on maximizing training production for the Air Force.

One challenge is the commercial airline industry, which is expected to seek 3,500 new pilots annually over the next 20 years. Due to their excellent training and experience, military pilots are often prime targets for hiring by airlines.

The 80th FTW met all of its production targets on time in 2015, and is aiming to do the same for 2016.

"It was a true team effort to meet all of our training objectives last year, and it will take the same kind of determined effort to do it again," Moga said. "We can't afford to fail  it's not only the U.S. Air Force depending on us, but the air forces of our partner nations as well."

Challenging times

The wing at Sheppard endured some unique challenges in reaching their 100 percent production goal. Heavy rains that ended the area's drought in May 2015, unfortunately also damaged the airfield at Frederick, Okla., used for T-6 aircraft training.

"Thanks to an enormous effort by both of Sheppard's wings, and incredible support from the surrounding communities, we were able to coordinate the use of the airfield in Duncan (Oklahoma) while repairs are made to the Frederick airfield," Moga said. "Had we not been able to do that, production capacity and quality of training would have been seriously impacted  so we're very grateful for all the people on and off Sheppard who have worked to make that happen."

The aging fleet of T-38s used for training, now an average of more than 50 years old, remains a challenge.

The base depends on their staff of dedicated maintainers to ensure the wing has mission-ready aircraft to get the job done, Moga said.

"It's a challenge that will continue well into the next decade, when the T-X aircraft is due to replace the aging T-38 fleet," he said.

Other obstacles include weather and potential commercial development around Sheppard and the training ranges used to train pilots.

"We are working closely with local community leaders to strike a balance between supporting economic development and safeguarding our mission requirements," Moga said. "Working together, it's possible to find a solution that works for everyone."

While Sheppard will continue to focus on maximizing production, the Air Force as a whole has long-term and short-term goals to address the situation.

In March, Gen. Mike Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, presented the Air Force's plan to the Senate Armed Services subcommittee. In the short term, the Air Force will attempt to retain current pilots with a bonus program is known as Aviator Retention Pay. The program allows eligible pilots to enter into an agreement for five to nine years with a per-year payout and the option to receive 50 percent up front.

Long range, Air Force leaders will present law makers with a plan to bridge the gap by increasing undergraduate pilot training (UPT) and adding two additional fighter training units to train students just out of (UPT).

"The Air Force is taking steps to retain as many of its pilots as possible. Our role here is to continue producing new pilots at maximum capacity," Moga said.

Material for this report was provided by the Sheppard Air Force Base Public Information Office
SHARE

The emerging policy shaping the Obama administration's slow war against ISIS stirs very bad memories for the U.S. military  Vietnam memories.

That policy is "gradual escalation." The Obama administration does not use the term, but that is what we witness.

Gradual escalation proved to be the strategic curse of the Johnson Administration, an error in judgment that, at the time in late 1964, looked so reasonable  and convenient  to President Lyndon Baines Johnson. He envisioned leaving America with a transformative legacy, a victory in The War on Poverty.

I don't expect the White House press corps to give this Obama Iraq-Vietnam LBJ comparison more than passing notice. Despite a year of gradually expanding U.S. military engagement in Iraq, it has failed to do more than that. This failure reveals one of the biggest strategic weaknesses in the U.S. system: a biased media.

Here's some backup for my assertion: Apparently not a single member of the White House press corps is a registered Republican. Politico reported in April that 60 percent of White House reporters have no registered party affiliation, but a quarter are registered Democrats. Not a single one is a registered Republican. You'd think at least one maverick would be a public Republican, but no, nada.

Intelligence agencies would call this an indication of behavioral susceptibilities.

The Obama administration knows the national media will serve as a spin chamber to favor Democrats, even to the point of obscuring serious national security issues.

Obama's Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications, Ben Rhodes, recently gave The New York Times a gloating report on his sophisticated information warfare victory over the White House press corps and the national media (the press "blob" as Rhodes called it). Rhodes all but admits to lying about the Iran nuclear deal. He used "hand-picked Beltway insiders" to "retail the administration's narrative."

One strand of the narrative was: it's either Obama's treaty or nuclear war.

Baloney, Mr. Rhodes. Your choice was stage drama, not state craft. At least a dozen other alternative policies exist that could have denied Iran's theocratic dictators nuclear weapons. The most promising involve use coercive diplomacy backed by military power.

But try and detail a policy requiring complex operations sustained by persevering leadership to a press corps spin drunk on giving Obama an arms control legacy. That  the legacy `-- was the denouement of Rhodes melodrama. Remember, in 2008, candidate Barack Obama promised Iran unconditional negotiations. He sure delivered.

With every passing week, the Pentagon announces  sotto voce  a troop increase in Iraq. We also learn, indirectly, that more U.S. military personnel are operating in Syria. Syrian deployments consist of special operations troops (likely Army Green Berets) acting as advisers in "limited roles."

It is very difficult to determine the exact number of U.S. combat troops currently in Iraq. Yes, I wrote that correctly, combat troops. The Pentagon says around 3,600. But in February, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq admitted "it's fair to say" on a daily basis the number exceeded 4,000.

I'll wager it's over 5,000, on a 24/7 basis, given the operations involved.

On May 4, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told Iraqi leaders the U.S. would deploy attack helicopters to Iraq to support the attack on Mosul. More Marines will deploy.

U.S. Marine units have already suffered casualties in engagements with ISIS combatants near Mosul. Yet the White House insists that the U.S. has "no boots on the ground," an echo of the Wizard of Oz ordering Dorothy to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

In Fall 2011, we had Iraq won. Joe Biden touted Iraq as an Obama administration success. Former CENTCOM commander General Lloyd Austin wanted to keep a residual U.S. force of 23,000 in Iraq, a "presence" to reassure Iraqis and deter Iranian finagling. He also indicated that 10,000 to 15,000 might suffice.

When will Obama's gradual escalation exceed 10,000?

Austin Bay is a commentator on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," covering foreign affairs but often addressing issues in Texas that have a national interest.
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The 69th Cannes Film Festival opened Wednesday with stormy skies, heightened security, the premiere of a new Woody Allen film and resurrected sex abuse allegations against the 80-year-old director regarding his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow

Allen brought his 1930s Hollywood romance "Cafe Society," along with stars Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, to Cannes to kick off the French Riviera festival. But just minutes before their news conference, a column by Allen's son Ronan Farrow was posted online by The Hollywood Reporter in which he reiterated sexual abuse allegations against his father. Farrow questioned Cannes' continued embrace of Allen and chastised the press, who he said don't ask "the tough questions."

"That kind of silence isn't just wrong. It's dangerous," wrote Farrow. "It sends a message to victims that it's not worth the anguish of coming forward. It sends a message about who we are as a society, what we'll overlook, who we'll ignore, who matters and who doesn't."

No reporters asked Allen about Farrow's column or the decades-old sex abuse allegations at the press conference and Allen's publicist didn't return an email requesting comment Wednesday. Allen has previously denied that he molested Dylan, allegations first leveled in 1992 when Dylan was seven and Allen and Mia Farrow were in the midst of a bitter divorce.

 Associated Press

CBS News veteran Morley Safer retiring

CBS News veteran Morley Safer, a "60 Minutes" correspondent for all but two of the newsmagazine's 48-year history, said Wednesday that he's retiring from television.

The network will mark the occasion with an hour-long special on Safer's career Sunday after the regular edition of "60 Minutes."

"It's been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air," Safer said. "But most of all I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast."

His craggy face and voice deepened by cigarettes are familiar to all who watched television's first and still most popular newsmagazine.

Safer is a living link to the show's combustible glory years with founding executive Don Hewitt, correspondent Mike Wallace and humorist Andy Rooney, when "60 Minutes" was often the most-watched show on television.

Safer's first report on "60 Minutes" in 1970 was about the training of U.S. Sky Marshals. His 919th and last, a profile of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, was broadcast in March.

At 84 and dealing with health issues, Safer had cut back on work in recent years and was seen using a wheelchair at fellow correspondent Bob Simon's funeral last year..

The Toronto-born Safer was the first Saigon bureau chief for CBS News, and his 1965 report on U.S. Marines burning the Vietnamese village of Cam Ne was a turning point in attitudes toward the war. He broadcast a report from inside China when it was still largely a closed society in 1967 and, as a Canadian Broadcast Corp. reporter, witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany in 1961.

He was a London bureau chief for CBS News in the late 1960s before joining "60 Minutes."

 Associated Press

Madonna planning tribute to Prince

The Material Girl will pay tribute to The Purple One with a live performance at the Billboard Music Awards this month.

Billboard and dick clark productions told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Madonna will honor Prince at the May 22 show. Specific details about the performance weren't revealed.

Prince was found dead on April 21 in his suburban Minneapolis home at age 57.

The Billboard Awards will air live on ABC from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ludacris and Ciara will host the show, which will include performances by Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, the Go-Go's, Celine Dion and Pink

Nominees for top artist include Adele, Bieber, Drake, Taylor Swift and the Weeknd

Prince performed at the 2013 Billboard Awards, where he received the icon award.

 Associated Press

'Star Wars Show' launched online

The Force is so strong with the "Star Wars" franchise that Lucasfilm and Disney are producing a weekly online video series about it.

"The Star Wars Show" is debuting Wednesday on YouTube, Facebook, StarWars.com and other online channels. Lucasfilm says the weekly series will celebrate "the franchise, fans and fun of the world of 'Star Wars.'"

 Associated Press
MUSIC

Theater Voices is dedicated to both words and imagination. The words come from playwrights and are presented without staging, so that it's just the dialogue spoke by actors. The imagination part is how the scenes play out in the minds of audience members. There seems to be guaranteed power in both of these arenas with the company's finale, "An Accident" by Lydia Stryk. The scenario is this: a woman is laid up in the hospital after being struck by a car, and coming to visit her is the man who drove the car. Bob Goepfert directs. 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday May 22. Steamer No. 10 Theatre, 500 Western Ave, Albany. Free admission.

FESTIVAL

It's Greek fun for everyone at St. Sophia Orthodox Church's Greek Festival. The annual event will wrap up today with Greek music, Greek dancers in traditional Greek garb, and Greek warrior re-enactments. There will be rides and amusements for kids, church tours and other activities. As always, what's best about the fest is the food. New this year is the "E Kouzina," a dining room featuring home-cooked Greek dishes, including traditional Greek Horiatiki salad. There's a Greek pastry shop and food tents that will serve up everything from gyros and mousaka to spanakopita and baklava. Noon-7 p.m. Sunday. $3 adults; free for children under age 12. St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany. 489-4442; http://www.stsophia.net

MUSIC

What might it have been like to see George and Ira Gershwin in concert? "Rhapsody & Rhythm: The Gershwin Concert Experience" may give you an idea. The showcase features a nine-piece band performing Gershwin classics such as "I Got Rhythm," "'S Wonderful," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "Summertime," and George's "Rhapsody in Blue." Family home movies, photos and film clips of the Gershwins are part of the concert, as are dancers who tap dance and recreate some of the choreography made famous by Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in "Shall We Dance" and "An American In Paris," respectively. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. $20-$50. Proctor's, 432 State St., Schenectady. 346-6204; http://www.proctors.org
A Cohoes man convicted of sending sexual material on social media to a girl under age 13 was sentenced Thursday to four months in jail and five years' probation, prosecutors said.

Avree J. Larkin, 25, had pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court to first-degree disseminating indecent materials to a minor, a felony,
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Albany

"I let things go off the rails," former state Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos told a federal judge Thursday morning, shortly before he was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

His son Adam, convicted alongside him on eight felony counts in December, was sentenced to six and a half years.

The state's most powerful Republican until almost exactly a year ago, Skelos will be required to pay a $500,000 fine. Both father and son will have to jointly forfeit $334,120.

Like former Assembly Democratic Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was sentenced to 12 years in a separate corruption case last week, Skelos still will be able to reap his nearly $96,000-per-year public pension

"I want you to know that I am deeply remorseful," Skelos told the court as he apologized to his former constituents on Long Island.

Adam Skelos, who will be required to enroll in an inpatient mental health program while in prison, said he deeply regretted his actions "and I am committed to trying to become a better person." He said his father had always been there to bail him out of trouble.

Both father and son asked Judge Kimba Wood to show leniency for the other.

Politico New York reported that Gail Skelos, Dean's wife, left the courtroom midway through the sentencing. On her way out, she passed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara, whose office had brought the case against her husband and stepson. "You can go to hell," she reportedly said.

The drama continued outside the court building, where Dean Skelos' nephew Basil Skelos was charged with assault after allegedly grabbing a reporter. The 27-year-old Nassau County man was released on an appearance ticket, police said.

In a statement, Bharara took a widescreen view of the state's plague of corruption scandals, highlighted by the arrests and convictions of both Skelos and Silver over the past 16 months.

"The nearly simultaneous convictions ... have no precedent," Bharara said. "And while Silver and Skelos deserve their prison sentences, the people of New York deserve better."

Bharara then made a clear reference to the March 2014 scuttling of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption midway through its planned 18-month existence.

"These cases show  and history teaches  that the most effective corruption investigations are those that are truly independent and not in danger of either interference or premature shutdown," he said.

In his own brief statement, Cuomo said Thursday's sentencings "show there is zero tolerance for those who use public service for private gain. Today, the guilty were punished and justice prevailed."

Dean and Adam Skelos were arrested May 4, 2015, on charges that they conspired in a years-long effort to trade legislative favors for personal and political benefits, described by Bharara as an effort to "monetize" the lawmaker's legislative power.

Prosecutors argued that Skelos exerted political influence to benefit the environmental technology company AbTech, which scored a $12 million contract for a stormwater remediation project in Nassau County, and Glenwood Management, the New York City real estate titan with financial and personnel ties to AbTech. In return, Adam Skelos received more than $200,000 in payments and benefits, and Senate Republicans received large donations from Glenwood, one of the state's most generous political contributors.

Executives and lobbyists for Glenwood and AbTech were given non-prosecution agreements by Bharara's office in exchange for their cooperation.

Two additional charges of extortion and solicitation of bribes related to Adam Skelos' no-show job with a Long Island medical malpractice insurance company, which his father helped him obtain, were tacked on in July. The company, Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers, was another generous campaign donor.

The Skeloses continued to protest their innocence after the trial. In a March sentencing memo from the defense asking for community service for the two men, attorneys referred to their "aberrational conduct that resulted in the conviction."

Skelos ceded power over the Senate's majority conference a week after his arrest to fellow Long Island Republican Sen. John Flanagan As was the case with Silver and his Democrats, GOP support for Skelos eroded quickly as a schism between upstate and downstate conference members began to show.

The conviction has had more lasting effects on the Senate. The Nassau County Senate seat Skelos once held now belongs to Democrat Todd Kaminsky, who narrowly won a special election last month. Still, the Republicans maintain control over the chamber: Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Simcha Felder continues to caucus with the 31 members of the GOP, giving them the required 32 votes to control legislation. A coalition with the five-member Independent Democratic Conference provides an extra cushion.

"Today should serve as a wakeup call for the Senate Republicans that we need real ethics reforms and not just lip service and political posturing," Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. " ... People deserve a state government that they can trust and that they know is working for them."

Skelos, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1980 and to the Senate in 1984, is just the latest in a line of top Senate officials to have been convicted or accused of wrongdoing.

After serving as then-Majority Leader Joe Bruno's deputy for more than a decade, Skelos took over for Bruno when the Brunswick Republican decided to step down in 2008 amid a federal investigation into his consulting business.

Bruno was convicted on two felony charges in December 2009, but the Supreme Court retooled the statute used by federal prosecutors against him, triggering a second trial that ended with his acquittal.

Former Democratic Majority Leader Malcolm Smith of Queens, who lost power in the wake of the Senate coup of 2009  a scheme organized in part by Skelos  was convicted last year of trying to bribe his way to the 2013 Republican nomination for New York City mayor.

His successor, Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson of Brooklyn, led the chamber for two years after the coup. He was convicted last year of obstructing justice and lying to federal investigators. Sampson will learn his fate next week in federal court.

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10

A timeline of Skelos' political career is below:
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Baghdad

In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed 93 people across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses.

The separate bombings, which also wounded 165 people, came at a time of turmoil and deadlock in Iraq's government and parliament. The Interior Ministry blamed the attacks on "political bickering" that is increasingly threatening the security of the civilian population.

The largest car bomb ripped through a crowded outdoor market selling food, clothing and household goods in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City during the morning, killing at least 63 people and wounding 85.

Streets were stained with blood, building facades were heavily damaged and smoke billowed from stores gutted by the blast. Dozens of people walked through mangled wreckage of cars and other debris as ambulances ferried away the injured.

The bomb was in a pickup truck loaded with fruit and vegetables. It was parked by a man who had quickly disappeared into the crowd, said Karim Salih, a 45-year-old grocer who escaped injury.

"It was such a thunderous explosion that jolted the ground," Salih told The Associated Press. "The force of the explosion threw me four meters away and I lost consciousness for a few minutes."

The sprawling slum of Sadr City is home to 2.5 million people  almost half of Baghdad's population of about 6 million.

Two more car bombs exploded elsewhere in the afternoon, killing at least 30 and wounded 80, police officials said. One bomb targeted a police station in the Kadhimiyah neighborhood, while another struck in the neighborhood of Jamiya.

The casualty figures were released by medical officials who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

In online statements, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombings, which were condemned by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, as well as the United States.

The IS group said it had targeted Shiite militiamen, but hospital and security officials said the vast majority of the victims were civilians.

"These attacks demonstrate that terrorists carry out these abominable attacks without regard to innocent civilian life in order to stoke tensions between these communities even further," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

"What is clear from this incident is that a lot of innocent people have been killed, and it certainly is consistent with ISIL's strategy of wreaking havoc and sowing chaos and violence and sectarian tension," he said, using an acronym for the extremist group.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinas state-run media outlet believes that "sound ties" between Beijing and Manila could be beneficial to everyone amid the Asian archipelagos upcoming change in administration.



A commentary from the Xinhua News Agency indicates that the Chinese-Filipino relations have come to light again as the Philippines is set to be under a new leader.



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According to the article, "sound ties between China and the Philippines will benefit all and boost peace and development in the region."



Quite noticeably, the commentary highlighted the positive effects of such friendship to Manila as tensions have risen over the recent years due to the territorial dispute in the South China Sea that brought China at the hands of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.



Sino-Philippine Ties



According to the commentary, presidential candidates redirected the people's attention toward the South China Sea chaos instead of addressing local issues since the onset of the Philippine elections.



"Some Philippine politicians disregarded the Philippine people's actual woes and tried to push their own agenda by shifting the attention of the Philippine public from domestic chaos to the South China Sea, and they would 'only shoot themselves in the foot,'" it stated.



This put further strain on the issue which, Xinhua believes, has brought China and the Philippines farther away from each other.



However, it appears as though Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine frontrunner and the now-presumptive president of the archipelago, caught China's attention and commendation for focusing on the real problems of the Filipino people during his campaign such as corruption, crimes, drug abuse, and the country's economy.



"Duterte has vowed to crack down on corruption, crimes and drug abuses. He may also have looked at the country's economic situation, where development is a priority," the outlet explained.



Furthermore, the state-run media noted that China is an important trade partner for the Philippines as it "has unique experiences, funds, and technologies" that can help the archipelago overcome issues such as lack of infrastructure.



On International Arbitration



China remains indignant in refusing to be arbitrated by an international court when it comes to the South China Sea issue.



"No matter what the verdict will be in the arbitration case initiated by the Philippines, it will be unlawful and invalid. China will not accept nor recognize it," declared Hong Lei, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.



As the beginning of Duterte's administration nears, China sees an opportunity to improve the relationship between the two nations.



"I have a similar position as China's. I don't believe in solving the conflict through an international tribunal," Duterte said during a press conference early in April.



Also, some analysts appear to be echoing Xinhua's opinion on the Sino-Philippine ties, per a separate report from Xinhua.



"If the new leader can normalize ancient friendship ties between the Philippines and China, it will benefit the Philippines and the whole of Asia in terms of more vibrant economic dynamism, peace and stability," said columnist and analyst Wilson Lee Flores, who also believes that having a new leader can provide the Philippines with this "golden opportunity."






Four container ships from the Danish shipping company Maersk lie moored in Loch Striven on July 30, 2009 in Scotland. (Photo : Getty Images)

Two European-owned container ships have collided in the East China Sea while another vessel has been abandoned by its crew after a fire broke out on board, the Denmark-based Maersk Line said on Monday.



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Maersk said its ship, the Safmarine Meru, crashed into the German-owned Northern Jasper about 120 nautical miles off the eastern Chinese port of Ningbo, Reuters reported.



The ship had fewer than 400 full containers on board when the accident occurred early on Sunday, causing the 22-strong crew to abandon the ship. No serious injuries to the crew of either vessel were reported.



"We are very relieved that our crew are safe and have not suffered any serious injuries. The safety of our people, at sea and on shore, is paramount to us," said Palle Brodsgaard Laursen, head of Ship Management in Maersk Line.



The Safmarine Meru remained afloat and anchored as firefighting measures were initiated Sunday morning.



"It is too early to comment on the circumstances surrounding the collision and fire," Laursen said.



The crew of the Northern Jasper remained on board the ship following the accident, but were later transferred to shore and provided with medical support and crisis counselling.



Chinese authorities were immediately on the scene.



Maersk Line, a unit in the Danish conglomerate AP Moller-Maersk Group, is the world's biggest container shipping company with over 600 vessels transporting goods ranging from electronics to clothing.



The South China Morning Post also reported on Monday that Chinese authorities have questioned the crew of a Maltese-flagged ship that collided with a Chinese fishing boat over the weekend, leaving at least two sailors dead and 17 others missing.



The ship's Greek captain and 19 crewmembers mostly composed of Filipinos said they were unaware they have crashed into the boat in heavy fog early on Saturday morning, the Post quoted Xu Zhiyong, a border checkpoint officer in the port of Beilun in eastern China's Zhejiang Province.



The ship, the Catalina, which did not stop following the accident, was ordered into port and docked on Saturday night in Beilun, where it was boarded by Chinese officers who conducted an investigation, the report said.


Albany

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday called on the Federal Communications Commission to scrap plans to auction off $170 million in federal aid for high-speed internet access that was previously designated for New York state.

Under the plan, the FCC would award aid to the bidder it determines is best-positioned to provide broadband in a given area.

Instead, he and officials in the Cuomo administration want the money to go to the state directly.

Schumer's request comes nearly a month after two Cuomo administration officials made a similar plea to the FCC asking that the money instead be given directly to New York to enhance Gov. Andrew Cuomo's $500 million New NY Broadband Program, which is designed to provide all areas of the state with high-speed internet by 2018.

In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Schumer said he was coordinating his effort with Cuomo's office and asked that the FCC reconsider its plans to auction off the funding.

Schumer said upstate counties especially have the greatest need for the funding, which provides subsidies to private companies and others to build and extend high-speed internet networks, also called broadband.

"The federal government should invest  not divest  in upstate internet access," Schumer said. "When I go and visit, that's one of the top things that county legislators will ask me about because they need it."

The extra money that was supposed to go to New York is being put up for auction by the FCC after Verizon Communications decided not to accept the funding last year. Verizon, which sells high-speed internet access using fiber optic cable called FiOS, has stopped expanding the reach of FiOS in New York state, instead focusing on increasing subscription to the system in existing areas, most of which is located in densely populated metro areas. The $170 million figure is the total of $28.4 million in funding Verizon would have received over six years had it taken the money through the FCC's Connect America Fund.

A study released Wednesday by Schumer shows that the more rural areas of the Capital Region have much less broadband penetration than the cities like Albany and Schenectady, where broadband access of 25 megabits per second or higher is nearly universal.

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In homes located in places like Schoharie and Washington counties, broadband access can be below 80 percent or even 65 percent, leaving people without affordable ways to access the modern internet.

An FCC spokesman said the rules for the auction have not yet been set, and public comments will be accepted after an official order is issued by the FCC later this month. He said requests by states like New York to ask for the money directly will be considered during the public comment period.

In an April 12 letter to the FCC, Howard Zemsky, CEO of Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the state Public Service Commission, said the "prolonged timeline" of the FCC's auction plan "presents challenges" to upstate communities that are without high-speed internet.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
This Friday at EMPAC, at a concert called "Within," listeners will hear music performed on an array of groundbreaking instruments.

Well, not quite. There's a good chance that not all the listeners will hear it. Some might be deaf. But those who aren't deaf won't hear everything, either, because not all the music will be audible. In fact, the whole idea of audible  and listening, and music  is the entire point of the evening, challenging tired old notions of what sound is and how we sense it.

"It's really addressing the whole spectrum," said Tarek Atoui, a sound artist in residency at EMPAC who has been developing tools and techniques for conveying sound to the deaf and non-deaf alike.

His efforts over the last few years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and UC Berkeley have worked toward expanding that spectrum and "trying to push the boundaries of what hearing is," he said. "These parameters, I think, led me in a way, a very natural way, to work with people from deaf communities  and to learn from them, because we have a lot to learn from these people. And they are much more capable than us hearing people in understanding vibration."

More Information If you go "Within" Where: EMPAC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 Eighth St., Troy When: 8 p.m. Friday Admission: Free Info: 276-3921; empac.rpi.edu Contact Amy Biancolli at 518-454-5439 or abiancolli@timesunion.com or visit the arts blog at http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts See More Collapse

We among the hearing think too narrowly about sound. We fetishize the heard and downplay the felt, reducing music to its Western-harmony particles of intervals and keys.

There are exceptions: African traditions, indigenous American traditions, anything that emphasizes percussion. To hear a timpanist at work is to feel the impact of sound waves crashing through air. To stand in a mosh pit, or dance in a nightclub, is to feel the violence of amplified beats on the human abdomen.

But most of the time, listening to most types of music, the audience zeroes in on the audio alone.

Not so on Friday, when the instruments to be played include the SubBassProtoTon, a large, walk-in organ pipe created by EMPAC Director Johannes Goebel; the Zero Point Nine, developed by Atoui and others at Berkeley and Meyer Sound, which uses subwoofers blasting ultra-low-frequency sensations based on gestures (say, sign language or conducting) performed by people on vibrating platforms; and the Sit-thesizer, a "square-wave synthesizer" designed by RPI almuna and former Oliveros student Julia Alsarraf, that's controlled by drawing on paper with special conductive paint. Sitting on a subwoofer, a player feels the sound directly through the body.

As unusual as that sounds, direct contact is an essential piece of all instrumental performance. "I always like thinking about the place of the body, or gesture, or human impulse" in his own creations, Atoui said. "I think it's something inherent to any instrument you play  as part of the body, whatever you perform."

When I lift a violin and draw the bow, I'm engaging in an act as sensuous as a hug. The wood vibrates in my hand and under my chin. Whether I recognize it, the physical component of music is always there; if it weren't, there wouldn't be any sound at all. Stressing the audible over the palpable is more a matter of forgetting one sense for the sake of the other, and it's a habit not easily altered.

"It doesn't have to be such a leap," said Pauline Oliveros, RPI music professor and a collaborator on the project. "Already people are relying on what comes through the ears, but there's also what they're missing  what comes in through the skin. That vibration is neglected by hearing people. So you have to make a leap, all right  you have to begin to become aware of how this is working."

A composer, accordionist and proponent of "deep listening," Oliveros worked with her students to develop alternative instruments and, along with Atoui, composed the music to be performed on Friday. Some of it will be perceived by the deaf but not the hearing; some will be perceived by the hearing but not the deaf; some will be perceptible to both.

"It will be heard or sensed," Oliveros said, stressing the need to push beyond the cultural narrowness of "exclusive" versus "inclusive" listening. "You know, listening is hearing plus attention. And much more, probably. It's still a mystery. Scientists  they know more about hearing than they do about listening, because listening is subjective and dependent on experience, and memory, and so many other things."

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In the hopes of engaging members of the deaf community and gleaning their feedback, the "Within" collaborators have reached out to various associations in the Capital Region community and invited their members to the event.

Pat Mirza, co-president of the Albany chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, said in an email that she attended an HLAA convention some years ago and checked out special recordings, designed for the hearing impaired, that featured arrangements of Broadway show tunes in piano and bass viol. "I have a severe hearing loss, and the vendor had me 'test' an instrumental version of a popular tune wearing headphones. I was able to tell him the instrumental song was 'Time After Time,' the Cyndi Lauper hit," she wrote. "It was really cool."

For Atoui, a central aim of his work is reconciling the heard and the felt and "resetting" the relationship between them  "to put the body back in touch" with our understanding of sound. At the same time, he hopes to create experiences for both the hearing and the deaf and, in the process, reach some common ground between them.

Music is a form of communication, after all. To make music with another human being, whether hearing or non-hearing, is to open up a conversation both wordless and deep. Perhaps some day, the hearing and the deaf can join in and jam together.

"That's one of the ultimate goals. But to reach that point, it's also not a given. ... This takes a lot of preparation. This takes a lot of dialogue, and cooperation, and experimentation, and goodwill on behalf of everybody. So, yeah. That's our aim," he said. "And it's something that takes time."

abiancolli@timesunion.com  518-454-5439  @AmyBiancolli
FICTION

1. EXTREME PREY, by John Sandford. Lucas Davenport, who has left the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is in Iowa trying to foil a plot to assassinate a Hillary Clinton-like candidate. The 26th Lucas Davenport thriller.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1

2. THE LAST MILE, by David Baldacci. In a sequel to "Memory Man," Amos Decker, a detective with an extraordinary memory, investigates the case of a convicted killer who wins a last-minute reprieve.

Last week: 1Weeks on list: 2

3. ME BEFORE YOU, by Jojo Moyes. A woman who has barely been beyond her English village finds herself while caring for a wealthy, embittered quadriplegic.

Last week: 8Weeks on list: 13

4. FIRE BOUND, by Christine Feehan. A glassblower travels to Italy, where her bodyguard catches her eye.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1

5. THE OBSESSION, by Nora Roberts. A woman is haunted by her father's crimes as she tries to pursue love and her work as a photographer.

Last week: 2Weeks on list: 3

6. BEST OF MY LOVE, by Susan Mallery. A baker and an adventure-travel agent navigate the claustrophobia of love in a small town.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1

7. THE NEST, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. Siblings in a dysfunctional New York family must grapple with a reduced inheritance.

Last week: 7Weeks on list: 6

8. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, by Paula Hawkins. A psychological thriller set in the environs of London is full of complications and betrayals.

Last week: 5Weeks on list: 62

9. HIDE AWAY, by Iris Johansen. (St. Martin's Press). A forensic sculptor heads to the Scottish Highlands in search of treasure.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1

10. STUCK-UP SUIT, by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. An arrogant businessman's phone, lost on a commuter train, leads to an unexpected affair.

Last week: 3Weeks on list: 3

NONFICTION

1. THE RAINBOW COMES AND GOES, by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt. Mother and son discuss their relationship and difficult family history.

Last week: 1Weeks on list: 4

2. THE SLEEP REVOLUTION, by Arianna Huffington. What scientific research reveals about the dangers of sleep deprivation, and tips for achieving better sleep habits. By the founder of The Huffington Post.

Last week: 2Weeks on list: 4

3. WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, by Paul Kalanithi. A memoir by a physician who received a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36.

Last week: 3Weeks on list: 16

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4. SHOE DOG, by Phil Knight. A memoir by the founder of Nike.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1

5. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, by Ron Chernow. A biography of the first Treasury secretary, a major author of the Federalist Papers and an advocate of strong central government. Originally published in 2004 and the basis of the Broadway musical.

Last week: 5Weeks on list: 18

6. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, by Daniel James Brown. The University of Washington's eight-oar crew and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Last week: 9Weeks on list: 101

7. DEAD WAKE, by Erik Larson. The last voyage of the Lusitania, the passenger liner sunk by a German torpedo in 1915; by the author of "The Devil in the White City."

Last week: 6Weeks on list: 34

8. THE THIRD WAVE, by Steve Case. In the current era, entrepreneurs will use technology to revolutionize various sectors of the economy.

Last week: 7Weeks on list: 4

9. ELON MUSK, by Ashlee Vance. A technology writer follows Musk's life from his difficult South African childhood to his involvement in Internet startups like the rocket company SpaceX and the electric-car company Tesla.

Last week: Weeks on list: 4

10. OLD AGE, by Michael Kinsley. Essays, both serious and humorous, about aging and death, based in part on Kinsley's experience with Parkinson's disease and aimed at his fellow baby boomers.

Last week: Weeks on list: 1
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Tucked upstairs at The Ruck is a gastro-hideaway, all blond wood and Scandinavian in feel with built-in benches, glass-topped tables housing barley and bottle caps, and floor-to-ceiling windows installed when new French doors were recently added downstairs.

Of course, The Ruck itself needs no introduction: The joint has long been a Troy institution, first as a grungy student bar and then, in its decade-plus evolution under owner David Gardell, as a craft-beer sanctuary. Executive chef Rachel Mabb, winner of the 2016 Wine & Dine for the Arts festival's Signature Chef Invitational competition, has broadened The Ruck's reputation for broad-spectrum craft brews and rib-sticking, dependably good food. Which only makes it more interesting that Gardell, with Mabb and general manager Jennifer Parsley, is literally taking it up a level.

Calling it a "natural evolution" of The Ruck's craft culture, Next Level is jumping on the trend for small plates and crafty pairings with charcuterie and cheese boards, small plates, mains and featured pairings on a somewhat experimental menu that's reconfigured daily.

As a standalone restaurant, Next Level is in stark contrast to The Ruck's dim, barn-wood interior where bartenders ply 32 beer taps, husky cooks toil before a flaming grill and draft handles are screwed into ceiling beams. We enter Next Level, unnoticed by the pint-sipping crowd, through an unmarked door that leads to a renovated upstairs so apartment-like we half expect bedrooms on the third floor. Instead, there are thoughtfully stocked lavs (amen to women-run businesses) and a private event room for 30. Inside the tiny galley kitchen flash the pink-tipped platinum locks of Adryana Washock, Next Level's chef de cuisine, formerly of Illium Cafe, known for her TV turn on "Chef Wanted" with Anne Burrell.

More Information Next Level at The Ruck 104 Third St., Troy Phone: 441-7497 Web: www.nextleveltroyny.com Cuisine: Beer and food pairings centered on small plates, charcuterie and cheese boards and globe-trotting mains. Beer cocktails, brewery collaborations and homemade charcuterie all coming soon. Half-dozen taps upstairs and a keg room housing select canned and bottled beer. Ambiance: Quiet, light-filled second-floor tasting room with seating for 25 and private event room for 30 on the third floor. Price: $$-$$$ Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Credit cards: All major. Parking: Street. Handicapped accessible: No. Grandfathered in with stairs to the second and third floors. Price ratings for inexpensive eateries based on average of entree costs: $: $9.95 and less $$: $9.95-$15.95 $$$: $15.95 and higher See More Collapse

Washock collaborates with Parsley and Ruck beer director Nick Nuzzolilo on the day's menu and pairings. One night, flavors veer Asian with Thai soup, kimchee fried rice and a sushi shortlist that cleanly pairs Belgian Saison Dupoint ($10) with a spicy tuna roll ($10) speckled with kimchee furikake rice seasoning. Other times, the menu gambols from rabbit to ribs, and vegetarians will have to stick with cheese.

I'm taken with this haphazard kitchen experimentation. I don't know if it's the infancy (Next Level opened in early March) or an endearingly youthful way of chancing it to see what sticks. It means the menu might feature a half-dozen pairings or just one, entrusting recommendations to equally youthful staff in black bowling shirts. Some projects, like a Wild Beer Co. Somerset sorbet ($6), are refreshingly delicious. Others, like a Nine Pin cider-poached pear with coddled La Peral blue cheese, ($8) are alarmingly bad in bed. (Look, I'd have partnered them on a cheese board too, but something about the blue cheese in the poaching cider delivered an unexpected flavor of vomitus and the best laugh of the night.) In a way, it makes you feel more included in the process, like joining Marina Abramovic in a bit of performance art. Some of it works, some doesn't, but you appreciate the creative effort.

Charcuterie and cheese from Adventures in Food are paired with taste-enhancing homemade honey-gose beer jelly, apple butter or walnut-thyme brittle. On our chef's board ($20 small, $34 large), already glistening with duck prosciutto and finocchiona, an espresso-rubbed cabricafe cheese explodes when eaten with dark chocolate. Sadly, it's unlabeled  no chalk, no signs  so when our doe-eyed server identifies the white L'Amuse Brabander as blue-veined Valdeon and potted rabbit rillettes as bone marrow, we know Houston has a problem.

Small plates run the gamut. There are marinated olives with preserved lemon ($7) and fried oysters with hoisin-walnut butter ($10). The latter fell short, leaking brine over plate and gushing on the tongue. But a lightly poached egg spilled its golden load over toasted Brussels sprouts and squash with fig butter ($8), and a tangle of crisp calamari with soppressata and peppadew aioli ($10) magically matched a Nomad Freshie Salt and Pepper gose ($12) brewed with seawater, Tasmanian pepper and coriander.

Faultless roasted potatoes with Valdeon-stuffed chicken ($18) suggest Washock can deliver a mean Sunday roast, and her velvet walnut pan cream will bring you to your knees. Pan-seared scallops ride a pleasant tomato-oyster emulsion, though loosening strands in a wadded knot of squid-ink linguine proved fruitless, and an eye-watering truffle gremolata had vampire-repelling power for days.

Mains need tweaks: Toasted broccolini spears in cheese-filled puff-pastry ($16) came frazzle-tipped with stalks too tough to cut, and serving a trio is like serving three salmon en croute without any sides. Braised pork jowl ($24), all richly fatty, is hard to navigate balanced on rice in a small bowl, and the flash-fried bok choy leaves, like the scallops, had as much grit as a sandwich at the beach. It's bad when your guest can hear you grinding your teeth.

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I confess I'm smitten with Next Level's hideaway space. The flaws aren't in pairings but in teething problems getting the food just right, perhaps as a result of such rapid rotations. There are lovely touches in homemade preserves and butters from fig to a smashing chile-basil version sent out with Placid Baker bread. Coming down the pike, Gardell's reopening of the Troy Pork Store spells exciting news for house-cured meats.

Bigger problems are the stairs and the ventilation. There's no way around the former, so you might not take your granny (even after shielding her eyes from the "Get Rucked" and "Ruck U" signs downstairs). The alternating smoke and chilly night air from venting kitchen smoke is a pain: The next morning my kids took one whiff and asked if I'd been up early cooking Chinese.

At just two months young, Next Level at The Ruck is still feeling its way, but the craft-isanal beer and gastronomic pairings have found a higher calling upstairs.

Dinner for two  averaging one chef's board, two appetizers, two entrees and three beers  runs around $130 with tax and tip.

Susie Davidson Powell is a freelancer writer from East Greenbush. Follow her on Twitter, @SusieDP. To comment on this review, visit the Table Hopping blog, blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping.
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There's an old saying among Muslims: Make 70 excuses for your brother or sister. It's meant to teach that forgiving someone who has done something wrong many times keeps a person humble and instills forgiveness and kindness.

It's this kind of thinking that is at the heart of the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project. Started in 2003 by a group of students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it has grown from a small effort aimed at helping the Troy community to a nationwide network of people on a mission to feed and nourish. At the center of this effort now in the Capital Region is Uzma Popal, director of the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project. She has held the unpaid position since August 2014.

Popal sits at Masjid-Al-Salaam, the mosque her family is part of in Albany, explaining the project. She is soft-spoken, with big brown eyes and hair tucked into a hijab. Under the peaceful veneer, she exudes strength and determination.

Popal moved to the United States with her parents and seven brothers and sisters in 1985. They came from Pakistan in search of education and opportunity. Popal's parents believed in hard work, often holding two or three jobs to support their family. Her father sent himself to college, became a nurse, and then sent all of his children to college. It was what they moved here for: the American dream of hard work and making a better life.

More Information How to help To volunteer: The Muslim Soup Kitchen Project has all kinds of volunteers, not just Muslims. To donate: More information on making financial donations is on the group's website: www.mskp.info. Donate meat by contacting mskpcapdistrict@gmail.com. See More Collapse

Another part of her family's dream is being part of a large community, one that works together, worships together and helps one another when in need.

"There are many negative stereotypes about Muslims today, and feeding people  not just Muslims, but anyone who is hungry  is helping to change that," Popal says.

She also explains how she is touched by the work she does for the Muslim Soup Kitchen: "We have our cars, our houses and families. We see hunger on television, but it's not the same as seeing it happen around you. It's different."

It was seeing hunger and the need in our region that drove Popal to run the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project.

"Helping people is a big part of our religion. It doesn't matter why people are in the shelters and need food. We know they don't want to be there, no one does. But we want to make the situation better."

The Muslim Soup Kitchen Project does that by feeding people in homeless shelters throughout our region. The group's approximately 200 volunteers include cooks, drivers and shoppers. One Saturday each month, food is delivered to shelters and served to hungry people.

In order to serve up to 500 meals, the volunteers work together seamlessly, each depending on the other. The cooks receive food from shoppers, the drivers collect and deliver food prepared by cooks. Popal carefully plans each day, ensuring that cooks have their ingredients, meals are collected on time, volunteers arrive to serve.

Meals are served at Joseph's House in Troy, Unity House of Troy, St. John's Outreach Center in Albany, and at other places in Troy, Albany and Schenectady where food is provided to the hungry. Feeding people has made Popal feel connected to her community and at times has surprised her.

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She says, "The Muslim community I am part of is very connected. When we started moving around the Capital District, seeing new people and feeding them, we discovered there were many in the Muslim community receiving meals at the shelters. I didn't realize there were Muslim people in need.

"All mosques have groups that provide for community. It's part of our religion," Popal explains. Her family's mosque currently helps finance the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project, but organizers would like to make it financially independent. The project is also funded through private donations.

Not long ago, in an effort to spread the word about Muslim faith and unity, Popal and a group of volunteers decided to work together with Muslim Soup Kitchen Projects across the country to create a National Muslim Soup Kitchen Day. The idea was to end hunger for one day. On April 30, 27 mosques across the country participated in the Muslim Soup Kitchen Day, separated by many miles but with one common goal: feeding people.

There will be another national day next year, but until then, Popal and her volunteers will keep working to feed people in the Capital Region every month.

"We are not enemies. This is just one of the good things that comes out of the Muslim Soup Kitchen," Popal says. "We live in the same community. Creating unity. That's our slogan. It's really what we are trying to do."

Contact Caroline Barrett at cvbarrett@verizon.net.
U.S. files WTO complaint over excessive import tariff on chicken in China. (Photo : Getty Images)

The United States has filed a complaint against Chinas excessive tariffs on chicken imports amid the two nations continuous trade grapple that sheds a harsh light on their gradually disintegrating ties.



According to The Wall Street Journal, Washington wants Beijing to open opportunities in their market for the American poultry farmers else the Asian giant will face trade sanctions.



Advertisement

The filing submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) indicates that China did not comply with the previous WTO ruling that the tariffs on poultry products, particularly on chicken feet, in China should be removed because they were improperly applied.



Aside from that, China also failed to deliver its duties on anti-dumping and countervailing on American chicken products in compliance with international trade rules, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman explained.



Unfair Tariff



"These unfair and unjustified taxes are in direct violation of China's international commitments and tilt the playing field further against America's poultry farmers," said Froman as quoted by The Hill.



According to Froman, China's violation of trade rules denies American farmers a fair shot at earning from global trade, emphasizing that the Obama administration will not tolerate such unfair act.



"American farmers deserve a fair shot to compete and win in the global economy, and this administration will continue to hold China responsible when they attempt to disadvantage our farmers, businesses and workers," he explained.



According to The Hill, the WTO had issued a report on the breach on tariff rules three years ago, something China did not respond to until mid-2014.



At the time, Beijing issued a redetermination on the matter that states justifications on the duties on U.S. chicken while making changes that they deemed to be compliant with the WTO order.



However, the U.S. is still unconvinced that China is not violating international trade rules.



"Trade works when the rules are followed, and it is imperative that China--the world's second-largest economy--lives up to the rules it agreed to when it joined the WTO in 2001," Senate Finance Committee member and Senate Chicken Caucus co-chairman Johnny Isakson said.



U.S. Poultry Industry



According to the outlet, the U.S. holds the biggest percentage of chicken produce all over the world and is the second largest exporter of chicken meat.



The industry provides jobs to over 350,000 workers and earnings for some 50,000 family farms in the entire nation.



Because of this, the country's economic health is directly affected should exports of poultry products experience a slowdown in profit.






The parish of Holycross Ballycahill is walking on air this week following the announcement by Pope Francis that local man Fr John Ryan, The HIll, Cormackstown has been selected as the new Bishop of Mzuzu.

Rev Professor John A. Ryan of St Patricks Missionary Society, is son of the late Mr and Mrs Pierce Ryan and his imminent appointment as the new Bishop of Mzuzu in Malawi has created real excitement in the parish and amongst his family members including his brothers Martin, Pat, Bill, Percy, Tom and Pascal, and his sister Peg. He has two deceased sisters also, Anne and Mary.

"I have mixed feelings about it to be honest as I had intended retiring next year. I knew that my name was being mentioned for the position and when I heard it first I would not have taken it on. But, my colleagues and friends persuaded me to take the position over the last few months and when it was announced this week, I had my mind made up to take it on," Fr John told The Tipperary Star this week.

A member of the Kiltegan order, Fr John has spent almost forty years in Malawi and is head of the Mathematics Department, in the University of Mzuzu, where he specialises in coding theory. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Makasa Zuza, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malawi, who was killed in a road accident in January 2015 after a decade in the position.

Announcing the news, St Patricks Missionary Society said it wished Bishop-elect John our prayerful good wishes as he becomes the new shepherd of the diocese of Mzuzu.

Bishop-elect Ryan was born in Holycross in 1952. He was ordained a priest in June 1978 - and was the first priest in 800 years to be ordained in Holycross Abbey, where he was also baptised and Confirmed. He is a past pupil of Scoil Ailbhe CBS primary school in Thurles, Thurles CBS Secondary School and St Kierans College in Kilkenny. Since his ordination he has served in academic and pastoral roles from 1978 to 2005 in St Pauls parish in Mzimba (Mzuzu); St Stephens in Kapuro (Mzuzu); St Mathias parish in Misuku (Mzuzu); head teacher at the Community Day Secondary School in Misuku (Mzuzu); as head of the minor seminary of St Patrick in Rumphi (Mzuzu) and he also spent time teaching maths in Ireland.

From 2000, he served as chaplain to the Holy Rosary Sisters in Katete; and between 2005 and 2011 he ministered as a chaplain at the University of Mzuzu where he also worked as professor of mathematics; he also served as assistant chaplain of St Augustine and its outstations and as a member of the college of consultors.

The Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Malawi was erected in 1947, and was elevated to the status of the Diocese of Mzuzu in 1961. It currently has a Catholic population of 400,000. The diocese comprises the northern districts of Rumphi, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and part of the central district region of Kazungu. In total the diocese has 11 parishes.

Fr John was thrilled but surprised to hear of the very positive reaction in his native parish and is looking forward to coming home in a few weeks time - he will be in Rome for an induction and will jump on a plane to Ireland when he is finished there. He was also amazed to hear that a number of his family members will be making the trip for his installation.

"It will be a huge challenge for me as bishop but I am delighted to have so many good people to rely on. I would have taught many of the current priests in their formation and they are good men. It will be an advantage to know them all so well and to know the diocese also," he said.

Fr Ryan will receive a very warm welcome when he gets home in a few weeks time with his family and friends extremely proud of the news. He is wished well by everyone in mid Tipperary and further afield.
Camiah Tylequis Walker, 24, was taken into custody, Wednesday morning on charges related to the double homicide of a Titusville native and her mother.
[May 12, 2016] Compare.com Relocates and Expands Headquarters to Support Continued Strong Growth

Today, compare.com, the leading auto insurance comparison website in the United States, announced it is relocating its national headquarters to accommodate its continued growth. The new location will feature 26,000 square feet of office space in the East Shore office complex in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to growing its insurance carrier partnerships, compare.com has welcomed nearly one dozen new employees since January 2016 and plans to grow its workforce by 40 percent by the end of 2017. Compare.com has turned to its own employees to offer suggestions and themes for the new design, as well as sourcing artistry from local muralists to decorate the new space. Compare.com's new office building will feature a full gym, free coffee bar, standing desks and a game room. "Beyond the educated workforce that we have been able to harness here, Richmond also boasts a growing arts and foodie culture that we want to pay homage to in our new office," stated compare.com CEO Andrew Rose. "With Richmond's proximity to Washington, DC, we've been able to cultivate exceptional talent, while offering candidates a 'big small city' which attracts Millennials and local artisans. The start-up scene from Capital One's (News - Alert) formation in the city is another element that gives Richmond appeal; I like to refer to it as 'Silicon River.' We're excited for the new headquarters and look forward to continuing to serve customers and carriers across the nation," added Rose.



While compare.com is building its office based on the recommendations of employees, the dedication compare.com employs to meet employees' needs doesn't stop at infrastructure. Listed as one of the "Top Workplaces of 2016" by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one of the "Fastest Growing Companies of the Year" by Best in Biz Awards and one of the "Most Innovative Tech Companies of the Year," by the Stevie Awards, compare.com works to create a company culture that supports its employees in every aspect of their lives, from granting four weeks of vacation time to supplying fresh fruit daily. If you would like to learn more about compare.com's office expansion and open job roles, please visit www.compare.com/jobs.

About compare.com Compare.com is a limited liability corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA, majority owned by the Admiral Group, LLC, the UK's second largest auto insurer and a member of the FTSE 100. Currently offering car insurance comparison services for US consumers in 48 states, compare.com allows consumers to fill out a single form and get multiple quotes from trusted auto insurers. Through simple side-by-side comparison, compare.com makes finding the best available rates on car insurance easy. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005095/en/

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[May 12, 2016] Earth Friendly Products President and CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks Receives Orange County Business Journal's 2016 Women in Business Award

Earth Friendly Products, the maker of ECOS environmentally friendly cleaning products and a leader in sustainable business practices, is pleased to announce that its president and CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks has received the Orange (News - Alert) County Business Journal's 2016 Women in Business Award. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005181/en/ Earth Friendly Products President and CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks Receives Orange County Business Journal's 2016 Women in Business Award (Photo: Business Wire) "The Women in Business Award is presented to Ms. Vlahakis-Hanks for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility. She has been instrumental in making Earth Friendly Products a model for green business practices in Southern California and across the country. Ms. Vlahakis-Hanks is outspoken in her commitment to sustainability in her products, her facilities, and her employment practices," explained Laura Garrett, vice president and associate publisher of the Orange County Business Journal and the Women in Business Award chair. Vlahakis-Hanks recently opened the company's flagship manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Cypress, California, which features sustainable operations and Zero Waste manufacturing processes and creates over 90 jobs in Orange County (and over 350 jobs nationally). The new facility increases the company's manufacturing capacity in California by over 30% to accommodate its strong growth. It is one of several sustainable manufacturing facilities that the company has strategically located across the U.S. to reduce its shipping costs, minimize its carbon footprint and enable it to achieve carbon neutrality. "I a so proud to call Orange County my home and to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the entire Earth Friendly Products Cypress team," said Vlahakis-Hanks. "We opened our first Orange County facility in Huntington Beach in 1977, and we have continued to call Orange County home as our facilities have grown. As a mom actively involved in the Orange County community and as a CEO, I am passionate about creating a healthy environment for our children and teaching them the importance of protecting our community and the health of our planet."



Earth Friendly Products is a leader in corporate social responsibility and supports the local economy in Orange County and other regions in which it operates by hiring locally, sourcing materials locally, and paying one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, currently $17 an hour. According to Vlahakis-Hanks, paying employees a living wage and providing them with a strong benefits package has helped the company grow and remain competitive. She says the higher wages and benefits increase productivity and reduce turnover costs, which helps the company keep its prices competitive. A graduate of UCLA and Chapman University Argyros School of Business and Economics, Vlahakis-Hanks joined Earth Friendly Products in 2003. She was promoted to executive vice president in 2009 and was responsible for opening five new manufacturing facilities and overseeing global sales in over 60 countries. In 2014 she became president and CEO of the company. Vlahakis-Hanks was a leading voice in the formation of the Sustainability Consortium and served as a key strategic advisor to Walmart's sustainability and conservation efforts. She is an active member of several national and local boards, including the American Sustainable Business Council, Grades of Green, the Environmental Media Association, Chapman University, and the Chief Executive Roundtable at the University of California, Irvine. In 2014 she was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Orange County Global Women's Conference, and in 2016 she was named one of Orange Coast Magazine's Remarkable Women.

Earth Friendly Products has a large presence throughout Orange County with products available at Walmart, Sam's Club, Ralphs, Whole Foods Market, Smart & Final, Sprouts, Mothers Market, Babies R Us, buybuy BABY, Rite Aid, Costco Business Centers, and many independent retailers. Earth Friendly Products partners with Southern California educational organizations such as the Discovery Science Center to bring ECOScience, a green science education program, to thousands of schoolchildren each year. Earth Friendly Products is proud to support Orange County organizations such as the American Cancer Society's Making Strides of Orange County, the Nancy Yeary Women's Cancer Research Foundation, the Girl Scouts of Orange County, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. ABOUT EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS Family owned and operated since 1967, Earth Friendly Products is the maker of ECOS Laundry Detergent, Baby ECOS cleaners and over 200 other environmentally friendly cleaners that are safer for people, pets and the planet. Made with plant-derived ingredients, ECOS products are thoughtfully sourced, free of formaldehyde and dyes, pH balanced, readily biodegradable, and never tested on animals. As a primary manufacturer with manufacturing facilities distributed throughout the U.S., Earth Friendly Products is committed to making green cleaning effective and affordable. The company has received many awards for its innovations in safer green chemistry, including the U.S. EPA's coveted Safer Choice Partner of the Year. Earth Friendly Products achieved carbon neutrality in 2013 through a series of major sustainability initiatives, including the switch to 100% renewable energy, which saves over 53 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually. In addition, all Earth Friendly Products facilities are Zero Waste Platinum certified, diverting over 95% of their waste from landfills and incineration. ECOS cleaning products are available at selected major retailers throughout the U.S. and in over 60 countries. Learn more at www.ecos.com and www.babyecos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005181/en/

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[May 12, 2016] HID Global Launches First Mobile ID Program in Nigeria with Partner Media Concepts

HID Global, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, today announced that it has partnered with Media Concepts of Lagos, Nigeria to deploy mobile IDs on Nigerian citizens' smartphones using the new HID goID platform. Mobile IDs will be issued through the Nigerian Police Biometric Central Motor Registry (BCMR) vehicle registration card program, which provides real-time access to vehicle/vehicle owner information via credentials and mobile readers powered by Seos. The BCMR card program is moving from pilot phase to full implementation with the expectation to register all motor vehicles as the project rolls out nationwide. "Our vision is to create a safer Nigeria for both citizens and police. This project equips our police officers with the information they need, enabling them to do their job more effectively," said Femi Agoro, Director, Media Concepts. "Working together with HID Global, we are proud to be bringing such innovative new mobile technologies to the people of Nigeria." This program in Nigeria is the first of several programs that HID Global will be announcing across the world in support of the company's mobility initiative launched last month, including the new HID goID solution that enables smart devices to securely carry government-issued IDs and conduct transactions not possible using a physical card. "Smartphone adoption among Nigeria's 170 million citizens is growing exponentially," said Rob Haslam, Vice President and Managing Director, Government ID Solutions with HID Global. "Offering citizens the option to carry a mobile ID on a smartphone to easily and conveniently prove vehicle ownership is a natural next step in the wider shift to government-issued mobile IDs for vehicle registration and beyond." The Nigerian Police BCMR is a biometrically-enabled, real-time information system designed to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of policing. The BCMR vehicle registration program marks the beginning of a major deployment of vehicle registration cards and mobile readers that are powered by Seos technology. Simultaneously, the Nigerian police are launching the program to offer citizens a secure and convenient mobile ID option. Citizens can apply for a mobile ID at the time of vehicle registration. Once registration is complete, issuance of the mobile ID o a citizen's smartphone is almost instant, which bridges the gap between registration and receipt of the physical card.



The Nigerian Police will be issued smartphones as mobile readers to verify a vehicle owner's ID and at the same time gain real-time access to reliable accident, crime or insurance information on the vehicle. The readers will sit in a specially designed cradle to accommodate the citizen's biometrics stored on the card or mobile ID. The new BCMR mobile IDs use the HID goID platform, which delivers the secure infrastructure to allow citizen IDs to be safely provisioned to and authenticated on a smartphone. Rapid issuance enables the citizen to take instant possession of their vehicle registration and is particularly convenient if the citizen has more than one vehicle, as multiple IDs can be carried together on one smartphone. HID Global and Media Concepts designed the program so that this new offering would be integrated directly into Nigeria's current enrollment process, allowing a seamless migration to mobile IDs.

The goID platform enables instant over-the-air credential provisioning and streamlined access to cloud-based government information services. All transactions related to issuing, managing and presenting mobile IDs using smartphones are secure and trustworthy with HID goID, ensuring that transactions are conducted in a closed-circuit environment protected by end-to-end encryption. The goID platform has been designed so that even in areas of restricted or no network coverage, the police officer can still verify the identity of the owner and vehicle offline. It also ensures privacy protection by enabling users to present credentials with a Bluetooth or NFC connection rather than physically relinquishing their smartphones. HID goID is powered by Seos technology, which adds trust to identities, so users can confidently embrace and use new mobile applications. Seos has already been proven in mobile credentialing for enterprise, healthcare, hospitality, university and banking deployments. Media Concepts of Lagos, Nigeria has been instrumental in bringing innovative technologies and solutions to Africa. HID Global partnered with Media Concepts to conceive and build the groundbreaking program in Nigeria. Together, the two companies are addressing complex government-to-citizen identification programs throughout Africa. Click here for more information about the HID goID platform. Stay Connected with HID Global Visit our Media Center, read our Blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About HID Global HID Global is the trusted source for innovative products, services, solutions, and know-how related to the creation, management, and use of secure identities for millions of customers around the world. The company's served markets include physical and logical access control, including strong authentication and credential management; card printing and personalization; visitor management systems; highly secure government and citizen ID; and identification RFID technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics applications. The company's primary brands include ActivID, EasyLobby, FARGO, IdenTrust, LaserCard, Lumidigm, Quantum (News - Alert) Secure, and HID. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID Global has over 2,700 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit http://www.hidglobal.com.  HID, the HID logo, HID goID and Seos are trademarks or registered trademarks of HID Global or its licensors in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, and product or service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511006655/en/

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President Xi Jinping first proposed his Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese President Xi Jinping explains his point of view of the countrys hallmark economic policy after an anonymous authority reveals a big shift in the Chinese economy via a top state-run newspaper.



A day after People's Daily published an interview-style article about a supposed "authoritative source" whose identity was not revealed, the state-run news agency also publicized Xi's 20,000-word manuscript explaining China's economic past, present and future.



Advertisement

According to the South China Morning Post, Xi's most comprehensive elaboration of the Chinese economy focused more on differentiating their "supply-side reform" from the Western-style policy.



The outlet said Xi was referring to some reports that compared China's economy to that of the United States under President Ronald Reagan and Britain under Margaret Thatcher.



According to Xi, China's version of the supply-side reform focuses more on structural measures of seeking innovation than "an issue of tax or tax rate."



Supply-side Structural Reform



"I need to be clear, the supply-side structural reform we are talking about is not the same as the supply-side economics school in the West," Xi's explanation stated.



Drawing a line between the Western-style economics, Xi reiterated the importance of understanding the meaning of the supply-side structural reform which he had previously discussed during the 2015 central economic work conference.



According to the Chinese president, while there had been debates on the matter at the time, it appears as though the issue has not been very clear to some Chinese officials.



Explaining the reform again, he said it would only be implemented through "cutting capacity, reducing inventory, cutting leverage, lowering costs, and strengthening the weak links."



"Our supply-side reform, to say it in a complete way, is supply-side structural reform, and that's my original wording used at the central economic work conference. The word 'structural' is very important, you can shorten it as 'supply-side reform,' but please don't forget the word 'structural,'" he added.



Overcapacity



According to the SCMP, China's current economic slowdown can be partly blamed to the overcapacity in some industries such as coal and steel mining.



However, Xi said the country cannot rely on stimulating the demand alone to address this problem as the issue is more on the lack of proper structural reform to accommodate the change in demands.



"The problem in China is not about insufficient demand or lack of demand; in fact, demands in China have changed, but supplies haven't changed accordingly," he explained.



Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' former vice president Li Yang explained that Xi's current economic policy path is synchronized with the global trend.



"The economic problems cannot be solved by demand-side policies," the expert told the outlet. "Macro economies around the world, including China's, are changing toward supply-side policies, paying attention to the real economy, structural factors, and eyeing innovation as the major driver."






Ireland Life Insurance Claims and Expenses Market Databook 2016-2019 - Research and Markets

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Life Insurance Claims and Expenses in Ireland to 2019: Market Databook" report to their offering.

The "Life Insurance Claims and Expenses in Ireland to 2019: Market Databook" contains detailed historic and forecast data covering claims and expenses in the life insurance industry in Ireland . This databook provides data on gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and commissions and expenses

The report also provides detailed insight into the operating envionment of the life insurance industry in Ireland . It is an essential tool for companies active across the Irish life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.







Key Topics Covered:

1 INTRODUCTION

2 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

2.1 Gross Claims

2.2 Gross Claims Forecast

2.3 Paid (News - Alert) Claims

2.4 Paid Claims Forecast

2.5 Incurred Loss

2.6 Incurred Loss Forecast

2.7 Commissions and Expenses

2.8 Commissions and Expenses Forecast

2.9 Change in Outstanding Reserves

2.10 Change in Outstanding Reserves Forecast

3 APPENDIX

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2wnqql/life_insurance

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005763/en/
[May 12, 2016] Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Switches to BroadPoint Engage to Power Its Pro-Business Mission

BETHESDA, Md., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aiming to strengthen connections among its 2,300-plus member businesses, serve their evolving needs and enhance advocacy for pro-business causes, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce selected BroadPoint Engage, powered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, as its new chamber management system. "It's common for member-based organizations to outgrow their legacy chamber management, member management or association management system (AMS) and realize it can't scale to meet their goals," said Tom Condon, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at BroadPoint. "Now, the Minnesota Chamber rivals the sophistication of a commercial business in terms of lead generation and nurturing relationships. The ability to easily recruit, retain and bring members together in the interest of mutual growth definitely advances its pro-business mission," Condon concluded. BroadPoint Engage transforms Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online into a tailor-made membership management solution. Engage enhances CRM with powerful new capabilities for community building; membership, committee and chapter management; events management; marketing outreach; and membership analytics. At the Minnesota Chamber, users across departments now have unified view of their members, with the power to quickly view and report on a member's history, preferences and various activities. Anyone in the organization can easily target outreach at the micro level based on geography, demographics, psychographics and past behavior. What this means for members: a more consistent, more personal experience at every touchpoint. For the Minnesota Chamber it means the ability to rapidly connect, network and rally member businesses around common interests and causes. <>Gaining intelligence and efficiency



The Microsoft Dynamics platform generates actionable intelligence by integrating data from multiple systemsevents, membership, sales, advocacy, finance and moreand consolidating it into one centralized location. "We have lots of data coming in from multiple sources across our organization," said Annette Kojetin, Director of Finance at Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, "We've never had any way to centralize it, analyze it or truly use it to our advantage on a large scale.

Engage will allow us to better manage all of our interactions while saving considerable time and effort in the process." Backed by a billion-dollar cloud The Minnesota Chamber selected the cloud-hosted version of BroadPoint Engagean ideal option for organizations without significant IT infrastructure and resources. Microsoft has invested more than a billion dollars to create its world-class cloud infrastructure and ensure the most secure cloud service available. The cloud solution also offers potential integration with familiar Microsoft Office 365 productivity tools, including Outlook and Excel, at a low cost of ownership and maintenance. "Member organizations like the Minnesota Chamber need a management solution that's easy to use, mobile, flexible and effective for reaching various audiences," said John O'Donnell, Dynamics CRM Online Partner Recruit / BDM at Microsoft. "Engage fulfills all of these requirements and then some, and is backed by BroadPoint's deep understanding of the unique requirements of membership organizations." About the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is the state's largest and premier business organization, representing more than 2,300 businesses of all types and sizes across Minnesota. It provides a variety of member services to address evolving business needs. As part of its mission, the Chamber proactively leads the business community statewide to advance pro-business, responsible Minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the economy. www.mnchamber.com About BroadPoint

Since 2001, BroadPoint has helped hundreds of membership and not-for-profit organizations increase member engagement, elevate financial performance and gain mission-critical intelligence. We offer integrated AMS, CRM, ERP and business intelligence solutions, in the cloud or on-premise, powered by leading technology providers such as Microsoft, NetSuite and Advanced Solutions International (ASI). Headquartered just outside Washington, DC, BroadPoint serves over 400 clients across the United States. www.broadpoint.net Contact: Steven LaGow, Email, 301-634-2478 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minnesota-chamber-of-commerce-switches-to-broadpoint-engage-to-power-its-pro-business-mission-300267482.html SOURCE BroadPoint

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YP's Local Breakthrough Summit is a free event for local business owners and will focus on breaking through common barriers to small business growth with innovation, technology and expertise in digital marketing. A variety of speakers will present the latest insights around mobile, display, social and search as well as other topics relevant to small business owners. Register here .

Only 46% of local New York businesses have websites that are search optimized, even though 75% of consumers use search engines to gather information on products and services, according to research by BuzzBoard on behalf of YP.

ABOUT YP
[May 12, 2016] TriLinc Global Impact Fund Approves EFA Group as Sub-Advisor, and Expands Its Capability for Market-based Impact Investments in Southeast Asia

TriLinc Global Impact Fund ("TriLinc") announced that it has approved a new Investment Manager, Eurofin Investments Pte. Ltd. and its affiliate, EFA RET Management Pte Ltd. (together "EFA Group"), to act as a sub-advisor on term loan investment opportunities in Southeast Asia. TriLinc is an impact investing fund that provides growth-stage loans and trade finance to established small and medium enterprises ("SMEs") in developing economies where access to affordable capital is significantly limited. Impact Investing is defined as investing with the specific objective of achieving a competitive financial return as well as creating positive, measurable impact in communities across the globe. TriLinc complements its global macroeconomic portfolio optimization and management with investment services from experienced sub-advisors that have solid track records in target asset classes and geographies, and ample access to high-quality investment pipeline. EFA Group is a Southeast Asia-headquartered asset manager that specializes in term loan and trade finance strategies, respectively, through its affiliated firms. Since inception in 2003, EFA Group has deployed over $5.4 billion in trade finance and term loan transactions globally, including over $107 million in term loan transactions in TriLinc's target geographies of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in London, Geneva, Istanbul, and Dubai, EFA Group is a signatory to the United Nations-support Principles for Responsible Investment and is managed by an experienced team of investment professionals with in-depth market knowledge and extensive in-country networks. EFA Group's term loan strategy leverages robust track records, credit histories, and relationships with borrowers from its trade finance portfolio. The synergy between the affiliated firms' capitalizes on proprietary information and market intelligence, enabling EFA Group to execute structured senior secured mid-term loans to middle-market enterprises operating along the region's real economy value chains. Through its complementary lending strategies, EFA Group structures term loan products with strong cllateral packages that include hard assets as well as service contracts, inventory, and share pledges.



The execution of EFA Group's term loan strategy is led by the firm's principals who have over 50 years of combined experience in lending strategies throughout the region, including past tenures at Rabobank Singapore, Noble Trade Finance Limited, FINCO Asia, PwC, and Calyon CIB. EFA Group's investment activities are supported by a global network of more than 50 employees who provide strategic deal origination, credit underwriting, asset management, operations, and financial administration expertise. EFA Group's experienced team and extensive track record of facilitating timely and flexible financing to growth-stage enterprises in the region is deepened by a diverse investor base, including top-tier pension funds, insurance companies, fund of funds, and family offices. "Partnering with EFA Group represents an exciting opportunity for TriLinc to expand its term loan capabilities in Southeast Asia and take advantage of the impact opportunities we have observed in the region," said Gloria Nelund, TriLinc's CEO. "EFA Group's deep market knowledge, in-country networks, and longstanding borrower relationships provides a platform for TriLinc to continue delivering risk-adjusted returns to our investor base while supplying a critical source of capital to the region's growing SME segment."

Francois Dotta, Chief Executive Officer and Partner of EFA Group, stated: "We are excited about partnering with TriLinc and its Southeast Asia term loan strategy as we have witnessed a growing unmet demand for mid-term growth-stage capital throughout the region. Furthermore, we are highly motivated by TriLinc's financial and non-financial mandate and see this partnership as a unique opportunity to align our own philosophy of generating competitive returns from investments in businesses that are both financially sustainable and socially responsible with that of TriLinc's impact thesis." About TriLinc Global Impact Fund TriLinc is a non-traded, externally managed, limited liability company that makes impact investments in SMEs in developing economies that provide the opportunity to achieve both competitive financial returns and positive measurable impact. TriLinc invests in SMEs through experienced local market sub-advisors, and expects to create a diversified portfolio of financial assets consisting primarily of collateralized private debt instruments. TriLinc's investment objectives are to generate current income, capital preservation and modest capital appreciation. In addition, the Company aggregates and analyzes social, economic, and environmental impact data to track progress and measure success against stated objectives. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will" and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions and forecasts of future results. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006458/en/

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[May 12, 2016] TSP Expands Footprint in North America with Industrial Automation Contracts

TSP (Technology Service Professionals), a leading provider of information technology services to Fortune 500 companies, has secured four new customer contracts and has expanded its scope with five existing customers, contributing to the growth of TSP's geographic footprint in North America. TSP's Industrial Automation Solutions focuses on Quality Control Systems (QCS) where engineers maintain and optimize the systems that control the process in production entities, such as paper mills and rubber manufacturers. TSP's field engineers monitor the equipment and manage the QCS environment, ensuring top-quality production, increasing productivity and profitability, and ultimately ensuring customer production specifications are adhered to. "Our customers appreciate that we don't come in with an agenda or rules around the specific equipment that we can service - unlike most original equipment manufacturers, who often handle service. Companies bring us on board because we are capable, flexible and vendor agnostic," said Bill Weiss, Director of Sales Operations for Industrial Automation Solutions at TSP. "Positive word of mouth and two key acquisitions in the industrial automation service industry have really helped us expand our customer base." New IAS Customer Contracts Include: Two full-time field engineers in Riegelwood, NC

One full-time field engineer in Coosa Pines, AL

One full-time field engineer in St. Helens, OR

One full-time field engineer in Port Angeles, WA



Expanded Scope with Existing IAS Customers Include: Second full-time field engineer (increasing from one full-time) with expanded scope of services in Danville, VA

Additional time added to existing contract in Delaware Water Gap, PA

Entry-level position added to current team of three field engineers in Mosinee, WI

One field engineer added to current team of two and scope of services expanded in Georgetown, SC

Contract increased from part-time to full-time with an expanded scope of services in Fitchburg, MA "Over the last year, we have put a concerted effort into expanding our Industrial Automation Solutions service business. These new and expanded IAS contracts are proof that our emphasis on this side of the business has led to growth," said Frank Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO, TSP. "We appreciate customers like Nippon, Goodyear, and WestRock, who value our services and choose to grow with us as we grow."

TSP's further involvement in Industrial Automation Solutions this year will include attendance to TAPPI's upcoming PaperCon May 15-18 in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Duke Energy (News - Alert) Center. At PaperCon, TSP will be showcasing their service capabilities. Many of their industrial automation customers will also be there, along with a number of other industrial automation companies and service providers. TSP representatives will be available at booth #642 to speak with prospective customers and members of the media. About TSP (Technology Service Professionals) TSP (Technology Service Professionals) is a privately held information technology services company founded in 2002 by Rick Skaggs and Frank Gonzalez. The business provides top-tier services in enterprise solutions, shared solutions, and industrial automation. The Certified Minority Owned Business has more than 600 employees, and its service area includes more than 35 U.S. states as well as Canada. The company's client portfolio includes Texas Instruments (News - Alert), International Paper, Hewlett-Packard, Goodyear, Georgia-Pacific, Dell, Raytheon, 3M, Hitachi, NetApp, Lockheed Martin, IBM, and Neiman Marcus. To learn more, visit http://mytsp.net. Subscribe to our Blog Check out our Social Center View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006055/en/

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[May 12, 2016] USANA Health Sciences' China Subsidiary, BabyCare Ltd., Receives Approval for Eight Additional Direct Selling Licenses in Mainland China

USANA Health Sciences Inc. (NYSE: USNA), a global nutritional company, announced today that its China subsidiary, BabyCare Ltd., received approval from the Ministry of Commerce People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) to expand direct selling activities in eight additional provinces/municipalities within China. The provinces/municipalities are Liaoning Province, Shandong Province, Shanxi Province, Sichuan Province, Guangdong Province, Dalian City, Qingdao City, and Shenzhen City. These additional licenses add to BabyCare's existing direct selling licenses in the municipalities/provinces of Beijing, Jiangsu, Shanxi and Tianjin. "We are pleased to have received these additional licenses in China, where we ontinue to expand the reach of our world-class products," said Co-CEO Dave Wentz. "We remain committed to working with the Chinese government as we continue growing our business in this promising market."



For more information about USANA's products and company, visit USANA.com. About USANA

USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy foods and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Belgium, Colombia and Indonesia. More information on USANA can be found at http://www.usanahealthsciences.com. Safe Harbor This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including global economic conditions generally, reliance upon our network of independent Associates, the governmental regulation of our products, manufacturing and marketing risks, adverse publicity risks, and risks associated with our international expansion. The contents of this release should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors, warnings, and cautionary statements that are contained in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006300/en/

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[May 11, 2016] Cloud/Mobile Backend as a Service Market by Service Type - Global Forecast to 2020

LONDON, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "The increasing adoption of smartphones is a major factor driving the growth of the Backend as a Service (BaaS) market"

The market size is estimated to grow from USD 1.32 billion in 2015 to USD 28.10 billion by 2020, at an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 84.2%. The BaaS market is driven by factors such as increased adoption of cloud-based applications and smart phones, and demand for rapid deployment and development. "Data and application integration service segment to gain maximum traction during the forecast period"

The data integration service type comprises enterprise integration services, data and file storage, and SaaS integrations. The data is stored on cloud in an encrypted form for security concerns. This service type enables the IT staff to connect the enterprise systems through single data and identity microservices. The data integration services type also manages the data as it includes hosting services where users can store, alter, update, delete, and upload any type of content. The key players offering data integration services types are Applicasa, AnyPresence, CloudMine, and others.



"Support, training, and maintenance services to have high growth rate during the forecast period"

Online support, live chat, other real-time support options, and community portals are established where clients can exchange ideas with people of other organizations. Support, training and maintenance services segment provides customer-support abilities to the industry verticals in case of security threats and privacy breaches. Companies actively provide online training resources such as user guides, blog articles, white papers, video instructions, and forums to their clients.



"Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow at a high CAGR among regions during the forecast period"

APAC is an emerging market and is exected to grow at the highest CAGR in the regional segment during the forecast period. This is due to the tremendous opportunities that exist in the APAC countries such as China, Japan, Australia, and others. North America is expected to have the largest market share compared with other regions across the globe. One of the factors contributing to the growth of the market in North America is the presence of major BaaS companies in the region.



In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and sub-segments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key people. Break-up of profile of primary participants is as follows:



- By Company Type: Tier 1 (45%), Tier 2 (35%) and Tier 3 (20%)

- By Designation: C-level (35%), Director level (25%) and other executives (40%)

- By Region: North America (45%), Europe (30%), Asia-Pacific (APAC) (20%), and RoW (5%).





The growth of mobile applications and increase in mobile game developers, and high adoption rate in the SMEs offers BaaS vendors tremendous opportunites in the next five years. As this model provides optimum usage of resources, the SMEs are utilizing its benefits as they only have to pay for the services procured. Moreover, due to the lack of advanced IT skills and infrastructure among SMEs, they prefer to adopt pay-as-you-go pricing model for reducing costs.



The major BaaS companies profiled in the report are as follows:



1. Microsoft

2. IBM

3. Oracle

4. Kony

5. Kinvey

6. CloudMine

7. Built.IO Backend

8. AnyPresence

9. Appcelerator

10. KII Corporation The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in the BaaS market in the following ways:

1. This report segments the BaaS market comprehensively and provides the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the sub-segments across different end users 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 new product launches, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3623799/



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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cloudmobile-backend-as-a-service-market-by-service-type---global-forecast-to-2020-300267338.html SOURCE ReportBuyer

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[May 12, 2016] New One-stop Guide Service "LIVE JAPAN PERFECT GUIDE TOKYO" Launched for Foreign Visitors

TOKYO, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gurunavi, Inc., Tokyu Corporation and Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. have launched "LIVE JAPAN PERFECT GUIDE TOKYO" (LIVE JAPAN, http://livejapan.com/ ), a one-stop travel guide service for overseas visitors to Japan created in collaboration with 18 other participating companies and a public-sector administrative body.



There are many multilingual travel information services for foreign visitors to Japan, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for tourists to select the right websites. In response, the 21 private and public entities supporting LIVE JAPAN (http://livejapan.com/en/about/ ) have taken advantage of their expertise

to provide information that meets the needs of foreign visitors. The website provides information in eight languages -- Japanese, English, simplified & traditional Chinese, Korean, Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai (some content is subject to limited availabilty in some languages).







(Documentation 1:

http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M101922/201605060399/_prw_OI1fl_JipjoO9d.JPG )





The details of the service are as follows:





-- Facilities Guide Service: find out what's going on in Tokyo right now in four categories: "Visiting," "Eating," "Shopping" and "Lodging." In addition to providing brief descriptions of each establishment with contact and location information, you can click on a link to share the information at social networking sites. The biggest distinctive feature is the "LIVE INFORMATION" function, providing real-time information that enables users to enjoy what's happening in Tokyo right now.



For details, see (Documentation 2:

http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M101922/201605060399/_prw_OI2fl_gR9FCwX0.JPG )





-- Useful Services addressing visitors' problems and needs: Divided into three categories, these services were developed to meet the most essential needs of foreign visitors: 1) a Useful Travel Map that visitors can use to search for 19 types of highly essential locations, such as ATMs, Wi-Fi hot spots, etc., 2)

route search, airport bus and other transportation guide content, and 3) an Emergency Page featuring the 110 police and 119 fire/medical emergency numbers, embassy contact information, etc. The banner linking to "Safety Tips," an app for disaster information provided by the Japan Tourism Agency, is also on the page. (For details, see http://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/pc/index.html )



-- Information Content comprises 1) features on how to enjoy staying in Tokyo and seasonal trends, 2) an introduction of Japanese culture, such as how to offer prayers at Shinto shrines, and 3) how-to instructions for using trains, paying at restaurants, etc.



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[May 12, 2016] SY Lau Urges Resilient Leadership in the Age of the Digital Economy

SINGAPORE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SY Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and President of its Online Media Group (OMG), delivered a speech and facilitated discussions today at the Singapore Business Leaders Programme (SBLP), under the topic of "Leadership in the Era of the Digital Economy." He said that powered by more quantum leap innovations, the algorithm economy will ultimately further unleash the power of the digital economy. He pointed out the impact of disruptive technology on business, and emphasized that developing the right leadership is critical for businesses to succeed in Asia. Organised by the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI), Singapore's leadership think tank, SBLP is an exclusive programme for a select class of business leaders from all over the world. The program is dedicated to deepening the understanding of leadership and human capital issues for a new and globalising Asia. In SY Lau's view, the knowledge-based, Internet-powered digital economy is always transformative, and sometimes disruptive. SY Lau believes that the leadership experience and knowledge that he has accumulated can provide business leaders with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities they face. He elaborated on three areas in paticular: how disruptions are attacking, why customer centricity fuels innovation and how resilient leadership can help businesses adapt and transform in the face of disruption.



"Today, speed is everything. Speed-to-market has become a mantra of the new technology companies. Playing the waiting game with disruptors is risky. "Great companies always have a way to know in advance if their business model and product ideas are at risk of being disrupted. Data analytics are important to track business health and consumer behavior metrics. At Tencent, we look at our product performance metric every day, not quarterly, not annually," said SY Lau. "To defeat the disrupter, the best strategy is to concentrate on customer experience and value," said SY Lau. A McKinsey report on what Asian consumers want in a banking service indicates they expect more value, more control and more choice. This is especially true for generation Z (those born post -90s). The desire of these young people for immediacy and innovation allows for zero tolerance of any product or service that does not recognise their needs first and foremost. Simply put, business leaders must create a culture that is forward looking, that responds to customer demands quickly, and that can rapidly adopt new technologies as they evolve.

SY Lau suggested that business leaders take the following steps to ensure resiliency and to better navigate the organization through a dynamic and complex business environment: First of all, always create customer value. Only when you put the value to the customer first will commercial value be amplified. Secondly, adopt a mindset that blends technology and economics. Use technology as a solution to eliminate redundant processes and intermediaries, directly linking supply to demand, and vice versa. Thirdly, always be open to change and competition. Focus on what your own company does best and gain access to innovation that can support or expand your organization's core market by establishing partnerships. In closing, SY Lau emphasized: "Don't fear disruption - it is here to stay." The leadership, at the top, he said, must embrace and drive change, and get the organization to adapt rapidly enough, framing change positively, and painting a picture of the future. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366858 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sy-lau-urges-resilient-leadership-in-the-age-of-the-digital-economy-300267581.html SOURCE Tencent

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[May 12, 2016] Evolve IP to Receive Majority Investment from Great Hill Partners to Drive Growth and Expansion

WAYNE, Pa., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolve IP, The Cloud Services Company, today announced that it will receive a majority investment from Great Hill Partners, a leading middle-market growth-oriented private equity firm, providing growth capital and significant additional funds for strategic acquisitions. Evolve IP will use the capital to accelerate its growth plans, including increasing its product offerings, growing its geographic footprint and expanding headcount across all areas, while continuing to provide its customers and partners with solutions that are fast, efficient, cost-effective and secure. Evolve IP will also use this investment to expand and enhance its national distribution channels, including Value Added Resellers, Direct Market Resellers and Master Channel Partners. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Since launching in 2007, Evolve IP has been one of the nation's fastest growing cloud services companies. Its industry-leading solutions are designed to provide organizations with a unified option for cloud services, including: virtual servers, disaster recovery, IP telephony, unified communications (Internet, phone and data) and contact centers. The Company's services are currently deployed in four continents and 15 countries, to more than 1,300 commercial business accounts with more than 100,000 users, licensed seats and managed end points. In contrast to the legacy, on-premise model in which an organization continually needs to re-invest in its own infrastructure, Evolve IP efficiently migrates organizations to the cloud  freeing up IT resources, eliminating capital expenditures and lowering total cost of ownership. Evolve IP's continuous innovation, breadth of services and commitment to customer service has resulted in a consistent track record of growth. Evolve IP has been recognized by industry experts for its best-in-class offerings, innovation, customer satisfaction and track record of growth. Recent accolades include: named to Deloitte's 2015 Technology Fast 500 as one of the fastest growing technology companies in North America; named one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America" by Entrepreneur360; named 2015 Inc. 5000 and 2012 Inc. 500 Honoree; and named to "Philly's Coolest Companies 2015" by BizPhilly. In addition, the Company is a leader among cloud service providers with The Compliance Cloud -- providing compliance for government (ITAR) / FedRAMP and healthcare (HIPAA) -- and featuring vendor certifications, including: Cisco CMSP Master certifications for IaaS, DRaaS and DaaS; SSAE 16 (SOC II); EMC CSP; VMware VSPP with IaaS and DaaS badges; Microsoft CSP, Mobility and SCA; and Polycom's Platinum Provider Program. "Since our founding, Evolve IP has grown into a top-tier cloud servics provider that has brought more than 100,000 users into the cloud," said Thomas J. Gravina, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Evolve IP. "With this investment, we will have the opportunity to accelerate our growth, organically and via acquisitions, much more quickly than we could have as a closely held company. Our priorities will be to provide new and existing customers with a wider range of cloud-based solutions, services and functionality to enable them to meet their business goals effectively and affordably. We will also invest in our growth by expanding into new markets and verticals and enhancing our capabilities across functional departments, including sales, marketing, engineering and support. This is an exciting moment for Evolve IP, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our associates."



"Today's announcement marks a major milestone on our journey as we build Evolve IP into a global cloud services leader," said Michael A. Peterson, Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Evolve IP. "Evolve IP started with the development of an idea, and grew into an industry-leading cloud services provider. Evolve begins its next chapter with a significant investment from Great Hill Partners, which is well-aligned with our vision, has a deep understanding of our business and industry, and appreciates and respects our culture. With this transaction, Evolve IP will have the resources available to take the Company to a new level, enabling us to scale the enterprise significantly through both organic growth and substantial acquisition capital. We look forward to working with Great Hill to compound the initial success of Evolve IP to take full advantage of the cloud communications opportunity." Since its inception, Great Hill Partners has been committed to providing private equity to finance the expansion, recapitalization or acquisition of growth companies in a wide range of sectors including software, financial and healthcare technology, digital media, eCommerce and internet infrastructure. Based in Boston, MA and with more than 50 portfolio companies and 100 consolidating acquisitions, Great Hill Partners' team of private equity experts has a proven track record of guiding middle-market companies toward their growth and success targets.

"Just a decade ago, 'the cloud' was a nascent industry, but it has now grown to become one of the fastest growing technology sectors. Organizations around the world are making the transition to the cloud at an ever increasing rate, and the support and services provided by Evolve IP make it a clear leader in the space," said Christopher S. Gaffney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Great Hill Partners. "Tom, Michael and the entire Evolve IP team have helped to shape the rapidly evolving cloud services industry with a proven business model, best-in-breed customer service, and commitment to innovation. We are excited to work closely with the team as they continue to expand their capabilities and suite of cloud services through organic growth. In addition, we have reserved and arranged more than $100 million of additional equity and debt capital for a substantial acquisition strategy, to leverage Evolve IP's leading position in the industry." PJT Partners served as financial advisor and Cozen O'Connor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisors to Evolve IP. Choate Hall & Stewart served as legal advisor to Great Hill Partners. About Evolve IP

Evolve IP is The Cloud Services Company. Designed from the beginning to provide organizations with a unified option for cloud services, Evolve IP enables decision-makers to migrate all or select IT technologies to its award-winning cloud platform. Evolve IP's combination of security, stability, scalability, and lower total cost of ownership is fundamentally superior to outdated legacy systems and other cloud offerings. Today the company's services, including virtual servers, virtual desktops, disaster recovery, unified communications, contact centers and more are deployed globally by more than 100,000 corporate users. Visit www.EvolveIP.net for more information. About Great Hill Partners

Great Hill Partners is a private equity firm that has raised $3.8 billion to finance the expansion, recapitalization, or acquisition of companies in a wide range of sectors in business-to-business and business-to-consumer industries including software, financial and healthcare technology, digital media, eCommerce, and internet infrastructure. Great Hill targets investments of $25 million to $150 million. For more information, please visit www.greathillpartners.com. Contacts

Joele Frank Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Jonathan Keehner / Ed Trissel / Mahmoud Siddig

212-355-4449 Evolve IP

Don Mennig

610-964-8000 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evolve-ip-to-receive-majority-investment-from-great-hill-partners-to-drive-growth-and-expansion-300267504.html SOURCE Evolve IP

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The site of the landslide in Taining, Fujian Province. Officials warned that there could be more such disasters in the area due to heavy downpour. (Photo : Twitter)

The Chinese national government has urged its local officials to prepare for more potential natural disasters, as the country is expected to experience more rains with the peak of the flood season.



According to the Ministry of Land Resources (MLR), the country faces more risks of geological disasters during the current rainy season. The ministry then called on local governments to improve their risk assessment, particularly in places like construction sites, tourists spots and migrant worker communities.



Advertisement

The MLR made the call on Sunday, following a landslide that occurred at a construction site in Taining, Fujian Province, the Global Times reported.



Personnel from Taining's local fire department have already recovered 22 bodies from the site and have managed to find two people alive. A total of 14 people sustained injuries, three of which are sustained severe injuries. All are being treated at the Taining People's Hospital.



The MLR has already raised the emergency response management operations to level two, the second highest level, and sent experts to determine the cause of the disaster and assess other potential hazards.



The landslide was reportedly brought about by heavy downpour that started on Saturday which deposited 18 centimeters of rain in just 24 hours.



In an advisory, the National Meteorological Center said that heavy downpour is still expected not only in Fujian, but also in Jiangxi Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and urged residents to take the necessary precautions, CCTV reported.



According to China Earthquake Administration researcher Gao Jianguo, the number of geological disasters caused by frequent extreme weather has been exacerbated by increasing construction activity in disaster-prone regions. He also said that China's current geological hazard prevention map is lacking, as it only shows places where disasters have already happened.



To remedy the problem, the government needs to conduct a thorough survey to determine places with potential geological hazards, the researcher added.


[May 12, 2016] Intelsat Announces Tender Offers for Certain Notes of Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A.

Intelsat (News - Alert) S.A., the world's leading provider of satellite services today announced that its subsidiary, Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A. ("Intelsat Jackson"), is commencing a tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase its 6 ?% Senior Notes due 2022 (CUSIP No. 45824TAM7) (the "2022 Notes"), 5 % Senior Notes due 2023 (CUSIP No. 45824TAP0) (the "2023 Notes") and 7 % Senior Notes due 2021 (CUSIP No. 45824TAG0) (the "2021 Notes" and, together with the 2022 Notes and the 2023 Notes, the "Securities") for up to $625,000,000 in aggregate cash consideration (excluding accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities and excluding fees and expenses related to the Tender Offers) (the "Maximum Payment Amount"). The Company's obligation to accept and pay for Securities in the Tender Offers is subject to satisfaction or waiver of the Financing Condition (as defined below) and the other general conditions prior to the expiration date. The Tender Offers are scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on June 9, 2016 (the "Expiration Date"), unless extended or earlier terminated by Intelsat Jackson. The Tender Offers are being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase dated May 12, 2016 and a related Letter of Transmittal dated May 12, 2016 (together, the "Tender Offer Materials"), which set forth a more detailed description of the Tender Offers. Holders of the Securities are urged to carefully read the Tender Offer Materials before making any decision with respect to the Tender Offers. The aggregate consideration to be paid for the purchase of the Securities pursuant to the Tender Offers is up to the Maximum Payment Amount. The principal amount of any series of Securities that is purchased in a Tender Offer will be based on the acceptance priority level for such series, as set forth in the table below (the "Acceptance Priority Level"). As discussed in more detail in the Tender Offer Materials, Intelsat Jackson reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase or decrease the Maximum Payment Amount, at any time, subject to compliance with applicable law. The following table sets forth certain terms of the Tender Offers:







Dollars per $1,000 Principal

Amount of Securities Title of Security CUSIP

Number Principal

Amount

Outstanding Acceptance

Priority

Level Tender Offer

Consideration(1) Early

Tender

Premium Total

Consideration(1)

(2) 6 ?% Senior Notes due 2022 45824TAM7 $815,252,000(3) 1 $720.00 $20.00 $740.00 5  % Senior Notes due 2023 45824TAP0 $2,000,000,000 2 $710.00 $20.00 $730.00 7 % Senior Notes due 2021 45824TAG0 $1,150,000,000 3 $755.00 $20.00 $775.00

(1) Excludes accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date, which will be paid in addition to the Tender Offer Consideration or Total Consideration, as applicable.

(2) Includes the Early Tender Premium.

(3) Excludes approximately $460.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2022 Notes repurchased by the Company in 2016 and held in treasury, which Intelsat Jackson plans to submit for cancellation. The total consideration (the "Total Consideration") payable for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities validly tendered at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 25, 2016 (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Early Tender Date") and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offers will be the applicable total consideration for such series of Securities set forth in the table above. The Total Consideration includes the early tender premium for such series of Securities also set forth in the table above (the "Early Tender Premium"). Holders must validly tender and not subsequently validly withdraw their Securities at or prior to the Early Tender Date in order to be eligible to receive the Total Consideration for such Securities purchased in the Tender Offers. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offers, each Holder who validly tenders and does not subsequently validly withdraw their Securities at or prior to the Early Tender Date will be entitled to receive the Total Consideration, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date (as defined below) if and when such Securities are accepted for payment. Holders who validly tender their Securities after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date will be entitled to receive only the tender offer consideration equal to the applicable Total Consideration less the Early Tender Premium (the "Tender Offer Consideration"), plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date, if and when such Securities are accepted for payment. Intelsat Jackson reserves the right but is under no obligation, at any point following the Early Tender Date and before the Expiration Date, to accept for purchase any Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date (the date of such purchase, the "Early Settlement Date"). The Early Settlement Date will be determined at Intelsat Jackson's option and is currently expected to occur on the first business day following the Early Tender Date, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offers having been satisfied or waived by Intelsat Jackson. The expected Early Settlement Date is May 26, 2016, unless extended by Intelsat Jackson, assuming all conditions to the Tender Offers have been satisfied or waived by Intelsat Jackson. Irrespective of whether Intelsat Jackson chooses to exercise its option to have an Early Settlement Date, Intelsat Jackson will purchase any remaining Securities that have been validly tendered by the Expiration Date and that it chooses to accept for purchase, subject to the Maximum Payment Amount, the application of the Acceptance Priority Levels and all conditions to the Tender Offers having been satisfied or waived by Intelsat Jackson, on a date immediately following the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date" and each of the Early Settlement Date and Final Settlement Date, a "Settlement Date"). The Final Settlement Date is expected to occur on the first business day following the Expiration Date, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offers having been satisfied or waived by Intelsat Jackson. The expected Final Settlement Date is June 10, 2016, unless extended by Intelsat Jackson, assuming all conditions to the Tender Offers have been satisfied or waived by Intelsat Jackson. To receive either the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, holders of the Securities must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Securities prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, respectively. Securities tendered may be withdrawn from the Tender Offers at or prior to, but not after, 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 25, 2016, unless extended by Intelsat Jackson, by following the procedures described in the Tender Offer Materials. Subject to the Maximum Payment Amount, the application of the Acceptance Priority Levels and the other terms and conditions described in the Tender Offer Materials, including the Financing Condition (as defined below) and Intelsat Jackson's right to increase or decrease the Maximum Payment Amount, Intelsat Jackson intends to accept for payment all Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Date, and will only prorate the Securities if the aggregate consideration necessary to purchase the aggregate amount of Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, as applicable, exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount. The amounts of each series of Securities that are purchased in the Tender Offer will be determined in accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels set forth in the Offer to Purchase and referenced in the table above, with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 3 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level. At the applicable Settlement Date, all Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer having a higher (i.e., lower numerical) Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any tendered Securities having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offer. If the aggregate principal amount of any Securities of a series tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer exceeds the amount of the Maximum Payment Amount remaining available for application, then, if any Securities of such series are purchased, Intelsat Jackson will accept such Securities on a pro rata basis. In the event that Securities with a certain Acceptance Priority Level are accepted on such a pro rata basis, no series of Securities with a lower Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for payment. If the Tender Offers are not fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Date and we elect to have an Early Settlement Date, Holders who validly tender Securities after the Early Tender Date may be subject to proration, whereas Holders who validly tender Securities at or prior to the Early Tender Date will not be subject to proration. If the Tenders Offers are not fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Date and we elect to have an Early Settlement Date, Securities tendered at or before the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase in priority to other Securities tendered after the Early Tender Date, even if such Securities tendered after the Early Tender Date have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than Securites tendered prior to the Early Tender Date. In addition, if the aggregate consideration necessary to purchase the aggregate amount of Securities of all series validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount and we elect to have an Early Settlement Date, Holders who validly tender Securities after the Early Tender Date will not have any of their Securities accepted for payment. However, in the event we do not elect to have an Early Settlement Date and the aggregate consideration necessary to purchase the aggregate amount of Securities of all series validly tendered at or prior to the Final Settlement Date exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount, all Holders who validly tendered Securities will be subject to proration, subject to the application of the Acceptance Priority Levels. Securities which were not accepted for purchase due to the Maximum Payment Amount or the application of the Acceptance Priority Levels may be accepted if we increase the Maximum Payment Amount, which we are entitled to do at our sole discretion, and such increase is not fully met or exceeded by Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date (in the event we elect to have an Early Settlement Date) or by Securities purchased in a higher (i.e., lower numerical) Acceptance Priority Level. There can be no assurance that we will increase the Maximum Payment Amount. The obligation of Intelsat Jackson to accept for purchase and to pay either the Total Consideration or Tender Offer Consideration and the accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities pursuant to the Tender Offers is not subject to any minimum tender condition, but is subject to the Maximum Payment Amount, the application of the Acceptance Priority Levels and the satisfaction or waiver of the Financing Condition and certain other conditions described in the Tender Offer Materials. Intelsat Jackson's obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offers is subject to, and conditioned upon, having obtained debt financing (the "New Debt Financing") in a minimum aggregate principal amount that will generate sufficient proceeds, in addition to cash on hand, to purchase the tendered Securities, including payment of the Tender Offer Consideration or Total Consideration, as applicable, and any fees payable in connection with the Tender Offers, subsequent to the date hereof and on or prior to the Final Settlement Date, on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Intelsat Jackson (the "Financing Condition"). Intelsat Jackson's current intention is to satisfy the Financing Condition by issuing long-term senior secured debt securities but, subject to market conditions and at Intelsat Jackson's sole discretion, Intelsat Jackson may elect to enter into alternative debt financing. There can be no assurance any such New Debt Financing will be available, and thus no assurance that the Financing Condition will be satisfied. Intelsat Jackson has retained Guggenheim Securities, LLC to serve as Dealer Manager for the Tender Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation has been retained to serve as the Information and Depositary Agent for the Tender Offers. Questions regarding the Tender Offers may be directed to Guggenheim Securities, LLC at 330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Liability Management Group: Robert Ramirez, (212) 823-6688 (phone) or [email protected] (email). Requests for the Tender Offer Materials may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at 65 Broadway - Suite 404, New York, New York 10006, Attn: Corporate Actions, (212) 430-3774 (for banks and brokers) or (866) 470-4200 (for all others). Intelsat Jackson is making the Tender Offers only by, and pursuant to, the terms of the Tender Offer Materials. None of Intelsat Jackson, the Dealer Manager, the Information and Depositary Agent nor their respective affiliates make any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Securities. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender Securities and, if so, the principal amount of the Securities to tender. The Tender Offers are not being made to holders of Securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Tender Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Intelsat Jackson by one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase securities or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any new securities, including in connection with the New Debt Financing, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Capitalized terms used in this press release but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Tender Offer Materials. About Intelsat

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) operates the world's first Globalized Network, delivering high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services anywhere in the world. Intelsat's Globalized Network combines the world's largest satellite backbone with terrestrial infrastructure, managed services and an open, interoperable architecture to enable customers to drive revenue and reach through a new generation of network services. Thousands of organizations serving billions of people worldwide rely on Intelsat to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity, multi-format video broadcasting, secure satellite communications and seamless mobility services. The end result is an entirely new world, one that allows us to envision the impossible, connect without boundaries and transform the ways in which we live. Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement:

Statements in this news release, including statements regarding the Tender Offer and the New Debt Financing, constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. When used in this release, the words "may," "will," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "project," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "intend," "potential," "outlook," and "continue," and the negative of these terms, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Intelsat's control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known risks include, among others, market conditions and the risks described in Intelsat's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and risks and uncertainties related to our ability to consummate the New Debt Financing and the Tender Offers. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005657/en/

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[May 12, 2016] Samsung Galaxy TabPro S: The Best of a Tablet and a Laptop

Featuring Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, Samsung Canada introduces the Galaxy TabPro S, the two-in-one device that lets you enjoy both worlds MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Samsung Electronics Canada, one of the leading suppliers of mobile technology in Canada, announced today the Canadian availability of the Galaxy TabPro S, a two-in-one device designed for on-the-go consumers and business professionals seeking the productivity of a laptop with the ultra-portability of a tablet. The Galaxy TabPro S is the first in the Galaxy family of devices to run on the Windows 10 Pro operating system, offering a full-size ergonomic keyboard with trackpad along with a 12" Super AMOLED touch screen display that delivers an unparalleled mobile office experience. "Our world is more mobile than ever and there is a demand for a device that meets both the personal and business consumption needs of Canadians," said Paul Brannen, Senior Vice President Mobile, Samsung Electronics Canada. "Whether you're working, browsing, streaming or gaming, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S lets you do all those things, delivering excellent productivity and functionality within an ultra-portable, two-in-one design." The Galaxy TabPro S with Windows 10 Pro combines the convenience of a tablet with the high performance of a laptop to deliver the ultimate style, speed and power that can be easily adapted to the home and business environments for maximum efficiency and enjoyment. With a 12-inch Super AMOLED display, a long-lasting 10.5 hour battery*, Adaptive Fast-Charging* and a streamlined, compact tablet form factor, Tab Pro S provides true mobile business productivity. Windows 10 Pro offers innovative features such as Cortana, a personal digital assistant; Microsoft Edge, designed to deliver a better web experience; and streaming Xbox One game content to Windows PCs. "The Galaxy TabPro S is a Windows-based two-in-one, perfect for Canadians who want the functionality of a Windows 10 Pro device," said Jason Hermitage, General Manager, Microsoft Canada. "The Windows 10 Pro-based Galaxy TabPro S is a great companion for someone in the office, between meetings, or at home relaxing." About the Galaxy TabPro S: Super AMOLED display: The lightweight, power-efficient 12-inch AMOLED display allows users to work efficiently and enjoy entertainment with exceptional clarity and colour accuracy. The Galaxy TabPro S features a multi-touch screen and deep colour contrast to show true-to-life colours and precise details for an optimal viewing experience whether indoors or outdoors. Powerful PC Performance: Bringing PC performance to a tablet, the Galaxy TabPro S runs Windows 10 Pro from Microsoft. It combines an Intel Core m3 processor with 4 GB RAM + 128 GB solid state drive so you'll have the power to work and a faster, with a more reliable place to store your data. The fanless design features 4.5W of power consumption, reducing noise disruption and at 2.5 hours charging time, the innovative battery technology allows for up to 10.5 hours of work and play*. Productivity Where You Need it: Working from home and work and everywhere in between is now easy. The Galaxy TabPro S comes with a full-size, detachable keyboard and integrated touchpad, so you can do just about everything you need to do on your tablet, from polishing a presentation to writing an email. Slim. Sleek. Stylish: Thin and light, the Galaxy TabPro S is designed with the sleek lines you expect from Samsung. At .25 inches thin and weighing only 1.5 pounds, Galaxy TabPro S is designed to be easily carried around all day. Retail Availability The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S will be offered in black and available for pre-order beginning May 13th at Samsung Experience Stores and available at major retailers across Canada on May 25th. The device will retail for $1,399 CDN (MRSP) and the detachable keyboard is included in the price. For more information, visit: http://www.samsung.com/ca/tabpro-s/ Samsung Galaxy TabPro S Product Specification







Model Code SM-W703NZKAXAC Attribute Value

UPC Code 887276169064 Operating System Windows 10 Pro Processor CPU Speed 2.2GHz CPU Type Dual-Core Display Size (Main Display) 12.0" (303.7mm) Resolution (Main Display) 2160 x 1440 (FHD+) Technology (Main Display) Super AMOLED Colour Depth (Main Display) 16M C-Pen Optional Camera Video Recording Resolution FHD (1920 x 1080)@30fps Main Camera - Resolution CMOS 5.0 MP Front Camera - Resolution CMOS 5.0 MP Main Camera - Flash No Main Camera - Auto Focus Yes Memory RAM Size (GB) 4 GB Network/Bearer Multi-SIM N/A SIM size N/A Infra Wi-Fi Only Connectivity ANT+ No USB Version USB 3.1 Location Technology GPS, Glonass Earjack 3.5mm Stereo MHL No Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4G+5GHz, VHT80 MIMO Wi-Fi Direct Yes Bluetooth Version Bluetooth v4.1 NFC Yes Bluetooth Profiles A2DP,AVRCP,DI,DUN,HFP,HID,HOGP,OPP,PAN PC Sync. N/A General Information Form Factor Tablet Sensors Accelerometer, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor Physical specification Dimension (HxWxD, mm) 198.8 x 290.3 x 6.3 Weight (g) 693 Video Playback Time (Hours) Up to 10.5 Standard Battery Capacity (mAh) 5200 Removable No Audio and Video Video Playing Format MP4,WMV Video Playing Resolution UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@24fps Audio Playing Format MP3,M4A,AAC,WAV,WMA,FLAC Services and Applications Gear Support N/A S-Voice No Mobile TV No Colour BLACK

ROM Size (GB) 128GB

Expandable Memory N/A

*Recharge time and duration may vary according to individual usage patterns. This data was compiled from testing performed by Samsung under specific test conditions. Results may vary based on testing conditions. Based on laboratory testing. Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, and voice, data and other application-usage patterns About Samsung Electronics Canada

Samsung Electronics Canada inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances and printers. Samsung is a leader in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home initiatives. In 2015, Samsung was ranked one of the top 10 most influential brands in Canada, based on a study by Ipsos Reid. Committed to making a difference in communities across Canada, its Samsung Hope for Children corporate giving program supports children's education, sustainability and health-related issues. Globally, Samsung employs 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of $196 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com. Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada, on Twitter @SamsungCanada SOURCE Samsung Electronics Canada

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[May 12, 2016] Aegis Ashore Certified: Navy Base Protecting Southern Europe from Missile Threats

DEVESLU, Romania, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Aegis Ashore site in Europe, based on proven Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) technology, is now actively monitoring the skies of southern Europe for ballistic missile threats. The U.S. Navy is operationally certified the Aegis Ashore site at Deveslu Air Force Base in Romania. This officially fulfills Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, a plan to protect deployed U.S. forces and our European allies from ballistic missile attack. This milestone was marked during a ceremony on May 12 in Romania. The certification, comes at the same time as construction commences at the second European Aegis Ashore site, in Poland. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in Poland on May 13. "It's fitting that work on the Poland site begins just as Aegis Ashore's important mission in Romania officially commences," said Brendan Scanlon director, Lockheed Martin Aegis Ashore programs. "The lessons learned and incredible teamwork that brought the Aegis Combat System ashore will lead to even greater cost-savings and efficiencies for the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy and the sailors who protect the country and its allies."



Lockheed Martin received the contract for Aegis Ashore in Romania in 2010, which heavily leveraged the proven shipboard Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. The aggressive delivery timeline was achieved in 2015 thanks to the minimal development required to establish the on-shore system, innovations in modularity, and teamwork. The Corporation leveraged lessons learned from its more than 40 years of Aegis experience to fulfill the United States' desire to conduct new missions with existing capabilities. The central component of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis BMD Combat System is the SPY-1 radar; the most widely-fielded naval phased array radar in the world. The Aegis system and SPY-1 radar provide the U.S. and allied nations with advanced surveillance, anti-air warfare and missile defense capabilities.

Elements of the Poland Aegis Ashore Weapon System, including SPY arrays are currently under production by Lockheed Martin. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is expected this spring to award a contract for the installation and test of the Aegis Ashore system. As a proven world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans missile design and production, hit-to-kill capabilities, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, radar and signal processing, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/aegis/aegis-ashore.html. 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/20160512/366915

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aegis-ashore-certified-navy-base-protecting-southern-europe-from-missile-threats-300267671.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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[May 12, 2016] Patrick Lo to Lead Privacy Horizon as New CEO

Will drive new PHI FrameworkTM and the Virtual Privacy Officer offering TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Mark Kohler, and Privacy Horizon Inc. ("PHI" or the "Company"), an eHealth privacy services company, are pleased to announce that Patrick Lo has joined PHI to lead the Company as its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lo brings Privacy Horizon more than 20 years of experience in the field of information privacy and data security with designations as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada (CIPP/C). He has held several executive positions in the public and private sectors focused on the development and implementation of privacy and data security programs and is also a recognized industry leader in adoption of best practices in privacy within the healthcare sector. In his new role as the CEO of Privacy Horizon, Mr. Lo will be responsible for developing the Company's PHI Framework and strategic roadmap for providing privacy compliance expertise and practical solutions to early stage healthcare and fintech companies. Mr. Lo will lead the Company's multi-disciplinary team of technology, privacy and compliance experts to meet increasing governance and regulatory compliance demands from the healthcare sector. "We warmly welcome Patrick to the PHI team," said Mark Kohler, Chairman of Privacy Horizon Inc. "We are delighted that we have been able to recruit such a seasoned privacy executive who has a deep understanding of the complexites inherent in the privacy regulatory, healthcare and technological domains."



Brendan Seaton, Founder and Chief Creative Officer for Privacy Horizon stated "Patrick is a pragmatic privacy professional. He understands that a privacy program can be a competitive advantage for companies as well as an enabler for the development of disruptive technologies in healthcare." Most recently Mr. Lo was Senior Program Director for the Identity, Access and Privacy Portfolio at eHealth Ontario, where he was responsible for strategy and planning, product management and adoption of provincial identity management technologies designed to control access to personal health information. In a prior role Mr. Lo led the privacy office at eHealth Ontario, and built the Province's first "eHealth Privacy Centre of Excellence"  establishing eHealth Ontario as a leader in the development and implementation of privacy best practices.

As the founder of N2N Privacy Solutions Inc. Mr. Lo also consulted to numerous companies, creating and evaluating the privacy programs of many notable private and public sector organizations in Canada. "I am excited about the opportunity to lead this solid team at Privacy Horizon and transform conventional privacy practices through technological innovation," said Patrick Lo. "We are seeing a proliferation of technologies in healthcare including cloud, mobile, social media, the Internet of Things, wearables and medical devices. These apps and devices are poised to become the gateways into our health information infrastructures. With this comes privacy issues that need to be addressed. Privacy Horizon's products and services provide a cost effective and innovative way to address privacy issues and allow organizations to focus on designing and developing their core offerings for their customers."



About Privacy Horizon Privacy Horizon enables start-up, small and medium sized organizations to build privacy and security protocols and infrastructure faster, with greater compliance and adaptability. At a lower cost than developing traditional privacy strategies, PHI's clients are able to use a secure, cloud-based "Virtual Privacy Officer" to differentiate and more easily commercialize their products and services through a set of digital tools, including: Online Privacy Training Centre - A comprehensive privacy training solution offering training programs and tracking capabilities

- A comprehensive privacy training solution offering training programs and tracking capabilities Privacy Toolkit  Online tools to enable privacy officers to identify and manage privacy risk and implement a comprehensive privacy program

 Online tools to enable privacy officers to identify and manage privacy risk and implement a comprehensive privacy program Privacy Resource Centre  Online access to global privacy resources, including coaching and professional services as required. Privacy Horizon is backed by a team of nationally recognized privacy and security experts, with much of their experience and special expertise in healthcare and financial services. SOURCE Privacy Horizon Inc.

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[May 12, 2016]

Blended Perspectives Inc, an Atlassian Expert Partner, Awarded Platinum Status

TORONTO, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ -- Blended Perspectives Inc, an Atlassian Expert partner, is pleased to announce it has been awarded Platinum status. Blended Perspectives is the first Canadian company headquartered in Canada with Platinum status and one of a select few North American Platinum partners.

Platinum partners are an elite group of Experts that are experienced in the full Atlassian suite, and provide consulting, implementations and training services focused on maximizing customer value from Atlassian technology.

span >Susan Hauth, Toronto's Atlassian User Group leader and JIRA Queen, commented that, "This is wonderful for Blended Perspectives, who have consistently supported the local market in Toronto and their Canadian client base whilst providing excellent support for the user group."







Come visit Blended Perspectives at DevOps Days Toronto on May 26-27 at Glenn Gould Studios! Blended Perspectives is proud to support the event and is a Gold Sponsor. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.devopsdays.org/events/2016-toronto/

About Blended Perspectives

Blended Perspectives provides a full range of support for Atlassian products including Agile consulting, training and support. Additional offerings include Development Operations and knowledge management expertise to enable the full lifecycle for clients. Blended Perspectives supports a range of both large Corporate and smaller clients across a spectrum of industries including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Telecoms and IT sectors.

Contact Us

Local: +1-416-273-6883

Toll Free: +1-855-366-8444

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.blendedperspectives.com

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366952

SOURCE Blended Perspectives
[May 12, 2016] Hagerty Launches Online Destination For Customized Car Guy Merchandise

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty, the brand For People Who Love Cars, announced today the launch of an online store that will include unique and customized products for enthusiasts. As a company that believes in keeping the enjoyment of driving alive, all products will reflect the behind-the-wheel lifestyle. This includes custom designed clothing, accessories and household items. Products currently available include: A casual "Give Grease a Chance" T-shirt, a Black Microfiber Jacket featuring an automotive blueprint collar and custom accessories that are "not for casual car guys" such as automotive designed silk neckties, pocket squares and cufflinks. There will also be private label items such as car-themed notecards, glassware and coasters. "Shopping for automotive enthusiasts isn't always easy," said McKeel agerty, CEO of Hagerty. "We love cars and believe driving is important, which is why we created a line of products we hope reflects that passion and takes the stress out of finding gifts for the car enthusiasts in your life."



Additional items will be added to The Shop's inventory throughout the year with updates posted to Facebook and announced in the weekly Hagerty Classic Cars Newsletter, which automotive enthusiasts can sign up to receive for free. To view images of the available items and pricing in The Shop, visit the site at http://www.theshopbyhagerty.com/. About Hagerty:

Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty is the world's leading insurance provider for classic vehicles and host to the largest network of classic car owners. Hagerty offers insurance for classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and motorcycle safety equipment, tractors, automotive tools and spare parts and even "automobilia" (any historic or collectible item linked with motor vehicles). Hagerty also offers overseas shipping/touring insurance coverage, business coverage and club liability coverage. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com.

Hagerty also provides online Valuation Tools and publishes Hagerty Price Guide, which are the premier guides for post-war collectible automobiles. For more information please visit www.hagerty.com/valuationtools Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367051 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hagerty-launches-online-destination-for-customized-car-guy-merchandise-300267878.html SOURCE Hagerty

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[May 12, 2016]

General Dynamics to Provide Enterprise IT Services to U.S. Army Europe

FAIRFAX, Va., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Services Administration awarded the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) Theater Mission Command Contract II (TMCC II) to General Dynamics. The company will deliver Information Technology (IT) services for sustainment support in garrison and deployed locations of Mission Command Networks and Systems supporting USAREUR, Joint, Coalition, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations. The single-award task order was issued with a potential value of approximately $184 million for five years, if all options are exercised.

Under the contract, General Dynamics will provide USAREUR with enterprise IT support services to include IT service management, systems engineering, data protection, cross domain solutions and information exchange, and technical advisory services management. Work on this contract will take place in multiple locations across Germany, Italy and the Balkans.

"General Dynamics has extensive experience roviding mission support to defense intelligence agencies, with a particular emphasis on enterprise communications, cyber defense, systems accreditation and IT services," said Bernie Guerry, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's Intelligence Solutions division. "TMCC II will deliver mission-critical IT services to support the operational requirements of the USAREUR Warfighter and NATO coalition partners."







For more than 40 years, General Dynamics has been a trusted partner for the Department of Defense, providing global support to the U.S. Armed Forces. The company will continue to assist USAREUR's mission to improve the readiness U.S. Armed Forces operating in the European Theater.

This contract was awarded to General Dynamics One Source, a joint venture of two General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) business units: General Dynamics Information Technology and General Dynamics Mission Systems.

More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140428/81320

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-dynamics-to-provide-enterprise-it-services-to-us-army-europe-300267881.html

SOURCE General Dynamics
[May 12, 2016] zipLogix and CurbCall Partner to Offer CurbCall Protect Service

FRASER, Mich., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- zipLogix, a technology company helping real estate professionals improve productivity and efficiency, has announced CurbCall is joining its zipAlliance partnership program. CurbCall is a Boston, Mass.-based company dedicated to creating breakthrough technology for real estate agents. Click to Tweet! "We're extremely excited to partner with zipLogix. Our partnership helps get CurbCall Protect into more agents' hands faster, creating safer showings and keeping brokers connected to their agents with an accountable tracking tool," said CurbCall Chief Marketing Officer Mason Wiley. The CurbCall Protect service offers peace of mind on a mobile device. When an agent goes to a showing, they enter an emergency contact(s) whom will be notified via SMS text that a showing has begun. The SMS text message includes a link to a map showing the agent's precise location. Should an agent feel threatened, they can immediately notify their contact by using a large red "Panic" button in the CurbCall Protect app. Notiications also will be sent should an agent unexpectedly leave the "safety radius" of the showing.



"Helping our customers with technology has been zipLogix's mission since the company's inception. Our partnership with CurbCall strengthens this commitment to the real estate industry, helping our customers stay connected to coworkers or loved ones to help keep them safe," said zipLogix Chairman of the Board Mark Peterson. The partnership between zipLogix and CurbCall, will offer current zipLogix customers access to CurbCall Protect at an exclusive rate.

Click to Tweet! About CurbCall Curb Call Inc. is a new company headquartered in Boston that's dedicated to creating breakthrough technology for real estate agents. Co-founded by real estate entrepreneurs Stephanie Sullivan (CEO) and Seth Siegler (CTO) in 2015, the company currently offers two products-CurbCall Connect and CurbCall Protect. In addition to CurbCall Protect, CurbCall Connect is a new lead routing platform with the intelligence to instantly connect consumers with available agents, on demand, in real time that works across desktop and mobile devices. About zipLogix Fraser, Mich.-based zipLogix is a technology company created by, owned by and working for real estate professionals to improve productivity and efficiency industry wide. Its software automates and simplifies the repetitive and complex steps of real estate transactions, and is used by more than 650,000 real estate professionals across the country. View a full list of products here. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ziplogix-and-curbcall-partner-to-offer-curbcall-protect-service-300267931.html SOURCE zipLogix

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What you need to know about Powerball and the $610 million jackpot
Volunteer walks in honor of her husband Thousand Oaks resident Joan Hull will be among those participating in this years Conejo Valley Walk to End Alzheimers at 9 a.m. Sat., Oct. 22 at the Westlake Promenade. Hull...

Overpass could get protective fencing A substantial safety upgrade for the areas most notorious overpass is finally getting some Caltrans considerationbut dont expect changes any time soon. At the Sept. 21 Moorpark City Council meeting,...

Early detection is the best way to survive breast cancer Every October, we celebrate those men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. But what is breast cancer and how can it be diagnosed and managed? There are...
Several employees of a military hospital in Beijing were punished after the death of 21-year-old computer science student Wei Zexi. (Photo : Getty Images)

Several employees of the military hospital in Beijing that offered experimental cancer treatment to a college student who died of a rare cancer were punished, state media reported on Wednesday.



According to China Daily, 10 people from the Second Hospital of the Beijing Armed Police Corps have received harsh punishment for malpractice that led to the death of 21-year-old Wei Zexi, a computer science student at the Xidian University.



Advertisement

Two out of the 10 were reportedly leaders in the hospital who were dismissed from work, six others were given demerits, while the remaining two who held higher military positions had been given warnings for inadequate supervision.



The punishments came after the Beijing-based military hospital underwent a probe on Wei's case and was found to be guilty of malpractice and misleading medical advertisements.



Regulating Military Hospitals



Since news broke about Wei's death, the online advertising market was dragged into murky waters while military hospitals were also subjected to a number of criticisms on the misleading medical ad.



Reuters said that the hospital that handled Wei's case decided not to conduct the experimental cancer treatment for other patients starting on May 4.



"Due to the hospital undergoing education and rectification, we will from today temporarily suspend all external services," a statement from the hospital said.



According to China Daily, military hospitals are not regulated by state health authorities but are part of the health branches of the Central Military Commission and the country's Armed Police Force.



Because of this, military hospitals are not as transparent as other medical facilities due to loopholes in the overlapping rules on military establishments and government regulations.



In a statement, the People's Armed Police vowed to handle the issue "in accordance with the law."



"Problems that are discovered will be seriously investigated and handled in accordance with the law, and there will be no compromises," the law enforcement bureau said in a statement.



Unsatisfied Patients



Aside from Wei, there had been several other patients who claimed to have undergone the same experimental treatment with high hopes due to the misleading medical advertisement.



One of them, a 33-year-old housewife from the province of Shanxi, believes that the result of the investigation on the military hospital was inadequate as it has failed to mention whether or not patients who underwent the therapy would get to refund their money.



Talking to China Daily, she said she paid 28,000 yuan or about $4,300 for a faulty immunotherapy after she was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease known as the human papillomavirus infection.



"I think it (the statement) did not respond to our major concerns," said a man surnamed Chen whose mother underwent the same treatment for her cervical cancer.






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The VR Market is growing fast. In less than 6 months, Oculus and Samsung have taken a medium that didnt exist in the consumer market and turned it into a growing ecosystem of games and content with over 1 million monthly users.

Oculus revealed that over 1 million unique users logged in to Oculus Home on Gear VR in Apriland that doesnt take into account everyone they shared the HMD with. VR Games are the first thing many people think about when considering what VR would be used for, but Oculus said that the majority of its users are also consuming immersive video content. Seven of the top 10 apps for Gear VR are video content; nearly 80 percent of Gear VR users watch video content with the device. An audience of 800,000 potential viewers is a decent size for content creators, and there doesnt seem to be any shortage of videos coming.

360-Degree Content

Felix & Paul Studios debuted its 360-degree 3D-video reality series, Nomads, on the Oculus Home Gear VR marketplace. Nomads will be a recurring series about the lives of nomadic people from around the globe. The first three episodes are out today and cover yak herders from Mongolia, Maasai warriors from Kenya, and the Bajau people from Borneo. Oculus also revealed that Discovery Channels hit show Deadliest Catch will be making its virtual reality debut next week on the Discovery VR app.

If 360-degree video is that popular, it stands to reason that 360-degree photos would be a hit on Gear VR, too. Oculus said that its parent company, Facebook, will be launching native support for 360-degree panoramic photos in the coming weeks. If you have a Samsung phone, a View in VR button will be visible that lets you view the images with Gear VR.

New Interface

The Gear VR content library now includes over 250 games and experiences. The Oculus Home interface, on the other hand, hasnt been updated at all; it functions, but it's klunky. Oculus Home is not well suited for searching for the content in that you have in your library, and it's not much better for finding new content in the marketplace.

That appears to be changing. Oculus didnt go into specifics, but it said that in June, Oculus Home will get some much needed updates that aid in navigating through your content. Oculus will release the first part of the update this week. The Oculus mobile apps library has been redesigned, and the store will have a Whats New section.

Finding content on Oculus Home will soon be easier. Lets hope that the friends list will get some much needed updates soon, too.

Follow Kevin Carbotte @pumcypuhoy. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
BIGSOUND, the Southern Hemispheres premier music industry gathering, is coming back to celebrate its 15th anniversary this September and organisers have just unveiled their first lineup of speakers and buyers.

Topping this bill of respected and experienced music industry stakeholders is a keynote speech from Jaddan Comerford, wholl be travelling to Brisbane from his base in New York where he oversees the operations of UNIFIED.

A runner up for Music Business Worldwides Young Executive of 2015, Comerfords company has been instrumental in the rise of international superstars like Vance Joy and his address will outline his vision for the music business in 2016.

Meanwhile, Frenzal Rhomb guitarist and former triple j presenter Lindsay The Doctor McDougall will facilitate a keynote interview with AB Original, a partnership between Australian hip-hop favourites Trials and Briggs.

Check out the first lineup of industry speakers and buyers heading to BIGSOUND 2016 below, but remember, this is just a slice of the more than 100 industry professionals wholl be making their way to Brisbane this September.

Thats not to mention the 150 up-and-coming artists wholl be performing and trying to get the attention of some of the worlds most respected A&R people wholl be attending. Yes, BIGSOUNDs 15th year will be its biggest yet.

BIGSOUND tickets are now on sale with less than 30 early bird conference tickets from just $350 left. Make sure you grab yours before theyre sold out or before Sunday, 15th May. Meanwhile, artist applications are open until 22nd May, so hit up the BIGSOUND website to nominate.

BIGSOUND 2016

INDUSTRY SPEAKERS / BUYERS

Jaddan Comerford  UNIFIED (AUS)  Keynote

A.B. Original (Briggs & Trials) (AUS)  Keynote

Matt Ash  Raw Power Management (USA)

Alex Becket  Creative Artists Agency (USA)

Alex Bruford  ATC Live (UK)

Marcy Bulkely  Wild Card AV (USA)

Laura Byrne  Made In Katana / The Scouted (AUS) Jon Coombs  Secretly Publishing (USA)

Dana Erickson  Grandstand Media & Management (USA) Emmy Feldman  Canvasback (USA)

Jane Flynn  Songs For Children (Hong Kong) Sebastian Freed  The Bowery Presents (USA) Alastair Green  Maker (AUS)

Lawson Higgins  The Royalty Network, Inc (USA)

Zac Ives  Goner Records (USA)

Jeremy Maciak  Vagrant Records / BMG (USA) Lindsay McDougall (AUS)

Dean Ormston  APRA AMCOS (AUS)

Jim Pitt  Conan (USA)

Josh Roth  Superfly (USA)

Katie Rynne  Select Music (AUS)

Jon Salter  ATO Records (USA)

Jackie Shuman  Good Ear Music Supervision (USA) Chris Swanson  Secretly Group (USA)

Edwin Tehrani  New World Artists (AUS)

Taylor Testa  Universal Music Publishing Group (USA) Roman Trystram  Creative Artists Agency (UK) Marco Walzel  Avocado Booking (GER)

Tom Wironen  Post Hoc Management (USA)

Wednesday, 7th September  Friday, 9th September 2016

Fortitude Valley, Brisbane QLD

Tickets: BIGSOUND
Festival promoter Adrian Buckley has criticised triple j for the way the national youth broadcaster dispenses its marketing budget. Buckley says the station gives an inordinate amount of attention to commercial behemoths like Splendour In The Grass.

In an op-ed for Newcastle Live (via FasterLouder), Buckley, the promoter of events including the Wollombi Music Festival, Buckley says he is no triple j hater but has questions about the influence the station has on the wider music industry.

In particular, Buckley questions why a public station provides bankroll blanket promotion to a festival as big and successful as Splendour In The Grass, which he says returns massive profits back to the event owners.

Buckley explains that over the course of seven years running events, he has basically struggled to get any exposure for his events on triple j, even when hes tapped Unearthed winners and fairly prominent artists on jjj programming for the lineups.

The conundrum that is jjj presents is probably never so noticeable as when Splendour rolls into town, Buckley writes. To put it bluntly Splendour doesnt need the level of coverage they get, they pretty much sell out year after year, within a very comfortable time frame for the promoters.

Buckley argues that smaller events, such as his Wollombi Music Festival, rarely get the time of day and that perhaps some of [triple js] huge expenditure could be spread out along a larger base of events.

However, Buckley concedes that triple j has its own priorities, such as remaining competitive in a crowded marketplace, which he says means smaller events that dont hold their market or increase their market share are pretty much left to their own devices.

[include_post id=464460]

Buckley then quotes from an interview Byron Bay Bluesfest promoter Peter Noble did with FasterLouder, in which Noble likewise questioned why his event, among others, dont receive attention from triple j despite booking triple j-approved artists.

Noble had previously expressed such sentiments during an appearance at the Face The Music conference in Melbourne, saying, There are a number of events in Australia that are just based on triple j programming because they know theyre going to get a presents.

I say this with respect to Richard Kingsmill and people like that, theres a whole lot of events with triple j-friendly artists that youre programming and playing and it would be really nice if you could jump over their shadow and get behind them as well, rather than events that just do what you do, he added.
Anytime an Australian artist achieves a milestone in their careers, we reckon thats cause for celebration. We most recently decided this whole Vance Joy thing was just getting out of hand once he sold out every date on his Australian and North American tour.

Now, the boys in RUFUS (or RUFUS DU SOL as theyre known to our friends Stateside) have taken to their official Facebook page to reveal theyve just received Gold and Platinum certifications from ARIA in just one day. Not too shabby, eh?

According to the bands Facebook post, which shows the members of the band holding several very shiny-looking Gold and Platinum plaques, their massive single You Were Right just went Platinum and the album it originally appeared on, Bloom, has gone Gold.

For those wondering what all these precious metals actually mean, albums are certified Gold in Australia once they manage to move 35,000 units and singles are given a Platinum accreditation once 70,000 units go out the door.

The band, who are currently in the midst of a national tour, spoke to Tone Deaf about the making of Bloom back in January, explaining how the Sydney trio stowed away in Berlin to make the album following the success of their debut, Atlas.

We recorded the last album [2013s Atlas] on my parents farm south of Sydney, so this time I think we really needed to isolate ourselve from the Australian scene and just really hole ourselves up, keys and synth man Jon George told us.

It was great, we could really just think about nothing else  wed work till three or four oclock in the morning, then head out and find a Berlin club where wed hear something really new and exciting, then we could come back and just keep working.
At the time of writing, its 12:49pm on Thursday, 12th May and Gene Simmons is still an idiot. Well check back in an hour or so, but were pretty certain the KISS bassist will still be one musics biggest attention-loving tossers.

As some of you may recall, back in August 2014, Australian rock radio station Triple M banned the music of KISS after Simmons thought it would be sporting to tell depression sufferers Fuck you! kill yourself.

Simmons comments came shortly after the tragic death of actor and comedian Robin Williams. Simmons recently decided to show how disrespectful and all-round nasty he can be once again after labelling late pop icon Princes death pathetic.

Speaking to Newsweek, the rocker commented on the recent spate of celebrity musician deaths, saying, Bowie was the most tragic of all because it was real sickness. All the other ones were a choice.

Despite the fact that we still do not conclusively know what led to Princes death, Simmons opined that an addiction to drugs led to the icons demise, saying, [Princes] drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?

[include_post id=416315]

I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Dont kid yourself, thats what he did. Slowly, Ill grant you but thats what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.

As a result of this idiocy, Triple M have now lifted the ban on KISS music, only to reinstate it once again. We cant play any less KISS than we already do, so we are unbanning them just so we can ban them again, said Triple M Boss Mike Fitzpatrick.

I just wish Chad Kroeger would say something stupid so I can ban Nickleback, he joked. Whilst were so over the whole hating on Nickelback thing, the less Gene Simmons there is in the world the better. Even his bandmates are embarrassed.

Taking to Twitter, KISS frontman Paul Stanley apologised on behalf of Simmons (whos since apologised himself), writing, Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Princes death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies.
How many likes? The words face book wont appear anymore in canned vegetables, bottled drinks and bags of potato chips as Facebook wins a trademark case against a Chinese company. (Photo : Getty Images)

If Facebook has yet to win the approval of the powers that be in China to capture the countrys more than 700 million Internet users, it recently emerged victorious in a trademark case against a local food and drink manufacturing company.



The Beijing Municipal High Peoples Court ruled in April that Zhongshan Pearl River Beverage Co. Ltd. cannot use face book to label its products, according to the courts website.



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Based in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, Pearl River filed a trademark application at the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce on Jan. 24, 2011. The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board approved the application in 2014.



The company wanted to use the words face book on its various food (canned vegetables and potato chips) and beverage products (tea, juices and coffee).



Part of the Beijing courts verdict reads, If the applicant applies to register a large number of well-known trademarks from other companies, intending to gain benefits by hoarding and transferring the rights, such acts must be stopped, reported Shanghaiist.



Along with popular American sites Google, Instagram, Twitter, Vimeo and YouTube, China blocks access to Facebook.



Seen as an apparent attempt to woo the overly huge Chinese market, the recent actions of Mark Zuckerberg, the American co-founder, chairman and CEO of Facebook, made news and earned him both praises and criticisms.



In March, he jogged through Tiananmen Square and posted a picture of it on his Facebook account; attended the China Development Forum in Beijing; and discussed the future of Internet development with Liu Yunshan, a senior Communist Party of China leader, reported CNN.



Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the giant social networking website had 1.65 billion monthly active users for the first quarter of 2016, according to Statista, an online statistics company.



In 2004, then Harvard students Chris Hughes, Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin and Zuckerberg founded Facebook, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. It gained a market value of $102.4 billion in May 2012.



The court ruling might as well be an advance birthday gift for Zuckerberg who will turn 32 on May 14.


Teachable moment for Thursday afternoon . . . The recent spike in Kansas City homicides has the beleaguered and partially accredited school district lamenting a recent loss now ruled a homicide.Here's the word . . .The entire staff at Kansas City Public Schools, Southwest Early College Campus and the KCPS Early College Academy (ECA) wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Daizsa Bausby, a SWECC/ECA senior whose recent death has been ruled a homicide by investigating authorities.Ms. Bausby, who was 18 at the time of her death, was a talented, dedicated scholar who made a positive impact on the staff and students who were fortunate enough to know her. She excelled in her classes and was a leader in extra-curricular activities like cheerleading and the performing arts. She was a caring, committed family member and friend. As an ECA student, she was on track to graduate at the top of her class with both a high school diploma from SWECC and a two-year associates degree from Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley.Daizsa was a bright light in the ECA that was extinguished way too early, said ECA Coordinator Paula Schaaf. Our thoughts and well wishes continue to be with the family and those who loved her.She was an inspiration, said SWECC Principal Earl Williams. She was a mentor to all of our kids through the activities she was involved with, and as they move forward, they will remember her spirit and wisdom.Its impossible to measure the loss caused by a death like this, but its clear Ms. Bausby would have made a great impact on the world as she developed into a young adult. In the wake of Ms. Bausbys death, KCPS is providing support for the staff and students who knew her. We will focus on teaching our students to live in a way that honors her memory.#######
The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) on Thursday expressed its concern over the endurance of Greek tourism burdened with the huge load to support the Greek economy

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) on Thursday expressed its concern over the endurance of Greek tourism burdened with the huge load to support the Greek economy, Andreas Andreadis, president of SETE told its annual general assembly.

"Despite hard work and a very positive year in 2015, Greek tourism remains puzzled with the huge load burdened to support Greek economy," Andreadis stressed, adding that the government -under the pressure to complete a review of the Greek programme- was ready to increase costs on hotels, restaurants, alcohol drinks, museum tickets, burdening foreign visitors.

He also underlined that a government plan to impose an overnight fee on hotels, ranked in categories above two stars, would be a gravestone for business activity in tourism, adding that this could lead to a massive wave of hotel downgrade to lower categories.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
During a recent visit to Astoria, Kathimerini conducted a quick poll among Greek-American voters: Will they support Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton or her Republican rival Donald Trump?

Greek Americans are not a homogeneous group. One dividing line is between those who were born in Greece, who are usually keen to maintain ties to the homeland into old age, and those who were born in the United States, who are mostly immune to developments in the old country.

Astoria remains the heartland of the Greek-born members of the New York diaspora, although many have moved to Queens and Brooklyn. A lot of the property in the area which houses coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies and tyre fitting businesses is still owned by Greeks. During a recent visit to Astoria, Kathimerini conducted a quick poll among Greek-American voters: Will they support Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton or her Republican rival Donald Trump?

I am for Trump. He is a billionaire [and] he is a successful businessman, which is in stark contrast to the politicians we are used to, who are not fond of hard work, said Panayiotis Doukas, who has lived in America for more than 50 years.

Trump is not part of the establishment and has what it takes to purge the system of corruption, said Doukas, who has worked in the restaurant business.

His views are shared by Nikos Stergiou, with whom Doukas takes his morning coffee at the Artopolis bakery and cafe. A former sailor who moved to the US in 1967, Stergiou is also a veteran NY police officer. I have voting rights here. This is something I fought for. But I am not sure I will go to the ballot this time, he said.

I predict that Donald Trump will win this election because Americans want to turn their backs on the establishment, Stergiou said.

Assertive profile

Prompted by developments in Greece, many Greek Americans are drawn to Trumps assertive profile. Trump is a tough guy. I used to be a member of the Democratic Party, but my ideas have changed. I will vote for Trump because he does not want America to become a free-for-all and has set border security as a top priority. When we read here that migrants in Greece have occupied the railway tracks, stopping train traffic at Idomeni, it makes our blood boil, said Christos Skarlatos, originally from Thessaloniki.

Here in the US, the Greeks worked real hard, they respected the law and they won their place in society. So Trump and Trump only, he said.

According to surveys, Trumps voters are mostly white males angry at the current political system, while Clinton is popular with women and African American voters. Although they are irked with developments in Greece, Greek Americans plan to vent their frustration at the US ballot.

However, what will happen if the Republican candidate, who has in the past made outrageous comments about migrants, takes a hostile stance toward Greece? He has no reason to do so, said Giorgos Papadopoulos, who moved to Astoria five years ago to work as a cantor.

Besides, even Bush and Clinton, who were seen as friends [of Greece], did not always act accordingly, said Papadopoulos, who occasionally also works as a furrier so he can help out his children back in Greece.

I will vote Trump because women must look after their family, and not engage with politics, said Evlalia. Liquor store owner Irini Gounari begs to differ.

Listen, I am a member of the Democratic Party and I would really like to see a woman in the White House, in the way that black voters wanted to see a black president. However, the attacks that Trump has had to encounter from his own party have made me want to back him instead.

Costas Trahanidis has for years worked at a supermarket that sells Greek products. He thinks Trump is likely to win and so does Aris Papadakos, who recently opened a big grocery store in the neighborhood.

Rooting for Hillary

Is anyone rooting for Hillary? Few seemed to be that morning. One of them was Kyriakos Moutafopoulos, who runs a small grocery store, and who decades ago moved to America from Kurtulus (or Tatavla), then a predominantly Greek neighborhood in Istanbul.

I have always voted Democrat and I will now vote for Hillary, said Panayiota Pelegari, who runs a clothing repair shop. I believe in women because they are hardworking. I want Hillary to win.

This spontaneous, unscientific poll in Astoria does not give a 100 percent accurate depiction of its Greek-American population or the diaspora in general. But it is indicative of the way in which Greek Americans tend to see the US elections in light of developments in Greece.

Source: ekathimerini.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
It is true that Greece has been getting mostly negative publicity for numerous, successive years now, but most tourists that overcame this and decided to visit the country have been rewarded for their decision.

The refugee crisis has affected only very specific areas and you should not allow it to intoxicate you with its understandably negative vibes.

Terrorism is a very important threat but, unfortunately, it can hit anywhere, even in on innocent looking beach in the western Mediterranean, even in the heartland of Europe, even at an office, a grocery store, a restaurant or a theater anywhere, as recent events have proven.

If you let yourself get infected by its paranoia, you can literally feel threatened even inside your own house, even inside your own brain.

Thankfully, Greece has always been one of the safest countries in the world and it will most likely remain so this summer.

Refugee flows have virtually stopped and the countrys bailout review is very close to a happy ending, safeguarding us, thus, from the uncertainty we experienced last year.

The crisis also has its positive side effects for visitors. Prices are better, offers more abundant and tourist crowds less so.

In short, without any exaggeration or misleading advertising intent, those who decide to visit Greece this year will have an even better opportunity to enjoy its beauties, amazing beaches, crystal clear waters, fantastic weather, rich culture and history, traditional fun and hospitality.

It would really be a pity to lose all that.

All is well, that ends well Shakespeare wrote and any Greek who respects himself can lecture you on last minute bookings being as good as early ones, or even better, since they encourage spontaneity.

And even if you wonder if the price for five thousand years of history is the vice of finishing everything in the nick of time - sto para pente as the local expression goes  please, for your sake, do not let any of this keep you from enjoying the undeniably fabulous Greek summer.

Welcome!
European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, responsible for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said: Small companies in Greece are in great need of financing to grow their businesses and create jobs

The European Investment Fund (EIF) has signed three deals with Greek intermediary banks and funds to provide 150 million euros of additional investment to very small, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Greece, the European Commission announced on Tuesday.

The first agreement, with the Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, is backed by the EU's Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme and will cover a loan portfolio of five million euros for 300 micro-borrowers. It will target mainly farmers, young unemployed borrowers, cooperatives and social enterprises, as well as micro businesses active in the green economy.

The second deal, backed by the EU's COSME programme, is a 20-million-euro agreement with the Greek investment fund Diorama Investments - whose capital is management by Deca Investments - that is expected to trigger investments of more than 125 million euros for SMEs.

The third agreement is with InnovFin deal with the ProCredit group, which is backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and will provide 20 million euros to innovative SMEs.

In a press conference in Athens concerning the agreements with Diorama and Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, European Commissioner for employment Marianne Thyssen joined Deputy Economy and Development Minister for NSRF Alexis Charitsis, EIF Chief Executive Pier Luigi Gilibert and executives of Diorama and Cooperative Bank of Karditsa to present the programmes, which are part-funded by the European Commission.

Thyssen noted that freeing investments in the Greek economy was vital for creating jobs and noted that the European Commission remains fully committed to creating growth without exclusions in Europe.

Charitsis also highlighted the timing of the agreements, which were announced on the day after the Eurogroup's decisions on Greece and the review of the Greek programme, including the start of a discussion on making Greece's debt sustainable. He said the agreements coincided to a great degree with the Greek government's intiatives for addressing problems such as the deleveraging and shrinking of bank balance sheets.

In a statement in Brussels, European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, responsible for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said: Small companies in Greece are in great need of financing to grow their businesses and create jobs. The agreements signed by the EIF with ProCredit, Diorama Investments and Cooperative Bank of Karditsa this week will help Greek SMEs access new finance. I encourage other banks to join forces with the EIF and set up similar agreements under the Investment Plan so that we can help more Greek companies flourish.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Russian investors are showing strong interest in several sectors of the Greek economy, focusing on transport and inter-regional cooperation, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for International Economic Affairs Dimitris Mardas told ANA-MPA in an

Russian investors are showing strong interest in several sectors of the Greek economy, focusing on transport and inter-regional cooperation, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for International Economic Affairs Dimitris Mardas told ANA-MPA in an interview on Thursday.

There is strong investment interest from Russia; thats why we have the Joint Inter-ministerial Commission, Mardas said, adding that an interim meeting of the commission in Thessaloniki will review procedures agreed last November in Sochi. "These reviews are a pressure tool, aimed to speed up implementation of agreements, he added, noting that the agreement reached in Sochi covered all economic sectors, from transport, energy, industry, culture, research, etc.

Mardas said that the Greek foreign ministry is coordinating the Joint Inter-ministerial Congress and that all related ministries are monitoring the process, cooperating with Russian authorities and reaching conclusions. We constantly set new targets, more advanced, to further enhance political and economic relations, Mardas said.

The Greek-Russian Joint Inter-ministerial Commission is meeting in Thessaloniki today and Friday, 12-13 May. Russian Federation Transport Minister Maxim Solokov will co-chair the meeting with the Greek minister and will address the Aristotelio University of Thessaloniki with a speech on Greek-Russian relations.

Commenting on a forthcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Greece, Mardas said it would be a very important visit by a chief of state, with positive results for the country. Referring to the impact of counter-measures adopted by Russia to sanctions imposed by the EU, Mardas said Greek exports have suffered a blow, especially farm products.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
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Agenda des evenements Tourisme One-to-One MBA Event in Paris Voir la carte Infos pratiques Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel, 70 Av. des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris Site web : http://atnd.it/52581-0 Tel : +359 2 904 65 32 Description The Access MBA Tour hits the road with the worlds top business schools and a team of MBA consultants to bring a special opportunity to you. On May 18, 2016, representatives from international MBA programmes will meet with Londons business professionals on a One-to-One basis.



You will have the chance to benefit from:

One-to-One and small group meetings with MBA Admissions Directors

Thematic panel discussions featuring B-schools and Alumni

Individual consulting sessions and GMAT test preparation

Many scholarship opportunities

By registering for the One-to-One MBA event, your profile will be carefully matched and selected for individual meetings with the business schools that correspond to your expectations.



Individual 20 minute long meetings to discuss your MBA project



The Access MBA Tour includes the most prestigious business schools around the world including:



London Business School, INSEAD, IESE Business School, University of Chicago-Booth, HEC Paris, IE Business School, Georgetown University, University of Hong Kong, Copenhagen Business School, Esade Business School, Kellogg  WHU, Cass Business School, Hult International Business School, Manchester Business School, SDA Bocconi, Rotterdam School of Management and more!



Places are limited for One-to-One meetings and early registration is recommended. To receive your free invitation, register on our website today. EVENEMENTS PROFESSIONNELS | Suivant 
Compensation for Transgender Mans Lawsuit vs. Discrimination is only 25% of Request

North Carolina Clashes With U.S. Over New Public Restroom Law (Photo : Getty Images)

The court victory of Liu, a 29-year-old transgender man, against Coming Checkup for workplace discrimination appears to be an empty win.



Thats because out of the 1,600 yuan ($247) compensation sought by Liu, born a female but identifies himself as a male, against the Chinese healthcare company closed on Tuesday with a local arbitration commission in Guiyang awarding Liu a measly amount. The court ordered the Guiyang branch of Ciming to pay Liu a backpay of only 402.3 yuan ($61.70), reported Global Times.



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The amount is equivalent to only one-fourth or 25 percent of the amount that Liu requested the court. In response to the court decision, Liu said, I am disappointed at the ruling and will continue to sue, as I believe the law should not tolerate any kind of discrimination.



Lius lawyer, Huang Sha, said that by early Wednesday, he would file another lawsuit at the Yunyan district court of Guiyang to seek the higher payment that his client has originally requested.



Chiming insisted that they fired Liu not because he is transgender but because he was not qualified for the job.



Members of Chinas LGBT community were inspired by Lius decision to file the lawsuit since they also had experienced workplace discrimination because of their gender. According to Xu Bin, director of Common Language, an NGO based in Beijing that advocates for equal rights for LGBT, their organization received a lot of calls from transgenders after reading Lius story.



Because of the lawsuit, the first transgender discrimination case in China, lawyers from 14 Chinese provinces will begin an anti-labor-discrimination group which would provide legal aid to members of the LGBT community, reported The Atlantic.






The Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) today (May 12) crossed the 10 million contracts mark, with a total of 10 billion barrels of Omani crude oil traded on the Exchange since inception.



The milestone comes after DME has registered an 11 per cent increase in trading volumes till date this year, while setting new record for physical delivery. DME delivered 27,342,000 barrels in March 2016, maintaining DME Omans position as the energy futures contract with the largest physical delivery in the world.



Todays landmark highlights the important role DME plays in the oil markets of the Middle East and Asia, enabling transparency and fair crude oil prices for both producers and users. We have won customers trust around the globe and particularly in Asia by offering the most reliable regional oil price benchmark and a fully regulated trading environment, said DME chairman Ahmad Sharaf.



Crude oil markets are increasingly volatile, which highlights the need for regulated risk management solutions such as the DME Oman Crude Oil Futures contract. DME is witnessing strong interest from new players in Asia and we continue to grow our customer base, which currently includes more than 90 global players, Sharaf added.



The Exchange recently announced a roundtable event in China to assist independent Chinese refiners with the Exchanges registration process, enabling these new market entrants to start trading Oman crude oil futures contracts on DME.  TradeArabia News Service
Lightweight Containers, a producer of unique lightweight kegs, has started up a new production line to make its KeyKeg Slimlines and UniKegs in Joliet, Illinois (US).



The fully automated computer- and robot-driven line can produce the entire Slimline and UniKeg series depending on demand.



With the new line, Lightweight Containers is preparing for the rapid growth it anticipates in the US, said Anita Veenendaal, CCO of Lightweight Containers.



In the last six years, our worldwide sales have grown by more than 40 per cent a year. A production line in the US will enable us to respond to the growing demand more quickly and flexibly. We also know that theres broad support from the American society for setting up a factory there, since were contributing to the US economy, said Veenendaal.



The new plant was designed in close collaboration with manufacturing specialist Logoplaste. Logoplaste takes care of organising the lines daily production.



Jan Veenendaal, CEO of Lightweight Containers, said: Working with Logoplaste is enabling us to grow faster in the US, as well as to concentrate more on R&D, sales, and marketing. Logoplaste is a highly professional production partner who completely shares our views on quality and continuity. The new production line is a logical consequence of our strategy of producing as closely as possible to our customers.



David Batey, regional commercial director for Logoplaste NCEE, said: Logoplaste and Lightweight Containers are both ambitious, successful family firms and we speak the same language. Besides that Lightweight Containers knows the ins and outs of both the production line and the manufacturing process. Because of this we were able to round off the preparations quickly, professionally and successfully. The start of the fully automated production line went well and were now producing at full capacity.



KeyKegs are now produced at three locations: Schwerin (Germany), Den Helder (the Netherlands) and Joliet (US). A fourth production line in Germany will be opened in mid-2016.



The unique lightweight kegs form the company combine groundbreaking R&D and advanced production methods with a clear understanding of what the customers want. The result is two complete families of one-way kegs that stand out in the market due to their innovation, quality, convenience, safety and sustainability, it said.



KeyKeg and UniKegs are sustainable alternatives to other types of packaging and Lightweight Containers is working hard to make this distinction even greater.



"Producers and distributors of beverages are making the switch to our kegs, which are now in use in over 180 countries. Our ambition for the coming years is to continue growing on every continent," the company said. - TradeArabia News Service


Iranian Muslims will miss the annual Haj pilgrimage in September this year because Tehran and Riyadh failed to agree organisational details after they cut diplomatic ties in January, the Irna news agency reported on Thursday.



"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," said Tehran's Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister Ali Jannati, whose ministry oversees arrangements for Iranian pilgrims.



Tensions between the regional rivals led to Riyadh breaking off diplomatic ties in January after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions there.



Iranian and Saudi officials have held talks to resolve the matter but has so far failed to make any progress, Iranian officials said.



Jannati said the Saudis "did not accept our proposals on security, transportation and visa issuing for Iranian pilgrims".



Riyadh has rejected Iran's request that visas for its pilgrims be issued through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since the Iranian embassy there was closed.



"Saudi officials say Iranian pilgrims should get their Saudi visas from a third country as Riyadh's missions are closed in Iran," Jannati said.



However, a culture ministry official said Iran was "very concerned over the security of Iranians during the holy ceremony" and that talks with Saudi authorities were continuing. - Reuters
A 100 Swiss companies recently attended a meeting organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), which was held under the theme Business Innovation at the Sustainable Building in Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE.



Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, attended the event, which discussed investment opportunities in energy projects and cooperation with Swiss companies operating in the UAE, said a statement from Dewa.



The event also promoted the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2016) to be held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and president of Dewa.



The conference was attended by Christian Watts, consul general of Switzerland in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; and Peter Herradine, president of the Swiss Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, and senior officials of Swiss companies specialising in energy, water, and environment.



Innovation is at the core of Dewas business and strategic operations. This event supports our vision to become a sustainable innovative worldclass utility and supports the National Innovation Strategy, which aims to make Dubai the most innovative city in the world, Al Tayer said in his keynote speech.



The bilateral relations between our countries were historically set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE. These ties were expanded strongly to incorporate many areas such as science and research, culture and health, as well as initiatives in food and agriculture and humanitarian aid, he said.



The relationship of our two countries has become stronger, thanks to the leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, he added.



Al Tayer's opening speech was followed by a speech by Watts, who commended the fruitful cooperation with Dewa in clean energy projects to build a sustainable future.



Al Tayer further noted that the ties between the UAE and Switzerland have grown strongly in terms of economy, trade, and investment. He also highlighted the volume of trade between the countries, which amounted to Dh46.15 billion ($12.58 billion) by the end of 2013. Also, the trade volume via the free zones amounted to Dh8.48 billion ($2.31 billion) in the same period.



Moreover, Switzerland is the sixth highest international trading partner with the UAE, fourth-highest importing nation from the UAE, and seventh highest exporter to the UAE. According to the Swiss Tourism Board in the GCC, the UAE is the second-highest source of tourists coming to Switzerland, he concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is set to sign several deals towards building independent power projects (IPP) at Ibri and Sohar in the sultanate, a report said.



The contracts will be signed on May 15 in Muscat with a consortium of Japans Mitsui, Acwa Power, and Dhofar International Development and Investment Holding Company (DIDIC), added the Times of Oman report.



The project, which consists of two new natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants, will have a total installed capacity of 3,219 megawatts (MW), according to the report.



The consortium will build, own and operate both plants and sell power to OPWP under a 15-year power purchase agreement at a cost worth over RO885 million ($2.3 billion).
Topaz Energy and Marine, a leading offshore support vessel company, has in a consortium led by Blue Water Shipping A/S, secured a contract to supply and operate 15 vessels for the Tengizchevroil (TCO) joint venture in Kazakhstan.



The value of the contract is in excess of $350 million, a statement said.



Under the terms of the agreement, Topaz will commission the construction of 15 newly designed Module Carrying Vessels (MCVs). The vessels will commence work in the second quarter (Q2) of 2018 for a minimum contract period of three years. The deal brings Topazs backlog to $1.6 billion, further strengthening Topazs earnings visibility and credit strength.



The innovative vessels have been designed in collaboration with Vard Shipyard Group as the designated shipyard, and crafted to navigate shallow river systems as they transport modules and cargoes through the Russian waterways to the Tengiz oilfield in Kazakhstan. The 123 meter long vessels will be built in three Vard yards in Romania and Vietnam.



Rene Kofod-Olsen, chief executive officer, Topaz Energy and Marine, said, This award reinforces our reputation as a trusted offshore logistics partner to oil majors globally and we are humbled by TCOs selection of Topaz.



With our proven track-record of reliable and safe operations which spans decades in the Caspian region, Topaz continues to capture value in this complex offshore market. Vards longstanding shipbuilding traditions, cutting-edge innovation and in-house technology perfectly complements Topazs reputation for providing quality and bespoke solutions to meet our clients needs and we look forward to deepening our relationship with the Vard group.



Our sincere gratitude also to Blue Water Shipping who is a regional leader in tailor-made transport and logistics solutions and our ideal partner in the execution of this complex logistics project, Kofod-Olsen added.



This is the second large contract awarded to Topaz this year, following the contract to supply 14 offshore support vessels to BP in Azerbaijan as announced in March.  TradeArabia News Service
Leading jewellery retail brand Jewel Corner is looking to make the summer travel season a memorable experience with a complimentary Etienne Aigner-branded travel bag with the purchase of any diamond jewellery worth Dh999 ($271.9) and above.



In addition to providing added value with the purchase of exquisitely designed jewellery, the company aims to expand gifting options for travellers looking to surprise their loved ones with a memorable souvenir from their travel experiences.



Abhijit Achwal, general manager of Soft Touch Jewellers - which manages the Jewel Corner brand  said: The summer travel period is an important phase for all industries in the GCC. The two-month long school summer break in the region, coupled with the impressive hospitality and travel offerings of cities such as Dubai provides an exciting platform for us to enhance the value of our products. At Jewel Corner, we package our jewellery as a box of happiness that delivers enhanced satisfaction to our customers.



According to figures released by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai welcomed 4.1 million overnight visitors in the first three months of 2016, an increase of 5.1 per cent over the same period last year. GCC - in the order of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar - was the largest contributor to the visiting traffic, constituting 25 per cent of all overnight visitors.



Jewel Corner is present through 35 stores across the GCC including UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. - TradeArabia News Service
Marriott International is gearing up to launch its flagship brand property in Abu Dhabi under the leadership of the an executive team who will steer the new opening.



The group's first Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi as well as Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi, developed by Bloom Properties, is set to open this summer.



Strategically located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Bloom Central is a 25-storey mixed-use project comprising two blocks. The first consists of the 64-suite Marriott Executive Apartments, 49 Bloom Residences as well as 7,000-sq-m of premium office space. The second block is home to the 315-room five-star Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, targeting a mix of business and leisure travellers. Bloom Residences and offices have already opened their doors to tenants.



From contemporary guestrooms, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, outstanding culinary offerings to well-equipped wellness facilities, the hotel showcases the Marriott Hotels brand innovation by offering sophisticated design, modern services and amenities that enable the next generation of travelers to Travel Brilliantly, through every aspect of their stay. Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi is targeted at the extended stay market, providing upscale residential living including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.



In May 2015, David Lance was appointed general manager of the Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi. Lance is a seasoned hospitality professional, with over two decades of international experience. Prior to this role, he was general manager of Marriott Executive Apartments, Sukhumvit Park in Bangkok, Thailand. Since joining, he has been focused on pulling together a highly skilled and experienced management team to launch and eventually operate these new properties.



Speaking ahead of the hotels opening, David said: We are proud to open the first Marriott Hotel in the capital city, bringing Marriott Internationals flagship brand to Abu Dhabi along with the debut of Marriotts luxury extended stay product. I am fortunate to be supported by an incredibly experienced and diverse team that is united to ensure the hotel lives up to the brands promise to reimagine the future of travel, offering a blend of high-tech and high-touch services. We are looking forward to open our doors later this year for guests to experience a combination of sophisticated design and innovation, within Emirati warmth and hospitality.



The property executive team members include:



 Andrew Dickson, director of operations, has over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry and joined Marriott in 2008, where he was appointed director of operations at Wailea Beach Resort & Spa in Maui, Hawaii. In his new role as, Dickson will be overseeing the entire operational team to ensure a successful opening of the first Marriott Hotel in the capital.



 Nicholas A. Rana, director of sales and marketing, started his career in the sales discipline at the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel in 2003. Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi will be Ranas fifth hotel opening with Marriott across five different countries and three distinct Marriott brands. he will be responsible for sales and marketing for both properties and in seeing through the launch of the first Marriott Hotel in the capital.



 Amr Mahmoud, director of engineering, has over 18 years engineering experience in the hospitality industry and started his career with Marriott in 2006. Prior to this appointment he was assistant director of engineering at the 1,608 room JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. During his career, Amr coordinated numerous projects, renovations and hotel openings and will now in this leadership role oversee the last phase in the completion of the two properties, in addition to being responsible for the upkeep and maintenance.



 Shaun Dean, multi-property director of revenue, is a hugely experienced revenue leader, responsible for developing and implementing effective commercial sales strategies across the UK region. Dean began his career in hospitality as a graduate trainee in Paris, France in 1992 and went on to become Marriotts first UK director of group strategy and business evaluation in 2008. As a multi-property director of revenue, Dean will be overseeing 574 keys divided amongst the Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi and the Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi.



 Asif Ahmed, multi-property director of finance, has over 18 years of international experience within the GCC. Starting his career with Marriott in 2001, Ahmed brings strength and depth of finance management expertise to his new role, overlooking both the new properties as well as the Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi.



 Petra Solle, multi-property director of human resources, has previously worked as a human resources professional across a variety of Marriott hotels in the UK. Solle brings a strong knowledge of Marriott operations and human resources to her new role, having been a part of the pre-opening team of Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi as director of human resources, successfully opening the hotel in December 2014. - TradeArbia News Service
InterContinental Jordan has welcomed Ali Obeidat as the property's new director of sales and marketing.



Obeidat carries 14 years of experience in the world of hospitality, specifically in Jordans top five star hotels and resorts in Amman, Dead Sea, and Aqaba. His communication and negotiation skills, accompanied by his dedication and hard work have contributed to his impressive career path that took him from the position of sales executive when he first started, to cluster director of sales and marketing for the IHG Dead Sea resorts before joining InterContinental Jordan as its director of sales and marketing, the hotel said in a statement.



Obeidat is looking forward to working hand in hand with the hotels sales and marketing team and all colleagues to bring about more success and achievements, it said. - TradeArabia News Service
Facebook wins trademark case against Chinese food and drink company although social network is banned

Facebook Tumbler (Photo : Twitter)

Facebook has won a trademark court case after a Beijing court ruled in favor of the social work against a Chinese food and drink company. The court ruled that the company had tried to copy a high-profile trademark. Like Google and Twitter the world's largest social network is banned in China, but the company has taken steps to access the market.



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The Beijing court's statement was released on April 28, according to BBC. It stated that Zhongshan Pearl River Beverages should not have access to the "face book" trademark in the world's most populated country.



In 2011 the Chinese company first registered the name, according to CNN. A trademark regulatory body gave the snack company the legal rights to use the brand in 2014.



The ruling has resulted in Chinese local media to guess if Beijing will take a softer stance against the social giant.



Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg recently visited China. He met with China's propaganda chief Liu Yunshan and business tycoon Jack Ma.



Zuckerberg went for a jog on Beijing's heavy-polluted Tiananmen Square but critics argued that the Facebook CEO was using an advertising trick.



Western companies often have problems protecting their trademarks in China. The reason is that they have to prove that their brand names are well-known in the nation.



Last week Apple lost a trademark battle in China. It will allow companies that sell leather products such as phone cases, wallets, and handbags to keep using the name "IPHONE."



Apple had filed a trademark application for electronic products in 2002 but it was approved over a decade later in 2013.



Mark Armitage is a trademark lawyer at an intellectual property firm. He explains that in recent years China's attitude about intellectual property (IP) rights have changed.



Armitage explains that the case of "squatting" involves a Chinese company registering the name of a well-known Western business. This forces the company to rebrand their products, spend large amounts of money s to buy back the brand name from "trademark trolls," or take the issue to court.



He added that Facebook's case is interesting. The main reason is that the company is banned from doing business in China.



Here's a video on Facebook's ad sales in China:






South Africas lesser-known neighbor, Swaziland, offers stunning landscapes and exciting game but its also known for its many festivals. Join us for a truly authentic African festival experience all year around!



(TRAVPR.COM) SWAZILAND - May 12th, 2016 - The Kingdom of Swaziland is well known for its many cultural festivals, the Swazis are a friendly, relaxed and easy-going people who love to party and gladly welcome visitors into their cultural celebrations. The Swazi festival calendar is an eclectic mix of both first-class modern, and time honoured traditional events. The tribal rituals and ceremonies such as Incwala, Marula Festival and the world famous Reed Dance have captured the imagination of visitors to Swaziland for generations. Swaziland is also home of the internationally acclaimed, MTN Bushfire, a three day festival experience for all ages that celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year.

During the weekend of May 27th- 29th the country hosts MTN Bushfire Festival, announced by CNN as one of the 7 African music festivals you really have to see. Its is Swazilands annual meeting of a multi-generational community. More than 20,000 'Bring their fire to experience the three day event. Renowned for eclectic and multi-dimensional world music, the event includes a compelling line-up of theatre, poetry, dance, art exhibits & installations, story-telling, puppetry, film, and themed workshops.

The 2016 edition is the culmination of ten incredible years of passion, dedication and commitment to the music, arts, and culture of Southern Africa and beyond. The stellar, incredibly diverse line-up for the 10th anniversary edition of the festival is truly a global celebration, with artists from over 20 countries set to perform.

In late August it is the Swazi women who lead the country's celebrations in the annual Reed Dance. Young girls mainly in their teens from all over the Kingdom and beyond its borders gather and pay homage to the Queen Mother. Over 20 000 girls dressed in brightly coloured beaded skirts with anklets, bracelets and colourful sashes gather to perform before the Royal Family in a celebration of unity of the countries young women.

Incwala Festival, held at the start of a new year, on a date chosen by astrologers in conjunction with the phases of the moon, is one of the biggest and most spectacular events in Africa. For the Swazi people it is an important religious ritual, a fertility ceremony designed to both prepare for the coming year and serve as a symbolic renewal of the monarchy, the king leads festivities and in full ceremonial dress joins his warriors in the traditional dance.

In February, the Marula festival is a royal tribute to the riches of Mother Nature, where local Marula fruit is harvested and used to make beer to a traditional recipe. The Marula Festival starts at the royal residence, Ebuhleni, when King Mswati III and the Queen Mother are presented with gifts and Marula beer from each household. Only after the royal family has first tasted the Marula Beer, are the rest of the nation permitted to join in and drink. After this King Mswati III and the Queen Mother start to travel across the country, joining the nation in song, dance and celebration.

The Kingdom of Swaziland offers all year around festivals and cultural celebrations for the delight of swazis and visitors from around the globe. Take Swazilands festival challenge and enjoy one (or all) of the most truly African experiences in the tiniest country of South East Africa.

###
It's good news... but we shouldn't be eating tuna at all.

The worlds biggest canned tuna company, Thai Union, has finally capitulated to Greenpeaces demands. After several years of campaigning, the two adversaries have come to an agreement: Thai Union will clean up its act and start implementing measures that will improve labour practices and fishing methods.

Thai Union is responsible for 1 in five cans of tuna sold worldwide and supplies major retailers with popular brands such as Chicken of the Sea. It has a horrible track record of less-than-ethical practices, both from environmental and human rights perspectives.

In 2016 the Associated Press released a scathing (and award-winning) report that revealed slavery conditions for workers aboard fishing vessels, including those owned by Thai Union; and Greenpeace has been fighting against the companys use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), which are a major source of bycatch  unwanted species that are caught inadvertently and thrown back into the water, dead.

 Greenpeace

The new agreement focuses on four main areas:

1) Reducing the number of FADs by 50 percent by 2020

2) Reducing the use of longlines for fishing, which are risky to other species such as turtles, seabirds, and sharks

3) Extending a moratorium on transshipment, which is the transferring of catch to other ships, enabling enormous factory ships to stay at sea for up to 2 years

4) Improving labor standards and following a new code of conduct

Greenpeace sounds very optimistic in its press release. International Executive Director Bunny McDiarmid said:

This marks huge progress for our oceans and marine life, and for the rights of people working in the seafood industry. If Thai Union implements these reforms, it will pressure other industry players to show the same level of ambition and drive much needed change. Now is the time for other companies to step up, and show similar leadership.



While I recognize the value of these pledges, I cant help but question, Why are we even talking about this? Not to detract from Greenpeace's important work, which I respect greatly, I think that no matter what Thai Union does to improve its practices, we should not be eating tuna.

Ever since I heard someone describe tuna as the lions of the sea, it has seemed absurd to be hunting and packing this mighty, magnificent sea creature as one of the cheapest forms of protein for humans. We wouldnt sell canned lion for mere cents a can, so why do we do it for tuna?

I dont eat tuna anymore because, no matter what happy-looking stamps or certifications appear on the can, I cant justify eating such a complex, slow-growing animal.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release in mid-August as Galaxy Note 5 now available for $99.99

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release in mid-August as Galaxy Note 5 now available for $99.99 (Photo : YouTube/ Samsung Mobile)

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will be released in mid-August in the United States. Also, Galaxy Note 5 is now available for $99.99.



There are speculations that in the East Asia market, the upcoming Samsung device will run on Exynos 8890. Rumors are doing the rounds that western markets will get a Note 6 that boasts Snapdragon 820 SoC.



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Furthermore, the South Korean company will opt for a 6GB RAM module in the forthcoming device. The phablet is expected to have a 20 MP rear-facing camera. Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will include a 6-inch 4K/UHD display and will feature new Android N.



According to several reports, the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 will have a 4,000mAh battery. Samsung will also release a new app known as Samsung Focus on the upcoming Galaxy Note 6.



The company's version will integrate features such as memos, contacts, calendar and email. Aggregation of emails is one of the main features of Samsung Focus. It will have options for responding to and viewing emails from several accounts.



It is not known if Samsung Focus will include Android's default email app or Gmail.



The screen of Focus will contain all significant events, together with a list of a user's plans for the day and forthcoming days.



Furthermore, Samsung Focus will enable owners to create memos, manage invites and add calendar entries. According to reports, there will be a page for contacts with all calendar invites, messages and emails for a specific contact that can be found under the contact details.



Meanwhile, according to latest reports, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is now available for $99. The online retailer Best Buy is offering the 32 GB Galaxy Note 5 for $99.99. The offer is being offered in conjunction with mobile carriers Sprint and Verizon.



Also, the retailer is offering a free gift card for people who lease or purchase the 32GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and activate it with Sprint Lease or monthly installment plan for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.



According to a report from Digital Trends, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 features a 5.7-inch display. Other features include 3000mAh non removable battery, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.


A picture showing the new logo of Instagram made with different flowers. (Photo : Instagram/Instagram)

Instagram on May 10, Tuesday launched a new colorful icon to replace the vintage camera logo users have loved, and tweaked the apps color scheme by using black-and-white tones. The photo-sharing companys icon now looks totally different with bright shades of purple, pink, yellow and orange.



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In a blog post, the move to go for a flatter icon combined with the rainbow-like scheme comes from the companys vision to be more modern and to follow what users think of their brand. The redesigned user interface, however, was a bit toned down, which is the companys way to help uploaded images and videos standout more.



As a part of our process, we also asked people at the company to draw the Instagram icon from memory in 5 seconds, said Ian Spalter, Instagrams head of design in the companys blog post. Almost all of them drew the rainbow, lens and viewfinder.



Apart from the alterations made in the icon and the app, other creative tools, including Boomerang, Layout and Hyperlapse, were also given a makeover by applying the same colors of the companys new look. The icons of the trio were also tweaked by redesigning them with more rounded exteriors. In the case of the collage maker, Layout, the company has transformed it from a square to a grid.



This latest development from Instagram took some time to finally come into fruition. According to Tech Crunch, the company began developing this reboot since last summer, where they tested more than 300 icons before finding a lead in November. News of the redesign got out a couple of weeks ago prompting users to leak about the gradient-themed icon.



Now that the official new look of the modern Instagram is out, users have already contributed their own share of mixed reactions about it. Some people have commented not so positive reviews about the icon, saying that they prefer the vintage logo. Others liked the new changes in the app but suggests that the icon is just not working for them.



For more Instagram news, watch the video below:






"One Punch Man" is an ongoing Japanese webcomic created by an author using the pseudonym One, which began publication in early 2009. (Photo : One Punch Man Org)

The hit anime series, "One Punch Man," will be back for its Season 2 on the small screen later this year. It can be recalled that the first season of the hit anime series went on a season hiatus in December 2015 after it entertained its fans with its action packed yet hilarious 12 episodes.



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According to Christian Times, "One Punch Man" Season 2 is ready to return by October, and that the second installment will feature Saitama with more action packed adventures in the world were villains continues to fear his one punch power.



The same publication also claims that the Manga creator of "One Punch Man," Yasuke Murata, has been working double time in order for the second season to be available on small screen on time. It is also said that Murata was already preparing the production for "One Punch Man" Season 2 since 2015.



According to Cross Map, episode one of "One Punch Man" Season 2 will be titled "The Strongest Hero." The report also added that the pilot episode will start where Season 1 ended. Moreover, the publication did also note a possible story arc for the upcoming season, and that Saitama will eventually face a villain that is equally strong as him, or could be stronger than him. The antagonist has been reported to be Garou, who is said to be a former apprentice of Silver Fang.



Meanwhile, rumors are also very loud about Saitama fighting against a class A Rank 1 hero in the name of Amai Mask. It can be remembered that Mask has a problem with Saitama, and he even blamed the lead protagonist for the extreme damage that the cities are getting every time Saitama is fighting against monsters. If the rumor is true, then the One Punch hero may have a hard time battling two powerful antagonists in "One Punch Man" Season 2.



Nevertheless, the October release date of "One Punch Man" Season 2 is still not officially confirmed; however, according to unnamed source, fans should expect the second season to be available late this year.



Watch "One Punch Man" Saitama Hero test:




Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 12

The PDP-BJP coalition government has decided to review the industrial policy which was approved in March. It will revisit the policy for inclusion of some more areas that were not included earlier his year.

We will review the industrial policy and it will go to the Cabinet for the final approval, said Education Minister and state government spokesman Naeem Akhter here today.

He told mediapersons at the civil secretariat that there were many areas such as agriculture and horticulture which would be included in the new industrial policy. We feel that there is a need to review the policy and many new areas can be included. The Industries Department has been asked to submit its report in the matter, he said.

Akhter said the decision to review the industrial policy was taken as the PDP-BJP government had to listen to the concerns of the people and rule out any apprehensions about the inclusion of non-state subjects.

On whether the policy would allow non-state subjects to acquire land on lease for industrial purposes, Akhter said no harm would be done to the states special status. That is what somebody has said. We do not want that perception to prevail that we are diluting the states special position, its special features, constitutional guarantees or legal position.The government of the PDP and BJP is very firm and we have put it in our Agenda of Alliance that these are basic to our purpose of forming the alliance and the government. There will be no harm done to the special position of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

He pointed out that the government was conscious of the misconceptions about the policy, which had been approved during Governors rule. He said there was no point in raising any alarm about the policy, approved for a period of 10 years in March.

On March 15, the industrial policy was approved at a meeting of the State Administrative Council.
Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 12

A series of functions were organised in different local hospitals to mark the International Nurses Day here today.

The day marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing. The theme for the day was Nurses: A force for Change: Improving health systems resilience.

At the Civil Hospital to celebrate the undying spirit of the nursing staff of the hospital candles were lit in memory of The lady with the lamp-Florence Nightingale.

There are a total of 87 nurses at the Civil Hospital and the Mother and Child Hospital (located on the premises of the Civil Hospital) here. They look after patients at two hospitals. In addition to this, there are seven male nurses posted in the trauma and de-addiction centre. The hospital requires at least 10 more staff members for the smooth working but the nursing staff has never complained.

According to the Indian Nursing Council norms, every three beds should have one staff nurse but at the Civil Hospital, one staff nurse is taking care of at least 20 patients. Nursing sisters who supervise the nurses are also short in number. The hospital has five while three more are required.

Sometimes we have to work for more than 12 hours at a stretch but we have no regrets and we look after patients with a smile. It is a noble profession and we try to justify the same, said a staff nurse at the Civil Hospital.

Dr Parvinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Senior Medical Officer at the Civil Hospital, said: Some more nursing staff is required but we have B. Sc and M.Sc nursing students and some others who come for internship so work has been running smoothly, he said.

Celebrations at CMCH

The Trained Nurses Association (TNAI) and Student Nurses Association (SNA) celebrated Nurses Day at the Christian Medical College and Hospital College of Nursing by organising a special function.

Chief Guest Prof (Dr) Reena Jairus, Nursing Superintendent of the CMC Hospital, said: We shall be proud to proclaim that we are nurses, because nursing is a caring profession and nurses with compassionate care ultimately help patients in getting healed.

Balqis Victor, President, TNAI (local branch), CMC unit, elaborated the theme. Scientific paper presentations were done by Ritu P Naihar, Sapna D Malviya, Shehnaz Johnson, Mizrab and Litty Rachel Samuel.

Week-long activities were planned from May 6 to 12 by TNAI and SNA units (local branch). A poster exhibition on Neurological Disorders was organised on May 6 by M.Sc Nursing first year (Medical Surgical Nursing group). Basic nursing procedure competitions were held on May 6 and May 10. From May 7 to May 11 quiz competitions were organised by M.Sc Nursing first and second year students of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Medical Surgical Nursing specialties.

On May 11, a Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) programme was organised by the Department of Medical Surgical Nursing on Emergency Drugs for the staff nurses working in Critical Care Units.

Contests at DMCH

The day was also celebrated at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Unfolding the theme, Monika Sharma, Associate Professor, dwelt on the devotion with which nurses worked. Pot-painting and poster competition was also held. A demonstration on care and massage of newborn baby was organised by Johnson and Johnson Company.

Freshers pledge to work with compassion at Ludhiana Institute of Nursing

The day was also celebrated at the Ludhiana Institute of Nursing with enthusiasm under the guidance of Managing Director Kanika Gupta and Principal Parminder Kaur.

Oath taking ceremony for freshers was the highlight of the day. By taking oath and nursing pledge, students were formally inducted into the noble profession of nursing where they would carry on their duties with compassion, empathy, love and devotion.

The Principal spoke about the life of Florence Nightingale, her achievements and contribution to the nursing profession.

She encouraged students to follow the path of Florence Nightingale and work with commitment and dedication. A rangoli competition was also held on the occasion.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 11

The Rajya Sabha today returned the appropriation and finance Bills to the Lok Sabha following a four-hour discussion during the post-lunch session. The Upper House debated for over four hours the Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2016, and the Finance Bill, 2016, that have already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Claiming that the government numbers of Indias GDP were suspect, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said: No one believes Indias GDP figures. The government figure is over 7.5 per cent, while the actual figure is somewhere between 5.9- 6.5 per cent, he said alleging that it served the governments political purpose to come up with higher than the actual growth of the Indian economy.

The Bills were returned after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a detailed reply on the members concern on issues related to the bills. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, was passed after an hour-long discussion in the evening.
New Delhi, May 12

With four Indian cities figuring in the top seven most polluted cities in the world, green bodies in the country today said air pollution is now a "national crisis" and strict and aggressive action is needed to check it.

Commenting on a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report which ranked Gwalior (2), Allahabad (3), Patna (6) and Raipur (7) in the top seven cities with worst air pollution, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) called for more aggressive and stringent action across all cities to check pollution.

"This indicates that air pollution is now a national crisis and needs strict and aggressive nation-wide action across all cities of India," said Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's executive director for research and advocacy.

"India urgently needs national air quality planning to ensure that all cities have clean air action plan that are implemented in a time-bound manner to meet clean air target," the CSE said.

On New Delhi being listed 11th in the report after being ranked worst in 2014, the CSE said although the national capital has "arrested and improved" air quality, it still has a "long way to go".

Terming it as "disturbing" that several Indian cities have shown substantial increase in pollution levels since 2014, CSE said that PM2.5 in Allahabad has increased by 92 per cent, in Ludhiana 34 per cent, in Khanna 30 per cent, Kanpur 24 per cent, Agra 20 per cent, Lucknow 18 per cent and Amritsar 17 per cent among others.

CSE analysis of the WHO report, however, said there were lesser number of Indian cities in the list of top 10 and top 20 most polluted cities this year.

While four are in top 10 list as opposed to six last time and 10 are in the top 20 list as opposed to 13 last time, bad news is that several smaller India cities, including Patna, Allahabad, Ludhiana, Gwalior, Kanpur, are more polluted than mega cities and are getting worse.

"This calls for more aggressive and stringent action across all cities of India," CSE said.

Noting that pollution does not recognise political boundaries, Greenpeace India said it has repeatedly called for an "urgent and comprehensive" National Clean Air Action Plan.

"Pollution does not recognise political boundaries, with polluted air travelling across long distances. Air pollution is a national crisis and demands a concerted national action plan in response," said Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

The NGO said that continuing rise of fossil fuel consumption in India along with several other factors, has contributed to an increase in air pollution levels.

"The government needs to make a determined switch to cleaner forms of energy. This is the only way to secure a healthy future for generations to come," Dahiya added.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Patna, May 11

A Janata Dal (United) lawmaker whose son as been accused of having killed a teenager in Bihars Gaya is on the run from police a day after police found a liquor stash in her house.

Police and the excise department sealed Devi's residence in AP Colony, Gaya, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a local court today remanded in two-day police custody Rocky Yadav accused of killing a student for overtaking his vehicle.

Additional District and Sessions Judge SK Jha accepted police's prayer seeking Rocky's custody and granted permission.

The court had yesterday sent to 14 days' judicial custody the son of absconding JD(U) MLC Manorama Devi and RJD strongman Bindi Yadav.

Although police had initially booked lawmaker Manorama Devis husband Bindi Yadav and son Rocky Yadav in the case, they began looking for her after some liquor bottles were found in her Gaya house on Tuesday in violation of prohibition in the state when they had conduced raids to look for her then-absconding son.

The state has banned alcohol from April this year.

Yadav, 30, is suspected to have shot dead Aditya Sachdeva on Saturday night for overtaking his car on the Bodh Gaya-Gaya road. Gaya police arrested Bindi Yadav and the bodyguard, who were also in the car, on Sunday.

Rocky Yadav was arrested on Tuesday.

The lawmaker, a Member of Legislative Council, has already been suspended from the party.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced more heat today for comparing Kerala to Somalia with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy saying people of the state expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence after it whipped up a controversy.

The comparison made by Modi at a poll rally in the state early this week when he said the "infant mortality rate among the Scheduled Tribe community in Kerala is worse than Somalia" has set off a political storm and triggered criticism in the social media.

Twitter users have responded with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Get lost Modi), a take off from the Mohanlal-starrer, which features the famous punch line "Po Mone Dinesha" to ridicule some of the characters of his hit film 'Narasimham'.

Chandy flayed Modi for not withdrawing his controversial comment while CPI-M leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said his statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state. Kerala goes to polls on May 16.

In his Facebook post, Chandy said Modi had kept mum on the controversy and what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the election campaign rally without answering my questions. It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from Malayali community world over," the senior Congress leader said.

In a hard-hitting letter, Chandy had lambasted Modi recently for comparing Kerala to Somalia, saying he has insulted the state.

He had also requested Modi to show some "political decency" by withdrawing the statement as they are "baseless and contrary to ground realities.

"The people of Kerala, whose self-pride was wounded by the Prime Minister's statement, expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence. But it didn't happen," Chandy said in his post, adding that Keralites still hoped he would withdraw his 'Somalia' remark.

Balakrishnan, who is CPI-M state secretary, said, "Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state."

Referring to Modi's Somalia remark, Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power.

He said "Gujarat Model" development projected by the BJP was actually a false propaganda.

"It was the first communist government formed in 1957 that laid the foundation for the development path of the state with its policy on land reforms, education, health and also in other sectors," Balakrishnan said.

Taking a swipe at Modi, the CPM leader said whichever states that went to polls where Modi led the campaign as Prime Minister, BJP suffered defeat.

"In Kerala also, the same thing is going to happen. The BJP is not going to open an account in the state this time also", he said.  PTI
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 12

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena will reach Delhi tomorrow on a two-day visit. He will meet PM Narendra Modi and is expected to discuss a host of bilateral issues.

After the ouster of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was inclined more towards China than India, hopes were high that under Sirisena, the India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship would be strengthened. India was also hopeful that the Lankan embrace of China would decline with the exit of Rajapaksa. But the latest reports do not provide India any comfort.

The most worrisome sign is Sri Lankas decision to give China the go-ahead for building a $1.4 billion port city in its capital Colombo. After Rajapaksas ouster, the project was put on hold by Sirisena but the recent decision to go the China way again should raise serious concerns in New Delhi. The Chinese have also expressed interest in building a special economic zone (SEZ) in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. Colombo has said that it wants to turn the port of Humbantota into another Shenzhen.

Sirisena is visiting India at the invitation of Modi and will address the valedictory session at the Vaicharick Mahakumbh being held as part of the Simhastha Mahakumbh in Ujjain on May14, a press release issued by the government said.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, May 12

Amidst the fierce electoral battle in Kerala, a war of words today broke out between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for taking credit for evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.

The political fight erupted a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has evacuated the families from Libya and that the Centre was committed to work for welfare of Indians living abroad. Kerala goes to polls on May 16.

Modi is already under mounting attack from the Opposition parties for his controversial comment in an election rally comparing Kerala and Somalia while talking about the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state.

Read: Expect unconditional apology from PM over Somalia remark, says Chandy



A total of 29 Indians have been evacuated from Libya out of which 16 are from Kerala and they reached Kochi this morning.

"Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?

"Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya,'" Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

The External Affairs Minister, who is recuperating in AIIMS where she was admitted on April 25, blamed Chandy for triggering the debate.

"Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ?

Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens," she said in another tweet.

Earlier, Chandy said the state government is bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel.

"Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel," Chandy said.

In an election rally, Modi had yesterday said "Our government has saved six families and evacuated 29 people. The Indian government is committed to working for people who go abroad to work. We have always tried to help them. It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to tell you that they are coming back and will be united with their families soon," Modi said.

A total of 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached Kochi this morning.

Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the hospital had decided to leave the area.

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

"I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan," said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham.

Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office, there was no help.

"There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs 9 lakh to buy tickets.

"Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said.  PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 12

The much-awaited southwest monsoon is not just on time but could very well be a little early, according to private forecaster Skymet. While Indias official forecaster IMD is expected to issue its prediction on monsoon onset dates soon, Skymet on Thursday said monsoon may hit the southern-most tip of the Indian subcontinent  the Kerala coast  between May 28 and 30, with an error margin of two days.

The official arrival date of monsoon in Kerala is June 1.

As per Skymet Weather, monsoon will arrive over Andaman and Nocobar Islands between May 18 and May 20. It will reach Goa on June 7 and Delhi around July 1. Arrival in Chandigarh is expected on July 2 and Punjab July 5. Present weather conditions are indicating a promising beginning of Monsoon 2016, which is likely to usher in with a bang, the Skymet said.

Two years of consecutive drought has hit the country severely. According to reports, the drought is expected to impact the Indian economy by at least Rs 6,50,000 crore and about 33 crore people in 256 districts spanning 10 states. Poor monsoon has resulted in grave water shortage and serious challenges to human, agriculture and animal survival in the country.

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Water levels in critical reservoirs have hit a new low. Though the foodgrains production in the country will be higher during the 2015-16 Crop Year than that achieved in the last year, it will be largely on the back of wheat crop.

Most of the other crops, including rice, pulses and oilseeds, have taken a hit and are showing a decline in production, according to the Third Advance Estimates released recently.

Overall, the total foodgrains production during 2015-16 is estimated at 252.23 million tonnes, higher by 0.21 MT over 252.02 MT achieved during 2014-15. Estimated at 94.04 MT, wheat production is higher by 7.51 MT than 86.53 MTachieved during 2014-15.

However, rice production in 2015-16 is estimated at 103.36 MT, lower by 2.12 MT than 105.48 MTachieved during 2014-15. Pulses at 17.06 MT during 2015-16 is also marginally lower than the previous years 17.15 MT.

With a decline of 1.6 MT over the previous year, oilseeds production during 2015-16 is estimated at 25.9 MT.

Coarse cereals at 37.78 MT are lower by 5.08 MTas compared to production of 42.86 MTduring 2014-15.

Estimated at 346.72 MT, sugarcane production is lower by 15.61 MT than 2014-15. Cotton is estimated at 30.52 million bales (of 170 kg each), which is also lower by 4.28 million bales than 34.805 million bales during 2014-15, and so is jute. At 9.92 million bales (of 180 kg each), jute is lower by 0.70 million bales than 10.62 million bales during 2014-15.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday assertions that an Iranian missile programme represented a threat to the United States' NATO partners in Europe were unfounded, RIA news agency reported.

A US missile defence shield in Romania is on the verge of being activated almost a decade after Washington proposed protecting NATO from Iranian rockets. Russia firmly opposes the missile shield.

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R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 12

The Centre and Punjab sparred in the Supreme Court today over the validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004 as arguments concluded on the Presidential Reference on the issue.

Arguing for Punjab before a 5-member Constitution Bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave, senior advocate RS Suri pleaded that the Centre had cheated the state by implementing the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal accord only in part. The other members of the Bench are Justices PC Ghose, SK Singh, AK Goel and Amitava Roy.

The Centre was yet to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab and enact an All India Gurdwara Act as envisaged in the accord, but had forced Punjab to give 3.5 million acre feet (MAF) of water from Ravi and Beas rivers to Haryana, a non-riparian state which had demanded only 2.14 MAF, Suri contended.

He pleaded that the SC opinion on the 2004 reference would not be binding on the parties. Making it binding would render the Punjabs plea for a fresh tribunal meaningless. The tribunal was necessary to decide the eligibility and entitlement of each state to share the Ravi-Beas waters, going by the rights of riparian states and the reduced flow in these two rivers.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said Punjab could not defend its 2004 Act as well as seek a fresh tribunal. Declaring the Act valid would render meaningless the two SC judgements for completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, meant for Haryana to draw its share of water, as well as Punjabs plea for a fresh tribunal. If Punjab wanted to terminate its water sharing agreements, where was the need for a tribunal, he asked.

Rajasthans senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan said Ghaggar river that flowed through the state was part of the Indus basin and as such his client should be treated as a basin state. Punjab, however, said this contention had already been rejected by the expert panel of Rama Prasad.

Suri clarified that Punjab was honouring and would continue to honour its commitments to upper riparian states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, besides Chandigarh. Appearing for Himachal Pradesh, senior advocate JS Attri said his client had no quarrel with Punjab if its interests were protected.

Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, representing Delhi, said it had nothing to do with the dispute and only wanted an assurance that the city would continue to get its share of river water. Advocate Sunil Fernandes said Jammu and Kashmir supported Haryanas stand against the Punjab Act.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Bench allowed all the states to file their written statements. The SG clarified that the Centre would not be filing anything as it had taken a neutral stand on the issue since 2004 when the reference was made.
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 12

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Kerala police chief to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General to probe wife-swapping and sexual abuse allegations of a woman against her husband and five other naval officers.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, however, rejected the alleged victims plea for a CBI probe, observing that this could be done only if there was any real apprehension that the state police would not do its job.

Married in March 2012 to a naval officer posted in Kochi, Sujatha Ravi Kiran lodged a complaint against her husband, parents-in-law and sister-in-law alleging physical and mental cruelty, besides levelling sexual abuse charge against the five naval officers and the wife of one of them.

Sujatha also pleaded with the SC to transfer the accused naval officers petitions for quashing the complaint against them from the Kerala High Court to the Delhi HC. The apex court Bench, which included Justices R Banumathi and UU Lalit, also rejected this plea, but asked the Kerala State Legal Services Authority to nominate a senior counsel to represent her in the HC.

The SC noted that the Kerala police had filed an affidavit that there was no laxity in the investigations being conducted by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. As many as 71 witnesses, including her friends and doctors, had already been examined. Also, the probe was being monitored by the HC.

The facts and circumstances in which the offence is alleged to have been committed can be better investigated by the state police, the Bench held.

The apex court directed the SIT to complete the probe within three months and clarified that the HC could go into the officers plea for quashing the FIR against them in the light of the outcome of the investigations.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 12

A day after Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh wrote to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, seeking the Centres intervention for rescuing eight Gurdaspur youths stranded in Malaysia, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modis help.

In a letter to the PM, Bajwa said the eight youths  Surinder Singh, Vinod Kumar, Davinder Singh, Anil Kumar, Kulbir Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Rohit Kumar and Sahil Sharma  were victims of a human trafficking racket and had been duped of huge sums by travel agents.

After undergoing immense suffering at the hands of their employers, they escaped from captivity and have now taken refuge in a gurdwara in Malaysia. Kindly direct the Indian Embassy officials there to render help to rescue the stranded youths and get them safely back to India, said Bajwa, a former Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur.

Bajwa said he would raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
Kuala Lumpur, May 12

Malaysias government said on Thursday that two more pieces of debris, discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island off Mauritius, were almost certainly from Flight 370, which mysteriously disappeared more than two years ago with 239 people on board.

The announcement means a total of five pieces of debris from the Malaysian Airlines jet have now been discovered in various spots around the Indian Ocean since it vanished on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the two new pieces were an engine cowling piece with a partial Rolls-Royce logo and an interior panel piece from an aircraft cabin. This was the first interior part found from the missing plane.

An international team of experts in Australia who examined the debris concluded that both pieces were consistent with panels found on a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft, Liow said.

As such, the team has confirmed that both pieces of debris from South Africa and Rodrigues Island are almost certainly from MH370, he said in a statement.

In March, investigators confirmed two pieces of debris found along Mozambiques coast were almost certainly from the aircraft. Last year, a wing part from the plane washed ashore on Frances Reunion Island.

Flight 370 is believed to have crashed somewhere in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean about 1,800 kilometers off Australias west coast. An ongoing search has found nothing so far. Authorities had predicted that any debris from the plane that isnt on the ocean floor would eventually be carried by currents to the east coast of Africa.  AP
Rome, May 12

The Italian Parliament has approved same-sex marriages in a confidence vote, ensuring that the civil unions bill will become law.

After the approval on Wednesday, landmarks across Rome from the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain lit up in colours of the rainbow, representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender - LGBT community, to celebrate the historic decision, CNN reported.

The vote was approved by 369-193.

Its a day of celebration for many. For those who feel finally feel recognized, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote on his official Facebook page.

For those who had trouble sleeping tonight, for those who for days have wondered where to celebrate, for those who simply couldnt wait anymore, he added.

Renzi made special mention of Alessia Bellini, a Florence councillor, who worked with the prime minister when he presided over the province.

Bellini was openly homosexual and died in 2011 after losing her battle with cancer.  IANS
Islamabad/Dhaka: In a tit-for-tat, Pakistan and Bangladesh both summoned each other's envoys today, as the row over execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for 1971 war crimes escalated. Bangladeshi envoy Nazmul Huda was summoned to the Foreign Office a day after Pakistan issued a statement expressing sadness over the "unfortunate hanging". Hours later in Dhaka, Pakistan's High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the Foreign Office where he was handed over a strong note verbale. PTI

Two more pieces almost certainly from MH370

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia on Thursday said the two more pieces of plane debris found in South Africa and Mauritius "almost certainly" belonged to its jetliner flight MH370, bringing the total number of fragments believed to belong to the missing aircraft to five. Today's announcement brings to five the total pieces of plane debris from MH370 discovered from various spots around the Indian Ocean. MH370's disappearance is one of the world's biggest aviation mysteries. PTI

No visa-free travel for Turks if EU conditions not met

Berlin: Europe will not grant visa-free travel to Turks if Ankara fails to fulfil its end of the deal, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said, after Turkey's president flatly refused to meet a key EU condition. The EU had dangled the promise of visa-free travel to Turks as part of a landmark March deal between Ankara and Brussels under which Turkey would help reduce the flow of migrants. AFP

UK announces major overhaul of BBC

London: Britain today announced a major overhaul of public service broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) amid fears that the government was threatening the independence of the 94-year-old institution. The changes unveiled in a new white paper include plans to trial a subscription-base model over the years as well as have more differentiated programming aimed at specific audiences, including ethnic minorities. PTI
Washington, May 12

The Obama administration has recognised the concerns of lawmakers with regard to sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and those are right now being taken into consideration, a top American diplomat told Congress today.

We understand the very serious concerns that has been raised by the Congress and those concerns are right now being taken into consideration, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on South Asia.

I do not have an update for you on with respect to that notification and where it goes. But I will say that we recognized the concerns that Congress has raised with us, Biswal said.

During the hearing Congressman Matt Salmon Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific praised the Obama Administration for taking into the strong viewpoint of the Congress and its lawmakers with regard to sale of eight F-16 to Pakistan.

It looks that that sale is in kind of a limbo right now, he said.

We have a very important relationship between the United States and India. We also have a very important between the United States and Pakistan. Each relationship stands on its own merit in furtherance of our goals and interest in both countries. We do not see them in any way as a zero sum, Biswal observed.

The F-16 platform is the one we have felt has been used successfully in combating terrorism. That has been the basis on which the administration put forward the notification to provide an additional eight F-16s, Biswal said.

This (opposition to sale of F-16 to Pakistan) was across the aisle. This was not just Republicans or Democrats. This was across the aisle and a lot of concern that was expressed to end to its credit the administration I believe is taking those things into account, Salmon said.  PTI
United Nations, May 12

Raking up the issue of Kashmir in the UN, Pakistan said denial of fundamental human rights to Kashmiris is an injustice and the failure to address prolonged outstanding disputes would be seen as double standards practiced by the world body.

Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said at a General Assembly debate on peace and security that it is the duty of the global community to ensure UN resolutions on the issue are fulfilled.

Sovereign equality of nations, settlement of international disputes by peaceful means and avoidance of the use or threat of use of force are fundamental principles entrenched in the UN Charter, said the Ambassador.

The UN, however, will be seen to practice double standards if it continues to condone military aggression or foreign interventions, ignore persisting situations of foreign occupation and denial of the right of self-determination to people living under occupation and also if it fails to address prolonged outstanding disputes, she said here yesterday.

The Ambassador said the United Nations was created with the very purpose to prevent and stop these injustices  injustices such as the denial of fundamental human rights to the people of Palestine and Kashmir.

Isnt it our collective and solemn duty to keep the promises made to them through numerous resolutions of this body? How can this body command the respect it deserves if its own edicts are flouted, she said.

Lodhi added that UN member nations need some introspection as to why the Security Council is reluctant to refer legal disputes to the International Court of Justice.

And if we have no credible answers to these questions except the imperatives of realpolitik, the world at large will view the United Nations as little more than a political tool in the hand of the powerful few. This impression would hardly inspire trust, she said.

Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue of Kashmir at various UN platforms but India has strongly asserted that references to Kashmir by Pakistan in UN fora is unwarranted and constitute a clear interference in its internal affairs.  PTI
Ankara, May 12

Turkey has fufilled the required 72 criteria to meet a visa deal with the European Union, Ankaras minister for EU affairs said on Thursday, adding that it was unacceptable for Turkey if the deal was postponed unfairly.

Volkan Bozkir also told a news conference in Strasbourg that Turkeys next steps would be decided in line with instructions from President Tayyip Erdogan. Bozkirs comments were broadcast live on Turkish television.  Reuters
A blaze was put out early on Thursday at the historic Darb Al-Ahmar area and the Cairo governorate headquarters amid an ongoing series of fires that Egypt's capital has witnessed this week

A fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday at an apartment block in the Al-Darb Al-Ahmar area in the historic Islamic quarter of Old Cairo, a day after another blaze burnt a number of shops at a historic market in the same neighborhood.

The blaze, the latest in a series of fires reported in the capital over the past three days, left two people injured, according to Ahmad Ansary, the head of the Egyptian ambulance authority.

Early on Wednesday, flames swept through at least four textiles shops and 10 small stalls at the historic market at Ghouriya area, in the same neighborhood, injuring two.

Antiquities officials said the fire did not harm historical buildings in the area, a major hub of Egypt's Islamic history.

The Cairo governorate headquarters also witnessed significant fire on Thursday that was soon contained.

The fire took place in the housing directorate office with no casualties reported except for five employees who suffered from suffocation and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Late on Wednesday, Egypt's interior ministry said firefighters put out flames that burnt a vehicle outside the court complex of the High Judicial Court in central Cairo.

The fire left no casualties, the ministry said in a statement reported by state news agency MENA.

Repeated fire incidents since Monday, including a major blaze that engulfed downtown Cairo's busy commercial area of Attaba, have raised doubts among residents and vendors of foul play.

The Attaba fire, which firefighters struggled to extinguish for two days, killed three and injured over 90.

Initial losses are estimated at EGP 400 million (approx. $45 million) after the fire engulfed around 240 shops and dozens of stalls.

The government said it would give the families of those killed a compensation of EGP 10,000 (approx. $1,100) and EGP 2,000 (approx. $225) to the injured.

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KILIS (Turkey), May 12

Turkish artillery pounded Islamic State targets in northern Syria overnight and the US-led coalition carried out air strikes, killing 28 militants near a Turkish border town repeatedly hit by rocket fire, Turkish military sources said.

The artillery strikes near Kilis, north of the Syrian city of Aleppo, started at about 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) and ended in the morning, the sources said. Intelligence reports had suggested the militants were preparing attacks, they said.

The air strikes destroyed a two-storey building used by the militants as a base, along with 11 fortified defensive positions, they said. The Turkish and coalition operations targeted an area about 10 km (6 miles) south of the border.

Turkeys armed forces have stepped up attacks on Islamic State in Syria in recent weeks after rockets fired by the group repeatedly landed in Kilis, in what appeared to be a sustained and deliberate assault. More than a dozen hit the town last week alone.

Gunfire and occasional blasts from across the border could be heard on Wednesday from a hill in Kilis, which is home to more than 1,00,000 Syrian refugees.

Abdullah Karasu, a Kilis resident who works in a packaging firm, said he came to the hill every day to watch the action on the other side of the border, partly because it was a safer place to be than in the town centre.

I am not going to work anymore because the office is closed due to the rockets, he said, standing with his son. Fewer rockets had landed in Turkey over the past three days, perhaps because of the military response, he said.

But I doubt its finished ... This silence is ominous. Its almost as unnerving as the rockets landing, he told Reuters.

NATO member Turkey was initially a reluctant partner in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State and faced criticism in the earlier stages of the Syrian war for failing to stop foreign fighters crossing its borders and joining the militant group.

But it has suffered several attacks blamed on the radical militant group, including two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year. Those attacks targeted foreign tourists, killing a total of 16 people, most of them German and Israeli.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkeys armed forces had killed 3,000 Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, where Turkish soldiers are training local forces to fight the insurgents. He did not give a time frame.  Reuters
The US told an Egypt-chaired United Nations Security Council meeting that attacking journalists and suppressing political dissent fuels violent extremism, in what was regarded as covert criticism of Cairo

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said during a press conference that US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Powers comments about jailed journalists were not directed at Egypt.

"It is important that we keep a focus and that we send a clear message and do not confuse issues related to the battle against terrorism with other issues," he told reporters.

Asked about the perceived crackdown on dissent and the possible release of journalists, Shoukry said that all prisoners are in jail based on an "independent judicial" decision.

He said that those detained face accusations of contravening laws or carrying out "violent activities."

"We uphold the freedom of expression, we uphold the freedom of journalism," Shokry said, claiming that the country's press outlets are "totally free to express their views."

The United States told an Egypt-chaired United Nations Security Council meeting that attacking journalists and suppressing political dissent fuels violent extremism, in what was regarded as covert criticism of Cairo

"Arresting journalists, sentencing reporters to death, treating media as an enemy of the state - such actions are thoroughly counterproductive," said the US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power.

The remarks to the 15-member council were seen as a swipe at Egypt's administration, which has been criticised for the recent arrests of journalists.

Egyptian security forces earlier this month raided the country's Journalists Syndicate and arrested two journalists, a move that sparked outrage among the media and critics.

A total of 29 journalists are currently behind bars in Egypt, with some facing charges of spreading false news or aiming to topple the state, according to the country's Journalists Syndicate.

Power said that counter-terrorism measures "should never be used as an excuse to suppress political dissent."

"There is a clear and vast difference between responding tolegally prescribed exceptions and broad-based attempts to silence government critics," Power said, without specifically referring to Egypt.

"Such behavior doesnt prevent violent extremism  it fuels it," she said.

Her comments came during a debate on countering terrorism ideologies chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, whose country holds the council's presidency for May.

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The daily paper's owner has, for the first time in over 12 years, addressed readers to criticise his own paper's coverage of the ongoing row between the press and police

The owner of Egypt's independent El-Masry El-Youm daily criticised his own paper's take on the recent crisis between journalists and the interior ministry that was triggered by a police raid on their union earlier this month.

In a first since the daily's founding over 12 years ago, Salah Deyab wrote an editorial where he criticised the newspaper's political coverage of the ongoing row between journalists and police.

"I believe El-Masry El-Youm has deviated from its [founding] principles of independence and professionalism in following up on the recent crisis between the press syndicate and the interior ministry," read the front-page editorial in Thursday's print edition.

Earlier this month, police raided the syndicate in downtown Cairo and arrested two journalists, a move that sparked outrage among media outlets.

The two journalists are accused of publishing false news and inciting to overthrow the regime.

A general meeting held days later by the union and attended by over 2,000 journalists resulted in a list of demands at the head of which was the dismissal of the interior minister.

El-Masry El-Youms chief editor, Mohamed El-Sayed Saleh, said his paper would abide by the union's demands and wrote an editorial last week addressing President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in which he denounced the raid and attacks on journalists.

Deyab, however, said the paper has "taken political positions not at the core of its work or professionalism" by demanding the dismissal of the interior minister and an official apology from the presidency.

"The paper intertwined with the syndicate, adopting its stances entirely without criticism and based its editorial stances on one side."

The paper's online edition has, until today, run a slogan at the website's header reading "No to gag orderNo to restricting Journalism," in accordance with one of the decisions by the syndicate referring to a prosecutorial gag order into publishing news about the journalists arrest.

A logo bearing the same slogan had been emblazoned on its print edition for several days following the meeting, but has since been removed.

The papers website also ran camera negative photos of the interior minister, as did numerous outlets in the country, in a sign of protest.

Deyab concluded his column by vowing not to repeat the paper's mistake.

"El-Masry El-Youm holding onto its independence and professionalism is required today more than any time before."

Local media on Thursday quoted Deyab as saying that he "has not been subjected to any pressure" from authorities to backtrack on his paper's position.

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The Friedrich-Naumann Foundation announced earlier this year that it was closing its office in Egypt over strict government restrictions

The German foreign office summoned on Thursday the Egyptian ambassador to discuss the closure of a German foundation's office in Cairo earlier this year.

The foreign office said in a statement that State Secretary Markus Ederer discussed with ambassador Badr Abdel-Ati the possible reopening of the Friedrich-Naumann Foundations office, which is linked to the liberal Free Democrats Party.

The statement stressed that the German government will continue its support of the important work of German political foundations in Egypt with appropriate measures.

The statement also said the foundations "need to be able to do [their work] in an environment of increasing political pressure on civil society."

According to its official website, the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation aims to promote the goal of making the principle of freedom valid for the dignity of all people and in all areas of society, both in Germany and abroad.

The Friedrich-Naumann Foundation said on its website that it had moved its main office to Jordan in 2014, but kept a small office in Egypt, which was later closed.

The foundation announced in January that it was closing the Egypt office because of strict government restrictions.

Many international rights groups and NGOs have closed shop in Egypt over the past few years, citing growing government restrictions on their day-to-day operations.

This story has been edited by Ahram Online

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The opposition is calling for public disclosure of the legal advice given to former Attorney General Faris Al Rawi relating to the indemnity agreement with Vincent Nelson.

Speaking at the UNCs weekly Sunday media conference this morning, MP Saddam Hosein also criticized what he sees as the law associations delayed and weak response to the entire matter.
The return of Shaun Micallefs Mad as Hell pulled out 692,000 viewers last night, rising above the finale for The Weekly seven days earlier. Strictly speaking its not a timeslot win, if only because Reality shows wrapped around 8:45pm.

MasterChef won its slot with 965,000, well ahead of its competition with Big Bang appearing to suffer from inconsistent scheduling. ACA was particularly strong for Nine along with Today. Even SBS enjoyed a rise last night. But Seven News led the charge for a network win.

Seven network won with 29.1% then Nine 24.7%, TEN 21.6%, ABC 17.2% and SBS 7.3%.

Seven News was #1 with 1.07m / 1.01m for Seven then House Rules (786,000), Home and Away (778,000), The Chase (683,000 / 447,000) and Criminal Minds (558,000).

Nine News (1.06m / 1.02m) was best for Nine then A Current Affair (971,000), The Big Bang Theory (764,000 / 619,000) and Hot Seat (602,000). The Footy Show was 228,000 in 3 cities and The Secret Life of the Zoo was just 198,000 in 3 cities.

MasterChef Australia won its slot with 965,000. The Project was 646,000 / 484,000, TEN Eyewitness News was 518,000, Long Lost Family was 464,000. The last ever episode of The Good Wife was 266,000.

ABC News led for ABC with 793,000 then Shaun Micallefs Mad as Hell (692,000), 7:30 (678,000), QI (535,000), The Legend of Gavin Tanner (370,000), Antiques Roadshow (312,000) and Would I Lie to You? (218,000).

On SBS 24 Hours in Emergency (294,000) and The Story of China (284,000) were ahead of SBS World News (155,000) and Bosch (151,000).

Lewis on 7TWO scored 274,000.

Today: 365,000

Sunrise: 312,000

ABC News Breakfast: 102,000 / 58,000

OzTAM Overnights: Wednesday 11 May 2016
TEN Executive General Manager and Gruen panelist Russel Howcroft will be appointed Chairman of Think TV, a new body comprising both Free to Air commercial networks and Foxtel.

Modelled on the UKs Thinkbox, it is designed to promote TV as a powerful advertising platform against online competition.

With a budget around $5m, a CEO for the body is yet to be announced.

While Netflix has attracted plenty of media since its launch a year ago, broadcast television still has a far greater reach in delivering a message to a mass audience.

Source: News Corp
The mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are meant to aid in the fight against terrorism, according to a US embassy statement

An initial shipment of mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles from the United States arrived in Alexandria on Thursday for delivery to Egypt's security forces, the US embassy in Cairo announced Thursday evening.

"Today's delivery is the first batch of a total 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States will transfer to Egypt," said the statement.

The new vehicles, originally designed for US military operations in Afghanistan, will be used to combat terrorism in the region, according to the US embassy statement.

"This delivery of MRAPs is part of the US Department of Defenses Excess Defense Articles grant program, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to the government of Egypt," the statement added.

The US embassy senior defense official in Cairo, Major General Charles Hooper, was quoted in the statement as saying that the delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the US and Egypt.

In its fight against terrorists in North Sinai, hundreds Egyptian security personnel have been killed by roadside bombs.

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1:27 p.m., May 12, 2016--University of Delaware students will hold a memorial service honoring the late student Matthew Rosin at 6 p.m., Sunday, May 15, in Mitchell Hall on the campus.

Mr. Rosin died March 23 as a result of injuries he suffered in October 2015, when he was struck by a bicyclist on the Trabant University Center patio while working a SCPAB event.

Doors for the service will open at 5:30 p.m., and participants will be able to sign a memory book.

The service will include a memorial video and friends will share their personal stories and memories of Mr. Rosin.

After the memorial service, a candlelight vigil will be held on The Green, with an open microphone where all are invited to share their memories.

In addition, LiveLifeLikeMattyRo bracelets will be sold for $1, with all profits going toward an award that SCPAB (the Student Centers Programming Advisory Board) is creating in Mr. Rosins honor.

For more details, visit the special Facebook page for this event.
This NASA artists rendition shows the four MMS spacecraft in formation as they collect data on magnetic reconnection.

2:05 p.m., May 12, 2016--For the first time, scientists are looking at real data  not computer models, but direct observation  about what is happening in the fascinating region where the Earth's magnetic field breaks and then joins with the interplanetary magnetic field.

They don't know exactly what this new window of science will open to us  that's the thrill of discovery and, for some, the scary part, too.

But enormous amounts of data now are arriving daily  and publicly accessible  from NASA's $1 billion Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, called MMS for short, which was launched in March 2015.

It's a giant leap for plasma physics.

University of Delaware professors Michael Shay and William Matthaeus, both in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, are among scores of scientists involved in the project, which aims to understand magnetic reconnection, a process that produces powerful phenomena including solar flares and large releases of plasma from the sun's corona. (See video in which they discuss the mission.)

On May 12 on its website, the journal Science published the team's first analysis of data received from the MMS sensors. Shay is among 52 listed authors, with J.L. Burch of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, the principal investigator.

The list of represented institutions includes NASA, half a dozen universities in the United States, and research programs in the United Kingdom, Austria, Sweden, France and Japan.

Shay says the single event analyzed in the Science article showed more similarities with simple simulations than many scientists expected to see. But this is one event out of thousands, Shay stressed, so it is just the beginning.

"This is going to dominate my research field for many years," Shay said. "And we'll still be looking at the data in 20 years."

Shay's primary contribution is in calculating and defining the parameters of the regions the team is studying  the electron diffusion regions, areas where the Earth's magnetic field breaks and reconnects with the interplanetary magnetic field. It is in those regions that scientists hope to learn how reconnection occurs.

Using four identical spacecraft, flying in formation, the MMS Mission makes it possible to get high-resolution measurements of the particles and the electric and magnetic fields at the electron scale, with time stamps marked in milliseconds.

To do it, the spacecraft sensors gather measurements of the plasma and the electric and magnetic fields within a very narrow (2-kilometer) and fast-moving area (50 kilometers per second) where the Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind meet. Those areas are called electron diffusion regions. Magnetic reconnection, which releases kinetic energy and heat, is most likely to be observed in those regions.

Understanding the area where the reconnection occurs has been, until now, a matter of computer modeling and laboratory work. With these instruments now on duty, direct observation is possible.

But no one knows what the mission might ultimately reveal.

"This mission really reinforces the notion that science is a collective process," Shay said. "Discoveries of this magnitude are not often driven by breakthroughs by a single individual, but instead by many scientists collaborating together."

Shay and Matthaeus both were at Cape Canaveral, Florida, to witness the mission launch in March 2015. Four identical spacecraft went into orbit, where they now fly in formation collecting data.

Each is equipped with an array of instruments including plasma analyzers, energetic particle detectors, magnetometers, electric field instruments, and a system that prevents the spacecraft's charging process from interfering with those measurements.

After several months of calibrating and verifying the data during the commissioning phase of the mission, the scientific process started in September, with high-resolution data arriving in significant quantities.

Only about 4 percent of the data collected can be transmitted back to Earth, so making wise choices about what to download is an essential part of the process. It is a two-step arrangement, with an automated system in place to recognize certain patterns as significant and a "scientist-in-the-loop" who does an additional evaluation and selection.

The first phase of the mission is focused on what is called the magnetopause area, the place where the force of the sun's solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field are balanced. The second phase will focus on the far side, what is known as the geomagnetic tail.

By mid-December, the spacecraft had crossed the diffusion region more than 2,000 times, and researchers believe at least half of those crossings were made during magnetic reconnection events. It is in that area that magnetic energy is converted to particle kinetic energy.

"All in all, the data we have gotten so far has just been astounding, Burch said at the time. Now we're sifting through those observations and were going to be able to understand the drivers behind magnetic reconnection in a way never before possible."

Shay said the scientists had regular teleconferences for several months to talk about  and sometimes argue about  how to interpret the data and met in San Antonio, Texas, in early November for a few days.

Magnetic reconnection has been explored many times in the past, but never at the high time/space resolution that the MMS Mission offers.

"On one hand, you have an expectation about the way things will be," Shay said, "but measurements of nature are always surprising, with new physics that we didnt or even couldnt anticipate.

That's the thrill and the challenge of science, he said.

"You think you have an idea that can explain things and the next day you might get information that says that whole idea is wrong. As with any creative process, it's both exhilarating and sometimes honestly frustrating. It's very exciting, not necessarily comfortable. But it is wonderful working with all of these scientists  just a pleasure."

Article by Beth Miller

Illustration by NASA

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson
UD alumna Nicole Montanez was invited to speak to students on the same study abroad program she participated in 10 years prior.

8:42 a.m., May 12, 2016--Ten years had passed since Nicole Montanez sat in an overly warm conference room at the Courtyard hotel in South Africa. Back then, she was a sophomore business major, studying abroad on a joint program led by Norma Gaines-Hanks, associate professor of human development and family studies, and Francis Kwansa, associate professor of hotel, restaurant and institutional management.

In January 2016, she found herself standing in the same room, in front of 25 students on the same program. It was amazing, said Montanez. I loved being able to share advice with UD students in the exact position Id been in.

Montanez was so inspired by her experience abroad that she changed her major to human services. She worked with the Institute for Global Studies to take advantage of a partnership with the University of Pretoria (UP) and returned the fall of her junior year to study for six months.

Upon graduating from UD, she was chosen as one of six students to complete an intensive masters degree program in social work and health at UP, where her research focused on learning about the behaviors of young street workers who earned their living in the sex industry.

After her program, Montanez returned to the U.S. for a few years, working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, but her heart was in South Africa.

She returned to the country she loves, and now serves as a research evaluations consultant at the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender at the University of Pretoria. Her research includes a project that focuses on seven different interest areas affecting the street population and allows her to meet with a variety of groups in the community, as well as observe and understand how students respond to education on topics including HIV education and life skills courses.

If you have the passion and drive to do something, even if it takes you on a long road, you will get there, Montanez told the UD students.

UD helped her find her passion

Montanez first discovered her interest in research as an undergraduate, observing preschoolers at UDs Lab Preschool.

I found it very interesting to watch what the children were doing while sitting in an observation room where I could write everything down in profound detail. I picked up on things that my other classmates did not, and I began to understand how applied research could be implemented, said Montanez.

Crediting many professors and internship opportunities, Montanez said that without their support, she would not be where she is today. And she was happy to give back, talking to a new group of Blue Hens.

It was wonderful to share my experience with the students and professors Gaines-Hanks and Kwansa, said Montanez. They had such a hand in creating this opportunity for me and introduced me to something that has become such an important part of my life.

She advised the students to research what their options are. When you find out what you want, it will hit you like a ton of bricks, Montanez told them. Be patient with yourself and others, and hold on to positive relationships. Youll figure out how to make it work.

She is an incredible young woman who has done amazing work in trying to help reduce the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa, said Taylor Ryan, a senior human services major. Not too long ago she was in our exact shoes. She made the conversation so relatable and also made me feel as though no dream was unattainable.

Montanez admitted that, 10 years ago, as an undergraduate student sitting in that warm conference room, she could not have predicted her lifes work would be educating individuals with HIV/AIDs.

It is a tremendously difficult situation. Helping people overcome the stigma of HIV/AIDs is both the biggest and greatest challenge of my career. But, she continued, Though the job comes with trials and tribulations, hope is the biggest reward.

Article by Elizabeth Adams

Photos courtesy of Francis Kwansa
11:42 a.m., May 12, 2016--Every May, some University of Delaware students pack up to leave campus for the summer; some are leaving campus as newly minted graduates.

As students complete their papers and finals and say goodbye to friends, move out activity is dispersed between the last day of classes on Tuesday, May 17, and the last final exam period on Thursday evening, May 26.

Students are required to check out and leave the residence halls within 24 hours of their last exam.

However, students should know that they are welcome to apply for a late stay through Friday morning at 10 a.m. without cost, said Kristin Rolnick, housing systems coordinator with Residence Life and Housing. For students who are graduating, or those who are working or volunteering for Commencement, they can also apply to stay until 6 p.m. Saturday at no charge.

To request a late stay, students should complete the Late Stay Spring 2016 application in the Interim Housing section of the My Housing portal, available through May 25.

Full information about late stay options is available here.

Students living in traditional residence halls must check out of their current assignment with a Residence Life and Housing staff member in their residence hall, including turning in their keys and access fob.

Now is a good time for students to report any maintenance issues to Facilities, Real Estate and Auxiliary Services via the online Fix It form, said John Schwander, supervisor in Facilities Maintenance and Operations.

Students must remove all of their belongings from their current room assignment and leave their room in good condition.

Very soon after move out, residence halls will be used for Alumni Weekend and summer camps and conferences.

As students leave, they should remember that cars parked in the fire lane must always have a licensed driver in attendance with the vehicle, said Jenni Sparks, manager, Parking Services. Parking and loading/unloading are prohibited on certain city streets, including Academy Street.

Additionally, University Police warns that students should continue to use crosswalks and be vigilant of their safety when walking, as there are likely to be many drivers in the area unfamiliar with campus.

More information about spring move out can also be found on the Residence Life and Housing website.

Article and photo by Tabitha Groh
Naimisha Movva, winner of the Outstanding Partnership award as a Biology Living Learning Community Peer Mentor, smiles with George Read/Ray Street Complex coordinator, Dillon Kimmel.

Sophomore Alicia Fox received the Student Initiated Program of the Year award for her Independence Complex event, Coffee House.

8:39 a.m., May 12, 2016--With over 100 nominations for 10 different award categories, University of Delaware Residence Life and Housing has announced the official winners of its Student Leadership and Service Awards.

These awards are an opportunity for Residence Life and Housing to highlight the important contributions UD students make within their residence hall communities.

Winners were recognized with certificates and custom mugs at a banquet held on May 6. Winning and nominee biographies are featured on the Student Leadership and Service Awards web page.

First-year Taylor Briggs received the Connection to the Residence Life and Housing Mission and Values award.

This award recognizes a student who embodies the Residence Life and Housing values  excellence, stewardship, inclusion, community, students and partnership  and mission to make positive contributions to their residential community.

The Biology Living Learning Community Peer Mentors  seniors Naimisha Movva, Sharon Buchbinder, Lindsey Szymanski and Katie Dillon  in the George Read/Ray Street complex received the Outstanding Partnership award.

This award recognizes an individual, organization or department whose work and efforts to collaborate have contributed to enhance the residence hall experience through day-to-day interactions with students in the residence halls.

The Community Service Initiatives of the Year awards went to the Residence Life and Housing Alternative Break Trick or Treat and Central complexs bi-weekly service event.

The award recognizes a community-service oriented program of the academic year that was developed and executed primarily by residence hall students.

Both C4 Make and Take Reusable Canvas Bags and the Redding/Gilbert Clothes Lines project were awarded the Environmental Sustainability Initiative award.

This award recognizes an initiative created by residence hall students to promote and enhance environmental sustainability on campus within the residence halls, within the local community or state of Delaware, and possibly beyond.

The Multicultural Initiative award went to the International Talent Show and Different Perspectives of Peace events.

This award recognizes an initiative created by residence hall students to promote and enhance multicultural awareness on campus within the residence halls, within the local community or state of Delaware, and possibly beyond.

The Central complex Night with a Model and Independence complex Coffee House both won Student Initiated Program of the Year.

This award recognizes programs and events that are student initiated and implemented in the residence halls which foster community building and student engagement. These programs can include but are not limited to Student Initiative Fund (SIF) and You + 2 events.

The Neighborhood Empowerment Team (NET) Leader of the Year is a first-year award that recognizes an individual who has served in a leadership capacity in their current NET and has demonstrated leadership towards the NET goals and missions above and beyond what is expected.

This year, the award was presented to seven first-year students: Natalie Rubin, Brian Lindner, Margaret Dickinson, Sarah Del Valle, Nicole Malhotra, Jessica Byrne and Ronald Swanston.

The Community Chair of the Year award recognizes an individual who has served in a leadership capacity in the community chair role and has demonstrated leadership to their floor community. This upper division award was given to sophomore Benjamin Von Stetten and junior Antonina Tantillo.

Sophomore Alicia Fox and first-year Zeynep Mamak received the Citizen of the Year award. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to their community above and beyond what is typically expected of residential students. These residents are great role models, good neighbors, and have positively impacted the residential experience of those around them.

The Community of the Year awards, one each for first-year and upper division, went to Warner third floor and Ray Street C2.

This award recognizes any community  floor, multiple floors, building, complex, special interest housing or living learning communities  whose individual members have been significantly involved in the growth and development of the community.

Article by Niki Reagan
Fans attending the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Reggio Emilia will have the bonus of seeing a spectacular display by the Frecce Tricolori, the aerobatics display team of the Italian Air Force.

Reggio Emilia is where the Italian tricolour flag was first displayed in 1947; indeed, Wolfsburg and Lyon will meet for the trophy at the city's appropriately-named Citta del Tricolore stadium. The Frecce Tricolori, formed in 1961, will do their display above the stadium ahead of the final on Thursday 26 May.

Frecce Tricolori

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Group ticket (11 people or more), Family tickets (2 adults/1 child or 1 adult/2 children), Senior (over 65), Student (under 16): 8 per person (inc 1 for Best Union)

Disabled: free of charge including accompanying person

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Individual ticket: 7 (inc 1 for Best Union)

Group ticket (11 people or more), Family tickets (2 adults/1 child or 1 adult/2 children), Senior (over 65), Student (under 16): 5 per person (inc 1 for Best Union)

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Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
President Petro Poroshenko has lauded the personnel of the Border Guard Service and Military Prosecutors Office who completed a successful search operation to intercept a collection of 17 valuable paintings stolen from the Municipal Museum in Verona, Italy, the press service of the President reports.

"These paintings are jewels in the collection at the Museum of Verona. Today, this brilliant operation has proven to the world how effectively Ukraine has been combating contraband, including smuggling of works of art, as well as its anti-corruption measures," said Poroshenko.

He noted the total value of the collection, according to the documents provided by the Border Guard Service and the Military Prosecutors Office, exceeds 16 million euros at present.

The President asked the leadership of these agencies to make proposals to award the staff who was involved in the operation.

The Head of State has ordered deputy head of the Presidential Administration Kostyantyn Yeliseyev contact the Italian partners and invite experts to authenticate the paintings and agree on formalities relating to their transfer.
Militants launched 15 attacks on the positions of ATO troops in eastern Ukraine in last day.

This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center.

In particular, the enemy used grenade launchers to shell Ukrainian positions near Popasna (90 km north-west of Luhansk).

Small arms and grenade launchers were used by the terrorists to fire at Ukrainian strongholds outside Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk).

The pro-Russian illegal armed groups also used automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, 82mm and 120mm mortars, prohibited under the Minsk agreements, to shell ATO positions near Avdiyivka (18km north of Donetsk).

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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir flew to Uganda Thursday, state media reported, in his first visit to Kampala since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged war crimes in war-torn Darfur.

The rare-two day visit to Uganda -- a signatory of the Hague-based International Criminal Court -- is aimed at boosting often-fraught ties.

Relations have been strained for years amid accusations that both Khartoum and Kampala support rebel groups in each other's country.

But after South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, ties improved slightly, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visiting Khartoum last year.

"President Omar al-Bashir has left for a two-day visit to Uganda," the official SUNA news agency reported.

Sudan has previously accused Uganda of backing rebel groups in the south before independence as well as in Darfur.

Kampala for its part has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group from Uganda.

Even now several leaders of Sudanese rebel groups from Darfur reside in Uganda.

Experts say Bashir's visit is part of his strategy to enhance relations with neighbouring countries in an attempt to curb their influence on rebel groups in Darfur and other conflict-hit regions of Sudan.

Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies.

Darfur has been gripped by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region.

Bashir launched a brutal counter-insurgency, in which at least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million forced to flee their homes, according to figures released by the United Nations.

He is accompanied on his visit to Kampala by Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the head of the powerful National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohamed Atta, along with other senior Sudanese officials.

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The Russian Federation has been carrying out subversive activities against Ukraine by supporting terrorism in Donbas for more than two years.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, said this during the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ukraine has been a victim of aggression of its neighbor, Russia, for more than two years. Russia temporarily occupied and tried to illegally annex part of the territory of Ukraine  the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia continues to carry out hostile and subversive activities by supporting terrorism in Donbas," the Ukrainian diplomat said.

Yelchenko stressed that Moscow was using a variety of hybrid war technologies, including financing of terrorism, to promote the ideology of the so-called "Russian world."

"This neo-imperialist ideology allows and facilitates violations of international law and human rights, commission of serious crimes, including acts of terrorism," the Ukraines envoy said.

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Canada and Norway will hold talks today on their future programs of support for reforms in Ukraine.

As an Ukrinform correspondent learnt from the Canadian Foreign Ministry press office, this will be discussed during a meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Dion and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, which will be held in Ottawa on May 12.

"The ministers will discuss ways to support Ukraine's progress on the path to a stable, democratic and prosperous future," the press office noted.

The Canadian Foreign Ministry added that the diplomats would also discuss "the fight against ISIS, the protracted crisis in Iraq and Syria and migration processes in Europe."

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The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called for an end to repressions against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea, ministrys spokesperson Mariana Betsa wrote on Twitter.

Again there were searches in occupied Crimea. Persecution, intimidation of Crimean Tatars. We urge the occupant to stop repressions, she wrote.

Betsa also added that international organizations should have the access to occupied Crimea for the permanent monitoring of the situation with human rights.

Earlier, on Thursday morning, Head of the Central Election Commission of Kurultay of the Crimean Tatar people Zair Smedlyayev reported about searches of at least five houses of Crimean Muslims in Bakhchysaray. Also, there were reports about a search of a local cafe. According to employees of the cafe, two buses with armed law enforcers arrived there.

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Turkey is preparing to "clean" the Syrian side of the border of Islamic State militants after a Turkish border town came under repeated deadly rocket attacks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

"We are doing all the necessary preparations to clean the other side of the border because of the problems in Kilis," Erdogan said amid persistent speculation of a possible Turkish cross-border ground operation, without giving details on the preparations.

Around two dozen people have been killed in the Turkish border town of Kilis by rocket fire from IS group militants since January, prompting the army to respond with artillery fire.

Turkey, a member of the US-led coalition battling IS group militants, also allows US jets to use its air base in southern Turkey for air strikes on the extremists.

But Erdogan complained that Turkey was not receiving the support it desired from its allies in the fight against IS group militants and indicated Ankara was prepared to take unilateral action.

"While our citizens fall martyr every day in the streets of Kilis by rockets launched from the other side, what can we expect from our allies?" he said.

"Let me say it here. We will not hesitate to take needed steps on our own if necessary," he said.

Turkish media reports have indicated a 20-strong Turkish military team crossed into Syria over the weekend on a reconnaissance mission to seek out IS group launchers to target in artillery strikes, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Erdogan said what happens in Kilis would be a "litmus test" to show the anti-IS coalition's sincerity in dealing with the threat.

"We do not believe the sincerity of any country that has not seen rockets falling on our town as if they fell on Moscow, London, Brussels, Washington, Paris or Berlin," he said.

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Islamic State (IS) group militants, including two suicide bombers, killed four Libyan soldiers and wounded 24 in their latest foray into territory controlled by the UN-backed government, the army said Thursday.

Wednesday evening's attack on a highway checkpoint in the desert interior comes after the militants thrust west along the Mediterranean coast from their stronghold of Sirte last week, overrunning a major crossroads.

The checkpoint at Saddada lies 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the Abu Grein crossroads and marks a new advance into territory held by forces loyal to the unity government in Tripoli.

"Two suicide bombers, one in a vehicle and one on a motorbike, blew themselves up at the checkpoint where troops had gathered and clashes then broke out between our forces and IS fighters," a spokesman for the anti-IS operations command told AFP.

Libya's LANA news agency said the ensuing fighting lasted six hours.

Abu Grein, where the highway along the Mediterranean meets the main road south into the desert interior, lies 120 kilometres south of Misrata and its capture by IS prompted militia in Libya's third city to mobilise.

Saddada is just 100 kilometres from Misrata.

It is 190 kilometres from Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi which IS overran in June last year and has since transformed into a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants.

With its port and airport, there are fears the militants could use the city as a staging post for attacks on European soil.

The IS capture of the Abu Grein crossroads on June 5 was its first expansion to the west of Sirte and has led to hundreds of families taking flight from the neighbouring town of the same name.

The militant group controls zones to the east of its Mediterranean bastion.

The group is estimated to have about 5,000 fighters in Libya, and it is trying to attract hundreds more.

Western powers including the United States, Britain and France have openly considered international military intervention in Libya against IS.

They have expressed strong support for the new unity government which has slowly asserted its authority in Tripoli since the end of March.

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Liberias maternal mortality ratio is one of the highest in the world, with 1,072 maternal deaths for every 100,000 births. Learn how in one rural community, UNICEF-supported trainings on home-based maternal and newborn care saved the lives of a mother and her baby.



KONOBO, Liberia, 12 May 2016  Deep in the heart of Grand Gedeh County, Liberia, a newborn baby lies on a bed in the Konobo rural health centre. She is wrapped in a red and black lappa  a traditional Liberian cloth  and nurses and midwives come over periodically to check on her.

A nurse explains to me that she was not breathing after birth and had to be resuscitated. Being a doctor myself, I know how crucial these first golden minutes of a babys life are. While positioning the stethoscope on her little body, I listen to her heartbeat. I breathe a sigh of relief  her heartrate is a stable 110 beats per minute.

The babys mother lies close by, but she is bleeding and in great pain. She had a retained placenta after giving birth, and all attempts at helping her are failing. Suddenly, she collapses, suffering from shock. The nurses and midwives manage to resuscitate and stabilize her, but they decide to transfer her and her baby to the better-equipped main hospital in the county capital Zwedru, where they will receive advanced care.

The Konobo health centre is more than 50 kilometres from the nearest hospital, reachable only by a rugged, unpaved road. Even four-wheel drive vehicles have difficulty navigating these roads during the dry season, but access is even harder during Liberias six-month-long rainy season, when the roads turn to soggy mud and ensnare most vehicles. Luckily, an ambulance is available and the mother is quickly transported to the hospital with her baby, where the medical team are able to remove the remaining placenta and give her a blood transfusion. The baby is given oxygen, and both are checked on regularly. Both survive.



Reversing the trends in maternal mortality

This is just one instance in which quick action and skilled medical personnel are able to save the lives of mothers and newborns. While this may sound routine in many parts of the world, it is unfortunately not as common in rural Liberia. With 1,072 maternal deaths for every 100,000 births, Liberia has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths (25 per cent). The neonatal mortality rate is 26 for every 1,000 live births, and one in every 11 Liberian children dies before reaching her or his fifth birthday. Moreover, children in rural areas are more likely to die young compared to children in urban areas.

UNICEF is working to reverse these trends by collaborating with the Government of Liberia and other partners to increase access and availability of high quality and cost-effective health care for mothers and babies. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and County Health Teams, UNICEF is conducting trainings on home-based maternal and newborn care and on helping babies survive. Participants include almost 550 Trained Traditional Midwife (TTM) and general Community Health Volunteers (gCHVs) in Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Sinoe Counties  some of the most underserved areas of Liberia.
More than 20 percent of Syria's Palestinian refugees have fled the country and its five-year war, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency said on Thursday.

"Before the war, there were 560,000 Palestine refugees. We estimate that currently about 110,000 to 120,000 have left the country," UNRWA chief Pierre Krahenbuhl said on a visit to Damascus.

"There are about 45,000 who went to Lebanon, 15,000 to Jordan," he said.

"The others -- therefore almost half of those who have left -- have travelled, we presume, through Turkey and then to a variety of other countries.

"Some of them will be in Europe. We know of Palestine refugees who have reached parts of Asia. We know of some who have reached Latin America."

Syria is home to 12 refugee camps, three of them unofficial, according to UNRWA.

Before the war, some 160,000 mostly Palestinians and Syrians lived in the district of Yarmuk in southern Damascus.

But the once thriving suburb has been devastated by conflict since late 2012 and UNRWA cannot access the camp to distribute aid to some 6,000 remaining residents.

"UNRWA will not give up its efforts to try to find ways to have this type of access in the future but in the meantime we are... concentrated on providing the assistance that we can in the neighbourhoods directly beside Yarmuk," Krahenbuhl said.

"The situation for Palestine refugees and civilians inside Yarmuk remains extremely desperate -- very, very difficult."

Last month, the Islamic State (IS) group had almost evicted rival Al-Qaeda militants from Yarmuk, according to a Palestine Liberation Organisation official.

Syria has hosted hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since their ancestors fled their homes since 1948, and the successive Israeli assaults on Palestinians ever since.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.

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With intentions to help, a group of student volunteers are willing to do all they can for their peers in need. Thousands of student have already joined the volunteer squad to lend a helping hand to fellow students.

Around 10,000 students are volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs). According to Dr. Scott Savett, spokesman for the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation, these student volunteers are on more than 250 college campuses across the country.

There has been a considerable increase in the number of students volunteering as EMTs and paramedics lately. Campus squads are growing too, Dr. Savett noted.

These ambulance corps, however differ in size as well as scope - While several of them are independently run student organizations, some are part of the respective college's public safety department, and few of these are a part of the locality's volunteer squad. This, however does not stop the zealous student volunteers from working as a team for the benefit of their campus communities.

These dedicated volunteers leave behind their personal lives and rush to help in situation such as a car crash, a chemistry lab accident or an allergic reaction - these volunteers offer help to students in need, even if they're someone they've never met.

Although their roles as student volunteer EMTs demand sacrifices, these dedicated volunteers enjoy their service.

Drexel University's student-run volunteer EMS organization comprises nearly 65 members and it holds a license to give first responder service on the Philadelphia-based University's campus. The squad, however is unable to transport patients by itself and so it calls for an ambulance from the city's fire department when a patient needs to be rushed to the hospital.

A sophomore nursing major at Drexel University, Jennifer Rios volunteers for her campus' squad.

Happy with her decision to join Drexel EMS in my freshman year, Rios told USA Today College this was one of the best decisions she has ever made.

Drexel's volunteer EMTs not only receive support and guidance from the campus's public safety department, but they also get medical direction from the university's medical school and a local hospital.

Noting about her involvement in collegiate EMS, Rios said the best part about it is the ability to make a difference in the community and being there to lend a helping hand to peers in need. Although her participation in collegiate emergency medical services demands a lot from her as a student, Rios said knowing their efforts will ensure more safety on the campus is what keeps her and others in the squad going.

Rios also pointed out that through volunteering, she came across some of the most warm-hearted and committed people.

The student volunteers reap rewards for their service in forms of free or reduced-price housing and tuition to student first responders, however their motivation is clearly helping their peers in need.
The allegation come in to senses when Saudi Student Association President Abdullah Aldossari of Idaho State University (ISU), said in his Facebook account that a Kuwaiti student was harassed in his quarters and stabbed last Sunday. This is the second attack on an ISU Middle Eastern student in just the past month. The suspects warned the victim that if it said anything to the authority, they would return to kill him, Aldossari added.

According to KPVI, Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand confirmed that the incident allegedly happened on Sunday and clarified that it took place on private housing not on ISU's campus. Although there was a delay in receiving the report, the police remains tight lipped on other information for safety of the victim.

Just a month ago, a Middle Eastern student was stabbed in the arm while walking along South Fourth Avenue across ISU. That incident was discovered during a public assembly at the Pocatello mosque by the student victim of the stabbing, ISU Journal reported.

Meanwhile, ISU issued an official statement addressing accusations that the university is covering up reports concerning student safety and security. The university said that the allegations are false. In reply to concerns of student safety on university campus, the administration has tightened the security through increased campus patrols, implemented the use of unmarked motor vehicles for detection purposes and deployed 24-hour active monitoring of the more than 750 surveillance cameras on campus. Video surveillance program are still in the process of expansion.

ISU is annually ranked as one of the safest campuses in the US and will continue to remain a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff, ISU statement continued.
Union Pacific Plans to Invest $70 Million in its Kansas Rail Infrastructure

Union Pacific plans to invest $70.9 million in 2016 to improve Kansas' transportation infrastructure. The company's multi-million dollar private investment will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency. Freight railroads like Union Pacific operate on track built and maintained without taxpayer funds. Union Pacific's private investments sustain jobs and ensure the company meets growing demand for products used in the American economy.

Union Pacific's planned investment covers a range of initiatives: $65 million to maintain railroad track and $5.7 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

$9.2 million investment in the rail line between Kansas City, Leavenworth and Hiawatha to replace more than 67,000 railroad ties and install 44,080 tons of rock ballast.

$6.1 million investment in the rail line between Atchison and Huron to replace 12 miles of rail.

This year's planned $70.9 million capital expenditure in Kansas is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2011 to 2015 Union Pacific invested more than $262 million strengthening Kansas' transportation infrastructure.

"We constantly evaluate our customers' needs to make targeted investments that enhance our efficiency and deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily," said Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president - Public Affairs, Northern Region. "Continuing to aggressively invest in our infrastructure is an important element in Union Pacifics unwavering safety commitment."

Union Pacific plans to spend $3.675 billion across its network this year, following investments totaling approximately $33 billion from 2006-2015. These investments contributed to a 25 percent decrease in derailments over the last 10 years.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.
A vehicle exploded near a military facility in Turkey's biggest city of Istanbul on Thursday, wounding seven people, the local mayor said, the latest in a spate of bombings this year.

The explosion hit Istanbul's Sancaktepe neighbourhood, near a military airfield on the Asian side of the city and well removed from its historic centre.

The blast, which sent a large plume of black smoke up over the streets, hit around 5:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT), when military personnel usually leave the facility to go home, broadcaster CNN Turk said.

"Our citizens are being treated at the hospital. Seven people have light injuries due to shattered glass, six of them soldiers, one civilian," Sancaktepe mayor Ismail Erdem told CNN Turk.

Turkey has been hit by a series of bombings this year, including two suicide bombings in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State (IS) group and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group.

A NATO member and a candidate to join the European Union, Turkey is participating in the US-led coalition fighting IS group in Syria and Iraq and is also battling a militant insurgency in its largely Kurdish southeast region.

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, has claimed responsibility for two other car bombings this year, both of them in Ankara.

The first, a car bomb that targeted soldiers, killed 29 people in February. The second, at a transport hub a month later, killed at least 37.

TAK says it split from the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state, but experts who study the militant groups say they retain close links.

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Aug. 19, 2022

Fitness. When the average citizen thinks of being fit, it is easy for cardio and strength training to come to mind. That is not the case for those serving in the Air Force and Space Force. Comprehensive Airman Fitness teaches that to have overarching fitness and resilience, one must work on his or
A Saudi woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for "acts of sedition" including pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) militant group, newspapers reported on Thursday.

A court in Riyadh issued the sentence against the unnamed 27-year-old on Wednesday, the Saudi Gazette said.

But Al-Hayat daily reported that the judge decided to keep her in jail for only three years after she expressed "regret" for her "acts of sedition" and suspended the rest of the sentence.

She will however also be banned from travelling abroad for six years, it added.

The woman was convicted of pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the IS group which has seized territory in Iraq and Syria.

IS has claimed attacks in Saudi Arabia against members of the minority Shiite community and the Saudi security forces.

She posted messages on Twitter supporting a deadly attack on security forces, and hung posters at a mosque and on utility poles to seek the release of a suspected militant, Saudi Gazette said.

She also reportedly called for disobedience against the kingdom's rulers.

Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led coalition bombing IS in Iraq and Syria.

Saudi political and religious leaders routinely denounce IS attacks -- at home and abroad -- as contrary to Islam.

Still, a report last year by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force said Saudis comprised the second largest nationality among "foreign terrorist fighters" with IS.

Saudi police on Monday shot dead a suspected militant in the western province of Taif a day after one of their colleagues was killed in a shootout, the interior ministry said.

On May 5, another police officer was shot dead and four suspected militants were killed during a raid in an area between Taif and the region of Mecca, home to Islam's holiest sites.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Arts management connects people to art, passion

Zach Larson, like many students, initially was drawn to the arts management program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point because he enjoyed theater and performing in high school.





What he and others have learned is that arts management is much more about people and connections to art, rather than about art itself.

I never knew art could be such a powerful learning tool, Larson said.

Arts management combines business and communication skills with creative arts. Arts managers are responsible for financing and marketing, developing programs, managing facilities, writing grants and managing personnel to support artists and arts agencies.

I think the breadth of the field surprises many students, said Jim OConnell, assistant professor of arts management. OConnell brings plenty of real-world experience to the role he assumed at UW-Stevens Point in 2014. He served as executive director of the Performing Arts Foundation, Inc., Wausau, managing the historic Grand Theater, for 22 prior years.

Art is not a thing, OConnell said. Its what happens when a work of art and an audience meet. It can be as fleeting as a chuckle or sigh. Or it can be as long-lasting as a life transformed.

Arts management students learn the business constraints that apply to financing, producing and promoting the arts. Often these are nonprofit organizations, so marketing and fund-raising skills are valuable.

Jobs in art management may include working with an orchestra, opera company, music ensemble, museum, art center, theater, dance company or arts facilities. A number of students recognize they are not artists but have a real affinity for the arts, OConnell said.

Larson was involved in the production of Willy Wonka with the Playhouse Theatre Group in Stevens Point last spring, and this summer he will work as a teaching assistant at the Children's Theatre Co., in Minneapolis. It is the largest children's theater in North America.

.

I found I liked working with kids. I loved writing and collaborating with groups, said Larson, of Stillwater, Minn. I feel I really make a difference in childrens lives.

Arts management is a deeper side of public relations, Larson said. Part of the art is knowing how to motivate people to get involved, to connect with what they care about most. He finds this enormously satisfying.

I thought it was about art. Its all about people, Larson said.

UW-Stevens Point had the first arts management undergraduate program in the state, and is considered the best in Wisconsin, according to Best-Art-Colleges.com.

About 100 students major in arts management, with 20 to 25 graduates annually, OConnell said. About half have a dual major in the performing arts, a communication emphasis or business.

Each student has three field experiences. They begin interning with a local organization, such as the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, Childrens Museum or an arts group at UW-Stevens Point. Then, they explore other organizations of interest, which have included an opera house in Oshkosh, a dance festival in Australia and an art center in the Smithsonian.

Externships are the final project. About one-third of arts management students choose to complete one in London, where UW-Stevens Point works with an educational services firm to place students based on their interests. They gain valuable experience with performance theaters, museums or art galleries, to name a few.

Arts opportunities are coming back, OConnell said. People are recognizing arts as the other basic need. They are using arts to engage in social issues. Theyre using arts as a medium to improve lives and expand opportunities.

Larsons dream is to own a nonprofit childrens center for the arts, a childcare facility with activities focused on creativity. There are so many things I can do with an arts management degree.

UW-Stevens Point makes me want to be a better leader, he said. Arts management makes me want to be the one on the board making those tough decisions. It makes me want to be a leader in my community.




By Heather McDonald

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) dignitaries and state Gov. Scott Walker hailed the new UWSP Science Building as a commitment to the Stevens Point campus, its staff, students, curriculum and the future during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, May 5.

Its more than just a science building, said Christopher Cirmo, dean of the College of Letters and Science. Its a commitment to higher education in central Wisconsin  it will become a hive of activity on this campus.

Cirmo recognized several people involved in moving the $75 million project forward, many of whom were present, including state representatives; local officials connected with the city, county and businesses and councils; and Walker.

This has taken on a much greater meaning than just a science building, Chancellor Bernie Patterson said. We all have a role to play, and we all helped make this happen  thats whats so neat about this campus.

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UW Religion Today: Disney and the Cultural Translation of Religions

By Paul V.M. Flesher

As a father, I have seen lots of Disney films. In fact, the video age has enabled me to see, over my childs shoulder, LOTS of lots of Disney films. One point I have noticed is that Disney does not shy away from depicting religion, especially in movies set in cultures other than our European-based Christian heritage.

The film Pocahontas, for example, features a tree spirit as Pocahontas spiritual source of guidance and approval. The movie Hercules focuses on conflict among the Olympian gods of ancient Greece. And the film Mulan, set in China, not only features ancestor worship, but makes a minor god, the dragon Mushu, into Mulans main helper.

Whenever I see Disney films depict religion, the religion professor in me cringes. Indeed, every religion professor I know shudders when the topic of Disneys portrayal of religion comes up. Although Disneys depictions of human stories often bring in positive portrayals of religious beliefs and practice, rather than ignore religion altogether as often happens, these portrayals are so distorted by silly jokes, modern music and false information that they often become insulting to those who actually practice the religion.

So, should we just condemn Disney films as sacrilegious and argue that films should eschew religion altogether? Thats certainly no better.

Well, then, how about the purist solution, namely that religions should be depicted in their own social and cultural context? On the face of it, its a good idea. But, it is completely impractical in implementation, for each culture has its own ways and conventions about how to tell a story. Even in movie-making, which is a worldwide activity, stories made for a specific culture must fit that cultures shared expectations.

For example, in a Muslim society where strict physical separation of the sexes is practiced, a depiction of a mere touch between a man and a woman expresses far more erotic overtones than it does in American society.

To give another example, after teaching Buddhism for two weeks, I once showed a famous Buddhist film, called Why Has Bodhi Dharma Left for the East? This is not just any film, but one movie critics consider to be among the best films ever made. In my class, however, I had to stop the film in the middle and take an hour to explain what was going on. Trapped in their Western, Christian cultural perspective, the students struggled to follow the films storyline. In the end, few understood the movie well enough to answer the exam questions on it correctly.

So, what Disney has done in its depiction of non-Christian religions is the only thing it could do, namely to present one or two elements of an unfamiliar religion surrounded by our own familiar cultural forms.

A purist approach would leave American viewers unable to grasp what the unfamiliar religion brings to the film. Although this produces odd disjunctions and even false pictures, they are more understandable and fit American sensibilities better than a more accurate depiction. After all, the films Mulan and Pocahontas are about the stories of their central characters, not about religious difference in and of itself.

As a teacher of religions and, despite my cringing at the inaccuracies, I hope that films such as these provide viewers an intriguing taste of a religion other than their own, a taste that might lead them to pursue further information and become better informed. After all, in this information age, we meet people of different religions every day -- whether in person, by phone or online.

Flesher is a professor in the University of Wyomings Religious Studies Department. Past columns and more information about the program can be found on the Web at www.uwyo.edu/RelStds. To comment on this column, visit http://religion-today.blogspot.com.
The United States gave jeeps, communications technology and small aircraft to Tunisia on Thursday to help protect the border with Libya, where Islamic State (IS) group has gained ground and set up training camps, officials said.

The North African country was also expecting to receive a number of attack aircraft, Defense Minister Farhar Horchani said, though he did not give details on who would supply them.

Tunisia has already built a 200-km (120-mile) barrier along the frontier to guard against militants since gunmen trained in Libya targeted tourists in attacks on a beach hotel and a Tunis museum last year.

IS group also launched a major assault on the border town of Ben Guerdane in March.

US Assistant Secretary for Defense Amanda Dory said at a ceremony in Tunis that the jeeps, Maule light aircraft and a communication system between them would help Tunisian forces improve their monitoring of the border.

Horchani said the US package was worth around $20 million. The US ambassador said it consisted of 48 jeeps and 12 aircraft.

Western governments are giving Tunisia financial and military aid to support its young democracy, which they are holding up as a model for the region since its 2011 uprising ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

A small group of Islamist militants tied to al Qaeda is fighting in remote mountains near the Algerian border. Other Tunisian militants have split to join IS in Libya.

On Wednesday, four police were killed when a militant detonated his bomb belt during a raid on a house in Tataouine in the south. That and a raid in Tunis were part of an operation that stopped planned attacks on the capital, authorities said.

More than 4,000 Tunisians are thought to have left to fight for IS group and other militant groups in Iraq and Syria. Some are returning to join the group in Libya, threatening more attacks on Tunisia.

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An aid convoy was refused entry to Syria's Daraya Thursday, the Red Cross said, dashing hopes for the first such delivery since regime forces began a siege of the rebel-held town in 2012.

A truce in Syria's battleground city Aleppo expired, meanwhile, with no new last-minute prolongation after it had been extended twice through last-minute intervention by Moscow and Washington.

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

In the Damascus region, an aid convoy was refused entry to Daraya, which has been besieged by government forces since November 2012.

"We urge the responsible authorities to grant us access to Daraya, so we can return with desperately-needed food & medicines" outside the capital, said the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A five-truck convoy organised by the ICRC, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been due to deliver baby milk and medical and school supplies.

"Beyond allowing this initial convoy through, the ICRC and its partners need concerned authorities to let it provide other essentials such as food," said the ICRC.

A UN spokesman said it had decided not to go ahead with the convoy after "nutrition items" were removed from the convoy.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and the resident humanitarian coordinator had "decided to abort the mission to Daraya because of the removal of nutrition items for children other than vaccines from the UN convoy at the last checkpoint," said Stephane Dujarric.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and the resident humanitarian coordinator "decided to abort the mission to Daraya because of the removal of nutrition items for children other than vaccines from the UN convoy at the last checkpoint," said Stephane Dujarric.

One civilian died in regime shelling in Daraya on Thursday afternoon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In the northern city of Aleppo, emergency workers reported no deaths in eastern rebel-held areas since the local truce expired on Wednesday night.

But two civilians including a woman died in sniper fire on the divided city's regime-controlled west, said the Observatory.

That truce came after a spike in violence that killed more than 300 civilians on both sides of the city last month.

The meeting next Tuesday between world powers in Austria comes as jihadists have dealt a series of setbacks to President Bashar al-Assad's troops in the country's centre.

In Hama province, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate -- Al-Nusra Front -- and its allies Thursday captured Zara village, where most residents hail from the same offshoot of Shia Islam as the president, the Observatory said.

In nearby Homs, also central Syria, fighting has raged near the Shaer gas field -- one of the biggest in the province -- after the Islamic State (IS) group seized it from the regime last week.

IS also cut a main regime supply road between Palmyra and Homs on Tuesday, just weeks after the regime recaptured the historic city.

Assad's troops retook Palmyra with support from Russian air strikes on March 27 -- an achievement his regime celebrated with concerts in its ancient amphitheatre last week.

Al-Nusra and the IS are not included in a fragile nationwide ceasefire between the regime and non-jihadist rebels implemented in late February to set the ground for peace talks.

The last round of peace talks in Geneva reached a deadlock in April when the main opposition group suspended its participation over mounting violence and lack of humanitarian access.

Talks have also faltered over the fate of Assad, with the opposition insisting any peace deal must include his departure. But Damascus says his future is non-negotiable.

The head of Syria's main opposition group taking part in negotiations has told AFP forces fighting the regime need "actions, not words" from countries that support them.

"What we want are practical and effective measures on the ground. We don't need statements or pretty words in the media because that doesn't produce any results," said Riad Hijab.

He called for tougher action against Assad, who he claimed had effectively received a "green light" from Moscow and Washington to continue bombing civilian areas.

Millions have fled Syria's conflict since it started with anti-government protests in 2011.

These include 20 percent of Syria's Palestinian refugees, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency said Thursday.

Before the war, Syria was home to about 560,000 Palestinians whose ancestors fled the 1948 foundation of Israel and ensuing conflicts.

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Church News  October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in...

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The UN Security Council expressed outrage on Thursday at attacks on civilians and medical facilities in Syria and warned they may amount to war crimes.

Backed by Russia, Syria's ally, the council released the statement ahead of a key meeting in Vienna on Tuesday of the 17-nation International Support Group for Syria (ISSG).

World powers face the daunting task of shoring up a collapsing ceasefire, agreeing on a new date for peace talks and pressing for aid deliveries to areas crushed by starvation sieges.

International alarm has grown after a camp for displaced Syrians was hit by an air strike in northern Syrian and hospitals were hit by shelling and air strikes during fierce fighting in Aleppo this month.

Council members "expressed outrage at all recent attacks in Syria directed against civilians and civilian objects including medical facilities, as well as all indiscriminate attacks, and stressed that these actions may amount to war crimes," said the statement.

The council in particular stressed "the obligation to distinguish between civilian populations and combatants, and the prohibition against indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians and civilian objects.

Egyptian Ambassador Amr Aboulatta, this month's president of the council, said restoring the ceasefire was a priority.

"We have to really stand firm against any breach of this cessation of hostilities," he said.

"We are in contact with all the parties inside Syria and trying to find a way to secure the situation."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the ISSG meeting must lead to a return to the truce agreed between the United States and Russia at the end of February.

"What is important is that out of the ISSG come a recommitment to the cessation of hostilities," said Dujarric.

The Vienna meeting must ensure that "all those who sit around the table at the ISSG who have the ability to put pressure and to influence the fighting on the ground, put that influence to good use," he said.

The United States and its allies in Europe and in the Gulf blame the Syrian regime for the upsurge in fighting and have urged Russia to rein in Damascus.

Moscow accuses the US-led side of backing radical militants including groups fighting alongside the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front in Aleppo.

More than 270,000 people have died and half of the country's population of 22 million have been driven from their homes during the five-year war.

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Related Cameron warns Brexit threatens peace in Europe

A vote by Britain to quit the European Union might reignite conflict in Northern Ireland because it would re-erect a border through the country, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday.

"In the case of a 'Brexit', it won't be that the EU is simply a group of 28 countries minus one," Steinmeier told a debate on the future of Europe.

But it could unleash new dangerous dynamics, he suggested, pointing to the case of Northern Ireland.

The minister said that an Irish representative had once told him that the conflict in Northern Ireland was currently quiet "because there are no borders in Ireland."

But if the United Kingdom were to quit the EU, "there will be a border again between Ireland and Northern Ireland. And that could at least have the potential of rekindling a conflict that has seemingly calmed down," he said.

In 1998, the Good Friday peace agreement put an end to three decades of fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland during which more than 3,000 people were killed.

EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker told the same debate that a Brexit would be a catastrophe and said Europe needed Britain's pragmatism.

Juncker said he would not visit Britain ahead of the June 23 referendum, where polls suggest it could be a very tight vote.

"The European Commission is less popular in Britain than it is in Germany," he said, suggesting that "if the European Commission were to actively get involved in the referendum campaign, it could have the contrary effect."

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Contributed Photo/Mike McCauley Nick Bemrose (left) plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in "Amadeus" at the Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks, now through May 28.

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THEATER

Ventura County

"Amadeus": Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and inspiring the Academy Award-winning film, "Amadeus" tells the story of confronting mediocrity and genius through Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The play is directed by Conejo Players Theatre President Deidre Parmenter. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 28, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $16-$18. 495-3715; conejoplayers.org

"Anne of Green Gables": Young Artists Ensemble presents this play based on the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery that chronicles the adventures of a freckled, redheaded 11-year-old orphan girl. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 22, Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. $19 general admission, $16 seniors, students and children. 381-1246; yaeonline.com.

"Framed": Elite Theatre Company presents Richard Weill's courtroom drama about two defense attorneys who disagree on how to represent their high-profile murder defendant. 2 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, through May 22, 2731 Victoria Ave., Oxnard. $15. 483-5118; elitetheatre.org.

"The Pillowman": The Flying H Group Theatre Company presents Martin McDonagh's tale of a fiction writer living in a totalitarian state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories. Not suitable for children. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, May 13 through June 5, 6368 Bristol Road, Ventura. $10 opening weekend, $15 all other shows. 901-0005; flyinghgroup.com.

"Skylight": Ojai Arts Center Theater presents the award-winning Broadway drama written by David O'Hare and starring Ojai's Buddy Wilds and Anna Kotula. The play chronicles the aftermath of an affair between a man and his family's young housekeeper as an aromatic spaghetti dinner is prepared on stage. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 5, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. Free. 640-8797; ojaiact.org.

"In the Heights": The Tony Award-winning musical set in a neighborhood in New York's Washington Heights tells the story of a community on the brink of change. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 22, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. $24 general admission, $20 seniors and students, $18 children 12 and under. 583-7900; simi-arts.org.

"4,000 Miles": Santa Paula Theater Center presents the second show of its 2016 Main Stage Season of the Masters: Amy Herzog's Pulitzer Prize-nominated dramatic comedy about the relationship that develops between a 21-year-old man and his 91-year-old grandmother. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through May 22, 125 South 7th St., Santa Paula. $20 general admission, $18 seniors and students. 525-4645; santapaulatheatercenter.org.

"Men of Tortuga": Elite Theatre Company presents the Jason Wells play about four businessmen whose greed begets their own ruin and sheds light on real-life issues like surveillance, corruption and power. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 15, 2731 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard. $18 general admission, $15 seniors and students. 483-5118; elitetheatre.org.

Down south

"The End Times": Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights' Arena present Jesse Mu-En Shao's play about a young man who begins to question his devout religious faith when his best friend is cast out of their church. 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, through May 15, 1816  N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. $15-$34. 213-761-7061; skylighttix.com.

CLASSES

VENTURA COUNTY

African drumming class: Malik Sow, an African master drummer from Senegal, and Solo Soro, from Ivory Coast, lead a weekly class in West African drumming from 7:30-9 p.m. Mondays at Lightning Ridge Screen Printing, 4435 McGrath St., Ventura. Cost is $20 per class, and a drum can be rented for $5. For information or to arrange a drum rental, call 650-7455.

DANCE

Down South

Lil Buck: Accompanied by classical cellist Mihai Marica, celebrated dancer Lil Buck will perform his unique blend of ballet, hip hop and Memphis Jookin. 7:30 p.m. May 13-14, The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. $40-$80. 310-434-3200; thebroadstage.com.
Courtesy of Kim Ramseyer In "The Sandstorm," Sgt. David Casavecchia (Alex Matute) appears on stage to introduce the soldiers as they speak, providing continuity. The drama, playing now at Moorpark College, was written by Sean Huze, a U.S. Marine who served in Iraq.

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Iraq war veteran's searing play uses troops' words to bring the conflict home

By Rita Moran

Moorpark College stages the play, a series of monologues about the Iraq war written by a U.S. Marine who served there. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Oct. 25-27 in the college's Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. Tickets cost $6 to $16. For more information, call 378-1485 or visit http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/pac.

Actor Sean Huze stepped off the Hollywood track and into the U.S. Marines the day after Sept. 11, 2001. Sixteen months later he was in Iraq with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, a difficult assignment that left him with a stack of medals  and haunting memories.

"The Sandstorm: Stories from the Front," one of three plays Huze wrote about the experience, has resonated searingly with audiences since it debuted in 2004.

The play, a 70-minute piece built around the words of Iraq war veterans, is on stage at Moorpark College. Under the guiding hand of director Katherine Lewis, an impressive ensemble cast brings audiences face to face with the realities of war, the physical and psychological pain endured and the lingering effects. The young actors, who are about the same age as many of the men who have fought and died in Iraq, deliver the reminiscences with an honest array of emotions: triumph at killing an enemy, horror at killing at all, compassion for civilian deaths and injuries, pain at the loss of comrades, loneliness even among a cadre of fellow fighters. They speak with the blunt force of a language strewn with the F-word, and if ever there is a reason for using it, their battles through foreign streets among foreign customs and languages, in overwhelming heat, offers justification.

Each soldier's tale is different, and each personality. There are good old boys and street-smart kids, with a sprinkling of the more affluent and widely educated class. But their pain is shared. After evoking a horrific scene of death and destruction, a man concludes, "It's just the way it was." Another, recalling a virtual slaughter of civilians when seemingly trapped and unable to distinguish the shooters from the townspeople, remembers it as akin to "clubbing baby seals."

A medic recounts the incineration of a car, in which a man survived but his wife and children perished, burned beyond recognition. The Marine tended to the survivor while in a turmoil about the loss of the other family members, only to hear the man whisper "Thanks" to him for trying to help in Iraq. Others worry about becoming the "walking dead," or welcome the fleeting opportunity to feel human again, not like "some machine."

The play is introduced by a stream of TV talking heads  newscasters, analysts and politicians  screened on the rock-strewn stage, the commentary not quite loud enough to hear over the still-chatting audience. Somehow it seemed both a reflection of the vacuity of some of the words from many who had never been in combat, and of listeners who have long since tuned out the talk.

When the lights dim, Sgt. David Casavecchia (Alex Matute) appears on stage to introduce the soldiers as they speak, providing continuity. He ultimately tells his own story, about guarding a village and gradually establishing a bond with the people  until his battalion is abruptly ordered to move on, leaving behind people whose lives would again be thrown into disarray.

Matute exudes just the right balance of tension and compassion, and the remaining members of the cast deserve to be named: Sean Murphy, Alexander Janckila, Eddie Gates, Charles Burke, Mike Williams, Moris Fox, Ryan Windred, Daniel Iglesias and Nick Wohlner. They get the moods and gritty reality just right.

 E-mail Rita Moran at ritamoran@earthlink.net.
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One evening in 1881, a prospector named Henry Spiller knocked on the door of Aaron and Rosie Winters' cabin east of Death Valley and asked to stay the night.

After dinner, Spiller showed off a sample of "cotton ball," a semi-translucent rock formation containing borax. Spiller suggested that fortunes awaited those lucky enough to find a generous deposit of the stuff. He showed them how to test for the mineral's presence with alcohol and sulfuric acid. After Spiller left the next day, Aaron told Rosie he had seen similar material on the desiccated lake bed of Death Valley.

That morning, the couple collected samples of the opaque dirty white bulbous material from the desert floor. The story goes that "Winters put some of the salt into a saucer, poured the acid and alcohol on them, and with trembling hand struck a match." Watching anxiously, Aaron exclaimed, "She burns green, Rosie! We're rich, by God."

The story of 20 Mule Team Borax is the tale of a product that sat on a shelf in every household, offering an only-in-America promise that, by using this washing powder, immigrants could join the upper middle class.

Winters staked his claim in Death Valley and quickly sold his land for $20,000 to William Tell Coleman, who used mules to transport the borax 162 miles to a railroad spur in Mojave.

What later became infamous as "20 Mule Teams" actually had 18 mules and two draft horses. The animals were hitched to two massive wooden wagons with 7-foot-high rear wheels, carrying over 10 tons of processed borax apiece. The trip took 10 grueling days.

Coleman got so much borax out of Death Valley that the market crashed. In 1890, he sold out for $500,000 to Francis Marion "Borax" Smith, who capitalized on the lore and mystique of Death Valley by creating the 20 Mule Team brand in 1894.

Never mind that by 1896 borate ore from the region was shipped entirely by rail. The company created personalities like William "Borax Bill" Parkinson, who was hired and trained as a driver for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition and other promotional events.

Borax Bill, said an early brochure, spoke to his balky mules in language "that would not sound well in polite society." If it seems strange that housewives embraced the idea that a man with a dirty mouth would help them get their clothes clean and white, it helps to remember what hard labor laundry was before the advent of washing machines and sophisticated detergents.

The brand's popularity coincided with a push toward cleanliness and germ eradication. Besides being promoted as a laundry detergent, borax was touted as essential for hygiene and cosmetics  "a very popular powder for whitening the faces of ladies who are too much tanned, or have faded in some way."

The message that being clean  and paler  was the ticket to the American dream was almost explicit in advertising aimed at a big melting pot of recent immigrants. As ad executive Albert Lasker said in the 1920s, "We are making a homogeneous people out of a nation of immigrants."

In 1930, the company burnished its association with bygone frontier days, producing a radio show called "Death Valley Days." These Western morality tales ran weekly for 15 years on the radio and then another 18 years and 600 episodes on television.

Ronald Reagan hosted the program from 1964-65. In his ads hawking Borax, he is simultaneously a character of the Old West, a glamorous actor and the father of Patty Reagan, who shows how domestic Borax can be.

But what's probably given 20 Mule Team Borax its sticking power is that it speaks to the core American value of hard, dirty work  even if it only took 18 mules.

Kim Stringfellow is an artist and educator living in Joshua Tree. A 2015 Guggenheim fellow in photography, she is currently producing "The Mojave Project." For more information, visit kimstringfellow.com. She wrote this for What It Means to Be American, a partnership of the Smithsonian and Zocalo Public Square.
EU member states on Thursday approved a six-month extension of border controls in the passport-free Schengen zone, which were reintroduced in some places in response to the migrant crisis.

The European Council, which represents the 28 EU member states, backed last week's recommendation from the executive European Commmission.

The Commission had received requests for an extension from Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden as well as non-EU Norway, which is also a Schengen member.

Since 2015 several countries in the 26-nation Schengen zone have reintroduced border controls due to the worst migrant crisis since World War II -- effectively suspending its principle of open-borders travel.

EU rules say countries in exceptional circumstances can reintroduce border controls for up to two years, in periods of up to six months at a time.

"Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should maintain proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of six months," the council said in a statement announcing the extension.

"Border controls should be targeted and limited in scope, frequency, location and time," it said.

It added such checks should be limited to what is "strictly necessary to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security resulting from the secondary movements of irregular migrants."

Member states like Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden have said the attacks on November 13 in Paris and March 22 in Brussels also "demonstrated that terrorist groups are likely to try and take advantage of deficiencies in border controls."

The extended controls affect the land borders between Austria and three neighbours: Hungary, Slovenia and Germany.

Also affected are Danish ports with ferry links to Germany, the Danish-German land border, some Swedish harbours and the Oeresund bridge, and Norwegian ports with ferry links to Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

The Commission on May 4 said the extension of checks on some Schengen internal borders was justified because the bloc's external border in Greece was still not solid enough despite an EU-Turkey deal that has dramatically reduced the flow of migrants over the Aegean sea.

Greece was the main point where the more than one million asylum seekers -- mainly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans -- entered Europe last year.

The Commission backed the measure in line with its so-called "roadmap" for the restoration of the normal functioning of Schengen by the end of the year.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Bernie Luskin is interim chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District.

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By Jean Moore of the Ventura County Star

The district that oversees Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges has hired a search firm to help find its next chancellor.

The Ventura County Community College District board voted 5-0 this week to pay Professional Personal Leasing, or PPL, $29,000 to conduct its chancellor search. The company also conducted the district's search for Oxnard College's new president, Cynthia Azari.

But the Ventura County Community College District probably won't have a permanent chancellor in place for another year, board President Larry Kennedy said.

The district has had an interim chancellor, Bernie Luskin, since May 2015. In February, the board extended Luskin's contract for another year, so that it now expires in February 2017, with the option to extend it again. Luskin took the job after the board did not renew former chancellor Jamillah Moore's contract.
Santa Clarita Valley Signal Candidates for the 38th Assembly District meet for a forum Wednesday in Valencia.

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By Jim Holt, Santa Clarita Valley Signal

Making the Santa Clarita Valley a safer place to live, boosting the economy and prioritizing education are top priorities for the four candidates seeking the 38th Assembly District seat in June, the four said during a debate Wednesday.

Three Republicans and one Democrat took part in the candidates forum, which drew about 100 attendees early Wednesday. The event at Tournament Players Club Valencia was sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The 38th District encircles Simi Valley and branches north and east in a rough U that takes in a portion of northwestern Los Angeles as well as Santa Clarita, Castaic and Agua Dulce.

The candidates are vying to succeed Scott Wilk, a Santa Clarita Republican who is running for a state Senate seat.

Republican candidates at the debate were Santa Clarita City Councilman Dante Acosta; Jarrod DeGonia, San Fernando field deputy for county Supervisor Michael Antonovich; and former Los Angeles Police Department Detective Tyler Izen.

The lone Democrat in the race is Newhall School District board member Christy Smith.

Moderator Hunt Braly asked each candidate to adopt a "superhero" name tag during the event.

Acosta chose Batman, saying he related to the character overcoming challenges in his life and "perceiving."

DeGonia chose Superman, saying he sees himself in Sacramento fighting a much larger foe.

Izen created his own character: Captain Consensus.

"You know I've got to go with Wonder Woman," Smith said, promising to use the superhero's magic lasso on Sacramento politicians. "Whenever she used that lasso, they would have to tell the truth."

The candidates were asked to lay out their priorities for the district and then to address specific issues.

On priorities

Smith: "My No. 1 priority is protecting public eduction.

"Education represents 40 percent of our state's budget. And, if we're not sending someone to Sacramento who understands what best practices in education looks like, we are really doing a disservice to our public schools."

DeGonia: "My No. 1 priority is to protect all of you, and protecting small businesses' economic development is the key to prosperity.

"To get that done, I have the experience to go to Sacramento immediately."

Acosta: "For me, it's jobs and the economy. Without a good economic tax base, without people working, staying off the streets, staying in school, we will not have a successful society.

Izen: "My priority is public safety. We can't allow that to slip. And, as president of the second largest police association in the country, I know how to talk to both sides of the aisle and get things done."

On legislation

Candidates were also asked what legislation they would push to introduce the moment they arrived in Sacramento.

DeGonia: "I want to take advantage of legislation that is already law. And hold the Legislature more accountable for unelected boards that pass regulations.

"The resources already exist in law. There are regulations that are not even subject to review. We have the legislative tools in place to do that; we just need to take advantage of them."

Izen: "I will immediately go to work fixing Proposition 47 and AB 109. Prop 47 promised all of us that instead of incarcerating people, we would rehabilitate them. But we're not rehabilitating anybody.

"If any of you have ever encountered or have known people who have drug or alcohol problems, they are generally not that enthusiastic about treatment  until you make them or until they hit the bottom.

"We've got to fix that."

Smith: "I would introduce a bill calling for the accountability of all agencies of government.

"Bureaucratic intransigence is a very real problem which leads to government waste. I would like to see us, on a very regular basis, bring in the agencies for a full, top-to-bottom audit so that savings could be found."

Acosta: "What the first bill will be, named specifically  I couldn't tell you. But it's going to have something to do, very specifically, with jobs and the economy and bringing good jobs back to this particular district.

On transportation

Izen: "We need to go back to the budget, find the money and reallocate it for the transportation needs of this community and for all of California.

"Driverless cars are going to have a tremendous impact on transportation in the coming years. Transportation is just going to change dramatically.

"We have to stop high-speed rail because there's no money for that. There's money in the budget; we just have to find it."

Smith: "I would advocate for a review of the transportation plan. I am not an advocate of high-speed rail and I want the issue be returned to the voters.

"Let's divert what we would spend on high-speed rail, elsewhere."

Acosta: "We have to make sure that the gas tax money is being spent where it belongs and that it is not being siphoned off and used for other projects.

"We have to take a look at the boondoggle of high-speed rail, get it back into the hands of the voters ... and use that money for wonderful needed infrastructure projects."

DeGonia: "Eight billion dollars was the state budget surplus of 2015. Yet the governor called a special session for transportation. The Legislature decided not to use any of that $8 billion for transportation infrastructure.

"There has not been a single discussion on how to use that revenue."

Star staff contributed to this story.
CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR A handful of money retrieved from the inflatable money machine, set up by Saving Lives Camarillo. The group will bring the machine to Adolfo Camarillo High School's 25th Safe & Sober After Prom event on Saturday. To publicize the event, teachers individually entered the inflatable machine and grabbed money as it flew around, then drew names of teens who can enter the cash machine at the after-prom event. The money was recycled for use on Saturday night.

SHARE CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Adolfo Camarillo HIgh School students can buy tickets for the 25th Safe & Sober After Prom event, which will be held Saturday. 05/04/2016 Camarillo, CA CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Teacher Chris Quinn shows the cash he retrieved from the inflatable money machine set up by Laurie Jackson, behind, of Saving Lives Camarillo. This is the 25th year of Adolfo Camarillo High School's Safe & Sober After Prom event. To publicize it, teachers individually entered the inflatable machine and grabbed money as it flew around, then drew names of teens who can enter the cash machine at the after-prom event. The money was recycled for use on Saturday night. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Teacher Chris Quinn plays with cash in the inflatable money machine. This is the 25th year of Adolfo Camarillo High School's Safe & Sober After Prom event. To publicize it, teachers individually entered the inflatable machine and grabbed money as it flew around, then drew names of teens who can enter the cash machine at the after-prom event. The money was recycled for use on Saturday night. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Students Jason Zamudio, left, and Marco Ramirez purchase tickets to the after prom event, the 25th one for Adolfo Camarillo High School students.

By Michele Willer-Allred, Special to The Star

To some, prom is an important rite of passage for teenagers and a highlight of high school.

But to others, it can be an invitation to get intoxicated, which can lead to more trouble.

Adolfo Camarillo High School tackled this issue 25 years ago, and the Safe & Sober After Prom event that parents, teachers and volunteers came up with then is still a success  and one that's been copied by other high schools around the county.

This year, more than 300 students are expected to attend Saturday's event that starts right after the dance at Spanish Hills Country Club. From 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the Roxy Stadium 11 movie theater in Camarillo will be transformed into a party atmosphere.

Tickets can still be purchased for $20 at the door, and students do not have to go to the prom to go to the after-prom party. Students under 18 must get written permission from their parents to leave early, and students over 18 who leave early can't come back in.

Kim Dawson, president of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association, which organizes the event, said many of the graduates are now 18 and want to go someplace after prom, but many of those places serve alcohol. She said the event is held in lieu of unchaperoned parties where potentially harmful behaviors can occur.

"We try to give kids a safe environment where they can hang out, have fun and continue the celebration," Dawson said, noting that the event has grown in attendance every year, mainly because of social media.

The after-prom party includes music and dancing to a live DJ and food from local businesses, including Mission Oaks Cafe, Papa John's and Presto Pasta.

Teens can watch a movie, play games, relax in the Chill Zone, take photos in a photo booth, and enjoy a coffee and candy bar.

There will also be raffle prizes from various merchants throughout the community and a special senior gift to everyone in attendance.

The group Saving Lives Camarillo, which has a mission to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems among Camarillo youth, is participating. It also took part in an after-prom party for Rio Mesa High School in April and will be at another one this month at Newbury Park High.

Laurie Jackson, coalition coordinator of Saving Lives Camarillo, said the group will have a booth at the event as well as an inflatable money machine where students can jump in and grab as much money as they can when a fan turns on.

She said it is important for her organization to be there.

"We want to keep the students safe on a night that they are vulnerable," Jackson said.

In 1991, Camarillo High became the first local high school to sponsor a party following senior prom. Newspaper stories since then have noted that Camarillo spearheaded the move, then other schools followed suit.

Elizabeth Brockett, after-prom chairperson, said that when she was in high school, school-sponsored, chaperoned parties didn't exist.

"I wish there was something after prom. It would have been nice to do something with other people," said Brockett, whose daughter attended the after-prom party five years ago as a senior.

She likes that the whole community comes together to plan it and make sure it's successful, including students themselves and parents.

"It's a huge undertaking and everyone stepped up to help," Brockett said. "It's really impressive."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities occur between April and June, the peak of prom season. In addition, a AAA survey of teens 16 to 19 years old published in February of 2014 found that 41 percent said it was likely that they or their friends would use drugs or alcohol on prom night, and 84 percent said their friends would be more likely to get behind the wheel after drinking than to call home for a ride.

Senior Deputy Shawn Holzberger of the Camarillo Police Department said students who go to prom should use good judgment, get an adult involved if they see any problems and intervene if their friends are drinking and plan to drive.

Kayla Kotake, 18, a senior at Camarillo High, said her whole prom group is going to the after-prom party. She said she wants her class to be safe on prom night and that the party is a good idea.

"We're so close to graduation and I don't want something bad to happen," she said. "It's an opportunity to be safe, be happy and to make memories one last time together."

More information: http://adolfocamarilloptsa.org/category/programs/after-prom/.
TED BENSON JR./SPECIAL TO THE STAR Crews deal with the aftermath of a fire Wednesday evening in Leisure Village that left two people injured, one with smoke inhalation and one with burns.

SHARE TED BENSON JR./SPECIAL TO THE STAR Crews deal with the aftermath of a fire Wednesday evening in Leisure Village that left two people injured, one with smoke inhalation and one with burns.

By Megan Diskin of the Ventura County Star

Crews knocked down a structure fire Wednesday that injured two people at Leisure Village in Camarillo, officials said.

The incident was reported as a fire in the living room just after 6:30 p.m. in the 13300 block of Village 13, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

When crews arrived, they reportedly found a fourplex with black smoke coming from one of the units, said Capt. Mike Lindbery, a spokesman for the department. Crews knocked down the blaze about 6:55 p.m. and were able to keep it from spreading to the surrounding units, although it spread to a tree, authorities said.

A male and female were found injured outside the home when crews arrived, Lindbery said. According to crews on scene, the male suffered smoke inhalation and a female suffered second- and third-degree burns. Both were taken to St. John's Pleasant Valley Medical Center in Camarillo, and the female was in critical condition, Lindbery said.

A dog was rescued and was being cared for by neighbors who planned to take him to an emergency veterinary hospital in Thousand Oaks, Lindbery said.
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By Marjorie Hernandez of the Ventura County Star

Sheriff's detectives are investigating a burglary at the Thousand Oaks Target that happened early Wednesday morning.

An alarm company called authorities about an alarm that was triggered at 3:25 a.m. in the Target store at 2705 Teller Road.

Cameras inside the store captured the image of a male suspect described as having a slender build, said Capt. Garo Kuredjian. No further description was available because the man was covered by his clothing, Kuredjian said.

Kuredjian said the suspect broke into the store by smashing a window near the employee entrance with a hammer or some other tool.

"He was only inside the store for about three minutes and then left through a fire exit at the back of the store, which triggered an alarm," Kuredjian said.

The suspect allegedly stole several items in those three minutes, including sneakers, headphones, cameras and a 40-inch television.

Detectives are continuing their investigation. Anyone who might have information can call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Missing Camarillo man's death ruled homicide by coroner

Jose Velasquez, 35, of Camarillo died as a result of a homicide after he went missing in July, according to authorities.
STAR FILE PHOTO Coast Guard members pull a diver from the water of Channel Islands Harbor into a helicopter while demonstrating a water rescue during the 2014 safe-boating expo.

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By Anne Kallas, Special to The Star

Boating off the Ventura County coast can be hazardous  even lethal  if proper precautions aren't taken, and that's why there's a free safe-boating expo each year at Channel Islands Harbor, said Henry Goldman, of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

This year's expo will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Coast Guard station, 4201 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard. Close to 1,400 people came out for last year's event, Goldman said.

First responders to maritime emergencies will demonstrate rescue operations, give away replacement life jackets and coupons for flares, and offer tours of rescue vehicles.

Goldman, chairman of the event, said the expo is designed to give everyone heading out to sea practical safety tips that will make their trips to the Channel Islands and other recreation areas a fun experience.

"If they're going out, boaters should file a boat plan," Goldman said. "They need to let someone know where they're going and when they're going to come back, so if they don't return, someone will look for them.

"What's important here is the weather changes a lot," he added. "People should be aware of the weather. They need to know about life jackets and what to have on a boat. That's what it's all about  educating people about what to be prepared for."

Senior Chief Jay Galazin, who heads up the Coast Guard's 87-foot Blacktip patrol boat, agreed that proper planning can help avert disaster.

"Some of the most preventable accidents happen through not paying attention to the weather forecast and not having good communications on the boat," Galazin said. "People can also run into trouble by not having current flares and life jackets on board."

Galazin said boaters need to check their vessels each time before they go out to sea.

"If something goes wrong with a car, it's just a matter of a phone call to AAA while you wait on the side of the road," he said. "But if something happens on a boat, you can drift out into the ocean and never be seen again."

In addition to dramatic helicopter rescues from boats engulfed in flames, this year's expo will include a new California State Parks interactive water-safety display.

There also will be games and prizes, Goldman said.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation, with proceeds going to support the youth sailing program at Channel Islands Harbor.

Agencies scheduled to be represented at the expo include the Red Cross, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Ventura County and Oxnard fire departments, Ventura County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team, Channel Islands Harbor Patrol, Oxnard Police/Fire Dive Team and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

The first people to bring their old damaged life jackets will receive a free replacement while supplies last, Goldman said. Those with expired flares can bring them in for disposal by the Ventura County Sheriff's Bomb Squad and receive a discount coupon for new ones.

Coast Guard boats and other first-responder vessels will be open for public tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation. These will include tours of the new 45-foot Coast Guard response boat as well as tours on the 87-foot cutter and other boats. Visit http://safeboatingexpo.com/tours.html for reservations.

Boaters also can reserve a time for a free vessel-safety examination.

Call 800-704-5620, go online to http://www.safeboatingexpo.com or email info@safeboatingexpo.com for more information.
KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Ken Williams with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office flies low for a water drop over a Ventura County Fire Department hand crew clearing brush at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday. They were demonstrating firefighting techniques.

SHARE KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Goats from Living Systems Land Management clear brush near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday in Simi Valley as a part of the Ventura County Fire Department's annual wildfire prevention news conference. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Dan Bellefontaine with the Ventura County Fire Department helps in a demonstration of a contained structure fire at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday in Simi Valley. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Kenton Burris leads a Ventura County Fire Department hand crew over the west-facing hill at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday in Simi Valley as they demonstrate ways to prevent wildfires. KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Thor, a working dog with Living Systems Land Management of Coalinga, heads down the hill to work with goats about to be unloaded for weed abatement at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Wednesday in Simi Valley. The goats were a part of the Ventura County Fire Department's annual wildfire prevention news conference.

By John Scheibe of the Ventura County Star

As another potentially deadly fire season approaches, Ventura County authorities gathered near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley on Wednesday to lay out steps to minimize the danger.

"We are preparing for a long and dangerous fire season once again," Mark Lorenzen, Ventura County fire chief, told a group of journalists gathered for the "Ready for Wildfires" news conference.

The good news is that an El Nino winter has refilled many reservoirs in Northern California that had been nearly emptied by one of the worst droughts in the state's history. While many experts had expected an above-average amount of rainfall to reach Southern California, as well, the region ended up getting less rain than it would get during a normal winter.

The result, Lorenzen said, is that there's a lot of dry grass and fuel that could easily burn in Ventura County and across Southern California.

A brush fire north of Ventura in late April provided vivid proof of the tinder-dry conditions, officials said, noting that the fire went from a quarter acre to 40 acres within an hour as winds helped spread the blaze along the hills near Casitas Vista Road and North Ventura Avenue.

Wildfires across California burned more than 307,000 acres in 2015, according to Cal Fire, with 6,337 blazes recorded.

"It's impossible to say how many fires we'll have this year," said Gary Monday, a battalion chief with the Ventura County Fire Department.

Most wildfires are human-caused, Lorenzen said.

Homeowners are urged to clear any brush growing near their homes. This includes creating a 100-foot defensible space area as required by California law. The space should include a lean, clean and green zone within 30 feet of a home. The remaining 70 feet should serve as a reduced-fuel zone, clear of any flammable material.

Homeowners are also urged to be vigilant when clearing vegetation, since lawn mowers and other equipment can cause a spark that could start a fire.

Dried leaves and pine needles should be removed from roofs and gutters and tree limbs should be cut to create at least 10 feet of space from chimneys. Homeowners are also required by law to place a screen over their chimneys with not more than half-inch openings.

Dozens of goats were released from a trailer on to dry fields of grass around the Reagan Library on Wednesday. The goats joined hundreds of others that have been there for about four years. They eat shrubs and grass that could fuel a fire, providing an environmentally friendly way to keep flammable weeds away from the library.

The public is also encouraged to get a disaster kit, said Kevin McGowan, assistant director of the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services. The kit should include nonperishable food, drinkable water, a map showing at least two evacuation routes from the area, needed medications, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, batteries and other essential supplies.

Residents are also urged to sign up for mass notifications, including electronic messages, by visiting http://vcalert.org

"When an evacuation order is given," McGowan said, "everyone should heed that order."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Noel Paul Stookey, the Paul in Peter Paul and Mary, will perform in Ventura on Sunday.

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By Robyn Flans, Special to The Star

"Singing music from the heart," a line from a song on Noel Paul Stookey's most recent CD/DVD package, is the reason the man known better as Paul in Peter, Paul and Mary was invited back to Ventura's Rubicon Theatre Company after last year's sold-out concert.

Stookey's concert on Sunday is called "At Home: Ventura," a play on the name of his CD, "At Home: The Maine Tour," since he recently bought a cottage in Ojai. His concert will include the recent music as well as hits from the past.

For Stookey, social commentary continues to be at the crux of what he believes is the responsibility of his artistry  for example, he pointed out, the additional two verses he added to "America the Beautiful" on his latest release.

"That's pretty audacious," he admitted, "to take a song that everybody loves and write two new verses, but such is the responsibility of folk music to comment on the times in which we live. So it has a verse about immigration and a verse about ecology and about our mutual responsibility therein."

Stookey began playing at age 9 in Maryland when he found his father's 4-string tenor guitar.

"I had an ear for it," he said.

By the time he was in high school in Michigan, he had started his own rock group, writing songs in what he called "the vernacular" of rock 'n' roll.

With his guitar at Michigan State University, Stookey  an only child  developed a gift for gab. That's what took him to Greenwich Village.

One night while coming offstage at the Gaslight Cafe, manager Albert Grossman approached him and asked if he wanted to be part of a group.

"I thought, 'Oh, bummer,' " Stookey said. "I said, 'I still have some stuff I need to do by myself.'"

But he said yes when Mary Travers called and asked if she and a friend could come over and sing with him.

The friend was Peter Yarrow.

The only song lyrics they could agree upon was "Mary Had a Little Lamb," so the trio sang the song three times with each person in the lead and the other two harmonizing. Stookey said no matter which way they did it, it was magic.

Within a year, the album "Peter, Paul and Mary" was in the Top 10, staying at No. 1 for seven weeks. In 1963, they had three albums in the top six.

"It was beginning to happen so fast, you couldn't think," Stookey said.

"Puff, the Magic Dragon," from their second album, was an unlikely hit, Stookey conceded, adding that the trio included a children's song on every album.

"Peter came into his Cornell dorm and found a piece of paper rolled into a typewriter which had the first two verses," Stookey said. "It was a poem written by his roommate, Lenny Lipton. It sat around for a couple of years because of the success of our first album. Peter expanded the concept and set it to music."

One of the highlights for the trio was the March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr., which Stookey called numbing and overwhelming.

He said Travers had the presence of mind to turn to Yarrow and say: "We are watching history unfold."

Stookey said the transitional song for many fans was "The Wedding Song (There is Love)" which he wrote when Yarrow asked if he would bless him with a song for his nuptials.

"I prayed for the lyric and it came so quickly  and so obviously from not me," Stookey said.

Because of that, he decided to credit it to public domain when he put it on his first solo album.

"I can't claim credit for it," Stookey said. "I know the songs I've written. I know the difference."

Today, Stookey's daughter runs the foundation Music2Life, which Stookey started with the song's proceeds. The organization helps people "become a force for social good," Stookey said.

Expect that to be the message he will convey at the Rubicon.

"I like to remind people of the divine and the ordinary," Stookey said. "I like to applaud with them the exceptional warmth of human relations. I trust that whatever comes out of this perception that love is the driving force of the universe is ultimately going to make it a better world."

IF YOU GO

What: Noel Paul Stookey

When: 7 p.m. Sunday. A mini-concert has been added at 3 p.m.

Where: Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura.

Information: 667-2900 or

www.rubicontheatre.org
STAR FILE PHOTO Last year's Warped Tour, shown here with vocalist Beau Bokan of the band Blessthefall hanging off the stage, drew more than 10,000 people. The tour won't be stopping in Ventura this year.

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By Anne Kallas, Special to The Star

For the first time in 16 years the Vans Warped Tour won't be stopping in Ventura.

More than 10,000 people  many in their teens and 20s  typically descend on the Ventura County Fairgrounds for the daylong concert that features a wide range of punk bands and other music.

But a scheduling conflict arose this year, according to tour founder and producer Kevin Lyman.

The California leg of this year's 41-concert national summer Warped Tour isn't until early August  the same time the Ventura County Fair is being held, Aug. 3-14. So San Diego is hosting the concert Aug. 5 and Pomona on Aug. 7.

"We're having a hard time scheduling around schools, which are moving year-round," Lyman said. "Schools are letting out earlier than ever and going back earlier. Some high schools will be letting out in a couple of weeks."

Lyman said he hopes this will be only a one-year hiatus from Ventura.

"We were hoping to come back to one of my favorite spots. It's cool on the beach," he said, adding that musicians and concertgoers often try to stay the entire weekend to enjoy the weather that's cooler than the inland climate. "The show attracts a lot of families. They take the train to go to the show or drive up and stay at hotels."

Elena Brokaw, director of the city of Ventura's Parks Recreation and Community Partnerships Department, said would-be Warped Tour attendees will miss out on the beauty of the city.

"An event of that size brings that many people to our town. Anything to bring people to our town, which is cool and hip, is welcome," Brokaw said. "The big positive benefit is in tourism spending."

But she acknowledged that the event, with traffic backing up for miles on U.S. Highway 101, can also be a burden on the city.

"Obviously, there's wear and tear," she said. "You don't bring that many people into a town our size without issues. Traffic control is tough on our resources, and there's a lot of mess to clean up afterward. There are pluses and minuses, but we love anything that introduces more people to Ventura."

She noted that last year, with the Fourth of July on a Saturday, there was an enormous influx of visitors, most from inland cities such as San Bernardino and Santa Clarita, who came to escape heat and enjoy the city's annual street fair and Pushem Pullem parade.

"We saw a major influx of tourists, which has a positive impact on hotels and the merchants of our city," Brokaw said. "But there is a huge amount of traffic. It's like having a party in your house; afterward, there's a big mess to clean up."

Lyman said a goal for 2017 is to bring the Vans Warped Tour back to Ventura.

"One place we didn't want to give up was that show," he said. "We're really trying to piece that thing together for 2017."

On the Net: http://vanswarpedtour.com
France's embattled Socialist government faced a no-confidence vote Thursday after bypassing parliament to force through a labour reform bill that once again drew thousands onto the streets in protest.

Unions and student groups marched in Paris and other cities including Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse, as they have done regularly since the government proposed the reform two months ago.

Violence broke out at one protest in the capital when masked youths clashed with demonstrators and journalists. Riot police had left the scene shortly beforehand.

The CGT union said 50,000 people demonstrated in Paris.

The government says the reform is aimed at loosening up France's notoriously rigid job market.

But protesting students who believe it is weighed in favour of businesses unfurled a banner reading "Medef (the employers' federation) commands, the government obeys, the youth resist".

The government's decision Tuesday to force through the adoption of the reform has been widely seen as an admission of failure as the deeply unpopular President Francois Hollande grapples with a decision over whether to seek re-election.

The move also laid bare a gaping rift in the Socialist Party as rebel MPs had threatened to doom the legislation in parliament.

On the right, meanwhile, the reform is seen as too timid -- mocked as "a shadow of its former self" -- after waves of angry street protests forced the government to make a number of concessions.

Opponents need 288 votes to bring down the government, which is considered highly unlikely because Socialist rebels and Green lawmakers have said they will refuse to back the opposition motion.

The rebel Socialist MPs failed by just two votes to bring their own vote of no confidence, but their efforts drew a stern warning from the parliamentary relations minister, Jean-Marie Le Guen, who said Thursday that they had "gone too far".

Prime Minister Manuel Valls was defiant, saying Wednesday the reform must go ahead "because the country must move forward and because salary negotiations and workers' rights must progress."

The government argues that the reform will give companies more flexibility to fight endemic unemployment.

Joblessness, which stands at 10 percent overall and at nearly 25 percent for young people, has plagued Hollande's four years in power.

The right, which has a minority in the National Assembly, or lower house, says Hollande has led France into an "impasse".

Paradoxically, the motion will receive support from the far-left Front de Gauche party, which said Thursday its goal was not to bring down the government but to torpedo the reform.

"The only tool we have left, the only leverage, is the no-confidence vote," said the party's parliamentary group leader Andre Chassaigne.

The standoff over the labour reform is just the latest headache for Hollande since he was forced to abandon his attempts at changing the constitution in the wake of the November 13 terror attacks on Paris.

In a sign of the government's nervousness on the labour reform issue, it has made a significant U-turn on one of the most controversial measures. Companies that want to lay off staff will not be able to point solely to losses in France to justify such a move.

Unions fear that companies with profitable international operations will "cook the books" to make it look as if their French units are making a loss, in order to trim their work forces.

All of this comes less than a year from the 2017 presidential election.

Hollande, facing some of the lowest popularity scores of any left-wing French president, has said he will decide by the end of the year whether to stand for re-election.

Fresh protests are set for Saturday, with student leader William Martinet warning: "The government will not succeed in silencing young people."

CGT leader Philippe Martinez called for demonstrations to "switch into a higher gear", telling the far-left daily Humanite: "Workers seem to have decided to commit to a hardline movement."

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STAR FILE PHOTO More than 600 students from California Lutheran University converge on the Ventura River bottom on a nine-acre area owned by the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.

SHARE STAR FILE PHPOTO Young folks plant milkweed. STAR FILE PHOTO Lauren Bisenius holds onto her corn dog while jumping from hay bale to hay bale with her brother Benny Bisenius (left) at their first Conejo Valley Days in Thousand Oaks.

By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com

1. FEED THE BUTTERFLIES: Caterpillars only eat this, and mama monarch butterflies lay their eggs on it. It's milkweed, and on Saturday you can help plant it in the Ventura River estuary.

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy and Southern California Gas Co. are sponsoring Monarch Madness, a free event at the Willoughby Preserve, which is a slice of land between the ocean and Main Street.

The event goes from 9 a.m. to noon, and all ages are welcome.

Conservancy officials will give a short presentation on butterflies and their habits, then demonstrate how to plant the milkweed. After the planting, take a short, guided nature hike along the river.

Wear sunscreen, a hat and close-toed shoes and don't forget water. The conservancy will provide gloves, shovels and the plants. Go to www.venturahillsides.org to RSVP; click on the Events tab. For more information, call 643-8044.

2. VISIT CONEJO VALLEY DAYS: Celebrate the region's western roots and community spirit the rest of the week in Thousand Oaks. The 60th annual Conejo Valley Days started Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

The event, according to organizers, includes "carnival rides, games, live music...motocross freestyle exhibitions, kids' arts and crafts, outhouse races, home decor pavilion and displays by the Chumash Indian Museum and other historical venues."

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Parking is $5.

The event is at Conejo Creek Park South at 1300 E. Janss Road.

For more information, including hours, visit conejovalleydays.us, call 498-0624, email info@conejovalleydays.us or go to facebook.com/ConejoValleyDays and @CVDays60 on Twitter.

3. EXPERIENCE A WATER RESCUE: Take a tour and ride a Coast Guard vessel, experience a fashion show and watch a Coast Guard helicopter rescue a person from the water. The sixth annual Channel Islands Harbor Safe Boating Expo starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m.

The Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation will sell food and drinks, with money raised going to the youth sailing program in the Channel Islands Harbor.

The United States Power Squadron is hosting the fashion show, which features the latest in life jackets.

For more information, call 800-704-5620, email cgauxpa@yahoo.com or go to channelislandsharbor.org.

The event happens at the Coast Guard station, 4201 S. Victoria Ave. in Oxnard.

4. CELEBRATE TURTLES (AND TORTOISES): If you want to know the difference between a tortoise and a turtle AND honor World Turtle Day, the Museum of Ventura County and the California Turtle and Tortoise Club have an event for you.

On Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., meet turtles and tortoises and learn about their origins and lives. There will be several species of turtles to meet as well as an appearance by Tut, a male California desert tortoise, and his friends Tortilla and Amelia. Plus: Meet a baby turtle.

Children can create a turtle of their own.

Admission is free for children and $5 for adults. The museum is at 100 E. Main St. in Ventura. Go to venturamuseum.org and click on the Events tab for more information.

5. SEE WORKS OF ART, THEN HIKE: Artist Marnie Smart Piuze has spent three decades exploring the coast, bluffs and mountains surrounding Malibu. The result is a series of oil paintings on display at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center.

Piuze, who has been painting for 15 years, is a member of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore. Her work will be on display through June 8.

The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is located at King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. For more information, call 370-2301.

Don't forget your hiking boots for after the exhibit.
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West Virginia's Democrats were trapped in a most undemocratic predicament in Tuesday's presidential primary election: They had to vote without being told of a significant news development about the most exciting Democrat in the race.

What we have here is not another tale about a dirty-tricks campaign conspiracy. But it is a case in which our media watchdogs watched  but failed to bark. Even though at least one famous watchdog did chase its tale around in circles for a couple of days.

Here's the news that most of West Virginia's Democrats, among the nation's most centrist and even conservative, never got to know before casting their ballots and giving Sen. Bernie Sanders a landslide victory over Hillary Clinton.

Sanders' national health insurance proposal and his various other domestic program reforms would add $18 trillion to the national debt over a decade  even after the wealthiest Americans pay the increased taxes the Vermont populist has proposed to finance his programs, according to new studies by two respected nonpartisan Washington think tanks.

The analysis, jointly released Monday by the Urban Institute and the Tax Policy Center (a project of the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute), calculated that Sanders' programs would cost $33 trillion over a decade. But the tax increases Sanders has proposed to finance his programs would raise just $15 trillion, thus adding $18 trillion to the national deficit, the analysts said. (Sanders' policy director, Warren Gunnels, issued a rebuttal, saying: "This study significantly underestimates the savings in administration, paperwork and prescription drug prices that every major country on Earth has successfully achieved by adopting a universal health care program.")

News of the experts' findings hit Washington with a decibel wallop that registered little more than the sound of silence. The news appeared on the pages of The Washington Post on Wednesday, the day after the West Virginia primary. And it got there only barely, and in an exceedingly roundabout fashion.

Wednesday's news story was printed at the bottom of page A15 under this newsy headline: "Studies fault Sanders on policy costs" and this sub-headline: "$18 trillion gap looms even if the rich pay more, researchers say."

Further digging showed the identical story originally appeared online two days earlier, in The Post's Monday Wonkblog  under this bloggy, chatty headline: "Sorry, Bernie fans. His health care plan is short $17,000,000,000,000." And, in fact, all this insider news biz stuff becomes more wacky than wonky  for The Post's newsprint pages actually did cover the think tank analysis before West Virginia's vote  but not in a news story.

On Tuesday, The Post's editorial page gave its analysis of the news the paper hadn't yet printed, in an editorial headlined: "Too good to be true," followed by this subhead: "New reports show the economic dangers of Mr. Sanders' plans."

Time out! We need to reflect here on the dirty little reality about how our national news gets made and how the national news media's agenda gets set. If a news development is displayed prominently on the front page of The Washington Post or The New York Times, the all-news cable networks (CNN, Fox, MSNBC) tend to discuss it among the chattering-heads that morning, midday and night. Unfortunately, similar news ripples don't usually result if the same excellent story is identically displayed on the front page of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald and so on.

Had America's news agenda focused on that $18 trillion deficit newsbreak Monday and Tuesday, West Virginia's voters would have been far more knowledgeable when they were casting their ballots.

Since we are being honest here, we need to add that all that new knowledge probably wouldn't have made an election-changing difference. This doesn't seem to be a year when facts and issues dominate citizen decision-making.

But at least we can end with a helpful media-baiting tip for all of you who are think-tank experts and crave attention for your wonky reports. Try using this press agent's template: "An analysis of the policies of Bernie Sanders, who was recently seen talking with a much-photographed blonde, shows his proposals could add $18 trillion to America's deficit in the next decade."

A day later, you can simply explain you'd seen Sanders debating his presidential opponent.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. Readers may send him email at martin.schram@gmail.com.
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In recent years, multiple counties, towns and stores have chosen to cut out plastic bags and replace them with either recycled paper bags or reusable bags. Although this is great progress, there are so many more plastic mountains in need of conquering.

Plastic water bottles are literally taking over our Earth. Americans alone used 50 billion plastic water bottles last year, and only 38 billion were recycled. San Francisco was one of the frontrunners for banning the plastic bag, and now it is currently working on banning plastic one-time-use water bottles. The city is working on banning the sale of the bottles at events on city property and instead providing refillable water stations that encourage people to bring their own reusable bottles.

Ventura County needs to follow suit and protect our county from the costly effects of plastic. A ban on plastic water bottles in such a vast county would be difficult, but if we slowly move past plastic bottles, we could greatly benefit our environment and our livelihoods. Residents would be encouraged to bring their own water bottles if we installed multiple refillable water stations.

By working together, Ventura County could become plastic-free.

Morgan McBride, Ventura
TAO Beach Las Vegas is hiring for their opening in Spring 2009. The company is looking for cocktail waitresses, bartenders, porters, bussers, bar backs, security guards, runners, VIP Hosts and promoters. Bring your swimsuit for your audition photo. Dates are 2/24-2/28 (1-5pm) and 3/3-3/7 (1-5pm). Youll be interviewing at the TAO Nightclub at The Venetian. Good luck!


Holly Madison, Josh Strickland, Cheaza and the cast of PEEPSHOW celebrated their third anniversary on Monday, April 16, 2012 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com).

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

As a special surprise, the PEEPSHOW cast presented Tony Award winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell with a personalized antique key and plaque to commemorate three wonderful years of success on the Strip. Parfait-style treats displayed in martini glasses were provided to the cast by Sweet House Las Vegas.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

PEEPSHOW has been voted as The Strips Best Showgirls in the 30th annual Las Vegas Review-Journals annual Best of Las Vegas Awards, and has been hailed by critics as The sexiest show on the planet! PEEPSHOW can be seen Monday, Thursday-Sunday in the Planet Hollywood Showroom. For additional information on PEEPSHOW, please visit www.lasvegaspeepshow. Follow PEEPSHOW on Facebook and Twitter @LVPeepshow.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik/ www.erikkabik.com.
By: Aysha Nesbitt

On May 6, LG Display Group, a subsidiary of South Koreas LG Electronics, pledged US $1.5 billion to establish a screen factory in Hai Phong. Launching next year, the factory will produce high-tech digital displays using LGs organic light emitting diodes. This investment comes just a year after LG opened a US $1.5 billion factory in Hai Phong and follows similar investments from the likes of Samsung and Nokia.

Over the past four years, Vietnams electronics sector has grown by 78 percent, becoming the countrys number one export in 2013. With pro-foreign investment policies and a competitive labor force, Vietnamese electronics production has also quickly surpassed regional rivals such as Thailand and the Philippines and is expected to grow at a modest five percent over the next two years, positioning Vietnam to surpass Singapore as the regions fifth largest electronics exporter.

A primary catalyst of Vietnams growing stature in the electronics supply chains has been the emergence of China plus one production models. Since 2010, many companies have chosen to relocate production to Vietnam because of its lowered labor costs which average US $174 per month  almost three times lower than going rates in China. In addition to lowering costs and helping investors to hedge against international demand volatility, Vietnam is also perfectly positioned for smooth integration into existing china based supply chains.

As a result, electronics giants, such as Intel, Samsung, and Japans Panasonic are some of many that have turned to Vietnam to manufacture their products. In the past five years alone, Vietnam has experienced substantial inflows of FDI, which reached an all-time high of 17.5 percent in 2015. In the past year there has been a notable increase in capital originating from within ASEAN, due to the TPP and ASEANs Economic Community (AEC), while in the short-to-medium term, investors from India and the EU are expected to become more prominent.

While agreements such as the TPP bring with them tariff reductions for specific nations, all companies operating in Vietnam will also benefit from state level reform commitments. Upon implementation of the TPP, Vietnam will be required to adhere to structural adjustments, such as enhancing transportation, labor standards, and establishing a more competitive environment for state-owned businesses. With these adjustments in place, the countrys exports are predicted to grow by 37 percent by 2025.

Independent of international commitments, the Vietnamese government has also established a pro-foreign investment stance and has been working to improve its legal framework. With regard to electronics, those companies who invest in software manufacturing or high technology factories will qualify for reduced corporate tax rates of 17 percent  down from the standard rate of 20 percent.

Although the benefits of doing business in Vietnam are considerable, companies are likely to face issues relating to poor infrastructure and workforce inefficiency if investments are carried out without proper planning. These challenges can present a barrier to entry and limit otherwise competitive aspects of Vietnams investment environment. To confront these challenges, companies should be sure to conduct thorough due diligence of investment locations and select production sites that are well equipped to meet the needs of their operations.

In addition to infrastructure and labor productivity, the level of bureaucracy in Vietnam may also slow down production and cause general challenges to doing business. This obstacle can be confronted with a well-rounded understanding of local regulations. Such an understanding will help in the navigation of Vietnams laws which continue to evolve and often create difficulty for those unfamiliar with their interpretation and application.

Dezan Shira & Associates provides accounting and tax compliance services to companies investing in Vietnam. The firm can help companies establish an online presence and direct office in the country and can guide them through the affiliated accounting, tax, legal and HR issues that come with doing so. To arrange a free consultation, please contact us at: vietnam@dezshira.com



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 

Annual Audit and Compliance in Vietnam 2016

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we address pressing changes to audit procedures in 2016, and provide guidance on how to ensure that compliance tasks are completed in an efficient and effective manner. We highlight the continued convergence of VAS with IFRS, discuss the emergence of e-filing, and provide step-by-step instructions on audit and compliance procedures for Foreign Owned Enterprises (FOEs) as well as Representative Offices (ROs).

Navigating the Vietnam Supply Chain

In this edition of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the advantages of the Vietnamese market over its regional competition and highlight where and how to implement successful investment projects. We examine tariff reduction schedules within the ACFTA and TPP, highlight considerations with regard to rules of origin, and outline the benefits of investing in Vietnams growing economic zones. Finally, we provide expert insight into the issues surrounding the creation of 100 percent Foreign Owned Enterprise in Vietnam.

Tax, Accounting and Audit in Vietnam 2016 (2nd Edition)

This edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in Vietnam, updated for 2016, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in Vietnam, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who must navigate Vietnams complex tax and accounting landscape in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their Vietnam operations.
Indian father Mohinder Singh Gill, 79, and his wife Daljinder Kaur, 70, pose for a photograph as they hold their newborn baby boy Arman at their home in Amritsar. (NARINDER NANU/AFP)

NEW DELHI: Doctors in India on Wednesday (May 11) raised ethical and health concerns after a woman gave birth to her first child in her 70s, following two years of IVF treatment.

Daljinder Kaur gave birth last month to a healthy boy after falling pregnant by her 79-year-old husband, following fertility treatment at a northern Indian clinic.

Kaur said the couple, married for 46 years, were overjoyed at finally having their first child after enduring years of taunts in a country where infertility is sometimes seen as a curse from God.

"I feel blessed to be able to hold my own baby. I had lost hope of becoming a mother ever," Kaur told AFP from her home in Amritsar city. "I used to feel empty. There was so much loneliness."

Kaur put her age at about 70 - a common scenario in India, where many people don't have birth certificates - while the clinic said in a statement that she was 72.

But fertility expert Sunil Jindal raised questions about the future of a child born to elderly parents, as well as health issues for the mother. "There are ethical issues. In my opinion it is unfair to do such a procedure on a woman who is over 60," Jindal told AFP.

"The sheer fact that a woman in her 70s has to carry the weight of a child in her womb for nine months is stressful. Then the question comes how are the parents going to look after the baby? That is also quite a task."

The clinic, in the northern state of Haryana, told AFP the couple's baby was conceived using Kaur's egg and her husband's sperm after two previous unsuccessful attempts.

But Britain's the Guardian newspaper on Wednesday quoted the clinic's doctor saying donor eggs were used. The doctor declined to comment to AFP on Wednesday, saying it was not ethical of him to do so.

Gynaecologist Anshu Jindal, based in Meerut not far from the capital, said she tried to discourage women over the age of 60 from undergoing fertility treatment - for the sake of both mother and child. "According to me it is not an age to have a baby. It will take a toll," she told AFP.

The clinic's doctor told AFP on Tuesday that tests showed Kaur was medically fine to carry the baby through pregnancy.

The case is not the first in India - a 72-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh state reportedly gave birth to twins in 2008, also through IVF.
US special operations forces working with African partners called in an air strike against the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group in Somalia on Thursday, killing five, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said US troops were advising and assisting Ugandan troops from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in southern Somalia, west of Mogadishu.

The AMISOM troops were raiding an illegal Shebab roadblock where the militants were extorting payments from drivers.

"They came under fire from the Al-Shebab militants, and we called in an air strike in their defense," Davis said.

A US defense official said the strike was conducted by drone. Five Shebab fighters were killed, and there were no reports of injuries to the Ugandan or US troops.

Another defense official had earlier said the US troops took part in the firefight, but Davis said that was not the case.

"We were nearby, but not directly involved," he said.

The Shebab group was chased out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but remains a dangerous threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where it carries out frequent attacks.

The United States has a small presence of about 50 troops, assisted by air power, in the impoverished country.

The Pentagon periodically announces results of its strikes in Somalia, including one in March on a Shebab training camp that killed more than 150 fighters who were planning a "large-scale" attack.

Davis said it is not unusual to see Shebab members setting up roadblocks.

"It's a very remote country with lots of big uninhabited areas where if there's a road, it's not hard for a bad guy to set up a spot there to be able to shake down people who go down the road," Davis said.

US special forces are working alongside local partners to fight militants in several countries across Africa and the Middle East.

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The EU struck a migrant deal with Turkey to halt the mass migration which has created enormous strain in Greece and eastern Europe. (Photo: AFP/Aris Messinis)

MADRID: Spain's foreign minister on Wednesday (May 11) described the EU's deal with Turkey to stem the influx of migrants as a "botched job", blasting Europe's "inadequate" response to its worst migration crisis since World War II.

Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said he was unhappy with leaving the solution to the crisis in the hands of a country outside the European Union, despite Madrid having backed the controversial deal with Ankara.

"This deal we have signed with Turkey, it's a botched job," he told the Cope radio station.

"For Turkey to help us so that (refugees) do not come by sea en masse is good - before, they were risking their lives and criminal gangs ... were benefiting from their misfortune," he added.

"But that does not mean that this is not a botched job, and it leaves the solution in the hands of a third country."

Under the deal, Turkey has agreed to take back migrants landing on Greek islands in exchange for political incentives including billions of euros in aid and visa-free European travel for its citizens.

The Turkish agreement is the cornerstone of the EU's plan to curb a crisis that has seen 1.25 million Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and other migrants enter since 2015, though the numbers of arrivals have dropped since March.

Garcia-Margallo criticised EU efforts on refugees as "very inadequate" compared to countries like Lebanon, which has taken in more than a million people fleeing the Syrian war - equivalent to more than a quarter of its own population.

In April, acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faced heavy criticism from lawmakers over the fact that Spain had taken in only 16 asylum-seekers under an EU relocation plan, out of a promised 16,000.

Garcia-Margallo blamed problems with registering migrants for the slow progress, claiming registration centres in Greece simply "don't work".

"Greece does not have the civil servants to resolve all these problems and the rest of the countries are waiting for someone to tell us 'the process has begun and you must start taking in the refugees'," he said.

He called for a "genuinely shared European asylum agency" to speed up the process.
The move was taken amid the recent incident of mass fish deaths in the central localities that are worrying travelers, VNAT said on May 10.

The incident is being investigated from relevant agencies.

The VNAT estimated that in a recent four-day holiday marking National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day, Vietnam welcomed around 11.37 million visitors, including 370,000 foreigners.

In the north, Hanoi greeted 227,640 visitors, including 42,640 foreigners, up 14 percent from the same time in 2015.

In the central region, 82,000 and 22,000 visitors came to Quang Binh and Nghe An, representing annual decreases of 44 percent and 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Earlier last month, mass fish deaths were reported along beaches in four coastal central provinces - Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

According to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan, based on reports from ministries, localities and scientists, the phenomenon may have been caused by toxic chemicals discharged by humans on land and at sea, and by a red tide, a type of harmful algae bloom.
The plants construction was kicked off in May 2008 in Ninh Binhs Khanh Phu industrial zone and came into operation in 2012, after 42 months of construction.

In the nearly four years since then, the plant has been continuously operating at a deficit, accumulating altogether over VND2 trillion ($89.9 million) in losses. Notably, in 2012, the companys losses amounted to VND75 billion ($3.37 million), which increased to VND759 billion ($34.12 million) in 2013, VND500 billion ($22.48 million) in 2014, and VND370 billion ($16.63 million) in 2015.

The plant was forced to call a temporary halt to its operations in late March, however, Vinachem has decided against opening the plants gates again. The company has temporarily laid off 400 of its 1,100 workers, paying the monthly unemployment allowance of VND3.1 million ($139.37) each worker.

According to Nguyen Gia The, deputy general director of Ninh Binh nitrogenous fertiliser plant, the company has difficulties maintaining operations because the already high production expenditures are increasing even further, while fertiliser prices are in a continuous plunge on the domestic market. At present, the plant is storing approximately 50,000 tonnes of unsold fertiliser.

Exacerbating the companys difficulties, the plant was equipped with low-quality Chinese machinery, leading to high maintenance expenses that contributed to the suspending of operations.

Along with its losing operation, the plant also caused serious environmental damage by discharging untreated wastewater into the Day River, only three months after it started operations. During an unannounced inspection in October 2012, the Police Department for Environmental Crime Prevention and Control (C49) detected that the plant discharged a wastewater volume of 5,000 cubic metres per hour, causing a massive wave of death in fish stock and cattle in the nearby region.

With an annual output of 560,000 tonnes, the plant was expected to meet 25 per cent of the country's demand for urea fertiliser, helping the nation save $250 million on imports.

Together with the fertiliser plants in Phu My, Ca Mau, and Ha Bac, the plant was to meet the country's demand for urea nitrogenous fertilisers and help stabilise Vietnamese fertiliser production, and contribute to national food security.
PM3 CAA, location of the Bunga Kekwa Field. - Photo offshore-mag.com

Petronas said the agreement was signed on April 6 to extend the contract for the fields in the PM3 commercial arrangement area with the partners which are Talisman Malaysia Ltd, Talisman Malaysia (PM3) Ltd, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corp Ltd.

"The PM3 CAA project involves offshore fields located throughout a 2,008 square km area in the overlapping zone between Malaysia and Viet Nam," it said.

Under the terms of the PSC, Talisman will continue to operate Block PM3 CAA with equity interest of 35 per cent while PetroVietnam Exploration will own 30 per cent and Petronas Carigali the remaining 35 per cent.

The contract extension will maintain the production from five producing fields which are the Bunga Orkid, Bunga Kekwa, Bunga Raya, Bunga Tulip and Bunga Sarojafields.

Other activities include developing discovered fields within the Malaysia - Viet Nam offshore commercial arrangement area.

Under the agreement, the partners will carry out near field exploration, brownfield development and studies on enhanced oil recovery (EOR) amounting to US$500mil of additional minimum work commitment.
The sale and its conditions came as part of the prime minister (PM)s directions during the monthly governmental meeting, when discussing solutions for the problems of Thai Nguyen iron and steel plant-phase 2.

The PM requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to establish a working group to study potential solutions to save the project. Accordingly, the working group will build plans to sell the project or TISCOs stake. In addition, the working group must assess the feasibility of negotiations between TISCO and contractor China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) to continue the implementation of the project, as well as comply plans to call for investors in case the two parties fail to reach a compromise.

The MoIT has to submit its proposals to the PM before July 1.

Hoang Ngoc Diep, general director of TISCO, told Tienphong that if the expanded iron and steel plant will experience further delay in construction, TISCO will have to split the expansion from its existing plant, otherwise the company will certainly go bankrupt. The financial crisis came about as the company had taken up the entire debt volume of VND3 trillion ($134.8 million) for the project, while simultaneously shouldering interest payments of VND30 billion ($1.35 million) per month.

The plants construction was kicked off in 2007 under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with the initial investment capital of VND3.8 trillion ($170.4 million). The facility has a designed capacity of 500,000 metric tonnes of iron and steel products per year.

In 2009, the projects expected cost increased from VND3.8 trillion ($170.4 million) to VND8 trillion ($361.4 million).

In 2012, the Chinese contractor, MCC, decided to stop implementing the project and returned to China, claiming the capital increase was too high and the investor had difficulty whipping up capital after disbursing more than VND4.5 trillion ($216.35 million) for the project. Thus, the projects construction has been delayed for four years.

On March 29, TISCO announced that it can currently arrange the finances necessary to continue implementing the construction. Notably, Vietnam Development Bank (VDB) and Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) will supply an additional loan of VND1.3 trillion ($58.7 million) and VND1.1 trillion ($49.6 million), respectively. Besides, State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) will contribute a total capital sum of VND1 trillion ($45.1 million). However, TISCO has yet to negotiate with MCC to continue the construction.
Police officers in Ky Son District, Nghe An Province, said on Tuesday that they were initiating legal proceedings against four individuals for child trafficking.

Moong Van Tuyen, 44, his wife Vi Thi Hong, 42, Moong Me Pheng, and Luong Me Kham in Ky Son were captured as they attempted to traffic L.T.P., 15, to China.

Pheng is P.s sister-in-law, while Kham is the victims older sister, police said.

Tuyen was caught red-handed at 7:30 pm on Saturday when he was taking P. from Bao Thang Commune, Ky Son, to Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh, a northeastern province near the border with China.

Investigators also found Hong, Pheng, and Kham involved in the crime after a further probe.

Tuyen confessed that knowing V.T.Y., who was living in China, wanted to buy a girl at the said price, he inked a deal with Y., according to initial police reports.

Tuyen and his wife then traveled to Bao Thang to ask to buy P. from Kham and Pheng.

The two women agreed to the offer, the reports said, adding that Tuyen was captured when traveling to Quang Ninh to sell P.
Doctors from the Ho Chi Minh City Mental Health Hospital said that about 3,600 cases are now being treated at the facility while there were 2,800 cases a week ago.

D.T.A.T., 44, whose mental health had stabilized for years after medical treatment relapsed into schizophrenia, according to her older sister.

Recently, T. has no interest in eating and is suffering from insomnia again, she said, adding that she took T. to the hospital when the patient told her that the voices in her head had reappeared.

After hearing what the patients family had to say about T.s condition, Luu Quoc Thai, head of the Diagnosis Department and also the doctor treating T., wrote out a prescription doubling her medicine.

The extreme weather has caused the symptoms of mental health patients to recur, Dr. Thai said, adding that lots of patients have been transferred to the hospital as they had relapsed into depression, anxiety disorders, and psychosis due to the hot climatic conditions.

I have had to double the medications and arrange follow-up examinations for several severe cases including those who wake up at midnight, show no interest in food, hear voices, feel irritated, or scream persistently, the doctor said.

Airy places, family care are essential

Dr. Thai recommended that mental health patients family members always be by their side to support and keep an eye on them.

When the weather is hot, peoples bodies have to moderate their own temperature to keep them at 37 degrees Celsius. This makes people tire easily, especially those who suffer from mental illnesses, and can cause them to relapse, he explained.

Family members should have patients with mental health problems drink over two liters of water a day to keep their body hydrated, Dr. Thai insisted, adding that they should stay in airy and cool areas.

It is crucial to notice any potential symptoms signaling a relapse including eating and sleeping less, feeling anxious, and more,  Dr. Thai noted, suggesting that patients must be hospitalized to receive immediate intervention and prevent them from acting out fatal behaviors.

Those suffering from anxiety disorders may run onto the road without noticing traffic, while people with schizophrenia may hit and injure others, both of which carry a high risk of fatality, he said.

Dr. Thai also warned that sharp and flammable objects should be kept out of the patients reach for their own safety.

The scorching climate, which has engulfed the city since March, has also caused local children to suffer from respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal problems.

The climatic event is forecast to dissipate by Thursday, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
UN Special Rapporteur for Torture Juan E. Mendez speaks in Colombo on May 7, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Ishara S Kodikara)

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's government announced on Wednesday (May 11) a probe into allegations police were sexually abusing suspects and still using torture seven years after the end of the island's civil war.

UN human rights official Juan E Mendez said earlier this month that he had found "credible evidence" of detainees being tortured and disappearances since the end of the war in 2009.

The government pledged an investigation after ministers met to discuss Mendez's allegations on Tuesday, spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters in Colombo.

"We are going to investigate this and ensure that there is no room for recurrence," Senaratne said, without giving details. Official sources said an internal police investigation was already underway.

Mendez, UN special rapporteur on torture, conducted a nine-day fact-finding mission in Sri Lanka earlier this month.

He said he had heard testimony that between 16,000 and 22,000 people had gone missing during the conflict and its immediate aftermath, and that police were still resorting to torturing suspects.

Suspects have been beaten with sticks or wires on the soles of the feet, suspended for hours while handcuffed, asphyxiated using plastic bags drenched in kerosene and hung upside down, he said.

In some cases, victims had chili powder thrown on their face and eyes and there were "sexual violations, including mutilation of the genital area and rubbing of chili paste or onions on the genital area".

Mendez expressed hope that President Maithripala Sirisena's new government would deliver on promises of accountability for war crimes and an end to rights abuses.

Sirisena's administration, which took power in January last year, has promised to investigate rights abuses following allegations that up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by government forces in 2009 as they crushed rebel forces.
Ambulance staff tend to more than 40 tourists, many of them Chinese, recovering in Australian town of 1770 after jumping into life rafts when the catamaran they were on caught fire. (Photo: AFP/Queensland Ambulance Service)

SYDNEY: More than 40 tourists, many of them elderly Chinese, were recovering on Thursday (May 12) after jumping into life rafts when the catamaran they were aboard caught fire in Australia.

The Spirit of 1770 got into trouble 10 nautical miles off the coastal town of 1770 following a day-trip to Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef, apparently when a fire started in the engine room.

The local Gladstone Observer newspaper said the 42 passengers and four crew abandoned ship and jumped into the water before swimming to life rafts late on Wednesday.

They drifted for several hours before three rescue boats arrived and ferried them ashore, where pictures showed them huddled under blankets as they were treated by paramedics.

"Of the 46 people on board, 19 received treatment for non-life threatening injuries at hospitals in Bundaberg and Gladstone," Queensland police said in a statement.

"The vessel caught fire around 4pm (on Wednesday) and was subsequently abandoned around 4.30pm prompting a search and rescue operation. "Investigations into the incident are continuing."

The Observer said many of the tourists were elderly Chinese, with others from Canada, New Zealand and Britain.

English traveller Gemma Sargent said she was woken by people shouting about the fire.

"All of a sudden the captain goes 'Get off the boat!' and I'm looking at him thinking 'How?'," she told Seven News. "Everyone literally got shoved off whether you could swim or not."

Lady Musgrave Island, a coral cay, is a popular tourist destination some 500 kilometres (310 miles) north of Brisbane and is only reachable by boat.
The rumors went viral on the Internet recently, attracting the attention of the ministry.

An inspection team, led by Nguyen Van Nhien, deputy chief inspector of the ministry, has been tasked with evaluating the companys adherence to food-safety regulations over a period of 15 days.

Dang Van Chinh, chief inspector of the ministry, said the tests would be conducted on the green tea C2 product and the energy drink Rong Do (Red Dragon).

Both branches of the company will come under the scanner.

Chinh said the team would work with the company and report the results of the investigation to the ministry.

Previously, the Vietnam Food Administration had collected five samples of C2 and Rong Do for tests.

Rumors that the two beverages contain high levels of lead have circulated widely on the Internet and on social networks. Samples of C2 and Rong Do were found to have a lead content of 0.087mg per litre and 0.085mg per litre, respectively, while the permissible limit is 0.05mg per litre.

The company stands accused of using low-quality citric acid as an acidity regulator in its beverages.

This year, the ministry will inspect food-safety conditions at four beverage production companies, including Coca-Cola Vietnam, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage and Wonderfarm.
Related British man jailed over tweets glorifying IS group

British Prime Minister David Cameron apologised to an imam on Thursday after wrongly branding him a supporter of the Islamic State militant group.

Cameron used a rare parliamentary device to set the record straight, having made the accusation in the lower House of Commons.

In the run-up to the London mayoral election won by opposition Labour candidate Sadiq Khan, Conservative leader Cameron on two seaprate occasions said Khan had repeatedly shared a platform with the imam.

"Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS," Cameron said.

IS is also known by the Arabic acronym Daesh.

In his apology, which appeared in parliament's official record, Cameron said: "I was referring to reports that Mr Ghani supports an Islamic state.

"I am clear that this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh and I apologise to him for any misunderstanding."

Because Cameron's allegations ere made in parliament, he was covered by legal immunity.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon apologised Wednesday for his "inadvertent error" in echoing the comments in a radio interview. Ghani is in discussions with lawyers over possible legal action.

Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain umbrella group, said: "As a result of these smears, we understand that Imam Ghani has been subject to abuse and threats on his life.

"Imam Ghani became the innocent casualty of a wider Islamophobic attack on the now mayor of London and the Conservative Party needs to apologise for this too."

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Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Thursday that 850,000 citizens are living in unsafe places" during an inauguration of social and housing projects.

"I never turn my back on those people," El-Sisi stated in video conference, adding that "both the military and the minster of housing are responsible for solving these people's dilemma."

"The 32 developmental projects we are inaugurating today are only the beginning of a series of projects that will be launched in the coming period," Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said at the conference.

The completed units are part of a project to build 600,000 units of social housing at a total cost of EGP 97 billion, he said.

A total of 125,000 social housing units have been completed since the Ministry of Housing began the project two years ago, Minister of Housing Moustafa Madbouly was quoted as saying by the official news agency MENA.

The ministry plans to complete the projects first phase, which includes 200,000 units at a cost of EGP 37 billion, by the end of this year. Additionally, some 56,000 units will be built this year.

The second phase includes 400,000 units which will be developed at a cost of EGP 60 billion, the housing minister added.

The minister of transportation also presented projects to construct new roads, enhance old roads and develop the existing railway network.

A road connecting Tanta to Kafr El-Sheikh was inaugurated on Thursday during the conference.

Other roads that have been completed include the 32-kilometre road connecting El-Mahalla to Kafr El-Sheikh and the 110-kilometre road connecting Toshka to Arkeen.

Several flyovers in Mansoura and Sohag were also inaugurated on Thursday.

A 700-kilometre railway line stretching from Upper Egypt to Lower Egypt is still undergoing maintenance at a cost of EGP 600 million, the minister of transportation, Galal Saied, was quoted by MENA.

The official exchange rate is EGP 8.78 to USD1.

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Government representatives in Cambodia on Thursday told journalists to use honorific titles when referring to high-ranking officials, especially in the case of officials afforded the title of samdech.

In December, the Ministry of Information said all media should use the honorific title reserved for a small number of elite officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.

Phos Sovann, director general of the ministrys department of information and broadcasting, warned Thursday that the ministry would take action against outlets that did not follow the guidelines for reporting.

Punitive action could include rescinding press credentials and even censorship of local media companies who fail to follow the order.

Ouk Kimseng, an undersecretary of state at the Information Ministry, on Thursday dismissed criticism that the move was a suppression of freedom of the press.

No we have passed the stage of compromise and making requests. We need to work together. The ministrys request does not have a negative impact on freedom of the press, he told a room of journalists.

In an apparent swipe at foreign journalists, Ouk Kimseng said that as a sovereign country Cambodian traditions must be upheld. We must say, if you are not happy to be here, get out, he said.

Journalists have complained that it is not practical to repeat the often long titles of officials in Cambodia in every article.

Moeun Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodian Institute for Media Studies, said it was not required by law to refer to officials by their honorific titles.

I think it should be the choice of media and journalists to use the word or not. Leave it to the general public to evaluate the media. If the public doesnt like radio or a TV station or a newspaper for not using the titles, they wont listen to the radio, watch the TV station or read the newspaper. The media organization will shut down. This is a basic principle of free press and professionalism, he said.

Reporters from media targeted by the order have rallied, saying that media institutions with close relationships with the government are receiving preferential treatment.

Chhean Narridh said that the burgeoning social media environment had led to a drop in ethical standards among Cambodian media professionals.

Journalists roles are to minimize harm to any victims. When you realize your report could harm a victim we should avoid that. Journalists also should promote peace in society. If your reporting stirs insecurity, that is your mistake, he said.
Prominent political analyst and founder of the Future Forum think tank Ou Virak called for a libel complaint against him to be dropped during a court appearance on Thursday.

On April 25 the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party filed a complaint against Virak claiming he had damaged the reputation of the party by alleging in a radio interview that a high-profile corruption case against opposition deputy leader Kem Sokha was being pursued for political gain.

I denied that I said anything about private affairs. Due to this, I denied [the allegations] and I asked the prosecutor to stop pursuing the case, Virak said yesterday after the hearing.

Sokha is accused of engaging in an affair with his mistress, Khom Chandaraty, also known as Srey Mom. The case against Sokha has seen several rights workers and an election official charged with bribery after they allegedly offered money to Chandaraty.

Sok Eysan, a CPP spokesman, told VOA Khmer that Viraks defense was his opinion and that Eysan as a CPP member was a victim who had no choice but to rely on the court for justice.

He can say what he wants to say, but his opinion is not the arbitrator in this case. Its down to the court he added.

The CPP has demanded $100,000 in damages from Ou Virak, a sum he said he could not and would not pay.

Im not willing to pay money for something which is not right, he said.

Virak was one of several political observers who voiced criticism of the CPPs policy regarding the ongoing case against Sokha.

Kem Ley, an analyst who founded his own political movement, said politicians should not use the courts to attack government critics.

There will always be criticism from those who use immoral words to twist or defame others. We should let society educate them rather than hand them over to the court, he said.

A court spokesman said the judiciary would continue to investigate Viraks case.
VOA has reported on the possibility that as the planet continues to warm, parts of the Middle East may become uninhabitable.

Now, new research says the same extreme weather could be in store for parts of Africa.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, concludes that Africa needs to prepare itself for longer, more extreme heat waves in the coming years.

Big Changes in Next 25 Years

The change, according to the research, is centered around the much-talked-about 2-degree Celsius rise in average temperatures around the globe.

Last week's Climate Action Summit in Washington was all about mobilizing business, government and private citizens do everything they can to keep the planet from hitting that fateful number.

But even the most hopeful scientists say that to get there, we have to cut our emissions of planet warming gases by 80 to 90 percent by 2050.

And if we can't do that, the new research warns, heat waves in Africa will become hotter and longer, in a region of the world where they have a big impact.

"Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change" according to Jana Sillmann of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO). "...even a modest rise in average global temperature could have severe consequences for the people living there."

And the change is coming fast. The study says more common, more extreme heat could start being felt in Africa within the next 25 years.

Not Just Summer Heat

To make matters worse, since most of Africa is tropical, heat waves can occur any time of year.

And the research suggests that as we get closer to the next century, unusual heat waves could sweep across the continent as often as four times a year.

The researchers say that if we can't get the world's temperature under control, the only answer is to begin getting ready for the change.

"We need to put considerable effort into climate change adaptation," Sillman says, "to reduce the risk of extreme events such as heat waves."
The Red Cross says an aid convoy headed for the rebel-held Syrian town of Daraya was refused entry Thursday, despite the fact that it was bringing the first supplies the town has seen in three years of fighting.

The convoy had been given prior clearance from all sides to deliver its supplies, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It did not say which party had blocked the trucks.

The United Nations says the Syrian government has been refusing to allow U.N. aid deliveries to hundreds of thousands of people who have been cut off from supplies by warring factions, including the government, rebels and Islamic State.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday that the development was "extremely disappointing." He said U.N. officials in the region decided to give up on the mission to Daraya because of the removal of children's nutritional items at the last checkpoint, despite earlier approval from the Syrian government for those items.

Thursday's aid to Daraya would have been the first delivery to the town since November 2012.

The U.N. estimates the population of Daraya is fewer than 10,000 people today, compared with 70,000 before the outbreak of the Syrian war.

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday released a statement expressing "outrage" at the recent attacks in Syria against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate acts. The council said such acts may amount to war crimes.

The statement noted that combatants are obligated to respect international humanitarian law, particularly in distinguishing between civilian populations and combatants.

The Security Council also said the primary responsibility of the Syrian government is to protect its citizens.

The council's statement condemned the terrorist attacks and the destruction carried out by Islamic State and other groups associated with al-Qaida, and it called on all parties to commit to putting an end to such attacks.
Turkish officials say a car bombing in Istanbul Thursday wounded at least eight people, a mix of soldiers and civilians.

An explosion occurred inside a parked car near a military garrison in the citys Sancaktepe neighborhood at about 17:00 local time, when military personnel usually leave the facility.

Video footage showed flames and black smoke coming out a vehicle and also police and emergency services at the site of the blast.

The blast came just two days after Kurdish rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), detonated a car bomb close to a police vehicle in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, killing three people and wounding more than 40, among them at least 12 police officers.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Kurdish rebels have been attacking police and military targets since July.

Earlier this year, 29 people, most of them soldiers, were killed in Ankara when PKK militants targeted their bus in February.

In the following month, an explosion also in the Turkish capital claimed by Kurdish rebels, killed 37 people, including two bombers and a suicide bomb blast in Istanbul killed five people and wounded at least 36.
War is all Baghdad University students have ever known.

Iraq is awash in armed groups, targeted killings, sectarian bombings, and Islamic State brutality. Perhaps because of that, students prefer to focus on their future, their friends, Facebook and love.

The university campus is closed off by two checkpoints, but once inside, tree-lined driveways and green park-like spaces surround the somewhat tired classroom buildings.

Inside, students are getting ready to take their final exams  milling around the classroom, laughing and chatting.

The young women are well-coiffed, with perfectly straightened hair, high-definition eyebrows and glossed lips.

The more conservative women wear long sleeves and cover their hair, but scarves are red or blue, and the long skirts are form fitting. Other women wear their hair loose, and are in jeans and blouses.

Young men are laughing, some sporting the latest haircut of close-cropped sides and a long mop of hair on top.

Most of these students were toddlers when U.S. soldiers stormed into Iraq in 2003, and they were not even teenagers when al-Qaida was terrorizing the country.

Living with IS

Since then, violence has become a way of life. Islamic State is just one in a string of nightmares to deal with on a daily basis.

A large bomb exploded in east Baghdad just as the students were taking their exams. They shrugged it off.

Hamid Muwaffak laughs with his friends on a bench underneath a tree on the campus's main square, near the cafeteria where Nestle Toll House has just opened a stand.

He has no idea why anyone would want to join IS.

"I don't know, he said. Maybe they're getting paid but, personally, I don't know why someone would kill people and blow himself up. I don't know, and I'm sure if the government knew why, they would do something about it. I just don't know."

A mechanical engineering student who is about to graduate, Muwaffak is more worried about finding work.

"I'm in my fourth year and I am thinking about my future, what I will do, he said. I hope that when I graduate, I can find a job, start my career. But for now, the situation is not very good. There are no jobs, unless you have the backing of someone important."

It's a thinly veiled reference to the vast corruption and nepotism that dominates Iraq.

Trying to have fun

But in spite of, or perhaps because of, the armed checkpoints and blast walls outside the campus, the students say life in Baghdad is like any other city.

Sajida, who would only give her first name, constantly plays with her fashionably straightened long black hair as she talks with friends.

"Even if there is a war, we can live a normal life, like we go out, we have fun, we make love stories. Even if there is a war, there is love," she said.

She says she goes to restaurants, cafes and malls, she enjoys being with her friends, and she spends a lot of time on her cellphone. She laughs that she is not a great student.

But for Sajida, there is more to life than war.

"We are just trying to have fun, forget about wars," she said.

Many Iraqis would like to do the same, if only they could.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have summoned each others diplomats as tensions between them rose following Wednesday's execution of a Bangladeshi Islamic political party leader, accused of committing crimes during the countrys 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry called in the top Bangladeshi diplomat in Islamabad to give him a unanimously passed parliament resolution condemning the execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Shortly after, Bangladesh summoned the Pakistani envoy in Dhaka to express its strong protest over Pakistani statements.

Nizami, who led the countrys largest Islamic party of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), was hanged during the early hours Wednesday after the countrys Supreme Court rejected his plea against the death sentence and he refused to seek mercy from the president of Bangladesh.

The 73-year-old leader was sentenced to death in 2014 for his role in mass killings, rape and organizing the massacre of some intellectuals during the war.



Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that it was "deeply saddened" by the killing, adding "his only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan."

Jamaat-e-Islami called for a nationwide strike in Bangladesh to protest the execution.
Wednesdays execution in Bangladesh of an Islamic political party leader, accused of committing crimes during the countrys 1971 war of independence to break away from Pakistan, has triggered mixed reactions in and outside the country.

Activists supporting Bangladeshs war crime trials and the relatives of those who were killed have welcomed the execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami, head of the countrys largest Islamic party of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), calling him the mastermind behind the killings, rape and torture of many people during the war.

But some rights activists said that Nizami had been hanged following another flawed trial by the countrys International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

Nizami was sentenced to death by the ICT in 2014 for his role in mass killing, rape and organizing the massacre of some intellectuals during the war.

The 73-year-old leader, who had been in prison since 2010, was hanged during the early hours Wednesday after the countrys Supreme Court last week rejected his final plea against the death sentence and he refused to seek mercy from the president of Bangladesh.

Soon after Nizami was executed, his supporters staged protests in Chittagong, Rajshahi and elsewhere across the country. To control the angry supporters police resorted to firing rubber bullets. At least 20 protesters were arrested, police sources said.

Some defend execution

After Nizami became the fifth senior opposition leader executed since 2013 for war crimes, Bangladeshs home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that with Wednesdays hanging a blot was removed from the heads of freedom fighters of the country.

We as freedom fighters find it satisfying to see another notorious war criminal punished. We thank our prime minister for ensuring justice in the war crime cases, Kamal said.

Nizami was convicted for taking the lead role in the massacre of scores of top Bangladeshi intellectuals, among other war crimes.

Families of a number of war victims have welcomed Nizamis execution.

Dr. Aleem Choudhury, an eye specialist, was killed by anti-independence Al Badr militia which Nizami was convicted of leading during the war. Following Nizamis execution, Choudhurys wife, Shamolee Nasreen Choudhury, said she felt she had gotten justice.

Nizami took the lead role to prepare the list of top intellectuals of the time, including my husband. Those respected intellectuals were abducted from their homes and brutally tortured, before being murdered, Choudhury, a key witness in the ICT trial, told VOA.

For long 45 years we waited for justice. With Nizamis execution a notorious mass murderer has been removed from this earth. I feel now that justice has been delivered," she said.

Tureen Afroz, an ICT prosecutor, denied the tribunal's actions were motivated by politics and that they were flawed.

"With his series of instigating speeches, Nizami encouraged Al Badr militants who indulged in the massacre and other heinous war crimes. With his execution Bangladesh has got rid of a mass murderer and moved one big step to deliver justice in all cases of war crimes in the country," Afroz told VOA.

Some say trials flawed

After Nizami was hanged, the leaders of JeI said that he had become a martyr.

He has been denied justice and become another victim of the vicious political vendetta in the country, Maqbul Ahmed, JeIs acting head in Bangladesh said.

International rights groups, which have long campaigned that the war crime trials in Bangladesh fell short of global standards, have urged Bangladesh again to put a halt to executions of anyone accused of other war other crimes.

The death penalty is always a human rights violation, but its use is even more troubling when the execution follows a flawed process, said Champa Patel, director of Amnesty Internationals South Asia regional office.

The victims of the horrific events of the 1971 Liberation War are entitled to justice, but taking another life is not the answer," Patel said in a statement.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia division believes Nizami's trial was flawed.

Human Rights Watch supports accountability for war crimes, but the Bangladesh government seems determined to cut corners on the process, and then prescribe the death penalty, which we oppose in all cases as irreversible, and inherently cruel and degrading, Robertson told VOA.

He pointed out there is no getting around the fact that the court allowed Nizami to call only four defense witnesses and prevented his legal team from questioning prosecution witnesses whose testimony had serious discrepancies.

When a mans life is at stake, such failures of free trial standards are simply not acceptable. Before anyone else is tried, the ICT needs to be thoroughly revamped so that its legal basis and procedures are in line with international fair trial standards, Robertson said.
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan Thursday launched the construction of an electricity power grid Thursday to link the four nations to a jointly operated power supply and promote regional stability, security and prosperity.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and the heads of the two central Asian countries attended the launching ceremony in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe. Pakistani state-television broadcast it live.

Officials say the so-called CASA-1000 project comprises the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of a 750-kilometer high voltage direct current transmission system between Tajikistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan.

It will enable Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to supply 1000 megawatts of surplus electricity in summer months to Pakistan and 300 megawatts to Afghanistan.

The project is expected to be completed by 2018 with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.

Prime Minister Sharif while addressing Thursdays event declared it a flagship project that will promote regional connectivity.

Officials hope the electricity purchase under the CASA-1000 project will help mitigate the critical energy deficit Pakistan faces during its summer season.

Pakistani leaders say the project will go a long way in regional integration, which they say is very important for economic and social development of the region.

Officials in Afghanistan hope the country will also have an income of around $45 million from transit fees.
Founded in 1976 by Abaddo, the orchestra worked with many world renowned conductors, including Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Herbert von Karajan, Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein

In its fortieth year, the European Union Youth Orchestra announced it will "cease operations from September 2016 due to a lack of funding from the European Union," the orchestra announced on it official website.

EUYO was founded in1976 following a resolution of the European Parliament and for 38 years was supported by the EU as a Cultural Ambassador with supporters from all 28 member states.

The orchestra reveals that the management was informed on 15 April 2016 that its Creative Europe partnership is no longer in receipt of any funding from the EU.

Since that time the Orchestra has been in regular contact with the EU to attempt to find alternative funding. However, the funding routes so far suggested by the EU do not allow the orchestra to plan any form of secure future.

The EUYO has supported more than 3,000 of Europes young and emerging classical musicians since its foundation by philanthropists Lionel and Joy Bryer and conductor Claudio Abbado since 1976.

Abbado was the orchestra's music director from 1976 until 1994. Following Abaddo, other renowned conductors took charge of the opera, including Bernard Haitink (1994-2000), Vladimir Ashkenazy (2000-2015) and currently Vasily Petrenko.

Among the great names who regularly worked with the orchestra were Daniel Barenboim, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Loren Maazel, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Georg Solti, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, among others

The decision has provoked sadness and even an outrage among renowned EU musicians, some calling the move a devastating tragedy and a disgrace to the EU cultural community.

Sir John Tusa, the EUYO trustee and co-chair said: For 40 years the EUYO has been the musical expression of European unity, artistic collaboration and partnership. It is a tragedy that the European Community seems no longer to value such work as a key part of the European project.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Soldiers fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters Wednesday as Venezuela's opposition marched to pressure electoral authorities into allowing a recall referendum against unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro.

The Democratic Unity coalition has ramped up its push to oust Maduro amid a worsening economic crisis, but says the government-leaning electoral body is intentionally delaying the verification of signatures in favor of the referendum.

Waving flags and blowing whistles, hundreds marched in Caracas as well as the provinces  where food scarcity and power cuts are worse  but authorities blocked them from reaching election board offices.

Protesters and National Guards squared off on a Caracas highway, where demonstrators chanted "freedom" and waved copies of the constitution.

Some covered their faces and tossed stones.

"They don't let us march. They don't let us eat. They don't let us live peacefully. What else can we do? We have to fight however we can against this tyranny," said Juan, declining to give his surname as he donned a bandanna.

At one point, an officer appeared to squirt pepper spray on two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, a video showed. Capriles later tweeted he was fine.

A new election would be held if the opposition succeeds this year in recalling Maduro, whose term ends in 2019.

But if a successful recall referendum is held in 2017, the presidency would fall to the vice president, a post currently held by Socialist Party loyalist Aristobulo Isturiz.

Opposition near 70 percent

The opposition says Maduro, elected in 2013, is pushing the OPEC country toward economic catastrophe. One recent poll showed almost 70 percent of Venezuelans want Maduro, 53, gone this year.

"We have to suffer a queue of nine to 10 hours for corn flour. We walk from pharmacy to pharmacy looking for medicine," said Irma Rojas, who was protesting in northwestern Falcon state. "For that and so much more, we want this man out."

In the western opposition hotbed of Tachira, protesters brandished signs reading "We don't want to die of hunger," while some masked youths blocked streets with trash and prepared Molotov cocktails.

The Socialist Party blasts protesters as dangerous coup-plotters and held a separate march Wednesday. Officials have said a referendum is unlikely this year and have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the signatures.

The opposition submitted roughly 1.85 million signatures May 2. If they are validated, the opposition must then request another petition drive and gather about 4 million signatures to finally trigger a referendum.
New efforts to ban nuclear weapons are under way as governments and activists gather at the United Nations in Geneva to consider proposals for negotiating a legally binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is calling on governments attending the Open-Ended Working Group that deals with nuclear disarmament issues to negotiate a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons similar to treaties banning the production and use of land mines and cluster munitions.

ICAN's executive director, Beatrice Fihn, said after many years of silence, governments are, once again, willing to recognize the threat nuclear weapons pose to international peace and security and the need to control them.

We hear a majority of states right now here in the U.N. calling for such negotiations and there is a proposal put forward that the negotiations will start in 2017," she said. "The General Assembly will adopt a resolution in October and start such a process.

She acknowledges the road ahead will be very difficult. The nuclear armed states are boycotting these discussions, she said. They clearly do not want to prohibit nuclear weapons and are being quite aggressive in their opposition to even discuss the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and what those kinds of discussions would lead to.

Raising awareness

American movie star Michael Douglas has been actively working to raise public awareness of the dangers posed by nuclear proliferation since 1998, when he was named a U.N. Messenger of Peace.

He supports the new efforts to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons in this most dangerous time, citing the escalation of tensions between Russia and the United States, the modernization of nuclear weapons and the threats posed by terrorism.

Douglas told VOA he thinks the world situation is more dangerous than during the Cold War, when governments were more careful about monitoring their nuclear arsenals and controlling their fissile material.

You are seeing, you could call it recklessness  beginning to slip in now between Russia and the U.S. in situations, close quarter situations, he said. "And the number of weapons that are on trigger alert is frightening."

So, the time for somebody who possibly could make a mistake and to correct it is very, very short," he added. "So, it is a very dangerous time.

Douglas views the U.S. placement of a land-based missile defense system in Romania as unnecessarily provocative and likely to increase tensions with Russia that sees it as a security threat.

That view is shared by the president of Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that provides grants for anti-war projects. Joseph Cirincione told VOA it is not too late for U.S. President Barack Obama to re-evaluate the deployment of missile defenses in eastern Europe.

It was designed to defend Europe from the threat of an Iranian nuclear missile. The Iran deal now renders that defense unnecessary, he said. We have stopped Iran from developing a nuclear warhead for at least 15 to 20 years. It is time to stand down the system.

Cirincione praised President Obama for having effectively blocked Irans path to a nuclear bomb, but criticized him for failing to reduce Americas huge nuclear arsenal and for leaving a trillion dollars' worth of contracts in the pipeline for the development of new nuclear weapons.

Cirincione said the president is leaving a nuclear mess for his successor, but still has time to correct it during his visit to Hiroshima, Japan later this month. He said he hopes that during the visit, Obama will announce new steps that can reduce nuclear dangers before leaving office in January.
Ana was on her way to a busy food stall in El Salvador's capital when rival gang members drove by and started firing.

The 18-year-old narrowly escaped being caught in the crossfire but another girl was killed by a stray bullet.

"People were mopping up her blood off the street. It could have been me. I used to go to school with her. She was innocent, she wasn't a gang member. She was just 16," said Ana, who declined to give her full name for fear of reprisals.

"Things like that can happen at anytime. The violence is worse than ever. It's practically a war," she said, walking along the narrow streets of a notorious gang-controlled neighborhood in a poor eastern suburb of San Salvador.

"You never know if you go out on the street whether you'll come back alive. It's terrifying," Ana said.

Such fear dominates the lives of many in the small Central American nation of 6.4 million people, which has been gripped by gang violence for decades.

Violence stemming from a bitter rivalry largely between the country's two most powerful gangs - Barrio 18 and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) has pushed murder rates to record levels, making El Salvador one of the most dangerous countries outside a war zone.

More Salvadorans have been killed since the end of the country's 12-year civil war in 1992, than during the entire conflict in which 75,000 people lost their lives as leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) guerrillas battled U.S.-backed state security forces.

As a result, thousands of people have been driven from their homes to seek refuge from the maras, as gang members are known, in the United States.

Crackdown

Tired of being victims of gang-related turf wars and extortion, many Salvadorans back a government crackdown on the gangs who have carved up city neighborhoods in their fight for territorial control and extortion rackets.

But finding a balance between society's thirst for justice and the need to address the root causes of violence, such as a lack of jobs, a corrupt police force and easy access to guns, will be crucial if El Salvador is to have peace, experts say.

Hopes were raised after a 2012 truce between rival gangs was brokered during the previous government, but it was short-lived.

By early 2014 the truce had collapsed, leading to a rise in murders with gangs increasingly targeting the police.

The government led by President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a former FMLN guerrilla commander who helped negotiate the peace accords, has responded by setting up a 1,000-strong security force to clamp down on the gangs and capture their top leaders.

In April, the authorities also transferred 300 jailed gang leaders to maximum security prisons where the government said they would be held in isolation, a bold tactic in a country where large chunks of the prisons are controlled by gangs.

Analysts say the government's zero tolerance approach risks escalating the conflict into an all-out war between the gangs, whose ranks number around 70,000, and the security forces.

"It's not even a hardline or an iron-fist approach but a brutal one. It's a military response to a social conflict," said Jeannette Aguilar, head of the University Institute of Public Opinion in San Salvador.

"The lack of security is a huge concern for citizens, who are desperate for a quick response. The risk for the government is that if it doesn't appear to be strong it risks losing votes in the 2019 presidential elections," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The government crackdown has also fanned fears of human rights abuses being committed by security forces against innocent people, especially young men, who could be mistaken for being maras, Aguilar said.

"You don't need 1,000 armed forces to go after 100 gang leaders. You need better police intelligence," she added.

In April, El Salvador's Human Rights Ombudsman concluded that state security forces were responsible for the extra-judicial killings of 13 people, including teenagers, in two separate police operations last year.

"Safe EL Salvador"

Presidential spokesman Eugenio Chicas insisted the clampdown was not disproportionate to the size of the problem, adding it was one of a range of measures being used to tackle the gangs.

He said the government is forging ahead with its $2 billion five-year plan to stem violence, known as Safe El Salvador, which includes crime prevention, education, and reintegration programs for ex-gang members.

"We know that repression per se is not the solution.

Repression is only part of an integral strategy," Chicas told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview.

The government, however, is adamant that its strategy does not include negotiating with gang leaders.

"Our strategy is not to enter in a dialogue, nor any communication or negotiations with criminal groups in any way," Chicas said. "... what they seek through a process of dialogue is to gain political space, legitimacy and to control more territory."

For Raul Mijango, a former congressmen and key negotiator in the 2012 gang truce, talking to the gangs is the only way to stem violence.

The ceasefire was credited for bringing about a sharp drop in El Salvador's murder rates in 2012, but critics say it helped the maras to expand and regroup, and gave them political clout.

"The most successful action taken against violence has been the truce. The people who generate violence must be part of the solution too," said Mijango, who was arrested by police on May 3 on allegations of being an associate of gang members.

Mijango said the government's approach to the maras was likely to bring more bloodshed.

"Repression doesn't solve the problem, it only escalates it. Attacking violence with violence only generates more violence. Before it was just one war between the gangs, now it's also a war between the gangs and police," he said.

Despite the crackdown, Santiago, a high-ranking gang leader, who describes himself as a "representative" of Barrio 18, said his group was open to talks with the authorities.

"The main issue facing the country today is us, the gangs.

We are willing to negotiate with the government and have a dialogue," Santiago told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Turkey and the European Union faced off Thursday over a proposed deal to let Turks travel to Europe without visas  a crucial carrot the bloc has been dangling in order to get Turkey to halt the torrent of migrants flowing from its shores to EU member Greece.



But with each side insisting the other give ground over an EU demand that Ankara more sharply define its anti-terror laws before it gets the visa waiver, a prolonged waiting game appeared to be shaping up.



The issue of visa-free travel to Europe for Turks could ultimately derail an EU-Turkey accord under which Ankara agreed to stop migrants from leaving for Europe and take back those who do arrive. For the moment, though, the migration deal that was sealed in mid-March remains on track.



The waiver is an incentive, along with up to 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) and fast-track EU membership talks, for Turkey to stop the migrant flow. But now the two sides appear in danger of missing the planned visa waiver date of June 30.



Turkey has already fulfilled most of the 72 conditions to secure the waiver but one has emerged as a major obstacle. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials say Ankara won't narrow its definition of "terrorist'' and "terrorist act.'' EU nations worry that the current laws can be used to target journalists and political dissenters.



Erdogan has warned that the entire migrant deal could collapse if the Europeans renege on their pledges. There still appears to be some maneuvering room  Erdogan said this week that Turkey would go its own way if the visa waiver isn't introduced by October.



Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, a key architect of the migrant deal, announced last week that he will step down later this month. It's unclear who will succeed him.



In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier acknowledged that "we have a strong interest in this agreement on migration not collapsing.''



However, he said Thursday that he can't influence Ankara's stance on the anti-terror law and "the ball is in Turkey's court.'' He said "if Turkey fulfills its commitments'' the EU should, too.



The head of the EU's executive Commission said Brussels is counting on Turkey to stick to the conditions  including changing its anti-terror laws.



"That's how we agreed it with Turkey, and the consequence of the change in the office of the Turkish prime minister cannot be that agreements between the European Union and Turkey are disavowed,'' Jean-Claude Juncker said.



Juncker noted that Turks are eager to rid themselves of the hassle of getting a visa every time they travel to Europe.



"If Mr. Erdogan is pursuing the strategy of denying Turks the right to free travel to Europe, then he will have to take responsibility for that to the Turkish people,'' Juncker said.



In Ankara, Erdogan argued that the ball is in the EU's court.



"We will either strengthen our relations with the European Union and we will finalize this process, or we will find ourselves a new path,'' he said. "Our preference is to build a new Turkey together with our European friends. We shall now wait for our European friends' decision.''



"They are saying we should soften our stance on the fight against terrorism,'' he added. "Since when have you started to govern Turkey? Who gave you the authority?''
The European Parliament on Thursday strongly condemned last months decision by Crimea's Russia-backed authorities to ban the Crimean Tatars' representative body amid reports that access to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Crimea news website had been blocked in the region.

A resolution passed by the European legislature called the Crimean Supreme Court's April 26 decision to ban the Tatars' Mejlis "systemic and targeted persecution" and "an attempt to expel them from Crimea, which is their historical motherland.

The resolution also said Crimean Tatar institutions and organizations are increasingly being branded as extremist and that prominent members of the Crimean Tatar community have been or risk being arrested as terrorists."

Crimean Tatar activists reported Thursday that security forces in masks searched homes and detained four Crimean Tatars in the town of Bakhchisaray, Crimea. Russian media quoted Crimea's pro-Moscow chief prosecutor, Natalya Poklonskaya, as saying that four members of the outlawed Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir had been detained.

Pokolonskaya was also quoted as saying the European Parliament's resolution reflected a "selective attitude" at a time "the whole world is fighting against extremism and terrorism." It has been "proven and established," she said, that the Mejlis is an "extremist organization."

The European Parliament's resolution also reiterated its "severe condemnation of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and "full commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Meanwhile, Crimean authorities reportedly blocked RFE/RL's Crimea news website. Web users in Ukraine, Russia and Crimea reported Thursday that it was inaccessible, replaced by a notice stating: "Access denied, as the site has been added to the list of banned sites."

RFE/RL Editor in Chief Nenad Pejic said in a statement that the move was "an aggressive act that uses the outrageous pretext of extremism to censor RFE/RL and prevent audiences in Russia and Crimea from learning the truth about the annexation."

RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Facebook said Wednesday that it would respond to a U.S. senator who requested information from the company about recent allegations that conservative viewpoints were intentionally excluded from its "trending topics" section.

Republican John Thune of South Dakota, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday asking for company officials to appear before the committee. Thune wants Facebook to respond to a report by technology blog Gizmodo that some contractors who managed Facebook's "trending topics" section excluded content that expressed conservative views.

Facebook Vice President Tom Stocky said Monday that his team had found "no evidence" of exclusion.

But on Wednesday, a Facebook spokesperson told VOA, "We have Senator Thune's request for more information about how trending topics works and look forward to addressing his questions."

The company also said it was "deeply committed" to allowing all viewpoints "no matter where they fall on the political spectrum."

The social media giant said it was investigating the allegations and would fix any operational practices that were "inadequate."

Thune asked Facebook to respond to his letter by May 24.

Because millions of viewers read Facebook's trending topics, some Republicans are concerned that any acts of censorship could influence the opinions of voters before the general election in November.
The people of Nimbo knew an attack was coming. A villager who said he was kidnapped by nomadic herdsmen had returned home with a letter threatening bloodshed.

Villagers mobilized young men and hired police to protect their farming community.

But at daybreak on that Monday in late April, the police left, and the attackers emerged, shooting and hacking 15 people to death.

I never believed they can enter the town, said Patrick Uze, who escaped the attack with machete wounds all over his body. We were running and running and running.

Villagers from Nimbo had been feuding with herdsmen in the area for years. They accuse the nomads of chasing them from their farmland, while ethnic Fulani herdsmen leaders say the villagers harass and attack them.

It goes on and on. This is an avoidable incident, said Bala Ardo, secretary to the Fulani community in Enugu state.

For a while, this conflict simmered with little outside attention. Then came the April violence.

It is unclear what sparked the dawn raid on the village. One survivor, Beatrice Uzi, told VOA the attackers accused Nimbo of harboring the killer of a herdsman, a death she claims the village had nothing to do with.

Series of raids

The raid was part of a series of brutal attacks and kidnappings this year that have stretched from Nigeria's southern Niger Delta to its northwest corner and have been blamed on herdsmen from the Fulani ethnic group.

Politicians and newspapers have turned Nimbo into a cause celebre, railing against the nomadic herdsmen as a creeping national security threat.

The onslaught of Fulani herdsmen has been tolerated for so long a time to the extent that one wonders whether killing to them has become a hobby of some sort, columnist Sunday Onyemaechi Eze wrote on online news site Today.ng.

President Muhammadu Buhari, himself a Fulani who declared cattle among his possessions after taking office last year, put out a statement vowing to deal with rampaging herdsmen.

But experts say theres no common cause to these recent attacks and that most farmers and herdsmen coexist peacefully. When relations do sour and turn violent, its usually due to local disputes that go unresolved, along with competition for increasingly scarce land and resources.

There are growing ecological and demographic pressures in the rural areas of Nigeria. The political authorities are not very effective necessarily at actually managing these conflicts, said Adam Higazi, a researcher who studies the issue at Modibbo Adama University in northeast Nigeria.

Nimbo residents say they went to the police and local government as the feud with the herdsmen raged, to no avail. An Enugu state police spokesman said the agency had no record of being contacted by the community, but was investigating the incident.

Nimbo residents remember a time when herdsmen would sell villagers unhealthy cows for slaughter at a discount, but those days are long gone.

Nothing will make us live peacefully with them, said Beatrice Uzi, who fled from the village during the attack.

About six years ago, herdsmen shot a well-liked hunter from the village after he caught a cow in one of his traps, Uzi said. Villagers say it was an accident. The incident set off a cycle of tit-for-tat violence.

Sometimes, our people, they fight together. You understand? They kill our people and our people kill them, said Kingsley Ezeugwu, a former government councilor. He bore deep gashes on his head and back from being attacked with a machete as he fled Nimbo.

Other trouble spots

The trouble is not unique to Nigeria. Nomadic cattle herding is common across west and central Africa. In Ghana, rural communities have complained in recent months of herdsmen destroying crops. In the Central African Republic, armed Fulani herders clashed with local militia stealing cattle as sectarian violence engulfed the country in 2015.

And in various parts of Nigeria, farmers and herdsmen have been at loggerheads for years for reasons ranging from banditry to religious rivalries, Higazi said.

The animosity has cost Nigeria. A report published last year by aid agency Mercy Corps said Nigeria could save $13.7 billion annually if clashes between farmers and herdsmen stopped in several states.

The bloodiest violence happened in 2009 and 2010 under the previous administration, said political commentator Chris Ngwodo. But critics have used the recent violence to tar Buharis administration, he said.

This president is Fulani and this terrible coincidence of identity just puts him in a vulnerable position, Ngwodo said.

When the central Nigerian village of Agatu was raided last February, with as many as 300 people reportedly killed, the presidents decision not to visit the community raised hackles.

The fact that he did not react as hastily as would have been ideal did not help him either, Ngwodo said.

Inaccurate reporting of the attacks may also be fueling outrage.

Major newspapers in Nigeria reported at least 40 people had been killed and multiple homes burned in Nimbo. But when VOA visited the village, only one home had been burned, and police said the death toll was 15.

A week after the attack, residents of the state capital, Enugu, marched in the streets, chanting the Fulanis are killing us. Some carried signs advocating a boycott of beef. Similar rallies were held by Nigerias diaspora in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Both groups aggrieved

While the violence in Nimbo was national news, it came as little surprise to the residents of the village, who say they have been forced off their land by herdsmen who kill or rape farmers they encounter.

But local herdsmen say they are also under attack. One Fulani leader told VOA that motorcycle-riding hoodlums were robbing and killing herdsmen in the bush. Another said 16 herdsman had been slain in the southeast this year.

In theory, herdsmen and farmers play complementary roles. Herds can graze on crop remnants, while cows can add manure to fallow fields.

But that symbiosis is breaking down.

As development comes, these areas that used to be free, used to be fallow, you now have human activity coming, Ardo said.

Cattle can trample crops, enraging farmers. The problem may get worse in coming years as climate change and desertification push more migrant herders farther south.

Areas in the north that used to be grazing land have been overtaken by desert, Ardo said.

Veterinary medicines that prevent diseases afflicting cattle in the south are now easier to get, allowing more herdsmen to make the trip, Higazi said.

Fulani leaders in the southeast told VOA they didn't know who attacked Nimbo but that they suspected it was herdsmen passing through from another state.

Some worry the publicity over the Nimbo incident could stigmatize Fulanis across Nigeria.

Im prone to attack every time I move out, Ardo said. Not because I am violent, not because of any attack, not because of anything. Simply because I am a Fulani man.
Members of Congress fought their way past a bagpiper, a horn player and a group of protesters to reach the building where presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a highly anticipated meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Thursday's raucous scene outside Republican National Committee headquarters that featured an impersonator wearing a giant Donald Trump head mirrored the unpredictable presidential election campaign that has fractured the identity of the party.

Dennis Rodriguez led a group of undocumented immigrants called United We Dream that was holding a mock funeral for the Republican Party. He said the meeting between Ryan and Trump changes nothing about the party's attitude on key issues.

"The Republican Party has always been this way," said Rodriguez on Trump's views. "Now they are finally showing their true colors."

Trump has won nearly 11 million votes from Republicans in the state-by-state nominating contests, even with his call to deport 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, a vow to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out more migrants, and a proposal to temporarily stop Muslims from entering the U.S.

'Step towards unification'

For the horde of national and international reporters waiting outside Thursday's meeting, the wait was long and substance limited.

Trump refrained from his usual propensity for making comments to the media, eluding the cameras when he departed after the meeting. He issued a joint statement with Ryan shortly afterwards calling their first meeting "a positive step towards unification."

Democrats dismissed Republican attempts at unification, suggesting Trumps views do align with the rest of the Republican Party.

The speaker saying he doesnt want to be associated with Donald Trump because of his comments? House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California said at a news conference Thursday.

'Outrageous' comments

Ive never heard him make one comment about the comments, the outrageous vitriolic comments made by Republicans in Congress.

Senate Democrats suggested the similarities between Trump and Ryan harm Americans.

The idea that there is a massive gulf on policy between Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress is pure fiction, said Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York at a Senate Gallery newser.

The policies of both candidate Trump and the Republican Senate majority are way out of touch with the middle class and what we need to get America going, he said.

But not all House Republicans have endorsed Trump. Many hedged their bets in the days leading up to the Trump-Ryan meeting, offering tepid endorsements of supporting their partys nominee and talking of how Trumps commanding lead in the Republican primary had caught them by surprise.

Republican reception

Rep. John Duncan, a Republican from Tennessee who endorsed Trump in April told VOA Thursday he expects that meeting to happen and said Trump would receive a very good reception from House Republicans despite possible policy differences.

I believe he would give answers that would alleviate most of those concerns, Duncan said.

Duncan downplayed concerns about party unity, noting Ryan didnt openly criticize Trump in his initial statement. The Republican Party is in the best shape of my lifetime, he said.

While Trump may be seeking the endorsement of some Capitol Hill Republicans, he should be worried about the approval of voters across the country, said political analyst Stu Rothenberg.

I don't think it's likely that Donald Trump can visit with every Republican who is unhappy with what Donald Trump said and the way he said it," he remarked.

WATCH: Anti-Trump Protesters Speak Up

Rothenberg said the meeting does not fundamentally change the 2016 race. Trump still has a lot of work to do in swing states and states he thinks he can carry and he starts off behind, he said.

Ryan, who said last week he was "just not ready" to endorse Trump's campaign, again did not fully embrace his candidacy. But Ryan declared that he was "very encouraged" about working with Trump.

"I do believe we are planting the seeds to get ourselves unified," Ryan said. "But this is a process. It takes time. It's very important that we don't fake unification."

Ryan is expected to eventually come around to support his partys nominee. Anything less would be an unprecedented move in an election season that has already held numerous surprises.

He recognized as much in his joint statement with Trump, writing "The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why it's critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall."

Support

But quietly and behind closed doors, Republicans will have to decide if it is worthwhile to show enthusiastic support for a nominee who could come out any moment with a surprising  and possibly indefensible  statement.

"It's not simply a case of do I endorse or do I not endorse, said Rothenberg, It's do I go out there enthusiastically and support him."

In that sense, the Trump-Ryan meeting did little to change the values the two men said they would need to agree upon for party unity.

The assembled media packed up and headed home without a sound bite from Trump and the protestors were still left wondering who ultimately leads the Republican Party they oppose.
Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham says Americans are "fully capable" of making up their own minds about 28 classified pages that discuss possible foreign support for those who carried out the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

The pages are from a joint congressional committee report that came out 14 years ago, but then-President George W. Bush ordered that chapter not be included in the public release of 800 other pages. Some officials with access to the chapter have made comments alluding to Saudi Arabia, but without being able to offer details the exact connections suggested remain a mystery to most of the country.

"My oath of confidentiality forbids me from discussing the specifics of that material. But while I cannot reveal those details, I strongly believe the American people deserve to know why this issue is so important," Graham wrote in an op-ed published late Wednesday by the Washington Post.

He has been a strong advocate in the push to have the pages released to the public. He said a White House official told him President Barack Obama would make a decision by June and that he viewed that as a "step in the right direction."

Graham wrote that his optimism from that conversation faded after seeing an interview CIA Director John Brennan gave on NBC's Meet The Press on May 1.

Brennan: information 'unvetted', 'uncorroborated'



Brennan said the information in the 28 pages "was not corroborated, not vetted and not deemed to be accurate." He said the work of the congressional committee was only a first step, with its leads followed up by the later, more extensive 9/11 Commission Report that determined there was no evidence indicating links between the Saudi government or Saudi individuals and al-Qaida.

"I think some people may seize upon that uncorroborated, unvetted information that was in there, that was basically just a collation of this information that came out of FBI files, and to point to Saudi involvement, which I think would be very inaccurate," Brennan said.

Graham called that comment an affront to the American people and those whose family members and friends were killed in the attacks in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Questions about financing

The 9/11 Commission Report, released in July 2004, said there was no evidence of any official foreign funding for the terror group. It did not, however, rule out "the likelihood that charities with significant Saudi government sponsorship diverted funds to al-Qaida."

Graham wrote that releasing the classified pages would allow Americans to evaluate whether the hijackers of four passenger planes who killed nearly 3,000 people had help, and if so, from whom. He said they would also be able to weigh whether the delay in the release had any effect on national security, delayed justice for the families of the victims or undermined people's confidence in the government.

Saudi Arabia



White House Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said last month he expects Obama will order "some degree of classification that provides more information," but that the 9/11 Commission and the congressional committee have definitively determined Saudi Arabia had no intent to support al-Qaida.
India's efforts to secure the return of one of its top businessmen who left the country after defaulting on massive bank loans has cast a spotlight on the estimated $120 billion bank debt piled up by the countrys corporate tycoons. The government has vowed to restore the health of its state-owned banks amid warnings that the mountain of debt is a threat to Indias economic recovery.

Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant owner of a liquor business, a Formula One racing team and a defunct airline, quietly left for London two months ago after pressure mounted on him to repay $1.4 billion in debt to banks.



Other major debtors



While Mallya has become the face of huge corporate defaults, scores of other debtors, including Indias top 10 companies, also owe billions of dollars, mostly to state-owned banks.

The debts piled up as companies borrowed aggressively to fund ambitious expansion plans during a decade of high growth, but were hit by a slump during the subsequent economic downturn. Many infrastructure projects stalled.





Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told parliament Wednesday reviving the competitiveness of the private sector was important for the economy.

The private sector had overstressed itself. Hopefully if some of those sectors improve, steel improves, sugar, infrastructure, power, then the balance sheet of these sectors correspondingly will have an impact on the banks itself, he told lawmakers.



The staggering pile of bad debt has prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make repairing the balance sheets of banks his top priority, while Central Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has called for deep surgery" to fix the problem. He has given banks a March 2017 deadline to balance their books.



Financial system hurt



The concern is that the bad debt is choking the financial system and threatening Indias efforts to accelerate its economy.

The banking sector is effectively frozen in terms of being able to lend more money to those who want to expand their capacity and make new investments, warns Rajiv Kumar, an economist at New Delhis Center for Policy Research. He says unclogging the financial system is vital to ensure a fresh infusion of money to fund new projects and maintain the momentum of an economy that is emerging shakily from a slowdown



As banks press companies to pay up, many indebted companies have begun selling off assets. The For Sale sign has gone on airports, roads, ports, steel and cement plants, corporate parks, coal mines, oil blocks, highways, telecommunication towers, hotels and private jets.



Last month, airport and road builder GMR sold half its a stake in a highway project in Karnataka. Another infrastructure company, GVK, has sold a one-third stake in the Bangalore airport and is also looking to sell road projects.



New bankruptcy law

The biggest reform expected to hasten debt recoveries is a new bankruptcy law parliament passed on Wednesday. It replaces convoluted procedures governed by over a dozen laws that were heavily tilted towards company owners and made it almost impossible to recover money. It also sets a six-month deadline to decide the fate of a company that defaults.



As lawmakers passed the bill, they repeatedly pointed to Vijay Mallyas example. Although his Kingfisher airline failed four years ago, creditor banks could seize its Mumbai headquarters only this year. The company's shares are now worthless.



Such massive unpaid loans have also triggered accusations that state-owned banks often handed out loans to politically connected businessmen like Mallya under political pressure.



Economist N.R. Bhanumurthy at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in New Delhi said the new law will ensure stricter scrutiny by banks.

This law would help in creating some kind of ecosystem where you will have much better information about the project proposal as well as the individual in terms of their credit worthiness. Right now the due diligence that people are doing is more of an eye wash, he admitted.



Taxpayer money



The sour bank loans do not just pose a risk to economic recovery. As revelations of their scale and size become public for the first time, the unpaid debt of corporate giants like Mallya have triggered angry allegations of banks going easy on well-connected businessmen, and questions about why taxpayer money is being used to prop up struggling state-owned banks.



Pressure is growing on the government to ensure that Mallya, whose extravagant lifestyle earned him the title The King of Good Times, is brought back from London. Britain has turned down Indias initial request for his deportation saying he entered the country on a valid passport, but the government says it will press for his extradition.



Many warn that even if that happens, it will not produce any quick results. If you want to recover [money] from people like Vijay Mallya, I think you may have to wait for a long, long time Bhanumurthy rued.
Following the detention of members of the Street Children performance group, social media users launched a campaign posting photos of themselves taking selfies with their camera phones

The hashtag #__ ((Freedom for Street Children,) has spread like wildfire on Facebook and Twitter with users posting photos of themselves taking selfies with their phone cameras.

With many asking Does This Camera Phone Scare You, the social media users have demanded the release of the arrested Street Children troupe members.

Comedian Bassem Youssef, actor Amr Waked and Khaled Abol Naga, as well as Abla Fahita, a popular Egyptian puppet character, are among artists who posted selfies with their phone cameras on Facebook and Twitter as part of the social media campaign.

In addition, Youssef and Abol Naga released a short Facebook video asking the government to release the arrested youth.

The campaign follows the 15-day detention of four members of the Street Children satirical troupe pending investigation. The street performance troupe was accused of using YouTube to call for terrorist crimes.

They are also being investigated for allegedly "inciting protests that aim to disrupt peace and security and cause violent crimes against state institutions."

The artists were arrested on Monday and are being held at Cairo's Sayeda Zeinab police station.

The six-member performance group gained popularity among youths for their videos that mock societal norms as well as the discourse of government officials and supporters.

The troupe released their first video in January 2016. Their last video was another satirical piece titled "Sisi is my president."

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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On a podium decorated as a bunker from the Iran-Iraq war, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad woos a crowd of hundreds with an anti-Western speech reminiscent of his fiery addresses as Iran's president.

At the end of the event in Jiroft in southeast Iran, held partly to honor victims of the 1980-88 war, some of the crowd chant: "The slogan of any man is that Ahmadinejad is coming back."

After nearly three years out of the public eye following two terms as president, Ahmadinejad has made a handful of appearances in the past few weeks, including his speech last week in Jiroft, which have stoked talk of a political comeback.

The 59-year-old conservative and populist has made no announcement about his future or addressed speculation that he plans to stand in the next presidential election, due in 2017.

But if he does run, he could cause problems for his pragmatic successor, Hassan Rouhani, who gained popularity after the deal with world powers that led to most sanctions on Iran being lifted in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

"In the presidency it's the individual that is important. Political groups are not important. In reality, an individual can start a wave," Massoud Mirkazemi, a former oil minister under Ahmadinejad, told the Asr-e-Iran website in an interview published on Wednesday.

"Whoever can start this wave will get votes. Ahmadinejad has started, and can start this wave," he said, predicting his political ally would defeat Rouhani if he runs.

Ahmadinejad's chances of success are hard to assess. He did not run in the last presidential election, in June 2013, because of Iranian constitutional limits and setbacks suffered by conservatives in March elections to parliament and the Assembly of Experts which will select Iran's next supreme leader, the country's highest authority.

But Ahmadinejad could be the conservatives' best hope of bouncing back in next year's election although his relations with some of them are strained.

"Hardliners recognize Ahmadinejad is the only person that can stand up to the reformists and their candidates," said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based political analyst who worked as an advisor to former President Mohammad Khatami. "His activity has grown very, very much. And he's caused a stir in various places."

Online battle

As president for eight years, Ahmadinejad frequently enraged the international community with his fierce rhetoric against the United States and Israel, his defiant stand on Iran's disputed nuclear program and persistent questioning of the Holocaust.

Supporters praise him for defending traditional values and standing up to the West. Opponents criticize him for his economic record and over allegations of high-level corruption while he was president.

Although largely about freedom and democracy, last week's speech in Jiroft hit a familiar theme by condemning "oppressors" in a dig at the West, and the United States in particular.

"I say why did you start a military campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan and kill 1 million people? They say we want to bring freedom there," he told the crowd.

"Democracy means a population has the right to choose their own freedom. They kill people for freedom and congratulate themselves."

Ahmadinejad was first elected president in 2005. His disputed win in the 2009 election prompted the Islamic Republic's biggest protests and a security crackdown in which several people were killed and hundred arrested.

As Ahmadinejad has become more visible again, supporters have used the Internet to highlight his accomplishments.

A pro-Ahmadinejad blog has published statistics that portray him in a good light, suggesting, for example, that more rural roads were paved while he was in power than have been under Rouhani, but without citing a source for the data.

Ahmadinejad's critics have also been active online. A satirical photograph posted on the Telegram messaging app shows him posing as a school teacher and presenting a lesson, saying:

"Through demagoguery we'll make them forget the memories of eight years of misery."

Opponents have also drawn attention to legal charges Ahmadinejad faces. The nature of the charges has not been announced but local media say they are over government procedures not being followed properly. The former president was summoned to court in 2013 but did not show up.

Opponents cite the legal case as an obstacle to be overcome before Ahmadinejad can think about contesting an election.

"Ahmadinejad must first be tried, then introduce himself as a candidate for the elections," Ali Mottahari, a moderate conservative member of parliament, was quoted as saying by state media.

Support of supreme leader?

Before he can run in an election, Ahmadinejad would be likely to need at least the tacit approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The support of the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military and economic force, would also be a significant boost.

Ahmadinejad long had the backing of Khamenei but clashed with him more than once in his final years in office. In 2011, he boycotted government meetings for 10 days after Khamenei reinstated an intelligence minister Ahmadinejad had dismissed.

The Revolutionary Guard has sent some signals of support. In March, during the Iranian Nowruz New Year holiday, Rouhani took a trip to the resort island of Kish while Ahmadinejad visited Shalamcheh, scene of a battle in the Iran-Iraq war. The Basij News site, which is affiliated with the Guard, praised Ahmadinejad and questioned why Rouhani had not shown respect for the families of war victims.

Ali Tajernia, a reformist former member of parliament, said in an interview with the Arman-e-Emrouz newspaper last week that "influential people with a role in the power structure" had sent messages to Rouhani urging him not to seek re-election.

If Ahmadinejad does mount a comeback, he is likely to revert to populist rhetoric to tap support.

"Ahmadinejad has his own special base of social support that he can mobilize," Amir Mohebian, a conservative Tehran-based political strategist and analyst who has advised top politicians, said in response to a question from Reuters.

With the economy set to be a campaign issue, Rouhani will try to show the lifting of sanctions is bringing economic gains.

If he fails to do so, Ahmadinejad is likely to repeat promises to spread the country's wealth to the poor and disenfranchised.

Rouhani could hit back by making the allegations of corruption during Ahmadinejad's rule a campaign issue.

Rouhani came to power on promises to root out corruption, and in March a businessman allegedly linked to top officials from Ahmadinejad's time in office was sentenced to death.
While a U.S.-led coalition works to stamp out Islamic State-linked atrocities, such as Wednesday's bombings in Baghdad that killed dozens, concern is growing that the effort could be hampered by internal political turmoil in Iraq, as well as in Turkey.

In Iraq, frustration over the perceived failure of the nation's politicians to reform a policy system that many Iraqis blame for corruption boiled over in late April when supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed Baghdads Green Zone.

The Iraqi government has since tried to clamp down on protests, but underlying challenges remain between the countrys highly polarized political factions.

It is the type of political chaos that serves the interests of Iraqs enemies, mainly the Islamic State, said U.N. Special Representative to Iraq Jan Kubis in a recent briefing to the Security Council.

Experts say securing a legitimate and responsive government could be the key to long-term stabilization in Iraq.

Ultimately, we dont see insurgencies or terrorists activities on this scale in countries where governments are responsive to the needs and demands of their populations, said Nussaibah Younis, a Middle East analyst at the Atlantic Council.

Experts call for two-pronged approach

She noted that the U.S.led focus on military efforts to oust Islamic State militants in Iraq could have limited results.

We are not going to really tackle the root causes that are driving radicalization in Iraq unless we really deal with what these protesters are pointing out - which is that the Iraqi government is corrupt and inefficient and has really failed to deliver even the most basic services, said Younis.



In Turkey, the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu this month leaves the U.S. without one of its key allies in the country.

Perry Cammack of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace observes, It complicates things insofar as Davutoglu was very well known in Washington. He was, of course, the architect of Turkish foreign policy over the last several years.

He added, though, that the U.S. has little leverage in Turkeys internal politics.

Turkey has been a strong partner in the anti-Islamic State coalition, according to the State Department, and it says that is something it expects to continue despite the countrys political dynamics.

Turkey is not blind to the threat that it faces on its own, its own soil along its border, so Turkey is very aware, said State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau.

A key concern for the U.S. in both countries, analysts point up, is striking a balance between offering support without being perceived as meddling.
Efforts to hack away at the Islamic State terror group's wealth are making good progress but are not yet close to crippling its finances, according a senior U.S. treasury official.

"ISIL is suffering financially and it's due in large part to the efforts we in the coalition have been taking," Assistant Treasury Secretary Daniel Glaser said Wednesday during a talk Tuesday at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. ISIL is an acronym for Islamic State.

The most notable headway has come against IS's budding oil ventures which, at one point, were bringing in an estimated $500 million a year.

The Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence believes such revenue has now been cut in half  to about $250 million a year  due to coalition airstrikes, counter-smuggling efforts and a drop in global oil prices.

Stranglehold on resources

A U.S. intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is clear Islamic State is "feeling pressure" from persistent strikes against its oil infrastructure, as well as its cash stockpiles in Iraq and Syria, all of which is having a trickle-down effect.

"On multiple dimensions  manpower, new recruits and operating space  ISIL is at its weakest point," the official added, using a line that has been gaining favor in recent weeks.

It is estimated that IS cash reserves alone have been slashed by as much as $300 million to $800 million, as U.S. and coalition partners have increased the tempo of airstrikes aimed at the groups finances.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee late last month that coalition operations were "putting a stranglehold" on IS's financial resources, undermining the group's ability to govern.

No victory lap yet

Still, the Treasury Department's Glaser warned there is ample reason to be cautious.

"They still have a considerable amount of money," he said. "I'm certainly not trying to do a victory lap."

Officials also believe more still needs to be done to ensure IS is cut off from both the Iraqi and global financial systems. And they say financial activity in cities near IS-controlled areas, like Kirkuk, may also need to be subjected to closer scrutiny.

Another key obstacle is that for all the damage dished out by the U.S. and its coalition partners, IS retains an ability to generate money from the territory it still controls. Glaser estimates various forms of taxation alone are putting $360 million a year into IS coffers.

"Financially, IS has encountered difficulties but liquidity is still maintained by pragmatic interactions with the outside world," said Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, who has studied the group's internal workings.

As an example, al-Tamimi cites an IS registry booklet he was able to obtain from a Syrian businessman, which details how freight trucks from rebel-held areas near the Turkish border cross into IS-held territory in the village of Dabiq.

U.S. terror finance officials and analysts worry that as long as such activity continues, it will allow IS to profit, acknowledging that even the vast majority of the group's oil revenue stems from demand within territory it controls.

"It is impossible for the outside world to put a complete stop to that," al-Tamimi said. "This is why, ultimately, any goal to destroy IS financially necessitates foremost the retaking of territory."
Italy joined the rest of the European Union on Wednesday and granted legal recognition to gay civil unions, overcoming fierce opposition from the powerful Catholic Church.

The vote in the lower house of parliament was 372 to 51, with 99 abstentions. The senate gave its approval in February.

Italy was the last of the 28 EU members to recognize gay unions, but gay marriage is still banned in the country.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on his Facebook page that Wednesday was "a day of celebration for many people. We are writing another important page of the Italy we want."

Same-sex couples in Italy will now have almost all the same legal and civil rights as married couples.

While gay rights activists are celebrating, they say they are disappointed that the law did not include the right to adopt children.

The government pulled that provision from the bill to ensure its passage.
Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero, one of six facing charges in the death of Freddie Gray, on Thursday will stand trial before a judge rather than a jury, clearing the way for a quick resolution to his emotionally charged case.

Nero, 30, is the second officer to face trial in connection with Gray's death in April 2015 from a neck injury suffered in a police transport van. He is white; Gray, 25, was black. The incident sparked rioting and protests across the city of 620,000 and has been one of those highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The officer, who faces charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office, waived his right to a jury trial and will have the judge decide his fate in a bench trial.

Nero was one of three officers who arrested Gray when he made eye contact with one of them and then ran off in a high-crime area. The officers took Gray into custody and placed him in the back of a police van, where he was critically injured during a 45-minute trip to a nearby police station. He died a week later.

Nero is the second officer to go to trial in the case. Officer William Porter is awaiting a second trial after his first ended in a hung jury in December.

The van's driver, Officer Caesar Goodson, faces the most serious charge of second-degree depraved heart murder for refusing to take Gray to the hospital and instead stopping to pick up another prisoner. When the van finally arrived at the police station, Gray was unresponsive.

Trials for all the officers are scheduled over the next few months. They all have pleaded not guilty.

The city agreed in September to pay Gray's family $6.4 million to settle civil litigation in the case.
A U.S. judge in Washington ruled Thursday that the Obama administration has been improperly funding a part of his national health care program that is aimed at helping low-income people pay for their doctors' visits and other health care costs.

Judge Rosemary Collyer, in a decision favoring Republican opponents of President Barack Obama's signature health care reforms, said the government could not reimburse health care insurers $175 billion over a decade to help the patients because Congress never specifically appropriated the money.

The Obama administration has said that it is using other previously approved money to pay for the cost reimbursements.

Collyer blocked further subsidies to the insurers, but said the program could continue pending an expected Obama administration appeal to a higher court.

The Republican-backed lawsuit against the six-year-old health care law, popularly known in the United States as Obamacare, is the latest effort by opponents of the law to undermine what Obama, a Democrat leaving office next year, considers to be the most important domestic legislative achievement of his presidency.

Millions of previously uninsured people in the U.S. have been able to buy health care insurance under the law. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted more than 50 times to repeal Obamacare, but its efforts have either been rejected by the Senate or vetoed by Obama.

Opponents of the law consider it to be an overreach by the national government because it forces Americans to buy health care insurance or pay a fine based on their salary.
A judge in the western U.S. state of Colorado has ruled a man charged with killing three people and wounding nine others in a shooting spree at a Planned Parenthood clinic last year is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Robert Lewis Dear has admitted guilt in the shootings, referring to himself in court as a "warrior for babies."

Judge Gilbert Martinez said Wednesday that Dear will be sent to a mental health facility with his trial put on hold until he is able to understand the proceedings and contribute to his defense.

The ruling followed evaluations by two psychologists who said Dear is delusional and has issues with trusting people.

Dear has accused his lawyers of drugging him and pursuing a mental health defense that would diminish his anti-abortion message.
The Florida man who sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States with the shooting of an unarmed teenager four years ago is now selling the gun he used in the killing.

George Zimmerman listed the gun in an online auction beginning Thursday and required an opening bid of at least $5,000.

He shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012 as the teen walked back to a relative's home after purchasing snacks at a convenience store in the town of Sanford. Zimmerman was arrested six weeks later, but a jury later acquitted him of second degree murder. He said the shooting was an act of self-defense.

The U.S. Justice Department said last year it would not file civil rights charges against Zimmerman, saying the evidence in the case did not meet the "high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution."

Zimmerman told local Florida television station WOGX he recently got the gun back from the Justice Department.

"I thought it's time to move past the firearm and if I sell it and it sells, I move past it, otherwise it's going in a safe for my grandkids and never to be used or seen again," he said.

He said he is free to do whatever he likes with his possessions.

In the listing, Zimmerman calls the gun an "American Firearm Icon" and a "piece of American history." He says a portion of the money from the sale will go to what he calls fighting Black Lives Matter violence against police, working to end the "persecution career [sic]" of the prosecutor who charged him as well as the "anti-firearm rhetoric" of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Black Lives Matter began non-violent street protests Martin's killing and gained national attention following the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. Since then, the deaths of other unarmed black males at the hands of police officers have inspired more protests across the country.

Clinton spoke about gun violence in April, calling it a national emergency and pledging to go after pro-gun lobbyists.

"The man who killed Trayvon Martin should have never had a gun in the first place," Clinton said.

Later this month, she is scheduled to give the keynote address at a conference for a group that offers assistance to women whose children or other family members have been killed by gun violence. The group was founded by Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and those attending the speech are being asked to donate $1,500 to the Trayvon Martin Foundation.

The foundation, in a statement to WOGX, said it is focused on its mission to end "senseless gun violence in the United States" and has no comment on Zimmerman's gun auction.
A group of right wing Hindus is throwing its support behind Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

Members of the Hindu Sena group held a colorful prayer ritual Wednesday in New Delhi, asking for the gods to let the real estate mogul become the next U.S. president.

The ceremony featured a small fire encircled by photos of Trump with a red dot on his forehead, a common way to bless someone in India.

Going by the statements of Donald Trump, we believe he will be the lone protector of mankind, Vishnu Gupta, Hindu Senas president, told Reuters.

Trump recently mocked an Indian accent while inveighing against outsourcing American jobs. India is home to many customer service call centers serving American companies.

There is a possibility the group is rallying behind the reality TV star because of his controversial comments about Islamic extremists. Some extreme factions of right-wing Hindus have been associated with violent attacks on Muslims in India.

Some less radical groups have courted controversy by banning beef production and reported forced conversions. There are more than 170 million Muslims in India, or about 15 percent of the total population.

Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, a member of the conservative Hindu party, Bharatiya Janata, has been linked to riots against Muslims in 2002 in the state of Gujarat where he was chief minister. The riots claimed more than 1,000 lives.

He was banned from entering the United States in 2005 because of his alleged role in the violence. The ban was later lifted, and Modi made a U.S. visit in 2014.

Modi is not associated with Hindu Sena.
Three Somali-American men on trial in Minneapolis, Minnesota, face the possibility of 15 years to life in prison for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group and commit murder outside the United States. But the trial also brings into sharp focus the radical group's global reach and concerns within the Somali-American community about judicial fairness and how that could affect collaboration with law enforcement.

Mohamed Abdihamid Farah and Abdurahman Yasin Daud, both in their early 20s, and Guled Ali Omar are among a group of Somali-American men the FBI tracked over a period of months starting in March 2014, when one member of the group aroused suspicion when he applied for an expedited passport to travel to Turkey, but was unable to answer basic questions about his planned trip.

Bob Fletcher, a former Ramsey County Sheriff in Minnesota and Director of the Center for Somali History Studies in Minneapolis, said the prosecution has a lot of evidence showing the men intended to leave the country to join the Islamic State group.

They intend to show that these defendants were determined time and time again to join ISIL and to kill for ISIL. They are going to bring in evidence that shows that a portion of this group left in the spring of 2014; a portion of the group attempted to leave in November of 2014 and then again, two of these defendants were arrested in April 2015 in California for attempting to leave. That evidence will be powerful, he said.

But that is not all. Fletcher said the prosecution wants to convey the brutality of IS to the court by showing the group's propaganda images and videos including beheadings, the burning of the Jordanian pilot in a cage and other gruesome killings.

Fletcher said prosecutors are using the graphic images to show that the defendants had been radicalized and then sought to travel.

They are going to show those videos and say that even after they knew of the barbarity of ISIL they attempted to leave November of 2014 and April of 2015. They will have that to show they were joining a very barbaric organization, which will be a tough evidence.

FBI informant



The government will also rely on recordings made by a confidential informant who was working for the FBI.

While the FBI maintains that the evidence showing the men sought to join Islamic State abroad is extensive, Fletcher anticipates the government might find it difficult to prove the more serious charge of intending to commit murder, which carries a possible life sentence.

He said the defense will encourage the jury to look for specific evidence and not get into the emotions surrounding the barbarity of ISIS.

"The best defense that they have is that these kids never really intended to commit murder when they go over there and they were mostly talk, he said.

Concerns about all-white jury

Meanwhile, some in the Somali community expressed surprise over the composition of an all-white jury. Community leaders did not hold back that they would have liked to see jurors who are more racially or ethnically similar to the accused. The defendants are all black, migrants and Muslims.

They (the jurors) are all Caucasians, we would hope to be included people that have the cultural knowledge of the religion, knowledge of the east African environment or culture," said Jibril Afyare, president of the Somali Citizens League in Minneapolis. "Unfortunately that is not the case. Everything is in their hand, we trust and hoping that a just and fair verdict will come out where everyone would be in favor of trying to be lenient for these men who really had lost their way out, and we need to think about how we can de-radicalize and help them to be involved again in the community.

The criminal complaint that lays out the evidence against the men shows that the parents of at least several men were totally unaware of their plans to travel abroad. One individual had his new passport confiscated by his parents who were worried about what he was planning.

These are young men that have been lured to a system that has nothing to do with Islam, I think the jury will look into that and make these young men learn their lessons and have their future ahead of them, Afyare told the VOA Somali Service.

Impact on community / law enforcement relations



Its a concern shared by Bob Fletcher who said it could have impact on relations between the community and the law enforcement agencies if they are found guilty and given lengthy sentences.

There needs to be a long enough sentence that is a deterrent for others from joining ISIS. But it cant be so long that it damages our ability to get information from the community because our ability to fight terror hinges on information from parents and peers," he said. "We cant just do it with old fashioned law enforcement, it has to come from the community deciding they dont want their kids to go and become martyrs and they want them to have productive lives here in America.

Apart from the three men who are standing trial, six others have pleaded guilty of the charges against them. They are Abdullahi Yusuf, Zacharia Yusuf Abdurahman, Hanad Mustafe Muse, Abdirizak Mohamed Warsame, Hamza Ahmed and Adnan Abdirahman Farah, whose brother is standing trial.

Deqa Hussein, the mother of Abdirizak Warsame, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to provide material support to the ISIL militant group, told VOA Somali back in February that her son who was a peaceful man, a role model who used to advise the youth in the community to stay away from drugs.

She too is asking leniency.

My son has one count, which is material support, that is 15 years. But it depends on the judge. I am a Muslim who was shaken by a lot of unexpected things. I rely on God. If my son told the truth, I believe we will not disappointed.
A collection of 13 stone engravings arrived to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation from Aswan

A collection of 13 stone engravings arrived at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, Giza on Wednesday evening from Al Shisha hill in Aswan.

Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany announced that the engravings have been very well preserved and would be subject to restoration and archeological documentation leading up to the museums official opening.

The museums Supervisor-General Mahrous Saeed said that the engravings have been dated to pre-dynastic times except for one that is dated to the Middle Kingdom era. The latter engraving, Saeed explained, depicts King Senusert III standing and beating his arming who are bending before him.

A permanent exhibition hall is set to be inaugurated soon in the museum and will display an exhibition entitled Handicrafts and Productions in ancient Egypt.

The exhibition will display 429 artefacts relating to industrial development in ancient Egypt from pre-historic times through to the New Kingdom era.

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Two former students from Burkina Faso have designed a mosquito-repellent soap, which they hope could be a simple and affordable solution in the fight to end malaria, but more funds are needed to test the idea, according to the startup behind it.

Moctar Dembele and Gerard Niyondiko, the brains behind Faso Soap, were awarded a $25,000 prize for their invention in 2013 when they became the first African winners of the Global Social Venture Competition at the University of California Berkeley.

Yet Faso Soap must be tested to ensure it is safe for human use and effective at preventing malaria before it can be mass produced by soap manufacturers in Africa, said Franck Langevin, campaigns director for the Ouagadougou-based startup.

The soap, created from natural oils and plants, could prove successful in preventing malaria as it would be cheap and rely on existing habits of African households, Langevin said.

"People in Africa are very reluctant to change their habits, but soap is present in most homes, and is used for bathing, cleaning the house and washing clothes," he said.

The soap is designed to repel mosquitoes up to six hours after being applied, and once soapy water is thrown away on the street, hinder the insects from breeding in stagnant water.

"It is a simple and affordable weapon in the fight against malaria," Langevin told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Last month, Faso Soap launched a crowd funding appeal for $113,000 to finalize the development of the soap with the aim of distributing it in six African countries hardest-hit by malaria by 2018, working with soap manufacturers and aid agencies.

Last year, there were 214 million cases of malaria worldwide with the mosquito-borne disease killing 438,000 people, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jo Lines, reader of malaria control and vector biology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, praised the idea behind the soap, but said it would be dangerous to rely on an untested product to protect against malaria.

As a social startup, Langevin said Faso Soap has struggled to attract funding from donors, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations children's agency (UNICEF), prompting the inventors to turn to crowd funding.

World leaders committed to ending malaria by 2030 when they adopted the Sustainable Development Goals last year.

Europe last month became the first region to be declared malaria-free after reporting no indigenous cases in 2015, and a former WHO official said the world can eliminate the disease soon, but only with more investment to end and keep it at bay.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending a new easier and cheaper treatment for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) that it says will save the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Every year, nearly 500,000 men, women and children worldwide develop multidrug resistant tuberculosis. And, each year, 190,000 of these people die. The WHO says the death rate is high because fewer than 20 percent of the patients are being properly treated.

Mario Raviglione, director of WHOs Global TB Program, said a new test and a new treatment regimen could be a game changer for those with multidrug resistant TB.

Two recommendations

These two new recommendations from WHO enable MDR-TB patients  one, to benefit from a test that will quickly identify who is eligible for the shorter MDR-TB treatment regimen and two, complete treatment in half the time at nearly half the cost of today, Raviglione said.

The new diagnostic test yields results in just 24 to 48 hours, down from the three months or longer currently required.



The shorter treatment regimen costs less than $1,000 per patient and can be completed between nine and 12 months.

Conventional treatment programs for people with multidrug resistant TB take between 18 and 24 months to complete at a cost of $1,500 to $3,000.

Treatment outcome

Raviglione says that globally about 50 percent of those following this lengthy, costly treatment are cured. He said the other 50 percent either die or continue to live with this illness for years.

He said about one-quarter of the patients become discouraged and abandon the treatment regimen before it is ended.

[They] abandon treatment because the treatment lasts, as you probably know, up to two years  with drugs that we all know are fairly toxic in a way. They have side effects and they are not really liked by patients who have to take them, Raviglione said.

There are about 400 labs in developing countries that are able to conduct the new test and treatment programs. The WHO believes most people with multidrug resistant TB will be able to access the new options.
It can't be seen with the naked eye, and it requires the power of the world's largest and most complex machine to find it. Yet it could change the very understanding of the known world of particle physics.

Right now, though, it's simply a "bump."

"In particle physics, a bump is when you have a smooth data curve  which is what you expect  and you see a little excess, a little bump in the middle of it, and that often is indicative that you may have made a discovery of some kind," said scientist Don Lincoln.

He's one of hundreds of scientists and researchers at Fermilab in suburban Chicago reviewing the data produced by experiments at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, facility in Switzerland, which is home to the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, also known as the LHC.

"Since about 1964," Lincoln explained, "we have invented a series of theories that, blended together, is called the Standard Model of Particle Physics and from that we can explain all data that we've taken. However, we can't explain this bump."

Which means this "bump" could represent a new particle previously unknown to scientists, and could fundamentally change understanding of particle physics.

"If it is real, it's probably the biggest discovery of the last half century," Lincoln said.

Then again, he adds, maybe it isn't.

"It could be a discovery, or it could go away. It's in that sort of gray area," he added.

Long-distance collaboration

Fermilab, where Lincoln and other scientists sort through that gray area, is the home of the Tevatron accelerator, once the largest superconducting supercollider in the world. Though the Tevatron accelerator has been taken offline, and has been eclipsed by CERN's LHC, Fermilab remains at the forefront of particle physics.

"We bring a certain amount of technology, know-how, to their machine because we started with a superconducting machine. So we have viable knowledge to bring to the table," said Fermilab's director, Nigel Lockyer.

Although the United States is one of the largest national collaborators for experiments conducted with the LHC in Switzerland, Lockyer noted that particle physics is now a more global exercise.

"We're into a new era of relationship between CERN and Fermilab, or between the United States and Europe, intertwining our particle physics programs," he said.

What helps the interaction are technological advances and global cooperation that allow scientists at Fermilab to remotely monitor and analyze data produced by the LHC's particle collisions some 7,000 kilometers away.

Everything, or nothing

As the particle collisions continue to produce data, Lincoln says the watchful eyes of more than a thousand scientists globally will arrive at one of two explanations for the "bump."

"One is that this is just a random statistical fluctuation and it will disappear with more data, and we need to be very clear about that," he explained. "The far more exciting possibility is that if it is real, yes, absolutely it is a completely fascinating thing that will rewrite our understanding of how the world works."

The LHC starts a six-month run of proton-smashing collisions, which is expected to produce six times the amount of data previously available to scientists.

Somewhere in that data may lie the answers scientists are looking for either to prove the existence of a new particle, or allow them to dismiss the "bump" as nothing more than a bump in the road to better understanding the Standard Model of Particle Physics.
The United States' European missile defense shield goes live on Thursday almost a decade after Washington proposed protecting NATO from Iranian rockets and despite Russian warnings that the West is threatening the peace in central Europe.

Amid high Russia-West tension, U.S. and NATO officials will declare operational the shield at a remote air base in Deveselu, Romania, after years of planning, billions of dollars in investment and failed attempts to assuage Russian concerns that the shield could be used against Moscow.



"We now have the capability to protect NATO in Europe," said Robert Bell, a NATO-based envoy of U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. "The Iranians are increasing their capabilities and we have to be ahead of that. The system is not aimed against Russia," he told reporters, adding that the system will soon be handed over to NATO command.

The United States will also start construction on a second site in Poland on Friday that is due to be ready in 2018, giving NATO a permanent, round-the-clock shield in addition to radars and ships already in the Mediterranean.

Russia is incensed at such of show of force by its Cold War rival in formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe where it once held sway. Moscow says the U.S.-led alliance is trying to encircle it close to the strategically important Black Sea, home to a Russian naval fleet and where NATO is also considering increasing patrols.

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow, in comments on Russian news agencies, said Iran's missile program posed no threat to NATO states in Europe and called the U.S. move a mistake and a treaty violation that directly affected Russia's national security.

The readying of the shield also comes as NATO prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics, following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions.

First strike capability

Despite U.S. assurances, the Kremlin says the missile shield's real aim is to neutralize Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to make a first strike on Russia in the event of war.

The shield relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Tracking sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and intercept and destroy it in space, before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites.

The Russian ambassador to Denmark warned a year ago that Danish warships would become targets for Russian nuclear missiles if Denmark joined the shield project by installing radars on its vessels. Denmark is upgrading at least one frigate to house a ballistic missile sensor.

Turkey already hosts a U.S. radar and the Netherlands has equipped ships with radars. The United States also has four ships in Spain as part of the defenses, while all NATO nations are contributing funding.

"Ballistic missile defense sites could pose threats to the stability and strategic assets of the Russian Federation," Russia's ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, told Reuters last month.

'Rogue states'

U.S. officials dismiss the Russian view as "strategic paranoia" and blame Moscow for breaking off talks with NATO in 2013 that were aimed at explaining how the shield would operate.

The United States says Russia was seeking a treaty limiting the capability and range of ballistic missile interceptors. "No government could agree to that," U.S. adviser Bell said.

Russian officials are concerned about technology that the United States says it does not have, including a missile defense interceptor capable of speeds of 10 km (6.2 miles) per second that could destroy Russian missiles.

First agreed by the U.S. government 2007 and then cancelled and relaunched by then newly-elected U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009, the missile defense shield's stated aim is to protect North America and Europe from so-called rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. That is part of a U.S. strategy that includes missile interceptors in California and Alaska.

Ballistic missiles, which differ from cruise missiles because they leave the earth's atmosphere, can travel distances of up 3,000 km (1,875 miles).

Despite a historic deal between world powers and Tehran to limit Iran's nuclear program, the West believes Iran's Revolutionary Guards continue to develop ballistic missile technology, carrying out two tests late last year.

"They are looking for greater distance and accuracy," said Douglas Barrie, an aerospace defense specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). "They can still miss by hundreds of meters, but that doesn't rule out firing against a city or a very large airfield."
Nissan Motor Co. agreed on Thursday to take a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corp. as the company attempts to recover from a fuel economy scandal.

Leaders of the two automakers appeared at a last-minute press conference Thursday in Yokohama, Japan  home of the Nissan headquarters  to announce what Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn called a win-win deal.

This will be a dynamic cooperation between two major Japanese car manufacturers, enabling us to harness the respective capabilities of our companies, he said. At Nissan we are determined to preserve and nurture the Mitsubishi motors brand, and we will help this company address the challenges it faces  particularly in restoring consumer trust in its fuel economy performance.

Mitsubishi already manufactures minicar models for Nissan that are an important part of its Japanese sales. Acquiring a major stake in Mitsubishi will also give Nissan more exposure to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.

According to Ghosn, Nissan will invest $2.2 billion into the company, making it Mitsubishis largest investor.

Last month, Mitsubishi admitted that several of its employees fudged the numbers on its fuel economy data, making several models appear to get better gas mileage than they actually do. Some of the cars that had their data manipulated showed fuel economy that was about 15 percent better than in reality.

The companies expect to complete the agreement by May 25.

Mitsubishi, the world's sixth-largest automaker has about half of its market value since news of the fuel-rigging scandal broke.

The company is no stranger to scandal, nearly going out of business after admitting back in 2000 that it covered up major safety defects for several decades.

Mitsubishi is the second carmaker accused of falsifying environmental data in the 12 months. Germany's Volkswagen admitted late last year that it installed software on millions of its vehicles that activated bogus emissions controls to deceive testing officials.
Kim Jong Un's hold on power in North Korea appears more secure than many pundits suggest, a former South Korean intelligence official said.

Dr. Suh Hoon, former deputy director for North Korean Intelligence at National Intelligence Service, South Korea's main intelligence agency, said the North Korean regime is currently stable and is likely to remain in power for the foreseeable future despite increased international sanctions against the country. Suh, a prominent North Korea expert, is an authority on Pyongyang's leadership.

The assessment came a day after North Korea ended its four-day party congress, widely seen as a political event that cemented Kim's rule.

Suh said the party gathering mainly served to pave the way for Kim's long-term reign in the country.

Long-term rule

"By creating a new title in the party, the regime institutionalized Kim's rule," said Suh, referring to Kim's assumption of the post of party chairman, in a phone interview with VOA Tuesday.

Considering Kim is still young and lacks the kind of authority that his father had, the regime is likely to intensify efforts to glorify the young leader and tout his achievements, according to Suh.

Recently, some analysts in Seoul have raised the possibility of a sudden collapse of the regime, citing a series of high-profile defections. In a rare move, a group of 13 North Koreans who worked at the same restaurant in China defected to the South last month. South Korean officials linked the defections to a possible indication of destabilization of the regime.

Since Kim took power in late 2011, the North Korean military has been ceding decision-making influence to the party. The recent party gathering is likely to further the power shift.

"The reshuffle of senior officials during the gathering clearly showed the military's influence has waned," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at University of North Korea Studies in Seoul.

Some defectors in Seoul say a military coup in the North is a real possibility, noting the military's growing frustration with the regime.

Last week at a forum in Washington, Wendy Sherman, a former U.S. diplomat who most recently served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, suggested Washington and neighboring countries discuss how to respond to a "sudden collapse of the regime or coup" in Pyongyang. Sherman said it is "becoming increasingly clear" that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

Military coup unlikely

Suh cautioned against such speculation.

"Given the current situation in North Korea, it is almost impossible for the military to attempt a coup against the regime," the former official said.

"The regime maintains tight control over nearly every segment of the society, removing potential threats. In addition, it seems there are no alternative forces inside the country that can ally themselves with outsiders," he added.

Reign of terror

The North Korea expert, however, warned Kim's own ruling style and personality could pose threats to the regime, characterizing his rule as a "reign of terror, frequent purges, and cruel executions."

Suh said Kim is more ruthless than his late father, Kim Jong Il.

"He set a precedent that even a member of the royal family can be executed," said Suh, speaking of the 2013 execution of Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Un's uncle.

Kim's nuclear policy is also different from his father's.

"While Kim Jong Il tried to keep ambiguity about the country's nuclear capabilities, Kim Jong Un is eager to show off the capabilities," Suh said.

The former official blamed Kim's sense of insecurity about power, caused by a short power succession period, as a probable cause for the differences.

Suh, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, has been following North Korea closely since 1980. He took leading roles in arranging two inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007.
Pakistan has temporarily closed one of its two main border crossings with Afghanistan, but said the two sides are in contact with each other to resolve differences that prompted the move.

Pakistani authorities began fencing the northwestern Torkhum border crossing on Tuesday to tighten controls and deter illegal movement. But the unilateral activity provoked strong resistance from the Afghan side and the tensions forced Pakistan to stop the work and consequently close the border.

Afghan officials say the move has stranded thousands of people on their side, including women and children, mostly intending to travel to Pakistan for medical treatment.

The closure has also halted movement of trucks carrying trading goods, particularly fresh fruits landlocked Afghanistan exports to other countries through Pakistan.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Nafees Zakaria defended the decision, saying the porous border needs to be properly managed to prevent illegal crossings Islamabad believes are posing security challenges for both sides.

This is in the interest of all concerned to have a well-managed border, a border that has those fences or the check points so that the crossings could be monitored properly, Zakaria said.

Without elaborating, the Pakistani spokesman said "it so happened that due to some differences over the measures to regulate the movements across the border it has been temporarily closed to avoid any unpleasantness.

He said Pakistani and Afgahan military officials are in contact with each other, hoping to resolve the issue soon.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,500-kilometer long porous border with the Torkhum and southwestern Chaman crossings being the only points open for movement of people and trade activities.

About 50,000 people, mostly Afghans use the crossings for daily movement.



Pakistani officials insist their attempts to ensure close monitoring of travelers is to prevent militants from entering the country for subversive acts.

They say the strict controls will also address Afghan allegations that militants retreat to Pakistani border areas after conducting terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

But Kabul opposes these measures because it does not recognize the so-called Durand Line as an international border, and Afghan leaders insist such steps deepen problems for divided families on both sides of the border.
Pakistan is hesitant to take action against the Afghan Taliban on its soil because of concerns the group will redirect its violence against Pakistan and Afghan intelligence will support it, a senior Pakistani official said.



We have to think twice before taking action. Anybody we take action against is immediately supported from the other side, the official told VOA on the condition of anonymity.



Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently demanded that Pakistan either take military action against Taliban commanders on its soil or arrest them and hand them over to Kabul.

Pakistan has often complained that when it launched military operations in Swat and South Waziristan in 2009, militants belonging to Pakistani Taliban took shelter in Afghanistan and started using it as a base, with the help of Afghan intelligence, to carry out operations against Pakistan.

As recently as the start of the current operation in North Waziristan in 2014, the Pakistani official said, the Afghan government issued refugee cards to militants who escaped to the other side.

Senior journalist and regional expert Rahimullah Yousufzai said the leadership of several Pakistani Taliban groups, including Mullah Fazlullah, the head of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, was hiding in Afghanistan.

He added that one of the militant leaders, Omar Khalid Khorasani, whose group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for an Easter bombing in Lahore in March that killed more than 70 people, was supposed to be getting support from the Afghan intelligence agencies.

Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, however, rejected the assessment of the Pakistani official.

Its easy to avoid responsibility and blame someone else for it, he said, adding that militants like Fazlullah and Khorasani were part of the Pakistani Taliban, who were an outcome of policies that are still the status quo.

Enabling the Taliban

Pakistan, he said, had created an environment that enabled the presence of both the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban.

In addition, he said, Pakistan scuttled opportunities presented by Afghanistan for mutual cooperation in order to change this situation.

Didnt the Afghan intelligence help with the capture of the Army Public School in Peshawar attackers? he asked, mentioning a devastating attack in December of 2014 in which more than 130 school children were killed.

In return, he said, Pakistan did not take any steps against the Haqqani Network, an Afghan Taliban group that officials at NATOs Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan have described as one of the most lethal groups in Afghanistan.



Afghanistan and the United States allege the network has ties to Pakistans intelligence agencies and its leadership operates out of Pakistan.

Afghan officials recently said the group has effectively taken battlefield control of the Afghan Taliban. They also blame the group for a deadly attack in Kabul in April that killed nearly 70 people.

Zakhilwal said the network remains a core irritant between the two countries and the lack of action against them contributes to the trust deficit.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated over the last year, after a burst of warmth in early 2015. Officials on both sides acknowledge that they do not trust each other.

Improving relations

Zakhilwal said President Ashraf Ghani, after his election, took the first step toward improving relations with Pakistan but did not get anything in return. He expected Pakistan to help bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

The first official contact between the Taliban and the Afghan government occurred in Murree, near Pakistans capital Islamabad, in July of 2015. By that time, Zakhilwal said, the trust had already been broken.

A second round, scheduled for the end of July, was cancelled when news broke that the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who was supposed to have blessed the talks, had been dead for a few year.

Efforts to rejuvenate the talks resulted in a four nation Quadrilateral Coordination Group, with representatives from the United States and China joining Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group adopted a roadmap with steps leading to a reconciliation process for peace in Afghanistan. That effort, Zakhilwal said, will also fail if Pakistan continues with its inaction.

The QCG will die down if the road map is not followed, he said.

The road map, he added, included pressure tactics to be used if Taliban refused to negotiate with the Afghan government -- measures like closing down their facilities, arresting them if they are wandering around freely, disrupting them.

Pakistan, he indicated, was not doing any of that.

Pakistan foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz on the other hand, has said that according to the road map, if peace talks do not materialize, action against the Taliban would require consensus among all QCG members.

He has also said that Kabul is frustrated because of the delay in the start of the process but acknowledges such things take time.

Pakistan insists it is continuing its efforts to facilitate talks. A delegation of the Afghan Taliban visited Islamabad from Qatar late last month as part of those efforts.

That visit seemed to have left the Afghans more unhappy. Zakhilwal complained that Afghans found out about the delegation from their own intelligence sources.

Why werent we informed? he asked, adding that Pakistan has still not told Afghanistan why the delegation was in Islamabad.
Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte plans to visit Vatican City personally to apologize for calling the pope a son of a whore last year, his spokesman said.

Duterte, the foul-mouthed longtime mayor of Davao City, made the comment last year when a visit from the pope caused massive traffic congestion in the already heavily trafficked city of Manila.

At the start of the popes visit in January 2015, Duterte said it took him five hours to travel across the city. Duterte said he wanted to call the pope and tell him: Pope, you son of a whore, go home. Do not visit us anymore.

Duterte has already apologized to the pope in a letter, from which he received a response from the Vatican that the pope would pray for him.

While no date has been set for Dutertes Vatican trip, his spokesman called it a top priority.

Not even cursing at the pope could keep Duterte from winning the presidency in the heavily Catholic Philippines. He won a landslide election Monday following a campaign that was highlighted by foul language and a joke about the gang rape of an Australian missionary.

In 1989, during Dutertes time as mayor of Davao, an Australian missionary was sexually assaulted and murdered during a riot at the city jail. Joking on the campaign trail earlier this year, Duterte called the murdered missionary beautiful, and said since he was mayor, he should have been first to rape her.

Hes also promised to kill thousands of criminals in an effort to crack down on crime.
Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff is vowing to fight back after the Senate voted, 55-22, for an impeachment trial for alleged corruption and to temporarily remove her from power.

Flanked by weeping cabinet ministers, Rousseff used what may be her last presidential palace speech to again insist she did nothing wrong and assert her belief that the impeachment is a coup attempt.

"What is at stake is respect for the ballot box, the sovereign will of the Brazilian people and the constitution ... this is a tragic hour for our country. ... I never imagined that it would be necessary to fight once more against a coup," she said.

The 68-year-old leftist waved at least a temporary goodbye to her supporters and retreated back into the palace, where she will be allowed to live while the trial is underway.

Rousseff's former ally-turned-political-enemy, Michel Temer, will take over as interim president. The conservative Temer has started putting together what political observers say will be a business-friendly cabinet. Its main task will be tackling the country's deep recession and reforming the pension system.

"Now is not a moment for celebrations, but rather for profound reflection," Temer said in his first statement as Brazilian leader. "We must significantly improve the business environment for the private sector ... and rebalance the government's budget."

Temer has already named former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles as his finance minister. He also has to deal with the mosquito-borne Zika virus  a major problem for Brazil as Rio de Janeiro tries to clean up polluted waterways and spruce up the city in time for hosting the Olympic Games in August.

Temer said the Olympics will be a rare opportunity to show the world Brazil is what he calls "a serious country."

Rousseff is a former Marxist guerilla who fought against the Brazilian military dictatorship in the 1970s.

She is accused of manipulating the size of the budget deficit to make the Brazilian economy look healthier than it was in order to boost her chances of re-election in 2014.

"As she approached the election in 2014, it was pretty clear that the economy was not doing as well as she hoped, and so she engaged in some creative accounting to try to make the situation look better," Latin American specialist Sean Burgess of the Australian National University told VOA.

It is still questionable, Burgess said, whether or not her actions were illegal, and the push for impeachment may be fueled by other lawmakers' desires to deflect attention from themselves.

Rousseff likes to point out that a number of other lawmakers and Brazilian politicians, including Temer, are also facing charges of corruption.

But Temer, who has been implicated in a graft scandal in the state-owned Petrobas oil company, promised mot to weaken the investigation.

Two-thirds of the Brazilian senate is needed to convict Rousseff and permanently remove her from office.

In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Thursday that the U.S. believes Brazilian institutions are "sufficiently mature and durable to withstand the political turmoil."

A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says Ban trusts that Brazilian authorities will adhere to the rule of law and the constitution.






French riot police forces walk during a demo against the government's labour reform on May 12, 2016 in Paris (AFP) French riot police forces walk during a demo against the government's labour reform on May 12, 2016 in Paris (AFP)

People demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP) People demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP)

Protesters throw tear gas grenade back to riot police during a demonstration against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP) Protesters throw tear gas grenade back to riot police during a demonstration against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP)

French riot police officers sprays pepper gas at a demonstrator during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP) French riot police officers sprays pepper gas at a demonstrator during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP)

Demonstrators protest against the government's labour reform in front of the the National Assembly during a debate ahead of a no-confidence vote in Paris on May 12, 2016 (AFP) Demonstrators protest against the government's labour reform in front of the the National Assembly during a debate ahead of a no-confidence vote in Paris on May 12, 2016 (AFP)

Demonstrators, left, clash with Unions security men during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP) Demonstrators, left, clash with Unions security men during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP)

A protester kicks a gas canister grenade during a demonstration against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP) A protester kicks a gas canister grenade during a demonstration against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP)

Clouds of tear gas surround French riot police during clashes with protestors during a demonstration against the French labour law reform in Nantes, France, May 12, 2016 (Reuters) Clouds of tear gas surround French riot police during clashes with protestors during a demonstration against the French labour law reform in Nantes, France, May 12, 2016 (Reuters)

Demonstrators gather during the labor law debate outside of the national assembly in Paris, France, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP) Demonstrators gather during the labor law debate outside of the national assembly in Paris, France, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (AP)

Protesters throw stones at riot police as they demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP) Protesters throw stones at riot police as they demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP)

A protester is arrested by riot police as they demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP) A protester is arrested by riot police as they demonstrate against the government's proposed labour reform on May 13, 2016, in Nantes, western France (AFP)
U.S. forces fired on al-Shabab militants while assisting in an attack by Somali government and African Union troops on a militant base.

The incident occurred Thursday in the village of Sabiid, about 40 kilometers west of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

A U.S. defense official tells VOA U.S. forces conducted "defensive fire" against al-Shabab fighters, after Ugandan African Union troops came under attack while trying to eliminate a militant checkpoint.

A senior Somali official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says U.S. helicopters fired missiles, hitting and damaging three al-Shabab armed cars. The official says at least seven militants were killed.

US support role

U.S. troops officially play an "advise and assist" role with the African Union force in Somalia, known as AMISOM.

Earlier this week, U.S. forces were involved in a raid on an al-Shabab base in the village of Toratorow, in which an unknown number of militants were captured or killed.

A Somali security official, Mohamed Nur Gabow, told VOA U.S. forces played a "lead role" in that operation. AFRICOM, the U.S. military command center for Africa, denied U.S. soldiers were in the lead.

The United States has trained a Somali government commando unit known as "Danab" or "Lightning," consisting of 500 soldiers who conduct special operations.

The Somali government has battled al-Shabab since the al-Qaida-linked militant group formed in 2006. The U.S. State Department designated al-Shabab a terrorist group in 2008 and has given the Somali government financial and military support to combat it.
A SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday carrying about 3,700 pounds (1,680 kg) of experiment results and cargo from the International Space Station, NASA said.

It was the first return load from the station in a year, following a SpaceX launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed another unmanned Dragon capsule.

The company's Dragon capsules are currently the only ships that can return cargo from the station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

Space Exploration Technologies, known as SpaceX, resumed Dragon flights to the station last month.

Ground controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston earlier on Wednesday used the station's robot arm to pluck the unmanned capsule from its berthing port and position it for release into space.

British astronaut Timothy Peake, working from inside the space station's cupola module, then commanded the crane to free its grip at 9:19 a.m. EDT/1319 GMT as the station sailed over Australia so Dragon could begin its ride back to Earth.

"Dragon spacecraft has served us well. It's good to see it departing full of science, and we wish it a safe recovery back on planet Earth," Peake radioed to Mission Control in Houston.

The capsule parachuted into the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 p.m. EDT/1851 GMT, splashing down about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of Long Beach, California.

Bodily fluids, spacesuit

Dragon's returning cargo includes more than 1,000 tubes of blood, urine and saliva samples from the one-year mission of former U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. The men returned to Earth in March.

Also aboard Dragon is the upper torso and life-support system of the faulty spacesuit NASA astronaut Tim Kopra wore during a January spacewalk. The spacewalk was cut short when water began leaking into his helmet.

NASA has had problems with leaking spacesuits before, including the near-drowning of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano during a July 2013 outing.

Returning Kopra's spacesuit will allow engineers to better investigate the source of the water, NASA spokesman Daniel Huot said.

NASA plans to resume spacewalks after the next Dragon capsule arrives early this summer. The spaceship will carry a new docking system so that future crewed versions of Dragon, as well as Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, can park at the station.

Both capsules, developed in public-private partnerships with NASA, are scheduled for test flights next year.
"Every time Britain has to decide between Europe and the open sea, it is always the open sea we will choose, Britains wartime leader Winston Churchill remarked once to General Charles de Gaulle of France.

On June 23 Churchills comment will be tested, when Britain decides whether to remain in Europe or turn to the open sea.

For many Britons eager to exit the European Union, the open sea also means looking west to the United States and falling back on the wartime-forged special relationship to enhance British power and to ensure the country outside the European Union doesnt become isolated or rendered insecure.

But it is unclear how useful Britain would be for Washington as a security and diplomatic partner outside the European Union, even though it would remain a member of the NATO defense pact. Spymasters, generals and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic have been weighing in, joining an increasingly vitriolic debate about the so-called Brexit's security and diplomatic consequences for Britain, Europe and America.

In recent years the European Union has been developing a common foreign and security policy which shapes the positions of the individual European members of NATO. Joint action has included agreeing on a common response to Irans nuclear ambitions and moving with sanctions on Russia after Moscows land-grab of Ukraines Crimea.

Weakening Britain's standing

During an April visit to London, U.S. President Barack Obama noted diplomatically in a newspaper opinion piece, The United States sees how your powerful voice in Europe ensures that Europe takes a strong stance in the world, and keeps the European Union open, outward looking, and closely linked to its allies on the other side of the Atlantic. So the United States and the world need your outsized influence to continue, including within Europe.

In later remarks, Obama was more blunt, talking less about Britains powerful voice and saying Britain would be at the back of the queue when it comes to a free trade pact with the European Union at the front. He said EU membership enhances Britains security and diplomacy, some of his aides are even franker, arguing an EU exit would seriously weaken Britains standing, making it less relevant and harming the trans-Atlantic security link.

One of Britains important post-World War II roles for Washington has been to serve as Americas deputy within the European camp, cajoling and lobbying on behalf of the United States, which was seen most dramatically before the Iraq invasion when then-British prime minister Tony Blair backed George W. Bush and rallied European doubters, except the French. With the European Union developing a common security and foreign policy, Britain wouldnt be able to help influence it, reducing its importance to Washington.

Those favoring a British exit say the EU common security and foreign policy hasnt worked out well. London University academics David Martin and M.L.R. Smith argue, The European Union was founded in 1993, and from the Bosnia crisis at its inception, to its most recent attempts to sanction Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and address the Syrian refugee crisis, through to the buying-off of Turkish autocracy, EU policy has looked a bizarre mixture of incoherence and appeasement.

Maybe so, say proponents of continued EU membership, but they argue it would be a lot worse without British participation.

National security

This week, three of Britains former intelligence chiefs weighed in on the EU debate. Jonathan Evans, a former boss of the countrys internal security branch MI5, and John Sawers, former head of MI6, the external security service, wrote in the Sunday Times newspaper the European Union matters to security. They said by reducing intelligence data sharing with European partners Brexit could undermine Britains ability to protect itself.

Eliza Manningham-Buller, another former MI5 chief, entered the debate to warn that Britain would lose influence. Europe would be the loser, too, she said, when it comes to intelligence and information-sharing. Adding, by being inside the European Union Britain benefits from being able to raise the standards of some of the weaker European intelligence agencies.

'Five Eyes'

But other former British spy chiefs remain less convinced about EU membership.

Richard Dearlove, who oversaw MI6 from 1999 to 2004, said, the truth about Brexit from a national security perspective is that the cost to Britain would be low. He, like other Brexiters, said the important intelligence relationship is with the so-called Five Eyes group, linking Britain, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and that Britain provides more intelligence to Europe than it receives.

But the other Five Eyes members want Britain to stay in the European Union, because it makes it easier for them to co-operate via Britain with European intelligence agencies, both in practical and legal ways.

Manningham-Buller accused Dearlove of being out of touch with developments since leaving MI6 more than a decade ago. She said intelligence cooperation has improved dramatically between European spy agencies, having been forced to do so because of the rising jihadist threat, and Britain has played an important role in that development.
A brother of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested on Thursday by the police Financial Crimes Investigation Division over a land deal allegedly involving money laundering, his lawyer and police said.

Several members of the Rajapaksa family are facing police investigations for alleged financial crimes. They include Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was president for a decade until January 2015, his brothers Basil and Gotabaya, his wife Shiranthi and sons Namal and Yoshitha.

Rajapaksa's younger brother, Basil, a former economic development minister, is on bail for alleged misappropriation of state funds after serving several months in prison and the court hearing is still taking place.

Basil Rajapaksa's lawyer, Jayantha Weerasinghe, told Reuters his client had been arrested.

"He has been arrested - they say it's regarding some private land. It's a totally false allegation," Weerasinghe said.

Weerasinghe later said his client had been produced in a court, freed on bail and told to appear in court again on July 20.

A senior police official who is involved in the case confirmed that Basil Rajapaksa had been arrested on a money-laundering charge in connection with the purchase of some land.

Neither Rajapaksa nor his family members were immediately available for comment.

Mahinda Rajapaksa lost power in January 2015 after a campaign in which he faced allegations of misusing public funds and nepotism during his 10-year rule. The Rajapaksas have denied wrongdoing.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, now an opposition legislator, is still popular among many ethnic majority Sinhala Buddhists who credit him with ending a 26-year-war against ethnic Tamil separatist rebels in 2009.

Rajapaksa is trying to rally the opposition against the current government with the help of Basil.

Sri Lanka's current president, Maithripala Sirisena, faces pressure to act on allegations of corruption dating back to the Rajapaksa era, especially from civil society organisations who backed his successful bid to oust Rajapaksa.
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir began a two-day state visit to Uganda on Thursday, in defiance of two international arrest warrants issued against the Sudanese leader by the International Criminal Court, or ICC.

Uganda is a member of the ICC, which means it is required to act on the arrest warrant.

Uganda is fully aware of this obligation, according to Fadi el-Abdallah, spokesman for the Hague-based court.

The ICC accuses Bashir of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region, which has left more than 400,000 people dead and two million others displaced. The conflict continues to claim lives, according to Amnesty International.

But critics say Uganda is unlikely to arrest Bashir while the Sudanese leader is in the East African country. They contend Sudanese officials might have received assurances from the administration in Kampala that he will not be arrested, since it was Uganda that officially invited Bashir.

Local media quoted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as telling visiting heads of state, "We lost interest in the ICC. ... ICC is none of our business. It is a useless body. We had supported the ICC initially thinking they were serious ... but it is a bunch of useless people."

ICC keeping watch

ICC spokesman el-Abdallah says the court is following Bashir's visit.

Judges at the ICC have the power to determine if a state party to the Rome Statute has violated its obligation to cooperate with the court, after inviting the country to explain its decision not to act.

The United Nations Security Council could levy sanctions if the court determines a country has violated its obligation.

"Uganda is a state party to the ICC and thus has the obligation to cooperate with the ICC, including the implementation of an arrest warrant, el-Abdallah said. And with regards to Mr. al-Bashir, there have been two arrest warrants delivered by the ICC judges against him."

ICC critics

But critics in Africa accuse the ICC of unfairly targeting African leaders. Such critics contend that crimes against humanity are committed all over the world and, for the ICC to be taken seriously, it must follow up on all violations, not just those in African countries.

Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since a 1989 Islamist and army-backed coup, rejects the ICC's authority and has flouted the warrant before, traveling inside the Middle East and Africa.

He has also visited China and Indonesia, which are not ICC members, over the past year.
Taiwans government in-waiting has accepted an invitation to observe the World Health Organization (WHO) annual assembly this year despite a new requirement that the self-ruled island attend as part of its political rival, China.

The government of Tsai Ing-wen, backed by a party that distrusts Beijing, accepted the WHO invitation this week to observe the World Health Assembly May 23-28 in Geneva. The invitation came with the first-time condition that Taiwan comes as part of China, a regular member of the international body.

Tsai disputes the one-China idea and prefers more autonomy for Taiwan.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and insists the two sides someday unify, by force if necessary. It periodically uses its global clout to stop international bodies, often U.N. agencies, from recognizing the island as a state. The two sides have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s.

A need to stay current on world health issues

Tsais government, which will take power on May 20, accepted the invitation because it wanted to remain an international player and stay current on global health matters, a spokesman said. The 194-member bodys assembly this month is scheduled to cover strategies for controlling AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. But the government in-waiting still rejects one-China.

Taiwanese peoples health and full rights to participation in the international community absolutely cannot be restricted by any political framework. Therefore we think there is no relation between the one-China basis in the WHO director-generals invitation and Taiwans participation in the WHA, spokesman Tung Chen-yuan said.

The Nationalist Party government in Taipei set aside political differences with Beijing in 2008 and received its first annual World Health Assembly invitation a year later.

The two sides agreed in 2008 to treat each other as parts of one China but subject to different interpretations  the Peoples Republic for Beijing and for Taiwan, its legal name Republic of China. Beijing and the eight-year government of President Ma Ying-jeou say they are observing the 1992 Consensus, named after a meeting between representatives from the two sides that year.

One-China policy

The World Health Organization added the one-China caveat this year because Tsais Democratic Progressive Party disputes the premise of one China with differing interpretations, analysts and officials believe.

Tsai won the election in January partly because she advocated more caution in handling China, turning the Nationalists out of power because they felt Ma had grown too close to Beijing. Taiwanese citizens also resent Chinas blocking it from international events and organizations.

President Ma Ying-jeou says that why we smoothly participated in the WHO over the past seven years is because the two sides have the 1992 Consensus, Premier Chang San-cheng told a May 10 news conference. The Democratic Progressive Party government says human health rights are a universal value and should be delinked from politics. In principle thats correct. But to be honest, in actual terms its not like that.
Police raids on suspected terrorist hideouts in Tunisia left four officers and at least two suspects dead Wednesday.

Police stormed a terror cell north of Tunis where a number of militants from across the country had gathered to plan what the police called "synchronized attacks."

Two militants were killed and 16 were arrested. Security forces gave little detail on the raid or the terror plot but said they had captured a number of rifles, grenades and other weapons.

Forces carried out a separate raid in Tataouine in southern Tunisia. Four policemen were killed when one of the militants set off an explosives belt.

Tunisia was the first North African country to overthrow a dictator in the so-called Arab Spring of 2011, but extremism and terrorism still shake its fragile democracy.

Islamic State attacks on a Tunisian beach resort and art museum last year killed some 60 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Militants, including some who crossed the border from Libya, fought with security forces in southeastern Tunisia in March, leaving seven civilians dead along with a number of officers and militants.
Villagers and small farmers in the developing world have something to teach economists about sustainable growth, according to British economist Partha Dasgupta, who received this year's Tyler Environmental Prize.

Dasgupta was honored with the major environmental prize for his work in bridging the gap between economics and environmental studies.

Dasgupta, who was presented with the award at the University of Southern California, said his field of economics developed after the industrial revolution and has, until recently, lacked the tools to understand the complex natural world in which economic activity takes place.

"The whole of development economics," he said, "concerned as it is with the study of poverty and ways out of poverty in Africa, for example, and South Asia, literally did not have the language to pick up the fact that economic development has to be in harmony with what nature provides."

Dasgupta was honored for combining hard science with concerns for those now called the world's "bottom billion."

An emeritus professor at Cambridge University, Dasgupta has worked with scholars in the social and natural sciences to probe such issues as the role of poor nutrition in curbing productivity, biodiversity and sustainable growth, and the differing prospects of people born in the industrial and developing worlds.

He said some economists have moved beyond such basic measures as Gross Domestic Product  the index that tracks the flow of goods and services  to take account of literacy and life expectancy, but says that even modern indexes of human development pay little attention to the Earth's ecology.

Dasgupta was born in Dhaka, before the partition of India in what is now Bangladesh, and says subsistence farmers in many parts of the world face environmental threats without the buffer that prosperity provides.

"So none of what I have written on would be news to the illiterate farmer in Zambia," he said, "but I think he would like to say that he's happy that I have tried to understand his life."

Dasgupta was one of the organizers of a Vatican conference last year that laid the groundwork for Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical on the environment. In 2002, he was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

He is the first economist in more than 40 years to win the Tyler prize, and he says people in his field can learn about sustainable economics by collaborating with environmental scientists, who see the toll taken on nature by economic activity in both the industrial and developing worlds.

"If environmental scientists have taught us anything," he said, "it's to keep on telling us of the fragility of Earth, even though it's robust in some ways, but if you push it far, she reacts."

He says the Earth is reacting, something subsistence farmers in many parts of the world know too well.
The wife of former Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye is calling for his immediate and unconditional release from police detention.

Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party was arrested Wednesday by Ugandan police after making a surprise appearance in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, causing a stampede by his supporters who wanted to see him.

Under surveillance

He had been under police surveillance at his house since the disputed February 18 presidential election. Yoweri Museveni, who won the contested poll, is to be sworn in for another term as president on Thursday.

The Uganda Electoral Commission said Museveni, who has been president since 1986, won the February election with 61 percent of the vote. Besigye and his party supporters say he won with 52 percent of the vote.

Besigyes wife, Winnie Byanyima, said she is concerned about her husbands health and the lack of information about his whereabouts.

Im extremely concerned because I cannot confirm where he is being held. Im demanding to know where he is being held so the family can check on him and his lawyers can check on him. Im also demanding for his immediate release because he has committed no crime, she said.

Im concerned about his health because he has been suffering from chest infection since they injected teargas and pepper spray into the car that he was in a couple weeks ago when he was arrested. He hasnt been well, and Im now concerned that he has disappeared, Byanyima said.

Besigye's charge of illegal presidency

Besigye has embarked on a campaign of defiance since the election aimed at invalidating what he calls Musevenis illegal presidency.

But the Ugandan Constitutional Court has barred the FDC and Besigye from carrying on their campaign of defiance pending the outcome of a constitutional case filed by the Ugandan government.

People's President

The FDC had announced on Tuesday it would swear Besigye in as the "people's president" and Byanyima said she heard the FDC inauguration had been carried out and she saw video of it on social media.

She said her husband should never have been arrested because he committed no crime.

What I know is that Kizza Besigye has committed no crime. It was not a crime that he stood in the election; it was not a crime that he won that election; and its not a crime that he should go among his supporters and be seen in the city like any other citizen, she said.

Police: Besigye arrest justified

In an interview with VOA this week, Inspector General of Ugandan Police Kale Kayihura defended the governments policy of containment of Besigye. He also denied the police have been partisan.

The police do not act on the basis of politics, let alone partisan politics. Police operate on the basis if there is an indication that somebody is about to commit an offense or has committed an offense obviously the police will be interested, Kayihura said.

Byanyima described the police containment action as rubbish and total nonsense.

Hes a Ugandan and enjoys the same rights as every other Ugandan to move freely in the country, to go wherever he wants, to meet, and to even call a meeting, Byanyima said.

She called on President Museveni to find a solution to the challenge his government faces.

My message to President Museveni is to step back and reflect. He may go to his coronation but this will not take away the fact that it was a discredited election and that Ugandans are rejecting the results and that he needs to step back and find a resolution to this challenge that the country faces, Byanyima said.

Byanyima also called on the government to end its blocking of social media in Uganda.
Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday appointed a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko with no legal background as general prosecutor, a position seen by the West as crucial for Kyiv's plans to tackle entrenched corruption.



To shouts of "shame" from some lawmakers, Poroshenko told parliament that his ally, Yuriy Lutsenko, a former interior minister and head of Poroshenko's parliamentary faction, would build public trust in the prosecution service.



The appointment may disappoint the European Commission, which like the United States and the International Monetary Fund, has tied aid to Ukraine to Kyiv's performance on corruption and reforms. Brussels had urged Poroshenko to nominate someone seen as independent who had a legal background.



The vote coincided with the visit of an IMF mission to Kyiv for talks on disbursing a tranche of aid worth $1.7 billion.



Poroshenko cancelled a trip to an anti-corruption forum in London this week to focus on appointing a new top prosecutor and passing reforms needed to convince the IMF that Kyiv was serious about restarting its stuttering reform program.



Lawmakers had earlier passed a law removing a requirement that only a person with a legal background can fill the post.



Lutsenko told parliament he was keen to "break the current inefficient and partly criminal system."



Poroshenko squeezed out the previous top prosecutor, Viktor Shokhin. On his watch the general prosecutor's office was widely criticized for hampering anti-corruption reforms.



Leonid Kozachenko, a lawmaker from Poroshenko's faction, told Reuters he expected the EU to show an initial "lack of understanding" over the appointment, adding: "But I hope this conflict will disappear when Lutsenko begins real investigations."

Imitation of work



Lutsenko was prominent in Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" which frustrated pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency, but fell victim to Ukraine's vengeful politics when Yanukovich finally took power in 2010.



He was subsequently jailed for embezzlement and abuse of office, though his defenders said the sentence was politically motivated. He was released in April 2013 on health grounds.



After the "Maidan" street revolt toppled Yanukovich in February 2014 and ushered in a pro-Western leadership under Poroshenko, Lutsenko joined Poroshenko's political bloc.



His career has had its colorful moments. In May 2009 he resigned as interior minister after being detained by police at Frankfurt airport for being drunk and disorderly, although the ministry denied the incident had taken place.



"All his actions will be an imitation of work," said Yegor Sobolev, a lawmaker from the reformist Samopomich party, which quit Ukraine's ruling coalition this year.



"The basic idea is making sure that nothing gets done. It is clear that the oligarchs will be untouchable, that the basic units of kleptocracy in the SBU [security service], courts and the prosecutor offices will also remain intact."
The blaze is the latest in a series of fires reported in several parts of the country over the past two days, including one in downtown Cairo that killed 3 people

A fire broke out early on Wednesday at a historic market in old Cairo, two days after a massive blaze engulfed a busy commercial area in the centre of the capital, killing three people.

Wednesday's fire in the Ghouriya area, a historic complex whose commercial area is known for the sale of textiles, is the latest in a string of fires that broke out in different governorates over the past few days that has lead to several deaths and dozens of injuries.

An interior ministry spokesman said a fire fighting team successfully put out the flames that started at two textiles shops before it extended further in the area.

He was quoted by state news agency MENA as saying that the fire left no casualties.

Photos published by local media showed charred shops with totally burnt fabric rolls.

A probe into the cause of the blaze is underway.

Ghouriya is located near the historic market of Khan Al-Khalili in the heart if Islamic Cairo, not far from Al-Azhar mosque.

Fire fighters have struggled for two days to extinguish the major blaze that engulfed the populous downtown Cairos Attaba neighbourhood. Officials say the fire continued to restart due to the large quantities of fabrics and inflammable materials stored at warehouses and shops there.

Three people were killed and over 90 wounded in the fierce blaze.

Some shop owners and vendors suspect that foul play is behind the incident, and the subsequent incidents elsewhere bolster doubts of a criminal factor.

A Chamber of Commerce official said losses from the Attaba blaze are estimated at EGP 400 million (approx. $45 million) after the fire engulfed 238 shops and dozens of stalls.

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Small, unmanned airplanes will take to the skies of Rwanda later this year on a life-saving mission: to carry cardboard boxes packed with medical supplies for airdrop at remote clinics.

A new initiative by several U.S. companies could help improve the lives of thousands of people around the world through the use of drones.

The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of the global shipping giant, is working with California-based Zipline, which manufactures the drones. The medical supplies are provided by the GAVI Vaccine Alliance.

The partnership is a natural for UPS, according to The UPS Foundation president, Eduardo Martinez.

"UPS operates in so many different countries, over 220 countries and territories, he said. So when a disaster occurs  someplace, it impacts us in a very profound way. ... So we've always lent our assets, our resources, our people and expertise to help these communities rise above these crises."

Simple, safe delivery

When roads are blocked by floods, landslides or hostile checkpoints, often the only way to get vital medicine and supplies to remote areas is by air, no pilot needed.

The fixed-wing drones can carry 1.5 kilograms of cargo and travel up to 120 kilometers. They fly on a pre-determined route, and once they've delivered their package, they return to base.

The idea behind the project is to make ordering medicine as simple as texting a friend.

Health workers request blood or other supplies by text message, then workers at the delivery hub pack up the order in a padded box, place it into the drone's cargo hold, scan a code that tells it where to go, and the order is on its way.

Zipline has contracted with the Rwandan government to deliver blood to transfusion centers, with plans to expand the program to include vaccines and other medicines. The partners will study the pilot operation to determine the best way to do that, and to help countries around the world launch similar efforts.

Drone data

In addition to providing a vital service, the project will provide Zipline and UPS with data about the safety and reliability of drone delivery. That could have an impact on whether or not the Federal Aviation Administration will allow drone deliveries of all kinds of products in the United States.

Companies like Amazon and Google hope to introduce that option for their customers.

But Martinez is looking ahead to other applications for the service, besides fulfilling product orders.

"Whether it's a sudden onset disaster to survey where people may be trapped, to communities that are involved in conflict zones or continue to have poor infrastructure or even have a sudden emergency, he said. So you can imagine, just in medical emergencies, scenarios where this could apply in the first-world rural communities to, again, emerging and frontier markets, as well."

And, he points out, sending a drone in that scenario costs a small fraction of what an airdrop by helicopter would cost.

Martinez expects the medical-supply service be underway in August.
Gary Mendell lost his son to drug addiction and suicide four and a half years ago. After eight tries at rehabilitation, Brian Mendell had finally conquered his addiction but he couldnt escape the stigma of his battle.



He took his own life out of shame and guilt over what he had done to us as a family and what he had done to his life, Mendell said.



He is one of the millions of family members across the United States who have suffered as a result of Americas growing opiate abuse epidemic. Mendell founded the Shatterproof Foundation as a way of fighting an epidemic that will kill 30,000 Americans this year.



The U.S. Congress took up that fight this week with a series of bills addressing a startling reality: the United States represents only five percent of the global population but Americans consume eighty percent of the worlds supply of pain medication. Opiate use in the United States has quadrupled since 1999, helped along by low cost and ease of access to opiate pain-killers and a lack of understanding about their dangers.

The wide-ranging pieces of legislation reflect the complexity of addressing an opiate abuse problem that has only received major attention in the past decade, with policy-makers and healthcare professionals struggling to care for the 4.5 million people in the U.S. who are estimated to be addicted to prescription opiates.



Dying is happening every hour

The dying is happening every hour, every day, across this country, said Rep. Susan Brooks, a Republican from Indiana sponsoring a resolution under consideration this week that would address the so-called culture of prescribing pain medications too quickly and easily to patients and without consideration of the possible dangers. A recent review found physicians checked a patients history only 14 percent of the time before prescribing an opiate pain-killer.



Brooks resolution is one of eighteen initiatives up for votes this week in the House of Representatives. The Senate is considering similar legislation and, in a rare bi-partisan effort, both Democrats and Republicans hope to unite their efforts for the president to sign one comprehensive bill into law.



Theres not a silver bullet for this problem, said Bradley Stein, a RAND Corporation senior scientist who studies government-level efforts to combat opiate addiction.



Stein said the multiple pieces of legislation address the problem using a variety of approaches.



Im encouraged seeing the aspects of the legislation trying to reduce the supply of opioids out there that may be contributing to the epidemic, he said, as well as efforts to increase access to some of the most effective treatments that we know are really needed to help people who are struggling with addiction.



The bi-partisan effort has met with praise but Gary Mendell shares concerns with some House Democrats about how the structure and funding of the legislation would work in practice.



Changing perspectives



Mendell noted the legislation as it stands now is not yet funded, although that could change when the House combines its work with the Senate. If the structure remains in place, states would receive grants from existing funds to implement the programs and approaches.



Only when money is appropriated will there be any effect at all, Mendell said.

He has also advocated for a number of low or no-cost approaches  including mandatory education of physicians on drug prescription guidelines and widespread stocking of kits that provide antidotes to opiate overdoses.



But Mendell said the key approach in the battle will be understanding opiate addiction as a medical issue  not a subject of shame.



He often told me  Dad, I dont feel like a patient. I feel like an outcast, Mendell said of his son.



He should have felt like a patient treated with a disease and he wasnt. Society looked at him and said Why dont you just stop? Youre a loser and thats the message he got from society.



The stakes for changing perspectives and finding effective treatments are critical.



This is a problem that affects all aspects of American society, said RAND Corporation's Bradley Stein. It affects all communities and as it has become more common its become one of those situations where increasing numbers of people know someone struggling with this addiction.



House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged the need for understanding in the battle against opiate abuse during his weekly press conference Wednesday.



No one should seek help and receive mistreatment in return, Ryan said, noting the effort was personal for many members of Congress.



This is not just about process. This is not just about legislation. This is about saving peoples lives.
In Ivory Coast, the government is trying to reach out to gangs of youths terrorizing parts of the commercial capital, Abidjan, as fed-up residents have started taking matters into their own hands.

The mere mention of the so-called microbes stirs fear and anger.

They are very dangerous elements, said one woman. A few days ago, they attacked an internet cafe, right there, at the intersection. Its dangerous to go out late, she says. By 10 or 11 p.m., they are everywhere.

Microbes is the French term for germs. But here in Abidjan, it refers to gangs of young men and boys, some only 10 years old, wreaking havoc on the streets. The gangs have been tied to numerous assaults, robberies and even murders.

The gangs started in a crowded, low-income part of Abidjan, called Abobo.

One resident said we catch a kid and take him to the police and two days later we see him in out in the street again. There is no follow-up, no justice, he said. So next time we wont take him to authorities, he will be lynched and thats all.

In April, an angry mob killed a 19-year-old microbe chief in the street in broad daylight, which in return triggered revenge attacks.

In some areas, residents have set up self-defense groups. Issa leads one of the groups.

He said they were assaulting our parents, our mothers. They were very violent. He said police had only one car patrolling the neighborhood and couldnt protect us. It was like we were in a cage and had lions attacking us. We had to defend ourselves, he said.

Armed with machetes and sticks, the residents' group would patrol the streets at night and confront the gangs. Local businesses paid the vigilantes protection money.

But the violence only continued and lately, Issa said, they have switched their approach.

We told ourselves we should try establish trust between us and these kids, try to listen to them and understand what brings them to do these things, said Issa.

To find the microbes during the day, you have to take unpaved paths down a steep slope. And there, among the vegetation in a small flat area, some teenagers live, sleeping rough on the ground.

Most of them have parents and do go home now and again but they live mainly on the streets.

I have nothing to eat at home. My dad doesnt work, nor do my mom or my brothers. There is no work. I had to take care for myself, said one of them.

Advocates working with the youth say older, more experienced criminals are taking advantage of the boys, enlisting them to do their dirty work.

Authorities regularly organize raids and arrest the microbes. But many get released quickly since they are minors.

The government is now trying outreach.

Leontine Zagba runs the program to protect vulnerable children at the Ministry of Women, Family and Child Protection.

When you have no self-esteem, you have nothing to lose and will do anything, he said. His program is working with them to bring that self-esteem back and show them that not all is lost.

Last year, a test project sent about 70 teenagers to a rehabilitation center to learn skills like mechanics, woodwork and sewing. But former microbes face stigma when they try to get work, said Satigui Kone, president of the NGO Fedoci, based in Abobo.

He said the government should think about creating jobs and industry here since people are scared of people from Abobo. Its one of the solutions worth exploring, he said.

No one knows exactly how many microbes there are. The best estimates are several hundred. But Kone said Ivory Coast cannot afford to underestimate the trouble they could cause.
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Names of Zimbabweans implicated in Panama Papers scandal released, but advocates call on Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to pardon them, if they return externalized funds. Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana faces suspension, as Harare High Court dismisses mayor's bid to end suspension.
A lot has been said about the proposed introduction of bond notes in Zimbabwe with some critics saying this is set to cripple the economy.

Central bank governor John Mangudya has been a bit hazy on this issue with indications that he is backtracking on some of the intended functions of the bond notes. He says they are not supposed to ease cash shortages but to promote exports in an under-performing economy.

Despite some of the contradictions that have emerged over the bond notes, politics remains key in the implementation of monetary policies in most countries, save for a few where central banks are independent.

What is the impact of politics in economic activities in countries like Zimbabwe? Is it possible to remove politicians from the economic equation or use them to fix the underlying economic problems in Zimbabwe?

For perspective, Studio 7 reached Zanu PF UK-chairman Nick Mangwana and economist Prosper Chitambara of the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe.

Mangwana said the central bank depends on politicians in crafting and implementing monetary policies and as a result cannot be dumped in attempts to revive the economy.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is a national institution which is under the Ministry of Finance  It has to account to parliament and that is why he (John Mangudya who appeared before a parliamentary committee to clear the air over bond notes) came to parliament. And the idea of avoiding the involvement of politicians was actually attempted because that is the reason why the minister didnt present this particular monetary policy or effort to parliament but the governor himself.

I am saying that is the effort to remove the politics out of it and focus on the policy itself.

Chitambara concurred, noting that you cant get rid of politicians in the economic equation because what politicians then do is to provide what we call a vision. They are actually supposed to enunciate the vision then the technical guys are the ones that run with the vision  They implement the vision.

So, we need politicians to guide us in terms of the direction, in terms of the vision and then we the technical people will run with that vision. So, you cant really separate the two 

Mangwana further noted that Zanu PF was not directly involved in these economic policy issues as its appointed point man, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

According to Chitambara, politicians and Treasury officials are expected to work hand in hand with all stakeholders in implementing sound economic policies in Zimbabwe.

I think what Zimbabwe needs today is a social contract that brings together government, business, labor and communities to actually reach a consensus on what actually needs to be done and to address the key binding constraints that are militating against efforts of government to achieve sustainable development.

Zimbabwes economy is this year expected to grow by only at least 1.5 percent due to lack of foreign direct investment, inconsistent policies and other issues.
The MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai says it will take the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to the Constitutional Court over its plans to introduce bond notes, saying such a move is illegal.

We have an exclusive interview with central bank governor John Mangudya on bond notes. Dont miss it!!

A recent survey conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency indicates that three quarters of Zimbabweans are poor with Matabeleland North having the largest number of people gripped by poverty.

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Harry Thomas Jnr. says America will assist the country in tackling human trafficking. Some Zimbabwean women were recently trafficked to Kuwait where they were abused by employers who forced them to engage into commercial sex work.

Stay tuned for these stories and more coming up on Studio 7 at 7:30 pm on 9-0-9 Medium Wave and on the 4-9-3-0, 5-9-4-0 and 1-5-4-6-0 shortwave frequencies. We also broadcast on www.channelzim.net. Please check us out on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.

This evening on Livetalk our hosts of the Womens Forum will be talking with listeners and experts about human trafficking. Participate by sending your messages on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. You can also post comments on this Facebook wall or send us your number so we can call you back.
The governor of Zimbabwe's central bank, Dr. John Mangudya, has denied that the soon to be introduced bond notes is a response to the country's crippling cash shortages, saying it is an incentive for exporters.

Mangudya told AFP-TV that only bond coins introduced in 2014 were designed to ease problems of change in a nation currently using multiple currencies after dumping its own currency in 2009.

The purpose of bond notes is to deal with an incentive for exporters but I think now people are confusing that the bond notes are coming here to cater for cash shortages. No. There is no relationship. This is an export incentive scheme.

Initial reports from the governors office indicated that the bond notes were set to also ease cash shortages. Critics say the governor is now flip-flopping on this issue due to political pressure and fears of violating the Zimbabwes constitution.

He told Reuters on Tuesday that the central bank would no longer convert half of all export earning to euros and rand, backtracking from partial measures introduced last week to ease acute shortages of dollars.

All this has been met with condemnation from opposition groups. MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirais party does not like what the governor is doing.

Tsvangirai told an international television station that these short-term measures dont make any economic sense.

You can rig the elections but you cant rig the economy precisely because this response is a reincarnation of the very same things that they will go back to which is reviving the bond notes as a short term measure  It becomes a permanent measure but it does not make economic sense.

The central bank governor will on Thursday respond to Zimbabweans concerns over the constitutionality of the bond notes. Dont miss it!! Here on Studio 7.
United States Ambassador to Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Harry Thomas Jnr. says America is looking at ways of working with the Zimbabwean government to end human trafficking.

In a breakfast meeting with journalists in Harare today, Ambassador Thomas Jnr., said stories of the 32 Zimbabweans women who recently returned from Kuwait had brought to the fore dangers of human trafficking which has now become a global problem.

Zimbabweans desperate to eke out a living have been taken advantage of by human traffickers who recruit and market them abroad.

Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo told a press conference in Harare that the Zimbabwe government was committed to ending human trafficking.

After failing to raise air fares for all the 32 women from Kuwait early this month, Chombo said government now has resources to bring home all victims of human trafficking who are in Kuwait.

He said so far 70 women have been brought back home from Kuwait while 16 others are now living at Zimbabwean embassy in Kuwait waiting for air tickets.

At the same time, Ambassador Thomas Jnr. also urged the government to find human rights activists Itai Dzamara.

Ambassador Thomas Jnr., who has been in the country for a few months now, said he has already met with leaders of many political parties including Zane PF, Movement for Democratic Change formations, Zimbabwe People First and Peoples Democratic Party.

He said the United States would work with civil society to advance human rights, governance and media freedom, among other issues.

Ambassador Thomas Jnr. further noted that they are currently reviewing civil society organizations to identify the most appropriate one to work with. The U.S, he said, was keen to see the full implementation of Zimbabwes constitution adopted in 2013.

On targeted sanctions, Ambassador Thomas Jnr. said individuals affected by the restrictive measures were free to apply for their removal. The sanctions were imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle for alleged human rights violations and election rigging.

He said the U.S supports economic reform in Zimbabwe but its entirely the responsibility of the government to create a conducive environment for economic prosperity through clarity on policies such as the indigenization law.

The U.S government is the leading donor in Zimbabwe as it is providing millions of dollars in aid annually to alleviate hunger, tackle HIV as well as funding education and exchange programs for local people.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Wednesday launched a report blasting corruption that they say has become a way of life in Zimbabwe.

The report calls on government to take tough measures against offenders.

The most prominent case of graft in Zimbabwe to date, at least in recent memory, is the disappearance of $15 billion worth of diamonds. No one has brought to account.

Economic commentator Rejoice Ngwenya, who attended the report launch at a breakfast meeting in Harare, says eradicating corruption has become almost impossible.

But with political will from the executive, it can be achieved, Mr. Ngwenya says.

President Robert Mugabe is on record denouncing corruption even among his government peers.

But Mr. Ngwenya says talk without action is not enough.

Cases of high-level corruption have dominated news headlines recently with the latest being the suspension of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority boss Gershem Pasi and other executives over a car importation scandal.

And now the tax collector has embarked on an ant-corruption drive, taking out graphic ads in the press and online.

But the campaign has not been without controversy.

One advert features a grimacing, bloodied woman with a knife to her throat. The message reads, With every bribe you are committing murder.

Transparency-International Zimbabwe and womens rights activists say the commercial is insensitive and inappropriate as it exploits the issue of domestic violence.

Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Harare on Wednesday hosted an anti-corruption symposium where speakers expressed concern at the governments ineffectiveness in tackling graft.

It coincided with an international anti-corruption summit hosted in London by British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
(Shanghai)  A subsidiary of state-owned China COSCO Shipping Corp. Ltd. has paid some 930 million yuan to acquire over one-third of a container terminal operator in the Netherlands in its latest push to expand overseas.

COSCO Pacific Ltd. said in a statement on May 11 that it had reached a deal with ECT Participations B.V. to buy 35 percent of Euromax Terminal Rotterdam BV for 125 million euros.

ECT Participations B.V. is a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd., which is controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing.

The acquisition has increased the stake that COSCO Pacific, the container-terminal operator of China COSCO Shipping, holds in Euromax Terminal Rotterdam up to 47.5 percent, making it the largest shareholder in the company.

A consortium formed by COSCO Pacific, China's Yang Ming Group, the Japanese firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. and Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. of South Korea bought a stake of 49 percent in the terminal operator in 2007. COSCO Pacific owned 12.5 percent of the operator at the time.

ECT Participations B.V. maintained a controlling 51 percent in the container terminal operator.

The port in Rotterdam where the Euromax terminal is located has become a major European shipping hub since opening in 2010. The container terminal saw its handling capacity jump to 3.2 million 20-foot containers by the end of 2015, COSCO Pacific said in the statement.

China COSCO Shipping, the country's largest shipping firm, said the deal with Hutchison Port Holdings helps it seize an opportunity that opened due to the Chinese government's "belt and road" initiative to expand China's business ties through Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa to Europe.

The deal will also help consolidate Rotterdam's status as a gateway for Chinese merchants entering Europe.

COSCO Pacific said that the port in Rotterdam is gaining more prominence as a major shipping hub in Europe and that its parent will boost the number of super-sized ships it operates.

COSCO Pacific has been on a shopping spree in recent years. In April, it said it would pay 369 million euros for two-thirds of Piraeus, the largest port in Greece.

(Rewritten by Li Rongde)
Zimbabwe High Court judge Lavendar Makoni has paved the way for the possible suspension pending dismissal of Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana.

Justice Makoni dismissed a request by Tomana that a retired judge or foreign judge preside over his case.

Tomana is facing charges of criminal abuse of office or alternatively defeating the course of justice after he allegedly authorized the release of Solomon Makumbe and Silas Pfupa, who are accused of plotting to allegedly bomb the first family business concern Alpha and Omega and President Robert Mugabes rural home in Zvimba communal lands, Mashonaland West.

Last year, the Supreme Court also ruled that Tomana was in contempt of court after he defied court orders to issue certificates for the private prosecution of ruling Zanu-PF Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke and Telecel shareholder Jane Mutasa.

Kereke was accused of allegedly raping an 11-year-old relative, while Mutasa was facing charges of swindling the company of airtime recharge cards worth millions of dollars.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says Tomana is not a "fit and proper person" to continue in the esteemed office of the prosecutor-general in the wake of defying court orders from the superior courts.

Tomana, in his urgent chamber application at the High Court, had argued that his post was at par with that of Chief Justice Chidyausiku and that the JSC had no powers to institute proceedings leading to his possible removal from office. But his request was dismissed.

Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku, president of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly, told VOA that Justice Makonis ruling is sound as it would be unconstitutional to allow foreign judges to preside over Tomana's case.
A recent survey conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency indicates that three quarters of Zimbabweans are poor with Matabeleland North having the largest number of people gripped by poverty.

The statistics were revealed at meeting in Bulawayo to discuss an Zimbabwe Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper being drafted by various stakeholders.

Out of the countrys 10 provinces, the figures show that Matabeleland North 80 percent of the population is generally poor white 40 percent are living under abject poverty.

With general household poverty at nearly 71 per cent and extreme poverty at about 19 per cent, Matabeleland South is ranked third, while the Bulawayo Metropolitan province has the least percentages for both general and extreme poverty levels countrywide.

National coordinator of the poverty reduction initiative, Jasmine Chipika, said although the numbers of households as well as individuals in general and extreme poverty have been lessening over the years, most Zimbabweans remain poor.

She attributed the trend mainly to the continued existence of an economy characterized by duality, in which a small formalized segment co-exists with a highly marginalized and largely poor rural sector.

These high levels of poverty seem to be a structural feature in the country. There must be something very deep-rooted in our economy which is sustaining these high poverty levels and we suspect its the dualistic nature of the economy  A large majority of people bunched in the rural areas where there is very little economic activity.

We also note that while poverty can be structural, there is also a version of it which can be caused by our own policy making. If you put certain policies in a country and they dont work, even people who were not poor can become poor.

The study also states that employment in the countrys formal sector has drastically dwindled due to company closures and downsizing owing to economic decline, which in turn has compelled workers to join the informal sector. It notes that informal employment is generally associated with high vulnerability to poverty.

Chipika said while the survey shows that the country registered relatively high employment levels of 80.4% in 2014, the quality of employment is low, resulting in low incomes and the subsequent perpetuation of poverty.

We are engaged in low economic productivity jobs. For example, graduates selling airtime in the informal sector. You are measured as a person engaged in economic activity but when we look at your poverty indicators you are still poor. So, we need to resolve the nature and quality of employment in the country.

The government has often touted the high percentages of people in the informal sector as showing that most Zimbabweans are employed but observers have noted that such employment is not gainful.

Western region chairperson Reason Ngwenya of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), who attended the meeting held in the city this week, says the economic situation in Zimbabwe has resulted in few individuals getting rich while the majority remains poor.

In Zimbabwe today, there are the extremely rich people who constitute about 10 per cent or less of the population, and there are the extremely poor people, who are 90 per cent or more. What we are saying as ZCTU is that in any economy the middle class is the economic driver. Those who are rich today are not prepared to part with their money; they are not prepared to invest. I can say most of them are mere looters.

The leader of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, Jenny Williams, who also attended the meeting, said some of the countrys economic problems can be blamed on poor governance.

Chipika said government, in collaboration with the World Bank, decided to embark on a national consultative process on poverty reduction in order to get input from various stakeholders as this is the first time such a program is being done in the country.

The program is said to be part of a raft of measures agreed to between Zimbabwe and multi-lateral finance institutions and are aimed at helping revive the economy.

The interim poverty reduction program is supposed to start from this year until 2018 when a five-year program is expected to be put in place.
Bye. Photo: Pedro Gomes/Getty Images

Many a celebrity should consider deleting their account, but today, Azealia Banks had no choice: Twitter has officially suspended the notorious cyberbully indefinitely. The move comes a day after Banks was dropped from a London music festival following her racist and homophobic Twitter tirade against Zayn Malik. She later apologized if her words offended anyone (but not actually for using offensive language), and then explained, via screenshots of texts to a blogger, that she was trying to hold Zayn accountable as a fellow person of color in the music industry.

In 2013, Banks  who has sporadically quit and rejoined Twitter over the years  tweeted that she was being forced to hand over her Twitter password, likely to her management or label, following a number of Twitter beefs that have consistently overshadowed her career. Last month, Twitter opted not to suspend Banks after she tweeted about wanting Sarah Palin to be gang-raped, saying then, We reviewed the content and determined that it was not in violation of the Twitter Rules. One of those rules states: You may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease. We also do not allow accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories. It appears, at last, Banks no longer meets Twitters standards.

Update: Azealia briefly returned to Twitter under a new account, where she accused Twitter of suspending her because she supports Donald Trump and is a black bitch speaking her mind. That account has since been suspended, too. She has now resorted to theorizing about her Twitter suspension over on Instagram, which hasnt been suspended  yet.
Photo: KERRY HAYES/Transactional Pictures of NY LP. All Rights Reserved.

Writer and sex educator Lux Alptraum will be walking through each episode of Starzs The Girlfriend Experience for Vulture, gauging how closely it approximates what its like to be a sex worker, in a series of essays and interviews. Here, she breaks down episode ten, Available (check out her pieces on episode one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight/nine). Follow along, and read our Girlfriend Experience recaps here.

Whats a girl to do when her sex tape gets leaked and her life turns upside down? For Christine, the answer is hightailing it to Toronto for a few days of escorting. Behind the scenes, Toronto makes sense as a destination (since its where most of the show  even the Chicago scenes  was actually shot). But is it actually a city where an escort could find booming business? I reached out to Rebecca DeVeaux, a Toronto-based escort, to learn more about what kind of rates Canadian sex workers charge, why its always nice to get paid in U.S. dollars, and who, exactly, is at risk should the cops come calling in Canada.

Does it seem like an authentic depiction of what sex work in Toronto is like?

Shes doing great business. As a high-end escort, like super-high-end, is there a market in Toronto? There are people who are in the $600, $800, maybe $1,000 an hour range. Not many, but its not unheard of. It definitely happens. Its not as big a thing as, say, New York. I think it depends on the city, in terms of a high-end rate, but I wouldnt see anyone going over $1,000 an hour. I think she charged $1,500 an hour, and I dont know if thats her normal rate, but when youre touring, youre going to alter your rates, and generally increase them over your baseline. It depends. I guess if youre from New York and youre charging $1,500 an hour, which would be $2,000 Canadian  youre not going to go to Toronto and charge that much.

So when you say $1,000 an hour, you mean $1,000 an hour Canadian.

Yeah. They paid her in Canadian [money]. I noticed that. I appreciated it, because often in shows theyll be in Canada but paying in U.S. currency. And this would actually be one example where it wouldnt be absurd or unheard of to use U.S. currency. Generally, youre going to accept the currency of the country youre in, but it wouldnt be unheard of for someone to request American dollars, potentially, because to convert money, theres a paper trail. So it wouldnt be unreasonable to ask for American dollars as an American sex worker. People use the greenback everywhere, especially for sex work.

Do you know many U.S. sex workers that come to Toronto?

No. I know a lot more the other way. But it happens. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people going the other way, mostly New York from Toronto. But not the other way. Its surprising, actually, because the legal status, at least for a worker, is less precarious than it is in the U.S.

What is the legal status of sex work in Canada?

Well, up until two years ago, solicitation was illegal. So, theoretically, was advertising for sexual services. It was primarily only ever enforced with street-based sex work. But that law, and other laws that criminalized sex work itself, went to the Supreme Court of Canada and were deemed to be a constitutional infringement of the rights of these women. So the laws were struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada and the government was given, I think, 12 months to propose new legislation. And they moved to a [Nordic model], where instead of criminalizing the sex worker theyre criminalizing the john. So now the act of buying sex is illegal, but not selling  as of a few years ago, buying sex is illegal.

Theres also anti-pimping laws, which in principle are meant to prevent people from materially benefiting from a sex worker, but the thing is, depending on how that law is interpreted, it could also be someone that youre sharing groceries with. I havent heard of it being enforced like that.

Criminalization of purchasing sex creates issues for safety, because a lot of people arent going to want to give their phone number or their full name, or even talk on the phone in some cases. She was getting all these cold calls, and I find that most people are going to have first contact through a text-based format  like through email or text messaging. People calling out of the blue? Most people I know have a text-only number or a text-only policy, and then theyll call people, rather than them just putting a number out. Or if they do have a number, itll generally be only used to confirm time and location and check in and do a call. But to just take calls, like she was doing, is a bit unusual. Men arent comfortable just cold calling sex workers that they dont know, especially ones from out of town that have no references or reviews.

Did anyone ask her for references or reviews or anything?

I dont think so. Whats interesting to me is she goes to Toronto because a dude whos never seen a sex worker before  or seems to have never seen a sex worker  invites her up. One of my friends said that wasnt that unlikely because a first-timer might just fixate on a specific girl, no matter where she is, but if its a really complicated legal status, that seems less likely.

Yeah. Im assuming that he paid for the flight and gave a sizeable deposit. If youre going to be flying to a different country, he should probably pay for the hotel room, but it looked like she just booked her own hotel? I mean, yeah, shes charging a lot, but Id at least want a deposit and the flight paid for.
Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

CBSs finest octogenarian newsman is ready for some much-deserved rest and relaxation. Morley Safer, 60 Minutess longest-serving correspondent, will be formally retiring from the show this week after an astounding 46 seasons. Safer joined CBS in the 1960s, reporting from various international bureaus  most notably in Vietnam  before beginning his tenure as a 60 Minutes correspondent in 1970. After more than 50 years of broadcasting on CBS News and 60 Minutes I have decided to retire, he said in a statement. Its been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air. But most of all I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast. The network will air an hour-long special on Sunday evening, called Morley Safer: A Reporters Life, to honor his lengthy career. Well miss ya, Morley!
Hudgens in Powerless. Photo: NBC/2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Wishing to play with viewers comic-book and true-crime obsessions, NBC on Wednesday announced the pickup of two fitting comedies. The first, Powerless, follows Vanessa Hudgens as a superpower-less insurance adjuster specializing in normal-people coverage against superhero-caused damage. The single-cam show  yep, about a different kind of hero  comes from scribe EP Ben Queen and will feature some characters based on the DC Comics universe. The second, Trial & Error, another single-cam, will be overseen by scribe EPs Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller. The duo is aiming to deliver a funny version of something like Making a Murderer, as John Lithgows eccentric, Southern poetry professor will work with a young New York lawyer to prove he didnt kill his wife. The fresh series join the already-ordered comedy Good Place, as well as the networks Taken and Emerald City dramas. That said, NBC looks like it still has room on its slate for a comedic take on Red Dragon.
Castro. Photo: Jesse Grant/2013 Getty Images

Tonita Castro, the TV actress and radio personality known for her surging comedy work, succumbed to a battle with stomach cancer on Sunday. The 63-year-olds agent confirmed the news Wednesday for THR, noting that Castro was a self-made woman in the industry, with the ability to make a joke about anything. The actresss career began in radio not long after she and her family moved to the U.S. from Mexico, in the late 1970s. We had to start from scratch, Castro told Fox News Latino three years ago. My mother was a widow with seven kids and she cleaned and ironed and was proud of the honest work she did. After roughly two decades of radio work, notably as the co-host of a Spanish-language show, Castro started landing small acting gigs for such shows as The Shield, Little Britain USA, Glee, Two and a Half Men, and The League. She also graced the big screen, thanks to parts in Funny People, Bad Ass, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. But Castros agent told THR that the actress was in the midst of doing her best work, because a recurring role on Matthew Perrys Go On had helped her net more frequent and substantive offers. Most recently, those had entailed appearances on Kroll Show, Dads, The Grinder, and Life in Pieces, among a handful of other series and films. Castro is survived by her husband.
Our lives are governed by an adherence to routines. And, generally speaking, we like that: we like patterns; we like predictability; we like things to be as we expect them. At its best, however, art doesnt work this way, and the kind of routinization we often pursue in our lives  whether consciously or unconsciously  works against our ability to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of art.

In many ways, getting into visual art like painting (particularly more abstract work) involves learning to see things anew. You look at art in a different way than you look at the world around you. It takes an adjustment in assumptions and attitudes. We dont interact with great art the same way we interact with, say, the vacation pictures of your relatives.

Engaged and active observation (the kind that art rewards) is something that our routine-driven lives work against. And so, people who go into an art museum, expecting the experience will simply be like any other everyday experience they have, are bound to come away disappointed and wondering what all the fuss is about.

I came across an article a week ago about a group of police detectives from the New York Police Department who were reporting for duty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They were there to be shown through the collections not by a curator but by Amy Herman, the author of the book Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life. Herman was teaching the detectives how to be more careful and detailed observers, and art is her means to do it.

This is not a class about Pollock versus Picasso, she explained. Instead shes using art as a new set of data, to help you clear the slate and use the skills you use on the job.

Herman has a Texas connection because the police department in Grand Prairie recently hired her for the same program. The police chief said that her presentation was invaluable in showing the officers how to better observe and document their findings accurately and free from bias.

Some medical schools have been running programs like this for even longer. A few years ago at Yale University, a doctor teamed up with the curator of education at the Yale Center for British Art to design a course that all first-year medical students are now required to take. Students meet in the museum and look at works of art, training themselves to see the smallest details and to extrapolate on their significance.

Course designer Dr. Irwin Braverman worries that the more doctors rely on high-tech imaging, the weaker their human powers of observation will become. Small yet telling details can hide in plain sight.

We know that this works, he said. In fact, he and his colleagues recently published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing a nearly 10-percent improvement in students ability to detect important details.

Learning to look at art can train doctors in more humanistic observation, he and colleagues believe. His course has been so successful that dozens of other medical schools from Miami to Stanford have created similar courses. Here in Waco, Baylor Universitys Medical Humanities program is actively exploring potential connections between art and medicine.

Hope Torrents of the University of Miamis Lowe Art Museum believes that interaction with art leads to a more humanistic generation of physicians. Art is a perfect tool to get people to look harder and think longer, she said. I couldnt have said it better myself.
A popular brand of beer is hoping American patriotism will boost sales.

Budweiser is changing its name to "America" through the presidential election in November.

"Budweiser has always strived to embody America in a bottle, and we're honored to salute this great nation where our beer has been passionately brewed for the past 140 years," said Budweiser vice president Ricardo Marques.

This is not the first time the iconic beer has appealed to patriotism. In the past it has changed its label to show the Statue of Liberty and the American flag. The company has also tailor-made bottles and cans to reflect events and important dates in other countries.

Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, is a Belgian-Brazilian mega beer company that sells about 25 percent of the worlds beer.

"America" will be spelled out in the same font as Budweiser, and the words "trade mark registered" will be changed to read "indivisible since 1776." The beer's slogan, "the king of beers" will be replaced with the motto of the United States, "E Pluribus Unum," or "Out of Many, One."

The American Budweiser was first brewed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1876. The name is somewhat controversial because the original Budweiser was made in the Czech Republic by Budweiser Budvar Brewery. In the EU and many other countries, the American Budweiser is called simply "Bud."

According to the Atlantic, Budweiser is the third-most-popular beer in America, selling about 100 million cases each year. Globally, beer sales typically spike in the summer months.
As part of the National Association of Letter Carriers 24th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, McLennan County letter carriers will pick up donations of non-perishable food items from local residents Saturday.

H-E-B will provide 100,000 paper bags that letter carriers will leave at mailboxes before Saturday.

To participate, households can place items such as canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta and sauces, rice, cereal, peanut butter, dry beans, rice, macaroni and cheese, baby food and other non-perishable items in the paper bag and leave it next to their mailbox prior to their regular mail delivery time Saturday.

Food donations will benefit Caritas, Shepherds Heart Food Pantry and the Salvation Army.

For more information, call 709-1094.

HOTCOG anniversary

The Heart of Texas Council of Governments, commonly referred to as HOTCOG, will have an open house to celebrate its 50th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the HOTCOG offices, 1514 S. New Road.

HOTCOG has been serving local citizens and communities since May 12, 1966.

For more information, call 292-1800.

Boil notices

North Bosque Water Supply Corp. issued a boil-water notice Wednesday for all of its customers north of Highway 185.

The Baylor Camp water plant was struck by lightning, causing the pump and motor to fail. Water from the Compton Road plant is being rerouted to serve the Baylor Camp area.

Customers in the Compton Road and Baylor Camp area should not use water unnecessarily, including for irrigation.

For more information, call 848-4668.

Bosque Basin Water Supply Corp. issued a boil-water notice Wednesday for its customers following a large leak that drained the systems storage tanks.

For more information, call Don Brandon at 723-1834 or George Snokhous at 836-0016.

Bruceville pet clinic

The city of Bruceville-Eddy will have a Paws for a Good Cause community service event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Bruceville-Eddy City Pavilion, located across from Bruceville-Eddy City Hall, 143 Wilcox Drive.

The event will include free or low-cost pet vaccinations and microchip placement for Bruceville-Eddy residents pets. A picture ID with proof of residence is required.

Rabies, parvo and distemper vaccinations will be available for dogs, and rabies vaccinations will be available for cats.

Dogs must be on leash, and cats must be in a carrier or box with air holes.

Democratic women

Texas Democratic Women of Central Texas will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at the McLennan County Democratic Partys office, 4800 W. Waco Drive, Suite 135.

The meeting will include updates about voter registration drives and campaign-trail trivia.

For more information, call Mary G. Mann at 715-1923.

Submit items for Briefly to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302.
When SpaceX tests rockets at its 4,300-acre site in McGregor, the rumble has been known to rattle windows and knock pictures from walls for miles.

Working with the company, the city has placed limits on when SpaceX can put rocket engines through their paces and how much noise they can create without the company owing the city an explanation and a fine, city officials said Wednesday.

SpaceX has agreed to move its testing deadline from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m., except in special cases the city must approve beforehand. It also will abide by decibel limits the city will apply up to three miles from the center of SpaceXs leased land in the citys industrial park.

McGregor has established a threshold of 115 decibels, which is comparable to the noise produced by a loud motorcycle or power saw, according to the Center for Hearing, Speech and Language. If SpaceX exceeds that limit, it must pay a fee of $7,500 and discuss with city officials what it will do to ensure it does not repeat the violation.

City Manager Kevin Evans said the companys tests are typically below 100 decibels and have never exceeded the 115-decibel mark.

The city may or may not issue a permit to the company to proceed with testing, Mayor Jim Hering said Wednesday. He said the city wants to keep in mind the needs of both SpaceX and the community.

Other regulations would impose fees up to $50,000 if SpaceX testing exceeds 125 decibels. A typical ambulance siren is at 120 decibels, according to the Center for Hearing, Speech and Language.

SpaceX, a California-based company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, continues to create waves in commercial rocketry. It makes deliveries for NASA to the International Space Station, and Musk has announced his intention to create a craft suitable for taking men and women to Mars. NASA and SpaceX announced plans last month for an unmanned flight to Mars by 2018.

At nearly every step in the companys evolution, which includes the completion of 26 launch missions, it has relied on its facility in McGregor to ensure the engines that power launch vehicles pass muster. Its online manifest identifies 45 future missions, with most launches in California or Florida.

SpaceX pays $544,165 annually to the city of McGregor, employs 300 people there and plans to double the workforce in the near future.

Evans said the new noise rules for SpaceX coincide exactly with a lease document we recently renegotiated.

Evans said he could not speak to any widespread annoyance the tests reportedly create in and around McGregor.

A good neighbor

In five years, Ive gotten one complaint from someone who lives in McGregor and one complaint from someone who doesnt live in McGregor. If people are complaining, theyre not doing it to this office, he said, adding in his opinion SpaceX has done everything possible to be a good neighbor.

The new ordinance establishes a Rocket Motor Testing Zone in McGregor, which is an area within a mile of the center of the testing complex.

The restrictions on sound take into consideration the decibel level testing creates within 3 miles.

Future testing generally is restricted between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., and all tests involving a rocket engine that generates 2 million pounds of thrust must be conducted during daylight hours. Evans said SpaceX itself suggested the city adjust the late-night deadline.

SpaceX has not come close to that 115-decibel number. Even their high-end tests typically are under 100 decibels, Evans said. Im telling you, they have never come close to those numbers, and I seriously doubt they ever will. Their efforts have been noise reduction, trying to be a good neighbor.

The ordinance requires that the city be allowed to inspect the facility to ensure the company is meeting its obligations and that SpaceX monitor sound and vibrations and provide data to the city upon request.

In some cases, late-night tests are to be allowed after payment of a $10,000 fee for the first test in any calendar year and $15,000 for the second test.

The ordinance also requires SpaceX to provide commercial general liability insurance of $20,000 to cover any personal injury or property damage and an additional $10,000 to cover any pollution liability.

SpaceX is not allowed to actually launch any vehicle into the atmosphere from McGregor and faces fines up to $25,000 if it does.

Evans said the city and SpaceX have worked together, and hes not worried about the new ordinance discouraging the company from staying put.

I am not concerned about that whatsoever. What we have done, we have done with SpaceX, not to SpaceX, Evans said. We are partners with SpaceX, just as we are with other industries.

He said SpaceX almost every year modifies its lease with McGregor to have access to more acreage and now has the use of almost half the citys industrial park.

Wanda Owen, who works at Cedar Chest Antique Mall in McGregor and lives on Harrison Street a couple of miles from the SpaceX property, said the testing occurs about four times a day and indeed shakes her windows and walls.

Sometimes I wonder if something is going to fall off, Owen said.

She said the last test of the day typically occurs about 9:30 p.m., and the rumbling lasts 15 to 20 seconds.

As for whether its a nuisance, she said, In ways it is, probably more for those who arent used to it. Im getting used to it.

Yost Zakhary, city manager and public safety director for the city of Woodway, a 10-to-15-minute drive from McGregor, said residents there know when SpaceX is testing.

I live right in the middle of Woodway, and I can definitely feel the vibration. Its loud, Zakhary said. Ive gotten numerous complaints from people who want to know why we cant stop it. I tell them they will have to contact the city of McGregor, because we dont have much say-so over what they do.

He said the people most annoyed complain about late-night tests when theyre trying to put kids to sleep or tending to other family issues. Those are legitimate concerns. I am happy about what SpaceX is doing for the community, but we need to balance comfort and convenience with a company trying to advance.

Messages left with SpaceX for comment on the noise issue were not returned Wednesday.
About 2,300 residents in McLennan County remained without power Wednesday evening after a severe thunderstorm and strong winds led to widespread damage across the county Tuesday night.

Severe thunderstorms rolled into McLennan County late Tuesday evening with heavy rain and strong winds, National Weather Service meteorologist Dennis Cain said. Wind speeds varied throughout the county, and rain accumulation varied from 1 to 1.5 inches overnight. Downed trees and flooded roadways created trouble for people across the region.

At the Waco airport, wind gusts reached 75 mph, and out in West, wind speeds were 56 mph, Cain said. There were no tornadoes confirmed, but most of the damage was from straight-line winds.

Officials in northwestern McLennan County, especially in Speegleville, Crawford and China Spring, reported wind damage, McLennan County Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Patterson said. Pea size hail was also reported in China Spring, Patterson said.

The primary region was the northern to northwestern part of the county that seemed to get the strongest front of the storm, he said. I know a lot of the Waco street department workers were out most of the night resetting barricades that had blown over and setting out stop signs where traffic lights went out, so most people stayed busy throughout the night.

About 13,000 Oncor customers, including multiple schools, lost power Tuesday night, Oncor regional manager Michael Baldwin said.

By Wednesday evening, Oncor estimated 2,300 of their 93,965 customers in McLennan County remained without power.

Due to the strong winds, Oncor crews are working to repair facilities, Baldwin said. Were working safely and diligently to restore power to all customers.

Oncor crews estimated that power should be restored by 9 a.m. Thursday, he said.

Students sent home

La Vega High School sent students home Wednesday morning because part of the campus was without power.

Al Bishop, assistant superintendent for personnel and administration, said school officials decided to send students home because the part of the school without power included some restrooms, the kitchen and the air conditioning equipment.

Although Elizabeth Gamez said she had power Wednesday at her house near 29th Street and Edna Avenue, she said the severe weather scared her when three trees in her yard fell over.

We are going to have to check the roof too. I am not sure if the roof has much damage, but our trees are down, Gamez said. The lightning and thunder sounded like an earthquake, it was so loud.

National Weather Service meteorologists have predicted Central Texas may continue to experience unsettled weather for the rest of the week, Cain said. Weather is not expected to be severe, but continued rain may impact the area.

There will be a brief break on maybe Friday and into Saturday, but we get into Sunday and into next week, the models look to have more showers, Cain said. This is springtime, so this is just a part of this time of year here.
On Thursday, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, goes to Capitol Hill to make either love or war with his partys establishment in the person of House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan quietly said he wasnt sure he could support Trump as president. Oh, yeah? Trump said loudly (at least initially) he wasnt sure he could support Ryan as chairman of the party convention in July.

Just as Trump needs to bring all sides together, hes decided to continue campaigning, against his party. Thats consistent for a man who can live without a friend but not without an enemy. On Sunday, he was asked on ABC Newss This Week whether the party needed to be unified. He said: Im very different than everybody else, perhaps, thats ever run for office. I actually dont think so.

Since vanquishing his last opponent, Trump has taken the support of those falling in line for granted. Those who dont are a call to battle. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said Trump had conned Republicans and is going to places where very few people have gone and Im not going with him. Trump called him a lightweight and an embarrassment to the great people of South Carolina.

At the other end are cheerleaders who have hopes of a Cabinet position or the vice presidency. That camp includes the early-on-board New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, just named transition chief, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who said, If a potential president says I need you, it would be very hard for a patriotic citizen to say no.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who once called Trump a cancer on conservatism, has also tried to get his job application moved to the top of the pile, praising the would-be nominee as someone who loves this country and he will surround himself with capable, experienced people, and listen to them.

In the middle are the hedgers playing Twister, especially those running for re-election. Sen. John McCain watched Trump win Arizona and pledged his support publicly, though he did ask the Donald to retract his statement that he prefers war heroes who werent captured by the enemy. Privately, in a tape obtained by Politico, he walked a tightrope over the Grand Canyon, worrying over the race of my life with Hispanics roused and angry in a way that Ive never seen in 30 years.

Equally endangered is Sen. Kelly Ayotte, running against a popular governor in New Hampshire. She would make Orwell blush as she used synonyms as opposites. She will support Trump but not endorse him. That clears everything up.

The conscientious objector Ryan is a different matter. Partly the standoff is a matter of style: the man of presumption and prenups, real estate and ridicule having to deal with the altar boy from flyover country who preaches conservatism with a Reagan smile and a raft of position papers.

On substance. Ryan is a free trader and interventionist, Trump an anti-NAFTA, America First isolationist. Ryan favors bipartisan immigration reform. Trump favors mass deportation and a real wall to keep out these coming in from Mexico and a legal one to keep out Muslims. Ryan is the author of sweeping reforms to save Medicare and Social Security. Trump wouldnt touch either. He will touch taxes, raising the rate on the wealthy above that in his campaign proposal, the biggest apostasy of all, which Trump is trying to clean up.

Fact is, you never know what Trump is going to do next. Neither does he, apparently. He has demonstrated a lack of impulse control. This is the fellow who, on the eve of clinching the nomination, tossed out an allegation that the defeated Ted Cruzs father was involved in the Kennedy assassination. Or consider his outreach to Hispanics, to atone for bruising their feelings with his allegation that some of them are rapists: On Cinco de Mayo, he tweeted out a picture of himself eating a taco bowl.

There are tactics but no strategy. Trump believes that his populist uprising trumps Ryans leadership of a party that controls a majority of state houses, legislatures and his own majority caucus. Saying initially he would depose Ryan as chair of the convention is like his plan to impose a 45 percent tariff on China and manipulate the debt like Greece  whatever gets him through a debate or a news cycle.

Most of all, Trump wants to keep the drama going. He will hype the meeting with Ryan like the Tyson-Spinks heavyweight match in Atlantic City. The press will buy it. His motorcade to the Capitol will be covered like O.J.s ride in the Ford Bronco on the L.A. Freeway.

And yet, there are two things that could temper Trump. He revealed that if someone likes him he almost always likes them back. That includes autocrats such as Vladimir Putin and even archenemies such as Little Marco Rubio and Lyin Ted  once they stop running against him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who will also meet Trump on Thursday, has shown he is ready to make nice. If Ryan makes the least bit of an effort, Trump will emerge praising him.

Second, the art of the dealmaker will kick in. Trump will stop bargaining with himself and bargain with Ryan, who would just as well not go to the convention, staying away with the Bushes, Mitt Romney and many senators. Sensing that, Trump will surely turn on his undeniable gifts as a salesman to get him to come.

You can bet that in Cleveland, the show will go on.

Margaret Carlson is a Bloomberg View columnist.
Malia Obamas recent announcement that she will take a gap year, or a year off before attending college at Harvard, has stirred interest in the student sabbatical. But even before Malia caught the headlines, interest was growing in taking a year off before college.

There are many reasons some students take a year off, but the bottom line is simple: Dont get caught up in the glamor of the gap year.

Many teens still think of college as the beginning of the rest of their life. A year of exploration can provide the insight into a hidden passion or talent that is needed to choose a major. It may also be a way to avoid the uncomfortable task of choosing something that seems so permanent.

Practical considerations such as the cost of higher education make it important not to waste a year taking courses that wont apply to the students eventual major. Some colleges are encouraging students to graduate in four years by returning some of their tuition when students do so. Others may employ disincentives such as raising tuition rates after four years. That makes choosing the right major all the more important.

Even if potential students know what they want to do, competition to get into many schools or particular programs can be fierce. Taking a gap year to do something out of the ordinary may be just the thing to make an applicant stand out.

On the other hand, parents and students need to ask some tough questions before deciding whether to take a gap year. Students, and parents, should contemplate why they want to take a year off from school. Is it an evasive tactic, meant to put off the inevitable for as long as possible? Or is the objective to provide better preparation for college? If a student takes a year off simply because they dont know what they want to do in the future, there is no assurance that they will have figured out anything by the end of that year.

One of the best ways to ensure that a student makes the right decision is to figure out what their goals are for the gap year. Specific goals make them better able to match what they will actually do during a year off from school and what they will get from it. Specific, measurable goals also help track progress, which improves motivation. Even though a gap year may sound like fun in the planning, it can require sacrifices and much more work in the execution than originally anticipated. Being able to point to actual gains from time spent will help students stay with the program.

Another question to consider is whether this is the only, or best way, to gain the experience they need. Many colleges offer undergraduate studies programs that encourage freshmen and sophomores to explore different areas of interest if the students are unsure of a specific career path. College programs often require students to shadow practitioners to get hours of experience in their desired fields. If you are going to volunteer during your gap year, why not do it while you are in college and get credit for it?

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, parents and students must ask if a gap year is necessary. What would a gap semester do? How about a gap summer? Consider using the summer between junior and senior years of high school to travel or volunteer. Or, take a few exploratory classes at a local community college outside of the students expected major. These can be taken pass/fail for less stress and may provide just the information prospective college students are looking for without waiting a year after high school before applying to college.

Simply put, examine the costs and benefits before deciding on the right decision. While there are some good reasons to take a gap year, that isnt the only way to get ready for college.

Mary Claire Gerwels is a senior lecturer of educational psychology at The University of Texas at Austin.
Hull & Smith Horse Vans, Inc.

In 1967, Gene Hull, a horse trainer, and his friend, William Hoot Smith, a jockey agent, formed a horse transportation company to haul thoroughbred race horses to and from race tracks located in Nebraska. The companys motto was A service for horsemen by horsemen.

Their first trailer held nine horses in individual stalls pulled by an International cab-over trailer. Soon they began adding more trucks to their fleet and filed for authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission to transport horses nationwide and also into Canada. They became one of the top authorized carriers of horses in the U.S. and in the 1980s and 90s, with a fleet of approximately 15 units. In one of their top years, Hull & Smith hauled approximately 10,000 horses.

Their home office and shop was in Ashland with agents in Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and California.

In 1996 Hull & Smith sold their business to a horse transportation company in California.

- Submitted by the Ashland Historical Society. For more information on Hull & Smith Horse Vans or other items from Ashlands history, visit the Ashland History Museum at 205 N. 15 th St., Ashland. The museum is open May through September on Thursdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment.
WAHOO  Saunders County voters headed to the polls on Tuesday.

But before any polling site was even opened, the 94 poll workers had to spruce up their skills at trainings provided by Saunders County Election Commissioner Patti Lindgren.

Throughout each two-hour training offered on May 4 and 5, Lindgren hammered home details, details and more details, ensuring that state statutes are followed regarding everything from curbside voting to cell phones to childcare.

One change that Lindgren highlighted was that no cell phones are allowed to be used at the polls.

Allowing voters to use phones to take selfies or photos of their ballots will not go into effect until July, per LB874, said Lindgren.

LB874 was approved by the governor on April 13 in regard to the Election Act, states the subsection of the bill does not prohibit a voter from voluntarily photographing his or her ballot after it is marked and revealing such photograph in a manner that allows the photograph to be viewed by another person.

Cameras are permissible in polling places, but only for background shots and only for a short period of time.

Lindgren also reminded the poll workers that electioneering or campaigning would not be allowed near the polls. That included bumper stickers, t-shirts, hats or even verbal discourse.

The boundary for electioneering remains the 200 foot mark from the door entering into a polling place.

Setup at polling places included five signs, sign placement, table placement and the placement of voting booths.

Lindgren instructed poll workers to encourage voters to supervise the children they bring into the polling places.

Were not babysitters. They have to stay with the person they came with, said Lindgren.

Lindgren also went over ballots, as nine polling places had more than one ballot style or split, she said.

For Lindgrens office on Tuesday night, she said the United States Postal Service would also come into play, as ballots mailed in that did not reach her office by Tuesday were rejected.
WALTON  A Nebraska high school student is among the winners of PBS LearningMedias and Stand Up To Cancers Emperor Science Award program.

Natalie Schieuer of Walton, a junior at Pius X High, is one of 100 Emperor Science Award recipients chosen from nearly 1,200 applications. Winners were chosen from eligible 10th and 11th grade students from across the United States who are interested in pursuing a career in science research.

The Emperor Science Award program is an initiative designed to encourage high school students to explore careers in science, specifically cancer research and care, through a unique mentoring opportunity. This summer she will work alongside esteemed scientists on a multi-week cancer research project.

Schieuer, 16, daughter of Kevin and Heidi Schieuer, will work alongside Dr. Hussein Tawbi, who is on the clinical faculty at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Schieuer were also awarded a Google Chrome Notebook to enhance her studies and to provide access to her mentors. She received a $1,500 stipend for expenses and the opportunity to continue the mentoring program for their remaining time in high school.

Schieuer plans to work on her research project this summer.

Schieuer and Tawbi plan to communicate via Skype and possibly at facilities in Nebraska. Schieuer also hopes she can use the stipend to visit Tawbi in Texas for a job shadow. Currently Schieuer is reading books Tawbi gave her to hone in on her research idea.

Schieuer, who hopes to become a doctor herself someday, said she was excited and surprised when she found out she was chosen for the program. She found out about the program from her Pius anatomy teacher, Shari Schneider.

Ive always had a great interest to go into science and help people. I thought this would be a great experience, she said. Id really like to thank my parents for all their support, and Mrs. Schneider for introducing the class to this award. Without her I never would have known about it.

She also expressed appreciation to the programs sponsors and PBS. She watched PBS Kids programing Cyberchase, Arthur and WordGirl on NET growing up as her family did not have cable.
Fiery Cross is composed of about 280 hectares of mostly dredged material from the ocean floor, to which China and other nations lay claim. Beijing in the last several years has built a 3,000-meter runway there, opened a port and erected other military facilities.

In response, China said it dispatched two fighter jets and three vessels to monitor the U.S. ship's passage and warned it to leave the waters near the reef.

The U.S. Defense Department said it sent a guided missile destroyer, the USS William Lawrence, to within 22 km of Fiery Cross Reef, a land feature in the South China Sea.

The U.S. and China engaged in a new face-off Tuesday in the South China Sea, with an American warship sailing near disputed artificial islands claimed by Beijing, and China scrambling fighter jets to warn off the U.S. vessel.

In less than a year, the U.S. has conducted three so-called freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea to contest what it believes to be excessive claims to the territory by nearby countries.

The Lawrence operation was meant to "challenge excessive maritime claims of some claimants in the South China Sea," Defense Department spokesman Bill Urban said in an emailed statement. "These excessive maritime claims are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention in that they purport to restrict the navigation rights that the United States and all states are entitled to exercise."

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau stressed later that the operation challenged attempts by China, Taiwan and Vietnam to restrict navigational rights around the feature they claim. The operation is not singling out China, she said.

The Chinese foreign and defense ministries described the U.S. ship's maneuver as provocative and said the American operation was justification for Beijing's construction of military facilities on the island.

Although the United States is not a claimant to the sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea, senior officials have been saying it is vital to U.S. interests that various claimants pursue their claims peacefully and in accordance with international laws.

About $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year through the South China Sea, the majority of which China claims. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have claims to parts of the sea.
The latest scandal surfaced last month after Nissan pointed out discrepancies with its own mileage tests. Mitsubishi also was embroiled in a massive scandal 15 years ago involving a systematic cover-up of auto defects.

The company said the extent of such fraudulence was wide, possibly affecting all current and discontinued models sold in Japan. It abided by mileage-test requirements for vehicles sold abroad, it said.

The company has said it carried out false tests and gave inflated mileage on minicars known as "kei,'' whose production began in 2013, called eK wagon and eK Space light passenger cars under its own brand and Dayz and Dayz Roox that it produced for Nissan Motor.

Mitsubishi Motors, the Japanese automaker under investigation for lying about fuel economy data for some models, said Wednesday such tampering is suspected in all of its vehicles sold in Japan.

U.S. environmental regulators have ordered additional testing to verify gas mileage on the models it sells in the country. Mitsubishi sells five models in the U.S., including three cars and two SUVs.

Although managers were fully aware of the difficulties involved in attaining good mileage, it did not bother to communicate with those on the ground doing the cheating to investigate, the company said in a statement to the government.

Employees simply made up some of the data, raising the mileage fraudulently five times during the development of the minicars, it said.

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi is still working on how to compensate the customers.

Mileage fraud is a violation of Japan's fuel efficiency law for autos because buyers are eligible for tax breaks if a vehicle model delivers good mileage. Possible penalties are still unclear.

The company said it will report later on the findings of a panel of three lawyers to further investigate the scandal from an outsider's point of view.

Big-name brands such as Mitsubishi, an industrial conglomerate that includes a trading company, real-estate, jet manufacturing and financial group, are revered in Japan, a nation that values tradition.

But these days, even Japanese media have begun speculating about the future of Mitsubishi Motors, which apparently failed to learn from its serious auto-defects scandal in the early 2000s.

The cover-ups then were over failing brakes, faulty clutches and fuel tanks prone to falling off dating back to the 1970s. That resulted in more than a million vehicles being recalled retroactively.
Voters in the Philippines have elected the country's first transgender politician into office.

Geraldine Roman won the seat in the first district of northern Bataan province following Monday's election.

She will become the highest-ranking openly LGBT politician in the Philippines, a country where heavy influence from the Catholic Church restricts divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage.
Despite the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome last year, the number of foreign patients in Korea edged up from 266,501 in 2014 to 280,000 last year. But Chinese customers dwindled, chiefly because their satisfaction rating is plunging.

Official figures are not yet out, but a look at the preliminary tally revealed by the 10 most popular cosmetic hospitals among Chinese visitors shows a 20-percent drop from 13,500 customers in 2014 to 10,000 last year.

The plastic-surgery tourism boom in Korea appears to be waning with the number of Chinese customers shrinking from its peak of over 79,000 in 2014.

The streets of the affluent Gangnam area where the plastic surgery clinics cluster are virtually empty these days. Until early last year, they teemed with Chinese women wearing the characteristic casts protecting their brand-new noses, but no longer.

Clinics are worried but have only themselves to blame for their greed. A staffer at one plastic surgery clinic said it now treats only about half of the Chinese patients it saw early last year. But the head of another plastic surgery clinic claimed these days Korean plastic surgeons are flying to China to conduct operations.

Chinese people are losing interest in getting plastic surgery in Korea because of a series of reports of malpractice and price gouging of foreigners.

In March of this year, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV broadcast a report exposing overcharging by Korean hospitals, and the Beijing News daily highlighted the side effects customers suffered from conveyor-belt practices.

Medical industry insiders here said there was plenty of publicity in China for cases of plastic surgery performed by unqualified doctors.

The government wanted to attract a million foreign patients by 2020 and generate W2.9 trillion in medical revenues, but that now looks like a distant dream (US$1=W1,171). The Ministry of Health and Welfare took steps in April to enable foreign patients to check what procedures they receive and how much they should be paying. Foreign patients can also reclaim 10-percent VAT, and the government has capped the commissions agents can charge.

Jin Ki-nam at Yonsei University said, "We should consider the decline in Chinese medical tourists an opportunity to improve treatments offered here rather than focus simply on attracting huge numbers."
President Park Geun-hye will embark on a three-nation tour of Africa from May 25 until June 1 before a state visit to France.

Park hopes to drum up business in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya.

She meets Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Park will deliver a speech at the 54-member African Union's headquarters in Ethiopia.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said Park hopes her visit will lay the foundations for Korean companies to foray into the region, while securing the cooperation of the three nations in Seoul's efforts to get Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear weapons program.

The visit to France marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and Park becomes the first Korean president in 16 years to visit Paris, where she meets her counterpart Francois Hollande.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said the two leaders will discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields and in dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat.
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BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
ResMed Inc. develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets medical devices and cloud-based software applications for the healthcare markets. The company operates in two segments, Sleep and Respiratory Care, and Software as a Service. It offers various products and solutions for a range of respiratory disorders, including technologies to be applied in medical and consumer products, ventilation devices, diagnostic products, mask systems for use in the hospital and home, headgear and other accessories, dental devices, and cloud-based software informatics solutions to manage patient outcomes, as well as provides customer and business processes. The company also provides AirView, a cloud-based system that enables remote monitoring and changing of patients' device settings; myAir, a personalized therapy management application for patients with sleep apnea that provides support, education, and troubleshooting tools for increased patient engagement and improved compliance; U-Sleep, a compliance monitoring solution that enables home medical equipment (HME)to streamline their sleep programs; connectivity module and propeller solutions; and Propeller portal. It offers out-of-hospital software solution, such as Brightree business management software and service solutions to providers of HME, pharmacy, home infusion, orthotics, and prosthetics services; MatrixCare care management and related ancillary solutions to senior living, skilled nursing, life plan communities, home health, home care, and hospice organizations, as well as related accountable care organizations; and HEALTHCAREfirst that offers electronic health record, software, billing and coding services, and analytics for home health and hospice agencies. The company markets its products primarily to sleep clinics, home healthcare dealers, and hospitals through a network of distributors and direct sales force in approximately 140 countries. ResMed Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
After agreeing two years ago to stop subsidising petrol discounts through supermarket profits, Coles now appears to be subsidising food and grocery discounts by charging higher prices at the pump.

Industry sources believe Coles has been charging a premium for petrol for at least six months to fund investment in lower grocery prices and protect margins in its food, liquor and convenience division amid increasingly aggressive industry discounting.

In a recent report, Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Simotas said Australian Institute of Petrol data suggested retail fuel prices had fallen 7 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the March quarter, but Coles' sales implied that its prices had fallen only 2.6 per cent.

An industry-wide shift to premium fuels and stronger sales in Coles Express convenience stores accounted for some of the gap, Mr Simotas said.
Women can legally be forced to wear high heels at work in British workplaces, an actress claims to have found when she was sent home for wearing flat shoes.

Nicola Thorp, who has appeared in Doctor Who, was told to wear 2 inch to 4 inch heels when she arrived for her first day as a receptionist at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the finance firm.

She was employed as a temporary worker by an agency, Portico, which told her she had to follow its "female grooming policy".

When she remarked that male colleagues did not have to wear heels, she was told it would be "ridiculous" for men to wear them.
In other words, it's not easy to find the billions needed by cutting government spending, a point Turnbull himself acknowledged in 2005 when he said, "given the demographic challenges we face it would be rash to assume that overall the expenditures of the federal government can be materially reduced".

Which leaves tax hikes, ones that aren't yet specified. It'll cost about $11.3 billion per year to cut the company tax rate from 30 to 25 per cent. That's an independent estimate, from Independent Economics, the consulting firm hired by Treasury to provide a check on its numbers. It's about the sum the government spends each year on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The government will get a chunk of it back straight away ($3.1 billion) in higher income tax collections from shareholders who will miss out on imputation credits, leaving it an initial $8.2 billion per year out of pocket.

A word about imputation. It's a peculiarly Australian innovation that effectively ensures Australian companies don't pay tax. That's right, most of the benefits of cutting company tax flow to foreigners. Australian companies are indeed charged tax, but when they pay out dividends, their Australian shareholders get a " credit" which they can use to offset other tax. It net terms their dividends aren't taxed. It means most of the $8.2 billion per year tax cut goes offshore, as a gift.

The gift is retrospective, in the limited sense that people complaining about the budget's superannuation changes use when they point out retirees had been planning for something different. Janine Dixon and Jason Nassios of Victoria University put it this way: the foreign capital that's in Australia now "was willingly installed by non-resident investors when the rate of company tax was 30 per cent". A cut to 25 per cent will will be a bonus.

The Treasury's belief is that it will encourage them to invest more. Projects that weren't viable at 30 per cent will become viable at 25 per cent. The extra projects will lift GDP (a measure of the amount produced) and probably lift wages as the newly-installed machines and processes make workers more valuable.
Meeting our significant others changed all that. After reuniting with her first love "Paul", "the childnestled in among words of fear and hope and promise" began to materialise for Leigh. For me, it was meeting the light of my life in the semi-darkness of an underground bar.

But not even our "elective affinities" and our shared desire for a precious "childling" could mask the fact that a small, yet determined part of ourselves had concerns. After all, we were both professional women. With creative lives. A child would rock this on its axis.

In the end, it turned out that our determined little creative selves weren't that hard to shake off. How long did it take? Who can say? Perhaps, sometime in the period when lovemaking for lovemaking-sake became an abject exercise in timing.

Or, perhaps, it got lost in the fug of injecting ourselves daily, agonising over whether or not to have a coffee, and in those loving  obsessive  thoughts of our embryos. The proverbial clock wasn't just ticking. It was sounding an alarm. With mocking clarity.

"I felt the twinge of implantation," writes Leigh after one particular "positive" transfer. "I actually felt it. Good morning babies. I had the exquisite pleasure of greeting my babies-to-be each day. I was hopeful and shameless."
Indie rock band YACHT tried to prank its fans, but ended up enraging them.

Marketing gimmicks in music are nothing new. Just last week, Radiohead slowly disappeared (then reappeared) on the Internet to promote a surprise album.Beyonce dropped her chart-busting Lemonade on a Saturday night along with an hour-long short film. But deleting one's Facebook page or unexpectedly releasing an album isn't generally called "reprehensible" or "horrific."

Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans of YACHT.

Pretending to be the victim of the unintended publication of a private sex tape, on the other hand, has the potential to deeply offend people. And that's exactly what YACHT did.

The Los Angeles-based band consists of Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, who are also romantically involved. On Monday, the two released what seemed to many like a bold and honest statement on their Facebook page.
She's the woman in red. Identified on the business ideas and investment show, Shark Tank, as "one of Australia's greatest online success stories", Naomi Simson, an author, corporate leader, mother and canny marketer, has fashioned herself as a walking advertisement for her company, RedBalloon, perpetually dressed in the colour that evokes its name. The bold and festive shade suits her.

Simson is one of the school of "sharks" on a show that assesses the pitches of aspiring entrepreneurs. Sitting alongside her are Janine Allis, Steve Baxter and Andrew Banks, as well as newcomer for the second season, Dr Glen Richards. All have built multi-million dollar empires from the ground up.

Naomi Simson, host of Shark Tank. Credit:Ten

If one of the sharks is sufficiently impressed by a proposal, he or she can choose to invest his or her own money in its development; if more than one of them is interested, they compete, offering different levels of equity or types of financing. Then the successful pitcher can choose the proposal that they prefer, or the shark that they think is best suited to helping develop their enterprise.

Simson says the show has been called "The Inventors with Money" as it seeks to showcase innovative ideas that are accompanied by sound business plans. That might mean having patents in place or pending, having expressions of interest in buying the product, orders for it or testimonies from satisfied customers. Through the first season, there was a broad range of offerings: mobile tyre services, lingerie and sauce lines, medical equipment, edible bugs, automotive conveyor trays. The producers have been surprised by the number of people keen to front the forum with their proposals and only about half of the pitches recorded make it to air.
Sydney radio host Alan Jones has accused NSW Premier Mike Baird of a "deliberate campaign to torpedo" Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the July election over controversial NSW council mergers plans.

Jones, a vocal critic of the forced council amalgamation plan, used his 2GB program on Thursday to rail against news merged councils will be created across Sydney and NSW as early as this week, pending sign off from the Baird government on Thursday.

The creation of up to 20 larger councils across the state is being accelerated, in part to resolve what could emerge as a political sore for the Coalition ahead the federal election.
International pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister to intervene to prevent further damage to Australia's global reputation caused by the CSIRO's climate science cuts.

The call comes after another leaked letter from CSIRO obtained by Fairfax Media reveals a major international weather agency wrote to CSIRO more than a year ago to express its concern about a pending cut to Australia's efforts.

The director of research for the agency, European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), warned that its work relied heavily on high quality data, which was provided in part by CSIRO's Aerospan program.
The public servants responsible for Australia's border security have given a crushing vote of no confidence to the "command and control" culture and "military-style regime" of their department and those in charge.

A damning internal survey shows 70 per cent of officials in the Department of Immigration and Border Protection have no confidence in their boss Mike Pezzullo or Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg, with some complaining a culture of blame came from the top.

The department conceded there were "residual integration issues" but said the the survey also found a high level of professionalism, dedication and commitment among staff, and a high level of trust in supervisors and team leaders.
Australian schools are in deep trouble and students will continue to slip behind in reading, maths and science unless there is urgent action from all governments, a new report has warned.

It's a grim picture of the country's education system, where high school students lag behind global standards, there is growing inequity and teaching has become an increasingly unattractive career.

Australia was "drifting backwards", said the author of the report Geoff Masters, chief executive of the Australian Council for Educational Research.

"We ignore these warning signs at our peril ... Unless we can arrest and reverse those trends we will continue to see a decline in the quality and equity of schooling in this country," he said.
A number of people have been arrested over an apparent kidnapping in Perth's northern suburbs.

Police say that around 10am on Thursday morning, they received reports that a woman in her forties had been abducted from her home.

Officers were told that she may have been taken to a house in Small Street in Beechboro.

The Tactical Response Group and the dog squad rushed to the address.

Shortly after they arrived a woman walked out of the house.
WSUs Outdoor Program hosts Summer Summit Backpacking Series

May 12, 2016

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University students and community members are invited to participate in the Summer Summit backpacking series. WSUs outdoor program is hosting two different trips, May 21-22 and July 29-31.

Backpacking affords you the opportunity to get off the beaten path, find your own place and live comfortably wherever you want, said Jamie Berstein, WSU Outdoor Programs assistant coordinator. Having that skill set allows you to sleep further away from the generators and noise found in many popular campgrounds."



The May trip, which will be at a local destination, will introduce participants to the basics of backpacking such as equipment setup, proper clothing, pumping or treating drinking water, and other camp chores.

You can't just turn on the faucet, Bernstein said, You have to purify water before drinking it by filtering it or treating it with chemicals. Life, while it moves more slowly in some aspects, tends to be a little bit busier in other aspects when you're in the mountains, doing all of the things that you need to do to take care of yourself.

The July trip to Kings Peak in the Uinta Mountains with an elevation of 13528 feet is for hikers who are more advanced. Participants already should be familiar with the basics of backpacking and be ready to hike while carrying a pack with supplies for at least 12 miles.

The goal of our trips is to teach people the basics skills so they can go out and practice them on their own, Bernstein said. It's a great place to come and learn. It's a great place to come and meet other people who have similar interests who might want to get out with you in the future. It's also a good way to see a new area that you might not have seen before.

The cost for the May trip is $40 for WSU students/faculty/staff and $60 for the general public. The prices for the July trip are $75 and $95. These prices include food, transportation, guides and group equipment.

Registration and information are available at weber.edu/outdoor/summmer-summit-series.html or 801-626-6373. For more information about the WSU Outdoor program, please visit weber.edu/outdoor or email outdoorprogram@weber.edu.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
One arrested, two to the hospital after hit-and-run crash on I-24 in Christian County
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 11, 2016 | 08:06 PM | MAYFIELD, KY

Volunteers with the Western Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross have been working in 8 counties that suffered damage after Tuesdays storms and tornadoes.

Volunteers have assisted about 12 individuals in the city of Mayfield whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Residents of Ohio, Muhlenberg and Trigg counties have also been assisted.

The Red Cross has gone door to door in affected areas in Mayfield to make sure all residents affected have the assistance and support they need.

The Red Cross continues to monitor the situation and work with residents to work with those affected.

If you have been impacted, please contact the Western Kentucky Red Cross at 270-442-3575 or visit the Red Cross office at 120 N 9th Street, Mayfield on Thursday.

To donate you can call 270-442-3575 or visit the Mayfield office on Thursday or Friday or you can go online to www.redcross.org.
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 11, 2016 | 07:56 PM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY

A California man was injured when he wrecked his semi in Graves County Tuesday morning.

According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened around 5:45 am near the 3000 block of KY 121 North. Deputies said a semi driven by 40-year-old Charanjit Singh of Bakersville, CA was traveling North on KY 121 when his trailer dropped off the roadway.

Singh was unable to gain control of the semi and it overturned, landing on its side. Both lanes of KY 121 North were closed for approximately seven hours while workers removed frozen chicken that Singh was transporting to California.

Singh was treated at the scene by Mayfield/Graves County EMS.
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Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/05/2016 (2357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The serious cocktail bar has been a North American nightlife staple in cities of all sizes and cultural temperaments for years. The idea of a restaurant centred around the skills and creativity of a mixologist, rather than a chef, is anything but new.

But the modern cocktail bar could not take root in Winnipeg until 2014, when Manitobas Liquor & Gaming Authority made small but significant changes to its liquor-licensing regime. One of the regulatory tweaks eliminated the onerous food-vs.-booze ratios that annoyed restaurant owners late in the evening, when their patrons quite naturally wanted to consume less of the former and more of the latter.

As a result of the change, there are many more Winnipeg restaurants that stay open later in the evening  and half a dozen where cocktails are the focus.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Richard Krahn at Albert Street Cocktail, located a couple blocks from his brothers establishment.

In a quirk of hospitality-industry happenstance, brothers Richard and Josey Krahn each run one of these cocktails bars  not together, but as entirely different entities, located a mere 270 metres apart in the Exchange District.

In April 2015, Richard opened Albert Street Cocktail in a heritage building that used to house the anarchist-vegan Mondragon restaurant. Eleven months later, his brother Josey opened Bar at Forth in the basement of a McDermot Avenue structure renovated by former Manitobans now living in Berlin.

The two bars do not compete as much as they complement each other. Theyre also diversifying the character of the Exchange at night by creating a middle-ground option between restaurants and large nightclubs.

Its amazing. The crossover means more people come to the Exchange, said Richard Krahn, 33, who spent six years at Bar Italia on Corydon Avenue before setting his sights on Albert Street Cocktail. Its nice to see that around here. It used to be you came down here for dinner and got out of town.

No mixologist himself, Richard poached bartender Mike Fox from Bannatyne Avenues Peasant Cookery to work behind the stone countertop that stands where the Mondragon staff used to take orders for southern-fried tofu.

Bartenders have a cult of personality around here, Richard said of Winnipeg, citing his brother Josey and Elsa Taylor at the Roost and Fox as mixologists with followings of their own.

After a year of tinkering at Albert Street, Fox has created a large menu of cocktails that tend toward the slightly complex. As a counterbalance, there are only a handful of solid things to consume, including a charcuterie plate, a cheese board and a very nice $4 cup of olives marinated in fennel, chili and orange juice.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Josey Krahn at his Bar at Forth, across Main Street from his brother Richard's cocktail bar.

Bar at Forth, which most of its patrons just call Forth, is a much smaller space with a menu to match. Josey Krahn, best known for his years behind the bar at Deer + Almond on Princess Street, offers a very short selection of cocktails, typically composed of three or four ingredients.

Im a big fan of simplicity, he said.

Hes also a huge fan of low light: Bar at Forth is easily one of Winnipegs darkest rooms. Show up in the late afternoon, when the light filters down from McDermot Avenue through wooden slats, and youll be afforded a better glimpse of the heritage restoration. I wanted somewhere that would feel really comfortable, almost like a living room setting or a cool grandfathers basement, Josey said.

Food is slightly more important here. Pamela Kirkpatrick, who opened Cakeology on Arthur Street and now runs the Forth restaurant kitchen upstairs, offers a bar menu featuring pot stickers and tacos topped with either pulled pork or sweet peas with pecorino cheese and a salty, savory okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese cabbage pancake.

Given the two bars vastly different characters  Albert Street Cocktail has enough space to host a bachelor party, while Bar at Forth is the very definition of intimate  the Krahn brothers have found themselves sending patrons to each others establishments. Theyve also sent each other emergency bags of limes.

Its super rad. I dont know how both of us ended up in the position where we are  two brothers who run cocktail bars  but its great, Josey said.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Rich Krahn at Albert Street Cocktail.

The brothers say they dont believe Winnipeg, after coming late to the cocktail party, now suddenly has too many similar establishments.

Never, man. Bring it on. I think its great, Josey said. Its a small city, but a lot of people like to go out.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/05/2016 (2357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An air-passenger advocate is hoping to keep NewLeaf Travel Company on the tarmac.

Gabor Lukacs of Halifax has filed a motion appealing the March decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that said the Winnipeg-based reseller of air services didnt need to hold an air licence. The decision cleared NewLeaf to begin operations.

The CTA ruled that some types of airlines that operate as charter models arent required to hold a licence, and thats very troubling for me. The whole licensing process is a consumer-protection measure, Lukacs said.

PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Dean Dacko, Chief Commercial Officer of NewLeaf Travel, speaks at a news conference earlier this year.

The CTA launched its review in January, just a couple of weeks after NewLeaf announced its schedule and fares for its ultra-low-cost carrier model, in which it partnered with Kelowna-based Flair Airlines to provide the airplanes. NewLeaf immediately suspended operations and refunded customers money pending the reviews results.

After announcing the ruling, Scott Streiner, the CTAs CEO, said it recognized the evolution of business models, encourages innovation and consumer choice in the market and ensures continued protection for passengers.

Lukacs said according to the CTA ruling, passengers would have no contractual relationship with Flair, which would not be obligated to compensate them if something were to go wrong, such as people being bumped due to oversold flights, their luggage failing to arrive or Flair failing to operate on schedule.

The tariff protects NewLeafs dealings with Flair, not your dealings with NewLeaf. (The CTA) is protecting the wrong party, he said.

Allowing NewLeaf (to operate without an air licence) would defeat the whole purpose of why the regulations were put in place in the first place. It means NewLeaf is able to circumvent the intention of the regulatory scheme. It really looks as if the CTA was trying to give NewLeaf a sweetheart deal.

NewLeaf president Jim Young noted Lukacs motion hasnt been granted, so right now the legal battle is between Lukacs and the CTA.

ANDREW VAUGHAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Gabor Lukacs

NewLeaf can file an adjoining response. Were working on that, he said.

Young said he doesnt believe the motion has any merit as its opposing a public consultation done by the federal government that based its ruling on the National Transportation Act.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SASKATOON  Cameco (TSX:CCO) reassured nervous investors Wednesday morning after deep cuts in Saskatchewan last month.

We had anticipated things would get better sooner, CEO Tim Gitzel told the annual general meeting.

On April 21, Cameco cut 500 jobs and suspended operations at its Rabbit Lake mine.

In the release on their website the same day, the company also said production was curtailed at Cameco Resources U.S. operations by deferring wellfield development, resulting in an additional 85 positions reduced.

What we regret most about those decisions is the effect it has on our people and communities, but we know these decisions are necessary for the long-term health of the company.

Gitzel acknowledged the uranium market has been depressed for more than five years with low prices, very few long-term contracts and more supply than the market needs.

In those years, we anticipated things would get better, sooner, he said, adding the company has responded by pulling back in some areas and doing more with less.

We know that these challenges are temporary. The reality is that the world needs more energy.

The CEO said the next ten years brings the promise of a higher demand for uranium, partially based on the expected world population boom.

According to Gitzel, growth in global reactor construction is also up; 60 are currently being built with 10 brought online in the last year alone.

He said it opens the door for Saskatchewan to keep producing.

Three to four more Cigar Lakes being required over the next ten years  not an easy task, as we know by experience, he said.

While most of its sites are expected to produce less in 2016, Cigar Lake continues to ramp up with plans to produce 16 million pounds of uranium this year.

Rabbit Lake, located around 800 kilometres north of Saskatoon, is the second-largest uranium milling facility in the western world and longest operating facility of its kind in Saskatchewan.

Previously, the company said the mine closure will take several months for all the changes to take effect.

The Rabbit Lake operation will be placed in a safe care and maintenance state, so Cameco has the ability to reuse the mine if there is a significant improvement to market conditions.

(CKOM)
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Twenty years ago, Winnipegger Brenda Parsons made a spur-of-the-moment decision that changed the course of her life.

She decided to attend the inaugural Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show, which has since gone on to become Canadas longest-running aboriginal business, community and economic-development conference.

A member of Peguis First Nation and a sales representative for a local printing firm, she attended in hopes of finding some new customers for her employer. But what she didnt realize at the time was that, five years later, the experience would inspire her to start her own printing business  All Nations Print.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Brenda Parsons, owner of All Nations Print, will be an honorary chairwoman of the three-day Vision Quest gathering.

As I walked around (the conference) and talked to different people, they said, You know, youve got really good business acumen. You should start your own business. We need more aboriginal role models, Parsons said during an interview Wednesday.

I said, I cant start a business. Im a salesperson. I dont know how to do a business. But five years after that, an opportunity just kind of came up to try it, and I thought well, Ill just try it and see if I can get this business off the ground.

She launched All Nations Print in 2002 as a one-person operation she ran out of her home. Fourteen years later, its a thriving business with four employees and its own print shop on St. James Street.

Parsons was adamant if it werent for the seeds planted in her mind 20 years ago, she never would have become an entrepreneur.

That was the last thing that was on my mind. I was a single mother with a four-year-old daughter, and I had a house. Why on earth would I want to start a business? That just sounded like suicide, she said.

But I think Vision Quest is a wonderful platform. There are great people that show up and inspire you and make you dream and make you want to move forward. I think its really good that way.

Since that first year, shes attended a number of other Vision Quest conferences as both a participant and speaker. And shes returning again this year as an honorary co-chairwoman of the three-day event, which kicks off next Tuesday at the newly expanded RBC Convention Centre.

Leann Brown, a business development officer in the Community Futures office in Thompson and a member of Vision Quest Conferences Inc.s board of directors, said about 1,000 people are expected to attend this years event. They include entrepreneurs, industry and business leaders, innovators, community organizations and about 200 aboriginal students from schools throughout the province.

The conference will include inspirational speakers such as Joe Roberts, who went from living on the streets of Vancouver to heading up his own successful multimedia company (Mindware), and Inez Point, one of Canadas top aboriginal musicians. There will be workshop sessions about business, leadership and personal development, and certification courses on personal safety and self-defence and how to operate a boat/pleasure craft.

There will also be a banquet next Thursday and a three-day trade show featuring 80 exhibitors ranging from aboriginal artisans to educational institutions and financial lenders.

Its a really broad cross-section, Brown said of this years trade-show participant. She also noted the sold-out trade show is open to the public.

Parsons said it wasnt any one person at that first Vision Quest conference who inspired her to eventually start her own business.

It was just a whole group of people that really wanted to change things and had the belief that aboriginal people can participate in the marketplace, and that it doesnt have to be about living on some reserve and getting a welfare cheque every month, she said. There is so much more out there if youre willing to reach for it and fight for it.

But she admitted she was shocked by some of the opposition and resentment she encountered after launching her business. She said some people went out of their way to tell her she would fail and tried to make sure that happened.

She said it seems if an aboriginal person starts up something thats perceived to be an aboriginal-type business, such as selling moccasins or other leather products, people will leave them alone. But if they start a business that potentially could take work away from an existing mainstream business, thats when the resentment and opposition surfaces.

But personally, I think this province would be a much healthier place if that oppression was gone and more (aboriginal) people could move into the marketplace more easily, she said.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
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TORONTO  The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is urging the provincial government to delay the implementation of its cap-and-trade plan for one year, saying key questions remain unanswered.

The plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is set to take effect next year, but Ontarios Liberal government has not released an analysis of the economic impact of cap and trade, and businesses are still seeking details on how the revenue will be invested and administered, said the chambers president and CEO, Allan ODette.

The purpose for our calling for us to slow down before we hurry up here is to make sure we understand fully the unintended consequence or at least the cost-benefit analysis, and that  we answer some of the questions that remain outstanding from the business community, he said.

ODette and the chamber are sending a letter Thursday to Environment Minister Glen Murray seeking clarity on several points, and asking him to delay the implementation, as the government did with the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.

We are supportive of this climate change initiative, we just need to be mindful of what its going to actually take to implement, ODette said.

The enabling legislation is expected to pass soon, with a third reading debate held on it Wednesday afternoon.

Under cap and trade, industries are given specific pollution limits, but can sell their emission allowances to other companies if they come in below their annual limit, or buy credits if they exceed it.

The carbon pricing scheme is a key part of the Liberal governments overall climate strategy, which the energy minister said was presented to cabinet Wednesday and ended with 100 per cent consensus.

It will be released in the coming weeks, and Murray said every question that ODette raises in his letter will be answered by that strategy, including the economic impacts of cap and trade and how businesses will buy and sell credits.

We have a joint procurement right now with Quebec setting a Quebec-Ontario offset protocol, of which Mr. ODette and others will be very involved in writing, Murray said.

But according to the minister, businesses dont want the implementation to be delayed.

Theyre saying, Get out there and get this done, because everyone knows that the people who wait five, 10, 15 years to get into carbon pricing are going to come in at the end when the carbon price is very high, Murray said.

We want to do this early, so that while its $16, $17, $18 a tonne, its very affordable for businesses to make that transition.

The province plans to link its carbon trade system with ones in California and Quebec, and estimates the plan could bring in $1.9 billion next year in revenue, which the government has said it will reinvest in green projects.

The chamber of commerce said its not yet clear how that fund will be administered.

Who will be eligible to receive this money? How could a business with a plan to reduce its carbon footprint access these funds? Which principles and criteria will be applied to evaluate and compare project proposals? How long will the application process take? the chamber wrote in its letter.

Cap and trade is expected to increase the price of gas and homeowners natural gas bills, but gives some of the biggest polluters a four-year holiday. Murray has said that will allow certain industries to continue competing with jurisdictions that dont have a carbon pricing system.

Emission allowances will be capped at roughly 142 metric tonnes per year in 2017, and that cap is expected to decline 4.17 per cent each year to 2020, when the Liberals hope to have achieved a 15-per-cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels.
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OTTAWA  The head of one of Canadas biggest media empires is calling on Ottawa to spend more on Canadian newspaper ads, and to give greater tax breaks to companies that do the same.

Postmedia president and CEO Paul Godfrey made the plea Thursday to a Commons committee examining the future of the countrys struggling local media.

Come back and advertise in our newspapers and on our websites, Godfrey pleaded, noting that government cuts to advertising in recent years have disproportionately affected newspapers.

Postmedia president and CEO, Paul Godfrey, appears at commons heritage committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 12, 2016., to discuss the media and local communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Were asking the government to be an ally, not for a bailout of the Canadian newspaper industry.

Godfrey pointed to federal statistics showing government advertising in newspapers was halved, while online advertising nearly doubled, between 2010 and 2015. The bulk of the money went to foreign-owned behemoths like Google and Facebook, which produce no original Canadian news content.

He called on the government to explore ways to encourage Canadian businesses to advertise locally, through higher tax write-offs for firms that buy ads in Canada.

Godfrey also suggested Heritage Canadas Aid to Publishers program be expanded to include daily publications and community newspapers, saying it could help support the creation of local news content.

Currently, the fund provides financial help to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals.

Godfrey warned that, without added revenues, many local news outlets will likely be shuttered in the next three years.

The Liberals on the committee were quick to accuse Godfrey of contradicting himself. Postmedia has been among the strongest critics of government spending on advertising, said Liberal MP Adam Vaughan.

There have been no fiercer critics of subsidies to the media than the Toronto Sun and the National Post, Vaughan said of two of Postmedias flagship papers. How do you square your editorial position with your corporate position?

Godfrey responded by saying Postmedia columnists are given leeway to write articles that contradict their own companys positions on political and other issues.

Vaughan also questioned why taxpayers would want to bail out a failing company that is owned in part by a U.S. investment group.

Postmedia was formed in 2010 when the Canwest newspapers were bought while under court-supervised credit protection by an investment group backed by New York hedge fund Golden Tree Asset Management for $1.1 billion.

Last year it grew to become the largest newspaper chain in the country when it paid $316-million to buy Sun Medias English-language news properties, including 175 newspapers and digital publications, notably the Sun chain of papers in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg, plus The London Free Press.

The deal also included the free 24 Hours commuter dailies in Toronto and Vancouver, the English-language Canoe online portal and more than a million square feet of real estate.

But the sale also saddled Postmedia with massive debt obligations.

Godfrey told the committee that, while his news properties would benefit from government support, he was pitching the recommendations on behalf of Canadian newspapers at large, not just his own company, which he noted is still Canadian-controlled.

Vaughan also openly criticized Godfrey for allowing Postmedia newspapers to publish a full front-page Conservative campaign ad, bathed in the non-partisan yellow of Elections Canada, just two days prior to last years Oct. 19 federal election.

The Liberals also bought up the home page of the National Posts digital operation during the campaign, Godfrey pointed out.

Conservative committee member Peter Van Loan offered advice to Godfrey for preventing a further decline in his companys advertising revenues _ dont abandon local news.

Ive seen some recent trends where youre trying to do almost a Metroland model of centralizing editorial control, the York-Simcoe Ontario MP said.

I warn you that I think that will harm some of your long-term competitive advantage.

Postmedia announced sweeping changes to its operations in January, cutting 90 jobs across the country and merging newsrooms from multiple newspapers into one each in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.

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TORONTO  Drivers on one Toronto highway are seeing a counterintuitive message this week: Text and Drive.

Two billboards on the Gardiner Expressway purport to be an encouragement from a funeral home, but its really an advertising agency behind the provocative public-service announcement geared at curbing distracted driving.

At first glance, Wathan Funeral Home appears to be prompting drivers to text as a way to boost the number of car accidents and therefore its business, said Mylene Savoie, managing director of John St. advertising firm, which is behind the PSA.

A funeral home advertisement sign with the message "Text and Drive" is shown along the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto on Thursday, May 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

(It) is absolutely provocative and absolutely shocking when you first see it, she said Thursday.

When drivers search for the funeral home online, incensed at its gall, she said, they discover its fake. The homes website is filled with information about the impact of texting and driving.

While all the provinces as well as Yukon and the Northwest Territories ban people from using handheld devices while driving, distracted driving may be a bigger problem than drunk driving in the country, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Distracted driving doesnt just include texting. It can also refer to people who fiddle with the settings on a GPS or focus on a handheld device for many other reasons.

People who take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds double their risk of getting in a collision, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

In the United States, about eight people died and more than 1,100 others were injured on average daily in crashes that reportedly involved a distracted driver in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Ontario, 69 people died last year in accidents where driver distraction played a role, the Ontario Provincial Police said, outnumbering all other categories for the third year in a row.

John St. said it decided to tackle this issue on its own. The ad agency teamed up with Cieslok Media, which provided the billboard space.

The agency opted for the provocative angle to grab public attention and not get lost among the many ads people see every day, said Savoie.

If you speak to people in a way theyre used to being spoken to  which is, Dont text and drive,  theyll just say, OK. Yup. Duly noted. Let me check my phone,' she said.

So far, the reaction to the ad has been positive, she said.

The balance between the provocative nature of the message and the informative nature of the message is proving to be, you know, quite successful.

Its not the first time a PSA on the perils of texting while driving has been tackled creatively.

The Alberta government has run a crotches kill anti-texting-and-driving campaign for multiple years.

The text-and-drive billboards in Toronto went up earlier this week and will remain on display until Sunday.

Follow @AleksSagan on Twitter.
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NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.  First Nations leaders from northwestern British Columbia have taken their battle against a liquefied natural gas project to the United Nations.

The group was scheduled to travel to New York Thursday to seek UN support for a demand that the Canadian government reject the LNG project proposed just south of Prince Rupert.

Opponents say the $36-billion Pacific Northwest plant, slated for Lelu Island at the mouth of the Skeena River, threatens wild salmon habitat on the second largest salmon bearing river in B.C.

Hereditary Chief of the Wetsuweten First Nation, John Ridsdale, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earned cheers at a recent UN forum by pledging to protect the rights of indigenous people.

But Ridsdale says the LNG development, backed by Malaysias state oil company, Petronas, endangers that pledge and is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has said a cabinet decision on an environmental assessment covering the Pacific Northwest plant should be made by late June.

The B.C. government believes the project could generate more than 18,000 jobs and produce billions in revenue.

We will not sell our salmon future for any price, Murray Smith, one of the House Leaders of the Gitwilgyoots Tribe, says in a news release.

The Gitwilgyoots Tribe is one of the Nine Allied Tribes of Lax Kwalaams opposed to the LNG plant.

We stand against this project for all the peoples of this world. We dont want money, we want justice. We invite you to join our battle, to add your voices to our struggle to protect the only home we have ever had, he says in the release.

Fellow Gitwilgyoots member Christine Smith-Martin says the group is respectfully asking the federal government to do the right thing, and wants to the world to bear witness to its concerns.
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Accused letter bomber Guido Amsel has lost another bid for bail.

Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Justice Chris Martin denied today Amsels appeal of a provincial court judges earlier decision not to grant him bail.

I cannot see that (the judge) was wrong in exercising her judgment that it was necessary to detain Mr. Amsel in custody despite many factors in his favour, Martin said.

SUPPLIED Guido Amsel

She was justified in doing so.

But in an unusual decision, Martin agreed to make public his bail review decision including any references in the decision to comments, law or evidence submitted or touched upon in the review hearing may be published.

Martin stopped short and rejected defence counsel Martin Glazers request to have details from the entire bail review hearing made public.

The decision, though, means it can now be made public that when RCMP re-investigated the explosion that took place at the home of Ansels ex-wife about three years ago, they found new evidence.

The judge said the investigation recently resulted in a DNA discovery supposedly linking Mr. Amsel to the bomb in that event.

Amsel was arrested and charged last summer with several offences including three counts of attempted murder,

The attempted murder allegations include his ex-wifes lawyer, Maria Mitousis  who had her right hand blown off while she was opening a package  his ex-wife Iris Amsel, and another Winnipeg lawyer.

Last month RCMP charged Amsel with the Dec. 2013 explosion at the home where his ex-wife was living.

Kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
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The University of Manitoba received the largest individual gift in its history Thursday morning: $30 million from the Rady family in honour of Rose and Dr. Maxwell Rady, who came to Winnipeg from Russia more than a century ago.

The family headed by Winnipeg-born, U of M-educated and San Diego-based magnates Evelyn and Ernest Rady made the unprecedented donation through the familys foundation.

The money goes to the Bannatyne campus  the Faculty of Health Sciences will be renamed the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. Within the faculty, doctors will now graduate from the Max Rady College of Medicine.

The university said the $30 million will be placed in an endowment fund within the ongoing $500 million Front and Centre capital campaign, and will generate about $1.6 million each year for student financial aid, research, and equipment and capital upgrades.

Ernest Rady told the U of M that the family gift was to honour his parents: They taught me the values of hard work and of giving back. The College of Medicine is where my father got his start and allowed him to make a difference in the lives of so many people here in Manitoba so this College is of particular significance to me and my sisters.

My father would be very proud. Its hard not to cry, frankly, when I think of the difficulty that my father had getting to freedom, the struggle that he had to achieve the job that he eventually enjoyed so much and the fact now thats going to be proven out by having it named after him. I just feel like crying, if you want to know the truth. Its the most emotional thing. Ive had the good fortune in business to at least be moderately successful and had the good fortune to be able to help others along the way. But for my father, this has really extraordinary significance.

His sisters, Majorie and Mindel  both at Thursdays ceremony  also earned their degrees from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Maxwell Rady  born Avraham Radishkevich  immigrated to Manitoba from Russia in 1893, and changed his name when he arrived in Canada. He worked as the secretary at Talmud Torah School and put himself through medical school at the U of M. He met Rose, a teacher, and they married in 1922.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The University of Manitoba received the largest philanthropic gift in its history from Ernest Sylvan Rady (above) at a ceremony at the university's Bannatyne Campus.

After medical school, Maxwell Rady was one of the first Jewish doctors given admitting privileges at St. Boniface Hospital.

Rose Rady, a tireless volunteer, was the first Jewish woman in Winnipeg who participated actively at the highest leadership levels in non-Jewish causes, U of M officials said.

David Barnard, U of M president, noted the size of Rady gift is unprecedented for the university.

His generosity, his engagement, his sense of deep attachment to the experiences his father had here, it (the gift) is reinforcing those things and it will have a transformational effect on the Faculty of Health Sciences. Its a very generous gift, its the biggest gift the university has ever seen from a very generous, thoughtful and caring person, said Barnard.

John Kearsey, University of Manitoba VP External, said some of the Rady money will go directly to U of M students.

This money will be used to support students and scholarships so students have a better experience as they study here in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. It will be used to drive discovery through research, it will help us create new places and spaces as well so that our faculty, our students and staff can learn and work and thrive in this environment. Its amazing. Its so good for Manitoba.

The $30 million has already been counted in the Front and Centre capital campaigns last-announced total of $215,294,636, a total the university will update at an event in June.

In January, the NDP government promised to make its previously-announced $150 million contribution in one lump sum, but that promise died with the April 19 provincial election, and is not binding on Premier Brian Pallisters Conservative government. The Tories have not said anything about how much, and when, they would contribute.

The university has received three eight-figure individual gifts in the past, all of which involved naming rights to faculties.

Media giant Izzy Asper gave a gift of $10 million for the Israel H. Asper School of Business.

Geology grad and Alberta energy magnate Clay Riddell donated $10 million for the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of the Environment, Earth and Resources.

And businessman and philanthropist Marcel A. Desautels gifted $20 million to the Desautels Faculty of Music.

 with files from Ashley Prest

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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A fireball shot across Nora Lake, just north of Caddy Lake, and set an entire island ablaze, yet its three cottages were unscathed.

Sprinkler systems saved the cottages, said Don Pincock, who has a cottage on neighbouring Florence Lake and has passed on information to fellow members of the cottage association for Nora and Florence lakes.

There are more than 80 cottages on the two lakes combined, which are only accessible by a private road.

SUPPLIED The fire at Nora Lake as seen late Monday.

Few people believed sprinkler systems set up on cottage rooftops by conservation officers were capable of saving a cottage, Pincock said.

These things are effective. They work, he said.

Only one cottage sustained some charring from the fire that swept the island Monday night, but its not severely damaged, he said.

Fire has ripped through this Canadian Shield region for a week. Most recently, fire threatened one cottage on the west side of Florence Lake.

The sprinkler system has protected it so far, Pincock said.

When the fire jumped the island in Nora Lake, it moved towards Eveline Lake to the north and then climbed the west side of neighbouring Florence Lake, he said.

On Tuesday, water bombers pounded CN Rail tracks in the area, as well as the swath followed by the Manitoba Hydro line, he said.

Pincock has been relaying information from two cottage owners, Bruce Harding and Paul Wanke, who are with the voluntary fire department.

The two men have been keeping watch over pumps running the sprinkler systems on those lakes, restarting them if they stop and refilling them with gas.

They also help firefighters with area information.

Harding, Wanke and Manitoba firefighters had to be airlifted to safety by helicopter Monday night because fire had cut off their only road out.

The fire continued fanning north on Wednesday, pushed by south winds, which is generally positive because once past Florence Lake, its open wilderness along the Manitoba-Ontario border.

The fire is moving into whats called the Mantario Wilderness Area.

Its wilderness all the way to James Bay, Pincock said.

However, winds are supposed to change direction today. Northwest winds gusting up to 50 km/h are forecast, which could push flames towards cottage areas again.

It was raining in the area Wednesday morning and was expected to rain most of the day, but not hard.

Meanwhile, Danny Klass, president of the Whiteshell Cottagers Association, lauded the efforts of firefighters, from local volunteer firefighters to provincial crews from Manitoba and Ontario.

Even the Minnesota government has reportedly sent up a water bomber and spotter plane to help Canadian firefighting efforts, Klass said.

And volunteer fire departments have helped out from as far away as Morden and Winkler.

Klass was cautiously optimistic Wednesday. We may be at the turning point in the saga, he wrote in an email.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
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Manitoba is relying on immigration and its growing aboriginal population to move the economy forward, but not every workplace is ready for a diverse workforce.

For two days this week, 75 business professionals and educators gathered at Manitoba Start on Portage Avenue downtown to learn how to embrace diversity and all the rewards and challenges that come with it. The non-profit agency that helps newcomers join the workforce hosted the conference that was sold out.

Theres lots of diverse employees, said Manitoba Start executive director Judith Hayes. We need to make sure employers are successful, she said. Everybody wants to make the workplace comfortable  how do you go about it?

Theres lots of diverse employees. We need to make sure employers are successful. Everybody wants to make the workplace comfortable  how do you go about it?  Manitoba Start executive director Judith Hayes

You start by asking the right questions, said Joyce Odidison, who presented a session Wednesday on supervising a diverse workforce. Am I prepared to have and supervise a diverse group? Do I know the rules? she asked. Supervisors need to understand Manitobas human rights code, labour laws and regulations, for starters, she said.

Most people dont understand the rules when it comes to things such as cultural accommodation and employment equity, said longtime education and diversity consultant Neil McDonald, offering examples over several decades.

He pointed to the case of weapons training with the Canadian Forces base at Shilo, in which a Sikh man with a beard and a turban couldnt take part because the job required him to wear both a helmet and don a gas mask in case theres artillery fire or a chemical-weapons attack, neither of which accommodated a turban and beard.

If you have a value that interferes with the workplaces responsibilities, do not expect a cultural accommodation, said McDonald. However, a Sikh man can wear a turban if he is an RCMP officer because the responsibilities of the job dont require him to wear a traditional Mountie hat, he said, referring to the Supreme Court decision handed down more than a decade ago.

Another example involves the case of Jehovahs Witness parents who wouldnt allow their sick child to receive a blood transfusion for religious reasons. The child was taken into care by child-welfare authorities to receive the needed transfusion, he said.

A person asking for a cultural accommodation has the right to a reasonable response, said McDonald. He pointed to the example of an aboriginal seaman posted in Halifax who on short notice asked for a day off to take part in a sweat-lodge ceremony. His superior said not this time  they were doing naval operations that day that required his training and skill set, but said next time there was a ceremony they would arrange to have someone cover for him so he could attend if they had advance notice. Professional responsibility trumps culture but if people make a request for a cultural accommodation, they have a right to a reasonable answer.

Employment equity is another misunderstood concept and one of the most controversial, said McDonald. I have met very few people who understand its rationale. Its intended to create an inclusive society thats more just by giving disadvantaged, qualified individuals a break.

The notion of giving an advantage to people whove traditionally had less access to power and resources has been dubbed reverse discrimination and slammed  most often by the gate keepers  able-bodied, white Anglo-Saxon males.

When a Crown corporation in Saskatchewan wanted to attract and retain more aboriginal employees, it offered them five years of seniority for every year they worked. The CEO told anyone who didnt like it they could leave and was within his rights to do so, said McDonald. Giving an advantage to a qualified individual from a group thats been disadvantaged is legal.

To capitalize on the benefits of a diverse workforces takes more than hiring a diverse group of people, said Odidison, a consultant and conflict analyst. Different ways of thinking and styles of communicating can be a source of conflict. An employee may seem shy or uncommunicative when in fact theyre following the culture and custom they know  not to initiate contact with someone above them in the workplace hierarchy, she said. Employers at the conference described some of the ways theyre trying to embrace diversity  such as setting up internships for new Canadians, creating employee resource groups for LGBT, aboriginal and special-needs workers and recognizing significant days for different cultures, for example.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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With the demise of the Public Safety Building a near certainty after a Winnipeg city council committee decided to not pursue rehabilitation of the structure, the question now is: what will become of the site after the limestone-clad modernist building encounters the wrecking ball?

The PSB has recently come to be considered a heritage building by advocates and architecture preservationists, though it is a relatively new addition (built in 1965) to a site that first came into use as a public space more than 140 years ago.

Early in 1873, months before the incorporation of the City of Winnipeg, a market square was laid out on a small parcel of land west of Main Street. Soon after municipal incorporation, the Ross family that owned the square gifted it to the city with the caveat that it be used for public purposes. A city hall was built, followed by an indoor market on the other side of King Street, which bisected the site.

BORIS MINKEVICH / FREE PRESS FILES The Public Safety Building has come to be considered a heritage building by advocates and architecture.

Like any good urban space, Winnipegs market square served much more than its original formal purpose, most notably as ground zero for public dissent. By the outbreak of the Second World War, the square was Winnipegs answer to Londons Speakers Corner, and police were regularly called in to break up brawls between local fascist and communist groups.

The market square was also a place for joy. In July 1919, less than a month after the General Strike reached a violent crescendo a few feet away, Peace Day celebrations were held to mark the official end of the First World War. A band was positioned on the roof of the market building, and Winnipeggers danced in the square until midnight.

In 1920, the market building was converted to civic offices by a bureaucracy that had outgrown Winnipegs effervescent city hall building. An outdoor market continued to operate seasonally but the sale of perennials in the springtime was sacrificed in 1962 when mayor Stephen Juba ordered the market closed so city councillors could park their cars in the square year-round. Soon after, the square and a block that lined its northern edge were levelled to make way for the Public Safety Building and Civic Centre Parkade.

With little political will to save either of these modernist structures today, consulting firm Deloitte was hired to report on redevelopment options that merit further examination. It offered three: create a signature public space on the PSB site and sell the remaining land; build an office building for city departments with some space left over for private development and a small plaza; or build a massive parking garage on the PSB site and sell off the remaining land.

Regardless of what cool design gimmicks it might be festooned with, a new parking garage on the site of the Public Safety Building would be an affront to the historical significance of the site and to the urbanism of the neighbourhood. It would also be superfluous  the Civic Centre Parkade has been closed since 2012 and the sky has yet to fall.

Any further analysis will require a careful understanding of the historic value of the site, and of the complex nature of creating good public space.

A new, public, open space would need to be relevant to the site and its context. It should make provisions for sunshine, shade, beauty, spontaneity, and lots of places to sit  a place that is practical to walk through, and inviting enough for one to sit in and wish their lunch hour lasted a little longer. It should provide respite from the noise of traffic and the opportunity for people-watching.

Consideration should also be given to the potential influence of the increasingly successful Old Market Square nearby (so named because a hay market operated there in the 19th century). It may be found there is no need for new open space and, in this case, planning and design of a building for public purposes should ensure it adds to the street life of the neighbourhood. Perhaps an indoor market could return to the site after nearly a century-long absence.

For all its cold insularity, the Public Safety Building is at least iconic. Whatever replaces it should not only be a landmark but return the site to its historical place as an engaging centre of civic life.

Robert Galston is a masters candidate in the city planning department at the University of Manitoba.
Opinion

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A rather disturbing indicator of what people are interested in reading about is Facebooks trending section. These often frivolous headlines, which seem to come straight from the National Inquirer, offer a sad glimpse into todays readership and evolving media landscape.

Unfortunately, headlines both on Facebook and elsewhere have a deeply profound impact on how people read an article, develop opinions and frame broader subjects.

That said, the manipulative and misleading nature of certain headlines is no coincidence. Just as people affect the impression they make on others through their choice of attire and disposition, so, too, can the crafting of a headline subtly shift all thought that follows. This idea of blatant, guilt-free manipulation is perhaps most alarming when it comes to headlines related to Jews and the State of Israel.

As Israel prepares to celebrate its 68th birthday this week on the day known as Yom Haatzmaut, or Israeli Independence Day, lets take a step back and question our opinions on Israel and where these views were formed.

When was the last time you saw something positive about Israel in your news feed or under the trending section? Probably never, right? But as recent as May 9 you may have noticed the headline Netanyahu rebukes top Israeli general over Holocaust comment. Not only does this suggest a rift between the Israeli Defence Forces and the prime ministers office (which is partly true), it perpetuates the connection between Israel and the horrors of the Holocaust. While the Holocaust must never be forgotten, it is too often used in a deceptive and calculated manner to delegitimize Israels creation.

Some other examples, though, are much more overt.

In September 2015, the BBC titled an article Palestinian shot dead after Jerusalem attack kills two, which was soon changed to Jerusalem attack: Israelis killed in Old City by Palestinian. Eventually the final version Jerusalem: Palestinian kills two Israelis in Old City was decided on after considerable backlash.

Meanwhile, the Independent published an even worse headline, Israel kills pregnant mother and her baby in revenge attacks. If you had actually read the article, you would have realized that was their way of describing targeted Israeli airstrikes on Hamass weapons facilities. In April 2015, the New York Times published an article titled Israeli police officers kill two Palestinian men. What they fail to mention in the headline is both men were killed during a terrorist attack. On March 25, 2016, the Independent was back at it with their headline Israeli soldier caught shooting unarmed Palestinian to go on trial which implies the soldier is only facing justice because he was caught on film. Even our own National Post has an entire section on their website dedicated to Israel and the Middle East, wherein youll find a story Israel frees 12-year-old girl, the youngest female Palestinian ever imprisoned by the country. While the article itself goes on to more or less accurately detail the fact the girl pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter, the damage is done in the title itself. A more accurate title would have read 12-year-old Palestinian attacker allowed to return home.

Where are the articles about Israels Save a Heart organization which performs life-saving heart operations for children from around the globe, including many Palestinians, free of charge? How about headlines on Israelis thriving LGBT community? You wont see anything in your trending feed about Israel being a global leader in sustainability or the fact theyve offered free medical care to thousands of Syrian refugees. Heck, I bet you didnt even know Israels birthday was this week!

These days, peoples attention spans, willingness and even their ability to sit and read a scholarly article or piece of research seem nearly non-existent, and so it comes as no surprise headlines influence, likely more today than ever before.

With anti-Semitism on the rise throughout much of Europe and the Middle East, we ought to ask ourselves who is fuelling it and where its coming from. More importantly, we should be asking ourselves what we can do to combat it. As Israel celebrates her independence this week, lets ensure the next 68 years are less ill-informed  we owe it to ourselves.

Casey Babb is a former policy adviser to the national defence minister, graduate of the York Centre for International and Security Studies and doctoral student at Carleton University.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of the great cities of the world now has a Muslim mayor. Not Cairo, Istanbul or even, with all due respect, Calgary but London, England. The capital of Britain and the metropolis that shapes so much of the worlds body politic, financial progress and international culture decided last week that Sadiq Khan, the candidate of the Labour party, was the right man to succeed the painfully flamboyant Tory Boris Johnson.

Nor is Khan a non-practising Muslim, one of those secularists paraded on a regular basis to criticize the excesses of radical Islam. Hes observant, the working-class son of Pakistani immigrants and an incalculable and simultaneous blow to jihadists, Muslim-bashers and the far left.

A blow to Islamic radicals because he is a genuine moderate, has made a point of reaching out to the Jewish community in particular, has repeatedly condemned extremism and has shown Muslims not only belong in the West but can also achieve the highest office within the democratic system.

A blow to Muslim-bashers because in spite of a quite shameful campaign by the Conservative candidate to paint him as a friend of Islamists and even terrorism, Khan has united rather than divided disparate London and made it abundantly clear he governs not as a Muslim but as an Englishman.

A blow to the far left because Khan is a social democrat, more to the centre of his party, who has already distanced himself from hard-left Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and aggressively rejected the hysterical anti-Zionism of former mayor Ken Livingstone. Frankly, it would be a surprise if Khan were not Labour leader and perhaps prime minister within a decade, having pulled his party away from the leftist and unelectable fringe in which it currently finds itself.

While the election was being fought and as soon as Khan was named the victor, old canards were trotted out that he had shared platforms with Islamic radicals and thus couldnt be trusted. It was even suggested London was not safe from attack under Khan as mayor. His response was that as a former human rights lawyer he had indeed shared platforms with all sorts of people with whom he disagreed because thats what human rights lawyers tend to do. As an MP, he added, he established a polished record in bridge-building, calling on the Muslim community to adapt to and embrace Britain and for Britain to appreciate it was the radicalization of Islam and not Islam itself that was the problem.

Now this is important. Thats because to reject that notion is to assume some sort of culture war, perhaps bloodless but perhaps not, is inevitable and even desirable. Its what we hear even in Canada from right-wing blogs and the odd columnist or two, and its incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. It lacks nuance, understanding and experience, and it tries to exploit the most raw and ugly emotions.

What Khan has shown, however, is less the influence of Muslims on a western, secular state but the influence of a western, secular state on Muslims. He gained the trust of more than 44 per cent of Londoners; George Galloway, the former MP, Respect party leader and champion of the Palestinian (and pretty much any other Arab) cause, was flicked off with a derisory 1.4 per cent.

London contains almost half of the countrys Muslim population, but thats still only 12 per cent of the citys people. Even if all of them voted for Khan  and they didnt  it would still mean the vast majority of those who supported him were non-Muslim. Its worth remembering a fundamentalist Islamic leader in Englands north issued a fatwa on Khan because he voted in favour of same-sex marriage in Parliament.

The next few years of this mayoralty will tell us a great deal about the place of the Islamic diaspora and the future of Islam in Europe and North America. Khan can speak hard truths to Islamic radicals in a way other leaders cant, and so far he has shown no sign of pulling any punches.

The weight on his shoulders is unfair, and he shouldnt really have to be judged other than as a politician; but he has been and will be, and he knows it. Londons calling, Londons watching, and so is much of the world. I dont envy the man, but my goodness, I wish him well.

Michael Corens new book is Epiphany: A Christians Change of Heart & Mind over Same-Sex Marriage.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/05/2016 (2357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been a week to reflect upon my Canadian citizenship, something easily taken for granted. On Monday, I stood with 50 new Canadians, joined by their friends and relatives, and took the oath of citizenship. Now, I was born here, but spurred on by award-winning author John Ralston Saul  who presided over a special citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights  I swore I would faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Prior to the ceremony, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the CMHR organized roundtable discussions moderated by some well-known Winnipeggers. People from Vietnam, Pakistan, Eritrea, Bulgaria, India and the Philippines talked about why they chose to take the oath because after all, becoming a Canadian citizen is time-consuming and costs more than $500. In Canada, 85 per cent of immigrants become Canadian citizens within five years. In the U.S., its is only 40 per cent.

I asked Thai Nguyen why he chose Canada as his new home.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS John Ralston Saul talks during the citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Monday, May 9.

Canada is the it country, the beaming welder, nattily dressed in a suit and tie, said with the help of his 12-year-old son.

The boy  also named Thai  has lived here for half his life and was happy to be part of this ceremony.

Some of the people at the roundtables told me they love Canada because everyone is on equal footing regardless of income. They love this country because of its universal health-care system and how easy it is to get a job and buy a house. Despite cold winters and the lack of year-round local fresh fruit, they love our  and now their  standard of living.

I was taken aback near the end of the discussions when a man from Pakistan spoke of the need to send prayers to Fort McMurray, as that city struggles with the devastation and loss in the wake of the catastrophic forest fire. Imagine that  a new Canadian concerned about how other Canadians are doing  people he likely doesnt know, on a day of celebration for him.

It gave me pause, particularly since reading some awful things from Canadians in the midst of that chaos. Things like a letter-writer who complained in the Globe and Mail: The federal government will spend more than $1 billion to bring in and help Syrian refugees, but the best it can do for the 88,000 displaced and homeless residents of Fort Mac is to match the public contributions to the Red Cross and bring in some equipment? I thought charity began at home. Or a post on Facebook from someone wondering why Fort McMurray evacuees couldnt be called refugees to access federal funding, as if being left homeless by a disaster equates to refugee status.

Its not a long way from refugee to immigrant. Reading those comments made me ashamed and embarrassed. When I heard that young father ask us to pray for Fort McMurray and its displaced residents, I hoped he would never see what mean things were being said by these ugly Canadians.

However, as Ralston Saul pointed out, most Canadians havent fallen into the pit of Trump-ian divisiveness and fear-mongering. These are minorities.

Canada is the only country in the West that hasnt given in to the rhetoric of fear, he said. The dominant rhetoric is a line of inclusion.

At the ceremony, Ralston Saul urged these proud new Canadians to embrace all Canada has to offer but to not forget the lessons of the past  our own struggles with human rights.

And he told me he really hopes our newest citizens help us to be better. I do, too.

Shannon Sampert is the perspectives and politics editor at the Winnipeg Free Press.

shannon.sampert@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulySigh
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been a week to reflect upon my Canadian citizenship, something easily taken for granted. On Monday, I stood with 50 new Canadians, joined by their friends and relatives, and took the oath of citizenship. Now, I was born here, but spurred on by award-winning author John Ralston Saul  who presided over a special citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights  I swore that I would faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Prior to the ceremony, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the CMHR organized round-table discussions moderated by some well-known Winnipeggers. I had a chance to ask people from Vietnam, Pakistan, Eritrea, Bulgaria, India and the Philippines why they chose to take the oath. Becoming a Canadian citizen is time-consuming and costs more than $500. In Canada, 85 per cent of immigrants become Canadian citizens within five years. In the U.S., its is only 40 per cent.

I asked Thai Nguyen why he chose Canada as his new home.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Thai Nguyen (right) and his son Thai (left), 12, during a roundtable discussion Monday afternoon put together by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship for the people who were about to become new Canadians at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Canada is the it country, the beaming welder, nattily dressed in a suit and tie, said with the help of his 12-year-old son. The boy  also named Thai  has lived here for half his life.

Lena Koseva left Bulgaria for Canada and the opportunities it presents, but it was far from an easy process.

Some told me that they love Canada because everyone is on equal footing regardless of income. They love this country because of its universal health-care system and how easy it is to get a job and buy a house. Despite cold winters and the lack of year-round local fresh fruit, they love our  and now their  standard of living.

I was taken aback near the end of the discussions, when a man from Pakistan spoke of the need to send prayers to Fort McMurray, as that city struggles with the devastation and loss in the wake of the catastrophic forest fire. Imagine that  a new Canadian concerned about how other Canadians are doing  people he likely doesnt know, on a day of celebration for him.

It gave me pause, particularly since reading some awful things from Canadians in the midst of that chaos. Things like a letter writer who complained in the Globe and Mail: The federal government will spend more than $1 billion to bring in and help Syrian refugees, but the best it can do for the 88,000 displaced and homeless residents of Fort Mac is to match the public contributions to the Red Cross and bring in some equipment? I thought charity began at home. Or a post on Facebook from someone wondering why Fort McMurray evacuees couldnt be called refugees to access federal funding, as if being left homeless by a weather event equates to refugee status.

Its not a long way from refugee to immigrant. Reading those comments made me ashamed and embarrassed. When I heard that young father ask us to pray for Fort McMurray and its displaced residents, I hoped he would never see what mean things were being said by these ugly Canadians.

However, as Ralston Saul pointed out, most Canadians havent fallen into the pit of Trump-ian divisiveness and fear-mongering. Canada is the only country in the west that hasnt given into the rhetoric of fear, he said. The dominant rhetoric is a line of inclusion.

At the ceremony, Ralston Saul urged these proud new Canadians to embrace all that Canada has to offer but to not forget the lessons of the past  our own struggles with human rights.

And he told me that he really hopes our newest citizens help us to be better.

Shannon Sampert is the perspectives and politics editor at the Winnipeg Free Press.

shannon.sampert@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulySigh
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is an ending and, at the same time, it is hopefully a beginning. It also raises questions about CBC management and its responsibilities in an era of celebrity and the pursuit of ratings.

On Wednesday, Jian Ghomeshi agreed to submit to a peace bond and, in return, the remaining sexual-assault charges against him were dropped. The disgraced former host of CBCs Q also apologized in court, finally acknowledging he had acted in a sexually inappropriate manner.

His accuser, Kathryn Borel, delivered a scathing statement outside the Toronto courtroom, saying the issue will not be over until Mr. Ghomeshi admits to everything that hes done. Earlier this year, Mr. Ghomeshi was acquitted of four counts of sexual assault and one count of choking amidst criticism the court system treats victims of sexual violence unfairly. Indeed, this newspaper has argued for a whole-scale reform of the system to improve conviction rates and ensure justice for those who have been assaulted. Many have credited the Ghomeshi trial, while difficult to watch, for opening up a discussion about sexual violence and the justice system  and that is a good thing.

Kathryn Borel

Ms. Borel said that while employed by CBC in 2008 and reporting to Mr. Ghomeshi, he grabbed her and simulated a sex act. But Ms. Borels statement on the steps of the courthouse also pointed out the perversity of the cult of celebrity. When she complained to management, it was made clear: The relentless message to me from my celebrity boss and the national institution we worked for were that his whims were more important than my humanity or my dignity. In other words, ratings at this publicly funded entity are more important than people: suck it up, princess.

The CBC, for its part, has taken responsibility, issuing a statement agreeing that what Ms. Borel experienced should never have happened and we sincerely apologize for what has occurred. But theres little reassurance that mandatory training programs for HR staff and an anti-bullying, anti-harassment helpline will beat out the need to be No. 1 in an intensely competitive media landscape.

Ms. Borel and the other CBC employees who complained about Mr. Ghomeshi now become another statistic about workplace sexual harassment. According to Canadian studies, 43 per cent of women surveyed said they have been sexually harassed at work; 12 per cent of men have also reported sexual harassment.

They can stand next to victims in the Canadian Armed Forces  another publicly funded entity  as statistics suggest one in 13 female members have been sexually assaulted. This same publicly funded institution has so far refused to create a fully independent agency to receive complaints of inappropriate sexual conduct and offer support to victims of assault and harassment  despite the fact this was one of the main recommendations coming from a study regarding sexual violence in the military.

The CBC victims can also stand next to the female students at universities  again publicly funded  who felt silenced by their institutions refusal to take their accusations seriously. The most recent case involved Brandon University, which forced a first-year student to sign a document to keep her quiet after she reported she had been sexually assaulted in residence.

If this truly is a new era in sexual politics in Canada, with a brand-new prime minister who is a self-avowed feminist, then what is his stance on publicly funded institutions that do little until its too late to make womens work lives safer?

Recently, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission ordered A+ Financial to pay three of its employees an unprecedented $20,000 each for creating a sexualized and toxic workplace. Perhaps in the future, publicly funded organizations should also be penalized for allowing toxic and sexualized workplaces for being allowed to fester. Perhaps then, it will stop.
Visit Winona presented its 2016 Tourism Award to the Winona Park and Recreation Department on Tuesday, May 3, at the Winona County History Center in downtown Winona.

Winona Mayor Mark Peterson kicked off the evening by discussing the importance of tourism in the Winona community and the leadership role of the Park and Recreation Department.

Chad Ubl, community services director for the City of Winona, thanked the Park and Recreation Department and Park Maintenance staff, as well as city council members, county commissioners, and long-time staff members including Julie Fassbender and Maynard Johnson, who were instrumental in the growth and success of the Park and Recreation Department.

The evening also celebrated area tourism partners and businesses collaborating to promote Winona as a year-round travel destination. Visit Winona partners Eric Barnard of the Winona State University Outdoor Education and Recreation Center, Brad Walker of Adventure Cycle & Ski, and Janneke Sobeck of Live Well Winona spoke to the benefits of outdoor recreation in the Winona region.

Visit Winona would like to thank our sponsors for the event: Winona County History Center, Signatures Restaurant, Winona Health, Steak Shop Catering, Bloedow Bakery, and Winona Bread & Bagel.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP)  Environmental officials are celebrating the completion of a nearly 2-mile-long, 80-foot-wide earthen berm designed to keep Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

The $4.4 million project at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve in Fort Wayne is designed to block floodwaters and prevent carp from crossing from the Wabash River watershed into the Maumee River watershed, which empties into Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio. The nature preserve drains into both watersheds.

This is a great example of how a smaller investment up front can save a whole lot of money and heartache after the fact, after damage could have been created, Cameron Davis, who coordinates Great Lakes policy for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

Eagle Marsh is considered the second-most important spot, after the Chicago Area Waterway System, for stopping the voracious invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes. Scientists say Asian carp could disrupt food chains and out-compete native fish.

The berm, which is 1.7 miles long and averages 7 feet high, has been planned since 2014 and construction work began last fall.

We dont want to ever get to that point, where the fish are right there at the gate. We want to keep beating them back so that they never get to the Great Lakes, Davis said.

The federally-funded project is complete except for plantings along the berm, said Betsy Yankowiak, director of preserves and programs for the nonprofit Little River Wetlands Project, which manages and co-owns Eagle Marsh.

Jane Hardisty, Indiana state conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, said the project has benefits beyond stopping the Asian carp.

The restored wetlands reach well beyond their boundaries to improve watershed health and the local economy, she said.

Eagle Marsh, which covers more than 700 acres, is co-owned by the Little River Wetlands Project and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
A few minutes can make all the difference in a water rescue, requiring quick action and a plan.

It also doesnt hurt to have dozens of workers close by and ready with exactly the right tools for the job, either.

Luckily, all were on hand Tuesday afternoon when Ames Construction workers pulled a woman out of the water after she went over the side of the interstate bridge.

Scott Klein and CJ Ruhl, who talked Thursday about the incident and their response, quickly and frequently credited their coworkers and help from several emergency responders, including Winona police, sheriffs deputies and first responders in rescuing the woman, who was pulled out and taken to a waiting ambulance in about 10 minutes.

Klein, the general superintendent of the site, who has worked for Ames for 12 years, said he was driving over the bridge when he saw someone sitting on the edge in the middle of the existing interstate bridge, and when he got to the side and was joined by Ruhl, there were already people contacting the police.

Not a minute after radioing the crews tugboat to see if they could free themselves up in case something happened, the woman was in the water and they were hurrying to a john boat kept for those kind of emergencies.

The officers on the shore used lights to point out where the woman was and guide the workers there.

Five minutes later, it was over.

Klein said the construction crews have the protocols in place while working on bridges that span water exactly for that reason. That includes emergency kits to prevent hypothermia on hand for anyone who falls in, which they were able to give to the woman and deliver her to the waiting crews.

Anybody that works with us would have responded the same way, Klein said.

Neither of them had witnessed a non-construction worker rescued before.

While they downplayed their role, their quick action surely prevented a potential tragedy, said Steve Buswell, Winona County jail administrator and Winona County Dive Rescue team member.

Buswell said the low temperature and choppiness of the river could have overcome the woman if given any more time.

If that boat hadnt been there, it would have been a recovery not a rescue, Buswell said.

The launch for the Dive and Rescue teams boat would have been the St. Charles Street boat landing, which would have added five to seven minutes onto their arrival, Buswell said. As it was, they were called off before even needed to get into the water.

Buswell said the two men and other workers went above and beyond the response of most witnesses of a situation.

They took it upon themselves to do what they could, Buswell said. It was a perfect collaboration  it really couldnt have worked any better.

Ruhl, a civil foreman who has worked for Ames for six years, said the whole process shed light on a broader picture of their work, from maneuvering the barge to their safety training.

We were all prepared, Ruhl said. It shows it was a group effort.

Anybody that works with us would have responded the same way. Scott Klein, site general superintendent
There is a crisis in America. A rise in concentrated poverty in the last quarter century has led to drastic social and economic inequalities unprecedented in the history of our country. According to Robert Putnams new book, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, a rising gap between the middle-upper classes and lower classes has resulted in poorer children having fewer close friends, narrower social networks and a smaller number of mentors than their more economically affluent peers.

These dynamics have presented new challenges for the American public school system. In the last decade and a half, federal and state policy initiatives have placed punitive measures on public schools as a means to improve them  to no avail.

Minnesota has a different approach. The state is one of the few in the nation that consistently invests monies in public education to empower those who are in the position to improve a situation they did not create. This proactive and progressive approach is now manifesting itself in a significant initiative that aspires to transform how teachers are prepared: the Education Village at Winona State University.

WSU was founded in 1858 as the first teacher preparatory school west of the Mississippi River. The Midwest is known for being the hotbed for preparing Americas teachers, and WSU plays a central role in this phenomenon of providing public schools with highly qualified and prepared teachers to guide and enlighten Americas youth.

Minnesota is in the midst of renewing this historic initiative by investing nearly $31.2 million in bonding funds to renovate old buildings and transform them into Education Village, where teacher preparation is conducted collaboratively with the communities and schools of southeast Minnesota. The renovation will include three buildings: Wabasha Hall, Wabasha Recreation Center and Cathedral School. To innovate with existing structures is good stewardship.

Imagine busloads of children trekking to WSU to learn with teacher candidates in a large maker-space designed to experiment with the most modern digital technologies as a means to enliven a science or geography curriculum. Children will compete and collaborate with one another using miniature cars theyve created, or experiment with electrical properties using squishy circuits, or even explore and examine the outdoors from up high using drones that they operate.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine the opportunities opened up for teacher candidates as they regularly interact with children, and how these children benefit from hands-on, innovative programs that are otherwise not usually available to them.

Programs like these  that promise close interaction between teacher candidates and children  will make Winona the talk of the nation as an area for teacher preparation. But we will do more than just prepare teachers. The Education Village will also become a center for older adults who aspire to grow in areas of leadership, counseling, community education or educational policy. It will be a gathering place that empowers all public and private organizations surrounding it.

Those of us at WSU are excited by what is about to happen. Much effort already has been exerted by our college and university to attract talented individuals to serve in strategic faculty and administrative positions with a hope and promise that bigger days are ahead. We are ready to roll our collective sleeves up and get to work on building upon innovative school and community-based initiatives that are already taking place in the Winona State College of Education.

While contemporary federal and state policies place punitive measures on schools and teacher preparation programs, disregarding the masses of evidence that should compel them to do otherwise, Minnesota is boldly investing and proudly supporting our democratic societys helpers  something rarely done these days.

The Education Village is scheduled to be unveiled in spring 2018. The Minnesota State Legislature allocated the bond funding for the first phase in 2014, resulting in $5.9 million for architectural design. The second phase consists of $25.3 million for renovation, which Gov. Mark Dayton released in his jobs bill earlier this year. A legislative bonding decision is needed for these funds, and we hope Minnesota legislators will make the Education Village a reality for all of us.

Get ready. Get excited. And, most importantly, share your support for the Education Village with your local state representative. Visit wsu.mn/EdVillage to learn more. Southeast Minnesota is about to be part of something very special that will uplift your children and your community.
Addiction may begin in a very private way. But, healing from addiction can take a village and can be very public.

This is a big challenge, Trempealeau County District Attorney Taavi McMahon told me. People get up in front of everyone in open court and spill the beans about their whole life.

Recovery Court in Trempealeau County, Wis., recently celebrated 10 years of helping addicts return to a healthy life and avoid prison. I was blessed to be a part of the anniversary celebration held in Whitehall, Wis.

All of the Black Tar China Girls raise your hands, Kim Walker said to the crowd of community members and graduates of Recovery Court. Folks raised their hands. These were heroin or other opiate drug addicts who changed their lives.

Walker worked with addicts through intensive outpatient counseling. Her smile and sparkling enthusiasm for life is infectious. Those recovering crowded around her and took selfies to mark the anniversary of the program that brought them from the brink of death to a full life in a supportive community.

I saw clearly how the Trempealeau County community rallied around Recovery Court to help heal those suffering from addiction. Church members, food pantry workers, local employers, mentors and sponsors all played invaluable roles.

The Recovery Court team managed the anniversary celebration, including addiction counselors and behavioral health specialists, office staff, probation officers, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, family court commissioners, the district attorney and the judge.

By every account I heard, Judge John Damon was the driving force behind Recovery Court.

I cannot emphasize enough, Judge Damon got it going, Justice coordinator Patrick Bell said in a follow-up interview. Ten years ago, the retiring judges vision led to several staff members enrolling in intensive training to learn skills necessary to run the court.

We didnt have any money when we first started, Damon told the crowd gathered at the celebration. So when we rewarded the participants, we gave out candy bars. He laughed and handed each of the graduates a chocolate bar in fond remembrance of their success.

Law enforcement also plays a key role in Recovery Courts success. Trempealeau County Sheriff Rich Anderson spoke with the group, reminding them of how far they have come and how much Recovery Court is needed in the county.

Local employers, including Goldn Plump and Whitehall Specialties, support the program by encouraging participants and allowing employees to take time off for therapy and drug testing.

County board leadership plays a key role in the programs success, too. Board chair Dick Miller received an award at the celebration on behalf of the entire board. The county board is very in favor of justice reform, McMahon told me. We have a lot of good people who believe in redemption and believe in second chances.

Bell, who worked with participants in Recovery Court for many years, addressed the importance of drug testing. It really holds them accountable. People do relapse and slip off to the bad side again.

For that reason, participants are required to call every day. Trempealeau County Health Department does drug testing. A randomized system tells recovering addicts when to test. Sometimes the system will order a test every day. Participants have a two-hour time slot to show up and be tested. Testing can detect drugs, including alcohol, taken many days prior. By the time a participant finishes the nearly two-year program, they might be tested more than 230 times.

Recovery Court is part of a movement across America to treat addiction rather than incarcerate addicts. The program is run through the court system, often with some state money. Those who fail the program are incarcerated. However, completing the program allows recovering addicts to start their lives anew without prison.

People do stay straight, Bell said. He noted that many give back to the community. A participant started an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) support group on his own  the program really works.

The camaraderie among graduates and their enthusiasm for life moved me. Money was saved because these folks did not go to prison. Crimes were prevented. The community was safer. Moreover, lives were changed.
If the reader has purchased a cemetery plot and monument, best turn the page. On the other hand, if you entertain gay (happy) thoughts and enjoy zany, some of the following might be of interest  even tempting.

Cultures tend to build monuments because remembrances have a generational half-life, meaning that in each generation the impact of any history fades by half, be it public or family followers. War memorials are good examples of how monuments are meant to stave off eventual oblivion; but, in time, oblivion will rule. Generations move forward, away from the past, even to the point of ignoring lessons from past mistakes.

How many Civil War veterans remain? How fresh are images of that war in our minds today? And, while not learning from the past is a common human failing, that failing has had help. The greater the population the more there are who may attend certain monuments, but, in truth, fewer of us resurrect past lessons.

How fresh are memories of the first Iraq War? Iraq Two is no longer headline news. Yet, Iraq has been a continuous killing field, wherein people die over unfounded allegations of weapons of mass destruction caches and for temporary beliefs  like monuments. Yet, Iraqs vacuum sparked Syrias destruction and fanned continued Afghan violence.

Who cares? Everything fades in time. Did not the Roman Catholic Church once declare cremation to be mortal sin? Now memorial ash-disposition has become an increasingly popular marketing venue. Did the Church redact that mortal sin because of population pressure or declining membership (revenues)? Time cures all ills?

We have cataloged many nontraditional memorials, which at one time amounted to unique services, but how memorable? Memorials moved from moldering stones to carnival.

We have ashes shot from guns like puffed grain and ashes super-squished into diamonds that relatives can wear and pass on, which really does justice to the idea of a lasting memorial, replacing a cracked headstone. Novel memorials rave on, though not as popular as other playthings or social media devices.

Talk about carnivals! What about holographic memorials? Expensive, prone to maintenance problems, and way fun, when they work, but who hangs out in cemeteries? Memorials have progressed far beyond Poes dank lagoons and Lovecrafts cryptic rooms and seeping horrors. Marble just doesnt cut it.

As a matter of fact, even the novel memorial has once again been expanded.

The desktop 3-D printer technology, which allows most anyone to produce things that they can think of, now lends itself to do-it-yourself memorializing.

The latest rave on remembrances was noted recently in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Someone decided to do a really different rave. Now their beloved reposes in a replica of a White Castle drive-in, replete with Lets Treat Ourselves! Seriously.

Whoa Nellie! Eternal Whities? (What we called those holey square mystery-meat patties). An eternal 20-bag of Whities beats 72 virgins!

But, I remain hung up on being a gemstone, hanging around a pretty neck, maybe hang out as granddaughters earrings!
Understanding the need to work with all Dear Editor: Over the past several years, Ive had the opportunity to serve on county-wide boards and committees with Ryan Marquardt, an independent candidate for the Madison County Board of...

Vote to support our public schools Dear Editor: Like many of you, I am proud to be a graduate of Iowas public school system. Like many of you, I am proud of the education our students...

Inside the Iowa House Iowans are exhausted and fed up with politicians deciding their every move, and the issue of reproductive freedom is no different. Earlier this summer when the US Supreme Court overturned...
Two Baraboo college students are heading to the state and federal capitals in search of answers.

University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County students Heather Breunig and Jeanette Brand have been accepted into the Wisconsin Institute of Public Policy and Services Washington Seminar program. Theyre among 12 UW Colleges students who will meet leaders in Madison and Washington, D.C. for high-level civics lessons this spring.

This is a huge leadership opportunity for Jeanette and I, Breunig said.

The pair met on campus and quickly bonded as nontraditional students and mothers. Both are students in UW-Baraboos bachelors degree program, and are confident knowledge and experience they bring back from the seminars will figure prominently in the research and service project theyre required to complete before graduation. Upon learning about the seminar program, Brand quickly recruited Breunig to apply. I cant go without her, Brand said.

Breunig plans to explore human trafficking in places such as Wisconsin Dells. Its a huge problem, she said. We have such an influx of people here, it changes our demographics.

Brand wants to take a hard look at welfare programs and whether their design discourages recipients from getting jobs. I think they need to incentivize people to work, she said. We dont need something that promotes poverty.

Boots on the ground

The students hope an up-close look at state and federal government, including meetings with policy makers, will give them a new perspective on how the system works. During their visit to Madison from May 24 to 28 theyll hear from UW System president Ray Cross, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, state Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson, legislators and lobbyists. Theyll then spend 14 days in Washington, with an itinerary yet to be finalized.

A political science major interested in public policy, Brand is looking forward to getting the kinds of hands-on lessons textbooks cant provide. She wants to find ways the government can support the middle class through education and employment. I see a lot of working-class people who are barely making it, said Brand, who lives in Hillsboro.

Brand also seeks to network for job opportunities. So is Breunig, a pre-law student who wants to see how decisions are made at the top  and bring that knowledge back to Baraboo. I wanted to go because I wanted it to benefit the community, she said.

Fundraising

Those lessons will come at a cost. The duo has raised about $1,200 for the trip, but remains several hundred dollars short of its goal. The students have held two brat sales, with another set for next week. Theyve also established GoFundMe accounts online.

Fundraising has been the hard part, as the two single moms are used to helping, not asking for help. Theyre also nervous about being away from their children for a couple weeks.

But they figure those are small prices to pay for an invaluable educational opportunity. I just want to get there and get started, Breunig said. Last, but not least, this will set the stage for future students.
Foreigners getting involved in campaign to improve traffic orders

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-05-12 17:15

ABOUT 40 foreigners, from countries such as the UK, Russia, Spain and Thailand attended a lecture on traffic rules today in Shanghai. Some later also volunteered to join the police to stop violations on Nanjing Road W after the lecture.

It was good to get some information, because sometimes it might be a bit unclear for our foreigners in terms of what is legal and what is illegal, Izzy Ukoko Jr, from the UK told Shanghai Daily.

Ukoko Jr. said he has a scooter which he had used to take his friend on the back seat but he didn't realize that was against the traffic rules until attending the lecture.

On the lecture, police gave examples on the most common traffic violations among foreigners, in the hope of letting more foreign residents in the city learn about the local rules.

Taking a passenger on the back seat on scooters turns out the common violation among foreigners while riding without a bike license is the second most frequent violation among them. Wei Wei, an officer with the police told Shanghai Daily.

Wei added that some foreigners deemed it's legal for them to drive in China with an international driving license. However, they have to transfer that to a local license after passing tests to legally drive in China, he said.

Vika Korpusova, a Russian who came to Shanghai three years ago, was among a group of foreigners who helped police stop traffic violations on Nanjing Road W and Shaanxi Road N after the lecture.

I had stopped three or four violations so far, she said with a bit excitement in her voice, wearing a volunteer's vest. I think many foreigners dont know traffic rules here. Some of them dont know, some of them just dont pay attention. Its good to have such education to let everyone know about the regulations and to get more foreigners involved.

Police said they will launch more such events to involve more foreigners to improve traffic condition in the district.
The Shakopee, Minnesota, police force is small  28 sworn officers patrol the citys streets. But it is punching above its weight in the innovation department, with a strategy for dealing with addicts that deserves a close look from other police departments.

Shakopee residents who want to end their addiction to drugs or alcohol can seek help at, of all places, the Shakopee Police Department. If they are found to be good candidates and demonstrate financial need, the department will pay their treatment costs.

But thats not the end of it. Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate says the department intends to have a relationship with those they help, even after theyre out of rehab.

They need to trust us, he said, but we want to create another support network for them. Every single day, my officers deal with someone under the influence. If we can touch even a few people, that makes us a stronger community. History tells us that just locking people up isnt the answer.

Tate said he launched the program after learning of a similar effort in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which has spread to more than 100 departments in nearly two dozen states.

Shakopee is the first in Minnesota, but it shouldnt be the last. Even beyond the value of treatment itself, this program may offer a unique way for police to change the way they are perceived in their communities. It may also help the move toward a model that seeks to help addicts with their disease rather than punish them.

Shakopees program is tailored to its communitys needs. No one has to turn themselves in, and they need not be facing arrest. Some individuals are recommended by officers, when they find someone they think can benefit, but anyone in the city can apply.

Unlike other programs that tap into a national foundation, the Shakopee department is using its asset-forfeiture funds  money and other valuables acquired during drug busts or other asset seizures  for what Tate calls its scholarship pool.

That wording is important, because it gives an aspirational lift to something that has in the past been stigmatized. And theyve made their own connections with two treatment programs.

Tate says his officers have been eager to participate in something positive. Some officers are preparing a gift basket for one person in the program who is due to give birth soon. He said people in the community have thanked him privately for extending help to families wrestling with the demons of drug and alcohol addiction.

With little money, and virtually on its own, this small, dedicated department is leading on an innovative way for officers to serve and protect their community. Not every addict will succeed; some will continue getting arrested.

But as other police departments look for ways to build community relations and curb mounting arrests for drugs, drunken driving, thefts and domestic assaults, Shakopees program shows that police offers can be a welcome resource for those seeking a crime-free, substance-free path.
TOWN OF HERMAN  One of the most dangerous intersections in the state will soon be receiving some new improvements, designed to help reduce the number of traffic crashes.

According to Ryan Bailey, project development engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, said the intersection of Highways 33 and P has consistently been listed as a location of interest for the WisDOT. He said it is considered in the top 5 percent of most dangerous intersections in the state based on severity, number and type of crashes.

Bailey said that from January 2011 to May 2016 there have been a total of 28 accidents at that intersection including one fatal crash, 19 crashes with injuries, and 8 involving property damage. Of the 28 crashes, 23 of the accidents occurred at a 90-degree angle.

These are the most severe crashes, Bailey said. This is what we dont like to see.

Bailey said that this averages out to approximately one crash every two months adding, That is pretty high.

The intersection was flagged by the WisDOT as being a problematic intersection and there have been attempts to implement safety improvements to stem the number of crashes. Overhead stop signs were installed on highway P in December 2013 but four more crashes occurred between February and June 2014.

Flashing beacons were installed on Highway P in July of 2014 and yet eight more crashes occurred between August of 2014 and November of 2015.

A four-way stop with rumble strips and flashing beacons was installed in the fall of 2015. Since the installation of the four-way stop, two more accidents have occurred.

Bailey said WisDOT does not want to keep the intersection as a four-way stop permanently because, We want to keep the free-flow of traffic on state highways as much as we can.

Additionally, when an intersection control evaluation was conducted, the results showed that the intersection did not qualify an all-way stop. The results, however, did show that the intersection is a good candidate for a roundabout.

During an open house meeting to discuss the roundabout installation, Bailey said, A roundabout statistically has proven to further reduce injuries and fatalities.

Of the approximately 40 residents in attendance, the majority seemed to oppose the roundabout installation and instead, one resident recommended installing an overpass. Bailey explained that an overpass would be too costly and would also require the destruction of a residence off of Highway 33.

Roundabout designer Gregory Payne explained that roundabouts are statistically safer due to the number of conflict points.

He said, A conflict point is where two vehicle paths may meet. At an all-way stop there are a total of 32 conflict points. There are only eight conflict points with a roundabout.

Additionally, the conflict points that occur in a roundabout do not occur at right angles, preventing the most dangerous and deadly type of crashes.

Payne said that the proposed roundabout for Highways 33 and P will be similar and size and design to the roundabout installed at Highways 60 and P.

Bailey added that prior to the installation of the roundabout at Highways 60 and P, the intersection was a two-way stop between 2005 and 2009. Twenty three crashes occurred during that time period with one fatality. The intersection was converted to an all-way stop in 2010 and from then until 2013, there were 10 crashes, three with injuries.

Since the roundabout was installed in 2014, only five crashes have occurred with only one involving possible injuries. Bailey said that this shows the effectiveness of the roundabout on reducing dangerous accidents.

The project is being funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program. A concept plan for the roundabout is due in July with final plans due by August of 2018. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2019.
The little special reminders inside of a Beaver Dam High School yearbook come out from time to time for alumni as they move on in their lives.

Whether it is a glance before a class reunion or a trip down memory lane, the book serves as a marker in time.

The work of completing the yearbook is done by a small group of students who work together to provide the content. At least that is how it should be done.

Beaver Dam High School yearbook advisor Oriel Combs said that although a small group of students started to help with the 2016 yearbook, there is only one student doing so now.

The students only have to meet about once a month, Combs said.

They can use their phones to take pictures and use any computer to work on the yearbook, Combs said. Kids can work on it wherever they are as long as they have Internet.

In the beginning of the year, the students choose the colors, themes and fonts that they will be using,

The yearbook has all color photos and many of the senior photos are taken by people who are not working professionally as photographers.

Students take photos using phones around the school. The photos go directly to the yearbook company where they are reviewed to make sure the photos are appropriate. Combs said the yearbook staff at the school decides which pictures work better on which pages.

The process is a lot easier than years ago.

They would have to physically paste the pictures and send it back to the plant when they made the yearbook back then, Combs said.

Working on the yearbook has a lot of advantages for the students, they get publishing, graphic design and organizational experience, Combs said.

It also looks good on college applications when a student sticks with a project, Combs said.

There are many different roles students could full such as editor, business manager and photographers.

I have had some really amazing kids over the years who have stepped up and taken care of everything, Combs said.

Yearbooks will be in the hands of students this fall. Combs said there is hope that more students will participate in yearbook next year and help preserve the memories for its class.
Wisconsin Republicans are gathering in Green Bay this weekend to rally around their U.S. Senate, congressional and legislative candidates, but the elephant in the room will be the name at the top of their ticket in November.

In a press release on Thursday, the state party announced the convention will focus on re-electing Sen. Ron Johnson and delivering Wisconsins electoral votes to a Republican Presidential nominee without mentioning presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump by name.

The omission is an indication the party is keeping its focus on state races and wont be lining up behind the brash billionaire anytime soon, Republican strategist Brian Fraley said.

There would have been a higher level of excitement about this convention if Trump had not done so well in the weeks following the Wisconsin primary, Fraley said. This is something the state party is going to have to deal with and state parties across the country are going to have to deal with to maintain a level of enthusiasm for down-ticket races.

Asked whether Thursdays press release was meant to downplay Trumps place on the ticket, state GOP spokesman Pat Garrett referred to a recent WisPolitics.com interview with GOP Chairman Brad Courtney, in which he said hell back Trump as the nominee and that other Republicans will come around once they consider the alternative.

GOP elected officials have expressed a range of reactions to Trump becoming the presumptive nominee, from Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, withdrawing as an alternate to the Republican National Convention because of his lack of enthusiasm for the nominee, to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, embracing the New York real estate mogul and reality TV celebrity as a populist who could help win legislative races.

Republican strategist Mark Graul said a lot of Wisconsin Republicans are taking their cue from U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville, who last week said he wasnt ready to endorse Trump and this week said he would step down as Republican National Convention chairman if Trump wanted.

Ryan and Trump met privately with RNC chairman Reince Priebus of Kenosha on Thursday in Washington, after which they announced they had a few differences, but it was critical for Republicans to unify.

I think its fair to say that people are still getting used to Trump being the nominee, Graul said, noting Sen. Ted Cruz soundly defeated Trump here before Trumps win in Indiana knocked the Texas senator out of the race.

Im sure there will be lots of discussion about Trumps candidacy, Graul added. While we all know the name and some stuff about him, thats evolving on their part. A lot of us are waiting to see how that plays out.

Graul said it remains to be seen whether Trump will target Wisconsin during the general election, and the state party will focus on the U.S. Senate race and congressional races regardless. Fraley said theres no chance Trump wins Wisconsin in November because of the strength of the #NeverTrump movement and how soundly he was rejected here in the primary, so its unlikely hell visit the state before November.

Jim Miller, chairman of the 7th Congressional District GOP and an RNC delegate, said the party has gone into its state convention with some dissident voices in the past  in 2012 there were libertarians still seeking support for Ron Pauls candidacy after Mitt Romney clinched the nomination  but nothing like this years divide.

Ive spoken at a few Lincoln Day dinners and our message has been were going to have to unify, Miller said. I suspect that will be the theme  unify.

The convention will feature speeches Saturday by Johnson, Gov. Scott Walker  who at this time last year, a month before Trump joined the race, was polling nationally among the top three presidential contenders  Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Attorney General Brad Schimel, Fitzgerald, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, and the states five GOP members of Congress.

Ryan will be delivering the keynote address at a dinner Saturday night, but his remarks wont be open to the press.

The three-day event, which is expected to draw 800 to 1,000 attendees, also will feature training sessions, panels and a leadership seminar for grassroots activists.
Donald Trump has become presumptive nominee for president representing the Republican Party. Conservatives will have to look deep inside and decide which is more important  opposing Trump or another White House win for the liberals.

Trump only is the presumptive nominee, as he still needs California to carry him to the 1,237-delegate threshold, but no one else is standing in the way. Its all over except for the final delegate count in Cleveland in July.

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is the presumptive nominee for the Democrats. She is only presumptive in that Bernie Sanders is now plucking away at the super delegates in an effort to overturn the lead she holds based purely on educated speculation at this point. In all likelihood, Sanders wont pull it off.

At least 65 percent of Republicans wanted someone other than Trump. In past years, when someones candidate lost, the rest of the party would rally folks to the cause and remind them that its not about the candidate  its about the movement.

The establishment is all the folks who have put their heart and soul into supporting a conservative agenda and candidates who allegedly vow to uphold that agenda. These are the folks who pay membership dues and donations to their county parties. They also put up yard signs, make phone calls, go door-to-door and walk in parades for candidates. This is the real establishment.

Its now time for the GOP establishment to pull up its bootstraps and get to work because the alternative is much worse. If Clinton wins the White House, liberalism will have the winning agenda for decades. Odds are very high that she could win reelection in 2020 and, in another four years, it is conceivable she will have control of not just the Senate, but the House as well.

Clinton is likely to pick up votes in the Senate this election cycle if we fail. This will tilt the Senate minority closer to the majority. If it doesnt occur in 2018, it could happen in 2017. It will create the same imbalance that has crippled the Barack Obama administration  along with his unwillingness to work with Congress. She could break the impasse by picking up seats in both houses of Congress during her reelection campaign. What would a Clinton presidency look like?

Obamacare becomes Hillarycare. As the crowning achievement of President Barack Obama continues down a path toward failure, the argument will lean not toward abolishing the program, but expanding it. After all, the argument is already being made that its failure is because of Republican opposition, in spite of the fact the math simply doesnt add up. Universal healthcare, a one-payer system, will be the next priority.

The Supreme Court also will be controlled by liberal ideology for the next 40 years. At a minimum, Clinton will have three, likely four nominations to the court. The new court will view the Constitution as a document that needs to be framed by liberal opinion rather than a Constitution that frames the law of the land.

The First and Second Amendments have never been at greater risk as the liberal movement works to squelch free speech and gun ownership. Citizens United is more about free speech than it is about corporate greed. Liberals have been anti-gun for years, as they have enacted laws against lawful gun owners rather than the criminals who unlawfully use them.

And of course, lets not forget about corruption. She couldnt stay clean as Secretary of the State. One can only imagine her unfettered power in the lands highest office.

On the other hand, there is Trump. His amateurish campaign won elections. Along the way, he has scared away every liberal voting bloc with his off the wall rhetoric. His careless use of language, however, should be overlooked in the same way Clintons illegal storage of state secrets has been.

Trump has at least stood in opposition to Clintons agenda. He claims to oppose Obamacare. He wants to get control of the illegal immigrant problem even if Mexico wont pay for his wall. He also supports United States-China trade reforms, tax reforms, and Veterans Administration reforms. Behind the Republican-led Congress he is more likely to get it done than she is.

The conservative agenda is far more important than losing again to the liberals. The NeverTrump movement should play second fiddle to the NeverHillary movement. Its time to unite and carry 2016.
Many believe Bunny Berigan was the greatest trumpeter who ever lived.

If this weekend you travel to his native Fox Lake, you can judge for yourself.

Ive listened to a lot the music and talked to a lot of musicians who play the trumpet, and what they say is Bunny had a tone that absolutely could not be matched, said Julie Flemming, organizer of the communitys three-day Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee that begins Friday. The event, in its 44th year, honors Berigan who became famous during the swing era before his death in 1942.

He could go from lowest register to the very highest on the trumpet, Flemming said. He put into his music enough feeling that you could tell if it was sorrowful, if it was jubilation -- there was no doubt about it.

Bunnys horn was absolutely like no other.

Jazz, swing and Dixieland lovers in Fox Lake can listen to artists like Bob Schulz and the Mid-West All Stars, the St. Louis Stompers led by Steve Lilley, Kaye Berigan 5-Tet, Monday Morning Dixie Band and the Matt Miller Jazz Trio. The festival offers several venues throughout the city as well as a floor for dancing, food and drinks, handmade jazz jewelry and sewn items, a graveside service at Berigans grave and an education program about Berigan.

Flemming, a retired public librarian in Fox Lake, noted the rising popularity and staying power of an event that each year brings outsiders from all over the nation. The festival started out as a one-day, afternoon event but has evolved into a three-day Dixieland over the past 20 years.

This year theyre coming from Colorado, Oregon, Washington, D.C.  she said of some of this years attendees. I credit that to Bunny, she added. Even Louis Armstrong, when he was asked about Bunny, he said the only thing wrong with Bunny was he died too young. He was 33 years old when he passed away.

Discover Fox Lake

Other Dixieland events are held in Wisconsin, Flemming said, but Fox Lake throws the best party. What Fox Lake offers is an audience that holds a true love for the music, along with events like the graveside ceremony Saturday morning that really bring it home for jazz fans. A free outdoor concert Friday featuring Bob Schulz and the Mid-West All-Stars kicks things off at Mullin's Drive-In, she noted, one of many venues that capture the spirit of jazz. Another -- Fox Lakes American Legion -- is a venue that hasnt changed much in 45 years.

Its a beautiful hall, and when youre sitting there, youre listening to the way the music was, Flemming said of American Legion. And in the Community Center theres a gallery of Bunny Berigan paintings and pictures. People can wander into Dick Rippey's Triangle Jazz where 7,000 CDs are on display.

We have a chef from Milwaukee who cooks in the Community Center -- everything people are eating is cooked right there, homemade. Its wonderful.

The event -- and Fox Lake itself -- is family-friendly and for all ages, Flemming said. A playground near the Community Center makes it so children can go right out the backdoor to play, and those 18 and under are admitted free of charge to all concerts.

Its just one of those events where everybody at the table with you would be so glad to see you.

American music

Bob Schulz and the Mid-West All Stars are nationally known, Flemming said, and will be bringing along renowned clarinet player, Kim Cusack. Hes one of the best, she said, adding the group will also be joined by the famous trombone player Doug Finke from Louisville, Kentucky and some very young, up-and-coming musicians from the Chicago area.

The St. Louis Stoppers feature one of the best drummers Ive ever witnessed, Flemming said, while Monday Morning Dixie Band from Roscoe, Illinois is another excellent Dixieland band that has been involved in at least 10 Bunny Berigan shows. Matt Miler of the Matt Miller Trio was one of the first students to receive a Bunny Berigan scholarship. Miller, of Beaver Dam High School, majored in music in college and now teaches music.

Kaye Bergian of the Kaye Berigan 5-Tet is Bunny Berigans nephew, and at the Community Center on Sunday hell play at least one tune Bunny composed: Chicken and Waffles. The name of that song might not be known to all, Flemming said. But it should be.

When ending music at 2 in the morning, all (musicians) went to the local whatever and ordered chicken and waffles -- because theyre hungry.

When you look at jazz -- its the one forms of music that started in our country, Flemming said. Many other forms started elsewhere, but jazz is ours. Its our American music, and it started in the days when they were making music in brothels and honky-tonks.

Its truly an American music. I have to admit I only discovered it 14 years ago, and after I heard it I thought, Oh, my goodness, I have to hear more of this. This is just fantastic.
The Portage Fire Department was called to an emergency in West Portage on Thursday morning, then again and again.

The day started with a plume of black smoke, visible from Interstate-39 and a whiff of toxic-smelling chemicals as far as Highway O at Boeck Road.

At about 9 a.m. Columbia County Dispatch called for the Portage Fire Department to respond to a vehicle fire at Insurance Auto Auctions on west Highway 16.

A vehicle fire spread to a camper, that lit up with new intensity as the flames reached a propane tank. Firefighters were able to keep the fire isolated to the southeast corner of the companys fenced-in parking lot.

A couple campers were on fire, so a propane tank went off, said Fire Chief Clayton Simonson, explaining that the smell in the area was a matter chemicals carried on a strong wind, not a gas leak. You would smell the smoke, you wouldnt smell the propane.

Insurance Auto Auction staff declined to comment on any possible cause of the fire, saying only that two vehicles had started on fire and that the manager was out of town and wouldnt be back until Monday.

Around 10:30 a.m. Portage Fire was dispatched to Interstate 94 at Highway 33 for a reported hazardous material issue, after barrels of isopropyl alcohol reportedly fell from a truck into the ditch.

Several barrels fell off a truck, but they were empty, said Wisconsin State Patrol Sgt. Joe Lowe. We took precautions because they were still stamped, so thats why the fire department was called. We found 16 or 17 barrels.

Later in the afternoon a fire engine was dispatched to Highway 16 again, this time to a vehicle fire on eastbound Highway 16 just past the off-ramp from I-39.

Initially the call was of a semi fire, said Fire Inspector Craig Ratz. It turned out to be a blown motor and oil over the road.

Firefighters laid down absorbent around the front of the truck, parked with the blackened hood open while the driver paced in the tall grass of the ditch with a dog watching from the cab, looking out the passenger side window.

All-in-all it was not an unusual workload for a day, Ratz explained. The Portage Fire Department averages a call per day with six or seven calls adding up to a genuinely busy shift.
11th Cultural Heritage Day brings heritage into modern life

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-05-12 17:29

National Cultural Heritage Day aims at promoting the protection of rich domestic cultural resources. [Photo/IC]

The 11th Cultural Heritage Day falls on June 11 this year with a series of celebration activities held in Chengde city in North Chinas Hebei province, according to the State Administration of Cultural Heritages (SACH) latest press release held on May 11.

This years theme is Integrating Cultural Heritage into Modern Life.

Zhu Xiaodong, Director General of the Department of Police and Law of the SACH, said, From cultural scenic spots to historic streets, from cultural relics to traditional rural residences, from old-fashioned skills to traditional customs, cultural heritage represents the essence of Chinese traditional culture in a tangible, concrete, direct and practical manner.

The reason to combine modern life into cultural heritage is to avoid similar appearances between cities and counties on one hand; to render the public a sense of belonging on the other, Zhu added.

Meanwhile, its reported that the Chengde Mountain Resort and its surrounding areas will be the main venue for next months celebrations. Activities, including the opening ceremony, intangible cultural-heritage-themed exhibition, and a photo and painting show will be open to the public by turns.

The Chinese central government declared in 2005 that the second Saturday of June would be celebrated as Cultural Heritage Day each year, in order to promote the protection of the countrys rich cultural resources.
Plans to see Portages first skate park built in 2016 took a significant step forward after the citys Parks and Recreation Board recommended that construction be awarded to the Lincoln City, Oregon-based company, Dreamland Skateparks.

The Parks Board on Tuesday approved on a 4-0 vote the companys $133,900 bid for construction of the 4,178-square-foot skate park at Goodyear Park and a separate $17,500 bid from the company to color concrete under a curling stone feature, Parks Director Dan Kremer said. The Parks Board also elected to move forward with the Seattle, Washington-based company Grindline Skateparks to oversee construction for $14,875.

Barring unforeseen costs the sum total of those bids amounts to $166,000, which would put the city $34,000 under budget should the Common Council approve the bids when it meets today at 7 p.m.

Its great to get this far, but were not done yet, Kremer said.

Pending Common Council approval, the Parks Board will soon set preconstruction meetings to enter into contracts with Dreamland and Grindline and to develop a construction timeline. Officials will also discuss possible barriers to be used for the nearby Splash Pad, Kremer said.

In April the city opened bidding for the construction contract through May 6, with Dreamland making the only bid. The U.S. skate park construction market is very busy, Kremer noted, adding there are only five or six very specialized companies that could have built the Portage park by fall of 2016.

Dreamland is incredibly respected in the industry, Kremer said, and had sent the Parks Board a list of references from more than 50 skate parks it completed, including two in Wisconsin: an 8,000-square-foot park in Weston and a 10,000-square-foot park in Sturgeon Bay.

It looks like were getting a very qualified contractor and were excited to see this move forward and get this thing underway.

The Portage skate park will run about 120 feet in length and 30 to 35 feet in width, the work for which includes excavation, concrete, skate park features, yard restoration and erosion control.

The community group Portage Family Skate Park will contribute $50,000 to construction, about a third of the newly projected total cost, Kremer said.

The construction schedule will largely depend on favorable weather, but the Parks Board is hoping to start as soon as we can, Kremer said. Were hoping to be done by the fall, by August or September.

If its earlier, thatd be fantastic. But we cant go much later than that because the cold would hold us up.

PFSP President Kyle Little said seeing construction awarded to Dreamland marks a huge step for the group, the city and the community. Its really starting to hit home. This adventure has been all of the above -- an adventure, a dream, its been successful.

Were still trying to raise funds for future additions, and everybody is excited to see how this plays out.

Fundraising continues

PFSP fundraising efforts and events will be held throughout the summer, including the fourth annual Levee Cruise on Sept. 10, a huge event Little said will feature live music from Shadow Sonic and Old Soul Society. PFSP also plans to bring back Family Trick-or-Treat Night this year, possibly in a bigger venue after the first event at the old Fashion Bug building in 2015 drew nearly 500 people.

I cant be more thankful for the donors, future donors and past donors, volunteers and committee members. We have a whole lineup of events this summer and were looking to bringing it into the future, Little said. This is a one-of-a-kind park that will draw tourism and families to Portage. Its just a great community development.

More information about fundraising events can be found at portageskatepark.org.
Oncken: What's going on behind the scenes of agriculture?
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According to the latest report by Cushman & Wakefield, during the first quarter of 2016, Warsaw saw a rapid growth in the supply of office space, which more than doubled the results for the same period in 2015. Due to the record-breaking levels of supply, vacancy rates increased by 1.9 pp. to 14.1%. Although statistics show a fall in net absorption, this is probably a temporary decrease in the light of last year's exceptionally high growth. The experts at Cushman & Wakefield expect the office market to continue its growth in the remaining months of 2016, with pipeline supply estimated at 330,000 square meters.The total office stock in Warsaw reached almost 4.75 million sq. m at the end of March, with approximately 30% of existing office space located in the city center. In the first three months of the year, almost 113,100 sq. m were delivered to the market (53,900 sq. m more than in the same period of 2015), of which over 59% in non-central locations. Major buildings completed in Q1 2016 included the second phase of Eurocentrum Office Complex (Capital Park, 25,000 sq. m), Astrum Business Park I (IRYDION, 22,600 sq. m), Atrium 2 (Skanska, 20,200 sq. m), Prime Corporate Center (Golub GetHouse, 20,100 sq. m) and Building C of the second phase of Gdanski Business Center II (HB Reavis, 19,700 sq. m).In the first three months of the year, leases were signed for the total of 142,200 sq. m, which is over 15% less than in Q1 2015. The largest lease agreements concluded in Q1 2016 included the leasing of office space in Q22 by Allegro (7,600 sq. m), renegotiation and expansion of Mettler Toledo's offices at Platan Park (4,500 sq. m), and leasing office space at Atrium 2 by an IT company (7,500 sq. m).After two consecutive quarters of decreases, vacancy rates grew to 14.1% as of the end of Q1 2016. This result is almost 1.9 pp. higher than in December 2015 and nearly 1.1 pp. higher than in Q1 2015. At the end of March, most vacant space was located in buildings in Upper South (229,800 sq. m, up by 48,600 sq. m) and Fringe (123,500 sq. m, up by 16,900 sq. m). Lowest vacancy rates were recorded in West (7%) and Lower South (9.2%). However, these zones are still not popular with office developers.According to the report, current market situation continues to favor the tenants. However, base rents in the center remained unchanged, amounting to EUR 24 per sq. m per month in prime buildings. Modern office buildings in attractive non-central locations stayed within the EUR 13-16.5 per sq. m per month limit. The only zone to report a decrease in rent rates was Upper South, where average prime rents fell to EUR 14 per sq. m per month (down from EUR 14.25 recorded in December 2015). Coupled with a significant transaction volumes' decrease in the Upper South (down by 26 pp. as compared to the same period last year), this might suggest that the tenants are losing interest in the zone.Due to strong competition on the market, developers and landlords continue to offer attractive incentive packages to their tenants, including rent-free periods and fit-out contributions. This allows the tenants to significantly lower the total leasing cost, both at the time of renegotiating current leases and when relocating to new buildings."While 2015 was record-breaking in terms of leasing activity and net absorption, the beginning of this year saw a slight decrease in these areas. However, supply is rapidly growing, which bodes well for companies looking to lease modern office space in Warsaw. The most interesting trend is the increasing outflow of tenants from the Upper South zone in Q1 2016, which used to be the most popular location for business. In the last three months, tenants were attracted mainly to the South West 1 and North subzones," said Bolesaw Koodziejczyk, Senior Consultant, Consultancy & Research, Cushman & Wakefield.330,000 sq. m are expected to be delivered to the Warsaw market by the end of the year. However, 65% of this space remains unleased, and vacancy rates may continue to rise up to 16-17%. Continuing high levels of supply in 2016 will result in a growing competition and an increasing downward pressure on rents, especially in the case of older buildings in less attractive locations.Although take-up was slightly lower than in the same period last year, taking into account both past data indicating lower tenant activity levels at the beginning of the year and planned lease transactions, gross take-up at the end of 2016 is expected to reach last year's levels.Over 50% of new supply will be constructed in the city center. Major projects scheduled for opening in 2016 include Warsaw Spire - Tower (Ghelamco, 61,000 sq. m), Q22 (Echo Investment, 50,000 sq. m) and the next stage of the second phase of Gdanski Business Center II (HB Reavis, 29,300 sq. m)."We are observing a shift in the making as more and more companies look to upgrading their office space through relocating into more modern office space or changing the way they use their premises. This trend should continue in the next couple of years and although vacancy may increase in older buildings, this will ultimately be absorbed by companies moving out from the older, more obsolete Class C buildings into relatively newer Class B buildings," said Richard Aboo, Partner, Head of Office Department, Cushman & Wakefield.
A young man wanted to make a point about racism in the United States, but his plan backfired when he was exposed for a liar by police. 20-year-old Khalil Cavil of Texas was working at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa when he claimed he was discriminated against because of his Muslim name. Cavil took
Parents Face 60 Fines as Magistrates in Wrexham Take Tough Stance on Pupil Absence

This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 12th, 2016

Magistrates in Wrexham are taking a tough stance with parents who dont make sure that their children attend school regularly.

A number of parents across Wrexham have been fined over the past few months after their children failed to attend school often enough  with one mother recently receiving a suspended prison sentence.

Wrexham Council are reminding parents that they can face fines of 60 if their child fails to attend school often enough.

Children who also regualrly miss school are in danger of missing out on future employment opportunities.

Over the past few months, a number parents have been issued with Fixed Penalty Notices of 60 because their children are not attending school often enough.

A small number of them have failed to pay the 60 and have then been issued with significantly higher fines by the Wrexham Magistrates Court. The fines imposed by the magistrates range between 600 and 800.

More recently, a parent who persistently failed to send her child to school and then failed to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice was sentenced to 8 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Cllr Michael Williams, the Lead Member for Education and Childrens Services in Wrexham, said: We always stress how important it is that children attend school regularly. This clearly indicates how seriously the magistrates at Wrexham Court take matters of unauthorised absence from school.
Two years after the German government signaled the end of military restraint and following this years announcement of a dramatic increase to the defence budget, this week brought word of a so-called personnel about-face.

In an order issued for the army on Tuesday, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) announced that the period of military personnel restrictions was over effective immediately and a gradual increase to personnel was to be introduced.

Her orders began with the words: In the last 25 years, the military has undergone a continuous reduction of personnel. In light of developments in the security policy situation and the resulting demands placed on the armed forces, it is necessary to rethink and redirect.

The strict personnel caps which have been in place until now are to be lifted. In the future, the personnel requirements of the army will be set each year according to a structured planning and prognosis model of the army command. The goal is a responsive body of personnel oriented to the increasing responsibilities of the army.

A new personnel board analogous to the equipment board under the leadership of Chief of Staff (inspector general) Volker Wieker will be created to determine the personnel requirements in question. The new body will not only illuminate the personnel requirements each year and provide clear justification for them, they will at the same time issue statements on implementation planning.

These military planning objectives will subsequently be transferred to budget planning. In other words: until now, the number of troops was subject to political approval. In the future, the military command will determine their number and demand the corresponding increase to appropriations from the budget.

Beginning in 2017, we plan to use the personnel about turn in select areas of the military and civilian structure to increase the sustainability of the military, strengthen its robustness and establish new capabilities, von der Leyen stated.

The about turn includes a predicted requirement of around 14,300 soldiers and around 4,400 posts for civil employees. Around 7,000 new military positions will initially be established.

Altogether, 96 individual measures are planned to improve the performance of the military. Von der Leyen lists, among others: the establishment of new organizational areas in cyber and information spheres; the installation of a further company in the sea battalion; strengthening the special forces of the army and the marines; strengthening of management capacity for greater armament projects; and the expansion of medical capabilities.

According to the Suddeutsche Zeitung, which was informed about the changes ahead of time, the military turnaround initiated by von der Leyen is larger than it appears at first glance. They write that it brings the quarter of a century long era of military shrinkage to an end.

Anti-war sentiment remains high and investing in the military will be rather unpopular, the paper continued. Following the end of the Cold War, the need for a strong defensive army was no longer seen. The number of soldiers dropped from around 600,000 on the day of German reunification in 1990 to not even half that number today. The cap lies in between at 185,000 soldiers, but only around 177,000 are actually serving.

The German Armed Forces Association welcomed the personnel reform as a correct and courageous decision. This turnaround actually represents a 180 degree turn in personnel policy, said association head Lieutenant Colonel Andre Wustner.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) offered express support for the military upgrade.

Hans-Peter Bartels (SPD), parliamentary commissioner of the German armed forces, both welcomed the personnel changes and criticized the defence minister because she had not gone far enough in his opinion. Bartels sees the need for more personnel, the Tagesspiegel wrote.

The SPD militarist told the newspaper it was good and proper that the defence minister took real problem analysis seriously and responded to it. It was also correct that not only soldiers but also civilian positions would be increased. It was doubtful, however, whether the stated personnel numbers would be enough.

Some units are extremely understaffed, said Bartels. That was true of air defence and aerial photography interpretation. The military has at its disposal only one squadron that must cover three missions with Afghanistan, Turkey and soon Mali. The marines were also supposedly partly strained past acceptable limits.

With the increase to personnel, only the most immediate and urgent problems would be addressed and troop sustainability improved. According to Bartels, future tasks, such as cyber defence and the specialists needed for it, required far greater measures.

Von der Leyens order on military personnel policy is part of a comprehensive program of military build-up. At the beginning of the year, von der Leyen announced that in the coming year 130 billion additional euros would be made available in the current defence budget for development and equipment.

The defence minister justifies the military upgrades with the turn in German foreign policy which President Joachim Gauck, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD), and she herself announced now more than two and a half years ago at the 2014 Munich Security Conference.

Germany was too big to merely comment on foreign policy from the sidelines and would have to be prepared to intervene earlier, more decisively and more substantially in foreign and security policy, they declared at the time.

This week Von der Leyen reasserted that Germany is a country that has great significance, politically and economically, and must take on responsibility and also wants to take it on. She declared: If we dont take care of Syria and Iraq, if we dont take care of Afghanistan and Africa [], if we dont do our part, then the problems will come to us and it will be even worse. That is exactly what we dont want. The size of its military will therefore have to be larger and it would have to be well equipped.

Taking on global responsibility is code for militarily pursuing the economic and geopolitical interests of German imperialism worldwide. For that, the German elite, as in the past, requires a well equipped and numerically strong army.
On Saturday, under the slogan We are and will remain in Europe, tens of thousands demonstrated in the Polish capital Warsaw against the Law and Justice Party (PiS) government and in favour of a stronger orientation to the European Union. According to opposition sources, around 200,000 people participated in the march through the city centre, which would make it the largest demonstration in Poland since 1989. With the support of the Catholic Church, the government organised counter-demonstrations, but could only draw between 3,000-4,000 people.

Campaigns using large placards took place in the Polish capital for several weeks in the lead-up to the demonstration. Warsaws mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, from the opposition Citizens Platform (PO), was among the most prominent figures in the opposition movement. Backing also came from figures like Adam Michnik, the former editor of the influential daily Gazeta Wyborzca. As an opposition intellectual during the Stalinist era, he helped prepare the way for capitalist restoration.

Compared to earlier protests, more young people participated, above all students and some entire families. Academics and members of the Warsaw middle class were clearly visible.

The opposition noted at the demonstration that the issue was defending democracy and the constitutional court against the PiS. But at the heart of the protest was the issue of the EU. In the sea of Polish and EU flags which dominated the protest, there were significantly more EU flags than at previous protests.

Ryszard Petru, chairman of the Nowoczesna (Modern Party), stated, We are not in agreement with describing the EU flag as dirt and that Jarosaw Kaczynski is leading us out of the EU. Other opposition figures said the issue was defending democracy and European values like freedom and solidarity.

Nowoczesna is involved in the committee for the defence of democracy (KOD) and played a central role in organising the protest. In the last election, the party managed to secure many votes from disappointed PO supporters. In recent polls, Nowoczesna, with 20.4 percent support, was in second place, behind the PiS (30.8 percent). Only 12.8 percent still support PO.

Nowoczesna represents the interests of large and small businesses whose operations are closely tied to EU membership. Petru, the partys chairman, worked for the World Bank between 2001 and 2004, where he was involved in drafting austerity measures for Poland and Hungary to allegedly improve the climate for investment. He was thereafter active in management and as an economist for a number of important Polish banks. He has close ties to economist Leszek Balczerowicz, who heavily influenced the shock therapy for Poland in the 1990s, making him among those chiefly responsible for the social catastrophe produced by capitalist restoration.

The protests came in the wake of an intensifying constitutional crisis and growing conflicts over Polands EU policy. The PiS government has largely blocked the constitutional court and refused to publish its ruling against a new law which significantly limits the courts powers. As long as the ruling remains unpublished, it does not come into force.

The EU has intervened in the conflict, and following proposals from the Venice Commission, it sided with the constitutional court. In response, Zdzisaw Krasnodebski, who is responsible for EU affairs in the PiS government, proposed via Twitter a referendum over Polands continued EU membership.

However, this was met with opposition from among the PiS leadership. Kaczynski, the partys chair, condemned those in favour of a referendum at the beginning of May as a political plague. He emphasised that Poland would remain in the EU, even if it withdrew the freedom to oppose policies which contradicted national security. In January, President Andrzej Duda issued an urgent warning over the potential break-up of the EU resulting from a Brexit.

According to figures from the Polish economy ministry, Britain is the countrys second largest export market. For British concerns like Tesco and Shell, Poland is the most important sales market in Central Europe. In addition, Britain is, after the United States, home to the second largest community of Polish immigrants. Around 850,000 Polish workers live in Britain. Many came to find better jobs, and support their families in Poland with remittances.

From the standpoint of the working class, the protests represent no principled opposition to the PiS right-wing policies, which aim to construct an authoritarian state and are playing a central role in US imperialisms war drive against Russia. Instead, the opposition parties are attempting to divert the opposition to these right-wing policies behind the reactionary project of the EU.

The lack of interest among the opposition parties in defending democratic rights is shown by their fundamental acceptance of the governments new anti-terror law.

The EU, which the Polish opposition parties feel part of, is implementing ruthless attacks on the working class across the continent. The current governments predecessor, a coalition between PO and PSL (Polish Peoples Party), was responsible for social attacks backed by the EU.

The opposition speak on behalf of sections of the Polish bourgeoisie and urban middle class, who see their privileges threatened by the policies adopted by PiS. EU membership after the restoration of capitalism in Poland provided the basis for the emergence of a small but, in cities like Warsaw and Krakow, relatively substantial middle class.

While Polish heavy industry was largely dismantled and the country transformed into a low-wage platform for foreign, and in particular German, investment, the banks, non-governmental organisations and service companies which flourished in parallel to this offered well-paid positions for sections of the urban middle class. At the same time, many Polish corporations have benefited from the European sales market.

The threatened break-up of the EU and the policies of PiS have thrown these layers into crisis. The latest edition of the liberal magazine Polityka, which is closely associated with the opposition parties, warned in its lead article of the danger of a break-up of the EU in the event of a Brexit or Polexit. Despite the repeated assertions of Kaczynski and Duda, the opposition fears that Poland could leave the EU.

The magazine issued a dire warning over the impact on business of a break-up of the EU or a Polexit, writing: Poland is still a poor country and does not have large amounts of capital of its own, the level of the standard of living is among the lowest in Europe. We need foreign investment and capital. Since joining the EU, Poland has received investments totalling 125 billion. Direct investment from EU states is around 110 billion. Polish exports have increased by 200 percent.

The article concluded: We are in a situation which we wanted to avoid and should always fear like fire: neither aligned with the west nor Russia, we are in a grey zone. The Polexit has begun.
In the ongoing Verizon strike, nearly 40,000 workers are pitted against a giant corporation that is the product of the decades-long consolidation of the telecommunications industry and its increasing subordination to giant banks and hedge funds. The sole purpose of this multinational company is, as Verizons president, Lowell McAdam, has stated, the maximization of returns for its shareholders, dominated by Wall Street and its large financial institutions.

Major institutional shareholders of Verizon stock include: Vanguard Group Inc. (5.65 percent), Capital Research Global Investors (4.17 percent), State Street Corp (3.75 percent), and BlackRock Fund Advisors (2.52 percent). These five major financial firms alone possess over 16 percent of Verizon shares. There are many more similar firms with smaller stakes. Together, they exercise substantial control over the company.

The concessions surrendered by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to Verizon after the betrayal of the 2011 strike and the new concessions now being demanded by the company reflect the logic of the corporatist policies of the unions, which subordinate the working class to the insatiable drive by the banks and transnational corporations for ever-greater returns on investment. It is not simply a question of greed, though there is certainly plenty of that. More fundamentally, it reflects the brutal logic of the capitalist system, which, following the end of the post-World War II boom in particular, has become ever more dominated by the banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions.

This has been accompanied by a drive to squeeze ever more profit off the backs of workers. The massive reduction in the workforce over recent decades, increases in the out-of-pocket cost of medical benefits, demands for long-distance relocations, threats to move jobs overseas, and the replacement of experienced, long-term employees with casual labor are among the attacks that Verizon has carried out or is planning to implement. Workers have repeatedly told the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter of the increasing and often seemingly senseless harassment by the company, which is designed to drive out older, better-compensated workers.

Workers must understand this reality if they are not to be misled by union leaders and both Democratic and Republican politicians who claim that the company can be forced to behave more fairly toward its workforce. A review of the history of the financialization of the telecom industry in general and Verizon in particular provides the basis from which Verizon workers and, indeed, the whole working class can draw necessary lessons.

The financialization of the telecom industry was not merely a bad idea, the product of misguided policies or the result of the greed of a small number of individuals that can be reversed by new legislation. Fundamentally, what happened to telecom is part of the evolution of the capitalist system as a whole following the end of the postwar boom.

For decades, telecommunications services, both domestically and around the world, were provided by government entities or highly regulated private monopolies. The latter was the case in the US, with the majority of the industry being dominated by American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T), also known as Bell Telephone or Ma Bell, originally founded by Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. This situation grew out of the early condition of the industry, with multiple, competing companies. Most of these eventually failed. From the early 20th century, AT&T functioned as a near monopoly under government regulation, with other, smaller companies operating under similar conditions in limited areas.

This reflected the concept of natural monopoly, the understanding that certain industries, such as railroads, telephones, and electricity providers, were most effective and efficient in providing services when they operated single systems within given geographic areas, avoiding duplication of infrastructure and labor forces. Government regulation was intended to insure that such monopolies actually provided services, while limiting the tendency to exploit their exclusive hold over the market. In return for protection from competition, the telephone companies were supposed to provide affordable services to all within their regions, encompassing both more-profitable and less-profitable areas.

The breakup of the telecom monopoly regime began in the 1980s as part of a larger policy of deregulation and privatization that swept the capitalist world at that time, driven by the end of the postwar economic boom. Presented as a way to increase competition, and thus provide better and less-expensive service to customers, this process was, in fact, intended to sweep away all restrictions to the maximization of private profit.

The process began in Britain, where Prime Minister Thatcher separated the telecom system from the British Post Office in 1981 and sold it off in three large tranches beginning in 1984. The 1984 stock sale was the largest in history at that time. The sale price was $22.9 billion with a generous 3 percent bank advisory fee.

Ronald Reagan took a similar approach in the US. Following up on a longstanding antitrust case against AT&T, the business was broken up into eight separate companies in 1984. AT&T (aka Ma Bell) retained the long-distance business, which was, however, opened to competition. The seven regional companies, known as Baby Bells, became independent providers of local telephone services within their respective regions.

The CWA and the other telecom unions did nothing to defend the more than 600,000 AT&T workers from a move that opened the way to a massive assault on their jobs and benefits. Indeed, the unions response was to collaborate with the US telecom companies in a bid to slash costs in order to compete with their global competitors. The result has been a never-ending assault on the jobs, wages and benefits of telecommunications that continues to this day.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996, enacted under the Clinton administration with the support of the CWA, eliminated regulation of the Baby Bells and permitted open competition between them and other telecom companies. It was designed to make US telecoms more globally competitive at the expense of workers and the public at large. The result has been a further concentration of the communications industry, with the market monopolized by a handful of giant transnational players.

The breakup of AT&T and the creation of a competitive market brought with it wealth, power, and the increasing domination of finance capital. As each of the eight divisions of AT&T transformed itself into a full-service, stand-alone company, they turned to the finance houses for money, advice, and assistance. Rapidly, the logic of the capitalist market led to a re-concentration of the industry, exposing the sham promise that the breakup would lead to increased competition, lower costs, and better service.

A symbol of the increasing financialization was the takeover in 1988 of industrial giant RJR Nabisco by the tiny, little-known private equity company KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Company). Two Wall Street Journal reporters chronicled this watershed event in a book titled Barbarians at the Gate. This process soon engulfed the telecom industry.

The fortunes of the bank analysts who rated the performance of the telecom industry rose rapidly. Two of the top telecom analysts from the beginning of the telecom boom in the 1990s until the bubble burst in 2001-2002 were Dan Reingold and Jack Grubman.

Grubman, in particular, came to dominate the industry. His word moved the market, and he set the course for investment, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), and mergers that reshaped the industry. He positioned Global Crossing for a blockbuster IPO in 1998 and kept the stock rising afterward. WorldCom was his superstar pick. The small, non-union company grew through two-dozen merger-and-acquisition deals. It merged with MCI to become the second biggest telecom in the country, and was set to merge in a huge deal with Sprint to become the biggest when that was halted by antitrust concerns and the bursting of the telecom bubble in 2001.

When WorldCom went bankrupt July 21, 2002, it was the countrys second largest long-distance carrier and its largest mover of Internet traffic. It had $32 billion in debt and claimed assets of $107 billion. CEO Bernie Ebbers had collected $1 million IPO shares worth $11 million. Grubman stage-managed WorldCom stock analyst calls. He attended Board of Directors meetings, and he wrote scripts for Q-and-A reports to the market.

In 1998, under the administration of President Bill Clinton, the Glass-Steagall Act separating investment and commercial banks was repealed. Glass-Steagall had been enacted in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash by the administration of Franklin Roosevelt to curb the speculation that it was felt helped trigger the economic collapse.

Clintons repeal of Glass-Steagall was carried out at the behest of large financial interests, including the Travelers Group (parent of Grubmans Salomon Brothers investment bank) and Citibank. Grubmans domination of the telecom market was a major prize sought by Citibank in its drive to repeal the law. Grubman, backed by the financial powerhouse Citigroup, was the universally acknowledged master of the telecom industry.

The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 precipitated the biggest worldwide sell-off of nationalized property in history. Dan Reingold explained that he left Morgan Stanley to sign onto Merrill Lynchs plan to become the leading bank cashing in on what it identified as the global privatization of telecom. Reingold personally went to two dozen countries to promote the privatization of state telecom systems.

Reingold collected huge fees for Merrill Lynch, which acquired control of one national telecom system after another. This wealth was turned into the dot.com and telecom boom in the US. It created a bull market in which the banks bought and controlled CEOs with IPO stock. Companies expanded, hired more workers, and merged under the direction of finance houses and their telecom analysts. Economic pundits called it a New Economy and claimed the market could never go down. The head of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, agreed.

The domination of the telecom industry by finance capital and the consolidation of the industry involved concerted attacks on the workforce, including massive layoffs and attacks on wages and benefits, such as the progressive elimination of defined benefit pension plans.

Meanwhile, $65 billion in new capital poured into telecom. The bubble inflated, the companies expanded, hired and overproduced, the banks made super-profits, and the deregulatory legislation passed to induce more competition actually drove mergers and concentration in almost every corner of the market.

When the telecom bubble burst in 2001, 23 companies went bankrupt, over 80 percent of stock valuation was wiped out, and half a million telecom workers lost their jobs. Again, the CWA and other unions did nothing to defend workers. Those firms that remained, including Verizon, continue to be dominated by finance capital.

Verizon is a product of the re-concentration of the telecom industry, resulting from the merger of two Baby BellsNynex and Bell Atlanticplus independent telecom firms GTE and MCI. As has happened in a number of other deregulated industries, such as airlines and the energy industry, the much-touted capitalist panacea of free market competition has, in reality, turned into its oppositeconsolidation and monopolization, which benefitted only the financial and corporate elites, along with precipitating spectacular collapses (e.g., Enron).

For its part, the CWA has supported this process. It supported the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX and entered into various agreements with SBC in the 1990s and 2000s to support its merger-and-acquisition activities before state and federal regulators in exchange for card-check and union-neutrality agreements designed to help expand the unions dues base.

The emergence of Verizon as a highly profitable company is the result of a combination of attacks on its workers and rationalization (i.e., cuts) of its services to meet the dictates of Wall Street and the financial industry. The companys intransigent stand during the current strike is a reflection of the insatiable drive to maximize profit in an environment of global economic crisis and domination of the economy by finance capital.

According to a recent piece in the Washington Post, Verizon did a $5 billion stock buyback last year to boost its stock price, on top of an already generous dividend. If that money had instead been divided among 180,000 workers, it would have come to $28,000 per personshowing that theres plenty of profit to be shared across the company. This is not the result of a bad choice. The logic of the capitalist system dictates that those companies that do not do everything possible to maximize shareholder value will quickly be abandoned by the financial markets for those that will.

Verizon is a transnational giant subordinated to the demands of financial markets. The crisis of the capitalist system, greatly accelerated following the 2008 crash, means that the drive to maximize profit is now greater than ever. Verizon cannot and will not halt or moderate the attack on its workers. The leaderships of the CWA and IBEW accept this framework. They are committed to enhancing the competitiveness of their companies, at the expense of workers in order to protect their own fat salaries and expense accounts.

To counter the corporate assault on their jobs and living standards workers must break free from the unions and their pro-corporate perspective. They must build new, democratically controlled organizations of struggle.

But above all, workers need a new political perspective. The subordination of all aspects of economic life to the insatiable drive of the banks and hedge funds for profit must be ended. This means the struggle for socialism. The Socialist Equality Party calls for the transformation of the banks and transnational corporations, including the telecoms, into publicly controlled utilities under the democratic ownership and control of the working class. To carry this out, the working class needs a political party of its own, independent from the Democrat and Republicans, the parties of big business. The SEP and the Verizon Strike Newsletter are building the revolutionary leadership for this struggle.
In the wake of the first tour by media representatives through Fort McMurray Monday, it is clear that many thousands of residents have been left homeless by the catastrophic wildfire which forced close to 90,000 to evacuate the city May 3.

The Alberta government confirmed that 2,400 structures, between 10 and 15 percent of the city, were destroyed outright by the fire, close to five times more than the 2011 blaze in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canadas worst wildfire disaster prior to this month. An additional 12 homes were burned down in the small community of Anzac, south of Fort McMurray.

This only gives an indication of the worst of the damage, since many of the buildings left standing will have suffered partial fire damage, and/or severe water and smoke damage. Officials confirmed that large areas of the city are without water, gas and power.

Reports suggest that at least 12 of the houses that burned to the ground belonged to firefighters involved in fighting the blaze. Around 700 firefighters from across the country continue to work on containing the fire.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has said that it will be two weeks before an announcement is made on when residents can return to Fort McMurray. It is likely to be many months, if ever, before the thousands whose homes have been destroyed have a place to return to in the city.

The fire has grown to over 230,000 hectares in size, but is now largely removed from residential areas. It did not reach the Saskatchewan border, 90 kilometers (56 miles) to Fort McMurrays east, as earlier expected.

Insurers estimate that total damage caused by the fire could top $9 billion, making it the most expensive disaster in Canadian history. Indications are that insurers will respond by increasing premiums for homeowners in areas close to forests or at high risk of wildfires. Its quite possible we could see some rate increases, possibly regionally, Jason Mercer of Moodys Canada said Wednesday.

As well as residential properties, many businesses were destroyed in the flames, leaving hundreds, and possibly thousands, of workers without jobs. Economist Herb Emery told the Globe and Mail that the fire would likely cause the provincial jobless rate to spike in the short term from 7.2 to 10 percent.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to visit the region tomorrow. He has explicitly refused linking the wildfire to climate change or any other political explanation, describing such approaches as not helpful. The Trudeau government is anxious to push ahead with its support for further expansion of Alberta tar-sands oil production, above all through the construction of pipelines to transport oil to tidal water.

Notley met with oil executives in Edmonton Tuesday to discuss restarting production at facilities around the devastated city. Some operations have already started pumping oil at lower than normal rates, and Suncor Chief Executive Steve Williams confirmed that others could be ready to operate at full capacity within 24 to 48 hours of a decision to resume production. Others located south of the city could take a week or two to restart.

Oil facilities have suffered only minor damage, including to some electrical infrastructure. But Williams maintained, We dont believe at the moment that the electrical infrastructure issues are going to be big enough to stop the industry ramping up.

This underlines the basic fact that the wildfire that destroyed much of Fort McMurray was no natural disaster, but the product of the capitalist systems reckless drive for profit at all costs. Fort McMurray was expanded exponentially over recent decades to serve the needs of the oil giants exploiting the Alberta tar sands, but unlike the large fire breaks and specially trained fire crews in place to guard oil production facilities, few precautionary measures were taken to protect the people of Fort McMurray and their homes. Only one road out of the city existed for a population that surpassed 100,000 at the peak of the oil price boom, and fire breaks to deprive flames of fuel close to residential areas were lacking.

The official indifference to the fate of the population is made even more outrageous by the repeated warnings issued by scientists about the increased risks of wildfires in Canadas boreal forest. Experts have long warned that the combination of climate change, a larger human presence in the boreal forests due to the oil, mining and logging industries, and a lack of precautionary measures were creating the conditions for a disaster on an unprecedented scale. Over two decades ago, scientists predicted the lengthening of the fire season, and more recent studies estimated the area burned in Canada by fires will continue to increase in coming decades.

Just months prior to last weeks fire, the incoming federal Liberal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr was warned in his briefing papers that governments at all levels have insufficiently funded programs to combat wildfires. In 2005, the provincial, territorial and federal governments agreed on a Canadian Wildlands Fire Strategy urging the improvement of community resilience, better fire management and the implementation of modern business practices. Governments remain supportive of the strategy, said Carrs briefing notes, but progress towards implementation over the past decade has been limited, primarily due to fiscal constraints.

Even as signs grew of the mounting threat, with 2015 witnessing a record fire season, successive provincial governments in Alberta cut the firefighting budget. The result of the latest cuts imposed by Notleys NDP government is that the province will be without air tankers to fight blazes from mid-August, even though the fire season, which began a month early this year due to warmer temperatures, runs through October.

Those displaced by the fire have largely relied on the generosity of the local population for support, with many residing with friends and family. The Red Cross has received at least $67 million in donations from across the country and is preparing to disperse $50 million of this to the evacuees, $600 for every adult and $300 for dependents.

The Alberta government began handing out financial assistance to evacuees yesterday in the form of pre-loaded debit cards, with $1,250 for every adult and $500 per dependent.

Thousands lined up for hours at four distribution sites in Edmonton. Residents at the Northlands evacuee camp started lining up at 6 a.m., eight hours before the card distribution was slated to begin, only to be told they were in the wrong place. Due to the length of the lines, some ultimately left empty-handed.

The evacuation centres where several thousand are being housed are showing signs of strain. At least 50 people were taken sick at Northlands in Edmonton Monday and had to be segregated from the rest of the camps residents.

The camps are dependent on volunteers, but this is proving insufficient. We need more volunteers to help, we need every hand, Dalia Abdellatif of Edmonton Emergency Relief Services told CBC. Without volunteers, we would not be able to run this place. She added that a centre set up at a former Target store in the city required more resources.

Distress Centre Calgary, which provides support to people with trauma and other mental health problems, reported that it received over 180 calls to its emergency line related to the wildfire between May 4 and 8. Many of those evacuating the city were already suffering the effects of the economic downturn, which by April had driven the official unemployment rate in Fort McMurray to almost 10 percent.

On top of this, Fort McMurray was home to refugees from around the world, including Syrians who recently fled the civil war. To me when I do go back I will probably have to go see a counsellor, because  just seeing all those homes burn down brings back a lot of my past, Godelive Ohelo, who fled the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo after losing relatives, told CBC.
After the Socialist Party (PS) government of Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced Tuesday that he would impose the unpopular labour law reform without a vote in the National Assembly, protests and riots erupted in cities across France against the PSs blatantly anti-democratic procedure.

Valls and President Francois Hollande invoked article 49-3 of the French constitution, which allows them to impose a law if the Assembly does not vote to censure the government, forcing new elections, in 48 hoursthat is, by the end of today. Three-quarters of the population opposes the draft law, which lengthens working times, undermines job security and allows bosses and unions to negotiate contracts violating the Labour Code.

Hundreds of protesters gathered Tuesday night in Paris in front of the National Assembly, whose staff barricaded the shutters, fearing a riot. Protesters denounced Valls decision as an insult to the people, shouting slogans such as, Real democracy is here and National Assembly, assembly of capital.

One thousand people marched across Toulouse shouting, Toulouse, rise up, and, We don't want this society, but were blocked by a police cordon before they could arrive at the departmental PS headquarters. Protests of several hundred people also took place in Lille, Tours, Marseille, Grenoble and Nantes, where protesters clashed violently with police.

In Lyon, protesters shouted slogans against the PS in front of city hall, and later attacked a police station and ransacked a PS local section building. Another PS headquarters was violently ransacked by a few dozen protesters in Caen.

The PS government and the French bourgeoisie are hoping, however, that while these protests reflect anger felt by tens of millions of workers, they will not immediately provoke the eruption of a general strike by the working class, as in 1936 or 1968.

The daily newspaper Le Monde wrote, Even though using article 49-3 immediately provoked a protest before the National Assembly, the government is betting that its parliamentary coup will not inflame the social climate. The social movement and protests exist, but they are not currently growing, commented an associate of the head of state.

The events in France starkly highlight the significance of the deep crisis of political leadership in the working class. Workers and youth mounted mass protests against the law for over two months, it is overwhelmingly opposed by the population, and the general mood among workers in France and internationally is moving to the left, amid rising social anger with the entire political establishment. Yet a desperately weak and unpopular PS government, which is widely seen as a factotum for the banks, is on the verge of imposing a widely hated law by legislative fiat.

Central responsibility for this lies with the union bureaucracy and the pseudo-left parties close to the PS, like the New Anticapitalist Party, that mounted the #UpAllNight movement, which directed youth away from struggle against the PS and towards impotent meetings on various city squares. This demobilised the protests, blocked a campaign to mobilise broader layers of the working class against the Valls government, and handed the initiative for a time back to the PS. The PS then wasted no time in moving to ram the bill through the Assembly.

There will be powerful anger and opposition in the working class to attempts to use the labour law to undermine its wages and conditions, particularly given the antidemocratic methods the PS used to impose the law. The struggle of the working class against the PS and against similar governments across Europe is only beginning.

Yet it must be stated clearly that the PS is on the verge of succeeding in forcing the bill through the parliament. Unlike the #UpAllNight movementwhose media figurehead, nationalist economist Frederic Lordon, has insisted that it does not matter whether or not the labour reform passesthe WSWS frankly warns that the labour law would be used to mount bitter attacks on working people.

Its passage would mark a significant setback for the workers and youth who have been fighting the bill, and constitute irrefutable proof of the necessity of a break with the existing organisations, which are tied to the PS and have proven completely bankrupt.

This includes the attempts by sections of the trade union bureaucracy and of the Left Front of Jean-Luc Melenchon to promote illusions in impotent appeals to deputies of the National Assembly to halt or partially rewrite the labour reform.

Thus Melenchon posted a Tweet on the labour law apparently calling for joint protests with right-wing forces and a motion of censure to bring down the PS government. He wrote, To stop it, vote to censure. No reticence on disgusting measures faced with disgusting people. Yes, we need protests by a common front of those who refuse the bill. And now.

A motion of censure presented by the Left Front and its allies failed last night, receiving less than 60 votes. Today, a motion of censure is being prepared by the right-wing opposition The Republicans (LR) party, though it appears unlikely to carry under conditions where fewer than 60 deputies from the Left Front and PS were willing to vote to censure the government.

Every indication is that the so-called rebel factions of the PS that have voiced mild and hypocritical objections to the labour reform are preparing to fall in line with the law and will not vote to censure the PS government.

Benoit Hamon, one of the leaders of the faction, said yesterday, The right-wing censure motion, well, you have to understand that you may be in disagreement with Manuel Valls, but preferring [right-wing former President] Nicolas Sarkozy to Manuel Valls ... it's a bit hard to prefer that type of politics to the current government.

The Valls government is reportedly threatening any PS deputy who votes the LR censure motion in the Assembly with expulsion from the PS.
Within barely 48 hours of the official announcement of a double-dissolution federal election to be held on July 2, leading figures in the Greens had offered to form a coalition government with the opposition Labor Party and take ministries in a future Labor cabinet. The offer demonstrates, from the very outset of the election campaign, that the claim by the Greens to represent a progressive alternative to Labors right-wing program and policies is cynical and dishonest.

On Monday evening, Adam Bandt, the member for the seat of Melbourne and the Greens only representative in the lower house of parliament, declared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Q&A program that the Greens wanted to join forces with Labor. He asserted a Labor-Green coalition would deliver a stable and effective and progressive parliament. On Monday, Greens leader Richard Di Natale told a press conference that while a coalition with the Liberals was inconceivable, his party would enter a Labor government.

The Greens have rushed to announce their willingness to serve as Labors coalition partners under conditions where early polling suggests neither of the major partiesLabor or the governing Liberal-National Party Coalition headed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbullwill win an outright majority in the lower house of parliament where governments are formed. After six years of unprecedented political turmoil, the Greens have stepped forward to offer themselves as the guarantor of stability in the event of a hung parliament.

In his statements on Q&A, Bandt invoked the support of the Greens for the minority Labor government of Julia Gillard from 2010 to 2013 as evidence of their reliability. Along with several independents, Bandt kept Labor in power and voted for its budgets and key policies. He declared that this was one of the most productive periods of Australian government.

The record of the Gillards government demonstrates, however, that it was one of the most right-wing in Australian history. It dramatically expanded Canberras involvement in US-led wars and military intrigues, accelerated policies that have devastated the public health and education systems, as well as disability services, and slashed social welfare eligibility for single parents and the young unemployed.

In 2011, the de-facto Labor-Green coalition aligned Australia unconditionally with the US pivot to Asia, which consists of a massive military-build up in the Asia-Pacific in preparation for confrontation and war with China. Former Greens leader, Bob Brown, along with Bandt, warmly welcomed US President Barack Obama after he announced the pivot from the floor of the Australian parliament. The Greens propped up Gillard as she signed a military deal with Obama that expanded US bases and operations within the country, including the establishment of a new US marine rotation in the northern city of Darwin. Labor, with the complicity of the Greens, also supported the US-led wars in the Middle-East and internationally. Under Gillard, the countrys troop deployments and combat operations in Afghanistan reached their high point.

At the same time, the Gillard government cut welfare payments to around 100,000 single parents, forcing them onto poverty-level unemployment benefits. According to Treasury data, from 201213, it carried out the largest cut to public spending since 197071, reducing expenditure by 3.2 percent in real terms. In its 2013 budget, the Greens-backed government introduced the largest single-cut$2.3 billionto university funding in history. It deepened the bipartisan assault on fundamental democratic rights, reopening the concentration camp-style detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island in the Pacific, where refugees have been consigned since Gillards proposal to force asylum-seekers to Malaysia was deemed unlawful by the High Court.

While the Greens claimed to oppose aspects of this agenda, they maintained their formal alliance with Labor until February 2013, and continued to guarantee the government budgetary supply and confidence until it was voted out of office. The Greens fully backed Labor policies such as the performance-based Gonski education funding model and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which are both aimed at privatising public services.

This is the type of regime that Di Natale and Bandt want to bring to powerthis time, however, with Greens holding ministries.

To ensure that the ruling elite got the message that the Greens would be ready to impose an agenda of militarism and austerity, Bandt held up as a model the Red-Green Coalition between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens in Germany from 1998 to 2005. In 1999, the SPD-Green coalition backed the NATO bombardment of Serbia and dismemberment of Yugoslavia and launched the first German intervention into a war since World War II. It also imposed the Hartz measures, which unleashed historic attacks on the German social-welfare state and the living standards of the German working class.

By invoking the German experience, Bandt and the Greens have sought to make clear that there is no line they will not cross in their bid to cement themselves as the new mainstream party that can be counted on to defend the interests of Australian capitalism.

Bandt mused in an essay, published in the Fairfax media on Tuesday: What might future green/red power sharing look like, if Labor comes to the party? Answering his own question, he wrote: Everything should be on the table, from taking ministries to staying on the crossbench, from detailed policy changes to parliamentary reform, from guaranteeing supply sight unseen to wanting to help craft budgets.

At this point, Labor has publicly rejected the Greens overtures. The Australian financial and corporate establishment is desperate for the election to result in a clear majority government, which can push through massive budget spending cuts and other austerity legislation that has up to now failed to pass through both houses of parliament. To this end, both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten yesterday signed a solemn promise not to form a coalition with the Greens in the event of a hung parliament. Their aim was to discourage voters from supporting the Greens at the ballot box. Shorten has gone so far as to suggest the holding of another election if neither major party secures a majority.

To undermine the Greens, the Murdoch-owned Daily Telegraph and other publications are waging a campaign to demonise this pro-capitalist organisation as loonies and extremists. Yesterday, the Telegraph produced an extraordinary front-page appeal to voters in the seat of Grayndler, in Sydneys inner-west, to re-elect senior Labor Party figure and former deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese. The Greens candidate in Grayndler, firefighters union official Jim Casey, is being absurdly portrayed by both Albanese and the Murdoch press as a radical, even Trotskyist opponent of capitalism because he once belonged to the now defunct pseudo-left International Socialist Organisation.

Away from the glare of the media spotlight, however, both Labor and the Liberal Party are already carrying out sordid backroom negotiations with the Greens over preference deals. Greens Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, responding to the declarations that no coalition would be ever formed with the Greens, drily noted: That may be the case with what theyre saying today, but I am confident that in the event of a hung parliament you would see them banging down our door

Greens Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim pointed to the experience of the 2010 Tasmanian state elections, when Labor had also pledged not to ally with the Greens. McKim observed. In fact, the Labor premier at the time was describing me as the devil and he would never do a deal with the devil. about three weeks later I was sitting around the cabinet table with him.

As education minister in the Labor-Green Coalition in Tasmania, McKim spearheaded an unprecedented assault on public education when he attempted to shut down 20 schools. While the state government backed down amid a public furore, Mckim earned his credentials as a ruthless advocate of corporate interests and austerity cuts.

Di Natale, Bandt, Waters and the entire Greens organisation are seeking their own opportunity to do likewise.
For the second time in two months, extraordinary laws that can be used to shut down political protests and punish dissent have been pushed through the parliament of Australias most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), giving the police far-reaching repressive powers.

Brought forward amid a deteriorating economic situation, along with political instability caused by rising social discontent, the legislation can only be described as police-state in character. The two latest bills allow police officers to issue sweeping crime prevention and public safety ordersincluding forms of house arrest for up to five yearswithout a charge, trial, or conviction.

Last week, the Serious Crime Prevention Orders Bill and the Organised Crime and Public Safety Bill were simultaneously rammed through both houses of parliament by the states Liberal-National government in just 24 hours. The laws override fundamental legal and democratic rights, going beyond the anti-protest legislation adopted in March.

The law enacted in March imposes extraordinary punishmentssuch as jail terms of up to seven years for hindering a mining projectthat can be used to suppress opposition, including industrial action by workers, to the deepening assault on jobs, living standards and social conditions. But those punishments still require convictions recorded by courts. Last weeks bills give police officers themselves virtually unchallengeable powers to impose orders that can strip individuals of their freedom of movement, employment and right to communicate.

Such laws are only possible because the Australian constitution contains no bill of rights or any other guarantee of basic democratic rightsnot even a mention of the word democracy. Moreover, the High Court, Australias supreme court, has in recent years eviscerated the limited so-called freedom of political communication that its judges previously found to be implied by the 1901 colonial-era constitution.

In France, where President Francois Hollandes Socialist Party administration used last Novembers terror attacks in Paris as a pretext to hand open-ended powers to the police, the parliament endorsed a three-month state of emergency under the countrys constitution. There is no such requirement in Australia.

Politically, such laws could only be enacted due to the complicity of the entire political establishment, and the virtual silence of the mass media. Unprecedented measures, adopted by Liberal-National and Labor governments alike in the war on terrorism, such as detention without trial, are being extended throughout the legal system as a whole. Although the Labor Party and the Greens formally voted against the two latest billswarning their government colleagues that the provisions were so extreme they could fuel political disenchantmentthey have issued no public statements in opposition to the legislation or warned the population about its significance.

Under the guise of combatting organised crime, police officers can now make public safety orders where a person, or class of person, at a public event or in any other area, might pose a serious risk to public safety or security. Such orders can essentially abolish the freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement, all on the assessment of a senior police officer or, where the orders are supposedly required urgently, any police officer, even a probationary constable. The penalty for disobeying an order is up to five years imprisonment.

There is no right of appeal, unless the order extends beyond 72 hours. Then an appeal can be made to the states Supreme Court, but the police do not have to disclose any criminal intelligence evidence. The hearing is conducted without the presence of either applicants or their lawyers.

Alternatively, the police, or the NSW Crime Commission or the Director of Public Prosecutions, can apply to a court for serious crime prevention orders, lasting up to five years. These can effectively punish people for alleged involvement in, or facilitation of, offences, even those for which they were acquitted in a criminal trial.

Orders may restrict a persons movements, activities, employment, residence, expression, assembly, association or anything else if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the making of the order would protect the public. An order may contain such prohibitions, restrictions, requirements and other provisions as the court considers appropriate.

A serious crime is defined as one punishable by imprisonment for five years, which includes most offences in the states Crimes Act, and could extend from seditious conspiracy (anti-government activity) to possession of a cannabis plant. In crime prevention order hearings, the normal rules of evidence do not apply. Hearsay is admissible, the standard of proof is the balance of probabilities, not the criminal law standard of beyond reasonable doubt, and police can provide untested criminal intelligence.

Conditions may be imposed on any reporting of the existence of the order. Because of the broad discretions given to the police, court appeals are unlikely to succeed. Breaches of orders can also result in imprisonment for five years.

The bills were rushed through despite condemnations by civil liberties groups and the legal profession. In its submission to parliament, the NSW Bar Association declared: The bill effectively sets up a rival to the criminal trial system and interferes unacceptably in the fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens of NSW. The legislation was contradictory to long-settled principles concerning the adjudication of criminal guilt by a fair trial.

In parliaments upper house, Labor and the Greens combined to propose a series of amendments that would have referred the bills to a parliamentary committee inquiry or put a cosmetic gloss on the police powers, such as by requiring more senior police officers, or courts, to issue the prevention or safety orders.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said the amendments were proposed in good faith because they simply civilise what we say is fundamentally inappropriate and liberty-thieving legislation.

Labors Adam Searle said his party had done its best to improve the legislation, to make it properly fit for purpose and to render it in a form where everyone in the community can have confidence in the probity and the integrity of the regime of orders to be created.

Another Labor MP, Ernest Wong, said he was offended by government suggestions that his party did not support the police. He insisted: It was the Labor Party that, for 16 years, oversaw the building of the most professional, best funded, best equipped and most contemporary police force in the nation.

No reliance can be placed on any of the establishment parties, the courts or the media, which has barely reported the passage of the bills, to defend essential democratic rights.

With Labors support, Premier Mike Bairds state government is about to unveil another package of anti-terrorism laws, which will provide a model for matching legislation by all states and territories. These measures, agreed upon at a summit of federal and state leaders, both Labor and Liberal-National, last month, will feature detaining and interrogating suspects, as young as 14, for up to 14 days without charge.

These developments highlight an escalating pattern. As the WSWS has repeatedly warned, the ever-expanding terrorism legislation introduced since 2001 is being used to establish an authoritarian framework, aimed at targeting not just a relative handful of alleged Islamic extremists, but at suppressing the inevitable social struggles that will emerge against the drive to war and austerity.
On May 1, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka hosted a well-attended May Day meeting at the New Town Hall in Colombo. More than 200 workers, housewives, students and rural youth participated, including strong contingents of Tamil-speaking workers from the central plantation districts and Jaffna in the north.

The meeting was organised in conjunction with the International May Day online rally held later, at 10.30 p.m. Sri Lankan time. Many of those at the Colombo meeting participated in the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) online event.

SEP and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) supporters vigorously campaigned in working-class neighbourhoods and at universities to build the May Day events. Hundreds of copies of Socialism against Imperialism and War were sold on the campaigns.

SEP political committee member Vilani Peiris, who chaired the Colombo meeting, explained that US imperialism, beginning with the first Gulf War in 1991, had been involved in two and a half decades of military aggressionin the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and the Balkans. She warned that the US was rapidly preparing for the war against China and attempting to rally the whole South Asian region behind it.

At every stopover during his recent Asian tour, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter insisted on the need to militarily prepare against China and Russia, Peiris said. The speaker explained that the Chinese and Russian ruling elites had no progressive solution to this aggression but sought to whip up nationalism and chauvinism.

IYSSE convenor and SEP political committee member Kapila Fernando told the meeting that US imperialism began stepping up its global military operations after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He said Washington was using so-called freedom of navigation and conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea to both increase tensions between regional powers and legitimise provocations against China.

Fernando reviewed the situation facing youth internationally, with particular reference to Sri Lanka, where youth joblessness was rapidly climbing and 54 percent of the workforce was employed on temporary contracts. He said the struggle against war, unemployment and poverty could be taken forward only by an internationally unified socialist movement of workers and youth against the capitalist system.

SEP general secretary and WSWS international editorial board member Wije Dias delivered the main speech to the Colombo meeting. He said the campaign for May Day was part of the work conducted by the ICFI around the world to build a global movement of workers and youth against imperialist war. (Diass address to the ICFIs online rally several hours later can be heard here.)

Dias told the Colombo meeting that every South Asian and South East Asian country was being drawn into the maelstrom of US imperialist operations to economically undermine and militarily encircle China. He warned of the political dangers facing the Asian and international working class.

Washington is intervening in every South Asian countryfrom the island states of Maldives and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean to all of the Indian sub-continent itselfto make them toe the USs strategic line, he said.

Dias reviewed Washingtons involvement in the regime-change operation in Sri Lanka against the former Rajapakse government, which was oriented towards Beijing, and the installation of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government.

What these developments expose is the urgent need to undertake the building of a genuine anti-war movement in the region as part of the world movement of the working class to stop a Third World War, he said.

Such a movement must be guided by the theory of Permanent Revolution because imperialist aggression for the re-colonisation of the world is based not only on the military strength of the aggressor but on the slavish support of the national bourgeois regimes in the under-developed world, Dias explained.

The struggle to mobilise the independent strength of the working class for the replacement of these reactionary rulers with workers and peasants governments, committed to socialist policies, is an indivisible component of the struggle to stop the war.

***

WSWS reporters spoke with two participants in the Colombo meeting and the May Day online rally.

Hasantha, a non-governmental organisation worker in Colombo, said: The imperialists drive toward another world war is something everyone in the world should be concerned about, because this will be fought with nuclear weapons. Such a war will destroy all that men have built up over thousands and thousands of years. By this I mean all human culture. And the speakers in the meeting clearly explained that the capitalist rulers in countries like Russia or China cannot stop the drive to war.

Your meeting also pointed out how interconnected the capitalist financial system is. The capitalist rulers in India are working as instruments of the big imperialists powers such as the USA. They tie the people to the military machines of imperialism.

It is important to know that the workers struggles in a small country like Sri Lanka are part of the struggles of the world working class. That is the way in which workers can grasp the perspective of world socialist revolution that you explain.

Pavara, a university student, said: The International May Day rally was a really important event and I was particularly impressed by how the speakers addressed workers all over the world.

No other May Day rallies are able to speak in this way. The meeting also provided a clear-cut explanation on how a threat of world scale emerges out of the contradictions of the capitalist system itself. It not only explained this scientifically but presented a program for working people to overcome the challenges they face.

Id previously read your material and discussed it with your members but what made it possible for me to distinguish your organisation from the outfits talking pseudo-socialismlike the JVP [Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna] and othersis the way in which you explain the real global issues.

I understand that the only viable way for us to go forward is fighting for international socialism. Pseudo-left parties and the JVP knowingly confuse young people and so your struggle is of paramount importance. I would like to discuss this more with you and to join your party.
Evidence has emerged that the 16-year-old boy arrested in Sydney on April 24the eve of the annual Anzac Day war commemorationson the vague charge of acts in preparation for, or planning a terrorist attack was a victim of police entrapment. Entrapment occurs when undercover law enforcement agents entice, persuade or provoke someone into speaking about or preparing to carry out incriminating behaviour.

According to media reports on May 2, during the teenagers unsuccessful bail application, the prosecution claimed he had sent messages over a period of five nights, from April 16 to 24, stating that he wanted to obtain a firearm and learn how to make a bomb.

It is now known that the alleged messages were part of conversations, on a social networking app, between the boy and an undercover agent posing as an overseas extremist. Who initiated these conversations remains unclear, but media accounts of the questions the agent asked the boy raise serious questions about the direction in which the teenager was being led.

This revelation followed days of allegations by police sources, uncritically regurgitated by a complicit media, most notably the ABCs 7.30 program, that the boy was in touch with senior Australian Islamic State (IS) recruiter Neil Prakash. Prakash, 24, and another young Australian citizen were recently assassinated by US air strikes in the Middle East, with the Australian governments active participation.

This was the second year in a row that police, media outlets and government leaders used the arrest of a teenager to promote a scare campaign about a terrorist attack on Anzac Day, the official celebration of Australias involvement in World War I and every other major imperialist war.

Other media reports claimed the boy was in regular communication with an offshore male. All this, the police knew to be false, because he was actually in discussions with a police operative.

On May 2, media reports indicated that the agent asked the teenager why he wanted to do something on April 25. He allegedly replied: [K]uffars (non-believers) celebrate Anzac Day and I want to terrorise them on that day. In another exchange, in which the question was not revealed, he allegedly stated: I want to learn to make a bomb. Asked about his mechanical knowledge, the boy allegedly replied: I am an electronic apprentice.

It was reported that police watched the 16-year-old leave his parents home for a meeting, allegedly to obtain a firearm. There is no indication as to who suggested such a meeting. The police have now conceded the meeting never took place and the young boy has denied leaving the house.

If convicted, the teenager faces a possible life sentence. Despite his young age and the reliance on evidence elicited by a police agent, a magistrate has denied his bail application. His lawyer warned that a psychologist had advised that he would suffer irreversible psychological damage if kept in custody until the trial, which could be as late as the end of June.

The entire police case seems to be based on communications between a vulnerable boy and an undercover police agent. The police have said the youngster was placed on a police de-radicalisation program when he was 15, following a highly-publicised raid on his familys home in May 2015 by police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

This means that the boy was under close surveillance all along. Contrary to media assertions that the police program provided him an apprenticeship, a free gym membership, psychological counselling and regular visits from a community contact, he reportedly received nothing. Instead, all the indications are that the program served only to provide police with the conditions to entrap him.

In a media statement at 4 a.m. on April 25, Commander Chris Sheehan of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asserted: In Australia and around the world, the age of people radicalised is getting younger, with online grooming tactics similar to those used by sexual predators. There appears to be more truth in this comment than was intended. Police predators were conducting the grooming.

Nevertheless, the claims of the police generated banner headlines, alleging that the teenager wanted to terrorise Australians on Anzac Day. This has not only prejudiced his trial. The coverage was designed to frighten the population with the prospect of imminent acts of violence.

The link to Anzac Day highlights the dubious nature of the allegations. Anzac Day, along with the nationalism and militarism that surrounds it, has been promoted and glorified by governments, both Liberal-National and Labor, with the complete support of the Greens, for the past five years, focussing on the centenary of World War I. The purpose is to indoctrinate the next generation of youth, and prepare them for another such imperialist war between the major powers.

Police entrapment is becoming endemic in Australia and internationally, creating sensational allegations of impending terror attacks. These scare campaigns are used to justify an increasing assault on basic legal and democratic rights.

In 2004, a jury refused to convict Zeky Zak Mallah, 18, of terrorist offences after it was proven that a police agent, posing as a freelance journalist, offered him $3,000 to make a video recording, in which he purportedly vowed to conduct a suicide attack on an ASIO office.

However, in 2008, Muslim cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika and six of his 11 co-defendants were convicted of being members of a terrorist organisation after a police infiltrator offered Benbrika cheap ammonium nitrate. Police secretly filmed Benbrika when the agent took him to a remote hilltop to show him how to detonate an ice-cream container of the explosive.

Then in 2009, five Lebanese and Somali-born men were charged with conspiring to prepare for a terrorist act against the Holsworthy Army Base in Sydney. During the trial, it emerged that a police infiltrator incited one of the defendants to talk about jihad and then convinced him to visit the army base. Three of the accused were sentenced to 18 years jail, based on the evidence provided by the police agent.

Under Australian law there is little or no protection for defendants against such entrapment methods. Courts can exclude evidence that is illegally or improperly obtained, but only if they rule that the need to protect the individual against unlawful and unfair treatment outweighs the so-called public interest in securing conviction.

Each new arrest provides the pretext for further anti-terrorism laws, which deepen the assault on democratic rights. Australias state and territory governments are currently drafting laws, proposed by the federal Liberal-National government, that will allow suspects as young as 14 to be detained and interrogated for up to 14 days without charge. These measures, supported by the Labor Party, will also include indefinite incarceration of prisoners convicted of terrorism offences, even after they have completed their sentences.
Since it was launched at the beginning of April, the #UpAllNight movement is emerging ever more clearly as a political operation of sections of the petty bourgeoisie linked to the pseudo left and the union bureaucracy. It aims to channel opposition of youth entering into struggle against the French labour law, and turn it into reactionary organisations that have orbited around the ruling Socialist Party (PS) for decades. The PS thus hopes to block the development of politically conscious opposition to the PS government and a broader mobilisation of the working class against austerity.

Far from being a spontaneous expression of opposition to the labour reform, the practice of occupying city squares, starting with the Place de la Republique in Paris, was the result of a conscious initiative that received massive media attention and promotion. It was initiated by a group around the satirical newspaper Fakir, led by its editor, the media personality Francois Ruffin, after the largest demonstration against the labour law on March 31. From the beginning, the movement was based on publicising the ideas of the nationalist economist Frederic Lordon.

Behind a fraudulent facade of political neutrality opposing parties and leaders, various operatives from the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA), the Left Front, the Greens, NGOs, and the trade unions were going into action. The leaderships of these parties all hailed the creation of the movement and its related Twitter hash-tag, #UpAllNight.

Aiming to exploit the hostility of large sections of the population towards the attacks on democratic rights by the ruling elite, the movement promoted the myth of direct democracy existing outside of the class struggle, consisting of open General assemblies allowing the street to express itself.

#UpAllNight activists organised commissions in which various issues were discussedthe formation of new bourgeois institutions (the constitutive processes), political economy (souverainisme, that is to say economic nationalism), ecology, and feminism.

The movement was from the outset hostile to mobilising the working class against the labour law. Ruffin and Lordon stated that they were indifferent to the outcome of the struggle against the law. Discussing the law at Tolbiac University, Lordon said, We do not in any way demand that it be modified or rewritten, we do not demand rights, we do not demand anything at all in fact.

This amounts to politically criminal complacency about a law that would have a devastating impact on workers jobs, wages, and conditionslengthening working times, undermining job security for young workers, and allowing the trade unions to negotiate contracts violating the Labour Code.

Ruffin makes clear his contempt for the working class in Fakir, in which he defends the interests of the petty bourgeoisie. He says the petty bourgeoisie should use the working class to defend its specific interests under capitalism.

A few weeks before launching #UpAllNight, he explained: As long as we march separately, we risk being screwed. One of the lessons of my film [Merci Patron!, or Thank you, boss!] is to say that if the petty bourgeoisie I represent does not come together with the popular layers represented in the film by the Klurs, one cannot disturb the [oligarch] Bernard Arnault.

Lordon, who was widely applauded in #UpAllNight assemblies, defends economic nationalism and insists on the central role of the bourgeois state which he wants to reinforce. Le Monde listed his proposals: a state default on its debts, exit from the euro currency, state takeovers of bankrupt banks and the regulation of foreign trade, a policy that under capitalism can only be applied through dictatorial measures. These positions align Lordon with nationalist economist Jacques Sapir, who has proposed an alliance between the neo-fascist National Front and the souverainiste (explicitly economic-nationalist) forces around the PS, such as Jean-Luc Melenchon and the Left Front.

It is no accident if one sees occasional visits at #UpAllNight rallies of members and even banners of far-right groups.

One of the main tendencies is that of the constituent citizens, who have their own commission. They discuss essentially about a reform of capitalist institutions. Speaking to Le Monde diplomatique, Xavi Lespinet, a defender of constituent citizenship who works at the Barcelona paper El Critic, said: We consider that the current institutional system is outmoded, that no real transformation of the context can be produced in it, that it must be totally redone, to re-democratise it, and to make possible within it significant political differences.

These proposals have nothing to do with a defense of democratic rights within the context of a struggle against capitalism. They simply amount to proposals to the financial aristocracy to make some concessions to the layers of the affluent middle class that consider that they do not profit enough from the exploitation of the working class. By creating a new context, they aim essentially to organise a better distribution of the profitsthat is, one more favourable to themselves.

This is the common denominator of all the similar projects, from the calls for a Sixth Republic from Melenchon or the theories of Etienne Chouard, whose links with the far right are well known. Chouard recently applauded Lordons positions on the issue of launching a constituent assembly.

The issue of a "general strike" has also been made the topic of a commission at the #UpAllNight meeting on Republic Square in Paris.

The organisation that first raised this issue is the Morenoite faction of the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) that publishes the misnamed Revolution permanente web site. This group, whose former Latin American leader Nahuel Moreno sent it in the 1960s into the international Pabloite tendency whose French representative was the Revolutionary Communist League, the NPA's predecessor, defends the petty-bourgeois nationalist Castro regime in Cuba. It has long functioned in Argentina as a wing of a nationalist and populist movement built around the late President Juan Peron.

The forces that supposedly aim to organise this general strike are unions that are all, including the Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT), publicly on record as supporting modifications to the labour reform negotiated with the PS. They have all refused to mobilise the working class against the brutal repression of the youth by police.

They are calling for a renewable strike instead of an unlimited one, which would rapidly produce a confrontation between the working class and the PS government. A renewable strike is a one-day strike that must be re-approved each day and at each workplace, during which time the government stays in power. It does not unify but atomises the working class. It guarantees that no long-term strategy against President Francois Hollandes government will be discussed.

It is conceived as a way for the union bureaucracies to call for minor modifications to the law, without changing the essentials. This is why CGT leader Philippe Martinez enthusiastically backed it when he spoke at an #UpAllNight meeting on April 28.

It aims to give a false veneer of working class radicalism to pro-business trade unions, and of internationalism to nationalist petty bourgeois groups, to try to demoralise workers who strike.

Revolution permanente also specifically defends Lordon, claiming that the ruling class is seeking to discredit him. One article on its web site argues for economic nationalism and the nation-state as the context inside which opposition of the oppressed and the poor develops.

For the Hollande government, it is clear not only that #UpAllNight poses no danger to the PS, but that it helps create a media buzz that creates enthusiasm among sections of the youth. It blocks a fundamental political and historical discussion on the necessity of socialism, the mobilisation of the working class through a mass political strike, and the issue of state power.

On April 14, Hollande declared, I think it is legitimate that the youth, today, given the world as it is, politics as it is, wants to express itself, have its say ... I will not complain that a section of the youth wants to invent the world of tomorrow.

On April 29, Bernard Cazeneuve, the interior minister directly responsible for police brutality against youth protesters, defended the movement against demands from the FN and the right-wing The Republicans that the movement be banned.

While #UpAllNight square occupations have been set up in other cities across France, attempts to set them up in working class suburbs of the major cities have failed in the face of the distrust and even overt hostility of the population. Le Monde repeatedly reported how union and pseudo left activists, materially supported by Stalinist and other municipalities, tried to attract workers and youth in these areas. The #UpAllNight movement struggles to move into the suburbs, it wrote on April 14, observing on April 24 that In Marseille, #UpAllNight is colliding with the harsh reality of the northern districts.

News magazine Le Point indicated on May 1 something of the relationship that exists between #UpAllNight and the population: Thursday, Philippe Martinez spoke there the first time to propose a convergence of struggles, though at the time 63 percent of the population considers that neither #UpAllNight, nor the trade unions, nor the parties are aligned with the workers, according to an Odoa poll Friday. On the other hand, seven Frenchmen in ten consider that the class struggle is a reality in France today.

It is the international class struggle, and not the political received ideas of the petty bourgeoisie promoted by #UpAllNight, that is driving millions of youth and workers in France and worldwide into struggle. Their struggles against the discredited social order defended by the European Union and in France by the PS government and its political satellites has only begun. They are moving inevitably towards a confrontation between the working class and the capitalist oligarchy, posing the question of power, and of building workers states through international socialist revolution.

These struggles can only advance, however, by taking the struggle out of the hands of the trade unions and opposing to the reactionary protectionism of the souverainistes, the internationalist perspective of the United Socialist States of Europe, breaking decisively with the nationalist and petty bourgeois perspectives of the groups linked to #UpAllNight.
A federal district court judge has issued an order barring striking Verizon workers from picketing New York City hotels housing strikebreakers hired by the company. The court acted in response to a petition by the Obama administrations National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which claimed the picketing violated the ban on secondary boycotts under provisions of the National Labor Relations Act.

The action follows the injury of a Verizon striker outside a New York hotel housing scab replacement workers. On Monday, a van carrying scabs from a hotel and being driven by a New York City police officer stuck and injured James Smith, a member of CWA Local 1109, who was reportedly sent to the hospital. Strikers said that the driver of the van was a police lieutenant from the 108th precinct of Long Island City.

The NLRBs general counsel has issued a complaint against the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and scheduled a hearing for June 9.

Meanwhile, no charges have been filed against the cop who injured the striking worker, and the CWA has not issued a statement on the incident.

The injunction underscores the bankruptcy of the strategy of pressuring the Democratic Party. The actions of the NLRB supplement the strikebreaking role of New York City Democratic mayor Bill de Blasio, who has penned picketers behind barricades while mobilizing scores of cops to escort strikebreakers across their picket lines.

Verizon Communications has stepped up its strikebreaking efforts against the 39,000 workers who have been off the job since April 13 against massive concession demands. It has increased the hiring of scabs to supplement the 20,000 management personnel along with contractors that have been trained to fill the jobs of the striking workers. Many managers were also transferred into the region from Verizon areas not affected by the strike. In addition, the company claims that about 1,000 striking workers have returned to work.

Other confrontations throughout the region are being reported. Verizon has apparently instructed its scabs to confront and try and provoke picketers. In Cambria County, Pennsylvania, police were called to investigate a fire affecting some Verizon equipment, which the company claims was set by strikers. During the 2011 strike, the company made hundreds of phony charges to blame strikers for the breakdown of their equipment.

The stepped-up strikebreaking by Verizon with the backing of the Obama administration follows the decision on May 1 by Verizon to terminate health insurance and life insurance coverage for the 39,000 workers and their families.

Verizon is demanding deep cuts to health care for both active and retired workers. In addition, Verizon is demanding changes to work rules that would lead to thousands of jobs being destroyed. Under Verizons proposal, workers could be forced to transfer up to 100 miles from their current work location. In addition, workers could be forced to work anywhere in the region for up to 60 days a year. Verizon is also seeking to close 11 of its call centers, consolidating them into mega-centers as well as having an even greater share of calls handled by non-union workers. In what the company termed its last, best and final offer, the company did not back away from any of its demands.

In the face of this assault, the CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) are working to isolate the strikers and impose the vast concessions. The CWA and the IBEW kept the workers on the job for eight months, giving Verizon time to fix troubles and train its workforce before calling the strike. The IBEW, meanwhile, has told its members to go look for other jobs.

The CWA hinted in a conference call on Monday that it would order strikers back to work, even without a contract as they did in 2011, if only Verizon would give them something that they could sell to their members.

The CWA and the IBEW do not represent workers; rather, they represent a highly paid parasitic bureaucracy, which is seeking to secure its position as a second layer of management for the company.

The World Socialist Web Site , which is calling upon workers to form rank-and-file committees to take the organization and leadership of the struggle out of the hands of the union officialdom, has been receiving wide support among strikers, many of whom have signed up for the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter and are reading our site daily.

WSWS reporters have spoken with workers throughout the region.

Metro Washington DC

Numerous workers at a picket line in northern Virginia expressed their appreciation to the WSWS for its continued coverage of the strike; many also indicated that they have been following the web site.

We havent heard anything about this, no one except for you guys have reported it, said one worker, speaking of the New York City Police Department violence toward the strikers. Workers expressed dissatisfaction with the trade union and the two-party political system to reporters from the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter, with a common refrain being that the CWA and the Democratic and Republican parties were in bed together.

I am ignorant to politics in the United States, said Oscar, who indicated that he was originally from Mexico. But I see this country heading in the direction of revolution; there was a Civil War in this country once before, the question becomes how do we convince young people and workers that a revolution is the way forward?

Replying to this question, a reporter from the WSWS indicated that the act of social revolution was undertaken when the current social order was deemed to be intolerable to masses of peopleforcing them to forge a new path forward as a social class. It was explained that a revolutionary outbreak was inevitable in America as well as internationally, and that it was the job of working people to educate themselves on the lessons of the 20th century to prepare for the struggles ahead.

Joseph, a worker with more than 10 years at Verizon, interjected, stating that younger people in America not only had it worse than their parents generation, but they have it worse than people their age had it just five years ago. Joseph spoke about his time living in Ohio recently: There were only two places in town you could get a job where I wasCooper Tire and Lexis Nexus. There were scores of young people with no jobs underage parents, you name it. A lot of young women try to have children with older men because theres really no jobs available to anyone younger than 30.

Speaking about the New York City Police Departments efforts to aid strikebreakers, Joseph said, It goes back to the 2001 Patriot Act; you cant even form a union today because if more than nine guys congregate out here, it can be considered a subversive activity. When WSWS reporters pointed out the relationship to the states repression of peaceful protests and the attempts to break their strike, Joseph said, I think weve had far too many freedoms taken from us in the name of freedom. Its funny because most of the things that harm us are usually (falsely) named things; for instance, the Democratic Party isnt really democratic, and the Republican Party isnt really republican.

When asked by the WSWS about union reports about numerous striking workers in Virginia crossing the picket lines to go back to work, Joseph stated that the strike fund at the national level was only giving workers several hundred dollars a week to remain out. The union is a multibillion-dollar non-profit corporation itself, he said, noting that it was looking out for its own bottom line.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Both Michele and Pamela work in the repair call center, taking calls from customers, fixing their troubles when they can, and dispatching technicians when needed.

Were Bell babies, said Michele. Both our parents worked for Verizon. My mother retired 16 years ago after working 42 years for the company. They have doubled her co-pays, and now they want to make her pay for her benefits.

It is not just us, but we are fighting for all the people who built this company. Every three years, the company is trying to take more and more away from us. You work all that time, with the expectation that you will get a pension and health care, and now they are saying they could take it away at any time.

Im not old enough to retire, and I have a 16- and a 19-year-old. Ones in college and the others in high school.

Pamela agreed. My parents worked all these years to make this company, and all they care about is making more money.

Describing the working conditions, Pamela said, they make it impossible to get a satisfactory rating. We have to finish each call within four minutes, but sometimes the customers are very angry and it takes time to calm down and work on their problem. Then the customer gets a survey, and if we dont score a 5, we get 0 points toward our review.

The company also records every call. You have to end every call by asking the customer if they received five-star service. If you forget to ask, you get a bad rating. If management doesnt like you, they can look through the calls to find stuff against you.

Boston, Massachusetts

Verizon strikers in the Boston area, members of the IBEW, held a noon-time rally Wednesday, calling on workers from across Greater Boston to support the strike. Fast food workers, nurses, school bus drivers and other workers came out to support the strikers.

Speakers addressing the rally included union bureaucrats, local Democratic Party politicians and a sheriff. The various speakers denounced Filipino and Mexican workers for stealing Verizon workers jobs and blamed union members for not fighting hard enough.

No mention was made of the strikebreaking operation in New York or the worker who was struck by a van carrying scabs in Queens.

One worker told the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter that similar striking-breaking operations were underway in Nashua, New Hampshire, and possibly other New England locations.

We went up to Nashua one morning and confronted them there, he said. The police blocked off every street in the neighborhood to let all of them leave. He said the scab contractors were housed in a motel, and no one knew where they were headed, and the police didnt let anyone follow them.

Another worker said the current union strategy was to go after Verizons retail stores, and they received a lot of public support when they mentioned wages and benefits and the profits of the company.

This is happening everywhere in the country, he said. Youve got the one-percenters, and they want it all. Its just corporate greed. Its been going on for years, the separation of the classes.
6 years, 5 months ago by Scott Hardy

Alischia Sheehan picked up after raid on 8th Street apt

A Quincy woman faces drug and weapons charges after her arrest Wednesday night.

The West Central Illinois Task Force says they, along with Quincy police and Adams County Sheriff's Deputies, raided an apartment in the 300 block of North 8th Street and arrested 29 year old Alischia Sheehan. She's facing charges of Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm without a Valid FOID Card and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver. The firearm was reported stolen after an August 2013 residential burglary.

Sheehan is in the Adams County Jail awaiting her first court appearance.
6 years, 5 months ago By Kellie Mast

Wilhite, King picked up Friday

Two men have been arrested after allegedly trying to sell marijuana on the campus of Culver-Stockton College.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says the arrests happened last Friday when they, the NEMO Drug Task Force and Canton police arrested 20 year old Donald Wilhite of Austin, Texas and 19 year old Anthony King of Kansas City. Both face two counts of Felony Distributing a Controlled Substance on or near a school campus.

Wilhite is free after posting 50 thousand dollars cash only bond, while King remains in the Lewis County Jail.
MONTICELLO, FL- If you love murder mysteries check out Virginia Jones and The Inca Revenge, murder mystery dinner theater.

Performers and Organizers Amanda Street and Stephanie Taylor joined WTXL's Christine Souders on Sunrise to talk about the upcoming events at Monticello Opera House.

They are bringing the murder mystery to life and attendees to Peru.

Attendees will play either the role of survivors of the expedition or members of the rescue team.

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater will be May 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th and June 3rd & 4th.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner and show starts at 7 p.m. at Monticello Opera House.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Seminole Tribe of Florida is trying to get a federal judge to block the release and publication of information related to a key gambling trial.

Tribe attorneys filed an emergency motion this week asking to seal a deposition of the chief executive officer of the company that runs the Seminole casinos in Florida. A copy of the deposition has been turned over to Politico through a public records request.

The motion asks to block release of information from the deposition until the tribe can decide whether the material contains trade secrets.

The state and the tribe are locked in a dispute over whether the Seminoles casinos can continue to have blackjack tables. The tribe filed the lawsuit last year after key portions of a 5-year gambling deal with the state expired.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
MADISON, FL (WTXL) - Authorities say they have captured a fugitive from Madison County after a 5 month search.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office says Kevin Cornelius Gardner was suppose to report to jail on January 5, but never showed.

Gardner was sentenced to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and the 15 years of Sex Offender Probation after he was convicted of sexual battery by person in familial or custodial authority and impregnation of a minor.

Deputies say Gardner was granted furlough but never showed up when he was suppose to turn himself over.

Gardner was taken into custody on Wednesday by the U.S. Marshall's Office in Green Cove Springs, Florida, according to deputies.
CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL (WTXL) - A teen being treated at the Florida State Hospital is behind bars in connection to the death of his roommate.

Jeremiah Heywood has been charged with second degree murder.

According to authorities, last month the 19-year-old beat Ruben Quinones.

Quinones had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Police say the two were sharing a room in the specialty care unit at the institution when the incident occurred.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was delayed complications from blunt force trauma to the head.

The Florida State Hospital treats patients dealing with mental health issues.

The Florida Department of Children and Families released this statement regarding the incident:

The safety of the residents at Florida State Hospital and all of our state mental health treatment facilities is our top priority.

DCF involved local law enforcement immediately. The alleged attacker, Jeremiah Heywood, has been arrested and the Chattahoochee Police Department is currently conducting a thorough criminal investigation. In addition, DCF is conducting our own investigation and an internal review of safety protocol.

This year, the Florida Legislature and Governor Scott provided additional staff, security cameras, and personal alarm systems to increase safety at state mental health treatment facilities.

We will continue to put the safety of staff and residents first.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - A new trustee was appointed at Florida A&M University, replacing Cleve Warren.

President Elmira Mangum released a statement about the appointment on Thursday:

I'd like to congratulate new Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees appointee, Harold Mills. As the vice chair and former CEO of ZeroChaos and president of Florida Citrus Sports, Mr. Mills brings to FAMU a wealth of experience and knowledge in the areas of talent and workforce management, economic and market development, and community engagement. I look forward to working with Mr. Mills to achieve the University's goals and advance its mission.

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to outgoing Trustee Cleve Warren for his passionate service and commitment to FAMU as a member of the Board and most recently as its chair. Through his work on various committees and his personal endeavors, Mr. Warren has played an integral role in helping to develop and strengthen programs of great value here at FAMU. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board's newly appointed chair and the entire Board collaboratively with the shared goal of moving FAMU forward.
VALDOSTA, GA (WTLX) - Troopers are investigating a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a vehicle.

According to Georgia State Patrol, the pedestrian was hit Thursday on US 84 at Moore Crossing Road in Lowndes County.

No further details are available at this time.

This is a developing story. Stay with WTXL on-air and online for the latest.
DOTHAN, AL (WTXL) - A Tallahassee woman is dead after a car crash outside of Dothan, Alabama. Authorities say she was not wearing a seat belt.

According to Alabama State Troopers, Ray Catherine Pinkney was killed Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash.

Pinkney was the passenger in a 2000 Ford Explorer when troopers say the vehicle left the roadway and flipped.

She was taken to Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan where troopers say she was pronounced dead.

The driver, Lucretia Westfield, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities say they are continuing to investigate the crash.

Meanwhile, Seneca Lindsey, a relative of Pinkney, remains in shock, telling WTXL she had a happy personality and will be missed: "She was a loving person, a giving person, and I can just remember her smile. Everytime you would see her, she would be smiling and she always had fun things to say. So in her memory, we're going to miss that beautiful smile."

The family says they are not financially prepared to deal with the possibility of two funerals at the same time. You can help them by clicking here.
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The Israel Air Force (IAF) began its annual Independence Day flyover on Thursday morning as a salute to the State of Israel and its citizens.

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For a period of about 2 hours, Israel's citizens from all over the country will be able to watch several types of planes and helicopters fly in an airshow.

Israel Air Force flyover (:    ')

X

Flyover: Inside the cockpit (: ") X

From inside the cockpit (:  ) X

The flyover will include Beechcraft surveillance planes, Hercules cargo planes, C-130s, air-to-air refueling vehicles, various types of F-16s, and F-15s, alongside attack helicopters.

IAF flyover (Photo: Ronen Keren)

(Photo: Ronen Keren)

(Photo: Ofer Meir)

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

The IAF aircraft will fly over 45 cities across Israel. They took off from Ramat David Air Force Base in the Jezreel Valley at 9:40am. The fly-over arrived in Haifa at around 9:50am, flew over Tel Nof at around 11:55am, and reached Tel Aviv by 12:10pm. The planes will finish their grand tour around Israel by flying over Sacher Park in Jerusalem at 2pm.

Photo: Rami Lador

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Photo: Patty Ben Ezra

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Photo: Ronen Keren

A separate fly-over in southern Israel began at 11:25am. Three Fighting Falcon F-16 A/B aircraft and three Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master planes will fly over Eilat, Yotvata, Sde Boker, Mitzpe Ramon, and Tze'elim, among many other communities.
Tens of thousands of Israelis traveled Thursday morning to the countryside to celebrate Israels 68th Independence Day.

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The shores of the Sea of Galilee are crowded with about 70 thousand Israelis, some of whom slept there overnight. The Sea of Galilee Association have sent out teams handing out garbage bags and explaining how important it is to keep water sources clean.

The shores of the Sea of Galilee (Photo: Kinneret Authority)

Four heritage sites have been closed due to an overload of visitors. The Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites of the Ministry of Culture and Sport reported that the Atlit detainee camp , The Khan Museum in Hadera, Ayalon Institute in Rehovot and the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem were closed to additional visitors. Kishon Park is also closed due to overcrowding.

In Givatayim Park (Photo: Adi Sagi)

(Photo: Council for the Preservation of Heritgae sites)

Many have visited JNF sites throughout the country. The JNF requested not to come to Hulda Forest nor to Ben Shemen due to their being at full capacity.

Hundreds of people packed the parking area of the 188th Armored Brigade at Givatayim park. There is an exhibition of tanks, combat vehicles and machine guns. In addition, fighters from the 188th Brigade visited the site.
ANKARA- Iranian Muslims will miss the annual haj pilgrimage in September because Tehran and Riyadh failed to agree organisational details after they cut diplomatic ties in January, the IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.

The official Iranian agency quoted Tehran's Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister Ali Jannati as blaming Riyadh for the impasse. Last year's haj was marred by the death of over 2,000 pilgrims, 464 of them Iranian, in a deadly crush during the crowded pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Tensions between the regional rivals led to Riyadh breaking off diplomatic ties in January after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions there following the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in the Sunni-led kingdom.
WASHINGTON - The United States and its allies conducted 19 strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement Thursday.

The Combined Joint Task Force said 13 of the strikes hit targets near 10 Iraqi cities, including near Mosul where two strikes destroyed nine rails used to launch rockets, as well as a vehicle and assembly area used by Islamic State militants. The US led coalition, working with Iraqi forces, are trying to retake the key city.

Two other strikes hit hear Al Baghdadi, striking two units of militant fighters, among other targets, the task force said.
An unusual Remembrance Day ceremony in the north took place once again this year. Unlike other ceremonies held throughout Israel, to get to this particular one, you needed a mask, fins, and scuba tank.

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This is because this was a memorial to the 12 soldiers of Shayetet 13 (Israeli Navy SEALS) who died in a Hezbollah ambush in 1997 outside of the village of Ansariya. They were killed after Hezbollah hacked into signals coming from drones hovering in the area, enabling the terror organization to set up an ambush.

Underwater memorial for 12 Israeli naval commandos killed in 1997 (Photo: Shevi Rotman)



The memorial was set up on the wreck of the "Kidon" Sa'ar class missile boat. The boat was purposefully sunk a two miles off the coast of Nahariya for the purpose of providing an additional scuba diving attraction in the north of the country.

(Photo: Shevi Rotman)

This year, over one hundred scuba divers went 90 feet underwater and set up the memorial at the prow of the ship. They placed Israeli flags and 12 chairs representing each of the 12 soldiers who died during the operation.

Yair Yam, owner of the "Potzker" dive club in Nahariya organized the commemoration event.

(Photo: Shevi Rotman)

"We're people of the sea, and every year we go down to the site to pay respects to those who enable us to live our day to day lives in peace and security," he said.

"We live the same way they livedon the sea," he added. "What's special about our memorial ceremony is that it lives and breathes. It stays alive with the multitude of scuba divers who visit the site at the bottom of the sea every year. With every dive to the ship and the memorial, we see that life continues; marine life uses the site as its home, sea plants thrive there, and even the dive site itself changes due to the changing currents."
A leader of the international boycott movement against Israel on Tuesday accused Israeli authorities of imposing a travel ban on him as retribution for his political activities.

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In late March, Israel's Interior Minister Aryeh Deri was quoted as telling a conference that he was considering revoking Barghouti's residency.

As a possible first step, Barghouti said Tuesday that Israel told him last month that it was not renewing a permit that allows him to travel abroad. As a permanent resident of Israel, he doesn't hold a passport and instead requires special permission to travel in and out of the country.

Omar Barghouti is a leader in the BDS movement (Photo: EPA)

Barghouti, a Qatari-born Palestinian married to an Israeli woman said he's lived in Israel legally since 1994 and never before had a problem renewing his travel permit. He said he does so every two years.

The Israeli Interior Ministry said Tuesday that there is evidence that Barghouti's "center of life" is in the West Bank, not Israel, and his residency is under review by the attorney general. Barghouti denied the allegation, saying he spends most of his time with his family in the northern Israeli city of Acre.

"I was given information that his life is in Ramallah and he is using his resident status to travel all over the world in order to operate against Israel in the most serious manner," Deri was quoted as saying. "He was given rights similar to those of a citizen and he took advantage of our enlightened state to portray us as the most horrible state in the world."

"Refusing to renew my travel document now is therefore clearly political," Barghouti said in an email. "It does not just deny me my freedom of movement. It is seen by legal experts as a first step toward revoking my permanent residency, a clearly political and vindictive measure that has no legal basis."

Barghouti is a founder of the international BDS movement, which calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

Israel says the movement's true goal is to destroy the country. BDS pushes, among other things, for a return of Palestinian refugees to family properties lost in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Israel says the Palestinian "right of return" would lead to a massive influx of refugees and mean the end of the country as a Jewish state. Israeli officials have identified the BDS movement as a major threat.

BDS supporters say the movement has made gains in recent years. US and British academic unions have endorsed boycotts, student governments at universities have made divestment proposals, and a number of churches have sold off shares in businesses seen as profiting from Israel's occupation of the West Bank. The BDS movement also claims responsibility for pressuring some large companies to stop or modify operations in Israel.

The Israeli Justice Ministry confirmed that it was reviewing the case at the request of Deri. It did not say when the review would be completed.
Israel's 68th Independence Day ended on Thursday night in Jerusalem with the annual awarding of the Israel Prize to 11 pioneers in their fields.

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Present at the ceremony were President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Supreme Court President Justice Miriam Naor, Minister of Education Naftali Bennett and Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein.

The 11 2016 Israel Prize laureates (Photo:Ohad Zwigenberg)

Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog and Rabbi Eli Sadan received the lifetime achievement prize; Prof. Meir Lahav and Prof. Leslie Leiserowitz received the prize for chemistry and physics; Prof. Eviatar Nevo received the prize for life sciences research; Prof. Edit Doron received the prize for linguistics; Prof. David Dean Shulman received the prize for religious studies and philosophy; Prof. Yohanan Friedmann received the prize for Near Eastern studies; Prof. Yossi Katz received the prize for geography, archaeology, and Land of Israel studies; musician and composer Nurit Hirsh received the prize for Hebrew songs and folk art; and Hadas Ophrat received the prize for performing arts: theater and dance.



When Almog recieved his prize, the audience rose to its feet to applaud the founder of a rehabilitation village for mentally disabled children, named after his disabled son, Eran, who died in 2007.

MK Naftali Bennet presents Gen. (ret.) Doron Almog with the Israel Prize (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

"Eran, our son, did not know what independence was," said Almog in his speech as the representative of the prize recipients. "Eran never spoke, never called my wife 'Mom' or me 'Dad.' Regardless, he was the greatest teacher in my life."

He continued, saying "in Eran's name and the name of his friends who didn't know what independence is, I ask that this ceremony be the beginning of a journey for tikkun olam (repairing the world), making Israeli society a more patient, more inclusive society. A small step towards the a model society."
WASHINGTON- The State Department says the US delegation attending Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's inauguration walked out of the ceremony in protest. At issue were his disparaging comments about an international war crimes tribunal and the presence of Sudan's leader whom the court has indicted.

Department spokesman Elizabeth Trudeau says the US ambassador to Uganda and a Washington-based official, along with several European diplomats, abruptly left Wednesday's ceremony when Museveni made remarks about the International Criminal Court. She added that the US also objected to the participation in the inauguration of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged by the court for atrocities in Sudan's western Darfur region.

In his inaugural address, Museveni called the court "a bunch of useless people" and said he no longer supports it.
YORK  York General Hospital was recently named one of iVantage Health Analytics Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States.

York General is one of six hospitals in the state of Nebraska to receive this prestigious honor.

York General is proud of the efforts of our staff and the physicians who practice here. Together they have contributed to our achieving this designation, said CEO Charles Schulz. We are truly honored to be recognized as one of the top Critical Access Hospitals in the United States.

York General scored in the top 100 of Critical Access Hospitals on iVantages Hospital Strength INDEX. The INDEX is the industrys most comprehensive rating of rural and Critical Access Hospitals. The results recognize that the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals provide a safety net to communities across rural America  measuring them across more than 70 different performance metrics, including quality, outcomes, patient perspective, affordability, population risk and efficiency.

The list of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and more information about the study can be found at www.iVantageINDEX.com.

These top 100 Critical Access Hospitals exhibit a focused concern for their community benefits and needs, regardless of scale, reimbursement and peoples ability to pay, said Michael Topchik, senior vice president of iVantage Health Analytics.
Hill Airmen return from Afghanistan

Nearly 300 active duty and Reserve Airmen assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron, known as the Black Widows, returned here Tuesday following a nearly eight-month deployment to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.



The 421st FS spent more than 10,000 hours in the skies, flying 2,800 sorties and dropping more than 100 guided bombs in support of coalition troops on the ground as part of Operation Freedoms Sentinel and NATOs Resolute Support mission, according to Lt. Col. Mike Meyer, commander of the 421st FS.



As the only dedicated fighter unit in Afghanistan, we provided 24/7 close air support across the entire country, Meyer said. There are still quite a few Americans on the ground there, so we liked to think of ourselves as their guardian angels.



This likely marks the final F-16 deployment from Hill as the bases fighter wings transition to the F-35, the Air Forces newest fighter aircraft. The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings were the first active duty and Reserve units to begin flying operational F-16 missions in 1979 and 1983, respectively.



Hundreds of family members and community supporters lined up outside a maintenance hangar, clapping and cheering as they greeted the returning Airmen.



These families are the real heroes, Meyer said. You can't even say how good it makes you feel to see the support from the base and local community.



As Tech. Sgt. Cliff Calhoun embraced his four-year-old daughter, the 419th FW reservist and avionics mechanic said it was great to have another successful deployment behind him.



Calhoun took a military leave of absence from his civilian career for the deployment and has deployed to Afghanistan twice previously.



Theres nothing better than coming home, he said.


The U.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron will participate in NOAA's Gulf Coast Awareness Tour May 16-20.

As part of its efforts to build a Weather-Ready Nation, NOAAs hurricane experts will tour five U.S. Gulf coastal cities to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. The tour will include a U.S. Air Force Reserve WC-130J hurricane hunter aircraft and the NOAA G-IV aircraft, both of which are used in hurricane forecasting.

"All of the technologies we apply to issuing the best possible forecasts will live up to their full potential only if communities, families, and individuals prepare far in advance, said Rick Knabb, Ph.D., director of NOAAs National Hurricane Center. We all must dedicate ourselves to taking steps now to be ready, long before the next hurricane strikes."

The tour is partnering with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) with the #HurricaneStrong campaign to reenergize and inspire hurricane readiness by increasing public awareness and action before the next storm strikes.

Along with hurricane specialists Daniel Brown and John Cangialosi, Knabb will travel on the aircraft when they visit San Antonio, Texas; Galveston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Naples, Florida. The public and media are invited to tour the aircraft and meet the team.

The WC-130J aircraft is one of ten specially configured aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force Reserve from the 53rd WRS, a unit in the 403rd Wing, located at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. When flying a hurricane mission, military air crews fly directly through the eye of the storm several times each flight. They collect data and transmit it near-real-time by satellite directly to NOAAs National Hurricane Center so forecasters can analyze and predict changes to the hurricanes path and strength. This refining of storm track models saves U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars.

The NOAA G-IV is part of that agency's fleet of highly specialized research and operational aircraft. The G-IV is operated, managed and maintained by the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. It flies at high altitude around and ahead of a tropical cyclone, gathering critical data that feeds into hurricane forecast models.

The HAT is a great opportunity for the public to tour the Air Force Reserve WC-130J and gain an understanding of how the Hurricane Hunters collect the data and provide it to the NHC," said Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, 53rd WRS senior meteorologist. Its also a great opportunity to educate the public about the importance of severe weather preparedness and serve as a role model to future aviators and meteorologists.





Staff from local emergency management offices, FEMA, non-profit organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, and several local NOAA National Weather Service forecast offices will join various stops on the tour.

NOAA has conducted the hurricane awareness tour for more than 30 years, alternating between the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The tour is part of NOAAs hurricane hazard education campaign, coinciding with National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1.

Public Tour Schedule:

 May 16: San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas. 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 May 17: Scholes Intl. Airport, Galveston, Tex., 2:30 to 5 p.m.

 May 18: Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, La., 2:30 to 5 p.m.

 May 19: Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile, Ala., 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

 May 20: Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Fla., 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.

For more information, contact:

Dennis Feltgen

NOAA Communications

305-229-4404

305-433-1933 (cell)

dennis.feltgen@noaa.gov

Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo

403rd Wing Public Affairs, U.S. Air Force Reserve

228-377-2056

228-365-1743 (cell)

marnee.losurdo.1@us.af.mil
The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, is making a difference, and it will help to put new technologies into the hands of warfighters, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in Mountain View, California, May 11.



Carter announced the formation of another technology hub to be built in Boston and introduced Raj Shah as the managing partner of DIUx.



The unit stood up last year as a way to get ideas and products from Silicon Valley into the Defense Department quickly.



Shah spoke about the need for this in ways his fellow warfighters would relate to.



Software Issues



Shah, an Air National Guard F-16 pilot and Silicon Valley entrepreneur, spoke about flying an F-16 near the border of Iraq and Iran. Unfortunately, while our aircraft had GPS systems, the software did not allow for moving maps with outlines of those borders, he said. As a pilot flying over unfriendly territory often at 500 mph at night, knowing whether we were on the Iranian or the Iraqi side of the border was a really big deal to us.





He will be joined by Vishaal Hariprasad, an Air Force Reserve captain, combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient, who co-founded a successful cybersecurity start-up and served as head of threat intelligence at a large public company.

Raj Shah, director of the Defense Department's innovation hub and an Air National Guardsman, talks about his experience as a pilot in Mountain View, Calif., during a visit by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, May 11, 2016.

While the F-16s didnt have the software, he said, private pilots flying Cessnas at home could load an app on their iPads and have no problems.



Transitioning that capability from the civilian world to the military would end up costing many millions of dollars and take multiple years to deploy, Shah said.



That is an example of what the DIUx is committed to overcoming, he said.



Technology is worthless without people who understand it and who can find ways to make it adapt to new requirements, Carter said. Another way we're investing in innovation is through people, the secretary said.



Two-Way Talent Flow



The program has built on-ramps and off-ramps for technical talent to flow between DoD and the tech sector in both directions, Carter said. The new Defense Digital Service brings in technologists for a tour of duty with the department, the secretary said.



These are talented people who are coming into DoD just for a year or two, maybe one project, Carter said. But they make a lasting contribution to us and our mission, and also experience being part of something bigger than themselves.



Already, these experts have helped DoD share information with the Department of Veterans Affairs. They're working with a team that's developing a better and more secure next-generation GPS to be used by billions of people around the world, military and civilian alike, Carter said.



Another team, he said, is improving the departments systems for tracking sexual assaults to better understand these crimes and eliminate them.



Later this month, they will work with a team to pilot one of the largest deployments of a commercial cloud computing platform -- largest ever -- to help streamline how we manage travel orders and reservations for DoDs nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, making it easier to use and more efficient of taxpayer dollars, Carter said.



Hack the Pentagon Project



They were also part of the Hack the Pentagon project, which already has found 80 bugs in the system that needed to be fixed, the secretary said.



The department has learned from DIUx and will learn more, Carter said. He then announced DIUx 2.0. Were not just iterating, were scaling, he said. Since creating DIUx, its become even clearer to me how valuable  this concept is of DIUx. And because America has many geographic centers of technical excellence, we already intend to open a second DIUx office to be located in the innovation hub of Boston, and there will be more.



Defense Secretary Ash Carter talks about the future of the Defense Departments innovation hub, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., May 11, 2016.



The secretary said funding will be increased for the effort. In our budget for the coming year, we've requested $30 million in new funding to direct towards nontraditional companies with emerging commercially based technologies that meet our militarys needs, he said. With co-investment from the military services, this number is really just a starting point.



These resources will mean capabilities that will ensure U.S. service members will maintain their advantage, the secretary said.



DIUx will report directly to me, Carter added. I cant afford to have everybody do that, but this is to signify the importance I attach to this mission, and also the importance of speedy decision-making.

"This impressive team partner will be joined by an equally impressive team of reservists who will serve at the DIUx in a first-of-its-kind reserve unit. America's reservists, our part-time soldiers can provide unique value here as they do in so many areas given the fact that many of these citizen-patriots are tech industry leaders when they are not on duty for DOD," Carter stated in his blog "The 'X' is for Experimental."





(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)
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George John Nowak appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with 31 counts of deception and one count of dishonest dealings with documents after an ASIC investigation into his business relations with SMSF members who were undertaking property purchases offered by companies of which he was a director, including EJ Property Developments Pty Ltd.

ASIC alleges Nowak misappropriated $1.8 million in SMSF monies by not holding funds in a designated account and by not applying those funds towards the intended property purchase.

The charges of deception contrary to section 139(b) of the SA Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 each carry a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.

The charge of dishonest dealings with documents contrary to section 140 of the SA Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.

Nowak was not required to enter a plea and was granted conditional bail. The matter is listed for return at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 12 July 2016 with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions pursuing the case.

The investigation into Nowak was carried out by ASICs SMSF Taskforce, which was established in 2012 in response to the growth of the SMSF sector.

In March 2015 ASIC banned Nowak from providing financial services until 3 July 2017 on the basis that he had applied for personal bankruptcy in July 2014.

Nowak had also been previously investigated by ASIC in 2014 in regards to the collapse of the Charterhill group of companies which specialised in assisting clients to invest in property through SMSFs.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
Silchar: A student was killed and seven others were injured after a clash broke out between an angry mob and policemen in Assam`s Silchar city, officials said on Thursday.

Although police claimed to have control the situation, simmering tension prevailed in and around the city over the incident that took place late Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred after two groups of people were fighting over a disputed plot of land.

"Based on information that there were clashes between two groups of people over a piece of land, a police team went there to settle the matter. However, the irate people rounded up the policemen and assaulted them," Cachar Superintendent of Police Rajveer Singh told IANS on Thursday.

"Although the police could contain the situation initially, the people later came out in huge numbers and blocked the busy National Highway No. 6 that connects Silchar and Shillong and pelted the police team with stones and other vehicles plying on the highway," he said.

"As the situation turned violent, the police resorted to firing in the air. However, one of the bullets hit a 17-year-old student unfortunately, who was also a part of the mob," Singh added.

The injured comprised two civilians and five policemen.

"The situation is under control now and we have deployed additional forces to ensure that there is no escalation of the situation," Singh added.
Patna: Mother of Aditya Sachdeva, who was shot dead by a Bihar legislator's son during a roadside brawl, in an emotional interview to Zee News said that she is not happy with the progress of the probe and appealed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for speedy justice.

Asked if she was happy with the probe, she said no. I am not satisfied with the probe. The progress is very slow. I want justice at the earliest, she said.

We want a speedy trial. We want justice, we are very tired. This will be our last interview to media. I won't give any interview after this, Aditya's mother Chanda replied sobbing intermittently.

She also expressed her grievances against the chief minister for not giving assurance to the family regarding a fair and speedy trial in the case.

I had high hopes from the chief minister. He could have given us some assurances. But we didn't get any. What else can I say, she said.

We will not plead to anyone for justice, but don't stifle our faith on the judiciary and the law of the land, she added.

Asked if she thought the police will act impartially against the accused who is the son of a politician, she said, I don't have faith.

Appealing the chief minister for justice, she said, I am losing hope on everyone involved in the probe. This is my last appeal to the CM.

I want him to give us justice. My son's soul will not rest in peace till he gets justice, she said.

Aditya's post-mortem has revealed that he died of brain injury due to bullet hit.

The Bihar government has issued an arrest warrant against MLC Manorama Devi whose son Rocky Yadav is accused of shooting dead Aditya.

Manorama Devi is reportedly absconding.

However, Rocky was arrested soon after the incident.
Patna: The Bihar Police is conducting search operation in search of ruling Janata Dal United MLC Manorama Devi, who is still untraceable and wanted for defying liquor ban imposed by the state government.

According to ANI, the search operation is being conducted in Barachatti area of Gaya and near Bihar-Jharkhand border.

The State Excise Department and Bihar Police had on Wednesday sealed the house and other properties of ruling Janata Dal United MLC Manorama Devi hours after an arrest warrant was issued against her for allegedly defying the liquor ban imposed by the Nitish Kumar government.

Nitish Kumar government had on Tuesday evening issued an arrest warrant against Manorama Devi for allegedly defying liquor ban imposed by the state government in Bihar.

The JDU MLC went into hiding minutes after she was suspended from the party for "protecting a murder accused" yesterday.

The state government had ordered her arrest in connection with the recovery of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) from her house in Gaya, 100km from Patna.

A directive to arrest the MLC and seal her house was issued to the Gaya district administration by the state excise department as sale, consumption and possession of liquor is an offence in Bihar.

At least six bottles of IMFL were recovered from the MLC's AP Colony house where police had gone looking for her son Rakesh Ranjan Yadav alias Rocky in connection with Gaya road rage death case.

Rocky was on Tuesday arrested on the charge of killing a 19-year-old schoolboy after the Gaya trader's son reportedly overtook the Range Rover of the MLC's son in Gaya Police Lines area on May 7 night.

JD(U) state president Bashishtha Narain Singh had suspended the MLC from the party on the advice of party's national president Nitish Kumar, who is also the CM of Bihar.

He said a show-cause notice would be issued to the MLC, asking her to explain her conduct in the entire episode involving the killing of Gaya youth allegedly by her son.
Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav today sought to clarify his remark that Pathankot attack is also "jungle raj", saying he did not compare the terrorist attack to the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in Gaya.

Tejaswi drew support from his father and RJD president Lalu Prasad who hit out at BJP for "misinterpreting" the comment.

Tejaswi told reporters here he knew the difference between the both the incidents.

"I also talked about a large number of cases of road rage in Delhi, killing in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of Vyapam and murder in Jharkhand to highlight why the comment 'jungle raj' is made in the context of Bihar whenever some criminal activity takes place here," Tejaswi said in a bid to clarify his reaction in Delhi over the Gaya killing and opposition going hammer and tongs against the coalition government.

"We strongly condemn the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in which our government is taking stern action," he said.

"The Deputy CM did not speak anything wrong...He put his views strongly (over the Gaya incident)," Lalu Prasad told reporters in Patna.

BJP was spreading canards against Tejaswi by "misinterpreting" his comments that he compared Pathankot with the Gaya incident, the RJD chief said.

Lalu described the Gaya event as "dardanak" (very painful) and patted the grand secular alliance for prompt action in the incident.

Launching a counter-offensive against BJP for its "return of jungle raj" remark, Tejaswi had yesterday said if the killing of a youth in a road rage incident symbolised that, then even in the national capital, where such incidents happen in greater numbers, was no different.

"If one road rage incident takes place in Bihar and it is called 'jungle raj', then the maximum number of road rage incidents take place in Delhi. So, is there 'jungle raj' in Delhi? Pakistani flag is unfurled on the country's soil, isn't it jungle raj?

"Terrorists enter the most secure air base, isn't it jungle raj? If there is a Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, where one after the other murders take place, an IPS officer is killed, nobody says there is jungle raj. In Haryana, there was such a big riot and such unfortunate incidents of rape took place, but it is not called 'jungle raj'," the Bihar deputy chief minister had said.
New Delhi: A middle-aged man's body was found hanging from a tree at Vijay chowk, a few metres away from the Parliament Thursday morning.

The man has been identified as Dayal Verma. He is believed to have taken the extreme step in the wee hours today.

The police hav also found a suicide note near his body.

The man is said to be from Madhya Pradesh. Police is trying to ascertain the cause of suicide and is trying to reach his family.
New Delhi: The High Court on Thursday sought response of Delhi government against removal of a guest teacher and delay in confirming 17,000 such teachers in the national capital.

Justice V P Vaish issued notice to the government on the plea seeking quashing of April 18 termination letter served on petitioner Praveen Kumar who claimed he was removed without being heard.

The petitioner, represented through senior advocate Salman Khurshid and advocate Aman Panwar, contended that since he was "putting pressure on Delhi government for regularizing/ confirming the 17,000 guest teachers in Delhi schools, they have abruptly" terminated his services.

Seeking reinstatement, the petitioner contended that he has got an unblemished track record and has been teaching in Delhi government schools since 2010.

Further, Kumar produced his attendance record to prove that he has not missed a single lecture in the last six months of his service nor has there been a single complaint against him.

He said in his plea that he was removed by Delhi administration in order to silence the movement/demands of regularization of guest teachers, which was a poll promise of AAP government.

To which, the court sought to know from the government as to why the 17,000 guest teachers have not been confirmed yet.

The court has fixed the matter for May 27 by when the government has to file its reply.
New Delhi: Police today said a 20-year-old man, who was arrested for the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl at a transit camp in Chanakyapuri area here last week, allegedly sexually assaulted at least four other girls at the same place.

Ronnie sexually assaulted at least four other girls, aged between 10 and 12 years, residing at the transit camp. He was arrested only after his latest victim, the four-year-old daughter of a neighbour, reported the matter to her parents, who raised an alarm, they said.

During interrogation, Ronnie made certain disclosures and when police teams, comprising women, were sent to the transit camp to talk to people there, four unreported cases emerged, police said.

"The accused has now been booked in four fresh cases under POCSO Act," DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.

Police are trying to ascertain if Ronnie had assaulted more girls in and around the transit camp.

Meanwhile, all the minor victims identified so far have been given counseling in the presence of their parents, police added.
New Delhi: A 55-year-old senior consultant of a multinational company was thrashed and robbed of cash and other belongings by a group of men who allegedly abducted him from south Delhi's Andrews Ganj area on the pretext of offering a lift in their car today.

The incident took place at around 7 am when Sumit Chakraborty was waiting at the Andrews Ganj bus stand to go to his office in Noida, police said.

Two men approached him wanting to know the for direction to Anand Vihar ISBT and while Chakraborty was speaking them another man in a car came and asked for way to Noida, they said.

Within seconds, the first two agreed to sit inside the other man's car and persuaded Chakraborty to join them as they knew by then that he was going to Noida, police said.

During the journey, one of the passengers faked nausea and another, who claimed to be a BSF personnel, pulled out a wireless set and started telling the person on the other side that some drunk men were with him in a car and he was going to bring them all to the nearest police station.

When Chakraborty insisted on shifting to the middle seat to give way to the passenger who complained of vomiting, the other men started charging him with being drunk too.

He denied and said he was ready to go to police station.

Chakraborty was suddenly hit by a blunt object on his face and the three pounced on him, police said.

They then blindfolded him and took him to an ATM kiosk on the highway leading to Agra and made him withdraw Rs 40,000 which they immediately snatched, police said.

The group then allegedly robbed Chakraborty of his gold ring, watch, and mobile phone before dropping him on a secluded stretch in south Delhi.

The victim managed to reach a private hospital nearby from where he called up police.

The Police Control Room first informed Saket Police Station of the matter but they forwarded the case to the police station at Defense Colony as the place from where he was picked up falls under their jurisdiction.

"A case has been registered in connection with the matter. Efforts are on to identify the accused at the earliest," Additional DCP (South) Nupur Prasad said.
New Delhi: A drone hobbyist from Australia captured a rare footage that shows a pod of false killer whales chasing down a juvenile shark off the coast of Cronulla, south of Sydney.

Bruno Kataoka, who filmed the incredible scene, told News 7,  it was an exciting moment. National Geographic guys [wait] months to get such a thing, and we just happened to be there at the right moment at the right time.

As the end of the video, one of the four false killer whales was shown snatching the shark in its mouth, and then dragging it down into the depths of the ocean.

News 7, which included the rare encounter in its report, tweeted out the rare footage on Twitter.

Rare scenes captured off Cronulla show sharks being hunted by whales. @AdeneCassidy7 #7News https://t.co/wv7z7BWglR  7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 10, 2016

The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is the third-largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. First described by the British paleontologist and biologist Richard Owen in his 1846 book A history of British fossil mammals and birds, the false killwe whale lives in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
Chandigarh: The Haryana government today reinstated senior IPS officer and former IGP Rohtak, Shrikant Jadhav, who along with two DSPs were suspended following allegations of omission and commission in containing the violence during the Jat reservation agitation.

"The Haryana government has reinstated Shrikant Jadhav, IPS, in service with effect from March 26, 2016, that is after 30 days from suspension, subject to the final outcome of the departmental proceedings pending against him," an official release said here.

Jadhav has been posted as IG Police State Crime Records Bureau, Madhuban, with immediate effect on his reinstatement, the release said.

Notably, on February 26, the state government had suspended the senior IPS officer and two DSPs of Rohtak.

On February 21, Jadhav was shifted amid the Jat agitation in the state which claimed many lives.

Rohtak, Jhajjar and Meham, which fall under Rohtak Range, had been the worst-hit areas during the Jat stir.
Zee Media Bureau

New York: Is your child suffering from asthmatic attacks frequently? If yes, then one should take extra care of your child as a new research suggests that asthmatic attacks such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath in childhood can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in early adulthood.

COPD is a group of lung diseases which block the airflow and makes it difficult to breath.

Scott T Weiss from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in the US says, "For people barely into adulthood, having COPD is terrible. As the COPD evolves, they are likely to have health problems that will make it difficult to participate in normal day-to-day responsibilities such as holding a job".

The study has showed that early lung function predicts lung growth later in life, regardless of asthma treatment and smoking exposure.

Childhood asthma resolves with time, but as many as 20 percent of children with asthma will go on to have potentially severe symptoms in adulthood.

Weiss further added that children who had low lung function at the start of the trial followed a series of predicted growth patterns: most had reduced lung growth with time and a significant number would go on to meet the criteria for COPD.

In addition, the results showed that outcomes for male children were worse, a likely consequence of higher asthma prevalence in boys.

Among the participants, 75 percent of the children with persistent asthma displayed an early decline in lung function and/or reduced lung growth, by early adulthood. Treatment did not change these patterns.

In the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the team followed 684 participants in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) from ages 5-12 untill they were at least 23 years old.

By the end of the study, 11 percent met the criteria for COPD.

With this understanding, physicians need to identify at-risk children earlier and counsel them about potential preventative measures.

"Since asthma itself is a risk factor for developing COPD, these patients should be advised against risk related environmental exposures, like smoking, that could intensify their symptoms and increase their COPD risk," Weiss noted.

(With IANS inputs)
Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Using social media websites more frequently can lead to different eating disorders, suggests a new study.

People, especially the younger lot is seen spending most of their time on sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other clinical and mental health issues where people have a distorted body image and disordered eating.

"We've long known that exposure to traditional forms of media, such as fashion magazines and television, is associated with the development of disordered eating and body image concerns, likely due to the positive portrayal of 'thin' models and celebrities," said lead author Jaime Sidani from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US.

"Social media combines many of the visual aspects of traditional media with the opportunity for social media users to interact and propagate stereotypes that can lead to eating and body image concerns," Sidani noted.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) today called for revival of the nursing profession in the country saying shortage of nurses would lead to shutdown of hospitals, unavailability of quality medical care and increased clinical complications.

IMA said the country is facing a phenomenal shortage of 2.4 million nurses and the number is expected to increase, given the high rate of migration of nursing professionals owing to factors like job insecurity, working environment and gender biases.

According to estimates available, it said India was the source of the highest number of nurses recruited from non-EU countries into Britain's National Health Service (NHS) between 2009 and 2015. A 2015 report on the nursing brain drain in India reveals that up to one-fifth of the nursing labour force may be lost to wealthier states due to migration.

"These are several reasons for this decision made by Indian nurses including job insecurity for the contractual staff, low pay in both the government and private sectors, lack of a conducive work environment and infrastructure and training facilities.

"Nurses are the backbone of the Indian healthcare system and their shortage in the long term will have hazardous impact on the overall functioning of the sector. It will lead to shutdown of hospitals, unavailability of quality medical care and increased clinical complications," said Dr KK Aggarwal, Secretary General of IMA.

Dr SS Agarwal, National President of IMA said necessary steps should be taken to promote the nursing profession in the country.

"A uniform pay scale needs to be implemented and a more robust educational and training program implemented. At present nursing colleges are scattered and concentrated in the South. There is also a need to implement a common examination for nurses like the NEET for doctors.

"The working conditions of nurses also need to be improved," he said.

Another problem that the profession faces in the country is the fact that traditionally nursing is considered a woman's job and given the patriarchal nature of the society, working women are not respected. This further adds to the shortage, he said.

It is important that awareness is raised that both men and women can be successful nurses and both have the equal right to work and earn a livelihood, said Dr Aggarwal.

"IMA recommends elimination of gender biases, promotion of better and a uniform pay for nurses to reduce the incidence of migration to other countries and strengthening the education and training system for nurses in India by setting up more colleges, training centres and encouraging practical training to solve the problem of shortage of doctors," Dr Aggarwal said.
Delhi: Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal, has said that in 2008 he did describe Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a letter as 'the driving force' of the decision to acquire new helicopters when her party was in power.

In an interview to NDTV, Michel also said that he does not personally know either Sonia or her son, Rahul.

However, he maintained that his written suggestion that they be lobbied by diplomats does not mean bribes were paid to them.

When asked about his comments that they played no part in the controversy, Michel told the channel, "I have to protect the Gandhis to protect myself," and added, "I have to prove they are innocent to prove my innocence."

Further, he stood by his earlier claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met his Italian counterpart in New York last year and had offered to release two Italian marines imprisoned in India in exchange for information about the VVIP chopper deal.

Meanwhile, in an interview to another channel yesterday, Michel had said that the only person related to Agusta that he ever met was former IAF chief Colonel SP Tyagi.

In an interview to India Today TV, Michel had also said that he had never met Sonia or former PM Manmohan Singh.

He had told the TV channel, "No, never. I have never met Sonia Gandhi. Never met Manmohan Singh or AK Antony. Congress never interfered in Agusta deal. I avoid meeting leaders, my expertise is implementation."

However, he had added, "I probably met ex-Air chief SP Tyagi in Gymkhana club. Met Tyagi and others and I wasn't keen on them. I was introduced to Julie Tyagi as a powerful industrialist. Julie is a very nice man. He didn't promise me of any deal. I was very nervous of them. I think Tyagi was used as a tool for Haschke to get inside AgustaWestland. I don't think he can play any major role."

Michel is one of three alleged middlemen whom the Indian investigating agencies suspect to have brokered the VVIP chopper deal in favour of UK-based AgustaWestland.

Both Central Bureau of Investigation and ED have notified Michel under the Interpol Red Corner Notice.

The controversial deal and the alleged bribes to the tune of Rs 120 crore paid in clinching it for AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, has triggered a political slugfest between BJP and Congress.

CBI and ED have also questioned Tyagi in connection with the deal.

CBI had in 2013 registered a case in connection with alleged bribes paid by the firm to Indians to clinch the deal.
Allahabad: A day after accusing the Centre of its alleged growing ''political interference'' in the administrative matters related to the functioning of universities, the Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor has now taken a U-turn on the issue.

As per reports, Allahabad University Vice Chancellor RL Hangloo has written a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman clearly stating that there has been no interference from the Union HRD Minister in the functioning of this university.

In his letter, Hangloo has stated that Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has ''never interfered in the functioning of this university."

Prof Hangloo further said that Irani "has always encouraged us with her rare flash of brilliance."

While maintaining that there have been "twisted statements by the press and media'', the Allahabad V-C urged the Rajya Sabha Chairperson to ''ignore'' such things.

Professor Hangloo had on Tuesday lashed out at what he called political interference for being forced to offer offline entrance tests after streamlining the whole process online.

"If politicians continue to interfere, we all will have to leave. Then government can run the university as per their opinion. Then it would be better to have MLAs or MPs as VCs in place of academicians," the vice chancellor had said in what was seen as a direct attack on the government, which has grappled recently with controversies and protests at some of the country's best universities.



Hangloo has come under attack over his move to shift admissions online.

In his defence, Hangloo had said that he implemented online forms after a push by the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet Digital India programme. But after a fact-finding team of MPs visited the university, he got a letter from the ministry that it "has no objection to the offline option also" for this year.

Students allege that an online-only admission process discriminates against students from villages who do not have access to the Internet. They have called off their strike after Hangloo rolled back his decision.
Washington DC: China and Pakistan are closely coordinating moves to block India`s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Beijing is using Pakistan`s Non Starter position with the NSG to block India`s application in the name of parity, stating that it would either support NSG entry for both India and Pakistan, or none of them.

Talking about the China-Pakistan grand strategy to stall India`s admission into the NSG, well-placed US sources who work with the NSG said from all counts it does appear that China and Pakistan are coordinating closely to stop the Indian entry.

The sources pointed to the fact that when India sought an information session with the NSG Participating Governments (PGs) at the recent NSG Consultative Group meeting on April 25 and 26, where it would have made a formal presentation to the NSG Group in support of its membership, Pakistan requested for a similar discussion slot with the NSG PGs. Sources said that even though Pakistan was fully aware that its request would be rejected, it made its application at the cue of China, in order for Beijing to look even-handed when it sought the rejection of both requests on grounds of parity.

Providing an insight into the China-Pakistan plan to stall India, sources say that Pakistan is now going to write to all the NSG PGs about its wish to join the NSG.

This is being done in anticipation of an application by India for NSG membership at the forthcoming plenary session of the NSG in June.

The Pakistani application, added sources, is "just a decoy" for China to reject both applications on grounds of parity.

China knows that Pakistan does not stand a chance at the NSG, and most of the NSG states will reject Islamabad`s application.By taking the lead in rejecting the Pakistani application along with that of India, China would like to project its position as "neutral" when in reality it is "working in tandem with Pakistan to stall India`s application ".

US sources are disappointed with the Chinese tactics of "using Pakistan`s non credentials with the NSG to settle scores with India".

Informed sources say that this strategy is not a secret and during Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain`s visit to China in November 2015, China revealed its hand when it told President Hussain that if India is allowed to get NSG membership, China would ensure that Pakistan also joins the group.

The Chinese government told President Hussain that "if India is allowed to join the NSG and Pakistan is deprived of NSG membership, Beijing will veto the move and block the Indian entry".

Sources maintain that true to its word, China is following a plan that will enable it to use Pakistan`s non-acceptance at the NSG to block India`s acceptance.

"It is both or none" is the Chinese plan to derail the Indian application, say sources.Chinese officials at the NSG level have been using the Pakistan card to stop India`s entry into the NSG while appearing to be even handed in China`s relations with India.

Well-informed sources also point to comments made by Pakistan`s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zamir Akram who virtually admitted the grand China-Pakistan plan to stall India`s entry into the NSG when, he said, that India will not make it to the NSG despite US support since China was committed to both India and Pakistan joining the NSG at the same time, and would block any move for a unilateral admission of India.

He added that chances of India gaining entry into the NSG are virtually nil.

The former senior Pakistani official also made it known that Islamabad has "friends at the NSG" who won`t let India enter the group.

US sources have seen through China`s game of "either both or none" in the NSG. They say that India`s non-proliferation credentials can never be compared with Pakistan`s, as Pakistan has a history of "selling nuclear technology to rogue states like Libya".

They point to the father of Pakistan`s nuclear bomb, Dr AQ Khan, and his global nuclear trade.

Added to this history, is the fear in the West that Pakistan`s nuclear weapons, especially the tactical version that it is now in the process of developing, can easily find their way into the hands of terrorists, as Pakistan`s nuclear command is extremely vulnerable to penetration by Islamic hardliners.

Well-placed sources say that China is aware of this situation, and is mindful of the fact that Pakistan can never be considered for membership in any global nuclear club, but that won`t stop China from using Pakistan as a "parity token to stop India which is fast emerging as China`s competitor at a global level".

By rejecting the applications of both Pakistan and India, China is telling New Delhi and the NSG governments that it is "neutral", when in fact it is working with Pakistan to reject India`s application in the hope that there won`t be an Indian reaction.

US sources say China`s grand plan is to "eat its cake and have it too", that is reject the Indian application to the NSG on the pretext of "neutrality" between India and Pakistan and then hope that the "neutrality" card will stop any Indian commercial blowback on China.

Giving further insight into the plan, US sources say that China "would be naive to expect that there won`t be an Indian reaction, and especially a commercial one, as China is mindful that India is fully qualified to join the NSG, and by playing the `Pakistan parity card`, China is only hurting its own interests with an upcoming economic power, India."
New Delhi: Days after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur made an emotional appeal to appoint more judges to resolve millions of pending cases across the country, the

Supreme Court is likely to get four new judges in the next couple of days.

As per reports, President Pranab Mukherjee is believed to cleared the names of three high court chief justices and a senior advocate for elevation to the apex court.

A media report quoting government sources said on Thursday that the file pertaining to the elevation of Justice AM Khanwilkar of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice DY Chandrachud of Allahabad High Court, Justice Ashok Bhushan of Kerala High Court and senior lawyer and former Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao to the Supreme Court has been cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee.

They are likely to take oath on May 13. However, a notification may be issued by the Law Ministry any time soon.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their elevation earlier this month, the first since a new law on appointment of judges to higher judiciary was struck down by the top court.

These were the first set of recommendations made by the SC Collegium for appointment as judges of the apex court after the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act came into force on April 13 last.

The new law which sought to scrap the collegium system was struck down by a Supreme Court bench on October 16 last.

Addressing an event last month, CJI TS Thakur had made an emotional appeal for appointing more judges which will also confidence among foreign investors that the government is trying to attract.
Delhi/Thiruvanathapuram: A war of words on Thursday broke out between Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

Out of the total, 16 are from Kerala.

The Keralites, including children, reached Kochi this morning.

The EAM, who is recuperating in AIIMS where she was admitted on April 25, posted a series of tweets regarding the evacuation.

Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya.'  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Chandy too tweeted about the whole matter:

Safe return of families from Libya pic.twitter.com/pxpcKvqbua  Oommen Chandy (@Oommen_Chandy) May 12, 2016

Meanwhile, most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of EAM and Chandy's office, there was no help.

"There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets, as per PTI.

"Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said.

One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years.

"We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. CM Chandy called us to ask about our plight," she told reporters.

Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be reimbursed to them.

The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli yesterday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan said.

The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi this morning, he said.

The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said.

Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a day after his government was reinstated following a floor test as per the Supreme Court order.

The chief minister said the hill state's development remained his focus, adding that President's Rule left Uttarakhand in a "mess".

"Our focus remains to bring back on track the development momentum generated during our (earlier) rule... we were growing at the rate of 13.5 percent," Rawat told reporters after meeting Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

"Imposition of President's Rule has left the state in a mess," he added.

Asked if he would also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, the chief minister said he would meet them if he gets invited.

"I will meet everyone in my state's interest. I will meet the prime minister and finance minister (Arun Jaitley) if I get invited," he said.

Rawat said his style of politics was not confrontational and stressed that development is his main agenda.

Earlier on Thursday, Rawat presided over a cabinet meeting in Dehradun, during which a number of important decisions were taken.

On Wednesday, President's Rule was revoked in Uttarakhand.
Delhi: In a sensational revelation, which has once again nailed Pakistan's lie about underworld don and one of India's most wanted man, Karachi police officers have been heard admitting on tape that 'Dawood stays in Clifton'.

The police officers were caught on tape, which was aired by CNN-News18, saying how the mafia don was surrounded by his own security men.

They are also heard saying how Dawood Ibrahim moves around in the neighbourhood and that local police were not allowed at his bungalow in Karachi in Clifton.

The TV channel's investigations editor spoke to these officers in Karachi under the guise of DIG Mushtaq Sukhera.

First he spoke to Akbar who is supposedly the local intelligence police officer attached to the VVIP area.

He testified Dawood's address next to the Abdullah Gazi mosque.

Following is the conversation that was recorded on tape and aired by the TV channel:

Akbar: Dawood Ibrahim.

Reporter: Ok, he stays here.

Akbar: Yes.

Reporter: They told me you've been here for last 30 years. So you know best.

Akbar: Yes Sir. His house is very much here Sir. Proper security arrangement is also there. Sometime he comes and goes. They have constructed a mosque inside the house. We had gone to check the name of the mosque and name of the Maulana. A person came to the gate and promised to tell us everything soon. Then he came to the police station.

Reporter: Who is the Maulana?

Akbar: Some young, child-like person they sent.

Reporter: What is the name of the mosque?

Akbar: I am forgetting the name. It's written in my diary. I will see and tell you.

The cop also said that the underworld don moves around once or twice a week and it was difficult to make out who was inside the cars.

TV channel's investigations editor then talked to Zaheer, who is reportedly the duty officer at the Boat Basin police station.

He said that local police were not kept in the loop about Dawood's movements.

At the same time, he revealed that it was a top-secret operation handled by a private security team and ISI officials.

Following is the conversation with second cop Zaheer:

Reporter: So we don't know any movement?

Zaheer: One thing is sure. I am posted here from last one year. Even if he goes anywhere we don't have any information at police station level. They don't tell us about any arrival or departure. We don't know even how many people are staying inside the house.

Reporter: But Dawood is inside?

Zaheer: Yes. This is his house.

Moreover, the report said that Dawood was a regular visitor at the nearby shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.

Punhun Khan, the senior manager there, was also apparently caught on tape saying the underworld don's bungalow was right next to the masjid.

Earlier, the channel in a sting operation cum investigation had reported the details of the underworld don's bungalow as follows -

- D-13, Block-4, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan.

- The bungalow was surrounded on two sides by vacant plots.

- It has 3-metre high walls.

- The bungalow looks similar to Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad compound.

Dawood is one of the most wanted man in India and is said to be the mastermind of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Despite India giving many dossier to Pakistan on the mafia don, it has been maintaining that the mafia don is not in their country.

There is also an Interpol red corner notice against Dawood for his role in the 1993 blasts.

In 2003, US designated him as a global terrorist with links to terror groups.
New Delhi: Late Indira Gandhi wanted her younger daughter-in-law to help her in politics after the death of Sanjay but Maneka was in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv.

"Although PM was always more fond of Sonia, during the period after Sanjay's death, she became a little more inclined towards Maneka."

"However, it failed to bring Maneka closer to her. Generally Sonia held the upper hand in household affairs while Maneka's views were considered by the PM when it came to political matters since Maneka had good political sense," says KP Mathur, Gandhi's personal physician.

Mathur, a former physician at Safdarjung Hospital here who served for nearly 20 years as the physician to the late PM and called on her every morning till her assassination in 1984, details Gandhi's journey as a politician and her relations with family in a new book 'The Unseen Indira Gandhi,' (Konark Publishers).

Within a couple of years of the death of Sanjay Gandhi, the book says, Maneka had to leave the then PM's house under rather trying circumstances.

"After Sanjay's death, PM's attitude towards her softened a great deal. In fact, she wanted Maneka to come and help her in politics."

"But Maneka was often in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv. This grew into the formation of the organisation, the Sanjay Vichar Manch. It was an organisation which wanted to carry on with the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi. Maneka and her associates were part of it they were known to be acting against Rajiv although I never came to know what specifically they were doing," says Mathur.

What brought matters to a head was a convention of the Sanjay Vichar Manch which was held in Lucknow, which Gandhi advised Maneka not to address. Gandhi was touring abroad at that time and sent a message to Maneka but the latter went ahead and addressed the convention.

After Rajiv and Sonia's marriage, the doctor said the former PM and Sonia took to each other within no time.

"Sonia gave a lot of respect and the latter showered her with affection and regard... Sonia very soon took over the responsibility of the household."

A voracious reader, Gandhi during Sundays and other holidays relaxed with some books, especially biographies of great men. She, says Dr Mathur, liked subjects connected with the body and the mind as well as popular science magazines and was fond of solving crossword puzzles in international publications.

"Sometimes, after lunch, she played cards. Her favourite card game was Kali Mam..." says the book.

The 151-page book describes Gandhi as "very tense, a bit confused and not sure of herself" in the first year or two of her becoming the PM in 1966.

"In the initial phase of her premiership, PM used to be especially nervous when faced with some speaking assignments, either in Parliament or outside and would try and avoid it," writes Mathur who mentions Gandhi as getting stomach upsets during her early days as PM, which he believed was a result of nervousness.

But, says the book, notwithstanding the initial jitters, Gandhi was a very determined person. She visited Madras University, which was the epicentre of the anti-Hindi protests in Tamil Nadu and remained undaunted by hostile sloganeering.

"She told the students, 'Don't say down with Hindi. Say up with Tamil. I will learn Tamil and you also learn Hindi'," Mathur recalls.

The doctor writes that the former prime minister appeared "quite perplexed and fidgety in the hours leading to the May 18, 1974 Pokhran explosions.

"When I asked about her health, she just answered in monosyllables. I tried to make some small talk but she wasn`t attentive. She fixed her gaze on the telephone on her bedside table, lifted the receiver once and put it down. I looked in that direction and saw a notebook on which gayatri mantra was written in long hand," the book said.

The book also refers to the 'ominous emergency' years after Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975, when thousands of people were put in jail all across the country.

"The discontent against PM and Sanjay was growing by the hour and she as fast losing her people's confidence and sympathy... PM herself was not satisfied with the state of affairs, but somehow she did not intervene and let it go on. Perhaps she had become a victim of the tyranny of the excessive love she had for her younger son..."

After her defeat in the elections of 1977, Indira Gandhi decided to visit Belci in remote Bihar where upper caste land owners had massacred a number of Harijans over some land dispute but found it difficult to get transport to travel in the rainy season.

"Ultimately with her courage and determination she reached Belchi in the dark of night riding on an elephant.... All this she narrated to me on her return," says Dr Mathur.

The book is interspersed with written instructions and messages on bits of paper, collected by the doctor.

The tome talks about Gandhi's relations with foreign heads of government including Margaret Thatcher, former PM of the United Kingdom, who Mathur says, "respecting her age and seniority showed due deference" towards Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written a foreword to the book which describes Dr Mathur as one whose keen sense of humour and an ability to grasp the finer details of human emotion endeared him to all.
Shimla: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, Thursday, expressed optimism that talks between his country and India will begin soon to overcome the problems between the two neighbours.

Speaking to reporters after he delivered a talk on Pakistan-India Relations: The Current Situation at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) located at the sprawling Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly known as Viceregal Lodge, Basit said, We still don't have a date for dialogue to begin but we hope it's sooner rather than later.

Doors of diplomacy are never closed, always open...There is always hope, so let's hope for good times to come, he added.

Last month, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Choudhry held talks with his Indian counterpart on bilateral issues. The meeting was held in Delhi on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference.

While it was expected that the talks might lead to progress towards the start of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue which was agreed by the two countries in December last year, there was not much forward, at least officially, on the front.

On its part, India described the Jaishankar-Aizaz talks as an 'informal' interaction.
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised alarm with regard to the judiciary encroaching upon the authority of the legislature.

Step by step, brick by brick, the edifice of Indias legislature is being destroyed, Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The minister also urged MPs to protect budgetary and taxation powers from being handed over to the judiciary.

The minister was speaking in the context of the GST Bill, during a discussion in the Upper House on The Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2016 and the Finance Bill, 2016.

The remarks came on a day when the Supreme Court reinstated Harish Rawat as the chief minister of Uttarakhand, following the Congress' victory in the floor test in the Assembly.

In the context of the GST, the Congress had demanded that a dispute redressal mechanism be put in place under which a judge would resolve any dispute arising out between the Centre and states.

Reacting to the demand, the Finance Minister said, For heavens sake, I beseech you in the interest of Indian democracy not to go on this misadventure With the manner in which encroachment of legislative and executive authority by Indias judiciary is taking place, probably financial power and budget making is the last power that you have left. Taxation is the only power which states have.

It would be wholly misconceived for any political party to say, let us hand over the taxation power to judiciary. That is your (Congresss) proposal, he said, as per The Indian Express.

We will have budget-making going outside Parliament and if there is a taxation dispute between the Centre and states, a major party says now let the judge decide, so taxation power also goes, Jaitley said.

He stressed that taxation being a political issue, it should be decided politically.

Referring to the Supreme Court's direction to the Centre to set up a new fund for disaster mitigation, Jaitley said the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund were already existent.
New Delhi: India on Thursday said Pakistan's present nuclear policy has been a cause of concern internationally, and its battlefield atomic weapons were causing such apprehensions.

"There have been international concerns about Pakistan's nuclear policy. Tactical nuclear weapons are at the heart of such concerns," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media here.

He was responding to a question on former Pakistan ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani's comment that Pakistan's policy on tactical nuke weapons continues and will continue to create such weapons.

Asked about what India was doing to bring back underworld don Dawood Ibrahim from Pakistan, he said government was pursuing the matter.

"Dawood is a UN-designated global terrorist and a fugitive of the Indian law. At several points of time, his details have been shared by India with Pakistan government, including his possible locations in Pakistan. We will continue to pursue this matter and we expect Pakistan to hand over this international terrorist to us," Swarup added.

The MEA spokesperson said India has not cut any aid to Nepal, and was committed for its overall development.

"We are spending $50 million to $60 million to assist Nepal every year. India is fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development. There is no aid cut," he added.


New Delhi: Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi has dismissed reports that he had refused to furnish records of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic qualification under pressure from the Centre.

A report by Aaj Tak/India Today said on Thursday that the Delhi University Vice Chancellor has categorically denied that he acted under pressure.

Delhi's ruling AAP had alleged that the Delhi University VC had rejected their demands to examine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BA degree under clear pressure from the Centre.

The AAP leaders had demanded that they be allowed to examine records of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BA degree, however, they had to return empty handed.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been leading the attack on Modi on the issue, wondered why the Delhi University VC refused to share records of the PM's BA degree when BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had released the documents at a press conference three days back.

"Jaitley ji and Amit Shah ji, after showing papers, said- 'jao ab jaakar DU mei dekh lo' (go and see it in DU). Now VC refuses? What is so secret abt PM's degree?" Kejriwal had tweeted.

The AAP leaders said the refusal of the DU to share the details has strengthened the doubts that PM Modi's BA degree was forged.

The AAP has been alleging that the Prime Minister's BA and MA degrees were forged and there were many "glaring discrepancies in them", including in his name and total marks.

Amid the relentless attack on the Prime Minister on the issue, DU Registrar Tarun Das later said the BA degree was "authentic" and termed as "minor error" discrepancies in his marksheets and degree certificate.
New Delhi: Noted lawyer and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan and his colleague Yogendra Yadav on Thursday made fresh revelations on the AgustaWestland scam in which senior Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and others allged to be involved.

Addressing a joint press conference, Bhushan dragged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's name in the multi-crore VVIP bribery scam case. The duo claimed irregularities in the Chhattisgarh A-109 chopper deal and linked Raman Singh's son Abhishek to the Panama Papers leak.

Daring the BJP to initiate a probe against Raman Singh, the duo said global tender was not called for the deal and the tender rules were seriously bypassed.

They also claimed that USD 1.5 million was paid as kickback. They told reporters that all documents related to their claims on the AugustaWestland deal has been made available on Swaraj Abhiyan website.

Here are the highlights of their press briefing:-

A virtual single vendor situation was created in Agusta deal.

Sharing details of a deal where only one product was promoted. A compensation of 30% was given.

The deal was executed to intentionally provide illegal benefits.

A-109 chopper could be made available at $6.22 million, Chhattisgarh government told AgustaWestland.

AgustaWestland said our dealer Sharp Ocean (located in the British Virgin Isles), can supply the choppers early without any extra commission.

No efforts were made to find out about other firms that make and supply choppers.

Government proposed only AgustaWestland choppers to be preferred.

Cabinet decided in February 2007 that choppers may be bought from Sharp Ocean provided if $200,000 premium can be negotiated.

On March 30, a government note said choppers should be bought from Sharp Ocean.

Chhattisgarh government later said it will invite a global tender and on May 30, the government issued a global tender.

Three offers were made on this tender, interestingly out of these 3 firms, AgustaWestland offered Rs. 29.77cr.

Chhattisgarh govt bought one Agusta helicopter for USD 5 million and paid USD 1.57 million as commission.

CM Raman Singhs son Abhishek Singh allegedly having investments offshore.

CAG had mentioned in its report that in the VVIP chopper deal, Chhattisgarh government made payments of Rs 64 lakh to the company.
Mumbai: After leading a successful campaign seeking entry of women in Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar and Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple in Nashik, Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai on Thursday entered the iconic Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai amid high security.

Desai visited the Dargah early morning, but didn't enter the inner sanctum where women are not allowed.

Speaking to news agency ANI, the Bhumata Brigade president said, I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers.

At the dargah I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011, she added.

She warned of launching a protest if the trustees don't allow women to enter the inner sanctum within 15 days.

Watch video:

#WATCH Trupti Desai & Bhumata Brigade members entering Haji Ali Dargah (Mumbai) today morning.https://t.co/o0nWIEgR22  ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2016

Earlier in April, Desai had tried to enter Haji Ali Dargah, but was stopped at main entrance.

The decision to enter Dargah was taken after several Muslim women and activists demanded that gender discrimination be abolished at places of worship.

Desai joined with a new forum, "Haji Ali Sab Ke Liye - Haji Ali For All" in April.

More than 20 outfits, NGOs and human right activists on Wednesday announced formation of 'Haji Ali Sabke Liye' to peacefully campaign against the ban on entry of women into the interiors of the 15th century Sufi shrine, located on a small islet in the Arabian Sea and visited by hundreds of people everyday.

Desai has maintained fighting for women's right was part of her mission and she would proactively take part in this movement too.

The forum is planning to launch a similar movement to demand entry into other religious places where such a ban is in place.
New Delhi: Firebrand social activist Trupti Desai has questioned the RSS' supposed 'doublespeak', saying that the organisation promotes itself on the plank of 'Bharat Mata' but it discourages women membership.

Desai has reportedly shot off a letter to RSS chief on April 27 for an appointment in order to discuss the matter.

This comes just a fortnight after she offered prayers at Haji Ali.

Bharat Mata is the reason your organisation exists, why is it then, that women fail to find any representation in the RSS? Desai, the icon of India's new feminist uprising, has asked.

In an interview to The Quint she said, I had written a letter to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on 27 April. I had written that the RSS only inducts male members. On stage, they always put up an image of Bharat Mata but you dont see women being represented on stage or within the organisation.

Women should get equal representation in the RSS, they should get a place in the organisation.

Bhagwat while responding to her letter said, Hes busy with an RSS camp in and that he will meet me in the first week of July to discuss the matter.

Explaining her movement for gender equality, she said, Our movement is for gender equality. We want women to be allowed to enter temples where only men are permitted. In the same way, RSS is an all-male bastion where women too should be allowed. This is about ensuring equal status.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reportedly ordered a probe into the alleged role of naval officers in a wife-swapping scandal at the INS Kochi base.

The apex court has directed the Kerala Police DIG to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case, India Today reported.

The case dates back to 2013, when the scandal rocked the Indian Navy.

The court directive comes during a hearing of a petition on the matter on Thursday.

In a petition to the court, the wife of a naval officer accused her husband's senior of approaching the officer with an offer of wife swapping in 2012.

She claimed that the senior officer threatened her husband when he refused to oblige him.

She said that she had approached senior officers at the Kochi base but no action was taken.

The then defence minister AK Antony had promised to take strong action against those involved in the scandal.

However, the Navy told the Defence Ministry that there was no merit in the case.

According to the report, the top court's bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice R Bhanumathi asked the SIT to complete the probe as soon as possible.
Mumbai: Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai and a few activists were allowed to pray at the famous Haji Ali Dargah shrine on Thursday amidst tight police security.

Hours later, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslim (AIMIM) leader Haji Rafat Hussain said Desai should now enter a Parsi temple so as to confirm that she is actually fighting for women's rights and not for mere publicity.

Hussain, however, added that the Bhumata Brigade chief will not be able to enter the inner sanctum of the dargah in her lifetime.

"We are happy that Trupti Desai offered prayers at the Haji Ali Dargah. But the way she had on April 28 threatened the entire Muslim community that she would forcefully enter the dargah was not right," Hussain told ANI.

"She entered today with the police. I think she should not have done that and should have entered alone. We would have been much happy if she would have entered just like any other common person," he added.

When asked Desai had earlier said that she would now enter the inner sanctum of the dargah, the AIMIM leader said it was just a publicity stunt.

"She would not be able to enter the majar-e-sharif throughout her life. She was allowed to go where women are allowed to enter. I would also like her to now try and enter a Parsi temple, where only parsis are allowed to go, as that would confirm the people that she is actually fighting for women's rights and not for publicity," he said.

The Bhumata Brigade chief, who has been agitating for women's rights to enter places of worship which are otherwise traditionally considered out of bounds for them, today entered the Haji Ali dargah.

"Today I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality," Desai said after offering prayers.

"At Haji Ali Dargah, I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011. We saw where we are allowed till and where men go till inside Dargah," she added.

The Bhumata Brigade chief also said that they would stage a protest if the trustees do not allow women to enter the shrine in the next 15 days.

Thursday's event is the latest in Desai's movement after last month she was denied entry to enter the shrine.

Desai, who had earlier announced that she would enter the dargah on April 28, launched the campaign 'Haji Ali For All' in April to allow women to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer 'chadar' there.

The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and offer their prayers. This ban came into force in 2011.

(With Agency inputs)
Kochi: The 29 Indians, including six families from Kerala, rescued after being stranded in strife-torn Libya, arrived at the Cochin International Airport on Thursday.

The Indians had sought help from the government of India to rescue from the disaster zone.

Prime Minister Modi had the announcement about their return during an election rally help near Ernakulam two days back. The BJP-led NDA government has been 'very proactive' whenever Indian nationals are in distress, he said referring to the rescue of nurses in Libya and of Fr Prem from the clutches of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The government had also succeeded in getting commuted the death sentence of five Tamil Nadu fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan prison, he added.
Kochi: With relief writ large on their faces, 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached here this morning.

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 AM.

The flight carrying the 16 persons landed here at 8.30 AM this morning, after which they completed immigration formalities. The relatives of the rescued Indians had been patiently waiting since the early hours and there were cries of relief as they spotted them.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the the hospital had decided to leave the area.

"I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan," said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham.

Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office, there was no help.

"There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets.

"Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said.

One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years.

"We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called us to ask about our plight," she told reporters.

Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be re-imbursed to them.

The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli yesterday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan told PTI.

"As per our request, the ambassador had got in touch with hospital, Libyan bank and Protocol officer in charge of foreign affairs in a bid to get the dues of the stranded Indians released", he said.

The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi this morning, he said.

There are totally 11 children, five of them infants in the age group of one and half years and two, Kannan said.

The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said.

Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts.

A pregnant nurse was among those evacuated.
Thiruvananthapuram: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Kerala-Somalia comparison, the CPI-M here on Thursday said situation in the state did not become like the African country because BJP never came to power here.

"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.

Referring to Modi's Somalia remarks, Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power".

He said "Gujarat Model" development projected by the BJP was actually a false propaganda.

"It was the first communist government formed in 1957 that laid the foundation for the development path of the state with its policy on land reforms, education, health and also in other sectors," Balakrishnan said.

Taking a swipe at Modi, the CPI-M leader said whichever states that went to polls where Modi led the campaign as Prime Minister, BJP suffered defeat.

"In Kerala also, the same thing is going to happen. BJP is not going to open an account in the state this time also", he said.

Assailing the Congress-led UDF, he said political climate in the state was in favour of LDF and the "Front will come to power with more than 98 seats which it got in 2006 Assembly polls".

He alleged that it was the soft stand taken by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that paved way for the growth of "Hindutva force" in the state.

Balakrishnan said UDF government had withdrawn cases against Hindutva leaders including VHP leader Praveen Togadia.

This government has refused to file any case against the VHP workers when 'ghar wapsi' was organised in the state, he pointed out.

Referring to Modi's remark that CPI-M encouraged violence, Balakrishnan said 221 CPI-M workers had been killed by BJP activists since 1970. After the UDF government came to power in 2011, 28 CPI-M workers were killed.

The LDF would decide on its leader (Chief Minister) after the results are out, he said.
Ujjain (MP): Police have booked some members of eunuch community for allegedly throwing coins during their procession, which could have potentially led to a stampede, at the ongoing Kumbh fair.

"We have registered a case against the eunuchs (Hijras) for taking out a procession without permission and throwing coins during the course of procession yesterday," Superintendent of Police, Manohar Verma told PTI today.

For the first time in the history of Kumbh, eunuchs have set up their 'akhara' (temporary monastery) and anointed their rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as their spiritual head ('Mahamandaleshwar'), drawing ire of 'All India Akhara Parishad'.

Yesterday, around 500 eunuchs sporting coloured sarees and Laxmi Narayan riding a horse reached 'Gandharav Ghat' (banks) of Kshipra river and took the dip amid cheering by onlookers.

Verma said police are identifying the eunuchs who participated in the procession and reportedly threw coins in public which jostled each other to collect them.

"You might be knowing that a tragedy had taken place due to throwing of coins at Nashik Kumbh," the SP said.

Around 39 pilgrims were killed allegedly when some sadhus threw silver coins resulting in a stampede at Nasik Kumbh in August 2003.

When asked whether Laxmi Narayan has been booked in this regard, the officer said, "We have registered a case and investigating the matter. The case has been registered against unidentified persons under various sections of IPC including section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)".

Earlier, the eunuchs had scheduled their holy bath on May 9 but later deferred it to May 12, before changing the plan yet again and taking out the procession yesterday.
Ujjain: Six 'sadhus' were Thursday injured when a fight broke out among them over an election for different posts in their Akhara during the ongoing 'Simhastha Kumbh' here, police said.

Two sadhus have been arrested in connection with the incident, they said.

According to some pilgrims, loud sounds of gun shots were heard during the clash which happened at 'Ahavan Akhara' (temporary monastery).

However, police did not confirm the use of firearms saying they are investigating the matter.

Four of the injured 'sadhus' have been admitted to district hospital, while the two others, who sustained minor wounds in the clash in which sharp-edged 'trishuls' (tridents) were used to attack each other, were treated at the Akhara, Additional Superintendent of Police Manish Khatri told PTI.

Two sadhus have been arrested, he said.

The ASP said they were investigating whether firearms were used in the fight.

A case was registered and further investigations are on, he said.

The clash is suspected to have taken place over elections for different posts in the Akhara, police officials said.
Kathmandu: Two years after deadly disasters forced closure of the trek to the top of world's highest mountain, 9 Sherpa climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest on Wednesday.

The group reached the summit at 5:02 pm yesterday. Tier success is opening up a route to the 8,850-metre summit was important as there is now a clearly defined track for other climbers to follow.

The 9 Sherpas, called as 'Icefall Doctors', work as high-altitude guides for those aspiring to scale the Everest.

As many as 12 foreign climbers are waiting to attempt the final ascent today. In total, 289 climbers are in a bid to climb Mount Everest. The success rate of 'mission Everest' is said to only around 50-60%.

Everest expeditions were called off in April 2014 after a massive avalanche near the Base Camp killed 14 Nepali guides. In 2015, climbers had arrived at the Base Camp to attempt a mission but avalanches triggered by the massive earthquake that hit Nepal that year killed 19 climbers, forcing the government to shut down the expedition once more.
Islamabad: The Indian lobby has been making "untiring efforts" to reverse the US decision and block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has told the Senate.

Winding up a debate on an adjournment motion moved by Mohsin Khan Leghari and others over the withdrawal of proposed subsidy on sale of F-16s fighter jets to Pakistan by the US, Aziz said the government is pursuing the issue of sale of F-16s with the country at different levels and forums.

"The Indian lobby has been making untiring efforts to reverse the US decision, and a strong attempt, through Senator Rand Paul's resolution, to block the sale itself," Aziz was quoted as saying by an official statement.

"The move was however defeated proving the strong merit of our arguments, and the effectiveness of our outreach to the US at various levels, particularly to the US Congressional leaders," he said.

Congress opposed funding of these eight aircraft through foreign military funding of the United States, he pointed out.

Aziz said Pakistan Defence Minister has written a letter to his American counterpart highlighting the importance of F-16s in the war against terror. He said Defence Consultative Group of the two countries would meet at the end of next month where this issue would also be substantially discussed.

The Advisor said that Pakistan-US relationship was on positive trajectory during the last three years with significant progress in the realms of political, economic and defence ties.
Coimbatore: The widow of a slain Dalit youth, who was hacked to death in March this year in a case of honour killing, allegedly attempted suicide today and has been hospitalised, police said.

19-year-old Kausalya fell unconscious at her in-laws' house near Udumalpet in Tirupur district after consuming poisonous cow dung powder and was rushed to a government hospital in that town.

Police, quoting her relatives, said she was depressed after the death of her husband.

Doctors attending on her said her condition was stable.

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary G Ramakrishnan, who visited the hospital, told reporters that the need of the hour was strong counselling for Kausalya.

He said he would try to convince her not to resort to take such drastic steps.

Kausalya had survived the March 13 attack when three persons attacked her and her 22-year-old husband Shankar with sickles in full public view near a bus stand in Udumalpet, allegedly at the behest of her father, a caste Hindu who was opposed to their inter-caste marriage.

Shankar had died on his way to the hospital.

Kausalya had blamed her father, who surrendered before a local court in Nilakottai in Dindigal district, for the attack.

Video footage of the attack had gone viral triggering an outrage. Five persons, including the girl's mother, were arrested,

Kausalya has been staying with her in-laws ever since she was discharged from hospital on March 28.
Varanasi: Bihar Chief Minister on Thursday slammed the BJP and the RSS, saying those who were never part of the freedom movement have no right to preach what nationalism means.

"Today the BJP is talking about nationalism whereas the veterans of the BJP and the RSS played no role in the independence movement," Nitish Kumar told a rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s constituency Varanasi.

"When Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) was fighting against the British, when freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad gave their lives for the country, they (BJP and RSS) were not there.

"But today they are preaching nationalism," the Janata Dal-United leader said. He quickly added: "We don`t need nationalism lessons from them."

The chief minister, making his first visit to Varanasi after the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, alleged that the central government had failed on every front.

"They promised to bring back black money in 100 days. Have they delivered?

"They delivered Love Jehad, Ghar Wapsi and during the Bihar elections they raised the issue of beef," he said.
Jalaun (Uttar Pradesh): It seems crime has no boundaries in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, a state that will face assembly polls next year.

Despite the state government taking steps to cut down crime, shocking incidents continue to surface, leaving the state police force almost always grappling with a law and order problem.

The latest crime came to light in the state's Jalaun district. A girl, probably in her teens, who was raped recently, was found strangled to death.

Jalaun district police led by the Superintendent of Police are investigating the incident that took place in the Kaunch Kotwali police jurisdiction in New Patel Nagar area.

According to the police, prima facie suspicion is on a young male person living next door to the murdered girl's home. The male is absconding.
Dehradun: The annual Char Dham pilgrimage has begun with the reopening of the portals of Badrinath shrine in the Garhwal hills after the winter break amid chants of Vedic hymns.

Elaborate rituals preceded the formal opening of the Himalayan temple, located at a height of 10,279 feet, yesterday, a senior Badrinath-Kedarnath Samiti official said.

The other three Himalayan temples on the circuit -- Kedranath, Gangotri and Yamunotri -- had reopened on May 9. With reopening of Badrinath temple, the annual Char Dham yatra has begun.

Badrinath shrine Chief Priest Ishwar Prasad Nambudiri threw the temple doors open in the wee hours in the presence of Mandir Samiti officials and thousands of devotees amid chants of Vedic hymns and "Jai Badri Vishal".

Over 8,000 devotees visited the temple, located on the banks of Alaknanda river, on the first day, he said. Former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri also offered prayers at the shrine.

The four Himalayan temples are closed every year with the onset of the winter when they remain snowbound.
Gaza City: Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said today that he felt compelled to visit Gaza to understand its part in the global refugee crisis for a documentary he is filming.

While Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans have formed the bulk of the thousands of people fleeing to Europe, hundreds of Palestinians have also made the treacherous journey.

And Ai said he could not ignore the decades-old reality of Palestinian refugees due to their "long history".

"It is a big population and has such a complexity of political conditions and affects a huge society," he told AFP.

"If we are doing a documentary film we have to search (for) what happened in this refugee situation in the global sense and Gaza is a very, very important location we have to film in."

The Gaza Strip is home to more than 1.7 million people, over 1.25 million of whom are refugees, according to the United Nations.

Most come from families who left their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948, and Ai joked that he arrived "late" to the story.

While the global film world has been focused on the Cannes Film Festival this week, the dissident documentary maker, who was jailed for 81 days over his support for democracy and human rights in China, entered Gaza.

He travelled to a number of parts of the coastal strip, including Jabalia camp in northern Gaza where he met refugees and displaced people whose homes were destroyed during the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants.
Maiduguri: Boko Haram today claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed two police officers in northeast Nigeria, just days before a regional security summit on efforts to eradicate the Islamists.

The group, using the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), said in a statement posted on social media that the bomber "was able to detonate his explosive vest in the area of Maiduguri".

It claimed "at least 15 apostates (non-believers)" were killed in the attack, which happened at about 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Borno State Secretariat in the city.

But Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said only two died and said the attacker blew up as security personnel stopped him from trying to get into the government offices.

"Unfortunately in the process of stopping him, he detonated the improvised explosive device on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman...

"Sadly, the injured policeman died later," Usman said in an emailed statement, adding that 18 people were injured and taken for treatment.

Mohammed Kanar, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, and an accident and emergency spokesman for the Borno State Specialist Hospital, also confirmed just two deaths.

Between 19 and 24 people were injured in the blast, they added.

Locals and street vendors earlier told AFP the explosion initially appeared to come from a passing motorised rickshaw, which went up in flames and was gutted in the blast.

Boko Haram suicide bombers have previously used public transport to travel to multiple targets in the northeast and wider north.

The Islamist group was founded in Maiduguri in 2002 and the city has been repeatedly attacked since the insurgency turned violent in 2009.

But a relative calm has returned there in recent months as a military counter-insurgency makes apparent gains against rebel strongholds across the northeast.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is this weekend hosting leaders of neighbouring countries, plus French President Francois Hollande, and senior British and US government officials.

The meeting is expected to focus on boosting regional and international cooperation in defeating the Islamic State group affiliate, which has also attacked Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron has apologised to a former imam for "any misunderstanding", weeks after he accused the Muslim cleric of supporting the dreaded Islamic State terror group.

Cameron was criticised last month after he accused London newly elected mayor Sadiq Khan of sharing a platform with Suliman Gani, claiming the ex-imam was a supporter of the Islamic State.

"Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS," Cameron had said during the London mayoral campaign.

"In reference to the prime minister's comments on Suliman Gani, the prime minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic State. The prime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding," a Downing Street spokesman said yesterday.

Cameron's apology came after Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also said sorry to Gani, a former Tooting Imam who threatened legal action against him for repeating Cameron's accusations in a radio interview.

A spokesman for Fallon told the 'Mirror' he had simply quoted BBC presenter Andrew Neil and was 'unaware of the clarification'.

"Had he been aware, he would not of course have quoted him and as soon he became aware he put the record straight. He naturally apologises for this inadvertent error," the spokesman said.

Gani, a Conservative supporter, has stressed that he 'openly condemned the barbarity and monstrosity of Isis'.

He said he had never supported IS and now fears for his family's safety in light of the untrue accusation.

He also said he had already been subjected to verbal abuse by strangers in the street, who shouted "terrorist supporter" at him.

"In relation to David Cameron saying in Parliament that I support IS, I understand that he can do this despite it being untrue and at the same time avoid any legal implications by relying on Parliamentary privilege," Gani, had tweeted.
Beijing: May 16 marks 50 years since the declaration of China`s Cultural Revolution, a decade that plunged the country into chaos, leaving millions dead and transforming its political landscape.

Here is the background to this critical period in Chinese history. It was partly a political power struggle. In the early 1960s, China`s paramount leader Mao Zedong found himself losing control. Many of his ideas had been disproved by the failure of the Great Leap Forward, an effort to rapidly industrialise the country that led to a massive famine and the deaths of tens of millions.

In response, he fomented a national movement to discredit political rivals, encouraging young people and workers to rebel against the social order and "bombard the headquarters". Through skillful manipulation of public sentiment, Mao and his allies destroyed many top leaders and cultivated a cult of personality around Mao that gave him near-total control of the government.

It was also a struggle for ideological purity, pitting neighbour against neighbour and even child against parent as each sought to prove their leftist credentials. Participants rejected traditional Chinese values, calling for true Communists to "smash the `four olds`": old customs, old culture, old habits and old ideas.

Many of the country`s most valuable relics and buildings were destroyed, and, as the Cultural Revolution rejected foreign influence, China entered a period of extreme xenophobia.The "Circular of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution" was issued on May 16, 1966 setting up a leadership group of Mao, his wife Jiang Qing, and other key supporters.

It aimed to weed out supposed capitalist infiltration of the communist cause -- and Mao`s own rivals -- in the culmination of a push that began in 1962 when he panned a play he thought critical of his rule.

Students and schoolchildren formed into Red Guards, devoted to rooting out "capitalist roaders" and promoting Mao Zedong Thought. Mao encouraged them to criticise their elders, their teachers and the government.

By mid-June, schools were shuttered. Mao and his allies encouraged revolutionary fervour and invited students to spread the movement countrywide, letting them ride trains for free.Mao`s call for "permanent revolution" soon got out of hand, with students` attacks on "counter-revolutionaries" and "class enemies" turning violent.

The Red Guards split into rival factions, like gangs, sometimes fighting each other in the streets.

Historians believe millions died in the ensuing violence, ranging from street battles to public denunciations, or even torture and executions. Others killed themselves as a result of intense criticism.

Concerned by the chaos he had unleashed, Mao in 1968 sent troops to stop the Red Guards, forcing millions of young urbanites to move to the countryside.

As a result, an entire generation of China`s "sent down youth" largely missed out on formal education. By 1969, the army had restored a modicum of order in the country, helped by the looming threat of war with the Soviet Union.

Many of Mao`s followers were disillusioned by the mysterious death in 1971 of his hand-chosen successor Lin Biao, who was accused of plotting to assassinate the leader.

Mao`s wife Jiang Qing and her associates, known as the Gang of Four, struggled with more moderate elements in the Communist Party for control.

But by the time Mao died in 1976, there was little appetite left for the Gang of Four`s radical leftism. The group was thrown out of power and replaced by Deng Xiaoping, who began the slow process of reforming China`s economy and opening it to the outside world.In 1981, the Communist party declared that Mao was 70 percent correct and 30 percent wrong. Opinions on the Cultural Revolution are similarly mixed. While many look back on it as a dark time in China`s history, others see it as a crucible that tested the nation.

The hard lessons of the era produced today`s leading figures, from President Xi Jinping to succesful businessman Wang Jianlin. But it also created deep scars on both the country`s landscape and national psyche that still exist today.

dly/slb/ceb/iw
Fourteen people, including children, have been rescued off the Solomon Islands after being lost at sea for more than five weeks, surviving on betel nut skins, reports said Thursday.

Another woman on their boat died from dehydration and her body was thrown overboard, with two of those picked up seriously ill.

The Papua New Guineans were attempting to travel between two islands on their country`s east coast on April 4 but they had engine problems and ended up "helplessly drifting around parts of the Pacific Ocean", PNG`s Post Courier newspaper said.

The four men, seven women and three children were seen off the Solomons, more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) southeast of PNG, by a sea plane on Tuesday, PNG`s High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands Fred Yakasa said.

"They were spotted by a sea plane... which transferred these people to another fishing vessel called Majestic Sun, which ferried them to safety in Honiara," Yakasa told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to the Solomons capital.

"I think the people back at home, they probably have assumed they are lost for good ... it`s a long time at sea."

He gave no other precise details about where they were found or the boat they were on.

Yakasa said the survivors threw the body of the dead woman, believed to be in her late 40s or early 50s, overboard after waiting two days. They survived the ordeal by eating betel nut skins they had on board, he added.

Betel nut is a popular stimulant which is chewed in many parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

Its users, which can be recognised by their red-stained teeth and lips, sing its praises as a pick-me-up that increases alertness, boosts energy and freshens the breath.

The PNG High Commission was arranging for the survivors to return home after getting the all-clear from doctors, the Post-Courier added.
Washington: Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has promised to release information about Area 51 - a Nevada Air Force base where many believe the US keeps top secret information about extraterrestrial (ET) beings - if she is elected president.

However, President Barack Obama has no plans to open up government files on the matter, Politico quoted White House press secretary Josh Earnest as saying on Wednesday.

I have to admit that I dont have a tab in my briefing book for Area 51, Earnest said after he was asked whether the president wants to beat Clinton to the punch before he leaves office.

The spokesman said he is not aware of any plans the president has to make public any information about this, adding that hes not sure whether Obama has reviewed any government files on extraterrestrial life forms.

Clinton made the proposal in all seriousness last month during a radio interview and has demonstrated more than a casual understanding of the issue, The New York Times reported.

When she appeared on talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live recently, the host asked her whether she believes in unidentified flying objects (UFO). Clinton, a noted policy wonk, quickly corrected Kimmel's improper terminology.

"You know, there's a new name," Clinton said, adding "It's unexplained aerial phenomenon. U.A.P. That's the latest nomenclature."

Her position has elated UFO enthusiasts, who have declared Clinton the first 'ET candidate'.

Hillary has embraced this issue with an absolutely unprecedented level of interest in American politics, said Joseph G. Buchman, who has spent decades calling for government transparency about extraterrestrials.

The CIA in 2013 declassified certain documents confirming the existence of the Area 51 military base, created as per executive order by late president Dwight Eisenhower in the mid-1950s as a zone in which to test the high-flying U-2 spy plane.

The secrecy surrounding the base for decades sparked an endless number of conspiracy theories, including those that claimed extraterrestrial technology gained from UFOs was being studied there.
Rome: Italy has begun the grisly task of raising a corpse-packed trawler from the seabed near Libya, a year after up to 800 migrants perished in the Mediterranean`s deadliest disaster since World War II.

Two bodies were recovered in the early stages of the delicate and complex operation being carried out by diving and marine company Impresub and heavy lifting specialists Fagioli under the supervision of the Italian coastguard.

Despite the costs and difficulties involved, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi vowed last year to salvage the wreck and give the victims decent burials as a symbol of respect for all the migrants who have died trying to reach Europe`s shores.

Around 9,000 people are known to have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since the current migrant crisis erupted in mid-2013. Aid agencies say it is likely many more disappeared without trace after being abandoned on the high seas by traffickers.

The two companies are using a specially designed device with hydraulic arms and underwater cameras to lift the wreck from its resting place, 380 metres (around 1,245 feet) down.

The perilously overcrowded migrant boat sank on the night of April 18-19 last year after running into a Portuguese freighter which had raced to its rescue, the collision sending panicked passengers stampeding to one side, causing the vessel to keel over.

Only 28 people survived. According to survivors, there had been up to 800 people packed onto the boat.

"The recovery consists in clasping the wreck with the robotic device... and bringing it to the surface without damaging it, if possible," engineer Egidio Ibba, Impresub`s director of operations, said in a video released by the navy.

All apertures on the boat have been sealed off to ensure none of the bodies within are lost as the vessel is lifted, and the navy said bits of the trawler had been removed to ensure a smooth lift to the surface.The Ievoli Ivory offshore tug ship, kitted out with the vast yellow hydraulic arms, has a crew of 20 as well as 35 technicians on board.

It began lifting the doomed ship at 1600 GMT on Wednesday. Bringing it to the surface was expected to take at least 20 hours.

The sunken trawler will then be lifted onto a barge which will begin the long, slow haul to the port of Augusta in Sicily, where forensic scientists from across Italy are on hand to begin identifying the bodies packed inside.

"Even before it is taken ashore, accessible parts of the wreck will be examined to recover any bodies in reach," Ibba said.

The wreck will then be placed in a refrigerated tent some 30 metres long, 20 metres wide and 10 metres high, so that work can begin on extracting the bodies. Once empty, the boat will be immediately destroyed.

Fifty bodies were recovered the day of the tragedy, while another 171 have since been brought up from around the wreck, including the two recovered on Wednesday.

Fingerprints, DNA samples and distinguishing body marks will be collected on file from the corpses inside the trawler in the hope the data may helping relatives seeking lost loved ones.

The bodies will then be buried in Sicilian cemeteries.

Since the first large-scale migrant wrecks off Lampedusa island in 2013, Italy has been looking at ways to establish the names of all those who perish while fleeing war, poverty or persecution in Africa, the Middle East or South Asia.

But there are no passenger lists on crossings organised by traffickers, documents are quickly destroyed in water and many people are not reported missing because relatives fear repercussions from oppressive governments.
Washington: Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has demoted his proposed Muslim immigration ban to a mere "suggestion".

In a radio interview with Fox News` on Wednesday, Trump softened his call to temporarily prohibit Muslims from entering the US.

"We have a serious problem. It`s a temporary ban. It hasn`t been called for yet. Nobody`s done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out what`s going on," Trump said.

But Trump did not mince words in linking Muslims to the proliferation of terrorism around the world, Politico reported.

"We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world. You can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world: If they want to deny it, they can deny it. I don`t choose to deny it," he said.

Trump`s comments came a day after he claimed he would make an "exception" for London`s first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, to enter the US.

"There will always be exceptions," he told The New York Times on Tuesday, while adding he was happy Khan was elected in the city.

Khan was not impressed with Trump`s gesture, saying that the Manhattan billionaire was "ignorant" about Islam and that he hoped he would lose the US election.

Trump has often given conflicting accounts on issues including his tax plan, abortion and transgender people accessing public toilets.

This flexibility has led to concerns among Republican Party leaders about his candidacy.

Top Republicans including House Speaker Paul Ryan have said they were not ready to support Trump in the general election.

Trump will meet Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ryan and others on Thursday in an attempt to resolve differences.
Jerusalem: Police today arrested 15 Israeli rightwing activists who were planning to go to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound without authorisation, a statement said.

The compound is Islam's third holiest site and the holiest to Jews who call it the Temple Mount.

Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there, and incidents occur regularly when Jews try to ignore the rule and Muslims intervene to stop them.

Today, dozens of rightwing activists gathered in the centre of Jerusalem as part of a plan to head to the flashpoint site, police said.

"A police officers ordered them to disperse but they refused and 15 of them were arrested," the statement said.

Before police intervened, the activists "committed acts of violence" against Palestinians, police said.

"They had formed a human chain to prevent local residents from entering the Old City and committed acts of violence against them," said the statement, which gave no further details.
Vatican City: Pope Francis said on Friday that he is willing to create a commission to study whether women can be deacons in the Catholic Church, signaling an openness to letting women serve in ordained ministry currently reserved to men.

Francis agreed to the proposal during a closed-door meeting with some 900 superiors of women's religious orders. Deacons are ordained ministers but are not priests, though they can perform many of the same functions as priests: preside at weddings, baptisms and funerals, and preach. They cannot, however, celebrate Mass.

Currently, married men, who are also mostly excluded from the Roman Catholic priesthood, can serve as deacons. Women cannot, however, though historians say women served as deacons in the early Church.

The pope in no way signalled during a 75-minute conversation with the sisters that the church's longstanding prohibition on ordaining women priests will change. But asked during a question and answer session if he would be willing to create a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons, Francis said he was open to the idea, according to the National Catholic Reporter and Catholic News Service, which were in the audience hall.

The publications quoted Francis as saying: "I accept. It would be useful for the church to clarify this question. I agree."

Francis noted that the deaconesses of the early church weren't ordained as they are today. But he said he would ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to report back on studies that have been done on the issue, Catholic News Service said.

Francis also said he would ask another Vatican office that is in charge of the liturgy to report back on why women aren't allowed to give a homily at Mass.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author, said the pope's willingness to create a study commission on the women's diaconate in and of itself is significant.

"The female diaconate is not only an idea whose time has come, but a reality recovered from history," he said in an email.

"Women preaching during Mass would mean that Catholics would finally be able to hear reflections on Scripture from women speaking from the pulpit, and thus the Church would be immeasurably enriched. This is news of immense joy for the Church."
District of Columbia: Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump fell short of winning an endorsement from House speaker Paul Ryan Thursday after a high-stakes bid to get the party leadership behind his divisive White House run.

Trump and Ryan issued a joint statement after the face-to-face meeting calling it a "positive step toward unification" and stressing the need to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November elections.

But Ryan, who declared last week that he was "just not ready" to support Trump as the party's flagbearer, withheld his endorsement of the New York billionaire.

"I think this is going in a positive direction and I think this is a first very encouraging meeting," he told reporters afterward. "But again in 45 minutes you don`t litigate all of the processes and all the issues and the principles that we are talking about."

In the joint statement, the two said: "While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground."

"We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there`s a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal," they said.

Their talks also included Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, and were followed by a broader meeting between Trump and House GOP leaders.

The real estate mogul, who has never run for elective office before, was scheduled to meet later in the day with his party`s Senate leaders.Concerns about the tone and substance of Trump`s campaign have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to win the presidency and hold the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Charlie Dent, a moderate House Republican who was not in Thursday`s meetings, told reporters the session with House leaders was "an opportunity to clear the air."

Trump "has to convince many Americans, including myself, that he`s ready to lead this great nation," he said. "At this point I haven`t been persuaded, but I`m ready to listen."

Trump`s efforts will tell whether he will have the full support of his party as he goes into what promises to be a brutal general election fight with Clinton.

Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, took up the speakership last October pledging to modernize the party`s image and reach out to minority groups that traditionally vote Democratic.

But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative real estate mogul has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States in his quest for the party nomination.

When Trump arrived at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington he was greeted by a dozen or so chanting protesters.

Trump ignored the protesters, who carried signs that read "Trump is a racist" and "RIP GOP," as he entered the building through a back door.

"Undocumented! Unafraid!" protesters shouted in defiance of Trump`s vow to order mass deportations of illegal immigrants if elected.Trump was looking for more than just a photo op on Thursday.

"I have a lot of respect for Paul and I think we`re going to have a very good meeting," he told Fox News on Tuesday.

"If we make a deal, that will be great," he added later. "And if we don`t, we will trudge forward like I`ve been doing and winning, you know, all the time."

While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there are signs of a growing move to unite behind Trump.

The chairmen of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon Wednesday, saying in a statement that Trump posted on his Facebook page that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee... and maintain control of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate".

On Tuesday, Republican Senator James Inhofe criticized Ryan`s reticence, saying Trump "is the nominee, he`s going to be working together and have to establish a workable relationship, and I think they will."

"But that`s not a good way to start," he added.

A handful of pro-Trump House Republicans met with Ryan Wednesday to urge him to back the billionaire.Although some Republicans called for a genuine conservative candidate to challenge Trump and Clinton in November, that prospect has dimmed.

"Most of my members believe he`s won the nomination the old-fashioned way," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who after months of voicing concern about how a Trump nomination might affect Republican efforts to hold the Senate, has expressed support for him.

"We know that Hillary Clinton will be four more years of Barack Obama. I think that`s going to, in the end, be enough to unify Republicans across the country."

Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they separate themselves from The Donald.

But others have downplayed the crisis, saying there was plenty of time for Trump to flesh out his policy positions and develop a more presidential bearing.
Washington: The US has expressed concern over "narrowing of legitimate political space" in Maldives, saying too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars due to the government's "intolerance" for criticism.

There has been little progress since last year with respect to strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Maldives, Indian-American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"While we acknowledge the extended medical leave granted to former president (Mohamed) Nasheed, we remain greatly concerned about the narrowing of legitimate political space: too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars because the government's intolerance for criticism or competition," Biswal said yesterday.

"We are also concerned about the fertile ground for recruitment that violent extremists find in Maldives, where the youth population struggles with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities in higher education," she said.

Maldives is also one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the impacts of climate change, and is threatened by seaborne trafficking of drugs and weapons, Biswal said.

The State Department has request a budget of USD 3.3 million for Maldives in financial year 2017.

This will allow the US to continue its engagement with Maldives to adapt to the impacts of climate change, counter violent extremism and increase maritime security, Biswal added.

"We are also concerned about the fertile ground for recruitment that violent extremists find in Maldives, where the youth population struggles with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities in higher education," she said.

Maldives is also one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the impacts of climate change, and is threatened by seaborne trafficking of drugs and weapons, Biswal said.

The State Department has request a budget of USD 3.3 million for Maldives in financial year 2017.

This will allow the US to continue its engagement with Maldives to adapt to the impacts of climate change, counter violent extremism and increase maritime security, Biswal added.

Former Maldivian president Nasheed is serving a 13-year jail term on terror charges. He was granted 30 days of leave for medical treatment in the UK.
Washington: America's national security apparatus does not reflect its ethnic and racial diversity, National Security Advisor Susan Rice has said while noting that individuals like US Ambassador to India Richard Verma build bridges and deepen partnerships in a globalised world.

"We must acknowledge that our national security agencies have not yet drawn fully on the strengths of our great nation. Minorities still make up less than 20 per cent of our senior diplomats," Rice said in her address at a Florida University.

"Less than 15 per cent of senior military officers and senior intelligence officials. Too often, our national security workforce has been what former Florida Senator Bob Graham called 'white, male, and Yale'. In the halls of power, in the faces of our national security leaders, America is still not fully reflected," Rice said in her address, which is expected to have a long-term implication on the diversity of the national security apparatus.

"We can see the profound importance of our diversity in the realm of foreign policy and national security. Those who deride our diversity, my answer is: I see why it matters every day, in those who protect this country and grapple with the toughest global issues we face," she said, noting that she is privileged to work with brilliant and dedicated professionals across the government.

Rice argued that a diverse national security workforce enables US to unlock all of its nation?s talent. There are some 320 million people in the United States. Nearly 40 percent are minorities, and an increasing number of them are earning college and graduate degrees, she said.

"As America becomes more diverse, so do our best people. The next Colin Powell or Madeleine Albright or Bill Richardson is out there. Our country?and our policies?will be stronger if we can bring them on-board," said the top national security of the President Barack Obama.

In Obama's first term, Rice served as the US Ambassador to the UN.

Rice said leaders from diverse backgrounds can often come up with more creative insights, proffer alternative solutions, and thus make better decisions.

"Think of the LGBT person in Bangladesh who knows that someone at the American embassy understands who she is. Think of the Iraqi soldier, learning to fight alongside Iraqis from other religious sects, who takes inspiration from America's own multi-ethnic force," she said.

"Think of young Haitians drawn to converse with a Foreign Service officer who has dreadlocks like their own ? or our Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, showered with rose petals when he visits his grandmother's ancestral home in Punjab. That is how we build bridges and deepen partnerships in an increasingly globalised world," Rice said.

Rice said without tapping into America's full range of races, religions, ethnicities, language skills, and social and economic experiences, the US is leading in a complex world with one hand tied behind its back.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Microsoft became the first IT company in history, which participated in the UN Security Council session. Steve Crown, Vice-President and Deputy General Counsel of Microsoft Corporation, said that, for the Internet industry, the scale of the terrorist challenge is daunting. Indeed, as one was terrorist propaganda site was taken down, another seemed to spring up in its place, Armenpress reports, citing the UN official website.

There had been 7,500 tweets within 15 minutes of the Paris attacks, and within two weeks, there had been 1 million Internet views, many praising the attacks, he recalled. In fact, another company in the technology sector had noted that its 1.6 billion users submitted one million reports of objectionable postings every day across all content categories. If there were an elegant solution, industry would have adopted it, he said, adding that there was no silver bullet to stop terrorists using the Internet.

He went on to emphasize that terrorist use of Internet platforms was a complicated topic. Like fire, gunpowder and the printing press, any technology could be used for either good or evil. Since the Internet industry was built on the idea that communications could unleash human potential, Microsofts mission was to empower every person on the planet.

Other companies in the sector, including Google, Facebook and Twitter, differed from each other and competed fiercely at times, but they came together when Internet platforms were abused, he said. Perhaps the best example was the unity displayed in combating child sex abuse materials, he said. Similarly, the industry was united in working to address terrorist abuse of technology services.

Describing public-private partnerships as the appropriate response, he stressed the need for the international community to work together in a coordinated and transparent way. However, there was no universally accepted definition of terrorism or extremism at the international or regional level, he pointed out. While definitional lines were hard to draw, the international community could agree broadly on harmful actors, he said, emphasizing that dialogue and learning was the path to success.

The rule of law and the promotion of human rights were critical for Microsoft, he stressed, pointing out that it published a global human rights statement in order to ensure the right approach to doing business.

As actors worked together across sectors, it was essential that they have an open discussion and explore new and improved means of addressing misuse of information and technology platforms. We need to admit what we do not know, he said, underscoring the need to focus on taking action and learning from experience.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan commented for ARMENPRESS the Azerbaijani large-scale aggression against Nagorno Karabakh ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the ceasefire. Kocharyan said the maintenance of the 1994 ceasefire signed by Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan is the international obligation of the sides, and the April 2-5 Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh is a gross violation of this oblgation and a blatant aggression.

- Mr. Kocharyan, today is the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the 1994 ceasefire agreement by Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, how can you comment the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in April?

- First, lets note that the signing of the 1994 May 12 ceasefire agreement became possible because the Azerbaijani leadership initiated direct talks with the Nagorno Karabakhi leadership. This proves the progress of the settlement issue is possible only by the full participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations.

- Lets also note, the maintenance of the 1994 ceasefire is the international obligation of the sides, and the April 2-5 Azerbaijani military offensive against Nagorno Karabakh is a gross violation of this obligation and a blatant aggression. The Azerbaijani aggression of April proved to everyone that during the previous 22 years, Baku used the negotiations process as a cover to acquire weapons and solve the issue by military means, which was the main reason of the maintenance of the status quo in the conflict zone.

- The urges of the Minsk Group Co-chairing countries for strictly maintaining and strengthening the 1994 trilateral ceasefire are quite understandable, as a basis of a peaceful negotiating process.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Hours after the monitoring in the NKR Martakert region, the Azerbaijani side again violated the ceasefire regime in line of contact which resulted in the death of Armenian soldier. This shows that Azerbaijan ignores the mediation efforts to resolve Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenpress reports, Armenian Defense Ministrys statement reads.

The statement says: On May 11 and throughout the morning of May 12 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 confidently maintain control of the situation and conduct response actions only in case of strict intentional violations by the Azerbaijani side.

According to the information provided by the Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijani fire has killed a Nagorno Karabakhi serviceman.

The NKR Defense Army announcement reads: Starting at 19:30, May 11 and overnight May 12 Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire agreement by firing various caliber weapons, grenade launchers and mortars. Around 20:00, May 11, Nagorno Karabakhi serviceman Armen H. Martirosyan (b. 1996), was fatally wounded in the northern military unit. An investigation is underway to determine details of the incident.

The Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh shares the grief of loss and expresses its support to the family, relatives and co-servicemen of the killed soldier.

The Nagorno Karabakhi forces took countermeasures and suppressed the Azerbaijani aggression.

It important to state that the incident took place just few hours after the OSCE monitoring in the Martakert region which shows that the Azerbaijani side ignores the mediation efforts to resolve Nagorno Karabakh conflict and once again confirms the necessity of installing incident investigation mechanisms as soon as possible.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. NATO will hold dialogue with Russia where and when it can, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced this in the context of the launch of NATO anti-missile system new base in Romania, which, according to him, is not directed against Russia.

NATO will continue to engage in dialogue with Russia when and where we can. And, right now, when tensions are high, keeping channels of communication open is all the more important. At the same time NATO will continue to strengthen our defense to secure Allies from any threats, including from ballistic missiles, Armenpress reports citing NATO official website, Stoltenberg said.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As Armenpress reports, the Co-Chairs made a statement which says:

In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet. Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.

There can be no success in negotiations if violence continues, and there can be no peace without a negotiation process. We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan says Azerbaijan to achieve its desired goals must recognize Nagorno Karabakh independence and return Nagorno Karabakh territories occupied by it.

Azerbaijan always tries to bring out only the principle of territorial integrity from the whole settlement package of Karabakh conflict, the evidence of which is the statement of Elmar Mammadyarov in Germany. We should note the following: before the territorial issues, Azerbaijan must at least return NKR territories occupied by it and recognize Nagorno Karabakh. By recognition, Azerbaijan will have the entity which is entitled to discuss territorial issues. Armenia cannot resolve such issues instead of Nagorno Karabakh. This is the shortest way for Azerbaijan to reach its desired goal, Armenpress reports, Kocharyan said this during the briefing. He says Azerbaijan should return parts of Martuni and Martakert regions, as well as Shahumyan.

At the same time, Kocharyan stated that till now Azerbaijan used the negotiation process for spreading disinformation, running propaganda, arming and preparing for the military solution of the conflict. April events proved this. Despite the failure of its blitzkrieg, we see that Azerbaijani approaches did not change. From this perspective, we should always be ready for a new adventure, and a priority in negotiations, which today do not exist, should be given to the maintenance of the ceasefire regime, Kocharyan said.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh responds to the OSCE Minsk Group announcement, which stated it is time for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet.

David Babayan, spokesman of the Nagorno Karabakhi President, says there is no alternative to the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations.

A lot of time is needed to restore the full format, but it has no alternative, especially after this four-day war. Azerbaijan started a war against us, and the whole world knows this. But Azerbaijan does not want to negotiate with us. Is this a reasonable approach? Of course not. We understand there are difficulties, but anyway we will work towards fully restoring the negotiations format, Babayan said. According to him, if decisions towards establishing peace are made during the meeting, then the forthcoming meeting would be justified. He says time will show.

I think the international community must fully participate in the settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Nagorno Karabakhi conflict. It is not about changing the negotiations process, its about another attitude. For example, it is unacceptable when the First European Games, the UN forum, Formula 1 and similar events are held in Baku. This is simply immoral, because the aggressor gets encouraged by this. Therefore, the international community must display a cautious attitude, Babayan added.

According to him, it is even more unacceptable, when representatives of civilized democratic countries make announcements with the kind of sucking up which were maybe even not being done during classic feudal systems, Babayan added.

The Azerbaijani-Nagorno Karabakhi conflict is a litmus paper, addressed to the international community for eliminating its own defects. This fact should be used first and foremost the democratic civilized community. If not, the situation will be very difficult in the international community  in the layers of values of civilized democratic states.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Vice-President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov says the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is in line with the statements by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on installation of trust mechanisms and maintenance of the ceasefire. I have reads the announcement, and I can say that it recalls the statements by the Armenian President. We see that today there is no talk about the new package, the talk is exclusively about those proposals by the President which are the installation of trust mechanisms and maintenance of the ceasefire, Armenpress reports, Sharmazanov stated.

Sharmazanov recalled that he announced after the RPA Supreme Body session last week that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has positively reacted to the Armenian Presidents proposals adding that it can already be stated that not only Lavrov, but also the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs gave positive response.

To the questions what is the attitude to Armenian authorities towards the meeting between President of Armenia and Azerbaijan and whether it will take place, Sharmazanov said: You will be officially informed about the meeting as in previous times. Concerning my personal stance, I stated that the statement of Co-Chairs is very similar to the words of our President. This means that the major part of the proposals made by the President is included in this statement, Sharmazanov concluded.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a statement where they confirmed their full commitment to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet. Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.

There can be no success in negotiations if violence continues, and there can be no peace without a negotiation process. We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict, the statement reads.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov responded to Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyans announcement regarding the arms embargo on Nagorno Karabakh conflicting sides.

Sharmazanov said Kocharyan is a serious political figure, one of the few who have comprehensive knowledge about the reasons of the conflict and the ways of eliminating them.

I think he has expressed a very interesting opinion. Armenia is a peaceful country, we preach exclusively peace. We were never fond of arms race and have always condemned it. But as long as Azerbaijan is getting armed, Armenia must be guided by the You want peace, prepare for war philosophy, Sharmazanov said.

He added that it is not just about Azerbaijan, but also about Turkey. Unfortunately, we are living in a region where we have two neighbors, and Aliyev and Erdoghan started a race with one another just like Hitler and Mussolini, to find out who is more of a fascist and Nazi. In this context, of course we have to be cautious, he said.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan had given an interview to the Austrian Die Presse, during which he stated that he is for an arms embargo on all conflicting parties in the region.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Russian Presidents Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow welcomes all steps towards the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the restart of dialogue between Baku and Yerevan to find a compromise, Armenpress reports citing RIA Novosti.

Earlier it was informed in the media that the possible meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned in the nearest future.

I still have nothing concrete to say on that information. Undoubtedly, Moscow welcomes all steps aimed at easing tension in the conflict zone and returning to dialogue to find political settlement option, Peskov said during the briefing.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Issues of taking two wounded soldiers abroad for their recovery were discussed at the Ministry of Health yesterday till late night. Armenian Minister of Health Armen Muradyan says he meets the parents of the servicemen everyday and discusses the issue of taking them abroad.

Parents expressed their views. Of course, we cannot avoid emotional components on this issue, however, we managed to hold discussion. They are also convinced that soldiers' recovery can be possible abroad. We should provide all this process and take the responsibility of logistic planning. We have a duty towards their parents and we should carry out that works together with them, the Minister said during the briefing. He also added that these works will be organized also with donors taking into account the costs of taking soldiers abroad.

In any case, parents and soldiers have the right to decide to continue their treatment in Armenia or abroad, and we will be together with them during that time, the Minister stated.

He says parents want to take their sons to Hamburg Hospital, and yesterday he personally talked with the chosen doctor in the presence of parents. Parent will continue to keep in touch with foreign doctors, and the Ministry will assist them on every issue.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Eurasian Economic Commission Minister in charge of the main directions of the EEC integration and macroeconomics Tatyana Valovaya says there is growth in the exports of Armenian products to EEU countries in the first months of 2016, compared to the previous year.

The Armenian exports statistics are impressive. The January-February figures show 45% growth in exports from Armenia to Belarus, compared to previous year. Exports to Kirgizstan have grown 4 times, of course volumes are small, but the growth is significant. And the exports from Armenia to Russia have doubled, Valovaya said.

She said all conditions are present for the promotion of Armenian exports, the current issue is notably in the realm of businesses, companies must be active on their own. Already a year has passed, many exporters are using the opportunities of the Eurasian Economic Union. I see many Armenian products in stores of Moscow, the minister said.

She reassured their willingness to assist in any difficulties which might arise during the activities of Armenian entrepreneurs.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The US has activated a land-based missile defense station in Romania, which will form part of a larger and controversial European shield, Armenpress reports citing BBC.

Senior US and NATO officials are attending the ceremony in Deveselu, southern Romania.

The US says the Aegis system is a shield to protect NATO from short and medium-range missiles, particularly from the Middle East.

But Russia sees it as a security threat - a claim denied by NATO.

Relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated since Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in 2014.

Russia is also accused of arming separatists in eastern Ukraine and sending its troops there - a claim denied by the Kremlin.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and other senior officials from the military alliance are at the opening ceremony at an old Romanian air base in Deveselu.

The US is believed to have spent $800m (554m) on radar and SM-2 missile interceptors since 2013.

The station will have a battery of SM-2 missile interceptor.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Health Armen Muradyan rejects the information released by Russian Kommersant journal which says there have not been the necessary funds for the treatment of soldiers who received burns during April war in Armenia and they were taken to Russia with a special order.

This is the first time, I hear it, there are many speculations, and we should refrain from that. Currently we have the drugs necessary for soldiers treatment. Our servicemen receive highest level medical care. As for burns, we have two patients which are in critical situation, however, we can say there is a progress in their recovery, Armenpress reports, Armenian Minister said during the briefing with journalists.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. First President of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan held a meeting with the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills on May 12 at the initiative of the latter, Armenian National Congress (ANC) informed Armenpress.

Ambassador Mills mentioned that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs make efforts to set a constructive dialogue between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He stated that the Co-chairs have mentioned numerous times that in order to achieve peace and stability in the region, all the parties must demonstrate political will to take such decisions that will create an environment of trust. It is not easy to take such decisions, but it is encouraging that the Armenian authorities has assumed commitment for negotiated conflict settlement and we hope it will continue the same way, Ambassador Mills said.

Agreeing with the US Ambassador, Levon Ter-Petrosyan underscored the importance of creating monitoring mechanisms on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line parallel to the resumption of negotiations. He explained this with the fact that the parity approach adopted by the international community during the previous ceasefire violations not only did not help to exclude new violations, but indirectly encouraged Azerbaijan to unleash the large-scale April provocation, that claimed numerous lives from both sides. The creation of the monitoring mechanisms will give an opportunity to point out the violator in each circumstance, which can be a restraining factor.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. First Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan met with Head of the Office of the Special Envoy for the German OSCE Presidency 2016. Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk was also present at the meeting. The sides discussed the situation in the conflict zone and possible developments.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the First Deputy defense Minister of Armenia informed Thomas Lenk on the large-scale military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against NKR in early April, the current situation on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line and Armenia-Azerbaijan state border. Davit Tonoyan drew the attention of the interlocutor on the fact that hours after the OSCE mission conducted a monitoring on May 11 in north-eastern direction of the contact line of Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan forces from Talish village, a Defense Army soldier was killed by Azerbaijani fire in the same place. This incident shows that the OSCE monitoring in this format are not effective and Azerbaijan continues to grossly violate the ceasefire. It was stated that the installation of an international investigation mechanism on the contact line is one of the guarantees to prevent such incidents.

The sides also touched upon the information spread by Azerbaijan that allegedly the Armenian side used white phosphorus shell. The spread of such information once again shows the necessity of creating international monitoring mechanisms on the contact line in order to prevent the spread of similar disinformation.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The third round of negotiations on the formation of a new legal framework for relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union took place in Yerevan on May 12.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, the Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Karen Nazaryan, the European delegation - Director of the Eastern Partnership of the European External Action Service Dirk Schuebel.

Provisions referring to cooperation in political dialogue, reforms, justice and freedoms were discussed during the talks.

Afterwards, a plenary session took place, which summarized the results of talks with the European side over sectoral, trade and investment issues, as well as the circle of future discussions and timetable were outlined.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The official position of Armenias President on the meeting with Azerbaijani president will be promulgated within period defined by law. RPA spokesperson, Vice President of Republic of Armenia National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov told the journalists about this after the RPA Executive Body meeting. The Presidents Office will provide our public with relevant information, Armenpress reports Sharmazanov mentioning.

Referring to the latest announcement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, Sharmazanov noted that the announcement was consistent with President Sargsyans theses on settling Karabakh conflict. It clearly mentioned the necessity of reinforcing confidence mechanisms and the inevitability of preserving the ceasefire. In other words, the messages that made the President of the Republic, the three proposals touched upon by the leader of the Republic during the April war and after, are mainly included in the statement of the Co-chairs, Sharmazanov said.
STEPANAKERT, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh Republic has issued a statement on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the ceasefire agreement signed by Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijani Republic and Republic of Armenia under Russian mediation on May 12, 1994.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of NKR MFA, the statement reads as follows,

22 years ago, on May 12, 1994, a termless agreement on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, signed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the Azerbaijani Republic and the Republic of Armenia through the mediation of the Russian Federation, entered into force. This agreement, as well as the February 6, 1995 trilateral agreement on strengthening the ceasefire, signed under the auspices of the OSCE, still remain the only real achievement, which laid the foundation for peace talks and created conditions for the activities of the mediators on finding a just and final solution to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

Before April 2, 2016, the ceasefire was generally maintained, despite the incessant attempts of Azerbaijan to destabilize the situation on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan. The NKR authorities have repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the purposeful actions of the Azerbaijani side, as a result of which ceasefire violations were becoming more and more threatening in their nature and scale.

Official Stepanakert has been urging the international community to condemn the deliberate policy of Azerbaijan of escalating tensions and derailing the negotiation process conducted under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. We have repeatedly pointed out that without an adequate and targeted international response, the consistent and purposeful actions of Azerbaijan on fomenting a war in the region will become irreversible.

In the early hours of April 2, Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the agreements of May 12, 1994 and February 6, 1995, launched a large-scale offensive along the entire Line of Contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy weaponry, artillery and combat aircraft. Only thanks to the decisive actions of the NKR Defense Army, which gave a fitting rebuff to the insolent rival, on April 5, Azerbaijan was forced to ask, as in 1994, through the mediation of the Russian Federation for the cessation of the hostilities. It has been generally maintained, despite the recurrent violations by the Azerbaijani side.

Even after the failure of the military venture of April 2-5, Azerbaijan has not abandoned the idea to solve the conflict by force, as evidenced by the statements of the Azerbaijani officials, including at the highest level. Moreover, Azerbaijan tries to unilaterally denounce the ceasefire agreement of May 12, 1994, which is an obvious continuation of the policy on disrupting the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict and instigating a war in the region.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being committed to an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict and making every effort to fully restore the ceasefire, is at the same time prepared to stop, in the strongest terms, any attempts of Azerbaijan to unleash another aggression.

Ensuring full compliance with May 12, 1994 agreement and the practical implementation of the February 6, 1995 agreement, which contains a set of measures on early warning and crisis stabilization is the only way of creating the necessary conditions for the resumption of the peaceful settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.
Jin Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images. Equity investors should brace themselves to walk the tightrope between "stagflation" and "reflation," according to Peter Oppenheimer, the chief global equities strategist at Goldman Sachs.

New York state's top financial regulator has asked Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and three foreign banks about their possible involvement with shell companies, a source briefed on the matter told CNBC.

The New York Department of Financial Services requested information from 13 other banks last month. The actions stem from the release of the Panama Papers, leaked documents with information about offshore entities, the source said.

The DFS also asked for data from from BNP Paribas, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Toronto Stock Exchange: CM'O-CA) and Standard Chartered (London Stock Exchange: STAN-GB).

Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered declined to comment to CNBC. CIBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 CNBC's Jim Forkin and Reuters contributed to this report.





More From CNBC


British Prime Minister David Cameron is pushing for new international commitments on tackling corruption from almost 50 nations and overseas territories attending a London summit

Prime Minister David Cameron hailed progress on pursuing corrupt individuals at an international summit on Thursday, but rejected accusations he had failed to deliver transparency on Britain's overseas tax havens.

More than 40 countries signed a declaration to "pursue and punish" those who perpetrate or facilitate corruption, and individual nations agreed a range of initiatives to open up anonymous company ownership and recover stolen assets.

"Today we have seen the world unite against a shared enemy. Countries have gone further than ever before in condemning corruption and pledging to drive it out," Cameron said.

The meeting, which included the leaders of Nigeria, Afghanistan, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as US Secretary of State John Kerry, was held amid outrage over the revelations in the Panama Papers.

The leak of 11.5 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed how global elites use anonymous companies, often incorporated in offshore hubs, to move their money around without being detected.

Cameron announced that Nigeria, France, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Kenya would, like Britain, be creating public registers of who ultimately owns shell companies.

France goes the farthest, including trusts as well as companies.

Six other countries -- Australia, Georgia, Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand and Norway --- pledged to work towards a register.

Campaigners hailed the move as significant progress, but expressed disappointment that it was not extended to Britain's overseas territories.

A short walk away from the summit, activists set up a "tropical tax haven" in London's Trafalgar Square, complete with sand, palm trees and financiers in suits and bowler hats reclining in deck chairs.

Inside, Mo Ibrahim, the Sudan-born telecoms tycoon whose eponymous foundation pushes for better governance in Africa, had described such companies as "getaway vehicles for corruption".

"Legitimate business has no need for anonymous companies. Please ban them," he urged Cameron.

Story continues

In his closing remarks, the prime minister defended British financial hubs such as the Cayman Islands, Jersey and Isle of Man, saying they had made "exemplary" progress on transparency.

The British Virgin Islands, where many of the companies named in the Panama leaks were incorporated, was notable by its absence.

Cameron conceded that "we should keep on going towards that gold standard" of full public access to company information.

But he accused campaigners of "picking on small islands", adding: "I'd like to see the United States of America, China, everybody do that."

- Challenge akin to terrorism -

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry told the summit that corruption was a global challenge akin to terrorism, and said the London meeting represented "the beginning of something different".

"Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy because it destroys nation states as some of the extremists we're fighting," he said.

Washington is being urged to do more on addressing the situation in states such as Delaware, where anonymous companies can be set up for a few hundred dollars.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani urged the summit to maintain the momentum for change, saying: "Anti-corruption should not be a fashion that is discarded with the next set of elections."

Cameron began the summit on the defensive, after being caught on camera bragging that the leaders of some "fantastically corrupt" countries were attending, naming Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who has embarked on a widespread anti-corruption campaign since taking office last year, responded with a pointed request that Britain return assets stolen by corrupt officials who fled to London.

Cameron announced a new international centre in London that will help coordinate the prosecution of corrupt individuals and the recovery of assets across borders.

- 'Harder to hide' -

Plans were also unveiled to force foreign companies owning British property or bidding for government contracts to reveal their ultimate owners, as part of the new public register.

"If you don't know who owns what you can't stop people stealing from poor countries and hiding that stolen wealth in rich ones," Cameron said.

Jose Ugaz, chairman of campaign group Transparency International, said the public registers of beneficial ownership will "make it harder to hid, transfer and benefit from corrupt money".

"The summit has galvanised global attention on corruption and how to fight it. But we will need to see the laws in place and enacted before we can claim any victories," he said.

Robert Palmer of campaigners Global Witness said the announcements so far represented "good progress" but "the biggest piece of the puzzle is still missing -- the tax havens must open up".

An initiative to improve global sports administration, the International Sport Integrity Partnership, which will meet in 2017 with the aim of spreading best practice after a series of corruption scandals in sport, was also announced at the conference.
British Prime Minister David Cameron is pushing for new international commitments on tackling corruption from almost 50 nations and overseas territories attending a London summit

British Prime Minister David Cameron kicked off a global anti-corruption summit on Thursday with a plan to stop the flow of dirty money into London property, but faces calls to do more to open up Britain's overseas tax havens.

Cameron is pushing for new international commitments on tackling corruption from almost 50 nations and overseas territories attending the summit, including the leaders of Nigeria and Afghanistan, and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy because it destroys nation states as some of the extremists we're fighting," Kerry said, describing the summit as "the beginning of something different".

The meeting comes amid public outrage over the revelations in the Panama Papers, which lifted the lid on the large-scale use by global elites of anonymous companies to shield their wealth.

They put the spotlight on Britain by highlighting the role played by its overseas tax havens and British lawyers and accountants, and revealing how many offshore firms are used to buy London property.

Under a new plan intended to combat money-laundering, foreign firms that own more than 100,000 British property titles will have to reveal their true owners.

Any foreign firms buying new property or bidding for government contracts would also have to appear on a new public register of so-called beneficial ownership, which goes live next month.

But Cameron is under pressure to go further in addressing the secrecy in offshore financial hubs such as the British Virgin Islands, where more than half of the firms revealed in the Panama leaks were incorporated.

"Legitimate business has no need for anonymous companies. Please ban them," Mo Ibrahim, the Sudan-born telecoms tycoon whose eponymous foundation pushes for greater governance in Africa, urged the prime minister.

A short walk away from the summit, activists set up a "tropical tax haven" in London's Trafalgar Square, complete with sand, palm trees and financiers in suits and bowler hats reclining in deck chairs.

Story continues

- Aiming for 'gold standard' -

Cameron said transparency was key to tackling corruption, and hailed France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Afghanistan for following Britain's lead in creating a public register of beneficial ownership.

"We should keep on going towards that gold standard," he said.

The French scheme, announced this week, will go further by including trusts as well as companies.

This register will not be extended to Britain's overseas territories, however.

Instead, some British territories and crown dependencies such as Cayman Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey agreed to be among 40 jurisdictions automatically sharing company ownership details with law enforcement agencies under a new deal.

The British Virgin Islands were not present at the summit and did not sign up to the new agreement.

Cameron hailed a new OECD announcement that Panama, the country at the heart of the leaks scandal, had agreed to comply with international standards on exchanging tax information.

But French Finance Minister Michel Sapin, whose country has included Panama on a blacklist of tax havens, repeated that the territory "poses us, collectively, with an enormous problem".

- 'Fantastically corrupt' -

Cameron began the summit on the defensive, after being caught on camera bragging that the leaders of some "fantastically corrupt" countries were attending, naming Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who has embarked on a widespread anti-corruption campaign since taking office last year, responded with a pointed request that Britain return assets stolen by corrupt officials who fled to London.

Britain announced it would set up a new international centre, with help from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, to help with the recovery of stolen corrupt assets.

Cameron acknowledged: "The evil of corruption reaches into every corner of the world. A global problem needs a truly global solution."

Jose Ugaz, chairman of Transparency International, said: "Bit by bit they are making it harder to hide the proceeds of corruption. But we need more progress on public disclosure of company information."

Robert Palmer of campaigners Global Witness said the announcements so far represented "good progress" but "the biggest piece of the puzzle is still missing -- the tax havens must open up".
The United Nations Security Council recently passed a resolution reminding members that intentional attacks on medical facilities are war crimes.

The resolution comes after a series of such attacks in Syria and other countries, including one last year in which U.S. forces bombed a Doctors Without Borders-run hospital in Afghanistan, destroying it and killing and injuring scores of medical personnel and patients.

The Kunduz hospital bombing didn't amount to a war crime, U.S. military authorities said in April, because it was caused by "unintentional human errors, process errors, and equipment failures," and "other factors."

Commenting on the unanimously passed UN resolution, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, "when so-called surgical strikes end up hitting surgical wards, something is deeply wrong."

From a May 4, 2016 episode of PRI's radio news program The World:

The Council heard an impassioned plea from Joanne Liu, the president of Doctors Without Borders, also known by its acronym in French, MSF. "This resolution must lead to all state and non-state actors stopping the carnage. You must also pressure your allies to end attacks on health care and population in conflict areas. We will not leave patients behind, and we will not be silent. Seeking or providing health care must not be a death sentence. You will be judged not on your words today, but on your actions." Liu called it "an epidemic," and that "hospitals and patients have been dragged onto the battlefield."



Read the UN resolution in entirety: "Security Council Adopts Resolution 2286 (2016), Strongly Condemning Attacks against Medical Facilities, Personnel in Conflict Situations"



Related, from our archives: Obama apologizes to aid group for bombing hospital. MSF: Thanks, but we want an investigation
When it comes to making the most significant purchase of your life many women are going solo and not waiting for their Prince Charming to help them secure the castle of their dreams.

There are simply too many social and economic factors at play that allow women the option to live comfortably and well, alone, says Alim Charania, a mortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centres Regional Mortgage Group in Calgary.

In previous times, women waited to buy with a guy or get married first, says Charania, who blogged about the issue in 2013. The stereotypical trend was you graduate from school, you rent for a while, you find someone, get involved in a long-term relationship and then marry. But women are thinking lets skip the rent part and start building my life earlier when Im single. 

Women seem to be particularly well suited for sole home ownership. They are keen nest builders yet practical about it, say real estate insiders. Females also tend to really do their homework before purchasing a home.

Women do a lot more research than guys do, says Charania. They do more research in general on everything from whats around them to how far they are from work. I think its a good thing that theyre coming in so well informed.

Female buyers on the rise

In Canada, no professional association or government agency keeps track of who buys what, real estate-wise. But estimates on the number of single women buying homes run as high as 25 per cent, according to Toronto realtor Sandra Rinomato, who compares that number to the ten per cent of purchasers who are single men.

Interestingly, in the U.S. the National Association of Realtors keeps extensive data on gender-based buying habits. In 2014, the association noted that American females accounted for nearly twice as large a share of home buyers as single men with 16 and eight per cent respectively for repeat buyers and 23 and 15 per cent for first-time buyers.

The phenomenon of more women buying real estate on their own has been on the books for several years. Royal LePage reported in 2007 that women were driving housing demand with 30 per cent of single women owning their own home compared to 45 per cent of divorced and separated women and 64 per cent of widowed women who were homeowners.

Story continues

A shift in priorities

The report noted how womens values are changing by citing a survey question that asked if they would be willing to forgo a wedding reception in favour of putting a higher down payment on a home. Of those women planning to buy in the next three years, 34 per cent said yes to skipping the party.

Royal LePage pointed out that women were playing a significant role in housing activity in all major cities across the country, including pricier markets such as Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary. The trend, it appears, is here to stay.

Its growing exponentially, Dianne Usher, senior vice-president at Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Johnston & Daniel Division, recently told The Globe & Mail, citing better paying jobs and lower mortgage rates as reasons.

Popular media has already responded to the trend. In 2012 HGTV aired one season of Rinomatos show Buy Herself, a series that highlights women going it alone with the tagline, No Man. No Dual Income. No Problem. Books, magazine articles and websites have documented an uptick in the phenomenon as well.

There are a number of obvious reasons that explain the trend. Women are better educated and earning higher wages. Marriage and children are not their sole focus. But perhaps less overt is the fact that more Canadians are cozying to the notion of living alone as a growing number head up one-person households, according to the 2011 Census.

Top issues are safety, minimal renovations

Charles Zimmerman, a broker with Royal LePages central Toronto branch, says hes noticed some common differences in what his female clients are looking for compared to single male clients.

More women are buying homes now than ever, says Zimmerman. And many are concerned around issues of security. For example, I wouldnt be inclined to put a woman on a ravine lot. No neighbours will see someone entering or leaving your house through the ravine.

Older windows and doors especially on a basement level are easier to break into so consider replacing them. And if security is a big worry, women would be wise to buy condos that are not on the ground floor.

Generally speaking, women seek low-maintenance homes because, as Zimmerman puts it, not everybody wants to prune a tree. At end of day we live in a world where women dont want [to] knock out limbs and build decks in backyards, he says.

According to Rinomato, women are far more budget conscious than men. Its because of that they dont want to get stuck with fixer uppers and high maintenance homes. And typically, they dont want to sacrifice their existing lifestyle to own a home so they tend to be far more cautious and prepared before signing on the dotted line.

Theyre cleaning up budget issues and they dont want to be strapped, she told Canada AM.

Women wont buy a home that needs work. They want homes that are aesthetically perfect.
Employees who believe their workplace treats them fairly are more likely to report being "healthy" and willing to go the extra mile for their organization, according to a new study.

Researchers from Englands University of East Anglia and Swedens Stockholm University investigated whether perceptions of fairness among workers changed their self-reported health.

The study looked at more than 5,800 workers aged 16 to 64 in Sweden between 2008 and 2014, as part of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health.

What they found was that when the workers perceptions of procedural justice improved  or the processes that dictated how rewards, pay, promotions and assignments were handed out  on average, they reported that they felt healthier.

The findings can help raise awareness among employers and authorities that fairness at work, but also health is important to consider to increase satisfaction, wellbeing and productivity in the workplace and wider society, said Constanze Eib, one of the papers authors and professor of organizational behaviour at the University of East Anglia, in a press release.

"It is important to know about these issues as there may be things that can be done to improve perceptions of fairness at work.

The study also found that the reverse was true: workplaces that were perceived to be less fair, also saw a deterioration in perceived worker health.

Eib put forward a number of suggestions to improve workplace fairness, including: making an effort to show employees their opinions are being considered, consulting with them about changes and ensuring decisions are made without bias.

"People who feel fairly treated are not only more likely to be motivated at work and go the extra mile for their organization, but they are also more likely to be healthy, have an active lifestyle and feel positive, said Eib.

Over the course of the study, researchers also found that men experienced a faster deterioration in self-rated health compared to women.

Story continues

The authors said this accelerated decline could be explained by the fact that women with poorer health are more likely to leave their jobs.

Participants of the study rated the state of health on a scale from one to five, with one representing very good and five very poor.

They also graded their workplaces fairness on a five-point scale, from totally agree to totally disagree.

The results were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.
By Alwyn Scott SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co's top executives laid out an ambitious, five-year strategy on Wednesday to increase revenue and profits and secure the company's future for the next 100 years, promising to boost efficiency, return free cash to shareholders and expand the after-market services and parts business. But the executives, speaking to analysts at a conference, faced some skepticism about whether Boeing can tame the commercial aircraft business cycle, and the company gave few new details about plans to modify existing planes to better match market needs to counter competitive threats from Airbus and Bombardier . Boeing expects to lift profit margins to a double-digit percentage next year and has an "aspirational target ... towards the end of the decade of getting to mid-teen margins," Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg told the conference. The company is re-engineering itself to become more flexible and efficient in designing and building jetliners, using automation, 3-D printing and other measures. These moves, Muilenburg said, would allow Boeing to create a steady, sustainable business in what has historically been a highly cyclical industry. Boeing aims to be not only a "global industrial champion" but "the industry leader in cash generation," Muilenburg said. Over the next decade, Boeing aims to achieve "sustained top- and bottom-line growth" in all of its businesses, he added. Boeing said 777 jetliner output would fall to about 5.5 a month in late 2018 and 2019, in line with some analysts' predictions, as it shifts to the successor 777X jet. The rate is 8.3 now, and will fall to 7 a month next year. Muilenburg said the changes are factored into Boeing's cash and profit margin expectations. Boeing described how it will pay back nearly $30 billion in deferred costs from the 787, saying 70 percent would come from selling larger, more profitable versions of the plane and higher prices. Boeing also addressed whether its output will overshoot demand if there's a downturn in the aerospace cycle. New plane orders have slowed, and by 2020, Boeing will be making more than 900 planes a month, a position some analysts questioned. Ray Conner, head of Boeing's commercial plane unit, said the factory has to be flexible and Boeing has to watch the market. "But particularly on the single aisles, where we have taken the rates really high, we are feeling pretty strong about that." (Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alan Crosby)
By Julie Gordon VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc said on Thursday it was steadily resuming service on its pipeline network through Canada's energy heartland about a week after a massive wildfire spread through the Fort McMurray, Alberta, area, forcing a shutdown. Canada's largest pipeline company also reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, as crude shipments increased. The Calgary-based company said the shutdown, which included all pipelines in and out of its Cheecham terminal some 50 km (31 miles) south of the fire-ravaged city, affected some 900,000 barrels per day of volume on its system. Chief Executive Officer Al Monaco said operations had resumed at Cheecham and that the Woodland pipeline was ready to restart. The company was waiting to get access to conduct a fly-over inspection as fire crews were still working in the area. He added that the roughly 100-km (62.14 mile) portion of the Athabasca line from Cheecham to the Kirby Lake terminal was expected to resume operations over the weekend. Line 18, which travels south from Cheecham to Edmonton, resumed on Wednesday. "So (we're making) good progress on getting our systems back in operations, but the process isn't like turning on a tap," Monaco said on a conference call. "You've got to expect some period of ramp-up to full capacity." Enbridge shares were up 1.74 percent at C$51.60 in Toronto. Monaco also said Enbridge is focused on securing support for its Northern Gateway project as currently designed, though he did not entirely discount changing the terminus location. The proposed pipeline, from Alberta to Kitimat, British Columbia, is opposed by many coastal aboriginal groups. On renewable energy, an investment decision on the first of three newly acquired offshore wind projects in France is expected in early 2017, Monaco said. If all three go ahead, Enbridge expects to invest some C$4.5 billion ($3.5 billion) through 2022 for its 50 percent share. Electricite de France S.A. owns the other 50 percent. Enbridge delivered about 2.5 million barrels per day of crude through its Canadian mainline system during the quarter, up from 2.2 million a year earlier. For the first quarter, net earnings attributable to shareholders were C$1.21 billion, or C$1.38 per share, compared with a loss of C$383 million, or 46 Canadian cents, a year earlier. Excluding items, the company earned 76 Canadian cents per share, beating analysts' estimate of 64 Canadian cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Additional reporting by Anet Josline Pinto in Bengaluru; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Leslie Adler)
By David Alire Garcia MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Canada's Renaissance Oil Corp is negotiating with Mexican national oil company Pemex over future joint ventures as it gains a foothold in the country's liberalized energy market, Chief Executive Craig Steinke said in an interview. Renaissance was co-founded in 2014 by Ian Telfer, chairman of Goldcorp Inc., the biggest gold miner in Mexico. The new firm won three of 25 blocks in a first onshore auction late last year, and would like to operate additional properties in Mexico. In an interview in Mexico City, Steinke said Renaissance is in talks with Pemex over potential onshore joint ventures, though he declined to offer details. "Pemex has a huge cache of properties. They clearly don't have the capital to develop them and we believe that's a big, big source of opportunity for us," he said. Renaissance is also seeking to take over "a few" Pemex service contracts to be migrated into exploration and production projects under a historic energy overhaul finalized in 2014 that ended Pemex's decades-long monopoly, he added. Mexico has announced plans to migrate 22 service contracts. Renaissance is also bullish on Mexico's untapped shale resources, although Pemex has largely avoided these developments despite booming production in Texas. Some shale projects in the United States are profitable at about $35 per barrel, a figure Steinke sees dropping further in the next few years. The crude market slump provides firms like Renaissance with a relative advantage since it is new and not exposed to the sudden drop in prices like many peers, he added. Signed earlier this week, the contracts covering the three blocks in the southern state of Chiapas were initially drilled by Pemex in the 1970s but mostly neglected since then. Renaissance expects to complete four wells at its Chiapas blocks next year, requiring investment of up to $20 million, with crude output reaching at least 3,000 barrels per day (bpd), up from about 700 bpd currently, Steinke said. Renaissance could drill more wells, but the higher royalty the government requires companies to propose to win developments rights will likely preclude that, Steinke said, arguing that a lower one would encourage additional production. "There's too much emphasis on the incremental royalty and not enough emphasis on the work program," he added. "It's just going to force the successful contractor to leave a lot of the hydrocarbon resource in the ground." (Editing by Dave Graham and James Dalgleish)
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX.TO) (MDRPF) ("Midas Gold" or the "Company") today announced the results of its annual general meeting (the "AGM"), which was held in Vancouver on May 11, 2016. Following the meeting, Stephen Quin, President and CEO, provided those present with a brief overview of the Company's progress over the past year and its plans going forward. In conjunction with the AGM, Midas Gold Idaho, Inc. ("MGII"), the Company's operating subsidiary in Idaho, released its 2015 Sustainability Report, highlighting commitments and achievements for the prior year.

Annual General Meeting Voting Result

A total of 60,606,075 million common shares were represented at the AGM, or 34.5% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares. The Company's shareholders voted in favour of the election of all director nominees listed in the Company's management information proxy circular. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are as follows:

Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Total Votes Cast * Percentage of Votes For Percentage of Votes Withheld Keith Allred 48,161,330 74,028 48,235,358 99.85% 0.15% Victor Flores 48,137,080 98,278 48,235,358 99.80% 0.20% Marcelo Kim 48,131,330 104,028 48,235,358 99.78% 0.22% Peter Nixon 48,161,330 74,028 48,235,358 99.85% 0.15% Stephen Quin 48,163,030 72,328 48,235,358 99.85% 0.15% Laurel Sayer 48,129,530 105,828 48,235,358 99.78% 0.22% Donald Young 48,161,230 74,128 48,235,358 99.85% 0.15%

* Not all shares were voted in respect of all motions therefore the combined number of shares voted for or withheld may not add up to the total votes represented at the meeting.

The directors were elected to hold offices until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed.

The Company's shareholders also approved the appointment of Deloitte LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 (99.77% voted in favour). Detailed voting results for the meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

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Sustainability Reporting

In conjunction with Midas Gold's Annual General Meeting, MGII released its 2015 Sustainability Report summarizing its efforts in respect of safety, environmental responsibility, community involvement, transparency, accountability, integrity and performance. Since 2009, Midas Gold has planted more than 37,000 trees (including 2,000 by students from the local high school in 2015); reclaimed 33 acres of disturbed land; recovered more than 30 tons of scrap metal from the site; recycled more than 3,000 lbs of materials; gone 36 months with only a single reportable safety incident (one sprained ankle); and achieved 46 months without a reportable spill. These results illustrate Midas Gold's commitment to the health and safety of its employees, and the wellbeing of the local environment.

In respect of its contributions towards sustainability, Midas Gold's solar power system generated 7,200kwh of energy in 2015 and avoided the transportation and burning of 26,000 gallons of diesel on site. During 2015, Midas Gold continued to be actively engaged with the local communities, including hosting close to 300 local residents and other interested parties on 38 different tours of the site. Midas Gold's employees volunteered more than 1,100 hours in the community, connecting with more than 7,000 individuals at various events, attended and participated in 169 community meetings. In addition to supporting its employees in these community activities, MGII donated over US$90,000 to local causes.

During 2015, Midas Gold continued to work with its local community advisory board and the board of Midas Gold Idaho, Inc., where four of six directors are local residents. Midas Gold also continued its focus on hiring locally and supporting local businesses, making a positive contribution to the local economy throughout the year.

A copy of the report which outlines our commitments, objectives and achievements can be downloaded at http://midasgoldidaho.com/environment/#.

www.facebook.com/midasgoldidaho

@MidasIdaho

www.midasgoldcorp.com
By Babak Dehghanpisheh BEIRUT (Reuters) - On a podium decorated as a bunker from the Iran-Iraq war, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad woos a crowd of hundreds with an anti-Western speech reminiscent of his fiery addresses as Iran's president. At the end of the event in Jiroft in southeast Iran, held partly to honor victims of the 1980-88 war, some of the crowd chant: "The slogan of any man is that Ahmadinejad is coming back." After nearly three years out of the public eye following two terms as president, Ahmadinejad has made a handful of appearances in the past few weeks, including his speech last week in Jiroft, which have stoked talk of a political comeback. The 59-year-old conservative and populist has made no announcement about his future or addressed speculation that he plans to stand in the next presidential election, due in 2017. But if he does run, he could cause problems for his pragmatic successor, Hassan Rouhani, who gained popularity after the deal with world powers that led to most sanctions on Iran being lifted in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. "In the presidency it's the individual that is important. Political groups are not important. In reality, an individual can start a wave," Massoud Mirkazemi, a former oil minister under Ahmadinejad, told the Asr-e-Iran website in an interview published on Wednesday. "Whoever can start this wave will get votes. Ahmadinejad has started, and can start this wave," he said, predicting his political ally would defeat Rouhani if he runs. Ahmadinejad's chances of success are hard to assess. He did not run in the last presidential election, in June 2013, because of Iranian constitutional limits and conservatives suffered setbacks in March elections to parliament and the Assembly of Experts which will select Iran's next supreme leader, the country's highest authority. But Ahmadinejad could be the conservatives' best hope of bouncing back in next year's election although his relations with some of them are strained. "Hardliners recognize Ahmadinejad is the only person that can stand up to the reformists and their candidates," said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based political analyst who worked as an advisor to former President Mohammad Khatami. "His activity has grown very, very much. And he's caused a stir in various places." ONLINE BATTLE As president for eight years, Ahmadinejad frequently enraged the international community with his fierce rhetoric against the United States and Israel, his defiant stand on Iran's disputed nuclear program and persistent questioning of the Holocaust. Supporters praise him for defending traditional values and standing up to the West. Opponents criticize him for his economic record and over allegations of high-level corruption while he was president. Although largely about freedom and democracy, last week's speech in Jiroft hit a familiar theme by condemning "oppressors" in a dig at the West, and the United States in particular. "I say why did you start a military campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan and kill 1 million people? They say we want to bring freedom there," he told the crowd. "Democracy means a population has the right to choose their own freedom. They kill people for freedom and congratulate themselves." Ahmadinejad was first elected president in 2005. His disputed win in the 2009 election prompted the Islamic Republic's biggest protests and a security crackdown in which several people were killed and hundreds were arrested. As Ahmadinejad has become more visible again, supporters have used the Internet to highlight his accomplishments. A pro-Ahmadinejad blog has published statistics that portray him in a good light, suggesting, for example, that more rural roads were paved while he was in power than have been under Rouhani, but without citing a source for the data. Ahmadinejad's critics have also been active online. A satirical photograph posted on the Telegram messaging app shows him posing as a school teacher and presenting a lesson, saying: "Through demagoguery we'll make them forget the memories of eight years of misery." Opponents have also drawn attention to legal charges Ahmadinejad faces. The nature of the charges has not been announced but local media say they are over government procedures not being followed properly. The former president was summoned to court in 2013 but did not show up. Opponents cite the legal case as an obstacle to be overcome before Ahmadinejad can think about contesting an election. "Ahmadinejad must first be tried, then introduce himself as a candidate for the elections," Ali Mottahari, a moderate conservative member of parliament, was quoted as saying by state media. SUPPORT OF SUPREME LEADER? Before he can run in an election, Ahmadinejad would be likely to need at least the tacit approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The support of the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military and economic force, would also be a significant boost. Ahmadinejad long had the backing of Khamenei but clashed with him more than once in his final years in office. In 2011, he boycotted government meetings for 10 days after Khamenei reinstated an intelligence minister Ahmadinejad had dismissed. The Revolutionary Guard have sent some signals of support. In March, during the Iranian Nowruz New Year holiday, Rouhani took a trip to the resort island of Kish while Ahmadinejad visited Shalamcheh, scene of a battle in the Iran-Iraq war. The Basij News site, which is affiliated with the Guard, praised Ahmadinejad and questioned why Rouhani had not shown respect for the families of war victims. Ali Tajernia, a reformist former member of parliament, said in an interview with the Arman-e-Emrouz newspaper last week that "influential people with a role in the power structure" had sent messages to Rouhani urging him not to seek re-election. If Ahmadinejad does mount a comeback, he is likely to revert to populist rhetoric to tap support. "Ahmadinejad has his own special base of social support that he can mobilize," Amir Mohebian, a conservative Tehran-based political strategist and analyst who has advised top politicians, said in response to a question from Reuters. With the economy set to be a campaign issue, Rouhani will try to show the lifting of sanctions is bringing economic gains. If he fails to do so, Ahmadinejad is likely to repeat promises to spread the country's wealth to the poor and disenfranchised. Rouhani could hit back by making the allegations of corruption during Ahmadinejad's rule a campaign issue. Rouhani came to power on promises to root out corruption, and in March a businessman allegedly linked to top officials from Ahmadinejad's time in office was sentenced to death. (Editing by Timothy Heritage)
When Canada removed its permanent objector status to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it earned Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett a standing ovation.

But that announcement at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday is raising questions about what the declaration actually means for Canada, and exactly how it will be implemented.

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, the declaration consists of 46 articles that recognize Indigenous peoples' basic human rights, as well as rights to self-determination, language, equality and land, among others.

"The declaration sets a strong foundation for the way in which we should work together  respectfully, nation-to-nation and in the spirit of reconciliation," said a statement from Ghislain Picard, regional chief for Quebec and Labrador of the Assembly of First Nations.

'Without qualification'

According to Bennett, Canada's new support of the declaration was "without qualification."

"By adopting and implementing the declaration, we are excited that we are breathing life into Section 35 [of Canada's Constitution Act] and recognizing it as a full box of rights for Indigenous peoples in Canada," she added.

But not everyone is so sure.



"That's kind of a recipe for disaster," said Hayden King, director of the Centre for Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University.

Section 35 of the Constitution Act is supposed to provide protection for Indigenous and treaty rights, but King says that's been problematic.

"The court's interpretation of Section 35, which previous governments have relied upon, have been an extremely limited, narrow view."

King also said that Bennett's announcement should have included a clear plan, or at least more details, for how the declaration would be implemented in Canada.

Implementation

"What many Indigenous peoples have been pushing for is a process to develop a national action plan, where Indigenous peoples work with Canada to implement the UN declaration," said Brenda Gunn, who teaches in the faculty of law at the University of Manitoba.



Gunn, who is Metis, is also the author of the handbook Understanding and Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.



Gunn says that any action plan must include a review of all Canadian laws and policies, to see if they align with the standards set in the declaration.







"I think one has to look at the legislation that's in place now, the Indian Act, and other pieces of federal and provincial law that are impacting on the use of tradition and treaty rights that Indigenous people have been trying to exercise," said Senator Murray Sinclair, a former justice who headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

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"I'm not sure that it would automatically repeal the Indian Act but I think that's got to be part of the equation, part of the discussion."



It's a discussion many are eager to start.

"We were ready yesterday," said Chief Wilton Littlechield, a Cree lawyer and former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Free, prior, and informed consent

However, Littlechild worries that there still might be disagreements about land rights and resource development. Some believe the declaration gives Indigenous peoples a veto over developments on their lands and territories.

That is partly why the previous Conservative government opposed the declaration when it was adopted by the UN, but that's apparently not a problem for the new Liberal government.

"Canada believes that our constitutional obligations serve to fulfil all of the principles of the declaration, including free, prior and informed consent," Bennett said in her speech.

Free, prior and informed consent is supposed to mean that Indigenous peoples are involved in the decision-making process as partners from the beginning, says Gunn, not simply presented with a plan and asked to say yes or no.

"We know that Section 35 talks about the duty to consult and accommodate," said King. "But that's not getting close to free, prior and informed consent."
By Nate Raymond and Joseph Ax

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison, the second time in 10 days that a powerful legislative leader faced incarceration after a crackdown on state capital corruption.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood in Manhattan imposed the penalty on Skelos, 68, and also sentenced Adam Skelos, his 33-year-old son, to 6-1/2 years in prison following their convictions in December on charges of extortion, fraud and bribe solicitation.

Prosecutors had sought a prison term approaching 12-1/2 to 15-2/3 years for Dean Skelos, who was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. He and his son were also ordered to forfeit an additional $334,120.

The former senator received less than half the 12 years in prison that his counterpart in the state Assembly, former Speaker Sheldon Silver, received earlier this month for collecting millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks.

The convictions of Skelos, a Republican from Long Island, and Silver, a Democrat, represented major wins for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who has criticized Albany for having "one of the most corrupt governments in the nation."

The two trials took place at the same time last year, painting a damning portrait of systemic official misconduct in Albany.

"The people of New York deserve better," Bharara said in a statement.

At least 14 New York state legislators have been convicted of federal corruption-related crimes in the last 10 years, including John Sampson, a former leader of the Senate Democrats who is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

Prosecutors accused Dean Skelos of forcing companies with business before the state to pay his son, with the threat of losing his political support as a cudgel.

The companies, which have not been charged, included real estate developer Glenwood Management, environmental technology company AbTech Holdings Inc and malpractice insurer PRI.

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Through those schemes, prosecutors said, the Skeloses sought more than $760,000 in extortion payments, bribes, and gratuities and ultimately obtained more than $334,000.

Both Dean and Adam Skelos plan to appeal their convictions. Before he was sentenced, Dean Skelos told the judge he was "deeply remorseful," and both men urged leniency for the other.

Wood, the judge, said Skelos' crimes had consequences beyond the illicit profits he and his son had obtained.

"You have caused immeasurable damage to New Yorkers' confidence in their government," she said.

Bharara's office accelerated its Albany investigations after Governor Andrew Cuomo abruptly shut down an anti-corruption panel in March 2014 as part of a deal with state legislators for a package of ethics reforms.

Federal investigators took over the panel's work and began looking into Cuomo's disbanding of it. In January, Bharara's office said it had "insufficient" evidence to prove any crime occurred.

In his statement on Thursday, Bharara seemed to repeat his criticism of Cuomo's decision to shut down the panel.

"These cases show  and history teaches  that the most effective corruption investigations are those that are truly independent and not in danger of either interference or premature shutdown," he said.

Cuomo in a statement said the sentences of Skelos and his son "show there is zero tolerance for those who use public service for private gain."

Amid a crush of journalists outside the courthouse following the sentencing, a nephew of Dean Skelos grabbed the wrist of a Daily News reporter, Victoria Bekiempis, and threw her cell phone to the ground, according to Bekiempis' Twitter posts.

Police identified the man as Basil Skelos, 27, and said he was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond and Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Brian Thevenot and Tom Brown)
Rumble

This dry-style curry pilaf is an original Japanese recipe called Dry Curry; a popular menu item at restaurants and cafes in Japan. There are two types dry curry dishes, keema curry style and curried rice pilaf style. This video focuses on the dry style of curried pilaf. It doesn't need to be simmered for a long time like regular curry, so you can easily make it with leftover rice and other ingredients in your refrigerator for dinner on days when you don't have much time to cook or when you don't have an appetite. You can enjoy a well-balanced and delicious meal with plenty of meat and vegetables with the appetizing spicy flavor of tangy curry. =============================================================  YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvCGAygv511zlEkVAWQfbA  Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hungrycookingstudio/ ============================================================= 00:08 Mincing Vegetables and Bacon for Dry Curry Pilaf 03:30 Cooking Dry Curry Pilaf 04:38 Seasoning Dry Curry Pilaf  Ingredients (for 2) Rice  1~1.5 cup Onion ... 1/4 Green pepper ... 1/4~1/2 Mushrooms ... 2~3 Garlic ... 4 Eggs ... 2 Bacon ... 1 piece Mixed minced meat ... 70-100g Curry powder... 1 tbsp Ketchup ... 1 tbsp Nutmeg...a little Chicken consomme... 2/3 tbsp Salt Black pepper Olive oil  Cooking Recipe  Cook a batch of rice or use refrigerated leftovers to add into the pan at a later time.  Finely mince the onions, green peppers, garlic, and bacon. Slice the mushrooms.  Crack the eggs into a small bowl and mix well.  Pour in plenty of olive oil into a pan and add minced garlic. Raise heat to med-high.  When the garlic is aromatic add in onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. Stir-fry to keep it moving.  When the vegetables have become soft, add in the bacon and minced meat.  When cooked through begin seasoning. Add in curry powder, chicken consomme, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly. When blended, add in cooked rice and stir-fry.  When the rice is fried well and doesn't stick together (like restaurant fried rice), create a small space in the middle of the pan. Pour the mixed egg into the space you made and scramble. When the egg firms up, mix in with the rice.  When everything is evenly mixed, it's ready to eat.  Cooking tips Adjust the amount of curry powder according to your preference of spiciness. Since various ingredients are added, even if the amount of rice is small, it will still be voluminous. Instead of minced meat, it is also delicious to add thinly sliced, coarsely ground sausages.
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - The central bank of Madagascar will lower its benchmark lending rate to 8.30 percent from 8.70 percent from May 15 to encourage credit to businesses, it said in a statement published by L'Express de Madagascar newspaper on Wednesday. Madagascar has struggled to rebuild itself since a coup in 2009 that scared off donors and foreign investors. Donors resumed lending to Madagascar after elections in 2013 that ended the crisis. President Hery Rajaonarimampianina took office in January 2014 but growth has only slowly picked up since then. "It is expected that the easing of monetary policy measures will result in an easing of credit conditions for the private sector," the central bank said. "The national economy needs a favourable environment for the resumption of activities." The bank said it saw "the beginnings of improved economic growth, although the recovery is not yet clearly marked." (Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; Writing by Edmund Blair, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The head of the anti-violence program that oversees CeaseFire Halifax says his group needs more money from local government.

Francisco Perez, national director of Chicago-based Cure Violence, says the Halifax team is "having an impact."

"I know that you've had turn up recently, but your prior stats indicated that you've had some tremendous reductions in violence in the areas," said Perez.

According to statistics from Halifax Regional Police, there were 36 shooting incidents in 2013  the year before CeaseFire launched in the city. In 2015, the number of shootings dropped to 18.

The numbers do not reflect last month's string of fatal violence in Halifax.

Halifax is no Chicago

Perez says despite the recent shootings, street violence in Halifax doesn't compare to his hometown of Chicago.

"You're taking the bull by the horns, you're getting at the front end before you become a Chicago or Detroit," he said. "I applaud you for that. You've seen that you've had a history of some violence  it may not be the Chicago type  but you want to nip it in the bud."

CeaseFire Halifax has a team of 10 people focusing on high-risk youth in North Preston, Mulgrave Park, Uniacke Square and Dartmouth North.

Perez would like to see a seven person team in each community. Right now, there are 1.5-field positions for each neighbourhood, plus administrative staff.

"I'm working miracles," he said. "I need more manpower. I need your government to come in and invest more money in hiring people to be able to do the work in those communities. And no matter what the success rate, the more manpower  you'll see those numbers drop even more dramatically."

Programs cut

As Cure Violence continues to expand into more than 25 U.S. cities and nine countries, the program has ironically been slashed in its founding city of Chicago.

Perez says it's "shameful" to note his home state cut all government funding more than a year ago. A skeleton staff, funded privately, remains at two sites; the other 16 offices remain closed.

"There's been cutbacks and we were affected by those cutbacks where not only our program but human services, mental health, nursing homes  everything, you name it has been affected  because the new governor who was elected is on the other side of the aisle as opposed to the House and they're having some issues coming up with a budget," said Perez.

As he waits for word on whether funding will be restored in Chicago, Perez says Cure Violence is speaking with other Canadian cities, including Toronto and Ottawa.
An investigation into accusations of voyeurism aboard HMCS Montreal last fall has ended with no charges laid.

A female sailor accused a male crew member of sneaking into the women-only quarters and trying to photograph or take video of her as she lay on her bunk.

Last month, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service finished its investigation, spokesperson Capt. Joanna Labonte said in an email to CBC News.

Investigators "determined that there was insufficient evidence to lay a charge in this matter," she said.

Military police investigators had seized a cellphone believed to have been used in the November 15 incident, according to court documents obtained by CBC.

The sailor said she was lying in her bunk playing solitaire when an arm holding a phone reached through the privacy curtains, according to an affidavit sworn by a military investigator to obtain a search warrant for the phone.

Military police declined Thursday to reveal what was found on the cellphone.

The male sailor was flown off the ship to separate him from the alleged victim, Rear Admiral John Newton, commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, said in December.

The Montreal was near Mayport, Fla., almost finished a deployment.

The incident was reported to the investigation service, which deals with serious and sensitive matters, by a third party four days after it was said to have happened.

No one from Maritime Forces Atlantic was available Thursday to answer questions.

Military police take allegations seriously, Labonte said in her email. "In all cases, investigations are conducted to determine the facts, analyze the evidence and, if warranted, lay appropriate charges," she said.

The Canadian Forces was praised last year for swiftly investigating the allegation, only months after a former Supreme Court justice called military sexual misconduct "endemic."

This allegation of voyeurism came as an allegation of sexual assault on board another navy frigate also was under investigation.
By James Pearson and Tony Munroe PYONGYANG/SEOUL (Reuters) - In a tailored Western suit, 33-year-old North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party that cemented his control over the isolated country but lacked the introduction of major reforms. Still, the first Workers' Party congress since 1980 signaled a restoration of the role of the party in a country where the military held primacy under his father, Kim Jong Il, said experts on the country's opaque leadership. The four-day event that ended on Monday included Kim addressing the 3,467 delegates for more than three hours at a stretch. The meeting underlined a stability of leadership that is likely to mean fewer of the purges and executions that marked Kim's early years of rule following the death of his father in 2011. While a greater role for the party might help improve strained relations with ally China, analysts said, rival South Korea and the United States are less likely to be impressed, as North Korea also called during the congress for expansion of its nuclear arsenal, for what it said are defensive purposes. Some party cadres had expected Kim to announce Chinese- or Vietnamese-style reforms at the congress, according to the Seoul-based Daily NK, a website run by North Korean defectors with sources inside the country, and were disappointed when Kim's speech, aired by state TV on Sunday, mainly returned to old themes with vaguely communicated policy. The congress did not, for example, formally recognize the growing role of a gray market in one of the world's most state-controlled economies. But Michael Madden, a U.S.-based expert on the North Korean leadership, said it was significant that Kim had put forward a five-year economic plan. "There's going to be a gripe that there's no policy meat, that he didn't sit there and give everybody a technocratic speech about policy, but a party congress is not the forum to do that," he said. The power of the military expanded during Kim Jong Il's 17-year tenure, which did not include a party congress. Madden said that the number of military people with key roles in power organizations had been reduced. "We are definitely seeing a drawing-down of the military's political influence in North Koreas political culture," he said. Military-themed slogans, a staple of state propaganda, were less visible during the party congress, held in the capital Pyongyang. Instead, propaganda signs were overwhelmingly focused on the Workers' Party. Changes in party posts announced at the congress were not as dramatic as some analysts had anticipated. Some North Korea-watchers had expected more prominence for younger party officials. "The scale of generational change was surprisingly not big, which shows how stable Kim Jong Un's regime is," said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute near Seoul. OVERSEAS AUDIENCE? The party congress may also have created an opening for mending ties with neighbor China, which has grown frustrated with the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons and backed tough U.N. sanctions to punish Pyongyang. "China thought the military-first political system was not a normal one. It looks similar to martial law," said Lee Min-yong, a North Korea expert at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul. Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country holds its own Communist Party congress every five years, sent a letter of congratulations to Kim on his elevation to party chairman. "Holding the party congress means we are going back to the original socialist system. I think in Kim Jong Un's mind, he wanted to get along with China," Lee said. South Korean Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said the third-generation leader offered no new strategy at the event. "The Kim Jong Un regime is focused on solidifying his power structure and securing its nuclear status," he told parliament on Tuesday. South Korea had warned that the isolated North could conduct a fifth nuclear test in conjunction with the congress. Kim cut a modern figure during the congress in tortoise-shell glasses and a dark suit with gray necktie, a departure from the drab jacket buttoned to the neck favored by North Korean leaders, or the jumpsuits worn by his late father. Kim's grandfather, founding leader Kim Il Sung, also switched between Western suits and the North Korean-style "peoples' suit." The young leader, who spent part of his childhood in Switzerland, also showed his ease in front of an audience - a trait shared by his grandfather but not his father, who never gave a speech that was publicly broadcast. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Nailia Bagirova SARIJALY, Azerbaijan (Reuters) - A ceasefire between Azerbaijan and its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region may have stopped a short conflict becoming an all-out war a month ago, but gunfire and shelling still echo nightly, residents say, and people are still being killed. The ex-Soviet state of Azerbaijan and separatists backed by Armenia fought a war over the territory in the early 1990s with thousands killed on both sides and hundreds of thousands displaced. The latest outbreak of violence was brief - intense fighting lasted only four days - and dozens rather than thousands were killed. But locals say the ceasefire agreement, reached on April 5, is violated almost daily by shelling and fatalities. "We are very afraid as shooting from rocket launchers and shelling has not stopped since the ceasefire," Maral Abdullayeva, an English language teacher in the village of Sarijaly in Azerbaijan, told Reuters. "Our school was destroyed on April 4. It has been partly restored since then, but the kids are still afraid to go out," said Abdullayeva, a slim woman in her mid-40s, pointing to cracks in the walls of her small house. At least eight soldiers, from both sides, have been killed in exchanges of fire since the ceasefire was declared, according to statements from Azerbaijan and the separatists. Locals say gunfire is particularly common at night. The situation is a worry for European countries who fear another flare-up could deepen instability in the South Caucasus, a region that serves as a corridor for pipelines taking oil and gas to world markets. Sarijaly is a small village in Agdam region, about six km (3.73 miles) from the frontline, which divides Azeri forces and Armenian-backed separatists from Nagorno-Karabakh, which is populated mainly by ethnic Armenians who reject Azerbaijan's rule. Azerbaijan and officials from Nagorno-Karabakh blame each other for truce violations. Sarijaly and some other villages in Agdam are controlled by the Azeris. Residents in the neighboring village of Yevogly are equally derisory about the effectiveness of the ceasefire. "Our life has turned into hell. We hear shooting every night. What kind of a ceasefire are you talking about?" complained Agul Huseinova, 56. Her house and small farm were destroyed and her cattle killed, forcing her to move in with relatives. "All the electricity lines were damaged. There is no electricity, no gas and we can't even go and work on our land plots," she said. Residents of villages from the other side of the frontline - on the separatist side - make the same complaints. Grim, almost daily, reports from both Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabkh, about casualties among the military reinforce local fears that a wider conflict is just round the corner. (This version of the story restores dropped words in second paragraph) (Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Richard Balmforth)
MI5 has raised the threat level to Great Britain from Northern Ireland-related terrorism from moderate to substantial.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the change means a terrorist attack is a strong possibility and reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity.

In a statement to the House of Commons, she said the Home Office was working closely with police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place to deal with the raised threat.

The threat level to the UK from international terrorism remains unchanged at severe - meaning an attack is highly likely.

:: Analysis: Do NI Dissidents Pose 'Significant' Threat?

Terror threat levels in the UK can be assessed as low, moderate, substantial, severe or critical - with critical meaning an attack is expected imminently.

The threat to the UK mainland from Northern Irish terrorism was last at substantial in 2011, before it was reduced to moderate in October 2012.

Sky News Senior Correspondent Ian Woods said: "The decision is made not by politicians but by intelligence staff, so even though it has been announced by the Home Secretary Theresa May, it is based on advice coming from the security service, MI5.

"International terrorism has been at severe for some years now, but Irish terrorism, for want of a better phrase, coming from Dissident Republican activity, has been downgraded because there has been very little of it."

In Northern Ireland - where the threat from home-grown terror has been severe since it was first published in September 2010 - there have been a number of warnings about increased activity from dissident republican groups.

In March, prison officer Adrian Ismay, 52, died 11 days after he was injured in a dissident republican bomb attack.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson expressed surprise at the security assessment and is seeking an urgent Privy Council briefing to discuss it further.

The Lagan Valley MP said: "It is evident that dissident republicans are now active in Great Britain and are examining potential targets.

Story continues

"Obviously that's a matter of concern.

"We had no prior indication that the threat level had been increasing.

"In Northern Ireland, the threat has been severe for some time but quite clearly this is a new development in terms of dissident republican activity."
Canada's adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will help First Nations fight against the Energy East pipeline, according to some New Brunswick Aboriginal leaders.



Ron Tremblay, Grand Chief of the Wolastoq Grand Council, is at the United Nations this week in New York. He believes the declaration will give Aboriginal communities veto power over contentious resource projects including the pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Alberta to New Brunswick.



"I'm very confident that by the Liberal federal government supporting the declaration ... that we will have the opportunity to say no," said Tremblay.

The Grand Council, which says the homeland of the Wolastoqewiyik takes in all of New Brunswick as well as parts of Maine and Quebec, came out in opposition of the pipeline earlier this year.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett officially removed Canada's objector status to the UN declaration on Tuesday.



The declaration recognizes Indigenous Peoples' basic human rights, as well as rights to self-determination, language, equality and land, among others. It states Aboriginal people cannot be forcibly removed from land they have traditionally owned or used without "free, prior and informed consent."

The UN document isn't legally binding, but Bennett said the government intends to implement it in accordance with the Constitution.

Tremblay travelled to New York City with Hugh Akagi, Chief of the Passamaquoddy people in St. Andrews, to observe the UN proceedings. Under the Indian Act, the Passamaquoddy does not have official First Nation status.

"[The declaration] is a mechanism or tool to have on our side, it definitely gives us a voice where we've been ignored," said Akagi.

Darrell Paul, Executive Director of the Union of New Brunswick Indians, agrees that support for the UN declaration will bolster First Nations' ability to say no to resource projects.

Story continues

"I think it will help a great deal, it will support the position that Aboriginal title does exist in New Brunswick," said Paul.

'Equivalent of a veto'

If the government follows through on its plan to enforce the UN declaration through law, it's clear that Indigenous communities would have the power to halt resource projects, according to Larry Chartrand, law professor at the University of Ottawa.



"If they don't want to go along with the project at the end of the day they can say no and that's the equivalent of a veto," said Chartrand.



The Constitution includes a duty to consult Aboriginal Peoples, but it doesn't go as far as a duty for consent. Enacting the UN document would ultimately give more power to Indigenous Peoples on development decisions, said Chartrand.

Pam Palmater, associate professor and Chair in Indigenous governance at Ryerson University, says First Nations in Atlantic Canada already live on unceded lands and have the power to say no to resource projects.

"We have always had a veto, but Canada and the provinces have violated our rights for so long, they forget their own laws," Palmater said in an email to CBC News.

The former Conservative government did not fully support the declaration because of the prospect of First Nations having veto power.



But Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde has disputed the notion, pointing out in 2015 at the Indigenous rights forum at the UN that the term veto is not used in the declaration and such a power would not lead to the balancing of rights.

Uncertain about next steps

Akagi has been attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the last five years.



He used to make the trip to keep an eye on the government, but this year says he was proud to watch Canada change its stance.



Even so, he's still uncertain about whether the Trudeau government will actually implement the declaration.



"I'm really hoping this is the real deal, but I'm 70 years old," said Akagi. "I've seen so many things derailed by money and I'm afraid we haven't put that in the equation yet."



According to TransCanada, the Energy East pipeline would generate $55 billion for Canada by 2040.



The National Energy Board's consultations on the pipeline along the proposed route begin in August.



The national energy regulator expects to release its final report on the project by March 2018.
Data Security

The Shocking Data Security Gap in Computer Science Education

Giving students an early start on computer science education with a focus on security is crucial. And high school is already too late, argues Project Lead the Ways Vince Bertram.

There is a disturbing trend in computer science education today: Not one of the top 10 computer science programs in the U.S. requires so much as a single cybersecurity course as a prerequisite for graduation, and just three of the top 50 computer science programs, as ranked by Business Insider, require majors to complete such a course.

Worse still, out of the 121 schools examined in a recent CloudPassage study, just one  the University of Alabama  requires three or more cybersecurity classes to graduate. The IT security company surveyed cybersecurity education at undergraduate computer science programs at top colleges and universities across the U.S.

Another Alabama university, Tuskegee, tied with the Rochester Institute of Technology for the distinction of offering the most cybersecurity courses (10)  albeit as electives  closely followed by DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Maryland with nine and eight, respectively.

Our failure to engage students in modern data security challenges today will make it difficult to protect ourselves from hackers in the future.

"Cybersecurity should be a universal concentration option for computer science and information technology programs at the collegiate level," Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), co-chairman of the 74-member Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, told United Press International. "It is an important specialty, and one with tremendous growth potential."

The scope of hacking and data breaches over the last few years is gravely disconcerting. A report by the Ponemon Institute in May 2014 asserted that hackers had exposed the personal information of some 110 million adult Americans and an incredible 432 million accounts in the prior 12 months alone.

If anything, the problem has only become more acute and sophisticated in the two years since. CBS' 60 Minutes April 17 reported on how it recruited German hackers working for a computer security research lab to demonstrate just how easy it is to hack into cell phones  and all the information stored in them.

As such, security is necessarily an increasingly important part of computer science education, and we need to be doing more to get American students interested in, and educated on, the subject.

"With more than 200,000 open cybersecurity jobs in 2015 in the U.S. alone and the number of threat surfaces exponentially increasing," the CloudPassage study warned, "there's a growing skills gap between the bad actors and the good guys."

Security can no longer be treated by computer science education programs as an "add-on" after new products are brought to market, like an aftermarket stereo system on an automobile. It needs to be made a graduation requirement for all computer information technology degrees.

But we shouldn't just be increasing cybersecurity offerings at the college level. We need to introduce students to these concepts even earlier in their schooling, because they typically decide early on what subjects they're interested in and think they're good at. High school is too late. We can't expect that, if given his or her first opportunity to take computer science in grades 9-12, a student would elect into the subject and decide to pursue it as a major in college. It would be worse than expecting a student to pick up a musical instrument in high school after never having taken any kind of music class.

"We need to invest in cyber-education, and there's no such thing as 'too early' when it comes to exposing our young people to [cybersecurity] and training them in this field," said Rep. Langevin, a former member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

The alternative is that we'll be faced with tens of thousands of unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the future.
By Igor Ilic ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia's main opposition party said on Thursday it would challenge Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko over a conflict of interest dispute through a no-confidence vote that could topple the coalition government. Social Democrat (SDP) leader Zoran Milanovic, a former prime minister, said the alleged conflict of interest, involving the country's biggest energy firm INA, was politically unacceptable. "It is important to separate private or business issues from public matters. Since Karamarko hasn't resigned, we will demand a vote on it," Milanovic said. The State Commission for Conflicts of Interest, an independent body, said on Tuesday it would assess whether Karamarko had a case to answer in relation to a newspaper article alleging his wife had previous business links with a lobbyist for Hungarian energy firm MOL. MOL is INA's biggest shareholder and the Croatian government its second largest, and the pair are at odds over management rights and INA's investment policy. Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic defended his deputy, telling a news conference: "I am convinced that Karamarko has done nothing against Croatian interests." Oreskovic said he would soon appoint a team to restart talks with MOL over INA's future without awaiting the results of an international arbitration in which both MOL and the government have been involved. Karamarko, who says he has always kept public and business issues separate and has offered to refrain from any decisions involving INA until the issue has been resolved, heads the HDZ party, which leads the ruling centre-right coalition that took office in January. HDZ and its junior partner Most ("Bridge") have already argued about political appointments and some reform plans, which suggests a no-confidence vote could pose a serious test to the coalition's stability. "It is possible that some Most members who are not so happy with cooperation with the HDZ may rebel in the vote," said political analyst Ivan Rimac. "However, six months in the parliament are needed for the deputies to receive benefits to which they are entitled, so that could also tilt the vote (in Karamarko's favour)". The coalition has 76 seats in the 151-seat parliament. It is not yet clear when the no-confidence vote will take place. The government has promised to tackle Croatia's key economic problems - low growth, a poor investment climate, high public debt and unemployment - and a snap election would considerably delay the pace of reforms. With one of the weakest economies in the European Union, Croatia is closely monitored by Brussels for imbalances and any foot-dragging over reforms could trigger corrective measures. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; editing by Gareth Jones)
OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's white-collar crimes police unit on Tuesday established a telephone hotline for people seeking to confess to tax evasion linked to the Panama Papers documents leak and said those who come forward could expect more lenient treatment.

The initiative was announced one day after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released a database containing a small fraction of the more than 11.5 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, making it possible for anyone to search the released documents.

"Oekokrim has set up a phone number...that can be used by those who wish to put their cards on the table and provide information about potential income or capital abroad which is not available to the Norwegian tax authorities," the agency responsible for tackling economic crime, known as Oekokfrim, said in a statement.

Those who volunteer information could typically expect to see their sentence cut by a third compared to those who get caught by the police, it added. Tax evasion cases are frequently settled with steep fines, but courts can set prison terms of up to six years in cases considered severe.

The leak of more than 11.5 million documents, the so-called Panama Papers, has shone a spotlight on the shadowy world of offshore companies used for tax evasion, prompting authorities across the world to investigate possible financial wrongdoing by the rich and powerful.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Rufus OR, May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oregon Based Auscrete Corporation (ASCK) announced today that it has signed an equity finance acquisition agreement with New York based TTC group to secure a $16 million investment. The financing will be used for advancement of their 1,500 home real estate housing development planned for the Montego Bay area of Northwest Jamaica.

Auscretes President, John Sprovieri said " the Auscrete management team is very excited about the execution of this finance acquisition agreement, given TTC Groups record of achievements. By the execution and signing of this agreement we are confident this will accelerate our path to enhancing shareholder values with a clear vision to the future. This takes us one huge step toward our ultimate aim of having a building materials manufacturing plant on the ground in Jamaica by the latter part of this year so we can start housing construction.

Dale Shirley, president of Big Reach Media, Inc. stated It was my pleasure to introduce the TTC group to John Sprovieri and the Auscrete company. Ive been working with the TTC group for some time now on a number of different projects and I'm excited about getting the 2 companies together. Auscrete has a number of big projects that theyre working on bringing into the company and, with the assistance of the TTC group, I believe we'll have a better chance of success of locking down any future funding and getting these projects initiated so we can escalate shareholder value. 

Lee Odom, an IR consultant for Auscrete also added that this will set up Auscrete Corporation for both an exciting and revenue producing period in both of the 3rd & 4th quarters of 2016. Auscrete will always be exploring other opportunities to enhance shareholder values...both in the near-term & longer-term as well. Although Auscrete is an established US corporation, Jamaica as a location will likely become a flagship for Auscrete Corporation throughout their Caribbean & Central American direction.
Restructuring Will Reduce Companys Long-Term Debt by More Than $1 Billion, With the Support of Approximately 86% of its Senior Noteholders and 100% of its Bank Lenders



Receives Commitment for $25 Million in DIP Financing, up to $128 Million in Committed Exit Financing, and a $50 Million Backstopped Rights Offering

RADNOR, Pa., May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Penn Virginia Corporation (OTC Pink:PVAH) (Penn Virginia or the Company) announced that it and certain of its subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, to facilitate the deleveraging of their consolidated balance sheet through a prearranged restructuring that will reduce the Companys long-term debt by more than $1 billion. In connection with the chapter 11 filing, the Company announced its entry into a restructuring support agreement with holders of 87% (or $1.03 billion) of the Companys nearly $1.20 billion in total funded-debt obligations. Subject to Court approval, the Company has received a commitment for $25 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from its RBL lenders, which combined with the Companys cash reserves and cash from operations, is expected to provide liquidity throughout the chapter 11 process. Additionally, the Company has obtained a commitment for up to $128 million in exit financing from its RBL lenders, led by Wells Fargo as agent, as well as a $50 million rights offering that is backstopped and supported by certain of the Companys senior unsecured noteholders.

This is an important step forward for Penn Virginia, said Edward B. Cloues, II, Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer of Penn Virginia. Once the restructuring is implemented, the Company will have substantially less debt and a much stronger balance sheet. We will be in a better position to navigate the current industry environment and leverage the value of our underlying assets and operational expertise. Importantly, the announcement today provides Penn Virginia with an expedited plan to emerge from this process with committed financing, a new money investment, and a clear path to future production and success.

As part of the Companys first day motions, Penn Virginia has asked the Court for authorization to generally continue its ongoing employee compensation and benefit programs without change or interruption. Additionally, Penn Virginia has filed a Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement, which incorporate the terms of the restructuring agreement and other commitments made by the RBL Lenders and the supporting noteholders. The Company anticipates emerging from chapter 11 by the end of the summer.

Like many other exploration and production companies, Penn Virginia has been significantly affected by the recent and continued dramatic decline in oil and natural gas prices. We believe using the chapter 11 process is the most efficient way to achieve our financial objectives and deleverage the Company's balance sheet, said Mr. Cloues. The ongoing commitment from our valued business partners and hard-working employees is a testament to the strength of our organization, and we sincerely appreciate their loyalty and support.

Jefferies is acting as financial advisor, Alvarez & Marsal is acting as restructuring advisor (with R. Seth Bullock of Alvarez & Marsal serving as Chief Restructuring Officer), and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel to the Company in connection with the debt restructuring. PJT Partners is acting as financial advisor and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is acting as legal advisor to the ad hoc committee of noteholders. Opportune LLP is acting as financial advisor and Bracewell LLP is acting as legal advisor to Wells Fargo (as agent) and the RBL lenders. For more information about the chapter 11 case, including access to Court documents, please visit: http://dm.epiq11.com/PVA.

ABOUT PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION

Penn Virginia Corporation is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, NGLs and natural gas in various domestic onshore regions of the United States, with a primary focus in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.pennvirginia.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are 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. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our press releases and public periodic filings with the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond the ability of management to control or predict. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect managements views only as of the date hereof. We undertake 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.
DGAP-News: MyBucks S.A. / Key word(s): IPO MyBucks releases details relating to IPO 12.05.2016 / 16:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press release NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RE-LEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. MyBucks releases details relating to IPO - FinTech company plans initial public offering on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange for end of May 2016 - Offer period begins on 13 May 2016 and is expected to end on 24 May 2016 - Price range is from 13.50 euro to 16.50 euro per share - Existing shareholders commit themselves to lock-up period of 18 months - MyBucks plans to use proceeds to fund further growth in Africa and Europe Luxembourg, 12 May 2016 - The FinTech company MyBucks S.A., headquartered in Luxembourg, which is one of the pioneers in the digital micro-finance business, has announced further details of its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The offer period begins on 13 May 2016 and is expected to end on 24 May 2016. During this period, investors will be able to subscribe to shares of MyBucks S.A. through the bank Hauck & Aufhauser. The initial listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is scheduled for 27 May 2016. The company plans to issue 2.0 million new shares via a capital increase as well as up to 300,000 existing shares in connection with a potential over- allotment. The company has granted Hauck & Aufhauser a Greenshoe option with respect to the shares borrowed to cover such potential over-allotment. Assuming the placement of all new shares and full exercise of the Greenshoe option, the free float in the shares of MyBucks will amount to 18.7 percent of its share capital. The price range has been set from 13.50 euro to 16.50 euro per share. Assuming a placement of all shares at the mid-point of the price range and full exercise of the Greenshoe option, MyBucks expects gross issuing proceeds of approximately 34.5 million euro. The existing shareholders of MyBucks will not sell any shares within the the offer. Instead, the shareholders have committed themselves to a mandatory lock-up period of 18 months from the day of the initial listing of the shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The new shares will have the same rights as the existing shares of MyBucks S.A. Expansion of offering in Africa and Europe "We offer our customers in Africa and Europe technology-based financial services via digital and mobile channels that make accessing them quick and easy" says Dave van Niekerk, CEO of MyBucks S.A. "This IPO will enable us to introduce our highly scalable MyBucks business model into other countries in Africa and Europe, allowing us to get closer to our objective of becoming a global player." MyBucks is a profitable enterprise that uses its GetBucks, GetBanked and GetSure brands to offer a comprehensive portfolio of financial services, which include credit, banking as well as insurance products. The company is actively engaged in nine African and two European countries with more than 380 employees and over 400 sales agents. During the financial year 2014/15 (ended 30 June), MyBucks generated 31.2 million euro in revenue. Operating profit amounted to 11.1 million euro and profit before taxation was at 5.7 million euro. "MyBucks has had positive earnings, before and after tax, for the third year running. Not many FinTech companies can claim to have achieved such good performance. The IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange will assist the company's growth plans," says Tim Nuy, Executive Director of MyBucks S.A. Issuing proceeds are to support further corporate growth Among other things, MyBucks plans to use the proceeds of the IPO to fund further growth in African and European markets. In addition, MyBucks is now poised to take over a pan-African finance group of the US enterprise Opportunity International Inc. The offering of MyBucks' shares consists of an initial public offering to investors in Luxembourg and Germany as well as private placements to qualified investors outside Germany, Luxembourg and the United States of America in reliance on Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Hauck & Aufhauser is assisting the IPO as sole global coordinator and sole bookrunner. MyBucks' shares have been assigned the international securities identification number (ISIN) LU1404975507 and the German Securities Code (Wertpapierkennnummer) (WKN): A2AJLT. The securities prospectus is available for download from the website of MyBucks (www.mybucks.com) under Investor Relations. About MyBucks MyBucks is a FinTech company based in Luxembourg that delivers seamless financial services through technology. Through its brands GetBucks, GetBanked and GetSure the company offers unsecured consumer loans, banking solutions as well as insurance products to customers. MyBucks has experienced exponential growth since its inception in 2011 and today has operations in nine African and two European countries. MyBucks aims to ensure that its product offering is accessible, simple and trustworthy, in comparison to traditional, non-technological methods, ultimately working towards enhancing the benefits to the customer. The MyBucks' product offering enables customers to manage their financial affairs easily and conveniently. Discover more at: www.mybucks.com Press Contact Folker Dries Phone: Tel.: +49 151 1623 1556 Email: fdries@heringschuppener.com Zsofia Kohler Phone: +49 69 9218 7437 Email: zkoehler@heringschuppener.com Important information This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. This announcement is not a prospectus. Potential investors should not purchase or subscribe for any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus of the Company (including any supplements thereto) which has been approved by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier - CSSF) and immediately published thereafter. Copies of such prospectus are available free of charge from MyBucks S.A., 40, avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as, for viewing in electronic form, on the websites of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (http://www.bourse.lu) and the Company (http://www.mybucks.com). This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America (the "United States"). Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States would be made by means of a prospectus that could be obtained from the Company and that would contain detailed information about the Company and its management, as well as the financial statements of the Company. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States. In the United Kingdom, this information is directed at and/or for distribution only to (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth companies falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person hereinafter a "relevant person"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this information or any of its contents. Subject to certain exceptions under the Securities Act, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. Some of the information in this announcement may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," or, in each case, the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with our industry, as well as many other risks specifically related to the Company and its operations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.05.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 463251 12.05.2016
ARLINGTON, Va., May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planned Systems International, Inc. (PSI), a leading provider of information technology (IT) solutions and services for the federal government, is very pleased to announce the successful implementation and deployment of its Blood Donor Management System (BDMS) at all Blood Donor Centers (BDCs) worldwide.

The ongoing demand for blood donations is a critical item for the military readiness of troops worldwide, given that blood cannot be artificially reproduced and must be replenished due to a short shelf-life. Formerly, the Armed Services Blood Program used a separate system at each blood center, where data could not be shared. The improved global system, architected by PSI as the prime integrator, provides a centralized database to effectively manage and track the full spectrum of blood donor registration, screening, blood products and associated record keeping for military and civilian blood donors.

PSI and team member Mediware Information Systems, Inc. worked in close coordination and cooperation with the DHA Enterprise Blood Management System (EBMS) Program Office, the Armed Services Blood Program Office, Air Force, Army, Navy blood program offices, and each BDC, to successfully deploy this enterprise system to MHS sites worldwide.

PSI CEO Terry Lin said, We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of PSIs Blood Team and its role in supporting the Military Health System (MHS). Their efforts will have a long-term positive impact on improving the care our service members receive, and will ensure the continuity of vital healthcare services across the entire military community.

The successful implementation of BDMS included training over 400 end users, completing system installation activities, and the migration of each sites legacy data into the new system.

This achievement marks another significant milestone in PSIs long history of supporting the MHS. This follows PSIs Military Blood Program support team assisting in fulfilling the mission-critical objectives of the MHS by providing and deploying a fully integrated system to manage blood transfusion products and the associated record keeping for military members and their dependents worldwide.

About Planned Systems International, Inc.

Founded in 1988, PSI is a CMMI-DEV Level 3, CMMI-SVC Level 3, ISO 9001:2008, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005, ISO 27001:2005, and ISO 14001:2004-certified enterprise IT solutions and management consulting services provider specializing in Health IT and Data Integration & Analyses. PSI has a stellar record of past performance and award-winning experience, and core capabilities in the following areas: Requirements Gathering & Design; Enterprise Architecture & Design; Software Development & Maintenance; Systems Integration; Testing Services; Web & SharePoint Development; Cloud Computing; E-Learning - Instructional Design & Delivery; Service Delivery & Customer Care; Medical Modeling & Simulation; Big Data Analytics & Business Intelligence; Mobility Systems; Theatre Systems Support, and Advisory & Assistance Services.

The company has earned a solid reputation for applying state-of-the-art technologies and the industry's most successful methodologies to support business solutions for the Defense Health Agency, Veterans Affairs, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Corporation for National and Community Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other Government clients.

Visit PSI on the web at www.plan-sys.com.
IRVING, Texas, May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHC Helicopter (CHC, the "Company"), a global helicopter services provider, announced that its Irish Search-and-Rescue (SAR) operation, which provides services on behalf of the Irish Coastguard, has achieved the significant milestone of reaching 10,000 Sikorsky S92 flight hours.



CHC has been providing these critical services to the Irish people on behalf of the Irish Coastguard for more than two decades. CHC's crew have rescued and assisted many thousands of people throughout Ireland during this time.



The company's five new technology Sikorsky S92 aircraft have completed more than 3,100 missions, operating from the company's bases in Sligo, Waterford, Shannon and Dublin since first commencing operations in Ireland in 2012.



Peter O'Hagan, base manager for CHC's Irish SAR operation, stated, "10,000 hours is a significant milestone for the highly trained crews who carry people from danger and distress to safety." He added, "We have completed a number of high profile missions, including the rescue of mariners miles out to sea and critically ill people stranded in remote locations, as well as hundreds of individual rescues every year."



Chris Hodson, CHC General Operations Manager for SAR, praised the aircrew and engineers at all four bases. "We achieved 10,000 flight hours ahead of initial projections, thanks to the collective dedication of our people, who are putting the advanced capability of these aircraft to operational effect every day, while maintaining the highest levels of safety. With four bases located across Ireland, our crews assist mariners, hill walkers, and those living in rural communities. I'm proud to say that the Search-and-Rescue operation has a record of high efficiency and reliability, maintaining more than 97 percent availability for the people of Ireland and our customer, the Irish Coastguard."



Jim O'Neill, CHC Chief Crewman Standards, SAR Ireland added, "Survivability of major trauma and medical emergencies can be greatly increased if the patient can be brought to hospital to receive definitive care within 60 minutes of the incident taking place. This is known as the golden hour. With the help of the SAR crews we are more able than ever to achieve this."



With the introduction of the S92, CHC ushered in a step change in operational effectiveness and flight safety. The fleet is equipped with state-of-the-art autopilot functions, auto hover and flight director upgrades. This has led to improved safety and higher levels of aircraft availability.



CHC operates the world's largest commercial Search-and-Rescue network. The company delivers services on behalf of the Irish Coastguard from four bases in Ireland, the MCA in the UK, RAAF in Australia and delivers search-and-rescue services to the oil and gas industry in Norway and Australia.



ABOUT CHC

CHC Helicopter is a leader in enabling customers to go further, do more and come home safely, including oil and gas companies, government search-and-rescue agencies and organizations requiring helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul services through the Heli-One segment. The Company has a fleet of more than 220 aircraft and operates on six continents.



MEDIA

Sue Fay

Director, Communications - EMEA, NECC

+44 (0)7796444762

Sue.fay@chc.ca

Photos accompanying this release are available at:



http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40249



http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40250
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BSEE Director and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Discuss Joint Operations

The discussions took place during a luncheon panel at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.

The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's director, Brian Salerno, held a discussion with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Thomas at last week's Offshore Technology Conference in Houston in which they focused on joint inspections and regulatory issues, according to BSEE.

The two described protocol for sharing information on worst case discharge scenarios, as well as how joint working groups and quarterly meetings create collaboration. According to Salerno, Safety and Environmental Management Systems serve the common goal of coordination with the offshore industry and safe practices. SEMS has evolved in the past six years, with an ongoing process of improvement regarding how safety is incorporated into work performed offshore, he said, with both predicting that SEMS effectiveness will continue to grow through improved communication and that SEMS' effectiveness will improve when operators focus on learning from what works and what does not with safety issues.

"The goal of risk-based inspections is to drive safety performance beyond where we are now by perhaps looking at things differently than our regular inspections and SEMS audits," Salerno said.
News

Office 365 Improvements Include Outlook Troubleshooting Tool

Microsoft described Outlook improvements this week, along with other Office 365 news.

A new Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 is available. It's a troubleshooting tool for Outlook clients that will verify the credentials of end users, check the client's update status and licensing, and determine whether the Exchange Server can be reached by the Outlook client. The Support and Recovery Assistant tool needs to be downloaded and installed on the client machine that's experiencing the problem.

While Microsoft announced this tool today, it's been available as a beta since May of last year. Presumably, it's no longer at the beta stage. Microsoft describes the tool at this page.

The Support and Recovery Assistant will run certain tests and report on any failures. It then "will offer to create a new Outlook profile for you." While it looks like this tool is simple enough to be run by end users, they will need to have administrative privileges on the client machine to install and use it.

Outlook 2016 for Mac Improvements

Microsoft indicated today that it is planning some improvements to the end user experience on its Outlook 2016 Mac clients. These new features will show up around "mid-May" of this year.

The coming features include new sizing handles to help insert images into e-mail messages. Microsoft is also adding enhanced fonts and font-color options, plus numbered and bulleted lists that are "richer." Support for Tables also will be coming.

Sunrise Goes Away in August

In other e-mail client news, the Sunrise Atelier team that's been behind improvements in Microsoft's Outlook clients for mobile devices announced that its Sunrise calendar applications for Android and iOS devices will get pulled from app stores on Aug. 31. The team's development work for the Outlook clients is still continuing, though.

Microsoft bought Sunrise Atelier last year as part of its Outlook refresh efforts. Those efforts also included the acquisition of other mobile app software developers, such as Acompli and 6Wunderkinder. In October, Microsoft made it clear that the Sunrise apps eventually would get discontinued at some point, so their demise wasn't unexpected.

Other Office 365 News

Microsoft offered a roundup of its recent Office 365 news in this blog post today.

On the client side, Microsoft is planning to release a new "safety tips" feature for users of its Exchange Online Protection service. It will advise end users about e-mail safety using a color-coded scheme for "suspicious, unknown, trusted or safe" e-mails. The safety tips feature is expected to arrive "over the coming weeks" to Exchange Online Protection subscribers.

IT pros may appreciate that the Office 365 Import Service has hit general availability status as of last month. This service is for organizations moving mailboxes to Exchange Online. They can upload PST files to Microsoft's servers for small sets of data. For larger jobs, they can mail hard drives containing the PST files to Microsoft. However, Microsoft charges $2 per GB for mailed drives.

Microsoft also announced some PowerShell-based scripts late last month to facilitate Office 365 e-discovery searches. They're designed "to automate time-consuming Content Search tasks," a Microsoft TechNet article explained. However, Microsoft isn't backing the use of these scripts with any warrantees, so it's use at your own risk.

Microsoft also announced some compliance news. The Yammer enterprise social networking service available via Office 365 subscriptions now meets "ISO 27001 and SSAE 16" security and compliance standards. Office 365 achieved Cloud Security Mark accreditation in Japan. Office 365 also now meets Spain's National Security Framework requirements for security controls.
(Bloomberg) -- Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will cover the duties of Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who underwent surgery on Thursday after suffering a stroke during a Cabinet meeting.

Hengs treatment helped relieve pressure in his brain from an aneurysm that led him to collapse during the meeting, according to a statement from the Prime Ministers Office late Thursday. The aneurysm, or weakening of a blood vessel, was successfully closed, it said.

Shanmugaratnam, who stepped down as finance minister in October after Hengs appointment, will assume his duties for now, according to a separate statement from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs office. On Friday, Lee said that while Hengs condition was stable, hell remain in intensive care for some time.

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in a Facebook posting he was shocked to hear of Hengs collapse. He is a core member of the fourth generation leadership team, said Goh, who was prime minister from 1990 to 2004. We need him.

Leadership Transition

Lee has elevated younger faces to key roles in his Cabinet in preparation for a leadership transition in coming years. Heng, 54, presented his first budget in Parliament in March.

A former central bank managing director, he previously held the education portfolio. Before heading the central bank, Heng was a principal private secretary to Lee Kuan Yew, the premiers father and the countrys first prime minister, who died last year.

Lets hope and pray for Heng Swee Keat, who is being treated in hospital after suffering a stroke during Cabinet meeting late this afternoon, Shanmugaratnam said Thursday on Facebook. He is one of Singapores finest sons, and a leader with much promise.

Prime Minister Lee said on Friday that hed visited Heng in the evening, and he was sedated. His condition is stable, but he will remain in the ICU for some time, Lee said in a Facebook post, using initials for intensive-care unit. He is in very good hands.

Story continues

(Updates to add comment from Lee in third, final paragraphs.)

--With assistance from Niluksi Koswanage David Roman Sharon Chen Linus Chua Jake Lloyd-Smith and Alfred Cang To contact the reporters on this story: Andrea Tan in Singapore at atan17@bloomberg.net, Dan Murtaugh in Singapore at dmurtaugh@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net, Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net, Jake Lloyd-Smith

2016 Bloomberg L.P.
New Zealands relationship with the Philippines is in great shape as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.

I think the political relationship with our two countries is in excellent shape In the last five to seven years there has been an enormous increase in people-to-people contact, Ambassador David Strachan said.

Filipino-born New Zealand trade and enterprise commissioner Hernando Banal II, who previously spent a lot of time in New Zealand as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), said the countries relationship has come a long way.

In my experience  15 years ago  not many Filipinos would have known where New Zealand is, Banal said. During that time if you mention Anchor milk or Anchor butter then they would suddenly connect that to snow-capped mountains, green fields, meadows and the dairy industry to New Zealand  that was before.

As well as back in New Zealand during the early years when I first immigrated, Kiwis didnt know much about the Philippines, he added.

He noted that this is now changing, thanks to the Internet, globalization and a certain Kiwi film series.

Strachan said he expects Philippine-New Zealand ties to grow stronger following New Zealands national airline announcing direct flights to Manila starting in December.

If you look at some of the figures in tourism, theres been 25 percent growth, two-way tourism flows to and from our two countries and its amazing to see just how many Filipinos know and admire the All Blacksthe Haka is something that has made a huge impact here, he said.

The thing to watch now is the nonstop air services which will have a springboard effect to inject greater momentum into the relationship, he added.

In the Philippines, there are 20 established and active Kiwi companies including Datacom, Steel Pencil, Fonterra and Griffins confectionary.

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Banal said the Philippines is a great option for Kiwis wanting to gain entry into the Asian market.

The business language here is English and the culture is very western-friendly, so a lot of New Zealand companies are realizing its a good opportunity to expand in to Asia.

It is estimated that around 2,000 Kiwis are living in the Philippines.

In New Zealand, one per- cent of all New Zealanders are Filipino-New Zealanders with more than 40,000 OFWs occupying jobs in the healthcare, dairy and construction sectors.

Banal said he expects to see more Filipinos working in the ICT and construction sectors in coming years.

To celebrate 50 years of diplomacy, the New Zealand embassy will host a trade fair called Experience New Zealand in Manila from May 20 to 22.
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
Career and Technical Education

5 Finalists Announced in $225,000 Reach Higher Career App Challenge

The U.S. Department of Educations CTE-focused challenge awarded $25,000 to five finalists who continue to compete for the $100,000 grand prize.

The White House and the United States Department of Education announced five finalists in the Reach Higher Career App Challenge. Announced last October by First Lady Michelle Obama, the challenge called for students to develop mobile technologies to help students navigate education and career pathways, including career and technical education (CTE), according to the challenges site.

The apps will include integrated tools to assess student skills and interests, and offer information on occupations, education options, credentials and career-seeking skills, according to ED.

A panel of external judges with expertise in career counseling, workforce development, CTE, educational technology and business scaling selected the five finalists. Each will receive $25,000 to improve their concepts and proceed to the Virtual Accelerator phase of the competition. In this phase, they will receive additional help from experts in design, business modeling, civic tech and career counseling.

The finalists are:

Future Plans, a career exploration app that assesses student aptitudes and interests to map educational pathways, created by Pinellas Education Foundation;

Hats & Ladders, a gaming app that offers self-assessments, connected activities and mini-challenges to supports middle and high school career exploration, created by ThinkZone Games;

INFORM Journeys, an interactive learning map app that helps students explore options throughout K-12, CTE, higher education, military service and vocational training, created by EDmin;

MARi, an education and career coach app that combines assessments, capability mapping and achievement validation with personalized career opportunities, created by MARi; and

Overgrad, an online platform that provides community resources, technology and data to support long-term student outcomes, created by Overgrad.

The finalists will present prototypes of their concepts at Demo Day this summer to a panel of judges. One grand prize winner will be selected and will win $100,000 in prizes from IBM and Microsoft.

Further information about the competition can be found on the Reach Higher Career App Challenge site.
Public Funding

52 New York Schools Get Funding in Program to Boost Technology

New York state is beefing up funding and support for classroom technology, high-tech security and connectivity in its public schools.

On Wednesday, the first 52 school projects were approved, with $45 million from the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act that was approved by voters, the Associated Press reported.

The bulk of that, $26 million, will pay for classroom technology, AP said.

As technology continues to shape the landscape of our economy, we must reimagine our classrooms into modern centers of learning so that our students are prepared for the jobs that meet the demands of tomorrow, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on his website.

A list of districts that received funding can be found on Cuomos site. Lakeland Central School District is receiving the highest amount, with $3.65 million going to classroom technology.
Technical Education

700 SoCal High School Students Competing in Nation's Largest Solar-Powered Boat Competition

About 700 students from 38 Southern California high school teams are expected to compete in the 14th annual Solar Cup, the nations largest solar-powered boat competition, May 13-15.

The event is the culmination of a year-long education program sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The students have been learning about water conservation, alternative energy, engineering, math and science, according to a press release issued by the water district.

The competition will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this weekend at Lake Skinner in Temecula Valley. Students will test their boats in the water Friday, then race them Saturday and Sunday, a water district spokeswoman said.

The students will also show 60-second water conservation videos and social media campaigns that they have been working on for the past several months, the spokeswoman said.

The Solar Cup began in 2002 with eight teams and about 80 students, a press statement said. Along the way, about 10,000 students have participated in Solar Cup competitions, and many have gone on to careers in math, physics, engineering and environmental science after learning about water conservation and alternative energy development in this program, the statement said.
Viewpoint

The Shocking Data Security Gap in Computer Science Education

Giving students and early start on computer science education with a focus on security is crucial. And high school is already too late, argues Project Lead the Ways Vince Bertram.

The annual H-1B visa lottery for high-skilled non-immigrant foreign workers opened April 1, and within five business days, the number of applications eclipsed the 85,000 visas available for fiscal 2017.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced April 12 that it had received more than 236,000 applications for those temporary work visas, most of them for computer-related occupations. (Those who receive them will be determined by lottery.)

The disparity between supply and demand for the visas serves to underscore and perhaps to exacerbate the shortage of domestic specialists in the burgeoning field of data and network security.

Coincidentally, on the same day, April 7, that the number of H-1B applications reached that 85,000 figure, the IT security company CloudPassage released the findings of its study of cybersecurity education at undergraduate computer science programs at top U.S colleges and universities.

Disturbingly, not one of the top 10 computer science programs requires so much as a single cybersecurity course as a prerequisite for graduation, and just three of the top 50 U.S. computer science programs, as ranked by Business Insider, require majors to complete such a course.

Worse still, just one of the 121 schools examined in the CloudPassage study requires three or more cybersecurity classes to graduate. That would be the University of Alabama.

Another Alabama university, Tuskegee, tied with the Rochester Institute of Technology for the distinction of offering the most cybersecurity courses (10)  albeit as electives  closely followed by DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Maryland with nine and eight, respectively.

Our failure to engage students in modern data security challenges today will make it difficult to protect ourselves from hackers in the future.

Cybersecurity should be a universal concentration option for computer science and information technology programs at the collegiate level, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), co-chairman of the 74-member Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, told United Press International. It is an important specialty, and one with tremendous growth potential.

The scope of hacking and data breaches over the last few years is gravely disconcerting. A report by the Ponemon Institute in May 2014 asserted that hackers had exposed the personal information of some 110 million adult Americans and an incredible 432 million accounts in the prior 12 months alone.

If anything, the problem has only become more acute and sophisticated in the two years since. CBS 60 Minutes April 17 reported on how it recruited German hackers working for a computer-security research lab to demonstrate just how easy it is to hack into cell phones  and all the information stored in them.

As such, security is necessarily an increasingly important part of computer science education, and we need to be doing more to get American students interested in, and educated on, the subject.

With more than 200,000 open cybersecurity jobs in 2015 in the U.S. alone and the number of threat surfaces exponentially increasing, the CloudPassage study warned, theres a growing skills gap between the bad actors and the good guys.

Security can no longer be treated by computer science education programs as an add-on after new products are brought to market, like an aftermarket stereo system on an automobile. It needs to be made a graduation requirement for all computer information technology degrees.

But we shouldnt just be increasing data security offerings at the college level. We need to introduce students to these concepts even earlier in their schooling, because they typically decide early on what subjects theyre interested in and think theyre good at. High school is too late. We cant expect that, if given the first opportunity to take computer science in grades 9-12, a student would elect into the subject and decide to pursue it as a major in college. It would be worse than expecting a student to pick up a musical instrument in high school after never having taken any kind of music class.

We need to invest in cyber-education, and theres no such thing as too early when it comes to exposing our young people to [cybersecurity] and training them in this field, said Rep. Langevin, a former member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

The alternative is that well be faced with tens of thousands of unfilled data security jobs in the future, and we cant afford to rely on H-1B visas  not all of which would be for data security specialists.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 11, 2016) - Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, accompanied by Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, today discussed exciting and innovative career opportunities in marine sciences with high school and university students at the Canadian Museum of Nature. As part of an interactive event during Science Odyssey week, the Ministers talked with scientists and students about what the Government of Canada's new investments in ocean and freshwater science will mean to them and all Canadians.

Announced in Budget 2016, the $197 million investment will bring real benefits to Canadians by allowing Fisheries and Oceans Canada to make more informed decisions about our oceans, waterways and fisheries while also creating job opportunities in science.

As part of this investment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will undertake our largest single recruitment toward restoring ocean science. The Department will hire 135 research scientists, biologists, oceanographers and technicians through a national recruitment campaign. Job postings will be available online on Jobs.gc.ca in the coming days.

The Department will also acquire new and innovative technologies to collect data and share information more efficiently. These technologies include state-of-the-art acoustic and remote sensing technologies and high performance lab equipment to better monitor our fish stocks and changing ocean conditions.

A portion of the funding will also be dedicated to establishing new partnerships and collaborations with universities, environmental organizations, Indigenous groups and other stakeholders, both in Canada and abroad to ensure we have access to the best available science to make decisions about Canada's oceans, lakes and rivers.

Quotes

"Investing in science also means investing in Canadians by hiring more scientists, which will boost our economy and grow our middle class. This is a smart and meaningful investment, which will allow us to make better, science-based decisions to sustain our fisheries and protect our aquatic environment."

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- Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Today's investment highlights the Government of Canada's commitment to science, evidence-based decision making, and to using science to answer questions that are relevant and important to Canadians. I welcome this investment in aquatic scientists and researchers and look forward to the great research these new federal scientists produce."

- Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

"Today's announcement renews our commitment to protect the sustainability of our water resources by investing in the research and monitoring critical to keeping our waters safe. Through cutting-edge research, Canada's scientists will continue to gain a better understanding of the health of our oceans and waterways."

- Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

The $197 million investment will allow for:

more ecosystems research and improved stock assessments on commercial species and species at risk, including marine mammals and Atlantic and Pacific Salmon, which will provide information for sustainable fisheries management;

more research on the effects of ecosystem stressors like underwater noise pollution and micro-plastics on our aquatic ecosystems, which will guide marine conservation policies and advice on project developments;

more research on sustainable aquaculture, including its impacts on wild species; and,

more research on freshwater ecosystems, specifically the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, St. Lawrence River and the Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario.

Related Product

New Science Investments at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO
DGAP-News: MyBucks S.A. / Key word(s): IPO





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Press release NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RE-LEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. MyBucks releases details relating to IPO - FinTech company plans initial public offering on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange for end of May 2016 - Offer period begins on 13 May 2016 and is expected to end on 24 May 2016 - Price range is from 13.50 euro to 16.50 euro per share - Existing shareholders commit themselves to lock-up period of 18 months - MyBucks plans to use proceeds to fund further growth in Africa and Europe Luxembourg, 12 May 2016 - The FinTech company MyBucks S.A., headquartered in Luxembourg, which is one of the pioneers in the digital micro-finance business, has announced further details of its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The offer period begins on 13 May 2016 and is expected to end on 24 May 2016. During this period, investors will be able to subscribe to shares of MyBucks S.A. through the bank Hauck & Aufhauser. The initial listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is scheduled for 27 May 2016. The company plans to issue 2.0 million new shares via a capital increase as well as up to 300,000 existing shares in connection with a potential over-allotment. The company has granted Hauck & Aufhauser a Greenshoe option with respect to the shares borrowed to cover such potential over-allotment. Assuming the placement of all new shares and full exercise of the Greenshoe option, the free float in the shares of MyBucks will amount to 18.7 percent of its share capital. The price range has been set from 13.50 euro to 16.50 euro per share. Assuming a placement of all shares at the mid-point of the price range and full exercise of the Greenshoe option, MyBucks expects gross issuing proceeds of approximately 34.5 million euro. The existing shareholders of MyBucks will not sell any shares within the the offer. Instead, the shareholders have committed themselves to a mandatory lock-up period of 18 months from the day of the initial listing of the shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The new shares will have the same rights as the existing shares of MyBucks S.A. Expansion of offering in Africa and Europe "We offer our customers in Africa and Europe technology-based financial services via digital and mobile channels that make accessing them quick and easy" says Dave van Niekerk, CEO of MyBucks S.A. "This IPO will enable us to introduce our highly scalable MyBucks business model into other countries in Africa and Europe, allowing us to get closer to our objective of becoming a global player." MyBucks is a profitable enterprise that uses its GetBucks, GetBanked and GetSure brands to offer a comprehensive portfolio of financial services, which include credit, banking as well as insurance products. The company is actively engaged in nine African and two European countries with more than 380 employees and over 400 sales agents. During the financial year 2014/15 (ended 30 June), MyBucks generated 31.2 million euro in revenue. Operating profit amounted to 11.1 million euro and profit before taxation was at 5.7 million euro. "MyBucks has had positive earnings, before and after tax, for the third year running. Not many FinTech companies can claim to have achieved such good performance. The IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange will assist the company's growth plans," says Tim Nuy, Executive Director of MyBucks S.A. Issuing proceeds are to support further corporate growth Among other things, MyBucks plans to use the proceeds of the IPO to fund further growth in African and European markets. In addition, MyBucks is now poised to take over a pan-African finance group of the US enterprise Opportunity International Inc. The offering of MyBucks' shares consists of an initial public offering to investors in Luxembourg and Germany as well as private placements to qualified investors outside Germany, Luxembourg and the United States of America in reliance on Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Hauck & Aufhauser is assisting the IPO as sole global coordinator and sole bookrunner. MyBucks' shares have been assigned the international securities identification number (ISIN) LU1404975507 and the German Securities Code (Wertpapierkennnummer) (WKN): A2AJLT. The securities prospectus is available for download from the website of MyBucks (www.mybucks.com) under Investor Relations. About MyBucks MyBucks is a FinTech company based in Luxembourg that delivers seamless financial services through technology. Through its brands GetBucks, GetBanked and GetSure the company offers unsecured consumer loans, banking solutions as well as insurance products to customers. MyBucks has experienced exponential growth since its inception in 2011 and today has operations in nine African and two European countries. MyBucks aims to ensure that its product offering is accessible, simple and trustworthy, in comparison to traditional, non-technological methods, ultimately working towards enhancing the benefits to the customer. The MyBucks' product offering enables customers to manage their financial affairs easily and conveniently. Discover more at: www.mybucks.com Press Contact Folker Dries Phone: Tel.: +49 151 1623 1556 Email: fdries@heringschuppener.com Zsofia Kohler Phone: +49 69 9218 7437 Email: zkoehler@heringschuppener.com Important information This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. This announcement is not a prospectus. Potential investors should not purchase or subscribe for any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus of the Company (including any supplements thereto) which has been approved by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier - CSSF) and immediately published thereafter. Copies of such prospectus are available free of charge from MyBucks S.A., 40, avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as, for viewing in electronic form, on the websites of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (http://www.bourse.lu) and the Company (http://www.mybucks.com). This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America (the "United States"). Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States would be made by means of a prospectus that could be obtained from the Company and that would contain detailed information about the Company and its management, as well as the financial statements of the Company. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States. In the United Kingdom, this information is directed at and/or for distribution only to (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth companies falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person hereinafter a "relevant person"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this information or any of its contents. Subject to certain exceptions under the Securities Act, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. Some of the information in this announcement may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," or, in each case, the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with our industry, as well as many other risks specifically related to the Company and its operations.

2016-05-12 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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MARKHAM, ON--(Marketwired - May 11, 2016) - Sienna Senior Living Inc. (SIA.TO) ("Sienna Senior Living" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis are available on the Company's website at www.siennaliving.ca and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

First Quarter 2016 Highlights

Overall Same Property Net Operating Income ("NOI") up 6.0%

Retirement Same Property NOI up 14.0%; As At Occupancy up 4.7% over Q1 2015

Subsequent to First Quarter: Announced acquisition agreement for significant expansion in British Columbia and completion of a $138.3 million bought deal public offering of subscription receipts (inclusive of the exercise by underwriters of over-allotment option in full); Announced closing of disposition of home care division (Preferred Health Care Services) to Spectrum Health Care LP



"We continued to deliver solid operating results in the first quarter of 2016," said Lois Cormack, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sienna. "We are also pleased to have recently announced the pending acquisition of a high-quality seniors housing portfolio in British Columbia, together with an interest in an established operating platform in the province. We believe the transaction represents a great opportunity to expand our presence in the British Columbia seniors housing market and leverage existing relationships, and is in line with our strategy to diversify, both with respect to the mix of seniors living assets in our portfolio and geographically."

Financial and Operating Highlights:

Three months ended

March 31, 2016 Three months ended

March 31, 2015 Average total occupancy (LTC) 98.6% 98.1% Average private occupancy (LTC) 99.7% 99.0% Average occupancy (Retirement) 92.0% 86.9% As at occupancy (Retirement) 91.5% 86.8%

$000s except occupancy, per share and ratio data Three months ended

March 31, 2016 Three months ended

March 31, 2015 Net Operating Income (NOI) (1) $21,440 $19,998 Operating Funds from Operations (OFFO) (1) $10,815 $9,609 OFFO per share, diluted $0.288 $0.258 Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO) (1) $13,189 $11,836 AFFO per share, diluted $0.348 $0.315 AFFO per share, basic $0.361 $0.326 Dividends declared per share $0.225 $0.225 Payout Ratio (2) 62.3% 69.0%

Notes:

(1) NOI, FFO, OFFO and AFFO are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. NOI, FFO, OFFO and AFFO are supplemental measures of a company's performance and management believes that NOI, FFO, OFFO and AFFO are relevant measures of its earnings performance and its ability to pay dividends on the Company's common shares. The IFRS measurement most directly comparable to AFFO is cash flow from operations. (2) Payout Ratio is calculated using dividends declared per share divided by the basic AFFO per share for the respective periods.

First Quarter 2016

The Company generated NOI of $21.4 million for the period ended March 31, 2016, representing an increase of $1.4 million or 7.2% over the comparable prior year period. Same property NOI increased by $1.2 million or 6.0% over the comparable prior year period.

Story continues

General and administrative expenses were flat compared to Q1 2015.

OFFO increased $1.2 million or 12.6% to $10.8 million over the comparable prior year period. The increase was principally related to the improved NOI contribution noted above. AFFO increased $1.4 million or 11.4% to $13.2 million over the comparable prior year period. The increase was principally related to the increase in OFFO noted above.

Conference Call

Lois Cormack, President and CEO, and Nitin Jain, Executive Vice President and CFO, will host a conference call and live internet webcast for the investment community on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss the Company's financial and operating results. The dial-in numbers for participants are 416-340-2220 (for local callers) and 1-866-225-9256 (for all other callers). A webcast of the call will be accessible via the Company's website at: www.siennaliving.ca/Investors/Events-Presentations.aspx.

A replay of the call will be available until May 25, 2016. To access the replay, dial 905-694-9451 or 1-800-408-3053 (pass code: 3890694). The webcast will be archived on the Company's website.

About Sienna Senior Living

Sienna Senior Living (SIA.TO) is one of Canada's largest owners of seniors housing and the largest licensed long-term care provider in Ontario. The Company's 7,500 employees are dedicated to helping you live fully, every day in each of its lines of business: retirement living, long-term care and third-party management services. The Company owns and operates 35 long-term care homes and 11 retirement residences, representing a combined 6,939 beds/suites across Ontario and British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.siennaliving.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements generally use forward-looking words, such as "anticipate", "continue", "could", "expect", "may", "will", "estimate", "believe" or other similar words and include, among other things, statements related to the Company's financial results or strategic plans. These statements are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements and, accordingly, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on information currently available and what management currently believes are reasonable assumptions, including the funding of long-term care facilities by government entities. Other material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein include the assumption that the business and economic conditions affecting the Company's operations will continue substantially in their current state, including, with respect to industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and government regulations.

Although management believes that it has a reasonable basis for the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements, actual results may differ from those suggested by the forward-looking statements for various reasons. The assumptions, risks and uncertainties described above are not exhaustive and other events and risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results and events discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current expectations of the Company as at the date of this news release and speak only as at the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable law.
Traders at the newly opened London Metal Exchange talk on telephones, December 19

Reuters

The City of London Police is cracking down on a Russian crime gang thought to have laundered millions through London's futures market.

A Russian oil firm, a Swiss investment company and a British Virgin Islands investment company are believed to have helped them.

Detective Inspector Craig Mullish, from the City of London Polices Money Laundering Unit, said: Our investigation points towards a suspected Russian organised crime group using Londons futures market to launder millions of dollars worth of criminal revenue," in a statement published on Wednesday.

The City of London Police, working with law enforcement, government and the private sector, are committed to blocking and then stopping this type of behaviour and ensuring that the UK is viewed as a hostile place to launder the proceeds of crime generated both in this country and abroad.

The City of London Police has so far seized $22 million, six weeks after arresting a City broker on suspicion of money laundering  the result of a four month investigation with Intercontinental Exchange Inc into suspicious trading on the futures market.

The 43-year-old Russian broker was arrested on March 23rd on suspicion of Fraud by Abuse of Position, and Money Laundering, and later released on bail until July. A British national was also interviewed under caution and released.

David Little, head of money laundering at the National Crime Agency said earlier this year that money laundering in the City was a huge business.

"We don't know what the true amount is but it's in the tens or hundreds of billions. It's a truly terrifying number," he said.

NOW WATCH: THE STORY OF GOLDMAN SACHS: From foot peddlers to a powerhouse

See Also:

SEE ALSO: The National Crime Agency has literally no idea how much money is being laundered in London
By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, expects Greece's spending cuts and reforms plans to be finalised by the group's May 24 summit, so talks can start about what is likely to be a three-staged debt relief programme.

Dijsselbloem told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that talks about Greece between the euro zone's finance ministers had gone refreshingly smoothly on Monday, after what had been some ominous pre-meeting noises from Germany and the International Monetary Fund.

He is now hoping Athens can finalise its spending cuts, privatisation and reform plans in time for the next round of discussions on May 24 to keep the momentum going.

"So I'd like in the next Eurogroup to have a full and formal agreement on everything," he said on the sidelines of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's annual meeting.

He said he wanted final details on pension reforms, tax reforms, a privatisation fund and contingency mechanism "done and dusted" by the next meeting.

The issue of providing further debt relief remains a sensitive issue both within the euro zone and for the IMF, which says that without major cuts Greece's debt levels will remain unsustainable.

Dijsselbloem said that Greece needed immediate help to get the ball rolling but also a roadmap for further possible assistance both when its aid package ends in just over 2 years time, and for if it stays on track further down the line.

"The way forward I propose is that we look at what we can do in the short term, what can we do to reprofile debt, phase out some expense loans quicker and replace them with cheap loans."

"Second what can we do at the end of the programme. Third, long term, how can we guarantee everything stays on track in the coming decades. Of course that is much more difficult."

The Dutchman declined to detail exactly how the debt relief could eventually look.

Among issues sources have said could be employed are lengthening both the grace periods and final payments of loans, taking more profits from Greek bonds the European Central Bank bought at the height of the debt crisis, and effectively funding debt swaps by the European Stability Mechanism.

Story continues

"The good thing about the Eurogroup meeting was that there were very (few) red lines, very little no-gos. The only big no-go is the nominal haircut (writedown of debt)," Dijsselbloem said.

"We should have the discussion now about what we should do in 2018 if Greece fully complies with the programme. So a semi-automatic trigger moment."

"I would rather discuss that now and give some clarity than have to have this uncertainty for the next 3 years."

(Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The head of Austria's rail operator, Christian Kern, is set to become the country's next chancellor after the other main contender for the post of Social Democratic Party (SPO) leader pulled out of the race and said the whole party backed him. Werner Faymann stepped down as chancellor this week, bowing to a revolt inside the SPO after it suffered a heavy defeat in the first round of a presidential election last month, in which the anti-immigration Freedom Party's (FPO) candidate came first. Kern, who oversaw the mass transit of asylum seekers to Germany from Hungary's border at the height of the migration crisis last autumn, was up against Gerhard Zeiler, a former head of national broadcaster ORF and now the president of Turner Broadcasting's international arm. But Zeiler said on Thursday he would not run for the post of party leader and head of the coalition government, later adding that he and Kern had long agreed not to oppose each other. "He will be a very good chancellor, a very good party leader, and he has the support of the whole party," Zeiler said of Kern in an interview with ORF after announcing his decision. The SPO's leadership is due to formally choose its proposed successor to Faymann on Tuesday, but with its powerful governors of Austrian provinces due to meet on Friday morning, party heavyweights could make an informal announcement sooner. Once the party makes its choice, Austrian President Heinz Fischer must approve the candidate for them to take office, and Fischer appeared to have already made up his mind. "The man who is in the foreground is certainly the right one and has fulfilled his current duties well," Fischer, a former Social Democrat, told ORF during a visit to Berlin. SPO branches in eight of Austria's nine provinces have already expressed support for Kern. Kern, 50, took over the Alpine republic's state-run railway operator OBB in 2010. He previously served as spokesman for the SPO's parliamentary group and as a manager at Austrian hydropower utility Verbund. Few details have emerged on his political leanings or likely policies, but speculation has begun about a reshuffle of SPO ministers, with several media reporting those closest to Faymann would be purged. The Finance, Foreign and Interior Ministries, however, are all headed by members of the SPO's junior coalition partner, the People's Party (OVP). The OVP has made the continuation of their alliance conditional on Faymann's successor backing a tough, recently enacted asylum law, agreeing to cap a key benefit payment and negotiating an economic package with an element of deregulation. (Reporting by Francois Murphy, Shadia Nasralla and Kirsti Knolle)
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#KBO Twins ace stays undefeated in KBO postseason with solid outing In Casey Kelly's four postseason starts prior to Monday in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the LG Twins had never lost. And facing the Kiwoom Heroes to begin the best-of-...
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has raised the threat level from dissident Northern Ireland militants to "substantial," meaning an attack on the British mainland is considered a strong possibility, Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Theresa May said on Wednesday. She said the decision by the domestic intelligence agency MI5 to increase its risk assessment from "moderate" reflected an ongoing threat posed by dissident Republican groups in the British province opposed to the 1998 Good Friday accord that largely ended three decades of violence. "As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place," May said in a statement. The 1998 deal drew a line under decades of shootings and bombings in England carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), which was responsible for more than half of the 3,600 deaths during the violence designed to pressure the British government into relinquishing Northern Ireland. However, dissident factions who rejected that deal have continued to operate. In March, a group known as new IRA carried out an attack in Belfast which seriously injured a prison officer when a bomb exploded under his van. He later died from his injuries. The last attack on the British mainland occurred in 2001 when there were explosions in London, including a massive car bomb outside the BBC headquarters, and in Birmingham, central England. No one was killed. In its latest National Security Strategy last November, the British government warned that "violent dissident republicans aspire to target Great Britain, and some groupings remain capable of conducting one-off attacks, but currently consider Northern Ireland to be their main focus". Andrew Parker, MI5's Director General, has said there were 20 attacks in the province by dissident groups in 2014, but for each of these, the security services and police had stopped three or four others. Northern Irish police warned in March that they expected more incidents in the province to coincide with the anniversary of anti-British 1916 Easter Rising, the most dramatic chapter of Ireland's independence struggle. May said the threat level to the province itself from Northern Ireland-related terrorism remains unchanged at "severe," the second-highest level, meaning an attack is thought to be highly likely. The threat level to Britain from international terrorism remains unchanged at severe as well, she said. (Editing by Stephen Addison)
By Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron was caught on camera telling Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday that leaders of some "fantastically corrupt" countries, including Nigeria and Afghanistan, were due to attend his anti-corruption summit. Cameron will host an international anti-corruption summit on Thursday aimed at stepping up global action to combat corruption in all walks of life. In a pooled video feed made available to the ITN broadcaster, Cameron was shown talking with the queen at Buckingham Palace about the summit. "We had a very successful cabinet meeting this morning, talking about our anti-corruption summit," Cameron said when the queen approached. "We have got the Nigerians - actually we have got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain." Cameron went on: "Nigeria and Afghanistan - possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world." The queen, who steers clear of political comment, did not respond to Cameron's comment. But the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: "But this particular president is actually not corrupt." Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, both of whom are due to attend the summit, acknowledge corruption in their countries and have pledged to clean it up. "OLD SNAPSHOT OF NIGERIA" Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu said Cameron's remarks were not "reflective of the good work that the president is doing". "The Prime Minister must be looking at an old snapshot of Nigeria," Shehu said, adding: "Thank you to the Archbishop." Afghanistan is at number 166, second-from-bottom, in campaign group Transparency Internationals latest Corruption Perceptions Index, an annual ranking of countries. Only North Korea and Somalia, jointly ranked at number 167, are perceived to be more corrupt. Nigeria is at number 136 in the index. "There is no doubt that historically, Nigeria and Afghanistan have had very high levels of corruption, and that continues to this day," said Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director of Transparency International. "But the leaders of those countries have sent strong signals that they want things to change." It was not clear whether Cameron realised he was being filmed and recorded at the event, held to mark the queen's 90th birthday last month. After Cameron's remarks about Nigeria and Afghanistan, John Bercow, the speaker of parliament's House of Commons, joked: "They are coming at their own expense, one assumes?" "Everything has to be open," Cameron said of the summit. "There are no sort of closed-door sessions. Everything has to be in front of the press ... It could be quite interesting." Cameron's Downing Street office said both Buhari and Ghani acknowledged they faced a challenge to tackle corruption and they had been invited to the summit because they were leading the fight against graft. "In a collection of essays on the fight against corruption to be published on the day of the summit, President Ghani writes that Afghanistan is 'one of the most corrupt countries on earth'," a spokeswoman for Cameron said. "President Buhari writes that corruption became a 'way of life' in his country under 'supposedly accountable democratic governments'." (Additional reporting by Michael Holden and Estelle Shirbon in London and Felix Onuah in Abuja; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's attorney general's office is investigating five top leaders from the country's ELN guerrilla group for nearly 16,000 war crimes and crimes against humanity, the office said on Wednesday. The allegations come amid heightened tensions between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the government. The two sides announced in March they would begin formal peace talks to end more than 50 years of war, but continued kidnappings and attacks on oil infrastructure by the rebels have so far stymied the process. ELN top leader Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, better known by his nom de guerre, Gabino, and four other high-level rebels are the focus of the investigations, the attorney general's office said in a statement. The 15,896 crimes included in the case cover murders - including those of a senator and a bishop - kidnappings, forced recruitment, displacement, bombings and gender-based violence. "We are investigating the origin, evolution, expansion, policies and strategies of the ELN, their structures and those chiefly responsible for crimes of war and against humanity committed during the conflict," attorney general Jorge Fernando Perdomo said. Inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, the ELN has battled a dozen Colombian governments since it was founded by radical Catholic priests in 1964. The group frequently bombs pipelines and other installations related to Colombia's oil industry. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Padraic Halpin KILMACANOGE, Ireland (Reuters) - Irish perfumier David Cox is preparing for a sales drive across the sea in Britain, but fears that if the country votes to leave the European Union next month the expansion will be thrown into disarray. From small exporters like Cox to the central bank, Ireland is finding that uncertainty is the biggest enemy in trying to anticipate the consequences of a British exit or "Brexit". Cox, whose Fragrances of Ireland business operates from a bustling warehouse south of Dublin, says any blow to the confidence of the British gift shop owners he supplies and their customers will frustrate his plans. "For a small company like us, we need people to be willing to take a chance and that requires them to be confident that the end consumer has got 20, 30, 40 pounds in his or her pocket to spend on something new. If they're worried, they won't." Ireland has the EU's fastest growing economy but also more to lose than any other member state when its nearest and largest trading partner decides in a referendum on June 23 whether to quit the union that both countries joined together 43 years ago. Brexit, which Prime Minister Enda Kenny has called "a major strategic risk" to Ireland, could have far-reaching implications not only for trade and an economy still recovering from a banking collapse in 2008-09. Peace in British-ruled Northern Ireland, security of energy supplies and freedom of movement for the large numbers of Irish citizens working in Britain might also fall into doubt. Ireland may not spring to mind as a perfumer producer. But Fragrances of Ireland - like so many firms in a country of only 4.5 million people - has built up its business in export markets from its base in the small County Wicklow town of Kilmacanoge. Seventy percent of sales are in the United States, compared with only 10 percent in Britain. But Cox aims to raise the number of small, independent British retailers that his firm supplies from 150 to 1,000 within the next two years. Two years is also the period laid down in the EU's Lisbon Treaty for any country to negotiate an EU withdrawal. No one knows what relationship Britain might hammer out with the EU should it leave, and Cox fears the country's economy and consumer sentiment will weaken during such a period. This would make it tough for his business to establish its name alongside global rivals such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder. "Our plans would definitely be stalled because it's easy to cut back on a bottle of perfume you don't know," said Cox, whose firm employs 25 full and part-time workers. Evidence is growing that the British economy is already slowing before the referendum and the pound has weakened against the euro. Though not yet critical, Cox says this depreciation is hurting his profit margins. Some larger Irish firms have hedged against the currency risks. However, Cox said there is little a company of the size of his can do to protect itself. In a survey of members last month, the Irish Exporters Association said 60 percent reported that the sterling weakness had already affected their business. Just five percent were in favour of Britain leaving the EU. Ireland's finance ministry warned last month that the level of uncertainty from abroad generally was higher than at any stage since the financial crisis. A further five percentage point depreciation of sterling against the euro would reduce Irish gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.8 percent a year for the next six years, it estimated. Ireland is vulnerable to any Brexit-related recession in Britain. Research by Davy Stockbrokers shows that a one percent decrease in UK economic output has led in the past to a 0.3 percent drop in Ireland. The Irish economy is still forecast to expand by almost five percent this year, but the country needs all the growth it can achieve to cut a public debt that at almost 90 percent of GDP remains a problem. CONTINGENCY PLANS? Historic and personal links between Britain and what is now the Irish Republic, which broke away in the 1920s after a guerrilla war of independence, are also strong. Many Britons have family roots in Ireland and Irish citizens resident in Britain can vote in the referendum. Kenny used his re-election as prime minister last week to highlight the "profound importance" of the referendum and has told his British counterpart David Cameron, who is campaigning to remain in the EU, that he will do whatever he can to help. Finance Minister Michael Noonan also said this week that Dublin would be urging the Irish community in Britain and Northern Ireland to vote to stay in. Ireland acknowledges there are limits to its own contingency planning. A Brexit group of senior officials has been set up in Kenny's department, government sources have said. Dublin is "exploring the potential risks and planning accordingly," Noonan told parliament last month. The central bank has warned that Irish banks, which have lent heavily to the British property sector, would be hurt by a Brexit and has been working with them on their preparations. But generally advance planning is extremely difficult. "It's unambiguous that the economic effect on Ireland is negative - the question is how big," central bank chief economist Gabriel Fagan said last month. "That depends very crucially on the scenario you envisage regarding the relationship between Britain and the rest of the EU." LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS Irish farmers and food producers, major suppliers to the UK, are also vulnerable, but the risks go beyond economics. Dublin officials worry about the impact on Northern Ireland, which has the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the rest of the EU. During three decades of violence, this was marked by military checkpoints until a 1998 peace deal. The fear for many is that any new border restrictions could endanger peace by reenergising demands for a united Ireland which would raise tensions with pro-British unionists. Northern Ireland's nationalist deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has already called for a vote on unification if Britain leaves the EU. Doubts also surround the right of Irish citizens to live and work in Britain, which long predates the EU. Pro-Brexit campaigners want tougher controls on immigration from the EU. While these demands have been directed at Eastern Europeans, an Irish government-commissioned report said last year that a Brexit also opens the possibility of restrictions on the free movement of workers between Ireland and Britain. Brexit may not be all bad. The report noted some companies keen to stay in the EU might move from Britain to Ireland. But it also flagged risks to the power supply security. If the UK electricity market became independent of the rest of the EU, Ireland would be vulnerable to any problems in Britain. The alternative, improved interconnection directly with the EU, would be very costly at a time when Ireland is struggling to meet basic infrastructure and housing needs. Higher energy costs would hit Irish firms, which are already facing increased wage demands at home. Their competitive edge would be further eroded if Britain imposed any customs duties or new regulations that were costly to meet. Such worries weigh on Pat O'Neill, whose Zenith Adhesive Components firm makes high-tech electronic, automotive and medical components in the central town of Athlone. "Nobody is that unique. A lot of what I do can be done quite easily by English competitors and security of supply is very important," said O'Neill, whose clients include Jaguar Land Rover and the British army. "The customer could say there may be a tariff put on this in a couple of years time, I'm tooling up now for a six-year project so I'll give this one to the UK guy. That's happening already, in a small way, but it is happening." But even if Brexit happens, Irish firms believe Britain will remain open for business and they'll manage, whatever the trade relationship. "It's not going to become North Korea overnight," said Cox. "I'd prefer it doesn't happen but we'd get on with it and find the best way around it." (editing by David Stamp)
By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba and the United States will meet next week for a third round of talks on improving relations, Havana said on Thursday, adding that the two former Cold War foes were not yet negotiating their multibillion-dollar claims against one another. A bilateral commission will meet next Monday in the Cuban capital to evaluate the progress made in putting their decades-old conflict behind them, and to identify new areas of cooperation, said Gustavo Machin, the deputy director for U.S. affairs in the Cuban foreign ministry. "We will set the agenda for the rest for the year," Machin told a news conference. "We are not yet negotiating the topic of claims even if there is a recognition on both sides that these exist." Cuba and the U.S. reestablished diplomatic relations a year ago and have signed agreements on issues of common concern such as the environment, postal services and direct flights. Many differences remain however. Machin reiterated Cuba's demands for the return of the Guantanamo naval base and lifting of the U.S. trade embargo. Cuba complains that some of the policy changes the U.S. has carried out, such as relaxing currency restrictions against the island, have had little real impact given the persistent fear among U.S. institutions of risking government sanctions. The White House said in March it would allow U.S. banks to process dollar transactions for Cuba as long as neither buyer nor seller were U.S. entities. "Until now, no bank transactions have been carried out in U.S. currency," Machin said. "There is still a great fear." Cuba has said it will only lift a 10 percent tax on cash dollars once it is clear U.S. banks are processing dollar transactions for the Communist-ruled island. The issue of reparations is another sticky point. Late last year, Cuba and the U.S. outlined their respective claims, with the former demanding at least $121 billion in reparations for the U.S. trade embargo and other acts it describes as aggressions against the Caribbean country. The Americans meanwhile are seeking upwards of $10 billion in compensation for nationalized properties. The third bilateral commission will be led by Josefina Vidal, the Cuban Foreign Ministry's chief of U.S. affairs, and Kristie Kenney, counsellor for the U.S. State Department. (Additional Reporting by Nelson Acosta; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tim Hepher COPENHAGEN/PARIS (Reuters) - Denmark's government will recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 stealth fighters built by U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evading jets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan. The selection by Denmark's minority Liberal government follows intense public debate about the cost of modernising the country's air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament, where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint. Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen called a press briefing for Thursday at 0800 GMT on the issue, but the government declined further comment. The recommendation, first reported by Denmark's TV2 News, will be followed by a public comment period of 30 days, said one of the people, who was not authorised to speak publicly. The final number of jets could shift during this period. If confirmed, the decision will mark a setback for Boeing, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensive last-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon consortium that includes Airbus Group. News of the recommendation emerged as doubts were raised over a crucial parliamentary committee hearing scheduled for Friday. All three bidders have been invited to present their jets, but Denmark's Conservative Party said Lockheed and Boeing had been told by Washington not to participate. A spokesman for the U.S. embassy confirmed they had been advised to stay away. Airbus Group said it still planned to attend and called for a "healthy and transparent" public debate. Although viewed by many as an outside contender, Eurofighter appears to be gambling on parliamentary support for a European solution after a bitter spat between U.S. rivals. The German government is expected to throw its weight behind the bid by sending defence state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence. At approximately $100 million per jet plus infrastructure and spares, the F-35 is the most expensive of the three planes being considered after cost overruns and delays. The United States says that will fall to about $85 million per plane by 2019. Some of Denmark's biggest parties including the Social Democrats have raised concerns about the economic impact of fighter purchases at a time of spending pressures. Lockheed, Boeing and Airbus said they had not received any official notification from the Danish government. The Pentagon's F-35 programme office had no immediate comment. Denmark is one of eight original partners that helped fund development of the F-35 and flies Lockheed F-16 jets alongside Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands. Its decision is being watched worldwide as several other nations prepare to decide how to renew fleets. Lockheed is chasing further deals in Canada and elsewhere. (Additional reporting by Reuters Newsrooms; Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - U.S. defence company Lockheed Martin Corp is set to win a $3 billion order from Denmark for 27 F-35A stealth fighters, after a recommendation by the Danish government on Thursday. While a final decision by the minority government could still be weeks or even months away, the recommendation to buy F-35A jets marks a setback for Boeing Co, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensive last-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evading F-35A jets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan. The government expects to spend about 20 billion Danish crowns ($3.1 billion) on the purchase, Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said on Thursday, or about 740 million crowns per plane. "The fighter jets are central to our participation in international missions in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, in Libya and recently in Iraq in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State)," Rasmussen told a news conference. Lockheed Martin is expected to deliver the 27 jets between 2021 and 2027, he added. The plane will replace the Denmark's fleet of F-16s delivered by Lockheed Martin almost 40 years ago. "In recent years we've seen how our existing F-16 jets have been in operation more often, for example when Russian planes have come too close to Danish airspace," Rasmussen said. The selection by Denmark's minority Liberal government follows intense public debate about the cost of modernizing the country's air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament, where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint. The government did not specify when the final decision would be made, but said enough time would be given to answer any questions from the parties backing the minority government. Top Lockheed Martin and Boeing executives had planned to present their planes at a public hearing in Copenhagen on Friday, but were later advised by Washington not to participate. Airbus Group said it still planned to attend the hearing to present the Eurofighter Typhoon - a third jet under consideration - and called for a "healthy and transparent" public debate. The German government is expected to throw its weight behind that bid by sending defence state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence. A Lockheed Martin spokesman welcomed the selection. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Denmark's government would recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 fighters. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard; additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Jane Merriman and Mark Potter)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt opened its border with Gaza for the first time in three months on Wednesday, giving Palestinians a two-day respite from a closure stemming from friction between Cairo and the enclave's Islamist rulers. Egypt's shuttering of Rafah and destruction of cross-border smuggling tunnels, along with tight restrictions imposed by Israel along its own frontier with Gaza, have deepened economic misery for many of the 1.9 million Palestinians in the enclave. Egypt's military-backed government has kept its border with the Gaza Strip largely closed since Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted as president three years ago. Egyptian officials view Gaza's governing Hamas group as a threat, accusing it of supporting an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula bordering the Palestinian territory. Hamas denies the allegation. Some 30,000 Gazans are on a waiting list to cross at Rafah. Only a few thousand, including patients, students and holders of residency permits in third countries, were likely to do so on Wednesday and Thursday before it closes again. "I have been waiting for several months to get a chance to have advanced cancer checks in Cairo," said Umm Ahmed, a 55-year-old Gaza resident, urging Egypt's president to reopen the Rafah crossing for good because "we are brothers, not enemies". For Gazans who live or work outside the enclave, a visit home is hard to schedule, and it carries the risk of being stuck in the territory and losing residency rights in host countries. "You never know when the crossing will be open, so if you want to come and visit your family at home, you should be prepared to risk your job," said a Gaza merchant who does business in the Gulf. The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo said Rafah was opened at the request of West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who met Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi this week. Hamas ousted Abbas's Fatah movement from power in Gaza in a brief civil war in 2007. At Cairo international airport, immigration sources said 90 Palestinians from Gaza, stranded in third countries, had arrived and would travel by bus to Rafah. The sources said another 120 Palestinians were expected to land later. Last week, Israel said it planned to reopen a second border point for commercial traffic into Gaza, a step towards gradually easing the blockade it imposed since 2007. 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 in a 2014 war. (Additional reporting by Abdel Nasser Abul Fadl in Cairo; Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Jeffrey Heller/Mark Heinrich)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of the European Commission said on Thursday it would be a catastrophe if Britain voted to leave the European Union, but he did not expect that to happen. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking at a conference on Europe at the German Foreign Ministry, said it was up to Britan to decide whether to exit the bloc in a June 23 referendum, and the decision would have far-reaching consequences for Britain and Europe. "He who leaves the table, may no longer eat at this table ... but that won't happen," Juncker said. Asked if Britain's exit from the EU would be a catastrophe, he said, "Yes." (Reporting by Berlin Newsroom; Editing by Paul Carrel)
By Margarita Antidze TBILISI (Reuters) - The Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain on Wednesday, drawing an angry response from former Soviet master Russia which called the war games "a provocative step". About 650 soldiers from the United States, 150 from Britain and 500 from Georgia were taking part in the manoeuvres, with Washington dispatching an entire mechanised company including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and, for the first time, eight M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks. Georgia's Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli said the drills were an important event for the South Caucasus republic. "This is one of the biggest exercises that our country has ever hosted, this is the biggest number of troops on the ground, and the largest concentration of military equipment," Khidasheli told Reuters. But the exercises went down badly in Moscow where the Russian Foreign Ministry last week warned they could destabilise the region, a charge denied by Georgian officials. "These exercises are not directed against anyone. There is no trace of provocation," Georgia's Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili said in a statement. Russia defeated Georgia in a short war in 2008 over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, and Moscow continues to garrison troops there and to support another breakaway region, Abkhazia. The exercises were run out of the Vaziani military base near Georgia's capital Tbilisi. Russian forces used to be based there until they withdrew at the start of the last decade under the terms of a European arms reduction agreement. "The importance of these exercises is to improve interoperability between Georgia, the United States and the United Kingdom. ... It enables us to prepare Georgia's contribution to a NATO response force," Colonel Jeffrey Dickerson, the U.S. director of the exercises, told Reuters. The United States has spoken favourably of the idea that Georgia might one day join NATO, something Russia firmly opposes. (Editing by Alexander Winning/Andrew Osborn)
By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has packed up personal photos and stripped the shelves in her third-floor office in the Planalto presidential palace - a sign she may be resigned to losing her job in a Senate vote on Wednesday. In what could be one of her final meetings as president, Rousseff received the secretary general of the Organization of American States on Tuesday, as guards tried to stop photographers from documenting signs of an impending move. Though government lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to stop the Senate vote, an aide said privately the leftist Rousseff expects to receive official notice on Thursday of her suspension on charges of violating budget laws. The special Senate session, widely expected to vote to put Rousseff on trial, could run until late on Wednesday. Vice President Michel Temer will then take over as interim president for the duration of a trial that would last up to six months, and Rousseff could then be removed permanently if convicted. She has denied any wrongdoing. Brazil's first woman president, 68, plans to exit the futuristic presidential palace accompanied by close political allies, descending a ramp she previously climbed twice to take office in 2011 and again in 2015, the aide said. Unions, artists and other social movements that stayed loyal to her through a deep recession and a massive corruption scandal that saw her popularity fall to single digits have promised to meet Rousseff in the streets to protest. If suspended, Rousseff will still have access to her official residency, the Alvorada Palace, and a staff of 300 during the trial. Her staff is negotiating for an additional 15 to 20 personal aides and for access to a plane from the air force, the aide said. There is an air of melancholy in the halls of the presidential palace. Many of the remaining staff are contemplating their next steps. "What I've mostly been doing is shredding paper," said one palace source. Despite her empty office, Rousseff has kept up public appearances, meetings and travels as though her days in the job were not numbered. When an aide asked if she would keep to her plans for one recent trip, Rousseff said: "What else would I do? Stop governing? I'm still president." (Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Frances Kerry)
(Reuters) - The husband of a British-Iranian aid worker who has been jailed in Iran for the past five weeks called on Iranian officials to free his wife on Monday. Richard Ratcliffe also said that Iranian officials have confiscated the passport of the couples 22-month-old daughter, barring the infant from leaving Iran as well. The cruelty of the situation seems both outrageous and arbitrary, Ratcliffe said in a statement on Monday. That a young mum and baby can be treated as some national security threat is absurd. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a 37-year-old programme coordinator with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charity organisation that operates separately from Reuters News. Monique Villa, the chief executive of the foundation, called for the situation to be resolved as soon as possible. At the Thomson Reuters Foundation she has no professional dealings with Iran whatsoever, Villa said in a statement. In fact, the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no dealings with Iran and does not operate in the country. Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe on April 3 when she arrived at an airport to fly back to Britain, her husband said. She is now being held in solitary confinement in an unknown location in Kerman Province, 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south of Tehran. No charges have been filed in the case, but Zaghari-Ratcliffe has told family members in Iran that she was forced to sign a confession under duress, her husband said. He added that Iranian officials have told her relatives in Iran that the investigation relates to an issue of national security. A spokesman for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations referred questions to Iranian diplomats in Britain. A spokesman for the Iranian embassy in London declined to comment. The aid worker has also been barred from speaking with her husband and daughter or making calls outside of Iran, her husband said. Officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross have not had contact with her either, he added. "The Iranian authorities do not grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to any category of detainees in Iran," said ICRC spokesperson Anna Nelson. (Edited by Michael Williams)
By Tulay Karadeniz and Gabriela Baczynska ANKARA/STRASBOURG (Reuters) - Turkey refused again on Wednesday to make changes to its anti-terrorism laws demanded by Brussels in a hardening of its stance that could jeopardise a major deal with the bloc covering migrants, free travel and militants. EU officials and rights groups have accused Turkey of using broad anti-terrorism legislation to stifle dissent. Ankara says it needs the laws to battle Kurdish militants at home and threats from Islamic State in neighbouring Iraq and Syria. Brussels wants Ankara to narrow its legal definition of terrorism and change some other laws to meet EU standards - as part of the wide-ranging deal to secure Turkish help in reducing the flow of migrants into Europe. But Ankara's minister for EU affairs, Volkan Bozkir, told broadcaster NTV Turkish legislation already met EU standards. "It is not possible for us to accept any changes to the counter-terrorism law," Bozkir said, echoing earlier comments by President Tayyip Erdogan who last week told the European Union: "We're going our way, you go yours." Bozkir's assertion that there had never been a deal over the laws will upset EU officials already worried by the departure of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the main Turkish broker of the deal under which Turkey takes back migrants reaching Europe from its shores in return for concessions including the scrapping of visas for Turks visiting the EU. Davutoglu announced last week he would step down after weeks of tension with Erdogan. "PURELY POLITICAL" The migration deal has sharply reduced the flow of refugees and migrants after some 1.3 million people passed through Turkey to reach Greece and Italy since the start of 2015. For many Turks, visa-free travel to Europe is the main reward in the deal. But Turkey has still to meet five of 72 criteria the EU imposed, including the narrower definition of terrorism. One Erdogan adviser and a member of Turkey's parliament for the ruling AK Party, Burhan Kuzu, tweeted late on Tuesday: "The European Parliament will discuss the report that will open Europe visa-free for Turkish citizens. If the wrong decision is taken, we will send the refugees (back to Europe)." Many members of the European Parliament, which needs to sign off on visa liberalisation, have criticised the proposal. "This is not about meeting the criteria or not, it's a purely political process in which the EU has shown it is prepared to go very far in accepting violations of human rights and freedoms," said Malin Bjork, a left-wing Swedish lawmaker. The parliament's head, Martin Schulz, has said lawmakers will not deal with the proposal before Turkey meets all the criteria, adding he did not see this happening before July. Several lawmakers said the parliament's stance would eventually hinge on the political call made by EU capitals, which are keen to prevent a repeat of mass arrivals from Turkey. During a debate in its Strasbourg chamber, members across the political spectrum denounced Erdogan and Turkish "blackmail" over the refugees. Many insisted there could be no visa deal if all criteria are not met. But others also defended the measure as a way to show ordinary Turks that Europe was open to them. German government spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said Berlin expected Ankara to meet its side of the migrant accord but declined to speculate on would happen if it did not. Adding to concerns about Ankara's rights record, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said on Tuesday he had received "alarming" reports about violations allegedly committed by Turkish security forces in the largely Kurdish southeast during their offensive against militants. They include reports of unarmed civilians being deliberately shot by snipers and other military, he said. A spokesman for Turkey's foreign ministry, Tanju Bilgic, rejected the assertions and cited the multiple security threats that Turkey faces, including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Islamic State and the far-left DHKP-C. "Our country ... is taking all measures within the laws to maintain the balance between freedom and security and to protect the lives of our citizens in the region," he said. (Additional reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley, Ece Toksabay, Dasha Afanasieva, Tom Miles in Geneva, Alastair Macdonald in Brussels and Madeline Chambers in Berlin; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Gareth Jones)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Iranian Muslims will miss the annual haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in September, media reported on Thursday, as Tehran and Riyadh traded blame over a failure to agree organisational details. The regional rivals cut diplomatic ties in January. Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Tehran's Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister Ali Jannati as blaming Riyadh for the impasse. Last year's haj was marred by the death of over 2,000 pilgrims, 464 of them Iranian, in a crush during the crowded pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city. "The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," said Jannati, whose ministry oversees arrangements for Iranian pilgrims. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudi side." The Saudi haj ministry said Tehran's delegation had refused to sign an agreement laying out arrangements for this year's haj, according to a statement carried by state-linked news site Sabq. The statement said Iran's demands included the granting of visas inside Iran and transport arrangements that would evenly split the pilgrims between Saudi and Iranian airlines. "Iran is the only country that refused to sign the agreement on the haj. It insisted on a number of unacceptable demands," Minister of Haj and Umra Mohammed Bintin told state television station Ekhbariya. The two countries severed ties after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions there following the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in the Sunni-led kingdom. Saudi Arabia's conservative Sunni monarchy sees Shi'ite- dominated Iran as the paramount threat to Middle East stability because of its support for Shi'ite militias that Riyadh says have inflamed sectarian violence. Iranian and Saudi officials have held talks to resolve the rift but so far failed to make progress, Iranian officials said. Jannati said the Saudis "did not accept our proposals on security, transportation and visa issuing for Iranian pilgrims". A culture ministry official said Iran was "very concerned over the security of Iranians during the holy ceremony" and that talks with Saudi authorities were continuing. Tehran expressed outrage last year after the deaths of Iranians at the haj, which drew about two million pilgrims from around the world, and politicians in Tehran suggested Riyadh was incapable of managing the event. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Katie Paul; Editing by Tom Heneghan and John Stonestreet)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq said on Wednesday its U.S.-backed military campaign against Islamic State had retaken around two-thirds of the territory seized by the militants in their lightning sweep across the country's north and west in 2014. "Daesh's presence in Iraqi cities and provinces has declined. After occupying 40 percent of Iraqi territory, now only 14 percent remains," government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said in a televised statement, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. That calculation appeared rosier than recent estimates from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Alhurra TV late last month that Islamic State had lost 44 percent of the territory it had held in Iraq. Iraq's military, along with Kurdish peshmerga forces, Shi'ite Muslim militias and Sunni tribal fighters, have recaptured several cities in the past year, including Ramadi, Tikrit and Baiji. Yet Islamic State still manages to launch deadly attacks in areas under the government's nominal control. On Wednesday, a suicide car bomb in Baghdad's Sadr City district killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 78. Iraqi officials say they will retake the northern city of Mosul this year, but in private many question whether that is possible. Iraq's military opened a new front in March against the militants in the Makhmour area, which it called the first phase of a wider campaign to recapture Mosul, around 60 km (40 miles) further north. Progress has been slow, and to date Iraqi forces have taken just five villages. (Reporting by Stephen Kalin and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Dominic Evans)
By Isla Binnie ROME (Reuters) - Italy's parliament approved same-sex civil unions and gave some rights to unmarried heterosexual couples on Wednesday after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called a confidence vote to force the bill into law. Italy is the last major Western country to legally recognise gay couples and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzi's ruling majority. The bill had faced stiff opposition from Catholic groups who said it went too far, while gay activists said it was too timid. While parliament was voting, gay rights groups gathered outside with a banner reading: "This is just the beginning." "Today is a day of celebration in which Italy has taken a step forwards," Renzi said in a radio interview after the legislation was approved. The 41-year-old premier promised to prioritise legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014, but the bill has proven to be one of the most contested of a raft of initiatives he has pushed through parliament. The bill, originally presented in 2013, cleared its final real hurdle earlier on Wednesday with the confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies, which passed it by 369 votes to 193. The chamber then rubber-stamped the bill with a final ballot. "There is still a long way to go for full equality but this is an excellent starting point," said Gabriele Piazzoni, president of gay rights group Arcigay. The bill gives gay couples the right to share a surname, draw on their partner's pension when they die and inherit each other's assets in the same way as married people. "STILL WORK TO DO" "There is still work to do on adoptions ... There is still work to do on lots of areas that still exclude a section of Italian citizens," Monica Cirinna, a senator from Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party who gave her name to the original bill, told state TV RAI outside parliament. Co-habiting unmarried couples get the right to be treated as each other's next of kin if one partner is taken ill, dies or is imprisoned. They also get some rights to a shared home. Both homosexual and heterosexual couples may also have the right to try to claim alimony at the end of a relationship. It was the second time the bill was put to a confidence vote, which is called to curtail debate, having been approved in the upper house Senate in the same way three months ago. The 'stepchild adoption' clause was arguably the most disputed aspect of the bill. It stoked outrage among social conservatives and Catholics who saw it as a step towards legalising surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy. The new legislation allows courts to grant homosexuals parental rights regarding each other's children in certain circumstances, a practice which has led to a handful of recent rulings in favour of homosexual parents. A survey conducted shortly after the bill passed the Senate suggested it reflected the views of most Italians. Shortly after the vote, deputies from conservative opposition parties said they would call for a referendum to cancel the new legislation. (Additional reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio, Gavin Jones and Gabriele Pileri,; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Updated on May 11 at 12:24 p.m. ET

Dozens of people are dead Wednesday in a car-bomb explosion in Baghdads predominantly Shia Sadr City neighborhood. The death toll in the attack claimed by ISIS has climbed to at least 80, making it the deadliest attack on the Iraqi capital in 2016.

The AP has more:

Ambulances rushed to the scene where dozens of residents walked through the twisted and mangled wreckage of cars and other debris that littered the pavement, trying to help the victims. The street was stained red with blood in many places and front-side facades of several buildings were heavily damaged. Smoke billowed from ground-level stores gutted out by the explosion.

Separately, two other blasts in northern Baghdad killed 18 people.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by the U.S. and its allies, have pushed back ISIS, which controls large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria. But the group shows the ability to strike targets inside Iraq, and farther afield, with apparent ease.

Overall, the UN says 1,885 civilians were killed in Iraq in the first four months of 2016.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea has relaxed restrictions on nearly 900 asylum seekers held on behalf of Australia, allowing them to leave the detention centre during the day, a lawyer said on Thursday, but a rights group dismissed the move as "window-dressing". Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court last month ruled detention of refugees on the country's Manus Island was illegal, forcing the government of the tiny Pacific Island nation to announce it would close the camp. Papua New Guinea has since allowed the 898 men held on Manus to leave the camp during the day, Ben Lomai, a lawyer acting for many of the detainees, told Reuters. They sign up for one of three buses to a nearby town and return to the camp in the evening. "Papua New Guinea has relaxed restrictions on the detainees a little bit. They can now go into town and move about the camp freely," said Lomai. With the easing of restrictions, Papua New Guinea had ended detention of asylum seekers and refugees, Esther Gaegaming, deputy chief migration officer, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, complying with the Supreme Court order. But refugee advocates dismissed the move as superficial. "Papua New Guinea can open the gates to fulfil some technicality, but people are not free to move out of the detention centre wherever they like," said Ian Rintoul, a spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition. The long-term fate of the detainees remains uncertain, with Papua New Guinea and Australia arguing that each other is responsible for resettling them. A decision could take months, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Monday. That timetable could put the politically sensitive decision beyond a federal election on July 2, although Australia's tough immigration policy is expected to be a feature of one of the longest poll campaigns in the country's history. Under Australian law, anyone intercepted trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to camps on Manus or on Nauru. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia. A Bangladeshi refugee died of heart failure on Nauru on Wednesday, the second death in as many weeks on the island where detainees have been hurting themselves in protest. (Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Neil Jerome Morales DAVAO, Philippines (Reuters) - The Philippines' president-elect, rough-talking city mayor Rodrigo Duterte, announced plans on Tuesday for an overhaul of the country's system of government that would devolve power from "imperial Manila" to long-neglected provinces. Duterte's win in Monday's poll has not been confirmed, but an unofficial count of votes by an election commission-accredited watchdog showed he had a huge lead over his two closest rivals, both of whom conceded defeat. By Tuesday afternoon, the ballot count showed Duterte had almost 39 percent of votes cast. He was more than 6 million votes ahead of the second-placed candidate with 92 percent of votes counted from an electorate of 54 million. It is not clear when Duterte's victory will be officially declared but he is expected to take office on June 30. Votes were also cast on Monday for vice-president. One day on, counting showed the outgoing administration's candidate, Maria Leonor Robredo, ahead of the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Duterte's spokesman, Peter Lavina, told a news conference that the new president would seek a national consensus for a revision of the constitution which would switch from a unitary form of government to a parliamentary and federal model. The proposal to devolve power from Manila fits with Duterte's challenge as a political outsider to the country's establishment, which he has slammed as self-serving and corrupt. "The powerful elites in Manila who will be affected by this system will definitely oppose this proposal," said Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms. Duterte's spokesman said he would also seek peace agreements with rebel groups in the south of the archipelago, where the outgoing government has been using force to quell militancy. The 71-year-old's truculent defiance of political tradition has drawn comparisons with U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, as have his references to his libido. That tapped into popular disgust with the ruling class over its failure to reduce poverty and inequality despite several years of robust economic growth. SOUTH CHINA SEA TALKS Duterte's vows to restore law and order also resonated with voters. But his incendiary rhetoric and advocacy of extrajudicial killings to stamp out crime and drugs have alarmed many who hear echoes of the country's authoritarian past. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel told reporters in Vietnam that Washington respected the choice of the Philippine people and "will gladly work with the leader that they select". Duterte made a succession of winding, bellicose and at-times comical remarks late on Monday as the votes were being counted, venting over corruption and bad governance and telling anecdotes from his 22 years as mayor of Davao city. Wearing a casual checked shirt and slouched in a chair, he said corrupt officials should "retire or die" and reiterated his support for police to use deadly force against criminals. "I'll behave if I become president," he said, adding that he would not make state visits to countries with cold weather. In an early indication of his unorthodoxy, Duterte told reporters on Monday that if he became president he would seek multilateral talks to resolve disputes over the South China Sea. The outgoing administration of President Benigno Aquino has asked a court of arbitration in The Hague to recognize its right to exploit waters in the South China Sea, a case it hoped could bolster claims by other countries against China in the resource-rich waters. Duterte said negotiations should include Japan, Australia and the United States, which is traditionally the region's dominant security player and contests China's development of islands and rocky outcrops in the sea. The influential Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times, said that Beijing would not be naive enough to believe that a new president would bring a solution to the South China Sea disputes. "Only time will tell how far the new leader, be it Duterte or not, will go toward restoring the bilateral relationship." FIGHTING THE ESTABLISHMENT Duterte's entertaining and profanity-loaded speeches have shed little light on his policies beyond going after gangsters and drug pushers. He has been vague on what he would do to spur an economy that has averaged growth at around 6 percent under Aquino. Duterte said on Monday he had been criticized for not discussing policy but would "hire the best economic minds". One of his advisers told Reuters spending on education would be lifted to benefit "disadvantaged regions" and rural development will be prioritized to spread wealth more evenly across the country. "Everything seems to be in imperial Manila," said Ernesto Pernia, professor emeritus of economics at the University of the Philippines. "He wants to give more attention to the lagging, the backward regions." Pernia said the pursuit of tax evaders and corrupt officials should bolster government revenues to fund extra spending. (Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato in MANILA and My Pham in HANOI; Writing by John Chalmers; editing by Robert Birsel)
David Cameron has been caught on microphone describing Afghanistan and Nigeria as "fantastically corrupt" during an exchange with the Queen.

The Prime Minister was speaking ahead of an anti-corruption summit later this week, and made the comments as he described who will be attending.

Mr Cameron is seemingly unaware his conversation with the Queen in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow and Leader of the House of Commons is being caught on microphone.

:: PM: Queen 'Purred Down Line' Over Scots Vote

The Prime Minister tells the Queen: "We had a very successful Cabinet meeting this morning, talking about our anti-corruption summit.

"We have got the Nigerians - actually we have got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain."

He continued: "Nigeria and Afghanistan - possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world."

The Archbishop then attempts to rescue the situation by saying: "But this particular president is actually not corrupt."

After his comments, Mr Bercow jokes: "They are coming at their own expense one assumes?"

To which Mr Cameron responds: "Everything has to be open. There are no sort of closed-door sessions.

"Everything has to be in front of the press. It's going to be ... It could be quite interesting."

Labour has accused the Prime Minister of having "egg on his face" after the incident.

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, claimed that "for all his talk about corruption he's failing to act" when it comes to corruption.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the Presidents of Nigeria and Afghanistan "have acknowledged the scale of the corruption challenge they face in their countries", and that "the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with them" in their fight against it.

"We cannot comment on a conversation between the PM and the Queen", she added.

Story continues

:: PM Caught On Microphone Making Fun At People From Yorkshire

The summit, which Mr Cameron has cited in response to anger following revelations over off-shore accounts contained in the Panama leaks, is due to take place on Thursday.

It is not the first time the Prime Minister has been caught making embarrassing comments while on microphone.

He was recorded in 2014 telling the media tycoon Michael Bloomberg that the Queen had "purred" in pleasure at the result of the referendum on Scottish independence.

He apologised to the Queen in person and said he was "very embarrassed" and "extremely sorry" about the episode.

He was also caught complaining on microphone that Prime Minister's Questions was too long and poking fun at people from Yorkshire.

Both Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari are expected to attend the summit.

Mr Buhari is expected to give a keynote speech in London on Wednesday before the official opening.

Afghanistan is second from bottom in the campaign group Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, while Nigeria is 136th out of 168 countries.
By My Pham and Idrees Ali HANOI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vietnam hosts a defense symposium this week attended by top American arms manufacturers, ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama and as Washington weighs whether to lift an arms embargo on its former enemy. Secrecy has surrounded the event staged by the communist country and attended by firms including Boeing and Lockheed Martin . It coincides with the biggest arms buildup in the country since the Vietnam War. There has been no mention in state-controlled media and defense reporters are not covering the forum. Efforts by Reuters to gain permission to attend have been unsuccessful and Vietnam's defense ministry could not be reached for comment. Vietnam has accelerated efforts to build a military deterrent and is the world's eighth largest weapons importer, as neighbor China intensifies its push to fortify South China Sea islands it has either occupied or built from scratch. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks defense trade over five-year periods, Vietnam's total arms imports during 2011-2015 represented a 699 percent jump from 2006-2010. The Hanoi symposium comes amid debate within the U.S. administration over whether to respond to Vietnam's longstanding request to remove an arms embargo that is one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era. Washington eased the embargo in late 2014, but has said any decision to lift it completely would hinge on the extent to which Vietnam has demonstrated progress in improving its human rights record. Its top envoy in that field, Tom Malinowski, was in Hanoi earlier this week. Vietnam has been in talks with Western and U.S. arms manufacturers for several years now to boost its fleets of fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, although Russia, its traditional supplier, maintains a dominant position. Industry sources say Hanoi is keen on U.S. weapons yet wary of the threat of a future embargo even if the current one ends. The countries do have a common concern in China, however, whose assertiveness in the South China Sea has alarmed Washington. Obama is due to start his Vietnam visit on May 22, the first by a U.S. president in a decade, underlining the rapidly warming relationship between the countries at a time of testy ties and growing mistrust between Hanoi and Beijing, which have competing claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands. MODERNIZATION NEEDS A spokesman for Lockheed Martin confirmed the company was attending the Hanoi event. Boeing is also attending, although the firm made it clear it was not in contravention of the embargo. "I would like to point out that any defense-related sales to Vietnam will follow development of U.S. government policy on Vietnam," a spokesman said. "We believe Boeing has capabilities in mobility and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance platforms that may meet Vietnam's modernization needs." Those needs have included the purchase of six modern Kilo-class submarines from Russia equipped with Klub cruise missiles, Russian-built S-300 surface-to-air missile batteries, and from Israel, Galil assault rifles and AD-STAR 2888 radars. Its navy is making Tarantul-class corvettes, known as Molniyas, modeled on Russian designs and equipped with 16 missiles with a range of 130 km (80 miles). Though the communist parties that run China and Vietnam officially have brotherly ties, experts say Beijing's brinkmanship has forced Vietnam to recalibrate its defense strategy. A report in the defense ministry's People's Army Newspaper Online in March quoted the vice defense minister, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, as saying Vietnam's relationship with the United States lacked defense industry cooperation, and Hanoi wanted Washington "to provide modern, suitable and adaptable technology". Its outreach so far has been weighted towards Russia, India and Israel in procurements, but analysts say it is unlikely to seek formal military alliances and would stick to its foreign policy of not relying on a single power. It has, however, mulled joint exercises with another South China Sea claimant at odds with China, the Philippines, and has received recent visits by Singaporean and Japanese warships at its new international port at Cam Ranh Bay, a strategic deepwater base that is home to its submarines. Tim Huxley, a regional security expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, said Vietnam's interest in getting the arms embargo lifted was not only about access to U.S. technology, but boosting its bargaining power. "It reflects concern about what's happening in the South China Sea and its need to restructure and re-arm, with a greater emphasis on greater naval and air capability," he said. "It wants to widen options available and have more choices in the international market place in terms of range of technology and its negotiating position." (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen in HANOI; Writing and additional reporting by Martin Petty in MANILA; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
By Marc Frank and Anthony Boadle HAVANA/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseffs suspension from office is bad news for newly trendy Cuba, which despite a detente with Washington is feeling the pinch from a downturn ravaging allies' economies and political fortunes in South America and Africa. Friends such as Venezuela, Brazil and Angola for years used revenue from a commodities boom to pay for Cuban medical and educational services, turning it into the communist-run islands main source of hard currency. President Raul Castro's detente with the United States has helped drive up tourism to record highs but income from the influx of foreign visitors were only about one-third of the $7 billion (4.8 billion) from health and education exports in 2014. Over the last 13 years, Brazil's leftist governments also provided at least $1.75 billion in credit on favourable terms, drawing fire from opponents who are also angered by a programme that put 11,400 Cuban doctors to work in Brazil. Those projects will now be re-examined after Brazils Senate voted on Thursday to put Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws. She is now suspended from office while the trial takes place in coming months, and a likely conviction would end her presidency. "There will be a short-term review of our Cuba policy, because the money has run out and because there are some serious governance questions regarding the loans. Everything will be put on hold, said a Brazilian diplomat who served in Havana. Some of Brazil's loans bankrolled a major expansion project at Cuba's Mariel port with 25-year repayment periods and rates of between 4.4 percent to 6.9 percent, Brazilian data shows. Critics say the terms are too generous given Cuba's poor credit history. Support from a bloc of leftist governments in Latin America since the turn of the century helped Cuba get back on its feet after the collapse of the Soviet Union caused a massive economic crisis in the 1990s. Improving relations with the United States and Europe hold the promise of new revenue, but for now Cuba's economy will suffer as the tide turns against allies. Centrist politician Michel Temer took over as interim president in Brazil on Thursday. His government is not expected to send home the Cuban doctors working in Brazil since 2013-14 but it will not hire any more. "Obviously there will be no more Cuban doctors coming here in the future, because this model of assistance is questionable and there wont be support for it, but I doubt any Cubans doctors will be booted out," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. Senator Ronaldo Caiado, a leader of the Democrats party inside Temer's coalition government, said the doctors should stay, but money paid to Cuba, approximately $500 million in 2015, should stay in Brazil and be paid directly to the medics. Last month, Rousseff extended the medical services contract for another 3 years, but it has to be approved by Congress and might run into trouble with lawmakers critical of the terms first signed in 2013. The doctors work in some of Brazil's remotest regions, winning support of local mayors. That support, and municipal elections in October, might make Congress think twice about abruptly ending the programme. Cuba's biggest doctors abroad programme is with oil exporter Venezuela in exchange for crude and money, where collapsing crude prices have triggered economic chaos. Those shipments are stable at around 90,000 barrels a day. CASH FLOW Cuba has already tightened its belt. The government began cutting imports and asking for longer payment terms from foreign suppliers last year and has been late meeting its obligations this year, according to Western diplomats and businessmen. "They clearly have a cash flow problem. Some of our companies are being paid and others are not," a European ambassador said on Monday. The government has said it expects economic growth to slow in 2016 from 4 percent last year. Brazil's government says it paid Cuba more than $500 million for the doctors' services in 2015, and another $100 million went to the doctors themselves. Rousseff is not the first leftist ally Cuba has lost in the past year. Argentina's leftist Peronists lost power at the last election in November. And there are deep concerns in Cuba over political stability in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro is struggling with a deep recession and a stronger opposition. "Latin America and the Caribbean are feeling the effects of a strong and well planned counter offensive by the imperialists and oligarchy," Cuban President Raul Castro charged last month at a gathering of Communist Party leaders. Nevertheless, he has worked in recent years to broaden Cuba's circle of friends by putting behind decades of hostility with Washington and improving its reputation with creditors. "The crises in these Latin American countries just underscores Raul's decision to normalise relations with the United States, to come to terms with Western creditors and sign a cooperation agreement with the European Union," said Bert Hoffman, a Latin American expert at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies. (Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston; Editing by Sarah Marsh and Kieran Murray)
By Maya Nikolaeva and Julien Ponthus PARIS (Reuters) - Societe Generale's chief defended the bank over the Panama Papers revelations during a two-hour grilling by lawmakers on Wednesday, rejecting accusations the French lender was at the heart of tax evasion. The public Senate hearing held to get to the root of the matter came the same day Le Monde newspaper widened the list of French banks under the tax haven spotlight to include BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Credit Mutuel. Societe Generale Chief Executive Frederic Oudea has been thrust to the fore of a controversy over the use of secretive tax havens since an investigative news syndicate exposed the activities of Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca. The reports, based on 11.5 million leaked documents, put SocGen near the top of a list of banks around the world that had created hundreds of thousands of shell companies in Panama and other offshore centres between 1977 and 2015. The leaked documents showed the French bank had created 979 such firms. Also at issue were accusations that Oudea misled senators when he told a Senate committee in 2012 that his bank had closed operations in Panama and other tax havens identified as overly secretive or short of international transparency standards. At the public hearing on Wednesday, Oudea reiterated that the bank had no offices or staff in Panama as of 2012, as he had told the Senate committee that year, when he was also head of France's banking association. "To imply that Societe Generale group is at the heart of tax evasion is false and unjustified," Oudea said. ACTIVE ACCOUNTS The senator who chaired the committee in question back in 2012, Philippe Dominati, said on Wednesday he did not think there were any grounds for legal action against Oudea over the allegations he misled the upper house then. It was not immediately clear when and if there would be the final ruling on the matter. Oudea also told lawmakers SocGen had not opened any offshore companies registered in Panama to manage wealth for clients using Mossack Fonseca since 2012, with one temporary exception. The one exception he mentioned was a company set up for a Swiss tax resident of Belgian nationality which was closed after three months because the client decided not to use it. He said SocGen had opened a number of offshore structures using Mossack Fonseca before 2012. As of Wednesday it had 66 active client accounts linked to Mossack Fonseca, but he said they were legal and fiscally transparent. Separately, French newspaper Le Monde published the numbers of active offshore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca for clients of French banks as of the end of 2015. According to the newspaper, SocGen had 71 left, Credit Agricole had 54, Credit Mutuel had 11 and BNP Paribas had six. BNP declined to comment. Credit Agricole said its wealth management arm no longer operated offshore companies on behalf of its clients. Credit Mutuel said it had never had dealings with Mossack Fonseca. "Some of our clients have on their own decided to set up such types of structures," a Credit Mutuel spokesman said. (Editing by David Clarke)
By Philip O'Connor STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Emir Kujovic was perhaps not the best known name in the 23-man Sweden squad announced on Wednesday, but the top scorer in the 2015 Allsvenskan aims to step out of the shadow of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and make a name for himself at Euro 2016. His electric form for IFK Norrkoping, where he fired 21 goals as they won the Swedish title last year, saw him called up to the squad for the Euro 2016 playoff against Denmark. The 27-year-old cemented his place in the squad with four goals in five league starts this year, but the single-minded striker is not content to just sit on the bench in France. "The next goal is of course to play," he told Reuters following the squad announcement. "I'm not happy just by being part of it. I want to play, and I think if I get a chance I will do my very best to do as good as I can." With Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimoivc all but undroppable, Kujovic is competing with two hard-running forwards in Celta Vigo's John Guidetti and Marcus Berg of Panathanaikos for the second spot up front. "My way of playing is more in the box," Kujovic explained. "I love to score goals and I can do it in many different ways." Kujovic has flown under the radar for much of his career, breaking through at Halmstad in Sweden and spending two and a half years with Turkish side Kayserispor before returning home and joining Norrkoping. A threat from set pieces for his club side, the tall, muscular striker possesses a powerful shot on either foot and is a handful in the air. He also has excellent vision and a good range of passing, but when asked if these qualities might help improve the performances of Ibrahimovic, Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer, Kujovic laughed. "I think he's good as he is," he beamed. "I just hope that I can get a chance, then I can show what I can do, but Zlatan? I don't think he needs any help." Sweden kick off their Euro 2016 Group E campaign against Ireland in Paris on June 13 before going on to face Italy and Belgium. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
TURSUNZADE, Tajikistan (Reuters) - Tajikistan on Thursday launched construction of a $1.2 billion power link that will allow the export of Central Asian electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan by 2020. The project, financed by the U.S. government and Washington-based World Bank, could help to ease regional tensions over the use of hydropower resources, but faces security challenges due to fighting in Afghanistan. "This project will allow over 5 billion kilowatt-hours of environmentally clean power to be supplied to Pakistan and Afghanistan from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan annually," Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon said. He was speaking at the launch ceremony about 40 km from the capital Dushanbe, alongside Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sooronbai Zheenbekov, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Mountainous ex-Soviet republics Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan generate most of their energy from hydropower plants built on the rivers that flow into Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan limit water release during summer due to lower power demand, angering their neighbours who need water for irrigation. The five countries have failed to reached an agreement after decades of negotiations. The new power line could smooth flows as power demand in Pakistan peaks during the summer months. SECURITY CHALLENGES "Security is a key issue for the project, both during construction and operation," the World Bank said in a presentation this week. The line is designed to pass through areas in Afghanistan where the government troops are still battling the Taliban, including the city of Kunduz. The city was briefly captured by the militant Islamist movement last year, and heavy fighting continues in the surrounding areas. The World Bank plans to spend $40 million to support local communities along the line in Afghanistan to ensure its security. The 1,200-km-long line is part of the United States' New Silk Road initiative to integrate Afghanistan with Central Asia. "We realise the complexity of the project... but the main driving force has been the commitment of all the four countries," Daniel Rosenblum, deputy assistant state secretary for Central Asia, who also attended the ceremony, told Reuters. (Reporting by Nazarali Pirnazarov; writing by Olzhas Auyezov; editing by Nerijus Adomaitis and Jason Neely)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's socialist government on Thursday condemned the suspension of Brazil's leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, to face trial as a mockery of justice and popular will. Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party has long been a strong ally of Rouseff's Workers Party, especially during the rule of her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "Venezuela categorically rejects the parliamentary coup d'etat under way in Brazil, which, via judicial farces from the oligarchy and imperial forces, seeks to topple the president and overturn popular sovereignty," a government statement said. Even though bilateral relations have been cooler during President Nicolas Maduro's three-year rule than those of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, Rouseff's departure is still a big disappointment to Venezuela's leaders. They had already lost one major ally in South America with the election of conservative Mauricio Macri as Argentina's president in 2015. "The legitimate president, Dilma Rousseff, first female head of state in Brazil, faces an assault motivated by vengeance from those factors who lost elections and are incapable of taking power by any way other than force," Venezuela added in the statement, released by the foreign ministry. Centrist Vice President Michel Temer has taken over as interim Brazilian president for the duration of a Senate trial that could take up to six months. The Senate voted early on Thursday to put Rousseff on trial on charges that she disguised the size of the budget deficit to make the economy look healthier in the run-up to her 2014 re-election. Maduro was due to lead a rally in Caracas supporting Rousseff later on Thursday. Pro-opposition blog Caracas Chronicles welcomed Rousseff's fall as another blow to the "pink tide" of leftist governments in the region. "In the last few years, Venezuela could count on the governments of Argentina and Brazil to lend their considerable diplomatic weight to defending it from its accusers," it said. "Now, both countries have turned, and together with Colombia  never a friend of 'Chavismo'  the three largest countries in the continent view Venezuela with disdain, if not outright shock." (Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
Italian buyout firm Alto Partners has sold its entire 95% stake in BIA, a European producer and distributor of couscous, to B.F. S.p.A., which is the holding company of Bonifiche Ferraresi.
US and Israel-focused venture capital firm SGVC has closed its second fund on a little more than $50m, AltAssets can rev
Here Jonathan Eshkeri of E&G Solicitors in Spain looks at the best questions to ask when buying Spanish resale property.

1. Do they actually own it?

This might sound obvious, but the individual selling the property must be the registered owner. Check this via the local property register.

If the property is owned jointly, all owners need to sign the documentation to sell it. If one or more of the owners has passed away, you ought to confirm that that their estate has been administered prior to you starting negotiations.

2. Are there any debts associated with the property?

While checking the credentials of the person selling, also check for any charges registered against the property.

Unpaid IBI (similar to council tax) can result in a registered charge if it is unpaid for long enough, as can outstanding community fees. In addition the Spanish tax agency can register charges in respect of unpaid personal taxes, or inheritance tax.

If there is a registered mortgage (a type of charge), make certain the purchase price will clear the debt and, if not, establish how the seller will cover the balance.

Check that any charges will be paid and cleared prior to the transfer of ownership, or by the day of completion of the sale and purchase at the very latest. Failure to do so could result in the charges remaining on the register, so that your ownership of the property will be subject to whatever debt the charge is securing. You don't want to be left with the seller's mortgage as well as your own!

Also, make sure all utilities and community fees have been paid by the date of completion, or at least that you have retained sufficient funds to pay them after completion. For instance, if there is an outstanding electricity bill, you can insist on deducting the amount of the bill from the purchase price. That way the seller still pays for his or her debts.

3. Was the property built with planning permission?

This question is vital. Enquire at the local town hall whether there are any pending planning enquiries or fines outstanding relating to the original build, or subsequent building works.

If there is anything outstanding, establish what needs to be done to settle the matter. Make this the responsibility of the current owner to resolve, including any monies owed.

Also, make sure that any works carried out after the initial build have been registered, e.g. an extension, or a swimming pool. If something hasn't been registered, get the seller to sign a 'declaracion de obra nueva' and complete the registration retrospectively. However, beware, the fact that an extension or a pool has been registered, does not mean that it was built lawfully. Check that planning permission was granted for everything you are buying.

4. Does the property hold all necessary certifications?

Make sure the seller has all the documentation required to sell the property. This includes the Energy Performance Certificate that confirms that the electricity supply meets the latest safety and efficiency standards.

The other main document is a 'cedula de habitabilidad', or a 'licencia de primera ocupacion'. This provides evidence that the property is recognised as a dwelling and, in many cases, will be evidence that planning permission was granted for the dwelling. Once again, check that any add-ons have received planning permission, such as pools and extensions.

5. Should I arrange for a survey?

Yes, particularly if you are purchasing a single family home. Whilst it is not a legal requirement to have a survey on aSpanish property, we strongly recommend that you do get one. A professional's opinion will put your mind at ease and make you aware of any issues. Anything highlighted needn't stop you from buying; it will just allow you to go into the process with your eyes open.

6. Anything to be aware of if I'm buying a rural property?

If you are considering buying a rural property there are a few extra questions to ask:

Is the property in a protected area?

If so, it could limit what renovation/redevelopment you can do, if any at all.

Is the building registered as a dwelling on the land you are buying?

If not, you may need to have it registered, along with any outbuildings or pools.

How is electricity supplied?

e.g. is it solar powered, generator powered, or connected to the mains?

How is water supplied and sewage dealt with?

Is the property connected to the sewer system, or does it rely on a well? If there is a septic tank, where is it and how often does it need to be emptied? Have the necessary permissions been obtained from the local authority, or does it comply with current rules?

Are there any rights of way that cross the property?

Consider how this might impact upon your plans for the property. Rights of way may affect your quiet enjoyment of the property.

Is the local authority responsible for maintaining any access roads?

If not, you may find that you are required to maintain these at considerable cost.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Permanent representative of Nagorno Karabakh in France Hovhannes Gevorgyan says everyday work is done in France in order to present the true picture about the Nagorno Karabakhi-Azerbaijani contact line.

According to him, works are carried out in a number of directions: political arena and mass media.

As you know, the France-Nagorno Karabakh friendship circle operates in France, and we have very strong ties with it. Everyday contact is maintained with both the circle and other French political figures. The second direction is mass media. Through the mass media, we deliver the true picture and real information about Nagorno Karabakh to the French society. Information is an important part of politics and diplomacy; therefore we carry out everyday work to deliver the truth to wide circles, he said.

He also noted that the Azerbaijani-Turkish lobby is very active in France, however France is among those countries, where the Embassies of both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are present, and a great number of French-Armenians. Therefore, with joint efforts they achieve results.

We focus on the real story of the conflict, on our positions of the settlement, which not always is known to the French political figures or the wide circle of the public. In detail, we present that the people of Nagorno Karabakh are being threatened by the leadership of Azerbaijan for 25 years, and generally, the hatred towards Armenians is being promoted and deepened in Azerbaijan. It is obvious that Nagorno Karabakh cannot return to its previous status, he added.

In addition to this, the local Armenian community is focusing on the Azerbaijani war crimes, the beheading of the Armenian soldier and targeting of civilians.

He said the French society must know about all the war crimes, atrocities, violation of international human rights of Azerbaijan.
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. According to Ipsos poll released on May 11, Donald Trump's support has surged and he is now running nearly even with Democrat Hillary Clinton among likely US voters, a dramatic turnaround since he became the Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee, Armenpress reports citing Reuters.

The results could signal a close fight between the two likely White House rivals as Americans make up their minds ahead of the Nov. 8 election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama. As recently as last week, Clinton led Trump by around 13 points in the poll.

In the most recent survey, 41 percent of likely voters supported Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, and 40 percent backed Trump, with 19 percent not decided on either yet, according to the online poll of 1,289 people conducted from Friday to Tuesday. The poll had a credibility interval of about 3 percentage points.

The results reflect a big increase in support for Trump since he knocked out US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich last week to become the last Republican in the White House race.

There was no immediate comment from the Clinton or Trump campaigns.
Modified On May 16, 2016 12:11 PM By Alshaar

Despite Indian automaker fraternitys displeasure against the governments policies, it really cant complain about the provisions for hybrid vehicles from the powers that be. The Delhi government now seems to have joined the party too by slashing VAT on hybrid cars recently.

The Arvind Kejriwal government cut down on value-added tax on hybrid cars, battery-operated vehicles and e-rickshaws from 12.5 percent to 5 percent earlier this week. The move is set to bring down the cost of these eco-friendly vehicles in the National Capital.

The VAT reduction was part of the tax-rationalisation plan mooted in the budget for 2016-17. The revised rates were notified by the Delhi government in a statement.

This step, apart from promoting eco-friendly vehicles and reducing pollution in the city, will also bring relief to a large number of entrepreneurs earning their livelihood by plying e-rickshaws, said the statement.

It said the reduction in the VAT on hybrid vehicles would see a large number of consumers making a shift from petrol/diesel vehicles, "thereby bringing down vehicular emission". The Delhi government also hopes to encourage more manufacturers to take up manufacturing of alternative fuel vehicles.

Talking of hybrid vehicles in India, Maruti and Mahindra sport minor hybrid configurations in their portfolios while the likes of Toyota are mulling to court more such models to India following the diesel blanket ban in Delhi.

The Delhi governments recent move is as a part of its continuous efforts to bring down the menace of pollution in the NCR. But would it inspire more carmakers to manufacture hybrid vehicles in the future? Let us know in the comment section below.
Modified On Mar 20, 2017 03:37 PM By Raunak for Audi Q3 2015-2020

The silhouette looks identical to the TT Offroad Concept Audi showcased at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show

Audis mysterious test mule has surfaced online and has left the public in utter confusion whether it is the next-generation of the companys popular SUV  the Q3 or an all-new Q4, since what strikes the most is the roofline of test mule which resembles the TT Offroad concept from the 2014 Beijing Motor Show. The Ingolstadt-based automaker has camouflaged it in a deceiving manner. For obvious reasons, though. The manufacturer doesnt want the world to know what new is cooking in the Q range.

Earlier this year, Audi has secured the Q2 and the Q4 names from FCA (Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles). The former has already been revealed by the automaker at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The Q4 (checkout concept's image below) is the only missing link in the 'Q' clan.

Irrespective of the fact that whether this spied crossover is the next-gen Q3 or the Q4, it will be based on the German conglomerates MQB platform. The interiors will also draw inspiration from Audis latest releases such as the Q7 and the A4. Indeed, the interior design in the Q7 and the A4 is an evolution of the paradigm shift Audi did with the A3s dashboard. Mechanically, expect it to carry current TFSI and TDI motors in both Quattro (all-wheel-drive) and FWD (front-wheel-drive) setups.

Recommended: The Audi Q2 SUV Might Be The Cheapest Luxury Car In India!

Image Source: Carscoops

Read More on : Audi Q3
Modified On May 12, 2016 09:21 PM By Tushar

The industry has just been blessed with a Japanese joint venture! Nissan has bought a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) through a deal that is valued at around $2.2 billion or 237 billion Yen. The strategic alliance will extend an existing partnership under which the two companies were collaborating for the past five years. The development comes just a short while after Mitsubishi landed itself in a fuel-economy scandal which also affected 4.7 lakh cars it made for Nissan!

Carlos Ghosn, Nissans chief executive officer (CEO), is evidently seizing an opportunity. Following the controversy, an already cash-strapped Mitsubishi Motors share value plummeted by over 40%. The plunge has helped Nissan gain significant control of a company that it relies on for the production of its small cars sold in Japan. Nissan and Mitsubishi have agreed to cooperate in areas including purchasing, common vehicle platforms, technology sharing, joint plant utilization and growth markets.

This is a breakthrough transaction and a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. It creates a dynamic new force in the automotive industry that will cooperate intensively and generate sizeable synergies. We will be the largest shareholder of MMC, respecting their brand, their history and boosting their growth prospects. We will support MMC as they address their challenges and welcome them as the newest member of our enlarged alliance family. said Ghosn.

Osamu Masuko, board chairman and chief executive of MMC, said Through its long history of successful partnerships Nissan Motor has developed a deep knowledge of maximizing the benefits from alliance partnerships. This agreement will create long-term value needed for our two companies to progress towards the future. We will achieve long-term value through deepening our strategic partnership including sharing resources such as development, as well as joint procurement.

Oddly enough, both Nissan and Mitsubishi are struggling in the Indian car market. Mitsubishi only sells the Pajero Sport, while the Nissan Micra, Terrano and Sunny cumulatively account for an average of 1500 to 2000 sales each month at best. Lets hope this collaboration bears fruit for us!
Albertas unusually early and large fire is just the latest of many gargantuan fires on an Earth thats grown hotter with more extreme weather.

Earlier this year, large wildfires hit spots on opposite ends of the world  Tasmania and Oklahoma-Kansas. Last year, Alaska and California pushed the U.S. to a record 10 million acres burned. Massive fires hit Siberia, Mongolia and China last year and Brazils fire season has increased by a month over the past three decades.

It got so bad that in 2009, Australia added a bright red catastrophic to its fire warning index.

The warmer it is, the more fires we get, said Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at the University of Alberta.

Last week, temperatures pushed past 90 degrees Fahrenheit (mid 30s Celsius) in Alberta, which is unusual for May in northern Canada.

Its not quite so simple though. Many factors contribute to the complex increase in big fires, Flannigan and several experts said. They include climate change, the way people use land and firefighting methods that leave more fuel  trees and brush  to burn.

But the temperature one stands out, Flannigan said.

The Alberta wildfires are an excellent example of what were seeing more and more of: warming means snow melts earlier, soils and vegetation dries out earlier, and the fire season starts earlier. Its a train wreck, University of Arizona climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck wrote in an email.

Worldwide, the length of Earths fire season increased nearly 19 percent from 1979 to 2013, according to a study by Mark Cochrane, a professor of fire ecology at South Dakota State University.

Fires had steadily been increasing, but then in the late 1990s and early 2000s, weve suddenly been hit with lots of these large fires we cant control, Cochrane said.

In terms of acreage burned, the worldwide total may be dropping because of better firefighting, but in North America and Siberia fires have grown quite a bit due to warming, Columbia University climate and ecology scientist Park Williams wrote in an email. My estimate is that global warming has been responsible for about half of this increase.

For the entire U.S., the 10-year average number of acres burned in wildfires has more than doubled from about 3 million acres in the mid-1980s to 7 million acres now, according to an analysis of government data by The Associated Press.

Twelve years before the Fort McMurray fire set northern Alberta ablaze, a study by Flannigan and University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver found that human-induced climate change has had a detectable influence on a dramatic increase in wildfires in Canada. Flannigan said the area burned in Canada has doubled since the 1970s and we think thats due to climate change.

Globally we are seeing more fires, bigger fires, more severe fires, said Kevin Ryan, a retired U.S. Forest Service scientist who is now a fire consultant, with a recent stint in Indonesia, where fires were big last year.

Fires in some places, such as Indonesia and Canada, are bad when theres an El Nino  a warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide  because it triggers drought in those regions, Ryan said. In Indonesia, changes in land use are a bigger factor than climate, Ryan said.

But elsewhere, its temperature and moisture, too much of one and not enough of the other, scientists said. As the air warms, it gets more efficient at sucking the moisture out of the fuels which makes them more prone to burn, Flannigan said. Then add in lightning. A study found that lightning increases 12 percent with every degree Celsius and that can trigger more fires. Flannigan said theres evidence of fire-triggered clouds in Alberta causing at least two more fires because of lightning.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences earlier this year in a study determined that climate warming has resulted in longer fire seasons. But other factors, such as the way fires are fought and land use, make it difficult to scientifically attribute individual fires and regional fires to climate change, the report and other scientists said.

This is absolutely a harbinger of things to come, said Canadian climate scientist Weaver, now a Green party legislator in the British Columbia parliament.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Francis Yeoh, chief executive of the YTL Corporation, is the head of 20-plus Yeoh family members who work at the Malaysian conglomerate.

watch now

Francis Yeoh, the flamboyant, God-fearing YTL Corporation boss, is a scene-stealing figure. So much so, the fact that there are more than 20 members other Yeoh family members working at the Malaysian conglomerate passes under the radar. But none of the many Yeohs at YTL, including Francis' own five children, count themselves as shoo-ins as the company's next leader. As Jacob Yeoh, Francis' second-eldest, explains, working at the family business has never been about ego. "At a very young age we were told that you are all just family stewards of the YTL brand and the YTL name, but your ultimate role is to pass it on to the next generation," Jacob says. "It's never really for yourselves, so we never really had an ego trip to be amazing or be more amazing than the generation before us." YTL stands for Yeoh Tiong Lay, the eponymous company Francis' father founded in 1955. Starting out in construction, it is now a global player in the power generation, infrastructure, hotels, property and telecommunications sectors, with five listed arms

Francis, who has frequently attributed his success to his religious faith, has been the chief executive YTL since 1988. His eldest child, Ruth Yeoh, who calls herself YTL's "chief environmental officer," is executive director of YTL Singapore and director of YTL-SV Carbon. An architect by training, Ruth joined the family business in 2005 and runs the company's sustainability committee, where the executives set targets to lower the group's carbon footprint. "This generation, we borrow it from the next generation," Ruth told CNBC's Pauline Chiou in a joint interview with Francis in Singapore recently. "Being a parent myself, I've got to think of the fifth generation, and I'd love them to know the species that I know in this lifetime. Nature, wildlife as I know it now, I wouldn't want it to disappear within the next few years.

I think we're trying our best to do what we can, both in our business and in a personal capacity. Ruth Yeoh

Jacob, meanwhile, is deputy CEO at YTL Communications, the group's newest venture. An electrical engineering graduate, Jacob's first job was actually in construction, the foundation of the family business. "I was there for six months learning the ropes from a lot of our veterans, people who've been with us for over 30 years so I got a lot of my grounding from the construction background," Jacob told CNBC in an interview in Kuala Lumpur. "Then we got this license to build that WiMax [4G] infrastructure."

YTL launched the Yes 4G wireless broadband network across Malaysia in 2010.

Jacob's brother Joseph is vice president of YTL Hotels & Properties and YTL Land & Development. One of his major projects was overseeing the renovation of the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking to CNBC in the Malaysian capital on March 31, as he prepared for a gala dinner to relaunch the hotel, Joseph says being part of the founding family was no protection from hard work at YTL.

"I think it is very easy, especially being family members to, for lack of a better word perhaps, abuse your power or to have a false sense of security," he says.

"I think that's where expectation pressure help you to push your boundaries and to realize how hard one has to work, for example, in the hospitality industry...I love hospitality because it is almost an inverse pyramid because the management almost takes a back seat."

Aside from the Ritz-Carlton, Joseph's portfolio includes the 5,000 rooms that YTL Hotels operates globally, including the heritage Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur and the Gainsborough Hotel in the U.K.

The recently refurbished Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur is one of the jewels in YTL's property empire. Goh Seng Chong | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Sending email to your credit unions membership can be a great way to communicate important events, introduce new products, and keep your membership base engaged. This isnt yet another article explaining the benefits of why credit unions should be using email and other digital channels to communicate. There are plenty of great strategies that have been covered many times before. However, they all miss one important fact:

Most financial institutions have valid email addresses on less than 50% of their account holders.

Our research is based on questions answered by hundreds of financial institutions over the past year. When we asked the institutions what percentage of email addresses they have across their entire account base we heard answers ranging from 15% to 70%. The majority of answers fall between 20% and 40%. The institutions that are able to report rates at the higher end of the spectrum have only reached that point by hard work.

Here are 3 strategies that you can use to increase your success at capturing valid email addresses from your membership.

Require an Email Address During Account Opening  Institutions with the highest reported rates often got there by starting with new members. Make sure you are asking for an email address during the application process and measuring the success of your team when they open new accounts. Offer Incentives on Your Website  One great example of this approach is offering a small statement credit if a customer provides their email address. We have seen values between $1 and $5 work very well. Remember, there is often a positive ROI for this approach because many future communications can be moved from print to email when it makes sense. We have seen an institution gain hundreds of new email addresses over the course of 30 days by simply placing a very small banner on their website. Use Direct Mail  If you dont have an email address for a current member, send them a postcard offering a similar incentive to provide you with one. It sounds a bit counterintuitive to use print to get an email address. However, this is another strategy that has had great success with our clients. We believe in this strategy so much that we even built it directly into Core iQ, our marketing automation platform for credit unions.

We would love to hear of other strategies that have worked for your credit union. Feel free to share your experience in the comments section or let me know directly what has worked well for your credit union.
The U.S. Department of Labors proposed overtime rule would disproportionately impact credit unions in rural and underserved areas and could force credit unions to limit services, CUNA said in a letter sent Wednesday. CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle wrote to Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship leadership in advance of its hearing on the rule, scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. (ET).

The DOLs proposal would increase the threshold to be eligible for overtime pay by more than twice the current rate, moving the cut-off up to $50,440 from the current $23,660. CUNA is concerned that credit unions could be forced to limit services as a result of changed employment situations or the inability to hire full-time employees.

We are greatly concerned about the detrimental consequences the DOLs rule could have for small credit unions, as well as for larger credit unions, who also are more susceptible to suffer as a result of regulatory burdens than the largest financial institutions, Nussle wrote.

There are roughly 2,700 credit unions in the United States with five or fewer employers, nearly 3,000 with less than $20 million in assets and approximately 4,000 with less than $50 million in assets. About 35% of all credit unions have no employees making salaries over the DOLs proposed threshold.
Hundreds of farmers are still waiting for emergency relief funding to restore agricultural land affected by the winter floods.

Flood relief funding for businesses damaged by flooding caused by storms Desmond and Eva was set up by Defra in December.

Farmers in Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland, Yorkshire, County Durham and Greater Manchester whose farmland had been affected by the floods were invited to apply for grants worth up to 20,000 per individual business.

See also: Farmer survey reveals devastating legacy of floods

The grants were offered to help farmers suffering from uninsurable losses to restore farmland, rebuild tracks and repair drains and reinstate boundaries.

The deadline for Defra to receive applications for claims closed on 1 April this year  and on 15 May in Greater Manchester.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received 1,100 applications from farmers, including 596 from Cumbria and 158 from Lancashire  the two worst-affected counties.

Waiting for payment

Lancashire farmer Allan Butler, whose business suffered 230,000 worth of damage in the floods, submitted a claim in March for just over 2,000 of repairs.

We are still waiting to receive our money and I know many farmers who are also waiting for theirs, said Mr Butler, who farms in Rufford.

My ditches are full of soil and my drains are under water. The Environment Agency still hasnt repaired the banking on my land.

Cases like mine should have been given the money upfront. It has been bad enough trying to deal with nearly 250,000 of damage.

NFU North West regional director David Hall said he was concerned farmers were completing work without any certainty they would be refunded.

The application process was not just a case of filling in a form. Farmers needed to get three quotes for work and in some cases approval from the Environment Agency, he added.

Consequently, many claims would have been submitted in the last two to three weeks of March.

NFU deputy president Minette Batters said she was less than impressed by the delays in paying farmers.

These farmers have faced weeks of uncertainty over access to the flood recovery fund, piled on top of the delays to their BPS payments. This is totally unacceptable and must be resolved as a matter of urgency.

Take photographs of flood damage and repairs

In a letter sent to the NFU on 5 May, the RPA said it had received 600 of the 1,100 applications in the last week of March.

The letter said applicants could decide to undertake the works without knowing the outcome of their fund applications  but they would do so at their own risk.

The RPA urged farmers to take photographs of the damage before, during and after undertaking recovery works to support claims.

Failure to provide relevant permissions and photographic evidence, as well as failing to undertake works to the specifications required and using invalid suppliers will mean we may not be able to pay your claim, the RPA warned.

The RPA said it was working as quickly as possible to process flood claims.
Karwan Bazar Tedr77 [at] aol.com) by Ted Rudow III, MA

During the Mughal rule, there was a customs check post located near Karwan Bazar. Markets have existed in Karwan Bazar area since the 17th century. In the late 18th century, a market was established in the area by Karwan Singh, a Marwari trader. The market was named Karwan Bazar after him.

By late 19th century, it became notable as a marketplace for household products such as pottery and crockery. It is also one of the largest marketplaces in South Asia. As of 2002, the market had 1255 stores, out of which 55 were owned by the Dhaka City Corporation. On May 1, a fire completely destroyed 186 shops in Karwan Bazar, causing irrevocable loss to the shopkeepers. We shudder to think of the dire consequences had the fire broke out on any other day than May Day, when the shops were open and employees at work. The fire is a reminder of the danger of unsafe, makeshift structures made of bricks, wood and bamboo, with no provisions for fire safety. The respective authorities to ensure the minimum safety standards. This must be corrected immediately.



Walmart is one of only a few major retailers that have refused to sign on to the new safety standards after the Dhaka tragedy. The Tazreen Fashion factory fire killed 112 workers and left hundreds injured. The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh killed 1,127 and left more than 600 or 700 injured for lifetime. Walmart store -- the world's largest retailer. It raised the ire of some labor advocates who have long criticized the retailer for low wages and importing goods from China rather than buying from U.S. manufacturers. And in that shareholder meeting, they haven't even expressed any condolence for those families.



Ted Rudow III, MA


Vulture capitalist Ron Beller who runs the Caliber chain of charter schools was confronted with angry parents, UTR public school teachers and public school advocates. He plans to get $20 million from the state to build a non-union school at the John Adams school in West Contra Costa County where there are many other k-12 schools.



Vulture capitalist and privatization advocate Ron Beller who runs the Caliber chain of charter schools in Vallejo and Richmond is trying to get a new school location in Richmond on a hilltop for $60,000. Parents, United Teachers of Richmond union members and public education advocates on May 10, 2016 spoke out and demanded answers from Ron Beller, his operatives and the West Contra County School Board officials and staff who are pushing a secret deal for the charter school in the community. Beller is planning to get $20 million from the State of California through Proposition 39 to build a school on the John Adams school site which is on an earthquake fault. Proposition 39 was not only supported by the California Charter Association but the California Teachers Association CTA and California Federation of Teachers CFT. Beller wants to bring 800 students to the already crowded neighborhood with many other k-8 schools. The meeting was held at the Mira Vista school in Richmond which is one of the schools that would be affected. Vulture capitalist Ron Beller was called a "hit man" when he was hired by union busting anti-labor NYC Superintendent Joel Klein. " Reforms were needed, but went too far, spearheaded initially by consultants from McKinsey and later by Ron Beller, a former Goldman Sachs partner who was considered their hit guy, said the former DOE cabinet member, who worked with Beller during the reorganization. Theres nothing like a trader at an investment bank for the sharp, bright edge of the marketplace  a brutal clarity, applied to the school system. At the Richmond school meeting Beller said he was working for free and had no ulterior motives than the right of the children to have "choice" like he had. Beller and his wife have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the California Charter School Association CCSA which has been pushing charters as well as fighting unionization by charter school teachers.. Community speakers charged that he had personally profited from speculating on housing mortgage loans while he was with Goldman Sacks where he was former chief of now-collapsed hedge fund Peloton Partners. Some pointed out that many neighbors in Richmond had lost their homes because of his speculation with mortgage loans. The Peloton fund he ran collapsed resulting in the loss of some $17 billion to the investors and investors sued for compensation.His early claim to fame was a secretary at Goldman Sacks who stole millions of dollars that he and his wife did not know as missing. "Not all Goldmanites avoid the headlines. An abiding tale of the boom years is how three London executives, Jennifer Moses and her husband, Ron Beller, and Scott Mead, had so much cash they did not notice when an assistant, Joyti De-Laurey, stole more than 4m from their accounts." The collapse of his fund Peloton happened on the last day of the quarter and it figures in the film "House of Cards".While at Goldman Sachs he had a reputation as a workplace bully. ""Mr. Beller's intense demeanor sometimes caused friction. He berated secretaries, and poor-performing traders kept quiet in meetings to avoid being humiliated by him, according to people familiar with the situation.Richmond community and labor member also challenged him at the meeting for opposing unionization at charter school and using non-union labor in the construction of the public funded privately run charters. There are now 6 publicly funded charter schools in line to get constructed non-union in Richmond while other poor public schools are being starved of funds. Charter school supporter and non-union builders Steve and Susan Chamberlin have given large donations to charter supporters on the West Contra School Board. WCCSF Trustee Cuevas denied at the meeting that she had received contributions for Charter supporters. WCCSF Trustee Cuevas. She was strongly challenged on this assertion by the labor and community members.Now Beller and his wife Jennifer Moses are supporting privatization schemes in education in the US and the UK and Caliber is one of their ventures. Their work in helping to kick off the 2008 collapse by the speculation on mortgage securities may now be repeated in the speculation by charter operators in California and throughout the country.For additional information:Production of Labor Video Project
Kellogg's Passion Leads to Campus Leadership

Class of 2016 Take a look at the accomplishments and aspirations of just a few of our outstanding seniors As senior class president, Jazmyne Kellogg spoke at the Class of 2016 Commencement.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Jazmyne Kellogg 16 couldnt know it then, but her life took an important turn on the morning of Aug. 27, 2012.

On her first day of classes as an Illinois Wesleyan student, Kellogg walked into her Gateway Colloquia course, Whats Race Got to Do With It? The course pressed students to understand themselves and others within the context of race, privilege and disadvantage.

The class gave me the vocabulary to understand and process my life experiences and the world around me, Kellogg recalled. Dr. [Meghan] Burke also explained what [the field of] sociology really is, and thats when I got really excited about it. I was hooked.

The experience also ignited Kelloggs passion for social justice. I could see my experiences and those of people from my culture discussed within the field of sociology.

Kellogg changed her major from psychology to sociology, utilizing her newfound knowledge to forge a path for a more just world, one conversation at a time. At IWU she become a first-year resident advisor in her residence hall and a Multicultural Educator in the Office of Residential Life.

Over time Kellogg took on other leadership roles, including president of the senior class and two terms as president of the Black Student Union. With several other multicultural student leaders, she founded the Council for Inclusion and Awareness, a multicultural programming and leadership development council composed of various student organizations.

She lived the Universitys core value of diversity, said Matthew Damschroder, former assistant dean of students who is now a vice president at Juniata College. As the Lead Multicultural Educator, she solidified a programming series on campus called Dispelling Myths and she served as an advocate and role model for other students who seek a more social, just world.

Watching other Multicultural Educators grow in their roles was especially rewarding, Kellogg said. Its tough to talk to people about race, and gender, and class, and to meet people at their level of understanding so we can build on that and grow, said Kellogg. So to watch the transformation of the Multicultural Educators, from the way they were at the beginning of the school year to their experience at the end  that was pivotal for me. And I think for them, too.

Kellogg is also proud of the 'Dispelling Myths' sequence of programs. True to its name, the series tackles critical issues by discussing popular narratives on a given topic, then educating participants about the facts. We had students from all over campus come and dispel these common myths about different groups and identities, she said. Its important to have a student panel represent their own voices, instead of someone else speaking on their behalf.

Jazymne Kellogg '16 poses with President Eric Jensen after receiving a Distinguished Service Award for her service to campus life.

A personal representation took place in the fall of her senior year. While studying abroad in South Africa, Kellogg said her perceptions of her identity shifted. When Im in America, my Blackness is most salient, but in South Africa, my identities as an American and as a woman were the most prevalent, she said. I learned a lot about my gendered experiences, and I learned to navigate the privilege that comes with being an American, which was something interesting and new for me.

The South African experience also reinforced the importance of adventure, whether hiking up a mountain or trying new foods, or attempting to speak one of South Africas languages, Xhosa, with strangers. I lived with three different host families and had so many rich, cultural experiences, she said. The experience also heightened her belief in the power of student voices, as she saw South African students demonstrate and prove to themselves and the nation that they would no longer stand for a system that silenced and disadvantaged them, she said.

Her time in South Africa was Kelloggs third international experience. In junior high she traveled to Europe through the People to People Student Ambassador program. I loved it, she recalled. I wanted to experience the world and to see other cultures for myself. The vast opportunities for study abroad, along with allowances to use her financial aid for study-abroad credit, were strong selling points in her decision to attend Illinois Wesleyan.

Kellogg was also among the inaugural group of students selected as Freeman Asia interns in summer 2015. Thanks to a grant from the Freeman Foundation, more than a dozen IWU students interned in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan. In the Philippine province of Bulacan, Kellogg, who grew up in a Chicago suburb, struggled to adjust to rural Angat. Through a series of adjustments and interactions within the community, she learned the values of perseverance and altruism.

My original purpose for visiting the Philippines was because I have a passion for social justice, and I thought Id be able to give something to an underprivileged community, she wrote in her blog of the experience. I am learning this is a shared process.

As a new college graduate, Kellogg is once again at an important turn in her life. Shell bring her passion for social justice and for education to her new role as an undergraduate admissions counselor for the University of Illinois in its Chicago office. I will be able to help recruit marginalized students and help them obtain an education, something thats been so important to me, she said.

Her heart and intentions are so beautiful, Damschroder wrote in nominating her for the Student Leadership Distinguished Service Award for Student Service to Campus Life. Her contributions [to campus life] represent the best of what happens when students find and live their passions.
Washington, DC A new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book (2/16), the FTC notes that complaints about identity theft increased 47 percent in 2015, likely helped by a number of high-profile data breaches. Consumers have filed lawsuits against companies they allege have failed to adequately protect their personal, confidential information. A new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that data breach complaints are on the rise. In the report,(2/16), the FTC notes that complaints about identity theft increased 47 percent in 2015, likely helped by a number of high-profile data breaches. Consumers have filed lawsuits against companies they allege have failed to adequately protect their personal, confidential information.

Data breaches frequently occur when unauthorized third parties gain access to personal information. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems to access information such as bank accounts, health records, Social Security numbers, addresses, tax information and passwords. Making the situation more concerning, a report from Javelin Strategy & Research (2/2/16) notes that identity thieves have stolen around $112 billion in the past six years, the equivalent of around $35,600 per minute.According to the FTC, identity theft was the second-highest complaint category, falling behind debt collection. Among identity theft complaints were tax- or wage-related fraud, credit card fraud, phone or utilities fraud, and bank fraud.Nearly half a million complaints sends a clear message: more needs to be done to protect consumers from identity fraud, said National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg. One of the key drivers of the identity theft threat is the continuing flow of consumers personal information to fraudsters thanks to the ongoing epidemic of data breaches.Meanwhile, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has also indicated that data breaches are increasing. A news release issued by the Attorney General (5/4/16) notes that his office has received more than 40 percent more data breach notifications so far in 2016, compared to the same time span in 2015. From January 1 to May 2, 2016, the Attorney Generals office received 459 data breach notices, compared with 327 in the same period of 2015.An earlier report issued by the New York Attorney Generals office found that hacking intrusions - where third parties gain unauthorized access to data stored on computers - were the number-one cause of data security breaches.Consumers have filed lawsuits against companies accused of not properly storing or securing customer information. In April, an appeals court reinstated a lawsuit filed against P.F. Changs, which alleged the restaurant chain was responsible for a massive data breach. Although the lawsuit was dismissed by a lower court, with the judge finding the plaintiffs did not show actual harm, according to(4/15/16), a federal appeals court reinstated the lawsuit, finding the plaintiffs had shown plausible injuries.Among possible compensation plaintiffs could be entitled to were the cost of credit-monitoring services, unreimbursed fraudulent charges and lost points on a debit card.The lawsuit isNo. 14-3700, in the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.A full version of thecan be found here.
A Southern California family settled a medical malpractice case for $20 million after their premature newborn daughter suffered brain damage from negligent operation of a feeding machine.

Sophia, the plaintiff, was born five weeks premature in January 2013. Her mother Connie was told by doctors that Sophia was healthy and feisty. Sophia stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit, as most premature newborns do.Four days later Connie went to check on her daughter and feed her, only to find she was pale and lifeless. According to a local news report, Connie stated [Sophias] diaper was soaked, as if a pitcher of water had been poured in it.Connie later discovered that Sophias feeding bag had leaked. Doctors told Connie that the leaky feeding tube was human error.The familys attorney Michael Bomberger, stated Sophia was overloaded with food and her feeding machine was improperly calibrated to dispense the proper amounts of food into the child.Bomberger is an attorney with Estey Bomberger LLP in San Diego, CA. He is also a member of the National Trial Lawyers.Bomberger also explained that Sophia was overloaded with glucose, which caused an electrolyte imbalance and led to a decreased level of oxygen to the brain.Bomberger worked on the case for three years before reaching the settlement. Sophia is now three years old and struggles to walk and speak; she suffers from cerebral palsy and will need constant care for the remainder of her life.Bomberger and his litigation team used a number of medical experts to develop a life care plan for Sophia that will ensure she received the appropriate level of care.
President Muhammadu Buhari on March 28 won the presidential election after a keen contest defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who ruled the country for 16 years since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.

Youths pose beside President Buhari's poster in Katsina.

During his presidential campaign, President Buhari made a lot of promises to Nigerians. His party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) promised the people change which they believed was certainly going to transform Nigeria.

Nigerians who were already tired of the PDP-led administration decided to try this change and it appears a few of the president's promises are fantastically unbelievable.

Just recently, angry youths in the North torched homes and properties of two politicians over unfulfilled campaign promises the president made during his campaign.

READ ALSO: 6 areas Buhari's government has failed Nigerians

A mob of young men stormed and set fire to the country home of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and the campaign office and poultry farm of politician Abdullahi Mahmud, located in the town of Gaya. The politicians, who both were voted in with Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) party last year, had promised to improve on sputtering electricity, limited water supply and rampant unemployment.

Below are 10 of the campaign promises Buhari made before he was elected:

1. I will reduce fuel price to 45naira per liter.

2. There will be free education at all level.

3. I will pay 23million Nigerians 5,000 monthly.

4. I will increase minimum wage and place every graduate in salary for extra 1 year after their youth service.

5. One free meal (to include fruits) daily, for public primary school pupils.

6. I will revive all our refinery in my first one year in office and build more to produce more for our domestic consumption.

7. I will crush Boko Haram in my first 3 months in office.

8. Three million Jobs per year

READ ALSO: Only eight states are ready for N5,000 monthly stipends

9. I will stop importation of refined products.

10. Stabilizing the naira.

That was our president's fantastic promises to Nigerians.

Source: Legit.ng
On Wednesday, May 12, Nigerians got the news that the federal had finally removed fuel subsidy and fuel will now be sold at N145 per litre.

Before the announcement, petrol used to sell for N87 per litre, though majority were buying for as high N200 due to scarcity of the product across the country.

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan had attempted to remove subsidy in 2012 but, he was strongly opposed leading to the Occupy Nigeria protest. Jonathan eventually bowed to pressure and the subsidy was removed partially.

Now, Nigerians are back to the removal of subsidy issue and it appears this time, theres no going back.

With the removal of subsidy and the increment of fuel price, Nigerians should expect the following.

1. Another occupy Nigeria protest: Hours after the announcement was made, the Nigerian Labour Congress vowed to resist the increment in fuel price. Apparently, they are gearing up for a protest. #OccupyNigeria is already trending on social media. Some are already asking when they will take to the streets to protest and the venue. Fingers are crossed as Nigerians await what happens next.

2. Prices of commodities will shoot up: An increase in fuel price will affect the price of commodities. Once the price of petrol is touch, it triggers a rise in the price of foodstuff, transportation and even rent.

3. Excuses, promises and explanations: Politicians will always have an excuse for every situation. Soon enough, members of the ruling party will start giving all kinds of excuses for the increase in fuel price. They have already started promising that Nigerians will benefit from the removal of subsidy. Nigerians are getting tired of the excuses and want action.

4. The suffering of Nigerians will be aggravated: Nigerians have been groaning over economic hardship and now they have to deal with increase in fuel scarcity. The worst part is that employers will not increase workers salary. Salary earners will have to figure out how to spend their income wisely. Power supply is nothing to write home about so people have to depend on generators which make use of fuel. Imagine spending more than half your salary fueling your generator. As if the hardship Nigerians are going through is not enough

5. Blame Jonathan: Since the APC-led government took over power, they have been blaming Jonathan for every problem the country is going through. Its like a taboo to accept responsibility for Nigerias problems so its best to blame it someone else.

6. APC out in 2019: Apparently, most Nigerians who supported the All Progressives Congress during the campaign period are having doubt about their decision. Nigerians voted for the APC because they promised change. But, they did not bargain for the kind of change they are experiencing at the moment. Things seem to be getting worse. Anyway, Nigerians have been told to exercise patience, better days are ahead.

7. Nigerians may finally learn their lesson: Politicians can never be trusted. They say one thing today and tomorrow, they are saying something else. They make all sorts of promise when they are contesting for election and once theyve been voted into power, they get amnesia. In 2012, when Jonathan introduced fuel subsidy removal, APC politicians fought against it. They even said there was nothing like subsidy and today, the same subsidy they fought against, they have brought back.

8. The rate of crime may increase: Many may resort to other means of making money if their salary is not enough to meet their needs in the face of hardship brought about by fuel price increase.

Source: Legit.ng
- Fayose continues to express anger over removal of fuel subsidy

- Wants organised labour to protest against policy

- Federal lawmaker pleads for patience

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, southwestern Nigeria on Thursday called President Muhammadu Buhari a hypocrite.

He also described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as an advanced fee fraud practitioner for deceiving the countrys citizens till it removed subsidy from premium motor spirit, also known as petrol.

Fayose, like many other Nigerians has remained angry since the Wednesday announcement by Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the countrys minister of state for petroleum.

The governor, seen as a major critic of the president, released a second statement stating that Buhari and his APC had defrauded Nigerians by increasing the price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre.

Ayodele-Fayose angry with Buhari over fuel subsidy removal.

Urging Nigerians to resist the new policy, the governor added: Those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest must not be allowed to get away with this imposition of hardship on Nigerians now that they are in power.

The governor urged labour unions, civil society organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to stand up and be counted at this crucial time in the life of the common people of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: See the real fuel prices at filling stations today (Photos)

There is no justification for the increment at this period when government is not paying salaries regularly, Nigerians are losing their jobs daily, prices of foodstuffs have gone over the roof and life has become so difficult for the common people, Fayose added.

Speaking through an aide, Lere Olayinka, the governor said: In 2012 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per barrel. How then can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $40 per barrel?

It is on record that on May 2 this year, the federal government, through the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template released in Abuja, told Nigerians that it was subsidising petrol at N12.62 per litre.

If as at May 2, petrol was being subsidised at N12.62 per litre, now that the subsidy of N12.62 has been removed, what ought to have been added to the N86.50 pump price should be N12.62, which would have increased pump price to N99.12 per litre.

Increasing petrol pump price by N58.50 when the federal government claimed it was subsidising the product at N12.62 per litre is clear political 419, which is aimed at further impoverishing Nigerians as the government will be making profit of N45.88 on each litre of petrol bought by Nigerians.

READ ALSO: How over N16billion mass transit SURE-P fund was misspent

How can any government with human feelings attempt to make profit of N45.88 per litre on Nigerians, who are no longer getting their salaries regularly? How can Buhari and his party impose another N45.88 per litre levy on Nigerians who are already facing severe hardship?

Nigerians should be reminded that the president once said that petrol subsidy never existed and that it was a fraud. How then can the same President Buhari tell us that he has removed the same subsidy he claimed never existed?

The reality is that these people lied to Nigerians too much. They made promises they knew they wont fulfill just to get to power. Now they are showing Nigerians their true colours. They are showing Nigerians that they have come to punish them with hardship.

Buhari and his APC promised to reduce petrol pump price to from N87 to N45 per litre; petrol is now N145. They promised to create three million jobs per year; they have instead created millions of unemployment.

They said $1 will be equal to N1; $1 is now N320. They promised to create better life for Nigerians, they have instead created hardship by making prices of basic commodities to skyrocket through their lack of policy direction."

A member of the House of Representatives, Olajide Jimoh, however, disagreed with Fayose, telling journalists on Thursday that the new policy is the best solution to constant fuel scarcity in the country.

House of Representative member, Jide Jimoh, urges for patience.

Jide who represents Mainland federal constituency, stressed that the increment in price of fuel is aimed at bringing lasting enjoyment to the people and that as a result, the current hardship should be seen as temporary.

"I believe Nigerians will smile and there shall be light at the end of the tunnel but Nigerians must understand the situation that President Buhari means good for the country.

"I just have to appeal to the people on this issue of increment on petroleum price and also to say that it is rather unfortunate and I believe if that is going to bring the way forward, we should just be patient.

"What is of necessity now is for all of us to rationalise and be creative and at the end of the day allow wisdom to prevail in this circumstance.

READ ALSO: #OccupyNigeria: Nigerians react, give APC new name

"There are so many areas that could be addressed such as the issue of transportation, the federal government should ensure provision of luxurious buses and rail lines.

"Meanwhile, Nigerians should not expect things to happen in a day and I will urge them not to compare Goodluck Jonathan administration to this present one, he said.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that the announced removal of subsidy on the premium motor spirit on Wednesday, may end up becoming a re-enactment of the January 2012 #occupyNigeria, as some agitated citizens have commenced a new campaign to have it repeated against the government of President Buhari.

With the removal of subsidy on the product, the government fixed N145 as the maximum amount to be charged per litre on petrol and while some Nigerians are mobilising on social media for mass protest, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) thinks the fuel price hike was a coup against organised labour.

Source: Legit.ng
The Nigerian army represents the shield on which the country rides, especially in times of serious crisis.

The soldiers are revered from every part of the world for their gallantry and their successes in series of battles and wars which they have won superbly.

However, not every Nigerian is aware of the meaning of the symbols of the army which stands it out among the armed forces.

Spy Nigeria explains the meaning of the army logo as well as the symbols which many citizens are apparently unaware of.

The Eagle, The two interlaced triangle-like six-pointed stars, The Arabic script, The red and black colours are the symbols of the Nigerian army and are as explained by Spy Nigeria below:

The Eagle: The eagle represents the graceful power of the Nigerian Army. In various cultures across the globe, the eagle is revered as a towering symbol of grace, power and elegance.

Eagle on the symbol of the Nigerian army represents the graceful power of the military.

Just like an eagle, the Nigerian Army maintains keen surveillance during times of peace and strikes with brutal precision and eye-popping decisiveness only when it has been provoked beyond tolerance.

READ ALSO: Nigerian army arrests three foreign Boko Haram members

The two interlaced triangle-like six-pointed stars: This is the first symbol of Nigerian unity and it was first struck by Governor-General Lord Lugard in 1914.

The star shows how the northern and southern protectorates were brought together by Sir Lord Lugard.

This was put in place when the Northern and Southern Protectorates were merged to form one nation, which explains the interlacing of the two stars. The Nigerian Army shall maintain the unity of Nigeria.

The Arabic script: The transliteration of the Arabic script on the Nigerian Army logo is: Nasrunminallah which means Victory Comes From God Alone

This particular motto was inscribed on the banner under which the Nigerian indigenous forces battled against the invading colonial forces. It symbolizes the fact that the Nigerian Army stands to defend the territorial integrity of the country at all times.

The motto was formerly that of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio, head of the Sokoto Caliphate. Contrary to what many think, the inclusion of the Arabic motto was not done singlehandedly by General Muhammadu Buhari (now president) or by northern elders but by the British.

Nowa Omoigui explains thus: "The adoption of the motto of the Sokoto Caliphate, as that of the Nigerian Army, was made by the British  before Nigerian Independence, and long before Major General M. Buhari (rtd) even joined the Army. The Nigerian Navy and AirForce have different mottos from the Army.

"One of the reasons was that the fall of Sokoto in 1903  and death of Sultan Attahiru  was (and in some circles, still is) inaccurately regarded by western historians as the last formal battle in the fall of what became Nigeria. The highly symbolic Flag of the Caliphate was captured by the British, recaptured by gallant Sokoto Horsemen and recaptured again by the British.

"It was kept for many years as a British trophy in one of the officers messes in Kaduna but returned in a formal ceremony just prior to Nigerian Independence. The myth was spun and sustained by British Tradition."

Men of the Nigerian army

However, Nigeria did not really fall in 1903. The Tiv of the middle belt of Northern Nigeria, for example, were not militarily or otherwise pacified for at least another ten (10) years. Many pockets of resistance remained in present day Southern Nigeria  including Ekumeku and many others. Abeokuta lost its independence in 1914.

READ ALSO: Herdsmen: See what army recovered after a raid in Southern Kaduna (Photos)

Nevertheless, the symbolism of the events of 1903 became etched into official memory, as shaped by Dealtry Lugard, which is why the Northern Nigeria regiment and later the combined Nigeria regiment (when Lugard supervised the wedding of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914) adopted the Sokoto motto.

Many indigenous pre-colonial Nigerian armies and nationalities resisted British rule. They all presumably had their own mottos, but Sir Lugard was preoccupied with his personal legacy as embodied by the subjugation of the Sokoto Caliphate and stabilization of the Anglo-French colonial frontier in the north.

It is not the making of modern day Northern Nigeria or Northern leaders or Leaders of Northern origin or Hausa-Fulani oligarchy or cabal  as various writers suggest, that the motto of the Nigerian Army is that of the pre-colonial Sokoto Caliphate.

It is one of the many colonial scars in modern Nigeria  and there are many. I have even heard of a cynical interpretation that Lugard privately scoffed at the Sokoto motto Victory is with God Alone by saying that he gained victory over the Caliphate by combining God with the Maxim gun. And so to this day, while we are encouraged to wait for God to bring victory, predator nations worship God in the day and make new weapons at night.

The Army motto can certainly be discussed and debated and perhaps even open to change after due process (if deemed necessary), but we should keep the true historical context and cynical significance in mind. Nigeria is in many ways the way it is because of the legacy of British conquest. Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) did not single handedly or otherwise inscribe the motto of Shehu Dan Fodio into the battle flag and the insignia of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The original reason for Arabic was that Frederick Lugard (who was the first Commander of the West African Frontier Force (1897  99) and later the first High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria (1899  1906); and later the Governor of the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria (1912  1914); and finally the first Governor General of post-amalgamation Nigeria (1914  1919 ); identified Arabic the only written indigenous language anywhere in Nigeria/West Africa, particularly among the widely spread Hausa trader class across the region. (See Lugard report to Parliament, 1919) Arabic inscriptions were, therefore, used as symbols, not only for currency but even on official West African Frontier Force badges etc which persist until today in Nigerian Army badges etc

In the mind of the British colonial administrators in Nigeria  whose administrative experience was heavily influenced by their military service in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the sahel belt of West Africa  rightly or wrongly, Arabic writing was to West Africa as Latin was to Europe. In addition to English, therefore, they used Arabic to domesticate British instruments meant for local use. The fact that such symbols still exist is one of many scars of the era of colonial rule. However, not all former British West African colonies still use Arabic translations on their currencies as a footnote to history. Nigeria and Gambia do. Ghana and Sierra Leone do not.

The red colour: This colour depicts the enemy forces, their installations and their activities. Colours used in the Nigerian Armed Forces often follow the NATO military colour code and can stand for the same thing even when used in different places. The Nigerian Army uses a flag that has three vertical stripes (red, black and red), all of the same width. The flag is flown at the Nigerian Army headquarters.

The black colour: In military circles, black is the traditional colour of the cavalry, armoured or mechanized troops.

Watch a video of the Nigerian army preparing for battle against Boko Haram:

Source: Legit.ng
- Six members of a Benin City gay gang have been arrested

- There were arrested for committing homosexual acts on Monday by local anti-vice agents

- The suspected homosexuals face a number of charges and will be arraigned in court next week

The Nigeria Police have has arrested six men for allegedly engaging in acts of homosexuality in different areas of Benin, the Edo state capital.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, AIG Musa Daura, who paraded the suspects on Thursday, said that they were arrested on May 9, 2016, by zonal anti-vice agents.

Daura listed the suspects as Festus Osagiede (24), Hyacinth Imahanrebhor (20), Itama Omon (25), Onwukwe Prince (28), Monye Chukwuma (23) and Osadebe Kelvin (26), adding they confessed to have been committing the crime since 2006.

The gang members shortly after they were detained

According to him, Osagiede, said to be the leader of the gay gang, first committed the crime when he had carnal knowledge of the third suspect after attending a Benin night club in 2006.

After the third suspect (Itama) got drunk, Festus Osagiede took him to his house and forcefully had carnal knowledge of him, the policeman said.

Since then, they have been committing the crime with others at large until May, 2016, when luck ran out of them and they swooped on by zonal detectives.

The youngest suspect, Hyacinth, said that he was forced into the act by Osagiede, whom he claimed also threatened to kill him if he disclosed it to anyone.

It all happened late last year, when I was returning from a birthday party at night. I was unable get public transport back home, Hyacinth said.

I met Festus on my way; he asked me why I was roaming about. I said that I could pass the night at his place.

That night, he touched me. In the course shouting at him, he forcefully penetrated me and it got me sick.

He said that if I told anybody, he knows where to find me and my family, that he would kill me.

However, the AIG who described the crime as a disturbing trend, said many of the perpetrators formed cliques, adding they would be charged in court on Friday.

You would agree with me that this offence is an offence against humanity and nature, an abominable act that should be condemned in every ramification by all.

Source: Legit.ng
- Commander Bibi Oduku says the Niger Delta Avengers hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri southwest local government area

- Oduku tasks traditional rulers, community leaders and well-meaning Niger-Deltans to denounce the activities of group as devilish, advising youths in the region not to join this group and other militia groups

- The Ijaw leader from Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama fires back

Commander Bibi Oduku, the commandant general, Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), has revealed the identity of militants bombing oil installations in Delta state under the cover of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

According to him, the NDA hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest local government area of the state.

Oduku also fingered an ex-militant leader, who he accused of aiding and abetting criminals in their community in the recent attack on oil and gas installations within and outside the kingdom, Vanguard reports.

A group of Niger- Delta militants

He said: Investigation by our security outfit has shown that NDA, which has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta are from Gbaramatu kingdom.

Oduku also tasked traditional rulers, community leaders and well- meaning Niger- Deltans to denounce the activities of group as devilish, advising youths in the region not to join this group and other militia groups.

However in a swift response, the Ijaw leader from Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said: Gbaramatu people are not part of Niger Delta Avengers, which took responsibility for the recent bombing of oil installations in the state and can never be part of them. We condemn their actions and are against pipeline vandalism of any sort. So, we do not see why the army should turn our community to a hunting ground.

Those who are disgruntled that Tompolo issued a statement against the activities of the group should not make Gbaramatu a battlefront. Tompolo has every right to denunciate the so-called Niger Delta Avengers because they are creating trouble for him, Gbaramatu and Ijaw people as whole.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that after attacks on government installations, members of NDA have gone underground following a massive manhunt for them by the Army, Navy and other security agencies.

Source: Legit.ng
Along with the mimosa, the Bloody Mary is an iconic brunch time staple. The savory diurnal sipper is a popular hair of the dog hangover cure thats made many a Sunday bearable since its inception.

The history of the Bloody Mary starts in 1921 Fernand Petiot, who claimed he invented the cocktail at Harrys New York Bar in Paris. Owned by legendary barman Harry MacElhone, the popular ex-pat bar is also purported to have been the birthplace of the Monkey Gland, the Sidecar, White Lady, and the French 75.

As Russians began arriving in Paris following the Revolution, they brought their vodka with them. Finding the spirit to be flavorless, Petiot began tinkering, adding tomato juice and, eventually, spices.

The Bloody Mary arrived in the United States around 1933-34 when Vincent Astor recruited Petiot for his King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. According to the official St. Regis story, man about town Serge Obolensky asked Petiot to recreate the vodka cocktail Petiot had been making in Paris.

As for its name, some say it was named after Queen Mary I of England (1553-58), who earned the loving nickname Bloody Mary for her vicious treatment of Protestants under her reign. Another suggests it was a couple of Chicago ex-pats who named it after Mary, a server at the Bucket of Blood bar back in their hometown. Another alleges it was a mispronunciation of an existing cocktail called the Vladimir. And yet another theory posits it was named in honor of actress Mary Pickford, which is kind of unfair since she already has her own drink.

Regardless, the name Bloody Mary was considered too vulgar for the King Cole patrons delicate sensibilities, so Petiot attempted to rechristen it the Red Snapper. The name never really stuck; although the King Cole still refers to it is as such to this day.

While Petiots story has endured, there are other versions. One telling moves the Bloodys birthplace around the corner form Harrys to the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris. Incidentally, Ernest Hemingway the writer was said to be a fan of the cocktail. And while that can be said for just about every damn cocktail under the damn sun, Papa did like it enough to issue his own Bloody Mary recipe.

Back in New York, the 21 Club would like you to believe the Bloody originated there as a possible collaboration between bartender Henry Zbikiewicz and comedian George Jessel. In fact, a 1939 New York gossip column notes the cocktails connection to the bar and provides a recipe  albeit a very plain one, consisting of equal parts vodka and tomato juice. Petiot even acknowledges this version of the cocktail, but asserts he was the one who perfected it by adding spices, lemon and Worcestershire sauce.



Recipes vary wildly so Ive offered up a couple takes below. First, some observations:

Dont waste premium vodka in a Bloody Mary. I mean, you can, but whats the point? The other flavors are so dominant youll never taste the difference.

For tomato juice, you can use something like V8 (or Clamato, if thats your thing), but I prefer the plain stuff as it allows greater control over the flavor of the final product. Also, V8 is loaded with unnecessary sodium.

The level of spiciness is a matter of personal taste and not a standard by which a quality Bloody Mary should be judged. I like mine on the mild side since Im usually drinking them as a hair of the dog, and the last thing I want on top of my hangover is a case of agita.

Real talk: I hold no love for the extreme garnish trend of piling a salad bars worth of fixins on top of Bloody Marys. If thats how you roll, more power to you, but a simple lemon wedge or celery stalk is adequate. Remember, youre making a cocktail not gazpacho.



Beverages shouldnt require doggy bags.

Ingredients

2 oz. vodka

4 oz. tomato juice

1 oz. lemon juice

3-5 dashes Worcestershire sauce

4 dashes celery salt

Tobasco and horseradish to taste (optional)

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Garnish as you will.



Courtesy of the King Cole Bar, New York

Ingredients

1 oz. vodka

2 oz. tomato juice

1 dash lemon juice

2 dashes celery salt

2 dashes black pepper

2 dashes cayenne pepper

3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into a tumbler.

And for good measure heres Hemingways recipe

From the book, Literary Eats

To make a pitcher of Blood Marys (any smaller amount is worthless) take a good sized pitcher and put in it as big a lump of ice as it will hold. (This is to prevent too rapid melting and watering of our product.) Mix a pint of good Russian vodka and an equal amount of chilled tomato juice. Add a table spoon full of Worchester Sauce. Lea and Perrins is usual but can use A1 or any good beef-steak sauce. Stirr (with two rs). Then add a jigger of fresh squeezed lime juice. Stirr. Then add small amounts of celery salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper. Keep on stirring and taste to see how it is doing. If you get it too powerful, weaken with more tomato juice. If it lacks authority, add more vodka. Some people like more lime than others. For combating a really terrific hangover, increase the amount of Worcester sauce  but dont lose the lovely color.

Jim Sabataso is a writer, part-time bartender, and full-time cocktail enthusiast living in Vermont. Follow him on Twitter @JimSabataso
Your response to Ben Wheatleys High-Rise will depend on your appreciation for the other films in his body of work. Meaning: The less you like them, the more youll enjoy High Rise, and vice versa. High-Rise begins with the past tense of Wheatleys traditional mayhem, settling on tranquil scenes of extensive carnage and brutal violence inflicted before the pictures start. Dashing Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) wanders waste-strewn halls. He goes to have a drink with his neighbor, Nathan Steele (Reece Shearsmith), who has enshrined a dead mans head within a television set. Seems about right. But the films displays of squalor and viscera are a ruse. Spoken in the tongue of Wheatley, High-Rise is a tamer tale than Kill List or Sightseers.

That isnt a bad thing, of course, but if you go into Wheatley films anticipating unhinged barbarity, you may feel as though the film and its creator are trolling you here. High-Rise is based on English novelists J.G. Ballards 1975 novel of the same name, a soft sci-fi dystopian yarn fastened to a through line of social examination. In context with its decade, the books setting could be roughly described as near future England, and Wheatley, a director with a keen sense of time and place across all of his films, has kept the period of the texts publication intact, fleshing it out with alternately lush and dreggy mise en scene. If you didnt know any better, you might assume that High-Rise is a lost relic of 1970s American cinema.

Or maybe you wouldnt think that at all. Whether he sets his movies in the 17th century or in the present day, Wheatleys style is modern right down to its referentialism: Among his influences we can count directors like John Boorman, David Cronenberg, Terry Gilliam and Stanley Kubrick, named last on this list because too often critics and cinephiles forget that there are other filmmakers in the history of the medium besides Stanley Kubrick. Wheatley is the sum total of their parts, but over the course of directing five features and countless episodes on a handful of television series, he has also developed his own point of view as an artisteven when hes adapting stories written by another author. High-Rise is Ballards book, but its Wheatleys movie.

The film unfolds within the dispassionate concrete embrace of the luxury skyscraper evoked by its title. Our perspective is anchored to Laing (Hiddleston)doctor, medical lecturer, eligible bachelor and grieving brotherwho has moved into the building to escape the world and its myriad inconveniences. Why drive to the grocery store when you can hop on a lift and buy goods from the market nestled within your apartment complex? Why go to the gym when you can just head to the in-house rec center? Why trek to a concert when you can meet celebrities while you shop for produce? The high-rise has it all: Ease of living, colorful inhabitants (played by Luke Evans, Sienna Miller, Elisabeth Moss and Shearsmith). Its architect, Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons), has ensured that his tenants have little to no reason to leave other than to attend work, and even that proves a flimsy excuse to depart the towers array of pleasures and indulgences.

But like shooting stars, burning hearts and Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, some things are too good to last, and before long the structures amenities give way to reality: Resources grow scarce, electricity fails on the lower floors and class war erupts between the 99% and the 1%. Wheatley stages the escalation from unrest to open hostility with speed: High-Rise vaults so fast from normal to Lord of the Flies that youll wonder if the final cut of the film wound up losing a half hour or so of footage to the cutting room floor. The alacrity of Wheatleys script, written by his spouse and frequent collaborator Amy Jump, is intentional, though, and in its intention it is cynical, sneering and, thanks to a capstone Maggie Thatcher plug, maybe a bit too obvious. Isolated, or perhaps freed, from the confines of civilized society, were all savages, rich or poor, upper crust or commoner. The sequestration of the high-rise gives its occupants opportunities to satisfy their basest instincts without fear of lawful reprisal.

So we come back to Wheatley, violence and expectations. High-Rise doesnt crush skulls or shatter kneecaps or spill intestines within our periphery. The single most gruesome moment arrives as Laing instructs a band of students on the proper method of breaking down a cadaver head, which is as unsettlingly gross an image as we need from a Wheatley film. Beyond that, the worst stuff happens off screen (though if you are fond of dogs, be warned that the film is not canine-friendly). High-Rise is not interested in physical violence inflicted on the flesh. It is instead interested in mental violence inflicted by those with stature upon those without. In an early scene, Laing shows up at Royals penthouse for a costume party, only to be ejected for failing to honor the theme of French aristocratic dandy. He looks good, but he doesnt match the dress code, and so he is booted to a chorus of snickers.

Somehow that beat manages to be twice as vicious as any slaying orchestrated elsewhere in Wheatleys cinema, and it is telling of High-Rises nature. This is a movie of observation, not annihilation, and its exploratory qualities are coupled with Wheatleys heightened craftplus a side helping of gallows humor. (Calling the film Wheatleys cheekiest effort to date might not be saying much, but there you have it.) Another director might have treated High-Rises pandemonium as shocking. Wheatley greets it with a smirk.

Director: Ben Wheatley

Writer: Amy Jump

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans, Sienna Miller, Elisabeth Moss, Reece Shearsmith, Jeremy Irons, James Purefoy, Keeley Hawes, Sienna Guillory

Release Date: May 13, 2016

Boston-based critic Andy Crump has been writing about film online since 2009, and has been contributing to Paste Magazine since 2013. He also writes for Movie Mezzanine and Birth. Movies. Death., and is a member of the Online Film Critics Society and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. You can follow him on Twitter and find his collected writing at his personal blog. He is composed of roughly 65% craft beer.
Six years ago, I was a wide-eyed, first-year journalism student at the University of Maine, and a photographer taking pictures near the dining hall told me that the student newspaper could use new contributors. I sent an email to the Style & Culture Editor of The Maine Campus, and after hearing back a few days later, I went to the papers office and met Kegan Zema for the first time.

Not long after that, our paths diverged as Kegan went on to pursue other passions. He didnt quite give up on journalism per se: since 2012, he has fronted a rising indie rock band named after his former craft. And rising they are: Brooklyn-based Journalism just released their debut LP, Faces, on Dead Stare Records.

Before Journalism heads out on tour, Zema and I got on Facebook video chat and spoke about Vampire Weekends Ezra Koenig and Hipster Runoff founder Carles, how seeing Dave Matthews Band at Bonnaroo changed his outlook on music and the ways that journalism has informed Journalism.

Paste Music: So what made you want to switch your focus from writing to music? Or rather, what does the band Journalism allow you to do creatively that news journalism doesnt?

Kegan Zema: I think the biggest thing that I walked away with after studying journalism for all those years was that it was very ephemeral. Youd write something, and youd put a lot of energy and effort into it, and the next day, it would literally be yesterdays news. That didnt leave much encouragement to want to put creative energy into it, and its a medium that doesnt necessarily require creative energy if you can get away with it.

PM: Theres a classic quote that goes, Writing about music is like dancing about architecture. You used that in your undergraduate thesis, which was a 168-page exploration of music criticism as an art form. Since the artistry of music cant really be measured or quantified, would you say that criticizing it and reviewing it has to be interpretive and artistic?

KZ: I ended up pretty much disproving that throughout the thesis, because most album reviews were very formulaic. There were a few here and there that I could point to as kind of works of art in themselves, but for the most part, they were like, This a little bit about the album, this is blah blah blah, this is song-by-song, that kind of thing. However, what I wanted to see with music criticism, and what I see accomplished sometimes, is people that do write in a more artistic manner. Not even necessarily that, but I really enjoy music writers who get at how people, either themselves or others, have experienced music.

PM: Going from experiencing music as a consumer to as a creator-we were talking about Carles recently, from Hipster Runoff-I mentioned the conversation he had with Ezra Koenig [for The Fader]. Theres one quote from that that always stuck with me, from Ezra: Content is the commodified form of thoughts/information, and in our hyper-capitalist era everything moves towards pure commodity. As an artist and a performer, do you think its possible to succeed without putting all of yourself into your work and turning every worthwhile idea you have into content?

KZ: I think no matter who you are or what youre doing, you work to the point where, at some level, your life is kind of this brand, and it is kind of this cultivated thing, unless youre living in a shack somewhere. Those living in the realm of, as he said, this hyper-capitalist society, its pretty much inescapable, no matter what youre doing. I think the best thing you can do is be aware of it, be a conscious consumer as much as you are a conscious producer of content.

In anything we do and put our heart into, its really going to be, at the end of the day, used for some capitalist gain. I feel what Ezras saying, because I studied as a disciple of Carles for many years.

PM: You told me recently that seeing Dave Matthews Band at Bonnaroo really changed how your outlook on music. How did that work?

KZ: In high school and going into college, I spent most of my time really thinking that there was a right music and a good music. That there was a good taste and bad taste, and I obviously had great taste. Especially being up in Maine, up at state school, that was such an easy target. They were kind of like a bro band, everything I kind of stood against. I was more like, Oh, Im going to go hang out at the college radio station and spend hours burning CDs onto my laptop back in the stacks, and Im going to try to find whatever new albums coming out, and Im not going to listen to Dave Matthews, these bros. So that was where I informed myself, and I thought that this personal truth was a big, inherent thing.

It was the last day, he was closing it out, and we ended up having a totally sick time in the moment, in the heat of things, which is something I never thought I would put myself in a position to do. I was like, OK, what if Ive just been wrong this whole time, and theres nothing thats inherently good or bad? It didnt change my life or turn me into a giant Dave Matthews fan, but it certainly changed my life, because I just had a great time at something I totally stood against.

PM: Was there anything else that you wanted to talk about?

KZ: The only other thing that might be important to discuss is the timeline of how everything came to be, as far this being a story about not only me and my band, but like you said, leaving journalism and having thoughts on that.

I was pretty disillusioned by it, but also looking to start a new life in general, moving to the city and doing stuff like that. I think the biggest thing I wanted to avoid was all these things that we were kind of bringing up and talking about: A lot of your first entry-level media jobs, at least in things I wanted to be doing, writing about music and shit like that, is kind of aggregation and blog-type stuff, and just literal content generation.

I just didnt want to stay in Maine and work at the small-town paper covering the police beat, and I didnt want to sit there and type up 20 blog posts a day from 9 to 5 and then on the weekends, which some of my good friends that stayed with journalism did. If somebody wanted me to write in depth pieces on the way I feel about certain albums or certain things, then thatd be something Id still like to do.

On the other side of that, I get to now be on the other side of the desk. Literally right now, youre interviewing me, and Im still getting to talk about and explain [my thoughts]. Not to reveal behind the curtain too much, but most of the PR cycle [for Faces] was just me writing about my own band, the same way I would write about anything else. It was kind of a dream come true. I was like, Cool, I just get to write about how awesome my band is, how deep our lyrics are, and how cool we are!

Its still, as you said, accessing some of the same things. Ive kind of always had this desire to be on the other side of things and do that.

Journalisms debut album, Faces, was released on March 4 via Dead Stare Records.
On Monday, the fight for transgender rights in North Carolina reached a controversial and historic climax. The U.S. Department of Justice first took action last week, when they warned Gov. Pat McCrory and state officials that HB 2the controversial bathroom law that has seen backlash from the LGBT community and allies nationwideviolates the Civil Rights Act. Instead of backing down, McCrory returned fire by filing a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming their position was a radical reinterpretation of civil rights.

The DOJ responded in kind with a lawsuit of their own, and the two parties are set to square off in what is likely to be a messy series of legal battles that will likely set a significant precedent for national transgender discrimination protections. This ongoing struggle for LGBT civil rights extends beyond North Carolinas borders; HB 2 is, in fact, merely a symptom of widespread and systemic bigotry on the part of lawmakers and citizens across the country.

However, the standoff between North Carolina and the federal government remains at the forefront of the national consciousness: the DOJs suit, filed by Civil Rights Division head Vanita Gupta with the full support of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, claims that the states enforcement of HB 2 violates three federal laws: Title VII, which protects against workplace discrimination on the basis of sex; Title IX, which protects against sex discrimination in federally-funded educational institutions; and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which explicitly bars discrimination based on actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.

North Carolinas grievance seeks to establish the states prerogative to enforce HB 2 in order to protect bodily privacy rights, insisting that the federal governments injunction is a radical reinterpretation of the Civil Rights Act, as well as a baseless and blatant overreach. As CNN has pointed out, this battle seems to just be beginning, and may be fought at different levels over the next couple years until it reaches the Supreme Court.

The good news, at least, is that this doesnt seem likely to be a fight that North Carolina wins. The Obama administration is clearly seeking to establish precedent here by coming down hard against anti-LGBT discrimination, with Attorney General Lynch comparing the draconian HB 2 to Jim Crow laws, delivering a rousing call to action in the name of universal civil rights. Furthermore, McCrory v. United Statess claim that the DOJ is radically reinterpreting Title VII is just patently incorrect.

While McCrory and company are right that the Civil Rights Act could more explicitly unilaterally protect discrimination on the basis of gender identity, the precedent for governmental recognition of transgender protections is there in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins (1989), a Supreme Court decision cited by the Justice Department that included sex-based consideration as a factor in sex discrimination. The suits claim that HB 2 doesnt violate VAWA is even more disingenuous. Not only does it demonstrate a tenuous understanding of the law (which, as noted above, specifically and explicitly protects gender identity), but also its conclusion of accommodations based on special circumstances basically amounts to separate but equal.

The states suit completely ignores the Title IX complaint  which is perhaps just as well, since last month the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of a transgender teens right to use the bathroom that matched his gender identity. This decision upholds the Obama administrations position that a school generally must treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity. In other words, Gov. McCrory doesnt have much of a leg to stand on with regard to Title IX. Even more interesting is the fact that, if and when these dueling lawsuits make it to the appeals courts, who should oversee the case butyou guessed itthe Fourth Circuit.

While this might seem encouraging, and should portend progress, this battlefield is wider and deeper than many realize. Civil rights protections are not just at stake in North Carolina, and while the eyes of the nation have focused on Gov. McCrory, similar fires have been cropping up around the country. In some states, overwhelming backlash has been extensive enough to sink or delay anti-LGBT legislation: for example, Georgia HB 757 was vetoed after major corporations (including Disney, whose Marvel Studios does much of its filming in Georgia) threatened boycotts.

Meanwhile, discriminatory laws (often Religious Freedom Restoration Acts or amendments to existing religious freedom ordinances) have been failing around the country: Colorado HB 16-1160 was postponed indefinitely; South Dakota HB 1008 and Wisconsin AB 469 were trans-targeted bathroom bills that fell apart in March and April; and, perhaps most encouragingly, West Virginia HB 4012 was rejected by the state senate explicitly on the basis of its anti-LGBT provisions.

However, anti-LGBT legislation is only multiplying. Perhaps the most well-known (and notorious) of these other bills is Mississippi HB 1523, the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act, which was signed by Gov. Phil Bryant last month, and will go into effect on July 1st. That same day, Kansass recently-passed SB 175 will kick in, legalizing discrimination by student groups based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Tennessee just passed HB 1840/SB 1556, which allows counselors and therapists to deny services on the basis of religious belief.

The list goes on. Last year, Arkansas SB 202 refused the right to pass non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Though its been a law for over a year, its received little attention: while Cher has done her part, the Clintons, despite their Arkansas ties, have remained curiously silent. Even Mississippi HB 1523, was name-checked, but mostly ignored in GLADs letter urging Attorney General Lynch to take action a few weeks ago. Some have argued that Mississippi HB 1523 is even more dangerous than HB 2, but despite an active ACLU lawsuit, its mostly been ignored by the national media. All of the focus has been on North Carolina, to the great detriment of the many other states facing similar antediluvian legislation.

To wit, this is only a small sample of discriminatory legislation, and so far, weve only discussed the laws that have already been passed. According to the HRC, there were over 115 different anti-LGBT laws introduced in 2015, and despite some victories on this front so far this year, Republican lawmakers across the country have showed few signs of slowing down. Tennessee, not content to merely endanger the mental health of LGBT people, is considering its own bathroom bill, as well as rigid legal definitions of husband, wife, male, and female.

Missouri is frantically scraping to put bathroom gender restrictions in place, with threeseparatebills proposed to amend the same statute, as well as a separate law to ensure that the entire state complies with these measures. Neighboring Kansas introduced twinbills that would entitle students who find and report trans bathroom-users $2,500, plus monetary damages for all psychological, emotional and physical harm. Meanwhile, Kentucky HB 364 tried to raise the stakes in February by melodramatically declaring the issue of trans bathroom use an emergency. However, it might be Oklahoma who deserves utmost condemnation, for introducing a record 27 separate anti-LGBT bills this yearall of which were defeated.

It would be fallacious to classify this new wave of anti-trans discrimination as the purview of the South, where Bible Belt conservatives reign supreme. Consider HB 2-like bathroom bills in Illinois (HB 4474), Minnesota (HF 4496), and South Dakota (HB 1112), as well as fourseparatebills in Washington, including the Washington Gender Privacy Protection Act, which goes so far as to attempt to legislate bathroom privileges on the basis of male and female DNA (leading me to question whether or not Reps. Dent and Klippert are even aware of the existence of intersex people, and are just desperate to ground their gender-binarist bigotry in science). Even California, with its liberal reputation, tried to pass a law (AB 1212) empowering discriminatory student groups.

One particularly regressive bill, South Dakota HB 1107, facilitates discrimination not just against trans people and same-sex couples, but anyone who engages in non-marital sexual activity. Theres even more intolerance coming down the pipeline: Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson, seemingly unthreatened by The Boss, plans to introduce common-sense bathroom legislation in the coming months. Meanwhile, with the support of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative coalition of lawyers who have been helping draft and enact anti-LGBT legislation, more states and municipalities will no doubt continue to introduce new bills, even as the brouhaha about North Carolina eventually dies down. This list doesnt even really cover RFRAs, which, without adequate, explicit ordinances protecting LGBT people, could be used to allow businesses to discriminate on the basis of orientation and gender identity.

Lest I be accused of fearmongering, Im happy to admit that not all of this legislation is active, as several state congresses have already concluded their sessions. However, many of these proposed bills are merely tabled, and could very well rear their ugly again in the future; how they materialize will depend greatly on the specific states decisions and procedures, as well as any precedents set by the McCrory v. United States fallout. That being said, theres still clearly quite a fight ahead of us before civil rights for all people on the queer and trans spectrums are protected nationwide. There are more of these laws across the country than can possibly be tracked down  the more you look, the more will keep popping up. Commonly-cited estimates that there are over 100 pieces of anti-LGBT legislation in action right now are difficult to validate; nevertheless, the efforts of organizations that track the progress and status of these laws are indispensable, including the ACLU, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and GLAD.

For those invested in the fight for equality, complacency in the face of the DOJs involvement is an anathema to progress; while the federal government asserting their stance is a huge step forward, the fact remains that many citizens across the country refuse to accept that trans people are, in fact, people. I fully admit that the fact that this monumental civil rights battle is being fought over bathrooms, of all things, seems pretty preposterous. Even so, theres still plenty of work to be done. As Attorney General Lynch encouraged, It may not be easybut well get there together.
Most humans fall into one of two groups: those who believe in an afterlife, and those who dont. After all, the big debate is probably lifes greatest mystery. But if theres one thing both groups can widely agree on, its the worship of nature. For anyone looking to be baptized by their environment, few places on Earth are more sacred than the locales below.



Chile

Known for its soaring three towers (pictured above) that overlook electric-blue icebergs and golden yellow lowlands, Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile, is one of the worlds most astonishing, breathtaking and popular hikes. The five-day W trail is the most trafficked, taking trekkers through the namesake points of interest. But theres also a full circle hike that can be completed in eight or nine days, or a day-trip greatest hits approach for less ambitious hikers. Either way youll be surrounded by beauty.



Yemen



Photo: Rod Waddington, CC-BY

This spot has often been called the most alien-looking place on earth. Located in the Indian Ocean about 150 miles between Yemen and Somalia, the 8030 mile island of Socotra is a gem of biodiversity. While the pictured Dragons Blood trees are the marquee attraction, the 700 other endemic species trail only Hawaii, New Caledonia and the Galapagos in terms of impressive numbers. Other highlights include the fat-bottomed cucumber trees and the tropical-meets-high mountain canyon Wadi Valley.



Turkey



Photo: LWYang, CC-BY

Welcome to one of the most otherwordly places on Earth. Think Badlands National Park but on a much grander scale. In Cappadocia, youll encounter the endless fairy chimneys in Monks Valley and elsewhere, homes carved into valley walls, rock-face churches in Ihlara Canyon and the iconic hot-air ballooning in Goreme. If ever there was a just a single reason to visit Turkey, this is could very well be it.



Argentina/Brazil



Photo: Nikolas Moya, CC-BY

The title for most impressive waterfall in the world is often a three-way fight. But Niagra Falls and (to a lesser extent) Victoria Falls usually lose to this contender: Iguazu Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Literally meaning, big water, Iguazu is the widest and arguably most visceral of the three. Upon seeing latter, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed, Poor Niagara! (which is a third shorter than Iguazu). As with most phenomena, photos do not do this steamy place justice.



Arizona



Photo: Curt Mills, CC-BY

Few placesand maybe no placeon Earth make you feel smaller than this. Arguably the greatest geological wonder in the world, Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona exposes 2 billion years of eroded history. The Colorado River-carved canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and over a mile deep. When I once asked a British man, who claimed to have visited over 150 countries, for the most affecting thing hed seen in life, he confidently replied, Grand Canyon! I have no good reason to doubt him.

Top photo: melenama, CC-BY

Off the Grid columnist Blake Snow writes epic stories for fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies. Follow him on Twitter.
A massive, modern-day Manifest Destiny is about to unfold in Russia, and the reward is a free 2.5-acre plot of land. The catch? The land will be in Siberia and northapparently, you can get farther north than Siberia.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that will allow free

settlement in the countrys remote East, the 3.9 million square miles stretching from Siberia to the Arctic all the way to Alaska. To put the remoteness in perspective, there are only about 1.8 people per square mile.

The Pertinent Details:

- Only Russian citizens are able to apply, but to become a Russian citizen, you can marry a Russian, maintain a taxable income of $146,000 or release a ton of NSA transcripts.

- Online applicants can select exactly where they intend to live online.

- Individuals will receive a 2.5-acre tract of land. Families of five will receive 12 acres.

- Youll have five years to put your land to usethat can be as a farm, home, anything taxable.

Unlike the U.S.version of Manifest Destiny, wrought with the guide of God and exceptionalism, the Russian rendition of the land-grab is pretty simple: The government wants Russians to realize the potential of the East. That potential can be anything, be it for farming, building a home or mining for gold and hoping to create an Arctic rendition of San Francisco. It doesnt seem to matter.

Government officials are optimisticmaybe insanely sothe scheme will bring some 36 million people to the region, and their hope is that settlers will congregate near the Chinese border where the Kremlin apparently fears a possible Chinese annex, seeing as 90 million Chinese live near the area.

One Chinese businessman told Reuters, "I think the Russians need to understand that if they don't allow Chinese investment or Japanese investment or Korean investment here, they will actually lose the place."

Who wouldve thought the renowned land for prisoners would become the land of opportunity? Dont answer that, Australia.

Tom is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and hes currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.
Theres a lot of legitimate reasons to hate the meme Epic Sax Guy. I feel like your list can start and end at its a fucking meme, and youd be morally in the right. Ive got the worst reason, though, and Im sorry. Epic Sax Guy wasnt funny because it wasnt even the most absurd Eurovision performance from that year. Im giving that honor to Spains clown nightmare, for the record, though Turkeys offbrand Linkin Park comes close.

This is the first year I can say Eurovision around other Americans without them saying, God bless you. Its being aired on TV in the US for the first time everappropriately, on Logo, home of RuPauls Drag Race. Finally, the rest of the world will know what Ive been saying for years. Eurovision is the pinnacle of human achievement, the worst thing Ive ever seen, the best comedy on TV and a really good excuse to get day drunk for at least five hours. Heres your primer for Saturday, yall. Buckle the fuck up.

This feels like cheating because it is actually a good song. No, Im not joking. This song was good, and Ill fucking fight you on it. If it ends up on a Grand Theft Auto soundtrack that means its at the very least listenable, okay?

But its also indicative of what makes Eurovision so special. Its the tackiest performance Ive ever seen. Theres fire, shes covered in fur, sweaty men are grinding on herif Ruslana hasnt made a killing at Pride events by now Id be hugely surprised.

This one is also cheating because it didnt even make it to the semi-final, but that it was even considered, for a second, to be Eurovision material says enough. This is the worst of early 90s technotrance except it was written in 2007. I just simply cannot believe this song exists. And justhis fake face tattoo! The faux hawks! The man with the Insane Clown Posse face painted on the back of his head! Hes probably singing the flavor text from the Vampires: The Masquerade rulebook and its both the absolute worst and the best thing Ive ever seen.

San Marino sent this woman twice. They try real hard, yall, they really do. Fun fact: this was initially entered as The Facebook Song, until good old Zuckerberg threatened a lawsuit. Im pretty sure the song is better with all the serial numbers filed off, but my favorite part is that its low key about friending randos to fuck. Click me with your mouse indeed.

2012 was a hell of a year, huh? Bad European rap has become more and more popular at Eurovision and its always a treat. This one is special because while I am very much aware that the title of this song roughly translates to shake your ass, it just, wellit sounds like theyre saying poo poo. And every time they say it, theres a close up on a womans ass. It could not be funnier if this was on purpose.

Id also like to point out that these women that the delightfully named Trackshittaz want to shake their asses have basically negative ass space. They have to paint asslines on their catsuits to indicate where the ass is supposed to be. Come on. Have some standards.

This didnt make it to the final and I was actually kind of surprised. Maybe it was too on the nose. Maybe it was one of those years where everyone sent a really boring ballad. Maybe the weird dudes in masks just freaked everyone out. For whatever reason, Europe didnt deem this one a contender, even though Montenegro seems to truly understand what Eurovision is all about: the nightmarish fever dream of candy flipping in a seedy club.

On the surface this song is almost good. I knew a couple of people who were rooting for it, even. Then you get to a minute and 14 seconds into the track.

Everything about that moment reveals this song as the schlocky, cliche farce it really is. The weird, disembodied what are you doing man; the melodramatic, awful belting that comes after; the hand drawn, crude illustration of what I assume is a woman. I could live in that moment. Its like peeling back the skin of the universe and seeing its true face.

This list could have easily been populated with songs from Moldova. Yes, this is the country that birthed that Epic Sax Guy, but its also the home of these guys above with the hats and the unicycle, a Ren Faire from 2009, and a sexy Ren Faire from 2012. There isnt a year in which Moldova doesnt enter something kind of hilarious, and I love them for it. Even this years pretty boring ballad suddenly turns into a weird Evanescence-meets-Eurotrance thing halfway through. Never stop, Moldova. You keep me awake through these things.

This song is also good, fuck you. This is some old school Mariah Carey-ass diva shit. This is what Eurovision is all aboutbombast, belting and spectacle and its legitimately a bop to boot. It is for this reason that this song will not only lose, but lose horribly. Im predicting sub-10th place. Welcome to Eurovision!

A lot of Eurovision is centered on cultural heritage, trying to make the histories of these countries interesting and sexy. Donatan & Cleo took the sexy part pretty literally. I guess theres nothing more Slavic than cumming while churning butter? Look, Im not Polish. It was either that or being a Witcher.

Legend has it that this is the only Eurovision song ever to be booed and while Im not sure thats true, lets all live in that world for a minute. This song was not only made for Eurovision, namechecking it in the lyrics and everythingits made for Eurovision. It treats the show with the exact amount of respect it deserves, which is to say, none. So people booed it, booed it while Silvia Night is thanking her adoring audience. Why? Its too tacky for fucking Eurovision? As far as Im concerned this song is Eurovision. You asked for this world, the world of Silvia Night phoning up God to say, whats up dog? and now you get to live in it. Congratulations.



Gita Jackson is Pastes assistant comedy editor.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Fastighets AB Balder (publ) was held on 10 May 2016 in Gothenburg. Christina Rogestam, Chairman of the Board, opened the meeting and was elected Chairman of the AGM. Erik Selin, CEO, reported on the companys operations during 2015. The income statement and the balance

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With three new The Fizz student residences, International Campus has doubled the number of operated student apartments in Germany in the last few months. One milestone is the new residential building in Hamburg. It will shelter more than 770 apartments, for students, young professionals and apprentices. These apartments will be

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On 27/04/2016 a usufruct agreement, for a fixed and irrevocable term of 21 years, was concluded with the European Parliament relating to the office building Montoyer 63 in 1000 Brussels that will be redeveloped. As of the date at which the current lease with the European Parliament ends, the building

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Pradera has appointed Andrew Payne to the position of Finance Director for the funds business. Payne, an experienced real estate finance executive, will have significant involvement in new business and will be responsible for the oversight of all financial aspects of the Pradera Funds. They include the Pradera European

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TH Real Estate has acquired Meraville Retail Park in Bologna, Italy, on behalf of its European Cities Fund for a net initial yield of circa 5.96%. Acquired from Orion IV European 4 S.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of Orion European Real Estate Fund IV), this is the first acquisition for the Fund,

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JLL Czech Republic has appointed Tibor Ovecka as Head of Office Agency. Ovecka has over twenty years of experience on the Czech property market. He has been working in senior positions in development companies (such as Hochtief Development Czech Republic and Immorent Czech Republic) and real estate consultancies (EHL Real

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The conventional wisdom about cancer cells is that they are masters of camouflage, invisible to the immune system. However, occasionally, the immune system is alerted to the presence of a cancer cell and springs into action to attack it.

A new study led by Assistant Professor Stephan Gasser of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has identified a snitch that "reveals" cancer cells to the immune system. Published online on 10 May 2016 in the journal Immunity, the study found that when an enzyme called MUS81 cuts DNA in the nucleus, the DNA is not degraded, but rather moves to the cytoplasm in cancer cells. DNA being in the wrong place alerts the immune system, triggering it to attack cancer cells.

Dr Samantha Ho, the first author of the article, and colleagues in the laboratory of Asst Prof Gasser found that out-of-place DNA in cancer cells activates the immune system by producing a substance called interferon that activates immune cells called macrophages and T cells to kill cancer cells. MUS81 plays an essential role in this killing of cancer cells because nuclear DNA was not cut in cancer cells that lacked the enzyme and no activation of the immune system was observed in these cells.

Although most of the work has been carried out using in vivo studies, Asst Prof Gasser has been collaborating with Dr Joanne Ngeow at the National Cancer Centre Singapore to characterise the process in different types of human tumours. Their preliminary findings indicate that MUS81-induced movement of DNA to the cytosol also occurs in human cancer cells, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, uterine cancer, leukemia, and melanoma cells.

Discovering this process in cancer cells has wider implications beyond just describing a phenomenon. Several of the current chemotherapies against cancer activate MUS81 and may therefore trigger a stronger immune response. These therapies could enhance the effects of novel cancer immunotherapies when used in combination, resulting in better health outcomes for cancer patients.
A clinical trial of same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV patients in South Africa led to a higher proportion of people starting treatment and to better health outcomes, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher.

The study, in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that 97 percent of patients in the rapid-initiation group (dubbed the RapIT intervention) had started ART within 90 days, compared to 72 percent receiving standard care. And by 10 months after enrollment, 64 percent of patients in the rapid group had good outcomes, in terms of viral suppression, compared to 51 percent in the standard arm.

The World Health Organization recommends that people with HIV should start treatment soon after diagnosis. Despite those guidelines, most people with HIV in South Africa, which has world's largest HIV treatment program, start ART later than they should, said Sydney Rosen, lead author of the study and a research professor of global health at BUSPH. Once they get to a clinic, the treatment initiation process is long and complicated, Rosen said, with a first visit for an HIV test, a second visit to determine treatment eligibility, and several more visits for a physical exam, adherence education and counseling.

The researchers hypothesized that offering patients a chance to start treatment on the same day as their first clinic visit would improve the proportion of patients who made it through all the steps and were successfully established on ART. The study randomly assigned 377 adult patients at two public clinics in Johannesburg to two groups: One that was offered the chance to start treatment on the same day, using rapid lab tests and accelerated counseling and a physical exam, and the other assigned to standard treatment procedures, usually requiring three to five more clinic visits over a two- to four-week period.

"The RapIT intervention showed clinically meaningful improvements in ART uptake and viral suppression, providing proof of principle that a single-visit treatment approach can have benefits," Rosen said. "The patients who likely benefitted the most from it are those who would not otherwise have initiated treatment at all, or who would have waited until they were sick enough to compromise their prognosis."

Interestingly, the study found that among patients who did start treatment within three months of study enrollment, loss to follow-up was higher in the rapid-intervention group than the standard group. But so many more patients in the standard group failed to start treatment at all--28 percent, compared to the rapid group's three percent--that patients in the rapid group still had overall better outcomes than did those in the standard group.

Rosen said that while the rapid intervention was successful in increasing the overall proportion of patients with successful health outcomes, "the rate of post-initiation attrition is a reminder that early retention in care and adherence support, once patients start treatment, remain high priorities for further research and interventions."

Based on this study's results, the authors said, "Consideration could be given to accelerating the process of ART initiation in many different settings and for different types of patients."
Walking through Harvard Yard, you see it every day -- one person stops to look up at a tree, perhaps trying to catch a glimpse of hawks that call the area home -- and soon most passers-by are stopping to look in the same direction.

It's a phenomenon known as "gaze following" -- and although it's been demonstrated in dozens of species, researchers have theorized that it may develop in a unique way in humans, because it plays a critical role in learning and socialization.

A new study, however, shows that gaze following in monkeys develops in a way that's nearly identical to humans, suggesting that the behavior has deep evolutionary roots. The study is described in a May 11 paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"Even though it seems like it's a very simple thing, this is a foundational social and cognitive skill that humans have. And there has been little research on how this skill develops in other species," said Alexandra Rosati, Assistant Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology and the first author of the study. "This is the largest study ever looking at gaze following in monkeys. We followed how this skill developed through their whole lifespan and examined the psychological mechanisms they were using to exhibit this behavior."

By studying more than 480 monkeys ranging from two weeks to 28 years old, Rosati and colleagues from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania found that gaze following in macaques first appears a few months after birth, peaks among juveniles and then slowly declines into old age. The study also revealed -- just as in humans -- that female monkeys were more sensitive to gaze cues than males.

"We found that monkeys are very similar to humans in the developmental pattern across their lifespan," she said. "That we were able to find this pattern in species with very different life histories than our own suggests that this might be a very evolutionarily conserved pattern of social development."

To get those results, Rosati and colleagues conducted an unusual experiment -- they travelled to Cayo Santiago, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, inhabited by a colony of about 1,500 macaques that live in free-ranging groups.

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"We would approach a monkey when it was sitting calmly and try to attract their attention" she said. "As soon as the monkey looked at the experimenter, the experimenter would just look straight up. A second person would be filming the monkey, so we could see if the monkey also looked up."

Importantly, Rosati said, the team decided to conduct the study with macaques not because they were similar to humans, but because they were very different.

"Compared to other primates, humans have a much longer juvenile period, we have a very long life span, and there are characteristics of human aging -- like menopause -- that are not shared with other primates," Rosati said. "These monkeys are quite dissimilar from us in a lot of these life history characteristics, and we thought this is a great test of whether those human life history characteristics are tightly intertwined with this cognitive development pattern. If we could show that the monkeys' social cognitive trajectory is very similar to ours, that lets us make inferences about what is driving this pattern in our species."

Going forward, Rosati said the hope is to correlate the differences in behavior among monkeys with variations in their social behavior and even to their genetic differences.

"We want to integrate this data with what's going on in real life," Rosati said. "We want to see what's happening with the 30 percent of juvenile monkeys that don't follow gaze. Can we find genes that are associated with that behavioral difference? Similarly, is it the case that monkeys that gaze follow a lot as juveniles are more socially competent?"

Ultimately, Rosati said, the study reveals that gaze following -- while not unique to humans -- likely serves as the foundation for a host of more advanced social skills humans rely on.

"This is a critical skill for humans -- it's important for the theory for mind, communication, it's how you learn about the culture you're growing up in," Rosati said. "And the fact that gaze following can be disrupted in individuals with autism suggests that early disruptions in how you respond to social cues can develop into a much more pervasive problem. The fact that monkeys show this sensitivity...suggests that humans are building upon this biologically shared propensity to respond to these cues. It's not just something different in our species alone."
Crowdsourcing has brought us Wikipedia and ways to understand how HIV proteins fold. It also provides an increasingly effective means for teams to write software, perform research or accomplish small repetitive digital tasks.

However, most tasks have proven resistant to distributed labor, at least without a central organizer. As in the case of Wikipedia, their success often relies on the efforts of a small cadre of dedicated volunteers. If these individuals move on, the project becomes difficult to sustain.

Scientists funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) are finding new solutions to these challenges.

Aniket Kittur, an associate professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), designs crowdsourcing frameworks that combine the best qualities of machine learning and human intelligence, in order to allow distributed groups of workers to perform complicated cognitive tasks. Those include writing how-to guides or organizing information without a central organizer.

At the Computer-Human Interaction conference in Chicago this week, Kittur and his collaborators Nathan Hahn and Joseph Chang (CMU), and Ji Eun Kim (Bosch Corporate Research), will present two prototype systems that enable teams of volunteers, buttressed by machine learning algorithms, to crowdsource more complex intellectual tasks with greater speed and accuracy (and at a lower cost) than past systems.

"We are trying to scale up human thinking by letting people build on the work that others have done before them," Kittur said.

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The Knowledge Accelerator

One piece of prototype software developed by Kittur and his collaborators, called the Knowledge Accelerator empowers distributed workers to perform information synthesis.

The software combines materials from a variety of sources, and constructs articles that can provide answers to commonly sought questions -- questions like: "How do I get my tomato plant to produce more tomatoes?" or "How do I unclog my bathtub drain?"

To assemble answers, individuals identify high-value sources from the Internet, extract useful information from those sources, cluster clips into commonly discussed topics, and identify illustrative images or video.

With the Knowledge Accelerator, each crowd worker contributes a small amount of effort to synthesize online information to answer complex or open-ended questions, without an overseer or moderator.

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The researchers' challenge lies in designing a system that can divide assignments into short microtasks, each paying crowd workers $1 for 5-10 minutes of work. The system then must combine that information in a way that maintains the article flow and cohesion, as if it were written by a single author.

The researchers showed that their method produced articles judged by crowd workers as more useful than pages that were in the top five Google results from a given query. Those top Google results are typically created by experts or professional writers.

"Overall, we believe this is a step towards a future of big thinking in small pieces, where complex thinking can be scaled beyond individual limits by massively distributing it across individuals," the authors concluded.

Alloy

A related problem that Kittur and his team tackled involved clustering -- pulling out the patterns or themes among documents to organize information, whether Internet searches, academic research articles or consumer product reviews.

Machine learning systems have proven successful at automating aspects of this work, but their inability to understand distinctions in meaning among similar documents and topics means that humans are still better at the task. When human judgement is used in crowdsourcing, however, individuals often miss the full context that allows them to do the task effectively.

The new system, called Alloy, combines human intelligence and machine learning to speed up clustering using a two-step process.

In the first step, crowdworkers identify meaningful categories and provide representative examples, which the machine uses to cluster a large body of topics or documents. However, not every document can be easily classified, so in the second step, humans consider those documents that the machines weren't able to cluster well, providing additional information and insights.

The study found that Alloy, using the two-step process, achieved better performance at a lower cost than previous crowd-based approaches. The framework, researchers say, could be adapted for other tasks such as image clustering or real-time video event detection.

"The key challenge here is trying to build a big picture view when each person can only see a small piece of the whole," Kittur said. "We tackle this by giving workers new ways to see more context and by stitching together each worker's view with a flexible machine learning backbone."

On the path to knowledge

Kittur is conducting his research under an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, which he received in 2012. The award supports junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organization. NSF is funding his work with $500,000 over five years.

The work advances the understanding and design of crowdsourcing frameworks, which can be applied to a variety of domains, he says.

"It has the potential to improve the efficiency of knowledge work, the training and practice of scientists, and the effectiveness of education," Kittur says. "Our long-term goal is to produce a universal knowledge accelerator: capturing a fraction of the learning that every person engages in every day, and making that benefit later people who can learn faster and more deeply than ever before."
With a little help, six-year-olds can read texts in the same way as adult literary scholars.

Very little time is devoted during Norwegian class to the youngest pupils in school. Most of the time is spent "cracking the reading code," learning to write letters and developing the pupils' vocabulary. Reading in Norwegian, however, is about taking an analytical view of the literary text. Questions are asked about what message the text is trying to get across and how this is expressed.

Now a study from Lesesenteret (the Reading Centre) shows that even five- and six-year-olds in the first grade are able to read literary texts in an analytical manner -- provided they are given the opportunity and facilitated to do so. The study is discussed in the following article: "Leseopplring i norskfagets begynneropplring med fokus pa fagspesifikk lesekompetanse (Reading education for beginners in Norwegian with a focus on subject-specific reading skills)" in the Nordic Journal of Literacy Research.

Subject-specific reading

"When the pupils were given the opportunity to be part of a discussion about a book the teacher read for them, they showed how they formed ideas from the text and presented their hypotheses about what they thought the text was about. Based on the details in the text, they formed opinions about the main characters and assigned them personal characteristics." Associate Professors Trude Hoel and Anne Haland, who carried out the study on two first-grade classes, say that the pupils related to the feelings of the characters in the stories and made comparisons between what had happened with these characters and their own lives.

"We know all this from professional reading of literature and what is called 'subject-specific reading skills' in Norwegian. Subject-specific reading is about becoming familiar with text that is typical for each subject. Pupils learn how they should read text in mathematics, and they learn to read complex technical text in natural science. Fictional text is studied in Norwegian class. In order for the pupils to become good analytical readers and to develop Norwegian as a subject, it is important to teach them to read analytically," says Haland.

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A literary-scientific approach

Two first-grade classes were included in the study, and the teacher for each class read aloud to the pupils from a picture book. One class read Barbie-Nils & Pistolproblemet (Tinnen & Kanstad Johnsen, 2011), while the other class read Dragejakten (Ousland, 2011).

The researchers used the theories of the American scholar in literacy learning, Judith Langer, as a basis for finding out if the pupils were able to position themselves as literary readers. They gave the teachers accurate guidelines on when to stop reading and questions about the text.

This was based on Langer's four different major stances in the process of understanding. These are based on what the reader expects before reading, forming ideas and reflections along the way, stepping out of the text and reflecting on what is known and looking at the text, for example, in the light of the authorship, literary history or other texts one has read.

"Using these theories, the teacher can ask questions that allow the pupils to interpret the text instead of reducing the reading of the text to review questions and synopses," say Hoel and Haland.

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The children can recognise themselves in and engage with the themes and content of the books. Barbie-Nils & Pistolproblemet is about boys' toys and girls' toys, expectations and prejudices. Dragejakten reminds the pupils about fairy tales and cartoons.

The pupils put forward hypotheses about the plot, they reflected on what the characters did and they made comparisons with events in their own lives. According to the researchers, this is how the first graders showed themselves to be literary readers on encountering the text.

"Being a literary reader can involve trying to understand the text by interpreting it. This is done based on one's experience, knowledge and age. Thus, first graders can also be active in understanding a text based on their experiences," say the researchers.

More academic reading in early childhood education and care institutions -- ECEC

The researchers believe that more time should be given to such literary discussion even among the youngest pupils in ECEC.

"In Norwegian schools, there is practically no detailed study of literature before pupils have completed lower secondary school. But as the pupils become older, the school sets greater requirements for discussing and exploring texts. This study shows that even the youngest pupils have the ability to adopt an analytical view of literary texts. Teachers can therefore facilitate this way of reading for pupils who are only in ECEC.

They emphasise that the pupils will need a lot of experience of literary texts and classroom discussions about literature.

"To participate in exploratory discussions about literature, the pupils must be able to use literary analytical terms. If they are given specific analytical categories to think about, their discussions about the texts can be better. But they need teaching, modelling and training to understand what a literary discussion is based on and how to do this. In this way, they can really be given the chance to explore the text, go into detail about the text and the pictures and supplement old discoveries with new ones.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have discovered a new molecule which has the potential to prolong the life of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF).

The molecule represents a possible future treatment and works by altering cellular ion channels resulting in improved airway hydration and significantly increased mucus clearance.

For individuals with CF, normal airway clearance mechanisms which keep the lungs free of infection are defective. As a result, a build-up of mucous occurs and predisposes the individual to chronic bacterial infection. The ensuing cycles of chronic infection and airway inflammation cause progressive destruction of the airways, which is ultimately fatal.

The innovative approach could reduce the frequency of these infections through a novel protease inhibitor which prevents activation of the epithelial sodium channel; ENaC.

The research involved a team of scientists from Queen's University alongside colleagues at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the University of North Carolina, and was funded by The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Speaking about the breakthrough, Dr Lorraine Martin from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast, said: "This is an important finding which could provide a novel therapeutic opportunity relevant to all individuals with CF, as the targeting of ENaC is independent of their underlying CF mutation. This strategy could prevent the significant lung damage that results from chronic cycles of infection and inflammation, with potential impact on quality of life as well as life expectancy. This is a further example of Queen's University's research advancing knowledge and changing lives."

Ed Owen, Chief Executive at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: "We are thrilled with these initial findings and are excited to see how the next stage of preclinical testing progresses. We are pleased to have been able to fund this world class project at its early stage and welcome the drug development programme planned over the coming years. Research is the biggest single area of investment for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and it's wonderful to see projects like this making such positive progress in our fight for a life unlimited."

Currently available pharmacological alternatives are only suitable for a small subset of patients depending on the disease-causing genetic mutation.

The breakthrough, led by Dr Lorraine Martin and researcher, Dr James Reihill, has been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Researchers in Oxford who analyzed recent trends related to urinary tract stones in the UK found a sustained and high prevalence of the condition, with an increased trend to treat patients with surgery.

The number of upper urinary tract stone episodes in hospitals increased from 83,050 in 2009-2010 to 86,742 in 2014-2015. The use of non-invasive shock wave lithotripsy remained stable over this time; however, surgical intervention for stones in the ureter or kidney rose nearly 50% from 12,062 to 18,055 cases in the 5-year study period. The procedure (ureteroscopy) involves inserting a small scope into the bladder and up the ureter (and sometimes further up into the kidney) to laser fragment stones.

"Around 10% of the adult population will attend hospital with a kidney stone in their lifetime. In the UK, there is a trend towards surgical intervention for kidney stones which mirrors other countries around the world," said Dr. Hendrik Heers, co-author of the BJU International study. "If the current trends continue, surgical intervention will overtake non-invasive shock wave treatment within the next 3 years."
Collaboration between two National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)-funded labs has revealed a promising new method for identifying atherosclerotic plaques, the encased deposits in arteries that restrict blood flow and can lead to heart attack or stroke. The technique combines two different types of imaging, allowing for an unprecedented combination of depth and detail. The hybrid technology will provide doctors with a better diagnostic tool for identifying particularly problematic plaques.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The majority of deaths from heart disease are caused by the rupture of a plaque lining an artery; identifying vulnerable plaques may help create more targeted and effective treatment. One type of plaque that carries the greatest risk is the thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). TCFAs are susceptible to rupture because they contain a large necrotic core, filled with lipids and dead cells, and the region surrounding the core (the fibrous cap) has thinned.

Existing techniques to visualize plaques include intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), but neither gives doctors the full picture. IVUS can image deep into the vessel, revealing the necrotic core size, but lacks the resolution to identify the thin fibrous caps. OCT, on the other hand, gives excellent detail of the caps, but can't show deeper structures.

The work, reported in the Dec. 18, 2015, issue of Scientific Reports, details a hybrid approach that integrates IVUS and OCT, providing both the imaging depth and resolution necessary to identify TCFAs.

The study was performed in rabbits and on human tissue by researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. The research is supported by the NIBIB, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), both parts of the National Institutes of Health.

"The combined optical-ultrasonic system is a promising and powerful tool for identifying vulnerable plaques," said Behrouz Shabestari, Ph.D., Director of the NIBIB program in Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy. "The system has the potential to increase detection and diagnostic accuracy of vulnerable plaques and will allow for better treatment options."

The two centers provided complementary expertise: the UCI team specializes in OCT, while the USC group focuses on IVUS. "The advantage of the center funding is that we have flexibility," said Kirk Shung, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering at USC and one of the authors of the paper. "We came up with the idea, and because we have the funding, that allowed us to immediately start working together."

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Until now, both technical issues and safety concerns prevented combining the two techniques. Each technology has a different optimal imaging speed; IVUS takes about 30 frames per second, while OCT uses a speed of more than 100 frames per second.

Increasing IVUS's speed sacrifices image quality, while slowing OCT extends procedure time, increasing the risk of both side effects from the imaging agents used and false diagnosis from catheter spasm. The group's previous attempt at integrating the two used 20 frames per second but was abandoned because of the long procedure time. Alternatively, doing one procedure after the other would require two separate catheters and cost a lot more.

This time, the breakthrough came as a result of many technical advances, including a customized catheter, improved ultrasound transducer, and faster graphical processing unit. The result was a hybrid IVUS-OCT imaging system that could take pictures at a rate of 72 frames per second. Although there was initially a slight decrease in IVUS image quality, it was offset by increased sensitivity of the transducer. The hybrid system can visualize 7 centimeters of artery in 4 seconds.

The new system was first tested in healthy rabbits and rabbits with a build-up of plaque (atherosclerosis), and proved the mechanics of the ultrafast system worked well and that plaques could be clearly characterized from the resulting images. Next the team used the hybrid approach to visualize plaques in human tissue obtained from cadavers. After IVUS-OCT imaging, the tissue was sliced and stained to confirm locations of TCFA plaques. Two doctors independently evaluated images from IVUS alone, OCT alone, or the IVUS-OCT images together. While they were unable to identify TCFAs using either IVUS alone or OCT alone, the doctors made accurate classification of these plaques when IVUS and OCT images were evaluated together.

The technique could also be used to image other structures and lesions, such as calcification, noted Shung. Most people who are older than 60 have deposits of calcium mineral in their major arteries, which cause the vessels to be less elastic over time and are a factor in heart disease.

"This work has overcome many of the challenges of doing IVUS and OCT simultaneously," said Zhongping Chen, Ph.D., a UCI professor of biomedical engineering and senior author of the paper. "When you use a single catheter, you don't have to worry about matching two images, which enables physicians to look at co-registered ultrasound and OCT images simultaneously in real time. It will make identifying plaques easier and more precise, allowing for better treatment decisions."
Many theories and hypotheses suggest that competition tends to differentiate ecological requirements after repeated interactions and allows biodiversity. Even if the mechanisms that allow species to evolve, coexist, compete, cooperate, or become extinct are becoming more and more understood, the factors that allow species to coexist in a given time within the same environment are still debated. From Gause's principle of competitive exclusion to Connell's ghost of competition in the past, the importance of intra- and interspecific competition for the evolution of biodiversity has been stressed. Recently, the principles based on competitive interactions for the explanation of biodiversity have been criticized from both theoretical and empirical approaches. Since Hutchinson proposed the provocative "paradox of plankton" a series of alternative hypothesis has been proposed to explain why the principle of competitive exclusion is not found in "real nature." The reason probably lies in the fact that ecologists have not questioned some of the principles of evolution. In fact, most ecological models are too simplistic and are often considered outdated.

A new conceptual evolutionary model first proposed in 2015 in bioRXiv and then published this year in the journal Biologia by Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, associate professor of ecology and biodiversity at Tomsk State University (Russia), reviewed the debated mechanism of speciation, suggesting that competition and a struggle for the existence are not the main drivers of evolution. This research points out the importance of avoidance of competition, biological history, endogenosymbiosis, and three-dimensionality as the main forces that structure ecosystems and allow the evolution of biological diversity.

This model remained a theoretical and hypothetical, but intriguing, explanation for less than a year. A few weeks ago, researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland published an empirical experiment that proves it. David Marques and colleagues demonstrated that a population of stickleback fish that breed in the same lake (Lake Constance, where they were introduced around 150 years ago) was splitting into two separate species before their eyes, and at rapid speed. The study shows that even if both types of fish breed in the same streams at the same time of year and have been interbreeding all along, they are splitting into two genetically and physically different types.

"It has been argued that true sympatry may not exist in nature, or can be -- at least -- genetically constrained -- wrote Roberto Cazzolla Gatti in his paper (Cazzolla Gatti R., A conceptual model of new hypothesis on the evolution of biodiversity, Biologia, 71(3), 343-351, 2016) -- This is because small variations in the microhabitat preference can still create allopatry and recent investigations in habitat suitability studies seem to reveal these differences. But if we consider sympatry as a spatial variable, the 'microhabitat preferences' are not properly sympatric but instead represent a niche displacement. I suggest that sympatric speciation should be reconsidered as one of the main mechanisms that lead to species coexistence and to the evolution of biodiversity. In fact, if interspecific competition and the principle of competitive exclusion between different meta-populations (and then, species) were to take place, probably the coexistence of different species would never realize. We would see rather the survival of the most efficient one (which accumulates enough mutation to adapt and not to differentiate) and the extinction of the ancestor or those species belonging to other phyletic lines. My model predicts that the coexistence of two species in a sympatric way can happen only if there is low competition or weak competitive exclusion between them and a kind of avoidance of competition that leads to a slight shift of the niche of a meta-population, which accumulated a series phenotypic difference due to genomic inclusions coming from other sources of genes. Thus, eventually, it's the avoidance of competition and the process that I call endo-geno-symbiosis (i.e., the capacity of endogen 'gene carriers' to share parts of their genome in a symbiotic relationship with their hosts, after the idea of 'endosymbiosis' proposed by Sagan, 1967) that drives the expansion of the diversity of living beings. Competition and mutation (i.e., the classic idea of natural selection), on the other hand, lead to preserving and adapting species and not to diversifying them. This confirms what has been previously suggested: in reality we cannot attend the competition in the present since all niches of the relevant species in an ecosystem seem to be unique and different, even though overlapping on various degrees."

There are numerous examples of rapid evolution, from cancers becoming resistant to drugs to pests becoming resistant to pesticides. Even some species of fish are evolving smaller to avoid being fished. This very rapid evolution through sympatry, thanks to the avoidance of competition, may be the norm rather than the exception.

Marques and colleagues wrote: "We cannot know for sure that the Lake Constance sticklebacks will continue evolving until they become two non-interbreeding specie. But evidence for sympatric speciation is growing, from mole rats in Israel to palms on Lord Howe Island, Australia, and apple maggots evolved from hawthorn maggots in North America, leading some evolutionary biologists to think it could be surprisingly common."

Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, who began to be interested in the role of cooperation in evolution since 2011, when he published a controversial paper titled "Evolution is a cooperative process: the biodiversity-related niches differentiation theory (BNDT) can explain" concluded: "These theoretical findings, confirmed by empirical approaches, should motivate our species to think before it is too late about how human competition, for the first time in the history of life on Earth, has been systematically leading to the extinction of animals and plants. My new model of evolution does not only attempt to explain some of the mechanisms that underlie the current presence of the myriad forms of life, but it also sheds new light on the need of periods of sufficient time scale to generate the awesome number of species that currently inhabit our planet. If humanity does not stop its 'unnatural' competitive spirit in the massive elimination of species, more billions of years could be needed before the diverse set of living beings that we now call biodiversity can be regenerated. And the extinguishing power of the sun will not allow it."
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnnandaleHoseCompany/photos/a.545258112225748.1073741825.375908202494074/1059981420753412/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Facebook/Township of Clinton Division of Fire</a></p>

Firefighters from the Annandale Hose Company in New Jersey didn't expect a training exercise to end in the actual rescue of seven young lives.

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"We got a surprise when seven very fragile, and very scared, kittens were located and rescued inside the burning building," the fire company wrote in a Facebook post. "After conducting one rotation inside this literally hellish environment, a member of the Training Facility found the kittens, which they rescued."

From there, the kittens were taken to a waiting ambulance, where they were given oxygen and much-needed comfort.

"We are pleased to announce that all the beautiful kittens are doing well and suffered no serious injuries as a result of picking, possibly, the worst temporary housing imaginable," the Facebook post reads.

It is unknown where the mother of the kittens was at the time of the rescue. The kittens are now in the care of a local animal rescue.
It's bad enough to try to keep a monkey as a pet - but Silver's owners did something even worse. Staffers at Laos Wildlife Rescue Center (LWRC) recently found a white plastic bag that had been left for them. They opened it up and were appalled to find what was inside.

Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

Silver, an adult long-tailed macaque, had been shoved into a tiny homemade cage made of what appeared to be a washing machine inner tube and a fan cover. She had then been wrapped up in the plastic.

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Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

She was terrified, LWRC said. She didn't even have room to turn around or stand up.

Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

"Some stories do not need many words," LWRC wrote, noting that the rescue left the team "speechless." "She was dumped at our centre by her owners after they did not want to take care of her anymore."

Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

LWRC quickly removed the monkey from her so-called cage. The sanctuary described her "traumatized and dehydrated from being confined in these horrible conditions."

Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

While Silver at least ended up in safe hands, her story is hardly unique. The trade in exotic pets is rampant, particularly in Southeast Asia, where LWRC and its sister group, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, have rescued a number of ill-fated animals from the pet trade.

Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

Conditions like these are also common in the tourist trade, where monkeys - frequently drugged - are rented to tourists for photo ops and often mistreated when they're not being used. But for Silver, who was likely kidnapped from the wild, her long journey is hopefully at an end - though it will be a while before she recovers emotionally. "She's really shy still after the traumatic ordeal," Michelle Walhout-Tanneau, managing director of LWRC, told The Dodo.

Silver recovering at LWRC | Laos Wildlife Rescue Center

She's currently settling into the quarantine facility with her new friend, another female macaque named Blue. If all goes well, she will soon be moved to an open forest enclosure where she can learn how to be a monkey again.

Silver and her new friend, Blue | Laos Wildlife Rescue Center
As Bitcoins mainstream moment began to wane, Anthony Di Iorio had already decided it was not the cryptocurrency but the blockchain technology behind it that had true revolutionary potential.

Di Iorios Bitcoin Decentral innovation hub in downtown Toronto generated buzz when it opened the citys first Bitcoin ATM in early 2014. A few months later, the currencys value plummeted, large exchanges filed for bankruptcy and its use in the black market dominated headlines.

Di Iorio turned his attention to the Ethereum blockchain platform he co-founded to develop blockchain applications outside of currency.

He rebranded, dropping Bitcoin from the name of his tech hub, now simply called Decentral.

Thats the paradigm shift where I realized its not just about bitcoin, its not just about payments, he said.

This will open the doors to everything else, just like the internet touched a lot of different sectors.

Now, a growing community is jumping on board the belief that blockchain  a peer-to-peer transfer system that eliminates the need for middlemen by trusting the power of the crowd to verify transactions  has the potential to transform the world far beyond finance.

More than $1 billion in venture capital is flowing into the blockchain and the worlds biggest corporations are racing to find new applications for it.

Blockchain could disrupt transactions the way the internet did for communication.

Any information that can be encrypted and stored in digital form can be transmitted  everything from real estate deals to medical records to transferring concert tickets.

Blockchain is a distributed ledger invented by the mysterious person or group known as Santoshi Nakamoto that is accessible by everyone, but controlled by no one. Its searchable and public making it more traceable than cash but encrypted and anonymous to maintain privacy.

Picture it as a communal record-keeping system  the kind small communities kept in the 16th century to keep track of births, marriages, property transfers, anything of importancebut on a massive global scale.

Blockchain is seen as the next great disintermediation.

It would eliminate the need for services like Uber because it would remove the need for an intermediary between drivers and passengers.

Its going to be a massive change in the way money is made because no longer are the rent seekers that sit between individuals required because theyre being replaced by technology, Di Iorio said.

Its not hard to see why the notion both intrigues and frightens banks and other businesses that hold and move money.

On one hand, it is secure, quick and frictionless. But on the other, the openness and decentralized nature threatens to make them irrelevant.

Banks started embracing the technology behind bitcoin and investing in it in late 2014, said Ron Rimkus, content director at CFA Institute, where he focuses on economics and alternative investments.

Publicly they were sort of indifferent to it, but privately there were a lot of conversations.

All five of Canada big banks part of the R3CEV international consortium of more than 40 financial institutions that aims to create a global standard.

Blockchain could remove back office processing on everything from the mortgage settlement period to credit card processing and reduce clearing time and overhead costs to save as much as $30 billion, Rimkus said.

Banks are mostly interested in a private version of the blockchain, in which they can increase transparency for some things but maintain privacy for others, said Kris Hansen, senior principal of financial services at SAP.

For example, clients who hold mortgage-backed bonds  which played a key role in the 2008 global financial crisis  might be able to see how many mortgage holders are current and paying on time, but not their name or address, he said.

I observed the asset backed securities crisis in Canada and I saw that entire market freeze up overnight because people couldnt really assess whats behind the asset and it froze the market, he said.

If we have a transparent market, we can always keep the market moving.

RBC is has partnered with Ripple to make foreign exchange payments easier by connecting banks directly via distributed ledger to shorten the length of time for international money transfers. The bank is also planning to launch a consumer-facing blockchain-backed loyalty program.

The dream of blockchain and the capability of blockchain would be to take a bunch of things and have a shared system of record so people arent inputting and reinputting data, said Linda Mantia, RBCs vice-president of digital, cards and payments.

Hansen believes the most immediate use case for blockchain will be on these private networks because theyre relatively closed nature makes them easier to develop.

Public chains, on the other hand, are still working through many kinks.

The lack of central authority makes them harder to corrupt  unlike a bank robbery, theres no one to point the gun at. But the decentralized nature also makes it harder to reach a decision on principles and protocols.

Thats the big stumbling block right now, Di Iorio said.

Theres so many different interests in Bitcoin  theres miners, theres developers, theres businesses  they cant come to agreements for very simple changes that are needed for bitcoin to grow and flourish.

Rizwan Khalfan, chief digital officer at TD believes that once the kinks are worked through, blockchain could be the key to a true sharing economy.

You can just imagine how it taps into all these assets and value that today are completely underutilized in a manner where you have a full audit trail.

Digital identities could be stored in the blockchain and someone with an available item such as skis might be able to access certain information, such as a credit report, from someone who needs them. Doctors could access medical histories to determine whether a vaccination is due, administer a shot and update their medical records in the blockchain.

And the potential doesnt stop there. Enthusiasts also believe it could give musicians greater control over their music or end political corruption by showing an audit trail of where money is spent.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BLOCKCHAIN:

Transaction: Two parties make a deal to exchange data  anything from currency to medical records. That deal is time-stamped.

Verification: The exchange is either verified immediately or recorded in a queue along with other pending deals. A group of computers assesses the deal to ensure its valid according to agreedupon principles.

The block: That transaction is bundled into a block along with a number of others that took place in an allotted time  about every 10 minutes for Bitcoin. Its stored as a hash  a digital fingerprint using numbers and containing a header, reference to the previous blocks hash and the data entered.

Validation: The block is broadcast to every computer or node in the network. That block has to be authenticated by the community, usually by creating a puzzle that must be solved. Operators of nodes  or miners  compete to solve the complex puzzle, which becomes the hash. They get to create the next block and are rewarded with tokens of value  usually digital currency.

The chain: Once the puzzle is solved, the miner collects his or her prize and the block is distributed to the network, which can view the answer. It is attached to the community audit chain. Each block must contain information about the previous one to be valid.

Completion: The exchange is completed. The chain is impenetrable and immutable. If a hacker tries to alter a block in the chain, it will change the blocks hash along with all of those connected  the other computers would be able to see those changes and reject them.

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LONDONThe Obama administrations calls for restoring global business ties with Iran are falling flat in Europe, where risk-averse banks told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday that they dont believe they can do business in the Islamic Republic without triggering U.S. sanctions.

Nearly a year after the U.S. and world powers struck a deal to ease financial penalties against Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, the Tehran government complains that U.S. policy is denying that promised relief. Kerry and other top officials have been fanning out across the globe to correct what Kerry called misinterpretations or mere rumours about what kind of transactions are still prohibited.

The nuclear deal removed broad U.S. sanctions on Irans economy, clearing the way for foreign companies to conduct business. Some specific entities, including companies associated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, remain off-limits under sanctions intended to punish Iran for other behaviour such as its ballistic missiles program and sponsorship of groups the U.S. considers terrorist organizations.

We want to make it clear that legitimate business, which is clear under the definition of the agreement, is available to banks, Kerry said after an unusual meeting in London with top financiers. As long as they do their normal due diligence and know who theyre dealing with, theyre not going to be held to some undefined and inappropriate standard here.

Europes banking powerhouses were unconvinced.

We will not accept any new clients who reside in Iran, or which are an entity owned or controlled by a person there, said Standard Chartered. Nor will we undertake any new transactions involving Iran or any party in Iran.

The London-based bank settled with New York regulators in 2012 for $340 million after being accused of scheming with the Iranian government to launder billions of dollars.

Deutsche Bank acknowledged increased expectations on the banking sector to facilitate business with Iran due to eased sanctions, while noting that other U.S. and European Union penalties are in place.

Therefore, Deutsche Bank continues to generally restrict business connected to Iran, the bank said in a statement. Deutsche Bank declined to answer questions about what exceptions, if any, it would entertain.

For a banks lawyers and compliance officers, thats a recipe for heartburn. Iran and its Revolutionary Guard are notorious for using front companies and opaque financial transactions to circumvent sanctions.

Foreign governments, banks and other companies want written clarification from the U.S. Treasury Department  essentially a guarantee they wont be punished. But Washington is reluctant to do that, not wanting to appear to be softening its firm penalties for non-nuclear behaviour.

Yet the Obama administration is eager for banks to accept its word and do business with Tehran because some Iranian hard-liners have threatened to tear up the nuclear deal without the promised relief. That would damage President Barack Obamas foreign policy legacy and could mean Iran continues to pursue a nuclear weapon.

Ross Denton, a London-based sanctions and international compliance expert at the law firm Baker & McKenzie, said its impossible for banks to accurately determine with whom in Iran theyre really dealing because the country is so isolated from the modern financial system. Major global accounting and risk-management firms dont operate there, putting banks at risk of unwittingly violating sanctions.

The problem is not where you can see it, Denton said. It is where you cant.

The administration has preserved a prohibition on Iran accessing the American financial system or directly conducting transactions in U.S. dollars. That has caused confusion and practical impediments because international transactions routinely are conducted in dollars.

In addition to Standard Chartered, HSBC agreed in 2012 to pay $1.9 billion to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe into money-laundering that involved Iran.

Executives and compliance directors from Barclays, Lloyds, Credit Suisse and Societe Generale also attended the meeting with Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, the State Department said.

Hammond told reporters afterward that if world powers are to ensure their objective of normalizing relations with Iran, they must succeed in persuading banks that its safe to invest.

Its the first hurdle in the race, Hammond said. If we fail at this one, then well never get the chance to demonstrate all the other benefits that can flow from this agreement that we spent so much time and energy delivering.

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OTTAWA  The head of one of Canadas biggest media empires is calling on Ottawa to spend more on Canadian newspaper ads, and to give greater tax breaks to companies that do the same.

Postmedia president and CEO Paul Godfrey made the plea Thursday to a Commons committee examining the future of the countrys struggling local media.

Come back and advertise in our newspapers and on our websites, Godfrey pleaded, noting that government cuts to advertising in recent years have disproportionately affected newspapers.

Were asking the government to be an ally, not for a bailout of the Canadian newspaper industry.

Godfrey pointed to federal statistics showing government advertising in newspapers was halved, while online advertising nearly doubled, between 2010 and 2015. The bulk of the money went to foreign-owned behemoths like Google and Facebook, which produce no original Canadian news content.

He called on the government to explore ways to encourage Canadian businesses to advertise locally, through higher tax write-offs for firms that buy ads in Canada.

Godfrey also suggested Heritage Canadas Aid to Publishers program be expanded to include daily publications and community newspapers, saying it could help support the creation of local news content.

Currently, the fund provides financial help to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals.

Godfrey warned that, without added revenues, many local news outlets will likely be shuttered in the next three years.

The Liberals on the committee were quick to accuse Godfrey of contradicting himself. Postmedia has been among the strongest critics of government spending on advertising, said Liberal MP Adam Vaughan.

There have been no fiercer critics of subsidies to the media than the Toronto Sun and the National Post, Vaughan said of two of Postmedias flagship papers. How do you square your editorial position with your corporate position?

Godfrey responded by saying Postmedia columnists are given leeway to write articles that contradict their own companys positions on political and other issues.

Vaughan also questioned why taxpayers would want to bail out a failing company that is owned in part by a U.S. investment group.

Postmedia was formed in 2010 when the Canwest newspapers were bought while under court-supervised credit protection by an investment group backed by New York hedge fund Golden Tree Asset Management for $1.1 billion.

Last year it grew to become the largest newspaper chain in the country when it paid $316-million to buy Sun Medias English-language news properties, including 175 newspapers and digital publications, notably the Sun chain of papers in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg, plus The London Free Press.

The deal also included the free 24 Hours commuter dailies in Toronto and Vancouver, the English-language Canoe online portal and more than a million square feet of real estate.

But the sale also saddled Postmedia with massive debt obligations.

Godfrey told the committee that, while his news properties would benefit from government support, he was pitching the recommendations on behalf of Canadian newspapers at large, not just his own company, which he noted is still Canadian-controlled.

Vaughan also openly criticized Godfrey for allowing Postmedia newspapers to publish a full front-page Conservative campaign ad, bathed in the non-partisan yellow of Elections Canada, just two days before last years federal election.

The Liberals also bought up the home page of the National Posts digital operation during the campaign, Godfrey pointed out.

Conservative committee member Peter Van Loan offered advice to Godfrey for preventing a further decline in his companys advertising revenues  dont abandon local news.

Ive seen some recent trends where youre trying to do almost a Metroland model of centralizing editorial control, the York-Simcoe Ontario MP said.

Postmedia announced sweeping changes to its operations in January, cutting 90 jobs across the country and merging newsrooms from multiple newspapers into one each in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.

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To recruit the Queen for her viral video debut, Prince Harry couldnt just ask. He invited himself over for tea first. And then he asked.

It turns out the Prince had nothing to worry about, as he tells Hello! Canada in the celebrity weeklys exclusive cover story. Well, fantastic, what shall we do? Prince Harry claims the newly 90-year-old monarch said when he proposed they film a response to a video on Twitter of Michelle and Barack Obama posturing for Team U.S.A. ahead of this weeks Invictus Games in Orlando.

In the video, the Queen watches the Obamas video before dismissively clucking, Oh, really. Please. Harry reveals that they shot just two takes of the video, each from different angles.

Shes the Queen, shes busy! he explains. You dont get more than 90 seconds to get that right. Also, shes so incredibly skilled, she only needs one take.

With Toronto set to host the Invictus Games in 2017, Harry has already started scheming for how he will top a video challenge from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ill probably drag in my grandfather or someone! he says. Well have to make a plan.

In fact, Harry is feeling emboldened after the Queens star turn. It was almost as though you could see that look in her face, at the age of 90, thinking, Why the hell does nobody ask me to do these things more often? he says.

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CANNES, FRANCEGeorge Clooney used his Cannes Film Festival appearance Thursday to declare Theres not going to be a President Donald Trump and to blame the media for making it seem a possibility.

Thats not going to happen, the Hollywood actor/director flatly said about a possible Trump takeover of the U.S. presidency, at a festival press conference following the world premiere of Jodie Fosters hostage drama Money Monster.

Its not going to happen because fear is not going to be something that drives our country. Were not going to be scared of Muslims, or immigrants or women. Were not actually afraid of anything.

Clooney, a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter and major fundraiser for her presidential campaign, was responding to a question as to whether Money Monster, opening Friday in Toronto theatres and elsewhere, is a harbinger of hard Trump times to come. Clooneys character in the movie is a loudmouth TV financial guru whose bad stock tip causes a ruined investor to take him hostage during a live broadcast.

The usually smiling and joking Clooney turned serious as he gave his reply. While denying the possibility of a Trump presidency  something current polls and amassed primary wins have suggested could happen  Clooney squared blamed the media for giving Trump a soapbox and few tough questions.

Trump is actually a result, in many ways, of the fact that much of the news programs didnt follow up and ask enough questions. Thats the truth, he said.

Its really easy, because your numbers go up. All these cable news numbers  24-hour news doesnt mean you get more news, it just means you get the same news more.

The ratings go up because they can show an empty podium saying, Donald Trump is about to speak, as opposed to taking those 30 seconds and saying, Let us talk about refugees, which is the biggest crisis in the world thats going on in the world right now.

He appealed to news organizations to get back to the traditional journalist role of asking tough questions and demanding straight answers to them.

Would really all of the (media) corporations fall on their knees if we actually informed a little bit?

So I think that this movie is pointing at and talking about one of the things that I think is a great disaster in the way we inform ourselves right now, which is weve lost the ability to get to and tell the truth and get to the facts.

Clooney was accompanied at the press conference by his co-stars  his longtime friend Julia Roberts amongst them  and also Foster, who first came to Cannes 40 years ago, when she was the 12-year-old child star of Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver, which won that years Palme dOr.

Foster said that even though she wants Money Monster to play as a mainstream thriller, the film has a lot of ideas, a lot of big ideas and shes glad that people are seeing it as canvas for them.

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You got a lot but you just waste all yourself. Theyll forget your name soon and wont be nobody be to blame but yourself.

Azealia Banks, 212

What to make of that talented, foul-mouthed trainwreck that is Azealia Banks?

Her promising early hit 212 seemed to prophesize the trajectory of a career that has been overshadowed by an outsized personality amplified to dismal excess in the digital age.

Her discography of angry tweets is now deeper and more impressive than her music playlist. Her Twitter feed is like one extended diss track.

Perhaps that is her true talent. Maybe we dont appreciate her enough. Anyone who can make you feel sympathy for Sarah Palin and Perez Hilton must be the master of their game.

Banks is quickly becoming known as pop musics biggest social media troll, picking beefs with everyone from Hillary Clinton to Beyonce and her latest hapless victim, former One Direction star Zayn Malik.

Zayn be mood boarding the f--k out of me, said the Harlem-based rapper in one tweet accusing Malik of stealing her ideas on his Like I Would video, which dropped May 10.

The tweets get progressively more angry and racist towards Malik, who is part South Asian, calling him Punjab and curry scented  and far worse  suggesting that the only reason he got into One Direction was because of his ethnicity.

Damn, the word Punjab is an insult now? tweeted Canadian YouTube star Jus Reign in response.

As a result of the unprovoked outburst, Banks was dropped from the lineup of the Born & Bred Festival in the U.K. Organizers tweeted Wednesday that We celebrate inclusivity and equality. Banks apparently didnt get the memo.

Her hate-filled speech also brings into debate First Amendment rights in an era of social media and what if any limits or ethical standards should be enforced in an information age with zero boundaries. This is, after all, the kind of down-and-dirty rap battle that has been going on in clubs for decades. But what if you take it to the world?

It seems that even Twitter has its limits. On Thursday the media company moved to block the account. Users trying to access the account were greeted with a message saying that This account has been suspended.

There is no question that Banks is a major throwdown artist. But it is also deeply saddening to see a talented musician waste so much effort in trying to belittle the sweat of others.

It would be easy to dismiss Banks as some crackpot. After all, some of her rants are truly puzzling. She recently supported Donald Trump for president because she thinks Hillary Clinton treats black people like pets.

Then she went after Sarah Palin, with several brutal tweets saying the former Alaska governor should be raped. This came after Banks read a satirical article that supposedly quoted Palin as saying that blacks loved being slaves. Palin threatened a lawsuit over the issue, and Banks, somewhat remarkably, apologized.

Banks also attacked Beyonce over her Lemonade album, even over the colour of her skin: These same light/black women benefit from colonialism and do nothing to even the scales for darker women.

And that, extraordinarily, is just what shes accomplished in 2016. There was also that ongoing, deeply nasty feud with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, which continues to this day. Earlier beefs are too numerous to mention, attacking just about every hip-hop artist that she deemed unworthy.

Few people have been as committed in their venom. But just imagine all the rage and energy that she could channel into making actual music if she managed to keep away from a computer for a couple of months.

Instead, the fine art of trash-talking is becoming her true legacy.

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CUBA-Sitting on the deck of the Neptune surrounded by the azul waters of the Caribbean Sea, hypnotized by the afternoon sun, my moment of zen is suddenly interrupted when a large wave crests over the side of the ship, leaving me completely drenched.

I slip onto the deck floor sputtering, surrounded by sea water. My fellow travellers, safely perched above me on a bench near the captains seat, burst out laughing, as do I.

At this point weve been sailing around the Canarreos Archipelago for just over six days, and a little water  although a surprise  is nothing new. Its all just part of the ride.

At times exciting, relaxing, and always a little unpredictable, G Adventures sailing trip takes up to 14 guests south of the Cuba mainland aboard a 25-metre catamaran.

Specializing in small group tours all over the world, G Adventures chose this area for its Cuba sailing expedition because of the natural and unspoiled condition.

Exploring remote islands once used by pirates to hide stolen treasure and now frequented by only a smattering of chartered boats, its a unique opportunity to see a wilder side of Cuba.

Since launching two years ago, its quickly become the companys most popular sailing trip. This is all-inclusive for the adventurous at heart.

Arriving from Havana at our departure point of Cienfuegos, our group takes a tour of the lovely beachside town before boarding our home for the next six nights.

As we sail throughout the evening, the choppy waters initially feel foreign and shaky. But the Neptune is a sturdy-feeling craft and although the cabins arent exactly roomy, the beds are comfortable and there is space for your stuff. All the action happens up on deck anyway.

With so few passengers and three crew, everyone gets to know each other quickly. Ranging in age from late 20s to mid 60s and hailing from South Korea to Belgium, guests spend time swapping travel stories around the meal table or hanging out on the big, comfy mats below the boom.

Some level of routine sets in. A big brass bell is rung every morning at 8 a.m. to coax still-sleepy guests from their bunks for breakfast, complete with the infamously rich taste of Cuban coffee.

After that, Philippa Stephenson  our cheery guide who will help us navigate everything from snorkelling to speaking Spanish  outlines the days activities.

Theres a loose itinerary for the week, but its all weather dependent and group-oriented. Our group is a pretty active bunch and does a lot of snorkelling.

one excursion to check out an underwater shipwreck, Lance Taylor, a spry retiree from North Vancouver, rescues my snorkel from the ocean floor after I lose it while readjusting my mask. The water is so clear here that even metres below the ship we can see my snorkel lying in the sand.

Meal times quickly become a big event for our group. Our cook, Carlitos Manazillo, is an outgoing Cuban from Cienfuegos with a major love of reggaeton, which plays out of the galley most of the day. He is also an incredible cook. From barracuda to pork ribs, fried bananas to mashed yucca, the food one board is a combination of Cuban fare and familiar comfort food.

Some of our entrees come straight from the sea. As we sail, Manazillo and captain Ernesto Basco, a gentle man of fewer words than the cook, fish from the back of the boat. At one point I watch the captain reel in a horse-eye jack nearly as long as my arm.

All the sun and snorkelling leaves most of us exhausted after dinner, and most guests like to call it a night around 11 p.m.

When everyone heads to bed on our last night out at sea, I lay down on the deck at the front of the boat, gazing up at the stars.

I start thinking about how hundreds of years ago, pirates like Henry Morgan came upon these pristine islands on clear nights such as this. Waves rock the boat back and forth and I drift off to sleep. Luckily for my dreams, this time I dont get drenched.

Grace Lisa Scotts trip was sponsored by G Adventures, which didnt review or approve the story.

When You Go

Tour company: G Adventures Cuba Sailing is priced at $2,074 per person and does not include flights.

Get there: Air Canada flies direct to Havana, where youll spend one night with lodging arranged by G Adventures before embarking the following day with the rest of your group to Cienfuegos.

Get on board: Once you set sail from Cienfuegos, youre really off the grid until the Neptune docks in the Cayo Largo marina three days later. Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen, anti-nausea tablets for seasickness, and anything else you might need.

Cash coverage: After setting sail, the only bank over the course of the trip is at the Cayo Largo marina. You can exchange Canadian cash for Cubas tourist currency, the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), which sits at about the same rate as the U.S. dollar. Since nearly all of your meals are eaten on board the Neptune, you really only need money for cocktails, souvenirs and tipping.

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OTTAWAThe federal government is contributing almost $5 million to the global fight against the Zika virus.

Health Minister Jane Philpott announced an investment of $4.95 million for research into the mosquito-borne virus and for humanitarian aid to countries hardest hit by the epidemic.

Zika has been shown to cause a neurological birth defect called microcephaly in babies born to women infected during pregnancy.

The virus has also been linked to cases of a sometimes paralyzing neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome in some infected children and adults.

Zika has become rampant in South and Central America, parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. More than 60 countries worldwide have been affected by the virus.

To date, 68 Canadians have tested positive for the virus, most of them travellers to countries where Zika has reached epidemic levels. Scientists say some cases have been transmitted sexually from an infected partner.

Canada is investing $3 million to fund Canadian and Latin American and Caribbean researchers. The teams will collaborate to better understand the link between Zika, microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome; develop improved diagnostic tests; study how the virus is transmitted; and better prevent its transmission through more effective mosquito-control measures.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is contributing a further $950,000 to support the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in its response to the epidemic in the most affected countries. Global Affairs Canada is providing $1 million in humanitarian funding to the World Health Organization, PAHO, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

In the countries that have been hardest hit by the Zika virus, in Latin America and the Caribbean, thousands of cases of microcephaly have left parents distraught and pregnant women fearful, Philpott said in a statement Wednesday.

The funding announced today will allow Canadian researchers to work together with their counterparts in Latin America and the Caribbean to better understand this virus and its complications, while the funding for the Pan-American Health Organization and other agencies will help address this significant widespread outbreak.

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CALGARYCrews are working around the clock to restore power and natural gas to Fort McMurray, but the chief operating officer of the utility that serves the area says its impossible to say how soon residents will be able to go home.

Its slow and dangerous work.

If you can imagine a charred power line pole that we dont want to take out of service, but we want to reinforce  its something we obviously want to do with great care, Atco COO Siegfried Kiefer said Wednesday following the companys annual meeting.

Both of the products we deal with are invisible and both can kill you.

More than 80,000 people were forced to flee when a ravenous wildfire hit several neighbourhoods in the northern Alberta city last week. The blaze destroyed about 2,400 structures, but about 90 per cent of the city was saved.

Kiefer said about 75 per cent of Fort McMurrays buildings could have their power turned back on, but at this early stage it wouldnt be safe.

We wont turn power on to many of the regions until inspections are complete, he said.

Obviously you dont want to if theres any residual gas or if theres any kind of explosion potential.

As for natural gas, Atco cut off the supply to the city when the fire started as a safety precaution, Kiefer said, and turning it back on cant occur until gas lines are checked.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley didnt have an update Wednesday on when Fort McMurray residents may be able to go back. Earlier in the week, after touring the city by ground, she said a schedule would be out in about two weeks.

Kiefer said he couldnt pinpoint how soon repairs will be completed, but suggested it would be less than a month.

In Ottawa, Liberals are putting all hands on deck with a special cabinet committee to co-ordinate Fort McMurray aid and reconstruction efforts in advance of the prime ministers visit to the fire-ravaged region on Friday.

Justin Trudeau has received an appeal from Notley for enhanced employment insurance benefits for the Edmonton area as a consequence of last weeks mass evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

But thats just one thread of a multi-government effort thats expected to go on for months or years.

No timeline has been placed on when Fort McMurrays residents can begin returning to the oilsands hub, which lost about 10 per cent of its 25,000 buildings to the fire thats covered some 2,300 square kilometres and continues to burn.

Nine different ministries are involved in the federal ad hoc committee, which will be chaired by Calgary MP Kent Hehr, who serves as veterans affairs minister and associate minister of defence.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said earlier this week that a dozen different departments and agencies of the federal government are already involved in the Fort McMurray response.

The Red Cross announced that it would distribute $50-million in donations directly to evacuees within the next 48 hours, while the Alberta government is setting up a debit card system for registered evacuees.

The federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements  a 46-year-old program that uses a formula to provide funds to provinces in the case of major natural disasters  will automatically kick in to cover uninsured losses. The parliamentary budget office warned in February that the program is chronically underfunded, with payouts expected to average more than $900 million annually over the next five years. while only $100 million a year is earmarked to go into the fund.

Ottawa is also fast-tracking employment insurance claims from displaced Fort McMurray workers, many of whom have dispersed across the country.

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OTTAWATheres nothing frightening about adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said Tuesday at the UN.

Bennett earned a standing ovation from a UN forum in New York by announcing that Canada is now a full supporter of the 2007 declaration, without qualification.

But what that declaration signifies in the Canadian context depends on who you ask.

In the words of one lawyer who represents indigenous resource interests: Treaty making starts again today.

UNDRIP, the acronym by which the declaration is known, describes a global set of collective and human rights covering indigenous issues including language, identity, culture and traditions, health and education and free, prior, informed consent over resource extraction. The declaration is not considered legally binding.

What does this mean for Canada now? Bennett told the UNs permanent forum on indigenous issues.

It means nothing less than a full engagement on how to move forward with adoption and implementation, done in full partnership with First Nations, the Metis nation and Inuit peoples.

Canada is uniquely placed, she said, because it is one of the few states in the world that has already incorporated indigenous rights, in Section 35 of the 1982 Constitution Act.

By adopting and implementing the declaration, we are excited that we are breathing life into Section 35 and recognizing it now as a full box of rights for indigenous peoples in Canada, said the Liberal minister.

Canada was one of four countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States, that voted against the declaration when it was first passed in 2007  even though Canadian diplomatic officials had helped draft the original declaration.

The former Conservative government initially argued that the free, prior and informed consent provisions amounted to a de facto indigenous veto on major resource projects, and questioned how UNDRIP could be accommodated within existing Canadian constitutional protections.

Bennett did not directly address those concerns Tuesday, but said the declaration fits within Canadas long history of treaty and constitutional rights.

Lets be honest: implementing UNDRIP should not be scary, she said.

Recognition of elements of the declaration began 250 years ago with the Royal Proclamation, which was about sharing the land fairly. UNDRIP reflects the spirit and intent of our treaties.

The countrys two largest resource extraction industry associations welcomed the adoption of UNDRIP, with both the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Mining Association of Canada saying the declaration largely mirrors practices already adopted by resource companies over the past decade.

These are opportunities to recast relationships, Brian McGuigan, CAPPs manager of aboriginal policy, said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

A lot of our companies feel they already achieve a lot of whats required by UNDRIP in a corporate context and in a resource development context.

Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the mining association, presented the Liberal governments position as correcting a historical anomaly.

Weve been historically seen as a leader but then we had this funny situation at the UN where we were a dissenter on something that was so important to indigenous peoples worldwide, Gratton said in an interview.

This move really puts us back where we properly belong and also where I think, in practice, we have largely been.

But Larry Innes, a lawyer with Toronto firm Olthuis, Kleer and Townsend who represents First Nations groups, said resource industries are looking a bit in the rear-view mirror in their assessments of UNDRIP.

Consultation with indigenous communities on mitigation measures for major resource projects has become established practice, but free, prior and informed consent means much more than that, Innes argues.

Comments this week from Bennett and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould suggest a new nation-to-nation relationship is indeed in the works.

Its easy to be dismissive of this as a lot of fuzzy warmth, said the lawyer, whose clients include the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in the heart of oilsands country.

But for those of us who have been in the trenches on this for a while, were hearing different things today than we have in the past.

Since the patriation of the Constitution in 1982, governments have taken the view that Section 35 is a mostly empty vessel until courts read rights into it through litigation, said Innes.

Bennett on Tuesday acknowledged Section 35 entails a full suite of rights, with UNDRIP as the backdrop.

Treating indigenous peoples as governments to be consulted rather than simply stakeholders is a whole new ball game, said Innes. Treaty making starts again today.

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MONCTON, N.B.The RCMP has pleaded not guilty to four charges of Labour Code violations stemming from the force's response to a 2014 shooting rampage in Moncton, N.B., that left three Mounties dead and two others wounded.

Employment and Social Development Canada alleges there were four violations of the code relating to the force's equipment, training and supervision in the June 4, 2014 incident when Justin Bourque began shooting at police in a residential neighbourhood.

In August 2014, Bourque pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for killing RCMP constables Dave Ross, Fabrice Gevaudan and Doug Larche, while constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were wounded.

Bourque was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 75 years.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada recommended last year that the RCMP be prosecuted for contravention of occupational health and safety provisions.

The charges allege the RCMP failed to provide members with the appropriate equipment, information, instruction and training in an active shooter event, and failed to provide supervisors with appropriate information and instruction or training in an active shooter event.

The RCMP had been expected to enter pleas and set a trial date during a court appearance in Moncton last month, but defence lawyer Ian Carter says the Crown and defence needed more time to discuss narrowing the issues in the case. They also talked about the possibility of achieving a resolution.

But instead, defence lawyer Mark Ertel entered pleas of not guilty on Thursday.

Outside the court, Ertel said no resolution has been reached.

"The matter is going to go to trial and the RCMP is going to contest the allegations," he said.

The trial is scheduled to begin April 17, 2017.

Both sides had previously asked for more time in what they described as a complex case.

Ertel said the lawyers will meet for a pretrial conference in January to try to condense the proceedings.

"Maybe to streamline the procedure and to fine tune the time estimate which is now three months, and it could be shortened if we could come together on some parts of the case," Ertel said.

Two of the wives of the fallen Mounties sat at the back of the courtroom but quickly left once the lawyer for the force entered the not-guilty pleas.

"At this point we're just hoping for a quick resolution," said Angela Gevaudan as she left the courthouse.

"It has been a frustrating process," said Nadine Larche.

Prosecutor Paul Adams would only confirm that the trial is scheduled to begin next year, and said it would not be appropriate to comment further while the case is before the court.

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City and law enforcement officials are in the midst of a wide-scale investigation into the dozens of unlicensed marijuana outlets that have exploded around Toronto.

Once we have the evidence we need we will be going forward and laying charges through the courts and serving them with the appropriate summonses, said Mark Sraga, director of investigations with municipal licensing and standards.

That could include Toronto police charging operators with drug trafficking, Sraga said.

The citys new pot entrepreneurs could also be hit with operating without a business licence or contravening zoning bylaws; the latter carries a maximum penalty of $50,000 for a corporation and $25,000 for an individual.

The fashion in which theyre operating, they know theyre outside the law they can purport to say that its a grey area or legal, no, said Sraga.

On Thursday, Mayor John Tory sent a letter to Tracey Cook, licensings executive director, asking her to direct staff to explore ways of regulating those businesses.

Vancouver and Victoria have introduced licensing fees and regulations that control pot shops proximity to schools, community centres and other dispensaries. In the meantime, Tory also asked Cook to work with the police to use whatever enforcement mechanisms are currently available.

We just cant have allegedly medical marijuana dispensaries popping up on every street corner, in a completely unregulated manner, pending the federal promise to legalize pot, Tory said.

Medical marijuana is currently only legally available for those with a prescription. They receive shipments in the mail from Health Canada-approved producers.

The federal government plans to legalize possession of pot for recreational use, though there is no firm timetable. The mayor expressed skepticism that the proliferation of pot shops here is due to a massive increase in the number of bona fide prescriptions being issued.

In his letter, Tory said the speed with which these storefronts are proliferating, and the concentration of dispensaries in some areas of our city, is alarming.

Sraga said officials are also worried about the ingredients contained in edible marijuana products that many outlets are selling.

There is a health and safety concern where people are perhaps purchasing and ingesting products that they have no way of knowing the quality of what they are in fact consuming.

Sraga said he expects to announce results of the citys investigation in about two weeks.

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The following is the text of a statement presented by Jian Ghomeshis defence lawyer, Marie Henein, in court on Wednesday morning, regarding the resolution of charges against Ghomeshi, as agreed to by Crown prosecutors Michael Callaghan and Jamie Klukach:

I want to make a few very brief comments because at this stage, 18 months later, I cannot think of much that has not been said about this matter by someone somewhere.

But there are a few, final things that I would like to say and I think need to be said at this moment.

Let me begin by thanking the Court for accommodating us today and allowing the matter to be brought forward.

The conclusion to this matter is entirely appropriate for all the reasons set out by Mr. Callaghan.

The conclusion to this matter today, as your Honour knows, is entirely consistent. It is not an admission or plea. I want to thank Mr. Callaghan and (Ms.) Klukach. And while prosecutors need not be thanked for the job that they must do, it would be wrong to not acknowledge that in some cases, this is quite simply more challenging than others. They have done so. I am grateful to Mr. Callaghan and Ms. Klukach for their integrity. They did the right thing.

In the last 25 years in the criminal justice system, I have never seen a case like this one. I have never had a client be the subject of such an unrelenting public scrutiny and focus. I have been witness to it as closely as anyone can be. It is a focus that has not only been on Mr. Ghomeshi but also his family and those that have stood beside him. He has taken this time to reflect in a meaningful and sincere way. His apology demonstrates that.

Throughout this, he has had his liberty restricted. He has been, as your Honour is aware, on bail for 18 months. He has been through one of the most intensely public trials in our history. He has not been allowed to function in the most basic and routine of ways. The last 18 months are one of the most difficult I have witnessed anyone ever having to withstand. I do not think many of us would have been able to do so. But he has. With dignity and the solemnity that is appropriate. He has demonstrated his respect for the judicial system throughout. With this apology, Mr. Ghomeshi has done everything the Crown and Courts have asked him to do.

It is my sincerest hope that with the conclusion of this proceeding, Mr. Ghomeshi can move forward. On a personal level, it is my equally sincere hope that the Canadian public can now move forward. And while this matter has consumed the attention of so many, there are many equally important matters in this country that the public wants to know about and that I hope we can now turn our attention to.

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Its been called one of the most sensationalized legal cases in Canadas history, but what is the lasting impact of the Jian Ghomeshi case? We asked lawyers, womens support workers and those involved in the case. Comments have been edited.

The police need to ask the hard questions of the complainants, the complainants need to dig deep and do their best, not only to reveal their story but any information that could be used against them . . . And maybe in future cases, we need experts to explain that not all victims act the same, not all victims do what we might expect them to do.  Loretta Merritt, lawyer specializing in sexual assault lawsuits

The main take-away from all of this is that people are becoming a little more educated about the whole process. One of the worst legacies of this is that rather than look at the fact that Marie Henein, who is a good lawyer, was standing up as someone who is an officer of the court and fulfilling her obligations, shes been vilified.  Antonietta Raviele, criminal defence lawyer and former Crown attorney

From my perspective, the key has to be the employers actions when it comes to the employees complaints of harassment and bullying in the workplace. So I think this will shed light on employers obligations in these circumstances. Certainly employers are more cognizant of the negativity and legal exposure for failing to protect employees from workplace harassment.  Employment lawyer Daniel Lublin

I think in some ways it is the first time we have seen such a public conversation about sexual violence in the courts  We saw clear conversations about the nuances of trauma and the impact of trauma on survivors after sexual assault. I hope we continue to have those nuanced conversations and that pushback actually happens in the criminal justice system.  Ryerson University co-ordinator of sexual violence education and support Farrah Khan

There will be, out of this, some defining policies from the Crowns office  about complainants, ongoing disclosure and letting them know at the beginning of the process about their disclosure obligations. Its not necessarily legal advice they need, but system navigation advice. But possibly longer lasting is the legacy this will leave for women. We are no longer silent about these issues.  Criminal defence lawyer Kim Schofield

Today just sends a message to women that you get sexually harassed in the workplace and its not worth bothering to report it. You get an apology and then have to move on.  Linda Redgrave, first witness in Ghomeshi trial

Its important to keep an open mind until learning of all the evidence. Only then can a true assessment of innocence or guilt be made.  Criminal defence lawyer Jeff Hershberg

It has opened up an important and largely positive dialogue in this country about sexual violence, about where there are problems with some of our systemic responses. And in a strange and ironic way it has helped some survivors have stronger voices.  Pamela Cross, legal director at Lukes Place

Frankly the binary adversarial model is deeply flawed when it comes to addressing the nuances of sexual violence in a social context, where the two people have some kind of social relationship. We are just not very good at dealing with those incidents with the nuance required . . . . But there is a willingness and an ability to work through existing mechanisms and around existing mechanism to achieve a far more nuanced integration of the two perspectives.  David Butt, criminal lawyer

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There was one sentence in Kathryn Borels statement on Wednesday that public relations expert Martin Waxman described as a damning indictment of Canadas public broadcaster:

When I went to the CBC for help, what I received in return was a directive that yes, he could do this, and yes, it was my job to let him.

Borel was describing the harassment she says she faced from then-CBC-superstar Jian Ghomeshi while working as a producer on his hit radio show, Q.

The incident would form part of a third-party probe by employment lawyers Janice Rubin and Parisa Nikfarjam that concluded last year that management was squarely to blame for allowing Ghomeshi to get away for years with inappropriate workplace behaviour that included sexual harassment.

A year later, the CBC has apologized to Borel and reiterated that it has taken many steps to address workplace harassment.

Waxman and employment lawyers say much more work is needed.

Yes, they did their inquiry, but if I were the CBC, I would think strongly about what is wrong with the culture and what they can do to repair it, he said, adding that Borels statement put the CBC on par with Ghomeshi.

The CBC needs to be more transparent about what theyre doing to address sexual harassment. They should say Heres what we found, and heres how were going to address it, and take more direct responsibility for their actions.

The broadcaster said Wednesday that what Borel experienced should never have happened.

We accepted the findings of the Rubin report and have since made significant progress on all the elements of our year-one action plan, said the CBCs statement.

Weve launched new mandatory training programs for HR staff, for managers and for all employees. Weve introduced a new bullying and harassment helpline. Weve revised our process for capturing the details of bullying and harassment complaints. We are responding to complaints with renewed discipline and rigour, and learning from the data to improve prevention and early resolution.

The CBC said the progress has set a strong foundation for whats next, including a broader conversation around workplace culture.

A CBC spokesman said there were seven complaints of sexual harassment across the CBC/Radio-Canada organization between Oct. 1, 2014 and March 31, 2016 and that all have been resolved.

Employment lawyer Daniel Lublin told the Star the word progress in the statement jumped out at him.

It signifies there have been changes, but it doesnt to me imply that the impact they wanted to have has been established, he said. A year is a hell of a long time to make organizational changes. I work with companies that make changes virtually overnight to their policies and procedures, but I also understand CBC is a much larger organization.

The third-party investigation came under fire virtually as soon as it was announced, as Rubin and her team would only probe incidents involving Ghomeshi while he was at Q and before that, the show Play.

Employees with harassment complaints not related to Ghomeshi were told to go to the human resources department, a decision that had critics pointing out that the investigation would therefore not properly examine the workplace culture at the CBC.

If youre really trying to understand the culture of the CBC and what allowed and enabled Ghomeshi to rise and do what he did, that report is not the vehicle, said employment lawyer Howard Levitt.

Staff were also informed that they could be disciplined for information they provided to Rubin, which prompted the union to warn its members about participating in the probe.

Levitt said hes absolutely confident that harassment has not been fully addressed at the CBC, calling the Rubin report a whitewash by HR and the legal department and saying that it didnt tell people anything they didnt already know. He has said for years that the federal government should step in and create a commission to look into workplace issues at the Crown corporation.

Borels union, the Canadian Media Guild, was also criticized in the Rubin report for its handling of Borels complaint against Ghomeshi, saying it failed to respond properly. The reports authors added that they believed the complaint never made it to management.

Borel told the Star in 2014 that she went to a union representative about Ghomeshis behaviour, but the union countered that the person was a volunteer and that Borel did not provide the same level of detail that she gave to the media.

The unions statement Wednesday said that it has taken concrete steps to serve its members better, including updating procedures with more clearly defined collaborative processes for volunteers and union representatives.

More on thestar.com:

Jian Ghomeshi apologizes in court, sex assault charge withdrawn

Jian Ghomeshis legal saga: Nine takes on the legacy

CBC unions statement on sexual harassment

Complainant in Jian Ghomeshi case issues statement

Timeline of the events

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Picture for a moment every person, every streetlight, every store in every shopping mall, perched atop a mountain. The bank machines, the ambulances whizzing by, the university lecture halls. Underneath it all, individual piles of raw information are forming, fed by the likes of wearable devices that track every step, dollar and friend request.

Now imagine those individual data mountains swept up into one pile of information for cross-referencing, researching and accelerating our collective knowledge into the next realm.

Theres an avalanche of data that can help unlock a lot of important questions, says Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist and health-care researcher at Yale University.

Theres lots of evidence in other fields that when data are shared broadly a kind of collaboration and productivity occurs that wouldnt be possible if everyone was sequestering their own data.

Hes started breaking down those barriers in the health-care field.

One project, a startup called Hugo, imagines a world where the individuals who generate information, from Fitbit data to insurance records, can own and access it for whatever they like. Another, Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) project, aims to share clinical research data, positing that the data produced in research, barring privacy concerns, should be available.

We need to be able to forge towards a more open science culture and move away from a culture where its been discretionary to publish the results and virtually never share the raw data that was produced, he said.

Commercial entities are harnessing the power, he said, creating tools such as Amazons patented anticipatory shipping method, which can send out packages before theyve been ordered.

For the purpose of selling you things, people are using an extraordinary amount of data in sophisticated ways, says Krumholz.

Now, he says, its time to flip the balance of power and make data a tool for public good.

But data is a highly prized commodity in the private sector, meaning information is unlikely to flow freely any time soon.

Its almost a utopian data transparency vision, says Constantine Kontokosta, an urban informatics researcher at NYUs Center for Urban Science and Progress.

For Kontokosta, the data being generated across cities can help understand how urban design and the built environment affects peoples health.

Think of all the data that Google is collecting, or Facebook, or data that an Uber has about transportation patterns across the city, he said.

There is one sector that has started flinging open its electronic filing cabinets: government. Seven years ago, Toronto launched an open data portal, becoming one of the first governments in Canada to do so.

In the hands of hobbyists, non-profits and civic workers, the data turns from cells on a spreadsheet into the building blocks for a more responsive city. Existing applications, from public transit trackers to health inspection databases, could give way to shelter-bed finders and mobile notifications for nearby development proposals, as more data opens and more enthusiasts build tools around it.

As the wait continues for more data to be released, the tools required to crunch the numbers are speeding up.

We have computing capability now to be able to analyze (data) in seconds rather than in months or years, as it might have been even just a few years ago, Kontokosta said.

But merging disparate data still presents computational and practical challenges, he said. Try comparing, for example, air quality data to street tree locations or matching sound data with census information. And then just very practical problems of having a consistent identifier for what is an address or what is a building, he said. Youd be surprised how vague that can still be.

Its no surprise to Tracey Lauriault, an assistant professor of critical media and big data at Carleton University. Its almost as if we ran ahead with an innovation and we didnt stop to think for a second what it might imply, she said.

The unbridled enthusiasm of amateur entrepreneurs must face the sobering task of standardizing the information, she says, to allow for easier searching, categorizing, discovery and comparison. I fully support any kind of initiative thats trying to open these things up and make them available, but now its time for us to have a second sober thought, she said.

For Kontokosta, applying standards and solving computational problems can unlock the next level of utility.

The real insight is when youre able put these data sets together and ask questions of them that people before have not been able to ask.

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The day after an incident in the Q studio in 2008, associate producer Kathryn Borel wrote a note to a colleague who had just referred to radio host Jian Ghomeshi as a CBC stud.

Ew. CBC stud? Yesterday he came up behind me, put his hands on my hips and pretended to f--- me from behind. Grosstown. I yelled QUIT IT, then he slinked off, tail between his legs, among other things. I cant wait until Im out of here.

That email from Borel was one of the pieces of evidence, along with an eyewitness account by another former Q employee, that would have formed part of the trial had the case not been resolved by peace bond and apology. Sources say Ghomeshis lawyer first raised the issue of a creative resolution as far back as March. Key to that solution was that Ghomeshi had to say he was sorry in open court. He did on Wednesday.

I want to apologize to Ms. Borel for my behaviour towards her in the workplace, Ghomeshi told court after Crown attorney Michael Callaghan described for the judge how, late one winter evening at the Q studio, the high-profile host thrust his pelvis repeatedly into Borels buttocks as she leaned over a desk to look at some papers. Both were fully clothed.

Crown attorney Callaghan said the incident in the Q studio comprises the criminal allegation of sexual assault. He said he agreed to withdraw the sexual assault charge because Ghomeshi apologized and because Ghomeshi has been seeing a psychotherapist to gain insight into the attitudes which sourced his offensive behaviour. The treatment is ongoing, but the identity of the therapist, who is a registered social worker, was not revealed in court.

Neither Ghomeshi or his lawyer used the word sexual assault to describe his actions. Defence lawyer Marie Henein said her client was not admitting to anything.

Still, speaking to Toronto regional Chief Justice Timothy Lipson, Ghomeshi made a statement about his behaviour in relation to Borel, though he did not get into specifics.

That conduct in the workplace was sexually inappropriate, Ghomeshi said, the first time his voice had been heard in a public setting since October 2014, when he ceased hosting the national radio show. He was fired by CBC after his civil lawyer showed two CBC executives videos depicting bruising to a woman Ghomeshi was dating, apparently from a broken rib. That woman did not come forward to police.

Ghomeshi noted he was in a position of power when he was sexually inappropriate with Borel. He noted she was a co-worker and younger than him and that he had not fully understood the impact his actions had on her, either professionally or personally. I was a person in a position of authority and leadership.

After the judge agreed to the peace bond, after Ghomeshi signed it with lawyer Marie Henein, the 48-year-old sat down and let out a sigh. Court was told he had logged 61 therapy sessions in 18 months, learning about male dominance and success, and taking accountability for his actions and choices. Sometimes he did these sessions in person, sometimes on the phone or over Skype.

The peace bond he signed stipulates he must keep the peace, not possess any weapons, and stay away from Borel, who had a front-row seat when he spoke. Now based in Los Angeles, she left the courtroom after Ghomeshi spoke. A half-hour later she was on the courthouse steps, telling reporters it was not over.

I think we all want this to be over. But it wont be until he admits to everything that hes done, Borel told about 40 journalists outside of Old City Hall courts.

Borel said she was referring to the other women  she put the number at 20  who have made allegations against Ghomeshi in the media. She told reporters that Ghomeshi needs to apologize to women who have come forward to say that he punched, and choked, and smothered and silenced them.

The peace-bond resolution to Borels complaint comes almost two months after Justice William Horkins acquitted Ghomeshi of four counts of sexual assault and one of choking to overcome resistance related to allegations by three women, who are among the 20 Borel mentioned. Horkins said in his ruling he was not saying the events did not happen, rather that the evidence of the three women was tainted by inconsistencies and outright deception. Horkins was referring to flirting and other post-incident contact that the women did not disclose.

The Toronto Police have said no other complainants have come forward.

In court Wednesday, Henein said Ghomeshis apology in the Borel case was not an admission or a plea. She said the Crown attorneys on the case did the right thing, an apparent reference to agreeing to a resolution by peace bond. Crown attorney Callaghan, in his remarks, referenced ongoing resolution discussions. Callaghan said Ghomeshis apology was a critical component of this resolution.

By apologizing for his actions, Mr. Ghomeshi publicly accepts responsibility for them. Public acknowledgement of the harm done to Ms. Borel is a valuable consequence of this resolution; not only from the perspective of (Borel) but, also, from the perspective of the public.

According to Borel she was prepared to go to trial  she has a busy job as a television screenwriter in Los Angeles, but would often think of the looming court date of June 6. On March 10 she heard from her lawyer, Susan Chapman, that Ghomeshis defence team was interested in some sort of a resolution. The talks continued into April.

Meanwhile, the Crown prepared its case. Borels testimony would be the main part of the crowns case but unlike the previous complainants, there was a witness and a paper trail. The witness, Roberto Veri, who had worked at Q, has previously said publicly that he witnessed Ghomeshis actions. On Wednesday he told the Star in a brief telephone interview he was going to testify if the case has proceeded to trial.

In November 2014, Veri had told Jesse Brown, in an interview for Browns Canadaland podcast, what he saw on February 7, 2008 in the Q studio.

(Borel) was leaning over her desk between the corridor of the executive producer's office and her desk. So she was leaned over contrary to where she sat. And she's bending over working on some papers. And he came up behind her, grabbed her by the waist and humped her like four or five times. He drove his pelvis into her buttocks and a big smile on his face. So I looked over at that and I just sort of put my head down again, Veri said in his interview. He has expressed remorse that he did nothing at the time.

By the first week of April 2016, Borel wanted to know what would be expected of her in the upcoming trial slated. She contacted Callaghan, who told her Heneins team had offered a deal. Ghomeshi would not plead guilty but would sign a peace bond. Borel told the Crown she was not really interested, but Callaghan said Wait, it comes with an apology.

Borel thought it over and told Callaghan that she would agree to this on condition that she and her lawyer were privy to the type of apology.

She said she did not want anything in the apology where he would blame me.

Late last week, the Crown and defence agreed the matter would be dealt with on Wednesday May 11. Borel and her defence lawyer still had not seen the final wording of the Ghomeshi apology. However, they had learned that Ghomeshi intended to describe Borel as having a jocular vibe or a jocular sense of humour. Borel said in an interview with the Star that she was left with the impression that Ghomeshi was going to portray her as someone who invited his sexualized language and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Borel said she, her lawyer and Callaghan pushed back. It was absolutely rejected. We felt he was trying to blame me.

Asked to explain this further, Borel said she does have a quick, sometimes goofy sense of humour. To imply in any way that my sense of humour begat me being bent over a desk and sport-humped by my boss is to miss the entire point of the apology.

The Ghomeshi team relented, and Borel said by Monday morning she, her lawyer and the Crown were pleased with the expected apology. Tuesday, Borel got on a plane and flew from Los Angeles to Toronto, arriving late Saturday and checking into a hotel. Wednesday morning, the Toronto police drove her to Old City Hall court. She will return to L.A. later in the week.

Im extremely tired, Borel told the Star. But I know it was the right solution, and the best way to get at the truth of what happened to me. I dont think this story is over.

She said when she was told that Ghomeshi would apologize I realized that we had a very solid opportunity to move forward the conversation about sexual assault in a constructive manner.

More on thestar.com:

Jian Ghomeshi apologizes in court, sex assault charge withdrawn

Jian Ghomeshis legal saga: Nine takes on the legacy

CBC unions statement on sexual harassment

Much more change needed at CBC in Jian Ghomeshis wake

Kathryn Borel: Jian Ghomeshi accuser an author, screenwriter and bizarre, rabid unicorn

Kevin Donovan can be reached at 416-312-3503 or kdonovan@thestar.ca

Timeline of the events

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The first person ever charged under Ontarios health privacy law committed professional misconduct by snooping into the personal health records of 5,800 patients over six years, the College of Nurses of Ontario has ruled.

North Bay nurse Melissa McLellan was charged under the 2004 Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) in relation to the massive privacy breach, but her case was dismissed in January 2015 due to delay by Crown prosecutors.

In early April, 51-year-old McLellan appeared before a disciplinary panel of her regulatory professional body. As a result of the misconduct finding, she has lost her licence as a nurse for four months and receives a formal reprimand.

McLellan could not immediately be reached for comment by the Star. She admitted to professional misconduct at the hearing.

According to the College of Nurses of Ontarios agreed upon statement of facts, submitted during the hearing, McLellan was fired in May 2011 from the hospital she had worked at since November 1999.

The name of the hospital is censored in this document, but McLellan filed a grievance against North Bay (Regional) Health Centre for letting her go and that arbitrators ruling is publicly available.

She also appeared on Ontarios Sunshine List for 2008-2010, making slightly over $100,000 a year as a registered nurse at North Bay General Hospital, which merged with North East Mental Health Centre in 2011 to become the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

In the agreed upon statement of facts, McLellan acknowledges it was her practice between 2005 and 2011, to routinely access electronic client records for clients who were not under her care.

McLellan was curious about the medical conditions and treatments of different patients and saw looking at the records as part of self-education, and as a means of keeping current, the document states.

There was no evidence that she shared the information with anyone, it reads, adding the results of an audit on her access of electronic health records indicated the hospital did not have an effective system of monitoring access to electronic health records.

McLellan and the hospital are the subject of a class-action suit brought by some patients, the document notes.

A spokesperson for the North Bay Regional Health Centre, Lindsay Smylie Smith, wrote in an emailed statement to the Star that the hospital provides all staff with privacy orientation and training and has them sign a confidentiality agreement.

The hospital has taken corrective action to prevent reoccurrence by any other staff who many have been identified through the investigation process, she wrote, adding the existing process for auditing access to electronic records was reviewed and a more rigorous audit tool was introduced in 2012.

The arbitrator who dismissed McLellans grievance against the hospital for letting her go called the privacy breach truly breathtaking and almost mind-boggling. It included some extraordinarily personal information, such as diagnoses of depression and past suicide risks.

But there was no evidence to suggest that McLellan ever shared the information with anyone or misused it in any way, the arbitrator noted, finding her to be a credible, decent person caught up in a maelstrom of reaction.

Reached by phone, a man who identified himself as her ex-husband, Mark McLellan, said she never looked at the records for ulterior motives and it was more just curiosity.

Privacy lawyer Michael Crystal said the College of Nurses of Ontarios decision, along with its April finding on Peterborough nurse Mandy Edgerton, should act as a green light for the Ministry of the Attorney General to prosecute privacy breaches.

These college decisions send out a clear signal that this conduct is reprehensible and will be treated seriously, he said.

The College of Nurses of Ontarios disciplinary panel recently found Edgerton had committed professional misconduct by looking at nearly 300 patient records at a Peterborough hospital over two years.

Edgerton was not charged under PHIPA. Like McLellan, she faces a four-month suspension and reprimand from her professional regulatory body.

Star investigations have shed light on the rising number of medical-record privacy breaches and the limitations of the legislation as it stood at the time.

On May 5, Ontario passed new health privacy legislation, which increases fines for violating PHIPA, eliminates the six-month time limit to start prosecution and makes it mandatory to report privacy breaches to the Information and Privacy Commissioner and regulatory colleges where relevant.

Although McLellan was the first person ever charged under PHIPA, there have now been two convictions.

Mohammad Rahman of Toronto, and Debbie Davison of Pickering, pleaded guilty under PHIPA in February and April 2016 respectively, in connection with looking at former mayor Rob Fords medical records while he was receiving treatment for cancer at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Caroline Goodridge was also charged under PHIPA in relation to looking at Ford's medical records, but the charges against her were withdrawn in February 2016, when the court was advised that there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care said in an email.

For Crystal, snooping into hospital files is akin to placing a hidden camera in a doctors office and can cause a lot of fears and anxieties especially among people in smaller communities.

People feel when they go to a hospital their most intimate details about their personal health are being vigorously protected, he said.

With files from Olivia Carville

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A billboard for a funeral home has a morbid message for drivers on the Gardiner Expressway: Text and Drive.

The dark advertisement overlooking a highway used by thousands of vehicles each day has raised some eyebrows.

And that was the point.

What appears to be a tasteless business ploy is in fact a public service announcement against distracted driving by the Toronto ad agency, john st. A website for the made-up Wathan Funeral Home includes grim statistics on texting at the wheel and words for people who want to complain:

You probably came to this website to tell us what horrible people we are running an ad like that, it says. And youd be right.

It is a horrible thing for a funeral home to do, but were not a funeral home. Were just trying to get Canadians to stop texting and driving, which is projected to kill more people in Ontario this year than drinking and driving.

The stark black-and-white sign is likelier to grab peoples attention than traditionally straightforward warnings against texting and driving, said Angus Tucker, a partner and executive creative director at the agency.

What its trying to say, and I think its saying very clearly, is texting and driving kills, he said. The challenge is: How do you say it in a way that actually makes people think about the consequences?

The billboards  one by the Gardiner near the Exhibition grounds, and another at Albion Rd. at Steeles Ave  were donated by Cieslok Media.

John st.s Montreal office came up with the idea.

We wanted to contribute to spreading the word about a problem that people think theyre invincible to, said Mylene Savoie, managing director of john st. in Montreal. Nobody admits it but I think everybody does it.

About 1,900 people were injured last year in collisions involving a distracted driver, according to preliminary police data. Its already outpaced impaired driving, said Const. Clinton Stibbe of the Toronto Police. We may not be seeing as many deaths but we are certainly seeing way more injury.

Fatal crash statistics are unavailable because they may jeopardize ongoing investigations, he said.

Ontario increased the fines for distracted driving last year, to $1,000 plus three demerit points.

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Back To The Future is one of those films that you can't really imagine living in a world without.

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in a DeLorean, time-travelling? Of course that makes complete and utter sense to us. Back in the '80s, however, it didn't. At all. In a recent interview with screenwriter Bob Gale, the fate of Back To The Future was a lot less certain than you'd expect.

"The script was rejected over 40 times by every major studio and by some more than once. Wed go back when they changed management. It was always one of two things. It was Well, this is time travel, and those movies dont make any money. We got that a lot. We also got, Theres a lot of sweetness to this. Its too nice, we want something raunchier like Porkys. Why dont you take it to Disney?'

Of course, when Gale and Robert Zemeckis, the film's director, took it to Disney, it was dismissed out of hand. It wasn't until Zemeckis made Romancing The Stone that any movement happened, as the film's success gave him a launching board to pick his next film. That and a certain director called Steven Spielberg helped get Back To The Future over the line.

As Gale tells it, there were a few changes needed. "The head of Universal at the time, Sid Sheinberg, liked the script, but he asked for a couple of things to be changed. First, he was known as Professor Brown, not Doc Brown. He said that kids wouldnt like someone named Professor, so lets change it to Doc Brown. Also at first, Doc Brown didnt have a pet dog. He had a chimpanzee. Sid said no chimpanzees. I looked it up, he said, no movie with a chimpanzee ever made any money. We said, what about those Clint Eastwood movies, Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can? He said, No, that was an orangutan. So, we have a dog."

There were, of course, the more famous changes - including the means of time-travel itself, which was originally a fridge. Zemeckis, however, changed that quickly as he felt children would be recreating it and climbing into fridges. You also had Eric Stoltz, who was initially cast as McFly before he was unceremoniously bounced out of the role to make room for Michael J. Fox.

Despite all these changes and the constant rejections, it's clear there was something special going on and it wasn't going to stay hidden forever.

Via Niteside
Ontario will ban daycare waitlist fees in new provincial regulations to be posted very soon, Premier Kathleen Wynne says.

Wynne made the commitment in the legislature Wednesday in response to questions from the NDPs Peter Tabuns, who introduced a private members bill last week to address the issue.

Weve listened to parents, were committed to eliminating the child care waitlist fees in Ontario and well work with providers to get that regulation posted very soon, Wynne said.

Toronto lawyers Nadine Blum and Kelly Doctor launched a petition in March calling on the province to ban the fees after Blums struggle to find care for her son forced her to put her name on more 20 daycare waitlists.

Since there are licensed spots for fewer than 25 per cent of the provinces young children, parents are forced to put their names on multiple lists to secure a spot. The fees being charged by up to half of Toronto daycares, range from $10 to more than $200 and represent an added financial burden for cash-strapped parents, the petition says.

With money changing hands and rumours of desperate parents dropping into centres with cupcakes and other treats to sweeten their chances, the lawyers petition also urges the province to ensure waitlists are administered fairly.

Education Minister Liz Sandals vowed to act on April 1, hours after the Star reported on the controversy. But Liberal MP Arthur Potts read the lawyers petition in the legislature April 11 to keep the issue on the front burner.

Tabuns, who says he was prompted by impatient parents in his Toronto  Danforth riding, says he introduced his private members bill to turn up the heat.

Ive seen many things promised in Question Period and many things promised in a variety of other forums, he said Wednesday after Wynnes positive response. Id be very happy if she actually does what she says shes going to do. Im going to wait until its actually done to consider it done.

Blum and Doctor are happy Wynne has weighed in with the strongest pledge yet.

Were pleased to see that the premier is committed to taking action on the issue, Blum told the Star. We hope that her comments around accountability will also result in action on the issue of the transparency of waitlists, the queue jumping.

But they dont want the government to stop there.

Overall, we think this is a great first step, Blum said. But we have concerns that this could very well be just tinkering with the system and wont address the more pressing needs that result from scarcity and undue costs that need to be resolved through a universal child care system.

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An Ottawa-area MPP banished to his riding for a vulgar sex joke is learning the error of his ways but is not yet ready to return to the legislature, says Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown.

Its fair to say there was a significant level of contrition, Brown told reporters Wednesday, recounting a recent conversation with Jack MacLaren.

The Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP was sent home for sensitivity training last month following a lingering controversy over remarks about Liberal MP Karen McCrimmon at a mens night cancer charity fundraiser in Carp, Ont.

I called Jack himself and I got a brief update that he understood it was his responsibility. He was undertaking the sensitivity training. We havent discussed timelines for a return, Brown said.

I want the training to be complete, he added. As soon as we have an idea of when were comfortable and Jacks comfortable . . . well let you know.

That raises the possibility that MacLaren wont return to Queens Park where the highly charged issue of sexual harassment has been at the forefront recently  until the fall session, given that the legislature is slated to rise for its summer recess on June 9.

MacLaren did not return a call to his constituency office in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata seeking comment.

In recent days he has taken to his Twitter account @JackMacLaren1 with an eclectic range of thoughts on the inventor of the steam engine, paying tribute to Mothers Day, visiting newborn chicks at a Stittsville farm, the magic of Disney World, and the importance of European potato crops in the 1700s, among other issues.

With a spotlight on harassment issues, Brown said he is taking a firm stance in inappropriate remarks from anyone in his caucus.

Let me say as leader of the party that I hope Im never in a position again where I have to be asked about comments that are not in accordance with the way I see the party.

Premier Kathleen Wynne revealed last week that former Liberal MPP Kim Craitor was forced to resign over sexual harassment allegations in 2013, and has acknowledged one other unnamed MPP has also been dealt with.

Wynne has not provided details on that case, saying her decision to identify Craitor  who denies the allegations and is now a Niagara Falls city councillor  came only after a woman complainant approached the media.

No complainant has come forward to waive the right to confidentiality in the other case.

The premier has also been dealing with criticism from New Democrats after Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli was accused of saying in question period last week that NDP Leader Andrea Horwath pees all over the map in asking questions about the electricity sector.

The preliminary Hansard transcript quoted Chiarelli as saying pees but the final version was changed to shes all over the map, which Speaker of the legislature Dave Levac ruled Wednesday is acceptable in terms of editing.

He acknowledged this decision proved controversial but said was made by Hansard without pressure from the government.

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There are many reasons to criticize Kathleen Wynne. Her fondness for fundraising, for example.

But hypocrisy over sexual harassment is not one of them.

Say what you will about the premiers blind spots, the evidence does not support the charge that Wynne is somehow soft on sexual assault or similar misconduct.

In a continuing squeeze play, the opposition parties are trying to catch her out on harassment allegations  and demanding a public outing of any wayward Liberal MPPs.

The recurring claim is that Wynne orchestrated a sinister coverup by somehow muzzling female victims who were paid off. And that the premier is guilty of a double standard for not cracking down on misconduct or providing a full public accounting.

Let us, on the day after the sordid Jian Ghomeshi case reached its denouement, try to get beyond politics and partisanship for a timely post-mortem. The Ghomeshi saga was not merely a teachable moment, but a teachable year-and-a-half.

When the story first hit the front page of the Toronto Star in late 2014, MPPs from all parties professed their determination to set a positive example. The question is whether the men and women serving in Ontarios legislature learned any lessons in their own high profile workplace.

Sadly, it didnt take long for their public resolve to dissolve into private bickering over control issues and power structures (the opposition minority demanded majority voting rights for committee hearings). It was another missed opposition opportunity, and so amid the paralysis, the Liberal government seized the (teachable) moment.

Wynne launched an awareness campaign of her own, touring the province and hosting roundtables with young women to discuss sexual assault and harassment issues. Publicly, the government followed up with an award-winning TV advertising campaign  Its never okay  that educated the public and exhorted bystanders to not just stand there, but support the victims.

Privately, Wynne was putting out fires closer to home in the Liberal caucus: Then-Liberal MPP Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls) was accused of sexual harassment by a female staff member.

The premiers office called in an outside investigator. When the damning results came in, Craitor was told he could no longer remain in caucus.

He chose to go quietly. His accuser also opted to depart, agreeing to a severance package (for which non-disclosure agreements are not uncommon).

We now know about the case for one reason: The premier disclosed the details only after the complainant had first discussed it with the media.

Thats a key detail, without which we would have no other details. The alleged victim exercised her right talk about her story  end of story.

In the subsequent clamour for more information about this and other cases, we seem to have forgotten the explicit promise  a precondition  made to people who complain about sexual harassment or assault: If you are promised confidentiality for coming forward, that promise will be kept.

Even if you believe victims shouldnt view themselves as outcasts, that they could and should help others by telling their stories, mutually agreed confidentiality provisions cannot be rescinded unilaterally or retroactively.

That said, its true that there was one other investigation. As Wynne herself noted in the legislature this week, a complaint triggers a process.

We undertake an investigation led by an external independent investigator . . . . When we receive the investigators report, we take action commensurate with the findings.

Speaking to reporters later, the premier confirmed the other case was dealt with. How do we know? Only the complainant knows for sure, and thats the way she wants it  as is her right. Going beyond that would be wrong.

Amid the politically motivated criticisms that have been flying back and forth in recent days, there is a simple political calculus: Wynne expelled Craitor from caucus knowing in advance that the Liberals risked giving up a vulnerable seat in Niagara Falls.

And so they did, losing the subsequent byelection to the NDP (though no one knew of the allegations at the time). After the news broke, Craitor denied any wrongdoing and claimed that she had been paid off (the government says he is dead wrong, and that there was never any prohibition on her discussing the incident).

All at once  as if this ex-Liberal MPP were suddenly a paragon of uninterrupted and unimpeachable credibility  his dubious musings were seized upon by the opposition as they pounced: Had the premier indeed muzzled the accuser by bribing her with a payoff?

We now know that Wynne paid a heavy price. But it was a political one, not a cash payment.

She sacrificed a Liberal riding to the opposition in order to enforce her own policy on sexual harassment. As much as the opposition tries to turn that storyline upside down, thats the bottom line.

A lesson for the legislature. And for all workplaces.

Martin Regg Cohns Ontario politics column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. mcohn@thestar.ca , Twitter: @reggcohn

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BRASILIA, BRAZILBrazils Senate on Wednesday neared a historic vote on impeaching President Dilma Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her left-leaning party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin Americas largest nation.

If a simple majority of the 81 senators voted in favour, Rousseff would be suspended from office and Vice-President Michel Temer would take over for up to six months pending a decision on whether to remove her from office permanently.

Senate President Renan Calheiros said he wanted the vote to take place Wednesday night and impeachment appeared to be foregone conclusion.

Im asking for everybodys patience because we need to see this through to the end, Calheiros said late in the day as the chamber entered its seventh hour of debate.

While the impeachment measure stemmed from allegations Brazils first female president broke fiscal laws, the process morphed into something of a referendum on Rousseff and her handling of the country over the past six years.

Brazil is mired in the worst economic downturn in decades and a sprawling corruption scandal centred on the state-run Petrobras oil company has soured the national mood, even as the country gears up to host South Americas first Olympic Games in August.

Supporters of impeachment blame Rousseff and her Workers Party for the stalled economy and insist that Vice-President Michel Temer, whose party has split from the governing coalition, represents the only hope of reviving it.

To improve the life of the nation we need to remove them (Rousseffs Workers Party) at this time, Sen. Magno Malta told a scrum of journalists outside the Senate floor. We will start to breathe again and the doctor will say the nation has given signs of life and will be stable soon.

When the impeachment was first floated just over a year ago, it seemed but a remote possibility. But the process snowballed, apparently unstoppably.

The great day has come to extract the nation from the claws of the Workers Party, said Sen. Ataides Oliveira, the fifth of 63 Senators slated to speak during the debate.

Only a simple majority of 41 votes was needed to suspend Rousseff for up to six months pending a trial in the Senate, and major newspapers tallied at least 50 likely votes in favour of impeachment.

Some pro-impeachment senators said they expected as many as 60 votes in favour of the impeachment, which would send a strong signal that Rousseffs faced a slim chance to emerge victorious from the trial and resume her mandate that ends in December 2018.

At the trial, expected in the coming months, at least 54 senators would have to against Rousseff to permanently remove her from office.

Polls have said a majority of Brazilians support Rousseffs impeachment, though they also suggest the public is wary about those in the line of succession to take her place.

Temer has been implicated in the Petrobras corruption scheme as has Calheiros, the Senate head who is now No. 2 in the line of succession. Former House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, who had been second in line, was suspended from office this month over allegations of obstruction of justice and corruption.

Rousseff has vehemently denied her administrations financial sleight of hand moves constituted a crime and argued that such manoeuvers were used by prior presidents without repercussions. She has stressed that unlike many of those who have pushed for impeachment, she does not face any allegations of personal corruption.

The impeachment process, Rousseff says, amounts to a coup aimed at undoing social programs that have lifted an estimated 35 million Brazilians out of grinding poverty over the past years.

Temer, of the centrist Democratic Movement Party, denies Rousseffs claims that he would dismantle the popular social programs. Temer insists he actually would expand them, though he has also signalled that fiscal rigour is needed to dig Brazil out of the current hole.

Rousseff, a former Marxist guerrilla who was incarcerated and tortured under Brazils 1964-1981 military dictatorship, was the hand-picked successor to her once wildly popular mentor, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. After handily winning the race to succeed him in 2010, she surfed his wave of popularity while the economy continued to prosper, but her approval ratings plummeted in step with the economy. She eked out a victory in the 2014 election, with 51 per cent of the vote.

To make matters worse, just as prices for commodities that are the lifeblood of Brazils economy started tumbling, investigators began uncovering the multibillion-dollar kickback scheme at Petrobras.

While those ensnared in the scandal come from across the political spectrum, many of the people implicated are top officials in Rousseffs party, and that tarnished her reputation.

Rousseff is the one who is having to pay for everything, said Sen. Telmario Mota de Oliveira, who argued the countrys problems shouldnt be all pinned on the president.

The continuing probe has led to the conviction of dozens of the countrys elite, from politicians to the former president of Odebrecht, a major construction firm.

Rousseffs prickly manner and her perceived reticence to work with legislators have also been blamed for alienating possible allies. Rousseff, however, has suggested that sexism in the male-dominated Congress has played a role in the impeachment.

The Senate action came after the lower house voted 367-137 last month in favour of impeachment, an anti-Rousseff verdict so resounding that many Brazilians believed it would influence the Senate.

If the impeachment is passed by the Senate, Calheiros said Rousseff would be notified Thursday, with Temer taking over at that point.

Temer has already put together much of his Cabinet, winning kudos from the market for his choice of an orthodox former banker to the key post of finance minister.

This is the second impeachment to shake Brazil in a quarter century. In 1992, impeachment proceedings were opened against Fernando Collor de Mello, Brazils first democratically elected president after more than two decades of military rule. Facing allegations of corruption, Collor ended up resigning before the conclusion of his impeachment trial in the Senate. Rousseff has repeatedly pledged not to resign.

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An Indian woman and her husband, both in their 70s, have given birth to their first child after undergoing years of fertility treatment.

Daljinder Kaur delivered the healthy baby boy last month after three rounds of IVF treatment using donor eggs at the National Fertility Centre in the northern state of Haryana, doctors told the Guardian.

Though her exact age is unclear, Kaur told doctors that she is about 72  about seven years younger than her 79-year-old husband, Mohinder Singh Gill.

If thats correct, that would make her the worlds oldest mother. The current, verified record is held by the late Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara, who was 66 when she gave birth to twin boys in Barcelona in 2006. (Bousada de Lara died in July 2009 of cancer, leaving her sons orphans before they turned 3.)

Kaur said she and her husband, who have been married for 46 years, had almost given up hope of having a child and for years faced ridicule and problems in a country where infertility is sometimes seen as a curse from God. Gill had to take his father to court after he refused to give him a piece of land or any property due to the couples infertility.

They adopted a boy in the 1980s, but he left to study in the U.S. and never returned. The pair finally decided to try IVF after seeing an ad for the clinic in a newspaper.

God heard our prayers, Kaur told Agence France-Presse from the northern city of Amritsar. My life feels complete now.

Kaur said she feels full of energy and is having no trouble looking after the baby. My husband is also very caring and helps me as much as he can, she said.

The baby boy, named Arman, was delivered via caesarean section on April 19. Doctors at the clinic say he is healthy and hearty and weighed 4.4 pounds at birth.

The National Fertility Centre, run by Dr. Anurag Bishnoi, has made headlines in the past over the age of his patients. His clinic takes credit for several pregnancies in elderly couples, including that of Rajo Devi, who was thought to be 70 when she first conceived in 2006. Another woman became the mother of triplets at 66, according to the clinics website.

Though IVF treatment in elderly women is becoming increasingly common in India due to lax regulations and relatively cheap costs, the countrys medical community has largely denounced the procedure for seniors like Kaur.

We condemn this totally. With science, you can make a 90-year-old person pregnant. The question is not about technicalities, its about ethics. Our responsibility is to the patient, said Dr. Hrishikesk Pai, head of Indias federation of gynecologists.

Another gynecologist, Dr. Anshu Jindal, told AFP that women over the age of 60 should not be undergoing fertility treatment, for the sake of both mother and child.

It will take a serious toll on both of them. The sheer fact that a woman in her 70s has to carry the weight of a child in her womb for nine months is stressful, Jindal said. There is also the obvious question of how parents of that age can look after a baby, he said.

That is also quite a task.

Bishnoi told the Guardian he was initially reluctant to perform the procedure but decided it was safe after a series of medical tests showed Kaur was fit and healthy, and the risk to her health was no higher than if she had been middle-aged.

He says that while he recognizes there are ethical issues, the patients choices should be respected and restrictions need to be equally enforced among both genders.

For them, it is a time of great happiness, Bishnoi said. Especially because her brother also didnt have any children. They were two families, and both didnt have children. In Indian law they dont allow adoption after 45 years of age.

Gill told AFP he was unfazed by the couples age. People say, What will happen to the child once we die? But I have full faith in God. God is omnipotent and omnipresent. He will take care of everything.

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WASHINGTONDonald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan pledged to work together despite their differences after a meeting Thursday aimed unifying a party torn over Trumps rise to the cusp of the Republican presidential nomination. The speaker stopped short of a full-throated endorsement but appeared closer to one.

Trump and Ryan issued a statement describing their meeting as a very positive step toward unification that recognized many important areas of common ground as well as areas where they disagree. Ryan stunned Republicans by withholding his endorsement a week ago when it became clear Trump was on a firm path to the nomination.

The much-anticipated meeting unfolded as more Republicans have begun urging the party to put the extraordinary discord behind. The statement by the two suggested both are invested in tamping down Republican infighting as they try to pull the GOP together for the fight against Hillary Clinton and Democrats in the fall.

Ryan told a news conference they are planting the seeds to accomplish that.

Trump, in a black SUV, slipped from one GOP power centre to another on a fence-mending mission made necessary by his outsider status in the city that embodies insiders.

The billionaires provocative, crowd-rousing pronouncements, his arsenal of insults hurled at rivals and his amorphous positions on matters dear to conservatives have unnerved many GOP leaders who fear he will be crushed in the fall. At the same time, more are recognizing that hes tapped a deep nerve among many of the disaffected  and the GOP has no alternative to him in any event.

Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, an ally of GOP leadership, said Thursday his biggest worry about Trump is that he is unpredictable. Yet Trump is also a change agent, Cole said. Thats exactly what people want right now, so in that sense hes very well-positioned for a general election.

The highest-ranking woman in the House GOP leadership, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, said the meeting gave her a chance to make this core value clear to Trump: Dreaming big for everyone and turning its back on no one.

About a dozen protesters who oppose Trumps immigration positions demonstrated at the front of the RNC building where the men met. They chanted Down, down with deportation. Up, up with liberation. They carried a cardboard coffin that they said represents the suffering of immigrants under GOP policies and the death of the party under Trump.

The scene was similar outside Senate Republican campaign offices where Trump gathered later with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans from that chamber. The GOP is dead to our community, said Deyanira Aldana, 21, a protester who is the child of Hispanic immigrants. And Donald Trump is the final nail in that coffin.

Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York, a Trump supporter, said it will help both the candidate and the speaker if they can work overcome their rift.

I dont think its do or die, any endorsement in particular, he said. But Donald Trumps candidacy is strengthened with an endorsement from the most powerful person, top-ranking Republican in the country. It helps.

On the eve of the meetings, Trump eased his defiant tone of recent days. Asked on Fox News who leads the party in his view, he said Ryan. I would say Paul for the time being and maybe for a long time, he said.

We can always have differences, he said. If you agree on 70 per cent, thats always a lot.

The two men represent vastly different visions for the Republican Party, and whether they can come together may foretell whether the GOP will heal itself after a bruising primary season or face irrevocable rupture.

Trump, for years a registered Democrat, has offended women, Hispanics, and others while violating establishment party orthodoxy on numerous issues Ryan holds dear, from trade to wages to religious freedom. Ryan, a policy-focused conservative, insists the GOP must be a party of ideas, and has championed an agenda that has drawn Trumps scorn by pushing cuts in Medicare and other government programs.

Indeed, a broader swath of Republican voters appears to be moving behind Trump, despite big-name holdouts such as Ryan, both former president Bushes and the partys 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney. Romney went after Trump on Wednesday over his refusal thus far to release his taxes, calling it disqualifying and asserting that the only explanation must be a bombshell of unusual size.

Still, almost two in three Republican-leaning voters now view Trump favourably, compared with 31 per cent who view him unfavourably, according to a national Gallup Poll taken last week. The numbers represent a significant improvement for Trump from Gallups survey in early March.

And on Capitol Hill, where Ryan has managed to remain popular since taking over as speaker in the fall, some Republicans made clear that they would like to see him come around to supporting Trump sooner rather than later.

It seems to me they have every incentive to find common ground, Cole said of Trump and Ryan, because to be successful they both in a sense need one another.

Trump met first with Ryan and party chairman Reince Priebus, then with Ryan joined by other senior House GOP leaders, then with McConnell and other top Senate Republicans. Very good, constructive meeting, McConnell said after.

McConnell was quick to embrace the mogul after he clinched the nomination and said this week Trump is looking like hell be very competitive in November.

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  At least two Canadians and an Iranian are sought in Dubai after a man was shot dead at the citys marina last week, an attack not initially disclosed to the public.

The shooting, which authorities say happened May 4, apparently targeted the man as he sat in a car in the neighbourhood of luxury high-rise buildings and beachfront property.

Dubais police chief, Maj. Gen. Khamis Mattar al-Mazeina, said the victim used to carry an Iranian passport and then had a Turkish one.

He said authorities believe the man also was allegedly involved in the killing of someones daughter in Turkey, according to an account of his remarks published Thursday by state-owned The National newspaper of Abu Dhabi.

The man suffered seven gunshot wounds to the head, as well as two other wounds to his body, fired from two different guns, al-Mazeina said.

The National reported that the shooters may have fled to Canada.

Al-Mazeina discussed the attack with members of the Federal National Council during a meeting Tuesday. However, the shooting was not widely publicized until a video of his comments circulated later online.

We cannot ignore this and remain quiet, no matter what the motive behind committing the crime is, he said in the video. The Ministry of Interior is working on the case. We were already able to identify those involved and we collected evidence that we will hand over to the Canadian judicial system.

Al-Mazeina offered no motive for the slaying, nor did he name any suspects or the victim.

An official with the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, referred a call for comment to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A spokeswoman for the RCMP said the force is engaged and providing support to foreign authorities as appropriate, and co-ordinating through Global Affairs Canada.

Dubai, a popular tourist destination that is home to the worlds tallest skyscraper, is a safe haven in the turbulent Middle East. Violent crime remains rare.

With files from The Canadian Press in Toronto

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This weekend, Iran will stage its third cartoon exhibition about the Holocaust. The images on display, pooled from submissions that came in from various parts of the world, mock a history of genocide and Jewish suffering. The event has garnered global notoriety and is a persistent mark against an Iranian regime that has tried over the past year to show that its ready to emerge from international isolation.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attempted to distance the administration of President Hassan Rouhani from the contest. In an interview with the New Yorker, Zarif said the event was sponsored by private non-governmental organizations and not his government. He then pointed to a history of supposed Western double standards.

Why does the United States have the Ku Klux Klan? Is the government of the United States responsible for the fact that there are racially hateful organizations in the United States? Zarif asked. Dont consider Iran a monolith. The Iranian government does not support, nor does it organize, any cartoon festival of the nature that youre talking about.

But the organizations involved, the Owj Media & Cultural Institute and the Sarsheshmeh Cultural Center, are institutions with direct ties to organs of the Iranian government, including the countrys powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The event last year was billed as a riposte to the satirical cartoons about Islam and the prophet Muhammad published by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo. The contest and exhibition intends to display the Wests double standard behaviour towards freedom of expression as it allows sacrilege of Islamic sanctities, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

An article in Iran Wire pours cold water on Zarifs claim that the contest has no government affiliation:

The Islamic Propaganda Organization runs Sarcheshmeh Cultural Institute, one of the organizers of the second Holocaust Cartoons competition. Another backer of the competition is Owj Media and Arts Organization, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards. After the nuclear agreement was signed last July, Owj launched a campaign called American Honesty, and covered billboards around Tehran with anti-American posters. With the support of this organization, the award money for the winner of the Holocaust Cartoons competition has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000 (U.S.).

Owj claims it is an NGO but its affiliation with the Revolutionary Guards is an open secret. And the senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards are directly appointed by the supreme leader, who started voicing his own doubts about Holocaust in the 1990s, and finally stopped mincing his words in around 2000, when he said, in many Western countries, nobody dares to question the myth of the Holocaust.

Zarif himself is no Holocaust denier and has repeatedly insisted that toxic legacy was the fault of the countrys previous president, the firebrand Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But, as myriad observers have noted, Holocaust denial within the Iranian regime did not begin and end with Ahmadinejad. Rather, it starts at the top with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who just this year questioned the reality of the genocide on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Senior Iranian officials have for many years systematically promoted Holocaust denial and distortion, said Tad Stahnke, who heads the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums Initiative on Holocaust Denial and anti-Semitism. He added that the contest discredits Iran and its people and is an affront to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, which include some Iranians themselves.

The larger point of the cartoon contest is less to attack Jews than Israel, a country fundamentally at odds with the Islamic republic. Majid Mohammadi, an Iranian scholar who spoke in the same phone conference as Stahnke, said that divisions do exist in Iran between moderate and hard-line camps. But when it comes to Israel, he says, they are on the same page.

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TEHRAN, IRANIran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual hajj pilgrimage, an Iranian official announced Thursday, the latest sign of tensions between the two Islamic powers after a disaster during the event last year killed at least 2,426 people.

Iran said Saudi incompetence caused the Sept. 24 crush and stampede in the holy city of Mina during the hajj, which is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The Islamic Republic has said the disaster killed 464 of its pilgrims.

Negotiations between Shiite power Iran and the Sunni kingdom had been trying to resolve the issue of security for months, but failed to make any headway, said Ali Jannati, Irans minister of culture and Islamic guidance.

The sabotage is coming from the Saudis, Jannati said in comments carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing visas or security and transport of the Iranian pilgrims.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency did not immediately report the news.

The decision not to attend hajj comes as tensions remain high between the two countries since the Jan. 2 execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia. The kingdom called the cleric a dangerous terrorist who stirred dissent in the countrys predominantly Shiite east, something denied by his family, who say al-Nimr never advocated violence nor picked up a weapon.

Al-Nimrs execution sparked widespread protests in Iran, which views itself as the protector of Shiites around the world. Demonstrations outside of Saudi diplomatic posts in Tehran and Mashhad turned violent, however, and saw protesters storm the buildings.

As a result, Riyadh cut diplomatic relations with Tehran. The two countries also support opposing sides in Syrias long civil war and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country.

Since Saudi diplomatic posts remain closed in Iran, kingdom officials had told the Islamic Republic its citizens would need to travel to embassies in other countries to apply for visas for the hajj, Jannati said. He described that as another sticking point in the failed negotiations.

Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, also blamed Saudi Arabia for the failed talks.

If no agreement is reached on these issues, Saudi Arabia will be responsible for shutting the way to sending Iranian pilgrims, Ansari said.

The disaster in Mina was the deadliest in the history of the annual pilgrimage, according to an Associated Press tally of the dead based on state media reports and officials comments from 36 of the over 180 countries that sent citizens to the hajj. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since Sept. 26, and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.

Last years hajj, which drew 2 million pilgrims, also saw a crane collapse in Mecca kill 111 worshippers.

Iran called for an independent body to take over planning and administering the five-day hajj pilgrimage, but the kingdoms ruling Al Saud family likely would never give up its role in administering the holy sites. That, along with Saudi Arabias oil wealth, provides it major influence in the Muslim world.

This isnt the first time Iran has boycotted the hajj. In 1987, demonstrating Iranian pilgrims battled Saudi riot police, violence that killed at least 402 people. Iran claimed 600 of its pilgrims were killed and said police fired machine-guns at the crowd. Iran boycotted the hajj in 1988 and 1989, while Saudi officials severed diplomatic ties over the violence and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

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When U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron decided to host the first international summit focused exclusively on efforts to combat corruption, he couldnt have imagined how uncomfortable the commitment would become.

In April, the Panama leaks forced Cameron to admit hed invested in an offshore fund set up by his stockbroker father. While there was no suggestion of wrongdoing, the revelation was a political embarrassment. Then on Tuesday, he was caught on camera telling Queen Elizabeth II that Nigeria and Afghanistan were possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world two days before their heads of state were due to attend the London meeting.

While the prime ministers personal finances, and his candid remarks, have sparked interest in the build up to the event, they also highlight the awkward job Cameron has to claim the moral high ground given the tax policies of some U.K. jurisdictions, say campaigners.

By providing a safe haven for corrupt assets, the U.K. and its overseas territories and Crown dependencies are a big part of the worlds corruption problem, said Cobus de Swardt, managing director of Transparency International, the non-governmental organization participating in the summit. We should not forget that.

Representatives from more than 40 countries as well as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are converging on London for the summit. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to attend as is Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, though Russia has chosen to send a deputy foreign minister, Oleg Syromolotov, who spent more than a decade heading counter intelligence at the countrys Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB.

Asked if his country was fantastically corrupt as Cameron had claimed, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari answered yes, and said that he wasnt demanding an apology for the comments.

What I am demanding is the return of assets that are the product of corruption in Nigeria and lodged in the U.K., Buhari said. What would I do with an apology?

While the hosts may have some work to do to smooth relations with their guests from Nigeria and Afghanistan, even those delegations may accept that Cameron had a point. In a collection of articles on corruption that will come out on Thursday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called his homeland one of the most corrupt countries on earth, while Buhari said that corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria.

Both leaders have been invited to the summit because they are driving the fight against corruption in their countries, said Dan York-Smith, a Downing Street spokesman. The U.K. stands shoulder to shoulder with them as they do so.

On Monday, a group of 300 leading economists called on the British government to use the anti-corruption summit to crack down on offshore tax havens like the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.

The BVI, one of 14 British overseas territories, was thrown into the spotlight last month following the enormous leak of documents from Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm. About 113,000 out of 215,000 companies it exposed were set up on the tiny Caribbean island. BVI was not invited to the summit while the Cayman Islands is sending a three person delegation headed by its premier, Alden McLaughlin.

So far both the Cayman Islands and the BVI have resisted pressure from Cameron to set up public records of beneficial owners of companies registered there. They agreed to share information with the U.K. on beneficial owners but refused to make the information public. The U.K. will become the first Group of 20 nation to publish the names of companies ultimate owners when a new register comes into effect in June.

Perhaps more than any other world leader, Cameron has spoken out against corruption. At the G-7 summit in Germany last June, he called for an international effort to clean up governments and businesses. When he announced his plans for the anti-corruption summit in Singapore in July, he went further.

My message to foreign fraudsters: London is not a place to stash your dodgy cash, he said. The challenge Im laying down to every country today is to root out the rot of corruption.

Camerons thinking was influenced by Sarah Chayes, who wrote Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, which came out in January 2015. After reading her book, Cameron wrote to Chayes in the spring of 2015 and invited her to meet his team to discuss ways to combat corruption. Chayes spent 10 years living in Afghanistan and argues in her book that kleptocractic regimes around the world are helping to fuel terrorism. She will be on two panels chaired by Cameron on Thursday.

Its incredibly courageous of him to do this summit now, she said. There are so many ways he could get egg on his face.

Cameron wants countries to sign up to specific commitments to clamp down on corruption after Thursdays summit, including pledges to set up open registers of beneficial owners of companies. Countries are also expected to sign a final communique, the details of which are still being fine-tuned. Yet the politicians measure of success may not be enough to convince the skeptics.

If Russia can sign up to the communique, its probably not strong enough, said Robert Barrington, executive director of Transparency International.

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Eurozone finance ministers gathered on Monday (9 May) to discuss the state of the first review of Greeces macroeconomic performance and adjustment program. At an extraordinary meeting held in Brussels, ministers embraced the new package of policy reforms from Greece, some of which were legislated in vote on Sunday (8 May) by the Greek Parliament. The new package covered a variety of topics, such as the pension system, reform of VAT and income tax, measures on the public sector wage bill, the countrys privatization strategy as well as the issue of non-performing loans.

Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Pierre Moscovici, used the occasion of Europe Day, the anniversary of the founding of the European Union, and referred to the words of EU founder Robert Schuman  that Europe would be built in small steps  to describe Greeces progress to overcome its debt and build a stronger economy. Moreover, Mr Moscovici praised the Greek parliamentary vote, saying the measures on pensions and income tax would have a permanent budgetary impact of around 2 per cent of Greek GDP.

The head of the group of finance ministers, the so-called Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, commented that the agreement is the next step towards the successful completion of the first review of the program. Mr Dijsselbloem said that the group did not make any final decisions and added that of course any measures will be conditional upon full implementation of the measures agreed in the program and will be considered later on.

The Eurogroup also concluded that Greece would be granted debt relief by giving it longer grace periods and bond maturities from 2018, if Athens delivers by then on all reforms agreed upon under its latest bailout. The offer should be finalized in detail by 24 May and it is generally seen as a compromise between Germany, which does not think additional debt relief is necessary, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which insists that it is necessary. The involvement of the IMF in the Greek bailout is, however, essential for political reasons for many Eurozone countries, including Germany.
If, like Bernie Sanders, you say you want a revolution, well, you know  wed all love to see the plan.

But what if we told you theres an actual revolution underway, already hammering out the first wave of innovation on an anvil of open data and early glimmers of renewed citizen engagement?

Would you feel that burn?

A revolution, by the way, that Canada has an excellent chance to lead, if we play our cards right. Were already fourth (and gaining) among 92 countries, according to one important new academic scorecard of how governments are adapting for the era of open data.

A revolution, most importantly, that could really use your help. Because theres every chance it will stall without you. And where will that leave us?

Let us explain: out there in the big, bad world, beyond the online clutter, anger, snark and cat videos, excitement is growing around the idea that a new kind of digital democracy is within our grasp.

For it to work, two key pieces need to come together: the first involves a wholesale shift to open data, with all levels of government embracing the fullest possible disclosure of the vast stores of information they have long guarded closely; the second involves a new culture of democratic engagement, as civil society, data entrepreneurs and yes, individual citizens, step up and actually participate in crunching the data to help tease out policy answers to our collective challenges.

If the phrase open data rings familiar, it should. The concept is a well-known work in progress, thanks to the G7, which five years ago adopted the International Open Data Charter, agreeing that government information should be open by default. The idea has since spread to more than 90 countries.

In spirit, the open-data movement embraces the ideal that governments urgently need to unlock the mountains of information they have gathered and hoarded needlessly all these years and surrender it to the wisdom of the crowd. Data is not a liability; its an asset  one that could be worth trillions, globally, if fully mined.

Let the terabytes of raw data in literally thousands of categories, from health care to transportation to atmospheric carbon to race and crime, flow freely. Make it machine-readable. Put it online. Let civil society, digital analysts, entrepreneurs and anyone else who wants a try have at it. Let innovation thrive.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web 27 years ago, is among the leading advocates, arguing the moment must be seized: Now is the time to resource and implement open data throughout the world.

Until now, the U.K. and the U.S. have been the earliest, most aggressive champions.

Last week, however, the picture changed with the release of a new Open Data Barometer, an annual global report by the Open Data Institute. France and Canada soared in rank to third and fourth, respectively, as part of a new generation of open-data adopters now challenging the Brits and Americans in the global race to open.

The Open Data Barometer, though bullish on Canada, showed the march toward openness has a long way to go; presently, less than 10 per cent of what academics regard as releasable data is thus far available for crowd-crunching.

Worse, the report notes that momentum appears to be stalling in some countries. Many governments advertise their open-data policies as a way to burnish their democratic and transparent credentials without actually allocating sufficient budget and staff to make the data available.

But should it come as a surprise that, after so many decades of risk aversion, governments are hesitating? Without the strongest of policy directives from the very top that open data is more than mere fad, who can expect a traditionally verklempt bureaucracy to reinvent how and what it shares publicly?

Former British cabinet minister Francis Maude, who set the global pace on open data before stepping down last year, understands government resistance better than almost anyone. He has been sharing interesting insights since leaving the job that Canadians in particular might want to read carefully.

Information is power. And traditionally even the most liberal government has been reluctant to share that power, Maude told an audience in Sao Paulo, Brazil, late last year.

Transparency is a brilliant idea for politicians to throw around when they sit in opposition to the government, he said.

And (it) remains a brilliant idea for the first 12 months of being in government, because all you are really doing is exposing what the government before you has done.

And then it gets to the point of explaining what you yourself have done (in power). Then it gets harder, and too often politicians at this stage lose their nerve and retreat into their comfort zone, said Maude.

But the comfort zone rarely fosters creativity and innovation. So we owe it to the people we serve to get uncomfortable, to create that accountability and share data to drive innovation, growth and jobs. We have the data; lets use it and ensure that all people have the opportunity to help shape public democracy.

As it happens, Canadas new Liberal government has already signalled a sharp slowdown on its campaign pledge to make government information open by default  with no expectation now of changes to the access to information laws until 2018, well beyond the 12-month mark outlined by Maude.

The inner tensions in Ottawa were laid bare in February in documents obtained by the Star that described how Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus promise to pry open government would require nothing less than cultural change within the public service.

But thats precisely what advocates of digital democracy have been saying all along. It was never going to be easy. Most things worth having arent. And if ever there was an issue worth holding the prime ministers feet to the fire, this is it. What Ottawa wont surrender, citizens must demand.

One need only look south of the border, to the dumpster fire of an election season that now has Donald Trump within range of the White House, to know the body politic needs more than mere tweaking.

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As Ontario reviews the voting rules for its 444 municipalities, the governing Liberals have devoted much attention to the issue of how votes should be counted.

Last month the Liberals announced they would allow municipalities to use a ranked ballot system  in which voters can rank candidates in order of preference  to elect local councillors and mayors. Its a great idea and one I championed as a board member of the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto.

We should change the method we use to count votes, but reform also includes voter eligibility: who is allowed to cast a vote in a local election, and why? Hundreds of thousands of voting-age Ontarians cannot cast a ballot in local elections because they are not citizens and the current rules state that only citizens can vote in a municipal election.

This has got to change  we need to acknowledge that non-citizen residents would derive the same benefits from voting as anyone else and they need and deserve these benefits in a democratic society.

During the era of former premier Dalton McGuinty, I served as project coordinator of I Vote Toronto, a campaign to convince Queens Park to extend voting rights to non-citizen permanent residents of Canada. While many residents and organizations understood our goals and supported us, I was truly gob smacked by the number of people who argued that voting isnt worth anything unless we stop some people from doing it.

Scarcity is a terrible argument where representation is concerned. The idea that allowing non-citizens to vote will devalue the franchise of citizens is a naked appeal to privilege. In Canadas good old days, white, male, Anglican property owners of a certain age were the only people eligible to vote.

There is no doubt that as others gained the franchise  women, indigenous people, religious minorities, people living with disabilities the value of each privileged, God-fearing white dudes vote diminished. That was a good thing.

But every group that continues to be excluded from voting must confront the same tiresome arguments: that privilege comes with its privileges, that the excluded do not know enough about voting, or do not want to vote, or will vote in some uneducated or ill-advised manner.

Immigrants are the backbone of Ontarios economy and the source of much of its growth. Our government deems newcomers fit to live, work, invest and raise families here, but somehow unfit to make electoral decisions about the laws and regulations that govern their lives. Sheesh.

While municipalities all over the world allow at least some non-citizen residents to vote in local elections, Ontarios politicians have long seemed afraid to follow suit.

Interestingly, our provincial political parties allow non-citizens to buy party memberships and to vote in partisan leadership contests. Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown allegedly signed up more than 40,000 new party members during his recent leadership bid, many of them from so-called cultural communities (i.e. black and brown first- and second-generation immigrants). His campaign didnt ask if all these folks were Canadian citizens  it wasnt deemed a relevant factor to their ability to partake in that democratic process.

Canadians seem increasingly supportive of allowing some non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. City councils in Toronto and North Bay have formally asked the province to enfranchise non-citizens who have obtained permanent residency; officials in Halifax, and in five municipalities in New Brunswick, have made the same request of their respective provincial governments.

This was what I hoped for all those years ago with I Vote Toronto and in retrospect I am only sorry I didnt push the threshold even further than permanent residency.

Before 1988 in Ontario, you didnt have to be a citizen to vote. You had to reside or hold property in the municipality where you planned to vote; Nova Scotia allowed non-citizen British subjects to vote in local elections until 2007.

The need to vote and the benefits of being able to do so  for permanent residents, foreign workers, students and undocumented people  are just as critical for new immigrants as they are for citizens. Premier Kathleen Wynnes Liberals should acknowledge this and extend the municipal franchise to all non-citizen residents.

Desmond Cole appears is a Toronto-based journalist. His column appears every Thursday.

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It used to be that pop-up stores were focused on selling seasonal items like Christmas decorations. But the latest craze is in so-called medical marijuana dispensaries, which are popping up like weeds this spring in residential areas around the city.

There are already about 100 of these shops operating in the city, with nine in Kensington Market alone. Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher says a half-dozen dispensaries are operating around a single subway station in her Riverdale ward.

Some demand to see a prescription for medical marijuana before selling pot. Others will sell a bag of weed to clients after they have had a discussion with what the dispensaries call a health professional on staff.

As Mayor John Tory said this week, this has to stop. Premier Kathleen Wynne also rightly expressed concern about the completely unregulated manner in which these pot shops are doing business.

While the Star supports Ottawas intention to legalize marijuana for recreational use, these dispensaries cant be allowed to continue to operate outside the current law. The city ought to put in place interim regulations, as Vancouver has, until new federal legislation is passed to control how and where marijuana is sold.

While medical marijuana is legal, it is supposed to be available only with a prescription from a medical doctor. Even then it must be obtained from one of 31 producers licensed by Health Canada via registered mail  not through storefront shops.

Despite the spread of the pot shops, Health Canada insists that dispensaries and other sellers of marijuana who are not licensed under the current law are illegal.

So why the proliferation?

Police forces, including Torontos, say the storefront operations are just not a high enforcement priority. And who can blame them? Last February a B.C. federal court judge, Justice Michael Phelan, struck down restrictions on medical marijuana users growing their own plants. He gave the government six months to pass new rules on medical marijuana. Amid the legal uncertainty that followed, dispensaries have spread like wildfire.

But as Tory said this week: If there are others who are not going to take action, then we might have to in order to bring some semblance of control to it.

That should be easy. A city ban already exists on pot shops in residential or commercial neighbourhoods. Toronto should enforce it. For his part, the citys director of investigation services for city licensing, Mark Sraga, is clearly ready and willing to act. He told the Star: We are going to be addressing this issue with the full extent of our authority and enforcement tools to ensure compliance with our bylaws.

Better yet, the city could put forward more robust regulations, as Vancouver did last year. That citys bylaws now prevent dispensaries from locating within 300 metres of schools, community centres or other dispensaries, thereby curbing concentration in any one neighbourhood. Licences there cost $30,000.

Anyone flouting the regulations is shut down. As of the first week in May, Vancouver had already closed 22 unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries and issued 44 tickets.

Toronto should take Vancouvers lead. The city should step in to regulate storefront dispensaries until the new federal pot laws are in place.

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Re: Cops who tried to download Loku video have no excuse, Opinion May 5

Cops who tried to download Loku video have no excuse, Opinion May 5

I found Desmond Coles article particularly offensive in putting all the blame on the officer in question. But, generally speaking, the only ones seemingly blamed for the whole unfortunate incident are the police and then the SIU.

There should be more transparency to stop unfounded speculation, and therefore there should be changes in the SIU protocol. But it is not necessary to name the officer since there could be vigilante action against him and his family.

Norm Gardner, former chair, Toronto Police Services Board

Desmond Cole rightly suggests that the police officers who attempted to tamper with the Andrew Loku video should be fired. He adds that any officer found interfering with evidence should face the same fate. But, come on Mr. Cole, stop dreaming. Were dealing with government employees who are paid $100,000 to carry a gun, a badge and union cards. They are the Untouchables.

Jeff Green, Toronto

Why not just change the SIUs name to Secret Investigations Unit and be done with it?

Pat Sherbin, Grafton

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Re: Universal child care the perfect Mothers Day gift, Opinion May 8

Universal child care the perfect Mothers Day gift, Opinion May 8

As a parent whose children are now grown, I have to echo Carolyn Ferns comments. The availability of high quality childcare for my kids as they grew up and I pursued my career was vital to me.

The government, both provincial and federal, have amassed a huge amount of research that shows that high quality childcare not only supports families, but provides many benefits to children and our society. We lag far behind many of our European counterparts in the provision of childcare as a right.

I hope that by Mothers Day next year, we will have a framework and the beginnings of a New National Childcare system for all parents, and children.

Janet Teibo, Victoria, B.C.

My mother, Pat Schulz, started advocating for childcare in the early 1970s. I have been advocating for universal childcare most of my adult life. My kids are grown now.

Come on Justin and Kathleen, its 2016! Parents and kids deserve better. I dont want to be advocating for this on behalf of my grandchildren.

Katheryne Schulz, Toronto

Many of us have celebrated Mothers Day by expressing our gratitude for the sacrifices our mothers made for us. Unfortunately, for too many women in the developing world, motherhood is not a cause for celebration but a real threat, and 300,000 of them die each year in the process of giving birth.

What is truly shocking is that 110,000 of these deaths are due to preventable malnutrition, mostly related to something as trivial as anemia. From May 16-May 19, world decision-makers will meet in Copenhagen at the largest conference on reproductive health: Women Deliver.

Beyond the nice declarations, it is crucial that the Canadian government commit to increasing its funding for nutrition so unnecessary maternal deaths become a thing of the past. I cannot think of a more meaningful or more lasting Mothers Day gift.

Jean-Francois Tardif, Gatineau, Que.

May 8 was not just Mothers Day, but also the anniversary of V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, marking the unconditional surrender of all Nazi troops in Europe in 1945. Some 50 million human beings died in six horrific years of war to bring an end to Nazi tyranny.

I would have wanted to end this letter by saying the best gift we could all mothers was an end to war. But we have the Great War of our generation, that is against terrorism of any ilk. Let us show the same determination as the generation before us in preserving liberty and freedom for posterity.

I am hopeful one day soon mothers will not have to send daughters and sons off to war. Until then, my heartfelt gratitude for our serving men and women, come home safe. Your mothers are waiting.

Dr. Gopal Bhatnagar, Mississauga

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Associate Professor | College of Distance Education

Professor Sexton began teaching at the U.S. Naval War College in 2001 as a military professor in the National Security Decision Making Department. Upon retiring from the military in 2005, she taught as an adjunct professor for the College of Distance Education (CDE) where she taught over 850 students online before returning to campus as a civilian CDE professor in 2014. In 2018, Professor Sexton was named the program manager for online programs and is responsible for the Naval Command and Staff and electives online programs.
Yesterday (11 May), a major conference took place in Amsterdam to discuss the advancement and implementation of the EUs Business and Human Rights Agenda. The conference was organized jointly by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European civil society organizations as an official event of the Netherlands EU Presidency. In 2011, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and since then a lot of progress has been made by governments and companies to highlight the fact that business-related human rights abuse is still a serious problem.

The EU aims to become a major player in the area of business and human rights. Brussels feels responsibility for this issue as many European companies are involved in global value chains. The hosts of the conference jointly lobby for an ambitious follow-up to the European Commissions 2011-2014 Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility. The new plan should be based on a multi-stakeholder approach and should improve access to remedy.

Yesterdays conference was also part of the #EU4HumanRights initiative launched by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Its objective is to strengthen the efforts of the EU and its Member States to promote human rights. According to Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, ?empowering civil society and human rights defenders is a key priority to achieve these goals.

NGOs are increasingly under threat all over the world, including some that are fighting against business-related human rights abuse. Thats why I am proud that we have organized this conference together with civil society, said Mr Koenders. However, the Dutch foreign minister also added that it was important for the business sector to take part in this initiative because We have to work together with all stakeholders to prevent human rights abuse. And when it does occur, victims need access to remedy. The Netherlands would like the EU to lead by example.


A scene from Dark Horse. (Sony Pictures Classics)

12 and older

Dark Horse (PG)

Teen animal lovers  and some of their preteen siblings  could be entertained and moved by this documentary. Its a classic little guy vs. bigwigs tale. A Welsh town called Cefn Fforest had fallen upon hard times in the early 2000s, after the coal mines shut down. A barmaid and supermarket cleaner named Jan longed to achieve something special and had the crazy idea of breeding a race horse. Her idea became a village-wide obsession. Well aware that horse racing was an aristocratic sport, the proud blue-collar townsfolk put up their own funds to buy a mare and breed her. She gave birth to a gorgeous fellow with a white blaze and white socks, and they named him Dream Alliance. They pooled their cash again to have Dream trained to race. He was a winner and his backers basked proudly in his glow. Filmmaker Louise Osmond went to Cefn Fforest a few years later to hear the story first-hand and to see the now-retired Dream. A colorful, unaffected lot, the townsfolk tell their story with loving verve, helped by archival racing footage. The Welsh accents might prove tough for some teens, but most will eventually tune into them. (85 minutes)

THE BOTTOM LINE: Softhearted animal lovers should be forewarned that Dark Horse includes racing shots of horses falling in ways that could lead to serious injuries, though none are shown. Dream Alliance sustains a bad injury that is not shown  except for a quick peek at surgery. It is much discussed, however, and he does recover.

PG-13



Ewen McGregor plays Jesus in Last Days in the Desert. (Francois Duhamel/Broad Green Pictures)

Last Days in the Desert

A contemplative non-biblical imagining of Jesuss wandering in the desert, this film will require a good deal of patience on the part of teen audiences, although it is fine for them. The issue is not whether they are believers: It has more to do with what teens expect from a movie, even one about Jesus. The film has only four major characters. Scenes play out against vast rocky landscapes, some with little or no dialogue  just the wind or the thin, string-filled score  and no miraculous occurrences. Teens unaccustomed to art films may find this tough going. The movie itself has a hypnotic attraction, despite flaws in its physical logic and the Britishness of these Middle Eastern characters. By the end it turns out the whole story may have been an hallucination. Ewan McGregor plays Jesus, alone in the desert, hoping to communicate with God but dogged by the devil in the form of his own double  a Jesus who is cynical, scornful of God and uncaring. Ignoring his other self, Jesus falls in with a stonecutter and his family. The wife is dying and the son and father dont understand each other. Jesus stays with them and works for his keep, trying to help them, but bereft in the desert of his preaching or miracles. (98 minutes)

THE BOTTOM LINE: Occasionally interrupting the quiet are moments that earn the PG-13: A man falls off a cliff to his death and later we see a burning funeral pyre, but none of it is graphic. Jesus is tempted at one point by a woman, her semi-nudity subtly implied, not shown. A depiction of the crucifixion becomes fairly bloody and graphic.

A second trailer has been released for the upcoming Marvel Comics film. ( / Walt Disney Pictures)

Captain America: Civil War

The Avengers superhero team splits into factions and fights it out with their superpowers fully engaged in this latest Marvel Comics mashup. Captain America: Civil War digs into the same issues as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (PG-13), but with more humor and less gloom. Teen fans will have a good time, although the overstuffed plot whiplashes around for nearly 2 hours and the battle scenes grow repetitive. Still, the film rarely droops. The actors and the wit save it. The Avengers team gets into hot water after a foiled mission costs many lives. The government decides the team needs oversight. A U.N. accord to that effect will be signed in Vienna. Team leader Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America (Chris Evans), is dead-set against it. Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), thinks its a good idea. A huge explosion decimates the Vienna meeting and they go after a mysterious villain, but the disagreement simmers and boils over. Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and other superheroes choose sides. An African prince (Chadwick Boseman) becomes the newest Avenger, Black Panther. (146 minutes)

THE BOTTOM LINE: Most of the action scenes are high-tech and low-blood, but the fight between Captain America and Iron Man gets rough. The realistic explosions give a strong sense of innocent civilian lives lost. The dialogue includes rare profanity, including an S-word. The villain Zemo tortures someone.

R

Money Monster

A distraught investor hijacks a cable TV studio, slaps an explosive vest on the host of an investment show and threatens to blow everyone to kingdom come. High-school-age film buffs might get a minor thrill out of this engrossing dramedy  stagey, improbable and preachy though it sometimes gets. Strong language and brief sexual content earn the R, so its not for middle-schoolers. George Clooney and Julia Roberts play well off each other as Lee Gates, the loudmouth host, and Patty Fenn, his long-suffering producer. Just as Lee goes on-air to talk about a company hes been touting and its sudden 800-million-dollar loss, a wild-eyed young man, Kyle Budwell (Jack OConnell), sneaks into the studio and forces Lee at gunpoint to put on the vest and give him answers as to why the firms catastrophic dip, blamed on an algorithm glitch, has wiped him out. Patty and her staff start digging for facts. While police marksmen sneak in, the millionaire host gets to see just what his cocky advice, when it's wrong, can do to an ordinary guy. (98 minutes)

THE BOTTOM LINE: The F-word gets repeated use, along with a couple of stronger, coarser terms, and a few S-words. There is one clothed, but very explicit comic sexual situation. Minor characters briefly snort cocaine. Violent moments are startling but relatively rare and non-graphic, apart from one lethal shooting.
1 of 25 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What not to watch View Photos A sampling of recent movies that received one star or less from Washington Post film critics. Caption A sampling of recent movies that received one star or less from Washington Post film critics. One star Marion Cotillard as Gabrielle, a woman in a loveless marriage, and Alex Brendemuhl as Jose in the French romance From the Land of the Moon, which came from a novella. Alan Zilberman writes, From the Land of the Moon features a typical Cotillard performance, yet the romance, from French actress and filmmaker Nicole Garcia, manages to convey neither triumph nor tragedy. Read the full review Sundance Selects/IFC Films Wait 1 second to continue.

Sundown is less a film than a feature-length tourism ad for a Mexican vacation. Dubious intentions aside, the film is riddled with bad jokes, lazy ethnic stereotyping and a recycled plot. Although largely shot in Mexico, the films unflattering portrayal of that countrys citizens makes one wonder why the Mexican government would provide the filmmakers with a tax incentive, as the opening credits proudly boast.

High-school senior Logan (Devon Werkheiser) is an aspiring DJ. His best friend Blake (Sean Marquette) wants to start a Girls Gone Wild-style website. Over spring break, the two saps follow Logans crush (Sara Paxton) to Puerto Vallarta, where  barely off the plane  they fall victim to one scam after another. For puzzling reasons, the Mexican scammers eventually decide to help Logan and Blake, so together they decide to wage war against a local gangster who has ripped them all off.

Director Fernando Lebrija, who wrote the script with Miguel Tejada-Flores, attempts to find humor with Logan and Blakes bad behavior. The problem is theyre nothing but hormone-driven losers with two modes: sexual objectification and varying degrees of racism. In one ugly scene, Blake awakes after a night of debauchery with a nasty streak of trans-phobia. A long cock-fighting sequence invites us to celebrate animal cruelty.

The stars play their roles with energy, which makes the slapdash film that much more embarrassing  for them. Sundown features cameos from real-life club DJs Paul Oakenfold and Steve Aoki, yet the novelty of their casting suggests that the real reason for the film is to buttress Puerto Vallartas growing reputation as party central for privileged young American travelers.

Puerto Vallarta is where authorities recently detained Ethan Couch, whose attorneys used an affluenza defense after a drunken-driving crash left four people dead. Couch has a lot in common with Logan and Blake, and not just because those characters go on a reckless car chase. Absent any self-awareness by its protagonists, the best thing about Sundown is that its too dumb to be offensive.


Broome's Island, MD - 2016: Larry Thrasher, left, father of Todd, has many fond memories of life on the water in southern Maryland, including living in a house just across the street from Stoney's. (Laura Metzler ) (Laura Metzler/For The Washington Post)

As a boy, Todd Thrasher spent his summer weekends in Southern Maryland, visiting his grandparents, riding motorcycles and presumably doing things he would never tell his father, Larry, let alone a reporter. Now 46 and the veteran behind the bars at Restaurant Eve and PX, Thrasher still occasionally day-trips to this narrow strip of land between the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake, but he tends to return to the same place over and over: Stoneys Seafood House on Broomes Island.

Broomes Island, on the southern end of Calvert County, isnt really an island. Its a peninsula with the Patuxent flowing on one side and Island Creek on the other. The Patuxent was once a rich (and seemingly bottomless) resource for oysters in the 19th and 20th centuries. But after disease, overharvesting and pollution devastated the population, the shucking and canning industries eventually died, along with most of the wild Patuxent oysters. Younger generations will know this slice of Calvert County history only through photos and the memories of those old enough to remember.

As Todd Thrasher sits at a table inside Stoneys, his back to the overcast skies and cold water where he used to ski as a kid, Larry pulls out a smartphone and pulls up an old photo on Google. It shows a small mountain range of shucked oyster shells. Those craggy peaks, Larry figures, were formed right about where the special events tent at Stoneys now squats, near this beautifully landscaped space with Adirondack chairs, a fountain and a river walkway.

Back in the day, you wouldnt have strolled within a 100 feet of those shell piles, the elder Thrasher says. In the summer when it would get really hot and the winds blowing, the aroma was something that you were not looking forward to.



Broome's Island, MD - 2016: Exterior of Stoney's Seafood House in Broomes Island, Md. (Laura Metzler For The Washington Post) (Laura Metzler/For The Washington Post)

Larry solicits confirmation of his anecdote from Richard Elliott, a local who goes by Bunk. (Elliott will help you spell his name: B-u-n-k.) Bunk, a distant relative of the Thrashers, equates the smell to a famous urban myth: seagulls that explode mid-air when fed Alka-Seltzer. They were pretty rotten, he says about those shell piles.

Everyone has a Stoneys Seafood House. Yours may not be a seafood restaurant on a river in Southern Maryland, where the locals had to reinvent themselves after their old way of life went poof. But you certainly have something similar: a place where you reconnect with your roots, where you see yourself reflected back in the culture, the people and the food. It can be comforting. It can be painful. It can be both simultaneously.

The first time I visited Stoneys on Broomes Island  there are other locations in Maryland, but this is the original  I didnt understand why anyone would drive more than an hour from Washington to feast on a leathery soft-shell crab sandwich or suck down a sweet, ketchup-like crab soup. Or chew on lifeless Blue Point oysters when good local shellfish are available just across Broomes Island at the Patuxent Seafood Company.

So I called Todd Thrasher, who had first told me about Stoneys, and suggested we grab lunch there with his father. I mean, Todd has practically become a tour guide for the place. Hes taken Restaurant Eve chef Cathal Armstrong there, and hes introduced his bartending team to the restaurant. He figures he has made 15 to 20 summertime trips to Stoneys since the seafood house opened in 1989.



Broome's Island, MD - 2016: Classic Stoney's appetizers: crab pretzel, hush puppies and Oysters Rockfeeller. (Laura Metzler For The Washington Post) (Laura Metzler/FTWP/FTWP)

Youve never brought me here, says Larry, 67, an IT security contractor who lives in Annapolis. This is the first time, but Im the father. Im always out of it.

Both father and son spent their first months on Earth in Broomes Island before the family relocated to other addresses in the region. When Todd was an infant, the Thrashers in fact lived in a house across the street from where Stoneys sits. The home, demolished long ago, is infamous in Thrasher family lore: Icicles formed inside the place during winter. It was a little chilly, deadpans Dad.

Everyone inside Stoneys seems to share a connection to the old ways of Calvert County. The waitresss father-in-law is a retired waterman. Bunks great grandmother, Sadie Elliott, used to run a seafood house with her husband, Captain Gourley: Sadies Place occupied the same real estate as Stoneys. The whole island is pretty much, like most places, interconnected through family, Bunk says.

Todd Thrasher has a pattern he follows when eating at Stoneys: Hell drink a lager over ice (he hates the taste of full-strength beer) or a rum and Diet Coke. (Thats terrible, the barman says about his soda choice. Please dont print that.) Then hell select a steamer platter, like the Stoneys Steamer, which is a gorgeous pile of sweet, if sometimes rubbery, shellfish: mussels, clams, lobster tails, crawfish, snow crab legs and oysters.

The oysters are local Maryland, the waitress says. Theyre not Blue Points right now.

The discussion inevitably turns to eating non-local seafood at a restaurant so connected to its community and the water. It doesnt bother Thrasher that the snow crab legs or the crawfish or the lobster came from waters far away. Frankly, I think the best thing at Stoneys is local: The big, buttery crab cakes are prepared with Marylands own, and theyre worth every cent of their market price ($19.75 for a large crab-cake sandwich on our visit).

Everything doesnt have to be local and seasonal. Its okay, the Eve mixologist says. If youre paying $175 for a tasting menu, maybe it should be at that point.

No, the appeal of Stoneys, at least to Todd Thrasher, is based on a different kind of local. Its the place where he remembers the boy who had time to play, swim and ride motorcycles. On this cloudy day, he cant linger and pound down another bitter-and-boozy Grapefruit Crush, a Stoneys signature cocktail. He has a closing shift at Eve. Then he has to do inventory. Then he has to head to New York the next morning. His real life is a long way from home.



Broome's Island, MD - 2016: The Grapefruit Crush is a signature cocktail at Stoney's Seafood House in Broomes Island, Md., which is one of mixologist Todd Thrasher's favorite escapes from the District. (Laura Metzler For The Washington Post) (Laura Metzler/FTWP/FTWP)
Aggie Chin, 31, is the award-winning pastry chef at the Grill Room in Georgetown. She grew up in Fairfax and is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High and the University of Virginia.

I read that you had a law degree.

I dont. I was supposed to go to law school, but I went to culinary school instead.

You didnt think that law school would be more fun than culinary school?

[Laughs.] I worked at a law firm right after college, and all the attorneys I spoke with were pushing me toward something else. They said if theres anything youre passionate about or enjoy doing, go for that instead.

Are people afraid to make desserts for you?

I hope not. I dont think so. My mom will still make sweets at home. Like growing up, one of the few desserts she made was graham crackers layered with vanilla pudding and chocolate syrup, and then you freeze it. It was kind of like an ice-box cake.

That actually sounds great.

Yeah, its very nostalgic.

Okay, no one can see this, but Im about to eat your beautiful signature dessert, the Georgetowner. Whats in this?

Its a dark chocolate torte on the bottom. Then cacao nib marshmallow, then milk chocolate Bavarian, then caramelized milk chocolate cremeux and then a dark chocolate tile on top. Around the bar is salted caramel sauce, caramelized rice crispies and a scoop of buttered popcorn ice cream.

[Eating sounds.] Oh, wow, that is unbelievably good. Everyone who is reading this will be jealous of me right now. Are your parents fans of your desserts?

They are. My mom almost too much. Theyve definitely come to accept it a lot more that I became a chef. I didnt tell them for the first three months that I had quit my job at the law firm. [Laughs.]

Name three people in D.C. youd like to have cook a meal for you, and you cant name the Grill Rooms Frank Ruta.

I really like Bad Saint. Tom Cunanan is a young chef doing Filipino food  I would love to taste more of what hes doing. And Im really sad that Crane & Turtle is closing. I would love to have another full meal from Makoto [Hamamura]. And then everything at Red Hen. Its such a great warm feeling there.

Do you remember the first thing you ever baked?

Yes, it was cupcakes from a boxed mix. And I think I was in elementary school. My mother helped me. And it was for my birthday.

Would you ever cook from a box now?

I dont think so. Although, one of my friends made brownies out of the Ghirardelli mix, and they were actually really good.

When youre invited to a party, are you always expected to bring some amazing treat with you?

Always, yeah. Family gatherings, its like, Youre bringing the cake, right? But its always fun to make a home-style dessert, something completely different than a plated restaurant dessert.

Okay, its political season. What dessert would you serve to Hillary Clinton?

Something classical. Maybe a French souffle with an American twist. So instead of a chocolate souffle with Grand Marnier, maybe a cheesecake souffle with strawberries that are coming into season.

Bernie Sanders?

Bernie? I guess something a little more earthy. [Laughs.] Maybe something with oats and buckwheat, and Id incorporate maple syrup from Vermont.

Ted Cruz?

Oh man, a Texas sheet cake. Its like chocolate sheet cake with candied pecans.

Mr. Trump?

Hmmm. Probably just an ice cream sundae.

More Just Asking

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Its possible to take scuba diving lessons right in the District. Blue Planet offers instruction for those as young as 8 years old. (Courtesy of Blue Planet Scuba)

Many would be surprised to find a dive shop in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, but Blue Planet Scubahas been around since 2010. The storefront (1755 S St. NW) is basically a dive gear emporium, with supplies from wet suits and scuba regulators to GoPro cameras and books about fish.

The store also holds interesting items collected on dives, including a tooth from a giant, prehistoric megalodon shark. The tooth is 4.5 inches by 4 inches and was found in a South Carolina riverbed.

Owner Heather Tallent says she and her husband, Jonas Furberg, fell in love with diving on a trip to New Zealand about 10 years ago.

After that trip, it was like, How can we get back underwater? How can we learn more and see more?  Tallent says.

The couple teamed with Matthew Kavanagh to create a dive shop that focused on both conservation and building a community for local divers.

Blue Planet is one of the Professional Association of Diving InstructorsFive Star Dive Centers and offers scuba lessons from certified instructors for divers starting as early as age 8.

Discover Scuba is a class for beginners. Its held in a shallow pool, where students learn how to use the equipment, move about and communicate underwater.

Its a great way to try it with no stress, Tallent says. Youre in the pool so you can stand up if you have any problems.

The two-hour Discover Scuba course was a great option for me. My instructor, Jeff Peterson, helped me get accustomed to maneuvering with the fins, breathing through my mouth for an extended period of time and using the scuba regulator as well as breathing technique to move up and down underwater.

Blue Planets most popular program is the three-part, beginner-level certification course, Open Water Diver, which involves classroom work and a quiz, pool sessions and four open-water dives. There is also a Snorkel and Skin Diver Course, as well as more-advanced classes, such as the one for those who want to become certified dive professionals.

Pool sessions are at Gallaudet Universitys indoor pools. Prices range from $60 for certain specialty classes to between $600 and $700 for the full, public Open Water Diver Course (private pool sessions are extra). Discover Scuba costs $80.

When the trio started the dive shop, Tallent  who has a masters degree in animals and public policy  did not want to leave the world of wildlife conservation completely. Blue Planet educates divers on lessening their environmental impact and encourages them to help when they can by moving debris, for example. Blue Planets trips are to marine-protected areas or resorts with solid conservation practices. The company also raises money for the Project AWARE Foundation, does coral restoration in Florida and participates in the Rock Creek Conservancys Stream Team program.

Blue Planet takes groups on dives around the globe. A trip is planned every month this year, including visits to Iceland, the Galapagos Islands and the Philippines.

D.C. resident Mark Williams began diving with Blue Planet last May and has been underwater every month since. I tell people that Im disconnected underwater. No phone. No BlackBerry. The only place I can be at peace is underwater, says Williams, joking that he even hangs out at the shop when hes bored because its like a family.
1 of 22 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  21 designers transform a $49.5 million townhouse for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House View Photos Check out the latest design trends from the dressed up rooms that will be open to the public in New York from May 12 to June 9. Caption Check out the latest design trends from the dressed up rooms that will be open to the public in New York from May 12 to June 9. Victoria Hagans living room at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House has a dramatic red lacquer fireplace. Phillip Ennis Productions Wait 1 second to continue.

 A former parking garage reborn as a five-story, $49.5 million limestone townhouse opened its doors on Thursday, inviting you to wander through and imagine yourself as a 1-percenter.

Here at the 44th annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House, 21 design firms have been gilding, glazing and glossing to transform the raw concrete spaces of the new-construction luxury home into a glittery, sparkly confection of wow.

Kips Bay, as the annual glitz-a-thon is known in the design trade, is the most prestigious decorator show house in the country. The designers selected to participate are among the best in the world. And the creativity they weave into their spaces ends up in the pages of major shelter magazines and eventually trickles down to a home retailer near you. Design trends observed at my preview tour this week: armless sofas, unconventional fireplace surrounds, the color blue, and lots of silver and gold used together. LED fairy lights are found embedded in bookcases, sewn into curtains and draped on chandeliers.

This glamorous house just off Fifth Avenue has multiple indoor entertaining spaces to drink in, plus two posh outdoor terraces and a lavish roof deck with views of Barneys, the Pierre Hotel and a bit of Central Park. As you wander through the luxuriously appointed rooms, scented with $100 sandalwood candles and armloads of roses and peonies, youll catch a glimpse of what A-list homes are wearing all over the world. Lots of new high-end fabrics, wallcoverings, kitchen fittings, plumbing fixtures and furniture designs make their debut at Kips Bay. But remember, you have only through June 9 to stop by. After that, everything will disappear, just like Brigadoon.



Napoleons Lounge by designer Garrow Kedigian features chalk-art moulding and columns on the walls and ceiling, drawn by Rajiv Surendra. (Phillip Ennis)

This might be a good thing for Napoleons Lounge, since the walls and ceiling of this fifth-floor drawing room by Garrow Kedigian are covered entirely in chalk. Rajiv Surendra, a New York chalk artist, spent 10 days drawing architectural details in the 20-by-20-foot room, whose surfaces had been prepped with three coats of Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint. (A room this size would cost you about $20,000 for custom chalkboard walls and ceiling, if you wanted to have Kedigian and Surendra design it and draw it.)

We wanted to create a formal French drawing room, Kedigian says. I was inspired by Napoleon, as he would create beautiful transitory spaces for himself to lounge in wherever he was. The chalk work of Surendra, a professional calligrapher who also draws elaborate restaurant menu boards, gracefully re-creates a room in the French Empire period, with wall panels, medallions and columns.



A chunky marble terrazzo floor sets off a velvet armless sofa in the Sawyer/Berson Petit Salon. (Phillip Ennis)

Fresh ideas pop out everywhere: Check out the walls, floors and ceilings in each space. Eve Robinson created a refuge for art lovers with a ceiling papered in one of the Mars Collection wallcoverings by the brand Trove, which are based on images of the Red Planet. In the library by David Kleinberg Design Associates, the rustic look of sandblasted pine washed with gold on the fireplace, bookcases and door surrounds was tempered with Clarence House cotton velvet walls, in a color the designers like to call mouse-belly gray. In the Petit Salon by Sawyer/Berson, a chunky marble terrazzo floor with marble fragments in golds and greens sets off a custom gold velvet armless sofa with a fringe trim. We like the sleek look of a single-cushion sofa and think the armless design is very modern and chic, says Brian Sawyer, a partner in the firm.

Inspiration can come from many sources. For Victoria Hagan, a light-filled photo of sky, water and sand that she posted on Instagram gave her the idea for the Grand American Salon. She displays a blown-up image of the beach photo at one end of her large sitting room, with the word Dream superimposed on it. I wanted to do a contemporary living room that reflects light and dreams, Hagan says. I wanted this to be a happy room. The room has a strong, modern look and lots of comfortable seating as well as several elements of surprise: a monumental red lacquered fireplace and simple white window treatments dressed up not with fringe, but with a string of LED lights sewn into the hem.



The moody blue entryway into the $49.5 million townhouse was designed by David Collins Studio. (Phillip Ennis)

Alex Papachristidis's elegant dining room shimmers with gold and silver. (Phillip Ennis)

In the Clive Christian Art Deco-inspired kitchen, there are numerous trophy-kitchen amenities to inspect. But dont miss the Lalique crystal panels, based on a design from 1930s carriages on the Orient Express, and a dramatic bar lit with blue LED lights and fitted with a striking Kallista Bacifiori sink, in polished and hammered stainless steel. Speaking of bars, David Collins Studio took a cue from the famous Blue Bar that the firm designed for the Berkeley hotel in London (a favorite hangout of Madonnas) for their moody blue entryway and staircase, painted with Farrow & Balls Cooks Blue.

On the second floor, designer Alex Papachristidis created a shimmering dining room full of glittery details. The 18th-century English crystal chandeliers have been updated with strings of porcelain beads. A custom pedestal on the dining table looks like a stack of silver-and-gold glazed rocks, a work in ceramic by Eve Kaplan. The napkins on the elegantly set table are custom-embroidered with silver thread to go with the room.

The powder room, by designer Gil Walsh, has a large photo of Jennifer Lopez by celebrity photographer Tony Duran, which inspired sparkly details including a mica wallcovering by Baker and a Kohler Briolette vessel sink of faceted glass. Speaking of inspired, Lopez herself practiced her performing skills after school at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, which provides services for kids in the Bronx. This show is expected to raise around $1.4 million for the clubs programs.

The house is well worth a journey, whether by NetJets or BoltBus.

Life is transient, and Kips Bay is transient. It will only be here for one month, Surendra says as he glances over the result of his many hours of intense chalk drawing in Napoleons Lounge. Surendra, by the way, is also an actor; you may remember him as rapper and mathlete Kevin G. from the 2004 cult classic Lindsay Lohan comedy Mean Girls.

People are in awe of chalk art because of its impermanence, says Surendra, between selfie requests. But that is the beauty of it. Its like fresh flowers  you enjoy it and its fragility. So if the wall gets smudged, deal with it.

Or, as Kevin G. said in his iconic line in the movie:

Dont let the haters stop you from doin your thang!

Kips Bay Decorator Show House is open daily through June 9 at the Carlton House Townhouse, 19 E. 61st St., New York. Admission is $35 and benefits the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. For more information, visit kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org.
Locate your most comfortable footwear: Some of Washingtons leading go-go acts are banding together to celebrate the life of Chuck Brown by releasing a heap of new music.

Brown first got Washingtonians dancing in the 1970s when he invented go-go, a percussive funk dialect that eventually became the pulse of Chocolate City. Brown, who died four years ago this month, was known affectionately as the Godfather of Go-Go, and now his pupils are making a concerted effort to memorialize his life each May with new, original go-go music. Theyve deemed Friday the first D.C. Go-Go New Music Day.

So we have nine acts, nine tunes  and a few crank especially hard, including Team Familiars Straight to the Bar and DJ Flexxs This Aint The Water. And while Backyard Bands luscious cover of Adeles Hello continues to echo across the city, the group showcases its rougher edges here with Tokyo Spinach.

There is smooth stuff, too: Chuck Brown Bands jazz-tinted Show Me Love, BeLa Donas Night Out, Groove Stus Work Hard, Play Harder and Junk Yard Bands Anacostia Bay, which rewrites the lyrics of Otis Reddings immortal R&B hymn.

For versatility, listen to the reggaelike spring of Michelle Blackwells Bounce, and for a laugh-out-loud dance tutorial, check out the first verse of Big Back Yard by Reality: Make your L3 break, now Google it! (Google it.)

The acts will release these songs on digital platforms, and theyre hoping to land a few spins on local radio. Fans can also tune in to GoGoRadio Live, a digital radio station that is dedicating all of Fridays programming to original go-go music.
Tiera Williams, 25, cuddles with her newborn son Quintin at a Denny's restaurant in December. She and her three children had been homeless for months and living at a Days Inn in Northeast D.C. (Allison Shelley/For The Washington Post)

Stop for a moment and imagine a homeless person.

Seeing a blanket? Raggedy pants? A panhandling cup? Are you begging that red light to hurry up and turn green?

Thats not the face of homelessness in the nations capital anymore.

For the first time since an annual census of the homeless began 15 years ago, homeless children and parents in the District outnumber single adults  the folks we encounter in parks and on sidewalks and median strips who often are struggling with mental illness or substance abuse.

According to the annual survey conducted in January, there were more than 4,600 children and parents who were homeless in Washington  about 1,000 more than single adults.

Residents of the shelter for homeless families at the former D.C. General Hospital mingle in the late afternoon light outside of the facility. (Michael S. Williamson/The Post)

[There are now more homeless kids and parents in D.C. than homeless single adults]

But its easy to miss the homeless kids heading to school and playing at parks or their parents waiting at bus stops or serving us a burger. Their invisibility makes it easier for everyone to be in denial about this raging crisis, easier to keep pretending that its something temporary that will go away.

To her credit, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has tried to help these families by guaranteeing them access to city shelters or motel rooms, whether its cold outside or not. She wants to spend $173 million on homeless-related services  more, as my Washington Post colleague Aaron C. Davis reported, than the combined budgets for libraries, parks and the University of the District of Columbia.

But Bowsers plan to close the dilapidated family shelter at the former D.C. General Hospital and replace it with new, smaller shelters has come under attack for its exorbitant costs and charges that the sites selected reward major campaign contributors. Many neighbors of the proposed shelters are, predictably, completely opposed.

Meanwhile, the shelter at D.C. General is a festering mess that could stay open for years to come. As many as 600 children are living there, along with their parents. Their presence reflects the citys long history of magical thinking when it comes to the homeless.

The abandoned hospital in Southeast Washington has been housing some of the Districts most desperate families ever since then-Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) closed an even worse shelter, D.C. Village, nine years ago.

But it was just temporary, D.C. officials told everyone.

At the time, the Districts gentrification was well underway. Neighborhood after neighborhood began to gleam with new restaurants, urban parks and pop-up mini-cities named by developers.

Missing was any plan for affordable housing. Instead, poor and working-class families were being priced out of a city that their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents called home.

[An affordable housing crisis with no end in sight]

Because their predicament was temporary, of course.

As the number of homeless families began to soar, the city paid little attention to what was happening at D.C. General. The facilitys neighbors are a jail, a methadone clinic, a clinic for people with sexually transmitted diseases and what used to be a morgue. Its the land of Things No One Wants to See.

So little was done to make the place  frozen in time, with overturned waiting-room chairs and yellowed medical literature left behind when it was closed  safe and livable.

The heat didnt work, the air conditioning didnt work, rats and raccoons moved in. Paint peeled, water browned, children went to the hospital with ringworm and skin infections and bites up and down their little legs.

Over and over again, city officials said they didnt want to spend a lot of money to fix the decrepit place because  you guessed it  it was temporary. They even resisted giving children at the shelter a playground, which should have been a no-brainer.

The city was spending millions of dollars building awesome playgrounds in neighborhoods with handfuls of children while 600 homeless kids had no place to play but a parking lot full of gravel and broken glass.

[Eight years old and homeless: In D.C. there are hundreds of Relishas]

The city finally caved on the playground in 2014, after the disappearance of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd. The second-grader vanished in the company of a shelter janitor who killed his wife and then himself. Relisha is presumed dead, but her body has not been found.

Former D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) was frustrated when the city mysteriously came up with $450,000 to build a playground at D.C. General.

This is something that could have been done all along, he said during a hearing two years ago.

Bingo, Tommy.

All along, the city could have acknowledged that thousands of parents and children would be edged out of the housing market.

All along, the city could have acknowledged that simply saying D.C. General is temporary  with no workable alternative in sight  wont make it possible to close the place.

Its time to stop pretending theres an easy fix to our growing housing crisis. Its time to spend the money necessary to make D.C. General a decent place for our most vulnerable children to live.

Twitter: @petulad
Sophomore Da-Quon Rhones, 15, considers a question during an interview for a summer job at the White House at Ballou High School in Washington on May 11. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

Da-Quon Rhones had his first job interview this week. The 15-year-old stood up and shook hands with the White House internship coordinator and the director of a nonprofit, making eye contact and smiling all the way through  just as he had practiced.

He sat up straight in an orange leather chair in the Ballou High School library, wearing his button-down shirt and stylish khakis as the director of the Clifton Foundation lobbed questions his way.

Have you ever had an idea for a business? Kristin Gregory asked him.

Da-Quon quickly launched into a story of his time playing peewee football. He was 8, and he wanted the latest pair of cleats, but his mother couldnt afford them. Instead, she purchased some markers and a plain white pair of shoes, and Da-Quon designed his own.

Now, he told Gregory, he wants to own a sports equipment company. He will first earn an engineering degree  and be the first in his family to go to college and then design his own clothing. But before that, the high school sophomore wants an internship in the Washington Builders entrepreneurship program at the Clifton Foundation. Or maybe at the White House.

Sophomore Jakeyla Brooks, 15, interviews with Kristin Gregory, director of the Clifton Foundation, for a summer job at Ballou High School in Washington on May 11. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

If my friends knew someone at the White House, Da-Quon said, I think Id gain a lot of popularity.

D.C. Public Schools is partnering for the first time with the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program to place 500 students in Career Ready Internships, where they will earn minimum wage through the city-funded jobs program. Accenture Consulting, the College Board, Destination D.C., the Washington Nationals, the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House are among the nearly 70 participants.

The Summer Youth Employment Program, which has deep roots in the Districts predominantly black neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, places about 15,000 D.C. residents ages 14 to 24 in subsidized jobs for six weeks.

The idea of the long-standing summer program is to provide students with skills and professional relationships that they can parlay into long-term jobs and careers. Some critics worry that the program does not do enough to provide skills necessary to transform summer jobs into full-time work.

[Can a costly summer jobs program lead to permanent work for youths?]

The Career Ready Internship aims to match students with internships that are related to what they are studying in school, better honing a students career interests and providing them with professional contacts.

To qualify for the program, students must be enrolled in a career-focused academy or educational program at a D.C. public school and have completed some employment skills courses.

A question sheet used to interview students for a summer internship at the White House during an interview at Ballou High School in Washington on May 11. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

Da-Quon and six other sophomores at the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at Ballou High School in Congress Heights interviewed with four potential summer employers on Wednesday afternoon. Each student brought their resume, with Ballous emblem watermarked on the paper.

The interviewers scribbled notes during their one-on-ones with the students, and they later provided feedback to school leaders on how the students presented themselves.

I was impressed with how aware they were that a first great job is paramount to their future, said Gregory, the director of the Clifton Foundation, which works to identify and develop strengths in young people.

Employers will be meeting with students at high schools throughout the District in coming weeks; participating employers who do not want to partake in the interview process will be assigned interns.

Bryan Williams, the human resources manager at Destination D.C.  the citys tourism bureau  said the interns will do administrative, planning and marketing work for five weeks this summer. Hes hoping to make it a rotational program, so the students can see all facets of how the organization works.

I was very impressed, Williams said. They were thoroughly prepared.

Jakeyla Brooks, 15, was just proud that she made it through the interview. Her nerves yielded some minor stuttering in the beginning, but she says she quickly recovered. When an employer asked about a time she inspired someone, she didnt hesitate before relaying how she calls a friend who doesnt like going to school each morning to ensure she gets to class.

DAndre Jones, 15, said he was interested in interning at the Clifton Foundation because of the programs community focus. Hes looking forward to the summer opportunity but wants to go to college before he enters the workforce. Last weekend, his sister became the first in his family to graduate from college, and he attended the ceremony.

I was proud of her, so now its my turn to build up the legacy, he said.

Throughout each 10-minute interview, the students rattled off answers to questions about their strengths, favorite courses, role models and career aspirations.

When the White House internship coordinator asked Da-Quon what he wanted from his summer, he paused for a moment, smiled, then said, My goal is to have a person I can talk to about work, and a way I can come back after the summer.

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John King Jr. speaks at the White House in October 2015, a few months before being nominated to serve as education secretary. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

An Obama administration proposal to ensure adequate resources for poor children in the nations schools has triggered a backlash on Capitol Hill and among the nations K-12 superintendents, who say that the U.S. Education Department is trying to unilaterally  and illegally  rewrite the nations main federal education law.

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service on Wednesday lent credence to that criticism, writing that the departments proposal seems to conflict with language in the law and appears to go beyond what would be required under a plain language reading of the statute.

At issue is how thousands of school districts prove that they are using $15 billion in federal Title I dollars to provide extra help for poor children in tens of thousands of schools nationwide. Federal law says that school districts must spend the money in a way that provides extra help to poor children  that it not be used to provide basic educational services  and requires that Title I schools have comparable services to those in wealthier schools in the same district. School districts are not allowed to underfund schools in poor neighborhoods and then use the federal dollars to fill in the hole.

But because high-poverty schools often spend fewer dollars per student  sometimes thousands of dollars  the Education Department has proposed a new rule to force districts to close the gap first. School districts would have to show that they are spending enough on poorer schools before they receive the federal dollars.

Department officials believe they have not only the legal authority, but the legal obligation, to enforce that rule.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). (Susan Walsh/AP)

The entire purpose of Title I funds is to truly provide the additional resources necessary to ensure that students in high poverty schools have access to equitable educational opportunity, spokeswoman Raymonde Charles said in a statement. If schools are being shortchanged before the federal dollars arrive, then those dollars are not supplemental.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), one of the chief architects of the new education law, is urging states to sue if the administration moves forward with the plan, arguing that it would interfere with the laws specific intent of shifting power from Washington to state and local school officials.

This is an intolerable situation, Alexander said on the Senate floor. As soon as the president himself signs the law, they start rewriting it over in his own department.

Some local education officials say that the Education Department is not only overstepping its legal authority but also pushing a plan that would cause chaos in thousands of schools nationwide, including by forcing large numbers of teachers to transfer to new buildings.

It is going to wreak havoc in any district that has Title I schools, said Des Moines Superintendent Thomas Ahart. Theres just no way that we wont be completely disrupting our entire system to comply with this rule that, by the way, will not result in improved results for kids.

Obama administration officials say that they are seeking to uphold the civil rights intent of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which passed into law with bipartisan support last year.

This week a group of teachers affiliated with TeachPlus, a teacher leadership organization, met with Education Secretary John King Jr. and urged him not to back down. They also delivered a letter bearing that message, signed by more than 600 teachers who work in high-poverty schools.

This is a civil rights issue, and no one is voluntarily stepping up to hand over their dollars to our students of need, Baltimore teacher Rebecca Belleville told King this week. Unless thats explicit from the U.S. government . . . its just not going to happen.

School districts spend most of their money on people, and one of the proposals biggest impacts would be on how teachers are distributed.

Many districts allocate positions equitably across schools, so all schools have the same teacher-student ratio before they receive federal aid. But that doesnt mean that districts are spending equally in all schools: The neediest schools tend to employ teachers with less experience than more affluent schools, and less-experienced teachers earn lower salaries.

Under the Obama administrations proposal, school districts would have to calculate what they actually spend on teacher salaries in each separate school and would for the first time have to rectify gaps in spending between Title I and non-Title I schools.

Those who oppose that plan say that it contradicts a separate provision in the law that prohibits the Education Department from mandating equalized spending.

Another problem, they say, is that it is unworkable in practice.

Ahart, the Des Moines superintendent, said there are few, if any, school districts that would have enough cash in reserve to bolster spending in Title I schools to the level that would be required.

Alvin Wilbanks, the superintendent of schools in Gwinnett County, Ga., said it would be a nightmare to balance teacher salaries among schools whose employees are always changing.

Imagine a veteran teacher who retires after 30 years and is replaced by a new teacher, creating a swing of $35,000 to $45,000, he said. It would create an imbalance that would be tough to fix without shuffling teachers among buildings. He said that forcing teachers to move could violate union contracts in some districts and could boost teacher turnover, destabilizing schools.

I have no problem with giving incentives to teachers who work in schools that are hard to staff, but you cant move people around, Wilbanks said. This is America.

Both superintendents said there is no clear link, in their experience, between a teachers salary and their effectiveness in the classroom.

Ahart and Wilbanks were among more than two dozen people the Education Department tasked with reaching consensus on key regulations related to the new education law, part of a typical process after new laws pass. The committee  which included representatives from the Education Department, as well as parents, teachers, principals and members of the civil rights and business communities  failed to agree on the Title I spending proposal that the department put forward.

That leaves the Education Department in the drivers seat for now, responsible for writing the rule itself. The department is expected to release its draft version in coming weeks to be able to accept public comment and publish a final rule before Obama leaves office.

Nine Senate Democrats endorsed the departments approach. So has the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, writing in a letter last month that the federal government must no longer be expected to subsidize the inequitable funding of public schools serving high numbers of low-income students.

But opponents of the departments position represent a broad coalition that doesnt always agree, including organizations representing the nations governors, state education chiefs, school boards and superintendents, as well as the two largest teachers unions.

Donna Harris-Aikens, director of education policy for the National Education Association, said that the department was seeking to establish a strict definition of compliance, contradicting the laws call for greater flexibility for districts and states. Thats just not the spirit of the statute, she said.

Alexander, who chairs the Senate education committee, said he will use the appropriations process and every other tool at his disposal to ensure that the department cannot carry out its plan.

They came up with a scheme that would violate the law, he said. Im not going to put up with it.



[A previous version of this article misspelled the name of Baltimore teacher Rebecca Belleville.]
Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a news conference outside the Statehouse on the last day of the Maryland state legislature on April 11 in Annapolis. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday that he plans to eliminate or reduce dozens of state fees by $60 million over the next five years.

The action comes less than a month after the Democratic-controlled legislature refused to approve some of the governors proposed cuts. And it is the third time in a year that Hogan (R) has cut fees or tolls without legislative approval.

Veterans will be admitted to state parks for half the current price; drivers using the E-ZPass system will pay less for transponders; and people who need documents notarized will see a fee reduction, as will those who apply for child support or hospice care.

The money will do more good in the hands of the taxpayers than in the hands of the government, Hogan said, adding that the reductions to more than 150 fees will not affect agencies delivery of services.

In September, Hogan reduced more than 100 state agency fees totaling $50 million. Months earlier, he lowered tolls on many of the state roads and bridges.

[Maryland cuts tolls on Bay Bridge, ICC and other roadways]

Reducing and eliminating taxes, tolls and fees not only helps to streamline state government, it has a direct impact on the livelihood of Maryland citizens, Hogan said. This is another step our administration is taking to follow through and do exactly what we said we would do.

[Hogan cuts Maryland agency fees by $10 million a year]

Hogan won his surprise election in 2014 after hammering the number of taxes and fees residents and businesses pay to live and operate in Maryland.

The majority of the 155 fees that Hogan plans to reduce will affect businesses, lowering dozens of professional license fees and eliminating fees for operating different types of health providers. For example, Hogan is getting rid of the $350 license and renewal fee for home health agencies and the $3,000 to $7,000 fee charged to comprehensive care facilities.

The state Department of Transportation will collect an estimated $1.6 million less, and the state Department of Information Technology will receive $3 million less by reducing a monthly 11-cent telecommunications fee to five cents. Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn said the $1.50 reduction in the cost of the E-ZPass transponders is partly the result of a change in the contract with the company that provides the units.

House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said he was not aware of which fees Hogan cut but raised a concern that every time you do away with a fee, there are still services that have to provided . . . and somebody has to ultimately pay for it.

Hogan said Thursday that he asked the General Assembly to reduce 34 fees during the recently ended 90-day session. It passed eight, he said.

One bill that contained a number of fee reductions was stripped down to include one. It slashed the cost of birth certificates and death certificates in half, from $24 to $12.

Hogan signed the bill into law this week.
The grassy field to the right is the site of a proposed gas-fired power plant in Brandywine, Md. The plant would become the fifth plant in a 13-mile radius in southern Maryland. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post)

Residents of rural southern Prince Georges County filed a federal civil rights complaint Wednesday, saying the states approval of a natural-gas-fueled power plant would disproportionately affect their majority-black community.

Local organizations partnered with Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy group, to ask the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Transportation Department to investigate whether state regulators discriminated against the community when they issued a permit last fall for construction of the Panda Mattawoman power plant.

The number of power plants and other industrial enterprises in the southern Prince Georges community of Brandywine has grown in recent decades.

Residents  72 percent of whom are African American  say the projects are generating excessive pollution in an environmentally sensitive area. There are two plants in the area, and two more, including Panda Mattawoman, are proposed within 15 miles.

We deserve a healthy quality of life, and we dont deserve to be disproportionately and adversely impacted in our daily lives as it pertains to air quality, traffic and noise, said Kamita Gray, president of Brandywine BTB, which is behind the complaint. We are asking them to listen to the community about the burdens they are asking us to take on.

[Proliferation of power plants worries Pr. Georges residents]

Federal officials said they are reviewing the complaint.

Bill Pentak, vice president of investor relations and public affairs for Panda Power Funds, the company building the plant, said, The Maryland Public Service Commission undertook a lengthy and comprehensive analysis of a wide range of issues in granting the Mattawoman Projects Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, including the issues raised in the complaint. The complaint is without merit, and we are confident there have been no violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Gray is one of dozens of local activists who tried to intervene when the Public Service Commission took up the power plant case last year. Neighbors complained that the agency failed to assess the negative effects the project would have on the environment.

In a separate action, local activists filed an appeal in December asking a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge to review the agencys decision. We are asking the court to vacate approval and send it back to the agency for a redo, said attorney G. Macy Nelson, who argued the case in court last month.

Meanwhile, Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) and other government officials hailed the Panda Mattawoman projects potential economic impact, saying it would generate millions of dollars in needed tax revenue for the county.

Earthjustice attorney Neil Gormley said that state agencies ignored environmental justice and that the state needs an inclusive process that takes community concerns seriously. Its part of a pattern of black communities bearing disproportionately the negative impacts that are understood to go along with the siting of a large fossil-fuel plant, he said.
Police take Eulalio Tordil, 62, a suspect in the Westfield Montgomery Mall shooting and two other fatal shootings in the D.C. area, into custody in Bethesda, Md.

May 6, 2016 Police take Eulalio Tordil, 62, a suspect in the Westfield Montgomery Mall shooting and two other fatal shootings in the D.C. area, into custody in Bethesda, Md. Alex Brandon/AP

One man was slain at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and a woman was killed outside a Giant grocery store in Aspen Hill. The suspect, Eulalio Tordil, is in custody.

One man was slain at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and a woman was killed outside a Giant grocery store in Aspen Hill. The suspect, Eulalio Tordil, is in custody.

One man was slain at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and a woman was killed outside a Giant grocery store in Aspen Hill. The suspect, Eulalio Tordil, is in custody.

A Montgomery County Council committee will hold a hearing on reports of confusion and lack of uniform emergency procedures at county buildings during last Fridays fatal shootings at Montgomery Mall and the Aspen Hill Giant supermarket.

Council member Tom Hucker (D-Eastern County) said Thursday that he was troubled by reports that staff at Montgomery Colleges Rockville campus mistakenly issued a tornado alert over the schools new mass-notification system. Hucker also expressed concern about his own experience that day at the Silver Spring Civic Building, where he was attending a conference while news of the shooting spread. He said staffers told him they had not been trained to respond to an active shooting incident.

I wasnt able to get clear answers on what would happen if we got information about heightened risk, said Hucker, a member of the councils Public Safety Committee. Weve invested a lot of resources in perfecting communication for snowstorms. I dont think the same level of preparation has gone into events like we saw on Friday.

No date has been set for the hearing.

[Suspect in custody in shootings at mall, grocery store, high school]

Eulalio Tordil, 62, of Adelphi, Md. (Montgomery County Police Department)

Montgomery College students followed news of the shootings on social media for at least half an hour before the school sent its first text message at 1:37 p.m. placing the Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses on lockdown, according to a timeline compiled by campus security officials.

That was more than an hour after Montgomery County Public Schools issued a 12:19 p.m. alert at the request of the police ordering all schools to have students and staffers shelter in place. Five minutes later, the countys recreation department posted a Twitter notice that all of its facilities were on lockdown.

Montgomery College spokesman Marcus Rosano said in an email this week that safety, security and well-being of our students and employees is our top priority. College officials were monitoring updates from all county agencies, he said, but refrained from issuing an alert because the police had not requested it.

The colleges 1:37 p.m. text alert was followed by messages on Twitter and Facebook at 1:43 p.m. and by email at 1:49 p.m.

Confusion was caused at 2:05 p.m. at the Rockville campus when a tornado alert went out over a new emergency notification system that includes public address announcements. It directed everyone to go to a floor without windows.

[Timeline: Three shooting incidents, three deaths in Prince Georges, Montgomery counties]

Rosano said the Rockville campuss emergency notification system was not yet fully installed and that human error caused the issuance of a test message. The alert was followed quickly by announcements that the alert was only a test and that the emergency was over. There was no such problem at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus, Rosano said. The notification system there is fully operational, he said.

Montgomery County Assistant Chief Russ Hamill described the attempted carjackings at Md. shopping centers on May 6, and detailed how two of the victims "selflessly and heroically" saved a woman. She and one man were injured, while the other died. Suspect Eulalio Tordil is in custody. (WUSA9)

English professor Emily Rosado, who was in Macklin Tower, which houses the Rockville campuss library as well as faculty and administrative offices, said the errant tornado alert caused unnecessary anxiety.

Disarray was reported at the Campus Center building, where staff members and students said contract security officers moved people from upper floors into a room at the Office of Student Life, putting nearly 100 into a space with capacity for about half that number.

Rosano said that the lockdown required that people be moved from large open spaces in the building, such as the cafeteria.

Mileka Grooms, 22, a senior nursing student who works part-time at the Student Life office, said that once people were in the room, little information was conveyed about the situation.

Its definitely nerve-racking when you are a student, and you dont know whats going on, and youre left to freak out by yourself, Grooms said.

The school sent an all-clear message at 3:13 p.m. after the 3 p.m. news conference that confirmed the capture of the alleged shooter Eulalio Leo Tordil.

Rosano said crisis counselors will be on all three campuses  Rockville, Germantown and Silver Spring/Takoma Park  on Friday.
Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Joseph Richards III, builder, horseman

Joseph Richards III, 82, a residential builder and developer who was also a breeder, rider and racer of horses, died May 4 at a care facility in Aldie, Va. The cause was complications from a broken pelvis suffered in an accidental fall in late March at his home in Marshall, Va., said his wife, Patsy Richards.

Mr. Richards was born in Washington. Operating the firm Arlington Builders, he built homes throughout the Washington area from the 1970s to the 2000s.

The son of a horse breeder and racer, Mr. Richards continued in his familys equestrian tradition. His horse, Colonels Request, won the International Gold Cup in The Plains, Va., in 1987. As a rider, Mr. Richards participated in point-to-point competitions and was a member of the Potomac Hunt, the Fairfax Hunt and the Orange County Hounds.

Jonathan C. Brown, World Bank officer

Jonathan C. Brown, 71, a World Bank officer whose specialties included energy and the environment, and health issues such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, died April 12 at a care center in Winchester, Va. The cause was complications from heart surgery, said his wife, Ayse Kudat.

Mr. Brown, a native of Oneonta, N.Y., worked for the World Bank from 1973 to 2008 and retired as an operations adviser for global HIV/AIDS issues. In retirement, he was a consultant. A former resident of Alexandria, Va., he lived in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., after leaving the World Bank, then moved to Charlottesville, Va., two months ago.

Jesse A. Mann, Georgetown professor

Jesse A. Mann, 94, who served 50 years on the Georgetown University faculty, retiring in 1997 as professor of philosophy, died April 10 at a care center in Adelphi, Md. The cause was complications from dementia, said a nephew, Robert E. Matthews.

Dr. Mann, a native Washingtonian, began his Georgetown career in 1947 as an instructor of freshman English. Later he switched to philosophy. In the late 1960s he was dean of the School for Summer and Continuing Education and then dean of the School of Foreign Service.

Barbara Ann Gordon, federal worker, arts volunteer

Barbara Ann Gordon, 95, a former State Department program officer who chaired the Foreign Service Institutes Latin American training program from 1965 to 1970, died April 12 at a hospital in Bethesda, Md. The cause was heart and stroke complications, said a friend and guardian, Pamela Buckles.

Mrs. Gordon, a Bethesda resident, was born Barbara Ann Walker in Baltimore. At the State Department from 1948 to 1953, she was a delegate to a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) meeting in London. She was a past president of the National Symphony Orchestras womens committee and a board member of the Washington Performing Arts Society and the Friends of the Corcoran Art Gallery acquisition committee.

Henry S. Sizer, Foreign Service officer

Henry S. Sizer, 82, a former Foreign Service officer who specialized in Middle East affairs who became a labor management officer at the American Foreign Service Association until retiring in 2003, died April 7 at his home in Washington. The cause was a heart attack, said a son, Michael Sizer.

Mr. Sizer, a Buffalo native, was a Foreign Service officer from 1958 to 1986, and his assignments included Syria, Yemen, Tunisia, Vietnam, France and Lebanon. In 1978 and 1979 he was charge daffairs at the embassy in Oman. He was a volunteer at the Washington charity Marthas Table.

Anne Favo, trade magazine editor

Anne Favo, 80, an associate editor for the American Bus Associations Destinations magazine in the 1980s and 90s, died April 10 at a nursing home in Verona, Pa. The cause was carcinoid syndrome, said a son, James McGrath.

Mrs. Favo was born Anne Finnegan in Washington. In the 1960s and 70s, she coordinated events for Blackthorn Stick, an Irish folk dance group. As a member of the Catholic Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Md., she co-founded a volunteer committee to help parishioners with limited mobility. A longtime Bethesda resident, she moved to Washington in the 1990s and began to split her time between the District and Oakmont, Pa.

Robert A. Copeland Jr., ophthalmologist

Robert A. Copeland Jr., 60, the founding chairman of Howard University medical schools ophthalmology department, died April 11 at his home in Chevy Chase, Md. The cause was heart ailments, said Sholnn Freeman, a university spokesperson.

Dr. Copeland was born in Germantown, Pa., and joined the Howard medical school staff in 1986. Over the last 30 years, he treated thousands of ophthalmology patients, trained and mentored hundreds of ophthalmology physicians and was co-author of a textbook on the cornea. He had done ophthalmology procedures in Haiti, Ghana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Chile, Liberia, Nigeria and India, and he had received the American Academy of Ophthalmologys distinguished service award.

John A. Rhea, freelance journalist

John A. Rhea, 79, a freelance journalist who specialized in coverage of electronics, space and military issues, died April 6 at a care center in Woodstock, Va. The cause was pneumonia, said a daughter, Nancie Turner.

Mr. Rhea, a native of Urbana, Ill., covered space launches in Florida for military and electronics publications in the 1960s. He later moved to the Washington area and worked as a freelance reporter until about 2005, when he moved to Woodstock from Silver Spring, Md.

Mary Morton, church volunteer

Mary Morton, 84, who accompanied her husband around the world on Foreign Service assignments and later served as chair of the Opportunity Shop at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Washington, died April 3 at a residential facility for seniors in Bethesda, Md. The cause was lung cancer, said a family friend, Hans Tuch.

Mrs. Morton, a Bethesda resident, was born Mary Bolmar in Topeka, Kan. Early on, she was a biographic analyst at the State Department. She then joined her husband on his postings to Europe and Asia before his retirement in 1989.

Abdul Kadir Aziz, mathematics professor

Abdul Kadir Aziz, 92, retired professor in the department of mathematics and statistics at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC), died March 25 at a care center in Chevy Chase, Md. The cause was respiratory distress and arterial disease, said a stepdaughter, Beth Rogers.

Dr. Aziz, a Chevy Chase resident, was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. He came to Washington in the 1940s when his father was the Afghan ambassador here. Dr. Aziz was a mathematics professor at Georgetown University, then in 1967 transferred to UMBC, where he retired in 1989. In 1999, he donated money to establish what is known as the Aziz Lecture Series on numerical solutions to certain mathematical equations, and which are now delivered at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Thomas Ubois, science foundation officer

Thomas Ubois, 83, who retired in 1994 as executive officer of the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation, died April 10 at a hospice center in Arlington, Va. The cause was kidney cancer, said a son, Jeffrey Ubois.

Mr. Ubois, an Arlington resident, was born in Ambridge, Pa. He came to Washington in 1961 as a presidential management intern, initially at the Veterans Administration and then at the Bureau of the Budget. He joined the National Science Foundation in 1971.

John M. Meek, public relations specialist

John M. Meek, 86, a public relations and communications officer who in the 1960s had been a speechwriter and press assistant in the Kennedy and Johnson White Houses, died March 11 at a medical center in Tucson. The cause was pneumonia, said a son, James G. Meek.

Mr. Meek was born in Rocky, Okla. Early on, he was a press secretary to Sens. Robert S. Kerr and J. Howard Edmondson, both Oklahoma Democrats. In 1969 he joined the Edelman public relations company, where his work included helping obtain U.S. landing rights for the British-French Concorde SST aircraft. He left Edelman in 1983, formed a public relations partnership, Hartz-Meek International, and later worked in a solo public relations business. In 1999 he moved to Green Valley, Ariz., from Washington.

 From staff reports
A DNA technology company created a composite image of man Loudoun County Sheriffs detectives believe is tied to a 1987 sexual assault case. DNA from the crime was used to create the image, authorities said. (Parabon NanoLabs)

Imagine for a second you could go back nearly 30 years, and see what a suspect actually looked like.

Thats just what cold-case detectives from Loudoun County Sheriffs Office did with the help of a DNA technology company. Using DNA from the scene of an unsolved 1987 crime, a Virginia company created composite images of a man who authorities believe is linked to the sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl, an office press release said.

The assault happened on June 26, 1987. Authorities were called to the 200 block of East Poplar Road in Sterling, where a 9-year-old reported that an unidentified man broke into her home, abducted and sexually assaulted her.

She described the man to investigators. Evidence was collected at the scene, but detectives never solved the case. Now, with the help of Parabon NanoLabs, authorities used the DNA that was collected to make a composite image and a profile of a suspect: a brown-eyed man with reddish brown or black hair.

The images were released Wednesday by Loudoun County Sheriffs Office and show what the man may have looked like at 25 and 50.

Authorities said the composites are scientific approximations of appearance based on DNA and are not likely to be exact replicas of appearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dave Canham of the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office Cold Case Unit at (703) 777-0475. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are asked to call Loudoun Crime Solvers at (703) 777-1919. Callers who provide information to Crime Solvers that leads to an arrest and indictment could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.
David Mann looks at a clock on the mantel of his D.C. home. He and his wife, Vera, have filed a lawsuit alleging that health-care workers took valuables from their house when David Mann needed at-home care after an operation. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Sometimes Vera Mann sees an empty spot where a treasured object once sat, and her eyes fill with tears. The mantelpiece in her living room, which used to display crystal vases and porcelain figurines. Her light-filled atrium, where small marble animals peeked out from among the orchids. Her own fingers, where for 70 years she wore her wedding and engagement rings.

All gone, now.

Over the course of six months last year, she and her husband, David, say, three nurses caring for him in their Kalorama home systematically made off with more than half a million dollars worth of their belongings. The Manns, both 91, have filed a $4 million civil suit against the nurses and two home health-care agencies, seeking compensation for the missing items  from bath towels to priceless family heirlooms  and for the distress it caused them. An investigation by D.C. police is also underway.

The alleged disappearances, and the length of time over which they occurred, highlight a growing problem as more Americans age and require in-home care: The more dependent they are on caregivers, the harder it is to confront them when there is a problem. And crime allegations can be hard to prosecute if its the word of the residents against that of the caregivers.

A bill being considered in the District may help, making it a crime to use undue influence in the financial abuse of a vulnerable adult, including people 65 or older. Thirty-five states have statutes criminalizing the financial exploitation of older or incapacitated persons, and at least nine have laws defining undue influence in their criminal codes.

David and Vera Mann talk about several items that they say were stolen from the kitchen. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

The bill passed an initial D.C. Council vote last week, and the council expects to take a final vote this month or next. If it passes, advocates say it will make such cases easier to prosecute, particularly in situations involving coercion or in those in which it isnt clear whether a crime has been committed.

The Manns three-story D.C. townhouse, with a soaring, custom-built atrium that Vera hand-painted in Italian-style trompe loeil, is filled with items collected over a lifetime of travel and overseas stints: He is a former assistant secretary of the Navy and she is a psychologist. The nurses were provided by Maryland-based Capital City Nurses, hired by their son in March 2015 after gastric bypass surgery left David in need of round-the-clock care.

When small kitchen items began to vanish, the couple said they initially assumed they had been misplaced. But then the disappearances became more glaring, they said. A Limoges china planter. A silver fish platter. An expensive eelskin briefcase that hadnt left the house in 25 years. And finally, the couple said, jewelry and furs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars vanished, including pieces Veras mother brought over from Russia around the time of the Titanic disaster.

Those things, and the house itself as a safe environment that she had designed, were an important world to her, so to have a lot of the components of that world lost, to be invaded like that, was very traumatic for her, said their son, James Mann. For his father, he said, its more a matter of a violation of trust, that people who came in on the basis of they were going to take care of him didnt do their job.

By September, David was nailing boards across the kitchen cupboards and Vera was hiding valuables in locked rooms the caregivers were not supposed to enter. That didnt work  they allege that locked closets were forceably opened, and Vera said she awoke one night to find one of the caregivers in her bedroom, rummaging through boxes.

When the Manns called Capital City Nurses to report what was happening, they said, they were not taken seriously.

They said, Oh no, our people dont do such things,  David said.

The Manns are a 91-year-old couple who hired 24- hour-a-day caregivers after he had an operation last year. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

When they called the police on Sept. 17, their day caregiver stopped showing up for work, the couple said. The night caregiver had disappeared three weeks earlier without notice, a few days after seeing the boarded-up cupboards, the suit said.

None of them gave notice or resigned in any normal way; they just disappeared, said Charles Curlett, an attorney who last month filed the civil suit in D.C. Superior Court on the couples behalf. A police spokesperson said Monday that the departments investigation is still active.

Robert Grant, an attorney for Capital Health Care Associates, the agency originally listed in the suit, said, The company is going to let the process play out in court, and beyond that we dont have any further comment at this time.

Reached by phone, the night nurse named in the suit said the allegations were false. Shes making up stories, she said of Vera Mann. Shes not after me; shes after my insurance.

The day nurse, reached by phone, said he was looking for an attorney and had no comment. A third nurse named in the suit, who the Manns said was sent by the agency intermittently, could not be reached by phone.

No national database keeps track of fraud against older people, but an estimated 20 to 40 percent have experienced financial exploitation of some kind, and the cases are vastly underreported, said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

People 50 and older own 67 percent of bank deposits in the United States, according to a recent AARP report. So theyre more likely to be targets, Greenlee said. The largest risk factor is dementia or cognitive impairment . . . but not having dementia is not a safe harbor.

The most likely perpetrator is someone who is known and trusted, she said, noting that in many cases, caregivers view older people in a negative light and feel entitled to their money.

Ageism can also influence how aggressively police and prosecutors pursue the cases. I think theres a perception in law enforcement that older adults can be unreliable, Greenlee said. Theres a fallacy that its difficult to prosecute someone when the victim is old or frail or has some kind of cognitive impairment.

In reality, the opposite can be true, said Paul Greenwood, a deputy district attorney and head of San Diegos elder abuse unit, who advised the District on the new bill.

When an older person with cognitive impairment testifies, he said, Im secretly happy because the jury gets to see exactly why this victim was chosen, and if the defense attorney wants to cross examine, be my guest. . . . Jurors get it.

Still, such cases can be hard to prosecute without evidence. As far as the Manns know, none of the missing items have been recovered. A search of local and federal courts found no criminal charges for the individual defendants, and no previous lawsuits for Capital City Nurses Healthcare Services or Capital Health Care Associates, under which they also do business. The nurses have no disciplinary history in the District, Maryland or Virginia.

Another company was added last week as a defendant in the suit; the Manns attorney said it has not yet been served.

Were going to need evidence

Even when there is no dementia, older people are more likely to question their own memory before blaming others. Vera can be a little forgetful about minor details but both are of sound mind, their son said, and Davids caregivers were licensed nurses sent by an organization his hospital case worker had recommended.

Older people also may be more reluctant to confront the people caring for them. In Davids case, it had been hard to find people who were skilled at performing a difficult and painful daily procedure.

To me it was inconceivable that this man standing in front of me, taking care of things medically, would steal, David Mann said. Even when the Manns began to suspect the workers, Not wanting to experiment with new caregivers made it very awkward, so we just kept them on until we just couldnt stand it any longer.

When the Manns confronted the nurses, they did not admit to taking anything, but the day nurse talked at length about his faith in God, and he told [Vera] how she would have a revelation and be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven for the good that her property would do in the hands of others, the suit alleges.

The Manns ordeal is not unusual, said Bob Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, who said he often hears similar stories.

The fraud can go beyond pilfering belongings. Sometimes the scammers or perpetrators detect the vulnerabilities [of the client] and the next thing you know theyre changing wills and documents and shutting family members off altogether, Blancato said.

The bill pending in the D.C. Council would help in situations such as the one alleged in the Manns suit, said Amy Mix, supervising attorney for consumer fraud and financial abuse at AARPs Legal Counsel for the Elderly.

That activity to me screams undue influence, she said. Theyre incredibly dependent on these workers physically and emotionally.

Some jurisdictions are more proactive than others about prosecuting cases of elder abuse, she said, noting that in Montgomery County, Adult Protective Services, detectives and prosecutors work in the same office on these cases and can easily communicate about them.

A new coalition  the Districts Collaborative Training & Response for Older Victims (DC TROV)  aims to improve the Districts response with a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, social services and advocates, and is providing elder-abuse training to police officers, detectives, prosecutors and judges. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia also offers regular presentations to educate the public about financial crimes against seniors.

In general, before bringing a criminal case, Were going to need evidence and were going to need a witness who is able and willing to testify in court, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham. Its not enough to have someone who says, My mother didnt agree to this; we have to have the mother testify. In the absence of stolen goods, she said, evidence could include PayPal records or unexplained cash deposits to defendants accounts.

Curlett said he does not yet know how the case will proceed, but he said the Manns would certainly be willing to testify if thats the right thing to do at that time.

These days, David has a new caregiver and the thefts have stopped. But Vera still feels traumatized.

I cant sleep in my bedroom since this happened, she said, adding that she and her husband have both lost weight and she still has nightmares. They walked in and acted like it was Woolworths.

Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.

Resources on elder abuse

Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov or 800-677-1116

National Center on Elder Abuse: www.ncea.aoa.gov

Department of Justice: www.justice.gov/elderjustice/
Metro agreed to an order from the Federal Transit Administration to give immediate priority to certain repair work before its long-term maintenance plan called SafeTrack is implemented. (WUSA)

Metro agreed to an order from the Federal Transit Administration to give immediate priority to certain repair work before its long-term maintenance plan called SafeTrack is implemented. (WUSA)

Metro said Thursday that it will change the schedule for a huge, year-long subway rebuilding project in an effort to accommodate a new rail-repair directive from the federal government.

Reacting to an order Wednesday from the Federal Transit Administration, directing [Metro] to take immediate action to give first priority to certain repair work, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said the agency will alter the schedule for the rebuilding program, called SafeTrack. But he said Metro has not determined whether it can begin the work cited by the FTA as quickly as federal officials want.

The FTA, which assumed responsibility for Metro safety oversight last year, has been increasingly aggressive lately in ordering repair work in a subway riddled with infrastructure problems after years of maintenance neglect.

Stessel said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld and the FTAs acting administrator, Carolyn Flowers, had a very productive and constructive conversation Thursday in which Wiedefeld agreed to attempt to give priority to the work listed in the FTAs order.

But rearranging the schedule for the rebuilding project is like moving around the pieces of a big puzzle, Stessel said, explaining why the agency is not yet sure how quickly Metro can begin the work.

Earlier Thursday, Metros board chairman, Jack Evans, had said Metro was not ready to immediately comply with the FTAs directive. Asked whether Metros stance on the directive amounted to pushback by the transit agency, Evans demurred.

I wouldnt necessarily say pushback,  he said. Its just trying to understand what [the FTA is] using to arrive at their decisions. And given that our information leads us to a different conclusion, I think we have to sit down and cooperatively discuss this.

[FTA orders immediate fixes on the Red, Orange, Blue and Silver lines.]

In a statement late Thursday, an FTA spokesman said Flowers, who signed the Wednesday directive, spoke with Wiedefeld and that Metro agreed to incorporate the FTAs urgent safety directions into its long-term subway rebuilding plan.

Metro, in its May 6 announcement of the SafeTrack program, said the projects will be conducted one after another, not simultaneously, to avoid worsening what are bound to be severe disruptions for riders. This week, five days after the draft schedule was unveiled, the FTA ordered two of the projects, set for the summer and fall, to be carried out immediately, saying they are too important to wait.

1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What Washington D.C.s Metro looked like in the 1970s and 80s View Photos Post photo editors sifted through hundreds of photographs from its archive dating back to the first metro station openings in the 1970s into the 80s to give a glimpse at the transformation of the citys transportation. And becausewellwho isnt curious about what your mom and dad may have looked like rocking a fur coat on the Red Line in 1974? Caption A look back at D.C.s Metro system over the decades. Nov. 7, 1973 Metro construction miners and blasters with a jumbo drill worked on a hole at Rock Creek Parkway and Cathedral Ave NW. James K.W. Atherton/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

One of the projects, scheduled for 16 days starting Aug. 20, involves shutting down a stretch of the Orange, Blue and Silver lines from the Eastern Market station to the Orange Lines Minnesota Avenue station and the Benning Road station on the Blue and Silver lines, a major route between downtown Washington and Prince Georges County.

If that project were to be conducted now, as the FTA ordered, then a heavily traveled section of the subway would be closed while schools are still in session.

Were concerned about . . . how to lessen the inconvenience, given the amount of work thats needed, Evans said. At the end of the day, the federal government gets to have their way. So what I discussed with Paul [Wiedefeld] is, lets go back to the federal government . . . and argue our case. And maybe we can get some changes made.

In ordering Metro to give immediate priority to that area, where the Orange, Blue and Silver lines share tracks, the FTA specified an array of work, including cleaning debris; sealing tunnel cracks; inspecting and replacing power cables; and replacing defective rails and several types of rail-related infrastructure.

[Metro at age 40: A mess of its own making.]

The FTA also ordered similar work to be done right away on a stretch of the Orange and Silver lines in Northern Virginia, between the East Falls Church and Ballston stations. Under the draft schedule for SafeTrack, the work is to begin Nov. 12 and continue during three weeks of nonstop single-tracking in that area.

Stessel said Metro will move up the dates of those projects in the SafeTrack schedule. But the agency has not determined whether it can the project immediate priority.

A third project listed in the FTAs order Wednesday involves similar work on the Red Line in Montgomery County and the District, between the Medical Center and Van Ness-UDC stations. But Metro said the work is underway along that stretch of the system, which is not part of the 15 projects in the SafeTrack plan.

Evans said he and Wiedefeld are in the dark about how decisions are made by the FTA  which is part of the Department of Transportation  and by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who has threatened to shut down Metro because of safety concerns.

Asked if he thought federal officials were being heavy-

handed, Evans replied: I wouldnt say as much heavy-handed as we need to have better communication. I just want to say, theyre reacting to their information, and we have different facts.

On Saturday, in a separate directive, the FTA sharply criticized Metros response to a May 5 track fire near the Federal Center SW station and ordered the agency to take several immediate safety-related steps, including lowering the rail systems electrical-power demands by reducing the number of cars on trains and reducing train speeds.

[Federal officials order new safety measures after May 5 Metro track fire.]

That would mean fewer eight-car trains and more six-car trains, which Metro said would cause severe crowding, especially during rush hours. Stessel said Thursday that Wiedefeld and the FTA have resolved those issues, at least temporarily.

He said that to reduce the strain on Metros electrical systems, which are need of an upgrade, and reduce the threat of electrical track fires, Metro has placed new acceleration limits on trains as they leave stations and has imposed speed restrictions in some parts of the subway. He said the limits will apply in places where lowering speeds and acceleration rates will not cause train traffic disruptions.

Believe me, were all on the same page, were all trying to get there, Wiedefeld said, referring to Metros and the FTAs common interest in improving safety. However, as for the FTAs train-size directive, he said: We actually have some viewpoints on that. We have some technical capabilities. We have some history in some of those areas. So we want to make sure we bring those issues to their attention.
From left, attorney Marc Zayon, Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero, and attorney Jason Silverstein, walk to Courthouse East before hearing on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Baltimore. (Kim Hairston/AP)

On the first day of Baltimore police officer Edward M. Neros trial, prosecutors tried to show that he ignored extensive department regulations and his police training in the arrest and detention of Freddie Gray.

Nero, prosecutor Michael Schatzow said in his opening statement, made no attempt to find out why Gray was being arrested and, after Gray was placed in a police wagon, did not put a seat belt on him as required by department rules. His actions went against all of his training, Schatzow said.

Nero, one of six Baltimore police officers facing charges in Grays arrest, showed no reaction as he listened to Schatzows opening. The second officer to go to trial in the case, Nero is facing four misdemeanor charges  second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and two counts of misconduct.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams is hearing the case after Nero chose to have a judge rather than a jury decide his fate. Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who brought the charges against the officers, sat in the front row of the courtroom in downtown Baltimore as the trial began.

Prosecutors say Gray sustained a fatal neck injury as he was being transported in a police van on April 12, 2015, handcuffed but without a seat belt. The 25-year-old died about a week later, sparking protests and riots in Baltimore that focused national attention on the city and on the deaths of black men at the hands of police officers.

In his opening statement, Neros attorney, Marc Zayon, said his client did everything correctly in the chase and apprehension of Gray. At no time did Nero touch Gray other than when Gray asked for help finding his inhaler and Nero helped him to his feet, Zayon said. Zayon also said that his client was unaware of a police department rule change, implemented days before Grays transport, which made it a requirement to seat-belt all detainees with no exceptions.

The prosecution said that Nero  and all Baltimore police officers  received an email detailing the changed policy and was thus informed of the new guidelines. But Zayon challenged that assertion, saying that police officers receive many emails and there was no indication that his client saw or read the email.

On the trials first day, prosecutors focused almost entirely on the placing of Gray in the police van and the failure by Nero  and the other police officers  to put a seat belt on him. They called numerous witnesses from the Baltimore City Police Department to show that Nero should have been familiar with policies and practices that were woven into the departments training and day-to-day operations.

The most dramatic testimony came from Officer Lloyd Sobboh, who was a cadet in the citys police academy last year when he was asked by investigators to be filmed as they shackled him, placed him in the back of a police van and asked him to move around and kick the sides and back of the van. After the video was shown in court, Sobboh, who is approximately the same size as Gray, testified that it was pretty tight in there . . . it was a little uncomfortable.

Prosecutors also called Officer Adam Long, a 21-year veteran of the force who is now an academy instructor. He trained Nero in arrest and control techniques and told the judge when you make an arrest, that prisoner is in your care and is your responsibility. Long said that seat-belting prisoners in transit was taught to all academy cadets.

But in both his opening statement and in cross-examination of the witnesses, Zayon, Neros attorney, said that officer discretion was a part of the relevant department policies. He asked Long whether it was possible that in some situations some prisoners could not be seat-belted without putting the officer in danger. Long seemed to agree, saying, Its a judgment call. You have to adjust on the fly.

Nero was among the first officers to encounter Gray that April day. Gray ran after making eye contact with one officer, and police pursued him, authorities said. He was charged after a knife was found in his pants.

A mural dedicated to Freddie Gray is seen April 25, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland, a year after the protests that were sparked by Gray's death in police custody. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

[Complete coverage of the Freddie Gray case.]

Neros attorneys have also pushed back against the assault charge. In court filings, they said they could not find a single case in the country in which a police officer has been charged solely on the basis of an arrest without alleged probable cause.

Common sense dictates that officers would simply not make arrests if they were subject to criminal prosecution if it was later determined that probable cause did not exist, they wrote.

The first trial in the case, against Officer William G. Porter, ended in a hung jury in December. Porter is facing a retrial later this year.

The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case Friday, and Neros team will launch its defense next week. A verdict from Williams could be reached early next week.

If convicted, Nero could face up to 10 years on the second-degree assault charge and five years on the reckless-endangerment charge.
Seven Native American tribes in Oklahoma will provide habitat and food on their lands for monarch butterflies, whose numbers have plummeted in recent years due to troubles along their lengthy migration route from Mexico to Canada.

While an estimated 1 billion monarchs migrated in 1996, only about 35 million made the trip in 2013, according to Marcus Kronforst, a professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago.

Their numbers have rebounded in recent years but are still well below what they were two decades ago.

[The monarch massacre: Nearly a billion butterflies have vanished]

Tribal leaders said at a news conference that they will plant crucial vegetation for the butterflies, including milkweed and native nectar-producing plants, on their lands.

For the last several years, we have been raising bees and pollinators, so when this opportunity came along, it fit with what we were doing, Thalia Miller, director of the Chickasaw Nation Horticulture Department, told reporters.

The tribes will work with the University of Kansass Monarch Watch program and the Euchee Butterfly Farm in Bixby, Okla. The project is supported by a grant of about $250,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

[Monarch butterflies and manatees, oh my! These two animals are on a big rebound.]

Monarch butterfly numbers have plummeted due to the expansion of farmland, the growth of housing developments and the clear-cutting of natural landscapes along their migration path, experts say.

Monarchs lay eggs only on milkweed plants, which grow wild throughout the United States. But milkweed, on which butterfly larvae feed, can cause stomach problems for cattle that eat it, so ranchers and farmers destroy the plant, researchers say.

The butterflies spend the winter in Mexico and then go through several generations as they fly north through Oklahoma to Canada.

The tribes are natural leaders on this issue, said Jane Breckinridge, project co-director and owner of the Euchee Butterfly Farm.
Mr. Ratner at a news conference in 2002, when he was representing detainees at Guantanamo Bay. (Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post)

Michael Ratner, a civil liberties lawyer who mounted legal challenges to U.S. military actions abroad, helped represent WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that defined legal rights for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, died May 11 at a hospital in Manhattan. He was 72.

The cause was complications from cancer, said his wife, Karen Ranucci.

For nearly half a century, Mr. Ratner was associated with the Center for Constitutional Rights, a New York-based nonprofit legal organization founded during the civil rights movement. He served over the years as legal director and president, establishing a reputation among some government officials as a gadfly and among civil libertarians as a paladin of individual rights at a time when they had come under increasing threat.

He grew up in a home that championed the underdog. His mother helped resettle refugees from the Holocaust, and his father, an immigrant businessman committed to affording second chances, brought ex-cons home for dinner. A turning point for Mr. Ratner came in 1968, when he said he was beaten by police during a student protest at Columbia Law School.

That night was crucial, he told the New York Times in 2002. An event like this created the activists of the next generation. I never looked back. I decided I was going to spend my life on the side of justice and nonviolence.

Among his earliest cases was a civil suit on behalf of prisoners who revolted at the Attica correctional facility in Upstate New York in 1971. Forty-three people, including both inmates and guards, had died in a days-long confrontation that one state prosecutor described as a turkey shoot.

Representing a group of inmates and former inmates, Mr. Ratner called on the judiciary to order the investigation and prosecution of authorities who he alleged violated the law in their response to the insurrection. Mr. Ratner lost the case in 1973.

The prospects of victory rarely factored into his decision to pursue a case. What mattered, he said, was the principle involved.

In 1990, he represented 54 congressional Democrats who unsuccessfully sought a court order barring President George H.W. Bush from taking the country to war in Iraq without congressional authorization; Bush later received authorization. Later that decade, Mr. Ratner represented lawmakers who similarly challenged President Bill Clintons authority to continue airstrikes in Kosovo amid ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.

Outside the United States, the targets of his legal work included the repressive Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader convicted of genocide and war crimes charges by a United Nations tribunal in March. In the Middle East, he advocated on behalf of Palestinian rights.

But Mr. Ratners most high-profile role came during the administration of George W. Bush. In public commentaries and in the courts, he assailed what he regarded as the trampling of individual liberties in the name of national security after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Mr. Ratner was on a jog in Lower Manhattan when hijacked airplanes hit the twin towers. In the months and years that followed, as a legal advocate for detainees accused of terrorist involvement, he found himself in an initially uncomfortable position.

The idea that I would actually represent someone who bombed the World Trade Center didnt sit so well with me, he told Newsday. It didnt seem what I wanted to do.

But in time, he and other critics of the Bush administration became convinced that the United States had acted unjustly by detaining alleged enemy combatants at the naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr. Ratner represented a number of those detainees, acting as a leader in what he and other lawyers dubbed the Guantanamo Bay Bar Association.

Challenges to Bush administration policies at Guantanamo culminated in 2008, when the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that detainees had the right to the writ of habeas corpus, the provision by which an imprisoned person may contest the legality of his or her detention and seek release by a court.

Mr. Ratner later represented Assange, the Australian national whose anti-secrecy website, WikiLeaks, posted troves of government documents. Assange, who faces extradition to Sweden for questioning regarding rape accusations, is currently living as a diplomatic refugee at Ecuadors embassy in London.

Mr. Ratner said that in the course of his legal work, he was threatened by some critics who regarded him as a traitor. He insisted that he was in the right and that the law was a necessary check on government abuses of power.

Referring to detentions at Guantanamo, he told The Washington Post, Can the United States pick up people anywhere in the world, take them to an offshore prison camp and not have any hearings at all and keep them forever and basically wipe out court review of those cases?

Thats really significant, he said. Are we going to be a state thats ruled by law and by checks and balances and the Constitution and human rights?

Michael David Ratner was born in Cleveland on June 13, 1943. His brother, Bruce Ratner, is a prominent real estate developer in New York, and his sister, Ellen Ratner, is a Fox News analyst.

Mr. Ratner received a bachelors degree in English from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., in 1966 and graduated three years later from Columbia Law School. He wrote or co-authored several books, among them Guantanamo: What the World Should Know, The Trial of Donald Rumsfeld: A Prosecution by Book, Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away With Murder and Hell No: Your Right to Dissent in 21st-Century America.

He was divorced from his first wife, Margaret, who later married the lawyer William Kunstler, a founder of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Besides his siblings, survivors include his wife of 30 years, Karen Ranucci of New York City; and two children from his second marriage, Jake Ratner and Ana Ratner, both of New York City.

While Mr. Ratner may have appeared single-minded in his practice of the legal profession, he once revealed that as a boy, he had set out to become not a lawyer but an archaeologist.

I love the past, he once told the Times. I have taken my kids to every ruin in Rome. We go on digs in Central America. I used to think it wasnt political, but it turns out to be highly political. After all, what layer of civilization do you save?
SYRIA

Islamic State fighters advance on Palmyra

Islamic State militants advanced toward the central Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday, threatening to besiege the world-famous ancient site several weeks after the government recaptured it from the extremists.

The offensive came as a cease-fire over the northern city of Aleppo ticked down to its final hours, threatening to plunge the divided city back into violence. A rocket attack on a government-held neighborhood killed at least two people.

Media allied with the Islamic State and activists said the militants seized a strategically located but deserted rocket-launching site close to an air base less than 40 miles from Palmyra. This effectively severs a highway linking Palmyra to the government-controlled T-4 base and the provincial capital, Homs, threatening government supply routes.

The militants advance comes after clashes with government troops near the air base.

Syrian troops, with the help of Russian airstrikes, regained control of Palmyra in March, after the Islamic State had held it for nearly 10 months. During the groups rule, the militants destroyed many of Palmyras relics and displaced its residents.

Nepal is hoping for a safe 2016 season on Everest, after an avalanche triggered by a powerful earthquake killed almost 20 climbers and injured 61 at base camp last year. (Tashi Sherpa/AP)

 Associated Press

ITALY

Parliament approves same-sex civil unions

Italy joined the rest of Europe on Wednesday in giving some legal rights to gay couples after a years-long battle and opposition from the Catholic Church to anything that smacked of authorizing gay marriage.

The lower Chamber of Deputies voted 372 to 51, with 99 abstentions, to approve legislation passed in February by the Senate.

Gay rights activists hailed the vote as historic, given that Italy was the last of the European Unions 28 nations to grant legal recognition to civil unions.

The legislation grants same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples: the possibility of having the same last name, inheritance rights, hospital visitation rights and medical decision-making rights. But it stops far short of authorizing gay marriage.

The Vatican, which holds political and social sway in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy, maintains that marriage is a lifelong bond between a man and a woman.

 Associated Press

NEPAL

Everest climbers reach top after 2-year gap

Nine Nepali guides reached the top of Mount Everest on Wednesday, becoming the first climbers in two years to conquer the worlds highest mountain after two successive natural disasters.

The Sherpa guides are hired by expeditions to carry equipment and fix ropes on the icy and rocky slopes for the use of climbers.

Nepal is hoping for a safe 2016 season on Everest, after an avalanche triggered by a powerful earthquake killed almost 20 climbers and injured 61 at base camp last year. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche above the base camp.

 Associated Press

Ukraine, Russia agree on security measures: Ukraine and Russia agreed to create demilitarized zones and implement other security measures in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine but were at odds over how to move toward local elections. Germanys foreign minister said after talks in Berlin with counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and France that though agreement could not be reached on an elections process, Russia and Ukraine had presented plans.

Bangladesh executes Islamist partys leader: The head of Bangladeshs largest Islamist party was executed for his role in acts of genocide and war crimes during the countrys independence war against Pakistan in 1971, a government official said. Motiur Rahman Nizami, the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was convicted of three major charges stemming from the 1971 war, including the killing of 480 people.

Egypt opens Gaza crossing for 48 hours: The militant Hamas group said Egypt temporarily reopened its border with the Gaza Strip, the first time the border has been opened in three months. The Rafah crossing is Gazas main gateway to the outside world. The crossing will be open through Thursday. Egypt has kept the crossing largely sealed since 2013.

 From news services
This handout combo released by Australian Transport Sefety Bureau and Malaysian MOT shows an item of debris recovered from the beaches in South Africa and Mauritus. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

SYRIA

Al-Qaeda, other rebels seize Alawite village

Al-Qaeda fighters and other ultraconservative Sunni insurgents seized a predominantly Alawite village in central Syria on Thursday, sparking fears of sectarian violence as families from the village were reported missing.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki said terrorists were killing townspeople, while state media said militants looted and destroyed homes in the village of Zaara, previously controlled by the government of President Bashar al-Assad, who is Alawite, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Clashes between insurgents and pro-government forces continued into the afternoon as government or allied Russian aircraft pounded rebel positions, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that seven militants were killed. The Local Coordination Committees, an activist-run network, said the insurgents killed more than 30 pro-government fighters.

Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Sunni militant group, led the assault on Zaara, along with Jabhat al-Nusra,

al-Qaedas Syrian franchise. The Observatory said families disappeared from Zaara after the militants took over.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross had to cancel an aid convoy to the nearby town of Houla, citing security concerns. The ICRC did not say whether this was related to the clashes in Zaara.

The ICRC, in conjunction with the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, had also planned to dispatch an aid convoy to Darayya, a suburb of Damascus besieged by pro-government forces. But the ICRC said the convoy was refused entry.

It would have been the first aid delivery to the area since November 2012.

 Associated Press

UGANDA

President inaugurated amid opposition arrests

Ugandas longtime president was sworn in Thursday for a fifth term, taking him into his fourth decade in power, amid arrests of opposition politicians and a shutdown of social media.

President Yoweri Museveni, 71, was inaugurated in the capital, Kampala, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries from across Africa, including President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan.

Human Rights Watch urged Uganda to arrest Bashir, saying Museveni will tarnish his inauguration further by welcoming Sudans leader, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged atrocities committed in the western region of Darfur.

But after taking office, Museveni defended Bashirs presence, calling the Hague-based court a bunch of useless people he no longer supports.

Ahead of the inauguration, the government detained some opposition figures and blocked social media sites.

 Associated Press

MALAYSIA

Official: Debris almost certainly from MH370

Malaysias government said Thursday that two more pieces of debris, discovered in South Africa and on Rodrigues Island off Mauritius, are almost certainly from Flight 370, bringing the total number of pieces thought to have come from the missing Malaysian jet to five.

The aircraft disappeared more than two years ago with 239 people on board, and an extensive underwater search of a vast area of the Indian Ocean off Australias west coast has turned up empty.

Though the discovery of the debris has bolstered authorities assertion that the plane went down somewhere in the Indian Ocean, none of the parts has yielded clues about exactly where and why the aircraft crashed.

The two newly identified pieces of debris were found in March. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said one is an engine cowling piece with a partial Rolls-Royce logo, and the other is an interior panel piece from an aircraft cabin.

An international team of experts in Australia who examined the debris concluded that both pieces were consistent with panels found on a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft, Liow said.

All five pieces were found in various spots around the Indian Ocean. The jet is believed to have crashed somewhere in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean about 1,100 miles off Australias west coast.

 Associated Press

Islamic State claims suicide attack in Yemen: Yemens Islamic State affiliate asserted responsibility for a suicide car bombing outside a navy base in the southern port city of Mukalla that killed at least six troops. It was a rare Islamic State attack in a city once occupied by a rival al-Qaeda branch. The Islamic State affiliate, largely eclipsed by the al-Qaeda branch, emerged during Yemens ongoing civil war, which pits Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies against President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

7 killed in northeast Nigeria: A suicide bomber pretending to be a madman struck in Nigerias northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing seven people, including two police officers who stopped him from entering a bustling complex of government offices, officials said. Eighteen people were wounded. Officials blamed the incident on the Islamist group Boko Haram, which has killed hundreds this year.

Pakistan sentences 5 to death in attacks on Shiites: Pakistans military sentenced five alleged al-Qaeda militants to death over an attack on a bus last year that killed about 50 members of the countrys Shiite minority. The men were found guilty in a military trial. The military said the men were also involved in the 2015 killing of Sabeen Mahmud, a prominent womens rights activist.

 From news services
An employee tests an X26 Taser during production at the Taser International Inc. manufacturing facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., on April 22. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg)

CONFRONTED WITH a suspect who is agitated or disorderly, police generally wrestle the person to the ground with fists, batons or flying tackles. Well, thats how they do it on TV, anyway. In real life, increasingly, they tend to use Taser stun guns, or rather overuse them.

Case in point: In April 2013, Montgomery County police used Tasers to subdue Anthony Howard, an unruly man, high on cocaine, who had been tromping on the roof of a parked SUV in a residential neighborhood in Gaithersburg. When officers arrived, Howard, down from the SUV, disregarded their orders to lie on the ground, although he made no threatening or violent moves toward them.

Are you gonna kill me? Howard asked, standing with his back to a rowhouse, shortly before the police shot him with their Tasers.

According to the Baltimore Sun, which obtained a video of the event recorded by a witness, Howard, 51, was shot nine times for a total of 37 seconds  more than twice the elapsed time recommended by Tasers guidelines. He collapsed, kicked spasmodically on his back while four officers stood over him and, shortly afterward, stopped breathing.

Howard was African American; the police who confronted and shot him were white.

Policing is hard, dangerous work; no one underestimates the professionalism most officers bring to the job. Still, the officers actions with Howard suggest that police in that incident, as in others, were too quick to resort to using their Tasers.

In a review of hundreds of incidents over a three-year period in Maryland, the Sun found that many officers and law enforcement agencies failed to follow best safety practices recommended by Taser and by national police groups.

Disturbingly, Maryland, like most states, has no standards for the use of Tasers, meaning that their deployment varies considerably from one police department to another. Only Connecticut and Vermont have adopted statewide policies; Maryland lawmakers considered doing so a few years ago, briefly, before resistance from police dissuaded them.

Equally disturbing, the Sun found that black men accounted for 64 percent of the approximately 3,000 suspects shot with Tasers by Maryland law enforcement officers over the three-year period ending in 2014.

The Howard case has particularly troubling aspects. According to the Sun, Montgomery County police withheld videos they obtained from neighbors of Howards family, prompting them to drop legal action in the case. And two bystanders told the newspaper that when the police returned their devices, videos they had shot of the incident had been erased.

One video  a clear and complete one  did survive, however. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has ordered the police department to review its policies on the use of Tasers. Law enforcement officials should also answer hard questions about whether they engaged in a coverup of the circumstances surrounding Howards death.
The night of Bernie Sanderss latest victory, in West Virginia, a growing group of his supporters in Oregon gathered 2,500 miles away and worked the phones. They skipped the candidates rally in Salem, an hour down the highway, and met at the east Portland office of the Bernie campaign. It was warmed by a space heater and by paintings of Birdie Sanders, the friendly icon named and designed after the bird that landed on his podium at a Portland speech.

Their mission: Win the May 17 Oregon primary with a supermajority, big enough to net all or almost all of the states 74 delegates. Then, win the nomination.

Theres a lot of momentum behind getting to 80 percent, said Leigha LaFleur, 41, an organizer who is also one of the Birdie Five delegate candidates from the states deep-blue 3rd Congressional District.

LaFleur and the army of Bernie (never Sanders) supporters in this progressive state see a path to victory if he wins landslides in coming primaries. Where bean-counters point out that Sanderss Indiana and West Virginia wins did not get him the delegates he needed to catch Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Bernies army sees momentum begetting more momentum.

Democrats increasingly see a headache  and a paradox. Clinton is closer to the nomination than Barack Obama was at a similar point in the 2008 primaries. Then, the pledged delegate lead for the senator from Illinois shrank below 100; her lead is nearly 300. He functionally tied Clinton in the popular vote; she leads Sanders by close to 3 million votes.

The Fix's Callum Borchers examines the media's varied reactions to Bernie Sanders's Democratic primary wins. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

When they discuss the coming primaries in Oregon and in their own states, Democrats no longer conceal a desire to wrap this up. And yet, Clintons strategy of riding out the nomination fight  and turning her attention to the general election  may be hardening the beliefs of Sanders voters. She cannot take full advantage of the split in Donald Trumps GOP without a strong left flank accusing her of selling it out.

[Has Donald Trump stolen Paul Ryans party out from under him?]

Its the democratic process, said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) of Sanderss plans to stump in Montana ahead of its June 7 primary. Hes got every right to do that, but its already over with, and it would definitely be over with by then.

Bernie has had a very good run, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), whose June 7 state looms largest for the Bernie movement. He has made his point. But I actually want to see it end. I want to see the Democratic Party win this, and its pretty clear to me that Hillary Clinton is the standard-bearer. The more the contention continues, the more difficult it is for the standard-bearer.

In places such as Portland, support for the all-but-certain nominee of the Democratic Party is invisible. In late April, on the final day when voters could register as Democrats (Oregons primary is closed to independents), three Sanders supporters stood by the citys Department of Motor Vehicles, asking passersby to register for Bernie.

Over an hour, there were just three types of responses. Some voters said they had registered, and backed Sanders. Some apologized for being unable to vote. The rest grabbed the forms and got to work.

I was going to register whatever I needed to that would allow me to vote for Bernie, said Brandon ONeill, 23, a baker at Voodoo Donuts who would be voting for the first time. I dont trust Hillary. Im not the most politically literate person, but Bernies politics and policies speak to me.

Supporters hold fun placards during the rally. (Rob Kerr/AFP/Getty Images)

Moments later, 24-year old Caroline Snow registered as a Democrat, then explained why the election would be so dispiriting without Sanders.

Hillary is like the definition of systemic racism, personified, Snow said. Shes in the back pocket of so many people. If she won, Id only have to vote for her because Donald Trump is a f------ racist.

[Trumps candidacy sparking a surge in citizenship, voter application]

Oregon Democrats have faced similar clashes between the ideal and the inevitable. In 2008, attorney Steve Novick staged a progressive campaign for U.S. Senate, upsetting Democrats who wanted the nomination to go to a state legislator, Jeff Merkley. Novick surged from nowhere, losing by less than three percentage points.

Merkley won the general election and became a favorite of progressive activists  as well as Sanderss only endorser in the Senate. Neither man is surprised to see the progressive movement bucking Clinton, but both are cautiously optimistic about the party coming together, even if Sanders closes strong.

Im going to have to work on my own mother to vote for Clinton if Bernie loses, said Novick, who is a city commissioner in Portland. In her defense, shes worried that Clinton would start more wars if she won, and theres fairly strong evidence for that.

To the horror of Clinton supporters, many Sanders activists in the remaining states think they can prevent that choice.

Hes going to win the whole west coast, said Angelique Orman, 44, relaxing on the lawn of a massive Sanders rally near Eugene. The conscience factor is working for him. Everyone I know there is voting for him.

That enthusiasm may come to a head after the final batch of primaries, especially if Sanders falls short. Already, some of his supporters are planning to declare moral victory and change the party, starting at the convention in Philadelphia. Sanders has laid out some of the goals for what would be the largest delegate slate of any challenger in party history. They include opening every primary to independent voters, requiring easier registration in every state, eliminating superdelegates altogether  or, as Maines Democrats decided, to remove their ability to choose candidates and bind them to the vote of their states.

Less controversially, they include changing the Democratic Partys platform to include Sanderss goals of a $15 minimum wage, free public college tuition and expanded Social Security.

The more of those ideas we adopt, the better well do in the general, and the bigger and better impact well have, said Ben Wikler, the Washington director of MoveOn, which has endorsed Sanders. Its great policy and its good politics.

MoveOn, however, parts with Sanders and many of his supporters on the theory of how the primary can end. Both Wikler and the groups political director, Ilya Sheyman, have said that the winner of the most pledged delegates should be the partys nominee.

Sanders and his allies in promising states argue that the superdelegates should be ready to reverse that  that the Democratic convention should be contested, with superdelegates asking themselves if they really want to dump the candidate who consistently won independent voters, just because he came up short overall. They are simultaneously arguing for the end of the superdelegate system  and for those delegates to accept one last mission: nominating Sanders.

Weve already seen a primary that was very distorted, with voters who were disenfranchised, said RoseAnn DeMoro, the director of National Nurses United, a union that has provided millions of dollars in support for Sanders. Were headed for a very explosive national convention, and either a country that will come together under a strong leader  or one that becomes further fractured.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who has endorsed Clinton and is up for reelection this year, has run a Web ad spotlighting both candidates support for his health-care reform. He blanched at the idea of eliminating superdelegates.

My interest is to keep Oregons vintage democratic process, he said, of ensuring that every voter counts, while at the same time ensuring that something isnt done that would be. . . . Wyden paused to collect his words. That would be completely unacceptable.

Even Merkley hopes that the competition between Sanders and Clinton ends after the final primary June 14.

If one of the individuals has a majority of the pledged delegates, then I think the conversation is over, Merkley said as the polls closed in West Virginia. I dont think its serving the philosophy that Democrats live by if the superdelegates overturn the will of the voters.

The next day, Sanders sent donors an email credited to campaign manager Jeff Weaver, promising to fight on until the convention  even if the primaries did not go his way  by convincing superdelegates that Clinton would lose.

The Democratic Party must decide if they want the candidate with the momentum who is best positioned to beat Trump, Weaver wrote, or if they are willing to roll the dice and court disaster simply to protect the status quo for the political and financial establishment.
Delbert L. Latta, a conservative Republican who represented northwest Ohio in the U.S. House for 30 years, was a bulldog defender of President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate hearings and helped President Ronald Reagan cut the federal budget, died May 12 at a nursing home in Bowling Green, Ohio. He was 96.

The death was confirmed to the Associated Press by a spokeswoman for his son, Rep. Robert E. Latta (R-Ohio). No cause was reported.

The elder Mr. Latta, a lawyer, was a member of the Ohio Senate for five years before winning a U.S. House seat in 1958 in a district that included Bowling Green and had long been a Republican stronghold. The safety of his seat over the decades allowed him to remain an unwavering party loyalist on economic and social concerns.

Although little known nationally, he was a significant backstage player. On the Rules Committee early in his tenure, he allied with conservative Democrats to indefinitely postpone or attach poison-pill amendments to legislation they deemed too liberal.

His reputation as a partisan warrior won him a spot on the Judiciary Committee in 1974, when the panel was holding hearings on the crimes and cover-up stemming from the 1972 break-in at the Watergate office complex, where the Democratic National Committee had offices.

President Ronald Reagan in 1984 with congressional Republican leaders. From left are: Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, R-Tenn.; Rep. Delbert Latta, R-Ohio; Vice President George Bush; Reagan; Sen. Paul Laxalt, R-Nev.; Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.; and House Minority Leader Robert Michel, R-Ill. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Several Nixon operatives had been linked to the burglary and, in February 1974, the full House voted to allow the Judiciary Committee to review grounds for impeachment of the president and gave the committee subpoena power.

Mr. Latta was tapped by party leaders to be the point man for the imperiled Nixon. During the televised committee hearings, the congressman tried to delay the proceedings by demanding very specific information from those who would accuse the president of wrongdoing.

A common jaywalker is entitled to know when and where the alleged offense occurred, he asked. Is the president of the United States entitled to less?

As the situation grew dire for Nixon, Mr. Latta sought to discredit Albert E. Jenner Jr., the noted Chicago lawyer who came to favor impeachment while serving as chief GOP counsel on the House Judiciary Committees inquiry.

Mr. Latta publicly criticized Jenner  newly fired from his Republican post but rejoining on the Democratic side  for having once headed a bar association committee that criticized anti-prostitution laws. Mr. Lattas remark drew a rebuke by a fellow Buckeye, Rep. John Seiberling (D), who demanded an apology for unprofessional and unjudicial comments on a completely extraneous matter.

The gentleman is entitled to his opinion, Mr. Latta replied, and thats all it is.

In July 1974, the Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against Nixon. The president resigned in August, before the full House voted whether to approve the articles for a Senate trial.

Mr. Lattas indefatigable support for the president brought him a plum role in 1975 as the top GOP member of the newly formed House Budget Committee. He fought for reductions in domestic spending, which he saw as rife with fraud and waste.

Working with then-Rep. Phil Gramm of Texas  a Democrat at the time  Mr. Latta shepherded passage in 1981 of an economic bill that increased military spending and significantly lowered discretionary and entitlement spending.

Mr. Latta was sometimes accused of cutting aid for programs that would help the poorest and most vulnerable citizens. If I were president, he told The Washington Post in 1980, Id say to every department of government, cut back spending without cutting back on services.

Delbert Leroy Latta was born in Weston, Ohio, on March 5, 1920. After service in the Army and Marine Corps Reserve, he received undergraduate and law degrees from Ohio Northern University.

Besides his son, survivors include his wife of 67 years, Rose Mary Kiene Latta; a daughter, Rose Ellen Jackson; two sisters; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Latta did not seek reelection in 1988. That year, broadcaster Roger Mudd interviewed him for the public television show The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and called the retiring congressman a pugnacious politician [who] is privately a considerate and unfailingly courteous man.

Mudd asked Mr. Latta how, after 15 terms in office, he thought Congress was fulfilling its role. The Ohioan said the greatest change he had observed was the shirking of responsibility by politicians at the state and local levels who wanted the federal government to foot the bill for little projects like parks, streets and pools that were not in its domain.

He said that the approach relieves the states and it relieves the local communities of that responsibility of levying those taxes and collecting them. So they become the good guys, and we become the bad guys.

That is why, he added, the people disfavor the Congress as much as they do.
CHARLESTON, WV - MAY 5: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses his supporters during a rally at the Charleston Civic Center on May 5, 2016 in Charleston, WV. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

As headlines popped up this week declaring that Donald Trump had softened his position on banning most foreign Muslims from entering the United States, some Republicans celebrated the news.

Glad h es walking it back, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) tweeted on Thursday.

Except that Trump has not actually walked anything back. The presumptive Republican nominee still wants to ban nearly all members of the worlds fastest-growing religion from entering the United States in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks.

As Trump first said in December, such a ban would be temporary and last only until U.S. authorities find out whats going on. He also said then that the ban will not apply to U.S. citizens, and that there would be exceptions for world leaders, athletes and others.

The Muslim ban is one of Trumps most controversial  and popular  proposals, alongside other hard-line steps such as building a U.S.-Mexico border wall and deporting illegal immigrants en masse. A Washington Post-ABC News poll in March found that 54 percent of Republicans supported a ban on foreign Muslims, along with 33 percent of political independents and 15 percent of Democrats.

The latest confusion over Trumps position stemmed from two meandering interviews on Wednesday that led to reports he was retreating in some way from his anti-Muslim policy. Trumps spokeswoman and campaign manager did not respond to an email Thursday asking if their boss was in fact softening his position.

[From December: Trump calls for a total ban on Muslims entering U.S.]

During an interview on the Fox News Radio, host Brian Kilmeade asked Trump to respond to newly elected London mayor Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim and who said earlier this week that Donald Trump has ignorant views about Islam. In asking the question, Kilmeade referred to London as Londonstan.

Well, I assume he denies that theres Islamic terrorism, Trump responded. Theres Islamic radical terrorism all over the world right now. It is a disaster whats going on. I assume that he is denying that. I assume he is like our president thats denying that its taking place. We have a serious problem  its a temporary ban, it hasnt been called for yet, nobodys done it, this is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on. But we have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world  I mean, you can start at the World Trade Center, frankly, you can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world. If they want to deny it, they can deny it, I dont choose to deny it.

Some journalists and politicians zeroed in on the word suggestion as evidence that Trump was willing to walk away from his proposed religion-based ban.

Flake said on MSNBC Thursday that it was a good start for Trump to describe his ban on Muslims merely a suggestion and not a firm policy, but that Trump would need to maintain this stance for weeks to come.

If its a temporary just during the campaign, thats one thing, Flake said. If hes planning to take it on beyond, thats another.

In a second interview Wednesday, Trump sat down with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News and discussed a committee he is organizing to study immigration issues and the proposed Muslim ban. At one point, Van Susteren asked Trump: Have you decided whether you will back off on the ban?

[What the new Muslim mayor of London has to say about Donald Trump]

Sure, I would back off on it  I would like to back off as soon as possible because, frankly, I would like to see something happen, but we have to be vigilant, Trump responded. There is a radical Islamic terrorism problem that, you know, our president doesnt want to talk about. All you have to do is take a look at the World Trade Center, take a look at San Bernardino or Paris, what a disaster that was, and so many other locations... Were going to have to solve the problem.

Van Susteren pressed Trump on if American Muslims would be banned. Trump said all Americans would be allowed in and that there would be exceptions for some foreigners. He made clear that this would be a temporary ban and ultimately, its my aim to have it lifted.

Right now there is no ban, but I would like to see  there has to be an idea, there has to be something, because there is some pretty bad things going on, Trump said. And I have Muslim friends, great Muslim friends who are telling me: You are so right. There is something going on that we have to get to the bottom of it. So we will see what happens.

Van Susteren came back one more time to make sure she fully understood Trump.

I dont want to beat a dead horse, she said, but, so, its a ban on Muslims with exceptions and it would be temporary?

Oh, of course, Trump said. Always, you have to have exceptions.

Van Susteren told Trump that many people do not think there would be exceptions to the ban.

No, youd have exceptions and, ideally, you wont have a ban very long, Trump said. I mean, we just have to find out whats happening... I mean, something has to happen.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
The roiling feud between presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump and reluctant Republican leaders reached a turning point Thursday as the two sides declared their willingness to gloss over substantive policy differences and work together to defeat probable Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in November.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, who set off a political earthquake last week by refusing to endorse the real estate mogul, told reporters after a high-profile meeting with Trump at the Republican National Committee headquarters that he was encouraged by their conversation  though he still stopped short of an endorsement.

Its no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences. We talked about those differences today, he said during a news conference on Capitol Hill. It was important that we discussed our differences that we have, but it was also important that we discuss the core principles that tie us together.

Ryan and Trump also issued a joint statement in which the two spoke about recognizing their many important areas of common ground.

The declarations of unity followed a whirlwind day of closed-door meetings between Trump and GOP leaders on Capitol Hill. A circus-like horde of media and scattered protesters trailed the candidate as his motorcade moved from stop to stop.

1 of 19 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What the scene looked like in Washington as Trump met with Republican leaders View Photos As Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held closed-door meetings with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and other Republicans, the scene outside captured an election season in which Americans have become divided. Caption As Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held closed-door meetings with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and other Republicans, the scene outside captured an election season in which Americans have become divided. Protesters and the media gather at the Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill, where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) met. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

Behind the public facade of harmony, House members and senators confronted Trump in the meetings with their concerns over specific policies or controversial statements that could hurt Republicans in the fall, including on foreign policy, immigration and paying down the national debt. Ryan brought charts and laid out his views that the federal government is on a dangerous fiscal path.

In a separate 75-minute meeting with Senate leadership, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) said he raised the issue of tone on Latinos and offered to help Trump, given his own support among Hispanic voters in Texas. Cornyn also said Trump was told that some senators may have to distance themselves from him in their reelection bids.

He looked forward to being helpful where he could, Cornyn told reporters, noting that some states might be more amenable to Trump policies. As this thing develops, were going to be trying to figure out where it makes sense and where it doesnt. He also understands that some places, people may choose to run independently and not join up with the presidential race.

The exchanges underscored the tightrope that many Republicans are attempting to walk with Trump, whose unfavorability numbers are at historic highs for a major party candidate. He faces particularly strong opposition among women and minorities. Sharp policy differences, skepticism over his commitment to conservative principles and lingering concerns over his controversial statements continue to pose significant obstacles to a full detente between Trump and the establishment. All but one of the living former GOP presidential nominees have refused to endorse him.

At the same time, a growing number of sitting lawmakers and notable GOP figures have concluded in recent days they will support him. Former vice president Dan Quayle gave Trump a full throated endorsement Thursday, calling him more qualified than Clinton in an interview with NBCs Today Show. Trump also received endorsements Thursday from Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and GOP campaign committee chairs Roger Wicker, a senator from Mississippi, and Greg Walden, a congressman from Oregon.

We are on the same page on a lot of things, in terms of the things we want to accomplish and get signed into law, the things the presidents opposed and vetoed, said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), who has endorsed Trump. Donald Trump wants to be a president thats taking action to reverse the damage and get things moving again, and we want to work with him to help get that done.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), also a Trump backer, seemed particularly optimistic about finding common ground on issues such as tax reform and other House priorities. I think when you talk about ideas, you talk about vision, thats a perfect place for people to unite, he said.

Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan met on May 12. The result? A lot of cameras, and not much else. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

In the Senate meeting, Trump listened as senators took turns raising issues of concern about his raucous campaign so far. Few would specify what details were discussed, preferring to emphasize that the gathering was cordial in tone.

It was a good listening session  it really was, on both sides, said Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio), who is considered one of the more vulnerable Republicans seeking reelection this year.

He offered his views on many things, said Sen. Deb Fischer (Neb.), a Trump supporter who was in the meeting with Senate GOP leaders. We brought up different things that are of concern to us and to the people we represent. He listened. He listened well. And we had a great discussion. She declined to provide further details.

In his news conference, Ryan said policy teams from his office and Trumps campaign were going to meet to work through the details of policies that they could jointly support. He called unifying the party a process and said it would take some time before it comes together.

Going forward, were going to go a little deeper in the policy weeds to make sure we have a better understanding of one another, he said.

Trump and his campaign have signaled a willingness to make amends with party leaders who have been critical in the past. Trump reached out this week to his sharpest Republican critic on Capitol Hill, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), who has regularly sparred with Trump and has said he will not vote for him.

In a 15-minute phone conversation Wednesday night, the two men agreed to stop insulting one another through the media, Graham told reporters Thursday. Graham said he is still not endorsing Trump, however.

He won, Graham said, calling Trump very funny in their conversation. He obviously can take a punch.

One reason to mend fences is Trumps need for access to the partys data, resources and advisers for the fall election. The campaign is racing to organize as many as 50 fundraisers with a goal of raising up to $1 billion to compete in the general election; the first event is slated for later this month in Los Angeles.

As Republicans move toward an uneasy unity, Democrats are eagerly portraying Trump as the embodiment of the Republican Party. In a sharply worded floor speech Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said McConnell and other Republicans were responsible for the rise of Trump because of their refusal to compromise with President Obama and Democrats.

At some point in their conversation, Donald Trump should thank the senior senator from Kentucky, Reid said, referring to McConnell. Trump owes his candidacy to the Republican leader and to the policies that hes led. It was an obstructionist, anti-woman, anti-Latino, anti-Muslim, anti-middle class, anti-environment and anti-Obama and anti-everything Republican Party of the last eight years that made Donald Trump a reality.

For its part, the Clinton campaign blasted out a statement, as Trump was meeting with Ryan, highlighting the ranks of establishment Republicans who have declined to support their partys expected presidential candidate.

Since Donald Trump became the Republican Partys presumptive nominee for president last Tuesday, the chorus of Republicans and conservative commentators from around the country rejecting his unpredictable, risky and divisive candidacy has grown daily, the statement said.

Mike DeBonis, Jenna Johnson and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
In the annals of Manhattan real estate, the sale of a penthouse inside One57, a gleaming new condominium tower overlooking Central Park, is still legendary.

Spanning two floors atop the 1,004-foot-tall glass-and-steel building, the 11,000-square-foot apartment with six bedrooms, a steam room and an indoor movie theater fetched $100.5 million last year, a record sum in a city long accustomed to eye-popping price tags.

The building, completed in 2014, has amassed more than $2 billion in sales. It is one of at least six new residential skyscrapers in various stages of construction on or along a stretch of West 57th Street in Midtown known as Billionaires Row.

Yet a lower-profile transaction in the building late last year is proving more prescient for Manhattans market for high-end real estate. A four-bedroom apartment on a lower floor quietly sold for $20.3 million. The deal represented a loss of more than $1 million from its purchase price and is nearly $2 million off its original $21.9 million asking price.

We didnt know it at the time, but it was probably the first real sign that things were slowing down at the luxury end of this market, says Jonathan Miller, chief executive of Miller Samuel, a real estate appraisal and consulting firm. The strength at the top was starting to wane.

[Tommy Hilfigers apartment in New Yorks Plaza hotel lists for $68.95 million]

Few real estate markets in the United States have enjoyed a sharper rise the past few years than Manhattan, where the average price of a home stands at a record $2 million, according to Douglas Elliman Real Estate. But despite a few record-shattering purchases, New Yorks priciest borough is in the throes of a softening at the very high end as a glut of expensive condominiums floods the market and demand for top-tier properties tapers off.

1 of 20 Full Screen Autoplay Close Park Avenue co-op Fifth Avenue unit Columbus Circle apartment Skip Ad  A peek inside luxury condo listings in New York View Photos Sales and prices fall amid glut from new units hitting the market. Caption Sales and prices fall amid glut from new units hitting the market. 20th Street penthouse The penthouse at 15 West 20th St. in New York City was reduced from $8 million to $6 million. Douglas Elliman Wait 1 second to continue.

In the first two months of the year, contracts for apartments priced at $4 million or more declined 30 percent from the same period last year, according to a report by Olshan Realty.

The lethargy comes on the heels of a sluggish 2015. The number of Manhattan apartments that were sold for more than $10 million last year fell 12 percent compared with 2014, according to CityRealty, which tracks home sales in New York City. Most of the decline came in the second half of the year, the realty group says.

The slowdown is unleashing a chorus of doomsday talk among usually bullish real estate professionals in the city and sparking discussion of a correction not seen since the property crash of 2008. Bidding wars for luxury properties are less frequent and fewer open houses have lines around the block, brokers report. Shrinking bank bonuses are further dampening demand. The average Wall Street bonus fell 9 percent in 2015 to the lowest level in three years, according to the New York state comptroller.

No one is predicting an all-out crash, says Donna Olshan, president of Olshan Realty. But a number of factors clearly show that the top of the market is contracting.

The slump is sparking some sellers of luxury real estate to slash prices for the first time in years.

[J. Lo puts her California home on the market]

In the first quarter of this year, the asking prices for 861 available listings in Manhattan were cut, according to data compiled by the real estate services firm Compass. Thats 18 percent of the roughly 4,779 properties on the market, the reality group says. The average reduction was 10 percent.

Among the discounted listings: the asking price of a condominium on Central Park South  just a few blocks from One57  was slashed by $7 million and is now listed for sale at $11 million. A listing for a townhouse on Park Avenue lost $18.5 million off its price tag. It now lists for just under $30 million.



The penthouse at 15 West 20th St. in New York City was reduced from $8 million to $6 million. (By Douglas Elliman)

A construction boom targeting the upper end of the real estate market is the biggest culprit, says Robert Dankner, president of Prime Manhattan Residential. Weve simply had too much building of luxury products in the city, he says. Theres a penthouse glut and now were seeing a penthouse correction.

This year, 5,126 newly built apartments mostly targeting the top of the market will be offered for sale in Manhattan, the most since 2007, according to Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group. And more units are in the pipeline, with an estimated 5,740 apartments in more than 140 buildings expected to hit the market next year in Manhattan, Corcoran says.

The wave of new apartments is creating stiff competition and leaving many Manhattan homes without a buyer, says Leonard Steinberg, president of Compass. Were now seeing thousands of very expensive new condominiums sit empty, he says. That hasnt happened in years.

[For Tyra Banks, this Spanish Colonial was the FabLife]

The glut arrives amid a thinning of foreign buyers, long a primary engine of Manhattans luxury sector. The decline is being fueled by a stronger U.S. dollar, lower oil prices and economic slowdowns in emerging markets such as China and Brazil, says Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel. While foreigners account for about 15 percent of total Manhattan sales, they make up about 30 percent of high-end condo purchases, Miller says.

Another factor sending shudders through the upper echelons of Manhattans real estate market is the Treasury Departments new rules on identifying and tracking secret buyers of expensive properties.

Concerned about illicit money flowing into luxury real estate, the department is now requiring title insurers to send the government the names of the owners behind limited liability companies on residential transactions valued at $3 million or more in New York.



Apartment 64A at 80 Columbus Circle in New York City was reduced from $11.5 million to $10,950,000. (Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty)

The new rules, which took effect March 1 and continue for 180 days, are designed to lift the veil of secrecy from all-cash transactions behind anonymous shell companies. It is the first time the federal government has required real estate companies to disclose names behind cash transactions.

A market like Manhattan has benefited a great deal from all-cash buyers because many of them are foreign transactions, says Nataly Rothschild, a broker with Engel & Volkers NY. She estimates that cash transactions make up about 50 percent of New Yorks overall market. New rules like these wont necessarily discourage all foreign buyers, but it will make them a bit more cautious.

Manhattan is not the only affluent real estate market suffering a slowdown, of course. Across the United States, from Miami to Los Angeles, real estate agents are reporting sluggishness at the very top of the market as inventory piles up and wealthy foreign buyers remain hesitant.

In the District, luxury home prices fell 4.3 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, according to data compiled by real estate brokerage Redfin. Home prices in that sector fell 6.9 percent in Alexandria, Va., 2.4 percent in Arlington, Va., and 2.5 percent in Potomac, Md., the realty group says.

Not all luxury communities in the Washington area saw prices fall, however. Home prices at the higher end of the market were up 22 percent in Bethesda, Md., and 10 percent in Falls Church, Va., the data shows. Redfin defines the luxury market as the priciest 5 percent of homes sold in a given quarter.

In January, 4.1 percent of U.S. homes priced at $5 million or above got a price cut, a 50 percent increase over January 2015, when only 2.7 percent got a reduction, according to Realtor.com. The median reduction was $501,000, or 7.2 percent of the listing price.



Apartment 11NW at 1155 Park Ave. in New York City was reduced from $8.2 million to $7.750 million. (Courtesy of Compass)

But Manhattan has proven resilient in past downturns thanks in part to a robust job market, population growth and a disproportionate number of wealthy individuals. The city also benefits from the strict rules that govern cooperative apartments, which still make up two-thirds of homes available for sale. Notoriously onerous, co-op boards vigorously review prospective buyers finances and require down payments of 25 percent or more. Some buildings even ask for 50 percent cash to purchase.

These measures appear excessive to people outside New York, but they really insulate Manhattan from defaults and market gyrations, says Jeannie Woodbrey, a broker at Corcoran.

Despite a softening at the top, the broader market in Manhattan is still showing strength as home values continue to rise and inventory remains tight. While construction is ballooning for luxury apartments, there are much fewer listings for more moderately priced homes.

Land prices are high in Manhattan, so many builders focused on wealthy sectors of the market to reap the highest financial benefits, says Gabby Warshawer, head of research for CityRealty. That neglect has left a fairly large section of the market with tight inventory and rising prices.

The average price of all Manhattan home purchases completed in the three months through March was $2.05 million, up 18 percent from a year earlier and the highest since 1989, according to a report from Douglas Elliman Real Estate. The median price of those purchases jumped 60 percent, to $2.6 million, the highest on record, the realty group says.

Sales of previously owned apartments fell from a year earlier for the seventh consecutive quarter as there were too few apartments to satisfy demand, the report shows.

Manhattan is not just one market, it is a series of sub-markets, Olshan says. So what youre seeing while the top slows, is the rest of the market still remains relatively strong.
1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Where We Live |Warrenton, Va. View Photos Historic buildings and quaint shops give this community a quiet charm. Caption Historic buildings and quaint shops give this community a quiet charm. The Town of Warrenton, Va., located in the center of Fauquier County about 50 miles west of Washington, exudes quiet charm amid historic buildings and modern shops. Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

The Town of Warrenton, Va., located in the center of Fauquier County about 50 miles west of Washington, exudes quiet charm amid historic buildings and modern shops.

Its the gateway to Virginias Piedmont, a wine region crossing 11 counties. You can get to 70 wineries from here, so Warrenton is a nice stopover, said Heather Stinson, the towns economic development manager. Its also a great place to explore on its own. It feels different here. You have space to breathe.

Will Farley, a real estate agent and resident, was born and raised there, went to college, got married and came back to raise a family. Its a real community with a real downtown; not just the crossroads of two streets where they put in a shopping center, he said.

Downtown activity is centered in the Historic District. Main Street runs about half a mile along a red brick sidewalk of continuous stores, restaurants and notable old structures.

In the courthouse, built in 1890 in the Classical Revival style, Circuit Court cases are still argued. Inside the Fauquier History Museum at the Old Jail, you can see old cells, and outside is a set of wooden stocks in which people were publicly humiliated. The Warren Green Building, an events venue, was once a hotel where the Marquis de Lafayette was feted at a banquet, Andrew Jackson stayed, Theodore Roosevelt dined and the Duchess of Windsor lived.







Independent retailers: Rankins True Value Hardware & Sports, one of the oldest shops in town, earlier this month celebrated 50 years in business and a just-completed remodeling.

Sherries Stuff, open since 2011, offers a little bit of everything from locally made art to dishes from Belgium and tons of knobs, said owner Sherrie Carter, a town resident since 1983. Warrenton is home. I like the slower pace compared to Alexandria, where my kids live.

Theres also Shelf Life Furnishings, Framecraft, Carter & Spence Jewelry, Drum & Strum Music Center, Latitudes Fair Trade and the Mason Enterprise Center for shared office space.

Two news outlets are devoted to local coverage: the weekly Fauquier Times newspaper and the FauquierNow.com website.

On First Fridays, merchants keep their stores open late. The first Friday in May was Gold Cup-themed.

[Twinbrook endures, like its fellow baby boomers]



Equestrian tradition: On May 7, the 2016 Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races were held at Great Meadow, the 250-acre open space and field events venue outside Warrenton.

Theres a strong equestrian tradition here, said Stinson. This was a big event. People dressed up. Ladies wore dresses and hats like youve never seen. Restaurants created horse-themed menus and shops promoted the race in their windows.

Piccadilly Ltd.s storefront displayed extravagant and colorful hats. We have a lot of fascinator hats, like the ones Kate Middleton wears, some with nets and feathers. Elegant hats are hard to find, said Kathryn Lamonia, general manager and daughter of owner Charlotte Sedam. You cant just walk into Nordstroms and find a dress hat. The shop will celebrate its 30th anniversary in December.



Living there: The 4 -square mile Town of Warrenton, Zip code 20186, is roughly bordered by the Virginia Route 17 spur on the north, Virginia Routes 29 and 15 on the east, the junction of Virginia Routes 29/15 and 17 where it crosses Turkey Run Creek on the south, and on the west from Turkey Run up to Virginia Route 211 in a line parallel to East Shirley Avenue.

[Burleith is a cool spot in Georgetowns shadow]

There are single-family homes, condos and townhouses. You can choose a house built in 1905 or 2005 or anything in between, said Farley, an agent in the Warrenton office of Long and Foster. The housing market has definitely gotten better in the last couple years. Everyone experienced the crash of 06 and 07 but now the lack of inventory helps pricing.

Twenty-seven properties are for sale, at prices ranging from $114,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom 1900 bungalow for $114,000 to a six-bedroom, six-bathroom estate on eight acres for $1,895,000.



Shops line Main Street in Old Town Warrenton. On First Fridays, merchants keep their stores open late. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)

Twenty-one properties are under contract, at prices ranging from $182,500 for a two-bedroom, three-bathroom condo to $439,900 for a five-bedroom, four-bathroom single-family home.

In the past year, 203 homes were sold, ranging from $81,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo to $625,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom single-family 1939 Colonial.



Shopping: In Warrenton, grocery stores include Food Lion at 613 Frost Ave., Safeway at 189 West Lee Hwy., Giant at 41 West Lee Hwy. and Harris Teeter at 530 Fletcher Dr. In Gainesville, Wegmans is at 8297 Shops Square. Sears is at 141 West Lee Hwy., Marshalls at 251 West Lee Hwy., Walmart is at 700 James Madison Hwy. and Home Depot is at 267 Alwington Blvd.



Schools: James G. Brumfield Elementary, Warrenton Middle, Fauquier High.



Transit: The trip from Washington is about an hour along Interstate 66 and then Virginia Route 29 or Virginia Route 17. Warrenton is between Culpeper and Gainesville. The approximately 70-mile drive from Warrenton to Charlottesville is a scenic tour because it goes past the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Warrenton-Fauquier Airport is a reliever airport for Dulles International and Reagan National airports.



Crime: According to the Warrenton Police Department, there were 59 assaults, 14 burglaries and one robbery in the past year.
The Post received a guided tour of a North Korean hospital, but left with a somewhat incomplete picture of the facility. (Jason Aldag,Anna Fifield/The Washington Post)

The Post received a guided tour of a North Korean hospital, but left with a somewhat incomplete picture of the facility. (Jason Aldag,Anna Fifield/The Washington Post)

You ask too many questions, Mr. Jang told me. Its a little hard to work with you.

My North Korean minder  Jang Su Ung, one of two provided by the state to monitor (or care for, in their words) three Washington Post journalists on our visit to Pyongyang  was clearly exasperated.

Wed been brought to the Pyongyang maternity hospital, a regular stop on a state-organized media tour in North Korea.

Id been here once before, on my first trip to North Korea, in 2005. The same guy, Moon Chang Won, was in charge of receiving foreign visitors, and I reminded him of my previous visit. On that occasion, hed asked me whether I had any children and, on hearing my answer in the negative, had invited me to give birth at this hospital when the time came.

So I broke the news to him that Id had a baby since our last meeting but that Id delivered at Sibley Memorial in Washington instead. He took the news in stride.

Foreign media listen to a presentation during a tour of the Maternity Hospital in Pyongyang, North Korea on May 7. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

After all, he had work to do. About 60 foreign journalists had descended on his hospital. Cameramen were jockeying for a shot unmarred by photographers, reporters were listening to statistics about the number of times leaders called Kim had visited the hospital, and minders were trying not to lose their charges in the scrum.

[North Korea announces five-year economic plan, its first since the 1980s]

Reporting from North Korea is still a relatively rare experience, even if journalists are taken to the same historical monuments, electrical-cable factories and maternity wards  none of which are especially known for their news value  each time.

But every step of the way, a journalist is left asking herself: Where does reality end and artifice begin? How much is staged and how much is spontaneous?

Reporters were permitted to do vox pops (that is, gather quotes from ordinary citizens) on a street corner on Friday morning, stopping people as they apparently made their way to or from the Chunoo subway station.

But one reporter spotted the same couple walk by twice, then another swore she saw a woman shed interviewed that day walk through her hotel lobby that night. Its enough to make you question whether the sunlight is real or a giant lamp has been installed in the sky.

The hospital tour started in exactly the same way as my trip 11 years before. Dressed in white doctors coats and with plastic covers over our shoes, we filed into the NICU.

Through the windows, we saw days-old premature babies lying in decades-old incubators, older babies bundled in blankets tied with string. Every single one of them asleep, which I thought was an impressive feat. It made me look carefully at their tiny faces, and I was relieved to see ones eyelids flicker.

Then we went through to the lab area. Thats when things started to go awry, because I had the temerity to ask questions. Too many questions.

Have international sanctions limited your ability to get the technology you need to do your work? I put this question to the doctor running the lab, Yoon Chol Ho, glancing over his shoulder at equipment that looked as if it belonged in a museum exhibit of scientific instruments through the decades (in the 1970s, possibly 1980s, section).

Yoon gave a perfect North Korean answer. We are suffering under U.N. and U.S. sanctions, and thats why we learned how to make this equipment, he said. The Great Leader Marshal Kim Jong Un taught us to learn about technology and science so we have the ability to develop by ourselves. This equipment may look old-fashioned on the outside, but inside the casing was cutting-edge technology built by North Korean doctors, Yoon told me with a straight face. Riiiiight.

[Kim hails nuclear and missile advances as party congress opens]

As a scientist, are you able to get on the Internet for research? I asked this of Yoon because all but a handful of North Koreans are prohibited from accessing outside information. Of course, responded Yoon.

I felt the five or so hospital staffers and my guides forming a tighter circle around me, hands on my back trying to move me along to avoid missing out on other parts of the tour. I protested: You brought me here to learn about your hospital  let me learn about your hospital.

Yoon said he went to a building across the street three or four times a week to go online. So this past week youve been online three or four times? No, no times this week, came his response.

That was it. The hand on my back became more forceful, and I was shuffled out the door and into a bright new wing of the hospital, dedicated to womens health in general.

Testing rooms were stocked with state-of-the-art Siemens equipment, with all of it, and even the air-conditioning units, bearing red and yellow signs declaring it to be a gift from the Respected Leader Kim Jong Un.

Moon, the director, had previously answered my questions about sanctions by saying that North Korea adapted by building seven of its own X-ray machines, including a portable one.

When we got to the X-ray room though, a Siemens X-ray machine imported from China stood before me. I wanted to see a domestically produced one, I told Moon. Oh, those? Those were in a different hospital, he responded.

[Watch: The Posts Anna Fifield in North Korea]

Next door, in a room looking into the CT scanner, I asked the medical staff if they could turn the computer on for me and show me how the equipment worked. Why? Do you have a serious health problem? Jang, my minder, asked. I told him I was just interested to see whether the software was in English.

After much whispering and efforts to get me out the door, someone turned on the power and we waited for what seemed like five minutes for the Microsoft Windows-based computer to boot up. Then it needed a password, and none of the six or so staffers in the room knew it.

Someone eventually arrived and entered it, and the English-language software started whirring, the scanner inside the circular frame started rotating.

Happy now? The unspoken question hung in the air, as the hospital staff seemed eager to get rid of me. Jang was not happy. In North Korea, reporters take dictation. This kind of insistent questioning, this unwillingness to automatically believe what I was told, was not welcome. Come on, Jang told me, hurry up or youll miss the next part of the program.

We walked up a marble staircase into a ward where a television crew was gathered around a hospital bed, talking to a nicely made-up woman sitting on the bed in pink pajamas. But there were no personal effects on the bedside table or in the connecting bathroom, there was no medical chart on the end of the bed or even a glass of water on her bedside table.

Was she really ill? Was she really a patient? We will never know. Suddenly, it was time to go and our minders were herding us back onto the bus.

Read more

A model farm  with few farmers  in North Korea

The Post arrives in North Korea for a once-in-a-generation party congress

Its party time in North Korea. Workers Party party time.

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Indian women use their smartphones while traveling in the New Delhi metro car reserved for women. (Anna Zieminski/AFP/Getty Images)

When a bridge collapsed in the city of Kolkata, killing dozens two months ago, the usual outrage followed about shoddy construction companies and substandard material.

But a wealthy businessman, Motilal Oswal, created a stir on Twitter when he chose to blame it on the countrys engineers  who he said graduate not because of talent but because of affirmative-action set-asides for lower-caste groups, a hot-button issue in India.

He was retweeted by hundreds of people opposed to set-asides, but faced a strong pushback on Twitter from the Dalits, once known as the untouchables in Indias centuries-old rigid caste system.

Within hours, Oswal deleted the tweet and apologized.

Much like the Black Twitter movement in the United States, Dalits with popular Twitter handles are now routinely flexing their muscles on the microblogging site, acting as community watchdogs and highlighting issues of bias, brutality and bigotry that they say Indias predominantly upper-caste media tends to ignore.

Dalits launched an angry counterattack on Oswal on Twitter with the hashtag #BoycottMotilalOswal and asked followers to file a complaint of caste prejudice. They also pointed out that the company that was building the bridge did not have job quotas for lower-caste engineers, and that set-asides in colleges and government jobs are a fundamental right guaranteed by the nations constitution.

They widely shared screen shots of Oswals offending tweet and of his apology.

Twitter has given a new language and energy to the Dalit movement against the caste system in India, said Pradeep, who runs the Ambedkar Caravan Twitter handle. He uses only one name because surnames in India often reveal ones caste.

Indias lower-caste groups have been marginalized for centuries. The majority of Dalits toil as landless farm laborers, cannot use community water pumps, live in segregated village enclaves and work as manual scavengers. The marriage of an upper-caste member to a Dalit is largely frowned upon, and can even be fatal in some villages. Many Dalits are too poor to own smartphones or access the Internet.

But more than six decades of affirmative-action policies has created a small but vocal Dalit middle class composed of bureaucrats, doctors, politicians and engineers.

Recently, Dalits on Twitter forced a big Indian company that makes ceiling fans to remove a TV commercial that they said showed affirmative action in a poor light. The ad celebrated a lower-caste student who refuses the benefits of affirmative action in college.

For upper-caste people, Twitter is just another invention. For Dalits, it has the potential for a revolution, said Chandra Bhan Prasad, a Dalit writer. There is no barrier for Dalits entry here. Nobody will filter your words here or chop your thumb for daring to write what you feel.

Although Dalits have preferred Facebook for activism for some years, their attention shifted to Twitter when the site enabled the use of hashtags in six more regional Indian languages last year.

A little more than 22 million Indians used Twitter in 2014, according to one report, but many say it is growing in its power to shape public debate. Many politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tweet regularly. Political parties have huge Twitter armies to propagate their views or troll opponents. Communities also use it to influence or criticize the stories that the mainstream media covers.

Yet the Indian media remains largely an upper-caste bastion with no formal affirmative- action policy to hire Dalits, say media experts, one reason that Dalit Twitter has found its niche.

The national media has no active interest in covering Dalit issues on a regular basis, said Dharma Teja, of the Twitter handle Dalit Camera.

In March, the body of a 17-year-old Dalit student was found inside the water tank of her college dorm in the western state of Rajasthan. Her parents said she had been raped and killed by the college physical training instructor, but the college said it was suicide. As protests grew on the ground, the national television networks were consumed by the suicide of a TV soap-opera actress instead.

By amplifying the voices of Dalit protests on the ground, we forced the national media to pay more attention to the students case, Teja said.

During a recent campus face-off between Dalit students and university administrators in the southern city of Hyderabad, sparked by the suicide of a Dalit PhD student, these Twitter handles actively posted videos, photographs and oral testimonies.

Journalists in New Delhi said they used these handles as a key source of information on the protest.

When there is a violent incident, many like the Dalit politician D. Ravikumar use the hashtag #DalitLivesMatter.

Some, however, say they do not use Twitter merely to highlight violence.

Ask anybody in India who the top 10 Dalit women in history were, they would struggle to name even two. That is how total the erasure of our history has been, said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, whose handle is Dalit Diva. She uses #DalitHistoryMonth and #DalitWomenFight in many of her tweets. We are trying to liberate our history.

Things may be beginning to change.

Last month, a news portal called thenewsminute.com became the first mainstream English media outlet in India to run a Dalit History Month series on caste discrimination, Dalit poetry and art.

Dhanya Rajendran, editor in chief of the portal, said such stories do not find much space in the media because there is an assumption that the audience is upper-caste and urban.

Readers accused the portal of dividing society along caste lines by running the series.

One reader commented: What is Dalit history? Dont take up old prejudices for publicity. New India not like that.

Dalits on Twitter said they face a volley of abuse and rampage trolling.

This shows that its working, Soundararajan said. They are scared of the rising power of Dalit Twitter.
Brazil's senators voted overwhelmingly on Thursday, May 12, to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial, an impeachment push driven by mounting frustration in the country. (Dom Phillips,Nick Miroff,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Brazil's senators voted overwhelmingly on Thursday, May 12, to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial, an impeachment push driven by mounting frustration in the country. (Dom Phillips,Nick Miroff,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Brazils once-lauded model of leftist government appeared to come to an abrupt end Thursday, when lawmakers suspended President Dilma Rousseff in an extraordinary repudiation of her administration and the Workers Party that has ruled the country for 13 years.

Vice President Michel Temer quickly assumed control of Latin Americas largest country, signaling that he will take Brazil in a more free-market-friendly direction in an attempt to shore up its sagging economy and win over a skeptical public. A member of the centrist PMDB party, Temer introduced a conservative-leaning, all-male cabinet Thursday that swings Brazil toward the right.

He called on Brazilians to trust in the countrys values and in the recovery of its economy, which is suffering its worst crisis in 80 years. It is urgent to pacify our nation and unify Brazil, he said.

Rousseffs removal sent shock waves throughout Latin America, where Brazil was once viewed as an emerging economic power and the model for a new form of leftist rule, matching support for big business with muscular social-welfare programs to alleviate poverty and nurture a new middle class. That project has come crashing down, and Rousseff paid the price Thursday. She faces impeachment proceedings that could last six months. An overwhelming vote against her in Brazils Senate indicated that she had little chance of being acquitted.

Rousseff, 68, is accused of improperly using billions of dollars in loans from government banks to fill budget shortfalls and pay for social programs. But the impeachment vote became a broader referendum on her leadership amid a painful recession and corruption scandals that have swept up much of the countrys political elite.

Supporters of suspended President Dilma Rousseff hold up messages outside her office in Brasilia on May 12, 2016, denouncing the Senate vote against her as a coup. (Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images)

The countrys first female president vowed to fight the charges against her  raising the possibility of further political instability as Brazil stumbles toward the Aug. 5 opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Rousseffs supporters called for strikes and demonstrations blocking roadways, but the sympathizers who gathered at the presidential palace Thursday appeared to number only in the hundreds.

[The charges against Dilma Rousseff, explained]

A former leftist militant who was jailed and beaten as a young woman during Brazils military dictatorship, Rousseff called her suspension an injustice more painful than torture, blasting the impeachment vote as fraudulent and a coup.

Her defiant remarks came after a 20-hour debate that ended with 55 of Brazils 81 senators voting to put her on trial, far more than the simple majority needed.

Her accusers say Rousseff systematically obscured the precarious state of the countrys finances from lawmakers and the public to boost her reelection prospects in 2014 and conceal her mismanagement. The impeachment allegations cover only her present term, however.

Just hours after the vote, she insisted again that her predecessors had used the same bookkeeping tactics. It was not a crime in their time. Its not a crime in mine, she said in a brief televised speech.

1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Brazil sets impeachment vote on President Dilma Rousseff View Photos Brazilian lawmakers weigh whether to oust the president as supporters and opponents take to the streets in protest. Caption Brazilians lawmakers weigh whether to oust the president as supporters and opponents took to the streets in protest. April 17, 2016 In Brasilia, deputies fight during a session to discuss the admissibility of the impeachment request of President Dilma Rousseff. Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

But her accusers say her accounting methods involved far greater sums.

[Brazil goes from female president to leader with millennial wife]

Temer takes office with a weak government and mandate; recent polls showed that only 2 percent of Brazilians wanted him to be president.

All of the 21 ministers Temer announced Thursday are men, a fact that will fan accusations of gender bias in the push to oust Rousseff, especially from backers of the Workers Party, which championed greater diversity in government.

In his first comments after the impeachment vote, Temer said he would focus on reviving the economy and would maintain popular social programs. His new finance minister is a respected former banker, Henrique Meirelles, who was central bank chief under Rousseffs predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Temer also sought to give assurances that the Olympic Games will go off well, saying that billions of people would be watching and that Brazil could show itself at its best. We will never get another opportunity like this, he said.

According to Marcos Troyjo, a former Brazilian diplomat who is a professor of international affairs at Columbia University in New York, Temers arrival is likely to bring a shift in trade policy that will make Brazil more attractive for U.S. investors. Temer named Sen. Jose Serra, who ran against Rousseff in the 2010 presidential election and voted Thursday to remove her, as foreign minister.

Serra will bring Brazil closer to the West, not only in ideological terms, but practical terms, in terms of market access, Troyjo said. Rousseff had cordial, although not close, relations with the Obama administration.

[Why the world needs Brazil to bounce back]

Rousseffs departure was part of a broader political shift in Latin America, Troyjo said, away from the center-left populist model that dominated the region for most of the past decade.

It puts Brazil in line with a trend being felt around Latin America, he said.

Temer assumes the presidency on an interim basis, but he would serve out the rest of Rousseffs term if she were found guilty. In Brazils multiparty system, it is not uncommon for a presidential candidate to run with a vice-presidential candidate from a different party.

[How Brazils Workers Party lost the workers]

A career politician, Temers reputation is that of a skilled negotiator and smooth behind-the-scenes operator. But he is hardly colorless.

Temer, 75, is a legal scholar and sometime poet who is famous for dapper suits, slicked-back silver hair and young wife Marcela, who will turn 33 on Monday.

Temer is the author of a book of sensual verses inspired by his spouse, a former beauty pageant contestant who became his third wife in 2003.

Temer is one of the many Brazilian politicians who have been implicated in the Car Wash bribery scandal at state oil company Petrobras, but he has not been charged. On Thursday, he said would protect the long-running judicial investigation from any possible attempts to weaken it. Rousseff is not under suspicion of graft in relation to that scandal.

Those who know Temer, the son of Lebanese Christian immigrants, say he has the political skills to quickly win over a skeptical public.

I have never seen someone as prepared for this emotionally as Michel Temer, said Jacob Goldberg, one of Brazils most celebrated psychoanalysts. Goldberg said he has had a close relationship with Temer for decades, calling him a cordial man, a man of dialogue and not a man of confrontation.

He declined to confirm whether Temer had been his patient, citing confidentiality.

The early-morning vote on Rousseff was the equivalent of impeachment in most democracies. But legal experts say that, in the Brazilian context, a politician is considered impeached only if found guilty.

Rousseffs removal is a once-unthinkable revolt against her Workers Party, co-founded by her mentor Lula, who left office in 2010 with an 87 percent approval rating and an economy growing at an annual rate of 7.5 percent. Lula was among the aides who embraced Rousseff in an emotional scene Thursday morning as she left her office for perhaps the last time.

Lula, too, is under investigation on allegations of corruption and obstruction of justice but says he is innocent.

Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

Ghosts of Brazils past haunt presidential impeachment crisis

How Brazil, the darling of the developing world, came undone

How Brazils ruling Workers Party lost the workers

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Two women walk through tear gas in Paris after a clash between police and activists protesting the French government's labor law reform. (Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA)

As protests raged in the capital and across the country, Frances Socialist government survived a no-confidence vote Thursday after it forced a controversial labor law through Parliament in a last-ditch attempt to curb unemployment before next years presidential election.

Although the no-confidence motion failed, it was a public rebuke of an increasingly unpopular government viewed as politically impotent and increasingly out of touch with the interests of even its own supporters.

The legislation  which significantly loosens the countrys stringent labor regulations  was adopted Tuesday without a vote in Parliament, scandalizing deputies and provoking a motion of censure, which would have stopped the law.

The new law speaks to issues far broader than French politics. It is an attempt to combat unemployment  an issue all over Europe that is especially acutein France, where the rate has stubbornly lingered over 10 percent for some time now, just below its high in the mid-1990s.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has backed a labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler/AP)

Since the end of March, hundreds of thousands of predominantly young protesters have swarmed public squares and city streets across France in demonstrations that recall the student revolts of 1968.

On Thursday, thousands of young people gathered outside the National Assembly in Paris. They were protesting the governments move to loosen Frances famous worker protections, among the strongest in the world, which limit the workweek to 35 hours and prohibit firms from firing employees even for economic reasons.

Many view this weeks changes as a leftist governments abandonment of leftist ideals.

Its a leftist government that was elected, said a high school student who identified himself only as Mathurin, but theyre sort of traitors, as far to the right as theyve moved.

Manuel Valls, Frances prime minister, said in Parliament on Tuesday, This reform has to go through, the country must move forward.

Some French economists point out that the young and unemployed are protesting a set of measures that were largely introduced to help the young and unemployed.

Im not sure that French people really understand whats in this law, said Stephane Carcillo, a professor at Sciences Po, a Paris-based research institution.

The unemployment rate in France is high for structural reasons, not just because of the crisis, he said, citing a traditionally corporatist society that continued to maintain a generous social security system even after postwar growth began to stagnate.

Its definitely a law that should have been passed a few years ago, Carcillo said.

In France, an uncertain future for Jews

Violent May Day protests show Frances (and Hollandes) problems are mounting

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
An Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrim prays in front of the Kaaba, inside Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest shrine in Saudi Arabia on June 5, 2008 . Iran has failed to reach agreement with Saudi Arabia on arrangements for its pilgrims to join the annual hajj in September following a severing of ties, its culture minister said. (Hassan Ammar/AFP/Getty Images)

Iran announced Thursday that it will suspend its participation in the annual hajj, the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that is a religious duty for all Muslims, in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two Middle Eastern heavyweights.

The decision comes amid Irans increasingly strident criticism of Saudi Arabias management of the pilgrimage in the wake of a deadly stampede in September. The disaster resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 pilgrims, including 464 Iranians, according to an Associated Press count based on official reports.

Ali Jannati, Irans minister of culture and Islamic guidance, told the state news agency that negotiations with Saudi Arabia over granting visas and transportation for the hajj had broken down, making it impossible for Iranians to visit Mecca this year.

We did whatever we could, but it was the Saudis who sabotaged, the Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Jannati as saying. The news agency described the cancellation as tentatively confirmed.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, which follow Shiite and Sunni strands of Islam, respectively, have long been rivals in the region, but competition has intensified in recent years.

[Mideast tensions soar as Saudi Arabia rallies countries to cut ties with Iran]

The two countries back opposite sides in the conflicts raging in Yemen and Syria, and their governments have accused each other of supporting terrorism and undermining stability in their countries.

Iran last suspended its participation in the hajj in 1988 and 1989 after it accused Saudi forces of opening fire on its pilgrims, resulting in 400 deaths.

Iran strongly criticized Saudi handling of the pilgrimage last year after the stampede, but it was the execution of a Shiite Saudi cleric in January that led to a severing of ties.

The execution of Sheik Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, who had long served as the voice of Saudi Arabias Shiite minority, prompted protests in Iran, and a crowd ransacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.

Saudi Arabia broke off ties and closed its diplomatic missions in response. That became an issue when it came to granting Saudi visas to pilgrims hoping to attend the next hajj, set for September.

[7 remarkable insults in the Iran-Saudi Arabia war of words]

According to Jannati, four months of negotiations over how Iranians could participate in the hajj finally broke down when the Saudis insisted that the pilgrims would have to go to third countries to receive their visas.

Its fair to say that over the last two years in particular we have seen a real deterioration in the relations between both countries, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a politics researcher at Syracuse University in New York.

With 2 million Muslims from around the world coming together, he said, the hajj had the potential to be a unifying moment.

Hajj represents an opportunity where you could try to mend fences and deal with an issue that is not necessarily political, and, yet, even that issue has become a bit problematic, he said.

Boroujerdi added that there has been a social media campaign in Iran calling for a boycott of the pilgrimage and encouraging Iranians to spend their money on local charitable causes rather than in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, which has yet to comment on the Iranian decision, has portrayed Iran as the main threat to the stability of the region.

Riyadh feels threatened by the nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers last year. The accord led to the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

Read more:

Stampede near Saudi holy city kills hundreds on hajj pilgrimage

Saudi Arabias execution of cleric ignites fury in Iran

Mideast tensions soar as Saudi Arabia rallies countries to cut ties with Iran

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
A 2011 photo shows buildings ravaged by fighting in Sirte, Libya, an Islamic State stronghold. U.S. Special Operations troops have established outposts in Libya to build relations with Libyan forces moving on Sirte. (Manu Brabo/AP)

American Special Operations troops have been stationed at two outposts in eastern and western Libya since late 2015, tasked with lining up local partners in advance of a possible offensive against the Islamic State, U.S. officials said.

Two teams totaling fewer than 25 troops are operating from around the cities of Misurata and Benghazi to identify potential allies among local armed factions and gather intelligence on threats, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive mission overseas.

The insertion of a tiny group of U.S. personnel into a country rife with militant threats reflects the Obama administrations worries about the Islamic States powerful Libyan branch and the widespread expectations of an expanded campaign against it. For months, the Pentagon has been developing plans for potential action against the group, which has at least several thousand fighters in the coastal city of Sirte and other areas. And the U.S. personnel, whose ongoing presence had not been previously reported, is a sign of the acceleration toward another military campaign in Libya.

The mission is also an illustration of President Obamas reliance on elite units to advance counterterrorism goals in low-visibility operations.

The activities of the American contact teams, as they are known, take place in parallel to those of elite allied forces from France and other European nations in the same areas, U.S. and Libyan officials said.

A member of the Libyan security forces displays part of a document in Arabic describing weaponry. It was found at the site of U.S. airstrikes on an Islamic State camp that killed dozens near the western city of Sabratha in February. (Mohamed Ben Khalifa/AP)

Officials hope the special operators will ultimately have an outsize impact on the effectiveness of local forces. Special Operations forces in Syria, for instance, have been trying to guide opposition operations and help them capitalize on foreign air power as they advance on the Islamic State.

These types of activities can be the difference between success and failure in what the administration refers to as areas outside of active hostilities, said William F. Wechsler, who was a senior Pentagon official overseeing Special Operations activities until last year. Youre mapping local networks, both friendly and unfriendly.

[Outside the wire: How U.S. Special Operations troops secretly help foreign forces target terrorists ]

The U.S. troops, who began making visits to Libya last spring and established their twin outposts six months later, have been cultivating relationships among forces that are mobilizing for a possible assault against the Islamic State in its Sirte stronghold.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook declined to provide specific information about the U.S. assessment teams. But he said that military personnel had been meeting periodically with a variety of Libyans in an effort to help them reestablish a safe and secure environment. The effort is part of a larger Obama administration strategy to bring Libyas feuding factions together behind a fragile new unity government, which officials believe is best positioned to combat the Islamic State.

In Libya, a key element of the mission is identifying which factions will align themselves with the unity government. Since a civil conflict erupted in 2014, Libya has been dominated by two rival governments in the countrys east and west. The Obama administration and its European allies are hoping the unity government, installed after U.N.-brokered peace talks, can end Libyas partition, which opened the door to extremists and plunged the oil-rich country into economic crisis.

The troops also are assessing security conditions so that, if a broader mission takes place, the United States can move in additional personnel more safely.

How do you avoid Libya becoming like Syria? said Paul Scharre, a former Army Ranger and Defense Department official who is now at the Center for a New American Security. This is one of the tools in your toolbox to stave that off.

[In Libya, the Islamic States black banner rises by the Mediterranean]

Although the Islamic State is far smaller in Libya than its parent organization in Iraq and Syria, the group has used similar tactics to enforce its brutal version of Islam, including mass executions, and has launched attacks across the North African nation.

Were obviously watching the threats very closely, a senior administration official said, also speaking on the condition of anonymity.

If the White House does authorize a broader campaign in Libya, it is expected to be on a smaller scale than operations in Iraq and Syria. Apart from its ongoing air campaign against the Islamic State, the United States has more than 5,000 troops on the ground in Iraq, and Obama recently expanded the Special Operations force in Syria.

The United States has launched two airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Libya since late 2015, but Pentagon officials have said they have identified dozens of other targets that might be hit if a more sustained operation takes place.

An expanded mission in Libya will be forced to grapple with the same internal divisions that have undermined other foreign attempts to foster stability since 2011. In an illustration of those tribal and political fissures, the two forces preparing to advance on the Islamic State  militia forces loyal to Misurata and army troops under Gen. Khalifa Hifter  have clashed with each other.

The Misuratan forces recognize the unity government in Tripoli; those loyal to Hifter do not. Likewise, three factions have established separate command centers to oversee an offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte, including Hifter; the unity government; and an alternate prime minister in Tripoli, who continues to assert his authority.

American officials fear that uncoordinated offensives will only afford the Islamic State an opportunity to grow stronger.

At the same time, some officials privately complain that foreign support for eastern forces loyal to Hifter  including from U.S. allies France and Egypt  makes consolidation of the unity governments power more difficult.

We have been working with our allies to urge focus on ISIL and not fueling rivalries across the country, a senior U.S. official said, using an acronym for the Islamic State. Local factions are being asked to do the same, and as the ISIL threat becomes clearer and clearer, it becomes easier to find Libyans who are prepared to do that.

The French Embassy in Washington declined to comment on French military activity in Libya. Our priority in Libya is full support to the government and not support to a particular force, a French diplomatic official said.

A spokeswoman for the Egyptian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[Five years after revolution, Western nations prepare to renew military operations in Libya ]

Military officials have sought to keep the ongoing presence of U.S. personnel quiet, in part because of Libyans sensitivities about foreign troops and also because of the vulnerability of small teams operating in a country gripped by lawlessness. Benghazi was the site of the 2012 attacks that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

Last December, a visit by one team of special operators to far western Libya was made public when local militia forces took photos of the Americans with their assault rifles, grenade launchers and GPS devices. The U.S. personnel promptly departed.

The Pentagon is seeking to enhance protection of its advance force from the sky. This year, Italy granted the United States permission to use Italian airfields to launch armed drone flights over Libya for defensive purposes.

Wechsler said the Pentagon had been willing to accept the dangers faced by such teams because of the value they provided to subsequent military operations.

When the military is dropping Hellfires from a drone, there is by design a zero percent chance of an American getting killed, Wechlser said. But when youre trying to do the important work to understand the human terrain and build up surrogates, the risk . . . can never be mitigated down to zero.

Thomas Gibbons-Neff contributed to this report.

Read more:
In an op-ed last week in the Daily News, New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton defended the New York City Police Departments illegal use of nuisance abatement laws to evict tenants and shut down stores. We have and will continue, he said, and I will emphasize that, we will continue to aggressively enforce nuisance abatement as a cornerstone of our efforts to keep neighborhoods safe.

A ProPublica/Daily New s special investigation in February revealed that NYPD has been locking residents out of their homes and shutting down delis and bodegas by using secret court orders without warning to owners or tenants.

The public nuisance abatement laws, allow a judge to grant a secret order closing a premises at the request of the NYPD. Since the law, originally enacted in 1977 to close sex shops in Times Square, are civil suits and not criminal cases, tenants have no right to an attorney and are denied constitutional rights of due process.

The abatement law requires three allegations of illegal activity. No arrests are necessary to bring a case forward. Judges have approved 70 percent of cases with subsequent reports in the media indicating that judges frequently grant warrants without even photographic evidence.

The investigation found that there were 1,162 nuisance cases filed during 2013 and 2014. Forty-three percent were filed against residences, mainly over alleged drug sales. More than half of the residents were subsequently barred from their homes. Ninety percent of the homes subjected to such actions were in minority and poor communities.

The investigation also found that NYPD officers used aggressive tactics to force settlements in which store owners agreed to warrantless searches and fines, and to install cameras and data-storing identification that police can access whenever they choose.

The administration of Democratic mayor Bill de Blasio initially said that it would investigate these claims, and Bratton promised he would take a fresh look at the practice. But in March Bratton refused to comment on the unit, the Civil Enforcement Unit, that carried out these raids, and he has now emphasized that the police will continue to use the laws.

Most of his argument rests on the grounds that civil suits can and should be used to fight crime. This is largely a legal gambit. Using civil law for prosecutions means that there are far fewer protections for the accused than under criminal law.

Bratton also argued that, the respondents in these actions are not being denied due process. Similar to the application for a search warrant, the initial steps of a civil enforcement action are closed to the subject of the action. However, the application receives a thorough review by the New York City Law Department and a state Supreme Court justice.

But two former NYPD lawyers in an interview with the Daily News noted that, the NYPD brings the cases to court without so much as checking if anyone still lives at the home they are seeking to close, or if its targets have been exonerated of the criminal charges on which the nuisance abatement actions are based.

The ProPublica/Daily News report revealed, in fact, that courts are simply rubber-stamping the decisions of the NYPD.

The use of the nuisance laws was part of a new strategy to control the working class in the city as social inequality began to climb steeply after the mid-1980s. The increasingly frequent application of these laws were part of the broken windows theory of policing in which cops are ordered to focus their attention on lifestyle crimes such as public consumption of alcohol or graffiti to prevent more severe crimes.

The implementation of broken windows under Bratton in 1994 under Republican mayor Rudolf Giuliani, in fact, marked the beginning of the police-state reign of stop-and-frisk in which millions of predominantly working-class, minority youth were stopped, questioned and searched by the NYPD on the basis of probable cause. The campaign reached its pinnacle under Brattons successor, Raymond Kelly, during the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations.

The personal information of these youth, (over 90 percent of whom were found to have committed no crime), including names and social security numbers, were put into electronic and later paper databases.

So hated was stop-and-frisk by the working class in New York City, that during the 2013 mayoral election Brattons future boss, de Blasio, campaigned largely on a platform of abolishing the practice. The tactic, however, had already experienced steep decreases under Blomberg. This was a tactical decision under circumstances in which the working class, particularly its poorest layers, was plunged into deep economic distress in the aftermath of the final collapse of 2008.

Although far less widespread, the use of the nuisance laws followed a similar course. It escalated in the 1990s during Brattons first tenure as Police Commissioner when the NYPD stopped using the Padlock Law which required three arrests to bring a case.

In 1994 the NYPD was given free rein to authorize its own abatement cases independent of the mayor. Nuisance abatement actions rose from 25 closings of businesses in 1977 to 1,082 cases in 2013, of which 44 percent were at residences.

There is considerable division, however, in the state apparatus about how to police a city in which the wealth of the top one percent continues to skyrocket, homelessness reaches new highs every month, and housing has become increasingly unaffordable for most of the citys population.

Sections of the NYPD were in near-revolt against Mayor de Blasio after the killing of two police officers in Brooklyn by Ismaaiyl Brinsley in December, 2014, and over his perceived softness on anti-police violence protesters.

Bratton, reappointed as Police Commissioner by de Blasio in 2014, has never disavowed stop-and-frisk, and it continues to be used by the police, although on a less widespread scale. Bratton in fact has continued to outfit the NYPD with the latest military equipment and successfully advocated for the hiring of 1,000 new cops, including the creation of a heavily armed 300-strong antiterrorism unit, which, he has acknowledged, will be directed at demonstrators.

On Tuesday, the NYPD announced that it would fit out 60 police cars with bulletproof armor. On a talk show the same day, Bratton sought to allay fears that the NYPD was attempting to break through the encryption of cellular phones

It is not accidental that Bratton has made his remarks defending the nuisance laws during the strike of 40,000 Verizon workers, 9,000 of whom live in New York City. It is a pledge to use the same methods against strikers as well as their homes and property, should the strike escape the political leash of the unions, which ties them to the Democratic Party and the de Blasio administration.

The revelations of NYPD scab herding in the strike following the injury of a striker by a car driven by a cop show that the city government has already begun its intervention.

The author also recommends:

Poor evicted under nuisance laws by New York City police

[1 March 2016]
The June 23 referendum on continued UK membership of the European Union began as a means of deciding a factional dispute within the Conservative government over the best means to advance the interests of British imperialism.

As the campaign has unfolded, the agenda of both sides has been shown to be dictated by the growth of national antagonisms and the resulting danger of military conflict. This accounts for the filthy mixture of jingoism and xenophobia being forced on the UK electorate in an attempt to create the necessary climate of reaction for the shared agenda of all sections of Britains ruling elite.

With opposed claims regarding the potential economic impact of an exit from the EU relegated to the background, the Remain campaign has focused instead on the negative impact on Britains security and that of Europe flowing from a decision to leave. Conservative Prime Minister David Camerons keynote Remain speech on Monday cited the threat of terrorism, but focused overwhelmingly on the need to combat what he described as a newly belligerent Russia as the main reason for remaining in the EU. This, he argued, was necessary to maintain and reinforce the NATO military alliance.

He was backed by an extraordinary international alliance of spies and warmongers, including US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, 13 former US defence and foreign affairs chiefs, five ex-NATO secretaries-general and the former heads of Britains MI5 and MI6 Jonathan Evans and Sir John Sawers. The former NATO heads warned that a Brexit would give succour to the Wests enemies.

To this rogues gallery was added a campaign video showing four veterans who fought in the Second World War, including Lord Bramall, the former head of the Armed Forces.

The Vote Leave campaign, headed by the Tory right, was incensed at being so politically outgunned, and responded with statements overtly hostile to the European powersincluding former Tory Party head Iain Duncan Smith complaining of a German veto on UK policy and Justice Minister Michael Gove announcing that cabinet ministers backing Brexit have drawn up a draft bill to prevent the EU interfering with the UKs intelligence services.

But to make absolutely clear that the two camps share a pro-war agenda and a determination to target Russia, former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox declared that a Brexit would give an impetus to the political aspect of NATO. He continued: My worry is that you have far too few European countries pulling their weight inside NATO, seeing the EU as some sort of soft option for them in terms of defence.

The main platform of the Leave campaign has been to beat the anti-immigrant drum, with its most prominent figure, outgoing London Mayor Boris Johnson, complaining, We have no powers to control the number of people coming from the EU with no qualifications, and Duncan Smith insisting, The only way to take back control of our borders is to Vote Leave on 23 June.

The referendum campaign has exposed the dangers confronting the working class as a result of the growing conflict between the imperialist powers over control of the worlds strategic resources and marketsabove all, those presently controlled by Russia and China. However, no genuine alternative is offered by either the Remain Campaign of the Labour Party and Trades Union Congress, or by the Left Leave campaign of the UKs main pseudo-left groupings.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn makes a feint of political independence by refusing to share a platform with Cameron, but this is a fraud. He shares a political platform with the government by defending the EU and saying absolutely nothing about its policies of austerity and war.

For its part, the Left Leave campaign, made up of the RMT and ASLEF rail unions, the Stalinist Communist Party of Britain, the Socialist Workers Party and Counterfire, does not advance a socialist opposition to the EU. Indeed, they are wholly indifferent to the fate of the European and international working class.

Their role is to encourage a national reformist approach among workers and young people by arguing that an exit from the EU and what they call a return to British sovereignty will allow Labour to come to power and free Corbyn from its pro-market restraints. As if Corbyn had not already performed one political capitulation after another without any prodding from Brussels!

Left Leaves pro-Labour propaganda is combined with constant efforts to minimise the danger represented by the right-wing forces dominating the official Leave campaign.

There is not a single article critical of the official campaign on the Left Leave web site outside of one line referencing the reactionary anti-EU campaigning of UKIP (the anti-immigrant UK Independence Party) and the Tory right. Instead, Counterfires Chris Bambery sets out to explain why the referendum debate is not the orgy of racism that so many predicted, and laments that some continue to be fixated about combating UKIP.

Another article goes so far as to solidarise with UKIP as the supposed victim of McCarthy-like campaigns directed at those who have a different vision for Britain, and complain that UKIP is dismissed as a far-right group bordering on the fascist.

The Socialist Equality Partys decision to campaign for an active boycott of the EU referendum has been fully vindicated. Our February 29 statement explained that the Remain and Leave campaigns are both headed by Thatcherite forces whose differences are over how best to defend the interests of British capitalism against its European and international rivals under conditions of economic slump and the escalation of militarism and war.

It is not a question, therefore, of choosing the lesser evil because both options are equally rotten. Any possibility of an independent voice for the working class being registered has been deliberately excluded.

As the statement explains, British workers cannot find a way out of the current economic and political impasse on the basis of a nationalist programme. Our campaign for an active boycott is bound up with the task of building an international, anti-capitalist and socialist movement in opposition to austerity, militarism and war based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society.

Against the advocates of British nationalism and apologists for the EU, the SEP seeks to unify the European working class in a common offensive for the United Socialist States of Europe.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders landslide victory in West Virginia on Tuesday, following his victory last week in Indiana, has highlighted the widespread hostility toward the Democratic Partys front-runner, Hillary Clinton, some ten weeks before the partys nominating convention in July.

Sanders defeated Clinton, whom the Democratic Party has declared the all-but-certain victor of the primary process, in every single county in the state, winning 51.4 percent of the vote compared to Clintons 35.8 percent. He secured particularly high vote margins in working class areas where the coal industry once dominated. As a consequence of decades of deindustrialization, largely overseen by the Democratic Party, West Virginia is now one of the poorest states in the country, with the lowest labor force participation rate.

In Logan Countythe location of the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain, in which 10,000 armed coal miners confronted strikebreakers and policeSanders defeated Clinton by a 25 percentage point margin. The Vermont senator continues to secure overwhelming majorities among young voters, winning 73 percent of West Virginia Democratic voters under the age of 44.

The trouncing of Clinton by Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, in a state like West Virginia is of immense political significance. In trying to explain this and the other victories for Sanders, the media and the Democratic Party backers of Clinton are promoting a false racial narrative in which everything is to be understood in terms of the white vote, the black vote, etc. An example of this is the column (As West Virginia Goes) published yesterday by New York Times columnist Charles Blow, a committed Clinton supporter.

Clintons problem, according to Blow, is that her strategy has been to so closely align herself with President Obama that there is very little light between them. This has helped her secure and retain some minority voters, but most likely distanced her from white ones. West Virginia, Blow continues, is one of the whitest states in the country, and the absolute whitest in the South, as well as the least educated state and one of the poorest.

Blow attempts to conceal the obviousthat the support for Sanders is driven by enormous alienation and the desire among broad sections of workers and youth for a dramatic change in economic policy. Clintons association with the Obama administration is generating hostility among workers and youth because the seven years of the Obama White House have seen a historic growth of social inequality and a continued deterioration of working class living standards.

Blows comment, and many others like it, assumes as a matter of course that workers are acting not on the basis of economic interests, but on the basis of racial identity. These commentators reject any notion that the concerns motivating broad sections of workers who happen to be white are the same as those animating workers who happen to be black. They deny that workers are capable of rational judgment as to where their interests lie. They provide no evidence for these claims. Rather, they assume that repeating them incessantly will make them true.

The attempt to turn race into the fundamental social and political category has been at the center of the political strategy of the Democratic Party and its political periphery for decades. Particularly since the late 1960s, the Democratic Party has combined the repudiation of any commitment to social reform with the promotion of affirmative action and various forms of lifestyle and identity politics connected to the interests of privileged sections of the population.

To the extent that racial issues have been a significant factor in the 2016 elections, it is mainly in their crass utilization by the Clinton campaign and its supporters among sections of the African American upper-middle class. That Clinton, the personification of the status quo, has done well among more economically oppressed section of the African American population is a reflection of the reactionary impact of this type of politics.

It should be noted that another political narrative has been blown apart in the Republican primariesnamely, the claim that religion is the central question motivating Republican voters. In the media there is no attempt to explain why it is that the evangelical vote has gone for the notorious fornicator Donald Trump, or why the campaign of the religious fundamentalist Ted Cruz went down in flames despite the backing of the Republican Party establishment. Here one sees in another, very distorted form the consequences of economic and social distress, which Trump is seeking to direct along extreme right-wing and nationalist channels.

More and more, the fundamental class questions are coming to the fore. Now that it has been shown that broad sections of workers are prepared to accept a socialist alternative, the response of the so-called left is to attempt to reinforce racial divisions.

Sanders himself offers no way forward. From the outset, the central purpose of his campaign has been to contain the deep and growing social anger within the framework of the capitalist system and the Democratic Party. Expressed in the popular support for his campaign, however, are powerful objective tendencies that must and will find more radical forms of political expression.

It is high time that workers and youth reject the entire reactionary effort to define politics on the basis of racial, ethnic or other artificial divisions. Class is real, rooted objectively in the process of production. Race is a fiction, employed by the ruling class and the political forces of the middle class, both on the right and the pseudo-left, to divide workers and subordinate them to capitalism. Class politicsuniting all workers on the basis of their common economic interests and social identitycan and will find a renaissance in the United States.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of a National Guard. The aim of the force, which will report directly to the president, is to defend the capitalist oligarchy over which the Kremlin presides against growing external and internal threats.

Along with the danger of Islamic terrorist activity on Russian territory, the countrys ruling elite confronts ongoing conflicts along the perimeters of the nations borders, and the possibility of ethnic-regional separatism stoked by the imperialist powers in the multi-ethnic state. At the same time, discontent is rising in Russia over collapsing living standards.

The newly proposed armed force has no precedent in the history of post-Soviet Russia in its composition, size or prerogatives. It will absorb all the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (about 170,000 men), and all the special detachments of this Ministry, namely the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) and the special mobile militia units (OMON). These last two together amount to about 50,000 men.

According to press reports, in total the National Guard will consists of at least 300,000 troops. Considering that the Russian Defense Ministry has about 1 million troops, the new force will effectively function as a separate, Praetorian Guard of the president. A little known Putin loyalist, the former head of presidential security, Viktor Zolotov, will head the new agency. Prior to this appointment, he directed the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).

The National Guard will inherit all the equipment belonging to the MVD. This includes about 1,600 troop carriers, 35 artillery pieces, armored cars, Il-76 and An-72 transport planes, the Mi-8 and Mi-24 attack helicopters and a few tanks.

The first reading of the new law establishing the National Guard by the Russian Parliament (Duma) is planned for May 18. It is expected to win the approval of all parliamentary factions, including the Communist Party (CPRF) of Gennady Zyuganov, which competes with other parties of the loyal opposition in the promotion of repressive and antidemocratic legislation.

On April 14, Putin sought to justify the creation of the new force by claiming that its main purpose is to control the distribution of weapons inside the country. The real aim of the National Guard, however, finds expression in the mandates and rights it has been granted.

The National Guard will have the ability to arrest and bring in for an identity check individuals without providing any reason for their detention and without proving that they are wanted by the police. The draft law establishing the Guard allows unrestricted access to dwellings and other properties, to grounds and territories. Restrictions on using various special measures of crowd control, such as water pumps and sonic cannons, are to be drastically reduced for the National Guard, as compared to existing police forces. It will have the virtually unrestricted right to employ such means against protesters during mass demonstrations, with the exception of visibly pregnant women, obvious invalids and children.

In an April 28 comment about the establishment of the National Guard, Gazeta.ru noted that according to polls, many people understand that the new armed force is aimed at suppressing possible disorders within the country Not even political disturbances, but rather economic and social ones. More and more often mass street rallies attract not the white collars, but the Uralvagonzavod (the Ural railcar works, i.e. the blue collar proletariat), remarked the online newspaper.

The growing economic crisis in Russia, which has pushed tens of millions of citizens to the edge, is breeding diffuse but ever stronger popular discontent.

According to official statistics, in March 2016 retail sales dropped by 5.8 percent compared to the year before, real wages fell by 3 percent and real disposable income shrank by 1.8 percent. In mid-April, the Ministry of Finance announced that it will cut the unprotectedi.e., social spendingportion of the federal budget by 10 percent.

With the average monthly income of a Russian family in 2015 amounting to just 43,800 rubles (about $665), households are facing severe financial distress. Exhaustion of resourcesthat is how we may summarize the state of the Russian consumer today, observed Marina Lapenkova, director for work with global clients of the Nielsen Russia Center in an interview with Kommersant. The Nielsen index of consumer trust has dropped to its lowest point in 11 years.

The rapid decline of incomes, the halving of the value of the ruble and the freezing of wages of many state employees and pensioners have led most of the countrys inhabitants to devote more than 50 percent of their budgets just to the purchase of food.

Plans for the creation of the new force come amidst news reports of preparations on the part of state authorities for the use of violence against the population. In April, there was an exercise in the Smolensk region on how to disperse an unsanctioned mass rally. According to the hypothetical scenario used for the exercise, local inhabitants had received exaggerated utility bills and came out to an unsanctioned demonstration.

Earlier, there were internet reports of a training exercise in Liubertsy (a suburb of Moscow), where the troops were training to disperse an unsanctioned meeting held under the slogan, No to corruption!

In April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a public request for proposals to design a non-lethal acoustic means to disperse large rallies. As public commentary noted at the time, similar measures were utilized by the American police to disperse street disturbances in Ferguson, Missouri.

The decision to establish the National Guard is fully in line with Kremlins overall policy for decadesthe strengthening of the state and its apparatus of repression, the encroachment and limitation of democratic rights, the criminalization of that deemed to be nonconformist and the fostering of militarism and Russian nationalism. These tendencies have grown stronger during the past two years, as tensions between Moscow and Washington have escalated, the Kremlin threatened by US support for regime change in Russia and the regional break-up of the multi-ethnic state.

Anxiety over the situation in the country is driving renewed efforts to limit any means available to the population for the expression of political opposition. On April 18, the chairman of Russias Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, published a comment in a leading press outlet entitled, It is time to put a stop to the information war. Denouncing the hybrid warfare unleashed by the US and its allies during the past decade, he declared, We should stop playing at fake democracy, stop following these fake liberal values.

He demanded the tightening of censorship of the internet, the bypassing of the courts, the compilation of blacklists of extremist materials and the blocking of web sites that spread extremist and radical-nationalist information. Dispensing with the concept of the presumption of innocence, he wrote, if those possessing such information do not consider it extremist, then let them argue about it through the courts and prove their innocence.

Bastrykin also suggested using the criminal code to decisively interrupt the targeted falsification of the nations history. He declared statements that the government deems to be connected to falsification of facts about historical issues and events to be the equivalent of extremism.

While maintaining that the main target of such measures is the propaganda of the imperialist powers, the Kremlin is fundamentally concerned with blocking the emergence of a movement of working people against both Russias capitalist oligarchy and the rapacious appetites of global finance.
From Cosmopolitan

Fira Basuki, 44, ended her 10-year tenure as editor-in-chief of Cosmo Indonesia last week. Before she left to travel the world with her children, she spoke to Cosmopolitan.com about what she'll always remember about running Cosmo.

How did you first get to Cosmopolitan Indonesia?

I was editor-in-chief of SPICE! magazine, which is in the same group as Cosmopolitan. Before that, I was a Singapore correspondent for Harper's Bazaar Indonesia, also in the same group. I guess I always had fun, fearless female in my blood. I've read Cosmopolitan since my university years in the United States. So it was only natural when the company needed an editor-in-chief for Cosmopolitan [in 2006], I was appointed.

What's the best piece of career advice you've ever received, and from whom?

My mom said that when we work, we have to do it in the sake of Allah, so whenever we think of God, we will do the best for ourselves, others, and beyond. Yes, my mom and my family are kind of religious.

Tell me about a typical day in the Cosmo Indonesia office.

Every day is a new day. Every day, my team always makes time to get together even if it's only one or five minutes to catch up with each other, usually in the morning or before the day's end. We want to make sure everybody is OK and happy. It does not look like we have deadlines all the time, but we do.

What advice would you give to women who want to come work for Cosmo Indonesia?

Of course, be a fun, fearless female or male! And be creative and crazy enough to deal with deadlines and new projects.

Who are the women reading the magazine each month?

The common ground of course is that they are all fun, fearless females. Many of them are single and career-minded. They are usually18 to 35 years old. They love Kim Kardashian and Gigi Hadid!

Indonesia not only doesn't allow gay marriage, it's also a notoriously anti-gay country. Is it taboo for you to cover LGBT issues, and do you feel a responsibility as the editor of Cosmo to educate your readers about these issues?

LGBT culture is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. LGBT activists are trying to change the law that prohibits LGBT practice in public. If you practice LGBT in your own private life, quietly, then it's OK. It is your own choice. However, once you publicly proclaim that being gay is normal and such, then it is against the Indonesian law. It is the same with communism, for example. It is illegal if you bring it in public areas, but nobody cares if you study or read about it in your own home. It's simple as that. As a professional journalist, I will ensure that my stories comply with and are legally approved by Indonesian rules or regulations. So far, we have not done anything.

Story continues

Abortion is illegal in your country and talking about reproductive health often is taboo. What advice do you give young Indonesian women about abortion?

Abortion in Indonesia is not illegal if done by approved medical doctors in respect to the health of the mother. Of course, illegal abortion is illegal, the same as in any other country. Young Indonesians who want to have abortions illegally should seek professional advice and discuss with her parents for the best solution. If her health is the major issue, then she may go to a medical doctor for his or her advice.

What is the biggest area of inequality between the sexes in Indonesia right now?

Maybe many from outside Indonesia think that since Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in world that women don't have opportunities. But that's not true. Indonesian women have equal opportunities as men. Our country heroine, RA Kartini, was a pioneer of education for girls and women's rights in Indonesia. She was born into an aristocratic Javanese family in the Dutch East Indies - now Indonesia - and she aspired to have further education.

What kind of content has become increasingly popular since you began at Cosmo?

Sex, technology, fashion, and beauty. It's been exciting!

What is the relationship like between Cosmo Indonesia print magazine and the website?

We are in one big team - there is no separation. Everyone on the editorial team cares about the digital team and vice versa. But of course we have several people who concentrate in making the digital Cosmopolitan grow even bigger.

What social media platform are Indonesian Millennials most obsessed with?

Instagram right now, Path [a private photo-sharing app], and Snapchat is picking up.

What might surprise American readers about Indonesian twentysomethings?

That Indonesian twentysomethings know about what's going on in the world! They are very open-minded, and embrace new ideas and technology.

What's next for you? What will you always remember about your years at Cosmo?

I will focus on my two children. My eldest is 17 years old and will go to university soon. I will make sure she gets the best education and reach her dreams. My youngest is 3 years old. She has never seen her father - he passed away when I was three months pregnant with her, so she needs me by her side. My dream is to take my children around the world. I will move abroad, perhaps to Europe, to bring new exciting adventures to my children ... and myself.

As for Cosmo, I did my best. Last year, Cosmopolitan Indonesia received the Best Women's Magazine of the Year award by Scoop [an app that allows people to read Indonesian magazines, books, and newspapers in digital format]. With or without an award, Cosmopolitan is the best to me. I want future generations of Cosmo to keep the brand name at its best. As for myself, 10 years of Cosmo life was a blessing. I feel thankful and happy to have experienced such a prestigious opportunity in my life.

Cosmo Around the World is a weekly column featuring international Cosmo editors. These women explain how they got to be the editors-in-chief of their country's Cosmo, what issues they run into before publication, and what they are most proud of in each of their editions. Read previous Cosmo Around the World columns here.

Follow Tess on Twitter.
The mother of missing Tennessee 9-year old Carlie Trent says she "always had a bad feeling" about Gary Simpson, the 57-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped her daughter last week.



On May 4, Simpson, Carlie's uncle by marriage who, along with his wife, had once had custody of Carlie, picked her up from her Rogersville elementary school. Simpson and Carlie did not return home later that afternoon and the following day an Amber Alert was issued in Tennessee.



Shannon Trent tells PEOPLE she has not had custody of Carlie or her 7-year-old sister for about two years, saying, "I just recently got my life straight and I just wish I could at least see my girls again."



When she heard that her daughter had been allegedly kidnapped by Simpson, she was shocked by the news  but not as much by the suspect.



"I've always had a gut feeling," Trent tells PEOPLE. "I've always had a bad feeling about Gary [and] I should have stuck with my gut."



Trent tells PEOPLE that Simpson has been part of the family for 34 years and was given custody of his nieces when Carlie's father, James, was having what she describes as "problems." At the time of Carlie's disappearance, James had custody of her.



"He was a very trusted family member. If we had known anything like this, we would have never let our kids around him," Trent says.





Mother of Allegedly Abducted 9-Year-Old Carlie Trent 'Always Had a Bad Feeling' About Suspect| Crime & Courts, Kidnapping, True Crime

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.



Josh DeVine of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tells PEOPLE that in order to pick up Carlie, Simpson allegedly told teachers that James had been in a car accident and he was sent to get her. But Devine says this was a lie and that Simpson had no authority to pick Carlie up.



On Tuesday, authorities said that before Simpson allegedly kidnapped his niece, he bought girls underwear, a bikini, clothing, lipstick, nail polish, blankets and a child's camping chair at a local WalMart.



"It made me sick to my stomach. I mean, I almost got sick," Trent says of the items Simpson allegedly purchased. "I don't know what he's done to her. I don't think he would hurt her, but if he's capable of kidnapping a child he's capable of anything."



Authorities say the items purchased by Simpson confirm their suspicion that he allegedly brought Carlie to a remote area or campground. Trent says she believes the alleged kidnapping was premeditated.



"And just to think he's had this planned for a long time," Trent says. "I think he's got a lair or something or some sort of shelter."



After the alleged kidnapping, Simpson brought Carlie to a local grocery store and bought non-perishable food items and toiletries, officials said. In a surveillance video from a Save-A-Lot, Carlie doesn't appear to be distressed, officials said. However there is still concern for her safety.





Story continues





"We believe this girl to be in imminent danger. As the days go, our concern for [Carlie's] well-being only grows," DeVine said at a press conference on Tuesday.





Mother: 'We Will Find Her'

Trent says she and her family will not stop looking for their daughter. She urges Simpson to come forward, telling PEOPLE, "Gary, think about what you are doing right now  it's just crazy, it's just insane. You're not going to away with this. We will find her  we have to find her."



She adds, "And Carlie, Mommy and Daddy are searching high and low and doing everything we can do to save you."



James Trent told Inside Edition he believes Simpson has an obsession with his daughter.



"I personally think that for some reason, he's developed this obsession with Carlie," he said. "I wonder what he's trying to put in her head, what kind of story he's told her [about] why he's doing what he's doing."



Simpson was last seen driving a white 2002 Dodge Conversion Van with Tennessee registration number 173GPS.



On Tuesday, Missouri authorities issued an Amber Alert after it was believed Simpson was spotted near Otterville. However, hours later, authorities announced the alert was a false alarm.



Carlie is described as 4'8" tall, weighing about 75 lbs., with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and gray tank top with blue jeans. Simpson was last seen wearing a brown cap with a dark colored shirt and blue jeans.



Anyone with information regarding Carlie's or Simpson's whereabouts is urged to contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the Rogersville Police Department at (423) 272-7555.
Just 27 days before the California primary  a crucial state in Bernie Sanders last-ditch effort to capture the Democratic nomination  the Vermont senator has been dealt a blow with the sudden departure of Michael Ceraso, his California state director.

According to Politico, Ceraso parted ways with the campaign after he pushed for more investment in field and digital organizing rather than TV ads.

The Sanders campaign did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment.

Also Read: Bernie Sanders Wins West Virginia Democratic Primary

Ceraso was Sanders deputy state director in New Hampshire and was part of the team that helped lead the campaign to big wins in a several states in March. He had been working in California for weeks, laying the groundwork ahead of the states June 7 primary.

California has more delegates than any other state in the country and a win in the Golden State is Sanders last chance to grab a significant number of delegates before the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

Last month, Sanders announced that he was laying off hundreds of campaign workers. The Vermont senator said he was trimming his staff as he focuses his remaining campaign efforts on winning as many delegates as possible.

Also Read: Bernie Sanders Hints He's Open to VP Talk

It will be hundreds of staff members, Sanders told the New York Times. We have had a very large staff, which was designed to deal with 50 states in this country; 40 of the states are now behind us. So we have had a great staff, great people.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Bernie Sanders Hints He's Open to VP Talk

Bernie Sanders to Lay Off 'Hundreds' of Campaign Staffers

Bernie Sanders Shifts Focus From Nomination to Influencing Presidential Race
It was two years ago today that the iconic Washington Monument reopened to the public after it was damaged by a 2011 earthquake. The Monument has been a magnet for historic occurrences, and here are some highlights.

Under construction in 1860.

The 5.8 magnitude struck on August, 22, 2011, and the historic monument was one of the high-profile victims.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, philanthropist David Rubenstein, and National Mall & Memorial Parks Superintendent Bob Vogel were at the reopening ceremony last year.

Rubensteins generous contributions helped moved the restoration project forward. Jarvis said in a statement that Rubenstein joined an impressive line of civic-minded donors, such as Stephen Mather, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Andrew Carnegie, who made contributions to the national park system.

The Washington Monument officially was dedicated on February 21, 1885. In a speech written for that event by Robert Winthrop, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony in 1845, there was one memorable line: An earthquake may shake its foundations  but the character which it commemorates and illustrates is secure.

Thats not the only interesting fact or coincidence about the iconic monument. Here are 10 more fascinating facts about this American symbol.

1. James Madison had an early role in getting the monument project started. In 1833, the Washington National Monument Society, a private organization, came up with the idea for the tribute to the first President. Madison along with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall started the society.

2. The first monument design featured a rotunda and a Roman-like George Washington. The initial winning bid came from architect Robert Mills, whose designed a flat topped obelisk with a statue of Washington in a chariot, along with statues of 30 Founding Fathers. The current obelisk design was proposed in 1876.

3. The Masons, and the Pope, were involved with the monument. Yes, the Free Masons were involved in the cornerstone ceremony and they used Washingtons masonic symbols in the ceremony. At the 1848 ceremony were 20,000 people, and a container that held copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and other objects was buried in the cornerstone.

Story continues

4. Abraham Lincoln was at the 1848 cornerstone ceremony. The eclectic guest list included three James Buchanan, Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Dolley Madison and Alexander Hamiltons widow, Betsey Hamilton, and of course, the then-current President, James K. Polk.

5. So how does the Pope fit into all of this? The Society asked for people to donate ceremonial stones as part of the construction process. Pope Pius IX donated a memorial stone of marble, which infuriated the anti-Catholic Know Nothing Party. The Know Nothings got their revenge by rigging the leadership election for the Washington National Monument Society. Congress cut off monument funding for 5 years until the Know Nothings left the group.

6. Nothing happened to the monument for a 22-year period. After the Know Nothing takeover in the 1850s, the monument became stalled to the point that it was used as a slaughter yard and cattle pen during the Civil War. Congress took over the project in 1876.

7. It took the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get the job done. The Engineers were called in to work with Lt. Col. Thomas Lincoln Casey to modify the original ornate plans. The monuments stripped-down, lean look was part of a cost-cutting effort. On December 6, 1884, an aluminum cap, used as a lighting-protection, device was placed on top. In February 1885, the dedication ceremony took place.

8. The Monument was the worlds tallest building when it was dedicated. The Washington Monument as dedicated stood at 555 feet 5 inches tall. The Cologne Cathedral had been the worlds tallest man-made structure. The Eiffel Tower soon surpassed the Monument.

9. The Monument is an engineering marvel. The Washington Post recently pointed out an interesting fact in an on-going debate about the Monument as the worlds tallest free-standing masonry structure. The Monuments marble blocks are held together by just gravity and friction, and no mortar was used in the process.

10. The Washington Monument: Movie star. Nothing says location shot in a film like the Washington Monument, especially when the icon is under attack from aliens and terrorists, or used as a backdrop in a thriller or mystery. But maybe the most memorable appearance, in a real-life moment, occurred in August 1963, when the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on the mall in Washington, with the Lincoln Memorial stage facing the Monument.

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Two recent films, Buddha in a Traffic Jam (May 13, 2016) and Santa Banta Pvt Ltd (April 22, 2016) have been in the news for the controversies they have been making. While the former - an autobiographical story which reportedly takes on issues such as campus politics, corruption, moral policing and crony capitalism - has led to clashes between ABVP, the pro-Left and students of the Jadhavpur University, where its screening was cancelled, the latter, a comedy drama, has run into problems with members of the Sikh community.



In an industry that is rife with controversies, these are just two of the many films that have either been banned, or have run into trouble over their political, sexual, ideological or religious content. We take a look at 13 such Indian films that have courted controversies:

Aandhi (1975): Among director Gulzars most controversial and talked about films, Aandhi ran into trouble went it was released in 1975, during the Emergency. The film was banned at a time when it was running to packed houses in Mumbai, as it was allegedly based on the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Suchitra Sen, who played the role of the politician, was made to look like Gandhi  right from the way she walked, to the way she dressed and even the grey streak on her hair. There were also a few scenes where Sen was seen drinking and smoking. It was only after Information and Broadcasting Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral saw the movie and was impressed by it, that the ban was lifted.

Kissa Kursi Ka (1977): Another film with a political undertone, a spoof on Indira Gandhi, son Sanjay Gandhi, and some Congress supporters, Kissi Kursi Ka, was banned during the Emergency. All the prints of the film were confiscated and burned by the Government, and its producer was handed a show cause notice with 51 objections, by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. However, after the Shah Commission was established in 1977 under the Janata Party Government, to look into the excesses committed during the Emergency, Sanjay Gandhi and the I&B minister during the Emergency, V.C Shukla were found to be guilty of burning the prints, and were handed one month and two year jail sentences.

Story continues

Bandit Queen (1994): Directed by Shekhar Kapoor, the biographical film, Bandit Queen, remains one of the most controversial films of all times. Based on the life of the dacoit, Phoolan Devi, played by Seema Biswas, the film ran into trouble with the Indian censor board because of the excess nudity, sex, and violence in the film, and was banned temporarily by the Indian High Court, after Phoolan Devi challenged its authenticity. It, however, won accolades in the International film festival circuits.

Fire (1996): Deepa Mehtas Fire was a path breaker in the kind of topic it dealt with  that of a homosexual relationship between two women. One of the most controversial films ever to be made in the country, Fire created an uproar in India right from its release, with protests across the country, and members of the Shiv Sena calling for its ban. Fundamentalists went around vandalising the theatres were the film was shown.

Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996): Another highly controversial film, which borrows its title from the ancient Indian text, Kama Sutra by Vatsayana, the film did not see a release in India because of its nudity and sexual content. The film however, did well in the international circuit, and won a number of international film awards, including the 1998 Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography.

Paanch (2001): The crime thriller, written and directed by Anurag Kashyap, is loosely based on the Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders of Pune. Because of its heavy violence, drugs and nudity, the film ran into trouble with the censor board, which cleared it after some cuts. The film, however, could not be released because the producer ran into some problems.

Sins (2005): Based on a subject that has caused much controversy in the Catholic circles, Sins tells the story of a Kerala priest who was sentenced to death on sexual harassment and murder charges. Starring Shiney Ahuja, the film had a few topless scenes and sexual content, because of which it received an A certification from the censor board. While the Catholic Secular Forum filed a PIL to stall its release, the court cleared it.

Parzania (2005): The Indian drama, featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles, is inspired by the true story of a ten-year-old Parsi boy who disappeared after the 2002 Gulbarga Society massacre in Ahmedabad, and the familys journey in search of their son. While it received many awards including two National Film Awards, the film, based on one of the worst communal riots the country has seen, ran into controversy, with some theatre owners refusing to screen it.

Water (2005): Another controversial film by Deepa Mehta, featuring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, in the lead roles, Water explores the contentious issue of Hindu widows and the treatment they face. The film, which premiered in New York, faced the wrath of Hindu organisations, with members of the Shiv Sena burning pirated DVDs, and threatening shopkeepers who stocked them.

Black Friday (2006): Written and directed by Anurag Kashyap, and based on the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts, the adaptation of S. Hussain Zaidis book, Black Friday, did not see a theatre release for two years, until after the verdict by the Bombay High Court on the petition of the under-trials. The movie was finally released on 9 February, 2007.

Gandu (2010): The black and white Bengali language film, directed by Quashiq Mukherjee, premiered at the Yale University and stirred up a hornets nest due to its explicit sexual content, nudity, and drugs. The film, which was banned in India, won the 2010 Jury Award for Best Film at the South Asian International Film Festival.

Madras Cafe (2013): Set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, and the assassination of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, the 2013 political drama, directed by Shoojit Sircar, courted controversy because of its depiction of the rebels in the Sri Lankan civil war. Tamil political parties Naam Tamilar and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) asked for the films ban post release, as they felt that it portrayed the members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as terrorists. The film won two National Awards for Best Audiography for Nihar Ranjan Samal (location sound recording) and Bishwadeep Chatterjee (sound design) at the 61st National Film Awards.

PK (2014): Raising the sensitive issue of religious superstitions in India, the Aamir Khan starrer PK became one of the most successful and controversial films of recent times. In the film, Khan plays an alien who travels around the world to understand people. The film raised many hackles, and yoga guru Baba Ramdev called for a social boycott of those involved in the making of the film, while the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that the film had several scenes that hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, and wrote to the I&B Ministry asking for a ban on such movies.
1. Would you REALLY want that practically TATTOOED on your chest?! [Twitter / @megancarnahan16]

While sunny weather might be good for giving us a tan and topping up our vitamin D, the wrong protection can of course result in sun burn  a sign that the skin has been severely damaged by the suns powerful rays.

We rounded up the WORST sunburn pictures on the internet to remind you to slap on your sunscreen.

FYI: the British Association of Dermatologists recommend wearing at least SPF30 with a high UVA star rating if youre spending a long time in the sun.

To find out how to tan safely, please visit the British Association of Dermatologists website.
Eleven years after construction workers discovered the remains of 14 slaves in an unmarked grave in Albany, New York, the dead are getting a proper burial.

According to the Times Union, Albany's St. Agnes Cemetery has donated a plot on a hillside where the remains will be buried in June in handcrafted boxes. The gravesite will be marked with a granite tombstone reading, "Here lies the remains of 14 souls known only to God. Enslaved in life, they are slaves no more."

Archaeologists determined that the exhumed bones likely belonged to slaves after conducting DNA tests on five women and man, whose ancestries revealed roots in Africa or Madagascar. Some remains showed signs of arthritis, broken ribs, missing teeth and other fractured bones, while the nails in the original coffins and clasps on the burial shrouds suggested they were buried in the 18th or 19th centuries.

Last month, an artist used the findings to create facial reconstructions of the seven former adult slaves, which are on display at the New York State Museum.

Read more: White People Like Heidi Cruz Need to Stop Comparing Things to Slavery

In a video from the Associated Press, Evelyn Kamili King of the Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project said she believes the memorialization of the lives of slaves can help to "mend the race relationships in the United States."

Another volunteer of the burial project, Cordell Reaves, told the Times Union there's a moral imperative at play. "We have an obligation to make sure that these people receive a level of dignity and respect that they never received in life," he said.
More Chinese firms seek green energy investment overseas Updated: 2016-05-12 11:32 By Jiang Xueqing(chinadaily.com.cn)

A growing number of Chinese companies are involved in renewable energy investment overseas, said energy finance directors at Societe Generale, a French multinational financial services group headquartered in Paris.

"We see a clear acceleration of the trend over the last two years with some of the large Chinese power companies really looking to acquire renewable energy assets in a variety of jurisdictions outside China, such as Western Europe, Latin America and Australia," Daniel Mallo, Societe Generale Asia Pacific head of natural resources & energy project finance and metals & mining finance, said on Tuesday.

The trend has been largely dominated by State-owned enterprises, including China General Nuclear Power Corporation, China Huadian Corporation and China Three Gorges Corporation. Mallo said he expects that to continue in the near future.

The desire to build a platform of international assets is one of the factors driving investment. For example, State Power Investment Corporation agreed to buy Pacific Hydro, a renewable energy company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, for more than AU$3 billion, including debt, in December.

"This acquisition gives SPIC nice footprints in the wind farm and hydropower market and offers future development opportunities," he said.

"The other thing that comes with those assets is a development pipeline. The company acquired was working on other projects  more wind farms in Brazil and more hydropower in Chile, so SPIC also gets access to that pipeline and to the ability to grow its portfolio."

Unlike an energy or mining project that is tied to the price of oil, assets in the power sector are stable in terms of the revenue profile and the return profile. Most of those assets benefit from a long economic life of 20 or 25 years. The returns are lower than corporate bonds but also less volatile.

"When you look at what bonds are yielding today, which can be single digit, getting an asset that has a 20-year return of 8 to 9 percent per annum and has low risk is not very bad in the current economic environment," he said.

Societe Generale is looking out for a trend of growth of overseas investment by Chinese companies in the offshore wind industry, which allows for larger facilities and more productions than onshore wind farms.

"Given the size of the country, its population concentration along the coasts and the way the demand is shaped around the coasts, developing offshore wind farms could be an opportunity for China in the future, as costs continue to come down and technologies continue to evolve," he said.

Technology is a factor driving investments in offshore wind power overseas. Countries like the UK, Germany and France have built sizable offshore wind power projects, so for any Chinese company, to make an investment of that nature in one of those jurisdictions, to access to those technologies, and to be able to operate a facility of that nature could be very valuable for them to build a business domestically, he said.

For some of those companies that are becoming champions in their sector in China, corporate strategy is another reason behind such investments, as they are getting to a stage where they want to have a more global portfolio of assets.

Zhang Lei, Societe Generale Asia Pacific director of energy finance and advisory, said if an offshore wind power project is not too far away from the coast and if it has a very good wind resource, it can be as competitive as an onshore project in terms of costs.

He said an onshore wind farm may cost $1.5 million or so for a megawatt installed on average, but it may only produce during 20 to 25 percent of the time. An offshore wind farm may cost nearly twice that amount, but it may produce during 60 percent of the time because there is a lot more wind along the coast.

Compared to most onshore wind farms using 2 megawatt and 2.5 megawatt turbines, offshore wind farms have much larger turbines and will produce a lot more power.

Moreover, as the power production center is far away from demand centers, the owner of an onshore wind farm needs to build a lengthy transmission line that may extend several thousand kilometers. That also increases the costs.
From Cosmopolitan

Police are investigating after a distressed 19-year-old recorded herself on Periscope stepping in front of a commuter train about 25 miles south of Paris, the New York Times reports. Her name has not been released.

Local prosecutor Eric Lallement told the Times in a statement: "This person allegedly sent an SMS to one of her close relations, several minutes before her death, to announce her intentions. Furthermore, she allegedly made statements to Internet users, via the Periscope application, to explain her act." The broadcast has since been removed from Periscope, but there are several YouTube videos (with the suicide removed) that seem to be from the same broadcast.

According to Le Point, the woman called herself a victim of rape in her final video and allegedly named her rapist as well. She also allegedly explained she was not live-streaming her suicide for the "buzz," but to "open people's minds." While people watched on Periscope, they did not seem to take her promise of suicide seriously, commenting, "We're waiting," and, "Give us a hint," as she stood by train tracks.

The Local reports police were alerted to the suicide by someone watching the live-stream. Though Periscope's guidelines state the app "is intended to be open and safe," there has been a rise in graphic content broadcasted. Just last month, two men filmed themselves beating up a drunk man outside a French nightclub, and an Ohio 18-year-old allegedly filmed her friend being raped.

Follow Tess on Twitter.
bartender

The retail and restaurant industries have the worst worker benefits in America.

A Glassdoor study published Thursday showed that both were bottom-ranked. Tech and finance took the top two spots.

The job-listings and ratings site studied 470,000 benefit reviews it received between June 2014 and last September to draw these conclusions.

"I don't believe that the benefit packages in retail and restaurants are going to improve any time soon," Glassdoor chief economist Andrew Chamberlain told Business Insider.

Chamberlain said it's depressing that even when benefits are available, workers rate them poorly. Two exceptions are Trader Joe's and Costco, he said, which are famous for their decent benefit packages.

For the top of the list  Wall Street and Silicon Valley  the single biggest driver of better benefits is bargaining power, for fairly obvious reasons.

Chamberlain notes that the majority of workers in both industries are highly educated, super-skilled, and in high demand. So it's easier for them to get the perks they want.

But to really understand why retail and restaurant benefits suck, it's best to look at the manufacturing sector. It ranked third on Glassdoor's list, even after the sharp recession that the industry went through over the last couple of months.

That's because manufacturing workers usually have strong unions. "If there's anything a union is good at, it's negotiating a great benefit package for their workers," Chamberlain said.

"My best advice is if you want to be in an industry with great benefits, you've got to either find a way to get organized and be part of the union, or you can get yourself into a tight labor market," he said.

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Two state troopers have been relieved of duty after a videotaped high-speed chase across Massachusetts and New Hampshire ended with the suspect, who was on the ground, appeared to be beaten by officers, authorities said Thursday.

Richard Simone, 50, allegedly led police on a hour-long pursuit that started in Holden and concluded on a dead-end street in Nashua, New Hampshire, officials said.

Read: Bizarre High-Speed Chase Includes Doughnuts, A TMZ Tour Bus and Hugs

The video shows Simone exiting his truck, then kneeling and appearing to lie on the asphalt. At least two officers appear to punch him.

One trooper was suspended from the Massachusetts State Police, the other was relieved of duty from New Hampshires state agency. Neither was identified.

The Massachusetts State Police expect and demand all department members to act at all times with integrity, honor, and adherence to the law, officials said Thursday.

New Hampshire State Police Director Col. Robert Quinn said his trooper was suspended without pay immediately after the videotaped arrest.

The events of Wednesday evening are disturbing, he said. However, we will not know the complete facts and circumstances surrounding this event until the investigation by an independent agency is concluded."

Read: Woman Takes Police on 100MPH Chase in Scooby Doo Mystery Machine: Cops

Police say Simone refused to stop for local officers in Holden and led law enforcement on a wild chase that reached speeds surpassing 100 mph. Simone was wanted on several warrants for charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and larceny.

He is being held without bail in New Hampshire pending extradition to Massachusetts, police said.

Watch: Naked Woman Runs Through Traffic After High-Speed Car Chase

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These cities will leave more cash in your pocket.

Mind on your money, money on your mind? The cost of living where you're planning to move is an important factor to consider, because you want to live comfortably and still have money left over to enjoy the restaurants, attractions and shopping that make the U.S. News Best Places to Live in the U.S. truly top-notch. We broke down the rankings to find out which of the 100 Best Places to Live cost the least. Based on how much of the average individual's annual income is required to own a home or rent in the area, including the cost of utilities, we found the 20 best places to live with the lowest cost of living.

20. Charlotte, North Carolina

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 15

Metro Population: 2,298,915

Median Home Price: $184,600

Median Annual Salary: $48,290

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 29.04 percent

Charlotte rounds out the top 20, with a fairly low cost of living -- area residents spend less than 30 percent of their average income on housing. But while Charlotte has a fairly low cost of living now, it also has a high population growth by net migration. As more people move to Charlotte, housing prices will likely continue to inch toward the national median price of $218,867.

19. Kansas City, Missouri

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 49

Metro Population: 2,040,869

Median Home Price: 108,300

Median Annual Salary: $46,800

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 29.02 percent

Occupying two states, the Kansas City metro area achieves its highest score in the Best Places to Live ranking for keeping the greatest percentage of residents' income in their pockets. The most centrally located major metro area in the continental U.S., Kansas City keeps the percentage of income spent on living expenses at just over 29 percent and has an average rental rate of $831 as of February 2016, according to Rent Jungle. Kansas City ranks in the middle of the pack on the overall Best Places to Live list.

18. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 5

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Metro Population: 669,070

Median Home Price: $221,725

Median Annual Salary: $46,520

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.99 percent

Scoring high in the 20 Most Desirable Places to Live and the overall Best Places to Live ranking, Colorado Springs also kills it when it comes to affordability. With median home sales prices coming in just over the national average at $221,725, the average individual spends less than 29 percent of his or her income on living expenses.

17. St. Louis

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 66

Metro Population: 2,797,737

Median Home Price: $162,438

Median Annual Salary: $46,290

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.88 percent

Set along the Mississippi River, St. Louis has consistently offered a cost of living well below the national average, with the median home price at just $162,438, according to real estate information company Zillow. Unlike most other major U.S. markets, St. Louis has a shrinking population, making it a buyer's market and helping to drive costs down for residents.

16. Cincinnati

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 37

Metro Population: 2,131,793

Median Home Price: $150,450

Median Annual Salary: $46,240

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.85 percent

This southern Ohio city abutting the Ohio River ranks No. 37 on the overall Best Places to Live list first and foremost for its low cost of living and second for its healthy job market. With companies like Fifth Third Bank, Procter & Gamble and AK Steel located throughout the metro area, Cincinnati is home to many corporations but still boasts a lower-than-average cost of living for its employees.

15. Omaha, Nebraska

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 18

Metro Population: 886,157

Median Home Price: $139,000

Median Annual Salary: $43,330

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.74 percent

Omaha's median home sale price is $139,000, nearly $80,000 less than the national average, according to Zillow. With many tech companies looking to Omaha, among other smaller metro regions in the U.S., as a more affordable, central location for bicoastal communication, the largest city in Nebraska has a job market that is growing steadily. But Omaha maintains a low cost of living, allowing residents to keep more than 71 percent of their income in their wallets.

14. Greenville, South Carolina

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 35

Metro Population: 842,817

Median Home Price: $139,700

Median Annual Salary: $40,570

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.73 percent

This northwestern South Carolina metro area may not be the most popular in South Carolina, but that's part of its charm. Situated farther from more visited South Carolina cities like coastal Charleston or state capital Columbia, Greenville offers small-town charm with lower rent and utility bills. Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville also offers plenty of recreational activities that don't cost more than the price of a pair of hiking boots and a water bottle.

13. Minneapolis

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 12

Metro Population: 3,424,786

Median Home Price: $218,250

Median Annual Salary: $52,080

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.64 percent

Techies looking to live for less can find their next home in Minneapolis, with a hot job market and increasing tech startups setting up shop in the area. With nearly 3.5 million residents, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is the largest in the 20 Best Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. ranking. While Minneapolis homes are selling for just a few hundred dollars shy of the national median price of $218,867, according to Zillow, the average annual salary is more than most cities on the list.

12. Columbia, South Carolina

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 46

Metro Population: 784,698

Median Home Price: $131,025

Median Annual Salary: $41,020

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.56 percent

The state's capital and home to the University of South Carolina, Columbia offers a low cost of living that makes the city more affordable than many other large college towns, for students and residents of all ages alike. While the median annual salary is just $41,020, individuals are able to keep more than 28.5 percent of their income in their pockets after utility and rent or mortgage costs.

11. Pittsburgh

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 47

Metro Population: 2,358,793

Median Home Price: $133,450

Median Annual Salary: $45,420

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.43 percent

The Steel City gets its nickname from its industrial roots, and its blue collar history also keeps cost of living low, with median home prices at just $133,450, according to Zillow. While steel production in the area isn't as prominent today as it was in the past, U.S. Steel is still headquartered in Pittsburgh, and the job market is more diversified with retail companies like GNC, Dick's Sporting Goods and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center calling the Pittsburgh area home.

10. Oklahoma City

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 31

Metro Population: 1,297,998

Median Home Price: $144,525

Median Annual Salary: $43,270

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.42 percent

The largest city in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City is still relatively small compared to many other major metro areas in the country, with just under 1.3 million residents. Still, Oklahoma City's low cost of living, with a median home price at less than $145,000, according to Zillow, and solid job market are attracting new residents. Oklahoma City saw nearly 4 percent growth in population due to net migration between 2010 and 2014.

9. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 33

Metro Population: 954,055

Median Home Price: $145,900

Median Annual Salary: $42,710

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.41 percent

The second largest city in Oklahoma is more affordable than its larger counterpart by just .01 percent and guarantees a low cost of living, allowing residents to keep more income in their pockets. The one-time oil capital of the world, Tulsa has had a fairly steady real estate market over the years, dipping only slightly in home prices during the recession, though home prices remain well below the national average at $145,900, per Zillow data.

8. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 13

Metro Population: 1,007,329

Median Home Price: $149,475

Median Annual Salary: $41,350

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.33 percent

Coming in at No. 13 on the overall Best Places to Live list, Grand Rapids scores best for its low cost of living. Low utilities and rent or mortgage costs lead to residents spending only about 28 percent of their income on housing costs. As the northernmost metro area on the list, Grand Rapids' short commute times and low crime rates lend to the city's high scores in the Quality of Life category as well.

7. Wichita, Kansas

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 58

Metro Population: 636,095

Median Home Price: $106,400

Median Annual Salary: $41,800

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 28.13 percent

A city with deep agricultural roots and many farms still located within its city limits, Wichita is extremely affordable when it comes to housing, with a median home price of $106,400, according to Zillow. A shrinking population lends to high supply of homes and low cost of living, as many companies founded in Wichita, such as Rent-A-Center and White Castle, have since relocated.

6. Louisville, Kentucky

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 45

Metro Population: 1,253,305

Median Home Price: $131,750

Median Annual Salary: $42,330

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 27.99 percent

The home of the Kentucky Derby offers its residents even more freedom with their income, with less than 28 percent of the average individual's salary going toward living expenses. Located on the southern side of the Ohio River bordering Indiana, Louisville is recognized as a great place for families, with the ability to do so much for relatively little money being one of the main reasons.

5. Indianapolis

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 43

Metro Population: 1,931,182

Median Home Price: $130,200

Median Annual Salary: $45,580

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 27.31 percent

The capital of the Hoosier State rounds out the top five Best Affordable Places to Live in the U.S., with a median home price of $130,200, according to Zillow. While Indianapolis residents keep more money in their pockets after paying living expenses, Indiana also has a 7 percent sales tax rate, one of the highest in the country.

4. Little Rock, Arkansas

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 32

Metro Population: 716,849

Median Home Price: $147,750

Median Annual Salary: $42,020

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 27.21 percent

Little Rock scores highest in the overall Best Places to Live ranking for value, but it also does fairly well in categories like Desirability, Job Market and Net Migration. Area residents pay only about 27 percent of their average annual income toward living expenses. The real estate market in the capital of Arkansas remains much lower than the national median home price of $218,867, and the gap continues to widen, with Little Rock's median home price at just $147,750.

3. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 63

Metro Population: 814,805

Median Home Price: $147,000

Median Annual Salary: $42,650

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 27.07 percent

The capital of Louisiana comes in at the No. 3 Best Affordable Place to Live, with residents spending over 27 percent of their income on living expenses. Home of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge residents are able to keep even more money in their pockets after housing costs, as Louisiana's sales tax rate is just 5 percent.

2. Des Moines, Iowa

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 11

Metro Population: 590,741

Median Home Price: $169,550

Median Annual Salary: $46,600

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 26.62 percent

Des Moines boasts a strong job market and growing population, and as an added bonus for residents, it doesn't cost much to live here. Des Moines residents pay just over 26.5 percent of their income toward living costs. While home values continue to increase due to growing demand, the median home price of $169,550, remains well below the national average, according to Zillow.

1. Fayetteville, Arkansas

Best Places to Live 2016 Ranking: 3

Metro Population: 483,396

Median Home Price: $177,200

Median Annual Salary: $42,410

Income Spent on Living Expenses: 23.86 percent

Like Des Moines, the most affordable place to live is also seeing a steady influx of new residents, as Fayetteville grew by 4.76 percent due to net migration between 2010 and 2014. As the fastest growing city in Arkansas, Fayetteville has a higher median home price than other metro areas on the list while still lower than the national average. But with low rent and cost of utilities, the average individual spends less than 24 percent of their income on housing costs.





More From US News & World Report


This week, Mini, the BMW Group niche small car brand, introduced a 2017 Mini Seven special-edition trim level for the third-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop that features heritage cues from the original Austin Seven car that debuted in 1959. The Mini Seven special edition compact sporty car offers a variety of exterior and interior treatment choices to create a truly personalized car. The package will be available in both 2- and 4-door Cooper and Cooper S variants and arrives this summer in U.S. dealer showrooms.



As a special edition, the Mini Cooper Seven offers a choice of two engines: a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder that produces 134 horsepower for the Cooper and a peppier 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that generates 189 horsepower for Cooper S variants. The new Mini Seven comes with a 6-speed manual transmission but can be ordered with a 6-speed Steptronic as well.





2017 Mini Cooper S 5-Door Seven photo

The Mini Sevens exterior paint is non-metallic Lapisluxury Blue, based on a hue that was considered the blue of kings. However, consumers can opt for non-metallic Pepper White or metallic Midnight Black and British Racing Green. Roof and exterior mirrors on the Seven are finished in silver, as are stripes across the hood.



Interior appointments include sport seats that can be upholstered in leather and fabric in the Diamond Malt Brown pattern or in Minis all-black and grey leathers. The instrument panel also can be personalized with trim options in standard Piano black or optional Dark Cottonwood, Fibre Alloy, or Off-White. Other accents on the inside are done in Minis Malt Brown color.



Heated front seats are optional, along with a panoramic roof, Harman Kardon audio system, parking-distance sensors, and power-folding mirrors. Minis Connected infotainment system with a 6.5-in. touch screen is standard, but can be upgraded to an 8.8-in. Mini Connected XL system with navigation. The Mini Seven rides on 17-in. alloy wheels in a 6-spoke design with 2-color finish. Optional 18-in. wheels can be ordered. Special Mini Seven badging is featured throughout.



Pricing for the 2017 Mini Cooper Seven Special Edition package will be released closer to the vehicles launch.



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Mini introduced a 2017 Mini Seven special-edition trim level for the third-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop that features heritage cues from the original Austin Seven car that debuted in 1959.

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Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.



This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today lets focus in on PetMed Express, Inc. PETS as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for PETSs status as a solid momentum stock below:



Short Term Price Change for PetMed Express



A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.



With a one week price change of 7.8% compared to an industry average of 1.9%, PETS is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large as well.



Longer Term Price Change for PetMed Express



While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metricssuch as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.



And in the case of PETS, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten out the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 18.9% to 7.7% while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 18.6%. Clearly, PETS is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.



PETS Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction



While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with PETS as of late too.



Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate has gone higher compared to no downward revisions for the full year. This has helped to boost the consensus estimate as two months ago PETS was expected to post earnings of 91 cents/share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of $1.00 for the full year now, representing a solid increase which is something that should definitely be welcomed news to would-be investors.



Bottom Line



Given these factors, investors shouldnt be surprised to note that we have PETS as a security with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Momentum Score of A. So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep PETS on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near 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 >>



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PETMED EXPRESS (PETS): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Mahir Jethanandani's California high school offered only a few classes related to business and finance -- disciplines he was interested in exploring. So, he turned to massive open online courses, or MOOCs, offered through Coursera to learn on his own.

"It came with an extension of knowledge and fundamental concepts that I felt improved my understanding of subjects that I claimed that I loved" but didn't have much exposure to, says the 18-year-old. MOOCs also led him to explore other disciplines he was curious about, including law and neuroscience.

Now a rising sophomore at the University of California--Berkeley, Jethanandani plans to triple major in economics, electrical engineering and computer science, and statistics.

MOOCs have been controversial, but these online classes enable curious high schoolers to explore a range of disciplines for free without having to commit to staying enrolled, or for a low cost if they want a verified certificate.

Kat Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise, an education consulting company in New York City, says a high school student's decision to take MOOCs for credit versus auditing for free varies depending on his or her individual commitments and goals.

[Learn about how the prospect of college credit gave new life to MOOCs.]

Here are three reasons high schoolers should consider enrolling in MOOCs before they start the college application process.

1. Gauge your interest in potential majors and careers: This is particularly true for students whose high schools offer few courses in certain disciplines, as was the case for Jethanandani.

Deborah Davis, president and founder of the Davis Education & Career Consultants, LLC, says many colleges ask applicants what they want to major in, but upon being admitted, it might be difficult to switch schools -- say, from business to engineering.

[Discover why experts are divided about MOOCs' impact on education.]

Like extracurriculars and internships, she says, MOOCs give students a better idea of what they want to -- or don't want to -- pursue in the future.

Story continues

"They want to make sure that if they're investing in a particular college or a particular career direction, it's going to make sense for them," Davis says.

2. Gain exposure to courses and teaching at the college level: High schoolers who enroll in MOOCs, which are often taught by real university professors, can get a glimpse of the quality of the teaching at a school and learn about specific faculty, experts say.

For Jethanandani, MOOCs also offered insight into what undergraduate-level courses entail in terms of teaching style and rigor.

"It gave me a realistic understanding of what it means to be an economics major, and what it means to be a statistics major, what it means to be a computer science major," Jethanandani says.

3. Demonstrate your passions to college admissions officers: A high school student going out of his or her way to pursue scholarly interests with MOOCs -- regardless of whether they plan to definitely pursue those fields in college -- can exhibit intellectual curiosity and initiative, experts say.

"That's where I think it might be useful: in showing you've developed an interest, that you're going beyond and above what's offered at your school and exposing yourself to new things," says Ralph Becker, a college counselor in California -- though a MOOC probably won't totally "close the deal," he says.

Stu Schmill, dean of admissions and student financial services at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says high school students shouldn't sign up for MOOCs for the sole purpose of including them on an application.

"We don't want them to contort themselves and pursue things that are not interesting to them simply because they think it's going to give them an advantage," he says.

Students should list specific MOOCs on an application if they complete them from start to finish, says Cohen, of Ivywise -- though Davis says there's room for students to mention what they learned from partially-completed MOOCs in essays, for instance.

Applicants can mention MOOCs in the "additional information" section of the Common Application, experts say, or in written components asking what they want to major in and why.



[Understand how to stand out as a college applicant.]

Jethanandani did the former, and sprinkled what he learned throughout a few of his essays. He's still participating in MOOCs while in college.

"It was fantastic exposure," he says. "I could not have fallen more in love with taking classes online."

Schmill says he's seen more high school students list MOOCs on their applications in the past few years. It's not uncommon, he says, but not too prevalent either, and students don't typically use them in place of high school classes.

"They're really one of many activities that students can do to enrich their learning, and that's really how we look at them," he says.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.


Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.

This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today lets focus in on AMN Healthcare Services Inc. AHS as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for AHSs status as a solid momentum stock below:

Short Term Price Change for AMN Healthcare Services

A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

With a one week price change of 9.32% compared to an industry average of 0.9%, AHS is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large as well.

Longer Term Price Change for AMN Healthcare Services

While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metricssuch as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.

And in the case of AHS, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten out the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 66.02% to 6.69% while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 50.08%. Clearly, AHS is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.

Story continues

AHS Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction

While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with AHS as of late too.

Over the past two months, 1earning estimate have gone higher compared to 1 lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that 3 estimates have moved upwards with no downward revisions for the next year time frame. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as two months ago AHS was expected to post earnings of $2.04/share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of $2.23 for the full year now, representing a solid increase which is something that should definitely be welcomed news to would-be investors.

Bottom Line

Given these factors, investors shouldnt be surprised to note that we have AHS as a security with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Score of A.So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep AHS on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near 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 >>



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



AMN HLTHCR SVCS (AHS): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Wendy Novak was 19 years old when she put her newborn daughter up for adoption with Lutheran Social Services in North Dakota.

It was 1980 and Novak had been the victim of date rape, she said. She was in no shape to be a mother, but abortion was never a consideration for her. Its against me, she told InsideEdition.com. Theres so many parents out there who cant have children. I had a wonderful mom and dad. I wanted her to have that, the 55-year-old woman, now a grandmother, said.

Her daughter did have that. Heather Swenson was raised in Fargo by a loving couple named Stan and Mary Krogh. Heather, who is now 36 and married with a daughter, knew she was adopted. Her parents told her at a very young age.

It made me feel a little bit special, she said with a laugh. They always said, If you want to find your birth mother, well support you.

Read: 9-Year-Old Boy Opens Lemonade Stand To Help Foster Parents Pay His Adoption Fees

When she was in her 20s, Swenson requested the paperwork to begin the process of finding her biological mother, but put off filling it out. Not far away, Wendy Novak also got the requisite forms, and they sat on her dresser for weeks.

What if she doesnt want to know me? Novak said to herself. What if she doesnt want to have anything to do with me?

Heather Swenson, left, and Wendy Novak. (Lutheran Social Services)

Finally, prodded by her sister-in-law who was battling cancer, Novak began the process last year of finding her daughter. Lutheran Social Services approached Swenson.

Several forms, letters, phone calls and emails later, Novak and Swenson arranged to meet at Lutheran Social Services on Jan. 21, Swensons birthday.

As they hugged and cried they realized they already knew each other. In 2004, at a department store in Moorhead, Minnesota, Novak worked in the office and Swenson worked in the cosmetics department. They werent close and they didnt have much interaction, but Novak remembers thinking how pretty Swenson was, and how friendly she was to everyone.

Story continues

The fact that the two women look very much alike never occurred to either of them.

If you walked around thinking that everyone is your birth mother, youll go crazy, Swenson said.

Both have a hard time describing their feelings when they were reunited.

Read: Pregnant Through Rape, Women Are Forced To Share Child Custody With Their Attackers

Novak remembers thinking , Its finally happening. I grabbed her and held her tight. No regret. No sadness. I was just over the top.

Swenson said the experience is still sinking in. Like Novak, she feels nothing negative. She made a choice to give me a mom and a dad. A lot of people would want to terminate a pregnancy that occurred because of something like that.

What an amazing woman she is to make a decision like that.

The two women live about 15 miles apart. They talk online. They celebrated Mothers Day together.

Novak was married for 18 years and has a grown son and a daughter. She is now divorced.

She is just so like us, Novak said. Its like weve always known each other. Shes just part of us.

Watch: Mom Brought To Tears Meeting Son She Put Up For Adoption 17 Years Ago

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By Scott DiSavino

May 11 (Reuters) - For a brief moment this week, Canadian natural gas was basically free.

While oil producers fretted over what production shut-ins, caused by a massive Alberta wildfire, would do to the price of Canadian crude oil, those same producers are big buyers of natural gas, and without them the price dropped to just C$0.05 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) on Monday. A shut-in is when the product is available but not able to reach the market.

"It was essentially free at the lows on Monday," said Martin King, an analyst at Alberta energy advisory FirstEnergy Capital, noting that these were the lowest AECO prices on record going back to at least 1985.

Oil sands companies around the Canadian energy center of Fort McMurray, Alberta, began to restart operations on Tuesday after the wildfire forced a week-long shutdown.

During the wildfire shutdowns, producers were not using gas to fuel cogeneration power plants that generate electricity and the steam used to cook the oil sands to produce crude.

As a result, the Canadian benchmark AECO hub in southeast Alberta averaged less than C$0.50/mcf on Monday, at one point dropping to an intraday low of just 5 cents, King said.

Natural gas prices have rebounded somewhat. With the return to production of one oil sands cogeneration plant at the Syncrude project this week and the expected restart of others in coming days, AECO prices have already climbed to around C$1/mcf.

But the high level of gas in storage after a mild winter means prices are expected to remain relatively cheap for the rest of the year, according to analysts.

AECO prices averaged C$4.47/mcf in 2014 and C$2.78 in 2015, but just C$1.62 so far in 2016, according to FirstEnergy.

To avoid filling Alberta's inventories to their maximum capacity, some drillers will likely have to cut output later this summer if they are not able to sell more gas to the already-oversupplied U.S. markets.

"Some producers will likely be forced to shut in some output because they won't get a decent price for their product, and some of the gas that is produced will probably make its way to the oversupplied U.S. market," said Kent Bayazitoglu, director of market analytics at energy consulting firm Gelber & Associates in Houston.

Story continues

The biggest gas producers in Alberta include units of Encana Corp, Repsol SA, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy Inc and Husky Energy Inc .

Canadian Natural is planning to shut in an additional 40 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) by the end of 2016 because of low gas prices, a spokeswoman said, adding the decision was made before the wildfire outages. Canadian Natural said last week it already had about 43 mmcfd of gas shut in due to low gas prices.

"We've seen a couple of small producers in Alberta shut-in gas production due to low prices in recent months, but Canadian Natural's planned shut-ins may only be the tip of the iceberg based on how low AECO prices are," said Richard Redash, managing director, natural gas, at energy consultancy PIRA.

LOW PRICES ATTRACT U.S. BUYERS

The low prices attracted U.S. buyers. So far in May, net imports of gas from Canada have averaged 5.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), up from 5.4 bcfd in April. That is an increase of about 15 percent compared with the same period in 2013-2015, according to Thomson Reuters Analytics.

FirstEnergy estimated the loss of oil sands usage due to the fires cut gas demand by as much as 0.6 to 0.9 bcfd. At the high end of this range, this is about 25 percent of all Alberta gas demand for this time of year. Much of the gas not used will go to Canadian storage facilities, they said.

The problem is that storage in Alberta, as in the United States, is already at record levels after a mild winter.

Utilities pulled only 16 bcf out of Alberta storage between Nov. 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. That compares with about 111 bcf withdrawn during the winter of 2014-2015 and 334 bcf during the polar vortex winter of 2013-2014, according to FirstEnergy data.

The amount of gas in inventory in Alberta currently stands at around 428 bcf, putting current storage near the province's maximum capacity of 470 bcf, FirstEnergy said.

To avoid overfilling inventories going forward, FirstEnergy said drillers, especially those that are unhedged and exposed to spot prices, will have to shut in an estimated 0.6 to 0.8 bcfd of gas production during the summer and autumn.

Canadian drillers have already cut the number of rigs drilling new oil and gas wells to just 36, lowest number since at least 2000, according to services company Baker Hughes Inc .

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York and Nia Williams in Calgary, Alberta; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Govt launches $700b plan to improve infrastructure in next three years Updated: 2016-05-12 14:05 By Yu Xiaoming(chinadaily.com.cn)

An area of track on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway line. [Photo by Ni Shubin/Asianewsphoto]

A three-year action plan to improve the country's infrastructure has been formally launched, with a total investment of 4.7 trillion yuan ($723.8 billion), the Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday.

The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport, aims to improve the rapid transit net, basic traffic net and urban transit net, establish an integrated transportation network and better leverage the fundamental role of combination advantage and network efficiency.

The action plan includes 303 projects covering railways, highways, waterways, airports and urban rail transit, with 131 projects in 2016, 92 projects in 2017 and 80 projects in 2018.

In terms of railways, the country plans to invest 2 trillion yuan to promote 86 projects, build and rebuild about 20,000 kilometers of railway.

The country also plans to invest 580 billion yuan, 460 billion yuan and 60 billion yuan respectively to promote 54 highway, 50 airport and 10 waterway projects.

When it comes to urban rail transit, the country will promote 103 projects and build 2,000 kilometers of new lines, with investment of 1.6 trillion yuan.

The plan also calls for improving fund support and increasing the capital investment from the central government. Meanwhile, the country should speed up reforms on investment and financing system, boost public-private-partnership cooperation.
With the warmer months come sunglasses and travel plans. If you're trying to figure out your next getaway, you should know which places aren't recommended for U.S. citizens.

According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, travel warnings are issued when Americans should strongly consider visiting a country at all. These warnings remain in place until the location's deemed safe, which in some cases may take several years.

"Whether it's because of violence, anti-American sentiment or for health reasons, the reasons the State Department issues travel warnings and travel alerts primarily boils down to safety," Christine Sarkis, Senior Editor of Smartertravel, told Credit.com. She recommends reading the travel alert to get a sense of the issue and avoiding areas of concern. Also, she adds, "don't draw attention to yourself and take any health warnings seriously."

If you're hoping to leave the country, it's a good idea to check any requirements for a location. (To stay on budget, you may also consider a rewards credit card to help fund your trip. You can check out the best rewards credit cards here.)

"Each country has specific entry requirements for tourist and business travelers," the National Passport Information Center said via email. "We recommend you check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for the most up-to-date requirements."

Here are some countries you might want to think twice about before visiting.

1. Anywhere With Zika Virus Warnings

Zika, which can be spread through intercourse and mosquito bites, has prompted warnings for Americans heading to the Caribbean, Central America, the Pacific Islands and South America.

"We recommend that travelers who are pregnant, or might become pregnant soon, take Zika warnings seriously," Sarkis said. "The CDC has a list of Zika travel notices by country and has plenty of information about avoiding mosquito bites."

2. Mexico

While millions of U.S. citizens visit Mexico each year, the State Department issued a safety warning in January 2016. Americans should be aware of violent crime in parts of the country like La Paz and Coahuila. (For more info, see this assessment on the State Department website.)

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3. The Philippines

Americans are cautioned against coming here due to concerns about kidnappings and other terrorist threats. The warning has been in place since October 2015.

4. North Korea

There are several concerns about traveling to North Korea, especially since the country's criminal laws include arrest and long-term detention. The U.S. State Department says even visiting North Korea with organized tour groups has caused problems and isn't advised.

5. Chad

The U.S. Department state issued a warning against traveling here in November 2015 due to terrorist activity. Worse still, the U.S. Embassy can't provide consular services outside the capital area due to minefields, especially minefields near borders.

You can see more places Americans can't travel on Credit.com.



More from Credit.com


Photo: Instagram

From Cosmopolitan

Frostine Shake is a burlesque dancer and artist based in Austin, Texas. From about the time she was 6 years old, Frostine was seriously practicing ballet and thought she might want to pursue it professionally. I really enjoyed the grace of it, she told Cosmopolitan.com. It was something I felt was going to be right for me.

But as a teenager, Frostine became aware that her body was not like those of the other girls in her classes. I started looking around and saw that everyone else had much thinner frames than I did, she said. I was always the heavier-set girl in the class. Feeling pressured to look a certain way but really not feeling up to changing her body, Frostine quit ballet at the age of 16.

What she didnt know then was that at age 30, she would still be wearing her pointe shoes - and celebrated for it. Here, she offers some things shes learned since quitting ballet for feeling like she wasnt skinny enough.

1. That she would continue to dance. Frostine emphasizes that she is not a professional ballerina by any means, but she does regularly practice en pointe, sometimes up to three times a week. And as a burlesque dancer, she is doing exactly what she has always loved: I love to dance, I love to dance in front of an audience, and I love to entertain people.

2. That she would incorporate ballet into her career even if she didnt turn out to be a professional ballet dancer. Every single one of my routines has elements of ballet, Frostine says. They dont necessarily have to do with the pointe shoes, but more with grace, posture, and movement.

3. That she would be able to use ballet as a form of artistic expression. As a college student, Frostine was in a strenuous fashion design program and found release through ballet. She would use her pointe shoes and ballet technique when posing as a model for her photographer friends. Those photos, which are now making the rounds on the internet, speak to people on a level other than just a larger girl en pointe.

Story continues

Photo: Instagram

4. That the world would become more accepting of different bodies. Another reason that I quit was that I didnt have a lot ofprofessional support, Frostine says. I would have told my younger self that in the future, there willbe a body-positive movement that you can be a part of. There are goingto be other girls in your classes that look like you so that you feel moreaccepted. There will be instructors who will work with you and do what they canto help you improve.

5. That she would go on to achieve so many other dreams. I think that going forward with ballet would have been awonderful avenue; I just didnt choose to take it, Frostine says. [I got to] graduate from fashion school, finish beauty school, travel the world as a burlesque performer, and discover more facets about myself as an artist. My life took a different turn. Had I stayed strictly a ballet dancer, I am unsure I would have accomplished all I have.

6. That so many other women would be able to relate to her story. Frostine has heard from many women whove told her that they also quit at a young age because they didnt feel like they had the right body. They tell her that they wish they had stayed with ballet. I feel like most women have that story, she says.

7. That she would be able to look at ballet with new eyes later in life. I want to discover myself as a dancer again and see what else is out there for me, Frostine says. Im confident doing it even if what Im doing isnt perfect. Im still working at it and trying and just making art.

Follow Helin on Instagram.
Just getting started?

Newbie investors shouldn't shy away from individual stock ownership. There are a variety of advantages to holding individual stocks in your portfolio. These include the ability to tailor your portfolio to your values and beliefs -- and avoid so-called "sin stocks." Other advantages include more control over costs, tax and estate planning. Finally, an individual investor can be nimble, quick and decisive in their buys and sells, versus a mutual fund manager who often needs committee approval on portfolio shifts. Here are eight stocks to consider for a starter portfolio.

General Electric Co. (ticker: GE)

Smart investment choices are those with strong businesses -- like GE -- that attract the best talent and possess sustainable long-term earnings power, says Henry To, partner at Newport Beach, California-based CB Capital Partners. "With GE now getting rid of most of GE Capital, and other non-core assets such as NBC Studio, the firm's returns on equity should rise comfortably above 15 percent in the next 18 months as the focus returns to its industrials segment: power and water, oil and gas, energy management, aviation and transportation."

Monsanto Co. (MON)

Monsanto is an innovator and dominant player in the global agricultural biotechnology industry. "Monsanto's long-term growth story is underpinned by the ongoing rise in aspirational spending and protein consumption in large-population countries such as China and India," To says. "For Monsanto, this is vital as the demand for its products, such as genetically modified seeds and agricultural productivity products, such as Roundup, is determined by demand for crops such as corn and soybeans, which are vital to the growth of the global cattle industry."

CVS Health Corp. (CVS)

CVS is an integrated health care provider with unique business structure in the industry. "CVS Health provides the cheapest price in generics in the industry, low-cost primary physicians with its Minute Clinics, retail presence and specialty drug distribution to long-term care facilities and nursing homes," says David Yepez, portfolio manager at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Oklahoma City. "We believe the company will continue to benefit from the aging of the population in America."

Story continues

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)

Disney is a media conglomerate that monetizes its characters and franchises across multiple platforms including movies, home video, merchandising, parks and resorts and musicals. "The management team has shown great discipline and skill at allocating capital. Disneyland Shanghai and the Star Wars franchise should continue to provide growth for this company for the foreseeable future," Yepez says.

Facebook (FB)

Mark Zuckerberg's company is the leading social network company in the world. "By organizing information about users, their social connections, and their activities on the Internet, Facebook has a lucrative database that is highly valuable for advertisers," Yepez says. "Facebook is also becoming better at monetizing mobile advertising and is entering new areas such as virtual reality and messaging. In summary, Facebook is building the foundation to transform online advertising."

Fluor Corp. (FLR)

Fluor is a global engineering and construction firm in the industrial sector. Kelley Wright, managing editor at Investment Quality Trends newsletter, likes Fluor based on its current dividend yield level. Through decades of analysis of high quality dividend-paying stocks, Wright found that stocks move between high-yield and low-yield prices areas that signal buying and selling opportunities. "The historically repetitive area of undervalue yield for FLR is 1.6 percent. Based on the current dividend of 84 cents, the undervalued price for FLR is $53."

American Express Co. (AXP)

American Express is a global charge and credit card payment company. Wright calls AXP stock undervalued at $64 per share, and its dividend yield of $1.16 and 1.80 percent makes this a top pick. "The dividend yield is at a historically repetitive high area and its internal economic value, meaning what the company is worth versus how Wall Street has it valued, is very attractive," he says.

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)

Wal-Mart operates retail and wholesale discount stores under the names Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Wright says this company is undervalued based on its current dividend yield versus historical levels. "Based on the current dividend of $2, the undervalued price is $80," Wright says.

Kira Brecht is a financial journalist who writes extensively on stock, commodity, and foreign exchange markets, investing strategies, the economy and the Fed. She was managing editor at SFO (Stock, Futures & Options) Magazine for 10 years, creating digital magazine, newsletter and online content aimed at the individual investor. She began her career on the floor of the Chicago futures exchanges covering commodity markets for a financial newswire service. Follow her on Twitter @KiraBrecht.
Just getting started?

Newbie investors shouldn't shy away from individual stock ownership. There are a variety of advantages to holding individual stocks in your portfolio. These include the ability to tailor your portfolio to your values and beliefs -- and avoid so-called "sin stocks." Other advantages include more control over costs, tax and estate planning. Finally, an individual investor can be nimble, quick and decisive in their buys and sells, versus a mutual fund manager who often needs committee approval on portfolio shifts. Here are eight stocks to consider for a starter portfolio.

General Electric Co. (GE)

Smart investment choices are those with strong businesses -- like GE -- that attract the best talent and possess sustainable long-term earnings power, says Henry To, partner at Newport Beach, California-based CB Capital Partners. "With GE now getting rid of most of GE Capital, and other non-core assets such as NBC Studio, the firm's returns on equity should rise comfortably above 15 percent in the next 18 months as the focus returns to its industrials segment: power and water, oil and gas, energy management, aviation and transportation."

Monsanto Co. (MON)

Monsanto is an innovator and dominant player in the global agricultural biotechnology industry. "Monsanto's long-term growth story is underpinned by the ongoing rise in aspirational spending and protein consumption in large-population countries such as China and India," To says. "For Monsanto, this is vital as the demand for its products, such as genetically modified seeds and agricultural productivity products, such as Roundup, is determined by demand for crops such as corn and soybeans, which are vital to the growth of the global cattle industry."

CVS Health Corp. (CVS)

CVS is an integrated health care provider with unique business structure in the industry. "CVS Health provides the cheapest price in generics in the industry, low-cost primary physicians with its Minute Clinics, retail presence and specialty drug distribution to long-term care facilities and nursing homes," says David Yepez, portfolio manager at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Oklahoma City. "We believe the company will continue to benefit from the aging of the population in America."

Story continues

Walt Disney Co. (DIS)

Disney is a media conglomerate that monetizes its characters and franchises across multiple platforms including movies, home video, merchandising, parks and resorts and musicals. "The management team has shown great discipline and skill at allocating capital. Disneyland Shanghai and the Star Wars franchise should continue to provide growth for this company for the foreseeable future," Yepez says.

Facebook (FB)

Mark Zuckerberg's company is the leading social network company in the world. "By organizing information about users, their social connections, and their activities on the Internet, Facebook has a lucrative database that is highly valuable for advertisers," Yepez says. "Facebook is also becoming better at monetizing mobile advertising and is entering new areas such as virtual reality and messaging. In summary, Facebook is building the foundation to transform online advertising."

Fluor Corp. (FLR)

Fluor is a global engineering and construction firm in the industrial sector. Kelley Wright, managing editor at Investment Quality Trends newsletter, likes Fluor based on its current dividend yield level. Through decades of analysis of high quality dividend-paying stocks, Wright found that stocks move between high-yield and low-yield prices areas that signal buying and selling opportunities. "The historically repetitive area of undervalue yield for FLR is 1.6 percent. Based on the current dividend of 84 cents, the undervalued price for FLR is $53."

American Express Co. (AXP)

American Express is a global charge and credit card payment company. Wright calls AXP stock undervalued at $64 per share, and its dividend yield of $1.16 and 1.80 percent makes this a top pick. "The dividend yield is at a historically repetitive high area and its internal economic value, meaning what the company is worth versus how Wall Street has it valued, is very attractive," he says.

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)

Wal-Mart operates retail and wholesale discount stores under the names Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Wright says this company is undervalued based on its current dividend yield versus historical levels. "Based on the current dividend of $2, the undervalued price is $80," Wright says.





More From US News & World Report


Yesterday morning I boarded a white, unmarked bus parked alongside the river Thames, not far from the Houses of Parliament. In todays London, which is second only to Hong Kong in the number of tourists it hosts each year, visitors can see the city by bike, foot, black cab, helicopter, or speedboat, or pick from a wide assortment of bus tours (royal, original, historic, or modern). In recent years, however, London has grown famous for a less encouraging trait: it has become a city of choice for unscrupulous politicians, businessmen, and government officials from across the globe, who, by hook or by crook, have acquired bags of cash that need rinsing and investing. Why not, then, a kleptocracy tour of London?

For now, the tours are invitation only, aimed primarily at journalists and interested eccentrics. They are organized by the anti-corruption activist group ClampK, and the one Im attending this week is timed to draw attention to a high-level anti-corruption summit that Prime Minister David Cameron is hosting in London today. Many commentators see some irony in all this, given the appearance of Camerons own father in the Panama Papers (though, in that case, a tax-dodging motive seems unlikely). And as the tour progresses, elaborating the U.K.s enabling role in global corruption, a mention of Camerons recent reference to other countries being fantastically corrupt elicits wry smiles from those on board.

The early birds on the bus with me chat about this. They include a German TV crew; Ned, a self-described venture capitalist with messy hair and a large rip in his jacket shoulder; and our guide, Roman Borisovich, a former banker who founded ClampK. Todays tour will take in properties in the wealthy neighborhoods of Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and St Johns Wood.

Lets get rolling! says Borisovich. But we have barely moved before hes pointing out the window and listing evidence of financial misbehavior. The first property is in Whitehall Court, a building that used to be the headquarters of the U.K.s foreign intelligence agency, MI6. It is now owned by Russias deputy prime minister, Igor Shuvalov. The cost, says Borisovich, was 114 times Shuvalovs government salary. While Shuvalov claims that his wife is an investor with a Midas touch, Borisovich is skeptical: These are badly camouflaged bribes.

Borisovich defines kleptocracies as countries where rulers are motivated by stealing money rather than representing citizens. In his view, Russia fulfills the definition perfectly because it never penalizes big fish for stealing, at least in a judicial sense. Since diplomatic pressure rarely works, the only way for the West to go after kleptocracy is to go after the money, he says.

The tour features lots of Russian examples. As the bus circumnavigates Buckingham Palaces external wall, I start to wonder whether  with his hard accent and Cold War-like references to the West  this emphasis might be a reflection of Borisovichs personal interests. Then Oliver Harvey, who runs Deutsche Banks European currency research, stands up.

Last year, Harvey published a report in which he looked closely at the net errors and omissions in the U.K.s balance sheet. At their peak, between 2007 and 2011, these averaged between 10 billion and 15 billion ($14.5 billion to $21.7 billion) per year, which was about 20 to 40 percent of the U.K.s current account, says Harvey. I thought it was very striking, and I couldnt believe the statistical authorities hadnt pointed this out before. Harvey showed that, over time, these flows have correlated not only with secret flows of money out of Russia (as recorded by the Russian central bank), but also with London property prices. The Russian central bank manager himself has said that a lot of these outflows of money from Russia are connected to criminal activity, says Harvey.

But why London over other globally oriented cities? The first problem, says Borisovich, is that the money is allowed come in with few effective restrictions. The second is that U.K. law offers remarkably robust ownership protection, which means that the owners of ill-gotten gains dont usually have to worry about enforcers in their home countries taking the money back. Borisovich notes that several U.S. cities also have problems with dirty money from abroad, but on nowhere near the same scale as London.

To explain, he offers the example of some so-called mirror trades, which he says were conducted by Deutsche Bank on behalf of some of Putins cronies who were on a sanctions list. About $10 billion was laundered in Moscow and London equally. Whos investigating this? The U.S. Department of Justice. They can do it because [the trade] is denominated in U.S. dollars. By contrast, he says, the U.K. requires a criminal conviction in the country of origin  unlikely in cases when the criminal in question is the president or some other high official.

The bus turns at Knightsbridge station and heads down Sloane Street, famous for its row of designer stores catering to the dripping rich. Borisovich points to an apartment owned by the 21-year-old daughter of Russias poorest member of parliament. Sarcastically, Borisovich notes that he doesnt even own a car  officially, of course. Around the corner sits one of the worlds most expensive residences, the modernist monstrosity 1 Hyde Park, in which Ukraines richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, spent over $197 million on two apartments, equivalent to $7,883 a square foot. Borisovich sees the address as a veritable honeypot for kleptocrats. Even former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke tried to buy an apartment there shortly before her arrest on suspicion of corruption and bribery last October.

Nearby, at 28 Wilton Place, the son of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak  ousted in the Arab Spring of 2011  used to live in a five-story terraced house worth $10.4 million. As we move into the grand, nineteenth-century elegance of leafy Belgrave Square, home to dukes and embassies, Borisovich can barely keep up. In one direction, there is a property owned by a Russian aluminum tycoon with links to a conflict that killed scores of people in the 1990s. In another lies a building owned by a Ukrainian magnate whose assets were frozen just over a week ago.

Representatives of ClampK are keen to point out that the issue at hand isnt merely justice  its also bad economics. The attraction of owning property in the city is that prices have kept going up. These expensive houses are unproductive in a broader sense, generating nothing in terms of innovation. Moreover, they bring a social cost by pushing Londoners out of the center of the city. Because they are often empty, local businesses that give London its village-like feel  cafes, laundries, and so on  go bust, and tax revenue and rents for local governments dry up accordingly. According to Arthur Doohan, ClampKs self-described silent partner, the effect is so substantial that a local compelled to buy a home for seven times his annual salary can probably blame hot money that has flowed into the London property market for up to three of those seven multiples, says Arthur Doohan.

Doohan also sees a larger danger. He views corruption as an infection that spreads and becomes almost intractable if it isnt treated in time. While the U.K. currently enjoys one of the cleanest civil administrations in the world, he thinks the sleeping pool of questionable foreign money poses a threat to the quality of governance. The pool of dirty money is enormous, and if it comes under threat it will seek ways to bribe people here.

So what to do? In an article published yesterday, Cameron promised that todays summit will constitute the biggest demonstration of political will in tackling corruption that we have ever seen. The proposals the prime minister is putting forward are heading in the right direction, says Borisovich, but they arent sufficient. They include a global anti-corruption agency and an open register that will enable civil society to find out which foreign individuals and companies really own U.K. property. This would also identify beneficial owners  those who put their names to companies in place of others. Cameron expects the Netherlands, France, Nigeria and Afghanistan to copy this move.

The British overseas territories, such as the Virgin Islands, figure prominently in the Panama Papers, and this, too, is a problem the government must tackle if it hopes to maintain its credibility on this issue. But theres little hope that offshore corruption can be stemmed so long as the problem continues to fester in the very heart of the United Kingdom. For the foreseeable future, Londons kleptocracy tours are in no danger of running out of sights to see.

The photo shows One Hyde Park in central London on March 22, 2012.

Photo credit: CARL COURT/AFP/GettyImages
The Africa Channel is expanding its original programming slate, greenlighting a new cooking show and three pilots.

Minjiba Cookey, a Nigerian food blogger, will host the channels latest cooking and lifestyle series, Minjiba Entertains.

The pilot lineup includes Shanty Chic, a design and home improvement show from South Africas Forefront Media; Shadows Unexplained, a series exploring paranormal phenomenon, mysteries, and myths on the continent from TAC Productions; and Elements, a docu-series featuring Kenyan host Ruby Kangethe from Amsterdam based Loman Productions.

The indie cabler also renewed four series: Africa on a Plate, which combines cooking with travel and culture; Africa Everywhere, a Diaspora series from Mosi Films that will feature episodes shot in Chicago, Atlanta and Washington D.C.; Muziki Ni, which provides an up-close and personal look at the inspirations that drive artists from Africa and the Diaspora; and 30-Minute Tour, a travel series that takes viewers on a half-hour journey through a specific country, city or region with local insights.

Narendra Reddy, Africa Channels exec VP of content and global operations, has vowed to make 2016 a breakout year for our network.

The Africa Channel is a showcase for the African continents TV series, specials, documentaries and feature films. Based in Los Angeles, it has a subscriber base of approximately 10 million homes.
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

The Lions held a 6-3 lead over the Cowboys at halftime of Sundays game, but their inability to hold onto the ball helped it go up in smoke in the second half. Quarterback Jared Goff threw an interception to open the third quarter and the Cowboys turned it into a touchdown that gave them a [more]
Damascus (AFP) - An aid convoy was refused entry to Syria's Daraya Thursday, the Red Cross said, dashing hopes for the first such delivery since regime forces began a siege of the rebel-held town in 2012.

Further north in the province of Idlib, unidentified aircraft carried out more than 60 raids targeting a military airport controlled by Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, killing 16 jihadists from Al-Nusra Front and allied fighters, a monitor said.

A truce in Syria's battleground city Aleppo expired, meanwhile, with no new last-minute prolongation after it had been extended twice through last-minute intervention by Moscow and Washington.

The five-truck convoy organised by the ICRC, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been due to deliver baby milk and medical and school supplies to Daraya.

"We urge the responsible authorities to grant us access to Daraya, so we can return with desperately-needed food & medicines" outside the capital, said the International Committee of the Red Cross after the convoy was refused entry.

A UN said it had decided against going ahead with the convoy after "nutrition items" were removed.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and the resident humanitarian coordinator had "decided to abort the mission to Daraya because of the removal of nutrition items for children other than vaccines from the UN convoy at the last checkpoint," said spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Daraya had a pre-war population of about 80,000 people but that has dropped by almost 90 percent, with remaining residents suffering from severe shortages and malnutrition.

- 'We want to eat' -

In a video posted by the town's council on Facebook, residents begged for food and drink.

"We don't want books or pens. We don't want just medicine," said one young woman clutching a baby, her voice breaking.

"We want to eat. We want to drink."

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

Story continues

They hope a broad ceasefire in Syria could help the flow of desperate needed relief supplies to reach people trapped by fighting and violence.

At least one civilian died in regime shelling in the town on Thursday afternoon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In the northern city of Aleppo, emergency workers reported no deaths in eastern rebel-held areas since the local truce expired on Wednesday night.

But two civilians including a woman died in sniper fire on the divided city's regime-controlled west, said the Observatory.

That truce came after a spike in violence that killed more than 300 civilians on both sides of the city last month.

The Britain-based Observatory said a top Al-Nusra chief was among 16 jihadists killed in a wave of more than 60 air strikes on Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said it was unclear if the strikes were carried out by the Syrian regime, Russian or US-led coalition aircraft.

Al-Nusra and its allies seized the military airport from regime forces last September.

Also on Thursday Al-Nusra captured Zara village in central Hama province, said the monitor.

- Stalling peace talks -

Al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are not included in a ceasefire between the regime and non-jihadist rebels implemented in late February to set the ground for UN-backed peace talks.

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

The last round of peace talks in Geneva reached a deadlock in April when the main opposition group suspended its participation over mounting violence and lack of humanitarian access.

Talks have also faltered over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, with the opposition insisting any peace deal must include his departure. But Damascus says his future is non-negotiable.

"My priority is how we can resolve this crisis through political dialogue," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The head of Syria's main opposition group, Riad Hijab, earlier called for tougher action against Assad, whom he claimed had effectively received a "green light" from Moscow and Washington to continue bombing civilian areas.

Millions have fled Syria's conflict since it started with anti-government protests in 2011.

These include 20 percent of Syria's Palestinian refugees, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency said Thursday.

Before the war, Syria was home to about 560,000 Palestinians whose ancestors fled the 1948 foundation of Israel and ensuing conflicts.
China, WIPO ink new agreement to enhance global IP cooperation Updated: 2016-05-12 16:06 (Xinhua)

GENEVA -- China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance partnership in the field of intellectual property (IP) protection.

The memorandum was signed between China's Minister of State Administration for Industry and Commerce Zhang Mao and the director general of WIPO Francis Gurry.

While placing particular emphasis on the Madrid System, a one-stop solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide, the memorandum builds on a covenant signed by both parties in 2010.

In light of China's economic growth, trademark law reforms and the country's efforts to streamline trademark registration, the agreement also takes into account China's growing role in the field of IP.

According to statistics, close to 2.9 million trademark applications were made in China last year, up from 766,319 in 2006.

China also ranked sixth in 2015 in terms of the number of applications filed under the Madrid System, with 2,321 applications filed by Chinese applicants.

"There is a huge potential for more Chinese application filings with the Madrid System," Zhang said.

"In the future, we'll continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to use trademarks in their 'Go Global' strategy, strengthen the promotion, training and consultancy of the Madrid System, and carry out universal education on international registration of trademarks," he added.

The minister hoped that the Madrid System would become the favored option for enterprises seeking to register international trademarks.

He also highlighted the importance of promoting Chinese brands internationally, in line with the country's status as the world's second largest economy.

"We believe that, in the next decade, trademark and brand strategies will be an important driver for economic development," he said

Zhang said China will continue with its market reforms and allow brands to play their active role of promoting competition, stimulating innovation and driving development.

"We will enhance facilitation of trademark registration, crack down on trademark infringement and counterfeit, and protect the exclusive right of trademarks according to the law," he added.
From Popular Mechanics

The U.S. Air Force has just completed its largest-ever deployment of F-22 Raptors to Europe, the latest in a string of missions meant to show the world the warplane can be ready at a moment's notice.

USAF has become adept at using the world's most advanced fighter jet to make a point by deploying a small number of F-22s to global hotspots, sending a message to Russia, North Korea, and China. The program, known as Rapid Raptor, was conceived by the 3rd Wing, a unit of 40 F-22s based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. Rapid Raptor is all about being able to send at least four combat-ready F-22s, plus a C-17 for logistics, to a forward air base anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

The concept is a timely one, what with increased Russian and Chinese flights near allied territory as well as North Korea's breakneck nuclear weapons program. This latest deployment to Europe involved 12 Raptors flying from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida to U.S. bases in the United Kingdom. From there, pairs of Raptors went on to visit air bases in Romania and Lithuania. A 2015 Rapid Raptor deployment to European Command included a four-ship visit to Poland and a two-ship visit to Estonia.

If you're noticing a pattern, you're right. The Raptor has a tendency to visit friendly countries on the front lines opposite Russia. Rapid Raptor is a show of force of American airpower, designed to reassure American allies that help can come quickly, and discourage Russian adventurism.

On the other side of the world, the 3rd Wing itself has been sending its Rapid Raptor flights across the Pacific Ocean to send a message to North Korea and China. In January-days after North Korea's fourth nuclear test-the United States sent a dozen F-22 fighters to Yokota Air Base just outside Tokyo. Similarly, after a North Korean long-range rocket test, the Air Force sent a four ship Rapid Raptor flight to Osan Air Base in South Korea. Periodically Raptors also pay visits to Kadena Air Force Base on the island of Okinawa, near islands claimed by both China and Japan in the East China Sea.

Rapid Raptor is a useful tool in the Air Force's toolbox, but it only works as long as the F-22 is indisputably the best fighter in the world. Once Russia and China start flying their own rival fifth-generation stealth fighters-already in development with planes such as the Sukhoi T-50 and Chengdu J-20-mere visits from the King of Fighters may no longer suffice. In the meantime, countries that act up are on notice that if they do, the Raptors are on the prowl.
f 35a air force lightning ii

Although the F-35 Lightning II regularly makes headlines for all the wrong reasons, Air Force pilots at Edwards Air Force Base in California have begun weighing in on the jet's capabilities, and it's good news.

US Air Force Lt. Col. Raja Chari, director of the F-35 integrated test force and commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron, said that the F-35's automated systems free up the pilot to focus on mission planning in an interview with Defense News.

Each plane is its own command and control platform, said Chari, who also has experience flying a legacy platform, the F-15.

You dont have to do as much stick and rudder, just getting to and from, because there are so many automated modes to use on the F-35 ... [It] is almost as easy as breathing.

US Air Force Maj. Raven LeClair, also of the 461st flight test squadron, raved about another unique aspect of the Joint Strike Fighter, the "glass" or dual touch-screen display which is highly customizable by individual pilots.

Its the Burger King jet, Chari said of the F-35's versatile setups. You can have it however you want, your way.

Combined with the F-35's helmet, which employs six infrared cameras positioned around the plane to allow pilots to see through the jets' airframe, F-35 pilots have an unprecedented awareness of the entire battle space.

In this plane its 360 degrees and a much larger range of stuff that you are looking at so that you are not just thinking about what your particular jets doing, but now you are looking at other elements in a notional strike package, said Chari.

F-35 helmet

Story continues

So whether thats looking at ground targets or emitters or air targets, you are building a much bigger picture than the traditional planes.

Chari also spoke highly of the F-35's ability to fly at a high angle of attack, or with its nose pointed up, saying that pilots are learning to use this quality to perform close-in flight maneuvers.

Though the F-35's dogfighting ability has been questioned before, Chari says the eventual integration of the AIM 9X missile with the plane's systems will be a "dogfighting game-changer."

f-35 lightning ii thunderbirds usaf air force

Not only are pilots touting the F-35's next-gen capacities, maintainers are big on the plane's internal diagnostic system.

Though critics have claimed that the Joint Strike Fighter's Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), a system that internally tracks and diagnoses problems with each part of each plane worldwide, could be wiped out by a single server failure, maintainers told Defense News that the claim is ludicrous.

Weve had that happen multiple times, and we can still use ALIS," said RJ Vernon, supervisor of the Third Air Force about server failures affecting the F-35. In the event of a long term server failure, the worst case scenario would be that maintainers have to track the parts manually, which they already do with legacy fighters.

On the whole, Lockheed Martin contractors and Air Force technicians agree, the ALIS is a big help.

It tells you everything you need to know instantly, Vernon said. ALIS reduces our troubleshooting drastically, it makes my job very easy.



F-35A F-16

Air Force Staff Sgt. Cody Patters, who as worked on the A-10 and F-16s, said the F-35 was far easier to work on. His only complaint was waiting on the computer to load new tasks.

We could teach you in 15 minutes, Patters said of the user-friendly interface.

Additionally, the F-35 was built with maintainers in mind. The time they save working on the plane will translate to millions of dollars in savings over the life of the program.

For example, the panels of the plane allow easy access to maintainers, like the nose that comes off in a single piece. Also, the weapons bay doesn't require cleaning, because the missiles are launched with air pressure instead of explosives that leave behind residue.

Our jobs are drastically easier because of the way the jet takes care of itself," concluded Patters.

NOW WATCH: America's $400 billion warplane is experiencing another major problem





More From Business Insider


Beirut (AFP) - A series of air strikes struck a military airport in northwestern Syria on Thursday, killing 16 jihadists including a top fighter from the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 60 air raids targeted the Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib province which Al-Nusra and allied Islamist fighters seized in September.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said however that it was unclear if the strikes were carried out by the Syrian regime, Russian or US-led coalition aircraft.
The security lines at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta have been dominating headlines lately, and for good reason. They are out of control.

Its no longer rare for travelers to spend an hour or more in security lines that stretch through the domestic terminal and out into baggage claim. In response, Hartsfield-Jackson has closed its south security checkpoint for three weeks to install new automated screening equipment to help process the airports staggering 101.5 million annual visitors.

But this is just a temporary fix. Over the next 20 years, officials plan to spend $6 billion renovating Hartsfield-Jackson, starting this year with a $393 million modernization of the domestic terminal that will bring new runways, roadways and hotels to Americas busiest airport. This first phase will be completed in 2018, and will also incorporate new design features to make the security experience more seamless for travelers.

A look at the proposed arched canopies that are part of Hartsfield-Jackson's modernization project. (HOK)

We believe that the time it takes to get through security screening should be no longer than the time it takes for a routine doctors examination, Miguel Southwell, general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, told the AP. Americans will not tolerate a one-hour wait as normal.

Southwell is right. Travelers typically plan to spend the least amount of time possible at the airport. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projects that the number of U.S. airline passengers will grow 2% every year through 2035. Airports have to grow to accommodate these passengers, and in addition to Atlanta, three other major U.S. cities are in the process of renovating their airports to make travel more comfortable, and in some cases theyre spending billions of dollars to do it.

At the top of the list is LaGuardia Airport, which Vice President Joe Biden once referred to as a Third World country. Biden got some flack for his comments, but no one exactly ran to LaGuardias defense. The truth is that travelers would rather fly into nearby Newark International or John F. Kennedy airports than step foot in LaGuardias outdated facilities. Not to mention the delays  in 2015 the statistics site FiveThirtyEight ranked LaGuardia as the slowest airport in the nation for delaying the average round-trip flight by 56 minutes. Smooth.

Story continues

A proposed look at what LaGuardia's new Terminal B project might look like. (HOK)

LaGuardia serves domestic and international flights, and was built in 1964 to accommodate eight million people a year. In 2015, 14.3 million passengers traveled through the airport.

Thats why the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, has been working on plans to give LaGuardia an estimated $4.7 billion facelift. LaGuardia Gateway Partners will handle the renovations, and if all goes as planned, the existing infrastructure in the Central Terminal Building (also known as Terminal B), will be demolished to make way for a 1.3 million square foot, 35-gate terminal building. The new terminal will also feature an aeronautical ramp, new roads in and out of the terminal, and a new parking garage.

Passengers will be glad to hear that the concourses will be larger, new passenger screening areas will be added, and there will be more self-service kiosks in the check-in area. Funding for this project will come from a variety of sources, including private sector financing, funds from FAA passenger facility charges, revenue from concessions and other fees. Officials say the construction will not interfere with flights or other airport activities, and the project should be complete in 2021.

The LaGuardia overhaul is a critical and long-overdue project that will upgrade the airport from third world to world class and strengthen the region's economy, said Joe Sitt, chairman of the Global Gateway Alliance. Now the Port Authority and LaGuardia Gateway Partners must focus on bringing transparency to the project so passengers know whether budgets and timelines are met."

The new terminal at the Salt Lake City airport will be designed to meet the needs of the growing city. (Salt Lake City Airport)

On the West Coast, the Salt Lake City International airport has been struggling with how to appropriately accommodate 22 million passengers a year  twice as many as it was originally designed to serve. Built 50 years ago, Utahs biggest airport has become a popular hub for airlines, but with just one terminal, its bursting at the seams.

The answer is a $2.6 billion dollar project that promises to breathe new life into the growing airport. The first part of the project is a $1.8 billion Terminal Redevelopment Program that will add a second 45-gate terminal and south concourse, car rental facilities, and a parking garage. New shopping and dining options will also be brought in, and travelers will glide through the airport more easily thanks to spacious gate areas and moving walkways. The goal is to have all of this done by 2020.

According to Nancy Volmer from the Salt Lake City Department of Airports, taxpayer dollars will not fund the construction. The program will be paid for by airport cash and user fees, she told Yahoo Finance. This includes fees from people who rent cars at the airport.

On May 4, Salt Lake City officials approved the second part of the renovation which includes a $740 million North Concourse with 30 new gates. Parts of the concourse will be completed by 2020, with the second phase wrapping up in 2023.

Down in Phoenix, Ariz., officials at the SkyHarbor International Airport arent focusing on building new terminals; instead theyre upgrading existing facilities to deal with a massive increase in foot traffic.

The modernization project will bring new dining options to SkyHarbor International Airport. (Phoenix SkyHarbor International Airport)

In 2015, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport handled more than 44 million passengers, said Heather Lissner from the Phoenix Aviation Department. In 2016, weve averaged more than 3.4 million passengers per month, and in March, we broke a record of nearly 4.3 million passengers.

The $590 million modernization project is being handled by HuntAustin Joint Venture, and will focus on Terminal 3 where Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Frontier Airlines operate. The first phase will be completed later this year, and will consolidate the security checkpoint and make the ticket counters more efficient. Phase two will introduce a new South Concourse with 15 gates, and phase three will add amenities to the North Concourse in the form of new dining options.

Travelers can expect to see additional baggage claim carousels and an expanded curb area for drop-off and pickup. Additionally, every seat in the terminal and concourses will also have access to electrical outlets. The project will be completed in 2020.

The Department of Transportation reports that U.S. and foreign carriers flew a record 895 million travelers through U.S airports in 2015.

What do you think about airport renovations? Email us at yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com.

Correction: The headline in a previous version of this article mistakenly said these airports are spending a combined $24.6 billion on renovations; the correct amount is $13.9 billion.
A man's execution was halted hours before it was scheduled to take place after his attorneys raised questions in a federal appeals court that he might be mentally incompetent to receive the death penalty.

According to BuzzFeed, Vernon Madison, who was convicted of the 1985 murder of a police officer, was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday.

A previous request for a stay of execution made by Madison's attorneys was denied Wednesday by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Madison's attorneys work for the Equal Justice Initiative, a Montgomery-based nonprofit specializing in providing counsel to prisoners who have been denied just treatment in the legal system.

The lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.

The institute released a statement Thursday confirming that its request for a stay of execution had been granted.

"It is unconstitutional to execute an individual who is mentally incompetent," the statement reads. "Today, the Eleventh Circuit ordered a stay of Mr. Madison's execution so that it could properly consider the claim that his execution would violate the constitution."

The statement also made clear that Madison's mental condition, after multiple strokes and being diagnosed with dementia, made him unfit for execution.

"Mr. Madison now speaks in slurred manner, is legally blind, and can no longer walk independently as a consequence of damage to his brain," the statement said.

In 1985, Madison of shooting Police Officer Julius Schulte in the back of the head while sitting in his police car after he had attempted to respond to a domestic disturbance call.
Allergan ticker info and symbol are displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) April 6, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Allergan has already had an eventful 2016.

Last month, the drugmaker's $160 billion megamerger with Pfizer was scrapped after the US Treasury released new rules governing so-called tax inversions that undercut the deal's key rationale.

And it is expected to complete a sale of its generic-drug unit in June. Once that's done, the company will be mainly focused on branded pharmaceutical products.

After all the activity, Business Insider caught up with Allergan's newly promoted Chief Commercial Officer Bill Meury and Herm Cukier, Senior Vice President of Women's Healthcare, to hear what's up next for the company.

Beyond Botox

It's been about a month since the Pfizer deal fell through, and Meury says it hasn't been a huge disruption. Only a tiny number of people were involved in pre-integration work.

"It's a testament to the management team as well as the R&D organization to stay focused at a time when there was potentially a great deal of change," he said.

Allergan is most widely known for its best-selling Botox, which is used to treat everything from wrinkles to migraines. Altogether the company has seven therapeutic areas where it's developing products.

One of its key products is a daily pill to treat uterine fibroids, or noncancerous growths that affect about 80% of all pre-menopausal women. In some women, it can cause pain or heavy bleeding that can be cumbersome. The goal of the medication is to reduce the size of the fibroids so they don't cause as many problems as a better alternative to surgery and some of the other oral medications available.

"We've seen studies that show there's more than $30 billion per year in cost to the United States because of uterine fibroids," Cukier said.

Meury expects the drug, ulipristal acetate, to be the "flagship" product of the company's women's health program. It just reported its first phase 3 trial results, with more patients on the medication experiencing no bleeding compared to those on the placebo. It's expected to file for approval in 2017.

Story continues

Meury also pointed to a new preventative migraine drug in development, a new drug for treatment-resistant depression, and a longer-acting eye drug for macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema as the drugs in the pipeline that he's most excited for.

In Allergan's first-quarter call, CEO Brent Saunders made a point to distinguish the company as a "growth pharma" company rather than a "specialty pharma" (A group that would lump them in with embattled Valeant Pharmaceuticals among others).

"Growth is what our investors want and it shows our commitment to customers," Meury said. "Whether it's called specialty pharma or growth pharma, it's our commitment to doing what do best, which is introduce novel compounds to the healthcare community."

NOW WATCH: Humans are defying the law of evolution





More From Business Insider


BERLIN (Reuters) - Almost two-thirds of Germans think Islam does not "belong" to their country, a survey showed on Thursday, indicating changing attitudes following militant Islamist attacks in Europe and the arrival of more than a million, mostly Muslim, migrants last year. Former German president Christian Wulff sparked controversy in 2010 when he said Islam belonged to Germany, a comment repeated by Chancellor Angela Merkel last year. Six years ago, 49 percent of Germans agreed with Wulff and 47 percent did not. Thursday's poll, carried out by Infratest dimap for broadcaster WDR, showed that the mood has shifted, with 60 percent now saying that Islam does not belong to Germany. It showed 34 percent thought it did belong. Scepticism about the religion was greatest among older people, with 71 percent over the age of 64 believing Islam does not belong to the country. Germany is home to around four million Muslims, about five percent of the total population, and unease over the religion is on the rise, especially in the wake of deadly Islamic State attacks in Brussels and Paris. Earlier this month members of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) backed an election manifesto that says Islam is not compatible with the constitution and calls for a ban on minarets and the burqa. Just over half of Germans are concerned that the influence of Islam in Germany will become too strong due to the influx of refugees, the Infratest dimap poll showed. Fears about an Islamist terrorist attack in Germany are also rife, with almost three-quarters of Germans worried about the possibility. The survey of 1,003 Germans was conducted between May 2 and May 3. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)
SALT LAKE CITY  What are the odds that alien life exists elsewhere in the universe? At a major physics meeting, experts talked about updates to historic predictions about whether humans are alone in the cosmos.

In 1961, astronomer Frank Drake wrote an equation to quantify the likelihood of finding a technologically advanced civilization elsewhere in the universe. The so-called Drake equation took into account factors such as the fraction of stars with planets around them and the fraction of those planets that would be hospitable to life.

In the years since 1961, scientists have updated the values in the Drake equation to incorporate newly acquired scientific information. For example, when Drake wrote his equation, scientists didn't know for sure if stars other than the sun had planets around them; now, researchers have evidence that most stars host planets. But science wasn't the only thing that influenced Drake  even current events factor into his calculation. [The Father of SETI: Q&A with Astronomer Frank Drake]

A lonely planet?

At the heart of the search for life elsewhere in the universe is the question "Is Earth unique?" said Matthew Stanley, a science historian at New York University. Stanley discussed the history of humanity's evolving view of its place in the cosmos at the American Physical Society April Meeting on Saturday (April 16), in a session focused on recent discoveries in planetary science.

Humans once thought that the Earth was not only unique, but at the center of the entire universe, Stanley said. Scientific investigations eventually showed that our planet is not even at the center of its own solar system  it is one of seven other planets and many smaller bodies orbiting the sun.

On the other hand, in the last 20 years, scientists have discovered thousands of planets around other stars, and most of those planets are not like Earth (they're big and gaseous, like Jupiter). And most solar systems are not like Earth's solar system (big planets orbit close to their parent star, whereas in Earth's solar system, the large planets orbit further out).

Story continues

Does this suggest that Earth is unique? Stanley said that currently, this question is difficult to answer, because telescopes that search for exoplanets have a selection bias toward large, gas giant planets that orbit very close to their parent stars. With current technologies, these types of planets are easier to detect. With that in mind, scientists are still trying to estimate how many rocky and Earth-like planets are out there.

By one estimation, for every grain of sand on Earth, there could be as many as 10 Earth-like planets in the universe. That's according to Peter Behroozi, a Hubble fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, who presented during the same session as Stanley. (Of course, it is important to remember that the universe is a very big place, and at the moment scientists can search for life only on planets within the Milky Way galaxy.)

Behroozi is working to link galaxy formation with planet formation. In a paper published in 2015 in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Socity, he and his co-author showed that larger galaxies produce a greater number of Earth-like planets than do smaller galaxies such as, for example, the Milky Way. But because there are many more Milky Way-size galaxies in the universe, that's where most Earth-like planets in the universe should be found. Thus, Earth's location in a Milky Way-size galaxy is not unique.

This work not only helps scientists make estimations about how many planets are currently in the universe, but how many will form, assuming the universe continues to grow and evolve in the same way it has in the recent past. In the 2015 paper, Behroozi and his colleague look far ahead into the future and estimate that "the universe will form over 10 times more planets than currently exist." The paper summary goes on to say that there is "at least a 92 percent chance that we are not the only civilization the universe will ever have."

A historical perspective

During his talk, Stanley re-traced the history of humanity's search for life beyond Earth, and showed how people are influenced by their own times and experiences when trying to predict what lies beyond this planet.

William Herschel, an extremely influential 18th century astronomer, believed that intelligent beings lived on the sun. In the 19th century, mainstream astronomers thought they saw artificial canals built by intelligent creatures on Mars and Venus. Observations of those two planets and the sun by space-based probes have disproved those ideas, but new research has also given rise to updated ideas about how and where life could exist elsewhere in the universe.

For example, Stanley said, in the last 40 years, scientists have adopted a broader view of the conditions under which life can exist. So-called extremophiles are organisms that live in environments that were previously thought inhospitable, like at the bottom of the ocean, under the ice in Antarctica and in areas that receive high doses of radiation.

Stanley said many aspects of the Drake equation need updating not only with new scientific evidence, but also with new perspectives. (It should be noted that there are scientists and writers who have dedicated entire books to updating Drake's predictions.)

Drake's equation, for example includes the variable L, which stands for "the length of time such [technologically advanced] civilizations release detectable signals into space," according to the SETI Institute.

When Drake wrote his equation in the 1960s, the value for L was thought of as the time between when a civilization discovered atomic energy and when that society managed to destroy itself through nuclear annihilation, Stanley said.

"That's a totally reasonable way to think about the length of time of a civilization at the height of the Cold War," he said. "But there's been recent work  arguing that we shouldn't think about 'L' in terms of nuclear war. We should think about it in terms of environmental destruction.  That is, it's the time between the discovery of a steam engine and catastrophic climate change."

The equation also includes the variable fc, which represents the fraction of alien civilizations that "develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence" (such as radio communications or television broadcast signals sprayed out into space), the SETI Institute said.

Today, however, many of Earth's communications no longer leak out into space, but are instead passed neatly between ground sources and satellites. There are still projects searching for leaky alien communications, and some scientists have proposed that humans should look for focused, laser-based systems used by alien civilizations to communicate between multiple planets or even multiple star systems. But Stanley's larger point is that to some extent, humanity can only look for alien civilizations that bear some resemblance to our own.

Today, the search for life on other planets is largely focused on telescopes that can study the atmospheres of distant planets and look for signs of biological processes. For example, high levels of methane (produced by many living organisms on Earth) or oxygen in a planet's atmosphere could be due to biological activity. And one day, researchers may be able to search for artificially created atmospheric elements.

"So even if we bomb ourselves back to the Renaissance or the Stone Age, the evidence that a civilization once existed on our planet [would not be] erased," Behroozi told Space.com.

The composition of a planet's atmosphere could even reveal how an intelligent civilization that once lived managed to kill itself, Stanley said.

It may be impossible for humans to be purely objective in their speculation about life the universe, Stanley said. He added that he thinks personal bias and human experiences will always infuse science, but that those things can also help lead to successes in science. Having different perspectives helps people look at things in new ways, which can lead to breakthroughs, he said. That's why, he said, it's actually a good idea for scientists to "talk to people outside your field  listen to marginal people. Get a diversity of people, people from different backgrounds, different genders [and] different kinds of cultures.

"I think it's actually helpful to embrace the fact that this is always how science is done," he said. "And to accept that everybody's different, everybody has weird ideas, and that's actually a source of strength rather than weakness."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beijing police respond to death in custody Updated: 2016-05-11 10:58 By Zhang Yi(chinadaily.com.cn)

Lei Yang. [File photo from web]

Beijing police issued a statement on Wednesday responding to the death of a 29-year-old man, who died around an hour after he was detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.

According to the statement, police officers in plain clothes apprehended Lei Yang as he was exiting a foot massage parlor they were about to raid at 9:14 pm on Saturday. Lei refused to cooperate with the investigation, resisted arrest, bit the police officers and knocked off their video cameras.

He was put in a police car, but on the way to the police station he attempted to exit the vehicle, moved from the back seat to the passenger seat and kicked the driver, according to the statement.

Lei was later handcuffed by the police officers.

Police said Lei looked unwell during the journey, so they took him to hospital at 10:05 pm. He was pronounced dead at 10:55 pm after efforts were made to resuscitate him.

An additional five people were also detained at the foot massage parlor and evidence showed that Lei had paid 200 yuan ($31) to hire a prostitute from the business, the police said.

Wu Tingting, Lei's wife, questioned the officers' actions as she claimed to have found bruises and wounds on her husband's body.

She also questioned the three hour delay between Lei's death and her being informed of it.

Wu claims Lei left home in northern Beijing at around 9 pm to meet relatives at Beijing Capital International Airport who were scheduled to arrive at 11:30 pm.

She said she made more than 40 phone calls to Lei after 11:30 pm because he failed to meet the relatives at the airport. She believes the police had no reason to delay informing the family about Lei's death. She was informed at 1 am.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 12, 2016 / American CuMo Mining Corporation (MLY.V) (OTC Pink: MLYCF) ("CuMoCo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is arranging a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of Cdn$0.10 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to Cdn$1,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of Cdn$0.15 per common share for a period of five years from the date of issue, subject to an acceleration provision whereby the term of the Warrants may be accelerated in the event that the Company's common shares trade at or above a price of Cdn$0.20 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days. In such case, the Company may give notice to the holders of Warrants that the Warrants will expire 20 days from the date of providing such notice. The Private Placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval.

The Company also announces its initiative to raise additional funds for the development of its CuMo Project in Idaho, USA, through the sale of up to a 2% Net Smelter Returns Royalty interest in the project (the "NSR Royalty"). Funds raised from the sale of the NSR Royalty and from the Private Placement are to be used to continue the advancement of the CuMo Project, including drilling to produce the necessary engineering data for the final mineral resource estimate and economic optimizations, environmental base-line studies, and completing an updated economic feasibility analysis that incorporates advanced ore-sorting studies, final metallurgical testing and processing flow-sheet design, and operation analysis and conception.

CuMoCo intends to pay a finder's fee of 5% in connection with the sale of the NSR Royalty and a 10% finder's fee in respect of the Private Placement, subject to receipt of TSXV approval.

Story continues

The securities offered pursuant to the Private Placement 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 United States state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About CuMoCo

CuMoCo is focused on advancing its CuMo Project towards feasibility and establishing itself as one of the largest and lowest-cost molybdenum producers in the world as well as a significant producer of copper and silver. Management is continuing to build an even stronger foundation from which to move the Company and the CuMo Project forward. For more information, please visit www.cumoco.com and www.cumoproject.com.

For further information, please contact:

American CuMo Mining Corporation

Shaun Dykes, President and Chief Executive Officer



Tel: (604) 689-7902

Email: info@cumoco.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release.

Forward-looking information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that CuMoCo expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as the CuMoCo's ability to raise sufficient funds to advance its CuMo project towards feasibility and production, and to become one of the largest and lowest-cost molybdenum producers in the world as well as a significant producer of copper and silver. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including: the results of exploration and development activities; the ability of CuMoCo to raise sufficient funds to complete in-fill drilling, environmental baseline studies, an updated preliminary economic analysis and a feasibility study and to put the CuMo project into production; that no labour shortages or delays are experienced; that plant and equipment function as specified; that a court will not intervene with CuMoCo's proposed exploration and development activities at the CuMo project; and the ability of CuMoCo to obtain all requisite permits and licenses to bring the CuMo project into production. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future prediction, projection or forecast expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration and development activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of molybdenum, silver and copper; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, as well as those factors disclosed in CuMoCo's publicly filed documents. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, CuMoCo undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: American CuMo Mining Corporation
Could 2016 Be a Turnaround Year for IAMGOLD?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Analysts ratings

Currently, 18 analysts are covering IAMGOLD (IAG). Of these, two analysts have issued buy ratings, eight have issued hold ratings, and eight have issued sell ratings on the stock.

These analysts gave IAMGOLD a consensus target price of $2.9 compared to its current price of $3.2, implying a downside of 9%. In comparison, Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) has 57% buy ratings, Yamana Gold (AUY) has 29% buy ratings, and Eldorado Gold (EGO) has 40% buy ratings. Over the years, weve seen IAMGOLDs share price move in tandem with analysts recommendations.

IAMGOLD makes up ~1% of the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX). The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) provides exposure to spot gold prices.

Further breakdown

Credit Suisse (CS) reiterated its underperform rating on IAMGOLD following the companys 1Q16 results. The broker has a target price of $2 on the stock.

According to RBC Capital, IAMGOLDs 1Q16 results were in line with expectations. RBC thinks that with the strong cash position of IAMGOLD, the Market will focus on the companys cash-deploying strategies, including greenfield and brownfield expansions.

RBCs analyst stated, We would view a further reduction in debt positively given potential to minimize future balance sheet risk and reduce interest payments (~$43 million annually). RBC maintained its underperform rating while raising its target price to $3.25 from $2.75 earlier.

Macquarie upgraded IAMGOLD to a neutral rating from an underperform rating on May 5, 2016. The company also increased its target price for IAG from 3 Canadian dollars to 4.5 Canadian dollars.

Raymond James also upgraded the stock from an underperform rating to a market perform rating on May 5. It has a target price of $2.75 for IAG.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
Earny Team.JPG

About a year ago, entrepreneurs Dori Yona and Oded Vakrat were shopping.

"We were invited to a fancy gala in San Francisco," they tell Business Insider. "So we went to Zara to buy blazers."

Yona found one for $129. Vakrat passed and ended up borrowing one from a friend.

"I decided it was a bit expensive," he explains. "A few weeks later, I found the same exact blazer for $65 and bought it."

Feeling ripped off, Yona dialed up his credit card company: "I pretty much disappeared for a week and I did the very long and inefficient price protection process. Bottom line, I was able to get the $65 back two months after my purchase."

Price protection policies are different depending on your credit card, but essentially, if you buy an item and find a lower price within a certain time period after the purchase, your card issuer will refund you the difference.

According to Yona, the process was a major hassle. That's probably why so many consumers don't even bother.

In fact, there is an estimated $50 billion in unclaimed savings each year in the US alone. Many consumers aren't aware of price drops, or even of the price protection policies offered by many credit card companies. Even if they are aware, the paperwork required for refunds can be daunting.

Shortly after the blazer incident, Yona and Oded Vakrat, along with cofounder Ilan Zerbib, put their heads together, and a year later, they presented their own solution to the public: Earny, an app which aims to get consumers their money back for discounts on past purchases.

Previously, consumers like Yona could get their money back through price protection, but it hasn't been automatic. On NerdWallet, Ben Luthi points out that "depending on your card issuer, you may have to register the item for them to track or track the price and file the paperwork yourself to get your refund."

That's where Earny comes in. The app launched early May and is designed to automatically track your purchases, find better prices, and file refund claims.

Story continues

After downloading the app, you enter your email so Earny can track your online purchases and find your e-receipts. If you didn't get the best deal, Earny finds a lower price, requests a refund, and the difference is credited back to your original payment method. If you have an Amazon account, you also enter that information, as Amazon is the only online retailer that doesn't send you a receipt, the cofounders explain.

earny app

"It's complete set-and-forget methodology," says Michael Jones, CEO of Science Inc., one of Earny's investors. "You get a notification every once in a while that they saved you more money."

The app is free, but the company takes 25% of each of your refunds (besides the first, which is free). It seems like a generous chunk, but, "The way we look at it, this is money you would have otherwise never gotten," the Earny team explains. "This is money that is left on the table."

Currently, Earny tracks purchases from 50 major retailers, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. "That's more than competitor Paribus tracks at this time, which is 20 (soon to be 30, we're told)," TechCrunch reports. "However, Paribus has since expanded to include more features than Earny offers currently, including a 'deals' feed based on the savings it has been finding for customers."

There are a lot of companies that think about how to protect customer pricing, Jones tells Business Insider, but, "there are a few reasons why I got excited about Earny as an investor.

"First, they're not interested in trying to make me buy more things. They have a singular focus, and that's retrieving money that's owed to me. Second, they have the largest retail coverage right now. Third, they have a fairly unique relationship with credit card companies, and I believe over time, they will not only be great at discovering where I overspent, but also understanding that applying for price protection is not just through the retailer, but also potentially through my payment source."

The five-person Earny team recently moved from San Francisco to Santa Monica, into Science Inc's headquarters.

earny app

They've raised $1.2 million in seed funding from Science Inc. and angel investment fund Sweet Capital Ltd.

Whether or not you decide to give Earny  or Paribus, which also takes a 25% cut  a try, it's important to be aware of the frequency at which prices change.

"From our initial data, almost every item drops in price," the Earny team explains. "Amazon, for example, has over 2.5 million price changes per day, so consumers are missing out here."

Chances are, you've overpaid for something recently, and it's more than possible to earn your money back. If the phone calls and paperwork are too much of a hassle, perhaps an app could be the answer.

NOW WATCH: 4 lottery winners who lost it all





More From Business Insider


(Corrects paragraph 6 to show market cap of Alphabet was about $494 bln, not $457 bln)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12 (Reuters) - Shares of Apple dropped below $90 on Thursday for the first time since 2014 as Wall Street worried about slow demand ahead of the anticipated launch of a new iPhone later this year.

A mainstay of many Wall Street portfolios, Apple fell to as low as $89.47 before recovering slightly to $90.13, a 2.55 percent loss.

Component suppliers in Taiwan will receive fewer orders from Apple in the second half of 2016 than in the same period last year, the Nikkei Asia Review reported on Thursday, citing sources. Apple typically launches its high-end phones in September.

"People are getting negative data points about component orders and production forecasts, and the features on the new iPhone do not seem to be a big change from the 6S," said Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang.

At its session low, Apple briefly relinquished its position as the world's largest company by market capitalization to Alphabet Inc .

At current prices, Apple's market value is about $494 billion, while Alphabet's is also about $494 billion.

In the past year, Apple's market capitalization has fallen by more than $200 billion - roughly the size of Verizon Communications or Wal-Mart Stores.

Suppliers of iPhone components also fell, with Skyworks Solutions off 4.8 percent, Broadcom down 2.46 percent and Qorvo declining 1.9 percent.

Confidence in Cupertino, California-based Apple was shaken after it posted its first-ever quarterly decline in iPhone sales and first revenue drop in 13 years in April. Wall Street is worried about demand for Apple's next iPhone.

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 disappointing.

Revenue from China slumped 26 percent during the March quarter. Apple faces increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and Huawei selling phones priced below $200, Rosenblatt's Zhang said.

Story continues

Last week, Dialog Semiconductor, which sells chips used in iPhones and other smartphones, cut its revenue outlook due to ongoing softness in the smartphone market.

The recent sell-off has left Apple trading at about 10 times its expected 12-month earnings, cheap compared with its average of 17.5 over the past 10 years. It also has a dividend yield of about 2.46 percent.

"The market is saturated and they have no massive growth drivers outside of the iPhone," said Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargreaves, who still recommends buying the stock. "Generally speaking, I just think it's a little too cheap." (Reporting by Noel Randewich, additional reporting by Savio D'Souza and Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Linda Stern and Dan Grebler)
Vienna (AFP) - Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet on Monday in Vienna to discuss a fragile truce in the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region after the worst clashes in decades, mediators said Thursday.

Top diplomats from the United States, Russia and France, who are spearheading efforts to end the decades-long feud, are expected to participate in the talks aimed at strengthening a tenuous ceasefire hammered out by Moscow.

"A meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan is being planned for next week," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Later on Thursday, French secretary of state for European Affairs Harlem Desir confirmed the meeting would take place on Monday.

The meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian will be their first face-to-face encounter since a surge in fighting last month that killed some 110 people and sparked fears of a return to full-scale war.

"In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet," said a statement from the OSCE's so-called Minsk Group, headed by Russia, France and the US.

"Our foreign ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna."

The meeting will aim to reinforce the ceasefire, build confidence between Yerevan and Baku and "create favourable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement," the Minsk Group said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry are expected to attend.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a festering feud over the breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh after Armenian separatists seized the territory from Baku in a bloody conflict in the early 1990s.

The two sides never signed a definitive peace deal despite a 1994 ceasefire and have regularly exchanged fire across the volatile frontline, but last month's violence represented an unprecedented spike.

Karabakh has declared itself independent but it has not been officially recognised by any country, including its main backer Armenia.

Both sides have been rearming heavily in recent years and the sudden escalation in fighting saw the parties ramping up the rhetoric, accusing each other of fuelling the conflict.
Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said Thursday he felt compelled to visit Gaza to understand its part in the global refugee crisis for a documentary he is filming.

While Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans have formed the bulk of the thousands of people fleeing to Europe, hundreds of Palestinians have also made the treacherous journey.

And Ai said he could not ignore the decades-old reality of Palestinian refugees due to their "long history".

"It is a big population and has such a complexity of political conditions and affects a huge society," he told AFP.

"If we are doing a documentary film we have to search (for) what happened in this refugee situation in the global sense and Gaza is a very, very important location we have to film in."

The Gaza Strip is home to more than 1.7 million people, over 1.25 million of whom are refugees, according to the United Nations.

Most come from families who left their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948, and Ai joked that he arrived "late" to the story.

While the global film world has been focused on the Cannes Film Festival this week, the dissident documentary maker, who was jailed for 81 days over his support for democracy and human rights in China, entered Gaza.

He travelled to a number of parts of the coastal strip, including Jabalia camp in northern Gaza where he met refugees and displaced people whose homes were destroyed during the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which runs the Gaza Strip, have fought three wars since 2008, while Israeli authorities have maintained a blockade on the enclave.

Ai also visited the Rafah border crossing with neighbouring Egypt which Egyptian authorities opened temporarily for two days from Wednesday morning, where he interviewed a number of refugees crossing from Gaza.

He shared a series of photos from Gaza on Instagram, ranging from armed men to a starving tiger in a Gazan zoo.

Story continues

In another photo, he poses with a number of young Palestinian women by the port in Gaza City.

Mona Karaaz, a medical student at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, was among them and said she was considering leaving for good.

"I want to travel to Germany or any European country to find a job there. In Europe maybe I can become a scientist," she said.

- 'Invisible refugee crisis' -

Gaza has been run by Hamas since it took the territory by force in 2007 from the rival Fatah movement, which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

Years of talks aimed at reconciliation between the parties have failed.

"We lost hope in the (Palestinian) Authority and Hamas and all the factions," Karaaz said, adding that she hoped Ai "can take our message to the world".

More than 6,000 Palestinians last year arrived in Greece, a major migrant gateway to Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration.

But Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nation's body for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said competing UN remits meant they often "fall through the cracks" and do not get the help they need.

Dozens of Palestinians from Gaza drowned when their boat to Europe sank in late 2014.

"Amid the massive refugee flows today, the Palestine refugees are the invisible refugee crisis," Gunness said.

Ai's film, which he said is expected to be shown next year, discusses refugee issues across the globe.

He said he had faced a number of obstacles on his global tour, in which he conducted hundreds of interviews with refugees in Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Macedonia and elsewhere.

"To shoot (video) in refugee situations is not easy," he said. "All the refugees are oppressed by political powers."

"We had problems but we always overcame those problems," he said.

Ai also shared online photos of his entry and exit visas from Palestinian and Israeli authorities, which are nearly impossible for many Gazans to obtain.

And he called for Israelis and Palestinians to understand each other better.

"We are living in the 21st century. We have to accept all humans are equal. We are not different from each other," he said.

"We have to coexist. We have to understand and to be inclusive to other people -- different types of people -- because humanity is the only thing we have."
LONDON (Reuters) - An experimental AstraZeneca drug that failed last year as a treatment for a rare cancer of the eye has been awarded special "orphan" status in the United States for a type of thyroid cancer. The British drugmaker, which is relying on cancer treatments to revive its fortunes following a wave of patent expiries, said on Thursday the decision showed the potential importance of selumetinib for some patients. Orphan status is awarded to medicines promising significant benefit in treating rare, life-threatening diseases and the designation provides companies with special development and market exclusivity incentives. AstraZeneca's drug is being tested for patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer who fail to respond adequately to radioactive iodine. Selumetinib, which belongs to a class of cancer drugs known as MEK inhibitors, failed to meet its goal in a late-stage trial for uveal melanoma in July 2015. The drug is also being investigated as a treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, it is viewed by analysts as less important commercially than AstraZeneca's recently launched cancer drugs Tagrisso and Lynparza, and its experimental product durvalumab. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Jason Neely)
Chinese go to shop in Luxembourg Updated: 2016-05-11 16:51 By Xu Lin(chinadaily.com.cn)

The ancient castle in Luxembourg. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Some 250,000 Chinese traveled to Luxembourg last year, often visiting neighboring countries Germany and France as part of their tours, according to Luxembourg for Tourism.

Anne Hoffmann, director general of Luxembourg for Tourism, the country's official agency, recently told media in Beijing that historical sites apart, shopping was the main draw for Chinese.

"Compared with bigger cities, they would find all luxury shops within walking distances and it really saves time and energy," she said.

Tourists could spend half a day in the older parts of capital Luxembourg City, a world heritage site, and then head to the countryside for natural views, Hoffmann said.

The country in western Europe boasts castles, cuisines, wines and four international routes for hikers.

Related:

Shichahai Lake's wild duck population rising
Steve Hill in many ways is a typical candidate running for elected office in California. Hes a former U.S. Marine looking to reform public schools, reduce the states mass incarceration rates, and create jobs. But a couple things are holding him back: Hes an avowed atheist and Satanic Temple organizer.

Hill is a Democrat running for the state Senate in Californias 21st district, and probably the only candidate in the country who embraces both atheism and the tenets of modern-day Satanism. But Hill, who ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate last year during a special election, said this year hes getting shunned by the Democratic establishment largely because of views the party believes are too extreme.

Im a Satanist as far as trying to get people to understand that I dont believe in the devil any more than I believe in God, Hill said in an interview. All of it is stupid. But if I have to tell people Im the devil to get them to listen, then, OK, Im the devil.

Read more: The Evolution of Modern Satanism in the U.S.

Hill, who also works as a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles, is currently helping organize an L.A. chapter for the Satanic Temple, a nationwide Satanic activist organization. Hill said he identifies with the temples mission, which he described as a humanist approach that raises levels of consciousness.

I dont go worship Satan and pour milk on me, he said. But [Satanism] would influence me greatly because I could deal from a different perspective, as a regular human being.

In the last few years the Satanic Temple has tried to push Satanism away from its perception of devil worship and into politics. The group says its mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy in society while using Satanic imagery to further its goals. Hill says he reconciles his atheism with Satanism by not believing in any sort of deity or otherworldly presence and instead adheres to the Satanic Temples goals like keeping church and state separate.

Story continues

The group has often challenged organizations like the Westboro Baptist Church, which regularly holds anti-gay protests at military funerals and has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Satanic Temple also pledged to erect a Satanic monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol alongside one displaying the Ten Commandments. (The Ten Commandments monument has since been removed.)

Read more: Hundreds Gather for Unveiling of Satanic Statue in Detroit

Doug Mesner, a Satanic Temple leader and spokesman who also often goes by the name Lucien Greaves, said he doesnt know of any members who are elected officials in the U.S., but added that every day, were being told of new plans for credible people within our membership to make a run for various public offices.

Hill hopes to be the first, running to replace Sharon Runner, the Republican incumbent who is not seeking reelection. But Hill acknowledged the difficulties. As of Thursday, he said he had roughly $100 in his campaign account and that hes essentially been abandoned by the Democratic Party and plans to file as an independent. Hes also running in what he calls the most religious area of Los Angeles County, an area just north of the city. And its not just the party thats left him behind. He said many of his friends have kept their distance since its come out that hes an open atheist running for office.

But I think more people are climbing out from under these rocks and saying, we exist, he said. Were human.
Bubbles in ancient Australian lava reveal that the early Earth's atmosphere might have been half as thick as it is today, scientists say.

The findings contradict the decades-long belief that Earth's early atmosphere was thick and, if confirmed, would expand the list of the types of planets capable of supporting life, the researchers said in a new study. [In Photos: Watery Ocean Hidden Beneath Earth's Surface]

Even so, other Earth scientists say the claim is sure to be controversial.

"Here you have a young Earth with an atmosphere completely different than today, and yet was very much alive," lead study author Sanjoy Som, director of the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, told Live Science in an email. At the time, some 2.7 billion years ago, the Earth was spinning faster, and its newly formed moon raised much higher tides than Earth experiences today, Som said. It also may have been exposed to more ultraviolet light, as there was not yet an ozone layer. "[That] makes the early Earth the closest thing we have to an inhabited exoplanet [a planet outside our solar system]," Som added.

Keeping Earth warm

The study is one of many attempts to solve the "faint young sun" paradox, first raised by astronomers Carl Sagan and George Mullen in the 1970s. Under this paradox, astrophysical models of the sun's evolution say that our host star should have been fainter billions of years ago  so faint, in fact, that the Earth should have been covered in glaciers. Something was keeping the Earth warmer, and recent studies pointed to a thick nitrogen atmosphere with higher levels of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases as possible culprits. [In Photos: The World's Oldest Living Things]

Som and David Catling, a professor of earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, are proposing a radically different idea: that 2.7 billion years ago, Earth had a thin atmosphere that was still mostly nitrogen and whose pressure was, at most, just half of Earth's current pressure  equivalent to the pressure at about 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) above sea level.

Story continues

A thinner atmosphere would ordinarily mean an overall colder Earth, the researchers said, because gases trap heat, and more gas traps more heat. But Som noted that the lower pressure actually might have meant a higher concentration of greenhouse gases because, due to the thin atmosphere, the water on this early Earth would have boiled more easily.

"This would increase the amount of water vapor in the air, which is the strongest of the greenhouse gases," Som said. All of that water vapor, along with more carbon dioxide and methane, would have kept the Earth relatively balmy, the researchers suggested.

Ancient lava bubbles

The evidence for such a thin blanket of air on the early Earth came from ancient rocks in Australia. Som and his team examined the bubbles trapped in the rock. Bubbles in lava (or any other liquid) are different sizes depending on the pressure of the surrounding air. Therefore, measuring the volume of the bubbles can tell scientists what the air pressure was when the liquid (in this case, lava) solidified. The bubble size that Som and his colleagues found indicated that the atmosphere 2.7 billion years ago was thinner.

The lava also had "lava toes"  small, lobe-shaped forms  with glassy bits on the bottom. These usually indicate that the molten rock flowed into wet beach gravel  strong evidence that they formed at sea level, the researchers said.

The next question to answer was how the air got so thin. Just after Earth formed, its atmosphere still would have been thicker than it is today, scientists say. That's because nitrogen was coming from several sources, including from the atmosphere itself and from the crust and mantle, which had just been heated up by the impact that formed the moon and would release a lot of gases. (The combined amount of nitrogen from all three stays roughly the same over time  the difference is what form it is in.)

For this thinner atmosphere to be created, something had to take the nitrogen out of the air and put it somewhere else, locking it into chemical compounds. "We think biology did it," Som said.

The bacterial life-forms that emerged on Earth would have pulled the nitrogen out of the air and combined it with other elements to make new compounds, such as ammonium, the researchers said. Life-forms do this now as well  except with oxygen from the air, bacteria can return nitrogen to the atmosphere, creating part of the modern nitrogen cycle.

Those compounds, such as ammonium (NH4 ions), would get deposited into clays in the nascent seas and be carried back into the Earth as tectonic plates slid beneath each other, taking their nitrogen with them, Som said.

How did the atmosphere thicken again?

After the Great Oxygenation Event, which happened about 2.5 billion years ago, single-celled living things started emitting oxygen as waste.

Som posits two possible mechanisms responsible for putting the nitrogen back into the air as a gas at that time. First, oxygen-breathing creatures would release nitrogen in reactions with oxygen. (This happens today, and the process is called denitrification.) Another possibility is that the nitrogen that went into the Earth's mantle as ammonium got broken down into nitrogen (N2) again, allowing volcanoes to release more of it back into the atmosphere over a period of about 330 million years.



Therefore, when life was emerging on Earth, it could clearly do so with a wider range of air pressures than anyone thought possible, Som said. The research also points to the idea that the air pressure on the Earth might have fluctuated a lot more over time than scientists had thought. It also means that if life could make it here with half an atmosphere or less, it could do so elsewhere.

Life on other planets

Sami Mikhail, an assistant professor of geology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland who wasn't involved in the study, said the work will be controversial. "It's exciting because the result seems robust," Mikhail told Live Science. He has also done studies on the Earth's early atmosphere, and the results of those studies also pointed to a thin atmosphere on early Earth. "If they are right, we will have to rethink what we know about the Earth's evolution," he said. [7 Theories on the Origin of Life on Earth]

Mikhail said the work expands the kinds of worlds on which scientists think life might be possible.

"When we take a look at [an exoplanet] system with an Earth-like planet, we might find some with thin atmospheres like this," he said. "This means they could evolve into Earths" billions of years in the future, he added.

The research was detailed online May 9 in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Follow Live Science on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Editor's Recommendations

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
INGOLSTADT, Germany (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) flagship premium brand Audi expects a raft of new models to push its sales to a new record this year, despite "extremely challenging" business conditions, Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler said on Thursday.

Audi is facing a variety of problems including volatile currencies, heightening competition in China and a possible vote by Britain to leave the European Union, Stadler told its annual shareholder meeting.

It is also still grappling with Volkswagen's (VW) emissions test-cheating scandal. Audi set aside 228 million euros (180 million pounds) last year to cover technical fixes, legal risks and other measures related to its involvement, Stadler said.

"Our outlook for this financial year includes a number of negative indicators," the CEO said.

But Audi, which slipped behind Daimler's (DAIGn.DE) Mercedes-Benz last year into third place among the top luxury-car selling brands, is counting on more than 20 all-new or redesigned models this year to beat 2015's record 1.8 million sales.

Finance chief Axel Strotbek reaffirmed the carmaker's goal to increase both deliveries and revenue "moderately", helped by expected demand for the new Q2 sport-utility vehicle and variants of its top-selling A4 model line.

"Audi's launch calendar should support momentum through 2016 and 2017," UBS analysts said in a note on Thursday. "Audi's solid momentum is a clear positive for Volkswagen group."

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark Potter)
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is named in the Panama Papers, it emerged on Thursday, causing an unwanted headache for the multi-millionaire former banker in the middle of an election campaign.

He is listed as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company, Star Technology Services Limited, set up by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca in the 1990s.

The link was uncovered by the Australian Financial Review, days after details on more than 200,000 secret offshore companies associated with the tax haven company were published.

The use of shell companies, foundations or trusts in offshore jurisdictions is often legal and Turnbull rejected any wrongdoing.

"Can I just say to you that as the article acknowledged, there is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever," he told reporters on the campaign trail in Melbourne ahead of national polls on July 2, which are shaping up as a close race.

"There is nothing new there. The company concerned was a wholly-owned subsidiary of a public-listed Australian company."

While not incriminating, the revelation piled pressure on Turnbull as he seeks to win the July poll against Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten on a platform of boosting jobs and economic growth.

Turnbull said the company had been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Australia's principal stock exchange, adding that "Neville Wran (former state premier of New South Wales) and I were both directors for about two years".

The newspaper said Turnbull and Wran joined the board of the company in October 1993, hoping to develop a Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log. They both resigned two years later and the company went bust in 1998.

Asked if the company paid any tax in Australia, Turnbull said it would have done if profitable.

"Had it made any profits, which it did not, regrettably, it certainly would have paid tax in Australia," he said.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said: "We've got a PM who now seems to have some very sharp questions to answer when it comes to his own involvement in companies set up in the Virgin Islands."

Story continues

Turnbull is not the first political leader linked to Mossack Fonseca.

Reports in April based on the explosive dossier linked some of the world's most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron and others to unreported offshore companies.

The data forced the resignations of Iceland's prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, and Spain's industry minister Jose Manuel Soria.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday denied any wrongdoing after being been named in the Panama Papers as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company set up to exploit a Siberian gold prospect. Turnbull and former New South Wales Premier Neville Wran joined the board of Australian-listed Star Mining NL in 1993. The company hoped to develop a A$20 billion ($14.67 billion)Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log, according to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the story. Both Turnbull and Wran were subsequently appointed directors of Star Technology Services, a subsidiary of Star Mining in the British Virgin Islands which had been incorporated by Mossack Fonseca, the Panama-based law firm at the center of the global scandal. "There is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever. There is nothing new there," Turnbull told reporters. "The company of which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian listed company and had it made any profits - which it did not, regrettably - it certainly would have paid tax in Australia." The details are included in documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists known as the Panama Papers but are not part of the publicly searchable database. Tax havens and transparency have been thrust into the spotlight as governments worldwide launch probes into possible financial wrongdoing after the details of hundreds of thousands of clients' tax affairs were leaked from Mossack Fonseca. Turnbull, a former investment banker and technology entrepreneur, is campaigning ahead of a general election on July 2, with his ruling Liberal-National coalition in a virtual tie with the main opposition. (Reporting by Swati Pandey and Matt Siegel in SYDNEY; Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Francois Murphy NICKELSDORF, Austria (Reuters) - Nickelsdorf, a sleepy town set amid fields and wind turbines near Austria's border with Hungary, is not the sort of place where national elections are usually decided. But for six weeks last autumn, it was swept up in Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War Two. As many as 15,700 people passed through daily, many fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere, almost all heading west to Germany. "It was a security nightmare because no one knew who was coming," said Mayor Gerhard Zapfl, a Social Democrat, referring to the fact that those pouring across the border from Hungary were not identified, largely due to the sheer numbers involved. Since then, a strong sense that Austria - and Europe - is losing control of its borders has shaken national politics, culminating in the victory of the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) in the first round of a presidential election on April 24. The FPO's Norbert Hofer, running on an anti-immigrant, anti-Europe platform, now faces former Greens leader Alexander van der Bellen in a runoff vote on May 22. Austria's Social Democrat Chancellor Werner Faymann resigned this week, taking responsibility for his party's failure to make the second round. Though the presidency is a largely ceremonial role, the FPO's success is a blow to the traditional political order. And few places symbolize the upheaval as much as Nickelsdorf, where Hofer won 44 percent of the vote in the first round, well above the national rate of 35 percent and almost twice the party's support in a 2013 parliamentary election. "It's simply enough," Michael, a 23-year-old cook who voted for Hofer, said at the bar of a petrol station, adding that the ruling Social Democrats and their center-right coalition partner the People's Party (OVP) "just can't get anything done anymore". Like several other supporters of the FPO, Michael declined to give his surname and gave few specific reasons for backing a party that has proven adept at tapping into ordinary people's deep feelings of insecurity in a fast-changing globalized world. "FEAR OF FALLING" "It's time for a change. It can't go on like this," said Maria, 55, a supermarket employee in Simmering, a largely working-class district of Vienna. In a political system dominated for decades by the SPO and OVP, the FPO presents itself as an underdog and a vehicle of protest, despite having served in national government in the early 2000s and in provincial administrations. "Austria is still better off and safer than almost all other countries, but people are looking down and they are afraid of falling," political analyst Christoph Hofinger said. "And there is no narrative saying 'This is where we are taking you'. That is one of the government's biggest failings here." The FPO is already framing the terms of much national debate, forcing the government onto the defensive on issues such as public security and unemployment. When steps are taken to restrict asylum claims, they are seen as FPO-inspired. Even the Social Democrats, who are in coalition with the FPO in one provincial assembly, are openly debating whether to work more with a party they once saw as beyond the pale. "It is legitimate to work together," said Nickelsdorf's mayor Zapfl. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The screaming frightened 23-year-old Aaron Cahal, an autistic Ohio man who lives with his parents and is unable to speak.

It was loud and scary, and seemed to be coming from down the street. But with that unease and worry came a powerful urge to help whoever was howling like that.

Read: Boy With Autism Falls in Love With Snow White, Leaves Mom in Tears: 'It's Something that We'll Never Forget

He set out on foot from his back yard, following the screams and clutching his cell phone.

As he march down the street, he messaged his dad and the South Point Police. He sent me a text saying I hear a scary cry, Steve Cahal told InsideEdition.com.

His dad, who was inside the familys home at the time, hadnt realized his son was no longer in the backyard. So he set out to find Aaron.

Meanwhile, Aaron was taking pictures of the houses in his neighborhood and sending them to the police. He also sent a text begging them to come, saying he heard big crying people scary people.

When he reached the apartment complex where all the screams and shouts were coming from, he sent a photo of that building as well.

Unbeknownst to Aaron, the shouts were coming from the father of an 18-month-old toddler who had stumbled into a swimming pool and appeared to have drowned.

A woman retrieved the child and performed CPR before emergency vehicles arrived.

They didnt know where to go, Steve Cahal said, because they didnt have an address. But they were able to match the apartment building with the photo Aaron had sent them.

The police thanked Aaron, hailing him a hero. But for him, it didnt seem to be a big deal.

He really just came back inside, said his mother, Lorena. He was diagnosed with autism when he was two and has always lived with his parents. He will continue to live there as long as I can take care of him, she said.

Story continues

Read: Mom Thanks Store Worker Who Allowed Blind Daughter With Autism to 'Play Shop'

He cant talk  or at least he cant form words in a way that makes sense to his parents. Its like hes speaking a foreign language, his mother explains.

There have been difficulties along the way, she said, but that's not what they focus on.

Were blessed, said Lorena. Hes shown us so many blessings.

And now hes credited with helping to save the life of an 18-month-old baby.

I really dont think he realizes what happened, his mom says. I think he understands that he did something good. But I really dont think he comprehends it.

Watch: Boy With Autism Saves Classmate After Seeing Heimlich Maneuver on Spongebob

Related Articles:
(Photo: Facebook)



CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  An autistic student left his high school prom in tears Saturday because officials insisted that his date  his 24-year-old sister  was too old to enter.

The two were unaware of a rule that students could not bring dates who are older than 20, said their father, Tone Whisenhunt. He said an exception should have been made for his special-needs son, who wanted his older sister by his side to protect him from bullying at Montgomery Central High School in Tennessee.

Your kids have one prom and he didnt even get to go to it, Whisenhunt told WSMV-TV. Thats what upsets me the most.

The schools principal, Christy Houston, told Jayce Whisenhunt he could stay, but said his sister, Jessica Helling, would not be allowed to enter, according to Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools spokeswoman Elise Shelton.

The situation caught school administrators by surprise, as the siblings had not signed up to attend the event, Shelton said.

If there had been a request for an exception to the rules, we certainly would have entertained that and worked with the family, but at no time was there a request, Shelton said.

The community wants to turn their outrage into something positive, family friend Michelle Gordon said. Theyre raising funds now for an all-ages prom for the siblings and their supporters next month at the same location.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $1,300 had been raised online.

___

Jayces Prom 2016: https://www.facebook.com/events/722843041085486/
Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks recent Twitter tirades, which found her attacking Zayn Malik and child actress Skai Jackson with racist and homophobic language, have resulted in a severe warning from the United Kingdoms Home Office. The government department is responsible for immigration and domestic security pertaining to travel and border control.

Music publication NME acquired an official statement from the Home Office, which notes the following: Coming to the UK is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values. The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds.

The Harlem rappers attacks began with a social media post that hoped to implicate Malik in copying her artistic direction. This morning, Banks targeted the UK grime scene and its members with a series of tweets that attempted to elevate stateside hip-hop beyond its English counterpart. Moments ago, Twitter indefinitely suspended her account.

We will update this story when the Home Office arrives at a conclusive decision regarding Banks eligibility to enter the UK. Last summer, the Home Office banned Tyler, the Creator for three to five years. Press received the same statement as that provided to NME today.

Image via Twitter

Image via Twitter

The post Azealia Banks Potentially Banned from UK After Derogatory Remarks appeared first on Pigeons & Planes.

More from Pigeons & Planes
Exhibition showcases diversity of young Chinese artists Updated: 2016-05-12 18:08 By Song Wei in London(chinadaily.com.cn)

ChinaNow: Define the Indefinable, a joint exhibition by 10 emerging young Chinese contemporary artists, opens at OXO Tower Wharf, Southbank of London, May 12, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

ChinaNow: Define the Indefinable, a joint exhibition by 10 emerging young Chinese contemporary artists, opened in London on Wednesday, offering a look at how China's rapid economic and social development has influenced its youth culture and spawned new trends.

"To be a Chinese contemporary artist today, one does not need to be a spokesperson for any political ideology. The unprecedented diversity is the nature of young Chinese artists," Lin Shuchuan, curator of the exhibition, said.

Ranging from paintings, sculptures to digital arts, the 20 pieces of artworks reflect "the variety and diversity of Chinese society today," according to the curator.

For example, a looping video by Double Art Fly Centre (a collective of contemporary artists) explores the influence of FaceTime as a modern communication technology on society, while artist Wu Jian'an, inspired by the ancient tradition of "paper cut", showcases figures from Chinese mythology, connecting the complicated relationship between popular, modern Western culture and historic Chinese art in his collage work Intertwined Power.

As a Christian, Shan Dingkai mixes his "contemporary gothic" with traditional Chinese ink. Artist Zhang Quan has found a very different approach focusing on the proletariat.

Growing up in Southwest China's Sichuan province, Feng Zhengqun decided to achieve his dream in the Chinese capital Beijing. His artworks therefore manifest geographical change as a domestic migrant artist.

Karen Levy, co-founder of The Art of this Century, a private art platform, told China Daily that she has found that this young generation of artists clearly see "the reality of life," which is different from their "critics or political predecessors."

"They are more aware of social issues, family issues, sexual issues, etc. It is very diverseThey don't just want to be artists from China; they also want to be international artists," Levy added.

She said that in her 10-year experience of collecting art, she has seen "a growing interest from international and Western collectors in Chinese contemporary art" because they want to know more about China.

Levy said big capitals such as London and Paris all want to host exhibitions for Chinese contemporary artists, citing an example of the Guggenheim Museum in NYC which will hold one next year.

Over the past three decades since opening up, China's contemporary art market has grown alongside the economy.

Though the Chinese art market experienced a decline due to the contraction of its economy last year, China is still the third-largest global market, accounting for 19 percent share of total sales value, after the US with 43 percent, and the UK with 21 percent, according a newly released report in March by the European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF), which is widely regarded as the most comprehensive summary of the art market.

Xiao Lang, producer of the ChinaNow exhibition, is also director of ARTouch Consulting based in London, and she said she hopes this exhibition will not just be a cultural exchange, but a true test of how young Chinese artists' works are accepted by Western audience. "All the artworks on display will be open for sale."

"As one of the world's art centers, London has a developed art market," Xiao said explaining why the organisers decided to hold such an exhibition in the UK capital. Moreover, the location of the exhibition is about five-minute walk from Tate Modern, London's national museum of modern and contemporary art.

"The other reason is that London is also the birthplace of young British artists (YBAs), a group of artists who first began exhibit together in London in 1980s. Like YBAs, young Chinese artists (YCAs) share the same can-do spirit', meaning being brave instead of being shy," Xiao added.

While Xiao admitted that YCAs is not a new concept, ChinaNow has attempted to define the group with some similar features. (Please see the table below)

"There features may serve as backgrounder before Western audiences look at their works," curator Lin said. But Lin added the definition is subject to change as the time goes by.

Both the curator Lin and producer Xiao said it's almost impossible for any single exhibition to fully represent the panorama of YCAs, so it would be the long-time mission of ChinaNow to open up platforms for more young Chinese artists.

Club1985  an international and invitation-only network for collectors and patrons, who are willing to foster a greater interest and understanding of contemporary Chinese art, was launched during the ChinaNow exhibition.

The ChinaNow Exhibition Define the Indefinable, is at OXO Tower Wharf, Southbank of London, from May 11 through May 22.





Ten similarities among Young Chinese Artists defined by ChinaNow 1. The only child of the family, born after 1975 when China's "one-child policy" was imposed between 1978-2015; 2. Graduated from China's art academies with solid art techniques; 3. The generation of social media; 4. Ambitious and self-confident; 5. Eager to stay in tune with the Western art market and power dynamics in the global art world; 6. Having witnessed the take-off of contemporary Chinese art marketwith different insights on "success" from Chinese artists of previous generations. "It's not all about power or money, but the pursuit of inner liberation," curator Lin Shuchuan said; 7. Rooted in the high-powered market economy and everyday competition of urban life; 8. "Domestic migrants"  leaving hometown and pursuing careers in China's first-tier mega-cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou; 9. Non-ideological: No needs or willingness to be a spokesperson for any political ideology, avoiding self-labeling; 10. Rising in tandem with the same-age Chinese collectors and patrons and brand-new museums.
Azealia Banks made a lot of noise on Twitter Tuesday and Wednesday after she decided to former One Directioner Zayn Malik. After accusing him of jacking her style in an Instagram post and receiving a dismissive response from Zayn, Banks' attack quickly devolved into a spew of racist and hateful tweets.

Thursday: silence.

Attempting t Banks' shows a grim, but inevitable scene.

Source: Twitter

No more Banks. "We do not comment on individual accounts, for privacy and security reasons," Twitter's Nu Wexler said in an email exchange. But Wexler pointed to certain sections of Twitter's rules that apply to this situation.

" .

Additionally: "You may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability or disease."

To unlock a suspended account, a user needs to "complete certain ac Banks has a lot of tweets to delete, such as these two where she called Malik a "faggot" and wrote off his One Direction fame for his being a "token."

Source: Mic/Twitter

Source: The Sun/Twitter

In another, she called him a "curry scented bitch," which sparked a backlash from South Asian women on Twitter who shared photos showing how beautiful #curryscentedbitches really are.

Source: Buzzfeed/Twitter

There are also those in which Banks called Malik's mother "a dirty refugee who won't be granted asylum" or said that his family was going to be

Story continues

This Twitter rant also got Banks from Rinse's Born & Bred festival, where she was set to headline.

She also may not be allowed in the United Kingdom at all. "Coming to the U.K. is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values," "The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the U.K. is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds."

We'll have to wait and see how that and Twitter's suspension play out, but as of now, Banks' Twitter fingers may have tapped out their last rant.
By Shelby Sebens PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Baby starfish are making a comeback in Oregon and California just two years after disease nearly wiped out the small but integral sea creature, scientists said on Tuesday. Starfish, also known as sea stars, are crucial predators that eat mussels and barnacles, keeping their populations under control, scientists said. Studies have shown large populations of mussels will crowd an area, leaving no room for algae or other small invertebrates. Officials are hopeful the increase in babies will mean a resurgence of the starfish population. A study by Oregon State University scientists released last week showed an increase of purple ochre starfish babies that was 300 times the normal rate. The purple sea star makes up the majority of intertidal sea stars along the West Coast of North America, and is one of the more commonly seen sea stars because of its color and size. "The large numbers of babies is unprecedented," Oregon State professor of integrative biology and lead author on the study Bruce Menge said in a telephone interview. "Nobody's ever seen anything like this." Scientists are not sure why there is such a large increase in starfish, but Menge said many believe the babies had more to eat because there were fewer adults to compete with following the die-off two years ago. Sea stars from southern Alaska to Baja California started dying in large numbers in 2014 from a wasting disease that causes white lesions to appear before the animal's body sags, ruptures and spills out its internal organs. Researchers monitoring sea stars in Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino Counties in California, are seeing an uptick in starfish babies similar to what was found in Oregon, Brian Tissot, director of the marine laboratory at Humboldt State University, said in a telephone interview. Although the increase in starfish babies has scientists hopeful, the disease that nearly wiped them out in 2014 is not gone. Some adult populations are still declining, Tissot said. If the baby starfish can avoid the disease and survive, it could mean a resurgence for the decimated populations, Menge said. (Reporting by Shelby Sebens; Editing by Ben Klayman)
America is falling apart. And the repair bill is getting bigger.

That's the conclusion of the latest "report card" on American roads, bridges, airports, power grid and other critical infrastructure from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Over the next decade, it would cost more than $3.3 trillion to keep up with repairs and replacements, but based on current funding levels, the nation will come up more than $1.4 trillion short, the group says. When projected to 2040, the shortfall is expected to top $5 trillion, unless new funds are allocated.

Without that investment, the group said in its report this week, Americans can look forward to more highway traffic jams, airport bottlenecks and potential power outages. The deterioration of U.S. ports, roads, trains, water and electric facilities will also take an economic toll, the engineers said, cutting payroll growth by some 2.5 million jobs and some $4 trillion of gross domestic product in lost sales and higher costs.

"America is currently spending more failing to act on its infrastructure gap than it would to close it," said Greg DiLoreto, the society's past president and chairman of the Committee for America's Infrastructure.

The funding gap hasn't escaped the attention of the three remaining presidential candidates. In a rare example of consensus, both Republican Donald Trump and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders agree that the U.S. needs to make a substantial investment in rebuilding.

Sanders has proposed spending $1 trillion to create more than 13 million new jobs to rebuild highways, airports and other public infrastructure, noting that these "are jobs that cannot be shipped offshore or outsourced overseas."

Clinton wants to commit $275 billion in public funds over five years, including $25 billion for a national infrastructure bank to generate another $225 billion in direct loans, loan guarantees and other forms of credit.



And while Trump has not proposed a specific funding level, he says he's in favor of major public investment in infrastructure repair and expansion.

Story continues

"We're spending billions of dollars protecting countries that should be paying us to do the job yet we can't build roads in our own cities, he wrote in "Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again." "If we do what we have to do correctly, we can create the biggest economic boom in this country since the New Deal when our vast infrastructure was first put into place. It's a no-brainer."





Crumbling infrastructure "has a cascading impact on our nation's economy, impacting business productivity, gross domestic product, employment, personal income, and international competitiveness," said the engineering society's report, an update to a previous report released three years ago.

Since its last report in 2013, some areas have shown improvement, helped by recent federal, state and local investments.

The federal government undertook a surge of spending to help pull the economy out of the Great Recession with an $800 billion stimulus package of "shovel-ready" projects that had been deferred for lack of funding. But the pace of investment slowed sharply after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expired two years later.

Investment in American roadways then stalled badly after Congress failed multiple attempts to extend long-term funding for the Highway Trust Fund, which teetered on the brink of insolvency for two years. Despite rising costs of maintenance and construction, Congress hasn't raised the gasoline tax used to replenish the fund for more than two decades.

Late last year, with the highway fund running on fumes, Congress came up with a one-time, $70 billion cash infusion for road repairs with a series of accounting gimmicks, including shifting funds from the Federal Reserve, but failed to create a sustainable source of long-term funding. The Congressional Budget Office recently projected that the money will run out in six years, and the fund faces a shortfall of some $100 billion by 2026.

Some states, meanwhile have stepped up to fill in the funding gaps  and the epidemic of potholes on state highways.

Last year, eight states  Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Washington  passed legislation to increase gas taxes, according to the National Conference of State legislatures and two more states  Kentucky and North Carolina  moved to limit declines in gas taxes from lower pump prices. Several other states are considering boosting gasoline taxes.

Aside from heading off the economic impact of crumbling infrastructure, public investment in new roads and other public projects has helped support creation of relatively good-paying jobs, according to an analysis by the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program.

More than 14 million Americans  about 1 in 10 workers  build, operate or maintain the roads, bridges, airports, railways and other infrastructure, the 2014 study found. The workforce spans 95 occupations and 42 industries. Those workers are paid better than average, according to the Brookings report.

Workers in lower-paid infrastructure occupations earn 30 percent more than in other sectors. And although some 12 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher, workers generally need less education to qualify for these jobs, according to the report.

Even without new spending, the sector will continue to create a large pool of relatively high-wage jobs. That's because America's infrastructure is also maintained and operated by an aging workforce that will need to be replaced, said researcher Joseph Kane, who co-authored the Brookings report.







More From CNBC


By Tim Ghianni

NASHVILLE (Reuters) - A black bear bit through the tent and into the lower leg of a man who was hiking the Appalachian Trail and camped for the night at a national park in Tennessee, park officials said on Thursday.

Bradley Veeder, 49, of Las Vegas, was sleeping around 11 p.m. local time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday when the bear attacked, park spokeswoman Dana Soehn said by telephone.

Because it was so dark, Veeder and nearby campers did not see the bear, which was initially scared away by his screams, Soehn said. Park officials said it was a black bear based on the wound and damage to tents, as well as fur and saliva collected at the scene.

Black bears are the only bears found in the region.

Veeder and the other campers retreated to a nearby shelter and the bear subsequently returned, destroying two tents, Soehn said.

Rangers carried Veeder on horseback from the campsite for about seven miles on Wednesday to an ambulance that transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released, Soehn said. He suffered puncture wounds and swelling.

The shelter has been closed temporarily and park wildlife staffers are at the campsite, monitoring the area for more bear activity, Soehn said.

The injury is a very rare occurrence, she said. In the last 10 years, thereve only been nine human-bear encounters which led to injury in the national park that straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

There has been just one bear-related fatality - in 2000 - since the park opened in 1934, Soehn said. There are about 1,600 black bears in the park, which is visited by 10.7 million people annually.

(Reporting by Tim Ghianni; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Ben Carsons business manager, Armstrong Williams, told Yahoo News Guest Anchor Paul Beban on Yahoo News Live Wednesday not to expect an endorsement of Donald Trump from House Speaker Paul Ryan tomorrow after the speakers meeting with the Republican presumptive nominee. He said if Ryan did endorse Trump immediately, it would make the speaker look weak.

Williams said he initiated a phone call between Carson and Ryan on Tuesday night that certainly paved the way for a better understanding in starting the process of unifying all factions of the party. He continued, Obviously, there are some very serious, strong and spirited alpha males in the Republican Party, and bringing them together is no easy feat, but the process has begun as a result of Dr. Carson  and Mr. Trumps willingness to trust Dr. Carson as one of his trusted allies and confidantes  to start this process, to pave the way, to come to some kind of resolution where this party could unify and defeat the presumptive Democratic nominee in November.

When Trump spoke with Carson, Williams said, he welcomed the idea of Carsons phone call with Ryan. He said Carson made it clear in that conversation with Mr. Trump that he had a good relationship with the speaker of the House, that they did speak occasionally and that he would be more than happy to sort of intervene as an emissary to sort of set a dynamic in place that would give the speaker of the House a better understanding of Mr. Trump, and from that Mr. Trump could have a better understanding of the speaker. Mr. Trump welcomed that suggestion.

In terms of what comes out of the meeting tomorrow, Williams said, No one expects that the speakers going to walk out of that room and say, Hey, Im endorsing Donald Trump, because I think it would lose credibility with the base. It would not appear to be sincere. Its a process. They will meet. It will give the speaker some additional things to ponder about ways that they can work together and better understand each others policy positions. I think it would give Mr. Trump a better understanding of the speaker, and its very different when youre meeting someone face-to-face, youre watching their body language, you see the sincerity of their heart and their ideas. I think it brings  it starts the process of unifying the party.

Story continues

Why wont Ryan endorse Trump tomorrow? Williams said: I think its actually common sense. I dont think anybody in their right mind would expect the speaker to immediately endorse Mr. Trump after the statements that were made. I think it would make the speaker appear weak and vulnerable, and we dont want the speaker of the House to appear that way. I think he needs to continue the process, contemplate what was discussed, have further discussions with the staff of Mr. Trump and then let him come to the conclusion in a way that shows integrity and shows strength that he finally has come to the conclusion that he can endorse Mr. Trump and start the process of unifying the party.

Carson was initially critical of Ryan after the House speaker said he wasnt ready to endorse Trump, saying Ryan needed to be more mature. However, Williams told Beban that Carson now regrets that harsh criticism. Well, Dr. Carson regrets using that term, mature. Dr. Carson initially reacted like others when Mr. Ryan made that statement, but then Dr. Carson had to step back and reevaluate his own statements and whether what he said is going to actually move the party forward or whether what he needs to do is reach out to someone he already has a relationship [with] and communicate with and establish some dialogue and some better understanding, and thats exactly what he did in this conversation with the speaker last night, he said.

In terms of Carsons role in Trumps campaign, Williams told Beban that although Carson is no longer on Trumps vice presidential selection committee, he submitted his names to Mr. Trump and to that committee last week as well as others. He continued, Mr. Trump asked his former campaign chairman to take that list and start the vetting process, which is a very tedious and a very arduous process. Now the process continues, but in terms of the role that Dr. Carsons playing right now, its a very limited role right now, but as soon as these names are vetted and this process turns to phase two, Dr. Carson will continue to be involved in this process of finding a running mate for Mr. Trump.


Shares of Berry Plastics Group, Inc. BERY reached a 52-week high of $38.74, a day after the company posted its second-quarter fiscal 2016 (ended Apr 2, 2016) results on May 10. The company recorded adjusted earnings per share of 58 cents in the quarter that improved around 38% year over year. Earnings effortlessly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents.



Including one-time items, the company posted earnings of 47 cents per share, an increase from 31 cents earned in the year-ago quarter.

Berry Plastics reported record sales of $1.61 billion in the quarter, up 32% from $1.22 billion in the year-ago period. The top line, however, lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.65 billion. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributed to net sales from the acquisition of AVINTIV along with an increase in volumes, partially offset by a decline in selling prices due to the pass-through of lower raw material costs and negative impact from foreign currency changes.



Operational Update



Cost of sales increased 27% to $1.27 billion from $1 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Gross profit surged 52% year over year to $345 million. Gross margin increased 290 basis points (bps) to 21.4% in the quarter.



Selling, general and administrative expenses went up 55% year over year to $138 million. Adjusted operating income came in at $207 million, up from $138 million in the year-ago quarter, leading to a 160 bps expansion in operating margin to 12.8%.



Segmental Performance



Net sales from the Consumer Packaging segment were $687 million, compared with $719 million in the year-ago quarter. Nevertheless, operating profit went up roughly 3.1% to $67 million from $65 million in the year-ago quarter.



The Health, Hygiene, & Specialties segment reported revenues of $568 million, significantly higher than $133 million recorded in the year-earlier quarter. Operating earnings also increased to $53 million from $10 million in the year-ago quarter.



The Engineered Materials segments sales fell 3.5% year over year to $359 million. However, operating income was up 21.6% year over year at $45 million.



Financial Update



Berry Plastics ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $212 million versus $228 million as of Sep 26, 2015. The company reported cash from operations of $361 million in the three months ended Apr 2, 2016, compared with $212 million in the comparable year-ago period. Long-term debt was $6 billion as of Apr 2, 2016, compared with $3.7 billion as of Sep 26, 2015.



Outlook



Berry Plastics has reaffirmed its fiscal 2016 adjusted free cash flow guidance at $475 million. However, it raised the operating EBITDA guidance for the fiscal by $10 million to $1,190 million. The company remains committed to its debt reduction goal in order to lower overall leverage. It also expects to benefit from the AVINTIV acquisition in the near term.



Evansville, IN-based Berry Plastics Group makes and sells plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and several other markets around the world. The company sells its products to specialty businesses through its direct field sales force and distributors.



Zacks Rank



Berry Plastics currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).



Some other well-ranked stocks in the same sector are Crown Holdings Inc. CCK, Sonoco Products Co. SON and Avery Dennison Corporation AVY. All the three stocks hold a Zacks Rank #2.



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bill gates

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  a global health philanthropy  sold off its entire $186 million stake in BP, according to recent filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained by The Guardian.

The sell-off occured between September and December 2015, according to the filings, amid a bad year for BP. The company posted its largest ever annual loss, losing $6.5 billion in 2015.

BP's stock price dipped 0.72% this morning, but has since rebounded slightly.

The Gates Foundation also dumped its nearly $825 million stake in ExxonMobil in early 2015.

While Bill Gates himself called divestment a "false solution," in an interview, the Gates Foundation has shrank its total holdings in fossil fuel companies by 85% since 2014, according to The Guardian.

Gates Divest, a campaign to encourage the Gates Foundation to completely divest from the fossil fuel industry, celebrated the move.

"We are thrilled that the Gates foundation continues to divest from fossil fuel stocks, but its time to divest the rest," Alec Connon, a Gates Divest organizer, told Inhabitat. "Investing in oil companies is completely inconsistent with the Gates foundation mission to ensure that everybody has the chance to live a healthy, productive life."

The Gates Foundation's divestment comes on the heels of controversy in the fossil fuel industry. ExxonMobil is under investigation by the New York state attorney general, for allegedly stifling concerns about the financial risks of climate change from their own scientists.

NOW WATCH: Here's what would happen if everyone on Earth jumped at the same time





More From Business Insider


Istanbul (AFP) - At least eight people including soldiers were wounded on Thursday by a remotely-detonated car bomb aimed at a military vehicle in Istanbul, the local governor's office said.

The explosion occurred in the Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul close to military barracks in the area as a service vehicle carrying soldiers was passing.

The explosion was caused by a "remotely-detonated car bomb", the office of Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said in a statement, adding that an investigation had begun.

Those wounded in the blast were five soldiers and three civilians, one of whom was in a serious condition, NTV television said.

Television pictures showed the vehicle where the explosion took place was almost completely destroyed, with yellow flames rising from the debris.

The scale of the blast indicated that the toll risked being even higher, but reports indicated that the bomb had largely missed its apparent target.

The Dogan news agency said the explosion went off after the military vehicle had travelled some 20 metres (65 feet) from the site of the blast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the car bomb.

The explosion comes with Turkey on edge after two deadly attacks in Istanbul this year blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists, and a pair of attacks in Ankara that were claimed by Kurdish militants and killed dozens.

Three people were killed Tuesday and 42 others wounded when a car bomb blamed on outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants struck a police vehicle in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir.

The two attacks in Ankara were claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) -- a radical splinter group of the better-known PKK.
Description

in part of our JEWISH FILM SERIES

VITA ACTIVA: THE SPIRIT OF HANNAH ARENDT

Co-Presented by Hannah Arendt Center, Bard College



A brand new documentary about one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century



Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 pm | 10 Members | $15 Public  Includes post film discussion and reception

Trailer

Special Guests:

Roger Berkowitz: Academic Director of Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities at Bard College

&

Jerome Kohn: Trustee of the Hannah Arendt Bluecher Literary Trust, Director of the Hannah Arendt Archive at the New School for Social Research

The German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt caused an uproar in the 1960s by coining the subversive concept of the Banality of Evil when referring to the trial ofAdolph Eichmann, which she covered for the New Yorker magazine. Her private life was no less controversial thanks to her early love affair with the renowned German philosopher and Nazi supporter Martin Heidegger.



This thought provoking and spirited documentary, with its abundance of archival materials, offers an intimate portrait of the whole of Arendts life, traveling to places where she lived, worked, loved, and was betrayed, as she wrote about the open wounds of modern times. Through her widely read books and the recent release of Margarethe von Trottas biopic there is a renewed interest in Arendt throughout the world. Her insights into the nature of evil, totalitarianism, ideologies, and the perils faced by refugees are more relevant than ever. (Israel/Canada, 2016, 125 min., In English, German, Hebrew and French with English subtitles, DCP | Dir. Ada Ushpiz)
vampire

Troubled blood-testing startup Theranos still has one big, vocal fan: the guy that invested the seed money to get the company started, famed investor Tim Draper.

Draper tells Business Insider that of all the startups out there, Theranos is among those he's most excited about.

"I like Theranos. I'm behind that company 100 percent. I think they're great and are doing a great thing," he says. "I don't want vampires. I want a company that takes two drops of blood from my finger in a micro-fluid test. I don't want someone who takes a quart of blood from me and runs two tests.

Draper, a founder of major Valley VC firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, was famously the first investor in Theranos, contributing its first $1 million.

Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes, was a childhood friend of his daughter, the story goes. She launched Theranos in 2003, at age 19, dropping out of Stanford University to do so. By the end of 2015, she had raised nearly another $700 million with an $8 billion valuation.

Today, the company is fighting for its life, thanks to questions over the accuracy of its tests.

Theranos is the subject of a criminal probe by the US attorney's office, a civil probe from the SEC, one of its two blood-testing facilities was shut down after a government inspection raised concerns about it, Homes could potentially be barred from the industry for two years, and just this week it restructured its leadership.

Cronyism and sexism?

Elizabeth Holmes

Although Draper is not listed as a board member, his take is that all of the questions about Theranos is smoke and mirrors from the established blood-testing industry that doesn't want to see itself overthrown by a one-drop-of-blood-alternative.

He says he's seen this struggle many times in his investing career, how telecom companies fought Skype, taxis fought Uber, car companies fought Tesla and so on.

Story continues

"Any time a company is doing something transformational to an industry, the industry fights back. And they'll pull out all the stops to try to keep to keep that company from succeeding," he says, including leaking information to the press and asking regulators to step in.

He also suggests a conspiracy of sexism is at play.

"Theranos is different in that it's run by a woman. Interestingly, the government went after 23andMe. I'm not certain what's going on over there, but if I were a woman, I'd be asking a lot of questions," he told us.

In Theranos case, however, there's one other big thing. The highly secretive company has never published research to prove to the scientific community that its technology works, claiming that doing so would reveal its trade secrets. Theranos has promised to release scientific data in August.

Give consumers what they want

Although the startup is facing a firestorm, it could still pull through, and Draper believes consumers will save the company.

Tim Draper

"If the consumer wants it, the consumer wants it," he says.

"I'm a consumer and I want that company to keep perfect records of what's happened to my blood and I want to compare that to my DNA, to my Fitbit results, to my BodyBugg. I want that as a consumer and no number of status quo healthcare professionals and government officials should be able to stop that," he says.

Interestingly, his comments may show a way out for Theranos (and its investors) if the company does wind up being forbidden from running medical tests.

Could it become a consumer-oriented blood testing company? That's what 23andMe did. It turned to consumer genetics testing during the two years that the FDA banned it from doing health-related genetic testing.

BI_Graphic The rise and fall of Theranos (1)





More From Business Insider


CarWale Team

BMW India has revealed their 50,000th Made-in-India vehicle from their manufacturing plant at Chengalpet near Chennai City. The recently launched 730 Ld was the 50,000th vehicle.

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director at BMW Plant Chennai said, It is with great pride that we are rolling-out the 50,000th car locally produced at BMW Plant Chennai. Each and every BMW that is locally produced is of the same international standards as anywhere else in the world and brings a smile on the faces of our customers. Highly skilled employees, advanced manufacturing processes along with state-of-the-art machinery and technology provide all the necessary ingredients to achieve these tough standards. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to many such milestones in the future.

BMW Plant Chennai opened its doors on 29 March, 2007, and has been locally producing cars of the BMW Group ever since. Currently, the 1 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series Gran Turismo, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3 and the X5 are locally produced at BMW Plant Chennai alongside a couple of Mini models. We visited the BMW Plant Chennai last year, click here to read about it.

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
From Seventeen

Frankie Jonas used to be The Jonas Brothers' tiny little brother, AKA, The Bonus Jonas. But time flies, and now Nick, Joe, and Kevin's lil bro is a high school student who just went to prom.

The 15-year-old went the Carroll Senior High School prom in Southlake, Texas this past weekend with his girlfriend Austin, who is a senior at the school.

So, let's relive their beyond adorable prom night, shall we?

First of all, Frankie promposed to Austin dressed up as Bucky Barnes from Captain America and Austin was dressed up as Harley Quinn from Batman , so it's safe to say these two are comic junkies.

For their prom pics, they skipped all the basic, awk pre-prom poses and just dabbed together.

Here they are with their prom party. Could they be any cuter?

They took adorable pics in a photobooth too.

And then they took this melt-worthy photo of Austin kissing Frankie on the cheek, made ten times more romantic simply by it being a polaroid.

Looks like Frankie had an amazing time. They grow up so fast, don't they?! *tear*
Not all of the increasingly diverse U.S. Border Patrol force are on board with the immigration policy proposals put forth by Donald Trump, which include sealing the U . S . -Mexico border and

The National Border Patrol Council  the union representing thousands of border patrol agents  endorsed Trump in March, leading some critics to question whether it was a sign of support for his controversial rhetoric . On Thursday, the union announced the debut of a radio program  with Trump as its inaugural guest.

Trump will discuss border control on its new program, "The Green Line," which is set to air Sunday on KVOI The Voice 1030 in Tucson, Arizona, and is streamed live at the station's website.

"We are pleased to welcome Mr. Donald Trump as our first guest," union President Brandon Judd said in a statement. "Other candidates in the field have either remained silent, or advocated for the expansion of President Obama's failed amnesty, and weak enforcement policies."

But does not reflect how many Border Patrol agents feel about Trump.

Mexican families embrace at the U . S . -Mexico border in California .

Nearly half of 18,000 agents working at the southwest border are Latino, according to government figures. "The Border Patrol has changed tremendously in the last 10 to 20 years," David Shirk, a political science professor at the University of San Diego. "While all of them are committed to the agency's mission and believe strongly in work that they're doing, they don't reflect some of the more traditional stereotypes of the Border Patrol as a bunch of white guys chasing Mexicans."

Do n McDermott, a former Border Patrol , told the Los Angeles Times that several agents are worried the union's position reflects negatively on everyone.

Story continues

"It is probable that the endorsement of Mr. Trump would expose both the union and the individual members to accusations of xenophobia and even racism," he said. "The reputation of the agency and of every agent is called into question."

Border Patrol agents lead undocumented immigrants out of the brush, after they are captured near the border .

E At the enforcement zone near San Diego, California, a high school student from Oakland witnessed the tearful moment when Mexican families are allowed to reunite with loved ones who had been detained.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the student was not impressed by the agents' attempt at compassion for the detainees and asked why the agents would support a presidential candidate who has referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals.

"He asked how can Border Patrol agents be supporting hateful rhetoric that seems to contradict the spirit of the ... event," Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee and leader of the students' field trip, told the LA Times. The agents didn't respond to the boy's question.

But they had undoubtedly seen the union's strongly worded endorsement that piqued the boy's curiosity. Here's an excerpt from the endorsement statement, released in late March:

Mr. Trump is correct when he says immigration wouldn't be at the forefront of this presidential campaign if months ago he hadn't made some bold and necessary statements. And when the withering media storm ensued, he did not back down one iota. That tells you the measure of a man. When the so-called experts said he was too brash and outspoken, and that he would fade away, they were proven wrong. We are confident they will be proven wrong again in November when he becomes President of the United States. There is no greater physical or economic threat to Americans today than our open border.

A Border Patrol agent offers a bottle of water to a child near the U . S . -Mexico border .

T
From Esquire

The Spotlight team, made famous for its 2001 investigation into the Catholic Church in New England and the namesake of the subsequent Oscar-winning movie, published a story on sexual abuse allegations in New England private schools Sunday.

The story is thoroughly researched and intricate, including video interviews with survivors, but the main findings are worth noting here.

It started in December with a Boston Globe report on one former student of St. George's School in Rhode Island. After her story was published, over 40 alumni from that institution alone came forward.

The Globe reported that across New England, more than 200 students have accused 67 faculty members at private schools of sexual abuse since 1991. The incidents, never made public, dated back to the 1950s. In 11 cases, private school employees accused of sexual misconduct simply found work at different schools, a theme reminiscent of the Spotlight team's earlier investigation into Catholic priests-hush up the problem, tuck the offender away.

Many survivors faced drug addiction and mental illness after being sexually abused, often by teachers or administrators they trusted. Most kept their stories secret until now.

And it is likely the statistics underestimate the extent of the damage done. Private schools are not required to report cases, and their records cannot be requested. Of the 224 surveys the Globe sent out to private schools, only about 10 percent were completed.

Read the entire report here.
On May 11, 2016, we issued an updated research report on leading medical devices company, Boston Scientific Corporation BSX. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Despite challenging economic conditions, a competitive environment and severe currency headwinds, Boston Scientific managed to post a better-than-expected first-quarter 2016, with respect to both earnings and revenues. While severe foreign exchange headwinds continue to pose a major challenge, we are also concerned about the disappointing performance of the companys core CRM segment with worldwide pacemakers and defibrillator sales declining over the past several quarters.

Boston Scientific continues to strengthen its core businesses and invest in new technologies and global markets, which accounted for the sales upside across most of its businesses and regions in the reported quarter. According to Boston Scientific, its Plant Network Optimization (PNO) strategy has simplified its manufacturing plant structure by shifting certain production lines among facilities. The full benefit of PNO, which has been completed lately, should start to reflect in the companys Rhythm Management adjusted operating margin through the second half of 2016.

An important aspect of the companys growth strategy is to continue pursuing development opportunities outside the U.S. by expanding global presence, inclusive of the emerging markets. In the first quarter of 2016, business from the emerging markets registered a robust 21% organic growth rate, ahead of the companys target of reaching 15% of sales by 2017 from 8% in 2013. This encouraging performance was driven by 19% growth in China in the reported quarter.

Boston Scientific hopes to sustain its strong overall international performance taking into consideration several key new product launches that are in the early stages of their rollout. The company is also optimistic about its core cardiology segment which is gradually stabilizing with growth witnessed in the BRIC nations.

Story continues

We also look forward to Boston Scientifics recent collaboration with Mayo Clinic, a renowned nonprofit organization that works on medical research and education. The collaboration agreement states that Boston Scientific engineers and Mayo Clinic physicians have already been working together to develop new medical technologies in areas such as interventional cardiology, heart rhythm management, endoscopy, neuromodulation, urology and pelvic health.

Meanwhile, sluggish CRM sales over the recent past continue to weigh on the stock. The first quarter was no exception, with a disappointing performance in the companys worldwide pacemakers and defibrillator sales. Although Boston Scientific currently expects a rebound in its CRM performance in the second quarter and second-half 2016, we remain on the sidelines based on the challenges still being faced in this business, especially in the U.S.

Nevertheless, Boston Scientific has a strong pipeline of products under development, the launch of which should drive the top line, going ahead. We are optimistic about the companys gradually improving performance in Interventional Cardiology, led by an innovative portfolio and robust execution by global commercial teams.

Key Picks in the Sector

Some other well-ranked medical product stocks that warrant a look include NuVasive, Inc. NUVA, LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. LMAT and OraSure Technologies, Inc. OSUR. All three stocks hold the same Zacks Rank as Boston Scientific.

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In China and India, where extreme levels of air pollution have already caused millions of deaths, some companies finding success in turning fresh air into a luxury, akin to a bottle of Fiji water.

For a 580-milliliter jar of "pristine" air from Dorset in Britain from the company Aethaer, you'll need to dish out about $115 not including shipping. Move quickly, because they're selling fast.

Companies like Aethaer  which source their air from places such as the U.K., Canada and Australia  are seriously capitalizing on this emerging health crisis. Whether unintentional or not, it's bringing awareness to China and India's environmental and also class division problem.

A recent World Health Organization study found that the most polluted cities belonged to fast-developing countries, such as India and China, according to the Wall Street Journal. The smog in these cities carry toxic chemicals that can damage lungs and respiratory systems, casing cancer and other cardiovascular diseases. And those worst affected are the lower classes.

Source: Aethaer/Facebook

"I don't need to go abroad to enjoy [fresh air] when I can buy a few bottles," Tang Xian, a resident of the smog-heavy province Hebei, told Mashable. "I don't know if there are any long-term benefits, but for the short-term it can slake my thirst."

One bottle of Green and Clean Air, which sells air from Australian places like Bondi Beach or Tasmania for about $13, provides about 130 deep breaths. The cap is also made to serve as a mouthpiece.

"Heavier breathers" can take big gulps, but those who like "to savor the finer things in life, who likes fine dining" can take shorter breaths, Aethaer founder Leo De Watts told the website. "It is a status symbol for those who can afford imported air, and also helps to raise awareness about pollution problems."

But mainly only the wealthy can afford to ship over these bottles.

A photo posted by Vitality Air Inc (@vitalityair) on May 18, 2015 at 9:15am PDT

Canadian-based Vitality Air is preparing to sell its canned air to India, where Delhi, the most polluted city, calls home. The company has already found success in China when its first shipment sold out.

Story continues

"The residents of India and China love imported goods, and that's exactly what we provide," a representative told Mashable. "Many wealthier customers prefer imported water, baby powder, wines... the air you breathe shouldn't be any different!"

But Greenpeace's Lauri Myllyvirta is pretty sure that's not the point at hand, telling the website, "That it would occur to anyone to buy air in a bottle definitely speaks to how bad the situation is."
From Esquire

Given that he's been sitting in a tree for two seasons, we know very little about what the hell Bran Stark can actually do. We know he can warg into his direwolf, into Hodor, and into the past. We know he can't stay in warg form forever (risking danger of what exactly? Never returning?). But, we don't know why. We don't know the limits of his powers. We don't know how this will help the actual story line of this painfully slow-moving show.

While Bran's warg scene in Season Three also offered the only exciting moment of the show and a hint at fulfilling some fan theories, it might have also provided a glimpse into another one of his powers. After the fight between Ned Stark and Ser Arthur Dayne, Bran attempts to follow his father up the tower steps and yells out to him.

Ned turns around, making it seem as if Bran has some control in the past and is not just a simple bystander. As actor Isaac Wright told The Hollywood Reporter:

"There's that fantastic moment where Bran shouts out at Ned, who's just starting to ascend into the tower. Bran shouts out: "Father!" Ned turns around, and it's like 'Oh my god, did Bran just communicate with the past?' He's not there as far as Ned's concerned; he goes on as if it's a breeze or a leaf blowing. But for Bran, that's pretty big."

He goes on to say:

"It's enough of a utility to just be able to look back in time and allow that to inform your decisions in the future, but the fact that you might be able to change time? It's massive. It's unprecedented ... Who's to say Bran couldn't go back in time and stop himself from getting pushed out of that window? It opens up a whole different world of possibilities for Bran, and a whole new set of challenges he's going to have to face."

One of the more batshit theories floating around out there (because there are a ton!), suggests Bran might be responsible for the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen going crazy. As one Reddit user pointed out, Bran attempts to go back in time and stop King Aerys from doing a bunch of horrible shit, but he only hears these disembodied whispers and is driven crazy by it.

It seems, well, a little bit nuts (as, again, many of these theories are), but if this show is going to take it's sweet, sweet time giving us answers, then fans can just make up our own.
Brazils President Dilma Rousseff attends the opening ceremony of the National Policy Conference for Women in Brasilia, Brazil, May 10, 2016. (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) Brazils President Dilma Rousseff attends the opening ceremony of the National Policy Conference for Women in Brasilia, Brazil, May 10, 2016. (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended Thursday to face impeachment, ceding power to her vice-president-turned-enemy Michel Temer in a political earthquake that ends 13 years of leftist rule over Latin Americas biggest nation.

A nearly 22-hour debate in the Senate closed with an overwhelming 55-22 vote against Brazils first female president. Pro-impeachment senators broke into applause.

Only a simple majority of the 81-member Senate had been required to suspend Rousseff for six months pending judgement on charges that she broke budget accounting laws. A trial could now take months, with a two-thirds majority vote eventually needed to force Rousseff, 68, from office altogether.

Within hours, Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, was to take over as interim president, drawing the curtain on more than a decade of dominance by Rousseffs leftist Workers Party.

He was preparing to announce a new government shortly, and said his priorities are to address Brazils worst recession in decades and end the paralysis gripping Congress during the battle over Rousseff.

Rousseff, a onetime Marxist guerrilla tortured under the countrys military dictatorship in the 1970s, has denounced the impeachment drive as a coup and vowed to fight on during her trial. (AFP)

Find more news-related photo galleries on the Yahoo News Photo Tumblr!
Brazil on a High as Senate Votes for Impeachment against Rousseff

Investors bullish on Brazil on impeachment results against Rousseff

On May 12, the Brazilian markets were trading on an optimistic note as the countrys senate gave the green light for a trial on impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff was charged with borrowing from state banks in order to conceal a deficit and with reducing government transparency.

Investors welcomed the move as the country is expected to move toward a more politically stable environment. The Brazilian exchange-traded funds have been trading on a positive note since yesterday on expectations of the impeachment result. For more on this issue, please read Brazilian Markets Get Ready for Impeachment Vote.

The Brazilian BM&F Bovespa SA rose by 1.4% while the Mexican IPC index fell by 0.19%. The rise in global crude oil prices and other essential commodities provided support to the Colombian COLCAP Index, which traded 1.2% higher. Colombia depends heavily on crude oil prices, which directly impact its export revenues.

Among the Latin American indexes, the Argentinian Merval Index fell by 0.89%. The Chilean IPSA Select Index looked stronger as well, as it rose by 0.37%.

Mexican industrial production falls

Industrial production in Mexico fell in March 2016 by 2.0% on an annual basis against a rise of 2.6% in February and beyond expectations of a 0.8% decline. On a monthly basis, industrial production in Mexico was expected to fall by 0.2% in March against a 0.1% contraction in February and estimated flat growth.

Impact on ETFs

Among the Latin Americafocused ETFs, the iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (EWZ) rose by 0.83% on May 12 following the impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff. The iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF (EWW) was trading 0.68% higher as of 3:15 PM ET.

Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil are closely linked to crude oil and commodity prices. The PowerShares DB Commodity Tracking ETF (DBC) rose by 0.07%.

Story continues

On a broad-based level, the iShares Latin America 40 ETF (ILF) rose by 0.54%. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) was trading flat.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
The movement to impeach Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff took a major step forward Thursday when the country's Senate voted 55 to 22 to suspend her from office, pending the outcome of an investigation, the New York Times and other outlets reported. In response to the suspension, Rousseff has likened the process to a "coup."

The president stands accused of illegally borrowing funds from state banks to mask the extent of a budget deficit in order to improve her own chances for reelection in the country's 2014 presidential race  a contest she won narrowly.

Leadership of South America's largest nation now passes to Vice President Michel Temer

"We could no longer ignore these crimes and thus voted for impeachment," Green Party senator, Alvaro Dias, who voted for impeachment, told the New York Times. "Having been assaulted by incompetence and wrongdoing, Brazilians expect punishment."

Source: Mic/AP

The move by the Senate comes after 367 of the 513 members of the country's chamber of deputies also voted for impeachment in April.

Rousseff faces little prospect of avoiding ultimate removal from office. She, nevertheless, remained defiant after the vote.



"It's the most brutal of things that can happen to a human being  to be condemned for a crime you didn't commit." she said according to the Associated Press. "I may have committed errors but I never committed crimes."

Brazil's democracy is young, with Rousseff and her immediate predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva playing a direct role in throwing off military dictatorship in 1985.

The growing political crisis raises questions over how to deal with a the country's Zika virus outbreak and the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
(Adds share performance, background on Petrobras asset sales, details)

By Tatiana Bautzer

SAO PAULO, May 12 (Reuters) - State-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro SA has entered exclusive talks with Brookfield Asset Management Inc over the sale of natural gas pipeline unit Nova Transportadora do Sudeste SA, as part of a plan to dispose of $15 billion of non-essential assets by year-end.

In a Thursday securities filing, Petrobras, as Brazil's state oil producer is known, set an exclusivity period for negotiations initially at 60 days that could be extended for another 30 days. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources, that Brookfield had offered 18 billion reais ($5.2 billion) to buy NTS, as the unit is known, trumping rival bids. According to the sources, who requested anonymity to speak freely about the deal, other bidders included Spain's Gas Natural Fenosa SA, France's Engie SA and Japan's Mitsui & Co Ltd.

A sale of NTS could give a boost to Petrobras, which is relying on asset sales and cost cuts to reduce a debt burden of $130 billion - the largest of any global oil firm. So far this year, Petrobras has sold $1.4 billion in assets, with ratings company Moody's Investors Service saying the slow pace of divestitures could hamper debt-reduction efforts.

According to the filing, a sale of NTS requires approval by Petrobras management and board, as well as from regulators.

Brookfield's purchase of NTS, with nearly 1,560 miles (2,500 km) of pipelines, could be the country's biggest corporate takeover so far this year, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Non-voting shares of Petrobras closed 4.5 percent down on Thursday at 9.79 reais. The stock is down 25 percent this year.

The company posted a net loss of 1.25 billion reais in the first quarter, the third consecutive quarterly loss, after oil prices and production slipped and a weaker currency fanned debt costs.

($1 = 3.4788 Brazilian reais) (Additional reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Editing by Sandra Maler and Tom Brown)
Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's acting president Michel Temer named a business-friendly cabinet Thursday after his former boss Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office, ending 13 years of leftist rule.

Temer, a center-right veteran with the backing of the markets, named former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles -- a champion of orthodox monetary policies -- as finance minister and former Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra as foreign minister, an adviser told AFP.
BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's interim President Michel Temer will announce on Thursday measures to rebalance depleted fiscal accounts and generate new jobs in a country mired in its worst recession in decades, one of his top advisers told Reuters.

Temer will take office on Thursday after the Senate voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff for up to six months to face trial for allegedly breaking budgetary laws.

"This is start of a new era in which we have the challenge to find a solution to the biggest economic crisis in our history," said the adviser, Wellington Moreira Franco, who helped draft Temer's economic blueprint.

"The measures that will be announced have two objectives: Rebalance the fiscal accounts and revive economic growth to generate new jobs."

He confirmed that Temer will name former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles to be finance minister. He added that Mansueto Almeida, a public accounts' expert, will likely be the next Treasury chief.

(Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Daniel Flynn and W Simon)
Let's be honest: Organizing a cost-effective trip can feel like an overwhelming task. Even if you've mastered pro tricks for scoring discounted flights and room rates and devised a well-thought-out travel budget, scaling back costs isn't always stress-free -- or attainable. Sure, experts can recommend the right times to book your tickets and list favorable (and cheap) places to travel for the best prices, but it's up to you to put these tips into practice. Maybe you're a spur-of-the-moment adventure-seeker who aims to clinch the best deals by waiting until the last minute for price drops. Or perhaps you're a careful planner who always reserves flights months in advance. Are these habits optimizing savings or derailing your chances of cutting costs? We spoke with experts to identify common travel mistakes that can make the difference between a pricey or budget-minded getaway. Banish these bad habits to save time and money on your next trip.

[See: 10 Common Pieces of Travel Advice You Should Never Follow.]

Booking Too Late ... or Too Early

A common mistake travelers make is reserving their flights too far in advance in the hope of securing the lowest prices. "The ideal window of booking is around 55 days before you fly," says Robert Firpo-Cappiello, editor in chief of Budget Travel. "It's tempting to think that fares are lower if you buy even earlier, but the truth is, airfares are released months before a flight and they remain flat and relatively high until about two months prior to the flight, at which time airlines start adjusting based on supply and demand," he explains. Still, procrastinating is not going to yield the greatest savings either, he cautions, pointing out that within two or three weeks of a desired departure date, fares can spike as the number of available seats starts to decrease.

Forgetting to Factor in Roaming Fees

When traveling abroad, it's easy to dismiss roaming fees. But with steep prices attached to texting, calling and using international data roaming, it's essential to take precautions, says Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor of Orbitz.com. While it may seem costly to invest in an international plan, it's much less expensive than waiting until you're abroad, she says. For example, Verizon offers a data package plan called TravelPass that allows you to call, use data and text for a $10 daily fee ($2 in Canada and Mexico). Meanwhile, AT&T offers international roaming packages, known as Passport packages, that last for 30 days, starting at $30 with 120 megabytes of storage. To better understand what's available under your current plan and what packages might be ideal for your travel needs, call your carrier and familiarize yourself with costs ahead of time, Tornatore says.

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Getting Hit With Credit and Currency Charges

It's key to contact your credit card companies to avoid paying high transaction charges. "Before you leave, do a little research on the credit cards that you're using," Tornatore says, emphasizing that some travel credit cards have the benefit of zero foreign transaction fees. And when it comes to exchanging your currency, Tornatore advocates "doing the math ahead of time" to avoid overpaying, especially if you're hopping to multiple countries with different exchange rates. And rather than converting money at the airport upon arrival, it's a smart idea to exchange currency at an international ATM or partner bank abroad that offers a low foreign transaction fee.

Going Too Far Off the Beaten Path

Choosing to stay somewhere that's miles away from your vacation site can seem like a smart way to save money, but it's a "costly habit masquerading as thriftiness," Firpo-Cappiello says. For instance, you may think booking a room in Oakland, California, rather than San Francisco is an ideal way to cut costs, but you'll spend unnecessary time and money on rail transit or driving, he explains. The same would apply to staying in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan in New York City, he adds. Instead, look for cost-effective lodging options near the points of interest on your itinerary to maximize savings.

[See: 9 Ways to Travel Better.]

Failing to Do Your Homework Before Booking

"Make a quick call to your auto insurance agent and find out exactly what coverage you have when you rent a car in the U.S. or overseas," Firpo-Cappiello says, pointing out that a busy car rental counter at the airport is not an ideal place to narrow down your insurance options. For example, if you're planning to pick up a set of wheels in Mexico, keep in mind that "you are required by law to purchase insurance from the rental company," Firpo-Cappiello says, emphasizing that the prices you may see advertised (as low as $10 per day) don't always include the government-mandated insurance.

It's also important to compare pricing for gas mileage versus flights, Tornatore says. The same applies to ride-sharing services. "Don't just assume that it will be cheaper to book a taxi," she says, pointing out that "it might be cheaper to [rent] a car," and the type of vehicle you choose, such as aconvertible versus a minivan, can make a big difference, too.

Staying Loyal to One Brand

"Sure, loyalty and rewards programs can save you money, and the comfort and predictability of a chain or airline you love can be just what you need sometimes," Firpo-Cappiello says. However, if you're only loyal to one, you may miss flash promotions, he cautions. He recommends checking out hacker fares, available through aggregators like Hopper and Kayak, which allow you "to fly on one airline to a destination and a different airline home, often with nice savings." Tornatore, meanwhile, recommends scanning for promo codes, which can allow you to slash 10 to 20 percent off your trip.

Skipping Travel Insurance

Even if you're on a tight budget, travel insurance can be a worthwhile investment, Tornatore says. She recommends factoring in a few variables, such as the cost of your trip, the time of year you're traveling and the types of insurance you might need. The top mistake is neglecting to read the restrictions associated with different policies, she explains. For example, there are some premium insurance options that allow cancellation for any reason, but even these types of policies don't always include unforeseen weather events like hurricanes, she adds. It's also critical to evaluate cost. If you're splurging on a long European vacation that costs thousands of dollars, it's worthwhile to invest in insurance, she says.

Overlooking Small Towns and Failing to Dine Locally

A costly habit to kick is overlooking small towns in favor of big cities, Firpo-Cappiello says. "Instead of maintaining a big city or bust" trip-planning focus, Firpo-Cappiello suggests considering a trip to America's charming towns, including Berlin, Maryland, Lititz, Pennsylvania, and Grand Marais, Minnesota, which "can be as rewarding as any big-city blowout," he adds. It's also a smart idea to shop locally and eat locally to save money rather than checking out chain restaurants, Tornatore says, pointing out that tucked-away eateries in less-frequented areas rather than metropolitan hubs tend to be more authentic and less expensive.

[See: 10 Outrageous Fees Every Traveler Should Know About.]

Overpacking

Carrying an overweight bag through the airport can be exhausting and expensive, Tornatore says. After all, baggage fees can range from $20 for checking a bag to more than $70 for checking oversized bags, depending on the carrier. Pack light to avoid paying a hefty fee.

Liz Weiss is the Travel editor for Consumer Advice at U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn, circle her on Google+ or email her at eweiss@usnews.com.
LONDON (Reuters) - Brevan Howard Asset Management, one of Europe's largest hedge funds, said it is winding down a fund that bet on Argentine assets after the country agreed a deal with creditors.

Argentina returned to capital markets last month after ending a 14-year dispute with its creditors over sovereign bond payouts.

The $500 million limited life Argentina Master Fund generated net returns of 18 percent since opening to outside investors in January 2015. [http://www.reuters.com/article/argentina-brevanhoward-idUSKBN0JX0YN20141219]

Argentina's return to global credit markets followed the election in November of President Mauricio Macri. He spent the first months of his term resolving a mountain of litigation that followed a $100 billion default in 2002, including a deal with "hold-out" creditors who had refused to accept the terms of earlier debt restructurings.

"We launched the fund as a limited life SPV (special purpose vehicle) to position in front of the Argentine elections in order to take advantage of anticipated political change and a subsequent resolution of the bond hold-out dispute," a Brevan Howard spokesman said.

In contrast to the Argentine fund, Brevan's main macro fund has struggled, with investors pulling out billions, reducing assets to $17.6 billion at the end of March from $27 billion two years ago.

(Reporting by Maiya Keidan; editing by Adrian Croft)
Berlin (AFP) - Britain should not hope to use a "Brexit" to renegotiate a membership deal with the European Union, Germany's finance minister warned Thursday.

"In means in and out means out," Wolfgang Schaeuble said, adding that British Prime Minister David Cameron in February negotiated a "very good deal for the UK" with the EU.

The accord, which Cameron is using as the keystone in his campaign for Britain to vote to remain in the EU, "confirms a special status for the UK and one that demands a lot from EU member states", said the German finance minister.

"But in contrast to what some are saying, this is the only deal on the table, there will be no renegotiations," said Schaeuble.

"An 'out' vote cannot and will not be used as leverage to get a better deal. If the UK votes in, the deal begins immediately. If it votes out, then the exit process begins."

Britain is to hold a closely-watched June 23 referendum on whether or not it should stay in the 28-nation bloc, and opinion polls are showing that the nation is still largely undecided on the issue.

While making clear that the decision lies with Britons alone, Schaeuble said: "I think both the EU and UK are better served with Britain remaining. I say this not only as a life-long European but also as a man used to making pragmatic decisions based on level-headed analyses."

Schaeuble acknowledged that Britain has been a "force for constant change in the EU".

"Thanks partly to the British, the EU has less wasteful agricultural and fishery policies, a liberal single market, a commitment to free trade and 28 member states," he said.

"Without the UK, the EU will be less liberal, less efficient and less influential on the world stage," said Schaeuble.

And while Britain would still have a special relationship with the EU, even if it left the bloc, those links "should not be defined by splendid isolation but by splendid integration".

Separately, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warned Britain that it cannot hope to share in the bloc's advantages if it decides to leave.

"Those who leave the table should not be allowed to eat at the table," he told a forum organised by German broadcaster WDR.
BERLIN (Reuters) - If Britain were to leave the European Union, it would hurt Britain and Europe as well as the global economy, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers told a German newspaper. "You can certainly argue about whether the damage a Brexit would cause would be small, medium or big but it would definitely cause damage, especially for the Brits but also for the Europeans and the global economy," Jason Furman said in an interview with Handelsblatt. "We don't need more uncertainty at the moment," he added. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Kim Coghill)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's economy is unlikely to have suffered a major setback from the March 22 bombings in Brussels but some sectors may feel the strain, Belgian central bank governor Jan Smets said.

On March 22 three suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels in attacks that shut down the airport and disrupted business around the Belgian capital.

"The macro impact is modest and the experience from such tragic events in other countries shows that the economic effect is mostly short-lived," Smets told Reuters in an interview.

The European Commission lowered its economic outlook for Belgium after the attacks, saying it now expected growth of 1.2 percent in 2016, down from its previous forecast of 1.3 percent, due in part to the militant Islamist attacks.

According to the Belgian central bank's flash estimate, economic growth in the first quarter of 2016 slowed to 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent, below the euro zone average of 0.6 percent.

Smets said growth in the first quarter could have been between 0.03 and 0.1 percentage points higher without the attacks, citing the importance of Brussels' airport to the Belgian economy.

"You also see some impact in some segments such as hotels, mainly in the Brussels region," he added.

Smets stressed the importance of the Belgian government balancing its budget in the coming years in order to reduce its public debt level, which stood at 106.5 percent of annual economic output in 2014.

The government aims to have a balanced budget by 2018, though the European Commission still estimates a 2.3 percent structural deficit for 2016, requiring additional cutbacks.

"Sufficient structural measures should be taken in 2016 and 2017 to make sure their structural return is guaranteeing a structural balance, within the horizon of the stability programme," Smets said.

(Reporting by Balasz Koranyi and Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Gareth Jones)
You dont have to be a cowboy or cowgirl to wear Western boots. But before you wrangle up a pair, make sure you know how cowboy boots should fit and feel.

I went right to the source for some Boot Fitting 101 at the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting. Randy Watson is chairman and CEO of Justin Brands and has more than 31 years of experience in the boot business.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett also knows a thing or two about cowboy boots. In 2000, he made Texas-based Justin Brands a subsidiary of his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate. Justins other labels include Tony Lama, Nocona, and Chippewa. Watson says the companys industrial line of work boots, aptly named Justin Workboots, will soon be one of the companys largest divisions.

Watson says when you put on a cowboy boot, pull the straps on either side of the boot (yes, they really are functional and not just for show). You should feel a pop when your foots instep slides into the boot.

Next, make sure the ball of your foot is directly over the widest part of the boots sole. Watson stresses that the instep needs to be snug, like a firm handshake, but that there should be a little slippage in the heel when you walk.

After getting my boot primer, I asked Watson what its like to work for Buffett. Im the luckiest guy in the world, Watson gushed. (I have) arguably the smartest business man on the planet, and hes just a phone call away. Thats rather comforting, he told Yahoo Finance.

Justin Brands is steeped in history, dating back to 1879, making boots for cowboys herding livestock on Chisholm Trail in Texas. Since then, it has steadily grown into a global brand. The company has distribution centers in Canada and Belgium. Its boots can also be found in Latin America, Australia, and Japan, where its Tony Llama and Chippewa brands are especially popular.

But Justin has yet to lasso the Chinese market. We havent been able to penetrate the Chinese market just yet, says Watson. Getting that culture to  understand a cowboy boot  Weve got our work cut out for us.

I managed to get lassoed during my interview. See a real-life cowboy lasso me in the video above.




Education is supposed to be your stepping stone to a financially secure future, right? But recent years have seen a perfect storm of ever-rising tuition rates and weak employment, leaving many recent grads saddled with thousands of dollars in student debt and with no job in sight. Bummer.

This helps explain why so many young people are feeling The Bern. As in Bernie Sanders. The rumpled, 74-year-old senator from Vermont is snagging a big chunk of the youth vote by promising to somehow deliver free college educations to all Americans. No strings. And no debt. Who knows if its even remotely possible? But for some, thats one heck of a seductive idea.

Ive sure seen what a difference student loan debt can make. I live it. As a recent law school grad, I have about $175,000 in unpaid student loans, which accrue more interest with each passing day. Yes, I know that a law degree will ultimately be easier (and therefore, faster) to pay off than most bachelors or even masters degrees. But Im definitely not raking in the big bucks yetmost attorneys arent making anywhere close to six figures, especially right out of law school and not in the current oversaturated legal job market.

So Ill count myself among the more than 50% of student loan borrowers who say their debt affects whether or not theyll pursue homeownership, according to a 2015 survey by American Student Assistance, a Boston-based nonprofit. And while a 22-year-old new college grad might not be that concerned with buying a home, at 32, I feel like I should be starting my adult lifeand that means buying a home.

Id say student loan debt is probably the biggest concern people have about getting qualified, says Dan OBrien, a Realtor in Indianapolis, IN. Ive had many buyers tell me they want to buy a house but they have a ton of student debt and dont think they make enough to qualify because of it.

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So should you just give up on buying a home until that far-off day when youve paid back all your loans? Not necessarily. Let me give you some (free!) education about what Ive learned in exploring my options for homeownershipdebt and all.

Get your student loan payment plan in order

I started calling lenders shortly after I graduated. Do you want to absolutely kill a conversation with a mortgage lender? Tell them youre not paying anything on your student loans right now and you dont know how much youll be able to pay in the future. Hello? Hello?

I didnt realize it at the time, but I was looking to purchase a home during the absolute worst point in a student loan repayment planthe six-month grace period after graduation. I hadnt paid anything back yet, or set up an income-based repayment plan. I just had many thousands of dollars in debt hovering over me, scaring off potential lenders.

It used to be that certain programs would show you were in deferment [to put off paying your debt], and the underwriter would overlook that, says Travis Cartmel, a branch manager at mortgage company AnnieMac in Indianapolis. This is known as The Good Old Days.

But under current guidelines, even if youve deferred your loan repayment, mortgage lenders will still factor in the amount you owe. And they could deny you because of itno matter how good your credit score is.

So dont do what I did. Instead, try the following:

Wait until the six-month grace period has passed

Consolidate your student loans before looking for a mortgage

Calculate what kind of mortgage you could afford on top of your student loans

Set up an income-based repayment plan, or at least a plan that wont eat up a huge chunk of your income

While youre waiting, get all your bills in order

The grace period can be the perfect time to work on paying down credit cards and other bills.

When you apply for a home loan, lenders put a lot of emphasis on your monthly debt-to-income ratio. This must be below 43% to qualify for most mortgages, although keeping it below 36% is ideal to make sure you can keep up with all your monthly billsand to get the best terms on a loan.

Even if you have a boatful of student loan debt, paying down other bills can significantly lower that debt-to-income ratio. And thatll also have the bonus effect of improving your credit score, making you all the more attractive (or at least viable) to lenders.

Find a co-borrower, or save up for a hefty down payment



If you have someone else who can make your finances look better on paper, by all means take advantage of it.

Me? Im not so lucky. My girlfriends salary as a medical assistant sadly does not qualify her as a sugar mama. And although my actual mom was willing to put money toward a down payment, she didnt want to co-sign a mortgage.

That down payment is key, though. Even with student loans, most lenders want to see 20% of the purchase price upfront. Some are willing to work with less if you pay extra in private mortgage insurance each month to reach that magical 20% equity. The average millennial home buyer in 2015 could put only 7% down, but if you can do at least 10%, youll get a better rate.

And remember, its not just the down payment money you need to have upfrontyoull also have to pay closing costs, covering necessary things like a home inspection, lender fees, and title insurance.

Try the FHA

For people with major student loan debt, Cartmel recommends an FHA loan, which allows for a higher debt-to-income ratio.

Getting a mortgage with more than $100,000 in student loans can be a challenge, but the FHA can be a huge help, he says.

But heres the catch: If youre paying too little in student loans, it can actually hurt your chances at getting approved for an FHA loan.

The FHA recently changed its rules so that even if youve deferred your student loans over the past 12 months and are paying nothing, the FHA looks at your total outstanding student loan balance and figures that youre paying 2% toward it each month.

So if you have $100,000 in loans, the FHA assumes you have a $2,000 monthly student loan payment, which puts a mortgage way out of reach for most people.

But the good news (and by this point you must have known that there would be some good news) is that once youre paying anything as part of an income-based repayment plan, the FHA uses this amount to determine whether you qualify for a mortgage.

So heres the cheat sheet:

FHA loans are great if youre paying a reasonable amount on your student loans

But FHA loans are a bad idea if you have a high monthly student loan payment

And FHA loans are almost impossible to qualify for if you have lots of student loans and no monthly payment because of a deferral

In the meantime, my girlfriend and I have resigned ourselves to renting for at least another year. Its not quite what I had in mind when I became an attorney, but we did find a really nice one-bedroom in a lovely Chicago suburb. And were slowly managing our finances in order to make a successful run at homeownership soon. Like the rest of the adults.

The post How to Buy a Home When Youre Saddled With Student Loan Debt appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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most expensive new listings for May 12 2016

Which one of these pricey properties is not like the others? Hint: Its easy to spot, because its the only home on our most expensive new listings of the week that isnt in California.

The straggler doesnt hail from usual suspects Florida or New York, either. Instead, it comes from one of the most unlikely states in the union: New Hampshire.

And this grand Granite State compound is actually selling at a steep discount. Previously listed for $49 million in 2014, its back on the market for just about half that price. If youre into the idea of sumptuous summering on Lake Winnipesaukee, this just might be the bargain youre looking for.

Back in California, the other new expensive listings include a $45 million mansion once dubbed a perfect 10, the former property of a president in the Palisades, and a remodeled Beverly Hills home that was the toast of society in the 80s. Dig deep in your wallet and check em all out.

Price: $45,000,000 ($2,250 per square foot)

The luxe factor: Once known as the Perfect 10 Mansion, this Beverly Hills manse was sold by Perfect 10 magazine founder Norm Zada for $16.5 million in December 2010. Back on the market six years later at nearly triple the price, this contemporary compound sits on nearly 7 acres of prime land.

72 Beverly Park, Beverly Hills, CA



Price: $33,000,000 (price per square foot unknown)

The luxe factor: A proclamation about this former presidential property hitting the market went out in March, and now its here. Ronald and Nancy Reagan lived at this address, but their house rode off into the sunset three years ago. Its been replaced by this newly constructed compound with views from Griffith Park to Catalina. Our favorite feature has to be the bathroom plaque commemorating the spot where Reagan received the news hed been elected president in 1980.

Pacific Palisades, CA



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Price: $30,000,000 ($3,000 per square foot)

The luxe factor: Perched on a bluff overlooking the ocean, this mansion boasts a 100-foot grand hallway. With spectacular views of the Pacific, an easy transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, and a resortlike pool area, this place is what California dreams are made of.

Malibu, CA



Price: $25,800,000 ($409 per square foot)

The luxe factor: Combining two huge homes into one megalisting catapulted this compound on Lake Winnipesaukee into the realm of most expensive. Built by the Bahre family (founders of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway), this prestige property is back on the market for almost half of its list price$49 millionin 2014. If youre not ready to splurge on the whole package, each property can be purchased separately for $12.9 million. What a steal!

Alton, NH



Price: $19,950,000 (price per square foot unknown)

The luxe factor: Owned by Bill and Mignon W. Winans, this modern home designed by Bob Ray Offenhauser was a hub of social activity in the area in the 70s and 80s. Sold off by the family trust in 2014 for $6.4 million, the mansion with eye-popping views has undergone renovations over the past couple of years. Back on the market for triple the price paid, you can check Google Street View for a glimpse at the multiyear project. And if youre into clothes, the master closet designed with the distinct feel of a luxurious Rodeo Drive Boutique is a must-see.

1251 Tower Grove, Beverly Hills, CA

The post California Dominates This Weeks Most Expensive New Listings appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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By Liz Hampton and Devika Krishna Kumar EDMONTON, Alberta/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fort McMurray residents Tony Bussey and Barritt Wilson are among the fortunate of those who live in the Alberta town ravaged by wildfire - both of their homes are fine. However, they and a number of others are going to see their commutes change, joining an already large group of people who are flown in and out of the region to work on oil installations. Last week, fire raged unchecked through the Canadian city of Fort McMurray, leading to a full evacuation, with many losing their homes and having to rebuild from scratch. But Fort McMurray has long been an area that saw oil companies using fly-in-fly-out (FIFO), which lets companies get employees to remote work sites, where they stay in camps, usually for a couple of weeks. That will help some companies restart operations relatively quickly after the devastating fire that has scorched roughly 229,000 hectares (566,000 acres). Others, like Suncor Energy, will be moving workers in and out of the region through temporary workforce arrangements from Calgary and Edmonton to help restart operations. The wildfire knocked out nearly half, or 1.07 million barrels per day (bpd) of Alberta's oil sands capacity and led to the evacuation of about 88,000 residents, many employed by the energy sector. Production is slowly trickling back in. Bussey and Wilson, both full-time employees of Suncor, were taking things in stride. "I think it will be interesting (to) fly in and fly out, staying in the camp for the time being," said Bussey, who anticipates living in an Edmonton hotel for several months. With operations disrupted by the fire, the company is also supporting displaced residents who work at their facilities with advanced compensation. "Oil companies are releasing retention, which is like a bonus, to us early just to help us through,' said Wilson. Several major producers that pepper the oil sands, including ConocoPhillips Canada, Canadian Natural Resources, and others, may be able to resume operations faster than many would have thought, though there are logistical challenges. For others it may take a bit longer, though companies are adjusting. Suncor, Canada's largest oil producer, does some FIFO, including at its Firebag facility, but tended in the past to have employees live in the community they work in. Suncor spokeswoman Sneh Seetal said the company will use lodges and camps for temporary housing, and employees will return when it is safe to bring people to Fort McMurray. ConocoPhillips Canada, has about 23 percent of its Canadian workforce listed as FIFO workers. Just 26 employees have Fort McMurray residences, or about 1 percent of Canadian employees. Still, "the logistics to get everyone back on site will be a challenge and that is being worked in tandem with the operations plan," ConocoPhillips spokesman Rob Evans said in an email. Having a larger percentage of FIFO workers allows companies to use existing camp sites and other resources to steer themselves to recovery in the fire's aftermath. About 78 percent of workers at the Horizon site owned by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Canada's largest independent petroleum producer, are fly-in, fly-out, company spokeswoman Julie Woo said. Companies that have more limited FIFO programs may instead be utilizing beds at workcamps. Suncor CEO Steve Williams said at a press conference Tuesday that the industry has determined there are enough beds to meet everyone's needs. Shell Canada spokeswoman Tara Lemay said that prior to the fire, the majority of Shell's staff lived in the Fort McMurray area, but the company does have a fly-in program, which it introduced in 2014. The company will be flying staff in and out to help resume operations. (http://bit.ly/1rXoz2H) (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York and Liz Hampton in Edmonton; Additional reporting by Allison Martell in Toronto; Editing by David Gaffen and James Dalgleish)
By Ernest Scheyder WANDERING RIVER, Alberta (Reuters) - CNOOC Ltd's Nexen is the latest Canadian oil sands company to warn customers it may not be able to fulfill supply contracts in the wake of a massive wildfire, as producers scramble to get facilities back online. Nexen has issued a force majeure for all of its May production of Canadian heavy crude, two sources said on Thursday. Four major oil firms have now declared force majeure, a contract clause to remove liability for unavoidable catastrophes. The fire that blazed through oil sands hub Fort McMurray, forcing the evacuation of about 90,000 people last week, has moved into sparsely populated woodlands further east. It spans 241,000 hectares (596,000 acres), growing much more slowly than before, but still posing a threat. Cool temperatures are helping contain it, but hot, dry weather is expected starting Saturday, said Chad Morrison, Alberta's senior wildlife manager. "We're long from over in this fight," he said on a conference call with other officials. Nexen's Long Lake facility, located south of the community known as Fort Mac, sustained minor damage from the fire, Alberta officials said this week. Three major oil firms warned last week they will not be able to deliver on some contracts for Canadian crude. BP Plc and Phillips 66 alerted customers some grades of Canadian crude would not be available, while Suncor Energy, Canada's largest producer, warned clients that some supplies from the region would be disrupted by the fires. While downtime has crimped supplies, Enbridge Inc said late Wednesday it had restarted its 550,000 bpd Line 18 pipeline, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc has also partly resumed operations in the area. Roughly 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of output were shut down during the fire, about half the oil sands' usual daily production. Alberta holds the world's third-largest crude reserves and is the No. 1 exporter of crude to the United States. No oil sands sites are under immediate threat from the fire, which is burning about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, Morrison said. U.S. oil prices dipped on Thursday after jumping to six-month highs, when buying on a forecast for tighter global supplies gave way to selling. [O/R] Travel to Fort McMurray is restricted to essential services, including workers, supplies and equipment for oil sands operations. Suncor workers are expected to begin returning to shuttered facilities on Thursday. DEBIT CARD LINES Hundreds of people lined up around the evacuee center in Lac La Biche, Alberta, on Thursday to collect provincial government debit cards loaded with C$1,250 per adult and C$500 per dependent. "I just think for government, this could have been organized better," said Wanda Anderson of Fort McMurray, about the debit card distribution, standing in line wrapped in a purple blanket as morning temperatures hovered just above freezing. Even so, Anderson, who is staying in a trailer park with her family, said they have been well cared for with meals, and her kids are enrolled in local schools. Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said the idea behind the debit cards was to give residents immediate access to cash. The Canadian Red Cross is also distributing C$50 million ($38.93 million) in donated funds, or C$600 for each adult and C$300 for each child. Evacuees who had been sleeping on cots in a hockey rink in Lac La Biche were moved late Wednesday to longer-term housing in the towns of Bonnyville and St. Paul, Alberta, about 120 to 130 km (72 to 78 miles) to the southeast. A plan to allow residents to return, either permanently or to view their homes, is about 10 days away, Larivee said. In the meantime, government officials said there is much work to do to restore the community's only hospital, after it was damaged by smoke and water, as well as natural gas, water and other infrastructure. While the community rebuilds, providers of temporary housing, such Civeo Corp and Target Logistics [AGSCS.UL], have seen demand spike. In another sign of life returning to normal in the oil sands, Syncrude Canada Ltd reported its herd of 300 bison, which grazes on a reclaimed area of the oil sands mine site, was doing well after being left behind during the evacuation. (Additional reporting by Nia Williams in Calgary and Catherine Ngai in New York; Writing by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by James Dalgleish and Cynthia Osterman)
Alain Guiraudie, whose latest film Staying Vertical is playing in competition at Cannes, is set to reteam with producer Sylvie Pialat on Pays Perdu, a drama set in a floundering milk factory in rural France.

Guiraudie won the Un Certain Regard prize two years ago with subversive erotic thriller Strangers by the Lake. Staying Vertical marks Guiraudies first film playing in competition.

Pays Perdu will turn on a human resources topper who travels to a milk factory in the middle of southern France with the mission to shut it down, but decides to take it over after meeting its workers and falling in love with one of them. While the films pitch seems mainstream, Guiraudie said hes working on giving Pays Perdu greater depth. I also aspire to make films that have a political, social, utopian, existential dimensions as well as a mythological, bigger than life dimension, said Guiraudie, who is co-developing the film with Pialat at Les Films du Worso.

Like Staying Vertical, the idea behind Pays Perdu is to portray rural France in a way that is seldom shown in French cinema with the exception of movies by Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu or Bruno Dumont, whose Slack Bay also competes at this years festival, Guiraudie told Variety.

His latest film, Staying Vertical, centers around Leo, a young filmmaker facing an existential crisis who has to raise his newborn baby solo after getting dumped by his free-spirited girlfriend in a remote province located in Frances Lozere. Leo embarks on a trip across the wilderness with his baby to find inspiration for his next film and look for a that which is threatening locals.

Wild Bunch is selling Staying Vertical, which was produced by Pialat and Benoit Quainon for les Films du Worso (Timbuktu).

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Leo (Damien Bonnard), the central character in Staying Vertical, is a tall, curly-haired drifter with a hawk-nosed reptilian stare  he looks like a doleful French version of Kramer from Seinfeld. Early on, he hooks up with Marie (India Hair), a single mother who is working as a shepherd on her fathers farm, and before its even clear that the two are going to be a couple, theyve collaborated on having a baby. Actually, theyre not a couple: Marie splits with no explanation (other than a vague aura of post-natal blues), leaving the infant for Leo to care for. Has there ever been a less equipped father in the history of movies? Leo doesnt have a job  hes writing a screenplay, or says that he is  and he tends to leave the baby alone in cars, and has a way of cradling him like a foreign object; he seems no more connected to the kid than if it were a baby mongoose. Yet this is somehow meant to be the driving relationship in the film. Is it any wonder that Staying Vertical has a little trouble engaging our sympathies?

Alain Guiraudie, the writer and director of Staying Vertical, was last at Cannes with Stranger by the Lake, which made a splash three years ago, and deserved to. It was a homicide thriller set at a woodsy gay cruising spot next to a rocky pastoral lake beach, and Guiraudie caught the anthropology of the cruising culture  and the physical setting  with so much intricacy and detail that the movie had a sinister Hitchcockian finesse. Every moment unfolded with perilous logic. But the Guiraudie of Stranger by the Lake  the cool humanist craftsman  is scarcely in evidence in Staying Vertical, a film that defies common sense in a way that audiences will not take kindly to. The movie tries to pass off its crazier conceits as though they were something out of an urban fairy tale. Leo, holding his baby, is descended upon by an army of homeless men  a scene that exists mostly because Guiraudie wanted to stage it like a real-life zombie attack. Leo winds up destitute himself, though a producer offers him cash if only hell finish his script. With a baby to care for, youd think that would be motivation enough, but no.

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Damien Bonnard, at least in this role, is not an appealing actor. He mopes and gawks and never smiles and, whatever the situation, reacts with a disaffected semi-sneer that could generously be called minimal. And the technical bravura that Guiraudie summoned in Stranger  the subtle manipulation of light, weather, shot language, and temporal cunning  now falls by the wayside in a story that lurches from episode to disconnected episode. Theres a homoerotic theme in this movie as well: Leo is coveted by Maries lumpish father (Raphael Thiery), and he forms an attachment to a crotchety old man (Christian Bouillette) who sits around his country hovel making anti-gay slurs as he spins Pink Floyd albums at top volume. But the old codger, its clear, protests too much, and Leo ultimately sleeps with him  in an explicit sex scene that turns into a benediction. This act of kindness more or less emerges out of nowhere, but then, thats true of nearly everything that happens in Staying Vertical.

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Italys famed devotion to the ideal of mamma is one of the peninsulas notable characteristics, yet one would expect veteran director Marco Bellocchio to make something more of this national fixation than the teetering sentimentality of Sweet Dreams. Based on Massimo Gramellinis successful novel, the film is composed of several exquisite stand-alone sequences unsatisfactorily strung together on a thin cord of mother love, in a story of a middle-aged man unable to overcome the loss of his mother when he was nine. Shifting between childhood vignettes suffused with a heart-warming glow and adult scenes of shut-down emotions and retarded development, Sweet Dreams will be Bellocchios most successful film at home for some time, but international play, despite probable sales, wont be the stuff dreams are made of.

Those whove followed the wide-ranging helmers career will be surprised by the noticeable lack of substantive reflexivity: theres really nothing underneath the sentiment but sentiment. Thats not to say emotion isnt a good thing  on the contrary, but neither the naturalistic warmth of his understated duo Sisters and Sisters Never, nor the complexity and power of his recent Blood of My Blood is anywhere in evidence. For a director known for his nuanced portrayals of family life, he seems frustratingly disarmed by the all-powerful pedestal-placing model of Mother.

Things start well: the opening five minutes will instantly sweep the audience up in a honeyed glow, as little Massimo (Nicolo Cabras) is coaxed into dancing the Twist with his joyful mother (Barbara Ronchi). Next theyre watching the 1965 Belphegor on TV, with Massimo huddling for protective reassurance in his mothers arms. In the scene that follows however, something is wrong: mamma is preoccupied, and shortly thereafter Massimo is told by a thick-headed priest (Roberto Di Francesco) that his mother is with her guardian angel.

Massimos father (Guido Caprino) hasnt the warmth of his late spouse, and Mita, the woman he brings in to look after his boy, has a slight physical resemblance to the deceased, but the similarities end there. As a young teen, Massimo (Dario Dal Pero) continues to feel the pang of loss, especially when he sees super-rich friend Enrico (Dylan Ferrario) in rather too-physical embrace with his mother (Emanuelle Devos in a small role).

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Such scenes from childhood are interlaced with Massimo as an adult (Valerio Mastrandrea) in the 1990s, shuttling between the moment he needs to empty out his fathers apartment to earlier incidents as a young journalist first covering sports, then the conflict in Bosnia, and finally as a sort of philosophical agony aunt. Given the adult Massimos permanent state of hang-doggedness, its hard to quite believe his career track  why promote a reporter who seems barely to have the courage to formulate a question? Instead, he remains fixated on the loss of his mother, which everyone is aware of, yet no one bothers to suggest that perhaps, just perhaps, a shrink might be of some help.

One of Bellocchios strengths has always been his ability to juggle disparate elements and successfully put them into the service of developing character: they acknowledge lifes messiness yet dont feel messy themselves. Unfortunately, the same cant be said here, which could possibly come from wanting to stick too closely to the novel. The Sarajevo sequences feel especially out of place; presumably theyre included to show Massimos disgust at a certain kind of sensationalized war reportage, but the section leaves no residue and adds nothing to the protagonists character.

Really the only time he exits from his shell of trauma is when hes with doctor Elisa (Berenice Bejo), a woman who exudes the kind of unaffected kind-heartedness that his mother once had. Every second Bejo is on screen, the atmosphere lights up (hers is one of the great smiles on contemporary screens), yet why on earth is Elisa romantically interested in this schlub? Though Mastandrea long ago mastered that unmade bed look, he can be exceptionally effective in the right role  here his ability to convey depth in depression is hampered by the scripts unsatisfying lack of focus. His scenes with his father (Caprino in bad aging make-up) are especially ill-conceived.

There are memorable moments, such as at the start, where little Massimo gets into the Twist on his mothers encouragement, and a bookended dance scene where the adult Massimo lets rip on the dancefloor at a fancy anniversary party. Yet so much else doesnt fit, despite the beautiful visuals of Bellocchios regular collaborator Daniele Cipri. One sequence encapsulates the problem: a story is related of Simone (Fausto Russo Alesi), who hates his mother (Piera Degli Esposti). He writes to the newspaper asking for advice, and Massimo is assigned to answer. The reply overflows with sentimentality about a mothers position in a sons life, and Carlo Crivellis score suddenly wells up with manipulative schmaltz. Though the tale gets a humorous bite at the end, the damage has been done, and mawkishness overwhelms the half-hearted corrective.

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Donald Sutherland might win the award for most complaints at a Cannes press conference. I can tell you Im freezing up here, he said on Wednesday afternoon, teeth chattering in the air-conditioned Palais, as he sat next to fellow members of the Cannes jury. Later, when a journalist tried to ask him about his native Canada, he snapped back: My back is frozen. I kind of gave up talking about Canadian cinema a long time ago 

The nine members of the jury met for the first time on Tuesday night, to get acquainted before they were trapped together in a dark theater. Variety spotted them at the cozy old Cannes restaurant Le Maschou, where groupies tried to snap iPhone shots of Kirsten Dunst in a white summer dress 

Its too early to judge the health of the market, but this years festival is for the dogs. Bomb-sniffing mutts outside the Hotel Majestic are taking their job seriously. The dog smelled my purseand my cup of coffee, lamented one guest who was asked to put all her stuff down for an extreme security check.

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An action film set entirely - like, every single shot - in the back of a police riot van doesn't sound exactly straightforward, but then nothing concerning Egypt's recent turbulent history really does.

Mohamed Diab's Clash may not be the first film to emerge from the two bloody civil wars that shook the country to its core in 2011 and 2013. But given the three years that have passed since the Egyptian army violently overthrew the government of Mohamed Morsi, it is perhaps the first that has had time to pause and reflect, rather than being caught up in the ever-changing cycle of breaking news. (Jehane Noujaim went back to extend her Oscar-nominated doc The Square after people returned to the streets in 2013, while several scenes from Winter of Discontent were shot amid the real-life events of 2011.)

Read more: Cannes Hot List: 10 Market Titles Set to Heat Up the Croisette

"Things were going so fast," says Diab, 38, who himself - along with many filmmakers - was heavily involved in the popular uprisings. "An idea you had today would have been old by tomorrow."

Diab actually was supposed to contribute to the very first post-revolution film, 18 Days, which bowed in Cannes less than three months after the earth-shattering resignation of Hosni Mubarak in 2011. "But I felt I wasn't ready to say what I wanted to say," he explains. "It was very hard for me. I just wanted to do justice to the revolution."

Five years on, however, and Clash, set to open Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar on May 12, is the film that encapsulates what he wants to say and a film he says "still lives today," rather than appearing outdated. Arrested and thrown inside the riot van are 25 Egyptians from all walks of life, as well as contrasting political and religious persuasions. Its precise whereabouts are unclear; viewers only know it's set somewhere in Cairo during the city-wide clashes between pro- and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators in 2013.

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"The biggest thing that came out of the revolution for me was the division of society," says Diab on his motives. "Usually it's easy to tell who's who when there's a civil war, because they're different - families were on the same side. But in Egypt, it's an ideological thing - my father has a point of view, my stepmother has a different point of view, and I have a different point of view than the two of them. Every house in Egypt has been divided. This was probably the most devastating thing for me."

Read more: Cannes Hidden Gem: Chloe Sevigny Steps Behind the Camera for Quirky 'Kitty'

But what happens when these starkly contrasting views - sometimes as extreme as sanctioning violence against civilians and even massacres - are forced together in a claustrophobic and inescapable scenario? Diab says he wants the film to show every side from each character's point of view to help underline the idea that "under certain conditions" people can support any action, no matter how appalling.

The result: a film in which he intends to shock the audience by making them sympathize, at some point, with everybody. "The past few years have made me look at history and humanity in a different way," admits Diab. "I don't judge any human being any more."
The Hungarian National Film Fund, which backed this years foreign-language Oscar winner Son of Saul, and is overseen by Hollywood producer Andy Vajna, has revealed the latest tranche of projects it has backed. The films receiving funding include Kornel Mundruczos Superfluous Man, which was granted $2.54 million. Mundruczos White Dog won Cannes Un Certain Regard award in 2014.

Gyorgy Palfis crime story The Voice, which is based on Stanislaw Lems cult novel His Masters Voice, received $2.22 million. Palfi won best director for Free Fall at Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 2104. Nimrod Antals crime drama The Whisky Robber was given $4.06 million. Antals 2004 film Kontroll played in Cannes Un Certain Regard.

Among projects in post-production to receive funding include Janos Szaszs Bridge of Sighs, which is a period love triangle thriller. Szaszs credits include Woyzeck, Opium and The Notebook, which won Karlovy Vary Film Festivals Crystal Globe in 2013. The fund granted support totaling $1.82 million.

Budapest Noir, a period thriller by Eva Gardos (An American Rhapsody), nabbed $3.31 million.

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Craig William Macneill, who made his directorial debut with last year's horror thriller The Boy, will direct Lizzie Borden, a psychological thriller based on the infamous 1892 murders of the Borden family.

Chloe Sevigny, who is in Cannes with her short film Kitty, which is premiering in the Critics Week, and Kristen Stewart, also in Cannes with two films, are attached to star in Lizzie Borden, as The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported. The story centers on the true events that led up to the grisly ax murders of Borden's father and stepmother in Massachusetts.

Sevigny will play the titular character, a young woman who longs for freedom from her controlling father. She finds friendship with a young maid named Bridget (Stewart), and their relationship soon escalates to attraction, love and bloody vengeance.

Borden was tried and acquitted for the murder of her parents, and no one else was ever charged.

Read More: Cannes: Woody Allen Praises 'Cafe Society' Star Kristen Stewart

Bryce Kass wrote the script for Lizzie Borden, which Naomi Despres is producing. The Solution's Lisa Wilson and Josh Deitell are selling foreign rights in Cannes and WME is handling domestic.

Pieter Van Hees, who previously was attached to direct, exited for scheduling reasons. Macneill made his feature film directorial debut was The Boy, which premiered at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival and was released by Chiller. He also is directing the series SyFy's Channel Zero: Candle Cove, as well as the remainder of the first season. Macneill is repped by WME and Gotham Group.

"Craig has the perfect vision for the film that is centered around the complicated relationship between two powerful women," said The Solution's Myles Nestel. "He knows how to unravel the many psychological layers and seemingly fragile character of the infamous Lizzie Borden who is driven to commit a hideous murder."
Five years after Red Granite threw one of the most spectacular - and expensive - launch parties Cannes has ever seen (Leonardo DiCaprio, a truckload of champagne, a Kanye West and Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger" duet, anyone?), the festival could well be the setting for a decidedly different chapter in the company's troubled evolution.

While the banner - famed for backing DiCaprio's hit passion-project The Wolf of Wall Street - would rather the focus was on its current slate of projects, most notably the Charlie Hunnam-starring Papillon remake it launched at this year's market, news broke late Wednesday that turned attention elsewhere.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "at least $50 million" was allegedly diverted from the Malaysian investment fund 1MDB set up by Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak to purchase luxury properties for Riza Aziz, Granite's co-founder and chairman (and Razak's stepson), including an 11,000-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills and a 7,700-square-foot duplex overlooking Central Park in New York.

The news is the latest development in a growing money-laundering scandal that threatens to engulf not just Aziz and Red Granite but topple the entire Malaysian government. Both of the property purchases are now being investigated by the FBI, which also is looking into an estimated $7 billion that allegedly disappeared from 1MDB coffers and funded, among other things, Aziz's flashy entrance into Hollywood.

"First thing, this man has no money, he's not a rich man," former Malaysian prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad tells The Hollywood Reporter by phone from Kuala Lumpur. "He's spending a huge sum of money to make these films, including The Wolf of Wall Street. So where is it coming from? We think it comes from 1MDB. It is stolen money."

Read More: 'Wolf of Wall Street' Malaysian Money Laundering Scandal Gets Doc Treatment (Exclusive)

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Red Granite and Aziz declined to comment on the latest allegations. They had previously maintained that there was nothing inappropriate about their business activities and had been cooperating fully with all inquiries.

According to Malaysian MP Tony Pua, a sitting member of the country's parliament, the latest series of allegations are just the "confirmation of what we suspected" about the Red Granite head. "We're now seeing a direct link to properties purchased by Riza Aziz with money sourced from 1MDB," he says.

Pua, who has been a vocal critic of 1MDB and the PM's involvement in a fund ostensibly set up to fuel economic development in Malaysia, now finds himself unable to leave the country and is himself being investigated - alongside many other detractors - with "sedition and activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy."

Of the "unaccounted for" $7 billion, Pua says that the latest reports show that "$238 million was sent to Red Granite, of which approximately $100 million went to produce The Wolf of Wall Street."

At Cannes, Red Granite is actively meeting with Hollywood dealmakers from the deck of Indulgence of Poole, a rented luxury yacht docked near the Palais. It's unclear if any of the new allegations against Aziz are impacting Red Granite or its international sales side, led by Danny Dimbort and Christian Mecuri.

And then there's DiCaprio, who is rumored to be attending the festival and throwing a private party, something that was denied by his publicist. The actor hasn't yet publicly spoken about the growing Red Granite controversy and the funding behind his second most successful film (after Titanic), which earned him upwards of $25 million.

"Leonardo perhaps took part in the film without knowing the source of these funds," says Pua. "But now in hindsight, with the information that is publicly available, he can lead by example and make a stand against international money laundering."

Red Granite gave the THR this statement in response to the above article:

"Red Granite has received hundreds of millions of dollars in financings over the last six years from a variety of sources, including top-tier U.S. commercial and investment banks. During this time, Red Granite's films have generated close to $1 billion in worldwide box office receipts. To its knowledge, none of the funding received by Red Granite was in any way irregular or illegitimate. Red Granite is cooperating fully with all inquiries and is confident that when the facts come out, it will be clear that neither Riza Aziz nor Red Granite has done anything wrong. In the meantime, Mr. Aziz and Red Granite will continue moving forward with exciting new projects."
A rape joke directed at Woody Allen by a French comedian on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival drew gasps from some in attendance at the Palais. But the filmmaker himself apparently was not upset by the joke, which compared him to fugitive filmmaker Roman Polanski.

At a lunch for his film Cafe Society on Thursday, Allen told a table - which included members of the media - that he wasn't offended by the jab.

Comedian Laurent Lafitte told the joke to the elite opening-night crowd, saying: "You've shot so many of your films here in Europe and yet in the U.S. you haven't even been convicted of rape." The joke prompted an awkward silence and a few gasps.

On Thursday, according to a tweet from Variety film reporter Ramin Setoodeh, the director offered his reaction. "Woody Allen said he wasn't offended by the rape joke at yesterday's #Cannes2016 opening ceremony," Setoodeh tweeted.

The rape joke came hours after Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow published a blistering essay in THR that attacked the media for failing to challenge his father over sister Dylan Farrow's allegations of sexual abuse.

THR was banned from Thursday's lunch event by Allen's longtime publicist, Leslee Dart, in retaliation for publishing Farrow's essay.

At the event, Vanity Fair's Julie Miller asked Allen if he had read Farrow's essay. The filmmaker said he had not.

"I never read anything about me," Allen said, according to Vulture. "Any of these interviews I do, anything. I said everything I had to say about that whole issue in the New York Times - I don't know if you read it - some time ago. I have moved so far past that. You know, I never think about it. I work, and that's the end of it for me. I said I was never gonna comment on it again because I could just go on endlessly."

THR reached out to Dart to explain why she banned the publication from the event. She responded: "It's only natural that I would show displeasure when the press - in this case, The Hollywood Reporter - goes out of its way to be harmful to my client."

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May 12, 5:40 a.m. Updated with a Leslee Dart quote and comments from the event.

Read More: Cannes: Woody Allen Endures Roman Polanski Rape Joke at Opening Ceremony
WLsevenfoot1

WWE Network/WWE Promotional Image

Seven feet has always been a magical measurement in wrestling. Once a man is over seven feet tall, he can properly be called a giant, and promoters have been eager to make money off giants since pro wrestlings infancy. Some of these seven-foot behemoths have been hugely successful, but for every Andre the Giant, theres a guy who definitively proves size isnt everything.

Given the recent ascent of WWEs latest seven-footer, Colin Cassady, now seems like a good time to look back at wrestlings handful of great Goliaths and the many other monsters that failed to measure up

Note: Wrestler heights are, of course, subject to the regular exaggeration, kayfabe and outright bullsh*t, so theres a chance some of these guys wouldnt actually be seven feet tall if you snuck up on them with a tape measure. That said, theres really no way to know for sure, and what a guys promoted as is what matters most in the end, so were strictly going by billed heights here. Like most things wrestling-related, this article will be more fun if you suspend your disbelief a bit.

12) Jackson Andrews

WLsevenfoot2

Via WWE on YouTube

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

Jackson who? Dont worry, until I started writing this article, Id completely forgotten this guy, too. Jackson Andrews was the dude who came out with Tyson Kidd for, like, two weeks in 2010 before being released. After watching some of Andrews FCW stuff, I can confirm we didnt miss out much. His wrestling was strictly of the stand in the middle of the ring while guys bounce off you school, and he lacked any sort of presence.

Oh, and after his release, Andrews was charged with assaulting and threatening his then-fiance Rosa Mendes, which in turn led to the revelation that this guy was secretly engaged to Rosa and another woman at the same time. Enjoy your spot at the bottom of the barrel, pal. You certainly earned it.

11) Eli Cottonwood

WLsevenfoot3

WWE Network

Billed Height: 7 ft 2 in

As mentioned in the previous entry, height doesnt mean much if you dont have the presence to go along with it, and Eli Cottonwood had all the intimidating aura of a shirtless Elijah Wood in ill-fitting leather pants. Cottonwoods only claim to fame was a short 2010 run on the reality show version of NXT, during which he was the least-protected seven footer in wrestling history. Dude was frequently referred to as Rottenwood by Michael Cole, lost clean to a Curtis Axel swinging neckbreaker, and today is mostly remembered for boasting about a mustache that didnt exist. I wonder if he boasts about his career that doesnt exist, too?

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10) Nathan Jones

WLsevenfoot4

WWE Network

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

THE COLOSSUS OF BOGGO ROAD! If you were looking for proof that different rules apply to big guys in WWE, look no further than Nathan Jones, a guy who was on Australias most wanted list for a string of armed robberies before beginning his wrestling career. To be fair, the movie industry has also given him plenty of opportunities since he hung up his wrestling boots, with him landing roles in everything from Conan the Barbarian to Mad Max: Fury Road.

No doubt, Jones is a scary-looking guy, but his WWE run was boring as hell. He started as the protege of a super-unmotivated Undertaker, which was supposed to lead to a tag match against A-Train and Big Show at WrestleMania. At the last second, WWE decided Jones wasnt ready for the big stage, pulling him from the match, and he never really recovered from the humiliation. He kicked around for a few more months, doing nothing much of note, then quit in late 2003.

9) Giant Gonzalez

WLsevenfoot5

Via WWE on YouTube

Billed Height: 7 ft 7 in

Giant Gonzalez is a legit astonishing sight to see. This is a man who was at least a head taller than The Undertaker and at least twice as beefy. And did I mention he wrestled in a naked Sasquatch suit? With an airbrushed thatch of Big Foot pubes covering his junk? Few wrestlers have been quite as amazing/ridiculous-looking as Giant Gonzalez. Few have been as terrible in the ring, either.

I mean, Gonzalez probably isnt the worst wrestler of all time. He moved around okay for a guy his size, but his selling was awful. He reacted to everything by shaking his head, looking annoyed and puffing his cheeks out like a bug just flew in his mouth. I dunno, Giant Gonzalez was memorable mostly for the wrong reasons, but at least he was memorable. Also, the dude totally beat Undertaker at Mania IX. Believe it.

8) The Yeti

WLsevenfoot6

WWE Network

Billed Height: 7 ft 2 in

The Yeti is one of the most delightfully absurd wrestling cartoon characters of all time. See, despite his name, The Yeti was a giant mummy WCWs dastardly Dungeon of Doom found in an ice block on the slopes of Mt. Everest. The Dungeon thawed him out so him and The Giant can give Hulk Hogan a deadly double bearhug, and then, well, that was about it. The Yeti appeared in a couple more multi-man matches, this time dressed as a ninja, then beat a hasty retreat back to the Himalayas.

Well, actually he didnt. The Yeti was played by a regular (albeit very large) man named Ron Reis, who WCW re-branded as the jobber Big Ron Studd, and then Reese, one of the less-successful members of Ravens flock. Ron Reis career ended on kind of a down note, but then its tough to top playing a reanimated ninja/mummy/abominable snowman.

7) Giant Silva

WLsevenfoot7

WWE Network

Billed Height: 7 ft 2 in

Its the other South American wrestling giant! The better one! You might question that if you only know Giant Silva from his WWE run, which consisted of a few tag matches with The Oddities in 1998, but he went onto a varied, relatively noteworthy career in other parts of the world after that. He had a brief, but successful run in Mexicos CMLL, then teamed up with a young, spry Great Khali in New Japan. He even had a slightly unfortunate 2-6 run in PRIDE, although he did manage to beat Akebono. Granted, most people beat Akebono later in his career, but it puts Giant Silva one up on Big Show.

6) Matt Morgan

WLsevenfoot8

TNA Wrestling

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

Matt Morgan has been consistently middle-of-the-road okay throughout his career, so hey, lets stick him in the middle of the list. Morgans WWE run was brief, and ended with an embarrassing stuttering gimmick, but he went on to have a long, thoroughly okay-ish run with TNA Wrestling. Morgan was a good hand in the ring for a guy his size, but he just never really put the pieces together or managed to find a character other than I deserve things because Im big.

5) The Great Khali

WLgreatkhali

WWE

Billed Height: 7 ft 1 in

The Great Khali had a lot of strikes against him. He could barely speak English, usually seemed baffled by what was going on around him and could hardly move on his terrifyingly fragile balsa wood legs, and yet, somehow, its hard not to like the man.

His promos provided plenty of laughs (of both the intentional and unintentional variety) and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy, who took a lot of pride in repping Indian culture in WWE. He was also a physical beast  no seven-footer has ever been as ripped as Khali was in his prime. He wasnt even that bad in the ring early on. Hell, he was downright agile during his time in Japan and Mexico, and had a few solid matches with Cena and Undertaker early in his WWE run. Khalis decade with WWE was a long, strange trip, but surprisingly, I look back on it with a certain amount of nostalgia today.

4) Colin Cassady

WLsevenfoot9

WWE

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

Yeah, Colin Cassady may be a rookie with barely a month of main roster experience under his belt, but I already feel confident placing him in the upper third of this list. The guy has charisma, mic skills, a successful catchphrase, a well-defined, unique character and rock solid in ring skills. You know how many other guys on this list can say all that? None of them. What was Andre the Giants chant-along catchphrase? What is Big Shows character aside from Im tall and unreliable? I cant rank Big Cass any higher on account of his greenness, but skys the limit with this guy.

3) Big Show

Big_Show_Big_Smile

WWE

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

Strictly looking at the record books, Big Show is the most successful giant of all time. A seven-time World Champion! 15 WrestleMania matches! More Monday Night Raw appearances than you could possibly count! Hes also probably the best seven-foot entertainer weve ever seen. Shows a legitimately great actor, knows how to tell a wrestling story inside and out, and has participated in some great matches.

That said, Big Show couldve been so much more. Hes wrestlings most inconsistently-booked man, flipping on a dime from heel to face, from unstoppable monster to diaper-wearing clown. WWEs approach to using Big Show has basically been eh, hes seven feet tall, hell be fine, and for the most part, a lot of potential has been left on the table.

2) Kane

WLkanehouse1

WWE

Billed Height: 7 ft 0 in

Placing Kane above Big Show on this list was a tough decision. In terms of basic skills, the two are pretty evenly matched  if Big Show is one of the better actors in WWE, Kane isnt far behind, and the two have a pretty similar ratio of good to bad matches.

What places Kane ever so slightly above Big Show is that hes able to take the inconsistent, hackneyed WWE writing and somehow make it work. Well, sometimes. A small part of Big Show still seems to be ashamed by the things WWE makes him do, but Kane revels in the bullsh*t they serve him. Whether hes embroiled in a love rectangle with Lita, Matt Hardy and Gene Snitsky, going to therapy with Daniel Bryan or issuing orders in faded slacks, Kane has a way of making things more perversely entertaining than they have any right to be. Okay, so he couldnt save the Katie Vick angle, but even the power of Hell has its limits.

1) Andre the Giant

WLandrefacts6

WWE Network

Billed Height: 7 ft 4 in

Well, Im sure you saw this coming. Andre the Giant is still the prototypical seven-footer and ultimate example of how to handle a giant. Andre was flawlessly promoted by Vince McMahon Sr., and easily the most popular and financially successful pro wrestler in the world for a solid 15-year streak.

Of course, promotional stuff aside, he was also a once-in-a-lifetime performer. He defined larger than life, seeming to tower far taller than his 7-foot-and-change frame. He could play the monster or gentle giant equally well, and before the side effects of his gigantism slowed him down, he was a smart, surprisingly agile worker. Forget wrestling, Andre is simply the most successful, beloved giant of all time. If that doesnt qualify him for the number one spot on this list, I dont know what does.

It was a tall order (pun intended), but theres your ranking of wrestlings biggest behemoths. Who are your favorite seven footers? Object strenuously to my placement of Eli Cottonwood? Bicker about big men, below.
Captain America: Civil War Reenactors from Tony Hale

Moviegoers finally have had the chance to go to the multiplex and experience the epic battle between Team Captain America and Team Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War. However, as Funny or Die now reveals in Captain America: Civil War Reenactors (watch it above), those who charged out to see Marvels latest during its opening weekend have nothing on the true die-hards who live, breathe, andon a weekly basismeet to re-create the superheroes most famous clashes.

Related: Captain America: Civil War: Which Characters Got Into the Most Fights



Veeps Tony Hale and New Girls Adam Pally star in the spoof as two pool store employees who spend their off-hours dressing up as Iron Man and Captain America, respectively, for cosplay treating the Marvel Civil War clashes much as history buffs might look at re-staging key battles from the 1860s. For these two, costuming-up isnt a hobby, but a lifestyle that they take so seriously, it even occasionally brings them to tearsor blows using pool noodles, much to the chagrin of their day-job boss (played by Hollywood legend M. Emmet Walsh).

Related: Raiders of the Lost Ark Inspires The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made: Watch Trailer for New Documentary



As one might expect from such a spoof, the re-enactors gear is about as chintzy as their Marvel devotion is obsessive, and both Hale and Pally get significant comedic mileage out of gently poking fun at Civil War and super-fandoma condition that afflicts not only men, but also, apparently, rom-com-loving women, as proven by perhaps the clips most unexpected gag.



More Tony Hale: Watch the star talk voices in The Angry Birds Movie:
By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - Car windows don't protect against harmful sun exposure, so it might be a good idea to wear sunglasses and sun block even while driving, a new study suggests. While windshields blocked the vast majority of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, car door windows offered varying levels of protection from the rays that are tied to cataracts and skin aging. "Some cars were as low as 50 percent blockage," said researcher Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hill, California. "Even cars that came with factory tint, there was no guarantee that would protect against UV rays," he told Reuters Health. UV rays account for a small portion of the suns rays but are the most damaging to human skin. UV-A rays are the most common and penetrate most deeply, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Because drivers in the U.S. have their left side exposed to sunlight, UV rays have been blamed for the increased number of cataracts and skin cancers that occur on the left side, Boxer Wachler writes in JAMA Ophthalmology. UV rays can pass through clouds and glass. To see whether car windows are protective, Boxer Wachler took a UV-A light meter to a number of Los Angeles car dealers on a cloudless May day in 2014. He tested 29 cars from 15 different manufacturers, made between 1990 and 2014. On average, car windshields blocked about 96 percent of UV-A rays. The protection afforded by individual cars ranged from 95 to 98 percent. But side door windows were far less dependable. The percentage of UV-A rays blocked varied from 44 percent to 96 percent. Only four of the 29 cars had windows that blocked more than 90 percent of UV-A rays. "It had no correlation at all with the cost of the car, high-end car or low-end car," said Boxer Wachler. Windshields are more protective than car door windows because they must be made of laminated glass to prevent shattering, writes Dr. Jayne Weiss in a commentary published with the study. Car door windows, however, are usually just tempered glass. "Dont assume because you are in an automobile and the window is closed that you're protected from UV light," she told Reuters Health. "For the eyes, your best bet is to get sunglasses that block UV-A and UV-B light and wraparound the face," said Weiss, who directs the Louisiana State University Eye Center of Excellence in New Orleans. Some of the car windows in this study let in enough UV-A rays to affect skin health, said Dr. Paul Nghiem, who heads the division of dermatology at the University of Washington in Seattle. "Wearing long sleeve clothing, or sunscreen that is 'broad spectrum' would be extremely effective and seems indicated on long drives on sunny days," Nghiem, who was not involved with the new study, told Reuters Health by email. People can also get clear UV filters added to their car windows to protect from the damaging rays, said Boxer Wachler. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1s2rp6t and http://bit.ly/1XnFyHu JAMA Ophthalmology, online May 12, 2016.
By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc, the world's largest maker of heavy equipment, is ready to move swiftly into the Cuban market once the U.S. trade embargo is lifted, Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said on Wednesday after meeting with Cuban ministers in Havana.

The detente between the United States and Cuba has raised hopes that full commercial ties will soon be restored between the former Cold War foes.

Caterpillar <CAT.N>, based in Peoria, Illinois, is one of several U.S. companies looking at ways to gain an early foothold in the Communist-ruled island, which had been largely off bounds to U.S. business for more than five decades.

Oberhelman said he had been "warmly received" over the past two days by various ministers on his first trip to Cuba.

"We have talked about a number of projects," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event celebrating a donation by Caterpillar to the foundation that preserves the heritage of U.S. writer Ernest Hemingway in Cuba.

"I think the most interesting one in the near term would be the Mariel harbor ... making an efficient modern harbor that competes with others around the world."

Cuba is staking much of its economic future on the Mariel port, west of Havana, seen as a potential distribution center for the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Caterpillar has already named an official dealer for Cuba, the privately held Puerto Rico company Rimco.

Rimco representative Caroline McConnie said the dealer was in talks with U.S. authorities about getting a license allowing it to sell certain Caterpillar products in Cuba despite the U.S. trade embargo.

President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in December 2014 to end Cold War-era animosity and restore diplomatic relations, but the trade embargo remains in place because only the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress can lift it.

Asked when he expected the embargo to be lifted, Oberhelman said: "For me, the answer is not soon enough."

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Once it was lifted, Caterpillar could move quickly to sell products in Cuba as it is used to dealing in emerging markets, he said, speaking on the veranda of the farm just outside Havana where Hemingway lived for 21 years.

"The idea is for our dealer to set up a facility here in Cuba," he said. "We would supply most of our products from Brazil."

(Editing by Leslie Adler)
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) entered the super-hero game last year with the launch of "Supergirl," but that journey could be short-lived.

Reports started circulating on Monday that CBS was in talks to shift "Supergirl" to The CW, which has already successfully launched "The Flash," "Arrow" and "DC's Legends of Tomorrow." All four series comes from producer Greg Berlanti, who has made a name for himself within the comic genre.

"Supergirl" would be a natural fit for The CW and some of the show's best numbers last year came from the cross-network cross-over with the network's "Flash." The problem is a cross-network jump could send the wrong message to investors.

Related Link: 'Life In Pieces' First CBS Rookie To Get Renewal

While it's the right move, it also makes CBS look a little weaker. CBS put all of their marketing and PR behind the series and while it launched solid, it quickly fell to the same levels of rival "Gotham," which airs on Fox in the same timeslot. While the two are polar opposite in tone and their target demo, they still carry cross-appeal because of their DC ties and that's leading to cannibalization.

"Supergirl" also has a large production cost and that's been one thing hampering its renewal options. Recent reports have also suggested a shorter episode order and shift in production from Los Angeles to Vancouver could be options to secure a sophomore season.

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Chemical maker Celanese Corporation CE has announced its decision to raise the list and off-list selling prices of Vinyl Acetate Monomer, effective Jun 1, 2016, or as contracts allow. The company is increasing the price by 2 cents per pound in the U.S. and Canada, by $50 per metric ton in Mexico, Central and South America, and by 50 per metric ton in Europe.

Celanese also raised the prices of a number of its products in April, including that of ethyl acetate, acetyls, MIBK and vinyl acetate-based emulsions. The move has been partly triggered by continued volatility in raw materials prices.

Global growth remains sluggish while raw materials face deflationary trends in a world under severe geopolitical strain. On the bright side, demand in China has picked up but still remains under certain pressure, while demand in Europe and Asia remains modest.

Meanwhile, the company is set on its goal to create value and deliver growth to its shareholders. Last month, the company revised its outlook for 2016 and now sees adjusted earnings per share to increase 8%10%, up from 5%10% anticipated earlier. If the economy recovers in the second half of the year, the company may attain the higher end of the revised outlook range.

Celaneses adjusted earnings for the first quarter were $1.83 per share, a 6% increase from the prior-year quarter. Earnings also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52 per share. Revenues for the quarter fell roughly 3% year on year to $1,404 million, but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Celanese currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked companies in the chemical space include Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co. Ltd. SHI, Koninklijke DSM N.V. RDSMY and Innospec Inc. IOSP, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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From Town & Country

CHRISTY TURLINGTON BURNS

Grand Plan: Make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother.

Making Headlines: Her own complications following the birth of her child, combined with the heartbreaking statistic that every two minutes a woman dies from preventable complications of pregnancy or childbirth, motivated the mother of two to found Every Mother Counts in 2010. The nonprofit-which this past Mother's Day debuted the orange rose as a universal symbol for maternal heath- donates every dime raised to programs addressing three critical barriers: lack of education, transportation, and supplies.

SUSAN L. SOLOMON

Grand Plan: Translate cutting-edge stem cell research into clinical breakthroughs.

Making Headlines: Frustrated with the pace of juvenile diabetes research after her son was diagnosed with it, Solomon co-founded the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute, spearheading the raising and investing of more than $160 million in "tipping point" research. The payoff: In March, NYSCF-funded scientists generated a new human stem cell that has only one copy of the human genome, a tool that brings us much closer to treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and cancer.

ANNIE GRIFFITHS

Grand Plan: Expose climate change's devastating impact on women.

Making Headlines: Distressed by statistics (70 percent of those who die in climate disasters are women) and believing that powerful images are the best way to humanize big problems, the National Geographic contributor created Ripple Effect Images, a nonprofit collective of award-winning photographers. In visually depicting global programs that empower, and donating the images to aid organizations, she is shifting the West's view of women in developing countries from victims to survivors.

JESSICA SEINFELD

Grand Plan: Break the cycle of family poverty.

Making Headlines: The cookbook author's 15-year-old nonprofit Good+ Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy) has donated 20 million essential children's and family products and services to programs that either support new mothers or invest in early childhood. Husband Jerry (you may have heard of him) helped spearhead the Fatherhood Initiative to provide resources for new dads and encourage their participation in their kids' lives.

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MINDY & JON GRAY

Grand Plan: Wipe out cancers linked to mutations of theBRCA1and2 genes.

Making Headlines: BRCA mutations correlate with a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. After losing her sister Faith Basser to the latter, Mindy and husband Jon established the Basser Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the first lab in the world devoted to BCRA-related cancers, and have contributed more than $30 million to date. Additionally, in 2015 they gave $40 million to organizations that focus on maximizing access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for low income children, including Harlem Village Academies.

KATHARINA HARF

Grand Plan: Find perfect matches between bone marrow donors and those in need.

Making Headlines: Her father Peter founded Delete Blood Cancer DKMS in Germany in 1991 in a bid to find a match for Katharina's mother. Harf, now the group's global ambassador, led a 2004 expansion to the U.S. and took the donor program nationwide with a glittering roster of celebrity recruiters, including Vera Wang, Rihanna, Coco Rocha, and Bradley Cooper. To date DKMS has registered more than 6 million bone marrow donors worldwide and provided more than 55,000 transplants.

MARIA CUOMO COLE

Grand Plan: Transform the lives of the homeless.

Making Headlines: As the longtime chair of Help USA (founded by her brother, New York governor Andrew Cuomo), she has expanded the nonprofit into a leading builder of innovative supportive housing not just for the homeless but for veterans, victims of domestic violence, and people with HIV/AIDS. Oh, and in her free time the Academy Awardnominated producer has been touring with her documentary, Newtown, which examines gun control laws in the aftermath of Sandy Hook.

SETH ROGEN & LAUREN MILLER ROGEN

Grand Plan: Turn millennials into a generation of Alzheimer's advocates. And tell a few jokes along the way.

Making Headlines: The couple founded Hilarity for Charity in 2012-five years after Lauren's mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's-and have since raised more than $5 million through their Los Angeles Variety Shows, featuring BFFs Judd Apatow, Aziz Ansari, and Mindy Kaling.
Californias Public Utilities Commission signed off on Charters acquisition with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, clearing the way for the $66 billion transactions closing next week.

The PUCs greenlight  in a unanimous vote on Thursday  had been expected, but it was the final regulatory hurdle after Charter obtained approval from the FCC last week and the Department of Justice last month.

We are pleased to have now obtained all approvals, said Charter President/CEO Tom Rutledge. We look forward to closing these transactions next week and to begin delivering the many benefits of these transactions to consumers.

The long-awaited deal makes Charter the nations second-largest cable operator behind Comcast Corp. with about 24 million subscribers, including about 17.4 million video subscribers.

The approval from the California PUC had been expected after an administrative law judge gave the deal his backing with conditions, including that the company not impose data caps or usage-based pricing for at least three years. It will also be required to expand its high speed broadband service and to extend upgraded service to areas that lack coverage. Charter will have to comply with the FCCs net neutrality rules  potentially significant as those regulations are being challenged in a federal appellate court.

Some of the PUCs conditions mirror those of the FCC, but the federal agency also prohibits Charter from preventing rival online video services from creating their own channel bundles.

The California PUC and the FCC also block Charter from charging fees to companies as the price of connecting to its network. Such interconnection fees have become an issue with the growth of Netflix and Amazon, which are heavy users of bandwith.

Related stories

FCC Approves Charter Acquisition of Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks

Charter-Time Warner Cable Deal Clears Justice Department; FCC Chairman Recommends Approval

MLB Commissioner Urges Distributors to End Dodgers SportsNet Impasse
CHENNAI, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 12, 2016 / The constantly growing businesses in Chennai now have the possibility of bigger online exposure thanks to Chennai BizBook launching today, a comprehensive online directory that targets all small to large businesses in the city.

Available under the website http://www.chennaibizbook.com/, the directory is easy to use, with each company being offered the possibility of setting up its description, contact details, photo/video gallery and more. Accurate locations are displayed by using Google Maps. A unique feature of the directory allows users to chat with businesses in real-time, increasing the opportunities of interactions and contacts between businesses and potential customers. Users can review the business and share the details through various social media channels, creating even more exposure for the companies. High-end security features guarantees full safety of the users and data privacy.

Listing of businesses can be done under both Free and Paid options. Any basic listing is free; however for advanced options, the Pro and Pro Plus packages are available. Those packages offer various additional features, such as the possibility of adding photos and videos to the profile or priority listings. Part of the paid listings is the verified certificate, a proof of the credibility of the company which is verified by the Chennai BizBook team. Every member of the directory can choose to get featured and referred under Related Category for every search. Specific discounts of 50% apply for the businesses signing up for Paid listings this month.

Chennai Biz Book is the brainchild of Impower Solutions Private Limited, a leading Web Design company based in the city.

"We have built this comprehensive and easy to use business guide in order to help businesses in the city of Chennai to get the exposure they deserve. Whether you are a small beauty parlour, or a garage, or an antiquities or design shop or an IT/ITES company, Chennai BizBook is a place for you to get features and grow your business to the next level," said Surya Kumar, representative of the company.

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The directory is aimed at both businesses and customers. While companies are offered enhanced online visibility, the directory offers customers the opportunity to find the business/service they are looking for within seconds.

"Impower Solutions has always been a customer-focused company; and in our endeavours we always wanted to have a common platform that bridges the gap between businesses and end users in terms of connecting them. What we aim to achieve with Chennai BizBook is offer a one-stop solution for anyone looking to find a business/service under any category thereby making it a useful and time saving venture with significant advantages," said Surya Kumar.

According to a survey published by the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Chennai ranks number 5 in India from the point of view of Internet users, with 70% of the residents being active Internet users. It has been estimated that more than 40,000 businesses (small, medium and large) operate in the city, but only around 40% of them have an online presence at all.

"Every business in Chennai is welcomed now to be part of the growing economy of the city," added Surya Kumar. "With us, your business is only a few clicks away from gaining exposure and increasing sales."

The official Chennai BizBook app will be soon available also on Android and iOS platforms for free.

SOURCE: Chennai BizBook
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from Wednesday's episode of Chicago P.D., "Justice."]

Not long ago, it was Chicago Fire paving the way for Chicago P.D. with a backdoor pilot at the end of the flagship firefighter drama's first season. But on Wednesday night, Chicago P.D. picked up that baton and opened its doors to a new potential member of the 'One Chicago' franchise with the backdoor pilot for Chicago Justice.

Unlike previous spinoffs, which also include Chicago Med, there were no early introductions for the team members at the Cook's County State's Attorney office - a little bit of deja vu for those viewers who are also fans of The Good Wife. However, it did not take for the team to make themselves at home.

The episode began with a bang - literally - when beat cops Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Roman (Brian Geraghty) came under fire from a mysterious teenager walking by their cop car. Roman was shot and Burgess, uninjured, ran around the corner to get the shooter. However, she lost sight of the teen momentarily and the kid she shot down claimed it wasn't him who shot Roman.

Enter, assistant state's attorney Peter Stone (Strike Back's Philip Winchester), who was the one to send Sgt. Voight (Jason Beghe) to prison all those years ago. (Are there any other Law & Order fans out there wondering if this ASA Stone is at all related to ADA Ben Stone, played by Michael Moriarty for the first four seasons of the Emmy-winning series?)

Despite his rocky past with Voight, Stone puts all his resources on the investigation into the incident in an attempt to clear Burgess' name. This includes team members Nazneen Contractor Joelle Carter, Ryan-James Hatanaka and their demanding boss Mark Jeffries (Rocky's Carl Weathers).

Read More: 'Chicago P.D.' Star on Burgess' "Test of Faith," Roman Romance and "Terrifying" Season Finale

Although the episode isn't technically billed as a supersized crossover event, it might as well be. The Intelligence Unit from Chicago P.D. also investigates the alleged shooter to help Burgess, Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Cruz (Joe Minoso) from Chicago Fire shows up to help search for the gun used in the shooting from the bottom of a nearby lake. Even Maggie (Marlyne Barrett) from Chicago Med plays a role as she controls the chaos at the hospital when both Roman and the injured alleged shooter are brought into the ER.

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However, the pressure is really on the Justice team as they must deal with protestors outside District 21 shouting "hands up, don't shoot" - a nod to the real-world shootings of unarmed African-Americans that has continued to gain traction in the news cycle since the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012.

"That kid is not getting convicted by a jury in this city. Maybe two years ago. Not today," defense attorney Shambala Green (Lorraine Toussaint reprising her Law & Order role) tells Stone. The outdoor scene, showing the steps of the courthouse and the Chicago skyline, is also reminiscent of Law & Order, during which the legal team spent so much time on the steps of the New York courthouse.

And just like Law & Order, particularly the post-Adam Schiff years, such a politically charged case raises questions about Jeffries' reelection come November. Especially since the state's attorney himself is an African-American.

After further digging, the investigators learn the real reason an honors student with an unblemished criminal record shot at Roman and Burgess - his aunt's longtime boyfriend was beaten by a racist cop six years ago. Not only that, but he was sentenced to prison time and then denied parole several times, until he took his own life the day before Roman was shot.

The twist is a way to clear Burgess' name without completely backpedaling on the importance and the larger ramifications at hand. In the end, Green offers a plea deal of aggravated battery with a sentence to be served as a juvenile. Afraid of an acquittal or a hung jury, Stone goes to Burgess and Roman to decide whether they should take it, with a healing Roman making the final call. "We're all sleeping in our own beds tonight," Roman says calmly. "Let the city sleep too."

So what did you think of Chicago P.D.'s backdoor pilot for Chicago Justice? Sound off in the comments below.

Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
After shots were fired during Wednesday nights Chicago P.D., we got our first taste of the Windy City-set franchises likely next offshoot, Chicago Justice.

PHOTOSMay Sweeps/Finale Preview: Scoop on Chicago Fire, P.D., Med and More

The crux of the episode involves a shooting, in which Roman is seriously injured. Burgess runs after the assailant and shoots him in the back multiple times. But its hardly case closed after that. The young man, Michael Ellis, is, by all accounts, an Eagle Scout. Even worse, the police have no eyewitnesses and cant find the gun to tie him to the incident. So a firestorm erupts as the citys population protests the police firing at an innocent boy.

Enter steely ASA Peter Stone (The Players Philip Winchester), who cant quite figure out who will be tried, Ellis or Burgess. Hes got pressure on him from all sides. The States Attorney Mark Jefferies (Rockys Carl Weathers) is concerned he wont be reelected if this goes badly, while Voight doesnt think Stones got the same hunger in his eyes as when the prosecutor put him behind bars. Thats because the case on you was a slam dunk, Stone replies. Zing!

RELATEDChicago P.D.s Marina Squerciati on Burgess and Romans Terrible Ordeal

Later, the team catches a break when they find the gun, as well as a photo of Ellis holding the same type of weapon, and learn that he ranted about the police to a friend. But theres a weakness in the ASAs case that Ellis defense attorney Shambala Green (guest star Lorraine Toussaint, reprising her Law & Order role) is more than happy to exploit. Video footage of Burgess and Roman canoodling in their patrol car is shown in court  and yes, Ruzek sees it as his ex-fiancee takes the stand. (After the detective sweetly tried to comfort her earlier in the episode, that had to be a gut-punch for him.)

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Eventually, Ellis motive becomes clear to Stone with the discovery that the kids uncle had been arrested by a racist cop and then committed suicide in prison the day before Roman was shot. With that nail in her cases coffin, the defense attorney suggests a plea deal: just four years in the slammer. The SA wants to take it in order to avoid an acquittal or a hung jury, but Stone leaves the final decision to Burgess and Roman. Though shes against it, he begrudgingly gives in. Were all sleeping in our own beds tonight, he reasons. Let the city sleep, too.

VIDEOSChicago P.D. Sneak Peek: Voights History With Justice ASA Revealed

Winchester promises to be a compelling lead, but lets be honest, this episode belonged to Marina Squerciati, whose Burgess was put through the emotional wringer. The spinoffs ensemble also includes Justifieds Joelle Carter (as investigator Laura Nagel), Heroes Reborns Nazneen Contractor (ASA Dawn Patel) and newcomer Ryan-James Hatanaka (investigator Daren Okada), but they dont get much to do in the hour. (Did Contractor even say anything?) With such a heavy case, there also wasnt much exploration of the work or personal dynamics within the legal offshoot, but hopefully, that will change, should Justice be picked up.

What did you think of the proposed series? Vote below to let us know whether youll be adding yet another Chicago show to your TV schedule.

Launch Gallery: <i>Chicago P.D.</i>: <i>Chicago Justice</i> Pilot Episode Photos

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A new UK study has found that children who start to walk, run, and jump earlier are more likely to have stronger bones later in life.

Carried out by a team of researchers from from Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Bristol, the study looked at data from 2,327 participants which assessed their movement at 18 months of age, and then the size, shape and mineral density of their hip and shin bone at 17 years of age.

The results showed that there was an association between movements such as walking, running and jumping at 18 months old and stronger bones as a teenager.

The researchers also found that this association was even stronger in males than in females, suggesting that early movement does not play such a key role in female bone development.

Both findings also support earlier studies by the researchers which have already shown that physical activity and exercise have a greater effect on bone development in males than in females, and that babies who start to walk earlier could have up to 40 percent higher bone mass in their shinbone compared babies who are still crawling at the age of 15 months.

The team believe that the increased bone strength in later life could be caused by the stress that toddlers place on their bones in early life by moving around. The bones react to this stress by becoming wider and thicker, therefore making them stronger.

Another theory put forward by the team is that toddlers who move around a lot in early life are also naturally more physically active in later life.

The results could now be used to help identify individuals at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures in later life, with lead researcher Dr Alex Ireland commenting, "Importantly, the results could have implications for later life by helping medical practitioners to anticipate and detect those who are at a greater risk of osteoporosis or fractures, thus helping them to devise prevention and coping strategies. For example, attainment of these movement skills at an early age can be easily improved even by simple parent-led walking practice at home."

The findings were published online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Organic, fair trade chocolate has proved popular in recent years, especially with ethically minded Western consumers keen to give cocoa farmers around the world a better deal.

In Togo a small cooperative has embraced the idea but also stumbled upon a unique selling point in a tropical country where access to refrigerators is limited -- heat-resistant chocolate.

"It doesn't melt up to 35 degrees (Celsius, 95 degrees Fahrenheit)," said Komi Agbokou, who promotes the "Choco Togo" brand made from locally grown cocoa beans.

With bars containing between 60 and 100 percent cocoa, the rough texture makes it perfect for households without fridges and market stallholders wanting to sell it, he added.

Togo produces some 10,000 tonnes of cocoa beans every year, making it a relative lightweight compared with neighbouring Ghana or Ivory Coast, which make up nearly 60 percent of world output.

"As we can't compete with Ivory Coast and Ghana in terms of quantity, we can only bet on quality," smiled Kodjovi Mgbayom, from Togo's coffee and cocoa sector workers body.

Togolese cocoa has a "special aroma due to the soil and the fact that everything is done by hand. Drying is done in the sun. There aren't any machine fumes here", he added.

There is nothing to single out Togo's cocoa from regional competitors or the more sought-after Latin American beans, Michel Barrel, from French cocoa consultancy KawaCao, told AFP.

But Togo's cocoa farmers have looked to organic farming and to obtaining fair-trade labels to give added value to their product, he said.

- Italian course -

"Togo has been growing cocoa for more than 120 years but we only export it. Cocoa farmers don't even know the taste of chocolate," said Agbokou.

Anyone wanting to actually eat chocolate had to go to a supermarket to buy an expensive, imported bar containing sometimes less than 30 percent cocoa, he added.

But now beans grown by 1,500 small farmers in the Akebou region in Togo's southwest are being shelled by about 40 local women, and then transformed into chocolate bars in the capital, Lome.

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The 80-gram bars are sold for 1,000 CFA francs ($1.70, 1.50 euros) in shops.

Agbokou is a trained psychologist and fell into chocolate by chance.

His initial idea was to create opportunities in a labour market that was increasingly hard to access. Through his non-governmental organisation, European Union funding and the backing of an Italian cooperative, six unemployed young people were chosen in 2013 to go on a chocolate making course.

On their return to Togo from Italy, they started producing 100 percent Togolese chocolate.

Now a dozen employees are paid by the hour to transform cocoa into chocolate at the cooperative's premises in Lome, with a single, hand-cranked, locally made cocoa roaster.

- Trade fairs -

One tonne of chocolate was made in 2015 but production has accelerated since then, with more than two tonnes in the first quarter of 2016.

"Choco Togo" gets its supplies of cocoa solely from Akebou, where the cocoa is organic and certified by Ecocert and the Rainforest Alliance.

The international organisations ensure that production meets rigorous environmental and social standards.

As the cocoa is transformed on the spot, transport costs are kept to a minimum and the farmers are better paid, said Mgbayom.

Then, they see the chocolate bars produced with their beans, he added.

"Choco Togo" also uses the farmers' wives to shell the beans, giving local families extra income.

The small chocolate bars, wrapped in kraft paper and available in natural, ginger, peanut or coconut flavours, have been shown in Milan and at the last chocolate trade fair in Brussels in February.

So far, it seems to have gone down well, according to head of production Nathalie Kpante.

"We left for Brussels with 60 kilogrammes (132 pounds) of chocolate and all the stock was gone on the first day," she said proudly.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Authorities in an eastern Chinese city have vowed to halt studies for a petrochemical industrial park project planned jointly with a Singapore company, following a wave of protests over possible health and environment risks. Tens of thousands of "mass incidents" - the usual euphemism for protests - happen in China each year, spurred by grievances over issues such as corruption, pollution and illegal land grabs, unnerving the stability-obsessed ruling Communist Party. The government of Longkou, in Shandong province, said it had dropped plans for an environmental feasibility study for the project, after protests that reflected the feelings of people living nearby. "Based on the opinions reflected by the populace, the plans for the environmental study have already been ceased," the city government said in a statement on Wednesday. Hundreds of protest marchers in Longkou held up cloth banners reading, "This is still our home" and "Protect the environment" in pictures posted on Chinese social media this week, although Reuters could not verify the photographs. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of paraxylene and polyester, which are vital ingredients for the country's textile and plastics industry. But plants producing such petrochemicals have frequently faced demonstrations prompted by fears they could harm the environment and health of nearby residents. The Longkou industrial park project is a joint venture between Singapore's Jurong International Holdings Pte Ltd. and the Longkou-based Nanshan Group Co. Ltd., media reports say. Reuters could not immediately reach the firms for comment. Beijing wants to experiment with "mixed ownership", or partial privatization, in its massive state-controlled energy sector to boost efficiency and drive greener growth. Last June, thousands of people protested in Jinshan, about 60 km (37 miles) from China's commercial hub of Shanghai, against plans to build a chemical plant in the district. A private investor-led Chinese group plans to build a $15- billion petrochemical complex on an island near Shanghai, in what would be the country's first, and largest, energy installation built by a non-state investor, industry sources told Reuters last week. (Reporting by Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has widespread support in the international community for its decision not to have anything to do with a legal case lodged by the Philippines against Chinese claims in the South China Sea, a senior diplomat said on Thursday. China has been stepping up its rhetoric ahead of a ruling expected in a few weeks by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the Philippines case. China says it is fully within its rights not to participate in what it views as forced arbitration, and says the Philippines is using the case to directly undermine Chinese sovereignty. In February, the United States and the European Union said China should respect the ruling. The court has no powers of enforcement and its rulings have been ignored before. Xu Hong, head of the Chinese foreign ministry's Department of Treaties and Law, said the issue was being hyped up by people who lack a proper understanding of international law. "We can see so many countries coming to the fore hyping this issue up, but it doesn't matter how loud their voices are, they still represent a minority of countries in the world," he told a news briefing. "If you look at who is talking about international law all the time, it is politicians and non-professionals with ulterior motives. It is them who really need to learn something about international law." The foreign ministry has in recent weeks been claiming support for its South China Sea position from countries as diverse as Cambodia and Yemen. Xu said no country would accept compulsory arbitration when core interests were at stake. "Actually there are a number of voices of reason on this issue from genuine international law experts who have had some serious and objective comments, but all those comments have been neglected or ignored by some people," he said. "Some people are trying to change the concept stealthily to confound right and wrong and black and white. They may be able to mislead public opinion for some time but eventually lies are lies and even repeated a thousand times will not become truth," Xu said. China had always been a firm defender and practitioner of international law, he said. "We don't feel isolated at all." China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
An organ of the Chinese Communist Party has lashed out at the disrespectful gossipers in the British press for their reporting of Queen Elizabeth IIs comments about a recent Chinese state visit.

The party-run Global Times carried a prominent editorial in its Chinese-language edition Thursday playing down any diplomatic fallout, reports Reuters.

The normally tight-lipped monarch, 90, was caught on camera during a palace reception Tuesday discussing with a senior police officer how very rude the Chinese delegation had been to the U.K. ambassador during President Xi Jinpings tour of Britain in October. The state visit was meant to mark the start of a golden era of Sino-British relations that would be centered on trade and investment.

While the editorial conceded that Chinese officials most likely treated British bureaucrats coldly, it insisted that diplomatic ties would be unaffected, according to Reuters. Instead, the piece took aim at Britains sometimes scurrilous tabloid press. (In China, Xi has recently moved to demand greater loyalty from the countrys already tightly controlled media.)

The disrespectful gossipers in the media there, narcissistic and baring their fangs, seemingly retain vestiges of the inelegance of barbarians, the report said. We believe, however, that with constant contact with the 5,000-year-old civilization of the East they will make progress.

[Reuters]
(UPDATES throughout)

By Paul Kilby and John Balassi

NEW YORK, May 12 (IFR) - Citigroup revived a bond sale for Panama's Tocumen Airport on Thursday after pulling the deal in the wake of money-laundering allegations against the owners of its largest duty-free shops.

In what has become a very complicated trade, the US bank has tweaked the bond's structure and is now marketing a US$500m-plus 2036 offering at a sweeter yield of 5.625%

That is wide to the final yield of 5.375% on the larger US$625m bond that priced on May 4.

That deal was pulled this week after the US Treasury named the owners of Grupo Wisa, the Waked family, as narcotics traffickers.

Several investors then dropped out, forcing the bank to make the unusual move of cancelling the post-pricing settlement, which was due to take place on Wednesday.

That Tocumen is returning so soon after the deal went south suggests that the lead underwriter is comfortable in generating sufficient demand under the new terms.

The new bond, which has a 15.9-year weighted average life, is expected to price as soon as Friday.

But amid the 'Lava Jato' investigation into corruption in Brazil, and other scandals in the region, the new accusations could give even more investors pause.

"One thing that 'Lava Jato' has taught us is that you never know where these things will end up," said one investor.

WIDE RANGE

Indeed, the contractor on a Tocumen terminal is a subsidiary of Brazil's Odebrecht, whose former CEO was jailed earlier this year on bribery charges.

Investors have been cutting exposure to Odebrecht risk after the company delayed the release of financial results earlier this month, raising the prospect of a debt acceleration.

"I am concerned around this transaction, given the increased skepticism about other projects that Odebrecht is attached to," said Sean Newman, senior portfolio manager at Invesco.

Citigroup itself recently dropped out of being a bookrunner on a US$1.225bn debt funding backing the construction of Line 2 on the Panama City metro - a project that had been co-contracted to Odebrecht.

Story continues

Fitch and S&P Global Ratings have maintained investment- grade ratings of BBB on the Tocumen offering, saying the allegations have not impacted the deal's credit quality.

Tocumen is expected to terminate its operations with Wisa and find a replacement concessionaire within six months.

While the state-owned airport has added new collateral pledges from advertising and car parking income, they represent just 2% of total revenues versus 7.7% from Wisa.

(Reporting by Paul Kilby and John Balassi; Editing by Marc Carnegie)
24 hours after Dennis Siver withdrew from UFC 199 due to an undisclosed injury, the UFC has found a replacement to take on former lightweight champion B.J. Penn on the June 4 fight card. Cole Miller will step in to face The Prodigy. The new matchup was announced on UFC Tonight.

Penn (16-10-2) retired from fighting after his third loss to Frankie Edgar in July 2014. In January, the Hawaiian announced his intentions to return, and he entered talks with the UFC. He was expected to return at UFC 197, but that was delayed after criminal accusations surfaced. The UFC investigated the allegations and cleared Penn to compete at UFC 199.

RELATED > Anderson Silva Underwent Successful Gall Bladder Surgery

Miller (21-9, 1 NC) last fought in December against Jim Alers. The fight was ruled a No Contest after Miller was rendered unable to continue due to an accidental eye poke. He hopes to get back in the win column and ruin Penn's return when they meet at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on June 4.

UFC 199 is headlined by the rematch between middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and former titleholder Chris Weidman. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz puts his title on the line against rival Urijah Faber.

Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Colin Farrell has signed on to do another movie with the Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, according to Deadline Hollywood. At Cannes last year, the director's "The Lobster," starring Farrell, took home the Jury Prize.

The new film is called "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" and starts production in August. The script is by Lanthimos and his long-time writing partner Efthymis Fillipou.

Previously at the Cannes Film Festival, Lanthimos's "Dogtooth" won the Un Certain Regard prize in 2009.

Farrell will next be seen in movie houses in November, as a magician in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a film that Harry Potter author JK Rowling adapted from her novel of the same name.
From Cosmopolitan

At exactly 5 p.m. on March 31, 2016, I sat with six browser tabs open: Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Penn, Stanford and Yale. Four years of maintaining a 4.0 GPA, worrying about standardized tests and spending my summers in research labs were over, and now, in one minute, I'd be in or I'd be out. Acceptance rates to those schools are below 10 percent. I knew nothing was guaranteed. But as I refreshed each tab, each one came up: Accepted.

I did what any teen would do: I logged on to Twitter and obnoxiously plastered my acceptances all over my timeline. Within minutes, a reporter from saw my tweets and asked if she could interview me for an article about students who got into multiple Ivy league schools. I sent her my Common Application essay to publish along with the article - a tale about how my childhood adventures in Costco cultivated my curiosity in life. This is a graph of Google searches for the term "costco essay":

That huge spike in April? That's my college essay going viral.

As soon as that spike happened, I got more unsolicited feedback on my writing from strangers than I could process. My essay was apparently narcissistic, brilliant, stupid, and even racist. Someone compared me to Jean-Paul Sartre. Someone accused me of "exotifying a churro," whatever that means. My @ mentions exploded. I had to convince my mom not to respond to haters online. I actually thought, I bet this is what Kylie Jenner feels like, at least three times.

Internet commenters made a lot of assumptions about me: that I was rich, that my parents went to Stanford or Ivies, that I didn't even pen the essay (all untrue). But the thing that really got to me was that people thought my essay was the only reason I got into my dream schools. "Costco Essay Gets Local Girl Into 5 Ivy League Schools," read headlines, "Love for Costco Got a High School Senior Into 5 Ivy League Schools," "High School Senior Reveals the Secret That Got Her Into Nearly Every Ivy League School." I mean, screw four years of hard work and straight As, it was totally just the essay, right?

Story continues

I thought that the hype would blow over by the end of the weekend, that I could clock in my fifteen minutes of fame and go on with my life, but I was so wrong.

On Monday morning, classmates greeted me with, "Oh my god, it's the Costco girl!" and my AP Bio teacher displayed the Business Insider article, now clocking in at about 1.6 million views, on his projector. I'm an introvert, and even though my acceptance adrenaline had me posting all over Twitter, I'd always kept my Ivy aspirations pretty low-key. Only my parents knew the full list of schools that I had applied to - even my close friends probably knew of two of my reach schools - and when people had asked where I was headed, I'd always mumbled a few safety schools and maybe one of my reaches. I desperately tried to put the Ivies out of my mind from December (when I applied) until decision day. I didn't want to be heartbroken and embarrassed if I didn't get in. So when news broke out, people had no clue I'd been reaching that high for acceptance letters. I was valedictorian of my class, but most of the hard work I put in was behind the scenes. I didn't go to some fancy boarding school where everyone has legacy and Ivy acceptance is a given. At my public high school, most people go to a nearby state school.

When the interview requests started rolling in from ABC, NBC, the 6 o'clock news, and Seventeen magazine, it started to feel like too much. I quickly learned to set embarrassing profile pictures to private mode on Facebook, after an awkward picture of me in eighth grade circulated in one of the articles. My friend, who goes to school in California, sent me a picture of her in-class assignment, she had to rhetorically analyze my essay. I made an awkward appearance on my town's radio station, but hey, I got free concert tickets out of it so I can't complain. The local newspaper showed up to my English class while I was giving a presentation on Islam - and you don't know how difficult it is to talk about the ritual slaughtering method for Halal meat while your picture is being taken until you've been there.

I appreciated all the attention and recognition for my accomplishments, but simply getting into those schools was a reward within itself. Trying to manage the sudden attention was exhausting and time consuming - especially while I was trying to figure out where the hell I'd be spending my next four years, plan final college visits, and study for AP exams. I just didn't really have the energy to keep up with everything. I felt like shutting off the internet. I hated social media. After a week of receiving congratulatory messages from people all over the world, teachers, and peers, my ego was adequately inflated and I was happy to become an insignificant blip again.

School is different now. I can't do anything wrong without getting called out. The "Ivy League scholar" used the wrong hypothesis test on the AP statistics assignment. Ouch. Honestly, I'm just thankful that I didn't become a meme in the process. I'm overwhelmed and flattered by all of the internet love and random compliments - and that there was way more positive than negative response. As for the hate, most of the comments were laughable and outright wrong. I comfort myself with the knowledge that it's easy to spew hate behind the protection of a retina display.

Even though it was a hassle, I'm still glad my essay went viral. I've definitely gained an interesting dinner table story! But it was messages like the one below that make me realize that my essay put smiles on many faces.

I like to think there are 10 laughing grandmas for every internet troll out there and because of that, I will never regret sharing my essay.
BOGOTA, May 12 (Reuters) - Colombia's government needs to offer more protection to mining companies who are being threatened by leftist rebels and criminal gangs in control of illegal mines, the country's mining association said on Thursday.

Illegal mining controlled by armed groups produces at least as much gold each year in the Andean country as licensed miners, who produced 59.2 million tonnes of the precious metal last year, according to industry and government estimates.

"Illegal mining has taken advantage of us," Santiago Angel, the president of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), said in a press conference in Bogota. "We reject the threats against various mining companies and their employees by illegal groups."

The comments mark the first time the ACM has publicly decried threats by armed groups.

Angel said he hoped the government would increase the presence of security forces to prevent environmental damage and tax losses which he said reached $67 million each year.

He declined to name the companies which had received threats. Military sources told Reuters the armed groups hope to scare companies into abandoning projects.

According to recent studies, illegal mining occurs in one-third of Colombia's territory.

ACM's members include the country's largest coal miners Cerrejon - a joint venture between Australia-based BHP Billiton Ltd, London- and Johannesburg-based Anglo American Plc and Swiss-based Glencore Xstrata - Prodeco, a unit of Glencore Xstrata, and Alabama-based Drummond.

The association said coal production was 19.7 million tonnes in the first quarter, down 7.9 percent from the year-earlier period. The government has not yet released official production figures for the quarter.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta,; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Paul Simao)
* Uncertainty is biggest enemy for Irish business, finance

* Ireland has most to lose from any British EU exit

* UK is Ireland's largest and nearest trade partner

* Exporters fear Britons may cut spending after Brexit vote

* Doubts also grow over energy, residency, Northern Ireland

By Padraic Halpin

KILMACANOGE, Ireland, May 12 (Reuters) - Irish perfumier David Cox is preparing for a sales drive across the sea in Britain, but fears that if the country votes to leave the European Union next month the expansion will be thrown into disarray.

From small exporters like Cox to the central bank, Ireland is finding that uncertainty is the biggest enemy in trying to anticipate the consequences of a British exit or "Brexit".

Cox, whose Fragrances of Ireland business operates from a bustling warehouse south of Dublin, says any blow to the confidence of the British gift shop owners he supplies and their customers will frustrate his plans.

"For a small company like us, we need people to be willing to take a chance and that requires them to be confident that the end consumer has got 20, 30, 40 pounds in his or her pocket to spend on something new. If they're worried, they won't."

Ireland has the EU's fastest growing economy but also more to lose than any other member state when its nearest and largest trading partner decides in a referendum on June 23 whether to quit the union that both countries joined together 43 years ago.

Brexit, which Prime Minister Enda Kenny has called "a major strategic risk" to Ireland, could have far-reaching implications not only for trade and an economy still recovering from a banking collapse in 2008-09.

Peace in British-ruled Northern Ireland, security of energy supplies and freedom of movement for the large numbers of Irish citizens working in Britain might also fall into doubt.

Ireland may not spring to mind as a perfumer producer. But Fragrances of Ireland - like so many firms in a country of only 4.5 million people - has built up its business in export markets from its base in the small County Wicklow town of Kilmacanoge.

Story continues

Seventy percent of sales are in the United States, compared with only 10 percent in Britain. But Cox aims to raise the number of small, independent British retailers that his firm supplies from 150 to 1,000 within the next two years.

Two years is also the period laid down in the EU's Lisbon Treaty for any country to negotiate an EU withdrawal.

No one knows what relationship Britain might hammer out with the EU should it leave, and Cox fears the country's economy and consumer sentiment will weaken during such a period. This would make it tough for his business to establish its name alongside global rivals such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder.

"Our plans would definitely be stalled because it's easy to cut back on a bottle of perfume you don't know," said Cox, whose firm employs 25 full and part-time workers.

Evidence is growing that the British economy is already slowing before the referendum and the pound has weakened against the euro. Though not yet critical, Cox says this depreciation is hurting his profit margins.

Some larger Irish firms have hedged against the currency risks. However, Cox said there is little a company of the size of his can do to protect itself.

In a survey of members last month, the Irish Exporters Association said 60 percent reported that the sterling weakness had already affected their business. Just five percent were in favour of Britain leaving the EU.

Ireland's finance ministry warned last month that the level of uncertainty from abroad generally was higher than at any stage since the financial crisis. A further five percentage point depreciation of sterling against the euro would reduce Irish gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.8 percent a year for the next six years, it estimated.

Ireland is vulnerable to any Brexit-related recession in Britain. Research by Davy Stockbrokers shows that a one percent decrease in UK economic output has led in the past to a 0.3 percent drop in Ireland.

The Irish economy is still forecast to expand by almost five percent this year, but the country needs all the growth it can achieve to cut a public debt that at almost 90 percent of GDP remains a problem.

CONTINGENCY PLANS?

Historic and personal links between Britain and what is now the Irish Republic, which broke away in the 1920s after a guerrilla war of independence, are also strong. Many Britons have family roots in Ireland and Irish citizens resident in Britain can vote in the referendum.

Kenny used his re-election as prime minister last week to highlight the "profound importance" of the referendum and has told his British counterpart David Cameron, who is campaigning to remain in the EU, that he will do whatever he can to help.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan also said this week that Dublin would be urging the Irish community in Britain and Northern Ireland to vote to stay in.

Ireland acknowledges there are limits to its own contingency planning. A Brexit group of senior officials has been set up in Kenny's department, government sources have said. Dublin is "exploring the potential risks and planning accordingly," Noonan told parliament last month.

The central bank has warned that Irish banks, which have lent heavily to the British property sector, would be hurt by a Brexit and has been working with them on their preparations.

But generally advance planning is extremely difficult.

"It's unambiguous that the economic effect on Ireland is negative - the question is how big," central bank chief economist Gabriel Fagan said last month. "That depends very crucially on the scenario you envisage regarding the relationship between Britain and the rest of the EU."

LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS

Irish farmers and food producers, major suppliers to the UK, are also vulnerable, but the risks go beyond economics.

Dublin officials worry about the impact on Northern Ireland, which has the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the rest of the EU. During three decades of violence, this was marked by military checkpoints until a 1998 peace deal.

The fear for many is that any new border restrictions could endanger peace by reenergising demands for a united Ireland which would raise tensions with pro-British unionists. Northern Ireland's nationalist deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has already called for a vote on unification if Britain leaves the EU.

Doubts also surround the right of Irish citizens to live and work in Britain, which long predates the EU.

Pro-Brexit campaigners want tougher controls on immigration from the EU. While these demands have been directed at Eastern Europeans, an Irish government-commissioned report said last year that a Brexit also opens the possibility of restrictions on the free movement of workers between Ireland and Britain.

Brexit may not be all bad. The report noted some companies keen to stay in the EU might move from Britain to Ireland.

But it also flagged risks to the power supply security. If the UK electricity market became independent of the rest of the EU, Ireland would be vulnerable to any problems in Britain. The alternative, improved interconnection directly with the EU, would be very costly at a time when Ireland is struggling to meet basic infrastructure and housing needs.

Higher energy costs would hit Irish firms, which are already facing increased wage demands at home. Their competitive edge would be further eroded if Britain imposed any customs duties or new regulations that were costly to meet.

Such worries weigh on Pat O'Neill, whose Zenith Adhesive Components firm makes high-tech electronic, automotive and medical components in the central town of Athlone.

"Nobody is that unique. A lot of what I do can be done quite easily by English competitors and security of supply is very important," said O'Neill, whose clients include Jaguar Land Rover and the British army.

"The customer could say there may be a tariff put on this in a couple of years time, I'm tooling up now for a six-year project so I'll give this one to the UK guy. That's happening already, in a small way, but it is happening."

But even if Brexit happens, Irish firms believe Britain will remain open for business and they'll manage, whatever the trade relationship.

"It's not going to become North Korea overnight," said Cox. "I'd prefer it doesn't happen but we'd get on with it and find the best way around it." (editing by David Stamp)
Concho Resources Up Despite Lower-than-Expected Earnings

(Continued from Prior Part)

Concho Resources stock performance

Following Concho Resources (CXO) 1Q16 earnings release on May 4, 2016, its stock rose by ~5% the next day, May 5. CXOs stock has fallen by ~3% YoY (year-over-year).

In comparison, Resources peers EP Energy (EPE), Cimarex Energy (XEC), and Newfield Exploration (NFX) have fallen by 60%, ~4.6%, and 1.2%, respectively, on a YoY basis. NFX, CXO, and XEC make up 6.7% of the iShares US Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (IEO).

In the above chart, we can see CXOs stock performance with respect to movements in the broader industry and the broader market.

From April 21May 5, 2016, CXO outperformed the broader energy industry (XLE), which fell by 1% during this period. CXO increased by ~4.4% during the same period. CXO also outperformed the broader market (SPY), which fell by ~1.9% during the period.

In the above graph, its clear that CXOs performance has been driven mostly by natural gas prices (UNG) and WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil prices (USO). These have also been a major driver for XLE.

Following CXOs 1Q16 earnings release on May 4, its stock increased the next day, despite lower-than-expected earnings. A 1.4% increase in crude oil prices likely led to the increase. Please refer to Part 1 to see how CXO performed in 1Q16.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of Congress on Thursday grilled the main U.S. banking regulator about a recent raft of data breaches, highlighting two incidents where workers downloaded more than 10,000 sensitive and private records onto portable storage devices before leaving the agency's employ. After the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp uncovered those two breaches, it conducted a review and found five other instances when employees improperly stored and took personal information for tens of thousands of individuals, according to Representative Barry Loudermilk, a Republican who chairs a House of Representatives subcommittee on oversight and technology. Altogether, more than 160,000 people were affected, Loudermilk said at a hearing covering the breaches. "To date, FDIC has failed to notify any of those individuals that their private information may have been compromised," he added. The highest-ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, Representative Don Beyer, said the concerns were shared by members of both parties and added the FDIC was too slow in notifying Congress about the breaks in data security. It should have informed lawmakers within seven days of the incidents, he said. The FDIC's chief information officer and chief privacy officer, Lawrence Gross, told the hearing the agency is working to eliminate employees' use of portable media and has installed technology blocking most employees from downloading data from its systems to DVDs, CDs and flash drives. It is also looking into "digital rights management" software limiting the time period someone can access information and putting up other barriers to redistributing information. Gross, who started his role in November, said he is conducting a "top to bottom review" of the agency's information technology policies and planned to hire an independent third party to conduct an assessment. The FDIC has said the downloads were inadvertent. But members of Congress remained skeptical that the breaches were not intentional. "In at least one case...a former employee who downloaded such data was evasive about her actions and not cooperative when initially confronted," said Representative Bill Johnson. "Some FDIC employees also suggest that it was highly improbable that this former employee's actions were accidental. In addition this former employee is now working for a U.S. subsidiary of a non-U.S. financial services company which raises additional concerns." (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Centers constitutional literacy adviser, looks at the constitutional prospects for a suit filed by an Army officer claiming President Obama exceeded his authority in ordering attacks on ISIS.

isis456

THE STATEMENT AT ISSUE:

In waging war against ISIS, President Obama is misusing limited congressional authorization for the use of military force as a blank check to conduct a war against enemies of his own choosing, without geographical or temporal boundaries. Congress passed the 1973 War Powers Resolution in response to just such presidential overreach in the Vietnam War, and to protect against such abuses of presidential power in the future.The President has violated the War Powers Resolution, the Take Care Clause of the Constitution, and has exceeded his authority under the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, under the 2002 Iraq Authorization for the Use of Military Force, and has exceeded his authority as commander-in-chief.

 Excerpts from a lawsuit filed on May 4 in a federal district court in Washington, D.C., by a young U.S. Army officer, Captain Nathan Michael Smith. Now serving as part of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Syria from a headquarters in Kuwait, the officer filed a statement under oath in court, saying that he filed his lawsuit as a matter of conscience, because he took an oath to defend the Constitution and has doubts about the legality of the operations against the Islamic State.

WE CHECKED THE CONSTITUTION, AND

Presidents have long waged military operations in foreign lands outside of the simple grants of war powers spelled out in the Constitution: Congress declares war and the President manages it as commander-in-chief. The history books are filled now with failed attempts, in legislative halls and in the courts, to restore that simple division of powers.

It is fair to say that, in modern times, the political branches  Congress and the White House  have been almost constantly at an impasse over who controls the entry of the American military into hostile operations overseas. Congress has tried to limit presidential discretion, especially by passing the War Powers Resolution in 1973  nearly a half-century ago. Presidents have found ways to commit the troops  or air power or unmanned drones  despite those restrictions.

Story continues

Every president since the 1970s, in fact, has held the belief that Congresss repeated attempts to curb military combat are unconstitutional, as an intrusion on the commander-in-chiefs role in managing diplomacy and hostile operations.

Under the usual system of defining constitutional powers in a final way, it would be the courts (especially the Supreme Court) that would be expected to have the last word. But it is very difficult to get the courts to take on that role, in response to any given commitment of U.S. forces to war or its equivalent in other countries. Courts that normally are not bashful about interpreting the Constitution are very hesitant do so when that would mean second-guessing the legality of military operations, not only while such actions are ongoing, but after they are over.

Is that an abdication of the task, first assigned by the courts to themselves in the 1803 decision in Marbury v. Madison, to say what the law is? Judges will insist that it is not a shirking of duty, but rather a recognition that courts simply do not have the means or the information to turn questions of war and diplomacy into neat legal equations.

As recently as last month, in fact, the Supreme Court issued a decision in a constitutional case over the division of powers between Congress and the courts, and the majority went out of its way to defer to legislative choice that time, primarily because it involved policy on how to deal with international terrorism. The dispute at the center of that case was a legal one  the entitlement of victims of terrorism to be compensated by a foreign sponsor of such atrocities  but the court majority still was prepared to let Congress all but dictate the outcome.

Aside from a sense among judges that this field of government is simply not within their institutional competence, there is also a sense that the nation ought to be able to count on the two political branches to work things out without judicial interference. Judges realize that the stakes can be very high in war and diplomacy, and so they do expect (or would like to expect) that those who hold political office would respond sensibly and effectively.

In recent years, the war on terrorism has turned out to be an arduous test of whether the political branches can come together to find common ground or workable solutions. The difficulty of dealing across a deep partisan divide has made it difficult to carry out even fairly narrow policy initiatives  as, for example, with President Obamas plan (now more than seven years old) to close the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Congress has surrounded that plan with a tangle of limitations, and refuses, each year, to relax them as the President regularly asks.

It is a common belief in Washington now that, in the military operations against the Islamic State, President Obama basically concluded that he did not need an additional grant of authority from Congress, and apparently there are in existence some still-secret memoes telling him just that.

It is also possible, though, that the White House surveyed the chances of actually getting congressional approval for new authorization, and found the prospect so bleak that it was not worth asking. The spreading success of ISIS military operations left little option to wait until common ground might be found.

It thus is no surprise that the current war seems problematic to many, and perhaps even to some in the military whose task it is to wage that war. A young Army captains new lawsuit, seeking a court declaration that Obama has violated not only congressional limits but also his own constitutional duties perhaps reflects the kind of frustration that citizens in general, not just people in uniform, feel. Even so compelling a task as responding to ISIS does not seem to produce cooperation and compromise among officeholders.

And yet, the chances are that the government will soon go into that court in Washington, and ask  with a great prospect for success  that the case of Smith v. Obama be dismissed before it goes much further. It would be a stunning development if that does not happen.

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These days, even commencement speakers aren't safe from criticism aimed at their political or personal beliefs.

Students at Scripps College, for example, are protesting their school's choice of Madeline Albright and calling her a "war criminal," likely due to her involvement in NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia while she was Secretary of State.

But the outcry over Albright's impending speech, which she will give on May 14, doesn't come close to the controversy that erupted when Evergreen State College invited convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal to speak at its 1999 graduation.

Abu-Jamal was on death row at the time of the graduation, so Evergreen played a 13-minute tape-recorded speech for the audience.

That decision spurred vehement outcry from many students, police officers, and public officials, and some students walked out from the speech. Former Washington governor Gary Locke canceled his scheduled appearance.

Police officer

And former House Majority Whip Tom Delay even asked for a minute of silence on the floor of the House of Representatives to protest the decision.

For its part, Evergreen said it asked Abu-Jamal to speak ''to galvanize an international conversation about the death penalty, the disproportionate number of blacks on death row, the relationship between poverty and the criminal justice system,'' according to the New York Times in 1999.

Abu-Jamal, a former radio reporter who's black, was convicted in 1982 of murdering white Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner after he pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother. He has a large number of supporters who claim he was framed for the murder, and, after a review of the case, Amnesty International found it did not meet international fair trial standards.

Story continues

The speech that generated so much controversy centered on living a deliberate life and embracing the revolutionary struggle:

This system's greatest fear has been that folks like you, young people, people who have begun to critically examine the world around them, some perhaps for the first time, people who have yet to have the spark of life snuffed out, will do just that: learn from those lives, be inspired, and then live lives of opposition to the deadening status quo.

Maureen Faulkner

Abu-Jamal urged listeners to remember the revolutionaries who fought racial and social injustice that came before them:

They chose the hard road of revolution, yet they chose. And but for that choice just like each of you seated here tonight, people who saw the evils of the system and resolved to fight it. Period.

Abu-Jamal has maintained his innocence, but the Supreme Court in Philadelphia upheld his conviction twice. He was sentenced to death, but in late 2011 prosecutors agreed to stop pursuing the death penalty and to take him off of death row.

He's serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole but continues to cause controversy behind bars.

Abu-Jamal also gave a commencement speech at Goddard College in Vermont in 2014 that spurred fresh outrage from opponents of the decision. Again, the speech was pre-recorded from jail.

You can listen to the entirety of Mumia Abu-Jamals 1999 speech at Evergreen here:

NOW WATCH: This is why America's prison system is broken





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From Town & Country

JEAN OELWANG

Grand Plan: Do for climate and peace what her boss, Richard Branson, did for air travel.

Making Headlines: Under her leadership, Virgin's philanthropic arm, Virgin Unite, has brought together eminences from Jimmy Carter to Kofi Annan to form the Elders, a sort of nonviolent Justice League.

ANISA KAMADOLI COSTA

Grand Plan: Ensure that an iconic brand puts its money where its mouth is on issues such as conservation.

Making Headlines: With Costa acting as Tiffany & Co.'s chief sustainability officer and head of the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, the company committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

DEVAL PATRICK

Grand Plan: Prove that you can make money and do good at the same time.

Making Headlines: Last year the former Massachusetts governor started a new division at Bain Capital, the private equity firm founded by fellow ex- governor Mitt Romney, that focuses on investment opportunities that benefit society while still turning a profit.

JACQUELLINE FULLER

Grand Plan: Invest in innovative tech companies with philanthropic objectives.

Making Headlines: As the director of Google.org, one of the largest corporate giving initiatives in the world, Fuller is in charge of spending $100 million a year on programs like Made with Code, which encourages girls to pursue computer science, and Project Reconnect, which provides refugees in Germany with Chromebooks. In March, Google donated $1 million to UNICEF to fight the Zika virus.

BILL PULTE

Grand Plan: Rid Detroit of blight.

Making Headlines: His grandfather amassed a fortune as America's top home-builder, but the 27-year-old Pulte, in addition to founding an equity firm focused on building materials, has committed himself to tearing down houses via his nonprofit Detroit Blight Authority, making way for safer communities to be built. More than 24 blocks have been cleared so far.

KIM FORTUNATO

Grand Plan: Reduce childhood obesity and hunger.

Making Headlines: As director of Campbell's Healthy Communities, the soup company's signature philanthropic program, Fortunato, recognized in corporate philanthropy as an advocate of the collective impact approach (which holds non-profit partners to certain standards and places an emphasis on measurable results), oversees the company's commitment to reducing childhood obesity and hunger in communities where Campbell has operations, including Camden, New Jersey, and Norwalk, Connecticut.
May 14, 2016: This story has been corrected.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the discretion to decide the scope of a civil rights investigation and whether to broker a settlement, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

In a decision issued Wednesday, the appellate court sided with a lower court ruling that affirmed the EPAs settlement of a 1999 complaint, filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, alleging that Latino schoolchildren in California were being disproportionately impacted by pesticide-spraying. The childrens parents filed a lawsuit asking that the settlement be overturned because it took the EPA 12 years to resolve the case and the agency had failed to consider circumstances that had changed during that period.

The plaintiffs argued that the EPA's pattern of delay in enforcing civil rights law amounted to an adbication of duty that warranted judicial action. In a decision that did not set a precedent, the appellate court said the EPA had acted in the California case, despite what it called a "lamentable" delay.

This case centers not around the effects of EPAs delay, but rather around EPAs interpretation of its own enforcement duties under Title VI, a matter committed to its discretion by law, the court said. It continued: While the EPAs delay is lamentable, plaintiffs can no longer claim a judicially redressable harm resulting from it.

The EPA referred requests for comment to the Department of Justice. A spokesman said the department had no comment.

Brent Newell, legal director for the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, one of three groups that filed the complaint, said he respectfully disagrees with the courts decision and worries what it might mean going forward. The Center for Public Integrity reported last year that the EPAs Office of Civil Rights almost never issued a finding on behalf of complainants in environmental discrimination cases.

This story is part of Environmental Justice, Denied. A look at the environmental problems that disproportionately affect communities of color. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

Don't miss another Environment investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

This outcome, if it stands, raises the importance of EPA reform even higher because the enforcement of the Civil Rights Act shouldnt be at an agencys total discretion, Newell said. EPA has shown through its history that it abuses that discretion.

Story continues

The original complaint against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation sat dormant for more than a decade. Environmental advocates decried the settlement reached in 2011, saying it offered inadequate protections for the children. CRPE issued a report last month that examined EPA emails and memos generated during the investigation. The report concluded that the communications showed the institutional barriers that kept the agency from enforcing civil-rights law.

EPA regulations give the agency five days to acknowledge receipt of a civil rights complaint and 20 days to decide if it will do an investigation. The investigation itself should take no more than 180 days, barring special circumstances. In its ruling Wednesday, the appellate court said those regulations are at most, a set of procedural guidelines, and not subject to judicial review. Implicit in the EPAs discretion to decide whether and when to accept cases, the court said, is the lesser power to determine the scope of the investigation in the event the complaint is accepted.

In December, the agency issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would eliminate the deadlines in order to give the agency more flexibility with complaints.

Correction, May 14, 2016, 3:00 p.m.: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the scope of the appellate court's ruling.

This story is part of Environmental Justice, Denied. A look at the environmental problems that disproportionately affect communities of color. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

Related stories

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
India's top court Thursday ordered budget airline SpiceJet to pay one million rupees ($15,000) to an activist with cerebral palsy who was offloaded from one of its flights four years ago.

The Supreme Court said Jeeja Ghosh endured mental and physical suffering after she was deboarded from the flight on her way to the western state of Goa to attend a conference in February 2012.

In a petition to the court, Ghosh, 46, said she was offloaded because the pilot felt she was not fit to fly on her own, despite her pleas that she had travelled without an escort in the past.

Although SpiceJet later apologised, Ghosh approached the court seeking compensation, accusing the airline of discrimination and saying her fundamental rights had been violated.

In passing the judgement Thursday, the Supreme Court said Ghosh "feels haunted with that scene when she was pulled out of the plane, like a criminal. She continues to have nightmares".

Judge A.K. Sikri also quoted famous American disabled rights activist Helen Keller in a judgement that was scathing of airlines' treatment of disabled passengers in general.

"'A rare few see a closed door, try the knob, if it doesn't open and they find a key and if it doesn't fit, they make one!' These rare persons we have to find," he said.

Ghosh said she hoped the judgement would set a precedent and send a message to carriers.

"Compensation amount is not important, setting an example is more important," she told the NDTV television network.

"I'd just like to send out a message to everyone, just don't give up."

SpiceJet was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.
Havana (AFP) - Opposition leaders said Thursday they plan to present a slate of candidates for next year's legislative and local elections, an act of political defiance in communist-governed Cuba.

The move, technically illegal in this one-party state, comes the same year that President Raul Castro leaves office, a post he has held since February 2008.

Manuel Cuesta Morua, spokesman for the opposition activists who are technically banned but tolerated in practice, said that around 90 candidates would be put forward, to promote "free and pluralistic" elections on the island.

The opposition platform will also advocate "recognition of the Cuban diaspora as part of the nation" and the "development small and medium size private enterprises" on the island, he said.

Another dissident leader, Jose Daniel Ferrer from the Roundtable for United Democratic Action (MUAD), said "the majority of Cubans are tired, and don't have the least bit of faith in the regime." He predicted protests and public discontent will increase in Cuba.

The announcement comes in the wake of Cuba's recent rapprochement with the United States and a resulting uptick in investment and commercial activity with various foreign nations.
And here are the best places to start a business.

The number of non-landed private resale flats in Singapore sold last month stood at 689 units - the highest since May 2013 when 726 units were resold. According to the flash figures released by SRX Property yesterday, the 689 units resold in April 2016 was a 17.6% increase compared to the 586 units resold in March 2016. Read more here.

Singapore Airlines Ltd. has sacrificed yields, a measure of average fares paid by customers, to fill more seats amid competition from Middle Eastern carriers including Emirates and Etihad Airways and low-cost airlines such as AirAsia Bhd. According to Malayan Banking Bhd. analyst Mohshin Aziz, Southeast Asias biggest airline had no choice but to discount heavily to counter rivals fare cuts. Find out more here.

One of the factors that companies in Singapore will look at when they want to expand their business overseas is the corporate tax rates of the particular country. While corporate tax rates do play a big a role in the decision making process, other factors like the level of difficulty to obtain construction permits or property registrations, credit availability, access to electricity and the cost of living will also affect the business decision. Read more here.









More From Singapore Business Review


From Esquire

Ben Wheatley's latest film, High-Rise, opens with a record player. Dr. Laing, played by Tom Hiddleston, gently lays down its needle and sets the tone for this dystopian take on urban living. As classical music plays, we see a rugged, if still stylishly disheveled, Laing survey the chaos and mayhem around him. Wearing a bloodied and tailored shirt, he strolls by the fires, trash heaps, and empty hallways of the film's titular building. "Sometimes he found it hard to believe," he tells us, "they did not live in a future that had already taken place."

Music not only punctuates the scene-it defines it. By the time director Wheatley gives his audience a disturbing montage set to a haunting Portishead cover of ABBA's "S.O.S.," there's no denying the film's soundtrack will all but run away with the film. Clint Mansell's score, which also samples that sunny ABBA song during a Versailles-themed party where we first glimpse the cruelty of the moneyed few who live in the upper floors of Wheatley's film, is so powerful it should have you running to your local record store to nab the soundtrack on vinyl to play it on a turntable of your own.

[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKPghZ5cc_E[/youtube]

That's precisely what many of Mansell's fans did on April 16th, Record Store Day, where many braved crowds to nab not only the High-Rise soundtrack (before seeing the film, even!) but the newly released vinyl for one of the composer's most celebrated works: his score for Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, on which he collaborated with Kronos Quartet. These same Mansell aficionados are the ones selling out the musician's recent live performances, dubbed "Uneasy Listening: An Evening with Clint Mansell"-a title that, like the event itself, straddles the line between a concert and a recital.

Avid fans and packed concerts-not quite what you'd associate with a contemporary film composer. But then again, Clint Mansell is no ordinary musician. Even as we talk over the phone, I can sense that Mansell blushes at my assessment of him as a "rock star" composer. He admits that perhaps it's a natural outgrowth of his circuitous road to movie scoring. After all, he began his music career as the frontman of the alt-rock band Pop Will Eat Itself, whose singles include the movie-plot-ready "Get The Girl + Kill The Baddies" and the aggressive call to arms "Wise Up! Sucker." Influenced by everything from industrial rock to hip hop, the raucous spirit of PWEI would remain with Mansell following the band's dissolution in 1996.

Story continues

After living with Trent Reznor for a few years, Mansell was asked to score a small indie movie titled Pi by the then-unknown Aronofsky. It was a perfect match, and one that has served both very well. Mansell has written the scores for each of the director's six feature films.

"I was fortunate enough that my first few films were with Darren, who allowed me to just sort of find what the film needed musically without having to do anything particularly traditional," Mansell says. "Darren wanted something unique, something different." And the main thing they both agreed on early on was how much they disliked film music. Were Mansell to write a score, he'd approach it with the belief that a film's music needed to be another character in the film. "It's as important as the casting," he says.

"[A film's score] is as important as the casting," Mansell says.

Just as his music would continue to embolden Aronofsky's work-his score is arguably the best thing to come out of the ambitious, if misbegotten, 2006 film, The Fountain-it would become increasingly clear that the composer's work functioned along lines that felt antithetical to the sound he believes afflicts contemporary movie scores. "So much of it is wallpaper and bland and just sort of getting from A to B," Mansell says.

"I realized pretty early on that, in the world of composers, I was a bit of an 'ugly duckling' to some degree," Mansell tells me. (At that, I bite my tongue and decide not to make an obvious Black Swan quip.) It's hard, though, not to see Mansell embracing wholeheartedly the dark and sinister beauty of his own music, as he twisted and stretched Tchaikovsky's compositions to create a score that fittingly embodies the troubled young ballerina at the heart of the 2010 psychosexual thriller.

His penchant for outre fare-he's worked with directors like Park Chan-wook (Stoker) and Duncan Jones (Moon), fusing their idiosyncratic stylings with his own-is no doubt what has also further highlighted his sense of being an outsider. To many, it's still baffling that the highly acclaimed composer has yet to break through within awards bodies; the closest he's gotten to an Oscar nomination, for example, is his disqualified score for the Best Picture-nominated Black Swan.

As any Mansell fan knows, his dizzying scores are soaring and operatic. They never merely telegraph the emotional beats of a scene, nor do they helpfully explain to a viewer how they should feel about what they're watching. Instead, they embody the very essence of the film you're watching: the paranoia of Pi, the revelry of Filth, the Biblical bombast of Noah. In surveying the year in music in 2001, L.A. Weekly singled out Mansell, noting that he "doesn't need the visual aid of indie flick Requiem for a Dream to suffocate you, his film score sucks the air out of the room all by itself."

"I like to feel that the film needs something from me, that there's something I can add."

In High-Rise's Wheatley, Mansell has found yet again another filmmaker whose sensibility matches his own. In choosing projects, he looks for concepts and scripts that excite him. "But it's also gotta be a little bit more," he says. "I like to feel that the film needs something from me, that there's something I can add, that there's something about the film that speaks to me, that inspires me." When the opportunity of working with the Kill List director came along, he jumped on board.

As Mansell explains, the music tracks the disintegration of the social ecosystem of the titular high-rise apartment complex, which imagines itself as a social experiment. "The original idea was that everybody thinks they're better than everybody else in that building," he says. "So you have this sort of faux grandeur at the start. You know they've all moved to somewhere classy-better than everybody else." Mansell's score offers us riffs on classical music with lush orchestrations, inviting us into what would seem to be a perfectly sociable living environment.

But any sort of niceties goes out the window (at one point quite literally) when this "vertical city" shows itself to be a more punishing example of the selfish and self-serving outside world. Petty squabbles become full-out brawls, shared spaces become impromptu refugee camps, one man's pet becomes another man's dinner. "You start to peel the layers off and you start to unravel," Mansell says, "and that's when the discordance comes in and the drive and the anxiety and the tension." Sinister strings, bellowing percussion; even listening to the score by itself ushers in the palpable sense that something's amiss. And Mansell cheekily spells it out for the listener, borrowing J. G. Ballard's language (the film is based on the British author's 1975 dystopian novel of the same name) to title one of his tracks: "Somehow the High-Rise Played into the Hands of the Most Petty Impulses."

It's a testament to Mansell's music that such a literal, if still abstract, title could so perfectly capture the eerie bombast that runs through High-Rise, a reminder that there's no one else like him out there. "I realized that my strengths were really doing what I believed and what I thought and following my own music," he says. "I think that's hopefully given me perhaps a sort of stand-alone vibe. I'm not busy trying to be Hans Zimmer or Thomas Newman. I'm just doing my own thing."
By Kaye Foley



Daveed Diggs, rapper, writer, actor and star of Hamilton, is adding another title to his name  Tony nominee. Diggs plays both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the smash hit musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda about Alexander Hamilton and the founding of America.

Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric met up with Diggs in Times Square at The Knickerbocker hotel rooftop to talk about his Oakland roots and his rap career, and to toast all his Hamilton success.

Before any of the accolades or anything happened, I was doing the best thing, Diggs said. I have the most fun doing that show every night with all these great people.  My cake has a lotta icing right now.

While Diggs is no stranger to the stage  he majored in theater at Brown University  being in a musical has been a new adventure.

This is a new world for me. Ive never watched a Tonys. Its all stuff I dont know anything about. And as I learn more and more about it, Im so  Im deeply honored.

On how he met Lin-Manuel Miranda

Before coming to New York to take his star turn in Hamilton, Diggs was working on his hip-hop career in Oakland. In addition to solo projects, hes also a member of clipping., the experimental rap group. Even with his busy Broadway schedule, Diggs plans to release new music sometime this year.

As far as his future plans, he remains focused on Hamilton. While the show has opened doors, Diggs said, I think this idea of a big break is a lie. He explains, If a project feels good to you, say yes. And do it with everything that you have and hope that the outcome is good.

On his Hamilton co-stars

Playing favorites



His advice to college graduates

Related links:

Hamiltons Lin-Manuel Miranda: The genius behind Broadways biggest hit



Backstage with Hamiltons leading ladies

Tony nominated Daveed Diggs talks Hamilton
20121031112516!NBC_logo_2011

NBC has kicked off the pickups of pilots to series with a nod to two comedies, the DC Comics-themed Powerless and Trial & Error, both from Warner Bros. TV. Powerless had an early pickup deadline, with the network supposed to make a decision by end of day today.

Trial & Error - Season Pilot

Both single-camera comedies had been early favorites at NBC, which landed the pitches with big commitments last summer, and had been high on both pilots since their early stages. Written by Ben Queen, the workplace comedy Powerless features (mostly fringe) DC Comics superheroes and stars Vanessa Hudgens. The pickup gives DC a half-hour comedy series to go with the companys superhero drama series Gotham on Fox, Supergirl on CBS and Arrow, Flash and Legends of Tomorrow on the CW.

Trial & Error - Season Pilot

Trial & Error

, written by Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller, is a comedic take on the hot genre of murder trail documentaries like Making a Murderer. Nick DAgosto stars and John Lithgow star.

Powerless - Season Pilot

Powerless

and Trial & Error join Mike Schurs straight-to-series NBC comedy The Good Place starring Kristen and Ted Danson, from Universal TV. The network is yet to give series orders to comedy pilots from its sister studio, with the multi-camera Marlon and single-camera Tracy Wigfield high on the list of hopefuls. On the drama side, the network has straight-to-series orders to a Taken prequel and the Oz-themed Emerald City.

Here are descriptions of NBCs newly picked up comedy series:

POWERLESS (single camera)

STUDIO: Warner Bros TV

TEAM: Ben Queen (w, ep), Michael Patrick Jann (d, ep)

LOGLINE: In the first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Vanessa Hudgens plays Emi

Powerless - Season Pilot

ly, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. Its when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult hero in her own right  even if its just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesnt always require superpowers.

CAST: Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, Alan Tudyk, Christina Kirk

Story continues

TRIAL & ERROR (fka The Trail; single camera)

STUDIO: Barge Productions & Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros TV

TEAM: Jeff Astrof (w, ep), Matt Miller (w, ep), Jeffrey Blitz (d)

LOGLINE: In this outrageous fish-out-of-water comedy, bright-eyed New York lawyer Josh Segal

Trial & Error - Season Pilot

heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, rollercizing poetry professor (John Lithgow) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty. Making a Murderer can be funny!

CAST: Nick DAgosto, Steven Boyer, John Lithgow, Sherri Shepherd, Jayma Mays, Krysta Rodriguez

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Dolly Parton Holiday Special Sequel Set At NBC

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By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) - How many people survive after emergency surgery is one measure of the quality of care they have access to, and post-surgery death rates in low- and middle-income countries suggest quality needs to be better, researchers say. Using mortality rates within 24 hours and 30 days after emergency abdominal surgery as a measure, the study covered 58 countries and found risk of death was three times higher in low-income compared to high-income nations. Safety practices at the time of surgery are now embedded in high-income settings, which have the resources to plan and deliver them, said study coauthor Dr. Aneel Bhangu, from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. They are less routinely used in low and middle income countries, due to a lack of resources and training in safety cultures, which may include equipment sterility, availability of antibiotics, and type of skin preparation used at the time of surgery, he told Reuters Health by email. Around the time of surgery, lack of critical care facilities and imaging due to resources may also affect outcome adversely, Bhangu said. For the study, 357 medical centers reported data on more than 10,000 patients receiving emergency abdominal surgery over a six-month period in 2014, not including women undergoing cesarean section. Many surgeries involved the appendix or gallstones. Sixty percent of the patient records collected came from high-income countries like the U.S., U.K. and Sweden, while the rest came from middle-income countries like Egypt and low-income countries like Mozambique. There were 174 deaths within 24 hours of surgery and 404 deaths within the following 30 days. In the first 24 hours, mortality rates were about 1 percent in high-income countries, 2 percent in middle-income countries and 3.4 percent in low-income countries. By the 30-day mark, mortality rates were 4.5 percent, 6 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. Trauma leading to surgery was more common in lower income countries, according to the results in the British Journal of Surgery. There is a lack of safe and affordable surgery in low- and middle-income countries, Bhangu said. This means that patients can take some days to get to hospital, or may choose to avoid medical treatment in the first instance due to cost, he said. In total, this may be creating the situation where diseases are more advanced when the patient reaches the operating theater. Some strategies, like using a surgical safety checklist, may be effective in high and low-income settings, or may be a marker of safer hospital systems, he said. Given the lack of essential resources and immediate availability of highly trained providers of all cadres, including technicians, nurses, physicians assistants, physicians and surgeons, surgery is more dangerous in many low-income countries than it is in higher income countries, said Dr. Barclay Stewart of the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not part of the new study. We all must advocate for greater global attention on the extreme inequity that is represented by the lack of emergency and surgical care in low-income countries, Stewart told Reuters Health by email. This is particularly true for those of us who work in the global health community, which is often focused on highly politicized conditions that exact a lesser toll on societies than conditions that require emergency and surgical care. Living in richer countries is associated with increased survival in general, not just for emergency surgery, said Dr. Mark G. Shrime, director of research in the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School in Boston who also was not part of the new study. Currently, 5 billion people around the world don't have this sort of access to available, safe, affordable and timely care, Shrime told Reuters Health by email, and, of those who do, 80 million people impoverish themselves every year trying to get surgery. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1NqTkqG British Journal of Surgery, online May 4, 2016.
Not every school can be blessed with a quality team name for sportsing it up. Heck, one of the high schools I went to had their teams named the Celtics, but with viking logos on the uniforms and walls of the gym. (Thanks, rural Manitoba!) The Arkansas School for the Deaf does not have this problem because they have the coolest team name in the history of time. Theyre known as: The Arkansas School for the Deaf Leopards. Its the sort of glorious name that towers over its competition.

The legend of this team name has now reached the point where the schools path has intersected with its hair metal equivalent. (You might think the Def Lep inspired the branding, but its apparently been around since FDR was in office.) Nudged on by a Change.org petition started by Cary Tyson, Def Leppard and the Deaf Leopards met at the bands Little Rock concert that had fellow dad-friendly bands like REO Speedwagon and Tesla in tow. Scheduling prevented Def Leppard from visiting the schools iconic scoreboard, so the scoreboard came to them.

Arkansas' Deaf Leopards  Thanks for coming out to the show! #DefLeppard pic.twitter.com/0LzZZvXAqI  Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) May 12, 2016

Not Pictured: The students pouring some sugar on Def Leppard. Theres always next time, we suppose.

(via Change.org)
* Minority government recommends buying 27 F-35A jets

* No date yet for final decision by parliament

* Decision a blow to Boeing and Airbus (Adds comments, detail)

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard

COPENHAGEN, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin Corp is set to win a $3 billion order from Denmark for 27 F-35A stealth fighters, after a recommendation by the Danish government on Thursday.

While a final decision by the minority government could still be weeks or even months away, the recommendation to buy F-35A jets marks a setback for Boeing Co, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensive last-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evading F-35A jets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

The government expects to spend about 20 billion Danish crowns ($3.1 billion) on the purchase, Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said on Thursday, or about 740 million crowns per plane.

"The fighter jets are central to our participation in international missions in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, in Libya and recently in Iraq in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State)," Rasmussen told a news conference.

Lockheed Martin is expected to deliver the 27 jets between 2021 and 2027, he added. The plane will replace the Denmark's fleet of F-16s delivered by Lockheed Martin almost 40 years ago.

"In recent years we've seen how our existing F-16 jets have been in operation more often, for example when Russian planes have come too close to Danish airspace," Rasmussen said.

The selection by Denmark's minority Liberal government follows intense public debate about the cost of modernizing the country's air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament, where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint.

The government did not specify when the final decision would be made, but said enough time would be given to answer any questions from the parties backing the minority government.

Story continues

Top Lockheed Martin and Boeing executives had planned to present their planes at a public hearing in Copenhagen on Friday, but were later advised by Washington not to participate.

Airbus Group said it still planned to attend the hearing to present the Eurofighter Typhoon - a third jet under consideration - and called for a "healthy and transparent" public debate. The German government is expected to throw its weight behind that bid by sending defence state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence.

A Lockheed Martin spokesman welcomed the selection.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Denmark's government would recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 fighters.

($1 = 6.5217 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard; additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Jane Merriman and Mark Potter)
When it comes to selecting a specialty within engineering, the options are as varied as the colleges offering the disciplines. There's mechanical, chemical, electrical and many others, making it tough sometimes for college applicants and students who want to build and design things decide on a focus.

Experts in engineering -- which has grown in popularity at the undergraduate level in recent years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics -- say there's a benefit for students who know in the beginning of their college application process what type of engineering they want to study, as opposed to trying to switch majors during the latter half of undergrad.

At Villanova University, prospective students must indicate what type of engineering they'd like to study in their applications but can freely switch between disciplines throughout freshman year, says Randy Weinstein, a professor of chemical engineering and associate dean of academic affairs in the school's college of engineering.

[Find out how to prepare for college classes as a STEM major.]

By sophomore year, if students are still wavering, they'll risk not graduating in four years.

"They can change after that, but then they're going to be behind," he says.

Only 59 percent of first-time, full-time college students who started at four-year schools in fall 2007 graduated within six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And a longer time in school can lead to increased student loan debt.

To get started on the right foot, prospective students who are trying to figure out which type of engineering best fits them can build a few devices and connect with national organizations, experts say.

"Our admissions team has a number of websites that they recommend," says Sharon Wood, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas--Austin, which also requires college applicants to indicate on their applications a specific field within engineering in which they'd like to major.

Story continues

One of those sites is tryengineering.org.

"It gives students a feel for the different fields of engineering, what type of job opportunities are available in each field," she says.

[Discover how women and minorities can find colleges that offer STEM support.]

College applicants can also connect with organizations such as the National Academy of Engineering and the American Society for Engineering Education for guidance, says Gary May, dean of the college of engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. "All these different engineering professional organizations have pre-college outreach," he says.

Many colleges as well offer programs that help high schoolers learn about different aspects of engineering.

At the University of Texas--Austin, prospective students can participate in information sessions to learn about various disciplines.

"They get to meet with other prospective students, they get to meet with our current students, our advisors, and this gives them a chance to ask questions and get direct answers," says Wood.

Georgia Tech has the Summer Engineering Institute, for underrepresented minorities in high school, and Villanova also has summer learning opportunities.

Weinstein encourages applicants to look into Project Lead the Way, which brings curriculums for science, technology, engineering and math to elementary, middle and high schools around the U.S., and the FIRST Robotics Competition. The competition allows teens to build and program robots that compete against each other.

[Learn about the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.]

He says the best way to figure out which type of engineering you like best is to get your hands dirty.

"Buy a drone and see if you could do something different with it. Can you go fishing with it?" he says. "Buy a chemistry kit and see if you can figure out a way to waterproof your iPhone."

High schoolers should, "see what it is you like to do and like to solve," Weinstein says.

For 21-year-old Bowen Brown, his childhood activities set him up for his college major.

"When I was little, I liked to play with video games, and also magnets and things like that. So I was kind of interested in electronics but also like the physics of the electrical engineering," says Brown, who's now an electrical engineering major at Villanova.

After completing an engineering summer camp run by Johns Hopkins University before starting ninth grade, he knew what type of engineering he wanted to study. "I picked the engineering from that camp," he says.

No matter what aspect of engineering college applicants decide on, it will enable them to have a successful career, says Weinstein. Students in engineering learn to problem solve and think creatively, which can lead to working as a Wall Street analyst, consultant or other jobs, he says.

"An engineering education allows you to do anything after you graduate," Weinstein says, "including being an engineer in your discipline."

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

Delece Smith-Barrow is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering graduate schools. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dsmithbarrow@usnews.com.
FireEye Posts Fiscal 1Q16 Results: Why Did the Stock Fall 19%?

(Continued from Prior Part)

FireEyes subscription revenues grew more than 50%

Previously in the series, we touched briefly on FireEyes (FEYE) performance in fiscal 1Q16. Now lets see how much revenue FireEye generated from products and subscriptions that quarter.

In fiscal 1Q16, FireEyes product revenue fell 16% to $33.7 million. Subscription and services revenue increased 57.7% to $134.3 million. Dave DeWalt, FireEyes current CEO (chief executive officer), said, The shift from appliance-based solutions to subscriptions and cloud-based security is happening faster than even we anticipated.

This shift to cloud services has impacted the companys revenue. Its product revenues are billed at the time of shipment. On the other hand, its cloud services revenues are recurring and flow over the duration of the contract, which varies from one to three years.

The SMAC (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud) revolution in the current IT (information technology) landscape urged leading technology players such as Microsoft (MSFT), IBM (IBM), and Oracle (ORCL) to rapidly move toward the cloud.

In fiscal 1Q16, FireEyes billings increased 23% to $186 million on the back of growth in the companys cloud-based offerings, especially threat intelligence, cloud email, and FaaS (Framework as a Service) capabilities. FaaS and email threat prevention solutions fall under stand-alone product subscriptions. In fiscal 2015, stand-alone product subscriptions contributed approximately 26% to the companys overall platform billings of $540 million, as you can see in the above presentation. FireEye expects stand-alone product subscriptions to increase to 35% in fiscal 2016.

FireEyes move toward a subscription model will improve cash flows

Industry analysts are wary about FireEyes changing business model. Rob Owens, an analyst for Pacific Crest, believes theres a lack of visibility in the model as FireEyes business model is changing.

Story continues

Although FireEyes transition to a subscription-based business model has impacted its product revenues, in the long term its likely to improve the companys cash flows. The company is yet to post a profit. It aims to record a profit by 2018, primarily by cost control.

Investors who want to gain exposure to FireEye can consider investing in the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW). IYW invests ~49% of its holdings in the application software space. It invests ~0.06% of its holdings in FireEye.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
Analyzing Nokia's 1Q16 Results: What It Means for Investors

(Continued from Prior Part)

Sales fell 8% YoY

Sales from Nokias (NOK) Networks business fell 8% YoY (year-over-year) in 1Q16. The decline was primarily driven by Ultra Broadband Networks. It fell 12% YoY. According to Nokia, the decline in revenues was consistent with the firms outlook for a greater than normal seasonal decline in the wireless infrastructure market in Q1 2016.

The companys IP Networks and Applications grew YoY. Driven by an improved product mix in Ultra Broadband, IP Networks, and Applications, Nokia posted a strong non-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) gross margin of 38.3% in 1Q16. The non-IFRS operating margin in 1Q16 rose by 2.8 percentage points to 6.5%. It was driven by a higher non-IFRS gross margin with a continued focus on execution excellence.

Nokias networks business

Nokias networks business segment enables operators, enterprises, and governments to meet the increasing demand of the connected world and capture business opportunities. Its mobile networks business delivers end-to-end mobile broadband products and services to help customers adapt to meet the increasing demand for content and connectivity. The European (EFA) (FEP) company aims to deliver a reliable mobile broadband experience.

Nokia is also focusing on building large-scale and flexible network infrastructures for service providers and webscale enterprises by bringing together IP Routing, Optical Transport, and IP Video with software and services to manage the transformation with end-to-end ultra-broadband solutions.

Nokia has a market cap of $30.9 billion. In contrast, Oracle (ORCL) and NTT DoCoMo (DCM) have market caps of $165.9 billion and $100.5 billion, respectively.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
The life of a regular Domino's customer was saved by the pizza chain after staff grew concerned that he hadn't placed an order with them in 11 days.



Oregon Live reports that Tracey Hamblen, the Salem store's assistant manager, decided to call 911 after customer Kirk Alexander  who has been ordering pizza from them for over a decade  went quiet.



Before calling authorities, Hamblen had even travelled to Alexander's address where lights and a television were on but no-one answered the door.



Sheriff's office spokesman Lt. Chris Baldridge said Alexander, 48, was found with a life-threatening medical condition in his home, and was unable to get help when Marion County sheriff's deputies arrived, according to Oregon Live.







Jenny Seiber, another assistant manager at Domino's, said that Alexander doesn't always order pizza from the store, also choosing pasta, salad and wings.



Alexander  who is said to suffer from severe health problems  is currently in a stable condition at Salem Hospital.
Donald Trumps campaign denounced Thursday horrible statements made by his longtime butler Anthony Senecal calling for President Obama to be killed.

To all my friends on FB, just a short note to you on our pus headed president !!!! This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!! Senecal wrote in a post on Wednesday, made public by Mother Jones. Instead he still remains in office doing every thing he can to gut the America we all know and love !!!!!

The Trump campaign has criticized Senecals comments, calling them horrible.

Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years, but nevertheless we totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him, according to a statement released Thursday by a campaign spokesperson.

The Secret Service has said it will investigate Senecals statements.

The U.S. Secret Service is aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation, agency spokesman Robert Hoback wrote in a statement, according to the Hill.

Senecal, who is 74 and now the unofficial historian at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, confirmed to Mother Jones that he authored the Facebook posts. In other postings, the butler called for a second American revolution, referred to Obama a Kenyan fraud, and said the President should be hung for treason.

Senecal has also claimed on Facebook that Obama is a Muslim, and said Muslims are invading our country.
The Secret Service said Thursday it was investigating statements made by Donald Trumps longtime butler Anthony Senecal on Facebook calling for President Obama to be killed.

The U.S. Secret Service is aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation, agency spokesman Robert Hoback wrote in a statement, according to the Hill.

Senecal, who is 74 and now the unofficial historian at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, said in Facebook posts that Obama should be executed. He confirmed to Mother Jones that he authored the posts.

To all my friends on FB, just a short note to you on our pus headed president !!!! This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!! Senecal said in one post on Wednesday, which was visible only to his Facebook friends but was published by Mother Jones. Instead he still remains in office doing every thing he can to gut the America we all know and love !!!!!

The Trump campaign responded Thursday, criticizing the comments. Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years, but nevertheless we totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him, a campaign spokesperson said in a statement.

In other posts, Senecal called for a second American revolution, reflected Trumps birther arguments in 2011 and referred to Obama a Kenyan fraud.

Looks like that sleezey bastard zero (O) is trying to out maneuver Congress again, if the truth be known this prick needs to be hung for treason!!! Senecal said in a Facebook post from April 2015. He claimed Obama is a Muslim and last year, he wrote, look at the number of goat screwing muzzies he is degrading our government with !!!!! The butler also said on Facebook there are to [sic] many fkn muzzies in America and said Muslims are invading our country.

Story continues

Senecal was Trumps personal butler for 17 years and closely followed the real estate magnates tastes and proclivities. In a New York Times profile, Senecal said Trump likes his steak well-done and does his own hair.

Senecal retired as Trumps butler in 2009 but he told Mother Jones he continues to give tours at the Mar-a-Lago estate.

A spokeswoman for the Trump campaign told Mother Jones, This individual has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for many years.

[Mother Jones]
New Delhi (AFP) - Donald Trump may face a long, tough road to the White House, but some fans in India at least are pulling together to try and get him divine assistance.

A far-right Hindu group held prayers this week in the Indian capital to support the presumptive Republican presidential nominee whom they hailed a fighter and a saviour of humanity.

Vishnu Gupta said his fringe Hindu Sena outfit backed the US billionaire's suggestions to temporarily ban Muslims from travelling to America and to crack down on extremist groups.

"We are great fans of Trump. We really like his thoughts on various subjects," Gupta told AFP.

"We totally support Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the US. In fact Mr Modi should take a similar stand," he said, referring to Indian Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump made his comments during the Republican race underway in the United States to decide his party's candidate for the country's November presidential elections.

The real estate tycoon has also during his campaign made fun of Indian call centre workers and accused foreigners of stealing American jobs.

But Gupta is undeterred, and this week held a prayer session on a blanket in a New Delhi protest park with a handful of devotees.

Together they lit a ritual fire alongside pictures and posters of Trump sporting a red dot or Hindu bindi on his forehead, together with posters of Hanuman -- the Hindu god of strength and courage.

"America needs a firebrand leader like Trump. If Trump goes on to become president, he can help India fight Islamic terror," Gupta said.

"Trump is the only one who can save humanity."
By Teis Jensen

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish wind farm developer DONG Energy [IPO-DONG.CO], which analysts value as high as $13 billion (9 billion pounds), said on Thursday it plans to list its shares on the Copenhagen stock exchange this summer.

Having built more than a quarter of the world's offshore wind farms, the company is a major player in Britain and Germany and has recently opened offices in the United States and Taiwan to cater for new growth markets.

With a potential valuation as high as 85 billion Danish crowns (9 billion pounds), Dong Energy is set to be the biggest company to raise money on European exchanges so far this year and would be the biggest ever to try its luck in Copenhagen.

At least 15 percent of the shares will be sold in the initial public offering (IPO) and the Danish government, which in 2014 sold an 18 percent stake to a group of investors led by Goldman Sachs (GS.N), will keep 50.1 percent.

Since it was formed from the merger of a Danish state oil and gas entity and five regional utilities ten years ago, the company has been through a massive transformation to become the world's largest offshore wind farm developer.

"The whole energy sector is moving from black to green and on the back of that we have also transformed DONG Energy," chief executive Henrik Poulsen said at a press meeting on Thursday.

Last year more than half of Dong's operating profit was still generated from its oil and gas business, but Poulsen said that was bound to change. This week, DONG divested its Danish gas distribution grid for 2.3 billion crowns.

With a market capitalisation potential of around 11 billion euros, Dong would become a mid-size player in the European utilities industry . With just a third of last year's earnings coming from its offshore wind business it cannot be seen as a renewable energy pure-play.

DONG has a pipeline of major wind projects in Britain and Germany, including the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea 1 which will become the world's largest offshore wind farm. Poulsen said he expects a rapid expansion of the technology outside Northern Europe.

Story continues

"The technology has been accelerating in recent years, growing at 20-30 percent," he said, adding he expects that growth curve to accelerate as new markets open up.

Dutch Sif Group (SIFG_w.AS), a maker of steel tubes used in offshore energy platforms, had a muted debut in Amsterdam on Thursday, where its shares traded just above its listing price.

Sif's IPO process took more than a year because of a cautious mood among investors towards companies linked to offshore energy.

DONG did not provide a listing date but normally an intention to float is followed by a prospectus within a couple of weeks and a flotation another couple of weeks after that.

DONG posted a 35 percent rise in first quarter core operating profit last month mainly driven by its offshore wind business.

JP Morgan (JPM.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and Nordea (NDA.ST) are global co-ordinators at the listing while Citigroup (C.N), Danske Bank (DANSKE.CO), UBS (UBSG.S) , RBC (RY.TO), Rabobank [RABO.UL] and ABG Sundal Collier (ASC.OL) are also involved.

($1 = 6.5228 Danish crowns)

(1 euro = 7.4376 Danish crowns)

(Editing by Mark Potter and Elaine Hardcastle)
Windhoek (AFP) - Coca-Cola will stop production of all canned drinks in Namibia and has warned consumers of possible shortages, the company said Thursday, as a regional drought worsens across southern Africa.

Businesses in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, have been ordered by city authorities to cut water consumption by 30 percent -- underlining the impact of a drought that has also gripped Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.

"We will cease the manufacturing of all canned products locally -- substituting them with imported canned beverages from South Africa," Frik Oosthuizen, head of Coca-Cola in Namibia, said in a statement to AFP.

"This decision has been taken as a direct result of the water crisis that is facing the Central region of Namibia and we are making every effort to continue to supply our customers."

Production of all drinks in glass bottles will also be halted at the Coca-Cola factory in Windhoek, but will continue at its plant in the north of the country.

Plastic bottled drinks will still be produced in Windhoek.

A notice posted by US-based Coca-Cola in Namibian newspapers last week warned customers of possible "sporadic shortages country wide".

"In the short term, prices will not be adjusted," it added. "We are working on alternatives to ensure sustained full supply."

Josua Amukugo, Windhoek municipality spokesman, told AFP that the city "highly appreciates the decision to implement our call to use water wisely."

Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have all issued drought alerts in recent months with UN World Food Programme (WFP) saying that millions of people have been affected.
By Aamir Saeed ISLAMABAD (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Pakistan is spending $4 billion a year on cotton imports to support its ailing textile industry, after erratic rainfall and drought in the country's cotton fields slammed growers and the country's economy, officials say. Bad weather has hurt both the quality and quantity of cotton harvested, leaving the country's textile producers  who account for almost nine percent of GDP  struggling as they face lack of supply and higher prices for imports, they say. "We are importing cotton from India and some other countries to fulfill our demand and this has increased to 20 percent in just six months," said Mehmood Aslam, operations manager at Fazal Group, one of the oldest and largest textile groups in Pakistan, with operations in cotton ginning, yarn and fabric manufacturing. He said turning to imports had led to a rise of up to 30 percent in the cost of the company's raw materials and hit the company's profits. The quality of the Pakistani cotton still available also is declining as a result of the poor conditions, he said. "The local cotton contains a lot of trash and other contaminations due to the extreme weather conditions. Therefore its ginning yield has fallen and production costs have escalated," he said. He said problems sourcing good quality cotton and ongoing energy shortages in Pakistan had reduced his company's exports of finished textiles from more than 100 shipping containers a month over much of the last two years to about 30 containers today. "We can't meet the deadline of 30 days to deliver our orders and the majority of our clients have turned to India, Bangladesh and China to get their orders done in time," he said. He urged the government to offer reductions in sales tax to help the struggling industry. 'MAJOR BLOW' TO HARVESTS Pakistan's cotton production has fallen from a predicted 15.5 million bales this year to 10.9 million bales as a result of erratic rainfall, drought in some cotton-growing areas and poor seed quality, according to the Federal Committee Cotton on Agriculture (FCC), a department of the Ministry of Textile Industry. Pakistan's Punjab province produces around 85 percent of the country's cotton, with Sindh province growing much of the rest. Khalid Abdullah, the countrys Cotton Commissioner and vice president of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, said the country will spend around $4 billion on import of the cotton to meet its domestic demands this year. Low prices for cotton last year helped drive down production, he said, and weather extremes related to climate change, as well as insect attacks, also hit harvests. "Climate change and extreme weather patterns are a major blow to the crop," he said. Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world, behind China, India, and the United States, and has the third-largest spinning capacity in Asia after China and India. The cotton industry provides employment to some 40 percent of Pakistan's industrial workforce, according to a report published by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan. It says Pakistan also earns around $12 billion annually from export of cotton and cotton products. NEW SEEDS, LESS WATER To deal with worsening drought and falling cotton harvests, Pakistani scientists at the Central Cotton Research Institute are developing 45 new drought-tolerant and heat-resistant cotton seed varieties with the help of private seed companies. The aim is to not only keep up cotton production but to reduce the amount of irrigation water needed to grow cotton. Khalid Mahmood, director of the Cotton Research Institute Faisalabad, said the new seed varieties have been planted at 22 locations in Punjab and Sindh provinces on a trial basis. Trials will continue another two years, he said, then the seeds are expected to come onto the market once they are approved by the Punjab Seed Corporation, a semi autonomous body of the Punjab government that will look at their quality and ability to resist extreme weather patterns, he said. He said the varieties in trials are producing 40 maund of cotton per acre  at least a third higher than normal cotton harvests  and cutting water use by 30 percent. "So far, we are satisfied with the outcome," he said. "We hope the new seed varieties will help increase the overall cotton production around 20 percent and save a lot of foreign exchange reserves being spent on import of cotton," he said. Still, the new varieties will offer no help to farmers or textile manufacturers struggling this year, Aslam said. He sees no hope of getting a good crops or higher quality cotton for his company this year. "We are faced with imminent challenge while the government's strategies all seem to be for 2020 and onwards," he said. (Reporting by Aamir Saeed; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)
mexico oil

Pipeline theft in Mexico rose 52% in 2015, according to an Associated Press report.

The spike came after a 43.7% annual increase in 2014, according to a sustainability report by Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company.

And while the northeast section of the country  the site of competition between the vicious Zetas and Gulf cartels  was believed to have the most theft, research by El Daily Post indicates that pipelines in central Mexico saw even more theft in recent years.

"Clearly, both Pemex and the federal government need to keep up the efforts to mitigate the infrastructures vulnerability and strengthen the security forces capabilities," El Daily Post's Dwight Dyer writes.

Data on oil losses given to El Daily Post by the Mexican government earlier this year revealed that a pipeline running through Zetas territory had lost 3.86 million barrels of oil between 2009 and 2015. Circumstantial evidence suggests that much of the oil was likely lost to criminal activity.

Documents released by the Mexican government in early 2014 revealed that oil theft affected every Mexican state, with Los Zetas territory in Tamaulipas and Veracruz states experiencing the most rapid growth.

In Tamaulipas state, in northeast Mexico close to Gulf of Mexico oil production, authorities found that a cell of the deadly Zetas gang was organizing oil robbery and transporting the crude into Texas, journalist Ioan Grillo reported in 2011.

A new batch of data given to El Daily Post by the government, however, shows that over the same period losses at a pipeline running from a refinery in Salamanca, Guanajuato, to a storage facility in Guadalajara reached 5.6 million barrels  45% more than what was lost at the pipeline cutting through Zetas territory, says Dyer.

Mexico oil pipeline

Story continues

Losses from the Salamanca-Guadalajara pipeline were steady from 2009 to 2011, Dyer notes, before rising significantly between 2011 and 2014. After 2014 losses dropped off considerably, but remained well above losses incurred prior to 2009.

Theft in the Salamanca-Guadalajara corridor is also driven by organized crime, Dyer notes, but the two main culprits  the Knights Templar cartel and the rival Jalisco New Generation Cartel  didn't expand into the area until after 2012. Carjacking, extortion, and gang-related killing also started rising after that point.

The losses from the Salamanca-Guadalajara pipeline were likely in large part caused by the Knights Templar cartel, which, according to Dyer, "perfected Los Zetas business model."

stratfor mexico

Oil theft soared during the first three years of current President Enrique Pena Nieto's term, 2012 to 2015, amounting to 4.6 million barrels, much more than the 1 million barrels total stolen during the final four years of his predecessor's term.

And while theft levels have declined, they haven't fallen to levels seen prior to Pena Nieto's election.

In 2014, Pemex lost $1.29 billion from pipeline tapping and other forms of theft. According to a 2014 report from Vice, the amount stolen is as much as 10,000 barrels a day.

mexico oil

They can [arrest] a few [of us], but there will always be others, a member of Los Zetas cartel told Vice in 2014. As long as they move gas through tubes, this is going to continue.

While the Mexican government has recently increased jail terms for convicted oil thieves, observers have argued that harsher penalties are unlikely to deter thieves as long as they have little expectation of getting caught.

Moreover, fragmentation of Mexicos powerful criminal groups has left behind many smaller groups that dont have the wherewithal to pursue international drug trafficking. As a result, Insight Crime notes, those groups have turned to domestic activities, oil theft being one of the most lucrative.

NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs





More From Business Insider


The Hague (AFP) - Dutch-Turkish journalist Ebru Umar, arrested in Turkey last month after criticising President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but later allowed to leave, said Thursday she is moving to a secret address in the Netherlands for her own safety.

"I'm going to live at a secret address," she told popular daily tabloid De Telegraaf in an interview, after meeting public prosecutors in Amsterdam as well as the National Anti-Terror and Safety Coordinator (NCTV).

Umar was briefly arrested at her holiday home in the western resort town of Kusadasi in Turkey two-and-a-half weeks ago after tweeting a comment critical of Erdogan.

She was questioned for 16 hours and then released, and was not allowed to leave the country and had to report to police twice a week.

But after an intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic flurry Umar was allowed to leave Turkey late on Tuesday and flew back to the Netherlands.

"The bottom line is that people will continue to recognise me (in the Netherlands), continue to threaten and continue to insult me," Umar told the paper.

The well-known feminist added that she would not return to Turkey "which is not safe", neither will she live in her Amsterdam-West home -- which had been burgled while she was kept in Turkey.

Umar who could still face charges in Turkey and will have to await the outcome of a judicial inquiry, called the charges against her "ridiculous".

In the meantime Umar, who is a columnist for the Metro newspaper, agreed to tell authorities of any public appearances.

"I'm paying a high price, but that doesn't mean my life got worse. I'm just getting back another (type of) life," she said.

Umar's treatment has sparked anger in the liberal-minded Netherlands, and Umar herself previously tweeted out a video with a message of thanks for the "heart-warming" support.

Trials in Turkey for insulting Erdogan have multiplied since his election to the presidency in August 2014, with nearly 2,000 such cases currently open.
Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte wants to change the constitution to lift restrictive foreign investment laws as part of his plan to boost the economy, a senior aide said Thursday.

He also plans to spend more to address crumbling infrastructure and make it easier to do business overall, Carlos Dominguez, widely tipped to win a cabinet post, told reporters.

"We will ensure the attractiveness of the Philippines to foreign direct investment by addressing the restrictive economic provisions of the constitution," he added.

Broad goals of Duterte's economic strategy was unveiled three days after the long-time mayor of the southern city of Davao won a landslide presidential election victory. He is due to be sworn into office on June 30.

Despite strong economic growth during President Benigno Aquino's six-year term, one of Asia's worst rich-poor divides did not improve and one in four Filipinos still live on $1.30 a day or even less.

Critics say part of the problem was inadequate investment and job creation, partly due to foreign investment restrictions in the Philippine constitution.

Foreign entities cannot own more than 40 percent equity in certain businesses, including those requiring franchises granted by parliament, such as aviation and telecommunications.

Some economic sectors are outrightly off limits to foreign investment, including most retail activities, broadcasting, domestic shipping and pharmaceuticals.

Foreigners also may not own land though they can enter into long-term leases.

Dominguez said the proposed changes would be done by a constitutional convention to be called by Duterte.

However he gave no timetable nor provide specifics.

Dominguez, a wealthy businessman based in Davao, said infrastructure spending would rise to 5.0 percent of total economic output, compared with a 2.3 percent average in the past 30 years.

The pledge would addresses monstrous traffic jams, crumbling rail systems and poor telephone and Internet services that, along with his hardline anti-crime position, drove the Duterte election campaign.

Story continues

Global credit rating outfit Standard and Poor's warned last month that poor infrastructure could cloud the Philippines' efforts to raise to $3,000 the average annual income for every Filipino next year.

Dominguez also said Duterte would make doing business in the country a simpler proposition like in Davao, where licenses "are given in the shortest possible time".

He said the government will also revise the income tax rate to bring relief to employees earning half a million pesos (about $10,700) a year or less.

These earning that amount or more are taxed 32 percent.

A cash transfer programme to the poor championed by Aquino would also be expanded, Dominguez said.

About 4.3 million poor households now receive monthly cash grants of up to $30 to encourage them to keep children in school and help pregnant women receive proper medical care.
As the first-quarter earnings season draws to a close, we take note of the impressive bottom-line performances posted by many of the airline stocks. On taking a closer look at the releases, it is clear that cheap oil has notably benefitted the airlines bottom lines.

It is a well-documented fact that cheap oil has helped airline stocks cut operating expenses to a great extent. The substantial savings has thus helped the carriers boost their shareholder-friendly (dividends, buybacks) and employee friendly (profit sharing) activities.

Is Cheap Oil to Be Thanked?

The first quarter of 2016 has seen major airline companies like Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL, Southwest Airlines Co. LUV, American Airlines Group Inc. AAL, United Continental Holdings, Inc. UAL and Alaska Air Group ALK report better-than-expected earnings. Meanwhile, we can take a look at the factors that might have brought about the earnings beats in this quarter.

Oil prices have been weak for over 18 months. Given the extended period of the slump, it is quite natural analysts had already taken this major tailwind for airlines into consideration while arriving at their earnings per share estimates. With cheap oil already factored in, we believe that the reason behind the earnings beats lies elsewhere.

Despite the obvious benefit from the plummeting oil prices, the airline industry is not free from headwinds ranging from passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) woes, strengthening of the U.S. dollar and terror attacks. In view of these headwinds, the earnings per share estimates have been trimmed over the past few months. With the bar (pertaining to earnings estimates) being lowered significantly, courtesy the drastic downward revisions, it is of little surprise that most carriers have managed to beat the (highly conservative) Zacks Consensus Estimate in the first quarter.

It is also to be noted that oil prices have recovered to a great extent over the past few months. Currently, oil is hovering around the $45 a barrel mark, reflecting a significant increase from the 12-year low of $26.21 recorded in February. Thus, it is clear that low oil prices have not been the factor behind the outperformance by the airlines this quarter.

Story continues

In spite of the impressive earnings performances in the first quarter, there are a number of headwinds prevalent in the airline space. Lets take a look.

Roadblocks

The main headwind threatening stocks in the space is with respect to a key revenue metric PRASM (a measure of sales relative to capacity for a carrier). As in the past few quarters, this key metric impacted the top line of the carriers in the first quarter too. For instance, sector heavyweights such as Delta, United Continental and JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU reported lower-than-expected revenues in the quarter hurt by unit revenue woes. Lower fuel surcharges on international flights due to weak oil prices have been one of the main reasons behind the persistent decline in PRASM. Consequently, plunging oil prices have become a double-edged sword for carriers.

That PRASM will continue to hurt the stocks going forward too can be made out from the second-quarter projections for the metric. For example, United Continental expects consolidated PRASM to decline in the band of 6.5% to 8.5% for the second quarter while American Airlines forecasts a 6% to 8% drop in the metric. Capacity-related issues have also been an adverse factor.

Moreover, airline stocks have been hurt by the frequent terror attacks which have affected demand to a great extent. The Brussels attacks (in Mar 2016) impacted Deltas top line in the first quarter while the Paris assault had impacted Air France-KLM SAs AFLYY revenues last year. Furthermore, outbreaks of diseases like the Zika virus and disputes similar to the ongoing one between legacy U.S. carriers and their Gulf counterparts pose challenges to the stocks in the airline space.

To Wrap Up

The above write-up clearly suggests that despite the series of earnings beats in the first quarter, the airline space is not free from challenges. We note that despite posting an earnings beat in the first quarter on Apr 26, shares of JetBlue Airways were hurt by the 8% decline in PRASM to 11.35 cents and 7% fall in operating revenue per available seat mile to 12.41 cents. Moreover, the fact that the NYSE ARCA Airline index has declined above 6% over the past month further substantiates the fact that the series of earnings beats in the airline space have failed to cheer investors.

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Edward Snowden on Thursday invoked Martin Luther King Jr.s nonviolent civil disobedience to condemn the U.S. for how it treats whistleblowers, warning that others may not stand up for alleged wrongdoing if they fear punishment.

The former National Security Agency contractor, who in 2013 revealed a trove of classified secrets on the intelligence agencys surveillance programs, defended his leaks as an act of public service while virtually addressing a crowd at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

Martin Luther King brought forth this brand of civil disobedience . . . to create change that could not be ignored, said Snowden, who appeared on a video screen from Russia, where he is living under temporary asylum. If all of the weight is borne by a single individual, you cant build a mass movement because the first one to step forward is put in jail forever.

Snowden had leaked classified documents to journalists to expose the NSAs practice of collecting metadata on millions of phone calls in the U.S. He told the group of Chicago students on Thursday that he would return to the U.S. to face the music if he would be given a fair trial. Snowden says such a trial would not be allowed under the Espionage Act, which he said does not allow defendants to avoid sanction by proving their actions were made in the public interest.

If the government was willing to provide a fair trial, I would want to come home and make my case to a jury, Snowden said. But if the only tune they are playing is an unfair trial . . . is that really something that we would consider to be in Americas interest?

Snowden said whistleblowers serve a critical role to the country and some help provide opportunities to become stronger as a nation.

I dont discount that fact that risks were involved in this, he said [of his leaks]. Living in a free society involves risk. That is not a weakness. That is strength.
When it comes to the student debt crisis, Democrats may be undecided on the best approach to tackling it, but presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is a big part of the problem, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in an interview on Tuesday.

When asked whether she preferred Hillary Clinton's plan for debt-free college or Sen. Bernie Sanders' proposal for free tuition at public colleges, the Massachusetts senator refrained from backing either, and instead pointed to the contrast between the Democrats' vibrant debate on how to reduce the nation's $1.2 trillion student loan debt and the GOP's largely nonexistent one.

"Listen to the debate on the Democratic side  we're talking about, 'Should it be free college or debt-free college?'" Warren said. "That's where we're going back and forth and trying to have a conversation how are we going to pay for it, how do the pieces work to make that happen?"

"Can we just draw the distinction about what it looks like on the other side of the Grand Canyon, where the Republicans are not talking about how to reduce the cost?" Warren continued. "We've got a guy right now who's the nominee who runs , which  at least if you read the lawsuits against it  was just out there to try to rip off students. We've got a Republican Party that consistently blocked refinancing any of the student loan debt. This is the big difference."

Warren brought up presumptive Trump's defunct for-profit enterprise Trump University repeatedly during the interview. The venture is currently the subject of a lawsuit alleging that Trump defrauded thousands of students.

Warren chided the Republican Party for showing little interest in solutions to skyrocketing college costs and for-profit corruption.

"[The Republicans'] basic view is, 'You're on your own,'" Warren said. "And by the way, with the fraudsters out there, watch out."

Story continues

The Democratic debate: Last year, Sanders introduced legislation that would make four-year public universities and colleges tuition-free, financed chiefly by a tax on Wall Street speculation, and Clinton unveiled a "New College Compact," which proposed a plan that would reduce costs for students and allow them to graduate from college without taking on debt, paid for by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy.

Sanders' plan has attracted the attention of some progressives for its simplicity and its declaration of college as a right, while Clinton's more targeted proposal, which offers aid based on the financial profile of students, has earned praise from others as more pragmatic and fair.

Warren's own forays into reducing the cost of college have hewed closer to the "debt-free" language of Clinton's proposals, but it's evident at the moment that she has one priority: Convince the public that no matter how dissatisfied liberal voters may be with Clinton's more incremental approach, it shouldn't lead to indifference about the prospect of a Republican victory.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday in an interview with Mic that the manner in which Donald Trump managed Trump University, his defunct for-profit educational enterprise, renders him unfit to enter the White House.

During a discussion about how to tackle soaring student debt in the United States, the firebrand Democratic senator from Massachusetts slammed the presumptive Republican presidential nominee over the lawsuits he faces for allegedly defrauding thousands of students with his failed educational program, which promised to reveal the secrets behind his real estate savvy.

"We've got a guy right now who's the nominee who runs Trump U, which  at least if you read the lawsuits against it  was just out there to try to rip off students," Warren said.

Read more: Elizabeth Warren Won't Rule Out Being Hillary Clinton's 2016 Vice Presidential Nominee

When asked if Trump's management of Trump University and the allegations that have been brought against him makes him unqualified to be president, Warren responded in the affirmative.

"I absolutely think it makes him unqualified," Warren said. "Look, here's a man who looked around and said, 'What are the profit opportunities? I know, let's get out there and pretend to run a university that's going to tell people how to engage in real estate transactions to make lots of money, let's make lots of representations about what that university is going to do and who the faculty are going to be and what it's going to cover. And then, once we get their money, let's not deliver.'"

Warren said Trump University exemplified a broader trend in Trump's business career of seeking profits unscrupulously.

"That's the kind of thing that says, 'You know, I'll get out there, and everything is about Trump, how to make more money for Trump,'" Warren said. "And the fact that people who are trying to make something out of themselves or trying to get an education get cheated? Heck, that's just so much dirt beneath his feet."

Story continues

In an analysis for U.S. News & World Report in April, two New York attorneys who specialize in fraud and whistleblower law described Trump University as a fundamentally dishonest and exploitative enterprise.

"From the college's inception to the time of its demise  barely a six-year run  Trump's failed venture into higher education plowed a persistent path of fraud and deception, at least from the vantage point of New York and many of the thousands of students who put their faith and their future in the mighty mogul's charge," they wrote.

Trump is going to have to go to trial for fraud cases being brought against him in New York and California, and could potentially end up taking the stand as president-elect if he wins the nomination. It wouldn't be the most promising way to kick off a presidency.
(Updates prices) BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's currency lost ground on Thursday, as investors waited for interim President Michel Temer to outline his policy framework following a Senate decision to put Dilma Rousseff on impeachment trial.

The real, Brazil's currency, weakened 0.8 percent, erasing recent gains after the central bank eased upward pressure on the currency by selling reverse currency swaps for a second day.

Temer, who plans to host a news conference in Brasilia on Thursday afternoon, is expected to propose an overhaul of the nation's pension system at the forefront of his agenda, key advisers told Reuters.

He tapped Henrique Meirelles to be finance minister, giving the former banker the daunting task of fixing public finances and pulling the country out of its worst recession in decades.

"The political transition offers the hope, but not the certainty, of better policies," wrote Alberto Ramos, head of Latin America economic research at Goldman Sachs, in a note.

Senators voted 55 to 22 to put Rousseff on trial, ending more than 13 years of rule by her leftist Workers Party. Chances are small that Rousseff, a 68-year-old economist and former guerrilla fighter, is acquitted in a trial that could last as long as six months, according to analysts.

Elsewhere in Latin America, the Chilean peso weakened as commodities prices fell.

Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2000 GMT: Stock indexes daily % YTD % Latest change change MSCI Emerging Markets 805.97 -0.25 1.74 MSCI LatAm 2219.81 0.33 20.91 Brazil Bovespa 53346.45 1.1 23.06 Mexico IPC 45685.82 0.39 6.30 Chile IPSA 4015.10 0.37 9.10 Chile IGPA 19722.35 0.36 8.65 Argentina MerVal 13402.25 -0.99 14.79 Colombia IGBC 10005.74 1.12 17.06 Venezuela IBC 15368.74 0.02 5.35 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.4720 -0.80 13.65 Mexico peso 17.9710 0.11 -4.12 Chile peso 685.2 -0.76 3.58 Colombia peso 2946 -0.30 7.58 Peru sol 3.326 0.09 2.65 Argentina peso (interbank) 14.1500 0.42 -8.25 Argentina peso (parallel) 14.65 -0.34 -2.59 (Reporting by Silvio Cascione; Additional reporting by Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein in Mexico City; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Diane Craft)
BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian equities and currency lost ground on Thursday, tracking global markets lower, as investors awaited for interim President Michel Temer to outline his policy framework following a Senate decision to put Dilma Rousseff on impeachment trial.

Gains in shares of JBS SA, which rose 14 percent after announcing a plan to list international operations in New York, helped limit losses in the benchmark Bovespa stock index . The index seesawed most of the session.

The real, Brazil's currency, weakened about 1 percent, erasing recent gains after the central bank eased upward pressure on the currency by selling reverse currency swaps for a second day.

Temer, who plans to host a news conference in Brasilia at 3 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), is expected to propose an overhaul of the nation's pension system at the forefront of his agenda, key advisers told Reuters.

He tapped Henrique Meirelles to be finance minister, giving the former banker the daunting task of fixing public finances and pulling the country out of its worst recession in decades.

"The political transition offers the hope, but not the certainty, of better policies," wrote Alberto Ramos, head of Latin America economic research at Goldman Sachs, in a note.

Senators voted 55 to 22 to put Rousseff on trial, ending more than 13 years of rule by her leftist Workers Party. Chances are small that Rousseff, a 68-year-old economist and former guerrilla fighter, is acquitted in a trial that could last as long as six months, according to analysts.

Elsewhere in Latin America, the Chilean peso weakened as commodities prices fell. Stocks were little changed in Mexico, although rose in Colombia and Chile.

Shares in state-controlled lender Banco do Brasil SA dropped as much as 5.6 percent after posting the worst quarterly results in seven years.

Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1534 GMT: MSCI Emerging Markets 804.53 -0.43 1.74 MSCI LatAm 2193.57 -0.85 20.91 Brazil Bovespa 52679.38 -0.16 21.52 Mexico IPC 45501.94 -0.01 5.87 Chile IPSA 4006.55 0.16 8.87 Chile IGPA 19685.52 0.18 8.45 Argentina MerVal 13349.29 -1.38 14.34 Colombia IGBC 9983.61 0.9 16.80 Venezuela IBC 15367.21 0.01 5.34 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.4947 -1.42 12.94 Mexico peso 17.9900 0.00 -4.22 Chile peso 683.1 -0.45 3.89 Colombia peso 2937.67 -0.02 7.88 Peru sol 3.3309 -0.06 2.49 Argentina peso (interbank) 14.2075 0.02 -8.62 Argentina peso (parallel) 14.62 -0.14 -2.39 (Reporting by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Emerging Global Advisors, the exchange trade funds issuer behind the EGShares family of ETFs, will be acquired by Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

In a statement released Wednesday, Columbia Threadneedle Investments announced an agreement for Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC to purchase New York-based Emerging Global Advisors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is expected to be finalized later this year.

With $892 million in assets, EGA has an established presence in the smart beta marketplace. It is the investment adviser to the EGShares suite of nine emerging markets equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track custom-designed indices, according to the statement.

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Well-known EGShares ETFs include the EGShares Emerging Markets Consumer ETF (ECON), EGShares Beyond BRICs ETF (NYSEArca: BBRC) , EGShares India Small Cap ETF (SCIN) and the EGShares India Infrastructure Index Fund (INXX) .

Since launching its first ETF in 2009, EGA has had a dedicated focus on providing rules-based, smart beta strategies designed to provide investors with diversification and growth opportunities in emerging markets, according to the statement.

Columbia Threadneedle has filed plans with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch its own smart beta ETFs.

For more news and strategy on the Smart Beta market, visit our Smart Beta category .
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected on Thursday any loosening of the bloc's trade defences against China without reforms of its economy, including a reduction on state influence over business.

The European Union is debating whether to grant China "market economy status" (MES) from December, which Beijing says is its right 15 years after joining the World Trade Organization.

While the vote was on a non-binding resolution only, the European Commission will need parliament's approval if it proposes according China MES.

Market economy status would make it harder for Europe to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods sold at knock-down prices because it would change the method for determining a fair price.

Some 546 members of the 751-strong European Parliament voted for the resolution, which said that Europe should continue to treat China as a special case until it met all five criteria the European Union established to define market economies.

One specifies a reduced role for Beijing in business decisions.

The parliament's resolution also referred to China's overcapacity in steel and its cheap exports, part of the reason for Tata Steel's (TISC.NS) decision to sell its entire British steel operations, threatening 10,000 jobs.

The Commission is expected to come up with a proposal on China's trade status by July. Its options are: do nothing, grant China MES or grant the status with mitigating trade measures.

Thursday's resolution also urged member states to back proposed changes to EU trade defences, such as axing the "lesser duty rule" which limits the tariffs the bloc can set. Some EU members, including Britain, believe this rule should stay.

(Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Jon Boyle)
BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators opened on Thursday a full-scale investigation into U.S. transport parts maker Wabtec Corp's $1.8-billion bid for French peer Faiveley Transport, concerned the deal may reduce competition.

Wabtec and Faiveley, two of the world's largest makers of railway equipment systems such as train brakes, doors and air-conditioning units, compete with Germany's Knorr-Bremse.

The European Commission said the deal would remove a significant competitor while other rivals may be unable to compete effectively.

"The Commission must make sure that Wabtec's takeover of Faiveley does not restrict effective competition and lead to less innovation in this technology-driven market, or to price increases for manufacturers, train operators and ultimately passengers," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

Companies can seek to allay regulatory concerns with concessions. The EU enforcer set a Sept. 20 deadline for its decision. The companies said earlier this month that they expected a lengthy investigation.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Che; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Asian Indexes Are Mixed, Europe Rises despite Possible Brexit

European markets trade higher

Critical European markets (DBEU) were mostly trading higher on May 12, 2016. The rise was after the release of the United Kingdoms monetary policy release. The BoE (Bank of England) unanimously decided to keep rates unchanged at the record low.

Specifically, the SPDR Euro Stoxx 50 ETF (FEZ) was trading 0.83% higher at 8:00 AM EST. The German DAX and French CAC 40 were also trading with a positive bias. They rose by 0.48% and 0.93%, respectively.

Non-Eurozone markets were also trading with a positive bias. The United Kingdoms (FKU) FTSE 100 was trading 0.50% higher. Swedens (EWD) OMX Stockholm 30 rose by 0.36%. The Russian (RSX) index MICEX was among the major indexes that posted the least gains. It had a slight rise of 0.10%.

BoE keeps rates unchanged and warns of Brexit

BoE governor Mark Carney conveyed the monetary policy committees decision to keep the official bank rate unchanged at 0.5%. The asset purchase program quantity also remained unchanged at 375 billion pounds. The BoE also warned Markets of a possible fall in jobs, rise in prices, and fall in the pound if theres a vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. The growth forecast for 2017 and 2018 was lowered to 2.3%.

European industrial production figures are low

The Eurozone industrial production numbers for March were published on May 12, 2016, by Eurostat. Industrial production fell by 0.8%compared to the forecast of a 0.1% rise. The fall in industrial production was primarily attributed to the fall in production of non-durable consumer goods by 1.9%. Capital goods also fell by 1.1%. Looking at the performance of member countries, the largest decrease was registered in Ireland and Lithuania. Their industrial production fell by 11.2% and 3.5%, respectively.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
Who will be the next winner of the Eurovision Song Contest set for May 14 in Stockholm?

Out of 42 contenders, 26 countries will compete in the Eurovision 2016 final at the Globe Arena on Saturday.

Sweden and 25 other countries, including the "big five" - France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK - are some of the largest financial supporters of the European Broadcasting Union-TV, which produces the contest.

Here are a few words on some of the most interesting performers:

- Duel between Russia and Ukraine -

Bookmakers are closely watching the Russian-Ukrainian duel between Sergei Lazarev, who will sing "You are the only one", and Ukraine's Jamala, who will sing "1944", a song inspired by her great-grandmother's stories. Jamala's song recounts the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Soviet strongman Joseph Stalin. Political leaders in Moscow and Crimea protested against this song choice for, they say, bashing Russia for its annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

- Singing naked with wolves -

Belarusian competitor Ivan, tall and thin with long blond hair, was forced to put his clothes on after rehearsing naked while flanked by a wolf named Shakira. Eurovision, which prohibits the presence of animals on stage and requires contestants to be clothed, has forbidden him from appearing naked. Ivan has agreed to always wear his clothes and he has also agreed to use a holographic image instead of a real wolf.

- The Voice, a Frenchman -

French-Israeli performer Amir Haddad has also been given favourable odds for his song "J'ai cherche" (I searched). With a range and tone often compared with Enrique Iglesias, Amir was a 2014 finalist in the French version of The Voice, the international television singing competition. Amir, 31, could become the first French performer to win the Eurovision contest since 1977.

- Tiara and lace -

Set to appear in a lace gown and a floral tiara, 19-year-old Austrian Zoe Straub, a former student at the French school in Vienna, will be singing "Loin d'ici" (Far from here), in French. Her song choice should delight Andre Vallini, France's minister of Francophonie, who protested against Amir Haddad's decision to sing a small part of his song in English.

Story continues

- Singing from down under -

Australia will participate as a special guest for the second year running. Competitor Dami Im was born in South Korea, and moved to Brisbane, Australia with her family when she was nine. A classically trained pianist, she learned how to speak English by listening to pop songs.

Dami entered the spotlight in 2013, when she took the Australia X-Factor crown. Her astonishing voice and transformation into a fully-fledged pop performer has won the hearts of the Australian public.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 12, 2016 / Evrim Resources Corp. (EVM.V) ("Evrim" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Charles Funk as Vice President of New Opportunities and Exploration. Charles will be a key member of Evrim's exploration and business development team.

Mr. Funk is a geologist and geophysicist with eleven years of industry experience in project evaluation and gold/copper exploration. He joins Evrim from Newcrest Mining in Australia where he was responsible for generating new projects in the Americas. Prior to this Charles worked for OZ Minerals/Oxiana and was part of the Ankata and Khamsin Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) discoveries in South Australia. He has a wide range of experience in porphyry, epithermal and IOCG deposits in North and South America and the Asia-Pacific region. Charles has a degree in Space Science from La Trobe University and an honours degree in Earth Science from the University of Melbourne.

"Evrim's plans for 2016 include adding new properties to our portfolio and increasing our exploration partnerships," commented Paddy Nicol, President and CEO of Evrim. "Charles brings the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve our goals and add significant value for Evrim's shareholders. We very much look forward to having Charles as part of the team."

About Evrim Resources

Evrim Resources is a mineral exploration company whose goal is to participate in significant exploration discoveries supported by a sustainable business model. The Company is well financed, has a diverse range of quality projects and a database in Mexico and portions of southwestern United States. The existing projects, and generation of quality exploration targets and ideas, are advanced through option and joint venture agreements with industry partners to create shareholder value. Evrim's business plan also includes royalty creation utilizing the Company's exploration expertise and existing projects.

On Behalf of the Board

EVRIM RESOURCES CORP.

Paddy Nicol

President & CEO

To find out more about Evrim Resources Corp., please contact Paddy Nicol, President or Mahesh Liyanage at 604-248-8648, or visit www.evrimresources.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Evrim Resources Corp. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Evrim Resources Corp.
LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - A former Deutsche Bank managing director and an accountant were sentenced to a combined eight years in jail on Thursday, drawing a line under the UK financial watchdog's eight-and-a-half year insider dealing inquiry.

Martyn Dodgson, a 44-year-old financier who advised the government during the credit crisis, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for his part in an elaborate scam that prosecutors said made over $10 million between 2006 and 2010.

It is the longest UK prison term handed down for the crime.

Andrew Hind, a 56-year-old former finance director of fashion chain Topshop was sentenced to three-and-a-half years at London's Southwark Crown Court after being convicted of conspiracy to insider trade on Monday.

Insider dealing - using confidential information to trade on the stockmarket - carries a maximum seven-year sentence in the UK. But the longest term handed down to date had been four years.

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley; Editing by Rachel Armstrong)
Dan Quayle. (AP Photo)

Former Vice President Dan Quayle said Thursday that he is standing behind Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Look, I was the Republican vice president. And Ive been a Republican all my life. Im going to support the nominee, Quayle said on NBCs Today show.

Quayle made the announcement as various Republican leaders grapple with the idea of Trump as their partys standard-bearer in the general election. The brash billionaire ran a scorched earth primary campaign and alienated much of the GOP establishment.

Former President George H.W. Bush, under whom Quayle served, is among those who have signaled that they were not planning to endorse Trump. On Thursday, Trump is meeting with the House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has so far declined to support his partys expected nominee.

But Quayle downplayed the GOP divisions and predicted that Ryan will ultimately back Trump.

I predict that most people in my position  or people that have been in the Republican Party for a long time  will rally around the nominee, Quayle said on Today.

I fully expect that Paul Ryan will eventually support Donald Trump publicly. I hope that happens because we do have to be unified, he continued.

Despite his support, Quayle did not appear to be wildly enthusiastic about Trump during the interview.

Do you think Donald Trump has the experience, the knowledge and the temperament to be president? NBC anchor Matt Lauer asked Quayle.

Were going to find out, the ex-vice president replied. I believe he has the capability to be president of the United States, he added.

Quayle went on to praise Trumps political skills, business record and status as a Washington outsider.

Clearly hes got good political instincts, he said. He has a good business background. Hes a winner. And hes unusual. Hes obviously very different. Hes not going to play by the rules. Its a different situation but I think that he can win.

Quayle has mostly been out of the public eye since the end of George H.W. Bushs presidency in 1993. According to his official website, Quayle has been authoring books and serving as chairman of the private investment firm Cerberus Global Investments, LLC.

His Thursday interview marked one of the few times hes publicly addressed the 2016 campaign.
(Adds Skelos relative charged with assaulting reporter)

By Nate Raymond and Joseph Ax

NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison, the second time in 10 days that a powerful legislative leader faced incarceration after a crackdown on state capital corruption.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood in Manhattan imposed the penalty on Skelos, 68, and also sentenced Adam Skelos, his 33-year-old son, to 6-1/2 years in prison following their convictions in December on charges of extortion, fraud and bribe solicitation.

Prosecutors had sought a prison term approaching 12-1/2 to 15-2/3 years for Dean Skelos, who was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. He and his son were also ordered to forfeit an additional $334,120.

The former senator received less than half the 12 years in prison that his counterpart in the state Assembly, former Speaker Sheldon Silver, received earlier this month for collecting millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks.

The convictions of Skelos, a Republican from Long Island, and Silver, a Democrat, represented major wins for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who has criticized Albany for having "one of the most corrupt governments in the nation."

The two trials took place at the same time last year, painting a damning portrait of systemic official misconduct in Albany.

"The people of New York deserve better," Bharara said in a statement.

At least 14 New York state legislators have been convicted of federal corruption-related crimes in the last 10 years, including John Sampson, a former leader of the Senate Democrats who is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

Prosecutors accused Dean Skelos of forcing companies with business before the state to pay his son, with the threat of losing his political support as a cudgel.

The companies, which have not been charged, included real estate developer Glenwood Management, environmental technology company AbTech Holdings Inc and malpractice insurer PRI.

Story continues

Through those schemes, prosecutors said, the Skeloses sought more than $760,000 in extortion payments, bribes, and gratuities and ultimately obtained more than $334,000.

Both Dean and Adam Skelos plan to appeal their convictions. Before he was sentenced, Dean Skelos told the judge he was "deeply remorseful," and both men urged leniency for the other.

Wood, the judge, said Skelos' crimes had consequences beyond the illicit profits he and his son had obtained.

"You have caused immeasurable damage to New Yorkers' confidence in their government," she said.

Bharara's office accelerated its Albany investigations after Governor Andrew Cuomo abruptly shut down an anti-corruption panel in March 2014 as part of a deal with state legislators for a package of ethics reforms.

Federal investigators took over the panel's work and began looking into Cuomo's disbanding of it. In January, Bharara's office said it had "insufficient" evidence to prove any crime occurred.

In his statement on Thursday, Bharara seemed to repeat his criticism of Cuomo's decision to shut down the panel.

"These cases show - and history teaches - that the most effective corruption investigations are those that are truly independent and not in danger of either interference or premature shutdown," he said.

Cuomo in a statement said the sentences of Skelos and his son "show there is zero tolerance for those who use public service for private gain."

Amid a crush of journalists outside the courthouse following the sentencing, a nephew of Dean Skelos grabbed the wrist of a Daily News reporter, Victoria Bekiempis, and threw her cell phone to the ground, according to Bekiempis' Twitter posts.

Police identified the man as Basil Skelos, 27, and said he was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond and Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Brian Thevenot and Tom Brown)
By Hyunjoo Jin SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> and affiliate Kia Motors <000270.KS> plan to launch three low-cost sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in China, their biggest market, from next year, people with knowledge of the plans told Reuters. Making cheaper models, their first for China, marks a shift for the South Korean automakers, whose strategy of appealing to price-conscious Chinese buyers with older model versions has faltered as local brands surge. Hyundai and Kia's China market share slid to a 7-year low of 8.9 percent last year from 10.4 percent in 2014, according to company data, hit by the rise of Chinese rivals including Great Wall Motor <601633.SS>. The drop in annual sales was the biggest among the top 10 automakers in China, data from IHS Automotive showed. Latecomers to China when they began making cars there in 2002, Hyundai and Kia rank third behind Volkswagen and General Motors . But Chinese brands are gaining share by aping Hyundai's original formula: sleek, but affordable, smaller models. The battleground has shifted from sedans to SUVs, which are increasingly popular and affordable partly due to the slide in oil prices. Hyundai plans to build a compact, no-frills SUV at its planned factory in Changzhou starting in November 2017, and a subcompact SUV at its new Chongqing factory in 2018, two of the sources told Reuters. Kia will follow with its own subcompact, entry-level SUV in 2018, another two people said, with one adding that Kia also plans to produce its mid-sized SUV in China next year. "After missing out on a segment where Chinese have a head start, Hyundai is rushing to build small SUVs," said one of the individuals, declining to be named as the plans are private. LOCAL ENGINEERING Hyundai and Kia will also make more use of Chinese suppliers to source cheaper, lower-spec parts and bring down costs, another official with direct knowledge of Hyundai's engineering told Reuters. The two automakers, which have a joint research and development center in the Chinese city of Yantai, are also stepping up local engineering, he said. Hyundai said it is taking steps to defend its position against Chinese rivals. The group is "internally examining from various sides to develop differentiated SUVs that give customers a more practical value by continuing in our cost-cutting efforts," it said in an emailed response to Reuters' queries, and plans to "realign its line-up to range from lower-priced models to high-end cars to respond to demands from diverse customer bases." Hyundai also said it is "developing parts and specifications" that are best suited to local needs as part of its efforts to be price competitive. Some industry experts warned that introducing low-end SUVs could undermine the Korean automakers' quality and brand image. "Going downmarket into low-cost SUVs may actually damage the brand in the long term," said James Chao, Asia-Pacific managing director at IHS Automotive. "CRISIS MODE" In China, Hyundai and Kia have simultaneously sold two or three generations of the same model, a strategy that helped rapidly boost sales by targeting diverse customer groups. Until late last year, Hyundai sold three generations of its Tucson SUV in China simultaneously. The oldest, based on the 2006 model year, is no longer available. But the South Koreans, whose value-for-money image with sedans such as the Elantra positions them between other mass-market foreign brands at the higher end and Chinese brands at the lower end, were caught off-guard by the surge of cheaper Chinese SUVs. "Whereas Chinese-brand car and SUV offerings were once looked upon with disdain or rejected outright, they're now increasingly accepted," said Michael Dunne, president of Hong Kong-based consultancy Dunne Automotive, citing "a clear sea-change" in buyer perceptions about Chinese brands. The stakes are high for Hyundai as its two planned Chinese plants will boost its combined production capacity with Kia by nearly 30 percent to 2.7 million vehicles a year in 2018. One Hyundai executive in China said his colleagues worry about being replaced because of sluggish sales. A mid-ranking sales official at Hyundai's China operations described a "crisis mode". Neither wanted to be identified as they are not authorized to speak with the media. Both Hyundai and Kia replaced their top China executives last August. ($1 = 6.4983 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin, with additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in BEIJING and Jeeheun Khang in SEOUL; Editing by Tony Munroe and Ian Geoghegan)
Sharon and Ozzy Osbournes first appearance together since his alleged affair looked remarkably uncomfortable.

The 67-year-old rocker tried to hug his estranged wife, 63, and kissed her on the cheek at a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, but the actions didnt seem to be reciprocated as the couple of nearly 34 years deal with the fallout from Ozzys alleged affair with his hairstylist.

EXCLUSIVE: Sharon Osbourne Distraught Over Ozzys Alleged Emotional Affair

Getty Images

The Talk co-host was polite but brief while introducing Ozzy  whom she also manages  at the press conference announcing the merger of the Ozzfest and Knotfest metal music festivals in 2016.

My wife did it, said Ozzy, explaining the festival merger was Sharons idea. Weve been touring for the last few months.

WATCH: A Timeline of Ozzy and Sharon Osbournes Highest Highs and Lowest Lows in Their 33-Year Marriage

Shes everything for me, he added. Shes great.

Ozzy has still been wearing his wedding ring throughout the marriage drama.

WATCH: Sharon Osbourne Breaks Silence on Ozzys Cheating Scandal: 'I Cant Keep Living Like This

Meanwhile, a source close to Sharon tells ET that shes taking the split very hard.

Sharon has put up with a lot over the course of their marriage and there have been other dramatic things that have happened with them in the past, but this is the first long-time affair Sharon has found out about, the source says. This is an emotional affair  it wasnt just a one-time hookup. There are feelings there between Ozzy and this woman. This is a double life hes been leading  and thats what upset Sharon the most and made her leave him.

WATCH: Ozzy Osbournes Alleged Mistress, Michelle Pugh: Everything We Know About the Celebrity Hairstylist

The TV personalitys appearance at Thursdays press conference was definitely an indication of how important Sharon is to the professional side of the relationship.

First and foremost, Sharon is a businesswoman, the source says. She organizes everything. Shes the family glue.

Story continues

WATCH: FLASHBACK! Sharon Osbourne on What She Would Do If Ozzy Cheated: 'Id Chop His Willy Off

During Sharons return to The Talk on Tuesday following the split, she candidly admitted, I honestly at this point today, have no idea what Im going to be doing for the rest of my life.

Sharon also said that Ozzy was back in the couples Beverly Hills home, but that she had left.

Watch the video below for more.

Related Articles
Everyones in an uproar over a report of bias in Facebooks trending topics section. Gizmodo cited former contractors of the social network, who said they witnessed suppression of certain trending conservative news stories and sources, among other things.

Facebook denied the claims. Meanwhile John Thune, chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, is apparently still concerned that Facebook may be misleading the public into thinking that trending topics are determined by neutral algorithms, not potentially biased human curators.

Thune sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking a whole bunch of questions about his companys trending topics operation and practices. Facebook issued a statement saying that its guidelines require team members to allow all points of view, but it would investigate the claims and update its methods as necessary.

Heres my question: What if there is bias? Is that a news flash? Really? Gee, biased news. I mean, who knew?

Not to be overly cynical, but seriously folks: Is there anyone reading this who doesnt agree with me that all news is biased? Who doesnt see, as I do, that journalistic integrity in online reporting is an oxymoron? Who gets all their news from one source? Who doesnt realize that all news aggregation requires human curators?

OK, maybe that last one is news to some of you, so allow me to explain: If you try to use algorithms alone to determine trending news, you end up with mostly redundant and nonsensical topics that are unfit for human consumption. Now you know.

Even if it is news, is this really a topic that a Senate committee should be spending its time on? And is that committee genuinely concerned about Facebook compromising its mission to make the world more open and connected, as Thune wrote, or something perhaps a bit more self-serving or biased? After all, he is a Republican.

Thune points to Facebooks enormous influence as a news source. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal cites a Pew Research survey showing that 63% of Facebook users get news from the site and 40% say its an important news source. Considering the company dominates social media with 1.6 billion active users, that is concerning.

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But most of that news isnt coming from the trending topics section in question (a barely noticeable little box off to the right) but from users customized news feeds that run down the center of their home page. And thats a mixture of all sorts of content from friends, groups and pages they follow. While Facebook does play a role in whats presented, there are no allegations of bias there, at least not yet.

Besides, have you seen the kind of ludicrous nonsense other aggregators like Google, Yahoo and LinkedIn Pulse feed you? This is not an exact science, by any stretch.

I might also point out that this entire hullabaloo is based on anonymous sources in one article on Gizmodo, a site that features classic reporting like This Is the Most Beautiful View of Poop Youre Ever Going to See, You Really Shouldnt Snack on Urinal Cakes and Whats the Best Way to Tie Your Shoes? Pulitzer material its not.

In a world gone media crazy 24/7, trust me when I tell you that Facebooks trending topics section is not what you or Congress should be worried about.

Id be far more concerned that genuine journalism is being replaced by advertising click bait and popular content, much of which is entirely fact-free.

Id be concerned that practically every media outlet from the New Yorker and Inc. to Forbes and Fortune hyped Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes as an entrepreneurial icon, when her supposedly breakthrough blood testing technology had never been vetted by peer-reviewed medical journals, investors, or anyone else, for that matter.

And Id be concerned that a presidential candidate who may be within spitting distance of the White House, Bernie Sanders, recently suggested that corporate media is a real problem in America and, if he were President, he would like to find a way for the Democratic Party to fund a mainstream TV station. Oh yes he did.

A state sanctioned news channel. Freedom of the press, RIP. Now thats something to worry about, folks. Not Facebook.

Related Articles
(Reuters) - Britain holds a referendum on membership of the European Union on June 23. Following are details of how the referendum will work on the night. Sources: Electoral Commission, Reuters reporting. QUESTION Voters will be given one piece of paper with the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" They will be asked to put a cross beside either: "Remain a member of the European Union "Leave the European Union" WHO CAN VOTE? All those who are entitled to vote in a UK parliamentary general election can vote in the referendum, including British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens over the age of 18 who are resident in the UK. UK nationals resident overseas who have appeared on a parliamentary election register in the past 15 years will also have the right to vote, as do Irish citizens who were born in Northern Ireland and registered to vote in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years. In addition, Peers and citizens of Gibraltar who were able to vote at a European Parliamentary election can vote. WHEN CAN PEOPLE VOTE? The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on June 7. Polling stations open at 0700 BST on June 23 and close at 2200 local time. WILL THERE BE AN EXIT POLL? There are currently no plans by broadcasters for an exit poll as the margin of error is deemed to be too large. WHEN WILL RESULTS COME? Votes will be counted by hand and the count will begin as soon as polls close (apart from in Gibraltar when counting will begin at 2300 local time, or 2200 UK time). Each of 382 local counting areas will count the number of ballot papers and announce local turnout figures in each of the areas. Then each counting area will count the votes and announce local totals for each of the 382 areas. These will be collated into regional totals, and then a final, national, result. A final result will be announced in Manchester by Jenny Watson, who is the Chief Counting Officer. Reuters will provide full coverage of the results. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Alistair Smout and Freya Berry; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
(Reuters) - A Korean-American missionary detained for two years in North Korea, where he served time at a labor camp, said on Wednesday two Americans held in the reclusive country should remain hopeful that U.S. officials will obtain their release.

The following is a look at some of 13 Americans held by North Korea since 1996. Most of them were sentenced to years of hard labor but held for less than a year.

* Evan Hunziker, then 26, was held for three months in North Korea on spying charges in 1996. After he was apprehended by North Korean farmers, Hunziker spent a month in a detention center near the border before being moved to a Pyongyang hotel. U.S. government officials suggested Pyongyang was using the young drifter as a pawn in a game of international diplomacy. Then-U.S. Representative Bill Richardson secured his release in November 1996. Hunziker committed suicide about a month later.

* Euna Lee and Laura Ling of U.S. media outlet Current TV were arrested in March 2009 along the North Korea-China border while reporting on human trafficking. They were accused by Pyongyang of illegally entering North Korea with "hostile" intent and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. They were released in August 2009 after former U.S. President Bill Clinton went to Pyongyang to secure their return.

* Robert Park, a Christian human rights activist trying to raise global attention to the suffering of the North Korean people, crossed into the reclusive state in December 2009. Park told Reuters just before entering the North that he saw it as his duty as a Christian to make the journey and did not want the U.S. government to try to free him. He was arrested shortly after entering. In February 2010, he was released. The North's official KCNA news agency said Park confessed to entering the state illegally and had changed his mind about North Korea after being treated kindly there.

* Aijalon Mahli Gomes, then 30, of Boston had been working as an English teacher in South Korea and was arrested in January 2010 for illegally entering North Korea from China. He was sentenced to eight years of hard labor and freed after eight months when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter went to North Korea to retrieve him. Gomes' family described his captivity as "a long, dark and difficult period," and thanked Carter for his trip.

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* Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary, returned to the United States in November 2014 after being imprisoned in North Korea for two years. The North convicted him of trying to overthrow the state and sentenced him to 15 years' hard labor.

* Matthew Todd Miller was freed at the same time as Bae. Miller, whom North Korea accused of "a gross violation of legal order," had been in custody since April 2014 and was serving a six-year hard labor sentence. They were accompanied home by U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Miller, of Bakersfield, California had gone to North Korea on a tourist visa, which state media said he tore up while demanding Pyongyang grant him asylum.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Richard Chang)
(Reuters) - Efforts by Canadian oil sands companies to restart production are meeting with uneven results in the wake of a raging wildfire, as several companies have told customers they may not be able to fulfill its supply contracts. The fire that blazed through oil sands hub Fort McMurray, forcing the evacuation of about 90,000 people last week, has moved into sparsely populated woodlands further east. It spans 229,000 hectares (566,000 acres). Oil sands companies around the Canadian energy center of Fort McMurray were starting to fly in employees, though about half of oil sands capacity, or 1.07 million barrels per day (bpd), remained out of production. About half of the nation's oil sands capacity remained shut, according to Reuters calculations. For FACTBOX on the shut down of power generation plants, see. Following is a list of what oil producers and pipeline companies have said about nearby operations: Operator Asset Status Size of cut Total capacity Date Link to story Athabasca Oil Hangingstone Shut 12,000 bpd 12,000 bpd by Q4 5-May Corp project 2016 Suncor Energy Main mining site Says some 350,000 bpd 350,000 bpd. Was 7-May Inc and MacKay River facilities to operating at and Firebag restart in 24-48 reduced rate thermal oil hrs before closure. sands Connacher Oil Great Divide Output cut 6,000 bpd 14,000 bpd in Q4 5-May and Gas Ltd 2015 Syncrude Aurora bitumen Planning 315,000 bpd 315,000 bpd 6-May mine restart, no timeline yet Other operations at minimal levels ConocoPhillips Surmount Shut 30,000 bpd 30,000 bpd 5-May Shell Muskeg River and Restarted at 255,000 bpd 255,000 bpd 9-May Jackpine unspecified reduced rate Statoil Leismer facility Shut 20,000 20,000 8-May Imperial Oil Kearl operation Controlled Unspecified 12,000 bpd in Q4 9-May shutdown 2016 Husky Energy Sunrise Shut 30,000 30,000 8-May Nexen Long Lake Shut 50,000 50,000 bpd. Was 4-May operating at reduced rate before closure Canadian Horizon Output cut Unspecified 5-May Natural Resources Ltd PIPELINES Enbridge Inc Cheecham Steadily 12-May [nL3N18945O] terminal and resuming service pipelines Inter Pipeline Corridor Ready to be reopened when 5-May Ltd pipeline Shell's resumes Polaris diluent Reopened after one-day 5-May pipeline shutdown Keyera Corp South Cheecham Shut 5-May rail and truck terminal (Reporting by Barani Krishnan in New York, Ethan Lou, Euan Rocha and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto and Nia Williams in Calgary; Compiled by David Gaffen and Josephine Mason in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Alan Crosby)
In April, the North Korean government was rocked by scandal when it came to light that 13 of its citizens, all of whom were employees in a state-run restaurant operating in China, chose to defect to South Korea.

Though the neighboring country welcomed their arrival, Kim Jong Uns regime denounced the exodus as a mass abduction, accusing South Korea of kidnapping the workers, 12 waitresses and one male restaurant manager. In response to the defection, North Korean officials also issued a video in which the remaining staff of the restaurant tearfully insisted that their colleagues had been tricked into leaving the country.

9 Foods People Eat in North Korea Slideshow

Recently, when the camera crew of CNN visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to cover the Workers Party congress  a massive and secretive political event that had not taken place in 36 years  government officials used the presence of outside media outlets to present the families of the defectors to the public.

Even now my sister is suffering in the accursed South Korea, starving and unconscious, one family member of a defector told CNN. When I think of that I lie awake frightened and cannot sleep.

I curse and condemn the South Korean puppet forces who allured and abducted our daughters, one mother added.

Officials also told the crew that the waitresses are being kept in solitary confinement and have become sick after staging a hunger strike, two allegations that South Korea has insisted are completely untrue.

In North Korea, meanwhile, a state-run newspaper recently warned citizens to prepare for imminent famine, stating that they may have to chew roots to survive. Weeks later, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un announced a MasterChef-style competition to uncover the best chef in the country  though with what ingredients is rather unclear.
From Good Housekeeping

Giving kids sugary soda can be a bad idea to begin with, but one toddler's treat got downright dangerous when his grandfather found a dead rodent in the half-empty bottle.

Texas resident John Graves handed his grandson, Kayden, a Dr Pepper this past Sunday just after buying it in a local store. He let the three-year-old drink some soda in the car, and later put the cap on without inspecting it. When he opened the 20-ounce bottle again the next day, he noticed the animal floating inside.

The Graves family immediately rushed Kayden to the doctor, testing his blood and urine for any diseases that rats and mice can carry. Some, including leptospirosis and the plague, can even be fatal. The family then contacted the CDC and Dr Pepper looking for answers.

"I want to get the rat tested to see where it came from, how it got there, if there is any medical concerns we should be concerned about," John Graves told KPRC 2. "You think it's rabies. You think of dirty, filthy rodents. What did he ingest?" In response, Dr Pepper Snapple Group stated that "it is virtually impossible for any foreign object to enter any container during the bottling process," claiming their high-speed filling lines prevent these accidents from happening.

A food safety expert, however says it's not an unusual occurrence. "A mouse can fit through a hole about the size of a nickel," Jay Neal of the University of Houston told KPRC 2. Currently, the Graves family and Dr Pepper are working together to find an independent lab to test the sample.

[h/t KPRC 2]
The Brazilian Senate has just voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff. The state-owned oil company is engulfed in the biggest corruption scandal in the countrys history, and the economy is contracting. Millions have taken to the streets in protest.

But all this turbulence may, in fact, end up stabilizing Brazilian democracy. That is, if Sergio Moro does the right thing.

If you dont follow Brazil closely, you probably dont know who he is. To Brazilians, though, Moro has become a household name. Hes the judge leading the charge in the massive investigation against corrupt businessmen and government officials who stole millions of dollars from state coffers.

What started out in 2014 as a money-laundering case has expanded, under Moros lead, into a series of revelations about a massive web of kickback schemes centered on Petrobras, the state-owned oil company. Rousseff, who was the companys chairwoman from 2003 to 2010, may have been involved in this chicanery, a suspicion that catalyzed her impeachment process. The investigation has also exposed Petrobrass financial weaknesses, which  given its importance as the largest company in Brazil and employer of over 80,000 people  partially explains why the countrys economic prospects are growing dimmer by the day.

Despite reforms in the 1988 constitution to separate the judiciary from the executive and legislative branches of government, Transparency International ranks Brazil as relatively soft on corruption. As an oft-cited maxim has it, The police arrest, the courts set free. But Moros tenacity highlights the independence of the countrys federal prosecutors and points the way forward. If all goes well, it could further consolidate democracy in Brazil and begin the long-overdue assault on impunity so long enjoyed by Brazilian politicians and elites, said Riordan Roett of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

But it remains unclear whether Moros actions will ultimately benefit Brazil. In fact, his zealotry has left many wondering whether he has unfairly targeted the ruling Workers Party to which Rousseff belongs. In particular, his sensational approach to the investigation  described as gratuitous, media-orchestrated theater by longtime Brazil analyst Perry Anderson  raises serious concerns about his motives. If this perception doesnt change, Moro could fatally undermine the countrys rule of law instead of reinforcing it.

Story continues

Perhaps most egregiously, Supreme Court Judge Teori Zavascki and other critics have argued that Moro behaved inappropriately when he decided to release secret transcripts of conversations between Rousseff and her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The transcripts  in which the president appeared to offer Lula protection from prosecution by appointing him to a cabinet position  fueled street protests against the Workers Party, and theres no doubt the episode played a role in gathering momentum for Rousseffs impeachment. The judiciary was widely criticized for inappropriately seeking to influence public opinion. Moro even admitted that he may have overstepped his bounds. My ruling may have been considered incorrect, or even if correct, may have brought controversy and unnecessary constraints, he wrote in a court filing after the Supreme Court asked him to explain himself.

Shortly before the release of the transcripts, Moro had ordered a sensational dawn raid at Lulas home, allegedly to prevent him from destroying evidence that might have implicated him in the Petrobras scandal. This, too, was extremely controversial both in Brazil and abroad. Police removed Lula from his house in the full glare of media [who had been] tipped off about the event, wrote Brazilian journalist Eliane Brum.

Some analysts contend that disproportionately targeting the Workers Party is inevitable. The Workers Party has been in power since 2003 and has been able to appoint most of the key figures at Petrobras. [T]his means, essentially, that the Workers Party was necessarily at the heart of the countrys largest potential source of corruption, said Alec Lee, a Brazil analyst at the Frontier Strategy Group.

But Moros sensational approach weakens the judiciarys role as an impartial counterbalance to the politicians. If Workers Party supporters see their party as falling victim to an activist judiciary, their resulting alienation from the political process could lead to serious discord. In other countries, such as Turkey and Thailand, unelected bodies have aggravated conflicts by interfering in politics. Brazil is not impervious to such a scenario.

Moro still has time to change course. Simply put, he needs to stop targeting the Workers Party with sensational operations that can so easily be construed as partisan. If he conducts the remainder of the investigation soberly and impartially, he can change the perception of having become a poster boy for anti-government protesters, as the BBC recently described him. Given his newfound prominence, there is much Moro can still contribute to the creation of a system in which the judiciary really is impartial  the dream of democratic reformers everywhere.

Since Brazils transition from military rule to democracy in 1985, the country has been dominated by politicians who abused their positions to corrupt ends. The ongoing Petrobras scandal is one notable example of such malfeasance, but it is not the only one. After all, about 60 percent of Brazils members of Congress  including the recently removed speaker of the lower house and many of the politicians calling for Rousseffs impeachment  are facing charges of bribery and other illegal behavior. So its certainly good news that corruption is being tackled in a high-profile way. The problem is that battling corruption dishonestly  or in a way that looks dishonest  can be worse than not doing it at all.

Moro must be smart enough to realize that, given the fervent debate catalyzed by his apparent activism, proceeding on his previous path would do his country more harm than good. For Brazils sake, he had better act on that knowledge.

In the photo, Sergio Moro smiles during a Senate session in Brasilia on Sept. 9, 2015.

Photo credit: EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images
By Vladimir Soldatkin SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - An effort to show off the superiority of Russian military equipment backfired on Thursday when the door handle of a jeep fell off just as President Vladimir Putin was inspecting the vehicle. The Kremlin leader was being shown an array of military vehicles parked outside his residence in the southern resort of Sochi, including a Russian-made UAZ Patriot pick-up truck equipped with heavy machine guns. When Putin tried to open the front passenger-side door, it would not budge, according to a Reuters reporter at the event. Lieutenant-general Alexander Shevchenko, part of the military delegation showing off the equipment, came to Putin's aid, but when he grabbed the door handle, it came away in his hand. Putin let out a chuckle as Shevchenko hurriedly dropped the handle into the pick-up through an open window. The Russian leader then moved on to inspect some other vehicles, but did not attempt to get inside any of them. A video of the incident was posted on Russian news site Life News. http://bit.ly/27gYex4 The incident will revive uncomfortable memories of the kind of shoddy workmanship which long dogged the reputation of Russia's auto industry. Manufacturers say their vehicles are now much better, but for years buyers of new Russian cars would routinely face lumpy paintwork, engines that would not start and cheaply-built interiors that fell apart. Putin himself has been left red-faced before while attempting to promote the Russian auto industry. In 2011, he climbed into a new Lada Granta saloon car and failed to start the engine at least five times. Reporters at the event also said he needed help from car-making executives to open the car's boot. Putin has spent the last few days in Sochi meeting officials involved in the Russian arms industry. The sector had been riding high after the Kremlin's military campaign in Syria showed off the capability of Russian weapons to potential buyers around the world. (Editing by Christian Lowe and Gareth Jones)
walt disney mickey mouse disneyland

The FBI seized $2.3 million in cash reportedly belonging to a group linked to the hometown of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a house near Disneyland, the agency said in a press release issued on Wednesday.

Federal agents and other law-enforcement officials uncovered the money in a raid on May 5.

The money is believed to belong to a group of drug traffickers and money launderers with ties to Culiacan, the capital of Mexico's Sinaloa state, not far from where Guzman was born.

The house  located in the 1200 block of West Katella Avenue in Anaheim, California  was one of several locations targeted by a two-year, multi-agency investigation. No one was arrested in connection with the raid on the home.

While the investigation has turned up a large amount of cash and drugs, no drugs were found at the Anaheim house.

However, agents believe it stored "large amounts of narcotics," an FBI spokeswoman told the LA Times.

Houses like the one raided in Anaheim are frequently used by traffickers as way stations for drugs arriving in the US for distribution and for money collected from drug sales.

Disneyland FBI raid Sinaloa money laundering

The proceeds from cartel drug sales in the US often stay in the country, distributed among members of the US branches of the distribution network. They face the most risk and much of the cash goes to them, Tom Wainwright, author of "Narconomics" and the former Economist reporter in Mexico City, told Business Insider earlier this year.

Cash usually makes its way back to Mexico and other points though bulk smuggling across the US border or through laundering.

The epicenter for a lot of the money laundering for the Mexican cartels is Los Angeles, Mike Vigil, the former director of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, told Business Insider earlier this year. An especially popular method is the resale in Mexico of clothes purchased in bulk in LA's fashion district.

Story continues

Those clothes, and other valuables like gold or diamonds, are "sold over there and all of a sudden, voila, you go from US dollars to Mexican pesos, Vigil said.



NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs





More From Business Insider


A federal judge has ruled President Barack Obama's health care plan is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush, asserted the government health care overhaul, also known as "Obamacare," is unconstitutional because it subsidizes low-income purchasers' insurance with money not appropriated by Congress.

Judge Rosemary Collyer

The funding in question would total $175 billion over the course of 10 years. The majority-Republican House of Representatives initiated the legal challenge; the ruling is a big victory for the party which has bitterly opposed Obama's signature bill since its inception.

"The secretaries ignore their own actions and focus instead on congressional inaction," Collyer said, according to Bloomberg Politics. "It strains credulity to suggest that [the Office of Management and Budget] or [the Department of Health and Human Services] submitted a multibillion-dollar budget request without analyzing the relevant statutes."

While Collyer has ruled this money may not be used, the Obama administration's appeal will delay the freeze.

The implications of this case are yet to be determined as the appellate process has not begun. If the Obama administration is successful in their appeal, Obamacare will remain in tact.

However, should their efforts to counter this ruling be unsuccessful  and the government struggles to obtain appropriated funds to subsidize insurance  there could be harmful ramifications for low-income Americans who struggle to afford the federally mandated health care coverage.

Correction: May 12, 2016

A previous version of this article misstated the year President George Bush nominated Rosemary Collyer to be a U.S. district judge. She was nominated in 2002.
Photo: Michelle Shephard/Getty Images.

Iman Elman is fighting on the front lines against a brutal terror organisation that is waging war against a country and its people.

Elman, 24, is not just a soldier; she is a captain commanding a heavily male force in the Somali National Army (SNA).

And her unit's work is among the army's most dangerous  searching for al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group and U.S.-designated terror organisation that wants to create a fundamentalist Islamic state in Somalia.

"I had to be more brave [than the men]" she told Refinery29 from Somalia. "I had to earn their respect."

The terror group has been behind a number of deadly attacks in the region. In September 2013, al-Shabab, whose fighting force numbers are unknown, claimed responsibility for an onslaught on a Kenyan mall. Gunmen methodically murdered 67 people there. They killed 147 people in an assault last year on Garissa University College in Kenya. In January, an attack on a seafront hotel on Lido Beach killed 20.

Elman is among many of those fighting al-Shabab.

"Nobody wants to die," she said. "[But] I would take my breath in and move forward."

Climbing the ranks and gaining that respect wasn't easy. When Elman was in line to receive her military uniform  alongside the men  she was handed two pairs of pants and told to sew them together to make a skirt.

I wanted to prove a point. I never considered myself as someone who is a risk-taker or brave.

It was an early indication of the significant barriers she would face. She lightly rebuffed them, saying that the pants would suit her just fine.

"I just didnt think I would be able to run [in a skirt]," she told Refinery29.

Elman didn't grow up with aims of joining the army. In fact, she is the youngest of three daughters born to a well-known Somali human rights activist, Elman Ali Ahmed. His slogan was, Put down the gun, take up the pen  Qoriga dhig Qalinka Qaado  Elman noted with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Story continues

Following the collapse of the Siad Barre military regime in 1991, Somalia became engulfed in civil war. Soon after, Elmans mother, Fartuun, took her girls to Canada. Her husband stayed behind and, in 1996, he was assassinated in the night  shot in the back. The family believes he was targeted because he worked to save children from warlords.

Over the years, members of the family returned to Somalia and opened the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in Mogadishu to carry out the legacy of Elmans father. The center works to counter violent extremism and provide reintegration and rehabilitation support. They also began programs for victims of gender-based violence. Elman, who remained in Canada to finish her education, began to visit and volunteer, teaching English to girls who had been victimized by terror groups. Some of them were younger than Elman, and some were her age.

I had a reality shock, Elman said, adding that she didnt realise just how bad things were in her ancestral homeland.

Iman Elman, right, poses with her sister at the family's center. Photo: Michelle Shephard/Getty Images.

The girls she encountered didnt believe they were as capable as boys, whereas, she said, I never had limitation based on my gender. She wanted to help the girls feel confident in their lives.

Then, one day, she happened to have a conversation with a group of male soldiers in the Somali army. She asked them, What if I joined the army? The conversation proceeded with you can and you cant responses; as well, she was told that she could perhaps cook or clean for the male soldiers.

I wanted to prove a point, she said. I never considered myself as someone who is a risk-taker or brave, but she could see the effect that al-Shabab was having on the people.

Elman registered for basic training. She spent nine months in Uganda, one of only two women in the battalion. They were treated the same as the men, but, there was a constant teasing. When Elman returned to Somalia, she experienced harsh treatment. The men were critical of her wanting to carry a gun. They thought I was disrespecting their culture and religion," she said.

She joined a fighting force made up of 1,300 soldiers, of whom only 2% were women. Many of the female soldiers were cooking and cleaning for the male fighters, and then you had me, she recalled.

Al-Shabab lost much of their territorial claims after an African Union offensive a few years back, but the group still holds ground in parts of the country.

"Many times I broke down," she said. "I didnt think I could continue."

The general force commander told her, I am proud of what you are trying to do, [but maybe] this is a fight that is bigger than you.

But if Elman was in the fight, he was going to treat her the same as the men. It was his tough love that worked.

Now, Elman is a logistical leader in a critical time. Al-Shabab lost much of its territorial claims after an African Union offensive a few years back, but the group still holds ground in parts of the country. And while there has been significant political progress in Somalia, notable challenges remain. Early this year, for example, al-Shabab attacked a base in Somalia, killing more than 100 Kenyan troops.

In March, the Pentagon said it killed up to 150 suspected al-Shabab fighters in an operation that Elman said also resulted in civilian casualties, the number unknown. Those air strikes, both manned and unmanned, in which civilians are also killed, feed the terror ideology, and serve a propaganda purpose.

Elman acknowledges there will be setbacks as the terror organisation changes their tactics, but, she said, We need to look at what we have done.

And to her, fighting the ideology of al-Shabab and like-minded terror organisations, is in many ways more important than killing its members.

Its so much strongerIts complete rubbish what they preach to the people, she told Refinery29.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Elman's current role in the army.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Brazil Moves To Impeach Its First Female President: Is It A Step Back To The Bad Old Days?

The Philippines Just Elected Its First Transgender Congresswoman

Brazilian Senate Votes To Impeach President Dilma Rousseff
Will Ferrell in A Deadly Adoption

YouTube

Heres a pitch that could probably use a little work in order to sound, well, pitchier. You got Will Ferrell. You got Catherine Keener as his wife. You got the two of them taking their six kids and said six kids significant others on a Caribbean sailing vacation only to have things get kinda crappy because ol Will isnt a very good sailor. You even got Michael Cera in there in some unspecified way. Sounds hilarious, right?

Um, maybe not. Because in reporting this potential laugh riot, Variety says that Captain Dad is a family thriller? OK, well if thats the case, then maybe there are pirates or some angry Caribbean locals who hate Will and Catherine et al and want to see em drowned or something? Maybe thats what Cera is signed up for, to be an angry pirate or something. Who knows?

The whole thing sounds like a comedy but alas, dear reader, this is all the info that we and Variety can provide. Captain Dad will be helmed by Chilean writer-director Sebastian Silva, who has worked with Cera before, twice, and whose last movie, Nasty Baby, starred Kristen Wiig, meaning he knows his way around funny actors. But neither of his movies with Cera, Magic Magic and Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus were comedies. And Nasty Baby wasnt really either, despite the presence of Wiig.

So what does this mean? Maybe it means that Captain Dad really is a family thriller. Or, maybe it means that we have no idea what it is and might not until the movie actually gets made and released. Now theres a pitchy pitch!

(via Variety)
Cannes (France) (AFP) - Actress Charlotte Gainsbourg is to star in a provocative new comedy which parodies deep-rooted anti-Semitism in France, its director said Thursday.

"The Jews" -- titled "They are everywhere" in French -- is being shot by Gainsbourg's partner, the actor and director Yann Attal, who starred in Steven Spielberg's film "Munich" about the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Olympics in 1972.

The satire follows a Jewish man, played by Attal, forced to go into therapy by growing anti-Jewish feeling around him in France, a spokeswoman for Wild Bunch films told AFP.

His time on the couch is cut with tragi-comic episodes showing what the producers called "anti-Semitic stereotypes" which endure in France.

"The film is not about Jews -- it is about anti-Semitism," said Attal, who is Franco-Israeli.

He said he himself had frequently encountered anti-Semitism in France. "I was called a 'dirty Jew' at school and later I have come up against different kinds of anti-Semitism which marked me out as Jewish," he added.

"Most of all it is because of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. People say, 'You give us such trouble.' And I say to them, 'Who is the 'you'?'

"But it is the use of the 'we' that worries me most," he said, because it sets Jews apart.

The film -- which will premiere in the autumn -- also features a roll-call of major French stars including Dany Boon, Denis Podalydes and Gilles Lellouche, as well as Belgium's Benoit Poelvoorde.

- 'Poisonous' -

French Jewish groups and the Israeli government have repeatedly sounded the alarm in recent years about growing anti-Semitism in France, home to Europe's biggest Jewish community.

A French-born jihadist who had pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group killed four Jewish hostages during a siege of a kosher supermarket in Paris two days after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in the city last year.

Story continues

More than 850 complaints of attacks of an anti-Semitic nature were logged by French police in 2014, with that number dropping back only slightly to 806 last year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently denounced what he called "poisonous" anti-Israeli propaganda in France and elsewhere in the West, singling out the country again earlier this month for criticism in a speech at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem.

France's Jewish community is estimated at between 500,000 and 600,000 people, one of the largest in the world.
(File photo: Reuters)



Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat collapsed on Thursday (12 May) during a Cabinet meeting at 5.34pm, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.

According to the PMO, Heng, 54, was taken to hospital immediately where a CT scan showed he had suffered a stroke.

In a Facebook post at 9:49pm, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said that Heng had just undergone surgery.

Earlier, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, posting on Facebook, said the three doctors in the Cabinet had attended to Heng immediately and the ambulance took him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Lee added that he hoped Heng will be alright, calling him a valuable member of my team.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also posting on Facebook, said, He is one of Singapores finest sons, and a leader with much promise.

President Tony Tan also wished Heng a speedy recovery.

Heng carrying an incredible load: Shanmugam

Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, said on Facebook that Heng was carrying an incredible load handling the Finance Ministry and various important projects.

I could see that he was very tired. I have been telling him that he was overworking so much that it will affect his health, Shanmugam said.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, a surgeon before he entered politics, said, We managed to resuscitate him but he and his family will now need all our prayers and support as he undergoes critical procedures and treatment for the stroke.

Well wishes for Heng also poured in from the opposition parties, including the Workers Party and the Singapore Democratic Party.

Heng, also a Member-of-Parliament for Tampines Group Representation Constituency, was named Finance Minister after the General Election in 2015.

He had previously served as Education Minister from 2011 to 2015. Prior to entering politics in 2011, he was Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Heng has also held other positions in the civil service, including serving as Principal Private Secretary to then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and as a member of the Singapore Police Force, where he was a scholar and rose from constable to Assistant Commissioner of Police.
* Ex Deutsche banker Martyn Dodgson sentenced to 4.5 years

* Accountant Andrew Hind sentenced to 3.5 years

* Sentencing draws line under FCA's Operation Tabernula

* Dodgson, Hind face confiscation proceedings (Adds comment, details)

By Kirstin Ridley

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - A former Deutsche Bank managing director was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for insider dealing by a London court on Thursday, the longest prison term handed down in Britain for the crime to date.

After an unprecedented eight-and-a-half year investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Martyn Dodgson, 44, who advised the government during the global financial crisis, was jailed alongside his accountant friend Andrew Hind.

Hind, 56, a former finance director at fashion chain Top Shop, was sentenced to three and a half years after both were convicted on Monday for their part in a scam prosecutors said made more than $10 million from November 2006 to March 2010.

"This was persistent, prolonged and deliberate dishonest behaviour," Judge Jeffrey Pegden said.

The sentences draw a line under Operation Tabernula, an FCA investigation launched after two day traders brought attention to themselves in 2007 by attacking Scottish & Newcastle shares in what the FCA called "no holds barred, high-risk trading".

Three years later, police raids and arrests linked to the investigation sent shockwaves through the City of London. The case culminated in three guilty pleas, followed by two convictions and three acquittals after a near four-month trial.

The FCA alleged Dodgson sourced inside information from within the banks where he worked, passed the tips onto middleman Hind, who then asked day traders to deal on his behalf. The men would split the profits, often using cash or payments in kind.

The two traders who first caught the FCA's attention were Iraj Parvizi, an Iranian kebab shop worker turned multi-millionaire dubbed "Mad Punter" and Belgravia-based Scotsman Ben Anderson. They were acquitted on Monday, as was former Panmure Gordon trader Andrew Grant Harrison.

Story continues

All the defendants denied any wrongdoing.

LAMBORGHINI55

Despite the split verdict, the FCA considered the result a victory. "Dodgson and Hind were at the heart of the scheme," Therese Chambers, head of the FCA's wholesale enforcement arm, told a briefing on Wednesday.

Sarah Wallace, a partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said Dodgson's sentence paled in comparison to the lengthy prison terms handed down in the United States for securities fraud.

"However, the risk of losing your total wealth, some of which may have been amassed lawfully, through what some argue are disproportionately large confiscation orders ... can be the most painful part of the sentencing process," she said.

The FCA said it would pursue confiscation proceedings against both men to claw back the proceeds of crime.

The defendants used unregistered pay-as-you-go cell phones and military-grade encryption devices such as waterproof IronKey USB memory sticks that self-destruct if too many incorrect passwords are entered.

Dodgson kept his USB stick in a locked red box under his bed. A hint of his password - Lamborghini55 - was eventually discovered in an email sent to his wife, the FCA case team said.

The FCA scanned more than 10 million digital items, examined 600 digital devices, listened to more than 35,000 recorded calls, investigated 500,000 lines of telecoms data and identified more than 120 trading accounts and 200,000 lines of trading data in a $20 million inquiry occupying up to 40 staff.

(Editing by Rachel Armstrong and David Clarke)
Donald Trump may have offended plenty of people with his presidential campaign rhetoric, but even the presumptive Republican presidential nominees foulest language is no match for the harsh words spouted by one of Trumps oldest and most loyal servants.

Mother Jones revealed Thursday that Anthony Senecal, Trumps former butler, has authored several hateful  and vulgar  Facebook rants against Barack Obama, accusing the president of being a Muslim and a kenyan fraud, among other things, and calling for him to be killed.

One of several facebook posts by Donald Trumps former butler Anthony Senecal calling for President Obama to be killed. (Photo via Facebook)

When questioned by Mother Jones about the caustic screed, Senecal confirmed, I wrote that. I believe that.

While a Trump campaign spokeswoman told the magazine, this individual has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for many years, Senecals LinkedIn page states he has been the Palm Beach estates historian from May 2009 to present, Continuing in a position created by Donald J Trump, the owner of the Mar-a-Lago Estate/Club, according to his page.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks later repudiated Senecals sentiments in a statement published by CNN and other news outlets Thursday afternoon.

Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years, but nevertheless, we totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him regarding the president, Hicks stated.

Anthony Senecal smiles alongside longtime former boss Donald Trump. (Photo via Facebook)

In March, Senecal was the subject of a New York Times profile that offered unique insight into Trumps world through the man who served him for nearly three decades. In the Times story  which also described Senecals transition, at Trumps insistence, from Mar-a-Lago butler to unofficial historian following his retirement 2009  is filled with details both fascinating and banal about the presidential hopeful, from his preference for rock-hard steak to his penchant for white lies and exaggerations.

Based on Senecals references to Trump as the king and anecdotes such as one about the time he hired a bugler to play Hail to the Chief to lift his boss spirits, the Times story suggests that the former butler has long been ready for a Trump White House. The piece also alluded to Senecals contempt for Democratic rival candidate Hillary Clinton, simply noting that during his interview with the paper, Senecal offered a profane description for Mrs. Clinton, the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential race.

Story continues

Senecals latest Facebook post, published by Mother Jones on Thursday, offers a clue as to what that description may have been.

I cannot believe that a common murder [sic] is even allowed to run (killery clinton), reads one line in the post that is laced with expletives and exclamation points.

The Mother Jones story includes screenshots of several other threatening posts dating back more than a year, including one from April 21, 2015, in which Senecal  who reportedly admitted to having been suspended from Facebook in the past  declares that Obama needs to be hung for treason!!!

Following the rapid circulation of the Mother Jones report Thursday afternoon, NBC Politics reporter Alexandra Jaffe tweeted a statement from the Secret Service regarding Senecals calls for the presidents execution. The U.S. Secret Service is aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation, the statement reads.

SS statement on Trump's butler: "The U.S. Secret Service is aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation."  Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) May 12, 2016

Trump spox re: butler: "He does not work at mar-a-Lago and hasn't in many years. We totally disavow and condemn these horrible statements."  Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) May 12, 2016

According to his LinkedIn profile, Senecal has also worked as a butler and door greeter at the Cedric DuPont Antique Gallery in West Palm Beach since 2010. The gallerys website appears to have hosted a blog until March of this year. One now defunct post appears to be about Senecals many years at Mar-a-Lago, and even includes a quote from Trump on his former employee.

Tony Senecal is in a class by himself, reads the quote attributed to Trump, found in a cached version of the blog post. His knowledge of the history of Mar-a-Lago is unequaled, and his passion for it was always evident. Tony has an innate talent for doing things before being asked, and for doing them superbly. He had the ability to be far ahead of the curve, which is something I greatly appreciated. There is no one like Tony!
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia needs "fundamental change," and a public sale of shares in Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, may be part of the solution, former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker said on Tuesday. Baker, who served under President George H.W. Bush and joined a U.S. delegation to meet Saudi Arabia's new king last year, told a gathering of oil industry dealmakers that changes like the Aramco IPO could help the kingdom address unemployment and budget deficits amid weak oil prices. "These things are semi-revolutionary ideas, but who's to say they're not what the doctor ordered?" Baker said at a conference hosted by the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. "There does need to be some fundamental change with the way things are done in Saudi Arabia." Besides the Aramco IPO, Baker, revered among some Gulf Arabs for his role in orchestrating an alliance against Iraq's Saddam Hussein in the early 1990s, did not specify policies that could bring beneficial change to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, replaced its energy minister last weekend as part of a major economic shakeup. But industry observers expect the kingdom to continue its "survival-of-the-fittest" strategy aimed at keeping output high to drive higher-cost producers out of the market. The changes come as Saudi leaders seek to reduce their economy's dependence on oil amid a rout that has caused prices to fall around 60 percent since June 2014. A partial Aramco IPO, which could value the world's largest oil company at more than $2 trillion through the sale of a 5 percent stake, is part of the country's strategy. "They've got this huge workforce that they can't employ... and of course they're running some substantial budget deficits now," Baker said in a rare public discussion of current Middle East politics. He added that the kingdom was unlikely to limit production to stabilize prices after members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with Russia, failed to agree to a freeze last month. Baker also criticized Obama's foreign policy, saying Saudi Arabia does not "feel like we have their back anymore" after the nuclear deal with Iran, and said the U.S. should have been "firmer" with Russia after it invaded Crimea in 2014. "It's not enough to say we may be sliding back into a cold war," said Baker, who was Secretary of State when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. "We're back." (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Dan Grebler and Bernard Orr)
Former Vice President Dan Quayle on Thursday urged the Republican Party to unite around Donald Trump, despite concerns of some members of the Establishment.

Hes the presumptive nominee. Now the party is going to have to unify around someone that they did not expect to be the nominee, Quayle said on NBC News TODAY. I was a Republican vice president, Ive been a Republican all my life, Im going to support the nominee.

Quayles backing gives Trump a notable establishment voice at a time when he is struggling to win over the Republican Party.

Trump has exposed deep divides in the GOP, and leading voices have said they are not prepared to support him, citing his positions as well as his brash political style.

The president during Quayles tenure in the White House, George H.W. Bush, as well as former president George W. Bush have stayed on the sidelines, while prominent Republicans such as South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio have declined to support him.

Read More: Heres a Ranking of Republican Reactions to Donald Trump from Sad! to Yuuge

Trump will meet on Thursday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has said that he is not ready to back him.

Quayle said he expects Ryan to unify behind Trump. I fully expect that Paul Ryan will eventually support Donald Trump publicly, he said. We do have to be unified. If were not unified we have a real lot of trouble.

Quayle recommended Ohio Sen. Rob Portman as Trumps vice presidential pick and added that Trump needs to brush up on his policy chops.

He really needs to get more involved in the policy, Quayle said. He made a speech on foreign policy. Hes got to make another speech on foreign policy, hes got to make a speech on the economy, hes got to show hes presidential.
jim koch

In the nascent days of the Boston Beer Company, its cofounder Jim Koch would personally recruit vendors for his Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

He'd return to these bars to train staff members on a Sam Adams sales pitch for drinkers who stuck to established brands like Budweiser. (Bars were willing to let him do this because his beer had higher profit margins.)

On one of these trips in 1986, at a Washington, D.C. bar called Rumors, Koch approached an employee named Colleen Keegan Williams because he was impressed by her level of engagement during the training, Koch wrote in his book "Quench Your Own Thirst."

He learned that she had graduated from George Washington University with a finance degree and was working at the bar as she looked for a place to start her career. Koch then asked her if she ever considered selling beer, an idea she had never even thought of, but as a dedicated beer fan, found ideal. She joined the Boston Beer Company and became a successful salesperson.

It's one of the key moments, Koch wrote, that inspired him to incorporate "ride-alongs" as part of the job interview process at Boston Beer Co., in which he or one of his managers could observe a candidate's behavior in the field, such as a bar or liquor store.

"This process weeds out about 30% of the prospective hires who passed all the traditional interview tests," Koch wrote. "People think that selling beer sounds cool, but then they encounter the blood and guts of the business. They see the greasy back-ends of the bars, not the shiny front."

When Boston Beer Co. hires a salesperson, they want someone who not only understands the grittier side of the beer industry, but also embraces it, like Williams did back in '86.

In addition to test-runs, Boston Beer Co. has been using profile tests since the 1990s as part of the interview process. They measure traits like a candidate's "need to be proactive and take initiative, their need for order and structure, their need for social interaction, and their tendency to perform tasks patiently," Koch wrote.

Story continues

"The profile test helps us determine what activities people enjoy doing, and hence whether they're likely to love working in their job with us."

For example, he once interviewed an accountant candidate named Hank whose profile test suggested someone who was an independent and creative thinker, a decidedly atypical personality for an accountant. Koch had a conversation with Hank and got him to admit he didn't actually enjoy accounting, but would love being a salesperson. Koch hired him for that position and Hank became an exceptional employee.

Both techniques stem from Koch's philosophy that all hires should "raise the average" of the team they will be joining, and that as much time and care as necessary should be used to find these candidates. And ultimately, Koch said, after using the interview process to form a judgment of candidates, you will know instinctively if they are worth hiring.

"It's easy to visualize in your mind the average person in your sales force or on your brewery floor or even in senior management and it's easy for your intuition to evaluate whether a candidate is better than the average person," Koch wrote. "Your gut will tell you."

NOW WATCH: At Sam Adams, its OK to tell your boss f--- you





More From Business Insider


(Reuters) - A man suspected of shooting a woman dead and wounding four of their children after a domestic dispute in Alabama was in police custody on Thursday, authorities said.

The victim, Coral Wilson, had obtained a protective order in March against the suspect, who was not identified by police, according to a police statement.

But the suspect apparently arrived at the Birmingham home of Wilson, 35, late Wednesday asking to see his children, according to Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper.

When Wilson refused to let him in, the suspect kicked in the glass portion of a screen door and then left, according to a police statement.

Two hours later, the suspect returned, entered the home and started shooting at the woman and their children, the statement said.

Police arrived at the home to find Wilson on the floor with several gunshot wounds to her body and the four children with gunshot wounds to their bodies, according to a police statement.

Wilson was declared dead by emergency responders, the statement said.

The suspected shooter was arrested about six hours later after being found sleeping in the front seat of a vehicle, the police chief said.

"He was compliant and actually seemed relieved to be arrested," Roper said.

The injured children, two boys and two girls aged 5, 8, 11 and 12, were in stable condition, while four other children at the home were not hurt, Roper said. The suspect said he was the father of all eight kids, according to the police chief.

Wilson had gotten the protective order after several domestic reports at the home, the police statement said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Phil Berlowitz)
fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-03_warner.jpg

Via Youtube

A Redditor poking around on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowlings Pottermore website has found the source code for a sorting hat quiz that hasnt been unveiled on the site yet, and it reveals the names of the four houses in Ilvermorny, the North American Wizarding School which will likely be seen in Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.

The four houses are Horned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie, which are all based in First Nations folklore. Hypable listed some Wikipedia descriptions of these mythological animals:

The Wampus is a creature in American folklore, variously described as some kind of fearsome variation of a cougar.

The Thunderbird is a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples history and culture. It is considered a supernatural bird of power and strength. It is especially important, and frequently depicted, in the art, songs and oral histories of many Pacific Northwest Coast cultures, and is found in various forms among the peoples of the American Southwest, Great Lakes, and Great Plains.

The Pukwudgie is a two-to-three-foot-tall (61 to 91 cm) being from the Wampanoag folklore. Pukwudgies features resemble those of a human, but with enlarged noses, fingers and ears. Their skin is described as being a smooth grey, and at times has been known to glow.

The Horned Serpent appears in the mythologies of many Native Americans. Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and/or thunder. Horned Serpents were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory.

Wampus, Thunderbird, Pukwudgie, and Horned Serpent seem like they probably line up with Hogwarts houses Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, respectively, although Wampus and Thunderbird could be Gryffindor and Ravenclaw instead. But we can be reasonably certain a Pukwudgie is a Hufflepuff, because come on. The Pukwudgie is definitely the *sad trombone* of this list.

Expect Pottermore to release their Ilvermorny Sorting Ceremony quiz sometime closer to this November when Eddie Redmayne makes the face in Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.

(Via Hypable and Reddit)
DAKAR (Reuters) - France called on Thursday for an investigation into the disappearances of Chadian soldiers since last month's presidential election in its former African colony. Human rights groups have reported cases of soldiers who vanished or were locked in cells or publicly beaten for disobeying orders to vote for the ruling party in the April 10 election, in which incumbent Idriss Deby won a fifth term. Balkissa Ide Siddo, Central Africa campaigner for Amnesty International, told Reuters that more than 30 soldiers were now missing. "Every day, people come to see us saying that they have no news from a relative, and the number is rising." French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal told reporters: "France, like its international partners, is worried over the disappearances, reported by human rights groups, of Chadian soldiers. We want an investigation by Chadian authorities to allow light to be shed on these cases." Authorities have said the missing soldiers were sent on a mission. Four of them were shown on April 21 on national television. A former French colony, Chad is a strong and close ally of Paris in the fight against Islamist militants, including al Qaeda affiliates and Nigeria's Islamic State-linked Boko Haram. Chad has one of the region's most capable militaries and hosts the headquarters of France's 3,500-troop regional anti-militant operation, known as Barkhane. (Reporting by Marine Pennetier, Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
LONDON (Reuters) - London's status as a global financial center would probably be affected to some extent if Britain votes to leave the European Union in next month's referendum, French finance minister Michel Sapin said on Thursday. "The City (of London) is a considerable financial force and I don't think that (Brexit) would transform all the elements that constitute its strength," Sapin said through a translator during a visit to London. "But I don't think that it would be without effects which would have to be seen." Some French banks had told him Brexit would have consequences for them and that some of their activities based in London might not carry on as they were, he said. (Reporting by William Schomberg Writing by Andy Bruce; Editing by Louise Ireland)
DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Benoit Daoundo is a child protection officer who works for the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) to help release children from armed groups in Central African Republic. "Nothing could have prepared me for my role as a child protection officer in Central African Republic. My home country, Benin, has never been at war and I had never seen children associated with armed groups before. But working with kids had always been my dream. Back home I trained as a social worker and worked with vulnerable children in Benin and local and international NGOs before joining UNICEF. My family were concerned for me, and a few weeks after I arrived in Central African Republic, violence erupted. We have been living in our office since June 2014 - rolling our small mattresses under our desks in the morning. Constant and unpredictable insecurity prevents us from living in town. My first success in releasing children from armed groups started with a very scary meeting outside Bambari in July 2014. I had been called by the "general" in charge of one of the anti-balaka (militia) groups, and told to come at dawn, with a local aid worker, to discuss the fate of the children. After a few minutes sitting outside the base in the bush, we realized that the whole group had silently surrounded us - hundreds of fighters in traditional attire, motionless, many of them children who were carrying weapons. I asked the commander what was happening and he replied that it was for my safety, but I understood that it was over for us. I explained how important it was for us to educate people about the negative impacts of having children in armed groups. In short, I talked a lot before he understood this, insisted that I wasn't going to be harmed and realized I hadn't come to carry out investigations for the International Criminal Court. I must confess that I was covered in sweat that day. BACK TO SCHOOL "The most rewarding part of my job is probably when I check on the children that have been released from armed groups. Those children have been through hell, they have seen or done things that no human being should ever have to witness - so reintegrating them into a normal life is always a challenge. How do you become a normal kid when you have been forced to desecrate the body of your enemy? But there are success stories. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing them go back to school or, for the older ones, successfully starting a small business. From time to time, I get a phone call from Ibrahim, a 17-year-old from Cameroon who we helped reunite with his family. When Ibrahim was released, reuniting him with his family took several months, as he had no ID or birth certificate, and the insecurity made the cross-border reunification even harder. Just one month after joining his family, Ibrahim called me to say thank you, he told me he was back in school and happy. And he has kept this habit of calling every time something significant happens in his life  mostly good grades at school. CONVINCING COMMANDERS "When we first started talking to the local commanders, they could not understand why it was wrong to recruit a child. They simply said children should be allowed to seek revenge when their family had been killed, or their villages destroyed. Over the past months, they have understood that children should be kept out of the groups. Of course, there are still thousands of children associated with the armed groups. We are still pushing to release them, although we know the most challenging part of the process is giving those children a healthy and sustainable future once they have been released. This is a long process, that we will continue in the months, and probably years, to come. I just hope the country will find lasting peace, so these children can have a chance to build a future for themselves." This aid worker profile is one of five commissioned by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ahead of the first ever World Humanitarian Summit on the biggest issues affecting the humanitarian response to disasters and conflict. For more on the World Humanitarian Summit, please visit: http://news.trust.org/spotlight/reshape-aid (Editing by Kieran Guilbert and Katie Nguyen; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
Correction appended, 5:10 p.m.

Most people know Friday the 13th as an ominous day. Less well-known are the brave souls who have set out to prove once and for all that theres nothing to fear about the day.

Margaret Downey started a group for just such peoplebut, though she has hosted anti-superstition parties almost every Friday the 13th since 1996, she is building on a long tradition that goes back nearly 150 years.

Downey tells TIME that her own skepticism came from a childhood in a seance-hosting family. I was so annoyed by that that Id go down to the basement and pretend to be the ghost. When I heard them say, Give us a sign!, I took a broom and gave them a sign, the 65-year-old from West Chester, Pa., says. I just thought if all of this is supposed to work, then why are we so poor and have no food in the house?

She got the idea for her Friday the 13th parties from the Philadelphia-based Friday the 13th Club, a group of 13 men (and sometimes one woman) who met between 1936 and 2000 at 1:13 p.m.because thats 13:13 p.m. in military timeto have lunch, walk under ladders and spill a salt shaker. One of the few remaining living members, Max Buten, 83, worked at a paint and glass company, so he would bring mirrors for members to smash with hammers.

But, though Downey and her forebears were similarly skeptical, the original club members had an ulterior motive: The club was founded during the Depression by an adman, Philip Klein. Some of the places they met were probably clients, probably for people who needed publicity after the economy crashed, says his 54-year-old grandson and onetime club member Joshua Klein. There were people in this old boys club who were very PR-minded  like Philips brother Henry, a PR executive  so they knew to have a TV camera or reporter there.

Story continues

The Philly Friday the 13th club disbanded in 2000, in accordance with the 1936 members homemade calendar that laid out all upcoming Friday the 13ths through 2000, after which we should all be dead.

Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter

And the history of such clubs goes back to at least the 1880s, when skeptics would host dinners with 13 people to rebuff the superstition that if 13 people are at a table, then one will die within a year.

On January 13, 1882, The Thirteen Club was founded in New York City at Knickerbocker Cottage at 454 Sixth Avenuenote that the address adds up to 13. It was said to have charged 13 cents in monthly dues or $13 for lifetime membership, according to Thirteen: A Journey Into the Number by Jonathan Cott. Other chapters popped up nationwide, and the organization may have boasted as many as 1,300 participants, including P.T. Barnum and some U.S. presidents as honorary members such as Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt, according to the New York Historical Society. Across the pond, the London Thirteen Club, made up of journalists, actors and artists, dined on the 13th day of every month at a table set with crossed knives and even raised money for charity. A similar society existed in Paris.

In 1941, a LIFE magazine photographer went to the 13th Anniversary Jinx-Jabbing Jamboree and Dinner of the Anti-Superstition Society of Chicago, where businessmen lit three cigarettes with one match, among other stunts. And in the Syracuse area, Ray Smith, 83, and his wife Janet Smith, 81, went out to dinner every Friday the 13th with six other couples and a stuffed black cat up until 2002 when people moved to Florida, as Ray puts it. Old age started getting the best of us.

MORE: 13 Things to Know About Friday the 13th

But there arent many news articles written about 21st-century versions of these clubs. That may very well be because theyre not run by PR pros like the Philly Friday the 13th club, but Downey thinks it may be a sign of the times, as the more information thats available the less likely people are to be superstitution. And, as Joshua Klein points out, its harder to get people together for a sit-down lunch than it used to be.

Or perhaps its because, while the purpose of anti-superstition meetings was to prove that nothing bad will happen on a Friday the 13th, attendees have experienced some eerie coincidences. For instance, former Friday the 13th club member Max Buten admits that he once crashed his bike on a Friday the 13th and was hospitalized overnight for a concussion. And Downey recalls that at her Feb. 13, 2015, anti-superstition party in Fullerton, Calif., Our sound technician came 45 mins late and said, Well this is just a coincidence, but I had a car accident on my way hereIve never had a car accident.

Downey, however, remains unconvinced. To her, thats just proof that when people are late, they drive fast.

Correction: The original version of this article misstated the surname of one of the members of the Friday the 13th Club. He is Max Buten.
(Removes extraneous word "were" from paragraph 1)

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Lawrence Delevingne

LAS VEGAS, May 11 (Reuters) - Top fundraisers for Donald Trump made pitches on Wednesday to prominent hedge fund investors to line up behind the presumptive Republican presidential nominee as he seeks to raise $1 billion for the general election campaign.

The New York billionaire businessman was a topic of discussion as some 2,000 hedge fund managers, investors, lawyers and journalists gathered in Las Vegas for the SkyBridge Alternatives Conference, known as SALT, the industry's most prominent annual meeting.

Steven Mnuchin, Trump's newly appointed national finance chairman and a private investor himself, met with some of the attending hedge fund managers, including Kenneth Griffin, a prominent Republican donor who previously supported U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

In an onstage interview, Griffin, the billionaire founder of powerful hedge fund firm Citadel, did not address the presidential campaign. A spokesman for Griffin did not respond to a request for comment.

Also speaking at the event was former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who in an onstage interview, declined to endorse any presidential candidate. Earlier this year, Bloomberg flirted with an independent presidential candidacy, but decided against it for fear it would help Trump's chances of getting elected.

Some investors told Reuters they were disappointed Bloomberg did not enter the race.

Trump is the last man standing in the Republican race after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich dropped out last week. Trump, who has never held elective office, is trying to unite Republicans behind his candidacy after a primary election campaign in which his fiery rhetoric on trade, immigration and Muslims rankled party elites.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had pulled even with Clinton, his likely opponent in the Nov. 8 presidential election.

Story continues

David Rubenstein, co-founder of private equity powerhouse Carlyle Group, kicked off the three-day conference by asking the audience which candidate they thought would move into the White House in January after November's election. The vast majority did not express an opinion on either Trump or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Away from panel discussions on how the industry can salvage a poor start to the year - the average hedge fund is off 0.8 percent this year, according to eVestment - powerful Trump backers were working smaller venues around the Hotel Bellagio.

Anthony Scaramucci, who hosts the conference and runs hedge fund investment firm Skybridge Capital, said he was reaching out to his contacts to convince them Trump would run his candidacy like an entrepreneur, something he said America needed.

'ENTREPRENEURIAL AVENUE'

"You have an opportunity now to bring an entrepreneur and a team of advisers that are entrepreneurial, out-of-the-box thinkers into Washington," Scaramucci told Reuters. "That's the sell to potential donors."

Scaramucci has long been a powerful Republican fundraiser who originally backed Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in this year's race and later Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor.

He said there would be the Trump "Entrepreneurial Avenue" versus the "Clinton cul-de sac," a suggestion that economic growth would be stronger under the likely Republican nominee.

Scaramucci added that potential donors would soon get over any fears of publicly helping Trump.

"Candidate Trump has said some things that some business people think: 'Jeez, if I'm associated with some of those things, it could be perceived negatively for my business.' I think that will wash away in the next two months," Scaramucci said.

Among big-name Trump backers at the conference were T. Boone Pickens, an oil investor and hedge fund manager who previously supported Bush's candidacy.

"Yes, I'm for Donald Trump," he said on stage, adding Trump was smart enough to get himself help where he needed it politically and that it would be refreshing to have a businessman instead of a politician in the White House.

"Donald almost always overestimates how successful he is," Pickens said, "but nonetheless he has been out there and he does know something about what he is talking about."

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Peter Cooney)
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Lawrence Delevingne LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Top fundraisers for Donald Trump made pitches on Wednesday to prominent hedge fund investors to line up behind the presumptive Republican presidential nominee as he seeks to raise $1 billion for the general election campaign. The New York billionaire businessman was a topic of discussion as some 2,000 hedge fund managers, investors, lawyers and journalists gathered in Las Vegas for the SkyBridge Alternatives Conference, known as SALT, the industry's most prominent annual meeting. Steven Mnuchin, Trump's newly appointed national finance chairman and a private investor himself, met with some of the attending hedge fund managers and others, including oil investor T. Boone Pickens, Georgette Mosbacher and former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. In an onstage interview, Kenneth Griffin, the billionaire founder of powerful hedge fund firm Citadel who previously supported U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, did not address the presidential campaign. A spokesman for Griffin did not respond to a request for comment. Also speaking at the event was former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who in an onstage interview, declined to endorse any presidential candidate. Earlier this year, Bloomberg flirted with an independent presidential candidacy, but decided against it for fear it would help Trump's chances of getting elected. Some investors told Reuters they were disappointed Bloomberg did not enter the race. Trump is the last man standing in the Republican race after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich dropped out last week. Trump, who has never held elective office, is trying to unite Republicans behind his candidacy after a primary election campaign in which his fiery rhetoric on trade, immigration and Muslims rankled party elites. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed Trump had pulled even with Clinton, his likely opponent in the Nov. 8 presidential election. David Rubenstein, co-founder of private equity powerhouse Carlyle Group, kicked off the three-day conference by asking the audience which candidate they thought would move into the White House in January after November's election. The vast majority did not express an opinion on either Trump or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. Away from panel discussions on how the industry can salvage a poor start to the year - the average hedge fund is off 0.8 percent this year, according to eVestment - powerful Trump backers were working smaller venues around the Hotel Bellagio. Anthony Scaramucci, who hosts the conference and runs hedge fund investment firm Skybridge Capital, said he was reaching out to his contacts to convince them Trump would run his candidacy like an entrepreneur, something he said America needed. 'ENTREPRENEURIAL AVENUE' "You have an opportunity now to bring an entrepreneur and a team of advisers that are entrepreneurial, out-of-the-box thinkers into Washington," Scaramucci told Reuters. "That's the sell to potential donors." Scaramucci has long been a powerful Republican fundraiser who originally backed Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in this year's race and later Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor. He said there would be the Trump "Entrepreneurial Avenue" versus the "Clinton cul-de sac," a suggestion that economic growth would be stronger under the likely Republican nominee. Scaramucci added that potential donors would soon get over any fears of publicly helping Trump. "Candidate Trump has said some things that some business people think: 'Jeez, if I'm associated with some of those things, it could be perceived negatively for my business.' I think that will wash away in the next two months," Scaramucci said. Among big-name Trump backers at the conference were Pickens, an oil investor and hedge fund manager who previously supported Bush's candidacy. "Yes, I'm for Donald Trump," he said on stage, adding Trump was smart enough to get himself help where he needed it politically and that it would be refreshing to have a businessman instead of a politician in the White House. "Donald almost always overestimates how successful he is," Pickens said, "but nonetheless he has been out there and he does know something about what he is talking about." (This version of the story corrects paragraph three to remove reference to Mnuchin meeting with Griffin) (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Gastar Exploration Inc. (NYSE: GST) revealed that it priced a public offering of 50.0 million shares at $0.95 per share following an effective shelf registration statement previously filed with the SEC. According to the company, the offering was upsized from 40.0 million shares disclosed previously.

Gastar said that it granted the underwriters a 30-day option to acquire a maximum an additional 7.5 million shares. The company expects to receive net proceeds of about $44.6 million or about $51.4 million if the underwriters exercised their option to acquire the addition shares.

The company indicated it would use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes. That included funding of an expanded drilling program in Oklahoma. Also, the company expects to close the offering on May 17, subject to customary closing conditions.

Seaport Global Securities LLC and Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C. were the joint book-running managers for the offering.

The stock traded 1.76 percent down on Thursday.

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Militants inspired by the Islamic State group's ideology are seeking to benefit from the desperation of young Palestinians to strengthen their foothold in the Gaza Strip.

But the Salafists in the enclave tread a fine line to avoid conflict with Hamas, the Islamist movement which has ruled the strip for a decade but does not share IS's world view.

Leaders of the Salafists, who are adherents of a strict Sunni interpretation of Islam, claim to have 3,000 fighters in Gaza.

While the figure is impossible to verify, experts see an increasing use of IS-style rhetoric to attract support.

"Some groups use the Islamic State label and claim to have adopted jihadist ideology to attract teenagers who have lost all hope," said Assaad Abu Charakh, a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza.

Last week saw the heaviest cross-border clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas and other militant groups since 2014, raising fears of a return to hostilities, though calm has since returned.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2006 aimed at containing Hamas, the Jewish state's arch enemy.

At almost 45 percent, the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is among the world's highest.

Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, but Israel and the international community refused to accept the results, demanding Hamas renounce violence, recognise Israel and respect agreements signed between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

The party imposed its rule on Gaza a year later after a quasi-civil war.

- Qassam Brigades defectors -

But some members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, argued elections were un-Islamic and defected to form Salafist groups.

Abu al-Ansari al-Ina, a leader of the "Young Salafist Fighters," one of the major jihadist groups in Gaza, is one such defector.

The priority, he argues, is the "fight against the Jews in Palestine, even if the strategic goal is the introduction of Islamic law in the world."

Story continues

He says he is under surveillance and took precautions before meeting an AFP journalist.

Two hundred Gazans, including some of his movement, have crossed into Egypt to join the ranks of the Islamic State "despite Hamas' attempts to stop them," he says.

Most used the tunnels that once linked Gaza to Egypt, while others took advantage of the occasional openings of the Rafah border crossing, the only of Gazas borders crossings not controlled by Israel.

The vast Sinai desert is gripped by an insurgency that Egypt regularly accuses Hamas of supporting.

Egypt's air force has destroyed a large number of the tunnels and established a buffer zone along the Gazan border.

Abu Sayyaf, military commander of another Salafi movement, insists Israel is the primary enemy.

"Our priority now is to strengthen the military capabilities of our fighters to kill the Jews, the enemies of God," he said.

"We do not want confrontation with Hamas," but "we will not hesitate to fight the infidels or anyone who stands in the way of our fighters."

- Escalation fears -

Hamas security services reached an agreement last year with the jihadists after arresting about 100 of them: in exchange for their release, the groups committed to respect the truce with Israel and not to attack Palestinian or foreign institutions in Gaza.

Though limited, Salafi attacks endanger the ceasefire which Hamas is tactically keen to uphold.

Gazan groups have been firing rockets into Israel for years, with Israel retaliating by striking Hamas positions -- holding the militant group responsible for stability in the enclave.

Many fear the tensions could escalate into clashes between Hamas and jihadi groups if rocket attacks occur.

Salafi jihadists threatened Hamas in online videos, with some claiming the shelling of Qassam bases. "We met our commitments but Hamas did not, they again arrested some of our fighters," says Abu al-Ina.

Mahmoud Zahar, a top Hamas official, says the authorities "discuss and are trying to reason" with the imprisoned Salafists, but have no choice but to use force against aggressors.

A Salafist was killed last year by Hamas forces who had come to arrest him.

Some jihadists "were planning to kill their neighbours and relatives," Zahar said, provoking Hamas to step in to prevent "a huge explosion".

Asked about the IS links, Abu al-Ina al-Ansari says they merely consist of "an exchange of ideas but are not organisational".

"We agree with the clear message sent by the Islamic State to the miscreant West: 'Stop your attacks, we will stop our attacks'".
Washington (AFP) - The gun used to kill unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in a 2012 case that triggered protests across the United States was put up for auction Thursday.

Former neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who shot dead the 17-year-old, listed the weapon on the United Gun Group's website -- hours after it was removed from a prevous site which said it wanted nothing to do with the sale.

Zimmerman advertised the weapon as "the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin" and called the sale "your opportunity to own a piece of American history."

The Kel-Tec PF-9, a 9mm pistol, had a starting price of $5,000. Two hours after it was posted online, there were no bids, though it had been "liked" by two users. At times, the website appeared to be down.

Zimmerman had previously listed the gun on GunBroker.com, but it was swiftly removed by the auctioneers.

"Mr Zimmerman never contacted anyone at GunBroker.com prior to or after the listing was created and no one at GunBroker.com has any relationship with Zimmerman," the website said in a statement.

"Our site rules state that we reserve the right to reject listings at our sole discretion, and have done so with the Zimmerman listing," it added. "We want no part in the listing on our website or in any of the publicity it is receiving."

Zimmerman had told the Orlando Sentinel that the first auction website was not "prepared for the traffic and publicity surrounding the auction of my firearm."

Martin's killing was the first in a series of high-profile deaths of young black men in recent years, which have sparked a national debate on race in America.

A neighborhood watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford, Florida, Zimmerman fatally shot the high school student as he was walking home with iced tea and candy in February 2012.

Zimmerman insisted he had been following Martin on suspicion the youth was involved in robbery, and that he shot him in an act of self-defense.

Story continues

He was acquitted of second-degree murder the following year, setting off protests nationwide over Florida's "stand your ground" gun laws.

- 'Fight Black Lives Matter' -

The weapon's description on United Gun Group, which bills itself as a "social marketplace for the firearms community," was accompanied by photographs of the gun taken when it was displayed as evidence in court.

"Offers to purchase the firearm have been received; however, the offers were to use the gun in a fashion I did not feel comfortable with," Zimmerman wrote in a description accompanying the listing.

"Many have expressed an interest in owning and displaying the firearm, including the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC," he said.

The Smithsonian denied his claim, tweeting: "We have never expressed interest in collecting George Zimmerman's firearm, and have no plans to ever collect or display it in any museums."

Zimmerman said a portion of the proceeds of the sale would be used to "fight BLM (Black Lives Matter) violence against law enforcement officers," referring to the activist movement against police brutality against African Americans.

He also said it would be used to "ensure the demise of Angela Correy," who prosecuted him, and Democratic presidential contender "Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric."

"The firearm is fully functional as the attempts by the Department of Justice on behalf of B. Hussein Obama to render the firearm inoperable were thwarted by my phenomenal defense attorney," he added, highlighting President Barack Obama's middle name as foes of the US leader have often done to question his origins and legitimacy.

The 32-year-old Zimmerman has made headlines repeatedly since his acquittal over Martin's death, notably for selling paintings of the Confederate Flag -- which is viewed by many as a racist symbol -- in partnership with a Florida gun store.

He has also had several subsequent run-ins with the law.

Last year, he was accused of assault by his girlfriend, although she later withdrew the complaint.

In September 2014, he allegedly threatened a man during a road rage incident on a Florida highway, but police released him because the man did not want to press charges.

In 2013, his estranged wife Shellie Zimmerman called police to say he had threatened her with a gun, but she too failed to press charges.
George Zimmerman is selling the gun he used in the fatal shooting of high school student Trayvon Martin back in 2012. The former neighborhood watch volunteer will auction off the 9mm pistol on the website Gunbroker.com on Thursday, May 12.

PHOTOS: Stars at Court

"The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin," the listing reads. "This is a piece of American History. It has been featured in several publications and in current University text books."

PHOTOS: Celebrity Mugshots

Zimmerman also spoke about his decision during an interview with TV station WOFL. "I thought it's time to move past the firearm. And if I sell it and it sells, I move past it. Otherwise, it's going in a safe for my grandkids and never to be used or seen again," he said, via the Associated Press.

Zimmerman, 32, shot 17-year-old Martin in a gated community in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012, while the unarmed teen was walking back to a relative's home after buying food at a convenience store. Zimmerman claimed that he shot Martin in self-defense and that Martin allegedly punched and knocked him to the ground.

PHOTOS: Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2015

Zimmerman pleaded his case over a three-week period in Seminole County Court. He was eventually found not guilty of second-degree murder and acquitted of manslaughter on July 13, 2013.

The controversial verdict caused an uproar across the country. Following the decision, the Trayvon Martin Foundation was created to help fight social injustice and to end gun violence.












George Zimmerman is selling the gun he used to shoot and kill??Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager, in February 2012.

Zimmerman was later acquitted of murder.??

Now, Zimmerman, 32, is selling what he calls a "piece of American history."??

"The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012," Zimmerman writes, according to the auction site. "Now is your opportunity to own a piece of American History. Good Luck."??

In the item description, Zimmerman said the Smithsonian expressed interest in the gun for a museum, but the Smithsonian said Thursday morning that was not true.??

We have never expressed interest in collecting George Zimmerman's firearm, and have no plans to ever collect or display it in any museums

- Smithsonian (@smithsonian) May 12, 2016

The gun is a Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm, according to the auction site. The opening bid is $5,000.

The auction begins Thursday morning.??

Zimmerman said a portion of the proceeds from the sale would go toward fighting "Black Lives Matter violence against law enforcement officers."??

The entry for the auction was later deleted Thursday morning. No explanation was given. A request for comment was not immediately returned by the site.

May 12, 9:10 a.m.: Story updated with the information that the auction page was removed.??

Read More: George Zimmerman Loses Defamation Lawsuit Against NBC
Fannin County, Georgia, parents threatened to pull their kids out of school after they learned that a transgender student was allowed to use the restroom that matched their gender identity, not their birth certificate gender.

One parent, Angel Chancey, spoke to local ABC affiliate WSB and said that she would home-school her child over the school district's bathroom policy.

"We're going to do everything we can to stop this, and if not, then us moms are going to come home and teach our kids like it used to be," Chancey said.

Source: Mic/YouTube

Though the school district has an inclusive bathroom policy, the superintendent plans to make sure transgender kids are actually transgender and not duping the school.

"We want to make sure this is something the child truly identifies with and it's not a fad, or it's not going to be just a 10th-grade guy wanting to look in the girls' restroom," Superintendent Mark Henson said. Henson's rhetoric echoes similar yet false points made in North Carolina  that bathroom bills protect women in restrooms, even though there are zero recorded instances of a trans person assaulting someone in a bathroom.

Source: Mic/YouTube

T will meet . to discuss the bathroom policy. nt.

h/t The New Civil Rights Movement
Geraldine Roman makes history as first transwoman elected to Congress in the Philippines

Geraldine Roman makes history as first transwoman elected to Congress in the Philippines

This week, 49-year-old Geraldine Roman became the first transgender politician to win a congressional seat in the Philippines, making history as the highest-ranking openly LGBT politician in the predominantly Catholic country. According to a report from CNN, exit polls indicate that she won 62% of the votes for a seat in the House of Representatives in the Bataan province, a farming community north of the capital Manila, a position which was previously held by her mother and her father before that.

While other transwomen have previously run for congress in recent years, Geraldine Romans victory is seen as a source of hope to many in the Philippines, where divorce, abortion, and same-sex marriage are banned. The status of LGBT people in the Philippines has made international headlines recently, with news about the murder of Jennifer Laude by a U.S. Marine and when boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao compared gay people to animals.

CONGRATS to Bataan 1st Dist.Rep. Geraldine Roman. First elected transgender congresswoman in Philippine history. pic.twitter.com/oaEBnPwjy8  LADLADofficial (@LADLADofficial) May 10, 2016

Roman has vowed to work towards enacting an anti-discrimination bill for LGBT people that would provide government protection for equal treatment in the workplace, schools, businesses, and government offices, as well repealing a law passed in 2001 that has made it impossible for transgender Filipinos to change their name and gender in legal records. While Roman has made LGBT issues an important part of her campaign, she has also stated that her priorities are the needs of the people of Bataan, as well as addressing nationwide poverty.

Equality [is] not only in terms of gender but also in terms of socioeconomic status. To be rich or poor should not matter. Whether educated or not, people should have the same opportunities so Im going beyond gender to include more issues, she said.

At the start, my opponents are trying to convert my gender into an issue and it turns out that people dont mind, says Roman, who holds two masters degrees from Spain and speaks five languages. Im elated, very, very happy. Im also excited to work. I realise that the burden is bigger because the stereotype of people about the LGBT is we are frivolous, that we have nothing substantial to say, so I have to prove them wrong.

The post Geraldine Roman makes history as first transwoman elected to Congress in the Philippines appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By Joseph Nasr BERLIN (Reuters) - Three days after an emotional reunion with his younger son in Berlin, a 71-year-old Syrian handed a bar of olive oil and laurel soap, a hand-made wall hanging and a box of pistachio sweets to a 56-year-old German he had never met before. The gifts were from Aleppo, the city devastated by five years of war which he and his elder son had been able to leave thanks to the German, engineer and father of four, Martin Figur. Figur is one of the "Godfathers for Refugees", matched with the family by a non-profit organization of the same name that seeks sponsors to help Syrians already in Germany to bring their relatives here. "During the war, the Germans - government and people - have shown they are closer friends of the Syrian people than the Arabs," the Syrian father told Figur at their meeting, which was witnessed by Reuters. He declined to give his name to protect relatives still living in the fiercely contested city. Tight border controls across Europe, stricter asylum rules, and an EU-Turkey deal to clamp down on migrant sea crossings to Greece have left many Syrians in Germany struggling for ways to help relatives still in their homeland make it to safety. The arrival of more than a million migrants into Germany last year prompted the German government to tighten asylum rules, including a two-year ban on family reunions for those granted limited refugee status, making the situation worse.Martin Keune, the owner of an advertising agency, founded Godfathers for Refugees last year after two Syrian asylum seekers he was housing begged him to help them bring in their parents. Keune was inspired by the story of his wife's Jewish uncle, who survived the Holocaust thanks to a British couple who adopted him while the rest of his family were sent from Berlin to the Nazi death camp in Krakow, Poland, where they perished. At Berlin's Schoenefeld airport on Saturday, the Syrian father's younger son Mohannad, who has been in Germany since 2006, held back tears as he greeted his father and brother. "You look exhausted, but healthy and you are breathing and that is the most important thing," he said, pressing his hand on his father's arm. DESPERATE Mohannad, 36, came to Germany ten years ago on a cultural exchange program and had been trying to reunite his family since 2012. "When I started looking into laws on family reunions, I became desperate," he said. His net monthly salary at a Berlin-based charity for refugees is less than the minimum of 2,160 euros ($2,460.24) the authorities say a sponsor must earn to bring in just one family member. That is about the average net salary in Germany. Since March 2015, the Godfathers' group has found sponsors for 103 Syrians, two-thirds of whom are already with family members in Berlin. The rest are waiting to receive two-year residency permits at German consulates in Lebanon and Turkey. The association can only sponsor Syrians who have at least one close family member, such as a spouse, a child, a parent or a sibling, who has been in Germany for at least one year. It relies on crowd funding and donations from its 2,200 members to raise the 800 euros a month it needs for each Syrian. This covers rent, health insurance, and a 400-euro stipend, equal to what the government pays unemployed Germans. The godfathers do not fund the Syrian newcomers directly but take on legal liability for their living costs for five years even if in the meantime they apply for asylum and are granted full refugee status. Figur signed a "Declaration of Commitment" at the Foreigners' Registration Office in Berlin accepting liability for Mohannad's father, brother as well his mother, who is still in Aleppo. Germany took in some 1.1 million migrants last year, and of the more than 470,000 asylum applications filed over that period the largest group were Syrians, making up 35 percent. The influx has fueled the rise of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which entered three state parliaments in elections in March by luring voters angry with Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming approach toward refugees. "I can only encourage people to make contact with refugees, because only then will their attitudes change," said Figur, a Catholic, commending Merkel's courage in the refugee crisis. A ceasefire in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and its main commercial center before the war, has held since last week, making it easier for father and son to leave by land to Lebanon and on to Germany, a 20-hour journey. They know they are lucky and hope mother, daughter and grandson - who have stayed behind at the wish of the son-in-law - will be able to join them soon in Berlin. They described the gifts to Figur as a gesture of gratitude for "helping strangers". "Martin Figur helped us even though he did not know us," said Mohannad's brother, 38, pointing at his "godfather" with a smile. "And this is what I want to do in the future, help others." ($1 = 0.8705 euros) (Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Germany looks set to abstain in a European Union vote next week on the continued use of glyphosate in weed killers because ministries run by different parties remain at odds over the chemical which some experts say could be carcinogenic. Glyphosate is used in many herbicides including Monsanto's Roundup, despite a dispute between EU and U.N. agencies over whether it causes cancer. Experts from the EU's 28 member states will hold a closed-door meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels to discuss a draft proposal, seen by Reuters, to extend by nine years approval of the herbicide. Last month, European politicians advised that glyphosate should only be approved for another seven years, rather than the 15 proposed by the EU executive, and should not be used by the general public. The European Commission said the new draft takes into account the opposition and maintains the proposal to ban some products because of the substances they combine with glyphosate, which could add to risks. It said the banned "list of co-formulants" includes POE-tallowamine from glyphosate-containing pesticides. "The common agreement remains that the attention must be focused on co-formulants," a spokeswoman for the Commission said. "If need be, they will lead to a review of the approval of the active substance." An EU source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least one big member state maintained opposition to renewal, which the EU executive says is needed to prevent a legal vacuum when the existing authorization lapses at the end of June. But Germany's conservatives (CDU) and their junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD) cannot agree on a common position. If the German government cannot reach agreement, it will abstain from voting. "It's proven that glyphosate has negative effects on the environment. That needs to be fully taken into account for the approval," Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, an SPD member, told Reuters. "Given that there is still uncertainty about the health risks associated with glyphosate, the SPD-led ministries will not agree to the approval of glyphosate," she said. Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) - sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) - has, up until now, signaled that he would agree to the weed killer being approved. Martin Haeusling, a German lawmaker for the Greens in the European Parliament, said a qualified majority for the approval was not certain if Germany abstained from voting. Environmental campaigners have demanded a full ban on glyphosate. "It is scandalous that the Commission is ramming through an EU approval for glyphosate to be used with no restrictions, despite the very serious concerns about the impact of this toxic substance on public health and the environment," said Green member of European Parliament and food safety spokesperson Bart Staes. "Clearly banning glyphosate would be the responsible course of action," he said. (Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel in Brussels and Hans-Edzard Busemann in Berlin; Writing by Michelle Martin and Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Dominic Evans)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union would not simply carry on as before should Britain vote to leave the bloc, Germany's foreign minister said on Thursday, pointing to Northern Ireland as one potential trouble spot. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he hoped Britain would vote to stay in the 28-member bloc in a referendum on June 23. "Should the British decide otherwise, then the European Union won't just carry on as 28 minus one," Steinmeier told a conference on Europe in his ministry. As an example of one area where old troubles could flare up, he pointed to Northern Ireland and its border with EU member Ireland, which is open and where the situation is largely calm. "At the moment that the United Kingdom leaves (the EU), we have a border again between Ireland and Northern Ireland. That has at least the potential to allow completely calmed conflicts to flare up again," Steinmeier said. A 1998 peace deal, brokered after more than 3,600 had died, has largely ended the conflict that pitted mostly Catholics, who wanted a united Ireland, against Unionists, mostly Protestants, who wanted it to remain part of the United Kingdom. (Reporting by Paul Carrel)
By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican veteran Newt Gingrich did not rule out on Wednesday the possibility that he could be persuaded to serve as presumptive nominee Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, but said Trump has plenty of other talent to consider. "I would certainly talk about it," Gingrich told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity. "I wouldn't turn it down automatically." Gingrich has been a persistent subject of speculation as a possible Trump running mate. He is a former speaker of the House of Representatives and, as such, meets one of Trump's main requirements for the job - that his No. 2 be someone who could help steer legislation through Congress. Gingrich ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and lost to the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney. He has been serving as an informal adviser to Trump, who has said he has narrowed his list of potential picks to five or six. Gingrich said in the Fox interview that former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Ohio Governor John Kasich would both be strong selections for the position. Kasich, who ended his own presidential run last week, has emphatically ruled out serving with Trump, while Perry has said he would be willing to be considered and has endorsed Trump. Speculation has also centered around some of Trump's former rivals like U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who said this week he was not interested, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is a strong backer of Trump. "I'm not the only person around," Gingrich said. He suggested that there could be better choices for the position, noting that it would be an advantage for Trump to have a running mate who could help win over voters in a particular region of the country. A former congressman from Georgia, Gingrich has lived in the Washington, D.C., suburbs for years. Still, he said, he would be willing to consider it. "I am in the 'not no' column," Gingrich said. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Paul Tait)
The sexual abuse of children by tourists and travellers is a growing scourge around the globe that has largely managed to outwit attempts to curb it in the last two decades, a major study warned Thursday.

The landmark report released in Thailand, South Africa and Washington makes for grim reading, with researchers concluding that "no region is untouched by this crime and no country is 'immune'".

More than 70 child protection agencies, charities and academics contributed to the UN-backed "Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism" -- trailed as the most comprehensive review of its kind.

"We now have the largest bank of information ever gathered on this issue. And the main finding is that, despite 20 years of hard work... exploitation in travel and tourism has expanded across the globe, outpacing attempts to stop it," Dorothy Rozga, executive director of ECPAT International which oversaw the report, said at the Bangkok launch.

While the nature and level of child sex abuse by travellers varies region to region, the report's authors pinpoint two major contributing causes for its spread: cheap travel and new technology that allows predators to share information and abuse more easily.

The authors say public and policing perceptions of child sex tourism are often outdated.

"White, Western, wealthy, middle-aged men are no longer the typical offender," they write.

Instead offenders can come from all walks of life, with many perpetrators opportunists and not people who would consider themselves serial paedophiles.

"They do, however, have one thing in common: the chances of being arrested, charged and punished remain slight. Repeat offenders target the countries with the weakest legislation and enforcement. There is a valid sense of 'impunity'," Rozga said.

- Local and regional abusers -

An example of child sex tourism's changing nature can be seen in Southeast Asia, long one of the globe's biggest child sex tourism hotspots.

Story continues

The authors note that while white Western paedophiles are still a problem, enforcement has tightened thanks to increased cooperation between Western governments and Southeast Asian nations.

Dutch ambassador Karel Hartogh highlighted that work at the Bangkok launch but said much more needed to be done.

"Right now millions of children around the world are still at risk of sexual abuse. We should and can better protect them," he said.

In Southeast Asia victims are more likely to be targeted by local or regional travellers -- such as Japanese, Chinese and South Korean tourists -- primarily because they travel throughout the region in far greater numbers.

Child protection charities however say they have seen less cooperation from regional countries than Western authorities.

"Unfortunately the level of cooperation from the regional governments is far different from what we receive from Western law enforcement agencies," said Seila Samleang, director of APLE (Action Pour Les Enfants) which runs investigations to ensnare paedophiles in Cambodia.

"For example, we have been working on many cases involving Chinese nationals, but there was not one case where the Chinese police became involved in the investigation or prosecution of their own citizens.

"It's the same for many governments and law enforcements agencies nearby as well."

Europe, once known as primarily a source of paedophile tourists, is now emerging as a destination, especially in some Central and Eastern European nations that are lacking child protection laws.

In the Middle East and North Africa, the authors cite ongoing conflicts, the low status of women in many cultures and traditions such as "temporary marriage" as contributing factors.

Poor countries in South Asia and Latin America that already have a reputation for weak law enforcement, meanwhile, have seen huge expansion in both local and foreign travel.

Predators are also able to abuse in increasingly remote places.

Researchers say, for example, that there is anecdotal evidence that children can be increasingly bought for sex in places such as Myanmar, Laos, Moldova, Peru and some Pacific Island nations.

"Twenty years ago, it might have been possible to sketch a rough global map showing where international travelling sex offenders were from, and where they were going," the study says.

"Today, the distinctions between countries of origin and countries of destination are blurring."

With convictions remaining low, "more collective actions" are needed "to prevent this crime and better protect children", according to Rozga.
In the United States, pink ribbons and Movember mustaches flood social-media feeds to raise awareness of breast and prostate cancer, respectively. But in the global south, cancer is different. For starters, its often linked to infectious diseases. And more strikingly, its now home to the majority of cancer cases.

A staggering 83 percent of liver cancer cases emerged in the developing world in 2012, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Whats more, liver cancer in poor countries tends to look different. In the West, it typically emerges in men over the age of 40 with chronic liver disease. Thats not always so in the developing world. In Peru, for instance, liver cancer tends to strike youth around age 25  sans liver disease. Aflatoxin, a substance produced by molds on peanuts and corn, may play a role. Viral hepatitis most certainly does. Mongolia has the highest rate of liver cancer in the world, which researchers attribute to the spread of hepatitis in the 1970s and 1980s, before the debut of disposable syringes in the country. While global health programs have made hepatitis B vaccines more accessible in low-income countries, whether theyre administered appropriately remains a subject of greater debate, says Andre Ilbawi of the World Health Organization.

Poor diagnostics complicate matters. Liver cancer is typically diagnosed with MRI and CT scanners, a biopsy or a blood test  which may require resources and expertise that are not readily available in low-income countries. Some researchers are looking for a different way. Ahmed El Kaffas, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine, is developing an affordable, portable, ultrasound diagnostic  currently about the size of a suitcase  to identify those at risk for liver cancer in rural villages in his native Egypt. El Kaffas device measures parameters from the frequency spectrum of ultrasound signals bouncing back from liver tissue, which depend on whether the tissue is diseased or healthy.

As she describes in her TED talk above, MIT bioengineer Sangeeta Bhatia has set her sights even smaller  with a paper cancer diagnostic that would work a bit like a pregnancy test. Small as it is, the diagnostic she envisions is not necessarily simple. It involves nanoparticles that would be activated by enzymes that digest the tissue scaffolds encapsulating the tumor. She would inject these nanoparticles into a patients bloodstream and wait about an hour for them to leak into the tumor, become activated, pass through the urine and get detected by a specially coated paper strip. Bhatia has also engineered bacteria commonly found in yogurt to churn out the urine signal, suggesting that a dollop of yogurt might offer an alternative to injection.

But we want to be careful not to overpromise, Bhatia cautions. Ilbawi adds that any new technology needs to be part of a larger healthcare system equipped to provide comprehensive care. And of course, like many of those focusing on the global south, they may face scarce funding and other support. Swimming in Facebook status updates, many have an out-of-sight, out-of-mind outlook. They might scoff, Its just Peru, says Stephane Bertani, who researches liver cancer there for the Research Institute for Development. But theyre human beings too.

TED video

Related Articles
Hong Kongs Media Asia has pre-sold a pair of its new Chinese titles to a string of Asian buyers after revealing additional footage in Cannes.

It sold Line Walker and God of War to Sky Films in Taiwan, Clover Films in Singapore, and MM2 in Malaysia. Additionally, Sky Films and Clover films also licensed the Johnnie To-produced Three and the Johnnie To-directed Trivisa.

God of War is a period action film starring martial arts veteran Sammo Hung with Vincent Zhao in a 16th century tale of pirates and the Chinese army. Line Walker is a contemporary crime action thriller.

The tentative release dates in China of Line Walker and God of War are the second week of August and the first week of October respectively.

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Noomi Rapace to Star in Science-Fiction Thriller 'Boy' (EXCLUSIVE)

Alice Rohrwacher Named Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jaeger-LeCoultre Filmmaker in Residence (EXCLUSIVE)
As the huge trove of leaked documents or the Panama Papers" continues to prompt government investigations around the world, Wall Street giant The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS becomes the latest bank to come under regulatory scanner over suspicion of a likely involvement with shell companies.



The news, first reported by the Bloomberg stated that The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has asked Goldman and three other global banks to provide the regulator with information regarding shell companies set up through a Panamanian law firm. The three other banks are Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, BNP Paribas SA BNPQY and Standard Chartered Plc.



Notably, on Monday The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that worked with international media partners including The Guardian and BBC on reporting of the leaked files, made its database of the documents publicly available on its website.



Through the database, the NYDFS officials found that Goldman and the three banks that are licensed by the state of New York had established Panamanian shell companies. However, none of these banks are accused of any wrong doing.



The NYDFSs latest letter is almost akin to the one sent last month to 13 banks, including Deutsche Bank AG DB, Credit Suisse Group AG CS, Commerzbank AG and Societe Generale SA. The New York States financial regulator is seeking information regarding the banks interactions with the offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca and the possible dealings among the employees of the banks New York branches and the law firm or the shell companies set up through it.



The regulator also asked the banks to reveal any ongoing internal or external probes involving the law firm or shell companies sponsored by them, including any investigation commenced in U.S. or abroad.



Currently Goldman carries a Zacks Rank# 3 (Hold).



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By Olivia Oran and Kristen Haunss

(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) is hosting its first ever leveraged finance conference next week as the Wall Street bank tries to strengthen its position in debt underwriting and looks for new avenues of growth.

The event is a key step for Goldman as it tries to convince clients to turn to it for debt financing rather than bigger competitors like JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Goldman is searching for other sources of profit as strict regulations have pressured in its once lucrative bond trading unit and volatility has essentially frozen the market for initial public offerings.

Conferences are important for banks to drum up business, because they get clients and bankers in the same place to network, socialize and discuss potential deals. Goldman's conference will be held at an oceanfront resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and features venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson and CNBC television host Marcus Lemonis as keynote speakers.

A Goldman spokesman declined to comment on the event.

Leveraged finance can be lucrative for Wall Street during boom times, but also comes with a good deal of risk when credit markets come under stress and banks can get stuck holding debt they are unable to sell. Deals typically involve private-equity firms  known as "sponsors"  using a lot of debt to buy companies, with the goal of reselling them for a profit.

Goldman usually acts as an advisor to companies being sold in these deals, rather than to buyers. But it is now advising sponsors as part of a broader effort to boost lending, said the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal business plans.

Last week, Goldman and Barclays PLC (BARC.L) advised private equity firm Hellman & Friedman in a deal to buy healthcare cost management company MultiPlan Inc for around $7.5 billion. Goldman also helped finance Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo's $4.5 billion purchase of software company SolarWinds Inc last year. The bank is now looking to finance smaller deals as well, sources said.

Story continues

As Goldman delves further into leveraged finance, some other banks are backing away from the business. Nomura Holdings Inc and Jefferies Group LLC are among those that have recently cut staff, Reuters previously reported.

Although Goldmans revenue from debt underwriting and its ranking for U.S. high yield bond issuance both increased significantly during the first quarter, analysts said it was too early to tell if it will be able to compete with larger banks for business.

"They'll probably be successful generating incremental revenue, but will Goldman be able to take all the large clients away [from the bigger banks?]," said Brian Kleinhanzl, an analyst with Keefe Bruyette Woods. "Not necessarily."

(This story refiles to fix punctuation in third paragraph)

(Reporting by Olivia Oran and Kristen Haunss in New York; editing by Lauren LaCapra and Chizu Nomiyama)
eric schmidt google alphabet eyes glasses

Google was prepared to pay Sun Microsystems $30 to $40 million for a five-year license to use its Java technology in Android, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt testified in court today in the ongoing battle between Oracle and Google.

But talks broke down and, as a result, Sun got nothing.

Schmidt was testifying for the second day in the latest phase of Oracle's battle with Google over Android.

Oracle bought Sun in 2009, and filed a series of lawsuits against Google beginning in 2010. The latest phase began earlier this year.

According to the Wall Street Journal's account of the trial, the deal between the companies would've put the Java logo in Android and used more portions of Java in it. Former Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz also testified, saying that talks broke down because Google didn't want to rely on another company for its core technology.

Oracle attorneys also showed emails that suggested Schwartz was unhappy with how Google was using Java.

At the heart of the lawsuits is the claim that Google should have paid Sun for the right to incorporate certain Java APIs in Android, the smartphone operating system that now ships on more than 80% of smartphones.

The case is a big deal because, if Oracle wins, it means that APIs, which dictate how other programs interact with that software, is copyrightable. That would throw a legal wrench into how software is written and licensed.

NOW WATCH: Uber is making customers pay for having drivers wait





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BOATY MCBOATFACE

The spirit of the "Boaty McBoatface" phenomenon lives on at Google.

Today, Google introduces Parsey McParseface  a free new tool, born from Google's research division to help computers better parse and understand English sentences.

"We were having trouble thinking of a good name, and then someone said, 'We could just call it Parsey McParseface!' So... yup," says a Google spokesperson.

Parsey McParseface is a piece of a larger framework released today called SyntaxNet, itself a big part of Google's popular home-built TensorFlow software for building artificial intelligence, as explained in a blog entry. With this release, any developer anywhere can download, use, and even start to improve Google's tools in their own software.

One of the biggest problems in artificial intelligence, today, is that speech recognition by computers may be better than ever, but they still have trouble understanding exactly what we mean. After all, language is complicated: Consider that "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo" is a 100% gramatically correct sentence in American English.

It's an issue that titans like Google, Facebook and Microsoft have thrown themselves into, as artificial intelligence and the ability to talk to a computer like a human continues to become an important part of the future of tech.

Back to school

To understand how Parsey McParseface and SyntaxNet tackle this problem, it may be helpful to flash back to your grade school English classes, where you were taught how to diagram a sentence, identifying verbs, nouns, and subjects.

Parsey McParseface does those diagrams automatically. Like so:

google parsey mcparseface

Alice is the subject, Bob is the direct object, "saw" is the verb. Boom.

That's simple enough. But to use Google's own example, things can get messy. Consider another longer, but still straightforward sentence like "Alice drove down the street in her car." To us normal humans, there's no possible way to misinterpret that, because we know how cars work and where they drive.

Story continues

But if you're an average computer, just following instructions, and you're doing sentence diagrams, it is totally gramatically correct to parse that sentence as saying the street was located in Alice's car. Obviously, that's not right or really even physically possible, but it is correct by the laws of grammar.

"Humans do a remarkable job of dealing with ambiguity, almost to the point where the problem is unnoticeable; the challenge is for computers to do the same," writes Google in a blog entry.

Parsey McParseface uses neural networks, kind of like the one that let Google DeepMind outsmart Go champion Lee Sedol, to scan each sentence and vet it for "plausibility," as in how likely it is that it's what a human would use. It means a lot of saved time and a mega-boost to efficiency, since it doesn't have to look at implausible sentence constructions.

It means ParseyMcparseface can correctly diagram out and understand longer, more complex sentences, like so:

parsey mcparseface google

In Google's own tests, running SyntaxNet and Parsey McParseface against random data drawn from the web, it was about 90% accurate in understanding sentences  a good start, but with lots of room to grow, Google says. For starters, that means going beyond English. But it also needs to teach SyntaxNet to learn more about the real world.

"The major source of errors at this point are examples such as the prepositional phrase attachment ambiguity described above, which require real world knowledge (e.g. that a street is not likely to be located in a car) and deep contextual reasoning," Google writes.

NOW WATCH: How to see everything Google knows about you





More From Business Insider


Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker defended Donald Trump on Thursday, saying the real estate moguls often controversial worldviews embody a long tradition of GOP foreign policy.

His proof?

James Baker, the influential GOP statesman and former secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, who testified before Corkers committee Thursday.

During the testimony, Baker weighed in on a range of current issues, including the civil war in Syria, Russias threat to eastern Europe, and Chinas naval provocations in the South China Sea. But the issue both Republicans and Democrats wanted him to address was the foreign policy of the GOPs boisterous front-runner.

Invoking the name of Bush and Baker, Corker said Trumps thinking reflects what I think Bush 41 and Jim Baker today espouse.

As Ive said to others: Id chill, Corker said. I think youre seeing [Trumps] foreign policy evolve. Corker has not endorsed Trump but is already being talked up as a potential running mate for the businessman.

The favorable remarks provide Trump with something his expectations-defying campaign has only recently begun to amass: buy-in from elements of the Republican foreign policy establishment who have long-bristled at his strident attacks against neoconservatives who promoted the Iraq war.

But senators disagreed on whether Baker had validated or refuted Trumps worldview.

Baker, credited with helping manage the collapse of the Soviet Union and plan the first Iraq war, is often sought after for his expertise even though he is difficult to pin down ideologically. He is an advocate of the grand strategy known as selective engagement, which cautions against military engagement in areas that do not directly affect U.S. national security or prosperity.

Sen. Bob Menendez, a hawkish Democrat and longtime Trump critic, asked Baker if he agreed with Trumps remarks on burden-shifting. The businessman has repeatedly accused allies of failing to pay their fair share for U.S. military protection.

Story continues

Baker responded that it is certainly not unreasonable to tell NATO allies, Hey, its time for you to come in here and help carry this load.

Menendez appeared unsatisfied by the answer. But he grudgingly clarified that his own reservations about burden-shifting applied more to the Middle East than Europe.

Others had more success in drawing distinctions between Baker and Trump.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who suspended his presidential campaign in March, asked Baker about Trumps proposal to allow South Korea and Japan to obtain nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves against China. Baker said the world would be far less stable if the United States let that happen. The more countries that obtain nuclear weapons, the more instability there will be in the world, he said.

Despite that divergence, Corker said Trump and Baker had more in common than differences. I thought it was more of an affirmation, to be candid, Corker said.

Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the committee, disagreed. I didnt see that coming out at all, he told Foreign Policy. What Donald Trump has said is inconsistent with any mature thinker on foreign policy.

Baker did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Bush said last week that the former president had no plans to endorse the presumptive GOP nominee.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Stocks treading water, as crude surges to new yearly highs. And Trump dodges a tax question. Catch The Final Round at 4 p.m. ET with Yahoo Finance's Jen Rogers, our markets correspondent Nicole Sinclair, and Jonathan Hoenig of CapitalistPig.com.

Winners and losers

Stocks slipping today include Micron Technology, after it issued weak third-quarter guidance; Sears, as investors shift away from the troubled retail sector; and Kohl's. The chain joined the parade of disappointing retail reports, posting its worst same-stores sales results in seven years.

Stocks on the move higher today include CA technologies on an earnings beat; Weight Watchers after a judge threw out a lawsuit that claimed the company defrauded shareholders; and Monsanto. The agrochemical company is up after reports that Bayer and BASF have been looking into buying Monsanto for several months.

Is the GOP ready to back Trump?



It seems the GOP is starting to consolidate around Trump. Today House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a statement with Republican candidate Donald Trump asking Republicans to "unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall." However, Ryan didn't endorse Trump.

Trump's taxes are also taking center stage. He recently said that "there's nothing to learn" from his tax returns and that he doesn't plan to release them until an ongoing audit finishes.



Carmelo Anthony talks tech and virtual reality



It's been about two years since New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony co-founded the tech venture capital firm M7. We caught up with him at Tech Crunch's Disrupt in Brooklyn to see what's getting him excited in tech today.

Looking ahead
Bissau (AFP) - Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz sacked his entire government on Thursday, demanding that the ruling party choose a new cabinet to lead the country out of its political crisis.

The move came as the west African country struggles to resolve a nine-month political crisis within the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) that has disrupted the functioning of both the government and parliament, raising concerns overseas.

Ministries have been placed under security forces' control, according to witnesses and security sources, while the PAIGC was meeting to decide how to respond.

The crisis erupted in August when Vaz fired prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, who heads the PAIGC, putting the president on a collision course with the party he himself belongs to.

In a message to the nation carried on national radio and television, Vaz said the ball was in the ruling party's court.

"It is up to the party which won a majority in the legislative elections to propose a government capable of deserving the trust of the parliamentary majority," he said.

"The best solution would be the formation of a government which reflects the majority sentiment of the people in parliament and is able to govern in stable conditions," he added, suggesting he wanted to see a tie-up between PAIGC and its traditional allies.

Analysts said the head of state, who is relatively isolated within a ruling party dominated by his former premier, was looking to assert his influence by enlarging the parliamentary majority.

- A festering dispute -

Vaz said he had faced three options for tackling the crisis: a major overhaul of the government, the formation of a new government or early elections, as PAIGC's Pereira had demanded.

But Vaz said elections were "not an adequate means of resolving the problems with discipline, cohesion and internal unity in the political parties".

Story continues

Both camps say the two men had disagreed over how to run the country, especially on how to tackle corruption.

Last year the crisis initially appeared to have been averted with the nomination in September of party veteran Carlos Correia as premier.

But it flared up again in December after Correira's policy statement failed to win approval in parliament following the abstention of 15 rebel MPs. They were immediately excluded from the party but it cost Correira his parliamentary majority.

Since then, the dispute has rankled, interrupting the work of both the government and parliament, despite several attempts at mediation, including from overseas.

Tensions at the top have raised concern within the international community, which had hailed the progressive return to constitutional order since Vaz was elected in May 2014 in this former Portuguese colony, which has a history of chronic instability and repeated military coups.

The chronic volatility has fanned poverty in this country of 1.6 million, which has few resources other than cashew nuts and fish and has attracted the attention of South American drug cartels who have turned it into a cocaine-trafficking hub.

During a visit to the country in March, representatives of the UN Security Council underlined the need for its institutions to be allowed to function normally.

Guinea-Bissau has suffered multiple military coups since independence in 1974 and the army continues to play a heavy role in politics.
BISSAU (Reuters) - Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz sacked Prime Minister Carlos Correia and dissolved his government on Thursday, in a move that threatened to deepen political turmoil in the tiny West African nation. Correia was appointed prime minister in October - becoming the third person in the post in the span of three months - in an attempt to end a crisis sparked by a row within the ruling PAIGC party. His dismissal by Vaz now threatens to bring renewed instability. "Carlos Correia's government is incapable of managing the crisis and creating better political and institutional conditions for (the government's) full function," Vaz said in an address at the presidency. He called for consultations among political parties to select a prime minister charged with forming a new government. There was no immediate comment from Correia or his allies. The streets of the capital Bissau remained calm, but security forces were deployed at buildings housing state institutions. Guinea-Bissau has not seen a democratically elected leader serve a full term since independence from Portugal in 1974. It has had nine coups or attempted coups since 1980, and the turbulence has helped it become a major transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe. As it was slowly emerging from a military takeover in 2012, Guinea-Bissau was once again plunged into an institutional crisis when in August Vaz dismissed his political rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, then serving as prime minister. The two men, both leading figures in the PAIGC, had been locked in a long-running power struggle exacerbated by their overlapping duties under Bissau's political system. Correia's compromise appointment did little to heal the rift within the ruling party. The row spilled over into parliament in January when the PAIGC expelled 15 MPs who had called for Pereira's resignation, leading to paralysis in the institution. (Reporting by Alberto Dabo; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Andrew Roche)
Marcela Temer, wife of Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer, walks at the inauguration ceremony for Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, January 1, 2011. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian police have arrested three people on charges of hacking the Internet account of the wife of Brazil's interim president and attempting to extort money after stealing intimate photographs, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Thursday. The newspaper said that police had arrested the hacker, his wife and his sister-in-law on Wednesday. A police spokesman declined to comment, saying that the case was ongoing. Marcela Temer, a 32-year-old former beauty queen, is the wife of Brazil Vice President Michel Temer, 75, who took the helm of Latin America's largest country on Thursday after President Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office for up to six months while the Senate tries her for breaking budgetary laws. The alleged hacker, who worked as a roofer, gained access to Marcela's cell phone and Internet accounts 30 days ago, the newspaper said. He, his wife and sister-in-law had attempted to extort money from the Temers, Folha reported. It did not name them. (Reporting by Tatiana Ramil and Reese Ewing)
By Eric Auchard

BERLIN (Reuters) - A group of hackers that cyber-security experts say targets critics of the Russian government has been trying since April to attack the computer systems of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party, a security research firm said on Wednesday.

Researchers at Trend Micro said the hackers, called Pawn Storm, appear to be trying to steal personal and corporate data from the CDU and high-profile individuals using two free email services. A year ago, the research group linked Pawn Storm to hacking attacks on the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.

In the latest attempts, the hackers apparently tried to coordinate credential-phishing attacks, using computer services based in Latvia and the Netherlands, to gain access to the systems of the CDU and other high-profile users, Trend Micro said in a blog post.

"Up until now no attacks have taken place," a source at the CDU headquarters in Berlin said on Thursday. "We have nonetheless made appropriate changes to our IT infrastructure. We can't say anything on the reasons for this."

Pawn Storm has been active for more than a decade and is considered one of the longest-lasting cyber espionage groups.

Several major computer research groups say it has targeted opposition groups in Russia as well as NATO and governments in adjacent Eastern European countries, Turkey and the United States. The military, defense companies and media in those countries have also been attacked, Trend Micro said.

"Pawn Storm clearly targets groups that could be perceived as a risk to Russian politics and interests," Trend Micro said.

The cyber attack on the German parliament was first reported in May 2015. German media have said replacing the computer system could cost the government millions of euros.

The news magazine Der Spiegel also quoted an internal investigation as saying there were indications that a Russian intelligence agency had staged the attack.

In January 2015, German government websites, including Merkel's website, were hacked in an attack claimed by a group demanding that Berlin end support for the Ukrainian government.

(Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber and Thorsten Severin; Editing by Larry King)
Last year, almost 75,000 Iranians went on the hajj  the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, a requirement of Islam, that many scrimp and save for years to afford.

This year, the Islamic Republic is set to send zero.

Since last years hajj, tensions between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia have peaked. Disaster marked the 2015 pilgrimage: A stampede, one of many in the hajjs history, cost at least 2,426 lives, 464 of them Iranian. Iran said Saudi incompetence and mismanagement were to blame.

Relations between Riyadh and Tehran worsened in January, when Iranian protesters ransacked part of the Saudi Embassy after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. And both countries back different factions in the civil wars, which have come to serve as proxy battles, in Syria and Yemen.

On Thursday, an Iranian official told the countrys state media that negotiations to keep hajj open had come to an impasse. We did whatever we could, but it was the Saudis who sabotaged it, said Ali Jannati, Irans minister of culture and Islamic guidance.

Saudi officials contested that narrative. The decision not to participate in this years hajj is a decision made solely by the Iranian government in what is clearly an effort to politicize the hajj, a spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in Washington said in an email to Foreign Policy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always welcomed all pilgrims. Any government that hinders or prevents its citizens from exercising their right to perform the pilgrimage, shall be held accountable before Allah and the entire world.

Even if Tehran decided not to closed off the 2016 hajj, however, few Iranians would be able to go. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran after Januarys embassy incident in Tehran. Without the help of consulates or an embassy, Iranians looking to obtain hajj visas would have had to travel to other countries to apply. Even those willing and able to travel abroad for visas would likely have been wary, given last years tragedy and the mounting discord between the kingdom and the Islamic Republic.

Story continues

Saudi Arabia could lose a half-billion dollars in revenue from the Iranians absence, Forbes calculated  unless Saudi hajj authorities disburse Irans travel quota between other countries (Saudi Arabia allocates to each country a certain number of spaces on the hajj each year).

Tehran last boycotted the pilgrimage in 1988 and 1989, after hundreds of Iranian pilgrims died in clashes with Saudi riot police in 1987, amid a tableaux of international friction in the Persian Gulf.

Iran wants sole responsibility for the pilgrimage out of the hands of the al Saud family, under whose watch thousands have died in crowd-control incidents over the past 25 years.

Even when Saudi Arabia resumes relations with Iran, and Tehran stops boycotting the hajj, the safety issues will remain. As will Iranian animosity toward Saudi hajj policy and the inherent tensions borne of the al Saud familys custodianship of the holiest sites in Islam, in a country that discriminates against Shiites.

Photo credit: MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP/Getty Images
By Lawrence Delevingne and Svea Herbst-Bayliss

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Hedge fund managers on Thursday named some of their recent investments, including a bet that shares of American Airlines Group <AAL.O> would fall and shares of both Chinese Internet company Tencent <0700.HK> and chipmaker Xilinx <XLNX.O> would rise, in addresses at one of the industry's most prominent conferences.

John Lykouretzos, who runs $2.8 billion Hoplite Capital Management Lp, disclosed his negative case against American Airlines, which helped push the stock down as much as 4.7 percent on Thursday.

Calling the company the "most compelling short in the U.S. airline industry," Lykouretzos said American's costs are too high, that it is the most exposed airline to rising oil prices, and it has the highest leverage compared to its peers.

An American airlines spokesman, Josh Freed, responding to Lykouretzos, referred Reuters to recent comments from Chief Executive Doug Parker on a company earnings call.

Parker on that call said American was purchasing our shares because we are bullish on the stock," and said the industry is well undervalued," adding, "We think American Airlines has more upside than anyone else in the industry.

Lykouretzos was one of a handful of prominent managers speaking at the annual SkyBridge Alternatives Conference in Las Vegas, four months into a difficult year where the average hedge fund has lost money and some big-name investors are rethinking their commitment to them.

The managers did not provide details on when they invested in particular companies or at what price.

Fears about a possible recession in the United States and slower growth in China have contributed to unpredictable markets that have left many managers nursing losses.

But there are still good opportunities, the managers told the conference where about 2,000 investors, managers and others crowded in to hear who is picking what.

Story continues

John Burbank, who runs $4.1 billion Passport Capital and has often invested abroad, said he is betting on Tencent, calling it the "dominant Internet play" with six of the most popular smart-phone apps.

Clifton Robbins of $3.5 billion Blue Harbour Group said he likes Xilinx and was buying more as recently as Thursday. He noted that the company has some $2 billion in cash and said the stock is undervalued, which would make a case for the company buying back some of its own stock.

Activist investors like Blue Harbour have called on many chief executives to buy back their own stock. Robbins also said Xilinx is the last independent chip company after Intel Corp <INTC.O> and Altera merged. Xilinx's unique standing could prompt takeover bids, he said.

Jim Chanos, who runs Kynikos Associates and built his reputation on a successful bet against Enron, spoke again about his short play on Cheniere Energy Inc <LNG.A>, saying the stock is still "crazy expensive."

Burbank said he's betting against large Chinese companies via the iShares China Large-Cap ETF to hedge out some of what he called "old China risk."

Meanwhile, Scott Ferguson, who runs $4 billion Sachem Head Capital Management, said his activist firm exited its bet on animal healthcare company Zoetis Inc <ZTS.N> in the first quarter.

Sachem brought the idea on Zoetis to the attention of Pershing Square's William Ackman and both made an investment in 2014. Ferguson said his fund had made money on the bet and Zoetis was very responsive to the activists' suggestions, but it was time to move on and find other opportunities.

Pershing Square recently reduced its holding in Zoetis.

Teresa Barger, chief executive officer of Cartica Management, repeated that her firm is invested in Taiwanese company Voltronic Power <6409.TW>.

Jeff Smith of Starboard Value spoke again about his firm's most prominent investment, Yahoo Inc <YHOO.O>. Starboard recently reached an agreement with Yahoo under which Starboard will get board seats. Smith said his job as a new board member is to improve the strength of Yahoo's core business.

(Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne and Svea Herbst; Editing by Chris Reese, Tom Brown and Leslie Adler)
"One and done is the rule for using needles," an 18-year-old from Long Island, New York, writes on her Tumblr, nicolethedopefiendqueen. "After you use it once, dispose of it (capped, in a sharps or other container); you really shouldn't be reusing needles if you can help it. A fresh, new needle is always better than a used one, even if it's been sterilized."

Nicole is an active heroin user. In an email interview, she said she began using at 14 after coming across her terminally ill father's OxyContin prescription, which eventually evolved into heroin use. On her Tumblr, she posts selfies and re-blogs moody screengrabs from drug movies like Trainspotting, as well as close-up shots of spoons, lighters and syringes.

But to hear Nicole tell it, she doesn't just use Tumblr as a platform for blogging about her heroin use. She also teaches other users how to do heroin safely. Her blog contains information about what to do if an overdose occurs, as well as how to administer Narcan (naloxone), an emergency antidote to treat opiate overdose.

"I decided that if I'm going to have a drug addiction blog with lots of followers, I must spread harm reduction information, because addicts deserve to be healthy and to live," Nicole said in an email interview. "I advocate for safe intravenous drug use, especially to help prevent infection and overdoses."

A photo of a syringe reblogged on Nicole's Tumblr.

Heroin addiction is a rapidly growing epidemic in the United States. The Harm Reduction Coalition reports that overdose is the leading cause of preventable accidental death in the United States, second only to car accidents. Since 2000, opiate overdoses have increased by 200%, in large part as a result of an increase of pain medication prescription, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Because pills and heroin are sold on the black market, opiate use can be difficult to track, but a 2014 report estimates there are 1.5 million "chronic" heroin users in the United States.

Nicole's blog is one of many on Tumblr that track the lives of regular opiate users. Many of such blogs' posts feature the hashtag #nodsquad, a community that curates images of drug paraphernalia as well as information and resources promoting safe drug use.

Such blogs are based on the principles of harm reduction, which aims to reduce harm associated with drug use, such as overdose and spread of diseases like hepatitis C or HIV, through counseling, opiate substitution programs like methadone and safer injection facilities, or legal, supervised injection facilities where people can use heroin under medical supervision. (There are currently no supervised injection sites in the United States, but some cities and states like New York have toyed with the idea of introducing them.)

As Nicole explains it, "harm reduction is about reducing the damage and harm done from using. It's not about stopping use, it's about safety, which is the realistic approach to saving addicts in this epidemic."

It's a strategy distinct from abstinence-only programs such as traditional 12-step recovery methods, as harm reduction psychotherapist Eddie Einbinder said in a phone interview. "Harm reduction is not anti-abstinence," Einbinder stressed. "Harm reduction is pro-choice."

Susan E. Collins, co-director of the Harm Reduction Research and Treatment Center, thinks Tumblr blogs like Nicole's can help to reduce harm caused by heroin use.

"[Nicole] is a person who appears to really care about her community, and is trying to help people use safer," Collins said in a phone interview. "She is trying to reduce harm, and is being honest about where she's at and her recovery. Personally, I think all of that is really admirable."

Source: Mic/Getty Images

Social media has created a space that didn't previously exist for active users to connect with others and share information about how to use drugs safely, such as how to sterilize a needle after use.

"A core concept of harm reduction is meeting people where they are, and I feel like most people don't spend their spare time reading up on harm reduction techniques. But people spend time on social media like Tumblr," .

"Having a resource for harm reduction information on a platform that people are already using is a great idea."

Caroline is not a user, but she became involved in the movement through a harm reduction organization she volunteers at in Washington, D.C., most often doing needle exchange or distributing safer sex supplies.

That said, some of the information being shared on Tumblr, such as user videos on how to shoot up safely, can be shocking to watch for those unfamiliar with intravenous drug use. Such videos, as well as artily lit images of spoons and stashes, has prompted debate as to whether such blogs glamorize drug use. It's also worth noting that some users visit the blogs as a way to find drugs, if asks from users looking to score in a new town or city are any indication.

"Could it glamorize the use? I think yes," Einbinder said in a phone interview. "It is hard to create a completely objective vision when you're creating different forms of reality."

"Could it glamorize the use? I think yes."

Other professionals agree that the Tumblr community has potential for both help and harm.

"On the one hand, users are often the experts of their experiences and their own needs. If a user is generating content which is informed, safe, promotes hygiene, and teaches people how to reduce risks, then it can be powerful and helpful in a way that resonates with other users," Sheila Vakharia, a coordinator of a substance abuse counseling concentration for students at Long Island University, Brooklyn, said via email interview.

"However, if user-generated content is full of people doing things in risky, unhygienic ways or if they are sharing false, mixed, or un-researched information, it can be just as harmful as any other problematic content on the web."

The blogs also raise the question as to whether Tumblr has any obligation to monitor content that promotes drug use on the platform. (Mic has reached out to Tumblr for comment, and have not received a response at the time of publication.)

"I don't necessarily think that platforms have a responsibility to monitor drug use content because it seems like a slippery slope," Vakharia said. "I also understand that sales or advertisements of illicit drugs are in violation of laws. However, instructional videos from the health professions show doctors/nurses injecting patients all the time. Should a video of a person doing it to themselves be censored because the vial is filled with a substance that we think is illegal?"

An addict shooting up in New London, CT.

Bloggers like Nicole are aware that not everyone is pleased with their message.

"People argue with me and say I'm enabling users by providing them with resources to avoid disease, but it's not, because if all harm reduction measures were taken away addicts would still use resort to unhygienic, unsafe practices in order to get high," Nicole said. "I wish the myth that harm reduction is enabling would disappear. It is so ignorant and spreads misinformation that is contributing to the stigma that surrounds addiction." This same stigma also translates into the everyday world, preventing users from gaining access to harm reduction services.

Yet aside from sharing information on opiate overdose prevention and reversal, some of the most frequent ways bloggers like Nicole help others are from intimate one-on-one interactions, such as reminding others not to mix OxyContin and Xanax, because she cares about them.

"I've been ridiculed, judged and talked bad about on Tumblr for my passion on harm reduction," Nicole said. "I've been told to give it up, that it's not important and not worth it, but I say every time addicts are very important and worth it. I do this [despite] all the hate I receive because these addicts' lives matter to me."

*Last names have been withheld to allow subjects to speak freely on private matters.
By Curtis Skinner

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Three members of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors on Wednesday called for the replacement of the city's police chief amid scandals that have rocked the department for months.

Supervisor Jane Kim, who is currently running for the California State Senate, was the first on Wednesday to raise the issue, urging Mayor Ed Lee and the city's police commission to launch a search to replace Police Chief Greg Suhr.

Supervisors David Campos and John Avalos echoed Kim's calls for Suhr's replacement later in the day.

A widely seen video that showed about a dozen police officers fatally shooting a black man in early December spurred protests against the department and Suhr. A scandal involving racist and homophobic text messages sent by police officers has fueled more outrage.

In the December incident, 26-year-old Mario Woods, who was a suspect in a stabbing, was shot by police, which was captured on videotape by bystanders. Police said Woods, whose family has sued the city, was holding a knife and refused to drop it. The city's public defender called the shooting unnecessary.

Protesters have repeatedly called for Suhr's ouster, and most recently some held a hunger strike outside a police department building.

Kim said Suhr needed to be replaced.

"Many are calling for the chief to be fired at once," Kim said in a statement. "I believe we could actually do worse than Chief Suhr, which is why we must begin this process at once so we can make sure the next chief can lead our department, reform it and do so in a way that rebuilds the community trust so vital to public safety."

San Francisco police spokesman Albie Esparza said Suhr "has no intention of stepping down," adding that Suhr plans to continue working with the city and the U.S. Justice Department, which in February launched a review of the department in the wake of the Woods shooting.

Story continues

The supervisors' calls to replace Suhr came on the heels of preliminary findings by a panel headed by retired judges that found the department lacks transparency and accountability on an array of issues including hiring, training and use of force investigations.

The mayor has stood by the chief and on Tuesday announced a $17.5 million package to fund police reforms over the next two years.

"No other city is working faster or more deliberately on police reforms," Lee said in a statement on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler)
You lug home a 100-pound home safe from Costco, fill it with cash and jewelry, then pat yourself on your aching back for being a responsible homeowner. You did good, right?

Um, not so fast. Unless you knew what type of safe to buy, where to put it, and how to install it, youre fooling yourself by thinking your most valuable possessions are secure. They may be safer, but theyre not all that safe.

Granted, a home safe adds a layer of inconvenience between your valuables and smash-and-grab thieves who, on average, spend less than 10 minutes ripping off your home. Still, as long as youre going to invest $200 or more on a home safe, you might as well get the best security you can for your buck. Heres how.

Check the rating

You can quickly gauge how safe your safe is by a rating from a testing companyUnderwriters Laboratories is among the most well-known and respected. UL assesses how long it would take a thief to break into a safe using tools and blowtorches. A UL TRTL 30 rating means it would take a blowtorch- and drill-toting burglar at least 30 minutes to break into the safe.

While not every manufacturer submits its safes to UL testing, John Drengenberg, ULs consumer safety director, advises homeowners to buy safes that, at the very least, have been tested by an independent third party.

Assess its fire resistance, too

Most people buy home safes to protect valuables not only against theft, but also fire. And luckily, many safes are tested on this front, too (i.e., baked in ovens to see how hot the contents get and whether theyll burn to a crisp).

As for how much fireproofing is enough, that depends on what youre stashing. If its money or paper documents, your safes interior should not get hotter than 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Computer disks or DVDs, on the other hand, cant stand temperatures above 125 degrees. How long the temperature remains that high matters, too, which is why ratings may read as 350F-1/2 hour, which means it will stay under that temperature for that duration.

Story continues

According to Consumer Reports, fires generally sweep through a room, then die down in 20 minutes, so a half-hour should be fine.

Pick one thats easy to open (for you, that is)

While you want a safe thats hard for burglars to crack, you also want one thats easily opened by you. Safes come with a variety of opening options: key, combination, or push-button code.

Robert Siciliano, a Boston security consultant and TV personality who specializes in home security and identity theft, thinks the best choice for most homeowners is a four-digit code. Unlike identity thieves, who use advanced technology to steal passwords, home burglars typically dont waste time figuring out your home safe code; theyre too busy rifling drawers for keys and grabbing the silver. Of course, make sure to pick a code thats easy to remember, so youre more likely to use the safe.

Pick the right place



So wheres the best place to put a safe? Its a tough balancing act between concealment and convenience. You dont want it sitting on your nightstand where it can be easily spotted by baby sitters and contractors; however, if you stow your safe in some hard-to-reach spot like your attic or behind a heavy dresser, youre less likely to use it for valuables you might want to access on occasion, like your diamond stud earrings or gold cuff links for a fancy night out.

So, try to find a spot where stashing bling can become habit rather than a hassle, but where its hidden. That might mean a closet.

Nail it down

Of course, if burglars can remove your whole safe, they can open it at their convenience. Thats why many home safes come pre-drilled so you can bolt them to a wall and/or floor.

Select a place with wall studs and thick flooring, which can grab the bolts. A cement floor is best; a vinyl floor over thin plywood is worst since it can be easily ripped out. But there is a way: Position the safe so you can drive a bolt through a floor joist, which is the thick slab of wood running under your floor (to find the joists, lightly tap the floor with a hammer until you hear a heavier thud; thats where they are).



More from realtor.com: The Dos and Donts of Tearing Out Carpet

The post Is Your Home Safe a Joke? appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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By Donny Kwok

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Online game developer Boyaa Interactive International Ltd said its chairman is being investigated by judicial authorities in China, although details of the probe were not yet known - sending its shares sliding 20 percent to a record low.

Chairman Zhang Wei, who is also a controlling shareholder of the company, had been detained, Hong Kong-listed Boyaa said in a statement late on Wednesday, adding that business operations remained normal.

"The company has not received any notice of an investigation or a request to assist in any investigation," Boyaa said in the statement. "No action has been taken or threatened to be taken by any authorities to freeze any of the assets of the company."

It gave no further details.

The shares fell as low as HK$2.23, their lowest level since the firm's listing in November 2013. They were last trading down 16.5 percent, giving the firm a market value of $233 million.

($1 = 7.7594 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Edwina Gibbs)
Bill Gates

Bill Gates, the worlds richest human, gobbles up property like a starving man, and hes been buying land around his ranch in Wellington, FL. His insatiable lust for land is such that the Miami Herald says he wont stop until he owns the entire street.

The Herald reports that Gates, through the Miami branch of his dads firm, K&L Gates, has purchased two empty lots in Wellington for $4.97 million, adding to his collection of properties on Mallet Hill Court, an exclusive enclave of ranches and equestrian centers. The software billionaire now owns four of six properties on the courttotaling 15 acresthe Herald says.

The Microsoft founders daughter Jennifer is a 19-year-old who attends Stanford University and rides horses competitively around the world. Her dad has spared no expense to indulge the hobby. Reports say Gates recently bought his eldest child (he and wife Melinda have three) a $1 million Irish show-jumper named Pepperpot. And a few years back, Gates purchased Jenny Craigs horse ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, for $18 million.

Gates devours Wellington land because Jennifer trains and competes in Wellingtons Winter Equestrian Festival. The Palm Beach County village, one of the worlds top polo destinations, maintains roads with names such as Quarter Horse Trail, where a property is currently listed for $14.5 million.

However, even the richest of rich in Wellington arent above squabbling over little things. Gates threatened to call the police about a missing horse-themed mailbox on the 5-acre ranch he purchased for $13.5 million next door to his. Entrepreneur Stuart Roffman, the ranchs seller and no pauper himself, took the mailbox with him; and Gates wants it back. The ultra-richthey really are just like us!

The post Horse Sense: Bill Gates Makes a $5M Florida Land Purchase appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's actions to keep out migrants, including fast-track trials to punish those who breach its border fence, may conflict with international refugee and human rights conventions, the United Nations said on Thursday. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken an increasingly anti-foreigner stance since migrants began pouring into Europe last year, building a heavily guarded border fence and rejecting an EU quota system to share out migrants among member states. Despite strong criticism from EU headquarters in Brussels and some major EU members including Germany, the right-wing Orban's approach has gone down well in Hungary, a country with few immigrants and little experience of multiculturalism. A new report by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said that legislation recently passed in Budapest has limited and deterred access to Hungary for those seeking refuge from war and persecution. "UNHCR considers these significant aspects of Hungarian law and practice raise serious concerns regarding compatibility with international and European law, and may be at variance with the country's international and European obligations," it said. By "obligations", the UNHCR was referring to protection for people fleeing the threat of war or persecution in their home countries, and prompt processing of asylum applications. The U.N. refugee agency criticized Hungary's fence and a procedure whereby migrants arriving at the frontier must submit their asylum requests in so-called "transit zones". "The asylum procedure and reception conditions are not in accordance with European Union and international standards, in particular concerning procedural safeguards, judicial review and freedom of movement," the report said. A Hungarian government spokesman was not immediately reachable for comment on the UNHCR's remarks. Hungary also introduced legislation in September 2015 that allows courts to order the expulsion of migrants for illegally breaching the border fence. The UNHCR said prison sentences had been "imposed following fast-tracked trials of questionable fairness, and (the sentences) are not suspended in the event that the concerned individual submits an asylum application". The report said the UNHCR was also concerned about a number of migrants kept in detention without clear time limits pending expulsion to neighboring, non-EU Serbia, which had accepted only two people per week on average since January. Orban's government rejects a plan, agreed by a majority of EU governments last year, to redistribute 160,000 migrants around the 28-nation bloc to ease the burden on Greece and Italy, where most migrants first set foot on EU soil. Hungary erected a steel fence along its border with Serbia and Croatia to bar migrants, many of whom have fled war in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. After domino-like closures of borders across the Balkans between Greece and Hungary, the heavy northwards flow of migrants - most of them bound ultimately for wealthy western EU countries like Germany and Sweden rather than smaller central EU states like Hungary - seen in 2015 has since subsided. But Hungarian officials say migrant numbers have risen again somewhat with warmer summer weather arriving, with some trying to cut through the fence despite a heavy police presence. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
From Cosmopolitan

Husky guys have always had a decent amount of media visibility, (see: every Kevin James or modern Adam Sandler movie where he dates a model, and Chris Pratt being Chris Pratt), but right now, their moment is truly peaking. Since the average man likely fails to fit the six-pack, chiseled, toned ideal appearance of a model in the same way that the majority of women probably don't resemble their high-fashion catwalk counterpoints, it's not a mystery as to why a lot of guys have been feeling crappy about their body image.

The National Eating Disorders Association says that in the United States alone, 10 million men will struggle with eating disorders at some point in their life, which is lower in comparison to the 20 million women who will struggle with the same issues but still is not an insignificant figure.

Still, there's no denying women have very real love for their husky guys.

Part of the sea change with husky guy visibility is potentially related to the addition of male plus-size models at IMG's "Brawn" division. IMG president Ivan Bart told Women's Wear Daily that Brawn "has a positive message" about "physical strength." The agency's first model Zach Miko is 6-foot-6 and has a 42-inch waist, which is notably larger than most male models', who according to Models.com are between 5-foot-9 and 6-foot-2 and 120 to 170 pounds. Bart spoke with Refinery29 about how modeling for Target helped with his self-acceptance, saying, "I remember coming home and seeing my wife, and I told her that I love being the big guy  Now, for the first time, I want to be big forever. I don't care if I'm not cut and chiseled like an Abercrombie model."

Even in the less professional modeling sector, there have been viral photo shoots from husky guys in skimpy clothes (hello, Sexy Husky Lumberjack and Sexy Husky Farmer) that people went nuts over because they showed real guys looking ridiculous and also super-hot in photo shoots that would typically be reserved for those chiseled, super-slim men we're used to seeing plastered all over magazines and billboards.

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Now with the recent hashtag explosion that was #BigGuyTwitter, we're seeing another surge of big-guy visibility. Hashtag creator Mike Byrd told the Daily Dot he wanted to create the hashtag so that men could "take pride in who they are and love and accept themselves fully" and tweeted a photo of himself to get the hashtag going. It took off from there.

While the explosion of this kind of body positivity seems on the surface to be nothing but wonderful, I reached out to several of my self-identified bigger guy friends to see how they felt about it and their opinions were pretty mixed.

Han, 28, said that while he thinks #BigGuyTwitter is a lot of fun, at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, he has "no trouble finding girls who are into that." Han attributes the allure of the big guy to "the primal aspect of protection," since he's usually the biggest person in the room wherever he goes. He thinks this might "bypass the normal attraction filters and tap into the monkey-brain" which wants to be protected by someone big and strong.

Loren, 23, says he also finds that being a bigger guy works in his favor, saying, "People underestimate how approachable guys who aren't top-shelf are. It's wise to play to your strengths and being an Adonis is not one of mine."

However, Hashim, 38, said he was "pretty ambivalent" about #BigGuyTwitter because he feels weird when someone he doesn't know refers to him as a "Big Guy." Even though he knows they didn't mean it maliciously, he added that, "It told me that's what they saw first."

Hashim believes the media's more positive portrayals of bigger guys on screen has definitely helped his own love life, noting that he had a recent date who kept saying he reminded her of Wilson Fisk from Daredevil. He adds, "While my first notion was to be offended, I realized that for her, it was a compliment. She found me more attractive because she found the character, a big bald guy who exuded power and dressed well, to be attractive. For once the image of a fat guy wasn't taken as a punch line, but rather a sex symbol. It renewed [my] hope."

And, though opinions may still be divided, when it comes down to it, any increase in body positivity is a change we can get behind.

Follow Lane on Twitter and Instagram.
Meredith Perry uBeam

The idea was audacious from the start.

In 2011, Meredith Perry and Nora Dweck took the stage at a high profile tech conference and demonstrated how you can charge your phone wirelessly by beaming ultrasonic rays at it.

Since then, the company has amassed over $23 million in venture funding to get rid of the power cord all together.

The only problem? The company likely won't be able to deliver on the promise, according to some of its former engineers.

In a tell-all blog, uBeam's former VP of Engineering, Paul Reynolds, has been harshly criticizing the company. He left in October 2015 and didn't sign a non-disparagement agreement, nor is he sharing proprietary information, he told Business Insider.

Another former engineer stood by Reynolds' take on the company, and a third confirmed his expertise in ultrasound acoustics without commenting on uBeam specifically.

These people say that the root of the problem is that what the company has been selling to the press and to investors is years ahead of what's actually been worked on. It may be entirely impossible to build.

If it sounds like what's been happening at Theranos, the biotech company whose technology has been called into question, it's because the engineers feel the parallels are all "too similar."

Creating the story

Perry first demonstrated uBeam's potential onstage at a conference in 2011. Her idea wowed the crowd, and she and her cofounder Dweck started working on what would become uBeam. However, that cofounder relationship quickly disintegrated with both parties suing each other.

By 2014, though, Perry had already raised a small seed round from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Founder's Fund and begun work with her new CTO Marc Berte, Reynolds, and other engineers. Berte, Reynolds, and Perry hit the road to raise a Series A fundraising round. Upfront Ventures' partner Mark Suster wrote at the time that Berte and the MIT group of engineers were one of the reasons he was sold on the company.

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"Could we produce this at cost? At scale? Here is where having Marc Berte and a team out of MIT who have designed systems like this for years gave one confidence we could do something others couldnt copy and at price points that could make us market leaders over night," Suster wrote.

Yet, two years later, all of uBeam's original engineering team have left the startup, with some engineers leaving before they even vested their stock. "I do not know of any engineers who have left after me who have exercised their stock," Reynolds told Business Insider. "Some have left two to four weeks prior to their vesting periods."

Most recently, uBeam's CFO, Monica Hushen, also left just a year after being touted as a key hire for the company.

Shaky science

While the tech press and investors lauded the startup's gusto, skeptics of the company have long questioned uBeam's technology.

Over time, the startup has claimed it can charge devices as far as 20 to 30 feet away, even in your pocket at a cafe. "The technology makes it possible for a device to move freely around a room, in a pocket or purse, while constantly charging," the New York Times wrote about the company.

It has since walked back all of those measurements when it published its "confidential secrets" in TechCrunch.

The real range, uBeam proclaims, will be 4 meters, or 12 feet. And, it can only charge devices that are out in the open  not in a pocket, a laptop sleeve, or around any obstruction.

The company has never published articles in a peer-reviewed journal.

Reynolds' blog argues that the math, using uBeam's public-facing numbers, just doesn't add up.

The company fails to address the problem of saturation, Reynolds' post says. At the frequency, decibel level, and distance that uBeam claims, its ultrasonic waves will quickly distort, emitting a lot of heat. However at that level, the air also becomes saturated with the ultrasonic waves  it could keep pushing waves to generate power, but it would be doing very little more.

Other industry leaders have previously doubted the company, saying they'll believe it when they see it, even after uBeam asked them to weigh in for a TechCrunch article.

ubeam all things d

"I have had an overview of their technology. While the physics of ultrasonic wireless power transmission is indeed possible, whether it will be useful in a practical application depends on details of the implementation including factors related to the receiving technology, which I could not assess," Dr. Babar Hadimioglu told TechCrunch in November.

The company has said it would have products in 2015 and more recently, late 2016, but even that seems questionable to the people Business Insider spoke to.

In a now-deleted tweet, Perry posted a photo of an ASIC chip in March with the caption: "Peekaboo. Keeping silicon relevant in the Valley. Our 1st ASIC has officially been birthed. Cowabunga mother fu*%ers!"

It immediately drew comments from engineers who claimed that the chip meant uBeam was in fact way behind on its timeline. Normally an ASIC chip takes about a year to perfect before it's even put into a prototype. And, it's unknown if this chip was the transmitter or the receiver (or doing both). If the company has to create a second one, it could push the timeline back even farther.

In a statement to Business Insider, uBeam's Perry said that "the company is heads down developing our wireless charging technology. We understand that with new products there will always be a natural skepticism and ultimately we hope that the community will judge us by the product we release in the market. We look forward to engaging with the market when we ship and having a healthy discussion about how we can all reduce the numbers of wires involved in our daily lives."

The hype outpaced the reality

The trouble between engineers and uBeam CEO Perry stems from the outward facing image of the company versus the internal reality.

Since the demo on the AllThingsD stage, Perry had been lauded in the press and delivered a TED Talk. One Fortune headline questioned if Perry is the next Elon Musk.

None of the people we spoke with doubted that Perry had a passion for her invention and for getting it right. Former engineers described their colleagues as talented and hard-working.

But some say that the problem came when Perry moved the goal posts of what the technology could be capable of or misrepresented the company to the press. One former engineer described not knowing if her actions were purposeful or simply not understanding or believing the limits of the technology.

That hasn't stopped Perry from continuing a press tour where she continues to expand the boundaries of what uBeam might one day do. Two months ago, Perry stood onstage at the Upfront Summit in Los Angeles and added that the company would be able to transfer data via the ultrasound waves, even though there's still no working prototype that could be shown to the public.

"I see this entire ecosystem and nobody vets it.

To one former Ubeam engineer who requested anonymity, the break inside of uBeam is all "too similar" to the tale of what Theranos is going through. Unlike uBeam, Theranos did have a working product and a partnership with Walgreens. So far, none of uBeam's rumored partnerships with coffee stores, hospitals, or restaurants have come to fruition. Perry is hailed as a great storyteller like Holmes with a big vision to change the world  but it's a vision that the company's former engineering staff worry the technology will never live up to.

"I became disillusioned with the company and moved on," Reynolds told Business Insider.

He started his blog six months later.

"I see this entire ecosystem and nobody vets it. This is huge amount of money and huge amount being burned on it. If youre not in there, you dont understand what a bunch of bulls*** it is. Its the whole system is rotten until people speak out about it," Reynolds told Business Insider.

NOW WATCH: Why new companies have it way easier now than a decade ago





More From Business Insider


The possible future of transit zipped along a short track in the desert outside Las Vegas on Wednesday before sliding to a stop in a bed of sand, sending up a tan wave.

Hyperloop One, a start-up hoping to revolutionize transport systems, held its first public test of engine components being designed to rocket pods carrying people or cargo through tubes at speeds of 700 miles per hour (1,125 kilometers) or more.

The company hopes to realize a futuristic vision laid out three years ago by billionaire Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind electric car company Tesla and private space exploration endeavor Space X.

This is a significant moment for us as a team, Hyperloop co-founder Shervin Pishevar said to an invitation-only crowd seated in grandstand seats set up opposite the length of electrified track.

We are standing on hallowed ground for us; the team has worked incredibly hard to get to what we call our Kitty Hawk preview.

The US town of Kitty Hawk in North Carolina went down in history as the locale where the Wright brothers made the first successful flight of a powered plane in 1903.

The test under the Nevada desert sun was a step in developing a propulsion system that would give super high-speed motion to passenger or cargo pods gliding above magnetically charged rails enclosed in tubes.

A sled bracketed to the rail was slung into motion using magnetic force generated by engines referred to as stators set in a line at the start of the track.

Eventually the sled, which will evolve into a chassis of sorts for a pod, will accelerate to more than 400 miles an hour in a few seconds, according to Hyperloop One co-founder Brogan BamBrogan.

The long-term vision for Hyperloop One  which is competing with another firm to be the first to bring the system to life  is to have something that moves at near-supersonic speeds.

When you think about passengers traveling on this, you will feel no more acceleration than you would on an airplane taking off, BamBrogan said after the successful test.

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After accelerating, the pods will essentially glide for long distances, making for smooth rides and low power consumption, according to BamBrogan.

The goal of this test isnt just to move this sled, he said. It is to engineer an acceleration system that is scalable for passengers and freight and to bring the cost down.

Hyperloop One promised a full-scale, full-speed test involving two kilometers of tube-enclosed track at the desert site by the end of this year.

Today, we are one step closer to making Hyperloop real, said the start-ups chief executive Rob Lloyd.

We will be moving cargo in 2019, and we think we will have passengers safely transported by Hyperloop in 2021.
Ninad Ambre

Hyundai is planning to launch a special edition of the Xcent to celebrate their 20 years in India. We have got these exclusive pictures before the official unveiling revealing the makeover for the car.

This 20th Anniversary special edition gets a few changes to the exterior and interior to add some spunk to the outgoing version of the compact sedan. The absence of alloy wheels suggests that it will be based either on the base or the S variant. The changes to the exterior include chrome highlights for the front bumper, a spoiler with integrated stop lamp on the tailgate and decals on the side. There is also a 20th Anniversary Special Edition badge at the back.

The cabin might get new fabric mats and LED scuff plates on the doors as a part of the package. However, a unique change in the interior is the addition of a touch screen display by Blaupunkt. Currently, the standard Base variant of the Xcent doesnt get a music system and the S variant gets a 2-Din integrated system only.

There will be no changes to the powertrain of both the petrol and diesel versions of the Xcent. The petrol trim will continue to be powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa engine that produces 71bhp of power and 100Nm of torque. The diesel gets a 71bhp 1.1-litre mill and both these engines come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Hyundai had earlier confirmed that these changes will be offered with the special edition at no extra cost over the regular Xcent. These distinctive touches to the overall package do enhance the appeal of the car and give buyers these extra benefits. We expect the car to go on sale soon.

For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com.

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Fawad Khan. Not a one film wonder. Neither an export across the border who fades away after a while nor an actor to ignore.

Recommended Read: Check Out! Mahira-Fawad Make a Golden Couple in Their Latest Ad

Beyond the rugged looks, intense eyes which speak volumes and a deep baritone, Khan is well-versed with the language of TV, films, music and above all, the cross-culture art. Fawad is making a mark in the Bollywood space with Khoobsurat and the recently released Kapoor And Sons Since 1921. He is charming, suave and the deep-rooted tehzeeb makes Fawad an utterly attractive package. Not to forget, how he makes the womankind go weak in the knees. While many take the actor to be reticent or modest, the hottie loves to hold a good conversation.

In a tete-a-tete with a popular daily, Khan showed us the various shades to his persona and about his past days of being a rock star and rebel. Excerpts from the chat:

So did he ever imagine that he would be such a rage in India, with just his second film? Not at all, and this is my humble self-speaking. I was not expecting an explosive response like this, and so much love and affection. Its very touching and flattering at the same time. The audience might not fall in love with me as a star, but as long as they love the characters I play, Im happy. Uske baad jo milta hai, its a bonus, said Fawad.

Were you were a rebel during your college days? Yes, I was a rebel and I used to wear my hair long (points to his shoulder). Those were my rock star days. At one point I was a rebel without a cause, just for the sake of it. I used to be a backbencher in class, but that was because I wanted to go to the university where most of my friends went to, especially my wife. And I had been coerced by my father to go to a university and study a curriculum which I wasnt so excited about. That coupled with the fact that I found other like minded individuals in the campus made me a rebel. We were all into metal, rock and the underground band culture was thriving then. So, it became a bit of an escape for me, and I remember sometimes I would take a pillow to school. I would pull a couple of chairs together at the back, lie down and go to sleep and wake up only during roll call. I took pangas like that.Then I got into a rock band and we would perform underground gigs. It was a cool time to be growing up there, shared Fawad.

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So does he misses the life of a rock star? I think a rock stars life is so much more interesting. One day youre here, the next day you are somewhere else. People go to a theatre and watch a film; but going to a live music show is the same experience multiplied by 10,000. The best part is that you are done with your job, you get your pay cheque and you leave (laughs!). For a lazy man like me, its a great choice.I would love to be a rock star again, if I could find that talent and vocal chord in me which Ive been looking very hard for all these years. I havent managed to find it, so I had to choose the life of an actor, said Fawad.

Fawad has this lover-boy image, so would he like to do an all-out action film? Or play a dark role, maybe? I would love to do an all-out action film, why not? I will be very cautious about my roles because there are a lot of characters that Id like to play which I think could be controversial. I would like to do a serial killer film, because there is a dark side to me that likes watching Jack the Ripper kind of movies. It is another facet that I would like to show the audience, as much as I would like to do a comedy . War films tell stories about the past, but I am a bit jittery about them as I am a very peace-loving guy .I wouldnt mind doing a James Bond kind of film too. I want a new disguise in every role and I dont mind being called a jack of all trades for it.

Did we just say, we cannot stop gushing about him!!

*Love*
The debate over artificial intelligence has divided some of Silicon Valleys brightest minds.

Companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are embracing AI, integrating it into their core products. Larry Page, CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, argued in 2014 that AI could bring economic benefits. When we have computers that can do more and more jobs, its going to change how we think about work, Page told The Financial Times. Theres no way around that.

Other major industry figures warn that artificial intelligence could spin out of control. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, once said AI could pose the biggest existential threat to mankind. Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates said hes concerned about the development of super intelligent machines.

Yet the technology continues to rapidly advance. Last month, Googles AlphaGo bot became the first computer system to defeat a professional player of Go, a notoriously difficult game for AI to crack. Many experts considered the feat at least a decade away. Dag Kittlaus, an entrepreneur behind Siri, earlier this week demonstrated an even more sophisticated AI-powered assistant.

Murray Campbell, a research scientist and senior manager with IBM, doesnt think we have reason to worry about artificial intelligence in the near term. Campbell has been studying AI for decades since he was recruited to help develop Deep Blue in 1989, the IBM computer famous for defeating former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. His current work in the companys Cognitive Computing division examines artificially intelligent approaches to reasoning, planning, and decision making, and he regularly collaborates with the Watson team.

Watson is famous for winning the television game show Jeopardy! in 2011. Today, IBM is hoping third party developers will use Watsons cognitive system to analyze images, understand speech, crunch huge amounts of data and more. To pull that off, Campbell says, computers need to learn how to truly participate in conversations rather than just answer questions.

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TIME spoke with Campbell to learn what it will be like to have a real conversation with a computer, whether we should fear the idea of robots taking our jobs, and more. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What is it going to be like to have a real conversation with a computer?

CAMPBELL: When was the last time somebody walked into your office and posed a perfectly well-formed unambiguous question that had all of the information in it required to give a perfectly formed, unambiguous answer? It just doesnt happen in the real world. And so what happens is, theres information exchanged. There are some things that are ambiguous or unclear, people will ask questions to try and clarify like What did you mean by that? or You didnt mention this, etc.

And if you have to script that all out in a dialogue system for a computer to do this, there are just so many ways that a conversation can go that you can never really do it. So you really have to have a learning approach, where a system learns to do this over time. So thats where were focusing.

It will begin to learn what you mean by certain things when you say them. And if it doesnt understand what you mean it will ask, rather than just blindly doing what you say. So as we think about computers and people working more closely in the coming years, and we definitely believe thats going to happen, the natural way of interacting is through dialogue.

Read More: What 7 of the Worlds Smartest People Think About Artificial Intelligence

How does a computer actually comprehend and answer a question?

CAMPBELL: When you ask the question, there are lots of [natural language processing] techniques and machine learning techniques that are applied to parse that question into its pieces, and then start coming up with hypotheses of what the answer could be by searching through a large corpus. It could be Wikipedia, it could be The New York Times archives, it could be anything.

And as these hypotheses start to form, theres evidence that will be found. Some in favor of one answer, some in favor of another answer. Some may be showing that a particular answer is bad. So all of this evidence accumulates and is brought together, again using a machine learning approach to decide which sources to trust the most, which evidence is the most convincing, and then come up with an answer. Not just an answer, however, but a confidence in that answer. So that if its not certain, you at least know that the answer youre being provided is more or less a guess, whereas if its certain you can rely on it more.

I know youve also had some thoughts about the Go victory. Can you expand on that? How big a milestone for AI is this really?

CAMPBELL: So I think it is a big milestone. It was the last standing traditional board game that hadnt been conquered by a computer. I think in a sense its now the end of an era. There wont be as much research on board games going forward.

I think its more important to move towards messier kinds of problems that have factors like uncertainty involved. Theres some information that you dont get to see, unlike in Go or in Chess, where everything you need to know is right there in front of you if you can just figure it out.

But in the real world theres a lot of information that you just dont get to see and you still have to make a decision in spite of that fact. Or there may be some information that you see but isnt reliable and you have to know how much to trust it. And in the real world you have to deal with language too.

So whats an example of a real-world scenario that youd like to see AI conquer?

CAMPBELL: I think most of the video games that people play provide really great test beds for exploring future AI technology. They require perception because theres visual input, they often require some kind of language, and there are many possible actions that can be taken. So its a step towards the real world.

But the real world is the real world. So you can imagine health care applications where a doctor is meeting with a patient, and is trying to decide what the appropriate course of action is. And theres so much information out there in the world that might be relevant for this particular patient, but who has time to look through it all?

So if you had a cognitive assistant that could go out and look through all the information, compare this patient with other patients and look at what course of treatment they had . . . and then provide that information to the physician, whos really the decision maker, they could potentially make better decisions.

Read More: The 100 Most Genius Places in America

Several influential figures in tech, like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, have expressed concern about AI. Do we have a real reason to fear AI, or is it being overblown?

CAMPBELL: I definitely think its overblown. I think its worthwhile to think about these research questions around AI and ethics, and AI and safety. But I think its going to be decades before this stuff is really going to be important. I think the big danger right now is, and one of IBMs senior VPs has stated this publicly, is not following up on these technologies. Because the benefits are so huge, that if we dont use AI technologies were going to be losing out on all of these beneficial effects in health care, in self-driving cars, in education.

People have also expressed concern about how AI will impact the job market in the future. IBMs goal with Watson is to make jobs easier, not to eliminate them, but I still find it hard to believe that it wont be an unintended side effect. If a robot like Connie is helping answer questions in the hotel lobby, maybe the hotel could do with one fewer employee.

CAMPBELL: So theres no doubt that there will be an effect on the job market, more in the mix of jobs and the kinds of jobs that are being done. If we each have our cognitive assistant that can help us be more efficient, then we can get more done and we dont need as many people to do that particular job.

But each time we create these cognitive assistants, we create new opportunities. Thats the way its been in the past: new technologies take away some work, but create new opportunities. But I think these AI systems are going to have gaps. Theyre going to have gaps in their knowledge for many years to come. And the practical way to fill those gaps is to partner them with humans who have a general intelligence and common sense reasoning so they can work together as a team to complement each other.
By Valerie Parent

PARIS (Reuters) - Private Indian millers are showing increasing interest in French wheat due to its competitiveness on world markets, with traders reporting recent sales of up to 150,000 tonnes, but phytosanitary constraints are slowing exports, they said.

Uncertainty about the future of India's 25 percent tariff on wheat imports due to expire on June 30 is also weighing on the pace of these rare sales, which are for optional origin.

Indian traders said at least one shipment of about 50,000 tonnes had been sold to India. One, for arrival in August, was sold at $203 a tonne, including cost and freight, they said.

European traders referred to additional sales which would bring the total volume up to 150,000 tonnes at prices around $203-$204 C&F for shipment in July and August.

India's 2016/17 wheat imports are expected to surge to their highest in a decade, as a severe drought linked to an El Nino weather event and unseasonal rains cut the harvest.

Indian importers have already purchased higher protein Australian-origin wheat and European traders said last week more could have been purchased from another origin.

"Millers are betting that the tax will be reduced but the risk of having a shipment rejected is high for French wheat which does not meet all Indian import criteria," a European grain exporter said.

India generally only clears wheat with zero ergot fungus, a level French wheat exporters say they cannot guarantee. However, some local millers are ready to apply the international codex standard allowing up to 0.05 percent of the fungus, traders said.

Ergot has been at the centre of a months-long political imbroglio in Egypt that started after the rejection of a French wheat cargo.

In addition, India requests pest control fumigation using Methyl Bromide, an insect control gas banned in the European Union since 2010. The wheat would thus need to be treated in India, with additional costs for the exporter.

"The risk premium reduces this market's profitability. In my view, as long as the Indian government does not open an official tender and loosen its import rules, there is no major gateway for French wheat in India," another exporter said.

Story continues

The final volume of the rice harvest will also play a key role in India's wheat import policy, he added.

In 2006/07, France sold nearly 300,000 tonnes of soft wheat to India as part of an official import programme and traders said last year India cleared one French wheat cargo which had initially been rejected in Bangladesh.

(Additional by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Naveen Thukral in Singapore; Writing by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
By Sankalp Phartiyal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - New Delhi urged South Korean steelmaker POSCO last month to buy local raw material for its automotive steel plant in western India, two government sources said, trying to cut imports and boost domestic production of high-value steel.

The steel ministry's request to POSCO came amid other efforts to safeguard local mills, including import taxes on steel products and a floor price on overseas purchases. New Delhi also initiated probes into the possible dumping of cheap steel into India by China, Japan and South Korea.

POSCO primarily produces high-tensile auto grade steel from its facility in Maharashtra state and has been importing most of the raw material - hot-rolled (HR) coils - from Korea, helped by a free trade agreement between New Delhi and Seoul.

But POSCO's costs rose after India imposed a "safeguard" import duty of up to 20 percent starting September last year.

POSCO told the steel ministry, according to a government draft agenda for a meeting on the issue that was seen by Reuters, that the raw material for their plant was not available in India and needed to be given an exemption from the taxes.

The steel ministry in an April meeting requested POSCO to use HR coils produced by Indian steel companies JSW Steel, Essar Steel and Tata Steel, two steel ministry officials said. The meeting was attended by executives of all of the companies.

Buying the raw material locally would keep POSCO out of the anti-dumping net and also help them secure raw material faster, one of the government sources said.

POSCO India could not be reached for immediate comment and a spokesman in Seoul said the company was already using Indian HR coils as part of efforts to diversify sourcing. He also denied that India's steel ministry had made any such request.

Indian steelmakers say their mills have the technology to produce the raw material POSCO needs and that they are willing to work with the Korean company to meet their requirements.

"It makes tremendous sense for a cold-roller or a downstream processing unit to have [raw] material close to domestic [mills] so that they can service the orders better, because of the better lead time," said Jayant Acharya, commercial and marketing director at JSW Steel.

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in SEOUL; Editing by Tom Hogue)
By Jon Herskovitz

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, facing state and federal securities fraud charges, released a video ahead of a hearing in a state appeals court on Thursday, saying he is staying in office and being targeted because of his Christian beliefs.

Lawyers for Paxton, a Tea Party Republican, are trying to have three state charges against the Texas lawman dismissed, arguing they are "unconstitutionally vague."

The lawyers told an appeals court in Dallas on Thursday the grand jury that charged him was improperly impaneled, but according to local media reports, special prosecutors said all procedures were proper and Paxton should be tried in court. Paxton attended the proceedings.

"I am here to tell you that I am not going anywhere and I want you to know that I am continuing to do the job I was elected to do," he said in the video released on social media on Wednesday night.

The comments are some of the most extensive he has made about the charges against him. After the hearing, Paxton told reporters he will prevail.

In a state indictment unsealed in August 2015, Paxton was charged with defrauding investors and illegally acting as a securities agent.

In the video, he says he is innocent and the attack against him is politically motivated. He adds some of his opponents "are upset that I am a conservative Christian and made no bones about it."

Paxton drew national attention last year when he said Texas county clerks who object to gay marriage on religious grounds can refuse to license same-sex couples despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring states to allow same-sex marriage.

He is facing an ethics investigation, which could lead to his disbarment, for advising state officials to violate a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Paxton is facing two security fraud charges related to stock sales and compensation from the Texas technology firm Servergy. The company had been under federal investigation for suspected misstatements about orders for its data servers.

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He also faces charges he illegally acted as a securities agent for a separate firm. He can face up to 99 years in prison if convicted.

Paxton was charged by a grand jury after a probe by the Texas Rangers, a statewide police agency, and two special prosecutors with Republican ties.

Paxton has sued President Barack Obama at least eight times since becoming Texas attorney general last year.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum and Diane Craft)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has started to probe the tax reports of 78 individuals after finding differences between their wealth reports and data from the "Panama Papers", the head of the country's tax office said on Thursday. The country's finance minister has instructed the tax office to scrutinize names in the data leaked from a Panamanian law firm to chase possible unpaid taxes. The head of the tax office Ken Dwijugiasteadi told a news press conference that the Panama Papers mentioned 1,010 Indonesian people and 28 firms as having set up shell companies abroad. Tax officers have combed through around 800 names and found out that 272 of them have tax identifications, he said, adding that they are still reviewing the rest. Out of those identified, the tax office has issued letters requesting 78 taxpayers to revise their tax reports. "We have asked them to clarify whether the assets mentioned in the Panama Papers are included in their tax reports," he said, adding that most people deny having offshore assets, referring to the data obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists as "just media reports". "But then I attached our data, and then they started to correct their tax reports. If the data still doesn't match, we will start an investigation," Dwijugiasteadi said. He refused to disclose how much money the 78 might owe the government, based on the tax office's findings. Southeast Asia's largest economy is facing a sizable revenue shortfall this year as the resource-rich country can no longer rely on commodity-related income. Dwijugiasteadi, who was appointed in March, has made improving individual compliance his priority this year. There are around 27 million registered taxpayers in Indonesia when there should be more than 120 million eligible to pay, out of Indonesia's 250 million population. The government plans to offer a tax amnesty program, giving low rates to previously untaxed assets, to improve people's compliance. But the controversial plan, which was due to be implemented early this year, has been delayed by parliament. Many analysts say the program might not start until near the end of the year. (Reporting by Hidayat Setiaji; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
High-Grade US Bonds Gained Traction amid Lower Yields in Europe

(Continued from Prior Part)

Investor flows

Flows into investment-grade bond funds were positive for the ninth consecutive week. According to Lipper fund flow data, investment-grade bond funds saw net inflows of $2.1 billion, the third-highest year-to-date (or YTD) inflows, during the week ended May 4, 2016. This was compared to net inflows of $3.1 billion, the highest YTD inflows, in the week ended April 27, 2016.

Investment-grade bond funds have seen YTD net inflows of $7.9 billion as of May 4.

Meanwhile, investment-grade bond issuance rose from $27.0 billion in the previous week to $29.4 billion last week after economic data from China and Europe pointed to a slowing global economy and the possible need for additional stimulus from central banks.

Further, the slowing global economy may suppress US economic growth. This has sparked a rally in the debt market. After weak US jobs report data, the probability of a Fed rate increase in June 2016 is currently 8%, a fall from 12% one week ago.

In the week ended May 6, Shell International Finance, a financial subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), AT&T (T), General Motors Financial Company, a financial services arm of General Motors (GM), and BB&T Corporation (BBT) were among the largest issuers of investment-grade bonds. You can read the details of these issues in Part Five of this series.

Yield and spread analysis of corporate high-quality debt securities

Investment-grade bond yields usually follow cues from the Treasuries market. Last week, Treasury yields mostly fell across the yield curve. Investment-grade corporate bond yields were flat week-over-week, ending up at 3.1% on May 6, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Master Effective Yield.

The Hartford Total Return Bond HLS Fund Class IA (HIABX) was flat last week, and the TIAA-CREF Bond Index Fund Retail Class (TBILX) rose by 0.2% week-over-week. The Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) rose 0.2% last week.

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Unlike yields, the option-adjusted spread (or OAS) rose by four basis points, ending up at 1.6% on May 6. The OAS measures the average difference in yields between investment-grade bonds and Treasuries. A fall in the spread implied that the risk of high-grade bonds relative to Treasuries fell.

Browse this series on Market Realist:
TEHRAN  When 59-year-old Asghar Abyari learned that his son Abbas would soon head off to war in Syria in late December 2015, he was furious. But not for the reason one might expect.

Since November, Asghar and Abbas, 24, both members of Irans voluntary Basij militia, had been undergoing military training in hopes of joining Tehrans advisory mission to support Syria. The mission began deploying in 2012 to advise Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces in their fight against the growing insurgency. By the time the Abyari men began training in 2015, Syrias horrific civil war had stretched into its fifth year, forcing Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani to expand the mission to include volunteers from all six branches of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the Basij. Suleimani still maintained command of the mission, but now officers from each branch were assembling units composed of assorted IRGC volunteers to serve under his command.

From the advisory missions inception, Suleimani had decreed that only one man per family would be allowed to join the deployments  a decision meant to minimize each households potential sacrifices. But to Asghar, it was yet another impediment. By early December, his training group had been whittled down to 500 men from its initial roster of 1,000. Less than half of those who remained would be selected to join the unit that would deploy near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in late December.

Asghar and Abbas were driven by a holy conviction to defend sacred religious sites, like the shrine of Hujr bin Adi al-Kindi, a companion of the Prophet Mohammed, which Sunni rebels desecrated in April 2013. These people have no moral borders or humanity, Asghar told me. We knew then that they would attack other shrines and holy sites that are respected by Muslims and Christians. We felt that if we didnt defend these places, nobody would be safe, and they would make a government that would spread this cancer to the entire world.

A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Asghar tried to convince his son to go to another Iranian province and volunteer for the Syrian mission there. Asghar thought that would let both of them slip through the cracks and get around the one man per household rule. But Abbas ignored his fathers pleas. In late December  IRGC sources refuse to reveal the exact dates of their movements for security reasons  he left for the front line with his unit, which joined the Assad regimes fight to retake several villages around Aleppo, including Khan Touman, Nubl, and Zahraa, the last two being predominantly Shiite villages northwest of the city that had suffered under a crippling, three-and-a-half-year siege by rebel militias.

On Jan. 10, during fierce fighting in Khan Touman, Abbas was shot. A makeshift ambulance was sent to the front line to retrieve him and several wounded comrades. But on its way back to a field hospital, the vehicle came under a TOW missile attack. Abbas and the vehicles other occupants were instantly killed, joining the hundreds of Iranian fighters who have died in Syria.

In its ongoing campaign to retake Aleppo, Assads army has relied heavily on the manpower and expertise of its Iranian allies. Since Feb. 3, the Syrian army  backed by Russian forces, the IRGC, and Tehran-backed militias  has reversed many of its military defeats on the outskirts of the city. Washington and Moscow are engaged in talks to maintain a cease-fire in Aleppo, but whether these efforts will succeed remains unclear. Iranian officials accuse rebels of exploiting the recent cease-fire in Aleppo to recapture Khan Touman, where Abbas was killed in January. Jaish al-Fatah, an alliance of rebel groups that includes the Nusra Front, al Qaedas Syrian affiliate, killed at least 13 IRGC advisors and captured another five to six in the fight to retake Khan Touman.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has vowed to launch an assault on the rebel-held eastern part of the city. And Iranian officials have promised harsh retaliation in Khan Touman.

The war, now in its sixth year, has taken a heavy toll on the Syrian army, whose forces, by some accounts, have been halved since the start of the conflict. Irans support is more crucial than ever. And as the war drags on, Irans involvement in the conflict is deepening. While the advisory mission began as an effort to lend strategic advice to the Syrian army, Iranian forces are now intimately involved in planning specific battles. A retired IRGC general who spoke on condition of anonymity said that in the early days of the war, Iran was sending strategic advisors to assist the Syrian army. As the conflict advanced, Iran began deploying tactical advisors, he said.

Yet, despite the mounting Iranian casualties in Syria, IRGC officers face no shortages of eager recruits, according to Abbass commander, a 41-year-old Basij officer named Hajj Mehdi. On his most recent deployment near Aleppo, he commanded a unit of 230 men, ranging in age from 21 to 60 years old. When he is on leave in Tehran, he awakens most mornings to find men lined up at the outer gate of his humble home, hoping to enlist. He is regularly bombarded with requests from relatives, friends, and acquaintances for permission to join the war. Even the father of one of his daughters classmates came to plead his case after he discovered that Hajj Mehdi was involved in recruiting for the mission.

Hajj Mehdi has no choice but to turn away most of these hopeful volunteers. Under the strict orders of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hajj Mehdi and his fellow IRGC officers have been ordered to select only the most well-trained, experienced volunteers with specialized skills to join the units in Syria. If the order to limit troop numbers and deploy only the most elite forces were reversed, Hajj Mehdi said, Basij and other IRGC soldiers would go by the millions.

The Revolutionary Guard now has [a] problem in managing hundreds of thousands of volunteers who want to be defenders of the oppressed and holy shrines, the retired IRGC general said. So Quds commanders are trying to select the best trained of these people who understand the new tactical concepts for defending the oppressed who are coming under attack.

Not all of those Iranians who are rejected are deterred. Many, instead, have joined an array of volunteer militias that have taken root since the start of the war. These men, devout Shiites lured by the promise of martyrdom, are desperate to fight a war that they regard as their religious duty. Like Abbas, these volunteers believe that non-Sunni communities in Syria face the threat of elimination. Having witnessed the destruction of shrines, mosques and churches in state media and on social media networks, they also reckon that holy sites, particularly the shrine of Sayeda Zeinab, will never be safe in rebel hands. They are ready to sacrifice their lives to protect them and defend the oppressed.

Hossein, a 30-year-old Basij soldier from Tehran, is one such volunteer. He was rejected by the elite advisory mission, despite his military training, but has served tours in Syria with a variety of militias, including the Fatemiyoun Brigade, a force of mostly Afghan volunteers, and the Zeinabiyoun, a group of mostly Pakistani volunteer soldiers. The Fatemiyoun Brigade emerged as a fighting force in Syria as early as 2012, but some of its top members have long-established links with the IRGC. Its first commander, Ali Reza Tavassoli  born in Afghanistan in 1962 and killed in Daraa, Syria, in February 2015  fought alongside the IRGC in the Iran-Iraq War with a contingent of Afghan Shiite volunteers.

Hossein said his decision to enlist with the Fatemiyoun in 2014 was inspired by Mostafa Sadri Zadeh, a childhood friend. Sadri Zadeh, a 29-year-old lifeguard from southern Tehran, tried to join a Quds Force advisory unit in 2013 but did not make the cut due to lack of military experience, Hossein said. Refusing to give up on his dream of waging jihad in Syria, Sadri Zadeh traveled to the city of Mashhad, home to the holy shrine of Imam Reza, one of 12 imams that Shiites regard as the spiritual and political successors of the Prophet Mohammed. There, he procured the identity papers of an Afghan and enlisted in the Fatemiyoun, where he climbed the ranks to become commander of the Ammar Battalion, adopting the nom de guerre Sayyed Ibrahim. He fought for more than two years before being killed on Oct. 22, 2015, in Aleppo.

In Syria, Suleimani later eulogized Sadri Zadehs bravery, voicing surprise that a soldier who had been turned away from the IRGCs advisory force had performed so heroically on the battlefield. Addressing his soldiers, Suleimani recalled how one day in Deir al-Adas, he had heard a Fatimeyoun commander on the two-way radio speaking in a strong, manly voice, with a thick Tehrani accent. I asked, who is this Tehrani man who is fighting with the Fatemiyoun Brigade? Suleimani said. An IRGC commander answered that it was Sayyed Ibrahim.

The next morning, when the Fatemiyoun forces arrived at the same position, Suleimani asked the same commander to show him which of the men before him was Sayyed Ibrahim. He said, This guy. And I saw that he was so thin and frail and so young, Suleimani recalled. I told him, Based on your voice, I was thinking I would see a strong and big man. But he was so young, and when you saw his face, you could see a kind of spirituality. You have to know, this young man, because our system didnt agree that he come [with the advisory mission] to Syria, he went to Mashhad, and under the name of one Afghan man, he entered Fatimeyoun. We have so many people like Sayyed Ibrahim in Tehran, but the difference between him and them is that he went in the way of jihad.

That Sadri Zadehs fighting prowess came to Suleimanis attention is no surprise. Though the IRGC insists that volunteer militias operate independently, these groups often engage in battles in Syria under the command of Iranian officers, according to returning Iranian fighters and analysts.

I met Hossein in Iran after he completed his most recent three-month tour in Syria with the Fatemiyoun. He told me that in the fight to retake the town of Nubl in January, he and his comrades linked up with the Basij unit under Hajj Mehdis command to break the enemy line. Hossein said the secret to the volunteer militias effectiveness is their flexibility, mobility, and lack of a rigid command structure. Its not a classic army war, where I can say I was always under the command of one person. Sometimes we were just six people, and sometimes we were 250, and one time we were 400. But in each mission  not that these are really classic missions  you are stationed in a zone, and whoever comes there will be part of your group, he said.

Hajj Mehdi conceded that Iranian advisors lead from the front, organizing the various militias defending the Syrian regime, and said this arrangement stems from their superior combat experience. Not the Iraqis, not the Pakistanis, not the Afghans, not even [the Lebanese] Hezbollah  though Hezbollah far more than the others  has experience in breaking enemy lines, he said. If the Iranians hadnt come, these groups would have no effective role.

The accounts of returning Iranian fighters appear to support some of the conclusions of a recent report by the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. Analyzing reports of Iranian casualties in Syria, the study hypothesizes that the IRGC has developed an ability to deploy small units that link up with and command multinational militias in the battlefield. If the IRGC has, indeed, mastered this ability, then it has positioned itself to use small numbers of conventional forces on foreign battlefields to produce effects disproportionate to their size, the report argues. It would constitute a significant increase in Irans ability to project conventional military power abroad.

U.S. officials argue that the increasing involvement of the IRGC and Iranian-backed militias only exacerbates the conflict in Syria. As we have long said, the support the Assad regime has received and continues to receive from Iran has enabled it to avoid seeking a constructive, negotiated end to the conflict. Rather than helping the Syrian people unite against extremism and [the Islamic State], Iran continues to prop up a regime that brutalizes the Syrian people, which only nurtures the growth of the extremists, a State Department spokesperson said.

But Irans sacrifices to the war in Syria are mounting. More than 280 Iranian troops have been killed in Syria since September 2015, according to a May 2 report by the Levantine Group, an independent consultancy that tracks media reports of Iranian casualties in the conflict. In fact, Iran has suffered as many casualties over the past six months as it did in the first two years of its involvement in the war, the report said. According to some reports, as many as 700 Iranians have been killed in Syria since the start of the advisory mission in 2012.

Hajj Mehdis Basij unit was among those that paid dearly during the counteroffensive. After more than two months of fighting in rural Aleppo, he lost nearly a third of his advisory unit, with 13 killed and another 55 wounded. He himself sustained a bullet wound in the leg, though the injury was not serious enough to force him off the battlefield. Now, he is on leave in Tehran to be with his wife, who is waging her own battle against cancer.

Despite all the Iranian blood being spilt in Syria, Hajj Mehdi insisted that Tehran is unwavering in its commitment to the Assad regime. The chief reason for Irans military intervention in Syria, he said, is its need to defend religious sites, particularly the holy shrine of Sayeda Zeinab, the sister of Imam Hussein, who is deeply revered by Shiites. Indeed, Iranian fighters who are martyred in Syria are referred to in official media as defenders of the holy shrine [of Sayeda Zeinab], regardless of where they are actually killed.

Hajj Mehdi recalled that all of his men who were killed in Syria were spurred on by this intense religious devotion. They possessed, he said, an intense desire for martyrdom, a revered status bestowed on those who are thought to have sacrificed their lives defending the oppressed.

Morteza Karimi, a 34-year-old junior Basij officer from southern Tehran, told Hajj Mehdi he wanted to be martyred in the same way as Ali al-Akbar, the oldest son of Imam Hussein, whose body was cut to pieces in the battle of Karbala, an epic clash in 680 A.D. It was in that battle that Imam Hussein and his followers were martyred and posthumously beheaded. I told him, this is crazy, they are shooting us here with bullets. Its impossible for you to be cut into so many pieces of meat, Hajj Mehdi recalled.

Karimi was shot and injured during battles in Khan Touman. He was retrieved by the ambulance that came under a TOW missile attack. Karimis body was shredded into bits of meat, just as he had hoped.

Hajj Mehdi said that his men are so eager to become martyrs that they frequently compete with each other for the most dangerous assignments. You dont feel that they understand the meaning of fear, he said.

During the fighting in Khan Touman, Hajj Mehdi wanted just 20 men to advance one kilometer under heavy fire to break the enemy line, but dozens surged forward to volunteer for the deadly mission. I was ordering them, even threatening them, one by one, to go back, he recalled. Finally he relented, choosing 40 of the most determined men to advance.

It is the same fervor that Abbas and his father, Asghar Abyari, showed when vying for a spot in the same advisory unit. Upon his return to Iran following Abbass death, Hajj Mehdi was afraid to answer Asghars calls. He was ashamed to admit that he had been unable to retrieve Abbass body from the front. But one day as he was typing a message on his phone, he answered Asghars call by mistake.

Do you think Im calling to follow up on the body of my son? I promise to God, I dont need that, Asghar told Hajj Mehdi. I just want to tell you that now that Abbas is no longer in your unit, I can go to Syria.

Photo Credit: LOUAI BESHARA / Staff
Tehran (AFP) - Iran said Thursday its nationals will miss the annual hajj, accusing Saudi Arabia of sabotaging arrangements following a major diplomatic row and a deadly stampede at last year's pilgrimage.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at thrashing out a deal for Iranians to go to Mecca in September.

It was the first dialogue between the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers since diplomatic relations were severed in January.

But with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran still closed and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted, the talks hit deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since Riyadh broke off ties in January following the ransacking of its diplomatic missions by protesters after it executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Said Ohadi, head of the Iranian Hajj Organisation, said that Riyadh had also refused to lift a flight ban on Iranian airlines for the pilgrimage, which all capable Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lifetime.

Another contentious issue has been security, after a massive stampede at last year's hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians.

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.

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"Unfortunately in Saudi Arabia there is a very hostile political climate towards Iran," Ohadi said.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states have been staunch backers of Syrian rebel groups who have been fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.

Iran, with Russia, has been among the regime's main supporters in the conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

Saudi Arabia is also leading an Arab military coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels who have seized swathes of territory in Yemen.

The hajj had been a source of dispute even before last year's stampede.

In 1987, Saudi security forces suppressed an unauthorised protest by Iranian pilgrims, prompting a break in diplomatic relations that lasted until 1991.

The official death toll was more than 400, including 275 Iranians.

Iran suspended the lesser pilgrimage, umrah, which is undertaken throughout the year, in April 2015 after an alleged sexual assault on two teenage Iranian boys by Saudi police at Jeddah airport.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Iranian Muslims will miss the annual haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in September, media reported on Thursday, as Tehran and Riyadh traded blame over a failure to agree organizational details. The regional rivals cut diplomatic ties in January. Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Tehran's Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister Ali Jannati as blaming Riyadh for the impasse. Last year's haj was marred by the death of over 2,000 pilgrims, 464 of them Iranian, in a crush during the crowded pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city. "The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," said Jannati, whose ministry oversees arrangements for Iranian pilgrims. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudi side." The Saudi haj ministry said Tehran's delegation had refused to sign an agreement laying out arrangements for this year's haj, according to a statement carried by state-linked news site Sabq. The statement said Iran's demands included the granting of visas inside Iran and transport arrangements that would evenly split the pilgrims between Saudi and Iranian airlines. "Iran is the only country that refused to sign the agreement on the haj. It insisted on a number of unacceptable demands," Minister of Haj and Umra Mohammed Bintin told state television station Ekhbariya. The two countries severed ties after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions there following the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in the Sunni-led kingdom. Saudi Arabia's conservative Sunni monarchy sees Shi'ite- dominated Iran as the paramount threat to Middle East stability because of its support for Shi'ite militias that Riyadh says have inflamed sectarian violence. Iranian and Saudi officials have held talks to resolve the rift but so far failed to make progress, Iranian officials said. Jannati said the Saudis "did not accept our proposals on security, transportation and visa issuing for Iranian pilgrims". A culture ministry official said Iran was "very concerned over the security of Iranians during the holy ceremony" and that talks with Saudi authorities were continuing. Tehran expressed outrage last year after the deaths of Iranians at the haj, which drew about two million pilgrims from around the world, and politicians in Tehran suggested Riyadh was incapable of managing the event. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Katie Paul; Editing by Tom Heneghan and John Stonestreet)
Rome (AFP) - A controversial Italian priest awaiting a criminal trial for sex abuse of minors has agreed to pay 125,000 euros in compensation to the families of five of his alleged victims, Italian media reported Thursday.

Mauro Inzoli, 66, was defrocked in 2012 after he was first accused of paedophilia but that decision was reversed in 2014, when Pope Francis ordered him to stay away from minors and retire to "a life of prayer and humble discretion."

An outcry over Inzoli's treatment led to criminal proceedings being initiated against him in the northern Italian town of Cremona but the Church has reportedly refused to hand over details of its own investigation.

The priest's trial has been set for June and at a preliminary hearing this week he agreed to pay 25,000 euros ($28,500) each to five families who had been considering becoming civil parties in it, according to reports.

Inzoli, dubbed "Don Mercedes" by the press for his penchant for luxury cars, will be tried for abusing minors aged between 10 and 16 years between 2004 and 2008. He faces up to 12 years in prison.

Inzoli is an ex-confessor of senators also known for his passion for cigars and high-end restaurants.

The perceived leniency of his treatment has angered critics who say the Church is still too reticent about handing paedophile priests over to the criminal authorities.

The Vatican insists that, under Francis's leadership, it has acted to root out behaviour the pontiff has compared to a "Satanic Mass."

Church tribunals have resulted in the defrocking of nearly 850 priest for sex abuse in the last decade, during which time hundreds of millions have been paid to settle compensation claims by victims of abuse.

In March, the Vatican admitted there was "still much to be done" to combat clerical paedophilia in many countries.
Yukio Ninagawa, a world-renowned Japanese stage director known for his adaptations of Shakespeare, died Thursday at a Tokyo hospital, his theatre and a family member announced. He was 80.

Ninagawa died of complications from pneumonia, an official at the theatre he led told AFP.

The director had reportedly been hospitalised since December.

Ninagawa's daughter, photographer Mika Ninagawa, mentioned his passing on her blog.

"He was a cool father who fought until the end," she wrote.

Ninagawa debuted as a director in 1969 and gained international fame at the 1985 Edinburgh Festival when he directed a samurai-style Macbeth in which actors performed in Japanese kimono on a stage with a giant Buddhist altar.

He adapted most of Shakespeare's works for the stage -- including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III -- and launched a project to perform the playwright's entire canon of plays in Saitama prefecture, Ninagawa's native region north of Tokyo.

Ninagawa's productions have been performed regularly overseas since he brought his version of the Greek tragedy Medea by Euripides to Greece and Italy in 1983.

The internationally-acclaimed director became a member of the Shakespeare Globe Council at Londons Globe Theatre and in 2002 was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
A jewel thief has been burglarizing luxury residences in Manhattan during open houses.

Its open season on Upper East Side open houses.

A dapper jewel thief has hit three luxury residences up for sale in the posh neighborhoodtaking a total of about $40,000 worth of bling during showings of the residences in what police believe to be a pattern, law enforcement sources told The Post.

The crook swiped $10,000 worth of cufflinks from a sixth-floor co-op going for nearly $4 million inside of an 11-story pre-war building on Lexington Avenue between 67th and 68th streets on April 19, sources said.

The grand four-bedroom unit complete with 9.5-foot-high ceilings, which has been on the market for 22 days, was shown to potential buyers April 19th and the cufflinks were discovered missing the same day.

Two days later jewelry worth a little less than $7,000 was swiped during an open house at a co-op on East 96th Street.

Three days later and about two blocks over, a watch, ring, and bracelets totaling $23,000 were taken during the showing of an East 94th Street 19th century townhouse on the market for nearly $7 million.

Area real estate brokers are desperate for police to catch the bandit and are even internally circulating photos of a well-dressed man they believe to be the suspect.

Its a very scary situation, said top broker Michele Kleier, who stars in HGTVs Selling New York with her daughters Samantha and Sabrina. People are afraid.

Kleier, who has two new Upper East Side listings at 188 East 78th St and another at 1160 Park Avenue, said that she has been bringing her assistant Michael Elian with her to every open house to screen potential buyers at the door.

He stands there at the door with a photo of the guy [the alleged robber] and believe me no one gets passed him, she said.

Kleier added that everyone is being cautious now  if you think about it, an open house is a perfect place for a robbery. I never let any one walk around by themselves.

Another real estate broker with knowledge of the thefts said, Im surprised this type of thing doesnt happen more often.

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Industry sources said that the alleged crook once described himself as an agent for real estate agency Stribling and Associates when he went to one of the for-sale homes.

Another time, he showed up saying he was a lawyer and that he lived at 995 Fifth Avenue, industry sources said.

The post Jewel Thief Strikes Open Houses appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.
TOKYO, May 12 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices slipped on Thursday, with yields on longer-dated maturities rising after a 30-year auction drew only lukewarm demand from investors.

The benchmark 10-year yield rose half a basis point to minus 0.100 percent, and the 30-year yield was up 2 basis points at 0.325 percent, pulling away from a record low of 0.265 percent touched last month.

The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at Thursday's 800 billion yen ($7.36 billion) 30-year auction slipped to 3.01 from 3.39 at the previous sale.

Dealers said the weaker auction outcome reflected investors' concerns that supply could swamp demand in super long maturities. The finance ministry will sell 20-year JGBs next week followed by a 40-year bond auction in the following week.

($1 = 108.7200 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Paris (AFP) - Experts say the link between mental illness and so-called "lone wolf" terrorists is driven by the fact that unstable individuals are often influenced by events in the news, a fact that is exploited by global jihadist groups.

Tuesday's knife attack by a 27-year-old German shouting "Allahu Akbar" left one dead and three injured in Munich.

But police quickly dismissed any jihadist motive, saying there were "strong reasons" to believe he acted "in a state of insanity".

Numerous similar cases have been reported around the globe.

Man Haron Monis, who died along with two of his hostages at a Sydney coffee shop in December 2014, had a long history of mental illness.

So did Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who killed a Canadian soldier near Ottawa's parliament two months earlier.

Experts say the connection is not unexpected, since the jihadist ideology offers a compelling narrative for dealing with feelings of marginalisation and paranoid fantasies of persecution that can exist among people with severe mental illnesses.

"Each time society evolves, delusional people evolve. Delusional behaviour is always connected to the times," said psychiatrist Daniel Zagury, who has acted as an expert witness at the trials of several alleged jihadists.

"There have always been mystical delusions. They are often the most dangerous. When God is on your side, things become much simpler," he added.

"Today, it's 'Allahu Akbar' that gives a sense of the mystical, of the messianic, to their actions. That's why we have these people driving their cars into crowds or stabbing strangers: the news has fuelled their schizophrenia, their delusional outbursts."

Zagury warned against labelling all jihadists as psychologically unstable -- saying they account for only around 10 percent of cases.

The majority are either "small-time delinquents... who started off as drug addicts, dealers, and try to clean up their lives by turning to radical Islam."

Story continues

Or they are "the most dangerous kind" -- the clean-living, well-educated youngster who becomes a true believer in violent extremism.

- 'A vengeful Allah' -

But often the line between true believer and mental instability is blurred, and there have been few comprehensive psychological studies on jihadists to unpack the complex mental processes involved.

"We often tend to say that these people are unstable, but we need a proper study. Every case is different," said clinical psychologist Amelie Boukhobza.

"We can easily have someone who is close to the radical Islam movement and also has psychological problems," she told AFP.

Boukhobza said the constant spotlight on the Islamic State group (IS) in the media has undoubtedly influenced some people with severe mental illness.

"For most delusion psychotics, God is present -- it can be either a kind or evil God.

"With the phenomenon of Daesh (another name for IS) growing so much, God can be replaced by Allah -- an even more present, vengeful Allah," she added.

IS has understood the advantage of constantly calling for random acts of violence, added Patrick Amoyel, a psychoanalyst who works on radicalisation issues at Sophia-Antipolis University in Nice, France.

"They know that the more they dominate the media, the more they will get a reaction, either from people who are vulnerable to radicalisation, or from psychopaths.

IS "represents the anti-society, the anti-West, which can channel a sort of social radicalism that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with politics or religion," added Amoyel.

"There are those who know what they are doing... who are real terrorists who are acting rationally," he said.

"But there are also those who have psychopathologies... and Daesh's directives can push them to act."
People on Hollywood Boulevard had a lot to say when asked about Donald Trump's vp picks in a segment that aired on Wednesday's Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The passersby didn't know that the picks were fake.

In the latest edition of Kimmel's "Lie Witness News," people were asked about Gary Busey, a former castmember of Celebrity Apprentice, being picked by Trump to be his vice president.

One man thought the announcement was nuts but claimed he was aware of the news.

"I think it's the biggest joke that ever happened in the entire country, in history," the man said. "I think they both reach the same level of insanity, and they both probably communicate very well."

Another man was asked about a different vp pick: Dennis Rodman, another Celebrity Apprentice alum.

"Not many people have gone to North Korea and improved U.S. relations over there in a good amount of time," the man said. "Now that Rodman's involved, just specifically, with North Korea - it's definitely a game changer."

A woman was asked if she was impressed when, after he was named Trump's vp, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger bench-pressed a cinder block that would be used for Trump's Mexico border wall.

"It's a little publicity thing, but it gets people watching TV," she said. "It's impressive."

In reality, Trump has said he will not name a running mate until the Republican National Convention in July.

Read More: "Knife Guys" Will Ferrell and Ryan Gosling Carve Up Donald Trump on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'
Cannes (France) (AFP) - Jodie Foster, who presented her first mainstream film as a director in Cannes Thursday, said many studio bosses still dismissed female filmmakers as "too great a risk to take".

The two-time Oscar-winning actress, who began her career at the age of three and is one of a handful of females in Hollywood to carve out a successful directing career, highlighted the challenges women face.

Foster noted "drastic changes" on film sets from her years as a child actor, when the only women on set were the make-up artists and the person playing her mother.

But "the one arena where it hasn't really changed at all is directing for mainstream studio movies," she observed.

Foster, 53, said the turbulent economy and changing technologies had left studio bosses more risk-averse than ever.

"I think studio executives are scared, period, (and) for some reason women are lumped into that category of 'too great a risk to take'."

However Foster, who won Oscars for her roles in "Silence of the Lambs" and "The Accused", admits that having grown up in the industry, it was easier for her to become part of the boy's club.

But even as she encouraged other women to take a seat in the director's chair, the star of her first big-budget genre movie "Money Monster", Julia Roberts, admitted she was not cut out for it.

"I consider it hugely complimentary that people ask me if I want to be a director. But I do not," Roberts told reporters.

"Because I know my intellectual limitations and I know the limitations of my patience and I can't have more than four people in an hour ask me a question that needs an answer," said the married mother of three, drawing a laugh.

- Not 'some big plot' -

Roberts, 48, said taking the helm of a film was "something like playing the cello or painting that I envy and hope in another lifetime I might be drawn to".

Story continues

"But I think in this life I just want to admire it from a small distance and be glad when my capabilities come into the orbit of a director that I just live to serve and impress," she said with a smile for Foster.

In the United States, only nine percent of directors are women, according to a 2016 study from the University of San Diego.

Another study released this month by the European Women's Audiovisual Network found that only one film in five in Europe was made by a female director.

Foster has directed several movies, as well as episodes of television series "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards".

She said she did not think there was "some big plot" by men trying to put women down in the film business, but it was more about being stuck in traditional models.

Foster described the difficulty in placing trust in a first-time director, and placing the vision of a multi-million-dollar film in their hands.

- Half of the human race -

"I was once in a movie where a director -- who was a really smart guy -- spent the entire movie in his bathroom calling his wife.

"You're looking for the best bet and it is hard to look at a face that is 100 percent different to yours and that you carry traditional perceptions about and you worry you are going to make a bad choice."

Foster was asked about the perception that audiences don't want to see movies about women.

"I don't know who those people are. I want to look at human lives. I don't know anyone who would be disinterested in half of the human race."

Foster said she was able to see herself in all of her characters, even the men, something that was harder for male directors to do.

"One of my biggest pet peeves as an actor, whenever a male writer was searching for motivation for a woman they would always just go to rape. It was ridiculous."
Jodie Foster stopped by Conan on Wednesday and shared what it was like to make the seminal movie Taxi Driver. At the time of filming, Foster was only 12 and played a young prostitute. She described the strange situations she found herself in with the older filmmakers  especially when I had to unzip his fly and things like that. She went on to say that director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro were uncomfortable filming suggestive scenes with the young actress. She said, They just giggled. Mostly Scorsese giggled. He would try to give me direction, and then he would just burst into laughter.

However, Foster was unfazed, saying, Id made a lot of movies at that point. Id made probably more movies than probably De Niro and Scorsese had made. She went on, This is my job Ive been doing my whole life. I really dont know why they were getting all nutty about it. For me, what I remember of Taxi Driver was a great summer in New York where I kept going to the theater and going in hansom cabs.



Conan airs weeknights at 11 on TBS.

Watch how Princes cameo on New Girl was almost ruined by the Kardashians:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Cynthia LuCiette, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - National restaurant chain Joe's Crab Shack has rolled back an experiment at select restaurants to eliminate tipping after customers and workers complained, an industry news report said. Many of the 18 restaurants that took part in the program, started last year, said they have dropped out when contacted by Reuters on Thursday. Officials for the chain with 130 restaurants nationwide did not respond to requests for comment. Bob Merritt, CEO of Houston-based parent company Ignite Restaurant Group, told investors this month that research indicated 60 percent of customers disliked the no-tipping policy, trade paper Nation's Restaurant News reported this week. "The system has to change at some point, but our customers and staff spoke very loudly, Merritt was quoted as saying in a call with analysts. "A lot of them voted with their feet." He said the no-tipping test has ended at 14 of the 18 restaurants where it was implemented. The test was seen as groundbreaking for a major national chain. At the test locations, Joe's paid some workers a minimum of $12 an hour. The Houston-based company raised menu prices less than 20 percent to compensate for the higher labor costs. The test, launched under a different CEO, came as a nascent movement has been launched to remove a more then century-old tradition of tipping in U.S. restaurants. Critics say the tipping system allows restaurants to pay some staff a pittance and puts the burden of labor costs largely on customers as opposed to employers. An employer of a tipped employee is required to pay a minimum of $2.13 an hour in direct wages, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. An industry group added restaurant owners are required to make up any difference from tip income and hourly wages to meet federal minimum wage requirements. Tipping appears to have the support of customers, with a 2015 poll on behalf of the National Restaurant Association showing that 65 percent of those surveyed support tipping. "It is very much ingrained in our culture. Consumers really like being able to reward good service and the spirit of hospitality," said Christin Fernandez, a spokeswoman for the industry group. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz)
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) pauses during remarks to reporters at a news conference following a Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 7, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

On Thursday, John Boehner faced a question that's been on my mind: Given Donald Trump's apparent lack of interest in implementing a conservative policy agenda, why should Paul Ryan want him to be president?

Steven Rattner, the former "Car Czar" to President Barack Obama, asked Boehner that question at the SkyBridge Alternatives hedge fund conference in Las Vegas.

Importantly, this is a different question than whether Ryan should endorse Trump. Ryan might have any number of strategic and self-preservation reasons to do that  for example, he might think a unified Republican Party will lose many more seats in Congress than a divided one, or that failing to endorse Trump could cause him to lose his position as House speaker.

It's harder to say why Ryan should think a Trump presidency would be good, but if he makes an endorsement he's going to have to act like he does, even if he's only making the endorsement out of strategic necessity.

Boehner is a good person to talk to if you're trying to get inside Ryan's head, since they've known each other forever; Boehner noted Ryan put up yard signs for him in Boehner's first congressional campaign, 26 years ago.

But when asked why Ryan should be pleased about the prospect of a Trump presidency, Boehner paused for several seconds, seemingly stumped. Then he offered a not-very-satisfying answer that boiled down to Trump having won the nomination, fair and square.

"Listen, Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee whether people like it or not," he said. "Clearly, he has said a lot of things over the course of this campaign that some would be critical of, on the right and the left. So I think Paul was just being cautious. But I don't have any doubt that there's going to be a meeting of the minds and this is going to get smoothed over."

Paul Ryan.

He added that Ryan might have the opportunity to help Trump change for the better.

"I think what Paul is trying to do is shape the direction of Trump's policies," he said. "At some point, he's going to have to lay out some policies on how he's going to make America great, how he's going to deal with immigration. At least having some principles they can agree on would be helpful."

Story continues

But of course, Trump is not a totally empty vessel on policy. Rattner proceeded to walk Boehner through a list of the more controversial positions Trump has laid out, asking if Boehner agreed with them.

Does John Boehner favor a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US? "No."

A border wall paid for by Mexico? "No."

Ripping up trade agreements and slapping 35% tariffs on imports? "No."

Using torture measures worse than waterboarding and considering killing the relatives of terrorists? "Might be a bit harsh."

An isolationist, "America First" turn in foreign policy? "Not quite my style."

So given all that, Rattner asked how it's possible for Boehner to support Trump.

"Listen, I voted for John Kasich," Boehner said. "John Kasich didn't win. Jeb Bush didn't win. Thank God the guy from Texas didn't win."

This is a real problem for Republicans as they struggle to coalesce around a nominee so many of them have such deep reservations about. Saying you support Donald Trump is one thing. Sounding like you mean it is another.

"Listen, I voted for John Kasich" is not a pro-Trump argument that makes you sound like you mean it.

NOW WATCH: Heres what Trumps spokesperson has to say about Paul Ryan





More From Business Insider


First it was a Doctor Strange trailer with Tilda Swinton playing the Tibetan Ancient One. Then it was a photo of Scarlett Johansson as Japanese cyborg Motoko Kusnagi in Ghost in the Shell. Add to that, the first-look images of Elizabeth Banks as the originally Asian character Rita Repulsa in 2017s Power Rangers remake. All those reveals in the last month had one thing in common: Caucasians cast in Asian roles.

PHOTOS: Shirtless Hunks: Hot Celebs and Their Insane Physiques

In response, New York-based digital strategist William Yu launched a viral campaign with the hashtag #StarringJohnCho on Thursday, May 5, featuring Star Trek actor John Cho Photoshopped onto the posters of The Nice Guys, Spectre, Me Before You, Mothers Day, Jurassic World and Avengers: Age of Ultron.



Opposition to an Asian-American playing the lead of a major motion picture is an unfounded and antiquated notion, 25-year-old Yu tells Us Weekly. With #OscarsSoWhite and then with the slew of recent white-washing of Asian roles, it became clear that now was the time to do something.

How did Yu land on using the 43-year-old Korean-American actor as the face of his campaign? "I wanted focus on someone who not only has the artistic chops, but also the financial backing, Yu tells Us. "Cho has received critical praise  while also bringing in over $100,000,000 as the face of the Harold & Kumar franchise. [He also] possesses the unique combination of charisma, presence and bankable talent that a leading man requires.

PHOTOS: Best and Worst Movie Remakes

So far, Chos only response has been a red heart emoji to Yus @StarringJohnCho Twitter account. But the digital strategists goal to spark a discussion and challenge the ways in which Asian-Americans are perceived in popular culture is happening, thanks to responses from stars including Fresh Off the Boats Constance Wu.



This meme follows last weeks #WhiteWashedOut campaign, led by comedian Margaret Cho and The Prophecy series author Ellen Oh to call Hollywood out on the recent whitewashed casting. Kerry Washington and Johnathon Schaech have also shared the hashtag in solidarity.



Story continues

Also last week, the tag #MyYellowFaceStory launched, encouraging Asian-Americans, especially in theater, to share their stories of inequality behind the scenes. While Tony winner Lea Salonga shared bias she experienced while attempting to audition for a Broadway role, Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series, posted a photo of a collectible Potter card, where a photo of another Asian actress was used.



PHOTOS: Celebrities And Their Stunt Doubles

This trio of hashtags continues the conversations that have long been a part of diversity in the media, as Ming-Na Wen and George Takei, among others, have voiced.



As Yus visual meme continues to travel through the internet, he hopes it will get the attention of those who can make an impact. "It's been great seeing those in the film industry support the movement, he tells Us. "#StarringJohnCho demonstrates the desire for an Asian-American lead, now Hollywood execs just have to see it  and take note."






Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart thinks Democrats hold some level of responsibility for the rise of Donald Trump to his current status as the presumptive Republican nominee.

Stewart sat down to discuss the presidential race and American politics with former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod for a taping of "The Axe Files" podcast Monday at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics.

He held back little while lambasting "man-baby" Trump, Republicans who stoked the flames that led to his candidacy, and network executives who he also partially blamed for the Manhattan billionaire's rise.

In criticizing most facets of the political system, the former host of "The Daily Show" also reserved some choice words for Democrats, who he said hadn't backed up their party's message.

"What's incumbent on those who believe government can make a difference in people's lives is to try and make it more efficient," he said. "And I think that's where the Democrats fail in an enormous way. In their world, if you believe government can make a difference in people's lives, well then, make the bureaucracies work more efficiently."

Stewart questioned why President Barack Obama could sign an executive order to "kill an American citizen" in a drone strike, for instance, but couldn't sign a similar executive order to reevaluate the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It doesn't wash," Stewart said. "And at some level, and I'll lay the blame then on the Democrats. The door is open to an asshole like Donald Trump because the Democrats haven't done enough to show to people that government that can be effective for people, can be efficient for people."

"And if you can't do that, then you've lost the right to make that change, and someone is going to come in and demagogue you," he continued. "And that's what happens."

He and Axelrod engaged in a spirited discussion, with Axelrod attempting to explain that the federal government simply doesn't work as easily as Stewart would like.

Story continues

Watch Stewart's remarks beginning around the 36:10 mark below:

NOW WATCH: Jon Stewart broke his silence to call out 'man-baby' Trump and the medias 'corrupt' investment in his rise





More From Business Insider


A Texas judge upheld his ruling that "affluenza" teen Ethan Couch will spend 720 days in jail, according to a reports.



Couch was ordered by Judge Wayne Salvant, Texas judge to spend nearly two years behind bars in April, but a hearing on the matter that was scheduled for May 16, has been canceled, according to CBS.



While the ruling still stands, there is potential for the order to be amended, as Salvant has given the teen's defense team two weeks to make and argument refuting his ruling, CNN reports.



"Nothing is set in stone, so I might reconsider," the judge reportedly said.



According to CBS, the judge also outlined a list of restrictions for Couch, 19, that bar him from drinking, using drugs or driving, as well as attending required meetings with a community supervision officer.



Couch's legal trouble stems from his 2013 drunk driving accident, in which he killed four people and injured nine others when he was only 16. The Texas native's legal team used the now infamous defense of "affluenza," stating that Couch's wealthy upbringing made him unable to understand the consequences of his actions.
Lady Susan, the recently widowed gentlewoman at the center of Whit Stillmans new comedy of manners Love & Friendship, opening May 13, is a master manipulator with a significant gift for cunning schemes. Shes also endlessly charming, a delight to be around andas played by Kate Beckinsale a delight to watch as she maneuvers through her master plan to find her and her daughter comfortably betrothed. Based on Jane Austens posthumously published epistolary novella Lady Susan, one of the authors earlier works, Stillmans adaptation is also a reunion between the filmmaker and actors Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny, who costarred in his 1998 film The Last Days of Disco.

Though the movie is a lighthearted romp, for Beckinsale, mastering her character required more than withstanding corsets and delivering pithy quips. (Facts are horrid things, she laments at one point, without a trace of irony.) Lady Susan may be ruthless in her efforts to secure exactly what she wantsa rich husband, a hunky side piece and security for her childbut as Beckinsale tells TIME, What shes doing as a bright woman is using those things to create more freedom in her life than shes actually allowed to have.

Beckinsale sees a dotted line from Austen to her character, two women who had more to offer than their society was set up to allow. As her film hits theaters, she spoke to TIME about why Lady Susan was a pioneer for her time and how far women have come in the centuries since then.

TIME: What was your relationship with Jane Austens work before you signed onto this project?

Beckinsale: A very decent independent girls school education version. In England you specialize down to three subjects. I went into Russian and French and German literature and then did Russian and French literature at Oxford, so I wasnt a scholar of Jane Austen by any means. Id read what I thought were most of her major works and really enjoyed them, and I hadnt heard of the novella until I was sent the script. I was a bit confused at first because it was so envelope-pushing that I thought Whit must have taken enormous liberties with it, but he hasnt at all.

How much of the character did you pull from the original source material?

Id say probably 85 to 90 percent of what comes out of my characters mouth is word-for-word Jane Austen. I really did use the novella as a study guide, lobbied for various things to go back in and mourned certain things having to be out. Its really nice when you have that as an adjunct to the script.

When you were preparing for the role, where did you find the heart in Lady Susan, beyond all of the self-serving manipulation?

Jane Austen, in a similar way to Lady Susan, had unbelievable constraints on her freedom, her voice, her sexuality and her finances. So for me, taking Lady Susan in that context as a woman whos intellectually very bright, cultured, smart, social, witty, ambitious, and then the limited opportunityJane Austen herself couldnt publish under her own name, and this is a genius person! I see [Lady Susan] as an early feminist fighter, because what shes doing within the social confines is going, No, I deserve to have my cake and eat it. I want freedom and a future for my daughter and Im going to get it using what I have at my disposal, which is very advanced social interaction. So I suppose shes kind of delicious and wicked, but what life could you have as a smart woman who wanted independence at that time? What could you hope for really?

Shes a pioneer, but shes also beholden to the social norms.

Exactly, and if she did have a bunch of fabulous career opportunities available to her and could make her own independent money, there would be no story. Shed have a few lovers and it would be 2016 and there wouldnt be a movie. Its sort of impossible to transplant her out of that time to judge her.

Lady Susan is also a master of spin, convincing others that her own shortcomings are justified for one reason or another. Do you think she believes her own spin?

I think she knows shes doing it, but in the sense of all great manipulators, you could probably put her on a lie detector test and shed pass it. Shes in her own narrative so completely, and her big conversation with her daughter is, how are you going to live if you dont marry this person? Shes not a nurturing mother, but she is extremely influenced by the fact that she doesnt want her daughter to end up in the poorhouse. She allows herself to lie to people and to herself in a way that feels like shes telling the truth because at base she feels like its not fair. Because its not.

The ending is a bit abrupt because its based on this unfinished work which Austen never published in her lifetime, and who can know what she meant to do with it?

Its probably completely fanciful, but I do sit there and think, I know that Jane Austen is a woman of that time period, and is completely gifted with far more than anyones share of intellect and instinct and wit and ambition. It feels like [she may have thought], Im going to write my shadow here, my frustration, and this heroine thats going to be ruthless in bucking the social norms. When you are doing one of those writing exercises where you pour out something that comes from frustration or despair, you dont always want to publish that. I think it went in a drawerthis is me surmising and I have no business doing itand then her nephew published it much later on. Its a real window into how far weve come, that we can declare our intellect and wits in ways that arent just about procuring a husband. Not that were finished, but theres been quite a long journey.
Montreal (AFP) - Kenya's participation at the Olympic games was thrown into question on Thursday after the World Anti-Doping Agency declared the country's drug-testing regime to be in breach of strict international standards.

In a ruling announced during a WADA meeting in Montreal, officials said recent efforts by Kenya to improve its anti-doping capability were inadequate.

Rene Bouchard, Chairman of WADA's compliance review committee (CRC), said Kenya's drug testing agency was declared "non-compliant with immediate effect."

"The CRC cannot ignore the legislation is not in line with the code," Bouchard said, citing "inconsistencies" in Kenyan rules.

Kenyans have missed two WADA deadlines to show they are tackling doping, with world athletics chief Sebastian Coe warning earlier this year the country's athletes could be barred from August's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro if they were deemed non-compliant.

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta signed a new anti-doping law on April 22, which it had been hoped would allow the African athletics powerhouse to be given the green light by WADA.

However, the move was deemed insufficient by WADA, with the compliance committee finding that Kenya was in breach of its code.

The WADA ruling comes after Russia was declared non-compliant by the global doping watchdog last year.

It followed a bombshell WADA independent committee investigation which detailed a state-sponsored doping regime in Russia.

The participation of Russian athletes in Rio is hanging by a thread. Unless an international suspension of the country's athletes is lifted, they will be barred from competing in Brazil.

The likelihood of action being taken against Kenya had risen steadily over the past year, with the country being placed in "critical care" over failings in its anti-doping programme.

- Kenya hits back -

Thursday's WADA declaration was greeted with dismay by Sharad Rao, the Kenyan official appointed by the IAAF ethics commission to investigate doping in his country.

Story continues

"In view of the circumstances, the decision is counter-productive and too drastic," Rao. "If, one way or another, the law does not meet WADA expectations, it can be corrected."

Kenyan athletes also hit back at the ruling, with world champion javelin thrower Julius Yego insisting the current anti-doping regime was yielding results.

"The news is not good for us athletes, who have been working extra hard at training to prepare for the Olympic Games," Yego told AFP.

"It is not only about the risk of not going to Rio, but it is also that the good name of Kenya is at stake here. Those athletes who were found to have taken drugs have been disciplined."

Kenya, a traditional stronghold of distance running, topped the medals table at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

However, the country has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with more than 40 Kenyan athletes suspended for doping in the past two years.

In December, three top Athletics Kenya officials -- president Isaiah Kiplagat, deputy president David Okeyo and former treasurer Joseph Kinyua -- were suspended by the IAAF ethics Commission for alleged corruption and covering up doping.

The IAAF confirmed last November that ex-Athletics Kenya vice-president Okeyo had been under investigation by Kenyan police over allegations of doping cover-ups.

A German broadcaster alleged that Kenya officials were extorting money from athletes and coaches to cover ups failed drug tests, in return for lenient doping bans.

Kenyan runner Francisca Koki, suspended for doping, told AFP in February that she and fellow runner Joyce Zakari were both asked to pay bribes totalling nearly $50,000 to help their respective cases.

Koki said the request came from Athletics Kenya chief executive Isaac Mwangi. Mwangi rejected the claims, with Athletics Kenya describing them as "spurious and farfetched."
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya is drawing up a timetable to close Dadaab refugee camp that hosts about 350,000 Somalis because of security concerns, the interior minister said on Wednesday, after the United Nations urged the East African nation to reconsider such a move. Kenya, which has suffered from a spate of attacks claimed by the Islamist Somali group al Shabaab, has set up a taskforce to handle the closure plan, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said. "They will present the timetable based on all the resources required," the minister told a news conference, adding that state funds had been allocated to proceed with the program. "The government has commenced the exercise of closing the complex of Dadaab refugee camp," he said, without specifying what new action had been taken beyond a voluntary repatriation program already in place. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement voicing deep concern about the decision and urging Kenya "to maintain its longstanding leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma ... and not forcibly repatriate refugees." Kenya's government has long said Dadaab, which lies near the Somali border, has been used by Islamists to launch attacks, such as the Westgate shopping mall assault in Nairobi in 2013. Hundreds of Kenyans were killed in that attack and other assaults mainly in Nairobi, the northeast and coast. The Interior Ministry says it hosts 600,000 refugees, many from neighboring Somalia and South Sudan. Some refugees have lived in Dadaab for decades and some were born there. Last year, Kenya said it was setting a three-month deadline to close Dadaab, but backtracked on the plan following U.N. criticism of any forced return. Last week, the Interior Ministry said it would shut Dadaab in the "shortest time possible", prompting the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR to voice "profound concern" and renew its call for Kenya to reconsider. The UNHCR, Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite agreement in 2013 to repatriate Somali refugees voluntarily. As Somalia has slowly started recovering from war and chaos, Dadaab has shrunk from more than half a million people to about 350,000. The UNHCR said in January it aimed to repatriate a further 50,000 in 2016 but also said this would be a difficult target to achieve given the Somali government is still battling an al Shabaab insurgency and there are few schools or public services. "There has been a very slow process on the implementation of this agreement," the minister said of the tripartite deal. (Reporting by George Obulutsa; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Andrew Hay)
Kenya will close Dadaab refugee camp and is drawing up a timetable to send hundreds of thousands of refugees home or to other countries, the Kenyan Ministry of Interior announced Wednesday in a plan decried by aid agencies and the U.N.

As a country we have been glad to help our neighbors and all those in need sometimes at the expense of our security, the ministry said in a statement. But there comes a time when we must think primarily about the security of our people. Ladies and Gentlemen, that time is now.

The government cited reasons of pressing national security for the decision to shut Dadaab, which has been called the worlds largest refugee camp and is home to 330,000 mostly Somali refugees. It says the sprawling camp has become safe haven for terrorist organizations like al-Shabaab  a Somali-based Islamist group.

Although al-Shabaabs bloody campaign is focused mainly in Somalia, the al-Qaeda linked militants are responsible for violent raids into Kenya, including the 2013 assault on Nairobis Westgate shopping mall, which left 67 dead, and the 2015 massacre at Garissa University, which killed at least 147. Kenya suggested closing the Dadaab after that attack.

The camp was established in 1991 to receive Somalis fleeing civil war and then received a second influx in 2011 when Somalia was beset by famine and drought, according to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR). Its population swelled to nearly half a million before the Kenyan government signed a repatriation agreement with Somalia and the UNHCR in 2013. After years of stagnation, the Kenyan government has now earmarked $10 million and crated a task force to expedite the closure.

But the UNHCR has asked Kenya to reconsider shutting Dadaab. It warned of devastating consequences and said the actions may violate Nairobis international obligations to people in need of sanctuary. International aid agencies echoed this concern. Human Rights Watch said deportations would punish innocent people and may violate international and Kenyan law. And a group of non-governmental organizations signed a joint statement warning of far reaching implications for the thousands of refugees.
* Kerry seeks to reassure 10 top bank execs

* Lenders seek action to match rhetoric

* Banks fear sanctions could be re-imposed (Adds Breakingviews link)

By David Brunnstrom

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Europe's top banks they have nothing to fear from resuming business with Iran, as long as they make proper checks on trade partners and pursue "legitimate business".

European banks, some of which have been punished for breaking sanctions imposed on Iran, are sceptical it is now safe for them to restore trade ties with the country and have largely held back since the lifting of some restrictions in January.

"We want to make it clear that legitimate business, which is clear under the definition of the agreement, is available to banks," Kerry said on Thursday during what is likely to be his last trip to London before November's U.S. election.

Nine executives from leading European banks took part in the meeting, along with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, secretary of state for business Sajid Javid and Norman Lamont, trade envoy to Iran, a British official told Reuters.

Deutsche Bank Chief Executive John Cryan, HSBC's UK head Antonio Simoes and Credit Suisse Chief Financial Officer David Mathers were among the senior bankers who attended.

Representatives from Standard Chartered and BNP Paribas, which have both been fined billions of dollars for breaking sanctions in the past, also attended along with executives from Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland , Barclays and Lloyds.

The United States and Europe lifted sanctions in January under a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear programme, but other U.S. sanctions remain, including a ban on Iran-linked transactions in dollars being processed through the U.S. financial system.

That has left Europe's banks nervous of resuming trade, despite encouraging words from the U.S. And there was little immediate sign Kerry had provided sufficient additional reassurance during the meeting on Thursday.

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Standard Chartered said after the meeting that it "will not accept any new clients who reside in Iran, or which are an entity owned or controlled by a person there, nor will we undertake any new transactions involving Iran or any party in Iran".

French bank Societe Generale said given "remaining uncertainties" it had no plans to resume commercial activities with Iran, adding: "Differences between European and U.S. systems generate significant operating risks for financial establishments".

Other banking and finance sources said uncertainty about the outcome of U.S. presidential elections in November heightened their reservations. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Wednesday showed Republican Donald Trump pulling even with likely Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"What if Trump wins? Do you want to get involved with contracts now that perhaps in six months would be unenforceable?" a banking source following Iran said.

"There is a distinct reluctance to do anything among the banks."

NO LETTER OF COMFORT

Another source familiar with European banks' thinking said there was still little clarity on what trade could be done.

"The assurances given by Kerry are still vague and that goes for the whole U.S. approach - there is 'no letter of comfort' for the banks," the source told Reuters.

Hammond said the strategic objective was to draw Iran back into the international community, and this meant overcoming "the reality of what the European banks are finding in practice".

"We're trying to bridge that gap ... to allow these European and global banks to support European businesses in resuming normal trade and investment patterns with Iran," Hammond said.

Banks' fears are exacerbated by the differing tone of rhetoric between federal U.S. officials and State laws, many of which still ban pension groups and funds from investing in overseas companies that do business in Iran, Tom Stocker, a Pinsent Masons lawyer with expertise in trade sanctions, said.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Arno Schuetze, Lawrence White, Kate Holton, Jonathan Saul and Maya Nikolaeva, Editing by Tom Heneghan and Alexander Smith)
KEXPs Kevin Cole stands in the Seattle radio stations library holding a copy of Nirvanas Nevermind album, complete with classic DJ dialogue stuck all over the front of it. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

These guys will be remembered in years to come because they knew how to write songs with HOOKS!

Hey! Can we be really cutting edge and be the first to stop overplaying this?

You havent wandered into an internet chatroom for overly opinionated music fans, but you are getting a glimpse of the back-and-forth that happens between radio DJs over new releases.

Those notes, stuck to the cover of a vinyl copy of Nirvanas 1991 mega-hit Nevermind, are just a taste of the musical history scrawled and preserved on thousands of albums and compact discs in the library at Seattles KEXP.

KEXP Nirvana record

With a new home and renewed focus on living up to its mission of the being the worlds greatest music discovery resource, KEXP is taking on the challenge of digitizing its vast archive of music. Along the way, it wants to provide online access to unique material, such as those DJ notes, to further enrich the connection between the station, the music it has played for more than 40 years, and its listeners.

The 41,000 CDs and 12,000 albums have escaped the cramped quarters of KEXPs previous home and are now showcased in an expanded library at KEXPs Seattle Center site. But the station needs to archive and protect much of the music, while creating a more uniform system for storing data and giving DJs easier access to the huge collection.

READ MORE: Inside the new KEXP: Expanded studio opens up a new world for beloved Seattle radio station

This is really significant in a lot of ways, said Kevin Cole, longtime afternoon DJ and chief content officer at the station. We aspire to be the greatest music discovery resource in the world. Thats what we want to be.  We used to say, We want to be the greatest radio station. Were much more than that. Were a non-profit arts organization. The drive is to help people discover new music. We do it on air, we do it online, now we do it in the physical building itself.

Story continues

Cole said the digital library will help the tech-savvy station do that better than ever, as it continues to expand beyond audio recordings into other media, including video, photographs and podcasts.

Heading up the project is Dylan Flesch, a Library and Information Science graduate from the University of Washington who volunteered at KEXP before his class projects started solving real-world problems at the station. He was hired on at the station in 2013.

Standing amidst racks and racks of CDs and walls of vinyl, Flesch said the collection has been with the station since the KCMU days on the UW campus. The size of the collection makes the process of digitizing the music much more involved than simply ripping tracks from a CD onto your home computer.

Dylan Flesch wears a few technological hats at KEXP and for the next several months will be leading the effort to digitize analog archives. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

Two Acronova Nimbie autoloaders, which the station refers to as robots named Huizenga and Ada, can handle 100 discs each. They run overnight, burning tracks into digital form.

Weve made a ton of progress in terms of the system, the architecture of how were going to store all of this media, Flesch said. And weve made a lot of progress in terms of the workflows around it. We have custom software and a mashup of different tools that were going to use. The plan is to feed the robots over the course of the next six to eight months.

Those worried about a loss in audio quality are reassured by Flesch. The transfer from CD is to a lossless audio format (FLAC) so even the audiophiles out there with the most extravagant system wont experience any audio quality difference, he said.

Flesch also said the majority of the vinyl is already represented in CD form. The process for transferring select vinyl albums is much more labor intensive and involves hooking up a digital recorder to a record player and playing each record.

But the station does plan to photograph and digitize the album art for the entire vinyl collection for the purpose of preserving the DJ notes.

Tool for creativity

Having quicker access to a digital library plays directly into how KEXP DJs select music, and how the station differs from commercial radio.

Part of what makes KEXP really distinct from any of our other competitors is our DJs have the freedom and the responsibility to curate their own shows, and thats really, really rare, Cole said. And theyre doing that in real time. So, they have this incredible freedom  theres no pre-programmed playlists.

Cole said the digital library will be an incredible tool for pure creativity. He often doesnt know what hes going to play next until hes down to 30 seconds in the song thats playing, and if he can easily find content to respond to a spontaneous thought or listener exchange, it makes for a more dynamic program.

Kevin Cole handles what he calls a rare Sub-Pop Records mix that was in rotation back in the KCMU days. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

If Im on the air and Im playing an LCD Soundsystem song and a listener emails and says, Oh my god, this is the bass line to that New Order song, I can be like, there it is, boom, he said, making a typing gesture. Instead of racing down the hall and its misfiled or we dont have it.

Music director Don Yates said the station, because of the type of music it plays, still receives a good amount of promotional CDs. And the new DJ booth is equipped to handle a broad range of musical formats. Cole said if he gets a 7-inch single thats not in the system yet, he can play it. Or a cassette tape.

I think we can do everything except 8-track, Cole said.

Were working on it! Flesch answered.

We cant do 78s either, Yates said. Or cylinder recordings.

Music and technology intersect

The process only stands to reinforce the love of music and technology that has always powered KEXP.

Yates, who started at KCMU in 1987, called being overtaken by the Communications & Computing department at UW at the end of 1999 the best thing that ever happened to the station.

Thats why we have the technology bent that we have, Yates said. Before that, we had no technology bent. I tried to get us on the web for years and then C&C took us over from KUOW and within a couple of weeks we were streaming on the web in multiple formats including the first uncompressed stream.

A screen grab of the KEXP web site, which promotes a variety of ways for listeners to interact with the stations content beyond just tuning in. (Via KEXP.org)

Fast forward through a name change, another wattage increase, some Paul Allen money, a home on Dexter Avenue and a Webby Award for best radio website, and KEXP is still proving its love of music. Tech forms the intersection necessary to being the discovery resource Cole talked about. And interacting with that technology, including social media, KEXP.org and the real-time playlist, are a huge part of being a DJ at the station now.

Theres more engagement than there ever has been, Cole said. We say our DJs are the hardest working DJs in the world, and I believe that. Theyre programming on the fly, theyre playing music in every conceivable format and theyre responding in real time to listeners via Facebook, Twitter, texting, Instagram, old-school email, or maybe even a phone call. And then also responding to the news as its happening in real time.

Cole said digital archives give the station the ability to better react to breaking news events, such as the terror attacks in Paris last fall, or the death of a beloved artist like David Bowie or Prince.

We feel like it would be insulting for our listeners to tune in and hear the kind of robo-programming like they hear everywhere else, Cole said. We feel like we have to be responding to events in real time.

A unique musical archive

Please take me out of H (heavy rotation) reads one comment on an old Sub-Pop mix. This is a great collection of NW talent, so quit your whinin, reads a reply. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

By extending beyond audio files to encompass physical artifacts, the digitization effort will create what Cole called a richer experience for the user.

Thumbing through various albums and reading the notes and dialogue left by DJs over the years provides a unique perspective on how new music was received as it started to gain traction in the stations rotation.

It really captures college radio, 80s era. The attitude and vibe. Or 90s era, Cole said.

He read some DJ comments on a latter-day Replacements record: Hmm, sounds like The Faces.  Will cause others to gag.  They must have stopped drinking beer.  I resent this record a lot. Its crap.'

Cole said the dialogue probably ended three or four months after the release. But the stations plan to ultimately put the album notes online could allow the conversation to continue, with new responses from DJs and listeners. Because this record now is a lot better in retrospect than it was received at the time, he said.

Kevin Cole handles loose DJ notes that fell off albums over time or during the stations move. The hope is to reunite them with the records they belong to. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

Constantly evolving

Video is also a key component of the stations new era. In fact, the station has more people watching its videos on YouTube than it does listening to the radio, Yates said.

With a broadcast audience of 147,000 listeners per week and another 57,000 listening to the online stream, KEXPs biggest growth has been seen in video. According to data provided by the station, 750,000 unique viewers check out its performance videos on YouTube each week, and KEXP boasts 2.1 million video views a week.

The evolution of whats sufficient and what people are expecting when it comes to interacting with music is constantly changing, Cole said.

That thinking is what drove the desire to go beyond just recording audio of in-studio performances and start filming and live-streaming them  sometimes in dramatic fashion, such as when Mudhoney played at the top of the Space Needle for the Sub Pop Silver Jubilee in 2013.

We capture 500 performances a year, Flesch said. Each one of those we have four different camera angles, we have the multi-track, the audio master, photographs. All of that content is somewhere like 25 to 30 gigabytes of media, just for one session. Theres a massive amount of content.

Servers at the station store the content first, and the plan is to have backup servers at KEXPs transmitter site on Capitol Hill mirror all of the content. Flesch also said that hes identifying a lot of older content that needs to be preserved, and the station is teaming with other archives and libraries, including the UW, to accomplish some of that.

While all of the content were creating now from live performances is born digital, we have a lot of content created over the years that exists on the masters, physical media, Flesch said. We have reel-to-reels, we have 1/4-inch tape, a lot of the first in-studios are stored on digital audio tape. We partnered with the Library of Congress through their American Archive of Public Broadcasting to start the process of digitizing that material, some of the more at-risk material especially.

Kevin Cole pulls a record from among KEXPs 12,000 vinyl albums. The station will retain its ability to play varied formats, but digitization will make much of what DJs do easier. (Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire)

In the end, Cole said that digitizing the library will be a curatorial tool, but it wont change the way KEXP programs.

READ MORE: Microsofts Kinect powers KEXPs trippy Inside the Music experimental tech installation

Its really ultimately about curation, Cole said. Whoever is DJing is curating that 4-hour experience.  The mission is to enrich lives, champion music and discovery. If we help somebody find their next new favorite band through a video or through somebodys radio show or a podcast or a tweet, it doesnt matter, weve done our job.

And while Cole can fathom a future that might employ something like virtual reality technology during a live performance or in the DJ booth, Yates set his sights on a different breakthrough.

I cant wait until we can send out the Kevin Cole hologram to DJ at parties.

More from GeekWire:
escobar y su nino

The son of notorious Medellin cartel boss Pablo Escobar claimed that his father once torched $2 million in crisp banknotes just to keep the family warm.

As the child of one of the wealthiest drug lords in history, Juan Pablo Escobar, 38, who has since changed his name to Sebastian Marroquin, grew up amid immense luxury and narco-trafficking violence.

In a 2009 interview with Don Juan magazine, Marroquin described what life was like on the run with the "king of cocaine," whose cartel supplied 80% of the world's cocaine and brought in an estimated $420 million a week in revenue.

According to Marroquin, the family was living in a hideout in the Medellin mountainsides when Escobar's daughter Manuela became hypothermic.

Escobar decided to burn $2 million in cash to keep his family warm.

According to the interview, the paranoid cocaine baron had his family blindfolded and relocated every 48 hours between 15 different hideaways throughout Medellin because he didn't want them to know where they were.

Once the family arrived at a designated home, they were instructed to inspect the site in fine detail to see if they recognized the area. If they did, they were immediately relocated and the site was eliminated as a future hideout, Don Juan reported.

In the case that Escobar's relatives were captured and tortured, they would not be able to divulge information about the locations of their hideouts simply because they were never allowed to know where they were being kept.

pablo escobar family

NOW WATCH: EX-DEA AGENT: What I did when a drug dealer tried to bribe me with $3 million





More From Business Insider


STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Kinnevik will review its stake in German ecommerce investor Rocket Internet in two or three years as the companies Rocket owns have developed further, the chief of the Swedish investment company was quoted as saying on Thursday.

In an interview with Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter (DN), Kinnevik's CEO Lorenzo Grabau said the value of Rocket Internet, whose shares have tumbled in the past few weeks on concerns over valuation of its holdings, was now "clearly depressed."

"Within two or three years, the companies in Rocket's portfolio will have matured. Then we will review our position," Grabau said.

Rocket Internet earlier this month said two supervisory board members, including Grabau, would leave its supervisory board.

That move was not prompted by any conflict between the companies, but by the fact that the two are now competitors over good investments, Grabau was quoted as saying in the paper.

Kinnevik owns a 13 percent stake in Rocket Internet and is a co-investor with it in some companies, including online fashion retailer Zalando.

(Reporting by Sven Nordenstam. Editing by Jane Merriman)
The 80th birthday of songwriter, actor and country-music icon Kris Kristofferson will be celebrated next month with the release of The Complete Monument & Columbia Album Collection, a 16-CD deluxe box set from Sony Music's Legacy Recordings. Due June 10th, the collection will consist of 11 of Kristofferson's studio albums spanning the entire decade of the Seventies. At the same time he was recording his own material, Kristofferson's massive song catalog was mined for hits by artists ranging from Janis Joplin ("Me and Bobby McGee") to Ray Price ("For the Good Times") and beyond.

See Photos From Kris Kristofferson Tribute Show

All of the albums in the collection, released from 1970 through 1981, will be individually packaged in facsimile sleeves reproducing the original album artwork. Five additional albums in the set will spotlight rare and unreleased live and studio recordings encompassing Kristofferson's years recording for the Monument and Columbia labels, with three concert recordings (two of them previously unreleased) from 1970-1972 and two full discs of rarities  non-LP singles, studio outtakes, previously unavailable demos  and more.

The package will also include a deluxe booklet featuring essays and liner notes penned especially for the project, including an introduction to Kristofferson contributed by his fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member Fred Foster, the founder of Monument Records who signed the Texas native and former Army pilot to a songwriting contract at Combine Music and a recording pact with the Monument label. Producer/musician Don Was contributes an aesthetic appreciation titled "Kris Kristofferson True American Hero," and the set also features an insightful essay on Kristofferson's artistry penned by longtime Rolling Stone contributor Mikal Gilmore.

One week after the boxed set is issued, the Grammy-winning legend will release a double album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, 25 songs recorded over a three-day period in the summer of 2014. The set includes stripped-down versions of some of Kristofferson's most revered tunes, including "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," a dark, meditative tune he penned while living in a tenement and going through a divorce. Johnny Cash would go on to record it in 1970, winning Kristofferson CMA Song of the Year honors for it.

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In March, the Nashville tribute concert, "The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson," featured performances by Willie Nelson, Reba, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris and more.

The Complete Monument & Columbia Album Collection:

Kristofferson (Monument, 1970)

The Silver Tongued Devil and I (Monument, 1971)

Border Lord (Monument, 1972)

Jesus Was a Capricorn (Monument, 1972)

Spooky Lady's Sideshow (Monument, 1974)

BreakawayKris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (Monument, 1974)

Who's to Blessand Who's to Blame (Monument, 1975)

Surreal Thing (Monument, 1976)

Easter Island (Monument/Columbia, 1978)

Shake Hands With the Devil (Monument/Columbia, 1979)

To the Bone (Monument/Columbia, 1981)

Bonus Discs:

Live at The Big Sur Folk Festival (recorded 1970, previously unreleased)

The WPLJ-FM Broadcast (recorded 1972, previously unreleased)

Live at the Philharmonic (recorded 1972/released 1992)

Extras (previously released non-LP singles, outtakes and appearances)

Demos (previously unreleased)

Related
Barcelona (AFP) - Daniil Kvyat claimed on Thursday that he had no idea why he was demoted from Red Bull to Toro Rosso despite a 20-minute phone call to Moscow as he watched Game of Thrones on television.

The young Russian, who was replaced by rising Dutch star Max Verstappen, spoke out during a feisty news conference at the Circuit de Catalunya.

"I had no real explanation," he shrugged.

"If the bosses  at Red Bull  want something to happen, they make it happen. It's as simple as that"

Sitting between his new team-mate Carlos Sainz, on his right, and Verstappen, to his left, the 22-year-old Russian may have felt uneasy as he was bombarded with questions.

But he hardly showed it with a defiant series of confident answers in good English, demonstrating a clear grasp of the diplomatic niceties at stake, not to mention his career prospects.

It was widely understood that he had been punished by Red Bull for crashing twice into former Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel, now of Ferrari, at the Russian Grand Prix.

"I was in Moscow, laying on the sofa and watching a TV series," he explained. "Then, a phone call came and they said 'hello, I have some news for you'

"We had 20 minutes of talking and I wanted to have an explanation -- I got to know many interesting details, but I will keep it for myself for now"

Kvyat confirmed that the call to Moscow was made by Red Bull's motorsport boss Helmut Marko.

"It was Dr. Marko who made the phone call," he said.

"We finished the call and I went back to finish my TV series. That is all."

Asked to identify the series, he said it was "Game of Thrones" - the hit US fantasy epic known for its blood and guts and intrigue - - and the room exploded with laughter.

Asked if he accepted Dr Marko's suggestion that he had struggled with the pressure of being team-mate to Australian Daniel Ricciardo, Kvyat said he had not felt any special pressure.

Story continues

"Pressure? Talking about pressure, I have been seven years part of the Red Bull family and I don't see it as a big problem Other people around me had pressure  I don't think it is a big explanation to be honest."

He was quick to heap praise on the warmth of the Toro Rosso team's welcome to him. He raced for them in 2015.

"I think obviously the decision and the way it happened was a bit of a shock  also for myself," he said. "But it is what it is at the moment.

"I always think to give my answer on the track and that will not change. I like this team (Toro Rosso) a lot. I got a very warm welcome.

"I can feel the atmosphere is very positive in the team and the goals are clear, for the team and for myself.

"I will be pushing to the absolute limits on the track and will be giving my answers there... I have another golden opportunity."
Kyle Long

Kyle Long is not only a fantastic offensive lineman, he has the soul of an artist.

Need proof? The enormously popular Chicago Bears right guard shared an inspiring painting from his childhood on Twitter a few moments ago.

Check it out:

I was always an artist. Throwback to sometime in the mid 90's #Bears pic.twitter.com/XZ5NSk8K7K  Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) May 12, 2016

Indeed there are many kinds of Bears.

AROUND COVER32

Drama: Ten teams that may have a QB controversy in 2016

2016 Preview: A look ahead at the AFC East

Power Rankings: Ranking the top five NFL broadcasters

NFL: Five year running back rankings

In other Kyle Long news, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wrote about an interesting fan theory yesterday morning. Apparently some fans wonder if the Bears might consider moving Long to left tackle some day. Heres what Biggs thinks on that subject:

Given his choice, I think he would have stayed at right guard last season. That looks like the position he is ticketed to play this season. Lets see what Charles Leno does at left tackle this season before we try to replace him

Fair enough.

Chicagos offensive line has seen a lot of changes this offseason. Matt Slauson has signed with the San Diego Chargers, Bobby Massie arrived from Arizona, and Long is moving back inside where he plays best.

Today the Bears added another new name to the mix. Chicago announced a pair of roster moves: defensive back Anthony Jefferson was waived and offensive lineman Adrian Bellard signed:

Roster update: #Bears sign UFA, OL Adrian Bellard and waive DB Anthony Jefferson. pic.twitter.com/QRPtGvgzA7  Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 12, 2016

Bellard weighs in at 65 and 301 pounds. He will likely be in the mix to become Longs backup at right guard, possibly Massies one spot over. Not that it matters, but Bellard ran a 5.49 forty yard dash at his pro day. More importantly, he scored 15 bench reps. One scout had him ranked 39 out of 108 tackles in 2016. Considering the tackle depth this year thats not too bad at all.

The Chicago Bears rookie mini-camp opens tomorrow, so we will get to learn more about Bellard real soon.

The post Kyle Long is an artist, Bears make OL moves appeared first on Cover32.
Kylie Jenner went back to her childhood home on Wednesday night, amid reports that she broke up with Tyga.

The 18-year-old reality star posted numerous Snapchat videos from Kris Jenners home, and, unlike previous posts, she opened up to her fans.

WATCH: Kylie Jenner Reveals Shes Broken Up With Tyga in the Past

I dont know who Kylie Jenner is, she admitted, adding that she doesnt usually talk on social media because it makes her vulnerable. She also included the hashtag #WhoIsKylieJenner.

Kylie went on to communicate with her fans over Twitter and posted a gif of herself crying, with the caption: This is literally me right now with all your snaps @KylieJenner haha #whoiskyliejenner.

This is literally me right now with all your snaps @KylieJenner haha #whoiskyliejenner pic.twitter.com/AmuY9GbGA5  Charlie Brownie (@CharlesBrowniee) May 12, 2016

The Lip Kit creator also answered questions over Snapchat posed by her older sister, Khloe Kardashian. When asked how she would describe herself, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star said she is sensitive, weird and loves really hard.

WATCH: Tyga Says He Isnt Planning on Marrying Kylie Jenner Anytime Soon

In one Snap, she read off a quote that she insisted is so me.

Love is not running up huge bills on his credit card, she quoted.

WATCH: Tyga Opens Up About His And Kylie Jenners Controversial Age Difference, Jokes About Pregnancy Rumors

In addition, the youngest Jenner sister let fans in on her likes, dislikes and fears. Kylie confessed that she gets nervous ordering her own soup because she doesnt like talking to strangers over the phone. She also admitted to being a fan of Disneys Camp Rock movie and loving BBQ chips.

Story continues

She did not, however, like her mothers plates of lettuce in the refrigerator.

All in all, Kylies spirits seemed high during her Snapchat session, though she did admit that she might not leave her childhood room for a while.

WATCH: Tyga Reacts to Ex Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashians Baby News

Neither Kylie nor Tyga, 26, have confirmed their alleged breakup, but ET has reached out to the rappers rep. The two were thought to have started dating in 2014, when Kylie was only 17 years old, but did not confirm their relationship until she turned 18 in August. The rapper and reality star were both at this years Met Gala in New York City, but did not pose together. An ET eyewitness also saw Tyga entering his hotel room alone following the gala.

Meanwhile, Tygas ex Blac Chyna might have taken a dig at Kylie with her new line of Chymojis. One of the avatars appears to show Chyna  who is pregnant with Rob Kardashians child  smacking Kylie. See for yourself:

Related Articles
A quarter of global millennials would like to leave their current employer within a year, and two in three expect to move on by 2020, according to the 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey.

These findings, based on interviews with nearly 8,000 individuals from 29 countries, evoke common negative stereotypes of the finicky millennial. Before jumping to conclusions about the highly scrutinized generation, though, consider Julian Applebaum, a 25-year-old software engineer who lives in Brooklyn.

Applebaum knows a thing or two about loyalty. He ran competitively for seven straight years through high school and college and has been playing the same black Fender Jazz bass guitar for more than 10 years. He didn't give it up even after it took a battering from a ceiling fan and considers it better for its "road scars."

When it comes to work, Applebaum has a similar sense of allegiance. Only if an employer did something "outright morally objectionable" or if he stopped learning would he leave a company, he says. He interned with Squarespace, a web hosting and design firm that simplifies the process of building a website for users, and has stuck around going on three years, due largely in part to a sense that the company respects the value of his work and is invested in his development as an individual.

His global millennial peers are asking for the same.

Deloitte's report suggests that millennials' "lack of loyalty" may, in fact, be "a sign of neglect."

More than 70 percent of millennials expecting to leave their current employer within the next two years said that they are unhappy with how their leadership skills are being developed, according to the Deloitte report. Of those that plan to stay with their current employer for more than five years, a similar percentage say that there is a lot of support and training available to them.

[READ: These 10 millennial leaders are changing the world.]

Story continues

Deloitte started surveying millennials in 2012 because the company's leaders saw generational gaps emerging and wanted to get in front of them, says Jim Moffatt, Deloitte Global Consulting CEO.

"Millennials are very open. They're willing to engage and the least filtered about feedback," he says. "They're giving [employers] a roadmap of what's important to them. It's not rocket science. Organizations need to understand the roadmap they're providing and the things they're asking for."

[READ: How millennials are changing higher education]

Key to cracking the legend to the millennial roadmap, he says, is understanding that millennials engage differently and creating environments that encourage open communication from the generation.

Squarespace's headquarters in New York's charming West Village occupy a building that used to house a large printing press operation. A walk through the lofted space is bright, with a large, open floor plan absent of office doors, peppered with pop-up meeting spaces and tied together with the minimalist color scheme of black, white and gray.

In its 12th year, the company continues to grow rapidly, making it difficult to pinpoint employment statistics. But a 2015 Fortune ranking of the 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials put Squarespace third in terms of the share of millennials in the workforce, with 89 percent.

[READ: These are the Best Countries to Start a Career.]

Employees are provided lunch along a heated buffet each day in a large common dining area and permitted unlimited vacation days.

Millennial Jessica Kausen, events manager, has been with Squarespace for three years and appreciates the flexible environment in which she is not afraid to ask for work-life balance.

"I had previous employers who I felt were taking advantage of me because I was young and willing to work for it," she says. "Squarespace had a start-up culture that didn't feel adolescent. It was refined, but didn't feel kitschy."

In organizations with high levels of employee satisfaction, millennials are more likely to report that their employer had "a strong sense of purpose beyond financial success," according to the Deloitte report, and almost half of global millennials have "chosen not to undertake a task at work because it went against their personal values or ethics."

For a generation that cares a lot about what a company stands for in a broad sense, extravagant work perks can sometimes backfire.

In an open letter that went viral, 25-year-old Yelp employee Talia Jane berated CEO Jeremy Stoppelman for the company's practice of stocking office fridges with thousands of dollars' worth of coconut water that, she said, no one drank. She says the money spent on stocking the office kitchens with snacks would be better spent toward a living wage or going to charity.

Rachel Williams, Yelp's head of diversity and inclusion, is "thankful" for the bigger conversation the open letter helped to start.

"All companies are hiring across generations and the [open letter] started a great dialogue around generational workers and their approach to work, minimum wage, the housing crisis most major cities are experiencing, and gentrification," she wrote in an email, noting that Yelp is the first corporate job for many of its new hires. Fortune reported that 91 percent of Yelp's employees were millennials in 2015.

Missing the mark on millennials can be expensive. Between activities associated with a departing employee, finding a replacement and time spent getting the new employee up to speed, the Society for Human Resource Management estimates the cost of employee turnover to be one to three times that employee's salary. This workforce volatility can be especially tough for employees and employers in developing economies.

In emerging markets, companies need to focus on building a viable business before they can use resources to develop programs that appeal to millennials' values, says Moffatt.

"There is less stability in the workforce and less formality around the things millennials care about, so instead, mentoring becomes important," Moffatt says. "Companies in developing markets are using mentoring to show millennial employees they care about them and offset that they don't have more formal programs established."

Millennials in developing economies are more conservative in their attitudes toward work and the workplace, too.

Research from the consulting firm Millennial Branding in partnership with Randstad, a large human resources and staffing firm, shows that millennials in South Africa and Turkey plan to work at only three companies in their lifetime, while Swedish millennials expect to work at seven.

"'Invest in us and we'll take care of you' was the old mantra," says Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Millennial Branding. "Now, it's 'invest in me and I'll stay with you.'"

On a recent Thursday afternoon, Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena huddled with a small group of people in the office's spacious lobby planning the artwork that was be hung in the building. For him, "design is not a luxury" This is one of six core values upon which the company was founded.

Casalena, born in 1982, is technically a millennial. But, practically, he doesn't identify as such and doesn't think of his employees in that way, either.

"People that work for Squarespace have the same core values," he says. "People are applying here because they're aware of our mission statement, and they share a similar DNA no matter what their age."

Deidre McPhillips is a data reporter at U.S. News. You can find her on Twitter or email her at dmcphillips@usnews.com.
lazy landlord

One of the great things about renting is that when your faucet leaks or the buzzer breaks, youre not responsible for the repairs. Your landlord isat least, in theory. While most landlords want to keep their tenants happy, there are plenty who neglect their properties due to the expense of maintenance or sheer laziness.

The law obligates landlords to keep their rentals in habitable conditions and to provide essential services, says Shaolaine Loving, a landlord-tenant attorney in Las Vegas. Things like heat, running water, gas, and functional door locks are examples of essential services. Issues that affect habitability can include insects, faulty plumbing, and mold.

Never fearthere are ways to push a landlord to fulfill his obligation to keep your place in top shape. Check them out.

Review the terms of your rental agreement

Your first impulse may be to pick up the phone to relay the problem, but read your lease before initiating contact with your landlord, so you know what to expect.

According to Loving, many leases outline the responsibilities of landlord and tenant, and the specific protocol for repairs. Tenants may have a certain time frame to make complaints (or are responsible if the problem worsens due to lack of notification), and landlords must respond within a certain time frame.

For instance, in Nevada, the response time for essential problems is 48 hours, says Loving. Whats more, some landlords will accept only requests sent through email, others by postal mail.

Craft the right complaint

In your complaint, describe the issue in as much detail as possible: the nature of the problem, the date it occurred, and why it happened. Then, ask your landlord to reply in accordance to the legal timeline.

It also doesnt hurt to include photos of the damage and perhaps even a list of witnesses who can attest to the damagejust make sure theyre unbiased third parties (i.e., no relatives), advises Chantay Bridges, a real estate agent at TruLine Realty in Beverly Hills, CA.

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Keeping a paper trail is also key, so enable your email servers read receipt or delivery receipt functions to track whether the message was opened or received. Or send a certified letter, which requires the recipient to sign upon delivery. (Make sure to keep a copy of whatever you send.) If you visit your landlord in person, ask him to sign a receipt acknowledging the request.



Ask for outside help

Lets say you dont hear back from your landlord. You could continue sending letters in order to build your case, but if those dont work, eventually youll need to take matters into your own hands.

Contact your local government to request that a health or building inspector come and assess your home and if any codes have been violated. If so, the inspector can then send your landlord a Notice and Order with a time frame for the flaw(s) to be fixed. Some landlords do ignore code violations, but having your complaint on file helps if you ultimately take the matter to small-claims court.

Fix the problem yourself

Landlords often have contracts with repair services, or warranties to fall back on, but offering to pay for the repair yourself and deduct the cost from next months rent is an option if you just want to get things moving, says Dan Laufer, co-founder of RentLingo.com, an apartment search service. If your landlord is just not the efficient type, he will appreciate your handling the matter.

You could even suggest a mutually agreed-upon cost, or to use a specific vendor, says Laufer.

Dont use it as an excuse to withhold rent



No matter how tense the situation gets, flat-out withholding rent is rarely the right solution, since you could ruin your rental payment history and potentially provide your landlord with a reason to evict you. However, says Loving, withholding rent is a viable option in some states.

You do risk facing eviction, but the same could be true of making repairs yourself and deducting from the rent, she points out. In both scenarios, youre not paying the full rent.

Breaking your lease is also dicey, as your landlord could bill you for early termination penalties or pocket your security deposit.

As long as you keep your written evidence of communications and noncompliance from the landlord, you have a chance to prove your case, says Loving. Just be sure to save the money you withhold. If you lose, youll probably have to pay it back.



More from realtor.com: Is It Smarter to Rent or Buy?

The post What to Do When Your Landlord Doesnt Want to Make Repairs appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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Oracle founder and chairman Larry Ellison surprised the crowd at the third biennial Rebels With a Cause gala on Wednesday night by announced that he was donating $200 million to benefit cancer research.

His donation is targeted for the University of Southern California to establish the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC. The event honored Dr. Cheryl and Haim Saban and benefited the groundbreaking research led by Dr. David Agus, director of the USC Norris Westside Cancer Center and the Center of Applied Molecular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

"Tonight, I'm announcing a gift of $200 million to the University of Southern California to build an interdisciplinary center for cancer research headed by Dr. David Agus," Ellison said. "The new Institute will invite mathematicians, physicists and other scientists to collaborate with cancer researchers from the traditional disciplines of medicine and biology. We believe the interdisciplinary approach will yield up new insights currently hidden in existing patient data."

The event, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, was hosted by James Corden, who joked: "Cancer knows no race, creed or color. It's the anti-Donald Trump."

The X Factor winner and fellow Brit Leona Lewis also helped open the show by telling a personal story about how cancer has affected her and performing her single "Fire Under My Feet" for the 500-plus attendees.

Corden commenced the event with a special anti-cancer rendition of one of last year's biggest hits, "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber. "Tonight we pledge to end your run, so cancer you can go f - yourself," Corden sang.

Read More: Haim and Cheryl Saban to Be Feted at Rebels With a Cause Gala

Ahead of introducing the night's honorees, Corden shared some humbling words comparing his and Agus' work. "My job is basically singing in a car with a celebrity," Corden said. "But Dr. Agus is the Kanye West of pioneering research specialists."

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For the evening's musical performances, Grammy winner David Foster returned as musical director of the benefit, bringing Christina Aguilera and Kristin Chenoweth to perform.

"Everybody knows somebody that has cancer, and [Agus] is fighting that fight," Foster said. "I'm dedicated to making music and he's dedicated to saving our lives."

Chenoweth then took the stage and dedicated her version of the classic hit "Over the Rainbow" to those close to her affected by the disease. "I dedicate this song to my mom, my aunt, and all the people who are hoping and winning," she said.

"I really believe that these people can win this battle, I really do. I believe that The People v. Cancer will win," Corden added. "But I did say the same about The People v. O.J. Simpson and they didn't win that, so we'll see."

The eventful night ended with Aguilera belting out two of her classic hits - "Fighter" and "Beautiful" - which ended with a standing ovation from the audience.
PARIS, May 12 (Reuters) - At least four offers have been submitted for France's 60 percent stake in Lyon-Saint-Exupery airport along with three bids for a similar stake in Nice Cote d'Azur airport, sources close to the matter told Reuters.

France kicked off the privatisation of both airports in March as part of plans to raise cash to help meet budget deficit targets. There will be a second round of bids ahead of a July 4 deadline to firm up the indicative offers selected.

Bidders are hoping to get a share of the growing returns from increased air traffic.

A consortium of French investment fund Meridiam and Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial bid for both airports as did a group made up of French construction company Vinci , insurer Predica and state-owned Caisse des Depots, the sources said.

French buyout group Ardian also placed an offer for both airports. It may link up with investment fund Siparex and Caisses d'Epargne regionale for the Lyon airport.

Investment fund Cube Infrastructure together with Geneva airport also made an offer for Lyon, the sources said.

The economy ministry declined to comment on the bidders, who had until midday (1000 GMT) on Thursday to submit their offers.

Indicative offers were also expected from Australian group Macquarie, Changi Airports, which is the operator of Singapore airport, and from Canadian pension funds Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

According to the sources, German insurer Allianz together with Global Infrastructure Partners, may have bid for the Nice airport as could Italy's Atlantia tying up with EDF Invest.

French airport operator Paris Aeroport has not bid for either airport.

(Reporting by Mattieu Protard and Julien Ponthus, writing by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Michel Rose and David Clarke)
Just hold on, Drake is coming home -- to the Saturday Night Live stage, that is!

The "Jumpman" rapper will play double duty as host and musical guest for the second time this weekend, and in the promos for the sketch comedy show, things got a little awkward.

WATCH: Drake Raps About Rihanna in New 'Hype' Track

SNL cast member Leslie Jones appears in the videos with the Canadian hip-hop star and can't seem to take her hands off of him.

"Leslie, sorry, could you not out your hand on my butt?" Drake, 29, politely asks.

"I can't make no promises," she replies, before immediately going back in for a butt-grab.

Jones then suggests an idea for a sketch, in which she would "spank" Drake like a baby.

"I don't know if I want to play a baby," Drake jokes, laughing at the thought of it.

"OK, well then we two cops, OK, where we bust into the scene and catch the robbers, right?" Jones adds. "And then, I spank you like a baby!"

Watch the full promos below.

NEWS: Brie Larson Rocks the Mom Cut on 'SNL'

Last November, Donald Trump hosted SNL, where he hilariously showed off his awkward dance skills in a pre-taped sketch poking fun at Drake's "Hotline Bling" music video.

Relive all of the highlights from the Republican presidential candidate's well-received episode in the video below.

Related Articles
robin williams dan quayle donald trump

Getty Image

During a Thursday segment about presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Today invited former Republican Vice President Dan Quayle onto the program to talk about the upcoming nomination process. Among other things, the former right-hand man of President George H.W. Bush said he would support the nominee because hes been a Republican all [his] life. Today co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer prodded Quayle for further details, and even tried to trip him up over Trumps recent (and not so recent) comments about not changing his ways ahead of the general election. It all makes for an interesting political discussion, but for most viewers under the age of 30, one question remains.

Who the hell is Dan Quayle?

There are two ways to answer this question. The more obvious route is to consult Quayles Wikipedia page, which will tell you all about how the 69-year-old politician served as a representative for Indiana from 1977 to 1981, then as one of the states two senators from 1981 to 1989. He vacated his senate seat when the then-Republican presidential nominee, George H.W. Bush selected him as his running mate. Quayle served as vice president from 1989 to 1993, when he and Bush were defeated by Bill Clinton and Al Gore on the Democratic ticket.

Im going to support the nominee. Watch former VP Dan Quayle speak out in exclusive interview about 2016 race: https://t.co/8g4sYbdy06  TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 12, 2016

Political scientists, professional campaigners and news junkies will appreciate such information, but if you dont fall into any of those camps, then youre probably more interested in the second route. This involves some of the juicier details of Quayles vice presidency, which Lauer alluded to when reminded Quayle that [his] qualifications were questioned when [he] became vice president. And what better way to learn about these hiccups than through the lens of the late comedian Robin Williams? Whether it was the potatoe incident, the Murphy Brown speech or the White Houses penchant for sending Quayle as far away as possible, Williams was never far behind with his biting, off-the-cuff comedy about the bumbling figure.

Story continues

Whenever Williams did the late night talk show circuit to promote his latest film, most of the interviews would transform into a rapid fire demonstration of his quick wit  especially when politics was the subject. Consider his January 1991 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. A letter from President Bush to Saddam Hussein had just gone public, inviting ridicule from all corners of the media spectrum. Williams and Carson began with that, but the conversation quickly turned to Quayle.

I know that theyve got Quayle locked up in some back room going, Okay lets go over it again,' he joked.

Because of Quayles many famous intellectual transgressions, the vice president had become an easy punchline for comedians. Even the mainstream press regularly partook in the action. Yet there was something about Williamss regular punches that elevated them above the rest.

Like when the White House sent Quayle to Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots in 1992. For his last appearance on Carsons Tonight Show, Williams performed a hypothetical meeting between the goofball politico and the rioters.

Thank god for Quayle, said Carson. He kept us alive for two more nights.

They sent him down to the hood. That was great, Williams laughed. He thinks hes now a homie.'

Its a shame the world lost Williams almost two years ago. If he were still alive today, his reenactment of a supposed meeting between Quayle and Trump would have been comedy gold.

(Via Today)
By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Thursday removed from a U.N. blacklist an Indian-flagged tanker that was recently prevented from shipping oil for the rival eastern Libyan government after Libya's U.N. mission requested the de-listing.

The tanker Distya Ameya was added to a list of vessels under sanctions last month after the rival eastern government's parallel oil company attempted to use it to ship a cargo of 650,000 barrels of crude. The U.N. measure requires states to ban the ship from entering any port around the world.

Libyan Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi told Reuters his mission had submitted an official request this week to the 15-nation council's Libya sanctions committee.

A council diplomat told Reuters that there were no objections to the proposed removal of the ship from the U.N. blacklist by the 3 p.m. deadline for members to object.

"No objections or holds to the de-listing went through," the diplomat said.

Dabbashi said the request was made "because of the cooperation of the flag state and the explanation given on the involvement of the ship in the illegal export."

He said the tanker's operators had no intention of getting involved in an improper transaction and had lacked proper information.

Two competing governments, one in Tripoli and one in the east, backed by armed factions, have struggled for control of the North African OPEC state since 2014.

The eastern administration has set up its own National Oil Corporation in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC.

A U.N.-backed unity government, designed to replace the rival administrations, arrived in Tripoli earlier this year and is attempting to assert authority over the whole country.

Western powers fear any attempt by the eastern NOC to export crude independently would undermine the Tripoli government and further fracture the country along regional lines. The Security Council has banned the sale of Libyan oil by anyone not aligned with the recognized government.

Story continues

The eastern NOC claims legitimacy from the government and parliament based in eastern Libya, which received international recognition after armed opponents took control of Tripoli in 2014 and installed rival institutions there.

The new U.N.-backed unity government, which is an attempt to end the conflict, faces resistance from hardliners in both factions, whose rivalries steadily emerged following the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

There will be ministerial talks on providing support for Libya's new unity government in Vienna next week. The meeting will focus on international efforts to bring stability to Libya.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alistair Bell)
(This story corrects the name of the reporter) LONDON (Reuters) - New London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Tuesday he would be interested in finding a prominent site for a statue to commemorate the approaching centenary of Britain's suffragette movement which fought to give women the right to vote. He was responding to a petition, signed by several high-profile figures including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and actress Emma Watson, calling for a statue of a woman to be erected in the square outside parliament - an area so far exclusively occupied by men. The online petition was started by feminist campaigner Caroline CriadoPerez, who led a successful campaign to get British author Jane Austen on the 10-pound banknote from 2017. "There are 11 statues in Parliament Square. Not a single one is of a woman," she said in her petition. "In two years' time it will be 100 years since those women won their fight and women were first granted the right to vote. They deserve to be remembered. Give them a statue in Parliament Square." Other signatories included James Bond actress Naomi Harris, several female members of parliament including the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and Labour's Stella Creasy and Abi Morgan, screenwriter for the 2015 British film "Suffragette." Khan described himself as a proud feminist during his campaign for the mayoralty which culminated in his election last week to succeed Boris Johnson. "There are practical issues to consider, such as planning permission and funding, but he would be interested in exploring a suitable high-profile site for a statue, whether this were to be Parliament Square, or another location in central London," his office said in a statement. The women's suffrage movement began in the late 19th century in Britain and finally achieved its full aim in 1928. Two of its best-known members were Emmeline Pankhurst, who helped found the activist movement that became known as suffragettes, and Emily Davison who was fatally injured at Epsom racecourse during the 1913 Derby under the hooves of King George V's horse. Any application to erect a statue would have to be submitted to the planning authority, Westminster Council. "We will consider any proposals which are made and would consult the public as we do with all planning applications," a spokesperson said, confirming that it has never received an application for a statue of a woman in Parliament Square. Statues of famous men in the square include those of Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. (Reporting by Nadeem Shad, writing by Stephen Addison, editing by Estelle Shirbon)
From Esquire

Good Guy Donald Trump said this week that London's newly-elected Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, could be an "exception" to his Tremendously Constitutional Muslim Ban. Diplomacy? Magnanimity? It's all very presidential, but it looks like this is one deal the artful dealmaker won't be making.

From USA Today:

"Donald Trump's ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe-it risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of the extremists," Khan said in a statement. He added: "This isn't just about me-it's about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world. Donald Trump and those around him think that western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam-London has proved him wrong."

Whoops.

Looks like Trump and Khan won't be enjoying The Best Taco Bowls together any time soon. All this despite the fact that Trump told The New York Times he was "happy to see" Khan elected: "I think if he does a great job, it will really-you lead by example, always lead by example."

It's almost like those mildly condescending words of encouragement don't make up for calling for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until we can "figure out what's going on."

Khan told Time that he was "confident" Trump would lose, since conservatives tried "those sort of tactics" in London without success. "They used fear and innuendo to try to turn different ethnic and religious groups against each other," he said, "Something straight out of the Donald Trump playbook."

So far, that playbook has looked more effective across the pond.

[H/T: USA Today]
(Adds new Lipper data)

By Hilary Russ

May 12 (Reuters) - Long-term U.S. municipal bond prices rose again on Thursday, driving the 30-year yield down 1 basis point to a record low of 2.44 percent, with even some lower-quality deals selling at tighter spreads.

"There appears to be copious amounts of cash around" and "spreads are compressing as investors reach for yield," said Greg Saulnier, a Municipal Market Data (MMD) analyst. Bond prices move inversely to yields.

Previous record lows, set in November 2012, were 2.47 percent for the 30-year and 1.47 percent for the 10-year. Top-rated long-term munis broke that record on Wednesday and again on Thursday, according to MMD, a Thomson Reuters company.

Though the 10-year yield for triple-A munis rose 1 basis point on Thursday, it still closed just 7 basis points off the record at 1.54 percent.

Investors have poured money into muni bond funds for 32 weeks straight, with $22.1 billion of inflows this year, according to data from Lipper, a Thomson Reuters unit.

The week ended May 11 was the biggest in inflows so far this year, with $1.2 billion.

"This streak is quite amazing given the low levels of municipal rates and ratios, but the risk-adjusted yields on munis are still reasonable given the alternatives," said Chris Mauro, head of U.S. municipals strategy at RBC Capital Markets.

He will be watching whether bondholders put their money back into the market after their June 1 coupon payments.

"If recent weekly flows are any indicator, the reinvestment could be quite strong," he said.

Flows into long-term funds have also been near record levels as investors extend duration in an effort to pick up yield, Mauro said.

The last week in April, long-term muni funds had $1.1 billion of inflows, their strongest showing since February 1997.

Investor demand for any yield at all in a global low-yield environment even squeezed spreads on lower credit deals.

On Thursday, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority received $2 billion of orders for its $368.7 million offering, making it more than five times oversubscribed, according to MMD. The authority's senior lien revenue refunding bonds were rated Baa2 by Moody's Investors Service, a low investment grade rating.

The demand allowed Central Texas to bump prices on its entire deal. The yield of bonds maturing in 2046 with a 5 percent coupon fell 13 basis points to 3 percent.

(Reporting by Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Alan Crosby and Matthew Lewis)
LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) (LSE.L) and Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) plan to hold shareholder votes on their proposed merger after Britain's referendum on whether to stay in the European Union, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Both exchange groups will give investors the opportunity to see the outcome of the June 23 referendum before deciding on the proposed tie-up, though no final decision has yet been taken about the exact date of the votes, one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter isn't public.

The dates for the votes are likely to be announced in late May or early June, another of the sources said.

LSEG and Deutsche Boerse declined to comment.

Initially there were some expectations that LSEG would hold a shareholder meeting to approve the merger with Deutsche Boerse before the British referendum.

This would have forced U.S. group Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) (ICE.N) to file any counterbid seven days before that meeting, with Britain's future in the EU still very much in doubt.

For ICE, LSEG would be a more attractive target with Britain inside the EU.

But earlier in May, ICE, owner of the New York Stock Exchange, announced it was shelving plans to make a counterbid for LSEG, giving the British exchange more time to finalise its merger documents with Deutsche Boerse.

Deutsche Boerse still needs to file a full set of merger documents with German regulators, which could take several weeks.

The two European exchanges have presented their proposed deal as "Brexit" proof given their combination would straddle the EU and Britain, should it leave.

But bankers and politicians in Frankfurt are concerned the tie-up could undermine Germany's financial centre, citing the planned seat of the merged group in London and a possible UK exit from the EU.

(Reporting by Sophie Sassard, Anjuli Davies, Arno Schuetze, Andreas Kroener and Huw Jones, Editing by Mark Potter)
FRANKFURT, May 12 (Reuters) - Germany's Lufthansa and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific have agreed a partnership on freight routes between Hong Kong and Europe, they said in a statement on Thursday.

Lufthansa has been signing cooperation deals with other major airlines, including United Airlines and Japan's ANA, in order to improve its freight network and offer more flights to customers in an increasingly difficult freight market.

Lufthansa and Cathay said the agreement would see them work together on network planning, sales, IT and ground handling.

The first shipments under the cooperation deal will fly early next year from Hong Kong to Europe with routes from Europe to Hong Kong to be made available later in the year.

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan; editing by Jason Neely)
Lupita Nyongo is in talks to become part of the Marvel Universe as Black Panthers love interest. According to one source with knowledge of the goings on, There has been a lot of talk about her doing it. But we dont know if she is going to do it yet. If the deal makes, Nyongo, who next can be seen in Disneys Queen Of Katwe with David Oyelowo, will be part of the next superhero stand-alone film in the Marvel lineup toplined by Chadwick Boseman and directed by Creeds Ryan Coogler.

As for who Nyongo might play, Marvel isnt saying, but Black Panther has had several crucial relationships over the 50 years since his introduction  the most significant being Ororo Munroe, otherwise known as The X-Mens Storm. The pair were married in a 2006 storyline that tied in to Marvels Civil War crossover event (the basis for, yep, Captain America: Civil War), but later divorced. Rule that one out however  Fox holds film rights to all X-Men characters, and Storm is currently played by Alexandra Shipp in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Marvels Kevin Feige is producing the movie, which continues a storyline first introduced in Captain America: Civil War about a prince of an African nation who rises to fight after his fathers murder at the UN. Black Panther is scheduled right now to debut in theaters on February 16, 2018.

News of Nyongos talks first broke in THR. Nyongo is repped by CAA and D2 Management.

Related stories

Why 'Captain America: Civil War' Is Poised To Be This Summer's Top-Grossing Live-Action Film: B.O. Postmortem

'Captain America: Civil War' Zooming Past $300M Overseas Today - Intl Box Office

'All The Way' Review: Bryan Cranston & Anthony Mackie Superb In LBJ/MLK Pic
By Dan Levine

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Lyft has agreed to pay $27 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by California drivers who claimed they should be deemed employees instead of independent contractors, after a U.S. judge rejected a previous $12.25 million deal as too small.

Lyft and larger rival Uber are attempting to resolve lawsuits by drivers who contend they should be classified as employees and therefore entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including gasoline and vehicle maintenance. Drivers currently pay those costs themselves.

A determination that these workers are employees would affect the profits and valuations at so-called on-demand technology companies.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria had said the previous Lyft deal "short-changed" drivers because it represented only 9 percent of the potential value of drivers' reimbursement claims.

In the new deal, attorneys for drivers calculated that Lyft drivers could have recovered $156 million had they been classified as employees, based on a mileage reimbursement rate set by the U.S. government and data provided by Lyft.

The $27 million settlement represents about 17 percent of that amount, which Chhabria cited as a target in rejecting the previous deal.

Uber has agreed to settle a similar lawsuit involving California and Massachusetts drivers. The potential damages in that case was $852 million, more than the $732 million in commissions Uber earned in those two states, according to court filings.

The Uber settlement, worth up to $100 million, is about 12 percent of the potential damages. A separate U.S. judge is expected to review that deal in June.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney for the drivers, said Lyft drivers who worked a significant amount of time could receive more than $10,000 under the deal. Drivers would remain independent contractors under the settlement.

"We are proud to have reached this new agreement, which will provide significant payments to Lyft drivers who have put a lot of their time into this company," Liss-Riordan said.

Story continues

In a statement, Lyft general counsel Kristin Sverchek said the increased payment reflected the company's growth over the past several months. The previous deal had been based on data from earlier last year.

The settlement gives drivers the flexibility "to control when, where and for how long they drive on the platform," Sverchek said.

A hearing on the Lyft deal is scheduled for June.

(Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by James Dalgleish and Andrew Hay)
How many miles a year do you add to your vehicle? 10,000 20,000 30,000? According to the US Department of Transportation, the average is about 13,400 miles, but amazingly, one Toyota Tundra owner has averaged nine times that. In fact, his odometer just rolled over the one million mile mark!

That Tundra owner is Houma, Louisiana native Victor Sheppard, who has owned his 2007 Toyota Tundra from new. Thats right, this million-mile truck is just over eight years old.

Sheppard regularly drives long-haul trips to North Dakota, Wyoming, and Virginia for work, and averages about 125,000 miles per year. Impressively, the pickup has handled the endless expanses of highway well, and is still highly original, featuring its original engine, transmission, and wearing the same lick of paint. Of course, the truck has endured a few bumps and bruises over the years, including a wrinkled skid plate, but overall its said to be in remarkable shape.

RELATED: Check Out the All-New 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

My truck looks great, and, except for a few little dents, its almost like new, says Sheppard. Even the seats look just as they were when I bought it. Theyre not as clean, of course, but theyre not busted or worn out.

Like most reliable high-mileage cars, Sheppard has kept the Toyota Tundra up to date on all of its regularly scheduled maintenance, which include timing belt replacements and oil changes. In fact, hes had 117 dealership visits since 2007.

Most people cant believe how much on his truck is original, says Ron Weimer, general manager of Greg LeBlanc Toyota, where Shephard has his truck serviced. Victor has been loyal to his maintenance and kept it up.

RELATED: This 66 Toyota Land Cruiser is a Dune-Crushing Monster

So what will happen to the high-mileage pickup? While Sheppard is happy to keep adding on the miles, Toyota has actually swapped out his million-miler for a brand new 2016 Toyota Tundra, which also happens to be the 16th Tundra Sheppard has owned. The man sure likes his Toyotas.

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In an announcement, Toyota said Sheppards million mile Tundra was one of the first trucks built at Toyotas then-new San Antonio truck plant, and engineers will be studying and completely disassembling the vehicle over the coming months to glean everything they can from the highway warriorbumper-to-bumper, top-to-bottom.

RELATED: Want a Toyota FJ Cruiser? The Values are Soaring

Photo Credit: Toyota
From executive producer Ridley Scott, and starring Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans and Rufus Sewell, Amazons The Man in the High Castle imagines an alternate world history in which the Axis Powers took the victory in World War II. Drew Boughton was tasked with visualizing an America unlike any weve seen beforea dark, joyless nation divided amongst the Germans and Japanese. Below, Boughtonon set in Vancouver for Season 2 at the time of writingdiscusses the world-building inspiration of Blade Runner, the challenge of researching a history that never was, and the disturbing resonance the series has in todays America.

What notes did you receive from executive producer Ridley Scott and show creator Frank Spotnitz in your initial meetings, as far as the design and aesthetic of this series?

Ridleys work on Blade Runner is so inspiring that it almost precedes commentary. You wait your whole career to work on a show that is in a venue, or in a world like Blade Runner. It wasnt so much what Ridley said; its what hes achieved as a filmmaker that set the table for everybody. Before we even walked in the door, it was a huge, inspirational world waiting to be discussed. And then Frank had really brilliantly taken this astonishing book that theyd been trying to produce for years and turned it into this amazing thing that can actually be shot. Frank wrote a pilot that was really just so powerful and so strong and so visual in the writing, that it wasnt so much that he had to say anything, as much as his words kind of spoke for themselves. I think a quote that was the most influential that Frank said was, This show will succeed when it does violence to the American dream. Thats not so much a visual instruction as it is a conceptual assignmentlike, I dont quite know how to do it, but you guys go and figure out how to do violence to the American dream. (Laughs) It was a beautiful assignment.

How did you conceptualize a series set in this fictional, alternate version of history?

I think we did the usual thing you do for a period film or show, which was to research the time period heavily. In our case, we were researching the time period in different places of the world. We were researching the time period in Japan, we were researching it in Nazi Germany, and we were researching it in the United States, and then figuring it out, and doing the thought experiments and conversations to say, which things actually didnt happen?

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The thing that we landed on thats the most interesting was when we all figured out that the things that didnt happen (in the alternate history) were: rock and roll was never created; the 1950s postwar American commercial boom never happened. As soon as you subtract those two things from history, it changes everything about the 1950s, and therefore, the 60s. You can think of it like a yardstick of subtraction. And then we were able to say, OK, without those things and without the optimism, you have (a place) like East Germany under occupation. The occupied territories have a different look; there are no happy colors. You dont have glamorous cars with big fins. Its a different world.

The America you create feels very 50s, in any case, with plenty of the adjustments that youve mentioned. Was that the intent?

Yeah. The thing thats really insidious, and I think where it goes back to Franks assignment about doing violence to the American dream(Obergruppenfuhrer) Smiths house looks like an American upper-middle class kind of house, except hes a Nazi, and he speaks with an American accent. Its like, What the F is that? I think the other place where I thought we, as a group, kind of hit on it was in the pilot. You see this game show that is very reminiscent of the 1950s and early 60s game show, and the contestant is a Nazi, and hes answering questions like hes a corn-fed farm boy from the Midwest.

Did you oversee the creation of all of this faux-50s television content that exists within the world of the show?

Yesfor example, we had a show called American Reich. In the art department, I supervised graphic designers who create the fonts so it looked sort of like Dragnet. If anything gets filmed practically, Im responsible for making sure we set it up in a way that feels authentic to the period. To be honest, I rely on a tremendous number of really talented people who all show up to take care of things, but I have a finger in all those pots.

Are there particular aspects of your research of Nazi Germany and Japanese imperial cultural that you can point to which turned up in Season One?

Absolutely. I think the thing thats the most frightening is the banality of evil, that phrase which has often been discussed with the Holocaust. You really see it when you look at the images of how many people participated in the atrocities, and most importantly, how willingly average people put on uniforms and participated in genocide. I think one of the messages that the show has to offer that in recent years, we, in the United States, even, could take a good look at, is, when you have a militarized society, people fall in line, and they fall in line fast. And they salute, and they do bad things. It doesnt really matter whether its Germany, Japan, the United States or anyone else. People can be put in a position where they will break their moral convictions.

The series is very low-lit and gritty in style. How have these aesthetic choices influenced your approach to design?

Jim (Hawkinson) and Gonzalo (Amat) are just really super talented DPs, and the directors who shoot it are super talented. We have this aesthetic that Ridley had spoken of from movies like The Third Man and other beautiful, classic films that are very dark. We were encouraged to just go for it. In other television environments, theres a predisposition towards over-lighting a scene or a set to make sure you can always see everything, and were not that show. Were the show that takes risks. I always make sets that are a little bit dark in their color, anyway, because I want the actors to stand out.

From a design perspective, its successful when youre back behind, with the actors in the foreground, and you really are watching them. I think the DPs worked in much the same way, in wanting to direct the eye towards the performer. The star of the shot has to be the actor, and darkness is a huge gift in directing your attention. Its like a classic painting by Caravaggio.

How much were green screen and digital set extension techniques a part of this production?

We actually do a lot more real than we do digital. As a percentage, maybe ten percent of the big things you see outside are digital. In the case of Times Square, that is really all digital, except for some real cars and real people, and a real newsstandthings like that. Thats the biggest moment. In an overall percentage, we are not able to do as much big green screen work, so a lot of what you see actually is real, with extended mountain ranges in the distance, or the extended length of a building, or that kind of thing.

We dont spend a lot of time on a green screen stage; in fact, we dont even have a green screen stage. We just set up a green screen sometimes when we need it. Its partly financialpeople think that a visual effects universe is less expensive than a built thing, but it doesnt necessarily end up being less expensive. I think theres sometimes an assumption that any show nowadays has a huge amount of visual effects, and its not quite right or quite fair to all the painters and carpenters and set decorators who actually delivered a bunch of real stuff, so I want to stick up for them.

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Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f8608%2fb6d7b2edc2c143f3b265d1315a1558f7

Chinese censorship laws once again made news headlines last week when the Communist government banned the live streaming of people eating fruits  especially bananas.

According to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the country's "cyber-ecology" needs serious rehabilitating.

Naturally, people weren't too pleased with the Chinese censors. In an attempt to ridicule the new law, YouTuber Phil Watson decided to stage a protest at the doorstep of the Chinese embassy in London on Sunday.

The novelty underwear store owner filmed himself "erotically" eating a banana coated in chocolate sauce and posted the vid online. While we're pretty sure his protest wouldn't sway the Chinese censors, we give Watson top marks for giving us the giggles.

Robot posing as human beats 'Dark Souls III' using a naked weakling

Curious toucan crashes table, enjoys a nice, cold glass of cola

Why does SpaceX land rockets on those tiny barges?

Man risks it all to give his neighbours a Jimi Hendrix wake-up call
The Orange County Sheriffs Department has released dashcam footage showing a shooting incident that happened on April 27 on Paseo Castile in San Juan Capistrano.

According to information provided by the Sheriffs Department on YouTube and an OC Register report from the time, deputies responded to a 911 suicide call that evening only to be shot at several times by a man with an automatic rifle.

This video shows the entire incident. No one was injured in the altercation, and the deputies eventually arrested the man after multiple rounds were fired. Credit: YouTube/OC Sheriff
The Philippines late kleptocratic President Ferdinand Marcos routinely rigged elections, imposed years of martial law and is believed to have had political opponents assassinated during a reign of more than 20 years that was only brought to an end in 1986 by a popular uprising.

Nevertheless, in the run-up to Mondays elections, the dictators son, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., known by the nickname Bongbong, was the favorite to win election to the countrys vice presidency. Now, as it looks like he will be pipped at the post by a ruling Liberal Party candidate, Bongbong is crying foul.

The latest results Thursday show Congresswoman Maria Leonor Robredo leading Bongbong by just over 200,000 votes, with a total 13.97 million, according to partial unofficial results from the Commission on Elections, collated by Philippine-based website Rappler. (A concurrent presidential vote has been claimed by tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.)

Bongbongs camp on Wednesday issued a statement raising concerns about contradictions and possible irregularities in the results.

The Senators team claims that he was ahead in all exit polls, and appeared to be winning in the quick count of preliminary results until about 9 p.m. on election night, when his substantial lead in the votes began to erode. Robredos vote began to rise shortly afterward, and Marcos linked that pattern to an allegation that a piece of computer code was entered into the election bodys server at around the same time.

Bongbong supporters have taken to social media and to the streets to allege the candidate was the victim of a fix. For his part, the Senator called for calm and sobriety. While we await these official results, he appeals for vigilance so that, ultimately, whoever may be proclaimed as winners, the true voice of the Filipino people will prevail, the statement said.

Marcos Sr. is believed to have stolen more than $10 billion from the country during his rule, of which only about $3.7 billion has been successfully recovered by an official commission set up after his ouster.

As well as remaining wealthy  several family members, including Bongbong are named in the Panama Papers leak of information about offshore companies  the Marcos clan is still a powerful political force in the Philippines. The former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who gained notoriety for her enormous collection of designer shoes and penchant for extravagant jewelry, is a Congresswoman from the dynastic stronghold of Ilocos Norte, where her daughter Imee Marcos is the governor.
Maryland just passed groundbreaking birth control legislation that will give state residents some of the most

On Tuesday, Governor Larry Hogan signed the Maryland Contraceptive Equity Act into law, which eliminates co-pays for birth control, ends pre-approval requirements for reversible, long-term birth control like i and eliminates for vasectomies. The law also mandates that insurance covers over-the-counter contraception like Plan B, or the morning after pill. Almost everyone in Maryland with health insurance will have access to free birth control starting in January 2018.

"Many other states are implementing piecemeal provisions, but there's nothing as comprehensive as this act," Karen Nelson, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, ThinkProgress. "Maryland is on the forefront across the board with this act."

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signing a bill into law

For reproductive rights advocates, such reform has been a long time coming. Although the United Nations declared in 2012 that access to birth control is a basic human right, young women in the United States have still encountered difficulty accessing contraception.

Recently, however, that's started to change. Other states have also passed reproductive health care reforms, ranging from c, which require that insurers cover contraceptives just like other prescription medications, to laws that make birth control available over the counter. California and O, for instance, recently

Yet most state laws don't guarantee that insurance companies offer free vasectomies and morning-after pills. "Here in Maryland we're going to have the most comprehensive coverage and the most access, more than anywhere else in the country," Nelson told CBS Baltimore.

h/t ThinkProgress
Maryland may be a step closer to recommending changes on how often students should be tested. It's an issue that led Gov. Larry Hogan to appoint a statewide commission. The commission came about after parents complained their children spend too much time testing, but with the commission's work close to being done, can the public expect widespread changes?
By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people advanced in the Democratic-led legislature in the liberal state of Massachusetts on Thursday at the same time conservative states have put in place laws restricting transgender rights.

The Massachusetts Senate approved the bill protecting transgender rights by a wide margin, sending it to the state House of Representatives, where it has strong support. Governor Charlie Baker, a socially liberal Republican, has not said whether he would sign the bill into law if it secures final legislative approval.

The measure would make Massachusetts the 18th U.S. state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

The issue of transgender rights has become the latest front in America's culture wars. Some supporters of the Massachusetts measure described it as a rebuke to a law put in place in March in North Carolina prohibiting people from using bathrooms that do not correspond to the sex on their birth certificates.

"I am deeply proud of (the state Senate) for reaffirming our commitment to value and celebrate the diversity of humanity," Senate President Stan Rosenberg said following the 33-4 vote.

The Obama administration and North Carolina are battling in court over the legality of that state's law, which the White House contends violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Backers of that law say it will protect women and girls from sexual predators.

State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, the Massachusetts bill's sponsor, said the state has a long history of promoting civil rights, dating back to an 1865 law ensuring that black Americans would have equal access to public spaces and continuing through becoming the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage in 2004.

"In Massachusetts, we are civil rights pioneers by nature," Chang-Diaz said.

Baker has said he will make a decision on whether to sign it when he sees the bill's final language.

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"Governor Baker believes no one should be discriminated against based on gender identity," Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said in an email.

Kasey Suffredini, co-chair of Freedom Massachusetts, a group that backed the measure, praised the state Senate and called on Baker to sign the bill.

"They have raised the bar on what being a champion for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) equality looks like," Suffrendi said in a statement.

Opponents of the measure argue that allowing people to use bathrooms or locker rooms that do not correspond with their birth sex raises a risk of sexual assault.

"The 'bathroom bill' will force women to undress or shower in the presence of men," said Andrew Beckwith, president of the conservative Massachusetts Family Institute. "This violates a fundamental right to personal privacy."

Supporters contend the strong negative reaction in the business community to North Carolina's law, with companies including PayPal Holdings and Deutsche Bank halting plans to expand there, would help the Massachusetts bill's prospects.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Will Dunham)
mcdonalds burger double quarter pounder

McDonald's is testing fresh, never frozen beef patties at restaurants in Dallas.

The test is limited to just 14 restaurants, but it represents the biggest potential change to McDonald's menu in decades.

McDonald's has long relied on an extensive network of suppliers who make, freeze, and ship beef patties to its more than 14,000 restaurants in the US.

Expanding the test would require a massive shake-up to its supply chain.

The test, first reported by Jonathan Maze at Nation's Restaurant News, is limited to Quarter Pounder patties used in the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Bacon Clubhouse, and the Homestyle Burger, which is a regional burger in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa McComb said it's too early to tell whether the test will be expanded.

"Like all of our tests, this one too is designed to see what works and what doesnt within our restaurants by considering the operational experience, consumer response, price points, and other important information, which may inform future decisions," she told Business Insider. "Its very premature to draw any conclusions from this test."

NOW WATCH: This master sushi chef turned a McDonald's Big Mac into a sushi roll





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Washington (AFP) - Republican Party chief Reince Priebus said he had held a "great" meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday aimed at mending divisions over the billionaire's controversial White House campaign.

"The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity," Priebus, one of the top Republicans meeting Trump along with House Speaker Paul Ryan, said in a tweet after their talks in Washington.

Ryan, the top-ranked Republican currently elected to public office, triggered soul-searching within a fractured party with the bombshell announcement last week that he was "just not ready" to support Trump as the flagbearer.

The concerns have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November and hold the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.

With the party divided, Trump and the Republican establishment aim to put differences aside ahead of what is expected to be a brutal campaign battle against Clinton.

"The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles," Ryan said Wednesday.

"After coming through a very bruising primary, which just ended like a week ago, to pretend we're unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength."

Chanting protesters greeted Trump as he arrived at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington for the sitdown.

He ignored the dozen or so protesters, who carried signs that read "Trump is a racist" and "RIP GOP," as he entered the building through a back door.

"Undocumented! Unafraid!" protesters shouted in defiance of Trump's vow to order mass deportations of illegal immigrants if elected.
From Town & Country

JILL VAN DEN BRULE

Grand Plan: Bring electricity to 1.5 billion people around the world.

Making Headlines: In 2012, Van den Brule was working in post-earthquake Haiti, and she saw how the lack of electricity meant that women spent hours carrying firewood and children inhaled toxic fumes while studying by kerosene lamps. So she co-founded Mpowered, the company behind the Luci light, an inflatable, solar-powered lantern that has brightened the lives of more than a million people.

GAVIN ARMSTRONG

Grand Plan: Cure iron deficiency in places like Cambodia, where almost half the population suffers from it. It can lead to premature labor and childbirth hemorrhaging.

Making Headlines: His Lucky Iron Fish is a simple fish-shaped piece of iron (fish are deemed lucky in Cambodia) that releases the mineral into food or water when added to a pot. One fish used regularly will give a family 90 percent of its required intake for five years.

AMY LEHMAN

Grand Plan: Deliver healthcare to the millions who live in remote regions surrounding Africa's giant Lake Tanganyika, who used to have to walk for days to seek treatment.

Making Headlines: Lehman, a former cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Chicago, has begun delivering medical supplies to locals via small boats. And she plans to build a full-size, state-of-the-art floating hospital and research facility that will travel to small communities to provide crucial medical services and training for local healthcare workers.

JOHN STEINBAUGH

Grand Plan: Stop deaths from hemorrhage among soldiers on battlefields.

Making Headlines: On retiring in 2012 after 20 years as an army medic, Steinbaugh joined RevMedx, an Oregon-based medical device startup. Together they came up with XStat, a syringe that injects gunshot and shrapnel wounds with tiny sponges that expand to block blood flow in just 15 seconds. In December the FDA approved the use of XStat for civilian trauma situations. RevMedx is currently developing a version of it for treating postpartum hemorrhaging, the leading cause of maternal deaths in poor countries.

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LEILA JANAH

Grand Plan: Create digital jobs for citizens of impoverished countries.

Making Headlines: Janah created Samasource, which helps clients (including Walmart, Google, and Marriott) break down large projects into smaller tasks for computer-trained workers in Haiti, India, and Kenya. So far she has provided work for more than 7,000 people, who have increased their income 370 percent over four years. In October she used the model to launch Laxmi, a luxury fair trade beauty brand that employs poor African women.


el chapo

The Mexican government attributed its sudden relocation of Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to a prison in northern Mexico to renovations going on at Altiplano prison, where Guzman had been jail since his recapture on January 8.

But a report published on Wednesday by Mexican columnist Carlos Loret de Mola, citing sources within the government, says that officials were spooked into moving the kingpin by a power outage that affected his wing of Altiplano.

On May 2, a power outage and the resultant "security procedure" caused the cancellation of Guzman's visit with his lawyer that day and of a visit with his wife, Emma Coronel, the following day, according to Mexican newspaper El Universal.

The outage cut power and audio and visual recording in the area where Guzman conducted his visitations.

"The emergency plant came on almost immediately," Loret writes, "and everything returned to normal."

Guzman was not in the room when the power went out  he was found in his cell. But the possibility that the blackout was related to an escape plot was enough to spook Mexican authorities into moving Guzman to a different prison  something they had planned to do while he awaited possible extradition but never settled on when, according to high-level sources Loret spoke with.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong approved the move on May 6, according to Loret. In the early-morning hours of May 7, Guzman was marched into one of three Black Hawk helicopters waiting outside Altiplano prison. Two of the helicopters were decoys.

Mexico El Chapo Guzman prison transfer

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Guzman was flown to Mexico City, where he boarded a plane to his new jail in Ciudad Juarez with high-level officials from the National Security Commission, who were dressed as policemen.

It's not surprising that Mexican authorities gave into "a Chapo-induced paranoia episode," in the words of El Daily Post security and justice editor Alejandro Hope. Guzman and his Sinaloa henchmen have built a reputation for sophisticated tunnels and elaborate escapes  the kingpin, who has escaped from prison twice, has even gotten the nickname "the master of tunnels."

"Even if, as is likely, El Chapo had nothing to do with [the power outage], that might have been enough for the government to order his transfer to another prison," Hope wrote on Monday. "Better safe than sorry."

NOW WATCH: Forget 'El Chapo'  this is Mexico's most powerful drug lord





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(Adds impact on quarterly growth, economist comment) MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Reuters) - Mexican industrial output dipped for a second month in a row in March as mining, factory output and utilities contracted, data showed on Thursday, pointing to weaker-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter.

Industrial output fell 0.2 percent from February in seasonally adjusted terms, the national statistics agency said, against expectations for a 0.05 percent increase in a Reuters poll.

The surprisingly weak data suggests that a preliminary estimate released late last month for economic growth during the first quarter in Latin America's No. 2 economy was overly optimistic, economists noted.

"Unfortunately, there are no telling signs of a significant near-term turnaround of the industrial sector despite a very competitive currency," Goldman Sachs economist Alberto Ramos wrote in a client note.

Mexico's peso has slumped sharply since late 2014, but the currency weakness has not helped spur significant growth in exports.

Among the components of industrial output, factory production slipped 0.1 percent in March compared to February.

Mexico exports mostly factory goods, nearly 80 percent of which it sends to the United States. Uneven U.S. demand weighed on growth in Mexico's economy last year.

Utilities fell by 0.8 percent compared to February while mining output dropped 1.1 percent, all in seasonally adjusted terms. Oil production was down 1.6 percent month-on-month in its biggest drop since last August.

Mexico has been hit by a decade-long slump in oil production, while a plunge in crude prices has spurred state-run company Pemex to cut back on investment plans and damped interest in a landmark opening of the energy sector to private investment.

The construction sector grew 0.6 percent month-on-month. Domestic growth has helped offset weaker exports and the oil slump over the last year.

Compared with March 2015, industrial output fell 2.0 percent compared to expectations for a 0.8 percent drop.

(Reporting by Michael O'Boyle; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Phil Berlowitz)
MEXICO CITY, May 11 (Reuters) - Mexico's telecoms regulator said America Movil SAB de CV is complying with rules imposed under a 2013 law to curb the telecom giant's dominance, as it debates whether to amend the rules.

The Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) is overseeing additional scrutiny of America Movil under the law to help lower prices in a market in which it controls 70 percent of mobile subscriptions, and 60 percent in fixed lines.

IFT reviewed the company's compliance with the rules and on Monday posted six quarterly reports on its website. It said the reports were for informative purposes, and not to be taken as a certificate of compliance.

In the most recent report, for January-March, IFT said mobile arm Telcel and fixed line unit Telnor were complying with rules on connecting users to subscribers of other networks, and that Telnor was complying with regards to opening its network to competitors.

The regulator also said, without elaborating, that it was investigating 50 complaints of alleged non-compliance.

A spokeswoman for America Movil, owned by the family of billionaire Carlos Slim, declined to comment on the reports when contacted by Reuters.

The IFT is reviewing the rules in place against America Movil and will decide whether to make amendments in November at the earliest.

(Reporting by Tomas Sarmiento; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, a U.N. "messenger for peace", wants President Barack Obama to issue a strong message against nuclear weapons when he visits Hiroshima in Japan later this month. Douglas told reporters at the United Nations in Geneva, where nuclear negotiations have been stuck for 20 years, that the nuclear danger was greater than during the Cold War, largely due to a "huge escalation" in U.S.-Russia tensions and increasing recklessness in their close-quarter contacts. "There's this kind of crazy tension between U.S. and Russia. We have our issues but I don't quite see that all of this posturing is helping anybody," he said. "The number of weapons that are on trigger alert is frightening. So the time for somebody to possibly make a mistake and correct it is very very short." Douglas said he "found religion" in the anti-nuclear cause after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in 1979, within days of the opening of his film The China Syndrome, which dealt with an emergency at a nuclear plant. Standing beside Joseph Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security organization, Douglas recalled Obama's 2009 speech in Prague, where the president promised concrete steps to wards a nuclear-free world. "I think we could say he's been a disappointment because there's not been follow through, and I do hope now for his legacy as he begins to leave office, that he's going to have something strong to say at Hiroshima." Cirincione said Obama had made good early progress on nuclear non-proliferation, but had made only modest cuts in arsenals and was leaving $1 trillion in new nuclear contracts in the pipeline for his successor. "Every single weapon in the nuclear arsenal is now due for replacement or an upgrade. It's a looming disaster," he said. Douglas, 71, said he was also a friend of Donald Trump, but he was not confident the United States would make any advances in nuclear disarmament if Trump won the presidency. "I guess one of his strengths, or weaknesses depending how you look at it, is his unpredictability," he said. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Dominic Evans)
Michigan officials want Flint residents to flush their pipes in an effort to resolve the water crisis in the city. Governor Rick Snyders office released an ad on Thursday, May 12, asking people to turn on their faucets for five minutes each day.

While we are working on long-term replacement of lead service lines in Flint, you can help by taking a turn, the ads narrator says as the video show faucets being turned on.

Residents are instructed to turn on the bathtubs cold water for five minutes and then to do the same with the kitchen faucet, bypassing the filter. People should follow the process for two weeks, the ad says.

The filters are working, but this will help clear and coat the pipes at no cost to you, the ads narrator says.

The campaign was first announced in mid-April.

Officials are responding to a water crisis in Flint after an emergency financial manager instructed that the citys water source be changed from Lake Huron, run by the Detroit water system, to the Flint River. Though the water system was changed back to the Detroit water system, the corrosive nature of the Flint River water triggered leaching from the lead pipes into the water.

Residents were outfitted with filters and instructed to use them or bottled water. Authorities are working to replace all of the pipes. Credit: YouTube/Rick Snyder
ryan serhant million dollar listing ny wwhl bravo.JPG

Ryan Serhant has already been fired twice this season by clients on Bravo's hit real estate series, "Million Dollar Listing: New York." But none of those firings can beat the realtor's story of being fired from his first job ever, as a soap opera actor.

"I was fired from 'As the World Turns' when they killed me," Serhant told Business Insider recently. "That was my first real job where I got a paycheck every week, when I was doing the show."

While many of us had some unsatisfying part-time job as our first paying gig, Serhant was a regular on the now-canceled CBS soap opera from 2007 to 2008. And his exit from the gig was as unique as the work itself.

"Its not like other jobs where you go in and sit down with the boss and theyre like, 'Listen, things arent working out, we have to cut you,' or however else it works in other jobs," he said. "I got a script the night before and the next day I just started killing everyone, and then I killed myself with my grandmother. It was very, very, very dramatic."

ryan serhant young as the world turns cbs

About 24 years old at the time, Serhant had actually expected that the role would end soon as the 2008 writers' strike was affecting the bottom line for most of Hollywood at the time.

"I kind of figured it could happen," he told us. "But I really thought that Im probably the least expensive actor they have here, theyll probably kill off more expensive talent. Of course, they did, but I didnt realize I was going to be the one killing everybody and then offing myself, but its budget costs. What are you going to do?"

Although his full-time job now is selling high-end New York real estate, Serhant hasn't completely gotten rid of the acting bug. Recently, he appeared on Comedy Central's "Inside Amy Schumer," NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura," and had a memorable role as Hedge Fund Dave in Noah Baumbach's 2014 movie "While We're Young."

Today, Serhant says that getting fired by clients is usually best for business.

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"Every client is different, every property is different, and so when the listing comes to an end sometimes its best for both sides to go their own separate ways," he said. "Most of the time, the seller just has unrealistic expectations of the market and what am I going to do, and its a decision we all have to make as to how much longer do I want to keep working on this if Im not going to make any income from it. If Im not going to be able to sell it, then I dont just want to be a tour guide and I dont want the stress and all the pressure."

And as for being fired on the current season of "Million Dollar Listing: New York," which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m., expect even more terminations.

"Theres a lot of firing scenes this season actually," Serhant said. "A lot of deals get done, but a lot of deals also dont get done. So its a very accurate depiction of our lives."

NOW WATCH: 'MILLION DOLLAR LISTING STAR: I understand why people hate dealing with NYC real estate brokers





More From Business Insider


On the whole, the job market is looking mighty bright for the class of 2016. The unemployment rate is about half as high as it was for the class of 2009, and a college degree has arguably never been more valuable than it is today. One in five college students this year accepted a job offer before graduation, up from 12% in 2015 and 11% in 2014, according to new data from Accenture. Nearly 90% of those students said they expected to find work in their chosen field of study, compared to 65% of graduates in 2014 and 2015.

Accenture surveyed roughly 1,000 students entering the job market in 2016 along with 1,000 workers who graduated in 2014 and 2015.

All in all, 2016 graduates are feeling extremely optimistic about life after graduation. But hidden inside Accentures data are a few darker trends graduates should probably be prepared for.

1. Youre probably going to be underemployed.

Slightly more than half of all recent graduates (51%) say they consider themselves to be underemployed  that means theyre working in fields that dont require a college degree. Thats up from 41% in 2013 and 46% in 2014.

Source: Accenture

2. You might not find a job in your desired field.

Nearly 90% of the class of 2016 expects to find a job within their chosen major, but only 65% of previous classes said theyve managed to do so. When probed, the majority of past graduates said they wound up taking a job in a different field because they couldnt afford to wait for the right job to come along.

3. You probably wont earn as much as youd like to earn.

When asked, the vast majority of 2016 grads said they expect to earn more than $25,000 annually in their first job out of college. Only 13% thought they would earn less.

In reality, 38% of 2014-15 college graduates earned less than $25,000 in their first job. On the bright side, a good number of graduates (32%) fell in the middle of the pack, earning between $35,000 and $70,000.

4. Your employer wont have time to hold your hand.

The majority of new graduates (80%) said they expect to go through a formal training process before starting their new gig. If past graduates experience is any indication, they might find themselves disappointed. Just a little over half of past graduates said they were offered formal job training.

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Source: Accenture

5. You might not leave the nest right away.

Theres no shame in moving in with parents or family after college, especially if you find yourself joining the ranks of the underemployed for a while. About half of recent graduates predicted that their parents would help pay for the majority of their rent and living expenses after college. If the 2014-15 classes are any indication, they may need more help than they think. Nearly two-thirds of those graduates reported relying on family for their housing and living expenses.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp <7211.T> has agreed to form a capital alliance with Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> at its board meeting on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The source said the two companies would hold a joint news conference later in the day, but gave no further details.

Sources familiar with the matter had said overnight that Nissan was considering taking a controlling stake in scandal-hit Mitsubishi. The two sides later confirmed they were in talks, without providing details.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Model Iskra Lawrence has launched a body positive campaign on social media [Photo: Instagram/iamiskra]

Iskra Lawrence is gunning for the body shamers. Known for her body positive attitude and plucky responses to haters, the 25-year-old model from Worcestershire, has been busy breaking down beauty boundaries one Instagram at a time.

Just last week she shared a side-by-side photo of herself to demonstrate how easy it is to fake a thigh gap on social media and how utterly ridiculous it is to worry about things like that.



A photo posted by iskra (@iamiskra) on Apr 29, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

And now shes turning her attention to a body positive campaign that is all kinds of inspirational. Iskra and her bestie Alex Light, a fashion editor from London, have launched the #HeartNotHate initiative which encourages women to high five other women in the body/beauty stakes. The campaign wants women to snap a picture of their mate, write a compliment about them and upload it to a social media channel with the hashtag #HeartNotHate.



Ive been pushing body campaigns a lot but what I havent seen much of is celebrating another person, celebrating a friend or a family member who might be struggling or dealing with body issues and needs that kind of pick-me-up, Iskra told Femail.



A photo posted by iskra (@iamiskra) on May 5, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT

Were basically trying to combat body shaming and encourage body positivity. We hope to - at the very least! - prompt people to think twice before saying something negative, and just really spread good vibes and encourage women to love their bodies, added fellow campaign founder Alex Light.



Since launching the initiative on Instagram with a photo of her and Alex holding up signs with the #HeartNotHate hashtag, the post has been liked an incredible 54.3K times with many praising the model for her refreshing attitude towards beauty standards.



But as with most Internet based BP campaigns trolls are trying to spoil the mood. Thankfully, dealing with body shamers is par for the course for the size 14 model whos been called everything from obese to disgusting .



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A photo posted by iskra (@iamiskra) on May 11, 2016 at 3:32am PDT

Taking to her Instagram to share a snap of her looking all kinds of awesome in a crop top and shorts, her response to the trolls is nothing short of inspiring.



It is NOT ok the body shame!! she wrote. And by ppl commenting on my body saying Im too this or that to campaign and promote body positivity or the effects of trolling just take a seat because you are also body shaming me. So let me do me, and you do you, she continued.



Iskra also promised to never stop spreading her message until she sees more diversity and healthy body image in the media.



Clapping hands emoji.



What do you think of the #HeartNotHate campaign? Let us know @YahooStyleUK

Publisher issues apology after outrage over body-shaming swimsuit article

Plus-Size Model Shuts Down Fat-Shamers In Most Epic Way Ever
Macintosh old apple garage

Finance Insider is Business Insider's 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.

Former House Speaker John Boehner thinks Wall Street could learn a thing or two from the plastics industry.

Remember "Plastics Make It Possible"?

Boehner said the plastics PR campaign did a lot to blunt political attacks on the industry. He thinks Wall Street should take a similar approach, bypassing Washington and taking a Banking Is Good message directly to the voters.

Here's a quick run down of the top stories this morning:

In other news, the "number one priority" for China is going to be unpopular in the US. Larry Summers just threw epic shade about tax breaks right in a private-equity CEO's face. And Allergan is geared up for a major change after its failed Pfizer merger.

Pershing Square posted a first-quarter letter to shareholders on Wednesday night running through the hedge fund's investments. The letter revealed that William Doyle, a key figure in Bill Ackman's Valeant investment, is leaving. It also included one ugly chart that shows how Ackman's investments were decimated in the first quarter.

Over in the UK, an ex-Deutsche Bank managing director was sentenced to 4.5 years for insider trading.

And check out some of the insanely fancy cars spotted at Goldman Sachs Asia.

Here are the top Wall Street headlines at midday:

Billionaire Ken Griffin: 'We are more and more in a winner-take-all world'  Ken Griffin, the billionaire founder of Citadel, says that he and everyone else on Wall Street are "more and more in a winner-take-all world."

Inside the Wall Street charity day where celebrities and star athletes pretend to be traders  The trading firm BTIG held its 14th annual Commissions for Charity day on Tuesday, and a slew of celebrities flocked to the trading floors.

Story continues

The rise, fall, and uncertain future of Theranos  Theranos is at a major turning point. What it does next could be critical to its survival.

Goldman is trying to drum up its leveraged finance business  Goldman Sachs is hosting its first ever leveraged finance conference next week as the Wall Street bank looks to strengthen its position in debt underwriting, where it has traditionally been weak.

This is the scariest chart in the Chinese debt market right now  Chinese debt is back on the financial risks radar screen.

Nissan is taking a $2.2 billion controlling stake in scandal-hit Mitsubishi  The deal is a lifeline for Mitsubishi Motors, which is mired in its third scandal in two decades.

The earnings recession is over  For the last year the US corporate sector has been mired in an earnings recession. But in a note to clients out Thursday, Deutsche Bank's Binky Chadha argues that the worst is over and earnings growth is coming back. Like, right now.

One market looks like a 'fertile hunting ground'  When you're looking for a good deal in the markets, it's all about hitting a sweet spot.

I recently flew on an all-business-class airline I had never heard of, and it was one of the best travel experiences I've ever had  I'll admit, I had never heard of La Compagnie before, and I was a bit hesitant to book a flight on a newer airline I knew nothing about. But I did some research, and decided it was worth a try.





More From Business Insider


By Mike Stone

May 12 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc's chairman of global insurance, Andrea Vittorelli, has decamped for the insurance chairman role at competitor JPMorgan Chase & Co , according to a memo seen by Reuters.

Wall Street has seen many investment bankers switch firms following the spring bonus season.

The memo was sent Thursday by Fernando Rivas, JP Morgan's co-head of financial institutions and head of North American financial institutions investment banking.

In addition to the global chairman role, a newly created position, Vittorelli will be co-head of North American insurance adjacent to John Purcell.

Vittorelli has been involved in the wave of insurance mergers that has occurred in the past 18 months, including XL Group Plc's purchase of underwriter Catlin Group Ltd for about 2.79 billion pounds ($4.03 billion), giving the Dublin-based insurer and reinsurer a bigger chunk of the Lloyd's of London market. Vittorelli has also counseled U.S. insurance giant AIG.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Vittorelli worked at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

(Reporting by Mike Stone; Editing by Dan Grebler)
By Nate Raymond and Dustin Volz

(Reuters) - Mozilla Corp has asked a federal judge to order the U.S. government to disclose a vulnerability in its Firefox web browser that the company says the FBI exploited to investigate users of a large and secretive child pornography website.

Mozilla filed papers in federal court in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday seeking information on a vulnerability in a browser used to view websites on the anonymous Tor network that is partly based on the code for Firefox.

In a blog post, Denelle Dixon-Thayer, Mozilla's chief legal and business officer, said a judge had ordered the vulnerability disclosed to lawyers for a defendant caught in the probe, Jay Michaud, but not to any of entities that could fix it.

"We don't believe that this makes sense because it doesn't allow the vulnerability to be fixed before it is more widely disclosed," she wrote.

A U.S. Justice Department spokesman said it would respond at a later date.

Mozilla's brief came amid renewed attention to the process for disclosing computer security flaws discovered by federal agencies, following a recent standoff between Apple and the FBI over a locked iPhone linked to a shooter involved in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, in which 14 people were killed.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it could not submit to an interagency review the hack used to access the iPhone because it did not own the method or possess sufficient knowledge of the underlying vulnerability.

Mozilla said it had asked if the FBI submitted the browser flaw through the vulnerability review process but not received an answer.

Michaud is one of 137 people facing U.S. charges after the FBI in February 2015 seized the server for Playpen, a child porn website on the Tor network, which is designed to allow anonymous online communication and protect user privacy.

In order to identify its 214,898 members, authorities sought a search warrant from the Virginia judge allowing them to deploy a "network investigative technique."

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That technique would cause a user's computer to send them data any time that user logged onto the website while the FBI operated it for two weeks.

The investigation has recently run into legal trouble, after two defendants secured rulings declaring the warrants used in their cases were invalid.

In Michaud's case, U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan in February ordered that prosecutors disclose to his lawyers the code used to deploy the "network investigative technique." Prosecutors have asked Bryan to reconsider.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Washington (AFP) - The premier US music licensing group agreed Thursday to pay $1.75 million to settle concerns by federal investigators of anti-competitive practices in the digital age.

The Justice Department faulted ASCAP for insisting on exclusive licensing contracts in 150 instances and alleged a conflict of interest as representatives of music publishers serve on its board.

ASCAP, which stands for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, collects licensing fees from radio stations and other outlets for the use of songs and directs the revenue back to the creators.

ASCAP and its main rival Broadcast Media Inc., or BMI, operate under a 1941 arrangement with the federal government -- known in legal terms as a consent decree -- that sets conditions on their practices due to concerns about lack of competition.

The Justice Department launched a review after a dispute over rates between ASCAP and leading Internet radio provider Pandora.

Under the agreement, ASCAP will pay $1.75 million to the government to settle its concerns and defray the cost of the investigation.

ASCAP promised not to enter into further exclusive licensing deals, meaning that songwriters and publishers will be free to negotiate directly with Pandora or other outlets if they choose.

ASCAP also agreed to reform its setup so that music publishers on its board are not involved in licensing.

"By blocking members' ability to license their songs themselves, ASCAP undermined a critical protection of competition contained in the consent decree," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Renata Hesse, who heads the antitrust division, said in a statement.

She said the settlement would promote "competition among the songwriters, the publishers and ASCAP."

"This settlement also sends an important message to ASCAP and others subject to antitrust consent decrees that they must abide by the terms of the decrees or face significant consequences," Hesse added.

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ASCAP said it had never enforced the exclusivity clauses in contracts and had taken them out as part of the settlement.

The group, whose membership is made up of music professionals, said its main motivation has always been to preserve creators' rights and livelihoods.

"Settling this matter was the right thing to do for our members," said Elizabeth Matthews, the chief executive officer of ASCAP.

"With these issues resolved, we continue our focus on leading the way towards a more efficient, effective and transparent music licensing system and advocating for key reforms to the laws that govern music creator compensation."
The first Emmy campaign for Netflixs Narcos has officially set sail. Wagner Moura and Boyd Holbrook reunited with director-producer Jose Padilha and executive producer Eric Newman for a special screening and panel discussion, moderated by Varietys Debra Birnbaum, Wednesday at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

The series, created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro, offered a fact-based glimpse into the 80s cocaine trade, chronicling the escapades of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar (Moura) and the DEA agents (Holbrook and Pedro Pascal) hot on his heels.

Set and filmed in Colombia, the series adopts a documentary-like style, frequently cutting to archival video clips and voiceover narration provided by Holbrooks character. According to Padilha, the historic footage was included to uphold the accuracy of the inaugural season.

The true story of Pablo Escobar is too hard to believe, Padilha told Variety before the event. If I told it exactly the way it was, people would think we were making it up. This was so much so, that I had to cut to stock footage many times so people would actually say, Oh wait, this happened?'

The cast and creators prepped for production with an immense amount of research, which entailed interviewing various Colombian political figures, drug dealers and journalists who could offer insight on the kingpins reign.

We really wanted to embrace the Colombian contribution to bringing down Escobar. They did incredibly brave things and died at an alarming rate, Newman explained during the panel. The journalists who covered the story were killed at a rate that, as a society, we wouldnt know what to do with.

Moura added, We wanted to be as respectful as we could to Colombian history.

Moura, who is a Brazilian native, didnt speak Spanish before ultimately landing the role. He revealed that he traveled to the Colombian set location ahead of the Narcos cast and crew to familiarize himself with the language.

Story continues

You know what he did? Padhila asked, addressing the audience. Three months before we even scouted Colombia, [he] went to Medellin on his own, enlisted into a university where Pablo Escobar went and stayed there speaking Spanish for three months. When we got there, he knew how to speak Spanish; thats what it takes.

In case anyone smuggles drugs into @NarcosNetflix' FYC event  pic.twitter.com/miNS9ka0M7  Alyssa Sage (@alyssasageee) May 12, 2016

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The Concorde, one of only two faster-than-sound aircraft to ever carry paying passengers, was one of mankinds greatest aeronautic achievements. For those wealthy enough to afford the five-figure round trip ticket, a journey aboard Concorde was the closest they might get to flying on a rocket. The aircraft still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest commercial flight across the Atlantic, clocking in at a blistering 2 hours, 52 minutes, 59 seconds. (The passengers aboard the 1996 London-to-New York flight only learned of their involvement in aviation history upon landing.)

Today, the Concorde that set that record is sitting idle on Manhattans Pier 86 beside the U.S.S. Intrepid, an aircraft carrier turned aviation museum. While the Concordes speed and on-board luxury captured the worlds imagination, it couldnt outrun economics. High maintenance costs and the drop in air travel after September 11, 2001 made flying the Concorde increasingly inefficient from a business perspective. (A fiery June 2000 crash that killed all 109 aboard didnt help.) Eventually, the airlines that operated Concorde realized they could make more money by putting high-paying passengers in first class on subsonic jetliners. The Concorde last flew in November of 2003.

The Concorde faced problems beyond high costs. Any aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound creates whats aptly called a sonic boom. The house-ratting noise can be terrifying. When a military jet caused one such boom in New Jersey earlier this year, social media lit up with reports mistaking it for an earthquake or explosion. To avoid this problem, the Concorde was limited to subsonic speeds while flying over land. That meant it could only exercise its prime advantage over other aircraft while traveling on trans-oceanic routes.

Now, NASA Commercial Supersonic Technology Project Manager Peter Coen thinks his team can solve the sonic boom, potentially opening the door for a new era of faster-than-sound commercial travel. NASA in February awarded a roughly $20 million contract to Lockheed Martin for preliminary work on a new supersonic aircraft that could travel quickly and quietly, the holy grail of supersonic aeronautics. TIME spoke with Coen, a 55-year-old Queens native and 33-year NASA veteran, about the project. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

TIME: Tell us about what your team is up to.

Coen: We like to say were working on breaking down some of the barriers to successful commercial supersonic flight. Those include environmental barriers, like sonic booms, which we consider the new sound barrier. But were also working on takeoff and landing noise, high-altitude emissions . . . were working on reducing fuel burn by addressing propulsion and airframe technologies to make the operating economics better.

Were also working in conjunction with our airspace technology programs to make sure the airspace system is compatible with having fast airplanes trying to use their speed to the maximum extent they can, but also when it comes to takeoff and landing and terminal operations and integrating with the sub-sonic traffic.

Why is it important to make a quieter supersonic jet?

In recent years weve been focusing more on the sonic boom effort, because we feel thats the key barrier to opening the market. You cant fly supersonic over land, there may be a niche market you could fill with a business jet or something like the Concorde, but if youre going to really get airline-type operations with a supersonic aircraft, the airlines have to be able to use the aircraft on a variety of routes, and that includes overland routes.

What is Lockheed Martin working on exactly?

We have developed some technology which can change the nature of sonic booms quite significantly. We got to the point where we understand the physics  weve developed configurations that, or at least computer studies of configurations, that incorporate that technology. The next step is really to demonstrate it in flight.

There are two reasons for doing that. One is, you need to make sure that the technology works as advertised. We . . . really need to get flight data in the real atmosphere that helps us answer some questions about the interaction between the signal and the atmosphere.

But the really big reason for building a demonstrator aircraft is to get community response data to this low-noise signal. The Federal Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation Organization have said they will consider developing a noise standard for supersonic overland flight. But they cant set a certification level without having community response data. So we did some conceptual studies where we asked, is it feasible to do a relatively low-cost X-Plane type of program, where you would be able to get that answer? And the answer from those studies came out yes. So we had a competition to do the preliminary design of the X-Plane, and that was awarded to Lockheed.

It has always amazed me that we, humanity, have had the capability of doing supersonic commercial travel for decades, but one of the things that killed it was noise, of all things.

Youve heard sonic booms? Its funny, because weve demonstrated them for lots of people. There are essentially two camps of people. One that says, Oh, thats pretty cool, and theyre impressed by the technology. And the other camp goes, Are you kidding me? We cant live with that.

Personally Im a technologist, and I like aircraft. Concorde was a fascinating thing to me. But I truly believe that four or five or more Concorde booms per day in your backyard would really make your life pretty miserable. I dont think we as technologists can essentially decide that were going to affect peoples lives in that way.

If you look back . . . in the 50s, it was technology for technologys sake. In the 60s, the environmental movement was starting, it was in its infancy, but I really think the idea of sonic boom exposure was a driver that essentially, people began to say, Wait a minute, just because its a good technology for somebody, doesnt mean its a good technology for everybody. I really think that moving forward, as technologists, we really need to look at things in a more holistic and global sense.

Thats why Im really excited about what weve done. Literally, Im trying to take sonic boom out of my vocabulary. Its not a boom that we can create from aircraft using this new shaping technology. Its really kind of a soft thump. Weve used heartbeat in some of our promotional material, and that may be a little bit too much, but Im quite sure in some circumstances this noise will go completely unnoticed if theres background noise.

Pretend I have little-to-no understanding of aerodynamics. How would you explain sonic booms to me?

Essentially, sound is a variation in pressure. An aircraft, when its flying, is creating a pressure wave that moves out in front of it. Im not talking about the noise from the jets. Im just talking about, the air is flowing around the aircraft which causes a change in pressure, which, although you cant hear it, is a sound. And that sound travels out from the airplane in all directions at the speed of sound.

When youre flying faster than sound, that pressure cant get out in front of the airplane. So all pressure changes related to air flowing around anything traveling at supersonic speeds occur as shockwaves, instantaneous pressure changes. So the Concorde, and any supersonic aircraft to date, if you look at the pressure distribution up close to the airplane, you would see all these shockwaves. One from the noise, one from the canopy or windshield, one from the wing, the engine nacelles, almost anything that sticks off the airplane creates a shockwave. Theyre all different strengths, and they occur at all different positions along the length of the airplane. Because theyre different strengths, they tend to pile up on each other. They move at slightly different speeds . . . and so in a very short distance from the airplane, all those shockwaves have combined into just two. A strong shock at the nose of the pressure signal, and a strong shock at the tail of the pressure signal. And that travels in all directions, but were most interested where it travels down and intersects the ground. And so when that pressure disturbance sweeps over you, you hear that sharp bang bang sound that most of us who have experienced a sonic boom are aware of.

So the trick to taking the annoyance out of sonic booms is to take those shockwaves from coalescing and piling up into those two signals. If you can do that, each little shockwave now is minimized by the long distance that it travels. Instead of being a sharp pulse, it becomes kind of a rounded, more gradual pressure rise. So at the ground, instead of those two sharp rises, you get kind of a gradual pressure increase. If you drew it on a piece of paper, it would look more like a sine wave than an N-wave.

I imagine the challenge would be designing an airplane that accommodates those physics as well as what a paying passenger might expect from a commercial jet.

Precisely. The math was developed in the early 70s. In the 80s and 90s, we started being able to design practical airplane configurations that produced certain types of shaped waveforms on the ground. But in recent times . . . the computers improved, the analysis improved, we had some very innovative people.

[Eventually] we broke free from the original math, which only allowed certain shapes of ground signals, to enable us to say, alright, what we want is the lowest noise signal that we can get. So we evolved our design target and the shape of the airplane at the same time. That does two things. It allows us to achieve a lower noise on the ground, and like you said it allows you to design an airplane that has a low-noise sonic boom, but you can also put a reasonable passenger cabin in it. And it does all the other things that an airplane needs to do well. It can have good takeoff and landing performance, its efficient at cruise, its stable, its safe, its structurally viable, and all of those things. Thats really been the breakthrough. Weve been able to go from a nice mathematical solution, which you really couldnt design an airplane to meet, to the point where weve got a good practical solution for low noise that we can meet with a practical airplane design.

So is this about the human desire to break barriers like the speed of sound, or is it more about practicality for you?

From a practical perspective, people want to spend less time in the air when theyre traveling. They would love to get there faster. I really think that what most people are looking for is just reduced travel time. And whatever technology it takes to enable that for them.

I dont know if theres any particular fascination with going faster than sound in the broader sense. For those of us that are interested in the technology, one of the things is, why are we stuck? Why is this  its not really a sound barrier anymore, but what is this barrier that has kept us at Mach .85 for the last 40 years, and what does it take to overcome that? But for most people its, Hey, I can get there twice as fast. Thats a real time saver for me. That gives me a much better quality of life if I have to travel for a living, say.

Ive read that youre planning to have a working aircraft using this new design by 2020. Is that accurate?

Thats correct, yes. Right now, Lockheed has been given a contract for preliminary design, which essentially sets the shape of the airplane. Well do analysis and wind tunnel testing to verify the performance. We should be through with that by the middle of next year, 2017. Then after that well award another contract, if the program goes forward  theres always government funding to be considered. But we would award another contract, which would be the final design and the fabrication phase. I like to say were looking forward to a first flight at the end of 2019, early 2020. And by 2021, we would be conducting our first community overflight testing.
Explosive storms spawned by interactions between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun can endanger satellites, spacecraft and astronauts in space, as well as power grids on Earth. Now, a fleet of NASA spacecraft has for the first time directly witnessed the mysterious way in which these magnetic explosions occur.

This work could help shed light on dangerous solar outbursts and help improve the design of advanced nuclear reactors, researchers said. The discovery was made using NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (or MMS for short), which launched four spacecraft into Earth's magnetosphere, the bubble of plasma controlled by the planet's magnetic field.

"We hit the jackpot," study co-author Roy Torbert, deputy principal investigator of MMS, said in a statement. "We were able to perform the first-ever physics experiment in this environment." [NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission in Pictures]

Plasma makes up the sun and stars, and is the most abundant form of ordinary matter in the universe, consisting of approximately equal numbers of positively and negatively electrically charged particles. Ordinary matter, the kind that makes up people, planets, the sun and stars, makes up only about one-sixth of the universe's matter, while mysterious dark matter makes up the rest.

Plasmas are often permeated by powerful forests of magnetic field lines. When one magnetic region encounters another whose magnetic field lines are oriented differently, their magnetic field lines can clash, break and reconnect with each other, explosively converting magnetic energy to heat and kinetic energy. These encounters can happen, for instance, when a gust of plasma from the sun collides with Earth's magnetosphere.

"Imagine two trains traveling toward each other on separate tracks, but the trains are switched to the same track at the last minute," study co-author James Drake, at the University of Maryland, said in a statement. "Each track represents a magnetic field line from one of the two interacting magnetic fields, while the track switch represents a reconnection event. The resulting crash sends energy out from the reconnection point like a slingshot."

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Magnetic reconnection effects on Earth

Magnetic reconnection can have major impacts on Earth. For example, it drives explosive solar events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These, in turn can generate not only spectacular auroras, but also geomagnetic storms. In 1989, a geomagnetic storm blacked out the entire Canadian province of Quebec, leaving millions of people in the dark and damaging transformers as far away as New Jersey. Storms 10 times worse are possible, such as an 1859 solar superstorm known as the Carrington Event.

"Since reconnection drives space weather, a better understanding of it could lead to better space-weather forecasting," said study lead author James Burch, a space physicist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

Magnetic reconnection can also hamper experimental nuclear-fusion reactors that aim to re-create the power that drives the sun and stars here on Earth. These reactors often attempt to use magnetic fields to confine and heat plasmas to the point where nuclear fusion is triggered. "If this can be done, it would solve the energy crisis permanently," Burch told Space.com.

"One of the main things that is keeping magnetic-confinement fusion from working is reconnection, which causes 'sawtooth crashes'  these are periodic reductions in electron temperature, which keep the temperature below the fusion trigger point," Burch explained. "A better understanding of reconnection could lead to methods of quenching it in these devices." [Watch: NASA Video Explains Magnetic Reconnection]

Scientists want to pinpoint exactly what triggers magnetic reconnection, but until now, researchers have seen reconnection only in the laboratory. MMS is the first space mission focused on understanding how this phenomenon works not just on Earth, but also on the sun, other stars and throughout space.

"We've studied it theoretically, and we've simulated it with supercomputers, but up to now we haven't known what controls the conversion of magnetic energy into particle energy," Burch said in a statement. "We designed the MMS mission to use Earth's magnetosphere as a giant laboratory to perform the definitive experiment on reconnection."

NASA's MMS satellite quartet

MMS is made up of four identical solar-powered spacecraft, each equipped with an identical set of 11 instruments made of 25 sensors, the fastest-responding sensors that NASA has ever flown. The octagonal, 3,000-lb. (1,360 kilograms) probes are flying in a near-equatorial orbit, ranging from about 6 to 250 miles (10 to 400 kilometers) from each other.

Magnetic reconnection is an extremely fast event that shoots out protons and electrons. Previous research had analyzed the motions of protons during magnetic reconnection, but now MMS has for the first time captured direct measurements of the movements of the electrons during magnetic reconnection.

"There have been theories about the movement of electrons in magnetic reconnection for decades, but this is the first real proof of what they do," study co-author Jonathan Eastwood, at Imperial College London, said in a statement. "We have known what should be there, but knowing and actually measuring are two very different things."

The spacecraft not only examined electron motions on a minute scale, but also tracked electrons much faster than previous satellites had, imaging the particles once every 30 milliseconds.

"Satellite measurements of electrons have been too slow by a factor of 100 to sample the magnetic reconnection region," study co-author Tom Moore, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement. "The precision and speed of MMS, however, opened up a new window on the universe."

"The level of detail allows us to see things that were previously a blur," Drake said in a statement.

A magnetic "smoking gun"

On Oct. 16, 2015, MMS flew directly through the heart of a reconnection region in Earth's magnetosphere.

For reconnection to occur, plasma has to become de-magnetized. The final critical stage in this event happens in a relatively small patch of space known as the electron-dissipation region. "The spacecraft passed directly through the electron-dissipation region," Torbert said in a statement.

The data showed a drop in the magnetic field to near zero, ions flowing in opposite directions, accelerated electrons, a strong electrical current and an enhanced electric field  all signs that the spacecraft had entered an electron-dissipation region, the researchers said.

However, the key signature of reconnection was a spike detected in the electric power generated by the electrons, the researchers said.

"This was the 'smoking gun' for reconnection," Burch said in a statement. "It was theoretically predicted, but never seen until MMS."

The spacecraft also saw electrons in the electron-dissipation region rapidly accelerate outward along magnetic field lines opened during reconnection. The researchers said this was due to the interconnection of the solar and terrestrial magnetic fields, the first time scientists have definitively measured such an event.

"These data have truly opened a new window on the part of the universe where reconnection occurs," Burch said. "Where before we had 'telescopes' to view the results of reconnection, we now have a 'microscope' that for the first time allows us to see reconnection in action."

It remains a mystery how electric fields are generated during magnetic reconnection. "There are several theories, and choosing among them require measurements with all four spacecraft within the reconnection region simultaneously," Burch said. "So far, we have had three inside it simultaneously, with the fourth one coming in slightly later. We plan to reduce the spacecraft separation from 10 km [6.2 miles] to closer to 5 km [3.1 miles] to address this issue."

The MMS mission is currently in its first phase, with spacecraft flying through reconnection sites on Earth's dayside, where matter from the sun connects with Earth's magnetic field.

During its second phase, MMS will zip through reconnection sites on Earth's nightside, where that solar material can flow to the teardrop-shaped tail of Earth's magnetic field. Magnetic reconnection events on Earth's nightside are expected to be more explosive, Eastwood said.

"In the tail, we should have no problem getting all four spacecraft in the reconnection region at once," Burch said.

The scientists detailed their findings online May 12 in the journal Science.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

Editor's Recommendations

Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NBC has given series orders to two new comedies. Powerless, set in the DC Comics universe, and Trial & Error, starring John Lithgow and Nicholas DAgosto, have both been picked up by the network.

Powerless, stars Vanessa Hudgens as Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. Alan Tudyk, Danny Pudi and Christina Kirk also star.

The comedy is written and executive produced by Ben Queen serves as writer and executive producer. Michael Patrick Jann directed the pilot and executive produces. The series, the first comedy set in the DC universe, is produced by Warner Bros. Television.

Also Read: FX Gives Script Order to Sons of Anarchy Spinoff 'Mayans MC

Trial & Error stars Nicholas DAgosto as New York lawyer Josh Segal, who heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, rollercizing poetry professor (John Lithgow) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Jayma Mays, Sherri Shepherd, Steven Boyer and Krysta Rodriguez also star.

Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller serve as writers and executive producers. Jeffrey Blitz serves as director. The series is produced by Barge Productions and Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Also Read: Fox Orders Series 'APB, 'The Exorcist, 'Lethal Weapon and Two Comedies

The two comedies follow the networks Taken series adaptation, the Oz-set Emerald City and new comedy The Good Place, the three of which were previously ordered straight-to-series by NBC.

NBC is set to unveil its fall schedule to advertisers on Monday in New York.

Related stories from TheWrap:

NBCUniversal in Talks With Hulu to Live-Stream TV

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NBCs 'Hairspray Live Adds Martin Short, Derek Hough
NBC has begun ordering series for the 2016-2017 season by picking up two comedies: Powerless and Trial & Error, Variety has learned.

Powerless is the first-ever DC Comics comedy. Vanessa Hudgens stars as Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. Its when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures that she accidentally becomes a cult hero in her own right  even if its just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesnt always require superpowers.

The workplace comedy also stars Alan Tudyk, Danny Pudi and Christina Kirk. Ben Queen wrote the pilot and will exec produce with Michael Patrick Jann who directed the pilot.

Trial & Error is a fish-out-of-water comedy, starring 3rd Rock From the Sun alum John Lithgow. The series follows a bright-eyed New York lawyer (Nicholas DAgosto) who heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case, which is to defend an eccentric rollercizing poetry professor (Lithgow) who is ccused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, the young lawyer suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty.

The comedy also stars The Views Sherri Shepherd, Steven Boyer, Krysta Rodriguez and Jayma Mays. Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller are writers and exec producers, and Jeffrey Blitz is director.

Both shows hail from Warner Bros. Television. Trial & Error also comes from Barge Productions and Good Session Productions.

NBC is expected to order around two more comedies for 2016-17, and theyll likely come from Universal Television. Insiders tell Variety that Marlon Wayans comedy and a project from Tracey Wigfield, both of which are produced by Universal TV, are garnering big buzz.

Story continues

Powerless and Trial & Error join new shows on NBCs upcoming slate, straight-to-series sitcom The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, plus dramas Taken, a prequel series of the action film franchise, and Emerald City, a darker twist on the stories of Oz, which also landed a straight-to-series order.

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NBC is officially back in the DC Comics business, having given a green light to the workplace comedy Powerless. Also on tap for the Peacocks 2016-17 TV season is the fish-out-of-water comedy Trial & Error.

RELATEDEmerald City Photos: Meet NBCs Wicked Witch, Dorothy and More

The first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Powerless stars Vanessa Hudgens (Grease Live) as Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. When Emily stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute), she accidentally becomes a cult hero in her own right even if its just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers.

The cast also includes Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Danny Pudi (Community) and Christina Kirk (A to Z).

RELATEDPhotos: Kristen Bell, Ted Danson Are On a Heavenly Mission in NBCs The Good Place

Trial & Error follows

Trial & Error - Season Pilot

Josh Segal (Gothams Nicholas DAgosto), a bright-eyed New York lawyer who heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, rollercizing poetry professor (3rd Rocks John Lithgow) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into a makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty.

The cast also includes Jayma Mays (Glee), Sherri Shepherd (30 Rock), Steven Boyer (Orange Is the New Black) and Krysta Rodriguez (Smash).

Powerless and Trial & Error join the previously ordered Kristen Bell-Ted Danson sitcom The Good Place on NBCs rookie comedy roster.

Launch Gallery: NBC's New Fall Comedies

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On Wednesday, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory appeared on CNN and suggested that Congress gut the 1964 Civil Right Act as a solution to the current nationwide controversy over transgender people in restrooms.

"Frankly, I think there's a time where the Republicans and the Democrats in this Congress need to revisit the 1964 Civil Rights Act and revisit all this issue," McCrory said. In March, he signed the now-infamous HB2 into law, which requires people to use the restroom that matches their gender assigned at birth, not their gender identity.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act ended  known in the U.S. South as Jim Crow laws. The law also instated protections for people from discrimination in and education.

Source: Mic/YouTube

While McCrory didn't go so far as to say that transgender people need their own restroom, he did embrace a "separate but equal" view and imply that trans people should use a separate unisex bathroom.

After host Jake Tapper asked McCrory what he would say to the teacher of a 12-year-old transgender student, McCrory suggested that schools "make special circumstances" for trans students looking to use the restroom. McCrory also bemoaned the fact that the Department of Justice deemed separate-but-equal transgender restrooms discriminatory.

Tapper then questioned McCrory's motives.

"You just said you're sensitive to those needs of a 12-year-old transgender child," Tapper said. "Are you not making that child's life much more difficult?"

Source: Mic/YouTube

The North Carolina legislature convened a special session  at the cost of about $42,000 to taxpayers  to HB2. Since its passage, North Carolina has been at the center of a media firestorm that included NAACP activism, companies severing financial ties with the state and a lot of transgender selfies.
Radar scans conducted by a National Geographic team have found that there are no hidden chambers in Tutankhamun's tomb, disproving a claim that the secret grave of Queen Nefertiti lurks behind the walls.

"If we had a void, we should have a strong reflection," Dean Goodman, a geophysicist at GPR-Slice software told National Geographic News, which published a feature on the research. "But it just doesn't exist."

Live Science contacted Goodman about the research. Goodman said that though he prepared a response, a nondisclosure agreement with the National Geographic Society meant that he needed the society's permission to release that statement. [See Photos of King Tut's Burial and Radar Scans]

The society refused this permission, sending a statement to Live Science this morning (May 10), explaining that the society's agreement with Egypt's antiquities ministry prevents it from granting media access.

Sources contacted by Live Science, however, have confirmed that the scans did not find evidence for a hidden chamber or any sign of Queen Nefertiti's tomb. (Those sources asked to remain anonymous.)

Hyped-up claim

Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves, director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, claimed last year that the tomb of King Tutankhamun holds a hidden doorway that leads to the tomb of Queen Nefertiti, the stepmother of Tutankhamun.

Scans carried out last year by radar technologist Hirokatsu Watanabe supposedly showed evidence of two hidden chambers, along with metal and organic artifacts. The findings spurred Egypt's antiquities ministry to issue a statement saying that it was nearly certain that hidden chambers exist in Tutankhamun's tomb.

However, when radar images from Watanabe's scans were released, experts voiced doubts to Live Science that the chambers existed. A new team of researchers supported by the National Geographic Society then conducted a second series of scans.

Story continues

Ministry refuses to accept results

Egypt's antiquities ministry has refused to accept the new results, telling Live Science that it plans more tests to search for a tomb. "Other types of radar and remote-sensing techniques will be applied in the next stage. Once they are determined, we shall publish the updates," the ministry told Live Science in a statement.

Additionally, at a conference on Tutankhamun held this past weekend at the Grand Egyptian Museum, the researchers who conducted the radar survey were not allowed to present their research. Watanabe and Reeves, in contrast, were able to present their full papers.

Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, a former minister of antiquities for Egypt, criticized the situation at the conference, urging those in charge to accept that Tutankhamun's tomb simply does not contain a secret chamber. "If there is any masonry or partition wall, the radar signal should show an image," he said, according to National Geographic News. "We don't have this, which means there is nothing there."

Lawrence Conyers, a professor at the University of Denver who literally wrote the book on the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in archaeology, said that he would like to read Goodman's scientific report. He added that he is disappointed that it is not being released.

"All I know is that I am happy I didn't fly half the way around the world to get mixed up in this mess," he said in an email.

Conyers said that if ground-penetrating radar shows no hidden chamber, then there likely isn't one. "So, I guess they are going to try other geophysical methods? I am not at all sure what those might be. They used the most obvious one, which is GPR. The others are much less definitive than GPR, so I suspect this is just blowing smoke," Conyers said in an email.

Where is Queen Nefertiti?

The whereabouts of Queen Nefertiti remain unknown. She was married to Akhenaten, a pharaoh who spurred a religious revolution. He tried to focus Egypt's polytheistic religion around the worship of the sun-disc, Aten. In doing so, he unleashed an iconoclasm that saw the names of Amun, a preeminent Egyptian god, and his consort, Mut, erased from monuments and documents throughout Egypt's empire.

Akhenaten also built an entirely new capital city at an uninhabited site, now called Amarna. Akhenaten's religious revolution ultimately died with him, and his son, Tutankhamun, disowned it a few years after his father's passing.

Many archaeologists have said that Nefertiti was buried in one of Amarna's tombs. These tombs were plundered after Akhenaten's death, the city becoming abandoned within a few decades of the pharaoh's passing.

Archaeologists have speculated that if Nefertiti's body survived the plunder, it could have been re-buried in the Valley of the Kings, and her remains could be one of a number of mummies whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

Reeves, who made the original claim about the hidden rooms, did not return requests for comment.

Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Editor's Recommendations

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Aid-dependent Nepal needs $7.86 billion over five years, $1.17 billion more than earlier estimates, to rebuild homes and infrastructure destroyed by the deadly earthquake in 2015, the government said on Thursday. In total, 9,000 people were killed across Nepal in the 7.8 magnitude quake, which the government said had affected 2.8 million of the Himalayan nation's 28 million population. International donors, who pledged $4.1 billion for reconstruction last year, have been left frustrated as little of that fund has been spent because of haggling between political parties, leading to a delay in helping millions of survivors. Authorities said the increase in the amount of aid required was due to a larger scale of destruction than initially projected. The Red Cross says four million people are still living in poor-quality temporary shelters, posing a threat to their health. "The increased requirement of funds is due to a rise in the number of people affected," Prime Minister K.P. Oli told lawmakers in Kathmandu. The government will construct community houses and move survivors who are living in the open to roofed shelters, Oli said. Reconstruction of private homes will be completed in two years, he added, urging donors to provide additional support for rebuilding. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Toby Davis)
New York (AFP) - Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady appeared in a US court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on charges of cocaine smuggling and a trial date was set for November 7.

An unidentified third party is paying the legal fees for Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, and Judge Paul Crotty warned of the "real danger" of conflict of interest.

He repeatedly asked the men, who followed the hearing through an interpreter, if they understood his remarks.

"No one can predict the course of this case," he said, pointing out they could not cite conflict of interest if they wanted to appeal after a conviction.

"Yes, I understand," the defendants, wearing black prison uniforms, answered in Spanish.

The two -- sons of brothers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife Cilia Flores -- were arrested in Haiti in November and flown to New York by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

Then 29 and 30 years old, the pair were accused of plotting to smuggle at least five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine into the United States. They were also accused of taking part in meetings to plan a shipment of cocaine to the United States via Honduras.

If convicted they face up to life in prison. They have pleaded not guilty.

US officials believe much of the cocaine produced in Colombia passes through Venezuela before being transported to the United States and Europe.
Eerie sounds. Thudding piano notes. Rapid-fire clips of Donald Trump making disparaging remarks about women.

This minute-long takedown looks like a political ad. It sounds like a political ad. But according to the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC sponsoring it, this is not an ad. Its simply a Web video  and one exempt from the kinds of public disclosures applied to paid political communications broadcast over the airwaves.

So, whats this Web video doing on television?

The stinging anti-Trump attack, created by pro-Clinton hybrid super PAC Correct the Record, aired nationally numerous times this week on network news programs, including those on Fox News and CNN. It even earned breaking news billing on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, garnering a 20-minute dissection by Lemon, chief political correspondent Dana Bash and various political pundits.

Whats notable about this anti-Trump Web video  indistinguishable in production quality from the hundreds of thousands of political ads blanketing U.S. airwaves  is that Correct the Record is getting its airtime for free via these news programs, instead of paying to air them during commercial breaks. Correct the Record therefore avoids the five-figure costs typical to reserve such an ad spot.

Earning free media time is something Trump himself has mastered better than any other presidential candidate.

The ads sponsor



Correct the Record came to life as a super PAC one year ago after breaking off from American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC founded in 2010 to elevate Democrats and disgrace Republicans.



So far, the Clinton campaign has used Correct the Record as its main outsourcer of negativity  often the role taken on by super PACs, which may raise and spend unlimited amounts of money.

Yet Correct the Record is different.

This story is part of Source Check. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

Thats because Correct the Record, which is directly coordinating efforts with the Clinton campaign, strictly posts its political ads on its own website and through the social media accounts it operates. It doesnt pay to place ads on TV or online, as most super PACs do.

Story continues

Because of this, the super PAC says it falls under a Federal Election Commission Internet exemption rule that allows for some online political activity, such as content generated by bloggers and grassroots political activists, to be exempt from regulation  including rules against coordination with campaigns.

This doesnt sit well with Paul S. Ryan, deputy executive director of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan election reform group.

Ryan calls Correct the Records activities illegal and a charade.

This is so far removed from the Internet exemption meant for volunteers and bloggers, Ryan said. The notion that these activities are exempt is absurd.

The Clinton campaign and Correct the Record did not return calls requesting comment.

Whos behind it?

The mastermind behind Correct the Record is David Brock, a former Clinton critic whos now a staunch ally. During the 1990s, Brock, then a conservative author and journalist, made a career out of tearing apart liberal politicians  including the Clintons.

He later disavowed his conservatism to become a born-again liberal. He apologized for writing a book attacking Anita Hill, who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.

Related video: Donald Trump 'Respects' Women

Brock used virtually every derogatory and often contradictory allegation I had collected on Hill in a bid to make her look little bit nutty and a little bit slutty, according to an excerpt from his book, Blinded by the Right.

Brock advises or leads several pro-Clinton organizations, including super PAC behemoth Priorities USA Action.

Brock tapped longtime Democratic Party operative Brad Woodhouse to lead Correct the Records day-to-day operations. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, is its chairwoman. Longtime Bill Clinton adviser James Carville is a board member.

Money in

Priorities USA Action and Correct the Record are working together, too: FEC records show that Priorities USA Action gave Correct the Record $1 million in December. The Clinton campaign has also transferred about $275,000 to Correct the Record.

Since last year, Correct the Record has raked in more than $5 million. Thats significant money compared to what some super PACs raise, but a relatively small haul when one considers sister super PAC Priorities USA Action has raised more than $67 million.

Still, Correct the Record has pulled in numerous six-figure donations. A top donor, Henry Laufer, a vice president at investment management firm Renaissance Technologies, gave the super PAC $500,000 in February. Laufer has also contributed $1.5 million to Priorities USA Action.

Money out

Correct the Record is not reporting any of its online videos as independent expenditures. Such filings, made with the FEC, disclose the precise date and cost of a specific ad buy and identify the candidate the ad is supporting or attacking.

Instead, existing campaign finance filings offer fewer details on Correct the Records anti-Trump spending. For example, they indicate that during the first three months of 2016, Correct the Record spent more than $87,000 on video consulting. It also spent about $300,000 on payroll and entered April with about $621,000 in reserve, according to FEC disclosures.

If Correct the Record were paying rates for ad spots on national networks, theyd be paying well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Related story: Inside Hillary Clinton's big-money cavalry

Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

Data from the Internet Archives Political TV Ad Archive indicates that the anti-Trump video aired on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC a total of 18 times  without cost to Correct the Record. Mondays CNN Tonight with Don Lemon alone played Correct the Records anti-Trump ad three times within 30 minutes during the show.

Candidates and campaigns typically have paid upward of $25,000 for spots aired on commercial breaks on CNN and Fox News, according to various reports. Candidates own campaigns are charged lower rates for TV spots, per Federal Communications Commission rules.

Why it matters

Correct the Record intends, by its own assertions, to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks.

Yet the super PAC plays offense as much as it does defense. As a rapid response task force, Correct the Record has slammed a variety of Clinton foes: Trump, Sen. Bernie Sanders, even Clinton haters on Reddit.

As Clinton marches toward the general election, Correct the Record may become a bigger player, even as it pushes campaign finance law boundaries.

And while Clinton is testing the limits of FEC regulation, she is simultaneously calling for campaign finance reform.

We have to end the flood of secret, unaccountable money that is distorting our elections, corrupting our political system, and drowning out the voices of too many everyday Americans, Clinton said when announcing her platform to limit money in politics. Our democracy should be about expanding the franchise, not charging an entrance fee.

Despite decrying how big money influences politics, few presidential candidates have benefited from the Supreme Courts Citizens United v. FEC decision as much as Clinton has, according to a Center for Public Integrity report.

This story was co-published with TIME and Public Radio International.

This story is part of Source Check. 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.
In a surprise move, the Kyrgyzstan Parliament rejected a controversial Russian-style bill Thursday that would have placed tough restrictions on groups that receive funding or donations from abroad and forced them to register as foreign agents.

The vote against the bill, which was modeled after similar legislation passed in Russia in 2012, came after protests in Bishkek, the countrys capital. It also followed a concerted grassroots campaign by civil society groups  from human rights to health care organizations  to lobby lawmakers in the small Central Asian nation to shoot down the proposed law. The groups argued to lawmakers that the bill would hurt Kyrgyzstans already obscured image to the outside world and impede much-needed social programs to the cash-strapped country.

In Parliament, those arguments seemed to resonate Thursday.

Many international organizations expressed their concern, Zhanar Akayev, a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party, told Parliament. We get financial assistance from them in many fields, including health care, education, and agriculture, among others. We need this money.

The reversal in Kyrgyzstans legislature caught many observers off-guard. The bill, which sought to label and slap internationally funded groups with expensive regulations, was the center of a two-year political fight in the former Soviet republic.

But after many of the proposals conservative supporters failed to win re-election to Parliament after elections in October 2015, new liberal lawmakers mounted opposition against it. After vigorous debate in April, the bill was rewritten to drop the foreign agent label. The new version angered many of the legislations original nationalist backers, who viewed it as too watered-down  ultimately garnering the 65 votes necessary to strike it down.

The vote today came as a big surprise to us and our colleagues and partners on the ground, Viorel Ursu, regional manager at Open Societys Eurasia program, told Foreign Policy. Open Society, an affiliate of the Soros Foundation, funds programs in Kyrgyzstan and would have been limited by the legislation. The organization also assisted grassroots activists in their campaign. The combination of the two different types of votes made the majority possible, Ursu said. It was a happy accident.

Story continues

Since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan has set itself apart from its neighbors in former Soviet Central Asia as the regions lone democracy and a country that openly embraced international donors and organizations. But instability, geopolitics, and revolutions also have marred Kyrgyzstans 25 years of independence.

In addition to hosting a Russian military base, Kyrgyzstans Manas air base served as a hub for American personnel and equipment transiting to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014. The dynamic made Kyrgyzstan a battleground for Moscow and Washingtons growing rivalry, which deepened following Kyrgyzstans 2005 Tulip Revolution, part of a series of similar revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine that Russia viewed as Western-backed regime change in its backyard. Popular protests unseated another Kyrgyz president in 2010, but violence in the aftermath of the revolution between the countrys ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities left 420 dead and over 80,000 displaced, according to the United Nations.

Since the Manas air bases closure, Bishkek has moved deeper into Russias orbit, joining the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union in 2015. Some critics of Kyrgyzstans foreign agents legislation said it and a Russian-inspired bill against LGBT propaganda, was evidence of Moscows growing influence on local politics.

A group of MPs started promoting this bill, and we could see that the hand of the Kremlin was behind this, Tolekan Ismailova, head of Bir Duino, a human rights organization in Kyrgyzstan, told the Kyrgyz news site Kloop.kg.

Many commentators also viewed the Kyrgyz governments decision last summer to repeal a 1993 aid treaty with the United States  which happened after the State Department gave imprisoned ethnic Uzbek activist Azimjan Askarov a human rights award  as a sign of Russias growing influence on the Central Asian government.

Erica Marat, a Central Asia expert at the National Defense University, said the Russian-style laws should be viewed against the backdrop of Kyrgyzstans domestic politics  not its relations with Moscow.

Presidential elections are slated for October 2017, and the controversial bills have been an opportunity for conservative politicians to drum up support. The original foreign agents bill can be re-introduced into Parliament in six months, and the anti-LGBT legislation has already passed two readings by lawmakers and is close to becoming law.

The laws are modeled after Russia, but Kyrgyzstan is also a Muslim majority country that is more and more nationalist, Marat told FP. Especially for the LGBT bill, there is genuine grassroots support.

Moreover, when it comes to Bishkeks relations with Washington, Marat says the Kyrgyz governments decisions are based more on impulse rather than calculation. For instance, after shredding the treaty with the United States, the government is now trying to renegotiate a similar agreement, and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev called out Russia for not respecting his countryman in a speech on Monday.

There is no grand strategy to different Kyrgyz foreign policy moves, Marat said. If there is a trend, the trend is that the foreign policy is based on spontaneity and emotion.

Photo credit: EPA/IGOR KOVALENKO
Prince's ex-wives Manuela Testolini and Mayte Garcia have paid tribute to the late music star by organizing a special memorial overnight (May 11) at Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The memorial featured messages from the likes of Nile Rodgers; Mavis Staples; Recording Academy president Neil Portnow; Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and Spike Lee, and performances from Esperanza Spalding and Janelle Monae.

Prince Investigators Seek Prescription Drug Sources, Says Official

Testolini, Garcia, Omarr Baker (the son of Prince's mother, Mattie, and her second husband, Hayward Baker) and others reflected on their time with Prince, who died April 21 at his Paisley Park home and studio in Minneapolis.

Sources tell Billboard a performance of "Sometimes it Snows in April" by keyboardist Greg Phillinganes opened what has been described as a sombre occasion.

Prince's Heirs Apparent: A Look At The Siblings Who Stand To Inherit His Fortune

Spike Lee told guests another Brooklyn event would be hosted in Prince's honor on June 7, the date Prince would have turned 58. The movie director dressed in purple from head to toe in honor of the music master. In the leadup to the private gathering, the movie director offered a glimpse at his purple ensemble in an Instagram post. "Purple beret and purple Kobe's for Prince memorial tonight in El Lay," he wrote.

Purple Beret And Purple Kobe's For Prince Memorial Tonight In El LAY.

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on May 11, 2016 at 5:12pm PDT
Nissan's top executive warned Friday that he would kill a $2.2 billion offer to buy a major stake in Mitsubishi Motors if its fuel-economy cheating scandal spreads beyond Japan.

The country's number two automaker threw a surprise lifeline to Mitsubishi on Thursday by offering to buy 34 percent of its shares, in a deal that would give Nissan effective control over the smaller firm.

But the deal will be dead if Mitsubishi was not being honest about claims the cheating was limited to cars sold only in its home market, Nissan's chief Carlos Ghosn said.

Japanese authorities are to release a report on an investigation into the matter this month, which is expected to lay bare more details about the cheating.

"We have today a memorandum of understanding. The deal will come after (we do) due diligence," Ghosn told a roundtable of international media.

"There is no problem in the US, in Europe -- soon we are all going to know about that. So when we will have to conclude the deal we will know exactly what is the situation.

"I don't think there is any doubt that if there is any implosion...we won't do the deal," he said in response to questions.

Mitsubishi last month admitted it had been falsifying fuel-economy tests for years, manipulating data to make cars seem more efficient than they were in reality.

The scandal -- reported to cover almost every model sold in Japan since 1991 -- also includes mini-cars produced by Mitsubishi for Nissan as part of a joint venture.

It was Nissan that first uncovered problems with the fuel economy data, but Mitsubishi has said Nissan had no part in the cheating.

Ghosn said Friday that Nissan would try to help Mitsubishi restore its tattered reputation.

"This is a serious issue. There is a breach of trust and this is the responsibility of (Mitsubishi). We are going to support them."

Mitsubishi was pulled from the brink of bankruptcy a decade ago after it was discovered that it covered up vehicle defects that caused fatal accidents.

At the time, the Mitsubishi group of companies stepped in with a series of bailouts to save the firm.
From Road & Track

Mitsubishi admitted last month that it had been cheating fuel economy tests on Japanese-market vehicles since 1991. Initially limited to only a few models, Mitsubishi now admits the cheating was both widespread and long-term, affecting nearly every model offered in Japan. While we're still waiting for the fallout from the scandal, one of the consequences may be a takeover by Nissan.

Automotive News reports that Nissan may invest $1.84 billion into Mitsubishi Motors in a move to take over the company. This new was first reported by Japanese broadcaster NKH, which didn't name its source.

Mitsubishi Motors CEO Osamu Masuko said in a press briefing today that the company hopes to weather the crisis on its own, without help from other Mitsubishi group companies. Unfortunately for the automaker, orders of new cars have dropped off, and its stock price has fallen 43 percent since April 19.

The scandal also affects Nissan, which had a partnership agreement with Mitsubishi to sell two of the models included in the scandal. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has opened an investigation into Mitsubishi's fuel economy testing on U.S. market models, so far there is no implication that the cheating extended to models sold here.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corp (7211.T) confirmed on Thursday they were discussing a possible capital tie-up, after reports that the former was looking to take a roughly one-third stake in its scandal-hit rival.

"Nissan and Mitsubishi are discussing various matters including capital cooperation, but nothing has been decided," the two Japanese automakers said in separate statements. They added that their boards of directors were meeting in separate meetings on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Nissan is in advanced talks to take about a one-third stake in Mitsubishi Motors with a 200 billion yen ($1.85 billion) investment, as Mitsubishi struggles with a fuel-economy data scandal, two people familiar with the matter said.

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Who Is Ben Rhodes and why should I care?

Last week The New York Times Magazine published a 10,000 word profile of Ben Rhodes, who serves as deputy national security advisor for strategic communications  giving him a key role in crafting the administrations message on foreign policy and security issues.

House Republicans jumped on the article because Rhodes was, shall we say, imprudent discussing how he and the president were able to convince the press and lawmakers to support the controversial Iran nuclear deal. Republicans saw an opportunity to re-ignite the debate and politically embarrass President Obama ahead of Novembers election.

Related: Growing Debt Threatens US National Security: Defense Leaders

So some third-rate White House PR guy leaked a memobig deal!

Rhodes is a lot more than thathe was tied to the President on all foreign policy decisions and had a seat at the table at all policy briefings, including the National Security Council. The article has sent shockwaves throughout Washington because of Rhodes incredible condescending comments about the DC press corps and foreign policy experts, who he calls the Blob and how he was able to play them like a group of puppets by trotting out a legion of arms-control experts and think-tank wonks to champion the bargain to the media.

We created an echo chamber," Rhodes told The Times. "They were saying things that validated what we had given them to say."

Hmm. Its like a scene from House of Cards, but Im not seeing a smoking gun.

The 38-year-olds remarks also raised new questions about whether the White House knowingly misled the public about the origins of the nuclear agreement when it claimed that talks with Iran began in 2013, when they really started before then.

Related: Half a Trillion for the Pentagon? Why Defense Spending Is Only Going Higher

The fallout from the article has put the West Wing on its heels. This week White House press secretary Josh Earnest has repeatedly tried to contain the mess, describing Republican criticism as nothing more than revenge for Iran deal.

Story continues

Rhodes himself tried to clean up his remarks by saying the media is full of 27-year-olds  who literally know nothing and labeling the Washington foreign policy establishment as the blob -- in a post on Medium.

Rhodes is hardly the first and he certainly wont be the last White House aide to get out over his skis. But given the months-long, bruising fight over the Iran deal, GOP lawmakers want to put Rhodes on the mat.

What can the Republicans do at this late date? Its a done deal, isnt it?

Yes, but this is a political move to make the Dems look bad. On Wednesday, House Oversight Committee chair Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), invited Rhodes to testify before the panel next Tuesday to examine if he and others in the administration misrepresented the Iran deal order to sell it to the public.

Its highly doubtful that Rhodes will show and Earnest dismissed the idea of convening such a hearing.

Related: Congress Is Taking an $18 Billion Gamble With the Pentagons War Fund

Well, with all due respect to the chairman, if he has an interest in a hearing about false narratives as it relates to the Iran deal, then I've got some suggestions for people that they should swear in, he said before rattling off panel members, and other GOP lawmakers, and charged them with ginning up comments about the agreement.

Whats the end game?

Meanwhile, House Armed Services Committee chair Mac Thornberry (R-TX) filed legislation that would slash the size of the National Security Council from its estimated size of 400 staffers, down to 100.

All of President Obamas former Defense Secretaries have complained about micromanagement by the NSC. I have personally heard from troops on the frontlines who have received intimidating calls from junior White House staffers, Thornberry said in a statement.

The current NSC has grown so large that the White House cannot even give us a clear estimate of how many people actually work for it. Now we hear reports of NSC staffers running misinformation campaigns targeted at Congress and the press, he added.

In addition to irking Congress, reporters, and foreign policy analysts, Rhodes comments drudge up other memories for some experts.

Rhodes comes off like a real asshole, Thomas Ricks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning military correspondent, wrote last week.

Fact check: Obamas hasnt been an original foreign policy as much as it has been a politicized foreign policy. And this Rhodes guy reminds me of the Kennedy smart guys who helped get us into the Vietnam War, he added.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is set to toast the five leaders of Nordic nations at a lavish state dinner at the White House on Friday, an unusual summit aimed in part at sending a message to a nation not on the guest list: Russia. Obama will laud the humanitarian and environmental accomplishments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland, but also wants to talk about how to deal with their increasingly aggressive neighbor Russia ahead of a NATO summit in July. "We share the concern of countries in the region, particularly those who have a border with Russia, about the increasing presence of Russian military assets in the area," said Charles Kupchan, Obama's senior director for European affairs. "We will be discussing ways to enhance the security of the region, writ large, and also what we can do through dialogue and diplomacy to urge Russia to be more transparent and to be more restrained and careful in its military exercises," Kupchan told reporters. Obama last met Nordic leaders in Stockholm in 2013 on his way to a G20 summit in St. Petersburg after canceling a planned bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin because of tensions over Syria and surveillance issues. Since then, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, prompting Nordic nations to step up their military cooperation and the United States to boost military spending to help NATO do more to try to deter Russia. During a recent visit to Europe, Obama sought to reassure allies about the U.S. commitment to the continent, but pushed nations to increase their defense spending and stay united amid the strain of dealing with an influx of migrants fleeing Middle East conflicts. The leaders will discuss a long-term approach for dealing with refugees, Kupchan said, as well as new contributions to the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. He declined comment on specific commitments from the meeting. 'SHADOWY SPACES' Typically, the White House rolls out the red carpet for one leader at a time. Friday will be a bit trickier, juggling five guests of honor and their entourages. The state dinner itself will be in a large tent with a transparent ceiling evoking the northern lights and "shadowy spaces in the arctic night," the White House told reporters. Guests will sit at long, rustic wooden tables bedecked with columns of ice, fiddlehead ferns, and fragrant hand-rolled beeswax candles, and dine on braised Nebraska beef short ribs and salt-cured Atlantic ahi tuna served in a large ice cube. The summit is expected to be heavy on "feel-good" messages about the outsized role Nordic nations play in international diplomacy, said Julie Smith, a former Obama administration official now with the Center for a New American Security. "In many ways, the actual visit is the deliverable," Smith said, noting it was unlikely major new initiatives would emerge. "We're at the end of the president's tenure so there are limits on what new things he can drive forward," Smith said. In Washington, preparations for the leaders' arrival have been overshadowed by a visit by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to meet with congressional leaders as the race intensifies to replace Obama in the White House in the Nov. 8 election. Trump has said NATO is obsolete and European nations should look after their own defense, which has sparked concern among Nordic nations, said Heather Conley, a former State Department official in the George W. Bush administration. "They hear with great clarity the statements of Donald Trump and they don't know exactly how this is going to work in November," said Conley, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Norways Prime Minister Erna Solberg plans to stress the importance of American participation in NATO for Nordic nations, she said in an interview this week with the Norwegian daily Aftenposten. "With an unpredictable Russian presence in the northern areas, it's important that the Americans have a focus on the Arctic regions," Solberg said. (Additional reporting by Alister Doyle in Oslo; Editing by David Gregorio)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A new lawsuit accuses Goya Foods Inc of cheating consumers by selling canned octopus products that actually contain cheaper, lower quality jumbo squid.

"Independent DNA testing" confirmed that the largest Hispanic-owned U.S. food company made the switch, according to a complaint filed late Wednesday in the federal court in San Jose, California. The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million of damages.

Goya, based in Jersey City, New Jersey, did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment.

The plaintiff Luis Diego Zapata Fonseca, of Salinas, California, sued on behalf of purchasers nationwide and in California of Goya canned octopus in garlic sauce, hot sauce, pickled sauce or olive oil.

According to the complaint, both fish have similar textures, making it hard for people to tell them apart, especially when they are bathed in sauce.

But while octopus prices have risen because of overfishing, jumbo squid are thriving, and they adapt easily to changing ocean conditions caused by global warming, the complaint said.

The plaintiff believes Goya "intentionally replaced the octopus in its octopus products with squid as a cheap substitute to save money because it knew an ordinary consumer would have trouble distinguishing the difference," the complaint said.

The lawsuit was filed by Bursor & Fisher, a specialist in false labeling lawsuits. It did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
A man who spent almost two decades in prison is looking to start anew. Prosecutors announced Wednesday that DNA evidence has exonerated Malcolm Bryant, who had been convicted in 1999 in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Toni Bullock the year before. Michele Nethercott, Bryant's attorney, who works with the University of Baltimore's Innocence Project, said she went to the Sheriff's Office on Wednesday to speak with Bryant, who was behind a glass partition. When she told him the news, he dropped his head and said, "Oh my God."
By Susanna Twidale LONDON (Reuters) - Oil refiners and gas producers could face higher production costs if countries use a high carbon price to follow through promises made at last year's global climate summit in Paris, research showed on Thursday. The landmark Paris Agreement was a commitment by nearly 200 countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 with the aim of limiting the rise in the global average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius. The role of carbon pricing -- charging for each metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted -- in efforts to curb rising emissions blamed for global warming gained prominence last year after several multinational companies, including oil majors, said it is needed to spur investment in low-carbon energy. However, asset managers have struggled to put a figure on what the impact of carbon costs levied to achieve the Paris goals could be on companies. The Investment Leaders Group (ILG), a global network of pension funds, insurers and asset managers -- with assets worth over $4 trillion under management -- and Cambridge University, developed a model to work out what the higher carbon costs would add to production costs. The model used a 45 euros a metric ton carbon price since this is the median carbon price the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said would be needed to keep within the temperature rise limit. "For oil refiners, the average margin at risk is around -1.2 euros/barrel... For gas companies, the sector margin impact can reach -5.5 euros/cubic kilometer," the report said. It also looked at the impacts of existing measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions on oil refiners, gas producers and electric utilities but did not name individual companies. It focused on Britain, Spain, Germany, Alberta Canada and California, and found risks and opportunities vary greatly in each region and sector. A 45 euros/metric ton carbon price could on average cost electric utilities in Alberta an extra 0.025 euros for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity produced. The same carbon price for utilities in Spain, where more than 40 percent of the generation comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar, could save producers 0.018 euros kWh. High carbon prices push up electricity prices which can benefit low-carbon power producers such as renewables and nuclear plants. "In the long term every company, one way or another will be exposed to climate change risks and opportunities. Most asset managers struggle to quantify what these will be," said Manuel Lewin, head of Responsible Investment at Zurich Insurance Group, an ILG member. Other ILG members include Allianz Global Investors [ALVGNF.UL], Old Mutual Group and Standard Life Investments. (Reporting By Susanna Twidale, editing by Greg Mahlich and David Evans)
From Esquire

Sedition never sleeps. It grunts and groans and speaks in tongues and it makes a big fool out itself, time and time again. It even files lawsuits. But, dammit, it never sleeps.

From The Associated Press:

Bundy lawyer Joel Hansen handed a copy of the lawsuit to U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro in open court in Las Vegas on Tuesday, and he told her that because she's a named defendant, she should remove herself from Bundy's case. The judge responded that case law doesn't let a defendant create such a scenario. But Navarro invited Hansen to try to identify whether her work as a prosecutor in the Clark County district attorney's office before she was nominated to the federal bench created for her a conflict in the Bundy case. She set a May 25 date to rule whether she'll step aside. Hansen said that Navarro is beholden to Reid because the then-Senate Democratic majority leader recommended her for the judgeship. Obama nominated her, and she was confirmed by the Senate on a 98-0 vote in May 2010. Hansen complained also that Navarro won't let outspoken conservative attorney Larry Klayman represent Bundy in Nevada until disciplinary proceedings against Klayman are resolved in Washington, D.C. The filing of the lawsuit came during a detention hearing at which Hansen, with Klayman in the audience, argued that Bundy's constitutional rights are being violated and that charges against the 70-year-old cattleman should be dismissed.

In merciful brief, Cliven Bundy, a half-mad freeloader, is trying to drag the federal court system into the bat-haunted fantasyland in which he and his supporters live. You might as well ask the judge to recuse herself because once, over coffee and a Danish, she expressed the opinion that the sun rose in the East. Demanding a judge as nutty as you are is a bold-if completely moronic-legal maneuver, which is also true of demanding to be represented by a lawyer who has proven to be as big a public nuisance as you have been. That Judge Navarro didn't throw these clowns down the courthouse steps fills me with no little dread.

Story continues

The complaint itself is a bubbling stew of pure crazy. It revives the nutty notion that Senator Harry Reid was behind the whole standoff on Bundy's land last year because Reid and his son want to sell Bundyland to the Chinese in order to build a solar farm. Meanwhile, the rest of the complaint sounds like it was dialed in from someone's car to the worst talk-radio show on Planet Stupid. By the way, the president's sense of humor also is in on the plot. From the filing:

Threatening, mocking and disparaging Plaintiff BUNDY at a White House Correspondents' Dinner on May 2, 2016, just days after the Plaintiff BUNDY's successful standoff, Defendant OBAMA made this public statement, which while he couched it as humor, was not in fact humor but a threat to prosecute Defendant BUNDY and his sons and other family members for the successful standoff. This despicable disrespectful mocking threat was made: to further the false and threatening statements of Defendant HARRY REID, as set forth above. Speaking at the dinner and on national and international television Defendant OBAMA publicly stated: "We have some other athletes here tonight, including Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Jamie Anderson is here. We're proud of her. (Applause). Michelle and I watched the Olympics-we cannot believe what these folks do-death-defying feats-haven't seen somebody pull a "180" like that fast since Rand Paul disinvited that Nevada rancher from this dinner. (Laughter). As a general rule, things don't end well if the sentence starts, "Let me tell you something I know about the negro." (Laughter). You don't really need to hear the rest of it. (Laughter and Applause). Just a tip for you-don't start your sentence that way. (Laughter)."

Meanwhile, as Bundy pursues legal remedies based on the well-known legal maxim of "MOMMMMMM, HE'S MAKIN' FUN OF ME!," what are his biggest fans up to? Well, Michele Fiore of Nevada, who is running for the United States Congress because democracy is eating its own entrails, had to clarify some remarks she'd made about pointing her many guns at law-enforcement officers. Per The Daily News:

"If I have a rogue agent who literally has a history of death in his past, and if that man ever pointed a gun at me, I'd point right back, because his intentions are evil," Fiore told ABC affiliate KTNV-TV Monday. The Second Amendment-flaunting Fiore-who gained national attention for her support of this year's Oregon militia occupation, as well as gun-themed calendars and Christmas cards-discussed citizens' rights to point a weapon at officers in a recent interview, but clarified to KTNV-TV that she was only referring to BLM, not police personnel.

Oh.

There is a cost to treating people like Bundy and his crackpot followers as if they have, you know, a case. There is a cost to indulging seditious paranoia. There is a cost to the constitutional order and a cost to the national sanity, and I'm damned if I know what's worse.

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.
China has been working hard to upgrade their military capabilities in order to eventually rival the power and ability of the US.

Already, the Chinese Navy is expected to outpace the US Navy in sheer numbers by 2020. Quantity is obviously not a sign of quality, but it is just one sign among many of Beijing's constantly growing military clout.

However, one of the largest signals of China's ever increasing strength is the strides it is making in ballistic missile technology. As the following chart from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission demonstrates, China now has the capability to hit US military targets on Guam with ballistic missiles launches from the mainland.

china missile range

The chart highlights the various ranges of ballistic missiles that China has in its arsenal divided into air, naval, and ground categories. The ranges are calculated showing the missile's estimated farthest possible range based upon a launching location in China that is as close as possible to the target.

China's air-launched missiles have the longest range and would be able to hit Darwin, Australia. However, the missiles are launched by bombers with large radar cross-sections that would be relatively easy to detect and defend against.

More difficult to prepare for is China's growing submarine fleet. It's latest classes of submarines can sail out to Guam in under two days, while its stealthier but slower diesel submarines can reach the US-owned island in under 4 days. These submarines can all be equipped with ballistic missiles which could greatly complicate US activities around Guam.

Finally, China's ground-based ballistic missiles have rapidly been advancing in range. Its DF-26 missile, unveiled last year, has enough range to hit Guam when launched from the Chinese mainland. The missile is also capable of carrying conventional or nuclear munitions.

Due to these capabilities, the report refers to the DF-26 as a "Guam Killer" and notes that "[c]ombined with improved air- and sea-launched cruise missiles and modernizing support systems, the DF-26 would allow China to bring a greater diversity and quality of assets to bear against Guam in a contingency than ever before."

Story continues

As the Washington Post notes, Guam currently houses 5,000 US military personnel, and is an important Pacific base housing both nuclear submarines and aircraft.

NOW WATCH: These striking images show just how overcrowded China's population really is





More From Business Insider


Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the animated feature film Playmobil, based on the German toy line, and set a Jan. 18, 2019, release date.

Playmobil will be directed by Disney veteran Lino DiSalvo and produced by the team behind The Little Prince (Aton Soumache, Dimitri Rassam, Alexis Vonarb) along with Axel Von Maydell and Moritz Borman.

The project was developed in cooperation with Pathe France and will be sold internationally by Lionsgate and Wild Bunch.

Playmobil toys are produced by the Brandstatter Group in Germany. A wide range of accessories, buildings, vehicles and animals are also part of the Playmobil line with over 2.9 billion figurines produced in more than 100 countries.

The move comes two years after Warner Bros. saw an outsize success from The Lego Movie, based on the Danish toy line, with over $460 million in worldwide grosses. Three more Lego movies are coming from the studio.

DiSalvo will make his directorial debut on Playmobil, after 17 years at Disney Animation. He served as head of animation on Frozen and as animation supervisor on Tangled and Bolt.

Disney veteran Blaise Hemingway is writing the screenplay.

The creative team behind Playmobil has crafted a wildly inventive, hilarious and heart-warming story that is certain to be exciting for the whole family, said Open Road chief Tom Ortenberg. We are thrilled to get to work  or should I say play?  with Lino and his team.

Playmobil has conquered childrens hearts worldwide, growing beyond cultural and language barriers, said Borman. Animation is the perfect medium to pay tribute to this cult toy and were very excited to launch this franchise with Open Road.

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Ortenberg, Elliott Kleinberg and Sophie Cassidy, with CAA and Barry Hirsch acting for the producers.

Related stories

David Goyer Partners With Lakeshore, Open Road on Robot Movie 'Miles'

Story continues

Will Arnett's 'Nut Job 2' Gets Release Date

Open Road Taps Jonathan Helfgot to Replace Jason Cassidy as Marketing Chief
By Valentina Accardo PARMA, Italy (Reuters) - A mayor with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement has been placed under investigation for alleged abuse of office, an embarrassment for Italy's second-biggest party which has built its success on a squeaky clean image. Federico Pizzarotti, the mayor of wealthy northern city Parma, said on Thursday that magistrates were looking into the appointment last year of the head of the local opera house and denied any wrongdoing. "I am calm about this because it is a formality," Pizzarotti said in a statement. Being placed under official investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to a trial. Pizzarotti is the second senior 5-Star politician to reveal he has been caught up in a legal investigation in less than a week, putting pressure on the party ahead of municipal elections next month where the group hopes to make major gains. On Saturday, Filippo Nogarin, the mayor of the Tuscan city Livorno, said he was under investigation for fraudulent bankruptcy in connection with the city rubbish collection company. He has also denied wrongdoing. 5-Star's political opponents on both the left and the right leapt on the legal probes, accusing the party of hypocrisy for presenting itself as progressive and pure even when its local administrations were coming under judicial scrutiny. "The truth is that behind their words there is nothing. They govern badly and apply appalling double standards," said Andrea Romano, a parliamentarian with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD), itself the target of many probes. POWERFUL VOICE The judicial investigations have targeted the two most important towns that the 5-Star, which was founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe Grillo, has yet to win in local elections. Opinion polls say it is well placed to make significant gains next month with its mayoral candidate leading the field in the capital Rome. A survey released by Index Research pollsters this week suggested the party had overtaken Renzi's PD party as the most popular political force in Italy. Although it has proved a powerful voice in opposition, it has found governing towns at a local level more of a challenge. Pizzarotti was placed under investigation after a local PD politician complained that his administration had appointed someone to head the Teatro Regio in Parma last year who had not taken part in the official selection process. Parma prosecutor Antonio Salvatore Rustico told Reuters that Pizzarotti and four other officials had been placed under investigation several weeks ago because the hiring process for the top theater job "seemed a little inconsistent". He said he would wrap up the inquiry rapidly. Earlier this year, 5-Star expelled from its ranks the mayor of Quarto, on the outskirts of the southern city Naples, after a police investigation indicated that her administration had been infiltrated by local mobsters. She denied any wrongdoing and accused the party of abandoning her to save its own reputation. (Writing by Crispian Balmer; editing by Ralph Boulton)
(Reuters) - An Oregon appeals court has wiped away a father's criminal conviction for not changing his son's diaper for at least 14 hours, overturning a jury's verdict that the man was guilty of mistreatment. The ruling by a three-judge panel on Wednesday found prosecutors in Lane County, south of Portland, failed to prove the dad, James Christopher Hickey, had failed to perform a diaper change for the boy on repeated occasions. As a result, evidence of a "single untimely diaper change was not sufficient to allow a jury to find" Hickey had not protected the child from future "bodily harm," the Oregon appeals court ruled in a 10-page opinion. The 5-year-old boy, who has autism spectrum disorder and a condition that makes him incontinent, had to wear a diaper because he was not toilet trained, according to court records. Hickey put his two children, ages 4 and 5, to bed at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2012, in the town of Springfield. They climbed out of their bedroom window and were found the next morning by a passing motorists, who called sheriff's deputies, according to court records. The 5-year-old boy's diaper was heavily soiled, prompting a sheriff's deputy to change it as the boy, according to the deputy's testimony, "writhed in discomfort." At that point, it had been at least 14 hours since Hickey put the child to bed, so the boy's diaper had gone unchanged for at least that long and his skin was badly irritated, according to the appeals court opinion. The appeals court, while overturning Hickey's felony conviction of mistreatment, let stand his conviction on two counts of second-degree child neglect. Hickey served two years in prison in the case, including on the conviction that was overturned, but has since been released, said his public defender, Erica Herb. "There was a lot of stuff that came out at trial that showed my client is not a bad person and is not a bad dad," she told Reuters by telephone. She added that she did not know if Hickey would sue prosecutors for damages over his conviction. Lane County prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Hamza bin Laden

Osama bin Laden's young son might be next in line to lead the terrorist group his father founded decades ago.

Hamza bin Laden, thought to be in his mid-20s, released an audio message this week calling on jihadists to unite and "liberate Palestine," leading experts to theorize that he's being groomed to take over Al Qaeda, according to the British publication The Independent.

Andreas Krieg, an analyst at King's College London, told The Independent that Hamza "has been labeled a crown prince" after he survived the 2011 US special-operations raid that killed his father.

But he hasn't yet achieved anything significant within the organization, Krieg said.

"I think Hamza is following al-Zawahiri knowing that he cannot emerge from his shadow just yet  if ever," Krieg told The Independent, referring to current Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

"Being the son of Osama bin Laden alone does not provide you with kudos in a community of jihadists in which some have been fighting for three decades," he added.

Zawahiri knew Osama before he founded the group, and he took over the group's leadership after Osama's death.

Even if he has no plans to step down, the US has been targeting Al Qaeda leaders successfully for years. Documents seized from Osama's compound in Pakistan during the raid show that he was particularly concerned about drone strikes targeting Hamza, as Thomas Joscelyn noted last year in The Long War Journal after Hamza released his first audio message.

In it, Hamza called for continued attacks against the West, including "lone wolf" attacks.

At the time, Joscelyn wrote that it was clear the group hopes that Hamza will represent a "new generation of Al Qaeda followers."

Bruce Riedel at the Brookings Institution also wrote last year that the audio message was "a clear effort to underscore [Hamza's] legitimacy as the heir to Osama bin Laden."

Story continues

Hamza has already pledged loyalty to Zawahiri, signifying that he is a member of Al Qaeda.

Osama bin Laden

Riedel noted that Hamza is an "attractive spokesman for Al Qaeda." Hamza's involvement with the group stretches back to when he was a boy. He was reportedly in Afghanistan with his father before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and then traveled with him to Pakistan after the attacks.

"He carries the legacy of his father's name and life's work," Riedel wrote. "Hamza provides a new face for Al Qaeda, one that directly connects to the group's founder."

Riedel concluded that Hamza is "an articulate and dangerous enemy."

Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks terrorist communications online, said on Twitter last year that Hamza's audio statement signified a "brand revival" within Al Qaeda that could renew the popularity of the group.

Its major jihadist competitor, ISIS  aka the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh  has overtaken Al Qaeda in recent years in attracting recruits.

Hamza's current whereabouts are unknown, but authorities are searching for him.

In 2011, David Graham at Newsweek reported that Hamza is perhaps Osama's "most militant son." Books on Al Qaeda and the bin Laden family have indicated that Hamza has long had the mindset of a jihadist, Graham wrote. One story recalls Hamza reciting a poem about killing infidels when he was a boy.

And in 2001, Al Jazeera aired footage that showed Hamza in a Taliban camp, according to the BBC.

"Other videos use Hamza's voice and show footage of him reading a poem, running drills in a camp  young but eager and clad in fatigues  and leading a group of uniformed boys about his age in chants," Graham wrote.

He added:

The charisma that made Hamza a star of jihadist videos as mascot-cum-warrior could translate into even greater fame as he matures into a battle-hardened mujahid, cultivates his ties with Al Qaeda's highest levels, and gains new status as the son of the martyred Osama bin Laden.

NOW WATCH: An Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group is using this Trump clip in a recruitment video





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Abidjan (AFP) - Some like creams, others pop pills or splash out on padded panties. In Ivory Coast where "big is beautiful" bottom enhancers come in all shapes and sorts, and at any cost.

Emaciated catwalk queens are no role model in this West African nation which a few years ago wiggled its collective derriere to the tune of a smash hit titled Bobaraba -- meaning "big bottom" in a local language.

"You need to have good hips to be dubbed a beauty in Ivory Coast," said a saleswoman named Sarah. "Men like women with a bit of bottom best."

Round is beautiful because it symbolises wealth and health, said political scientist Jean Alabro. It also heralds "happy pregnancies" due to "the crucial role played by buttocks" in deliveries, he said.

At Abidjan's biggest market, Treichville, a shop-owner who gave her name only as Evelyne does a busy trade in "grossifesse" (butt booster) or "botcho" cream. In Ivorian slang, or "nouchi", "botcho" means "vast rear end".

The cream, which pot labels variously say is made of cod-liver oil, honey or shea butter, sells like hotcakes, and a couple of boxes stacked high with the cream lie on the floor waiting to be dispatched to neighbouring Ghana.

"It's my best-seller", said Evelyne, and does far better than her pots of "nice breast" cream or tubes of "bazooka" to "firm up and enhance men's members."

Dozens fly off the shelves a day, she said, despite the fact that at 15,000 to 25,000 CFA francs (23 to 38 euros, $26 - 43) a shot, it remains expensive in a country where annual income was around 100 euros a month in 2014.

- 'Guaranteed results' -

"Not a single customer's come back to complain," she added, saying "you can guarantee a result after 30 days' use."

"It's not like those pills where you puff up and then deflate."

Story continues

Other "enhancers" sold in more sophisticated packaging are also available at Treichville, mostly imported from English-speaking African nations, notably Nigeria.

Often made from corticoids, they can cause diabetes, high blood pressure or infections that potentially can lead to coma, said Fatima Ly, a dermatologist and venereologist in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

In that city the miracle pills -- nore often than not counterfeit drugs -- are causing a huge public health problem involving thousands of people every year, she said.

Padded panties and butt boosters on the other hand are less of a liability, and far cheaper at 9,000 CFA francs (13.7 euros) a piece at Kader Camara's store.

"They're relatively new on the market," he said. "In the old days, women used to sew several loin cloths together when they went dancing."

- Spices -

He also has thigh enhancers for women with skinny legs that are known as "pistols" because they slip on and off, he said, mimicking the way a cowboy moves his gun in and out of a holster.

Another technique involves Maggi instant broth cubes, that staple of African cuisine, but as a suppository rather than as food.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, where the practice is thought to have begun, a song has been written about the wonders of instant broth and bottoms.

"Women think it will add volume because it's greasy," said a young woman called Francine, a notion panned by Peggy Diby, a Nestle/Maggi spokeswoman in West Africa.

"The broth is only for cooking," she said of a technique likely used by women on low budgets.

Women with financial means have the option of booty-boosting surgery abroad, and Parisian plastic surgeon Robin Mookherjee, who flies to nearby Dakar every month, claims to have treated "hundreds of women patients" from west Africa, notably from Ivory Coast, for 3,000 to 4,000 euros an operation.

He says that even in 2012, after the Malian city of Timbuktu had come under Islamist attack, he performed surgery on women from the fabled town, more concerned about the legendary butts of Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian or Nicki Minaj, than the jihadist threat.
The International Monetary Fund announced on Thursday that it would release to Pakistan a further instalment worth $510 million of a three-year economic bailout package.

The IMF's delegation head Harald Finger said in a statement that the decision was taken after a review of the country's economic performance and "after productive discussions" with Pakistani authorities.

Finger said in a statement that growth remains robust and is expected to reach 4.5 percent this fiscal year despite a weak cotton harvest, declining exports, and a more challenging external environment.

"Real GDP growth is expected to reach 4.5 percent in FY 2015/16 and 4.7 percent in FY 2016/17, helped by lower oil prices, rising investment, including related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), improvements in energy supply, buoyant construction activity, and acceleration of credit growth," the statement said.

The IMF also voiced satisfaction with Pakistan's progress on reforms, which were required under a $6.6-billion bailout agreed in 2013.

The loan was granted on condition that Pakistan -- which was suffering an energy crisis -- carried out extensive economic reforms, particularly in the energy and taxation sectors.

IMF stated that all end-March 2016 quantitative performance criteria, including the budget deficit target and the floor for the central bank's net international reserves, have been met.

It said the IMF staff mission, led by Finger, meet Pakistani officials in Dubai from May 2-11, 2016 to conduct discussions on the eleventh review of Pakistan's economic program.

Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar told reporters after the meeting with IMF officials that economic indicators have been positive and Pakistan has also succeeded in scaling down it's fiscal deficit.
Panama City (AFP) - Manuel Noriega, Panama's imprisoned former dictator ousted in a 1989 US invasion of his country, has a brain tumor needing surgery, his doctor, family and lawyer said on Thursday.

The tumor, in the right parietal lobe, is not cancerous but has caused him seizures and falls, and "everything indicates an operation is needed," his personal physician, Eduardo Reyes, told AFP.

Noriega, who had previously worked with the CIA, ruled over Panama from 1983 until the US military invaded on December 20, 1989 and captured him.

First imprisoned in America on drug trafficking and money laundering charges, he was sent to France in 2010 and spent 13 months incarcerated there on similar charges before being extradited to Panama, where he is serving a 20-year sentence for the murder of opposition activists.

Today aged 82, his family and lawyer say he suffers ill-health of which the tumor is the most urgent problem.

The abnormal growth was first detected by a scan in 2012 and has now become of a size that it "could cause major deterioration to speech and motor areas" of the brain" through "irreversible damage," his attorney, Ezra Angel, said.

"The doctors recommend it be removed otherwise his state of health will continue to further deteriorate," said one of his three daughters, Thays Noriega.

"If they don't operate, we will be giving him a death sentence," she told AFP.

She said that El Renacer penitentiary where her father was locked up was not following the recommendations of the family's private doctors.

The family have tried in vain several times to have Noriega see out the rest of his sentence under home detention, saying he has suffered strokes, respiratory problems, prostate cancer and depression.

They said they will lodge a new request because of the tumor.
Police in Gonzales, Louisiana, are reviewing video of a fight that broke out at a high school graduation on Wednesday, May 11, in order to identify the people who were involved. The fight was among attendees sitting in the stands, not among graduates.

Police said in a statement on Facebook they detained two suspects, but they were cleared of involvement. One person has been identified and will be arrested, police said.

Zack Gautreau, who posted this video, said he saw three or four people involved in the fight, but not how it started. Several people in the video appear to be breaking up the fight, which Gautreau confirmed was happening. He said he did not observe any arrests.

Police Chief Sherman Jackson also said in the statement that he was unhappy with the parents.

Seeing video footage of this incident has angered me. Adults, who should know better, detracted from the achievements of area graduates, the chief said in the statement. They should be ashamed. We urge anyone with information to come forward. People must be held accountable for what happened, and incidents such as these will not be tolerated in our city. Young people worked for four years to have a brief moment of recognition at their graduation ceremony. To have that moment turned into this is inexcusable.

Jackson also asked people to stop sharing the videos of the incident on social media because it only highlights this behavior. Instead, the community should highlight the achievements of the graduates. Credit: Twitter/Zack Gautreau
By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health) - Many people still do not know which infections can be treated with antibiotics, and doctors may not be warning their patients about the hazards of taking the drugs too often, a U.K. study suggests. Primary care doctors dispense most antibiotics, so they need to do a better job of educating patients about when antibiotics are really needed and the consequences of overusing the drugs, researchers say. The more you take antibiotics the more bacteria in your body will become resistant, so the next time you really need an antibiotic for pneumonia or a kidney infection, for example, it may not be as effective, said lead author Cliodna McNulty, head of the Primary Care Unit at Public Health England in Gloucester. In the U.K., 74 percent of antibiotics are prescribed by general practice physicians, the researchers write in the journal Family Practice. Many patients may request the drugs for viral infections, which are not treatable with antibiotics, they add. Antibiotics work on bacterial infections, but not on viruses. Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria causing common infections evolve so that the drugs no longer work on them. Most coughs, colds, sore throats, flu and sinus infections are self-limiting and will get better on their own. Antibiotics only improve symptoms by about 8-12 hours, McNulty told Reuters Health by email. Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats worldwide and leads to longer hospitalizations, higher medical costs and death, according to the World Health Organization. The researchers used an independent research agency to conduct a face to face survey of randomly selected homes across England. The 1,625 adult participants answered questions about their use of antibiotics, whether their doctors gave them information about antibiotics in general and about resistance in particular, and whether they trusted their doctors knowledge. Just over one third of participants said they had been prescribed an antibiotic in the past year. Among those with prescriptions, 62 percent of people with throat infections, 60 percent with sinus infections, and 42 percent of those with a cough or cold took antibiotics, although all these conditions tend to be caused by viruses. Asked whether most coughs, colds and sore throats get better on their own without the need for antibiotics, 86 percent of survey participants agreed, but only 44 percent correctly answered that antibiotics treat bacterial and not viral infections. Just 45 percent of participants agreed that healthy people can carry bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Two-thirds of participants remembered getting advice from their doctors about their infection or about antibiotics, but only 8 percent said they got information about antibiotic resistance. Eighty-eight percent of subjects trusted their doctors to decide if they needed antibiotics. Its extremely important for providers to share information with patients and parents about the benefits and harms of using antibiotics, said Dr. Lauri Hicks, director of the Office of Antibiotic Stewardship at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors should talk to patients about when antibiotics are and are not needed and about possible issues with antibiotics like allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance, said Hicks, who was not involved in the study. Doctors are often under a lot of time pressure, so doctors can also provide resources to guide patients, like hand-outs and, if appropriate, websites that have more information about appropriate antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance (e.g. www.cdc.gov/getsmart), Hicks told Reuters Health by email. McNulty said that antibiotics can be life-saving drugs for serious infections, but they are not needed for colds or flu-like illnesses. She noted that having a stuffy or runny nose with your other symptoms is often a sign that antibiotics are not needed. Trust your GP or nurse to prescribe antibiotics when you need them. Do ask them to share information with you about how you can self-care, how long the symptoms should last and when you should return (if symptoms are not improving or you are feeling worse), McNulty said. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1VUFxeL Family Practice, Online April 12, 2016.
House Speaker Paul Ryan and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump expressed hope on Thursday that their fractured party could come together before the general election.

The two GOP leaders released a joint statement after a highly anticipated meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. They argued that the United States cannot afford to have Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton win the White House and continue President Obamas policies.

That is why its critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall, Ryan and Trump said in the joint statement. With that focus, we had a great conversation this morning. While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground.

Donald Trump and Paul Ryan met Thursday morning to discuss unifying the GOP. (Photos: Jim Lo Scalzo, Jim Bourg/Reuters)



Last week, Ryan made headlines when he revealed that he was just not ready to endorse Trumps candidacy after one of the most grueling presidential primaries in recent memory. Ryan has sometimes been critical of Trump, such as when he condemned the developers proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States. Trump responded by saying he wasnt ready to support Ryans agenda either.

The Thursday meeting was treated as a major campaign event by cable news, with a massive amount of reporters staked outside the Republican National Committee headquarters, where it was held. MSNBC even had a countdown clock leading up to the event.



Ryan still wasnt ready to endorse Trump after their meeting, and they said they will have additional conversations. But they also said they remain optimistic that the Republican Party can unite and win back the White House this fall. They describe themselves as totally committed to working together toward this goal.

We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Partys history, they said. This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification.



Story continues

Protesters at Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington as Trump meets with Ryan. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)

Slideshow: Protests as Donald Trump meets with Speaker Paul Ryan >>>

Shortly after the meeting adjourned, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., released a similar statement saying the meeting was an important first step toward building a coalition of voters to defeat Clinton.



McMorris Rodgers said she contributes a distinctive point of view as a successful woman who has a son with disabilities. Trump has been criticized for mocking a disabled reporter and for his past statements about womens appearances.

As the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress, the mother of a son with Down syndrome, and a friend to people from all walks of life, I offer a unique perspective, she wrote. Today was my first opportunity to discuss and impress upon the presumptive nominee the importance of championing a core value of the Republican Party: dreaming big for everyone and turning its back on no one.

Ryan addressed the press after finishing his discussion with Trump. He told reporters that he and the candidate have taken only the first steps toward unification, and their future meetings will go a little deeper into the policy weeds.



Ryan also described Trumps success in the primary as unparalleled.

He has gotten more votes than any Republican primary nominee  in the history of our country. And this isnt even over yet. He hasnt even gone to, like, California yet, so its really a remarkable achievement, he said.

Ryan said the question is how other Republicans can help to keep Trumps movement growing.

Protesters outside the Republican National Committee headquarters on Thursday. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

To me, that means a positive vision based on core principles, taking those principles, applying them to the problems facing the country today and offering people positive solutions, he continued. And speaking to people where they are in life, addressing their anxieties and show[ing] that we have a better plan.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus had been urging members of his party to unite behind Trump since last week, after Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz suspended their campaigns and left Trump without any primary foes. And after Thursdays meeting, Priebus continued to push his message of unity.

The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity, he tweeted.

Ryan has also used the Trump campaign, which is at the center of an intense media spotlight, to call attention to unrelated matters in the House of Representatives. At a press conference on Wednesday, he argued that the media should be focused on legislation aiming to combat the countrys ongoing opioid epidemic.

See the graphic: Where the Republican Party stands on Trump >>>
House Speaker Paul Ryan threatened to throw the Republican Party into a civil war last week when he said he was just not ready to endorse Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

It was the kind of statement that is difficult to walk back, but Ryan, the highest-ranking Republican in the country, is willing to give it a shot  albeit very, very slowly.

Related: Is Paul Ryan Backing Away From a Confrontation With Trump?

I think we had a very encouraging meeting, Ryan said during his weekly Capitol Hill press conference, about an hour after his leadership team and Trump met behind closed-doors at the Republican National Committee headquarters.

The Wisconsin lawmaker said it was no secret that the two men have had their differences.

Thats common knowledge, according to Ryan, a reference to the handful of times he had to rebuke his partys frontrunner during a vitriolic primary for Trumps views on Muslims, his slow disavowal of the KKK and threatening violence at this summers GOP convention if he was denied the nomination.

I was very encouraged with what I heard from Donald Trump today, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee told reporters. "I do believe that we are now planting the seeds to get ourselves unified to bridge the gaps and differences.

Related: The Battle Between Donald Trump and Paul Ryan Was Inevitable

But about that endorsement? Well, Ryans not quite there yet.

This is a process. It takes a little time, he said. You don't put it together in 45 minutes."

Ryan said his continued lack of support was due, in part, to one of the most decisive primaries in memory, which only wrapped up last week when Trumps last two rivals dropped out of the race.

While he isnt ready to embrace the former realty TV star, Ryan launched a sally of compliments his way, calling him a very warm and genuine person and saying that his unparalleled wins during the primary season were a remarkable achievement.

Story continues

Ryan also said Trump wanted to keep him as the chair of the GOP convention in July, a role the Speaker offered to walk away from.

Related: From 'Hell No' to 'Tepid Yes,' Heres Where Top Republicans Stand on Trump

The next step in the courtship will be for the Trump and Ryan policy teams to get together in a room to see where that common ground is and how we can make sure that we operating off [the same] core principles of limited government and the separation of powers, according to Ryan.

Ryan isnt the only member of the House GOP leadership who is still shy about supporting the nominee.

House Republican Conference chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) called Thursdays summit a very important first step forward to unify as Republicans and build an inclusive coalition of voters to defeat Hillary Clinton but didnt issue a formal endorsement.

Meanwhile, House GOP campaign chief Greg Walden (OR), issued a statement saying that while he disagrees with Trumps rhetoric and policy stances, he would support the all-but-certain nominee.

With so many disparate views surrounding Trump, and what his candidacy could mean for the Republican majorities in Congress, Thursdays meeting amounts to nothing more than an incremental step on what could be a very long road -- one that Democrats are happy to watch from the sidelines.

Its up to them to figure it out, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said during a press conference, adding she didnt think there was anything brave about Ryan withholding his endorsement.

Pelosi said she hoped Republicans would make a decision to lift the debate to a different place, worthy of the office of president of the United States.

That would be progress. Theyve taken this discussion to such a low place.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House and the highest-ranking elected Republican official, remains on a collision course with Donald Trump on both tone and policy, from the latters nativist rhetoric that has alienated minority voters to the constitutional conception of the presidency itself. That spells trouble for the GOP, which is desperately seeking unity ahead of this summers convention, especially because polls show Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton would likely beat Trump in the general election.

Look, its no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences, Ryan said Thursday in a press conference at the U.S. Capitol after a morning meeting with Trump, his first real sit-down with the real-estate magnate. The 45-minute meeting didnt seem to resolve those differences  and did not produce an endorsement from Ryan, an unprecedented state of affairs for the Republican Party at this stage of the campaign.

After the meeting, Ryan described Trump as a very warm and genuine person. But asked about the two mens very different definitions of conservatism  they differ on free trade, immigration, and banning Muslims from entering the country, among other issues  Ryan praised Trump for attracting new voters but implicitly criticized his divisive language.

Hes bringing new voters that weve never had for decades. Thats a positive thing, Ryan said. But he asked later, How do we keep adding and adding voters while not subtracting any voters?

Ryan, like other Republican leaders such as Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who was at the meeting, is charged with restoring a semblance of unity to a party that sorely lacks it. He has shown frustration with repeated calls for him to jump into the presidential race, viewing that as a distraction from his attempt to craft a forward-looking agenda for the party that can serve as a foil to President Barack Obamas legacy and Clintons policy proposals.

Story continues

With the meeting, the House speaker sought to find common ground with Trump and stressed what he called the core principles that tie us all together: principles like the Constitution, the separation of powers, the fact that we have an executive that has gone way beyond the boundaries of the Constitution.

Ryan, who was Mitt Romneys running mate in the 2012 presidential election, has long railed against the Obama administration for what he views as abuses of executive power, from health care and immigration reform to efforts to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State.

In dealing with Trump, though, Ryan might find that the power of the presidency doesnt offer much common ground after all. In Trumps bombastic campaign trail pledges, he has promised almost unprecedented aggression in wielding the powers of the presidency against adversaries and allies alike, from scrapping decades-old alliances to toying with default on the national debt. And hes doubled down on policies  such as barring Muslims from the United States  that observers have criticized as likely unconstitutional, illegal, or unworkable.

Crafting a winning GOP platform despite these differences ultimately may elude the two men. Last week, after Ryan had declined to endorse him, Trump said, I am not ready to support Speaker Ryans agenda. Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people.

Trump has alienated a broad swath of minority voters, including Hispanics, African-Americans, and women, helping him notch record-high unfavorability ratings. That divisive language appears to be driving minority groups to mobilize against him, which is a huge concern for Ryan and his Senate colleagues who worry that having Trump at the top of the ticket could lead to a bloodbath in House and Senate races this year.

Trump met with some of those senators on Thursday. While many have begun to fall in line behind their nominee, they still struggle to give a full-throated endorsement of his more controversial policies, especially on national security. Trumps America First isolationist take on foreign affairs, in particular, has rattled party leaders.

Ryans spokeswoman AshLee Strong said his office and Trumps team will hold more in-depth policy conversations. But she also said that Ryans blueprint for GOP policy  dubbed Confident America  will be unveiled this summer, independently. That could put the two men on a collision course over potentially dueling party platforms, just in time for the convention in Cleveland that Trump hopes will be his coronation.

We just began the process, Ryan said. And going forward, we are going to go a little deeper into the policy weeds to make sure that we have a better understanding of one another.

Photo credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor
House Speaker Paul Ryan has still not endorsed Donald Trump following their Thursday morning summit in Washington.

Ryan spoke to reporters in the House of Representatives press room. He was there to discuss proposed new legislation to combat America's heroin and opioid epidemic, but there was no way to avoid the topic of the Trump meeting.

Read: Sarah Palin Vows to Destroy House Speaker Paul Ryan's Political Career Over Trump Snub

"I think it was a very encouraging meeting," Ryan said when he fielded questions from reporters. "Look, it is no secret that Donald Trump and I have our differences. We talked about those differences today."

Ryan refused to go into specifics of their gathering and has still not backed the real estate tycoon, but he told reporters: "I was very encouraged from what I heard from Donald Trump today."

He called Trump "warm" and "genuine" and added he "had a very good personality."

While he did not go into details, Ryan did declare that this was the first in a series of summits he would be having with the GOP frontrunner.

Following the meeting, the Speaker of the House and the billionaire released a joint statement:

"The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why its critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall. With that focus, we had a great conversation this morning.

"While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground. We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident theres a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal.

"We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Partys history. This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification."

Story continues

After the session between Trump, Ryan and top members of the GOP, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said it was a very positive step toward party unity" in a tweet.

The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity.  Reince Priebus (@Reince) May 12, 2016

Trump first met with Ryan and Priebus Thursday morning and later sat down with other members of House Republican leadership, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise.

Trump will have a separate gathering with Senate GOP leaders on Thursday afternoon.

Last week, Ryan said he was not ready to fully endorse the presumptive Republican White House nominee.

Ahead of Thursday mornings anticipated conference, Ryan told reporters Wednesday: To pretend were unified as a party after coming through a very bruising primary, which just ended like a week ago, to pretend were unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength.

He added: This election is too important... That means that we need a real unification of our party. Which, look, after a tough primary thats going to take some effort.

Read: Jon Stewart Calls Donald Trump a 'Man-Baby,' Doesn't Know if Billionaire Could Be President

Ryan was the vice presidential pick for GOP nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 race for the White House, losing to President Obama and Vice President Biden.

While currently the highest-ranking Republican to decline to back Trump, Ryan is not the first.

The two most recent Republican presidents, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush, have vowed to not attend July's RNC convention, where Trump is all but assured to win the nomination.

Watch: Journalist Keeps Promise to Eat His Column After Trump Wins Nomination

Related Articles:
Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan met for the first time Thursday in a much-anticipated meeting to address the Republican party rift over the formers position as presumptive nominee. Yahoo Senior Politics Correspondent Jon Ward discussed the Trump-Ryan meet live at 11:15 a.m. ET with Global News Anchor Katie Couric.



About a month before Paul Ryan became the Republican Partys vice presidential nominee in the summer of 2012, then Sen. Tom Coburn mentioned Ryans name unprompted in the course of a wide-ranging conversation in his Capitol Hill office.

I had this conversation with Paul Ryan last night, the Oklahoma senator, who retired in 2014, told me. [Ryan] said, Your book Breach of Trust changed totally the way I operate.

Coburns book, subtitled How Washington Turns Outsiders into Insiders, railed against careerism in Congress that leads senators and representatives to focus year in and year out on getting reelected, rather than fixing the countrys problems.

Coburn wrote the book in 2003, and said the problem had only grown worse since then. I am disgusted with Washington, he told me.

But Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, was to Coburn a rare bright spot on the horizon. Ryan had already established a reputation for putting his neck out on major issues by then. He first proposed major changes to Medicare and Social Security in 2008  and then did so again every year after that. He was obsessed with the impact of these programs on the national debt, as was Coburn.

For years, Republican leaders in Congress ignored Ryans roadmap because its call to radically overhaul popular entitlement programs was seen as too politically risky, even if it only affected future and not current beneficiaries.

By 2012, however, Ryan had succeeded in pushing his proposals long enough and hard enough that his party could no longer ignore them. They became part of the GOPs budget plan in that presidential year, thanks in part to the energy and support of a new class of tea party House members.

Story continues

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan speaks at a news conference following a closed Republican Party conference on Capitol Hill, May 11, 2016. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters)



Ryan had gotten a taste of what it meant to push controversial ideas through the political process, and to take on his own party, so he felt emboldened to do it even more forcefully, Coburn said.

He said, I read your book, Breach of Trust, and I said, Im tired of living the lie. I want to be free. So Im going to do what I think and defend what I think, even if its painful, Coburn recounted.

A month later, Ryan was plucked from the relative obscurity of Congress and placed under the searing lights of the national stage when Mitt Romney made him his running mate.

Ryans calling card was his focus on budget and entitlement matters. But his four-month stint as a national candidate convinced him of the need for the GOP to do more to reach voters outside the partys narrow traditional constituency of older, wealthier, white voters.

When Ryan talked about expanding the party, he thought largely of minority voters, who represent the demographic future of the country. Other conservatives argued the party could or should seek to win over disaffected white working-class voters who did not feel at home in either the Democratic or Republican parties.

Donald Trump, of course, is now the Republican nominee for president, having won over voters who resent free trade, are angry about illegal immigration and hate the Washington elite.

Ryan is quickly becoming public enemy No. 1 for Trumps outrage-fueled supporters, after his refusal to initially back the businessman and former reality TV star. Ryans resistance is built on his concern that Trump has no regard for constitutional checks on the power of the presidency, and the two will hash out their differences today in a meeting at the Republican National Committee.

2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan await election results in Richmond Heights, Ohio, on November 6, 2012. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)



But Ryan also has clearly stated that Trump is pushing the partys message and identity in a direction that is the opposite of where Ryan thinks it should go. And this is a battle that Ryan has been fighting within his own party for years before Trump stepped onto the scene. Ryan has preached a politics of optimism, bipartisan compromise on issues like trade and immigration and outreach to nontraditional Republican voters.

From 2013 to 2015, he stood apart from the Republican presidential hopefuls in Congress  such as Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz  who often seemed to be competing for who could demonstrate the most ideological purity or denounce President Obama the loudest.

The first test for Ryan came right after the 2012 election, when President Obama pushed to raise tax rates for the highest earners, resulting in a showdown over what became known as the fiscal cliff deal.

Ryan, who would not decide against running for president until two years later, put some distance between himself from Rubio and Paul by voting for the deal, saying it protected most Americans from tax increases.

As elected officials, we have a duty to apply our principles to the realities of governing. And we must exercise prudence, he said. Rubio, meanwhile, wanted to maintain ideological purity on taxes, and was able to do so because there were enough votes to pass the deal without his support.

Ryan worked for immigration reform in 2013 as well, as did Rubio. But after the deal fell apart that summer, Ryan continued to work behind the scenes to try to reach a deal, while Rubio abandoned the effort. And when newly arrived Sen. Ted Cruz led a crusade to shut down the government over the presidents refusal to repeal his own health care law, Ryan publicly disagreed with that approach, while Rubio joined it.

Trump, for his part, spoke out against the immigration reform effort, amplifying the argument that most undocumented immigrants were viewed by Democrats simply as new liberal voters. He also in 2013 blasted the idea of entitlement reform, which, until Ryan began to focus on poverty that year, had been his signature issue.

If you think you are going to change very substantially for the worse Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in any substantial way, and at the same time you think you are going to win elections, it just really is not going to happen, Trump said at the Conservative Action Political Conference in 2013. He argued that the U.S. could grow its economy fast enough to outpace its debt obligations  the very thing that Ryan had spent years arguing with charts and graphs was impossible.

Paul Ryan, then the House budget committee chairman, briefs Republican committee members before unveiling the 2013 budget plan on Capitol Hill in March 2012. (Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)



Ryans growing emphasis on restoring low-income, high-crime communities was an acknowledgement, in its own way, that Trump had a point. He had seen in 2012 that a message based on accounting did not move votes or hearts like one based on aspiration. The T-shirts with Ryans face on it, over the word Math, in a parody of the Obama Hope portrait, did not quite catch on.

Ryan came to believe that his party had to reach people emotionally, not just rationally. He either did not anticipate the prospect of a presidential candidate who tapped into rage rather than hope, or refused to because he found the idea repugnant.

Ryan was even concerned for his own close friend, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, during Walkers 2014 reelection campaign. Ryan thought Walkers message was too focused on the past, not aspirational enough, and too negative.

In his book that came out in the summer of 2014, Ryan wrote that the Republican Party had become lazy and complacent.

Instead of doing the hard work of persuading people, weve opted for the easy route, focusing our attention on communities where people already agree with us and trying to turn out the base, Ryan wrote. Preaching to the choir isnt working, and by the way, the choir is shrinking.

Trumps candidacy has turned out new white working-class voters, and his message has so far been the opposite of what Ryan believes the GOP should stand for. Trump has channeled voter anger toward scapegoats: Mexican immigrants, refugees from the Middle East and all adherents of the Muslim faith, the rich, political insiders, protesters, the media and others.

Ryan believes this approach does little to help lead the country toward solutions, though he has admitted that many in his party did not realize the depth of voter frustration.

I think theres a bit of humility that each of us needs, especially leaders in Congress, which is, he tapped into something in this country that was very powerful, and people are sending a message to Washington that we need to learn from and listen to, Ryan said last week when announcing on CNN that he would not for the time being support Trumps candidacy.

By the time Ryan was drafted into the speakership last fall after former Speaker John Boehners retirement, he was already despised by some conservatives who didnt think he fought hard enough against Democrats. But Ryan had become convinced that the way to both solve problems facing the country and keep building up the Republican Party was to let the hardliners take their shots while working incrementally to achieve the possible rather than the ideal.

House Speaker Paul Ryan at the State of the Union address, January 12, 2016. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Hes been freed up to do so by the fact that the speakership is a position he never sought or really wanted. But Boehner and others convinced Ryan that it was his duty as a Catholic and an American to fall on his sword. And Ryan has come to embrace that idea.

His public confrontation with Trump, as politely conducted as it has been so far, is a showdown over who controls the Republican Party, and what the party stands for. With seven states yet to hold primaries, Trump already has received more votes (10.7 million) than Mitt Romney did in the entire 2012 primary (10 million). But its also true that 17 million Republican primary voters cast ballots for someone other than Trump.

After Trump won the Indiana primary on May 3 and his last two rivals ended their campaigns, he initially seemed to think the GOP was like a property he had bought and now fully controlled, GOP insiders who have interacted with him said. But Ryans repudiation has put Trump on notice that consolidating power and control of the party will take a more delicate touch, with deference shown toward the partys core beliefs and its many stakeholders.

How Trump navigates the meeting Thursday, and whatever comes after, one insider said, will determine whether he continues to face revolt and the possibility of open defiance by party members at the Republican convention in July, or whether he can solidify his footing at the top of the party apparatus.
EXCLUSIVE: Closing the Directors Fortnight here at the Cannes Film Festival is Paul Schraders crime noir Dog Eat Dog starring Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe as ex-cons who involve themselves in a kidnapping job that goes south. Its based on Edward Bunkers novel, and the pic marks the third collaboration between Schrader and Cage after Schrader directed Cage in the 2014 CIA terrorist title Dying Of The Light, and then with Schrader as scribe on Martin Scorseses 1999 Bringing Out The Dead.

The big takeaway in this clip is Schrader making his on-screen acting debut as Grecco the Greek, the notorious Cleveland mob boss who offers Cages Troy an offer he cant refuse. Cage tells Grecco about his heist team which includes Diesel (Christopher Matthew Cook), a guy who is on the mobs payroll, and his interest in his suburban home and his nagging wife is waning. Then theres Mad Dog (Dafoe) the loose cannon.

Says Schrader about his turn in Dog Eat Dog, I had no intention of playing The Greek. Over pre-production, I approached Michael Douglas, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Nick Nolte, Chris Walken, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Winncot and Rupert Everett to play the Greek as a transgender Cleveland gangster. For one reason or another, none of them worked. I was the only actor we could afford. I may not be good, I thought, but at least Ill be interesting. 

Schrader and Cage had been looking to reteam since Dying Of The Light, which was a frustrating experience per the director, I said to him, If we live long enough, we should work together again. Well get final cut and do it right. Absolutely, he replied.

Schrader received the script from producer Mark Burman. The director thought Cage was a good fit for Mad Dog, but the Oscar-winning actor chose Troy instead.

Adds Schrader, who switched the novels locale from Los Angeles to Cleveland: The task then was to make Bunkers story feel contemporary. Ed Bunkers sensibility was forged in the 70s, Dog was set in the 90s  so what to do? Matt Wilders beautifully manic script showed the way. I assembled a young creative team cut to bring energy to Ed Bunkers dark story. It was the first solo credit for each department head: cinematography, production design, wardrobe, editorial, associate producer, composer. These were members of what I called the postrules generation. They didnt want to break rules. They didnt even know there were rules. I instructed them: We dont have the money to make this film in a studio fashion. Thats the bad news. The good news is we can make any damn film we want. Surprise me. The only thing forbidden is to be boring. 

Story continues

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LONDON (Reuters) - Retail tycoon Philip Green has said the head of Britain's Pension Regulator was "incorrect" when she told MPs this week that the media reported he was selling department store BHS before he informed her.

Lesley Titcomb, the regulator's chief executive, told a joint parliamentary committee on Monday that she had found out from British newspapers that Green had sold BHS to Retail Acquisitions, a collection of little known investors, for a nominal sum of one pound in March last year.

But the company secretary of Green's Arcadia Group wrote to MPs on Wednesday saying the regulator had been given advance notice of the sale, which concluded on March 11, 2015.

Last month Retail Acquisitions placed BHS into administration, a form of creditor protection, putting the 88-year-old retailer at risk of disappearing from British shopping streets and jeopardising 11,000 jobs.

The Pensions Regulator is investigating whether BHS's previous owners sought to avoid their obligations and should be pursued for a contribution to make good its 571 million pounds pension deficit.

"The evidence of Ms Titcomb has been widely reported in the press, but it is incorrect," Arcadia company secretary Adam Goldman said in a letter to parliament's Work and Pensions and Business, Innovation and Skills select committees.

Goldman said that on Feb. 6 last year the regulator was notified by email that Green had decided to seek buyers for BHS.

He said communication with the regulator also included a March 4 meeting last year attended by Green and Chris Martin, chairman of the trustees of the BHS pension schemes.

"The Pensions Regulator was informed of key terms of the proposed sale of BHS business ... The sale consideration of 1 pound was expressly referred to," Goldman said.

Titcomb wrote back to the Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday saying a March 4 2015 meeting with the trustees and Arcadia did discuss the terms of a potential imminent sale. But it was to a company called Swiss Rock.

Story continues

"We learned of the confirmation of the sale to Retail Acquisitions Ltd on March 11 when it was made public. The Pensions Regulator was not informed about this in advance," said Titcomb.

"The Pensions Regulator subsequently learned that Swiss Rock had changed its name to Retail Acquisitions."

The Work and Pensions Committee said it would now seek documentation charting all the regulator's interaction with Arcadia and the trustees.

Goldman's letter also sought to clarify dividends paid by BHS during Green's ownership from 2000 to 2015.

He said dividends of 423 million pounds were declared for the years ending March 2002, 2003 and 2004, "which reflected the significant profits of the business at that time." No dividends were paid after that.

Green has agreed in principle to give evidence to the parliamentary committees on June 15.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Philippine communist rebel leader Jose Maria Sison has expressed hopes of ending nearly three decades in exile under the new presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, a potentially explosive homecoming opposed by senior military figures.

Sison, now 77, fled to Europe soon after peace talks failed in 1987 and has stayed abroad since, while one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies continued to claim thousands of lives.

"I will return to the Philippines if Duterte fulfils his promise to visit me," the Netherlands-based Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder said in comments posted on his Facebook page late Wednesday.

"The prospects (for peace talks) seem to be bright at the moment," Sison added.

Sison, a political science professor, established the party in December 1968 and it launched a guerrilla campaign three months later.

The rebellion has left at least 30,000 people dead, by official account.

The New People's Army is believed to have fewer than 4,000 soldiers, down from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s, according to the military, however it retains support among the deeply poor in the rural Philippines.

Incumbent President Benigno Aquino revived peace talks soon after taking office in 2010 but shelved them in 2013, accusing the rebels of insincerity in efforts to achieve a political settlement.

The talks got bogged down after the communists demanded the release of scores of their jailed comrades whom they described as "political prisoners", which the Aquino government rejected.

Duterte, who was Sison's student at a Manila university in the 1960s, is the longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao. Some of the communists' strongholds today are near Davao, and Duterte has maintained relations with them.

Last week, local television station ABS-CBN released footage of Duterte chatting with Sison via Skype on his laptop.

"I'm a socialist," said Duterte, who won Monday's election in a landslide.

Story continues

The network said the chat took place shortly after communist rebels freed five police hostages last month in Davao.

- Peace hopes -

Sison said in the comments posted on Facebook he had congratulated Duterte via an intermediary on his win and called for the resumption of peace talks, a ceasefire, the release of political prisoners, and the "arrest and trial of Aquino".

Duterte was ready to release ailing and elderly rebels on humanitarian grounds, as well as those whom the movement appoints as peace negotiators after vetting by the military, police and state prosecutors, his spokesman Peter Lavina said Thursday.

"Our people are suffering from the internal conflict.... (Businessmen) doing business in these areas have been suffering for long. Any move to still the guns, declare ceasefire would be very welcome," Lavina told reporters.

He said Duterte planned to see Sison during a trip to Europe before the president-elect takes his oath of office on June 30.

Sison's comments were a transcript of an interview he gave to Dubai's Khaleej Times newspaper.

Sison said he hoped to return home after Duterte begins his term, but the communist leader added the new government must first take steps to ensure his personal safety.

"I will not dive into any situation in which the Duterte government is still unsettled and there are unwieldy elements... who violently oppose my homecoming," he added.

Lavina said the new government would uphold previous security guarantees for rebel negotiators while the military said it would support Duterte's peace efforts.

"If it's part of the peace efforts, he (Sison) is welcome to come here. But as for his other enemies, that would be another matter," military spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato told AFP but declined to elaborate.

Senator Antonio Trillanes, a Duterte critic and former military rebel, warned last week that some in the military were "strongly averse" to Duterte's long-standing ties with communists, and that the reaction "could be violent".

Lavina said the Trillanes warning was a personal opinion that "remains to be seen".

The spokesman said Duterte would consider communist figures for his cabinet, where retired military and police figures would also be represented.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f87324%2f5f202c59b1554c13901046bd016bce4d

The image itself is innocuous looking: A circular dent in a window of the station's Cupola against the blackness of space.

But the photograph, which British astronaut Tim Peake took in April, points to a much larger threat that the International Space Station faces as it orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.

SEE ALSO: This graphic shows the massive growth of space junk orbiting Earth since 1957

The chip doesn't present an immediate threat to the astronauts and cosmonauts within the Space Station, and it doesn't stop crew members from taking photos of the incredible view provided by the massive Cupola windows.

But the small piece of space junk  which may have been a bit of fast-moving paint or metal a fraction of a millimeter in diameter, according to the European Space Agency (ESA)  represents the challenge of collisions with human-made debris in orbit.

"An object up to 1 cm in size could disable an instrument or a critical flight system on a satellite," the ESA said.

"Anything above 1 cm could penetrate the shields of the Stations crew modules, and anything larger than 10 cm could shatter a satellite or spacecraft into pieces."

At the moment, there are millions of pieces of space debris swirling around in orbit at speeds of more than 17,000 mph.

The limits of tracking space junk

NASA keeps track of more than 500,000 of the biggest bits of space junk the size of a marble or larger, sometimes directing the Space Station to change its orbit slightly to keep out of the way of a particularly harmful piece of debris.

But there are millions of other pieces of debris too small to be tracked by space agencies around the world, including the small bit that hit the station's window.

Astronauts in space have also documented other evidence of small debris strikes on the Space Station.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield tweeted a photo of a small hole in one of the orbiting outpost's solar panels, which was probably caused by a tiny bit of junk.

Story continues

If Earth-orbit gets too clogged with junk from spent rocket bodies, satellites and other objects, it could pose a real risk for anyone hoping to get functioning spacecraft to space.

To mitigate those risks, scientists around the world are trying to develop technologies to either make spent satellites useful again or "clean up" the debris already floating around in orbit.

Some private spaceflight companies are also trying to do their part by producing reusable rockets that can fly back to Earth after launching a payload to orbit. There are still spent rocket bodies orbiting the planet whose orbits may not degrade for many decades.

The threat of space junk is also compounded by the fact that collisions between pieces of debris in orbit creates even more debris.

In 2007, Chinese officials fired a missile at a defunct weather satellite. That test alone produced more than 3,000 new pieces of junk, according to NASA.

In 2009, a spent Russian satellite impacted an operational commercial satellite, destroying it and producing 2,000 pieces of debris, the space agency added.

To prevent these kinds of debris encounters in the future, space agencies around the world have instituted guidelines to help mitigate the risks to future missions.

These guidelines are applied to all new missions flown by ESA, and include dumping fuel tanks and discharging batteries at the end of a mission, to avoid explosions, and ensuring that satellites reenter the atmosphere and safely burn up within 25 years of the end of their working lives," Holger Krag, head of ESAs space debris office, said in the statement.


Marijuana was first outlawed nationally by the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937. Since 1970, it has been classified an illegal Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act, listed alongside LSD, heroin, and other narcotics.

But in 1996, California became the first state to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, starting a cascade of changes at the state level. As of May 2016, 24 states and D.C. have legalized medical marijuana; four statesColorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaskaand D.C. have also legalized recreational marijuana. In November 2016, more states, including Nevada and Maine, are slated to vote on the issue.

Joining We the People to explore the constitutional issues at stake are two leading experts in the field.

Douglas Berman is the Robert J. Watkins/Procter & Gamble Professor of Law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Randy Barnett is the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center. In April 2016, Barnett participated in a Town Hall event at the Center about his most recent book, Our Republican Constitution; watch the event on this blog, or listen to the event on We the Peoples companion podcast, Live at Americas Town Hall.



Download this episode (right click and save)

This show was engineered by Jason Gregory and produced by Nicandro Iannacci. Research was provided by Josh Waimberg and Danieli Evans. The host of We the People is Jeffrey Rosen.

Get the latest constitutional news, and continue the conversation, on our Facebook page and Twitter feed.

We want to know what you think of the podcast! Email us at editor@constitutioncenter.org.

Please subscribe to We the People on iTunes. While youre in the iTunes Store, leave us a rating and reviewit helps other people discover what we do.

Please also subscribe to Live at Americas Town Hall, featuring conversations and debates presented at the Center, across from Independence Hall in beautiful Philadelphia.

Story continues

We the People is a member of Slates Panoply network. Check out all of our sibling podcasts at iTunes.com/Panoply.

Despite our congressional charter, the National Constitution Center is a private nonprofitwe receive little government support, and we rely on the generosity of people around the country who are inspired by our nonpartisan mission of constitutional debate and education. Please consider becoming a member to support our work, including this podcast. Visit constitutioncenter.org to learn more.

Recent Stories on Constitution Daily

Podcast: Marijuana and the Constitution

Retired Supreme Court Justice Stevens favors legalized marijuana

Busting some myths about the Founding Fathers and marijuana
Jerusalem (AFP) - Police on Thursday arrested 15 Israeli rightwing activists who were planning to go to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound without authorisation, a statement said.

The compound is Islam's third holiest site and the holiest to Jews who call it the Temple Mount.

Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there, and incidents occur regularly when Jews try to ignore the rule and Muslims intervene to stop them.

On Thursday, dozens of rightwing activists gathered in the centre of Jerusalem as part of a plan to head to the flashpoint site, police said.

"A police officers ordered them to disperse but they refused and 15 of them were arrested," the statement said.

Before police intervened, the activists "committed acts of violence" against Palestinians, police said.

"They had formed a human chain to prevent local residents from entering the Old City and committed acts of violence against them," said the statement, which gave no further details.
Delaware school girl killed

A 16-year-old girl died after a fight broke out in the girls' bathroom at a Delaware high school, and authorities have now revealed she died of sudden cardiac death, ABC News reported.

Amy Inita Joyner-Francis, a sophomore at the Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware, had a pre-existing heart condition, and the stress of the assault contributed to her death, according to authorities.

After her death, cell phone video of the altercation emerged, showing Joyner-Francis down on her knees being punched, according to CBS News.

John Deckers, an attorney for one of the 16-year-olds involved in the fight, has said that his client could not have known her actions would result in death.

Deckers' client is being charged with criminally negligent homicide and is accused of hitting Joyner-Francis repeatedly in the head and torso. Prosecutors are aiming to try her as an adult. She is currently under home confinement, according to ABC.

"The altercation was between two teens who knowingly and willingly entered the bathroom for that purpose," he said in a statement to the Associated Press, according to ABC.

"The possible consequence  that a consensual fight, involving no blunt force injuries, could ever result in death due to an unknown, pre-existing medical condition  was entirely unapparent to either girl."

A statement from the school indicated that a "physical altercation" began in the girls' bathroom at 8:15 am on Thursday, April 21.

"She was fighting a girl, and then that's when all these other girls started banking her  like, jumping her  and she hit her head on the sink," Kayla Wilson, a Howard High student in a bathroom stall when the fight broke out, told a local TV station, according to The Associated Press.

Joyner-Francis was then airlifted by helicopter to the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, where she later died.

Story continues

The two other female student involved in the fight are being charged with misdemeanor conspiracy.

Howard High and the surrounding community are mourning Joyner-Francis' death. A memorial page on Facebook was set up for Joyner-Francis, and on Twitter the hashtag "#RIPAmy" began to circulate.

"My heart bleeds for the family," Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams said at a press conference. "Things like this shouldn't happen."





More From Business Insider


VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has agreed to set up a commission into whether women could serve as deacons, local media reported on Thursday, a potentially historic move that could end male dominance of the Roman Catholic clergy. Deacons are ordained clerics who sit just behind priests in the Church hierarchy. They can preach and officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but are not allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick. Attending an international meeting of nuns at the Vatican, the pope was asked why women could not serve as deacons, with one delegate suggesting it would be a good idea to create a commission to study the issue. "I think so. It would be good for the church to clarify this point. I agree," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA. A Vatican spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny the comments. The Church teaches that women cannot become priests because Jesus willingly chose only men as his apostles. However, St. Paul refers in the bible to a deaconess called Phoebe, leading liberal Catholics to argue that there is clear precedent for women to play a much more important role in Church life. Conservative Catholics would likely put up fierce resistance to any such a move, eager to preserve clear and separate roles for men and women within the Church. Pope Francis has stirred concern amongst traditionally minded Catholics over what they perceive as his liberal leanings on a range of issues, from divorce to the use of contraception. Earlier this year he overturned centuries of tradition that banned women from a foot-washing service during Lent, upsetting conservatives and delighting women's rights activists. Speaking to the nuns on Thursday, the Argentinian pontiff said he had once discussed the role of female deacons in the early Church with a professor but remained uncertain about the question. "It was a bit obscure," he said. (Writing by Crispian Balmer Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Reconciliation programs to bring together communities divided by conflict can re-open old wounds and deepen problems such as depression and trauma by reviving war memories, researchers said on Thursday. In the first study of its kind, the researchers analyzed the outcome of a reconciliation program in Sierra Leone between 2011 and 2012, a decade after the country ended its civil war, in which more than 50,000 people were killed and many tens of thousands more were mutilated or raped by fighters. The program, carried out across 100 villages, brought together victims who described violence they experienced and perpetrators who admitted to crimes and asked for forgiveness. While forgiveness toward perpetrators increased, the prevalence of severe trauma among the participants was more than a third higher than among those who didn't take part in the project, said the study, published in the journal Science. "Talking about war atrocities can prove psychologically traumatic for people affected by war," Oeindrila Dube, assistant professor of politics and economics at New York University and one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. "Invoking war memories appears to re-open old war wounds. At the same time, the reconciliation program we examined was also shown to improve social relations in communities divided by the war." The study recorded mental health, social ties and attitudes toward former combatants of nearly 2,400 people, both among those who participated in the program and those who did not. Among the benefits of the program the study noted increased forgiveness toward perpetrators, better relationships between community members and increased participation in community groups and religious organizations. The researchers from Georgetown University, New York University, World Bank and the non-profit Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) said reconciliation programs should be redesigned to reduce their negative impact. "Policymakers may need to restructure reconciliation processes in ways that reduce their negative psychological costs, while retaining their positive societal benefits," Annie Duflo, IPA executive director, said in a statement. (Reporting by Magdalena Mis; Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
The chicken industry has consistently increased in sales and consumption across the United States since the 1960s, with Americans overwhelmingly purchasing the poultry more than beef and other meat products. One would think the backbone of the burgeoning industry, the factory employees who work each day manufacturing their product, would see the benefits of such great success  instead, they're being feared into wearing diapers to avoid losing their jobs, while working in unsanitary, unsafe conditions.

Oxfam America's recently released report, "No Relief," and Debbie Berkowitz's inside look at factory conditions for Quartz reveals one major consistent factor in the industry for workers: They're not allowed to take a bathroom break.

@TysonFoods: let your workers take bathroom breaks when they need to! #GiveThemABreakpic.twitter.com/UmStGVQA0S https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiIUCUpWsAEbWZ2.jpg:large

"Not only is it embarrassing and degrading, it's also extremely uncomfortable to feel the warm urine in the frigid environment and to wear wet clothing in 40 degree temperatures," Berkowitz wrote. "While the poultry industry enjoys record profits and pumps out billions of chickens, life inside the processing plant remains grim and dangerous."

Oxfam America supports the plight of the chicken factory employees. The report also notes there are four companies with a stronghold on the poultry market: Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's, Perdue and Sanderson Farms, who control 60% of the industry.

The organization is now campaigning against Tyson Foods, demanding the corporation to allow its employees to take bathroom breaks, as well as safer working conditions, using the hashtag #GiveThemABreak across social media.

"Tyson and other leading poultry companies seem to think bathroom breaks are a job perk," one ad notes. "Tyson: Get real. Give your workers a break."
A right-wing Hindu group in India held a spiritual ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday asking Hindu gods to make Trump win the election, the Associated Press rep

Source: The Quint/Youtube

Why? The religious group believes the tough-on-terrorism candidate is the world's only hope.

Source: Saurabh Das/AP

"The whole world is screaming against Islamic terrorism, and even India is not safe from it," Vishnu Gupta, founder of the Hindu Sena nationalist group, told the AP.

"Only Donald Trump can save humanity."

"I have been a follower of his speeches and the world needs a strong leader like him to be able to counter Islamic terror groups," Gupta told the Hindustan Times. "Especially for a country like ours, which has bitter relations with our neighbors, we need a strong anti-terror policy to keep the terrorists at bay."

Source: Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images

They performed a h

involved

A large banner explained that the group supports the boisterous candidate "because he is hope for humanity against Islamic terror."

Source: Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images

It appears the Hindu Sena members forgot that Trump "I and the country "ripped us off" in trade, along with Mexico, China, Japan, Vietnam and "every country."
May 12 (Reuters) - 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

* EU antitrust regulators blocked on Wednesday CK Hutchison Holdings' planned 10.3 billion-pound ($14.87-billion) acquisition of O2 from Spain's Telefonica, saying the deal would have led to higher mobile phone prices in Britain. (http://bit.ly/1TAocS4)

* Philip Green and the independent trustee chairman of the BHS pension fund have accused the head of the Pensions Regulator of getting her facts wrong. (http://bit.ly/1UU5LNt)

The Guardian

* The Serious Fraud Office said on Wednesday a court order restricting publicity of the guilty plea of Peter Johnson had been lifted five weeks into the London trial of five other former Barclays bankers on Libor rigging charges. (http://bit.ly/1TAoCb8)

* Leading British construction firms have formally apologised to hundreds of trade unionists for putting them on an illegal blacklist and denying them work. (http://bit.ly/1TAozMH)

The Telegraph

* Heathrow airport has claimed a compromise offer it has made to scrap night flights is "better" than a ban proposed by the Government-appointed Airports Commission, as it battles to secure backing for a controversial third runway. (http://bit.ly/1TAoFUz)

* Governments must step up their fight against corruption or face damaging economic and social consequences that risks tipping more countries into crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund has warned. (http://bit.ly/1TAoLvf)

Sky News

* The chief executive of Tesco has been awarded an annual bonus of nearly 3 million pounds after Britain's biggest grocer moved back into profit after notching up the biggest loss in its history a year earlier. (http://bit.ly/1TAoJDC)

* Japanese carmaker Nissan told Sky News it would not comment on a claim by Japanese broadcaster NHK that Nissan may invest more than $1.8 billion in its rival Mitsubishi Motors . (http://bit.ly/1TAoKYp)

Story continues

The Independent

* A Muppet-themed ad by mobile phone provider Three has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority after rival EE complained over its claim to be the "undisputed" most reliable network. (http://ind.pn/1TAoOHu)

* Uber users can now book wheelchair-friendly cars in London for the first time. (http://ind.pn/1TAoPuX)

($1 = 0.6926 pounds) (Compiled by Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
From Esquire

Original post below (5/11/16):

The day before he was found dead in a Paisley Park elevator, Prince saw a Minneapolis-area doctor who had prescribed him medication, according to court records obtained by the Los Angeles Times. That doctor was also at Prince's Paisley Park compound to deliver test results on the morning of his death.

The doctor, Michael Todd Schulenberg, specializes in family medicine and also saw Prince on April 7, the day he canceled a show in Atlanta. During these two visits, Schulenberg performed tests and prescribed medication for an undisclosed ailment. He prescribed medication to Prince on April 20, though, the warrant does not note if the prescription was ever filled. Schulenberg's LinkedIn profile has been made private. He no longer works for the North Memorial Health Care system where he was a family healthcare provider, a spokeswoman told the L.A. Times. Schulenberg has no disciplinary history, and The New York Times reports that there are no allegations of wrongdoing on his part.

Prince's cause of death may still be weeks away, according to authorities. Last week, a family lawyer said that Prince was scheduled to see a leading opioid addiction treatment doctor the day after he was found dead. In the interest of speed, the California doctor sent his son, Andrew Kornfeld, to Minnesota to meet with Prince. When Kornfeld arrived at Paisley Park, however, he was one of the three people who discovered Prince's body.

With autopsy and toxicology results still pending, authorities are focusing on painkillers as the cause of Prince's death. Last month, a family attorney told authorities that Prince had a "substantial" problem with painkillers and cocaine for at least a decade. While those close to him-including longtime band members and a limo driver-claim they had never seen Prince take drugs, other unnamed sources familiar with the investigation say "painkillers may have taken a toll on the musician during his final weeks."

Late last month, the DEA became involved in the case after investigators reported that prescription painkillers were found in Prince's possession when he died.
A Sumatran rhino gave birth to a female calf at a sanctuary in Indonesia on Thursday, taking the critically endangered species a step further away from extinction.

The baby was born at 5:40 am on western Sumatra island, and within hours was walking around and feeding from its mother, authorities said.

It was the second baby born to rhino Ratu. Her previous birth four years ago marked the first time a Sumatran rhino had been born in an Asian breeding facility for more than 140 years.

The new calf and Ratu, whose name means "Queen" in Indonesian, were both in good health although the mother looked "exhausted", the government said.

"We are very thankful for this birth, as Sumatran rhinos are rare animals," environment ministry spokesman Novrizal Tahar told AFP.

Ratu was observed stretching in her maternity pen in recent days, a signal her long-anticipated delivery was nearing.

The birth took around two hours. Just two hours after being born, the calf -- which has not yet been named -- began walking and feeding, according a statement from the forestry ministry.

The birth "demonstrates the government of Indonesia's commitment, in cooperation with the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, towards rhino conservation efforts in Indonesia," it added.

- Under threat -

Sumatran rhinos are extremely rare, with just 100 believed to exist in the world. The birth is a major boon for the species, which last year was declared extinct in Malaysia.

Ratu, a wild rhino who wandered out of the rainforest and into the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park a decade ago, had become pregnant after meeting with Andalas, a male rhino at the park.

Ratu's first baby, Andatu, was born at the sanctuary in 2012.

Births of Sumatran rhinos in captivity are rare. Thursday's birth was only the fifth of a Sumatran rhino in a breeding facility.

Despite being the smallest of the five remaining rhino species, Sumatran rhinos have very long pregnancies that last about 16 months.

Story continues

Harapan -- the brother of Andalas -- was transferred from the United States to the Sumatran sanctuary last November in the hope he would find a mate.

In March, environmentalists made physical contact with a Sumatran rhino on the Indonesian part of Borneo island for the first time in 40 years, but it died a month later.

Covered in woolly hair ranging from reddish brown to black in colour, Sumatran rhinos are the only Asian rhinoceroses with two horns.

While Javan rhinos are considered the world's rarest, Sumatran rhinos are under increasing threat.

They are targeted by poachers as their horns and other body parts fetch high prices on the black market for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, their rainforest habitat on Sumatra island is being destroyed due to the rapid expansion of palm oil and pulp and paper plantations.
Jared Dillian's Key Insights on Recent Market Trends

(Continued from Prior Part)

The Market plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

According to Jared Dillian of Mauldin Economics, the Market is playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In January, when Market participants were worried about global (VTI) (VEU) (ACWI) economic growth, they assumed that 2016 would be a painful year. However, global markets recovered from their respective lows.

Commodity (DBC) (USCI) (BCX) and crude oil (USO) (UCO) (UWTI) prices have also recovered from their respective lows. Dillian points out that only in financial markets can one thing be true in January and the complete opposite thing can be true in April.

Whats the difference between Januarys and Aprils Market conditions?

In January and February 2016, the S&P 500 Indexs valuation fell to 15.1x and 15.14x, respectively. On February 11, the S&P 500 Index lost 188 points from 2016s high and fell to its lowest level of 2016. That period witnessed a heavy sell-off across different sectors. However, just two months later, the S&P 500 Index is moving closer to its 2016 high. On April 25, the indexs valuation was 17.1x. The graph above shows the turnaround in valuation as well as the price performance of the S&P 500 Index.

Why intellectual flexibility is required to invest in todays Market

Dillian says that investing in todays Market requires several qualities, including intellectual flexibility. Investors should be able to hold two opposite ideas at the same time. Very few people have this quality. Those who do have made money in contrasting Market scenarios. According to Dillian, the real Market is in between Januarys Market and Aprils Market.

In the next article in this series, well analyze why investing in Canada also requires intellectual flexibility.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Insurgents captured an Alawite village from government control in western Syria on Thursday and abducted civilians living there, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Government forces and their allies were still fighting insurgents nearby after the capture of al-Zara, which lies close to a main highway linking the western cities of Homs and Hama, the British-based monitoring group said. Several government fighters and a number of the rebels, who included the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, had been killed and government warplanes and helicopters were carrying out air raids in and around al-Zara, it said. The insurgents had also captured government fighters. The village of al-Zara is about 35 km (22 miles) north of Homs and a similar distance south of Hama. Government forces and their allies have battled insurgents around the highway between the two cities, and towns in the area were among the first hit when Russia's air force intervened in the Syrian war last September. The Observatory said the insurgent attack was part of an assault they called "revenge for Aleppo", a reference to the northern city where an escalation of violence by both government aligned forces and insurgents has killed scores of people in recent weeks. (Writing by Tom Perry and John Davison; Editing by Louise Ireland)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - An aid convoy was refused entry to a besieged Syrian town on Thursday, the Red Cross and United Nations said, blocking what would have been the first supplies to its residents for more than three years. The organizations said their joint delivery was stopped at the last government checkpoint on the way into Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus. The town is held by rebels and besieged by government forces. The United Nations said this month that Syria's government was refusing U.N. demands to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of people. "Despite having obtained prior clearance by all parties that it could proceed," the convoy was not allowed through, a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and U.N. said. "Daraya has been the site of relentless fighting ... and we know the situation there is desperate", said Yacoub El Hillo, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria. "Civilians trapped here are in need of humanitarian aid. We were hoping that today's delivery of life-saving assistance would have been a first step and lead to more aid being allowed in." The ICRC's Syria head, Marianne Gasser, said it was "tragic that even the basics we were bringing today are being delayed". The supplies included medical aid, nutrition items for children and hygiene kits. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said government forces shelled parts of Daraya on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the government. The town borders a military airport used by Russian planes which have been conducting air strikes since September to support President Bashar al-Assad in the five-year-old civil war. U.N. experts estimate around 4,000 civilians are trapped there, senior U.N. official Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva on Thursday, before news emerged of the blocked convoy. The United Nations was hoping to send assessment teams into other besieged areas across Syria in coming days, but was struggling to reach people caught up in new crises still emerging in the conflict, he added. Teams had also so far failed to reach the al Waer suburb of the city of Homs, which Egeland said seemed to meet the criteria for a siege: full military encirclement, no humanitarian access and no movement for the civilian population in or out of the area. "Al Waer is one of these places where heartbreaking things happen, where we have a convoy fully loaded, standing for days as it did last week, with supplies that we know there is a desperate need for. And then in the end you are told you have to unload," he said. In total, U.N. aid convoys still did not have government permission to reach around half the 905,000 people they want to help, Egeland said. In one small step forward, a U.N. de-mining assessment mission had visited the central city of Palmyra, recently re-taken from Islamic State, and de-mining might soon be allowed, Egeland told reporters. The United Nations had also received a conditional green light to go into Arbin, Zamalka and Zabadin, but with supplies for fewer people than were in the towns, he added. (Reporting by John Davison; Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Montreal (AFP) - The threat posed by the massive fire that led to the evacuation of Fort McMurray, Canada has diminished, but it will take time before residents can return home, officials said Thursday.

Rescue crews have restored electricity downtown but still must do the same for gas and drinking water, as well as the sewer system.

"As the immediate threat has been reduced, we're shifting to stabilization and recovery for reentree when it's safe to do so," the province of Alberta's Minister of Municipal Affairs Danielle Larivee said during a press conference.

Government inspectors must finish examining 520 houses and buildings that suffered damage, in addition to the 2,400 completely destroyed by the flames.

Meanwhile, the only hospital for hundreds of kilometers (miles) was damaged by water and smoke, and must also be cleaned, she said.

The entire city of 100,000 people was evacuated last week. Its suburbs suffered major damage, but the city center was largely spared.

"I know that this is not the news that Fort McMurray and area residents wanted to hear. But this is what we need to do to ensure safety," Larivee said.

She added that the government will present a detailed plan of return for the evacuees in approximately 10 days.

The 850 firefighters deployed to the area are battling priority hot spots around the city thanks to infrared surveillance, said Chad Morrison, director of the province's fire services.

The main blaze, which has destroyed 2,410 square kilometers (925 square miles) in a dozen days, continued to stretch eastward Thursday, ravaging uninhabited zones just 25 kilometers from the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, Fort McMurray fire chief Darby Allen said.
Baghdad (AFP) - Hundreds of residents of a neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital rocked by a devastating bombing that killed dozens of people held a protest Thursday, blaming the government for the carnage.

Most of the demonstrators were supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who has a massive following in Sadr City, the area where at least 64 people were killed in a car bomb blast on Wednesday.

The attack, the worst to hit the Iraqi capital this year, was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, but the demonstrators blamed Iraq's political leaders.

"What happened is a reaction by the politicians, because we entered parliament," said Umm Abbas, a 38-year-old woman whose brother was killed in the bombing.

On April 30, Sadr supporters who had been protesting for weeks to demand a cabinet reshuffle and reforms broke into the fortified Green Zone and stormed parliament.

"Politicians threatened us publicly and we thought there would be a campaign of arrests, but it seems they carried out this explosion instead," Umm Abbas said.

"It wasn't Daesh (behind the explosion, it's the politicians," said Abu Ali al-Zaidi, 45, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

He and some of the other demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghaban.

Some of the protesters who did not go as far of accusing the government of plotting the bombing nonetheless charged that too little was being done to prevent such attacks.

"The government is supposed to put in place certain procedures to protect the people, but they are not offering anything," said Sheikh Kadhim Jassem, 72.

Two other bombings in Baghdad claimed 30 more lives on Wednesday.

Iraq has thousands of security personnel deployed in the capital, but searches at checkpoints are cursory if they take place at all, and fake bomb detectors are still in widespread use.

A months-old political crisis in Iraq has led to repeated mass demonstrations and has hampered the functioning of the government at a time when the country is battling IS jihadists on several fronts.

Story continues

Security forces are currently engaged in large-scale military operations in the provinces of Anbar and Nineveh, where IS's two major remaining hubs in Iraq are located.

Iraqi forces have regained significant ground from IS, which overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014.

But the jihadists still control significant territory in western Iraq, and are able to carry out frequent bombings in government-held areas.

The United States and the United Nations have warned the political impasse could undermine the fight against IS.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Operations at a South African Rio Tinto mine producing titanium dioxide resumed on Thursday after a five-day interruption caused by community protests, the company said in a statement. Members of the community blocked roads outside the Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation demanding the company create more jobs for locals on Saturday. "We are pleased to share that after successfully engaging with both the Mbonambi and Sokhulu communities, we resolved the community protest challenge," RBM spokeswoman Fundi Dlamini said. The company, the community and a government representative agreed on "certain action items that will be implemented over the coming weeks", RBM said. RBM is 74 percent owned by Rio and is part of its Iron & Titanium unit, the world's top producer of titanium dioxide feedstock, cast iron, steel and metal powders from operations in Canada, South Africa and Madagascar. Titanium dioxide is used mainly to produce titanium pigment, the most commonly used white pigment. It is used to add capacity to paper, paints and plastics. (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; editing by Jason Neely)
How Do Steel Industry Indicators Look amid 1Q16 Earnings?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Rising scrap prices

Steel imports can either be in the form of semifinished, finished, or value-added steel products. Ingots, slabs, blooms, and billets form part of semifinished steel products. These products have to be further worked on before end consumers can use them.

ArcelorMittal (MT) imports semifinished steel slabs to the United States (IVW) from its facilities in Brazil. This semifinished steel is then used as a raw material for its Calvert facility, a steel plant located in Alabama.

Raw material prices

Steel scrap prices have risen sharply this year, as can be seen in the graph above. This has made using alternate raw materials more economical for steel companies. Imports of blooms, billets, and slabs rose by more than 170% month-over-month in March. Higher scrap prices could be the reason behind more semifinished steel imports.

Furthermore, higher imports of these products are associated with rising domestic steel production. Ultimately, these semifinished products will be further processed by US steel companies. In a nutshell, more imports of these products can be positive for US steel companies.

Impact on steel companies

As raw material prices, including iron ore and coal, have firmed up over the last couple of months, integrated steelmakers could be in play now. Companies like U.S. Steel Corporation (X), ArcelorMittal, and POSCO (PKX), which also have backend integrated iron ore mining operations, would stand to gain from higher raw material prices. However, AK Steel (AKS), which sources iron ore from third parties, could see its unit production costs rise in line with rising iron ore prices.

One of the factors driving steel and iron ore prices has been the buoyancy in the Chinese steel industry. In the next part of this series, well explore some of the recent indicators of the Chinese economy.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
Ross Stores Inc. ROST is slated to release first-quarter fiscal 2016 results on May 19. Last quarter, the company had delivered a positive earnings surprise of 3.1%. In fact, the company has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 4.6% over the trailing four quarters. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.





Factors Influencing this Quarter



Ross Stores, which has been gaining from the favorable response of value-focused customers to its extensive collection of brand bargains and efficient cost controls, remains confident of its future performance. However, management had issued a cautious outlook for fiscal 2016, as it expects to face challenges related to strong comparisons, amid macroeconomic uncertainty and a volatile retail landscape.



For the first quarter, the company projects earnings in the range of 6972 cents per share, reflecting flat to 4% year-over-year growth. Total sales are expected to increase 45%, with comparable store sales rising 12%.



Earnings Whispers



Our proven model does not conclusively show that Ross is likely to beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. This is not the case here, as you will see below:



Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for Ross Stores is currently pegged at 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 73 cents.



Zacks Rank: Ross Stores Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) increases the predictive power of ESP. However, the companys ESP of 0.00% 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 Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates



Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:



Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY, which is scheduled to release earnings on May 24, 2016, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an Earnings ESP of +2.94%.



DSW Inc. DSW, slated to release earnings on May 24, 2016, currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +2.17%.



PVH Corp. PVH, slated to release earnings on May 25, 2016, currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.40%.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
What Will Drive AbbVie's Valuations in 2016?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Peak sales

AbbVie (ABBV) expects investigational drug Rova-T (rovalpituzumab tesirine) to generate $5 billion in peak sales if its approved by regulatory authorities.

Peak sales is an estimate of the maximum annual revenue that an investigational drug can earn in its complete life cycle. If Rova-T manages to realize its peak sales projections, it could boost AbbVies share price as well as the price of the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW). AbbVie makes up about 0.59% of IVWs total portfolio holdings.

Multiple indications

The above table shows the various types of solid tumors that may be treated with Rova-T due to the high percentage of cancer patients displaying DLL3 expression. According to an AbbVie investor presentation, Rova-T is a targeted antibody drug conjugate [ADC] directed to a novel cancer antigen, DLL3, expressed in numerous solid tumor types.

Medscape explains functioning of ADCs as a broad class of molecules comprising a potent cytotoxic agent conjugated with a monoclonal antibody using a chemically stable linker. By selecting a monoclonal antibody directed against a tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigen, ADCs allow the targeted delivery of highly potent cytotoxic agents that result in unacceptable toxicity when administered as free agents.

To know more about the various types of oncology therapies, you can refer to Key Therapies for Cancer Will Determine Biotechnologys Profits.

Rova-T is expected to be very effective for the treatment of SCLC (small cell lung cancer), as 80% of patients display DLL3 expression. In addition to tumor cells, Rova-T can also effectively target cancer stem cells. According to the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan, cancer stem cells are described as those specific cells which cause cancer tumors to grow.

Rova-T is currently being explored as a third-line therapy for SCLC, and its expected to launch in 2018. Its strong clinical profile is expected to enable AbbVie to give tough competition to other oncology players such as Celgene (CELG), Amgen (AMGN), and Merck & Co. (MRK).

Browse this series on Market Realist:
While the short-handed Kansas City Royals have started to show some life offensively, the New York Yankees' rash of injuries may be catching up to them.

The Royals haven't needed to score a ton of runs for Ian Kennedy.

The former Yankee will try to help Kansas City win back-to-back games for the first time in almost three weeks and earn a series split Thursday night in the Bronx.

Since totaling 16 runs and hitting .233 with two homers over an eight-game stretch, the Royals (16-17) scored 28 and hit .282 with 10 home runs in the past five. They've spent the past six without Mike Moustakas, who has a team-high seven long balls.

Salvador Perez set a positive tone Wednesday with a first-inning three-run homer, Lorenzo Cain stayed hot with two RBIs and Eric Hosmer added two hits in a 7-3 win that snapped a three-game losing streak. Cain is 11 for 25 over his last six and Hosmer is batting .362 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his past 16.

The Yankees (13-19) averaged 6.3 runs over the previous four games before finishing with seven hits and going 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

Mark Teixeira might help if he's able to return after missing his second straight game due to neck spasms. Jacoby Ellsbury isn't ready because of a strained hip that has cost him the past five and Alex Rodriguez is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Yankees will try to avoid settling for a split of this four-game series while facing Kennedy (4-2, 2.13 ERA), who spent his first three seasons with New York. He ranks among the AL leaders in ERA and opponent batting average (.209).

The right-hander is looking to win three straight starts for the first time since September 2014 after giving up one run over 12 innings in his last two. He allowed four hits and struck out six over seven in Saturday's 7-0 win at Cleveland.

"It's hard to throw shutouts," Kennedy, who retired 14 in a row at one point, told MLB's official website. "You try to put up some zeros, but it's not easy. You don't really go out with that intent. You go out and try to get guys out one at a time."

Story continues

Brian McCann is 5 for 16 with two home runs off Kennedy, who hasn't faced New York since August 2013. Starlin Castro is 1 for 10 in the matchup since 2013, while Carlos Beltran's only two hits in 10 at-bats since 2012 were homers.

Beltran is one home run shy of 400 for his career after going 6 for 13 with three solo shots and two doubles over the first three games of this series.

New York's Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 4.78) hopes to build on Saturday's performance when he limited Boston to two runs over eight innings in an 8-2 home win. He threw 77 of his 107 pitches for strikes and topped 100 mph five times.

"When I'm able to locate (my fastball) inside and outside and do that, I feel like I'm able to get a lot more quicker outs," the right-hander said.

Eovaldi was solid in his only meeting with the Royals, allowing one run over seven innings in a 14-1 home win May 25.
(Recasts with managers' best trades; adds stock picks of additional managers, background on investments)

By Lawrence Delevingne and Svea Herbst-Bayliss

LAS VEGAS, May 12 (Reuters) - Hedge fund managers on Thursday named some of their recent investments, including a bet that shares of American Airlines Group would fall and shares of both Chinese Internet company Tencent and chipmaker Xilinx would rise, in addresses at one of the industry's most prominent conferences.

John Lykouretzos, who runs $2.8 billion Hoplite Capital Management Lp, disclosed his negative case against American Airlines, which helped push the stock down as much as 4.7 percent on Thursday.

Calling the company the "most compelling short in the U.S. airline industry," Lykouretzos said American's costs are too high, that it is the most exposed airline to rising oil prices, and it has the highest leverage compared to its peers.

An American airlines spokesman, Josh Freed, responding to Lykouretzos, referred Reuters to recent comments from Chief Executive Doug Parker on a company earnings call.

Parker on that call said American was "purchasing our shares because we are bullish on the stock," and said "the industry is well undervalued," adding, "We think American Airlines has more upside than anyone else in the industry."

Lykouretzos was one of a handful of prominent managers speaking at the annual SkyBridge Alternatives Conference in Las Vegas, four months into a difficult year where the average hedge fund has lost money and some big-name investors are rethinking their commitment to them.

The managers did not provide details on when they invested in particular companies or at what price.

Fears about a possible recession in the United States and slower growth in China have contributed to unpredictable markets that have left many managers nursing losses.

But there are still good opportunities, the managers told the conference where about 2,000 investors, managers and others crowded in to hear who is picking what.

Story continues

John Burbank, who runs $4.1 billion Passport Capital and has often invested abroad, said he is betting on Tencent, calling it the "dominant Internet play" with six of the most popular smart-phone apps.

Clifton Robbins of $3.5 billion Blue Harbour Group said he likes Xilinx and was buying more as recently as Thursday. He noted that the company has some $2 billion in cash and said the stock is undervalued, which would make a case for the company buying back some of its own stock.

Activist investors like Blue Harbour have called on many chief executives to buy back their own stock. Robbins also said Xilinx is the last independent chip company after Intel Corp and Altera merged. Xilinx's unique standing could prompt takeover bids, he said.

Jim Chanos, who runs Kynikos Associates and built his reputation on a successful bet against Enron, spoke again about his short play on Cheniere Energy Inc, saying the stock is still "crazy expensive."

Burbank said he's betting against large Chinese companies via the iShares China Large-Cap ETF to hedge out some of what he called "old China risk."

Meanwhile, Scott Ferguson, who runs $4 billion Sachem Head Capital Management, said his activist firm exited its bet on animal healthcare company Zoetis Inc in the first quarter.

Sachem brought the idea on Zoetis to the attention of Pershing Square's William Ackman and both made an investment in 2014. Ferguson said his fund had made money on the bet and Zoetis was very responsive to the activists' suggestions, but it was time to move on and find other opportunities.

Pershing Square recently reduced its holding in Zoetis.

Teresa Barger, chief executive officer of Cartica Management, repeated that her firm is invested in Taiwanese company Voltronic Power.

Jeff Smith of Starboard Value spoke again about his firm's most prominent investment, Yahoo Inc. Starboard recently reached an agreement with Yahoo under which Starboard will get board seats. Smith said his job as a new board member is to improve the strength of Yahoo's core business.

(Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne and Svea Herbst; Editing by Chris Reese, Tom Brown and Leslie Adler)
In just over three years, the @SoSadToday Twitter account has accumulated over 345k followers. Pumping out a brand of pessimism relatable to most neurotic, Western twenty somethings with a partial to moderate internet addiction and a low sense of self worth (hey, there are a lot of us!), it coined a whole new brand of internet speak. Just gonna do this to make sure it's still a bad idea writes @SoSadToday; Its not my fault I was born: a musical. In a couple dozen characters, and with razor sharp wit and concision, the lid is lifted on the thoughts we think but dont say.

In a May 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, the voice behind @SoSadToday exposed herself as Melissa Broder, an American poet in her thirties who lives in LA. Broder decided to give up her anonymity as our favourite iPhone-era existentialist because shes written a book  also titled So Sad Today  and because, as she puts it in the interview, "Sadness is universal. Sadness is not a meme."

So Sad Today reads as an autobiographical romp through Broders inbox and psyche. A chapter will relay an entire romantic relationship with a stranger that played out via slightly surreal sext messages. Another chapter outlines her fetish for vomiting and another details her history of having panic attacks. It reminds me of Elizabeth Wurtzels famous novel Prozac Nation  a slightly self indulgent but poignant meditation on mental illness littered with dark humour and pscyho-babble, and at other times, a deeply comforting and necessary read for anyone who has ever experienced anxiety, addiction or depression.

Whether youre a fan of the divisive @SoSadToday or not, it's interesting to hear from Broder because she is warm, open and animated  hardly synonymous with her internet persona. That character is just a part of me, she tells me over the phone from LA. For the sum of Broders parts, I called her up to ask why she decided to unleash total honesty in her writing, what the response has been like, and how it feels to be tethered to a Twitter account.

Story continues

So Sad Today is an extremely intimate memoir. Were there ever moments when you were writing the book and thought, maybe I shouldnt put this in?

I lived in New York for 10 years and I would always type my poems on my phone when I was on the subway. But then, when I moved to LA, I was always driving, so I began speaking into my phone. The voice became more conversational, I wasnt doing line breaks any more and I didnt think about how people were going to be reading it.

It was only after the advanced copies came out that I realised all of this information was going to be out there. The chapter that I felt most scared about was the vomit fetish chapter... Like if a former boss or my aunt is reading that I just want to rip it out of the book. Im not saying the essays are like diary entries, because I made a lot of edits, but I couldnt write it if I didnt do it as truthfully as I did. Emotional safety, to me, meant honesty and trying not to put on a mask.

Who would you least like to read the book?

My parents... theyre the only people I told theyre not allowed to read it. A parent shouldnt know everything about their child.

Did you think about the audience, or were you writing for yourself?

I must be a very self-centred person, but so much of my creative work starts as a necessity to save my own life. The Twitter feed started when I was having a harrowing cycle of panic attacks that wouldnt abate for months and all the things I tried  drugs and alcohol, a psychiatrist, medication, meditation, therapy  they werent enough. So I started the Twitter to throw this stuff I was experiencing into the void and use creativity as a coping tool.

In one essay I wrote for a VICE column I had, I talk about a Danish writer who says depression is like having antlers  your thoughts are overgrown for your mind. Poetry makes me feel like I can alchemise that energy. You can feel so alone in your anxiety and totally powerless, but writing gives me a sense of meaning and control over something I have no control over. So Ive never written to save lives or to help other people but I think when youre really honest, that can be a nice side effect.

found inner peace jk  so sad today (@sosadtoday) April 30, 2016

Did writing the book teach you anything about yourself?

I think one thing that the whole So Sad Today experience has taught me is that art is and isnt life. You might think that Id have less shame around the way I feel now because all these people are commending me for being so honest. But I think any confidence Ive garnered from the book happens in fleeting doses. A good review will make me go for a run and feel like Im the shit, but that feeling goes away quickly. Self esteem is an inside job  no amount of attention and validation can give that to you and this whole process has reminded me of that.

In So Sad Today , you talk about how social media likes can give you a dopamine hit. Is having a successful Twitter account the same being addicted to a drug in that you build up a tolerance to that?

When one of my friends is having a bad day Ill retweet them to give them that dopamine bump, and theyll get a ton of new follows and say This is like cocaine. Ive always been more of a downers person than an uppers person. Heroin addicts use and say they are just trying to get well, that theyre just taking enough to feel OK. For me the internet is the same  it doesnt get me high anymore, it just keeps me level. Im totally used to it.

how to make me fall in love:

1. text me

2. fuck me

3. don't text me  so sad today (@sosadtoday) April 28, 2016

You riff a lot off how a lack of communication from someone can make you feel down. If youre already an anxious person, doesnt cultivating a big online presence just induce more anxiety?

I always say that the internet giveth and the internet taketh away. Ive found connections with people I wasnt able to have in my real life  a level of intimacy  but then at the same time the internet can make me less able to cope with existing in the flesh because Ill be looking for the button I need to hit to close a conversation and its not there.

How has giving up your anonymity affected how you feel?

I waited as long as I possibly could before coming out  I even made the publisher redact my name in the catalogues. I think what I was most afraid of was that people would be disappointed. Its always that fear of not being enough. Even recently I was at a restaurant and people at a table were talking about So Sad Today and the friends I was with told her it was me. I felt like the woman was disappointed. Now I feel like I'm just waiting to be judged...

Despite being about a serious issue  mental health  the book is very humorous. It made me laugh a lot. Is humour a coping mechanism?

Having a dark sense of humour has helped and hurt me. I will use my sense of humour as a way not to let people in. It says, Its okay, Ive got this! when Im suffering. Then Ill find myself on the phone with a hotline. Sarcasm is a defence mechanism, but its also a way to connect with people. You can turn a shit into a lotus with humour. Its a way of controlling a narrative you may have no other way of having control over. Its both.

You write very personally and you are obviously comfortable talking about yourself, yet so many people say they can empathise with you  does that negate your experience as a truly personal one?

Human emotions are universal but there is only a certain amount of them. A lot of So Sad Today came out of me feeling like wearing a mask socially or professionally  it felt like there was this part of me that I just couldnt reveal. I dont feel like So Sad Today is a character, just a part of me I couldnt air. In real life, I smile a lot and people are always surprised by that. So Sad Today might seem homogenous in its depressive world view, but thats because its just one part of me. Me being confessional isnt me trying to shock, its a defence mechanism... I can say what is the absolute truth and not be shunned by society then maybe my truth is OK.

Who would you most want to read the book?

People who feel like theyre the only one.

So Sad Today is out on May 12

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MILAN (Reuters) - Italian luxury goods group Salvatore Ferragamo (SFER.MI) said it appointed as new chief executive former Furla head Eraldo Poletto, credited for a doubling of sales at the accessibly-priced handbag maker in the last five years.

Ferragamo on Thursday posted a larger-than-expected 5 percent rise in first quarter core profit but weak markets in Europe and Asia pushed revenues down 2 percent to 321 million euros, both at constant and current exchange rates, just below a Thomson Reuters forecast of 326 million euros.

Chairman Ferruccio Ferragamo told analysts that Poletto would take over from Michele Norsa, who has led the Florence-based group since 2006 and who is leaving for personal reasons, on August 2..

Since listing in 2011 Ferragamo shares have doubled in value. However, the stock is down 9 percent this year as the luxury industry grapples with slower economic growth in China, plunging oil prices and security threats that have hurt tourism.

Revenues fell 3 percent in Asia Pacific, the biggest market for Ferragamo, hit by ongoing weakness in Hong Kong and Macao although Japanese sales grew pushed by Chinese tourist spending.

The brand, which has many shops in airports, said sales in Europe fell 4 percent in January to March due to fewer tourists.

Outgoing CEO Norsa told analysts April was showing an improvement in comparable store sales after a drop in the first quarter. But he added, "the market it still volatile and it is difficult to gauge performance for the first half of the year."

Looking ahead, Norsa said Ferragamo would focus on increasing profitability rather than on raising sales, in order to maintain the brand's positioning.

To cut costs, the group is trying to lower shop rents, especially in China, and Norsa said that lease renegotiations would lead to savings in "high single digit millions".

Despite falling revenues, Ferragamo reported higher earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 64 million euros (51 million pounds) in the first three months of the year, topping a 60 million euro analyst estimate.

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The EBITDA margin rose to 20 percent of revenues from a previous 19 percent.

Poletto is leaving family-owned Furla, where he has been since 2010, as it takes first steps towards a listing on the Milan bourse, expected in 2017.

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Valentina Za and Alexandra Hudson)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Sanofi (SASY.PA) is recalling some batches of its painkiller Combiflam in India after the country's drugs regulator found the lots were substandard, the French drugmaker's local unit (SANO.NS) said on Thursday.

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said in notices posted on its website in February and April that it had found some batches of Combiflam to be "not of standard quality" as they failed disintegration tests.

Disintegration tests are used to test the time it takes for tablets and capsules to break down inside the body, and are used as a quality-assurance measure in pharmaceuticals, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Combiflam is a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen, and is one of Sanofi's five biggest brands in India, according to the company's latest available annual report dated March 2015.

The drug batches cited by the CDSCO were manufactured in June 2015 and July 2015, and carried expiry dates of May 2018 and June 2018, according to the notices. Sanofi manufactured them at a factory in Ankleshwar, western India.

"In the case of Combiflam, though the disintegration time was delayed, doctors and patients can be assured that there is no impact on the safety and efficacy of the product," a Sanofi spokeswoman said in an email to Reuters.

She added that the company had taken "suitable measures" to address the issue, without elaborating.

Sanofi India's shares were down 2 percent in early trade on Thursday.

(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Stephen Coates)
MANNHEIM, Germany (Reuters) - SAP, Europe's largest software company, expects its enterprise cloud business to break even this year, its chief executive said on Thursday.

"Over the past year, less investment was necessary and revenues increased significantly," Chief Executive Bill McDermott told SAP's annual shareholders' meeting, referring to SAP's HANA Enterprise Cloud, its Internet-based software.

"We are already increasing profitability, expecting break-even this year and 40 percent gross margin in the mid-term," McDermott said.

He also reiterated that SAP's business networks, which include ecommerce specialist Ariba, contract staffing firm Fieldglass and staff travel and expenses manager Concur, will reach 80 percent gross margin in a mature state.

At the moment SAP's business networks reaches a gross margin of around 75 percent, McDermott said.

(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde and Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Maria Sheahan)
Tehran (AFP) - Iran said Thursday its nationals will miss the annual hajj, accusing Saudi Arabia of sabotaging arrangements following a diplomatic crisis and a deadly stampede at last year's pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia denied blocking Iranian pilgrims.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at reaching a deal for Iranians to go to Mecca in September.

It was the first dialogue between the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers since diplomatic relations were severed in January.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after demonstrators burned its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

But with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran still closed and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted, the talks hit a deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which now looks after Saudi interests there.

Saudi Arabia's hajj ministry, however, said it informed the Iranians that they could get their visas through the online system used for all pilgrims coming from abroad.

In a statement carried by Al-Riyadh newspaper, the ministry said the Iranians had demanded to be able to hold their own rituals, including protests chanting "Death to America, death to Israel."

Saudi Arabia seeks to keep political slogans out of the pilgrimage.

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- Saudi says 'welcomes all' -

The kingdom "welcomes all pilgrims from all over the world and from all nationalities and sectarian backgrounds, and does not stop any Muslim from coming", the Saudi ministry of hajj said.

But the visits must occur "within the system and guidelines that organise hajj affairs," it said.

The ministry added that Saudi Arabia "did not at all ban Iranian pilgrims from coming. The ban came from the Iranian government which uses this as one of its many means to pressure the Saudi government."

The Iranian delegation "refused to sign the agreement to finalise preparations for this year's hajj... insisting on their demands," the ministry said.

It added that "those who have banned their citizens from this right (to perform the pilgrimage) will be held responsible for their decision in front of God and the whole world".

Another contentious issue has been security, after a stampede at last year's hajj killed about 2,300 foreign pilgrims including 464 Iranians.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.

"Unfortunately in Saudi Arabia there is a very hostile political climate towards Iran," Ohadi said.

Riyadh has repeatedly denounced Iranian "interference" in the region, and fears Tehran will be further emboldened under an international nuclear deal which this year began lifting sanctions on Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in February that Iranian pilgrims were still welcome to visit Islam's holiest sites in the kingdom, despite diplomatic tensions.

The annual hajj and the lesser pilgrimage known as umra draw millions of faithful from around the world each year.
A former member of the 9/11 Commission said Wednesday the commission's report was negligent for not more straightforwardly linking Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Center attacks.

John Lehman is the only commissioner to declare the group's report lacking and publicly point the finger at Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens.

"There was an awful lot of participation by Saudi individuals in supporting the hijackers, and some of those people worked in the Saudi government," Lehman said, according to the Guardian. "Our report should never have been read as an exoneration of Saudi Arabia."

Sen. Bob Kerrey (L) and John Lehman (R) testify to the House of Representatives Government Reform Committee in 2004.

Much of the 9/11 Commission's investigation was based upon another report known as "The 28 pages," which contain the findings of a congressional investigation into intelligence weaknesses surrounding the attacks. However, then-President George W. Bush made the document classified in order to shield those involved.

Recently, there has been a swelling call to entirely declassify "The 28 pages," a move the 9/11 Commission's chairman, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, and vice chairman, former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, have not supported, according to a joint statement April 22.

"We would recommend that steps be taken to protect the identities of anyone [in 'The 28 pages'] who has been ruled out by authorities as having any connection to the 9/11 plot," the statement read.

Lehman strongly disagreed Wednesday with Kean and Hamilton. "Saudi government officials may "not have been indicted, but they were certainly implicated," he said. "There was an awful lot of circumstantial evidence."

Former chairman and vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Gov. Tom Kean (L) and Rep. Lee Hamilton (R).

And the Saudi government appears to agree with Lehman.

"Our position, since 2002 when the report first came out, was 'release the pages,'" Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said, according to Agence France-Presse.

"We know from other senior U.S. officials that the charges made in 'The 28 pages' do not stand up to scrutiny. And so, yes, release 'The 28 pages.'"
In the Scandal Season 5 finale, airing May 12, the Presidential candidates running mates will be revealed. Last week, Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) became the Republican nominee, while Cyrus pet project Frankie Vargas (Ricardo Chavira) nabbed the Democratic spot.

I didnt know I was going to be the nominee. I was sweating it out! I found out at the table read, Bellamy Young tells Variety.

I think Mellie feels elated to be the nominee, she adds. There were great moments of true vulnerability and self-doubt all through the spring season and that was really good for her, but now that shes the nominee, its so close that I cant imagine anything that she wouldnt do to get it.

Young admits that Mellie isnt too worried about her competitor, Frankie, but before the election kicks into gear in Season 6, the former First Lady needs to pick her vice presidential running mate.

Within our little fake D.C. world, there are a number of people who have to be vetted, Young says when asked who she thinks should be on the ticket with Mellie  but without giving away any spoilers. I think Susan (Artemis Pebdani); they would make an incredible team. Her honesty gives birth to such optimism. She really gives hope for America when she speaks.

When asked if theres a possibility for Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) to be Mellies vice president, Young exclaims, Liv is great at whatever she puts her mind to. Liv and Mellie on a ticket, I mean, I know that I would feel safe in a world where they were in charge. Nothing could make me personally happier. I think theyd be incredible.

Aside from political business, Mellies storyline is heating up with a new potential love interest  or at the very least, it looked that way last week when she got close to Marcus (Cornelius Smith Jr.). Insisting that Shonda Rhimes has not even told her the plan for Mellies love life next season, Young offers up some thoughts about Marcus.

I have to say that Im so intrigued because to have started with so much animosity, they really get each other and he really sees Mellie and he can neutralize her self-imposed mania in an instant in the most gentle way, she says. Hes very, very good for her, and she really trusts him and relies on him. Its nice to see both of them having found that in someone in the little crucible of D.C. I think its been so good for her to soften a little and open her heart a little and remember that trust is possible. She was sort of cloaked in anger and jealousy and revenge for so many years, but shes free of that now and free of Fitz, and its enabled her to connect to people in a way that she hasnt done in a while, so Im interested to see where it goes.

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When Variety prodded, asking specifically if Mellie and Marcus hook up, Young says with a laugh, I will plead the fifth  and I have no idea!

Who knows what will happen with Marcus and Mellie in tonights finale, but one thing is certain: the drama will be at an all-time high.

I think the genius of this finale is how rabid it will make us all for Season 6, because it sets it up so beautifully in a way that is so unexpected, Young teases. But in the meantime, the ride of this 60 minutes is like whiplash. It is almost un-quantifiable on the surprise-o-meter.

The Scandal Season 5 finale airs tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC.

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Everyone's talking about STEM majors these days. People who study science, technology, engineering and math in college have many employment prospects after graduation and may command higher salaries than their counterparts with arts degrees.

Good employment prospects are reason enough for many students to consider getting a degree in a STEM field -- and the plethora of scholarships out there is another great perk.

[Find a STEM scholarship for each type of college student.]

Some of these scholarships are specifically for minority students, who are traditionally underrepresented in the STEM fields. Hispanic students interested in tech, science or math should check out the Great Minds in STEM/HENAAC Scholars Program. The criteria is strict: Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and prove they're actively involved in a Hispanic community group. But the rewards are significant: The top award is $10,000.

The AfterCollege STEM Inclusion Scholarship is another award, worth $500, for students who don't traditionally choose these fields. AfterCollege has awarded more than $1,000,000 to students so far.

There's also the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship, which grants high-achieving STEM students $5,000 scholarships.

[Find more scholarships to feed a curiosity in STEM subjects.]

You don't need to be an ethnic minority to be considered underrepresented in the STEM fields. These are primarily male-dominated areas, and to combat this imbalance there are some scholarships just for female students.

The Girls in STEM award is a $1,000 scholarship; applicants must create a 3-5 minute video about the lack of women in STEM. For a bigger payout, check out the PayScale Women in STEM Scholarship. The prize is worth $2,000, which can make a dent in your college tuition.

Geography also plays a big role in which STEM scholarships you qualify for. Students who attend Albuquerque High School and plan on majoring in a STEM field may qualify for the Barnes W. Rose, Jr. and Eva Rose Nichol Scholarship Program, provided they have a GPA of 3.6 and strong standardized test scores. The program awards up to $700.

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[Check out other high-dollar scholarship opportunities.]

Across the country in Virginia, students attending community colleges to start their STEM degrees can apply for the $2,000 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Community College STEM Scholarship Program to cut the cost of college further. Permanent residents of southeast New England have a shot at earning the $1,000 SENEDIA Scholarship; applicants must be studying STEM and be a resident of Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island.

The AK Steel Foundation Student Scholastic Award is an option for students who live in Appalachian Ohio, plan to major in a STEM field and demonstrate financial need. Scholarship amounts vary.

Even if you aren't an underrepresented student or from one of the geographic areas above, there's no reason to think there aren't STEM scholarships you qualify for. For example, check out the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, which supports academic excellence in science, math and engineering. These merit-based scholarships are worth up to $7,500 annually and can be an enormous help to those who need money for college.

Jessica Zdunek is the content marketing manager for Cappex.com, a free resource that helps match students with their best-fit colleges and provides thousands of scholarships. Cappex.com is also the parent company of College Greenlight, which helps traditionally underrepresented students achieve their educational goals.
LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland's public prosecutor said on Thursday there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) or its directors over a 12 billion pound cash call on the eve of its near-collapse in 2008.

The decision means none of RBS's former bosses, including ex-chief executive Fred Goodwin, will face charges of misleading investors over the financial health of the bank, which was rescued in a 46 billion pound government bailout shortly afterwards.

"Following careful examination of all the evidence seen to date, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence in law of criminal conduct either in relation to RBS as an institution or any directors or other senior management involved in the rights issue," a Crown Office spokesperson said.

RBS asked shareholders to stump up 12 billion pounds in May 2008 to bolster the bank's capital position, after losing billions on U.S. mortgage assets and an ill-fated acquisition spree that included the takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro.

The Edinburgh-based bank, once the world's biggest by assets, was part-nationalised just five months later, diluting the value of shares held by other investors.

Goodwin resigned from RBS in January 2009, a month before the bank reported a record 24.1 billion pound loss.

The British government remains the bank's biggest shareholder with a 72 percent stake.

"We co-operated fully with this investigation and we note today's decision," RBS said in a statement.

RBS is still being sued by thousands of shareholders who are claiming around 4 billion pounds in compensation over the rights issue. These civil cases are unlikely to be affected by the Crown Office's decision, a source familiar with the matter said.

Chief Executive Officer Ross McEwan said last week he was considering an out-of-court settlement in the shareholders case.

(Reporting by Lawrence White and Andrew MacAskill; Writing by Sinead Cruise; Editing by Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith)
LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland's public prosecutor said on Thursday there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Royal Bank of Scotland or its directors over a 12 billion pound cash call on the eve of its near-collapse in 2008. The decision means none of RBS's former bosses, including ex-chief executive Fred Goodwin, will face charges of misleading investors over the financial health of the bank, which was rescued in a 46 billion pound government bailout shortly afterwards. "Following careful examination of all the evidence seen to date, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence in law of criminal conduct either in relation to RBS as an institution or any directors or other senior management involved in the rights issue," a Crown Office spokesperson said. RBS asked shareholders to stump up 12 billion pounds in May 2008 to bolster the bank's capital position, after losing billions on U.S. mortgage assets and an ill-fated acquisition spree that included the takeover of Dutch rival ABN Amro. The Edinburgh-based bank, once the world's biggest by assets, was part-nationalised just five months later, diluting the value of shares held by other investors. Goodwin resigned from RBS in January 2009, a month before the bank reported a record 24.1 billion pound loss. The British government remains the bank's biggest shareholder with a 72 percent stake. "We co-operated fully with this investigation and we note today's decision," RBS said in a statement. RBS is still being sued by thousands of shareholders who are claiming around 4 billion pounds in compensation over the rights issue. These civil cases are unlikely to be affected by the Crown Office's decision, a source familiar with the matter said. Chief Executive Officer Ross McEwan said last week he was considering an out-of-court settlement in the shareholders case. (Reporting by Lawrence White and Andrew MacAskill; Writing by Sinead Cruise; Editing by Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith)
By Nathan Layne

(Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp <SHLD.O> could quickly expand a new, smaller-store format that is less than a tenth the size of its average department store if a pilot project delivers strong results, a senior executive at the retailer told Reuters.

Leena Munjal said Sears planned to test the small format with a handful of openings this year, offering new details of a strategy that was first outlined at the company's annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday.

The move comes as Sears tries to bounce back from a five-year stretch during which it lost more than $8 billion as it closed hundreds of stores and sales dropped sharply. The initial pilot store - due to open next week in Colorado - will be its first non-specialty store opening since 2005.

"Obviously we want to move the needle," Munjal, Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Integrated Retail, said in an interview, referring to the potential for expansion. "This is very much a quick, scalable model."

The first location will be a 10,000 square-foot store specializing in refrigerators, ovens and other home appliances at a redeveloped mall in Fort Collins, Colorado. The average Sears store is 138,000 square feet.

Appliances are a relative strength for Sears, making it a natural choice for the first small store. However, Munjal said when it rolls out other small format locations they may focus on different categories. She did not elaborate.

Sears said the new Colorado store will carry the same assortment of appliances as in a typical Sears department store, including the top 10 brands of refrigerators, dishwashers and other products. It will also feature a 122-inch interactive display which customers can use to see how appliances would appear in various kitchen layouts.

For years Sears has slashed costs and sold off assets in an attempt to establish a profitable business model centred on fewer stores, innovative online services and a data-driven loyalty program. So far those efforts have not succeeded.

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The smaller stores mark the latest attempt by Sears to rationalize floor space as shopping increasingly shifts online. In addition to accelerating store closings, it has been leasing out unproductive space in its stores to other retailers.

Sears said the Colorado location would offer a service where customers can book an appointment with an appliance expert in the store, and in-vehicle pickup in which customers can have online purchases delivered to their car.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Chicago; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate negotiators on Wednesday tried to reach a deal to provide more than $1 billion to battle the Zika virus that is feared will creep north into the United States with the onset of warmer weather, which breeds mosquitoes that could carry the disease. Senior Senate Democratic aides said details were still being worked out, but votes could come by next week on whether to approve the new money. In February, President Barack Obama requested $1.9 billion in emergency funds, but Republicans balked, with some arguing that $1.1 billion is more in line with what is needed. Many Republicans also want any Zika funds to be offset with spending cuts elsewhere. These are among the details that still have to be worked out, according to aides. Republican Senator Roy Blunt from Missouri and Democratic Senator Patty Murray from Washington, the two senior senators on an appropriations panel that oversees healthcare spending, have been trying to hammer out a deal. An aide to Murray said in a statement: Senator Murray is having conversations with Chairman Blunt and others about the path forward on emergency funding to respond to Zika." The aide said Murray still supports Obama's $1.9 billion request. Amid congressional inaction, the Obama administration shifted $589 million to help federal agencies prepare for Zika. Most of that money came from a fund to fight the Ebola virus and will have to be replenished, according to officials. Senator Marco Rubio, however, is one Republican pushing for both immediate, emergency funding and longer-term money to be made available starting on Oct. 1 to battle the disease that can cause severe brain deformities in babies born of infected mothers and other illnesses. "This is going to be an ongoing issue beyond this year," Rubio said, adding, "We need to jump on it now." There are fears that Rubio's home state of Florida could be the first place in the continental United States to get hit hard by Zika because of its tropical climate. "For the first time, I've seen high-level conversations about a way forward here in the Senate and that's a positive development," Rubio said in a brief hallway interview with Reuters. Republicans in the House of Representatives are still deeply divided over new funding for Zika, according to two senior aides. (Reporting By Richard Cowan; Editing by Bernard Orr)
German actor Max Riemelt has cemented his success as a star at home and is now establishing himself as major talent on the global stage.

The 32-year-old Berlin native  currently in Mexico shooting season two of the hit Netflix series Sense8 from Lilly and Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski  shot to fame in Germany in Dennis Gansels 2004 World War II drama Napola (Before the Fall).

After a decade of primarily German films, Riemelt made a major splash last year in the global sci-fi drama Sense8. Riemelt says he was initially in awe of the big names involved in the production, but once you get to know each other you notice that language barriers and different mentalities are not real obstacles and everyone ultimately has the same goal: to make a fantastic project together.

He next stars in Cate Shortlands psychological thriller Berlin Syndrome, about a one-night stand that turns dangerously obsessive. And after toplining Dominik Grafs acclaimed 2010 TV crime series In the Face of Crime, Riemelt is again teaming up with the director on Golem: The Return, a science-fiction thriller based on the Jewish myth about the creation of artificial life that explores questions of responsibility and morality toward people and the environment.

Riemelt describes Graf and Gansel, with whom he has also remained a loyal collaborator over the years, as important companions on his journey to becoming an actor.

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(Reuters) - Indian shares closed higher on Thursday, led by lenders such as ICICI Bank, after the country's upper house of parliament passed a new bankruptcy code to address corporate debts and improve the ease of doing business.

The broader NSE Nifty closed 0.66 percent higher at 7,900.40, while the benchmark BSE Sensex ended up 0.75 percent at 25,790.22.

ICICI Bank surged 3.5 percent.

(Reporting by Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The former Los Angeles sanitation worker convicted of murdering nine women and a teenage girl in the "Grim Sleeper" killings returned to court on Thursday for the penalty phase of his trial as prosecutors began making a case that he deserves to be executed.

The penalty proceedings in the trial of Lonnie David Franklin Jr., 63, are expected to last about a month, at the end of which jurors will recommend whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A week ago, the same jury found Franklin guilty on all 10 counts of first-degree murder with which he was charged.

He also was convicted of attempted murder for an attack on an 11th victim who survived being shot in the chest, raped and left for dead in 1988.

Prosecutors said Franklin stalked the streets of South Los Angeles as he preyed on prostitutes and drug addicts in a crime spree dating back 30 years to the mid-1980s, at the height of a crack cocaine epidemic that gripped the area.

His victims' nude or partially clothed bodies were found dumped in alleys and trash bins. Pictures of some victims were discovered in a collection of 180 photos recovered from his home, police said.

An apparent 13-year lapse between two spates of murders he was charged with committing earned the killer the "Grim Sleeper" moniker. But since Franklin's 2011 indictment, police said they had linked him to several more unsolved slayings, some from the previously presumed lull in killings.

While Franklin was not charged with those additional slayings, prosecutors in the penalty phase were permitted to present testimony about five such cases, including two in which no bodies were ever found.

In her opening statement on Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman for the first time also revealed to jurors that Franklin was convicted in Germany for his role in a gang rape while he was in the Army during the 1970s.

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Franklin has not testified in his own defense. During the trial, his attorney sought to raise doubts about DNA evidence and suggested another "mystery man" was behind the killings.

In addition to evidence about additional killings, prosecutors in the penalty phase are expected to call relatives of the victims to testify about the loss of their loved ones.

California has executed 13 people since reinstating the death penalty in 1978, the latest of which was in January 2006.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Mohammad Stanekzai LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A shadowy new unit run by Afghanistan's main intelligence agency has begun operations in southern Helmand province with a mission to exploit divisions within the Taliban insurgency, government officials and a militant spokesman said. The aim is to weaken an increasingly dangerous enemy by turning the tables on the Taliban, who boast of placing agents among government security forces to carry out "insider attacks". The initiative comes as fledgling Afghan forces are struggling to prevent the Taliban overrunning large parts of Helmand and other parts of the country. Abdul Jabbar Qahraman, President Ashraf Ghani's special envoy for security affairs in the southern province, confirmed the existence of the unit, whose members do not wear uniform, but declined to provide further details. "The idea for the creation of the new contingent, which dresses like local Helmandis, was mine," said the official, who was a commander fighting for the Soviet-backed government in southern Afghanistan in the 1980s. Helmand police chief Abdul Rahman Sarjang said the 300-strong unit, created and equipped by the National Directorate of Security (NDS), had conducted several operations and was proving a success. The NDS headquarters in Kabul did not respond to several requests for comment, although an official from the agency in Helmand confirmed the unit's existence and the broad outlines of how it operates. He declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The Taliban, who have in the past incited Afghan police and soldiers to desert their posts and attack comrades, confirmed the unit existed, but they dismissed suggestions that it was able to exploit their internal divisions as "propaganda". "It is true that this contingent exists and operates mysteriously in some parts of Helmand," said Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, the Taliban's main spokesman in southern Afghanistan. "We have very strong intelligence and find those who want to infiltrate our ranks," he added. INSURGENCY, RIVALRY AND OPIUM The NDS unit adds another complication to the conflict in Helmand, a traditional Taliban stronghold and center of the opium trade criss-crossed by a web of tribal and factional rivalries in addition to the insurgency. In a conflict where deceit and double-cross are commonplace, government forces have often been the victim. In January, four rogue policemen killed nine comrades and stole their weapons, before deserting to join the insurgents. Both Afghan and NATO officials have frequently spoken of the difficulties faced by the Afghan National Army, a largely Dari-speaking force that relies heavily on recruits from northern Afghanistan, in operating in Pashto-speaking Helmand. One provincial official said the unit was operating in Musa Qala and Nawzad, two central districts abandoned by government forces in February, as well as Marjah and Nad Ali, where government control is tenuous. "Now the Taliban do not believe each other. They believe that their colleagues may be infiltrated by the Afghan intelligence agency," he said. Despite a lull in recent weeks, which officials say was due to Taliban fighters being busy with the annual opium harvest, Helmand has seen months of heavy fighting during which government forces have been forced to abandon several districts and regroup around the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. INFILTRATION The unit's reported successes have come at a price, local officials said. "It is a very good achievement by the Afghan government and has created splits within the Taliban," said Attaullah Afghan, a member of the Helmand provincial council. But he said officials had received dozens of complaints from residents in districts like Nawzad and Khanishin where the unit operated. "Taliban are abusing ordinary people and even arresting some of them as spies of the Afghan government," he said. According to local sources in Helmand, a battle between rival groups of Taliban in Nad Ali and Marjah districts to the west of Lashkar Gah that ended with as many as 30 fighters dead on Sunday, was set off by the special NDS unit. They said members of the unit attacked a checkpoint manned by fighters loyal to Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, creating the impression that they were on the side of Mansour's main rival, Mullah Mohammad Rasoul. The Taliban denied that the fighting was between rival factions of the movement but did point to the role of "bandits newly armed by Jabbar Qahraman". "There is currently no fighting in the area and the entire region has been cleansed from these newly formed bandits," Ahmadi said in a statement. (Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in Kabul; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Berlin (AFP) - Works from one of the world's most prestigious collections of modern art, assembled under the former shah of Iran, will go on show in Berlin late this year, German cultural officials announced Thursday.

The collection, reputed to be the greatest lineup of modern masterpieces outside of Europe and the United States, includes major works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Francis Bacon.

The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), which manages Berlin's main museums, said it had agreed a deal with the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art for a major exhibition of the collection in the German capital from December until February next year.

The SPK did not specify how many of the works would be shown, or which ones. The whole collection runs to nearly 300 canvases by some of the leading Western artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Since the Islamic revolution of 1979 that overthrew shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the works assembled under the patronage of his wife Farah Pahlavi have not been shown together outside Iran before, according to the SPK.

"A collection unique for its composition and history will be shown for the first time," SPK president Hermann Parzinger said.

Recalling the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, quoted in the SPK statement, hailed the exhibition project as a sign of Iran's "cultural and social opening up".

The show will also include works by contemporary Iranian artists.

In November last year the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art held an exhibition of 42 works by Western artists from the Shah's collection, including Pollock's masterpiece "Mural on Indian Red Ground", valued by Christie's auction house experts in 2010 at $250 million (220 million euros).
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 12, 2016 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC reminds investors that a securities class action has been filed against certain officers of SunEdison Inc. ("SunEdison" or the "Company") (SUNE) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on behalf of those who purchased shares of Vivint Solar, Inc. ("Vivint Solar" or the "Company") (VSLR) during the period between the July 20, 2015 and March 7, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Vivint Solar, Inc. is an American solar energy company. In July 2015 SunEdison and Vivint announced a merger that SunEdison would acquire Vivint. Following this release, Vivint's stock increased $4.87, or roughly 44.8%, to close at $15.75 per share. On February 24, 2016, at the Vivint's shareholders meeting, investors voted in favor of the SunEdison merger.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Particularly, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) SunEdison would not be able to attain financing for the acquisition of Vivint; (2) SunEdison's earnings were less than Defendants had stated; (3) SunEdison would be unable to complete the acquisition of Vivint; and (4) consequentially, Defendants' statements regarding the SunEdison and Vivint merger were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On February 29, 2016, post-market, SunEdison filed a Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25 with the SEC, unveiling that it would be late to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The Notification of Late Filing included information that in late 2015, former SunEdison executives had made accusations of the truthfulness in SunEdison's financial statements. Following this news, Vivint stock dropped $1.37 per share, or more than 17%, to close at $6.52 per share on March 1, 2016.

On March 2, 2016, The Wall Street Journal printed an article, "SunEdison's Takeover of Vivint Solar in Jeopardy as Banks Balk" explaining how the Vivint-SunEdison merger was at risk.

Following this news, Vivint stock dropped $1.63 per share, or 25%, to close at $4.89 per share on March 2, 2016.

On March 8, 2016, Vivint announced the Merger Agreement was cancelled. On that same day Vivint also filed a lawsuit against SunEdison in Delaware Chancery Court claiming it breached the contract. Following this news, Vivint stock dropped $1.04 per share, or roughly 20%, to close at $5.21 per share on March 7, 2016.

No Class has yet been certified in the above action. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, please visit the firm's site: http://www.bgandg.com/#!vslr/wwxww. You can also contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484 or via email info@bgandg.com. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address and telephone number. If you suffered a loss in Vivint Solar you have until July 5, 2016 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact:

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

Peretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz

212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com

SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese electronics maker Sharp said Thursday it suffered a $2.3 billion annual loss and released no forecast for the current business year as it assesses the impact of its acquisition by Taiwan's Hon Hai.

The company also said that an executive from Hon Hai, the world's biggest electronics supplier, will take over as president.

In March, Sharp agreed to the buyout that will see Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, take a 66 percent stake for $3.5 billion after the Japanese industrial mainstay was pummelled by huge losses and mounting debts.

It was the first foreign acquisition of a major Japanese electronics firm and marked a watershed for Japan's once-mighty home electronics sector, which nurtured global brands including Sony and Panasonic but has struggled in the face of foreign competition.

Sharp said its net loss for the year to March swelled to 256.0 billion yen ($2.3 billion) from 222.3 billion yen the year before, resulting in liabilities exceeding assets.

Sales fell 11.7 percent to 2.5 trillion yen, while its operating loss ballooned to 162.0 billion yen from 48.1 billion yen in the red a year earlier.

Sharp said it plans to release its full-year forecast to next March as soon as the deal with Hon Hai is completed, stressing it is "difficult to precisely calculate" its impact at present.

Local media said Sharp is considering slashing some 3,000 jobs at home, or about 15 percent of its domestic workforce, including at subsidiaries.

Sharp denied the news reports but the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's top-selling daily, said the planned cuts are expected to target the solar power business and management positions at headquarters.

Sharp also said Hon Hai corporate executive vice president Tai Jeng-wu would become Sharp's new president, replacing Kozo Takahashi.

"He is a very powerful man and number two in Hon Hai," Takahashi was quoted by the Nikkei business daily as telling reporters of Tai.

Story continues

Takahashi added that the 64-year-old Tai, who joined Hon Hai in 1986 and can speak Japanese, was chosen "from a general viewpoint" though did not elaborate.

Takahashi also said the firm would move its headquarters from Osaka to the neighbouring city of Sakai, where its main display plant is located, as part of its streamlining effort.

Over the last decade Sharp bet almost everything on liquid crystal displays (LCDs), boasting the most advanced technology in the world.

But that turned into a weakness when the market became more competitive after the 2008 global financial crisis and lower-cost rivals dug into Sharp's profits.

While the firm still produces cutting-edge LCD screens, it has lacked the huge research and development funds necessary to keep ahead of the competition.
Singaporeans have been saying shiok, sabo and lepak for generations, and these and 12 other Singlish words are officially part of one of the most authoritative English dictionaries.

In a media release issued on Wednesday (11 May), the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) said it has included a number of Singapore English words in its latest update. Among them, OED defines shiok as cool, great; delicious, superb, sabo as to harm, inconvenience, or make trouble for (a person) and lepak as to loiter aimlessly or idly; to loaf, relax, hang out.

Singlish references to food and places like chilli crab, teh tarik, hawker centre and HDB are also new entries in the OED.

Gwee Li Sui, a former academic at the National University of Singapores English Language and Literature Department, said the inclusion is not about recognising Singlish as an international language.

English itself has to adapt not just with the times but also with the places it is used. If it doesnt, it will just become more and more abstract and imprecise, said Gwee, who pointed out that words like kiasu and void deck were previously added to the OED.

Meanwhile, the OED is asking the public to help trace the origins of sabo and shiok. Those who are interested can post evidence on http://public.oed.com/appeals/, which will open until 10 June.

So if you are not sure about the meaning of wah or Chinese helicopter, dont be blur like sotong and look them up in the OED.

Dr Danica Salazar, World English Editor for the OED, will be in Singapore from 17 to 22 May to talk about Singapore English in the dictionary. She will be speaking at the following events:

Singapore English in the Oxford English Dictionary

18 May 2016, 3:30 pm

Seminar Room 4, School of Humanities and Social Science (HSS), Nanyang Technological University

HSS-B1-09, 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332

Because Words Matter

21 May 2016, 2:00 pm

SMUX Active Learning Classroom 3-1, Level 3, SMU Labs, 71-77 Stamford Road, Singapore 178895

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The wait was finally over as Lucious and the rest of the Lyon family headed to the American Sound Awards, but they didnt expect what happened next. At the end of the penultimate episode of this seasons of Empire, fans were left wondering if one of the Lyon family members would survive a possibly fatal gunshot wound.

As Lucious and Cookie were making their way down the red carpet, Cookies drunk sister Carol tried to crash the party, but Cookie shut her down pretty quickly. Unfortunately, on her way out, Carol stopped to talk to Freda and spilled the beans about Lucious being involved in her fathers death. This obviously enraged Freda who then took off down the red carpet, stole a gun from a security guard, and pushed her way through a crowd of people to come face to face with Lucious. The only problem was that Luciouss son, Jamal, jumped in front of his dad before Freda pulled the trigger and took a bullet to the gut.

Jamal survived long enough to make it to the hospital and into surgery, but fans of the show will have to wait until next weeks season finale to find out if hes going to survive.



Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram  or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Cynthia LuCiette, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.



Empire airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Everyone gets a surprise from Luciouss mom, who Lucious claimed committed suicide:
By Alister Doyle OSLO (Reuters) - Red knots, a type of bird that makes one of the longest annual migrations, are shrinking because climate change in their Arctic nesting grounds makes life harder during their winters in Africa, scientists say. Snows in Arctic Russia now melt earlier in spring and many red knot chicks hatch too late for the annual peak of insect food spurred by the thaw, according to their report on Thursday, one of the first to link the impact of warming to a single species. That food shortage means the shorebirds, known for the males' reddish plumage, grow up smaller with shorter bills that make it harder to dig up their favored shellfish that live deep in tidal mudflats in wintering grounds in Mauritania. Eighty percent of the birds born in Russia with long beaks survived to adulthood against just 40 percent of the short-beaked red knots, which end up eating roots of sea grasses in Africa that are less nutritious than shellfish, the study found. "It's worrying ... we speculate that this is a very general problem" for Arctic migratory birds, lead author Jan van Gils of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research told Reuters of the findings published in the journal Science. Thursday's study, by researchers in the Netherlands, Australia, France, Poland and Russia, drew on 33 years of satellite data of snows and observations of the size and feeding habits of thousands of birds. Many types of shorebird fly to the Arctic to nest to avoid predators, from falcons to snakes, in the tropics. Some red knots born in Alaska fly all the way to South America. The study suggested that red knots may evolve to have smaller bodies, with big bills. Red knots were also flying slightly earlier to the Arctic, but not soon enough. In Africa "they lack the cues of an earlier Arctic summer," van Gils said. Red knots grow to about 25 cms long (10 inches) long. Their global population is falling, according to a Red List of endangered species compiled by experts, who reckon the species is not at risk now but may be in future. Some other studies suggest that many creatures may shrink in a warmer world, because smaller bodies can get rid of extra heat more easily than big bodies. (Reporting by Alister Doyle; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Thanks to associates robust share results.

Propped up by a resilient core business and strong contributions from associates, Singtels net profit remained stable at $946m in 1Q16.

According to the companys news release, mobile data was a key growth driver, particularly among the regional mobile associates, alongside cloud and cyber security services.

Moreover, Singtel asserts its profit would have inched up 4% in constant currency terms.

Foreign currency movements against the Singapore dollar affected the Groups net profit by 3% or S$27 million for the quarter, the telco asserted.

Excluding Trustwave, Singtels newly acquired cyber security business, net profit for the quarter inched up 2% and 5% in reported and constant currency terms respectively.

Operating revenue for the quarter tumbled 6% in Q1 on back of lower mobile termination rates in Australia and reduced handset sales in Singapore.

Mobile data was the bright spot. Our regional markets are now making their respective transitions from mobile telephony to mobile internet and harnessing the benefits of extensive investments in 3G and 4G networks and services, commented Chua Sock Koong, Singtel Group CEO.

We worked with our regional associates to navigate this shift from voice to data. In Singapore and Australia, our businesses were the first to launch innovative data add-on plans and zero-rated music services to meet customers increasing demands for OTT content services and data allowances, driving further data monetisation, she added.

For the financial year, Singtel reports a 2% growth to $3.87b in net profit. In constant currency terms, this reflects a 4% climb.





More From Singapore Business Review


How long can Iraq keep it together? Continued ethnic rivalry, a grinding war with the Islamic State, low oil prices pulling the economy down, and open revolt from disaffected Shiites in Baghdad all spell trouble for the regime of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Making matters worse, Wednesday saw a wave of bombings in Baghdad that killed over 90 people, injuring scores more. The Islamic State claimed credit for the attacks which extended into Thursday, when two more suicide bombings in Baghdad killed five policemen.

While Iraqs the Shiite-led government has long been at odds with the independence-minded Kurds, the Sunni population of the country  where ISIS draws its support  is leaderless and dangerous, the governor of Kirkuk province told a small group of reporters in Washington on Wednesday. Speaking bluntly, governor Najmaldin Karim said, if you ask who is leading the Sunnis right now, you would have to say ISIS. He went on to forcefully advocate for Kirkuks separation from Iraq, FPs Paul McLeary writes, claiming that the provinces oil wealth would be enough to sustain it after it broke away from Baghdad. The Iraqi government unexpectedly shut down a critical oil pipeline from the province to Turkey in March, further strangling Kirkuks already struggling economy.

Stumbling toward Mosul. The Iraqi army and their Kurdish peshmerga allies continue their uneven push on the ISIS-held city of Mosul, but the start and stop campaign has exposed some major fault lines in the shaky Shiite-Sunni-Kurd coalition that is pressing on the critical city.

There is no such thing as Iraq any more, a peshmerga officer told a reporter from The Guardian on the front lines. There never was, but now it is clear to everyone. Even to the Americans up in the hills. The piece echoes the points made recently by FPs Dan De Luce and Henry Johnson, who wrote, the contest over who marches into Mosul will shape who controls the city once  or if  Islamic State militants are forced out. But despite a campaign more than a year in the making, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has yet to forge a coherent political plan that can bridge the divide between the rival groups, all but certainly pushing back a military operation yet again, U.S. officials and experts said.

Story continues

Guam killers. Long-range Chinese missiles are becoming an increasingly serious threat to U.S. military forces on Guam and elsewhere in the Pacific, a new report contends. While the weapons probably dont represent much of an immediate direct threat, continued advances in range and precision could put the still-expanding U.S. bases on Guam in Chinas crosshairs in the event of a big conflict in Asia, FPs Keith Johnson reports.

Will Saudi go for it? Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said the only way to resolve the year-long civil war in Yemen is through a negotiated political solution. But a Saudi general warned Wednesday that the oil-rich monarchy is prepared to launch a military offensive on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa if the current U.N.-brokered peace talks fail, FPs John Hudson and Dan De Luce tell us. We have two lines working in parallel  a political process and the military operation. One of them will reach the end, Gen. Ahmad Asiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, told reporters in Washington. We hope that the talks will succeed. If not, we have troops around the capital.

Messages and mediums. Ben Rhodes has done it this time. After boasting to the New York Times about guiding the press into supporting last years nuclear deal with Iran, Republican leaders of the House Oversight Committee want to have a little chat with President Barack Obamas advisor. The committee is using the profile to try and reopen debate over the deal, which Republicans hate.

Writer David Samuelss profile of Rhodes is a pretty dramatic bit of writing, and attention has quickly turned from Rhodes to Samuels himself, who has a long history of opposing the deal, and as some charge, managed to wrap Rhodes impolitic comments around his own thesis of a feckless administration manipulating the public  and the press  into embracing bad ideas.

So it appears that Rhodes, who the story praises as a weaver of complex narratives, was played by another expert in constructing a gripping narrative arc. Backtracking, Rhodes wrote a post on Medium this weekend claiming that the White Houses concerted effort to sell the agreement was based upon facts instead of spin. Its what we believed and continue to believe, and the hallmark of the entire campaign was to push out facts, he wrote.

Safe European home. Assistant Secretary of State Frank A. Rose is in Eastern Europe this week along with Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work to participate in several missile defense events in Romania and Poland. The events will mark progress in implementing the European Phased Adaptive Approach missile defense program, which seeks to knock down any missiles launched from Iran. On Thursday there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Deveselu, Romania to mark the opening of the U.S.-funded Aegis Ashore missile defense system, and on Friday, the duo will head to Redzikowo, Poland to break ground on an Aegis system there that should be operational by 2018.

Holding pattern. The New York Times tells us that the U.S. military has no clear plan for dealing with ISIS detainees that American forces may pick up on the battlefield in Iraq and Syria, something that FPs Paul McLeary and Dan De Luce first explored in detail back in January.

Thanks for clicking on through as we rip through another week of SitRep. As always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley

Vietnam

Vietnam is welcoming U.S. defense contractors with open arms, while speaking in whispers. Reuters reports that big U.S. defense firms like Boeing and Lockheed Martin are in Hanoi for hush-hush talks on potential weapons sales with Vietnamese officials. Vietnam is in the process of an arms buildup as it sweats the intentions of its neighbor, China, amidst a series of disputes with Beijing over maritime territorial claims. A Boeing spokesman tells the wire service that the company has mobility and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance platforms that could help Vietnam modernize its military.

Missile feud

Not to be outdone, Russia has responded to this news by announcing that its at work on a new generation of missiles designed to slip through American defenses. Russias Tass news agency reports that Russias Strategic Missile Force chief Colonel General Sergey Karakayev had said the country will develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile with the U.S. missile shield in mind. Karakayev said the new missiles will evade any defenses with a shorter acceleration phase and a hard-to-predict flight trajectory.

Ukraine

Pro-government hackers have published personal information on thousands of journalists who covered the war from Ukraines pro-Russian separatist enclaves. The published data includes contact information for reporters who received accreditation to report from the self-styled republics, labeling them as having collaborated with terrorist organizations  all of which the victims say could now put their lives at risk. Officials at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have labeled the situation an alarming development and those affected have published an open letter taking Ukrainian politicians to task for supporting the hack and its attempt to intimidate reporters.

Syria

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the militias its organized are taking a beating in Aleppo, the Long War Journal reports. Official numbers put the death toll at 17 dead and 21 wounded in recent fighting. In addition to IRGC troops, Iran has also organized the deployment of fighters from Hezbollah and Liwa Fatemiyoun, a militia comprised of Afghan Shiite fighters. One Iranian news outlet has claimed the loss of 80 fighters from IRGC and associated militias. In addition to the deaths, there are reports that Jaysh al-Fath, an Islamist rebel coalition that includes the al Qaeda affiliate, the Nusra Front, has kidnapped a handful of Iranian troops.

Another Russian soldier has died in the fighting in Syria. Tass news agency reports that the soldier, Anton Yerygin, was hit by rebel shelling in Homs. A Russian military spokesman told the wire service that Yergin was hit performing tasks to escort vehicles of the Russian center for reconciliation of opposing sides in Homs and died after two-days of receiving medical care. Hes the seventh Russian servicemember Moscow has admitted has been killed in Syria since September.

Islamic State

The Treasury Departments top terror finance intelligence official, Daniel Glaser, says the Islamic State is now only pulling down half of what is used to earn from oil. Glaser says the group is earning about $250 million a year, which isnt too bad. But the U.S.-led coalition has been targeting the jihadist groups money through airstrikes against oil facilities it controls as well as large hoards of cash its acquired. Glaser also said the group now makes about $360 million taxing people who live and do business under the self-styled caliphate, making he groups hold on cities like Mosul and raqqa all the more important.

Air Force

However the 2016 election turns out, the next president of the United States will have a sweet new ride. Air Force Times reports that the Air Force has given Boeing the green light to start design work on the next Air Force One (yes, pedants, were aware its a callsign). The company will modify two 747-8 aircraft to accommodate the needs of Americas commander in chief with delivery set for sometimes around 2019 or 2020. What, specifically, will go into the plane is classified but the aircraft will have all manner of secure communications gear and be designed to resist the kinds of electromagnetic pulses generated from nuclear attacks.

Drones

The Marines are looking to see if their cargo drone helicopter is any good at spying. Defense Tech reports that the Marine Corps will soon begin testing its K-MAX choppers, which can be optionally manned, to see how it fares in a surveillance role. The K-MAX had been used in Afghanistan to fly supplies to remote outposts. Along the way, the K-MAX has already picked up a new camera and datalink but officials will also test out its combat proficiency with a set of laser-guided missiles.

Special operations

Did Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell tell the truth? A lengthy new article in Newsweek calls into question his account of the operation that claimed the lives of 19 American troops. Luttrell was saved when a local man, Mohammad Gulab, sheltered him after a firefight and passed a message to American forces, leading to his rescue. But now Gulab tells Newsweek that Luttrells account of the operation, told by him in a book and Hollywood movie, isnt correct. Gulab says its unlikely that Luttrell and his fellow SEALs killed 35 Taliban that day, claiming that Americans and Afghans found no bodies of dead Taliban and that Luttrell still had all 11 magazines of his ammunition when Gulab found him. Luttrell, in a statement through his lawyer, denies Gulabs claims.

Photo Credit: Yunus Keles/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
From Harper's BAZAAR

Everything changed for Patricia Gucci on that late summer day in 1973. She was 10 years old, preparing to leave behind her friends in England to move to Rome with her parents, when her mom sat her down for a talk. The girl's stomach twisted into knots looking at her tense expression.

"Your father has a wife in Italy and three sons," her mom, Bruna, said.

Patricia was confused. "Wait, aren't you married to Papa?" She asked.

Her mom quietly responded, "No, I'm not."

Until then, Patricia thought she was an only child to two happily married parents. Her dad was away much of the time, but it made sense for the head of one of the most respected fashion companies in the world. The serious implications of his double life didn't resonate right away. All she could think was, "I have siblings!"

But when she began asking about these mysterious brothers, her mom explained ruefully, "They don't care much for me and weren't too pleased when they found out about you."

For years, Patricia says she was barred by contracts and non-compete agreements from telling the story of her father, Aldo Gucci - the man who made Gucci what it is, taking it international after his dad, Guccio Gucci, started the luxury brand - and her mother Bruna Palombo, the shop girl he fell in love with.

Now Patricia is coming forward with a revealing memoir, "In the Name of Gucci," out May 10. We sat down with the fashion heiress ahead of the release of her first book to talk about her parents' love story, her dad's legacy, and her life today.

"It was important to tell what he had achieved of this global phenomenon. And I thought it would be nice to show who he was as a human being," says Patricia, who went through her parents' letters and talked to her mom to piece together the history. "I did it for him and I tried to do it in an elegant and respectful way. Nobody could tell this story like I could; I'm his daughter."

Story continues

Striking a chic figure in all black - leather jacket, sweater, jeans and strappy stilettos - the 53-year-old sets down her Dionysus GG Supreme canvas shoulder bag. The purse perfectly encapsulates current Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele's vision for the brand, a clean rectangle covered in the famous G pattern with bold blue flowers painted on and cartoonish appliques on top of that: classic with a fresh, playful twist. The hottest house of the moment has come a long way since Patricia's grandfather started it nearly a century ago.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Aldo Gucci was 14 years old when his parents opened a small shop in Florence, Italy selling fine leather goods in 1921. As the oldest son, Aldo was eager to learn the family business, clocking long hours at the shop and eventually becoming the company's first-ever salesman. It was in his family's popular store where he met his first wife: Olwen Price, a 19-year-old working for a Romanian princess who popped in to browse.

After Olwen became pregnant in 1927, 22-year-old Aldo proposed. They went on to have three sons. As his family grew, Aldo helped expand the company, persuading his dad to open a second shop in Rome. The name Gucci was becoming synonymous with Italian luxury.

In 1956, Bruna, an 18-year-old beauty with big brown eyes and a sweet smile, wore her best dress for a job interview at the Rome flagship. She impressed the store manager but had to get final approval for the storeroom job from the boss: Aldo. The conversation was brief and with a big smile the 51-year-old said: "You can start next week."

Bruna worked alongside the man she called "Dr. Gucci," watching him charm employees and customers alike with his larger-than-life persona.

"He was explosive back then. He was like an earthquake," Patricia says, gesturing wildly, widening her eyes. "Mama tells me how much he had mellowed by the time I knew him. Back then, at the shop he was," she pounds her finger on the table with an exaggerated stern look.

After a couple of years, Bruna was promoted to Aldo's secretary. Patricia writes in her memoir:

She'd catch him gazing at her in a "gentle but special way." She added, "I was very shy at the time and I didn't know what to do." His glances, she said, weren't overtly sexual; it was more as if she entranced him somehow  "I had never received this kind of attention before and I just couldn't concentrate on anything."

Although Bruna was engaged to another man, Aldo began showering his young secretary with gifts-from perfume to silk scarves. He was 53 years old; she was 20. One afternoon at the office while she was opening his mail, he couldn't contain his passion any longer. He took Bruna by the elbows and kissed her passionately. Shocked, she stepped back.

"You make me suffer!" He declared. "You make me sweat!"

At that point, adultery was illegal in Italy. An affair would have been disastrous for the family business and potentially landed them both in prison.

A SECRET BABY

Bruna tried to ignore what had happened and was successful until a month after the illicit kiss. Patricia writes that Aldo left her mom a note explaining he had to speak to her and telling her to meet him at the place he kept just outside of Rome-a bachelor pad away from his wife and children. When Bruna arrived, he kissed her again. And this time, she kissed him back.

Bruna broke off her engagement and the month she was meant to marry, she lost her virginity to Aldo. Bruna became accustomed to their unconventional situation. She worked alongside her lover while he grew the Gucci empire, making the crucial decision to expand the business to New York.

When Aldo bought her an apartment, Bruna decided she had to tell her mom about the relationship. Her mother responded, "I've known all along." When she met her daughter's married boyfriend who was the same age as her, she gave them her blessing, predicting, "That man will only leave you when he dies."

While Aldo's personal life was complicated-he was juggling a mistress and a wife-business was booming. He had just opened another store stateside in Palm Beach. The opening coincided with a bag named for President John F. Kennedy's stylish wife, Jackie. Aldo had matching shoes made for the First Lady.

To celebrate, Aldo swept Bruna away to Madrid for his 57th birthday. "Those were some of the best days of their lives," Patricia says, smiling.

Soon after, Bruna found out she was pregnant.

THE NEW FACE OF GUCCI

Aldo had his mind made up: He arranged for his mistress to move to London and declared their child would carry his name. Bruna couldn't stay in Italy for risk that someone would find out about the pregnancy.

Patricia was born March 1, 1963. She was christened and Aldo marked down "Aldo and Bruna Gucci" as her parents when he logged the birth. But when mom and baby moved back to Rome, they were hidden away for months. Bruna and Aldo continued their clandestine rendezvous and, during the first months of her life, Patricia only left the apartment with a nanny.

"Nobody knew about me for that first year," Patricia says.

In spite of their efforts, the secret got back to the real Mrs. Gucci. She sent an associate to Bruna's home to confront her, which enraged Aldo. He spoke to his wife, and Bruna didn't hear from her again.

From then on, the relationship and Patricia were an open secret. They celebrated holidays together and Aldo publicly referred to Bruna as his wife.

"Our family was solid as a rock in my eyes," she says making a fist. "Of course, I know Mama didn't always feel that way. In a lot of ways, she was tortured by their situation. But he was just my father. I never once questioned anything."

Fittingly, shopping and fashion was a big part of their father-daughter relationship, though Bruna never showed much interest in the subjects.

One of Patricia's early memories is going into the Gucci store where her parents met to shop with her mom afterhours. Her dad encouraged her to try on shoes: Her first pair of Guccis.

Not much changed for Patricia after finding out about her father's other family. Meeting her brothers was anticlimactic: They were much older than she imagined, closer in age to her mother and much too old to be playmates.

It wasn't long until Patricia would take an even more public role in the famous fashion family. When she was 15, Aldo began toting her along to company events in places like Hong Kong where she rubbed shoulders with stars and dignitaries like Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Nancy Reagan and Prince Charles. "Prince Charles was so charming. I wasn't ever star struck; I was a bit cocky maybe," she says. "That was just my life."

When she was 19, the role progressed to Patricia taking a place on the company's board, the first woman in the family to get a seat, and becoming the new face of the brand: Modeling the new line for ads and in magazine spreads.

"It was fun," she says of her time in New York as the brand's ambassador. "He liked to show me off; He was really proud. I was a breath of fresh air, and he thought I could inject that into the brand."

In a 1982 New York Times article, Patricia is referred to as "the most eligible girl in the world." The article makes no mention of her family's unconventional situation. Patricia says: "Media was different then. It wasn't salacious."

END OF AN ERA

In 1984, Patricia told her parents she was pregnant and would marry the father, Santino, a man she met at a cocktail party.

"My upbringing was a bit unorthodox, no question," she says. "For my life, I wanted something normal. I wanted a legitimate situation when I became a mother. I thought, I want my daughter to be born with me being married to her father."

On January 19, 1985, Aldo proudly walked his only daughter down the aisle.

Meanwhile, the company he worked so hard to grow into an international brand was facing mounting challenges. The IRS was investigating Aldo for conspiring to evade taxes and his nephew was maneuvering to hoard shares of the family company, eventually becoming the brand's chairman. In that role, he terminated Aldo's role in the company. Patricia, however, remained on the board as her father's trial loomed.

In September 1986, the 81-year-old was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.

Patricia writes:

Stripped of his name and his price, he had no choice but to be himself. With so few trappings of his former life left to him, he came to realize that there was only one person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with-his beloved Brunicchi with the hidden core of steel who loved him simply for who he was.

Though she'd been named one of Gucci's creative directors, Patricia left the company in the late '80s. With a portion of the company sold to investment company Investcorp, Patricia says that, due to contracts, she was barred from talking about what she knew or getting involved in any Gucci ventures for a decade. (When reached by Bazaar.com, Investcorp had no comment on the allegation.)

Things went from bad to worse when Aldo was diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after Patricia found out she was pregnant with baby No. 2.

Playing with a charm of a bronze coat of armor given to her by her father, Patricia remembers: "That last week of his life was such an incredible memory. I went to see him in his [hospital] room and he said, 'I want you to take me out into the corridor.' He wanted to feel the sun. I had to take him in a wheelchair because he was very weak. He said, 'Go get me my briefcase,' and he pulled out these envelopes. I opened it and I saw that it was his last will and testament. I said, 'No Daddy, I don't want to know!' He was adamant: 'Open it up now.' I opened it and saw, 'I name Patricia my sole and universal heir.' It was symbolic, to tell his family, 'This is my daughter.'"

On January 19, 1990, Aldo died with Bruna by his side. Before his death, Patricia says in her memoir that he wrote his own obituary, which read that he left behind "his wife Bruna Palombo and his companion Olwen Price," as well as his four children. However the New York Times obituary made no mention of Patricia or her mother-only Olwen and his sons.

Today, Patricia spends her time visiting her mother in Rome and two daughters in New York and London. She has a boyfriend and lives in Switzerland. Her mom, she says, is hesitant to have her love story go public. "She isn't 100 percent into it," Patricia admits.

When it comes to her relationship with the brand with which she shares a name, Patricia says: "I'm a customer. I'm very faithful to Gucci."
BERLIN (Reuters) - Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said on Thursday Slovakia's failure to admit its quota of 1,500 refugees under a European Union plan would hobble its ability to lead when it assumes the rotating EU presidency in July. Asselborn, who was EU president when the agreement was made, urged Slovakia's foreign minister, Miroslav Lajcak, to press his government to accept the migrants and implement the EU plan. Failure to do so, he said, would make it difficult for Slovakia to credibly lead the bloc. "Would it really be so dramatic to take in these 1,500 people through September 2017 under the terms of the agreement on relocation and resettlement?" Asselborn said at a public discussion at the German foreign ministry. "If that doesn't happen, you will enter the presidency with a handicap that will plague you over and over again. And that is not good for your country, and it is not good for Europe." Lajcak told Asselborn his country was well aware of the responsibilities of the six-month EU presidency, and planned to act as "an honest broker". But he reiterated his country's strong opposition to the quota-based system agreed by the EU in September, noting that most migrants did not want to come to Slovakia, and three out of four who were admitted to the country later left. "If these people come and knock on our door, we always open the door, but you want to force these people to go to countries that they don't even know exist," Lajcak said. "We are a transit country." Lajcak told Reuters he would press the EU to revisit the quota-based refugee distribution system because it was not working. He said Slovakia had grave concerns about its ability to absorb and integrate the migrants. "We should listen to each other, that's what the European idea is built upon," he said. "That we respect each others opinion and come to a conclusion that everyone can feel comfortable with." The European Union, backed by Germany, approved a plan in September to deal with Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War Two by sharing out 120,000 refugees across its 28 states. The plan was vehemently opposed by Slovakia and three other ex-communist eastern nations. (Reporting by Berlin Newsroom)
Technology Platform Would Allow For Sales Expansion throughout the United States

VANCOUVER, BC and SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 12, 2016 / Solar Alliance Energy, Inc. ('Solar Alliance') or (the 'Company') (TSX-V: SAN, OTCQB: SAENF) is pleased to announce it has entered into a strategic partnership with Autowatts, an innovative online residential solar sales platform.

"We believe Autowatts represents the opportunity for a paradigm shift in the residential solar sales market and we are excited to enter into this strategic partnership," said Solar Alliance Chairman & CEO Jason Bak. "Autowatts gives consumers access to everything they need to purchase a solar system for their home and take back control of their electricity bill. This partnership will allow Solar Alliance to scale our business quickly as we work with Autowatts to deploy this new technology throughout the United States," concluded Mr. Bak.

The Autowatts digital platform is a seamless experience that allows homeowners to go solar without ever having to interact with a solar salesperson. This is a technical achievement because solar systems are normally customized to each unique roof and sales are traditionally offered through direct in-home consultations.

Autowatts automates the collection of all customer and utility data

Autowatts generates a highly accurate yet custom quote for each customers' unique roof via 3D LiDAR analyses

Autowatts matches the best installer pricing and financing options for the customer

Autowatts facilitates the financing process and e-contracting

"Autowatts puts control of the residential solar acquisition process in the homeowners' hands," said Autowatts CEO and Founder Alex Tiller. "This technology simplifies the process of collecting data, designing a system and arranging financing. It allows anyone who is interested in solar to get a highly accurate quote, without the pressure of a phone or face to face sales interaction. Our approach is faster, easier, and saves the customer even more. Working with Solar Alliance to deploy this technology will allow both companies to grow their businesses across the United States," said Mr. Tiller.

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Autowatts is a graduate of the Energy Excelerator program in Honolulu, HI; a technology accelerator funded by the US Department of Energy, the US Office of Naval Research and other leading corporations. Funding from Energy Excelerator was used, in part, to develop the platform's core technology and optimal use cases for advanced energy technologies.

Solar Alliance and Autowatts have agreed to a 90-day exclusive due diligence period during which other key terms of the strategic partnership will be finalized.

Jason Bak

Chairman and CEO

For more information:



Solar Alliance

Myke Clark

Chief Marketing Officer

+1 (604) 288-9051

info@solaralliance.com

About Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (www.solaralliance.com)

Solar Alliance is a solar sales and marketing firm focused on residential solar installations. Our mission is to encourage the transition to an independent, distributed solar market through a strong management team that combines technical, sales, marketing and financial expertise. Solar Alliance is committed to an exceptional customer experience, effective marketing campaigns and superior lead generation in order to drive sales and generate value for shareholders. Since its inception in 2003, Solar Alliance has developed over 360 megawatts of renewable energy projects and subsequently sold them to utilities or large independent power producers, and has installed more than 2,000 residential solar systems in southern California. Solar Alliance is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and San Diego, California.

Statements in this news release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, constitute Forward-looking statements. The words "would", "will", "expected" and "estimated" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital, changes in economic conditions or financial markets, litigation, legislative or other judicial, regulatory and political competitive developments and technological or operational difficulties. Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

SOURCE: Solar Alliance Energy Inc.
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia protested on Thursday against Kenyan plans to close a refugee camp packed with hundreds of thousands of Somali citizens, saying the move would increase the threat of militancy in the region. Kenya had announced a day earlier it was drawing up a timetable to shut Dadaab camp, shrugging off pleas to reconsider the move by the United Nations and rights groups. [nL5N18902B] The vast settlement on the Kenyan side of the Somali border houses about 350,000 Somalis and other refugees taking shelter from conflicts raging across the region. Kenya says militants have also used it as a base to launch attacks. But Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said any move to close it would only hurt the refugees and possibly drive more people into militancy. "Expelling vulnerable Somali refugees at a time Somalia is making internationally recognised progress towards stability and institution building, will only increase the risk of insecurity in the region," the ministry said. "This decision will negatively affect the majority of Somali refugees ... and will make the threat of terrorism worse, not better," it added. Somalia's Western-backed government is struggling to rebuild the country after more than two decades of turmoil, first at the hands of clan warlords, then Islamist militants. Kenya says fighters from Somalia's al Shabaab militant group have used the camp as a launch pad for attacks on the nearby Garissa university in 2015 and other targets. Last year, Kenya said it was setting a three-month deadline to close Dadaab, but backtracked on following U.N. condemnation of any forced return. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite deal in 2013 to repatriate Somali refugees voluntarily, including 50,000 in 2016. But UNHCR acknowledged at the time it would be difficult to carry out, given the continuing al Shabaab insurgency and the poor state of schools and public services in Somalia. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Editing by George Obulutsa and Andrew Heavens)
To call Song Joong Ki a breakout star would be an understatement. This 30 year old actor shot to fame after his role in the hugely viral television series Descendants of The Sun. Since then, the heartthrob has graced the cover of numerous famous magazines including the likes of Elle, Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, and has stocked up a growing list of endorsement deals. From beauty products to the aviation industry, it seems Song is all set to take over the world.

Songjoongki





And for those who might have caught a case of the Joong Ki fever and are itching to lay their hands on some of his endorsed items, heres a list (itll probably grow as we speak) of some products he has lent his boyish charms to. Beware, this is going to be a Song Joong Ki heavy article.

1.Forencos

forencos



Image: Forencos

It seems like Song Joong Kis honest and clean image is the perfect representation of Forencos, a Korean cosmetic brand with an eco-friendly focus. Apart from staying hydrated with their Aqua Connection Cream, die-hard fans will be happy to know that they can stay connected with their idol everyday of the week with the seven day mask pack.

13124746_1083493178381907_7602717369355643115_n



Image: Forencos

Each mask pack boast different features (and faces of the heartthrob)  ranging from Sundays Black Pearl mask for keeping your skin glowing and bright to Thursdays restorative and soothing Tea Tree mask and Tuesdays Volcanic Ash which can help in reducing your pores. Get yours here.

2.Ruhens

10911505_632696113502197_4032363594559888177_o



Image: Ruhens

More than just a pretty face, Song Joong Ki is also a health advocate in Ruhens water purifier. In the commercial, the actor talks about how staying hydrated and drinking enough water helped him with his health. The ultra filtration system will make sure that your water is free from any harmful bacteria.

3.Cuchen

song joong ki endorsement

Image: Song Joong kiTH

It seems like Song Joong Ki knows the way into everyones heart. I know my mother would love to get one of this rice cooker that has the actor fronting the brand. He sure is wriggling his way into charming the entire nation. One of this and its Diamond-finish bowl and youll be able to cook fluffy grains suitable for some bibimbap every time.

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4. LG Perioe Pumping Toothpaste

song joong ki endorsement

Image: Video screengrab

The secret to Song Joong Kis winning smile might just be in the toothpaste that he uses. Fronting the brand and their line of pump toothpaste, you know what how to achieve the same set of pearly white as him.

Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 11.51.02 pm

Watch him here as he introduces a lazy persons dream to oral health while flashing his winning smile. Say goodbye to the struggle of having to squeeze that last drop of toothpaste out from the tube. With this pumping toothpaste that come in cool mint, citrus and herb flavours, brushing your teeth is now a breeze.

5.TOPTEN10

song joong ki endorsement

Image: TOPTEN10

You can now own a piece of Song Joong Ki. Guys who wish to exude the same charm as him can look to TOPTEN10, a Korean fashion apparel brand. Rock the same effortless street chic with fashion staples like jeans and tshirts.

song joong ki endorsement

Image: TOPTEN10

Shop through the exact pieces that he modelled in or choose from the brands other fashionable pieces thatll have you looking like a k-pop idol. The brand also carry a stylish range of womens clothing so no one will get left out in this Song Joong Ki craze.

6. Beautiful Skin Project

song joong ki endorsement

Image: Elle Korea

More than just a face which the camera adores, this actor/ model is also an author. In his book titled Beautiful Skin Project, he shares health and beauty tips on how to achieve his smooth-as-butter complexion and even let you in on some of his skincare regime secrets. The book might be in a foreign language but the pictures of him inside will elicit the same tender infatuation no matter where youre from.

7. Dongwon Tuna

song joong ki endorsement

Image: Dongwon

If its good enough for this charismatic actor, it has to be good enough for everyone. It seems like companies are flocking to Song Joong Ki for endorsement deals, and Dongwon canned tuna is one of them.

song joong ki endorsement

Image: Dongwon

Dedicated to feeding the people with nutritious food, the canned tuna is versatile and comes packed with nutrients like DHA. Even the busy actor gave it a lip-smacking approval.

Having a case of the Song Joong Ki fever? Curb it by having travellers returning to Singapore to help you get it just like what some of our users did!

Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 4.29.23 pm

The post The Song Joong Ki Fever  Items He Endorsed We Wished We Owned appeared first on Airfrov Blog.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African court will decide on Friday whether to allow class action suits seeking damages from the gold mining sector on behalf of thousands of miners who contracted tuberculosis and the fatal lung disease silicosis. The defendants in the case include Harmony Gold, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye Gold, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Anglo American, which have formed the Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) Working Group to deal with such issues. The case is separate from a $30 million silicosis settlement with 4,400 miners reached in March by Anglo American and AngloGold. Friday's court ruling could mark the start of lengthy proceedings if it decides that the class actions - one for silicosis, the other for tuberculosis - go ahead. The suits, which have little precedent in South African law, have their roots in a landmark 2011 ruling by the Constitutional Court that for the first time allowed lung-diseased miners to sue their employers for damages. "We are hopeful and we trust that the court will arrive at an appropriate decision," Charles Abrahams, one of the lawyers representing the miners, told Reuters. Companies are not directly commenting on the case but in March the OLD Working Group said: "While the mining companies will defend the legal claims made against them, protracted litigation is not in the interests of any of the parties." It added: "The issue is also wider than pure compensation. The companies have not only committed to the prevention of future cases of silicosis as well as the detection and treatment of current ones, but have invested significant resources to ensure that these commitments are realised." Silicosis is caused by inhaling silica dust from gold-bearing rocks. It causes shortness of breath, a persistent cough and chest pains, and makes people highly susceptible to tuberculosis. The claims, which stretch back decades, involve not just South Africans but also thousands of former miners from neighbouring countries such as Lesotho. This is why Anglo American, which no longer has any interests in gold mining, and ARM, which no longer operates gold mines, have been named in the claims. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A white South African judge accused of making racist comments has been put on special leave while the incident is investigated, the justice ministry said on Wednesday. High Court Judge Mabel Jansen is reported to have said that in black people's culture "a woman is there to pleasure them. Period," and that she had never met a black girl "who was not raped at about 12". Social activist Gillian Schutte says Jansen made the comments to her during an online conversation. Jansen later said on Twitter: "What I stated confidentially to somebody in a position to help has been taken completely out of context." Many South Africans demanded Jansen be sacked for the comments that once again drew attention to enduring racial tensions more than two decades after white minority rule. "The complaint relates to comments on social media attributed to her which have caused outrage among members of the public," Justice Ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said in a statement announcing Jansen had been put on leave and a temporary substitute judge had been appointed. The body that oversees appointments to the judiciary said its conduct committee was investigating the incident, a procedure that could lead to her facing a tribunal and, ultimately, impeachment by parliament. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by James Macharia and Robin Pomeroy)
By Ed Cropley KIGALI (Reuters) - South African state rail-freight operator Transnet is embarking on a major expansion drive in the rest of the continent, offsetting a slowdown at home caused by the slump in commodity prices, chief executive Siyabonga Gama said on Wednesday. Transnet, which operates nearly three quarters of all Africa's rail network, was opening offices in West and East Africa and looking to deploy its expertise in running ports and pipelines as well rail, Gama told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Rwanda. "We have spent seven or eight years trying to fix our issues at home and we have not paid enough attention to the rest of the continent," he said. "The time is now ripe for us to do that." Any regional expansion would be financed on a project-by-project basis, rather than centrally, he added. "We don't intend as South Africa to fund all these things. We are looking at project finance. We are looking for the countries to come in as well," Gama said. At home, Transnet has struggled with declining commodity export volumes stemming from the slump in minerals prices. Even though there are signs of a tentative recovery, this year's results were likely to be worse than last year, he added. "It's starting to go up but it's very slow. My sense is that we've bottomed out and it's beginning to rise again," he said. "But our sense is that the trading numbers in 2016, if you look at our volumes, will be less than 2015." The firm, one of the best-managed of South Africa's state-run companies, was almost fully financed for this year and had no plans to issue any bonds, he said. Any further funding if required would come from drawing down existing credit lines, most notably the outstanding $1.5 billion of a $3 billion loan facility with the China Development Bank, he said. (Editing by Ed Stoddard)
By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - A SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday carrying about 3,700 pounds (1,680 kg) of experiment results and cargo from the International Space Station, NASA said.

It was the first return load from the station in a year, following a SpaceX launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed another unmanned Dragon capsule.

The companys Dragon capsules are currently the only ships that can return cargo from the station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp, known as SpaceX, resumed Dragon flights to the station last month.

Ground controllers at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston earlier on Wednesday used the stations robot arm to pluck the unmanned capsule from its berthing port and position it for release into space.

British astronaut Timothy Peake, working from inside the space stations cupola module, then commanded the crane to free its grip at 9:19 a.m. EDT/1319 GMT as the station sailed over Australia so Dragon could begin its ride back to Earth.

"Dragon spacecraft has served us well. It's good to see it departing full of science, and we wish it a safe recovery back on planet Earth," Peake radioed to Mission Control in Houston.

The capsule parachuted into the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 p.m. EDT/1851 GMT, splashing down about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of Long Beach, California.

Dragons returning cargo includes more than 1,000 tubes of blood, urine and saliva samples from the one-year mission of former U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. The men returned to Earth in March.

Also aboard Dragon is the upper torso and life-support system of the faulty spacesuit NASA astronaut Tim Kopra wore during a January spacewalk. The spacewalk was cut short when water began leaking into his helmet.

NASA has had problems with leaking spacesuits before, including the near-drowning of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano during a July 2013 outing.

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Returning Kopra's spacesuit will allow engineers to better investigate the source of the water, NASA spokesman Daniel Huot said.

NASA plans to resume spacewalks after the next Dragon capsule arrives early this summer. The spaceship will carry a new docking system so that future crewed versions of Dragon, as well as Boeings CST-100 Starliner, can park at the station.

Both capsules, developed in public-private partnerships with NASA, are scheduled for test flights next year.

(Editing by Nick Zieminski and Leslie Adler)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - A brother of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested on Thursday by the police Financial Crimes Investigation Division over a land deal allegedly involving money laundering, his lawyer and police said. Several members of the Rajapaksa family are facing police investigations for alleged financial crimes. They include Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was president for a decade until January 2015, his brothers Basil and Gotabaya, his wife Shiranthi and sons Namal and Yoshitha. Rajapaksa's younger brother, Basil, a former economic development minister, is on bail for alleged misappropriation of state funds after serving several months in prison and the court hearing is still taking place. Basil Rajapaksa's lawyer, Jayantha Weerasinghe, told Reuters his client had been arrested. "He has been arrested - they say it's regarding some private land. It's a totally false allegation," Weerasinghe said. Weerasinghe later said his client had been produced in a court, freed on bail and told to appear in court again on July 20. A senior police official who is involved in the case confirmed that Basil Rajapaksa had been arrested on a money-laundering charge in connection with the purchase of some land. Neither Rajapaksa nor his family members were immediately available for comment. Mahinda Rajapaksa lost power in January 2015 after a campaign in which he faced allegations of misusing public funds and nepotism during his 10-year rule. The Rajapaksas have denied wrongdoing. Mahinda Rajapaksa, now an opposition legislator, is still popular among many ethnic majority Sinhala Buddhists who credit him with ending a 26-year-war against ethnic Tamil separatist rebels in 2009. Rajapaksa is trying to rally the opposition against the current government with the help of Basil. Sri Lanka's current president, Maithripala Sirisena, faces pressure to act on allegations of corruption dating back to the Rajapaksa era, especially from civil society organisations who backed his successful bid to oust Rajapaksa. (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Douglas Busvine, Robert Birsel)
For the past two years, a mysterious wasting disease has devastated starfish living along the West Coast, turning countless individual animals into goo. But now, a record number of surviving starfish babies is giving some researchers reason for cautious optimism.

The Oregon coast currently has a thriving community of juvenile starfish (or sea stars), with some places seeing populations with as many as 300 times the typical number, researchers said. That's welcome news, as up to 90 percent of sea stars in Oregon showed signs of the deadly wasting disease from June to August 2014, reports a new study published May 4 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Starfish rising

The high starfish numbers don't mean the deadly disease is gone, however, the researchers said. Another round of the wasting illness could kill the juvenile sea stars, including the purple ochre (Pisaster ochraceus), known as a "keystone" species because of its influence on the marine ecosystem, the researchers said. [In Photos: Sick Sea Stars Turn to Goo]

"When we looked at the settlement of the larval sea stars on rocks in 2014 during the epidemic, it was the same or maybe even a bit lower than previous years," study lead author Bruce Menge, a professor of marine biology at Oregon State University, said in a statement. "But a few months later, the number of juveniles was off the charts  higher than we'd ever seen."

The juvenile starfish aren't the result of elevated starfish births or a massive re-settlement. Rather, these particular sea stars "just had an extraordinary survival rate into the juvenile stage," Menge said. The big question is "whether they can make it into adulthood and replenish the population without succumbing to sea star wasting disease," he said.

Perhaps this generation had a high survival rate because there was more food available, the researchers said. After the wasting disease killed off the majority of adult starfish, the young sea stars would have had more mussels and barnacles to eat, the scientists said.

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Cause of sea star wasting

The wasting disease left innumerable starfish with twisted arms that eventually disintegrated into slimy ooze. The epidemic spanned from Alaska to Baja California and also sickened sea stars on the East Coast.

But it's anyone's guess what causes the disease, scientists said. Some attribute it to sea star-associated densovirus, and others said warmer waters triggered the disease's spread. But the new study found no association between water temperatures and the epidemic in Oregon, Menge said.

"The sea temperatures were warmer when the outbreak first began," he said. "But Oregon wasn't affected as early as [were] other parts of the West Coast, and the outbreak reached its peak here when the sea temperature plummeted and was actually cooler than normal."

Interestingly, researchers at Cornell University in New York found evidence of densovirus in sea stars, the water column and marine sediments. The virus occurs naturally, but may become harmful to starfish experiencing stress, the researchers said.

"Something triggered that virulence, and it happened on a coast-wide basis," Menge said. "Ocean acidification is one possibility, and we're looking at that now. Ultimately, the cause seems likely to be multifaceted." [Marine Marvels: Spectacular Photos of Sea Creatures]

Several clues provide hints about the disease. Sea stars that were continuously underwater, including those in tide pools, were more likely to die than were sea stars living on rocks that were usually above water, the researchers found.

Also, adult starfish were more likely to die than juveniles, probably because the older individuals had been exposed to the wasting disease for a longer period of time, the researchers said.

Menge and his colleagues have studied sea star habitats for more than 30 years. The loss of these creatures has already thrown the ecosystem out of whack, the researchers said. For instance, during the past two years, there has been a population boom in gooseneck barnacles, likely because adult sea stars weren't there to prey on them, the researchers said.

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

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Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(Adds details, share move)

May 12 (Reuters) - Luxury fashion retailer Ralph Lauren Corp reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue and profit, helped by an extra week in the quarter this year, new stores and growth in online sales.

Shares of Ralph Lauren, whose brands include Polo Ralph Lauren and Club Monaco, were up 4.1 percent at $88.00 in premarket trading on Thursday.

Ralph Lauren has been spending on its e-commerce business, expanding distribution in China, and restructuring its business to better react to fashion trends.

The company has also been expanding its product portfolio to include women's clothing under its Polo brand and has launched a new line of sport and outdoor clothing.

However, sales at stores open for at least a year fell 6 percent. Analysts on average had expected a 5.1 percent decline, according to Consensus Metrix.

Ralph Lauren's net income fell to $41 million, or 49 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 2, from $124 million, or $1.41 per share, a year earlier.

The decline in net income was primarily due to higher selling, general and administrative costs and a $45 million impairment and restructuring charge.

Excluding items, the company earned 88 cents per share, above the average analyst estimate of 83 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue fell 1 percent to $1.87 billion, but came in above analysts' average estimate of $1.86 billion.

(Reporting by Ramkumar Iyer in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese officials said President Omar Hassan al-Bashir returned on Thursday from a one-day visit to Uganda made in defiance of an international warrant for his arrest on charges of genocide. The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010, accusing him of masterminding genocide and other atrocities in his campaign to crush a revolt in Sudan's western Darfur region. Uganda is a member of the ICC, which means it is required to act on the arrest warrant. The trip was Bashir's first to Uganda since the ICC warrants were issued and follows Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Khartoum last year. Amnesty International had called on Uganda to arrest Bashir immediately and hand him over to the ICC. "As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. "Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict." Sudan's official news agency had reported that Bashir would spend two days in Uganda, where he would watch Museveni being sworn in for a fifth term. But speaking to journalists at Khartoum airport after Bashir's return, a senior Sudanese foreign ministry official said the visit had not been cut short. "The visit was originally planned for one day ... and most of the presidents participating left after the end of the ceremony," Kamal Ismail said. Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since a 1989 Islamist and army-backed coup, rejects the ICC's authority and has flouted the warrant before, traveling inside the Middle East and Africa. He has also visited China and Indonesia, which are not ICC members, over the past year. Last June, Bashir was forced to flee South Africa, a member of the ICC, after a court ruled he should be banned from leaving pending the outcome of a hearing on his possible arrest. In March South Africa's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the government against a ruling that said the state had made an error in letting Bashir leave the country despite a court order. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz, Writing by Lin Noueihed and Ola Noureldin; Editing by Gareth Jones)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir began a two-day visit to Uganda on Thursday, the official Sudanese news agency said, in defiance of an international warrant for his arrest over acccusations of genocide. The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010, accusing him of masterminding genocide and other atrocities in his campaign to crush a revolt in Sudan's western Darfur region. Uganda is a member of the ICC, which means it is required to act on the arrest warrant. The trip is Bashir's first to Uganda since the ICC warrants were issued and follows Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Khartoum last year. Amnesty International called on Uganda to arrest Bashir immediately and hand him over to the ICC. "As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. "Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict." Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since a 1989 Islamist and army-backed coup, rejects the ICC's authority and has flouted the warrant before, travelling inside the Middle East and Africa. He has also visited China and Indonesia, which are not ICC members, over the past year. Last June, Bashir was forced to flee South Africa, a member of the ICC, after a court ruled he should be banned from leaving pending the outcome of a hearing on his possible arrest. In March South Africa's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the government against a ruling that said the state had made an error in letting Bashir leave the country despite a court order. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz, Writing by Lin Noueihed and Ola Noureldin; Editing by Gareth Jones)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese officials said President Omar Hassan al-Bashir returned on Thursday from a one-day visit to Uganda made in defiance of an international warrant for his arrest on charges of genocide. The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010, accusing him of masterminding genocide and other atrocities in his campaign to crush a revolt in Sudan's western Darfur region. Uganda is a member of the ICC, which means it is required to act on the arrest warrant. The trip was Bashir's first to Uganda since the ICC warrants were issued and follows Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Khartoum last year. Amnesty International had called on Uganda to arrest Bashir immediately and hand him over to the ICC. "As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. "Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict." Sudan's official news agency had reported that Bashir would spend two days in Uganda, where he would watch Museveni being sworn in for a fifth term. But speaking to journalists at Khartoum airport after Bashir's return, a senior Sudanese foreign ministry official said the visit had not been cut short. "The visit was originally planned for one day ... and most of the presidents participating left after the end of the ceremony," Kamal Ismail said. Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since a 1989 Islamist and army-backed coup, rejects the ICC's authority and has flouted the warrant before, travelling inside the Middle East and Africa. He has also visited China and Indonesia, which are not ICC members, over the past year. Last June, Bashir was forced to flee South Africa, a member of the ICC, after a court ruled he should be banned from leaving pending the outcome of a hearing on his possible arrest. In March South Africa's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the government against a ruling that said the state had made an error in letting Bashir leave the country despite a court order. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz, Writing by Lin Noueihed and Ola Noureldin; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir returned Thursday from a "short visit" to Uganda, his first trip to Kampala since his International Criminal Court indictment in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Sudan's official news agency SUNA had earlier reported that Bashir was on a two-day visit to Uganda, which is a signatory of the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

"From the start this was meant to be a short visit. It was only to attend a special event," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Ismail told reporters at Khartoum airport after Bashir returned.

In Kampala, Bashir attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Musevini, who took office for a fifth consecutive term.

Relations between Khartoum and Kampala have been strained for years amid accusations that both support rebel groups in each other's country.

But after South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, ties improved, with Museveni visiting Khartoum last year.

Sudan has previously accused Uganda of backing rebel groups in the south before independence as well as in the vast war-torn region of Darfur.

Several leaders of Sudanese rebel groups from Darfur still reside in Uganda.

Kampala for its part has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group from Uganda.

Hours after he left for Uganda, rights group Amnesty International urged Kampala to arrest Bashir given that it has signed up to the ICC.

"Uganda must face up to its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide," Amnesty's director for East Africa, Muthoni Wanyeki, said in a statement.

"Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict."

But Ismail said: "The visit was successful ... The people of Uganda and officials of Uganda gave President Bashir an official and public welcome."

Story continues

Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan that he denies.

Darfur has been gripped by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region.

Bashir launched a brutal counter-insurgency, in which at least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million forced to flee their homes, according to figures released by the United Nations.
By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State insurgents killed at least 17 Iraqi soldiers with suicide truck bombs on Thursday in a major attack on government forces that recaptured the western city of Ramadi in December, military officials said. The jihadist group also killed two policemen and wounded eight others in two suicide bombings in Abu Ghraib outside Baghdad, a day after killing at least 80 people in bombings at an outdoor market and two checkpoints inside the capital. The attacks near Ramadi dealt one of the heaviest blows to the army since it drove Islamic State out of the western city five months ago. An army colonel told Reuters that militants killed at least 17 soldiers with suicide truck bombs in Jarayshi, 10 km (6 miles) north of Ramadi. They also surrounded an army regiment, seized a bridge and cut a key supply route linking Ramadi to the Thirthar district further north, army sources said. Air strikes by a U.S.-led coalition later allowed government forces to regain control of the supply route. But despite army reinforcements, the militants had dug into northern residential areas by nightfall and were lobbing mortars at government positions across the Euphrates river. An officer said the Islamic State attack appeared designed to delay an expected army offensive that would have completely severed militant supply routes to Falluja on the western approaches to Baghdad, which Iraqi forces have ringed for more than six months. As Islamic State has been pushed out of key towns and cities it seized in 2014, it has resorted increasingly to guerrilla-style attacks in civilian areas under nominal Iraqi government control. The toll from Wednesday's three suicide bombings in Baghdad made it the deadliest day in Baghdad so far this year. Police sources said Thursday's bombers approached a police station in Abu Ghraib from two directions before detonating their explosives. Baghdad Operations Command, one of the security organs charged with protecting the capital, said a third assailant was killed on approach to the police station. Amaq news agency, which supports Islamic State, said two militants had clashed with police at al-Zeidan station before setting off their explosives-filled vests. Sunni Muslim militant violence against security forces and Shi'ite Muslim civilians has persisted since Baghdad became the target of almost daily bombings a decade ago following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein. A recent surge in bombings has heightened criticism of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as he grapples with a political crisis over his attempts to overhaul his cabinet to weed out corruption and mismanagement. Lawmakers balking at ceding vested interests targeted by Abadi have failed to convene parliament since protesters loyal to powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a vocal advocate of dismantling Iraq's quota-based governing system, breached the heavily-fortified Green Zone district two weeks ago and took over the assembly complex for several hours. Sadr's supporters took to the streets of Baghdad on Thursday to denounce the government for failing to protect them, escalating a political confrontation that could doom the ruling coalition. (Additional reporting by Kareem Raheem and Omar Fahmy in Cairo; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Tom Brown)
Mortgage application

Baltimore is known for plenty of things, from very good (Chesapeake blue crabs) to very bad (racial tensions). Now heres a new marker for the plus side of the equation: The city has the highest percentage gains in new mortgages.

The news came from a recent RealtyTrac report comparing the first quarter of 2016 to the same period last yearfocusing on publicly recorded mortgages and deeds of trust. The real estate data firm measured single-family residences, townhouses, condos, and multifamily buildings with just two to four units.

New mortgages were up 26% in the resurgent Maryland city located an hour outside the nations capital, which continues to bounce back from years of high unemployment and last years much publicized protests against police brutality. The rise in mortgages was significant, because buyers seeking loans typically live in the properties versus investors who often pay cash for their properties.

Its a great city thats a lot more affordable than Washington, DC, or Philadelphia, says Baltimore real estate agent Ron Howard with Re/Max Preferred. Its growing. More businesses are coming to the city.

The city with the second-biggest bump in new mortgages was Tucson, AZ, where the loans were up 18% over the previous year. Its yet another smaller metro area close to a higher-priced city (Phoenix).

Local real estate broker John Mijac, of Long Realty Co., attributes the influx of new buyers to the city finally recovering from the housing bubble. A revitalized downtown is packed with new dining and shopping options, and even a streetcar for public transportation.

Weve had a good year, he says. Tucson has the qualities of a small town, but the opportunities of the big city.

Rounding out the list for top year-over-year mortgage increases were Louisville, KY, at 17%; MinneapolisSt. Paul, MN, at 14%; and Nashville, TN, at 14%.

Other urban areas that saw hefty spikes included Washington, DC, at 13%; Atlanta, at 12%; and Chicago, at 11%.

Story continues

These are markets that are affordable compared more well-known cities like New York and Los Angeles, says RealtyTrac spokesman Daren Blomquist. Theyre markets where the economy is doing well and jobs are coming back.

The post Which Surprising Cities Are Seeing the Biggest Bump in New Mortgages? appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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By Francesco Canepa

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - SWIFT's payment network was not hacked in the $81 million heist on the Bangladesh central bank earlier this year, SWIFT's chief executive said on Thursday, adding it was unlikely to be the last such attack on a bank.

Gottfried Leibbrandt said SWIFT's network, used by firms and institutions across the world to exchange information about financial transactions, had not been violated during the cyber attack, in which funds were stolen from a Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Fed in February.

Security researchers at British defence contractor BAE Systems said last month the hackers had manipulated SWIFT's Alliance Access server software, which banks use to interface with SWIFT's messaging platform, in a bid to cover up the fraudulent transfers they had ordered. [nL2N17S0JX]

"At the end of the day we werent breached, it was from our perspective a customer fraud," Leibbrandt said at a financial conference in Frankfurt.

"I dont think it was the first, I dont think it will be the last."

The SWIFT messaging network is used by commercial and central banks including the Fed and the ECB. [nL2N1881QR]

SWIFT, a cooperative owned by 3,000 financial institutions, has rejected allegations by officials in Bangladesh that its technicians made the Asian country's central bank more vulnerable to hacking before the heist, one of the biggest ever cyber swindles.

Bangladeshi police and a central bank official told Reuters the SWIFT technicians introduced security loopholes when connecting the messaging network to Bangladesh's first real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the allegations.

In a letter to users dated May 3, SWIFT told its bank customers that they were responsible for securing computers used to send messages over its network.

Representatives from SWIFT, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bangladesh Bank met in Basel on Tuesday and promised to cooperate to recover the stolen funds, following weeks of accusations over who is to blame.

(Reporting by Francesco Canepa; editing by Andrew Roche)
(Reuters) - SWIFT, the global financial messaging network that banks use to transfer billions of dollars every day, warned on Thursday of a second case of a cyber attack similar to the one that resulted in the $81 million cyberheist in February at the Bangladesh central bank.

"Forensic experts believe this new discovery evidences that the malware used in the earlier reported customer incident was not a single occurrence, but part of a wider and highly adaptive campaign targeting banks," SWIFT said in a statement.

A SWIFT spokeswoman said the second case targeted a commercial bank, without providing the name of the bank.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Chicago and Jim Finkle New York; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Paris (AFP) - Former Syrian prime minister turned key opposition leader Riad Hijab has told AFP in an interview the forces fighting the regime need "actions, not words" from countries that support them.

He said the opposition urgently required surface-to-air missiles to counter the air strikes carried out by the regime and their Russian allies.

And he called for tougher action against President Bashar al-Assad, who he claimed had effectively received a "green light" from Moscow and Washington to continue bombing civilian areas.

"What we want are practical and effective measures on the ground. We don't need statements or pretty words in the media because that doesn't produce any results," Hijab told AFP.

Hijab, who was speaking in Paris on Wednesday after attending a meeting of Arab and European allies of the Syrian opposition as well as US Secretary of State John Kerry, said he was frustrated at the lack of tough action against the Damascus regime.

He accused the regime of responsibility for "more than 2,300 violations of the ceasefire" since it came into effect on February 27.

Hijab accused the Syrian regime and their Russian allies of committing war crimes.

"In April alone, there were 27 massacres, with bombings of markets, schools and hospitals carried out by the regime. We saw what happened in Aleppo recently," he said.

The ceasefire between regime forces and non-jihadist rebels in Syria, overseen by Moscow and Washington, was shattered at the end of April, most strikingly in Aleppo, the strategic city in northern Syria whose control is split between government and rebel forces.

Around 300 people were killed in a surge in fighting in the city.

- 'Green light to Assad' -

A fragile new ceasefire was introduced last week and Russia and the United States agreed to "redouble" efforts to find a political solution to a war that has lasted five years and cost the lives of 270,000 people.

Story continues

"It's completely insufficient," Hijab said. "The joint statement by the Russians and the Americans says they want to 'minimise' the bombing of civilians and civilian areas as much as possible.

"That is like giving the regime a green light to continue its abuses and saying: 'You are killing 100 Syrians a day. Well today you mustn't kill more than 10."

The regime defends its air strikes by saying it is targeting "terrorist groups", meaning the Al-Nusra Front (the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda) and the Islamic State group, neither of which are included in the ceasefire.

"The Syrian people have been dying for five years. We want actions, not words, from our friends," Hijab said.

"We hope that the United States, the French, the British, the Germans and others are going to act on the ground," Hijab said.

The opposition forces' main plea, as it has been since the start of the war in 2011, is for weapons.

"The United States has prevented us obtaining anti-aircraft weapons for five years. And until recently they were blocking us from getting anti-tank weapons," he said.

"We are fighting on several fronts: against Daesh (the Arab acronym for Islamic State), there have been fierce battles in recent days around Aleppo, Homs and Damascus and in the south.

"We are fighting against regime forces, against the (Kurdish) PYD, against religious militia from Iraq and Lebanon, and against Afghan mercenaries and others... We need weapons that can make a difference on the ground."

Hijab also called for the 17-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which is due to meet in Vienna next Tuesday, to take measures to force the regime to respect the international community's humanitarian demands.

The ceasefire, he said, "is not an end in itself".

"The solution for Syria is a genuine political transition," said the man who oversees the opposition's negotiations in Geneva.

Three rounds of UN-backed peace talks since the start of the year have failed to make significant progress. The most recent round, in April, was suspended when fighting resumed in Aleppo.

"We want to return to Geneva," Hijab said. "We're at an impasse at the moment because the regime does not want to talk about a (political) transition."

He stressed though that the opposition's approach remained unchanged -- there can be no solution that includes Assad.

"It is completely unrealistic to imagine that he can stay in power," said Hijab, who was serving as prime minister under Assad when he fled Syria with his family in August 2012 to join the opposition.
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund is "very advanced" in talks with the Rwandan government on a short-term credit facility to support the East African country if its foreign reserves slide, a senior official said on Thursday. Rwanda, which relies on farming, foreign aid and modest exports of minerals, has been hit by the slide in global commodity prices and has seen foreign reserves slip while a construction boom has continued to suck in imports. The central bank does not release timely reserve figures, but one diplomat said they had slipped to about 3.2 months of imports cover. Neighbouring Kenya has more than 4 months cover. "Our discussions with the Rwandan government are very advanced. We expect this to go forward," IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton told a news conference on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa, in Kigali. "It will take a little while to finalise," he said, without giving details about the facility or timing of a deal. Finance Minister Claver Gatete, who spoke with Lipton at the news conference, said Rwanda's trade balance had been hit by downturn in commodities prices. "We need a short term facility that can help the central bank to make sure that it can continue to intervene in the market to support the various imports of the private sector," he said, without commenting on the value of the facility. An IMF report in January said rebuilding reserves would be "critical to enhance the country's resilience to future shocks." (Reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Kigali (AFP) - For the digital revolution to succeed, Africa must improve public access to electricity, delegates at the World Economic Forum on Africa said as they met for a second day in Kigali.

Plugging households in to the grid remains a major challenge on this continent where more than 600 million people have no access to power, said delegates meeting in the Rwandan capital at a three-day summit known as Africa's Davos.

"Without access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy, Africa cannot really take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution" former UN under-secretary general Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella told AFP, referring to the digital revolution.

"The investors were very clear that you need good, determined governments and public policy that will last and are predictable for 10, 20 years," he explained after talks between public decision-makers and representatives of the private sector.

But the first step was addressing the continent's lack of access to power.

"You much recognise that the fourth industrial revolution.. is just simply about providing access to electricity," African Development Bank (AfDB) president Akinwumi Adesina told a press conference.

"Everything revolves around having access to power," said Adesina who told AFP in February that the AfDB was to invest $12 billion in the energy sector over the next five years to promote universal access to electricity.

- 'Like blood in the body' -

Last September, the bank unveiled a landmark initiative to solve Africa's huge energy deficit by 2025, in a programme which Adesina said would boost the continent's industrial capacity and its competitiveness.

"With that, we will be able to improve the access of small- and medium-size enterprises to electricity, we will be able to improve the industrial capacity that Africa has, we will also be able to improve the competitiveness that Africa has in global markets," he said.

Story continues

"Electricity is like blood in your body."

Although Africa was rich in resources, it lacked the necessary policies to encourage long-term investor interest in energy projects, Yumkella said.

Governments "should do for the energy sector what they did for mobile telephony: you deregulate, you privatise, you incentivise, (and) private capital will come in," he said.

But some warned of the need to move swiftly, saying regional governments could see opportunities quickly snapped up by eager western investors.

"The negative scenario is, of course, that Africa once again will be exploited by western countries and companies who have invested much higher in the fourth industrial revolution," warned Adam Ikdal, director of the South African branch of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

"So it is an opportunity, but it is also a potential threat if government doesnt wake up to the challenge."
Target CEO Brian Cornell

Target CEO Brian Cornell says the company isn't backing down from its stance on transgender bathrooms, despite a widespread backlash.

More than 1.2 million people have signed a pledge to boycott Target after it announced last month that it would welcome transgender customers to use any bathroom or fitting room that matches their gender identity.

The backers of the pledge  including Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick  claim that the policy poses a "danger to wives and daughters" and is "exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims."

In an interview on CNBC on Wednesday, Cornell said he continues to believe that Target made the right decision in supporting transgender rights.

"We took a stance and we are going to continue to embrace our belief of diversity and inclusion," Cornell said.

He reassured customers who are concerned about their safety, saying, "we are also going to make sure our commitment to safety is unwavering."

Cornell likened the public backlash against Target to when the retailer started used African American models in advertising in the mid 1960s.

"Back then it wasnt well received, but sitting here today we know we made the right decision," Cornell said.

Cornell also noted that a majority of Target's stores already have a family restroom and "we are committed over the next few months to make sure every one of our stores has that option because we want all our guests to be welcomed in our stores."

NOW WATCH: At Sam Adams, its OK to tell your boss f--- you





More From Business Insider


You may love your Tesla, but that doesn't make it any less prone to accidents than other cars. If you want an example, consider that a Tesla driver in Utah recently found that his Model S loaner had parked itself automatically into the back of a trailer.

After analyzing logs, the carmaker told him that hes the only person to blame for the accident. Apparently, the cars auto-parking feature was initiated, which is why the car hit the back of the trailer.

DONT MISS: Amazon's 12 best daily deals: A $50 smartphone, a $150 smart TV, and plenty more

The Summon feature is still in beta and requires human oversight. Tesla advises users to monitor the self-parking feature at all times and intervene to avoid obstacles that could cause accidents.

The driver, Jared Overton, said that he did not activate the Summon feature and that he was near the vehicle for some 20 seconds talking about it with a nearby worker at the business he was visiting. Overton said he parked well behind the trailer, but the car somehow drove itself into it, failing to detect the trailers bed.

Overton and the worker discovered the car a few minutes later when exiting the business.

We were trying to figure out how on earth the vehicle started on its own, Overton told KSL. What happened with this kind of rogue vehicle?

Tesla sent a letter to Overton telling him that it was practically his fault, suggesting he may have invoked the Summon feature and that he may have failed to monitor the car.

Tesla has reviewed the vehicles logs, which show that the incident occurred as a result of the driver not being properly attentive to the vehicles surroundings while using the Summon feature or maintaining responsibility for safely controlling the vehicle at all times, the letter said.

The Summon feature was initiated by a double-press of the gear selector stalk button, shifting from Drive to Park and requesting Summon activation Tesla explained. It all happened three seconds after Overton exited the car and closed the door, the letter explained.

Story continues

The driver disagrees, saying that even if he accidentally started Summon, he would have been able to hear it and stop it.

Even during that 15, 20-second walk right here, we would have easily heard the impact of the vehicle into the back of the trailer, Overton said. They can tell me what they want to tell me with the logs, but it doesnt change what we know happened here.

Theyre just assuming that I sat there and watched it happen, and I was OK with that, Overton said.

A Tesla spokesperson told KSL that the Summon feature is in beta, and each driver has to agree to certain terms and conditions before enabling it. These conditions say that the driver has to be in proximity of the car when using its autonomous features to be able to assume manual control if something goes wrong.

This feature will park Model S while the driver is outside the vehicle, the statement said. Please note that the vehicle may not detect certain obstacles, including those that are very narrow (e.g., bikes), lower than the fascia, or hanging from the ceiling. As such, Summon requires that you continually monitor your vehicles movement and surroundings while it is in progress and that you remain prepared to stop the vehicle at any time using your key fob or mobile app or by pressing any door handle. You must maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle when using this feature and should only use it on private property.

Overton said the statement practically dismissed the experience of two witnesses. Imagine if a child was right there  I guarantee that they would be responding to this a lot differently, Overton said. I will not feel safe with my little boy playing in the garage or the driveway if theres the potential for a rogue vehicle.

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This article was originally published on BGR.com
Sao Paulo (AFP) - Michel Temer used to be known in Brazil as a behind-the-scenes operator, but that was before he pulled the trigger on a masterful bid to topple his boss, President Dilma Rousseff, and take her job.

After months of playing his cards close to his chest, the vice president took over as acting president Thursday after the Senate voted to open an impeachment trial against Rousseff.

Brazil's first female president was suspended pending judgement for up to six months, and Temer, a constitutional scholar who kept a low profile until now, takes her place.

He will hold the job on an interim basis until the Senate decides her fate, then assume it permanently if a two-thirds majority votes to remove her.

Rousseff's running mate-turned-nemesis has lined up a business-friendly cabinet and plans to pivot away from 13 years of leftist policy in a bid to get the ailing South American giant's economy out of recession.

But with popularity ratings as dismal as Rousseff's and many of his allies implicated in corruption, Temer will face a tall task restoring stability in Brazil.

- Out of the shadows -

The 75-year-old lawyer had long been a backroom wheeler-dealer. He was perhaps best known to voters for having a 32-year-old former beauty contestant as a wife.

But as Brazil's economic boom turned to spectacular bust and a corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras tainted nearly the entire political class, Temer slowly emerged from the shadows to seize the starring role.

Rousseff and her running mate always made an awkward couple. As head of the PMDB, a center-right party, Temer represented the biggest force in the former leftist guerrilla's shaky coalition.

For years, the PMDB played the role of kingmaker, content with pulling the strings and keeping the keys to the government pork barrel.

Temer was cautious, gradually making his disapproval of Rousseff known as the momentum to impeach her built.

In October, he published a document called "A bridge to the future" in which he criticized "excesses" in government policies. And in December, he complained of being treated as "a decorative vice president."

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But while lower-level PMDB supporters liked to refer to him as "President Temer," he insisted he had no such ambitions, except perhaps for the next scheduled elections in 2018.

Finally, in March, he came out into the open, calling on the PMDB to abandon the government and go into opposition.

The suspended president calls him a leading "conspirator" in the impeachment process, which she says has turned the commonly accepted practice of papering over shortfalls in the government's accounts into an excuse for a "coup."

- Poet and ladies' man -

For someone known as a colorless political insider, Temer has a surprising side.

Not only is he married to a woman less than half his age, but it is his third marriage. He has five children born across four decades.

Nor is he the stuffed suit that he might appear to be on television. In addition to a highly regarded work on constitutional law, the son of Lebanese immigrants has authored a book of poetry.

He has served three times as speaker of the lower house of Congress and has been president of the PMDB for 15 years.

Temer does not apologize for his dour manner, telling Piaui magazine in 2010 that joking is not his thing: "I don't know how to do this. If I tried, it would be a disaster."

That persona may account for his rock-bottom popularity -- only two percent of the country would vote for him in a presidential election, according to a recent poll.

Political analysts say his most immediate threat comes from the Petrobras scandal, in which a host of powerful PMDB colleagues are implicated.

Temer himself is not under investigation, but key witnesses have accused him of participating in schemes to bilk the company of billions of dollars.

The new interim president has also been found guilty of campaign finance irregularities and could be banned from seeking elected office for eight years. But becoming president via Rousseff's impeachment doesn't count.
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) - In northeast Thailand, once a hotbed of opposition to Thailand's junta, troops patrol university campuses in Humvees and hold "attitude adjustment sessions" at military camps for those who don't toe the line. Two years after a military coup, the constrained opposition is struggling to mount a campaign against an Aug. 7 referendum on a junta-backed draft constitution, its first test of popularity since the May 2014 coup. The junta has imposed restrictions on even debating the draft constitution, which critics say could enshrine military power for years to come. "The soldiers have successfully built fear here," said Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, a law student at Khon Kaen University in the northeast and member of Dao Din, an anti-coup group. "Referendum or no referendum, they've won." Jatupat and 13 others were detained for nearly two weeks last year after demonstrating against the military government. The group now limits its activities to composing anti-junta songs, he said. The military has overseen the drafting of a constitution to replace one it discarded after seizing power. Critics, including major political parties, say it will enshrine the military's influence and is unlikely to end political strife. The charter would have an appointed upper house Senate, with a portion of the seats reserved for the military and police. The junta has said this clause is necessary to oversee a five-year "transitional period" before full civilian rule is restored. SUPPRESSING 'RED SHIRTS' The military has kept Isaan in the northeast under tight control since seizing power. Thailand's largest region is a stronghold of "red shirt" supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin and his allies have commanded the ballot boxes this century, helping to elect a series of populist governments that chafed against institutions aligned with the royalist elite: the military, the bureaucracy, the middle class. Thaksin, ousted by the army in 2006, remains hugely popular among the poor and rising middle-class farmers and laborers in the northeast. While in power, he poured money into developing the region and paid generous subsidies to farmers. But critics accused him of enriching himself at the expense of the state. He remains in self-imposed exile to avoid corruption charges in Thailand. His sister Yingluck was removed from office in May 2014, days before the coup that overthrew the remnants of her government. She is on trial on corruption charges stemming from a state rice subsidy scheme. Yingluck, who denies wrongdoing, faces up to a decade in jail if found guilty. Authorities have also moved swiftly to quell anti-junta and anti-constitution protests in recent weeks in Bangkok. In March, the junta gave soldiers expanded powers of arrest and detention, which allows the military to seize assets, search premises and arrest and interrogate civilians. Following the decree, the U.S. State Department urged the government to limit the role of the military in internal policing. The United States has scaled back its deep ties with Thailand since the coup, amid uncertainty about when it will return to civilian rule. Critics say the crackdown on free expression sows doubts about the military's intention to hold a free vote on the August referendum followed by national elections next year. Junta spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree denies that. "People can discuss so long as they do so in an inoffensive manner," he said. POLITICAL INSTABILITY Continued political instability is damaging Thailand's economic potential, even as international competition intensifies with the rapid development of Vietnam and Myanmar's democratic reforms, Standard & Poor's said in a report this week. "The current Thai government is pushing to adopt a new constitution that critics said would lead to unstable elected governments and weaken democracy," said S&P Global Ratings analyst Kim Eng Tan. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has struggled since the military took power, with weak exports and consumption hurting growth. Exacerbating matters, nearly half of the country's provinces are suffering from drought. "A further slowdown in Thailand's economic growth trajectory could erode its sovereign credit metrics over the next few years even without a possible violent confrontation in the country," Tan said. A potential royal succession is also complicating the political climate. King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been on the throne for 70 years, but he is 88 and in failing health. Bhumibol's succession has prompted worries about instability in a country that has witnessed 19 coups or attempted ones and at least 19 constitutions since a constitutional monarchy replaced an absolute one in 1932. The junta has launched an unprecedented crackdown on anything construed as criticism of the monarchy. The authorities have brought at least 59 lese majeste cases since the May 2014 coup, according to a Human Rights Watch report on Wednesday. RE-EDUCATION CAMPS The red flags which used to flutter along roads and outside homes of villages throughout Isaan, were nowhere to be seen on a recent drive through the region. Soldiers removed the red shirt movement flags after the coup and villagers took down others to avoid getting a summons from the military, like those received by hundreds of opposition leaders, critics and academics. Those summoned to what the junta calls "attitude adjustment sessions" are usually released once they sign documents promising not to repeat their transgressions. Last month, the junta said it would go beyond attitude adjustment to create "re-education camps" for repeat offenders, including those who demonstrate or protest publicly. The opposition has had little visible leadership since the coup, making it hard to oppose the referendum, said red shirt supporters in Khon Kaen. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), as the red shirt group is formally known, says it is limited in what it can do. "What we can try to do is go on television shows to call for a free and fair referendum and put messages on T-shirts and, of course, vote against the constitution in August," said UDD spokesman Thanawut Wichaidit speaking to Reuters in Bangkok. The junta is preparing to send military cadets to towns and villages throughout the country to discuss the referendum. The government denies that this step breaks campaigning rules. Achana Chiutasaen, 51, a Khon Kaen farmer and red shirt supporter, compared the silence of the opposition to the drought affecting parts of Thailand, saying sooner or later it would end. "We are seeds underground now waiting for the rain, and when it comes the seeds will grow." (Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Andrew R.C. Marshall; Editing by Simon Webb and Bill Tarrant)
ROME (Reuters) - Roger Federer's struggles continued when he was beaten 7-6 (2) 6-4 by fast-rising Austrian Dominic Thiem in the third round of the Italian Open on Thursday. The former world number one has been battling against knee and back injuries this year and was not at his best as he succumbed to the 22-year-old Thiem at the Foro Italico. Thiem, ranked 15th after reaching a career-high 13th earlier this year, recovered from an early break and streaked into a 6-2 lead in the tie break before taking the set with a backhand winner. He broke 34-year-old Federer's serve again midway through the second set as he claimed the 32nd victory of a breakthrough season. The Swiss, a four-times finalist in Rome, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after this year's Australian Open and was side lined for 10 weeks before returning at the Monte Carlo Masters in April. Federer missed last week's Madrid Open with a back problem and, with the French Open looming at the end of the month, the 17-times grand slam champion faces a fitness race ahead of Roland Garros. Later on Thursday Rafael Nadal continues his build-up to the French Open when he takes on Australian Nick Kyrgios. World number one Novak Djokovic, bidding for a third consecutive Rome title, is up against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci while women's top seed Serena Williams takes on fellow American Christina McHale. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Tony Jimenez)
In a matter of two years, Thirdstory (Elliott Skinner, Richard Saunders, Ben Lusher) has racked up millions of views with their inspired YouTube covers (from Taylor Swift's "Style" to Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One"), sang on Zayn's debut album (Elliott Skinner sings back up on "Blue"), toured with Tori Kelly, and clinched a deal with Universal Music Group. Now they're venturing out into the industry with their own music in hand, and they're off to a memorable start with "G Train."

Summer's Hottest Tours -- From Beyonce to Adele and Beyond

The guys of Thirdstory come from disparate parts of North America -- Lusher is a native of Bermuda, Saunders of Connecticut -- but their paths diverged in New York City, and the city's influence has seeped into their indie/R&B sound.

"'G Train' is inspired by our shared experiences living in New York, and all the futility and frustration you feel trying to find love here," Thirdstory says, creatively using one of the city's most fickle subway lines as a metaphor for the frustrations of love. "The song combines a lot of sounds we love: in-your-face drums, soulful vocals, and three-part harmony. We started writing it on a subway platform, and it's evolved into one of our favorite songs to perform on stage."

"G Train" is described as "Fleet Foxes meets 'No Diggity,'" with strong harmonies layered over handclaps and guitars. Best New Artist Grammy nominee Tori Kelly calls Thirdstory her favorite band.

Their debut EP, Searching, comes out tomorrow (May 13) on Verve, with a full album produced by Malay (Frank Ocean, Zayn) dropping this fall.
Rahat (Israel) (AFP) - Thousands of Arab Israeli protesters marched in favour of a right of return of millions of Palestinians on Thursday, the same day Israel celebrated its independence.

The Israelis of Palestinian origin were seen carrying Palestinian flags and others holding up signs demanding the right to return for refugees at the rally in the Negev desert.

Organisers said it was the first time such a demonstration has been held in the Negev.

Israeli Jews, in contrast, celebrated in public parties in two very different sets of reactions to the 68th anniversary of Israel's founding.

Israelis hail independence day as what they call the reformation of the Jewish state.

For Palestinians, however, the events of 1948 are seen as a "nakba" -- catastrophe in Arabic -- as more than 760,000 Palestinians, estimated today to number about 5.5 million with their descendants, fled or were driven from their homes.

The Nakba will be formerly marked on May 15.

Marchers carried the slogan "On the anniversary of your independence, remember our nakba."

For the Palestinians, the right to return to homes they fled or were forced out of is a prerequisite for any peace agreement with Israel, but it is a demand the Jewish state has rejected out of hand.
The Baltimore Orioles have used the long ball to pace their current winning stretch.

That might not bode well for a Detroit Tigers' staff that's had some trouble keeping the ball in the park of late.

The Orioles look to continue their power surge while trying for a fifth straight victory Thursday night against the visiting Tigers.

Leading the AL with 49 home runs, Baltimore (20-12) belted 12 in the last three games. Mark Trumbo homered twice and Chris Davis hit his ninth as the Orioles went deep four times in Wednesday's 9-2 victory at Minnesota.

Baltimore, which owns a 30-10 run advantage in the last four games, has a chance to join the 1964 Twins as the only teams to hit back-to-back home runs in four consecutive contests.

''We obviously have a lot of power in our lineup,'' said Davis, who went 7 for 10 the past two games. ''I think guys have really had good at-bats these last couple of days, not just going up there hacking, but looking for a pitch to drive and haven't been missing them.''

Trumbo is 7 for 18 in four games and has homered three times over the last three.

''I think the last couple games have been really strong and kind of what we're hoping for,'' said Trumbo, who leads the team with 11 homers.

The Orioles hope that continues against Detroit (15-18), which has given up 15 home runs in the last seven games.

Struggling right-hander Mike Pelfrey (0-4, 6.23 ERA) gave up three homers that were responsible for all but one of the five runs he allowed in five-plus innings of a 10-5 loss to Texas on Saturday, though he didn't receive a decision. Fighting to remain in the rotation, Pelfrey has yielded five runs in each of his last three outings.

He has surrendered six home runs after serving up 11 over 30 starts for Minnesota last season.

"It's not what I wanted," Pelfrey told MLB's official website. "I feel terrible. I know that I'm better than this.

Story continues

"It's kind of a (bad) stretch to go through. It's not what I want to do, and it's not what I want to do for these guys, or how I envisioned starting off. I know that I'm better than this, and I just gotta find it."

Trumbo is 5 for 10 and the only Oriole to homer off Pelfrey, who is 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts against Baltimore. Adam Jones is 6 for 12 against him.

Baltimore's Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 4.54) looks to build on a solid outing from Saturday when he gave up two runs in eight innings of a 5-2 win over Oakland. Perhaps most importantly, the right-hander walked one after issuing 15 over the previous four starts.

"I always try to stay away from the walks," he said. "The walks hurt. Every time I walk a guy, it seems like they find a way to score."

Jimenez walked only one in 9 1/3 innings in two starts against Detroit last season, but he allowed 13 runs and 13 hits to lose both.

J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez and Jose Iglesias all homered off Jimenez in 2015. Miguel Cabrera did not face him last season, but is a lifetime .349 hitter against Jimenez.

Iglesias and J.D. Martinez homered Wednesday, but Washington's Max Scherzer matched a major league record by striking out 20 as the Tigers fell for the eighth time in nine games, 3-2.
College of Ozarks

College of the Ozarks, a Christian liberal-arts college located in Missouri, has a $427 million endowment.

But unlike other private liberal arts colleges with large endowments, C of O, as it's often called, has accumulated its endowment all while offering four-year degrees to students tuition-free.

US News & World Report calls C of O a selective school; it accepts just 8.3% of applicants and has small class sizes with a 15:1 student teacher ratio. A total of 1,433 students attend the school.

While the school's policies state that 90% of the class must show financial need to be accepted, C of O spends about $18,100 per student every year, where a typical top 20 school spends in the $40,000-to-$80,000 range.

The college keeps costs down by employing students around campus. C of O students must work 15 hours a week as teaching assistants, grounds keepers, and farm workers. That work covers the full cost of tuition for students, who can choose to work additional hours to pay off the cost of their room and board. Students cannot earn additional wages from their campus jobs.

On the schools' farm, for example, students cultivate produce and raise farm animals to sustain their cafeteria. When there's a surplus, the students sell items at a farmers market to the surrounding community.

Students must maintain their campus jobs in addition to staying on top of their school work to remain enrolled at the college.

College of the Ozarks

Dubbed "Work Hard U," C of O seems to have sense of pride in its somewhat gritty style of subsisting.

"If I were an employer, I'd take our graduates over those at most any other schools,"Jerry C. Davis, C of O's president, told the Wall Street Journal in 2014. "The kids at these East Coast colleges strike me as being a little spoiled," he continued.

Undoubtedly, C of O must work hard to maintain its endowment as well as its tuition-free model. It's one of only seven tuition-free work colleges in the US. Berea College, another work-based institution, also spends its money wisely. The liberal arts college located in Kentucky has a $1 billion endowment.

Story continues

Student loan debt constitutes the second-largest source of consumer debt in America, and total debt has hit an all-time high of $1.2 trillion. Many, like outspoken entrepreneur and billionaire Mark Cuban, warn of a student loan bubble  and say it's going to pop.

NOW WATCH: A college student declared her love on Snapchat and captivated the whole campus





More From Business Insider


From Esquire

Up here in the Commonwealth (God save it!), we had an awful one-day crime spree down in Taunton where, as the Boston Globe reports, a guy named Arthur DaRosa went berserk and stabbed a woman to death in her home and then drove his car into the front window of a Macy's at a local mall, got loose in a restaurant, and stabbed some more people, killing another person, before an off-duty sheriff's deputy drew down and killed him. From the Globe:

"He is a hero," said David Procopio, a spokesman for State Police. The mall was placed in lockdown shortly after the chaotic series of events. At one point, the suspect ran into a mall restaurant armed with a knife. Authorities said they do not believe DaRosa knew any of the victims. The bloodshed began about 4 miles away from the mall, when DaRosa crashed his car into a truck on Myricks Street at about 7 p.m., Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said at a press conference.

He is a hero. (Do I wish that the deputy had brought this guy down without killing him? Of course I do, but I am also very glad I wasn't in that restaurant.) This will be used by the usual suspects to demonstrate that an armed populace is a safe populace. The fact that the guy with the gun probably went through intensive training in arms will be beside the point. Of course, if you need a simpler rebuttal, just cast your eyes down to Canton, Mississippi. From WAPT:

Alvin Gardner was shot three weeks ago outside a Fred's store in Canton. Store managers spotted Gardner on security cameras stuffing a Snickers candy bar into his pocket and alerted the guard, Bennie Montgomery, according to police. Montgomery followed Gardner out of the store and fired warning shots before police said he shot Gardner in the back of his right leg. "You can't just discharge a firearm at a fleeing suspect. You can't do that," Canton Police Chief Otha Brown said. "The security guard should have known that when the suspect ran out the store, the threat was over. There was no need to discharge a firearm." The bullet struck an artery in Gardner's leg, causing him to lose consciousness because he lost so much blood, police said. He is recovering at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

An armed populace is a safe populace seems to be more ambiguous than axiomatic, all's I'm saying. I also don't envy Sheriff Brown or his email this morning.

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.
By Amedee Mwarabu Kiboko KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's highest court ruled on Wednesday that President Joseph Kabila would stay in power beyond the end of his mandate if his government failed to hold an election due in November. Kabila's opponents denounced the ruling - they had previously argued that an interim president should serve after Kabila's term expired if the election was delayed. Kabila succeeded his assassinated father as president in 2001, then won his first election in 2006. The constitution requires that he step down in December after two five-year terms in office. The government has said the election to choose Kabila's successor is likely to be delayed by budgetary and logistical obstacles. "Article 70, clause two, (of the constitution) permits the president of the republic ... to remain in office until the installation of the new elected president," the constitutional court's president, Benoit Lwamba Bindu, said from the bench on Wednesday. Opposition leaders say Kabila is trying to delay the election so he can hold on to power. He has declined to comment publicly on his intentions and called instead for a national dialogue to allow elections to take place. Eve Bazaiba, secretary-general of the opposition Movement for the Liberation of Congo, said the court is not independent or politically neutral. "If the court violates the constitution, we are not going to follow the court," she told Reuters. "On Dec. 19, the mandate of Kabila is over. On Dec. 20, if he continues, we will consider that there has been a constitutional coup d'etat." Ramazani Shadari, the deputy secretary-general of Kabila's political party, said outside the courthouse that the ruling is a "victory for the people" and thanked the court. Political tensions are high in Congo over the question of Kabila's succession. On Wednesday, police in Congo's second city, Lubumbashi fired tear gas at thousands of supporters of Moise Katumbi, a leading opposition candidate to succeed Kabila. Katumbi, a former provincial governor and one-time Kabila ally, faced a second day of questioning over government allegations that he plotted against the republic by hiring mercenaries, including former U.S. soldiers. The charges could send Katumbi to jail and prevent him from running. Katumbi denies the allegations, which he says are politically motivated. Police also used tasers at the protesters and arrested at least 10, according to a Reuters witness. (Additional reporting by Kenny Katombe in Lubumbashi and Aaron Ross in Kinshasa; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Larry King)
Tokyo (AFP) - Toshiba said on Thursday that it suffered a $4.4 billion full-year net loss as the troubled conglomerate booked a massive write-down of its US nuclear unit, but said the worst was over as it forecast profits for the current business year.

A once proud pillar of corporate Japan, Toshiba has been besieged by problems, most notably a profit-padding scandal in which bosses for years systematically pushed subordinates to cover-up weak financial results.

In an intensive makeover effort, the company has been shedding businesses and announced in March it sold its medical devices unit to camera and office equipment maker Canon.

Toshiba said its net loss for the year to March soared to 483.2 billion yen ($4.4 billion) from 37.8 billion yen a year earlier.

Sales decreased 7.3 percent to 5.7 trillion yen for the fiscal year, while it incurred a 719.1 billion yen operating loss, reversing from an operating profit of 188.4 billion yen a year earlier.

Toshiba said the net loss was mainly due to a slump in its electric and social infrastructure sector, including nuclear power businesses, as well as extra costs related to its restructuring.

The company had already announced a write-down of 260 billion yen at its US nuclear unit Westinghouse after a rise in financing costs, but has said that 665.5 billion yen in revenue from the sale of the medical devices unit to Canon outweighed the negative impact.

Toshiba said it would return to the black for the year to March 2017, projecting a net profit of 100 billion yen and operating profit of 120 billion yen, while sales are expected to edge down to 5.1 trillion yen.

It said the expected recovery was based on efforts to concentrate on its profitable businesses, while it forecast its nuclear power and other energy units would improve.

Last week, Toshiba appointed a new president to steer it past the accounting scandal that has hammered its reputation.

Company veteran Satoshi Tsunakawa, 60, a senior vice president who joined Toshiba in 1979, will replace incumbent chief Masashi Muromachi in June, it said.
Despite it being mathematically impossible for Bernie Sanders to take the Democratic nomination, the senator has continued his presidential bid against Hillary Clinton in the hopes of a win through a superdelegate process. Most recently, Sanders captured the West Virginia primary, much to the amazement of The Daily Show host Trevor Noah.

"Just when you think Sanders is finished, he bursts back to life," he says. "He's got the tenacity of Jon Snow and the body of what the Red Woman actually looks like."

However, while a Clinton nomination seems the most likely, some Sanders supporters in West Virginia and other states aren't willing to vote for the former secretary of state. In fact, some would prefer to jump ship and vote for Donald Trump should it come down to a Clinton vs. Trump race in November.

"Wow, what?" Noah says. "I knew some of Bernie's voters were young, but I didn't realize they were children. Just like, 'Fine! I'm just gonna go vote for Trump. Hillary's stupid and she smells like Benghazi!' Why would you say that?"

The host was quick to point out that West Virginia Democrats have some discrepancies with their peers, and the lack of support for Clinton could be attributed to her saying in March that she'd get rid of all coal jobs. Or, as Noah puts it, "in West Virginia, the jobs."

It would certainly be ironic, too, for Sanders backers to support The Donald, especially now that he has given the Vermont senator his own nickname: "Crazy Bernie."

I don't want to hit Crazy Bernie Sanders too hard yet because I love watching what he is doing to Crooked Hillary. His time will come!

"It's impressive, though," Noah says. "Donald Trump gave Bernie a nickname. And that's how you know he takes him seriously as a threat. Although 'Crazy Bernie' is not really Donald's best work. I'm sure that you could've done better with that. Americans tried that insult on their bread and people still loved that shit."

You can check out Noah's full recap of the West Virginia primary here.
In what could be another sign of Donald Trump pivoting to the center ahead of a general election, the presumptive Republican nominee said his call for total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States was just a suggestion.

Its a temporary ban, Trump said Wednesday in a Fox News radio interview. It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on.

Trump also downplayed how long the ban would be in effect.

Id back off on it, he said in a separate interview with Fox News Greta Van Susteren. Id like to back off on it as soon as possible because frankly, Id like to see something happen. But we have to be vigilant.

Ultimately, its my aim to have it lifted, Trump added.

The seemingly softer tone came a day before the former Celebrity Apprentice star had a much-anticipated meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan at the Republican National Committees headquarters in Washington. (Ryan has condemned Trumps proposal to bar Muslim immigrants and tourists from entering the U.S.)

In December, the Trump campaign issued a press release calling for a ban until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

It is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension, Trump said then. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for president, we are going to make America great again.

We have no choice, Trump told supporters at a Dec. 7 rally in South Carolina. We have no choice.

Trump later clarified that he would make exceptions for Muslim world leaders and American Muslims living overseas. But his Wednesday comments were in sharp contrast to his rhetoric when he announced the hard-line proposal.

Story continues

The comments also come on the heels of sharp criticism from Sadiq Khan, Londons new Muslim mayor.

My message to Donald Trump and his team is that, Your views of Islam are ignorant, Khan said in a CNN interview that aired Wednesday. It is possible to be a Muslim and live in the West. It is possible to be a Muslim and love America.

In response, Trump couldnt resist reviving part of his campaign rhetoric.

I assume he denies that theres Islamic terrorism, Trump said. I mean, if you look at this Islamic radical terrorism all over the world right now  its a disaster whats going on.
Cannes (France) (AFP) - Donald Trump will never be elected US president, George Clooney said Thursday as his new film tapping into the anger fueling the bombastic tycoon's campaign premiered in Cannes.

"Money Monster", directed by Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster, is a thundering indictment of casino capitalism starring Clooney as a Wall Street television pundit taken hostage live on air by an "ordinary Joe" who has lost everything on the stock market.

The thriller takes aim not just at the world of finance but also at reality television and rolling news.

Clooney said they had helped destroy real journalism, and blamed them for propelling populist politicians like Trump towards the White House.

"There is not going to be a President Donald Trump. That is not going to happen because fear is not going to drive our country," the actor told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival.

"We are not going to be scared of Muslims or immigrants or women. We are not actually afraid of anything."

Trump's campaign has been driven by a string of incendiary comments on Muslims, immigration and women.

"Trump is a result of all the news programmes that don't follow up and ask the questions," said Clooney, who plays a cynical cable news tipster who begins to question himself after a gun is held to his head.

"24 hour news doesn't mean you get more news, you just get the same news more," he claimed.

"They can put up their ratings with an empty podium saying Donald Trump is about to speak rather than take 30 seconds and talk about refugees, the biggest crisis in the world," said Clooney, who has long campaigned to highlight migrants' plight.

"Would all of the corporations fall on their knees if we did actually inform people?" asked the actor who hosted big-ticket fundraisers for Hillary Clinton last month in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for November's election.

Story continues

"We have lost the ability to tell the truth and get to the facts," he claimed.

- Impotent male rage -

Foster, who made her first appearance at Cannes four decades ago when "Taxi Driver" won the Palme d'Or when she was 12, said the film keys into popular fury with the system.

The anger felt by the hostage-taker, played by British actor Jack O'Connell, is "a kind of rage that a lot of people feel about the abuses of technology, and the financial system and how they were left behind."

Asked if that meant the film backed Clinton's rival for the Democratic ticket, Bernie Sanders, Foster said, "I'm not sure if that's a Bernie issue, if anything that's more of a Trump issue."

Foster said the American men she depicted were "struggling with their sense of failure".

"They look for acceptance from these strong women they have disappointed," she said. "They are looking for the values of celebrity and of money in order to give them meaning."

Foster said that "intelligent studio movies" like "Money Monster", which goes on general release this week, "are not being made anymore".

But she insisted the public wanted to see movies "that make them think and feel and don't manipulate them".

As Clooney and co-star Julia Roberts prepared to walk the red carpet for the film's gala premiere, producers in Cannes announced that they are making a feature-length documentary of Thomas Piketty's bestselling critique of the global financial system, "Capital in the 21st Century".

Matthew Metcalfe, who was behind the hit documentaries "Beyond the Edge" and "McLaren", said the film would be closely based on the French economist's tome, which has sold three million copies worldwide.

Foster's "Money Monster" had a mixed reception from industry critics.

The Hollywood Reporter called it a "preppy, upright film", while Variety praised its suspense and humour, and said that despite some odd moments "somehow the film hangs together surprisingly well, thanks to on-point performances from Clooney and Roberts."
Washington (AFP) - Thursday's high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders including House Speaker Paul Ryan marks a critical point in the billionaire's presidential quest, with party grandees pressured to close ranks and support the presumptive nominee.

Ryan, the top-ranked Republican currently elected to public office, dropped a bombshell and triggered soul-searching within a fractured party last week when he said he was "just not ready" to support Trump as the flagbearer.

The concerns have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November and hold the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.

With the party divided, Trump and the Republican establishment aim to put differences aside ahead of what is expected to be a brutal campaign battle against Clinton.

"The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles," not bandage deep wounds and move on, Ryan said Wednesday.

"After coming through a very bruising primary, which just ended like a week ago, to pretend we're unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength."

Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, took up the speakership last October pledging to modernize the party's image and reach out to minority groups that traditionally vote Democratic.

But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative New York real estate mogul Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

- 'Respect for Paul' -

Trump is expected to meet Ryan at 9:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday at party headquarters in Washington. He will be looking for more than just a photo op.

"I have a lot of respect for Paul and I think we're going to have a very good meeting," Trump told Fox News on Tuesday.

Story continues

"If we make a deal, that will be great," he added later. "And if we don't, we will trench forward like I've been doing and winning, you know, all the time."

Trump also meets Reince Priebus, the powerful chairman of the Republican National Committee that helps coordinate financing for the party nominee's presidential campaign. Priebus has called for Republicans to unite behind Trump.

Later that morning, he meets with top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell and the chamber's other GOP leaders.

While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there were signs Wednesday of a growing move to unite behind Trump.

The chairman of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon, saying in a statement Trump posted on his Facebook page that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee... and maintain control of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate".

On Tuesday, Republican Senator James Inhofe criticized Ryan's statements, saying Trump "is the nominee, he's going to be working together and have to establish a workable relationship, and I think they will."

"But that's not a good way to start," he added.

A handful of pro-Trump House Republicans met with Ryan Wednesday to urge him to back the billionaire.

There is fence-mending to be done. Ryan bristled in December when Trump proposed his Muslim ban. "This is not conservatism," he warned.

Trump said he felt "blindsided" by Ryan's move last week, telling NBC Sunday that "if he doesn't want to support me, that's fine".

Although some Republicans called for a genuine conservative candidate to challenge Trump and Clinton in November, that prospect has dimmed.

"Most of my members believe he's won the nomination the old-fashioned way," said McConnell, who after months of expressing concern about how a Trump nomination might affect Republican efforts to hold the Senate, has expressed support for him.

"We know that Hillary Clinton will be four more years of Barack Obama. I think that's going to, in the end, be enough to unify Republicans across the country."

Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they separate themselves from The Donald.

But others downplayed the crisis, saying there was plenty of time for Trump to flesh out his policy positions and develop a more presidential bearing.

"Things have a way in politics and government of working themselves out," Senator Chuck Grassley told reporters. He was elected to the Senate in 1980 when onetime Hollywood film icon Ronald Reagan became the party's presidential nominee.

"Remember, everybody thought Reagan was going to take us down to defeat."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday that he and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan largely agree on issues of border security, trade and beefing up the military. "I think for the most part we agree on a lot of different items," Trump said in an interview to be broadcast later Thursday on Fox News. "I feel very strongly about border security. I feel very strongly about trade. I feel very strongly about building up the military. To a large extent I think Paul is there also," Trump said.Trump and Ryan held a highly anticipated meeting in Washington on Thursday to try to bridge differences ahead of the November presidential election. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Tunis (AFP) - The Tunisian government said Thursday that 37 suspects, including several jihadists linked to the Islamic State group, had been arrested in the security operations carried out the previous day.

Two "dangerous and wanted terrorists" were killed during the raid Wednesday in Mnihla near the capital, while 16 suspected jihadists were arrested, the interior ministry said Thursday.

Another 21 other suspects were arrested in raids that followed, the ministry added.

All those arrested were members of "terrorist cells operating across (Tunisian) territory".

"They have been monitored and followed by the national guard for more than four months," the statement said.

In a deadly confrontation that erupted during one of the raids in the Tataouine governorate, four policemen were killed when a militant detonated his explosives belt after a firefight erupted.

The men arrested in the raids had all been trained in the use of firearms, the ministry said.

"They were preparing to gather in Tunis to attack vital, sensitive targets in the capital and the rest of the country, as well as security positions and agents," it said.

The suspects had been planning bomb and "suicide attacks", it added.

Some of those arrested were "implicated in the terrorist acts that hit the Bardo Museum, the Imperial hotel at Sousse, the presidential guard's bus and most recently Ben Guerdane," the statement said.

- 'Links' to IS -

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since its 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the Bardo Museum in Tunis and the beach resort near Sousse that killed a total of 60 people, all but one of them foreign tourists.

A November suicide bombing in the capital, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards and prompted the authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Story continues

Ben Guerdane, one of the North African nation's poorest towns, was the target of a jihadist assault that killed seven civilians and 13 security personnel in March as well as 55 extremists.

"They were also active elements of the terrorist groups in the Tunisian mountains... and had links with Tunisian members of... Daesh in Libya, Syria and Iraq," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

None of the suspects' identities were revealed.

Thousands of Tunisians have joined jihadist groups in conflict zones such as Iraq, Syria and Libya over the past few years.
Four people are dead and at least 15 injured after a large blast in Hani, Turkey, a predominantly Kurdish city in the country's southeast region, Reuters reports.

BREAKING Several dead in blast in Turkey's Kurdish majority southeast: ministry

Citing the country's Interior Ministry, Reuters reported that the explosion occurred around 10:30 p.m. local time as members of the Kurdistan Worker's Party, known as PKK, attempted to loaded explosives onto a truck.

Explosion rocks town in southeastern Turkey, wounding several: security sourcehttp://reut.rs/27hBf54

BNO News, citing Turkish media, reported that the PKK militants appeared to be "in preparation of an attack," and that the blast seemed to have been accidental.

Turkey has been teeming with internal conflict since the dissolution of a ceasefire agreement between the government and the PKK in July, Al Jazeera reported.

On Tuesday, a car bomb that exploded in the city of Diyarbakir wounded 12 police officers. An attack of a similar nature in March killed six people and wounded 20.

The PKK and the Turkish government have been at odds since 1984, when the rebel group first sought independence for the country's large Kurdish population.

This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Correction: May 12, 2016

A previous version of this article misstated the number of fatalities in a March explosion in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Six people, four of whom were police officers, died in that explosion.
By Ece Toksabay and Paul Carrel ANKARA/BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ratcheted up the pressure on Europe over a landmark migrants deal on Thursday, accusing the bloc of setting new hurdles for visa-free travel and threatening Ankara may go its own way if they failed to agree. In Berlin, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also dug in his heels, saying the agreement would collapse unless Ankara fulfilled its commitments, including making agreed changes to its anti-terror law. The stand-off has cast doubts on the future of the agreement, designed to give Turks visa-free travel to Europe in return for stemming the flow of illegal migrants. Brussels is desperate for it to succeed, but insists Turkey meets 72 criteria, including narrowing its legal definition of terrorism. The EU and rights groups have accused Turkey of using its broad anti-terrorism laws to stifle dissent while Ankara says it needs the laws to battle Kurdish militants at home and Islamic State in neighboring Iraq and Syria. "We had finished the issue of visa free travel with EU, we had inked the deal, then they came up with these 72 criteria and included the counter-terror laws in it," Erdogan said. Telling Turkey to soften its counter-terrorism laws was tantamount to asking it to give up its struggle against terrorism, he said in a speech. "Either we will improve our relations with the EU, or we will set a new path for ourselves. We prefer to build the new Turkey with our EU friends, but now we will wait for the decision of our EU friends." But a combative Juncker showed no signs of giving ground. "We put great value in the conditions being met. Otherwise this deal, the agreement between the EU and Turkey, won't happen. If Mr Erdogan decides to deny Turks the right to free travel to Europe, then he must explain this to the Turkish people. It will not be my problem, it will be his problem." 'IN TURKEY'S COURT' Other European politicians also piled pressure on Ankara, with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier saying it was up to Turkey to fulfill the criteria if it wants visa-free travel. "The ball is in Turkey's court," Steinmeier said, adding Turkey must change anti-terrorism statutes that could lead to a crackdown on journalists. "If Turkey fulfils its commitments, then I would be in favor of us fulfilling our commitments and pressing ahead with visa liberalization." Turkey's record on press freedom is a growing concern in Europe. Prosecutors have opened more than 1,800 cases against people for insulting Erdogan since he became president in 2014, including journalists, cartoonists and teenagers. A German satirist is facing prosecution after mocking him on German TV. Still, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the deal was not "dead", and that Brussels was working towards granting Turkey visa-free travel. Brussels said on Thursday it would assign 1 billion euros in aid for refugees living in Turkey by the end of July, speeding up the disbursement of funds promised along with visa liberalization. Turkey has complained the EU is too slow spending the money. Ankara's minister for EU affairs said Turkey believed it had fulfilled all the criteria, adding that it was unacceptable if the deal was postponed unfairly. "We want the process to continue but it would be unacceptable for Turkey if it is postponed in an unfair fashion," Volkan Bozkir told a news conference in Strasbourg broadcast live on Turkish television. Ankara has repeatedly said that without visa liberalization, there will be no migrant deal. (Addditional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Writing by Daren Butler and Dasha Afanasieva; Editing by David Dolan and Dominic Evans)
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey is preparing to "clean" the Syrian side of the border of Islamic State jihadists after a Turkish border town came under repeated deadly rocket attacks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

"We are doing all the necessary preparations to clean the other side of the border because of the problems in Kilis," Erdogan said amid persistent speculation of a possible Turkish cross-border ground operation, without giving details on the preparations.

Around two dozen people have been killed in the Turkish border town of Kilis by rocket fire from IS jihadists since January, prompting the army to respond with artillery fire.

Turkey, a member of the US-led coalition battling IS, also allows US jets to use its air base in southern Turkey for air strikes on the extremists.

But Erdogan complained that Turkey was not receiving the support it desired from its allies in the fight against IS and indicated Ankara was prepared to take unilateral action.

"While our citizens fall martyr every day in the streets of Kilis by rockets launched from the other side, what can we expect from our allies?" he said.

"Let me say it here. We will not hesitate to take needed steps on our own if necessary," he said.

Turkish media reports have indicated a 20-strong Turkish military team crossed into Syria over the weekend on a reconnaissance mission to seek out IS launchers to target in artillery strikes, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Erdogan said what happens in Kilis would be a "litmus test" to show the anti-IS coalition's sincerity in dealing with the threat.

"We do not believe the sincerity of any country that has not seen rockets falling on our town as if they fell on Moscow, London, Brussels, Washington, Paris or Berlin," he said.
Istanbul (AFP) - A Turkish man has gone on trial in southern Turkey charged with sexually assaulting at least eight Syrian children at the refugee camp where he was working, reports and official sources said on Thursday.

Turkey's emergencies agency AFAD, which is responsible for the camp, said in a statement it was aware of the man's arrest and was following the case closely.

The crimes are alleged to have taken place at the tented camp for refugees in the district of Nizip in Gaziantep province in southern Turkey, close to the Syrian border.

The camp, which is home to some 10,800 refugees, has been visited by international ministers and is also adjacent to the Nizip tent city for Syrian refugees which was visited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu last month.

The Dogan news agency reported that the suspect -- identified as a toilet cleaner at the camp named Erdal E. -- was arrested in September 2015 by security forces acting on a tip-off.

He is accused of seeking to attract the children into the lavatories at the camp by offering small amounts of money of up to five lira ($1.7) and then sexually abusing them.

The suspect, who denies the charges and says a previous statement was made under duress, went on trial at the Nizip criminal court, Dogan said.

Prosecutors have asked for him to be given a total sentence of 289 years in jail, it added. The hearing was adjourned but the suspect remains in custody.

AFAD said in a statement on its website that it had been closely following the case "from the first day" and the man had no criminal record at the time he was hired.

"AFAD has taken measures to prevent these incidents from happening again," it said, confirming he had been arrested in 2015.

The Birgun newspaper said the accused is suspected of assaulting 30 children although he is only on trial over the abuse of eight individuals in the current trial as the other families were afraid of filing complaints.

Story continues

This is believed to be the first time that details of the case -- the first such reported incident in a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey -- have been made public.

A delegation from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) migration commission will visit the camp Friday to investigate the incidents, the party's deputy chairman Veli Agbaba announced on its Twitter account.

Agbaba said in a statement that the assaults involved children aged eight to 12 and that a full parliamentary cross-party commission should be set up.

Turkey is hosting over 2.7 million refugees from the conflict in neighbouring Syria. Only a quarter of a million live in refugee camps, with the rest living in Turkish towns and cities.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador to Bangladesh, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, following the execution of an Islamist party leader this week for genocide and other crimes committed during a 1971 war of independence. Bangladesh on Wednesday hanged Motiur Rahman Nizami, head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, for genocide, rape and orchestrating the massacre of intellectuals during the war. International human rights groups say the procedures of the Bangladeshi tribunal that sentenced Nizami fell short of international standards. The government rejects that, and the trials have been supported by many Bangladeshis. In Turkey, there have been a handful of protests against the execution in recent days. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan)
* AKP floats allowing president to keep party ties

* Party officials believe MHP will offer support

* Alliance hinges on leadership battle in MHP

By Ercan Gurses and Orhan Coskun

ANKARA, May 12 (Reuters) - Turkey's ruling AK Party is seeking support from the nationalist opposition for constitutional changes to increase President Tayyip Erdogan's powers, but any alliance hinges on whether its veteran leader can fight off a bid to oust him.

Four senior AKP officials told Reuters they expected the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to back a proposal that would allow Erdogan to restore - as first step to a presidential system - the party affiliation he had to yield on taking over the existing, largely titular presidency in 2014.

The plan, stopping short of immediately introducing the executive presidency Erdogan wants, was watered down in a bid to win enough support in parliament for a referendum on the necessary constitutional change, the officials said.

"We expect the MHP to support this new proposal. Other parties will not. But if the MHP supports it, the path will be opened to a referendum in September," one of the officials said, declining to be named because negotiations are continuing.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the plan was a second option, and that introducing the full presidential system wanted by Erdogan remained the first priority. His supporters see such change as a guarantee against the fragile coalition governments that hampered Turkey's development in the 1990s.

But Erdogan's opponents see it as a vehicle for his own ambition and fear growing authoritarianism. Opposition parties are unlikely to endorse such a fundamental change to Turkey's system of governance, which would see parliament sidelined.

The AK Party has 317 lawmakers in the 550-seat assembly and needs at least 367 votes to change the constitution directly, or 330 to hold a referendum. The MHP has 40 seats and its support for the AKP's watered-down proposal could allow it to pass.

Story continues

Under the current constitution, the president must renounce party affiliations and stay impartial. But Erdogan has retained influence over the AKP by dint of his personal popularity since he resigned as prime minister and was elected president in 2014 in the so far frustrated expectation of rapid transition to a full presidential system.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced last week he would step down later this month after an increasingly public rift with Erdogan. His successor as head of the AKP is widely expected to be a staunch Erdogan ally.

The uncertainty, watched with concern by NATO allies, comes at a time when Turkey faces threats from a Kurdish insurgency and spillover from war in Syria. It also coincides with tensions with the European Union over handling of migrants an refugees.

Formalising Erdogan's grip on the party would allow him to restore full control of Turkey's dominant political movement and further enshrine his hold on government.

"I see what is happening between the current MHP leadership and AKP as going beyond flirting to an engagement," Hakan Bayrakci, head of pollster Sonar, told Reuters.

BAHCELI THREATENED

But the MHP is locked in a leadership battle whose outcome will be key to Erdogan's plans. Several hundred party members have launched a bid to challenge Devlet Bahceli, leader for much of the last two decades, at a special congress set for May 15.

Some might see irony in such a linking of the fates of Erdogan, who virtually swept away the old party order in 2002 elections, and Bahceli who was part of the fractious party politics of the 1990s. But there is common ground between MHP and AKP, both embracing nationalist and conservative religious elements.

The MHP congress was approved by an Ankara court last month, but rallying around its veteran leader, the MHP challenged that decision and an appeals court ruling is pending.

The main candidate to replace Bahceli, should the congress go ahead, is Meral Aksener, a 59-year-old woman who served as interior minister in the 1990s and is seen as unlikely to tolerate MHP members backing the AKP plan.

Pollsters forecast support for the MHP could also double to above 20 percent if she were to lead the party, making the AKP's chances of a stronger parliamentary majority even harder to achieve.

"The MHP is waiting for a decision and the situation will affect support for this (constitutional) measure, the referendum, and the political balances. We're watching their congress process closely," the AKP official said.

The Yargitay appeals court said on Wednesday it would complete its review in May, suggesting the congress is unlikely to be held on time and that the judiciary, over which the government has increased its influence in recent years, is politically divided over the case.

"The MHP could support (proposals for) a party-linked president because they think the government could impact the Yargitay process and be influential in Bahceli keeping his seat," Bayrakci said.

AKP officials rejected any suggestion the government was influencing the court, or that the MHP's leadership battle and AKP efforts to win its support on the constitutional change were in any way linked.

"We have no influence on the court's decision. Such allegations are nonsense. We're not interested in the MHP's internal affairs," a second senior AKP official said.

(Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Ralph Boulton)
By Humeyra Pamuk KILIS, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish artillery pounded Islamic State targets in northern Syria overnight and the U.S.-led coalition carried out air strikes, killing 28 militants near a Turkish border town repeatedly hit by rocket fire, Turkish military sources said. The artillery strikes near Kilis, north of the Syrian city of Aleppo, started at about 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) and ended in the morning, the sources said. Intelligence reports had suggested the militants were preparing attacks, they said. The air strikes destroyed a two-storey building used by the militants as a base, along with 11 fortified defensive positions, they said. The Turkish and coalition operations targeted an area about 10 km (6 miles) south of the border. Turkey's armed forces have stepped up attacks on Islamic State in Syria in recent weeks after rockets fired by the group repeatedly landed in Kilis, in what appeared to be a sustained and deliberate assault. More than a dozen hit the town last week alone. Gunfire and occasional blasts from across the border could be heard on Wednesday from a hill in Kilis, which is home to more than 100,000 Syrian refugees. Abdullah Karasu, a Kilis resident who works in a packaging firm, said he came to the hill every day to watch the action on the other side of the border, partly because it was a safer place to be than in the town center. "I am not going to work anymore because the office is closed due to the rockets," he said, standing with his son. Fewer rockets had landed in Turkey over the past three days, perhaps because of the military response, he said. "But I doubt it's finished ... This silence is ominous. It's almost as unnerving as the rockets landing," he told Reuters. NATO member Turkey was initially a reluctant partner in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State and faced criticism in the earlier stages of the Syrian war for failing to stop foreign fighters crossing its borders and joining the militant group. But it has suffered several attacks blamed on the radical militant group, including two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year. Those attacks targeted foreign tourists, killing a total of 16 people, most of them German and Israeli. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey's armed forces had killed 3,000 Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, where Turkish soldiers are training local forces to fight the insurgents. He did not give a time frame. (Additional reporting by Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Louise Ireland)
Actress and radio personality Tonita Castro died on Mothers Day, May 8, of cancer. She was 63.

Castro is best known for her series regular role on the Fox multi-camera comedy series Dads and her heavily recurring role on NBCs single-camera comedy series Go On.

She most recently did a recurring guest arc on the freshman CBS comedy Life in Pieces and guest starred in the pilot for the new Fox comedy The Grinder.

Castro came to the United States from Mexico in the late 1970s, following the death of her father, and to help support her family she took several jobs  including cleaning houses.

We had to start from scratch, Castro told Fox News Latino. My mother was a widow with seven kids, and she cleaned and ironed and was proud of the honest work she did.

The hardship did not stop Castro from pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher. She switched careers after landing a gig as a news reader at Radio Express in Los Angeles before quickly being promoted to co-host of a Spanish-language show. She stayed there for nearly two decades.

Castro did not get into acting until 2005.

After juggling radio with occasional acting gigs  she guest starred on a wide variety of series, from dark dramas including Dexter and Southland to such comedies as Glee, Two and a Half Men, The Sarah Silverman Program, Raising Hope, Awkward and The League  she left radio about three years ago to pursue acting full time. Since then, also recurred on Kroll Show. Castros feature credits include Funny People, Friends with Money, Imagine That and Our Family Wedding.

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By Robin Emmott DEVESELU, Romania (Reuters) - The United States switched on an $800 million missile shield in Romania on Thursday that it sees as vital to defend itself and Europe from so-called rogue states but the Kremlin says is aimed at blunting its own nuclear arsenal. To the music of military bands at the remote Deveselu air base, senior U.S. and NATO officials declared operational the ballistic missile defense site, which is capable of shooting down rockets from countries such as Iran that Washington says could one day reach major European cities. "As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with its allies to defend NATO," said U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, standing in front of the shield's massive gray concrete housing that was adorned with a U.S. flag. Despite Washington's plans to continue to develop the capabilities of its system, Work said the shield would not be used against any future Russian missile threat. "There are no plans at all to do that," he told a news conference. Before the ceremony, Frank Rose, deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control, warned that Iran's ballistic missiles can hit parts of Europe, including Romania. When complete, the defensive umbrella will stretch from Greenland to the Azores. On Friday, the United States will break ground on a final site in Poland due to be ready by late 2018, completing the defense line first proposed almost a decade ago. The full shield also includes ships and radars across Europe. It will be handed over to NATO in July, with command and control run from a U.S. air base in Germany. Russia is incensed at such of show of force by its Cold War rival in formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe. Moscow says the U.S.-led alliance is trying to encircle it close to the strategically important Black Sea, home to a Russian naval fleet and where NATO is also considering increasing patrols. "It is part of the military and political containment of Russia," Andrey Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, said on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported. "These decisions by NATO can only exacerbate an already difficult situation," he added, saying the move would hinder efforts to repair ties between Russia and the alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin's office said Moscow also doubted NATO's stated aim of protecting the alliance against Iranian rockets following the historic nuclear deal with Tehran and world powers last year that Russia helped to negotiate. "The situation with Iran has changed dramatically," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Joe Cirincione, an American nuclear expert who is president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security organization, told reporters in Geneva that the shield should be scrapped. "It was designed to protect Europe from a missile from, well, the only country we were afraid of was Iran. The system was designed to protect against an Iranian nuclear missile. There is not going to be an Iranian nuclear missile for at least 20 years. There is no reason to continue with that program." RETALIATION The readying of the shield also comes as NATO prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions. Poland is concerned Russia may retaliate further by announcing the deployment of nuclear weapons to its enclave of Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania. Russia has stationed anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles there, able to cover huge areas and complicate NATO's ability to move around. The Kremlin says the shield's aim is to neutralize Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington and NATO deny that. "Missile defense ... does not undermine or weaken Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the Deveselu base. However, Douglas Lute, the United States' envoy to NATO, said NATO would press ahead with NATO's biggest modernization since the Cold War. "We are deploying at sea, on the ground and in the air across the eastern flanks of the alliance ... to deter any aggressor," Lute said. At a cost of billions of dollars, the missile defense umbrella relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and destroy it in space before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites. The Romanian shield, which is modeled on the United States' so-called Aegis ships, was first assembled in New Jersey and then transferred to the Deveselu base in containers. While U.S. and NATO officials are adamant that the shield is designed to counter threats from the Middle East and not Russia, they remained vague on whether the radars and interceptors could be reconfigured to defend against Russia in a conflict. The United States says Russia has ballistic missiles, in breach of a treaty that agreed the two powers must not develop and deploy missiles with a range of 500 km (310.69 miles) to 5,500 km. The United States declared Russia in non-compliance of the treaty in July 2014. The issue remains sensitive because the United States does not want to give the impression it would be able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles that were carrying nuclear warheads, which is what Russia fears. (Additional reporting by Jack Stubbs, Andrew Osborn and Maria Tsvetkova in Moscow and Tom Miles in Geneva; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Andrew Heavens)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States congratulated the Philippines' "presumptive" President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday and said it looked forward to deepening U.S.-Philippine ties with his incoming administration. Washington took the rare step of offering congratulations even though a winner has not been officially declared in Monday's election, which an unofficial count by an election commission-accredited watchdog showed Duterte easily won. The United States and the Philippines, which signed a treaty of mutual defense in 1951, are deepening military cooperation in the face of China's increasingly assertive claims to disputed land features in the South China Sea. While the United States closed its bases in the Philippines in 1992, it plans to send U.S. troops and equipment there on regular rotations and the two countries have begun joint patrols in the South China Sea as China asserts its territorial claims. While Duterte has been criticized for allowing a spree of vigilante killings in Davao city, where he has served as mayor for more than two decades, the United States has made clear this week that it plans to work with him. "The United States offers its sincerest congratulations to the people of the Philippines on the conclusion of the May 9, 2016 general elections, and to the presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte," Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a statement. "The United States looks forward to continuing to deepen our bilateral partnership with the new administration as we address common challenges and issues of mutual interest." (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Alan Crosby and James Dalgleish)
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's foreign policy proposals would make the world a less stable place, former Secretary of State James Baker told a U.S. Senate hearing on Thursday as the Republican presidential candidate met elsewhere with party congressional leaders. Under questioning from Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a former Trump rival in the presidential race, Baker said the world "would be far less stable" with a weaker NATO or if more countries had nuclear weapons as Trump has proposed. "We've a got a lot of problems today, but we'd have a hell of a lot more if that were the case," Baker told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, adding that U.S. commitments around the world "promote U.S. security." Trump met with Baker on Thursday at Trump's request, said a Baker spokesman, who declined further comment. The hearing, on "America's Role in the World," was called by the committee's Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker. Corker praised a foreign policy speech Trump gave in Washington last month. Some U.S. allies worried after Trump's remarks that his invocation of an "America first" agenda is a threat to retreat from the world. Without naming Trump, Rubio referred to the businessman-turned-candidate's suggestions that the United States should rethink the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and that Japan and South Korea should consider getting nuclear weapons to defend themselves. "Some have suggested 'why don't you just let Japan and South Korea get their own nuclear weapons and let them defend themselves?'" Rubio asked. "The more countries that acquire nuclear weapons, the more instability there is going to be in the world, in my opinion," Baker said. Tom Donilon, Democratic President Barack Obama's former national security adviser, called Rubio's question an "important thought experiment," as he backed Baker's comments about the importance of NATO. "It's not just a thought experiment, it's actually been proposed," Rubio said. As the hearing took place, Trump was on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican congressional leaders on how to heal divisions within the party, including those between establishment figures like Baker and the insurgent candidate. Baker, a Republican who was secretary of state under President George Bush and Treasury secretary under President Ronald Reagan, testified alongside Donilon. Former Presidents Bush and George W. Bush do not plan to endorse Trump, or any candidate, in this year's White House race. (Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
By Lawrence Hurley and Nick Brown

WASHINGTON/SAN JUAN, May 12 (Reuters) - As the U.S. Congress drags its feet on a bill to address Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt crisis, it could get kicked into high gear by an unlikely source: the Supreme Court.

The highest U.S. court is due to rule by the end of June on the validity of a Puerto Rico law that would allow the U.S. territory to restructure the chunk of its debt issued by public agencies, more than $20 billion, in a bankruptcy-like process.

The court fight is playing out as the Republican-led Congress grapples with legislation that lawmakers hope will prevent the need for a bailout of the territory of 3.5 million U.S. citizens.

The legislation is expected to put Puerto Rico's finances under federal oversight through a control board and let the Caribbean island cut debt through a bankruptcy-like restructuring process. It would preempt the Recovery Act, the local restructuring law that was thrown out in U.S. courts before Puerto Rico asked the Supreme Court to reinstate it.

Puerto Rico is not covered by federal bankruptcy laws that U.S. cities and public agencies can use, so some U.S. lawmakers view legislation as the only way to keep the debt crisis from worsening.

But drafting the bill has been laborious. Some bondholders, including U.S. hedge funds, and Republicans are seeking to ensure that creditors get paid as much as possible of what they are owed. Congressional Democrats, the Obama administration and Puerto Rico itself are trying to prevent austerity that could threaten services on the island.

An early draft of the bill by the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee never made it to a vote, and the panel on Wednesday delayed unveiling the latest draft, citing the need for "a number of refinements."

Some Republicans oppose inclusion of a "cram-down" provision that would let Puerto Rico impose debt cuts on creditors who do not agree to them.

LESS PALATABLE

A Supreme Court decision on Puerto Rico's law could come as soon as Monday. The ruling could change the political dynamics for Republicans by resurrecting a law that is viewed as even less palatable to them than the congressional bill, according to congressional sources and experts who follow the debate.

Story continues

Many of the creditors lobbying conservatives in Congress to oppose the legislation, known as the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), would prefer to keep debt-restructuring talks out of a bankruptcy court, or at least avoid cram-down.

That is because in the normal course of business they are entitled to full repayment, but in a bankruptcy proceeding they could be legally made to accept discounts.

If the Supreme Court reinstates the Recovery Act, the congressional legislation might not seem so bad to creditors in comparison, said Melissa Jacoby, a University of North Carolina School of Law bankruptcy expert and professor. "It might alter the lobbying landscape," Jacoby said.

Puerto Rico has already defaulted on some of its debt, most recently the bulk of a $422 million payment owed by its primary government bank.

The Recovery Act, if revived, would let the island restructure debt at public utilities like power authority PREPA and water authority PRASA, though the island's legislature could try to expand it to cover other debts, Jacoby said.

The Supreme Court's March 22 oral arguments indicated the justices could uphold the law.

Such a ruling could prompt creditors and Republican lawmakers to embrace the need to pass the PROMESA bill. The legislation is expected to carry more bondholder protections than the Recovery Act, requiring an attempt at consensual restructuring talks as a condition for any debt cuts.

"Those very same players who are now blocking our (congressional) legislation will, all of a sudden, encourage the (Republican) majority to pass some legislation" if the Supreme Court revives the Recovery Act, said a Democratic House aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The island's moment of truth could strike by June 30. That is the date by which the Supreme Court is expected to rule and a day before Puerto Rico faces a $1.9 billion debt payment that its governor has said it cannot afford.

Congress is aiming to pass legislation to address Puerto Rico's crisis before that payment.

Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat, told Reuters the high court's ruling "could have some effect" on PROMESA's drafting process "depending on what the Supreme Court says about Puerto Rican authority to do whatever it needs to do."

A source close to major creditors said a ruling reinstating the Recovery Act could encourage Congress to pass legislation for a different reason: creditors would keep litigating different aspects of that law, perpetuating Puerto Rico's economic uncertainty.

Parish Braden, a spokesman for House National Resources Committee Republicans, said Congress ultimately must act regardless of what the Supreme Court does.

"The ball is already in Congress' court," Braden said.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington and Nick Brown in San Juan; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Waashington; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Lawrence Hurley and Nick Brown

WASHINGTON/SAN JUAN (Reuters) - As the U.S. Congress drags its feet on a bill to address Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt crisis, it could get kicked into high gear by an unlikely source: the Supreme Court.

The highest U.S. court is due to rule by the end of June on the validity of a Puerto Rico law that would allow the U.S. territory to restructure the chunk of its debt issued by public agencies, more than $20 billion, in a bankruptcy-like process.

The court fight is playing out as the Republican-led Congress grapples with legislation that lawmakers hope will prevent the need for a bailout of the territory of 3.5 million U.S. citizens.

The legislation is expected to put Puerto Rico's finances under federal oversight through a control board and let the Caribbean island cut debt through a bankruptcy-like restructuring process. It would preempt the Recovery Act, the local restructuring law that was thrown out in U.S. courts before Puerto Rico asked the Supreme Court to reinstate it.

Puerto Rico is not covered by federal bankruptcy laws that U.S. cities and public agencies can use, so some U.S. lawmakers view legislation as the only way to keep the debt crisis from worsening.

But drafting the bill has been laborious. Some bondholders, including U.S. hedge funds, and Republicans are seeking to ensure that creditors get paid as much as possible of what they are owed. Congressional Democrats, the Obama administration and Puerto Rico itself are trying to prevent austerity that could threaten services on the island.

An early draft of the bill by the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee never made it to a vote, and the panel on Wednesday delayed unveiling the latest draft, citing the need for "a number of refinements."

Some Republicans oppose inclusion of a "cram-down" provision that would let Puerto Rico impose debt cuts on creditors who do not agree to them.

Story continues

LESS PALATABLE

A Supreme Court decision on Puerto Rico's law could come as soon as Monday. The ruling could change the political dynamics for Republicans by resurrecting a law that is viewed as even less palatable to them than the congressional bill, according to congressional sources and experts who follow the debate.

Many of the creditors lobbying conservatives in Congress to oppose the legislation, known as the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), would prefer to keep debt-restructuring talks out of a bankruptcy court, or at least avoid cram-down.

That is because in the normal course of business they are entitled to full repayment, but in a bankruptcy proceeding they could be legally made to accept discounts.

If the Supreme Court reinstates the Recovery Act, the congressional legislation might not seem so bad to creditors in comparison, said Melissa Jacoby, a University of North Carolina School of Law bankruptcy expert and professor. "It might alter the lobbying landscape," Jacoby said.

Puerto Rico has already defaulted on some of its debt, most recently the bulk of a $422 million payment owed by its primary government bank.

The Recovery Act, if revived, would let the island restructure debt at public utilities like power authority PREPA and water authority PRASA, though the island's legislature could try to expand it to cover other debts, Jacoby said.

The Supreme Court's March 22 oral arguments indicated the justices could uphold the law.

Such a ruling could prompt creditors and Republican lawmakers to embrace the need to pass the PROMESA bill. The legislation is expected to carry more bondholder protections than the Recovery Act, requiring an attempt at consensual restructuring talks as a condition for any debt cuts.

"Those very same players who are now blocking our (congressional) legislation will, all of a sudden, encourage the (Republican) majority to pass some legislation" if the Supreme Court revives the Recovery Act, said a Democratic House aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The island's moment of truth could strike by June 30. That is the date by which the Supreme Court is expected to rule and a day before Puerto Rico faces a $1.9 billion debt payment that its governor has said it cannot afford.

Congress is aiming to pass legislation to address Puerto Rico's crisis before that payment.

Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat, told Reuters the high courts ruling "could have some effect" on PROMESA's drafting process "depending on what the Supreme Court says about Puerto Rican authority to do whatever it needs to do."

A source close to major creditors said a ruling reinstating the Recovery Act could encourage Congress to pass legislation for a different reason: creditors would keep litigating different aspects of that law, perpetuating Puerto Rico's economic uncertainty.

Parish Braden, a spokesman for House National Resources Committee Republicans, said Congress ultimately must act regardless of what the Supreme Court does.

"The ball is already in Congress' court," Braden said.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington and Nick Brown in San Juan; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Waashington; Editing by Will Dunham)
* Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives filed suit

* Obama administration expected to appeal judge's ruling (Adds healthcare analyst comments on Obamacare markets)

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday handed a victory to congressional Republicans who challenged President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, ruling that his administration overstepped its constitutional powers relating to government spending.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, based in Washington, ruled that the administration cannot spend billions of dollars in federal funds to provide subsidies under the law known as Obamacare to private insurers without the approval of Congress.

At issue in the case, brought by the Republican-led House of Representatives, are reimbursements to insurance companies to compensate them for reductions that the law requires them to make to customers' out-of-pocket medical payments.

The ruling will not have an immediate effect on the law because the judge put the decision on hold pending an expected appeal by the administration. But it adds to uncertainty over the future of Obama's signature domestic policy achievement ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential and congressional elections, including whether enough health insurers will continue to participate in the program.

Insurers have sustained losses from their Obamacare business, saying they have not attracted enough healthy customers to offset the costs of sicker members. Two of the largest players, UnitedHealth Group and Humana Inc , had already said they would not offer plans in many markets next year.

"If you're going to lose more money, why participate?" asked Steve Halper, an analyst with FBR Capital Markets.

Shares in hospital operators such as Community Health Systems Inc fell sharply, while insurer stocks including Aetna Inc, which plans to remain in at least 15 Obamacare markets next year, also declined.

In court papers, the administration had warned that a court victory for the House Republicans would lead to a spike in insurance premiums for Americans and force the government to pay more in tax credits to insurance policy-holders.

Story continues

As part of an appeal, the administration is likely to press its argument that the House lacks legal standing to sue.

"This suit represents the first time in our nation's history that Congress has been permitted to sue the executive branch over a disagreement about how to interpret a statute," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

"It's unfortunate that Republicans have resorted to a taxpayer-funded lawsuit to re-fight a political fight that they keep losing," Earnest added. "They've been losing this fight for six years, and they'll lose it again."

REPEATED CHALLENGES

Conservatives have mounted a series of legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act since it was passed by Congress in 2010 over unified Republican opposition. Collyer was appointed to the bench by Republican former President George W. Bush.

The law has helped bring insurance coverage to millions of Americans who previously had none, subsidizing the cost of insurance through tax credits. In addition, the federal government helped defray consumers' out-of-pocket costs.

The House Republicans argued that the administration's action violated the U.S. Constitution because it is the legislative branch, not the executive branch, that authorizes government spending.

"BIG win for the Constitution," House Speaker Paul Ryan wrote on Twitter.

Jonathan Turley, the lawyer who spearheaded the lawsuit, in a blog post called the ruling "a resounding victory not just for Congress but for our constitutional system as a whole."

The appeals court in Washington may be more receptive to the administration's arguments, in part because seven of its 11 active judges are Democratic-appointees, including four picked by Obama.

The case focuses on a cost-sharing provision of Obamacare that requires insurers to reduce deductibles and co-pays. Insurers are supposed to be reimbursed for these costs by the federal government. Cost-sharing is determined by the income of the policyholder and is a mechanism for reducing healthcare costs for lower-income households.

The Obama administration has interpreted the provision as a type of federal spending that does not need to be explicitly authorized by Congress. The House Republicans who filed the challenge disagreed.

Collyer ruled that the cost-sharing provisions cannot be funded through the same permanent appropriation that covers tax credits made available under the law.

The judge rejected the administration's contention that the appropriation should be viewed as permanent because the alternative interpretation would lead to "absurd economic, fiscal and healthcare policy results."

The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2015, in a ruling authored by Bush-appointed Chief Justice John Roberts, rejected a conservative challenge that could have gutted Obamacare, upholding nationwide tax subsidies crucial to the law. Roberts also wrote a major 2012 ruling preserving Obamacare.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Ransdell Pierson, Amrutha Penumudi and David Alexander; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Will Dunham)
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday held a Bangladesh diplomat and his wife in default for willfully ignoring a lawsuit by a former domestic worker who claimed they forced him to work without pay in slavery-like conditions.

U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein said Monirul Islam and Fahima Tahsina Prova acted with "sustained recalcitrance" in refusing for more than a year to attend depositions, turn over documents and otherwise cooperate in the lawsuit brought by the plaintiff Mashud Parves Rana.

"A default judgment is harsh and is not imposed by this court without hesitation," Stein wrote. "The court has waited fifteen months for defendants to participate in this litigation and has given them numerous opportunities to alter course. Islam and Prova have utterly failed to participate in discovery in this action. A default judgment is appropriate."

Stein is expected to schedule a hearing to determine damages. The defendants could not immediately be located for comment, and it is unclear whether they hired new lawyers after their prior counsel withdrew from the case in March.

Rana, a Bangladesh citizen, accused Islam and Prova of luring him to work for them in New York by promising to pay $3,000 a month and renew his visa.

Instead, he said he was never paid during his 1-1/2 years of employment despite working 16- to 20-hour days, was forbidden from leaving the defendants' apartment, and was subjected with death threats if he tried to escape.

Islam is a former New York consul general of Bangladesh. He later became Bangladesh's ambassador to Morocco, and in January 2016 was named as Bangladesh's ambassador to Ethiopia.

Emily Shea, a lawyer for Rana, said her client will seek damages for back pay and emotional distress, plus punitive damages.

"We're very pleased that the defendants will finally be held accountable for their appalling actions," she said.

Story continues

The Bangladesh Consulate General in New York, which is not a defendant, was not immediately available for comment.

The case is Rana v. Islam et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 14-01993.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)
By P.J. Huffstutter

CHICAGO, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers have asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to explain why it published - and then withdrew - documents related to its review of glyphosate, the chemical in Monsanto Co's Roundup herbicide, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

The documents, which included a report that said glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans, were posted by the EPA on April 29 and taken down from a website the government agency manages on May 2.

The letter, sent from the agriculture committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, marks the latest salvo in an ongoing debate over the EPA's role and influence in U.S. agriculture.

According to the letter, which cites a May 2 story by Reuters, the committee is looking into the EPA's recent actions related to the agency's multi-year review of potential risks tied to glyphosate and atrazine, another popular chemical used in agricultural herbicides.

The documents are part of the EPA's registration review of glyphosate and its potential human health and environmental risks, which started in 2009.

"We are troubled that EPA mistakenly posted and later removed documents related to assessments of two different chemicals within one week," according to the letter, signed by the Republican and Democrat leaders of the committee.

"These mistakes indicate systemic problems with EPA's management of its chemical review and publication processes."

The letter was sent to the EPA on Wednesday. The committee, which is conducting an oversight into the EPA's recent actions, will consider what action to take after it receives a response from the agency.

The EPA told Reuters on Thursday the agency has received the letter "and will respond appropriately."

The letter also asked the EPA who is in charge of overseeing the risk assessment process for chemicals and for a step-by-step description of the agency's approval process for publication of such assessments.

Story continues

The committee also wanted to know what steps still needed to be taken to finalize and issue the glyphosate report, which it had expected in July 2015.

"We are concerned that EPA has continually delayed its review of glyphosate," the letter said.

On April 29, the agency posted a series of documents, including a report marked "FINAL" from the EPA's cancer assessment review committee (CARC). That report found that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the world's mostly widely used weedkiller, was "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans."

Another document also published on the regulations.gov website that the EPA manages and pulled down on May 2, was a preliminary assessment of the ecological risks of atrazine. Among other things, the report stated that atrazine effects exceeded EPA's "levels of concern" for chronic risk by 198 times for mammals, and 62 times for fish.

At the time, the agency told Reuters it took down the glyphosate report and other documents "because our assessment is not final." The agency said the documents were "preliminary" and that they were published "inadvertently."

(Reporting By P.J. Huffstutter; Editing by Tom Brown)
May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers including Senator Elizabeth Warren and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Thursday sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen urging more diversity at the U.S. central bank.

Ten of the Fed's 12 regional bank presidents are men; 11 of them are white, the letter noted.

"Given the critical linkage between monetary policy and the experiences of hardworking Americans, the importance of ensuring that such positions are filled by persons that reflect and represent the interests of our diverse country cannot be understated," said the letter, signed by 116 members of Congress and 11 Senators.

The Fed has come under fire in recent months from both Republicans and Democrats, including candidates for the 2016 presidential campaign, for a range of perceived failings, from its process to deciding monetary policy to its governance. Those calls have emboldened lawmakers who seek to limit the Fed's powers and are prompting some current and former Fed officials to call for steps to placate the bank's harshest critics.

In 2013, African-Americans made up about 13 percent of the 384 executives and top managers at the Fed's Washington-based Board of Governors, while Hispanics comprised just under 3 percent, according to figures provided by the Fed.

Of the 1,641 employees classified as professionals, blacks made up nearly 17 percent and Hispanics about 5 percent.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by James Dalgleish)
* Wilfred Academy students sued over improper loans

* U.S. is said to collect on loans that should be discharged

* Lawsuit is revived against U.S. Department of Education (Adds expert's comments in paragraphs 4-5)

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court in New York revived a lawsuit seeking to stop the government from collecting on loans made to students of a nationwide beauty school chain, since it knew the now-defunct company routinely falsified student eligibility for those loans.

Thursday's 3-0 decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York may make it easier for struggling borrowers to press the U.S. Department of Education to discharge federally guaranteed student loans that should never have been made.

It is a victory for thousands of borrowers who said Wilfred American Educational Corp victimized them into obtaining loans to attend its roughly 60 for-profit trade schools, popularly known as the Wilfred Academy. The last closed in 1994.

Toby Merrill, director of Harvard Law School's Project on Predatory Student Lending, said low-income borrowers like many of the plaintiffs are "primary targets of predatory schools," and often unable to vindicate their rights.

"This has been an enormous problem in for-profit trade schools," Merrill, who filed a brief supporting the plaintiffs, said in an interview. "The decision shows that the Department of Education can't sit on those rights."

Neither the agency nor lawyers for the plaintiffs immediately responded to requests for comment.

The plaintiffs said Wilfred targeted immigrants and lower-income people for enrollment and improperly certified loan eligibility for borrowers who lacked high school diplomas and had not taken tests to show they could "benefit" from enrolling.

They said this enabled Wilfred to receive $405 million in federal student aid during the 1980s, and resulted in more than 61,300 loans going to Wilfred students from 1986 to 1994.

Story continues

By 1996, long after Wilfred was convicted of financial aid fraud, the Education Department agreed that many Wilfred loans should be discharged.

But the plaintiffs said the agency continued to collect on the loans, in part by seizing former students' income tax refunds, garnishing their wages, and destroying their credit.

In January 2015, U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the lawsuit. He said that despite "the reality and credibility of plaintiffs' grievances" the Education Department acted within its discretion.

But in Thursday's decision, Circuit Judge Gerard Lynch said that discretion is not "unbridled," and the law requires the agency to temporarily suspend collections and tell borrowers they may be eligible for discharges when problems surface.

He also said that while the named plaintiffs' loans had been discharged, the case was not moot because a "large number" of other borrowers might still be victims.

The appeals court returned the case to Sweet, including to decide whether it should proceed as a class action.

The case is Salazar et al v. King, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-832.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Alan Crosby)
(Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme on Wednesday released video highlighting a worsening food crisis in South Sudan, where up to to 5.3 million people could face severe food shortages over the March to September lean season. WFP footage showed young children waiting at a food distribution centre in the northern Bahr El Ghazal region for malnutrition tests as well as one family saying they were leaving South Sudan for Darfur because of the food crisis. From January to March, some 2.8 million people were classed as being in "crisis" or "emergency" food situations, with about 40,000 thought to be suffering an outright famine. The crisis comes despite attempts to end more than two years of fighting, which began in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked his first vice president Riek Machar, triggering ethnically charged violence. (Reporting By Reuters Television in Rome, writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, editing by Deepa Babington)
(This version of the May 11 story, corrects figure in second paragraph to 100.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. Republican filed legislation on Wednesday seeking to rein in the White House's National Security Council, saying it has grown too large and seeks to play too big a role in foreign policy. Representative Mac Thornberry said his measure would increase oversight of the NSC, capping it at 100 people or allowing it to be larger but subjecting the National Security adviser to confirmation by the Senate. Thornberry estimated the NSC currently has 400 staff. "All of President (Barack) Obamas former Defense Secretaries have complained about micromanagement by the NSC," Thornberry, chairman of the powerful House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. "I have personally heard from troops on the frontlines who have received intimidating calls from junior White House staffers. "Now we hear reports of NSC staffers running misinformation campaigns targeted at Congress and the press," Thornberry said. He was referring to a recent New York Times profile in which a deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, discussed ways the administration had communicated about last year's Iran nuclear deal to the Washington press corps. Administration officials have dismissed proposals like Thornberry's as political ploys. Ned Price, a spokesman for the NSC, commented that the White House has already taken steps to trim staff and streamline procedures. Thornberry introduced his legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, a must-pass annual defense bill. To become law, a version of the NDAA including Thornberry's amendment would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed into law by Obama. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Leslie Adler)
A squad of agents in the live-action film of The Division.

Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot said in a conference call with analysts that his company still opposes a hostile move by Vivendi to take ownership of Ubisoft.

The French video game company reported $1.6 billion in revenue and an operating profit of $146 million for the fiscal year ended March 31. During the call, Guillemot was asked by an analyst what the companys position was on giving a board seat to Vivendi, which has acquired more than 15 percent of Ubisofts stock since last October.

There is nothing new, Guillemot said. Vivendi has a reputation of taking control of many companies. They want to do the same with ours. We will defend ourselves because this will be in the favor of their shareholders instead of all the shareholders. As for making sure they dont have board members, it will be the decision of the shareholders.

Guillemot has been running Ubisoft for 30 years, starting as a family business. Guillemot and his four brothers own about 9 percent of the company. Ubisoft has more than 10,000 employees today, and it has big hits such as Tom Clancys The Division and Far Cry Primal.

On March 29, Ubisoft named Didier Crespel as a lead independent director.

Yves Guillemot

Above: Yves Guillemot

Image Credit: Dean Takahashi

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KAMPALA, May 12 (Reuters) - Uganda blocked social media sites including Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp before the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday of President Yoweri Museveni, whose re-election sparked protests and a crackdown on dissent.

Museveni, 71, officially won 60 percent of the vote in February, allowing him to take on another term and extend his rule to 35 years. The opposition cried foul and protests broke out, leading to some clashes with police and dozens of arrests.

On Wednesday, police arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye after a street protest. Besigye, who heads the Forum for Democratic Change party, won 35 percent of the vote in February. He has been under house arrest on and off since.

Godfrey Mutabazi, executive director of the telecommunications regulator, said security agencies had requested the move as "a measure to limit the possibility of terrorists taking advantage" of visits by dignitaries.

Uganda is hosting several heads of state for the ceremony.

In the preceding days, the authorities have placed more security patrols on the streets of Kampala and residents said there was a strong presence of military and police personnel on Thursday.

The authorities blocked social media during voting and shortly afterwards, a move criticised at the time by the United States and rights groups, who said it undermined the integrity of the process.

EU monitors said the election was held in an intimidating atmosphere and the electoral body lacked independence and transparency. Ugandan officials said it was free and fair, and dismiss accusations that they have clamped down on free speech.

The government had also banned any live television or radio coverage of protests.

Opposition to Museveni is strongest among youths in urban areas, where frustration has been fuelled by unemployment, corruption and crumbling public services.

Museveni has been credited with restoring order after years of chaotic rule since coming to power in 1986. The economy has been growing, but experts say it has failed to keep pace with the rising population.

Critics also complain about Museveni's failure to stem corruption and a clampdown on opposition voices.

(Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema in Nairobi; Editing by Edmund Blair and Raissa Kasolowsky)
* Museveni sworn in, extending rule to 35 years

* Comments on ICC prompt walkout by Western officials

* Social media sites blocked before oath ceremony (Adds walkout by U.S., EU, Canadian officials)

KAMPALA, May 12 (Reuters) - Uganda's veteran president vowed to fight corruption and inefficient bureaucracy on Thursday as he was sworn in to a fifth term in office, but some Western officials walked out of the ceremony when he mocked the International Criminal Court.

In his inaugural address, President Yoweri Museveni, 71, told heads of state, diplomats and other guests he planned to fight corruption and impose discipline on inefficient bureaucrats during his next five-year term of office, which will extend his rule to 35 years.

But Museveni offended U.S., European Union and Canadian officials in attendance when he criticized the International Criminal Court in his welcoming remarks as "a bunch of useless people."

Among guests at the inauguration was Sudan's President Omar Hassan al Bashir, who attended despite international warrants from the ICC seeking his arrest for crimes against humanity.

"In response to President Bashir's presence and President Museveni's remarks, the United States delegation, along with representatives of the European Union countries and Canada, departed the inauguration ceremonies to demonstrate our objection," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing in Washington.

"We believe that walking out in protest is an appropriate reaction to a head of state mocking efforts to ensure accountability for victims of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," Trudeau said.

Museveni was re-elected to a fifth term in February after a disputed vote and protests against his rule. Authorities blocked Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social media, citing security concerns ahead of the inauguration ceremony in Kampala.

The president officially won 60 percent of the votes in the February election, which the opposition said was rigged. Protests erupted, leading to clashes with police and dozens of arrests. Officials say the vote was free and fair.

Story continues

Since coming to power in 1986, Museveni is credited with restoring order after years of chaos. But experts say the growing economy has not kept up with a rising population, while critics complain about corruption and a clampdown on dissent.

"These two mistakes, corruption and delays in decision making, irritate the public and frustrate the investors," Museveni told visiting African presidents and other dignitaries.

"This time I will act directly so as to discipline the public service as we discipline the army," the rebel-turned-statesman said, adding that he would work to boost agricultural output in the coffee and tea exporting nation.

Police arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye after a street protest on Wednesday. Besigye, who heads the Forum for Democratic Change party, won 35 percent of the vote. He has been under house arrest on and off since then.

The head of Uganda's telecommunications regulator Godfrey Mutabazi said security agencies had asked that access to social media websites be blocked "to limit the possibility of terrorists taking advantage" of visits by dignitaries.

In the days leading up to Museveni's swearing-in, authorities also placed more security patrols on the streets of Kampala and residents said there was a strong presence of military and police on Thursday.

The government also banned live television or radio coverage of protests in the wake of the election, which EU monitors said was held in an intimidating atmosphere. The EU also said the electoral body lacked independence and transparency.

Opposition to the president is strongest among youths in urban areas, such as Kampala, where frustration has been fuelled by unemployment, corruption and crumbling public services.

(Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema and George Obulutsa in Nairobi and Arshad Mohammed and David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Dominic Evans and James Dalgleish)
KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's veteran president said on Thursday he would fight corruption and impose discipline on inefficient bureaucrats who frustrated investors, in a swearing-in speech after a disputed election and protests against his rule. Authorities blocked Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social media citing security concerns ahead of the ceremony in Kampala in which Yoweri Museveni, 71, was sworn in for another five-year term that will extend his rule to 35 years. The president officially won 60 percent of the votes in the February election, which the opposition said was rigged. Protests have erupted since, leading to clashes with police and dozens of arrests. Officials say the vote was free and fair. Since coming to power in 1986, Museveni is credited with restoring order after years of chaos. But experts say the growing economy has not kept up with a rising population, while critics complain about corruption and a clampdown on dissent. "These two mistakes, corruption and delays in decision making, irritate the public and frustrate the investors," Museveni told visiting African presidents and other dignitaries. "This time I will act directly so as to discipline the public service as we discipline the army," the rebel-turned-statesman said, adding that he would work to boost agricultural output in the coffee and tea exporting nation. Police arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye after a street protest on Wednesday. Besigye, who heads the Forum for Democratic Change party, won 35 percent of the vote. He has been under house arrest on and off since then. [nL5N1886BL] The head of Uganda's telecommunications regulator Godfrey Mutabazi said security agencies had asked that access to social media websites be blocked "to limit the possibility of terrorists taking advantage" of visits by dignitaries. Among the visitors was Sudan's President Omar Hassan al Bashir. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity. In welcoming comments, Museveni said the ICC was "a bunch of useless people."[nL5N18958A] In the days leading up to Museveni's swearing-in, authorities also placed more security patrols on the streets of Kampala and residents said there was a strong presence of military and police on Thursday. The government also banned live television or radio coverage of protests in the wake of the election, which EU monitors said was held in an intimidating atmosphere. The EU also said the electoral body lacked independence and transparency. Opposition to the president is strongest among youths in urban areas, such as Kampala, where frustration has been fuelled by unemployment, corruption and crumbling public services. (Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema and George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Editing by Edmund Blair and Dominic Evans)
raf

British Typhoon fighter jets have intercepted three Russian military transport aircraft approaching the Baltic States, the defense ministry said on Thursday.

The British fighters, scrambled from the Amari air base in Estonia, intercepted the Russian aircraft, which were not transmitting a recognized identification code and were unresponsive, the ministry said.

"We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to NATOs collective defense," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement.

The latest Russian interception comes one month after two Russian warplanes with no visible weaponry flew simulated attack passes near a US guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea.

REFILE - ADDING DATEAn U.S. Navy picture shows what appears to be a Russian Sukhoi SU-24 attack aircraft making a very low pass close to the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea in this picture taken April 12, 2016 and released April 13, 2016. REUTERS/US Navy/Handout via Reuters

The repeated flights by the Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes, which also flew near the ship a day earlier, were so close they created wake in the water, with 11 passes, the official said.

The incident came as NATO plans its biggest build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War to counter what the alliance, and in particular the Baltic states and Poland, consider to be a more aggressive Russia.

The three Baltic states, which joined both NATO and the European Union in 2004, have asked NATO for a permanent presence of battalion-sized deployments of allied troops in each of their territories. A NATO battalion typically consists of 300 to 800 troops.

(Reuters reporting by Guy Faulconbridge)

NOW WATCH: Watch Russian warplanes fly dangerously close by a US Navy ship





More From Business Insider


* President says ally will build trust in prosecution service

* EU wanted independent prosecutor with legal background

* Vote coincides with IMF mission to Ukraine (Recasts with vote, adds quote)

By Pavel Polityuk

KIEV, May 12 (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday appointed a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko with no legal background as general prosecutor, a position seen by the West as crucial for Kiev's plans to tackle entrenched corruption.

To shouts of "shame" from some lawmakers, Poroshenko told parliament that his ally, Yuriy Lutsenko, a former interior minister and head of Poroshenko's parliamentary faction, would build public trust in the prosecution service.

The appointment may disappoint the European Commission, which like the United States and the International Monetary Fund, has tied aid to Ukraine to Kiev's performance on corruption and reforms. Brussels had urged Poroshenko to nominate someone seen as independent who had a legal background.

The vote coincided with the visit of an IMF mission to Kiev for talks on disbursing a tranche of aid worth $1.7 billion.

Poroshenko cancelled a trip to an anti-corruption forum in London this week to focus on appointing a new top prosecutor and passing reforms needed to convince the IMF that Kiev was serious about restarting its stuttering reform programme.

Lawmakers had earlier passed a law removing a requirement that only a person with a legal background can fill the post.

Lutsenko told parliament he was keen to "break the current inefficient and partly criminal system".

Poroshenko squeezed out the previous top prosecutor, Viktor Shokhin. On his watch the general prosecutor's office was widely criticised for hampering anti-corruption reforms.

Leonid Kozachenko, a lawmaker from Poroshenko's faction, told Reuters he expected the EU to show an initial "lack of understanding" over the appointment, adding: "But I hope this conflict will disappear when Lutsenko begins real investigations."

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"IMITATION OF WORK"

Lutsenko was prominent in Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" which frustrated pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency, but fell victim to Ukraine's vengeful politics when Yanukovich finally took power in 2010.

He was subsequently jailed for embezzlement and abuse of office, though his defenders said the sentence was politically motivated. He was released in April 2013 on health grounds.

After the "Maidan" street revolt toppled Yanukovich in February 2014 and ushered in a pro-Western leadership under Poroshenko, Lutsenko joined Poroshenko's political bloc.

His career has had its colourful moments. In May 2009 he resigned as interior minister after being detained by police at Frankfurt airport for being drunk and disorderly, although the ministry denied the incident had taken place.

"All his actions will be an imitation of work," said Yegor Sobolev, a lawmaker from the reformist Samopomich party, which quit Ukraine's ruling coalition this year.

"The basic idea is making sure that nothing gets done. It is clear that the oligarchs will be untouchable, that the basic units of kleptocracy in the SBU (security service), courts and the prosecutor offices will also remain intact." (Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Gareth Jones)
From LennyLetter

A fetus became Internet famous in July 2014. Redditor meancloth shared a scan of the not-quite baby. It was giving the world a thumbs-up. The web dubbed it "Fetus Fonzie." Within 24 hours, two million people had seen it.

"Ultrasound looks good," meancloth commented. And it did. At 18 weeks, the Fonz was as adorable as the contents of a gray-scaled amniotic sac can be. The Today show covered the story. So did Jezebel and People and the Daily Mail. Six months later, a writer for the conservative magazine The National Review, Howard Slugh, deemed the shot of "Fetus Fonzie" in utero "one of the most profound pro-life moments of 2014."

"When a matter is as hotly charged as the abortion debate, the mechanism for sharing a message can prove as important as the message itself," he wrote. "Ultrasounds, and other improving technologies, can help the pro-life movement persuade previously unreachable individuals."

Slugh wrote that as science and medicine advance, pro-choice advocates would have to face a new set of facts: "A mother looking at an ultrasound of her ten- or twelve-week-old child will know that this is no mere clump of cells, bit of tissue, or tumor." Instead, finer-tuned technology and clearer ultrasounds would force people to reevaluate "the entire abortion debate."

A week later, Ashley McGuire, a senior fellow at the Catholic Association, elaborated on the culture wars in USA Today. "[T]he pro-life movement is growing younger and stronger," she wrote. Because of the prevalence of prenatal scans on social media, young people know that fetuses are people. She celebrated the fact that in the first four years of the 2010s "more pro-life laws [have been] passed by state legislatures than in the entire previous decade." It is the mission of the movement to protect "the most innocent lives," McGuire wrote. "And we won't stop until we've won."

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She titled her op-ed "The Ultrasound Generation."

It's a good headline, neatly expressing the anti-choice movement's conviction that millennials raised in a culture that celebrates and even fetishizes the prenatal picture have been hardwired to oppose abortion. And it's backed up by some research, which finds that liberal-leaning millennials tend to consider the moral valence of abortion more than traditional liberals once did.

Except most of the hard data is messier. Is it true that more millennials believe abortion should be outlawed compared to previous generations? If they do, how did social media influence them? And how many "likes" would it take to make, say, me a convert?

Is it true that more millennials believe abortion should be outlawed compared to previous generations?

Scottish physician Dr. Ian Donald started to develop the ultrasound in 1958, realizing it could help doctors locate and treat tumors. But he soon decided to try the machines out on expectant mothers. He reasoned that "the most common abdominal tumor in women is pregnancy," which is charming. With a peek into the shadowy womb, the scans could reveal once-obscured fetal anomalies, the size of the fetus, and the placement of its organs. By the 1980s, the ultrasound was standard obstetric practice.

Later in his career, Donald started printing photos from the ultrasound to give to patients. Women could have a medical procedure and take home a keepsake - two-for-one. By all accounts, Donald wanted both to reassure his most nervous patients and to facilitate a deeply felt prenatal bond. When he retired from medicine, he became a fierce anti-abortion activist. He produced a film, Human Development Before Birth, which screened on international television for at least a decade.

When the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade to legalize abortion in the United States in 1972, the anti-choice movement became even more convinced that the ultrasound could be marshaled in service of the movement. Johanna Schoen writes in her book on abortion in a post-Roe world that the dissemination of the ultrasound in the media was intended "to provide the public with a view of abortion from the perspective of the fetus." That is, the personal is political.

According to the most recent data, 55 percent of millennials think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. That statistic is consistent with a Pew report released in 2014 that concluded that 56 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 32believe in widespread abortion access. But those numbers do not deter McGuire. She points out to me that a full 59 percent of Gen Xers support legalization in all or most cases, which means that millennials are less pro-choice than previous generations. The dip may not seem substantial, but McGuire and so many others contend that it is just the start of a newly invigorated pro-life movement. Eighties and '90s babies were raised in an environment that normalized the prenatal picture, McGuire says. She reminds me that a scan "taped to the refrigerator door" is how many of us met our brothers and sisters. Raised on social media, millennials know what even one photo can do.

Raised on social media, millennials know what even one photo can do.

"This is the culture," McGuire observes. "It seems almost expected now that when you're pregnant, and as soon as you feel comfortable telling people, you put the ultrasound picture up, and people immediately respond." It's anecdotal, she concedes, but McGuire tells me that pregnancy announcements rack up more likes than any other type of status update on Facebook. "It's unifying," she says. "It's not like anyone is going to say, 'I'm pro-choice. I can't like this photo.'" For McGuire, that demonstrates a common cultural conviction. But research is more equivocal on whether a "positive response" online translates into an IRL stance on abortion. Does what we see on Facebook and Twitter predispose us to certain real-world values? Is it even possible to empathize on the web?

Science says: sort of. A 2015 study circulated in Computers in Human Behavior revealed that "virtual empathy was positively correlated with real-world empathy." That is, people can commiserate and celebrate and even really emote online. Empathy may be less potent on the web than it is in the real world, but it exists. It's possible that a person could feel for a fetus she saw on a computer screen. Social media has made abortion "a much more personal and much less political issue for millennials," says CNN commentator and conservative pundit S.E. Cupp. When a fetus shows up in our newsfeeds, chances are we know the person who shared it. Even before that child is born, he or she can exist in our world.



* * * * *

Dr. Katrina Kimport, a faculty member at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco, specializes in making sense of women's individual and social experiences of abortion, and she has spent years researching the impact that prenatal scans have on women. According to her most recent work, about 42 percent of women who get an abortion in a state that gives them the option to view the ultrasound choose to do so. And, she continues, a woman under 25 is even more likely than an older woman to want to view her ultrasound. "So, these anti-choice activists are correct" that millennials have an increased interest in viewing, Kimport says.

But the statistics do not speak to what a woman who views the screen chooses to do about it. To grasp the effect that ultrasounds have on women, Kimport studied over 15,000 abortion visits over the course of one year. For the 85 percent of women who said they were "highly certain" abortion was the best decision for them, Kimport found that the choice to view the ultrasound had no impact on their plans to terminate. Even for a woman who was in what Kimport deems "a less certain space," the decision to see the sonogram only slightly increased the odds that she would continue with her pregnancy.

But the statistics do not speak to what a woman who views the screen chooses to do about it.

"So what does that tell us? That tells us that for people who are unsure, this may be part of how they make a decision," Kimport says. But Kimport adds that she thinks it would be a mistake to use that data to conclude that ultrasounds have the power to make women suddenly want children. The women who see an ultrasound and decide to carry pregnancies to term haven't recanted some previous conviction. They haven't changed their minds, even, because their minds were never made up to begin with.

When Kimport asked women who chose to view a prenatal scan how it made them feel, the results were even more revealing. "These were women at all gestational ages," she explains. "We're not just talking about women who were looking at a six-week embryonic sac. Some of these women were at the 22-week mark." Kimport and her team decided to let women write in responses, eschewing a traditional multiple-choice model. "Women had a really vast array of reactions," Kimport says. But the most common was not having one. After looking at the screen, most women reported feeling nothing at all.

"We know this from decades of research," Kimport continues. "Women make abortion decisions in relationship to the circumstances of their lives. And what you see on a screen is not going to change your financial situation. It's not going to change or reduce the needs of your existing children. It's not going to make a partner supportive or stop him from being abusive. The visualization on the screen doesn't change the reasons that make women seek abortions in the first place."

* * * * *

Advocates will tell you that ultrasounds are facts. They tell the truth - that fetuses are babies, that cells grow into people. Anti-abortion lawmakers want to keep it that way. Twenty-five states have passed bills that dictate how abortion providers administer ultrasounds. In Louisiana, Texas, and Wisconsin, laws insist that they not only give any woman seeking an abortion an ultrasound, but also describe it to her. In Oklahoma, a provider is required to tell his or her patient that personhood starts at conception.

The idea is that when a could-be mom sees a heartbeat flash across a screen, she will think better of her choices. This is no surreptitious aim. When the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Texas "verbal description" law to be constitutional, it did so based on a conviction that the procedure communicates only "truthful, accurate information." The fact that the practice "may cause a woman to choose not to abort her pregnancy only reinforces its relevance to an informed decision."

But an ultrasound is not incontrovertible truth, Kimport explains. The circumstances that drive a woman to seek an abortion dictate how she sees it, scrutinizes it, makes sense of it. That is, we find a thumbs-up when we search for one. "There is not an automatic way that a picture is going to make all women feel," Kimport says.

So, is this the ultrasound generation? That really depends on how you look at it.

Mattie Kahn is a writer at elle.com.
From Popular Mechanics

Fake towns have a proud military tradition dating back to World War One, when the French military reconstructed parts of Paris in an effort to confuse German war zeppelins. Since then, ghost towns have emerged not just as bold military feints, but also as important training tools. All of which may explain why the Army needs foam goat heads.

The Mission & Installation Contracting Command based out of Fort Knox has put out a request for fake goats, fake goat heads, fake cows, fake eggs, fake ice cream, fake fruit vending stations, fake butcher's tables-you get the picture. The real equivalents of these items are fairly common, but the fake versions are a bit trickier. They've all got to be fire-resistant because chances are they're going to get shot at, bombed, and rained down upon with some sort of actual fire.

Whatever they're building at Fort Knox, they'll have stiff competition for the best fake town in America. There's MCity out of the University of Michigan, which tests self-driving cars in a fake town layout. The FBI has long used Hogan's Alley, built with the help of Hollywood set designers, for training. The Secret Service has the 500-acre James J. Rowley Training Center.

In 2013, the Army actually built out a fake Afghani village called Ertebat Shar. Pictures of Ertebat show realistic scenes of markets, but are lack a single animal. It's impossible to say if the Army wants to simply improve on the Ertrebat recreation or build out a new fabrication entirely, but whatever it wants to do is an improvement: animals are a daily part of life in, say, Afghanistan. It's hard to imagine a realistic simulation without them.

Source: Time
Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN is expected to release first-quarter fiscal 2017 results on May 18. The big question facing investors is whether this lifestyle specialty retailer will be able to deliver a positive earnings surprise in the quarter to be reported. In the preceding quarter, this Philadelphia, PA-based company reported earnings beat of 8.9%.

Notably, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, with an average earnings miss of 0.4%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Zacks Model Shows Unlikely Earnings Beat

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Urban Outfitters is likely to beat earnings 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) for this to happen. Urban Outfitters has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 25 cents. The company carries a Zacks Rank #3, but an ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult.

Factors Influencing this Quarter

Urban Outfitters is a multi-brand and multi-channel retailer with a flexible merchandising strategy. The company also has a significant domestic and international presence with rapidly expanding e-commerce activities. The company remains committed to improve comparable-store sales performance, sustain investments in direct-to-consumer business, enhance productivity in existing channels, add new brands and optimize inventory level.

On the other hand, Urban Outfitters exposure to the Canadian and European markets could hurt its bottom-line performance in the quarter to be reported due to foreign currency headwinds. The companys top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters primarily due to soft customer traffic and currency headwinds.

Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates

Here are some other companies that you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

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Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY, which is scheduled to release earnings on May 24, holds a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of + 2.94%.

DSW Inc. DSW, which is slated to release earnings on May 24, carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of + 2.17%.

PVH Corp. PVH, which is set to release earnings on May 25, carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of + 1.40%.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
New York (AFP) - US electropop duo Yacht has apologized over a publicity hoax in which the artists said they had made a sex tape that was stolen.

The one-man-one-woman duo, which has a niche following in indie rock circles, on Monday said that a "morally abject" person had stolen the sex tape.

Yacht soon said that the duo would sell the tape on its own, revealing the incident to be a hoax and generating heated criticism online.

The Portland-born, Los Angeles-based artists apologized on Wednesday, saying they were "ashamed" at the "egregious mistake."

"While there is inherent deception in pulling a hoax, it was never our intention to mock or make light of anyone who has been a victim of a privacy violation like the one we mentioned," Jona Bechtolt and Claire Evans wrote on Facebook.

"This was a lazy starting point for what we wanted to be a much more fun story about the expectations of a sex tape and the frenzy surrounding the taboo of sex, especially juxtaposed with our own non-celebrity," they wrote.

"We failed to tell that story. Instead we told a much darker and more disturbing story."

The duo nonetheless went ahead and released its latest video, which mixes a performance with grainy shots of sexual activity.

Public concern has mounted about online sexual exploitation in an era when most people in developed countries have constant access to the Internet.

The Brookings Institution think tank on Wednesday urged a first federal US law against "sextortion," noting vast disparities in sentencing and a lack of nationwide data.
Washington (AFP) - US special operations forces working with African partners called in an air strike against the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group in Somalia on Thursday, killing five, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said US troops were advising and assisting Ugandan troops from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in southern Somalia, west of Mogadishu.

The AMISOM troops were raiding an illegal Shebab roadblock where the jihadists were extorting payments from drivers.

"They came under fire from the Al-Shebab militants, and we called in an air strike in their defense," Davis said.

A US defense official said the strike was conducted by drone. Five Shebab fighters were killed, and there were no reports of injuries to the Ugandan or US troops.

Another defense official had earlier said the US troops took part in the firefight, but Davis said that was not the case.

"We were nearby, but not directly involved," he said.

The Shebab group was chased out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but remains a dangerous threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where it carries out frequent attacks.

The United States has a small presence of about 50 troops, assisted by air power, in the impoverished country.

The Pentagon periodically announces results of its strikes in Somalia, including one in March on a Shebab training camp that killed more than 150 fighters who were planning a "large-scale" attack.

Davis said it is not unusual to see Shebab members setting up roadblocks.

"It's a very remote country with lots of big uninhabited areas where if there's a road, it's not hard for a bad guy to set up a spot there to be able to shake down people who go down the road," Davis said.

US special forces are working alongside local partners to fight jihadists in several countries across Africa and the Middle East.
Washington (AFP) - The United States on Thursday condemned Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni for hosting war crimes suspect Sudan's Omar al-Bashir at his re-inauguration.

A spokeswoman for the State Department said US, EU and Canadian diplomats had walked out of Thursday's ceremony in Kampala in protest as Bashir's presence.

"The United States has made its position with respect to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's travel very clear," Elizabeth Trudeau said.

"We're concerned that President Bashir has been able to travel to Uganda," she added.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

States in theory has an obligation to arrest ICC suspects on their territory, but African leaders are increasingly resentful of its authority.

During his speech Museveni dubbed the ICC a "bunch of useless people" as Bashir nodded in agreement and leaders from Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe looked on.

"President Museveni made disparaging remarks about the ICC in front of attendees, including other heads of state," Trudeau said.

"In response to President Bashir's presence and President Museveni's remarks, the United States delegation, along with representatives of the European Union countries and Canada, departed the inauguration ceremonies to demonstrate our objections."

The swearing-in ceremony was the fifth since Museveni took power in 1986 at the head of a rebel army.
Tunis (AFP) - The United States on Thursday delivered military hardware to Tunisia to help the North African country hit by several Islamic State group attacks secure its borders and battle terrorism.

Light aircraft, jeeps and communications systems were part of the equipment handed over at a ceremony attended by US official Amanda Dory and Tunisian Defence Minister Farhat Horchani.

Dory, the US deputy assistant secretary of defence for African affairs, said the equipment was part of a $20-million package to bolster Tunisia's military capabilities.

"I'm very pleased that the United States is able to provide Tunisia with surveillance aircrafts that will improve Tunisia's ability to locate terrorists who attempt to infiltrate your borders," she said.

"These aircrafts will be able to provide advanced warning to ground forces employing advanced digital communications technology to coordinate rapid introduction utilising these new jeep vehicles or other existing assets."

Horchani, who took delivery of the equipment at the Aouina air base near Tunis, said the "sophisticated" hardware would "strengthen our capacity to protect our land and maritime borders in the face of regional security challenges".

Tunisia was hit by a series of deadly IS attacks last year on foreign holidaymakers and security forces that killed dozens and dealt a devastating blow to the tourism industry, a mainstay of its economy.

Officials regularly voice concern about the situation in neighbouring Libya, where IS has built a bastion in the coastal city of Sirte which it overran last year and turned into a training camp for militants.

Tunisia has built a 200-kilometre (125-mile) barrier that stretches about half the length of its border with Libya in an attempt to prevent militants from infiltrating.

"The surveillance capability will increase the government of Tunisia's awareness of activity along your borders, it is another example of how the United states and Tunisia cooperate to gather additional information about potential threats," said Dory.

Story continues

She said Washington was keen on "strengthening and expanding the security cooperation partnership between our two countries as together we confront growing instability in the region and support Tunisia in its sovereign defence against potential threats."

"We commend the ministry of defence for taking an important step in constructing a barrier on your southern border" with Libya, she added.

Last year the United States designated Tunisia a major non-NATO ally.
Deveselu (Romania) (AFP) - A US anti-missile defence system in Romania aimed at protecting NATO members from threats by "rogue" nations became operational Thursday, triggering Russian fury despite US insistence it does not target Moscow.

Located in Deveselu in southern Romania, the missile interceptor station will help defend NATO members against the threat of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, particularly from the Middle East, officials said.

"Today the United States and Romania make history in delivering this system to the NATO alliance," said US commander in Europe and Africa Mark Ferguson at an inauguration ceremony with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

But Russia sees the missile system as a security threat right on its doorstep, despite the US and NATO insisting it is not aimed at undermining Moscow's defences.

"According to our experts' opinion, we are convinced that the deployment of the missile defence system is truly a threat to Russia's security," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

Relations between NATO and Moscow have sharply deteriorated since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, sparking fears among other eastern European countries that they too could be the targets of Russian aggression.

Stoltenberg said the missile installation "represents a significant increase in the capability to defend European allies against proliferation of ballistic missiles" as it becomes part of a broader NATO missile shield with an installation in Poland as well.

But he stressed that the system was not aimed at Russia and in fact was not capable of intercepting Russian missiles.

"The site in Romania as well as the one in Poland are not directed against Russia. The interceptors are too few and located too far south or too close to Russia to be able to intercept Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles," he said.

- 'Purely defensive' -

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The Deveselu site will host a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors and will officially be integrated into the NATO missile shield at the bloc's summit in Warsaw in July.

Work on the site began in October 2013 and is thought to have cost $800 million (700 million euros).

The Western military alliance insists the role of the missile shield is a "purely defensive" response to external threats, notably from so-called "rogue states", having referred in the past to Iran and North Korea .

The US ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, has described the activation of the missile system as a gesture of his country's commitment to Article Five by which all 28 NATO members pledge a one-for-all, all-for-one response to any military threat if a member invokes the treaty clause in the face of an attack.

But Russia meanwhile is bolstering its forces to counter what defence officials said was the NATO build-up close to its borders.

"It is a step towards the military and political containment of Russia," senior foreign ministry official Andrei Kelin said of the deployment, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

Kelin warned it would "only worsen" the already-tense relations between Russia and NATO.

And Russia's ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, said he was not "convinced by NATO declarations that the American anti-missile system is not aimed at Russia".

Cited by Interfax, he also condemned "anti-missile defence systems deployed in the region, always ready for combat," and "military infrastructures moving closer to Russia's borders".

Launched in 2010, NATO's anti-missile shield system -- based essentially on US technology -- involves the progressive deployment of missile interceptors and powerful radar in eastern Europe and Turkey.

The Deveselu site is part of the second phase of the project, after the deployment of radar in Turkey and four Aegis warships with anti-missile defence capacity in the Spanish port of Rota.

The third phase involves Poland.

Work on a site in Redzikowo in the north of the country is to be completed at the end of 2018. Situated some 250 kilometres (150 miles) from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, it will host 24 land-based SM-3 missiles as well as anti-aircraft systems.
New York (AFP) - New York's banking supervisor has asked four investment banks including US group Goldman Sachs and France's BNP Paribas for details of any offshore dealings related to the Panama Papers scandal, according to a source close to the matter.

The regulator, the New York Department of Financial Services, launched a review after the leak of 11.5 million confidential documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, which set up more than 200,000 shell companies.

A global media investigation into the documents, published in April, revealed how the rich and powerful had stashed their assets in offshore entities, sometimes keeping their wealth out of the sight of law and tax officials.

The four investment banks -- Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered and Canadian Imperial Bank -- have until May 23 to respond to the New York supervisor's information request, said the source, who spoke to AFP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

The banks are not accused of any wrongdoing.

The New York regulator, which has the authority to investigate and sanction banking and insurance institutions operating in New York, including Wall Street, asked the banks for any documents and communications with Panama-based Mossack Fonseca, the source said.

The New York regulator, which hit BNP Paribas with a record fine of nearly $9 billion in 2014 for violating US sanctions, could decide to open an investigation if it is not satisfied with their answers, the source added.

The banking supervisor had already sent out similar requests for information related to the Panama Papers on April 21 to 13 other financial institutions including: Societe Generale of France; the Dutch bank ABN Amro; Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank of Germany; Credit Suisse of Switzerland; Nordic institutions Svenska Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank Finland and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken; and Bank Leumi of Israel.

The US Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into revelations from the leaked Panama Papers in April, according to an official letter from the office of Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.

The Panama Papers dossier linked some of the world's most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron to offshore companies.

Iceland's prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, and Spain's industry minister Jose Manuel Soria, were forced to resign when they were tied to shell companies.
The Valspar Corporation VAL declared that it will showcase the new colors of its Fluropon Effects Rustica coatings, the green innovation of Fluropon Pure architectural coatings, and share information about several continuing education courses at the annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention and Expo. This will be held from May 1921, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

Fluropon Effects Rustica coatings feature richer, more saturated colors with a weathered, antique aesthetic. Fluropon Pure coatings help commercial building projects in achieving the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED version 4 certification and comply with the Living Building Challenge's Declare program.

Both Fluropon Effects and Fluropon Pure coatings are available for coil and extrusion applications, and deliver the industry-leading performance expected of Valspar's trusted family of Fluropon 70% PVDF resin-based coatings.

Valspar saw its profits tumble roughly 47.6% to 65 cents per share in first-quarter fiscal 2016 (ended Jan 29, 2016) from $1.24 in the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted earnings (barring non-recurring items) came in at 66 cents per share in the fiscal first quarter, down from 85 cents recorded a year ago. Earnings also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents.

Revenues fell roughly 12.7% year over year to $885.8 million in the reported quarter. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted net sales by 6%, while acquisitions added 3%. Sales lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $919 million.

Valspar, which is one of the prominent paint makers, along with Akzo Nobel AKZOY, PPG Industries PPG and Sherwin-Williams SHW, reiterated its guidance for fiscal 2016 in Feb 2016. The company projects sales growth in the mid-single digits in constant currency. Reported sales, including the estimated foreign currency impact, are expected to rise modestly from the fiscal 2015 level. Adjusted earnings per share are projected in the band of $4.80$5.00.

Valspar will release its fiscal second-quarter results on May 24. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



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(Reuters) - Mining and energy group Vedanta Resources Plc (VED.L) Chief Executive Tom Albanese said he expected capital expenditure to rise to $1 billion (693.43 million pounds) this year, driven partly by the company's investment at its Gamsberg zinc mine.

Albanese said the company would spend about $200 million at the mine, located in South Africa. Vedanta spent $16 million at the mine last year.

Vedanta, which produces iron ore, copper, aluminium, zinc and oil, has been hit hard by falling commodities prices that have added to the pressure the company is facing due to its immense debt pile.

Zinc prices, however, are expected to recover as mines close and production is cut.

"We are seeing a progressive tightening in zinc fundamentals," Albanese said on a media call.

The company said its full-year core profit fell 37.5 percent to $2.34 billion, and cut its total dividend by more than half to 30 cents. Revenue fell 16.6 percent to $10.74 billion.

Shares in the company were down 1 percent at 376.2 pence at 0801 GMT on the London Stock Exchange, underperforming a flat FTSE 350 Mining index .

(Reporting by Mamidipudi Soumithri in Bengaluru; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)
* Palm oil falls for two out of four sessions this week

* Falling rival oil, stronger ringgit weighs on palm

* Palm could see stronger gains in May due to Ramadan

-trader

(Updates latest prices)

By Emily Chow

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures

eased on Thursday evening to see its sharpest drop in a week as

it tracked a weaker Dalian palm olein oil and on a slightly

stronger ringgit, which led to a downtrend in benchmark

prices.

The palm oil contract for July delivery on the

Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was 1.2 percent lower at

2,646 ringgit ($659) per tonne at the close of trade, marking

palm's second decline out of four sessions this week. Traded

volumes were 52,993 lots of 25 tonnes each on Thursday evening,

higher than a 2015 daily average of 44,600.

"Dalian RBD (refined, bleached and deodorised) palm oil was

down," said a trader based in Kuala Lumpur, which dragged down

benchmark palm oil prices.

The most actively traded September contract for

palm olein on the Dalian Commodity exchange declined 2.9 percent

on Thursday.

The market also declined on a stronger ringgit, the currency

palm oil is traded in. The ringgit strengthened 0.4 percent to

hit 4.0170 per dollar around Thursday evening, making palm oil

more expensive for holders of foreign currencies.

Palm however is up 0.6 percent on a weekly basis, on track

for a second straight week of gains.

"Generally this month should be strong for palm oil. As we

move into the Muslim holiday, exports should improve," said the

trader.

The holy month of Ramadan, which is a period of fasting and

feasting for Muslims, begins in early June. The month before

Ramadan starts usually sees a higher demand for palm oil for

cooking.

Malaysian palm oil shipments for the first ten days of May

rose between 21 percent and 32 percent from the corresponding

period a month ago, helped by larger exports to Europe and

India.

In competing vegetable oils, the September soybean oil

contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange fell 1.5

Story continues

percent, while the Chicago Board of Trade soyoil contract for

July rose 0.1 percent.

The offer price for crude palm kernel oil stood around 4,894

ringgit per tonne (PKO-MYSTH-M1) in the evening, according to

price assessments by Thomson Reuters.

Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 1021 GMT:

Contract Month Last Change Low High Volume

MY PALM OIL MAY6 0 +0.00 0 0 0

MY PALM OIL JUN6 2660 -27.00 2655 2677 3011

MY PALM OIL JUL6 2646 -32.00 2640 2674 24662

CHINA PALM OLEIN SEP6 5378 -158.00 5374 5522 133271

6

CHINA SOYOIL SEP6 6244 -92.00 6238 6370 103378

6

CBOT SOY OIL JUL6 33.4 -1.60 33.34 33.6 8449

INDIA PALM OIL MAY6 555.30 -1.60 553.00 557.9 1400

INDIA SOYOIL MAY6 646.1 -2.90 645.1 649.5 2630

NYMEX CRUDE JUN6 46.65 +0.42 45.78 46.74 92492

Palm oil prices in Malaysian ringgit per tonne

CBOT soy oil in U.S. cents per pound

Dalian soy oil and RBD palm olein in Chinese yuan per tonne

India soy oil in Indian rupee per 10 kg

Crude in U.S. dollars per barrel

($1 = 4.0170 ringgit)

($1 = 66.5850 Indian rupees)

($1 = 6.5135 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi and Elaine

Hardcastle)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Venezuela's United Nations ambassador has apologized to Israel's U.N. envoy for remarks he made during an informal Security Council meeting on the protection of the Palestinian people and stands against anti-Semitism, a U.N. spokesman said on Thursday. Israel's mission to the United Nations said in a statement last week that Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez asked during the meeting last Friday if Israel was seeking "to wage a final solution" against the Palestinians. The Nazis' "Final Solution" policy led to the killing of 6 million Jews in World War Two. Ramirez met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Chef de Cabinet Edmond Mulet on Wednesday, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He told Mulet he regretted using the language. "He stressed to Mr. Mulet that he stands against any form of anti-Semitism and fully respects the millions of victims of the Holocaust," Dujarric told reporters. "He also informed the chef de cabinet that he had personally apologized to Ambassador (Danny) Danon of Israel." The Israel mission to the United Nations was not immediately available to comment on the apology. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Tom Brown)
By Alan Baldwin BARCELONA (Reuters) - Dutch teenager Max Verstappen's long-term Formula One future is at Red Bull in a potential dream pairing with Australian Daniel Ricciardo, team principal Christian Horner said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix, where 18-year-old Verstappen will debut for the team after being promoted from sister outfit Toro Rosso last week, Horner extolled the driver's prospects. "A Ricciardo-Verstappen line up for me is potentially one of the, if not THE, strongest pairing of future years," he declared. "Make no mistake about it, he's one of the hottest prospects in Formula One," he said of Verstappen, who made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso at 17 last year. "I think this move also kills off the driver market regarding Red Bull drivers for the foreseeable future." Red Bull were dominant between 2010 and 2013, winning four driver's and constructor's titles in a row with Germany's Sebastian Vettel. Vettel moved to Ferrari at the end of 2014 but Red Bull's fortunes had dived with the change from V8 engines to V6 hybrid power units. With Renault showing signs of improvement, and hopes that the gaps between dominant Mercedes and the rest will narrow further next year when the rules change, Horner saw Verstappen as the future. The Dutch driver has taken the place of Russian Daniil Kvyat, who returns to Toro Rosso -- where he started in 2014. Horner said the two would be paid the same as before, despite the swap, but he conceded that Verstappen's contractual situation had changed. "I'm not going to tell you what but, yes. He's beyond any doubt committed to this team for multiple years," said the principal. "He's demonstrated he's got a great amount of natural talent, he can overtake, he can race... everything I've seen of his development so far has impressed me enormously and I think that curve will continue." Horner said Verstappen had also shown the "absolute desire burning within him" and he could now be measured against one of the best. "The way Daniel's driving at the moment, I don't believe there's a better driver in Formula One than Daniel," he said of the Australian. "The thought of the pairing is fantastically exciting for us." Horner said Kvyat's demotion could be seen as harsh but Red Bull had not given up on him. "If we didn't believe in him as a talent, he wouldn't have been retained," he said. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
People of the world, spice up your life! Though the ladies who brought us an extra dose of "girl power!" can't seem to make up their minds about a new tour, that doesn't mean fans can't be treated to some fun Spice Girls' reunions.

On Thursday morning Mel B (Scary), Emma Bunton (Baby), and Geri Halliwell (Ginger) all got together and looked better than ever. Posting photos to Instagram, the trio seemed to be having a blast in each other's company.

RELATED: Victoria Beckham Reveals Secrets of Her Spice Girls Days: They Used to Turn My Mic Off!

"Ahhhhh had a lovley day with you baby," Mel B captioned a photo with Emma.

The trio also posed together for a cute selfie, which Mel captioned, "And I say oohhhh LALA."

Not present was Mel C (Sporty) or Victoria Beckham (Posh), the latter was attending the Cannes Film Festival.

And though Posh has remained close with her former bandmates, she's enjoying some fun with her other bestie, Eva Longoria, goofing off on each other's social media pages.

"High kicks in Cannes X I [heart] @EvaLongoria. Good night Cannes X #Girlsgirl x VB," Victoria, who has already jetted out of the French Riviera, captioned one photo, kicking her leg into the air.

Eva then posted her own funny Instagram of the fashion designer strutting her stuff while she awkwardly kicked her leg.

MORE: Mel B Says Victoria Beckham Is 'a Little Bit of a B**ch'

"Why does Victoria always look so cool?!!#IthoughtWeWereDoingTheSameThing," she captioned the shot.

Though there have been rumors of a potential Spice Girls reunion tour, several recent interviews seem to imply a rift between the former girl group's members.

"They used to turn [my microphone] off and just let the others sing," Victoria claimed in a recent interview. "I got the last laugh and now my mic is well and truly on, finally."

Back in March, Mel B gave an interview in which she called Victoria a "b**ch," saying, "She's very down to earth. She's just a little bit of a b**ch to people, but she's very down to earth."

Story continues

Ladies, can you please just stop right nowthank you very much.

Related Articles
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam would welcome the United States "accelerating" the lifting of a lethal arms embargo, which would reflect trust between the two countries and recognition of its needs to defend itself, its foreign ministry said on Thursday. Vietnam's comments on a topic that has long been a source of friction with the United States comes just over a week ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama, and amid debate in Washington over whether to remove the ban, which was eased in late 2014. The arms embargo is one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era. The United States has not indicated publicly it would remove the embargo and has long said such a move would depend on Vietnam showing progress on human rights. "We welcome the United States' acceleration to fully lift the lethal arms sales ban on Vietnam," the ministry said in response to Reuters questions. "This is consistent with the development trend of the comprehensive partnership ... demonstrating trust between the two countries." Lifting the embargo would mark a major step forward in ties 21 years after normalization began. The ministry said it welcomed the "many supporting voices" in the United States that had called for the removal of the embargo. U.S. engagement with Vietnam was stepped up rapidly during 2014, in what experts say was a calibrated move by the United States to seize on deteriorating ties between Vietnam and communist neighbor China over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam is hosting a defense symposium this week attended by top American arms manufacturers including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Secrecy has surrounded the event, which is part of efforts by Vietnam to build a military deterrent as China intensifies its fortification of South China Sea islands it controls or has built from scratch. Vietnam has been in talks with Western and U.S. arms manufacturers to boost its fleets of fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, although Russia, its traditional supplier, has a dominant position. The foreign ministry said Vietnam had no intention of forming military alliances "against other countries" and its policy was about self-defense. "The procurement of defense equipment by Vietnam from partner countries is completely normal, in accordance with the a defense policy of peace," it said. "We are not allied or linking militarily with any country against other countries." (Reporting by Hanoi bureau; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel)
MOSCOW, May 12 (Reuters) - Telecoms firm Vimpelcom said on Thursday it still expected to merge its Italian business with that of CK Hutchison Holdings around the end of 2016, a day after European regulators blocked a separate Hutchison deal.

European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday rejected Hutchison's plan to acquire O2 UK from Spain's Telefonica , a decision which cast doubts on prospects for approval of the Vimpelcom-Hutchison deal in Italy.

The proposed Italian transaction, worth 21.8 billion euros ($25 billion), would create the largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers in Italy by combining Hutchison's 3 Italia and Vimpelcom's WIND.

In March, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into the agreed merger, on concerns it could lead to higher prices for consumers.

Vimpelcom said on Thursday a deeper review "does not in any way pre-judge or prejudice the final outcome of the Commission's consideration of the transaction" and confirmed it expected the deal to be completed around the end of 2016.

It made no comment on the Commission's decision on Hutchison's UK deal in a statement announcing first-quarter results.

Vimpelcom's total revenue fell 12 percent to $2.0 billion in January-March due to negative currency effects while "organic" revenue growth, excluding foreign currency movements and other factors, was 4 percent.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined 19 percent to $758 million while net profit rose 3 percent to $189 million, it said.

Vimpelcom said it had paid fines totalling $795 million as part of a previously disclosed settlement with U.S. and Dutch authorities over an investigation into its business in Uzbekistan.

($1 = 0.8763 euros) (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Mark Potter)
Audi Q7 36

As Volkswagen's emission-cheating scandal grinds on, the controversy is threatening to undermine one of VW Group's most critical brands: Audi.

The damage is especially apparent in the US, where the cheating scandal first broke.

In the American market, the VW comeback story has been a disaster  VW has less than 3% market share and trails global rivals such as GM and Toyota by a wide margin.

Audi, by contrast, has been a great success: after decades of Mercedes, BMW, and Toyota's Lexus brand dominating the so-called "Tier 1" luxury market, Audi had crashed the party and is now effectively the fourth member of that exclusive club.

This has been a boon for VW because luxury cars, and especially luxury crossovers and SUVs, can deliver substantially higher profits to a car maker than the sort of mass-market vehicles that are VW's bread-and-butter.

On Thursday, Bloomberg's Christoph Rauwald reported on this issue:

Earnings from Audi are critical for Volkswagen to weather the emissions-cheating scandal. Europes biggest carmaker is facing billions of euros in costs triggered by its admission eight months ago to manipulating millions of diesel-powered cars to pass emissions tests. As part of the fallout from the scandal, Audi will recall about 2.3 million cars, about a fifth of the total affected worldwide. The upscale brand was also responsible for developing one of the engines that U.S. authorities say breach emission rules.

Fortunately for Audi, the number of diesels it sold in the US is fairly small, so the brand is unlikely to be profoundly damaged in a region where its progress has been spectacular.

NOW WATCH: Learn how to drive a stick shift in the $80,000 Jaguar F-Type





More From Business Insider


By Nathan Layne

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.N) said Thursday it was shortening the delivery time for an unlimited shipping program it is testing to two days from three as it taps a network of recently built warehouses for packaging online orders.

The retailer also said it was lowering the annual fee for the shipping program by $1 to $49. The pilot program was started last year, in part to counter the growth of a shipping plan offered by rival Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) for a $99 annual fee.

As part of a push to speed up deliveries, Wal-Mart will turn to regional carriers for an increasing number of its packages, according to a person familiar with the matter.

That could cut into the share of parcels delivered by FedEx Corp (FDX.N), which handles the bulk of Wal-Mart's packages.

Wal-Mart has earmarked $2 billion in spending on digital projects and its e-commerce infrastructure over the two fiscal years to January 2017. Some of that investment will go toward large warehouses dedicated to filling online orders efficiently.

The warehouses of about one million square feet in size, big enough to house two cruise liners, will utilize sophisticated computer programs and automated conveyor belts to sift and pack parcels efficiently. The company will open the eighth such facility in Florida later this year.

Those warehouses are fed in part by more than 150 distribution centers located across the U.S.

Wal-Mart also fills online orders from about 80 stores, where workers pull products off shelves, put them in boxes and ship them to homes.

The company generated nearly $14 billion in online sales in 2015, compared to Amazon's $92 billion, according to data from Internet Retailer.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bernadette Baum)
(Repeats, without change, to additional clients)

* Museveni sworn in, extending rule to 35 years

* Comments on ICC prompt walkout by Western officials

* Social media sites blocked before oath ceremony

KAMPALA, May 12 (Reuters) - Uganda's veteran president vowed to fight corruption and inefficient bureaucracy on Thursday as he was sworn in to a fifth term in office, but some Western officials walked out of the ceremony when he mocked the International Criminal Court.

In his inaugural address, President Yoweri Museveni, 71, told heads of state, diplomats and other guests he planned to fight corruption and impose discipline on inefficient bureaucrats during his next five-year term of office, which will extend his rule to 35 years.

But Museveni offended U.S., European Union and Canadian officials in attendance when he criticized the International Criminal Court in his welcoming remarks as "a bunch of useless people."

Among guests at the inauguration was Sudan's President Omar Hassan al Bashir, who attended despite international warrants from the ICC seeking his arrest for crimes against humanity.

"In response to President Bashir's presence and President Museveni's remarks, the United States delegation, along with representatives of the European Union countries and Canada, departed the inauguration ceremonies to demonstrate our objection," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing in Washington.

"We believe that walking out in protest is an appropriate reaction to a head of state mocking efforts to ensure accountability for victims of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," Trudeau said.

Museveni was re-elected to a fifth term in February after a disputed vote and protests against his rule. Authorities blocked Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social media, citing security concerns ahead of the inauguration ceremony in Kampala.

The president officially won 60 percent of the votes in the February election, which the opposition said was rigged. Protests erupted, leading to clashes with police and dozens of arrests. Officials say the vote was free and fair.

Story continues

Since coming to power in 1986, Museveni is credited with restoring order after years of chaos. But experts say the growing economy has not kept up with a rising population, while critics complain about corruption and a clampdown on dissent.

"These two mistakes, corruption and delays in decision making, irritate the public and frustrate the investors," Museveni told visiting African presidents and other dignitaries.

"This time I will act directly so as to discipline the public service as we discipline the army," the rebel-turned-statesman said, adding that he would work to boost agricultural output in the coffee and tea exporting nation.

Police arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye after a street protest on Wednesday. Besigye, who heads the Forum for Democratic Change party, won 35 percent of the vote. He has been under house arrest on and off since then.

The head of Uganda's telecommunications regulator Godfrey Mutabazi said security agencies had asked that access to social media websites be blocked "to limit the possibility of terrorists taking advantage" of visits by dignitaries.

In the days leading up to Museveni's swearing-in, authorities also placed more security patrols on the streets of Kampala and residents said there was a strong presence of military and police on Thursday.

The government also banned live television or radio coverage of protests in the wake of the election, which EU monitors said was held in an intimidating atmosphere. The EU also said the electoral body lacked independence and transparency.

Opposition to the president is strongest among youths in urban areas, such as Kampala, where frustration has been fuelled by unemployment, corruption and crumbling public services.

(Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema and George Obulutsa in Nairobi and Arshad Mohammed and David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Dominic Evans and James Dalgleish)
ISIS airstrike Syria

The US military has released a video that shows the US-led anti-ISIS coalition obliterating an ISIS car bomb near Manbij, Syria.

The airstrike was conducted on March 11 and was part of a larger operation by the anti-ISIS coalition on that day. Altogether, the anti-ISIS coalition carried out airstrikes on four locations in Syria and four in Iraq.

US Central Command notes that in addition to the strike against the ISIS car bomb, known officially as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), the coalition also struck ISIS tactical units, heavy weapons, and fighting locations in Syria.

In Iraq, the airstrikes destroyed ISIS rocket positions, tactical units, and a heavy machine gun position.

VBIEDs are among the most dangerous weapons in ISIS's inventory. In general, they are advanced enough to produce even macabre amazement in their potential victims. One Baghdad police officer told Der Spiegel that these car bombs "were so sophisticated that they destroyed everything; there was nothing left of the car and nothing to investigate how the explosive charge was assembled."

Aside from smaller car bombs, ISIS has also perfected the use of multiton truck and Humvee bombs as military weapons. Among the group's favorite tactics is filling stolen armored US Humvees with explosives to decimate static defenses of the Iraqi Security Forces.

via GIPHY

You can watch a full video of the strike below:

NOW WATCH: France says it hit two targets in airstrikes on ISIS capital





More From Business Insider


Roccaraso (Italy) (AFP) - Belgium's Tim Wellens enjoyed a red letter day on the Giro d'Italia on Thursday with his maiden Grand Tour stage win as Tom Dumoulin held onto the leader's pink jersey.

The 25-year-old Wellens broke early and powered up the final 18 kilometre climb to Roccaraso to come home alone after the 157km sixth stage.

On the 2016 Giro's first gentle taste of mountain air Dumoulin held off challengers for his pink jersey, finishing fourth.

Looking in good shape the Dutch rider took a fistful of seconds off some of the main contenders for outright victory like Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, and Spanish duo Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde.

"My attack was not planned but I saw Nibali going so I went too," said the Team Giant leader.

"I really surprised myself. I was stronger than I expected. I didn't think I'd be in that shape for climbing. It was not a high mountain but it was still a proper climb."

Astana's Jakob Fuglsang got closest to Wellens, the Danish rider reaching the race's first summit finish in second, 1min19sec behind, with Russian Ilnur Zakarin on his rear wheel in third.

In the overall standings Dumoulin now leads Fuglsang by 26sec, with Valverde 41s away and Nibali 47.

Wellens made his stage-winning move 15km out, when he slipped free from his companions in the breakaway, first Eugert Zhupa and Alessandro Bisolti and then Laurent Didier and Pim Ligthart.

"I have Pim Ligthart to thank," he said.

"It was his idea to go away together at that point in the race.

"Then we bridged the gap to the leaders. I'm enormously happy with this victory. It's a little bit of a surprise."

One of the rising stars of Belgian cycling Wellens was giving himself the perfect present to mark his birthday on Tuesday.

Up to this point he had come in second twice in stages on his first Giro in 2014, won last year's Grand Prix de Montreal, and claimed the closing stage in this year's Paris-Nice.

He celebrated his career high by picking up his bike and waving it over his head.

Friday's seventh stage is a 211km ride from Sulmona to Foligno favouring the sprinters despite a second category climb.
From Harper's BAZAAR

If you saw Sunday night's episode of Game of Thrones, then you've seen the telling scene where Bran Stark time-travels and watches his father victoriously battle Targaryen Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy. Ned's sister Lyanna Stark is believed to be in the tower and, according to fan theory, she could have just given birth to Jon Snow, (more on that here) but Bran's vision cuts out just before Ned enters the tower, leaving us guessing for what's inside.

But Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays the young time-traveling Stark, just dropped a few hints of what's the come for Bran's visions. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 17-year-old actor talked about his character's developing powers and what they could mean for the show.

"It's massive. It's unprecedented," Wright said of what's next for his character.

An interesting moment in the Tower of Joy scene is when Bran calls out "Father!" and Ned turns around (though he doesn't see anyone). It hints that maybe Bran has the power to communicate with, or even influence, the past.

"For Bran, it presents a humongous kind of challenge," Wright explained, "Because we all know from Doctor Who that if you start messing with time, things go wrong. I think the temptation now is definitely there. Who's to say Bran couldn't go back in time and stop himself from getting pushed out of that window? It opens up a whole different world of possibilities for Bran, and a whole new set of challenges he's going to have to face."

Now he finds himself at a "crossroads" on whether or not to take advantage of his time-bending abilities. "Is this power something I should let take control of me and see where it goes, and I'll be able to take care of it? Or should I completely shy away from it and shun it and have no part in it?" Wright said of Bran's situation.

Story continues

Ned's return through his son's visions is significant, too. "The fact that he's recurring again and again, and because it's in the past, it suggests that maybe he has a colorful history that we're not quite aware of," said Wright. Is there something from Ned's past that we need to know? Does it have to do with Jon Snow?

In the upcoming episodes, the Stark boy will continue to have visions-and they're big surprises, too. "Every single vision, you're learning something new, and you're seeing a real bombshell," Wright said, "Every time it's like, "Oh, wow! That's extraordinary!" There are a couple of visions coming up that I'm really excited to see." As if this season couldn't get any more exciting.

He also suggested that this is a big season for House Stark, who've taken a major loss since the Red Wedding, their separation and the Bolton's takeover of Winterfell, among other things. "This is a season where the Starks are doing their own thing, rather than just being bandied about by all sorts of storylines that result in their displacement from wherever they were staying," Wright said.

Who knows, perhaps a recently resurrected and freed Jon Snow will be there to help them. #TheNorthRemembers
Internet software firm MaxPoint Interactive, Inc. MXPT is scheduled to report first-quarter 2016 results after the closing bell on May 16.

The company, which went public in early Mar 2015, recorded a healthy positive earnings surprise of 40.0% in the last reported quarter. MaxPoint has beat earnings estimates thrice in the last four quarters, bringing the average to a positive earnings surprise of 9.59%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Key Factors in the First Quarter

MaxPoints proprietary Digital Zip technology and the MaxPoint Intelligence Platform give it a distinctive advantage in a highly competitive landscape, setting it apart from its peers. It helps to draw sales by predicting the most likely local buyers of a particular product at a specific retail location and then targeting cross-channel digital marketing programs at these buyers.

During the quarter, MaxPoint expanded its Digital Zip technology across France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The company has recorded over 30,000 new micro-neighborhoods, or Digital Zips, giving clients the ability to reach out to consumers with campaigns across Europe. This will help augment the companys top-line growth during the quarter.

MaxPoints hyper-local platform along with customized store-level sales and inventory system is likely to augment digital advertising and campaign measurement capabilities. In addition, ongoing signals and alerts including store-level attributes, stock data and exception reports to the CPG companies are likely to result in actionable inputs to further improve store profitability.

Despite the growing demands for digital advertising services and cloud-based software service, MaxPoint functions in a highly competitive and fragmented industry. Thus, the company has to be on par with its competitors, which may call for higher expenses relating to research and development. In turn these expenses are expected to shrink the companys profits.

Story continues

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that MaxPoint is likely to beat earnings this quarter as it lacks the key components. 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. This is not the case here for MaxPoint as you will see below:

Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is currently 0.00%.

Zacks Rank: MaxPoints Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of the ESP. However, an earnings ESP of 0.00% makes a surprise prediction difficult.



On the other hand, the Sell-rated stocks (#4 and #5) should never be considered going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks to Consider



Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:



Agilent Technologies, Inc. A, Earnings ESP of +2.56% and a Zacks Rank #2.



Itron, Inc. ITRI, Earnings ESP of +11.77% and a Zacks Rank #2.



Southern Copper Corp. SCCO, Earnings ESP of +11.11% and a Zacks Rank #3.

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AGILENT TECH (A): Free Stock Analysis Report



ITRON INC (ITRI): Free Stock Analysis Report



MAXPOINT INTER (MXPT): Free Stock Analysis Report



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By David Brough

LONDON (Reuters) - A new containerised white sugar contract to launch on ICE Futures Europe next month has a good chance to succeed and may eventually lead to the demise of the existing breakbulk contract, traders said on Thursday.

"There is only space in the market place for one (white sugar futures) contract," one senior trader said.

ICE Futures Europe said on Wednesday it plans to launch a containerised white sugar futures contract on June 20 with the first listed contract to be October 2016.

Traders estimate about 75 percent of the global white sugar trade is carried in ship containers, a share which is likely to increase.

A second trader said the new contract would be inexpensive to operate and should get a boost when the European Union dismantles sugar production quotas in 2017.

The ending of quotas is expected to boost containerised sugar trade and delivery points for the new contract include Le Havre in France, Antwerp in Belgium, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, Gdynia-Gdansk in Poland and Felixstowe in Britain.

"The EU used to dominate the whites contract, and there's a good chance it could do so again," the second trader said.

Traders said global trade was moving increasingly towards containerisation with the scrapping of older cargo ships.

A shift in white sugar trading from the traditional government buying agencies to multiple smaller buyers had also boosted demand for smaller containerised cargoes.

Another trader said ICE was likely to remain committed to the new contract for the longer term even though some operators would remain on the sidelines to monitor the first few expiries to ensure the deliveries go smoothly.

The first trader said the new containerised contract could operate at a premium of $10-20 a tonne to the existing so-called "No. 5" futures contract, but said it was too early to know whether arbitrage between the contracts would boost volumes.

"The danger is that the volumes stay the same but are split between the two contracts," the trader said.

Story continues

ICE Futures Europe said the contract would be for physical settlement with a contract size of 50 tonnes. Delivery months will be March, May, August, October and December, the same as offered for the existing whites contract.

Other delivery ports include Paranagua and Santos in Brazil, Bangkok and Laemchabang in Thailand, Mundra in India, Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Penang and Port Kelang in Malaysia and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

(Reporting by David Brough; Editing by Nigel Hunt and David Evans)
Dateline NBC correspondent Harry Smith went to an area so secluded that he was forced to literally freeze his clothes before stepping foot on the Palmyra Atoll so he could tell the islands story without corrupting it.

They asked us to buy some new clothes and then to freeze them for at least 48 hours, Smith told TheWrap. They are so concerned about bringing invasive species in that they wanted to make sure we didnt bring anything along with us.

On Assignment is a special series from Dateline NBC, and this weeks edition features Smith bringing TV cameras to the remote wildlife refuge Palmyra Atoll in the northern Pacific Ocean for the first time ever.

Also Read: 27 Bill Cosby Accusers Share Stories on NBC 'Dateline' Special

Its a tiny little speck in the Pacific, 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. Its basically a marine wilderness, said Smith, who joined a group of less than 100 people who have stepped foot on the atoll in the last 15 years.

The Palmyra Atoll was used as a base during World War II, housing 2,000 American troops, but has since emerged as a marine wilderness area that is protected by U.S. government but rarely visited.

There has never been a native population, per se, other than crabs, birds and amazing fish, Smith said. Quite honestly, I had never heard of it.

The Nature Conservancy has a tiny research station on the Palmyra Atoll, and Smith and his crew spent the night in a small cabin attached to the station. The Conservancy keeps four people on the atoll at all times, in rotating shifts, but not too many other people have a chance to visit.

Also Read: Megyn Kelly Teases Donald Trump Interview as 'Amiable Exchange'

This place is less visited than the top of Mount Everest, the correspondent continued. Which is pretty remarkable.

The atoll is even protected by a no fishing parameter that stretches 50 miles in each direction.

The food chain is very, very much in tact there. The whole balance of nature is in tact, Smith said. Its about as close as were going to get to paradise on this earth.

Story continues

On Assignment airs on Sunday night at 7 p.m. on NBC.

Check out a preview below.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Watch Richard Rosario, Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, in New 'Dateline' Digital Series 'Conviction' (Video)

Ratings: OJ Simpson Case Scores 3-Year High for 'Dateline NBC'

27 Bill Cosby Accusers Share Stories on NBC 'Dateline' Special
Macys Stock Falls 15% on Dismal 1Q16 Results and Sinking Outlook

(Continued from Prior Part)

Earnings declined in 1Q16

Macys (M) reported a significant decline of 28.6% in its adjusted EPS (earnings per share) for 1Q16 ended April 30, 2016. Despite this decline, the companys adjusted EPS of $0.40 in 1Q16 beat the consensus analyst estimate of $0.36. The adjusted EPS excludes the impact of non-recurring items.

What impacted earnings?

The 28.6% decline in Macys 1Q16 adjusted EPS was higher compared to a 14.2% decline in 4Q15 adjusted EPS and a 6.7% decline in 1Q15 adjusted EPS. The decline in Macys 1Q16 earnings was a result of lower sales and a drop in operating margin. We discussed the factors that caused lower sales in part one of this series. Well discuss the factors that impacted Macys operating margin in the next part of this series.

Macys adjusted EPS in 1Q16 excludes $13 million of non-cash settlement charges related to the companys retirement plans.

1Q16 was the fifth consecutive quarter in which Macys earnings declined on an adjusted basis. Macys also delivered a dismal performance in the previous fiscal year. In fiscal 2015 ended January 30, 2016, Macys adjusted EPS declined by 14.3%. The fiscal 2015 adjusted EPS of peers Nordstrom (JWN), Dillards (DDS), and Kohls (KSS) declined by 10.8%, 14%, and 5.4%, respectively. Subdued sales, pressure on margins, and growth investments have been adversely impacting the bottom line of department stores.

Impact of share repurchases

Macys adjusted EPS in 1Q16 was favorably impacted by a reduction in the number of outstanding shares due to share repurchases. The average diluted share count in 1Q16 was down by 9.5% to 313.5 million shares compared to 346.5 million shares in the comparable quarter of the previous year.

In 1Q16, Macys repurchased $129 million of stock, or 3 million shares, under its repurchase program. As of the end of 1Q16, the company has a remaining authorization of $1.9 billion under its share repurchase program. The iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (IYC) has 0.4% exposure to Macys.

Story continues

Well discuss Macys margins in the next part of this series.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
If youve been paying attention to Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowes promotional tour for their new buddy comedy thriller The Nice Guys, its obvious the two talented actors have become real-life pals.

But are they friendly enough to allow each other to babysit their respective youngsters?

God, no, Gosling joked to PEOPLE when asked if hell consider calling upon Crowe to babysit his daughters Esmeralda Amada, 20 months, and new baby Amada Lee with Eva Mendes.

Im the best babysitter, countered Crowe, dad to sons Tennyson, 9, and Charles, 12. Hes just worried that Id be teaching his daughters how to make cocktails, the right way to wear a beret  things that he doesnt want them to know about yet.

Ryan Gosling Russell Crowe







Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Babies newsletter.

All jokes aside, Crowe, 52, and Gosling, 35, are serious about maintaining a private, non-Hollywood approach to their parenting.

With my kids  and this is something youre going to come up against as well, Crowe said, turning to his costar. I grew up in a very different way from my kids. The thing you try to do continuously is make them understand where real life ends and where privilege begins so theyre aware of it. Aware of when theyre doing something special that this is not a right, this is something they should be grateful for. I think with anybody, gratitude is the most important driving energy.

One special activity Gosling is looking forward to experiencing with his daughters is Disneyland. I cant wait to go, the former Mickey Mouse Club star told PEOPLE. I miss it.

Ryan Gosling Russell Crowe

The Nice Guys hits theaters May 20.

For much more from Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE , on newsstands Friday.

 Kara Warner
Yamana Gold, Inc. AUY is a Gold Mining company that could be an interesting play for investors. That is because, not only does the stock have decent short-term momentum, but it is seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate revision front as well.

These positive earnings estimate revisions suggest that analysts are becoming more optimistic on AUYs earnings for the coming quarter and year. In fact, consensus estimates have moved sharply higher for both of these time frames over the past four weeks, suggesting that Yamana Gold could be a solid choice for investors.

Current Quarter Estimates for AUY

In the past 30 days, 2 estimates has gone higher for Yamana Gold while none has gone lower in the same time period. The trend has been pretty favorable too, with estimates rising from 2 cents per share 30 days ago, to 3 cents today, a move of 50%.

Current Year Estimates for AUY

Meanwhile, Yamana Gold current year figures are also looking quite promising, with 6 estimates moving higher in the past month, compared to 1 lower. The consensus estimate trend has also seen a boost for this time frame, with estimates rising from 4 cents per share 30 days ago, to 9 cents today, a significant move.

Bottom Line

The stock has also started to move higher lately, adding 11.7% over the past four weeks, suggesting that investors are starting to take note of this impressive story. So investors may definitely want to consider this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock to profit in the near future.

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Zacks Investment Research
At a campaign rally in Delaware three weeks ago, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump chose to attack American outsourcing by affecting a cruel caricature of an Indian accent, to the delight of his supporters. Yet his apparent disdain for the people of the worlds second most populous nation doesnt seem to faze a right-wing Indian group that is now praying  yes, literally praying  for Trumps victory.

A new video released by Reuters captures members of Hindu Sena, a Hindu nationalist political organization, holding a spiritual ritual in the streets of New Delhi, asking Hindu gods to carry the New York City real estate mogul to victory this November. To that end, they lit ritual fires and anointed Trumps forehead (on a poster alongside statues of Hindu deities) with a tilaka, a Hindu spiritual marking.

Going by the statements of Donald Trump, we believe he will be the lone protector of mankind, Vishnu Gupta, Hindu Senas president, told Reuters.

Its not difficult to figure out why right-wing Indians are supporting the Republican candidate from half a world away. Trumps incendiary comments on Islamist extremists and Muslim immigrants echo the sentiments of Indias Hindu nationalist movement, the more radical factions of which have been linked to linked to lethal violence against the countrys Muslim minority. In March, Quartz illuminated the parallels between Trumps jingoism and the politics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose right-of-center Bharatiya Janata Party has given a new mainstream platform to Hindu nationalist fervor in the country.

[Reuters]
From Cosmopolitan

After showing up to her first day on a job as a receptionist in smart, black flats, a 27-year-old woman in London was sent home without pay for refusing to change into the dress code-required 2- to 4-inch heels.

Nicola Thorp told the BBC that when she pointed out that a male receptionist wasn't wearing heels, she was laughed at, as if it were ridiculous to point out such an obvious double standard in employee dress code. "They said, 'you're going to have to go home if you're not going to wear heels,'" Thorp told BBC. She said they offered to let her go out and buy a pair of black heels with her own money, if she wanted, but she "refused on principal."

"I said, 'I don't see why what I'm wearing is going to affect my job in any way,'" Thorp told BBC. "It was a nine hour shift to escort clients from the front desk to meet rooms, I'd be on my feet for nine hours."

The dress code incident happened at PwC, a finance company in London, where Thorp was brought on as a receptionist through an employee outsourcing firm called Portico. According to a post on her Facebook page, this all went down a few months ago in December, and she's just recently felt the courage to speak out about her brush with everyday sexism in the workplace.

The dress code policy allegedly belongs to Portico, not PwC. In a statement, Portico's managing director Simon Pratt said Thorp showed up in "inappropriate footwear" (she said she was wearing sensible black flats) that didn't comply with appearance guidelines she'd signed.

"It is common practice within the service sector to have appearance guidelines and Portico operates them across many of our corporate locations, " Pratt said in the statement. "We have taken on board the comments regarding footwear and will be reviewing our guidelines."

Thorp has since launched an online petition to the U.K. government and Parliament that urges the government to make it illegal for companies to force female employees to wear high heels at work. "It's still legal in the UK for a company to require female members of staff to wear high heels at work against their will," reads the petition description. "Dress code laws should be changed so that women have the option to wear flat formal shoes at work, if they wish. Current formal work dress codes are out-dated and sexist."

Story continues

All the attention to Thorp's case has sprouted a hashtag on Twitter, #MyHeelsMyChoice, where women are offering their own stories of everyday sexism in the workplace.

Thorp told BBC that she hopes that by speaking out about being sent home for wearing perfectly acceptable black flats instead of uncomfortable heels, she can shake up the status quo and get rid of sexist, outdated dress codes.

"Twenty years ago, women weren't allowed to wear trousers in the same role I'm doing now," she said. "It's only because some women spoke up about that and said, 'I feel like we have a right to wear trousers,' that that's changed. I think that dress code should reflect society, and I don't think this particular loop hole in the dress code policy does reflect modern society in any way."

Correction: This article has been updated to include a statement from Thorp's hiring firm, Portico.

Update 5/14, 3:30p.m.: As an act of solidarity, women have begun posting photographs to social media under the hashtag #FawcettFlatsFriday, featuring themselves wearing flats to work. According to The Guardian, the hashtag was started by feminist group the Fawcett Society in order to protest the prevalence of sexist dress codes like the one Thorp was subjected to.

Follow Hannah on Twitter.
Whales-2

You've never seen life under water quite like this.

Photographer Michaela Skovranova, 28, captures the creatures that lurk in our oceans with her camera and has been uploading the stunning images to her Instagram account, mishkusk, since early 2012.

SEE ALSO: Great Barrier Reef may perish by 2030s as ocean temperatures skyrocket, study finds

The fascination with ocean life came late to the photographer, who didn't grow up surrounded by beach culture.

"I came from Slovakia, which is a landlocked country. We relocated to Australia when I was 13, but I still really didn't engage with the ocean ... it was quite a terrifying place," Skovranova told Mashable Australia.

Skovranova said her burning desire to explore the world around her was the "extra push" she needed to go underwater. Coming from a family of photographers, her photos tell not only stories of the ocean, but also explore her interior life.

"My primary focus is documentary photography, but it's self-documentary," she said. "It's exploring my own family, and how I connect with nature and our environment as well ... it's self-reflective I'd say, I'm using the environment to express my own emotions."

love scars

Image: Mishku Photography

A photo called Love Scars is one of the images Skovranova said is strongly tied to the human experience, especially when it comes to relationships.

"It's a baby humpback whale with soft scratches on her body. Basically, it's an expression between mum and baby who rub up against each other to show affection," she said.

"In our world, in our reality, scratches are usually a negative association. For the humpbacks, I say the more scratches or scars they have, the more loved they were. I think that's something we can connect to our own personal relationships and families."

Skovranova will travel to Tonga in August to photograph the migration of whales, which breed and calve in the warm surrounds of the Pacific Ocean. Despite their size, they're not the easiest creatures to find.

Story continues

"You might be searching for two or three hours in the morning, or even longer. Some days you might not even get close to a whale," she said.

On the water from 7 a.m. in the morning until sunset, Skovranova will take photos underwater day in and day out for eight to 10 days. She counts on the assistance of locals who help her find the often elusive whales. When the whales are spotted, Skovranova free dives with a snorkel and camera.

Skovranova will film a mini-documentary in Tonga, set to be released later in the year, to show how exactly she takes her photos.

"I feel like it's a very hidden world underneath there," she said. "And we spend such little time down there ... if you're free diving you only get a few minutes. It's just a snapshot of what's there, and the more you go, the more you see," she said.

Also on the agenda, Skovranova will travel to Antarctica and challenge herself with a change of environment. In the meantime, she is taking photos in her own backyard of Manly, a beachside suburb of Sydney, and has plans to experiment with sound and projection. She also has an upcoming exhibition at Sydney's Head-On photo festival.

Not bad for someone who only started exploring the ocean recently.
By Anna Martin SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Forced from their homes in northern Iraq by Islamic State, a group of female Yazidi students found themselves in a refugee camp in Kurdistan glad to be alive but with little hope of continuing their studies. Khawla Shammo, one of more than 400,000 Yazidis who fled Mount Sinjar in 2014, said it was impossible to study in the camp in Dohuk with no books or teachers so she jumped at the chance to join a new photography course offered by the U.N. agency UNICEF. The two-month course taught Khawla and other female students photography skills to help them express themselves and as a route to employment, and now, a year after their training, several of the women have started to exhibit their work. Khawla, 21, said her newly acquired skills enabled her to document the plight of her people, thousands of whom have been massacred, enslaved and raped by Islamic State who view them as devil-worshippers. The United States found in March this year that the attacks on Yazidis, whose faith combines elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Islam, amounted to genocide. Khawla said she was told by the family of one of her subjects in the Khanke refugee camp that is home to about 18,000 people that had she not been a Yazidi girl, they wouldn't have allowed their story to be told. "If a foreign person came to the camp, and went into a tent, that family can't tell that foreigner everything about their suffering," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "We live together, we suffered and feel each other's suffering, and we know how it is." OUTLET FOR SUFFERING Khawla and other young women have been enthusiastic participants in photography workshops organized by UNICEF with funding from the Italian government. UNICEF said the aim of the workshop is to empower young Yazidi women through photography and give them an outlet for the suffering they have been through. The United Nations estimates hundreds of Yazidi girls and women are still missing, with many feared held by the militants as sex slaves. Manal, 20, who declined to give her full name, has been learning photography for nearly two years and believes the suffering they have experienced is crucial to their work. "We know our feelings, others don't. No one can deliver our stories to the world better than us," she said after her work documenting life in the Khanke camp was exhibited at the American University of Iraq in Sulaymaniyah earlier this year. Though now an accepted feature of life in the Khanke refugee camp, the project initially faced opposition from the Yazidi community. Tired of the constant questioning by the international media, people in the camp were reluctant to endorse yet more journalistic interference. But Sheyda Hessami, the photographer who devised the course, said opinion began to shift as supporters explained the benefits of having their stories told from within their own society. "Their photos have more impact ... because they depict what they experience," Hessami told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by email. "When a Yazidi woman stands before a Yazidi photographer who shares the same language and culture, they can feel and understand the little details of their lives, traumas and difficulties more than others." Though glad to be exhibiting their photos to an international audience, it has not been an easy journey for the young photographers. Wearing traditional Yazidi dress and a digital camera around her neck, Zina, 20, said taking up photography had been difficult "because we don't have a culture of imaging in our Yazidi society, and most girls aren't involved in business". Despite these obstacles, the girls share a conviction that they are uniquely placed to tell the story of the Yazidis. Since taking part in the initial training course, some of the women have gone on to help train other Yazidi girls, and are hoping to gain work as professional photojournalists. "My dream is to succeed in this work and to help my people. That is the most important thing. No one helps us so we should help ourselves," Khawla said. (Additional reporting by Tristan Martin, Editing Belinda Goldsmith.; 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 http://news.trust.org)
Kuwait City (AFP) - Yemen's government and Iran-backed rebels have discussed the crucial issues of military withdrawals, the handover of weapons and the restoration of state institutions during peace talks, the UN said Thursday.

Negotiators on Wednesday also debated the logistical details of a release of prisoners and detainees announced a day earlier, UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement.

It was their third day of consecutive face-to-face meetings -- the longest run yet in the three-week-old talks.

"Parties began to present their visions on the withdrawals and the handover of weapons, especially mechanisms of withdrawal and assembling of forces," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said.

He did not say if the teams made any progress on these issues, which are central to any peace settlement in the impoverished Arab nation.

A working group focused on political issues meanwhile discussed "specific aspects for the restoration of state institutions and the resumption of the political dialogue," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said.

A UN Security Council resolution has ordered the Huthi Shiite rebels to pull out of territory they occupied in a 2014 offensive and surrender heavy arms they captured.

There has been mounting international pressure to end the Yemen conflict, which the United Nations estimates has killed more than 6,400 people and displaced 2.8 million since March last year.

The two sides said Tuesday they had agreed to free half of all prisoners and detainees within 20 days, but the UN said the agreement has not been finalised.

The Huthis and their allies loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh seized most of Yemen in the 2014 offensive, forcing internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his government to flee.

Pro-government forces, backed by Saudi air power, pushed the rebels out of five southern provinces last year.

The Huthis however still control the capital Sanaa as well as large parts of the country's north and west, and the Saudi-led coalition has drawn strong criticism over heavy civilian casualties.

The rebels are demanding the formation of a consensus transitional government to handle the pullout and arms issues but the government delegation insists Hadi is the legitimate head of state.

More meetings are scheduled for Thursday. The talks follow two failed peace attempts in June and December last year in Switzerland.
Aden (AFP) - Militants, including suicide bombers, killed at least 15 Yemeni troops outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla on Thursday, the army said, in attacks claimed by jihadists.

An army official spoke of three suicide bombings and held Al-Qaeda responsible, but the rival Islamic State (IS) jihadist group said one of its militants was "martyred".

It was a rare intervention by IS in the city which was held by Al-Qaeda for a year until they were driven out by government troops last month.

"A knight of the knights of martyrdom, brother Hamza al-Muhajir... was able to detonate his explosives-laden car at a post of the apostates of the militia of (President Abedrabbo Mansour) Hadi," IS said in a statement posted online.

Several soldiers were also wounded in the attacks on the eastern outskirts of the Hadramawt provincial capital, the military official said.

The deadly assault came shortly before Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher arrived in Mukalla with several ministers on a one-day visit aimed at reviving government institutions in the city, a local official said.

One suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the gate of a base in the Khalf district, followed immediately by a second who blew up a car in the centre of the camp, the military official said.

Jihadists clashed with soldiers outside the base immediately after the bombings, with the army saying at least 15 soldiers had died in the bombings and gunfight.

Bin Dagher inspected the base later in the day, another military official said.

A third suicide bomber targeted the nearby residence of the commander of Hadramawt's second military region, General Faraj Salmeen, but he escaped unharmed, the official said.

The commander of the province's first military region, General Abdulrahman al-Haleeli, survived a suicide bombing against his convoy on Wednesday that killed four of his guards.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on Thursday claimed the attack on Haleeli, SITE Intelligence monitoring agency said.

Story continues

Al-Qaeda was driven out of Mukalla and nearby coastal towns last month with support from Emirati and Saudi special forces.

- US navy ships -

The Pentagon revealed last week that a "very small number" of US military personnel has also been deployed around Mukalla in support of the operation to retake the city.

The US Navy has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault vessel, USS Boxer, and two destroyers.

"It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organisation in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

The offensive against Al-Qaeda comes amid a truce and peace talks between the government and Iran-backed rebels it has been fighting with support from a Saudi-led coalition since March last year.

Jihadists of both Al-Qaeda and IS took advantage of that conflict to expand their presence in Hadramawt and other areas of the south, including second city Aden where the government has its base.

IS has claimed several attacks on government and coalition targets in Aden in recent months.

Washington regards Al-Qaeda's Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous and has stepped up a longstanding drone war against AQAP in recent weeks.

But the jihadists retain a strong presence in the southeast and still control several towns in the interior valley of Wadi Hadramawt.
Connor Purdon, 25, is a long-time marijuana user who recently smoked weed with a high concentration of THC  the active ingredient in marijuana that produces the drug's psychological effects. As Canada's CBC News reported, Purdon experienced an unexpected reaction.

"I hit one of those, and I'm not sure if I rubbed something in my eye, or what happened, but I had a heavy kind of allergy reaction to my face," Purdon told CBC News.

The next morning, his eyes were reportedly still swollen and "really, really red."

Is there such a thing as a marijuana allergy? You betcha.

Source: Getty Images

Weed allergy "definitely exists," Dr. Leo Galland, co-author of The Allergy Solution, said in a phone interview Thursday. Symptoms "could be almost anything," he said. "Skin rash and wheezing are most likely, but it could also be nausea, vomiting or diarrhea."

Galland hasn't personally treated anyone with a marijuana allergy, but past research suggests it's the real deal.

In 2014, Belgian researchers found that cannabis sativa, one of the two main types of cannabis, "can cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever), conjunctivitis (pinkeye), skin rashes and asthmatic symptoms when smoked, inhaled or chewed," according to the NY Daily News.

Another study, in 2000, found a link between cannabis pollen in the U.S. Midwest and patients' respiratory symptoms, according to Medical Daily. It concluded that "cannabis could be a clinically important aeroallergen for certain patients and should be further studied."

Source: YURI CORTEZ/Getty Images

How do you become allergic to weed? It comes down to panallergens: allergenic proteins found in multiple different plants, according to Galland.

Panallergens are found in marijuana plants, but they're also found in fruits like melons, bananas and tomatoes, and in pollen from ragweed and grass, he said. If someone develops an allergy to one of those plants, "they may be more susceptible to being allergic to marijuana," Galland said.

Story continues

Source: YURI CORTEZ/Getty Images

Be careful when rolling joints: "You are more likely to get allergic to something if you're exposed [to it] through your skin," Galland said.

Ingesting it orally may be safer, allergy-wise, because "your gut has mechanisms for avoiding allergy that our skin doesn't have," he said.

Marijuana-infused Nutella might just be your best bet.
[Photo: Facebook/Anne Elizabeth Photography]

Spilling the beans on the gender of your unborn baby has become more and more popular in the last few years, with parents taking to social media to share photos, videos and gifs to reveal whether theyre expecting a boy or girl. But while we thought wed seen them all - doughnuts filled with either or blue or pink jam, blue or pink balloons flying out of a box and blue or pink painted handprints on the baby bump - this one was something new.

As you can probably guess from the above photo, a box was involved - but it wasnt filled with balloons.

Instead, Jamie Indiveri, a massage therapist, and her fiance Keith Batchelder, a member of the US Army Special Forces, wanted to do something a little different. And, we should add, something genuine to who they are.

[Photo: Facebook/Anne Elizabeth Photography]



Setting up shop in a remote location in the woods, Keith positioned his rifle and took aim at the box. When hit, the box, filled with a coloured chalk powder, revealed the sex of their baby - a boy.

The photoshoot and rifle-firing fun wasnt just for the benefit of their friends and family: The couple had no idea what the gender of their baby was going to be until the chalk spilled out.

To ensure it was a surprise for them, one of Jamies friends collected the envelope that revealed the childs gender from the hospital and filled the box with the correct colour chalk power. Therefore, the couples reactions (photographed by Anne Elizabeth Photography) were entirely genuine.

[Photo: Facebook/Anne Elizabeth Photography]



[Photo: Facebook/Anne Elizabeth Photography]



The gender reveal has certainly made an impact online. Since the photos were posted on Facebook, theyve been shared thousands of times with people praising the couple for the idea.

Using a gun, however, did cause a number of people to object. But Jamie insists she isnt bothered by it. Its unfortunate that people can take such a joyous event in a strangers life and turn it into something negative, but I guess thats social media these days, she told Buzzfeed.

Regardless of the negative comments, were sure the couple cant wait to meet their little man.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  May 12, 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 Alaska Air Group (ALK), Copa Holdings (CPA), United Continental Holdings (UAL), American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Wednesdays Analyst Blog:

Airline Stock Roundup

Alaska Air Group (ALK) has been dominating the headlines in the airline space as it prepares to join the sought-after S&P 500 index on May 12, replacing SanDisk Corp., which is about to be acquired by Western Digital Corp.

On the earnings front, Latin American carrier Copa Holdings (CPA) hogged the limelight by reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenues in the first quarter of 2016. Furthermore, the past week saw heavyweights in the airline space like United Continental Holdings (UAL), American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) post their traffic numbers for the month of April.

Read the last Airline Stock Roundup for May 04, 2016 .

Recap of the Past Weeks Most Important Stories

1. Alaska Air Group is set to join the S&P 500 after market close on May 12, 2016. The Seattle, WA-based carrier will be the first airline stock to join the S&P 500 this year. Fellow carriers United Continental and American Airlines were included in the benchmark last year. Alaska Air Group will be added to the S&P 500 GICS Industrials sector or Airlines Sub-Industry index as the carrier fulfills all the criteria for being included in the index.

On a separate note, the carrier announced plans of a codeshare deal and frequent flier pact with Japan Airlines. The customer-friendly move will be effective from Jun 29, assuming government approval.

Story continues

2. Copa Holdings first-quarter earnings (on an adjusted basis) of $1.66 per share were above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.38. Results were aided by low fuel costs. The average price of fuel declined 27.2% year over year to $1.68 per gallon. Earnings were however significantly below the year-ago figure of $2.41 per share. Quarterly revenues declined 11.9% on a year-over-year basis to $557 million, primarily due to the 12.4% decline in passenger revenues.

Revenues, however, beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $549 million. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM: a measure of unit revenue) declined 14.5% to 9.7 cents in the reported quarter. Operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) decreased 13.9% to 10 cents. Another important metric, yield per passenger mile went down by 15.4%. Passenger traffic (on a consolidated basis) climbed 3.6% during the quarter primarily on a 2.4% capacity expansion. Load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) improved 90 basis points to 77.4% as traffic growth outpaced capacity expansion.

On a separate note, the carrier unveiled its traffic numbers for April. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs: a measure of air traffic) improved 4.1% while Available seat miles (ASMs: a measure of capacity) fell 0.4%. Load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) improved 330 basis points to 76.1% as traffic expanded while capacity contracted.

3. Southwest Airlines revealed healthy traffic numbers for the month of April with RPMS rising 4.7% on a year-over-year basis to 10.4 billion. ASMs climbed 4.3% to 12.4 billion. The carrier continues to expect operating revenue per ASM (RASM) to increase modestly in the second quarter of 2016 (read more: Southwest Airlines April Traffic Strong; Maintains RASM View ).

4. United Continental Holdings, the holding company of United Airlines, posted a 1.9% decrease in RPMs for Apr 2016 on a 0.9% reduction in ASMs. The carrier still expects consolidated PRASM to decline in the range of 6.5% to 8.5% in the second quarter (read more: United Continental's April Traffic Falls, PRASM View Intact ).

5. American Airlines posted a 0.2% decline in April RPMs to 18 billion while ASMs climbed 1.3% on a year-over-year basis to 22.4 billion. Load factor fell 120 basis points to 80.4% in April as traffic contracted while capacity expanded. American Airlines still forecasts a 6% to 8% drop in PRASM for the second quarter of 2016. Moreover, pre-tax margin (exclusive of special items) is likely to remain in the band of 14% to 16%.

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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.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Smart technology has all kinds of handy uses when youre a kid who hasnt studied. (Photo: Getty Images)

The rise of wearable smart technology has birthed new methods of cheating  and we arent talking about sneakers with answers written on the soles.



Earlier this week, some 3,000 medical students at Rangsit University, in Bangkok, Thailand, were informed theyd need to retake their final exams after at least three of their peers were caught participating in a sophisticated high-tech cheating ring. And no  cheating on an exam is never an admirable thing. But thats not to say it cant be pretty freaking impressive.

Related: How Old Is Too Old for Prom?

Heres how the Three Muskacheats (nearly) pulled it off, per the Bangkok Post:

Proxies wearing camera-equipped glasses were sent to take the exams. After filming the exam sheets by the camera, the gang members left the test center with the information. Another person waiting outside downloaded the tests to a computer and emailed them to one or more tutorial schools. They sent the answers back to the students on their smartwatches.

Brilliant!

I mean  deplorable!



Related: Lesbian Couple Named Prom King and Queen in Florida

The proxies, who recorded the exams for 45 minutes (the minimum amount of time a student was required to stay in the testing room), were compensated for their duties. And cheating test takers paid dearly for the effort, with one student admitting to handing over an initial deposit of 50,000 baht ($1,415), with plans to pay another 800,000 ($22,640) for a passing grade.



As of Tuesday, two pairs of camera-equipped glasses and three smartwatches had been seized. No legal action can be taken since, technically, the cheaters broke only their schools rules  but those directly involved obviously wont be allowed to retake their exams ever again. Although, it sounds like they may have bright futures working as government spies.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.


(Reuters) - SWIFT has told its bank customers that they are responsible for securing computers used to send messages over its global network, which was used to steal some $81 million from a Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Fed in February. The theft marked one of the biggest-ever cyber heists. SWIFT is not, and cannot, be responsible for your decision to select, implement (and maintain) firewalls, nor the proper segregation of your internal networks," the bank-owned cooperative said in a letter to users dated May 3 that advised them to review security protocols. "As a SWIFT user you are responsible for the security of your own systems interfacing with the SWIFT network and your related environments," the letter said. "We urge you to take all precautions." Reuters reviewed the contents of the letter on Wednesday. A person familiar with its contents said it was the first time SWIFT had sent such a letter since the Brussels-based group was founded in 1973. The letter's details first were reported this week by financial news sites The Banker and Payments Cards and Mobile. Former SWIFT staffers say the group has always told clients they are responsible for securing their points of access to the SWIFT system. They added that SWIFT does not guarantee that criminals will not gain access to clients SWIFT keys, encryption devices that are used to identify legitimate users. A SWIFT spokeswoman told Reuters on Wednesday that SWIFT registers and authenticates its customers, issuing them encryption tools including digital signatures, and provides them with public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates that identify authorized users of the network. Customers are responsible for all messages signed with their certificates and, of course, for protecting their certificates and ensuring only duly authorized operators can use them to sign messages," she said. "SWIFT is not, and cannot be, responsible for messages that are created fraudulently within customer firms. The funds stolen in the February attack had been held for Bangladesh Bank at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before fraudulent orders arrived requesting a transfer to Bangladesh. A New York Fed official said each central bank that holds an account at the U.S. central bank has agreed that the New York Fed can rely on the SWIFT messaging protocols to verify the account owner has sent requests for payments. This agreement, the official said, is binding under U.S. payments law for authorized and verified payment orders. The rapid fulfillment of payment instructions received via SWIFT messages with valid credentials, is the central purpose of the system, former SWIFT employees and payments industry experts said. This appears to be Feds legal basis for its claim that it did nothing wrong, and it could figure into any lawsuit brought by Bangladesh Bank to reclaim funds. The New York Fed official told Reuters there were legal incentives for banks to use authentication protocols like SWIFT, and for customers "to safeguard confidential information pertaining to authentication procedures and access to transmitting facilities. SWIFT representatives met on Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, with Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley and Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir to discuss the heist. The three groups issued a joint statement promising to cooperate to cooperate to recover the stolen funds, following weeks of accusations over who is to blame. It was their first face-to-face encounter since the cyber attack left the three blaming each other over the incident. (Reporting by Jim Finkle in New York. Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in New York, Tom Bergin in London; Editing by Tom Brown)
Chinese TV manufacturer Hisense revealed some new data at CES Asia in Shanghai Thursday that shows just how massive the shift towards streaming among connected consumers around the world really is: Six million users were streaming video ever single day with the help of the companys smart TVs at the end of 2015, and each of these users was streaming close to 200 minutes of video on average, according to Hisense Vice GM Zhitao Yu.

Altogether, Hisense had activated 18 million smart TV users by the end of 2015. The company now aims for 22 million Chinese smart TV users and 5 million smart TV users in international markets by the end of this year. Hisense is selling some Roku TVs in the U.S., and has been market leader in TV sales in China for a number of years.

Yu revealed the data as part of a panel on the future of television, which also included participation from LeTV and PPTV, two relatively new entrants to the Chinese TV market. LeTV began selling TV sets in 2014, and PPTV followed suit with a limited number of TV sets in 2015. Both companies got their start as video streaming services in China a number of years ago, and now aim to expand their content services with the help of their own TV sets.

SEE MORE: Chinese Digital Giant LeEco Expands Into U.S. Market, Eyes Other Global Content Partners

LeTVs Tao Huang even admitted that his company sells TV sets at cost. The company, which is part of Chinas LeEco, hopes that users of its TVs will sign up for its video subscription service, which currently costs 490 RMB (about $75) per year.

Hisenses Yu however cautioned that it will take some time for Chinese consumers to actually shell out money for video services. At present, it is not very realistic to make money with content, he said.

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Leading Digital Aiming to Improve Image of Chinese Movies (EXCLUSIVE)

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Hong Kong Filmmakers Choose Dissent Over Dough
Yes, it sounds like a terrible joke, but its a real business. People in China are paying for fresh air bottled in a different country and having it shipped to them from abroad. The air in some of Chinas cities is so bad that this is actually a thing, and citizens who are concerned about their safety are paying more than $10 a pop for just a few breaths of clean air originating from anywhere but their home country.

DONT MISS: These 3D models likely show us exactly what the iPhone 7 will look like

According to Mashable, at least one such business is booming. What started mainly as a joke on eBay, turned out to be a major moneymaker. Moses Lam first started selling air from Canada on eBay, but his company Vitality Air took off.

Our Chinese website keeps crashing. We are getting orders from all over the country, not just from the wealthier cities. When the air is bad, we see spikes in sales, Vitality Airs Harrison Wang told Mashable. The smog is definitely our best advertising.

vitality-air-canned-air

Since last October, Vitality Air sold 12,000 bottles in China. A canister that lasts between 150 and 200 breaths costs anywhere from $20 to $32.

Vitality Air isnt the only company profiting by selling air to the Chinese, as others are also taking advantage of the high pollution levels in the region. A new study released on Thursday by the World Health Organization found that air pollution in China is well above safe levels.

Millions of deaths have been attributed to poor air quality in China and India, Mashable notes. Customers in these markets are apparently well aware of whats happening.

I keep a bottle on my desk and take some deep breaths when no one is looking. Its good stress relief, a 32-year-old Beijing-based businessman from Toronto told Mashable. He became addicted to fresh air after receiving a can of air for Christmas as a joke. However, hes too embarrassed to be identified as a canned air customer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By8PMR11piw

Story continues

Even so, these customers end up breathing regular air in China, which contains various pollutants including particulate matter particles that are small enough to penetrate human lungs and other organs, thus increase cancer rates.

Related stories

The 10 most polluted cities in America

China bans key iTunes products for iPhone, iPad and Mac

Only in China: 6 bulldozers fight it out in the street

More from BGR: Nvidias new graphics cards are somehow both more powerful and cheaper all at once

This article was originally published on BGR.com
By Francesco Canepa FRANKFURT (Reuters) - SWIFT's payment network was not hacked in the $81 million heist on the Bangladesh central bank earlier this year, SWIFT's chief executive said on Thursday, adding it was unlikely to be the last such attack on a bank. Gottfried Leibbrandt said SWIFT's network, used by firms and institutions across the world to exchange information about financial transactions, had not been violated during the cyber attack, in which funds were stolen from a Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Fed in February. Security researchers at British defense contractor BAE Systems said last month the hackers had manipulated SWIFT's Alliance Access server software, which banks use to interface with SWIFT's messaging platform, in a bid to cover up the fraudulent transfers they had ordered. "At the end of the day we werent breached, it was from our perspective a customer fraud," Leibbrandt said at a financial conference in Frankfurt. "I dont think it was the first, I dont think it will be the last." The SWIFT messaging network is used by commercial and central banks including the Fed and the ECB. SWIFT, a cooperative owned by 3,000 financial institutions, has rejected allegations by officials in Bangladesh that its technicians made the Asian country's central bank more vulnerable to hacking before the heist, one of the biggest ever cyber swindles. Bangladeshi police and a central bank official told Reuters the SWIFT technicians introduced security loopholes when connecting the messaging network to Bangladesh's first real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the allegations. In a letter to users dated May 3, SWIFT told its bank customers that they were responsible for securing computers used to send messages over its network. Representatives from SWIFT, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bangladesh Bank met in Basel on Tuesday and promised to cooperate to recover the stolen funds, following weeks of accusations over who is to blame. (Reporting by Francesco Canepa; editing by Andrew Roche)
By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - British broadband operator TalkTalk said it had bounced back from a customer data theft in October, stabilising its customer base in the final quarter after 95,000 subscribers left following the breach. The company, which positions itself as a low-cost option against BT, Sky and Virgin Media, said its customer base remained flat in the three months to the end of March. It also reported its lowest-ever churn, the percentage of its customer base that had switched, of 1.3 percent. "The business bounced back strongly in the final quarter following the cyber attack," Chief Executive Dido Harding said, adding that full-year core earnings had risen 6.1 percent to 260 million pounds ($376 million), in line with its guidance. Yet the cost of the attack, when the personal details of 157,000 customers were stolen from its database via its website, was clear in its statutory pretax profit. It more than halved to 14 million pounds after exceptional items of 83 million pounds. The fastest growing part of TalkTalk's business is mobile, provided through renting capacity from a network operator. It will change provider to O2 from Vodafone this year, and could have benefited from the larger combined network of O2 and Three if Brussels had not blocked a merger between the operators on Wednesday. Harding said the failure of the deal was a positive for TalkTalk. "I have an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) partner which is more focused on its existing customers rather than on integrating with another company," she said. O2 owner Telefonica has said it will examine options for the British operator, a move that could throw up an opportunity for TalkTalk to participate in a deal. "Of course we'll look at everything that is happening, but we are very happy with our strategy as its stands," Harding said. She said the company would also consider a trial of its own fibre network using BT's poles and ducts infrastructure, something regulator Ofcom is keen to encourage. She added, however, that a separate infrastructure business would need to be set up to fund the network, with TalkTalk bringing the customers. "Realistically we are talking about a 5 billion pound investment over a decade. Our contribution to that would be acquiring customers and putting them on that network as opposed to putting that sort of debt on our balance sheet," she said. Shares in TalkTalk were up 1.03 percent at 274 pence at 1115 GMT. ($1 = 0.6923 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Toby Davis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of senior U.S. and China cyber officials on Wednesday held its first meeting since the two countries struck an anti-hacking agreement in September to try to ease years of acrimony over the issue. The so-called Senior Experts Group on International Norms and Related Issues is expected to gather twice a year, the U.S. State Department said in a statement announcing the meeting. It provided scant information about the talks, saying officials from the two nations' foreign, defense and other ministries discussed "international norms of state behavior and other crucial issues for international security in cyberspace." China's foreign ministry, in a brief statement, said the two sides had a "positive, deep and constructive" discussion about issues including international law as it relates to the Internet and trust measures. China and the United States will hold another meeting at an appropriate time within the next six months, it added. China withdrew in 2014 from a separate bilateral cyber working group following the U.S. indictment of five members of its military on charges it hacked six U.S. companies. The new group appears be a fresh start to grapple with cyber issues. Cyber security has long been an irritant in relations between China and the United States, despite robust economic ties worth nearly $600 billion in two-way trade last year. The September pact, reached during a U.S. visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, included a pledge that neither country would knowingly carry out hacking for commercial advantage. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Peter Cooney)
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  May 12, 2016  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Telecom, (Part 2), including Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) and America Movil S.A.B. (AMX).

Industry: Telecom, (Part 2)

Link: https://www.zacks.com//commentary/80704/don39t-miss-out-on-telecom-momentum

Telecommunications is one of the few industries to have undergone rapid technological improvements during the recession. An era of digitization and technology has essentially been built on the very human need to remain connected. It is in this context that telecommunications comes to the fore as a necessary utility. The rising demand for technologically superior products offers a silver lining to the telecom industry in an otherwise tough environment.

Future Growth Driver: Internet of Things



We expect wireless networks to provide the primary impetus to the telecom industry. In this regard, Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to emerge as the #1 factor for future growth in the space. The IoT is a network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity that enables it to achieve greater value and service by exchanging data with other connected devices. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications is a key example. IoT needs superfast wireless links to run effectively. This signals massive growth potential for the telecom industry.



Expansion of Fiber Optic Network



The fiber optic network is increasingly becoming the most sought-after technology for secure and fast data transmission over long distances. Going forward, the wireline industry will largely evolve around fiber-based superfast gigabit data transmission network.

In this regard, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has decided to launch a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network for both residential and business customers to deliver an exceptional 10 Gbps (gigabit per second) of upload and download speeds. Alphabet Inc.s (GOOGL) fiber network currently offers 1 Gbps of speed while Comcast Corp.s (CMCSA) Gigabit Pro provides 2 Gbps of residential broadband Internet speed.



Geographical Expansion



Cutting across barriers has become common among telecom players. The motive is to offer better service and customer convenience. In Feb 2015, AT&T launched a service which allows its prepaid GoPhone customers, on $60 data plans, the benefit of unlimited calling from the U.S. to Mexico without any additional charge. The companys postpaid customers on World Connect Value plans can also avail unlimited calls to Mexico with a $5 add-on.



Meanwhile, T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) introduced an innovative Mobile Without Borders plan through which its subscribers will be able to make calls to Canada and Mexico without paying any roaming charges. America Movil S.A.B. (AMX) has also unveiled a pan-North American roaming charge free calling facility covering Mexico and the U.S. which will be further extended to Canada.



In Mar 2016, Verizon Partner Solutions, a division of U.S. telecom behemoth Verizon entered into an agreement with Cubas state-run telecommunications company Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba to offer direct roaming mobile interconnection services between the two countries. Notably, in Sep 2015, Verizon became the first U.S. telecom operator to offer roaming wireless services in Cuba.



Opportunities



The telecommunications industry as a whole offers a number of positives that are difficult to disregard from the standpoint of investors.

Story continues

Immune to External Disturbances: A major characteristic of the telecommunications industry is that it is immune to any international geo-political disturbance even when it leads to economic fluctuations. Thus, the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe, the slowdown in China or other non-U.S. economic volatility is not expected to have any immediate impact on the industry.

Barrier to Entry: The lack of public airwaves (spectrum) in the telecommunications industry creates a high barrier to entry. The U.S. telecom market is controlled by just four national players, as regional low-cost operators are not eligible to compete with large carriers. Furthermore, it is not easy for a new telecom carrier to establish itself in the market as it requires government approval to transmit voice, data, and video on public airwaves. Spectrum licenses are limited and are therefore quite expensive. Moreover, the deployment of network infrastructure requires significant capital expenditure, which very few entities can afford. Thus, this barrier protects the profits of incumbents in the telecom space.

Strong Demand: A recovering economy speeds up the demand for real-time voice, data, and video manifold. The escalation in demand has encouraged telecom service providers to undertake large network extensions while upgrading plans. Moreover, the FCC projects mobile data demand to grow 25-50 folds over the next five years.

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VERIZON COMM (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report



ALPHABET INC-A (GOOGL): Free Stock Analysis Report



COMCAST CORP A (CMCSA): Free Stock Analysis Report



T-MOBILE US INC (TMUS): Free Stock Analysis Report



AMER MOVIL-ADR (AMX): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
(Adds details, quotes, comments from companies)

By Marianna Parraga

HOUSTON, May 12 (Reuters) - Argentina aims to stop importing light crude this year and improve domestic refining operations as it moves further down the road toward energy self-sufficiency, Energy Minister Juan Jose Aranguren said on Thursday.

Operators working in Argentina will continue to export oil, mostly Escalante heavy crude, he told reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference in Houston.

But more refining of domestic light crudes and larger and more regular gas supplies from Bolivia would help the South American country cut imports of costly liquified natural gas (LNG), gasoil and crude.

The Argentine government is in talks with local refineries, encouraging them to buy more domestic light crude and import less, after a 200,000-barrel cargo of a rare light crude was exported last month to drain inventories that were not bought by state-run oil firm YPF, he said.

"Locally produced crude should be given priority in order to avoid a reduction in jobs and tax revenue," Aranguren said. "The domestic price goes from $55 to $67.50 per barrel depending on the crude type, which means it would be convenient to sell production in the domestic market."

President Mauricio Macri promises to increase investment in the oil sector, particularly in renewable energy and the sprawling Vaca Muerta shale formation in Patagonia, as part of his campaign to reverse Argentina's status as a net oil importer.

Argentina has been running an energy deficit since 2011, draining foreign exchange reserves.

But in a low oil price environment, foreign companies are uncertain that Vaca Muerta will be profitable and have been focusing on reducing drilling costs, executives said.

Macri was elected in November on a platform of eliminating currency and trade controls in a bid to increase investment. His election followed eight years of interventionist policies under previous leader Cristina Fernandez, who nationalized YPF in 2012.

Story continues

"The country disconnected itself from the international market and lost its competitiveness," the minister said.

In five or six years, Aranguren said, Argentina should be able to stop importing liquefied natural gas, only preserving gas imports from Bolivia contracted to 2027, while limiting gasoil purchases for the winter season.

Argentina will hold a tender next week for 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy, part of the plan to install 10,000 megawatts of new cleaner power capacity by 2025, Aranguren said. He expects investment of some $2.1 billion for the first phase.

(Writing by Hugh Bronstein and Anthony Esposito; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Tom Brown)
Good morning, Broadsheet readers! The queen of quants makes it big, Brazils Senate has voted to suspend Dilma Rousseff, and a woman is sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels. Have a fantastic Thursday.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com

EVERYONE'S TALKING

[bs_bullet_primary] Campaign care. Speaking in Kentucky, Hillary Clinton pledged that if she becomes president, she would ensure that no family spends more than 10% of its income on childcare. Ten percent might sound like a lot to some, but families living below the poverty line currently spend roughly 30% of their wages on childcare, while in much of the country, paying someone to mind your kids actually costs more than rent. Clinton's campaign says she will use a combination of subsidized child care and tax credits to cut the cost of care, but the Democratic frontrunner has yet to explain the program in full. [bs_link link="http://fortune.com/2016/05/11/hillary-clinton-child-care/" source="Fortune"]

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

[bs_bullet_primary] Dilma in limbo. Brazil's Senate voted early this morning to suspend President Dilma Rousseff and begin an impeachment trial against her. Rousseff is accused of borrowing from state banks to conceal the country's financial deficit, a tactic that allegedly helped her get re-elected two years ago. Vice President Michel Temer will take over the government--though Rousseff will still technically remain president--until the trial, which can take place no more than 180 days from now (Nov. 8). [bs_link link="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/world/americas/dilma-rousseff-brazil-impeachment.html" source="New York Times"]

[bs_bullet_primary] All hail the queen. Leda Braga of Systematica Investments, known as the "queen of quants," has became the first woman to rank in the top 50 highest-earning hedge fund managers, an annual list compiled by Institutional Investor's Alpha magazine. [bs_link link="http://fortune.com/2016/05/11/leda-braga-hedge-fund/" source="Fortune"]

Story continues

[bs_bullet_primary] Uncovering injustice. Minoo Khaleghi in February won a seat in the Iranian Parliament, but a state committee has ruled that she can't be sworn in because of claims that she didn't wear a head scarf on visits to Europe and China. [bs_link link="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/world/middleeast/iran-parliament-minoo-khaleghi.html?ref=world" source="New York Times"]

[bs_bullet_primary] Flat out wrong. Temp receptionist Nicola Thorp, an employee of outsourcing company Portico, was sent home from a British office of PwC when she refused to wear shoes with a "2-inch to 4-inch heel." After Thorp's petition to change the company policy gathered enough steam, the company walked back its requirement, saying that all female employees are allowed to wear flats as they please. [bs_link link="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36265545" source="BBC"]

[bs_bullet_primary] Frat fail. Emma Pierson, a computer science Ph.D. candidate at Stanford, analyzed the user comments on a fraternity member website in an attempt to understand how college guys talk about women. The results aren't pretty. [bs_link link="http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/09/is-sexist-rhetoric-a-total-frat-move/" source="New York Times"]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Pinterest is adding former Amazon exec Michelle Wilson to its board of directors. Elizabeth Weil is leaving VC firm Andreessen Horowitz for 137 Ventures, where she will be a managing partner. Joyce Liang has joined Curbside as VP/head of growth, after having led digital acquisition for Box. Deirdre Bigley, CMO of Bloomberg L.P, has been named to the Shutterstock board of directors.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

[bs_bullet_primary] All talk? Chelsea Handler's new talk show, Chelsea, began streaming on Netflix yesterday. While Handler promised to flip the typical talk show format on its head, this early review reports that Chelsea doesn't "so much explode the late night talk show milieu as color a little bit outside prescribed lines." [bs_link link="http://fortune.com/2016/05/11/chelsea-handlers-netflix/" source="Fortune"]

[bs_bullet_primary] Photo finish. The U.S. Military Academy won't punish the 16 black women cadets who appeared in a photograph with their fists raised. An inquiry determined that the women didn't violate Department of Defense or Army regulations. [bs_link link="http://www.wsj.com/articles/west-point-wont-punish-16-cadets-for-raised-fist-photo-1462976968" source="WSJ"]

[bs_bullet_primary] Worth 1,000 words. Check out Women's Work, a series by photographer Alice Proujansky that documents the lives of working moms. [bs_link link="http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/05/alice-proujansky-working-mothers.html" source="New York Magazine"]

[bs_bullet_primary] The good doctor. Anne Deborah Atai-Omoruto, a Ugandan doctor who helped turn the tide in the battle against Ebola in Liberia, has died of pancreatic cancer. [bs_link link="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/world/africa/anne-deborah-atai-omoruto.html" source="New York Times"]

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ON MY RADAR

The Philippines elects first transgender congresswoman [bs_link link="http://time.com/4326576/philippines-transgender-congresswoman-geraldine-roman/?xid=homepage" source="Time"]

Tween magazine exacerbates body image issues [bs_link link="http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/05/discovery-girls-mag-helps-instill-body-issues.html" source="New York Magazine"]

I'm proof bathroom bills are not just a transgender issue [bs_link link="http://time.com/4322953/north-carolina-mississippi-bathroom-bills/?xid=homepage" source="Time"]

Google emoji makers create new designs to 'empower girls everywhere' [bs_link link="http://fortune.com/2016/05/11/google-emoji-gender-equality/" source="Fortune"]

QUOTE

[bs_quote title="Final Thought...." quote= "I have made a dent in the fashion world and a step forward for women." source= "Joan Helpern, who ran Joan & David shoes with her husband, on convincing Italian factory managers to do business with a woman. Helpern died Sunday at age 89." link="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/business/joan-helpern-joan-david-shoes-co-founder-dies-at-89.html" link_source="New York Times"]
(Adds details on Northern Gateway, French wind projects; updates shares)

By Julie Gordon

VANCOUVER, May 12 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc said on Thursday it was steadily resuming service on its pipeline network through Canada's energy heartland about a week after a massive wildfire spread through the Fort McMurray, Alberta, area, forcing a shutdown.

Canada's largest pipeline company also reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, as crude shipments increased.

The Calgary-based company said the shutdown, which included all pipelines in and out of its Cheecham terminal some 50 km (31 miles) south of the fire-ravaged city, affected some 900,000 barrels per day of volume on its system.

Chief Executive Officer Al Monaco said operations had resumed at Cheecham and that the Woodland pipeline was ready to restart. The company was waiting to get access to conduct a fly-over inspection as fire crews were still working in the area.

He added that the roughly 100-km (62.14 mile) portion of the Athabasca line from Cheecham to the Kirby Lake terminal was expected to resume operations over the weekend. Line 18, which travels south from Cheecham to Edmonton, resumed on Wednesday.

"So (we're making) good progress on getting our systems back in operations, but the process isn't like turning on a tap," Monaco said on a conference call. "You've got to expect some period of ramp-up to full capacity."

Enbridge shares were up 1.74 percent at C$51.60 in Toronto.

Monaco also said Enbridge is focused on securing support for its Northern Gateway project as currently designed, though he did not entirely discount changing the terminus location.

The proposed pipeline, from Alberta to Kitimat, British Columbia, is opposed by many coastal aboriginal groups.

On renewable energy, an investment decision on the first of three newly acquired offshore wind projects in France is expected in early 2017, Monaco said.

If all three go ahead, Enbridge expects to invest some C$4.5 billion ($3.5 billion) through 2022 for its 50 percent share. Electricite de France S.A. owns the other 50 percent.

Story continues

Enbridge delivered about 2.5 million barrels per day of crude through its Canadian mainline system during the quarter, up from 2.2 million a year earlier.

For the first quarter, net earnings attributable to shareholders were C$1.21 billion, or C$1.38 per share, compared with a loss of C$383 million, or 46 Canadian cents, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 76 Canadian cents per share, beating analysts' estimate of 64 Canadian cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

($1 = C$1.28) (Additional reporting by Anet Josline Pinto in Bengaluru; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Leslie Adler)
(Corrects gender of travel agent in paragraph 16)

* Travel agents say China urged cut in tourists to Taiwan

* China suspicious of incoming president Tsai Ing-wen of DPP

* China, Taiwan blame each other for fall in tourist numbers

* China denies limiting tourists ahead of Tsai's inauguration

By Ben Blanchard and Faith Hung

BEIJING/TAIPEI, May 12 (Reuters) - China and Taiwan have added tourism to their bones of contention since the pro-independence opposition swept to power in January elections, trading accusations about who is to blame for a decline in Chinese visitors to the self-ruled island.

China has made no secret of its dislike for incoming President Tsai Ing-wen, who takes office on May 20, and for her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has traditionally favoured independence.

Since the polls, Taiwan has accused China of effectively kidnapping its citizens from Kenya on suspicion of involvement in fraud, and reacted angrily to China casting doubt on its observer status at the World Health Organization.

Now the Chinese tourists who visit Taiwan - 4.2 million last year - have become the focus of discord.

The number fell 10 percent on month to 363,878 in March, according to Taiwan's Tourism Bureau.

That is still up on a year ago, but those who service the visitors, including the bus companies that shuttle tour groups around, say they are feeling the pinch.

"Chinese tourists took about 4,000 tour buses a month this time around last year, but now it's only 2,800," said Lu Shiao-ya, chief of the National Joint Association of Tourist Buses.

"China is using its tourists as a bargaining chip against Taiwan's new government," he added.

If Tsai's inauguration speech next week upsets Beijing, which still claims the island as its territory after the defeated Nationalists fled there at the end of the civil war in 1949, many fear China could really turn the screws on tourist numbers.

"This kind of political interference would only result in hurt feelings for people on either side of the Taiwan Strait," said Tung Chen-yuan, spokesman for Taiwan's incoming government.

Story continues

The travel industry is nervous.

"Everyone is waiting to see how China will react to the inauguration speech," said Golden Kou, a vice president of EVA Airways, Taiwan's second-largest carrier.

Two tour agents said they had been told to restrict the numbers they send to Taiwan since the election.

"The National Tourism Administration told us in February and March to cut the number of tourists we send to Taiwan," an agent in the coastal city of Xiamen, which lies across the strait from Taiwan, told Reuters.

"From Xiamen the number of tourists has fallen sharply, down more than 50 percent," said the agent, who asked to be identified only as Chen.

An agent in Guangdong province, who gave her family name as Kuang, said Chinese were "still fascinated with Taiwan", but government had cut the numbers allowed to visit.

A Beijing source with knowledge of China's policy on Taiwan tourism said there had been technical problems in some provinces, including Henan, which ran out of application forms for Taiwan tourist permits.

The Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment, and the relevant office at the China National Tourism Administration declined to comment.

Chinese state media blames Taiwan.

This week, the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily said Taiwan's fiddling with the quota system was causing the fall in numbers.

(Additional reporting by Benjamin Kang Lim in BEIJING; Editing by Will Waterman)
* IPO of at least 15 pct of company's shares

* Denmark to maintain 50.1 percent stake

* DONG will be valued at around $12 bln - analysts

* DONG sees offshore wind sector accelerate growth -CEO (Recasts, adds CEO quotes, background)

By Teis Jensen

COPENHAGEN, May 12 (Reuters) - Danish wind farm developer DONG Energy, which analysts value as high as $13 billion, said on Thursday it plans to list its shares on the Copenhagen stock exchange this summer.

Having built more than a quarter of the world's offshore wind farms, the company is a major player in Britain and Germany and has recently opened offices in the United States and Taiwan to cater for new growth markets.

With a potential valuation as high as 85 billion Danish crowns (11.4 billion euros), Dong Energy is set to be the biggest company to raise money on European exchanges so far this year and would be the biggest ever to try its luck in Copenhagen.

At least 15 percent of the shares will be sold in the initial public offering (IPO) and the Danish government, which in 2014 sold an 18 percent stake to a group of investors led by Goldman Sachs, will keep 50.1 percent.

Since it was formed from the merger of a Danish state oil and gas entity and five regional utilities ten years ago, the company has been through a massive transformation to become the world's largest offshore wind farm developer.

"The whole energy sector is moving from black to green and on the back of that we have also transformed DONG Energy," chief executive Henrik Poulsen said at a press meeting on Thursday.

Last year more than half of Dong's operating profit was still generated from its oil and gas business, but Poulsen said that was bound to change. This week, DONG divested its Danish gas distribution grid for 2.3 billion crowns.

With a market capitalisation potential of around 11 billion euros, Dong would become a mid-size player in the European utilities industry. With just a third of last year's earnings coming from its offshore wind business it cannot be seen as a renewable energy pure-play.

Story continues

DONG has a pipeline of major wind projects in Britain and Germany, including the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea 1 which will become the world's largest offshore wind farm. Poulsen said he expects a rapid expansion of the technology outside Northern Europe.

"The technology has been accelerating in recent years, growing at 20-30 percent," he said, adding he expects that growth curve to accelerate as new markets open up.

Dutch Sif Group, a maker of steel tubes used in offshore energy platforms, had a muted debut in Amsterdam on Thursday, where its shares traded just above its listing price.

Sif's IPO process took more than a year because of a cautious mood among investors towards companies linked to offshore energy.

DONG did not provide a listing date but normally an intention to float is followed by a prospectus within a couple of weeks and a flotation another couple of weeks after that.

DONG posted a 35 percent rise in first quarter core operating profit last month mainly driven by its offshore wind business.

JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Nordea are global co-ordinators at the listing while Citigroup, Danske Bank, UBS, RBC, Rabobank and ABG Sundal Collier are also involved.

($1 = 6.5228 Danish crowns) (1 euro = 7.4376 Danish crowns) (Editing by Mark Potter and Elaine Hardcastle)
Telecommunications is one of the few industries to have undergone rapid technological improvements during the recession. An era of digitization and technology has essentially been built on the very human need to remain connected. It is in this context that telecommunications comes to the fore as a necessary utility. The rising demand for technologically superior products offers a silver lining to the telecom industry in an otherwise tough environment.



Future Growth Driver: Internet of Things



We expect wireless networks to provide the primary impetus to the telecom industry. In this regard, Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to emerge as the #1 factor for future growth in the space. The IoT is a network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity that enables it to achieve greater value and service by exchanging data with other connected devices. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications is a key example. IoT needs superfast wireless links to run effectively. This signals massive growth potential for the telecom industry.



Expansion of Fiber Optic Network



The fiber optic network is increasingly becoming the most sought-after technology for secure and fast data transmission over long distances. Going forward, the wireline industry will largely evolve around fiber-based superfast gigabit data transmission network.

In this regard, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has decided to launch a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network for both residential and business customers to deliver an exceptional 10 Gbps (gigabit per second) of upload and download speeds. Alphabet Inc.s (GOOGL) fiber network currently offers 1 Gbps of speed while Comcast Corp.s (CMCSA) Gigabit Pro provides 2 Gbps of residential broadband Internet speed. AT&T Inc. (T) is gradually expanding its super-fast fiber optic broadband service  GigaPower. AT&Ts service offers 1 Gbps Internet speed to both residential and small business customers.



Geographical Expansion



Cutting across barriers has become common among telecom players. The motive is to offer better service and customer convenience. In Feb 2015, AT&T launched a service which allows its prepaid GoPhone customers, on $60 data plans, the benefit of unlimited calling from the U.S. to Mexico without any additional charge. The companys postpaid customers on World Connect Value plans can also avail unlimited calls to Mexico with a $5 add-on.



Meanwhile, T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) introduced an innovative Mobile Without Borders plan through which its subscribers will be able to make calls to Canada and Mexico without paying any roaming charges. America Movil S.A.B. (AMX) has also unveiled a pan-North American roaming charge free calling facility covering Mexico and the U.S. which will be further extended to Canada.



In Apr 2015, Sprint Corp.s (S) prepaid service division  Boost Mobile  launched an unlimited voice call and text message service plan to enhance connectivity between U.S. inhabitants and their friends and family in Cuba.



In Mar 2016, Verizon Partner Solutions, a division of U.S. telecom behemoth Verizon entered into an agreement with Cubas state-run telecommunications company Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba to offer direct roaming mobile interconnection services between the two countries. Notably, in Sep 2015, Verizon became the first U.S. telecom operator to offer roaming wireless services in Cuba.



Opportunities



The telecommunications industry as a whole offers a number of positives that are difficult to disregard from the standpoint of investors.

Immune to External Disturbances: A major characteristic of the telecommunications industry is that it is immune to any international geo-political disturbance even when it leads to economic fluctuations. Thus, the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe, the slowdown in China or other non-U.S. economic volatility is not expected to have any immediate impact on the industry.

Barrier to Entry: The lack of public airwaves (spectrum) in the telecommunications industry creates a high barrier to entry. The U.S. telecom market is controlled by just four national players, as regional low-cost operators are not eligible to compete with large carriers. Furthermore, it is not easy for a new telecom carrier to establish itself in the market as it requires government approval to transmit voice, data, and video on public airwaves. Spectrum licenses are limited and are therefore quite expensive. Moreover, the deployment of network infrastructure requires significant capital expenditure, which very few entities can afford. Thus, this barrier protects the profits of incumbents in the telecom space.

Strong Demand: A recovering economy speeds up the demand for real-time voice, data, and video manifold. The escalation in demand has encouraged telecom service providers to undertake large network extensions while upgrading plans. Moreover, the FCC projects mobile data demand to grow 25-50 folds over the next five years.



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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 9, 2016) - Entree Gold Inc. (ETG.TO)(NYSE MKT:EGI)(EKA.F) ("Entree" or the "Company") has today filed its interim operational and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS

Notice to Proceed Approval for Underground Development at Oyu Tolgoi

On May 5/6, 2016, formal 'notice to proceed' approval was given for the next stage of development of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia by the boards of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill"), Rio Tinto and Entree's joint venture partner, Oyu Tolgoi LLC ("OTLLC"). Turquoise Hill announced that this was the final requirement for the re-start of underground development of the first lift of the Hugo North block cave ("Lift 1"), including Lift 1 of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture's Hugo North Extension deposit.

OTLLC is targeting underground construction to begin in mid-2016.

Expenditures Reduced

Q1 2016 exploration and general and administration expenditures of approximately $498,000 and $605,000, respectively were reduced by 74% and 36% compared to the same quarter in 2015 as a result of the Company's objective to reduce expenditures which commenced in the second half of 2015.

Sandstorm Equity Participation and Funding Agreement Amendment

The Company entered into an agreement with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. to amend the Equity Participation and Funding Agreement dated February 14, 2013 (the "2013 Agreement"). The agreement to amend resulted in a 17% reduction in the metal credits that Entree is required to sell and deliver to Sandstorm under the 2013 Agreement. In return, Entree refunded a portion of the original $40 million deposit by paying $5.5 million in cash and issuing $1.3 million of common shares of the Company.

OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY

Entree is primarily focused on advancing its principal properties in Mongolia and Nevada. In addition, Entree is engaged in evaluating acquisition opportunities which are complementary to its existing projects in mining friendly jurisdictions. The commodities Entree is most likely to pursue include copper, gold and molybdenum and other base metals. Entree will consider both small and large projects if they demonstrate potential to add shareholder value in the short to medium term.

Story continues

The Company expects to spend between $3 million and $3.7 million for the 2016 year, which is discussed below.

Corporate

Entree has not generated any revenue from operations since its incorporation and Entree anticipates that it will continue to incur operating expenses without revenues until (i) the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property in Mongolia is brought into production; (ii) it builds and operates a mine on one or more of its other mineral properties; or (iii) it completes a value accretive sale transaction on one or more of its current or future assets.

The Company has focused, and will continue to focus its efforts on conserving cash reserves. Recent efforts include adjustments to operations including rationalizing land holdings in Mongolia, reducing staff levels in each of Mongolia, Canada and the United States as well as reducing certain other overhead expenditures. The Company anticipates regular course corporate expenditures, including general and administrative, legal and filing related fees, and corporate overhead costs to be in the range of $1.8 million to $2.1 million for the 2016 year.

Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property

Entree has a 20% carried interest in two of the Oyu Tolgoi project deposits - the Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit and the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit (the "Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property"). These deposits are the northern-most and southern-most, respectively, in the 12 kilometre-long Oyu Tolgoi series of deposits. The resources at Hugo North Extension include a Probable reserve, which is included in Lift 1 of underground mine development. A second lift for the Oyu Tolgoi underground block cave operation, including additional resources from Hugo North Extension, has been proposed but has not yet been modeled within the existing mine plan.

In Q1 2016, the Company remained focused on engagement with partners and other local Mongolian stakeholders, and on completing an updated technical report for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.

OTLLC is currently targeting underground construction to begin in mid-2016. This follows the $4.4 billion finance facility (with provision for up to $6 billion) that was signed by OTLLC in December 2015 for underground mine development at the Oyu Tolgoi project, including Lift 1 of the Hugo North Extension deposit. Formal 'notice to proceed' approval from the boards of Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and OTLLC was received and announced on May 5/6, 2016. All necessary permits have been granted. Turquoise Hill announced that the updated Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study was completed and it expects to release a technical report in the second half of 2016.

Exploration and development of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is under the control of Rio Tinto on behalf of manager OTLLC. The 2016 exploration program and budget for the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property has been prepared by OTLLC. OTLLC's exploration strategy is focused on developing a project pipeline in areas that can impact the current development of the Oyu Tolgoi deposits, seeking low-cost development options and continuing assessment of legacy datasets to enable future discoveries. Castle Rock on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is one of the identified priority targets that will be the focus of the future exploration program.

Under the terms of the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV, Entree elected to have OTLLC debt finance Entree's share of costs on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, with interest accruing at OTLLC's actual cost of capital or prime plus 2%, whichever is less, at the date of the advance. As at March 31, 2016, the total amount that OTLLC has contributed to costs on the Company's behalf, including interest, was $6.9 million.

The Company estimates direct expenditures of between $400,000 and $550,000 for the 2016 year to be spent on internal technical review, legal costs and general administration in Mongolia.

Ann Mason Project

With the completion of the 2015 exploration, baseline environmental and metallurgy programs and the release of an updated PEA on its 100% owned Ann Mason Project in Nevada, the Company has taken a decision to reduce expenditures at Ann Mason while it considers the most appropriate path to maximize shareholder value from the project going forward which may include the introduction of a strategic development partner. The Company estimates expenditures including claim filing fees and site maintenance will be between $700,000 and $850,000 for the 2016 year.

Other Properties

All of the Company's other assets have been placed in care and maintenance while management evaluates the best alternatives for each asset in the future. Expenditures for 2016 are expected to be limited to license fees and local administration costs.

The Company estimates expenditures of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the 2016 year.

FIRST QUARTER 2016 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Tabled amounts below in USD 000's Q1 2016 Exploration $ (498 ) General and administration (605 ) Depreciation (9 ) Foreign exchange (loss) gain (434 ) Loss from operations (1,546 ) Interest expense and equity investee loss (86 ) Net loss (1,632 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment 1,399 Comprehensive loss $ (233 ) Cash outflow from operating activities before changes in working capital $ (887 ) Decrease in receivables, prepaids and other assets 55 Decrease in payables (916 ) Refund payment to Sandstorm (5,500 ) Cash receipts from stock option exercises 11 Cash payments to acquire equipment, net (3 ) Cash balance at March 31, 2016 $ 15,546

The Company's Interim Financial Statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015 are available on the Company website at www.entreegold.com, SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Robert Cinits, P.Geo., Entree's Vice President, Corporate Development, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has approved the technical information in this release.

ABOUT ENTREE GOLD INC.

Entree Gold Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company balancing opportunity and risk with key assets in Mongolia and Nevada. As a joint venture partner with a carried interest on a portion of the Oyu Tolgoi mining project in Mongolia, Entree has a unique opportunity to participate in one of the world's largest copper-gold projects managed by one of the premier mining companies - Rio Tinto. Oyu Tolgoi, with its series of deposits containing copper, gold and molybdenum, has been under exploration and development since the late 1990s. Additionally, Entree has also been advancing its Ann Mason Project in one of the world's most favourable mining jurisdictions, Nevada. The Ann Mason Project hosts the Ann Mason copper-molybdenum deposit as well as the Blue Hill copper deposit within the rejuvenated Yerington copper camp.

Sandstorm Gold, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 15%, 11% and 9% of issued and outstanding shares, respectively.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to anticipated expenditures, budgets and ongoing efforts to conserve cash; construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; anticipated business activities; corporate strategies; requirements for additional capital; uses of funds; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entree's future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, legal proceedings and negotiations and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the status of the Company's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill. With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, the approval of the updated Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study by OTLLC and its shareholders; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; the timing and availability of a long term power source for the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the timing to satisfy all conditions precedent to the first drawdown of project financing; the impact of the delay in the funding and development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.

Other uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, whether the size, grade and continuity of deposits and resource and reserve estimates have been interpreted correctly from exploration results; whether the results of preliminary test work are indicative of what the results of future test work will be; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; actions by Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and/or OTLLC and by government authorities including the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as power, water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, there are also known and unknown risk factors which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures; discrepancies between actual and anticipated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; global financial conditions; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; future prices of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals, permits or licences or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; environmental risks; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; as well as those factors described in the Company's most recently filed Management's Discussion and Analysis and in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2015, dated March 30, 2016 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
May 12 (Reuters) - Shareholders of Ford Motor Co rejected by 63.1 percent on Thursday a proposal to alter the voting power of the founding family of the company. The measure, which is a perennial at Ford annual meetings, received about as much support as it got last year.

The Ford family has 40 percent voting control of the company through special Class B shares. The vote was held at the company's annual meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall Editing by W Simon)
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories from May 21-24 (AFP Photo/Dominique Faget) (AFP)

Paris (AFP) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this month in a bid to relaunch the peace process following the worst flare-up of violence in the Gaza Strip for two years, his office said Tuesday.

His visit, from May 21-24, comes as France seeks to engineer a peace deal based on a two-state solution.

It will happen ahead of a May 30 meeting which France is organising for ministers from 20 countries to try and relaunch the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

That proposed meeting has been welcomed by the Palestinians, who have suspended a planned UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements to focus on the bid.

But Israel has consistently argued that peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the two sides, rather than international forums.

French Foreign Minister Marc Ayrault has said the aim of the meeting is to prepare an international summit in the second half of 2016, which would include the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

The trip to Israel will also be a chance for Valls to smooth over a row over a recent UNESCO resolution, backed by France, which spoke of "Occupied Palestine".

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the "absurd" resolution which also condemned "Israeli aggressions and illegal measures against the freedom of worship and Muslims' access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif", failing to mention the site's Jewish name of the Temple Mount.

Valls will meet Netanyahu on May 23.

He will arrive in Israel the previous day and also plans to meet President Reuven Rivlin, former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres and opposition leader Isaac Herzog.

On May 24 he is scheduled to travel to Ramallah where he will hold talks with Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah.
Protesters march in Banjul following the death of an opposition figure in custody (AFP Photo/) (AFP/File)

Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - A Gambian court has charged opposition activists with rioting, illegal protest and incitement to violence for organising rare demonstrations last week that rights groups say were peaceful.

Thirty-six activists including United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe were charged with six different offences on Wednesday and Thursday and will be kept in custody until their bail hearing due next week at Banjul's High Court.

Eighteen of the defendants were arrested last Thursday when UDP organising secretary Solo Sandeng and dozens of others made a public call for electoral reform, with some protesters demanding the resignation of strongman President Yahya Jammeh, according to witnesses.

UDP leader Darboe confirmed Sandeng's death in custody to AFP on Saturday, and the UN has called on the Gambian authorities to conduct an investigation into how exactly he died.

Two women arrested along with Sandeng last Thursday and believed to be dead or suffering from serious injuries, Nogoi Njie and Fatoumata Jawara, failed to appear in court, with all three absent from the charge sheet.

"In view of Solo Sandeng's death in custody, the government's failure to produce these individuals raises real concern about their fate," said Jim Wormington, West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"The Gambian government should release them immediately or explain publicly what has happened to them."

The only official response has come from the Gambia's Information Minister Sherrif Bojang, who told AFP he was unaware if detained opposition protesters had died in custody or where others were being detained, while asserting the two rare demonstrations that had been held were illegal.

Another 18 defendants were charged Wednesday in relation to a peaceful march by around 150 supporters including Darboe on Saturday to call for justice for Sandeng and the two women.

The UDP members pleaded not guilty to various charges including unlawful assembly, rioting, "riotously interfering with vehicles", incitement to violence, holding a procession without a permit and disobeying an order to disperse from an unlawful procession.

Story continues

Amnesty International west Africa researcher Sabrina Mahtani told AFP on Saturday that the arrests came after "what we've been told by eyewitnesses was a peaceful protest."

Defence lawyer Antouman Gaye said he had applied for bail for the defendants, and the next hearing is due Monday.

Pansy Thlaku, chairwoman of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, said the regional body had requested access to those in detention.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been in power since 2015 (AFP Photo/Louisa Gouliamaki) (AFP/File)

Athens (AFP) - Progress towards continued bailout financing means Greece is about to put "six years of darkness" behind it, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Tuesday.

A day after eurozone finance ministers gave themselves until May 24 to reach a deal on debt relief and unlocking bailout cash for Greece as they lauded Athens for passing tough reforms, Tsipras told a cabinet meeting that this would allow Greece "to turn the page".

The 19 ministers meeting in Brussels Monday failed to sign off on the long-delayed first review of last July's 86-billion-euro ($95 billion) EU-IMF bailout -- but said this could be done in the "coming days".

Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that the Greek parliament's approval of fresh reforms in a tense vote late Sunday "paves the way for successful completion of the first review" of the bailout.

"For the first time we have had good news," Tsipras said.

Progress in Brussels "opens the door to the payment of a large tranche" of the bailout package which, he put at, at least 5.4 billion euros.

Athens will use the funds to acquit itself of arrears on operational government spending, he said.

Tsipras also welcomed signs that the EU and the International Monetary Fund appear to have made progress on the thorny question of debt relief.

"This will create the financial room not just to relaunch the economy but also widen social protection," he said.

"With the decision on May 24, Greece will turn a page and leave behind it six years of darkness," he said.

EU ministers are likely to expect further commitments by Greece on faster privatisation and a hike in indirect taxes before they approve a deal.

Athens will also need to find agreement with its creditors on what measures to implement if it fails to bring its primary budget surplus, which excludes debt payments, to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2018.

Story continues

Tsipras said there would be "contingency measures" to correct any imbalance, but added that "no correction will be necessary" as Greece had already exceeded its surplus target in 2015.

The finance ministers' meeting followed days of protests in Greece, where tens of thousands took to the streets again to slam the unpopular reforms adopted late Sunday which reduce the country's highest pensions and raise taxes.

The measures were passed thanks to the government's slim majority in the 300-seat parliament, with the coalition's far-left Syriza party voting in favour of the measures despite fears of dissensions.
By Matt Smith

DUBAI (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has reviewed Pakistan's economic performance and will make available a further $510 million to the country as part of a three-year, $6.7 billion financial assistance programme, it said on Thursday.

The money will be provided when the review is approved by the IMF's management and executive board, the Fund said in a statement, describing its discussions with Pakistan as "productive" and adding that performance criteria in the programme had been met.

Pakistan's gross domestic product is projected to grow 4.5 percent in the 2015/16 fiscal year ending this June, and 4.7 percent in the following year, the IMF said.

Growth remains robust despite a weak cotton harvest and declining exports amid a more challenging global environment," it said, citing benign oil prices, rising investment including projects linked to trade with China, improvements in energy supply, strong construction activity and faster credit growth.

Discussions with Pakistan on the twelfth and last review under the IMF programme are tentatively planned for August, the fund said.

Pakistan has not requested further funds from the IMF, mission chief Harald Finger told Reuters on the sidelines of a news conference in Dubai.

His organisation had earlier expressed its frustration at the slow progress of a privatisation programme that was slated to lead to the sell-off of 68 state-run companies and be a major element of the IMF package.

Pakistan this year shelved plans to privatise its power supply companies and opted to convert cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a limited company instead.

But Finance minister Ishaq Dar defended Pakistans record, citing the sale of state stakes in some banks including United Bank Limited (UBL) and Habib Bank (HBL) and certain other divestments

There has been a little hiccup in items like PIA, but now we have reformed and that whole process is going to be different, said Dar, adding the government would fast-track the sale of other state assets including Kot Addu Power Co (Kapco) and Mari Petroleum.

Story continues

It was a selective menu, some items on the menu have been replaced. We have to reduce the losses that are bleeding the economy and we have been able to do that.

He said Pakistans economic growth would be 5 percent this year.

Next year we are estimating even more ambitious targets of about 6.0 percent growth, he added. "This country has the potential to hit 7.0 percent GDP growth."

(Reporting by Matt Smith; Additional reporting by Asad Hashim in Islamabad; Writing by Andrew Torchia Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Iraq overtook Saudi Arabia as the top crude exporter to India in April for the first time since December, according to data compiled by Reuters, as the two biggest OPEC producers fight for market share in Asia's fastest growing oil market.

Saudi Arabia also lost its top spot in China, Asia's biggest oil consumer, last month when Russia overtook the world's biggest crude exporter due to strong purchases by Chinese independent refineries.

Overall, April oil imports by India rose 6 percent from March and are up 9.9 percent in the first four months from a year ago. For the first four months of 2015, imports fell 0.6 percent from a year ago because of refinery outages.

Iraqi oil exports to India were 960,700 barrels per day (bpd) in April, a 41 percent jump from March and 79 percent higher than a year ago, data obtained by Reuters and compiled by Thomson Reuters Oil Analytics showed.

India imported about 787,700 bpd of oil from Saudi Arabia last month, about 14 percent lower than a year ago, the data showed.

Iraq accounted for 22 percent of April Indian imports, up from about 15 percent a year ago, while Saudi Arabia's share dropped to 18 percent from about 25 percent a year ago.

"Iraqi oil is much more beneficial than Saudi because they are better priced. There is a significance difference in prices," said A. K. Sharma, head of finance at Indian Oil Corp..

Iraq has consistently maintained their official selling prices (OSP) below Saudi Arabia. In April, Iraq set the OSP for its flagship Basrah Light crude at a discount of 2.60 a barrel to Middle East benchmarks, 20 cents under the OSP for comparable crude grade Arab Medium.

Overall, Indian crude demand rose in 2016 as refiners normally avoid maintenance shutdown in the first quarter to meet annual crude processing target for the fiscal year.

Also, Indian Oil Corp, the country's biggest refiner, boosted imports after commissioning the 300,000-bpd Paradip refinery.

Story continues

Iran is also raising its share in Indian imports. The country accounted for about 9 percent of overall purchases in April compared to about 7.2 percent a year ago.

Overall in January to April, Iranian oil accounted for about 7.4 percent of Indian imports from about 4 percent a year ago, becoming fifth-largest oil supplier to India compared with the eighth position a year ago.

On the losing side, Latin American suppliers exported 8.2 percent less crude to India during January to April. The region's share in Indian imports declined to about 16 percent from about 19 percent a year ago as its oil has become uncompetitive in the ongoing price war.

(Editing by Henning Gloystein and Christian Schmollinger)
NIgeria militants

Chevron shut down an offshore oil facility after "unidentified attackers" bombed it last week, causing an oil spill.

And a new militant group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the WSJ.

Notably, this attack is not an isolated incident, but rather reflects the deteriorating political and security dynamics posing an immediate threat to Nigeria's oil output.

Since the government ordered an arrest warrant for members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), including the ex-leader Government Ekpemupolo, the country has seen a spike in attacks this year, including one on the Forcados export pipeline operated by Shell. (The Avengers have taken credit for this attack, too, according to reports cited by Bank of America analysts.)

The Niger Delta Avengers reportedly want locals in the Niger Delta to have more control over the oil resources in the region, as well as higher living standards for those living there and the continuation of the Niger Delta amnesty program, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Oyin Anubi.

(Although, Anubi cited local press reports noting that Ekpemupolo has tried to distance himself from the Niger Delta Avengers, who aren't part of the existing Niger Delta Amnesty program.)

Screen Shot 2016 05 11 at 2.27.52 PM

The Avengers' agenda seems to parallel the situation back in the 2000s, when armed militant groups, including MEND, routinely kept hundreds of barrels of oil off the market.

At the time, MEND portrayed "itself as political organization that wants a greater share of Nigeria's oil revenues to go to the impoverished region that sits atop the oil," according to The Economist.

Story continues

In 2009, the government signed an amnesty agreement pledging to provide monthly cash payments and vocational training programs to the nearly 30,000 former militants in exchange for cooperation.

But although the arrangement was a pretty good band-aid, it failed to address the fundamental drivers of instability in the region, such as poverty, corruption, and the proliferation of weapons.

Moreover, Nigeria's current economic slump adds more pressure to the situation, and the current administration under Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to reduce corruption and excessive government spending.

Notably, the recent attacks have taken a toll on oil output in Nigeria. According to data cited by Anubi, oil production is now down to mid-1990s lows, with unplanned supply outages ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 b/d.

And although the country has previously delt with similar threats, Anubi argues that there are three major reasons to be more concerned now than in previous years:

The large-scale attack on an offshore facility  as opposed to an onshore one  shows that the scale of militancy has increased. The regulation of Nigeria's oil sector remains a bit unclear as a new bill is intended to split the national oil company into two parts. The current Nigerian government under Buhari, which aims to reduce corruption and excess expenses in the lower oil environment, is "incompatible with spending large sums of money to appease Niger Delta militants," writes Anubi.

In short, as RBC Capital Markets' Helima Croft noted back in late March, "the government appears to be on course for a head on collision with armed militants in the oil region."

NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy





More From Business Insider


Large Hadron Collider

The worlds most powerful atom smasher is at it again.

After spending the winter in hibernation, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 17-mile-long particle collider near Geneva, Switzerland, is once again slamming together protons to investigate the fundamental building blocks of matter.

This time around the LHC is kicking atoms and taking names as it hunts for answers to some of the most pressing questions in physics.

Physicists will explore how we ended up with a universe of matter after the Big Bang as well as what makes up dark matter, a hypothetical substance that physicists believe makes up more than a quarter of the universe (compared to regular matter, which makes up less than 5%).

Discovering the Higgs

The LHC made headlines in 2012 when physicists at two of its four detectors announced that they had detected the Higgs boson, a staple in the Standard Model of physics which describes the basic building blocks of matter and the forces that govern them. The discovery of the Higgs helps explain how matter gets its mass.

The massive machine will continue colliding particles to allow physicists to further investigate the Higgs. Physicists will also investigate hints of a new particle that surfaced in the data from 2015. The hints, which take the form of mysterious bump in the data, could just be a coincidence, or they could be signs of a new particle  possibly a heavier cousin of the Higgs boson. If this unexpected particle exists, it could signify new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Two quadrillion collisions

A general view of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment is seen during a media visit at the Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the French village of Saint-Genis-Pouilly near Geneva in Switzerland, July 23, 2014. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy

The LHCs 2016 season will last for six months, orchestrating roughly two quadrillion high-quality proton collisions, or about a billion per second. Thats six times greater than 2015s collisions, and just short of the number recorded during the colliders first run, which lasted six times as long.

Story continues

The LHC is operating at nearly twice the energy as its first run. This jump in energy should allow physicists to push the boundaries of physics even further, exploring a new realm of physics that, until now, was out of reach. It will hugely increase the prospects of finding new massive particles.

So far the Standard Model seems to explain matter, but we know there has to be something beyond the Standard Model, Denise Caldwell, director of the Physics Division of the National Science Foundation, said in a press release. This potential new physics can only be uncovered with more data that will come with the next LHC run.

NOW WATCH: How scientists uncovered a completely new world inside the tunnels of the most powerful physics machine on Earth





More From Business Insider


(Updates throughout with Exxon statement, comment and details)

LONDON/NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - Damage to a pipeline has reduced supplies of Nigeria's benchmark Qua Iboe (BFO-QUA) crude oil, two traders said on Thursday, the latest setback for Africa's top producer that has pushed output to its lowest in more than two decades.

Operator Exxon Mobil Corp confirmed in an email that a drilling rig, experiencing mechanical difficulties, damaged the pipeline it jointly owns with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and caused a spill on Sunday.

Exxon said Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) continues to assess the situation. It did not give any other details and it was not clear how much output was lost.

The drilling rig is owned by Depthwize Nigeria Limited and Drilling on behalf of Conoil Producing.

The news intensified concerns among traders and refiners about falling supplies of Nigeria's largest grade of crude and helped boost global Brent benchmark futures on Thursday even as the market remains awash with supplies.

A series of recent outages in Nigeria have cut output by more than 400,000 barrels per day, excluding the latest problem with the pipeline, according to FG Energy.

The country was set to export 317,000 bpd of Qua Iboe in June.

The news comes as Nigeria's production slumped to a 22-year low after Royal Dutch Shell PLC declared a force majeure on Bonny Light crude due to sabotage on a pipeline.

Last week, a group known as Niger Delta Avengers attacked a Chevron facility in the Delta after also claiming a strike in February against a Shell pipeline, which shut down the 250,000 bpd Forcados export terminal.

The U.S. East Coast, historically, has been among the world's biggest buyer of Nigerian crude. Refiners there have binged on the country's crude in recent months as economics have shifted in favor of waterborne barrels rather than buying from the U.S. Bakken shale heartland.

"The good news is the world is swimming in crude oil, so there are options. This may make it economical to ship Eagle Ford crude or maybe ship in some North Sea crude," Sarah Emerson, a managing principal at ESAI Energy LLC, said.

(Reporting by Simon Falush in London; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York and Amanda Cooper in London; editing by David Clarke and Marguerita Choy)
By Suzanne Barlyn

(Reuters) - New York State's financial regulator has asked Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and three foreign banks for information about shell companies set up through a Panamanian law firm, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) also requested the same type of shell company information from BNP Paribas SA (BNPP.PA), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM.TO) and Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L), the person said.

Goldman is the only U.S. bank the NYDFS has contacted about the request, the person said.

Spokespeople for Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered declined to comment. Representatives for BNP Paribas SA and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

The move by NYDFS comes weeks after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) worked with media outlets including The Guardian and BBC to report on 11.5 million leaked documents from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca.

The documents, which have come to be known as the Panama Papers, contained information on about 214,000 offshore companies and showed how individuals and corporations were able to hide assets and avoid taxes. The ICIJ made its database of documents publicly available on Monday.

Last month, the NYDFS sent a similar request to 13 banks, including Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S), Commerzbank AG (CBKG.DE), ABN Amro Group NV (ABNd.AS) and Societe Generale SA (SOGN.PA).

NYDFS had requested details about the 13 banks' communications, telephone records and details of other dealings between their New York branches and employees or agents of Mossack Fonseca.

The NYDFS letter also asks the banks to disclose any internal or external investigations involving the law firm or shell companies they helped to set up.

None of the banks contacted by NYDFS have been accused of wrongdoing.

Bloomberg reported the most recent letter earlier on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn; Additional reporting by Olivia Oran in New York and Maya Nikolaeva in Paris; Editing by Alan Crosby and Chris Reese)
gettyimages 458033834

Labor Secretary Tom Perez, a prominent surrogate for Hillary Clinton, said on Thursday that he's not surprised George Zimmerman has a controversial way of attempting to raise money to defeat the former secretary of state.

On Wednesday evening, Zimmerman posted an auction notice on GunBroker.com for the handgun that he used to shoot unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin during a struggle in 2012. In a description of the gun, Zimmerman said that he'd dedicate some of the proceeds to stopping Clinton's "anti-firearm rhetoric."

Perez, who has been prominently speculated about as a potential Clinton running mate, responded during a conference call on Thursday.

He told Business Insider that he was not surprised Zimmerman would oppose Clinton's gun-safety proposals, which Perez took as an implicit endorsement of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

"It wouldn't surprise me if George Zimmerman wanted to be on Donald Trump's side, because they share the same values," Perez said.

From his perch as the Department of Justice's assistant attorney general for civil rights, Perez launched an investigation into whether Martin's death was a hate crime. Perez left to become the secretary of labor before the investigation concluded, but the department did not end up filing charges.

Repeatedly labeling Trump a "train wreck" during Thursday's press call, Perez emphasized the gulf between Clinton and Trump on numerous issues, including gun safety.

"Hillary Clinton has been standing up for common-sense gun-safety laws for some time, and she's going to continue to do that. Because that's one of the defining issues of this election. It's yet another issue where the two of them are in such a different place," Perez said.

Perez has been floated as a potential vice-presidential pick for Clinton largely because of his strong relationships with many progressive communities. During Thursday's press call, however, the secretary again brushed off speculation about his vice-presidential ambitions.

Story continues

"I have had no conversations about that, and I am glad about that, because I continue to do my day job, and in my spare time, I'm helping Sec. Clinton get elected," Perez said.





More From Business Insider


Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr wave their national flag and hold posters calling for the Minister of Interior Mohammed al-Ghabban to leave his post as they protest on May 12, 2016 in Baghdad (AFP Photo/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

Baghdad (AFP) - Hundreds of residents of a neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital rocked by a devastating bombing that killed dozens of people held a protest Thursday, blaming the government for the carnage.

Most of the demonstrators were supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who has a massive following in Sadr City, the area where at least 64 people were killed in a car bomb blast on Wednesday.

The attack, the worst to hit the Iraqi capital this year, was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, but the demonstrators blamed Iraq's political leaders.

"What happened is a reaction by the politicians, because we entered parliament," said Umm Abbas, a 38-year-old woman whose brother was killed in the bombing.

On April 30, Sadr supporters who had been protesting for weeks to demand a cabinet reshuffle and reforms broke into the fortified Green Zone and stormed parliament.

"Politicians threatened us publicly and we thought there would be a campaign of arrests, but it seems they carried out this explosion instead," Umm Abbas said.

"It wasn't Daesh (behind the explosion, it's the politicians," said Abu Ali al-Zaidi, 45, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

He and some of the other demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghaban.

Some of the protesters who did not go as far of accusing the government of plotting the bombing nonetheless charged that too little was being done to prevent such attacks.

"The government is supposed to put in place certain procedures to protect the people, but they are not offering anything," said Sheikh Kadhim Jassem, 72.

Two other bombings in Baghdad claimed 30 more lives on Wednesday.

Iraq has thousands of security personnel deployed in the capital, but searches at checkpoints are cursory if they take place at all, and fake bomb detectors are still in widespread use.

A months-old political crisis in Iraq has led to repeated mass demonstrations and has hampered the functioning of the government at a time when the country is battling IS jihadists on several fronts.

Story continues

Security forces are currently engaged in large-scale military operations in the provinces of Anbar and Nineveh, where IS's two major remaining hubs in Iraq are located.

Iraqi forces have regained significant ground from IS, which overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014.

But the jihadists still control significant territory in western Iraq, and are able to carry out frequent bombings in government-held areas.

The United States and the United Nations have warned the political impasse could undermine the fight against IS.
This piece originally appeared on Oilprice.com.

Saudi Arabia appears committed to its recently-announced long-term economic plan, dubbed Vision 2030, which aims to remove the country's economic dependence on oil exports within the next several decades. The removal of Ali al-Naimi, who for twenty-five years acted as the Kingdom's oil minister and engineered the production surge guiding Saudi policy since November 2014, is a further indication of the government's determination to make a major economic course correction.

The question is, can they do it? Oil covers 70 percent of government revenue, while the oil industry is a major employer for the Saudi workforce. The immediate reaction to the plan, announced on April 25 by Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman, was guarded optimism. Recently there has been much more skepticism, with some doubting how Saudi Arabia could accomplish all that it has planned for itself.

Prince Salman, who at 30 is both a powerful member of the royal family and a standard-bearer for a new generation of Saudi leaders, emphasized in his announcement that Saudi Arabia would begin its transition to an "oil-less" economy through an IPO of Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company. A 5 percent IPO will take place in 2017, and due to the size of Aramco will take place on the London, New York and Hong Kong markets simultaneously. The IPO is a clear sign that Saudi Arabia, perhaps the nation most associated with oil wealth and extravagance, has realized amidst the current energy glut that oil revenues simply aren't the basis for a stable economy.

Economists have been arguing for years that oil revenues, rather than offering a strong foundation for a viable economy, actually create long-term systemic problems that can stifle practical growth, feed nepotism, patronage and corruption, and transform governments into rentier states disassociated from the needs of the people. It has been apparent for some time that major oil producers had to diversify their economies in order to achieve long-term viability, but that argument was hard to make when oil was $140 a barrel.

Story continues

Now, in the midst of a crisis for oil-producers, economic reform looks like more than just a smart idea: increasingly, it's looking like the only way for oil-producers to survive in a new energy economy. This is true for Saudi Arabia, which ran a $100 billion deficit last year and has already cut workers and trimmed spending to cope with the downturn in prices. Vision 2030 is a permanent plan to end the country's dependence on oil and replace Saudi Aramco with a brand-new economy.

But what, in the Saudi case, could replace a $2 trillion industry? Prince Salman offered some suggestions: tourism, investment in manufacturing, health care, education. Private investment will be crucial, and one of the many goals of Vision 2030 is to increase the privately owned share of the economy from 40 percent to 65 percent. Even more important will be the Public Investment Fund, into which the proceeds of the Saudi Aramco IPO will be funneled. Much of the possible success of Vision 2030 hinges on this fund paying out in the long-term.

However, there are now doubts that the declared value ($2.5 trillion) is a massive exaggeration: at least one commenter has pegged Saudi Aramco's worth at closer to $400 billion, which means an IPO would generate far less than what Vision 2030 assumes. There is also traditional investor wariness regarding state industries, which are often ill-ran and exposed to political upheavals, which may further depress the share price, as in the case of the Russian company Rosneft in 2006.

But Saudi Arabia will need more than capital. Education will have to be overhauled, with some ramifications for Saudi culture. It was recently announced that the Saudi government hopes for women to make up 30 percent of the workforce by 2030, up from 22 percent. How this will be accomplished when men and women are largely forbidden to work together in close quarters is a particularly pertinent question.

The Saudi population is around 30 million. Two-thirds of that populace is under 30, and of that number one-third are unemployed. In the next decade 1.9 million young Saudis will enter the workforce, and it is not entirely clear what kinds of jobs they will be able to find. There are institutional problems, such as a lackluster education system (which the late King Abdullah worked to reform, with some success), and a dependence on imported labor in some industries: there are more than 9 million foreign expatriates working in Saudi Arabia. The internal Saudi market is relatively small; industries created to feed domestic demand will not have much room for growth.

Decades of oil exports have afflicted Saudi Arabia with the "Dutch Disease," where its currency has remained artificially high, rendering its goods more expensive in foreign markets. If Saudi Arabia hopes to export to South Asia, as is suggested, it would have to do from a position of weakness. In some cases products with high pedigrees or luxurious associations can carve out niches for themselves, particularly among the urban affluent. But Saudi Arabia has no products, no industries to call its own: just oil.

More from Oilprice.com:

What OPEC Has To Fear From The New Saudi Oil Minister

Turkey, At Energy Crossroads, Sliding Towards Authoritarianism

Russian Oil Executives Not Optimistic About Oil Prices

There is more to Vision 2030 than just economics. Prince Salman has maneuvered himself into a position of pre-eminent power within the Saudi government. As foreign minister he has been responsible for the Saudi intervention in Yemen, and it was his intervention at the Doha conference in mid-April that scotched plans for an oil freeze and led, indirectly, to minister al-Naimi's removal this weekend. Prince Salman is well-positioned to eventually become King, and his influence over foreign policy, the oil industry and the country's economic future solidifies his position as one of the most powerful people in the Saudi government, after perhaps only King Salman himself. Vision 2030 could be all "smoke and mirrors," a veil disguising the power politics inside one of the world's last absolute monarchies. Time will tell.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
Why Go: Opening in May, the Watergate Hotel (from $425 per night) is gunning to re-up the sex appeal of the infamous hotel. The 10-acre Watergate complex opened in 1967 as Washingtons first mixed-use development and its first buildings designed using a computer. Italian architect Luigi Moretti conceived six structures with no right angles, standing in stark contrast to the Greco-Roman monuments lining the National Mall.

No changes were made to the 336-room hotels exterior during its $125 million renovation, but, inside, its retro look and Italian bent has been upgraded. Mad Mens costume designer Janie Bryant consulted on the staff uniforms, and Italian furniture designer Moroso mimics the exteriors bending horizontal lines in headboards and armchairs. The Next Whisky Bar displays hundreds of whiskey bottles in curvilinear floor-to-ceiling cases among rosebud-like rounded red chairs.

What to Expect: Scandal and history aside, the Watergates location adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and along the Potomac River is bar none. Ninety-five percent of the rooms and suites overlook the river, with the best views enjoyed from the rooftop bar: the Top of the Gate. Cocktails and Asian street foods in hand, patrons take in 360-degree views over the Pentagon, Washington Monument, and Washington National Cathedral. On the ground level, restaurant Kingbird will serve three meals daily, as well as a prefixe dinner menu in its anticipated fine-dining room. The hotel continues to accentuate its curves among extensive fitness facilities and eight-treatment-room Argentta Spa.

How to Get There: Fly into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for the most-convenient transfer, about 15 minutes by car. (thewatergatehotel.com)

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Turkey's Minister of EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir speaks during a joint press conference with President of the European Parliament after a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France on May 11, 2016 (AFP Photo/Patrick Hertzog)

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - A controversial migrant deal between the EU and Turkey is facing "a very dangerous moment" as the two sides wrangle over Ankara's fulfilment of its terms, a Turkish minister warned Wednesday.

"All the agreements we have achieved until now, built on confidence, goodwill, taking responsibilities, and also taking political risks, is facing a very dangerous moment," Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir said at a news conference with European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

His remarks highlight growing tensions between the two sides over a landmark deal in March under which Turkey agreed to help stem the migrant flow to Europe in return for political incentives and billions of euros in aid from Brussels.

Bozkir said Turkey had basically fulfilled the terms of the deal, even though Brussels is insisting Ankara meet five more benchmarks before Turkish nationals can to enjoy visa-free travel to Europe.

"This not a mathematics problem. This is a political problem," Bozkir said of the five benchmarks during a visit to the European parliament in the French city of Strasbourg.

"Our interpretation is that we have fulfilled our expectations sufficiently enough," he added.

Bozkir reiterated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's opposition to changing Turkey's anti-terror legislation, which the EU says is one of the five outstanding benchmarks left from a list of 72.

It would be "completely impossible" for Turkey to change the anti-terrorism law which is "relevant to European standards", he said.

- Must do more -

With Turkey in the throes of a major campaign against Kurdish militants, Ankara has said it does not have the luxury of being able to change its anti-terror laws, but analysts have warned that the problem risks blocking the deal with the EU.

Speaking to the parliament, EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said Turkey had "made really substantial progress in fulfilling the visa liberalisation roadmap" but must take further steps.

Story continues

Turkey, he said, must do more to fight corruption, align personal data protection laws with EU standards and conclude an operational cooperation agreement with Europol, the EU law enforcement agency.

He also said it must offer "effective judicial cooperation in criminal matters to all member states" and "better align" its counter-terror laws and practices with EU standards.

He said the overall migrant deal had already led to a "clear reduction" of irregular migrant arrivals to Greece from 6,000 a day in October last year to a daily figure of around 140 in April.

Most of the 1.25 million Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who have entered the bloc since last year travelled from Turkey to Greece on rickety boats over the Aegean Sea.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) and Britain's Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond (2nd L) have a meeting in central London, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett

By David Brunnstrom

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Europe's top banks they have nothing to fear from resuming business with Iran, as long as they make proper checks on trade partners and pursue "legitimate business".

European banks, some of which have been punished for breaking sanctions imposed on Iran, are sceptical it is now safe for them to restore trade ties with the country and have largely held back since the lifting of some restrictions in January.

"We want to make it clear that legitimate business, which is clear under the definition of the agreement, is available to banks," Kerry said on Thursday during what is likely to be his last trip to London before November's U.S. election.

Nine executives from leading European banks took part in the meeting, along with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, secretary of state for business Sajid Javid and Norman Lamont, trade envoy to Iran, a British official told Reuters.

Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) Chief Executive John Cryan, HSBC's (HSBA.L) UK head Antonio Simoes and Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) Chief Financial Officer David Mathers were among the senior bankers who attended.

Representatives from Standard Chartered (STAN.L) and BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), which have both been fined billions of dollars for breaking sanctions in the past, also attended along with executives from Santander (SAN.MC), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), Barclays (BARC.L) and Lloyds (LLOY.L).

The United States and Europe lifted sanctions in January under a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear programme, but other U.S. sanctions remain, including a ban on Iran-linked transactions in dollars being processed through the U.S. financial system.

That has left Europe's banks nervous of resuming trade, despite encouraging words from the U.S. And there was little immediate sign Kerry had provided sufficient additional reassurance during the meeting on Thursday.

Standard Chartered said after the meeting that it "will not accept any new clients who reside in Iran, or which are an entity owned or controlled by a person there, nor will we undertake any new transactions involving Iran or any party in Iran".

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French bank Societe Generale said given "remaining uncertainties" it had no plans to resume commercial activities with Iran, adding: "Differences between European and U.S. systems generate significant operating risks for financial establishments".

Other banking and finance sources said uncertainty about the outcome of U.S. presidential elections in November heightened their reservations. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Wednesday showed Republican Donald Trump pulling even with likely Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"What if Trump wins? Do you want to get involved with contracts now that perhaps in six months would be unenforceable?" a banking source following Iran said.

"There is a distinct reluctance to do anything among the banks."

NO LETTER OF COMFORT

Another source familiar with European banks' thinking said there was still little clarity on what trade could be done.

"The assurances given by Kerry are still vague and that goes for the whole U.S. approach - there is no letter of comfort for the banks," the source told Reuters.

Hammond said the strategic objective was to draw Iran back into the international community, and this meant overcoming "the reality of what the European banks are finding in practise".

"Were trying to bridge that gap ... to allow these European and global banks to support European businesses in resuming normal trade and investment patterns with Iran," Hammond said.

Banks' fears are exacerbated by the differing tone of rhetoric between federal U.S. officials and State laws, many of which still ban pension groups and funds from investing in overseas companies that do business in Iran, Tom Stocker, a Pinsent Masons lawyer with expertise in trade sanctions, said.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Arno Schuetze, Lawrence White, Kate Holton, Jonathan Saul and Maya Nikolaeva, Editing by Tom Heneghan and Alexander Smith)
Steve McAlister | The Image Bank | Getty Images. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced as much as $90 million in funding for biofuels projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced as much as $90 million in funding for projects relating to the design, construction and operation of "integrated bio-refinery facilities."



In a statement at the end of last week, the DOE described the production of biofuels from "sustainable, non-food, domestic biomass resources" as an important part of the administration's aims to cut both carbon emissions and the U.S.'s reliance on foreign oil.





"The domestic bio-industry could play an important part in the growing clean energy economy and in reducing American dependence on imported oil," Lynn Orr, the DOE's under-secretary for science and energy, said in a news release.

"This funding opportunity will support companies that are working to advance current technologies and help them overcome existing challenges in bioenergy so the industry can meet its full potential," Orr added.

The DOE added that the U.S. is currently spending around $1 billion every three days on "imported oil."

According to the Energy Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it's estimated that the U.S. could produce over a billion tons of biomass that could be turned into biopower, biofuels and bioproducts.

The importance of biofuels is only set to increase. A 2011 report from the IEA projects that by 2050, biofuels could provide 27 percent of the world's transportation fuel.

As technology advances, new, innovative ways of generating biofuels are being developed. Scottish start-up Celtic Renewables has developed technology to turn the by-products of whisky into a next generation biofuel, while London's bio-bean is looking to turn waste coffee grounds into advanced biofuels.





More From CNBC


Madagascar, producer of 80 percent of the world's vanilla, has seen the spice's price jump from about $60 per kilogramme (2.2 pounds) in 2014 to as much as $220 now (AFP Photo/Patrick Mercier) (AFP/File)

Antananarivo (AFP) - The sweet flavours of vanilla are taking on a bitter edge for buyers in Madagascar as prices have almost quadrupled but quality has declined, with experts blaming speculation, money laundering and a poor harvest.

Madagascar, producer of 80 percent of the world's vanilla, has seen the spice's price jump from about $60 per kilogramme (2.2 pounds) in 2014 to as much as $220 now.

In some local supermarkets, vanilla -- used in everything from ice cream to cakes -- has become so expensive that the pods have been removed from the spice aisle and placed close to the cash registers to deter thieves.

"The 2015 harvest was not excellent, about 1,200 tonnes compared to 1,800 the year before," Emmanuel Nee, head of the ingredients department at French spice trading company Touton, told AFP.

"But that doesn't justify the huge price jump we've seen this year," he added, instead blaming "extremely speculative" traders and an "irrational" market.

Dominique Rakotoson, head of a Madagascan family-operated vanilla company and one of the few people willing to talk on the record, pointed to large operators for stockpiling and hiking up prices.

Half of Madagascar's vanilla is exported to Europe, and a third to the United States -- but the island is not seeing the potential benefits of higher prices.

"Some buyers abroad have now cancelled or reduced their orders," said Rakotoson, while food production companies are turning to cheaper synthetic vanilla as an alternative.

- Rush for profit -

All the while, the quality of Madagascar's crops have been slipping.

Many producers are harvesting the vanilla pods before they reach maturity, hoping to cash in on the high prices and also to pre-empt the theft of their increasingly valuable crops.

There has also been a spike in vacuum packing, bypassing a complex and months-long preparation process that dries out the pod and reveals the spice's sweet aroma.

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By trapping the moisture in the pod, "vacuum packing interrupts the drying process, which compromises the quality of the vanilla," explained Landry Njaka, secretary of the National Vanilla Platform, the industry's trade association.

To catch up to export standards, the work has to be redone correctly, thus raising prices, said Nee.

The government recently banned vacuum packing in an effort to revive quality.

To mark the occasion, 500 kilos of prematurely-picked pods were burned.

The authorities have also announced they will dispatch special teams to prevent early harvesting and ward off thieves, though many are sceptical of how effective these measures will be.

Some Madagascans even speculate that the vanilla industry is being used as a front for the illegal trade in rosewood - a sought-after product in China, where it is used to make furniture and musical instruments.

"It's in rosewood areas that we're seeing an overlap with vanilla price speculation," said Nee.

Madagascar, among the poorest countries in the world according to the World Bank, sorely needs the boost the vanilla price jump should bring.

Instead, potential competitors -- like Vietnam, India and Indonesia -- have now expressed interest in stepping into the market.

It takes a good five years for a plantation's first vanilla crop to be produced.

But in a country where the industry employs 200,000 and generated $192 million in exports last year, a spike in competition could be a heavy blow.
Annuity Vs. Other Guaranteed-Income Investments

You can use an annuity to create a predictable and long-lasting income stream for your retirement years. However, the marketplace for guaranteed-income investments is crowded. Annuity issuers face competition from banks issuing certificates of deposit and public and private sector entities issuing bonds. With so many options available, it is important you understand the differences between annuities and other income-generating investments.

Annuity Contracts Annuity contracts are life insurance policies that protect you against financial hardship caused by your own longevity. You can purchase an annuity with a single premium or you can make a series of purchase payments over the course of many years. An immediate annuity provides you with an income stream that begins without delay. A deferred annuity is a contract within which your premiums are invested for a number of years before being converted into a monthly income stream. You can buy individual annuities or joint contracts. You also have the option of buying a contract that provides lifetime income or a policy that generates income payments for a fixed period of time.

Principal Protection Some annuities protect your principal, meaning the value of your contract can never drop below your original premium payments. Other annuities offer no principal guarantees but assure you of fixed monthly income payments regardless of the value of the actual contract. You could lose money if your insurer goes bust. State guaranty funds cover some of your losses if your insurer becomes insolvent, although protection guarantees vary from state to state. Bank certificates of deposit are principal-protected, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures your deposits for up to $250,000 per account, per bank. The FDIC does not guarantee bonds, although Treasury bonds are backed by the full faith of the federal government. In theory, you could lose your whole investment if a bond issuer goes out of business.

Potential Earnings Investment professionals regard the federal government as the least-risky borrower. Consequently, yields on federal bonds are generally lower than yields available on annuities and some longer-term bank CDs. In contrast, bonds tied to volatile assets such as mortgages often pay higher yields than annuities. Generally speaking, your potential returns are higher if you expose your investment to greater levels of risk. Other factors, such as your age, can also impact the rate you earn on an annuity. In contrast, two people owning the same CD or bond earn the same rate of return regardless of their life expectancy.

Annuity Taxation You can hold a CD within a tax-deferred investment, such as an individual retirement account. Ordinarily, though, a basic bank CD provides you with no tax benefits. Likewise, you can get tax perks by housing bonds in retirement accounts, although some types of municipal bonds generate tax-free income regardless of where the bonds are housed. Annuities grow on a tax-deferred basis. You do not pay any taxes on your earnings until you make withdrawals. You also have the option of funding an annuity with pre-tax money, in which case you can enjoy even more tax-deferred earnings. On the downside, you typically must pay ordinary income tax and a 10 percent federal tax penalty on any previously untaxed funds if you make withdrawals before reaching the age of 59 1/2.
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Taipei, May 12 (CNA) The National Communications Commission (NCC) said Thursday that the reason why some mobile phone users did not receive an emergency alert during a magnitude-5.8 earthquake earlier in the day may have been because they did not have the correct model of smartphone, or the right type of software or connection.
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Taipei, May 12 (CNA) The Ministry of Education said Thursday that it will soon launch its own investigation into the case of the president of Nan Jeon University of Science and Technology in Tainan allegedly selling counterfeit degree certificates to teachers at the university.
Saudi officials were 'supporting' 9/11 hijackers, commission member says

A former Republican member of the 9/11 commission, breaking dramatically with the commissions leaders, said Wednesday he believes there was clear evidence that Saudi government employees were part of a support network for the 9/11 hijackers and that the Obama administration should move quickly to declassify a long-secret congressional report on Saudi ties to the 2001 terrorist attack.The comments by John F Lehman, an investment banker in New York who was Navy secretary in the Reagan administration, signal the first serious public split among the 10 commissioners since they issued a 2004 final report that was largely read as an exoneration of Saudi Arabia, which was home to 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11.There was an awful lot of participation by Saudi individuals in supporting the hijackers, and some of those people worked in the Saudi government, Lehman said in an interview, suggesting that the commission may have made a mistake by not stating that explicitly in its final report. Our report should never have been read as an exoneration of Saudi Arabia.He was critical of a statement released late last month by the former chairman and vice-chairman of the commission, who urged the Obama administration to be cautious about releasing the full congressional report on the Saudis and 9/11  the 28 pages, as they are widely known in Washington  because they contained raw, unvetted material that might smear innocent people.The 9/11 commission chairman, former Republican governor Tom Kean of New Jersey, and vice-chairman, former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton of Indiana, praised Saudi Arabia as, overall, an ally of the United States in combatting terrorism and said the commissions investigation, which came after the congressional report was written, had identified only one Saudi government official  a former diplomat in the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles  as being implicated in the 9/11 plot investigation.The diplomat, Fahad al-Thumairy, who was deported from the US but was never charged with a crime, was suspected of involvement in a support network for two Saudi hijackers who had lived in San Diego the year before the attacks.In the interview Wednesday, Lehman said Kean and Hamiltons statement that only one Saudi government employee was implicated in supporting the hijackers in California and elsewhere was a game of semantics and that the commission had been aware of at least five Saudi government officials who were strongly suspected of involvement in the terrorists support network.They may not have been indicted, but they were certainly implicated, he said. There was an awful lot of circumstantial evidence.Although Lehman said he did not believe that the Saudi royal family or the countrys senior civilian leadership had any role in supporting al-Qaida or the 9/11 plot, he recalled that a focus of the criminal investigation after 9/11 was upon employees of the Saudi ministry of Islamic affairs, which had sponsored Thumairy for his job in Los Angeles and has long been suspected of ties to extremist groups.He said the 28 pages, which were prepared by a special House-Senate committee investigating pre-9/11 intelligence failures, reviewed much of the same material and ought to be made public as soon as possible, although possibly with redactions to remove the names of a few Saudi suspects who were later cleared of any involvement in the terrorist attacks.Lehman has support among some of the other commissioners, although none have spoken out so bluntly in criticizing the Saudis. A Democratic commissioner, former congressman Tim Roemer of Indiana, said he wants the congressional report released to end some of the wild speculation about what is in the 28 pages and to see if parts of the inquiry should be reopened. When it comes to the Saudis, he said, we still havent gotten to the bottom of what happened on 9/11.Another panel member, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of offending the other nine, said the 28 pages should be released even though they could damage the commissions legacy  fairly or unfairly  by suggesting lines of investigation involving the Saudi government that were pursued by Congress but never adequately explored by the commission.I think we were tough on the Saudis, but obviously not tough enough, the commissioner said. I know some members of the staff felt we went much too easy on the Saudis. I didnt really know the extent of it until after the report came out.The commissioner said the renewed public debate could force a spotlight on a mostly unknown chapter of the history of the 9/11 commission: behind closed doors, members of the panels staff fiercely protested the way the material about the Saudis was presented in the final report, saying it underplayed or ignored evidence that Saudi officials  especially at lower levels of the government  were part of an al-Qaida support network that had been tasked to assist the hijackers after they arrived in the US.In fact, there were repeated showdowns, especially over the Saudis, between the staff and the commissions hard-charging executive director, University of Virginia historian Philip Zelikow, who joined the Bush administration as a senior adviser to the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, after leaving the commission. The staff included experienced investigators from the FBI, the Department of Justice and the CIA, as well as the congressional staffer who was the principal author of the 28 pages.Zelikow fired a staffer, who had repeatedly protested over limitations on the Saudi investigation, after she obtained a copy of the 28 pages outside of official channels. Other staffers described an angry scene late one night, near the end of the investigation, when two investigators who focused on the Saudi allegations were forced to rush back to the commissions offices after midnight after learning to their astonishment that some of the most compelling evidence about a Saudi tie to 9/11 was being edited out of the report or was being pushed to tiny, barely readable footnotes and endnotes. The staff protests were mostly overruled.The 9/11 commission did criticize Saudi Arabia for its sponsorship of a fundamentalist branch of Islam embraced by terrorists and for the Saudi royal familys relationship with charity groups that bankrolled al-Qaida before 9/11.However, the commissions final report was still widely read as an exoneration, with a central finding by the commission that there was no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually provided financial assistance to Osama bin Ladens terrorist network. The statement was hailed by the Saudi government as effectively clearing Saudi officials of any tie to 9/11.Last month Barack Obama, returning from a tense state visit to Saudi Arabia, disclosed the administration was nearing a decision on whether to declassify some or all of the 28 pages, which have been held under lock and key in a secure room beneath the Capitol since they were written in 2002. Just days after the presidents comments however, his CIA director, John Brennan, announced that he opposed the release of the congressional report, saying it contained inaccurate material that might lead to unfair allegations that Saudi Arabia was tied to 9/11.In their joint statement last month, Kean and Hamilton suggested they agreed with Brennan and that there might be danger in releasing the full 28 pages.The congressional report was based almost entirely on raw, unvetted material that came to the FBI, they said. The 28 pages, therefore, are comparable to preliminary law enforcement notes, which are generally covered by grand jury secrecy rules. If any part of the congressional report is made public, they said, it should be redacted to protect the identities of anyone who has been ruled out by authorities as having any connection to the 9/11 plot.Zelikow, the commissions executive director, told NBC News last month that the 28 pages provide no further answers about the 9/11 attacks that are not already included in the 9/11 commission report. Making them public will only make the red herring glow redder.But Kean, Hamilton and Zelikow clearly do not speak for a number of the other commissioners, who have repeatedly suggested they are uncomfortable with the perception that the commission exonerated Saudi Arabia and who have joined in calling for public release of the 28 pages.Lehman and another commissioner, former Democratic senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, filed affidavits last year in support of a lawsuit brought against the Saudi government by the families of 9/11 victims. Significant questions remain unanswered concerning possible involvement of Saudi government institutions and actors, Kerrey said. Lehman agreed: Contrary to the argument advocated by the Kingdom, the 9/11 commission did not exonerate Saudi Arabia of culpability for the events of 11 September 2001 or the financing of al-Qaida. He said he was deeply troubled by the evidence gathered about a hijackers support network in California.In an interview last week, congressman Roemer, the Democratic commissioner, suggested a compromise in releasing the 28 pages. He said that, unlike Kean and Hamilton, he was eager to see the full congressional report declassified and made public, although the 28 pages should be released alongside a list of pertinent excerpts of the 9/11 commissions final report. That would show what allegations were and were not proven, so that innocent people are not unfairly maligned, he said. It would also show there are issues raised in the 28 pages about the Saudis that are still unresolved to this day.Asked on Thursday if he had any comment on Lehmans claim about individuals working for the Saudi government, White House press secretary Josh Earnest gave a two word answer: I dont.Philip Shenon is the author of The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation
thanks shiny pony. oh wait.The Manitoba government is thanking Minnesota for sending firefighting airplanes to the wildfire at Caddy Lake on the Manitoba-Ontario border.State officials have dispatched an "interagency aviation package" that includes two fire retardant tankers contracted by the U.S. Forest Service and an observation plane, also known as a "bird dog."The Caddy Lake wildfire was last estimated to be 5,100 hectares in size on Tuesday and continues to grow. It is about 55 kilometres west of Kenora, Ont.The planes flew out to the Caddy Lake area on Tuesday afternoon and started dropping fire retardant to protect "high-value homes and cottages" and a rail line near the lake, as well as a power line that provides electricity to Kenora, according to an update from Ontario fire officials.The Manitoba government took to social media to thank Minnesota for the support.mo
From the foundations of family, communities flourish.

Direct links exist between families in poverty and in crisis to societal issues like lack of education, lack of work knowledge and criminal behavior. When cracks take hold and splinter their way through family foundations, the consequences can penetrate society in ways that further fragment the family institution and risk crumbling the foundation all together.

Shayla Linn, however, possesses the inspiration, compassion and foresight to realize that, in those moments before the foundations crumble, the best and lasting solutions come from mending the splinters.

And in her new position as the Community Impact Coordinator, Linn stands poised to serve that calling.

The Fremont Area United Way recently hired Linn to head up the position of Community Impact Coordinator. Specifically, her position involves the oversight of private, state and federal grants that support the work of the Fremont Family Coalition, a subsidiary organization composed of over 60 Fremont area partners who work collectively to continually improve the well-being of children in Dodge County. Linns role is to ensure the Coalition and United Way are meeting the grant expectations.

Much of that work involves a unique approach known as the impact model: focusing on the recognition and prevention of issues that may arise for at-risk families and children; and then addressing those issues before they spiral into socially detrimental areas like the criminal justice system.

Originally, Linns roots began in Fremont. She completed her undergraduate work at Nebraska Wesleyan-Lincoln earning degrees in social work and criminal justice. From there she received her masters in social work at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She served an internship with United Way and also worked with the Hope Center for Kids in Fremont, which eventually led her to the position of education coordinator at the center.

Linn said she is influenced by people in her life who cultivate her desire to help others. She sees her position with Fremont Area United Way and the Coalition as a huge opportunity for growth both, personally and professionally.

Being able to look back and see where the community was before the Coalition started and where we are right now, and how much were doing right now to make the impact greater. It is a goal of mine to continue that impact, Linn said.

Part of that impact will consist of using her social and criminal justice background to better understand the connections between at-risk families and adverse social impacts.

For many people the aspects of criminal justice and social work connote separate entities. Linn however, maintains a unique perspective about the relationship between those two societal components. From her position, Linn can focus on the important and balanced relationship between social work and the criminal justice system. She understands that, in reality, the two ideas do not work in mutually exclusive ways. Instead they share a synergetic relationship: an individuals social disposition or socio-economic status can influence his or her involvement with the criminal justice system in various ways. For Linn, its about addressing the issues of one aspect to generate improvement and opportunity in the other.

Linn expresses her conviction better:

When most people think of criminal justice they think of police officers and finding the bad people, she explained; however, with social work added to the equation I find the good in people and how we can help them get out of the criminal justice system, and find those resources to help them restore what they need.

Working with United Way and the Fremont Family Coalition allows Linn to focus on solutions that empower and improve a persons social network and outlook. Those improvements can then foster growth that flourishes through a cascade of positive impacts in other areas of life such as stronger family bonds, improved education and employment opportunities.

We focus a lot on helping families out of poverty, Linn pointed out. Poverty is a huge issue that can lead people into the criminal justice system  So the work Im doing here is correcting those (issues).

Shawn Shanahan, executive director of the Fremont Area United way emphasized Linns educational background and how it relates to the missions of the United Way and the Coalition.

When theres not services and partners working together to achieve family success, Shaylas roles and responsibilities, and her background in criminal justice and social work, help align that connection between what we are currently doing and preventing families from entering higher levels of care such as the child protective services, probation, criminal justice system and homelessness.

Shanahan expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to work with such a well-rounded new employee. She believes that energy and ideas are what stimulate the positive changes and advances that a new hire can generate. She said Linn has great ideas and a vision that looks outside the box.

During the hiring process, Shanahan recognized that Linn possessed all the strengths that would lead to success in the position: transparency, communication, continued momentum and ability to develop innovative processes.

Those (strengths) made her the candidate of choice, Shanahan said.

As for Linn, with just two weeks on the job, she has learned a lot and admits shes still learning.

When asked how she felt about her first few days in the new position, Linn paused.

Then, like all dedicated, compassionate and creative people, when words fail to express the underlying sense of lofty emotion, she did the next best thing and consulted a dictionary 

Thrilling and though provoking, she said with a smile.
Bob the Builder would be proud.

On May 21, area residents are invited to take part in a building project at the Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road.

The church is teaming up with Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity for a home-build in the churchs parking lot.

Starting at 8 a.m., participants will build the house frame for the entire main story of a Habitat home.

Well have some breakfast food and a time together and we will split up into work teams that will go out into the parking lot, said the Rev. Aaron Horton, lead pastor.

Participants need not have special skills.

You can hammer a nail or be part of a group that carries a piece over. You dont have to be skilled to be a part of it. Everybody is invited. Theres a place for everybody, Horton said.

That includes families with kids.

Whats unique about this building event is that because its on our parking lot, anyone of any age can come and help, Horton said. And well stand up the frame and panels on Saturday, at the end, so everyone can see how it comes together  what it would look like if it was on the foundation, Horton said.

Horton noted that would-be builders dont need special tools.

We work with a group called Crossroads Mission and they bring tools, but you can bring your own tools as well, Horton said.

Horton hopes for between 100 and 150 volunteers and anticipates that the job will be done by noon.

This isnt the pastors first build.

We did this in Dayton, Ohio (Beaver Creek Church of the Nazarene), where I came from and we worked with the Habitat there as well, Horton said.

The project went well.

It was incredible, Horton said. It was really great to see the community come out and to see people making memories with their families and friends.

People at the local Habitat agency are pleased about the project.

We are very excited, said Joy McKay, executive director. I think its going to be awesome.

Participants can sign up online at: http://goo.gl/forms/3PJW1qZBor or call the Nazarene church office at 402-727-6445 or email the church at churchoffice@fremontnazarene.org.

Those wishing to sign up with Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity may call 402-721-8771 or email ashley@fremonthabitat.org.

If you dont sign up, but you still want to come  come on out anyway, Horton said. If you want to put together a build team and bring your own team  your church or your office or a group of friends  that would be great, too.

On Sunday, weather permitting, after the churchs 10 a.m. gathering (second worship service), the panels will be loaded onto a truck and taken to the site where the home will be built at 2487 N. Dover Lane in Fremont.

McKay said the site is behind Getzschman plaza. To reach the site, first go behind Bomgaars at 1830 E. 23rd St.

Weve built several houses in that area, McKay said. This lot is on the west side of the neighborhood.

Horton encourages area residents to be part of something that can make a difference in the life of a family in Fremont.

We feel like its a great opportunity to make an impact on our community, Horton said. We really feel thats part of what were here to do. We believe thats what Jesus calls us to do.
During Wednesdays regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors, the board:

Approved a resolution that will extend liquor sales hours in the countys jurisdiction on Sundays from 6:00 A.M.

Approved a resolution to direct the County Treasurer to place Tax Sale Certificates on all delinquent taxes and special assessments and to maintain such certificates in her custody and to purchase all subsequent taxes the same may become delinquent.

Approved the reappointment of Kenneth Molacek for another 3-year term to the Board of Adjustment.

Approved the reappointments of Marlin Brabec, Marvin Hansen, and Jeff Wacker for another 3-year terms to the Dodge County Planning Commission.

Received the report of the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District of loans and grants issued in Dodge County and forwarded their request for Dodge Countys membership for 2016-17 in the amount of $880 to the Finance Committee for consideration.

Scheduled a public hearing 9:30 a.m. June 8 to hear testimony on the removal of the properties from the Industrial Tract.

Approved the Resolution placing No Parking Signs in the Sunset Subdivision for the safety of the public.

The next regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 9:00 A.M., Third Floor, Courthouse, Fremont, Nebraska.
The nations smallest nuclear power plant is likely to close by the end of this year.

Continued operation of Fort Calhoun Station is not in the long-term financial interests of Omaha Public Power District or its customer-owners, President and CEO Tim Burke told the OPPD board Thursday.

Senior OPPD management is recommending engineers split their last atom by the end of this year and begin the decommissioning process.

Overall this was a financial decision. The bottom line was that it is just not economically viable to continue operations there, OPPD spokesman Mike Jones said in an interview following the meeting.

Noting a trend in the industry, Burke said slow revenue growth, market conditions and increasing regulatory and operational costs have led to the recent early retirement of several other U.S. nuclear generating stations.

Since 2013, seven other nuclear units have been slated for decommissioning. The operators of five of them cited market pressures, said Matt Crozat, senior director for business policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute, a Washington-based lobbying and policy group.

Low natural gas prices have put steady downward pressure on the wholesale cost of electricity in recent years. In competitive regional markets, as the price of natural gas-produced electricity has fallen so too have the revenues of other wholesale electric suppliers, including nuclear power plants.

While nuclear plants have lower fuel costs than those that use coal or natural gas, they also have high expensive fixed operation and maintenance costs, as well as numerous other expenses.

Larger plants have the benefit of economies of scale to offset those costs by spreading them across more megawatts produced.

At 478.1 megawatts, Fort Calhoun is the smallest unit in North America, based on accredited capability. The station has about 650 employees.

In contrast, Nebraska Public Power Districts Cooper Nuclear Station has 675 employees and nearly double the generating capacity at 804 megawatts.

In the wake of OPPDs announcement, NPPD released a statement saying Cooper remains an important part of its long-term strategy for a diverse energy mix, reliable baseload generation, fuel security and carbon reduction.

Cooper is Nebraskas largest single source of non-carbon generating electricity and among the top performing plants in the power industry for all types of generation, NPPD spokesman Mark Becker said.

Nuclear proponents have been sounding the alarm over the rash of generation unit closures, warning that nuclear power is essential to meeting President Barack Obamas climate change goals. Released last year, the federal Clean Power Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent nationwide based on 2005 levels.

What youre seeing here is non (carbon) emitting baseload power being replaced by fossil fuel-generated electricity that has carbon emissions that goes along with it, Crozat said. As the country looks at its longer-term carbon reduction goals, and as states look toward things like compliance with the Clean Power Plan, losing nuclear is going to make those all the more difficult to achieve.

OPPD spokesman Jones said the district officials did take carbon reduction issues into consideration before recommending that Fort Calhoun close and will look at other options, whether its purchasing additional generation from the market or adding new renewable energy production.

Fort Calhoun Station sits on the Missouri River about 19 miles north of Omaha. It began commercial production of electricity in September 1973.

OPPD spent about $385 million to refurbish the plant in 2006 and more than $100 million to repair the station after flooding and a small fire caused damage in 2011.

The recommendation to shutter the nuclear station came after a review of OPPDs resource planning efforts. The board will review the recommendation and is expected to vote on it June 16. If the recommendation is approved, OPPD proposes no general rate increases through 2021 and will be on a path to have rates 20 percent below the regional average.

The economic analysis clearly shows that continued operation of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station is not financially sustainable, Burke told the board. The analysis considered market conditions, economies of scale and the proposed Clean Power Plan.

Burke said the recommendation is not reflective of employee performance or Omaha-based Exelon, which OPPD hired to run Fort Calhoun in 2012.

If the plant closes, senior management acknowledged in the news release that it will have far-reaching effects for employees, their families, long-term contractors and the communities surrounding the plant.

OPPD would make every effort to absorb as many employees as possible into other areas of the district, based on qualifications and open positions, Burke said. Retraining would be made available in cases where there would be strong potential for success.

The number of employees would be gradually scaled back.

Even with the plant not operating were going to need staff because we will still be responsible for the property and site and keeping things safe for the public, Jones said.

OPPD is looking at two different options for decommissioning the station. One would take about 10 years and the other 60 years. The board will be presented with a recommendation next month.
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A roundup of state government and Capitol news items of interest for Wednesday, May 11, 2016:

CAT GRANT AWARDS: The Vision Iowa Board awarded more than $1.82 million in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to a park project in Sioux City, an environmental learning center in Allamakee County, a skate park in Winterset and a trail and library project in Bloomfield. The grants were approved by the Vision Iowa Board at Wednesdays meeting in Winterset.

Board members awarded $300,000 toward a $3.8 million Cone Park Development project in Sioux City that features an open green space, a tubing hill, ice-skating rink/splash pad and four seasons day lodge.

Another $486,386 was awarded to the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing as part of a $2.9 million project that includes the construction of a 10,000-square-foot, three-level center along the Mississippi River to provide youth, residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about the natural sciences, conservation and history of the area.

The board also awarded $36,160 for Winterset to develop a skate park and just under $1 million toward a $2.75 million Bloomfield/Davis County Library and Trail Enhancement project that includes renovating a historical library, building a 3,200-square-foot addition and constructing a trail to connect the library, downtown square, community center and campus of the Davis County Community School District.

Since the Vision Iowa programs inception, 422 CAT awards have been granted by the board, totaling $157.5 million.

GAS PRICES STEADY: Iowans were paying about 2 cents per gallon less at the pumps with Tuesdays price for regular unleaded gasoline averaging $2.13 across Iowa, according to AAA. That price was about 7 cents lower than the national average of $2.20 a gallon for regular unleaded gas and about 46 cents lower than one year ago.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were a penny higher with a statewide average of $2.18 a gallon. That compared to the national average of $2.22 and a price of $2.73 per gallon a year ago in Iowa. Meanwhile, natural gas prices were 12 cents higher this week at $2.04/MMbtu.

COST-SHARE MONEY AVAILABLE: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said Wednesday the 2016 sign-up period is open for cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received $9.6 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in fiscal 2016. Water-quality funds are available for cover crops, no-till or strip till practices, or for using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer. The cost share rate for farmers planting cover crops is $25 per acre ($15 per acre for past cover crop users), and for farmers trying no-till or strip till is $10 per acre. Farmers using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer can receive $3 per acre. Farmers who have already used cover crops on their farm are eligible for a reduced rate of $15 per acre.

FEEDLOT LEAK: State Department of Natural Resources officials said the owner of a cattle feedlot located about six miles southeast of Carroll reported a leak from a runoff holding basin to DNR officials on Wednesday.

Lee Schon found the leak at the base of the basins bank while doing morning chores, department officials said. He tried to repair it, but the seepage will be ongoing until soils dry out enough to fix the basin, they noted.

The feedlot runoff was flowing about 400 feet across a field to an unnamed tributary of the Middle Raccoon River. A DNR field specialist took samples of the discharge and was working with Schon to minimize effects downstream, according to the agency.

Field test results and high stream flows indicated there likely would be little impact to aquatic organisms. Schon planned to land apply runoff remaining in the basin to a nearby pasture when soil conditions permit, said DNR officials, who planned to monitor the situation and work with the producer to ensure permanent repairs are completed.

-- Globe Gazette Des Moines Bureau
MASON CITY | One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Thrush Avenue near 245th St. south of Portland on Thursday afternoon.

Kassidy Lee Ostendorf, 21, of Bristow, lost control when her pickup truck left the road and rolled into the ditch, according to Lt. Dan Schaffer of the Iowa State Patrol. No one else was in the vehicle.
MASON CITY | Councilman Bill Schickel said Thursday he is undecided on whether he would reconsider his "no" vote on the Prestage pork processing plant  but he warned of the consequences if Worth County or another neighboring county lands it.

Schickel's view is important because the development agreement with Prestage lost May 3 by a 3-3 council vote. The only way the matter can be brought back to the council is if one of the council members who voted no agrees to bring it back for consideration.

Councilman John Lee, who also voted no, said he remains against the project. Alex Kuhn, who cast the other no vote, could not be reached for comment via email Wednesday or Thursday.

Real estate broker Rick Mathes, who spoke at two council meetings in favor of the project, is circulating petitions seeking citizen support for council reconsideration.

Schickel said, "I have consistently said that for this project to be successful, it must have support within the community. So the new petition drive and expressions of support are noteworthy."

He said he believes some of the lack of support for the project and concern of citizens was the result of mistakes the city made in the process of presenting it.

Schickel said in addition to being aware of the petition drive, he has received many requests from residents asking that the project be put back on a future council agenda.

"I have also heard from economic development officials in Worth and other immediate surrounding counties who are interested in the project," said Schickel.

"This represents a potential worst-case scenario for Mason City. It theoretically could be located in our backyard as close as 10 minutes away, in which case we absorb the cost without receiving any of the benefit."

He said, "The city, schools and college would get none of the revenue from a $240 million capital improvement project or the $100 million boost in tax base, give up CAFO buffer zone protection and forego much of the spinoff job potential."

Schickel said Gov. Terry Branstad has not contacted him since the council vote. "This is one of many false assertions being put forth on social media. I answer to the people of Mason City  period," he said.

Lee said no one has asked him directly to reconsider his vote. "Citizens have asked me to explain my position, and asked when I changed my vote, but nothing about a direct reconsideration.

"I have no intention of bring this back to the City Council. I have not read or heard anything that has made me reconsider my position," he said.

Lee voted against it because he was concerned about what he described as a "funding gap" that would occur with the influx of new students into the school system.

Mathes said before he started circulating his petition, he contacted Lee, Schickel and Kuhn and each told him they didn't intend to change their minds.

Mathes said he realizes a petition has no legal standing. But he said he thought if he got enough signatures, it might sway one or more of the council members who voted no to bring the issue back.

"The reaction (of the public) has been steady and positive," said Mathes. "I feel like there is overwhelming ground support for the council to reconsider."
MASON CITY  The Mason City School Board has reached an agreement with Superintendent Anita Micich to end her tenure.

Micichs last day with the district will be June 6. Graduation is June 5, with the last day of school June 10, according to school calendars.

She will remain in her shared position with Clear Lake until June 30, per her sharing agreement with the district.

The board approved her departure 6-0 during a roughly three-minute meeting Wednesday night, with board member Doug Campbell abstaining. The board did not give a reason publicly for its action.

Micich, 68, was absent from the meeting. She later told the Globe Gazette she was attending Clear Lakes School Board meeting, which was scheduled at the same time.

At this point in time, they (board) approved it (agreement) and they signed it, she said. I probably cant comment.

Micich said she has talked with legal counsel and has not yet signed the agreement.

Since Micich was not at the meeting, board President Janna Arndt read a prepared statement from her.

While I was planning to stay another year, the board and I have a different vision regarding the approach to managing the district, Micich said in the statement. I believe this agreement allows both the board and me to move in a different direction.

The decision leaves some uncertainty on how the district will move forward.

Im just feeling very sad and concerned for our school district, Hoover Elementary Principal Barb Wells said after the meeting. This situation is going to result in major changes.

But Wells, who is in her ninth year at Mason City, says the district is strong and will work through the leadership changes.

We have to keep our students in mind and continue doing what we do every day that is best for our students, she said.

Under the agreement, the board says it will honor many of the terms of Micichs current contract, which was supposed to run through June 30, 2017.

In return, Dr. Micich has agreed to relieve the district of over $100,000 of salary and benefits she would have received in the coming school year, Arndt said as she read a prepared statement.

Further details on the terms of Micichs severance agreement are expected to be released late Thursday morning, according to Arndt.

Arndt told the Globe via phone after the meeting that the details of why Micich was forced from the district would not be publicly released. The fund from which the settlement will be paid is still being determined.

During the meeting, Arndt said the transition  a negotiation buyout prompted by the board  was expected and moving it up a year reflects the boards desire to move forward as briskly as possible.

The board appreciates Dr. Micichs eight years of service and needs to honor its commitments to her, but believes now is the time to restructure our leadership and approach to district management, she said.

Following the meeting, Arndt said the district will begin searching for superintendent candidates within the next few weeks.

As for an internal candidate, Arndt said everything is possible.

The decision comes as the board has held a number of separate, closed-session meetings in recent weeks dealing with both personnel evaluations and a possible lawsuit. Arndt had no comment on whether those meetings were connected to the boards decision Wednesday night.

Arndt declined to comment if the settlement was related to a personnel issue, budget issue or performance issue. Per Micichs contract, she is evaluated by the board on or before April 1 of each contract year, and at such other times as the board may determine.

In July 2015, the board awarded Micich a shortened contract  two years, non-rolling. Superintendents are generally given three-year, rolling contracts.

At the time, then-board President Mark Dodd said the agreement provided the incoming board with maximum flexibility.

In September 2015, four new members were elected to the board: Brent Seaton, Doug Campbell, Lorrie Lala and Jodi Draper. DeRoy, who was also elected, had been appointed to the board in May 2015 to fill a vacancy.

Arndt was first elected in 2013. Scott Warren has been on the board since 2011.

Since last week, all board members had been publicly silent to the Globe Gazette on the reasons for the meetings.
MASON CITY | Superintendent Anita Micich will collect salary and benefits worth at least $285,000, according to the terms of a new agreement she signed on Wednesday with the Mason City School Board.

As part of the terms of her departure, Micich is set to receive a payment of $93,910, or half of her salary for 2016-17 year, paid by July 15.

She will also receive 120 total days of vacation  paid for 60 days each at a per diem rate of $742.25 per day  or two payments of $44,535  one by July 15, and the second on Jan. 15, 2017.

The district will also pay a tax sheltered annuity contribution of $37,500 and an early retirement payment of $55,055 by July 15.

It will also pay Micich's health and dental insurance for the 2016-17 school year, and $8,725 additionally for her to purchase family insurance; it will pay about $1,302 additionally next year for Micich's life insurance.

Business Manager John Berg said on Thursday that the district funding source where the payments will come are still being determined pending legal advice.

Micich will receive her full personnel file and a letter of recommendation from the board. She will not be allowed to apply for any positions within the district, but would be allowed to accept work within the district if offered.

In return, Micich is giving up legal action "from any and all liability whatsoever including all claims, demands, or causes of action", unless the district fails to pay her under the severance agreement.

The board voted 6-0 on Wednesday to approve Micich's departure. Board Member Doug Campbell abstained.

Micich, 68, was absent from the meeting, attending another board meeting in Clear Lake.

The board did not give a reason publicly for its action. Her last day working in the district will be on June 5. She will be placed on administrative leave with pay between June 6 and 29, according to the agreement.

Meanwhile, the district's attention will remain on completing the school year, said Mike Penca, executive director for learning supports and PK-4 programs.

"That's our focus is on our students, and finishing the school year strong," he said.

Following Wednesday's meeting, Board President Janna Arndt said the district will begin searching for superintendent candidates within the next few weeks.

As for an internal candidate, she said everything is possible.

Via phone on Thursday, Arndt said the board will discuss the superintendent selection process during its May 16 meeting.

When asked how the board could ensure that Mason City remains appealing to potential candidates after Micich's departure, Arndt declined to comment.

The decision on Micich's exit came as the board has held a number of separate, closed-session meetings in recent weeks dealing with both personnel evaluations and a possible lawsuit. Arndt had no comment on whether those meetings were connected to the boards decision Wednesday night.

Arndt on Wednesday declined to comment if the settlement was related to a personnel issue, budget issue or performance issue. Per Micichs contract, she is evaluated by the board on or before April 1 of each contract year, and at such other times as the board may determine.

In July 2015, the board awarded Micich a shortened contract  two years, non-rolling. Superintendents are generally given three-year, rolling contracts.

At the time, then-board President Mark Dodd said the agreement provided the incoming board with maximum flexibility.

In September 2015, four new members were elected to the board: Brent Seaton, Doug Campbell, Lorrie Lala and Jodi Draper. Paul DeRoy, who was also elected, had been appointed to the board in May 2015 to fill a vacancy.

Arndt was first elected to the board in 2013. She was elected as its president in September 2015. Scott Warren has been on the board since 2011.

Since last week, all board members had been publicly silent to the Globe Gazette on the reasons for the meetings.
MASON CITY  Officials in several local communities are interested in exploring the possibility of landing Prestage Farms $250-million hog plant that was rejected by Mason City.

Some, including in Worth County, have reached out to the company directly in recent days. Others say they intend to see if the company is a fit for their community.

Prestages proposed 650,000-square-foot plant, originally planned for Mason City's south side, appears to be up for grabs after the Mason City Council deadlocked on a 3-3 vote Wednesday and failed to pass a development agreement with the North Carolina company.

Worth County Supervisor Merlin Bartz said he had a brief phone conversation with Jere Null, COO of Prestage Foods of Iowa, about the project and its plans after the Mason City vote.

He made the call at the request of constituents in Manly.

Thats basically what it was, Bartz said. Its not anything more than doing due diligence as a county supervisor.

Prestage Farms spokeswoman Summer Lanier confirmed the company had received calls from interested communities. She would not name the communities, citing company policy.

Lanier said Prestage is still gathering information and is unlikely to make any decisions in the immediate future as some of its executives are out of the country on a business trip.

I think were very encouraged by the interest, Lanier said. I think it wouldve been very easy for us to retreat and kind of question whether we were doing the right thing, but I think having that much interest has been very encouraging.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority is working to facility communication, if needed, between communities interested in the project and the company, said Tina Hoffman, the agencys spokeswoman.

We are hopeful that we can find a good fit for Prestage in Iowa and there definitely are communities that are interested and have reached out to us and have reached out directly to the company as well, I understand, Hoffman said.

In Franklin County, the Board of Supervisors would like to meet with company officials.

The supervisors have asked to speak with the company for the purpose of getting to know more about what they need and to talk about what we could bring to the table, if that is a match for their needs, said Karen Mitchell, executive director for Franklin County Economic Development.

Hancock County hasnt initiated contact yet, but that countys economic development director, Jill Kramer, said she plans to see if her communities have infrastructure capable of handling the plant.

Officials in a community said to be one of the previous finalists for the project, Webster City, contacted Prestage to see if it was still interested in locating in that central Iowa city.

At this stage they havent said theyre looking at coming, we just asked if we could be in the running again, said Webster City Mayor John Hawkins. We havent heard back one way or the other.

Charles City Area Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Tim Fox had no comment when asked if his communities were interested in the Prestage project.

Fox said he hadnt contacted Prestage and the company hadnt contacted his agency.
About 3.3 million students are expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year. One of President Barack Obamas daughters is among them. On Sunday, the White House announced Malia will not go directly to college. She is taking a so-called gap year after graduation and will attend Harvard University in the fall of 2017.

The two-sentence statement from the Office of the First Lady provides no information about why Malia is delaying college or what she plans to do. However, waiting until her father is out of office means she will not be accompanied on campus by a Secret Service contingent, which typically includes a small team of heavily armed agents for family members of a sitting president.

Her decision has sparked fresh discussion about the idea of young people taking a hiatus from formal education after high school. There is no shortage of speculation and opinion on the issue. Of course whether its a good idea depends on the individual young person. And it is difficult to deny many of them  for whatever reason  are not ready for college. The statistics on persistence cannot be ignored.

About 30 percent of students who started college in the fall of 2013 did not return to any U.S. college in the fall of 2014, according to the most recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Think about that. Nearly one in three students. They didnt transfer to a different school. They just didnt go back.

In Iowa, only about 40 percent of students who enter a four-year public college graduate in four years. Fewer than 70 percent graduate in six years.

The millions of Americans who start college but dont finish may be worse off than those who never attended. Many have student loans to repay with no college degree to secure a higher paying job. They may have fallen behind their peers in obtaining work experience. Potential employers may perceive them as unable to finish what they start. Worst of all, they may perceive themselves as failures.

Yet our society encourages everyone leaving high school to immediately embark on a new educational endeavor because that is key to earning a decent living. Most parents cant stomach the idea of an able-bodied, adult child lounging on the couch playing video games for months. If graduates arent academically or emotionally prepared, some parents still push them and hope for the best.

But not immediately attending college may be exactly what some young people need. Working 40 hours a week in a minimum-wage job can do wonders to help someone understand the value of higher education. It buys extra time for their brain to develop. It may improve their chances of staying in school and earning a degree. And isnt that the point?

-- By the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, like the Globe Gazette a Lee Enterprises newspaper.
Having put in our time and done our jobs leading up to the caucuses, Iowans can only sit back and marvel at all the goings-on in the presidential race.

What were seeing is pretty incredible as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton apparently have wrapped up the Republican and Democratic nominations (if we have to tell you which candidate is in which party, you can stop reading here).

Trump is all alone in his run to the nomination in Cleveland. He has crowded out an enormous field and has won the support necessary to lead the Republican Party. But all is not well with the Republicans. Some are flat-out unhappy, even disgusted, with Trump and say they wont support him. That group includes, as of now, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who stunned the political world by saying he cant buy into Trumps agenda  as of now. No problem, says Trump, because he cant support all of the things on Ryans agenda.

The two meet Thursday and we expect they  not wanting Hillary Clinton to be president  will form some kind of bond, uneasy as it may be, to attempt to move their party forward. To do otherwise would be disastrous. All those headlines proclaiming the end of the Republican Party because of Trumps success might actually come true.

Clinton, meanwhile, continues to focus on her campaign against Trump, despite the fact that independent Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to grab headlines, not to mention draw huge crowds. He added another notch on his campaign belt Tuesday night by winning the West Virginia primary election. However, little damage was done to the Clinton campaign as she continues to pile up delegates en route to the Philadelphia convention.

Still, Sanders vows to hang in there to the end, promoting his far-left agenda, even though an independent, nonpartisan study said that agenda would add trillions to the U.S. budget, lending credence to those who say its time for him to step aside and throw his support to Clinton in a show of party unity.

So here we go, with Trump and Clinton as their parties standard bearers  no matter the fact that at no time in our history have two candidates been so unpopular. Its been an expensive, dirty campaign so far. Disappointing, but not really surprising given that politics these days seems more about unproven sound bites than solid vision and plans for the future.

Iowans were above all that when they gathered in neighborhood caucuses Feb. 1. We actually discussed and put forward ideas on what we want our leaders to do, and picked who we thought would be best qualified to make those ideas become reality. We like to think our state will ignore sound bites and vote based on sound information, and will ask the candidates for every office to do so.

But theres no denying this has been a campaign that no one  well, except Trump, that is  could imagine. And its only mid-May. We got a feeling we aint seen nothing yet.
LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Los Angeles -- Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) has selected this year's "Preschool Teacher of the Year" recipients as well as the recipient of the Elizabeth Hamilton Lowe & Bob Weekley Child Advocacy Award.



This year marks the 9th Annual LAUP Preschool Teacher of the Year Awards. The countywide preschool teacher recognition acknowledges the quality, creativity and hard work of those who teach children during a time when, according to researchers, rapid brain development can be leveraged toward long-term academic achievement.



Winners hail from each of Los Angeles County's five supervisorial districts and have gone "above and beyond" to provide excellent learning environments and classroom experiences for preschool children. For the selection process, LAUP uses an external committee comprised of county officials and early education experts.



"This year we received the most/greatest number of nominations, providing the most competitive field yet. The submissions were filled with stories of inspiring career history and heartwarming anecdotes, proving once again that LA County can boast of the best and the brightest in early childhood education," said LAUP's CEO, Dr. Celia C. Ayala.



This year's Preschool Teachers of the Year are:



 District 1: Karina Cisneros of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy ECE Center in Pico Union: Predominantly serving low income families, Cisneros goes above and beyond to provide support to the families, such as reading mail for them, and enrolling them in healthcare.

 District 2: Maria G. Cervantes of Moffett State Preschool in Lennox: 86% of her student population are English language learners; she believes family support as a life-force, and offers once a week parenting classes outside of her normal teaching schedule.

 District 3: Sandy Lenh of Canoga Park Early Education Center: Leads a "Preschool Collaborative Class", where children with special needs are integrated in the general classroom.

 District 4: Cynthia Gonzalez of Lydia Jackson Elementary, Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, in Whittier: The only Whittier-city school district auditory-oral preschool teacher, Gonzalez nurtures children that are deaf and hard of hearing.

 District 5: Lizbeth Ruiz of The Glendale Disney Children's Center: Resilient early educator, with a BA in Child and Adolescent Development, a Master's in Organizational Leadership, and currently working on a second Master's in Human Development. Ruiz is currently creating a non-profit organization that will build children's centers in Latin American countries.



"We celebrate and thank the vital role these professionals play in supporting our youngest learners, who are the future of our nation," said Dr. Ayala.



The recipients will be recognized at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration with a luncheon and awards ceremony hosted by LAUP and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in late May.



Also honored during this event will be Francie Alexander, who will receive the Elizabeth Hamilton Lowe & Bob Weekley Child Advocacy Award. Alexander is the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for the Intervention Solutions Group at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). She has a previous tenure at Scholastic Inc., has authored almost 50 children's books, and serves on multiple boards within the education sphere. Alexander follows the previous recipient of this award, Dr. Robert Ross of the California Endowment.



"Francie Alexander has set an example as a lifetime champion for children and parents," said Ayala. "Her long legacy of service to education is inspiring to us all."



All of the award winners, including Alexander, will receive an official LA County Proclamation from the Supervisors to commemorate their work and accomplishments.



# # #

About LAUP

LAUP's mission is to support the development of the whole child, grow a qualified and diverse workforce, and strengthen family engagement. Our organization creates and sustains strategic partnerships and advocates for policies that promote access and program excellence. LAUP has prepared more than 115,000 children for kindergarten and beyond by funding, rating and raising the level of quality preschool programs throughout Los Angeles County. As a nonprofit, we depend on the generosity of our donors. Investing in quality early education not only makes a difference in a child's life, it sets the foundation for a stranger economic future that benefits everyone. Please visit laup.net and donate today. Because every child deserves a good start.

A photo accompanying this release is available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40227
NEW ORLEANS, May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2016 Louisiana Energy Conference will be held in New Orleans at the Westin Canal Place Hotel at 100 Rue Iberville on Wednesday through Friday, June 1 - 3, 2016.



The Conference will feature a series of 23 panels during the first two-days that will discuss key domestic and international industry developments and issues. This year the Conference will include three field trips on June 3 to both offshore Gulf of Mexico and onshore south Louisiana facilities. Executives from nearly 70 leading public and private exploration and production and oil field services companies as well as representatives from energy-related private equity firms, industry trade groups, regulatory agencies, investment banks, institutional research groups, and law firms will participate in the panel discussions.

Event host Al Petrie, Senior Partner of Al Petrie Advisors, commented, We are excited to offer our largest-ever slate of 23 panels this year. While many public companies have curtailed activity, private companies and private equity firms believe the current energy downturn provides exciting growth and investment opportunities. We look forward to hearing all their perspectives. We have added a number of great new panels this year that will cover different topics than in prior years including discussions on energy activities in Mexico, South America and Cuba as well as three private equity panels, a restructuring panel and an activist investing panel. It will be an interesting and information-packed Conference this year.

A preliminary agenda and a listing of the currently confirmed participating companies are now available on the Conference web site, www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com, under the Agenda tab. The site also includes details on the three field trips scheduled for June 3.

Attendance at the Conference is directed to investment professionals including buy side and sell side analysts and portfolio managers, as well as private equity and wealth management executives and trust officers. There is no cost for investment professionals attending the Conference. The cost for all other attendees is $295 for the three-day event.

The Conference web site www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com provides online registration and full details on the event which is being hosted by Al Petrie Advisors. For additional information including sponsorship opportunities, please call (504) 799-1953 or email info@LouisianaEnergyConference.com.
TORONTO, May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX:MND) is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held today in Toronto, Ontario. All of the resolutions presented at the meeting were approved by the shareholders, with the votes cast by proxy representing 68.63% of the total shares outstanding as of the proxy cut-off date, May 10, 2016.



Election of Directors

The number of directors was fixed at five members and each of the five nominees listed in the Companys management information circular dated April 15, 2016 (the Circular) were re-elected to the Companys Board of Directors. Abraham Jonker remains the lead independent director and Bradford Mills continues as the Executive Chairman. The vote was conducted by a show of hands. Detailed results of the votes cast by proxy are set out below.

Nominee Votes Cast by Proxy For % For Votes Cast by Proxy Withheld % Withheld Abraham Jonker 266,375,274 99.72 760,298 0.28 Robert Doyle 261,417,372 97.86 5,718,200 2.14 Peter R. Jones 261,418,372 97.86 5,717,200 2.14 Bradford A. Mills 266,715,274 99.84 420,298 0.16 Mark Sander 266,720,964 99.84 414,608 0.16

Appointment of Auditors

Ernst & Young LLP was appointed as the auditor of the Company to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of the Shareholders, or until their successor is otherwise appointed and the directors were authorized to fix the auditors remuneration.

About Mandalay Resources Corporation

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia, Chile and Sweden, and a development project in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in-production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas, and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value.




abhijeetjha wrote:



Chiranjeev I am little confused post your explanation...

abhijeetjha wrote:

Though i know that the answer is very much B , the only reason i discarded D is because of the quantifying word "MANY"...Dont we need to consider the feasibility of the application of a reasoning to point whether its flawed or not ... Even in option B we are very much considering the success of the plan to determine whether the mayor's reasoning will result in a successful application or not...to find a flaw in this reasoning the only way it can be done is by evaluating its practical application..

abhijeetjha wrote:

In option D as it says "Many commuters opposing the mayor's plan have indicated that they would rather endure traffic congestion than pay a five dollar per day fee"...So even if those opposing actually dont take bus and endure traffic congestion , still we will be left with MANY or SOME commuters who can fall prey to Mayor's reasoning ..So obviously it is not pointing out the flaw in Mayor's reasoning .....

abhijeetjha wrote:

So even if those opposing actually dont take bus and endure traffic congestion , still we will be left with MANY or SOME commuters who can fall prey to Mayor's reasoning

Actually, it is good to be confused. Confusion is the first step to learningActually, your reasoning for discarding option D is not sound. Let me address that below.Option D says many people opposing the plan prefer traffic congestion over five dollar fee. Right?Now, suppose if five dollar fee is initiated, would these people drive cars or use buses?The answer is: We don't know.We only know that these people prefer current situation of high traffic than a five dollar fee proposed by the Mayor. But what would happen if they are asked to pay five dollar fee? Do we know? No.How can we say that these people will not take the bus? Remember option D is talking about (Traffic congestion vs five dollar fee) and NOT (comfort of car vs five dollar fee).On the contrary, since these people are so much unwilling to pay five dollar fee, then in case Mayor's plan is instituted, they will probably be the first one to drop their cars and switch to buses. In this case, option D rather seems to support the Mayor's plan since it talks about a category of people who'll likely behave per Mayor's plan.However, I would not go this far to suggest that option D supports Mayor's plan.The best way to look at option D is in relation to the argument given.What is the mayor's plan?Five dollar fee for pvt vehicles (X) ---> fee will exceed the cost of round trip bus fare ----> most people will switch to bus ---> Traffic congestion will ease (Y)What is option D?Many people prefer (Not of Y) over X i.e. traffic congestion over five dollar fee. In other words, these people prefer current situation over Mayor's plan. Right? In the current situation, we have traffic congestion and no fee.Now, my point was that if many or all people don't want your plan, it does not indicate a flaw in your reasoning. Here, it is important to understand what we mean by reasoning. Reasoning is simple: How premises lead to the conclusion?So, if Mayor's plan is that five dollar fee will lead to reduction in traffic congestion, then a flaw needs to indicate that five dollar fee will not lead to reduction in traffic congestion. This is what option B does.Option B breaks this link in Mayor's reasoning: fee will exceed the cost of round trip bus fare ----> most people will switch to busOption B says that the cost of taking a private vehicle is already greater than the cost of round trip fare. It is already higher and people have not switched to buses. Right? So, Mayor's reasoning is incorrect.On the other hand, option D just talks about preferences of people.For example: if Indian PM Manmohan Singh says that making him the finance minister will lead to higher economic growth in the country.Then, if everyone says that they do not want to make him finance minister and are happy with current economic growth, this fact is not a flaw in his reasoning.A flaw should indicate that even after making him the finance minister, the economic growth will not be higher.Does it help?Thanks,Chiranjeev_________________
Staffers at a state-run home for severely disabled adults referred to it as the "Bronx Zoo" while smashing residents' heads into walls, denying them food, and botching their medical care, three families alleged in a lawsuit filed last weekand now the Bronx District Attorney may investigate some of those claims of abuse. Lawyers for the families wrote to DA Darcel Clark earlier this week imploring her office to open a criminal investigation of staff at the Union Avenue IRA and noting that "too often in New York State, district attorneys in other counties have failed to investigate disability abuse, or have deferred to the [Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs], which itself has largely failed to pursue criminal action."

Six instances of abuse and neglect of Union Avenue IRA residents have already been substantiated by the Justice Center, attorneys said in their letters to the DA, which means that criminal charges of assault should be brought against at least three staffers: Lashonda Conner, Tiffany Teams, and Sharnell Tucker.

In July 2014, Tucker allegedly punched a woman identified as D.K., who has lived at the Union Avenue IRA since 1992 and is nonverbal. Tucker also pushed her, the lawsuit alleges, causing her to hit her head on a bathroom wall. It was a full week before D.K. received medical attention, according to the suit. Just a couple weeks later, Tucker allegedly pushed another woman identified as Z.O., who is has an intellectual functioning disability, impulse control disorder, and autism, and is also nonverbal. Z.O. received a black eye and had to be hospitalized, her attorneys allege.

D.K. was also subject to abuse by Teams, who allegedly pulled her hair and spit in her face at one point in 2014. And on September 1st, 2014, Conner allegedly kicked Z.O.'s legs repeatedly throughout the day, "to the point where they swelled up like balloons."

Those are just a few of the myriad abuse allegations made in the 46-page lawsuit, and they're not even all of the claims that have been substantiated: the attorneys' letter to the DA describes several other substantiated incidents in which the staff member involved was unidentified.

"Even by the standards of New York's notorious system of care for disabled people, this case stands out as one of the most repugnant," said David Lebowitz, one of the attorneys for the residents' families, when the suit was first filed. He added that "this is not a case of one or two bad apples, but an entrenched culture of cruelty tolerated by supervisors and State officials." Ilaan Maazel, the lead attorney on the case, called the repeated abuses "revolting, appalling, inhuman."

In August of 2014, a staff member at the Union Avenue IRA blew the whistle, writing a letter to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities detailing the rampant abuse at the facility. But lawyers for the victims say that OPWDD didn't act until the whistleblower sent similar letters to the abuse victims' guardians, who immediately demanded an investigation. At that point, OPWDD put the staff members named in the letter on paid leaveand the staffers, in turn, allegedly hosted a "Happy Hour for the Accused," posting photos to social media of themselves enjoying their paid leave. It's not clear whether they still work for the state or with the disabled.

While the civil rights case makes it way through the court system, the families of the abused are hoping that they can achieve some modicum of justice through a criminal investigation. Maazel and Lebowitz asked the DA to open the investigation immediately, "given the seriousness and scope of these allegations, the potential ongoing danger to our clients and other residents at the facility and other State facilities in the Bronx, the likelihood that many (if not all) of the defendants still work for the State and even with disabled residents, and the potentially imminent expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations."

A spokesperson for the Bronx DA's office couldn't yet confirm whether Clark's office will be investigating the case, but said that "as it stands right now we are still in the process of studying the allegations and we take them very seriously."
The Brooklyn DAs office has dropped the charges against a postal worker who was harassed and arrested by four NYPD officers in Crown Heights two months ago.

Glen Grays was delivering packages on President Street when the driver of an unmarked NYPD vehicle almost struck him. Grays yelled at the car, which emptied to reveal three plainclothes NYPD officers and their lieutenant, who demanded to see Grays ID and then arrested him.





After the officers had loaded Grays into their car to be taken into the precinct, the driver rear-ended another car, and Grays had to be taken to the hospital for his injuries. He was eventually charged with resisting arrest.

Video of Grays arrest and the impunity with which the officers acted caused Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to charge that the NYPD was sweeping the incident under the rug.

Eventually NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said he was not happy with the arrest, and the ranking officer, Lieutenant Luis Machado, was stripped of his badge and gun. The other officers, Lazo Lluka, Miguel Rodriguez, and David Savella, were also placed on modified assignment, according to the Daily News.

In the interest of justice I asked the Court to dismiss the disorderly conduct charge against Glen Grays, Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson said in a statement today. Grays had no criminal record prior to this arrest.

A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed that Lieutenant Machado had been placed on modified duty and is "facing departmental charges." The other three officers were "disciplined internally and transferred from the 71 Precinct," the spokesperson said.

"The only thing I think saved me is that it was on videotape, Grays told CBS after his arrest. Its sad. I thought that when I put on the uniform that Id be treated a little different. But theres no difference. And Im just another brother with a uniform.
It's been over a decade since former mayor Michael Bloomberg promised 28-acre Bushwick Inlet Park as part of a major Williamsburg waterfront rezoning initiative, grossly underestimating the cost of the relevant parcels of future parkland. Now, in an effort to make the city follow through, state senators have drafted a bill that would empower Empire State Development, Governor Cuomo's main economic development agency, to grab the remaining parkland through eminent domainthe right of a government to seize private property for public development.

"The city made the clear promise more than a decade ago that is hasn't kept," said Senator Daniel Squadron in a statement to the Daily News, which first reported the story. "Were asking the state to help ensure the city keeps the promise it made to the community for open space that the community desperately needs."

Under the proposed legislation, Empire State Development would be empowered (though not required) to seize the final parcel of land needed to complete Bushwick Inlet Parkthe site of the former CitiStorage warehouse, which was gutted in a massive fire in February 2015. Empire State would then transfer the parcel of land over to the city to be developed into parkland. To speed things along, the city would be slapped with a $1 million fine for every subsequent year sans-park (that money would be set aside in a special trust for city park development).

It's a possible solution that's long appealed to the advocacy group Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, as well as CitiStorage owner Norm Brodsky. For the latter, eminent domain could mean a market-value sale. He told the News this week that he was "thrilled" with the legislation.

Back in the mid-aughts, Bloomberg estimated that it would cost between $60 and $90 million to acquire all of the Bushwick Inlet acreage. As of last June, the city had already spent $225 million buying up just nine acres of the proposed 28. An additional $53 million was spent in March for another seven-acre parcelcurrently home to the Bayside Fuel Oil Depotalong the southern edge of Bushwick Inlet. Brodsky has reportedly asked for as much as $500 million for his charred site, but more recently made a $325 million valuation.



(Courtesy Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park).

Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park co-chair Steve Chesler told us on Thursday that he was "cautiously excited" about the new legislation, acknowledging that it will have to pass through the Senate and Assembly (and over Cuomo's desk) before Empire State Development can even consider taking action. "The city made the promise, so they should be the ones following through," he added. "But we appreciate that our state reps are taking it into their own hands."

Empire State Development did not immediately respond to a request for comment on their level of interest in acquiring CitiStorage, if the legislation were to pass.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor's office told us that the city would "review the legislation," stressing that an additional $22 million has already been set aside for the demolition and remediation of the Bayside site, and that remediation at nearby 50 Kent Street, the old Brooklyn Flea site, is already underway.
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The Hudson River needs a new rail tunnel. Hurricane Sandy flooded and seriously damaged the existing tracks, which means that the 400,000 commuters who rely on taking NJ Transit and Amtrak into the city every day have had to confront frequent delays while waiting for governors Cuomo and Christie (who rarely take public transportation themselves, and still manage to screw up when they do) to stop quibbling over who should pay for a new and improved tunnel. Last fall, the governors finally agreed to go splitsies with the federal government on the cost of a new tunnel, and not long after, the feds agreed to fund half of the $24 billion dollar Gateway Tunnel. But the project requires a lengthy review process, and the longer that takes, the more the project will cost, a new report says.

The Gateway project will construct a new, high-speed rail tunnel under the Hudson, and theoretically double the number of trains running under the river. Both Amtrak and the Port Authority recently agreed to put $35 million each toward the project, adding to Cuomo and Christie's commitments of $5 billion each and the federal government's pledge to cover the rest. It's taken a while just to get all parties to agree to this muchbut unless the environmental review and permitting process is expedited, those costs will surely skyrocket, according to new analysis from Common Good, a nonpartisan reform coalition.

A three-year review and permitting process would increase costs by over $3 billion, Common Good said this week, and if that was delayed by another two years, costs would rise to almost $10 billion. And that's not even taking into consideration the fact that there's a good chance the existing tunnel could become unusable and have to shut down before construction on the Gateway Tunnel is completeAmtrak has said that the tunnel could fail at any point in the next 19 years. Delays of any amount will continue to increase construction costs and contribute to lost business activity and lost property tax revenue on both sides of the Hudson, this report says.

The report notes that there's not currently a clear timetable for the review and permitting process, nor an agreement on the scope of the environmental review. A similar plan for a new Hudson River tunnel was cancelled in 2010 by a grossly cost-exaggerating Christie, but prior to its cancellation, that project underwent a six-year environmental review and permitting process.

Amtrak has estimated that this review will take three years, while other officials interviewed by Common Good have estimated it taking twice that long. If the review takes five years, the Gateway Tunnel wouldn't open until 2028 at the earliest. Earlier this week, Amtrak, NJ Transit, and Federal Transit Administration officials said that they're committed to a two-year schedule, but Philip Howard, the author of Common Good's report, said that a federal official should be tasked with overseeing the process and ensuring that it takes no more than a year.

There will be a public meeting later this May in New Jersey about the Gateway Tunnel projectthat is, if you can squeeze it in alongside all the other meetings we've been invited to lately about Sandy-necessitated construction. But if you are able to attend, it's on May 19th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 2500 Kennedy Boulevard in Union City.
Yet another Brooklyn man has been charged in an ISIS recruitment plot that was thwarted last February, federal prosecutors announced yesterday. Azizjon Rakhmatov, a 28-year-old Uzbek citizen, is charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

Rakhmatov now joins four othersAkhror Saidakhmetov, Abror Habibov, Dilkhayot Kasimov, and Akmal Zakirovwho were arrested last year and charged with conspiracy after the feds said that the latter three were funding Saidakhmetov's trip to Syria to join ISIS. Their cases are still pending. A fifth defendant, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, pleaded guilty last summer after he was accused of planning to also go to Syria to fight for the Islamic State.

Rakhmatov was arrested earlier this week after authorities discovered electronic correspondence between him and Habibov, in which they discussed their plot. He remains in custody, and faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.

The whole scheme came to the attention of the feds when Juraboev posted to a pro-ISIS Uzbek-language website, offering to martyr himself on U.S. soil in ISIS's name. He was subsequently arrested, along with Saidakhmetov and Habibov, last February, when Saidakhmetov was about to board a flight to Istanbul (and later connect to Syria) at JFK airport. Kasimov was charged last April, after he allegedly admitted to working with Habibov to fund Saidakhmetov's trip, and Zakirov was arrested on similar charges in June.

Rakhmatov allegedly worked with Habibov to cover Saidakhmetov's travel expenses, and conspired to purchase a firearm for him once he arrived in Syria. Prosecutors say that in the days before Saidakhmetov's flight, he transferred $2,400 into Zakirov's bank account, which is believed to have been used as a fund for Saidakhmetov's trip.

Immediately following the first three arrests in this case, it was revealed that an FBI informant was instrumental in building the case against them, apparently befriending them at a Brooklyn mosque and encouraging them to realize their fantasies of fighting for the Islamic State.

Following their arrests, Saidakhmetov's lawyer, Adam Perlmutter, told the New York Times that this case "highlights everything that is wrong in how the Justice Department approaches these cases...[Saidakhmetov] was worked over extensively by a confidential informant."

In a 2011 Mother Jones investigation into the use of paid confidential informants, a lawyer for a defendant in a similar case in Boston argued that in many cases "defendants would not have done anything if not kicked in the ass by government agents...They're creating crimes to solve crimes so they can claim a victory in the war on terror."

Since 2014, federal prosecutors have charged at least 85 people with crimes related to ISIS, Reuters reports. Relatedly, an ISIS-related hacking group recently released a "hit list" with the names of 3,000 New Yorkers, prompting the FBI to make in-person visits to those whose names are on the list and warn them to "be on the alert for any weird activity."
Yesterday, the Daily News revealed a shocking lawsuit that accuses Father Michael Reilly, the principal of Staten Island Catholic high school St. Joseph by the Sea, of creating a toxic atmosphere at the school with racist, ageist and sexist remarks.

The lawsuit alleged, "Women were 'b----es' or 'tw-ts,' gays were 'f-gs,' certain teachers were 'd---heads' to the coarse man of the cloth. Father Michael Reilly once even threatened to boot a black man 'back to the jungle,' and to kick a cancer patient 'to the f---ing curb.'" Now, a Saturday Night Live cast member says the claims are true.

Staten Island native Pete Davidson posted a photograph of a print story about Reilly on Instagram, writing, "I went to this high school and I'm glad something is finally being done about Father Reilly. He is an absolute monster and has ruined that high school. He should have been fired years ago. Fuck this dude. He's an epic piece of shit and an ultimate jerk off."

I went to this high school and I'm glad something is finally being done about Father Reilly. He is an absolute monster and has ruined that high school. He should have been fired years ago. Fuck this dude. He's an epic piece of shit and an ultimate jerk off A photo posted by petedavidson (@petedavidson) on May 11, 2016 at 11:04am PDT



A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York told the Daily News that the lawsuit is the result of an incident last year when one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs, teacher Lawrence Boliak, "allegedly pulled down the pants of a male former student on school grounds. Boliak said he tugged at the young mans shorts while trying to restrain the former student from fighting with Manos." Reilly is accused of calling Boliak a pedophile, a claim Archdiocese's spokesman said was untrue while also "strongly" denying the lawsuit's claims.

The Staten Island Advance has details about how Reilly allegedly slammed "an unnamed elderly teacher who had taken a few days off to undergo chemotherapy to fight cancer." He is accused of saying, "Doesn't he know his life is over? What's he going to do next? Come in on a gurney with an I.V.? I'll have to kick him to the f---ing curb."

The plaintiffs include two other teachers, and the suit accuses Reilly and a vice principal and a dean of being his "henchmen", "These crude and vulgar statements were intended to discriminate against the plaintiffs because of their devout Roman Catholic faith."
Police in eastern Tennessee arrested Sarma Melngailis, the owner of the ballyhooed raw vegan restaurant Pure Food and Wine, and her husband, Anthony Strangis, on grand larceny, fraud, wage theft, and tax fraud charges on Wednesday afternoon. Melngailis has been on the run from creditors and her former employees since last July, when workers say she failed to pay them for as long as two weeks and paychecks began to bounce. Her disappearance forced the Gramercy Park eatery to close down along with her mail-order snack business and juice bar One Lucky Duck.

Police reportedly caught up to Melngailis and Strangis in the town of Sevierville, Tenneesse when Sevierville police say the pair ordered delivery to their hotel room, specifically the decidedly not-raw, and possibly not-vegan meal of pizza from Domino's. Brooklyn prosecutors tipped Sevierville police off around 3 p.m. yesterday, and the couple is being held in local custody awaiting extradition, according to Sevierville's Detective Kevin Bush. Prosecutors unsealed a 24-count indictment against the couple today, charging them with stealing $844,000 from four investors, stealing $40,000 in wages, and failing to pay more than $400,000 in sales taxes.

The authorities claim that Melngailis and Strangis spent $2 million at casinos, and on watches and high-end travel, driving the businesses into the ground before going on the lam.

In a statement, Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson said:

These defendants are accused of repeatedly stealing from and lying to their loyal employees and to investors who poured money into their company. They allegedly gambled away the money or spent it lavishly while leaving everyone else in the lurch. They were finally caught and we intend to now hold them accountable for this outrageous thievery and fraud.

Brooklyn prosecutors were able to take the case because One Lucky Duck has an office address in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Melngailis opened Pure Food and Wine in 2004 and its high-end raw vegan offerings attracted a following, including among celebrities such as Alec Baldwin, who met his second wife Hilaria there. In 2013, prosecutors say, Melngailis brought on Strangis as a manager, but introduced him to workers under the name Shane Fox.

From January 2014 to January 2015, Melngailis allegedly transferred $1.6 million in business money to her own bank account, and Strangis allegedly blew $1 million of it at Foxwoods Resort Casino, another $200,000 at Mohegan Sun Resort Casino, $80,000 at high-end watch stores, and $70,000 at hotels in Europe in New York.

Strangis seems to have had past problems that resulted from his gambling. In 2014, Connecticut's The Day reported that he was arrested for violating probation at Foxwoods after winning two jackpots worth $164,000. He was reportedly on probation for a grand larceny conviction out of Florida. Then and now, the authorities listed his address as Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

The restaurant shuttered back in January 2015 after workers walked out, saying they had not been paid, some for as long as a month. According to the indictment, Melngailis had trouble making payroll five times in 2014. She reopened months later, telling a bartender she had $1 million in new investments, and hired a general manager to rehabilitate the finances.

The bit about the investors was basically true: according to the indictment, she drummed up $844,000 from high-rolling former patrons by falsely telling them that she had taken money out of the business in 2014 to help her mother. She also allegedly lied and told them a rich man named Michael Caledonia was poised to buy the business, and arranged for them to meet him. Caledonia turned out to be Strangis, prosecutors say.

Writing in blog posts last March to explain her absence and seek new investors, Melngailis said, "the restaurant, and I are hanging from a cliff" and ascribed the collapse to "a really truly awful 2014 on a personal level."

In the posts, she pledged to "make it up to" angry employees and [take] care of them "as long as I'm here and alive." She said she dreamed of one day transferring ownership over to the employees, retaining only creative control, but that her task at that moment was "to steer the Titanic away from the iceberg."

"My biggest fear in life is letting people down. Always has been," she wrote. "And in some insane way, I managed to create a situation where I did just that on a massive scale."

Prosecutors allege that by June 2015, when checks began bouncing or being withheld again, Melngailis had transferred another $400,000 out of the company, including $300,000 that went to Foxwoods for her husband's tab, $25,000 more charged at Connecticut casinos, and more than $100,000 in cash withdrawals. When she vanished, Melgnailis allegedly owed 84 workers a total of $40,000, and had failed to pay $410,000 in sales taxes.

After Melngailis went on the run, prosecutors say they tracked her to Las Vegas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Seierville is 10 minutes from Dollywood, a shrine to all things Dolly Parton, and an hour and a half from a Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina.

Ben Dictor, a labor lawyer at Eisner & Associates, helped Pure Food workers unionize and sue Melngailis when it became apparent she wouldn't pay them.

"My first reaction is that it looks like this is the beginning of Sarma being brought to justice, which is a good thing," Dictor said. He added that he appreciated prosecutors taking the case seriously, saying, "This is good not just for the workers at Pure Food and Wine but for workers everywhere, to see that the state of New York is interested in protecting their rights."

Dictor said the lawsuit against Melngailis has continued in her absence. He argued that, whatever is left of her assets, bilked workers should get first dibs over investors who are also suing to be repaid.

"We hope there is money there to make [workers] whole," he said. "We think that the workers should have priority over any other debt that she may owe."

JP Ross, a juice-bar worker who came aboard in the summer of 2014, after the first payment problems, said that losing the job and about a month's pay contributed to breaking up his marriage.

"My life really got worse after that happened," he said. "It was really hard for me to make as much money as at that place again...It put a huge strain on my relationship...It was really hard to recover from that."

He said Melngailis's charm is a big part of how she was able to keep her operation going even after repeated missteps:

She had an attractive personality. She could talk the talk. The mugshot says a lot. Thats how she continued this masquerade, with that pouty face. Its like you look at it and think, Aw. She was so successful at marketing, but to what end? She wins all these awards, and it all comes crashing down. Its sad but its like Im not a gambling addict, so I cant understand it.

Ross said the Domino's detail made him think "she's a classic case con artist":

I feel like this is some kind of Netflix Original kind of thing. Bonnie and Clyde start this scam vegan restaurant thats really successful, and then they blow it all, and theyre just driving this convertible. And then it all comes to an end and theyre doing lines of coke with Leonardo DiCaprio. It baffles me. I dont know how they could blow that much money, especially with the way things are so expensive these days. I guess she thought she was Donald Trump or some shit.

In the months after Melngailis disappeared, former Pure Food workers organized protests and potlucks outside of the shuttered restaurant, and courted investors in an effort to reopen the place as an employee-run cooperative. Some investors were on board, but the landlord ultimately nixed the idea, the workers said. Ross said that the organizing effort shows how dedicated he and his colleagues were to the business, and how Melngailis aside, it was an important institution:
For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors
Wildlife federation celebration Saturday

The Montana Wildlife Federation is holding an 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 14, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Placer Hotel Lobby, 21 N. Last Chance Gulch.

On May 14, 1936, a small group of hunters, anglers, birdwatchers and scientists gathered in the lobby of Helena's Placer Hotel to launch Montana's first wildlife conservation organization -- MWF. To mark the anniversary, a celebration is planned in the place where it all started -- the lobby of the Placer Hotel.

Tickets are $20 and will get you an MWF pint glass, local beer and hors d'oeuvres. There will be raffles for hunting, fishing and other outdoor gear.

RSVP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1057523480969449/; or buy tickets online at montanawildlife.org/annual-meeting/

For more information, call 406-458-0227 or email mwf@mtwf.org\.

***

Learn about snakes May 18

Bring a lawn chair and sit under the evening sky at Montana WILD. Sharon Liederman, a Montana WILD volunteer, will present a program outside about our reptile friends -- snakes. The free event is set for 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, at the Montana WILD Education Center at 2668 Broadwater Ave. No reservation required. For more information call Montana WILD at 444-9944. Adults must accompany youth.

***

Bowhunter class at Montana WILD

Montana WILD will host a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Bowhunter Education Course that starts Friday, May 20, at 5 p.m. and concludes on Sunday, May 22, at 6 p.m.

To purchase a bow and arrow license an individual must meet one of the following requirements: show completion of a bowhunter education course, or show proof of purchase of a previous years bow and arrow license from Montana or another state, or sign an affidavit that they have previously purchased a bow and arrow license in Montana or another state.

First time archers need to plan ahead so that they have the prerequisite bowhunter education certificate in order to apply for 2017 archery only drawings.

For more information about the bowhunter education course and to register, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/default.html. Montana WILD is located at 2668 Broadwater Ave.

***

Elk foundation banquet upcoming

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will host its 31st annual Big Game Banquet fundraiser on Saturday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m. The event is being held at the Gateway Center, 1710 National Ave.

There will be food, a no-host bar, a live and silent auction, raffles and a plethora of games. Tickets are available at Capital Sports, RMEF.org (under events), or by email at elkhornbanquettickets@gmail.com.

***

Wilderness walks on tap

Beginning in May and lasting throughout the summer, Montana Wilderness Association is offering more than 100 free day hikes, field trips, trail building and maintenance projects, and wildland inventory outings across some of the state's backcountry, including wilderness areas, proposed wilderness areas, and roadless lands. Registration is now open to the general public at wildmontana.org.

Now in its 54th season, MWAs Wilderness Walks program continues to offer hikers of all ages and experience levels an opportunity to participate in traditional recreation opportunities while enjoying Montanas quiet beauty and remaining wild places.

All MWA outings are free and open to the public, but participants must first register. The complete 2016 Wilderness Walks schedule is now available online at www.wildmontana.org/walks. For more information on the Wilderness Walks program, contact Amanda Hagerty at (406) 443-7350 (ext. 108) or at ahagerty@wildmontana.org.

On Saturday, May 21, join us for a strenuous 7-8 mile hike into the Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit. We will begin by following Willard Creek to its confluence with McClellan Creek, an area that provides a look into the 1988 Warm Springs Fire ecology. The hike continues along McClellan Creek to its headwaters in the northern portion of the roadless core of the Elkhorn Mountain Range. Please bring a lunch, water and layered clothing.

***

2016 fishing season opens May 21

Montanas 2016 general fishing season opens Saturday, May 21, in the Western Fishing District, but elsewhere in the state the traditional spring fishing opener has changed a bit this year.

In Montanas Central and Eastern Fishing District most rivers and streams are open year-round unless otherwise noted in the district-specific exceptions to the standard regulations.

In the Western Fishing District, general fishing season is from May 21 until Nov. 30, unless otherwise noted in the regulations.

If youre out fishing, be sure to know the regulations.

To prepare for the 2016 fishing season, pick up the state fishing regulations at FWP offices, license providers, or FWP's 2016 Fishing Regulations web page at fwp.mt.gov.

***

Helena: Conservation program to help private lands

District Conservationist John George announced the deadline to apply for funds to help landowners protect private lands across the South Hills of Helena and Ten Mile Watershed, as well as throughout Lewis and Clark County.

The funding is provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP is targeted funds to protect critical resources across multiple land uses, and encourages private owners to improve range and forest health, water quality and reduce erosion and fuel hazards, along with addressing other resource concerns.

The Helena Field Office is accepting applications for EQIP continually for projects throughout the county, however $268,000 are currently available from Interstate 15 to the Continental Dived, North to Highway 12 and south to Clancy. Applicants must contact the Helena or Whitehall Field Offices to be considered for this years priority funding.

Applications for the Two Chiefs Ten Mile forestry program must be into the office by Friday, May 20. Those interested in applying for the general county wide fund pools for Fiscal Year 2017 must have an application submitted to the field office by close of business June 1.

Eligible landowners can contact the local NRCS field office at 790 Colleen St., Helena, MT 59601 or at 449 5000 x 101 to learn more.
Multiple members of my immediate family have abused or are still abusing drugs and alcohol.

I have cried bitter tears as I have watched people I love inflict major emotional and physical damage onto themselves and those closest to them. I have ached as Ive watched them shrink into shells of who I know them to truly be.

These mind- and body-altering substances deeply disgust me. I mean, really. I hate them. I wish they didnt exist. I dont buy into the argument that their abuse is a victimless crime. They make men and women stupid and dangerous. They are a plague on our society and corrode the integrity of the American family, the fundamental building block of our society.

Yet, I believe that drugs in America should be decriminalized.

I said decriminalized. I did not say legalized. There is a difference.

Despite my deep contempt for these dangerous substances and those who sell them, there are two reasons why I believe drugs should be decriminalized. These reasons are rooted in the principles of compassion, freedom, sound economics and fiscal responsibility I consider central to conservatism.

First, the goal of any public action against those who use and abuse drugs should be to get them to stop, decreasing the overall demand for drugs. The problem with our current system is that society frequently misdiagnoses and then mistreats the problem, leaving demand unaffected.

Those who previously may not have had a mental illness develop one when becoming addicts. This is a disease that a person inflicts upon himself. An addict undergoes actual physical changes in the brain that make drug use a compulsive behavior. These changes can be overcome, but the addict often cannot do so without tremendous patience, help, fundamental lifestyle changes, and support from good people around him.

When addiction develops, addicts not only must deal with any other previously existing problems, but now must also deal with a major physical and mental issue that commands an often unbearable burden. And the government helps people with these problems by putting them in prison for years at a time.

In many cases, sending an addict to prison often exacerbates the problem. Anyone who believes otherwise needs to read Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story. Prison is all about gang and drug culture and is in all likelihood the absolute worst place to put an addictive, vulnerable personality.

Second, the economics of prohibition tell us that we are fighting an unwinnable war against the supply side of Americas drug problem.

The government spends more than $40 billion per year fighting the war on drugs by trying to cut off supply, according to an article in Quartz. Yet, obtaining illicit substances has hardly ever been easier. Ive got family that could tell me where to get $10 of pot in a hot minute.

In case you didnt know, this nation is more than $19 trillion in debt. Were beyond borrowing against our own incomes. Were now borrowing against the incomes of our children and grandchildren. How can any freedom-loving people conscientiously place debt incurred for utterly wasteful purposes on the backs of its descendants? Wheres the morality in that?

What to do then?

In reforming Americas drug laws, the United States (and individual states in the meantime) should look to the small European nation of Portugal, where all drug use has been decriminalized since 2001.

The Portuguese treat drug violations similarly to how we treat traffic tickets. If youre found in possession of illicit drugs, you must appear before what they call a dissuasion commission. The commission can refer the offender to a treatment program, have him pay a fine, or impose other administrative penalties. No jail time. No criminal record.

I abhor drugs. I wish they would go away. But the fact is, theyre not. Except in the case of drug dealers, its time we started treating drug addiction like the public health crisis it is rather than as an issue of criminal justice.

Drugs in America should be decriminalized.
I'm Terry Murphy, former senator who represented East Helena and the upper east side of Helena. I'm asking you to support Steve Gibson for House District 84.

I served with Steve in the 2011 and 2013 legislative sessions. Steve Gibson was a legislator who listened to his constituents and served the people of Montana well.

In 2013 Steve Gibson sponsored and helped pass HB 13, TSEP, which provided $50 million in grants to local communities for infrastructure projects, including water, sewer, and bridges without increasing taxes. The bill passed both houses by a margin of 140 to 10. In 2011 Steve also helped obtain grant funding for the East Helena water and wastewater project.

Steve also sponsored and passed legislation to make sure that the Montana Highway Patrol retirement system was fiscally sound without increasing taxes or adding additional state funds. The bill passed both houses 145 to 3.

Steve Gibson has the experience to provide commonsense solutions for the people of Montana.

Vote for Steve Gibson, HD84.

Terry Murphy

Former senator, District 39

Cardwell
You only have to look at the headlines to recognize Montanas fight to protect public lands is far from over, Gov. Steve Bullock told attendees at a public lands rally on Thursday.

Bullock, speaking to reporters and a friendly crowd of around two dozen political operatives and public lands advocates, went on to promise he would never support a law or policy that jeopardized the states public lands or the publics access to those lands.

Staged at a fishing access point along Prickly Pear Creek and organized by Montana Conservation Voters, which officially endorsed Bullock Thursday, the rally came amid controversy surrounding a 2009 lawsuit filed against the state by a company with ties to Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte.

That suit, which resurfaced Monday in an anonymous liberal blog, looked to force Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to remove an easement in Bozeman that provided public access along the East Gallatin River.

The legal challenge -- submitted by East Gallatin LLC, a company registered to Gianfortes wife, Susan -- argued easement users were damaging adjacent land, much of which is owned by the Gianfortes.

The dispute was resolved after an FWP visit to the site in July 2009 led to trail and fence upgrades that did a better job of keeping users off the Gianfortes property. The agency also updated records on the easement boundaries, according to state documents obtained by the IR State Bureau.

Democrats latched onto the suit only hours after it resurfaced, using it to extend their narrative that Gianforte is a wealthy transplant who wont look out for the average Montanan, while highlighting Bullocks work to strengthen the states stream access laws.

Gianforte campaign spokesman Aaron Flint refuted the characterization of Gianforte as anti-access and accused opponents of selectively sharing the facts to manufacture a distraction from news critical of Bullock. Bullock said his campaign was aware of the suit, but did not feed it to the sympathetic Montana Cowgirl blog.

Gianfortehas said much of the dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding over easement boundaries. He described the resolution as amenable, but noted it would've gotten resolved a lot faster if (FWP) had sought the facts rather than sending threatening letters."

Bullock stayed on the offensive Thursday, repeating his description of the suit as a thumb in the eye of all Montanans and urging residents to take it personally.

Montanans should not let (Gianforte) get away with trying to characterize it as an amenable dispute, or something other than a lawsuit against all of us, he said. Let me be clear: He isnt allowing access to the East Gallatin River because he wants to. Hes doing it because thats Montana law.

Bullock couldnt say for certain that Gianforte had ever prevented anyone from gaining access to that river. He said hed leave it up to Montanans to decide whether or not it was a big deal.

Montanas constitution affords residents near unparalleled public access to streams and other natural waterways, sometimes to the chagrin of wealthy landowners who have sought to restrict those access rights in court.

Gianforte, who sold his Bozeman-based tech firm for $1.8 billion in 2012, said his family first learned of the state easement when they received an FWP letter in 2008 and subsequently discovered the title company had missed it when preparing the deed for his family's purchase of the property.

Flint reiterated the candidate's earlier statement that he and his wife "continued welcoming anglers with access to their property before, during, and after" their discussions with FWP.

He also criticized Montana Conservation Voters, the sponsors behind Thursday's rally and a subsidiary group of the Washington, D.C.-based League of Conservation Voters.

"Gov. Steve Bullock is rallying with a dark money, anti-coal D.C. environmental lobbyist group," Flint wrote in an email Thursday. "Instead of teaming up with an anti-coal group to lie about Greg's record on stream access, he should instead be standing with the folks in Colstrip, and standing up for high wage Montana jobs."
Three owners of Montanas much-discussed Colstrip coal-fired power plant sat down with Gov. Steve Bullock in Helena on Wednesday to start talking about what happens to the aging power plant as forces seem to push the eventual closure of its two older units.

Kimberly Harris, CEO of Puget Sound Energy in Washington; Paul Farr, CEO of Pennsylvania-based Talen Energy; and Bob Rowe, CEO of NorthWestern Energy discussed the future of the plant, which sits about two hours east of Billings.

The ownership picture in Colstrip is complex. Six companies have a stake in the plant. Talen owns 50 percent of Units 1 and 2, a 30 percent share of Unit 3 and also operates the entire four-unit Colstrip complex. The plant and the town that exists mostly because of it and a nearby coal mine face challenges from laws passed in Washington and Oregon to push utilities based in those states with ownership in Colstrip to drop coal from their portfolio. The market is also favoring the low price of natural gas.

Farr said Talen, which spun off PPL Montana when that entity sold its hydropower production to NorthWestern Energy a few years ago, is looking at looking at its departure from a state where it now owns a very narrow portfolio.

Farr said Talen is willing to look at a path to transition ownership and will be as constructive as it can be, but there are other forces at work.

We are under time and cost pressures, he said. Ill lose millions in terms of operating Colstrip through the balance of the year. Talen, unlike NorthWestern, is a merchant provider and not a regulated utility, meaning it cannot pass its expenses on to regulated customers for an above-market cost.

Puget Sound Energy has been involved in Colstrip since the plant was built about 40 years ago, Harris said. Washington state's Legislature earlier this year passed a bill that gives Puget a way to get out of its ownership in the older 1 and 2 units at Colstrip and also provides money for decommissioning costs.

"We've been at Colstrip from the start," she said. "We've been operating in Colstrip and contributing to the welfare of that community for the last 40 years. We continue to remain committed to that community today."

Bullock focused on who would provide power to large industrial customers like Montana Resources mine in Butte, who have long benefited from lower prices because they didnt have to pay high transmission fees from far-away plants.

Right now Talen serves between 225-250 megawatts of the 300-350 those customers need, and Farr said if groups of those customers could sign a contract to guarantee enough revenue to cover costs, that would make providing that energy in the future more feasible for whoever is an owner at Colstrip. Power from the plant is also attractive to industrial customers because it's extremely reliable, he said.

Colstrip plays a role, though not a large one, in the electricity NorthWestern Energy provides to Montana consumers, Rowe said. The utility's largest assets are the hydroelectric dams purchased from PPL in 2009. The utility also gets more electricity from its wind generation than Colstrip.

What the plant offers NorthWestern is a reliable backup for high-demand periods. "What Colstrip does ... is provide us with pretty much 24/7 availability," Rowe said. "That's why our interest in Colstrip matters."

Lower natural gas costs are part of why coal power is less in demand, though Farr said he worries about what happens when those prices rise again and coal plants shut down.

"What happens when gas goes to $4? That doubles the fuel cost, and if you don't have that coal-fired generation capability, if you can't turn to that ... "

Rowe also is concerned about the transmission system, which is key to serving NorthWestern customers around Billings.

The company leaders took turns emphasizing the importance of the jobs both the power plant and nearby coal mine create in the community of Colstrip, though none talked about what happens to those employees if and when the older two units shut down.

"We all recognize this is an incredibly complex issue," Harris said. "We're not just dealing with megawatts, we're dealing with a community, our employees, the future of that community."

The companies involved are trying to be as transparent as possible, she said. "What's important is we continue to look forward, we continue to look for opportunities, we continue to address the challenges one by one. I know we are all up to that challenge of what is the secure and safe transition for these units."
Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for Hillary Clinton in Billings on Friday, May 20, according to his wife's campaign.

The former president will discuss why Hillary Clinton "is the best candidate to break down all the barriers holding families back."

Bill Clinton also will attend public events in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota, on that day.

More details about the visit will be released soon, according to the campaign.

In 2008, Bill Clinton campaigned for Hillary Clinton in Billings, where he spoke at the Yellowstone County Democratic Party's Truman Dinner.

Hillary Clinton also spoke at MetraPark that year.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Executive Director Robert Haider said Wednesday he didnt have details about the time and location in Fargo.

Hillary Clintons state director for North Dakota, Marcella Jewell, responded to a request for comment with a text message saying a press advisory will be going out later.

Hillary Clintons competition for the Democratic nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, announced on Tuesday that he will speak Friday in Fargo.

Sanders was in Missoula and Billings on Wednesday.
DECATUR  Mary Jane Linton wore a wool cape like nursing students would have once thrown on to walk across campus from the former William C. Johns Nurses' Home to Decatur Memorial Hospital.

On Wednesday, however, she had driven to Millikin University's Leighty-Tabor Science Center to deliver a blast from the past for the School of Nursing's celebration of National Nurses Week.

Underneath, the professor of nursing wore a uniform given to her by an alum, complete with a pair of scissors tucked into the back of the waistband. Linton was also packing an old-fashioned mercury thermometer, metal wash basin and urinal.

You didn't see nurses running around with a stethoscope around their neck, she said, but you did keep your thermometer and your scissors with you because they were your two main tools.

Linton's presentation was one of the week's special activities, which conclude today with a birthday celebration for Florence Nightingale, who was born May 12, 1820, in Italy.

A sock and towel collection for the Northeast Community Fund has also been running all week outside the School of Nursing Office.

Linton said the origin of Decatur's first nursing school grew out of Sue Hagaman's belief that babies should be born in hospitals and not at home.

Hagaman managed to persuade Dr. William Barnes that Decatur, then with a population of 19,000, needed a second hospital, and he hired R. Helen Cleland from Boston to be the hospital's first superintendent of nurses.

Decatur Memorial County Hospital opened on Jan. 1, 1916 but only after its first 18 nursing students had scrubbed it from top to bottom after moving in during a snowstorm three days before.

I am wearing something similar to the uniform they would have worn, Linton said. They wore a bib and an apron over a black gingham dress that came down to within four inches of the floor. They also wore black lisle stockings and black shoes with a small heel.

She said the hospital and nursing school dropped the word county from their names in 1967 and graduated its last class of nursing students in 1980, with Millikin awarding its first bachelor of science degrees in nursing in 1981.

Professor of Nursing Sheila Jesek-Hale said that Edith Gruenwald Montgomery, her great-aunt, was among the first nursing graduates in 1919 and said Dr. Barnes paid for their pins because they had no money.

Both Linton and Jesek-Hale graduated from Decatur Memorial's School of Nursing in 1970.

Diploma schools have been criticized as exploiting students, but they did set the standard for cleanliness, orderliness and close monitoring of patients that are practiced today, Linton said.
DECATUR  After deliberating for one hour and 15 minutes Thursday, jurors found Joseph H. Booth, 25, guilty of two counts of criminal sexual assault for taking part in the assault of an unconscious or semi-conscious woman who he videotaped as she was raped by his teen friend on Christmas night.

Booth, dressed in a blue shirt and black slacks, showed no emotion as he leaned back in a swivel chair at the defense table at about 12:15 p.m.

He will be sentenced to between eight and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections at his sentencing hearing June 27. Booth is being held without bond in the Macon County Jail.

In her closing argument, Assistant Macon County State's Attorney Kate Kurtz asked the jurors, seven women and five men, to imagine what it must have been like for the woman to open videos on her phone, which she had not known about, to see what was done with her without her ability to fight back.

The three graphic videos, taken on the victim's cell phone, had been shown to the jurors while the victim was on the stand on Tuesday.

Kurtz said Booth was guilty of the crimes because he knowingly aided or abetted in their commission. Each count represented a different sex act performed on the victim.

Chenoweth is being held in jail on $100,000 bond pending his trial on charges of criminal sexual assault, scheduled for June 13.
DECATUR  After deliberating for about three hours, the foreman of the jury deciding the outcome of 17-year-old Arkee Woodson's felony case declared that the jurors were deadlocked.

I will declare a mistrial at this time, Circuit Judge Thomas E. Griffith said.

Woodson, who was facing 62 years to life in prison on charges of attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm, will be retried, as early as next month.

Woodson allegedly shot a 26-year-old man in the chest during a drug deal and took marijuana and cash from him on March 15, 2014, while sitting in the victim's vehicle on the city's east side. The bullet deflected off of a rib and lodged within a few millimeters of his heart.

At 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, Griffith called the defendant, attorneys and court reporter to his courtroom to announce a development in the case. After a brief private consultation with the attorneys, he announced that he was informed by the bailiff that the jury may be deadlocked.

The jury foreman was interviewed by Griffith in the courtroom, as Woodson sat at the defense table with his attorney, Assistant Macon County Public Defender Timothy Tighe. Woodson's family members and supporters sat in the gallery.

Griffith asked the foreman if he believed the jury was unable to agree on a verdict.

We are six to six, the foreman said. I believe we are hopelessly deadlocked. Everyone is pretty much set in their opinions.

When asked their views on how to proceed, First Assistant State's Attorney Nichole Kroncke said, We suggest declaring a mistrial this morning.

After conferring with Woodson, Tighe said, My client's preference is to try to get this done.

The judge said, I do not believe additional deliberations will be fruitful, before declaring the mistrial.

After the jury was excused, the judge and attorneys began discussing the next trial.

When Kroncke said, The state would be ready to retry the case the next month, a woman sitting in the front of the gallery exclaimed, What?

She was removed from the courtroom. The judge remarked that she had vocalized other outbursts during the proceeding.

The state presented a case with circumstantial evidence matching the testimony of the victim, including a single .22-caliber shell casing found within his SUV and a $100 bill found by officers on a sewer grate at Charles and Locust streets, where he said he was parked at the time of the shooting.

The victim said he was robbed of $600, including one $100 bill.

There was some confusion about cellphone evidence. Detailed testimony by forensic expert David Dailey, a Decatur police detective, showed that Woodson's phone was in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the shooting. He and the victim had been communicating with each other on their cellphones several times in the minutes leading up to the incident.

However, a police officer testified that the victim did not have the phone he used to communicate with Woodson with him at the hospital. The victim testified he drove himself to the hospital at breakneck speeds.

Jurors were apparently interested in this discrepancy. They sent a question to the judge asking for more information on that phone. They were told to rely on the testimony they heard during the trial.

It is believed that the phone was sent home by the victim from the emergency room, possibly to hide drug activity.

It is also possible that the defendant's age played a role in the jurors' decisions. In his closing argument late Tuesday afternoon, Tighe told the jurors that when the shooting occurred, Woodson was just 15, a little kid.

Tighe said that Woodson was not the shooter, but a case of mistaken identity. He said that when someone sent a Facebook photo of him to the victim, that made him think he was the shooter.

From that moment on, Arkee Woodson did it in his mind, Tighe said.

Tighe also reminded the jurors that Woodson's mother testified that she was with him at the time of the shooting.

It couldn't have been Arkee, Tighe said. He was with his mom.

In her rebuttal, Kroncke said the two alibi stories, from the defendant's mother and aunt, did not match. Both of them waited until August 2015 to report that Woodson was with them the night of the shooting. If he was really with them, they would have told the police a lot sooner than that.

Why would they wait 17 months? Kroncke asked. That is simply not believable.

Kroncke responded to Tighe's assertion that whoever shot the victim did not intend to kill him, because he did not fire additional shots.

Why would you shoot anyone in the chest if you didn't want to kill him? Kroncke said, adding that the victim possibly warded off further shots by promising not to tell anyone. The defendant clearly had the intent to kill him. Dr. Liu called it 'the magic bullet' because he survived.

Assistant State's Attorney Caleb Brown, the second prosecutor in the case, said in his closing argument that Woodson did not know the victim would survive after he shot him.

The defendant shot (the victim), robbed (the victim) and left him for dead, Brown said.

He said the victim was in an excellent position to make a positive identification of the shooter. He had sold him cannabis seven to 10 times previously. When he was interviewed by officer Justin Gray at Decatur Memorial Hospital, he told him the man who shot him was nicknamed Man Man and he told him where he lived.

He didn't know if he would survive at this point, Brown said.

When Gray went to the house which the victim knew as Man Man's residence, he interviewed a female resident.

She told him, 'Yes, Arkee Woodson lives here and he goes by the name of Man Man,' Brown told the jurors.

The victim had no reason to lie, so he told the police many things that were corroborated. He said he was shot at close range, and gunshot residue was found on his clothing.

The man he identified with absolute certainty turned out to be someone whose cellphone was in the vicinity of the shooting from 10:01 to 10:07 p.m. that night, within a minute or so of the shooting. His phone was not in that vicinity at 9:55 p.m. nor at 10:25 p.m., as he was trying to get away, Brown said.

Brown said the victim made two mistakes: dealing cannabis and dealing cannabis to that man, Arkee Woodson.

The defendant didn't just try to take his money, he tried to take his life, Brown said.

Woodson, who has been held in custody since his arrest March 26, 2014, will continue to be held in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

Woodson's next trial is scheduled for June 13, with a pretrial hearing to be held May 27.
DECATUR --The Macon County Board seat left vacant by Keith Ashbys resignation does not look like it will be empty for long.

The board is expected to appoint Debra Kraft to fill the vacancy during its monthly meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. today in the Macon County Office Building. Kraft, president of Blackland Transport in Blue Mound, would fill the remainder of Ashbys term, which goes until the end of November.

She was already on the ballot to replace Ashby in District 5, so board Chairman Kevin Greenfield said she was a natural pick to replace Ashby, who resigned in late April due in part to a move to Florida.

In other business, the board is expected to move ahead with a $67,000 feasibility study to investigate a shared emergency communications center for Central Illinois law enforcement agencies.

The study, to be paid for by a donation from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, would investigate the total cost of the project and potential cost-savings if municipalities were to consolidate their centers.

The center would be a 15,000-square-foot, state of the art communications center in Macon County that would provide 24/7 professional dispatching services to all law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services within the region.

The study was unanimously approved by the countys justice and finance committees.

The study could take up to 60 days to complete, said Macon County Sheriff Thomas Schneider. The sheriff's office has been in contact with the SAFR Group, a Boston-based professional consulting firm, to conduct the study.

Informal meetings and discussions with representatives from Shelby, Christian, Moultrie, DeWitt and Fayette counties have been conducted, with all representatives stating an interest in a study.

Several officials from the smaller communities have cited the potential cost savings as a reason for Central Illinois agencies to share an emergency dispatch center.
DECATUR  The confused and terrifying final moments of a rural Decatur man who died in his burning home, along with his pet dog, were described for a coroner's jury Wednesday.

Firefighters had recovered the remains of John W. Gwin, 29, and his dog from his house at 5565 Union School Road in the early hours of March 27. The jury was told how Gwin had been found in his bathtub, where he collapsed after choking to death on carbon monoxide fumes from the fierce blaze.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Shane Arndt, an arson investigator with the state fire marshal's Office, said the fire was caused by a pot of oil left on a gas stove; there was no sign of any criminal act. He said as a burning house fills with fire, smoke and fumes, it's not unusual for victims, who may know the building well, to become disorientated and lost as they rush about, terrified, trying to get out.

Most of the time people end up in a panic mode just because of everything going on with the situation, said Arndt, under questioning from Macon County Coroner, Michael E. Day. Arndt said fire victims inhale the toxic combustion gases and lose more of their mental focus before succumbing to the fumes.

So it's not anything uncommon ... that we do not understand exactly why Mr. Gwin may have retreated to the bathroom area? asked Day. Arndt replied that it wasn't, and agreed when Day asked about the possibility that Gwin might have hoped to boost himself up to escape through a bathroom window.

We will never understand that (what happened) completely, will we? Day asked. No, Arndt said.

Day said Gwin appeared to be untroubled on the day of the fire and had been next door drinking with a neighbor. The coroner said Gwin's blood alcohol, measured after his death at 0.218 percent, was well above the 0.08 percent legal limit to drive in Illinois.

Arndt agreed when the coroner asked him if that level of alcohol would lend itself to making a person more distracted and drowsy and could compound their level of confusion upon discovering a fire.
DECATUR -- Tim Stone has big plans for the future of Decatur Memorial Hospital, and he doesn't care who knows them.

As part of the Millikin Institute for Science Entrepreneurship speaker series, Stone -- DMH's President and CEO, gave a speech titled, "Decatur Memorial Hospital: The Next 100 Years." After the presentation, Stone said his goal was to be "open and transparent."

There's no question he accomplished that, with the biggest reveal being preliminary plans to build a new on-campus facility called the "Institute for Continuous Learning," which would be an education center for staff to build their skills.

"Don't hold us to that name -- it's a work in progress," Stone said. "With all the changes taking place in health care, the most important thing you can have is a well-educated, well-trained workforce. This would allow people to practice and perfect our processes in a controlled environment."

In addition to DMH's future, Stone also spoke of the past and present. He began by referencing a recent conversation with the administrators at St. Mary's Hospital.

"I went to them and said competition is healthy, as long as it remains healthy and beneficial to the public," Stone said. "The level of competition between our two organizations, I told them, frankly, was unhealthy to the extent that we had forced the local community to pick sides.

"I told them I'd like that not to be the case any longer, and if they were amenable, I'd like to hit the reset button. They graciously agreed to that, and I told them when speaking I would say the following: Decatur is fortunate to have two fine hospitals, and together, in pursuit of their respective missions, can be a force to drive the local economy."

Stone discussed DMH's history -- more than 100 years ago a Bethany woman, Sue Hagaman, organized bake sales that became the seed capital for the hospital, which opened its doors in Jan. 1916 and helped Decatur through the worst pandemic in U.S. history, Spanish Influenza in 1918.

He also addressed the hospital's present and its dedication to avoid the "urge to merge" in a health care climate that's encouraging large health conglomerates in favor of independent hospitals. He said in order to survive in that climate, DMH was establishing collaborations, BJC and SIU School of Medicine have been the big ones, but far from the only ones.

But it was Stone's description of DMH's future that was the most compelling. In addition to the Institute for Continuous Learning, Stone said DMH would soon be joining the ranks of hospitals and health systems becoming Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). He also showed a demonstration of the MyChart Bedside program, which will allow patients and their family members better access to treatment plans and communication with hospital personnel.

"MyChart Bedside is a game-changer in our business," Stone said. "One of the greatest things a patient can have is a support team, and this allows family direct access to their care team."

Stone also talked about DMH's investment into molecular medicine more than a decade ago, which has put the hospital in an advantageous position going forward.

"A hospital our size has to have competitive advantages," Stone said. "I believe one of those has to be technology."
There must be 50 ways to leave your leader.

Some slip out the back.

"In this election, I do not support either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.).

Some are making new plans.

"I cannot support Donald Trump," said Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, calling for a third-party choice.

A few are being coy.

"Conventions have never been very appealing to me," said Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, explaining why he would miss this summer's.

Others on this bus won't discuss much.

"I'm not going to take any more stupid questions about Donald Trump," said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, explaining that he was not endorsing any candidate.

The rest drop off the key: "I don't think he has the temperament or judgment to be commander in chief," said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and get themselves free.

There is a mass displeasure with Trump among elected Republican officials. But each seems to have a different way of expressing the disdain. A few are overtly hostile to Trump and categorical in their refusal to support the demagogue, including Reps. Bob Dold, Scott Rigell, Richard Hanna and Justin Amash. But most are painstakingly nuanced, trying to keep their distance from Trump without antagonizing his supporters.

There are those who say they aren't "yet" supporting Trump, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is "not there yet," Rep. Barbara Comstock, who says Trump hasn't earned her vote "at this time," and Rep. Ann Wagner, who says she's not for Trump "thus far."

Some feign deliberation. "I would like to ask him questions about some of the statements he's made," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a House GOP leader.

A few are dissing Trump by omission. Both former presidents Bush said they won't attend the convention, nor support Trump, though they supported past Republican nominees. But Jeb Bush, like 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney, is more high-energy on this point: "I will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton," he says.

Probably the most delicate in their Trump distancing are the most vulnerable Republican senators up for re-election in November. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire is a profile in parsing. "Kelly plans to support the nominee," a spokeswoman explained. But she "isn't planning to endorse anyone this cycle."

Sen. John McCain won't go to the Cleveland convention, but he told CNN's Manu Raju that he could support Trump. Still, he won't share a stage with Trump unless "a lot of things" happen, including a retraction of Trump's statement disparaging American prisoners of war.

Sen. Rob Portman, who is vulnerable in Ohio, has an additional problem: He can't really skip the convention, because it's in his home state. Instead, he's planning to have a "mini-convention" with his supporters somewhere in Cleveland.

Sen. Richard Burr, potentially in trouble in North Carolina, told a crowd that "having our preferences is no longer an option" and that the nominee is going to be Trump. So will he campaign with Trump? "I'm going to be focused on my own re-election," he told the Raleigh News & Observer.

In Illinois, Sen. Mark Kirk had said he would support Trump if he were the nominee but now says Trump is a "riverboat gamble" and pronounces himself "probably the best-positioned Republican to weather the institution of Trumpism."

The website TPM is keeping a running tally of where elected Republicans stand on Trump: 11 who have endorsed Trump, including Sens. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; 23 who are "supporting the nominee" with varying levels of discomfort (including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California); five who refuse to say (including Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder); five "NeverTrump" types (including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada); and eight "fuzzballs" trying not to commit (including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania).

But TPM is surely low-balling the number of fuzzballs. The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Bruce Rauner won't "formally endorse" Trump (he's apparently open to supporting Trump casually). Rep. John Katko (N.Y.) declares himself "concerned" about Trump, while Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) says Trump "has a great deal of work to do to convince many Americans, myself included."

By comparison, Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida is refreshingly clear. "I will not support Mr. Trump," he told the CBS Miami affiliate. "That is not a political decision; that is a moral decision."

There. Was that so hard?
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois House is advancing legislation that would provide $700 million in stogap funding to social services and other programs that have been deprived of money amid the states nearly yearlong budget impasse.

A House appropriations committee unanimously approved the measure Wednesday, though the committees Republican spokeswoman, state Rep. Patti Bellock of Hinsdale, said GOP members have some questions theyd like answered before a final vote on the House floor.

The measure, sponsored by state Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, would authorize spending about $450 million from the commitment to human services fund, which receives dedicated revenue that can only be spent on those programs. The Senate unanimously approved a similar plan last month.

The House plan would add another $250 million from other special funds and would be spent on their specific purposes, such as affordable housing and foreclosure prevention.

The money has just been sitting, essentially, in a bank account waiting to be spent, Harris said.

His plan would provide enough money to cover about 46 percent of what social service providers and other programs received from the state last year. It would go to programs and services that havent been receiving money through the court orders and consent decrees that have driven most state spending since the budget year began July 1.

The bill includes money for services such as indigent burials, mental health and addiction treatment, rape crisis centers, and autism diagnosis education.

Harris compared the measure to a plan Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law late last month that provided $600 million for public universities, community colleges and grants to low-income students. The higher education package also drew its revenue from a dedicated state fund.

Rauner has vetoed several previous spending bills that would have covered a full years expenses because he said there was no way to pay for them.

Bipartisan groups of legislators have been meeting in recent weeks in an attempt to forge agreements on the budget and reforms that Rauner and fellow Republicans are pushing, but Harris said much of their focus has been on next years budget. This is intended to get funding to programs that need it now, he said.

Like supporters of the higher education funding bill, Harris said he wants to get more money to providers before closing the books on the current year.

I hope this is not the end, he said.
Armen Martirosyan, a soldier serving in the Artsakh Defense Army, was killed yesterday evening by Azerbaijani gunfire while carrying out guard duty at a base in the northern area of Artsakh.

The Artsakh Ministry of Defense also reports that Azerbaijan continues to violate the April cessation of hostilities agreement by firing small arms, mortars and rocket launchers.
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No one will be safe Saturday in downtown Baraboo. Clowns with ready access to pies will be waiting.

Downtown Baraboo Inc.s spring Fair on the Square returns Saturday, with some new twists. Among them is a pie-eating contest presented by the International Clown Hall of Fame.

In exchange for a $5 contribution to the Hall of Fame, contestants can find out how much of a vanilla pudding pie they can devour in 30 seconds. The biggest eater will win free tacos for a year from Joses Authentic Mexican Restaurant. All contestants will get clown noses and posters.

I think it adds a little to the Fair on the Square, said Hall of Fame executive director Greg DeSanto. It gives us a little exposure to a big group of people.

Fair on the Square will feature live music, activities for kids and an arts and crafts fair.

I am looking forward to a great day on Saturday with 180-plus vendors, 15 food vendors, six community court booths, face painting, pony rides, clowns, music and bouncy houses, organizer Mary Hultman said.

The clowns wont be the only ones offering sweet treats. In addition to the food vendors selling snacks, event sponsor Spa Serenity will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a party featuring free cupcakes.

Circus World clowns will be working the event, no doubt lurking near the pie-eating contest on Oak Street. DeSanto stressed that the event is designed to promote the eating, rather than the throwing, of pies. But if a contestant only finishes half a pie in half a minute and would like the rest tossed toward his pie-hole, a nearby clown will oblige.

Id be more than happy to fulfill their dream, DeSanto said. Mark it off your bucket list.

As he peered at a sample pie, featuring graham cracker crust, vanilla pudding and a cream topping, the longtime clown admitted it was hard to stifle the urge to chuck it at an unsuspecting onlooker. I was 35 years old before I realized people eat these things, he said.

Viking Village is providing the pies, which will be weighed after each contestants attempt. The contest will stretch all day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until the supply of 100 pies runs out.

The contest was the brainchild of Hall of Fame board member Ralph Pierce, and is designed to promote the downtown Baraboo museums May 21 season-opening date.

I think its a great fit, DeSanto said. Itll be good for photos.

Someone might get a pie in their face.
Exact Sciences Corp. confirmed Wednesday the Madison cancer screening test company recently eliminated 29 positions across the U.S., including 12 in the Madison area.

Exact Sciences had been growing rapidly since federal agencies gave the go-ahead a year-and-a-half ago to market Cologuard, the non-invasive DNA stool test for colorectal cancer.

We are focusing on our core business in order to efficiently drive Cologuards growth and meet our goals for this year, spokesman J.P. Fielder said. In doing so, we reduced positions and programs in order to invest in targeted areas.

Fielder said the job reduction impacted a small portion of our overall team.

Exact Sciences has more than 500 employees at its Madison offices and town of Madison processing labs, and a total of more than 750 employees nationwide, he said.

In February 2015, the company had 430 employees, and a year before that, in early 2014, Exact had a staff of 110.

Meanwhile, the company is looking to hire more than 40 people, about half of them to fill vacancies and the other half, new positions, Fielder said.

Exact Sciences reported last week that revenue in the first quarter of 2016 tripled that of the same quarter last year and use of Cologuard nearly quadrupled over the year-ago level, but the companys net loss grew, as well.

Exact Sciences had been favored last year as an anchor tenant for the Judge Doyle Square redevelopment project Downtown but later pulled out of the plans and decided instead to expand near its current location within University Research Park, on the West Side.

The companys stock price had taken a hit after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force named Cologuard as an alternative test for colorectal cancer, useful in select clinical circumstances, rather than one of the main screening tests suggested.

Exact Sciences stock has ranged from $4.67 to $32.85 a share over the past year. It closed Wednesday at $5.69.
One of two people arrested on drug charges a week ago in Lafayette County has been linked to a widespread methamphetamine operation in southwestern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa that has been under investigation for two years.

Edward Behrens, 50, was taken into custody on May 5 at his residence in the town of New Diggings near the village of Benton, and now faces potential federal charges.

Elizabeth Hammer, 30, also was taken into custody on local drug-related charges, but police didn't say if she was involved in the methamphetamine ring.

The search warrant and arrest were part of "Operation Ice Pirates," a multi-jurisdictional sweep carried out by over 40 law enforcement agencies.

Federal officials said close to 30 search warrants were executed during the sweep, according to WGLR Radio in Platteville.

The warrants resulted in the arrests of 10 people, with six pounds of methamphetamine valued at about $270,000, a quarter-million dollars in cash and 14 guns and ammunition seized, WGLR Radio reported.

Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill said the Monroe and Beloit Police Departments and the Lafayette and Green County Sheriff's Offices took part in the search of Behrens' property and the subsequent arrest of Behrens.

The operation was headed by the Dubuque Drug Task Force in cooperation with the FBI. Five methamphetamine labs were busted in Dubuque alone during the sweep, according to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.
Douglas Pfaff brought his former customers a great deal on corn seed from what he told them was his new employer, police said. But there wasnt a kernel of truth in his pitch, and farmers got nothing for their money, according to a criminal complaint.

Pfaff, 59, of Mount Horeb, was charged Thursday with 19 felonies, including one count of theft by false representation and 18 counts of unauthorized use of an entitys identity, after claiming to be a sales representative for Renk Seeds when he made nearly $20,000 in sales to more than a dozen Dane County farmers between October and April.

Pfaff was allowed to remain free on a signature bond after appearing in court without a lawyer on Thursday. Dane County Court Commissioner Brian Asmus ordered him to have no contact with Renk or any of the farmers from whom he collected money, and not to solicit money from anyone.

According to the complaint:

Most of the farmers who bought seeds from Pfaff told police they knew him from when he worked for Pioneer Seed, and that he dropped by one day to offer a deal on corn seed for his new employer, Renk. Others hadnt met Pfaff before.

The customers  on farms in the towns of Dane, Vermont, Rutland, Berry, Dunn, Mazomanie, Perry, Cross Plains, Primrose and Montrose, and in the city of Fitchburg and village of Blue Mounds  gave Pfaff sums between $500 and $4,460 for corn seed he claimed to be selling, but none was ever delivered.

The farmer who wrote the $4,460 check told police that he had known Pfaff for many years, since Pfaff worked for a company servicing farm loans, and said that their children had gone to the same school. Another farmer who bought seed said he had known Pfaff for 25 years.

Investigators checked with Renk Seed and found that Pfaff had applied to work for the company but wasnt hired because he had received the poorest grade possible on his background check, due to his poor financial history.

When Pfaff applied, a Renk employee told a Dane County sheriffs deputy, he was given a quick orientation while his background check was being run, and was given some company documents. Among them was an invoice which resembled the invoice form that Pfaff gave customers who thought they were buying Renk seed.

Police looking for Pfaff were told by his former wife that he might be living out of his truck, and his landlord in Mount Horeb told police that he had evicted Pfaff in June because he owed nearly $7,000 in rent.

A sheriffs deputy made contact with Pfaff on April 27, and Pfaff claimed that he had worked for Renk since October. Pfaff was arrested after he was told that police had verified that he didnt actually work for Renk.
A 17-year-old La Follette High School student is in custody after authorities discovered a loaded gun in his car on school property Wednesday afternoon, Madison police said.

Tajh Sanders, 17, was tentatively charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone and possession of a dangerous weapon.

According to police:

Sanders was seen by another teen loading bullets into a magazine while in a class. He was arrested around 2:15 p.m. after the schools education resource officer, who works for the Madison Police Department, was informed.

Sanders car, which was parked near the school at 702 Pflaum Road on the Southeast Side, was checked and a loaded gun was found.

Sanders did not make any threats to students or staff and told police the weapon was for protection.

Principal Sean Storch sent an email to parents Wednesday informing them of the incident.

As you know, the safety of our students is our top priority and our school is very safe, but when incidents do occur, we want to communicate openly with you, Storch wrote.
Update: The man shot Wednesday night at a town of Madison gas station died at UW Hospital.

Police have identified a person of interest in the shooting but no arrest has been made, said Town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory.

Two shootings in two days have police chiefs in the city and town of Madison urging an end to increasing gun violence.

On Wednesday night  less than 26 hours after Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said a 38-year-old man was summarily executed outside a gas station on the citys Southwest Side  another man suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting outside a gas station on Rimrock Road, town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory said.

The unidentified victim was shot at about 8 p.m. Wednesday at Capitol Petro Mart, 2570 Rimrock Road.

Gregory said police were investigating the possibility that the two shootings were related.

Koval said the man killed Tuesday had a friendship with Martez Moore, who was fatally shot outside OGradys Irish Pub, 7436 Mineral Point Road, early April 19.

Family members identified the man killed Tuesday as Darius M. Haynes, of Madison. Haynes was in a car at a BP station at 4501 Verona Road when he was shot multiple times from outside the vehicle shortly before 6:25 p.m.

Im concerned about the continued escalation, and the possibility or potential of retaliation, Koval said Wednesday, before the Rimrock Road shooting. This is the second event in a little over two weeks. Where will it end?

I think people have a right to be afraid, Gregory said after Wednesdays shooting. You have two groups of people who are obviously armed who have issues with each other who are dealing with these issues with guns.

According to an employee at the Capitol Petro Mart, who declined to be named for safety concerns, the victim of Wednesdays shooting entered the gas station and made eye contact with another man already in the store. That man said, Do we have a problem here, before drawing a gun. The victim turned and ran, and the other man followed. The victim was shot behind the gas station, the employee said.

Bystanders at the scene said they heard between five and seven shots. It was not immediately known how many hit the victim.

Police said the shooter was seen fleeing the gas station west on foot.

No bullets entered the gas station, but one gas station employees SUV had its windows shattered, police said.

Gregory said the gas station had good surveillance cameras and officers would be reviewing the footage. Witnesses also were being cooperative.

About an hour before Wednesdays shooting, city of Madison police took a man into custody after a high-speed chase on Milwaukee Street. It was unclear whether the man had a possible connection to recent shootings.

Earlier Wednesday, family members of Haynes met privately with Koval before a press briefing. Koval said the family is not looking for revenge, but answers.

Theyre angry. Theyre upset. Theyre grief-stricken. But in the midst of that, they cling to a faith life that says that they dont want this same tragic outcome manifesting itself on any more families, Koval said. They just want to see the cycle of violence over.

A teary-eyed Vincent Haynes, Darius father, said he was simply hurting. He said his son was a man full of a lot of joy and love.

Zonya White, an aunt of Darius, said he was a father of four and part of a caring family, and that he loved to crack jokes. She said relatives are looking for answers.

A cousin of Haynes, Niaisha White, of Middleton, said two days before his death, on Mothers Day, Haynes visited his mothers grave, said White, who described her cousin as a good man who just loved life.

We just want this to end, so other families dont have to go through this, White said.

Koval began the press briefing saying he wanted to dispel the idea of Madison being a shining, utopian city, where only good things happen. Gun violence and other problems associated with large cities, such as Milwaukee and Chicago, are a part of the reality of living in Madison, he said.

So far this year, there have been 35 incidents of shots being fired in the city, Koval said. The five homicides thus far this year exceeds those at the same time last year, he said. There were a total of 11 homicides in the city last year.

At the pace were going at, I shudder to think of what the years ends outcome is going to be, unless we get some help, Koval said.

At the time of Tuesdays shooting, the BP station had customers going in and out of the store, people sitting in parked vehicles, and cars filling up at the gas pumps, with children present in some vehicles, Koval said.

It is nothing short of miraculous that unintended, third-party, innocent people werent slain in the midst of this, he said.

In an escalating voice, he expressed his frustration that something like this could happen in broad daylight, next to a busy intersection and at a business full of bystanders.

No part of Madison is immune from such incidents of violence, Koval said.

Thats basically a sad story of a city who thought it was Camelot, and then had to get a reality check, he said.

Police officers are continuing to canvass the neighborhood door-to-door, speaking with anyone who might have seen something related to Tuesdays shooting, Koval said. Investigators also have access to security camera footage.

Drones are being used to search for any weapons that might have been tossed, he said, adding that a gun that shoots 9-millimeter bullets was used to shoot Haynes.

Koval said Tuesday witnesses reported seeing several people fleeing the scene after the shooting, and it was unknown how many people were involved in the homicide.

Hours after the homicide, Koval said his department had good leads, but he reiterated the need for anyone with information to share it with police.

We have to put aside whatever our personal concerns of self-sacrifice are and think about whats in the best interest of the better part of Madison, he said. Someone has to have the capacity to come forward, even if anonymously, in order for us to put an end to this spiraling cycle.

Koval said investigators cant rule out gang affiliation or drugs being connected to Tuesdays homicide, but he said the facts cant tell them anything yet and they tend not to want to engage in speculation or inference.

Haynes had two convictions for possession of cocaine, and convictions for several batteries and other crimes over nearly 20 years.

We will find who did this, Koval said, adding, when that happens, they will know that they have been visited by the Madison Police Department.
Madison police have identified the student who allegedly had a gun in class at La Follette High School on Wednesday.

Tajh Sanders, 17, has tentatively been charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Sanders was taken into custody after being seen in a classroom allegedly loading bullets into a gun's magazine.

The high school is at 702 Pflaum Road on Madison's Southeast Side.

The police officer assigned to La Follette was told about Sanders allegedly having a gun; it was determined later on that Sanders allegedly had a gun in his car which was parked near the school.

Nobody was injured.
Police leaders from the city and town of Madison tried to present a unified front Thursday in confronting what they agreed is something new and terrible on the Madison-area crime front: a series of gang-influenced, retaliatory-style murders.

With elected officials standing behind them, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval and town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory sought to both reassure and mobilize members of the public to help them solve three fatal shootings in the past three weeks that they acknowledged for the first time were linked and involve at least two rival factions.

Clearly theres an element of keeping score, Koval said at the joint press conference.

Family holds vigil for Tuesday's shooting victim, church calls community to prayer for peace Family and friends gathered Thursday to hold a vigil at the gas station where Darius Haynes was fatally shot Tuesday.

This stuff is serious and we need it to stop, Gregory said, noting the recklessness of the murders have been especially disturbing, with all three in public settings and two occurring this week during daylight hours. The way the value of human life has diminished  its just baffling to a lot of us.

The boldness, brazenness of it, Koval agreed. When normality turns on its head in public gathering places, that really resonates and gives us pause.

The most recent fatal shooting, and the third homicide since April 19, happened Wednesday night outside Capitol Petro Mart, 2570 Rimrock Road in the town of Madison.

On Thursday, the Dane County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Elijah James Washington III, 28, of Madison.

Washington was shot several times and died later at UW Hospital.

Also on Thursday, the Medical Examiners Office officially identified the man fatally shot Tuesday while in his car at a BP gas station at 4501 Verona Road in the city of Madison as Darius M. Haynes, 38, of Madison.

Preliminary autopsy results show both men died of gunshot wounds.

On April 19, Martez Moore was shot and killed outside OGradys Pub on Madisons Far West Side.

Moores brother, Kortney D. Moore, 28, was identified by Gregory as the suspect in Wednesdays shooting at Capital Petro Mart. Police went to an address in the 2500 block of Pheasant Ridge Trail once it was established that Moore was the suspect Wednesday night, but he fled the residence before police arrived, Gregory said.

We believe he is armed and dangerous, Gregory said. If you see him, call 911.

The apparently retaliatory violence is rare in Madison, Koval noted. I dont think weve seen anything the likes of this in our time, he said.

Bullets are flying in areas where innocent bystanders are present, Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. Fortunately, the bystanders have not been hit.

Police have not said how they believe the Haynes shooting is related to the other two homicides, nor had they named suspects in the first two killings as of Thursday night.

Officials did identify four persons of interest Thursday that officers want to talk to about the two city of Madison homicides  William D. Flowers, Lordie J. Cole, Michael J. Collins and Travis G. Smith Jr.

Four additional people were identified as persons of interest in recent shootings around the city that either injured people or damaged cars and houses: Maurice Graham, Mitchell J. Hallmon, Michael J. Hallmon and Sorrell A. Gilmore.

Police asked for the publics help in finding all eight men.

We cant be everywhere at all times, Koval said, though he acknowledged that some people reluctant to share information with police were motivated by perhaps well-founded fear, not by any desire to uphold a no-snitching code.

Koval said some family members and friends of the shooting victims, for example, were concerned about their own safety when holding vigils and even funeral services, noting some have requested extra police security for those events and would receive it.

And Gregory noted he had received good cooperation from witnesses to Wednesdays shooting. Both Gregory and Koval said they hoped that would continue.

As these issues affect one of us, they affect all of us, Koval said, adding that police efforts can only be the tip of this initiative.

Koval added that there could be some outside interlopers involved in the homicides. But he provided few details about whether people from cities could be involved in the violence, and he noted the eight persons of interest being sought all had local ties.

One of the elected officials present at Thursdays press conference, Ald. Sheri Carter, 14th District, tried to speak directly to members of the warring factions.

Dont let your anger direct your future, she said. Dont leave your children without a father, and your mother and father without a (son). Take the time to think before you act.

Enough violence, Ald. Barbara Harrington-McKinney, 1st District, agreed. It must stop.

Ald. Maurice Cheeks, 10th District 10, noted he was the same age when he joined the City Council  28  as town of Madison homicide suspect Kortney Moore is now. He said he wanted to provide more opportunities for good jobs and secure futures for young men of color in Madison, adding he hoped the public could see the driving importance of young men being able to see a (productive) life here.

Koval said he also hoped to see resources invested into long-term community solutions, calling what police can do just a Band-Aid on deeper problems of education, skills development and job prospects.

DeSpain, who grew up in Madison, noted that he had the same hope but added, Were going to have to deal with the reality of whats been happening the last couple of weeks.

Police resources are being stretched as work continues on the three homicides, DeSpain said, calling the killings our highest priority right now. There are many detectives getting very little sleep now,

At the BP station Thursday morning, about 30 people gathered for a makeshift memorial service around 9:30 a.m. A longtime worker at the station, who declined to be identified, said hed never seen anything there like Tuesday nights shooting. He called having two shootings in two days at Madison gas stations weirdly scary.

Another vigil was held Thursday evening at the station.

Mayor Paul Soglin on Thursday announced city officials will hold a news conference on Saturday to address the recent gun violence and provide a call to action. It will take place in the third-floor community room of the Madison Public Library at 201 West Mifflin St. at noon.
Camryn Kluetmeier, clad in stomach-high waders, stood in a shallow creek bed eyeing a tall, upright tube filled with water.

The tube is a device to measure water clarity. On Monday afternoon, it showed the water in Fitchburgs Swan Creek was relatively clear.

Kluetmeier, 17, a junior at Madison West High School, is working to keep it that way.

Her volunteer work monitoring the health of local streams, starting at age 11, won her recognition from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Its also leading to what Kluetmeier hopes will become a career in environmental science, based on her passion for protecting some of Wisconsins most treasured common spaces  its lakes and rivers.

I know I want to do something that gives back and helps out with the environment, Kluetmeier said. Ive had that commitment since I was really, really young.

Kluetmeier began taking environmental issues to heart as she was learning to read. At age 3, Kluetmeier said, she memorized The Lorax, a Dr. Seuss tale about the perils of deforestation and pollution.

Interest in water and the environment runs in the family. Kluetmeiers mom, Erika Kluetmeier, works as a sustainability specialist for the city of Fitchburg. Her dad, Bruce Rheineck, is a hydrogeologist.

With Erikas help, Camryn helped launch a stream monitoring club at a middle school.

She also has gotten support in stream monitoring from the Rock River Coalition, a group that works to protect water quality in the Rock River watershed, which includes much of south-central Wisconsin.

The stream Kluetmeier monitors, Swan Creek, flows into Lake Waubesa. It and the other large lakes in the Madison area are linked by the Yahara River, which flows into the Rock River.

Once a month, Kluetmeier visits Swan Creek to collect data on its water level and temperature, what elements and chemicals it contains and what tiny critters are living in it. The data is forwarded to the state DNR, Kluetmeier said, which uses it  and data collected by other volunteers on other streams  to monitor their health.

Last month, the DNR recognized Kluetmeier for her stream-monitoring efforts.

Kluetmeiers volunteer work gives her a big head start on what she hopes will become a career in limnology, hydrogeology or environmental history.

Its not lost on Kluetmeier that, as a young woman planning a career in science, shed be entering a profession with relatively few female colleagues. It doesnt deter her, though.

A lot of my friends, its like: Youre into the sciences  really, like, as a girl? Kluetmeier said. There shouldnt be that gender barrier there, and it doesnt matter. I love it and am passionate about it.

The passion was fostered by a childhood spent near the lakes of the Madison area, by family trips along the Wisconsin River and to Lake Superiors Apostle Islands, she said.

Almost as long as she can remember, water has fascinated her.

I love how it ties everyone together, Kluetmeier said.

Volunteer work has taught her to love something else: giving her time for the benefit of others.

Ive learned how to give back to my community in a positive way, she said. I love the feeling that it gives me.

 Mark Sommerhauser
The Literacy Network is trading its cramped quarters in what was once a cheese shop for nearly quadruple the space in the former Wingra Clinic and the ability to serve twice as many people seeking to improve their English language skills.

After some renovations and updates to the former medical center, the Literacy Network plans to open the doors this fall at its new location at 701 Dane St., executive director Jeff Burkhart said.

St. Marys sold the former clinic to the Literacy Network for less than half of its appraised value, Burkhart said. The nonprofit organization launched a $3 million fundraising campaign last month to cover costs associated with its new facility.

Founded in 1974, the Literacy Network serves more than 1,000 Dane County residents annually at 28 different locations. But because of limited space and resources, some learners are put on waiting lists. About 800 people volunteer with the network each year.

Burkhart said the networks cramped and decaying headquarters at 1118 S. Park St. were undignified.

This campaign is about dignity, its about giving people respect and helping them to see themselves differently, Burkhart said, adding, when people are in (the new) building ... theyre going to see themselves differently.

In the new space, the Literacy Network will have four expanded classrooms and a dedicated library, he said, giving students the appropriate space and the respect of being in a real learning center.

According to a study conducted in 2003, one in seven Dane County residents  or more than 70,000 people  struggle with low literacy.

Burkhart said literacy rates are directly correlated with life outcomes.

When we talk about literacy, we dont mean people cant read a word, he said. Were looking at ... being able to read a note from your childs teacher or after-visit summary from your doctor or labels in a grocery store.

The Literacy Networks course offerings follow UW-Madisons semester system, with classes each spring, summer and fall. The organization offers classes at each level of English language ability, and tries to pair learners with designated tutors to give them more personalized instruction. Burkhart said this helps learners achieve their specific goals.

Claudia Barrio, 30, came to Madison from Mexico about seven or eight years ago, but didnt find the Literacy Network until last January. Although she took a few English classes in Mexico, she struggled to complete simple tasks, like shopping, because of the language barriers.

If you need to buy a simple thing like perfume, if they dont understand you  you cant ask about the ingredients, Barrio said.

After attending Literacy Networks second-level English class, Barrio said she can now go to the store and have people understand her. But she has found her personal tutor to be her greatest resource.

I ask them all of my questions, they can understand me and see what is my problem. Like conversation, reading, she said.

Burkhart said that while a majority of their students are English language learners, they have attracted more adult basic education students  native English speakers still reading at low levels  through a program known as SCALE. The program, which began in 2011, teaches adults computer proficiency and other work-related skills. The program also helps to identify low literacy levels among participants and to address those issues.

The Literacy Network also focuses on health literacy. Tutors take learners to meet students training to be doctors, nurses and pharmacists at UWs School of Medicine and Public Health, giving them the chance to have a conversation with a practitioner. At the same time, the program is educating future doctors and nurses on how to identify and approach health literacy issues to improve communication with patients.

Often, Burkhart said, an individual with limited English skills may receive instructions from a doctor or nurse that they dont understand. When they cant follow the instructions appropriately, they can end up needing additional medical care.

Youre never going to see on a patients chart, this person was admitted, or readmitted, because of low health literacy, Burkhart said.

But, he said, the lack of health literacy can cost the county millions of dollars annually.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the address of the new Literacy Network location.
As the debate over tenure for University of Wisconsin System educators continues, it's worth noting that the World Credit Union Center on Mineral Point Road would not be in Madison if it were not for UW's reputation as a first-rate public university and research facility.

The several thousand jobs at CUNA Mutual, the Credit Union National Association, the World Council of Credit Unions, as well as the Filene Research Institute owe their existence to Edward A. Filene, the businessman and social statesman who funded the development of the nation's credit union system. Filene believed education was a war on ignorance.

"Let ignorance hold the purse strings, and ignorance gets a certain definite advantage," he said.

After the nation's Federal Credit Union Act was passed in 1934, and CUNA was chartered, the organization needed a home. Filene picked Madison. He believed the challenges of a nation required critical thinking skills that confronted dogma and assumptions. Educators required courage and freedom to find and teach the facts that scientists and dreamers alike pursued. He advocated the development of social sciences for this purpose.

The Wisconsin Idea is the essence of Filene's philosophy. Gutting education budgets and protections would have appalled him.

-- Mark Condon, Madison
EAST MOLINE, IL - Most Republican candidates expect the usual pro-abortion, "coat hanger" ads to hit their constituents' mailboxes as Democrat groups attempt to confuse voters by gining up baseless fear just prior to an election.

However, Democrat Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and the Illinois Democrat Party may have sunk to a new low in putting out a mailer accusing her opponent - former Congressman Bobby Schilling - of trying to redefine rape.
WASHINGTON - On the United States House floor Thursday morning, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) slammed the GOP nominee Donald Trump about taco salads, strawberries and Trump's plans to deport undocumented workers.
But God and Disney World are not the same thing, Ted Cruz is not Lucifer and we are about to learn what happens when the end results do not justify the relativism of voting for blowhards because the blowhards can win. The best thing we can hope for happens to be identical to the worst thing we can hope for, which is that Trump wins. It's like watching Marty McFly watching himself jump into the DeLorean and race headlong into the past in order to save the future. Very surreal.

And isn't that part of the progressivist utopia that we've been racing toward during Barack Obama's presidency? That there will be a chicken in every pot being cooked by an undocumented worker, and that everyone goes to Heaven because John Boehner has personally met Lucifer and Lucifer couldn't even win the Republican nomination? What makes you think he's go any power over your immortal soul?

Nevertheless, if you can get past the disgrace of being seen kneeling in the pews for sixty minutes once a week, God and the "It's a Small World" ride, these are pretty much the same thing now. Tame, obedient, not particularly demanding.

As a result of society's increasing nonjudgement born of secular homogenization, it would seem that God has been recast in the role of Walt Disney  which is nearly perfect except that people are not ashamed to say that they went to Disney World and paid $200 to stand in line for three hours for a ride that lasted forty-five seconds.

The simple elegance in the design of our election system was that it was assumed free people would first love God with all their hearts, that they would try to keep His laws because of that love and that this love of would translate  albeit imperfectly  into a love of fellow citizens.

That was the contract that kept the country moving forward from its onset  that even when we disagreed on methods, we trusted that voters wanted the nation to remain free and to thrive in a way that met with God's approval. God's approval meant something to them because to them, God is actually realas is His judgment.

Now that the culture is imbued with moral relativism, a love of God and, by extension, neighbor can't be presumed anymore. Sure, we trot out a couple of Corinthians every four years and marvel at how well they match the upholstery in our shiny McMansions, but does anyone care why the Corinthians are important, or are these just talking points bridging the gap between amnesty debates and a drive for expanded Common Core?

The most amazing effect of codified tolerance is that our attitudes have so drastically shifted that the only intolerable acts against society are loving God and obeying His laws, which are being systematically subordinated by the states. To paraphrase Chesterton, materialism drowns out rationalism and skepticism. It comes in like a sea; and the name of it is superstition. The first effect of not believing in God is to believe in anything else.

So we have come to an era where we can uphold that 40-year-old men with honest-to-goodness XY chromosomes should be allowed to piddle next to six-year-old girls because those men don lipstick and imagine that they have XX chromosomes too. We cannot uphold, however, that we exist because a creative being imagined us, and that we are bound to live by His very logical laws because we are His creations. That's too farfetched. That's the thinking of knuckle-dragging troglodytes and we certainly can't build a civil society on a fantasy.

Andrew Klavan  among other things - is a contributor of the Daily Wire and his recent discussions have been about his anguish over how to proceed during this 2016 Presidential Election. Klavan knows that he's facing the prospect of voting for the lesser of two evils, but he can't quite determine if the lesser evil is Hillary or Trump.

Here's audio from his recent podcast that lays out the five reasons that Andrew Klavan struggles to hold his nose and vote. FYI - If you're facing a time crunch, you'll want to skip ahead and start the audio at about 14:40, although listening from the beginning is well worth your time:

Just to recap - Five reasons that Andrew Klavan is struggling with his vote.

Trump called for violence against protesters.

He dithered when asked about David Duke and the KKK.

He didn't condemn Trump supporters who sent anti-Semitic death threats to a journalist who wrote an unflattering article about him.

He went after Ted Cruz's father and wife even though he says he believes that family members of candidates should be off limits.

He consistently sings the praises of dictators.

Andrew Klavan concludes that these five aspects of the Trump campaign are organically evil and that the Republic will not survive evil. Mr. Klavan hesitates about what do with his vote because he's not sure if the aspects of the Clinton campaign are also organically evil or merely corrupt. Corruption is survivable.

We now return to one of my favorite themes, which is that politics and faith are the same thing  they center on the basic rights to be believed and to believe. Again, they are social contracts first with God and then with one another. Politics and faith cannot not detach from one other. Anyone who tells you that he is able to segregate his sense of morality from his sense of justice is either a sociopath who is lying to you, or he is otherwise disordered and is lying to himself.

For as long as I can remember, it has been the teaching of the Catholic faith that when you are faced with two candidates who both support intrinsically evil policies, you should dig deep to determine the lesser of two evils and vote for that person.

For those readers who are unfamiliar with the concept of intrinsic evil, here are the cliff notes:

If the end, called the moral object, is evil, then the act is intrinsically ordered toward evil and is termed intrinsically evil. Every knowingly chosen act with an evil object is an intrinsically evil act.

A person who intentionally chooses an intrinsically evil act, for a good intention, is choosing an act that is objectively morally disordered. The essential moral nature of an act is not determined by the purpose (the intended end) for which the act was chosen, but by the moral object. A good intention cannot change a moral object from evil to good.

Now I happen to agree with Klavan that Trump promotes intrinsic evil and that evil will kill the Republic. It is also my opinion that Hillary Clinton promotes the methodization of intrinsic evil in her own way and this is also not survivable. In keeping with Andrew Klavan's thesis, I will offer you five examples.

Hillary Clinton failed to protect our American Embassy in Libya and promoted a mischaracterization that the murder of our ambassador was a grassroots uprising over an offensive YouTube video in order to cover up an act of war. Clinton's willful mischaracterization resulted in the unlawful imprisonment of the person responsible for the video.

Hillary Clinton does not denounce the violence of Black Lives Matter.

Hillary Clinton said that a woman who accuses a man of sexual assault must be believed even though she headed up the Bimbo Eruption team that was in charge of assailing the character of women who accused her husband of sexual assault.

Hillary Clinton champions the murder of millions of unborn children through her support of Planned Parenthood. She continues to advocate for legislation that would make it even easier to murder unborn children.

She benefits from primary rules that systematically disenfranchise the supporters of her opponent by making their votes half as relevant as the super delegates who pledge to vote for her.

Those are just five examples of intrinsic evil at the hands of Hillary Clinton. As in the case of Donald Trump, I could go on filling space with all the evils that Hillary Clinton has promoted over the decades. There is little difference between Trump and Clinton except maybe that Trump wears orange better. Morally, conservatives have boxed ourselves into a corner and nothing good can come as a result of it. In retrospect we ought to have jumped to a third party the moment that RINOs began complaining that conservatives were holding them back. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess. Now it is looking more and more like there is no sizeable difference between the evil and lesser evil, and we are left with the following five choices come this November:

Vote for evil and know that it will make no difference.

Vote for the other evil and know that it will make no difference.

Vote for a write-in and know that it will make no difference.

Vote for a third party and know that it will make no difference.

Sit this one out and know that it will make no difference.

These non-choices were brought to you through the generous support of our antiseptic, secular society - making all your options generic and pointless since 1913. However  and this is important, when someone tells you that you have to vote for Trump or you'll be responsible for the destruction of our way of life, you can rest assured that you aren't. Just vote your conscience and never look back.
By India Today Web Desk: Delhi govt reduces VAT on hybrid, battery-operated vehicles and e-rickshaws

Delhi government has reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on hybrid cars, battery-operated vehicles and e-rickshaws from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent, projecting it as a step towards reducing air pollution in the city.





Nissan to take over scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors

Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corp confirmed they were discussing a possible capital tie-up, after reports that the former was looking to take a roughly one-third stake in its scandal-hit rival.

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Tesla says it has not finalized 2017 Model 3 design

Tesla Motors Inc said the design of its new Model 3 has not been finalized, even though the electric car maker expects to begin building the mass-market sedan within the next 18 months.



MV Agusta enters India with F4, F3 and Brutale 1090; prices start at Rs 16.78 lakh

MV Agusta on Wednesday announced its official entry into India via an exclusive partnership with Pune's automobile major, the Kinetic Group.

--- ENDS ---
The new variant, which comes with all new mHAWK 100 engine, delivers a power of 100 BHP and will be available in the top-end variants of T8 and T8 AMT trims of the TUV300.

The enhanced power would enable the model to offer a more thrilling drive.

By India Today Web Desk: Utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday launched a more powerful variant of its compact SUV TUV300 priced at Rs 8.87 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The new variant, which comes with all new mHAWK 100 engine, delivers a power of 100 BHP and will be available in the top-end variants of T8 and T8 AMT trims of the TUV300.

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ALSO READ: Mahindra TUV300 to get similar engine as the NuvoSport

The company said the AMT variant of the model has also been upgraded with more power and has been refined for smoother automatic gear shifts and a fatigue-free driving experience.

Besides, the company has also provided better cushioned seats and child safety seat mounts in the second row to make it a better proposition for the customers, it added.

"As an organisation we always like to hear to the customers and hence we are happy to introduce the more powerful TUV300 with the mHawk 100 engine," M&M Chief Executive (Automotive) Pravin Shah told PTI.

ALSO READ: Mahindra XUV500 gets automatic transmission for W6 variant

The enhanced power would enable the model to offer a more thrilling drive, he added.

"With over 25,000 TUV300s on Indian roads, it has emerged as a strong player in its segment. With its all new powerful engine as well as a winning combination of bold true-blue SUV design, safety, the TUV300 will become an even more compelling value proposition for our customers," Shah said.

In order to provide choice to the customers, the company would sell the T8 variant of the TUV300 with both mHAWK 100 and mHAWK 80 engine options.

ALSO READ: Mahindra launches limited edition Scorpio; priced at Rs 13.07 lakh

The other variants would continue to be powered by mHAWK 80-engine which delivers a power 80 BHP. The entry level T4 variant of the vehicle is priced at Rs 7.26 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

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GBSHSE HSSC Class 12th Result is available here. (http://results.intoday.in/) The exam was held in March.

By India Today Web Desk: The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education declared the result of Class 12 HSSC examination. The candidates who appeared for the examination can check their results at the India Today website http://results.intoday.in/.



This year, 15000 students appeared for the examination held between February 29 and March 22.



Steps to check the Goa Class 12 HSSC Result 2016:



Go to www.indiatoday.intoday.in

Click on the tab 'EDUCATION'

Click on the tab 'Check your results here-Results'

Select 'Goa HSSC (Class 12) Board Results 2016'

Enter your roll number.

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About the board:



The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education was formed on May 27, 1975 under Goa Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Act, 1975. It is authorised to conduct the HSSC and SSC examination and helps to develop the education condition of the state.

Read: UP Class 10 Exam 2016: Results expected to be announced by May 15.

Read: UP Board Class 12 Result 2016: To be declared at http://upresults.nic.in/.

Get latest updates on exam notifications and scholarships across India and abroad here.

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The Himachal Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (HPBOSE) - Dharamshala announced the written examination results of the Class 10 examinations. All to the candidates are requested to keep a track on the official website to know check the results, www.hpbose.org.

By India Today Web Desk: The Himachal Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (HPBOSE) - Dharamshala announced the written examination results of the Class 10 examinations. All to the candidates are requested to keep a track on the official website to know check the results, www.hpbose.org.



Over 4,86,254 students appeared for the Class 10 exams held between March 5 and March 19 in the state of Himachal Pradesh.



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Steps to check the results:



All the candidates need to log on to the website, www.hpbose.org

Then click on the link 'Check Class 10 Results 2016'

The student then needs to enter the registration number and date of birth

Click on the submit button

After the results will be displayed, candidates need to download the same

All the candidates need to take print out of the results for future reference.

All the students should contact students who find difficulty in accessing the results, can send their query to hpbose2011@gmail.com.



About HPBOSE:



HPBOSE, Dharamshala started functioning in 1969 as per Himachal Pradesh Act No. 14 of 1968. The head-quarter of the board was earlier located at Shimla but was later shifted to Dharamshala in January 1983. Also, over 8000 schools are affiliated with this board.



Read: WBPSC Junior Engineer Examination 2016: Exam dates released.

Read: Meghalaya Board of School Education HSSLC 2016: Results declared.

For information on more upcoming exams and results, click here.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Kochi, May 12 (PTI) With relief writ large on their faces, 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached here this morning.

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

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It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 AM.

The flight carrying the 16 persons landed here at 8.30 AM this morning, after which they completed immigration formalities. The relatives of the rescued Indians had been patiently waiting since the early hours and there were cries of relief as they spotted them.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the the hospital had decided to leave the area.

"I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan," said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham. Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandys office, there was no help. "There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets.

"Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said. One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years. "We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called us to ask about our plight," she told reporters. Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be re-imbursed to them. The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli yesterday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan told PTI. "As per our request, the ambassador had got in touch with hospital, Libyan bank and Protocol officer in charge of foreign affairs in a bid to get the dues of the stranded Indians released", he said. The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi this morning, he said. There are totally 11 children, five of them infants in the age group of one and half years and two, Kannan said. The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said. Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts. A pregnant nurse was among those evacuated. PTI UD APR APK RT

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: Imphal, May 12 (PTI) An estimated 2560 kg of contraband forest item ?Ginseng?, worth Rs 1.59 crore in market, were recovered in Manipur, an Assam Rifles statement said.

The seizure was made on May 10.

The contraband was seized from two individuals - A Besil (39) and L Daikho (25) - both hailing from Senapati district, the AR said.

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The duo and the recovered items were handed over to the Forest Department by the security personnel, the statement said. PTI COR SUS SUS

--- ENDS ---
Congress will be moving privilege motions against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Rajya Sabha accusing them of "lying blatantly" during the AgustaWestland debate.

By India Today Web Desk: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today announced that the party will move a privilege motion against BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for lying in Parliament during the AgustaWestland debate.

"These two leaders have been lying blatantly and brazenly," Jairam Ramesh said while talking to reporters.

"Subramanian Swamy spoke against Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders in Parliament and kept referring a document which according to him was an Italian court's judgment. In reality, this is a 13-page document consisting of two page of emails from Swamy to himself. Nine pages of the report were downloaded from www.pgurus.com and the remaining two pages are part of a news story run by an Indian news channel," Ramesh added.

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The motion against Swamy is likely to be filed with Rajya Sabha chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Friday, the last day of the ongoing session, Ramesh said.

"The document which Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar referred as the Italian court's judgment in the Lok Sabha are actually minutes of a meeting attended by the NSA," Ramesh said.

Meanwhile, AICC also announced that the party will file defamation case against a US-based website, www.pguru.com, whose material was used by Swamy in the Rajya Sabha debate. It alleged that the website is linked to the Sangh Parivar.

ALSO READ | Sonia is a suspect, should be quizzed: Swamy's latest 10 salvos in Agusta case

--- ENDS ---
By Indo-Asian News Service: Musician-actor Chris Daughtry is convinced that popular reality talent show American Idol, which bid adieu in April after 15 seasons, will be back in a different form.

The Daughtry frontman, who stood fourth on the fifth season of the show, thinks that the makers of the show "will repackage it another way", reports bangshowbiz.com.

"From the day that they said they were cancelling, I've said that I think that they will repackage it another way. My theory is that it's coming through," Daughtry said.

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Also read: Indo-American singer reaches last 24 of American Idol



The 36-year-old rocker returned to the show for a "bittersweet" appearance on the final episode and felt very "proud" to be back.

"It was cool to be back, I was happy to be a part of the last episode. I'm proud of the history I have with the show. Always happy to be back. It was bittersweet," he said about his appearance on the finale show.



--- ENDS ---
In a horrific scene, the elevated merry-go-round ride at Kishkinta Theme Park called Disco Dancer broke into three pieces due to a mechanical fault and flung its occupants into the air.

By India Today Web Desk: The trial of an amusement park ride in Chennai took a deadly turn on Wednesday when it came crashing down from nearly 15 feet, leaving one person dead and 20 others injured.

In a horrific scene, the elevated merry-go-round ride at Kishkinta Theme Park called Disco Dancer broke into three pieces due to a mechanical fault and flung its occupants into the air.

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A boy from West Bengal was killed and 20 people injured in the mishap.

Angry relatives of the injured alleged that some staffers of the theme park were forcibly made to sit for a trial run after the theme park was closed for the day.

Police have registered an FIR under Section 327 (causing injuries to employees). No arrests have been made till now.

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AR Rahman will join the likes of Salman Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Abhinav Bindra as India's Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Olympics.

By India Today Web Desk: Music composer AR Rahman accepted the Indian Olympic Association's offer to become the Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Olympics.

There was a storm when the IOA named Salman Khan as a Goodwill Ambassador late last month. The association since went on a damage-control mode and appointed Beijing gold medalist and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra and legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar .

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Rahman is well-respected across the country and bagged an Oscar for his music in 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

India's largest-ever Olympic contingent



The Olympics this year is going to be a very significant event for India as it will send its largest ever contingent - about 90 athletes - to the Games in Rio de Janeiro beginning August 5.

"About 90 athletes have qualified for Olympics in Rio. India will send the largest ever contingent this year," minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.

Rijiju added that special assistance has been given to sporting talents for their training both in India and abroad.



--- ENDS ---
Baywatch director Seth Gordon is all mesmerised by Bollywood's Desi Girl Priyanka Chopra.

By India Today Web Desk: Priyanka Chopra, who makes her Hollywood debut in Baywatch, says she is liking "being bad".

SEE PIC: Priyanka Chopra is back with her Baywatch squad, in Savannah this time around

ALSO READ: After Priyanka Chopra's Time feat, Dwayne Johnson can't stop gushing about his Baywatch girl



The 33-year-old actor plays a negative role in the Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron-starrer film Baywatch.

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The Gunday star, who will be essaying the character of Victoria Leeds in the film, took to Instagram to share a photograph of herself along with director Seth Gordon.

"Haha love creating Victoria with you Seth Gordon. I seem to be liking being bad too much (sic)," Priyanka captioned the image.

The image was originally shared by the ace director on his Instagram account with the caption, "On set with our inimitable & beautiful villainess @priyankachopra #evilneverlookedsogood #badgirl #baywatch #onset (sic)."

On set with our inimitable & beautiful villainess @priyankachopra #evilneverlookedsogood #badgirl #baywatch #onset A photo posted by Seth Gordon (@sethnodrog) on May 11, 2016 at 8:41pm PDT

Seth Gordon's caption suggests that he is completely mesmerised by the Bollywood diva.



Baywatch is a big screen adaptation of the hugely popular 1990s TV series of the same name. The film also features Hollywood stars such as Jon Bass, Kelly Rohrbach, Alexandra Daddario and Ilfenesh Hadera.

Baywatch will hit the screens on May 19, 2017.



--- ENDS ---
"I came here today without informing anyone and was able to do darshan. I wish someday all women are allowed to do darshan," Desai said.

Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai entered Mumbai's Haji Ali dargah to offer prayers on Thursday morning after being denied entry last month

By India Today Web Desk: Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai entered Mumbai's Haji Ali dargah to offer prayers on Thursday morning after being denied entry last month.

"I came here today without informing anyone and was able to do darshan. I wish someday all women are allowed to do darshan," Desai said.

However, according to the Haji Ali Dargah management, Desai was not allowed entry into the sanctorum.

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"She came to Haji Ali Dargah with police protection. Dargah management were with her. She was allowed till the gate of sanctrum where every normal women are allowed. But she was not allowed inside the sanctrum (near kabr/majaar). She was quite satisfied till the gate (from where normal women could also seen the majaar from a distance) and went back," Haji Ali Dargah member said.

Also read

Trupti Desai fails to enter Haji Ali dargah, plans to protest to Maharashtra CM

Trupti Desai offers prayers at Trimbakeshwar temple, likely to meet PM Modi next month



--- ENDS ---
Modi's lieutenants have come out with a formal structure to be imparted to enhance government's social media efforts in order to bring all the ministers under a formal system for better exploitation of social networking platforms.

PM Modi's trusted lieutenants have come out with a formal structure to be imparted to enhance government's social media efforts.

By Siddhartha Rai: Social media has emerged as the new political mantra of the Narendra Modi government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had redesigned social networking as an instrument of politics in the 2014 general elections and now, the government has forged a new strategy to hone its stratagem.

Modi's trusted lieutenants have come out with a formal structure to be imparted to enhance government's social media efforts in order to bring all the ministers under a formal system for better exploitation of social networking platforms and other web-based utilities. Party sources say the initiative has been taken by Modi's information-technology team headed by officer on special duty (OSD) (IT) Hiren Joshi.

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At a recently-held social media workshop at the India Habitat Centre, the government advised ministers, ministry officials and representatives from several departments on taking a number steps to reach out to the people more effectively by using social media and the internet in a more rigourous manner.

All the ministries are now mandated to send all their suggestions and such information as can be used on online platforms to a centralized email handle: nda@mygov.in.

As part of the new strategy, the Modi government has made provision for identifying one designated official for each minister to take care of all social media handles.

At a higher level, the refurbished strategy translates into identifying one designated nodal officer who would be looking after all social media handles of all the ministries. The person would be working under a senior minister and would also be handling information about all key or flagship initiatives of the regime.

The government would be in touch with these designated officials via special WhatsApp and email groups which would be created for these nodal officers for dissemination of information.

At the workshop, a half-day affair, several from among team-Modi addressed the ministers and their officials on how to accentuate the use of online platforms for better advertisement of the achievements of the government. Another member of Modi's inner circle of trust, Yash Gandhi - who handles Modi's website www.narendramodi.

in - educated the ministers about identifying ministry schemes which still had the scope of amplification in social media.

The gathering also brainstormed over approaches that could be taken by ministries to highlight the two-year achievement of the government.

As the Modi government has launched the citizen engagement platform MyGov.in, the government is pushing the ministries to establish better coordination with the platform. MyGov head Akhilesh Mishra educated the ministers as how they could effectively respond to issues highlighted in the social media and mainstream news media.

Earlier, the government had designated three ministers- power minister Piyush Goyal, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MoS, PMO, Jitendra Singh - to "mentor" their colleagues about the use of social media. Pradhan would be handling stalwarts like Nitin Gadkari, Giriraj Singh and Manoj Sinha.

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Goyal has been given the charge of tutoring the likes of Manohar Parrikar, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Mahesh Sharma. Singh, meanwhile, would be mentoring ministers such as Najma Heptullah, Ramvilas Paswan, Rao Inderjot Singh, etc.

Also read:

These are the best and worst BJP social media performers



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not withdrawing his controversial comment comparing Kerala and Somalia during his final election campaign rally in the state. In his Facebook post, Chandy said Modi had kept mum on the controversy and what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the election campaign rally without answering my questions. It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from Malayali community world over," Chandy said. In a hard-hitting letter, Chandy had lambasted Modi recently for comparing Kerala to Somalia during his poll campaign rally here, saying he has insulted the state.

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He had also requested Modi to show some "political decency" by withdrawing the statement as they are "baseless and contrary to ground realities.

"The people of Kerala, whose self-pride was wounded by the Prime Ministers statement, expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence.But it didnt happen," he said adding that Keralites still hoped he would withdraw his Somalia remark.

Modi had compared the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state with that of African country Somalia during the poll campaign rally earlier this week, which triggered widespread criticism among political parties in Kerala.

Social media had also witnessed campaigns with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Go Off Modi) mocking at the Prime Minister over his comparison. PTI LGK UD APR DV

--- ENDS ---
Months of strains in ties with India, first sparked by unrest over the new Constitution and an ensuing trade blockade, has seen Kathmandu turning increasingly to Beijing, primarily to step up fuel imports amid an energy crisis caused by the blockade.

By Ananth Krishnan: China on Thursday announced the opening of a new rail and road trading route to Nepal, coming amid fresh strains in the country's relations with India following the cancellation of its president's visit and the recalling of its envoy from New Delhi earlier this week.

Months of strains in ties with India, first sparked by unrest over the new Constitution and an ensuing trade blockade, has seen Kathmandu turning increasingly to Beijing, primarily to step up fuel imports amid an energy crisis caused by the blockade.

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Further tensions were triggered this week after Nepal announced the cancellation of a scheduled visit by its president to India, with Kathmandu blaming New Delhi for what it described as efforts to destabilise Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government.

In March, China told Oli when he visited Beijing that it would back his government against "any external interference", and would support stability in Nepal and aid his government within its capacity, with trade and investment. Oli had during the visit secured a landmark deal with China for extending its Tibet railway network into Nepal, a long-discussed proposal that Nepal had in the past spurned because of Indian sensitivities. In a reversal, Chinese officials said it was Oli that raised it in Beijing.

As both sides shortly begin a feasibility study into the railway plan, Beijing on Thursday flagged off a new rail-cum-road trading route, with an international freight train loaded with 86 cargo containers carrying goods from China's western Gansu province bound for Kathmandu.

The train will halt at Xigaze in Tibet, the last point on the Tibet railway network in the west, with the goods then transferred to road transport until Kathmandu.

The journey will take 10 days, according to Chinese State media reports, covering three sections: 2,431 km from Gansu's provincial capital Lanzhou by rail to Xigaze; 564 km over land to the border port of Gyirong, and a 160 km from the Nepal border to Kathmandu.

The new route, reports said, would take "35 days fewer than traditional ocean transport would".

Chinese Foreign Ministry official Hou Yanqi, Deputy Director General in the Asia Department, told India Today in March during Oli's visit that China was already extending the Tibet railway network from Xigaze to Gyirong.

Oli, she said, had proposed extending the line from Gyirong into Nepal. "Prime Minister Oli raised proposals of two kinds of railways," said Hou. "The first is projects [within the territory] of Nepal connecting the three biggest cities in Nepal, and the second is a cross border railway," she said. The proposal, she added, had "got a positive response from the Chinese side and the two sides have agreed to conduct feasibility study at an early date."

--- ENDS ---

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Think before you scribble a silly messages on the world's highest mountain because China will 'name and shame you'.

By India Today Web Desk: Chinese authorities in Tibet have vowed to 'name and shame' tourists who scribble on monuments on the way to Mt Everest.

In a bid to erase the "I was here", "let's wander together" and ''farewell to the mountain", graffiti on monuments, the authorities on the Chinese side of the Mt Everest have decided to 'name and shame' people who draw them.

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The names of those who have scribbled graffiti will be put up on a 'blacklist' .This decision came after a string of uncivilized behavior by mainland tourists both at home and abroad.

"Starting this year, we will set up a blacklist system to punish badly-behaved tourists, such as those who leave graffiti. The blacklist will be made public through media outlets," said Gu Chunlei, deputy head of Tingri County tourism bureau.

This month marks the peak tourist season on Mt Everest and many arrive at the Base camp. Most of the doodles are found in Everest Base Camp which is located 5,200 metres above sea level which allows climbers and tourists to rest.

A piece of graffiti, right in the middle of a tablet, read "tonight we hunt tigers" next to a drawing of a tiger claw, the state-run Global Times reported.

To rein in this bad habit of defacing monuments the Great Wall of China recently introduced separate "graffiti zone" for people to scribble at their will.



--- ENDS ---
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, alleged Agusta middleman says former IAF chief was 'used as a tool'.

Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and his cousins may have received money in the scandal-tainted AgustaWestland deal to front for a "bigger activity" in Mauritius, British defence broker Christian Michel told India Today in an exclusive interview .

The air marshal and his cousins - Sanjeev, Sandeep and Rajeev - are under investigation for their suspected role in the `3,600-crore deal, which allegedly saw kickbacks being paid to Indian officials and politicians to swing the contract for a dozen VVIP helicopters.

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"I think- this is only my opinion and I am not an expert - it will be found that they only received enough money to look like they are part of a bigger picture," said Michel during the interview in Dubai, the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.

The former IAF chief is accused of reducing the flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m which put British-Italian company AgustaWestland in the race for the deal. He has denied the charge.

The Briton, wanted by India and Italy, voiced his suspicions about the conduct of other alleged middlemen, Guido Haschke, Carlo Gerosa and Gautam Khaitan, in the scrapped chopper contract.

The controversy resurfaced last month when an Italian court judgment referred to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - among others - though gave no evidence of wrongdoing by them.

Haschke, Michel alleged, created the "bigger picture" for the Tyagis to front in order to "get into the deal and make the money he made."

"I think the (the Tyagis) were a front; a cover for a much bigger activity going on elsewhere (Mauritius)," he said.

Mauritius and Khaitan, he insisted, hold the key to the entire scam.

Michel described Khaitan as "the brains" behind the deal. "He set up the structures, he opened the bank accounts, he was responsible for moving the money; so he knows. He knows what went on. He must know."

But the defence dealer sought to exonerate the top Indian leadership, from both erstwhile BJP and Congress governments, of involvement in the scandal.

"To say that a man like (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee or Dr Manmohan Singh or (then defence minister AK) Antony is involved is ridiculous ...it's impossible. They would not do that. You are looking at a level below that," Michel said.

Also, he bluntly denied having any personal political connections in India.

"I try and avoid meeting leaders because my expertise is in implementation (of potential aviation projects), and I am very well-paid for doing that," he said.

Michel said there was no need for him to meet the ruling Congress leadership back then.

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"They were not interfering in business; they were letting the business go forward. So, there was no need for meetings."

"No. Never," he replied tersely when asked if he ever met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

No single individual, he maintained, had the capability to swing the business in favour of AgustaWestland when asked whether industrialist Sanjeev Julie Tyagi could have been instrumental in cracking it.

"I don't think he could play any major role in swinging this deal- (it's) too big a decision.

It's the VVIP aircraft for one of the greatest, most powerful countries in the world.

One man cannot swing that deal," Michel said.

"Is it not possible at this very high level decisions were taken on merit? Is that something which is so impossible for a developed nation like India to do?"

The Briton said he also believed a "great deal" of money had gone back to Italy.

"The way the media is playing it I am not sure it's that way. But there's something there which is wrong. My opinion - and it's just my opinion - is that a great deal of money went back to Italy and Haschke has already admitted that some of it went back to Italy. But I don't think it's still the full story," said Michel.

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Asked about his meeting with Sanjeev Julie Tyagi, he said the businessman had introduced himself as a "very powerful and clever industrialist."

"I have to say he looked like a perfect gentleman, very, very English... very nice man and that is as far as it ever went," Michel recalled.

But he maintained Julie Tyagi made no promise to him about securing the deal.

The British national expressed his faith in the Indian judiciary but admitted he feared arrest if he returned to New Delhi to depose.

"What we could do is work out a video-link system, where I could be interviewed in the Indian embassy (consulate) in Dubai....that system would work and then at least I have an opportunity to defend myself and give Indian authorities documents they need - authenticated documents, not hearsay, not documents coming from third parties but from my hands which will help them in their investigation," Michel said.

Also read:

EXCLUSIVE: Full text of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel's interview to India Today

EXCLUSIVE: Never met Sonia Gandhi, can't say there were no kickbacks, says Christian Michel



--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) BJP, which has faced flak over research scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide, today used the resignation letter of a key SFI leader of Hyderabad Universitys students union to accuse the Left and Congress of exploiting sentiments of students.

Raju Kumar Sahu, the students union general secretary, in the letter compared his "alienation" in SFI to that of Vemula and alleged that the action committee formed to lead the agitation following the Dalit scholars suicide, was used for selective and political reasons.

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"Sahus resignation is not important but the serious questions he has raised over the Left parties are and his comments that how for political reasons they exploited sentiments of students. He said Vemula felt isolated due to working style of SFI and he was being treated similarly," BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav told mediapersons here.

Partys national secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed that Congress had joined the Left in targeting the Centre and BJP over the issue but both of them have been "exposed".

"Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should answer why Rahul Gandhi went to the Hyderabad University twice. Congress and the Left have played with sentiments of students and have been exposed," he said, questioning the "silence" of those who have been attacking BJP over the issue.

On the prospect of the GST bills passage in Parliament, Yadav, a Rajya Sabha member, said it was in the countrys interest and should be passed.

BJP is hoping that change in the number game in Rajya Sabha in coming months will be more suitable to its passage as the strength of Congress is expected to go down. PTI KR DBS PAL DBS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: justice

Agartala, May 11 (PTI) Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court Deepak Gupta today praised the governance by the Manik Sarkar government but said the crime against women was "unusually high" in the state.

"Governance in the state is good. There is honesty at the helm of affairs. I find good roads, good libraries and good dispensaries even in remote areas," Justice Gupta told reporters.

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"The conviction rate is very low in the state. The main reason is that filing of FIR is very low. Police here should register FIR and start investigation immediately," Justice Gupta told a press conference.

He said crime against women is "unusually high" and matrimonial disputes were large in number in the state.

Justice Gupta has been transferred as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei of the Gauhati High Court will be the new acting Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court and take charge on May 16. PTI JOY SUS GVS PS

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Mail Today got access to documents and postmortem reports of the hospital and the animal house inside the zoo, which revealed 33 adults and six infant deer died since February not 16 as the zoo authorities were maintaining.

Mystery deepens: More than 30 deer had died in the Delhi zoo over the past three months.

By Shashank Shekhar: The Delhi zoo may now install CCTV cameras to find the exact cause of death of 33 spotted deer.

Even as officials blame infected mongoose for the deaths, the samples of a dead rat, found inside the deer enclosure, have also been sent for tests.

Mail Today reported about a spate of deer deaths following which an inspection by a three-member team of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and representatives of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) revealed that the toll was 33.

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However, the Delhi zoo spokesperson maintains that the number of deaths remains 16 and some infant or newborn deer died during the period. "Only 16 deer have died of which 13 tested positive for rabies.

There were some infants and still born deer which are not included in this list," said Riyaz Khan, curator of the Delhi zoo.

Mail Today, however, got access to documents and postmortem reports of the hospital and the animal house inside the zoo, which revealed 33 adults and six infant deer died since February.

The cause of death is different and officials are yet to ascertain reason behind spread of rabies virus.

"After the inspection of the zoo, we have instructed the officials to clean entire area and sanitise it. They have been asked to quarantine the deer enclosure by white washing and disinfecting the area. As the reason behind spread of rabies virus is not certain, a daynight vision CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor any external entry," CZA member secretary DN Singh said.

CZA has also instructed the zoo to monitor movement of deer with binoculars to notice symptoms of dullness or injury.

A body of a rat was found inside the deer enclosure, which has been sent to the lab to check if it was infected by rabies. Officers are guessing that spread of rabies is due to bite of infected mongoose or rat.

The zoo officials were also seen defending their act of transporting two male Himalayan black deer from Gopalpur in Himachal Pradesh last week. This is in violation of CZA guidelines, which says no animal should be transported during summers.

"Both the male deer were transported through an exchange program and we took extreme care of the animals.

As deer is a high altitude animal, it was kept in a special van maintaining room temperature and it was transported to Delhi only at night so that temperature remains low. They were brought only after the approval of CZA," Khan explained.

However, the CZA approval was granted six months back. Officials claim that the delay in transportation was due to unavailability of logistics and infrastructure.

Khan further said the animals will be kept under observation in a temperature-controlled room inside the hospital. Male black deer have been brought to breed with four female deer present in the zoo. "These animals mate during the winters so it was important to bring them here now so that they get some time to acclimatise.

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They will be let out in the open only after rains in August," Khan said.

Also read:

Delhi: Inspection finds zoo deer death toll 33, not 16



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Reema had wanted to become a doctor and had appeared for her MBBS exams, but she failed in two subjects. She appeared for the exam again, but was not successful.

By India Today Web Desk: A 17-year-old girl, who was an MBBS aspirant, committed suicide at her home in Delhi's Morris Nagar area, leaving a note behind expressing her desire to donate her organs.

Reema had wanted to become a doctor and had appeared for her MBBS exams, but she failed in two subjects.

She appeared for the exam again, however, on Tuesday, when the results came out, she found that she had not cleared her Chemistry paper.

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Depressed with the turn of events, she decided to end her life.

Before taking the drastic step, Reema wrote an emotional letter to her family, asking her parents to forgive her as she could not be a good daughter and student.

She signed off as 'Future Doctor Reema Sood'.

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By Manogya Loiwal : The Dimapur police has cracked down on a gang involved in the infamous money laundering racket called by various names like "Nigerian scam", "Four One Nine" or "Get poor fast scheme."



Four persons including a Nigerian national, the kingpin, have been arrested in this connection.

Briefing mediapersons, DCP (Zone-1), Dimapur Police, Vilhousie Peseyie, said the arrests were made following three FIRs were filed at East Police Station in which the complainants, all women, reported that were duped off their money.



The three women in the FIR stated that they were duped Rs 31.50 lakh, Rs 6.47 lakh and Rs 25,000 respectively.



Peseyie said, "A team of Dimapur Police including Dinesh Gupta, IPS probationer attached to East PS and Chopika Chophy, SI, camped for 16 days in Delhi and finally arrested the four accused. The four accused are presently in the custody of Dimapur Police."



Two of the accused including the Nigerian identified as one Chiazo Nwaneri alias Jasper (31) and Chandan Kumar Choudary (28) were nabbed in Delhi while the other two gang members identified Narender Singh Bisht (27), Laxma Karniyal (36) as were arrested from Uttrakhand.



Police also seized 42 SIM cards, 6 mobile handsets, 9 ATM cards, 3 internet devices, 3 passbooks, 3 cheque books, a laptop, 3 pen drives and Rs. 31,000 in cash from Nwaneri.



On the modus operandi of the gang, police said the kingpin Chiazo Nwaneri used to open hundreds of fake Facebook accounts preferably using English names and posing as some rich gentleman. Nwaneri would then start chatting to chat and get friendly with vulnerable victims, mostly women. After two-three months and having gained the confidence of the victim, Nwaneri would then devise various ways to fleece his victims.



The most common strategy was to inform the Facebook friend (victim) that Nwaneri, posing as some rich European gentleman, was sending an expensive "gift" (like Apple laptop, I-phone, gold jewelry). After a couple of days, one of Nwaneri accomplices would pose as some customs or airport officials and inform the would-be victim over phone that the "gift" had arrived at IG Airport, New Delhi, and waiting to be claimed.



However, to claim the gift Nwaneri accomplice would also inform the would-be victim that he or she has to pay some money varying from thousands or rupees to a few lakhs as airport "clearance fee", "custom fee" or "security clearance fee."



The victim would then deposit the money in an account given by Nwaneri or his men, but the gift never arrives. In many cases, Nwaneri would continue to fleece the victim citing one reason or the other. In some cases, Nwaneri and his men even threatened that they would send "international police" to arrest the victims if they did not pay up, police informed.



Police informed that other strategies employed by Nwaneri to dupe the victim include posing as a rich westerner who is bored with the west and wants to settle in India or the North East Region along with all his wealth and lottery scams using names of reputed companies or offices like BBC, Reserve Bank of India and Coca Cola.



According to police, Nwaneri has been staying in Delhi in a lavish apartment for the past three years on a fake passport after his passport expired in 2013.

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Lastly the Dimapur Police appeals to the citizens that such things are happenings in our surroundings and we must take care of it and reported to the police immediately.

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The pictures and videos posted by political parties carry information that is way over the ethical or moral code and some are even borderlining hardcore porn.

By Pramila Dixit : Politics in Tamil Nadu has stooped to new level of dirty low as more and more videos and images of alleged candidates of political parties, participating in what should be private activities is making rounds on social network. Now, who is responsible for this act is not known as the parties are blaming each other.

As a well known fact, social media is a double sided sword which can be either used to part knowledge or sling mud as per the wishes of those who use it.

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Mudslinging in Tamil Nadu politics is nothing new but for this election, it has gone down to a new low level. Earlier, leaders and spokesmen used to speak against each party's policies, expose their scams and yell at each others' acts of sycophancy.

But things have taken a dirty turn as election moves closer. For this election, the parties in Tamil Nadu took their battle to the social media. In the beginning it was memes comically and sarcastically criticising each other. Then we had ads that brought out each others bad decisions. And even that being not enough, images of strong men belonging to two major parties in Tamil Nadu have surfaced on social media especially WhatsApp that could make a moral citizen turn his head away.

These pics and videos carry information that is way over the ethical or moral code and some are even borderlining hardcore porn.

Ethics forgotten



Speaking on the issue, Saravanan, spokesman for DMK expressed his shock and called this as unprecedented never heard in the history of Tamil Nadu politics. "This is very low and we are very sure that this is being done by AIADMK cadres especially the IT wing of AIADMK party and I think this shows their desperation. They are not able to overcome anti-incumbemcy. They have nothing to show for the last five years. So they are indulging in such mudslinging," he expressed with suspicion.

But the AIADMK men are equally surprised by what has happened but pull the act together and as expected deny the charges and call this as petty politics played by DMK. Kishore P Swamy an admirer of Jayalalithaa, comically responds by asking to let DMK explain first about the video. "On one side they claim that the video is false and the other side they claim that AIADMK is responsible for it. If it is false then why are they bothered as to who released it!", he asks and no one could answer that yet.

As to him, DMK is tasting it's own medicine. He reminds us about how SunTV played the video clip of Swami Nityananda being intimate with an actress on prime time network without worrying about decent and asks how could they cry fowl now!

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A well know professor of politics requesting anonymity funnily quotes this as also an entity imported from the First Worlds and coins it as the Bill Clinton/Anthony Weiner formula.

Whatever maybe, the reserved population of Tamil Nadu who give much importance to self discipline is not happy with what is happening during these elections and this dissatisfaction is expected to reflect on a huge way during the polling day.

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An expert panel set up by the Union Urban Development Ministry recommended the removal of 44 bottlenecks to ease traffic in the capital.

The Union Transport Ministry has also proposed to build eight radial roads in Delhi to redirect traffic leaving the city. Once approved, it will be executed by the NHAI, DDA, Delhi government, Noida and Greater Noida authorities.

By Rakesh Ranjan: The much-publicised concept of signal-free corridors in Delhi during the Sheila Dikshit regime may not find favour with the new dispensation.

An expert panel set up by the Union Urban Development Ministry has found that the signal-free corridors essentially result in bottlenecks at key traffic intersections. The panel has identified and recommended removing 44 bottlenecks for decongestion of Delhi.

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The panel has said that merely constructing new flyovers and underpasses would make no change to the existing traffic situation and hence, emphasis has been laid on widening of roads, removing encroachment and creating parking space along arterial roads.

Experts said breaking the free flow of traffic was essential to get rid of bottlenecks. A number of stretches like NH-24, ITO intersection, Akshardham, Noida Gate on UP Link Road and Ashram Chowk, among others, have become major bottlenecks as these roads were made signal free by constructing flyovers and underpasses in run-up to the Commonwealth Games in 2010. As uninterrupted traffic comes to halt at these traffic intersections, it leads to a long pile-up of vehicles.

"It has been observed that major bottlenecks are created on the first traffic intersection after a long signal-free drive. Vehicles speed up to dodge signals, which results in a bottleneck.

Widening of roads and removing encroachment have been proposed to accommodate more vehicles rather than constructing new flyovers and underpasses," said a senior official.

The committee has found as many as 16 bottlenecks in South and South East Delhi, followed by 10 congested stretches in North and North West Delhi.

Experts have found seven major bottlenecks in Central and New Delhi areas, which include the ever-congested ITO intersection and Tilak Marg Wpoint, opposite Pragati Maidan metro station. To eliminate traffic jams on these two intersections, the committee has suggested a tunnel road to connect Tansen Marg with ITO.

This is aimed at keeping the traffic coming from Mandi House to ITO away from hitting the Tilak Marg W-point. At present, motorists from Mandi House have to take Sikandara Road and then take left-turn for going to Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, DDU Marg or Laxmi Nagar.

Similarly, another tunnel road has been proposed to connect Pragati Maidan with Bhagwan Das Road. This will also reduce vehicular load on Mathura Road and Tilak Marg W-point as traffic destined from Pragati Maidan to Lutyen's Delhi can have direct access via the tunnel road without waiting on these traffic intersections.

The Delhi Government has also decided to construct a skywalk connecting Pragati Maidan metro station and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. The project aims at eliminating pedestrian interference with vehicular traffic and thus reducing accidents on the stretch. The skywalk will connect Tilak Bridge railway station, Sikandara Road, DDU Marg, Indraprastha Marg, and the Institution of Engineers building.

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The high-level committee, which comprised Delhi Traffic Police, PWD and UTTIPEC members, also examined the congested markets of Delhi like Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh. The committee has recommended constructing multi-level parking lots in these areas. However, the automated multi-level parking is Sarojini Nagar is lying mostly unused and adding to the congestion.

The committee has stressed on completion of pending projects like the Signature Bridge and Rani Jhansi Road grade separator.

Encroachment removal from some arterial roads has also been planned.

Recently, the Union Transport ministry has also proposed to build eight radial roads in Delhi to redirect traffic leaving the city to unclog choked roads, improve air quality and reduce accidents.

The radial roads of Outer Ring Road - some of whose stretches will be elevated - will connect to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways. These two ring roads coming up around Delhi will provide alternate routes to traffic that is not bound for the city. The total length of the eight roads will be 301km. Once approved, it will be executed by the NHAI, DDA, Delhi government, Noida and Greater Noida authorities.

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, May 12 (PTI) Ahead of his maiden visit to China, Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that the four-nation grouping comprising China, Pakistan and the US has failed to rein in Taliban and restore peace in his country.

Abdullah is scheduled to visit China from May 15 to 18 during which he will hold talks with Chinese leaders and visit Urumqi, capital of Muslim-dominated troubled Xinjiang province which borders Afghanistan.

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Seeking Chinese investment in war-torn Afghanistan, Abdullah said China plays an important role in Afghan issue.

But at the same time he said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) comprising China, Pakistan, the US and Afghanistan has failed to rein in Taliban and bring them to the table for peace talks.

"At this moment there are no talks (between the Afghan government and the Taliban) and thats due to the position that the Taliban have taken. They rejected the talks and they didnt participate," he told state-run Xinhua news agency.

Afghanistans friendly countries in their own ways have tried to help and there is also QCG, he said.

"The idea was that every country will use its own influence in order to facilitate the talks, but the mechanism has not yet yielded the result that was expected, due to the wrong path that the Taliban has chosen," he said.

"The principle position of Afghanistan remains that we will keep the door open for talks, but when war is imposed on us, we have no choice but to defend ourselves," Abdullah said.

China started taking active part in Afghan peace process after the high-profile visit of Afghan President AshrafGhani last year making Beijing his first destination after election.

Ghani also backed the formation of the QCG hoping that China-Pakistan will prevail on pressuring Taliban to settle for peace process in Afghanistan.

But the QCG process suffered a set back after the news of the death of Taliban founder Mullah Omar.

Since then violence escalated in Afghanistan following which Ghani and his administration stepped up criticism against Pakistan and called for QCG to deliver on its promise.

Ahead of Abdullahs visit, Afghan Ambassador here Hekmat Khalil Karzai told Global Times that Kabul will demand answers from the QCG members about striking a deal with the Taliban.

China also hosted a Taliban delegation in the past.

"The objective of the QCG is to bring the Taliban to the table. If the four parties are not able to do so, then the reality is that they need to take actions against all of the groups that are not going to participate in the reconciliation," Karzai said.

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"So far, all the parties efforts have not brought the Taliban to the table. Our position is that we are going to ask each country, China, the US and particularly Pakistan, to tell us what they have done to deal with the Taliban," he said.

"The most important thing for the QCG is to deliver.

When all the four countries came, they made good progress on paper, but after that they havent been able to show results or deliver. Every country has its own agenda, but the objective of the QCG is not for them to work on different agendas but particularly focus on bringing Taliban to the table," he said. PTI KJV ZH

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By PTI: * Tech giant Google will give USD 300,000 (about Rs 2 crore) to six Indian startups in equity-free funding under its Google Launchpad Accelerator programme. The six nominees -- Taskbob, Programming Hub, ShareChat, RedCarpet, PlaySimple Games and MagicPin -- have been chosen from India to join 18 other startups from Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico under the programme. The six-month long mentorship programme for mid to late stage startups will include USD 50,000 (over Rs 33 lakh each) in equity-free funding and a two-week all-expenses paid bootcamp at Google headquarters, Google said in a statement. * * * * * Mappr bags deal from Kendriya Vidyalaya * Social learning start-up Mappr has partnered Kendriya Vidyalaya chain of schools to connect teachers, parents and students with one another seamlessly on a common platform.

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While the company did not disclose the financial details, it said the partnership will see its platform being deployed across over 1,000 KV schools (KVS).

"Mappr will help KVS reach, align, and engage teachers, students, and parents from all our schools on one secure network," lead investor at Mappr, Dheeraj Jain told PTI.

Mappr offers a social networking platform for students, teachers and parents.

Teachers can create discussion groups with students and their parents, upload videos, take polls, besides other activities. It also allows parents to network with teachers. * * * * * * CIBIL selects IBM Security to protect its IT systems *

IT company IBM today said that Credit Information Bureau India Limited (CIBIL) has selected IBM Security to strengthen security and protect their critical business systems from cyber-attacks.

Under the agreement, IBM Security Services has developed a customised security operations framework to monitor real-time cyber threats for CIBIL.

"For an organisation such as CIBIL the implementation of an integrated security operation centre ensures operational excellence and a result driven approach to security management," Sandeep S Roy, IBM Security Services Business Unit Executive for India and South Asia said.

IBM, however, did not disclose financial details of the deal. * * * * * Spices Boards Quality Evaluation Labat Navi Mumbai * Kochi: Seeking to meet stringent global norms for food safety, Spices Board has set up a Quality Evaluation Lab (QEL) at Navi Mumbai for pesticide residue analysis and microbial food safety in spices and spice products. The QEL building is the first-ever pre-engineered structure designed and built to perfection by a government organisation. The laboratory, the eighth such facility established by the Board across India, is equipped with the most modern chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical instrumentations. Spices Board Chairman Dr A Jayathilak said the lab would act as a centre of excellence to decontaminate the pesticide residue in spices. (MORE) PTI PRS SR TGB MR

--- ENDS ---

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Warner Brothers Studio Tour London is opening the Dursley living room to the public, but for a limited period of time.

Fiona Shaw, who played Harry's Aunt Petunia in the films, opened the Privet Drive home to the public. Picture courtesy: Warner Bros London

By India Today Web Desk: If you love all things wizardly, then here's something you should know about.

Dursley's home at Number 4 Privet Drive, where Harry Potter spent his childhood living under the stairs in a cupboard, is now being opened for visitors, but for limited time only.

This has been done to mark the 15th anniversary of the release of the first Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

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People visiting the Warner Brothers Studio Tour: The Making Of Harry Potter, in Leavesden will now be able to go inside the Dursley's living room, which is complete with ugly sofas, curtains, family photographs and other details.

Also read: A Harry Potter fan had a crazy theory about Dumbledore; this is how JK Rowling responded



The house will remain open between May 27 to June 6.

The little wizard has spent many years in the Dursley household living with his much hated relatives, which includes Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and their son Dudley.

Also read: Harry Potter's prequel, Fantastic Beasts, to be published as a book



The main highlight of the living room will be the hundreds of Hogwarts letter that are suspended in the air.

Actress Fiona Shaw, who played Harry Potter's aunt Petunia in the movie, opened the Privet Drive home to the public. She told The Standard, "Being back is like home sweet home. We spent a lot of time in this house--for about two weeks a year we would move in with Richard Griffiths, who is sadly no longer with us, and Harry Melling who played Dudley Dursley."



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A former political science professor of Gujarat University has claimed that the subjects mentioned in PM Modi's degree were not offered by the university at that time.

By Gopi Maniar Ghanghar : The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualification refuses to die down. Now, a former professor of Gujarat University has raised serious questions over Modi's Masters in Arts degree and claimed several discrepancies in the document.

Here's what the professor said:

Professor Jayantibhai Patel claimed that the subjects mentioned in the PM's degree were not part of the university's syllabus when Modi was studying there. "There are huge discrepancies in the MA Part-2 papers mentioned on PM Modi's certificates. According to my information, internal and external students had no subjects like those mentioned," Patel said. Patel, who served as professor of political science at the university from 1969 to 1983, also said that Modi was an irregular student. "Modi's attendance was very poor. We used to have discussions, debates over various issues in our classes, but Modi never participated," he said. However, the Gujarat University has rubbished Patel's claims. "The marksheet which is being shown was prepared 30 years ago. The subjects mentioned in that are those which were offered at that time," university registrar Dr Mahesh Patel said.

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'PM's degrees fake'

-Earlier, the Delhi University had also authenticated PM Modi's BA degree. Delhi University Registrar Tarun Das said PM Modi cleared the exam in 1978 and was awarded the degree in 1979.

- The Aam Aadmi Party had countered the university's claims that the degree was original.

- "The name and marks of the candidate were printed in Modi's marksheets released by the BJP. However, in the documents of other candidates who passed out in 1978, the name and marks were handwritten," AAP leader Ashutosh had said yesterday.



Also Read:

Modi doesn't have DU degree, alleges Kejriwal



From Modi's degree to Third Degree: Twitter has a laugh at netas' expense







--- ENDS ---
Slamming the BJP and RSS, Nitish said those who were never part of India's freedom movement have no right to preach to others what nationalism means.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar making his first visit to Varanasi after the 2014 Lok Sabha election, alleged that the central government had failed on every front.

By India Today Web Desk: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today slammed the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, saying those who were never part of India's freedom movement have no right to preach to others what nationalism means.

"Today the BJP is talking about nationalism whereas the veterans of the BJP and the RSS played no role in the independence movement," Nitish told a rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

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"When Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) was fighting against the British, when freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad gave their lives for the country, they (BJP and RSS) were not there. But today, they are preaching nationalism," the Janata Dal (United) leader said, adding, "We don't need nationalism lessons from them."

The JD(U) leader accused the BJP of pursuing the Hindutva agenda pushed by the RSS. "The tricolour is not their flag. Their real flag is bhagwa (saffron)," he said.



The Bihar Chief Minister, making his first visit to Varanasi after the 2014 Lok Sabha election, alleged that the central government had failed on every front. "They promised to bring back black money in 100 days. Have they delivered? They delivered Love Jihad, Ghar Wapasi and during the Bihar elections, they raised the issue of beef," he said.

The Bihar Chief Minister also taunted the BJP for its defeat in the state earlier this year. "Bihar has shown them their true place. Now we want to alert the people in UP that they must oust BJP in a similar manner."

The Assembly elections in the politically-crucial state of UP is due next year. "We are now planning to spread ourselves in UP in a big way and make members here," Nitish said.

ALSO READ | Nitish Kumar is not PM material, says RJD MP Taslimuddin



--- ENDS ---
In a fresh disclosure in the Sheena Bora murder probe, prime accused Indrani Mukerjea's driver Shyamvar Rai has claimed he was present when the 24-year-old was strangled and has now decided to turn an approver in the case.

In a sensational twist to the Sheena Bora murder mystery case, Indrani and Peter Mukerjea's driver on Wednesday told the court that he wanted to turn approver in this case.

Shyamvar Rai, who was in the Mumbai's sessions court confessed that he was present at the spot when Sheena was murdered. Indrani, along with her husband Peter, former husband Khanna and Shyamvar, is an accused in the murder case of her daughter Sheena Bora. The court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of all the accused till May 17.

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"Under Section 133 of the Evidence Act, an accomplice can turn and approver. After turning approver, whatever testimony will be helpful for the trial," said senior lawyer Abha Singh.

In a connection with the case, former media baron Peter Mukjarjea was arrested in November 2015 for concealing and destroying evidences in the. Sheena's mother Indrani and two others were arrested by the police in August 2015 and continue to be in custody since.

Peter Mukerjea, a co-accused in the case, had in March moved a fresh bail plea before a special CBI court, calling the allegations against him as false, baseless and unbelievable. He also put the onus on his wife Indrani saying that she was highly ambitious and was willing to go to any length for that.

In the bail application, Peter claimed it was not him, but Indrani, who objected to Rahul and Sheena's relationship. He had also denied the allegation of being informed by Indrani about the murder and stated that the said calls were made by Indrani to her daughter Vidhi.

The media honcho was arrested on November 19 last year for his alleged role in the murder conspiracy in which his wife Indrani Mukerjea is the prime accused. The matter has been adjourned till May 17. The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the case, will also be filing their say on Rai's application on May 17.

Also read:

Sheena Bora was strangled, I was there: Indrani's driver who now wants to turn approver



--- ENDS ---
The smartphone application has games for kids which help them memorise how to write Arabic letters in addition to including a "nasheed" (type of Islamic songs) designed to help teach the alphabet.

By Indo-Asian News Service: At a time when various governments and social media platforms are toiling hard to stop terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS) from spreading its wings, the ISIS' propaganda arm "Library of Zeal" has released a smartphone app to teach jihadist themes to children.

According to a report in the The Long War Journal, available on Android devices, the app called "Huroof" teaches kids Arabic alphabet to help them how to use deadly weapons. The vocabulary taught within the app has jihadist themes.

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"The application was released through Islamic State Telegram channels and on other file sharing websites," the report mentioned.

Telegram is an app that can be set up on almost any device and allows messages to be sent to users with utmost privacy.

The smartphone application has games for kids which help them memorise how to write Arabic letters in addition to including a "nasheed" (type of Islamic songs) designed to help teach the alphabet.

The lyrics in "nasheed" are full of jihadist terminology. "Other games in the app include militaristic vocabulary with words like "tank," "gun," and "rocket."

According to the report, this is the first-ever phone application built exclusively for children.

Previous IS videos have shown children being trained to use weapons and become child suicide bombers.

The Taliban recently released an Android app called Alemarah. It features Taliban statements and videos. It has since been removed from Google Play Store.

The IS had also launched an app that features news and videos showing executions and battlefield victories and propagates its agenda.

Discovered by the hacking collective Ghost security group, the app was designed to "streamline access" to the terrorist group's "propaganda".

According to a Fortune report, the Android-based app was essentially a news portal run by the Amaq News Agency - a group believed to be tied to IS.

The app, however, may not work in regions outside the IS control. According to Ghost security group, the app is not available as a download in a marketplace like Google Play store.

Instead, a link to the download is shared between IS members through Telegram app and other encrypted communication methods.

IS has also created its own social network for jihadists called "Kilafahbook" to get around social media bans by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

For IS, social media is prominent in formulating recruitment strategies.

According to theconversation.com, Facebook is a key platform to gather young fans, supporters and recruits to incite them to acts of violence by the means of propaganda and the use of Islamic grievance.

When it comes to real-time orchestrating of terror strikes, IS network works with encrypted messaging applications - including Kik, Surespot, Wickr and Telegram - that are very difficult to hack.

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Ghost security group is a hacking collective similar to Anonymous that focuses solely upon counter-terrorism.

It claims to have "terminated over 100,000 extremist social media accounts" used by militant groups to recruit members.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Srinagar, May 12 (PTI) People in Jammu and Kashmir are spending more than the national average on smoking tobacco products even as nearly 70 per cent of adults are exposed to passive smoking in their homes in the state, according to a survey.

"The states monthly spending on smoking tobacco so far outstrips the national monthly expenditure average. While nationally, smokers aged 15 and above spend Rs 399.20 a month on cigarettes and Rs 93.40 on bidis, those in Jammu and Kashmir spend Rs 513.60 and Rs 134.20, respectively, on these tobacco forms," Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) said quoting the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).

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Consequently, health hazards due to passive smoking are also more in Jammu and Kashmir than elsewhere in the north.

The survey reveals that 26.6 per cent population of the state is using tobacco products in some form and the average age of daily initiation of tobacco use is 17.3 years.

"It has come to light that the highest proportion of adults in J-K (69.7 per cent) are exposed to tobacco smoke at home. 67.9 per cent of adults are exposed to tobacco smoke at workplaces and 35.2 per cent of adults are exposed to tobacco smoke in public places," the survey reveals.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, nearly 37 per cent children in India get initiated into smoking before the age of 10 and each day, 5500 children begin tobacco use.

"The findings of these studies highlight the need for targeted interventions among youth in general and students in particular, especially given the marketing overdrive of the tobacco industry to promote the use of tobacco among youth," Director Programmes VHAI Seema Gupta said.

The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), Tobacco Control Act enacted in 2003, applicable to the entire country, was mainly to discourage consumption of tobacco products through progressive restrictions and to protect non-smokers from passive smoking.

The Tobacco Control Law prohibits smoking in public places, ban on the Advertisement, Promotion and Sponsorship of all Tobacco Products and ban on the sale of tobacco to and by minors and prohibition on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions.

The implementation of COTPA is best done when the system or mechanism is institutionalized.

"It is heartening to see that government of Jammu and Kashmir is coming forward to protect the health of people by supporting COTPA enforcement. The state should set an example thereby banning smoking in public places, banning tobacco advertisements at point of sale and banning the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions.

"With all these measures, the government can safeguard the health of the people, especially children and women, across the state," Consultant Tobacco Control, VHAI, Afzal Mukhdoomi said. PTI SSB TA AAR SK AAR

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: Srinagar, May 12 (PTI) On World Nursing Day, Jammu and Kashmir government today said three new nursing colleges would be established in the state to meet the growing demand.

"The government is currently in process of establishing three nursing colleges at Baramulla, Rajouri and Anantnag with an intake capacity of 80 students every year," Minister of State for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash said.

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The minister was speaking at a function organized at Government Medical College here organized by J-K Nurses Association.

Naqash said there is a dearth of nursing colleges in the state and students had to go outside to persue degrees in the field.

"Five general nursing schools are functional at various districts and government is in process of establishing more general, nursing schools at Pulwama, Kulgam, Sopore, JLNM Srinagar, Kokernag and Bandipora," the minister said.

The Minister also called for a high-tech training programme for the nursing students in the colleges and schools, saying the government is committed to provide facilities for the students. "The government already provides scholarships to the candidates desirous of undergoing training in private colleges, provided the college is affiliated with the government of J&K," she said.

On the occasion, the nurses pressed for meeting their demands including granting them technical grade at par with other states of the country.

"We want technical grade in place of class fourth grade. It is in place in every state of the country except J-K," president Nursing Association Parveena Khan said.

She said the other demands include giving the nurses non-practice allowance, uniform allowance, creation of posts and fuilling up of higher posts and regularization of adhoc nurses.

The minister assured them the government would consider all the genuine demands of the nurses and asked them to come up with their grievances through proper channels so that their grievances could be considered. PTI SSB AKK

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, May 11 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Uttarakhand issue and his purported Somalia remark, and warned him against disqualifying 21 AAP MLAs appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries by Delhi government last year.

On Modis remark comparing Kerala eith Somalia, Kejriwal tweeted, "PMs statement is an insult to the people of Kerala", while on Uttarakhand he posted: "Modi Govt shud apologise to the nation for acting in unconstitutional and undemocratic manner in Uttarakhand (sic)."

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"Hope Modi ji will learn a lesson from Uttarakhand and not do similar misadventure in Delhi by disqualifying our 21 MLAs", he tweeted.

However, the AAP chief was all praise for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the rescue of Santosh Bhardwaj, an Indian who was kidnapped by pirates near Nigeria in March. "Sushma ji is doing excellent work," read the tweet. PTI SBR GVS SK GVS DK

--- ENDS ---
Union minister Sushma Swaraj today joined the war of words, asking who paid for the evacuation of Indians from conflict areas in the middle east.

By India Today Web Desk: Even as the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial comparison of Kerala with Somalia goes on with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy even threatening legal action, Union minister Sushma Swaraj today joined the war of words, asking who paid for the evacuation of Indians from conflict areas in the middle east.

"Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them?" the External Affairs Minister asked the Congress leader in response to objections raised by Chandy over similar remarks made by Modi at an election rally.

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Earlier this week, 29 people belonging to six families from Kerala and three from Tamil Nadu were evacuated from Libya. The Kerala government had appreciated Sushma's office for the evacuation.

With four days to go for the Assembly election in Kerala where the BJP has no significant presence, the party is trying to regain the ground believed to be lost by Modi's controversial comments comparing India's best state in terms of Human Development Index with the African nation Somalia known for its poverty.

Flaying the Prime Minister for not withdrawing his remarks, Chandy has asked him to show some "political decency" and offer an "unconditional apology" for the remarks, which triggered the #PoMoneModi (Get lost, Modi) hashtag on Twitter.

In a Facebook post, Chandy said Modi had kept mum on the controversy and what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the election campaign rally without answering my questions. It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from Malayali community world over," he said.

Modi had compared the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state with that of African country Somalia during the poll campaign rally earlier this week, which triggered widespread criticism among political parties in Kerala.

"The people of Kerala, whose self-pride was wounded by the Prime Minister's statement, expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence.But it didn't happen," he said adding that Keralites still hoped he would withdraw his 'Somalia' remark.

ALSO READ | Modi must apologise for comparing Kerala with Somalia, state considering legal action: Chandy

--- ENDS ---
39-year-old Saritha Nair, prime accused in Kerala solar scam, produced pens drives and compact discs as evidences before a judicial commission on May 11 to prove Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's involvement in the scam.

Saritha is making the strategic move to hit back at her tormentors, who abused and exploited her.

By Jeemon Jacob: 39-year-old Saritha S. Nair, prime accused in solar scam, may have taken Kerala for a ride in the past. She had challenged the judiciary, police, politicians and the media with great revelations of the lust in the corridors of power by naming her abusers in a row. The list has shocked Kerala as it rattled the Chandy government to the core. The woman produced pens drives and compact discs as evidences before a judicial commission headed by Justice B. Sivarajan, probing the solar scam on May 11.

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"More evidences will be submitted to the Commission on May 13. There is digital proof to link Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to the solar scam. The proof will nail his false claims that he doesn't know me," Saritha told India Today.

ALSO READ: Solar scam accused Saritha Nair attacked by unidentified gang



Saritha is making the strategic move to hit back at her tormentors, who abused and exploited her.

"I'm least bothered about defamation cases or what happens to me tomorrow. They may use all their power to destroy me. But I don't care," she added.

She has been residing in Ernakulam to submit her evidences before the commission since Monday and has even consulted several lawyers in the past three days.

The Congress and Chandy are also aware about her deadly weapon. They are watching her every move to bail out the UDF from the attack. A senior Congress leader told India Today that her "revelations or proof" would not damage the UDF's prospects in the election.

"What more can she say?.. Nothing. She is simply exposing herself with blackmail tactics. She is dancing in the tunes of the LDF," he pointed out.

Saritha challenged the Congress leaders

But Saritha challenged the Congress leaders to stand against her evidences.

"They have been targeting me for a long time. I've neither lied nor changed my statement," she said.

The major solar scam has destabilized top ranking Congress officials in the state over the last three years and has helped Saritha gain a celebrity status. As per reports, her presence on television increases TAM ratings.

"I do not want to go into the merits or demerits of her evidence. It's for the court to decide. Her revelations have exposed the sorry state of governance in Kerala. Top ranking politicians were waiting for her calls day and night . What they were talking about at night? Providing drinking water to the poor or improving the waste management in the state? It was a mere dirty business," A. Jayashanker, noted political commentator told India Today.

According to Jayashanker, Sarita's revelations have come down heavily on the Congress and Chandy government. "She has exposed all of them. Now she can only seal their coffins with more revelations," he added.

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However, Kerala enjoys fire cracker displays at the end of all celebrations - be it religious or political.

--- ENDS ---
A 19th century law, toughened by Hitler's Nazis and retained for decades in post-war West Germany, was used to convict and jail around 50,000 men.

West Germany decriminalised homosexuality in 1969.

German homosexuals who suffered under the law have had to live until now with the stigma of a criminal conviction.

"We will never be able to remove these outrages committed by this country but we want to rehabilitate the victims," Germany's Justice Minister Heiko Maas said.

The move follows recommendations from Germany's Anti-Discrimination Agency which had commissioned a report.

A ministry spokeswoman said it was unclear when a draft law would be completed or how much financial compensation the affected men might receive.

The Lesbian and Gay Association urged the government to act quickly to bring in legislation.

"Time is pressing for victims of homosexual persecution to get their unfair convictions lifted and see their dignity restored," Der Spiegel Online quoted the association as saying.
By PTI: New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) A 39-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree near Parliament complex this morning, leaving behind a 23-page suicide note claiming he suffered huge losses by betting in IPL and wanted his personal plight to be highlighted.

Ram Dayal Verma, a native of Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh, arrived in the national capital yesterday.

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Around 7.15 AM today, his body was found hanging from the tree located between Rail Bhawan and the media parking centre near Vijay Chowk, close to Parliament, police said.

The police recovered the suicide note from his pocket. In the 23-page note, he claimed he was under immense financial crunch and had undergone tremendous losses in betting during the IPL tournament.

Verma named at least four persons in the note and the amounts he owed to them. The total amount is believed to have exceeded a crore.

In the note, Verma mentioned he wanted his personal plight to be highlighted and he did not want to die anonymous, an official privy to the investigation said.

DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said, "An inquest under Section 174 of CrPC has been initiated into the matter. The contents in the note are also being investigated."

Verma is married and has children. His family has been informed about the incident.

He had come here yesterday and stayed somewhere in Kotwali region of north Delhi, police said. PTI DEY ZMN

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) Congress today said Prime Minister Narendra Modis remark comparing Kerala with Somalia is an insult to "all Indians" and the state is "far far ahead" of Gujarat.

"The Prime Minister is known to make outrageous statements. This Prime Minister makes statements that are blatantly false...To go to Kerala and compare it with Somalia is an insult not only to the state but also to all of India," Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh told reporters.

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He said Kerala is number one in the country in parameters of education, health, female literacy, women empowerment and infant mortality, and "far far ahead of Gujarat".

"If Kerala is Somalia, Gujarat is worse than Afghanistan," he said.

"I dont know what the provocation was for the Prime Minister to bring up Somalia and compare Kerala with it. This is an outrageous comment. It is an insult to all Keralaites, it is an insult to all Indians," he said.

The quality of life and social indicators of Kerala are better than most countries in the world including the United States, he said. PTI SPG GVS PAL GVS

--- ENDS ---
The police had recovered several bottles of the banned India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) from her house during a recent raid to recover Rocky.

By Giridhar Jha: After the arrest of her son Rocky Yadav in a road rage related murder, suspended Janata Dal-United legislator Manorama Devi has landed in another fix. The Gaya Police have issued an arrest warrant against Manorama for violating the prohibition laws in Bihar.

The police had recovered several bottles of the banned India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) from her house during a recent raid to recover Rocky, who had been absconding after allegedly killing a 19-year-old youth Aditya Kumar Sachdeva in Gaya on Saturday.

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A case under the Excise Act was lodged against Manorama under Rampur police station.

Manorama, however, has gone into hiding after her son was arrested on Tuesday.

Her husband Binndeshwari Yadav is already in jail on the charge of helping his son after the killing.

The excise officials on Wednesday sealed Manorama's house at Anugrah Puri Colony in Gaya with the help of district police. The officials also found a child worker at her place.

The district officials said that a case for the violation of the child labour laws would also be lodged against the MLC.

On Tuesday, the ruling Janata Dal-United had suspended Manorama after the arrest of her son.

On Saturday night, Rocky Yadav had alleged shot Aditya with his Italy-made Baretta pistol for his "audacity" to overtake his vehicle. Rocky was arrested from his hideout by the Bihar Police on Tuesday.

Rocky was picked up from a place near his father Bindeshwari Yadav's hot mixture plant and dairy farm at Mastpura village under Bodh Gaya police station, three days after he allegedly shot dead Aditya Kumar Sachdeva, a Class XII student. Rocky has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Gaya's Superintendent of Police (SSP) Garima Mallik said the weapon used by Rocky had also been recovered from his possession. "During interrogation, Rocky has confessed to his crime," Mallik said.

Also read:



Bihar road rage: Rocky Yadav arrested, legislator mother suspended

All you need to know about Rocky Yadav's dad Bindi, known as Terror Of Gaya



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Mumbai, May 11 (PTI) Mumbai police is set to digitise various aspects of its functioning in a bid to cut down on use of paper, Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar said today.

"Right from day one of my becoming the police chief, it has been my priority to digitise the work and (effect) paperless communication," Padsalgikar told reporters at his office in South Mumbai.

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To execute the initiative, high-speed internet, wifi connectivity and hi-tech connectivity will be put in place.

Police notices, so far typed or printed, which are sent to various police stations will become digital from June 1 and will be uploaded online, said the commissioner.

"With this, the police stations could go through the entire notice and can download or take print of only that part which is relevant for them," he said.

With regard to uploading of First Information Report (FIR) online, Padsalgikar said he will have to seek legal opinion to explore its feasibility.

The top cop said he also wanted to create a data bank for ease of internal administrative work of police so that "bio-profile" of every police officer will be just a click away.

"This will also start soon as the team is still gathering data of the officers. The data will mention about their service record, leaves, health etc," the top cop said, adding it took three months for the team to gather data of police officers.

He said upgradation of police lock-ups will also get completed soon, which will hopefully prevent any unfortunate incident concerning inmates in custody.

"Considering several deaths of the police officers, due to untimely duty hours and work pressure, we have started eight-hour shifts for lower and middle-rung police officers on an experimental basis," said Padsalgikar.

He said new shift is being implemented at Deonar police station where officers are now working in three different shifts.

Padsalgikar said this police station has been chosen as the suggestions for such shifts came from most of the officers from there.

"This particular initiative will be completed in five phases in the city, in which the first phase has started and next two phases will be completed in next month," the commissioner said, adding a review will be done after completion of first two phases. PTI NS AVI NSK KIS

--- ENDS ---
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This story has been published on: 2022-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

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The Supreme Court directed Kerala Police DIG to constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged role of naval officers in the wife-swapping scandal at the INS Kochi base.

The Navy has been dismissive of the serious allegations. (File Photo/Reuters)

The Supreme Court wants a special investigation team to look into a wife-swapping scandal that rocked the Indian Navy in 2013.

Hearing a petition on the matter, the Supreme Court today directed Kerala Police DIG to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged role of naval officers in the wife-swapping scandal at the INS Kochi base.

What is the case:

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In a petition filed in the Supreme Court, the wife of a naval officer accused her husband's senior posted at INS Kochi of approaching the officer with an offer of wife swapping in 2012. The woman claimed that the senior officer even threatened her husband when he refused to oblige him. The woman said that she had approached senior officers at the Kochi base but no action was taken. The then Defence Minister AK Antony had promised to take strong action against those involved in the scandal. "After inquiry, if anyone is found guilty, we take strong action and exemplary punishment is given. This is our track record and this will continue. In the Kochi case also, three separate investigations are going on," Antony had said in April, 2013. However, the Navy has been dismissive of the serious allegations and had even told the Defence Ministry that there was no merit in the case. The top court's bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice R Bhanumathi asked the SIT to complete the probe and submit its report as soon as possible. Antony had taken strong action against such cases in the armed forces and even dismissed a Navy officer for having illicit relations with the wife of his superior in 2013. Another officer posted aboard the aircraft carrier INS Virat was dismissed after he was caught allegedly sending lewd messages to several women using multiple SIM cards.

Also Read:

From the India Today magazine: The Military and the Marital

Facebook follies can get you fired. 3 Navy officers just got dismissed



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, May 12 (PTI) Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today unveiled a revised USD 8 billion plan for reconstruction of damaged private and public buildings over the next five years, more than a year after two devastating earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 people and flattened thousands of homes.

The Post Disaster Recovery Framework (PDRF) prepared by Nepal government estimated that 838 billion rupees (USD 8 billion) would be needed for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.

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Oli tabled the framework in the Parliament, saying plan would "guide the reconstruction campaign in terms of policies, structures, implementation process and financial management."

Sushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, said the plan would provide a clear road map to government, NGOs and other donor agencies.

The framework includes outlines of 20 thematic plans to be carried out for reconstruction and could be a major programme to mobilize resources to help rebuild the Himalayan nation.

The amount of 838 billion rupees is higher than the 669 billion rupees the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment done by the National Reconstruction Authority had identified earlier.

Oli attributed the revision in amount to the increase in the number of households affected by the earthquakes and to the needs identified by various ministries for reconstruction.

During a donors meeting in June last year 410 billion rupees was pledged. However, out of the total pledge, international donors have so far committed only 30 per cent or 120 billion rupees for the reconstruction.

The government has allocated 91 billion rupees for the reconstruction and recovery in the 2015-16 budget.

Nearly 9,000 people were killed and 22,000 were injured by twin earthquakes that hit Nepal in April and May last year. About 500,000 houses, 7,000 school buildings and 2,900 religious and heritage sites were damaged in the disaster.

Oli said he was committed to complete the reconstruction of private houses within two years, though it poses one of the biggest challenge to his government, which has announced to provide 200,000 rupees for each of the damaged houses. PTI SBP ABH AKJ ABH

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Cuttack, May 11 (PTI) Students of SCB hospitals nursing school went on an indefinite strike demanding immediate removal of Kajal Rani Sinhas removal from the post of principal with police today filing a case against Sinha.

Alleging that Sinha had misbehaved with some students using "derogatory" remarks and beaten some causing injuries, the students went on a strike yesterday boycotting their hospital duties.

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The hospital superintendent has formed a committee to look into the allegations of the students although the committee is yet to submit its report.

Meanwhile, based on a written complaint by a student, the local police has booked the nursing school principal on several charges under IPC and SC and ST (Prevention of atrocities) Act.

"Investigations into the case have started," the local police said.

A team of state BJP Mahila Morcha led by the party spokesperson Lekhashree Samantsinghar visited the nursing school campus and expressed solidarity with the agitating students. PTI COR SKN SUS PVI PS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: London, May 12 (PTI) Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyongo was left in awe with the "resilience of spirit" in Uganda, after filming her new film "Queen of Katwe" in one of the countrys poorest neighbourhoods.

The Oscar winner, 33, portrays Harriet Mutesi, the mother of real-life chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi who despite their familys impoverished circumstances becomes a world champion, in the film, reported Contactmusic.

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"There is an ease in the Ugandan demeanour that is very welcoming," she said.

"I love the melody of the accent, the food, the music and the peoples inherent style. There was a familiarity with my home country, being right next door, but also complete surprise in what was so different. There is a resilience of spirit in Uganda.

"The slum of Katwe is a very difficult place to live, but you see these people living there with dignity. To go there and to have that environment to work from really did give life and meaning to our work. It was research, obstacle and inspiration."

The film is also her first onscreen role since her Oscar-winning performance in 2013s "12 Years a Slave". Over the past year, she has voiced characters in both "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "The Jungle Book" but she never actually appeared in either project. PTI NDS ASV

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, May 12 (PTI) Five "hardcore" Pakistani militants have been handed down the death penalty by military courts for committing heinous terror offences and the army chief today confirmed their sentences, a week after 11 Taliban militants were given the capital punishment.

The army said in a statement that the five were tried and found guilty by the military courts which were set up soon after Peshawar school attack of December 16, 2014 for speedy trial of terrorists.

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"Today Chief of Army Staff (General Raheel Sharif) confirmed death sentences awarded to five hardcore terrorists," the army said.

It further said that they were involved in Safoora Chowrangi bus attack, IED blast near Saleh Masjid, killing of a social worker, Sabeen Mahmud, and attacks on law enforcing agencies.

All these terrorist attacks took place in Karachi. At least 45 minority Ismaili Muslims were killed in the Safoora Chowrangi attack in Karachi.

45 people, including 26 men and 17 women, were killed and 20 others were wounded while they were travelling in a passenger bus, run by a welfare service of the Ismaili community.

The convicts include Tahir Hussain Minhas, Saad Aziz, Asad ur Rehman, Hafiz Nasir and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat.

After endorsement of their deaths by the army chief, the last legal hurdle in the way of hanging has been crossed. PTI SH AJR AKJ AJR

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"Modi left Kochi last night without withdrawing his remarks. Malayalis all over the world are upset over the remarks of the PM," Chandy said in a Facebook post.

"With the pride of the Malayalis deeply affected, none expected silence from PM. Instead what all thought was he would withdraw the statements and apologize. Keralites continue to expect the PM to apologise," said Chandy.

Modi said on Sunday that "the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia" - provoking protests across the state.

Modi also cited media reports that said tribal children in Peravoor were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump to make his case that the state had not been properly governed.

Chandy said Modi's comparison of Kerala, whose high social indicators are widely acknowledged, with Somalia was absurd.

After the protests, Modi was expected to retract his statement and apologize but he did not, Chandy said.

On Wednesday, Modi continued his attack on Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), without responding to criticism over his controversial remarks.

Chandy earlier wrote to Modi urging him not to bring "disrepute" to the Prime Minister's Office by airing "baseless remarks" about Kerala.
The Opposition will continue to enjoy a majority and the best for the government is to try and win over some of the unattached parties like the AIADMK, BJD, Trinamool Congress, SP and the BSP.

The Rajya Sabha will wear a new look come the monsoon session of Parliament, with several new faces making it to the House. The composition of the House however will only change marginally with the BJP and its allies likely to gain a few seats, but the gains will not be sufficient to tilt the balance in its favour. The government will continue to be in a minority and will continue to struggle to get crucial legislations passed in the upper house without the help of the Opposition.ALSO READ: Rajya Sabha ruckus over Uttarakhand Bills continues

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Currently the NDA has 62 MPs in the Upper House, if you add the 7 nominated MP's its number goes up to 69. The Congress alone has 61 MPs and coupled with its allies it commands the support of 80 MP's in a house of 225, while the unattached parties together account for 90 MP's. On the 30th June, one third of the Rajya Sabha MP's will retire, as is the norm. Rajya Sabha MP's unlike their counterparts in the Lok Sabha have a term of 6 years and every two years one third of the members retire.

Fate of GST Bill in limbo



That however is unlikely the change the arithmetic of the House significantly. The Opposition will continue to enjoy a majority and the best for the government is to try and win over some of the unattached parties like the AIADMK, BJD, Trinamool Congress, SP and the BSP. While the support of these parties can help pass legislations that require only a simple majority, however on constitutional amendment bills like the GST the government will still fall short of the two thirds majority required for its passage.

The government will in fact be hard put to get a majority in the upper house during its current term. Next states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls and unless the party can sweep the state, it will continue to find the going tough in the Rajya Sabha.

Prominent amongst the members whose term is coming to an end at the end of June are ministers Piyush Goyal, Venkaih Naidu Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Nirmala Sitharaman, former Union ministers Praful Patel, Jairam Ramesh, Ram Jethmalani, Satish Sharma, Ambika Soni, Sharad Yadav, KC Tyagi, Pawan Verma and the BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra.

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By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, May 12 (PTI) Pakistan today said it is ready for talks whenever India is ready and underlined that dialogue was the best option to resolve all outstanding issues.

"Pakistans position has been stated a number of times. We are ready for dialogue whenever India is ready," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly press briefing.

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He said dialogue was the best option to deal with all outstanding issues.

Zakaria said that in line with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs vision, "We pursue a policy of good neighbourly relations in the larger interest of regional security, progress and economic prosperity, for which dialogue to settle contentious issues is an imperative."

He said Pakistan believes in uninterrupted, sustainable and result-oriented dialogue in which all issues of mutual concern are discussed and resolved.

Talking about the alleged Indian "spy" arrested in Pakistan, Zakaria said he was apprehended in March and the Indian request for consular access was received in April.

He pointed out any consular access request is considered under Vienna convention on Consular Relations in general.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country.

Zakaria said India and Pakistan also have a bilateral agreement, the relevant clauses of which apply on such circumstances in which Jadhav was arrested.

"He was involved in terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan. To put it simply, the Indian request for consular access has indeed been received and shall be considered in keeping with the relevant clauses of the two agreements," Zakaria said.

The spokesperson also said that the next round of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) -- Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US -- would be held this month to continue efforts for starting dialogue between the Taliban and Afghanistan. PTI SH ASK ASK

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The first water train, christened Jaldoot, left Miraj in western Maharashtra on April 11 and reached Latur on April 12.

By PTI: A month after the first water train reached Latur, the Railways have provided 6.20 crore litre water to the parched region, and sent a Rs 4 crore bill to the district collector towards transportation cost.

However, Ministry of Railways, in a statement, said that the cost of sending water was shared with the Maharashtra government at the latter's request.

What's the case

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"We have sent the bill to the Latur district collector as per the administrations request," Central Railways General Manager S K Sood told PTI. "It is up to the district administration whether to pay us or seek waiver of the amount, through proper channels. We sent the water transport bill as per their request," he said. The first water train, christened Jaldoot, left Miraj in western Maharashtra on April 11 and reached Latur on April 12, covering the distance of around 342 kilometres. After nine trips by a 10-wagon water train, a 50-wagon water train carrying 25 lakh litre water was later pressed into service. It was specially commissioned from Kota in Rajasthan to transport water to Latur. It was in January 2013 that Maharashtra first considered water trains for parched regions of drought-hit Marathwada. Discussions were then held with the Railways to arrange wagons to transport 5 lakh litres of water daily. While Latur city has a population of over four lakh, the district rural areas, with 943 villages, have a population of 18 lakh. The water levels in the 131 smaller dams in the district have depleted fast.

Also Read:

From the India Today magazine - Latur: The great thirst

As train with 5 lakh litres of water reaches Latur, Kejriwal makes an even bigger offer to Modi

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Tait's addition will be a boost for the KKR, who already have a decent fast-bowling line-up featuring the likes of Andre Russell, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and Jason Holder.

By Subhasish Dutta: Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait has replaced compatriot John Hastings in the Kolkata Knight Riders' squad for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season nine. (Full IPL Coverage | Points Table)



Hastings ruled out



Hastings was earlier ruled out following an injury to his left ankle after playing two matches for the Shah Rukh Khan-co-owned franchise. The all-rounder had to return to Australia where he underwent a surgery.

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KKR CEO Venky Mysore on Wednesday posted an image of Tait on social media website Twitter, welcoming the pacer into the team.

Second stint

KKR will be Tait's second team in the cash-rich league, having previously played for the now-suspended Rajasthan Royals.

He joined the KKR squad on Wednesday and was present at the team's training session before their next match against Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday.

Tait, who last played for Australia in the T20 series against India in January, went unsold in the IPL player auction in February. He then played in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League for Peshawar Zalmi.

Boost for KKR



Tait's addition will be a boost for the KKR, who already have a decent fast-bowling line-up featuring the likes of Andre Russell, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and Jason Holder.

The two-time champions are currently ranked third in the IPL points table, having won six of the 10 matches played so far.

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By Vidya : RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat today inaugurated the three-day Vichar Mahakumbh during the on going Simhasth Kumbh Mahaparv 2016 festivities in Ujjain.



Bhagwat while addressing the large congregation said "Policy makers are people. For whom these policies are made are people. Wrong people can destroy policies but for whom the policies are made are however more important than the policy makers." He also gave an example of traffic signals and how in spite of traffic rules being in place, only chaos prevails when societies do not follow rules.

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He also spoke about issues concerning development. He said "No one says we don't want development but then there are issues of environment that crop up. A mid path has to be found out. Both sides have to be considered."

CM Chouhan calls for greener Ujjain



This particular event of Vichar Mahakumbh is organised at the nirora village on the Ujjain indore highway. Even as the Chief Minister of state Shivraj Singh Chauhan was busy accompanying BJP chief Amit Shah on his day long visit to Ujjain on Wednesday, Chauhan was back on Thursday sharing stage with Bhagwat.

Chauhan told the packed house that the speakers during the three-day deliberation will talk about the right way of living for humans respecting the right of trees and insects on this planet. He extolled on the need for increasing plantation while in the Ujjain city itself there is lack of green cover. Just for organising the Kumbh,administration had cut down trees for road widening.

A representative from Sri Lanka during his speech spoke about how medieval king Ashok's children Mahendra and Shanghamitra had travelled to the country talking about the right way of living and their stupas are located nearby in Ujjain. He asked chief minister chauhan to look into making its approach roads better so that people from far could travel to see it.

Even as most speakers spoke about positive thinking and plantation of trees in large number, religious leader Avdhesh Anand spoke about the new culture of women showing their skin in advertising. He even quoted Socrates on how he had lamented and predicted the death of civilisation as women there were indulging in wearing shorter cloths. He said that this meeting of minds could look into how this portrayal of women could be changed.

In a different session RSS functionary Ram Madhav said, "Supreme Court says that dharma is only a way of life. We have to be careful as supreme court orders keep changing" and after this he went on describe what exactly dharma was.

In a huge air conditioned pandole spending crores of rupees, there will be wide range of issues that will be deliberated on. On thursday evening the issue will be that of cleaning the rivers where union leader uma bharti Japanese professor nakamura and south african professor JO Kife spoke.

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Friday morning will see RSS functionary Bhaiyaji Joshi, Yoga guru Ramdev, Union Home Minster Rajnath Singh, who might not be abke to attend owing to his trip to Tamil Nadu tomorrow. Union Minister for Environment, Prakash Jawdekar will talk about sustainable development and climate change along with a few other speakers.

The closing day on Saturday will see the prime minister Narendra modi sharing the dias with Sri Lanka president maitripal shrisena. In what is now being termed as spiritual diplomacy had seen Nepalese head of state being invited too but but owing to the home grown trouble in Kathmandu, the invitation was declined. Prior to the closing ceremony chief ministers of all BJP states will be coming together for a meet.

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By PTI: London, May 12 (PTI) "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara was honoured in her native Colombia when she was presented with the keys to the tropical city of Cartagena.

The 43-year-old actress, whose hometown of Barranquilla is just two hours north of Cartagena, was handed the keys during a ceremony at the citys Santa Clara Hotel.

Mayor Manuel Vicente Duque was on hand to present Sofia with the honour, and following the event, he gushed over the actress and the pride the country has for its native daughter, reported Contactmusic.

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"Sofias humble personality says it all. She was happy and delighted to be receiving the keys to the city surrounded by the Cartagena ambience... Sofia more than deserves these keys. She is a Barranquillera that has put Colombias name up high," Mayor Duque said.

Vergara also posted a photo of the Mayor handing her the keys on Instagram, adding the caption: "Thank you, Cartagena. I dont want to go."

The actress jetted off to her native Colombia last week to attend the wedding of a family member. She posted a series of party pictures on Instagram. She also mixed business with pleasure by filming a commercial for beer brand Cerveza Aguila.

She was joined by her son Manolo and other relatives, but noticeably missing was her husband Joe Manganiello, who is recovering from emergency surgery. PTI JCH JCH

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By PTI: his defence

Patna, May 12 (PTI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav today sought to clarify his remark that Pathankot attack is also "jungle raj", saying he did not compare the terrorist attack to the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in Gaya.

Tejaswi drew support from his father and RJD president Lalu Prasad who hit out at BJP for "misinterpreting" the comment.

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Tejaswi told reporters here he knew the difference between the both the incidents.

"I also talked about a large number of cases of road rage in Delhi, killing in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of Vyapam and murder in Jharkhand to highlight why the comment jungle raj is made in the context of Bihar whenever some criminal activity takes place here," Tejaswi said in a bid to clarify his reaction in Delhi over the Gaya killing and opposition going hammer and tongs against the coalition government.

"We strongly condemn the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in which our government is taking stern action," he said.

"The Deputy CM did not speak anything wrong...He put his views strongly (over the Gaya incident)," Lalu Prasad told reporters in Patna.

BJP was spreading canards against Tejaswi by "misinterpreting" his comments that he compared Pathankot with the Gaya incident, the RJD chief said.

Lalu described the Gaya event as "dardanak" (very painful) and patted the grand secular alliance for prompt action in the incident.

Launching a counter-offensive against BJP for its "return of jungle raj" remark, Tejaswi had yesterday said if the killing of a youth in a road rage incident symbolised that, then even in the national capital, where such incidents happen in greater numbers, was no different.

"If one road rage incident takes place in Bihar and it is called jungle raj, then the maximum number of road rage incidents take place in Delhi. So, is there jungle raj in Delhi? Pakistani flag is unfurled on the countrys soil, isnt it jungle raj?

"Terrorists enter the most secure air base, isnt it jungle raj? If there is a Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, where one after the other murders take place, an IPS officer is killed, nobody says there is jungle raj. In Haryana, there was such a big riot and such unfortunate incidents of rape took place, but it is not called jungle raj," the Bihar deputy chief minister had said. PTI SNS DKB GVS

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By Jugal R Purohit: It was March 3, 2012. Sitting inside his car, middleman Guido Ralph Haschke and partner Carlo Valentino Gerosa were worried and keen to cover their tracks.

An agitated Haschke asked Gerosa, "Did you pocket the money? Where did you put it?" On dancing girls and champagne came Gerosa's reply. This and other evidence unearthed by Italian investigators today tells us that the first step towards the making of the infamous VVIP helicopter deal was when the Tyagi brothers let the word out to Gerosa who in turn told Haschke and the alleged plot was harnessed.

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Finding the 66-year-old Gerosa, accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, unseen and unheard except in allegations and files, was going to be no easy task. To make matters worse, in the vicinity of Lugano, which is located close to the Italian-Swiss border, there are many Gerosas, as I later discovered.

Efforts paid off when someone passed to me a document which detailed his address. I was immediately on to it. Reaching the quaint street in central Lugano, the hunt for the precise house began. It ended before a three-storeyed building which appeared like any other. One look at the name plate was enough to tell me how correct the source was. The document did not let me down as on the third floor resided Gerosa.

For the next six hours that I spent standing there, not one but multiple confirmations came my way that Gerosa, against whom an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) stands even as on date, was indeed a resident of that building. Gerosa is among the 13 charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the chopper procurement deal.

At one point, a man came down from Gerosa's residence (since I had repeatedly pressed the buzzer) to tell me to be patient. "He will come by 8pm," he told me. It was just 4 pm then. Waiting there, I read up on the case, further clarifiying my doubts. People crossed me, wishing me 'giorno' and 'buongiorn' (Hello and Good bye).

They must have wondered who I was and why I was standing there for so long.

When the clock struck 9:30pm, I decided to call it a day. While his neighbours and household members weren't as sharp, Gerosa, I derived, had decided it was too much of a risk to meet an unknown visitor who had managed to reach his residence where nobody else had come. Chances are he could have quietly sneaked in using the other entrance.

As I took my seat in the last Euro City express of the day which would take me to Milan, I went through the court papers I had accessed. It had an interesting anecdote of Gerosa. Expressing his desire to his colleague Haschke about being never found as involved, he said, "Let us hope they don't find out anything. Look at how long Berlusconi's trial has been going on, may be we'll already be dead".

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Well, I realised Gerosa, like me, had tough luck to deal with.

Also read:

The men and women named in AgustaWestland scam: A primer

EXCLUSIVE: Full text of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel's interview to India Today



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, May 12 (PTI) The chief of Pakistans Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case has said that the team had not investigated those who were mentioned by the slain prime minister in a "declaration" before her assassination.

This was stated by former additional director general of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Mohammad Khalid Qureshi during a cross examination yesterday before an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.

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Qureshi said that the JIT had not investigated the former director-general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) retired Lt-General Hamid Gul, former Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB) retired Brig Ejaz Shah and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who were nominated by the former prime minister in a letter she wrote to US lobbyist Mark Siegel in 2007.

When Malik Rafique, counsel for the accused Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Said Aziz and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Khurram Shahzad, asked Qureshi whether he had examined those nominated by Benazir, the JIT chief replied in negative.

The defence counsel also disclosed before the court that Qureshi was a member of the Punjab Police JIT which had conducted the initial probe. The investigation into the murder is divided into two phases.

Soon after Benazirs assassination, the then Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) government formed an investigation team headed by the additional inspector general of Punjab of which Qureshi was a member.

The team arrested five suspects who were said to have belonged to the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

When the PPP formed its government after the February 2008 elections, the interior ministry assigned the investigation to the FIA and Qureshi was appointed head of the FIAs JIT.

FIAs investigation team conducted a second inquiry and implicated former president Pervez Musharraf, DIG Saud and SSP Shahzad in the case on account of washing the crime scene to destroy evidence and not providing adequate security to the former prime minister.

The JIT report also held Aziz responsible for not conducting a postmortem on Benazirs body.

However, during the cross examination, when the defence counsel asked Qureshi whether he watched the press conference held by former president Asif Ali Zardari after the assassination, in which he said that he had not given permission for the postmortem because he did not want the body of his wife to be "desecrated", Qureshi said he had not watched the press conference.

When asked if the JIT head had tried to ask Zardari about why he had not allowed the postmortem, Qureshi said he had never approached the former president in this regard.

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After the cross examination, the ATC adjourned the trial till May 16 and directed the prosecution to submit a report regarding the closing of evidence. PTI SH AJR AKJ AJR

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Chef Nishant Choubey gives us some easy tricks to avoid wastage during the water crisis in India.

You can easily minimize water wastage in the kitchen by trying out these five easy hacks. Photo courtesy: Instagram/light.it.upp

By Chef Nishant Choubey, Shreya Goswami: You might be looking at the growing water crisis in the nation, and wondering helplessly what to do about it. Using water judiciously and minimizing wastage will help make a lot of difference.

One of the places within the household that we use water the most in is the kitchen. Everything that we cook and cook with needs to be washed thoroughly. You don't need to compromise on hygiene to save water, but a few steps can easily be taken.

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Also read: Water crisis now hits Gurugram, irregular supply for 15 days



Here are 5 kitchen hacks that can be adopted into your everyday life and might just keep the national threat of drought at bay:

1. Avoid defrosting chicken and meat in running water. Instead keep them in the fridge overnight to thaw them down naturally. You could also soak them in one pot of water if in a hurry, or just keep them out on a plate to get to room temperature. Given the heat this summer, it's quite likely the chicken will defrost very fast.

Soak your veggies instead of rinsing them to save water. Photo courtesy: Instagram/lachilindrinatx

2. Avoid washing vegetables in running water. Dunk them all in a large bucket of water and rub them till they're clean.You need to be more thorough with vegetables with a ragged surface, like cauliflower, broccoli, bitter gourd (karela), etc. Soak them for nearly 20 minutes and rub well before taking out of the water.

Use excess boiled water for stocks instead of throwing it away. Photo courtesy: Instagram/healingmountainstream Use excess boiled water for stocks instead of throwing it away. Photo courtesy: Instagram/healingmountainstream

Also read: Five surprising and delicious ways to have watermelon this summer



3. Do not throw away excess water after boiling vegetables or chicken. In fact don't throw away boiled water at all. Use the same water for to make stocks. You can use them later in curries that need water or make the yummiest soup ever.

4. While boiling rice or pasta, measure the exact quantity of water required. If you use the exact amount needed to cook it all you won't have any excess water to throw.

Use the exact quantity of water required to boil pasta and rice. Photo courtesy: Instagram/pastatavola

5. Pay attention and close those kitchen faucets and taps properly after using them. Yes, this one might sound like a really old advice, but it's the most important one.

Do remember that every drop counts. Even a single step to avoid water wastage in the kitchen may just save lives.

Chef Nishant Choubey is the Executive Chef at Dusit Devarana, New Delhi.

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However, Bangladesh chose to remain unperturbed by Turkey's reaction on the incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was executed at Dhaka Central Jail on Wednesday, for committing war crimes during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon, Manogya Loiwal : Following the the execution of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador to Bangladesh, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

In its statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the death penalty given to the 73-year-old. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also condemned the move while several groups connected to Turkish NGOs held protests outside Bangladesh embassy in Ankara. In Istanbul, members of the Anatolia Youth Association (AGD) gathered to voice their objections at a park.

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However, Bangladesh chose to remain unperturbed by Turkey's reaction on the incident.

Speaking to India Today Television, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh M Shahriar Alam said, "The Turkey government is yet to inform Bangladesh about withdrawing its ambassador from Dhaka. We have not received any official notice on this matter. Bangladesh will not be affected by Turkey's concern over Nijami's execution."

"Bangladesh will not accept any 'negative reaction' from any country on the trial of war criminals. We will continue to take all necessary steps against such criminals," he added.

Quoting a diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity, leading Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News said that ambassador Devrim Ozturk is likely to arrive at Ankara later during the day.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was executed at Dhaka Central Jail on Wednesday, for committing war crimes during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The executive order to carry on with the execution was passed after the Jamaat-e-Islami chief refused to beg the president to have mercy on him. With this, Nizami became the fifth war criminal to be put to death.

A crowd of activists celebrated the execution outside the jail in Dhaka, while Jamaat-e-Islami issued a statement condemning it and calling for a day-long general strike across Bangladesh for Monday.

Also read: Bangladesh executes Jamaat-e-Islami chief Nizami for 1971 war crimes



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By PTI: From Youssra El-Sharkawy

Cairo, May 12 (PTI) Heavily armoured MRAP vehicles provided by the US arrived in the Egyptian port of Alexandria today, the first batch of a total of 762 vehicles that are being transfered to bolster Egypts counter-terrorism efforts.

The first shipment of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles from the US has arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian Army, a US Embassy statement here said.

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The heavily armoured MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines and from other types of attacks.

The delivery marks the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States is transferring to Egypt, the statement said.

This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.

Originally designed to support United States military operations in Afghanistan, MRAPs provide enhanced levels of protection to soldiers and are proven to save lives, the statement said.

"The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the US and Egypt," US Embassy Senior Defense Official Major General Charles Hooper said.

This delivery of MRAPs is part of the US Department of Defenses Excess Defense Articles grant programme, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to Egypt.

This delivery is the most recent step taken by the US government in support of Egypts fight against terrorism and is part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries. PTI YES ASK ASK

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For the first time three Indian women wrestlers will participate in the Olympics after Ravinder Khatri and Babita Kumari grabbed their tickets to Rio on Thursday.

Babita Kumari, along with Ravinder Khatri and Geeta Phogat will participate in the Rio Olympics 2016. (PTI Photo)

By Indo-Asian News Service: The total number of quota places for India, emerging as a global power in wrestling, has swelled to eight after Ravinder Khatri and Babita Kumari booked their spots for the upcoming Rio Olympics, slated to be held from August 5 to 21.

Both Ravinder and Babita confirmed their ticket to Rio after their rivals failed a dope test.

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Khatri was awarded the berth in the Greco-Roman 85kg after Kenzheev Zhanarbek of Kyrgyzstan tested positive at the Asian Olympic qualifier while Babita booked the berth after Mongolian wrestler Sumiya Erdenechimeg failed the dope test in 53kg freestyle at the same event.

Last week, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik secured Rio berths in 48kg and 58kg, respectively, at the second World Olympic Qualifying tournament in a historic feat of two Indian women wrestlers qualifying for Olympics for the first time.

While Vinesh won a gold in 48kg category, Sakshi bagged a silver in 58kg class as they booked a Rio Games quota place each for the country.

This is the first time three women wrestlers from India have qualified for the Olympics. Geeta Phogat was India's lone female wrestler competing at the London Games four year ago.

The Rio Games will also be the first time that India will be represented in all three formats - men's freestyle, female wrestling and Greco-Roman.

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It is likely to be a mainstream phone with relatively good hardware, but possibly with an experience that will be more polished.

By Javed Anwer: Yu Televentures, a Micromax subsidiary, will launch a new phone called Yunicorn on May 31. The company has scheduled a media event in Delhi where it will launch the new phone. As the name suggests the Yunicorn is a phone that focuses more on the design and overall user experience unlike the company's last phone Yutopia, which has more emphasis on the hardware.

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The details of the Yunicorn are scarce at the moment but we can confirm that it will have a fingerprint scanner and a metal body.

Although Yu is promising that the Yunicorn is going to "redefine flagships" the phone seems to be YU5530, which was leaked a while ago on GeekBench. It is likely to be a mainstream phone with relatively good hardware, but possibly with an experience that will be more polished. If it is indeed YU5530, then expect it to sport MediaTek Helio P10 octa-core processor with speed of 1.8GHz and 4GB RAM. It is also likely to have a screen with FullHD (1080p) resolution.

One of the key bits about the Yunicorn is that this will be launched without CyanogenOS. The deal that Yu and Cyanogen Inc had signed earlier is over and going forward the Indian phone maker is going to use its own software in its phones. This software will be lightly-modified Android - in the case of Yunicorn, Android Lollipop - that according to Yu will be regularly updated. Although, it won't be Pure Android in the manner of software in Nexus phones, the user interface and features of the Yunicorn software will be closer to stock Android than a heavily modified version like CyanogenOS.

"We promise that this (new) phone will be among the first ones in the market to get Android N update when Google releases the new version of Android," Yu founder Rahul Sharma had told IndiaToday.In a few days ago.

Also read: Next Yu phone to run pure Android, Cyanogen deal over

This software is the result of Project Highway on which Yu developers are working for the last several months. "Earlier we had launched a few phones running pure Android along with CyanogenOS devices. The feedback from the people was that they liked pure android more. So going forward we will focus on it," said Sharma.

The Yunicorn will be the first phone in the series of devices that Yu has planned for this year. Sharma said that the company would launch the updated version of all its previous devices - the Yunique, the Yureka and the Yutopia - this year.



Also read: YU Yutopia review: Godly hardware let down by software

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A new generation of Africans are taking development into their own hands through technological connections. Connection to solar energy for electricity. Connection to mobile networks for fresh ways of doing business. Connection to the internet to reach the digital world. Different strategies with one objective: improving the living conditions of Africans.

Sub-Saharan Africa is comprised of 831 million people spread over 47 diverse countries with an enormous diversity of culture, languages, size, population and economic development. Yet the entire region is ranked as one of the world's least developed, with illiteracy affecting more than one in three adults.

The 21st century, however, has brought with it some changes through evolving technology. In recent years the mobile ecosystem has been a principal driver of innovation and the phone has become a platform and a window to the rest of the world.

With a penetration rate of 38 percent and more than 330 million unique subscribers, sub-Saharan Africa has become, in the past five years, the world's fastest growing region in terms of subscribers and single connections.

Slowly but surely, Africa is beginning to connect under a new generation of leaders who promote technological innovation to improve the quality of life on the continent.

Do you want to discover more about what "Connecting Africa" means for the continent's technology leaders?

In 2013, the mobile phone industry contributed 5.4 percent to Africa's GDP and employed 2.4 million people. These figures are reflected in new opportunities opening up in the world of digital entrepreneurship throughout different countries.

New hubs, start-up incubators and accelerators are generating applications, services and native technologies across the continent. But what has been the key to the rise of technology development in sub-Saharan Africa?

The development manager for Africa and Middle East of the Internet Society, Michuki Mwangi, believes that developing the right environment is essential so that entrepreneurs and businesspeople encounter good working conditions.

AfricaCom, the biggest tech event in Africa, brings the continent's digital ecosystem leaders together once a year. In 2014, it was held in Cape Town. More than 9,000 people involved in information and communication technologies (ICT) participated.

"If this is achieved, a boom is the next step. This is what happens when any environment is designed to be competitive, inclusive and attractive enough," says Mwangi. But what is the key to creating a competitive business environment?

In Africa, liberalisation policies in the telecommunications sector came much later than elsewhere in the world. According to Mwangi, this was due to the fact that "the relationship between the public and private sectors was not always properly balanced".

On top of this imbalance, there is also a lack of a strong civil society and robust academic life, which are fundamental to raise the discussion to a higher level.

By the year 2000, all the foundations in Kenya had been laid to allow the government and private sectors to fully commit to the development of new policies.

Evolving regulation was the key to creating an ecosystem that later ushered in Kenya's technological boom. Bitange Ndemo, former permanent secretary of Kenya's ministry of information and communications, played an important role in Kenya's tech transformation.

East Africa is where the greatest technological development is taking place Bitange Ndemo, former permanent secretary for communications in Kenya "East Africa is where the future of the continent's technological development is taking place" Bitange Ndemo former permanent secretary for communications in Kenya, played a key role in the country's technological revolution. What are the requirements for good regulation? Laws must be made to help us, not to destroy us. I think that regulations should be brought in gradually; you have to be very delicate, especially in fast-growing sectors such as innovation. We never try to interfere with innovation, and we succeeded because of that. What did you do while in government? For eight years, I worked in policymaking and implementation of information technology and communication. When I entered office, ICT infrastructure was inadequate, and indeed the east of the continent had no underground cable. Broadband was expensive as a result. As the government had no money to invest in infrastructure, we favoured the development of public-private partnerships, and once the infrastructure was in place, we started to promote innovation and create jobs. I would say that we achieved most of the objectives we had set ourselves in a very short period of time because we knew what we wanted from the beginning. What problems came up when laying down the regulations? Obviously, we had a number of problems, especially with the arrival of the innovative mobile money service M-Pesa. It was very difficult to approve regulations for it to function, and most of us took a risk by taking responsibility. You need to take some risks. Mobile money has brought a lot of productivity and people have begun to realise that you can solve some problems through ICT. What changes have you seen in Africans? Before, people used to grow crops and then went to church to pray for rain. We are working to convince people that not everything depends on God and that there are some things we can do to predict the future. When productivity starts improving, economic growth accelerates. That's the problem that Africa has had for many years. Of course what is happening will change people. How do you see the future of technology in Africa? We have to get more involved in the construction of public infrastructure. We are using more phones to access a variety of services, and that's how innovation begins to spring up. I would say that regarding the ICT market, we are still at the bottom and there are many more things to come.

The adoption of technology in Africa is very uneven. Many countries still do not have regulations in place that help markets to develop. "We want to create favourable conditions for a competitive and healthy market," says Sonia Jorge, executive director of A4AI (The Alliance for Affordable Internet).

To achieve this, A4AI works with different countries to mediate between governments and the private sector in order to help establish regulatory reform.

"The mobile industry has transformed the lives of millions of people throughout sub-Saharan Africa." Anne Bouverot, director-general of GSMA In 2015, the internet could increase Africa's GDP by $300bn.

Good regulation creates attractive markets for private investment and entrepreneurial development. However, it will take several years to get the reforms in place that reshape the markets.

If you have good regulations in place, you will be guiding your country towards where you imagine Sonia Jorge, executive director of A4AI (The Alliance for Affordable Internet) "If you have good regulation, you are leading your country towards where you imagine" Sonia Jorge, executive director of A4AI (The Alliance for Affordable Internet), a coalition of private and public sectors, and civil society organiations, united with the aim of providing affordable mobile and fixed line internet access in developing countries. What is the focus of your initiative? From the beginning, it was clear that regulatory policy was one of the key areas to resolve, so we focus on this in order to promote reforms that create the right conditions for competitive and healthy markets. Through cost reduction we aim to bring affordable prices to everyone. What countries do you work in? We started working in Africa last year and to date have signed agreements with the governments of Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique. We work with them to support them in the process and to facilitate conditions that help politicians make decisions. Despite the fact that the internet is expanding very rapidly, only 19 percent of Africans currently use it, and less than 11 percent of households have access. One of the main obstacles is not being able to afford it. What does technological development mean for a country? Our sector has had a real impact on development, and very positive things have happened in Africa in the last decade. We have established a lot of evidence on the benefits of the internet on socioeconomic development in different areas of society, such as education, agriculture, banking and even tourism. So we see accessible internet as a great opportunity for a country's development. Besides regulatory reform, what other aspects are important? Operators invest in the same areas rather than dividing up the territory and reach other areas. We are working so that companies share infrastructure, because we see it as a great opportunity to reduce costs. Taxes are another very significant part of costs in our sector. In countries like Mozambique, industry has been squeezed and excessive taxation on services, devices and investments and inputs has increased the cost of the service. What is the big picture? Mobile use has evolved faster in some African markets, but when it comes to internet access, the same thing has not occurred due to the lack of a clear vision. I think many countries are learning and we are beginning to see a commitment, not just a clearer vision for the sector, but also a sense of integration with other sectors to achieve development. If you have good regulation, you are leading your country towards where you imagine. This process of understanding has been very positive, but also slow in some countries. What countries have good regulations? Nigeria has a very interesting plan and countries like Rwanda and Kenya also have very strong implementation guidelines, which are very important in our sector. It is important that countries do not force the creation of new regulations, but develop their own vision. What does the future hold in store for Africa? A huge number of young entrepreneurs with new business ideas emerge every day, so this is an opportunity for these possibilities to materialise. I think that technology can have a huge impact, but I also think that this impact is not just specific to our sector. It goes beyond it, and that's what is really interesting for us.

Despite the differences between countries, technological development has gained headway on the African continent. Mobile Money, pay-per-use systems for solar energy services, and mobile applications to boost farmers' productivity are part and parcel of this.

A growing realisation that technology provides a sustainable business model is giving rise to companies with a commercial focus, to the detriment of NGOs or non-profit organisations. "Up until now, some service providers were non-profit, but there has been a transition," says Mwangi.

And while foreigners are undertaking projects involving major investment, Africans are at the forefront of smaller initiatives.

Africa is experimenting, creating resources and attracting investment. We are building an entrepreneurial culture Michuki Mwangi, development manager for Africa and Middle East Internet Society "Africa is experimenting, creating resources and attracting foreign investment. We are building an entrepreneurial culture" Michuki Mwangi, senior development manager for Africa and the Middle East for the Internet Society, an international organisation that promotes the open development, evolution and use of the internet worldwide. What is the key to laying the foundations for a healthy market? The key to success in ICT development is the creation of an enabling environment that allows free competition to flourish. Kenya is a good example, since it is growing as a leader in ICT through mobile money transfer, mobile penetration, etc. This is because we have achieved a commitment from the private sector and government to develop the enabling environment. What is happening in the rest of Africa? Africa is a large continent with different levels of development. In some countries, the state is stronger than the private sector and, in others, the private sector is stronger than the government. In other places, I feel that opportunities have not arisen to develop this relationship. A commitment must exist and it should be approached from a multi-sectoral perspective to policy development. Some countries may lack strong civil society and others strong academia, two fundamental institutions needed to take the debate to a higher level. We spend a lot of time trying to help countries find the right combination but it takes time. Do you think that traditional NGOs are giving way to commercial enterprises? There has been a positive transition. If you look closely, in the past some service providers were not driven by profits. The understanding that technology is a sustainable business model gives rise to companies that provide services with a commercial focus. The result is the creation of a competitive environment and that happens to be very useful for the development of innovation. After creating a competitive environment, we have seen a sector of emerging businesses that are trying to take advantage of existing infrastructure and services to come up with innovative products. Why are big projects being developed by foreigners? A lot of attention may be given to large companies, for whom a large investment is necessary. But if you look at smaller initiatives, which also have had an impact, although perhaps more localised, you can see that they are being developed by locals. In the long run, we are creating experiences, building local resources and attracting expatriates. We are building an entrepreneurial culture. We are creating institutions to incubate good ideas and everything necessary to turn a good idea into a big success. This is something we have never had; it is something very new. The West has, and that is why people from the United States or Europe come up with great ideas. That is why I'm not disappointed that major projects are foreign; it is part of globalisation. We will soon follow in their footsteps. Could this new development mean a big step forward for the future? I think in the coming years major innovations will come out in Africa. Africa is the region with the largest population of young people, so there is great potential for the emergence of brilliant ideas. What has been lacking is the framework to support innovation. As we have started to create small projects, we are developing skills and experience, so I think in the near future we will be in a position to create major initiatives in the region. What are the greatest difficulties? Internet penetration has needed time to develop to levels of other countries due to the lack of intensive investment that would provide adequate broadband. Africa has made progress in the creation of policy frameworks and, as a result, has created an appropriate environment; the next step is investment. If politicians and governments continue to invest in initiatives such as e-government, they will be encouraging internet use. The reason that there has not been a huge boom is that nobody has hit the mark when it comes to generating needs. Do you think that the mobile has taken the place of computers in Africa? Many of us in Africa have been educated to use technology through the mobile phone, and internet use has come through our mobile handsets. Therefore, many applications and future innovations will be mobile-oriented, and the PC will be there for things the phone cannot do. So much of the future of this region will be strongly influenced by the way we accessed technology from the beginning, which is through the mobile phone.

In recent years, technology has become increasingly accessible for the majority of the population. This has encouraged an interest in the role that mobile technology has to play in promoting social and economic development in different countries.

Low-cost terminals are increasing in availability; rapid growth has occurred in mobile money services; and mobile services for sectors such as health and agriculture are being created.

Half of the population of Africa is under 15 years of age and more than 250 million of its inhabitants are aged between 15 and 24. 64 percent of the sub-Saharan population live in rural areas, which often lack basic infrastructure.

The 47 sub-Saharan countries are economically, socially and technologically diverse. In this respect, many experts refer to the east and west subregions to distinguish between two main trends: the vanguard and the rearguard.

The southern region is relegated from the debate due to the fact that South Africa, the main regional power, distorts all the variables. Beyond the differences, however, it can be seen how Africa's new generations are taking development into their own hands via technological connections.

Connecting to mobile networks for the development of markets; connecting to solar energy for electricity; and connecting to the internet to reach the digital world... These are different strategies with one objective: improving the living conditions of Africans.
This Internkat has been trapped inside almost all week by the dreary, unsummery London weather - a perfect opportunity to catch up with some highlights from the IP blogosphere.









Should charities enforce IP? This question, and some thorny examples of trade mark and branding disputes involving philanthropic organisations is at the heart of IP Finance 's recent piece, "Philanthropys Purple Rain  Brand Building for Non Profits " . IPKat founding father, Jeremy Phillips, is quoted vehemently criticising a UK charity clash from last year as a " a disgraceful waste of utter stupidity in branding and squandering of charitable funds for no constructive purpose", which does indeed seem to hold true for many such disputes. However, the post highlights some scenarios which reveal the need for integrity within charitable branding, and considers what IP may be able to give them.

















To assign or not to assign? Over at Over at IP Draughts , Mark Anderson has some words for wisdom for any academic researchers why it would be necessary to execute a written assignment of IP rights to a university if there is an apparently good policy in place. This is bound to be a particularly pertinent question when commercial licensing is at stake, and hopefully will offer some comfort to academics who have found themselves in a similar position. In conclusion? "Just Sign the ____ Form"





Florentijin Hofman's duck sculpture is world-famous



Public protest against president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has rallied around a giant rubber duck mascot. Unlike the original sculpture by Florentijin Hofman, their giant duck has

s for eyes, and bears the slogan "CHEGA DE PAGAR O PATO"

[~ Time to pay the piper]

but since the duck was produced in the very same factory and resembles the sculpture, plagiaris

Patricia Covarrubia explains the story. IPKat reporting of previous alleged counterfeits of the same rubber duck, here , floats Mr Hofman's

intended message behind the duck:

"humanity's shared culture and childhood memories, pure art and anti-commercialisation".
"Legally qualified judges, as well as technically qualified judges who are full-time judges of the Court, may not engage in any other occupation, whether gainful or not, unless an exception is granted by the Administrative Committee."

"Candidates for part-time legally qualified judges have to request this exception if they wish to remain in private practice. However, no exception will be granted to candidates who serve as members of the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) and who wish to remain members of the Board."

The Administrative Council shall be competent to decide that:

(a) the members of the Boards of Appeal or the Enlarged Board of Appeal may serve on a European patent court or a common entity and take part in proceedings before that court or entity in accordance with any such agreement;

(b) the European Patent Office shall provide a common entity with such support staff, premises and equipment as may be necessary for the performance of its duties, and the expenses incurred by that entity shall be borne fully or in part by the Organisation.

Merpel has been thinking a little more about the announcement of recruitment of judges for the Unified Patent Court, and now foresees some unpleasant consequences.According to Article 17(2) of the Unified Patent Court Agreement According to the selection process document On the face of it, this only applies to legally qualified judges, but this is because only legally qualified judges need dispensation to have another occupation; technical judges can do so without dispensation, subject to the conflict rules.In fact, Merpel understands thatEPO Board of Appeal members will be permitted to serve part time as UPC judges (ie while remaining employed at the EPO). Article 149a(2) EPC states:This clearly envisaged (while not finally deciding the matter) that Board of Appeal members could serve in a court such as the UPC, and so presumably that the drafters of the EPC 2000 thought that this would be a good idea.However, the Administrative Council has taken no decision to allow members of the Boards of Appeal to serve as UPC judges, and Merpel understands that there is no plan to do so. What she is not sure about is where the pressure not to allow BoA members to also serve on the UPC has come from. She has heard that the EPO President is against the idea, as he does not wish to relinquish any EPO employees. Presumably, the Administrative Council is not in favour, otherwise they could take such a decision irrespective of the wishes of the President, but it seems that they have chosen not to. But she also now wonders whether the Preparatory Committee is also not in favour.This seems to be a great mistake. The Boards of Appeal represent the largest concentration of expertise in adjudicating contentious patent disputes in Europe, with a proven track record of doing so in a transnational manner. An early decision to potentially second a significant number of Board of Appeal members could have allowed this resource to be used for the benefit of the UPC, while allowing significant extra flexibility for the manpower of the UPC, whose caseload in the initial stages is unknown and unknowable. The alternative that seems to be now being pursued of recruiting a set number of judges risks over- or under-staffing.Perhaps the Administrative Council and the EPO President are concerned that the backlog of cases at the EPO Boards of Appeal (currently estimated at around 8000 cases) can only worsen if some Board members go off to be UPC judges part time. This is an issue of concern, but it seems to Merpel that the solution is not to prohibit the Board members from being UPC judges part time, but rather to increase the manpower of the Boards to compensate. The Boards of Appeal are large enough to accommodate some flexibility in staffing levels, much more easily than the fledgling UPC.Merpel has heard from a judicial source that it is undesirable for a UPC judge to be an EPO employee, because an employee of the granting institution should not be involved in the litigation of a patent granted by that institution. This is piffle (or perhaps she should say " nonsense on stilts "). The Patents Court has no difficulty being the forum for appeals from decisions of the UK IPO as well as the first instance litigation venue. There may justification for a rule that the same person cannot hear a case related to the same patent at the EPO and the UPC, but there is no justification for a blanket ban on the dual role of UPC judge and BoA member.Merpel has now realised a further problem for the Boards of Appeal themselves. As she reported earlier , they are currently significantly under strength. If BoA members are not allowed to serve part time on the UPC, it must be very attractive to instead resign from the EPO and go to the UPC full time. This is a time of potential significant upheaval for the Boards, with likely changes to location, career structure, independence, and work expectations. The UPC must look like an attractive escape route. But when there are already a large number of unfilled places, any significant exodus at this time could irretrievably lose expertise in some technical areas. Such damage could take years to restore. Moreover, it will result in precisely the outcome (increase in backlog of appeal cases) the avoidance of which is presumed to lie behind not releasing Board members to serve part time at the UPC.Merpel has no expectation of being heeded. But there is (just) time to reverse the decision, if action is taken now, and to pursue the sensible course of restoring the EPO Boards of Appeal to full strength and allowing their members to act part time as UPC judges.
This weeks follow up to Salamis comments seem to serve at least in part as a response to the USs dismissal. Speaking through Irans state media, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, the commander of the IRGCs naval forces, said that the US remains unaware of many of the capabilities of those forces, such as the specifications of their surface-to-air missiles.

But in addition to intimating that the Islamic Republic has heretofore hidden military capabilities, Fadavi also insisted that what is already known by the US is sufficient to make Iran capable of directly challenging US naval forces in the Persian Gulf. Americans are aware that Iran would destroy their warships if they take a wrong measure in the region, he said, adding, Americans can feel the presence of IRGC navy forces at any spot.

Such commentary is commonplace among public statements by IRGC officials, who frequently strive to portray Iranian military forces as being much stronger and more modern than they are in fact, and specifically as being ready for direct confrontation with the US and its allies. Many of the particular claims backing up this rhetoric are easily falsifiable in the international media, but may not be contradicted among large portions of the Iranian public, which is subject to severe media censorship, thereby limiting competition with the regimes elaborate propaganda networks.

State media remains under the direct control of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and this fact was made particularly clear on Wednesday when the Associated Press reported that the previous head of state broadcasting, Mohammad Sarfaraz, had been replaced after approximately two years on the job. It was not immediately clear why he had been ousted from his position, or on what basis Abdolali Ali Asgari was chosen as his successor, although it is known that Sarfaraz had recently complained about a lack of funding.

What is clear is that Sarfaraz was removed on the direct order of the supreme leader, who also hand-picked his successor. Whatever changes this may produce in the content of state media broadcasts, it is all but certain that the above-mentioned provocative rhetoric about the United States will continue to be a regular feature. That is to say, the media interviews with IRGC figures directly reflect the anti-Western statements that have recently been pouring out of office of the supreme leader.

Since the conclusion of nuclear negotiations in July, Khamenei has taken pains to counter the notion that this development could lead to broader reconciliation between the Islamic Republic and its lifelong Western adversaries. As those negotiations were concluding, he barred his officials from negotiating with the US over anything other than the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and in a speech coinciding with the Iranian New Year in March, Khamenei warned, Those who say the future is in negotiations and not in missiles are either ignorant or traitors.

Khameneis rhetorical foreign policy preoccupation was described and broadly criticized on Wednesday in an editorial published at Rudaw. The author justified a certain level of hardline wariness of the US, but concluded that Khamenei was setting his foreign policies on the basis of fear and paranoia, and not prudent skepticism. The article went on to suggest that Iran could benefit greatly from moderating its policies in order to court more American-led reconciliation, but also that this is extremely unlikely to happen under Khameneis hardline Islamist leadership.

The effects of that leadership are presumably evident in the rhetorical commentary and outright threats coming from the IRGC and other hardline groups and individuals, who are necessarily given special attention in the media. Under a new head of state broadcasting, that media can be expected to continue boasting of Irans military advancements. And these boasts can be expected to remain largely, although not exclusively, false.

At the same time that the IRGC and its affiliates have been claiming massive internal military development, some verifiable advancements have actually taken place, although these are mostly attributable to purchases of weapons from foreign countries. Most notably, the Washington Free Beacon reported on Wednesday that the Russian-made S-300 missile defense system had recently been installed at Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, after last months long-delayed delivery of the first components of that system.

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan also claimed that Iran was moving quickly toward the production of a domestically-made copy of that weapon, which is capable of engaging multiple aerial targets from a distance of hundreds of kilometers. The state of Israeli and its advocates have previously expressed concern that Irans possession of such weapons, while not constituting an additional offensive threat, would limit the potential effectiveness of a future strike on Irans nuclear facilities if that was deemed necessary by Irans sudden progress toward a nuclear weapon.
The 32 year-old Hekmati, a former US marine, was arrested in 2011 while visiting relatives in Iran. He was accused of being an American spy and as his suit alleges, he was then coerced into providing a false confession, leading to his conviction and an initial sentence of death. That sentence was eventually overturned and replaced with a sentence of 10 years in prison, which he served until being released in a prisoner swap, along with Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, and a fourth dual citizen, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari.

Hekmati and his family in the United States frequently spoke out about his mistreatment throughout the period of his detention. Now, his lawsuit airs those grievances once again, detailing how authorities whipped the bottoms of his feet, kept him in stress positions for hours on end, shocked him with a Taser, beat him with batons, and exerted various psychological pressures to help elicit a false confession.

According to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Hematis attorney, Scott Gilbert, has indicated that he does not expect Iran to defend itself in the American courts, thereby opening the door for a judge to issue a default guilty verdict. Afterwards, Gilbert plans to attempt to recover financial compensation for his client from assets frozen in American banks.

Presumably, this case will thus reinvigorate a conflict that emerged last month between Iran and the US, after the US Supreme Court upheld a lower courts ruling that the victims of Iran-backed terrorist acts could access two billion dollars in frozen Iranian funds in order to collect on the damages awarded to them. If this judgement is viewed as precedent for victims of torture as well, Hekmati may be able to collect compensation against the Iranian governments will.

That precedent may be more broadly valuable, not only because Hekmati was accompanied by other dual citizens in the prisoner release, but also because dual nationals remain under sever threat in the Islamic Republic. This is certainly true of those who hold US citizenship, but also of Iranian citizens of the UK and other US allies, who happen to travel to Iran for reasons such as visiting family.

Recently, it was revealed that another such individual had been captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in April as she was ending a visit to her parents. On Wednesday, The Guardian published an update on the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has reportedly been held in solitary confinement for five weeks, where she says she has been put under pressure to issue a false confession despite having not been formally accused of any crime.

After going public with their story, Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband Richard Ratcliffe said that Iranian authorities had arranged the first family visit so far among the imprisoned woman, her parents, and her 22-month-old daughter. The child, Gabriella, is presently in the care of her grandparents and cannot return home to her father in the UK, as authorities have confiscated her passport.

The Guardian notes that there is a petition being circulated which urges British Prime Minister David Cameron to pressure the Iranian government to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Naturally, such advocacy is reminiscent of the Western responses to the cases of Hekmati and others. But even in the midst of direct appeals from Western governments, Iranian officials have tended to reply by reiterating that they do not recognize dual citizenship, and therefore see their detainees only as Iranian citizens, and thus exclusively subject to Tehrans authority.

Consequently, Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been refused contact with the British consulate, as well as being denied access to legal counsel as she is being interrogated.
But that move has been a considerable source of controversy among American policymakers. Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly described it as an instance of taxpayer money being used to directly subsidize the Iranian nuclear program. As a result, he quickly responded to the announcement by adding an amendment to the Energy Departments budget which would have prevented it from making similar purchases from the Islamic Republic in the future.

However, this amendment was defeated on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. Some detractors described it as a poison pill, which would lead to a presidential veto and needlessly slow down the process of allocating funds to government departments.

On the other hand, the defeat was achieved by a very narrow margin, and in fact Cottons amendment had the support of the majority of the Senate, yet fell three votes short of the 60-vote majority required to overcome congressional filibuster rules. Such margins reflect the more general difficulties that the Obama administrations overall Iran policies have faced in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Last autumn, a resolution of disapproval of the JCPOA was similarly defeated by relying on filibuster rules to allow the Democratic minority to overcome opposition by the entirety of the Republican Party plus a handful of dissenting Democrats. A recurring issue in all this has been Cottons notion that the agreement and its broader context stands to provide financing to a country that is regarded as the worlds foremost sponsor of terrorism, and that is widely suspected of coveting a nuclear weapon.

Consequently, many congressmen have been harshly critical of the Obama administrations apparent efforts to bolster the nuclear deal by encouraging Western investment in the Islamic Republic. These efforts were highlighted once again by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, in an article detailing some of Secretary of State John Kerrys latest comments on the status of European reentry into the Iranian market.

That reentry has in many respects been slow-going, and Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have been keen to blame the US for supposedly standing in the way of international banks granting Iran renewed access to global transactions. Despite the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions, the US maintains some sanctions on Irans support of terrorism and its violations of human rights, and it is possible that Western businesses could be subject to fines and assets seizure if they fall afoul of these sanctions.

However, Kerry said on Tuesday that European companies are free to invest in Iran as long as they do not form business partnerships with specific entities that are under explicit US sanction. But some critics and experts on Iran argue that it is difficult if not impossible to fully isolate these entities from international transactions, since the hardline Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliates control the vast majority of the Iranian economy.

There are signs that Secretary Kerry may recognize the validity of critics concerns about enrichment of the Islamic Republic in general. Such recognition might explain his efforts to downplay the amount of money that Iran has received or might receive from unfrozen assets and new transactions with the international community. Some have estimated that figure at upwards of 150 billion dollars, but Kerry has emphasized that the Treasury Department considers it to be only 55 billion.

In addition, Kerry claimed in April that Iran had only directly received three billion dollars worth of assets to date. But on Wednesday, a Washington Post fact-checker looked into this claim and found no data to substantiate it. The article went on to say that Kerrys focus on 55 billion dollars in unfrozen assets misses the point that the most serious concerns about the effects of the Iran nuclear deal relate to Irans prospective reentry into the international banking system  something that figures like Tom Cotton have accused the Obama administration of attempting to facilitate.
[May 11, 2016] Wider Adoption of Cloud-Based Biometrics Will Significantly Propel the Global Biometrics Market in the Government Sector Through 2020, Says Technavio

According to the latest research report released by Technavio, the global biometrics market in the government sector is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 11% until 2020. This report titled 'Global Biometrics Market in the Government Sector 2016-2020', provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging trends. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the sales of biometric solutions including hardware, software, integrated solutions, and services to the government sector. The major end-users of biometric technology in the government sector are the following: The defense department: It includes military, aerospace, and federal organizations.

The department of homeland security: It includes civil security organizations and ministries (including transportation and identity documentation).

Others: It includes government spending on biometric solutions for healthcare organizations, financial services, education, energy, and government services. Request sample report: http://bit.ly/26NN02X "Fingerprint recognition, which is the oldest biometric technology used in the government sector, accounted for the largest market share in 2015, with a 47.29% share. It was followed by facial recognition with 11.21%, iris recognition with 9.69%, and voice recognition with 7.35%. These three technologies will witness a high growth during the forecast period mainly due to their user-friendliness," said Abhay Singh, one of Technavio's lead industry analysts for automatic identification systems. "In 2015, the defense department was the largest contributor to the market. The defense department uses biometric systems for monitoring purposes, access control, and identification of individuals. Governments across the globe allocate significant amounts in their defense budgets for biometric solutions, given their ever-rising importance. Defense spending on these solutions will remain high during the forecast period," added Abhay. Some of the other driving forces behind the growth of the global biometrics market in the government sector are as follows: Government initiatives

Increasing volume of identity thefts

Rising need for border security

Wider adoption of cloud-based biometrics Government initiatives Biometrics is being used by many governments for different purposes such as monitoring the attendance of employees, rationing, and border control. In India, the government has taken an initiative to use Unique Identification Authority of India's Aadhar Card as a biometric attendance system in government organizations. With this initiative, the government looks to increase employee productivity and operational efficiency. The project features front-end and back-end systems where the front-end system is used to capture biometric sca, which is sent to the back-end system for real-time biometric authentication. The Indian government is also using biometrics for visa applications.



The Philippines's Commission on Elections is collecting voters' biometric data for election purposes. The commission uses signatures, digital facial photographs, and fingerprints as biometric data. The US-VISIT is a biometric identity management capability that contains information regarding criminals, immigration violators, and suspected terrorists. It supports border management and immigration systems.

Nigeria's Kaduna State government uses biometrics to provide an accurate record of the numbers of its personnel. The payroll of each individual can be retrieved using biometrics identification process. These government initiatives make extensive use of biometric solutions, helping boost the market revenue. Increasing volume of identity thefts The increasing number of identity thefts is another driver contributing to the growth of this market. Lately, there has been an increase in the number of identity and data theft cases, primarily because of the growing use of websites and web applications. The growing popularity of online consulting and sharing of health-related results online is also resulting identity thefts as hackers are increasingly targeting servers of healthcare organizations. The increasing complexity of these attacks is prompting government organizations to implement secure authentication solutions, including biometric solutions. These solutions are highly reliable as they efficiently assess individuals on the basis of their physical or behavioral patterns, which are very difficult to forge. Rising need for border security Increased instances of terrorist attacks across North America and Europe have made airport security a priority for many governments. Fingerprint recognition solutions are one of the best options available for the authentication of passengers traveling across the country. These solutions enable airport officials to monitor passengers more effectively and efficiently. Moreover, the chances of error are fewer in biometric solutions. Fingerprint recognition solutions provide complete information about passengers entering and exiting the airport, and this information can be used to track terror suspects. Governments across the world are looking to counter terrorist attacks with the increased adoption of biometric solutions in airports. Therefore, the demand for biometric solutions for adoption at airports has increased. Wider adoption of cloud-based biometrics Cloud-based biometric technologies utilize cloud services through a web-based user interface, which can be either a browser or a mobile application. Here, the biometrics infrastructure is managed by a cloud service provider and is available on demand. Cloud-based biometric infrastructure includes a server that consists of a biometric template database and all the processing data created during the individuals' identification and verification. Governments can install biometric devices and set up accounts with hosting providers to select the services they need. Cloud-based biometrics are affordable for small and mid-sized organizations because the pricing of cloud biometrics is based on a pay-per-use model, where customers pay according to the utilization of services. In contrast, traditional security systems require a large one-time capital investment and additional operating costs. This trend is driven by the mobile biometric technology as pairing mobile biometrics with cloud-based biometrics speeds up the identification process and sends the resulting data to the cloud instead of saving it as a local file that can be accessed by anyone. Cloud-based biometrics helps law enforcement avoid unnecessary travel to the station with a suspect. It enables law enforcement officials to identify criminals by comparing their biometric data against online databases. Fujitsu (News - Alert) is providing cloud-based biometric identity management solutions and services to law enforcement in partnership with ImageWare Systems. Browse related reports Global Biometrics Monitoring Systems Market 2015-2019

Global Biometric Access Control Systems Market 2015-2019

Global Biometric in Workforce Management 2015-2019

Global Mobile Biometrics Market 2015-2019 Purchase any 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/20160511005054/en/

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[May 11, 2016] Lisenbee Photography Offers Premier Photography Services and Video Production in Newport Beach, CA Area

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lisenbee Photography is a well-established, reputed and trusted photography and video production company that has built a name for professionalism, creativity and customer satisfaction. There are dozens and dozens of professional photographers out there, but finding a truly professional and accomplished photographer in Newport Beach, CA can be difficult. No one wants to experiment with their wedding or birthday photography to find out whether a photographer is up to the task or not. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366490 Lisenbee Photography provides photography and video production services for different occasions including weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, charities and special events. Still photography can be perfect for capturing the moments, moods, colors and the beauty of an event. Videos can be more effective in capturing the full experience and mood of the occasion. Lisenbee Photography shoots all of their videos with a cinematic style using multiple dynamics to capture the viewer's interest. Lisenbee Photography uses the latest and most advanced equipment and software to ensure customers get the best-possible photography or video service for their special occasion. Lisenbee Photography uses the Canon 7D Mark II, a state of the art camera; along with the 5D Mark II. They prefer the two cameras for their astounding quaity and low-light photo capturing capabilities. The Canon 600EX-RT Speed Light Flash, Rhode Shotgun Microphone, Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Premiere Pro complete the list of the technology solutions used by this Newport Beach, CA photographer to deliver an end product that is extraordinary.



Customer satisfaction is the driving force behind each one of Lisenbee Photography's projects. Lisenbee Photography works with clients to know what they want and how they want it. Lisenbee Photography's focus is to capture the spirit of the occasion, spending a good amount of time asking questions and discussing their needs with each client. About Lisenbee Photography

Davis Lisenbee is the founder/owner of Lisenbee Photography. Davis Lisenbee's history with photography and filmmaking goes back to the tender age of 9 when he picked up a camera for the first time. His penchant for creativity is matchless. His resume is comprised of a multitude of projects from different parts of the world. He has worked in Hollywood studio sets. His work has taken him to different landscapes including the deserts of California, snowy mountains, and the magnificent Pacific coastline. His projects have involved hiking through miles of snow and beaches to find the perfect shot. In the words of Davis, "It is all about combining my knowledge, passion, experience and our dedication to each job that helps us in bringing the highest quality for my clients." He is gifted with the power to see that perfect shot before capturing the moment.

Davis completed his training from the L.A. Recording School in music production, sound engineering and film editing. He has also trained and worked with the leading photographers in the United States. He has also worked on sound editing and cinematography on films, which helps bring additional levels of expertise to his videography work. Contact Lisenbee Photography

Lisenbee Photography has emerged as a photography and video production company with the aim of delivering a high quality end product that meets and exceeds client needs. Find out more about Lisenbee Photography by visiting their website at www.lisenbeephotography.com. 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/lisenbee-photography-offers-premier-photography-services-and-video-production-in-newport-beach-ca-area-300267032.html SOURCE Lisenbee Photography

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[May 11, 2016] French Luxury Brand ZILLI Selects YuniquePLM to Maintain Commitment to the Highest Levels of Quality and Fuel Growth

NEW YORK, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Internationally renowned French luxury brand, best known for its selection of high-quality leatherwear, ZILLI will implement Gerber Technology's YuniquePLM software system as it furthers its expansion beyond Europe into the Middle East and China. Since 1965, ZILLI has been committed to small-scale, high quality production with bespoke, made-to-measure selections for both men and women. The company offers luxury goods appointed with the finest materials; from exotic skins such as python, peccary, kangaroo, mink and crocodile hides to mother of pearl and solid gold. To date, ZILLI is still family-run and crafts everything by hand in France and more recently at their facility in Italy. ZILLI has expanded both its presence in the global market along with its product lines; the brand offering include shirts, leather apparel for men and women, outdoor gear, accessories, shoes, belts, luggage, jewelry and eyewear. ZILLI will employ YuniquePLM throughout its full product offerings. Mrs. Claudine Robinet, CFO at ZILLI, expressed, "Our decision to select YuniquePLM stemmed from their team of experts and class leading product that will allow us to realize benefits in a short amount of time. We look forward to centralizing our data and introducing greater visibility and collaboration to our teams." Claudine continued, "As we expand our presence geographically as well as our product offerings, we must stay true to our original founding mission of providing the finest bespoke goods. uniquePLM will help us achieve greater efficiency and maintain our longstanding commitment to quality."



Bill Brewster, vice president and general manager of Enterprise SW Solutions said, "We commend ZILLI on their unwavering dedication to producing the highest quality products. With a 'fast start' implementation, YuniquePLM will enable ZILLI to unify their people, processes and business to help decision makers make quicker, better-informed product line decisions and execute with the highest efficiency." About ZILLI

Founded in 1965, ZILLI offers a range of luxury leather goods, including jackets, luggage, belts, shoes, eyewear and jewelry for both men and women. The company employs only the finest of materials including calfskin suede, chinchilla cashmere, glazed lambskin, deer, python, the peccary jacket in 1973 and the crocodile skin jacket in 1982. ZILLI's commitment to quality products has won popularity among celebrities, including John Lennon, John Wayne and Francis Bacon. ZILLI products can be found in over 21 countries.

Visit www.zilli.fr for more information About Gerber Technology

Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software and automation solutions that help apparel and industrial customers improve their manufacturing and design processes and more effectively manage and connect the supply chain, from product development and production to retail and the end customer. Gerber serves more than 78,000 customers in 130 countries, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in apparel & accessories, home and leisure, transportation, packaging and sign & graphics. The company develops and manufactures its products from various locations in the United States and Canada and has additional manufacturing capabilities in China. Based in Connecticut in the USA, Gerber Technology is owned by Vector Capital, a San Francisco-based, global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector and managing more than $2 billion of equity capital. Visit www.gerbertechnology.com for more information. Contact: Jamie Bibb

Tel: +1 419 244 7766

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/french-luxury-brand-zilli-selects-yuniqueplm-to-maintain-commitment-to-the-highest-levels-of-quality-and-fuel-growth-300267198.html SOURCE Gerber Technology

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[May 11, 2016] Fitch Takes Various Rating Actions on Brazilian Insurance Companies Following Sovereign Downgrade

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Bradesco Seguros S.A.'s (Bradesco Seguros) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating to 'BB+' from 'BBB-'. Fitch has also affirmed Sul America S.A.'s (SASA) long-term local- and foreign-currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB-'. The Rating Outlook on Bradesco Seguros' IFS and SASA's long-term IDRs is Negative. A full list of rating actions follows at the end of the release. The rating actions follow Fitch's downgrade of Brazil's long-term IDRs to 'BB' from 'BB+'/Negative Outlook (for further information, see 'Fitch Downgrades Brazil to 'BB'; Outlook Negative', dated May 5, 2016, at 'www.fitchratings.com'). KEY RATING DRIVERS Bradesco Seguros The downgrade of Bradesco Seguros' IFS rating results from the downgrade of the long-term Local Currency IDR of its parent Banco Bradesco S.A. (Bradesco, long-term local currency IDR 'BB+'/Outlook Negative), which in turn reflects the downgrade of Brazil's sovereign ratings. (For further information, see Fitch Takes Actions on Financial Institutions Following Brazilian Sovereign Downgrade', dated May 11, 2016, at 'www.fitchratings.com'.) The Negative Outlook on Bradesco Seguros' IFS mirrors that on its parent's long-term local currency IDR. The downgrade reflects Bradesco's reduced capacity to support Bradesco Seguros if needed. Fitch considers Bradesco Seguros a 'core subsidiary' of Bradesco, and therefore its IFS rating is equalized with the long-term local currency IDR of its parent. This is based on the strategic importance of the insurance operations, which are a key and integral part of the group's business, common branding, and high contribution of Bradesco Seguros to group profits (30% in 2015, 29% in 2014, and 31% in 2013). Bradesco Seguros has maintained solid profitability through the cycles, thanks to good technical results and solid financial income. In 2015, the insurer's operating ratio and ROA averaged 75.5% and 2.5%, respectively (76.1% and 2.6%, respectively, in 2014). In applying Fitch's insurance criteria with respect to the impact of ownership on Bradesco Seguros' ratings, Fitch considered how ratings would theoretically be impacted under Fitch's bank support criteria. Fitch's insurance criteria is principles-based regarding ownership, and the referenced bank criteria was used to help inform its judgment in applying those principles. SASA The affirmation of SASA's IDRs reflects Fitch's view that SASA's overall credit worthiness has remained broadly stable, despite the ongoing deterioration in the macroeconomic environment. The key credit metrics of the company evidence the resilience of the company to the economic downturn. As of December 2015, SASA's profitability remained solid, as reflected by an average operating ratio and an average ROA of 93.2% and 3.8%, respectively (94.6% and 3%, respectively, in 2014). During the same period, leverage remained relatively high but stable, with operating leverage averaging 3.50x (3.56x in 2014). Likewise, first quarter results in 2016 remained adequate. Solid technical performancein the health segment and strong investment income continued to support overall profitability and offset the premium slowdown and higher loss ratio in the auto segment. While Fitch expects premium growth to remain under pressure in the rest of 2016, it does not expect a material change in the fundamentals of the company.



Exceptional notching for a ring-fenced regulatory environment was applied between the implied insurance operating company ratings and holding company IDRs. Notching was compressed by two relative to standard notching, as sovereign-related risks have so far not materially affected SASA's key credit metrics. RATING SENSITIVITIES

Bradesco Seguros: Bradesco Seguros' ratings are linked to those of Bradesco. Therefore, any change in the bank's ratings would affect the insurer's ratings, as would a change in the bank's willingness to provide support, which Fitch considers highly unlikely. SASA: In case of an additional downgrade to Brazil's sovereign ratings, SASA's IDRs would be subject to a review that could result in a range of rating actions from affirmation to a two-notch downgrade based on Fitch's insurance rating criteria that allows flexibility as to how sovereign considerations are factored into insurance rating notching. The ultimate decision would be driven by the rationale for the sovereign rating action and Fitch's view of how this impacts SASA's operating environment, investment risk and overall creditworthiness. In addition, a sustained and material deterioration in profitability, characterized by an ROA below 0.5%; the deterioration of the liabilities/equity ratio to above 5.0x; an increase in the financial leverage (financial debt/equity) to above 25% for a sustained period; a fall in the interest coverage ratio to below 2.0x; or a significant reduction in the holding's liquidity, could negatively affect the ratings. FULL LIST OF RATING ACTIONS Fitch has taken the following rating actions: Bradesco Seguros --IFS downgraded to 'BB+' from 'BBB-', Outlook Negative. SASA --Foreign and Local Currency Long-Term IDRs affirmed at 'BB-', Outlook Negative; --Foreign and Local Currency Short-Term IDRs affirmed at 'B'. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com Applicable Criteria Global Bank Rating Criteria (pub. 20 Mar 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=863501 Insurance Rating Methodology (pub. 16 Sep 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=871172 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=1004350 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1004350 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511006591/en/

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[May 12, 2016] VUZE Turns Virtual Into A Consumer Reality With The World's First Affordable Consumer 3D 360 VR Camera Priced Just $799

CANNES, France, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The era of 3D 360 VR movie making just became a consumer reality at this year's Cannes Film Festival, with Summertime, the first 3D VR short to be shot with a consumer camera debuting at Next Marche du Film, Festival de Cannes. It was shot with VUZE, the world's first consumer 3D 360 VR camera and software studio, which also begins pre-orders today at the remarkable price of $799 (US). VUZE is unlike anything currently available thanks to its ability to capture both 3D and 2D VR content using a point-and-shoot camera. It also eliminates the need for lengthy post-production as it is able to stitch, edit and deliver VR videos in moments and at the touch of just one button. Winner of the Last Gadget Standing at the 2016 internationally renowned Consumer Electronic Show, VUZE has been highly anticipated since for the first time it puts ordinary consumers as well as professional photographers and movie makers on an equal footing to create VR regardless of their budgets or technical knowhow. Available at www.vuze.camera for $799, the pre-order bundle includes everything a person needs to capture and relive every part of the world around them in breathtaking detail. While people need to register a pre-order to secure this price, no payments will be taken until shipping begins in the fall. The bundle includes: VUZE camera  a sleek attractive design within a point-and-shoot form-factor makes VUZE incredibly easy-to-use. Highly portable, lightweight and ergonomically designed, VUZE can fit into most trouser pockets!

Software Studio - offering near real-time processing and state-of-the-art stitching and at the push-of-a-button.

VR headset

A purposely engineered "selfie stick" which cleverly transforms into a tripod

Detachable, multiple purpose handle for additional holding options

Stylish crrying case for easy transportation and safe keeping



$799 , VUZE is truly a consumer option and at a fraction of the price of current 3D VR cameras that include the Nokia OZO ($60,000) , the recently announced Facebook Surround 360 ($30,000) or Google Jump ($15,000) . It produces VR content in minutes with the VUZE Studio, which uses a powerful algorithm that automatically carries out a host of complex editing and stitching functions such as camera calibration, vignette, fisheye and perspective correction. This is done in moments and at a touch-of-a-button. Once created, people can share this content on any VR platform such as YouTube or Facebook or any VR headset. The VUZE software will automatically optimize the content for the platform with just one click.

"With VUZE, we are democratizing VR content creation and putting it in reach of everyday consumers," said Shahar Bin-Nun, CEO HumanEyes Technologies, the company behind VUZE. "Whether it's mini documentaries, garage band videos, capturing baby's first steps or a relatives wedding or birthday, VUZE allows people to capture and experience content in an utterly realistic way never thought possible." VUZE has revolutionized and simplified every aspect of capturing, sharing and enjoying immersive content. Its key features include: 8 Full HD cameras that simultaneously capture videos and sound to facilitate full stereophonic and 360 spherical content in both 2D and 3D

Each camera uses lenses that capture 120 horizontal FOV and 180 vertical FOV that together generate 4K stereoscopic 3D 360 VR content

Portable, lightweight design. Dimensions 4.7"X4.7"X 1" (12 cm x 12 cm x 3 cm)

Remotely controlled by a dedicated iOS and Android app

Up to one hour of video capture

Renders easy-to-edit H.264 HD video files that can be transferred to any computer

Stylish design of the camera will be available in yellow, red, black and blue

Touch of the button post-product that offers near real time processing (one minute of processing for one minute of footage) and state-of-the-art stitching

Available on MAC and PC "As a movie maker and storyteller, I am excited by the prospect of VR to engage audiences," said Nir Sa'ar, acclaimed director of Summertime. "With my short movie Summertime, VUZE helped me take this to a whole new level with the ability to transport my audience into the character's world, fully immersing them in the story as it unfolds. The simplicity and affordability of VUZE opens a world of possibility for other film makers and consumers alike. With such amazing technology open to everyone, content is only limited by our imagination." You can see clips of Summertime here and other content created by VUZE can be seen here. If you watch online, you will see the 2D quality, but a VR headset is required to experience VUZE in its true 3D glory. To order and be one of the first to receive VUZE, visit www.vuze.camera About VUZE

VUZE was created by HumanEyes Technologies, a leader in photographic 3D and computer vision. Founded in 2000, and headquartered within the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, HumanEyes Technologies, currently holds over 70 patents in various fields of 3D associated technologies. The company's leadership includes industry visionaries such as Prof. Shmuel Peleg, a world expert in computer vision and image processing and Benny Landa, known as the father of digital printing and former founder and CEO Indigo Digital Printing acquired by HP in 2002. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366665

HumanEyes Technologies Media Contacts:

Ian Twinn / Tandem Marketing Communications

[email protected]

(917) 306-7270

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vuze-turns-virtual-into-a-consumer-reality-with-the-worlds-first-affordable-consumer-3d-360-vr-camera-priced-just-799-300267520.html SOURCE VUZE

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[May 12, 2016] Fujitsu Showcases Digital and IoT Capabilities at SAPPHIRE NOW

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Digitalization eliminates complex and time-consuming manual approaches and streamlines business processes. Fujitsu will showcase its end-to-end digital modernization approach, integrating the back office with an engaging front-end customer experience to help its customers achieve digital balance, at the SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference being held on May 1719 in Orlando, Florida. Showcasing a range of different industry examples at SAPPHIRE NOW, Fujitsu will highlight how it supports its customers to optimize their business processes in four areas: Assets and Internet of Things to explore new ways of doing business; improve Customer Experience through adoption of omnichannel; build a solid Analytics foundation to enable better customer insights; and make processes more agile to drive Digital Transformation. Industries specifically addressed include consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, utilities and retail. Asif Poonja, Vice President and Practice Leader SAP, at Fujitsu says: "Navigating Big Data, the Internet of Things, Social Media and Process Orchestration while leveraging such delivery platforms as Cloud and Mobile requires careful planning and prioritization. A properly implemented, modernized digital ecosystem can deliver true business value. Fujitsu is working in collaboration with its customers and partners such as SAP to shape this digital future, from defining strategy, via planning and service deployment, through to creating the digital platform. The result for our customers is accelerated innovation, allowing them to design, develop and launch new products and services as well as enhancing existing processes." At SAPPHIRE NOW, Fujitsu will also showcase the future of manufacturing where people, machines, materials and processes are connected and optimized by live data analytics. A simulated 'virtual factory' model will demonstrate how digitized manufacturing can help organizations gain better return on their assets, optimize their operations, lower manufacturing costs and improve customer satisfaction. A trusted SAP global partner and advisor for over 40 years, Fujitsu has successfully helped thousands of customers worldwide to simplify, innovate and grow, including Siemens AG, Messe Frankfurt, Qatar Gas Transport Company and DPD Geopost. Fujitsu expertise with SAP applications, combined with in-depth industry and technology experience, empowers customers to achieve their business objectives. The Fujitsu portfolio in support of SAP solutions includes IoT, advanced technologies and services capabilities to deliver tailored future-proof solutions. Fujitsu is an SAP global partner for technology, services, hosting and cloud. The global partnership between Fujitsu and SAP constantly develops solutions that enable enterprises to maximize the value of their investments in running SAP solutions. Driving innovations for the SAP HANA platform and SAP S/4HANA, SAP's next-generation business suite for a digital world, is the latest example of this successful collaboration. Notes to editors: Recent customer case studies Messe Frankfurt optimizes CRM processes with SAP Hybris Marketing and CRM on SAP HANA

"The collaboration with Fujitsu on this project was excellent. We were particularly impressed with the competent team, which provided professional and very committed support in all areas of the project," say Dr. Frank Biendara, Head of Information Management and Christiane Rudiger, Head of Application Management, at Messe Frankfurt. Messe Frankfurt requires a powerful IT basis to plan and implement its extensive marketing campaigns. A large number of contacts, such as registered visitors of previous trade fairs, must be managed with different characteristics. In this context, data for targeted mailing activities must be available on a consistent basis. To optimize segmentation processes and the creation of target groups, Fujitsu implemented the SAP Hybris Marketing customer engagement solution. During this process, customer-specific algorithms were included in the solution in accordance with Messe Frankfurt's campaign structure. This project is an SAP HANA Innovation Award 2016 entry. Automatic provisioning of SAP HANA systems running on ETERNUS DX and PRIMERGY

"Together with Fujitsu we have developed a solution for supplying SAP HANA systems to our customers in a standardized and automated manner, in a very short space of tme. The cooperation with Fujitsu was excellent," says Dr. Jurgen Droletz, Project Management, Siemens AG GS IT.





All the SAP systems at Siemens' central data center were to be migrated to SAP HANA and additional SAP HANA systems were to be provided. The key requirement for a joint project between Siemens and Fujitsu was the assurance to install the systems quickly and to a high standard in a fully automated manner. To meet these requirements, the data center team at Siemens AG entered into a joint project with Fujitsu. PRIMEFLEX solutions and FlexFrame Orchestrator help Nakilat to be future ready for running SAP HANA

"Fujitsu has reduced the resources required to run our business, which has led in turn to dramatic cost savings. We have halved our annual IT investment and when you add in the decreased manpower required to manage the SAP environment, further savings are made," says Hamad Suwaid, Information Technology Manager, Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd.

Nakilat is a Qatari Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) transport company providing an essential transportation link in the State of Qatar's LNG supply chain. The company wanted to consolidate its IT environment. It rolled out SAP HANA using the FUJITSU Integrated System PRIMEFLEX platform, combined with FUJITSU FlexFrame Orchestrator as a basis for a highly efficient private cloud.

VBH wholesale specialist migrated to SAP HANA and significantly improved customer relationships

"Fujitsu provided us with highly professional support and consulting services when migrating our business warehouse system to SAP HANA," says Oliver Maisch, CIO, VBH Holding AG.

Building hardware wholesaler VBH found that its business warehouse system was no longer performing satisfactorily. Data queries often took several minutes, testing employees' patience and slowing down service and sales processes. To resolve the situation, it decided to implement SAP HANA database technology. Fujitsu Partner Theatre Sessions at the event include: Tuesday, May 17, 12:00pm  12:20pm, Room theater 2

SAP S/4HANA  What's the future of my reporting and analytics?

Speaker: Ryan D'Costa and Volker Sommer

Over the years we have seen how reporting and analytics have evolved from SAP BW to SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence solutions to SAP HANA Live and now SAP S/4HANA and SAP Cloud for Analytics. This session will provide a point of view and demystify the analytics solutions and enable customers to develop their own near- and long-term strategies and roadmap with SAP HANA and analytics solutions. Wednesday, May 18, 12:00pm  12:20pm, Room theater 2

Fast track to Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) with SAP HANA platform and Fujitsu IoT technologies

Speaker: James Zhang and Ray Russ

Learn exactly what the Internet of Things (IoT) is and how you can make it a reality in your organization with the SAP HANA platform and IoT technologies from Fujitsu. After an introduction to the industrial IoT reference model and SAP solutions for the IoT, explore key services and capabilities of the Fujitsu Connected Enterprise solution. Fujitsu ASUG Speaking Sessions A4695: Thursday, May 19, 11:00 - 12:00, Room S320D

Lecture Presentation: The Best Practices and Lessons Learned of SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence 15 Upgrade

Speaker: Nikhil Makhija

Greenheck Fan, a leading supplier of air movement and control equipment, relies on SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (SAP MII) to support manufacturing operational day-to-day activities. This session introduces Greenheck's journey with SAP MII 11.5, 12, 14 and the recent upgrade to 15, including the best practices and lessons learned. A4637: Thursday, May 19, 12:30 - 01:30, Room S319

Lecture Presentation: The Ship and Debit Process with Vistex Integration

Speaker: Sachin Palande and Rajendra Sathe

Claims are subjected to a three-way match and validation with point-of-sale data, ship and debit agreement, and invoice data for buy price. Contract management for global businesses on SAP software feed from a global price management system. Pricing and availability

Fujitsu's solutions and services for SAP solution environments are globally available from Fujitsu and certified channel partners. 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 Media contacts

Fujitsu America, Inc.

Bryan Hollar

408-746-6412

[email protected] Finn Partners

Andrew Corcione

212-593-5844

[email protected] About SAPPHIRE NOW

SAPPHIRE NOW focuses on how companies can enable their digital business strategy and get more from their technology investments. SAPPHIRE NOW and the ASUG Annual Conference are the world's premier business technology event and largest SAP customer-run conference, offering attendees the opportunity to learn and network with customers, SAP executives, partners and experts across the entire SAP ecosystem. SAP, SAPPHIRE, SAP HANA, Hybris, BusinessObjects 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. 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. PRIMEFLEX and FlexFrame are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Technology Solutions 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-showcases-digital-and-iot-capabilities-at-sapphire-now-300267435.html SOURCE Fujitsu America, Inc.

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[May 12, 2016] Securifi Named a 2016 'Cool Vendor' by Gartner for Innovation in Connected Home

RENO, Nev., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Securifi, creator of the world's first touchscreen wireless router, today announced it has been named a Cool Vendor in the "Cool Vendors in Connected Home, 2016" report by Gartner, Inc., a leading information technology research and advisory company. The annual report evaluates interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services in the connected home space that are combining usability with intelligence and design. Securifi is defining next generation consumer routers and home automation products. The company revolutionized home networking with the introduction of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Almond router, the No. 1 rated wireless router on Amazon. Almond's application has also been recognized in the enterprise space, whether it's with a custom platform integration or better uptime guarantee for cloud. A healthcare marketing technology company uses Almond's cloud infrastructure to remotely manage hundreds of patient centres across the U.S. Almond's integration is also helping a thermostat company on a demand response project with a utility. Securifi is gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of the Almond 3, its all-in-one smart home hub and touchscreen router which combines powerful gigabit Wi-Fi, a built-in ZigBee radio, support for Z-Wave and Bluetooth devices, and a built-in programmable siren for home security. Almond 3 is the most comprehensive router to date and is currently available for presale on Securifi.com and Amazon.



The "Cool Vendors in Connected Home, 2016" report relays how "vendors of connected home solutions are increasingly focusing on designing devices with stylish appearances, intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUI) and easy setup and not just technology, to appeal to the average consumer." The report also notes that "product managers must prioritize intelligence and design, but not at the expense of usability." "Gartner is a highly esteemed industry leader, renowned for thought leadership, and we are thrilled to be named a 'Cool Vendor,'" said Rammohan Malasani, CEO, Securifi. "We believe our inclusion corroborates our mission to simplify the connected smart home space and make home automation effortless and affordable for the masses."

To access the "Cool Vendors in the Connected Home, 2016" report (Gartner subscription required), visit: https://www.gartner.com/doc/3287817 Gartner, Inc., Cool Vendors in the Connected Home, 2016, Fernando Elizalde, Jessica Ekholm, Roger Sheng, Werner Goertz and Jim Tully, 20 April 2016. Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. ABOUT SECURIFI

Securifi is defining next generation consumer routers and home automation products. Creator of Almond, the world's first touchscreen wireless router, Securifi is turning the humble home router into a smart home hub. The company's mission is to simplify Wi-Fi and the connected home space for the masses. Founded in 2011, Securifi has offices in the U.S., Dubai, India and Taiwan. For more information, please visit www.securifi.com. For more information, contact [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/securifi-named-a-2016-cool-vendor-by-gartner-for-innovation-in-connected-home-300267298.html SOURCE Securifi

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Reinsurance Group of America to Host Investor Day

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) will host a conference for institutional investors and analysts at the Grand Hyatt New York hotel in New York City on Wednesday, May 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available online at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/swwudn9o/lan/en and on RGA's website at www.rgare.com, through the Investor Relations tab. Webcast viewers are encouraged to visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to download and install any necessary software. Presentation slides will be available at www.rgare.com, through the link on the Investor Relations page.







Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated is among the largest global providers of life reinsurance, with operations in Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Worldwide, the company had approximately $3.1 trillion of life reinsurance in force, and assets of $52.2 billion as of March 31, 2016.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006382/en/
SPRINGFIELD -- Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to approve $700 million in stopgap funding for social service programs that havent received any state revenue in nearly a year.

In the latest sign of bipartisan progress toward ending the states budget impasse, now in its 11th month, Republicans joined the Legislatures supermajority Democrats in approving the measure despite last-minute concerns from GOP Gov. Bruce Rauners administration.

At the same time, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent Rauner and the four legislative leaders a framework for a balanced budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The proposal includes $5.4 billion in new revenue, which would be generated by raising the states personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 4.85 percent and by expanding the sales tax to some services, among other changes, according to a member of the group.

The lawmakers also outlined $2.4 billion in savings, including a $400 million reduction in Medicaid spending, about $450 million from letting the state off the hook for repaying money borrowed from special funds to plug holes in last years budget, and $750 million from pension changes Rauner has proposed.

Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who is a member of the bipartisan budget group but declined to go into detail about its work, said the conversations among lawmakers have been sometimes heated but generally productive.

Theres been a lot of progress in the last couple weeks, Rose said. Theres a long way to go.

Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, another participant who likewise declined to give details, emphasized that theres no agreement.

As they were asked to do by the legislative leaders and the governor, lawmakers were simply putting together a scenario under which the budget could be balanced, Crespo said.

Were just presenting the leaders with what they asked for, he said, noting that it will be up to them to round up the necessary votes to pass a budget plan.

In addition to lawmakers from both chambers and both parties, Rauner budget director Tim Nuding has participated in the talks.

Notably absent from the groups work has been any talk of items on Rauners pro-business, union-weakening turnaround agenda. Thats because the group was assigned to stick to the budget.

But House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said any final agreement on budgets for this year or next absolutely must include some of the reforms the governor and his party are pushing for.

Were not close to having a deal, Durkin said, adding that theres no plan at this point for a meeting of the governor, himself and the three other legislative leaders.

Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, is part of another bipartisan group of lawmakers that has been discussing the governors reform agenda, which includes changes to workers compensation laws, a property tax freeze and other items.

Talks are slow, but the commitment continues, Brady said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the social services funding measure approved Thursday as a sign of the parties continued willingness to work together.

It would authorize the use of $450 million from the commitment to human services fund, which receives dedicated revenue to support programs such as addiction treatment, autism services and rape crisis centers. Another $250 million would come from other special state funds for specific purposes such affordable housing and foreclosure prevention programs. The funding would account for about 46 percent of what the programs received last year.

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who sponsored the legislation, said it was possible to reach an agreement because it doesnt include any general revenue, which Republicans have argued the state doesnt have because its already spending more than its bringing in.

Members of both parties said they still hope to get more funding to programs for the current year.

Senators also urged their House colleagues to take up a bill that was sent over earlier this month that would free up additional money for higher education, which hadnt received any state funding until a deal was struck late last month.
CHARLESTON -- A man pleaded guilty to a charge accusing him of cutting another man with a knife during a fight that was apparently also connected to an incident during which a gun was fired.

Alexander D. French pleaded guilty to an aggravated battery charge alleging he cut the other man in the arm and wrist during a fight in Mattoon on March 22.

French, 23, for whom court records list an address of 2913 Western Ave., Apt. 4, Mattoon, was placed on probation for two years with the agreement reached in his case. The conviction could also have resulted in a prison sentence of two to five years.

According to police records in the case, officers responded to a report of the fight in the parking lot of the El Vaquero restaurant at 200 Holiday Drive in Mattoon.

When they arrived, the daughter of the man who was cut with the knife said she and her father were chased to that location, the records say. She said the fight took place after French and her 60-year-old father exited their vehicles and began arguing, according to the records.

When French was located on interviewed by police, he said he accidentally cut the man during the argument.

Terms of French's probation sentence included substance abuse treatment and other counseling. Jail time was stayed, meaning he won't have to serve it now but some or all of it could be ordered later as a sanction if he violates any of his sentence's requirements.

Coles County Circuit Judge Teresa Righter sentenced French by accepting the terms of a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher and Assistant Public Defender Lupita Thompson recommended.

Meanwhile, another man is charged with firing a gun near a Mattoon park on the same day as the fight when the daughter of the knifing victim and others were present.

Alexander L. Maynard, 21, whose address on record is 409 N. 27th St., Mattoon, is charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a weapon by a felon.

Records in Maynard's case say police were first unable to locate suspects in connection with the incident at El Vaquero but were later dispatched to a report of shots fired at Cunningham Park in Mattoon.

Witnesses said a vehicle drove by the park and they identified Maynard as the passenger who fired the gun, the records say. Police later located and questioned Maynard and he admitted firing the gun, according to the records.

A prison sentence of two to 10 years would be required for Maynard if he's convicted of the possession of a weapon by a felon charge. That's because his criminal record includes a Macon County conviction for a drug offense in a case in which he was also originally charged with weapons offenses.

His criminal record also means he's eligible for twice the usual maximum of three years in prison if convicted of the reckless discharge of a firearm charge. Maynard's next court hearing is scheduled for June 6.
100 years ago, May 12, 1916

MATTOON -- The Big Four Railroad Company is considerably worried over a tip from the U.S. Secret Service agency of an alleged plot to blow up mule and horse shipments that are shipped out of Danville. Danville is one of the largest horse and mule markets for the allied armies fighting in the European war. The Big Four, as well as other railroads entering Danville, is taking precautions to guard against threats. Secret Service men accompany each train of mules and horses, and all culverts and bridges are carefully inspected before passage of the "mule specials." ... MATTOON -- Businessman G.H. Cokendolpher has joined the chorus of those who are unhappy with the proposed Illinois Central Railroad station to be built between the Broadway and Big Four bridges. Mr. Cokendolpher says all in the community should protest the joke of a 16-foot structure above the surface which the Illinois Central is willing to have us designate as their new depot.

50 years ago, 1966

SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. James D. Loukas, D-Chicago, said today he will go to Gov. Otto Kerner, if necessary, to fully investigate the Eastern Illinois University building controversy. After Illinois Attorney General William Clark said his office would not investigate the charges since all allegations had been anonymous, Loukas said he may appeal to the governor. Loukas said the charges are no longer anonymous. He said he has the names of three people he can contact: Jon Woods, former editor of the Eastern News campus newspaper; James Thompson, former EIU Business Department chairman, now at San Jose (Calif.) State; and Gerald Cravey, former head of the university's physical plant... MATTOON -- Brad Hooper and Phil Kepp shared honors for the top scores on the National History Test given to juniors taking American history at Mattoon High School. Hooper is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hooper. Kepp is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Kepp. Other top scores on the test were recorded by Paula Sieben, Dan Fuller, Chery Morse, Rasanna Griffith, Tom Snowden, Bob Sampson, Bob Dunn, Chris Suerdieck, David Gordon, Susan McGee, Pat Henry and Cheryl Riley.

25 years ago, 1991

Sunday. No paper.

100 years ago, May 13, 1916

MATTOON -- Weeds come and go, said one of Mattoon's oldest citizens today. He thinks the dandelion will soon disappear from the city's landscape. He said he remembers when the dog fennel was the worst sort of pest, then the "jimson" weeds were thick in this area but disappeared. Pokeberry bushes also were past nuisances. In a few years, dandelions will cease to be the nuisance they are now... TOLEDO -- Faithful unto death, would be a fitting epitaph for Maud Janes, an 18-year-old Toledo girl who was buried yesterday in Park Cemetery, and whose frail and wasted body was borne to its last resting place by six girl friends. It is believed by friends of the dead girl that death was due largely to a broken heart, and unsatisfied longing of the face of the one dearest to her -- her mother. But the mother was hundreds of miles away, and the pathetic appeals of the dying girl were in vain. Some months ago her mother, Mrs. Myron Janes, disappeared from Toledo, and as the disappearance of Alf Woodward was noted about the same time, their names were coupled together. Mr. Woodward's wife and son still live near Toledo, and Myron Janes and his daughter, Maud, lived at the Janes home.

50 years ago, 1966

MATTOON -- The High School Fashion Board of Robeson's Department Store of Champaign toured Brown Shoe Co.'s plant and the Mattoon Garment Factory here Thursday. Mrs. Harlan Perry, first aid attendant at Brown Shoe, accompanied the girls, who represent Urbana, Champaign and University high schools... CHARLESTON -- Five Eastern Illinois University students will graduate with high honors and 24 will graduate with honors during commencement ceremonies on May 22. Among high honors graduates is Jean Marie Carr of Charleston. Graduating with honors from this area will be Karen Bartell, Daniel O'Connor, Robert Shafer, Sara Sims and Bette Williams, all of Charleston; Henry Catey, Greenup; Trudy Taylor, Mattoon; and John Hopkins, Oakland.

25 years ago, 1991

LERNA -- Even though Mothers Day had not been established in 1845, Abraham Lincoln still returned home to see his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, Sunday at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. Mrs. Lincoln (Virginia Harris) managed to have some pie plant (rhubarb pie) for her boy, Abram. Young Abraham (Joe Woodard) generally visited his parents Coles County farm each May and September CHARLESTON  Members of a Champaign-based rock band returned to their roots this weekend to film a music video at the Coles County Dragway. The band Didjits, featuring a Mattoon native and two former Sullivan residents, picked a sunny, hot and humid Sunday to film their newest video, Top Fuel. Producer Dave Landis, also a former Mattoon resident, said the band is into drag racing and wanted to film a video at the dragstrip they visited when they were younger. The band includes bass guitarist Doug Evans, from Mattoon, as well as brothers Rick and Brad Sims, who lived in Sullivan. Rick is vocalist and plays guitar, while Brad is the groups drummer CHARLESTON  Whether fat and flabby, old and creaky, muscle-bound or a weakling isnt a criteria to be fit for life. Jim DiNaso, owner of Fit For Life, A Total Health Experience, now open on the Charleston square, is willing to help anybody do everything to achieve a healthy body. DiNaso is an Oak Lawn native who came to Eastern Illinois University and has remained. Following a complete remodeling of the former Frommel Hardware Store on the south side of the square, DiNaso opened the club on April 22.
Benjamin Leddy is the social studies teacher you wish youd had.

While teaching fifth grade social studies at Excel Academy Charter School in Boston, it wasnt unusual for Leddy to break out into songs about taxation without representation or the 50 states of the union. In fact, blending song, art, and education is par for the course for Leddy.

For a lot of students, social studies isnt engaging, says Leddy, a masters candidate in Human Development and Psychology. It wasnt always a subject I enjoyed, and it can be challenging to reach students at various reading levels. What motivated me (to write songs) was it got them excited, especially the students for whom social studies can be challenging.

Leddy, who comes from a musical family, also found inspiration in the lessons of his own teachers. While attending public school in (Charleston), Leddy remembers his physics teacher Todd Keating writing a song about calculating the speed of objects. He also recalls learning the well-known geography song, Fifty Nifty United States. The latter inspired his own educational composition, Tap the Map, which sought to improve upon the original by teaching the states in geographic order, rather than alphabetical order. When considering his own students in Boston  many (of whom) are English language learners or have special needs  Leddy realized that some students needed more than traditional memorization techniques.

I wanted to teach in a way that was engaging and more inclusive than typical instruction. It was so much fun and they were learning, he says, noting that a year later many students still remembered the song and could identify the majority of U.S. states on a blank map. Once I wrote that song and saw how it worked, I realized that I could write other songs and include something from a study unit or bring a topic to life.

Leddy shares many of his instructional songs outside of school on his YouTube page. Initially created as a way for his students to study, the page soon began receiving feedback from other teachers and students. Videos on his YouTube channel range in topics from immigration to photosynthesis to the Boston Tea Party, with both original melodies and parodies of todays most popular artists like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. He also began creating animations for the videos when he saw how much it added to his students enjoyment. Today his YouTube channel has close to 500 subscribers with the videos receiving more than 140,000 views.

Though the songwriting and videos can be a time-consuming process, Leddy says its worth it. I love doing it and seeing how it brings the topics to life, he says.

After three years teaching with songs and videos, Leddy became consumed with developing engaging curriculum, particularly for high-poverty populations where curriculum often focuses on catching students up academically. He came to the Ed School wanting to better understand the how poverty affects learning, how adverse experiences impact student outcomes, and how engaging curriculum can be part of the solution.

You dont have to choose between rigor and joy in the classroom, he says. By creating engaging curriculum we could help so many kids and make the classroom experience much more meaningful.

During Senior Lecturer Joe Blatts course Informal Learning for Children this winter, Leddy gained more understanding of what it takes to create engaging learning opportunities. An eye-opening moment for Leddy came while studying how Sesame Street uses preschoolers to prescreen interest and engagement before filming episodes then reworks episodes if the children disengage with the content.

When students disengage or look away, then we have to make it stronger, he says. I want to go that extra mile. If I can bring that attitude to more schools, it means we will be bringing a curriculum thats more effective and developmentally suitable for kids.

As Leddy prepares to graduate this spring, he hopes to bring his form of engaged learning through music, art, and video to much larger audiences as he focuses on curriculum development and childrens media.

It is the hardest choice  where to focus my energy and attention  but also a question of scope in terms of the impact you can have, he says. Knowing somewhere in the country there are a bunch of kids dancing in their classroom. I hope over the long term that those types of classroom experiences will help kids and get them to love social studies, history, and being in school.

-- Story courtesy of the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Research to turn one of Nebraskas most prolific weeds into a cash crop for the states farmers has been ensnared by bureaucratic red tape.

University of Nebraska-Lincolns Department of Agronomy and Horticulture had hoped to sow two acres of industrial hemp near Mead this year, but the project has been scrapped because of the snail pace's of getting approval from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to import seeds.

I think it will take an act of God for us to get that permit and get everything squared for us to plant this year, said Hector L. Santiago, assistant dean of the departments Agricultural Research Division.

UNL officials have been working with the DEA for more than three months but still have no idea when the application will go through allowing them to order seeds from Canada.

The non-psychoactive cousin to marijuana, hemp has been an illegal crop for decades even though food, oil, fiber-reinforced polymers, soaps, rope, neurological medication, textiles and other products made from it are legal and gaining popularity in the United States. Industry estimates report more than $580 million of annual sales, according to a 2015 Congressional Research Service report.

The hemp seeds have to be certified to produce less than .3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that causes the marijuana high.

It's illegal to move hemp seeds across state lines, so UNL can't simply get some from another college with an established program.

"It doesn't make any sense. Everybody agrees with that," Santiago said. "But to our knowledge, you cannot do that. If you have a permit, you're allowed to import seed from elsewhere (outside of the United States) but you're not allowed to move it across states."

Two years have passed since the 2014 Farm Bill opened the gates to grow hemp for research in the U.S. While colleges in other states, including Colorado and Kentucky, have robust research programs, Nebraska is still struggling with regulations and bureaucracy.

The holdup has put the state in the back of the race to develop plants for the booming industry.

Ismail Dweikat, lead researcher for the proposed UNL study, said the research would have looked at a variety of factors including different growing conditions, dryland versus irrigated, plant spacing, nitrogen rates, harvesting techniques and the economic viability of hemp as a crop.

Omaha-startup Bastcore had hoped to work with UNL on the study but instead is looking at setting up a facility in Colorado, which expects to see 5,000 to 10,000 acres planted outdoors this year by both researchers and private farmers. Bastcore is developing machines to process hemp by turning it into woody pulp and a cotton-like fiber.

What the DEA has done repeatedly now over the past several years is they withhold these permits until the last possible minute and theyre doing this on purpose to mess everything up," Bastcore founder John Lupien said. "There is no reason it should take months and months.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture sued the DEA in 2014 after the agency seized 250 pounds of seed the state planned to use for hemp research projects. The DEA eventually backed down and the state was able to move forward with its plans. Universities and farmers planted more than 922 acres in Kentucky last year, according to that states Department of Agriculture.

At least 28 states, including Nebraska, have adopted laws related to industrial hemp ranging from preliminary studies of the industry to authorization of commercial industrial programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Nebraska, only colleges can legally grow hemp. So far, UNL is the only school to apply to do so, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

While the DEA permit to import seeds will come too late to plant this year, it will allow research to move forward next year, Santiago said. Once the permit is in place and seeds are here, its likely UNL staff will propose additional projects.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have discussed growing a few hemp plants in a greenhouse there to learn how to test the plant for THC levels, said Allan Jenkins, a professor of economics. They have not gotten far enough along with the plans to begin filing paperwork with the state and federal government.

Planting outside is a little bit of a challenge for us here at UNK because there is so much naturalized hemp in the area there are some cross-pollination issues, Jenkins said.

Its still a long way from research to hemp being a viable row crop in Nebraska. Many supporters, including Lupien, have called on the state Legislature to open hemp cultivation up to all farmers.

We need to be able to grow for commercial purposes, he said. This could be a really big industry for Nebraska.
A consulting group on solitary confinement in Nebraska prisons on Wednesday hashed over a set of rules for restricted housing of inmates.

But before it did, Corrections Director Scott Frakes told the group he was disappointed that state Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus felt the state Department of Correctional Services did not consider input from the work group when developing the rules and regulations required by state law.

Schumacher said earlier this week he didn't think the work group had given its input before the Corrections Department wrote the rules.

"If that's the case, then clearly I've failed to do what I was supposed to do in terms of having this work group be an effective working group," said Frakes, who heads the consulting group. "So help me make this work group be more effective. What needs to change ... so people feel like they're heard?"

The Legislature created the work group and loaded it with mostly prison officials.

It includes Frakes and deputy directors from the Corrections Department, health and behavioral health administrators and prison employees, as well as four members appointed by the governor. It gathered Wednesday to discuss feedback from a Monday hearing on the rules developed by the department and set to take effect July 1.

Deputy Ombudsman James Davis said he also had not seen input on the rules coming from the work group, although the Ombudsman's office did meet separately with prison officials to offer its own input.

A member of the work group, Kasey Moyer of the nonprofit Mental Health Association of Nebraska, said she did not feel comfortable, as one who is just learning about the intricacies of the prisons, offering her input on the process to more experienced Corrections Department officials.

"I feel like I need the information before I go talking about restrictive housing," she said. "It's a huge learning curve."

Frakes said it's a daunting process, even for him with 32 years of corrections experience, to learn terminology, acronyms, how things fit together and interact with each other.

Diane Sabatka-Rine, deputy director of institutions for the Nebraska department, said she felt the group has not been stifled in any way. But working through these changes is complicated, even for those who have worked for the agency for years.

"We're conditioned to how we've done business for years and years," she said. "And this is a different way of managing some challenging inmates."

The requirement for the creation of rules for restrictive housing, and the consulting group, were created by Schumacher's bill (LB598), passed in 2015.

The Corrections Department developed the rules and regulations after a state law (LB598) was passed in 2015. The law introduced by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus requires a long-term plan for use and reduction of restrictive housing.

It requires that inmates be segregated in the least restrictive manner for the least amount of time, taking into consideration the safety and security of staff, inmates and the prison.

Restrictive housing is supposed to be the alternative of last resort.

Doug Koebernick, inspector general for the Nebraska correctional system, isn't a member of the work group but attends its meeting and said the group did not have all the information it needed.

It would have been helpful to see a report done by the Vera Institute of Justice for Nebraska on its Safe Alternatives to Segregation initiative, he said.

It would also have been helpful for the group to have had access to department data on segregation, Koebernick said.

"I know it's an archaic system, but if we're going to change the way we handle restrictive housing, then data should be available so we can determine which direction we go in, rather than just trying to guess," he said.

Frakes said Nebraska approached segregation reform backward, compared with other states, before the necessary data was available.

After the discussion, the work group spent about 2 hours talking about details of the rules and regulations and input from the hearing.

Several times, Frakes said the department would take into consideration suggestions on such items as due process and appeals for inmates; out-of-cell time; segregation of juveniles, older inmates, seriously mentally ill inmates and pregnant inmates; double bunking in segregation units; long-term segregation and management of more challenging inmates.

An annual report is required to go to the governor and the Legislature from the department with data on how many inmates were held in restrictive housing for that year, reasons for the segregation, and details about those inmates. That report is due Sept. 15.
Gage County has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision that said the county could be tried for a County Sheriff's Office cold-case investigation that led to the convictions of six people later cleared of a Beatrice woman's brutal killing in 1985.

In a petition for a writ of certiorari, attorney Jennifer Tomka presented two questions for the country's highest court:

* Is a Nebraska sheriff a county policymaker for purposes of the county's liability under U.S. civil rights code when supervising a criminal investigation if there is no evidence presented of a policy, custom or practice of unconstitutional conduct?

* And does the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals have the authority to preserve an issue for trial not raised at a pretrial conference?

Attorneys for the six haven't yet filed an answer.

In the meantime, the case is moving toward a retrial, set for June in U.S. District Court in Lincoln.

In 2008, Joseph White's conviction was overturned and Ada JoAnn Taylor, Tom Winslow, James Dean, Debra Shelden and Kathy Gonzalez were pardoned based on new DNA testing that pointed to a man who since had died in an Oklahoma prison as the one who raped and killed Helen Wilson.

White and the others  who have come to be known as the Beatrice 6  sued Gage County, the late Sheriff Jerry DeWitt and Deputies Burdette Searcey and Wayne Price, the men behind the investigation called so reckless it "shocked the conscience" and violated their constitutional rights.

Searcey reopened the case in 1989 and arrested the six. Except for White, they all confessed to a crime or entered pleas.

White maintained his innocence, but a jury found him guilty, based on the testimony of witnesses who later recanted. He later fought to get the DNA testing that ultimately pointed to someone else.

White died in a workplace accident in Alabama before the civil rights case went to trial in Lincoln in January 2014.

That jury ultimately deadlocked, but not until after Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf made a mid-jury trial decision to toss out the claims against the county, DeWitt and his deputies in their official roles.

The trial continued against the three individually, but Kopf declared a mistrial when the jury couldn't reach a decision after three days of deliberation.

Before the case could be retried, the six appealed Kopf's ruling and the investigators cross-appealed, saying the case should be dismissed without a retrial because the other side failed to show that investigators' actions violated anyone's rights.

In December, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the case against Gage County and the investigators in their official roles, reversing Kopf's decision.

The federal appeals court in January refused to reconsider its decision.

Tomka argued that Gage County should not be held liable for actions taken by the sheriff because the county had no control of or authority over the sheriff or his deputies. The county did not conduct the investigation, seek arrest warrants or arrest the six, she said.

The Eighth Circuit found that DeWitt made policy with regard to law enforcement investigations and arrests in Gage County and was a county officer, so it was for the jury to determine whether his decisions caused anyone to be deprived of their constitutional rights.
In a planting season in which some farmers are trying to decide which crop would lose the least money, a new agricultural opportunity is gaining luster in Nebraska, particularly for small and beginning farmers.

A story in the Journal Star earlier this month reported that Costco has even begun to help farmers buy land and equipment to grow organic food. The program has just started, but Costco wants to expand it.

We cannot get enough organics to stay in business day in and day out, CEO Craig Jelinek told investors at a meeting earlier this year, according to the Seattle Times.

Among the organic products that Costco sells are chickens. So connect the dots.

Costco is looking at sites near Fremont for a chicken-processing plant, and the local City Council has taken the first steps toward annexing land to create a suitable location despite some local opposition.

Costco executive Jeff Lyons said the company would work with local farmers to provide chickens. Lyons said the local availability of corn and soybean feed would cut costs.

Admittedly, the company has not revealed whether organic chicken would be raised and processed for the new plant.

But theres no doubt that sales of organic food are growing by startling amounts.

Organic food sales were nearly 5 percent of total food sales, but organic farmland is only 1 percent of total farmland.

"Organic food is one of the fasting growing segments of American agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said last month as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced another double-digit growth in the number of certified organic operators.

The number of domestic certified organic operations increased by almost 12 percent between 2014 and 2015, representing the highest growth rate since 2008 and an increase of nearly 300 percent since the count began in 2002, the USDA said. The total U.S. retail market for organic products is now more than $39 billion.

Costco last year also contracted with owners of organic fields in Nebraska to have local ranchers raise its cattle for is organic ground beef.

One of the reasons that organic food is in tight supply is that it takes three years for farmland to qualify as organic under USDA guidelines.

Thats why Costco has begun to offer help. Whole Foods has had a loan program for organic farmers since 2006.

A decade or so ago some viewed organic food as a fad and a niche market, but theres no sign its slowing. The law of supply and demand remains as strong as ever.
The Doughnut Hole has withdrawn its application for a license to sell booze at its counter in the Railyard's Public Market, according to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission's executive director.

That sets the stage for the pastry shop's possible departure from the Railyard later this year.

At a special hearing on the license April 25, owner Ryan Funke said doughnut sales alone couldn't support the business in the enclosed, shared space.

He had reached an agreement the city on its request to sell booze after it was initially opposed because another Public Market business, Breezy Island, already has a license for the area.

Breezy Island sells shaved ice drinks and some alcoholic beverages including daiquiris.

Under the agreement with the city, The Doughnut Hole would be able to sell beer and booze out of its window to the outdoor Railyard commons area but it would have had to put up a barrier inside to ensure alcohol wasn't sold over its inside counter.

Its landlord, TDP Phase 1 LLC, said it could not modify the space.

Funke and his attorney, Mike Kelley of Omaha, indicated the business was basing its decision on whether to renew its lease for the space on getting the liquor license.

The lease expires in September. Funke didn't return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
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In February, now-presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump threatened Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickett's family after attack ads funded by them came out against him ("Ricketts unafraid of Trump," Feb. 24).

Trump tweeted: "I hear the Rickets (sic) family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!"

Yet, on Friday, Gov. Ricketts warmly welcomes Trump to Omaha, even urging his parents, who shelled out $3 million in anti-Trump ads, to get behind Trump's candidacy ("Trump pledges clear path to beef exports," May 7) .

It shouldn't be unfair to wonder if Ricketts is, indeed, being "careful."

Bob Copperstone, Wahoo
The nation's smallest nuclear power plant is likely to close by the end of this year.

Continued operation of Fort Calhoun Station is not in the long-term financial interests of Omaha Public Power District or its customer-owners, President and CEO Tim Burke told the OPPD board Thursday.

Senior OPPD management is recommending engineers split their last atom by the end of this year and begin the decommissioning process.

Overall this was a financial decision. The bottom line was that it is just not economically viable to continue operations there, OPPD spokesman Mike Jones said in an interview following the meeting.

Noting a trend in the industry, Burke said slow revenue growth, market conditions and increasing regulatory and operational costs have led to the recent early retirement of several other U.S. nuclear generating stations.

Since 2013, seven other nuclear units have been slated for decommissioning. The operators of five of them cited market pressures, said Matt Crozat, senior director for business policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute, a Washington-based lobbying and policy group.

Low natural gas prices have put steady downward pressure on the wholesale cost of electricity in recent years. In competitive regional markets, as the price of natural gas-produced electricity has fallen so too have the revenues of other wholesale electric suppliers, including nuclear power plants.

While nuclear plants have lower fuel costs than those that use coal or natural gas, they also have high expensive fixed operation and maintenance costs, as well as numerous other expenses.

Larger plants have the benefit of economies of scale to offset those costs by spreading them across more megawatts produced.

At 478.1 megawatts, Fort Calhoun is the smallest unit in North America, based on accredited capability. The station has about 650 employees.

In contrast, Nebraska Public Power Districts Cooper Nuclear Station has 675 employees and nearly double the generating capacity at 804 megawatts.

In the wake of OPPDs announcement, NPPD released a statement saying Cooper remains an important part of its long-term strategy for a diverse energy mix, reliable baseload generation, fuel security and carbon reduction.

Cooper is Nebraskas largest single source of non-carbon generating electricity and among the top performing plants in the power industry for all types of generation, NPPD spokesman Mark Becker said.

Nuclear proponents have been sounding the alarm over the rash of generation unit closures, warning that nuclear power is essential to meeting President Barack Obamas climate change goals. Released last year, the federal Clean Power Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent nationwide based on 2005 levels. The plan has been stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending litigation.

What youre seeing here is non (carbon) emitting baseload power being replaced by fossil fuel-generated electricity that has carbon emissions that goes along with it, Crozat said. As the country looks at its longer-term carbon reduction goals, and as states look toward things like compliance with the Clean Power Plan, losing nuclear is going to make those all the more difficult to achieve.

OPPD spokesman Jones said the district officials did take carbon reduction issues into consideration before recommending that Fort Calhoun close and will look at other options, whether its purchasing additional generation from the market or adding new renewable energy production.

Fort Calhoun Station sits on the Missouri River about 19 miles north of Omaha. It began commercial production of electricity in September 1973.

OPPD spent about $385 million to refurbish the plant in 2006 and more than $100 million to repair the station after flooding and a small fire caused damage in 2011.

The recommendation to shutter the nuclear station came after a review of OPPDs resource planning efforts. The board will review the recommendation and is expected to vote on it June 16. If the recommendation is approved, OPPD proposes no general rate increases through 2021 and will be on a path to have rates 20 percent below the regional average.

The economic analysis clearly shows that continued operation of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station is not financially sustainable, Burke told the board. The analysis considered market conditions, economies of scale and the proposed Clean Power Plan.

Burke said the recommendation is not reflective of employee performance or Omaha-based Exelon, which OPPD hired to run Fort Calhoun in 2012.

If the plant closes, senior management acknowledged in the news release that it will have far-reaching effects for employees, their families, long-term contractors and the communities surrounding the plant.

OPPD would make every effort to absorb as many employees as possible into other areas of the district, based on qualifications and open positions, Burke said. Retraining would be made available in cases where there would be strong potential for success."

The number of employees would be gradually scaled back.

Even with the plant not operating were going to need staff because we will still be responsible for the property and site and keeping things safe for the public, Jones said.

OPPD is looking at two different options for decommissioning the station. One would take about 10 years and the other 60 years. The board will be presented with a recommendation next month.
Nearly 200 guests tasted wine and beer produced by Nebraska-based brewers and winemakers at the ninth Haymarket Cork & Ale Festival, which returned to the downtown Holiday Inn ballroom April 22 after a brief hiatus in 2015.

We were here later in the year the last time in November of 2014, said Jeff Cunningham, board member with the Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation (LDHC), which designated the events proceeds to help maintain the Haymarkets four-sided community clock.

During the Cork & Ale Festivals usual weekend back in April 2014, Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy were performing to raise money for the Team Jack Foundation at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Cunningham continued. So we had the festival in November that year, and we took 2015 off.

Participating vendors at this years event instructed wine and beer connoisseurs in the science and art of ale brewing and wine fermentation.

After the tastings, guests determined Peoples Choice award winners by voting for their favorite participating winery, brewery and restaurant. The winners were Deer Springs Winery, Kinkaider Brewing Co. and BLINK! restaurant.

Offering tastes of the bubbly were Deer Springs Winery, Lincoln; Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery, Palmyra; James Arthur Vineyards, Raymond; Macs Creek Winery & Vineyards, Lexington; Moonstruck Meadery, Bellevue; Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard and Winery, Brownville; and WunderRosa Winery, Roca.

Participating breweries included Blue Blood Brewing Co. and Empyrean Brewing Co. of Lincoln; Bottle Rocket Brewing Co., Seward; Farnam House Brewing Co., Omaha; and Kinkaider Brewing Co., Broken Bow.

In addition to BLINK! guests enjoyed culinary delights provided by Bella Baby Nuts, Buzzard Billys, Fuehrers Cheespread, Lazlos Brewery & Grill, Lincoln Olive Oil Shop, Nama Choco and The Mill.

Raffle prizes were:

 Beer for a Year, which included 12 five-gallon kegs from Empyrean Brewing Co.; and

 Overnight stays and gift cards.

Emcees were Meghan Bragg and Shelby Fenster of Channels 10/11, and Animal from The Blaze (104.1 FM). Mojo Filter performed classic cover songs.
If you arent a fan of musical theater, or even theater in general, the Burlington Haylofters production of Pump Boys and Dinettes, a fast-paced, country western show, might just make a believer out of you.

This is a good show for people who dont think they like musical theater, said Janet Palmer, the shows director. It doesnt have the typical musical theater feel to it.

And shes right. Pump Boys and Dinettes is definitely not your typical musical theater production.

Something different

So, just what makes this show different from others? Unlike a typical cast, which is responsible for singing, dancing and acting, the actors in this production also provide the shows musical accompaniment  without the assistance of an orchestra.

Having the cast play musical instruments while performing, however, creates additional challenges. Its a little difficult to be in such an intimate setting with so many instruments and so much equipment, Palmer said.

But the cast appears up for the challenge, and she is grateful for the actors with whom shes had the opportunity to work. We have a really strong cast. Theyre able to take things and create their interpretation of the characters, so a lot of the characterization is their own, Palmer said. They make my job easy.

Behind the scenes

Palmer has always had an interest in theater, but admits she has a particular fondness for musical theater. A music teacher at Cunningham Intermediate in Beloit, Palmers first directing credit was as an assistant director in 1981, and in 1985, she directed her first show, Annie.

This may be the first time that Palmer has directed a show with the Burlington Haylofters, but it isnt her first time participating in a Haylofters production. She played piano for a 2012 production of The Princess Knights.

About the show

A musical comedy written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgtan, John Schwimmer and Jim Wann, Pump Boys and Dinettes, which debuted on Broadway in June 1981, tells the story of two groups of workers on opposite sides of Highway 57 in North Carolina.

On one side are the pump boys, a group of four men  Jim, L.M., Jackson and Eddie  working at a local filling station. The pump boys are far more concerned with having a good time than working.

They want to make money, of course, said Palmer, But only because money helps them have a good time.

On the other side of the highway sits the Double Cupp Diner, owned and operated by the Cupp sisters  Rhetta and Prudie. The Cupp sisters are decidedly more productive and motivated than their pump boy counterparts, spending their days discussing food and tips instead of slacking off.

Coming together

Despite the heavy responsibilities placed on the cast, the show was able to come together with only three two-hour rehearsals a week.

The cast is led by Jeremiah Fox, who plays Jim, and his real-life wife, Amber Fox, who plays Rhetta Cupp. The couple first met while performing together in a production of Clue: The Musical in Elkhorn.

We havent performed together in about three years, Amber said. So this gives us time to spend together that we normally wouldnt have.

Amber credits the productions success with hard work by each cast member on their own time. It was surprising how quickly everything came together, Amber said.

You could tell people worked a lot outside of rehearsals, because the next time we would get together, there would be a lot of progress.

Jeremiah believes that the casts close relationship has also helped the production materialize more quickly. Its a group of friends performing, he said. Were a cohesive group of performers, which is why I think things came together as well as they did.

Appealing to the audience

The plot of Pump Boys and Dinettes is fast-paced, and the script is packed with throwback references, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

There are a lot of references to 70s culture  the people who were popular, the events that were happening, said Amber. I find it very amusing.

Jeremiah believes that audiences will gravitate to the production because of its emphasis on music. Its not as in-depth plot-wise. The show is more focused on music, he said. There are a wide variety of genres in the show. Theres something for everybody.

Pump Boys and Dinettes, will be presented weekends, May 13-29, at the Malt House Theatre, 109 N. Main St., Burlington. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15. Go to www.thehaylofters.com, call 262-763-9873 or email info@thehaylofters.com.

More to come

Aside from Pump Boys and Dinettes, there are still plenty of opportunities to see Burlington Haylofters performances. The rest of the 2016 Burlington Haylofters season:

Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx  July 14-31

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Dale Wasserman  Sept. 29-16

Sally Cotter and the Prisoner of Ala Katraz by Dean OCarroll  Aug. 11-21

Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown  Nov. 10-20
RACINE  Criminal charges have been filed against the woman allegedly responsible for driving into a Victory Avenue house in April and engulfing it in flames.

On April 16, at 1:44 a.m., police were dispatched to 3401 Victory Ave. for a report of a car that had hit a house, starting it on fire.

It reportedly displaced a family of four, which was not home at the time.

Michelle L. Kirchoff, 48, of the 1300 block of Blaine Avenue, was cited for first-offense drunken driving in the incident, Racine police said initially. First-offense operating while intoxicated is not a criminal offense in Wisconsin.

Wednesday, Kirchoff was criminally charged with operating while intoxicated/causing injury and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. On the second charge alone she could face up to 7 1/2 years behind bars.

According to her criminal complaint, when police arrived they made contact with Kirchoff and another person. Both appeared intoxicated and were slurring their words.

It was initially unclear who was driving the vehicle, but police said in Kirchoffs criminal complaint that she was only wearing one white sandal, and the other was found on the floor of the driver side of the vehicle. In addition, the seat was fairly close to the steering wheel, and Kirchoof is 5-foot-4-inches tall.

Kirchoff told police she had met the person she was with at Pudgys Pub, 7800 Washington Ave., had been there since about 8:30 p.m., and had had a few alcoholic beverages, the complaint states. She said they had sexual relations in the smoking area and were returning home together.

Kirchoff reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle.

Both occupants of the vehicle were transported to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital. The man with Kirchoff reportedly had multiple injuries including bruises to his abdominal wall, thumb and a lower leg.
RACINE  A Kenosha man was sentenced on Thursday to six years in prison for his role as getaway driver in a 2014 robbery of a Racine bank.

Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz also sentenced Antoine S. Cook, 22, to four years on extended supervision in the Nov. 10, 2014, robbery of TCF Bank. No one was reported injured in the robbery at that branch, 3935 Douglas Ave.

Gasiorkiewicz also ordered Cook, one of four people charged in the robbery, to repay $534 to the bank.

Cook pleaded no contest on March 8 to being a party to the crime of robbery of a financial institution and fleeing or eluding an officer.

Cook was the third man sentenced for this bank robbery.

Marquez C. Vines, 18, of Kenosha, was sentenced in February to four years in prison and three years on extended supervision.

Cantrell B. Hunter Jr., 19, of Irma, was sentenced in January to seven years in prison plus five years on extended supervision for walking into the bank and robbing it.

In August, the charges against Charles E. Donnell Jr., 21, of Kenosha, were dismissed.

At about 6:17 p.m. that day, Hunter walked into the bank with a demand note before walking out with the money. Two bank employees were inside at the time. He left with $534, according to the criminal complaints. All of the cash later was recovered, police have said.

Cook drove the getaway car, which police chased after the robbery. It reached speeds topping out at 70 mph, the complaints state. Hunter, Cook and Donnell reportedly bailed  running from the car before they were caught by police. Vines remained inside the green Pontiac and was arrested, the complaints state.
RACINE COUNTY  The countys top election official says Racine County voters appear to have grasped the concept of needing a photo ID to cast a ballot and probably wouldnt need the major media education blitz that the state Government Accountability Board proposed this week.

The board, which will cease to exist at the end of June, has asked the state Legislature for $250,000 to pay for broadcast television, radio and online ads to educate state voters about the photo ID law.

While reminding voters about the photo ID law is well and good, Racine County did not experience major difficulties with the law in the February and April elections, Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen said.

It never hurts to educate voters about what they can bring or what they have to do for photo IDs, Christensen said. Perhaps other places across the state had more problems with it and need more attention and reminders. We didnt get a lot of calls.

Her office got more calls about polling place addresses, and dealt more with poll workers not knowing addresses on photo IDs did not have to match addresses in voting books, Christensen said.

The GAB, which will become the Wisconsin Elections Commission this summer, submitted the funding request this week to the Legislatures Joint Committee on Finance.

We need to remind voters to bring their IDs to the polling place before the partisan primary in August and the presidential election in November, said Kevin Kennedy, the states chief election official. We also need to let people know how they can get a free state ID for voting, even if they dont have their birth certificate.

The board crafted a series of Bring It to the Ballot ads earlier this year and distributed them to Wisconsin television and radio stations to run as unpaid public service announcements.

The proposed paid media campaign would begin in July and run through the November election.

The board would pay stations belonging to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association $6,000 per week to run the spots, said Reid Magney, the boards public information officer. The board would get detailed reports about when the stations ran the ads and how often.

In Racine County, radio stations WVTY 92.1 FM and WRJN 1400 AM belong to the association, according the WBA website.

State Speaker of the House Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he supports informing the public about the photo ID law but would like to review the boards request to ensure that the money will be well spent.

Its reasonable to remind voters to remember their photo ID on election day, Vos said. Its clear from the high turnout in the last election that the voter ID law worked to protect the integrity of our elections while not inhibiting people from voting.
ROCHESTER  The village will offer off-site parking and a wagon shuttle to town to help handle the heavy crowd expected at this years milestone Memorial Day event.

On May 30, Rochester will host its 150th Memorial Day celebration  the longest continuous Memorial Day observance in Wisconsin.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will be one of the presenters at the festivities. Events will include a memorial service in Rochester Cemetery, a parade, speakers, a 21-gun salute and the lowering of a wreath into the Fox River to commemorate those who died defending the nation.

This years event also will face parking and traffic challenges because the Main Street bridge that runs over the Fox River will be closed for repairs.

Visitors are being asked to enter Rochester through Burlington via Highway W or through Waterford via Front/Jefferson Street, village officials said.

Parking will not be allowed along the parade route. Instead, public parking will be available at HyPro, 600 S. Jefferson St., in Waterford Industrial Park. From there the village will have wagon rides to transport people to Pioneer Park.

Despite the inconveniences, the village plans to make the day unforgettable, said Janine Johnson, co-chairman of the villages Memorial Day Committee.

We are looking to make Rochesters 150th Memorial Day spectacular, Johnson said.

The celebration will include a white horse with a red sash, an idea that harkens back to the villages first observances of the day, Johnson said.

A village resident wanted to honor his brother who had been killed in the Civil War, and he marched down Main Street in Rochester on his white horse, Johnson said. He gathered the children of the community to carry flowers and parade with him. We want to bring that back.

The village also has spruced up Pioneer Park in preparation of the event by completing a new gazebo, adding some plantings, and installing recently purchased benches and trash cans.
RACINE  With Mark Nielsen assuming a new role in August, his position as Racine municipal judge opened up. And six attorneys from southeastern Wisconsin applied to fill the soon-to-be vacancy prior to last weeks application deadline.

The six candidates, who submitted their applications to the city before May 6, must be able to take the position by July 1. Nielsen was elected a Racine County Circuit Court judge in April.

The candidates have experience from several different areas of law, including private criminal practice and work with local government offices.

One of the more experienced candidates, Robert K. Weber, has actually held the position before. He spent roughly a decade, from 2006-15, as Racines city attorney following a four-year stint as municipal judge. Weber also used to be Nielsens law partner.

Another candidate who has spent time on the government side of law is Maureen Morris Martinez, an experienced assistant district attorney with the county.

Rebecca K. Mason, a local attorney with her own practice, previously announced her candidacy in a news release in April. Masons husband is state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine.

Another candidate, Lori A. Kuehn, runs her own practice, the Law Office of Lori Kuehn, in Milwaukee, but regularly represents clients in Racine.

Attorney Sally Hoelzel, another candidate with local experience, is with Pruitt Law Offices SC, 731 Main St. in Downtown. She also has experience running her own practice.

The final candidate, John J. Buchaklian, is a Milwaukee-based attorney with the Social Security Administration.

The annual salary for the part-time position is $50,250.72. Attorneys with traffic and criminal law practice are preferred.

All qualified candidates will be presented to the City Councils Committee of the Whole which will make an appointment recommendation to the full City Council. The dates for those meetings have not been set, according to City Attorney Scott Letteney.
In this space in 2012 and 2013, we urged that online retailers be made to charge sales tax on purchases made by Wisconsin residents, so as to level the playing field between online retailers and businesses with a brick-and-mortar store in the Badger State.

The same principle should be applied to those who offer residences through online short-term rental websites without getting licensed and paying taxes.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported Monday that since late last summer, Public Health Madison and Dane County has received 32 complaints against properties listed on websites such as Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner). All of the complaints have been filed by people connected with the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association, according to the health agency.

Bed-and-breakfast owners across the state use clues in photographs included in Airbnb and VRBO listings to determine locations of rentals, and then lodge complaints against operators of unlicensed short-term rentals.

Dusan Duke Mihajlovic, owner of the Oscar H. Hanson House Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge, said he regularly monitors listings on those sites in the Madison area. He told the State Journal he believes the current laws governing bed-and-breakfasts and tourist rooming houses should be enforced both for safety and for fairness to licensed businesses.

If youre going to have lodging, youre supposed to have a license from the Department of Health (Services), so I let the department of health know whenever I find one because they do not have the staff or the time to hunt them down, he said. Some of these places are charging $50 a night. I cant get down that low and Im sure if they played by the regulations, they couldnt get down that low either.

Mihajlovic is, obviously, acting in the interest of his own business. But hes right about a fundamental point: This playing field should also be level.

Those who offer residences through online short-term rental websites should be required to obtain a license and pay taxes on each rental. They should be required to play by the same rules as, for example, any of Racines bed-and-breakfast business operators.

But to be clear, were not looking to turn this new revenue collection into a blank check to be eaten up by more government spending. Once the users of the online sites have been brought into compliance, wed have no issue with lowering the sales tax rate for all short-term rentals, so that the online-generated revenue doesnt become another piggybank for the state government to raid.

But thats Step 2. Step 1 is leveling the playing field.
When Wisconsin lawmakers considered a bill last year to allow deer hunters to wear fluorescent pink for safety, in addition to blaze orange, their deliberations were informed by University of Wisconsin-Madison research.

Majid Sarmadi, a color scientist at the UW-Madison, had conducted tests that found fluorescent pink to be just as visible or more visible to the human eye than blaze orange. Bright pink might also be less visible to deer than orange, giving hunters a slight advantage, suggested Sarmadi, a professor in the School of Human Ecology.

Sarmadis input was critical in getting support for the bill, said state Rep. Nick Milroy, D-South Range, a cosponsor of the bill that passed with broad bi-partisan support.

As the idea was taking shape to allow fluorescent pink hunting gear to meet the statutory safety requirement, a move that hopes to encourage more girls and women to hunt, our biggest question was whether pink was as safe as orange. We didnt know where to go to get that question answered, Milroy said.

Coincidentally, UW staff involved in a pilot program of Committee Connect stopped at Milroys office to ask if he needed anything, and a couple of days later he was talking with Sarmadi. It worked out spectacularly, Milroy said.

The Committee Connect program got a boost with the award, announced this week, of a three-year, $76,281 Baldwin Wisconsin Idea grant. Committee Connect was one of nine projects receiving grants of up to $120,000 through the grant program endowed by former UW-Madison teachers and administrators Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin. Eleven mini-grants of up to $4,000 also were awarded to encourage innovation and experimentation in small-scale projects.

We are providing a non-partisan, confidential way to get information, said Hilary Shager, associate director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, which will administer the Committee Connect project.

The program matches legislator interest with ongoing research to provide timely individual responses, Shager said.

Use of the pilot program during the 2015-2016 academic year was decidedly bi-partisan, Shager reported, with 22 legislators and 34 faculty and staff researchers participating.

Committee Connect also is seen as way to let academic researchers and legislators develop an appreciation for what each does. One really important goal is to build strong relationships between legislators and researchers, and help them learn more about each others cultures, Shager said. Legislators get information, but researchers also reported that the collaboration with legislators enhanced their research and teaching. Its definitely a two-way street, she said.

It is legislators who will lead what research is tapped in Committee Connect, said Shrager. We work directly with legislators to talk about what issues they are discussing and thinking about, she said. The idea is for researchers to get involved early in the process, by conferring with committee chairs and minority leaders.

Topics under research are typically kept confidential, Shager said, but the media had already revealed Sarmadis contribution to the hunt pink bill, signed by Gov. Scott Walker in February.

We want legislators to feel comfortable; sometimes these are very exploratory questions, she said. We welcome those kinds of requeststhis has very high bi-partisan buy-in and participation. Thats key to its success.

She said the Baldwin funds will be used to hire a student project assistant and involve graduate students more, especially to research and analyze one of the most common requests: What are other states doing?

Committee Connect is a great resource to have, Milroy said, adding that it was especially helpful to get research free of the self-serving bias that infects much of the information passed along to legislators.

Milroy said that being able to work with UW researchers might influence legislators doubtful of the practical value of university studies.

A lot of legislators dont know the breadth and depth of what is happening on campus he said. The more exposure they have to the UW System, the quality of work there, and its impact on our economy, the better off the university will be in the eyes of my fellow legislators.

Read about all the initiatives receiving Baldwin grants here; and about mini-grant recipients here.
When Susan Paskewitz searched the UW Arboretum two years ago for immature deer ticks, the kind most likely to infect people with Lyme disease, she found 32.

Last year, during the same amount of sampling at the same 17 sites in the Arboretum, she found 592.

Were really seeing them move into areas in Madison, in Milwaukee and in other parts of southeast Wisconsin, said Paskewitz, a UW-Madison professor of entomology.

Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that in Wisconsin was mostly confined to the northwest part of the state years ago, has become a statewide problem. More than 3,200 cases were reported in people last year, a tenth of what health officials believe actually occurred.

Other diseases carried by deer ticks, such as anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, also appear to be on the rise. Like Lyme, they can cause fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain and severe headache. All of the conditions can be treated with antibiotics, but they sometimes cause serious complications.

Anyone can get a tick-borne disease, said Diep Hoang Johnson, vector-borne disease epidemiologist with the state Department of Health Services. Its all over Wisconsin ... It can be in your backyard, even in the cities.

Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, has been getting a lot of attention this year because an outbreak in Latin America and the Caribbean was accompanied by serious birth defects. But its unlikely anyone will be exposed to Zika in Wisconsin this summer, health officials say.

Mosquitoes in the state can carry West Nile virus and other potentially serious diseases, but reports of human cases are relatively rare.

People concerned about bug bites making them sick should especially watch out for deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks, officials say. The ticks started circulating in April, typically peak in June and surge again in October.

Wood ticks, or American dog ticks, are also common in Wisconsin but arent known to spread disease here.

To prevent tick-borne diseases, people should avoid wooded, bushy areas or wear long pants and long sleeves and use repellent, health officials say. After being outdoors, they should check for ticks and remove any with tweezers.

Paskewitz and others from her lab visit more than 30 areas in the state to look for deer ticks. In the Madison area in recent years, they have discovered the ticks in Sandburg Woods on Madisons Far East Side, UW-Madisons Lakeshore Nature Preserve and the Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton.

At Sandburg, 19 percent of immature ticks were infected with Lyme. Sampling at Owen Park on Madisons West Side hasnt turned up deer ticks, Paskewitz said.

In the Milwaukee area, the researchers have found deer ticks at Doctors Park, Cedarburg Bog, Muskego Lake and Richard Bong State Recreational Area. The ticks werent tested for Lyme.

In the Arboretum, where Paskewitz first discovered deer ticks in 2010, she and others from her lab are studying two ways to reduce the population of deer ticks and the percentage of them infected with Lyme.

Working in 17 half-acre plots in the Arbs Lost City Forest, the researchers are removing buckthorn from some of the areas to create dry environments inhospitable to ticks.

In other areas, theyre targeting white-footed mice, a major source of blood for deer ticks. They soak cotton balls with insecticide, place the balls in PVC pipes and leave the pipes in the forest. Mice use the cotton balls to make nests, and when ticks get on the mice the insecticide kills them.

Its a bit like treating your dog with Frontline, Paskewitz said.

In some plots, the researchers do both activities. In others, they do neither, so they can compare the effect.

Monthly, from May to August, they trap mice and chipmunks, and drag white sheets across parts of each area, to count ticks and test them for Lyme.

Last year, in the sites where buckthorn was removed and/or cotton balls were used, about 4 percent of immature ticks tested were infected with Lyme. In the untouched areas, it was 12 percent.

Overall, the figure was 8 percent. Statewide, it ranged from 5 percent in the northeast to 32 percent in the northwest.

The Arboretum plots where both activities were done also had about half the number of immature ticks last year as the areas that were left alone, Paskewitz said.

It looks like we have reduced the risk of encountering an infected tick significantly, she said.

The percentage of adult ticks infected with Lyme typically is about double that of immature ticks. But the scientists pay less attention to the adults because people generally can spot them and remove them from their bodies quickly enough to prevent infection.

Its the immature ticks, called nymphs, that are the real troublemakers. Theyre so tiny, they look like a little freckle, Paskewitz said. You dont feel them.
Wisconsin in Brief

MILWAUKEE

Joy Global to shut down welding operations

Joy Global Inc. is shutting down its heavy welding and fabrication operations in Milwaukee, resulting in the loss of about 130 jobs.

The mining equipment manufacturer announced the decision to employees Wednesday.

Joy Global says most of the employees affected by the shutdown already were on layoff.

The rest of the companys Milwaukee area operations are not affected, according to media reports.

The company says work previously handled by the Milwaukee heavy fabrication and welding departments will be covered by other Joy Global manufacturing and service facilities, and alliance partners.

MADISON

Police: Man fatally shot at gas station

Police say a man has been fatally shot at a gas station in Madison.

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said the 38-year-old man was in a car at the gas station when he was shot from outside the vehicle Tuesday. Koval says officers arrived and saw a man bleeding profusely, and officers started giving aid to the man, who died at a hospital.

Koval says the man was specifically targeted, and that there isnt a threat to the public. He says its not known whether there was one shooter or more than that.

GREEN BAY

City of Green Bay gets into business of flipping houses

The City of Green Bay is getting into the business of flipping houses, an enterprise made more popular by home renovation shows on cable channel HGTV.

The city bought a foreclosed property from the Brown County Treasurers Office and turned an eyesore into a house that sold for about $200,000.

Green Bays Redevelopment Authority chairman Harry Maier tells WBAY-TV its about more than just the revenue  its putting a house back on the tax rolls and improving the neighborhood.

Kevin Zoeller is the citys neighborhood development specialist. Zoeller says crews removed all of the dry wall and flooring and basically started from scratch. After three months of work the property sold in about a week for the asking price.

The city closed on another property Tuesday and will begin renovation work soon.

 Associated Press
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Pramod Mishra is a biweekly columnist for The Kathmandu Post. He is the department chair of English Studies at Lewis University in the United States.
All is well, PM Oli tells intl community

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday said that his government was not going through a political crisis, hinting towards the regeme change effort made by the coalition partner, UCPN (Maoist), and the main opposition, Nepali Congress, recently.
Branchless banking touch points set up in Darchula

Janata Bank Nepal has recently launched branchless banking touch points (BLB) in four village development committees of Darchula with the support of Sakchyam, an access to finance initiative.
CIAA files corruption charge sheet against Lyarkal Lama

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption charge sheet case against UCPN (Maoist) leader Lyarkal Lama in the special court.
Coalition partner flays policies, programmes

The UCPN (Maoist), a key coalition partner in the government, has criticised governments policies and programmes, saying that it has failed to bring a concrete plan to conclude the peace process.
Deuba defends his position on fast track

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed concern over media reports about a statement on Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Project he madein Parliament on Tuesday.
Developer GMR India requests for more time

GMR India, the developer of the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, has asked for one more year to conclude the financial closure.
Drought leads to school closure

Janasewa Higher Secondary School at Rangshi in Rolpa district is closed due to water shortage for the past 10 days.
EC officials skeptical of govt poll plan

Three days after the government announced to hold local polls by December, Election Commission (EC) officials, the body responsible for organising elections, have insisted polls can only be possible provided that government and Parliament expedite approval of laws, and create political environment for it.
Enter the dragon

China won the hearts of Nepalis by promising to stand by Nepal in its darkest hour
EU, Unicef to build 650 learning centres

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) have started construction of transitional learning centres (TLCs) in nine earthquake-affected districts.
First climbers set foot on top of Everest in 2 years

Nine high-altitude mountain guides reached the top of Mount Everest on Wednesday, the first group to ascent the worlds highest mountain in two years after deadly disasters forced a closure.
Fugitive poacher held from Nepal-India border

A team of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested Lal Bahadur BK, who was involved in poaching Namobuddha, the countrys first tiger fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled satellite collar in Bardiya National Park (BNP).
Govt urged to request for more intl funding

Representatives of organisations working on disaster risk management and humanitarian agencies have called on the government to urge the international community to increase funding for humanitarian aid and build the capacity of low-income countries in disaster preparedness.
Indian officials meet Madhesi leaders; urge them to continue protests until rights granted

Indian officials have met district level leaders of agitating Madhes-based parties and inquired about the protest programmes declared by the alliance.
SANTIAGO -- Chile's banking regulator on Wednesday gave the China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB) the go-ahead to begin operation as part of the national banking sector.

The Superintendency of Banks and Financial Institutions (SBIF) issued a statement saying that "in keeping with articles 31 and 32 of the General Bank Law, (it is) granting permission to the banking company based in Beijing to establish a branch in the country."

Chile will be home to the first Latin American branch of the CCB.

The authorization concludes the bank's licensing process in Chile, the SBIF said.

The CCB was first granted provisional authorization in July 2014, followed by permission to set up a branch, granted in April 2015, before the latest and final authorization was approved for its full operation in Brazil.
IOC agrees to increase cooking gas supply

The Supply Ministry has said that the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has agreed to supply 37,000 tonnes of cooking gas every month to Nepal.
Koirala objects domestic investment in Nijgadh-Kathmandu fast track

Nepali Congress Central Committee member Shekhar Koirala has objected the decision of the government to construct the Nijgadh-Kathmandu fast-track with internal investment.
Maoists merger plan takes a step forward

The UCPN (Maoist) accepted a plan to unite with its splinter group CPN-Maoist on Wednesday, a day after majority of Central Committee (CC) members of the breakaway faction decided to return home.
MH370: Mauritius and South Africa debris 'almost certainly' from missing plane

Two pieces of aircraft debris found on beaches in Mauritius and South Africa almost certainly came from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, say Malaysian and Australian officials.
Om Puri injured while shooting, undergoes minor operation

Veteran actor Om Puri has said that he hurt his elbow while shooting for a film and had to undergo a minor operation to treat it.
Press Council demands public apology from ABC television for broadcasting CK Rauts interview

Press Council Nepal has demanded public apology from ABC Television for broadcasting the interview of CK Rauta figure that advocates secessionism for southern plain.
Shortage of forms halts aid agreement process

Aid agreements for housing reconstruction have been halted in Gorkha, the epicentre of last years earthquake, due to shortage of forms and human resource.
Spring paddy acreage to be expanded by 200k hectares

The government has planned to expand the acreage of Chaite Dhan (spring paddy) by 200,000 hectares in a bid to increase output and make the country self-reliant in food grain.
Two ex-Army chiefs accused of war crimes

Two former heads of Nepal Army stand accused of serious crimes committed during a decade long war between Maoist rebels and the state.
Two statues of medieval period stolen

Three statues of medieval period have been stolen from Bhaktapur in the last five months, raising suspicion over security of other centuries-old idols of Hindu gods and goddesses in the historic city.
US Election 2016: Donald Trump softens stance on Muslim ban

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears to have softened his stance on temporarily barring Muslims from travelling to the US.
Victims outraged at 9-point deal

Conflict victims have accused the ruling parties of trading power on their suffering by signing a pact to give continuity to the government.
WFP conducts food quality and management training

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) held a four-day training programme on emergency preparedness and capacity building on food safety and quality management systems.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDCs) Dr. Kiiza Besigye is still detained by police in an undisclosed gazzeted detention facility.

Dr. Besigye was arrested yesterday after he beat security and made his way to the city center from his home in Kasangati where he had been under close surveillance by the police.

It was earlier been reported that Besigye was being held at Naggalama police station in Mukono, the police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Patrick Onyango has refuted the reports.

Onyango has declined to disclose the whereabouts of Besigye saying it would jeopardize investigations.

He adds that the opposition leader is to be charged with disobeying lawful orders.

Besigye and several other opposition leaders have for several days been prevented from leaving their homes for fear of what the police chief called disturbing public peace.

Story By Damali Mukhaye
President Yoweri Museveni has today marked the beginning of a new five year term with renewed commitment to fighting corruption.

Delivering his inaugural speech at Kollolo ceremonial grounds, Museveni said this time he would act directly to discipline public servants like he has done with the army.

He has specifically promised to deal with corruption and delays in decision making which frustrates investors and is a betrayal of the country.

President Museveni has expressed his governments commitment to getting Uganda into a middle income status by 2020.

Speaking at his inauguration ceremony at Kololo, Museveni said this was not achieved earlier as anticipated due to the countrys limited exports.

He however says in the next 5 years, his government is to aggressively handle the matter by ensuring that the country exports more quantities and of higher value.

He further notes that more electricity and better road network will enhance faster industrialization, and thus guarantee economic transformation into middle income status by 2020.

To address the current shortage of electricity supply, Museveni has promised to have 40 mini power dams built over the next five years.

He also called for joint regional efforts in ensuring restoration of total peace in Congo, Burundi, Somalia and Central African Republic.

Story By Benjamin Jumbe
Amnesty International has asked Uganda to immediately arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and hand him over to the International Criminal Court(ICC).

Omar Al-Bashir, who is on the courts wanted list, arrived in Kampala this morning to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, Ms Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, says Uganda honor its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide.

She adds that as a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC, failure of which would be a breach of its duty and betrayal of the people of Darfur.

President Al-Bashir cannot be allowed to evade justice any longer, said Muthoni Wanyeki.

However, the state minister for international relations Okello Oryem says president Bashir cannot be arrested like a chicken thief. We did not invite President Bashir to be arrested, we cannot and will not arrest him. In fact we are going to see him off very safely, Hon. Oryem has told KFM in a telephone interview this afternoon.



The situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to the ICC in 2005 by the UN Security Council.

Earlier while delivering his inaugural speech after he was sworn in for another 5-year term at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni has taken a swipe at the International Criminal Court.

Introducing some of the visiting heads of state , particularly Bashir of Sudan, Museveni said the ICC had lost focus and was a bunch of useless people.

Museveni also attacked the western countries of attempting to impress their powers on African countries.

He said every one should concentrate on running their own house instead of interfering in other countries affairs.

Arrest warrants against President Al-Bashir have been outstanding since 2009 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur from 2003 to 2008.

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court of South Africa called the behaviour of South African authorities disgraceful for their failure to arrest President Al-Bashir according to their obligations under South African legislation implementing the Rome Statute, when he travelled to Johannesburg to attend the African Union Summit in June 2015.

In March 2010, the Ugandan parliament passed the International Criminal Court Bill which fully incorporated the law of the ICC into Ugandan law.

The bill also provides for the arrest and surrender of suspects to the ICC. Speaking at the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC in November 2015, Ugandas representative unequivocally stated the countrys support to the International Criminal Court in the fight against impunity and that this commitment remains unwavering However, Uganda has also at times been critical of the ICC.

Story By Catherine Ageno
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently awarded $131,853 to the La Crosse County Health Department to address human exposure to contaminants in drinking water. The grant will focus on private wells and small water systems in rural areas.

La Crosse County is one of 14 states and five local health departments in the nation receiving the five-year grant.

Project goals include:

Increasing awareness among county residents using private wells or small water systems;

Developing interventions to address natural contaminants found in area groundwater.

The award focuses on people using well and small drinking water systems not covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). These residents face risks from biological, chemical, and naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic and lead. Arsenic contamination is associated with variety of illnesses, including several types of cancer.Annually, arsenic alone contributes to approximately 1,000 deaths and $9.7 billion in economic impact. Rural and tribal populations are particularly at risk because they lack testing resources and water treatment options routinely available at municipal water utilities.

La Crosse County Health Department will partner with Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon county health departments to identify the extent of arsenic, lead, nitrate and bacterial contamination in private wells. State, local and tribal public health departments are frequently the only agencies working to protect the health of households relying private wells and small drinking water systems.

There are approximately 7,000 private wells in La Crosse County and thousands more throughout western Wisconsin. Rural residents will have the opportunity to test their water sources for contamination and reduce their exposure to health hazards by participating in this CDC-funded project.

For more information about the CDC Safe Water Program, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/activities/water.html.

For more information about testing private wells, contact the La Crosse County Health Department at 608-785-9872.
La Crosse County has a new vendor lined up for its MiniBus program, but a lot of unanswered questions remain, including how the county will deal with an expected jump in cost.

County officials dont really even know yet how much more the program will cost because the current provider, First Transit, bases its charge on an hourly rate while the new contractor to take over July 1, Abby Vans of Neillsville, will bill on a per-trip basis.

It appears clear, however, that costs will rise for the MiniBus program, which already took a financial hit this spring after First Transit gave the county notice that it would discontinue its contract at the end of April. The company exercised its option to terminate the MiniBus contract with 30 days notice after its subsidiary, First Student, lost the contract to provide busing for the La Crosse School District.

County officials negotiated a deal with First Transit to continue providing MiniBus service for 60 days to give the county time to find a new vendor, but the First Transit extension came at a high cost: a 61 percent price increase.

The MiniBus program provides low-cost rides to people 60 and older as well as disabled adults of any age. County Administrator Steve OMalley said about 60 percent of the rides provided by the program are for medical appointments, but people can call for rides for any reason, whether its to go shopping, out to eat, to the library or to church.

The countys Health and Human Services Board considered approval of the 5.5-year MiniBus contract with Abby Vans at its meeting earlier this week, but there isnt much of a choice if the program is to continue. Abby Vans was the only bidder on the contract.

Before the next HHS board meeting, OMalley hopes to have more answers and some options to consider.

Audra Martine, director of the countys Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, said the county might have to consider changes in hours of operation, increased fares for users, limitations on the eligible purposes for rides or even changes in who can use the program.

There is definitely more expense here than we have in the budget, Martine said. Were going to be paying a lot more.

The county also has the option of using money in a reserve fund to cover part of the programs increased cost, and it could ask for more federal funding.

Another option would be to encourage regular users to sign up for Western Wisconsin Cares, a program that helps keep elderly people in their homes. People enrolled in Western Wisconsin Cares have their MiniBus expenses paid for through Medicare.

OMalley added there could be potential to cut MiniBus program costs by having the La Crosse Municipality Transit Utility take on more of the La Crosse trips that normally would be covered by the MiniBus program.

Its really rethinking the whole system because its a whole new provider, OMalley said. It meets a very important need for people and Im frustrated that we dont have any answers.

County board member Dave Holtze, who chairs the countys Commission on Aging, also expressed frustration about the programs financial issues.

We just keep going farther and farther in the hole, and its going to hit hard eventually, Holtze said. If we cant get money from the feds or the state and the population that we have to help is going to double, were going to have to start thinking outside the box, big-time.

The bottom line is there are a lot of moving parts to the MiniBus program and a pressing need to cut expenses, but OMalley emphasized that nothing is changing for now and that people will get plenty of notice if anything does change.

We dont want people to worry about it, OMalley said.

Donation

Hillview Health Care Center is getting a 2016 Ford Transit van with wheelchair-lift, thanks to an anonymous donors gift of $60,000. The gift more than covers the $44,292 purchase price of the new van, which replaces the county-run nursing homes 12-year-old van.

Its certainly one of the biggest donations weve ever had, Hillview administrator Pete Eide said.

The van with accessibility equipment will be purchased from A&J Mobility in Eau Claire.

Remaining money from the donation will be applied to the purchase of a small bus to serve Hillview residents, Eide said.
In April, Wisconsin held a high turnout election, which is terrific. But the final count could have been even higher. State officials have a chance to boost voter participation and make voting smoother for all by committing a modest amount of funding for voter education.

The League of Women Voters urged the Government Accountability Board to request funding to promote its voter ID education campaign, and we are delighted they voted to do so. A vigorous state voter education campaign is sorely needed as we prepare for Nov. 8 when one million more voters are expected to turn out.

People who do not have an acceptable photo ID on Election Day may cast a provisional ballot, which is counted only if the voter provides the ID to election officials by end of the week. According to preliminary figures, 375 provisional ballots were issued on April 5, of which 108 were counted. We have no idea how many people did not even try to vote under the new ID requirements.

We do know that a recent transplant from Minnesota had all the documentation he needed to register at his Eau Claire polling place, but couldnt get a regular ballot because he did not have an acceptable photo ID for voting. He chose not to cast a provisional ballot because he knew he could not get to the DMV by 4 p.m. on Friday.

In Deforest, a disabled Vietnam veteran in a wheelchair had proof of residence and an expired Wisconsin drivers license, allowing him to register to vote. Then he was denied a regular ballot because his drivers license expired shortly before the Nov. 4, 2014, cut-off. The clerk did all she could to assist him to no avail. He accepted a provisional ballot, but said he was sure he could not arrange transportation, first to the DMV and then to his clerks office by the end of the week.

A community leader in Madison who is well informed and active in civic affairs moved some time ago and updated her address in the DMV database. She had already registered and voted at her new polling place, but on the day of the February primary election, she remembered that her new address was not on drivers license. She actually could have voted, but didnt even try because she thought her ID needed that current address.

These citizens were properly registered, but they were tripped up by not knowing the details of a confusing new law.

Some state officials have said that the league is out of order in calling for voter education after having challenged the photo ID law in court. We are proud to have been one of the organizations that held off implementation of the law for three years. Because of the injunctions, no Wisconsin citizen was disenfranchised by the law through 11 elections, nor were there any allegations of voter impersonation.

When the voter ID law went into effect, the league added a full-time position, increasing our staff by 50 percent. And we have hundreds of volunteers in our 18 local leagues working to register and assist voters in complying with a law we opposed. Indeed, voter education has been the leagues mission for almost 100 years.

Now it is time for the proponents of voter ID to do their part and back up their claim that they would never want to prevent any eligible citizen from voting. One way to ensure that doesnt happen is to fund a statewide voter education campaign. Surely not to do so reveals their claim to be just more hollow rhetoric.

Andrea Kaminski is executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government.
Conservation-minded Wisconsin citizens recently showed their displeasure with the lack of professionalism in the top level of the states natural resources management.

Voters at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress in April said, for example, the state should return to having its Department of Natural Resources secretary selected by the Natural Resources Board rather than appointed by the governor.

For 70 years, the DNR board named a professional resource manager to lead the department, a practice aimed at favoring science over politics in management. Returning to that practice has been a popular viewpoint since Gov. Tommy Thompson and the Legislature in 1995 gave the governor power to appoint the secretary. The Legislature voted in 2010 to return the power to the citizen board, but then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, vetoed it and an attempt to override the veto failed. Predictably, politics has ruled subsequent appointments, particularly with Gov. Scott Walker, who wanted a chamber of commerce approach to management.

La Crosse County Congress voters, who met at Onalaska High School, voted 67-5 to support having the Natural Resources Board rather than the governor appoint the DNR secretary. The statewide vote was 89 percent in favor of the resolution, 3,436-418.

Other local votes included a 56-10 vote (3,287-506 statewide) to increase scientific, professional natural resources management in the Wisconsin DNR. This is clearly a response to the last state budget that slashed science positions from the department and the governors choice of a developer with no professional natural resources management credentials as secretary. According to Question 30 on the ballot, In the past 20 years, under administrations of both parties, many senior managers have been appointed that do not have any significant education or applied experience in natural resource management.

The proposal would have the Legislature require at least two of the three senior DNR managers (Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Deputy Secretary) to have either an educational degree in natural resource management and five years of applied natural resource management or 10 years of applied natural resource management before they are appointed.

Local voters approved 59-9 a proposal to place a moratorium on new state permits for frac sand mining. The statewide vote was 2,802-826 in favor.

And local voters supported 54-10 a proposal to repeal the iron mining law passed in 2013 to make it easier for mining operations to receive permits. The statewide vote was 2,350-1,140.

The Natural Resources Board will consider the advice from its 82-year-old advisory board at its meeting May 25.

There is general agreement that the turmoil in the national politics is due to anger that the will of the people is being ignored, and ignoring or misreading public opinion has its consequences. The Conservation Congress was formed in 1934 to provide a clear channel of communications from the users of the resources in Wisconsin to those who manage those resources. It has a long history of influence on public policy, starting with the work Aldo Leopold and others did on deer management in the 1930s.

While the Congresss charter is to advise the DNR board, it is the politicians who have wrested control of natural resource management (think deer, wolf, air- and water-quality management) who should be listening to the advice being offered by those Congress voters enabled to give such service to the state. Their rebuke of the political takeover is loud and clear.

The meetings results overall and county-by-county can be found online at dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/springhearing.html.
Scott Fritzs office crawl space looks almost empty.

It used to house state equipment and paperwork (there was even stuff in his garage). Thats in addition to what he had in the state-provided warehouse.

Its late Mothers Day morning, and Fritz is grilling with family. Only days before, he retired as a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer following 31 years of service.

Hes sitting in his home office, which also served as his state office headquarters, and hes recalling the days when he began back in 1985 as a boat and water specialist for three summers.

That was in the Twin Cities metro area.

So we had more lakes than you could ever cover, he says. And then some.

From there, he was stationed in Appleton, Wis. He compared the experience to the formative years of a kid.

Youre like a sponge, and those guys had very good work ethics, and they also had a very good sense of humor. You put the two together, he smiles, and all his knuckles join together.

When he moved to Fairbault for another stint, he says his neighbors were also good, hard-working people who made him look better than he was.

They were known as game wardens prior to the 1960s, when the position was refined and grew into what has become known as conservation officers. They have full police powers; carrying a sidearm became mandatory.

Our duties had changed quite a bit, he says.

The want came, in large part, from what he calls the recreating he did with his father: hunting, fishing, the full spectrum. Theyd duck hunt down on the Mississippi, he recalls, and fished all the trout streams. The Whitewater area was for deer hunting.

And then ma and dad bought a cabin up in northern Minnesota, and us kids would always go up there and did a lot of fishing up that way.

That also included being on a boat a lot. Snowmobiles were also a favorite. Its been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Always been, he sighs. You know, like what we did for today on Mothers Day, wed go for a hike in the woods.

He called his career a natural fit.

Twelve years ago saw the Fritz family move to La Crescent, where they now live on the citys north outermost end. Again, he said, hes surrounded by top-of-the-line people, both wardens and citizens.

Ive been very lucky that way, he says.

Summing up a more than three-decade career isnt easy.

We work out of our homes, he says, his voice accelerating along with his seriousness. Your average station in the state is between 600 to 900 square miles. Thats the land mass, including the lakes.

Were on-call 24/7. This was my state office, he says motioning around the small room, in the house.

Prior to moving to La Crescent and getting the warehouse, the boats, ATVs and snowmobiles sat in his own yard.

We stored them because we needed them, he says.

A well-equipped state truck is also furnished, like a police car with radios, lights, and sirens, and firearms, protective clothing  because they work so much out of their vehicles, its like an office on wheels.

Shifts could last six hours, they could also last 16.

You went prepared, he says.

Thats just the truck. Patrol boats, air boats, even a canoe also come with the job, which Fritz says makes you pretty diverse in what you can do when you need to. But, you have to master the equipment.

With my background, he says of his family, Ive been doing that my whole life.

Theres more to it than equipment, of course. Conservation officers enforce all the hunting and fishing laws and regulations, as well as boating and snowmobiles, four-wheelers, ATVs, and off-road motorcycles. Add to all that wetland laws, especially when folks are developing commercial or on-commercial properties, the ground water use has to be somewhat regulated. Theres also the pollution laws to be enforced, and all this while working closely with county officials, local law enforcement, councilors and commissioners, and the citizenry.

His station covered Pool 9, where it boards Iowa and Wisconsin, all of Pool 8, and part of Pool 7, as well as land mass covering half of Houston County and part of Winona County.

He got to see the best every season had to offer.

The biggest change in my career is the cell phone and computer, he says.

It increased reporting and accountability, which he feels is good, but it also took the officers out of the field more. Its tempting to see technology as a necessary evil, but theres perhaps a finer philosophy to live by.

As my dad always, If you dont go with it, itll leave you behind.

The floods of 2007, he says, when you look back at career: that was a big one. It provided a lot of opportunities to help people. And, he stresses, it was a team effort, covering many neighbors over a wide area in the county.

Its a community, he says, we live in a small community and we work together.

Its the people, he says, that he enjoyed the most in his job. Except it wasnt a job, he says, it was a lifestyle.

Im retiring from a job I still like, he says, and he realizes how fortunate that makes him. But its because the job required him, and his family, to become fully-realized member of the community, and he had to make himself available. Its the hallmark of the best wardens.

This is my area, he says. These are my people, and you take care of them accordingly.

Travel is on his agenda; he and his wife, Robyne, have always wanted to see Ireland. Theyll be going in June. Alaska is also on the list at some point soon. Asked if, now that hes retired, theyve ever thought about moving, he says for his family and their interests, La Crescent is a perfect fit.

Why would you leave? We live in the greatest place.

Hes grateful not to be asked about the many awards and citations adorning the wall of his office, because even though hes grateful for the commendations, its more about the work of the team than himself as an individual.

Hes not so humble that he wont offer up some career advice, though.

What I would tell kids is, Go to school. That could be a nine-month program or a four-year degree. Keep your nose clean, because it does pay down the road. Take the time to enjoy life, I mean, you need to laugh, hug your spouse or kids, if you have them. You need to do that, because all the sudden you look in the mirror and youre retiring. Because it goes like the blink of an eye.

Officers recollect

Tom Hemker met Fritz in 1996  he was a neighbor office in Owatonna while Fritz was stationed in Fairbault  and then they became literal neighbors in La Crescent by the time 2004 rolled around. Hemker is now a conservation office in the Winona area. He called Fritz a fantastic officer.

Probably one of the best, Hemker said, and is probably an even better person.

Hemker has always looked up to Fritz, he said, citing him as continually concerned with making the right decisions.

Ive always strived to think things through the way Scott does, he said.

Mitch Boyum, whos an officer in the Rushford area, knows Fritz very well. He was Boyums primary field training officer in 2000.

Scotts a good man, Boyum said.

He called Fritz dedicated, an officer who is all about the resource, especially protecting it. He also cited Fritzs excellent rapport with people.

Its going to be sad to see him go, but I get where hes at.
The Cashton Area Knights of Columbus Council 7096 will be holding their annual Help Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities campaign the weekend of May 13-15.

The campaign, which will be in its 42nd year, is a statewide effort to raise funds to support citizens with intellectual disabilities. Throughout the state of Wisconsin more than 40,000 members will be assisting in this campaign.

The Cashton Council will be joining the other 286 councils in Wisconsin in this benefit. The Knights and their helpers will offer a special size candy roll which will have the imprint Knights of Columbus  Help People with Intellectual Disabilities. Everyone, in turn, will be asked to make a contribution.

In the past 44 years, a total of $19 million was raised and distributed to local councils for their programs in their area, for statewide projects and camps for those with intellectual disabilities, for religious education for all denominations, seminars, for Special Olympics, special education programs and many more life-changing programs.

Last fall, Cashton Area Knights of Columbus donated locally to nine different recipients. The $3,360.59 was distributed to the following programs: Cashton, Viroqua, La Farge, Kickapoo and Brookwood special education programs; Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center (V.A.R.C.); Coulee Childrens Center in La Crosse; and to local Special Olympics participants.

Cashton Council 7096 has raised and distributed more than $120,620 for this cause.

More information or questions can be address to Michael Haight, interim I.D. campaign chairman, at 608-782-1640, P.O. Box 4004, La Crosse, WI 54602, or email, cashtonkofc@centurytel.net.
WEST SALEM -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers listened intently Wednesday afternoon as Alex Galbraith spoke about her work studying the impact of genetically modified foods on humans.

Galbraith isnt a medical researcher or a university professor. Instead, she was one of more than 120 West Salem High School students sharing the results of their senior exit projects to panels of community judges.

The school added the exit project program 16 years ago as a graduation requirement. Students pick a topic of interest to do both a project and a research paper on, and, at the end of the year, give a presentation on their work.

There is all this conversation in the teaching community over seeing what our kids know, West Salem teacher Kim Volden said. These projects test the skills kids need after graduation.

Galbraith spent her senior year studying whether the DNA from a GMO soybean plant could be detected in human colon cells. With a mentor from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the use of some of its lab equipment, she conducted a detailed experiment to extract the plants DNA and simulate its exposure to the digestive track using colon cancer cells, which can be grown outside of the body.

Her research didnt find any traces of the soybean DNA in the colon cancer cells, which she argued was evidence against one of the fears of those who are wary of GMO foods. For her research paper, she wrote in favor of labeling foods containing GMO ingredients.

Consumers have a right to know how their food affects themselves, the environment and the economy, she said during her presentation.

After listening to the science presentations, Evers stopped at the schools auto shop and heard a presentation from student Jared Novak, who wrote his paper about the benefits of diesel engines in large vehicles and completed a restoration project on an old pickup truck.

The pickup was getting poor gas mileage and was leaking fluids, so Novak spent a number of weeks repairing the guts of the vehicle. He hit a number of roadblocks along the way, exposing him to a lot of different aspects of mechanic work.

I learned a lot, Novak said after his presentation. I know I want to do something in the auto field.

Evers said he visited West Salem because the exit projects are still relatively unusual in Wisconsin schools and wanted to learn more about the program. He said he enjoyed seeing how students made their classrooms experiences relevant to the real world he would like to see more districts adopt the practice.

The projects were outstanding, he said. We went from pipetting DNA to fixing an old truck into something that works. These projects will help these students going forward in their life.
UW-Milwaukee became the fourth University of Wisconsin System campus to see professors declare they have no confidence in UWs leaders Tuesday, in a vote that prompted Gov. Scott Walker to weigh in with sharp criticism of the faculty.

The Milwaukee professors joined colleagues at UW campuses in Madison, La Crosse and River Falls by stating they dont have faith in UW System President Ray Cross or the Systems Board of Regents to uphold the universitys outreach mission in light of budget cuts and changes to tenure and shared governance.

UW-Eau Claire faculty and academic staff also discussed a no-confidence resolution Tuesday afternoon but did not hold a vote on it, according to a university spokeswoman.

Just before the UW-Milwaukee professors meeting Tuesday, Walkers office issued a scathing statement deriding the no-confidence votes and faculty tenure.

Some faculty bodies ... appear more interested in protecting outdated job for life tenure than about helping students get the best education possible, Walker said. The university should not be about protecting the interests of the faculty, but about delivering value and excellence to Wisconsin.

The governors rebuke of faculty illustrates an important limit to their symbolic resolutions: While Cross may be unpopular enough among many professors to prompt no-confidence votes, he still has the backing of the Board of Regents that controls his job, and both he and the Regents have support among Republican lawmakers.

Those legislators stripped tenure protections from state law in the 2015-17 budget, and new policies approved by the Board of Regents earlier this year give chancellors the power to close academic programs and lay off their professors  a change that incensed faculty members.

Professors have also criticized Cross and the Regents for not lobbying more aggressively against a $250 million cut to the UW Systems funding in that same budget.

Faculty members have insisted they arent arguing that tenure should be a job for life. Instead, they say, it is a principle that protects professors academic freedom, and gives them the ability to do the kind of risky or potentially unpopular work that can benefit peoples lives.

Chad Goldberg, a professor of sociology who wrote the no-confidence resolution that UW-Madison faculty passed this month, said Monday that there are limited situations in which it would be appropriate to lay off tenured faculty members.

For example, if professors, through shared governance decision-making, decide to close a program and the university cant find a suitable other role for the affected faculty, Goldberg said, they could be fired.

Walker followed his statement with a series of tweets in which he chided faculty for speaking out after recent changes to tenure, but not taking as strong an action in response to student tuition increases or previous UW funding cuts.
MADISON (AP)  Wisconsins longtime chief elections official Kevin Kennedy, who held an encyclopedic knowledge of state voter laws and history but who angered Republican lawmakers in recent years, said Tuesday that he will retire before the board he currently heads is eliminated next month.

Kennedy announced that he was retiring effective June 29, the day before the Government Accountability Board is dissolved under a law backed by Republicans and signed by Gov. Scott Walker. The retirement announcement, while expected, marks the end of 37 years of working on state elections.

Ive seen too many of my colleagues tossed out for political reasons. For me, it was a conscious choice to leave, Kennedy said in an interview. Its just a little bit sooner than planned.

Kennedy said he had intended to retire early next year, following completion of this falls presidential election, but he moved up the date due to the board being eliminated next month. Kennedy said he intends to remain involved with election law, perhaps as a consultant, but has no other job lined up.

Kennedy, 64, drew the ire of both Republicans and Democrats over the years as head of the GAB, which has overseen elections, ethics, campaign finance and lobbying laws since 2007. Anger from Republicans  mostly focused on the boards role in the John Doe investigation into Walker and some conservative groups  led to lawmakers voting in December to do away with the nonpartisan board.

Kennedy takes criticism from Republicans and Democrats, as well as lobbyists and others subject to its rulings, in stride.

Someone is always going to whine about the call the refs are going to make, he said.

The newly created partisan commissions overseeing elections and ethics will begin operating on June 30, the day after Kennedys retirement takes effect. Kennedys job was not eliminated under the law creating the new boards, but he would have needed to be reappointed.

That was seen as unlikely, given the new partisan makeup of the panels and that, in 2014, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called the GAB an embarrassment and said Kennedy must go.

Kennedy fought creation of the new boards, saying Wisconsins nonpartisan GAB was a model for the nation. Kennedy said Tuesday he didnt want to have anything to do with the new boards, which he said will be under too much control of the very politicians they oversee. Legislative leaders and the governor get to appoint members of the board, who are subject to approval by the state Senate.

It went from an independent executive branch agency to an adjunct of the Legislature, Kennedy said.

Kennedy joined the former state elections board in 1979 as a staff attorney and became its executive director in 1982. He held that post until the board was eliminated in 2007, when the Legislature decided to combine it with the ethics board.

Creation of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board, which was headed by Kennedy and comprised of former judges, came in the wake of a scandal that resulted in five former legislators being convicted of campaigning illegally. Critics are comparing the new partisan commissions to the boards that were in place prior to 2007.

During Kennedys tenure the boards he oversaw instituted a statewide voter registration system and implemented a campaign finance database where donations to political candidates are posted online.

Kennedy cited both of those, as well as running elections that didnt meltdown or devolve into partisan gridlock, as career highlights. The highest profile elections Kennedy oversaw were the recalls in 2011 and 2012 that targeted Walker and members of the state Senate.

The John Doe investigation into whether Walker and more than a dozen conservative groups illegally coordinated stemmed from those recalls. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ended the investigation in July, saying it was unconstitutional. Supporters of eliminating the board pointed to that decision as proof that its exceeded its authority, acting as an advocate rather than a regulator.

Kennedy stands by the boards involvement in the probe and said he is retiring without bitterness or regret.

Any measure of how both agencies performed was overwhelmingly positive, he said of the old elections board and GAB. You could always find things that could be done better or differently from your political perspective.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP)  Environmental officials are celebrating the completion of a nearly 2-mile-long, 80-foot-wide earthen berm designed to keep Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

The $4.4 million project at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve in Fort Wayne is designed to block floodwaters and prevent carp from crossing from the Wabash River watershed into the Maumee River watershed, which empties into Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio. The nature preserve drains into both watersheds.

This is a great example of how a smaller investment up front can save a whole lot of money and heartache after the fact, after damage could have been created, Cameron Davis, who coordinates Great Lakes policy for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (http://bit.ly/1Onz5VJ ).

Eagle Marsh is considered the second-most important spot, after the Chicago Area Waterway System, for stopping the voracious invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes. Scientists say Asian carp could disrupt food chains and out-compete native fish.

The berm, which is 1.7 miles long and averages 7 feet high, has been planned since 2014 and construction work began last fall.

We dont want to ever get to that point, where the fish are right there at the gate. We want to keep beating them back so that they never get to the Great Lakes, Davis said.

The federally-funded project is complete except for plantings along the berm, said Betsy Yankowiak, director of preserves and programs for the nonprofit Little River Wetlands Project, which manages and co-owns Eagle Marsh.

Jane Hardisty, Indiana state conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, said the project has benefits beyond stopping the Asian carp.

The restored wetlands reach well beyond their boundaries to improve watershed health and the local economy, she said.

Eagle Marsh, which covers more than 700 acres, is co-owned by the Little River Wetlands Project and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Melissa Abbott had a violent past and had threatened to kill staff at the Excel Treatment Center on the grounds of the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, according to a report issued Thursday by Chippewa County District Attorney Steve Gibbs.

Abbott, 23, was admitted to the Excel Treatment Center on July 1, 2014. She previously had been arrested for hitting a police officer and had threatened suicide. She was diagnosed with depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder and having a mild intellectual disability.

While under care, Abbott has been known to hit, kick, slap, bite, pinch and spit at other patients and staff while upset or aggravated, Gibbs wrote.

Gibbs said Abbott threatened to kill the staff at the Excel Treatment center.

Abbott, originally from Black River Falls, sent numerous letters to Judge Anna Becker in Jackson County, threatening her.

Gibbs said Abbott wrote in her journal: When the cops get called I will grab their gun and there will be a shootout between me and the cops.

Here is the states description of the duties of the treatment center: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/nwc/excel/index.htm
When Dale Klevgard gets into an airplane, he appreciates what the trip represents.

Its not simply getting from point A to point B  its also about how the world is limitless from the air.

I think ultimate freedom is the way to describe it, because now you have the ability to escape the planet, basically. Its like when you get off the ground, all your cares disappear, said Klevgard, a Jackson County resident and flight instructor. You have the capability of getting in an airplane and flying any place in the county, almost any place in the world, almost without any restrictions whatsoever.

It just opens up a whole new world, if you will, of possibilities.

Klevgard got his first experience with the wonder of flying when he was a youngster taking a trip to Germany in 1960 with his family to visit his father who was in the Army. The family went from Chicago to the east coast and flew over the ocean before landing in Europe.

But it was what happened on the flight and the one back that sealed Klevgards future in flying.

A flight attendant came back and took Klevgard and his sister to the cockpit of the four-engine aircraft. They came back on a Boeing 747, one of the first jets that were flying, and also got a tour of the cockpit and received a pair of junior pilot wings and a model airplane after they got off the flight.

I think it was probably just the way we were treated that really piqued my interest in flying, said Klevgard, who got his pilots license in 1978 and was certified as an instructor in 1980. Ive had it ever since.

Klevgard has a little more than 8,000 hours of flying experience, over half of which is as an instructor. Hes mentored more than 125 students during his time living out west and back in Wisconsin, including three Western Wisconsin men who currently are learning about flying and aircraft.

Derek Ahl of Jackson County already has hit a milestone in his flying study by completing a solo flight in late April. Two others  Brad Honish of Warrens and Jeff Casper of Merrillan  are quickly on their way to marking the same feat and going on to get their private pilot licenses.

Ever since I was little, I wanted to fly, said Honish, a 2005 Tomah High School graduate. I thought it would end up being a retirement thing, but then my wife got me flying lessons for Christmas.

The three men venture to Black River Area Airport just outside Black River Falls to conduct their training with Klevgard, where he also serves as assistant director of the airport. Many new students are eager but must face some fear and anxiety as they try flying for the first time.

I think for some people, its probably overcoming the unknowns, said Klevgard, who was named a regional flight instructor of the year while living out west. I think, for me, it was probably that I had read so much and I knew so much about airplanes that it was finally moving the controls.

Its always been a challenge. Anyone who wants to learn to fly, I want to be able to share that with them. Its the greatest feeling in the world.

First tasks before heading into an airplane with an instructor involve a complete and thorough inspection of the airplane and first lessons deal with basic airplane control, learning to fly straight and level, inclines and descent.

From there, more advanced lessons include turning around points, steeper turns and stall recoveries  what to do when plans dont go quite right and their associated emergency procedures.

Flight instruction sometimes can involve the surprise of an instructor, like Klevgard, turning off engine power to give the student the opportunity to show their knowledge of how to handle the situation.

It only comes when Klevgard is confident in his students, he said.

Youve got to know your stuff, Casper said. He wouldnt do it if he knew you couldnt recover.

Before cross-country flying training comes takeoffs, landings and eventually hitting the point of controlling the plane alone  an exciting milestone.

Its not difficult at all  almost any person could learn to fly an airplane, Klevgard said. Ive taught students from as early as 14 to as old as 79 years old.

For a lot of people, too, they just have never completed the training, and its still in that bucket list and they can go on and achieve that in the later stages of life.

Honish and Klevgard were out at the airport Saturday morning getting flying hours in, and the two took their positions in the front seats of the 1976 Cessna 172, where both have controls and go through the required checks together before getting off the ground.

Alright, well go and do a run-up, Honish said as the plane sat off to the side of the runway. Then, he broadcasts to other pilots to let them know hell be taking to the air, and over to the runway.

Im gonna make my radio call here, and we can take off, he said. Alright, here we go.

Then, in the air.

Lets go up to 2,500 feet, Klevgard said. Now, its getting a little bumpy.

The pair went to their usual training spot above Alma Center and Hixton to conduct some turns and other technique training before heading back toward the airport and runway to make a landing.

There was another radio call to let any air traffic know their location, and then some discussion about the approach.

Well probably come right into the crosswind, Honish said.

Honish made the descent, landed smoothly and taxied the plane back over to the side of the runway before making post-flight checks.

Hell soon be completing his first solo flight  hopefully this coming weekend, Klevgard said. Then will come the cross-country testing stages for at least a minimum of 40 hours of flying to get the private pilots license.

Then, like Klevgard, hell be able to take a plane instead of a vehicle for trips if he chooses and experience travel from the sky.

Trips that seem a long way, you can take an airplane and you get there a lot faster, he said. Its something Ive always wanted to do.

Im just excited to go flying.
William Bill Rodney Benjamin

William Bill Rodney Benjamin, 64, died this week at his home in Tomah from complications of diabetes.

Bill, who spent much of his childhood in Tomah and moved with his family to Madison when he was 11, was a 1969 graduate of Robert M. LaFollette High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison but left school to join his father, William D. Benjamin, as a painting contractor in Tomah. He worked with his father for years before beginning a new career at Fort McCoy in 1986.

Bill worked at Fort McCoy in a civilian capacity as a federal technician at the ECS (equipment concentration site) for more than 25 years, retiring in 2014. He was enlisted with the Army Reserves at Fort McCoy as well, with the 1st Army Divisions 32nd Transportation Detachment, where he reached the rank of E-7 SFC (sergeant first class). He also is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, having served at a forward operating base in Saudi Arabia during that conflict in 1990-91.

Besides his professional and military career, Bill was an accomplished musician dating back to high school in Madison, when he joined five other friends to form a rock n roll band called the Lordes. In Tomah, Bill played drums and percussion for a number of popular local groups, including Hickory Wind, Uproar, Barn Dance, In Your Ears, Bittersweet and Taylor Made. For many years, he performed regularly on the music stage at Jellystone Park in Warrens.

Bills military career took him around the world, including stops in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and throughout the U.S., but his favorite foreign adventure was a civilian trip to Paris in 2000, where he and daughter, Sonnet, visited his brother, David, and sister-in-law, Junko Yoshida.

Bill enjoyed a moment of unsought fame when a childhood photo, taken in 1960 in Tomah, appeared on the cover of his brother Davids memoir, published by Random House, The Life and Times of the Last Kid Picked. Cast as his brothers foil and accomplice, Bill was a major character in the book.

Bill is survived by his daughter Sonnet Frank and son-in-law Eric Frank of Camp Douglas; by his son Brooks (Alicia) Benjamin of La Crosse; by his former wife, Cindy (Orethun) Loendorf of Tomah; by his brother and sister-in-law of Madison; by two grandsons, Jason and Kellan; by three aunts, Norma Broelmann of Griffith, Ind., Henrietta Wick of Marshfield, and Marcella Hackett of Tomah; by three stepsisters, Sherry (Gary) Tolle and Ruth Blow of Tomah, Connie (Kim) Steele of Roseville, Calif.; by a stepbrother, Tom (Vicki) Church of Tomah; and by many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Ann Peggy Benjamin, who passed away April 20.

Funeral services with full military honors by the Tomah VFW Post 1382 will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Pastor Bob Streeter will officiate. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4 until 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Family and friends are also invited for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday at Torkelson Funeral Home. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
A Genoa woman was seriously injured when she was struck by a car after leaving the front doors and exiting the Wal-Mart in Viroqua, Wednesday, May 11, at 3 p.m.

According to the Viroqua Police Department, Judith Paggi, 75, had just left the store and was walking toward her car. A vehicle driven by E. Bernadine Hutchens, 89, Ontario, struck Paggi as she was walking.

Paggi was transported to Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua by Tri-State Ambulance. She was later transported to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. Gundersen listed Paggi in serious condition Thursday afternoon.

Also assisting at the scene was the Vernon County Sheriffs Department.

The 9-1-1 call regarding the incident was made by Wisconsin 32nd State Senate District candidate Jared William Landry of La Farge.

Viroqua Police Chief Daron Jefson said Landry was offering assistance at the scene.

When we arrived he was there assisting the husband of the victim, Jefson said.

I cant say he was doing anything that anyone else wouldnt have done in a similar situation, but he was there offering aid, Jefson said.

Landry, a Democrat, is running against incumbent Sen. Jennifer Shilling in the September primary election.
The 48th annual Westby Syttende Mai festival is May 13-15. Additions to the 2016 schedule are listed below.

New in 2016

The Westby Syttende Mai board elected to use a new form of promotion for the annual festival producing a 12 page newspaper print insert, versus the traditional brochure. The insert is available at many area businesses and in the Stabbur House for people to pick up. It was also inserted in the April 25 Foxxy Shopper and the La Crosse Tribune on April 30.

The new format also changed the way the Westby Times will be publishing its annual special Syttende Mai edition. The May 12 issue will provide its annual schedule of events and highlight some of the main features. Regrettably though, the history section will not be produced due to the unfortunate death of historian Eric Leum on March 14. Leum was the man behind the annual history section.

Change is inevitable in life and the insert produced by Syttende Mai was well done and provides visitors to the area with all the information they need to navigate the three day event. The Westby Times will provide readers with event photos and feature news leading up to and following the festival.

The Fines Arts Foundation of the Westby Area is sponsoring the FAFWA Norski Live Music Stage on Saturday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free to the public and will feature a variety of area musicians. Freewill donations are appreciated with all proceeds dedicated to the construction of the new Performing Arts Center in Westby that was approved through a public referendum vote on April 5.

Musicians participating in the music festival include: Liz & Jess (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.); Ontourage (1-3 p.m.); Anima (3-4 p.m.); Leather n Lace (4-5 p.m.); The Ridge Runnin Coulee Cruisers Honky Tonk (5-6 p.m.); Annies Traveling Acoustic Crew (6:30-7 p.m.); Bathtub Springs (8-10 p.m.).

A portion of West Avenue South will be closed during the music festival, which will be held next to the east side Westby Middle School entrance, on land where the new Performing Arts Center will be constructed. Food will also be available on the music festival grounds, as well dancing allowed in the street during the event.

As an added feature during the music festival there will be a live rosemaling demonstration by Patsy Vork. She will be creating a 4x4 painting that will be auctioned off at 10:30 p.m. Proceeds from the sale will be directed to the Performing Arts center endowment fund and Westby Syttende Mai.

The Westby Area Historical Society will be hosting a number of new events at the Thoreson House on Saturday, May 14. There will be goat petting for children and adults from 11 a.m.3 p.m. and Bluff Country Tale Spinners will be twisting tall tales about Nordic lore from 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. on the Thoreson House porch. There will also be Kubb played on the lawn from 11 .m.- 4 p.m. and tours of the restored home. Join the fun.

The annual Westby Syttende Mai High School Choir Concert is Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. The original Syttende Mai button artwork, designed by Evelyn Larson will also be auctioned off at intermission of the high school choir concert on Friday and new this year the Lori Doll, a replica of the first Syttende Mai Princess Lori Knutson-Denson (1970) will be auctioned off as well. The doll is sponsored by the Westby Area Historical Society.

Visit with members of History Alive Project, Inc. on Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.3 p.m. at the Westby VFW on North Main St. View over 60 photos including one-room schools and new city street views. Relax and enjoy a 60 minute film depicting the immigration saga shown at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. The DVD is an award winner entitled The Stavig Letters. by Lars Stavig (South Dakota) to his brother, Knut (Norway). They exchanged 150 letters in a span of five decades (1881-1938). History Alive Project, Inc. is sponsoring this walk through history.

Tours will be held at the Westby House Inn along with wine tasting by Branches Winery at the historic house. So stroll, sip and shop on Saturday, May 14 from 1-4:00 p.m.

Changes are in store for the annual Syttende Mai troll hunt sponsored by Connelly Law Office. This year the goal is to have two trolls, and more than one hunt over the course of the weekend. Some clues will be easy and some will be difficult. On Thursday, May 12, the first clue will be revealed, with additional clues on Friday, May 13; and again on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 at noon if the trolls have not yet been found. Hunters should be looking for two small wooden trolls this year, not just one. The cash prize for the 2016 has also been increased, with up to $200 being awarded. More instructions and rules will be posted on the law office door where the clues are posted or the Syttende Mai website www.westbysyttendemai.com.

Pastor John Dumke of Our Saviors Lutheran Church will be transitioning from tractor blessings to grape vine blessings, a new venture for even him. A Blessing of the Vines will be held on Sunday, May 15 (4 p.m.) at Branches Winery, located on Old Line Road and Cut-A-Cross Road, in the town of Coon. Dumke will bless the vines for a fruitful growing season. A reception will follow.

For more information on these or any of the many festival events check out the Syttende Mai website at www.westbysyttendemai.com or on Facebook.
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Authorities seized $2.3 million in Sinaloa Cartel-linked cash from a stash house just a few hundred feet from Disneyland Thursday. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told LAist that the raid was part of a two-year, ongoing investigation into the Mexico-based drug trafficking organization led by the FBI, the IRS and local law enforcement.

The Anaheim house, located on a tree-lined block of West Katella Avenue, is believed to have been regularly used for the storage of narcotics and cash proceeds.

There have been several other seizures of large amounts of money and narcotics over the course of the two-year investigation, but specific information about them has not yet been made public.

According to City News Service, the latest break in the caseand the search warrant for the house on Katellacame after a female driver was pulled over on the Santa Ana freeway. Developments in the investigation had led authorities to pursue the vehicle, which was then located driving southbound on the freeway. Authorities questioned the female driver after pulling her over for a traffic stop, and that interrogation led to the Anaheim house. The woman has not been charged at this time.

No arrests have yet been made in connection with the Katella seizure, and the FBI encourages anyone with information that may be helpful to investigators to give them a ring at (310) 477-6565.
The Liu Cixin Caririchnium. [File photo]

A new kind of bird-footed dinosaur footprint was discovered in Gulin county, Southwest China's Sichuan province and named for Chinese science-fiction writer Liu Cixin, to honor his contribution to raising public interest in science.

Liu, who was thrilled to hear the news, said that he has great interest in paleontology.

"It is like a science fiction we're reading that the dinosaur in Gulin county was preserved so well for billions of years. It helps us travel back in time. I hope the relics could be studied and preserved well."

The decision was made by the research team consisting of China University of Geosciences, University of Colorado, Natural History Museum of Basel and some other museums that feature dinosaur exhibitions.

Xing Lida, a young scholar leading the paleobiospecies study in China University of Geosciences, said the foot print reliquiae is very special, and looks like the footprints of a small cat or dog.

"They are about 30 centimeters long, consisting of three toes and a chubby sole. The footprints are very similar to those of the Caririchnium, but also differ from it as they are anatosaurus. So we decided to name it as a new species."

The Caririchnium was first discovered in Brazil, named after the basin of the same name. It is a kind of hadrosaur dinosaur.

Liu Cixin is a Chinese science fiction writer and a Hugo Award winner, who is known for his series of novels The Three-Body Trilogy.
On 4 May the international press cited remarks made by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker about Brazil during her address at the 46annual Council of the Americas Conference in Washington DC. Pritzker was reported to have said that the political crisis in Brazil is an example of what corruption can do to a country and that it takes time to overcome the destabilizing effects generated by the impeachment proceedings launched against President Dilma Rousseff. Pritzker added that Brazil is a huge country and is extremely important for the region. Our hope is that we can overcome this, but I think it's going to take time. At the conference Pritzker also addressed several trade issues with Latin America such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and US trade relations with Cuba and Argentina. The TPP was signed on October 2015 by 12 countries (including Chile, Mexico, and Peru from Latin America) but has yet to be fully ratified, with ratification also pending in the US Congress. US Republican legislators have stated that they will only consider it after the November presidential election. However, Secretary Pritzker said that, Im confident it can happen this year. Now is the window. Despite pushback against free trade from some presidential candidates, Trade is imperative. We cant build a fence around our country, she said.

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Scientists studying the area where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic Ocean were in for a surprise.

Under the muddy, dark Amazon River water was a large number of undiscovered reefs with colorful sea fans, coral, plants, fish and very big sponges. It was one of the biggest surprises in modern ocean science.

Most ocean reefs need sunlight to exist.

On their boat that day in 2012, they carried a hand-drawn map that suggested maybe a large set of reefs sat just below them.

Brazilian scientist Rodrigo Moura of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, brought the map. He had read about the possible reefs in a 1977 research paper.

He lowered a dredging machine into the muddy water.

Oceanographer Patricia Yager was there too. With others, she leaned over the boats edge, waiting to see what Moura would bring up from the bottom. They did not expect much.

"But we were very excited about the possibility, and of course he brings up the most amazing animals I have ever seen, at least in this part of the world. They were colorful, coral, sponges, fish, brittle stars, all kinds of things I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams, lived underneath this river plume.

The team was studying the area where the Amazon River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Where these waters meet, the worlds largest river moves out across the top of the ocean, spreading out like a fan.

Yager teaches oceanography at the University of Georgia in the U.S. She explains that the water from the river stays separate from the ocean as it moves across it, covering the ocean with its dark and muddy water.

The reefs sit hidden in the ocean, about 50 meters below the surface of the water, says Yager.

And so it is not being bathed in the river plume itself. Its far below, in the very salty ocean, so the fresh water is not touching the reefs, theyre in salty ocean water.

The reefs run from the French Guiana border to Brazils Maranhao state, covering about 9,500 square kilometers.

Yager says she was surprised to find coral reefs below the dark muddy water.

You cant look down and see them like other reefs, theyre quite deep. And then on top of that, the water, the surface layer of the water is very dark and turbid, so yeah, you cant see them from the surface, thats why we didnt know they were there.

She says that she was taught that coral needs sunlight to survive. And yet, here were coral in the lowlight of this area and they were just fine.

Some of the reefs do get sunlight for part of the year.

She says in the areas that get less light, the living creatures are less dependent on photosynthesis.

Some of the coral reefs stand 30 meters high. They are home to lobster, red snapper fish and very big sponges. But the area does not have as many different kinds of animals as some of the other well-known reefs around the world, like Australias Great Barrier Reef.

On their trip in 2012, the team only had a short time to find and explore their surprising discovery. The Brazilian scientists went back to the reefs in 2014 to do more studies of the reefs.

Recently they published their findings in the journal Science.

Yager says they plan to keep studying the area. One day, they would like to use they would like to use submersiblesvehicles used under water, to explore the reefs.

It would be really nice to not have to dredge this system to understand it, because of course that is a very destructive method. I would rather go down with cameras and look at it instead of destroying it.

She says discovering these reefs is an example of how little is known about the oceans, and how important exploration is.

We need to be open to discoveries, she says.

News about the reef comes when there is more bad news about the problems of coral bleaching in Australias Great Barrier Reef. Scientists warn the bleaching is due to warming waters, and it is very damaging to the coral.

Yager says it might help to study how these Amazon reefs survive with less sunlight. Maybe, she says, scientists can find ways to help the other reefs suffering around the world.

But the Amazon reefs face their own threats. Companies want to drill for oil near the reefs. If they go forward, Yager warns, those large-scale operations could damage the reefs.

Im Anne Ball.

Anne Ball wrote this story. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

reef  n. a group of rocks or coral or sand ridge at or near the surface of water

coral  n. a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures

dredging  v. the act of removing mud from the bottom a river (or lake, etc) in order to search for something

oceanographer  n. a person who studies oceans

plume  n. the area where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean and fans out on top of the ocean water

photosynthesis  n. the process where plants turn water and carbon dioxide into food when the plant is exposed to light

destructive  adj. something that causes a very large amount of damage

bleaching  n. the harmful process when coral losing their colorturning white due to stress, because of warming waters
Today, we visit a place of strange and silent beauty. As beautiful as this place is, its name provides evidence of very real danger. We are exploring Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley is a land of beautiful yet dangerous extremes. It has nearly 1.4 million hectares of desert and mountains.

There are mountains that reach more than 3,000 meters into the sky. The valleys Badwater Basin area is the lowest land in the Western Hemisphere. It lies 86 meters below sea level.

Death Valley can be dangerously cold during the winter months. Storms in the mountains can cause sudden floods on the floor of the valley. But, during summer months, the air temperature has been as high as 57 degrees Celsius.

The extreme heat of Death Valley has killed people in the past. Death Valley does not forgive those who are not careful.

Within Death Valley National Park is evidence of several ancient volcanoes that caused huge explosions. Evidence of one of these explosions is called Ubehebe Crater. The explosion left a huge hole in the ground almost a kilometer and a half wide.

In many areas of Death Valley, it is easy to see where the ground has been pushed up violently by movement deep in the Earth. This has created unusual and beautiful rock formations, with colors of red, brown, gray, yellow and black.

In other parts of Death Valley, there are lines in the rock. The lines are evidence of the past presence of water. The area was deep under an ocean for many thousands of years.

Much of Death Valley is flat and extremely dry. In fact, scientists believe it is the driest place in the United States. In some areas the ground is nothing but salt. Nothing is able to grow in this salty ground.

However, it would be wrong to think that nothing lives in Death Valley. The valley is full of life. Wildflowers grow very quickly after even a small amount of rain. Some desert plants can send their roots down more than 18 meters to reach water deep in the ground.

Several kinds of birds live in Death Valley, as do mammals and reptiles. Visitors might see the dog-like animal called the coyote, or wild bighorn sheep, or other animals like the desert jackrabbit, the desert tortoise, and a large reptile called a chuckwalla. Many different snakes live there too. Some are dangerous, like the one sidewinder rattlesnake. It is an extremely poisonous snake with long sharp teeth, or fangs.

Throughout history, Native Americans found ways to survive in Death Valley. Rock art and other remains show that humans lived in the valley as far back as 9,000 years ago.

Death Valley is a huge place. It extends more than 225 kilometers across the southern part of California into the neighboring state of Nevada. The valley is part of the Mojave Desert.

The area got its name in 1849. That was the year after gold was discovered in California. Thousands of people from around the country traveled to the gold mining areas of the state. They were in a hurry to get there before other people did.

Many people were not careful during their travels. One group trying to reach California decided to take a path called the Old Spanish Trail. By December they had reached Death Valley. They did not have to survive the terrible heat of summer, but there was still an extreme lack of water. There were too few plants for their work animals to eat. The people could not find a pass through the tall mountains to the west of the valley. Slowly, they began to suffer from a lack of food.

To survive, they killed their work animals for food and began to walk out of the valley. As they left, a woman in the group looked back and said, Goodbye, death valley. The name has never been changed.

Death Valley officially became a national park in 1994. It is the largest national park in the lower 48 states.

More than one million people visit the park each year.

Titus Canyon is one of the most popular places to visit in the park. It has huge mountains, colorful rocks, ancient rock art and rare plants. There is even a ghost town, a town that has abandoned by all its residents. Death Valley is full of ghost towns.

Many people visit Death Valley in late winter and early spring, when wildflowers come to life there. The harsh desert floor becomes very colorful.

This year, some people called the wildflower display a super bloom. The National Park Service called this years bloom the best the park has experienced in a decade. Many rare storms in October brought a lot more rain to the valley than normal. During one storm, almost 8 centimeters of rain fell in the park in just five hours. Death Valley usually gets only five centimeters of rain per year.

Some visitors come to Death Valley for just a day. Tour buses bring travelers from Las Vegas, Nevada. They ride around the park in their bus, visit several places and are back in their Las Vegas hotel by night.

However, many other visitors stay in the park. The most popular area to stay in is Furnace Creek. Furnace Creek is the largest area of human activity within Death Valley National Park. There is a hotel, as well as places to camp.

The historic Inn at Furnace Creek is a beautiful hotel that was built of stone nearly 90 years ago. The inn is built on a low hill. The main public room in the hotel has large windows that look far out over Death Valley. Hotel guests gather near these large windows in the evening to watch the sun make long shadows on the floor of the valley and on the far mountains.

This beautiful image seems to change each minute. The sun slowly turns the valley a gold color that deepens to a soft brown, then changes to a dark red. As night comes, the mountains turn a dark purple color, then black.

Usually, visitors are very quiet as they watch the setting sun. A few try to photograph it. But the valley is too huge to capture in a photo. Most visitors leave only with the memory of the fiery sunset in the extraordinary Death Valley National Park.
Our National Parks journey this week takes us to New Orleans, Louisiana, the city many consider to be the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans is a port city at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

It holds one of the most famous cultural celebrations in America: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, called Jazz Fest for short. This year, the event opened April 22 and continues through May 1. It is the 47th festival. Famous performers this year include Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.

The first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival took place in 1970. That year, about 350 people attended the five-day celebration.

Five years later, about 80,000 people attended the festival. Today, attendance is measured in hundreds of thousands.

The festivals original organizers said the event could only be held in New Orleans, because here and here alone is the richest music tradition in America.

And, only in New Orleans could you find a whole national park honoring jazz. Today, we are exploring the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

The park includes sites important to jazz history in New Orleans. Visitors can walk around the city to see these sites. They include places located in the oldest part of the city -- the French Quarter -- as well as in the Louis Armstrong Park.

Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest American jazz musicians. His voice, trumpet-playing skill and creativity continue to influence jazz artists today.

Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Jazz was just beginning to develop when Louis was a boy. It grew out of the blues songs and ragtime music that had been popular at the turn of the century.

Louis Armstrong discovered music early in life. He was surrounded by it. By the time he was 18, he joined the Kid Ory Band, one of the finest bands in New Orleans. In the 1920s, Armstrong moved on to Chicago, and then New York, which had become major centers of jazz music.

The trumpeter soon became one of the most famous musicians of his time. In the 1930s, he had his own big band, called Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra.

But, his biggest hits came later in his life. In 1964, his version of the song Hello Dolly was the top hit around the world. And the song What a Wonderful World, recorded in 1968, was his final big hit.

Armstrong died in 1971. In 1980, the city of New Orleans opened the Louis Armstrong Park to honor one of the citys most famous sons. Among other sites, the park includes a statue of Armstrong himself and a place called Congo Square.

Throughout history, the square had many names. Congo Square was once used as an area where slaves were permitted to perform African and Caribbean dances and drumming. The sounds played a role in the development of jazz. Today, the city holds the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival there.

Another stop within the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is the J&M Recording Studio. It lies just south of Louis Armstrong Park, on Rampart Street. The studio operated from 1945 to 1955. Cosimo Matassa, a recording engineer, was the owner of the studio. He recorded some of the greatest jazz and rhythm and blues artists of the time. Today, the spot is a laundromat. But a small sign on the building points out its important place in music history.

Next, we visit the Mint. A mint is a place that produces coins. The Mint started out as a place where U.S. and Confederate currency was made. But today, the Mint is a famous performing arts center and a museum full of jazz history. That museum is the Louisiana State Museum. Here, visitors can see Louis Armstrongs first cornet -- a brass instrument similar to a trumpet. He bought it in New Orleans when he was 15 years old.

The National Park Service holds live educational performances at the Mint most days of the week. Many of those performances are streamed live online for viewers around the world to enjoy.

Another park site is Preservation Hall, in the French Quarter. The word preservation means keeping or protecting for the future. By the early 1960s, traditional New Orleans jazz music was in danger of disappearing. Young people wanted to hear the music of Elvis Presley and other rock and roll stars. Not many young people were interested in listening to jazz.

In 1961, Allan and Sandra Jaffe began using a small, old building on St. Peters Street as a music hall. Musicians there played traditional New Orleans jazz, sometimes just for their own enjoyment. Allan Jaffe was a tuba player. He played with what became known as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The Jaffes created Preservation Hall to protect and preserve the citys traditional jazz sounds. Today, different bands play at the hall each night.

Musicians also still play in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They play in concert halls around the United States. They will even be playing on April 30 as part of this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Im Ashley Thompson.

And Im Caty Weaver.

Ashley Thompson wrote this report, with material from the VOA Learning English archives and the National Park Service. Hai Do was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________
Some people think their problems will be solved if they just leave home and move far away, perhaps to another country. Yet resettling in a new country is not always easy.

Take a look at the thousands of people who left Cambodia from the 1970s to the 1990s. Many of them came to the United States to escape from the Khmer Rouge, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Up to two million Cambodians are estimated to have died during that period.

Mary Scully is a healthcare worker in the U.S. state of Connecticut. She has spent over 35 years working with Cambodians, both in refugee camps and in Connecticut. She now directs a mental health organization called Khmer Health Advocates.

Scully says 60 percent of the Cambodian refugees she worked with who became parents in the U.S. struggled with mental health problems. This prevented them from having good relationships with their children.

"If they have flashbacks, if they get anxious, then they go from being connected to being disconnected with their kids, which is very confusing for the child, she said.

Jennifer Ka grew up in the United States. Her parents left Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge. She says she could never understand why her father always seemed angry.

He was really never there and present with us because he was stuck in his trauma; he never told me what happened to him in the Khmer Rouge, Ka said.

Her parents had trouble earning money after they arrived in the U.S. There were few good job training programs for refugees.

Many refugees received financial assistance from the government. However, much of that support ended when the U.S. made changes in the governments welfare program in 1996. The changes ended much of the federal aid available for immigrants and refugees.

Mary Scully says the Cambodian refugees she met suffered from feelings of anxiety and depression. They also had headaches and bad dreams.

Other health problems, like diabetes, also came up in her research. Cambodian-Americans have two times the rate of type 2 diabetes compared with the total U.S. population.

While health care workers knew what kind of problems the refugees had, they were unable to do enough to help.

Scully says she thinks Cambodian refugees in the U.S. are suffering in silence.

Eric Tang teaches at the University of Texas. He says he thinks the U.S. government did not do a good job of helping Cambodian refugees settle and thrive in the United States.

There is a big difference between coming to the U.S. as a refugee and becoming a U.S. resident. Tang says the long-term support many people needed just was not available.

The resettlement policy doesn't pay attention to, for instance, job training," he says. "[It didn't] allow people to heal from their trauma before we push them into sweatshop jobs."

The problems continued for the children of refugees. Born to parents who struggled to establish themselves in the U.S., they also had trouble following through with their schooling and finding good jobs and housing.

Tang says Some do not go to college, and many are profiled, targeted by the criminal justice system, and subjected to deportation to Cambodia."

Jennifer Ka says she found a way to deal with some of her problems. During her childhood in the U.S., she was always worried about her father. She says she thought he did not like her.

It was not until she was an adult and made a trip to Cambodia that she started to understand why her fathers life was so difficult.

I started to deeply understand the pain my parents suffered from the genocide that I was not aware of before, she says.

Now she feels at home in Cambodia.

Im Dan Friedell.

Ten Soksreinith of VOAs Khmer Service wrote this report. Dan Friedell adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Do you know Cambodian refugees who lived in the United States? What do you know about their experiences? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

thrive  v. to grow or develop successfully : to flourish or succeed

profile  v. to give a brief description that provides information about

welfare  n. a government program for poor or unemployed people that helps pay for their food, housing, medical costs, etc.

flashback  n. a strong memory of a past event that comes suddenly into a person's mind

anxious  adj. afraid or nervous especially about what may happen : feeling anxiety

trauma  n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

sweatshop  n. a place where people work long hours for low pay in poor conditions


American businessman Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are likely to face each other in the U.S. presidential election this year.

Both candidates call New York State their home. But that might be the only thing they have in common.

Donald Trump came from a wealthy family. He is known for building hotels and casinos around the world.

The businessman says that the U.S. political system is broken and it will take a non-politician like himself to fix it. Trump has never held political office. He is known for his promise to make America great again.

Trump is the likely presidential candidate of the Republican Party. But he has had difficulty getting the support of the partys conservatives.

On Thursday, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said he is not ready to support Trump as the nominee. Ryan was the partys choice for vice president four years ago.

Hillary Clinton grew up in a middle class family near Chicago. She has a lot of experience in politics. She has been a lawyer, a professor, activist, former First Lady, former U.S. Senator and former Secretary of State. Clinton now is campaigning to become the first woman president in U.S. history.

Her last remaining opponent for the Democratic Party nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, continues his campaign against her. He has gained surprisingly strong support from young Democratic voters.

On National Security

The experiences of Clinton and Trump have shaped their ideas about Americas place in the world.

After the San Bernardino, California terror attacks of December 2015, Trump suggested banning all Muslims from entering the United States. Trump has said he supports the use of waterboarding when U.S. agents question suspected terrorists. He also supports the bulk collection of information on Americans' telephone data.

Recently, Trump questioned whether the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is obsolete. And, he has said he wanted American allies like Japan and South Korea to pay more for their share of defense costs.

Clinton said the United States should accept 65,000 refugees from Syria. But, she wants more careful screenings of travelers from countries where terrorists are active.

She supports the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba and the banning of interrogation methods like waterboarding. She also has called for strengthening existing ties with American allies in Europe and Asia to contain Russian and Chinese influence.

On Diplomacy

Both Clinton and Trump support a stronger U.S. military presence in East and Southeast Asia to answer Chinas influence. At the same time, both candidates want China to use its influence in dealing with nuclear-armed North Korea.

As for Russia, Trump said that he would probably get along with (Russian President Vladimir Putin) very well." Putin, in return, praised Trump as a bright and talented person.

The two candidates have different ideas about the nuclear arms agreement with Iran. Trump calls it a terrible deal. He says it threatens Israel, an American ally, and opposes the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

Clinton supports the Iran nuclear agreement, but says she will punish Iran for any violations.

On Immigration

Stopping illegal immigration is a central issue in Trumps campaign. The businessman wants to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. As for illegal immigrants already in the U.S., Trump wants to expel them. He also is calling for limits on the guest workers visa program and ending birthright citizenship.

Clinton says immigration is an economic and a family issue. She supports new legislation to provide a path to U.S. citizenship for more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.

On Trade Partnerships

As Obamas secretary of state, Clinton supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. She considered it an important part of the administrations pivot to Asia policy. However, as a candidate, Clinton opposes the trade deal and says it will not create jobs for Americans.

Trump says he supports free trade, but has opposed several free-trade agreements. He called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a disaster. He says the TPP helps China, Japan and big businesses, but not American workers. Trump wants to punish China for unfair trade actions. He calls China a currency manipulator and wants to tighten rules on theft of intellectual property.

On Energy and Environment

Trump says climate change is not a problem and wants to reduce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He says the Obama administration has wasted billions of dollars on green energy programs.

Trump calls for removing carbon emission limits in the U.S. He also supports expanding hydro-fracking oil drilling methods to increase oil production and reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports.

Clinton says she wants to make the U.S. the worlds clean energy superpower. She says she will honor the Paris agreement to limit global carbon gas emissions and expand U.S. investment in green energy. Clinton opposes oil drilling in the Arctic areas of Alaska and the building of the Keystone pipeline across the U.S. Midwest.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

Hai Do wrote this story based on information from VOA news and the Council of Foreign Relations. The editors were Mario Ritter and George Grow.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

screening  n. the act of examining people or things in order to decide if they are suitable for a particular purpose

pivot  n. the act of changing the direction of a policy and moving in a different direction

manipulator  n. a person who uses or controls other people in a clever and often unfair or selfish way; a manipulative person

hydro-fracking  n. a method of drawing oil from the Earth using high-pressure water


Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan pledged to work together despite their differences after a meeting Thursday.

The men said the meeting was a "very positive step toward unification."

Ryan, an important leader of the Republican Party, had said last week that he was not ready to endorse Trump. But now he seems more willing to work with Trump.

Many Republicans expressed their concerns as Trump moved closer to being the partys presidential nominee. They said his campaign does not represent traditional Republican points of view.

During the primary elections, Trump talked about deporting illegal immigrants, building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico and banning Muslims from entering the U.S.

He also traded insults with other candidates, including Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Marco Rubio during speeches and debates.

Ryan said it was one of the most divisive primaries in memory.

After the 45-minute meeting, Ryan called his time with Trump encouraging and productive.

Both Trump and Ryan said they needed to find common ground. But it would be normal for them to have different policy ideas.

Trump also met Thursday with other Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

A national poll says Republican voters are now more open to voting for Trump. Over 60 percent of Republican voters are in favor of Trump. Just two months ago, half that number supported him.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reporting from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor.

Do you think Donald Trump will be able to work with the Republican Party? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

pledge  v. to formally promise to give or do (something)

unification  n. the act of joining people or things together

encouraging  v. to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident

divisive  adj. causing a lot of disagreement between people, causing a split into different groups

deport  v. to force a person who is not a citizen to leave a country
American Douglas Lindsay left prison last November -- after 19 years and 28 days.

He had been given a life prison sentence for selling the drug crack cocaine. President Barack Obama reduced his sentence last year.

Lindsay is one of 306 people who had sentences for nonviolent crimes reduced by the president, who calls the United States a nation of second chances.

Lindsay told VOA he knows many former prisoners have a hard time finding work after their release. I was lucky, he said.

Lindsays younger brother helped him get a job at a local pasta producer near his brothers North Carolina home. He now loads big boxes of pasta for shipment to stores.

Douglas Lindsay was 28 when he was sentenced, and 47 when he left prison.

At the time of his arrest, he had completed a college study program. He was hoping to marry and have children.

I had all the dreams of a young man - marriage, children, a good job and that house with the white picket fence, he said.

Lindsay said he got his lifetime sentence when others arrested with him claimed he was their leader. That wasnt true, Lindsay said. He was a nobody in terms of drug sales, Lindsay said. But those who said he was a bigger player received short jail terms and got Lindsay the longest possible sentence  life.

No, Im not bitter, Lindsay said.

What is the biggest change since he went to prison? Technology, he said. There were no smart phones in 1997. Now everyone is spending all their time looking down at their phones, he said.

The criminal justice system, which Lindsay recently left, is now the center of a major reform effort.

The U.S. Congress is considering bills to reduce required long prison sentences for non-violent crimes  mostly for selling drugs. The required sentences were set by federal laws passed in the 1980s and 1990s.

President Obama stopped the federal government from asking people seeking government jobs if they were ever jailed for a crime. Now that question can only be asked when the government is ready to make a job offer.

Last month, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an order giving voting rights to over 200,000 ex-prisoners. That leaves only three U.S. states that block most ex-prisoners from voting.

Obama explained the current changes this way: Now, plenty of people should be behind bars, he said. "But the reason we have so many more people in prison than any other developed country is not because we have more criminals. Its because we have criminal justice policies, including unfair sentencing laws, that need to be reformed.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, over 2.2 million people are held in federal, state and local prisons. About 650,000 people are released from prison every year.

Most need jobs.

In 1988, Marshall Shackelford needed a job. He had been in prison since 1984. When he got out, he took over care of his two children  ages 4 and 7.

Shackelford found a warehouse job at Mays Chemical in Indiana. That job was just so important to me, he said. I had to take care of my children.

Over the years, Shackelford worked his way up to warehouse supervisor. And Mays Chemical continues to employ ex-prisoners. Shackelford said Mays asks people with a criminal history to find a person respected in in the community to 'speak up for them.'

This does two things, he said. It makes them develop a relationship with someone who is respected in the community and to live up to the recommendation that they got for the job. He said ex-prisoners working at Mays have done as well or better than other employees.

Michael Santos was released from prison in 2013, after serving 25 years for selling cocaine. It would be hard enough, he said, for people released from prison to find jobs  even if there was no 'discrimination.'

People returning after long sentences in prison find their friends and family back home have moved on. And they come home often without any money, and without the skills needed in todays job market, Santos said.

Santos now heads a business helping people entering and returning from prison.

Molly Gill is with a group called Families Against Mandatory Minimums. She said reducing sentences for non-violent offenders has won support from both conservatives and liberals because it saves money and it is the fair thing to do.

But she wishes a bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate would do more to reduce sentences for non-violent crimes. As she notes, those coming home after long sentences have the hardest time finding jobs.

The National Center for Victims of Crime said it is important the damage done to victims and their families not be left out of reform efforts. Victims rights must be at the core of all reforms, the group said in a statement.

Devah Pager teaches sociology at Harvard University in Massachusetts. She has looked at the problems facing people after they are released from prison.

In one study, she had people apply for jobs, all with the same experience, except some said they had been convicted of a crime. Those that listed past crimes got called back only half as much as those who did not list past crimes.

In another study, Pager looked at promotions for people who entered the U.S. military. She found people who had criminal records move quicker to better paying positions than those who did not.

In her opinion, the military did a good job making sure those with criminal records could handle military service. And Pager said it is possible people who served time work harder -- grateful someone gave them a chance and not ever wanting to return to prison.

Im Bruce Alpert.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page.

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

crack cocaine  n. a very powerful form of the drug, cocaine

pasta  n. a food made from a mixture of flour, water, and sometimes eggs that is formed into different shapes (such as thin strips, tubes, or shells) and usually boiled

probation  n. a situation or period of time in which a person who has committed a crime is allowed to stay out of prison if that person behaves well, does not commit another crime

recommendation  n. the act of saying that someone or something is good and deserves to be chosen

core  n. the central part of something

apply  v. to seek a position

grateful  adj. feeling or showing thanks
Japan is becoming more active in Southeast Asia.

The island nation has increased investment to support economic development in the area. Japan is doing this as China has increased its economic involvement with the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN.

Japan is also becoming more involved in security issues, especially ones related to the South China Sea. Territorial disputes, Japanese officials say, need to be settled by the rule of law and without the use of force.

Earlier this month, Japan announced a program to improve infrastructure in Southeast Asia over the next three years. The program will cost $6.8 billion. It will involve the Greater Mekong region, an area that includes parts of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

Japans latest program for the Mekong River area follows an assistance package in 2013 that provided 2 trillion yen to ASEAN countries.

Japan also supported an ASEAN program aimed at improving ties between members with a $100 million fund.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a political expert from Thailand. He said Chinas influence has placed Japan's programs of assistance and support under pressure. He said Japan does not plan to stop long-term investments on the mainland of Southeast Asia.

In March, China hosted the Lancang-Mekong cooperation meeting in Hainan province. Experts consider the meeting the latest effort by China to improve relations with Greater Mekong countries.

Japan and China are also competing in finance and banking in the area.

Japan has supported the Asian Development Bank for a long time. The bank has provided development funds for infrastructure in the area.

However, Japan, like the United States and Canada, did not join the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). China started the AIIB last year.

In a speech earlier this month, Japans Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida commented on security issues in the area. Japan is concerned over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Japan has increased support at sea for Vietnam and the Philippines. Both countries, along with Malaysia and Indonesia, have claims that conflict with China in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the area as its sovereign territory.

Kishida said recently peace and stability were needed for economic prosperity in the area. The foreign minister called for the establishment of a code of conduct. The aim is to settle territorial disputes over the South China Sea.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Ron Corben wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English and VOANews.com. Mario Ritter was the editor.

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yen  n. the basic unit of money of Japan

province  n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into

prosperity  n. the state of being successful
Taiwans lawmakers are debating whether to remove one of the countrys most popular tourist attractions -- a memorial to Chiang Kai-shek.

A 6-meter-tall statue of Chiang Kai-shek has been in the capital city of Taipei since 1980. More than 7 million people, including people from other countries, visited the memorial and nearby buildings in 2015.

Chiang ruled Taiwan from the mid-1940s until his death in 1975. His Nationalist Party ruled all of China until it lost the civil war to the Communists led by Mao Zedong. Chiang and his supporters then fled to Taiwan.

Re-examining Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang placed Taiwan under martial law in 1949. It ended in 1987, 12 years after he died. During campaigns to end opposition to Nationalist rule under Chiang, thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands were imprisoned.

In February, Nationalists lost control of parliament. They will lose the presidency later this month. The Nationalists loss of power to the Democratic Progressive Party means it will be easier for the DPP and its supporters in parliament to consider making changes to the Chiang monument.

Hsu Yung-ming is a legislator from a minority party. He led a legislative meeting -- called a hearing -- about the memorial recently.

I believe a lot of people think it should be redone, as this memorial honors Chiang Kai-shek andto commemorate Chiang Kai-shek I think is strange, as there are a lot of things for which he needs to take responsibility, he said.

Legislators are considering changing the memorial into an archive for all Taiwanese presidents. Other possible changes include making it a place to honor protest movements or one that shows the pain caused by Taiwans authoritarian history. Some legislators want some or all of the memorial to be destroyed. But others fear such an action would divide Taiwan.

Some defend Chiang

Some Taiwanese still consider Chiangs role in history so important that his statue should not be removed from the center in Taipei. Some people believe his fight against Mao Zedong kept the island from being ruled by the communists.

Joanna Lei leads the Chunghua 21st Century Think Tank in Taiwan. Lei says changing the memorial would be a highly political- and ideologically-driven move by the new [Democratic Progressive Party] to eradicate all records, especially the records of Chiang Kai-shek, who brought lots of people from mainland China to Taiwan. So if they are trying to gradually phase out the connection with mainland China, then (removing) the roots would be a very important political move.

Memorials and statues

There are many memorials to Chiang in parks and public schools throughout Taiwan. Many of them are statues made of bronze or stone that show him smiling and wearing military clothing. The Taipei Times newspaper estimated that in 2000 there were 43,000 Chiang statues in the country.

When the Democratic Progressive Party was in power from 2000 to 2008, it removed Chiangs name from the center in Taipei where the large statue sits. The decision was supported by many people in Taiwan.

In 2014, high school activists asked to have Chiang statues removed from their schools. And people sometimes damage Chiang statues in public places.

Im Mario Ritter.

Ralph Jennings reported this story from Taipei. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

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Words in This Story

memorial  n. something (such as a monument or ceremony) that honors a person who has died or serves as a reminder of an event in which many people died

martial law  n. control of an area by military forces rather than by the police

commemorate  v. to do something special in order to remember and honor (an important event or person from the past)

authoritarian  adj. expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws; not allowing personal freedom

eradicate  v. to remove (something) completely

phase out  v. to stop using, making or doing (something) gradually over a period of time
Myanmar has the third-highest number of landmine casualties in the world.

Only Colombia and Afghanistan have more deaths and injuries from mine explosions. That information comes from the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.

The Monitor reported that mines injured 3,745 people in Myanmar between 1999 and 2014. It said 396 of them died from their injuries. As the group noted, this is believed to be only a small fraction of the actual figure because the government does not collect information on deaths and injuries from landmines.

The Monitor found that in 2014 alone, exploding mines hurt 251 people in Myanmar, also known as Burma. Forty-five of them died from their injuries. In 2013, there were 145 casualties. The group noted that the government and rebel fighters continue to use mines.

Yeshua Moser-Puanguswan is the Monitors Myanmar researcher. Mine warfare has consistently been a characteristic of armed conflict in Myanmar. That has not changed, he said.

The group noted that Myanmar has not signed the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty. It said in 2014 Myanmar, Syria and North Korea were the only countries with confirmed new use of the weapons.

Ethnic conflicts have been a problem for years in southeastern Myanmar. Rural areas of Karenni state have some of the highest levels of active mines.

The Monitor says the states of Karenni and Karen and the Bago Region are among the most heavily mined areas in the country.

Some observers suspect the military deploys mines made in its weapons production centers. They said ethnic rebels use foreign- and locally-made mines as defensive weapons. The devices keep the rebels from being captured by government troops.

A government-proposed ceasefire led to a reduction in fighting in the southeast. In September 2015, the government and eight rebel groups agreed to a nationwide ceasefire. But in the north, fighting with the Kachin Independence Army and other groups has increased, and so has the use of landmines.

In 2013, the European Union gave $4.6 million to create the Myanmar Mine Action Center, operated by the government. Workers from aid groups then were sent to Myanmar to help with mapping and removal of mines. The workers also helped landmine victims and launched public information campaigns about the issue. In the past, the countrys military rulers had banned such activities.

But the government and the military would not let the groups disarm the mines or make maps until ceasefire talks were completed. The 2015 agreement says landmine removal should happen in accordance with the progress of the peace process. But since it was signed, the government has yet to approve the disarming of mines.

The DanChurchAid Humanitarian Mine Action operates in southeastern Myanmar.

The mine action center has failed completely -- it doesnt exist, said the groups Bjarne Ussing. A fraction of the (EU) money has been used for some training and cars, a small survey. He says the language of the ceasefire on mine removal is vaguely-worded. We will have to see what that means.

He said the lack of progress in disarming mines threatens plans by Myanmar and Thailand to let about 150,000 refugees return home in coming years.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

Paul Vrieze reported this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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casualty  n. a person who is hurt or killed during an accident or war
Many political and business leaders are arguing against Britain leaving the 28-nation European Union.

Thirteen former United States officials have urged Britons to reject calls to leave the EU. In a letter, they wrote that such a move would weaken Europe and harm Britains position in the world. The former officials once served as secretaries of state or defense, or as national security advisers.

Another letter, from five former heads of NATO, warned that Britain would lose influence if it left the EU.

British voters are to decide in a special election June 23 on whether to leave the EU. Opinion studies suggest that Britons are evenly split in opposing and supporting calls for Britains exit, or what is being called Brexit.

British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke about national security Monday. He linked the Brexit question to security and economic well-being.

He said, Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption.

The prime minister said isolationism had never served Britain in the past. Cameron also said the economy would suffer if his country chooses to turn its back on the EU. He said, The evidence is clearwell be better off in, and poorer if we leave.

Former London Mayor Boris Johnson is a Conservative member of parliament and supports Britain leaving the EU. Johnson said the alliance had changed, not Britain, according to the Reuters news service. He denied Camerons claim that leaving the EU would make the island nation less safe.

Political and business leaders speak out against a Brexit

If Britain exits the EU, many business leaders worry that London would lose its position as a major world financial center.

Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama said Britain would gain little by leaving the EU. Obama used an example of negotiating trade deals. He said that if Britain were outside the EU, it would not be able to negotiate a trade deal with U.S. officials more easily.

"The UK (United Kingdom) would not be able negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU," Obama said.

Nearly 80 percent of Britains economy is related to service industries such as finance and insurance. Lloyds of London is a provider of insurance services around the world. The companys chairman, John Nelson, said staying in the EU is good for his business.

Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that his country may not be able to invest as it has in Britain if it leaves the EU. He said, A vote to leave would make the UK less attractive as a destination for Japanese investment.

Abe said about 1,000 Japanese companies are doing business in Britain, and they employ 140,000 people. He added that many companies do business in Britain because it is a gateway to the EU.

Im Mario Ritter.

Joshua Fatzick reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. His story includes additional material from Henry Ridgwell and Amanda Scott. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think in the comment section below, and post on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

assure  v. to make something sure or certain

assumption  n. something that is believed to be true or probably true, but not known to be true

isolationism  n. the belief that a country should not be involved in agreements with other countries

exit  n. something that is used as a way out of a place

insurance  n. an agreement in which someone makes payments to a company and the business promises to pay money if the person dies or is injured

destination  n. a place to which someone is going

gateway  n. an opening in a wall or fence

NATO  n. short for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization


President Barack Obama will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, Japan.

The White House announced Tuesday the president will visit the city where an American warplane dropped an atomic bomb near the end of World War II. The visit is scheduled for May 27.

The president will not apologize for worlds first nuclear bombing, but will speak about the importance of limiting nuclear weapons, the White House said.

Obama wants to highlight the devastating effects of war, said Benjamin Rhodes, Obamas deputy national security adviser. Rhodes made his comment in a blog posted on Medium.com.

The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 killed about 140,000 people. The U.S. dropped a second nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki three days later, killing as many as 80,000 people.

U.S. President Harry Truman said he ordered the bombings to bring a quicker end to World War II. Japan announced its surrender to the United States and its allies on August 15, 1945.

Obamas visit to Hiroshima will come toward the end of his seven-day trip to Japan. He is attending meetings of the G7, the leaders of the worlds leading economies.

Secretary of State John Kerry visited Hiroshima last month.

"War must be the last resort, never the first choice," Kerry wrote in a memorial book at the Hiroshima World War II memorial.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to join Obama for his visit to Hiroshima. Rhodes said Obama and the prime minister will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which remembers victims of the atomic bombing.

Keiko Ogura was eight years old when Hiroshima was hit with a nuclear bomb. She survived and is now 79.

Before I die, I want to see the president, the sitting presidents face, she told VOA. That is not asking for an apology. No, just as a human being. You are here and we are standing on the same land, the same level land and then pray for the dead.

Former President Jimmy Carter visited Hiroshima, but after he left office.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui praised Obama's plan to visit as an important decision, based on conscience. The mayor said he hopes the president will get to hear survivors stories.

Rhodes, the Obama adviser, wrote that the U.S. and its allies were fighting for a just cause in World War II against Japan and Germany.

The United States will be eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II for their sacrifice at a time of maximum peril to our country and our world, Rhodes wrote.

I'm Bruce Alpert.

Ken Bredemeier and Brian Padden reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or share your views on our Facebook Page

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Words in This Story

devastating  adj. causing great damage or harm

conscience  n. the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong

eternally  adv. lasting forever

maximum  adj. the highest amount possible

peril  n. danger
Some Americans say the United States should consider providing nuclear arms to Japan and South Korea, Americas closest military allies in Asia.

Such Americans could become more influential in U.S. politics if Donald Trump is elected president.

Trump has won the largest number of delegates in his attempt to become the Republican Partys presidential candidate.

During the campaign, he has suggested that Japan and South Korea should have the right to arm themselves with nuclear weapons. He has also said the U.S. should consider removing troops from countries that do not agree to pay more for the U.S. military bases on their territory.

This has led some people to question Americas desire to guarantee security in East Asia. It has also strengthened the position of those who say Americas Asian allies should have their own nuclear weapons to protect themselves.

The United States currently has about 28,500 troops in South Korea and 54,000 in Japan. The Japanese government reportedly pays about $1.6 billion to the United States every year for the military bases in Japan. South Korea pays over $866 million for the U.S. bases on its territory.

Some observers say the United States would be in violation of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty if it gave nuclear weapons to its allies. The treaty is designed to limit the spread of nuclear weapons.

Moon Keun-Sik works at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. He says, If the U.S. allies defend themselves as Trump has said, the alliance will be broken, and it will lead to a nuclear domino (effect) in Asia.

In the 1960s and 1970s, conservatives in Japan and South Korea sought to develop nuclear weapons in the two countries. They were worried about their security because China had developed nuclear weapons. Their worries have increased because of North Koreas nuclear activities. But the United States has been able to persuade its allies in Asia to stay under the protection of the American nuclear umbrella.

However, Trumps threat to remove U.S. troops from Asia could increase the power of minority voices in Japans Parliament and South Koreas National Assembly. Those lawmakers say their countries should not depend on the United States for protection.

In January, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test. Reaction came quickly from Won Yoo-chul, the South Korean National Assembly floor leader for the ruling party. He said, in the face of the Norths fearsome, destructive nuclear weaponry, the time has come for us to have a peaceful nuclear program for self-defense.

Hiroshi Nunokawais teaches at Hiroshima University in Japan. He said, If Trumps statements become a reality, there will be politicians that will agree and a lot will be enthusiastic, I believe.

Takashi Hiraoka is a peace activist and a former mayor of Hiroshima -- the first city to be attacked by a nuclear weapon.

He said that if Trump becomes president, he has to take responsibility for the fate of humankind. He cannot avoid the dangers associated with nuclear weapons.

Arming South Korea and Japan with nuclear weapons would likely increase tensions in East Asia. It would also end any support from China and Russia for international action as a way to pressure North Korea to end its nuclear program.

While Trump is just a candidate and not yet president, his words are having an effect in Asia. Some people believe what he says could weaken the trust people have in Americas commitment to the area, even if Trump does not intend for that to be the result of his statements.

Daniel Pinkston teaches international relations at Troy University in Seoul. He says these types of statements and behavior are already doing damage. It is already undermining confidence of the U.S. in East Asia, and in Japan and South Korea in particular.

Im Jonathan Evans.

VOAs Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Producer Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to the report. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

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domino effect  n. a situation in which one event causes a series of (sometimes similar) events to happen one after another

umbrella  n. (used figuratively) protection

conduct  n. to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

commitment  n. the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something; a promise to do or give something

undermine  v. to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective, often in a secret or gradual way


A French company has designed a camera that recognizes faces and tells people if a stranger has entered their home.

Many homes now have security cameras that tell owners if someone has entered. But the cameras do not know if the person is a family member, friend, delivery person or a criminal.

But a new camera made by a company named Netatmo has facial recognition software that can tell parents at work that their children have returned from school, or that a package has been delivered to their home. It can also tell them if a stranger has entered their home.

Janina Mattausch is a product marketing manager for Netatmo.

Current security cameras are not that smart. So, they can tell you if something is moving but they dont necessarily know if its a human being or, ah, if its your kids -- they dont know the difference, so they will alert you all the time.

When family members enter a home, the smart camera recognizes them and sends information to the owners smartphone. The owner can choose to see the video then or later. But if an unknown person enters a home, the camera will send the owner an alert that will cause an alarm to sound on the owners smartphone.

That is what happened recently to a smart home camera owner named Damien. He lives in Paris.

On a Friday I was at work, attending a big monthly meeting when my phone vibrated. At first I told myself Oh, it must be a wrong alert, maybe I have to do some adjustments -- but the notification on my phone was telling me that there was a movement in my flat and also a face that the app did not recognize.

He watched the video and was very surprised by what he saw.

I saw a person I did not know with his shoes on, which is totally forbidden in my apartment. I was watching it live on video. So I felt totally frozen, stupefied. I asked a colleague to take me back home as fast as possible and I called the police on the way.

Damien showed the video of the intruder to the police. The criminal was found later that day. He was sentenced to nine months in jail.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

VOA Correspondent Zlatica Hoke reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

alert  v. to give (someone) important information about a possible problem, danger, etc.; to warn (someone)

facial recognition  n. the ability to recognize different faces

vibrate  v. to move a device back and forth or from side to side with very short, quick movements

adjustment  n. a small change that improves something or makes it work better

flat  n. (Chiefly British, European) an apartment typically on one floor

app  n. abbreviation for application, a computer program that performs a particular task (such as word processing)

forbidden  adj. not permitted or allowed

frozen  adj. to become unable to do or say anything

stupefy  v. to shock or surprise (someone) very much; to cause (someone) to become confused or unable to think clearly

intruder  n. a person who enters a place illegally
An American drone maker is teaming up with United Parcel Service to transport blood and medical supplies in Rwanda.

The California-based company, Zipline International, manufactures drone aircraft. The company says its drones will fly to remote Rwandan medical centers 20 times faster than any truck or motorcycle.

United Parcel Service is providing a grant of $800,000 - plus logistical support  for the project through a donation from the UPS Foundation.

Another partner is GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, an international organization set up to provide vaccines to the worlds poorest countries.

Zipline recently announced plans to launch its drone delivery service in July. The company plans to fly the blood and medical supplies to 20 hospitals and health centers across Rwanda, a country of more than 11 million people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Africa has the worlds highest rate of pregnancy deaths resulting from excessive bleeding. This makes the availability of blood and transfusions very important for women across the continent.

The Rwandan government signed a deal to cooperate with Zipline. The government is promising to pay part of the delivery costs.

The Zipline drone is different from other pilotless aircraft because it does not operate with four propellers on top. The drone is similar to a small robotic airplane with a fixed-wing design, similar to commercial airliners.

The drones, weighing about 10 kilograms, are launched into the sky with compressed air. They can travel at speeds of 100 kilometers an hour. Their movement can be followed with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment.

Each plane can carry up to 1.5 kilograms of materials, usually kept inside a box. The supplies are then dropped from the bottom of the drone and float down to the ground in a parachute.

Each aircraft can travel up to 120 kilometers on a single flight.

The head of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Seth Berkley, said the method is a totally new way of delivering vaccines to children in remote areas.

If successful in Rwanda, Zipline and its partners plan to expand the drone deliveries to other countries.

Operating the drones in Rwanda will result in tens of thousands of flight hours. This kind of testing is currently not possible in the United States because of restrictions on drone flights.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Julie Taboh and Faith Lapidus reported this story for VOA. Bryan Lynn adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and post on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

delivery  n. the act of taking something to a person or place

grant  n. an amount of money given by an organization or government

logistical  adj. relating to or involving organization and planning

excessive  adj. more than necessary or normal

transfusion  n. the act of transferring donated blood or other fluid into a person

propeller  n. a mechanical device for powering a plane or boat

compressed  adj. to flatten by pressure into a small space

parachute  n. a piece of equipment usually made of cloth attached to people or things to allow them to fall safely to the ground
Businessman Donald Trump has become the de facto Republican Party presidential nominee after all other opponents withdrew from the competition.

Ohio Governor John Kasich was the last candidate to suspend his campaign.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz did the same Tuesday night following Trumps huge win in the nominating election in the state of Indiana. Cruz told supporters that his "path toward victory has been foreclosed," and that voters have chosen another path.

Donald Trump has never held public office. When he announced his plan to run for president on June 16, 2015, few Americans considered him a serious candidate.

He was the 12th person to enter the Republican contest. In all there were 17 candidates seeking that partys presidential nomination. Trump was the best-known among Americans.

He was the host of a TV reality show called, The Apprentice, for many years. The show had 28 million viewers its first season. Trump has more than 7 million followers on the social media site Twitter.

Trump spoke about unemployment in the United States. He said China, Japan and Mexico had taken U.S. jobs. He criticized Mexico and other Latin American countries which he said were sending illegal immigrants to the United States.

Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists, he said. Trump promised to build a great wall to keep them out and that he will have Mexico to pay for that wall.

For the next 10 months, Trump spread his message and attacked opponents on television, radio and social media. He made many incendiary comments about issues and other politicians.

Trump criticized Senator John McCain for being taken as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Many Americans consider the 2008 Republican candidate for president a hero. But, Trump disagreed. Hes not a war hero.  I like people who werent captured, he said.

Trump made other sharp criticisms against his opponents. He accused Senator Ted Cruz of lying. He called Senator Rubio of Florida, little Marco.

Both Republicans and Democrats condemned Trump when he called for banning all Muslims from the United States.

The comments do not seem to affect Republican voters. A Gallup poll in February reported that Republicans support Trump because he is outspoken, strong and not a career politician.

One by one, Trumps opponents left the race after losses in the primaries and caucuses. Trumps opponents sharply attacked him. Some called for changes to how delegates are awarded.

Republican chair calls for unity behind Trump

Reince Priebus is the head of the Republican Party. After Trumps Indiana victory, he tweeted that Trump will be the presumptive nominee. He called for party unity to defeat Hillary Clinton.

Matt Dallek is a professor at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management. He wonders if Republicans will follow Priebuss call for unity.

He says, "The chairman of the RNC coming out and saying hes the presumptive nominee [is] not insignificant, but that doesn't necessarily persuade Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz and John Kasich and the Lindsey Grahams of the world to endorse him or to certainly appear on the convention stage."

Dallek added, "Its hard to imagine Ted Cruz endorsing him after all of the things that he said about Trump."

Cruz had called Trump a pathological liar and accused him of repeatedly cheating in his marriages.

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is among leading Republicans who support Trump. New Jersey Governor and former candidate Chris Christie is another.

Christie campaigned for the businessman after he dropped out of the race himself.

U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham was also a candidate for the Republican nomination. He wrote, If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.



Jay Caruso writes for the conservative blog Red State. He wrote that asking for unity behind Trump is to ask people to betray their most closely held beliefs and values. Caruso added Trump is the opposite of all things Republican and conservative.

Some Republicans went even further to announce support for the likely Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

Mark Salter was a long-time advisor to Republican Senator John McCain. Salter tweeted that the GOP is going to nominate for President a guy who reads the National Enquirer and thinks its on the level. Im with her.



Paul Helmke is a professor at Indiana University Bloomington's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He said Trumps victory has shocked the entire political establishment."

He told VOA, "I think whats happened is that a lot of folks think that government isn't working for them, government isn't effective anymore, they're angry, they want somebody who promises that they can make a difference, and Trumps somebody who says I can make the deal, I can make this happen, and I think thats what hes tapping into."

Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English with additional reporting from Chris Hannas. Caty Weaver was the editor.

What does this story mean to you? Please leave us a comment, and post on our Facebook page, thank you!

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

de facto  adj. used to describe something that exists but that is not officially accepted or recognized

incendiary  adj. causing anger

insignificant adj. small not important

endorse v. to publicly support

pathological  adj. extreme in a way that is not normal or that shows an illness or mental problem


Three bombings across the Iraqi capital Wednesday killed at least 93 people, according to the Associated Press.

At least 165 others were reported wounded.

The deadliest explosion took place just after sunrise, when many Iraqis were on their way to work.

A car bomb exploded near a market in a Shi'ite city area of Baghdad. The explosion killed at least 63 people and wounded more than 80 others.

Several cars and nearby buildings were badly damaged, officials said.

The self-declared Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. The Sunni Muslim group has carried out similar attacks, often in Shi'ite areas of the city.

Islamic State said a suicide bomber carried out the attack. Iraqi officials denied that a suicide bomber was involved.

Later on Wednesday, a bombing targeted a police station in the mostly Shiite area of Kadhimiya, northwest of central Baghdad. That bombing killed at least 18 people, including five policemen. Over 30 other people were wounded.

In northern Baghdad, a suicide attacker set off a car bomb in the Sunni district of Jamiya. That bombing killed at least 12 people and wounded over 40 others.

Im Mehrnoush Karimian.

This report first appeared on VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

kilometers  n. a unit of length equal to 1,000 meters


The Brazilian Senate voted on Thursday to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws by 55 votes to 22.

Brazil's first woman president will be suspended for up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer will become acting president during her trial.

Rousseff has been charged with manipulating budget accounts before her re-election in 2014. The manipulation made the countrys economy appear stronger than it was. Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing.

Brazils lower chamber of Congress voted on April 17 to begin the impeachment process against Rousseff. Earlier this week, Waldir Maranhao, the acting speaker of the lower chamber of Congress, called for a new vote in the impeachment process against Rousseff. He said there were problems in the way the lower chamber voted. Maranhao himself voted against the impeachment process.

However, he and Senate leader Renan Calheiros said the debate and vote would go ahead Wednesday as scheduled.

The Supreme Court also rejected last-minute efforts by Rousseff and her supporters to delay the Senate vote.

The impeachment process comes as Brazil is dealing with a recession, a corruption investigation of top politicians and businessmen, and an outbreak of the Zika virus. The country is set to host the Olympics in August.
Even Steven Spielberg would have to admit, Nope is one of the best close encounters weve had with aliens. Peeles suggestions make sense. Best of all, they entertain thoroughly.
LEXINGTON, Neb. - On the last day of school for seniors, the last seven Scholastic Achievement Awards were given out.

The Scholastic Awards are presented quarterly by the business and education committee of the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lexington High School Guidance Counselor Michele McKeone presented the awards. She is a member of the business and education committee. McKeone filled the role usually performed by Tim Davis, who was not available to attend. Davis is a retired guidance counselor and member of the committee.

Awards are given to one high academic achiever in grades six through 12, with students usually recommended by guidance counselors.

Student winners were: Cordelia Harbison (sixth grade), Guadalupe Guevara (seventh grade), Jessica Virgilio (eighth grade), Darlyn Gonzalez (ninth grade), Tomas Margritz (10th grade), Ashtyn Decker (11th grade) and Jose Ortega (12th grade).

Students who receive a Scholastic Achievement Award typically have a very high grade point average that is close to or at 4.0 and are actively involved in school activities.

The awards are presented during a noon lunch meeting of the Lexington Rotary Club at the LexingtonGrandGenerationCenter.
LINCOLN  Portrait artist Richard Budig anticipates a special moment when he feels a relationship to the person in the image he is painting.

Some artists talk about turning on the lights, Budig said recently in his studio at The Burkholder Project gallery in Lincolns Haymarket District. When you put that little white highlight in the eyes, its like turning on the light.

He has seen that happen in the 125 portraits hes painted for families of fallen military heroes with Nebraska ties  heroes such as U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Dusty Lukasiewicz, who grew up in the Wilcox area.

It was a year ago today when Lukasiewicz, a 2003 Wilcox-Hildreth High School graduate, died while piloting a helicopter on a humanitarian mission in Nepal.

He and his crew had delivered food to a village the morning of May 12, 2015, and were eating lunch when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Nepal again. The U.S. aid mission had been initiated after an April 25 quake that measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.

The helicopter crew brought three injured civilians from the village to Kathmandu for medical care.

It was during the return flight from the next mission to a different village that the helicopter crashed in bad weather. Lukasiewicz, five other Marines, two Nepalese soldiers and five civilians they were transporting for medical care died.

Lukasiewiczs mother, Cheryl Schepker of Axtell, received Budigs painting of her son about two weeks ago. She hasnt had time to get it framed and still is deciding where in her home to hang it.

Its a lovely picture. ... Its a wonderful thing he did for us, Schepker said.

Finding time for art

Budig didnt have time to focus on painting until later in life, although his first art-related assignment came during his service in the U.S. Air Force from 1957-1961 with a bomber inspection unit based at Orlando, Fla.

His commanding officer asked for a volunteer artist to do mechanical drawings of his ideas for better inspection tools. Budig said he did the drawings and a sergeant built the prototypes.

I remember as a kid during World War II sketching airplanes out of newspapers, he said, noting that he was born in Omaha and adopted into a McCook family.

Another war-related childhood memory is the reason he began painting fallen hero portraits. I remember relatives sitting and sobbing because they got the news that their boy wasnt coming home anymore ... so I thought this is something I can do, Budig said.

His eclectic list of past occupations includes reporter for the McCook Gazette, Lincoln Journal-Star, Outdoor Nebraska and Nebraskaland magazine; ad manager for Crete-based Feed Service Corp.; working for two Lincoln ad agencies before opening his own agency; and owning pawn shops in Lincoln and Omaha for a total of 25 years.

It was so much fun, I couldnt quit, he said about pawn shop ownership.

It was during his 10 years in Omaha that he finally found time to get serious about painting.

Getting it right

Although most of his oil paintings are on canvas, the Lukasiewicz portrait is on a composite panel measuring 14 inches by 18 inches.

I just try real hard to get a likeness, Budig said, about his painting style. I just try to paint so you can say, Yeah, I know that guy.

He admits to sweating bullets until he knows the family likes a portrait.

The photo Schepker sent to Budig for her sons portrait was a snapshot taken on the day Dusty got his wings as a Marine helicopter pilot. He was very proud. It shows in his face, Schepker said about how the portrait brings back fond memories of a special day for Dusty and his family.

She said last week that facing her first Mothers Day without him was extremely difficult.

In a Hub interview in November, Schepker described her May 10, 2015, Mothers Day. First, Dusty had sent her favorite candy, Sees chocolates.

She was surprised to be able to speak to him on Mothers Day using her iPad and the FaceTime app. Before he left for his overseas base in Okinawa, Japan, Dusty had told her he might be unable to keep in touch while working in Nepal.

Schepker said she could tell during their conversation that he was thrilled about being a part of the humanitarian mission to aid earthquake victims.

Dusty also told her about a video recorded May 9, 2015, and posted on a military website that featured him and his crew to represent the Marines contribution to the Nepal mission.

Artists rewards

When asked what he gets out of painting the portraits, Budig shared two handwritten thank-you notes decorated with stick figure families that were sent to him by children from fallen hero families. If you had all the money in the world, you couldnt buy little notes like that, he said.

On average, a portrait takes 30-40 hours to complete. Some might be done in a day or day and half, and some can take three or four weeks, Budig said.

Adding highlights to the eyes is one of the final details.

Youre looking at the face, and it doesnt have life in it until you get that light in the eyes, Budig said. Sometimes its almost emotional. As you work away on this person for several days, you have to think about them. ... All of a sudden, this kid is starting to look back at you.

And 99 percent of them are kids. Theyre just kids.
In a coup to rival all coups, the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, which kicks off in the city on 25 May, will be inaugurated by none other than Sir Ian McKellen.

"On my first visit to Mumbai, I am very pleased to attend the opening night of the Kashish 2016 Festival," said McKellen in a statement released to the press. "For too many years, gay characters appeared in films only as comic relief, as often as not meeting a sticky end, as if thats all they deserved. Increasingly, in India too, the film industry has matured, treating gay people with the same seriousness as straight characters. I look forward at Kashish to discovering more about Bollywoods film-makers who reject fantasy for the truth about gay people."

Festival director Sridhar Rangayan said that it seemed apt that the festival gets to welcome an internationally acclaimed actor who is also a strong voice for equal rights. "Sir Ian McKellen is an institution by himself, he is a big inspiration for the LGBTQ community throughout the world  through his films, through his theatre work and through his very own life. We are absolutely honoured that he will inaugurate our seventh edition on 25 May at the iconic Liberty Cinema. He is not only one of the most respected actors, but he has been a exemplary champion of LGBT rights for several decades. We are grateful to British Council and BFI for enabling this," said Rangayan.

McKellen  popular as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise and as Magneto in the X-Men films  is visiting India as part of 'Shakespeare Lives on Film', on the occasion of the Bard's 400th death anniversary. The visit is organised by British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign.

The Kashish Film Festival is considered the largest event of its kind in South Asia. The theme this year is "seven shades of love". It will be held from 25-29 May at three venues in Mumbai (Liberty cinema, Alliance de Francaise and Max Mueller Bhavan). Over 182 films from 53 countries will be screened at the festival.

McKellen will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the festival.
The beef ban has got the goat of Adi Godrej, Chairman of the $4.1-billion Godrej Group. He also remarked on the liquor prohibition in Bihar and Kerala done with an eye on the elections in these states and also in a bid to get womens votes.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Godrej cautioned that these two critical issues  beef ban and prohibition  will take away the sheen from the Narendra Modi governments development agenda and also impact the economy.

Some of the things are affecting growth, for example, the ban on beef in some states. (This) is clearly affecting agriculture, affecting rural growth. Because what do you do with all these extra cows? It is also affecting business, because this was a good source of income for many farmers. So thats a negative, he said.

Godrej also raked the Hindu Vedic culture, a favorite topic of the Hindutva brigade by pointing out that in the Vedic times too that Indians were beef eaters. He said when people were faced with drought then they resorted to slaughter of animals, adding the ban is affecting agriculture as cows were a good source of income for farmers.

As many as 24 states in India have issues penalties and restrictions of varying degrees on slaughter of cows and other bovine cattle.

The ban - sometimes being implemented violently by mobs - has left millions of farmers, already reeling from bad harvests due to back-to-back droughts and unseasonal rains, in quandary as they struggle to sell animals they can no longer feed or provide water for, a Reuters report said earlier.

The prices of cattle have fallen across the country and meat exports fell 13 percent in the April-December period, it said.

"I wonder what the government wants - our survival or the cattle's?" Revaji Choudhary, a farmer in rural Maharashtra, was quoted as saying in the report.

Traditionally, farmers have sold cattle in a drought year to butchers, mostly Muslims, and bought new ones when their earnings rise after monsoon showers.

That cycle has been broken and could leave farmers with little money to buy seeds or fertiliser ahead of the next sowing season, starting in June. Farmer suicides have nearly doubled in the drought-hit Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

It is to be noted that the Modi governments ban culture has come in for sharp criticism from others in India Inc in the past. When the Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government had come out with a diktat of compulsory screening of Marathi movies in the prime slot in cinema screens and beef ban, many leading names of corporate India took to Twitter to voice their opinion.

Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) tweeted on April 8, 2015: Beef, Marathi movies- what next? Compulsory vada pao for lunch Compulsory to speak in Marathi Everyday temple visit a must LETS GROW UP!

Banker Udayan Bose (@boseudayan) also said on the same day: When we voted, @Dev_Fadnavis said he'd bring down corruption & provide governance. How is my going veg, governance?

The democratic fibre of the constitution is being tampered with when an elected government decides to bring in bans and tell people what they should eat and what they should not.

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, had said in the past that the government had no business to tell people what they should do.

"If India is to shine now and in future, people must have the freedom to decide. While governments can be in the business of monitoring, they should have no role in telling people what to do," Tata said while interacting with students of SRM University at nearby Kattankulathur in January this year.

With Godrej too speaking up now, it is high time the government remembered its poll promise of providing business-friendly environment and kept the Hindutva brigade at bay.
After two successive washed-out Parliament sessions (Monsoon and Winter), the passage of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 in the budget session becomes the saving grace for the Narendra Modi-government to avert a wash-out hat trick, even as the big-ticket item, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), continues to be the victim of bad politics. Seen in the context of economic reforms, Modi can showcase the Bankruptcy code as a critical victory his government managed to seal in the Budget session, which too, at one point, faced the threat of a total wash out entangled in accusations and counter accusations in range of issues including the Agusta Chopper scam.

Bankruptcy Code is crucial as it enables Indian banks to address the future cases of loan recovery for corporations. It is even more critical in the current context, when the entire country is taken for a ride by one Vijay Mallya (who owes Rs 9,000 crore (about half of the amount government infuses in 27 public sector banks every year). Mallya-episode epitomizes the pitiable state of Indias banking sector when it comes to recovery of money lent to large corporations.

The critical difference bankruptcy code brings into the loan recovery process is this: No matter what happens within 270 days (180 days with a grace period of 90 days if majority lenders agree) the troubled promoter will have to either pay back dues resolving the problem or dissolving the operations. Thus, it brings certainty in the banking sector, investors, clients and employees as to what happens if a company collapses all of a sudden. This is the big change that the law will bring.

To put it in other way, had an efficient bankruptcy law put in place, the creditors would have finished the Kingfisher episode back in 2012 when the loan became a non-performing asset (NPA) and the airline was shut down on account of a severe financial crisis. Winsome Diamonds wouldnt have been a persisting pain on banks books, so are about Rs 70,000 crore worth of wilful defaulter loans on the books of Indian banks.

Still, the question is can the bankruptcy code work in a country, where there is a complex, understaffed judicial system that takes years to resolve a case? Thats the question experts raise. We already have facilities like SARFAESI Act and Debt Recovery Tribunals. But, none of these have really helped to expedite recovery. Even with the new bankruptcy law coming in, the question is how effectively the country can implement it, told Pratip Chaudhuri, former chairman of State Bank of India to Firstpost. How will it address the issue of multiple types of creditors to the company which is being liquidated, asked Chaudhuri.

Nevertheless, for now, the passage of the Law scores a brownie point for the Modi-government facing criticism on slow-progress of the reforms process. Banking sector issues have figured mainly in Modis big economic reforms agenda since very beginning. Post the arrival new set of banks (small finance banks, payments banks) and emergence of on-tap licencing process, the clearance of bankruptcy code has certainly taken the banking structure reforms process aheadsomething Modi can highlight in its two-year report card. The government completes two-years on 26 May.

Still, no hope on GST

But, on the political score card, the GST remains as a negative mark for Modi-government as the session concludes (Lok Sabha finished its business on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha is likely to follow suit today). The Modi-government has failed so far to build a consensus on the GST law, touted as the biggest economic reforms of the decade, leaving the biggest tax reform a pipedream for the economy.

In the beginning of the session, there were hopes that the Congress-party led opposition would soften its stance on GST Billsomething which is a brainchild of earlier UPA-government. But, the political climate turned when the Agusta episode dominated and put the opposition on war path. The result was GST turning casualty yet again.

There arent any unresolvable reasons that could block the GST Bill except lack of political consensus. There are three major points of contention between Congress and BJP on GST issue. 1) Inclusion of the GST rate (agreed around 18 percent) in the constitution 2) Doing away with the inter-state levy 3) Constituting an independent dispute resolution mechanism.

Of the three, the only major point of difference is capping GST in the Bill, but not something that has the potential to perennially block the passage of the crucial piece of reform. For instance, a solution such as empowering a joint committee involving the centre and state governments (including Congress-ruled states) to set the GST rate, isnt difficult to agree upon. The other two demands are actually non-issues.

GST is the biggest tax reform Indian has ever seen to make the process transparent and broad base the tax net. This is critical for Indias ambitions as a global manufacturing hub and would add to the GDP growth. For Modi himself, prolonged delay in the passage of GST is no good news since it raises questions on the NDA-governments ability to push economic reforms process. IMF has already warned on the need for Modi-government to quickly progress on the reforms path.

After bankruptcy code, building political consensus for GST would be the next big political test for Modi. It is too big a reform that the Modi government cannot afford to give up. Chances will be more for the passage of GST when BJP and allies improve their position in Rajya Sabha in 2016-17, but it will still require opposition support. The NDA-government has already missed the April 1 deadline on GST. Modi has to give his best to break the political deadlock on GST.
New Delhi: India's redrawn tax treaty with Mauritius to impose capital gains tax on investments from the island nation will not apply to existing holdings of P-Notes, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said on Wednesday, describing the pact as biggest step against black money and tax evasion.

In an interview to PTI, he said that while the new treaty will trigger a similar amendment in India's tax pact with Singapore, New Delhi has the option to scrap agreement with Cyprus if it does not agree to similar changes.

Mauritius and Singapore contributed USD 17 billion out of total FDI of USD 29.4 billion in April-December 2015.

Stating that Cyprus was not a very important country with regard to investment inflow, Adhia said India was talking to it to rewrite the taxation treaty. "If they are not willing to change their stand, then we have an option of cancelling the treaty also. We are in discussion."

He said the revised treaty with Mauritius will have no bearing on existing investments via Participatory Notes or P-Notes.

From April 1, 2017, companies routing funds into India through Mauritius will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at half the rate prevailing during the 24 month transition period. Full rate, currently at 15 per cent, will kick in from April 1, 2019.

"P-Notes is a separate decision. It is not linked to the treaty," Adhia said, adding that the provisions of the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR), which take effect from April next year, will override the tax treaty provisions in case the agreement is abused.

"GAAR being anti-abuse provision can prevail over treaty if it is proved that it is an abuse of treaty," he said. "It applies in case of any situation where there is an abuse of treaty for gaining tax benefit unduly."

P-Notes are derivatives that mimics an underlying Indian security and are sold by brokerages to foreign investors. They allow investors to avoid Indian taxes on direct investments.

On the amendment to the DTAA signed with Mauritius, Adhia said, "It is a biggest step in the direction of removing double non-taxation, removing tax avoidance and also discouraging round tripping of funds which were taking place through tax haven countries."

It also is the biggest move "in drive to remove black money and to not have any unaccounted non tax paid money," he said.

He saw "no impact on foreign (investment) inflow" because of the amendment signed yesterday.

Commenting on taxation on P-Notes, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said: "The SIT had given some recommendations, which are under internal deliberation. So as of now on the P-Notes matter there is status quo, there is no change."

India and Mauritius had been negotiating aspects of three-decade old tax treaty since 2006 as New Delhi felt a chunk of the funds were not real foreign investment but Indians routing cash through the island to avoid domestic taxes, a practice known as "round tripping".
Online lending platform Capital Float has raised $25 million (Rs. 170 crore) in Series B funds. This is the companys third round of funding, bringing the total equity capital raised thus far to $42 million.

This round of growth capital will help the company to expand its lending footprint to over 20,000 SMEs in 100+ cities, and to introduce new, transformational financial products online, according to a company press release. It will also enable the company to widen capital sources on the platform.

In addition to lending from its own balance sheet, Capital Float operates a lending marketplace with multiple large banks and NBFCs actively participating.

Today, a customer can apply from anywhere through the web or smartphone, and have their creditworthiness analyzed within minutes using sophisticated algorithms that draw on financial and alternative data. In many cases, we are able to approve and disburse a loan in less than an hour. This unique blend of tech and data is enabling us to scale rapidly while minimizing defaults and significantly lowering the cost of delivery for micro loans, saidGaurav Hinduja and Sashank Rishyasringa, Co-Founders.

Patrick Fisher, Managing Partner & Founder, Creation Investments, said, SME lending represents a very large, underserved, and growing market opportunity in India.

Founded in 2013, Capital Float is a digital finance company that provides loans to underserved small businesses in India via a technology-led loan origination and credit underwriting platform.
Heres the billion dollar question. Why do super rich Indians not pay back the money they owe to banks and investors even risking ill-repute, and chances of imprisonment?

The two recent examples are that of Sahara's Subrata Roy who has been in jail for not paying back around Rs 36,000 crore (with interest accrued) to thousands of small investors and Vijay Mallya, promoter of grounded Kingfisher airline, who owes Rs 9,000 crore to 17 banks.

In the case of Roy, even the Supreme Court is surprised seeing the kind of wealth he has why a person as wealthy as him didn't pay a fraction of wealth and opted to stay in jail for two years. "Why person with this kind of fortune shall be hesitant to make payment," the court asked.

Similarly, in Mallyas case, he is a man who once showed Indians how a King lives in modern times. This is a country, in his own words, which made him Vijay Mallya and where he is credited for introducing luxury flying experience to passengers.

The tag of an absconder or a fraud is the last adjective a King would want to attach to his name.

Following his default to banks and the tag of wilful defaulter given to him by two banks, Mallya had to step down as the chairman of United Spirits Ltd (USL). The billionaire, once called by some as Indias Richard Branson, is now even risking getting a jail term if the ED and the CBI prove their case and arrest Mallya through Interpol.

But, surprisingly, Mallya has chosen not to pay back the amount banks have sought from him (Rs 9,000 crore) to fight his case even at this stage. He remains defiant.

Other cases of non payment

Roy's case is a mystery. But, in Mallya's case, the whole case has grown to a level of ego battle between Mallya vs the lenders and a political issue for the government. This explains why Mallya is defiant to pay back even though he has enormous personal wealth in India and abroad. Mallya, who has given personal guarantee to banks against the loan, wants to dictate the loan settlement in his own terms, but the banks are too afraid to give in to his demands in the context of the public attention in this case.

Clearly, the Kingfisher-Vijay Mallya episode is a classic case of banks and investigating agencies acting late. Also, when it comes to large corporate default, the reason for non-repayment is clearly lack of intent. Also, the fact is that the banking system itself encouraged corporate clients to actively evergreen their loans till recently when the RBI cracked the whip.

This worked both ways--for banks to show healthier balance sheets and corporates to avoid the NPA tag. The banker-corporate lobby too worked in full swing through middlemen. But, things changed when economic recovery got delayed and stress on corporate, bank balance sheets grew bigger.

Many crony promoters then approached courts to delay the repayment on technical grounds. When the RBI set a deadline of March, 2017 for banks to clean up bank balance sheets, panic gripped banks and corporations and skeletons began to tumble out of the closet.

Even as the Mallya case is progressing, another critical question that arises is this: What is the plan of action of banks in the remaining high profile cases, where recovery is pending? Have they learned from the Kingfisher episode? If banks have indeed learned a lesson from the Mallya episode, lenders should get their act right and crack down on other defaulters.

The result of the Kingfisher case has major ramifications in the banking system, since it could encourage other lenders too to seek similar recourse to recover money from other companies, in similar cases. Besides Kingfisher, there are several other cases, where criminality might be a reason for 'stress' than genuine factors leading to bad loans.

Zoom Developers tops this list with Rs 2,411 crore loans, followed by Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery with Rs 2,266 crore loans and Forever Precious Jewellery with Rs 1,315 crore loans.

Zooms Rs 3,000 crore worth loan dues became a non-performing asset (NPA) for a bank consortium of 24 banks led by Punjab National Bank (PNB), in the second half of 2010. Among the lenders, PNB has an exposure of Rs 410 crore as of December 2014.

In the case of Winsome Diamonds, the CBI has begun a probe on the working of the company after it allegedly defaulted Rs 6,500 crore loan to a host of banks, making it equal in size to the principal amount in the Kingfisher case. The company claims that the default has occurred following non-payment of dues by its trading partners in the Middle East. But the banks haven't bought that excuse and have slapped legal notices against the firm.

Then there is Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (DCHL), where the CBI is investigating alleged cheating and fraud. According to some of the bankers to DCHL, part of the reason the company faced the crisis was diversions of funds to expansion plans of the group, which was not stated to the lenders at the time of taking the loan.

These are only a few cases where promoters wouldnt pay back to banks even though they have the financial ability to do so. (See below the full list of top wilful defaulters.)

Banks hit most

While in the Saharas case, thousands of small investors were hit, the reluctance of rich Indians to pay back their dues are hurting Indias banks most.

Indian banks are already reeling under the pain of stressed assets.

The amount of bad debt of 40-listed banks in the country stood at Rs 4 lakh crore in the banking system as of end December 2015.

Besides the bad loans, a huge chunk is being restructured, which is estimated to be between Rs 5 lakh crore and Rs 6 lakh crore. A sizeable chunk of such loans could turn bad too in the absence of a significant economic revival.

The banking system is the backbone and a proxy to the economy. Hence damages caused to it can have serious ramifications on the overall economic stability as well.

If the banking system is determined to find the actual root cause of the bad debt pile and tackle criminality with a iron hand, a significant portion of the problems associated with bad loans can be resolved effectively. Many more Kingfishers will then fly out of the nest.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday was surprised at the extent of wealth Sahara group's chief Subrata Roy has and wondered why "such a rich person didn't pay a fraction of wealth and stayed in jail for two years".

The court was hearing a plea to extend the parole of Roy, who is now out from jail after his mother's death. During the proceedings, Sahara's counsel Kapil Sibal submitted details of all the properties of the Sahara group in India and abroad in a sealed cover and requested the court not to disclose the details of properties.

On May 6, the court had directed release of Roy on parole for four weeks to attend rituals following the death of his mother Chhabi Roy and allowed him to visit Haridwar and Ganga Sagar for the rites and ceremonies.

Prior to this, the bench had directed the Sahara group to furnish details of all its properties in a sealed cover to ascertain the fact as to whether they are sufficient for paying back the entire amount to the investors.

Roy has been in Tihar jail since March 4, 2014, on the orders of the apex court in relation to a long running dispute with market regulator SEBI.

The bench comprising chief justice T S Thakur and justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, which eventually gave relief to Roy on Wednesday, noted that the fresh list of properties provided in the sealed cover speaks that "value of your properties was far more than your liability".

When the court saw the list of Roy's assets it expressed surprise why "such a rich person didn't pay a fraction of wealth and stayed in jail for two years."

"Why person with this kind of fortune shall be hesitant to make payment," the bench asked.

Sibal replied, "What is your fear? I will run away. I am going to give an undertaking that I will get Rs 500 crore in two months."

Seeking extension of interim parole for Roy till August 4, Sibal said the Sahara chief has already spent more than two years in jail and his client was ready to give an undertaking that he would pay a substantial amount of money in a span of 180 days.

"We have already suffered a lot. We have learnt the lesson. We have done everything we could do. We have even authorised SEBI to sell our properties at circle rates. Give us an opportunity. Give me a chance, I will arrange the money once I come out," Sibal said.

According to a report in the Times of India, Sibal submitted two cheques - of Rs 500 crore that can be encashed in August and another Rs 4,500 crore as a guarantee.

However, the court finally gave Roy extension until 11 July and asked him to pay up Rs 200 crore to Sebi before that date. If he fails to do this, he will have to surrender and go back to jail. The court has also allowed him to travel anywhere in India.

The court's surprise is understandable. But, as R Jagannathan said in an earlier article in the Firstpost, in the case of Sahara there are always more questions than answers.

"...The group primarily operates in areas where regulation is weak or where regulators are not sure of their jurisdiction. Sahara has also been very nimble about shifting from one regulatory jurisdiction to another in order to stay ahead of the law-enforcers. What is crystal clear is that the group is primarily into money-raising schemes that operate on the edges of the law," he had pointed out in the copy arguing that it is a fit case for an SIT investigation.

Remember, the group's claim that it had repaid most of the investors in the illegal OFCD that had raised many eyebrows in 2012.

In August 2011, the group was to pay back Rs 24,029 crore to 29.6 million investors. But in just one year, the group claimed that it has paid up and the amount is just Rs 5,120 crore. This revelation had raised suspicion as it came just before the Supreme Court order of August 2012 that barred the group from making any refunds directly to the investors.

How did the group manage to decrease the amount to be repaid to just Rs 5,120 crore in just one year? This remains a mistery even now.

In other words, the Supreme Court has just added one more to the list of unanswered questions about a group mired in mistery and controversy.
Burdwan: A six-year-old girl was murdered after being allegedly raped at Jamalpur in Burdwan district on Wednesday, triggering public outrage in the area.

A senior police officer said one Sahadeb Mudi, stated to be the friend of the girl's father, was arrested in connection with the brutalisation of the girl child near her home.

Mudi, along with another unnamed friend, had been asked to spend the night at his residence by the girl's father after taking part in a religious festival in the area which lasted till midnight.

The girl, a student of nursery in local school, was found missing by her grandmother when she woke up during midnight and she raised an alarm. The girl was sleeping with her grandfather while the two friends were lodged in a nearby room in the same building.

Upon continued search in the neighbourhood, the child's body was recovered by villagers and the family from the sand of nearby Damodar riverbank and her blood-stained garments from a bush nearby, the officer said.

Based on the family's complaint the two friends of her father were then detained, and one of them Sahadeb Mudi put under arrest later on after he allegedly confessed about involvement in the crime.

The other detained person was still being interrogated.

Additional SP and other top police officers were camping at the village.
Panaji: A local court on Thursday extended by four days the police custody of Goa MLA Atanasio Monserrate, accused of 'buying' a minor girl and repeatedly raping her.

The court also extended the custody of the girl's mother by a similar duration.

The woman is accused of selling her minor daughter to Monserrate in March through an alleged pimp Rosy Ferros, who too has been arrested.

Monserrate, a former minister, was arrested on 5 May on charges of drugging and raping the girl after buying her for Rs 50 lakh from Ferros.

All three are currently in Crime Branch custody, while the girl is housed in a children's home.

Monserrate was elected to the assembly on a Congress ticket in 2012, but sacked after he allegedly started hobnobbing with the BJP leadership. He is presently an unattached MLA.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped Haryana, Gujarat and Bihar on the drought issue and directed the Centre to convene an urgent meeting with their chief secretaries to assess the drought situations in these states.

In an unsparing indictment of the attitude of the three state governments, the apex court remarked that these states lacked the will to even admit to the drought-like situation in their jurisdictions.

The court directed the union agriculture secretary to hold a meeting within a week with the three chief secretaries in view of the available data and, if so advised, persuade the state governments to declare drought in whichever district, taluka or tehsil it was necessary.

The court also ordered for the setting up the National Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund within six and three months respectively.

"It should be emphasised that there is no loss of face or prestige or dignity in the state government declaring a drought if it is warranted, although succour to the distressed might be too late in the day," said an apex court bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice N.V. Ramana.

Saying that the agriculture secretary "might also consider convening a meeting of the National Executive Committee and issue directions, if necessary, to Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana and their authorities in response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster", the bench quoted Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak: "The problem is not lack of resources or capability, but the lack of will."

Justice Lokur said: "This lack of will is amply demonstrated, in which Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana are hesitant to even acknowledge, let alone address, a possible drought-like situation or a drought, by not disclosing full facts about the prevailing conditions in these states."

"A candid admission does not imply a loss of face or invite imputations of ineffective governance -- it is an acknowledgement of reality. An ostrich-like attitude is a pity, particularly since the persons affected by a possible drought-like situation usually belong to the most vulnerable sections of society."

"The sound of silence coming from these states subjects the vulnerable to further distress", the bench said in its judgment.

It pointed out that the "humanitarian factors such as migrations from affected areas, suicides, extreme distress and the plight of women and children are some of the factors that ought to be kept in mind by the state governments in matters pertaining to drought and the government of India in updating and revising the Manual".

The court said the availability of adequate food grain and water is certainly of utmost importance but they are not the only factors required to be taken note of.

Seven directions were issued to the Centre, including on "setting up of a National Disaster Response Force within six months from today with an appropriate and regular cadre strength" as mandated under Section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The Centre was also asked to establish a National Disaster Mitigation Fund within three months from today as required under Section 47 of the Act of 2005.

The court referred to Section 11 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which requires the formulation of a National Plan relating to risk assessment, risk management and crisis management in respect of a disaster.

"Such National Plan has not been formulated over the last 10 years, although a policy document has been prepared. We can appreciate that the formulation of a National Plan will take some time, but surely 10 years is far too long for such an exercise."

The apex court then directed or the formulation of the National Plan in terms of Section 11 of the Act of 2005 at the "very earliest and with immediate concern".

Appreciating the Drought Management Manual, the court direct that the Manual be revised and updated on or before December 31, 2016.

The court said weightage be given to rainfall, storage water levels in reservoirs, surface and ground water as well as sowing and crop conditions to determine drought and its duration.

This direction came after the court found Haryana, Bihar and Gujarat were using factors like perennial rivers, nature of soil and other factors for not declaring drought.

The court was hearing a plea by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan seeking its intervention for relief in 11 drought-affected states.
Santosh Bhardwaj, a marine engineer kidnapped by pirates in Nigeria, was finally freed three months later, on 10 May, in a medically stable condition, reports The Times Of India.

External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj tweeted, "I am extremely happy to inform that Shri Santosh Bhardwaj has been rescued from pirates in Nigeria," along with a picture of Santosh's wife Kanchan.

I am extremely happy to inform that Shri Santosh Bhardwaj has been rescued from pirates in Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/a4ikQUe9y8  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 11, 2016

The report further says that the MEA officials lauded employer company Transocean for their constant negotiations with the kidnappers. MEA was also " in constant touch with company management and was regularly monitoring the progress in negotiations."

Bhardwaj was kidnapped near Nigeria on 26 March. He was working with Transocean Limited, a Singapore based shipping company and was abducted along with four colleagues (two from Ukraine, one each from Pakistan and Bangladesh) when their ship Sampatiki was at sea, nearly 30 nautical miles off the Nigerian capital Lagos, as reported by The Indian Express.

During wee hours on 26 March, when our ship was at sea, the pirates surrounded it and opened fire. The pirates jumped on the ship... They directed us to put on life jackets and asked us to climb on a boat. Then they drove the boat to a village on an island surrounded by dense forests, Hindustan Times quoted Bhardwaj as saying.

He said the pirates, who were equipped with satellite phones, offered food and mosquito nets and allowed them to interact with each other during the 45 days they were held.

"We were very scared at first. But the pirates said they wanted money,and won't harm us. We later found out that the company had hired experts to deal with this situation," he recounted to ANI.

Bhardwaj hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His relatives upon his abduction had written to PM Narendra Modi, who represents Varanasi in Lok Sabha, asking for help, says a report from Zee News.

He also thanked Centre for its efforts, as reported by ANI.
On 30 March, 2016, media headlines stated: Enough of Akash, says Army as it opts for Israeli missiles.

The report quoting MoD sources went on to say that the Army has made it clear that it does not want any more Akash regiments after it gets the first two ordered earlier for Rs 14,180 crore, with six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles each. This marks a major blow to the 'Make in India' policy, especially since the Navy is turning to France for similar requirements after dumping the Akash missiles for its warships due to "stabilisation problems".

The message was unmistakable

First, military prefers imported systems, especially the Army  why else would they stop after ordering two regiments worth of Akash?

Second, the military was shattering the Make in India dream kickstarted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On 27 April 2016, a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release gave details of products/systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that have either been inducted in the defence forces or are in the process of trials/production/induction, as listed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to KC Tyagi in the Rajya Sabha. This list included the Akash Weapon System. On 4 May, 2016, another PIB release carried a written reply by Parrikar to Sanjay Raut in the Rajya Sabha with respect to the Akash Weapon System, which can be summarised as the following:

-Proper trials of Akash missile were conducted prior to induction into Armed Forces

-Development user trials were completed successfully in 2007

-Orders were placed for two squadrons by IAF in 2008 and six squadrons in 2010

-User trial of production equipment was done successfully in 2012

-Post-induction user trials for Akash Air Force equipment was conducted successfully in 2014

-An order was placed for two regiments by the Indian Army and First Off Production Model (FOPM) trials were successfully conducted in 2014

-Post-induction trials by the Army were conducted successfully in 2016

-Akash Missile System is successfully inducted and is performing as per the expectations of the armed forces.

The production of Akash is being handled by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd with the help of a number of major and MSME industries spread all across the country. So, Akash is a successful example of the 'Make in India' policy and proves that the governments initiatives are successful in defence manufacturing.

What are we missing here?

Does the military deserve to be kicked for its penchant for imports and the way it undermined Make in India? To start with, the Akash Weapon System has nothing to do with Modis call for Make in India given in 2014. Akash was one of the five core missile systems of the integrated guided missile development program launched by the DRDO in 1984; Akash was to replace the Russian Kvadrat System with the Army for providing air defence cover for mechanised forces during manoeuvre battles. Some 23 years later, when the trials were done in 2007, these were a complete fiasco. The Army found that while on the move, Akash could not negotiate undulating ground appropriately and had difficulty in acquiring even slow-moving helicopters, leave alone fast-moving aircraft.

The Army therefore rejected Akash outright because it did not meet the requirement of providing air defence for mechanised forces during manoeuvre battles. So Akash was given to the IAF. The IAF did not mind because IAF deploys air defence weapons for protection of vulnerable points and vulnerable areas in layers. So, Akash became one of the air defence weapon in this multi-layered air defence.

In early 2015, the media exploded with the news that the Army will finally get some desperately-needed supersonic firepower to take on enemy fighters, helicopters, drones and sub-sonic cruise missiles after years of grappling with obsolete air defence weapons with the Improved Akash Weapon System, and what made this even more significant was that the improved Akash Weapon System is 96 percent indigenous.

Quoting ministry of defence sources, the report said that Parrikar was slated to symbolically hand over the first Akash to the Army in early April, adding the first full Akash Regiment should be ready by June-July 2015 with second one following by end-2016. But what the Army found to its horror is that this so called Improved Akash is still incapable of providing air defence for mechanised forces during manoeuvre battle like the vintage Kvadrat.

So, the Army perforce has to use the Improved Kvadrat in static role. It is for the same reason, that the Navy rejected Akash; for problem of stabilization. What should a matter of grave concern that this while we already have the technology of guns firing on the move past several years;  naval guns aboard ships and tanks in Army - the T-90 Russian tank being by far the best for accuracy on the move. Why could this technology not be incorporated in the Akash Weapon System despite three decades of development  to acquire and engage targets on the move.

The question that the civilian friends would ask is why did the Army accept the two Akash Regiments in the first place? The fiasco of the 2007 Development User trials compared to what the Defence Minister recently apprised the Rajya Sabha has been mentioned above. The system puts tremendous pressure on the Services on the plea that when so much money and time has been spent on developing a product / system, at least buy some to compensate the development / part development costs.

Such pressure is invariably at the level of the Defence Secretary or Secretary Defence Production. The Army would have likely agreed for two regiments worth because Armys air defence equipment anyway is 90% obsolete. Perhaps then there was a move to make Army buy more of these Akash regiments, and that is where the Army said enough is enough. Since Akash does not meet the operational requirements of the Army, quite naturally, Army has gone in for procurement of four QR-SAM regiments through the global tender route. Missile systems from Israel, Russia and Sweden have undergone extensive field trials conducted by the Army.

The results have not been officially declared but Israeli Spyder QR-SAMs have reportedly topped in the trials. For reasons discussed above, the IAF sure is inducting more Akash squadrons but if Akash was so versatile (despite three decades of development), why would IAF be looking for imports. It may be noted that IAF is inducting four Spyder QR-SAM squadrons February 2017 onwards.

One does not expect Defence Minister Parrikar to know the above and his written replies perforce are drafts prepared by the MoD bureaucrats. But the question is when the Defence Minister says in his written reply, Akash Missile System is successfully inducted and is performing as per the expectations of the Services  Thus, Akash, is a successful example of Make in India and proves governments initiatives are successful in defence manufacturing, how much of it is true?

Hasnt Parrikar and the nation been taken for a ride?

Akash incidentally is just one example of inadequate and unaccountable functioning of the DRDO. Scores of articles have highlighted multiple products and inadequacies in a long list of products and systems, leave aside numerous CAG reports indicating rampant corruption and sub-standard products. As per recent reports, Government is contemplating setting up not-for-profit firm to foster innovation and create R&D ecosystem.

Hopefully, this firm would also focus on military and dual-use R&D too, because the DRDO has hardly been able to meet militarys requirements. Much thought is needed on the issue.

The author is a retired Lieutenant-General of the Indian Army
New Delhi: A one-man inquiry committee of the Home Ministry, probing the missing files case related to the alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan, has been asked to expedite its work and finish the task by 31 May.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is said to have told Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry BK Prasad to speed up the probe and submit his report by the end of this month.

Prasad, a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, is retiring on 31 May and the government wants the task given to him to be completed before his service comes to an end, official sources said.

Prasad is also embroiled in a controversy after an under secretary serving in the Home Ministry's Foreigners Division accused him of pressuring him (the junior officer) of giving clean chit to Ford Foundation, which allegedly violated provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Prasad has denied the allegation.

Top Home Ministry officials are of the opinion that the Ishrat-related files were misplaced and could be found if a concerted effort is made.

Government seems to be unhappy over the delay in finding the files and wants a quick report and Prasad has been told this in clear terms, the sources said.

The panel, constituted on 14 March following an uproar in Parliament, was asked to inquire into the circumstances in which the files related to the case of Ishrat, who was killed in the alleged fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004, went missing.

It was asked to find out the person responsible for keeping the files and relevant issues.

The papers which went missing from the Home Ministry include the copy of an affidavit vetted by the Attorney General and submitted in the Gujarat High Court in 2009 and the draft of the second affidavit vetted by the AG on which changes were made.

Two letters written by the then Home Secretary GK Pillai to the then Attorney General late GE Vahanvati and the copy of the draft affidavit have so far been untraceable.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had disclosed in Parliament on March 10 that the files were missing.

The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides the Intelligence Bureau where it was said the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was a Lashkar-e-Taiba activist but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said.

The second affidavit, claimed to have been drafted by the then Home Minister P Chidambaram, said there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Ishrat was a terrorist, the officials said.
Opposition parties across the spectrum have strongly condemned Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys statement in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that Judiciary is destroying the edifice of Indias legislature step by step, brick by brick. Parties have stated Jaitleys comment as constitutional breach and out of frustration.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill on Wednesday, the FM urged the MPs not to hand over budgetary and taxation powers to the judiciary. With the manner in which encroachment of legislative and executive authority by Indias judiciary is taking place, probably financial power and budget making is the last power that you have left, he said.

Reacting sharply to Jaitleys comment, eminent lawyer and Rajya Sabha member from Congress KTS Tulsi said, I think step by step and brick by brick this government is destroying federalism in the country. They are not allowing states run by Opposition parties and that is the real problem of this BJP-led government at the Centre.

Another Congress leader and partys general secretary, Shakeel Ahmad called it the most unfortunate statement.

Its very unfortunate because Jaitley, who is a legal luminary himself despite knowing fully about the Constitutional functioning, he made such a statement. He must have read Constitution of India and knows that Supreme Court is the final interpreter of our Constitution. He should have learnt from the incident of 1999, when NDA was in power at the Centre, he said.

In February 1999, the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee dismissed the 18-month-old Rabri Devi government on charges of failing to maintain law and order in Bihar. The immediate provocation for putting the state under Presidents Rule was the killing of 12 Dalits, allegedly by the Ranveer Sena, a private army of upper caste landlords in Jehanabad district.

The NDA government, which did not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, soon realised its mistake and the decision could not be ratified in the Upper House. Within three weeks, Vajpayee advised the then Home Minister LK Advani to announce on the floor of the House that the decision to impose Presidents Rule in Bihar was being revoked. As a result, Rabri Devi was reinstated as CM in March 1999.

Now the Modi government repeated the same mistake. Its their modus operandi to destabilise elected state governments by undemocratic means like they did in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. The Vajpayee-government was forced to restore Rabri Devi government in Bihar, added Ahmad.

JD(U) Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi has termed Jaitleys statement  a result of frustration.

Arun Jaitley made this statement in the Rajya Sabha out of sheer desperation and frustration over his governments failure to topple the elected Uttarakhand government. The failure of the BJP in its attempt to destabilise the elected Harish Rawat government has exposed the partys undemocratic ways of dealing with the Opposition parties, remarked Tyagi.

The Left parties  who are staunch critics of the BJP-RSS ideology and the Modi government have termed Jaitley statement as a fascist reaction.

CPM leader Nilotpal Basu said, Mr Jaitley should remember that the initial damage was caused by the central government by interfering into the working of Uttarakhand government  the Speaker was challenged and on its basis Presidents Rule was imposed. Even after the judgment in SR Bommai vs Union of India, the BJP failed to understand that imposition of Article 356 needs ratification of the two Houses of the Parliament. Since, it wasnt done, the Supreme Court had to intervene. As far Constitutional scheme is concerned-- in different point of time--whenever someone acted in a manner which goes beyond brief, other organs tend to occupy that void.

He further added, Its a case for examining whether judicial over-reaching took place or not. But this situation related to Uttarakhand or earlier Arunachal Pradesh was created due to BJPs obsession to gobble up everything.

CPM Central Committee member, Badal Saroj, is more incisive. He caustically said, Whatever BJP did to destabilise Uttarakhand government by using Article 356 reflects the fascist tendency inherent in BJPs ideological mentor RSS. Their only agenda is to take over all the non-BJP ruled state governments by hook and crook through autocratic and anti-democratic means.

He added, "Had the BJP government read the observations in the Supreme Court judgment of the 1994 SR Bommai vs Union of India case, this embarrassing situation could have been avoided. The BJP is hell bent in destroying brick by brick the basic tenets of our Constitution, where the role and function of the three pillars  executive, legislature and judiciary  have clearly been defined. Jaitleys statement as a noted lawyer is highly objectionable and derogatory. Both the PM and Jaitley should apologise for this.

In the Bommai judgement the apex court also made clear that the only time a decision to impose Presidents Rule can be made without going for a floor test is when there is "a situation of all-pervasive violence where the governor comes to the conclusion  and records the same in his report  that for the reasons mentioned by him, a free vote is not possible."

The Opposition parties have termed that the Modi government's decision to impose Presidents Rule in Uttarakhand was disrespectful to centre-state relations.

CPI leader D Raja stated that the Constitution has clearly defined the division of power between the Centre and the states, and both sides should respect the centre-state relationship. "The central government acted autocratically in imposing Presidents Rule in Uttarakhand. Even Dr BR Ambedkar had said that Article 356 should be considered as a dead letter. BJP should accept its mistake as they committed a blunder. It was a result of their lust for power. Whether, the judiciary can interfere or not is a different issue, but BJP speaks up in favour or against the judiciary depending on wherever it suits them.

However, in the midst of strong condemnation from Opposition parties, there is some relief for Jaitley. His statement has received support from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Justifying Jaitleys statement, Rajya Sabha MP Majeed Memon from the NCP said, I endorse what Jaitley, who is an eminent lawyer, has said in Rajya Sabha. In the past few years, judiciary has been found to be over-stepping in all the matters, even in the basic policy matters, which are in the domain of executive autonomy.

Surprisingly, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chose not to comment on the issue.
In the mid-1980s, a district collector in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh did something unacceptable  on Gandhi Jayanti, he agreed to have a separate well dug for the Dalits because the upper-castes wanted it, knowing fully well that the 'Father of the Nation' would have more than winced at the move.

There is a reason for this recall. Tina Dabi, this years UPSC topper wants to opt for Haryana because it offers challenges she would like to deal with: patriarchal mindset and gender inequality which is rife in that State. That is laudable for a 22-year-old, who also happens to be a Dalit. She wants to change that. By her assertion, she comes from a progressive family. The twist is that the collector who was insensitive about the dignity of Dalits was also a Dalit, and by his conduct, had shown that he may have, by his official status, migrated from a caste to a class, especially a class that is inured to the plight of the other, and when in public administration, see the other as a statistic, no more.

A report in The Hindu describing it all did not lead to a whimper from the gentleman, much as it had not the previous year when he had attended a community lunch to foster a positive attitude towards the Dalits. He and the VIPs had their lunch served, and after they left, the Dalit had their community lunch. That he had helped foster discrimination did not dawn upon him.

Tina Dabi should continue to hold her view and strive hard to beat the forces that keep the society divided. Being a woman in a state wedded to a patriarchal system is going to make it difficult for her but she has picked up the gauntlet. More power to this young lady, who in Haryana may already be evoking a derisive response: 'Kya samajh rakha hai khud ko! (What does she think of herself?)'

Ansar Ahmad Shaikh, who also cracked the UPSC is a Jalana boy, he came to Pune to study, took a degree from the eminent Fergusson College. When he was turned away when seeking paying guest accommodation because he was a Muslim, he used a friends name, Shubham and secured one. He was forced to keep his identity a secret. His experience only underscores a reality which we wink at. The Indian Express reported, "having faced religious discrimination," Shaikh said that promoting Hindu-Muslim unity and bridging disparity is one area that he would like to work on. This could be as difficult for him to achieve as possibly it could be for Dabi. His first-hand experience would already have moulded the man even as he enters the arena of public administration.

The question is, would these plans, dreams, intents, or whatever, survive? Public administration is part of politics.

It is a hard life out there, whether it is in the IAS or the IPS  people on the outside only see them as people with power. A Collector, for instance, is king in a manner of speaking  wielding enormous clout within the four corners of the statute. People speak of wanting their children becoming a bada officer, ek Collector (Big officer, a Collector). While the statutes job description is one thing, how it is put to use is another. A good man is also forced to bend  this shows that politics is more powerful than officialdom.

Of course, the entire crop of IAS or IPS officers are not all bad as in bent. However, it is common knowledge that the level-headed and the honest, and especially them, if inconvenient, can be and are harassed by being pushed to innocuous posts. Remember Ashok Khemka? Pushed around like the discs in a game of carrom. Not all are like the civil servants in Yes, Prime Minister, in that they manage to outwit the politician and the system. The fear is the bright and the brilliant  those in IAS and IPS are the best brains  who enter the system with the hope of doing something positive should not end up disenchanted and fall in line with the system.

Probably, they havent read about a Food and Drugs Commissioner being moved out because he scanned some multinational drug companies, or a collector shifted out since the sand mafia was quickly neutered, saving the state enormous loss of royalties.

They would have to reach into deep into their inner resources and sustain their optimism, and even their will to do something. The realisation of their ambitions is what the country requires, but they are unfortunately reality thwarts at every step. It is not the rules, but the politicians who call the shots.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed budget airline Spicejet to pay Rs 10 lakh as damages to a flyer, suffering from cerebral palsy, who was forcibly offloaded in 2012, saying the manner in which she was deboarded depicts "total lack of sensitivity".

The apex court noted that the disabled flier Jeeja Ghosh was not given "appropriate, fair and caring treatment" which she required with "due sensitivity" and the decision to de-board her was "uncalled for".

"On our finding that SpiceJet acted in a callous manner, and in the process violated Rules, 1937 and Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), 2008 guidelines resulting in mental and physical suffering experienced by Ghosh and also unreasonable discrimination against her, we award a sum of Rs 10,00,000 as damages to be payable to her," a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal said.

Ghosh was offloaded from a SpiceJet flight on 19 February, 2012 from Kolkata when she was going to attend a conference in Goa hosted by NGO ADAPT (Able Disable All People Together), the second petitioner in the case.

The apex court said the decision to offload Ghosh was taken by the airlines without any medical advise or consideration and her condition was not such which required any assistive devices or aids.

"Even if we assume that there was some blood or froth that was noticed to be oozing out from the sides of her mouth when she was seated in the aircraft (though vehemently denied by her), nobody even cared to interact with her and asked her the reason for the same.

"No doctor was summoned to examine her condition. Abruptly and without any justification, a decision was taken to de-board her without ascertaining as to whether her condition was such which prevented her from flying. This clearly amounts to violation of Rule 133-A of Rules, 1937 and the CAR, 2008 guidelines," the bench said.
New York: More and more people are struggling with addiction to opioid and prescription medications, warns a study, adding that they are misusing them for chronic pain and "self-medicating" their pain.

Nearly 87 percent of those who were screened positive for illegal drug use, misuse of prescription drugs or heavy alcohol use suffered from chronic pain and half of them graded the pain as severe.

According to the researchers, many illegal drugs such as marijuana and heroin have pain-relieving properties.

"The study goes one step further to quantify how many of these patients are using these substances specifically to treat chronic pai"," said study co-author Daniel Alford from Boston University's school of medicine.

It also measures the prevalence of chronic pain in patients who were screened positive for illegal drug use and prescription drug abuse, Alford added in the paper published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The team analysed nearly 25,000 patients in primary care for illegal drug use and misuse of prescription medications.

Among these participants, 589 who were screened positive for substance use, were asked questions about chronic pain and their substance use -- heroin, marijuana, cocaine, etc, as well as use of prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed or high risk alcohol use.

In the subgroup that was using illegal drugs, 51 percent reported using one or more drug specifically to alleviate physical pain.

In those using prescription drugs without a prescription or using more than prescribed, 81 percent identified self-medication of pain as the reason for misuse.

The results suggested that counselling focused only on informing patients about the negative consequences of drug and alcohol use may miss a key aspect of why people are using these substances.
In spite of his composed demeanour, the presence of Vito Corleone  played brilliantly by Marlon Brando in the Godfather  had a chilling effect on his adversaries. In contrast to the calm yet unsettling persona of Vito, Sonny Corleones character was that of a trigger-happy man. The reason for such a difference between father and son was simple. The latter was armed with a sense of immunity that came from being the son of a mafioso; a belief that no crime is big enough to punish him, given the fact that he is the son of a Godfather. If that belief was to be struck to the hilt, then the brashness inherent in the likes of Sonnys would disappear in no time.

When Janata Dal (United) legislators son Rocky Yadav allegedly shot dead a teenager just because his car was overtaken by the victim, he had the same sense of powerful immunity being bestowed upon him by the virtue of being the son of a mafia don and a politician.

But his belief proved wrong and for all good reasons. His surrender and arrest would have been mere legal antics, with no substantive hope of justice, had the power structure that breeds such criminals would not have faced the state ire, the way it has in the last two days.

Following the alleged murder of 19-year-old Aditya Sachdeva, Rockys mother Manorama Devi was suspended from the party. Further, her son Rocky and husband Bindeshwari Prasad Bindi Yadav were arrested and sent to judicial custody for two weeks.

On Wednesday, Manorama Devis residence was sealed off by officials of the Excise Department as the police seized six bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from her residence during a raid to nab the absconding Rocky Yadav. Prohibition has been imposed in the state of Bihar and possession/consumption of alcohol is now illegal. An arrest warrant was issued against Manorama Devi under the new state Excise law 2016, compelling her to go into hiding.

All these strict actions by the Bihar police, put together, send a very strong message that is simple and straight: no one, no matter who you are, no matter whose son you are and what political patronage or power you yield, you cannot get away after committing such crimes.

The message inherent in the way Bihar police went after the Yadavs is quite clear  that the state in no way will allow vulgar display of muscle power, which has been a hallmark of Bihar politics. And this message is no small change in a state which for years could not guarantee the most basic fundamental right to its citizens  the right to life and liberty.

Following a decade long peaceful state of affairs, when Nitish Kumar formed an alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav, people in Bihar were struck by genuine apprehension of the return of bad old days; an euphuism for the jungle raj that was perpetuated under Lalus 15-year-long tenure.

In December 2015, the murder of two engineers belonging to a private road building company had created unrest among people. The incident was preceded by the murder of a businessman who was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar and the killing of a sarpanch. All these incidents triggered this debate of return of the jungle raj, despite the fact that in all these cases the police was prompt in its action.

While such criminal acts can only be condemned, it cannot be seen as something exclusive to Bihar. There have been several instances when murder accused were lauded as saviours by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

It can also not be seen as something intrinsic to a particular party. Cutting across party lines, thugs like Bindi Yadav have thrived and have been allowed to survive because of the political patronage they got in return of their services.

Political compulsions make these musclemen and mafias useful for political leaders and dispensing them off is not an easy task. But once it is done, it sends an even stronger message about the indispensability and undesirability of these elements, which live in perpetual belief of their immense worth.

What the Nitish Kumar government has done might cost him socially and politically but then, it will surely lead to a very different kind of politics  which perhaps Aditya would have cherished.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys anguish is understandable. There are indications that the judiciary is overreaching and intruding more and more into the exclusive space of the legislature and the executive, thereby creating unhealthy asymmetry in the delicate balance among institutions in the county. We cannot have a situation where the country is run by judicial decrees, where other organs of the democracy are unable to take decisions with confidence and gradually go redundant. But who allowed things to come to this pass in the first place?

Step by step, brick by brick, the edifice of Indias legislature is being destroyed...With the manner in which encroachment of legislative authority by Indias judiciary is taking place, probably financial power and budget-making is the last power you have left. Taxation is the only power which states have... Jaitley said in Parliament on Thursday. He was responding to a Congress demand for a court-monitored dispute redressal mechanism in case of the GST. The remark also referred to the Supreme Courts order for creation of a disaster mitigation fund to tackle situations such as drought.

Many of the judiciarys orders in recent times have raised serious questions on the wisdom involved. This is particularly true in matters which render themselves to a political solution only. There is an apparent tendency among the judges to toe the populist line and respond with sympathy to emotional appeals. At times they appear dictatorial too. The banning of IPL matches in Maharashtra is a case in point. How the judiciary has expanded its reach into the domain of the legislature and the executive through PILs has been discussed enough.

While the later two have been fretting over the intrusion for some time now, they have failed to answer or introspect how they managed to cede space to the judiciary. They refuse to acknowledge that somewhere the compact between the state and citizens, based solely on trust, has broken down and the judiciary has moved in to fill a vacuum. The courts can claim to be standing up for the citizen who has lost faith in all instrumentalities of the state.

Lets connect the thought to some routine (by now) everyday matters. In Pune, a vigilante group assaults a girl for wearing a short dress; in Bengaluru, a criminal simply carries off a woman from the streets like he would carry a heavy bundle of grocery in full public view; in Bihar, a legislators son allegedly shoots at and kills a young man for overtaking his vehicle; in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere in the country people are attacked on the suspicion of consuming beef; well, theres no end to such incidents in the country. The running theme in all these is the state has abandoned its responsibility to protect citizens and the criminals have come to assume that the law does not exist for them.

That a whopping number of rape or molestation victims or sufferers of other forms of crime dont approach the police fearing harassment; that theres a general feeling that the ordinary masses are too powerless against people with influence, political and otherwise; and that theres an increasing demand for court-monitored probes into cases being handled by investigating agencies reflect a dissipation of faith, the critical social capital that makes democracies work.

Jaitley expressed disapproval of the courts order seeking a disaster mitigation fund to tackle drought-like situations. He is right. A mechanism to address such situations already exists at the central and the state levels. However, isnt it a fact that thousands of people are dying and lakhs migrating out of their villages because of severe drought and water scarce situations? People have been suffering for decades  just consider the number of farmers committing suicide every year and the government simply appears to have washed it hands off. Obviously, not enough has been done. Would you blame the judiciary for stepping in for farmers?

The problem did not begin with Mr Jaitley or the government he is part of. The process of erosion of faith in governments started long back, aided robustly by the political players. The Narendra Modi government would do a great service to the country if it revived the state-citizen arrangement of trust. The judiciary would recede to its place automatically if that happens.

It has to be done as Jaitley would say step by step, brick by brick.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst the fierce electoral battle in Kerala, a war of words broke out between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday for taking credit for evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.

The political fight errupted a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has evacuated the families from Libya and that the Centre was committed to work for welfare of Indians living abroad. Kerala goes to polls on 16 May.

Modi is already under mounting attack from the Opposition parties for his controversial comment in an election rally comparing Kerala and Somalia while talking about the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state.

A total of 29 Indians have been evacuated from Libya out of which 16 are from Kerala and they reached Kochi on Thursday morning.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is recuperating in Aiims where she was admitted on 25 April, took to Twitter to blame Chandy for triggering the debate.

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Earlier, Chandy said the State government is bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel.

"Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel," Chandy said.

In an election rally on Wednesday, Modi had said, "Our government has saved six families and evacuated 29 people. The Indian government is committed to working for people who go abroad to work, we have always tried to help them. It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to tell you that they are coming back and will be united with their families soon," Modi said.

When asked about the controversy, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the Indian Mission there was in constant touch with the authorities and it was because of the embassy's intervention that the Indians got their salaries and were issued exit visas.

"Our embassy has constantly followed up the matter with the hospital as well as with the Ministry of Health of Libya...Our ambassador personally flew down to Tripoli on 28 April and met with the Chief of Protocol on 2 May to resolve the matter.

"Thanks to the embassy's intervention that their salaries were paid and their exit visas were issued and they were able to safely return to India today," he said.

The Indian Embassy in Libya has been relocated to Djerba in Tunisia because of escalation in violence in Libya.
Dehradun: The annual Char Dham pilgrimage has begun with the reopening of the portals of Badrinath shrine in the Garhwal hills after the winter break amid chants of Vedic hymns.

Elaborate rituals preceded the formal opening of the Himalayan temple, located at a height of 10,279 feet, on Wednesday, a senior Badrinath-Kedarnath Samiti official said.

The other three Himalayan temples on the circuit -- Kedranath, Gangotri and Yamunotri -- had reopened on 9 May.

With reopening of Badrinath temple, the annual Char Dham yatra has begun.

Badrinath shrine Chief Priest Ishwar Prasad Nambudiri threw the temple doors open in the wee hours in the presence of Mandir Samiti officials and thousands of devotees amid chants of Vedic hymns and "Jai Badri Vishal".

Over 8,000 devotees visited the temple, located on the banks of Alaknanda river, on the first day, he said.

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri also offered prayers at the shrine.

The four Himalayan temples are closed every year with the onset of the winter when they remain snowbound.
New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a day after his government was reinstated following a floor test as per the Supreme Court order.

The chief minister said the hill state's development remained his focus, adding that President's Rule left Uttarakhand in a "mess".

"Our focus remains to bring back on track the development momentum generated during our (earlier) rule... we were growing at the rate of 13.5 percent," Rawat told reporters after meeting Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

"Imposition of President's Rule has left the state in a mess," he added.

Asked if he would also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, the chief minister said he would meet them if he gets invited.

"I will meet everyone in my state's interest. I will meet the Prime Minister and Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) if I get invited," he said.

Rawat said his style of politics was not confrontational and stressed that development is his main agenda.

Earlier on Thursday, Rawat presided over a cabinet meeting in Dehradun, during which a number of important decisions were taken.

On Wednesday, President's Rule was revoked in Uttarakhand.
New Delhi: Late Indira Gandhi wanted her younger daughter-in-law to help her in politics after the death of Sanjay but Maneka was in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv.

"Although PM was always more fond of Sonia, during the period after Sanjay's death, she became a little more inclined towards Maneka.

"However, it failed to bring Maneka closer to her. Generally Sonia held the upper hand in household affairs while Maneka's views were considered by the PM when it came to political matters since Maneka had good political sense," says K P Mathur,

Gandhi's personal physician.

Mathur, a former physician at Safdarjung Hospital here who served for nearly 20 years as the physician to the late PM and called on her every morning till her assassination in 1984, details Gandhi's journey as a politician and her relations with family in a new book 'The Unseen Indira Gandhi,' (Konark Publishers).

Within a couple of years of the death of Sanjay Gandhi, the book says, Maneka had to leave the then PM's house under rather trying circumstances.

"After Sanjay's death, PM's attitude towards her softened a great deal. In fact, she wanted Maneka to come and help her in politics.

"But Maneka was often in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv. This grew into the formation of the organisation, the Sanjay Vichar Manch. It was an organisation which wanted to carry on with the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi. Maneka and her associates were part of it they were known to be acting against Rajiv although I never came to know what specifically they were doing," says Mathur.

What brought matters to a head was a convention of the Sanjay Vichar Manch which was held in Lucknow, which Gandhi advised Maneka not to address. Gandhi was touring abroad at that time and sent a message to Maneka but the latter went ahead and addressed the convention.

After Rajiv and Sonia's marriage the doctor said the former PM and Sonia took to each other within no time.

"Sonia gave a lot of respect and the latter showered her with affection and regard... Sonia very soon took over the responsibility of the household."

A voracious reader, Gandhi during Sundays and other holidays relaxed with some books, especially biographies of great men. She, says Dr Mathur, liked subjects connected with the body and the mind as well as popular science magazines and was fond of solving crossword puzzles in international publications.

"Sometimes, after lunch, she played cards. Her favourite card game was Kali Mam..." says the book.

The 151-page book describes Gandhi as "very tense, a bit confused and not sure of herself" in the first year or two of her becoming the PM in 1966.

"In the initial phase of her premiership, PM used to be especially nervous when faced with some speaking assignments, either in Parliament or outside and would try and avoid it," writes Mathur who mentions Gandhi as getting stomach upsets during her early days as PM, which he believed was a result of nervousness.

But, says the book, notwithstanding the initial jitters, Gandhi was a very determined person. She visited Madras University, which was the epicentre of the anti-Hindi protests in Tamil Nadu and remained undaunted by hostile sloganeering.

"She told the students,'Don't say down with Hindi. Say up with Tamil. I will learn Tamil and you also learn Hindi'," Mathur recalls.

The doctor writes that the former prime minister appeared "quite perplexed and fidgety in the hours leading to the 18 May, 1974 Pokhran explosions.

"When I asked about her health, she just answered in monosyllables. I tried to make some small talk but she wasnt attentive. She fixed her gaze on the telephone on her bedside table, lifted the receiver once and put it down. I looked in that direction and saw a notebook on which gayatri mantra was written in long hand," the book said.

The book also refers to the 'ominous emergency' years after Emergency was imposed on 25 June, 1975, when thousands of people were put in jail all across the country.

"The discontent against PM and Sanjay was growing by the hour and she as fast losing her people's confidence and sympathy... PM herself was not satisfied with the state of affairs, but somehow she did not intervene and let it go on. Perhaps she had become a victim of the tyranny of the excessive love she had for her younger son..."

After her defeat in the elections of 1977, Indira Gandhi decided to visit Belci in remote Bihar where upper caste land owners had massacred a number of Harijans over some land dispute but found it difficult to get transport to travel in the rainy season.

"Ultimately with her courage and determination she reached Belchi in the dark of night riding on an elephant.... All this she narrated to me on her return," says Dr Mathur.

The book is interspersed with written instructions and messages on bits of paper, collected by the doctor.

The tome talks about Gandhi's relations with foreign heads of government including Margaret Thatcher, former PM of the United Kingdom, who Mathur says, "respecting her age and seniority showed due deference" towards Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written a foreword to the book which describes Dr Mathur as one whose keen sense of humour and an ability to grasp the finer details of human emotion endeared him to all.
Kochi/Thiruvanathapuram: Escalating his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial comparison of Kerala with Somalia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said the state government is considering legal action against him.

As Modi faced more heat from the Congress and CPM for his remark, Chandy said he has "humiliated" Keralites the world over and that people of the state expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence after it whipped up a controversy. Chandy also again asked Modi to withdraw the remark.

CPM said the situation in the state did not become like the African country because BJP never came to power here.

The comparison made by Modi at a poll rally in the state early this week when he said the "infant mortality rate among the scheduled tribe community in Kerala is worse than Somalia" has set off a political storm and triggered criticism in the social media.

Twitter users have responded with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Get lost Modi), a take off from the Mohanlal starrer, which features the famous punch line "Po Mone Dinesha" to ridicule some of the characters of his hit film 'Narasimham'.

"He is the Prime Minister of the country...He humiliated the people of Kerala by comparing the state with Somalia. We see it very seriously. The Prime Minister made statement based on certain media reports...It is wrong..," Chandy told a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Ernakulam press club in Kochi.

"Since he is the Prime Minister, he should have checked official records before making such statements. We are planning to take legal action (against the Prime Minister).

Moving the Election Commission on this issue is also in our consideration," Chandy said.

Earlier in the day, in his Facebook post, Chandy, who had shot off a protest letter to PM on the issue, accused Modi of keeping mum on the controversy during his rally at Thrippunithura near Kochi late evening on Wednesday.

Stating that Kerala is far ahead than BJP-ruled Gujarat in addressing infant mortality rate and issue of malnutrition, the chief minister said what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister.

"We are No 1 in Human Development Index while Gujarat is placed at 11th position. The Prime Minister should give us an explanation," he said.

Chandy said Modi left the election campaign rally on Wednesday without answering his questions.

"It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from the Malayali community world over," Chandy said.

Attacking Modi for his Somalia remarks, CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power."

"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," he told reporters at Thiruvananthapuram.

In a hard-hitting letter, Chandy had lambasted Modi recently for comparing Kerala to Somalia during his poll campaign rally here, saying he has insulted the state.

He had also requested Modi to show some "political decency" by withdrawing the statement as they are "baseless and contrary to ground realities.

"The people of Kerala, whose self-pride was wounded by the Prime Minister's statement, expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence. But it didn't happen," he said, adding, Keralites still hoped he would withdraw his 'Somalia' remark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been widely panned and ridiculed for ostensibly comparing Kerala to Somalia. But did he compare Kerala to Somalia? What were the metrics of comparison? And was he totally off the mark?

In the heat and dust of social media, hurry for instant outrage results in subversion of data. And if one proceeds from an erroneous premise to a fallacious argument, the conclusion cannot be anything but fatuous.

A careful look at the facts makes it clear that Modi never did compare the state to the country. He had balanced the infant mortality rate among the state's scheduled tribe community with that of a sub-Saharan African nation, and in that, he wasn't off the mark at all.

As it happens, such a comparison was done earlier by the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW), a highly respected policy and governance publication as also by a rival political leader who happens to be a communist and a former Chief Minister of Kerala.

In an issue on "continuing deaths of infants and children due to malnutrition in Attappady" EPW focused on the state governments indifference towards addressing issues affecting the tribals in the region.

Quoting several surveys and reports (some as recent as 2013) the publication states that "Attappady can be called Kerala's sub-Saharan Africa".

Here's the particularly telling extract from the EPW report:

"A recent survey conducted by Thampu, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dealing with tribal rights, found that out of the 300 tribals affected by malnutrition 200 were children. K.Venugopal, the district medical officer, said that 412 cases of anemia and 67 cases of malnutrition had been noticed by the health department (The Hindu: 2013). The Integrated Tribal Development Programme conducted a survey between 11 April 2013 and 19 April 2013 in Attappady, covering 7,565 households and a population of 23,599, and found that the number of tribal people with anemia/malnutrition was 463/69, the number of children aged below five with anemia/ malnutrition was 68/57 and lactating mothers with anemia and malnutrition was 62/0 (The Hindu: 2013). The UNICEF Report (2013) observed that weight of the mothers at delivery ranged between 39 and 45 kgs. The Ekbal Committee (2013) said that most women had undergone abortion more than once and almost all children examined suffered from anemia and malnutrition. Difference between the nutritional status of Keralas general rural populace and that of Attappady could be as high as 50 per cent (Suchitra: 2013). Considering these dismal statistics, Attappady can be called Keralas sub-Saharan Africa.

Last Sunday, while referring to a picture showing four children in a garbage yard at Peravoor in Kannur seemingly foraging for food, Modi said at a rally in Thiruvananthapuram, The situation with the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia. Recently, one came across a tragic picture in the media. In Peravoor, Scheduled Tribe children were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump 

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy took great umbrage at Modi's comparison and in a hard-hitting letter said Modi's comments were unbecoming of a Prime Minister.

CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury also condemned Modi for the comparison and the party's politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said the comparison with Somalia was a result of the vengeance BJP had towards Kerala where it has not been able to spread its roots.

Somalia's HDI is 0.285 (ranking: 229), Kerala's is 0.712. India's ONLY high HDI state, it'd rank 104 globally. So much for the comparison.  Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 11, 2016

Yet in 2013, when the plight of the tribals came to the fore after 41 infant deaths were reported from the village in 18 months, Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan, who at 93 is still a shoo-in for the Chief Minister's post should LDF return to power, visited the village and described the situation there as "Somalia type" which needed immediate government attention.

So what exactly are we fulminating about? Does the fact that Kerala scores higher than the national average in most human development indices mean that we cannot talk about islands of depravity?

Or is it that certain things become unpalatable because Narendra Modi points them out?
Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an apology, not silence, to Kerala for comparing the state with Somalia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Thursday.

"Modi left Kochi last night without withdrawing his remarks. Malayalees all over the world are upset over the remarks of the PM," Chandy said in a Facebook post.

He was referring to the Prime Minister's remarks made at election rallies he addressed for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"With the pride of the Malayalees deeply affected, none expected silence from PM. Instead what all thought was he would withdraw the statements and apologize. Keralites continue to expect that the PM would apologise," said Chandy.

Modi said on Sunday that "the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia" - provoking protests across the state.

Modi also cited media reports that tribal children in Peravoor were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump to make his case that the state had not been properly governed.

Chandy said Modi's comparison of Kerala, whose high social indicators are widely acknowledged, with Somalia was absurd.

After the protests, Modi was expected to retract his statement and apologize but he did not, Chandy said.

On Wednesday, Modi continued his attack on Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), without responding to criticism over his controversial remarks.

Chandy earlier wrote to Modi urging him not to bring "disrepute" to the Prime Minister's Office by airing "baseless remarks" about Kerala.

The BJP, which has never won an assembly or Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has been making a valiant attempt to defend Modi.
Jammu: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday called for summit-level talks between India and Pakistan to make "a new beginning" towards heralding peace and harmony in the sub-continent.

"We favour summit-level talks between India and Pakistan. The leadership of both countries should rise to the occasion and make a new beginning in heralding peace and harmony in the sub-continent," Abdullah said.

He said "bitterness and hostilities of the past" should not be allowed to hover over future of generations as a "dark shadow".

"People of India and Pakistan have the right to lead a dignified, peaceful and prosperous life, which entails peace on the borders and spirit of good neighbourly relations between the two countries," Abdullah said while winding up a four-day tour of border Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Addressing a workers meeting in Poonch town, he said the "traumatic" border shelling over the years, especially last year, had left people living a life of insecurity.

He said perpetual fear and element of uncertainty were detrimental to overall growth of those residing on borders.

"Damage caused to life and property continues to haunt the people, who are yearning for peace and tranquility," he said, and lauded their courage for braving the brunt of hostilities.

Border-dwellers had benefited from the ceasefire agreement arrived at during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister, Abdullah said, and hoped that spirit would be a guiding force in normalising relations between India and Pakistan.

He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be main beneficiaries of such a bold initiative.

Responding to concerns of border-dwellers over their land holdings remaining uncultivated due to border fencing, the former chief minister urged the army to work out a mechanism so that farmers are able to cultivate their land for sustenance.

He also stressed on the need for immediate disbursement of compensation to those whose properties were damaged due to border shelling, besides incessant rains and the flash floods of 2014.

Stressing on the need for maintaining brotherhood, especially in the wake of an "orchestrated campaign unleashed by divisive forces" to disturb communal harmony for their "petty political interests", the National Conference President said a befitting reply to them would further strengthen religious and regional unity.
Uttarakhand developments have sent the BJP spokesmen running for cover. The likes of Sambit Patra and Nalin Kohli, and a host of high profile ministers, who were waxing eloquent when the Supreme Court reversed the high court stand and sent Harish Rawat government out of office last month suddenly turned silent when the apex court asked for the revocation of Presidents Rule and the reinstatement of the Congress government on Wednesday. The BJP leaders were at a loss of words as the court verdict was a sharp rebuke to the shenanigans of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

The Congress leadership was naturally ecstatic.

They called it a victory of democracy. But the tweet by Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, soon after the Supreme Court judgement was delivered, was most noteworthy.

He tweeted:

Hope Modiji learns his lesson-ppl of this country &the institutions built by our founding fathers will not tolerate the murder of democracy!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 11, 2016

Yes, the recent failed attempt in Uttarakhand  as well as the successful attempt in Arunachal Pradesh a couple of months ago  to use Article 356 for partisan gains was a clear case to highlight the murder of democracy. But then, Rahul should have remembered that Modi (or for that matter, the other BJP prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who dismissed five state governments) was not the only culprit in this abuse of the provision of Article 356 in the Constitution. He should have recollected that his own party, the Congress, and especially his own family spanning four generations  right from the days of his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru  has also misused Article 356 with impunity over the decades.

They are also a party to the murder of democracy that he talks about.

Ironically, right from the days of our Independence, people of this country have been tolerating the murder of democracy. The very incorporation of the provision of Article 356 in the Constitution was itself an anathema for what we called a federal democracy. How could a democratically-elected government of a state be dismissed by the fiat of the Centre?

It was a draconian provision (Section 93) that the colonial government had incorporated in the Government of India Act 1935 to keep the provincial governments on a leash. That provision remained intact and unchanged in our Constitution; only Section 93 of the GOI Act became Article 356 of the Indian Constitution. When apprehensions were raised in the Constituent Assembly, Dr BR Ambedkar justified its inclusion to deal with the emergency situations but expressed the hope that such articles will never be called into operation and they would remain a dead letter.

But Ambedkars hopes were misplaced.

Barely a year after the promulgation of the Constitution, the Punjab government headed by Gopichand Bhargava was dismissed under Article 356. Another three years later, in 1954, the Andhra Pradesh government was sacked as apparently the Centre feared the possibility of a Communist takeover there. But then these dismissals did not earn much reproach because the Congress party was in power in both the Centre and the states, and the dismissals had more to do with internal party squabbles.

The real misuse of Article 356 became evident when the Nehru cabinet moved against the democratically-elected Communist government in Kerala. EMS Namboodiripad had a clear majority. True, his policies involving radical land reforms and educational reforms angered the vested interest groups; and so, the Catholic Church, the Nair Service Society and the Indian Union of Muslim League joined hands to protest against the government measures. The Congress party, smarting over the loss to the Communists in the 1957 election in Kerala, backed the violent stir.

The protesters attacked government property in different parts of the state. It was a serious law and order situation. But then the grave internal disturbance was not ground enough for invoking Article 356. (The Centre owed a duty under Article 355 to protect every state against internal aggression.) Nehru admitted as much when he said on the floor of the Lok Sabha on 10 June, 1959: I am opposed to unconstitutional means at any time, anyhow, because once you adopt them, they would be justified in another context. You cannot judge things minus means.

Despite all his good intentions, Nehru finally resorted to the unconstitutional means of dismissing the CPI government on 31 July, 1959. Though some historians tell us that he could not resist the pressure by many party colleagues  mainly his own daughter, Indira Gandhi, who was the Congress president then  the burden of the crime must squarely rest with the prime minister who took the final call.

During the Kerala imbroglio, Indira had made an ominous statement, indirectly attacking her father who was emphasising constitutional means. She had said: The Constitution is for the people, not the people for the Constitution. And if the Constitution stands in the way of meeting the peoples grievances in Kerala, it should be changed.

Such a cavalier attitude to the constitutional provisions was on ample display when Indira became prime minister. All niceties were thrown to the wind and she brazenly went about dismantling the non-Congress governments elected to rule in several states. It is a terrible commentary on our democracy at work that she used Article 356 to dismiss as many as 48 opposition-ruled state governments during her tenure as prime minister.

Unlike what Rahul Gandhi tells us, people of this country and the institutions built by our founding fathers did  rather, had to  tolerate this murder of democracy being perpetrated by his grandmother, Indira Gandhi. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, did not have to act with impunity as Indira did, as the opposition had been decimated in 1984, in the aftermath of the Indira assassination, (remember, the BJP had won just two seats in the Lok Sabha and even its iconic leader Vajpayee had lost the election). Rajiv was in a position just as his grandfather, Nehru. Both, unlike Indira, did not have to face formidable opposition in the states. So their track record looks comparatively better.

But then the misuse of Article 356 was not a monopoly of the Nehru-Gandhi family alone. Other Congress prime ministers like PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh have been equally unscrupulous in resorting to this diabolical provision. Even the small-time prime ministers like VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, IK Gujral and HD Deve Gowda have been complicit in this constitutional crime.

Rahul Gandhi will do Indian democracy a lot of good if, while rightly attacking Modi, he assures the countrymen that the Congress governments under his watch will not resort to Article 356 in the future. If he does so, that will go a long way in putting a brake on the murder of democracy that he bemoans.

But does Rahul have the courage of conviction to make that pledge?
Dehradun: Reinstated as Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Harish Rawat on Thursday held the first meeting of his cabinet and decided to expedite execution of decisions taken earlier.

The cabinet meeting was held a day after President's Rule was revoked in Uttarakhand and he was reinstated as chief minister.

During the cabinet, it was decided to expedite implementation of the old decisions of the Cabinet and Government Orders, a brief communication from the information department said.

The press briefing, which was to be held after the Cabinet meeting at 12:30, was cancelled.

Rawat had regretted the heavy loss suffered by Uttarakhand due to prolonged political uncertainty in the state yesterday and promised to work hard to make up for the loss.

He had said the judiciary has restored the faith of people in democracy in Uttarakhand and pledged to start afresh forgetting the "bad patch" to take the state forward.

Rawat was yesterday restored as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 46 days after he was ousted by the Centre in a political battle that ended in a setback to Narendra Modi government as the Supreme Court put its stamp of approval on the floor test in the Assembly.

Shortly after the court's directions, the Union Cabinet recommended to the President lifting of President's Rule to enable restoration of the Rawat government.
Indian Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar's most recent visit (11 May) to Dhaka is very significant for a variety of reasons. Most important facet is the growing cases of terrorism as the extremists continue to kill the liberal bloggers maintaining a pattern of brutal modus operandi carrying a signature of Al Qaeda. Not surprisingly, Al Qaeda has also been claiming responsibility for such murders. Yet, Prime Minister Hasina says the perpetrators are just home grown terrorists. The murderers could carry any brand name but the fact remains the killings do not seem to stop. There is now an international concern as the security experts and western countries battling IS, specially the US, believe that unless they are curbed, Bangladesh will be a convenient foothold for the terrorists and it will have a cascading effect on the Indian sub continent eventually targeting US facilities in the region.

Against this backdrop, US ambassador in Dhaka, Marcia Bernicat met the Bangladeshi foreign secretary on 9 May to derive a mechanism to combat the growing terror. Earlier on 4 May, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal visited Dhaka to hold talks and deal with the problem. This indicates America's concern on the disturbing developments.

Further, US and India have possibly agreed to chalk out a joint strategy to tackle the menace. On the face of it, this looks to be a delayed plan. Coincidentally, arrival of the Indian Foreign Secretary in Dhaka was the day when war criminal, Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former cabinet minister Motiur Rahman Nizami was hanged for his war crimes. On the one hand, we see Hasina's strong resolve to punish the perpetrators of crime against humanity, yet on the other we notice the extremists enjoying a field day in fatally targeting liberals making the government machinery look hapless and clueless in stopping this trend.

It is pertinent to know that the Opposition BNP and Jamaat have been partners in the government from 2001 to 2006. They had and have the direct support of Pakistan and even of the US. BNP leader Khaleda Zia has openly supported Pakistan which indicates that Pakistan's ISI has been fuelling terror in Bangladesh. Their blueprint also carried atrocities against the Hindu minority which included forced conversions, usurping minority property and desecrating places of worship. Even a secular leader like Hasina could not control this. In sum, contradiction in dealing with the problem is visible and is lamentable. It was expected that Jaishankar in his meeting with Hasina would raise the issue of excesses on Hindu minority. We hope that the visiting foreign secretary did flag the concern by being assertive and didn't make the call seem like merely ceremonial.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said Indian foreign secretary was happy with the progress made in the power, LNG/ LPG sectors and on Land Boundary Agreements et al. Also , there was a talk of a deep sea port . These are all fine and part of 'business as usual' and routine diplomatic procedures but what about the security cooperation between the two countries? If US is on board to collaborate , then dynamics to address terrorism with intelligence sharing and investigations has to be put in place. Jaishankar's visit should not end simply on a note of nicety and protocol. It has to be conclusive with a definite road map to crush terror in Bangladesh . If this action is delayed, there may be a spillover of terror into India compounding our security problems. We hope this aspect is taken care of.

The author is an ex-IPS officer who has been following Bangladesh for the last many years. Views are personal
The whereabouts of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, wanted for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, have reportedly been found in Pakistan. Corroborating an earlier claim of Hindustan Times, CNN News18 said in a report that Ibrahim is indeed living in Pakistan. Through a sting operation, the news channel found out his address, which they claim is, D 13, Block 4, Clifton, Karachi. It is one of the five addresses mentioned in Indias dossier to Pakistan.

In the sting operation, the news channel reporters pretended to be looking for a local contractor who has borrowed money from them and is currently working at Ibrahims house. To their surprise, all the locals pointed them towards the above-mentioned place.

Even the guards of D 13 did not deny the fact that the house belonged to a man named Dawood Ibrahim. CNN News18, however, further added in their report that one of the guards saw through the pretext and asked the reporters, So what are you making this movie for?

The video released by the channel shows top angle shots of the house, where the gangster is reportedly residing. The property is barricaded on all sides and is surrounded by vacant plots of land on two sides. The report also said that there is a mosque inside the premises. CNN News 18 also claimed to have spoken to police officers who confirmed the address of Ibrahim.

In a report dated 22 August, 2015, Hindustan Times too revealed that Indian intelligence agencies were in possession of an April 2015 telephone bill addressed to D 13, Block 4, Clifton in the name of Ibrahims wife Mehjabeen. This was in response to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basits comment that even the Indian government is not sure of Dawoods whereabouts. He also urged India to share information on Dawood if you have any. It is probably time for India to do exactly that and for Basit to take note.

You can watch the CNN News18 video of the sting operation here:
United Nations: Raking up the issue of Kashmir in the UN, Pakistan said denial of fundamental human rights to Kashmiris is an "injustice" and the failure to address prolonged outstanding disputes would be seen as "double standards" practised by the world body.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said at a General Assembly debate on peace and security that it is the "duty" of the global community to ensure UN resolutions on the issue are fulfilled.

Sovereign equality of nations, settlement of international disputes by peaceful means and avoidance of the use or threat of use of force are fundamental principles entrenched in the UN Charter, said the Ambassador.

The UN, however, "will be seen to practice double standards if it continues to condone military aggression or foreign interventions, ignore persisting situations of foreign occupation and denial of the right of self-determination to people living under occupation and also if it fails to address prolonged outstanding disputes," she said here yesterday.

The Ambassador said the United Nations was created with the "very purpose to prevent and stop these injustices  injustices such as the denial of fundamental human rights to the people of Palestine and Kashmir".

"Isn't it our collective and solemn duty to keep the promises made to them through numerous resolutions of this body? How can this body command the respect it deserves if its own edicts are flouted," she said.

Lodhi added that UN member nations need some introspection as to why the Security Council is "reluctant" to refer legal disputes to the International Court of Justice.

"And if we have no credible answers to these questions except the imperatives of realpolitik, the world at large will view the United Nations as little more than a political tool in the hand of the powerful few. This impression would hardly inspire trust," she said.

Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue of Kashmir at various UN platforms but India has strongly asserted that references to Kashmir by Pakistan in UN fora is unwarranted and constitute a clear interference in its internal affairs.
Cannes: Donald Trump will never be elected US president, George Clooney said Thursday as a new film tapping into the anger fueling the bombastic tycoon's campaign premiered in Cannes.

Money Monster, directed by Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster, is a thundering indictment of casino capitalism starring Clooney as a Wall Street television pundit taken hostage live on air by an "ordinary Joe" who has lost everything on the stock market.

The thriller takes aim not just at the world of finance but also at reality television and rolling news.

Clooney said they had helped destroy real journalism, and blamed them for propelling populist politicians like Trump towards the White House.

"There is not going to be a President Donald Trump. That is not going to happen because fear is not going to drive our country," the actor told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival.

"We are not going to be scared of Muslims or immigrants or women. We are not actually afraid of anything."

Trump's campaign has been driven by a string of incendiary comments on Muslims, immigration and women.

"Trump is a result of all the news programmes that don't follow up and ask the questions," said Clooney, who plays a cynical cable news tipster who begins to question himself after a gun is held to his head.

"Twenty-four hour news doesn't mean you get more news, you just get the same news more," he claimed.

"They can put up their ratings with an empty podium saying Donald Trump is about to speak rather than take 30 seconds and talk about refugees, the biggest crisis in the world," said Clooney, who has long campaigned to highlight migrants' plight.

"Would all of the corporations fall on their knees if we did actually inform people?" asked the actor who hosted big-ticket fundraisers for Hillary Clinton last month in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for November's election.

"We have lost the ability to tell the truth and get to the facts," he claimed.

Impotent male rage

Foster, who made her first appearance at Cannes four decades ago when Taxi Driver won the Palme d'Or when she was 12, said the film keys into popular fury with the system.

The anger felt by the hostage-taker, played by British actor Jack O'Connell, is "a kind of rage that a lot of people feel about the abuses of technology, and the financial system and how they were left behind."

Asked if that meant the film backed Clinton's rival for the Democratic ticket, Bernie Sanders, Foster said, "I'm not sure if that's a Bernie issue, if anything that's more of a Trump issue."

Foster said the American men she depicted were "struggling with their sense of failure".

"They look for acceptance from these strong women they have disappointed," she said. "They are looking for the values of celebrity and of money in order to give them meaning."

Foster said that "intelligent studio movies" like "Money Monster", which goes on general release this week, "are not being made anymore".

But she insisted the public wanted to see movies "that make them think and feel and don't manipulate them".

As Clooney and co-star Julia Roberts prepared to walk the red carpet for the film's gala premiere, producers in Cannes announced that they are making a feature-length documentary of Thomas Piketty's bestselling critique of the global financial system, "Capital in the 21st Century".

Matthew Metcalfe, who was behind the hit documentaries Beyond the Edge and McLaren, said the film would be closely based on the French economist's tome, which has sold three million copies worldwide.

Foster's Money Monster had a mixed reception from industry critics.

The Hollywood Reporter called it a "preppy, upright film", while Variety praised its suspense and humour, and said that despite some odd moments "somehow the film hangs together surprisingly well, thanks to on-point performances from Clooney and Roberts."
Washington: Donald Trump brushed off his Capitol Hill critics Wednesday, declaring he doesn't need House Speaker Paul Ryan or other leery Republican leaders, even as he prepared to sit down with them. His defiant message came amid new signs that he might be right, with GOP voters becoming more willing to embrace him.

"If we make a deal, that will be great," Trump told Fox News Channel when asked about Thursday's meeting with Ryan, who has so far refused to endorse him. "And if we don't, we will trudge forward like I've been doing and winning all the time."

Trump's allies and advisers echoed his contention that he can claim the White House with or without leading congressional Republicans, who continue to express reservations about his tone and inconsistent policy prescriptions. Their public differences are overshadowing Trump's efforts to broaden his political appeal as the next phase of the 2016 contest begins.

His likely November opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, still has Senator Bernie Sanders opposing her for her party's nomination. But she all but ignored him Wednesday as she campaigned in Blackwood, New Jersey.

She focused instead on Trump's statement in an Associated Press interview that he doesn't plan to release his tax returns until an ongoing audit is completed. Should Trump not release his returns before the November election it would mark a break from precedent for presidential nominees.

"So you've got to ask yourself why doesn't he want to release it? Yeah, well, we're going to find out," Clinton told supporters.

Meanwhile, more Republican voters appear to be moving behind Trump, despite big-name holdouts such as Ryan, both former president Bushes and the party's 2012 nominee Mitt Romney.

Almost two in three Republican-leaning voters now view Trump favorably, compared to 31 percent who view him unfavorably, according to a national Gallup Poll taken last week. The numbers represent a near reversal from Gallup's survey in early March.

"Despite the contentious primary process, the party is healing itself and scabbing over," said Republican pollster Greg Strimple.

Ryan insisted Wednesday that Republican Party unity is paramount, even if he's not yet willing to endorse the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee.

"What we're trying to do is be as constructive as possible and have a real unification," Ryan said at a Capitol Hill news conference. "We have to be at full strength to win this election."

Trump is to meet with Republican leaders Thursday morning at the Republican National Committee headquarters. The private meetings represent his first tangible steps toward repairing his strained relationships with the nation's most powerful elected Republicans.

While Thursday's meetings may highlight party divisions, Trump's team sees them as a win-win.

They'd like to secure Ryan's support, but believe that signs of continued opposition from congressional Republicans would simply reinforce his outsider appeal. Additionally, Trump's team doesn't believe Ryan or the GOP's other congressional leaders have any significant influence on the majority of general election voters.

"Donald Trump is unifying the party already," said Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's chief Washington ally. "The party is the people who vote."

New York representative Chris Collins, also a Trump supporter, said the billionaire businessman would be stronger with Ryan's support, "but frankly, Donald Trump is going to win regardless of who supports him and who doesn't support him."

Wednesday night, Trump's campaign released an endorsement signed by the chairs of seven House committees. "It is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee, Mr Donald J Trump," the GOP lawmakers wrote.

While Trump's team is prepared to shrug off much of the party's establishment, that does not include the Republican National Committee.

The political novice plans to rely heavily on the committee's expansive political operation to supplement his bare-bones campaign, which has so far ignored seemingly vital functions such as voter data collection, swing-state staffing and fundraising infrastructure.

"As we turn our focus toward the general election, we want to make sure there's the strongest partnership," said Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee's chief strategist.

Absent a viable Republican alternative, there were new signs on Capitol Hill that Trump's conservative critics were beginning to fall in line.

"As a conservative, I cannot trust Donald Trump to do the right thing, but I can deeply trust Hillary Clinton to do the wrong thing every time," said Representative Trent Franks, R-Arizona, adding that he would vote for Trump if that's the choice he has.

Representative Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said he will support Trump, although "I'm not enthusiastic about it."

"He can get us enthusiastic if he comes to talk to us," continued Labrador, who is part of the House's conservative "Freedom Caucus." ''These are the people who are going to go out to the districts that he needs to win overwhelmingly so he can win the nominations."

Trump on Thursday is to meet first with Ryan and RNC chairman Reince Priebus, then have a second meeting with Ryan, this time with his House leadership team. Trump is also expected to meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Senate Republicans.

Another Trump supporter, Representative John Fleming, R-La, predicted it was "very unlikely" that Ryan would not ultimately back the Republican nominee.

"He wants to unify the Republican Party, and it all sort of begins tomorrow," Fleming said of Ryan.
Washington: Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has demoted his proposed Muslim immigration ban to a mere "suggestion".

In a radio interview with Fox News' on Wednesday, Trump softened his call to temporarily prohibit Muslims from entering the United States

"We have a serious problem. It's a temporary ban. It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on, Trump said.

But Trump did not mince words in linking Muslims to the proliferation of terrorism around the world, Politico reported.

We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world. You can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world: If they want to deny it, they can deny it. I dont choose to deny it, he said.

Trumps comments came a day after he claimed he would make an exception for Londons first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, to enter the US.

There will always be exceptions, he told The New York Times on Tuesday, while adding he was happy that Khan was elected in the city.

Khan was not impressed with Trumps gesture, saying that the Manhattan billionaire was ignorant about Islam and that he hoped he would lose the US election.

Trump has often given conflicting accounts on issues including his tax plan, abortion and transgender people accessing public toilets.

This flexibility has led to concerns among Republican Party leaders about his candidacy.

Top Republicans including House Speaker Paul Ryan have said they were not ready to support Trump in the general election.

Trump will meet Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ryan and others on Thursday in an attempt to resolve differences.
Paris: EDF will deliver a proposal to the Indian government by year's end to build six nuclear reactors, an executive at the French utility said on Thursday, in what could be the world's biggest nuclear deal.

EDF in January announced a preliminary agreement with Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd to build six EPR nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.

"India has asked us to present a complete technical and economic proposal for six EPRs by the end of this year. We are working hard on this," Xavier Ursat, EDF head of new nuclear, told shareholders at their annual general meeting.

India, more than any other country, is the place where building nuclear plants makes sense, because of its huge power demand and the need to replace polluting coal, he said.

Ursat said many countries are interested in building nuclear plants or upgrading their existing fleet and that EDF - which is acquiring the reactor building arm of Areva - is positioning itself in this market.

He said that China, where EDF is building two nuclear reactors, would build half of the world's new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years but said nothing about possible new contracts for EDF there.

He added that South Africa is preparing a nuclear tender, while in Europe Poland is looking at starting a nuclear programme and the Czech Republic is considering renewing its fleet.

Ursat said EDF's planned 18-billion-pound ($26 billion) Hinkley Point project, which he described as probably the biggest industrial project in Europe, is crucial for EDF and the French nuclear industry.

"Hinkley Point will help us continue our activities and preserve our skills base and jobs," he said.

He said that EDF's new EPR reactor in Flamanville is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, while the Hinkley Point project would pour its first concrete by mid-2019 provided a final investment decision is taken shortly.

He added that by the time Hinkley is completed, it will be time for EDF to start renewing France's fleet of 58 reactors, which were built largely in the 1980s and 1990s and have a 40-year lifespan.

Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy told shareholders that EDF needs growth in international markets because European power markets are stagnant.
United Nations: India has criticised the "disaggregated" counter-terrorism infrastructure of the UN, saying the world community has failed to address the menace of terror and there is a need to have a seamless structure in the world body to tackle the global scourge.

"Terrorism does not fit into the conventional paradigm of threats to peace and security. Yet, today it affects us all, across continents, whether we are from developing or developed world," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said at a high-level UN General Assembly thematic debate on peace and security.

He expressed concern that terror thrives on and is sustained by its trans-boundary networks for ideology, recruitment, propaganda, funding, arms training and sanctuary.

"However, the global community has failed to address this menace effectively. Here at the United Nations there is a disaggregated counter terrorism infrastructure with no effort to tie them together in a seamless weave under a high level functionary. We need to address this," Akbaruddin said.

India has been pressing for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a long-pending legal framework which would make it binding for all countries to deny funds and safe haven to terror groups.

With the objective of providing a comprehensive legal framework to combat terrorism, India took the initiative to pilot a draft CCIT in 1996 but the convention has not yet been adopted as nations have "entangled" themselves on the issue of definition of terrorism.

The Indian envoy also lamented the "endless" process of trying to reform the Security Council even as the world grapples with challenges more diverse in nature than they were when the world body was created 70 years ago.

He emphasised that the structures of global governance have to be made representative to deal with current threats and challenges or else the UN risks becoming "irrelevant".

"On the one hand we find a growing tendency where issues much broader than the conventional peace and security context are being considered as germane.

"Issues related to the international system of criminal justice, large scale human rights violations, and monitoring compliance with disarmament arrangements are brought onto the agenda of international peace and security stretching the canvas of collective action by the Security Council. At the same time, we are faced with efforts to spin issues of Reform of the Security Council in an endless manner," he said.

Akbaruddin said while technology, social media and instantaneous transfers of funds have unprecedented benefits, these very same inter-linkages are now also being used for the spread of radical propaganda, extremist ideologies, recruitment of followers beyond national boundaries and spread of terrorist networks.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday summoned Bangladeshi envoy over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, who was hanged on Tuesday over "war crimes during the 1971 separation movement".

Nizami was sent to the gallows after the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected his plea to review the death penalty. Jamaat opposed the separation movement.

"The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a strong protest was lodged at the unfortunate hanging of Motiur Rahman Nizami on the alleged crimes committed before December 1971 through a flawed judicial process," a Foreign Ministry statement reads.

"The attempts by the Government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, despite our keen desire to develop brotherly relations with it, are regrettable," the statement said.

Pakistan recalled to the envoy that the 1974 Tripartite Agreement was the cornerstone of relations between the two countries and that, as part of the Agreement, Bangladeshi government "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency".

In an earlier statement the Foreign Ministry stated that Pakistan was following the reaction of the international community and human rights organisations to the "controversial trials in Bangladesh" related to events of 1971.

The Bangladesh Jamaat said last week that Nizami was innocent as he had "no links with war crimes" in 1971. The party also said "Nizami was deprived of justice".

In Pakistan, Jammat-e-Islami staged rallies in major cities to condemn Niazmi's execution.

Pakistani parliament also criticised the execution in a resolution on Wednesday.
A screen shot of the 2016 recruiting video for the People's Liberation Army titled Battle Declaration.

The 2016 recruiting video for the People's Liberation Army titled Battle Declaration has already been watched tens of thousands of times in weeks since it was posted online. All those who have watched it will have noted the advanced, high-tech weaponry displayed.

For years, the PLA has been investing heavily to enhance its fighting capabilities, and the video shows the progress the PLA has made in modernizing its weaponry.

All the branches of PLA, namely the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force appear in the video displaying their modern technologies and equipment, demonstrating they are now a modern national defense force.

The video sends a clear signal that the old thinking that emphasized the number of military personnel rather than technology has been abandoned.

Some Western media have speculated that China is preparing for war because of the video's title. They even quote the lyrics and scenes from the video, such as the launching of missiles, to support their claim that China is belligerent.

Could they fabricate anything more absurd than that? Such videos are meant to encourage young people to join the military so they have to look exciting. If such shots signal China's belligerence, all countries that produce such military recruitment videos are belligerent.

China has never, and will never, change its defensive defense policy, which has been reiterated many times by the government and military. However, this defensive policy should not be misunderstood. Defensive does not mean that when China senses danger it will remain idle while enemies invade its territories.

China's defensive defense policy means it will never invade another country.

Considering the current global situation, China needs to adopt a proactive defensive defense policy. This video clearly signals the change in how it is implementing its defensive defense policy.

Unlike the past persuasion-style videos, the Battle Declaration video looks much more modern because it means to recruit more young people with a higher educational background. Therefore it has two main characteristics: using more popular elements, as well displaying more technology.

The video's being released in late April was also carefully considered. College students will graduate in July; the video means to encourage them to join the PLA on graduating, and it gives them a few months to think before they make their final decision.

The author is deputy general secretary of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association. This is an excerpt of his interview with China Daily's reporter Zhang Zhouxiang.
Kathmandu: Rejecting Nepal government's fresh call for talks, the agitating Madhesi Front on Thursday asked the ruling coalition to create a "conducive atmosphere" for dialogue to end the political crisis plaguing the country.

The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government of using excessive force to suppress their agitation demanding more constitutional representation.

"Government is not serious enough to address the issues raised by the agitating Madhesi parties through dialogue," the Front said and asked the government to create a "conducive atmosphere" for talks.

"(It) has used violence and excessive force to suppress the movement and turned deaf ear to the call of international community, civil society and national and international rights groups to investigate into the matter," the UDMF said adding that they would stage a sit-in at Singhdurbar, the main government secretariat complex, on Monday as part of its fresh protest programmes.

The UDMF reaction came after Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa on 8 May sent a letter inviting the Front for talks.

Madhesis, who have been violently agitating for months and had blocked all trading points with India, protest the new Constitution of Nepal, calling it discriminatory. They allege the new charter does not safeguard their political interests.

More than 50 people have died in the southern plains during their agitation, which had also crippled the landlocked country's economy as supplies from India were blocked.

The Front alleged that the Nepal government has not taken initiatives to treat those injured in the agitation and "not declared martyrs those who were killed during the agitation."

"The first amendment to the Constitution was not done as per the agreement reached between the government and the agitating (parties) but it was done only to mislead the people and the agitating groups," the joint statement said.

The Front said the government has not made public its concept regarding the 11-point demands raised by them.

"The way coalition government has made appointments to the posts of judges of the supreme court and the ambassadors to various countries, suggests that the principle of inclusiveness was totally neglected," it stated.

The Front pointed of the 21 envoys appointed, more than half were "upper-caste" Brahmins, which was contradictory to the principle of inclusiveness mention in the Constitution.

They, however, said the Front were ready for "meaningful and result-oriented talks."
Washington: The Barack Obama administration is in talks with India on understating its interest to become a member of Apec forum for 21 Pacific Rim member-economies that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region, a top US diplomat has said.

"Largely, the conversation is around better understanding of its desire for membership in Apec and India's approach and philosophy as it comes into largely economically focused body on important issues of open free and fair trade," Indian-American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said yesterday. Biswal, who is Obama administration's point person for South and Central Asia except for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was responding to a question on India's desire to become a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), which is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies promoting free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

US President Barack Obama along with the top officials of his administration has welcomed India's desire in this regard and the two countries are holding talks on this issue.

"I think those are conversations on going between the administration and the government of India and I think those conversations would help chart the path of how to move forward on Indias interest," Biswal said.

"The President has welcomed India's interest in Apec. The size of the Indian economy makes it one that we want to engage with and engage in an ambitious but constructive way.

"India's interest is one that we certainly welcome that, which we have not only heard from the President but across all the levels of our government," she said, adding that there are multiplicity of views with respect to India's entry into Apec. Recently, legislations have been introduced in the House of Representative and the Senate asking US secretary of state to develop a strategy for India becoming an Apec member.

Responding to another question on bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between India and the US, Biswal said this would greatly advance and facilitate additional American investment in India and would create a level playing field for American companies and for American investment so that there are necessary safeguards and protections for that investment. "We are already starting to see that US investment is starting to flow towards India and in fact India because surpass China is the largest destination for some segment of American investment and we are likely to see that trend

continue.

"We are in the midst of discussion on the bilateral investment treaty to ensure that there is a commitment on both sides to be able to address some of the areas of discrepancy between India's model BIT and what we see as a high standard investment treaty and were hopeful and confident that those discussions can lead to the formal launching of negotiations," Biswal added.
Islamabad: A Pakistani journalist has been brutally shot dead by the relatives of a woman for supporting her in marrying a man of her choice without the family's permission in Punjab province, sparking massive protests.

Ajmal Joyia, who was in his 30s, was going home on a motorbike when he was targeted by at least three gunmen in Lodhran district.

He was killed on Monday while his cousin, who was also riding on the same motorbike, was critically injured, police said.

"Joyia was targeted by the relatives of a woman who married a man of her choice without the permission of the family," a police official said.

He had reportedly extended his support to the beleaguered couple and was said to have approached district authorities to provide the couple with adequate security, reports said.

Police have arrested one of the killers while two others were still at large.

Journalists in various cities of Punjab organised protests against the killing and demanded arrest of the killers and financial compensation for Joyia's family.

Honour killings are common in Pakistan and women defying family for love or marriage are often killed. Sometimes those supporting such couple are also targeted.

Last month, a teenaged girl was killed and her body was burnt in Abbotabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for allegedly helping her friend run away with a boy and marry him.
VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has agreed to set up a commission into whether women could serve as deacons, local media reported on Thursday, a potentially historic move that could end male dominance of the Roman Catholic clergy.

Deacons are ordained clerics who sit just behind priests in the Church hierarchy. They can preach and officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but are not allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick.

Attending an international meeting of nuns at the Vatican, the pope was asked why women could not serve as deacons, with one delegate suggesting it would be a good idea to create a commission to study the issue.

"I think so. It would be good for the church to clarify this point. I agree," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA. A Vatican spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny the comments.

The Church teaches that women cannot become priests because Jesus willingly chose only men as his apostles. However, St. Paul refers in the bible to a deaconess called Phoebe, leading liberal Catholics to argue that there is clear precedent for women to play a much more important role in Church life.

Conservative Catholics would likely put up fierce resistance to any such a move, eager to preserve clear and separate roles for men and women within the Church.

Pope Francis has stirred concern amongst traditionally minded Catholics over what they perceive as his liberal leanings on a range of issues, from divorce to the use of contraception.

Earlier this year he overturned centuries of tradition that banned women from a foot-washing service during Lent, upsetting conservatives and delighting women's rights activists.

Speaking to the nuns on Thursday, the Argentinian pontiff said he had once discussed the role of female deacons in the early Church with a professor but remained uncertain about the question. "It was a bit obscure," he said.

(Writing by Crispian Balmer Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Kochi: Twenty-nine Indians, including six families from Kerala, rescued after being stranded in strife-torn Libya, will return home in two days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

"I have some good news for you. Six families from Kerala and three Tamil Nadu residents, who were stranded in Libya, will return home safely tomorrow or day after. In total 29 persons have been rescued," he told a BJP election meeting in nearby Tripunithura.

The BJP-led NDA government has been 'very proactive' whenever Indian nationals are in distress, he said referring to the rescue of nurses in libya and of Fr Prem from the clutches of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The government had also succeeded in getting commuted the death sentence of five Tamil Nadu fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan prison.

"They have been saved and they are happily living with their families," he said, adding they met him during his election rally on Wednesday in Tamil Nadu.
BAGHDAD A day after the year's deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital, supporters of a Shi'ite cleric took to the streets of Baghdad on Thursday to denounce the government for failing to protect them, escalating political confrontation that could doom the ruling coalition.

Suicide attacks on Wednesday killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 110 others, including civilians and security forces. Two more blasts claimed by Islamic State on Thursday left two policemen dead west of Baghdad.

The highest death toll was in Sadr City, a bastion of powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has led protests in Baghdad since February demanding Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi replace politically-affiliated ministers with independent technocrats.

Hundreds of demonstrators protested in the poor district on Thursday, carrying placards denouncing Abadi, his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki and other top political figures, arguing that the entrenched political class had left them undefended.

"There needs to be a serious stance against all failed, corrupt security commanders who didn't protect the lives of innocent civilians and their property," said Ali al-Mahamdawi, 28, a protester and religion student.

"They protect and fortify the Green Zone but not their own sons," he said, of the heavily-secured sector on the banks of the Tigris that Iraq's government inherited from occupying U.S. forces.

Security has improved somewhat in the capital in recent years, even as Islamic State fighters seized swathes of the country almost reaching Baghdad's ramparts.

But the prospect raised by this week's carnage that Baghdad could return to the days when suicide bombings killed scores of people every week adds to pressure on Abadi to resolve the political crisis, or risk losing control of parts of the capital even as the army fights Islamic State in the provinces.

PRESSURE ON ABADI

Sadr's followers argue that the corrupt political system has undermined the fight against the Sunni Muslim militants, and have called for armed neighbourhood groups to take over from police patrolling city areas.

A Sadrist lawmaker even suggested that corrupt factions in the government may have been somehow responsible for Wednesday's bombings to punish people for demonstrating.

"The bombing that targeted the poor people in Sadr City reflect their legitimate demands for the removal of the corrupt, the partisans and those who want to hold onto their positions," Hakim al-Zamili said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Interior Ministry accused Zamili of spreading lies and said Sadr followers were contributing to the insecurity through protests that divert police resources.

The Sadrists were "putting the people's security at risk and causing them to worry every day, forcing the security services to mobilise a large part of their resources," the ministry said in a statement.

The interior minister belongs to the Badr Organization, one of Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite militias, which has grown in influence by helping to lead the fight against Islamic State, but which Sadr criticises for taking orders from Iran and defending party political interests.

Prime Minister Abadi, who took power after Islamic State fighters swept through Sunni areas of the country in a lightning offensive in 2014, has vowed to reduce the influence of sectarian political parties including from his own Shi'ite majority. But he depends on a coalition of powerful Shi'ite parties to retain power.

Abadi has proposed a technocrat cabinet, but parliament has failed to approve it. Lawmakers scuffled inside the chamber a month ago and have not convened a session since Sadrist demonstrators stormed the parliament building two weeks later.

Sadr, scion of a family of influential Shi'ite clerics -- Baghdad's mostly poor Shi'ite Sadr City district is popularly named for his father and father-in-law, both grand ayatollahs killed under Saddam Hussein -- gained influence during after Saddam's fall as an outspoken opponent of U.S. occupation.

He has lately reemerged as a foe of mainstream political parties, which mainly have sectarian roots and have divided power among themselves since U.S. troops pulled out in 2011.

The return of large scale bloodshed to the capital helps his argument that the governing factions have lost their grip.

"Yesterday's security blunders put pressure not only on Abadi but the entire political process," said Baghdad-based analyst Ahmed al-Sharifi. "All the blocs are responsible and subject to blame for what is happening."

LARGER ROLE FOR MILITIAS

Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, a senior Shi'ite member of parliament and former national security adviser, said he expected Shi'ite militias would push for a larger role in securing Baghdad as a result of the bombing. That would undermine Abadi's longterm goal of restoring more power to the regular army and police.

Asked if he thought militias would perform better than Iraqi security forces, Rubaie said: "They probably will."

Hatem Albu Ghunaima, a leader in Sadr's armed group, said: "Areas must be protected by local groups and not just here (in Sadr city). It should be in all of Baghdad and other provinces where the security situation is bad."

The deployment of additional militia fighters in Baghdad, which happened briefly this month after Sadr's supporters stormed into the Green Zone, raises the prospect of clashes between the competing groups.

The conflict is crippling state institutions and threatens to undermine U.S.-backed efforts to defeat Islamic State as well as international efforts to keep the major OPEC producer from bankruptcy amid low oil prices.

Parliament speaker Saleem al-Jabouri called for political parties to unite in the face of Wednesday's attacks: "The security of Iraq is more important than political considerations and personal interests."

Since 2014, Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led air strikes have driven Islamic State back in the western province of Anbar and are preparing for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul. A government spokesman said on Wednesday Islamic State had lost two-thirds of the territory it seized in 2014.

Yet the militants are still able to strike outside territory they control.

"Who is accountable for yesterday's events? Is it only Daesh?" said Rubaie, using an acronym for Islamic State. "We are fighting Daesh, we know they are the enemy. They're bound to do it. But what about us? What have we done?"

(Additional reporting by Maher Chmaytelli and Saif Hameed; editing by Peter Graff)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump went on a charm offensive on Thursday to try to win the party establishment's support for his insurgent candidacy, but top Republican Paul Ryan stopped short of endorsing him.

Trump was on his best behavior on a day of meetings with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He listened patiently as they raised concerns about his tone and the need to try to appeal to Hispanic voters.

He avoided strident language like the frequent criticism he has lobbed from the campaign trail, that many lawmakers are awestruck by the corridors of power and forget why they were sent to Washington.

"The whole discussion was very solid, reasonable and a warm and winning discussion," said U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. "I think you're going to find hes going to be better and better all the time.

Trump's day in Washington was aimed at laying to rest some of the concerns that persist among Republicans about his incendiary tone and some policy proposals that violate party doctrine.

The New York billionaire, who needs the party behind him in order to have a chance at winning the Nov. 8 election, has vowed to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country and impose trade protectionist policies.

Trump held an hour-long session with Ryan, who as speaker of the House of Representatives is the top U.S. elected Republican and can hold sway with many establishment Republicans leery of Trump.

"This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification," Ryan and Trump said in a joint statement.

The usually loquacious Trump was restrained, issuing a tweet in which he said: "Things working out really well!" before flying home to New York.

Party leaders are normally eager to rally around a presidential nominee to combine forces for the battle leading up to the general election. But Ryan has withheld his endorsement of Trump out of concern over the businessman's conservative credentials.

In remarks to reporters after the meeting, the congressman said he was encouraged by the session but that more work will be needed.

"There's no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences. We talked about those differences today," Ryan said at his weekly news conference. "I do believe we are planting the seeds in getting ourselves unified."

Ryan, who may harbor aspirations of running for president in 2020 or later, noted that he represents a wing of the conservatives and that it is positive that Trump is bringing new voters into the party.

TONE IT DOWN

Despite his problems in winning over senior Republicans, Trump received a boost on Wednesday when a Reuters/Ipsos national poll showed him pulling even with likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The online survey found 41 percent of likely voters supporting Clinton and 40 percent backing Trump.

Later on Thursday, Trump went into a meeting with Senate Republican leaders, where he posed for photos with them and heard concerns about his campaign rhetoric but appeared to make some progress in tempering concerns about him.

"Everyone here wants you to win," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told him at the Senate session, a source said.

U.S. Senator Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia urged Trump to be careful in his tone. U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, a former U.S. Trade Representative, urged caution on his rhetoric against trade deals.

The issue of tone did come up," said U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who said he gave some advice to Trump on the importance of the Hispanic vote and the whole idea of distinguishing between illegal immigration and legal immigration.

Even U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina softened a bit. Graham dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year and had said the choice between Trump and rival Ted Cruz was like trying to decide between being "shot or poisoned."

He said he had a "cordial, pleasant conversation" on the phone with Trump on Wednesday.

"I know Mr. Trump is reaching out to many people, throughout the party and the country, to solicit their advice and opinions. I believe this is a wise move on his part," said Graham.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan, Emily Stephenson, Doina Chiacu, Susan Cornwell, Patrica Zengerle, David Morgan; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
London: A British petition against forcing women to wear high heels at work topped more than 100,000 signatories on Thursday, meaning it will be considered for debate in parliament.

The petition was launched on Monday by Nicola Thorp, 27, who turned up to work at consultancy PwC in December in flat shoes, but was told she had to have two-to-four-inch (five-to-10-centimetre) heels.

When she refused, and pointed out that her male colleagues were not required to do the same, she was told to go home without pay, she said.

"Make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work," the petition is titled.

"It's still legal in the UK for a company to require female members of staff to wear high heels at work against their will," it says.

"Dress code laws should be changed so that women have the option to wear flat formal shoes at work, if they wish. Current formal work dress codes are out-dated and sexist."

Thorp, an actress between jobs, was employed as a temporary worker by Portico, PwC's outsourced reception firm.

Portico said Thorp had "signed the appearance guidelines", but said they had now changed their policy to make it clear that flat shoes were allowed.

Companies can tell employees what to wear for reasons including health and safety, and maintaining a corporate image.

Thorp told the BBC: "The supervisor said... 'we only have women in heels at reception', and I said, 'well, I think that is ridiculous'.

"I pointed to a male colleague and said, 'well, he is wearing flat shoes, why can't I?', and of course that is laughed at.

"They then said to me, 'you can go out and buy a pair of heels if you like, we will let you work'. I refused and was sent home."

After passing more than 10,000 signatures, the petition is already due to receive a government response.
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron has apologised to a former imam for "any misunderstanding",

weeks after he accused the Muslim cleric of supporting the dreaded Islamic State terror group.

Cameron was criticised last month after he accused London newly elected mayor Sadiq Khan of sharing a platform with Suliman Gani, claiming the ex-imam was a supporter of the Islamic State.

"Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS," Cameron had said during the London mayoral campaign.

"In reference to the prime minister's comments on Suliman Gani, the prime minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic State. The prime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding," a Downing Street spokesman said yesterday.

Cameron's apology came after Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also said sorry to Gani, a former Tooting Imam who threatened legal action against him for repeating Cameron's accusations in a radio interview.

A spokesman for Fallon told the 'Mirror' he had simply quoted BBC presenter Andrew Neil and was 'unaware of the clarification'.

"Had he been aware, he would not of course have quoted him and as soon he became aware he put the record straight. He naturally apologises for this inadvertent error," the spokesman said.

Gani, a Conservative supporter, has stressed that he 'openly condemned the barbarity and monstrosity of Isis'.

He said he had never supported IS and now fears for his family's safety in light of the untrue accusation.

He also said he had already been subjected to verbal abuse by strangers in the street, who shouted "terrorist supporter" at him.

"In relation to David Cameron saying in Parliament that I support IS, I understand that he can do this despite it being untrue and at the same time avoid any legal implications by relying on Parliamentary privilege," Gani, had tweeted.
United Nations: Rwanda and the Netherlands, two countries embroiled in the UN's worst peacekeeping failures, have launched a push at the United Nations for blue helmets to more readily use force to defend civilians in conflicts.

The initiative seeks to persuade countries that contribute troops to UN peacekeeping to agree to more robust action and more readily intervene instead of staying behind the high walls of their UN compounds.

"The blue flag needs to stand for protection and it doesn't always," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told the gathering at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

The failure of Dutch peacekeepers to defend Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995 has been a source of shame for the Netherlands, which has recently returned to UN peacekeeping by sending troops to Mali.

At the UN meeting, countries were urged to endorse the so-called Kigali principles, a pledge that troops in UN missions will take military action against "armed actors with clear hostile intent to harm civilians."

"We are starting a movement today," said Rwanda's Ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana, who stressed the aim was to "save lives".

"The failures of our past should not dictate our future," he added.

Rwanda, which was abandoned by UN peacekeepers during the 1994 genocide, has become of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping with some 6,000 troops and police serving under the UN flag.

Only 29 countries have so far agreed to endorse the principles including key troop-contributors Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

Two other major peacekeeping nations, India and Pakistan, are not among the signatories and three permanent Security Council members  Britain, France and Russia  have yet to come on board.

US Ambassador Samantha Power cited a 2014 UN report that showed peacekeepers had failed to use force in response to some 500 attacks against civilians from 2010 and 2013.

"We continue to see units retreat instead of standing their ground," said Power.

The United States endorses the principles and is urging the United Nations to give preference to countries that back them to serve in peacekeeping missions, she said.

Some 106,000 troops from 123 countries are deployed in peacekeeping missions worldwide, most of which include the protection of civilians in their mandates agreed by the Security Council.
Park Inn by Radisson, a midscale hotel brand, has announced the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Diamond Barranquilla, Colombia, located at Calle 85 No 47-11. This is the brand's fourth location in Colombia.

"We are pleased to see continued growth of the Park Inn by Radisson brand in Latin America," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. "The brand is dedicated to providing a friendly, positive, vibrant and uncomplicated stay experience and this hotel is ready to do just that."

Whether guests are visiting for business or pleasure Barranquilla's rich heritage has plenty to offer. It's world-famous Carnival celebration has been recognized by UNESCO as a "masterpiece" of culture, and BarranquiJazz in September is one of the Caribbean's best jazz festivals. The hotel's location north of Barranquilla is close to Street 84 which offers renowned restaurants and nightlife, and the Buenavista Mall and other prime shopping venues. Historic landmarks, including the Customs Building and Caribbean Culture Park, are within a few kilometers, as well as the Barranquilla Zoo.

"We are excited to begin welcoming guests to the Park Inn by Radisson Diamond," said the hotel's owner, Nelsy Maria Bello, "The hotel's location, coupled with the hotel's accommodations and amenities are perfect for business and leisure guests alike."

The hotel offers 86 guest rooms with city views, spacious floor plans and access to free high-speed Internet. Each guestroom features fresh and vibrant aesthetics to create a colorful and welcoming environment where guests can feel at ease.

The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, sauna and a Turkish bath to help guests relax as well as a full service fitness facility. The hotel provides convenient airport transportation and on-site parking. Guests can start or end their day with delicious Colombian and international dishes from the hotel's on-site restaurant, RBG Bar & Grill. The restaurant serves complimentary breakfast to all guests as well as 24-hour room service.

In addition, the property offers meeting and event space and services, including a 300-seat auditorium and a 300-square-meter conference as well as a private meeting room for 10. The hotel's meeting and events specialists are available to assist in planning all of the details including catering and audiovisual needs.

About Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 550 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol.

More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Hartland fire incident found to be shooting, murder-suicide

The two adults and four children were all found to have gunshot wounds.
While most Year 12 students were focused on their HSC, north shore teenager Claudia Studdert was thinking about starting up her own business.

"Basically the second I finished my last HSC exam, I went into full-on business planning mode, and by January I was ready to go out and win my first clients," said the 19-year-old, who left Pymble Ladies' College last year.

Even she was surprised by how quickly her digital marketing firm took off. She's studying part time at UTS for a double degree in medical science and business, but works full-time managing online marketing for her clients. Her business, Media Connect Consultancy, is doing so well that she just bought her first car.

"I had previously done some work in retail and I absolutely hated taking orders from other people and being set in my working hours and what I could and couldn't do," Ms Studdert said.
The "street walk", as it is known to those in the biz, is perhaps the riskiest piece of campaign theatre.

It's the plainest measure of a politician's name-recognition and ability to interact with human beings in the wild.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and deputy leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop surprises Colleen Bliim at the hairdressers. Credit:Louise Kennerley

There may be no better test than Campbelltown's Queen Street, which is long, wide and lined with potential hazards for members of the political class.
A TRIO of young, physically fit men whose getaway cars of choice are high-performance European vehicles such as Audis and BMWs are believed to be behind a spate of armoured vehicle robberies in Sydney.

Their weapons of choice include a pistol, sawn-off shotgun and a high-powered automatic Russian military AK-47 assault rifle.

Hit...van at Cranbrook. Credit:James Brickwood

They even wear body armour for protection under jackets with balaclavas and gloves to mask their identities.

These are the similarities that have lead armed robbery squad detectives to believe they are dealing with the same gang responsible for five robberies on armoured cars across Sydney that have netted almost $6 million since February.
A Chinese student missing in Sydney has been spotted in the coastal suburb of Coogee.

Police say 23-year-old Zhejuan Huang was seen on Arden St in Coogee about 4pm on Tuesday, and may have taken a walk on the esplanade around the city's eastern beaches.

Found: Chinese student Zhejuan Huang. Credit:NSW Police

Before Tuesday's sighting, Ms Huang had not been seen or heard from since she attended an inner-Sydney church on Sunday afternoon, and police say they are concerned for her welfare.

The University of Sydney student's mobile phone records could prove vital in the search for the missing woman, police said.
The Baird government's announcement on Thursday also revealed it had shied away from merging a number of politically contentious regions. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, facing a tough fight for the seat of New England, had argued against a proposed merger of Tamworth and Walcha councils. Those councils will be spared amalgamation. Also spared amalgamation are Hawkesbury and The Hills shire council in north-west Sydney, and Kiama and Shoalhaven council. Delegates appointed by the government to assess those mergers advised against them. The Deputy Premier, Nationals MP Troy Grant said he had spoken to Mr Joyce about the proposed Tamworth and Walcha merger "on two occasions" but denied he had done the deputy prime minister a favour.

"He just outlined his concerns in relation to Walcha being part of the merger process," Mr Grant said. "This happened well after I had already attended Walcha and sat down with the Walcha Council and formed my own views." Nine mergers, including the proposed amalgamation of Botany and Rockdale, have also been postponed while legal action is underway. Mr Baird said he could not control the outcome of those challenges. "There's a group of councils that seem to be determined to hang on to head office costs, hang on to more councils, rather than say to their community... I think you would want more childcare, you want more community transport, you want better sporting facilities." The Premier described the four-year process leading to the creation of new councils as "long as well as painful at times" but one that had involved a lot of consultation.

"Ultimately what we have to do is make a decision," Mr Baird said. "And today is that day," he said. "I strongly believe the people have us here to make decisions. Now we think this is in the long-term interests of every rate-payer in this state." Each new council will receive up to $10 million to meet the costs of merging, plus up to $15 million for investment in new community infrastructure. However the process of establishing new councils remains unclear. The administrators appointed to run the new organisations will appoint "Implementation Advisory Groups" made up of former mayors and councillors. "Any councillor or any mayor that wants to participate in this, and I don't care about their political badge, anyone that wants to play a constructive role in this, they can," Mr Baird said.

Mr Toole said "inductions" would take place over the weekend with administrators and newly appointed interim general managers. Mr Toole said the administrators would "take on the functions" of previous mayors and councillors, though there would be some limit to this. "The administrator cannot go out to councils and change local environmental plans," Mr Toole said. "If they are to be looked at differently they must go to a planning authority." Outgoing Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne said: "Winter has come to the inner west and like Ned Stark the heads of democratically elected representatives have been chopped off. "If Mike Baird and Paul Toole think that by arrogantly imposing their will on the inner west that the have finished this fight, they have got another thing coming," Mr Byrne said. A review of the merged councils would be conducted in four years.

As part of the reforms, Mr Baird also revealed new rules to curb the influence of property developers on councils. New councils: Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra) Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury) Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong)

City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby) Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd) Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin) Federation Council (Corowa and Urana) Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)

Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai) Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River) Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young) Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville) Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree)

Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool) Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee) Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah) Queanbeyan-Palerange Regional Council (Queanbeyan and Palerang) Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba)

Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington) Subject to the decisions of the courts, the Minister has announced his in-principle support for the following mergers: Botany and Rockdale Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Bathurst and Oberon

Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby Blayney, Cabonne and Orange Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield
The number of Americans trying to travel overseas to join Islamic State militants has dropped since last year, FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday.

The FBI used to encounter "six, eight, 10'' such Americans per month in 2014 and the first half of 2015. But since then, agents have tracked an average of one person a month trying to travel, or actually traveling, to join the extremist group in the Middle East.

"There's no doubt that something has happened that is lasting, in terms of the attractiveness of the nightmare which is the Islamic State to people from the United States,'' Comey told reporters at a news conference.

While he gave no explanation for the decline, Comey said the terrorists were continuing their efforts to recruit "troubled souls."

The FBI has investigated more than 1,000 cases to determine a person's level of radicalization and potential for violence, Comey said. About 80 percent involve Islamic State.

"There's still a presence online, and troubled people are still turning to this and at least being interested in it,'' he said.

Comey made the remarks as three Somali men went on trial in Minnesota, accused of trying to travel to Syria to join Islamic State.

Mohamed Farah, Abdirahman Daud and Guled Omar are charged with conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State and commit murder outside the United States.

They are part of a group of 10 who faced similar federal charges. Six individuals connected to the Minneapolis case have pleaded guilty, and one reportedly has already gone to Syria.
The majority of the worlds refugees live in Africa, and there is a need for a new deal when it comes to their interests, International Rescue Committee President David Miliband said Thursday.

"The debate should not be yes or no to camps, Miliband said, following visits to two large refugee camps slated for closure in Kenya. The issue is finding something better than camps for the long-term displaced.

The Kenyan government said this week that it would go ahead with plans to close the Dadaab and Kakuma camps within the shortest time possible.

Kenya hosts more than a half-million refugees, with about three-fourths from Somalia, and most of the others from South Sudan. Conflict continues in both countries.

Opened in 1991

The Dadaab refugee camp was opened in 1991. About 100,000 of Dadaab's current residents were born there and do not know any other place, Miliband said.

There is a danger that people only think about the European refugee crisis, he said, adding that Kenya has shown "enormous resilience and fortitude" in hosting refugees for the past 25 years. He also noted that conflicts in the Middle East have further squeezed international aid budgets.

Kenyas interior ministry said al-Shabab terrorists have used the Dadaab camp, home to an estimated 328,000 Somali refugees, to plan and train for attacks, like the one at Nairobis Westgate Mall, where 67 people were killed in September 2013.

Somalias foreign ministry disputes that claim and said closing the camps would amplify security threats in the region.

'Taking advantage'

If you bring children and young people to Jubba Valley [southern Somalia], the extremists could be taking advantage of them, either harming them or recruiting them, Foreign Minister Abdisalam Hadliye Omar told VOAs Somali service Thursday.

Kenya has threatened to close the refugee camps in the past, most recently in 2015 and 2013, but has never followed through.

The United Nations has expressed "profound concern about the governments plans. In a statement this week, the U.N. said the safety of hundreds of thousands of refugees hinges on Kenya's generosity.

Kenya's government said the international community must take steps to minimize the refugees pain and suffering, acknowledging that the closures will cause them harm.
Kenya is drawing up a timetable for closing the Dadaab refugee camp, home to about 350,000 Somali refugees, the interior minister announced Wednesday.

Having suffered multiple attacks claimed by the Islamist Somali group al-Shabab, Kenya has set up a taskforce to handle the closure plan, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said.

"They will present the timetable based on all the resources required," he told a news conference, adding that the country had already allocated state funds to proceed with the program. "The government has commenced the exercise of closing the complex of Dadaab refugee camp."

He did not specify whether new action other than the existing voluntary repatriation program had been taken.

Kenya announced Friday that it would close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps "within the shortest time possible," citing security concerns, particularly from al-Shabab, a Somali-backed Islamist group that has carried out several mass attacks in Kenya. It said that hosting the refugees, who are mostly from Somalia, posed "immense security challenges."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry released a statement Wednesday expressing deep concern about the decision, urging Kenya "to maintain its longstanding leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma...and not forcibly repatriate refugees."

The United Nations also released a statement this week saying that it viewed the plans by Kenya's government with "profound concern." It urged the government to "avoid taking any action that might be at odds with its international obligations" and said the safety of hundreds of thousands of refugees hinges on Kenya's generosity.

Kenya's government Friday acknowledged its decision will cause harm to the refugees and said the international community must take steps to minimize their pain and suffering.

The country hosts about 600,000 refugees in all. About three-fourths are from Somalia, with most of the others coming from South Sudan.

Kenya's government has threatened to close the refugee camps in the past, but never followed through.

Al-Shabab has carried out several major attacks on Kenyan territory, most notably the 2013 attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall that killed 67 people and the 2015 attack on a college in the town of Garissa that killed 148.

Al-Shabab began launching attacks in Kenya after Kenyan troops entered Somalia to fight the militant group in 2011.
Thursdays world summit on fighting corruption was a time for Britain and the United States to look at their own policies and their role as shelters for billions of dollars stolen by corrupt politicians in developing countries.

The London summit shifted the focus on global corruption, turning the spotlight of blame away from African generals, oligarchs and corrupt dictators and toward the rich countries, whose banks and real estate brokers have been the benefactors of the stolen wealth of nations.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced measures, including a public register intended to force companies to name their real owners  a step that British government officials claim will be the first of its kind.

Why I think this matters so much is that I believe that corruption is the cancer at the heart of so many problems we need to tackle in our world. If we want to see countries escape poverty and become wealthy, we need to tackle corruption, Cameron said.

Hidden in banks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said tens of billions of dollars in stolen money  funds that that could be used for education or building bridges in underdeveloped lands  instead are hidden in banks in countries including ours.

We are fighting a battle  all of us  for our states, for our countries, for our nation state. Corruption is as much of an enemy because it destroys nation states as some of the extremists we are fighting, Kerry told delegates at the summit.

"The extremism we see in the world today comes in no small degree from the utter exasperation that people have with the sense that the system is rigged," the top American diplomat said. "And we see this anger manifesting itself in different forms in different elections around the world  including ours."

'The world has changed'

The one-day meeting drew leaders from Afghanistan, Colombia, Nigeria and other countries. British officials said the aim was to step up global action to expose, punish and drive out corruption at all levels of society.

If we were having this anti-corruption summit 10 years ago, we would have been talking about African kleptocrats, the theft of state assets from the people, said Alex Cobham of the Tax Justice Network, a British advocacy group. Now, he said, the world has changed.

Were really thinking about the providers of the financial secrecy that dont just facilitate but actively drive corruption of different sorts all around the world, Cobham told VOA.

In the background of the summit are the so-called Panama Papers, leaked documents that reveal how and where the worlds powerful hide their money.

For Cameron, the revelations hit home, showing how his late father ran an offshore fund to avoid paying British taxes. The prime minister eventually said that he, too, had a stake in the dealings.

The Panama Papers disclosures fueled calls for reforms in Britains offshore possessions after it was learned that more than half of the 210,000 companies exposed were registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The Panama Papers named relatively few Americans and no high-ranking public officials.

US an area of concern

But anti-corruption advocates see the United States as a major area of concern about tax evasion and money laundering, in states such as Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming, which have been criticized for allowing corporations to be formed inexpensively and secretively.

Kerry said a proposed law will force companies formed in the U.S. to report complete information about their owners, and a rule will require banks to keep records on the true owners of their corporate customers.

Washington and London see combating corruption as a matter of legitimacy and security, analysts say, especially in the wake a decade of financial crises that have reduced millions of people to poverty, unemployment and frustration.

Tim Evans, a professor of political economy at Londons Middlesex University, sees the summit  and, more broadly, the drive to combat corruption  as a sign of concern among the elite nations.

Theyre worried at the loss of legitimacy that will come from rich and powerful people being able to evade taxes and get away with it. So, I think theres huge pressure on elites to be seen to be engaging the subject and to be doing something about it," Evans said.

Given some of the things, some of the riots and problems weve seen in Europe and in the United States in recent years, the politicians are fearful, and theyre becoming focused on trying to rebuild trust and transparency, he told VOA.

The summit got off to a somewhat awkward start after cameras overheard the British prime minister describing Afghanistan and Nigeria as fantastically corrupt.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who has led an aggressive anti-corruption campaign in his country, praised Camerons decision to hold the summit. Members of the Nigerian delegation did not discuss the prime minister's comments.

During the summit, Buhari said to Cameron: I thank you very much for your courage for taking the opportunity to mobilize us and take this very, very topical and serious subject. Corruption is one of the greatest enemies of our time."
The presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee, real estate mogul Donald Trump, and the party's top elected official, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, voiced confidence after meeting Thursday they would eventually unite in their campaign against the likely Democratic nominee, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

But the scene outside the Republican National Committee where the two men met more closely resembled the raucous, unpredictable presidential contest that brought them here: lawmakers jumped fences, a bagpiper drowned out religious protestors and a group of undocumented immigrants held a mock funeral for the party.

Ryan, who said last week that he was "just not ready" to endorse Trump's maverick campaign, again did not fully embrace his candidacy. But Ryan declared that he was "very encouraged" about unifying with Trump.

"I do believe we are planting the seeds to get ourselves unified," Ryan said. "But this is a process. It takes time. It's very important that we don't fake unification."

For the horde of national and international reporters waiting outside, the wait was long and substance limited.

Trump refrained from his usual propensity for making comments to the media, eluding even the cameras when he departed after the meeting. He was headed for talks with other Republican lawmakers, some of whom have endorsed him and others of whom remain skeptical of his political views and electoral chances against Clinton in the race to become the country's 45th president.

Trump and Ryan said in a joint statement that they "remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win" November's national presidential election. The two political figures said that "while we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground."

Trump and Ryan said, "The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why it's critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall."

Preiebus said in a Twitter message, "The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity."

Front-runner status

Trump has won nearly 11 million votes from Republicans in the state-by-state nominating contests for his call to deport 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, a vow to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out more migrants, and a proposal to temporarily stop Muslims from entering the U.S.

In the months-long campaign, Trump, who has never held elective office, defeated 16 other Republican contenders, many of them current or former governors and senators.

But some prominent Republicans, including the party's last two White House occupants, President George H.W. Bush and his son, President George W. Bush, have declined to endorse him. Meanwhile, some other party officials who backed Trump's opponents in the presidential nominating contest have now switched their allegiance to the one-time television reality show host who has never held elective office.

What Ryan wants

Ahead of the meeting, Ryan said he would not support Trump until he changes his sometimes harsh campaign rhetoric and voices support for traditional conservative Republican policies. Ryan and some other Republicans are at odds with Trump over his anti-immigration stands, his characterization of Mexican migrants as rapists and drug abusers, and his past denigrating comments about some women, veterans who have been captured as prisoners of war and people with disabilities.

Ryan is slated to chair the party's July national convention, where Trump will be formally nominated. Ryan offered to abandon that ceremonial role if Trump wanted him to, but the Republican front-runner said that he wants him to keep it.

Clinton vs Trump

Trump is facing a difficult national election campaign against Clinton. Six months ahead of the November 8 vote, national surveys show her with about a 6-percentage point lead over Trump.

The winner of the election will succeed President Barack Obama, a Democrat, when he leaves office in January after eight years in the White House.


Philippine leader Benigno Aquino III had called this weeks election a referendum on his straight path style of reformist governance, but his candidate lost by millions of votes to a shoot-from-the-lip mayor.

And if the vice presidency goes to a son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted 30 years ago by a revolt led by Aquinos mother, that will cloud the political legacy of a family that has been regarded as a bulwark against authoritarianism.

An unofficial tally of Mondays votes shows Sen. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. closely trailing Aquino-backed Rep. Leni Robredo in a cliffhanger vice presidential race.

Aquino campaigned against tough-talking Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has won the presidency by a wide margin based on the unofficial count, and Bongbong Marcos, warning both could be looming dictators. He said they could set back the countrys democracy and economic momentum achieved in his six-year term, which ends in June.

Aquino, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, remains popular  indeed, his approval ratings are among the highest for a departing Philippine president in the post-Marcos dictatorship era. But the rise of Duterte, whose tough talk has reinforced perceptions that he could become a strongman, is a reality check on the extent of public dissatisfaction and perceived failures during the reformist Aquinos watch.

The disaffection may have been felt mostly by the growing middle class, said Julio Teehankee, dean of a college dealing with political science and international relations at Manilas De La Salle University.

Under Aquino, the government expanded a program that provides cash to the poorest of the poor in exchange for commitments by parents to ensure their children would attend classes and receive government health care. Big business, meanwhile, benefited from government partnership deals that allowed them to finance major infrastructure projects such as highways and airports for long-term gain.

The middle-class, Teehankee said, felt shortchanged.

He said they must endure maddening traffic by land and air, infrastructure problems, taxes that are high relative to the Philippines neighbors and even whats known as the bullet drop racket. Many travelers have accused Manila airport personnel of slipping bullets into their luggage, then extorting money from them in exchange for not being criminally prosecuted.

Aquino won a landslide victory in 2010 on a promise to fight corruption and poverty, which afflicts more than a fourth of the more than 100 million Filipinos. But his victory was also seen as a protest vote due to widespread exasperation with the scandals that rocked the presidency of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is currently detained on corruption charges.

The expectations were high and while Aquino moved against corruption  detaining Arroyo and three powerful senators over corruption allegations  and initiated anti-poverty programs, the problems remain daunting.

Critics have also pounded on what they say were his administrations bungling of a number of crises, including a Manila bus hostage crisis that ended with the shooting deaths of eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong by a disgruntled police officer, and delays in recovery efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Aquino backed Mar Roxas in the presidential election. Roxas served as the presidents transport secretary and later interior secretary, leading departments that were regularly criticized.

On the campaign trail, Aquino and Roxas highlighted how the governments anti-corruption drive and other reforms allowed the Philippines to register one of the highest growth rates in Asia from 2010 to last year. Once regarded as the sick man of Asia, they said the country is now considered Asias bright star.

Duterte won voters with promises to wipe out crime and corruption within six months, although police officials say that would be almost impossible to accomplish.

If Bongbong Marcos becomes vice president, that might be a more bitter pill for Aquino to swallow.

Last February, Aquino evoked horrific memories of Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship in a speech marking the anniversary of the 1986 people power revolt led by his mother, Corazon Aquino. His father, anti-Marcos politician Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983 while under military custody at the Manila airport, which now bears his name.

The younger Aquino railed against Marcos Jr.s refusal to clearly apologize for the brutal rights violations and plunder that happened during his fathers strongman rule.

This is not about the Aquinos versus the Marcoses, Aquino said at the anniversary. It is clear to me that this is about right versus wrong.

Frustrated by descriptions of the Marcos era as a golden age, Aquino countered that it was one of the most painful chapters of our history.

Bonifacio Ilagan, an activist who was detained and tortured during the dictatorship, said Filipinos still cherish the power they demonstrated to remove Marcos in 1986, but were disappointed that expectations of a better life and an easing of the deep inequality that has long plagued Philippine society hasnt been realized three decades after the revolt.

If Marcos Jr. wins, It will really be a slap, a complete repudiation of the 1986 revolution, Ilagan said.

Duterte has declared he would allow Ferdinand Marcos remains  now displayed in a glass coffin in his northern hometown of Batac  to be buried in the national heroes cemetery. That is vehemently opposed by nationalists and activists like Ilagan, whose activist sister remains missing since she disappeared in the early 1970s while helping in the anti-Marcos movement.

If the heros burial for Marcos proceeds, Ilagan said, that will be a very, very sad day. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP
CAM was set up in 1989 and given a 25-year franchise contract to own and manage the airport. In 2001, the local government extended the contract to 2039. The company is responsible for managing the airport, promoting it overseas and licensing firms to offer services within its premises; it must ensure the airport meets international standards.

What has created the success and prosperity of MIA has been the growth of the mainland economy, especially that of South China, and the dramatic increase of visitors into the region.

The number of passengers grew from 1.3 million in 1998 to 2.9 million in 2003 and 5.1 million in 2008. In 1996, the airport had served 18 cities; increasing to the current 43.

Simon Chan noted that, while Macaus population was 600,000, its hinterland included the west side of the Pearl River Delta, including Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Foshan and Jiangmen, with a population of about 10 million. The income of people in the Pearl River Delta [PRD] is higher and higher and the number of foreign trips they make is rising every year. This has provided an abundant source of customers for the airport.

The facility is expected to benefit from the development of the PRD, the light-rail system from Guangzhou to Zhuhai, the development of Hengqin, the bridge to Hong Kong and the 24-hour border access to Zhuhai. All these will help to provide more visitors to the airport.

Ma said that, to improve the co-operation between the five airports, a regular meeting of their chairman was established in 2001. Its objective is to work together, provide mutual support and innovative and common development, promote regional airports in the PRD. This is win-win co-operation to achieve a new competing relationship and the development of regional pioneers.

But it was not always plain sailing. The two most difficult periods were the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) out-

break in 2003.

During the SARS [crisis], there was one day during which there was only one plane with 25 passengers. Our operations faced a serious challenge, according to Ma Iao Hang, the chairman of the Board of Directors of CAM. The development of the airport relied on the support of the motherland and the SAR government, the sympathy of Macau citizens and international recognition.

In the earlier years, much of its business was transit passengers going between the mainland and Taiwan. In 2008, direct flights between mainland China and Taipei began, causing a serious blow to the airport.

Before the start of cross-strait flights in 2008, we started the low-cost carrier strategy by introducing Air Asia into Macau in 2004, said Ma. So we have smoothly transferred to a more diversified passenger market.
The Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On claimed yesterday that the RMB100 million (MOP123 million) donation made to Jinan University was approved after the usual approval procedures.

The CE informed that any donation above MOP500,000 has to be approved by the trustee committee of Macau Foundation, which previously established regulations of its own. Decisions are not made by a single chairman, said Chui, adding that Jinan University has done a lot of work to help local high- school education. According to our references, the university trained over 20,000 graduates from Macau, noted Chui.

Chui also noted that his appointment as chairman of the Macau Foundation and as vice-chairman of two mainland universities, namely Jinan University and Huaqiao University, is the result of the system. The convention dictates that he would sit in these positions when he was elected and selected as the CE. He further clarified that he does not receive any benefits whatsoever for being in those positions.

According to a report by Jornal Cheng Pou, 11 local groups announced a demonstration will take place on Sunday, appealing to the government to withdraw the donation that is intended to sponsor the construction of two dormitories and an academic building

Chui commented on the upcoming demonstration: The government truly respects peoples freedom of speech, of demonstration, of gathering, etc., as long as it obeys the law.

Earlier this week, the Macau Foundation president said the approval of the subsidy to Jinan University was the outcome of a collective decision.

Wu Zhiliang emphasized that the whole process was legal and in line with the Foundations strict approval requirements.

The whole process is legal. The decision was a collective deliberation. We analyzed the budget and deemed that the subsidy is a reasonable one, Wu said, as cited by TDM.

Wu Zhiliang explained that the subsidy request was submitted by the university itself and that this is the first time in recent years that the Macau Foundation is supporting the construction of buildings outside the MSAR. The foundation stresses that the rationale behind the subsidy is related to the number of local students enrolled in Jinan Universitys programs. Staff reporter
A car bomb ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 63 people and wounding dozens in an attack that was swiftly claimed by the extremist Islamic State group.

The bomb struck a crowded outdoor market in Baghdads eastern district of Sadr City, and left up to 85 people wounded, several seriously, prompting fears the death toll could rise further, officials said.

It was the latest deadly attack to hit the Iraqi capital  a massive bombing that underscored how despite the territorial defeats the Islamic State suffered over the past year, the Sunni extremist group is still capable of launching significant attacks across the country. It has also recently stepped up assaults inside Baghdad, something officials say is an attempt to distract from their battlefield losses.

The bombing also comes at a time of a political deadlock that has paralyzed the work of the Iraqi government and parliament, adding to the countrys complex set of military, security, humanitarian, economic and human rights challenges.

Yesterdays bomb struck a crowded outdoor market in the eastern Sadr City district, two police officials said. Four medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

The market is one of the main four outdoor shopping venues in Sadr City, a sprawling slum that is home to about 2.5 million residents  almost half of Baghdads population of around 6 million. The open-air markets sell a range of goods, from food to household items, to clothes and other merchandise.

Ambulances rushed to the scene as dozens of residents walked through twisted and mangled wreckage of cars and other debris that littered the pavement, trying to help the victims.

The street was stained red with blood in many places and front-side facades of several buildings were heavily damaged. Smoke billowed from ground-level stores gutted out by the explosion.

Karim Salih, a 45-year old grocer, said the bomb was a pickup truck loaded with fruits and vegetables that was parked by a man who quickly disappeared among the crowds of people.

It was such a thunderous explosion that jolted the ground, Salih told The Associated Press.

The force of the explosion threw me for meters away and I lost conscious for a few minutes, the merchant added. He suffered no injuries, but two of his workers were wounded.

Shortly after the blast, the Sunni extremist group  which sees Shiite Muslims as apostates  said it was behind the assault. IS said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that. In its online statement, IS said it targeted a gathering of Shiite militiamen. The AP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the claim but it appeared on a website commonly used by the Sunni militants.

Politicians are fighting each other in parliament and government while the people are being killed every day, said Hussein Abdullah, a 28-year old owner of an electrical appliances store who suffered shrapnel wounds.

If they cant protect us, then they have to let us do the job, the father of two added.

Baghdads Sadr City is a stronghold of supporters of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who have been holding protests and sit-ins for months to demand an overhaul of the political system put in place by the Unites States following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Last month, hundreds of al-Sadrs supporters stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone in the heart of Baghdad and broke into the parliament building.

Delivering a speech before the U.N. Security Council on Friday, the world bodys envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, warned that the ongoing political crisis and chaos are only serving the interests of IS, urging the political leaders and civil society to work together to resolve the political turmoil.

IS also a controls significant areas in northern and western Iraq, including Iraqs second-largest city of Mosul. Commercial and public places in Shiite-dominated neighborhoods are among the most frequent targets for the Sunni militants seeking to undermine Iraqi government efforts to maintain security inside the capital.

In February, IS carried out devastating back-to-back market bombings in Sadr City, an attack claimed the lives of at least 73 people.

According to the United Nations, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April due to ongoing violence. The U.N. mission to Iraq put the number of civilians killed at 410, while the rest it said were members of the security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded that month, UNAMI said.

In March, at least 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded in the ongoing violence. Sinan Salaheddin, Baghdad , AP
In 2015, its 20th year, the Macau International Airport (MIA) received a record of 5.8 million passengers and 30,000 tons of cargo. It currently has 30 airlines serving a total of 44 destinations.

It has been a long journey since its opening on December 8, 1995. Six years earlier the Portuguese government had given a 25-year franchise contract to Macau International Airport Co. Ltd (CAM) to own and manage the airport.

Many were skeptical as to whether it would survive at all  it was the smallest of five airports in the Pearl River Delta within a 200-km radius. It was competing for passengers with international airports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, as well as the one in neighboring Zhuhai. What was the need for another one?

The data from last year has proved the skeptics wrong. Passenger traffic saw an increase of 6.4 percent over 2014, while cargo volume rose 4.5 percent to 30,000 tons. In 2015, there were approximately 2,986 takeoffs and landings of business aviation, an increase of 7.3 percent, and more than 55,000 aircraft movements, a 6 percent increase compared to 2014.

Ma Iao Hang, chairman of the Board of Directors of CAM, said that with the increase in passengers, freight and flights, the airport would very soon reach its original design capacity of six million people. So we plan to expand the passenger terminal to raise the capacity to nine-ten million passengers, he said.



It was an excellent performance in 2015, in a less than ideal environment, Ma said during a recent company meeting. For 2016, CAMs target is to reach 5.95 million passengers, 30,659 tones of cargo and 57,500 flight movements.

In 2015, passengers from Southeast and North Asia accounted for 40 per cent, followed by those from the Mainland (33 percent) and Taiwan (27 percent).

In 2015, MIA attracted nine new airlines to the region  China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Jeju Air, MEGA Maldives Airlines, Bassaka Air, Asia Atlantic Airlines, Siam Air Transport and TWay Air, resulting in the operation of eight new routes from MIA. The new routes include Haikou and Wenzhou in China; Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong in Vietnam; Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia as well as Palau and Pattaya in Thailand.

In the first quarter of last year, the Administration of Airports Limited (ADA) had conducted a survey asking passengers their opinions of the airport, which found the passengers were satisfied with the equipment and level of service. MIA will improve its services, with a revamp of the duty-free shop and sales counters and recharge facilities for smart phones. The company is also overlaying the surface of the runway, as part of its regular repair and maintenance after 20 years of usage. The resurfacing work will take place at night so as not to impact the operations of the airport. Currently, the single runway is sufficient to accommodate more planes.

Last September, Macau Civil Aviation Authority president Simon Chan said that his office had completed an update of the Macau International Airport Master Plan, which was initially released in 2011, covering the airports development needs for 20 years.

The airport will complete the construction of its hangars soon. The construction of an extension of the airports north side passenger terminal building started this month and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. We will discuss with the airport company and airline companies how to improve the situation of delays due to adverse weather, he said. MDT/Macauhub

charter flights to moscow announced

The Macau International Airport Company (CAM) has announced the commencement of charter flights between the MSAR and the capital city of Russia. The company issued a statement explaining that the Moscow route is currently slated for a launch on Tuesday, May 17. They added that the new charter flight will help to improve the airports connectivity in terms of long-haul routes. The single-way flight time will amount to around 10 hours.
A shallow magnitude-5.5 earthquake struck the mountainous region of Tibet yesterday, injuring 60 people, collapsing houses and damaging bridges and roads, authorities said.

The quake struck yesterday at 9:15 a.m. (0115 GMT), 70 kilometers northwest of Gyamotang village at a depth of just 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake region is near Tibets border with Qinghai province to the north.

Serious injuries were sustained by six of the casualties, according to a statement on the website of the Dingqing county government. It gave no estimates for numbers of collapsed houses or damaged roads and bridges.



The China News Service reported that the earthquake had set off landslides.

Chinas official Xinhua News Agency quoted the regional seismological bureau as saying that the epicenter was in Kata Town, about 2,200 kilometers from the capital Beijing and the site of two major Buddhist temples.

The towns chief administrator, identified by the single name of Samba, told Xinhua he had seen two injured people on his way to help with rescue efforts in a village 10 kilometers away. Roads leading to Guodong village crumbled, Xinhua said, hampering rescuers.

Calls to the town, county and city authorities rang unanswered, although the Tibetan regional fire service had said in an online statement that rescuers were on their way to Kata.

The region of western China in the foothills of the Himalayas is an active earthquake zone, and a 2010 quake in nearby Yushu killed almost 3,000 people.

Nearly 90,000 people were killed in Chinas worst quake in recent years, a 7.9 magnitude temblor that struck Sichuan province in May 2008. AP
Taiwan has executed a man convicted of killing four people in a subway stabbing spree two years ago, an attack that strengthened support for the death penalty on the island, where violent crime is rare.

Cheng Chieh, 23, was executed Tuesday night, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement on its website. It did not mention what method was used, but said he was sedated before the execution.

Taiwans official Central News Agency said that Cheng was shot to death and that three gunshots were heard at the detention center, located outside the capital, Taipei.

Chengs two-minute stabbing spree on a subway train during rush hour in Taipei on May 21, 2014, left four people dead and 22 injured. The attack shocked the high-tech island, where private gun ownership is largely banned and crime levels are relatively low.

Although he later apologized to the victims and showed remorse for his crime, Cheng, who was a university student at the time of the attack, gave no explanation for the stabbing spree other than a Facebook posting in which he said he wanted to do something big.

Amid criticism from death penalty opponents, the Ministry of Justice said the death sentence was necessary because of the severity of the crime and public demands to uphold social justice.

Despite a past moratorium on executions, the subway killings, along with an attack this past March in which a 3-year-old girl was decapitated in front of her mother in Taipei, have helped harden public opinion in favor of the death penalty, which surveys show nine out of 10 Taiwanese now support. AP
Hong Kongs Superman is facing more kryptonite as he tries to expand his European mobile-phone carrier holdings.

European Union regulators yesterday said they vetoed billionaire Li Ka-shings proposal to buy U.K. carrier O2 for as much as 10.25 billion pounds (USD15 billion) because of concerns it would hinder competition and create higher prices. Lis CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. wanted to merge its own three unit with Telefonica SAs business in the country.

It was the second setback in the past six months for the 87-year-old Li, whose history of investment acumen prompted the Hong Kong media to give him the superhero nickname. Now that the bid for O2 has been rejected, investor attention will probably shift to another of Lis proposed deals  a merger of its telecom business in Italy with that of VimpelCom Ltd.s Wind Telecomunicazioni that would create the countrys largest carrier.

With Asia saturated, investors were looking forward to the European telecom deals, said Ronald Wan, chief executive at Partners Capital International in Hong Kong.

Here are some of the possible next steps for Li, whos worth about $28 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index:

Lis Hutchison wants to combine its 3 Italias assets with those of Wind Telecomunicazioni in a deal valued at 21.8 billion euros ($25 billion). The proposal would reduce the number of competitors in the country and pose some of the same issues for the European Commission as the O2 plan. That doesnt bode well for the Italian deal, said Erhan Gurses, a London-based analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence.

The combined units spectrum position, as well as the potential impact on mobile pricing, may call for structural remedies, Gurses said.

The companies could agree to divest part of the merged network and sell some spectrum to appease antitrust authorities, Gurses said. Still, the Italian government has said it wont oppose the merger, unlike in the U.K.

Hutchison could consider exiting the mobile-phone business in the U.K. and Italy because boosting market share there without significant capital investment will be difficult, said Francis Lun, chief executive officer at Geo Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong.

Hutchison overpaid to enter the mobile-phone business, and now the only way they can make money is by achieving economies of scale, Lun said. It would be devastating to Li Ka-shing as theyll either have to get out or try for organic growth.

With rising competition in the U.K., Hutchison may find it more difficult to compete with bundled offerings and mobile virtual operators such as Virgin and Tesco Mobile, Gurses said.

It may be harder and harder for Hutchison to turn a profit, Gurses said. In such a situation, a potential exit cant be ruled out.

Li could also just leave the businesses as they are, said Dickie Wong, executive director of research at Kingston Securities in Hong Kong.

Its not like the European phone business is losing money. In the U.K., subscriber numbers are rising and profits  measured in terms of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization  rose 25 percent to 686 million pounds last year. In Italy, Ebitda climbed 11 percent to 276 million euros.

Telecom is one of their key focus areas, and they did the best they could, Wong said. I dont think theyll sell their telecom business if the deals dont go through. Theyre likely to take the wait-and-watch approach. Bloomberg
The wife of a prominent Vietnamese human rights lawyer who was badly beaten by thugs and then detained by authorities appealed yesterday for President Barack Obama to seek her husbands freedom when he visits Vietnam this month.

Vu Minh Khanh testified before a House panel. Hours earlier, the White House formally announced Obamas trip to Vietnam in late May, a sign of deepening relations four decades after the end of the Vietnam War.

But human rights remain a sore point. The authoritarian state is estimated to have about 100 political prisoners although it denies holding any.

Two Republican law-makers called for Obama to demand the release of the detained lawyer, Nguyen Van Dai, and other prisoners of conscience.

The administration seems eager to proceed with lucrative trade deals and to lift the ban on lethal arms sales to Vietnam, without imposing any real conditions, Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey told the hearing.

The situation is not improving. Human rights have got to be at the top of the presidents agenda, said Rep. Ed Royce of California.

Speaking through an interpreter, Khanh said that her husband faces between three and 20 years imprisonment under a legal provision against conducting propaganda against the state.

She said that Dai has been detained for nearly five months and has not been allowed access to family or defense lawyers. She said shes allowed to take him food twice a month at a detention center in the capital Hanoi, but she has no idea if he gets it.

In Vietnam, the public security force can do whatever they want, Khanh said.

She said that 10 days prior to Dais Dec. 16 arrest, he was attacked and severely injured by thugs with batons after he conducted a human rights training session. She said her husband filed a complaint and the government said it didnt know who the assailants were.

She said that his release during Obamas visit would symbolize the presidents support for human rights and democracy in Vietnam.

Dai has been detained before. He served four years in prison and four years of house arrest between 2007 and 2015.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House said that Obama will discuss with Vietnams leadership how to advance cooperation on the economy, security and human rights. He will also meet with members of civil society.

Senior State Department officials were in Vietnam this week, including top human rights envoy, Tom Malinowski, who last month said he raised Dais case with Vietnamese officials amid concern over a recent spate of detentions of government critics.

Hanoi is eager for Obama to announce an end to a long-standing embargo on sales of lethal weapons to Vietnam as the two nations find common cause in countering a rising China. AP
IRAQ A car bomb ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 63 people and wounding dozens in an attack that was swiftly claimed by the extremist Islamic State group. The bomb struck a crowded outdoor market.

SOUTH CHINA SEA Upping the ante in the feud over who is responsible for rising tensions in the South China Sea, China said repeated U.S. Navy patrols in the area are forcing it to boost the defense capabilities of the islands it controls and may require it to launch more air and sea patrols.

PHILIPPINES President Benigno Aquino III had called this weeks election a referendum on his presidency, but his preferred candidate lost by millions of votes to a shoot-from-the-lip mayor. And if the vice presidency goes to a son of the dictator ousted 30 years ago by a movement led by Aquinos mother, an entire family political legacy may fall into doubt.

AUSTRALIA Five men have been arrested on suspicion that they planned to leave Australia in a seven-meter boat to fight in Syria. The men, aged 21 to 33, had towed the half-cabin power boat with a car from their homes in Melbourne to Cairns in Australias tropical north before they were arrested.

MIGRANT CRISIS A Hungarian man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing four migrants from Afghanistan last year. An appeals court in the western city of Gyor yesterday confirmed a lower court ruling which declared the man was guilty of taking cash, mobile phones and clothes with a total value of USD1,400 from the migrants.

MEDIA Facing declining revenues and changing reader habits, New Zealands two main newspaper groups are discussing a merger that could end decades of competition and result in hundreds of job losses. If approved by regulators, the merger would combine the New Zealand newspapers, radio stations and websites owned by Fairfax Media and APN News & Media.

USA The Material Girl will pay tribute to The Purple One with a live performance at the Billboard Music Awards this month. Madonna will honor Prince at the May 22 show. Specific details about the performance werent revealed. Prince was found dead on April 21 in his suburban Minneapolis home at age 57.
Japanese are welcoming President Barack Obamas decision to visit the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima, and those interviewed yesterday said they arent seeking an apology.

Even those who want one realize that such a demand would have ruled out a U.S. presidential visit.

Of course everyone wants to hear an apology. Our families were killed, said Hiroshi Shimizu, general secretary of the Hiroshima Confederation of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations.

However, by setting conditions we limit world leaders from visiting, so we decided to eliminate that, he said in Tokyo. We would first like for them to come and stand on the grounds of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and take a good look at what is in front of them and give it good thought.

The American and Japanese governments announced this week that Obama would become the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima, a city almost entirely destroyed by a U.S. atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945. Some 140,000 people were killed, and others have endured after-effects to this day.

The U.S. dropped a second devastating atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced it would surrender on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II.

Obama will visit Hiroshima with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 27, after attending the annual Group of Seven summit in Japan.

I dont live in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, but I am overcome with emotion when I think that someone who wants to offer understanding is finally about to arrive, said Mieko Mori, a

74-year-old woman who stopped at a memorial in Tokyo to pray for the victims.

A poll released this week by national broadcaster NHK found that 70 percent of Japanese want Obama to visit Hiroshima, and only 2 percent were opposed.

The visit is contentious in the U.S., where many believe the atomic bombs hastened the end of the war, saving countless other lives. The White House went out its way to stress Obama will not apologize.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said Obama would not revisit the decision to use the atomic bomb, and instead spotlight the toll of war and offer a forward-looking vision of a non-nuclear world.

I hear America is still divided over atomic bombings, but its been almost 71 years since the war ended, and I think its about time Obama should be able to visit Hiroshima, said Kohachiro Hayashi, who was reading a newspaper at a Tokyo park.

He wouldnt have been able to come in the middle of his term, but now its almost the end, so its like now or never, the retired teacher said.

Hayashi, 59, said asking for an apology would only cause an endless and fruitless debate over who should take blame for various wartime acts.

We should just accept his visit as a gesture of sincerity, he said. Its OK as long as he makes clear his commitment never to use atomic weapons. [] I hope he will learn what happened and feel a little bit of it himself while being there.

Another retired teacher said it would be rude to demand an apology.

Japan was also trying to develop nuclear weapons, Takatsugu Sakamoto, 80, said by telephone from Nishinomiya in Osaka prefecture. Americans were just faster. If Japan hadnt been trying, then it might make sense. And so to those who are demanding an apology, my response is: What in the world are you saying? Mr. Obama doesnt need to apologize.

Terumi Tanaka, the general secretary of the Japanese Confederation of A- and H-Bombs Sufferers Organizations, said his members want Obama to state clearly his intention to eliminate nuclear weapons.

To me, that would be a true form of an apology, he said. For 70 years we have said this and felt this all along, that no one should have to suffer the same thing. Answering to that wish is a true sign of an apology to us. Miki Toda & Mari Yamaguchi, Tokyo, AP
TWIN FALLS | Fast food restaurants, retailers, landscapers and construction companies are hiring summer help  and with the school year just about over, theyre looking to students to fill the gaps.

There are lots of jobs out there for students  in just about every field, said Merry Olson, career services coordinator at the College of Southern Idaho. Nearly all the fast-food restaurants are hiring summer help, and temp agencies are posting fliers all over CSI, she said. The center gets about five new online postings a day.

I have employers that are knocking on my door needing employees, Olson said. The balls in the applicants court because unemployment is so low.

Overall, food services and retail are still hot jobs for students in the Magic Valley, but school counselors say it also depends on the individual.

I think kids really want to have fun while theyre working, Canyon Ridge High School Counselor Sarah Pehrson said.

Besides restaurants, in summer, she said high school students are typically interested in outdoor jobs like life-guarding and yard work, as well as babysitting.

Cody Larson, assistant branch manager for Tradesmen Staffing, said there typically is an influx of students, especially graduating seniors, entering the workforce during the summer.

Constructions really big right now for temporary workers, Larson said.

Landscaping is another seasonal job that gets interest from high school students, he said.

About 42 percent of Idahos employed teenagers were working in accommodations and food services in the first quarter of 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus Quarterly Workforce Indicators. Of the nearly 12,500 employed between 14 and 18 years old, more than 5,200 worked in accommodations and food services, and more than 2,500 in retail.

With the low unemployment rate in the region, some businesses may have to step up their game for hiring, Department of Labor Regional Economist Jan Roeser said.

In many instances, the application process is designed to put up barriers, discouraging applicants, she said.

When its a tight job market, they (employers) need to adjust their behavior as well, Roeser said.

Generally, young people are still working at a lower rate than several decades ago, she said.

What They Want

Teens at Canyon Ridge High School said theyve held jobs throughout the school year  and plan on working through the summer.

College is coming up for many of us, and were trying to save up, said Miranda Maughan, a junior.

Many students at Canyon Ridge High School work year-round, Pehrson said. When looking for a job, there are several factors they consider important.

I need a place thats really flexible with my schedule, said Miranda, who was considering applying for retail jobs.

McKayla Bulkley, also a junior, who works at Sips n Sweet Treats, said she likes the flexibility at her job because during the school year, she plays sports.

A laid-back work environment was also important to young workers. Junior Skyler Ludlow began his job at Papa Johns Pizza a few weeks ago. He said he feels the manager cares about his performance in school.

Small businesses are growing in popularity among high school students, Miranda said, because of the less structured work environment.

I like working for someone that owns their own business more, she said.

Claire Oberg, a junior, began working as a coordinator at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Magic Valley in September because she wanted to work with children.

Its a fun, after-school job that goes into summer, she said.

Now Hiring

Some businesses have already begun their summer hiring, but are looking for more applicants.

Bill Kyle, president of Valley Foods Inc., said his company hired 92 people at the end of April for its McDonalds restaurants in preparation for summer.

June, July and August are the three busiest months of the year for us, Kyle said. We could use another 50 to 60 people.

McDonalds will reopen a restaurant in July inside a new building. At the end of October, another restaurant will open on Kimberly Road, Kyle said.

Of his 500 or so employees, he estimates about a third are between the ages of 16 and 24.

Young people have always been a big part of our workforce, Kyle said.

In summer, the restaurants usually see an influx of young workers.

Its a good marriage, if you will, between the type of employee we need, and we kind of fit the bill for students, too, Kyle said.

Tonia Jardine, owner of Sips N Sweet Treats, said she just hired a few more students but may hire more, and is accepting applications.

All of our employees are students except for one, she said.

Taco Johns General Manager Summyr Stewart said her restaurant has high schoolers on the payroll. Stewart does not plan to hire more for the summer because her current high school employees want more hours and have first priority.

Canyon Ridge High School and the College of Southern Idaho can help students who are looking to apply for a job. CSI Career Services is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the first floor of the Taylor Administration Building on the CSI campus.

Job postings are available on the colleges website at csi.edu/eaglejobs.
TWIN FALLS  Fishing is one of Idahos most popular recreational activities. Winning money is a favorite pastime, too.

And while the bright lights and big dollars of the Bassmaster Classic are probably beyond the reach of most weekend warriors, local anglers have ample opportunities to compete for cash right here in the Magic Valley.

Tournament competition puts a fun twist on the relaxation usually associated with fishing. With time winding down and money on the line, every fish counts  and one spit hook could mean the difference between winning big or going home empty-handed.

Its a lot of fun, said Zach Taylor, president of the Magic Valley Bassmasters club. Im a competitive person, and tournament fishing gives me an opportunity to compete while doing something Im really passionate about.

Competitive angling is easier to try than most fishermen realize, too. Between March and October, more than 150 sanctioned tournaments take place across the Gem State, and many of those are within shouting distance of the Magic Valley.

Tournament Fishing

Most fishing contests are bass tournaments, and most Idaho bass tournaments follow a similar format.

Anglers typically compete in teams of two and, using only artificial lures, attempt to catch a limit of five fish. The fish must be kept in an aerated live well over the course of the day.

Once a five-fish limit is reached, anglers try to upgrade to heavier fish until the allotted time is up. The five heaviest fish are taken to the weigh-in, where they are quickly weighed and placed in the release boat. Prize money is awarded to the winners, then the release boat sets the fish free. Penalties are incurred if fish dont survive.

Id say 99 percent of the fish we catch are released alive, Taylor said.

Most tournaments are available only to club members, but all three Magic Valley groups host open events where new anglers can give tournament fishing a try.

Fishing derbies are another option. They offer an inexpensive, laid-back and more family-friendly approach to competitive fishing. An upcoming example is the annual John McClatchy Memorial Tournament, set for June 18 at Magic Reservoir. The derby is open to all licensed anglers, and the entry fee is $30. Prizes are awarded to the three biggest fish of the day, which are typically rainbow trout.

Local Clubs

The Magic Valley is home to three bass clubs: Magic Valley Bassmasters, Mini-Cassia Bassers and Idaho Bass Hunters. All three host monthly tournaments and meetings, and membership dues are about $78 annually. Some local anglers participate in two or even all three clubs.

Mini-Cassia Bassers was founded in 1993 with three goals in mind: create better fishing opportunities in the region, help members become better fishermen and have fun. The club holds its meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Connors Cafe in Heyburn.

I think what I enjoy most is the people Ive gotten to know through the years, club president Phil Mai said. Its been a lot of fun, and weve caught a lot of fish.

Mini-Cassia Bassers is holding its annual open tournament June 4 at Milner Reservoir. The club currently has about 35 members, and Mai said the group would like to add some younger anglers.

Magic Valley Bassmasters meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at Idaho Joes in Twin Falls. The club, which has between 30 and 40 members, is hosting its annual open tournament this Saturday, May 14, at Milner Reservoir.

It gives people an opportunity to come and see if they like the competitive side of fishing, Taylor said. Our club is a close-knit group of friends, even though we are fishing against each other. We love to see new people join  its good for the club, and good for the sport.

Idaho Bass Hunters holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month, also at Idaho Joes. Club president Steve Stephens says that during his decade of membership, hes seen a huge increase in the quality of Magic Valley bass, which are almost exclusively smallmouths.

At our most recent tournament, the average bag (of five fish) was 14 pounds, Stephens said. When I first started fishing here, weights werent even close to that.

Idaho Bass Hunters will hold its open tournament Sept. 24 at Milner Reservoir. But Stephens encourages anglers to take advantage of the clubs unique join at the ramp policy before then.

You can show up wherever were fishing, pay your dues, and fish the tournament, Stephens said.

Get Involved

If tournament fishing piques your interest, its easy to get involved. Here is a look at upcoming tournaments in and around the Magic Valley:

May 14: 6 a.m.-4 p.m., at Milner Reservoir (Riverside Boat Ramp), Magic Valley Bassmasters, information at Mvb.idahobassfed.com

May 15: Safe light-5 p.m., at Lake Walcott (State Park Boat Ramp), Mountain Home Hawg Hunters, Mountainhomehawghu.wix.com/hawg-hunters

June 4: 5 a.m.-5 p.m. at Milner Reservoir (Riverside Boat Ramp), Mini-Cassia Bassers, Mcb.idahobassfed.com

June 4: 5 a.m.-4 p.m., at Anderson Ranch Reservoir (Curlew Boat Ramp), Idaho Bass Hunters, email steven.p.stephens@us.army.mil

June 18: 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Magic Reservoir, John McClatchy Memorial Tournament.

June 25: 5 a.m.-5 p.m., at Anderson Ranch Reservoir (Curlew Boat Ramp), Idaho Bassmasters, Idahobassmasters.org

June 25: 4:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Massacre Rocks State Park (State Park Boat Ramp), Snake River Valley Bass Club, Srvb.idahobassfed.com

Find the full list of upcoming tournaments with permits from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game: Fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=267
Volunteers  St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center is in need of volunteers for a variety of positions from shuttle drivers to care volunteers to gift shop volunteers and more. The medical center is looking for pleasant, and friendly individuals with a sincere interest in voluntary services offered to patients, visitors, employees and guests. Meet new people and learn new experiences and challenges. Information: Kim Patterson at 814-0861 or kimpa@slhs.org, or visit the Volunteer Services Office, lower level at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center; 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Applications are available at the Front Information Desk.

Volunteers  Niche Assistance, a local nonprofit, needs groups who can volunteer to provide one Thursday evening meal to be held at the end of each month. Fifty-two people attended when Immanuel Lutheran provided the meal. If your group can help or for information: Phyllis Berg, 208-329-3796 or nicheassistance@yahoo.com.

Volunteers  Hospice Visions Inc. is looking for volunteer handy men and women for light home modifications, Light Touch Massage therapists, hair dressers, volunteers for meal assistance, and to visit with, play music and games with those on hospice services. Volunteers are needed with licensed certified therapy animals to love our hospice patients in their own homes or assisted living centers. Hospice Visions is looking for volunteers interested in doing art projects with our patients or filming and creating a Life Legacy Video, or can take someone to the store, run an errand or out for a drive. Veterans can become a Vet-to-Vet Volunteer and visit with other veterans. Volunteers are also needed to assist with fundraising events and provide office assistance. Information: 208-735-0121 or nwells@hospicevisions.org.

Drivers  The Twin Falls Senior Center delivers meals to homebound seniors in the Twin Falls area Monday through Friday, and the routes take an hour or less to complete. Commitment is based on your availability; pick a day to drive once or twice a month, pick a week to drive, pick a day of the week to drive, or be a substitute driver. Volunteers must be 18 years of age with their own car, and have proof of liability insurance. Drivers receive 54 cents a mile fuel reimbursement. Information: Sandee Earl, 208-734-5084.

Volunteers  The Twin Falls Senior Center has a group of ladies, called The Crazy Quilters, who are looking for individuals to put finishing touches on quilts as a group while socializing at the same time. The group meets from 9 a.m. to noon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All quilt project proceeds are given to the Twin Falls Senior Center. Information: 208-734-5084.

Volunteers  The CSI Office on Aging is looking for a volunteer with general office skills. The volunteer will sit at the front desk, greet customers, answer phone calls, file, input data on computer and perform other general office duties as requested by the director. The office is open from 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Info: Suzanne, 208-731-2122.

Volunteers/drivers  Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley and the ReStore are seeking adult volunteers. At the ReStore, volunteers are needed to provide general customer service, receiving, coordinate volunteers, fixing items to be sold in the store, and drivers to pick up donations. Information: 208-735-1233 or the Habitat office, 669 Eastland Drive S., Twin Falls.

Volunteers  The CSI Refugee Center is in need of adult volunteers to assist refugees with English as a Second Language instruction and one-to-one ESL tutoring of adults. No previous teaching experience is required. Information: Kathy at 208-736-2166.
TWIN FALLS | A 13-year-old Robert Stuart Middle School student was arrested Wednesday on a warrant, but its unrelated to two gun crimes that happened last week.

Twin Falls police officers who were already at the school identified the student and arrested her at 2:52 p.m., city spokesman Joshua Palmer said.

He said he doesnt know what the original charge was.

It comes less than a week after three students were arrested at Robert Stuart, following a student firing a handgun in a classroom. Police called it an accidental discharge and no one was injured. Saturday, a 15-year-old Canyon Ridge High School student was killed in a drive-by shooting less than a mile from the middle school.
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HAILEY  Blaine County school trustees voted 3-2 Tuesday night to deny Syringa Mountain Schools request to become an innovation school.

Syringa, a public Waldorf charter school in Hailey, announced in April it wants to become an innovation school under new state legislation.

The Local Innovation School Act allows schools and districts flexibility from laws and policies that impede local autonomy, according to the bill that takes effect July 1.

To become an innovation school, Syringa must have a written agreement with its charter authorizer. Thats the Idaho Public Charter School Commission. But Syringa wants to be overseen by the Blaine County School District instead.

Syringa leaders say they need more state funding, something they could achieve by affiliating with the Blaine County district. Extra money would allow Syringa to offer more programs for its students.

In a statement Wednesday, the school says while Blaine County School District is facing budget cuts next year, Syringa Mountain School will have a balanced budget.

The school relies on support from its families, the community and donors, according to the statement. While a partnership with the Blaine County School District would have been beneficial to Syringa and the Community, it is not essential to Syringas long term fiscal solvency.

Syringa will have an estimated 147 students next year, a 13 percent increase over last years enrollment.

Theres now a waiting list for several grades for next school year, but openings in other classes. Families are encouraged to still visit the school and submit enrollment applications.

School tours are available from 8-10 a.m. each Tuesday.
TWIN FALLS  Alexa Ramirez and Kyleigh Gardner have brought flowers to the place where their friend died almost every day since he was killed Saturday in a drive-by shooting.

After school Wednesday, the Canyon Ridge High School freshmen took white roses and placed them around a sign reading, keep with the angels my friend, and a wooden cross to remember 15-year-old Vason Widaman.

Theyve been coming every day at lunch and often after school. The makeshift memorial at the intersection of North College Road and Northern Pine Drive is surrounded by balloons, candles and flowers.

He had the biggest heart, Alexa said of Widaman. She described him as the funniest kid ever who enjoyed listening to music, particularly old-school rap.

They were friends since third grade, when they met at I.B. Perrine Elementary School.

Canyon Ridge High Schools student council planned activities Wednesday to remember Widaman. Employees and students wore tie-dye shirts.

During lunchtime, students  mostly freshmen  walked out to the school rock to leave roses and lilies and battery-powered tealight candles.

The school rock is painted black, with white letters reading: We will miss you VW. On the sidewalk, theres messages spray painted in memory of Vason. One said rest in paradise, another said one love and had a heart and a peace symbol next to it.

When students arrived Monday at Canyon Ridge, everyone was really scared at first, Kyleigh said.

But things have been getting better every day, she said, especially because police officers are on campus making sure students are safe.

Monday was super depressing, Alexa said. She had three classes with Widaman and in those classrooms, it was quiet, she said.

The girls said their teachers talked with students during their first period and advisory classes about what happened.

Widaman enjoyed traveling, especially to the Oregon Coast, his family wrote in his obituary. He also liked playing Internet games, going to garage sales and going to the YMCA. He earned a black belt in Taekwondo.

He liked to hang out with his friends and go to the animal shelter, Kyleigh said. He loved animals.

Earlier this week, two other girls who were friends with Widaman said he put on a happy face at school and around friends, but he often seemed sad on the inside. The girls acknowledged he sometimes got into trouble and had a negative reputation among some fellow students.

Anytime theres a tough situation at the school, such as a students death, Canyon Ridges student council rallies to plan ways to remember them, vice principal Mike Gemar said.

Counselors have been available to talk with students, as needed, he said. Teachers are watching for students who may be in need of someone to talk with.

I think (Widaman) kind of had a small group of friends, Gemar said. He declined to allow the Times-News to talk with students, saying parents are worried about their childrens safety.

Meanwhile, police said, investigators are continuing to search for potential suspects in Widamans slaying. No arrests have been made.

Canyon Ridge is working closely with the Twin Falls Police Department to aid in the investigation, Gemar said. And he said theyre hopeful police will catch the perpetrator.

The school has been rocked by tragedy, with several students whove died within a couple of years.

Unfortunately, weve had a little bit of experience with this, Gemar said. He said in his 32 years as an educator, he hasnt seen this many tragedies in such a short time period.

Alexa and Kyleigh plan to continue bringing flowers after school to the memorial site, and want to bring candles and lanterns Thursday night.

But Widaman would want people to be happy, Kyleigh said.

He would think people shouldnt dwell on the fact hes gone.
KIMBERLY | As a high-schooler, Luke Schroeder waived hello to his old elementary school teachers as he walked across a grassy field between buildings.

The entire campus, which was kindergarten through 12th grades, was where the elementary school is now. Schroeder, a 1989 Kimberly High alumnus whos now school district superintendent, has seen student numbers in his hometown grow exponentially.

And the trend doesnt appear to be slowing down anytime soon. To keep up with rapid growth and alleviate overcrowding, the Kimberly School District is pursuing a $14 million bond during Tuesday's election to build a new elementary school.

This is essential for our students to be connected to our school, Schroeder said.

A 20-year bond would pay for a new 50,000-square-foot elementary school, upgrades to the existing Kimberly Elementary School campus and buying land for a future school site. The bond will require a two-thirds supermajority to pass.

A new elementary school would be a first in Kimberly. Elementary-aged students would be split up into two schools and attendance zones would be created.

During the election, voters will also decide on a 10-year, $300,000 annual plant facilities levy for building maintenance.

If voters pass the ballot measures, tax rates are expected to remain steady. Thats because an existing bond for Kimberly High School will be paid off this year  three years sooner than expected.

Affordability is a big thing, Schroeder said, adding school officials dont want to raise the levy rate.

The districts $300,000 annual supplemental levy  used for basic operating expenses  expires this spring. Instead of asking voters to renew it, school officials want seek a levy for building maintenance.

Plant facilities money can be used for expenses such as school renovations, buying land and purchasing new school buses.

A Growing Elementary School

For years, Kimberly school officials wanted to have just one elementary school to maintain a small town feel.

People move to Kimberly because of that optimal size, Schroeder said.

But now, Kimberly Elementary is bursting at the seams, with about 900 students spread out in seven different buildings. Its one of the largest elementary schools in Idaho.

In our attempts to preserve community, weve lost community, Schroeder said.

Across the Kimberly School District, enrollment has doubled over the past 20 years. And the district  with more than 1,800 students  grew 4 percent this year alone.

Plus, about 50 more students have enrolled since the beginning of the school year.

Theyre all people whove moved into the area  Kimberly specifically, Kimberly Elementary Principal Megan Garner said. The largest influx is among doctors and other workers for St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center.

In addition to overcrowding at Kimberly Elementary, the middle and high school buildings are also pretty much at capacity, Schroeder said.

If a new elementary school is built, empty space will be used for other school district programs.

Building a new elementary school would cost about $11 million and the project would be done by June 2018.

School officials are looking at five possible locations. Theres already money set aside to buy land, so that wont come out of bond funding.

If the bond passes, about $3 million would pay for a cosmetic facelift and upgrading safety features at the existing Kimberly Elementary. Work could be completed by January 2019.

If the bond doesnt pass, school officials will look at reasons behind that, Schroeder said. Then, theyd consider bringing in modular classrooms to handle the growth or as a last resort, consider a split schedule.

A split schedule would mean students would attend school at different times of the day. One group of students, for example, would attend classes from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., while another group would start at 1:30 p.m. and continue into the evening.

Elementary students can be in five different buildings during their kindergarten through fifth grade years. It means they have to learn a new set of rules and expectations each time.

That can be stressful for kids, Garner said.

School officials did research and found the optimal size for an elementary school is 450-500 students.

Preparing for the Election

The school district put together a 25-year master building plan, looking at enrollment projections and future building needs. The need for a new elementary school was glaring, Schroeder said.

He made 15-20 presentations about the bond election to service groups, City Council, the library and the senior center.

Plus, four community meetings were held. Were trying every avenue we can to get the information out about the election, Schroeder said.

The district also mailed home information to parents, posted information on the school district website, put out automated calls and used social media.

A group of community members launched a Facebook page in support of the bond. The group, with 74 members, has raised money to put up banners and yard signs.

Community members have also formed a communication tree, meaning theyre talking with others about the bond and reminding them to vote. Its a group of parents of current and former students.

Schroeder said hes hearing from community members who dont want to pay to support an influx of out-of-district students. But only 79 students  about 4 percent of the total enrollment  are from outside of Kimberly.

Kimberly schools arent accepting new applications from out-of-district students  unless they have a sibling attending a Kimberly school or if their parent is an employee.

For community members, the schools are literally the center of town life  located on Center Street West  and are used by local groups. And for the elementary school in particular, Garner said, it really is a meeting place.
TWIN FALLS | Two south-central Idaho students will receive National Merit college scholarships.

Olivia Ott from Community School in Sun Valley  who plans to study international relations  and Camellia Scholes from Twin Falls High School  who plans to study chemical engineering  made the list. Theyll each receive a $2,500 scholarship.

Theyre among 2,500 merit scholars chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Judges chose recipients based on the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
TWIN FALLS  Eleven area nonprofits will be getting $100,000 from the city this year to help further their work.

The City Council voted Monday to approve this years Municipal Powers Outsource Grants, splitting up the money between all of the groups that applied.

The Council originally budgeted $84,000 for the grants, but decided Monday to bump it up to $100,000. The 11 groups had requested $141,401 between them.

Councilman Greg Lanting, who made the motion to increase the amount, said the nonprofits in question help some of the most vulnerable people in Twin Falls  the poor, seniors and recovering drug addicts.

The need is there, he said. And were talking another $14,000 out of a $52 million budget.

Councilman Don Hall agreed, saying the increase would help to save money by reducing the human toll taken by the social problems the groups combat.

Sometimes were so conservative on things that we ... trip over dollars to try to save pennies, he said.

Councilman Chris Talkington was the only one to vote against both the increase to $100,000 and the subsequent approval of this years grants. Talkington said the Council should show frugality and common sense, and that the increase was arbitrary, especially given that the groups were requesting considerably more than $100,000.

Im sorry, but it requires discipline, he said. I will vote against it, and call me Scrooge.

All of the groups got funding last year except for Victory Home Restoration Center, a group that helps recovering addicts and the homeless.

The amount the city spends on the grants, which are given to nonprofits to carry out services that city government doesnt provide, has fluctuated over the years; it was $74,705 in 2002-03, increased for a few years and hit a high of $105,161 in 2007-08 and 2008-09, and then was $100,000 a year from then until last year, when the city cut it to $78,790.
I have personally known and worked with Clive for the past 20 years. He has served the people of Idaho very well since 1983 as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for Natural Resources under previous Attorney Generals Jim Jones, Larry Echo Hawk, Alan Lance and Lawrence Wasden. Strong is national known for his expertise in water law and played a key role in negotiating the historic Swan Falls Settlement Agreement, was the States lead attorney in the Snake River Basin Adjudication, led negotiations that resulted in settlements with the ShoBan and NezPerce Tribes, and helped resolve long standing disputes between ground water and surface water users, he was also instrumental in resolving the dispute with the EPA in the Lemhi Basin solving fish issues that would have threatened the livelihood of the ranchers in that area.
An armed police officer speaks on his radio as he patrols near the Ministry of Defence in London, Britain May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Britain's internal security service, MI5, Wednesday increased the threat level of a mainland terror attack from moderate to substantial.

MI5 officials cited a threat of Northern Ireland-related terrorism for the change in threat-status. The warning means a terrorist attack in England, Scotland or Wales is now "a strong possibility".

"This means that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility and reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity," a MI5 spokesman in London said on Wednesday night.

"As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place."

The spokesman said the higher threat of Northern Ireland dissidents striking the mainland is still lower than the terrorism threat in Northern Ireland which remains at severe. The threat of an attack by international terrorists to the United Kingdom as a whole also remains unchanged at severe which means attacks are highly likely.

A "severe" threat warning is the second highest in the threat table.

"The main focus of violent dissident republican activity continues to be in Northern Ireland where they have targeted the brave police and prison officers who serve their communities day in and day out," British Home Secretary Theresa May said on Wednesday night.

There has not been an attack by Irish dissidents on the British mainland for 15 years.

Earlier this year a dissident group known as the New IRA was said to be responsible for the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland. The New IRA has issued a warning that its members were "determined to take the war to the age-old enemy of our nation".
Morocco and China have signed on Wednesday a joint statement establishing strategic partnership between the two countries and King Mohammed VI who is on an official to Peking announced his decision to abolish visas for Chinese nationals as of June 2016.

The Moroccan King informed the Chinese President Xi Jinping of his decision during the meeting that gathered the two leaders at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Salaheddine Mezouar.

This decision confirms the sovereigns vision and his commitment to deepen and diversify Moroccan-Chinese relations, the Foreign Minister said in a statement to the Moroccan news agency, MAP.

It also mirrors Moroccos determination to intensify human, cultural, economic and political relations between the two long-time friends.

Talks between King Mohammed VI and the Chinese President were held in a friendly atmosphere, marked by commitment and sincerity, said Mezouar, adding that the two leaders voiced commitment to implement the just concluded strategic partnership they view as a milestone for the development of bilateral ties and for opening new cooperation prospects.

According to the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, King Mohammed VI hailed, during the joint statement signing ceremony, the traditional friendship binding the two countries and expressed conviction that this strategic partnership will inject new vitality into Moroccan-Chinese relations.

The Moroccan sovereign also underlined Moroccos resolve to expand trade and infrastructure cooperation with China and to strengthen the two countries coordination on development issues and climate change.

President Xi Jinping on his part underlined the great importance China attaches to its relations with Morocco, and said his country will steadily support the Kingdoms efforts to maintain national stability and promote social and economic development, Xinhua stated.

Under the joint statement establishing the strategic partnership, the two sides reaffirmed the principle of respecting all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity, and vowed to support all sides efforts to maintain peace and stability in the regions they belong to.

They also called for peaceful solutions to international and regional crises and disputes; expressed opposition to interference in others internal affairs and to the use of force or threat by force; and condemned terrorism in all its forms, said Xinhua.

King Mohammed VI and President President Xi Jinping afterwards presided over the signing ceremony of fifteen agreements and memoranda of understanding covering cooperation in the judicial, economic, financial, industrial, and energy sectors, in addition to cooperation in the areas of defense industry, and the safety of imported and exported foodstuffs.

The Moroccan Kings visit to China, which is taking place two months after his trip to Russia, is part of the new diplomatic strategy adopted by Morocco to diversify and expand its partnerships.

In addition to strengthening its trade with China, Morocco seeks to have a share of the huge Chinese investments injected in the African continent. China, which is already engaged in major infrastructure projects in Africa and which vies stronger trade ties beyond its traditional market in Anglophone Africa, could take advantage of the presence of many Moroccan companies, mainly in French-speaking West African countries. These companies could serve as a platform at the service of a trilateral win-win development.

If anything, these goals reflect the two countries shared determination to contribute to Africas economic and social development and to upgrade South-South cooperation.
Tunisian security forces raided two locations used by suspected terrorists who were planning synchronized attacks in different parts of the country.

A statement from the Interior ministry said police officers raided sites located in Ettadamen and Tataouine after they received intelligence indicating that terrorists from different parts of the country were gathered there before heading to the capital to execute their plans. Their targets are believed to be within Tunis.

The raid was carried out by a National Guard unit in Ettadamen, a town close to the capital. Two suspected militants were killed.

Information gathered during the operation is believed to have led to the second raid, which took place in the southern town of Tataouine. During that operation, one suspect was killed and four police officers died after one of the terrorists detonated his suicide-bomb belt. A total of sixteen suspects have been arrested in the raids. Rifles, grenades and ammunitions were also seized.

Tunisia tightened security measures after last year deadly attacks that targeted tourist resorts and security officers. The attacks crippled economy and almost brought the tourism sector to a standstill. Most operators in the sector have suspended their activities in the country until further notice.

The government is concerned about the return of its citizens who have gone to fight on the sidelines of extremist groups. Authorities estimate that more than 4000 Tunisians have joined the ranks of Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria and some have returned to training camps in neighboring Libya. To limit the crossing of terrorists into the country, Tunisia dug a trench and built a wall along its border with Libya.

Although the crackdown on terrorism in the country is intensive with security forces successfully repelling attacks and countering bomb explosions, insecurity continues to be a major challenge.
Despite the challenges facing the Yemeni peace talks, UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he is pleased by the seriousness demonstrated by both parties as parallel talks between them continue with hopes that an agreement to release 50% of prisoners held on both sides could be reached before Ramadan which begins early next month.

Talks also touched on creating a favorable political environment for the resumption of State institutions and political process as well as the handing over of weapons and withdrawals from territories.

Special Envoy Ismail said the peace talks are based on the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and Implementation Mechanism, the National Dialogue Outcomes and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He called for support during this critical phase so that collaboration between the warring parties leads to real peace after more than a year of fighting.

However, the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri said they support the talks but warned that they will launch fresh attacks if it fails. Today we have troops around the capital and we will get in because the goal is freeing Sanaa and shall the talks fail, Sanaa will be free soon. We cannot leave Yemen in a gray area, Asiri stressed, arguing that having Yemen as a failed state in not a benefit to anyone.

UN Secretary Generals spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said conflict is still ongoing in some part of the country but the majority continues to respect the ceasefire.
Irans Cultural and Islamic guidance minister Ali Jannati stated that Iranians would not be able to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage because the arrangements have not been put together and its now too late.

The absence of Iranian pilgrims for this years annual hajj, to be held in September, is due to the two sides failure to reach an agreement on arrangements after four days of talks held in Saudi Arabia in April.

Minister Jannati blamed the Saudis of sabotage, claiming that their attitude at the talks was cold and inappropriate. One of the factors that they fail to agree on is the issuance of visas considering that Riyadh closed its embassy in Iran after it was ransacked by angry mobs protesting against the execution of top Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on terror charges.

The Iranian minister claimed that Saudi officials demanded that Iranian pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications, rather than applying at the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has been overseeing Saudi interests since the closure of their embassy. Jannati also said the transport and security proposals made by the Saudis were not accepted.

Riyadh has not made any comments.

The Hajj feud between Riyadh and Tehran began last year after a stampede led to the death of more than 2,000 pilgrims amongst which were 464 Iranians.
Africas richest man, Nigerian business tycoon Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday pledged $10million to help families affected by Boko Harams seven-year insurgency.

It is the biggest donation by a businessman destined to ease the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria.

The conflict has forced more than two million people to flee their homes, with most of them living in camps.

The majority of the two million displaced are from Borno, a stronghold of Boko Haram, which is particularly affected by the attacks and bombings, according to a World Bank report.

Dangote said his main priority was to help deal with malnutrition and hunger in the camps as well as provide education and create job opportunities for people.

This is not the first time I am coming here and it will not be the last, Dangote, whose wealth is assessed at $17 billion, was quoted as saying.

The business mogul said he had previously donated about $6 million to help tackle the humanitarian crisis in the north of Africas most populous nation.

According to the Nigerian government, pasture, river basins and lakes were poisoned in 16 districts and 470,000 herd of cattle were killed or stolen in the Borno state in 6 years by the group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in April 2014.
The strategic partnership sealed Wednesday in Beijing by King Mohammed VI with China has opened up new cooperation opportunities for Morocco as this giant Asian country is regarded as an economic and military power.

During his landmark visit to China, the Moroccan sovereign signed with President Xi Jinping a joint statement setting the goals and the priority sectors the two countries will focus on in their bilateral cooperation to enhance trade exchanges and coordinate stands in international fora on issues of common interests.

These cooperation opportunities will be fully materialize at the level of Africa, as both Morocco and China are expanding their presence in the continent. The two countries will thus foster their joint actions in the African continent as partners and not as competitors, and will promote win-win partnership in all sectors.

The North African country needs Chinese know-how and support as the countrys socioeconomic development is in full swing and braces to host the next UN climate change conference (COP-22) while its new industries (automobile, aeronautics, offshore) are growing rapidly and attracting more and more interests of investors.

For its part, China, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, pledges to support Morocco and rev up its efforts to maintain national stability and enhance social and economic development.

In their joint statement, the two countries vowed to foster coordination on strategic issues and enhance cooperation ties between legislative bodies and political parties.

They also reaffirmed the principle of respecting all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity, and pledged to support efforts to maintain peace and stability of their regions.

Beijing and Rabat also called for peaceful solutions to international and regional disputes and condemned terrorism in all its forms.

The two countries have signed cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, finance, industry, food security, science, technology, defense, justice, culture, tourism, energy, infrastructure and consular affairs.

In a bid to boost trade exchanges and encourage Chinese nationals to visit Morocco, King Mohammed VI has decided to give a visa waiver for Chinese citizens as of June 2016.
Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye was arrested on Thursday after he swore himself to office as a president.

Besigye, who is the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, was arrested several times after the countrys disputed February 18 general election.

He insisted he won the election with 52 per cent votes, despite the official announcement that declared Museveni winner with 61 per cent votes.

On Wednesday, a video surfaced online showing Besigye being sworn in as president.

I, Kizza Besigye Kifefe, swear in the name of the almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Uganda and that I shall preserve, protect and defend the constitution. So help me God, he took an oath holding a bible.

I shall preserve, protect and defend the constitution of Uganda, so help me God, Besigye swore before party officials and supporters.

His arrest came just 24 hours before Museveni was to be sworn in at a ceremony that will be attended by more than a dozen African heads of state, among them South African President Jacob Zuma, Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

On Wednesday, there were several foot and vehicle security patrols by the military and police on the streets of Kampala.
Japanese firm Tokyo Rope keen to open a factory in Georgia

One of Japans leading wire rope and metal manufacturers, Tokyo Rope, is planning to build a production plant in Georgia.Today, the chairman of Tokyo Rope Shigeto Tanaka met Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili to discuss the possibility of building a plant in the South Caucasian nation.A Japanese delegation has already been briefed on the Georgian Governments plan to develop infrastructural projects in Georgia.After hearing about the ambitious plans, the Japanese side agreed there was large potential in developing infrastructure and noted Tokyo Rope could contribute to this.Our company is 130 years old. It is one of the oldest companies in Japan and is world-renowned in the area of steel cable production. We have come to Georgia to explore the possibility of developing infrastructural objects, including road construction, said Tanaka.Georgia is a mountainous country. We see great potential here and we have discussed the possibility of constructing one of our plants in Georgia, as we carry out worldwide production, he added.Tokyo Rope is a world-renowned company that produces metal products, such as nets that hold stones and steel wires for hanging bridges.
President refuses further consultations

By Messenger Staff

The President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, refuses to hold further consultations over the Supreme Court's judicial candidates, the President's adviser on human rights issues, Kakha Kozhoridze, told reporters, also responding to statements of parliamentary majority members.Kozhoridze said that he could not understand the point of the majority members statements and that the President does not trade with the Supreme Court candidates."I cannot understand their statements for three reasons. First - because the candidates have already been nominated, second  because committee discussions of these candidates have already been completed and third  it is the principled position of the President that there should not be political consultations and backstage agreements and deals with regards to Supreme Court candidates, said Kozhoridze.According to him, the Supreme Court should be an arbiter of justice and should not be involved in politics."The selection of candidates should not become the subject of political consultations and agreements, said Kozhoridze.In March this year Margvelashvili named two women as candidates for judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia.Margvelashvili said the duo, Tamar Laliashvili and Nona Todua, enjoyed years of experience in the legal field and they would promote a "higher level court system in Georgia.Earlier, the President named one more candidate for the position, the current Deputy Minister of Defence, Anna Dolidze.Lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party said they were undecided about whether to support the three Supreme Court judge nominations.Party MP Giorgi Volski, who chairs the largest faction in Parliament made up of MPs from the GDDG party, has called on President Margvelashvili to engage in consultations over the Supreme Court nominees before the candidates are put to a vote.Georgias President is the only authorised official who can name judge candidates for the Supreme Court of Georgia. If approved by Parliament, the candidate will serve in the role for 10 years.The Supreme Court of Georgia is composed of 12 judges, who are chaired by the head of the Supreme Court of Georgia. This position is currently held by Nino Gvenetadze, who was also named by the President last year.Candidates need the support of at least 76 lawmakers from the 150-seat Parliament to be able to begin working as a judge in the Supreme Court of Georgia.It should be stated that the President names the candidates after consultations with relevant civil and academic organisations and bodies.The organizations and bodies reveal and name their candidates and the President then choose those he deems most suitable.It should be stated that in most cases, the President has nominated female candidates.The Presidents rights are restricted under the constitution, and he has few fields where he is the only authorized person to make decisions.If the Presidents candidates are unacceptable for majority lawmakers, they can vote against them without further complications.
President Barack Obama requested the money in February to pay for research and treatment of the virus, which now is believed to cause birth defects in children whose mothers contracted the disease while pregnant. But Republicans have blocked the bill.

Even as Scott, a Republican, made the rounds on Capitol Hill, Florida health officials announced three new travel-related cases of Zika in the state, two in Volusia County and one in Orange County.
@jeremySWallace

Miami Republican Carlos Lopez-Cantera picked up another key endorsement for his U.S. Senate campaign on Thursday, winning the support of incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes.

Corcoran joins a list of Lopez-Cantera endorsers that includes Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, current Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and current Senate President Andy Gardiner. He's also picked up endorsements from dozens of other state legislators.

Lopez-Cantera is the only one of five Republicans in the race who has been a state legislator. Lopez-Cantera served 8 years in the Florida House before he was elected to be the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser.
@ByKristenMClark

ORLANDO -- Vice President Joe Biden charmed a crowded restaurant in downtown Orlando this morning, lending his political stardom once again to the U.S. Senate campaign of Democrat Patrick Murphy.

As Biden entered to small cheers from an expectant audience, the ever-charismatic politician joked to the 75 people gathered at Chef Eddie's restaurant: "Look, I hope you're all eating because what I don't want to have happen is the waitresses (get) angry because they're not getting tips because I'm here!"

Much as he did at a Miami restaurant while campaigning for Murphy two months ago, Biden worked the room with magnetic energy. He shook hands, offered hugs, snapped selfies and greeted every stranger as if they were old friends.

Murphy, a two-term Democratic congressman from Jupiter, seemed to struggle for the spotlight. He often lingered in Biden's metaphorical shadow -- even helping to take a photo of Biden and some of his admirers at one point. But Murphy was also able to introduce himself and chat with some of the guests, at least a few of whom seemed to be friends or acquaintances of Murphy's.

Dolled up in suits and dresses, most of the crowd seemed to be invited guests -- not average diners who'd happened to stop by the restaurant for some of its casual soul-food. All but a handful waited with reporters for over an hour before Murphy and Biden arrived.
via @MikeSallah7 @jayhweaver

While under investigation in an FBI public corruption case, Opa-lockas city manager directed tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to himself for benefits he was not entitled to as the city teetered on the edge of financial collapse.

Just days after David Chiverton was identified by FBI informants as a suspect in the criminal investigation, the 51-year-old city manager approved two payments totaling nearly $40,000 to himself in what are violations of the citys policies for employees, the Miami Herald found.

One of the payments for $14,160 was for unused vacation time and the other  $24,982  was for sick time that far exceeded what he was allowed to receive under the citys rules.

While Chiverton was receiving the payments, the city was struggling to cut costs amid a financial meltdown so dire that the governors office might still have to declare a state of emergency. On Wednesday night, commissioners slashed the work week for most employees to 32 hours to cut costs.

Chiverton, who was appointed acting city manager in November, acknowledged he received two payments recently to take care of unforeseen expenses, but said his actions did not violate the citys rules.

More here.
State prison officials announced Wednesday they have reached an agreement to continue a privately-run inmate transition program in Broward and Manatee counties for two more years, but the agreement comes at a cost: the closing of a work-release center for 122 inmates.

The Florida Department of Corrections notified Bridges of America last month that it would have to move out of the state-owned building that houses the inmate transition program by May 15 because the agency needed the Pompano Beach space for its probation offices. It then told the company that it would also cancel the Bradenton Bridge contract in July, forcing 84 transition inmates and 36 work-release inmates to move.

But after several state and local officials protested the moves at each facility, FDC backed down and announced Wednesday it had signed contracts to keep the Broward Bridges of America program in both locations. More here.
State Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, enters the summer with a distinct financial advantage over the two Democrats he is battling for a seat in the Florida Senate in an Aug. 30 primary election.

Narain, Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, and former Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, are all battling to represent the newly drawn District 19. That districts starts in Temple Terrace and East Tampa, and runs south to pick up parts of Brandon, Riverview and Apollo Beach. It then cross Tampa Bay to pick up St. Petersburg. No Republicans had filed to run in the race as of Thursday.

New campaign finance records show Narain raised $15,000 in April and now has raised a total of $119,000. After spending nearly $39,000, Narain had more than $80,000 to start May 1, according to new campaign finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections this week. Rouson has raised nearly $62,000, but has spent $35,000, leaving him with less than $17,000 to start the month. Reed has raised $23,000 for the race and has spent $8,100, leaving her with $15,000.

Narian, first elected to the House in 2014, said it is good to start with a financial advantage, but said hes not taking anything for granted. He said there is no shortage of races around the country in which the candidate who had the most money actually lost.
A group exhibition, "Surface + Substance: Intersections in Clay," serves as a useful reminder of Montana's reputation in the ceramics world.

The show at Radius Gallery, with no shortage of eye candy, innovative technique, traditional pottery and iterations of all three, was curated co-owner Jason Neal. The gallery, which opened in fall 2014, has never had a ceramics exhibition before, so they initially approached two artists for advice: Adrian Arleo, a local ceramicist, and Julia Galloway, a professor at the University of Montana and nationally exhibiting artist.

They provided a long list of artists from the sculptural and functional sides and a range of artists throughout their careers, from established professionals to younger artists, and all over the state.

Neal narrowed his selections to 11 artists and over 100 individual pieces that fill the bulk of the gallery on West Main Street.

Neal and co-owner Lisa Simon said the show highlights the state's tight-knit and cutting-edge ceramics community.

"Everybody needs each other. You're using the kiln after someone else. There's a lot of camaraderie," Simon said.

Many of them have connections through the state's clay centers and state university programs, with lineages of instructors and students-turned-instructors.

"In some ways it feels like contemporary ceramics is still full of wild exploration and a real encouragement of that," Neal said.

Represented in the show are reminders of the state's rich ceramics history: Many are alumni of the Archie Bray Foundation, the Helena institution that served as ground zero for ceramics in the state because of Peter Voulkos and Rudy Autio.

Autio founded the University of Montana's ceramics department, another significant driver of ceramics here. One of his students, Beth Lo, is now an internationally exhibiting artist and a UM professor herself.

Lo in turn has mentored another generation of students, such as Crista Ann Ames, an MFA graduate who had a summer residency at the Bray and is now a long-term resident at the Clay Studio of Missoula.

In 2013, Ames was featured in Western Art and Architecture's "Ones to Watch" column.

Neal and Simon said it's notable that none of the three artists in that lineage of mentorship have similar styles, only a shared freedom in their approaches.

Lo is represented by abstract figurative sculptures and plates with elements of painting and drawing, while Ames' work is solely sculptural. The Washington native contributed works that mix ceramics and wood: such as a human or animal head with curving horns sculpted from plywood.

"She's so fearless in what she's willing to take on," Neal said, citing the scale and technical difficulty.

Arleo, too, builds technically challenging figurative sculptures, such as a human head with shoulders assembled from rows of small hands, lying on its side.

Randi O'Brien, a professor at MSU-Billings, includes wood in her sculptures. She contributed a series of "Orangeries," in which somber ceramic bird heads and orange peels are carefully arranged in wall-hanging boxes.

Slipcasting, a technique that employs molds to mass produce ceramic objects, is represented by several artists: Shalene Valenzuela, the Clay Studio's executive director, contributed a set of three saws. The identical forms are subsequently painted with different imagery that questions '50s attitudes toward women. Alison Reintjes of Missoula offered sets of mugs and a bowl slipcast from multiple molds, resulting in complex geometric forms and a subtle eye for color combinations.

Further toward the functional and extreme end of technique are two veteran educators: Galloway and Josh DeWeese. Galloway's vases bear intricate layers of color, elements of drawings and in one case, lettering. DeWeese, of Bozeman, contributed a large pot coated with an abstract expressionist use of glaze.

Griffin, a Helena resident, pushes drawing further as a key element of her work, with scenes of birds on panels inspired by naturalistic illustrators, Neal said.

Further from natural inspirations is the work of Christopher Dufala, who's interested in trompe l'oeil ceramics, and subtly subverting the idea of such a thing. One piece resembles a turntable, yet the record is imprinted with old newspaper columns. Another resembles a television, but is constructed of metal-like elements that no TV would be constructed from.

There are "elements telling you it's not a television, yet the form is still so clearly a TV," Neal said.

Dufala has been teaching at the University of Montana for a year. Before that, he ventured to here from out of state, drawn by one of Montana's best gigs for artists in his field: a residency at the Archie Bray.
The North Hills-Evaro Elk Working Group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's headquarters (use the entrance on the west of the headquarters).

Liz Bradley, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist who manages the North Hills-Evaro elk herd, will discuss the herd's status and its management. This spring, she counted 404 elk, down from 407 during the spring of 2015 including 275 cows, 60 bulls and 69 calves. The herd was split up this year with 256 elk grazing the ranchlands above the Prospect subdivision, another 118 on ranches in the Lavalle Creek/Evaro area and 30 on public lands. Much of the herd migrates each summer and fall into the headwaters of the Rattlesnake drainage, with some elk wandering as far as Gold Creek and the Flathead Reservation.

During spring counts for the last several years, nearly all the elk had been on the ranches in the Lavalle Creek/Evaro area. When the herd is split up on its winter range, the effects of grazing and damage to fences are shared more widely than when the elk are on one or two ranches.

Bert Lindler will discuss weed work being conducted by the Montana Conservation Corps on elk winter range in Grant Creek owned by the National Wildlife Federation and on adjoining Lolo National Forest lands in Sawmill Gulch.

For further information, contact Lindler at blindler@montana.com.
Tent pole

In Hollywood, a tentpole refers to the movie so profitable, it supports all the less commercial projects that might actually win an Oscar. In the real woods, its the slightly redundant name of a tent that might actually belong in the backcountry.

After decades of A-frames, domes and insect-like rod contraptions, single-pole pyramid-design tents reach back to the worlds most aboriginal shelters. The concept drifts in and out of history, from the aboriginal Finnish loues and Inuit qarmaqs of the Arctic Circle to the Sibley tents of the American Civil War. Today, theyre known as tipi tents, tentpoles, or pyramid (mid) shelters. Their owners tend to camp in the fringe of outdoor experience  expedition mountain climbs, elk hunting camps, big-river floats.

I had mountain climbing guides looking for serious, big tents, and thats how I started, said Jacob Noah, owner of Noahs Fabric and Boatworks in Missoula. Guys were sending me their tents to pre-stitch the seams because the factory models would fall apart.

Most modern tentpole designs hark back to the versions the U.S. Army adopted in the mid-1800s.

Henry Hopkins Sibley gave his name to the tent he patented in 1856. He arranged to license it to the U.S. Army in 1856, for a payment of $5 per tent. However, he resigned from the Union Army to join the Confederate States Army at the start of the Civil War, and the federals withheld his royalty payments. That was a financial blunder, considering the Army made about 44,000 Sibley tents during the war.

I think the design might have come out of the Crimean War, said Tate Jones, director of the Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History. They were big enough to sleep a dozen men, and their utility was mainly in fixed posts like garrisons or fortifications. They werent that portable. And then after the Civil War, the era of big field armies goes away for a while. The Army gave up toting large supply trains around the plains.

Noah started tinkering with single-pole designs that met the needs of Denali climbers and other Alaska adventurers. The concept combines limited materials, great strength-to-weight ratios, and nearly ideal geometry for sheltering people while cheating wind, rain and snow. Putting all that together required lots of tailoring.

Im really struggling to meet the demand, Noah said. Theres a lot of parts in these that you dont see. Each one has 20 triangular panels, the peak cap, drawstrings, guy lines and doors.

The prehistoric designs used animal skins or occasionally tree bark for outer walls. 19th century militaries relied on canvas. Noah chooses from a rack of modern fabrics, ranging from a basic nylon Oxford rip-stop to a military-grade, siliconized parachute material. A typical 5-to-7-person version weighs about 7 pounds.

Like the tepee of the Plains Indians, tentpole tents can have a peak vent allowing a stove or campfire inside for heat and cooking. Unlike the simple flaps of those Plains shelters, the new tents use a complicated system of drawstrings, fabric layers and mesh to let smoke escape without letting rain in.

It can be snowing sideways and you can still have a 30-inch vent at the top, he explained. Single pole set-up means a camper can stash all the gear inside the tent before raising it up in bad weather  a feature appreciated by mountain climbers and others trying to get quick shelter from storms.

None of these features come cheap. Noah needs about three days of uninterrupted sewing to build a single tent, each of which is made to custom specifications. Even mass-market companies like Mansfield Outdoors and Kifaru charge about $1,000 for their basic 5-person models. Accessories such as vestibules, stove ports, bug screens and windows take off from there.

Its the classic dryer-lighter-cheaper problem, Noah said. Pick any two.
HAMILTON  The Bitterroot National Forests first update to its travel plan in four decades is getting mixed reviews.

The national forest officially released its new plan Wednesday after nine years of public involvement that included a record 13,400 comments.

For those whose focus was wilderness and quiet travel, the national forests new plan to manage motorized travel was a major step forward. But those who like to use wheels to navigate the backcountry, the travel management plan was a huge disappointment.

Were not happy with it at all, said Dan Thompson of the Ravalli County Off Road User Association. Anyone who enjoys recreation on national forest should not be happy with it. Its very restrictive.

About half of the trails open to motorcycles are now closed, he said. One of the two significant ATV trails also will be off limits under the new plan.

Its by far and away the most restrictive travel plan that we have seen come out of Region 1 so far, Thompson said. Its a pretty big hit, especially when you realize that half the forest is already in designated wilderness.

Mike Jeffords, of the same organization, said the agencys plan requires motorized users to carry an additional 49 pages of maps showing which routes are open to motorized travel is unworkable.

Motorized users are not going to haul all this stuff around, he said. As far as I can see, they are doing everything they can to make motorized use of the forest as hard as possible.

People will go elsewhere to recreate after this, Jeffords said.

I believe you will see a big reduction in the number of people using motorized recreation coming here in the summer, he said. There will be no place for them to recreate.

***

The mountain bike community also lost about 180 miles of single-track trail. Most of those were found in two Wilderness Study Areas, which were closed to all motorized travel in the new travel plan.

We are all pretty depressed, said Lance Pysher of Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists. We knew something like this was coming, but were still kind of in shock. Its real now.

The backcountry cyclists have spent years clearing and maintaining trails in the Blue Joint and Sapphire wilderness study areas that are now off limits to all wheeled travel.

Pysher said the decision to close the two WSAs to mountain bike use flies in the face of information gathered by the Forest Service and others about the amount of actual use of each area.

Last year, Pysher said he rode every single trail in both of the WSA.

I saw more bears than I saw people, he said. I didnt see a single person while riding four weekends in the Blue Joint.  I saw zero people in the Sapphires.

He did see two bears.

In 2009, the Wilderness Institute did a survey in the two WSAs. After hiking pretty much every trail, they counted two mountain bikers and four hikers, he said.

The Forest Service just cant show any evidence that were having any impact to solitude, he said.

While its true that there are other areas for mountain biking on the national forest, Pysher said the trails in the two WSAs provide the kind of single-track experience that those in the mountain biking community seek.

In most other areas, bikers are required to ride roads to access sections of single-track trail, he said.

Thats not what most mountain bikers visualize, he said. Roads are too wide, and you dont get that intimate feel that you do on a trail.

***

Both the mountain bike and off-road users' organizations said they are looking into options to challenge the plan.

Jim Miller of the Friends of the Bitterroot said that organization is happy to see the Bitterroot Forest finally enforce the law that was put in place 39 years ago.

When Congress created the WSAs, Miller said land management agencies were required to maintain those areas for potential inclusion into the countrys wilderness system.

Finally, the Forest Service is carrying out that mandate, Miller said. ATV trails through the Sapphires was not maintaining those areas.

Miller said there have been numerous court decisions on that issue over the years and now were finally seeing a correct interpretation of the act.

The Friends of the Bitterroot have been fighting to maintain the wilderness characteristics of those two areas since it was created 28 years ago, Miller said.

There has been a lot illegal damage that has occurred over that time period, he said. We finally feel vindicated by this Forest Service decision to protect these areas.

While the organization is happy overall with the decision, Miller said it didnt get everything it wanted either.

In particular, Miller said it is disappointed about the decision to allow dispersed camping 300 feet on either side of a designated route.

Were not against dispersed camping, but that will allow a lot of motorized use of areas off roads, he said. While we didnt get everything we wanted, we are pleased that the Forest Service held its ground and decided to enforce the law.

***

The Montana Wilderness Associations Zack Porter said that organization is thrilled with the travel plan and Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Julie Kings courage and leadership to move it forward.

The plan lives up to the conservation legacy of Stevensville native Sen. Lee Metcalf, who helped pass the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 and, for the first time, puts the Bitterroot Forest in line with its 1986 Forest Plan, he said.

On the whole, Porter called the plan very balanced.

Porter said there are enough miles of roads and trails for OHV and mountain bikers to essentially ride between Hamilton to New York City.

The Montana Wilderness Association, a member of the Bitterroot Quiet Use Coalition, said the new travel plan secures clean water, protects fish and wildlife habitat and preserves quiet backcountry traditions while balancing outdoor recreation experiences.

The travel plan is a victory for Montana sportsmen and women, said David Stalling, western Montana field representative of the Montana Wildlife Federation. The science is clear that secure habitat is vital for elk, deer and other game species. We all understand that good hunting opportunity is dependent on a good travel plan.
While a decades-long legal struggle over energy exploration in the Badger-Two Medicine revolves around its sacred nature to the Blackfeet Indians, it wasnt until this week that the tribe officially asked to join the fight.

Blackfeet tribal leaders joined several conservation groups in requesting intervener status in the case between Solenex LLC and the U.S. Department of the Interior before U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C. Two months ago, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell accepted a recommendation from the U.S. Forest Service to cancel Solenexs drilling leases on 6,200 acres of public land just south of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Solenex asked Leon to overrule the decision and reinstate the leases.

Those representing traditional Blackfeet culture did not have a seat at the table 30 years ago when the federal government leased our sacred lands for a dollar an acre, said John Murray of the Pikuni Traditionalist Association. This intervention is important to ensure that those representing traditional Blackfeet culture have a seat at the table now as the court considers the validity of the governments effort to correct that 30-year-old mistake.

The tribe was joined by the Blackfeet Headwaters Alliance, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, Montana Wilderness Association, National Parks Conservation Association and the Wilderness Society.

Earthjustice attorney Tim Preso, representing the tribe and conservation groups, argued they needed a seat in the courtroom because they faced risks that the government did not. To start with, the current court case revolves around whether Solenexs leases were improperly suspended by the Forest Service. The Blackfeet have argued the leases were improperly granted in the first place back in the 1980s.

Preso noted the federal agencies were particularly doubtful friends because as the party admitting wrongdoing, they lack incentive to explain their errors beyond what they deem necessary to support their lease-cancellation decision. Thats important because the tribe and conservation groups had spent decades unsuccessfully trying to get the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to declare the leases illegal.

The 165,000-acre Badger-Two Medicine area rests next to Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Murray described its significance to the Blackfeet language, belief system and spiritual practices invaluable.

Tribal officials attempted to negotiate a compromise with Solenex for other, less sensitive drilling lands on the Blackfeet Reservation, which has seen oil and gas exploration since the 1920s. Those unsuccessful talks were outside the legal bounds of Solenexs case against the Forest Service.
A Missoula man who pointed a loaded handgun at three of his neighbors in September received a 15-year suspended prison sentence Tuesday after being convicted of three felonies.

Larry Lavern Eller, 55, was found guilty of three counts of assault with a weapon during a Missoula County District Court trial in early March. On Tuesday, District Court Judge Karen Townsend sentenced him to five years in the Montana State Prison, all suspended, for each of the charges. The sentences will run consecutively, for a total judgment of 15 years, all suspended.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Eller also will pay a $2,500 fine and court fees and surcharges.

During Tuesdays sentencing hearing, Ellers public defender Christopher Daly recommended Eller receive concurrent three-year deferrals of sentence for the felonies.

I want this to stay on your record, Townsend said when she chose to side with the recommendation from the prosecution.

According to a court affidavit, police were called to an apartment complex on Monroe Street on Sept. 27, 2015. The three victims said they had just come back from a concert and were in their car in the parking lot talking about the show when Eller came out of his house across the street and started to yell at them. One of the victims noticed the headlights of her car were on and shining into Ellers house, and turned them off.

Eller went back into the house, then came out with a handgun equipped with a laser sight, pointing it at the occupants of the car.

Officers spoke with Eller, who admitted he lasered the car, and showed police the gun, a .40-caliber Springfield XDM. When asked if it was loaded, he said Oh yeah, Im always locked, cocked and ready to rock. Police noted he appeared to be intoxicated at the time.

In court Tuesday, just before the judge handed down his sentence, Eller said he hadnt meant to scare the victims, only alert them that their headlights were shining at his house.

I wasnt meaning to do them any harm, he said.
Jesse Laslovich, candidate for Montana state auditor, recently distributed an opinion, Air ambulance flights add insult to injury (May 3), suggesting air medical providers are the primary cause for the high cost of transporting critically ill patients. That position overlooks the insurance industrys responsibility to cover their beneficiaries emergency medical needs.

Simply put, some insurance companies that cover healthcare provided in a brick-and-mortar hospital refuse to negotiate fair in-network rates for those same services when they are provided by clinicians in the back of an aircraft.

Laslovich implies air medical providers refuse to negotiate with insurance companies. Air medical providers, including those operating in Montana, have negotiated fair agreements with insurers in many states, including some in Montana. Many of the egregious cases cited by Laslovich would have been covered in other states, resulting in no additional cost to the patient. Air medical providers welcome the opportunity to enter into agreements when they are fair and result from negotiations conducted on a level playing field.

In states like Montana, where one dominant provider controls over 60 percent of the insurance market, those dominant insurance companies are able to set allowable rates for medical providers at whatever level they want, offering a take-it-or-leave-it in-network agreement at their arbitrarily set rates. When an air medical provider is unable to accept this substantially under-cost amount, the insurance company settles with their beneficiary and leaves them, unknowingly, on the hook for whatever amount remains that their insurer refuses to cover.

The state auditor position regulates Montanas insurance and financial-services industry. Laslovich has publicly said,  Ive dedicated my life to protecting Montana consumers, holding big insurance companies accountable, and fighting out-of-state special interests  Im running for state auditor to continue this work.

What has changed since Laslovich made this statement last year? Where is the accountability of the private insurance companies? Why is air medicine considered unworthy of insurance coverage like any other emergency medical intervention? Insurance companies have a responsibility to their beneficiaries when they require life-saving transportation and treatment.

Air medical transports are highly effective medical interventions, but are not appropriate for every patient. They are effective in cases of severe trauma, heart attack or stroke, when bringing high-levels of care to patients and swiftly transporting them directly to the right facility can significantly improve their outcomes. That is particularly true in rural areas, like much of Montana, where aircraft may function as the primary access to critical care.

Air medical providers do not decide who they will transport. Every air medical transport request comes from a medically trained first responder or from a physician who needs to move a patient to a higher level of care. Air medical providers are obligated to act, by law, and must respond to every transport request, within safety standards, without knowledge of the patients ability to pay. They incur every cost, every time, without knowing if they will ever be paid.

Air medical providers save lives, but are not immune to the rapidly rising costs of medical care. One night in an ICU, for instance, can cost thousands of dollars. Creating those high levels of care inside aircraft that cost over $4 million and remaining ready to treat the most severely ill and injured patients 24 hours a day is also expensive.

The air medical industry does not want to see patients or their families placed at financial risk. We are committed to finding a reasonable solution to the issue of cost to consumers. We welcome the opportunity to work with all of Montanas officials to find a practical solution. But any solution that would truly address the problem must also examine health insurance coverage policies, the appropriateness of allowable rates, and transparency in health insurance policies regarding the potential financial responsibilities of the patient.

Montanans need timely access to life-saving emergency medical care and air medical providers remain ready 24 hours a day to provide that. Patients deserve transparent insurance policies that will be there for you as well. Let your elected officials know you want the insurance companies to pay their fair share and negotiate reasonable partnerships with air medical providers so patients arent victimized twice. Candidate Laslovich needs to be transparent about his agenda and motivation to overlook insurance company financial responsibilities when lives hang in the balance.
A new set of rules being promulgated by the United States Department of Labor has the potential to cause a major shift in the employment structure for most Montana employers. Unfortunately, its a change that many dont yet know is coming.

The new rules would alter who qualifies to be an exempt employee, that is, an employee exempt from tracking hours worked. Today, exempt employees are those who work in administrative, professional or management roles in an organization and who make at least $23,660 annually.

Exempt employees fill an important role in the workplacetheyre granted more flexible work hours and more autonomy over their schedule. Their roles are more dependent on work outcomes than on hours worked. Sometimes, theyre expected to go beyond normal work hoursfor instance, a bookkeeper preparing for tax season or a store manager completing the monthly inventory.

For many, achieving exempt status comes with a real sense of accomplishment. Its a sign that theyve been given more responsibility in their jobs, and the freedom to no longer have to track hours and punch the clock.

But the new rules being proposed by DOL would force many employees who are currently exempt to be reclassified to hourly workers. Specifically, they have proposed to more than double the income threshold from the current $23,660 to $50,440.

Such a sweeping change will affect thousands of workers in Montana, some of whom have been exempt for decades. Those workers will now have to track their hours and be subject to a much stricter work schedule than they are used to.

The change will also drive up personnel costs for employers. That will likely lead to many employers cutting back hours, reducing wages or trimming their benefits package.

The rule encompasses nonprofit employers as well as those in the private sector, and its those nonprofits that will feel the biggest pinch. Unlike for-profit companies, nonprofits have far less flexibility to pass along increasing costs to their clientele. They have tighter budgets, and a higher proportion of workers who will fall under the new $50,440 threshold.

The DOL rules are a one-size-fits-all approach. The income thresholds are the same for low-wage states, like Montana, as they are for higher-income states like New York or California. In other words, employees in Montana are more likely to fall under the income threshold than their counterparts in other states.

This is a very large change for Montana employers, and its coming fast. The new rules are expected to be announced in its final form in the next couple of months, from which time employees will have only a couple more months to come into compliance.

But it is not an inevitable change. Due to the detrimental effects the rules will have on employees and employers alike, legislation has begun moving in Congress to block the rules and force DOL to take into consideration the concerns of nonprofit organizations and employers in small states.
As citizens in Missoula County, we have a critical choice to make in this years June primary election. The best choice for the Missoula County Commission is Dave Strohmaier. As a lifelong hunter, fisherman and conservationist, Strohmaier knows the importance of wildlife, wild places, healthy habitat, public lands, pure water, clean air and food security in Missoula County. Strohmaier will fight against any efforts to privatize public lands in Missoula County.

As a Missoula County commissioner, Dave Strohmaier will adopt an open-door policy with staff and the public, nurturing a sense of respect and teamwork. He will collaborate with elected officials and the public to set a clear vision for Missoula County, and then implement that vision. He will acknowledge the reality of climate change as one of the greatest moral challenges of our time, and work to make Missoula County carbon-neutral through energy conservation, smart development, and sustainable transportation.

Strohmaier will ensure adequate public involvement and respect for neighborhood plans and historic resources, and will continue my advocacy for the return of passenger rail service through southern Montana.

Bill Geer,

Lolo
BIGFORK  A bomb threat forced the evacuation of Bigfork High School late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Flathead County Sheriffs Office.

A search by deputies and with an explosive detection K9 unit did not turn up any explosive devices, Flathead County patrol commander Brian Heino said.

Classes resumed Thursday.

Flathead County Dispatch received the report at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, and the initial report indicated there was a hand-written bomb threat within a science classroom at the high school, according to Heino.

According to postings on the Bigfork High School and Elementary School websites, school administrators were notified that the bomb threat was made in graffiti found in the high school science lab.

The Montana Highway Patrol and U.S. Forest Service personnel assisted with an evacuation of the school, Heino said, before the search was conducted.

"After a thorough investigation by the Sheriff's Department and bomb-detecting canines, it was determined that all schools in Bigfork School District 38 were safe," the posting on the elementary school website said, adding that classes would resume Thursday.

Heino said an investigation is continuing.
HAMILTON  The Ravalli County Sheriff's Department is investigating an incident of a Corvallis school bus driver leaving a 16-year-old girl with developmental disabilities on a school bus after dropping off other students the morning of May 5.

Undersheriff Steve Holton said the sheriffs office received a call from the parents later that evening and started an investigation.

Our primary concern is how it happened, and that is Corvallis concern too, Holton said. Basically, a physically and mentally disabled child had been left on the bus for a significant amount of time. Part of our investigation is to find out how long. She has to wear a three-point harness to be stable while being transported and is not able to get out of that by herself.

Superintendent Tim Johnson said, The driver simply forgot the student was on the bus.

The student missed approximately three hours of school, Johnson said. When the driver realized the student was still on the bus, the student was immediately delivered to the school, at approximately 11:30 a.m. and the student resumed what was reported as a normal second half of the school day.

Johnson said the bus driver immediately reported the incident to her supervisor and is on administrative leave while the incident is under investigation.

The driver has no driving duties for the district for the remainder of the year, Johnson said.

Kelly Williams Johnson, owner of Kellys Respite Home in Missoula, said she has been the respite provider for the student for nine years. She said the parents were out of town due to medical needs and an aunt was caring for the student so she could attend school.

She loves school and loves the bus, Williams Johnson said. I dont know if shell go on again. She doesnt have a way to say what happened.

Williams Johnson said the student was riding on a short bus. She said the aunt brought the student to her the evening of the incident.

Im livid, Williams Johnson said. She couldnt get out of the harness, had no water, no use of a bathroom and had a coat on in the heat. Bus drivers are supposed to walk the aisles before they get off.

Tim Johnson said, Corvallis School District has revisited how attendance information is shared between drivers and special services staff.

We have modified the attendance process to include a two-way verification of student attendance and transportation to and from school, he said.

Undersheriff Holton said he was limited in what information he could release but did say part of the investigation is to determine why the student did not get off the bus and where the bus was during the time the student was on it.

Well find out if anything needs to be forwarded to the county attorney, Holton said. Im not saying a crime did occur. It sounds like the school has a system and they have been very helpful with us during our investigation.
HAMILTON  The ringleader in Ravalli County's largest-ever heroin bust was sentenced Wednesday.

Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton followed the terms of a plea agreement and sentenced Marlen Ravelo, 47, of Port Angeles, Washington, to a 30-year prison sentence, all suspended.

Langton went beyond the agreement and required Ravelo to pay $78,750 in a fine to the state.

State law allows the court to levy a fine equivalent of 35 percent of the street value of the illegal drugs in a persons possession.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Thorin Geist said Ravelo and her two co-defendants had nearly $250,000 in heroin and methamphetamine when they were arrested last October.

Geist said he plans to file a lien against the $225,000 home that Ravelo owns in Washington state to ensure the fine will be paid.

The 30-year suspended sentence will run concurrent with a sentence yet to be imposed in a U.S. District Court on additional drug charges.

Geist said he expects that Ravelo will receive a five- to 10-year sentence in a federal penitentiary.

There is no federal parole, Geist said. That will all be hard time.

***

Ravelo was one of three people arrested last Halloween after law enforcement officers acted on a tip and stopped their vehicle in the Florence area. After being ordered out of the car at gunpoint, sheriffs deputies found nearly a half pound of heroin and a similar amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

According to federal court records, Ravelo was part of a drug trafficking organization headquartered in western Washington led by a man named Antonio Contreras-Torres, aka Pipi.

The organization had been tracked by federal officers, who documented that Ravelo had obtained heroin and methamphetamine for distribution, including the drugs confiscated in Ravalli County.

Court records in Ravalli County said Ravelo and Mason Gregory Skerbeck, 23, of Washington State, brought the drugs into Montana with the intent to see if there was a market here.

Once in the state, they met Crystal Lee Griffin, 21, of Stevensville, who brokered deals at the University of Montana and in Stevensville.

The three were arrested while traveling to Stevensville to complete a transaction.

Both Skerbeck and Griffin have already been sentenced. Neither was required to pay the $78,750 fine.

At the sentencing, Geist told the judge that Ravelos only connection to Ravalli County was that she planned to open a drug trade route.

The impact of the drugs she planned to bring into the county would have been devastating, Geist said.

The message to drug dealers is to stay out of Ravalli County and stay out of Montana, Geist said.
Place all the ingredients in a clean, air-tight jar (such as a mason jar). Store the infusion in a cool, dark place for two months, shaking it three to five times a day. After two months, strain before using.

The Salitre Cocktail

2 tablespoons small lime wedges, plus more for the rim

2 tablespoons sugar

2 ounces ginger-infused rum

Rose salt, for the rim

1. In a shaker, crush the two tablespoons of lime wedges and sugar together.

2. Add the ginger-infused rum and cubes of ice and shake for about 15 seconds.

3. Rub a glass rim with a lime wedge and dip it in the rose salt. Pour in the cocktail, unstrained, and serve.
Butte police reports

THEFTS FROM VEHICLES

A gray JL Audio subwoofer valued at $150 was taken from an unlocked green 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck parked at the Town Pump, 531 S. Montana St., about midnight Thursday. Police are seeking an arrest warrant for a male suspect in his 30s seen on video surveillance.

Police believe the theft may be related to another incident that occurred an hour later at the Town Pump, 1370 Harrison Ave. The purse of a Butte woman, 34, was taken from a brown 1978 GMC pickup truck. Police have requested video surveillance.

WALKAWAY CAUGHT

Chanina Walker, who walked away from the Butte Pre-Release Center on April 28, was apprehended in Box Elder on Wednesday. She is in the Hill County Detention facility in Havre. She will be transported to the Womens Prison in Billings and be formally charged with Felony Escape in Yellowstone County District Court.
A 55-year-old Butte man who prosecutors say harbored more than 50 cats, causing them severe abuse and neglect, received on Thursday a two-year suspended sentence to the Montana Department of Corrections and was ordered to pay restitution.

Judge Kurt Krueger ordered Douglas Dean Billman to pay a restitution of $6,696 to be distributed to the Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter and the rental property owner.

Defense Attorney Frank Joseph had filed a motion for house arrest on behalf of his client, citing mental health issues.

Following a recommendation made by Probation and Parole Officer Susan Carroll for a two-year DOC commitment with all but 30 days suspended, Krueger told Billman he would be required to wear electronic monitoring for at least 30 days as part of an intensive supervision program.

Billman was arrested July 5, 2014, after police responded to a request to standby while Animal Control removed dozens of cats from his home on the 900 block of Delaware Street. A doctor from Highlands Veterinary Hospital, according to an affidavit, reported that the environment was not consistent with maintenance of life.

Deceased cats in various stages of decomposition, all of which showed signs of cannibalism by the surviving felines, were found in the residence. Fecal matter  up to several feet deep  was present on every surface, the affidavit states.

Fifty-four living cats between the ages of 6 months and 2 years were evacuated from Billmans home. Twenty-three were euthanized due to dehydration and starvation. The volume of feces indicated the cats were unattended for more than two years.

Billman was originally charged with seven counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty. Six of the counts were dismissed Thursday. He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, in April 2015.

A neighbor of Billmans parents  with whom he resides  testified that he was not a danger to the community, saying he was kind and funny, and provided an invaluable service to his mother and father.

Deputy County Attorney Kelli Fivey argued that Billman was not cut out to do jail time and recommended following the plea agreement entered into by the parties.

Joseph concurred with Fivey, adding that his client truly loves animals and never intended for the cats to suffer or die.

Doug is a godsend to his parents, Joseph said, arguing that the recommended sentence would protect the community and protect his client, and serve as an appropriate punishment.
DEER LODGE -- Jeremy L. Todd, 36, was charged recently in Deer Lodge district court with five counts of felony burglary, two counts of felony theft, two counts of misdemeanor theft and felony distribution of dangerous drugs.

He is accused of entering homes on College Avenue, West Maryland Avenue, Clark Street and West River Road in Deer Lodge between April 10 and April 29, taking numerous items including an iPad Air, Kindle Fire HDX, firearms, cash, clothing, frozen food and prescription drugs.

According to court records, some of the items were recovered from a pawn shop in Butte, during a search of a Todds pickup and during a search of Todds home, where officers also found hypodermic needles, marijuana and narcotic pills.

If guilty, he could be sentenced from 120 years to life in prison and fined more than $300,000. Todd is free on $10,000 bond pending further court proceedings.

In other court action:

Dace Andrew McQueary, 20, was charged with felony theft and forgery. He is accused of taking McQueary Ranch business checks without authorization or permission, and writing a check for $38,500 to purchase a new Ford pickup, forging the name of Dan A. McQueary.

Maximum penalty for the crimes is 30 years in prison and fines up to $100,000. McQueary is in jail on $30,000 bond.
Montana Tech will honor two alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the universitys 116th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday.

They are Jeffrey T. Chaffee and Tom Richmond.

About the recipients:

Jeffrey T. Chaffee, P.E.

Chaffee grew up in the mountains outside of Clancy. He graduated cum laude in 1977 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering.

Jeff landed his first job in Butte with the Montana Energy and MHD Research and Development Institute and spent two years studying environmental impacts of coal-fired power plants. He received his M.S. from Oregon State University in June 1981. He worked as an environmental engineer with the Montana Power Company in Colstrip. Following that, he was the Air Quality Bureau Chief and then Administrator of the Air Quality Division of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Chaffee next spent 20 years with Bison Engineering, an air quality/environmental consulting firm with offices in Helena and Billings.

Tom Richmond

Tom Richmond, a Great Falls native, graduated with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1971. Richmond worked for Phillips Petroleum Co., Great Falls Refining Division before taking a position at the U.S. Geological Survey's Conservation Division offshore operations office in Metairie, Louisiana.

Richmond was Montanas Associate Official Representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Ground Water Protection Council, an association of state groundwater program managers and oil and gas agency officials. His primary responsibility was developing and managing programs and regulations and providing technical and procedural advice for the Board of Oil and Gas Conservation. Richmond retired from the board with 32 years of service in 2014.

He became a member of the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research Advisory Board in 2013. He is a state legislator for District 56.
MISSOULA -- A diverse crowd of several thousand showed up to hear Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders deliver a rousing, hour-and-a-half speech at Caras Park in Missoula on Wednesday.

A huge line formed hours ahead of the rally, with people backed up all the way down the Riverfront Trail and across the Orange Street Bridge. When the U.S. senator from Vermont finally took the stage at about 1 p.m., the sign-waving, flag-carrying crowd erupted into chants of "Bern, baby, Bern!"

With his signature hand gestures and forceful speaking style, Sanders delivered a wide-ranging treatise on everything from his proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour in every state to an assertion that the U.S. will no longer imprison more people than any other country on Earth if he is elected.

On Wednesday night, Sanders took a similar message to a packed MetraPark Arena in Billings.

Before the early rally, Sanders told the Missoulian how he would transition Montana away from a fossil fuel-dependent energy economy to a clean-energy economy without killing jobs.

"The debate is over. Climate change is real, and it is caused by human activity," Sanders said, adding that he has spoken with scientists all over the world. "It is already causing devastating problems in our country and around the world.

Sanders, a member of the Senate committee on the environment, said that humans have a moral responsibility as custodians of this planet to leave it healthy and habitable for future generations.

Still, Sanders leveled with Montana's dependence on the fossil fuel industry for jobs and energy.

What we have got to do is make sure that those workers who are in the fossil fuel industry today are not hurt by this transition," Sanders said. "Thats why in the climate change legislation that Ive introduced, we have $41 billion to rebuild those communities that are hurt as the result of the transition to fossil fuels and to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. So were not turning our backs on those workers.

"Its not their fault, and theyve got to be strongly supported in terms of the need to make new jobs and make sure they have health care and educational opportunities.

Sanders said if he were selected as the Democratic presidential nominee, he is confident he will appeal to rural, conservative voters in Montana, citing his successes in rural states that have held primaries.

"We won every county in West Virginia yesterday. A lot of conservative voters," Sanders said. "And thats been true all over the country. And I think the issue that we are talking about, ending a corrupt campaign finance system, you know what, most conservatives feel the same way. Billionaires should not buy elections. Conservatives have kids who cant afford to go to college.

Sanders said his proposal to put a tax on Wall Street speculation would make public colleges and universities tuition-free, and he said that appeals to conservative voters.

During his speech to the crowd, Sanders also made sure he attacked Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

Donald Trump will not be president of the United States of America, Sanders said. And not just because I am defeating him by large numbers in every national poll. He will not be president not because he changes his view every day on every single issue. He will not be president because the American people are not going to elect someone who insults Mexicans and Latinos, Muslims, women every single day, veterans and members of the African American community.

Sanders said that Trump was an early supporter of the birther movement, which Sanders called an effort to delegitimize the first African American President.

Diversity makes us stronger as a country, he said.

He also said that if he is elected president, the U.S. will fundamentally change its relationship with regard to Native Americans.

"When we think about the contributions that Native Americans have made to our country, the debt we owe them is quite literally unpayable," Sanders said. "They taught us that humans are part of nature and that we must coexist with nature. When we destroy it, we are destroying the human species."

In Billings, a standing room only crowd of 3,008 at MetraPark punctuated Sanders' every sentence and roared at his call for grassroots political reform.
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In an effort to respond to a humanitarian crisis a few miles north of our shared federal border with Canada, wildfires in Alberta have displaced in excess of 100,000 Canadian citizens. We pray that the efforts of brave firefighters and the forces of nature will combine to allow these victims of a natural disaster to return to their normal lives.

Until that happens, I am calling upon our State Administration (as well as private entities / NGOs across the state) to reach out to private citizens and charitable organizations in Montana, asking them to open their homes to temporarily house these individuals. By doing so, we practice true Christian compassion to an affected population, who possess the requisite skills to navigate our society (i.e. language, culture, job skills, family motivation, references, a job history and a similar culture) while in need of some temporary assistance until they can return to their homes and re-build their lives.

Those who proposed this idea to me, and asked for my assistance in extending this overture to our Northern neighbors, made it clear that this would allow us an opportunity to provide old-fashioned charity and kindness by temporarily housing these needy victims. That would set a tremendous precedent for any future disaster faced by other Montana neighbors, or perhaps by citizens of Montana.

What would be the response of Montanans if Butte or Bozeman burned up or was lost to any type of natural disaster? I believe the rest of the state would throw our arms and doors open and take them into our homes and hearts and help them find their way back onto their feet.

If we cannot do this for our needy neighbors (who have precious few options at their disposal), out of basic kindness, then we all but prove that other efforts to relocate peoples here are driven by motives that may not be entirely charitable.

Heres an opportunity to demonstrate that Montanans are a people of personal compassion and generosity, not in need of government to help out when the answer is at the end of our individual arms.

-- State Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Missoula, may be reached at rep.brad.tschida@mt.gov or 406-444-4800
JOHNSRUD PARK  Ron Pierce and Pat Saffel were over their limit for fish in daily possession on the Blackfoot River  by about 100  and theyd only been on the water for an hour.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks logos on their hats helped excuse the excess, including the arm-long bull trout they had onboard. And the fact their fishing poles were tipped with electrodes instead of dry flies made their catch-and-release story plausible.

Its our maiden voyage for the year, Pierce said as he beached the drift boat at the empty fishing access site landing. I think we got about 20 percent of the fish in the reach.

In addition to that lunker bull trout, Pierce and Saffels live well held a fish mongers display case of cutthroat, rainbow, brown and hybrid trout and a few mountain whitefish. About half were 12 inches or longer, big enough to make any paying client proud. For the two fisheries biologists, it was the mark portion of the annual mark/recapture census of river populations.

For more than 30 years, FWP boat crews have floated stretches of the upper, middle and lower Blackfoot with electro-fishing gear and recorded the results. A generator in the aluminum drift boat radiates a negative charge into the water, while positive electrodes dangling off the bow connect the circuit. The energy field stuns any fish swimming in range.

While Pierce rowed the boat close to shore, Saffel netted every fish he saw and plunked it into the live well. Most anglers avoid the fast, muddy water of spring runoff season, but thats when the FWP crews prefer to go. The heavy flows push fish to the rivers edge, making them easier to find and catch.

Every mile or so, the two men pulled ashore and logged the load. After adding a dose of fish anesthetic to the well, they pulled each fish out and clipped a bit of its fin. Then they measured the fish and put it in a net basket in the river to recover.

The sport fish sacrifice a bit of fin for statistics. When they float this stretch again next week, the biologists count the number of fin-clipped fish caught twice. The ratio produces a reliable estimate of fish per mile in the river. With last years drought pushing the Blackfoot to its lowest flow in 28 years, the angler community is eager to know how the fishery endured.

The length measurements reveal how the river environment has changed. Whirling disease that used to be stunting head growth in rainbows in the past decade has all but disappeared. And the mix of juvenile and adult trout has also expanded.

Were starting to see a lot more of the bigger rainbows in the lower and middle stretches of the river that used to get caught below Milltown Dam, Saffel said, holding up a 15-inch trout. In the old days, wed mostly get 8-inchers here."

The dam used to trap about 15 percent of the Blackfoot rainbow populations when they washed over the spillway into the Clark Fork River. Big cutthroats indicate the success of restoration work in the Blackfoot tributary streams where the native trout spawn.

The 32-inch bull trout had its fin clipped, with the sample stored in a special container. Researchers will tease out its DNA and figure which of a dozen Blackfoot River tributaries it spawned in. Bull trout are so rare, the spring census doesnt bother trying to calculate population numbers for them. Biologists get more accurate counts finding the bulls in fall as theyre laying eggs.

The survey occasionally finds a northern pike or a small-mouth bass. Both non-native predators are danger signs for the Blackfoot, likely coming from bucket-biologists dumping them either in upstream or downstream lakes in the system. Neither species does well in the cold waters of the Blackfoot, so their presence could indicate continued illegal stocking.

But the find of the day that brought cheers from both Saffel and Pierce was a pinkish-gray little trout about 9 inches long.

Its a juvenile bull trout, Saffel said. Its probably 2 or 3 years old. They dont grow very fast. When theyre in their small spawning streams, they eat mostly bugs. When they move to the big water, they eat any other fish they can get in their mouths, and they really start putting on the girth. But that comes with a lot of risk. They used to be the big fish, but now theyre the small guys in the river. This guys 9 inches now. Hes got 23 to go.
President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for King Mohammed VI of Morocco before their talks in Beijing, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Two nations to enhance cooperation on infrastructure, energy and culture

China and Morocco launched a strategic partnership on Wednesday aimed at stepping up trade ties and capacity building.

President Xi Jinping and visiting Moroccan King Mohammed VI agreed the establishment of the strategic partnership will give new impetus to the ties, which have a long history of friendship.

After an hour's talk, the two heads of state also witnessed the signing of a dozen deals covering a wide range of areas, including infrastructure construction, energy and culture.

Xi said China will encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in Morocco's major infrastructure construction projects and will continue to deepen cooperation in fisheries, communications and clean energy.

The Moroccan monarch said that although there is a long distance between China and the North African nation, the two people have maintained close ties.

Morocco is ready to become China's important partner on the African continent and in the Arabic world, he added.

According to Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Ming, the two countries also decided to streamline the procedures for certain types of visas and to facilitate tourism.

Under the agreement, Chinese with a passport for public affairs can stay in Morocco up to 60 days without a visa, Chinese tourists to Morocco will be offered a visa in five working days and businesspeople can apply for a one-year, multiple-entry visa, Zhang said.

"These measures will offer more convenience for officials, businesspeople and engineering technicians to go on business trips to Morocco or participate in projects," he said.

The three-day visit came just days after the Moroccan monarch gave a speech at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, during which he said that Morocco was looking to diversify its economic and political relationships by seeking stronger partnerships with China and other major Asian countries.

He Wenping, a senior researcher of African studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Great potential could be tapped in two-way trade between China and Morocco, given the current small volume".

Bilateral trade volume between China and Morocco was $3.43 billion last year, according to the Foreign Ministry's website.

Contact the writers at qinjize@chinadaily.com.cn
All six candidates for Butte-Silver Bow chief executive are expected to attend a forum Thursday sponsored by The Montana Standard.

The forum starts 7 p.m. Thursday in the Copper Auditorium of the Mining City Center, 400 W. Park St., Butte.

The candidates will each get time to give statements and all will be asked a series of questions.

The candidates are Chief Executive Matt Vincent, who is seeking a second four-year term; Butte-Silver Bow Commissioners Jim Fisher, Cindy Perdue-Dolan and Dave Palmer; Public Works Laborer Ron Sarge Rowling; and Butte architect Mark Reavis.

The two who get the most votes during the June 7 primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Vincent won a narrow victory against two-term incumbent Paul Babb in the 2012 election for chief executive.
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with Howard, Kelly, Sorensen, and Sauer present. Bonebrake was absent. Chairperson Sorensen presiding.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the agenda was approved as presented. Ayes: All.

A Public Hearing was called to order by Chairperson Sorensen at 9:02 A.M. on a confinement feeding operation construction permit application from Tipton Farm Road, LLC which is located in Bloomington Township. Planning and Zoning Administrator Eric Furnas stated this is a small expansion of the Pork 360 East site on Tipton Road. Furnas stated the expansion is not large enough to require a Master Matrix, but it still required site evaluation and construction plan reviews which have been completed by the Department of Natural Resources. No one spoke against the application. On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the public hearing was closed at 9:04 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Chairperson was authorized to sign a letter to the Iowa DNR regarding the Tipton Farm Road, LLC permit application. Ayes: All.

A Public Hearing was called to order by Chairperson Sorensen at 9:04 A.M. on a proposed new centralized Muscatine County Enforcement Ordinance. Furnas stated the ordinance would implement a civil penalty for zoning and building violations. Furnas stated applicable fines would be set by the magistrate. Furnas stated this would be a more efficient way to handle those few cases where the citizen has not complied after notification of a violation from the Zoning Office. County Attorney Alan Ostergren stated the ordinance will consolidate all enforcement issues in one spot to help clarify and make it easier for people to be able to determine their obligations. On a motion by Howard, second by Kelly, the public hearing was closed at 9:08 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board approved an ordinance centralizing the penalty portion of each chapter of the Muscatine County Code of Ordinances on the first of three readings. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

A Public Hearing was called to order by Chairperson Sorensen at 9:08 A.M. on proposed amendments to the enforcement sections of various chapters of the Muscatine County Code of Ordinances. Administrative Services Director Nancy Schreiber stated this is amending all sections that currently have individual enforcement wording, in order to refer them to the enforcement ordinance. On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the public hearing was closed at 9:09 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board approved an ordinance amending the enforcement sections of various chapters of the Muscatine County Code of Ordinances on the first of three readings. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

A Public Hearing was called to order by Chairperson Sorensen at 9:10 A.M. on proposed amendments to the Digital Submission Standards Ordinance. MAGIC GIS Manager Mark Warren stated the proposed amendment allows for a second type of coordinate system that surveyors can use when submitting their plats. On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the public hearing was closed at 9:15 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Sauer, second by Kelly, the Board approved an ordinance amending the Digital Submission Standards Ordinance on the first of three readings. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, minutes of the April 25, 2016 regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.

Correspondence:

Kelly reported a contact regarding the culvert project on Bayfield Road.

Committee Reports:

Sorensen attended a Regional Workforce Investment Board meeting April 26th.

Sorensen and Howard attended a Bi-State Regional meeting April 27th.

Sorensen attended a West Liberty Economic Area Development meeting April 28th.

Howard attended a Milestones Area Agency on Aging meeting April 26th.

Kelly attended a Smart Connections Conference in Des Moines April 28th.

County Attorney Alan Ostergren updated the Board on the recent passage of the court debt bill stating it allows a County that already has a debt collection program to keep that program and collect debt locally immediately on day 31, instead of waiting 90 days. Ostergren stated the percentages of funds received by the County will be reduced to 28% and the Attorney's Office will be reduced to 5%, but he is confident that the same amount of revenue will be generated because he will now be getting access to that debt on day 31.

County Engineer Keith White updated the Board on Secondary Road projects.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board set a public hearing on proposed amendments to the FY 15/16 Muscatine County budget for Monday, May 23, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. Ayes: All.

On a motion by Howard, second by Kelly, the Board approved Resolution #05-02-16-01 Suspending the Collection of Taxes. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, the Board accepted the resignation of Paul Wedel from the Muscatine County Veteran Affairs Commission effective May 18, 2016. Ayes: All. The Board thanked Wedel for his dedication and support on the Commission.

Discussion was held regarding the possible payoff of the 2010 General Obligation County Purpose Note. Budget Administrator Sherry Seright stated there was discussion a few weeks ago about paying off the note, but she would like specific direction as to whether or not the Board wants to pay off the note. Paying the note off early would save the County approximately $39,000. The Board by consensus directed staff to pay off the 2010 General Obligation County Purpose Note.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board authorized the Chairperson 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. Ayes: All.

The Board recessed at 9:49 A.M. and reconvened at 9:55 A.M.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board went into closed session at 9:55 A.M. 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. Roll call vote: Ayes: All. On a motion by Kelly, second by Howard, the Board returned to open session at 10:54 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 A.M.

ATTEST:

Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor Jeff Sorensen, Chairperson

Board of Supervisors
FRUITLAND, Iowa  The Fruitland Community Lions Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at the Fruitland Community Center.

Agenda items include the following: fundraiser at Boonies planned for June 14, Fruitland Fun Day, garage sale report, update on shirts, Fun with Lions project, Flags, summer lunch program working at Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA), and an Eagle Scout project.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Lions Club is encouraged to attend. Membership is not limited to Fruitland residents. All area persons are welcome. For more information, contact Wayne Shoultz at 563-264-2373.
MUSCATINE, Iowa Lyle Beaver played for Muscatine residents at the Senior Expo on Thursday, an event organized twice per year by the Muscatine Journal.

The Senior Expo was held at The Rendezvous, and is organized in spring and fall. The event provides businesses with an opportunity to show their products to Muscatine residents, and gives residents the opportunity to spend time with each other, play bingo, eat, and clap their hands to music.

Beaver plays polka, country, gospel, and other genres. A native of West Liberty, he travels to various locations in Eastern Iowa to play his music.

Everett Adams and his wife, Virginia Adams, said they enjoy exploring the expo and spending time with friends, but hearing Beaver would be the highlight of their day.

"We love coming out and seeing our friends, and we're looking forward to seeing Lyle Beaver play," Everett Adams said.

Residents explored the vendors at The Rendezvous, which included assisted and independent living homes, hearing aids, the MuscaBus, and other products and services. Attendants stopped at each booth, and were able to gather information as well as different treats.

Many people played a game of bingo, and two Muscatine women said that although they hoped more people had come, they enjoyed that part of their day.

"I like to play bingo, this is the only time of year I get to play," Donna Ward said.

Martha Meyer agreed, and said that, although she enjoyed exploring the vendors and spending time with friends, the morning bingo was one of her favorite events.

"I never get to play, this is the only time I play bingo," Meyer said.

Jaime Limoges, the General Manager at the Muscatine Journal, said that she has always loved the Senior Expo, which occurs in spring and fall, and looks forward to planning for more in the future.

"The Senior Expo is my favorite two days of the year, I have fun and it's fun to see everyone come out and see people they haven't seen in a while. We're also thankful for the business community that comes to the expo," Limoges said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The winter of 2015-2016 may have seemed mild but it really wreaked havoc on the city streets

According to Muscatine's street maintenance supervisor Randy Howell, this was a bad winter for potholes. Crews have been out for the last week filling pesky potholes all over town. The city even established a "Pothole Tracker" to allow residents to report potholes in their neighborhoods.

"It's a very bad year," said Public Works Department employee Mishelle Honts who was out filling potholes in Muscatine Thursday morning. "We've had a lot of rain and when the rain hits a lot of these holes you've got people going over them, it loosens all of the stickiness of the tar that is in there and it breaks apart and you're right back where you started."

Howell said what determines if it's a good or bad year for potholes is the temperature and the amount of moisture. What happens is the moisture permeates the road surface and then the temperatures cause cycles of freezing and thawing. Those cycles cause the damage to the pavement resulting in potholes.

Honts and fellow Public Works employee Tammy King combine for nearly 45 years of employment with the department.

"They are happy to see us fill the holes. They are a little impatient when they have to wait for us," King said.

The mixture used to fill the holes is an oily tar.

Filling potholes is a three-step process. The hole and the area around it is swept clean. Then a leaf blower is used to remove any remaining stones or dirt. The tar is shoveled into the hole and then the truck is run over the hole to ensure a good tight seal.

"It helps it adhere more. If you've got a lot of loose stuff in there it doesn't stay. Once you get traffic going over it, it just pops right back out," Honts said.

The "Pothole Tracker" remains open. Residents are asked to submit a request in the "Request Tracker" section of the city's website http://muscatineiowa.gov/requesttracker.aspx. Scroll to the bottom and under "Public Works" select "Pothole". This will prompt you to either log in or create an account before you submit your request.

The city has received nearly two dozen reports of potholes needing to be filled.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield said Thursday it is proposing an average base rate increase of 37.8 percent to 42.6 percent for its Affordable Care Act-compliant insurance plans for 2017.

The increases, which still must meet regulatory approval, will affect 30,000 people in the individual insurance market in Iowa.

That's just a fraction of the 1.6 million people the company insures overall, Wellmark said. The increase request is sure to turn heads, however. It was just last year that the Iowa Insurance Commissioner approved an average increase of 24.5 percent for Wellmark's ACA-compliant plans.

Those rates drew complaints from customers, as did increases for other insurers who also saw double-digit increases.

This will be Wellmark's first year on the exchange, where lower- and moderate-income families will be eligible for subsidies to help them pay for premium costs.

Those tax credits, which rise with premiums, are aimed at buffering people from premium increases. The Obama administration released a study earlier this week that said 85 percent of marketplace consumers in Iowa get tax credits and that the premiums people actually pay depends a great deal on whether they shop around and seek out the availability of the credits.

The Obama administration study said 59 percent of new and returning marketplace customers selected new plans in 2016.

Wellmark, the state's dominant insurer, attributed the rate increase proposal to several factors, including the number of large claims, the continued rise in costs for specialty drugs and a relatively small number of people who account for a large share of costs.

Wellmark said the overall cost of care for conditions costing more than $100,000 has risen 200 percent. It also said that 300 people drove 25 percent of its costs. For every $1 in premiums paid by members, $1.27 was spent in services, Wellmark said.

Wellmark said it lost more than $75 million on this part of its business.

"It is not as though we made any money," said Laura Jackson, the company's executive vice president for health care innovation and business development. "In fact we lost a tremendous amount of money. We wouldnt ask for these increases if it wasnt absolutely necessary to just even get to a place where next year we could break even. We will never make up for the losses. Its literally about trying to keep pace with the premiums for the people who are using these policies."

Wellmark also cited as a factor the expiration in 2016 of federal government reinsurance and risk corridor provisions aimed at buffering insurers against unexpected losses.

Rate information for the 90,000 members who have pre-Affordable Care Act plans will be available next month. Their utilization of health care services was lower than with people with ACA plans, Wellmark said.

The company said it is introducing new networks to try to control costs and improve health care services.

"We know the exchange marketplace has been tough for insurers over the last couple years, and one of the benefits we've had in watching from a distance is that successful plans have strong collaborations going with provider organizations," said Tom Newton, who is Wellmark's vice president for network engagement.

The company announced Thursday a joint venture with University of Iowa Health System and the University of Iowa Health Alliance to market new insurance plans in four counties under the name Wellmark Synergy Health. The plans are going to be available in 2017 in Scott, Linn, Johnson and Des Moines counties.

Wellmark also has formed a similar venture with Mercy Health Network for a broader area of the state.

Plans for the 2017 year will begin being sold on Nov. 1.

Other insurers in Iowa's marketplace also are proposing increases, but it's not clear in some cases to what extent. The state insurance division's website says that Medica, a Minnesota based insurer, is asking for a 19 percent increase. Aetna Health of Iowa, formerly known as Coventry Health Care of Iowa, is seeking an increase, but the amount was not listed.

Wellmark's proposed rate increases, along with those of other companies, will have to go before the state's insurance commissioner and be subject to a public hearing. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. July 23 at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines and also will be accessible to people through a video conference at the public libraries in Atlantic, Columbus Junction, Eldora, Spencer and West Union, as well as Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
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 []
It has been a good 15 months for US taxi hailing startup Uber here in Kenya.

Uber started operations in Kenya last year and despite the numerous negative news, it has recorded some remarkable growth.

The taxi service has facilitated more than 1 million rides in 15 months, and is currently moving over 100,000 people a month.



More than 70 nationalities have been moved.



The longest Uber ride within this period lasted more than 3 hours, over a distance of 300 km.

The average ride however is just 4 minutes.

Uber is currently in Nairobi and Mombasa, but hopes to be in every town by next year.



More than 1000 car owners have signed up as either full time or part time Uber drivers, perhaps explaining why other taxi owners felt threatened.

Their pricing model is Sh60 per kilometre, Sh4 per minute and a base fare of Sh100 per ride. Uber keeps 20% and pays the driver the rest.

Alon Lits, Uber General Manager for sub-Saharan Africa, recently told the press that accepting cash payment was the biggest turning point in Kenya. He said it doubled their business.

Currently, most rides are paid in cash followed by MPesa.

Mr. Alon further stated that Kenya is one of their fastest growing markets in Africa, and will be the East African hub as they expand into Tanzania and Uganda this year. Ghana is the third country in their immediate expansion plans in Africa.
There is a thin line between being charitable and being egotistic. A wise man once said that true charity is the desire to be useful to others with no thought of recompense.

As such, an aspiring Coast politician is coming under fire after he donated items branded with his face to Mtwapa and Vipingo residents. The items included sufurias, buckets, water tanks and car wash machines.

Mohamedali Sajjad is expected to run for Kilifi South member of parliament come 2017. He donated the items through the self titled Mohamedali Sajjad Foundation.

While some have lauded his charitable efforts, others have questioned whether it is a must the donated items bare his face.

Here are the photos:












Cord leader Moses Wetangula stated that he has information about businessman Jacob Jumas murder, and that he will share it with the public during his burial on Saturday.

In a statement to the press yesterday, the Inspector General told Wetangula to record a statement with the police if he has anything more than hearsay.

The police also urged anyone with information on the murder to come forward.

Heres the press release.




Under the watchful eye of the federal Department of Justice, Napa County is stepping up efforts to serve Spanish-only speaking voters.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Alfredo Pedroza, Registrar of Voters John Tuteur and County Counsel Minh Tran traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Department of Justice officials. The quick trip  they left late April 26, met with federal officials on April 27 and returned that night  involved matters relating to the Voting Rights Act, county officials said.

Pedroza said that the goal of the talks is to make certain no voting barriers or hindrances exist, particularly for Latinos.

Thats been a fluid conversation since 2014, Pedroza said.

All of this has its roots in a list released by the U.S. Census Bureau in October 2011 requiring Napa County to publish election materials in Spanish. Census data showed that more than 5 percent of voting-age residents belonged to the Spanish language minority group and have limited English proficiency.

In November 2014, the Department of Justice announced it would monitor polling place activities in 28 jurisdictions in 18 states, including Napa County. One purpose was to make certain jurisdictions complied with the minority language provisions of the Voting Rights Act.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday pulled a report on the trip to Washington, D.C. from the agenda, prompting some members of the public to ask for details. Tran said a report will come at the May 24 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Well be reporting out on it once we have more concrete information, Pedroza said, adding discussions with the Department of Justice are continuing.

Officials with the Department of Justice couldnt be reached for a comment on Wednesday. The Voting Rights Act requires all election information available in English to be available in the minority language so all citizens can register, learn election details and cast a free and effective ballot, according to the agency.

Tuteur announced Tuesday that he is convening a Spanish Language Assistance Advisory Council composed of leaders among local Spanish speakers. It will review Spanish-language outreach programs and efforts to recruit Spanish-speaking poll workers for the June 7 election and beyond.

The first meeting will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Election Division, 900 Coombs St. suite 256. The public can attend.

Its a part of the process were undertaking to optimize Spanish-language outreach to eligible citizens, Tuteur said. In that way, its related to our discussions with the Department of Justice.

Tuteur said voting barriers under the Voting Rights Act can include not having bilingual speakers or Spanish-speakers at all polling places.

Its very hard to do, Tuteur said. We have not achieved it yet. We are working on it.

For the upcoming June 7 election, the county will have 13 polling places. It will also have six vote-by-mail assistance centers that operate on June 4, 5 and 6, and these centers also will need Spanish-speaking workers.

Thats one of the reasons were doing all of this reaching out, Tuteur said. Ive been working with the Spanish-speaking community for the last few months.

Napa County employs a number of bilingual workers. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors created a program encouraging county workers to volunteer to staff the polls and vote-by-mail assistance centers. They would receive the same stipend as all volunteers, plus their regular wages.

The trip that Pedroza, Tran and Tuteur made to Washington, D.C. appears to be the latest chapter in an ongoing story.

That trip apparently came on short notice, causing the Board of Supervisors to end its April 26 Syar appeals session at 3 p.m. so Pedroza could fly out. Tran said the need for the trip arose on April 25.
ANGWIN  Pacific Union College, a small Seventh-day Adventist school, is in the midst of a debate about academic freedom after a controversial psychology professor said he was going to be fired.

About 60 PUC students marched through the Angwin campus on May 4 in defense of the professor. Heather Knight, college president, met with the demonstrators outside her office, led them in prayer, and agreed to hold a town hall meeting the next day that was attended by about 250 students.

The march came a week after psychology professor Aubyn Fulton wrote on his Facebook page that he would be fired at the end of the spring quarter for having invited a well-known Seventh-day Adventist pastor-turned-atheist to speak to psychology students last fall.

Knight cancelled the invitation once she heard about it four days before Ryan Bells scheduled appearance.

Fulton, who has a doctoral degree in psychology and previously worked as a staff psychologist at Napa State Hospital, has been a professor in PUCs Psychology and Social Work Department for 28 years.

His sometimes provocative teaching style and championing of liberal causes has made him a controversial figure at PUC. He previously clashed with the administration in 2013-2014 over comments he made during lectures regarding premarital sex and homosexuality.

You either love him or you hate him, said Miranda Mailand, a psychology major set to graduate in June. She praised Fulton for showing unconditional love for all, Christian or non-Christian, gay or straight.

He gave us permission not just to think and inquire and learn in class, but to live the way that we should as psychologists and social workers, practicing unconditional love toward everyone, even if we disagree, Mailand said.

Fulton declined to comment, but in a Facebook posting last fall he referred to Knights cancellation of Bells appearance as the most egregious violation of academic freedom hed ever encountered at PUC.

Students started a Free PUC movement on social media, and marched on Knights office last week to request a town hall meeting.

In an interview with the St. Helena Star, Knight called Fultons statement that he was going to be fired misleading, and said he has not been told that by me.

I have not fired anyone, and I have not personally told anyone that theyre going to be fired, said Knight, adding that confidentiality laws limit what she can disclose about personnel matters.

Knight said the college has set up an Academic Freedom Task Force to foster a campus-wide conversation about the issue and examine the wording of the colleges academic freedom policy.

She said shes also open to a proposal by the colleges Academic Senate to create an Academic Freedom Advisory Council where professors could consult with their colleagues on potentially controversial topics or guest speakers.

Atheist speaker invited

Aj Scarpino, a film and television major whos set to graduate in June, filmed and participated in the march and the town hall meeting. He said theres a perception among many on campus that the college is catering to its more conservative alumni, parents and donors, and being less than transparent with students.

Theres a lot of anger and passion and miscommunication right now, said Scarpino. But if we go the rest of our lives without standing up to what we deeply feel is wrong, then we have no point in being given this wonderful blessing to be at PUC.

Mailand, whos taken many of Fultons classes, was disappointed that the administration cancelled the scheduled appearance by Bell, who became an atheist after spending a year without God as a thought experiment.

I was looking forward to hearing him speak, especially because he was going to be interviewed by Fulton, whos not an atheist, Mailand said. There was going to be an interesting give-and-take between them.

Bell has publicly criticized the Adventist church, including for its attitudes toward women, gays, lesbians and transgender people. Knight said Fultons Facebook post announcing Bells scheduled appearance praised Bells courage, honesty and vulnerability.

If youre going to bring someone like that whos repudiated church doctrine, who has publicly attacked the church and publicly attacked God, you wouldnt want to seem like youre making this person into a hero, Knight said.

She said faculty members would ideally consult with colleagues or the administration before inviting such a controversial speaker. She said there might have been an appropriate way for Bell to address students. But since she heard of the appearance only four days in advance, as she was preparing for an out-of-state trip, there wasnt enough time to figure it out.

Were not saying students shouldnt be exposed to these ideas, Knight said. I think its how its done, and by whom. But I cant think of a topic that we couldnt discuss here at PUC.

Academic freedom

Knight said academic freedom at PUC should be seen in context with the colleges religious mission. The colleges motto is They shall be all taught of God, and faculty sign a contract pledging to support basic church tenets.

The colleges academic freedom policy states that professors will not teach as truth what is contrary to the Adventist churchs fundamental beliefs. Professors who disagree with those beliefs are not to express their views to students or in public without first consulting with their peers.

Truth, they will remember, is not the only product of the crucible of controversy; disruption also results, the policy states. Dedicated scholars will exercise discretion in presenting concepts that might threaten Church unity and the effectiveness of Church action.

Academic freedom does not simply give you carte blanche to do anything you want to do or say anything you want to say in the classroom, Knight said. Its a contested concept.

Knight confirmed that the issue of academic freedom has been raised during the colleges re-accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Were paying attention to the topic, were having campus conversations, and we even have a proposal that could help us process this issue better in the future, Knight said. I think all of this will be very helpful for PUC.

Resignations, retirements

Four other professors in the Psychology and Social Work Department have resigned or retired since 2014, with three faculty members publicly expressing concerns about academic freedom.

Department Chairman Greg Schneider, whos been at PUC since 1977, announced his resignation of the Chair last week, effective July 1, although he will continue to teach at PUC for at least another year.

In his resignation letter, he criticized Knight for promoting a policy "that the President is the arbiter of academic freedom at PUC and that the President at her sole discretion may legitimately direct any teacher at any time what to say or not say in the classroom and that dissent from the President's direction constitutes insubordination, a firing offense."

He called Knight's cancellation of Bell's appearance "the most direct and destructive application" of that policy.

Knight said the department is a distinguished, longstanding department that was already at a point of transition, with many professors nearing retirement.

To frame this as a protest move is not totally accurate, Knight said.

But students like Mailand are troubled by the high turnover.

It kind of feels like watching your home fall apart, she said. We marched in part because we wanted answers, but also because we wanted to do anything we could to prevent this from happening to other departments.

Mailand said the administration should encourage students to explore other peoples perspectives.

As Christians I feel like we talk a lot about people without talking to them, Mailand said. As future psychologists and social workers, we cant afford to let ourselves be uncomfortable around people we disagree with or even disapprove of.

Scarpino said students need to be allowed to make our own mistakes and use their critical thinking skills to decide for themselves whats right and wrong.

There are a lot of students who are standing up and saying we dont want our education to be closed off based on what other people tell us we dont need to hear, said Scarpino. The administration is doing this with the best intentions based on what they think is right and wrong, but it feels like were being cut off at the knees.

We all just need to sit down and talk, he said. Everybody needs to have a say, including the people who oppose me.

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Greg Schneider retired. He actually resigned as department chair, but will continue teaching at PUC for at least another year.
Everything about Chris Malan, candidate for 4th District Board of Supervisors, has to do with sustainable development. She founded or lead many Napa County projects that reflect a vision for the future--Measure A (the reason the Napa River enjoys a natural tidal marsh); the Friends of the Napa River organization (education); water quality studies (basin-wide peer-reviewed Benthic Macroinvertebrate Study), among many others.

Meeting Napa County and California statewide objectives recently, I worked on a grant with Malan and the city of American Canyon to fund a Smart Water Meter program in order to conserve millions of gallons of water annually. I've also traveled the state with Malan to learn about important California water resource issues affecting ground water, baseline surface water levels, steelhead population monitoring, etc. She supported Gov. Brown's development of Groundwater Management Plans and other conservation measures during the drought. Malan believes in Smart Growth using data analytics in an open forum for businesses and residents to think long-term, not short-term.

She is a Napa County insider: Malan has worked for the Napa County Health and Human Services for more than 32 years, assisting staff and clients in areas of housing, child protective services, health and counseling services. Malan currently transitions residents with job training and independent living programs.

Additionally, Malan has been appointed by Napa County government representatives for public input regarding industry land use, serving Napa County's Watershed Task Force for two years. Malan has also served on special committees in statewide advisory capacity.

She is a community grassroots organizer: As an organizer and founder of the 501 c (3) nonprofit, the Institute for Conservation Advocacy Research and Education, Malan oversees major county projects and hires experts to evaluate and report findings. Reporting peer-reviewed scientific findings and hosting community workshops at the Napa County Library are the hallmark of Malan's communication style as she is committed to governmental transparency.

Malan supervised budgetary and financial compliance with grant programs and partner organizations in the course of these projects. As a grassroots organizer and committee member, Malan has a proven ability to analyze multi-party inputs and resolve complex economic problems in a professional manner. She will strive for operational improvements to Napa County policies and accountability to residents by means of public data transparency.

Malan will promote smart growth through technology; educational outreach, surveys with government agencies, industry lobbies, community organizations, the general public; and public workshops/webinars.

Malan will cultivate citizen involvement through open communication and formulate strategic planning with numerous diverse stakeholders. Chris Malan holds the key to a balanced and representative Napa County government.

Stephanie Faulkner

Napa
I am writing in support of Dan Wolk, who is running for California Assembly District 4. I believe that Dan is the kind of leader that we need in Sacramento.

He is the mayor of Davis and a Davis City Council member, so he has first-hand experience in dealing with important issues that affect our cities and counties such as ensuring a stable water supply, fixing our infrastructure and investing in clean energy sources. He also understands how important it is to protect agricultural land and open space.

Ive talked to Dan about his priorities, which include working very hard for our middle- and lower-income families by supporting increased funding for education to give every child the opportunity to succeed.

Over the past several years, Dan has spent a lot of time in Napa County to understand the issues affecting our county so that I know he is going to work on our behalf.

Dan is smart and a problem solver. He attended Stanford University, received his law degree from UC Berkeley and currently works as Deputy Counsel for Solano County. He founded the Legal Clinic of Yolo County to provide legal services for those in need.

I know that Dan will use his experience and deep community commitment to fight for us in Sacramento. I urge you to vote for Dan Wolk for Assembly District 4.

Conchita Marusich

Napa
WHATS HAPPENING AT CAMEO CINEMA

Elvis and Nixon is the featured film at the Cameo Cinema Friday, May 13, through Thursday, May 19. In December 1970, rock icon Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) travels to the White House to request a meeting with President Richard Nixon (Kevin Spacey), producing an exceedingly strange moment in pop culture and political history. Showtimes are Friday at 3, 5:45 and 8:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 5:45 p.m.; Sunday at 5:45 and 8:30 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.; Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.; and Thursday, May 19, at 3 and 8:30 p.m. Rated R (1H 26M).

Film titles and times may change. Call to verify. Tickets for regular showings: $10 general; $8 students, seniors and military; $6 for art films and matinees before 5 p.m.; $5 for family films.

HECHO AQUI IN NAPA VALLEY

The St. Helena Public Library will hold a special artist reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Hecho Aqui is a photography exhibition and collection of biographies featuring 20 Latino entrepreneurs  their lives, businesses and dreams made here in the Napa Valley. It was created by the Napa Valley Latino Heritage Committee in honor of the fourth annual Napa Valley Latino Heritage Month in 2015. The photographs were taken by Adriana Arriaga, Juan Diaz, Arturo Ramos, Mari Martinez Serrano and Richard Ybarra. Maija Starr wrote the biographies, and Juan Diaz curated the exhibition. Refreshments will be served, and a talk will follow the reception.

Admission: Free.

Details: SHPL.org or 963-5244.

STRING QUARTET PLAYS BEETHOVEN

The Beethoven String Quartet Series concludes with the Cypress String Quartet performing at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Jarvis Conservatory, 1711 Main St. in Napa. The quartet will perform the String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2; and String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132. The quartet consists of Cecily Ward, violin; Tom Stone, violin; Ethan Filner, viola; and Jennifer Kloetzel, cello.

Admission: $40 general admission.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD

Vocalist Wesla Whitfield will perform accompanied by Mike Greensill on piano and John Wiitala, followed by a showing of the classic film Casablanca at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Cameo Cinema. The event, celebrating the Cameos 103rd birthday, will transform the Cameo into Ricks Cafe Americain.

Tickets: $25  includes concert, film, birthday cake and a drink at Ricks.

SPRING INTO STRINGS

Napa Valley Music Associates will present Spring Into Strings at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at Jamieson Ranch Vineyards, 1 Kirkland Ranch Road in Napa. RSVP to 252-8671 or 332-8402.
A United States missile defence system aimed at protecting European NATO Allies from ballistic missiles threats was declared operational at a ceremony in Deveselu, Romania on Thursday (12 May 2016).

Today represents an important moment for NATO and transatlantic security, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, speaking alongside Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert Work. Mr. Stoltenberg underlined that the activation of the site represents a significant increase in the capability to defend European Allies against the proliferation of ballistic missiles from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

The first-of-its-kind land-based missile defence installation is designed to detect, track, engage, and destroy ballistic missiles in flight outside the atmosphere. Dubbed Aegis Ashore, the base uses technology which is almost identical to that used on U.S. Navy Aegis ships.

The threat to NATO Allies from missiles outside the Euro-Atlantic area is real, the Secretary General said. Several countries are seeking to develop or acquire them. Our missile defence programme represents a long-term investment against this long-term threat. He added that NATO ballistic defence was purely defensive and not directed against Russia.

The site in Deveselu is part of a larger effort to protect European Allies against ballistic missiles. Other components includes a radar facility in Turkey, four U.S. guided-missile destroyers in Spain and a headquarters in Ramstein, Germany. Denmark and the Netherlands are upgrading their frigates with radar capabilities. The United States will also start construction of a second land-based interceptor site in Poland on Friday (13 May) that is due to come online by 2018.

Earlier on Thursday, Secretary General Stoltenberg met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for talks on the the security situation in the region and preparations for the NATO Warsaw Summit inJuly. Mr Stoltenberg also visited NATOs Multinational Headquarters South-East in Bucharest together with Romanian Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc and Foreign Minister Lazar Comansecu.
NATOs purpose is clear: to protect our citizens and territory against any threats.

That includes conventional attacks by land, air or sea  but it also includes the very real threat posed by ballistic missiles from outside the Euro-Atlantic area. The fact is that many countries are developing ballistic missile programmes. And we, as a defensive alliance, cannot ignore that threat. Missile defence is an important tool for NATOs core task of collective defence.

That is why the 28 leaders of the Alliance decided to develop NATOs ballistic missile defence capability at the Lisbon Summit in 2010. We have been building the system in a transparent way ever since.

Our missile defence programme represents a long-term investment against a long-term threat. Our goal is to achieve full coverage and protection for NATOs European Allies against ballistic missile attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

Through the European Phased Adaptive Approach, the United States is making a major investment in our collective defence. The four American multi-mission Aegis ships now based in Spain, will make a significant contribution to NATOs missile defence system. On a trip to the United States last spring, I saw for myself what these impressive ships are capable of: tracking multiple targets hundreds of miles away, and shooting down missiles in flight.

This week, we will make an important advance. With the activation of the Aegis Ashore missile defence site at Deveselu in Romania on Thursday, our capability is being boosted further  significantly increasing the defensive coverage of NATO territory against medium and short-range missile attacks.

I am grateful to the Romanian government and people for the contribution they have made to NATOs collective defence in hosting the new site  and I am delighted that I am able to attend its inaugural ceremony.

Just as important is Polands decision to host a second Aegis Ashore site at Redzikowo, where construction work begins on Friday, and which is due to be operational by 2018. Together, the sites in Romania and Poland will greatly enhance our defensive capabilities.

Other NATO Allies are playing their part too. Spain is providing a base for the Aegis ships. Germany is providing a missile defence command centre. Turkey hosts an early-warning radar station. The United Kingdom is investing in more ground-based radar. Denmark and the Netherlands are upgrading their frigates with new radar.

Importantly, as its name suggests, the system we are building is defensive. The projectiles we use to knock out incoming missiles do not contain explosives; they simply punch their targets out of the sky. In other words, we could not use them offensively even if we wanted to.

Nor does the system represent any threat to Russias strategic nuclear deterrent. Geography and physics both make it impossible for the NATO system to shoot down Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles. The interceptors are too few in number, and either too far south or too close to Russia to do so.

We have made this clear to the Russian authorities time and again. Yet Russia has declined all NATO proposals for cooperation on missile defence, including the establishment of joint centres and a regime to ensure missile defence transparency. Moscow unilaterally terminated dialogue with NATO on this issue in 2013.

NATO will continue to engage in dialogue with Russia when and where we can. And, right now, when tensions are high, keeping channels of communication open is all the more important. At the same time NATO will continue to strengthen our defence to secure Allies from any threats, including from ballistic missiles.

As Secretary General of NATO, I am very proud of what our work on missile defence demonstrates about the Alliance. That we are resolute in our efforts to protect our nations. And that we have high-calibre personnel who have developed, built and now operate some of the worlds most advanced technology to ensure our security.

Our success also demonstrates the value of transatlantic teamwork  and proves that we are adapting for an uncertain future, and willing, as an Alliance of 28, to invest in our collective defence.

We can never know for sure what challenges lie ahead. NATOs 67-year history has taught us that lesson well. But it has also taught us the value of being prepared to defend our nations from any threat at any time. In that regard, this weeks ceremony at Deveselu, and the work beginning at Redzikowo, represent important steps forward.

Jens Stoltenberg is the Secretary General of NATO. This opinion-editorial was published in the Romamian newspaper Adevarul and in the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza on Thursday12 May 2016.
This is an important day for NATO and for transatlantic security.

The Aegis Ashore site in Romania we have just inaugurated will further boost our ability to counter the threat we face from ballistic missiles.

The threat to NATO Allies from missiles outside the Euro-Atlantic area is real.

Several countries are seeking to develop or acquire them.

Our missile defence programme represents a long-term investment against this long-term threat. NATO Allies made the decision to develop this system at the Lisbon Summit in 2010. And we have been making steady progress since then.

Our system is not directed against Russia. It is purely defensive. And it will not undermine Russias strategic deterrence. Geography and physics make that impossible. The NATO system cannot shoot down Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles from here in Romania or from Poland.

Our system is designed to tackle threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

We have made this clear to Russia many times.

And we will continue to engage in dialogue with Russia when and where we can.

Keeping channels for communication open is even more important in times of tensions.

Ballistic missile defence is an important part of NATOs defence and deterrence.

Because NATO will defend all Allies against any threat.

And we will take further steps to do so at our Summit in Warsaw in July.

So let me once again thank the United States and Romania for their key contribution to our collective defence.

MODERATOR: Gentleman thank you very much well start the questions with Gregish Sasu (sic) of Digitoni Corp (sic).

Q: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: A question for the Prime Minister.

Q: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Id like to ask you what the position of the government of Romania is regarding the recent reactions of various Russian Federation officials regarding this project.

Q: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Reactions which are not in favour of this project and the second question.

Q: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: How will Romania take part in the defense of the base of Deveselu?

DACIAN CIOLOS (Romanian Prime Minister): Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: As was emphasized here today by our American friends and by the NATO Secretary General.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: This system is not directed against Russia.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Then I must emphasis the fact once more that this is not an offensive system it is a defensive system.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: It is legitimate for any country to allocate resources and to defend itself.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: And Id like to thank our U.S. partners one more time for making this decision.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: And I hope that NATO will integrate this system in its own NATO defense system.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Experts can tell you that this is a defensive system and is definitely not directed against Russia.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Regarding the participation of Romania in the defense of this facility there is a protocol in place that clearly stipulates what the role of Romania is in defending this site.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Well go next to Gordon Lubold from the Wall Street Journal.

Q: Hi, thank you. Despite the assurances you provided, Mr. Secretary this question is for you, to Russia Moscow still doesnt believe the assurances. My question is are you worried that this move today further aggravates Moscow to the point where it will be harder to negotiate with them diplomatically over things like Syria and counter-terrorism and the like?

ROBERT WORK (U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense): Well I would hope not. The idea of this type of Ballistic Missile Defense site pre-dates the Obama Administration. I was the Under Secretary of the Navy in 2009 when we were deciding on how to go forward with the ideas that originated and I can tell you I was in on every single decision make, decision making step along that way and Russia never came into the conversation. It was never ever about Russia it was always about Ballistic Missiles coming out of the Middle Eastern Region towards NATO allies and U.S. Forces in Europe. And Id just like to echo what the Secretary General has said. We have offered to the Russians to show them the technical specs, we have done everything we can to try to make sure that they understand the capability of the system and why it does not pose any type of a threat to their strategic deterrence. So I would hope that communications remain open between us and that we continue to work through issues that we disagree on but I hope that its not the case and Im not certain that the Secretary General has a following.

JENS STOLTENBERG (NATO Secretary General): I would just echo what you just said in a way that this about missile defense and therefore its about defense and our system cannot undermine or weaken Russias strategic deterrent and we cannot shoot down their Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles with interceptors from neither the site in Romania or the site we are building in Poland. And thats about physics and about geography because the interceptors are too few and the sites are either too far south or too close to Russia to be able to shoot down Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. So this Ballistic Missile Defense, its for defense. Its defensive and its not about Russia its about defending ourselves against threats outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

MODERATOR: Next well go to Robin Emmott of Reuters.

Q: Thank you very much. Question for the Deputy Defense Secretary. Weve been repeatedly told by U.S. officials that the site here and the site in Poland will develop their capabilities over time. Does that mean that one day these sites could have the technology to defend against Russian short and medium range ballistic missiles? Thank you.

ROBERT WORK: That is not the intent of this site. This site is basically designed for intermediate range and long range ballistic missiles that are emanating primarily from the Middle East and there is no intent for us to go for shorter missile, I mean defense against shorter missiles. This is for the broader defense against a threat that is outside the Euro-Atlantic area of operations. So there is no plans at all to do that.

MODERATOR: Next well go to Elainey Panayatu (sic) of Independent News It (sic).

Q: This is a question to both Secretary General and Deputy Secretary Work. We heard that the BMD is not actually a hundred percent effective because it is not a shield so how effective is it and should there be an obligation for NATO countries to contribute to improve the system?

JENS STOLTENBERG: First of all this is the most advanced, the most comprehensive possible Missile Defense System that we can have in a way that this is very sophisticated, very advanced system and we have never seen anything like this in the world before. Second, it is developed because over a long period of time have seen the the proliferation of ballistic missiles. Countries not so far from NATO are in the process of developing their Ballistic Missile Systems and also trying to acquire this kind of system. So therefore we are investing in, we are making a long term investment facing a long term threat and and this is really vital and its key and its really enhancing our ability to defend NATO allies against those ballistic missile threats.

ROBERT WORK: Ballistic Missile Defense is one of the most technically challenging operations that you can imagine. Its like hitting a bullet with a bullet. The way we determine the (inaudible) through a series of tests and demonstrations we develop what is called a probability of kill of a single shot and if the probability of the kill is to low we will take two shots at the incoming missile. So we believe this is an extremely effective system. Sometimes well take just one shot, sometimes well take two. But we believe very strongly in its ability to knock down incoming ballistic missiles into the area. Now to your second question was should NATO allies help build a system up over time and thats already happening as the Secretary General said. There is an early warning radar in Turkey which tells this radar where to look in the sky. There is a command centre in Germany that tries to determine when and what type of shots you should take against incoming missiles. There are four ballistic missile destroyers that Spain hosts at Rota and those forces have the same interceptors that you find here. The United Kingdom is developing a radar that looks very very far and helps cover the northern countries and both the Netherlands and I think Denmark, is that right Mr. Secretary General?

JENS STOLTENBERG: It is.

ROBERT WORK: Are improving theirs. And I would expect that to happen over time. This is a system of systems that protects NATO and every time you add a new part that makes the whole system better I would imagine that that will continue over time.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Next question from Christian Pontazi (sic) of (inaudible) News.

Q: Mr. Secretary General (inaudible) is not going to have a (inaudible) and Navy presence in the Black Sea as Romania requested, and how is it going to function?

JENS STOLTENBERG: So we have already increased our naval presence in the Black Sea and we did so because we agreed that after the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and the destabilizing behaviour of Russia in Eastern Ukraine supporting the separatists we decided to implement what we call assurance measures in the Eastern part of the alliance. And part of these assurance measures is increased naval presence in the Black Sea. Its more exercises and we are now assessing what more we can do. And I discussed with the President this morning exactly how we are now looking in to, what more we can do to make sure that we have sufficient military presence both on land but also in the Black Sea but at the same time reminding ourselves or understanding that theres a close link between presence and the ability to re-enforce and NATO has increased its ability to re-enforce if needed. We have tripled the size of the NATO response force. We have established a High Readiness Joint Task Force and this together is the answer we have given to the behaviour of a more assertive Russia. So, yes increased presence has already been implemented, implemented and we are looking into what more we can do and we will make decisions at our Summit in Warsaw when it comes to presence and re-enforcement.

MODERATOR: Sir, thanks

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Of course this was the initiative of Romania and Romania has been forthcoming in trying to initiate a large NATO presence in the Black Sea.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: We are aware that in order for this to happen we need the involvement of other allies and partners, Romania is not enough.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: And we have fairly advanced talks with our neighbours in Bulgaria and our friends in Turkey to advance this idea.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: Once this presence is built we hope to have the cooperation and participation of other allies and I have to emphasize that this presence would be exercise only.

DACIAN CIOLOS: Speaking in Romanian.

TRANSLATOR: And our intent is to submit this proposal to the Warsaw Summit and this is something that Ive talked to the President and to the NATO Secretary General.

ROBERT WORK: And if I could, yesterday in Bucharest when I met with the President and the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs it was a bittersweet day because we buried two Romanian comrades in arms yesterday who lost their lives in Afghanistan. And so once again I would just like to extend the condolences of the entire Department of Defense Mr. Prime Minister to the people of Romania and to the Armed Forces of Romania. As this is a technological marvel but the people, the things that make it work are people, men and women and theyre the ones who bear the most sacrifice of what we do and I would just like to salute the two brave warriors who lost their lives in Afghanistan and to extend my condolences to the people of Romania.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Im afraid thats all we have time for. Thanks very much for coming gentlemen. Thank you very much for your time.
Kremlin says Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents prepare to meet

Leading Party Sponsor: Conservative Party is not fit to run Britain

'From Old Memory': Drivers can't see road signs on section of North-South highway under construction in Yerevan

Russian MFA: We are sure that attempts of external forces to split Moscow and Yerevan will not succeed

Yair Lapid: Israel is deeply concerned over Russia and Iran's military ties

Another school shooting in U.S.: 3 dead, including shooter

Azerbaijani Armed Forces shell Armenian positions

Kenyan police shoot and kill prominent Pakistani journalist

OSCE representatives visit villages affected by Azerbaijani aggression in Syunik Province

US presidential adviser calls OPEC's decision to cut oil production political move

Lavrov: Russia and Iran gave comprehensive answers about alleged use of Iranian drones

Netanyahu's comeback dominates Israel's elections

Georgian president complains that she was not informed about Aliyev's visit

S&P Global Market Intelligence: Recession in Eurozone looks increasingly inevitable

Benny Gantz tells his Ukrainian colleague that Israel will not supply weapons to Kiev

Greek Armed Forces can effectively respond to any provocation by Turkey

Qatar urges to depoliticize oil and gas

General Staff of Armed Forces head discusses Ukraine with his British colleague

Zelenskyy: Russia wouldn't cooperate militarily with Iran if Israel had not denied air defense systems to Kyiv

Azerbaijan sends note in connection with 'anti-Azerbaijani statements' on Channel One

Goldman Sachs foretells European business worst year since global financial crisis

Artificial intelligence leads political party in Denmark

Aliyev says Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route should be increased

U.S. State Department official expresses support for Armenia's sovereignty

Iranian MFA: IRGC exercises on borders with Azerbaijan are not directed against any neighboring state

Pashinyan: Damage caused to country by corruption must be restored

Rishi Sunak to become UK PM

Armenia official: Defense sector expenses will increase the most, state budget allocations will increase by 160bln drams

Iranian president congratulates Xi Jinping: Tehran is determined to expand comprehensive relations with Beijing

Russian MOD: Work on Ukraine's 'dirty bomb' comes to end

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

Naryshkin urges international community not to allow Ukraine's nuclear status

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

Finance ministry: Armenia national debt will decrease in dram terms but we will borrow new debts

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
The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ordered to move her belongings from the presidential palace to her private residence, without awaiting the Senate to end the voting for her impeachment.

The Senate have been discussing for more than 12 hours the possibility of removing Rousseff from office for 180 days .28 out of 35 senators spoke in favor of the impeachment so far . In total, the votes of 41 members of the upper house of parliament are required to pass that initiative, reported RIA Novosti.

The Mexican periodical Vanguardia writes that different pictures and accessories owned by Rousseff have already been moved to the residence Palacio de la Alvorada.

Moreover, an additional protection is placed at the exit of the presidential palace . If the senators make a positive decision on the impeachment of Rousseff , the position of the acting head of the state will temporarily pass to the Vice - President Michel Temer . After that, the Senate will reconsider the resignation of the president. If two-thirds of MPs ( 54 people ) approve her resignation , she will finally step down.

The opposition of Brazil accuses Rousseff of being involved in tax violations and using public funds to finance her re-election.
The American corporation Apple once again topped the list of the most valuable brands in the world under, according to Forbes magazine.

The edition estimates the cost of Apple slightly more than 154 billion dollars. The next is Google (82.5 billion dollars), Microsoft (72.5 billion dollars), Coca-Cola (58.5 billion dollars) and Facebook (52.6 billion dollars), BBC Russian Service reported.

Forbes emphasizes that Apple heads this list in spite of the recent disappointing financial results, including falling of revenue for 13%. Experts explain this falling with decrease of sales of the latest version of iPhone.

Nevertheless, as the American magazine notes, Apple continues to remain a unique brand which just has no real competitors. The company tops the list for six years.

Professor of marketing and branding of the University of Pennsylvania David Reibstein stated that the brands gain weight depending on how they are perceived by customers. From the point of view of the companies, the brand is as valuable as clients are ready to pay for it and as more often they make the choice in its favor.

The strength of the brand is visible just on the example of Apple. Many experts point out that the latest models of iPhone do not differ much from, for example, Samsung smartphones. The two corporations are constantly at war in the courts, claiming the superiority in various technological and design solutions. However, Apple still sells better.

Google still lags far behind from Apple, although the gap is gradually reduced. This year the searcher brand has risen in price by 26%.

And in this case Forbes experts note that in reality users of Google receive the result which does not differ much, for example, from Bing searching engine. And nevertheless, they make their choice for a more promoted brand.

Moreover, Google is also a unique brand. It became actually a synonym of the concept search on the Internet and David Reibstein calls that maximum success for a brand.

According to the expert, especially admiring is corporations attitude to its logo, breaking all known principles of marketing: while others carefully monitor correctness of reproduction of the logos, the Google changes it every day, coming up with doodles - the logo variations created specially in honor of some event or a memorial.

The IT companies IBM and Intel, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Honda carmakers, the Disney company and the McDonalds fast food chain are also among the 25 most expensive brands.
Members of the Pilanesberg National Park Anti-Poaching Unit stand guard as conservationists and police investigate the scene of a rhino poaching incident in South Africa's North West province, in this file picture taken on April 19, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

CAPE TOWN - A total of 363 rhinos were poached in South Africa in the first four months of this year, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, said on Monday.

That is down from 404 rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa in the same period last year, according to official figures.

"We are not claiming victory, but we are claiming success that accounts for the downward trend," Molewa said.

The Kruger National Park (KNP), one of Africa's biggest game reserves in northeastern South Africa, continued to bear the brunt of rhino poaching, losing 232 rhinos from January to April, said Molewa.

Despite the moderate fall in poached rhinos, poaching activities have however become more alarming.

The number of poaching activities recorded in the KNP in the four months stood at a staggering 1,038, up from 808 a year ago, Molewa said.

"We have responded accordingly and stepped up our efforts to apprehend suspected poachers," she added.

Since the start of the year, 206 poacher suspects have been arrested in South Africa, according to the minister.

Molewa said said these successes were a result of improved collaboration within the Security Cluster, as well as cooperation with local communities and NGOs.

The South African authorities are committed to addressing national and transnational wildlife trafficking, she said.
Istanbuls Committee Against Racism and Discrimination of the Human Rights Association of Turkey released a letter addressed to the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, regarding the attack against Garo Paylan in parliament on May 2, Asbarez reported.

Human rights defenders urged the speaker to fulfill your responsibility, to denounce the acts against Garo Paylan in the Assembly room, and to declare that you stand against racism and that you will apply sanctions against racist assaults occurring under the roof of the National Assembly.

HDP member Garo Paylan (Istanbul) has also been publicly subjected to racial slurs targeting his Armenian identity during these physical assaults. Those who have called him the Armenian bastard and the ASALA boy have not only exposed their own racism, but also marked Garo Paylan as a target for racist attacks, the letter reads.

With these words hurled at an Armenian Member of Parliament at a time when racial hatred against Armenians as well as Kurds has peaked in the press, on social media, on the street, and in daily life; the very laws reinstated by the Republic of Turkey have been egregiously violated by legislators themselves. Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code defines the act of the public incitement of one group of the public to hatred and hostility against another group as a crime under circumstances when it constitutes an open and imminent threat.
YEREVAN. - The large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Karabakh population, accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, must become a subject of discussion of the international community.

Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan made the aforementioned statement at the meeting with the PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs for Armenia Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati Wednesday.

Abrahamyan underscored the importance of cooperation with the PACE Monitoring Committee, expressing gratitude for the technical support provided to Armenia, the Armenian Government press-service reports. He briefed the co-rapporteurs on the details of the discussion on the new draft Electoral Code, noting that the document includes a large number of proposals by the opposition political forces and representatives of the civil society.

In the PMs words, everything is done to ensure one single position and wide consolidation round the new draft Electoral Code.

Touching on the fight against corruption, Abrahamyan noted that an Anti-Corruption Council headed by the PM has been set up, its strategy and action plan having been approved. He also stressed that there is a political will for the fight against corruption.

Referring to the four-day war, the Armenian PM noted that the large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the civilian population of Karabakh, including the elderly and children, must become a subject of discussion of the international community. It should also be condemned and given a relevant assessment, he said.

According to the PM, the position of the Armenian side is very clear: Karabakh conflict should be solved in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and exclusively through peaceful talks.

For their part, the co-rapporteurs expressed their support to the Armenian colleagues in the development of democracy in Armenia. They underscored the importance of the steps taken in regard to the new draft Electoral Code. Meale and Galati also offered condolences in connection with the murder of people during the war, noting that they support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group towards the settlement of the conflict.

They also stressed that during the meeting with the political forces of Armenia, the spirit of unity and consolidation in the issue of Karabakh conflict was apparent. They noted that they are going to present the fact of the murder and beheading of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army serviceman to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.
YEREVAN. - First President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan on Thursday met with the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills upon the latters initiative. During the talk which lasted for over an hour, the events which took place on the Karabakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact in April, as well as the new situation resulting from its were discussed.

Ambassador Mills specifically noted that the peace in Nagorno-Karabakh is possible only through talks, as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs mention. According to him, the co-chairing countries are working on forming a constructive dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders. The Co-Chairs have repeatedly noted that in order to ensure the wellbeing of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as regional peace, stability and further prosperity, all the sides should show a political will to take such decisions which will create a climate of confidence. This will allow to move forward in the issue of conflict settlement through talks, Ambassador Mills noted. The adoption of such decisions isnt easy, but it is heartening that the Armenian leadership has come up with a commitment to settle the conflict through talks.

Agreeing with the opinion of Ambassador Mills, Levon Ter-Petrosyan for his part stressed the necessity of introducing monitoring mechanisms along the Karabakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact parallel with the resumption of talks. He explained this by the fact that the parity approach shown by the international community in regard to the assessment of the previous ceasefire violations which are continuously repeated, have not only failed to rule out new violations, but also partially encouraged Azerbaijan to unleash the large-scale April provocation, which resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides.

According to him, the implementation of the monitoring regime will give an opportunity to precisely point out to the party which violated the ceasefire in each specific case. In the ex-presidents words, this may play a restraining role for maintaining peace on the contact line and ensuring favorable climate for the talks.

Deputy Chief of Political/Economic Section at U.S. Embassy, Ruben Harutunian, and Director of the Office of the First President of Armenia Avetis Avagyan also attended the meeting.
STEPANAKERT.  Human Rights Defender of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Melikyan has issued an open letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) expressing his strong disagreement with EBU statement's language that described the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a mere territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Dear ladies and gentlemen of the EBU and the Reference Group,

My name is Ruben Melikyan. I am the elected Human Rights Defender of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), a democracy located between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I should proudly and humbly protect the freedom and human rights of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, approximately 150 000 peaceful civilians -- men, women, children and elderly -- all living between two European countries. I am a European, whose country is denied access to the European community and whose flag has found itself amidst anger, fear, embarrassment, shame, and most importantly, apathy. This resulted in your official statement of May 11 of 2016.

First of all, on behalf of the people of Karabakh, I would like to express my strong disagreement with your statement's language that described the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a mere territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We, the people of the NKR, have been exercising our fundamental and undeniable right to self-determination since 1991 by declaring and defending our independence from Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. It was done in full conformity with International Law and then-applicable Soviet Constitutional Law. Thus, your description of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is inaccurate and offensive to my people, and adds injury to an insult.

Secondly, I would like to kindly draw your attention to the events of April 2-5, 2016, which probably determined the song contestants very understandable personal motivation to exhibit the NKR National flag.

I'd also like to kindly draw your attention to the facts, well-documented in the Interim Public Report of the NKR Human Rights Defender, recording all the atrocities and violations committed by Azerbaijani military forces from April 2 to April 5 of 2016.

We documented beheadings that happened in Europe, murders and dismemberments of elderlies that happened in Europe, intensive shellings of schools and dwellings that happened in Europe just 40 days ago. And as a responsible European, who cares about European values and seeks democracy and peace, the song contestant merely called for peace and unity amidst these barbaric atrocities by exhibiting the flag of the NKR, for the people who have lost their lives, just 40 days ago, on a land that is our home. Nevertheless, you threatened to sanction the participant, silencing an adequate and humble expression of her freedom of speech.

Europe is united over the values of fundamental human rights, and at the core of these values is freedom of speech. As the subject of the speech is of extraordinary importance, there should not be any restriction whatsoever for freedom of expression. ISIS-style beheadings and other terrible war crimes of Azerbaijani armed forces were committed just 40 days ago, and Azerbaijan is threatening openly to repeat them if my people do not obey the rule of Azerbaijani Republic, a country with state-fueled policy of Armenophobia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

These circumstances can be named no other way but extraordinary. Accordingly your statement on enforcement of your Rule 1.2.2h can be named no other way but an overreaction to a mere reminder of the situation by a mere exhibition of a National Flag.

I kindly call for your conscious as Europeans to remember the fundamental values of Europe, incorporated in the teachings of John Locke, Voltaire, Kant, and not of the likes of Hitler and Mussolini. I kindly call upon you to take the side of peace and unity. And finally I kindly ask you to remain in the framework of the Song Contest format and to not enter the field of international politics.
YEREVAN. - President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs for Armenia Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati Wednesday.

The interlocutors touched on the fulfillment of obligations taken up by Armenia after entering the Council of Europe (CoE), the reforms carried out in the country, as well as the upcoming programs. The President underscored the importance of the already periodic useful meetings and discussions with the co-rapporteurs, Armenian Presidents press-service reports.

Noting that this year marks the 15th anniversary of Armenias membership to the CoE, Sargsyan stressed that both Armenia and the Council of Europe highly appreciate the countrys progress during these years in the sphere of human rights, democracy and rule of law. He also noted that the progress reflected in different CoE reports is the result of cooperation with the partners, including the CoE.

Sargsyan expressed conviction that Armenia will properly implement the Council of Europe - Armenia Action Plan for 2015-18, which will be officially launched on May 21.

According to him, Armenia will confidently continue to carry out the reforms, being convinced that there is no alternative to the path of success and progress. Sargsyan also noted that Armenia is ready to deeper cooperation with the CoE to achieve the mentioned objectives.

The co-rapporteurs highly appreciated the progress of Armenia as a result of reforms, thanking the Armenian President for his efforts towards the advancement of democratic processes in the country. They assured that the CoE encourages the work carried out and expects continuous success on this path.

The sides also touched on the recent escalation of situation in the zone of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and possibilities of resuming the negotiation process aimed at the settlement of the issue. Upon the request of the co-rapporteurs, Sarsgyan briefed them in detail on his position regarding the prospects for the resumption of peaceful talks.
STEPANAKERT. - Even after the failure of the military venture of April 2-5, Azerbaijan has not abandoned the idea to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by force, the statement issued by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) reads.

22 years ago, on May 12, 1994, a termless agreement on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, signed by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Azerbaijani Republic and the Republic of Armenia through the mediation of the Russian Federation, entered into force. This agreement, as well as the February 6, 1995 trilateral agreement on strengthening the ceasefire, signed under the auspices of the OSCE, still remain the only real achievement, which laid the foundation for peace talks and created conditions for the activities of the mediators on finding a just and final solution to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

Before April 2, 2016, the ceasefire was generally maintained, despite the incessant attempts of Azerbaijan to destabilize the situation on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan. The NKR authorities have repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to the purposeful actions of the Azerbaijani side, as a result of which ceasefire violations were becoming more and more threatening in their nature and scale.

Official Stepanakert has been urging the international community to condemn the deliberate policy of Azerbaijan of escalating tensions and derailing the negotiation process conducted under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. We have repeatedly pointed out that without an adequate and targeted international response, the consistent and purposeful actions of Azerbaijan on fomenting a war in the region will become irreversible.

In the early hours of April 2, Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the agreements of May 12, 1994 and February 6, 1995, launched a large-scale offensive along the entire Line of Contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy weaponry, artillery and combat aircraft. Only thanks to the decisive actions of the NKR Defense Army, which gave a fitting rebuff to the insolent rival, on April 5, Azerbaijan was forced to ask, as in 1994, through the mediation of the Russian Federation for the cessation of the hostilities. It has been generally maintained, despite the recurrent violations by the Azerbaijani side.

Even after the failure of the military venture of April 2-5, Azerbaijan has not abandoned the idea to solve the conflict by force, as evidenced by the statements of the Azerbaijani officials, including at the highest level. Moreover, Azerbaijan tries to unilaterally denounce the ceasefire agreement of May 12, 1994, which is an obvious continuation of the policy on disrupting the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict and instigating a war in the region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, being committed to an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict and making every effort to fully restore the ceasefire, is at the same time prepared to stop, in the strongest terms, any attempts of Azerbaijan to unleash another aggression.

Ensuring full compliance with May 12, 1994 agreement and the practical implementation of the February 6, 1995 agreement, which contains a set of measures on early warning and crisis stabilization is the only way of creating the necessary conditions for the resumption of the peaceful settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.
17:05

A US journalist has kept his promise of literally eating his words if Donald Trump clinches the Republican presidential nomination as the scribe consumed a nine-course meal featuring newsprint from his column.



Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank in October last year wrote a column predicting the demise of the 69-year-old billionaire's presidential ambitions. The headline of the column read, "Trump will lose, or I will eat this column."





"Literally: The day Trump clinches the nomination I will eat the page on which this column is printed in Sunday's Post," Milbank wrote last year. "I have this confidence for the same reason (Mitt) Romney does: Americans are better than Trump," he had said.





The Post writer, of course, was proven wrong earlier this month, when Trump became the Republican party's presumptive nominee after the Indiana primary. Milbank delivered on his headline's promise on Wednesday.





The Washington Post carefully curated a nine-course meal to document the occasion including newspaper chilaquiles, dumplings, falafel, steaks, the way Trump likes them, and even a Trump Tower-inspired taco bowl. The dishes, prepared by the head chef at Washington's Del Campo restaurant, Victor Albisu, creatively incorporated newspaper pages into the recipes -- with some of the ink "mercifully well-ground" into the steak's chimichurri sauce, or sprinkled into the guacamole topping the taco bowl, or mixed into the chickpeas of the falafel, CBS News reported.





To wash it all down, there were also some Trump wines. Milbank consumed it all on a live Facebook video stream. Later, Milbank said the experience "actually turned out not to be too bad at all."





"It was not all that painful. And certainly not anywhere near as painful as it's going to be over the next six months," he told Facebook viewers. "I didn't think Trump was a flash in the pan. It was a showman who would - should not be taken seriously. I thought he definitely should be taken seriously. I thought the Republican voters ultimately would say we don't want this kind of guy representing us," Milbank was quoted as saying by National Public Radio. "And in the end, only 38 per cent did vote for Trump, but there never really was a mainstream viable alternative. So they wound up with Trump," he said. Trump, a New York-based real estate tycoon, joined politics about 10 months ago with political pundits giving him not much of a chance to make it this far.
Accounting brothers  Steven Ta, front, will graduate with his bachelors degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Saturday, May 14. Pictured with Steven is his brother, Brian, a freshman who also is majoring in accounting. Both are from Carpentersville. (Photo by Steve Buhman)

Accounting graduate makes most of opportunities

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Steven Ta wrestled with a big decision.

A first-generation college student, Ta loved playing lacrosse and was being recruited by some fine smaller colleges to play the sport. A number of universities also wanted to enroll him for his scholastic capabilities. The Carpentersville native visited various places, trying to decide which would put him, an admittedly shy young man, on the path to the future he dreamed of.

He had decided to major in business and the universities of Iowa and Illinois were in the running along with many others. Then, he came to visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

I met Jill Gebke (assistant dean of the College of Business) and Marcus Odom (accountancy professor and Deloitte & Touche Faculty Fellow) and they promised me a lot of opportunities to get involved and get real experience. It was also very important to me that the College of Business and the accounting program are both AACSB-accredited, because that makes SIU pretty elite, Ta said.

I fell in love with SIU, Ta added. Its like a big city with a small-town feeling. I didnt want to be a number and here, Im not, but yet there are so many ways you can get involved.

The son of Janet Smith of Carpentersville and Billy Ta of Elgin, Steven came to SIU knowing he wanted to major in accounting. While attending Harry D. Jacobs High School, he took a number of business classes but was particularly inspired by teacher Robert Cerabona, who had worked at a top national accounting firm before deciding to become a teacher. Doing some job shadowing confirmed Tas career choice.

But, as the first one in his family to attend college, everything was a huge learning experience when he arrived at SIU. He decided to take the advice of Odom and Gebke to heart. He got involved.

Ta was selected as a participant in the First Scholars program for first-generation students. He also quickly joined SIUs club lacrosse team, which had only four members his freshman year. He took on the role of vice president and went about recruiting. By the end of the year, the team had 20 members. Now 30 players strong, the team, of which he is captain, competes against universities such as Marquette and Northwestern.

He joined the College of Business Diversity Committee as well as the accounting honors fraternity Beta Alpha Psi, of which he soon became vice president of programming. He is a student ambassador for the Illinois CPA Society and president of the Accounting Society, a group hes worked to help grow. Last year, there were 20 members; this year there are nearly 90.

I definitely found more opportunities than I even imagined, he said. I enjoy being busy and helping others.

Ta has participated in career fairs, forums, events, conferences and attended numerous guest speaker presentations and business events. He has taken advantage of professional opportunities as well. The summer after his sophomore year, Ta got an internship with UTC Aerospace Systems, an aerospace and building systems firm, and attended the Deloitte NextGen Leadership Conference.

He earned an internship with Deloitte LLP the following summer and, after receiving his diploma on Saturday, May 14, Ta will intern there again this summer. He was actually offered a full-time accounting position there but has chosen to complete his masters degree first. He said SIU has connected him to mentors, professionals in the industry and internship opportunities that have proven invaluable.

Ive made connections in business at the senior level and even at the partner level, Ta said. A lot of big firms come to SIU because they know the reputation our students have for a mentality of working very hard and doing well.

Faculty and staff at the College of Business said Ta deserves much credit for his success.

I met Steven when he visited campus and after talking with him, it was clearly evident that he would be a great Saluki, Gebke said. He embodies the type of student were known for  someone who sees opportunity and takes advantage of it, someone who works hard in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. Hes such a sweet person, too. I have loved watching Steven grow into the person hes become. He has become a leader, not only in the School of Accountancy, but in the College of Business as well. I am proud of Steven and very thankful he let us be part of his life.

Coming from the Chicago suburbs, Steven enjoys hiking and fishing in Southern Illinois as well as the more moderate weather and said that the diversity in Southern Illinois is something I truly love.

There are two proofs of Tas commitment to SIU, he said. First, hell be back in the fall, completing his master of accountancy degree.

Second, he encouraged his younger brother, Brian, now completing his freshman year, to attend SIU as well.

I take it as a compliment that he even recommended his brother come to SIU, Gebke said. Its the highest compliment a student can give to us.

Brian also found himself torn between many universities, having visited some during Stevens search for a college home and others as he went on his own quest. Inspired by the same high school teacher and curriculum, he also chose accounting as his major and ultimately selected the same university.

It was a tough decision but I felt SIU offered more opportunities to get involved and that is the main reason I came here, Brian said.

Steven said their family is proud that both of us are taking advantage of the opportunities SIU is providing us.

It all really started for me at SIU and branches out from there -- the experience, the mentoring, the networking. I want to keep it going, too. My senior project for First Scholars is a mentorship program. Im passing along career and interview tips and helping younger students form valuable connections, Ta said. One of my goals after I get my masters is to give back to SIU. Ive appreciated the alumni and people here who helped me and inspired me and I want to pay it forward -- whether with donations, providing internships, mentoring, or however I can help. Ive received all of these opportunities because of people at SIU and connected with SIU and in appreciation for how everyone has helped me, Im going to help others.
One person was killed and six others were injured on Thursday when a suicide bomber targeted a security checkpoint in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, a local official said. "A terrorist detonated his explosive device next to a security checkpoint in Ghani Khil district, killing himself and another on spot," the official told Xinhua news agency. --IANS lok/ksk/rn ( 66 Words) 2016-05-12-14:48:10 (IANS)
"Today I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality," Desai said after offering prayers.

"At Haji Ali Dargah I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011. We saw where we are allowed till and where men go till inside Dargah," she added.

The Bhumata Brigade chief also said they would stage a protest if the trustees don''t allow women to enter the shrine in the next 15 days.

Thursday''s event is the latest in Desai''s movement after last month she was denied entry to enter the shrine.

Desai, who had earlier announced that she would enter the dargah on April 28, launched the campaign ''Haji Ali For All'' in April to allow women to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer ''chadar'' there.

The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and pray. This ban came into force in 2011. (ANI)
Distraught by the loss of his son Aditya Sachdev, who was allegedly shot dead by Janata Dal (United) MLC Manorama Devi's son Rocky Yadav in a road rage incident, Shyam Sachdev on Thursday seemed disappointed with the ongoing probe and appealed to the people of the country for justice. Speaking to ANI, Shyam Sachdev said that truth is out in the open and all that now remains to be seen is the will of the government to proceed in this matter. "Ask leaders, we are just common people, what do we say? Now, everything is out in the open. Ask them what they want to do? Whether they want to grant justice or not is up to them," he said. "What will a common man say? They are all big leaders. They have to answer. Bihar is our home as well as their, so let them decide whether they want to keep the house in order on not...I would like to appeal everyone in the nation, that today it is my son tomorrow it could be theirs," he added. A local court yesterday sent Rocky Yadav to two-day police remand. Rakesh Ranjan Yadav alias Rocky is accused of killing Class XII student Aditya Sachdeva after an argument with the youth for overtaking his vehicle on Saturday night. Rocky was arrested in the wee hours of Tuesday. The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday suspended road-rage accused Rocky Yadav's mother and MLC Manorama Devi from the party. (ANI)
Congress has expressed dismay over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in which the latter has reportedly drew a parallel between Somalia and Kerala. Reacting strongly over the Prime Minister's jibe the party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewalawrote a sarcastic tweet last night viewing Mr Modi's observation as myopic vision. "What we see - Kerala's beautiful boat race..,..What Modiji sees - Somalian pirates..,..Myopic vision or colored prism?", Surjewala wrote in the pictorial tweet that shows glimpse of a boat raceevent. "What we see : Beautiful Kerala's boat race /// How Modi views : Bunch of Somalian pirates in Training", the tweet reads. "Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has also expressed strong feeling over the PM Modi's remarks. "You(PM) compared Kerala to Somalia that is reeling under poverty and internal strife..,..Is it not a shame for the PM to pronounce that a state like Somalia exists in the country", Mr Chandyhas said in another strongworded tweet.UNI SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-728185.Xml
Reacting strongly over the Prime Minister's jibe the party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewalawrote a sarcastic tweet last night viewing Mr Modi's observation as myopic vision.

"What we see - Kerala's beautiful boat race..,..What Modiji sees - Somalian pirates..,..Myopic vision or colored prism?", Surjewala wrote in the pictorial tweet that shows glimpse of a boat raceevent.

"What we see : Beautiful Kerala's boat race /// How Modi views : Bunch of Somalian pirates in Training", the tweet reads.

"Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has also expressed strong feeling over the PM Modi's remarks.

"You(PM) compared Kerala to Somalia that is reeling under poverty and internal strife..,..Is it not a shame for the PM to pronounce that a state like Somalia exists in the country", Mr Chandyhas said in another strongworded tweet.

CPM Chief Sitaram Yechury also ridiculed Mr Modi for the remark writing a tweet "Somalia's HDI is 0.285 (ranking: 229), Kerala's is 0.712. India's ONLY high HDI state, it'd rank 104 globally. So much for the comparison.UNI SS

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0089-728207.Xml
Heaving a great relief and long waiting to meet their families, 18 people, including 11 children, who were trapped in the crisis-ridden Libya arrived at the Nedumbassery airport today by an Emirates flight. In an emotion-filled atmosphere, the families of those who arrived in the airport after 47-day suffering in Libya following a grenade attack on the employee quarters of Zawiya teaching hospital, received their kith and kin with a mixed reaction of tears and smile. It may be recalled that an infant Pranav (two) and his mother Sunu Vipin, had lost their lives in the grenade attack on March 25. Most of the members arrived at the airport were from Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. There were to 29 members, including six Malayalee families and three families from Tamil Nadu the team, who arrived through Dubai after travelling through Istanbul. Yesterday Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election meeting had informed that he wanted to inform them a happy news that the Union government had succeeded in securing the release of the families struck in Libya after a hectic diplomatic effort and would reach kochi today. However, many complained that they did not get any financial help from the government, and they struggled to live without sufficient money and other facilities, because of shortage of funds in view of the crisis in Libya. They also said that they had to bear their flight charges, though the government had assured all help. However, NORKA officials informed that it was because of restrictions in Libyan currency exchange they could not provide flight tickets. But the ticket charges would be reimbursed after they landed in Kerala, they added.UNI CGV CNR -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0312-728336.Xml
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University(BBAU), Lucknow, a Central University is set to open a satellite centre in Amethi to impart job oriented course for the local youths. The effort was mooted by Union HRD minister Smriti Irani in her political effort to mat Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi on his home turf. The project was duly approved, in principle, by the university's academic council yesterday during hits emergency meeting chaired by vice chancellor R C Sobti. A six-member committee of the BBAU headed by Prof. R U Singh visited the IIIT permises here today to make an on spot enquiry to get the details of the requirement of the new Centre which will start from this academic session. Official sources here said the centre will be set up on Indian Institute of Information Technology(IIIT) campus here and will offer skill-based and vocational courses from academic session 2016-17. BBAU vice-chancellor R C Sobti, however in Lucknow, said the satellite campus will cater to the much needed academic needs of the adjoining areas in UP and neighbouring states. "Most universities have their different centres in different cities. We too are expanding our campus so that those who can't come to Lucknow may study in Amethi,'' he said. After a nod from the academic council, the proposal will be placed before the board of management at a meeting on May 19, after which it will be sent to the HRD for approval and finally to the President, who is Visitor of the university. In the beginning, there will be courses like B Com and B Ed. Besides, courses on the subjects of agriculture, environment, water conservation, home science would also be included in the later stages. "We will work on the availability of land and other infrastructure facilities to run the special centre,'' said a team member, who visited the IIIT campus here. Earlier, the UPA government had proposed affiliation of Rae Barelli-based Feroz Gandhi Degree College from BBAU which was turned down by the board of management twice. After giving sarees to women and insurance to poor families, the Union minister Ms Irani who lost the Lok Sabha election in Amethi in 2014 is now offering sops in education ahead of 2017 Assembly elections.UNI MB PR SB1136 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-728218.Xml
Veteran Congress leader and former Odisha Finance and Law minister Raghunath Patnaik passed away today at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest. He was 89.Family sources said Patnaik was admitted to a hospital here yesterday after he complained of chest pain and breathing difficulties. He was put on ventilator after his condition deteriorated and he breathed his last this morning during treatmentPatnaik was associated with the Congress party since 1942 when he was a student activist. An advocate by profession, Patnaik served as Councillor of Jeypore Municipality for 25 years and became the chairman of the Jeypore Municipality in 1954.He was first elected to the Odisha Assembly from Jeypore Assembly constituency as Congress candidate in 1961 and was subsequently elected from Jeypore as Congress candidate in 1974, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995 Assembly election and served as the Finance and Law Minister in J B Patnaik government.Patnaik was associated with a number of social cultural and religious activities. He was also interested in cooperative activities and contributed articles to newspapers and journals on the social, political and economic activities of the state.The Congress leader was rewarded for killing a man eating tiger which had taken 54 lives.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, PCC president Prasad Harichandan,Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP State president Basant Panda condoled the demise of Patnaik.Leaders of various political parties and people from all walks of life visited his residence to pay their tributes to the departed soul.UNI DP BM AE SB1234 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-728332.Xml
Police today said here that girl students had eaten rice, pulse and potato vegetable at their hostel at Kasturba residential school. After consuming food, some students developed vomiting tendency and also started feeling dizziness. All of them were admitted to a private hospital where a standard 4 student Babita Hembram (9) died during the treatment.

Four students who fell sick after consuming poisonous food had been shifted to Sadar Hospital in Katihar.

Food samples had been sent to a laboratory for the test.UNI XC DH BM PR VP1351

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The sale of gutkha and other harmful tobacco and non-tobacco products continues unabated despite a state government ban on these harmful products.The shopkeeper continues to display the harmful substances openly in their shops.When contacted, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar on the matter, asserted that he would take up the matter with officials of the Health department since this matter is dealt by them.The manufacture, storage and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine are prohibited in the State under sub section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.It is the Health department which needs to conduct inspection and penalise those shopkeepers who still sell these products, the deputy commissioner said.UNI RRK BM PR SB1342 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-728479.Xml
Police said here that electricians were engaged in some repair work when they came in contact with the high voltage line wire.

Both of them died on the spot. One of the deceased was identified as Pankaj Sharma (30), a resident of Turki village in the district while the identity of the another victim could not be established immediately.

Bodies have been sent for the post-mortem.UNI XC DH BM AE VP1357

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The ED sleuths divided in many groups with the help of state police began raiding some 10/12 places including Salt Lake, South and North Kolkata in relation to the bribery scandal of former KoPT boss and some other central government officials of various money related corruptions.

The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police on March 24 arrested the then KoPT chairman RPS Kahlon, a senior IAS officer, from a 5-star hotel in the Chowringee area while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh in cash.

Besides Kahlon, the director of Bharat Calcutta Containers Terminal Limited, DD Jagtap Dattaji was also arrested in connection with giving an illegal gratification of Rs 20 lakh to Kahlon.

Kahlon is now on bail after more than five weeks in jail.UNI PC BM PR VP1356

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Bollywood actor Preity Zinta, co-owner of IPL team Kings Eleven Punjab today visited the monument of love Taj Mahal along with her husband Gene Goodenough.The newlyweds spent around 45 minutes watching the white marble beauty.Preity and Gene also posed for a photograph on the iconic 'Diana Bench'. The couple reached Taj Mahal at 0900 hrs with Preity was sporting a 'Chura' and wearing a yellow floral gown. Talking to reporters, Preity said that the 'the beauty of Taj is glorious'. Some tourists also tried to attract her attention the actor by shouting her name." It is too hot here but still we are enjoying at Taj," she commented.During the entire visit, Preity, described the importance of Taj and the love between Shahjahan and Mumtaj to her husband even when they had a guide with them. This was first visit of Preity to Taj after her marriage to Gene, a financial consultant, in US in February last. The couple are slated to host their wedding reception in Mumbai tomorrow.UNI MB SB SB1452 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-728592.Xml
In a major breakthrough Dimapur Police has arrested a Nigerian national, wanted in a series of money laundering and cyber related crimes both within and outside the state, along with three other accomplices from Delhi. The Dimapur Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone -1) Vilhousie Peseyie today informed that the accused have been kept under judicial custody at East Police Station. A team of Dimapur Police swung into action after three First Information Reports (FIRs) against the accused were lodged at East Police Station, Dimapur. The arrests were made following three FIRs filed at East Police Station in which the complainants, all women, reported that were duped off their money. The three women in the FIR stated that they were duped Rs 31.50 Lakhs, Rs 6.47 Lakhs and Rs 25,000 respectively. Mr Peseyie said a team of Dimapur Police including Dinesh Gupta, IPS probationer attached to East PS and Chopika Chophy, SI, camped for 16 days in Delhi and finally arrested the four accused. The four accused are presently in the custody of Dimapur Police. Two of the accused including the Nigerian identified as one Chiazo Nwaneri alias Jasper (31 years) and Chandan Kumar Choudary (28 years) were nabbed in Delhi while the other two gang members identified Narender Singh Bisht (27 years), Laxma Karniyal (36 years) as were arrested from Uttarakhand police. Police also seized 42 SIM cards, 6 mobile handsets, 9 ATM cards, 3 internet devices, 3 passbooks, 3 cheque books, a laptop, 3 pen drives and Rs 31,000 in cash from Nwaneri. On the modus operandi of the gang, police said the kingpin Chiazo Nwaneri used to open hundreds of fake facebook accounts preferably using English names and posing as some rich gentleman. Through such fake accounts, Nwaneri starts to chat and get friendly with vulnerable victims, mostly women. After two-three months and having gained the confidence of the victim, Nwaneri would then devise various ways to fleece his victims, informed Dinesh Gupta, leading the investigation. The most common strategy is to inform the facebook friend (victim) that Nwaneri, posing as some rich European gentleman, was sending an expensive "gift" (like Apple laptop, I-phone, gold jewelry). After a couple of days, one of Nwaneri accomplices would pose as some customs or airport officials and inform the would-be victim over phone that the "gift" had arrived at IG Airport, New Delhi, and waiting to be claimed. Police informed that other strategies employed by Nwaneri to dupe the victim include posing as a rich westerner who is bored with the west and wants to settle in India or the North East Region along with all his wealth and lottery scams using names of reputed companies or offices like BBC, Reserve Bank of India and Coca Cola. According to police, Nwaneri has been staying in Delhi in a lavish apartment for the past three years on a fake passport after his passport expired in 2013. UNI AS BM PR VP1405 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-728391.Xml
President of the Delhi Unit of Bharatiya Janata Party Satish Upadhyay today said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is trying to create ''unrest'' by asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show his educational credentials.Addressing mediapersons here at the BJP office, he said,''Bharatiya Janta Party will garner majority of votes and emerge victorious in municipal by-elections which will be held on May 15, the results of which will be declared on May 17.''Mr Upadhyay said,''People will assess the work done by the Kejriwal government in the last 15 months and will give it a befitting reply in the polls. AAP claims that it would win elections on all 13 ward seats which is an exaggeration. But according to the BJP survey, AAP would get a big blow. BJP's performance will be the best.''''Step-motherly treatment was meted out to the municipal corporations by the Kejriwal government so far. AAP government is another name for corruption. During its rule, corruption has increased manifold,'' the BJP leader said.AAP had promised a plethora of promises which it failed to fulfill. It had promised new schools, e-schools with facilities like proper toilets, drinking water facilities and library. Mohalla clinics with latest facilities like treatment facilities will be started. It promised that each Mohalla clinic will be opened with an investment of Rs 15 lakhs but money was used liberally.''The Kejriwal government had promised free wi-fi but it vanished and did a hi-fi act. CCTVs were promised, but not installed yet. There is no security to women. Elderlies are yet to get their pension dues, there is still scarcity of water,'' he said.The Chief Minister had promised reasonable electricity bills to Delhiites but people are still getting inflated bills. A Rs 400 crore tanker scam came to light right under his nose and he is yet to take any action. His ministers are involved in corruption cases and he has not expelled them rather he is sitting on corruption files and shielding his Ministers, he claimed. ''Also, contractual workers in Delhi administration have not been made permanent so far. The poor lot have not been provided residences under the Rajiv Yojana as yet. The people of Delhi will assess all this and will give their verdict in favour of BJP and shunt out the AAP government in the forthcoming municipal bypolls,'' Mr Upadhyay added.He said Mr Kejriwal and his party has brought disrepute to the chair of Chief Minister by levelling false allegations of having fake degrees against Mr Modi. ''If Kejriwal happened to meet you on the street he would ask you if you are 10th pass or 12th pass and would ask you to produce your marksheet. This is Delhi degree show. An attempt to malign the image of DU. It's an insult of every DU student who has passed out from DU,'' he added. Mr Upadhyay also alleged that Mr Kejriwal had claimed to be in possession of a video of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit in a corruption case but when minister Harsh Vardhan said she should be indicted in a particular graft case, Mr Kejriwal asked for proof. This is height of double standards and shame.''''BJP is sending a complaint to the Election Commission and then the situation will be clear,'' he added.UNI SY AE SB 1634 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0093-728793.Xml
President Pranab Mukherjee was given a warm welcome at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport here on his arrival from New Delhi this afternoon. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav were at the airport to receive the President. Later, Mr Mukherjee left for Banaras Hindu University(BHU) by an Indian Air Force chopper to attend the centenary year celebrations in the evening. Earlier, the President had cut short his Varanasi visit and now he will attend only the centenary celebrations of the Banaras Hindu University(BHU) at 1800 hrs today. He will return back to New Delhi, later in the night. Mr Mukherjee was slated to attend couple of religious functions at the Ganga ghat and at Baba Vishwanath temple tomorrow morning, but it was cancelled. Elaborate security have been made for the President's visit beside security personnel have been engaged for the Janata Dal United (JDU) rally at Pindra this afternoon in which Bihar Chief Minister and party president Nitish Kumar were participating. Later, after delivering a centennial lecture at BHU, Mr Mukherjee will attend a dinner hosted by the BHU VC Girish Chandra Tripathi and there after will leave for airport by road at around 2030 hrs. At BHU, the President will be present when UP Governor Ram Naik will release commemorative coins of Rs 10 and Rs 100 denominations. The President would also lay the foundation stone of six-storied 'Bharat Adhyayan Kendra' that will work on incorporating the evolved ancient knowledge and traditions for development of the country. The faculty of visual arts of university will also set up a gallery-cum-exhibition at the SB hall to showcase the hundred years of the University, its various achievements and developments. A special brochure on the essence of BHU would also be presented to the President on the occasion. This will be the second visit of Mr Mukherjee as President to the BHU. In the past, he had the BHU on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of the University's founder, Madan Mohan Malaviya, to participate in the special convocation in Swatantrata Bhawan in 2012. He had also visited the University to deliver a lecture at Bharat Kala Bhawan, when he was the finance minister.UNI MB DS 1643 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-728924.Xml
"A violent clash broke out among sadhus during elections at an 'akhada' premises at around 1200 hrs. Some sadhus opened fire during the fight injuring five of them," said Town Inspector (Mahakal) Anil Singh Chouhan.

The injured were admitted to the District Hospital. Condition of one injured was stated to be critical.

Police have booked four people and begun interrogation in this connection.UNI GV-PS RSA SB 1522

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The Uttar Pradesh government had reinstated him yesterday after the suspension for 10 months.

The order for his posting will be issued separately, though he has not been posted so far, according to an official spokesperson.

Mr Thakur met DGP Javeed Ahmed this afternoon and requested him to be given a post of responsibility so that he can contribute his best to the people.

Later addressing mediapersons, the IPS officer said he was suspended arbitrarily merely for political reasons and was kept in suspension for long despite specific orders of CAT and the Central government. He said he will continue his struggle for getting the responsibility fixed of those who made him suffer for political reasons, while working with full commitment towards the job he was assigned.UNI MB RSA AS1622

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New Delhi, May 12 (ANI-NewsVoir): ixigo, one of India's leading travel search marketplace has launched ixigo inspire, a Chrome extension that inspires travellers and instantly compares travel deals across travel sites. Earlier in beta, the plugin has now been fully rolled out to ixigo's user-base and works on the desktop version of Chrome. ixigo's inspire plugin opens each new Google Chrome tab with a stunning background photo of an inspiring destination from around the world along with an array of quotes that can stimulate your travel aspirations! Apart from this, the browser add-on helps you find the cheapest deals on hotels and flights. While you browse on any online travel website, ixigo automatically brings you the best deals available real-time, no matter which travel website they are on. The extension enhances the traveller's browsing experience, by adding unique features like PNR lookups and PNR confirmation predictions for trains from ixigo's website. The extension also acts as a one stop solution to manage all your bookings. Talking about this innovation, ixigo CTO and co-founder, Rajnish Kumar said: "ixigo aims at enhancing the end to end travel experience for our users. Not just do we want to provide you with the best travel deals, we also want to inspire and motivate you to travel. Each new browser tab now refreshes and informs you about a wonderful new destination to visit. At launch, we already have over two lakh users getting inspired to travel everyday, and we expect this to become the default tab for five million travellers by the end of the year." The ixigo inspire Chrome extension has received a great deal of positive feedback from users, especially on Twitter. In addition to all its existing features the plugin also allows you to refer and earn cashback coupons that can be used on the ixigo travel app. Going forward, the extension will be coming out with an array of features that will not only inspire, but help you book your travel! Launched in 2007 in Gurugram, India by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, ixigo is India's leading travel search marketplace, connecting over 80 million travellers with content and deals from over 25,000 online and offline travel and hospitality businesses. ixigo aggregates and compares real-time travel information, prices and availability for flights, trains, buses, cabs, hotels, packages and destinations. ixigo's mission is to simplify the lives of travellers by building apps that make their travel search and planning hassle-free and it has won several awards in its journey, including the TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Award and the NASSCOM Top-10 Emerge Award. ixigo's investors include SAIF Partners, MakeMyTrip and Micromax. (ANI-NewsVoir)
Charging the NDA government with colluding with industrialist Vijay Mallya in ensuring his escape from the country, the Congress today demanded that the Modi government file a charge sheet against the liquor baron within 30 days if it wants to prove its sincerity in bringing him to book.AICC spokesperson Sushmita Deb told reporters, "In Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the United Kingdom Government has made it clear that Vijay Mallya can't be deported without a charge sheet. Did the government not know that there were ongoing probes by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI against the industrialist or that Mallya may flee from India.There is a collusion between with NDA government and Vijay Mallya. Reports in the media say that Mallya met the Finance Minister a day before he fled the country. Will Mallya escape the law of the country.''She said if the government intended to act against Mallya, it should file a charge sheet against him within 30 days. "The Modi government must file the charge sheet within 30 days against Vijay Mallya if it is serious on action against him.'' Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the NDA government was a 'willful accomplice' in Mallya's flight from India. "Tribal rights activist Gladson Dungdung was offloaded from a London-bound Air India flight as his passport had been impounded in 2013. So if the government had information that Mallya was planning to flee the country, could it not have stopped him from leaving the country,'' he asked.UNI AR SW SB 1952 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-729618.Xml
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today ruled out the possibility of imposing a total prohibition in the union territory. Talking to newspersons after releasing the party's election manifesto here today, he said "there is no question of imposing total prohibition here" and to substantiate this claim,the chief minister said that Puducherry was a French colony and the habits of the people here and the prevailing culture will not give any room for imposing a total prohibition.More over,liquor is the main source of revenue here,he added. Mr.Rangasamy said the main intention of the party is to give a corruption free,transparent government ,besides ensuring the development of the union territory. He said more attention would be given to infrastructure development and generation of employment to the youths .Puducherry would be made hutless state and the development of this territory would be ensured in such a way that everybody would laud the efforts of the government.More UNI PAB CNR -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-729167.Xml
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for signing of an inter-governmental agreement between India and Mauritius on cooperation in cooperatives and related fields. The agreement between the two countries will be for a duration of five years after which it will be automatically extended for another five years, an official statement said here. The pact provides for promoting cooperation through short and medium-term programmes within the framework of the joint activities mentioned in the agreement. A work plan will be drawn up by mutual agreement between the two parties to give effect to the objectives of this agreement. The Government of Mauritius has shown keen Interest to develop Institutional Mechanism between Cooperative Development Fund (CDF) set up by it and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) so as to benefit from NCUI's experience in Cooperative Development. A joint meeting was held in September, 2012 in Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare followed by Ministerial level meeting after a year (in September, 2013) for discussing the possibility of signing an MoU between the two countries for exchange of legislation governing cooperatives, exchange of information and technicalities pertaining to the cooperative sector, establishment of institutional linkages and deputation of experts under ITEC programme. A delegation of two senior officials from the Mauritius Government visited cooperative organisations of India to explore the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in the field of cooperatives.UNI NY SW 2020 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-729731.Xml
Even as the Ministry of Home Affairs undersecretary Anand Joshi remains untraceable for the third day today, the agencies are said to have found two more files belonging to two major NGOs getting foreign funding, sources in the Ministry said.Meanwhile, the senior officials in the Ministry flatly denied the charge of harassment leveled by Mr Joshi, who has been handling the foreign funding cases under the Foreign Contribution Regulatory Act(FCRA). "There is no truth in it. Yes, we are the complainants in the case, that is there. If there was any harassment, he could have brought it to the notice of senior all this while, which he did not. We cannot comment any more on this because the case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)," B K Prasad, Additional Secretary, Home Ministry, said responding to allegations.The sources said concurrence of several suspicious activities of Mr Joshi over a period of time put the Ministry officials on alert and there was enough prima facie reason, especially the recovery of files from his home, for the CBI to register a case under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.The senior officials also said a bureaucrat at the undersecretary level is not supposed to take any Home Ministry file home and even the senior bureaucrats, joint secretary and above, cannot take any file home unless permitted by the Home Secretary and above under exceptional circumstances.The CBI today issued a second summon to Mr Joshi after he failed to respond one on Sunday. Asked if the agency would hunt for Mr Joshi, the CBI said it was the task of local police to trace missing persons. The agencies claim the file related Sabrang Trust run by controversial activist Teesta Setalvad was found from his home, a charge Mr Joshi's wife has vehemently denied. And Mr Joshi, in a letter left behind after disappearance, said he kept no file at home and he was only being harassed by his senior for putting on notice several powerful NGOs availing foreign contributions.Mr Joshi's wife also said the CBI found hardly any illicit money from their home in Ghaziabad, and her harassed husband, who has been under heavy stress, quietly left home in the night without even having any meals.In his note, the officer said he had "undergone a lot of mental harassment but now it has crossed all limits" adding he need "some peace" and urged the family members not try to trace him. He also said integrity was being questioned even as he fended off bribes offers in crores of rupees by cash-rich NGOs.UNI PRA RG SW 2046 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-729755.Xml
Patna High Court today granted bail to Independent MLA from Mokama and former JD(U) strongman Anant Singh in a murder case.A single bench headed by Justice Jitendra Mohan Sharma granted bail to Singh in connection with the murder of a villager Ved Prakash alias Karu under Barh police station area in the district in 2014. An FIR was lodged against him in the case.However, Singh would continue to remain behind bars as several other criminal cases are pending against him.UNI XC DH AD SW PM2051 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-729726.Xml
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Friday its verdict on a batch of petitions including by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy challenging the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code providing for criminal defamation. The petitioners had argued that the criminal defamation under these sections of the IPC travelled beyond constitution's article 19(2) that imposes reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression. On the other hand while describing the penal provisions as "deterrent", the central government had defended their retention on the grounds that while in other countries, defamation cases are decided very fast, in India it takes years even decades before they reach conclusion. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the bench in the course of the hearing on July 8, 2015, that unlike in Britain where such cases are decided very fast, in India, it takes 10 to 20 years to decide them. The verdict was reserved on August 13 last year after bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C. Pant heard the matter spread over a month. The judgment will be pronounced by Justice Misra and may address the government's plea that the challenge to the constitutional validity of the IPC sections should be referred to the constitution bench as the same was in the context of the reasonable restriction under article 19(2). Rohatgi had said that there were sufficient safeguards in article 19(2) which imposed reasonable restrictions of the right to free expression and speech guaranteed under article 19. The position was supported by amicus curiae T.R. Andhyarujina. --IANS pk/vd ( 288 Words) 2016-05-12-22:36:05 (IANS)
The clash broke out between the members of Dandekar and Gaikawad families over an old dispute on the marriage issue in Indira Gandhi slum area, police said.

According to police, the dispute between the two families arose after the Dandekar family refused a marriage proposal for their daughter from the Gaikawads on April 24.

Upset about the refusal, the members of Gaikawad family had allegedly attacked the members of the Dandekar family. Following which, police arrested four members of the Gaikawad family who are now in jail.

Angry about the incident, the members of Gaikawad family today again allegedly attacked the members of the Dandekar family, in which both parties used iron rods and sticks.

In the attack, Ashok Dandekar was killed and Tatya Dandekar was seriously injured, who has been admitted to civil hospital here. The attackers also damaged some shops in the area.

A team of Ambad Police rushed to spot and brought the situation under control.

Five people have been arrested in this connection.

The situation in the area is now under control and peaceful.

Heavy police bandobast has been made in the area.

Police have registered a complaint in regards to the crime.and further investigation are on, sources added.UNI RDS SS SW NS2302

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Assam CM Tarun Gogoi today said a thorough inquiry will be conducted into the alleged HIV infection of a three-year-old child during blood transfusion at a government-run hospital here. The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has already ordered an inquiry, while the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where the alleged incident happened, has also ordered a separate probe. The entire matter will be thoroughly inquired and guilty will be brought to book, Mr Gogoi was quoted as stating at New Delhi by news channels here. Meanwhile, a division bench of the AHRC, comprising its chairman Dr Justice AH Saikia and member T Phookan, today took suo motu cognizance of news reports on the matter published in local dailies. Registering the suo motu case, in view of the news published, the Commission issued notice to the chief secretary of Assam to cause an effective inquiry through a high level inquiry committee to be constituted by him for the purpose of conducting an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the said incident in order to fix responsibility on the doctor(s) and the nurse(s) and/or other(s) concerned in this respect. The report thereof is to be submitted before commission within 30 days of receipt of the notice. The GMCH has already ordered an internal inquiry into the matter. A three-year-old girl, undergoing treatment at the GMCH for over a year, had allegedly got infected with HIV virus following blood transfusion from the hospital blood bank during the multiple operations she had undergone. UNI SG AKM SW NS2214 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-729328.Xml
China and Pakistan are closely coordinating moves to block India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Beijing is using Pakistan's Non Starter position with the NSG to block India's application in the name of parity, stating that it would either support NSG entry for both India and Pakistan, or none of them. Talking about the China - Pakistan grand strategy to stall India's admission into the NSG, well placed U.S. sources who work with the NSG said from all counts it does appear that China and Pakistan are coordinating closely to stop the Indian entry. The sources pointed to the fact that when India sought an information session with the NSG Participating Governments (PGs) at the recent NSG Consultative Group meeting on April 25 and 26, where it would have made a formal presentation to the NSG Group in support of its membership, Pakistan requested for a similar discussion slot with the NSG PGs. Sources said that even though Pakistan was fully aware that its request would be rejected, it made its application at the cue of China, in order for Beijing to look even-handed when it sought the rejection of both requests on grounds of parity. Providing an insight into the China-Pakistan plan to stall India, sources say that Pakistan is now going to write to all the NSG PGs about its wish to join the NSG. This is being done in anticipation of an application by India for NSG membership at the forthcoming plenary session of the NSG in June. The Pakistani application, added sources, is "just a decoy" for China to reject both applications on grounds of parity. China knows that Pakistan does not stand a chance at the NSG, and most of the NSG states will reject Islamabad's application. By taking the lead in rejecting the Pakistani application along with that of India, China would like to project its position as "neutral" when in reality it is "working in tandem with Pakistan to stall India's application ". U.S. sources are disappointed with the Chinese tactics of "using Pakistan's non credentials with the NSG to settle scores with India". Informed sources say that this strategy is not a secret and during Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain's visit to China in November 2015, China revealed its hand when it told President Hussain that if India is allowed to get NSG membership, China would ensure that Pakistan also joins the group. The Chinese government told President Hussain that "if India is allowed to join the NSG and Pakistan is deprived of NSG membership, Beijing will veto the move and block the Indian entry". Sources maintain that true to its word, China is following a plan that will enable it to use Pakistan's non-acceptance at the NSG to block India's acceptance. "It is both or none" is the Chinese plan to derail the Indian application, say sources. Chinese officials at the NSG level have been using the Pakistan card to stop India's entry into the NSG while appearing to be even handed in China's relations with India. Well informed sources also point to comments made by Pakistan's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zamir Akram who virtually admitted the grand China - Pakistan plan to stall India's entry into the NSG when, he said, that India will not make it to the NSG despite U.S. support since China was committed to both India and Pakistan joining the NSG at the same time, and would block any move for a unilateral admission of India. He added that chances of India gaining entry into the NSG are virtually nil. The former senior Pakistani official also made it known that Islamabad has "friends at the NSG" who won't let India enter the group. U.S. sources have seen through China's game of "either both or none" in the NSG. They say that India's non-proliferation credentials can never be compared with Pakistan's, as Pakistan has a history of "selling nuclear technology to rogue states like Libya". They point to the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, Dr A.Q. Khan, and his global nuclear trade. Added to this history, is the fear in the West that Pakistan's nuclear weapons, especially the tactical version that it is now in the process of developing, can easily find their way into the hands of terrorists, as Pakistan's nuclear command is extremely vulnerable to penetration by Islamic hardliners. Well-placed sources say that China is aware of this situation, and is mindful of the fact that Pakistan can never be considered for membership in any global nuclear club, but that won't stop China from using Pakistan as a "parity token to stop India which is fast emerging as China's competitor at a global level". By rejecting the applications of both Pakistan and India, China is telling New Delhi and the NSG governments that it is "neutral", when in fact it is working with Pakistan to reject India's application in the hope that there won't be an Indian reaction. U.S. sources say China's grand plan is to "eat its cake and have it too", that is reject the Indian application to the NSG on the pretext of "neutrality" between India and Pakistan and then hope that the "neutrality" card will stop any Indian commercial blowback on China. Giving further insight into the plan, U.S. sources say that China "would be naive to expect that there won't be an Indian reaction, and especially a commercial one, as China is mindful that India is fully qualified to join the NSG, and by playing the 'Pakistan parity card', China is only hurting its own interests with an upcoming economic power, India." (ANI)
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has promised to release information about Area 51 - a Nevada Air Force base where many believe the US keeps top secret information about extraterrestrial (ET) beings - if she is elected president. However, President Barack Obama has no plans to open up government files on the matter, Politico quoted White House press secretary Josh Earnest as saying on Wednesday. I have to admit that I dont have a tab in my briefing book for Area 51, Earnest said after he was asked whether the president wants to beat Clinton to the punch before he leaves office. The spokesman said he is not aware of any plans the president has to make public any information about this, adding that hes not sure whether Obama has reviewed any government files on extraterrestrial life forms. Clinton made the proposal in all seriousness last month during a radio interview and has demonstrated more than a casual understanding of the issue, The New York Times reported. When she appeared on talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live recently, the host asked her whether she believes in unidentified flying objects (UFO). Clinton, a noted policy wonk, quickly corrected Kimmel's improper terminology. "You know, there's a new name," Clinton said, adding "It's unexplained aerial phenomenon. U.A.P. That's the latest nomenclature." Her position has elated UFO enthusiasts, who have declared Clinton the first 'ET candidate'. Hillary has embraced this issue with an absolutely unprecedented level of interest in American politics, said Joseph G. Buchman, who has spent decades calling for government transparency about extraterrestrials. The CIA in 2013 declassified certain documents confirming the existence of the Area 51 military base, created as per executive order by late president Dwight Eisenhower in the mid-1950s as a zone in which to test the high-flying U-2 spy plane. The secrecy surrounding the base for decades sparked an endless number of conspiracy theories, including those that claimed extraterrestrial technology gained from UFOs was being studied there. --IANS ksk ( 338 Words) 2016-05-12-08:38:04 (IANS)
In a radio interview with Fox News' on Wednesday, Trump softened his call to temporarily prohibit Muslims from entering the US.

"We have a serious problem. Its a temporary ban. It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on, Trump said.

But Trump did not mince words in linking Muslims to the proliferation of terrorism around the world, Politico reported.

We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world. You can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world: If they want to deny it, they can deny it. I dont choose to deny it, he said.

Trumps comments came a day after he claimed he would make an exception for Londons first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, to enter the US.

There will always be exceptions, he told The New York Times on Tuesday, while adding he was happy Khan was elected in the city.

Khan was not impressed with Trumps gesture, saying that the Manhattan billionaire was ignorant about Islam and that he hoped he would lose the US election.

Trump has often given conflicting accounts on issues including his tax plan, abortion and transgender people accessing public toilets.

This flexibility has led to concerns among Republican Party leaders about his candidacy.

Top Republicans including House Speaker Paul Ryan have said they were not ready to support Trump in the general election.

Trump will meet Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ryan and others on Thursday in an attempt to resolve differences.

--IANS ksk

( 290 Words)

2016-05-12-10:12:04 (IANS)
Republican veteran Newt Gingrich did not rule out yesterday the possibility that he could be persuaded to serve as presumptive nominee Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, but said Trump has plenty of other talent to consider."I would certainly talk about it," Gingrich told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity. "I wouldn't turn it down automatically."Gingrich has been a persistent subject of speculation as a possible Trump running mate. He is a former speaker of the House of Representatives and, as such, meets one of Trump's main requirements for the job - that his No. 2 be someone who could help steer legislation through Congress.Gingrich ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and lost to the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney. He has been serving as an informal adviser to Trump, who has said he has narrowed his list of potential picks to five or six.Gingrich said in the Fox interview that former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Ohio Governor John Kasich would both be strong selections for the position.Kasich, who ended his own presidential run last week, has emphatically ruled out serving with Trump, while Perry has said he would be willing to be considered and has endorsed Trump.Speculation has also centered around some of Trump's former rivals like US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who said this week he was not interested, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is a strong backer of Trump."I'm not the only person around," Gingrich said.He suggested that there could be better choices for the position, noting that it would be an advantage for Trump to have a running mate who could help win over voters in a particular region of the country.A former congressman from Georgia, Gingrich has lived in the Washington, DC, suburbs for years.Still, he said, he would be willing to consider it."I am in the 'not no' column," Gingrich said. REUTERS AKC CJ RAI0855 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-728115.Xml
Two Britons and a Mexican have become the first foreigners to climb Mount Everest from the Nepali side, climbing officials said today, after disasters in 2014 and 2015 killed dozens and forced mountaineers off the world's tallest peak.Briton Kenton Cool, 42, and David Liano Gonzalez, 36, of Mexico, reached the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) summit at 8.24 a.m, said Ang Tshering Sherpa, chief of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)."They reached the top with three Nepali sherpa guides," he told Reuters in Kathmandu after contacting the team on the mountain.Robert Richard Lucas, a 47-year-old Briton, also climbed with the group, said Ishwari Paudel of the Himalayan Guides hiking group, his local organiser."All climbers are on their way down," Paudel said without giving details.A nine-man sherpa team reached the summit yesterday after setting ropes on the final stretch in time for the first clear weather window of this year's campaign to open.Around 100 climbers are readying to make their final assault in the coming days out of a total of 289 who have received Everest permits. REUTERS AKC RAI1006 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-728160.Xml
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today denied any wrongdoing after being been named in the Panama Papers as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company set up to exploit a Siberian gold prospect.Turnbull and former New South Wales Premier Neville Wran joined the board of Australian-listed Star Mining NL in 1993. The company hoped to develop a 14.67 billion dollars Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log, according to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the story.Both Turnbull and Wran were subsequently appointed directors of Star Technology Services, a subsidiary of Star Mining in the British Virgin Islands which had been incorporated by Mossack Fonseca, the Panama-based law firm at the centre of the global scandal."There is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever. There is nothing new there," Turnbull told reporters."The company of which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian listed company and had it made any profits - which it did not, regrettably - it certainly would have paid tax in Australia."The details are included in documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists known as the Panama Papers but are not part of the publicly searchable database.Tax havens and transparency have been thrust into the spotlight as governments worldwide launch probes into possible financial wrongdoing after the details of hundreds of thousands of clients' tax affairs were leaked from Mossack Fonseca.Turnbull, a former investment banker and technology entrepreneur, is campaigning ahead of a general election on July 2, with his ruling Liberal-National coalition in a virtual tie with the main opposition. REUTERS RSD CJ RAI0854 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-728102.Xml
Papua New Guinea has relaxed restrictions on nearly 900 asylum seekers held on behalf of Australia, allowing them to leave the detention centre during the day, a lawyer said today, but a rights group dismissed the move as "window-dressing".Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court last month ruled detention of refugees on the country's Manus Island was illegal, forcing the government of the tiny Pacific Island nation to announce it would close the camp.Papua New Guinea has since allowed the 898 men held on Manus to leave the camp during the day, Ben Lomai, a lawyer acting for many of the detainees, told Reuters. They sign up for one of three buses to a nearby town and return to the camp in the evening."Papua New Guinea has relaxed restrictions on the detainees a little bit. They can now go into town and move about the camp freely," said Lomai.With the easing of restrictions, Papua New Guinea had ended detention of asylum seekers and refugees, Esther Gaegaming, deputy chief migration officer, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, complying with the Supreme Court order.But refugee advocates dismissed the move as superficial."Papua New Guinea can open the gates to fulfil some technicality, but people are not free to move out of the detention centre wherever they like," said Ian Rintoul, a spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition.The long-term fate of the detainees remains uncertain, with Papua New Guinea and Australia arguing that each other is responsible for resettling them.A decision could take months, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Monday. That timetable could put the politically sensitive decision beyond a federal election on July 2, although Australia's tough immigration policy is expected to be a feature of one of the longest poll campaigns in the country's history.Under Australian law, anyone intercepted trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to camps on Manus or on Nauru. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia.A Bangladeshi refugee died of heart failure on Nauru yesterday, the second death in as many weeks on the island where detainees have been hurting themselves in protest.REUTERS RSD CJ RAI0945 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-728150.Xml
The United States will switch on a 800 million dollar missile shield in Romania today, part of an umbrella from Greenland to the Azores against Iranian rockets that Russia aims to knock out its nuclear weapons.At the remote Deveselu air base in Romania, senior US and NATO officials will declare operational the ballistic missile defence site capable of shooting down rockets from so-called rogue states that Washington says could one day reach major European cities."Iran continues to develop, test and deploy a full range of ballistic missile capabilities and those capabilities are increasing in range and accuracy," said Frank Rose, deputy US assistant secretary of state for arms control."Iran's systems can reach into parts of Europe, including Romania," Rose said, before heading to the site to join US Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 14:30.Tomorrow, the United States will break ground on a final site in northern Poland that should be ready by the end of 2018, completing the shield first proposed almost a decade ago and that also includes ships and radars across Europe.It will be handed over to NATO control in July.Russia is incensed at such of show of force by its Cold War rival in formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe. Moscow says the US-led alliance is trying to encircle it close to the strategically important Black Sea, home to a Russian naval fleet and where NATO is also considering increasing patrols.The readying of the shield also comes as NATO prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics, following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions.The Kremlin says the shield's aim is to neutralise Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington denies that."We are not meddling in anything that could perceived as potentially destabilising," said Douglas Lute, the United States' envoy to NATO.However, Lute said NATO would press ahead with NATO's biggest modernisation since the Cold War. "We are deploying at sea, on the ground and in the air across the eastern flanks of the alliance ... to deter any aggressor," he said.RUSSIAN WARHEADSAt a cost of billions of dollars, the missile defence umbrella relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and destroy it in space before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites.While US and NATO officials are adamant that the shield is designed to counter threats from the Middle East and not Russia, they remained vague on whether the radars and interceptors could be reconfigured to defend against Russia in a conflict.The United States says Russia has ballistic missiles, in breach of a treaty that agreed the two powers must not develop and deploy missiles with a range of 500 km to 5,500 km. The United States declared Russia in non-compliance of the treaty in July 2014.The issue remains highly sensitive because the United States does not want to give any impression it would be able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles that were carrying nuclear warheads, which is what Russia fears. REUTERS AKC SB1219 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-728350.Xml
Lamenting that the global community has failed to address menace of terrorism, India today said even at the level of United Nations there is disaggregated counter-terrorism infrastructure with no effort to make it more cohesive. India's permanent representative at UN Syed Akbaruddin flagged the issue during a high-level thematic debate on peace and security where he also raised his voice to make the world body a more representative which should be capable to deal effectively with today's concerns. "The global community has failed to address this (terrorism) menace effectively. Here at the United Nations there is a disaggregated counter-terrorism infrastructure with no effort to tie them together in aseamless weave under a high-level functionary. We need to address this," said Mr Akbaruddin. India's outburst on the issue of terror comes in the backdrop of blocking of New Delhi's efforts to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar by a UN committee by China on the technical grounds. Pitching for the UN reforms, Mr Akbaruddin said, ''it need to gear up for the challenges which were much more diverse.'' "Even as we update tools and improve our understanding of emerging threats, a more representative global governance system is essential to deal effectively with today's concerns. If we do not do so we run the risk of making the UN ineffective and irrelevant in addressing the most important challenges of our times," he said. UNI MK AE 1327 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-728476.Xml
Vietnam would welcome the United States "accelerating" the lifting of a lethal arms embargo, which would reflect trust between the two countries and recognition of its needs to defend itself, its foreign ministry said today.Vietnam's comments on a topic that has long been a source of friction with the United States comes just over a week ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama, and amid debate in Washington over whether to remove the ban, which was eased in late 2014.The arms embargo is one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era. The United States has not indicated publicly it would remove the embargo and has long said such a move would depend on Vietnam showing progress on human rights."We welcome the United States' acceleration to fully lift the lethal arms sales ban on Vietnam," the ministry said in response to Reuters questions."This is consistent with the development trend of the comprehensive partnership ... demonstrating trust between the two countries."Lifting the embargo would mark a major step forward in ties 21 years after normalization began.The ministry said it welcomed the "many supporting voices" in the United States that had called for the removal of the embargo.US engagement with Vietnam was stepped up rapidly during 2014, in what experts say was a calibrated move by the United States to seize on deteriorating ties between Vietnam and communist neighbour China over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea.Vietnam is hosting a defence symposium this week attended by top American arms manufacturers including Boeing and Lockheed Martin.Secrecy has surrounded the event, which is part of efforts by Vietnam to build a military deterrent as China intensifies its fortification of South China Sea islands it controls or has built from scratch.Vietnam has been in talks with Western and US arms manufacturers to boost its fleets of fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, although Russia, its traditional supplier, has a dominant position.The foreign ministry said Vietnam had no intention of forming military alliances "against other countries" and its policy was about self-defence."The procurement of defence equipment by Vietnam from partner countries is completely normal, in accordance with the a defence policy of peace," it said."We are not allied or linking militarily with any country against other countries."REUTERS RSD RAI1332 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-728485.Xml
Hakim Nasiri, 24, was described as a human bomb when arrested in Italy this week and accused of being in an Islamic State cell.

Photographs posted on a Facebook page that, according to RT online, Italian police believe belongs to Nasiri show him posing near hotels in Londons Docklands, Canary Wharf and the Premier Inn outside Westfield in Stratford.

Other photos show Nasiri on a commuter train in southeast London, outside Buckingham Palace and the Shard. He also posted pictures of jihadist symbols and weapons on social media.

The pictures have raised suspicions that Nasiri was conspiring to carry out an attack.

Other images, found on his phone, show the man brandishing an M16 assault rifle in what is thought to be a British supermarket.

The phone images of Nasiri holding a machine gun were probably taken in the back room of a supermarket in England, Vincenzo Molinese, a colonel in the Bari carabinieri, told the Daily Mail.

British security sources said the rifle may be decommissioned or even a fake.

Nasiri used more than one identity when passing through Britain passport checks, claiming to be a restaurant manager from Birmingham and also a student in the city, they said.

Italian police had been monitoring Nasiris alleged terror gang since December, when its members were detained after filming a shopping centre in Bari.

When police unlocked phones in the mens possession they found footage of terrorist training camps and instructions on suicide attacks.

The gang had been tracked visiting seven cities in nine days, paying budget air fares in cash. All five suspects had been granted refugee status in Italy.

--IANS ahm/dg

( 313 Words)

2016-05-12-17:28:05 (IANS)
Slovenia said it took in its first 28 migrants today under a European Union relocation scheme that many other EU countries have been slow to carry out or rejected outright.The migrants include families and individuals from Iraq and Syria and will be housed initially in a centre for asylum seekers in the capital Ljubljana, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Vesna Mitric said.Last September, a majority of leaders of the 28-member EU approved the transfer of about 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy, where most first set foot on EU soil, to other EU states to share out the burden.So far less than 2,000 have been relocated because of resistance especially on the part of central European states who say they fear the mostly Muslim migrants could not be integrated into their largely Christian societies.Slovenia, a tiny southeastern EU nation with a population of 2 million, committed to accepting a total of 587 migrants, or up to 50 per month through August 2017.From October till March almost 500,000 migrants passed through Slovenia - the smallest country on the Balkan migration corridor - but only a small fraction applied for asylum there. The vast majority headed on to wealthier western EU countries.Around 1.2 million migrants have streamed into the EU, the vast majority applying for asylum in Germany and Sweden, since the start of 2015. But the rate of arrivals has diminished dramatically this year due to the closing of Greece's border with Macedonia, cutting off the favoured Balkans route towards the western EU, and an EU deal with Turkey that has largely stopped refugees crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece. REUTERS JW VP1630 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-728909.Xml
Estonia handed over today a Viking-era sword seized by its border guards to Ukrainian officials, after the artefact was discovered during border truck searches last year.Customs officials confiscated the sword, which was hidden in various fabrics in the driver's cabin, on the Estonian-Russian border, last December. It was then analysed and found to date from the Viking era and is believed to be from western Ukraine.The sword was presented to Ukrainian culture ministry officials at a ceremony in Tallinn.REUTERS JW BD1945 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-729628.Xml
A US forces in Somalia called in a military air strike today that killed five fighters from the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab, the Pentagon said.The US forces had been advising Ugandan soldiers with the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) when the Ugandan forces got into a firefight with 15-20 Shabaab militants, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said. REUTERS PY NS2200 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-729909.Xml
DOHA, May 12, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (1st R) meets with his Lebanese counterpart Joubran Bassil (1st L) in Doha, Qatar, May 11, 2016. The two ministers are in the Qatari capital for the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, which is to open on Thursday. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

DOHA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes Lebanon's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Joubran Bassil.

The two ministers are in the Qatari capital for the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, which is to open on Thursday.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was announced in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The aim is to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road.

China and Lebanon, Wang said, should continue to support each other on issues involving their core interests and increase government contact.

Wang said China will continue to take an active part in the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, and thanked Lebanon for its efforts in protecting the safety and security of Chinese entities and personnel.

For his part, Bassil said his country wants to play an active role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

He also expressed support for China's position on the South China Sea and added that Lebanon will enhance its communications with China on international and regional affairs.
BERLIN, May 12, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A tourist attends a reception as part of a bus trip along the ancient silk road towards China in Berlin, Germany, on May 12, 2016. The journey across the entire Euro-Asian continent lasts for nearly 2 months, and brings the tourists through Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

BERLIN, May 12 (Xinhua) -- "I have been deeply interested in the silk road since I was a child, now I've finally got a chance to really experience it," Heinrich Schultz, a 77-year-old German retiree, told Xinhua on Thursday when he started a bus trip with some 50 other Germans along the ancient silk road towards China.

The journey across the entire Euro-Asian continent lasts for nearly two months, and brings the tourists through Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The group will then enter China from the country's western border.

"It will be a very special, unforgettable experience to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific," said Liu Guosheng, chief of China Tours which co-organized the trip, in Berlin.

According to him, nearly half of the 13,000-kilometer-long trip will be inside China. From Xinjiang at the western border to Shanghai at the eastern coast, tourists will visit over 20 Chinese cities.

"We have been running the route for 10 years. More and more people, not only from the German speaking countries, are joining us," Liu said.

Nearly 26 million foreigners traveled to China in 2015. Some 5 million among them were from Europe. Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and the Yangtze River are traditional Chinese travel destinations for European tourists.

"Compared with modern cities, western China is more attractive for me," said Schultz, "the culture, ethic minorities, their lives...all these are very interesting."

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) regards "Silk Road Tourism" as a new brand to attract foreign visitors, setting it as the leading theme of tourism promotion in recent two years.

"It helps people to know more about China, especially the north-western part of the country," said Shi Xiang, head of CNTA office in Frankfurt.
PH driver charged for sex with minor

The officers, the report continued, alighted their vehicle and called out to the occupants with the driver speeding off. A chase ensued with the vehicle only coming to a stop about quarter mile away, when one of the tyres blew out. Police said the schoolgirl was clad in her school uniform while her sock and shoes were off. Her school bag was found lying on the back seat.

The teenager and driver were both taken to the Princes Town Police Station. The Child Protection Unit (CPU) was contacted and the teenager was taken for a medical examination which according to reports confirmed she was sexually active. The driver who plies his vehicle for hire in Princes Town and environs was subsequently charged for having sex with a minor. He was expected to appear before a magistrate in the Princes Town courts yesterday afternoon. Detective WPC Quashie of the CPU is continuing investigations.
Toddler laid to rest

Baptist minister Kathleen Ishmael who delivered the sermon at the infants funeral service hosted at the New Jerusalem Church of Jesus Christ, Enterprise Chaguanas.

We dont know why God allowed this to happen, but it has happened and we need to gain strength from this and be strong for each other, Ishmael urged mourners.

As she spoke, the toddlerss 18-year-old mother Precious Virginia Bastaldo wept bitterly.

The teenager was comforted by a female relative throughout the service. Ishmael told mourners to erase bitterness from their hearts.

Dont be bitter, let God be God.

We are not each others enemies, we all have a common enemy and that is the Devil. We have to accept what happened, dont blame each other, she said.

The minister said that when tragedy occurs in families, they must use the opportunity to draw closer to God. We know what everybody else said and what was reported in the newspapers and television, but God is the only judge. People need to be careful what comes out their mouths, you dont know what will happen in your family, she said.
Tears for man killed on Mothers Day

The tearful scenario at the family home at Gopie Trace included the dead mans 60-year-old father, Krishna Sieunarine, being led handcuffed by police into the house to view the body. The father is still being detained as police continue their inquiries into the killing.

Sham died after receiving a stab wound to the neck during a fracas with other relatives. With both hands in cuffs, the father, Krishna, sat on a chair during the funeral service held at the house of mourning where he wept uncontrollably.

About two feet away from him, was the coffin which bore Shams body, and under the watchful eyes of a party of officers, among them Sgt Ramsingh, Cpl Khan, PC Ramdath and WPC Deonath, the distressed father received words of comfort and consolatory pats on his shoulder by several mourners.

Just say your prayers boy, one elderly man was heard advising him. On his arrival and departure at the funeral yesterday, the detained Krishna spoke briefly with his inconsolable wife, Flora.

He also got the opportunity to put a rose in the coffin before officers escorted him back to a marked police vehicle. Addressing mourners, Shams only surviving sibling, Sindy, said that despite his behaviour whenever he consumed alcohol he was a good boy.

Sham was a good boy dont mind he used to drink, she cried.

Sometimes when he got drunk, he used to get on stupid. Otherwise, anyone who asked Sham to do anything, he always do it for them. He never said no. Sham , everybody loves you and we will miss you, Sindy, of Chaguanas, said between sobs.

Describing his death as an accident, Sindy implored forgiveness questioning why Sham had to leave in this way. Addressing her distraught mother, Sindy said, Mom, dont cry anymore, you have to smile, for Sham. Only about four years ago, Floras daughter, Sandra, died from pneumonia and now with Shams death, Sindy is the only surviving offspring of her parents.

I cannot make a mess with your hair again, she cried. Sham, I hope you meet with Sandra and be with her. It is me alone now. My sister and brother are gone, she noted, adding that she was now by herself and could not say what would happen to their father.

One of Shams uncles, Toolsiedath Jankie, wept as he scolded Sham for failing to heed his numerous advice.

You did not listen to me for one minute, he said in tears.

You should have never been in this position right now. I tried to talk with you. Just Saturday, I saw you. Reports are that about 10 pm last Sunday (Mothers Day) , Flora and her husband were awakened by the sounds of Sham cursing and kicking the front door. The family is said to have endured both physical and mental abuse from Sham whenever he got drunk.

That night he was also accusing the family of purposefully locking him out of the house. Sham then put on a radio and turned the volume at full blast. His father unplugged the radio, which enraged Sham. He is reported to have dragged his father from his bed and started to beat him.

In full view of his mother, Sham began stomping on his fathers face and head and kicking him.

The fight escalated to the kitchen where Sham is reported to have suffered a fatal wound to the neck.

Yesterday police investigators confirmed that a file was being prepared to be sent to the Office of the DPP about the death.

Sgt Seejattan of the Penal Police Station is spearheading investigations.
Cop: I found accused hiding in bushes

She was at home alone when at about 3 pm she opened the door for the accused Jason Hosten, 44, of Bamboo Village, Cedros, the State is alleging before Justice Carla Brown-Antoine.

He allegedly asked to be allowed to pick portugals and Krista obliged but had told him not to raid the tree. Krista was the daughter of former principal of Cedros Anglican Primary School Jade Lackpatsingh and Steve, Dean of Discipline at Cedros Secondary School.

Yesterday, the medical reports of the autopsy by Dr Hughvon Des VIgnes, were read to the the 12-member jury which indicated that the probation officer was stabbed over 20 times, mostly in the head.

The medical reports were tendered through Cpl Ramtoole, who, in answer to Senior State attorney Shabaana Shah, said that on that fateful afternoon in responding to a telephone message at the Cedros Police Station, he went to the Lackpatsinghs home. Steve, he said, took him near the stairway and there he saw Kristas body lying on the stomach with the left side of her face on the floor. She had a knife, the police officer told the judge and jury, in her right hand and there was a towel on the left side of her body which appeared to be saturated with blood.

Ramtoole testified that Krista lay in blood, but the Lackpatsinghs home did not appear to be ransacked.

Ramtoole went on to tell the judge and jury that he proceeded to the residence of the accused Hosten at Bamboo Village late that evening.

The retired police corporal said, Upon arrival, the accused was not seen. A search was made and found the accused hiding in a cluster of bushes at the back of his house. I cautioned him and asked him what articles of clothing he was wearing.

He did not respond. Ramtoole further testified that Hosten led him upstairs his house and pointed to a cuppboard in the kitchen, and, there he retrieved a white jersey and a black three-quarter pants. Hosten, Ramtoole testified, said, This is the clothes I had on this evening. Attorney Rekha Ramjit, who is defending Hosten, cross-examined Ramtoole and asked him if it is true that he found no clothing that would support the evidence in the case.

He answered in the affirmative and admitted also, that there were blood-stained palm impressions on the wall at the foot of the stairs where Krista was found. And, in answer to Ramjit, he reiterated that the house was not ransacked. Five reports regarding the autopsy done on the body and tests, were read to the jury.

Both Jade and husband Lackpatsingh attended yesterdays session, having testified when the trial began on Monday.

It continues today.
Seven men held for questioning

On Tuesday, police officers of the Northern Division began investigations, after finding the body of the man in the clearing of a forested area just off Windy Hill. The mans body had been covered with tyres and burnt beyond recognition.

Hours after the body was discovered, a large contingent of police officers conducted exercises in the area. From 9 pm on Tuesday to 1 am yesterday, 100 officers scoured the area and picked up the seven men.

They are now in police custody assisting with investigations. While police have persons in custody, they are still trying to confirm the mans identity. Police believe that the the charred remains may be that of 57-year-old taxi driver Anthony Superville, who was reported missing on Saturday last.

Newsday was told by reliable sources that pathologists have contacted Supervilles relatives, and may use dental records to confirm his identity. To be sure that the body is in fact Supervilles, pathologists will also conduct a DNA test. An autopsy on the charred remains is expected to be conducted today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Investigations are ongoing.
8 Jamaicans held in police raid

The exercise was spareheaded by the inspector in charge of crime, Ken Lutchman, who was assisted by officers of the CID Task Force and the Crime Suppression Unit.

Reports state that officers went to an apartment building at Brooklyn Settlement at about 4 am where they detained the Jamaicans  five women and three men  who were all asleep at the time.

Some of them have been in this country since 2012.

One of them arrived approximately one month ago. Some told police they were on vacation while others said they were gainfully employed.

Newsday understands that Immigration authorities were called in to ascertain if the eight Jamaicans are in this country illegally.

Their documents are to be scrutinised and if they are found to be here illegally they will be taken to the Aripo Detention Centre pending deportation.

Officers then proceeded to Upper Cunapo Road where a 19-year-old man was arrested after he was found to be in possession 56 grammes of marijuana.

Newsday understands the teenager, who was walking along the roadway, was approached by officers and he attempted to throw away the marijuana.

The exercise then took officers to Barker Trace, Coalmine, where they stopped a silver AD Wagon with a man and a woman, ages 30 and 33. A check of the vehicle revealed 315 grammes of marijuana concealed between the two front passenger seats. The two were arrested for possession of marijuana.

The police team also went to Toco Road, Sangre Grande, and arrested a 20-year-old man on an outstanding warrant. A search was also executed at the Mc Shine Street home of a 37-year-old-man who is a person of interest in the Sangre Grande area. Two gadgets used for smoking cocaine were seized. At Foster Road, a 21-year-old man, on seeing the police, ran through a track in a bushy area.

He was pursued and held and found to be in possession of 13 grammes of marijuana.

Other officers taking part in the exercise were Sgts Christopher Fuentes and Mickey Williams, Cpls Randolph Castillo and Shaheed Khan, PCs Amit Bucket Samuel, Yohanis Joseph, Dandrade, Williams and Henry, and WPCs Gonzales, Stephens and Alexander.

The anti-crime exercise forms part of the initiative to rid the Eastern Division of illegal arms, ammunition, drugs and illicit activities.
Tamana relieved as suspects held for womans murder

About 80 residents, including the victims relatives, met on Tuesday night with senior police officers including ACP Surujdeen Persad, Supt Hendron Moses, Sgt Dedier, Cpl Tewarie, PC Gordon and others on how they could take back their community from the criminal elements.

The officers stressed a partnership from the community level, with the police, in terms of sharing of intel, is a key ingredient in keeping Tamana crime free.

Goora, 24, was walking through a track en route to her home when she was attacked by a man and stabbed in the stomach. She later died at the Sangre Grande Hospital. Police have since detained seven persons in connection with the murder and Newsday understands charges are expected to be laid soon.

The residents met with the officers at about 7 pm at the Tamana Hindu School. Prior to this meeting, residents complained bitterly that 20 street lights in the area were not working and through the intervention of the police, the Arima branch of TTEC responded and all lights were repaired.

The town meeting was chaired by former councillor Zephryn Bessessar-Singh. Residents were also given an update on the status of the investigation into Gooras murder.
Chote: SSA Bill hurts watchdog

Chote spoke in the SSA Bill debate in the Senate on Tuesday which was passed. What concerns me is the impact this legislation is likely to have on independent institutions, she said, naming the three. Is the PCA now going to be under the umbrella of the SSA? This question is unanswered, she said. How is the Financial Intelligence Unit going to operate under the SSA? She said the Bill should say if these agencies fall under the SSAs remit .

She recalled PM Dr Keith Rowley once citing a British law that said spy agencies must not be used for political gain and that many nations had come to grief from the misuse of security services .

Chote said the Bill lets the SSA make up its own rules and after that, lets see if someone takes you to court. She said in a civil society the State must be subject to the rule of law, not just impose it on everyone else. She was concerned the Bill would allow the State to spy in peoples homes opening them to blackmail .

She said the SSA Bill may undermine the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2015. If a whistleblower wants to give private information and wants to ensure that number is protected, it can give him no comfort to think that if he talks on the phone it may be leaked to someone who can cause him harm, she said. I dont see how these two pieces of legislation can be easily married at all. She urged the Bill be sent to a joint select committee .
Venezuelans in TT hurt over homeland

Noriega, 38, a native of Venezuela has been living in Trinidad since 2002. Due to recent social unrest in the neighbouring South American country, many Venezuelans like Noreiga have migrated to other countries in search of a better life.

I saw how bad things were getting in my country (Venezuela), basic needs like food, running water and quality healthcare were becoming scarce, there was simply no future for me and it seems that things have gotten from bad to worse now, Noriega said.

Once a bustling metropolis, Venezuela has now found itself in the throes of an economic crisis due to falling oil prices, and chronic food shortages.

Venezuelas ongoing economic crisis has deep social implications, thrusting many middle class families into absolute poverty which has been attributed to a steadily rising crime rate. I return to Venezuela and visit my family every opportunity I have, but it seems that with each visit conditions get worse and worse. Noriega lamented.

Deteriorating conditions in Venezuela has prompted many working class Venezuelans like Noriega to seek employment elsewhere including, neighbouring Guyana, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago. A short distance away on Frederick Street, another Venezuelan national, shared his thoughts on the recent upsurge of Venezuelan immigrants entering Trinidad.

Life in Venezuela has become very hard right now. Just last year both of my brothers lost their jobs at a factory in Caracas and right now they want to come to Trinidad and work with me. The man said he has been living in Trinidad for the past five years.

Asked his thoughts were on the possibility of Venezuelan criminals entering Trinidad, under the guise of tourists and vendors, he said that it was of great concern to him and other Venezuelans seeking to make an honest living.

That frightens me, because all of the other Venezuelans that I know are not involved in all those activities, they either work as construction workers or are vendors like myself, but there are a few guys who will come here and make trouble for us who have lived here (in Trinidad) trying to make a decent living. Officials in the Ministry of Tourism reported that for the year 2015 alone, 21,000 Venezuelans visited TT, with as many as 1,000 currently residing here.

Immigration authorities believe undocumented Venezuelans represent approximately half this figure.

Despite the recent turmoil in his homeland, Noriega remains optimistic everything will turn out for the best. Venezuela is my home and once we stop allowing politicians to play with our future, things will get bette
Mark: UNC to consider legal challenge

The SSA Bill was passed in the Senate at the same venue less than 24 hours earlier, by a vote of 17 for and 12 against.

Independent Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach and temporary Independent Senator Justin Junkere voted with the Government to pass the legislation, which was previously passed in the House of Representatives on April 15.

The Bill now goes to the President for assent and proclamation into law.

Asked if the Opposition was considering any legal challenge to the Bill, Mark replied, That matter will have to be fully aired and discussed by the honourable Leader of the Opposition (Kamla Persad- Bissessar) at the party level and at the parliamentary caucus level. He added, The options would have to be studied and explored and Im sure that an appropriate communication would be had with the media on the way forward. In concluding debate on the Bill in the Senate, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi referred to a legal opinion from the Solicitor General which indicated the legislation did not require a three-fifths special majority and did not infringe citizens rights.

The Opposition has argued that the Bill required a special and not a simple majority as indicated by Al-Rawi.

Saying the Opposition is very disappointed the Bill was passed, Mark said Al-Rawi took a very unfortunate position by rejecting all 58 amendments which the Opposition advanced to him during the committee stage in the Senate.

He added the amendments proposed by the Opposition would have ensured safeguards be placed in the legislation to protect citizens against potential abuse of their rights and provide for accountability at the SSA.

In contrast, Public Administration and Communicat ions Minister Maxie Cuffie (a member of the same JSC), yesterday said he was happy the Bill was passed.

Saying a lot of hard work went into its preparation by public servants as well as its presentation in Parliament, Cuffie said, This is too serious an issue. It deals with our national security and treating with the crime situation. He added, We have one more arrow to be able to deal with it (crime). So I expect great benefits from it.
Lupus Foundation holds Health Fair

This years theme for World Lupus Day was Lupus Knows No Boundaries, and was held at Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain, from 5 pm until 7 pm.

Harrilal said the VLF along with other lupus patients, their families and loved ones, also held a candlelight vigil in honour of those who lost the battle to lupus and to celebrate those who continue to battle the incurable disease.

Our mission is to give this disease a voice because it is a disease that is vastly misunderstood. Persons who suffer especially with a disease such as Lupus, it is an invisible disability because if you look at most patients, we dont look sick. She went on to say, If you can see us struggle just to get dress, people just dont get it. Society is still in that mentality that if you dont look sick you are not sick. She said they are trying to create change in Trinidad and Tobago through advocacy, awareness, and action. Harrilal said the foundation is about six years old and there was only so much it could do in terms of resources.

The support has been lacking.

We dont have the financial support and the human resource. Its really family and faithful friends who recognised what the foundation is all about and come out and give support. She said, We have tried in the past to collaborate with the Ministry of Health within the last government, however, this year we are proud to say that we have reached our required charitable status so we are now able to show how we spend funds that come in, and hope to meet with the Minister of Health soon, she said.

Harrilal explained that they also try to provide help to under- privileged patients, and those who are in need of public assistance.

She said the chronic, debilitating auto immune disease is a global health problem that affects people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and ages. It is very heart breaking and it hurts when patients reach out to us and due to the lack of funding, what can I say...Im sorry I cannot help because I dont have the funding? She said, Lupus can affect any part of the body in any way at any time, often with unpredictable and life-changing results. While lupus knows no boundaries, knowing all you can about lupus can help control its impact. Harrilal said she is hopeful that the candlelight vigil can raise awareness of lupus to those who continue to suffer, foster greater awareness, and provide the public with a better understanding of the disease.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your bodys immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.

Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems  including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus  a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks  occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.

Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While theres no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.
AG: SSA got more power under PP

Attorney General (AG) Faris Al Rawi made this disclosure as he concluded debate on the SSA Amendment Bill 2016 in the Senate on Tuesday night. The bill was passed by a vote of 17 for and 12 against.

Noting the Oppositions concerns about wider powers being given to the SSA under the bill, Al Rawi disclosed, The annual reports of the SSA demonstrate 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, the draft 2014 and 2015 which we have...

they say that the SSA was engaged in functions which on the face of it appear to be broader than their statutory mandate. The AG declared that while the ruling Peoples National Movement (PNM) is coming to say that now, the Opposition which was in power for five years said absolutely nothing. Declaring the last five years showed the PP spent billions of dollars in getting it wrong, Al Rawi said the Government is clear in its mind that, weve got to do something differently. Therefore we say it is appropriate to not broaden the functions of the SSA. Were not doing that at all, except for one material point. Al Rawi explained that point was, the ability to train the services and not just agents in one area. Al Rawi said there are 29,090 outstanding criminal matters before the magistracy including murder (417); attempted murder (300); kidnapping (493); arms and ammunition (5,788); sexual offences (3,597); narcotics (5,758); fraud (5,407) and robbery (2,226).
No statements on $50B spent by WASA

Dhanpaul expressed this view in response to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark during a public hearing for officials from the ministry and associated entities with members of the Public Administration and Appropriations Joint Select Committee (JSC) at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre.

Mark posed his question after noting the last audited financial statement submitted to Parliament by WASA was in 2010.

Dhanpaul said WASAs new board has been mandated to correct this situation and submit all of these outstanding financial statements by the end of this fiscal year.

Responding to another question from Mark about 67 fraudulent cheques issued by WASA totalling approximately $146,000, WASA CEO Allan Poon King said the matter was investigated by the police and one person was arrested. However, Poon King said he has not received an update on that matter.

Dhanpaul also told the committee that under his tenure at the ministry there have been no reported cases of fraud and systems have been put in place to deal with any cases should they arise.

On the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC), Dhanpaul reported to the committee that the companys debt profile was approximately $8 billion. This included $2.5 billion for government advances, $2.4 billion in unpaid gas bills to the National Gas Company, and $1.6 billion for a shortterm finance facility for the TGU plant in La Brea.

TTEC General Manager Kelvin Ramsook said the company was able to work out an arrangement with Government regarding the repayment of monies for TGU. The balance at this time is US$114 million, he said.

Asked by Mark about a possible adjustment in electricity rates for TTEC to settle its outstanding debts, the ministrys legal services director, Anika Farmer, indicated that the Regulated Industries Commission does a rate review for all entities under its purview every five years and no decision has been taken regarding a rate adjustment.

CEPEP Corporate Secretary Rondell Donawa reported that some 11,580 workers have benefitted from the programme to date. Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis has said CEPEP would be returned to its original moorings as a community business incubator and for environmental preservation.

Solid Waste Management Company Ltd CEO Ronald Roach told the committee about environmental concerns regarding the Guanapo landfill which were real but localised. Roach also spoke about the testing of water in the Caroni Basin done by the University of the West Indies in relation to possible leakage from the landfill.
Minister calls on cops to share intel

Yesterday, Dillon confirmed that the meeting took place upon his request and said, Those divisional commanders must be the voice and the eyes of their respective divisions.

If each and every one of them deal with crime and criminality aggressively, then Trinidad and Tobago will be a better place. He revealed that the police are targeting known criminals in each division, including the ones on the coastal border.

We are encouraging the divisional commanders to share information to keep intelligence and pressure going in each division, Dillon said.

At the end of the meeting, he promised additional resources and said that the acting commissioner of police are working together to provide the resources.

We are waiting to see how the results from this manifest on the ground, Dillon concluded.
What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames

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Bill condemning Iran and threatening sanctions over seizure of two U.S. Navy crews proposed

(NationalSecurity.news) Questioning the seriousness of the Obama administrations response to Irans seizure of two Navy patrol boats and detention of 10 American sailors in the Persian Gulf in January, Rep. Randy Forbes (R- Va.), this week proposed legislation to officially condemn Iran, and raised the possibility of imposing new sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

In a press release, Forbes, who chairs the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee, accused Iran of violating international law, and said the U.S. response was inadequate.

Rather than rallying the world against the humiliation of U.S. personnel, he said, the U.S. Secretary of State thanked the Iranians for releasing sailors they had unlawfully seized.

In the face of this administrations failure to respond seriously to an overt act of aggression, he added, which has led only to more misbehavior and threats to close the Gulf, Congress must act.

In the release, Forbes said that his resolution, H.Res. 709, demands this Administration make U.S. national security interests  not the Presidents quest to build a legacy on the back of an ill-conceived nuclear deal  our top priority.

The incident occurred just days before Iran and the international community were to formally implement a nuclear deal to limit Irans development of a weapon of mass destruction in exchange for lifting both U.S. and international sanctions.

According to Irans Fars News Agency, the crews were released after it became clear that the US combat vessels illegal entry into the Islamic Republic of Irans waters was the result of an unintentional action and a mistake and after they extended an apology.

Forbes legislation condemns Irans military forces for their actions, and states that Congress will consider the behavior of those forces in the Gulf when voting on sanctions legislation pertaining to Iran.

His bill also urges the administration to respond strongly to past and future instances of dangerous and unprofessional behavior by Iranian forces.

Asked about the timing of the resolution, coming months after the actual incident, Forbes told AMI Newswire the intelligence information surrounding the incident is only now coming to light. He said he has repeatedly and publicly urged every Member of Congress to receive a classified briefing on Irans capture of 10 U.S. sailors.

The information I have received from the Defense Department about the capture confirms my concern that this Administration has failed to act in an appropriately serious manner about an incident of this gravity.

Forbes added that his resolutions insistence that this incident be taken into account when discussing issues like sanctions is the appropriate response to Irans clear violation of international law.

In a statement posted on the Islamic Republic News Agency, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned Forbes legislation as meddling in the nations security interests in the Persian Gulf, and said Iran would take any necessary action to maintain security, peace and stability of the Persian Gulf region.

The Navy has yet to make public the full report on the January seizure of the two American vessels and their crews. That information is scheduled to be made public this summer.

Reporting by Norman Leahy. (c) 2016 American Media Institution.

More:

NationalSecurity.news is part of the USA Features Media network. Check out our daily headlines here.

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Colorado goes Orwellian on vaccines: Parents ordered to register non-vaccinated children with the government for surveillance purposes

Interesting times in Colorado for parents who take a stand against forced vaccinations. Imagine receiving a letter from a state health department stating that you are required to register your non-vaccinated child with the state. Colorado parents found this in their mailbox, which means their children would be identified as unvaccinated in government database. Fortunately, the demand was found to be unconstitutional, but these actions display a coordinated mechanism which is in place to potentially forcibly gather this information, thus thwarting free will and parental rights. Preventing its passage forced a pause in the fight against medical fascism.

As reported by Off The Grid News:

A number of parents received a letter this month from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which said in the document that parents of unvaccinated children in school would be required to register and exempt their child through a state website.

The department later said the letter should not have been released. The requirement would have been mandated by House Bill 1164, which died in a state legislative committee earlier this week.

Currently, parents tell the local school  and not the state  that their children are not vaccinated.

One of the letters was sent to the household of a Colorado State Representative who had joined others to oppose the bill behind it

Colorado Representative Patrick Neville, a Republican who quickly recognized that the proposed bill upon which the letter was based, said the bill and letter were unconstitutional. He was adamant about the rights of parents, like himself. He told CBS news: Theyre [The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] reaching beyond their statutory authority to collect data  private health data  on our kids.

The National Vaccine Information Center was also in Colorado to fight for parental rights

Currently, parents in Colorado do have to notify their childrens school if they are not vaccinated. This bill and the letter following it was an ominous threat, according to the advocacy group, the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), which does a mammoth service in keeping us informed about laws to restrict medical choice. NVICs Theresa Wrangham was in Colorado to speak against the bill. CBS news reports:

Its a data grab. They want to populate the vaccine registry and they want to know exactly whos exempting from which vaccines, where they live and I think its a harassment technique, said Theresa Wrangham with the National Vaccine Information Center... This is misleading to parents and its drawing a line of discrimination against those who take these exemptions. It is their legal right to take an exemption and now were going to trick them into a registry and be tracked, says Wrangham.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment later said it regretted sending the letter

This was a clear case of a government agency acting as if a House bill were already passed, even though it wasnt. Another Colorado Republican State Representative, Senator Kevin Lundburg, not only opposed the bill, according to Off the Grid News, he called out the Health Department:

I find it curious that the House has already killed 1164, whereas the health department has already implemented the provisions of 1164 in law on their website stating that by July 1, parents will be required to register online, Lundberg said. This online registration system is in complete violation of current statute. They dont have the authority to require an online registration.

This coordinated effort, even though it was illegal, in still on the march. Other bills concerning vaccinations are being debated in Colorado. Stay on the alert in your state. And, let food be your medicine.

(Photo credit: Galaticconnection.com)

Sources:

OffTheGridNews.com

Denver.CBSLocal.com

NVIC.org

Science.NaturalNews.com

FoodForensics.com

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Why progressive taxes dont work: one taxpayer leaving NJ could ruin the states economy

Our top-heavy economy has come to this: One man can move out of New Jersey and put the entire state budget at risk. Other states are facing similar situations as a greater share of income  and tax revenue  becomes concentrated in the hands of a few.

(Article by Robert Frank, republished from //www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/business/one-top-taxpayer-moved-and-new-jersey-shuddered.html?_r=0)

Last month, during a routine review of New Jerseys finances, one could sense the alarm. The states wealthiest resident had reportedly shifted his personal and business domicile to another state, Frank W. Haines III, New Jerseys legislative budget and finance officer, told a State Senate committee. If the news were true, New Jersey would lose so much in tax revenue that we may be facing an unusual degree of income tax forecast risk, Mr. Haines said.

The New Jersey resident (unnamed by Mr. Haines) is the hedge-fund billionaire David Tepper. In December, Mr. Tepper declared himself a resident of Florida after living for over 20 years in New Jersey. He later moved the official headquarters of his hedge fund, Appaloosa Management, to Miami.

New Jersey wont say exactly how much Mr. Tepper paid in taxes. But according to Institutional Investors Alpha, he earned more than $6 billion from 2012 to 2015. Tax experts say his move to Florida could cost New Jersey  which has a top tax rate of 8.97 percent  hundreds of millions of dollars in lost payments.

Mr. Tepper, 58, declined to comment on his move. He does have family  his mother and sister  who live in Florida. But several New Jersey lawmakers cited his relocation as proof that the states tax rates, up from 6.37 percent in 1996, are chasing away the rich. Florida has no personal income tax.

If youre making hundreds of millions of dollars and youre paying close to 10 percent to the state of New Jersey, you do the math, said Jon Bramnick, the Republican leader in the New Jersey Assembly. You can save millions a year by moving to Florida. How can you blame him?

Beyond the debate on taxing the rich, Mr. Teppers move is a case study in how tax collections are affected when income becomes very highly concentrated. With the top tenth of 1 percent of the population reaping the largest income gains, states with the highest tax rates on the rich are growing increasingly dependent on a smaller group of superearners for tax revenue.

In New York, California, Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey, the top 1 percent pay a third or more of total income taxes. Now a handful of billionaires or even a single individual like Mr. Tepper can have a noticeable impact on state revenues and budgets.

California had to account for a Facebook effect in 2012 and 2013 after that companys 2012 initial public offering of stock. The offering generated more than $1 billion in revenue  much of that from the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, and a small group of company shareholders. Washington, D.C., had an unexpected $50 million gain in its 2012 fiscal year  which helped create a budget surplus  after the death of a local billionaire increased its estate tax receipts.

Some academic research shows that high taxes are chasing the rich to lower-tax states, and anecdotes of tax-fleeing billionaires abound. But other studies say there is little evidence showing that the rich move solely for tax purposes. Millionaires and billionaires who move from the high-tax states in the Northeast to Florida, for instance, may be drawn by the sunshine, lifestyle and retirement culture, in addition to lower taxes.

While some high earners may be moving for tax reasons, New Jersey, New York, California and other states are replacing rich people faster than they are losing them. New Jersey had 237,000 millionaires in 2015, compared with 207,200 in 2006, according to Phoenix Marketing International, a research firm. New York added 69,500 millionaires from 2006 to 2015, to 437,900, while California added over 100,000 millionaires, to 772,600.

The best solution to the mega-taxpayer dilemma, some tax experts say, is for states to do a better job of tracking and forecasting the incomes of their top earners. Since the rich are the most mobile and are able to manage their investments just as easily in Miami as in Manhattan, states are devising new ways to monitor their top taxpayers and keep them from leaving.

In a time of rising inequality, Im not sure the right answer is lowering taxes or making them less progressive, said Kim S. Rueben, senior fellow of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Its more about keeping an eye on people, seeing where they are and enforcing the tax rules.

Connecticut, home to several hedge fund billionaires, now tracks the quarterly estimated payments of 100 of its top earners. Kevin B. Sullivan, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, said about five or six of the highest earners could have a measurable impact on the revenue stream.

Mr. Sullivan said that when one of the states rich hedge fund executives planned to move his family and company to a lower-tax state, state officials met with him and persuaded him to leave some of his work force in Connecticut.



We knew we were going to lose him, Mr. Sullivan said. But we wanted to keep some of the higher-paying jobs. He said the state worked out a deal to keep the jobs in exchange for an agreement about the owners regular visits to family and friends in Connecticut. (Homeowners who spend more than 183 days in the state are considered residents for tax purposes.) He said the state was holding discussions with other top earners in hopes of keeping them.

Im not saying were sending fruit baskets and get-well cards, said Mr. Sullivan, a former Democratic legislator. But were trying to send a more welcoming message to the high earners as a group.

New York is now more closely monitoring wealthy taxpayers who have homes in New York but claim Florida as their tax residence. And New Jersey is collecting data on all of the taxpayers who make more than $1 million to forecast their tax payments more accurately.

In California, 5,745 taxpayers earning $5 million or more generated more than $10 billion of income taxes in 2013, or about 19 percent of the states total, according to state officials.

Any state that depends on income taxes is going to get sick whenever one of these guys gets a cold, Mr. Sullivan said.

Hence New Jerseys concern over Mr. Teppers departure. Whatever the reasons for his move, he is leaving for Florida at an especially opportune time for tax savings. Many hedge fund managers have for years used a tax loophole that allowed them to defer taxes on fees they earned through the use of offshore funds. A 2008 federal tax rule, however, requires them to declare those fees by the end of 2017 and pay any necessary federal, state and local taxes.

For some hedge fund managers, the amounts declared will probably be in the billions of dollars, accountants say. A spokesman for Mr. Tepper declined to comment on his overseas income. By moving to Florida, Mr. Tepper could avoid paying state income taxes on any such funds.

If hes bringing money back, youre talking about a big possible gain, Mr. Bramnick said. So its a good time to move to Florida.

Mr. Tepper regularly topped state wealth rankings as New Jerseys richest resident. He also has homes in Miami Beach and the Hamptons. In 2012 and 2013, he also topped Alphas list of the highest-earning hedge fund managers, with estimated earnings of $2.2 billion in 2012 and $3.5 billion in 2013. His earnings fell to $400 million in 2014.

Mr. Tepper never publicly announced his move to Florida. But it became public on April 5, when Mr. Haines, citing a Bloomberg report, mentioned Mr. Teppers move in his remarks to the State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. In discussing the move, Mr. Haines said, Even a 1 percent forecasting error in the income tax estimate is worth $140 million.

Mr. Teppers payments may have even been higher. If Mr. Tepper earned $3.5 billion in 2013, his state tax bill could have been over $300 million, according to New Jersey accountants. Granted, his actual payments were probably far lower because of deferred income, charitable deductions and other accounting treatments. Yet Mr. Hainess comments are believed to be the first time a state official has warned of a budget risk because of one residents relocation.

Weve had states mention risks from high-income groups, but never from a single taxpayer, Ms. Rueben of the Tax Policy Center said.

Read more at: //www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/business/one-top-taxpayer-moved-and-new-jersey-shuddered.html?_r=0

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All Sections of People are Disillusioned with Kejriwal Govt.

New Delhi, Thu, 12 May 2016 NI Wire

In Civic Bye Elections BJP will get the Largest Number in Vote Share and our Performance will be the best

New Delhi, 12th May: Today at a Press Conference in the presence of all the Civic Bye-Election candidates Delhi BJP President Shri Satish Upadhyay said that people of Delhi are fed up with the cheap politics of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. BJP leaders Shri Mewa Ram Arya, Shri Rambhaj, Prof. P.K. Chandla, Shri Praveen Shankar Kapoor along with candidates Dr. Mahender Nagpal, Shri Vinod Kumar Binny, Shri Jitender Singh Shunty, Smt. Sudesh Tokas, Shri Anil Sinha, Shri Bhupender Mohan Bhandari, Shri Nitin Sharma, Shri Ashok Sharma, Shri Sunil Bidhuri, Shri Sunil Jindal, Shri Krishna Gehlot, Shri Nitin Tiwari & Shri Ishwar Singh Pradhan were present at the Press Conference.

Shri Upadhyay said that common citizens of Delhi living in unauthorized colonies or Jhuggi Bastis are disillusioned as Kejriwal has taken no steps for either regularization or development. The ad hoc employees like guest teachers, class IV staffs and Safai Karamcharis who had been promised of regularization in employment today feel cheated as Kejriwal has not done anything for them. In fact his Government has written to MCDs to remove all ad hoc employees including Safai Karamcharis. The women and traders who were assured safety & security with an umbrella of CCTVs too feel deceived as nothing has been done. Delhi students who were promised easy admission to schools, colleges along with free wi-fi today stand frustrated with Kejriwal Government.

Shri Upadhyay said that as we have gone to the people for civic bye-poll we have found that there is a wide spread frustration amongst the people as they find that their water bills have been waived only in advertisements and electricity bills have come down only for those using one bulb and one fan connection. After feedback both from the public & media Delhi BJP got conducted an internal survey and on the basis of the results we can say that BJP has regained the confidence of the people of Delhi and in these civic bye elections BJP will get the largest number in vote share and our performance will be the best.

Shri Upadhyay said that a team of our senior leaders is overseeing all election campaign, senior Pradesh Office Bearers are working as Ward Incharge & our BJP workers will ensure that our supporters come out to vote in morning hours keeping in view the present heat wave.
Union Home Minister addresses 4th Ministerial Meeting of SAIEVAC

New Delhi, Thu, 12 May 2016 NI Wire

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The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh addressed the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), here. Chairing the meeting Shri Rajnath Singh said that the safety, security, dignity and wellbeing of our children and young people will determine the wellbeing and strength of our countries. Following is the text of the Union Home Minister's address:

I consider it a privilege to address this august gathering on the occasion of the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children. SAIEVAC is a coalition of States which aims at protection of the rights of children, particularly protection of children from all forms of discrimination, abuse, neglect, exploitation, torture, trafficking; that is any kind of violence. The mandate of SAIEVAC is to safeguard childhood and to positively value children.

Protection of children is necessary for the well-being of any society. Indeed, India is privileged to host this meeting because two key priorities for India are being discussed here  the well-being of children and strengthening of regional co-operation between South Asian countries. Our region is home to the world's largest population of children. This is a matter of pride, and we recognise these daughters and sons of our eight nations for what they are: children are our most precious resource. Not a liability, but a wonderful asset, worthy of our respect, protection, and special attention - worthy of the highest valuation. As Mahatma Gandhi had said;

If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children; and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won't have to struggle; we won't have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which consciously or unconsciously the whole world is hungering.

We need to care for our children, we need to do it with conscious collective efforts and responsibilities. The language of economists may emphasize investments and assets but it is not money and materials alone on which our future stands: it is our people, our children. And it is most critical to safeguard the innocence and security of childhood. From the humblest household to the highest decision-making forum, this is a basic truth.

As we recognise this truth, we can note today with pride that SAARC, acknowledged the importance and value of children 30 years ago, when it placed them on its official summit agenda. This was a historic step. SAIEVAC is a special apex body that SAARC has created. We can also note with pride today that SAIEVAC is our commitment that we have taken a stand against violence - mistreatment and abuse and neglect of our children. We have many milestones to celebrate and many learning to share through SAIEVAC's journey - these milestones and learning's inform the subsequent agenda for us in terms of strengthening the institutional and coordination mechanisms, so that we may drive the SAIEVAC movement into the next decade.

I am very happy to see some children present in this hall today. I welcome their presence and acknowledge the need to listen to them. I understand your presence here today - to remind us of our commitment to the safety of every child in our region. Your presence will guide our concerns, commitments and responsibilities towards you.

No country today can progress without according utmost priority to its children. The safety, security, dignity and well-being of our children and young people will determine the wellbeing and strength of our nations. The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all of us during the UN General Assembly SDG Summit held in September, 2015 has specific targets for the realization of child rights and protecting them from all forms of violence; so it will be the first time that indicators of child protection will be universally monitored. We need to develop a regional strategy that defines clear milestones towards the realization of the SDGs. This is SAIEVAC's opportunity to be path finding leader in this effort, for the benefit of children of the region.

Children are not a homogeneous category and their vulnerabilities change based on social and economic status, gender, disability, geographical location, etc. I believe, this can be said about the region itself. In today's fast moving world, many challenges exist for the children. Despite the economic growth, there is a huge population which still lives in poverty and deprivation. This adversely affects the survival, health and overall development of children.

Trafficking is another major challenge for all of us. With increasing access to information technology and changing nature of our globalised economy; new threats for children are emerging - sex tourism, child pornography, online threats to children among others. At the same time, large number of children are adversely affected due to rapid climate change, disasters and conflict. My colleague, the Hon'ble Minister of Women and Child Development has already outlined the key legal and policy initiatives taken by India for the protection of its children. We are increasingly realizing that we cannot commit ourselves to protecting children without providing an overarching social protection network to them and their families. The biggest challenge is to identify and track children and their families who are vulnerable and reach out to them.

In India, we are trying to ensure a protective environment for children by bringing all citizens, including children under the purview of social security by linking them with AADHAAR  Unique Identification number which will empower them to access their entitlements directly without any hindrance. We have set up a National Portal the Track Child which not only has data on 'missing' children but it also has live database to monitor the progress of the 'found' children who are availing various services in different Child Care Institutions.

We acknowledge that protecting children is every body's responsibility, therefore, we must work in convergence with as many stakeholders as possible including parents, teachers, children and community. We have been able to rescue large number of children and restore them to their families or provide a protected environment to them through a special initiative called Operation Smile - a drive pioneered jointly by Police, Ministry of Women and Child Development, District administration, civil society organisations and community. As has been already mentioned, our Hon'ble Prime Minister has launched a scheme for the protection of the Girl Child under the Ministry of Women and Child Development a year back  Beti Bachao Beti Padhao which aims at prevention of gender-biased sex selection and ensuring survival, protection, education and empowerment of the girl child. It takes multi sectoral approach through convergence and co-ordination and a nation-wide mass campaign to ensure that girls are born, nurtured and educated without discrimination to become empowered citizens of this country. Initially, 100 districts were identified for multi-sectoral intervention. The scheme has been well received and is showing encouraging results ; it has now been expanded to 61 additional districts across 11 States. In the state of Haryana, for example, the Sex Ratio at Birth has shown a quantum jump from 830 a year ago to 907 per 1000 boys (Civil Registration System, March 2016).

While these initiatives are important, there is a great need to create awareness and provide adequate information to parents, children, teachers, caregivers, frontline service providers so that they are able to prevent violence and abuse of children and are able to provide adequate support, counselling and comprehensive rehabilitation in case of any violation. Most importantly, we need to give due respect to the voices of our children and learn to work with them, ensure their active participation in formulation of policies and programmes for them.

To address these challenges comprehensively, within SAARC countries, we can all benefit from reinforcing regional cooperation and strengthening mechanisms for sharing of information, experience, expertise and good practices. We all realise today that cooperation is both an ever-increasing reality and a source of huge promise and potential for fulfillment of child rights. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all of us to work together to improve the condition of our children. SAIEVAC is an affirmation of a regional resolve to achieve safety and protection for children. This platform provides us with an opportunity for cross-country exchange and sharing of knowledge and resources related to child protection through capacity building, advocacy, and research. I take this opportunity to express India's continued commitments towards a strong partnership for the protection of children.

I hope that today's deliberations result into concerted commitment from all of us to ensure that rights of all children in our countries are fulfilled. I extend my best wishes once again to the organisers, delegates and all my colleagues.

Source: PIB

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MP board class 12th result 2016 declared: Check results here

Madhya Pradesh, Thu, 12 May 2016 NI Wire

The MP board class 12th result 2016 has been declared the Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh (MPBSE) Bhopal. The results of all the streams of class 12th including science, commerce and arts have been declared by the board.

Students can check their MP Board HSSC results 2016 by visiting the official website of Madhya Pradesh Board (MPBSE) athttp://mpbse.nic.in/.

Moreover, students can also check their MP board class 12th result 2016 by visiting http://mpresults.nic.in/.

Steps to Check MPBSE Class 12th Results 2016:

Visit the official website http://mpbse.nic.in/

Click on the link MP Board Class 12 Results.

Enter the details in required the provided fields.

Click on submit button.

See Results on the screen and .

Download and print out for future reference.

MP board class 12th result 2016 declared: Check results here

MP Board Class 12th examination was held from March 2016 to April 2016 in which a large number of students appeared from every part of the state and anxiously waiting for their results from that time.

Newstrackindia.com team whishes all the candidates "GOOD LUCK" for their results.
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Members of the Next Generation Communications Community, because of the focus required on the nature of digital traffic, need to be aware of a myriad of activities in non-infrastructure areas have impact. For this reason, the recent announcement from Opera regarding the availability of the free Opera VPN app is noteworthy. The app allows iPhone (News - Alert) and iPad users to circumvent site-blocking mechanisms typically setup by schools and businesses. It also offers some degree of privacy protection as it deletes tracking cookies used for advertising purposes.





The arrival of the Opera VPN app for Apple (News - Alert) devices follows news of a similar tool for PCs. Less than one month ago, Opera added free VPN capability to its browser. As far as enabling the feature goes, its about as easy as it gets. All a user has to do is click on a VPN link in the menu and flip a switch control using a mouse to turn VPN on or off.

With the app, users can:

Hide their IP address

Access previously restricted sites

Have public WiFi (News - Alert) encryption

Perhaps the most significant benefit of this app, whether used on Apple mobile devices or a PC, is that it is free. Thats likely to take a bite out of the market pie for companies that offer VPN and proxy service for a fee.

One discussion that the new app is likely to promote is the matter of censorship. Statista has compiled a list of countries ranked by percentage of total Internet users using VPNs or proxy networks. Seven of the top twelve countries on that list are from Asia; Hong Kong was treated separately from mainland China for the purposes of compiling the list.

China has long been known for its ban on Facebook (News - Alert) and other social media sites, but it isnt the only one. Many other countries in the region impose restrictions of one sort or another on social media. The fact that many of these countries appear in the aforementioned Statista list suggests strongly that citizens there bypass government censorship on a regular basis.

Another discussion likely to be raised is the matter of businesses and campuses blocking access to certain sites. The businesses will argue that the sites drain network resources, reduce productivity, and occasionally provide a conduit for leaking trade secrets. School campuses have similar concerns about network resource consumption and bullying. The most common argument against both businesses and schools blocking sites is that it eliminates collaboration that can be both productive and educational.

The reality is that these are moot arguments, because as the data shows, even those who live under fairly oppressive governments will find ways around website blocking. Thanks to Opera, they now have a couple of more ways to accomplish that.

This is just part of an expanding challenge that goes to the heart of the future of the Internet regarding what can, should or must be blocked by whom and for what purpose. Billions of dollars are at stake since much of the content we all use and expect will be free is based on advertising getting through to us. Site blocking is something the industry has in its sights as a major challenge going forward with serious financial, technical and political issues waiting to be addressed.

Edited by Peter Bernstein
Since 1996 Professor Professor Qian has served on the expert committee for the National High-tech Research and Development Program (the 863 program). Currently, he is the chief scientist of the 863 key project on high productivity computer and application service environment.

Professor Qian acknowledged that despite export restrictions on processor and software technology imposed by the US, work continues on two 100 petaflops (peak) systems: the next iteration of Tianhe-2, installed at the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, and the upcoming Sunway system coming to the Jiangnan Institute of Computer Technology in Wuxi, China, near Shanghai. The official line is that these systems will be ready by the end of the year, but there have been rumblings that one or both of these systems will be introduced during the ISC16 event in June.

The second 100 petaflops system (Sunway) will use the next-generation Chinese-made ShenWei chips and will be implemented together with a general purpose cluster system of 1 petaflops performance. This configuration is designed to meet a wide variety of application requirements.

Professor Qian provided an overview of Chinas main weaknesses, the most significant being a gap in kernel technologies and the lack of a suitable accelerator for the Tienhe-2 upgrade on account of the US embargo. Currently there is no available accelerator to upgrade the system and its a major issue from the point of view of the Chinese government, he said. We had to change our plan and rely on our own processors. We are in urgent need for the system software, for the domestic processor, for the tool software and also the application software. Without an ecosystem around the domestic processors, we will not succeed in this respect.

At the ISC high performance conference, there will be a talk The New Sunway Supercomputer System at Wuxi on Tuesday, June 21, 2016

13th Five-Year Plan Targets Exascale

After updating the continued supercomputing progress being made under the 12th five-year plan, Qian walked through brand-new elements of Chinas 13th five-year plan, which puts into motion one of the most ambitious exascale programs in the world. If successful the program will stand up an exaflops (peak) supercomputer by the end of 2020 within a 35 MW power limit.

China is in the midst of overhauling its national research system and restructuring 100 programs into five tracks: Basic research program; mega-research program; key research and development program; enterprise-oriented research program; research centers and talents program.

The new track that is being focused on in the session is the third one  the key research and development program. A proposal for the track-3 key project on HPC was submitted in September 2015 and launched on February 2016.

The primary pillars for the key project are developing exascale computers, promoting computer industry by technology transfer and a China-controlled HPC technology set. The major tasks are next-generation supercomputing development, CNGrid upgrading and transformation, and domain HPC applications development. A robust supercomputing program is seen as a critical for addressing grand challenge problems spanning the environment, energy, climate, medicine, industry and science.



According to Professor Qian, the number one priority task is the development of an exascale supercomputer, based on a multi-objective optimized architecture that balances performance, energy consumption programmability, reliability and cost.

To achieve this goal [exaFLOP supercomputer], China is funding research into novel high performance interconnects with 3-D chip packaging, silicon photonics and on-chip networks. Programming models for heterogeneous computers will emphasize ease in writing programs and exploitation of performance of the heterogeneous architectures.

The program includes the development of prototype systems for verification of the exascale computer technologies. The computer scientists will explore possible exascale computer architectures, interconnects which can support more than 10,000 nodes, and energy efficiency technologies, as power demand is known to be one of the biggest obstacles toward exascale.

The exascale prototype will be about 512 nodes, offering 5-10 teraflops-per-node, 10-20 Gflops per watt, point to point bandwidth greater than 200 Gbps. MPI latency should be less than 1.5 us, said Qian.

SOURCE- HPCWire, ISC
Rival firms Editas Medicine, Intellia Therapeutics, and CRISPR Therapeutics are all pioneering gene editing. They use CRISPR-Cas9 that holds the promise of curing thousands of genetic diseases by cutting out and revising, removing, or repairing DNA, the building block of life.

Editas, cofounded by Harvard geneticist George Church, has set its sights initially on a rare eye disease called Leber congenital amaurosis, partly because scientists have identified the genetic defect but also because the eye is relatively easy to reach for a gene-editing procedure.

Intellia, which raised $108 million in its own IPO earlier this month, is developing treatments for cancer and liver disease.

CRISPR Therapeutics is targeting the blood disorders sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

More than $1 billion in venture capital financing has been plowed into gene-editing companies over the past two years, according to the Boston Consulting Group.

Larger biopharma companies also have been making big bets on the field. Bostons Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer AG of Germany have forged partnerships with CRISPR Therapeutics. Editas has an alliance with Juno Therapeutics Inc. of Seattle, while Intellia is collaborating with the Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, which bases its global research operation in Cambridge, and biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Tarrytown, New York.

Other companies, ranging from Sangamo BioSciences Inc. of Richmond, California, to Frances Cellectis, are working on different types of gene editing. But within the research field, CRISPR-Cas9 is considered the superior method and is being widely adopted worldwide.

Editas Medicine is translating CRISPR/Cas9 and TALENs technologies into a novel class of human therapeutics that enable precise and corrective molecular modification to treat disease at the genetic level.

CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) and TALENs (transcription activator-like effector nucleases) comprise novel gene editing methods that overcome the challenges associated with previous technologies. Early published research on CRISPR/Cas9, coupled with a growing body of work on TALENs, suggests the potential to pursue therapeutic indications that have previously been intractable to traditional gene therapy, gene knock-down or other genome modification techniques. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, the most recent and exciting approach to emerge, acts by a mechanism in which the Cas9 protein binds to specific RNA molecules. The RNA molecules then guide the Cas9 complex to the exact location in the genome that requires repair. Similarly, TALENs are proteins that can be custom programmed to bind essentially any DNA sequence of interest and to direct gene modification activities to specific targets in the genome. CRISPR/Cas9 and TALENs uniquely enable highly efficient knock-out, knock-down or selective editing of defective genes in the context of their natural promoters, unlocking the ability to treat the root cause of a broad range of diseases.

Editas has a 29 page corporate presentation from April 2016.

SOURCES  Boston Globe, Editas Medicine
In April 2015, the US government refused to let Intel help China update the worlds biggest supercomputer. The Tianhe-2 used 80,000 Intel Xeon chips to generate a computational capacity of more than 33 petaflops. In 2015, the Chinese machine was due to undergo a series of upgrades to boost its number-crunching abilities past 110 petaflops. The upgrades would depend largely on new Intel Xeon chips.

Several Chinese supercomputer sites were expected to order some 250+ PFLOPS of compute in the next few years (around 500,000 top-end Broadwell-EP Xeon E5v4 processors, or approximately $1 billion high margin list price).

Next month (June 2016) China will reveal an upgraded 100+ petaFLOP Tianhe-2. The US ban on Intel Xeon chips delayed Chinas supercomputer upgrade by about 8 months.

In April 2016, Intel announced the layoff of 12,000 employees.

Intel had been leaning on PCs for years, watching ruefully as smartphones, tablets and other new technologies sprang up  all without Intel chips. Intel declared its letting go of the past in PCs in hopes of a brighter future in data centers, wearable computers and other emerging gadgets.

However, normally Intel would try to transition without laying off staff. 12,000 people is pretty close to what would be expected from having $1 billion less revenue per year.

Intel did not get $1 billion in likely annual ongoing supercomputer chip sales and now has two strong supercomputer chip competitors in China. China has one supercomputer ARM chip company and another Alpha chip company.

There is open source version of the ARM chip.

British company ARM Holdings develops the architecture and licenses it to other companies, who design their own products that implement one of those architecturesincluding systems-on-chips (SoC) that incorporate memory, interfaces, radios, etc. It also designs cores that implement this instruction set and licenses these designs to a number of companies that incorporate those core designs into their own products.

SOURCES  Wikipedia, VRWorld
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Morocco and China have drawn a roadmap to enhance their relations and strengthen their decades-long ties through the strategic partnership sealed on Wednesday during the official visit King Mohammed VI is paying to China.

The joint statement setting up this strategic partnership, which was signed by King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping, translates the two States determination, despite the long geographic distance separating them, to set up a mutually beneficial cooperation model that will have a positive impact on the two countries but also on their respective partners.

Many analysts have described the signing of the Strategic Partnership Declaration as an important turning point in the relationship between Morocco and China and a token of the special ties biding the two countries, as China has so far signed similar strategic partnership accords with only thirty countries worldwide.

For many analysts, these special ties are quite natural, since China has become a world economic power and Morocco is consolidating its standing as a regional player, in the Maghreb, in the Arab World, and in Africa.

So, Morocco, thanks to its outstanding geographical and strategic position, can be for the Empire of the Middle a bridge towards Africa, Europe and Arab countries, especially so that Peking is granting an increasing interest to Africa and knows that Morocco can be a valuable partner in conquering the African market.

Besides, the two countries share similar values regarding the preservation of world peace, stability, and security and have the same concerns to defend their national unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Under the joint statement establishing the strategic partnership, the two sides reaffirmed the principle of respecting all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity, and vowed to support all sides efforts to maintain peace and stability of the regions they belong to.

They also called for peaceful solutions to international and regional crises and disputes; expressed opposition to interference in others internal affairs, to the use of force or threat by force; and condemned terrorism under all its forms.

Therefore, reaching out to China is not a fortuitous decision. It illustrates Moroccos new strategic and foreign policy vision, spearheaded by King Mohammed VI.

Just few weeks after it reached out to Russia and the Gulf countries, Morocco now looks forward to developing relations with China.

Though it remains committed to its strategic relations with its allies, Morocco has, in recent months, sought to diversify its partnerships at political, strategic and economic levels, said king Mohammed VI in the speech he delivered during the first Morocco-GCC summit held in Riyadh on April 20.

So, the kings visit to China, the second after that of 2002, is seen as a strong illustration of the North African countrys resolve to diversify its partnerships and to open new cooperation prospects with friendly States.

As evidence to this resolve to consolidate bilateral relations, boost trade exchanges and encourage Chinese nationals to visit Morocco, King Mohammed VI announced during his talks with President Xi Jinping his decision to give a visa waiver for Chinese nationals as of June 2016.

Talks between the two leaders also focused on ways to foster bilateral partnership through many joint innovative investment projects, aimed at achieving concrete results and enhanced sustainability.

In this vein, the two sides signed fifteen agreements and MoUs covering cooperation in the judicial; economic; financial; industrial; and energy sectors. The accords also cover cooperation in the areas of infrastructure; tourism; culture; science, technology and defense industry; and food security.

The central banks of China and Morocco on the other hand signed a three-year currency swap deal worth $1.53 billion (10 billion yuan.) The deal will facilitate bilateral trade and investments.

These agreements, primarily those dealing with economic and industrial partnership, are meant to boost cooperation between the two countries in sectors with strong potential for job creation and added value, such as automotive; textiles and clothing; household appliances; aviation and logistics; and other areas of common interest.

Some thirty Chinese companies are established in Morocco and operate in the sectors of fisheries, plastic processing, motorcycles assembling, minerals and renewable energies. Their workforce is made up of nearly 1,100 Chinese nationals and 3,000 Moroccans.

It is well anticipated that the newly signed accords will encourage more Chinese companies to install in Morocco and to promote cooperation between Chinese and Moroccan firms and businesspersons.
The Algerian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday National forces killed seven terrorists among whom three notorious jihadists in Bouira region.

The ministry statement said that the seven terrorists were killed in a combing operation near the little town of Lakhdaria, in Bouira region.

Three notorious terrorists were among the seven extremists, namely M.Ammar, R.Ali [who respectively joined terrorist movements in 1993 and 2001] and Z.Lamine known by authorities as criminal, the ministry claimed.

The identification of three other bodies is underway, the ministry further said.

The armed forces also seized an important arsenal made of several weapons including 4 Kalashnikovs

Algerian authorities have put army on the alert as terrorist threats against the country are becoming alarming due to pressing menace of IS in Libya. Several terrorists were also reported killed last week in several army operations.
Libyas Prime Minister-designate backed by the United Nations Wednesday in Tunis discussed anti-terrorism and economic partnership with Tunisian leaders, as the unity government is trying to neutralize IS militants and restore economic activities between the two countries.

The meeting is the second this month between Libyan high authorities and Tunisian authorities after Tunisian Prime Minister Essid visited Faiez Serraj early this month in Tripoli in an unannounced visit.

The anti-terrorist struggle was at the top of the subjects raised, as well as our aim to establish an economic partnership, Sarraj said after meeting Tunisian President Caid Essebsi.

He also told reporters they discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership between Tunisia and Libya and step up bilateral co-ordination in the fight against terrorism.

Tunisia has been opposed to foreign military intervention in Libya aiming at flashing out IS militants who have set up their new base in the North African country.

Tunisia is willing to support Libya in line with the needs of the Council of the Presidency of the Government of National Accord, President Essebsis office said in a statement.

Talks also covered economic issues. Libyan authorities have banned cross-border trade between the two countries, therefore sparking anger of populations of Ben Guerdane, a Tunisian town near the Libyan border.

Libyan border officials told reporters they halted all freight traffic since the end of April through the Ras Jedir crossing in a bid to stop the smuggling of fuel, which is much cheaper across the border.

The inhabitants of the border town on Wednesday staged a strike, setting tires on fire to protest the closure decision.

Libyan authorities also want flights from Libya to Tunis international airport to resume after Tunisian authorities following November Tunis attacks which killed 12 members of presidential guard, banned all flights to and from Libya to Tunis on the suspicion that IS militants were planning attacks on the airport.
Whats a hyperpartisan to do when the party goes horribly wrong? Photo: William B. Plowman/NBC/

Anyone whos spent much time reading the Washington Posts designated conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin, or dealt with her (as I have) in media appearances, knows her as one of the most intensely partisan writers of an intensely partisan era. Her devotion to Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential cycle was legendary. But shes also a person of fixed ideological perspectives (fiercely hawkish on national security, conventionally conservative on economic and fiscal policy, largely indifferent to cultural issues), which, luckily for her, have mostly coincided with the dominant elite GOP views of recent years. Unluckily for her, those views have now been overthrown by Donald J. Trump.

Rubin spent a goodly part of the pre-primary and early-primary period mentally auditioning various candidates to stop Trump. She was self-disciplined enough to quickly throw over her one-time favorite, Marco Rubio, for Ted Cruz (not a favorite) when it became clear only Cruz had a chance to take down the Donald. Shes been as scathing about Trump himself as anyone you can name. So its been interesting to anticipate how she will deal with the nightmarish prospect of her beloved party falling into evil hands.

Today, she devoted a post to spitting contempt at the formerly anti-Trump pols who are now crawling back into the contaminated party tent. She saved some special venom for Marco Rubio, who struggled to rationalize his support for Trump in an interview with Jake Tapper:

Well, Rubio doesnt want Clinton to be president. Besides, he signed a pledge. Tapper was a bit incredulous, reminding Rubio that he had concerns about the nuclear codes being in the hands of an erratic conman. Rubio lamely replied, Heres what Im not going to do over the next six months. Im not going to sit there and be taking shots at him. So instead he will sit through excruciating sessions like that?

Clearly, Rubin wont, as her headline put it, defend Trump for the next six months. But what will she do instead? Spend the next six months hissing at both major-party candidates? Barring the increasingly unlikely third-party conservative candidate, the options arent good for someone like her. Shes horrified by libertarian foreign policy, and is even less likely to fall in with the Christian Nationalists of the Constitution Party. I guess she could develop an interest in some policy topics, or dig into down-ballot races, though its unclear her readership is interested in a political blogger who doesnt cover the presidential race. A six-month sabbatical would work, I suppose.

But if she sticks around I worry for Rubins mental health. She must feel a bit like a devoutly religious person who is suddenly presented with convincing evidence there is no God  or at least that God has taken four years off.

Maybe, at the last minute this autumn, shell be so enraged by Hillary Clinton and so fired up by all the old partisan hymns that she will return to the Republican Faith, like an atheist in a foxhole. If so, shell have that many more words to eat than Marco Rubio.
The ones that got away. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Last August, Joe Biden asked Elizabeth Warren to lunch. The confab between the sitting vice-president and the freshman big-bank eviscerator from Massachusetts became the political story during that sleepy summer week  and the event proved to be roughly as overhyped as Star Wars: Episode I - Phantom Menace. The pair did not emerge from the vice-presidents residence to shout in unison, We are Joelizabeth, destroyer of Clintons. Instead, Biden decided to quietly serve out his term as the Onions best character, while Warren continued to generate the banking committees most viral videos.

But now, some nine months later, juicy details from that meeting have finally been leaked: According to Politico, Biden told Warren that he wanted her to be his running mate. Warren was, reportedly, noncommittal but not displeased. However, Warren gave Uncle Joe some of her signature straight talk, telling the former senator from Delaware  a.k.a. the Cayman Islands of the mid-Atlantic  that he was kind of an odd choice to be the progressive alternative to Hillary Clinton. Per Politico:

Warren conceded  prophetically in retrospect  that Clinton would face a progressive backlash but she informed Biden that his record on Wall Street was little better than that of the woman he hoped to topple as front-runner. As a senator, Biden, like Clinton, had supported a 2001 bankruptcy bill that Warren vehemently opposed; her advice to Biden was that, to appeal to the left, he would need to start talking right away about Wall Street reform.





You care so much about struggling American workers, @realDonaldTrump, that you want to abolish the federal minimum wage?  Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) May 11, 2016

You feel so much for people with college debt, @realDonaldTrump, that you raked in millions scamming students with Trump University?  Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) May 11, 2016

You're so concerned about Wall Street, @realDonaldTrump, that you say youd absolutely repeal Dodd-Frank?  Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) May 11, 2016

That same day, Warren did not rule out accepting an offer to become Clintons running mate in an interview with Mic, telling the site, Weve got to get all of our nominations settled on the Democratic side  For me, Im going to keep doing my job every single day and Im not thinking about another job.

But while Clinton certainly could have used Warrens endorsement this primary season, its not clear that the presumptive Democratic nominee feels she needs to throw the left any more bones going forward. Its true that recent polling suggests there are a good number of left-leaning independents who cant bring themselves to say theyll vote Clinton in November. But Trumps nomination offers the former secretary of State the possibility of picking off some Republican suburbanites; the candidate may decide that the left will eventually come home, so shed be better off picking a putative moderate like Virginia senator Tim Kaine.

And its not clear that Warren could do more for progressives on the ticket than she currently does on the banking committee. The former law professor is a highly effective senator, whose national profile and donor network allow her to exert a rare independence from her partys big-money wing. Its entirely possible that the titans of Wall Street would prefer to see Warren leading the ceremonial applause during President Clintons State of the Unions than to have her pushing for profit-narrowing regulations in the upper chamber.
Its legal to park in front of a ramp like the one seen above, but it seems many NYPD officers didnt know the rule. Photo: Google

Drivers in New York City might not have noticed when, in 2009, an obscure parking rule was changed, allowing cars to park in front of pedestrian ramps if theyre not connected to crosswalks. But after getting tickets for parking in such spots on his Brooklyn block (and subsequently getting them dismissed), I Quant NY writer Ben Wellington decided to dig into NYPD data to see how often such violations were issued, figuring he couldnt be the only one who had to keep going through the process of fighting the tickets. It turns out he was not: Cops had issued thousands of tickets for this specific violation worth more than $1 million in the past two and a half years  even though, Wellington found, most of the cars in question were actually parked legally.

New York Citys Open Data portal includes detailed information about parking tickets, and Wellington was first able to find the spot where the most tickets for this violation had been issued: a space in Brooklyn where $48,000 worth of tickets had been written over the past two and a half years. But a check of Google Maps showed that the space in question indeed looked totally legal. He continued down the list: The second-most-ticketed spot appeared to be a legal parking space as well, and so did the third, and the fourth. At random, he picked 30 more spots with at least five tickets, and they all appeared legal, too.

Wellington found that 1,966 spots had received at least five pedestrian-ramp tickets over the past two and a half years, generating about $1.7 million dollars a year at what he says are mostly legal parking spots. Wrote Wellington: Are all 1966 spots legal? Surely not, but the majority sure are and many more that have fewer than five tickets are likely legal too.

Wellingtons story has an encouraging ending: Armed with his findings from the departments own data set, he reached out to the NYPD and was told that, yep, officers had been screwing up. It appears to be a misunderstanding by officers on patrol of a recent, abstruse change in the parking rules, read part of the quote he was sent a couple of weeks later by the NYPD. We appreciate Mr. Wellington bringing this anomaly to our attention. The quote went on to explain that when the rule changed, the department focused on training traffic agents about it, but the majority of the tickets in question were written by police officers. And so, as a result of Wellingtons letter, the NYPD reached out to the commanders of the precincts with the highest numbers of summonses, and informed them of the issues within their command so further tickets wouldnt be issued.

Wrote Wellington of that response: I was speechless. THIS is what the future of government could look like one day. THIS is what Open Data is all about.
Dean Skelos arriving at court for his sentencing earlier today. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A little more than a week after powerful former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison, his one-time State Senate counterpart learned today that hell be doing time, as well. Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison today, and also was also fined $500,000. Skelos and his son, Adam, were found guilty in December on eight federal counts of bribery, extortion, and conspiracy. Judge Kimba Wood also sentenced Adam Skelos to six and a half years in jail, and imposed a $334,120 forfeiture to be paid jointly by Dean and Adam.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that the Skeloses pressured three companies  a developer, an environmental technology company, and a malpractice insurer  into giving Adam hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments and benefits in return for political favors from Dean. In all, theyd sought extortion payments of $760,120, and obtained more than $334,000. Dean Skelos lost his Senate seat immediately upon his conviction.

During todays sentencing, Dean Skelos said that I am deeply remorseful. It has destroyed my reputation. He said that he tried to be a good father but Somewhere my judgment became clouded  I let things go off the rails. Added the former State Senate leader: For that I apologize to Adam. At one point, Skelos also apologized to his Greek-American family:

Dean #Skelos apologizes to family, sez: "In fact I love watching my big fat greek wedding bc that's the way we've conducted ourselves."  Victoria Bekiempis (@vicbekiempis) May 12, 2016

Judge Wood said that Adam Skeloss bullying and threats required a sentence that deters him from such behavior in the future. She ordered him to participate in a mental-health program in prison, and also recommended alcohol and drug treatment.

Like Silver, Dean Skelos had been one of the most powerful men in the state government. And like Silver, he was brought down by U.S. Attorney Preet Bhararas campaign against public corruption. Federal prosecutors had been seeking a sentence of 12 to 15 years for Dean, and had also pushed for a fine of more than $350,000.

After Dean Skeloss sentence was announced, Bharara released a statement that read in part:

In the span of just 16 months, we have seen the arrest, prosecution, conviction, and sentencing of both leaders of the New York State legislature. The nearly simultaneous convictions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, whose corruption crimes were laid bare during fair and public trials, have no precedent. And while Silver and Skelos deserve their prison sentences, the people of New York deserve better.

In his statement, Bharara also vowed to continue exposing corruption in the state, and made a not-so-veiled reference the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, which Governor Cuomo controversially shut down in 2014: These cases show  and history teaches  that the most effective corruption investigations are those that are truly independent and not in danger of either interference or premature shutdown. That will continue to be our guiding principle in exposing and punishing corruption throughout New York.
Zimmerman in court. Photo: Pool/2012 Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to Fresh Intelligence, our roundup of the stories, ideas, and memes youll be talking about today. In this edition, George Zimmerman will auction off the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin, Trump has his eyes on Newt Gingrich, and Instagram gets a new logo. Heres the rundown for Thursday, May 12.

WEATHER

Clear skies and cool, mild temperatures across the two coasts today belie the storms raging around the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. New York will be especially nice with sun and temperatures in the low 70s. [USA Today]

FRONT

George Zimmerman Will Auction Off the Gun He Used to Kill Trayvon Martin

George Zimmerman really doesnt care what you think of him. In an interview last night, the shooter of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin said that he will auction off the gun with which he  again  shot and killed an unarmed child, and he will use the proceeds to fight Black Lives Matter violence against Law Enforcement officers and, of course, Hillary Clinton. In the auction listing, Zimmerman referred to the gun as a piece of American history, railed against the president, whom he called B. Hussein Obama, and reminded the audience that he was a free American.

EARLY AND OFTEN

Sanders Campaign Weathers California Shake-up

Bernie Sanders replaced the director of his campaign in California less than a month before the make-or-break primaries there. Sanders replaced Michael Ceraso, who was pushing for digital advertising and grassroots campaigning, with veteran campaign director Robert Becker, who reportedly favors traditional television advertisements. [NYT]

Trump Says Muslim Ban Just a Suggestion  an Ugly, Hateful Suggestion

Speaking on Fox News yesterday, Donald Trump seemed to backpedal on his call for a wholesale ban on Muslims from entering the country, saying it was just a suggestion until we find out whats going on. The Muslim ban has been one of the most divisive policy ideas of Trumps campaign  in fact, it has been one of his only concrete policy ideas. [Politico]

Democratic Smugness Misplaced

Hell never be president, they said. Clinton will win in a landslide, they said. Well, they might want to check out the latest Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released yesterday, which found that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are neck-and-neck in the race for the White House. Trump responded to the poll by saying he was very happy to see these numbers. [Reuters]

Trump Mulls Historic Two-Bobblehead Ticket

Sources have confirmed to Bloomberg Businessweek that Donald Trump is considering Newt Gingrich as his running mate. The moon-obsessed government-shutdown pioneer and prolific Amazon reviewer will be familiar to fans of 90s political cartoons. When asked for comment, Gingrich gushed: I wouldnt turn it down automatically. [Bloomberg]

THE STREET, THE VALLEY

California Lyft Drivers Settle for $27 Million

The courts are compelling ride-sharing company Lyft to more than double the award California drivers won in a class-action lawsuit. Instead of $12.25 million the company must shell out $27 million, which is still only a fraction of the $156 million drivers would have saved on things like gas, car maintenance, and benefits if theyd been classified as employees in the first place. [Reuters]

Instagram Gets a New Logo

The internet, to borrow the words of the New York Times, is freaking out over Instagrams new icon. The company eschewed its old picture of a camera for a new picture of a camera, now with a rainbow in the background. How dare they. [NYT]

Well That Didnt Last Long: Oil Prices Falling Again

A recent rise in oil prices  blamed on massive fires in Canada, the appointment of a new energy official in Saudi Arabia, and a fall in U.S. inventories  is already being reversed as Canadian oil production comes back on line. [Reuters]

Probe Exonerates Volkswagen Execs, Too Bad They Already Quit

An ongoing internal probe at Volkswagen by law firm Jones Day found that both the companys former executives and current leadership are blameless in the recent emissions scandal. The firm said the half-million cars that were illegally modified to misrepresent their emissions are the fault of a single rogue engineer. [CNN]



MEDIA BUBBLE

Apples Music-Selling Service to Continue Selling Music

Apple has responded to reports that it will stop selling music in the next few years by saying, basically, nope. To recap: Apple will continue to sell music downloads. That settles that. [Re/code]

Television Ruined

Morley Safer, the longest-serving 60 Minutes correspondent and beloved voice of dinner time at our moms house, will retire by the end of the week. Safer, who has been at CBS for more than 50 years, will be honored with an hour-long special on the network this Sunday. Time to stock up on tissues.

Ripple? More Like Rip-off

It turns out local-news services didnt appreciate news startup Ripple copying their stories and posting them on its site without crediting the reporters  a practice that was all the more galling following news that the company managed to raise $4 million from interested parties in the tech industry. Ripple CEO Razmig Hovaghimian has since apologized, saying the stories were published because of a computer error. [Re/code]

PHOTO OP

Wave of the Future

This big blur might just be the future of transportation. The first test of the hyperloop went off without a hitch yesterday, sending a sled down a track at 100 miles per hour, which is one-third of the hoped-for speed of the completed hyperloop system. All told, hyperloop could transport people from San Francisco to L.A. in just 30 minutes.

Hyperloop One succeeds at first of many much-hyped tests https://t.co/2hPW0TCACs pic.twitter.com/fyYE8uGiK5  Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 11, 2016

MEME OF THE DAY

Another Job Well Done, Internet

We didnt really understand all the upset surrounding Instagrams new icon until we saw this tweet.

How the new Instagram icon was made. pic.twitter.com/GnivZv81pW  Oliur (@UltraLinx) May 11, 2016

OTHER LOCAL NEWS

Food Rats Still Trending

Warning: This link contains an extremely gross picture of a mouse pickled in Dr. Pepper. John Graves of Katy, Texas, shared a bit of Dr. Pepper with his 3-year-old grandson before putting the bottle back in the fridge; it was only the next day that he spotted the dead rat floating in it. Unfortunately, the pair had already enjoyed more than half the soda before noticing the bloated rodent. [Mashable]

Goose Lassie!

Cincinnati police sergeant James Givens was taken aback when an adult goose knocked on his cruisers door with her beak. He was even more surprised when he followed the distressed goose and found a baby goose tangled in the string of a Mothers Day balloon. The police were able to untangle the little feather ball, and goose and gosling went about their goosey day. [CBS]

HAPPENING TODAY

White House to Regulate Methane

The Environmental Protection Agency will announce first-of-their-kind regulations on methane today. The new measures will compel oil and gas companies to look for methane leaks, and if they find them, plug them. That sounds reasonable. [Bloomberg]

Ryan to Meet Trump in His Natural Environment: An Awkward Meeting

Resolution could be in sight in the fraught relationship between Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan. The two are meeting today so Trump can try to convince Ryan to endorse him and Ryan can look for proof of Trumps conservative credentials. [CNBC]

Online Auction Pioneers to Merge

Paddle8 and Auctionata, the two online auction houses that independently tried to shake up the art-selling model, are joining forces and will announce a merger today. Taken together the two sold works with a total value of $140 million last year. [NYT]
Photo: Al Drago/CQ-Roll Call

Outside the Republican National Committee headquarters Thursday morning, protesters held signs and played bagpipes, while camera crews trained their lenses on idling black cars waiting to shuttle the partys future nominee to and from a meeting with the Speaker of the House and other party higher-ups. For the past week, reporters  myself included  had chased every GOP lawmaker they saw, no matter how inconsequential, down hallways with their recording devices, asking for comments about the intra-party summit. On MSNBC, there was a countdown clock ahead of the meeting, and Morning Joe used a bumper clip from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in which frenzied spectators chant Two men enter, one man leaves! By this morning, the mood on Capitol Hill was something like what one would expect in the audience ahead of a WWE Smackdown main event.

But when House Speaker Paul Ryan stepped to a podium in the basement of the Capitol to give reporters what theyd been waiting for, the message was boilerplate and  the medias frenzied hopes aside  predictable: I think it was a very encouraging meeting, he said. I do believe that we are planting the seeds to get unified. Ryan wasnt quite ready to offer an endorsement  the whole buildup had started a week earlier when he told CNN that he wasnt ready to get behind Trump  but said it was a strong beginning to a process of bringing conservative factions together to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall. In other words, the drama is mostly over for now, and perhaps for a long time: Ryan and nearly all of his Republican colleagues in Congress will likely eventually endorse the billionaire populist.

There was a great deal of excitement on the Hill around todays meeting. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

In the broader arc of the campaign, today will probably stand as the formal beginning of the process of Ryan and his fellow Republicans on the Hill publicly warming up to Trump. The lawmakers I spoke to this week used that word a lot, and many already seem to have completed their personal processes. Weve felt from the beginning that people ought to just chill and let things evolve, Tennessee senator Bob Corker told me, peering over the tortoiseshell reading glasses that are always perilously perched on the end of his nose, as he waited for the underground subway that shuttles senators to and from votes. I think they realize hes going to be the nominee. Ive seen a big adjustment in what yall have been quoting.

Corkers right. Look at the stories coming out of the Hill the last few days, and youll notice that, although the headlines say lawmakers are horrified about their new nominee, the actual quotes about Trump are starting to sound more positive. Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, got out ahead of most of his colleagues last week in offering to advise Trump on his foreign-policy platform, sparking rumors that hes positioning himself to be Trumps secretary of State.

Trump arrives. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

What Corker almost certainly realizes  like many of his colleagues  is that getting behind Trump is the least risky and most expedient thing a Republican lawmaker can do at this point. Unless theyre representing a swing state in the Senate (there are very few House swing districts anymore, thanks to gerrymandering), it just doesnt make sense to go against the guy 40 percent of Republican primary voters chose to be their nominee. Most of us already have been saying all along  as I have  that were going to get behind him now that hes the presumptive nominee, although we still have some questions, Representative John Fleming, a Louisiana congressman and member of the Freedom Caucus, told me after a meeting of House Republicans Wednesday morning. Fleming said his colleagues have to go through the same process Im going through, of making sure he and Trump are on the same page politically, but he sounded sanguine about his colleagues eventually coming around. Even people who are very unhappy with him say that even on his worst day hes ten times better than Hillary Clinton. So you could be simply anti-Clinton and youre automatically gonna be pro-Trump as a result of that. Its a process where we all have to be comfortable with someone who a few weeks ago we had no idea was going to be our nominee.

Pretty much accurate. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

After talking to Fleming, I ran into Representative Raul Labrador, a Puerto Ricanborn lawmaker who represents a rural-conservative district in Idaho and is another Freedom Caucus member known for his willingness to speak candidly about politics. Im supporting the nominee of my party. Im not enthusiastic about it, he says, but he can get us enthusiastic if he comes and talks to us. He needs House conservatives in particular to rally around him because these are the people who are going to go to the districts he needs to win overwhelmingly so he can win.

Labrador was not a fan of Ryans decision last week to speak out against the nominee. Personally, I thought it was a mistake, he says. I think he needs to figure out a way to bring the party together  Its both of their responsibility  Trump needs to grow up, and Ryan needs to figure out a way to bring the party together. Its ridiculous  some of the statements that Trump makes are absolutely childish and ridiculous  and I know its hard to tell a 69-year-old man to grow up, but he needs to figure out a way to win without being childish. At this point, Labrador sounds like hes just thinking aloud. But as hes talking, a bunch of reporters crowd around him, shining a bright TV light in his face. Some of it is funny, he says. And some of it is fine. But at some point hes got to really figure out how hes going to start becoming presidential. And then I think he will get a lot of people behind him.
Unifier. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

One week after Paul Ryan said he wasnt ready to support his partys presumptive nominee  while the Donald declared his resistance to Paul Ryans agenda  the two leaders emerged from their much-hyped Thursday meeting with a sunny joint statement in tow.

JUST IN: Speaker Ryan, Trump release joint statement on meeting: "It was a very positive step toward unification." pic.twitter.com/VbdO5HDQwt  NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) May 12, 2016

While the two recognized their differences on things like trade policy and the propriety of menstruation jokes, they found common cause in their opposition to Crooked Hillary, and deemed the meeting a very positive step towards unification.

I think that we had a very encouraging meeting, Ryan told reporters at a post-confab press conference. Its no secret that Donald Trump and I have our differences. The question is: What is it that we need to do to unify the Republican Party?

Ryan emphasized that the GOPs presidential nominee and its House Speaker need not agree on every area of policy, but that agreement on core principles is a prerequisite for party unity. On that count, Ryan said that Trump voiced a heartening commitment to the Constitution, outlawing abortion, and the separation of powers. Ryan repeated that final point multiple times in his remarks, suggesting that Trumps authoritarian bent was, appropriately, one of the Speakers central concerns. Still, Ryan conspicuously withheld his endorsement while indicating that he and Trump would meet again in the future, to explore how their shared principles should shape the GOPs policy agenda.

Its very important that we dont pretend unification, but that we truly and actually unify, Ryan said.

Trump had offered Ryan several olive branches or, at least, olive twigs in the lead-up to Thursdays meeting. On Monday, Trump said hed always liked the congressman and disavowed Sarah Palins proposal that Speaker RINO be primaried. On Wednesday, Team Trump announced that two supply-side quacks in good standing were revising the nominees tax plan so that it would explode the deficit in a more responsible, mainstream manner. Later that afternoon, Trumps chief policy adviser told The Wall Street Journal that Trump didnt really mean it when he promised not to cut Medicare and Social Security.

For his part, Ryan said Wednesday that he would like to see all conservatives rally together to win this election and defeat Hillary Clinton. However, the Speaker warned that said rallying might not happen for some time, telling the Journal, It was a very, very bitter, divisive primary. Its going to take more than a week just to repair and unify this party.

Trump went on to meet with other House heavyweights on Thursday, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, one of Trumps most enthusiastic backers in the lower chamber. He is also expected to meet with Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate leadership later in the day.

The Donalds nomination has not made it any easier for Ryan to manage the disparate factions in his caucus. Representatives in purple districts dont want their party to be branded with the gold-plated name of a xenophobic demagogue, and were grateful for Ryans declaration of ambivalence. But members from with safe red seats  recognizing that Trumps base is their own  bristled at the Speakers reluctance to make America great again.

Whats more, Ryans political future may depend on how deftly he navigates the catch-22 that Trump presents: If he embraces the Donald too more warmly, Ryan risks tainting his brand as the GOPs most principled champion of austerity; if he gives the Donald the cold shoulder, he could alienate the majority of Republican voters who think Trump is a perfectly fine standard-bearer. On Wednesday, Public Policy Polling found that 44 percent of Republicans now disapprove of Ryans performance as Speaker, while only 40 percent give the Wisconsinite a thumbs-up.
Donald Trump: team player? Photo: Wally Skalij/2016 Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump has ostensibly swept the GOP nomination with just three ideas: a big wall, jobs, and America-first foreign policy. But, with the possible exception of the third, Trump has yet to explain exactly how hell bring any of those ideas to fruition. His positions are nonexistent at worst and shaky at best, as evidenced by his reversal on not one but three of them just this week (his ban on Muslim immigration, the release of his tax returns, and his plans for overall tax reform, for those keeping track).

Trumps policy waffling is part of the reason fellow Republicans are hesitant to unify behind him. But if it goes well, his trip to Washington on Thursday will change that. According to Politico, Trumps team is descending on the capital to convince Republican lawmakers to exchange policy input for support in the general election.

I think it would be beneficial for him to reach out to as many members of Congress as he can, Representative Bill Flores, whos the chair of the Republican Study Committee, told the Hill. A lot of people want to know what Mr. Trumps policies are. Flores, like House Speaker Paul Ryan, has yet to endorse Trump.

And evidently, Trumps campaign knows that shoring up its candidates conservative bona fides will help his case. Theyre planning policy presentations and policy papers, and his folks are looking for as much input as they can get, Representative Chris Collins  a Trump backer from New York  told Politico. Theyre not coming into this with preconceived details and notions. Thats healthy. Early Trump supporters on Capitol Hill are reportedly putting together op-eds on everything from NATO to immigration to health care  they see Trumps cry for input as a chance to dust off those ideas that have languished during the Obama presidency.

According to the Hill, Trump will also use the trip as a chance to introduce himself to lawmakers and to schedule more meetings for the future: with the House Freedom Caucus, with the RSC, and with the entire 246-member Republican conference. A lot of members dont know him, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, adding that Trumps presence would give them a chance to ask him questions.

The end result could be a Trump campaign that not only has firmer policy positions but also has other GOP lawmakers invested in its proposals. If all goes according to plan, Trump could come out of Thursdays meetings with far more support than he has going in.

Of course, his meeting with Ryan will be the most high-profile, and other conservatives will likely eye its result to figure out how theyll respond to the presumptive GOP nominee themselves. But even if the Ryan meeting bombs, Trumps good-faith effort could go a long way in building bridges within the party.
The electorate is getting less white by the day. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty images

The Hispanic vote punches below its weight. Latinos have the lowest turnout rate of any American racial or ethnic group  in 2012, Hispanics went to the polls at the same rate that non-Hispanic whites did in the 2010 midterms. And thats not counting the millions of Hispanic permanent residents who are eligible for citizenship but have neglected to apply for naturalization. Bridging this political engagement gap has been a top priority for Latino community organizations  and Democrats  for years. But evidence continues to mount that no one has done more to further the cause of Hispanic-American enfranchisement than Donald J. Trump.

The first signs of a Trump-fueled surge in Hispanic voter registration came back in March, when the federal government revealed that naturalization rates jumped 14 percent in the final six months of 2015. Now, a coalition of labor and Latino American organizations called Stand Up to Hate says that it helped 12,781 people apply for citizenship in the past two months alone. Meanwhile in California, twice as many Hispanics registered to vote over the first three months of this year than did in the first three months of 2012. In Houston, Texas, the number of monthly naturalization ceremonies has swelled since last summer. Before Trump launched his campaign (by calling undocumented Mexicans a pack of drug-dealing rapists), the city saw roughly 1,200 naturalization ceremonies each month, according to the Houston Chronicle. Since then, that figure has been 2,200.

.@errollouis: There are 4 million more Latino voters than in 2012 https://t.co/0v5jfPx5zB And they don't like Trump pic.twitter.com/r3BtWdt5Ej  Mark Elliott (@markmobility) May 10, 2016

In Iowa, the Washington Post reports that labor leaders believe five times more Hispanics voted in this years caucuses than did in 2008. And in the potential swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, voter registration among Hispanics is increasing faster than it is among blacks or whites.

A surge in Latino engagement is coming, Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota, told the Washington Post. Unsolicited, people tell you that Im becoming a citizen because I want to vote against Donald Trump or I want to vote against the attacks on our community.

Beyond the desire to speak out against the defamation of ones community, some permanent residents see Trump as an immediate threat to their security. The GOP nominee has promised to establish a deportation force capable of rounding up and deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants. Their concern is not unfounded, Texas congressman Joaquin Castro told the Post. Is he going to stop with people who are undocumented? He seems like a quick step away from saying if youre not a citizen, we dont want permanent residents either.

While some expected Trump to ease up on the whole stigmatizing vulnerable minority populations thing once he won his partys nomination, the Donald said Wednesday that he intends to stick with the horse that brought him here.

You win the pennant and now youre in the World Series  you gonna change? Trump asked the New York Times.

Just met with courageous family of Sarah Root in Nebraska. Sarah was horribly killed by illegal immigrant, but leaves behind amazing legacy.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2016

Still, Trump probably cant claim full credit for the registration surge. As Philip Bump notes, part of the phenomenon could be due to the relative youth of the Hispanic population:

Just less than half of the Hispanics who are old enough to vote were born after 1980, thanks to the countrys Hispanic population skewing younger than any other group. Since there are a lot of new registrations among younger voters (just reaching voting age, for example, or because younger voters move more frequently and may need to re-register), this could be part of whats happening.

Either way, Trump and his party need to work on their Hispanic outreach, pronto.
Trump/Homicidal Butler 2016. Photo: anthonypetersenecal/Facebook

Anthony Senecal spent 17 years as Donald Trumps personal butler. When he tried to retire in 2009, the mogul wouldnt hear of it: The Donald relieved Senecal of his butler duties but retained him as the unofficial historian of his Mar-a-Lago home.

In some ways, Senecal is classic butler material: a white-haired gentleman with horn-rimmed glasses, impeccable posture, a walrus mustache, and a pocket kerchief, who waxes nostalgic about his masters incredible eyes. In other respects, however, Senecal is a tad eccentric. For instance, he served a short stint as mayor of a small town in West Virginia  oh, and he thinks President Obama is a rotten, filthy muzzie who should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term.

On Thursday, Mother Jones published a collection of Senecals political writings, all of which originally appeared on Facebook. In the most recent entry, written Wednesday, Senecal contemplates the importance of exercising ones right to the franchise:

To all my friends on FB, just a short note to you on our pus headed president !!!! This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!! Instead he still remains in office doing every thing he can to gut the America we all know and love !!!!! Now comes Donald J Trump to put an end to the corruption in government !!!! The so called elite, who are nothing but common dog turds from your front lawn are shaking in their boots because there is a new Sheriff coming to town, and the end to their corruption of the American people (YOU) is at hand !!!! I cannot believe that a common murder is even allowed to run (killery clinton) OR that a commie like bernie is a also allowed to also run !!!! Come on America put your big boy pants onthis election you have a choiceGET YOUR ASS OUT AND VOTE !!!! Thank you !!!!

Here's Trump's butler talking about killing Obama on Facebook. https://t.co/HJykRIHlXV pic.twitter.com/0Wgnh4ZBLt  Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) May 12, 2016

Senecal confirmed the authenticity of the post to Mother Jones on Thursday, saying simply, I wrote that. I believe that.

In a post from April 2015, Senecal argued that there are times when the most patriotic thing a citizen can do is defy the will of his own government.

I feel it is time for the SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION !!!!! The only way we will change this crooked government is to douche it !!!!! This might be the time with this kenyan fraud in power !!!!! [W]ith the last breath I draw I will help rid this America of the scum infested in its governmentand if that means dragging that ball less dick head from the white mosque and hanging his scrawny ass from the porticocount me in !!!!!

In other disquisitions, Senecal argued that Michelle Obama, whom his compatriots refer to as Sasquatch, also deserves to die by hanging, as she is one of the most DISGUSTING individuals on the face of Gods Green Earth !!!! Puke !!!!!!

I dont believe hes an American citizen, Senecal told Mother Jones, when asked why he believes Obama should be executed, echoing one of his bosss core political convictions. I think hes a fraudulent piece of crap that was brought in by the Democrats.

In September, Senecal connected Obamas supposed Muslim origins with the ongoing discrimination suffered by American Christians.

Our current president is a rotten filthy muzzie !!!!! Period !!!!!! He continues his war on Christians !!!!!! zero is against the people of America !!!!!

Still, Senecal finds some solace in the thought that, once the president leaves office next year, only a FEW Negroes and josh earnest will even remember him.

Considering all the charm and elocution Senecal displays in these missives, is it any wonder why the Republican nominee insisted on keeping him around?
Cornell economist Robert Frank Photo: Cornell University

Seven years ago, Robert Frank, an economist at Cornell, went on Fox Business to speak with host Stuart Varney about a New York Times column Frank had written. In it, Frank had argued that, Contrary to what many parents tell their children, talent and hard work are neither necessary nor sufficient for economic success. The missing ingredient, he explained in an argument he would eventually expand upon in his new book Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy, is luck.

After introducing Frank, Varney jumped right down the scholars throat, Do you know how insulting that was, when I read that? Varney asked him. I came to America with nothing 35 years ago. Ive made something of myself, I think through hard work, talent, and risk-taking, and youre going to write in the New York Times that this is luck.

The segment didnt really get much better from there:

Monday, at a book event at Ideas42, a behavioral-economics-focused think tank, Frank led off with this anecdote, and its understandable why: Varneys reaction captures  albeit in a somewhat hysterical, made-for-cable-news way  the reaction many people have to the idea that luck, rather than hard work or merit, plays a big role in who rises to the top, who slides to or stays at the bottom, and who gets stalled in the middle. (As Frank couldnt resist pointing out, Varneys idea of coming to America with nothing left out the fact that, at the time he did, he had a degree from the London School of Economics  his was not the story of a battered emigre riding in steerage on a creaky transatlantic steamship.)

Varney, like many people who get upset by Franks argument, ignored a full half of it: Frank does think hard work, and merit more broadly, play important roles in determining success. Most successful people worked very hard to get there, and indeed are quite talented. But merit and hard work arent enough  because there are so many people who are smart and hardworking, but only so many slots for the best jobs, for most successful artistic endeavors, and so on, luck invariably plays an important role.

Frank, who was turned onto the topic of luck when he survived a severe medical scare simply because of, well, very good luck, thinks that this is a very important blind spot that can explain a great deal about how America is organized  specifically, the countrys somewhat lackadaisical approach to tackling inequality and, relatedly, to offering residents the sorts of government-sponsored social supports so common in the rest of the wealthy world. Because people have such an unbalanced view of the luck-versus-skill equation, they fail to understand that there is good reason to have programs that can help redress some of the imbalances that arise in such a luck-oriented world.

Here are three things that jumped out at me during Franks talk and the Q&A session that followed.

1. Hindsight bias is a powerful driver of luck blindness.

Humans dont, as a general rule, do well with ambiguity. We like to tell clear, coherent stories about the world we see in front of us, and success is no exception. Hindsight bias, which is  and Im just going to go with the Wikipedia definition here, because its good  the inclination, after an event has occurred, to see the event as having been predictable, despite there having been little or no objective basis for predicting it, can partly explain how we come up with stories that cause us to discount the role of luck. Frank provided two examples of how hindsight bias warps our understanding of success in this manner: the Mona Lisa and Bryan Cranston.

The Mona Lisa, he explained, was a mostly unknown painting until it was stolen from the Louvre by an Italian maintenance worker in 1911, at which point it got all sorts of newspaper coverage that introduced the painting to the world. Then, when the thief attempted to sell it, only to have the would-be buyer turn him in so the painting could be returned to the Louvre, it got another round of coverage, further boosting its profile. As for Cranston, he was far from the top choice to play the now-legendary role of Walter White on Breaking Bad. Network executivs wanted John Cusack or Matthew Broderick, and they were not enthusiastic about Cranston, then known mostly for playing the dad on Malcolm in the Middle, who was series creator Vince Gilligans pick. But after Cusack and Broderick both turned down the role, Cranston got his shot.

These days, of course, you can tell a pretty compelling story about why the Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world, or why Cranston got the role of Walter White  the painting has certain qualities that set it apart, and Cranston is a truly gifted actor. But all of that would have been for naught if a certain sequence of chance events hadnt taken place. Some other painting would be the most famous one in the world; someone else would have played Walter White. Without luck, you cant really explain what happened.

2. When it comes to luck, people often freak out when you tell them stuff thats obviously, incontrovertibly true.

Frank kept circling back to the fact that absolutely nothing hes saying is at all controversial. Thats why the Varney exchange is so telling: The host got extremely heated and personally offended (or performed offense, at least) simply because Frank pointed out that it takes some luck to be a successful person. Every thinking person understands this intellectually, and yet a lot of people react really aggressively to what is a thoroughly commonsense notion.

Part of the problem is hindsight bias, of course  hard work and merit constitute a tighter, more linear and straightforward story, and therefore one thats easier to process cognitively. The other problem is that people tend to react very poorly to any ideas that chip away at their sense of who they are. People hear Luck is a contributing factor, and think what the speaker is actually saying is You didnt earn what you have. They make a giant leap, simply because acknowledging the role of luck can feel like such a blow to ones self-concept.

3. Encouraging active processing might be one way to help avoid such freaking out, especially among rich people.

One of Franks broad goals is to figure out how to get wealthy, fortunate people in particular to understand that good fortune is part of why they are where they are  in his view, that might help spur the sorts of more egalitarian policies many of them have traditionally, and vociferously, opposed.

He pointed out that, in his experience, telling rich people theyre lucky tends to be a surefire way to evoke defensiveness (Fox Businesss Varney is a pretty compelling example). If, on the other hand, you ask them to come up with times when they were lucky, Frank believes it often gets them thinking about their own life and the path they took to get where they are. Everyone who is successful can point to some way in which they were lucky  they will always have some kind of answer, and it might spur them to think about the concept in a new, helpful way.

This immediately brought to my mind the idea of active processing and how it fit into a recent experiment I wrote about in which canvassers were able to get residents they spoke with to be more tolerant of transgender people. Part of the goal there was to defeat the disgust and scaremongering that has been aimed at trans people, and the researchers think that by asking the residents to think of a time when they faced discrimination, it encouraged a deeper, more personal sort of reflection  it short-circuited the knee-jerk disgust.

Similarly, Franks idea circumvents the defensiveness that occurs when someone interprets a question about luck as implying they didnt earn what they have. Franks goal is to get people to realize that merit and luck contribute to outcomes, and encouraging rich people to engage in active processing may be one way to do so.
If youre an optimist, you might say that New York Citys sometimes astonishingly small apartments encourage tenants to think creatively about home decorating. My current apartment, for example, has a bedroom thats the exact shape of a queen-sized bed, and larger on each side by about two feet. I can cram two night tables on either side with only slight difficulty, but how the hell am I supposed to fit a TV in there?

My creative solution ended up being a gadget Id long written off as either too expensive or too finicky to bother with: a projector. And it turned out to be an even better choice than the TV Id have bought had I not been cursed with whatever mental disorder causes one to live in New York.

Projectors are a consumer-tech category thats very quietly becoming excellent. They went through a long period where they were known mostly as superb but resource-intensive gadgets, enormous, power-hungry beasts that came with absurd price tags and were good for celebrities on MTV Cribs who are outfitting their movie rooms, but not for most people. Thanks to newly efficient LED technology, a new category known as the pico projector emerged a few years ago. These projectors were incredibly small, almost pocket-sized, but threw dim and often blurry images  fun toys, but not particularly practical, and most people who knew about them decided to forget about them until Samsung or somebody crammed one into a smartphone.

At the same time, over the past few years, the quality of HDTVs has kept improving while prices have plummeted. Profit margins on HDTVs are so low that manufacturers have resorted to throwing their weight around to secure minimum pricing; Sharp, Toshiba, and Philips have all thrown in the towel, and decided not to bother even selling HDTVs anymore. Whats the point? Amazons best-selling TV is a $169 32-incher with built-in Roku. It has excellent reviews. A hundred and sixty-nine dollars!

So most people can be forgiven for not noticing that the pico projector has slowly been meeting the full-size projector category in the middle, resulting in home projectors that are small-ish, cheap-ish, good-ish, and energy-efficient-ish. All those -ishes shouldnt throw you off; what this means is that you can have a really very decent projector, capable of throwing out pictures up to a ridiculous 300 inches, taking up barely any space in your apartment, that can be brought outside for a summer movie night or beamed onto the cat for a solid minute or two of giggles, for a couple hundred bucks. Heres what you should know about them.

The Drawbacks to a Cheap Projector (and Why They Dont Matter)

Lets get this out of the way first: Projectors in this range  $250400  often offer a lower resolution and fewer lumens (this is the projector-nerd word for brightness) than projectors that cost a few hundred dollars more. If youre a serious film buff looking to anchor a screening room, you should probably look elsewhere.

But if youre looking for a creative, not outrageously expensive way to watch movies in your small bedroom, youre not going to do any better. The lower lumen count doesnt matter, because youre almost always using it at night, and the contrast makes even the dullest picture pop. The resolution doesnt matter so much either; typically youll be looking at projectors with a resolution of 1280x720, otherwise known as 720p, or possibly slightly lower resolutions like 800x600 or even 640x480 (the latter of which is 480p, the same resolution as a DVD). The thing is: In practice, lying in bed, most people are perfectly comfortable with 720p or even slightly lesser resolutions. When it comes to old episodes of Seinfeld or The Office, good enough is just fine.

Choosing a Projector

Many of the best projectors dont really force you to compromise at all. If you read Amazon reviews carefully and keep an eye on resolution and lumens, its easy to find something that fits your price range, expectations, and tiny bedroom. This Epson Home Cinema 730HD ($349.99 refurbished) has hundreds of glowing reviews, boasts a 720p resolution, and at 3,000 lumens is bright enough to handle even full sunlight. The AAXA P5 ($339.00) is less bright at 300 lumens, but is much smaller than the Epson and features similarly good reviews. In the other direction, the ViewSonic PJD5155 ($299.88) boasts 3,300-lumen brightness at a lower (800x600) resolution.

The Setup

So what do you do once you get one? You have to figure out where to put it, first. Mine is ceiling-mounted: I made my own platform-thing out of a plank of wood and some chains from Home Depot; you might prefer to buy a more stable ceiling mount, like this $15 VIVO model.

Youll also need a way to play stuff over and through the projector. Luckily, projectors arent the only consumer gadget thats gotten both smaller and better over the last few years. Plugged into my projector, also sitting on that plank, is a small Bluetooth speaker like this $35.99 Amazon Basics model. And for movie and TV selection, Ive plugged in an Amazon Fire TV stick that happened to be sitting in a closet, which lets me stream Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. (For more options, see our guide to streaming set-top devices from yesterday.)

Youll also have to deal with the wires that the gadgets will need. (Its not much; a Roku can be powered by a USB port on the projector itself, and a speaker can be taken down to charge.) Thats easier than it sounds: Get one of these $11 CordMate kits. Theyre basically long plastic tubes with adhesive on them; you thread the cables through the tubes, stick them onto your wall, and your projector setup looks about a thousand times more professional.

I project my image onto my wall, which is off-white; this would probably offend projector experts, which is one of several reasons I dont allow them into my bedroom. It looks fine. If your room isnt painted white, or if you dont have a wall directly in front of your bed, you can get a pull-down screen like this $65 one, or, honestly, you can use a white sheet. If youre feeling Pinterest-y, you can get a big picture frame with blank posterboard in it, and project directly onto it.

The total cost of the setup is well under $500. This is more expensive than a 32-inch TV, but what youre getting is worth it: decent sound, internet connectivity, a gigantic screen that is invisible when you dont want it, and a surprising feeling of luxury.
Photo: Getty Images

Los Angeles has millions of picture windows, and I spent the summer of 1991 making them so clean that birds could fly right into them and die. I had come from New York, with a pixie cut and a 15-year-olds inflated sense of sophistication, to visit my dad, who was writing screenplays and doing odd jobs to pay the rent. On some mornings, before the sun was high, we would load up his ancient maroon Volvo with Windex and drive from Hollywood to Pasadena, where business was booming.



I didnt enjoy washing windows, but I didnt hate it either. I liked being with my dad, whom I never got to see during the school year. I liked watching him charm the old ladies who always asked if he was a struggling actor. Once the homeowners had left, wed climb up the ladders and turn on Howard, as my dad called him. Always Howard.

I didnt object. As a teenage girl, few things were more seductive to me than being let in on a world of male secrets. Listening to Howard Stern on the radio every morning felt like eavesdropping on the uncensored mind of the adolescent boy  a demographic I was desperate to understand.

Ill give her the hot beef injection, Howard would joke about whichever woman he happened to be obsessing over. Hot beef injection. I turned that phrase around in my head endlessly as I removed streaks of Windex with a crumpled wad of newspaper.

Here he is talking with Stacy Galina from Knots Landing around that time:

Howard Stern: You ever bang a guy during a love-interest scene?

Stacy Galina: You mean really?

H.S.: Yeah.

S.G.: No.

H.S.: Yeah, does a guy ever get aroused? Cause I know if I did a love [scene], there would be no room on the screen for my boner. They would have to throw me right out. Right, Robin?

Robin Quivers: Thats right.

H.S.: Robin knows, Robin just had her face. Never mind where her face was.

H.S.: But. Man, you are really cute.

S.G.: Lets do it, Howard. Im going to talk to the producers, ya know. It can be like an abusive kind of thing, where you like come in, you rough me up a little bit.

H.S.: Ya know what I do. I tie you to my radiator and stretch you.

S.G.: Cool. I love it.

H.S.: That would be so cool. [November 27, 1991]



Howard was new to Los Angeles that year, conquering a new market after having made a name for himself in New York. By this point, he had his schtick down pat. In his four hours on air each morning, he mixed a cocktail of interviews, rape jokes about his competition, fart gags, and riffs off the news. A recurring motif involved Butt Bongo, in which a member of his studio crew would spank a stripper to the beat of a song as Howard salivated in the background. (In 1992 he released an hour-long video called Butt Bongo Fiesta that sold more than 200,000 copies and made more than $10 million.) He often invited Playboy bunnies onto his show to endure sniveling inquiries about lesbian sex or graphic descriptions of how hed imagined having sex with them. Disregarding the racially tense atmosphere  the Rodney King beating had just happened that March  Howard frequently managed to combine his racism and his misogyny into a single joke:

Howard Stern: The closest I came to making love to a black woman was, I masturbated to a picture of Aunt Jemima.

Geraldo Rivera: Oh, come on.

H.S.: On a pancake box. All right?  I did it right on her kerchief.

Id like to say that this was shocking and foreign to me at the time, but everything he said reinforced subtle messages that had been making me queasy for years. Howard was like Alex, the guy in physics class who spread rumors about my gay friend when she refused to date him. He sounded like John, the guy who pressured me to at least give him a blow job after one bad date because I had led him on. He even bore a passing resemblance to one of the writers from the New York Times who noted that Patricia Bowman had a little wild streak while reporting about her rape by William Kennedy Smith in coverage of the trial I had followed closely that spring.

The fact that Howard was not a teenage boy but a grown, married man with daughters of his own and millions of listeners opened up a new and disturbing line of questioning for me. Was he the one man who would really say what so many men were actually thinking? Was my dad, a man I loved, a man who spoke kindly to old women and taught me about literature, capable of seeing the world that way, too?

Recently, I asked my dad why he allowed me to listen to Howards sexist rants when I was just a teenager. He had no good answer. I think maybe he wanted me to understand that, no matter what I did, there were people who would judge me by values I couldnt control. I remember a conversation around that time in which he told me that every man looked at every woman and decided within 30 seconds whether he wanted to have sex with her. Boys are stupid, he often said, every single one of them. I guess my dad figured that if I knew that (heterosexual) men were always ranking me and every other woman they met on a fuckability scale of 1 to 10, I could outsmart them. But however well-intentioned, these messages distort my sense of reality still: Dont become an un-fuckable woman or you will never have any power over men. But dont become a too-fuckable woman or no one will take you seriously.

Hollywood, California, 1991 in the backseat of my (male) friends car.

As a teenager, I tried to gauge where I fell on the scale with pretty much every male I encountered. I also tried hard to guard against becoming one of the bimbos Howard wanted to spank for fun. My jeans got baggier, my bad attitude got worse. I took to initiating almost every interaction with a man by insulting or challenging him in some way. It was a rudimentary test: I figured if a boy still liked me with my short hair and surly opinions then he was at least one step up from the Howards of the world.



Until Donald Trump decided to run for president, I hadnt had much reason to think about Howard in the last 25 years. Occasionally, clips from Americas Got Talent would appear in my Facebook feed, and Id see him making small children cry, his Long Island accent cutting through the computer speakers like a repressed memory. It was easy enough to write him off as a neutered holdover from a less enlightened time in the culture. Now, of course, Trump is dragging those repressed memories into the forefront of our collective consciousness. Its not just what he said about women on Howard Sterns show, its that the two men occupy such similar roles in the culture. Both Stern and Trump offer the enticing illusion of fearlessness, even as they capitalize on the fears of their audiences. They connect with their crowds by appearing off-the-cuff, unfiltered, and therefore authentic. They disdain political correctness, rules, and authority, and they give full voice to a misogyny that is designed to make a certain kind of man feel more powerful.

Trump:  But, okay, if your beautiful girl decided to leave you, she said, Howard, I met another man. And you now go into a major, major depression, you lose about 49 pounds. Now youre starting to come out of the depression about two months later  you eventually have to come out, either do that or youd just kill yourself  would you go out as your first date Marcia Cross?

Howard Stern: No.

Robin Quivers: Come on, just to start out?

D.T.: Would you go out with Marcia Cross, or would you turn gay, Howard?

H.S.: Id go out with Marcia Cross. Shes got a good body; Id just put a bag over her head.



[September 2005]

Stern has always fancied himself a daring, sexually liberated cultural commentator, fighting an ignoble battle against his many oppressors: the prude FCC, conservatives like Pat Buchanan, and liberal killjoys like Tipper Gore. By 1991 a serious panic over speech and power had begun. In January of that year, New York Magazine published the first article Id ever seen on the topic of political correctness, with the requisite art of Nazi Youth burning a pile of books.

Here we are again, in a moment of national concern over the policing of speech, with Trump promising to make it safe once more to say Merry Christmas. Its not just conservatives, though  plenty of people across the political spectrum fret about free speech. And political correctness has, in some cases, reached a new level of absurdity. But if theres one good thing about p.c. culture its that it has raised a generation of women with higher standards for the messages that can and cant be applied to them. These different expectations mean that people are far less tolerant of current-day Trump than they were of Howard when I was listening to him with my dad. There are women on Facebook signing up for their woman card, and highlight reels of Trumps dumbest comments and protests at his rallies. If, instead of listening to Howard, Id spent those mornings listening to the comedy and radio now made by women, I wouldnt have given Howards (or my dads) opinions nearly as much weight.

Of course the seriousness of the response to Trump has to do with the fact that he is running for leader of the free world. Howard, despite a failed run for governor of New York in 1994, was always a comedian first and foremost. And like any good comedian  and even some bad ones  he held up a mirror to the culture. The truth is funny because we all lie all day long, he said to Rolling Stone in 1990. We have to smile at the right time. We have to act like we care what other people say. We have to pretend we like our asshole boss. I lie too, but on the radio I say what I want.

Howard wanted everybody to admit their fucked-up-ness, to say out loud what they said behind closed doors. He was repulsive, but by insisting on pulling back the blinds on himself and others, he might have helped destroy a certain kind of male privilege. He believed that his honesty about his own racism, sexism, and sexuality might at least make it crystal clear in more powerful people. He wasnt entirely wrong; in the end, we have Howard to thank for capturing some of Trumps rawest unapologetic objectification of women. And that is something I hope my own children never have to hear broadcast anywhere, least of all from the Oval Office.
Robert L. Dear, Jr. Photo: Andy Cross-Pool/Getty Images

On Wednesday, a Colorado Springs judge deemed Robert L. Dear, who opened fire on a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood last November, unfit to stand trial, reports the New York Times.

Judge Gilbert A. Martinez said he found Dear to be mentally incompetent. Apparently, the guys been having delusions for years about the federal government spying on him. Its one thing to nervously joke about Big Brother (now getting paranoid about the NSA), but it seems Dears fears have developed into something slightly more grave.

The Times reports that Dear, who also goes by warrior for babies, shouted, Thats prejudiced! Prejudiced! and Filthy animal! at the judge. This was after Martinez issued a ruling based on the reports of two Colorado psychologists who evaluated Dear earlier this year  they also deemed him mentally unfit for trial.

Dear, who killed three and wounded nine, has been charged with 179 counts, including first degree and attempted murder. But regardless, his trial is at a standstill until he can get treatment at a Colorado mental hospital. His case will be reviewed August 11.

The waiting game begins.
lol is that wilmer in that still?

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Yes. He's had a recurring role as a patient.

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I caught up on last week's episode and was lol'ing IRL @ Callie. She really played herself and lost big time.

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I was torn between loving how well Sara portrayed Callie's heartbreak and thinking Callie set herself up.

Callie: "How did this happen?!"

Me: "I mean, you kind of opened this door sis."



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ita. I felt bad for her but at the same time she chose this.



I wonder what other people think. In Toronto Grey's comes on at 7pm here so I never follow the hashtag live on Twitter or Tumblr like I usually do. I'm curious to see if her stans admit she fucked up.

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My laugh caught me by surprise. I legit laughed. She thought she had it in the bag.





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Ugh, kill off Wilmer. Stephanie deserves way better.



Also, Owen's sister is totes showing up in the last 15 seconds of the finale, y/n?

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Stephanie deserves way better.



she really doesn't

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I love her! I...still don't understand that whole conflict with Jo about how Jo secretly sucks as a doctor and is jealous of Steph -- like, have we ever been shown that?? -- but overall I like her. And she deserves happiness after that insanity with Jackson publicly ditching her at April's would-be wedding.

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Denny 2.0

smdh

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Denny's death wrecked me

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At least I cared about Denny. I do not care about this storyline whatsoever tbh. I tried but it just doesn't grip me.

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I'm gonna go OT but I'm getting ads in Russian that cover the whole page. I'm on the mobile version of the site and it's pretty annoying. I won't be changing back to the web mode just so the site can get revenue. Change it back now please

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It's back to normal now, thank you.

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That has to be the world's slowest elevator.

Also, I was so happy when they gave Arizona full custody of Sophia! Fuck Callie

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Amen re: custody to Arizona and not Callie.



When Penny started fucking it up with not knowing certain things and then Meredith stating that it takes a village and all of Sophia's support system is in Seattle and she would have to start from scratch across the country... and then Arizona was like, 'you know what, I love my kid more than anything but I'm gonna have to go save this other kid,' was such a book end to Meredith's VO at the beginning about Solomon cutting the baby in half...



Callie sobbing in Meredith's arms got me though. It's like, girl you could probably get joint custody again if you don't move your ass across the country for just a year.

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Alex gains some clarity on his future with Jo



Please let this mean that Alex realizes they don't have a future together. I just can't stand Jo.

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I don't mind her either but Alex needs a story line outisde of Jo, he's become so boring, the majority of his scenes are about Jo and whether he's serious about their relationship or not.

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Word.



If the show has been trying to tell their love story, it has been doing a piss poor job. It's like watching the final months of the Callie/Arizona marriage. Just put us all out of our misery, please and thank you.

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this was the nr.1 twitter trend last night bc big eps aired in france and germany



foreign sales alone will keep this show alive for ever



Edited at 2016-05-12 02:50 pm (UTC)

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That, and it's ABC's highest rated drama.

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When I was in France last year I watched Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs and ER on TV all the time. French TV seemed to always be playing an american medical drama.

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Nice, now I have to listen 'At Last' again, thank you :3



Edited at 2016-05-12 02:53 pm (UTC)

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I WAS SOOOO HAPPY ARIZONA GOT THE FULL CUSTODY. the whole thing made me genuinely hate callie. when during the ep she was like "maybe i started something i shouldn't have" LMAO BITCH YOU THINK. the fact that she decided on completely changing their daughter's life without even discussing it with arizona and then had the audacity to blame arizona for starting this mess!!! just. ugh. i kept waiting for penny to be like "maybe... don't do this..." but even she's dumb.

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lmao, she did? why? I really expected Callie to win, but she was so messy, specially with the thing that Arizona wasn't really Sophia's mother, yikes, I dislike Arizona a lot but yikes with Callie.



And also this doctors should stop sleeping with their co-workers e__e

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well... ia, but callie did spend an episode trying to talk to arizona and arizona was like, "nah, you can talk to my lawyer." but wtf did callie think she was doing in the first place? played herself indeed. not that divorced parents can't move away from their exes or whatnot, but the way she approached this was wrong



Edited at 2016-05-12 03:47 pm (UTC)

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I'm not sure of the timeline, but I wonder if Arizona got a lawyer once she got a call from that school in NY. Even though callie said she was going to talk to Arizona, I think it was clear her decision was already made.

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She decided to give her her lawyer's card after she got the phone call from the school in NY. Callie's surprised reaction showed how selfish she was, she didn't consider that the school might contact the other parent and probably didn't plan to tell her about it either, at least not immediately. She told Arizona they would talk, make decisions together and then went behind her back and made a decision herself. The whole story line was way too rushed imo but I think that this just pushed Arizona to go through with the custody case.



Edited at 2016-05-12 04:23 pm (UTC)

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And her "How did this happen?" in the end. lol IDK, maybe because you decided to completely change your daughter's life without ever considering her or Arizona?

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I'm just glad arizona got custody and that she was not made to be the bad guy in the situation.I'm one i know arizona aint shit for cheating but I feel like whenever they have a conflict, ie africa or having a baby in the first place, arizona was always made to be the villain so I'm surprised they didn't do this that time as well.



I still can't get over callie's face when arizona left to help her patient, like.....wtf







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Is it me or is Wilmer a terrible actor?

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he's... not great imo, but tbh his character is supposed to be an annoying guitar douche... so idk, maybe that's how he's supposed to do it?

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yeah I mean I don't watch Greys so I assume he has a role that makes sense lol, but from that clip he's giving me a bit of:





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I'm 0 invested in Denny 2.0, but damn Jerrika Hinton is a good actress. She said she would like to still do Grey's if her comedy pilot is picked up, but we'll see. Fingers crossed!



I'm curious to see what Callie will do. I have a love-hate relationship with Callie as a character (my feelings for her have been super irregular through the season) but I like seeing Sara on my screen, I really hope she's not leaving.



I don't know if Maggie/Nathan is going to happen but I am SO here for it if it does. I've been loving the slow build and I think there's chemistry between the two actors (lol I'm saying this in every Grey's post)- I particularly liked the scene where she asked him why he lied about his wife.

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I wish this show would get rid of Owen already.

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the first person i noticed tbh, she's perfect.

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what the FUCK is Posh Spice wearing?! talk about unflattering!! she looks three feet tall



also, kristen stewart looks like she would smell bad

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I wonder if it would be better if the pants were tailored?

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QUEEN KIRSTEN.



Bella Hadid looks so fucking dead eyed and miserable.

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that photo of julianne, susan and naomie is so great

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.@THR was banned from an event at Cannes because they published the @RonanFarrow essay about Woody pic.twitter.com/rZGKYJzS4y  Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) May 12, 2016

As much as I love fashion and film, the fact that THR got into trouble for publishing Ronan Farrow's piece has me left with a bad taste in my mouth. Mess.

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I read that Woody claims he didn't even read the essay yet those journalists were banned anyway. What a POS.

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He said he never read it and that he never thinks about the allegations and that he's moved past it. He's such a POS.

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I believe him - he basically lives in a bubble, and his assistants/pr people do everything for him, including throwing weight around to get unflattering outlets banned.

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THRGlobal: https://t.co/AlyJhs2BZ4



hahaha serves them right.THRGlobal: #Cannes2016 : Woody Allen Endures Roman Polanski Rape Joke at Opening Ceremony https://t.co/sosVdwLQmS

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This explains the weird kiss ass articles they've been posting about Allen. Ugh.

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I mean, that Amazon Cafe Society lunch needed THR's publicity, not the other way around. They were trying to save Allen from potentially embarrassing questions but just brought even more negative attention to him with that move imo.

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they published the essay, but didn't they also give him a cover and a bunch of other recent articles praising him, so...

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thanks making this post op, they are always such a lot of work.



bella hadid looks fierce. she is so much more interesting looking than gigi.



jessica looks gorgeous but that's a given.

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i can't believe bella is younger than gigi tbh, i like both of their looks but bella just seems more poised and refined to me?

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yeah, Gigi definitely has more of a baby face.

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wait, bella is the younger sister?!?



so confused. isn't she dating the weeknd who is in his mid to late twenties!?



Also where did these people come from?



I'm on a lot of cold medicine and i have a lot of questions

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ia about bella hadid



i'm obsessed with her face

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I need Kirsten's dress. It's perfect and so my style.

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that article about the sex industry that pops around Cannes a few years back was quite eye opening.

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I think Bella Hadid is out of this world gorgeous (her weird nose job makes her kind of more odd looking which in turn makes her more beautiful imo) but her ~srs~ model face makes me laugh.

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i hope fan bingbing is doing cannes bc her looks are always on point.

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Staying Vertical sounds bonkers

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i can't wait til aishwarya and sonam arrive

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Ni Ni, Zhao Tao, and Gianna Simone look gorgeous, I love their dresses. I'd like Kirsten Dunst's dress without sleeves. Everyone else is meh to me.



Fuck Woody Allen, fuck THR for being so gutless as to not stand by Ronan's piece, and fuck all of Woody Allen's sycophants.

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Kirsten looks amazing! I can't wait to see what she wears throughout the rest of the festival.

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So translated, "I'm still a piece of shit, but please think that I'm less of a piece of shit than that guy over there."

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Well that's almost everyone, anyway

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His loss in November is going to be so historic and hilarious.

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If he loses...



Don't get me wrong, Trump is horrible and I know he's polling behind Hillary in all conceivable ways atm, I've just lost all faith in the American people.

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yeah i used to think that trump would lose so badly against hillary but i've realized that i've overestimated the american people too many times before

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Yea the fact that he got this far means I'm surrounded by idiots.

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But the American people still have faith in you!

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The problem is he's running against Hillary, who is nearly as disliked as he is. Democrats are so stupid for running her. They really couldn't find other people to run? Or were they all threatened by the Clinton's?

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I would say Clinton losing to Trump would be more noteworthy. Like, how could an established politician lose to a living mass of orange money?

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Also, literally anyone who would actually vote for Trump or even consider it is a sociopathic racist, bigoted piece of human excrement.

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ugh that video still alone...

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This pumpkin headed crusty old bag of hay

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insulting to adorable pumpkins!

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Yes but how do you feel about Piers Morgan?

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Nobody gives a toss about him. He is irrelevant.

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Insulting to crusty old bags of hay

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I'm so tired of this oxygen thief and his obsession with black people and black women especially.

And dumbasses who continue the party line of telling black folks to stop using the n word cause it encourages whites to use it also tired. No matter what we do as people, that will never stop racists from being racist and best believe if it isn't the n word it's something else. Stop it

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A fucking men. I was just trying to explain this to my dad this morning, but he didn't get it. He's a black immigrant, so his views on stuff like this tend to be totally different from mine.

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So if nothing (education, etc) will stop some people from being racist, are they born racist then? And to fight racism they must be gassed in gas chambers?

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Piers Morgan is the poster boy for white mediocrity that still gets rewarded. From the hoax photos at NOTW, to likely knowing his staff hacked phones/voicemails, to flopping at CNN, to exploiting black people for clicks. He's so useless and still gets a platform to talk.



Edited at 2016-05-12 06:42 pm (UTC)

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why are we asking him.



about anything.



ever.

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I have exactly the same question. How on earth anyone would think "Oh, we need to ask Pierce Morgan about this!"

How? Just how?

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Thank god- I've had many sleepless nights wondering what this fucknut thinks about these issues

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confused as to why piers morgan thinks anyone is interested in his opinion of beyonce...

and since when isn't music supposed to be political?

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only straight white men are allowed to make political music, and even then it's only ok if they agree with piers' shitty opinions

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and since when isn't music supposed to be political?

when it makes white ppl uncomfortable

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Yep pretty sure music has always been political..

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This truth, even some classical music from the romantic period was political, so Peirce needs to STFU! and go read a book because he sounds dumb.

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britain needs to cease creating these disgusting white men there are too many of them

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Most people likely don't think you should talk about anything, Piers.



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Thank god I can finally sleep at night knowing what he thinks.



Edited at 2016-05-12 06:46 pm (UTC)

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Poor white supremacists, it's not their fault they are using the n word.



Edited at 2016-05-12 06:48 pm (UTC)

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OPEC is dead, Rosnefts head Igor Sechin has told Reuters. In a fine example of stating the obvious  at least to those who have been keeping an eye on the energy industry  and putting it in context, the chief of Russias largest oil company welcomed an era where the oil market will be driven by finance, technology and regulation.

Russia and OPEC are natural rivals, although there has been a sense of partnership, especially after the advent of shale in the U.S., when both started pumping more and more crude to preserve their market share.

It was Russia that tried earlier this year to negotiate a production freeze with OPEC, and while some smaller OPEC members were ready to sign on the spot, the organizations leader, Saudi Arabia, blew the proposal off, demanding that Iran also take part in the freeze. Related: OPEC Production Up 140,000 Bpd in April

This was an embarrassing moment for Russia, and in his email to Reuters, Sechin made a point of noting that Rosneft was always against this move, with perfectly reasonable skepticism.

Riyadh has boasted repeatedly that it can wait out the price slump. Of course, the success of this strategy would depend on the length of the slump, but Saudi Arabia has deeper pockets than Russia. Saudi Arabia also has a new economic development program that involves a move away from oil. Related: 90% Off Sale On Offshore Drilling Rigs?

The Saudis have all but said outright that their national priorities in energy would always trump OPEC priorities. The country has repeatedly used its influence as the largest producer in the organization to dictate the energy policies of smaller producers, which has been harmful for the latter. And these policies, which can be summed up as pump as much as you can, dont let the shale boomers get a breather have not led to a clear victory. They have not led to a sharp rise in prices, which was expected to take place after the shale producers throw in the towel. But U.S. shale companies have lasted much longer than expected.

Saudi Arabia knows that OPEC is dead. Its reached the end of its productive life. On Tuesday, Aramcos chief executive said that the company plans to increase its gas production twofold over the next 10 years. Aramco is betting on gas, and with a very good reason: its the cleaner hydrocarbon, and the global economy should start recovering and expanding soon, so gas demand is set for steady growth, at least according to the latest Medium-Term Gas Market Report by the International Energy Agency. Related: Libyas Oil Exports Could To Go To 0 bpd Within One Month

In light of the priorities laid out in the Vision 2030 plan, it becomes clear that Saudi Arabia no longer needs OPEC. Its striking out on its own to try and overcome its oil addiction. Without Saudi Arabia, which alone pumps some 10.27 million barrels per day (as of April), the rest of OPEC are likely to go their separate ways as well.

Though Sechin did not exactly mourn it, the demise of the cartel that dictated the oil market is not necessarily good news for Rosneft and Russia. If Saudi Arabia gets the know-how to develop its gas reserves, it could turn into an important rival for Russian, as well as Iranian gas. Its possible that natural gas will overtake crude in terms of demand in the future. Perhaps an OGEC will replace OPEC?

In the meantime, though, plans were announced to ramp up oil production. Apparently, nothing is certain as of yet, aside from the clear fact that OPEC will never again be reborn into its former glory.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The oil price rout has caused a lot of headaches in the renewable industry, especially in the heavily subsidized U.S. solar sector, which is suffering some setbacks even as solar installations are growing rapidly.

Solar power suppliers are scaling back operations as demand is growing slower than expected, and the sector is wondering where to go from here.

Investors have, of course, sensed the uncertainty. An industry that showed so much promiseparticularly against the background of international efforts to curb the effects of climate changeis now in the doldrums. So what went wrong? Related: Proved Oil Reserves Lost $840 Billion In Value

The drop in oil and especially gas prices is one reason for this decline. When natural gas is a less costly alternative to pollution-intensive coal, investment in solar power becomes much less appealing. Cheap oil, for its part, means cheap gasoline, and cheap gasoline encourages greater demand, however elegant and fast Tesla EVs become.

But its the disproportional tax incentives granted the solar power sector that have repeatedly proved that they are not doing sector players any favors. SunEdison filed for Chapter 11 protection last month, after growing too big too fast, ultimately unable to handle the pressure when demand waned.

SolarCity just reported a first-quarter loss that was bigger than expected, and more disappointing earnings are anticipated by investors later this month from other sector players. SolarCity, interestingly, blamed regulatory hurdles for its negative performance, praising states that have taken it upon themselves to make solar panel installation smoother. Related: Can Saudi Arabia Really Break Its Dependence On Oil?

A one-time top solar panel maker, Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., is also facing potential default.

An index of 20 major solar companies put out by Bloomberg has slid over 30 percent this year alone. Stocks are down across the board.

Solar energy is being subsidized heavily everywhere. Fossil fuel production is also the object of state subsidies, including some implicit ones, in the form of not factoring in the cost of public health and environmental damage. However, the level of subsidies is higher for solar, pretty much everywhere there is a solar industry. Related: Oil Spikes After EIA Reports Surprise Draw

Times may be tough for some solar developers, but even the dirtiest and most loved-to-be-hated oil companies are currently diversifying into renewables. They simply have no other viable choice for the long-term because they can feel which way the wind is blowing.

Solar companies, on the other hand, appear to have trouble making this wind work for themand its not the governments fault. The problem, rather, seems to be the impatience, the rush to switch to solar as soon as possible. Reality is proving that things dont work well this way; they take time and long-term planning, as well as planning for contingencies.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the opinions of OnMilwaukee.com, its advertisers or editorial staff.

Faculty at UW-Milwaukee have joined those around Wisconsin by voting no-confidence in UW System President Ray Cross and the mostly-Scott Walker political appointees who make up the Board of Regents, including the former frac sand mining lawyer/Walker donor/regent whos helped lead the way in rewriting tenure rules.

Walker responded by insulting our states top researchers as (paraphrasing now) overpaid, groaning fussbudgets who barely interact with students, and also by putting out misleading numbers on faculty pay and the number of students most UW instructors teach.

This is too serious an issue for this nonsense; the UW System is too important to the states future. As for professors pay, I thought conservatives supported people getting paid more if they worked hard, achieved more and attained terminal degrees? What happened to the American dream? Is the governor now arguing that everyone should make less than $50,000 a year, forever, no matter their degree of achievement and education? Isnt that rather Marxist?

He does realize one of the top researchers in macroeconomics researches at Madison, right? Should he get $50,000, too? I am sure he would leave. Thats called free-market competition.

It occurs to me that Walker himself earns about $70,000-$100,000 more on the taxpayer dime than many full-time UW instructors, and about $47,000 more than the "full professors" at UWM whom he derided Tuesday. Bizarrely, in attacking full professors, he's singling out for derision the group of people who have achieved the most. Seems rather antithetical to stated conservative principles.

Walker also said that faculty teach an average of 2.8 students, but UWM's spokesman tells me that the number is actually 29 students per faculty member. Furthermore, the spokesman said, in 1994, the average was 21 students per faculty, so professors at UWM are teaching more students on average. The number only includes professors, not instructional academic staff (who often teach more classes than professors, who research as part of their jobs), but UWM PR says the number is well over Walker's faculty average if you include non-faculty teachers too.

Its not that I think there should never be fiscal study nor potential reform in a system this large; its that I dont think it should be built on facile, insulting rhetoric about greedy, lazy professors. Who decided research is inherently bad and why, anyway? Republicans like Tommy Thompson didnt think that way. The cuts have been too big and too fast; any reform should be carefully studied over time with all stakeholders, not built on misleading rhetoric.

At least one legislator previously threatened to retaliate against UW for such professorial no-confidence votes with more "reforms." Such political attacks on professors free speech prove the need for strong tenure protections. If legislators now retaliate for this, they are proving the point.

Even worse, these ideological attacks are completely removed from the realities on campus, where diverse, talented students are striving to better themselves every day and innovative research is going on and important service performed. At UWM, that includes the most veteran students of any four-year university in a six-state region.

I see no evidence at the classroom level whatsoever that these reforms have been good. Rather, I see talented students succeeding against the backdrop of a destabilized environment, plummeting morale, rancor, outdated classrooms, declining resources, minimal technology and course offerings. (I am a senior lecturer who taught 10 classes this year at UWM, counting summer, by the way. My opinions are my own and do not represent UWM.)

Tenure is not, as Walker told the media, designed to be a "job for life." Its designed to protect professors freedom of speech and academic freedom  which conservatives correctly champion when it comes to Marquette Professor John McAdams, but wrongly ignore when it comes to professors whose ideology they dislike. And sometimes vice-versa.

Republicans engineered budget cuts so fast and big that it almost seems like part of the motive was to force administrators to monetize everything, using weakened tenure provisions to cast aside the liberal theorists whom conservatives consider ideological foes and whose research they, thus, devalue as nonessential (or to hope they would leave on their own). Id like to argue its not political, but its hard to do so when so much of the rhetoric centers around the perceived liberalism of professors.

I would note that I get the importance of and champion diverse ideological views being welcomed on campus and am deeply troubled that they are not always. Some of those professors I am now defending have called me names in the past, so I am well aware they might not defend my own academic freedom. This is also very wrong; however, on principle its important to defend academic freedom. For all. Period.

You cant reverse engineer ideological tolerance on campus through massive, too-quick budget cuts and misleading rhetoric that ultimately hurts students and the state. You cant use government power to target ideological foes to silence them. Well, I guess you can, but its wrong.

Professors have every right to raise concern about the Republican changes  which have damaged the Systems national reputation and ability to recruit and retain faculty, as well as caused reduced resources for research and students  and they shouldnt have to fear retaliation from politicians because of it.

Professor-Republican ideological wars are bad for our state and students and distract from reasonable, thoughtful, long-term study with all stakeholders about whether any fiscal reforms or restructuring is needed in light of enrollment drops at some universities (versus, say, concerted efforts to grow enrollment at them. The Republican "reforms" arent helping).

Assuming theres bloat in the UW  and in a budget this size, Im sure theres some  wheres the evidence that its concentrated in the instructional/research ranks since the rhetoric is fixated there? UWM allocates 46 percent of expenditures to academic units. Perhaps the bloat, if it exists, rests outside of them (administration, support services, etc.), not in the ranks of sometimes-liberal theorists whose research offends Republicans. Since Republicans have a pro-management mentality and grew the power of administrators, I doubt youll hear that talked about much. Of course, this would need careful study.

Furthermore, value should not be solely monetized in a forward-thinking society. Do we really want to deem research into history, poetry and philosophy as non-essential because its not a big revenue producer? (The past informs the future.) I think some Republicans would prefer if UW became the functional equivalent of a technical school or Phoenix University (or Trump U!).

Think thats unfair? Listen to what they say. They envision a strict for-profit workforce development mission with a bunch of at-will, underpaid employees who dont research. However, all states for decades have also accorded intrinsic value to disciplines that seek societal betterment. I prefer the balance we have at UWM now: a blended mission between research and workforce development (and remember not all UW schools are research universities anyway and that many researchers also bring in lots of grant money).

Ironically, its the workforce development mission most at risk as a result of Republican cuts: ad hocs that bring industry ties into classrooms who might not be renewed and student workers whose jobs are on the line. Almost no one talks about this. Seems counter intuitive, but this was completely predictable if you understand the power structure in the UW System. And for the record, I think UWMs Chancellor Mark Mone and my dean, Rodney Swain, have done a valiant job dealing with the mess thrust in their laps by the legislature. I respect them, and I think they respect differing viewpoints and the blended mission.

And dont say they havent tried to cut. UWMs chancellor says the university has cut $26 million in spending. Walker doesnt acknowledge this in his statement. And dont say theres a huge slush fund squirrelled away. Thats gone. Heck, in my department, we dont even have office phones anymore.

Walker, in his statement Tuesday attacking UWM professors for uttering what he called a "collective groan," said full professors averaged $101,700 pay in 2013-14, well over annual pay for all Milwaukee County workers, which he pegged at $49,539. This is extraordinarily misleading for several reasons, in addition to being classic class warfare:

Hes cherry-picked an outlier, the highest possible rank of full professor. Being a full professor takes years of respected scholarship and service and is the hardest rank to achieve. Many professors arent full professors and make much less. Many instructors arent professors at all. They are academic staff, often with lengthy industry experience and masters degrees. There are many non- faculty instructors at UWM, yet Walker only talks about full professors:

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education survey of full-time salaries, in 2014-15, full professors at UW-Milwaukee averaged $99,639; associate professors $76,590; assistant professors $69,939; instructors, $49,644; and lecturers $45,009. What Walker did would be the equivalent of me arguing that university lecturers make $45,009 while leaving out the other categories.

Walker implies that instructors barely interact with students, but lecturers literally interact with students all the time, at least in my experience, and the professors I know interact with students a lot too. At UWM and UW-Madison, research universities, professors are hired to  shocker here  research, as well as teach and perform service functions. Walker now ignores the fact they are doing what they were hired to do: In part, research. UWMs expenditures for research dropped in 2014 compared to the previous three years, by the way. Again, whats the evidence that research is bad? Walker implies that when instructors are not in the classroom, they are doing nothing of value. Wheres the proof?

Instructors are paying more for their benefits under Walker (extra contributions I supported, by the way), salary increases have been measly for years and many studies have found that professors here make less than peer institutions or could make more in the private sector. Thats not to say the jobs are bad; theyre not. Theyre good. Its to say it takes a lot to earn them, and theyre hardly lavish.

Whats the evidence professors dont perform essential and valuable functions for their pay?

Milwaukee and Madison are also outliers, system-wide. I looked up all full-time instructors' salaries for each UW school as published by the Chronicle of Higher Education for 2014-15:

Professors Assoc. Profs Asst. profs Instructors Lecturers Unranked Madison $116,865 87,462 80,163 54,171 67,284 35,352 Milwaukee 99,639 76,590 69,939 49,644 45,009 LaCrosse 80,424 63,990 59,571 43,182 Whitewater 79,596 66231 67,365 49,725 Oshkosh 78,660 62,919 64,116 44,451 EC 76,959 63,648 63,522 55,746 45,603 Parkside 73,530 63,288 56,727 42,579 Stout 73,341 62,172 58,869 46,656 Platteville 72,072 58,527 57,330 41,454 GB 71,595 61,200 55,404 46,170 River Falls 71,478 65,808 58,950 43,506 Stevens Pt. 70,623 60,372 53,073 48,258 41,220 Superior 66,798 56,088 55,827 43,443

Walker also says that cost per student is up. I presume hes using enrollment drops to get there, since UWM had a $40 million budget deficit. He makes no note of the millions theyve cut in the last year. However, Id note that state spending to UWM has plummeted, according to this UWM chart:

Walker also makes a big deal about tuition costs, and I do think they are a concern, as is overall college affordability. I supported his tuition freeze. However, UWM ranked 12th among peers in tuition costs. For example, students in Illinois pay a lot more.

He claims faculty have 2.8 students. He must be focusing on the sliver of people hired solely to research in the sciences, or something similar, to skew the number, because its a ridiculous figure when you consider academic staff (and I don't know a single professor who teaches that few students). And UWM PR says it's completely wrong.

In my department, class sizes usually range from 15 to over 150 (this semester, 80 students are enrolled in my classes). He might argue, but Im just talking about professors! Well, thats misleading, since the budget cuts affected the entire university and professors are upset about more than just tenure (furthermore, some academic staff have a tenure equivalent also weakened).

If Walker is using independent studies to get to 2.8, that's even more ridiculous. For example, instructors are often still listed in the course schedule under independent studies with zero students assigned even when they don't choose to do them. But this is critical: When they do choose to do them, they aren't paid for them, and they don't count toward official courseload. I've taught independent studies before. They are a lot of extra, unpaid work, and at the discretion of the instructor. If zero students are listed by one, it just means the instructor decided not to do extra unpaid work that semester, or no students sought to do one.

Walker called tenure "job for life," but it never has been. Professors could be fired for just cause before. And its very hard to get tenure.

The legislature created this crisis by plowing a surplus into more tax cuts and then announced it needed to fix it by insulting the people now voting no-confidence in the people not fighting back hard enough.

I fear politicians of any party (or their donors/political appointees) being the ones to dictate "what is intellectual value." Somehow I dont think Republicans would be targeting the UW System if most professors were conservative and writing endless treatises supporting their ideas. Think about it. Id be just as upset if the shoe were on the other foot.
This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

Reprinted from downwithtyranny.blogspot.com

It's looking more and more that the Crossroad in Philadelphia, the 2016 Democratic Convention, will be a crossroad indeed. Wasserman Schultz is reported to be openly stacking the convention committees with Clinton supporters, despite Sanders having won, so far at least, 45% of the delegates.And Ed Rendell -- a " huge Hillary Clinton backer ," a " vocal proponent of shale gas extraction " (fracking), former governor of Pennsylvania, former DNC chair and current " DNC Host Chair " (under Debbie Wasserman Schultz) -- is telling Sanders supporters, in effect, "You'll get to vote before you watch him lose, and then he'll make a nice goodbye speech, so don't make trouble afterward. Play nice and play along." (Note that Rendell has already called the rest of the race for Clinton. We'll see about that.)

RT @thehill: Dem convention host: Sanders supporters better 'behave themselves' when he loses https://t.co/gfjPKcvyuF https://t.co/Jm1mcUHy at https://t.co/gfjPKcvyuF May 10, 2016

Corporate cash helps fuel Democratic convention despite pledges



New group accepts company money



CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- While Democrats have touted their grassroots fundraising efforts for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, deep-pocketed corporate donors are helping underwrite the event.



Among the corporate sponsors at the Charlotte convention: AT&T Inc., Bank of America, Duke Energy, Time Warner Cable, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, UnitedHealth Group, Piedmont Natural Gas, US Airways and law and lobbying firm McGuireWoods.



The corporate sponsorship appears to fly in the face of the Democrats' pledge to host a "people's convention."



The party's 2012 "host committee" is not accepting contributions from corporations, lobbyists and political action committees. Democrats also capped how much money individuals can give at $100,000.



But the party is accepting in-kind donations from corporate firms. In addition, a second nonprofit, called "New American City" was established in May to "defray" administrative expenses and other costs. New American City does accept corporate money.



The exact levels of these companies' financial support won't be known until mid-October when filings will be submitted to the Federal Election Commission.











sponsor logos

(Image by cote) Details DMCA





And over the crowd at the Wells Fargo Convention Center will fly, at least virtually, all of the banners of every corporation that finances and maintains this Establishment -- including the ones that finance, almost certainly, its nominating convention.We won't know about corporate funding of the Democratic Party Convention until after it's held (clever of the law to allow that), but here's what happened in 2012 (my emphasis):Banks, cable companies (like Comcast, which as you'll see has a special seat at this year's well-bought table), health insurance companies, fracking companies, airlines and lobbying firms -- all are in all likelihood all lined up to foot the bill for the Establishment-run Democratic Convention. The Party fetes its patrons. The patrons smile down at the Party.By the way, I'd be shocked if Big Pharma weren't a huge contributor funding this year's Democratic Convention. TPP is an Obama high-value special order; drug companies are among the biggest winners if it passes; and how better to say thank you to a friend than to help the friend of a friend when she needs the cash. We won't find out about Pharma sponsorship until after the nomination, of course, but watch for it.
Reprinted from Wallwritings

The United Methodist Church has begun its 10-day General Conference in Portland, Oregon.

The Conference will consider resolutions to join other mainline Protestant denominations in divesting from three American corporate giants, Caterpillar, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard.

These companies profit from businesses that operate inside the occupied Palestinian territories. The UMC resolutions are aimed directly at the American companies, a tactic which worked well to reshape the government of South Africa.

The state of Israel hides behind "anti-Semitism" as it fights these divestment efforts. This often-used fear tactic originates in Israel and spreads like a virus deliberately introduced into different settings.

The tactic came up in recent British elections. When the "anti-Semitism" trope is on the table, you know Israel is afraid of being exposed as a fraud. Israel has never been the "only democracy in the region." Instead, as Ilan Pappe writes, Israel is "the last remaining, active settler-colonialist project."

Since its creation as a modern state, Israel has been guilty of immoral conduct and international crimes against the indigenous Palestinian population.

To defeat resolutions which support BDS, or at least water them down to "kum ba ya" meetings, Israel called on two leaders of U.S. pro-Israel organizations -- the Israel Action Network and the Jewish Federations of North America.

Their task: Write a "please help" letter to Hillary Clinton, a United Methodist Church member since childhood.

Clinton's response to these pro-Israel leaders is sheer, unadulterated Israeli propaganda.

"Particularly at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise across the world, we need to repudiate forceful efforts to malign and undermine Israel and the Jewish people. "Anti-Semitism has no place in any civilized society -- not in America, not in Europe, not anywhere. We must never tire in defending Israel's legitimacy, expanding security and economic ties, and taking our alliance to the next level. "Please know that I am grateful for your work, and that I stand ready to be your partner as we engage all people of good faith -- regardless of their political persuasion or their views on policy specifics -- in explaining why the BDS campaign is counterproductive to the pursuit of peace and harmful to Israelis and Palestinians alike..."

Well, that was not helpful.

The candidate almost certain to be our next president, announces to the world that as president, she will stand with Israel. Furthermore, she will make "countering BDS a priority."

Hillary Clinton is not a PEP (Progressive except on Palestine). She is nowhere close to being a Progressive. She is closer to being a neoconservative.
Many people were rightly disturbed earlier this week when Gizmodo revealed that Facebook employees allegedly suppressed conservative news stories on the whim of their employer's political leanings. As alarming as that story is, a new congressional investigation into Facebook for those editorial choices is arguably worse.

Gizmodo's Michael Nunez provoked a firestorm of criticism towards Facebook on Monday when he reported that a former Facebook staffer accused its news team of refusing to include conservative news outlets like Breitbart and RedState in its influential "trending news" section on the front page -- which generates huge traffic for those outlets included. Even if you despise the likes of Breitbart and RedState, the idea of such a dominant corporation controlling what you do and don't see online should alarm people of all political persuasions.



But now Republicans on the Senate commerce committee have opened an inquiry into Facebook's editorial decisions, which encroaches on the first amendment in a way that represents a clear and present danger to their free speech.



There is no question that Facebook's unprecedented power over the distribution of news is increasingly disturbing. According to a recent study of major news publishers, Facebook now accounts for over 40% of all traffic that comes to news sites. Facebook is now pushing news organizations to publish directly onto its platform by prioritizing traffic to those outlets who agree to its terms. And news organizations are regularly forced to spend large sums of money to reach Facebook users who already have "liked" a news organization page to actually see its content in their news feeds.





Facebook has the ability to cripple a news organization with one click or a single change to its algorithm. When they launched their instant articles feature a few years ago, news organizations saw a firehose of traffic, and then just as quickly, Facebook cut the service off, reducing that traffic to close to zero. Recently, they demonstrated their power by inexplicably deleting a page owned by a popular celebrity news site that had over four millions "likes," decimating its readership in almost an instant (Facebook later claimed it was because of copyright violations).

If Facebook so chooses, it could do the same to any news organization, and this has serious implications for the future of news in an era when the industry is already in decline. It's a situation that news organizations have to grapple with and the public should be fully conscious of.



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The Treasury Department released a new rule and several proposals last week that they said are intended to address the problem of corruption and dirty money in secret U.S. shell companies.

A White House news release announced what it called "several important steps to combat money laundering, corruption, and tax evasion, and called upon Congress to take additional action to address these critical issues." (A White House fact sheet is available here.)

The new rules at first glance appear strong. But after examining the details, several watchdog groups are warning that the new regulations and proposals leave open several glaring loopholes, and even practically provide instructions for how to get around the regulations.

The New Rules

Reuters has the story on the new rules, in "U.S. issues rule requiring banks to identify shell company owners":

"The Obama administration is issuing a long-delayed rule requiring the financial industry to identify the real owners of companies and proposing a bill that would require companies to report the identities of their owners to the federal government, U.S. officials said on Thursday. "The Customer Due Diligence (CDD) rule, in the works since 2012, and the proposed legislation are meant to hinder criminals from using shell companies to hide ownership and launder money, finance terror, and commit other threats to the global financial system. "[...] The final CDD rule will require banks, brokers, mutual funds and other financial institutions to collect and verify the identities of the real people, or 'beneficial owners,' who own and control companies when those companies open accounts."

The new rule requires banks to do more checking to find out who owns corporations that are getting bank accounts, so "shell corporations" can't hide their owners. According to the White House, the rule will require "financial institutions to know and verify the identities of the natural persons (also known as beneficial owners) who own, control, and profit from companies when those companies open accounts."

Proposed Laws

The Treasury Department is also asking Congress for a law that sets up a central registry tracking who owns corporations, with companies required to provide this information when incorporating. Now there is no such requirement or registry so law enforcement and tax collections are stymied.

According to the Reuters report:

"The Treasury is also proposing a regulation that would increase requirements for some foreign-owned companies operating in the United States to report information to the government, which officials said would prevent the use of those companies for tax avoidance purposes. "In addition, the Justice Department is proposing amendments that would strengthen its ability to pursue foreign corruption cases, including issuing subpoenas for records in money laundering investigations, obtaining overseas records, and using classified information in civil cases."

However, there is stronger legislation already before Congress. David Dayen reports at Salon, in "The Obama administration's Panama Papers misfire: Why new rules to curtail global tax avoidance could actually make things worse":
Reprinted from WSWS

In interviews Sunday on two television networks, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump rejected calls for an increase in the federal minimum wage and suggested that the federal standard should be scrapped.

Trump was questioned on the subject on the NBC program "Meet the Press" and on ABC's "This Week" and gave similar responses. NBC interviewer Chuck Todd reminded him of his statement during a Republican debate that the federal minimum wage should not be increased. This was the same debate in which Trump said flatly, "Wages are too high," and would have to be lowered to make American companies competitive.

Trump tried to combine verbal expressions of sympathy with the plight of low-paid workers with the rejection of any federal action to improve their living standards. "I don't know how people make it on $7.25 an hour," he began. "Now, with that being said, I would like to see an increase of some magnitude. But I'd rather leave it to the states. Let the states decide. Because don't forget, the states have to compete with each other."

Todd pressed him, asking, "Should the federal government set a floor, and then you let the states..." Trump interrupted, "No, I'd rather have the states go out and do what they have to do."

On ABC, interviewer George Stephanopoulos raised the same issue, pointing out that on the minimum wage, "all through the primaries, you were against an increase. Now you're saying you're looking at it. So what's your bottom line on this?"

Trump replied, "Well, I am looking at it and I haven't decided in terms of numbers. But I think people have to get more." Then he changed the subject, claiming that his economic policies would raise wages overall to much more than the $15 an hour minimum proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and reluctantly endorsed, with numerous qualifications, by Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Trump's call for the elimination of the federal minimum wage is a reactionary proposal and an attack on the living standards of the working class. It provides an indication, behind his pseudo-populist rhetoric, of the brutal assault on what remains of legal protections for workers that would be a centerpiece of a Trump administration. Posing as a friend of the coal miners in West Virginia last week, he called for the elimination of regulations on the coal companies, i.e., the gutting of health and safety rules as well as environmental restraints.

The federal minimum wage was established in 1938 as one of many social and labor reforms enacted under the New Deal administration of Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt. It was vociferously opposed by business interests, and every proposed increase over the past 78 years has been denounced by corporate lobbyists as a "job-killing" interference with the free market.

The federal minimum wage reached its highest level, in terms of 2013 dollars, in 1968, when it was the equivalent of nearly $11 an hour, and it plateaued at the equivalent of $9 an hour through the 1970s before plunging to the equivalent of $6 an hour at the end of the 1980s under conditions of Republican President Ronald Reagan's opposition to any increase.

Since then, the infrequent increases in the federal minimum wage have served only to offset rising prices. The last increase, to $7.25 an hour, came in 2009, and any subsequent increases have been blocked by Republican intransigence and Democratic indifference.

Efforts to raise the minimum wage shifted to the states, where 29 out of 50 states now require a higher minimum wage than the federal level. The 21 states that have minimum wages set at the federal level or even lower include most of the South, but also such industrial centers as Pennsylvania, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Trump's language on the minimum wage may seem confused and contradictory, but there is no question that this is an issue with which the real estate and casino mogul is intimately familiar. Many of his business enterprises employ low-wage labor, particularly in cleaning, security and other less-skilled positions at hotels, casinos and restaurants.

In suggesting that the federal minimum wage be dispensed with, and that the power to set a floor on wages be left to the states, which he pointed out "have to compete with each other," Trump is advocating a race to the bottom, in which governors and legislatures would offer minimum wage reductions and exemptions, just as they offer tax concessions, to entice companies to locate in their states.

This gives a glimpse of the savage right-wing policies that a Trump administration would institute, behind the billionaire's demagogy about restoring the jobs of coal miners, steel workers and other manufacturing workers.

It is also notable that while seeking to disguise his right-wing proposal on the minimum wage with clouds of words, Trump was far more specific in his pledges to Wall Street on taxes and the national debt.
Donald Trump's signature issue is immigration. When asked by the New York Times what he would accomplish during his first 100 days as President, Trump responded: "rescind Obama's executive orders on immigration," design the wall with Mexico, and ensure "the immigration ban on Muslims would be in place." Trump's immigration policy has five pillars.



Immigrants are dangerous: A January NBC News poll found that 34 percent of Republicans thought "terrorism" was the biggest issue facing the US; another 13 percent said it was "immigration." Trump has linked these two issues and staked out a position so extreme it outflanked the other GOP contenders, making him the presumptive Republican nominee.

In his June 15th announcement speech Trump said: "The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems" When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best" They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."

On July 5th, Trump asserted that Mexicans were responsible for "tremendous infectious disease" pouring across the border." Trump's first TV ad implied that ISIS fighters were also "pouring across the border."

The non-partisan website Politifact judged Trump's claims to be false. (Politfact also noted, "there is no evidence of a massive influx of infections across the border.")

Immigrants take away jobs: In a July 11th speech,Trump made further claims about immigrants: "They're taking our jobs. They're taking our manufacturing jobs. They're taking our money."

According to an August Rasmussen poll 51 percent of Americans "believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens."

However, an August Forbes magazine article said this belief is incorrect: "illegal immigrants actually raise wages for documented/native workers."

Immigration can be stopped by building a wall along the Mexican border: Trump promises to build a wall along the open border with Mexico. When pressed, Trump said the wall would be 1000 miles long, rise 35-40 feet, and cost $8 billion.

The Washington Post studied Trump's wall design and estimated that it would cost $25 billion for design and material; in addition, the construction would require "40,000 workers per year for at least four years."

Trump insists Mexico must pay for this wall. If they do not, he promises Mexican citizens will be subject to penalties on remittance payments, tariffs on temporary visas, and increased fees on border-crossing cards and at ports-of-entry. Legal experts believe that Trump's reimbursement scheme is illegal.

However, the bigger concern is whether such a wall, if built, would accomplish its objectives. Politifact noted that, in recent years, there has been zero net immigration across the Mexican border -- that is, the number of folks going north is matched by the number of people going south. (This was confirmed in a November Pew Research report.)

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by Sen. Doug Whitsett

The proper role of government is frequently debated in the Legislative Assembly. Most lawmakers agree that one of the fundamental functions of government is to provide the basic infrastructure that enables all citizens to have access to shared services such as roads, public schools and clean, potable water. Arguably, those services should include access to electric and natural gas utilities.

During the 2015 session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 32 by wide bipartisan margins. The bill states the Oregon Legislative Assembly finds that access to natural gas is in the public interest and the extension of pipelines to rural areas is necessary for communities to preserve and develop local economies and enlarge their tax bases. In addition, I believe the expansion of natural gas infrastructure and services also represents the most cost effective means of energy conservation.

SB 32 required the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to form a work group to study feasible ways to expand natural gas infrastructure to areas that are not currently served by public utilities. I was among those selected to serve on the work group that has already convened for several meetings.

One of my primary interests is the tremendous potential benefits the town of Lakeview could reap from the development of natural gas infrastructure. The picturesque city of about 2,300 people is the county seat and largest town located in Oregons third largest county. Like many other small rural Oregon towns, Lakeview has yet to experience the elusive economic recovery that is occurring in some of the more urban parts of the state.

I believe developing a natural gas utility in Lakeview would help to provide the kind of economic revitalization that could help carry its economy far into the future. Both the availability of natural gas and the potential cost of the distribution system are within reach.

The Ruby Pipeline, a 680-mile system extending from Wyoming to Oregon, provides natural gas supplies from the major Rocky Mountain basins to consumers in California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest. The 42-inch pipeline passes about two miles south of Lakeview.

It has an already installed terminal, as well as a lateral pipeline, constructed to an industrial site near the south city limits. Only an adequate source of funding is preventing the construction of a natural gas distribution system to Lakeviews potential residential, commercial and industrial users.

There is precedence for the kind of infrastructure expansion that the Legislative Assembly is attempting to achieve through the work group.

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt for the purpose of providing federal loans to help install electricity infrastructure in rural areas of the United States. The Act resulted in the electrification of rural America by subsidizing the development of the needed utility infrastructure.

Likewise, the Communications Act of 1934 provided that all people in the United States shall have access to rapid, efficient, nationwide communications service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges. It created the Universal Service Fund that operated as a mechanism by which interstate long distance carriers were assessed to subsidize telephone service to low-income households and high-cost areas. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional definition of universal service to include affordable, nationwide telephone service to rural health care providers, eligible schools and libraries, as well as other services.

Oregon also assesses a Universal Service Surcharge that helps to provide basic telephone service in high-cost areas, a Residential Service Protection Fund charge that helps fund the telephone assistance and telecommunication device access programs, and an Emergency 911 Communications Tax that funds the states emergency reporting system. Each of these assessments, charges and taxes are billed as line items on our monthly telephone bills.

Currently, investor owned electric utility customers in Oregon pay a public purpose charge (PCC) that is equal to three percent of their monthly utility bill. Investor owned natural gas utility customers pay a little less.

That surcharge, included as a line item on ratepayers monthly utility bills, collects more than $150 million per year from investor owned utility ratepayers. More than $21 million per year is collected from natural gas utility customers.

The PPC was established by Senate Bill 1149 and became effective March 1, 2002. Nearly three-fourths of the ratepayer money collected is designated to be spent for energy conservation in homes and businesses, the building of renewable resource power plants and other renewable resource projects.

In 2007, Senate Bill 838 amended the PPC law by giving utilities the ability to ask the PUC for permission to include in rates the costs of implementing or funding additional cost-effective energy conservation measures. The PUC requires the utilities to assess the achievable cost-effective conservation potential in their service territories. Natural gas is certainly one of the most cost-effective sources of available energy.

By my calculations, during the past decade, as much as $200 million of the PPC proceeds have been spent largely on solar and wind energy projects. The return on investment has been extremely poor.

For instance, according to the Department of Energy, Oregons entire solar generation capacity currently amounts to only seven one-hundredths of one percent of the States annual total electricity generation. Solar energys contribution to our states electric generation capacity is hardly measurable, despite the huge investment of PPC dollars on solar generation projects. Oregon could provide natural gas infrastructure to serve many rural communities for a fraction of what is being spent on these inefficient renewable systems.

The fact of the matter is, it is not wind and solar energy development that is reducing United States and global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The United States has an abundance of natural gas resources. The market-driven development of those resources has both driven down the cost of natural gas to historic lows and caused our national GHG emissions to plummet to mid-1990s levels.

In a newsletter I released last August, I described how the Bend-La Pine School District has been able to convert 40 percent of its bus fleet from diesel to liquid natural gas. Aside from the immediate cost savings of the fuel itself, the school district has also been able to reduce its hydrocarbon emissions by 80 percent. The environmental benefits of this conversion are apparent.

Lakeview has the distinction of being in an air inversion zone, and one of five Oregon towns struggling to attain Environmental Protection Agency air quality attainment goals. Because of that, the town struggles with how to preserve its air quality without further damage to its industrial and economic base. Like the other four towns, the wood stoves being used by many residents to heat their homes are often blamed for the air quality challenges.

The use of natural gas as an affordable home heating substitute could help solve this very difficult problem, as well as help spur the kind of private sector investment that any community needs in order to grow and thrive.

I will continue my efforts with members of the work group, as well as collaborating with other legislators and interested parties, to try and develop solutions for funding these natural gas infrastructure investments. Your ideas and recommendations are actively solicited.

The work groups next meeting is scheduled for June 16 in Salem.

Senator Doug Whitsett is the Republican state senator representing Senate District 28  Klamath Falls

To submit your ideas and recommendations to Sen. Doug Whitsett:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 503-986-1728
Hofmeister, seizing on voucher plan, says Stitt would kill rural schools

School choice becomes a defining difference between the top candidates in the race for governor, Democrat Joy Hofmeister and Republican Kevin Stitt.
Phuket, 12 May 2016  Town Hall Meeting 2016 was held at Amari Phuket, and led by the management team, Pierre-Andre Pelletier, Vice President and Area General Manager, South Thailand (right), Richard Margo, Hotel Manager (middle) and Tipaporn Koonphol, Deputy General Manager (left). They recently provided an update on the companys performance and thanked the team members for coming up with a huge success in the last quarter. Also, they promoted one exciting activity Sports Day, which will be held in the second quarter, so that the teams would be ready for the competition.
University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new way to redesign chimpanzee enclosures to translate research on wild chimpanzees into zoos to help preserve the behavioural and physiological adaptations that make the species unique.

The researchers, working with Twycross Zoo and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), have devised a new Enclosure Design Tool to keep the chimpanzees physically and mentally active and socially interactive, in a bid to ensure their behaviour emulates chimpanzee behaviour in the wild. This will help show how wild chimps really behave, enhance their welfare and improve their chance of survival in the wild, should reintroduction of future generations ever be required.

Chimps' behaviour in captivity can be very different to the behaviour they exhibit in the wild where their environment can be unpredictable due to its complexity, for example, threat from predators or changing habitat due to forest growth and decay. In addition, in zoos, chimps can also be more sedentary, and, therefore much like humans, prone to obesity and other illnesses.

The Birmingham-led team have created the enclosure design tool to give UK zoos easy access to research data on wild chimpanzees, and a web-based programme that uses this data to guide introduction of new features to chimp enclosures that emulate the mechanical behaviour of the forest canopy and the physical and cognitive challenges this poses to wild chimpanzees.

For example, the team has introduced a network of interconnected straps and nets at Twycross Zoo, from the top to the bottom of the chimp enclosure, which contains the chimps' bedding material and from which foraging pockets hang, containing their food. The movement of the network of these supports changes depending on how many of the chimps are using them and what they are doing, making their habitat unpredictable and more challenging to move around. The chimps have to arm-hang from multiple flexible straps and duck, dive and bend in different ways, using movements which will build a more natural, wild-type musculo-skeletal system.

These enclosure changes are designed to mimic the wild environment encouraging the animals to become more 'arboreal' and move around using more natural behaviours.

Dr Susannah Thorpe, from the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, and lead investigator on the study, said: 'The chimps' habitat in the wild is mechanically very challenging and different every day, so zoos need to be able to recreate a similar environment in captivity. But zoos rarely have ready access to research data on wild chimpanzee behaviour and the way wild chimps interact with their habitat. We have designed this tool to give zoos the ability to compare the behaviour of their animals to the latest research on wild chimps, and to use that to create physically and cognitively stimulating enclosures that mimic, as closely as possible, the mechanics of forest habitats.'

Dr Thorpe continued: 'Great Apes are predicted to be extinct in the wild in around 20 years, so it is extremely important that we go beyond simply 'preserving' the animal for its genetic material to 'conserving the whole organism'- the behavioural traits and physical adaptations that are a vital part of what determines an animal's ability to survive in their natural environment. Our project is about ensuring that future generations of chimps grow up in a complex and dynamic environment that is going to bring out these features to enhance their welfare, show the public how wild chimps really behave and improve their chance of survival in the wild, should it ever be required.'

The researchers' new enclosure design tool will be available to UK zoos through BIAZA. Dr. Kirsten Pullen, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums said: 'We encourage all our zoos to develop their welfare strategies to continuously promote the natural behaviours of the species in their care. This tool is a significant development in the range of techniques available to keep our zoos at the forefront of animal welfare.'

Dr Jackie Chappell, from the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences, who led the project to develop the new tool, said: 'The enclosure design tool is a web-based tool which provides all the information zoos need to collect and upload behavioural information on their animals. The tool then analyses this information automatically, providing bespoke, evidence-based advice about enclosure modification based on key differences between captive and wild behaviour.'

Dr Charlotte Macdonald, Director of Life Sciences at Twycross Zoo said: 'Twycross Zoo hosts a large number of research projects and facilitates scientific work with the aim to improve the welfare of the animals in our care. We are proud to be at the forefront of great ape conservation and this collaboration with the University of Birmingham provides an opportunity for making sure our enclosures enable our apes to behave as they would in the wild. Having implemented the recommendations based on this research into the enclosure design, we have already seen a positive change in our chimpanzees' behaviour and locomotion to resemble wild chimps.'

Explore further New measures to improve the welfare of captive elephants in UK
New discoveries uncovered at medieval sites across the East of England have been examined in a new form of conference in which academics, consultants and members of the public presented their data and discussed ideas.

Around 100 people representing universities, community groups from Essex to Yorkshire, and members of the public from as far as Wales and Cornwall attended the Medieval Settlement Research Group's 30th anniversary conference.

Recent archaeological discoveries spanning the sixth to the sixteenth centuries found in rural villages were reviewed to identify common and contrasting patterns.

Delegates discussed how findings from these projects are contributing to a 'bigger picture' about how developments in the medieval period have influenced the places we live in today.

Themes covered included the importance of the middle Anglo-Saxon period (7th to 9th centuries AD) in understanding how today's settlements came into existence, and the impact of the 14th century Black Death in reversing settlement growth for almost 200 years.

The conference, run by the School of History & Heritage at the University of Lincoln, adopted an innovative format to engage the public, giving members of community groups an opportunity to present findings on the same terms as academic teams.

As well as expert speakers, the conference included a visit to the deserted medieval village at the University of Lincoln's Riseholme campus, a site iconic as the first deserted medieval village excavation to be published in the journal, Medieval Archaeology.

The conference was devised and run by Professor Carenza Lewis, an archaeologist and Professor for the Public Understanding of Research at the University of Lincoln. She said: "The conference was open to anyone with an interest in medieval rural villages, hamlets and farms. It was also very timely; Historic England has just published a report into the research value of community archaeology and history showing how pertinent the issue of public engagement with research is in the field of heritage.

"We reviewed recent archaeological investigations in places where people currently live and work in Eastern England, which are often not thought of as historic sites, but where a lot of exciting and innovative work has recently been carried out. There was a special focus on the contribution of community projects to the academic study of rural settlements.

"Around 75 per cent of delegates were members of the public and the format which enabled professional archaeologists to hear about new discoveries made by community groups, who were in turn able to hear and discuss the latest academic ideas - was very successful, stimulating lively and informed discussion."

Formal feedback confirmed the positive impact the conference had; 83 per cent of delegates gave the conference overall the highest possible rating, 79 per cent felt they had made useful connections, 96 per cent felt they had learned something useful, and 92 per cent said they felt more inspired and enthused as a result of attending the conference. And 85 per cent said they would attend a similar conference again.

"Community archaeology is increasingly popular across the UK and has made possible new discoveries in and around many settlements of medieval origin where people live today," added Professor Lewis. "This focus on non-deserted medieval settlements is also reflected in current scholarly research which recognises that most medieval settlements did not become permanently deserted, thus encompassing the non-deserted majority is a priority if understanding of the period is to be advanced. The success of this conference makes me keen to run similar events again in the future."

Speakers included archaeologists and historians from the universities of Lincoln, Cambridge and Leicester; community archaeology groups from Essex, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire; as well as Historic England and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Explore further Exploring ancient life in the Vale of Pewsey
Trainee teachers with northern accents are under pressure to speak 'the Queen's English' in the classroom, according to a study carried out at The University of Manchester.

Dr Alex Baratta, a lecturer in linguistics, found that accents most associated with the Home Counties were favoured by the teacher training profession.

Last year Dr Baratta found trainee teachers with northern accents felt they were 'selling out' because they felt they had to change their accents to be understood in the classroom, having been instructed to do so by their mentors.

His latest study explored teacher accent, identity and linguistic prejudice and centred on schools based in the south of England - the previous study involved northern schools.

The research, according to Dr Baratta, exposes a culture of linguistic prejudice for a profession which would not tolerate prejudice based on race and religion.

He said: "There is a respect and tolerance for diversity in society, yet accents do not seem to get this treatment  they are the last form of acceptable prejudice! One teacher told me that it makes no sense that teachers have to sound the same, but teach the children to be who they are."

In interviews with trainee teachers with regional accents, Dr Baratta said almost all of his participants admitted that their accent had been picked-up on by mentors, leading to too many teaching staff feeling they had to neglect their 'true voice' and modify accents that were somehow deemed inappropriate for education.

"The trainee teachers I spoke to believe that they are being judged for how they speak and not what they say and asking them to modify their accents made them feel inferior," he said.

Another participant from the Midlands claimed that a mentor with a southern accent said that she'd be 'best to go back to where you came from', in relation to her pronunciation of 'a' and 'u', as in 'bath' and 'bus'.

"While Received Pronunciation or the Queen's English was historically regarded as the most prestigious accent, there is evidence to suggest its influence is less pervasive nowadays amidst growing recognition of, and respect for, regional accents.

"We live in a society in which equality is championed and diversity is celebrated, certainly within the workplace so why does it feel as if the teaching profession is completely discarding the unique richness that comes with regional accents."

In 2014, Dr Baratta conducted the first study into how accent modification in Britain affects the way people feel about themselves. He found that many people felt like fakes for 'poshing up' their accents to fit in to certain work and social situations, threatening their personal identities and often causing anger and frustration.

Explore further Teachers feel pressure to 'standardise' their accents in class
Gene expression is the process by which genetic information is used to produce proteins, which are essential for cells to function properly and fulfil their many purposes. It takes place in two distinctive steps: first the transcription, which takes place in the nucleus, then the translation, in the cytoplasm. Control of gene expression is vital for cells to produce the exact proteins that are needed at the right moment. Until now, gene transcription and translation into proteins were thought to be two independent processes.

Today, microbiologists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, and at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg (Germany) provide additional evidence that these two processes are intrinsically related and show that a protein complex called Ccr4-Not plays a key role in gene expression by acting as a messenger between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Published in Cell Reports, these results shed light on the very mechanisms governing gene expression, a process that controls the life and death of our cells.

Gene expression refers to the biochemical processes through which the information that is stored in our genes is read like an instruction book to produce proteins that will make our cells function properly. Until now, gene expression was thought to take place in two distinctive steps: first transcription, which takes place in the nucleus, then translation, in the cytoplasm. Today, research led by UNIGE and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory shows that transcription and translation are intrinsically related and continuously influence one another. To do so, a very efficient communication within the cell, between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, is essential. This dialogue is made possible by a protein complex called Ccr4-Not, which globally determines the cell translational capacity.

Gene expression: a two-way street

Martine Collart and her team from the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine discovered in 2014 that the Ccr4-Not complex enables the cytoplasm to provide information to the nucleus during translation. Today, they prove that it is a two way-street communication as the nucleus also communicates information to the cytoplasm at all stages of gene expression, thanks to Ccr4-Not. This complex acts as a messenger between the nucleus and the cytoplasm to ensure that both transcription and translation levels are well adapted. It is also able to enhance translation to compensate for transcriptional stress, thus ensuring that gene expression remains well-balanced.

Indeed, there is growing evidence that different levels of gene expression are interconnected to form a network. Constant feedback is therefore given by the components of various cellular machineries that act to produce functional proteins. This serves to ensure that gene expression remain stable. Prof. Collart explains the process in details: "During transcription in the nucleus, this complex controls the production of the machinery which produces the proteins in the cytoplasm. Basically, it controls in the nucleus how much proteins can be made as a whole. We were able to show that the Ccr4-Not complex, by connecting the cytoplasm to the nucleus, is a global regulator of gene expression that acts at all steps from gene to protein production." This complex therefore constitutes a major element which allows the cell to react to external events and keep control of its protein production.

"Previously, the nucleus was thought to act as a commanding post, controlling everything that happens within the cell. In 2014, however, we showed that the nucleus is actually influenced by the cytoplasm, where the environmental signals first appear. Our recent research now highlights that Ccr4-Not also regulates the translational capacity of the cells by associating in the nucleus with messenger RNAs, the molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, which then produce proteins. The picture is now complete: gene expression actually depends on a constant dialogue between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and the Ccr4-Not complex is a key player in orchestrating regulatory processes within and in between these different compartments", indicates Zoltan Villanyi, first author of this study.

The Ccr4-Not complex regulator is essential for the development of all animal embryos and is involved in many physiological mechanisms necessary for life, such as heart function, spermatogenesis or lipid metabolism. As this regulator directly controls gene expression, any mutation can have dramatic consequences, from embryonic death to cancer development later in life, as well as various metabolic failures. "Now that we have precisely identified the diversity of steps at which this regulator impacts mRNAs, we can start to study specific targets linked to diseases", stresses Prof. Collart. "It will open new doors to the understanding of the most fundamental cellular mechanisms governing how our genes are expressed, or not."

Explore further Rules of communication in the nucleus
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

There's now more than just anecdotal evidence that England's hedgehog population is feeling the squeeze. In the past 55 years, there has been a moderate decline of up to 7.4 percent in the areas they frequent, says Anouschka Hof of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US and Paul Bright, previously of the University of London in the UK. This is after they resampled two sets of data collected by members of the public as part of citizen-science projects. Their findings are published in Springer's European Journal of Wildlife Research.

The West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is a common species found widely in the western part of Europe. Conservationists are not yet officially worried about this relatively mobile animal that mainly feeds on slugs, earthworms, beetles and other larger insects. It is classified as "of least concern" on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. However, anecdotal evidence suggests a decline in numbers in, among, others Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium. Previous studies by Hof and Bright showed that major roads, a lack of connected green spaces and the presence of the Eurasian badger and the red fox can impact hedgehog populations in the UK.

To detect if there is indeed a long-term decline in the abundance and presence of this species, the researchers resampled two sets of data collected as part of citizen-science projects. The one is from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and was collected between 1960 and 1975. The other is from the nationwide public participation survey 'HogWatch" conducted between 2000 and 2015 throughout England.

According to Hof and Bright, the West European hedgehog is still found widespread in England, and was noted in 91 percent of the area surveyed through HogWatch. However, a more detailed comparison with the older data set suggests a possible 5 to 7.4 percent decline since the 1960s in the areas where it occurs.

"This suggests that the decline of the relative abundance of West European hedgehogs is moderate in England," says Hof. "It was once a common and more widespread species throughout its range."

Although it does not yet warrant specific conservation concern (this is normally only provided to a species once its numbers decline with 25 percent), Hof and Bright say this decline and the clustering of sightings in specific areas do warrant further investigation. The researchers believe that the West European hedgehog should be regarded as an indicator species of how the environment is deteriorating and should be managed.

"Possible constraints faced by West European hedgehogs might be more severe for less mobile taxa that have to cope with an increasingly fragmented landscape in both rural and urban areas," adds Bright.

Hof and Bright believe that the subsampling of citizen-science datasets is a useful, although not fool proof, tool that can inform conservationists about possible long-term changes in the abundance of particular species.

Explore further Too hot to hibernate for these Spanish hedgehogs

More information: Anouschka R. Hof et al, Quantifying the long-term decline of the West European hedgehog in England by subsampling citizen-science datasets, European Journal of Wildlife Research (2016). Anouschka R. Hof et al, Quantifying the long-term decline of the West European hedgehog in England by subsampling citizen-science datasets,(2016). DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1013-1
The Atlas detector at Cerns Large Hadron Collider (LHC) before it had been completely assembled. The protons, which are accelerated in the 27-kilometre LHC tunnel to nearly the speed of light, collide in the centre of the detector, which registers the particles created in the collisions. Credit: Cern

Particle physicists around the world are currently on the edge of their seats awaiting information about the traces of a brand new particle that were found during the latest run of the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator at CERN. One of these physicists is Christoffer Petersson at Chalmers University of Technology. In an article recently published in the journal, Physical Review Letters, he explains how he predicted the particle traces back in 2013.

"The discovery of a new particle now would be the greatest discovery of the past 40 years. Much, much more momentous than the discovery of the Higgs particle, which was expected and didn't include any surprises," says Christoffer Petersson, researcher in Subatomic and Plasma Physics at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

It was through particle collisions at CERN that the Higgs boson (particle) was discovered in 2012. It had been predicted for more than 40 years and completed what is known as the Standard Model. This model has up till now served as a map of all elementary particles in the universe, but has been unable to tell us, for example, what dark matter is. The CERN accelerator was restarted in 2015, following upgrades to boost the collision energy by 60 percent. The higher energy aimed to make it possible to create and see heavier particles that have no given place in the Standard Model. And the traces of precisely such a particle were presented on 15 December 2015.

"Following the Higgs discovery we remained none the wiser about how to proceed. However, a new particle would give us key clues as to which path we should take to find a new theory that can replace the Standard Model. This could mean several generations of work for both theorists and experimentalists, which is why many people are extremely enthusiastic and excited right now," says Christoffer Petersson.

More data need to be analysed for the traces of the new particle to be classed as confirmed. But the hope that such confirmation could be given towards the end of the summer was strengthened when new findings from the CERN accelerator were presented in March 2016 that showed the traces even more clearly. That's when it also became clear to Christoffer Petersson and his colleague, Riccardo Torre, at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland, that the findings tallied exactly with the theoretical predictions that they had published back in 2013.

"We heard rumours that they had found more collisions than expected that produced two photons, or light particles. As this tallied exactly with our theory we immediately wrote an article based on that theory. The fact that these traces matched our previously proposed theory makes our explanation well justified. There are, of course, a great many other possible explanations, but the vast majority of them are ex post theories subsequently presented," says Christoffer Petersson.

What has been found repeatedly are two photons with total energy that becomes mass corresponding to six times the mass of the Higgs particle. This could be because a new, heavy particle has been created in the collisions and has then disintegrated into two photons. The theory put forward by Christoffer Petersson and Riccardo Torre is based on supersymmetry, which suggests a possible extension of the Standard Model by saying that each particle in it has a much heavier superpartner. This means that for all known elementary particles there are a further equal number yet to be discovered.

Researchers have sought alternatives to the Standard Model for 40 years. The possibility of obtaining experimental results that can be used to either reinforce or reject many of the proposed theories now looks more promising than ever. Although Christoffer Petersson's article recently garnered attention in several scientific journals, he thinks that the most exciting thing is to be present at a revolutionary time.

"Now, the first dream is that this trace will be confirmed. It would be like starting again right from the beginning. Simply being able to be active at a time during which the entire field is entering into a new era would be totally fantastic."

Explore further Higgs particle can disintegrate into particles of dark matter, according to new model

More information: Christoffer Petersson et al. 750 GeV Diphoton Excess from the Goldstino Superpartner, Physical Review Letters (2016). Christoffer Petersson et al. 750 GeV Diphoton Excess from the Goldstino Superpartner,(2016). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.151804 Won Sang Cho et al. 750 GeV Diphoton Excess May Not Imply a 750 GeV Resonance, Physical Review Letters (2016). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.151805 Davide Castelvecchi. Zoo of theories showcased in publications on LHC anomaly, Nature (2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature.2016.19757 Journal information: Physical Review Letters , Nature
Last week, the state of Texas quietly issued a child care facility license to a family detention center in Karnes City, Texas. The license was issued despite the protests of attorneys, health professionals, and former detained individuals. While a temporary injunction now prevents Texas from issuing a similar license to the other family detention facility in the state, both centers remain open and the disgraceful practice of detaining child refugees continues.

Everything we know about detention, particularly indefinite detention, and especially of children, tells us that it is damaging to mental health: it produces surges in suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and sometimes even psychosis. Whats more, the women and children currently held in these family detention centers are particularly vulnerable, having fled some of the most violent places on earth. Many fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have lived with such a high level of violence and sexual violence that some have never known anything else. Children learn at elementary school age that they could be shot or beheaded and left as a warning by the narco-gangs that rule their cities and neighborhoods. Often, both women and children face pervasive violence in the home, and those who leave home are at risk of labor and sexual exploitation by gangs and traffickers.

In this context of high levels of organized crime and generalized violence, Central American governments appear helpless at best and implicated at worst. The net result is suffering, and, increasingly, an urgent impetus for flight. So every day, mothers pool resources from family and friends, abandon their homes, and flee north to the United States in an attempt to save their children, and in many cases, themselves. Yet whats waiting for many in the United States is not safety, but detention. Families are separated, and the fear or anxiety that motivated the flight is heightened in many. Childrens mental and physical health deteriorates alarmingly quickly.

This reality is clear to the volunteer clinicians in Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) Asylum Network who conduct pro bono forensic evaluations of asylum seekers. These evaluations are crucial in the documentation of physical and psychological harm from persecution, and can mean the difference between asylum and deportation. But in documenting the cases of detained families, our evaluators see the unique and insidious ways that detention is harming these children: in numerous cases, rather than finding relief, children are withdrawing and growing more fearful and hopeless in the centers. Clinicians describe children deteriorating physically and displaying increasingly inappropriate behavior, including growing violent, withdrawing socially, and trying to breastfeed at advanced ages because they are desperate for comfort.

When you hear the stories of these children, and the circumstances of their detention, this outcome is not surprising. These children have lived through and witnessed horrific violence. One PHR volunteer met with a woman whose child, also detained, had witnessed her mother being repeatedly violated and beaten, and who herself was physically scarred from the violence in her home. Another volunteer documented a case involving a mother who had fled with her child following decades of sexual abuse. Another child had witnessed family members and neighbors murdered.

For many of these children, their mothers are the only adult they have ever trusted, and the person who brought them out of danger, often over a weeks-long or even months-long trip north. However, in the detention centers, the mothers are disempowered and cant even tell their children when they will be released. The one person the children look to for safety is suddenly terrifyingly helpless. School is not a comfort  just a sea of changing faces as some children are released, some deported, and others join the class after having been captured at the border and detained. Faced with these circumstances, many children are simply falling apart.

Unfortunately, instead of working to end family detention, the Obama administration has worked to entrench the practice in the U.S. immigration system. The administration has continued to award federal contracts to run detention centers to private prison companies, like GEO Group, with abysmal records of abuse and neglect. And now the government is employing a regulatory sleight-of-hand, attempting to license family detention centers as child care facilities by fiat as a way to circumvent a federal court ruling that these detention centers are improper places to hold children. The administration has also argued that there is a moral case for jailing children, asserting that detaining and deporting families will deter parents from making the dangerous journey north with their kids. In reality though, it simply means that families will make repeated attempts to reach safety. No matter what deflection techniques the government applies, detention of children remains harmful, and must end.

Americans are right to object to the poor conditions and lack of oversight at family detention centers, and those centers should be properly prepared to provide safe and humane conditions. But there are no regulatory or policy changes that will make detention centers appropriate places for children. Detention, by itself, strips vulnerable children of their last means of emotional security, support, and sense of control, and it is time the federal government stopped this shameful practice.
Winning the Omnichannel Game With a Single Stock Pool

Omnichannel has been a hot topic among retailers for a long time. Ask a retail CEO what his or her number one ambition is, and chances are they will say creating and maintaining a connected, consistent customer experience across all channels.

However, are we any closer to achieving omnichannel success than when we started using the term a few years ago?

For some retailers, the answer is a resounding yes. They are able to serve the needs of each customer in an agile manner. These are mainly tier one retailers, the likes of Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, which have a robust omnichannel strategy.

For other retailers  predominantly in tiers two and three the reality is very different. Their business operations still remain siloed and, as a result, they face being left behind. Many of these tier two or three retailers can greatly enhance their omnichannel performance with a single stock pool  which allows them to have the right stock in the right place at the right time.

These retailers are in the process of reconfiguring their business model or processes to enable true channel integration. They may be budgeting for the technology investment necessary to put supporting operational systems in place. Or perhaps they lack the resources and direction to know what to do first, in order to ensure omnichannel success.

For retailers that fall into the final category, tackling inventory management should be a priority. Having one view of the entire stock across all channels is an important element in achieving omnichannel success, because it enables businesses to create a single stock pool. This is not necessarily a sole physical location  inventory can be physically held at different points  but an enterprise-wide ability to allocate stock on a first come, first served basis.

Moving to a single stock pool

A single stock pool improves the omnichannel customer experience in several important ways. First, by allocating based on central demand, it ensures that inventory is always directed towards the channel in which it is selling best. Therefore, customers who want to buy an item in-store, for example, arent being told its out of stock when theres plenty left in the online allocation. This has the added benefits of reducing overstock and expediting replenishment, therefore leading to a greater number of goods being sold at full price.

Moving to a single stock pool also reduces the need for safety stock, to account for errors in forecasting. If retailers are allocating stock by channel, each silo must have its own safety stock. Move this into a single stock pool for the entire business and only one safety stock pile is needed, which is likely to amount to fewer items than managing each channel separately.

Operating a single stock pool requires real time or near real time visibility of inventory everywhere in the enterprise. This includes every warehouse and store and, as far as possible, inventory ready to ship at the manufacturer and inventory on boats or on other modes of transport. In the long term, it may also include inventory at wholesalers and at franchisees, though this is likely to be a long way off, but within the life of new systems investments made today.

There are challenges and questions with operating a single stock pool that retailers must address. One key question is this: who owns the stock for each channel? The processes required to operate a single stock pool effectively means that there can only be one merchandising team in a fashion environment that manages all inventory for the business. In a consumer package goods or consumer durables business the equivalent is a central replenishment and re-buying team.

Successful approaches to single stock pool

Successfully implementation of a single stock pool in an omnichannel environment requires a comprehensive approach covering merchandise planning, weekly sales and stock intake, range planning, demand forecasting, pre- and post-allocations, warehouse management, imports management, distributed order management, returns management and clearance to be fully integrated.

Ultimately, it requires real time inventory visibility everywhere in the enterprise, though real time visibility of warehouse inventories will be a good place to start.

A single stock pool has a significant impact in reducing safety stocks and can reduce total stockholding by as much as 20 percent. So, while properly implementing a single stock pool concept is complex, the savings can be significant and customer service can be improved at the same time that inventory investment is reduced.

Retailers of all sizes should evaluate their omnichannel roadmap and look very closely at their inventory capabilities. From there, they can put the technology solutions in place to use network-wide visibility to its greatest effect; allocating, distributing, ordering and replenishing stock in a manner that gets the right product to the right customer every time, however and wherever they shop.

About Paula Da Silva

Paula Da Silva is the senior vice president of sales for CitiXsys, a provider of retail consulting, retail management software and point-of-sale systems.

Other articles that may be of interest:
Second Annual Blackhawk Network Shopper Study Finds Consumers Driving Payments Innovation, Payments Experience Can Impact Brand Perception

PR Newswire, PLEASANTON, Calif.  May 11, 2016

Americans utilization of a wide array of payments options, and their demand for others, is driving innovation in the payments category. Additionally, the payment process while shopping has become increasingly important, now ultimately influencing consumers perceptions of and loyalty to a brand. This, along with the years most used payments tools, was revealed today in a new research study from Blackhawk Network.

The research, How America Pays in 2016, surveyed more than 1,000 Americans in March 2016 to examine how they pay today, their preferences for traditional and emerging payments tools and the role payments play in their purchasing decisions. An infographic detailing the payments research can be viewed here.

The role of payments in Americans lives is increasing in importance. Consumers now have so many payment tools at their disposal; they can be selective about how they pay, and are even influenced on where to shop based on their experiences paying, said David Tate, senior vice president of products and marketing at Blackhawk Network, a pioneer of prepaid gift cards, payments tools and rewards delivered via a robust and convenient network. This year, we are seeing consumer-driven innovation in payments; gift cards are being used for self use, peer-to-peer payments have a foothold, mobile wallets continue to rise in adoption and the gift card exchange industry has taken off. Not surprisingly, among this innovation, the role of some legacy payments tools, like checks, continues to decline.
NEW YORK | Delcath Systems Inc. said Wednesday its first quarter saw progress in getting its cancer-fighting technology to a broader market, including the United States.

The company said the first three months of 2016 included the launch of patient enrollment in its global Phase 3 FOCUS Clinical Trial for treatment of liver cancer, a necessary step before the companys Chemosat drug delivery system can be approved for sale and use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration.

The company recorded a $1.8 million net loss for the quarter, compared with a net loss of $3.5 million for the same quarter of 2015.

As of March 31, Delcath had cash and cash equivalents on hand of $9.5 million, compared with $12.6 million at the end of 2015. Over the course of the first quarter, Delcath used $3.8 million to fund operating activities, the firm said.

"We began 2016 with strong momentum in our clinical development program, kicking off the year with the acceptance of a (Special Protocol Assessment) agreement with the FDA for initiation of our FOCUS Phase 3 trial," said President and CEO Jennifer K. Simpson.

She also cited continued commercialization of Chemosat in Europe, where the system has been approved for sale and use. During the first quarter, the company also announced Chemosat will soon be available in Turkey, at Hacettepe University.

Delcath has a production facility on Queensbury Avenue in Kingsbury.
SCHROON LAKE | Hugo Stjernholm Dalene, 89, husband of Laila Ann Dalene, formerly of St. James, New York, and most recently of Schroon Lake, New York, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016.

He was born Sept. 28, 1926, in Porsgrunn, Norway, to Tarje and Wilhelmine Dalene.

Hugo was loved by his family and friends.

Visiting hours will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016, at Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804.

A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

A graveside service will be immediately follow at Severance Cemetery in Schroon Lake, New York.

Condolences and floral arrangements may be sent directly to the funeral home or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.
GLENS FALLS  Tori J.E. Riley has been named president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, effective June 13.

Riley, who most recently served as vice president and economic development specialist with Saratoga Economic Development Corp., is the first female president and CEO in the chambers 102-year history, according to a prepared statement.

She previously was the ARCCs program management director from 2004 to 2008. She then was president of the Washington County Local Development Corp., a position she held for five years before joining SEDC.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to lead this organization, Riley said. I had the privilege of serving the ARCC nearly a decade ago and saw firsthand the many ways in which it helps its members grow and thrive. The ultimate success of any chamber comes from the success of its members, and Im looking forward to discovering new ways that we can be of even greater service to them.

I think we hit a home run, said Thomas G. Albrecht Sr., chairman of the ARCC board of directors. We had more than 100 applicants, and Tori rose to the top based on her passion for our mission, her deep relationships and respect among our regional business and government communities, and her spirit of collaboration, which is so important for a regional chamber.

When you consider Toris tremendous expertise in helping businesses grow and thrive, and combine it with her incredible passion for our region, you have someone who is ideally suited to lead the ARCC into the future, said Chamber Interim President and CEO George Ferone, who served on the executive search committee. Tori is well prepared to move the organization forward in a positive way and to position the ARCC to meet the needs of our members and be the decisive voice of business in our region.

A native of Fort Edward, Riley and her husband, Kevin, live in Fort Ann. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Fort Hudson Health Systems in Fort Edward and sits on the Lake George/Lake Champlain Regional Planning Board Revolving Loan Committee.

She is a 20-year member of VFW Post 2475 in Glens Falls and volunteers and advocates on behalf of veterans and senior citizens.

In 2008, she was recognized by The Post-Star newspaper as a 20 Under 40 honoree for her commitment to the regions business community.

Riley replaces Peter Aust, who left the chamber abruptly in January, during the first meeting of the chambers newly seated board of directors. The only explanation offered for that departure was that Aust left to pursue other career opportunities.

Riley said she will bring her experience and familiarity with the region to bear in her new role at the chambers helm.

Through my work with SEDC and the Washington County LDC, I have built a deep knowledge and understanding of the resources and programs available on the local, state and federal levels to help businesses succeed and grow, she said. Im also a big believer in collaboration and look forward to partnering with other organizations, both public and private, to advance the growth of our regions economy.
General Electric will pay the Saratoga County Water Authority $5.3 million to settle a federal lawsuit that claimed the cost of the county water system was driven up by GEs pollution of the Hudson River.

The settlement was reached Tuesday during a conference in federal court in Albany, and is scheduled for action on Tuesday by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors in Ballston Spa.

Its good news, said Waterford Supervisor John E. Lawler, who is chairman of the Water Authority. Its a settlement for a sizable sum of money, and we are pleased to put it behind us.

The Water Authority will vote on accepting the settlement at a May 26 meeting, Lawler said.

The lawsuit, filed in 2011 in U.S. District Court in Albany, alleged that GEs contamination of the Hudson River with polychlorined biphenyls drove up the cost of constructing the county water system, because it has to take water from the river in Moreau, upstream of the contamination. More than 30 miles of pipe bring that water to the southern part of the county, where most of the authoritys customers are.

If we could, it would make more sense to build a plant in Stillwater than in Moreau, and avoid building 20 miles of pipe, Lawler said Wednesday, after the county boards Law and Finance Committee recommended the settlements approval.

GE spokesman Mark Behan said the settlement is an appropriate resolution to what has become protracted litigation.

The authority hasnt decided how the money will be used, but one possibility is repaying roughly $4 million the county loaned to the authority when it was running start-up deficits. The authority, which started sales in 2010, became profitable for the first time in 2015.

The county water system cost $67 million to build. Its primary customer is the GlobalFoundries computer chip plant in Malta, although a number of towns also buy water.

The lawsuit charged that the Water Authority during design and construction incurred $27 million in additional costs to avoid the PCB-contaminated sections of the Hudson  primarily because of the cost of the 27-mile waterline from Moreau to Malta.

A 40-mile stretch of the river below Hudson Falls and Fort Edward was contaminated by GE plants in those communities between 1946 and 1977. GE last fall wrapped up a more than a $1 billion dredging project to clean the most-contaminated parts of the river.

The county system was designed between 2006 and 2008, before the dredging started. Authority engineers never seriously looked at using the contaminated section of the Hudson. Construction began in 2008.

The county authoritys case followed lawsuits filed against GE in 2009 by the riverfront towns of Stillwater, Halfmoon and Waterford and villages of Waterford and Stillwater, alleging that they incurred additional costs for their municipal water systems because of the PCB dredging.

In 2014, GE paid $7.95 million to settle the federal lawsuits with the town and village of Stillwater and with Waterford. The case brought by the town of Halfmoon is still pending in federal court.
Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan was honored Wednesday night with the regions Boy Scouts councils annual award for public service.

Hogan received the Good Scout Award at the Twin Rivers Council Wakpominee Districts annual event, held at Great Escape Lodge.

The longtime prosecutor was honored for continuous leadership and support of numerous community organizations, including her four terms as district attorney that have included numerous state honors and leading the way to establishing a regional child advocacy center and drug treatment courts.

The organization also honored Joseph Lehet with the Dr. John A. Doc Matochik Award for distinguished scouter and Peter Fisk and Six Flags Great Escape with the Linc A. Cathers Award for distinguished corporate supporter.

The Wakpominee District of the Twin Rivers Council of Boy Scouts of America serves Warren, Washington, and parts of Essex, Hamilton and Rensselaer Counties and supports over 1,350 young people.
SCHUYLERVILLE  Last years sewer rate gave rise to contentious feelings, but there is good news: The rate is going down.

It was $930.94 last year for the owner of a single-family house. This years bill will be $708.

That is still much higher than the 2014-2015 rate of $447, but its a 24 percent decrease from the 2015-2016 rate.

The Village Board switched to quarterly billing last year to make it easier for residents to pay the higher bill. That led to confusion, with some residents surprised to get regular bills.

Village Clerk/Treasurer Anna Welfley sent a letter with the first bill, explaining the situation, but still the board had to face an angry audience at the meeting after the first bills went out last year.

Mayor John Sherman said he was pleased to be able to offer a lower rate this year.

We worked hard, he said, referencing the four meetings board members held on the budget. We said wed do the best we could, and we did.

The bill went down this year, because the sewer district paid down some debt. It paid off a serial bond from 1990, on which the district owed about $45,000 in principal and $5,000 in interest, Welfley said.

Officials also moved a bond anticipation note to a 15-year bond after making a principal payment of $18,000. That significantly reduced the yearly bond payments, Welfley said. Legally, municipalities must move BANs to bonds, but they are not required to make a large principal payment first.

The village still has to pay off a zero-interest $12 million loan it received to make improvements required by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The village, like many municipalities, was required to keep sewage from entering the river. The village is hoping to get a $2 million grant to pay for part of that loan.

On the revenue side of the budget, Victory still isnt handing over the payments made by Victory residents, who are supposed to pay for about 22 percent of the sewer districts costs, minus Schuylerville-only expenses. That payment has not been handed over since 2011.

But a court case on the issue may be nearing completion, village attorney David Klingebiel said.

On Friday, both sides will be conferencing with a judge. They have been in mediation, and the conference was scheduled to try to work through some issues, Klingebiel said.

Village Board member Whitney Colvin is representing Schuylerville in mediation and at the conference.

Sewer bills will be sent out on a quarterly basis again this year, on Aug. 1, Nov. 1, Feb. 1 and April 10. Residents have about a month to pay each bill without penalty; after that, an additional fee is assessed.
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 

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Presenting the petition to the deputy labour minister, Mr Solomon Kotei said the petitioners are here to let the president know that enough is enough

We cannot look on for this opulence from the Chief Executive," he continued, "We cannot look on for disrespect to the high office of this country, the ICU General Secretary added.

If the presidency has given a directive and it has been flouted like this, what again is left with us, he said.

It will be recalled that some weeks ago, the workers held a press conference and alleged that Opuni and some leadership of COCOBOD were involved in some secret selling of cocoa amounting $10 million.

They said the state was losing that much due to the secret sale.

Mr in his address also noted that workers who have asked Opuni to do the right thing were given punitive transfer.

Mohammed Baba Jamal who received the petition on behalf of the president and the ministry said the workers should calm down and that they did some good by not necessarily creating problems.
The two were joined by Uzoka Kennedy, Deputy Managing Director and Group Managing Director Designate, UBA and Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Group Head, Financial Institutions and International Organizations, UBA, who all participated in the signing ceremony.

The MOU is a statement of general intent between EXIM Bank and UBA to promote the availability of EXIM financing of up to $100 million in the region. EXIM Bank and UBA will work together to share information and develop export-financing opportunities in key sectors including commodities, agriculture and food products, spare parts, and large and small equipment purchases.

UBA is a leading financial services institution in Africa, with business offices in 19 African countries, in addition to offices in the U.S., United Kingdom and France. The multinational Bank provides banking services to over 11 million customers in Africa and around the world.

Under the MOU, EXIM Bank and UBA will explore options for offering a range of financing solutions for American exporters and African buyers, including short and medium-term financing programs that allow for flexible repayment terms and competitive insurance policies guaranteed by EXIM.

Since 2009, EXIM has provided more than $6 billion in financing for transactions across sub-Saharan Africa. For the fiscal year ending in 2014, the Bank supported $2.05 billion in transactions in more than 20 sub-Saharan African countries.
The exclusive launch, held at the plush undefinedin Accra, was well-attended by industry players in the banking service.

Speaking at the launch of the USSD-based service, Archie Hesse, CEO of (GHiPSS) exhorted uniBank to integrate the new service into ACH platforms for easy facilitation of other financial services like salary payment and port clearances.

Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network for financial transactions regulated by the undefined through GHiPSS. ACH processes large volumes of credit and debit transactions in batches. ACH credit transfers include direct deposit, payroll and vendor payments.

Speaking at the event, Kofi Owusu Nhyira, CEO of Nsano noted that uniBank had moved into the "future" with the launch of the service. "uniBank has taken mobile banking a step further with SMILE", he said. He continued to hail the bank saying, "What we are launching is an epitome of what mobile banking ought to be".
The actress who was dressed in a shiny attire had her breast exposed and decided to cover it when patrons reacted through murmuring.

Speaking on Starr FMs Starr Chat on Wednesday, the Mummys Daughter actress said she posted some of the comments on her social media pages because she loved them.

I havent read comments but I have seen animations about the dress. I loved some and Ive posted some on my page. I think I love all of them. The dress made its debut on that Saturday she noted.

Meanwhile, former Miss Malaika winner, Hamamat Montia has rendered an apology to Ghanaiansfor what she describes as a wardrobe malfunction at the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
Civil Society Anti-Corruption Agenda on Extractive IndustriesCivil Society Organizations at a Dialogue on Anti-Corruption on Extractive Industries organized by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) on the 9th of May 2015, as prelude to the UK Anti-Corruption Summit, have called on the Government of Ghana to declare its commitment to fight corruption in Ghana and in the extractive industries in particular.The Dialogue considered the hotspots for corruption in Ghana and recommended specific commitments expected of the President of Ghana to ensure that Ghana takes bold steps at eradicating corruption.The participants called on the President to commit to a 10-point anti-corruption agenda as follows:An open and competitive process for awarding oil, gas and mining concessionsA mandatory requirement for the disclosure of oil, gas and mining contractsA mandatory requirement for the establishment of a public register of beneficial owners in the extractive industries and all their associated interest in Ghana and abroad. This could be done through a number of planned legislations  the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Bill or the Companies Bill.A requirement for the criminal prosecution of public officials found to have engaged in conflict of interest during oil, gas and mining licensing and in the regulation of operationsThe passage of the Right to Information BillThe passage of the Petroleum (Explorations and Production) BillThe Subscription to Open Data Standards across Ministries Departments and AgenciesConfirm Appointed Heads of Institutions in time to ensure their independence and security of tenureSign on to the Voluntary and Automatic Frameworks for exchange of information to address illicit financial flowsEffectively implement the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) or transform it into an Anti-Corruption Law.These commitments should also be backed by timelines to enable citizens to hold the President to account. It was agreed that much of the commitment to fight corruption in the past has been mere rhetoric without timelines and clarity on actions to be taken.It is our belief that our President who will be among world leaders to address the UK anti-corruption summit, will use this great platform to commit the government to an anti- corruption agenda that will lay the foundation for a transformative society in Ghana, in which official impunity, corruption, and mismanagement of public resources will be stopped.
Sheik Osman wondered why the nomadic herdsmen in the Yendi municipality were allowed to register and those at Zabzugu were disenfranchised.

"Honestly, with the Zabzugu district, it is not far from the boundaries of Togo, and so some of these herdsmen were moving with the cattle. So they were bussed into the Zabzugu district to register and they were denied," he told Accra-based Joy FM.

Meanwhile, the Northern regional director of the Electoral Commission, Bruce Ayisi, has said his checks reveal that the said Fulanis were "duly registered and some people challenged them."

He said the EC's District Registration Review Committee will sit on such challenge cases and make a determination as to whether a prospective registrant who has been challenged is qualified or not.

"In the circumstances, these Fulanis will be summoned to appear before the committee and the committee will go through its established procedures to make a determination on one-on-one basis," the Northern regional director of EC added.

The Limited Voters Registration exercise which began on Thursday, April 28 and ended on Sunday, May 8, was aimed at capturing the details of Ghanaians who have turned 18 since the last election in 2012.

There have been reported cases of violence, chaos and confusion at some registration centers, while in other centers, the exercise has been characterized with long queues and faulty registration machines.
Head of the Unit, David Selom Hukportie has told Accra-based TV3 that we also need to look at decriminalisation and here, I want to reiterate what Mr Akrasi Sarpong said.

"Many people misunderstood him but when you look at the situation and you want law enforcement to tackle it without the criminal justice coming in to help it, it will be a problem."

The executive secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, two years ago, called for the legalisation of marijuana in Ghana.

He said a "virtual legalisation" of marijuana was already in place as the drug could be found in cosmetics and hair products used by women in the country.

According to him, many Ghanaians, including respected professionals openly smoke marijuana.
He noted that the document "is scandalous and insulting to Ghanaians that the entire Smartty's 'Contract', when it finally came to be signed, was effectively just a-ONE-PAGE document.""And when one takes out the puffs and fluffs on that page, the only terms are captured in six (6) lines!""The second page was for signatures, and then some 5 or so pages of useless documents generated by Smartty's were added to pad and beef it up," he said."Yes, almost $1m of your money was being frittered away in an illegal sweetheart transaction with the yet-undenied endorsement of the Office of the President (the same Office of the President that ordered the investigation and does not have the courage, spine to publish the AG's report), and they didn't even bother to get a first-year lawyer to write a half-decent contract.""Worse, the Minister DID NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT."
The deceased's body was found in the bush with bullet wounds in his chest today, May 12, Myjoyonline.com reports.

According to a friend of the deceased, George Badu, two unknown persons sort Sulley's assistance to trace their missing cattle in the bush.

Kwasi Debrah of Kumasi based Luv FM's reported that"Minutes later, neighbours heard gunshots and thought the shots had been targeted at the supposed lost animals".

George Badu and other neighbours rushed to the bush and found the deceased had been shot.

Meanwhile, police have arrested one person in connection with the murder who lives in the town who helped with the relocation of the body of the body after he was shot.

He was said to have given his father a gun to keep for him as he was travelling.

Neighbours who suspected him and reported to the police and he was subsequently arrested.
According to the former president, the visit by the Trinidadian Prime Minister is one of the most rewarding political engagement Ghana has had in recent years.

Former President Rawlings reiterated the fact that without strong public institutions with leadership and purpose, Ghana and other West African countries will not be able to take full advantage of the benefits of their new found resources.

"I think that it is important that we make the integrity of our leadership one of the key factors and I think this is what we need the most on this continent. I'm saying so because some of our institutions that should be exacting integrity out of us have gone weak," he stressed.
The four-day convention, which was under the theme: "Hearing and Obeying the Lords Voice in my Generation", assembled leaders of the church from across the country to discuss issues relating to the advancement of the church.

According to the Vice President, citizens in the country must live in peace, adding "Each of us has a duty to play a part in maintaining the integrity of the nation for Ghana to develop in peace and harmony."

On his part, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah called on Ghanaians to promote a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the 2016 elections.

He also appealed to government to ensure that this year's elections will be free and fair, and devoid of violence.

Meanwhile, the membership of the Church of Pentecost in Ghana currently stands at 2,208,509.
Twitter has now taken action against the rapper following her racial and homophobic tweets at former One Direction star, Zayn Malik via her account, on May 10, 2016.

The social medium formally suspended her account today which is assumed to be a direct result of reports from other Twitter users.

This is another repercussion following Banks' Twitter exchange with Skai Jackson and Malik, which saw her dragged heavily by the 14-year-old star.

Yesterday, we reported that Rinse Born and Bred festival in the United Kingdom had announced that Banks would no longer be headlining their event, indicating that the brand is made for everyone and is all about "inclusivity and equality," something Banks seems to know nothing about.

As previously reported on numerous occasions, Banks is best known for her Twitter rants than her music and has taken shots at other Hollywood stars such as Donald Trump, Eminem, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea.

Sadly, Banks' apology which she issued following the backlash for her actions, was not enough to save her.

We think this is good riddance and Banks could use the the time away to get a grip on her attitude, what do you think?
While several people have criticised and insulted President Muhammadu Buhari, the actress today, Thursday, May 12, 2016 called on all to be patient and pray harder.

According to her, change does not happen over night and Nigeria still has honest leaders.

She wrote, "The moment you can accept your mistakes and be HONEST about it then there will be a solution. Change does not happen over night . To be born again you must confess your sins and accept ur mistakes to put the devil to shame .. Respect to Mr President . We still have honest leaders. Nigeria is going to be great. Be patient and pray harder."

Just yesterday, Nollywood actres, Georgina Onuoha, criticised the President for the recent removal of fuel subsidy which has seen the price of petrol rise to N145 per litre.

On May 11, 2016, Onuoha went hard on President Buhari on her Instagram, alleging that he is a corrupt leader, who helped to facilitate corruption in Nigeria during his term as a military leader.

Her outburst met encouragement from her followers, who also noted that the Nigerian president has not been able to deliver on his promises for change.

Change was the subject of President Buhari's campaign, but Nigerians have however grown impatient.
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!
Freeze who has appointed himself a watchdog for the nation, wrote an open letter yesterday, May 11, 2016 to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron who described Nigeria and Afghanistan as fantastically corrupt while debriefing the Queen of England.

The statement dominated conversations on social media, and of course caught Freeze's attention too.

However fans tired of his opinion piece on social media called him out accusing the 'critic' of talking too much.

"Sir, I respect you but you sometimes talk off point. You sometimes talk like you are not a journalist, a brave fan wrote.

Freeze, born to a Romanian mother and Nigerian father, decided to school the fan on his freedom of speech.

Im European bro, Freeze said, adding, the restriction of movement and speech that apply to you unfortunately dont apply to me!

Recall that Freeze has lately been dishing out advice and concerns after Tee Billz outed his wife Tiwa Savage on social media.

ALSO READ: undefined

He broke the story that Tee Billz tested negative to drug use and also wrote several articles on the subject.
The proud wife took to Instagram today, May 12, 2014 to celebrate him as today also marks their 15th wedding anniversary.

The lawyer shared a photo of the both of them in a boat in Venice, Italy with the caption, " To the bone of my bone and the flesh on my flesh.. @feladurotoye Thank you for #YourSupport #YourCompliments #YourCorrections #YourCounsel #YourBeingMyNumberFan #YourPositiveImpact #YourLoveOfHumanity #YourThoughfulness #YourPoliteness #YourKindness #YourConsiderations #YourWillingnesstoPutMyNeedsB4Urs #YourTheReal MVP .I will always love you."
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
The amiable E! Africa host and foremost media personality from South Africa easily charmed her way into the hearts of everyone she came across with her friendly but professional, down to earth and diplomatic but easy going nature when she came into Nigeria or a few days.

Revealing her love for designers Gert Johan Coetzee, Taibo Bacar, Toju Foyeh and more African designers the stylish TV girl who sees her mum as her fashion inspiration takes on glam styles without the help of a stylist! Even for red carpet events she gets the pieces together and picks what she thinks is the best look for her and she is dishing all about it.

"From the very early ages to where I am now I have always been told that cleanliness is next to Godliness so much so I fell in love with my image and then created a brand around it" she said about the image she's built over the years crediting social media for making her a global brand.

Speaking about fashion in Nigeria compared to South Africa, Bonang noted that it wouldn't be fair to compare as both have different ways of interpreting their styles, where Nigerians can be a bit daring and play with lot of colours, South Africans tend to be a bit conservative.
ALSO READ: 2 men in prison for practicing homosexuality

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, AIG Musa Daura, had reportedly paraded the suspects on Thursday, May 12, 2016, revealing that the suspects had been arrested on May 9, 2016, by the operatives of the zonal anti-vice section.

According to the reports, Daura has listed the suspects to include: Festus Osagiede, 24, Hyacinth Imahanrebhor, 20, Itama Omon, 25, Onwukwe Prince, 28, Monye Chukwuma, 23, and Osadebe Kelvin, 26.

AIG Daura also revealed that the suspects have confessed to have been committing the said crime since 2006, adding that one of them, Osagiede, who is said to be the leader of the gang, had first committed the crime when he had sexual relations with the third suspect after attending a night club in Benin City, back in 2006.

Speaking with pressmen, AIG Daura said:

After the third suspect (Itama) got drunk, Festus Osagiede took him to his house and forcefully had carnal knowledge of him.Since then, they have been committing the crime with others at large until May, 2016, when luck ran out of them and they swooped on by zonal detectives."

Another one of the suspects, Hyacinth, reveals that he had been forced into the act by Osagiede, whom he claims also threatened to kill him if he disclosed it to anyone.

Hyacinth reveals, saying:

It all happened late last year, when I was returning from a birthday party at night. I was unable get public transport back home.

I met Festus on my way; he asked me why I was roaming about. I said that I could pass the night at his place. That night, he touched me. In the course shouting at him, he forcefully penetrated me and it got me sick.

He said that if I told anybody, he knows where to find me and my family, that he would kill me.

ALSO READ: New documentary showing assaults faced by homosexuals in Nigeria

The AIG however, describes the crime as a disturbing trend, adding that many of the perpetrators have formed cliques, and that the suspects would be charged to court on Friday.
ALSO READ: 2 Nigerians to be executed in Indonesia for drug trafficking

The suspect identified as Onyekachi Namika Uchenna, 26, currently staying at Masjid Bundar in Mumbai was reportedly arrested on Monday, May 9, 2016 from Krushna Bazaar chowk in Sangvi, India.

The reports reveal that the team headed by police inspector, Shrikant Navale, and assistant inspector, Ajay Waghmare had been responsible for the arrest.

The ANC team which had according to reports, been patrolling on Friday night, becoming suspicious of Uchenna's presence at Krushan Bazaar chowk and had decided to question him.

Uchenna had later been detained following the questioning session, and the discovery of the drugs on him after he had been frisked.

The reports reveal that a case has been filed with the Sangvi police station against Uchenna.

Further investigation into the matter reveals that Uchenna had come into India two and a half years ago, but the visa he had used in entering into the country is still unknown.

ALSO READ: Nigerian woman nabbed in Indonesia for drug trafficking
BBC Journalist, Will Ross, reports that the two Nigerian men who had been protesting for Independence for Biafra, were arrested close to Buckingham Palace today, May 12, 2016.

Ross had gone on to share a photo of one of the protesters who had been arrested, whose identity is yet to be confirmed and released.

The photo shows the suspect with his hands handcuffed at his back, while sitted on the floor and surrounding by Police officers.
Punch reports that the victim, Funmilayo, had contacted Abiodun who runs his health centre, Damola Healthcare, located on Agbaje Street, to treat her of the ailment in December 2015, and was charged the sum of N18,000 for the drugs she would use for the treatment and she reportedly deposited N10,000 with a promise to pay the balance later.

But when her condition did not improve, the Abeokuta, Ogun State born lady requested to meet with Abiodun for further counselling in January 2016, and he decided to take over the treatment from his staff.

It was further learnt that Abiodun, after conducting some tests on the patient on January 17, allegedly told her that she had womb infections and she needed to be further examined, asking her to come back two days later by 9am.

On January 19, Funmilayo got to Abiodun's office at about 7am and waited at the reception for the 'doctor' who arrived at 8am. Upon his arrival, he invited the victim into his office and asked her to undress so as to have her private parts examined.

It was in the process of examining the patient that Abiodun allegedly raped her and thereafter, begged her not to tell anyone what he had done to her.

However, when she discovered that she was pregnant in February, 2016, Funmilayo went to Abiodun and informed her of her state and he urged her to go for an abortion and she went to the Ayobo Police Division and reported the matter and 'doctor' Abiodun was duly arrested by the police.

A police source said:

The doctor agreed he had an affair with her, but he insisted that the victim should get rid of the pregnancy. The lady insisted that she would not risk her life to go for an abortion since she was not promiscuous.

When the matter got to the Ayobo division, the doctor was arrested and made to promise to take care of the lady. But after he was granted bail, the promise was not kept.

The matter was later brought to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Alausa, which referred the victim to Mirabel Centre, Ikeja, for a checkup.

It was gathered that the DSVRT thereafter requested the matter to be transferred to the Isokoko division and the doctor was re-arrested."

Narrating her ordeal, the victim said:

On that day, when he arrived, we went into his office. He asked me to lie on the bed as he would insert a rubber tool into my private parts for examination. I did. My legs were far apart. He did that for some minutes, and suddenly I noticed he inserted his private parts.

I shouted, but the cleaner did not come in. He stopped when he ejaculated. Immediately, he began to apologise that he did not know what came over him. I vowed not to return to the centre. I did not tell anybody because I thought I should just forget about it.

It was in February that I found out I could not menstruate. I went for a scan, but nothing showed. By March, I went for another scan, and it showed that I was pregnant for six weeks and four days. When I informed him, he suggested abortion, which I rejected. That was how the trouble began.

Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, the DSVRT Coordinator, warned female patients to insist on having a female nurse around in the hospital room, whenever their private parts were to be examined by a male doctor.

This is a rape by a traditional doctor which has now resulted in pregnancy. We requested that the case be transferred to the Family Support Unit of the Isokoko division from Ayobo division.

The Department of Public Prosecutions has also requested the duplicate case file. The DSVRT has referred the victim to the OPD to get legal representation. She is also being given antenatal care at the Mirabel Centre.
The incident happened in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, after Patrick Chanda was caught by his friend having sex with his wife inside his car. Chanda, according to reports, usually drives his friend's wife to work on a daily basis.

After he was caught, Chanda tried to explain himself away thus:

"After taking her for work in the morning, she told me that she will give me money later in the afternoon after she comes back from work.

I agreed because that is the nature of our work. She later called me around 7.30pm to pick her up from Chilanga were she said she had traveled for work and I agreed.

After picking her up, I drove to Lusaka Hellen Kaunda area where she resides and I demanded that she pay me my money I have worked for.

Instead she complained that she didn't have money and told me to sleep with her. I tried to insist to just give me my money, but she removed her underwear and squeezed me. It was at this stage that I got carried away and slept with her in my car."
ALSO READ: Septuagenarian couple welcomes first child after 47 years of marriage

The owner of the statue, Maria Cardenas, from Fresno, California, has revealed that the statue had begun to shed tears 18 months ago after her cousin had been murdered.

Cardenas reportedly described the mysterious crying as a "miracle," adding that she has been sharing the tears she collects from the figure with her visitors.

Although Cardenas has revealed that she "doesn't understand why she's doing it," she reportedly believes it could be linked to the death of her cousin identified as, Jessie Lopez.

The woman had received the statue as a Mother's Day gift 10 years ago, and everything has been normal until Lopez had been murdered 18 months ago when tears had begun to well up in the sculpture's right eye, streaming down her cheeks.

Cardenas' neighbour, Richard Quintana said he had "wanted to come see for myself" after he had been invited to take a look when he moved in across the street.

Quintana added:

"That's amazing. It takes the words out of my mouth-- like wow. I'm so amazed."

Speaking with a local ABC affiliate, the caretaker of the statue says:

Weve had priests come from all over to look at her, and all they say is that its a miracle. Were not hiding her, but at the same time we dont want anything to happen to her."

The photos show a cup being held under the chin of the statue as the tears stream down its cheeks to drip into the cup.
According to information, Oladele who is married with two kids, had broken up a fight that broke out between the man and another person and could have caused destruction in the club but as he was going back to his duty post, the aggrieved assailant brought out a gun and fired shots at him at close range.
According to Premium Times, Congresswoman, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee, representing the 18th District of Texas, is sponsoring a bill, H.R. 528, which will allow the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to use money from the recovered Abacha loot that is in its custody to provide relief for families of the abducted Chibok girls.

Lee, who spoke on Wednesday, May 11, at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the role of the US in helping Nigeria confront Boko Haram and other threats in Northern Nigeria, sought the Committee's support for the bill titled Victims of Terror Protection Act.

I have HR 528 which I would like to bring to the Committees attention, she said, noting that it deals with the Abacha loot which the DOJ has.

Asides the Congresswoman, 10 other people spoke at the hearing, including one of the Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram terrorists on the night they were kidnapped.

Lee, who visited Nigeria on a fact-finding mission a few weeks after the kidnapping, said the bill was inspired by the plight of the families of the kidnapped girls and that the intention was to create relief fund for them and other victims.

When we were in Nigeria two years ago, families were still in pain, they are still in limbo. Boko Haram has killed Muslims, Christians and others, theyve killed and burned mosques and churches and homes and schools, she said.

According to her, while the ultimate question remains how the girls can be rescued, there are broken families out there urging that the DOJ can begin to utilize that money asap to provide the relief these families desperately need.

The U.S. was one of the earliest destinations late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his family stashed money stolen from the country.

Mohammed Abacha and his late brother, Ibrahim, opened accounts with Citibank, New York, in 1992 using the aliases Chinquinto, Gelsobella and Navarrio.

Three years later, they opened a business account with the name Morgan Procurement. The Abachas gave a US-French citizen, named Alain Ober, power of attorney over their New York and London bank accounts.

By 1999 when a U.S. Senate Committee began investigating Abacha loot, the accounts had recorded more than $110 million transactions including $47 million that passed through the New York accounts within six months and $37 million found in one account in 1995.
Abu said this at the ongoing trial of the ex CDS at Federal High Court, Abuja.

The cashier said he converted N558.2m to dollars every month, and handed it to Badeh.

Punch reports that Abu said "The left over in the personnel and emolument account are transferred to five other accounts after paying salaries, because the balance of the salaries are meant for other purposes, and the personnel and emolument account is just for payment of salaries.

After distributing the money into five accounts, the funds are used to augment the NAF overheads expenditure. We use them to pay estacode, non-regular allowances, training and operations, also purchase of aviation fuel.

For the expenditure for the fund, we receive approvals from the headquarters of NAF, usually approved by the Chief of Air Staff, however, in November 2012, when the new Camp Finance Officer resumed, he informed me verbally that there was a standing instruction for the sum of N558,200,000 to be set aside monthly for headquarters, NAF training and operational purposes.

He also informed me that the amount is to be converted to US dollars, except there is any other instruction to the contrary.

I complied with the instruction and I converted the amount monthly, from November 2012 to December 2013, within the 14 months, a total of N7.8b plus was set aside, out of this, within the 14 months, I received, instruction to transfer a total sum of N410m to HAFCO Nigeria Limited and N875m plus to Right Builders Technologies.

Badeh is facing trial for the misappropriation of N1.1 billion meant for the Nigeria Airforce and also for his involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.
Speaking on the plight of the parents in an interview with Christine Amanpour on CNN, Buhari said that it is unimaginable having his own daughter in such situation.

I saw the families as a group twice. The first time, they came to visit my wife. The second, they came as a group to see me, and the less I see them the better for my own emotional balance, he said.

I try to imagine my 14-year-old year old daughter missing for more than two years. I try to imagine what condition are they in. A lot of the fathers would rather see their graves, than imagine them under such condition."

The President also disagreed with the idea of showing a proof of life video to the parents, noting that there is no point raising their hopes when the girls have not been rescued.

CNN had published a video showing some of the girls alive and seemingly well. The video was said to have been sent to negotiators by the Boko Haram sect.

I have not seen that video and even if I see it, I will be very careful about showing it to the family. There is no point to deliberately raise the hope of the families if you cant meet them.

If we know where they are, then we can organize to secure them, but if they have been divided in a group of five, ten, two all over this region of Lake Chad commission, that is Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger, there is no way we can spontaneously and simultaneously attack all those locations and get the girls and the important thing to us is to get them alive,Buhari said.

The Boko Haram terrorists abducted the girls, numbering 276, from their school dormitory on the night April 14 - 15, 2014. Although 57 of the girls managed to escape a few months later, 219 others remained in captivity.
The PM had been caught on camera saying that Nigeria and Afghanistan are fantastically corrupt.

First of all I had better check the microphone is on before speaking tips on diplomacy are useful, given the last 24 hours I have made many unforced errors, Cameron said after being summoned by the House of Commons over the comment.

The leaders of Nigeria and Afghanistan are battling hard against very corrupt systems and have made remarkable steps forward, he added.

Camerons remark drew criticism from all over the world with many accusing him of hypocrisy due to the role of the UK in the storing of ill-gotten wealth.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in response, urged the British PM not to bother with an apology as his government is only interested in the return of stolen assets.
The EFCC had stormed Fani-Kayode's last Friday following an invitation asking him to report to the agency's headquarters on Monday, May 9, for questioning over alleged criminal conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.

He honoured the anti-graft agency's invitation, but was detained.

Earlier today, the EFCC invaded the residence of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode even when he was still in their custody, he said in a statement.

What miffed us most was their mode of operation which was forceful, provocative and dangerous as they wielded their guns with needless threats.

The worst is that the invasion was without a warrant as they forced their way in, and after terrifying all the staff at home including the infant, they whisked the laundry man away even though he was later released.

This is the fourth time the EFCC operatives would be invading Chief Fani-Kayodes residence in just one week. We condemn this act of executive lawlessness, harassment and intimidation. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has served this country even at the highest levels and he deserves some courtesy.

We call on the EFCC to endeavour to carry out their functions within the ambit of our laws and stop brazenly betraying the fact that Chief Fani-Kayode is under persecution. The world is watching! Ndukwe said.
Punch reports that Buhari, in an interview with Sky News Diplomatic Editor, Dominic Waghorn, agreed with Cameron that Nigeria is corrupt.

Reports also say Mr. President said he was in no way embarrassed by the statement of the British Prime Minister.

The Sky News Editor, Waghorn, on his Twitter timeline also tweeted Buharis answer.

Read the transcribed excerpt of the interview, which was obtained from Punch.

Waghorn: Will you like an apology from the Prime Minister?

Buhari: No, no. Not at all.

Waghorn: Are you embarrassed by what he (Cameron) said?

Buhari: No, Im not.

Waghorn: Is Nigeria fantastically corrupt?

Buhari: Yes.

The President had said earlier, in response to Cameron's comment, that I am not going to be demanding any apology from anybody. What I will be demanding is the return of assets. I have already mentioned how disgraceful one of Nigerias executives was. He had to dress like a woman to leave Britain and left behind his bank account and fixed assets which Britain is prepared to hand over to us.

This is what I am asking for. What will I do with an apology? I need something tangible.
Nigerians took to Twitter to express their dismay at the British PMs comment and trust our people who will always get the fun part of every situation, various memes were created.

A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) have also condemned the Camerons comment, saying the western countries themselves are paying lip service to the fight against corruption.

Punch reports that TMG in a statement signed by by its chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, said "Our position is that the looters in Nigeria and corrupt elements in the West, helping to stash illicit monies in their banking systems, are equally culpable. The moral opprobrium, and the necessary global action to stop these illicit financial flows must focus on countries of origin of corrupt monies as well as recipient countries.

Beyond the narrative of endemic corruption in Nigeria therefore, a much more definite burden must be placed on countries like Britain, and their offshore tax havens that have served as safe destinations for ill-gotten wealth from Nigeria.

TMG therefore calls on the government of western nations to immediately expedite action for the repatriation of all Nigerian monies currently yielding layers of interest in bank vaults in their banking systems.
He said the government lacks statutory power to increase fuel pump price as the body empowered to take such decision is yet to be constituted.

Falana, who stated this in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, May 12, asked the government to revert to the old pump price.

He said the Muhammadu Buhari administration acted against its promises not to remove subsidy in order to inflict undue pains on Nigerians.

The lawyer stressed that since the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) empowered to recommend the price of petroleum products has not been reconstituted, such decision was wrong.

In view of the illegality, insensitivity and immorality of the price increase the Federal Government should cancel it, revert to the status quo and consult widely with all relevant stakeholders in the society, Falana said.

He also faulted the move based on the recent invitation of fresh bids for the setting up of modular refineries by the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which resulted to licensing of 22 modular refineries with combined capacities to refine 1.429 million barrels of crude oil per day. If the policy is genuinely pursued the construction of the refineries ought to be completed within the 9-12 months.

If such refineries are established in the country the importation of fuel and the fraud associated with it will stop.

"In the interim, instead of importing oil from Europe and the United States the NNPC should refine crude oil for domestic consumption in neighbouring countries which have functional refineries.

"After all, Nigeria refines 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day in Cote divoire which is not an oil producing nation. He said.

He further stated that If subsidy had been removed over a month ago and the country has been saving $2 billion (from fuel importation and subsidy removal) while the refineries are now working at full capacity Dr. Kachukwu should tell Nigerians the justification for the new removal of fuel subsidy announced by him yesterday.

The cost elements that make up the N145 are provocative. If the total landing cost of a litre and other charges are fixed at N138 what is the basis of fixing the price at N145? For goodness sake, why should motorists be made to pay NPA/NIMASA charges, within and without storage/ bridging charges etc?"
Sahara Reporter said some victims who spoke to the international organisation said people died as a result of disease, hunger, dehydration, and gunshot wounds.

Reports also say children under the age of six have been left to die.

A former inmate who spoke to Amnesty International said No one has a shirt so you can count the ribs of their body. There is no cleaning, so you live in disease.

It is like a toilet. Me and my brother were sick inside the cell. Diarrhea was common.

According to reports, another witness said It is hunger and thirst and the heat  these are the main problems, one former detainee told Amnesty International.

There is a small plastic bowl for food. People use it for small children. It is just that for each meal.

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally. They campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.
The spokesman of the group Abdullahi Garba, while speaking to journalists at Murtala square Kaduna, the venue of their protest, said their group is facing intimidation, harassment and arrest by law enforcement agents particularly the police.

Abdullahi Garba, who said he sells mobile phones on the streets of Kaduna, claimed that police have once arrested him because he was hawking.

"The policemen descended on us and detained us. As I am speaking to you, about 20 hawkers were arrested by the police. Some have been remanded in prison without even bail," he said.

"We regret voting for El-Rufai as governor and we are calling on him to have the fear of God and cancel the law, because we don't have any means of livelihood beside hawking to assist our parents."

President/National Chairman Good Government monitoring Group (GGMG), Comrade Abu Amar Abdullahi Saleh, condemned the ban on hawking.

He said the ban will pose negative effects on majority of youth in the state.
The Commands Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Wednesday that the suspects were apprehended during the violence.

He disclosed that the state Police Commissioner, Mr Maigari Dikko who visited the area had ordered the arrest of five others believed to be the mastermind of the protest.

We have arrested 18 suspects and they are now assisting us in our investigations.

According to him, the commissioner had ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to enhance security in the area.

He added that the police commissioners had visited the families of the affected politicians where he sympathized with them.

Majiya said as soon as investigation was completed, the suspects would be prosecuted.
The attack was reportedly carried out at the state government secretariat.

Reuters reports that four people were killed in the attack.

Other reports said two policemen lost their lives in the blast.

A photo, believed to be that of the suicide bomber, that carried out the attack was also released.

It would be recalled that Nigeria's terror group, Boko Haram, had pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2015 and renewed it in April 2016.
For today, May 10 2016:

THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

Petrol to sell for N145 per litre as new import regime opensA plan by the Federal Government to deregulate the petroleum sector has begun as premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, is now to sell around N145 per litre. READ MORE

Fresh vista for establishment of education bankCalls for the establishment of Nigerian Education Bank has been on for nearly a decade. But not much has happened in this direction despite groups and influential individuals joining the fray. ENO-ABASI SUNDAY and ADAMU ABUH write on the latest effort on the project. READ MORE

Baghdad market bombing claimed by IS kills 64A car bombing claimed by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group killed at least 64 people at a market in a Shiite area of north Baghdad yesterday, officials said. READ MORE__________________________________

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Killing of security operatives: Dont trigger repeat of Odi massacre, Dickson warns militantsYenagoaBayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, yesterday, condemned the killing of seven Naval and Joint Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield personnel, along the creek of Nembe and Foropa community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state respectively and other parts of the Niger Delta region. READ MORE

Forex problems caused N145 petrol price  FGABUJAThe Federal Government, yesterday, hiked the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, directing marketers to sell at between N135 and N145 per litre. READ MORE

Sterling, Access banks explain involvement with EFCC officialsLAGOS Sterling and Access Banks have notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, about their operations concerning the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. READ MORE_________________________________

THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

I changed N7.8bn to dollars for Badeh  NAF cashierA cashier at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Emmanuel Abu, on Wednesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja, the role he played in the alleged monthly diversion of N558.2m from the Nigerian Air Force accounts by an ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.). READ MORE

Diezani bribe: EFCC grills Imoke, detains Edo gov aspirantThe immediate past Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke, was grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes in its Port Harcourt office on Wednesday for several hours for his alleged role in the $115m (N23bn) bribe allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. READ MORE__________________________________

BUSINESS DAY NEWSPAPER

Labour kicks as FG raises petrol price to N145Following months of uncertainty in which Nigerians endured debilitating shortage of petrol, the Federal Government on Wednesday finally ended the subsidy regime on the product and approved an increase in the pump price. READ MORE

Deregulation at last! FG bows to common senseAfter several years of pussy-footing that has led to the near crippling of the down-stream of its oil and gas industry the Nigerian government yesterday took a bold step towards full deregulation of the sector. The move is being described as a bowing to common sense for a country that has gradually witnessed everything wrong READ MORE
Identified as Abbas Isiyaku, the deceased, who was one of the followers of Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the group, was arrested alongside others after the December clash with the Nigerian soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The state prosecutor, Dari Bayero, told the Kaduna state high court about Isiyaku's death on Wednesday, May 11.

Bayero told the presiding judge, David Wyoms, to strike out the name of the deceased from the list of the 91 members of the group facing death sentence for culpable homicide.

Before your Lordship is a charge under sections 97, 221, 102,106 and 256 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna state for mention, Bayero said.

Before we start, I apply that the name of Abbas Isiyaku be struck off the list.

Following the clash, 266 shi'ites were arrested while 256 are facing charges including death sentence, 10 others have been arraigned in different courts in the state.

Zakzaky, the group's leader has also been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2015, despite series of protests demanding his release and that of other detained shi'ite members.
The festival kicked off at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres in the French Riviera-based town for the opening ceremony, a screening of Woody Allen's film, Cafe Society, which stars, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, Steve Carell and Jesse Eisenberg.

ALSO READ: undefined

1. "Adindu"

Directed by Ifeoma Chukwuogo, the movie is a drama-thriller about a familys journey in their desperation to save their infant daughter and the complications they face along the way.

The movie explores the dynamics of familial religious differences, opposing ideologies, traditional ancient beliefs versus modern beliefs and the possible mystery of an age-old Nigerian myth.

ALSO READ: undefined

2. Iterum

Directed by Stanlee Ohikhuare, the 15-minute film revolves around Ireti and Kome, who have their fates interwoven upon their rather enchanting first encounter.

The attraction is based on the unknown as they go on a journey of discovery; peeling off layers of secrets and inhibitions till they both stand bare before each other. Then one of them seeks the unknown again.

ALSO READ: undefined

3. No Good Turn

Following a Boko Haram terrorist attack, a suspected terrorist is brought into the hospital. The doctor handling the emergency ward must try to keep the chief of police in check as he is out for jungle justice. He must keep everyone's value in check especially his own.

Directed by and starring Udoka Oyeka, the movie also stars Nobert Young and Waje Iruobe.

ALSO READ:

4. Erased

Grace is a young married woman in Lagos, Nigeria faced with a big dilemma. She is unsure of how to resolve her home situation. What will she do?

"Erased" is directed by Baba Agba.

The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 11 to May 22, 2016.
According to the organisers, 2016 nominees in the 28 categories of the annual pan-African reward system for motion picture practitioners will hold at the Protea Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking on the event, the Chairman of the AMAA Jury, Shaibu Husseini, disclosed that the nominees will be unveiled at a strictly media event as against the usual practice of announcing the nominees at a Gala Night ceremony.

In the words of Shaibu Husseini, In the last 8 years the nominees have been announced at events outside Nigeria and the last year being at JW Marriot Hotel, Los Angeles, United States. We are having both the nominees event and the main awards in Nigeria this year. We look forward to a very grand awards in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in June.

Continuing, Husseini said, Only 25 feature films will make it into nomination stage however they may not all be nominated. But the 25 made it to the final stages of AMAA selection out of the over 280 feature films received this year from over 25 African countries including Nigeria, Cape Verde, Gambia, Morrocco, Uganda, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cameroun, Mali, Ethiopia, Niger, Kenya, Algeria and Egypt. Also 15 short films (Africa and diaspora) made it to the final stages but unfortunately only 8 of the African documentary films will make it to nomination and 3 Diaspora short films.

In his closing remarks, Husseini said, We are very happy about the quality of works that came into the competition this year and it gladdens our heart that every year the objectives of the awards are being achieved with film makers in Africa and beyond upping their game.
ALSO READ: undefined

A new episode titled "Rise By Sin" aired on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, and we have put together five things that happened on the episode.

1. Freda found out what Lucious did to her father all thanks to a drunk Carol, who showed up at the ASAs red carpet drunk, and spoke the truth.

2. Cookie found out that her sister Carol is dating a man who used to be a Chicago PD officer. It turns out the man is building a case against Lucious and Empire, with Anika giving him information on the Lyon family and Empire.

3. Before the ASAs, Lucious and Jamal had a heated argument after Lucious walked in on Jamal and D-Money sharing an intimate moment. Lucious told Jamal he would be happy when he died of AIDS.

4. Freda attempted to shoot Lucious at the ASAs after she discovered he killed her father, Frank Gathers, but Jamal took the bullet for him.

5. Hakeem does not with the award for best rapper, and neither does Jamal nor Lucious win the award for song of the year.

ALSO READ: undefined
Transparency International, a group whose focus is on fighting corruption across the globe, faulted the British PM's comment, and called on Britain to make stricter rules that will stop looters from hiding money in the country.

Nigerians also aired their opinion on the matter on various social media platforms, especially on Twitter.

The London chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wasted no time to also condemn Cameron's comment, describing it as rash.

The APC London chapter, in a press release issued by its Press Secretary, Adenike Lucas, also supported President Buhari's call for the release of funds stashed in various British banks.

The party said "At an anti-corruption event in London today, President Muhammadu Buhari revealed that he was not interested in an apology from the Prime Minister who made a comment that Nigeria was fantastically corrupt to the Queen yesterday.

"APC UK supports President Buharis call for the British PM to facilitate the return of stolen money and assets stashed in the UK.

"We understand that the UK is becoming an environment where looters come to hide / invest their stolen wealth.

"We join President Buhari in demanding for the establishment of an anti-corruption infrastructure that will trace and return stolen assets to their countries of origin."

The statement also said "The UK must introduce retrospective legislation that would address impunity and help to repatriate funds that were stored up here by corrupt officials and businesses.

"Over $ 400 billion have been stolen from oil resource; we call for all this monies hidden in offshore accounts be returned back to Nigeria.

"The President is doing a good job in his fight against corruption and the UK government has a responsibility to ensure it does not allow corrupt officials to hide their loots here."
Fayose said the Presidents utterances about the nation when he travels outside Nigeria, gave Cameron the audacity to make such statements.

The Governor also said Buhari should apologise to Nigerians for 'demarketing' the country in international circles.

Fayose, in a statement signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, said What do you expect from the international community when the president of a nation keeps going abroad to say that his people are corrupt?

The Ekiti state Governor also chided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for acting like it is above the law.

Fayose also said When a president mounts the podium in foreign lands and gleefully says that his own people are criminals, that they are corrupt and that those abroad should be sent back home, why wont presidents of other countries brand all citizens of such a country as fantastically corrupt?

Rather than this grandstanding from the presidency, conceited efforts should be made to redeem the image of Nigeria that the president has destroyed.
The statement reads:

Nigerians are now left at the mercy of political liars who took over power by deception and are governing by deceit.

When they were seeking votes from Nigerians, they promised to reduce petrol pump price from N87 to N45 per litre, they promised to create three million jobs per year, they said $1 will be equal to N1 and above all, they promised to pay unemployed youths N5, 000 stipends and provide one meal a day to pupils nationwide.

Instead of fulfilling their promises, they have increased petrol pump price to N145 per litre, increased electricity tariffs, retrenched thousands of workers and imposed untold hardships on Nigerians.

As they did in 2012, if labour leaders do not also stand up for the people at this time, posterity will not forgive them.

Fayoses comments follow the announcement by the Federal Government that petrol will now sell for up to N145 per litre due to the removal of subsidies.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first year Microbiology student, whose name was given as Gloria Kavaya Iqra, reportedly converted to Islam in October 2015 after her family neglected her.

Citizen TV reported that Iqra disappeared from campus in February 2016 to stay with a Somali family in South B where she was arrested last week.

It was suspected that she underwent radicalisation after an unidentified agency promised to finance her studies at the International University of Africa in Sudan.

The court ruled on Monday that she remained in custody until a bond of KES 500 000 was paid.

In February, another Kenyan university student was arrested while on his way to Libya to join the terror group.
Dr Fabian Benjamin, the boards Head of Media and Information, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos during a telephone interview.

He, therefore, advised candidates, who wish to change from one institution to another, and from one course to another, to do so before the Friday May 13 deadline.

NAN reports that no fewer than 1.6 million candidates participated in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on the all Computer Based Test (CBT) platform.

We started the sales of these forms in March and it has been on ever since.

We have given enough time to candidates, who desire to change their course or institution, to do so in order to avoid any rush.

The sales of forms will, officially, be closed on Friday, May 13, and we do not anticipate any extension.

Concerned candidates are, therefore, advised to cash-in on this opportunity to avoid any form of complaints, he said.

Benjamin also told NAN that the Admission Policy Meeting of the board would hold in July.

He said that the board was expecting all stakeholders from the nations tertiary institutions to attend the meeting.

Already, preparations are in top gear for a hitch-free policy meeting on admission coming up in July.

We expect all the top stakeholders from our tertiary institutions to be in attendance, he said.

He lauded the efforts being taken by the Federal Ministry of Education to turn around the fortunes of the sector.

He said that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu and his team had been quietly working behind the scene to reposition the sector.
The Amnesty Office was recently criticised after it was alleged that 43 of its students were abandoned in a US university.

A statement by Owei Lakemfa of the Presidential Amnesty Office said that the problem being faced by the students in America is to be blamed on the vendor company (Kaplan), which ignored the directive by the office not to fly them abroad and went ahead to fly the 43 students out of the country

The company, according to Lakemfa also ignored the same directive earlier issued by the then out-going Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, who consequently directed Kaplan International not to deploy the 43 students abroad in view of the dearth of funds and resources in the Amnesty Office.

He also noted that the company on 9 June, 2015, equally ignored the management of the Amnesty Office, which met under the interim chairmanship of Mr. D.P. Tikolo, who also reaffirmed the decision not to send the 43 students abroad.

To justify its decision, Lakemfa said that the Amnesty Office, apart from the fact that Kaplan took the students to US without authorization, its fees are unrealistic, unaffordable and un-payable.

"Kaplan is charging for the one year pre-degree programme it carried out, an average N10,262,745.00 per student which comes to a total N496,200,000. This includes its charge of S17,000 per student for a ten-week Bridge Programme in the US.

"Its fees for the students in the American universities which come to an average of $75,000 each, is more than twice what the Amnesty Office pays for students in the same universities undergoing similar courses. Even the fees of IVY League Schools in US are far cheaper; for instance its leading light, Harvard University charges $43,983," he pointed out.
David Cameron's remarks during a conversation with Queen Elizabeth, caught on camera on Tuesday, have so far dominated the build-up to a global anti-corruption summit he is hosting on Thursday which Buhari will attend.

During a pre-summit event in London, Buhari was asked to respond to Cameron's comment that Nigeria and Afghanistan were "possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world".

He has since noted that the leaders of both countries are working hard to combat corruption.

"I am not going to demand any apology from anybody. What I am demanding is the return of assets," Buhari said at an event, to applause from Nigerians in the audience.

"What would I do with an apology? I need something tangible," he said, rubbing his fingers together in a gesture commonly used to refer to money. The audience laughed.

Buhari has a reputation for personal probity and has pledged to crack down on corruption in Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer and most populous nation where generations of politicians have looted public coffers for their personal gain.

Buhari did not specify which assets he was talking about.

British police have conducted several investigations in recent years into assets held in Britain by Nigerian politicians, including two former state governors and a former oil minister. One of the ex-governors is serving a prison sentence in Britain after pleading guilty to money-laundering.

Nigeria is listed at number 136 out of 167 in campaign group Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, an annual ranking of countries in which a higher number indicates a higher level of perceived corruption.

RUNAWAY GOVERNOR

Britain lies equal 10th with Germany and Luxembourg.

But British opposition politicians and anti-corruption campaigners have said Cameron was ill-placed to criticise Nigeria when Britain's own record on combating corruption was less than glorious.

They have said that corrupt politicians and business people from Nigeria and many other countries have laundered their ill-gotten gains in Britain's property market, while London also has ties to numerous tax havens routinely used to hide stolen money.

In his remarks on Wednesday, Buhari alluded to the case of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of the oil-producing state of Bayelsa in the Niger Delta, who was arrested in London in 2005 on suspicion of money-laundering.

Alamieyeseigha skipped bail and fled back to Nigeria dressed as a woman. He was later impeached, tried and convicted in Nigeria of stealing millions of dollars of public money.
The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010, accusing him of masterminding genocide and other atrocities in his campaign to crush a revolt in Sudan's western Darfur region.

Uganda is a member of the ICC, which means it is required to act on the arrest warrant. The trip is Bashir's first to Uganda since the ICC warrants were issued and follows Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Khartoum last year.

He has also visited China and Indonesia, which are not ICC members, over the past year.

Last June, Bashir was forced to flee South Africa, a member of the ICC, after a court ruled he should be banned from leaving pending the outcome of a hearing on his possible arrest.
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the School Breakfast Program, the programs current top official reflects on the great strides the program has made in strengthening the health and nutrition of children in America.

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the School Breakfast Program, the programs current top official reflects on the great strides the program has made in strengthening the health and nutrition of children in America.

The School Breakfast Program provides cash assistance to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential child care institutions.

Starting the day with a well-balanced breakfast has been proven to contribute to the students ability to perform well in the classroom. Going forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to support the School Breakfast Program by providing the resources and support necessary to give kids the kick start they need to be healthy and strong all day long.

Over the past several years, Nevada has seen one of the more significant increases in the nation in its school breakfast program.

I think thats a significant factor in a lot of rural areas for this reason; for many kids, they have to get on the bus very early in the morning, said Kevin Concannon, USDAs under secretary. They may get right out of bed and get on the bus. In the past, with schools that did not have as much access to school breakfast, many of those kids would find themselves in the middle of the morning really being distracted because theyre hungry.

The Food and Nutrition Service administers the program at the federal level. State education agencies administer it at the state level, and local school food authorities operate the program in schools.

In about a five-year period, Nevada has increased by about 50 percent the number of students in the state that are having breakfast at school. Its just under 100,000 students right now that are having breakfast at school.

A program that began this school year, Breakfast after the Bell, created by the implementation of Senate Bill 503, is a big part of the jump in the state.

There are nine schools in the Nye County School District that participate in the program. They are Amargosa Middle School, Amargosa Valley Elementary, Beatty Elementary, Beatty High School, Beatty Middle School, Gabbs Middle/High School, J.G. Johnson Elementary School and Manse Elementary School.

The Breakfast after the Bell bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval in June and required all Nevada schools with 70 percent or greater eligibility to implement an option for students to receive breakfast after the start of the school day.

The bill set aside $2 million in grant money to assist in operations for the program over the next two years.

Concannon explained that faculty members from schools nationwide boast of the benefits of students eating a well-balanced meal before school.

When I travel the country  I hear the testimony from teachers, principals, school superintendents that breakfast is one of the most significant contributors to kids being able to concentrate better and fewer behavioral problems in the classroom, he said.

Research shows that students who consume breakfast score higher on academic tests, have fewer behavioral issues and make fewer visits to the school nurse.

There are fewer kids complaining of stomach aches, headaches, being restless and some schools it believes it even has an impact on attendance, he said. We know its making a difference and were very pleased with that, because we know if kids eat healthy, one, theyre going to learn and grow better and two, its a great way to educate kids to eat healthier foods. We love the attachment in schools.

One of Concannons goals is to have Nevada kids who eat breakfast at around the same number as the number of children who eat lunch at school, but at this point it is well off the mark.

There are about 200,000 students who eat lunch at school each day and breakfast is just a hair under 100,000 now, he said.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
With their win, Pahrump Valley has clinched a playoff spot in the 3A southern regional tournament. The Trojans need just one more win or a tie by Equipo Academy to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Mountain League.
LeClaire was praised as a great example Thursday of what a small town can do to raise awareness of what a wonderful place it is to visit.

Debi Durham, director of Iowa Economic Development, made one of her monthly trips to Iowa communities Thursday when she got a full tour of attractions in LeClaire.

This is a great example for other communities, Durham said while touring the Buffalo Bill Museum. The challenge for us is to do a better job of telling the Iowa story. We can do a better job of marketing. There is always a better job before us, giving a voice and vision is a bigger challenge.

Last year, she made a commitment to travel the state in support and recognition of the tourism industry's work. She made the tour Thursday with Shawna Lode, Iowa tourism manager, Cindy Bruhn, LeClaire tourism manager, and Debbie Mulvania, LeClaire Tourism Board president.

They saw various sites and visited many businesses, including shops and restaurants. They also ate lunch with representatives from the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce, LeClaire City Council and the Quad-Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

And while there are challenges to do better, Durham said the state is very strong in terms of tourism and showcasing what is special about the state and its people. That includes Scott County.

Scott County is No. 3 in tourism dollars, and I think that has something to do with the river, she said. "The river draws people first."

She said a key for communities to promote themselves is playing to their strengths, such as the river.

Visiting these areas tells us what we need to market, she said. It gives a voice to that, seeing it firsthand. That is so important. Tourism is big business.

According to 2014 data, Lode said tourism created $621 million in traveling expenditures in Scott County, 6,100 jobs, $32 million in state tax revenues and $10 million in local tax revenue. Only Polk and Linn counties had higher numbers.

We are trying to recruit businesses and grow businesses and recruit and retain residents, Lode said. Tourism is an $8 billion industry in our state.

She said tourism is strong in the state, in part, because of its location. She said it is located just hours from large metro areas such as Chicago, St. Louis, the Twin Cities and Kansas City.

It is perfect for those three-day weekends, Lode said. People spend money in the state, which grows the economy. And by the way, gives them a memory of a lifetime.

Bruhn said that since 2007, when LeClaire embarked on its revitalization project, many new businesses have located there, enhancing its tourism draw. She also likes Durham making these visits across the state.

It's wonderful them coming to towns, big and small, Bruhn said. It is nice to see the state of Iowa sees the importance in tourism.
On Dec. 19, 1966, a convoy of 20 moving vans maneuvered its way into a community hailed as a new concept in retirement living.

The first residents had arrived at Ridgecrest Village in Davenport.

The community was described by the Davenport Times-Democrat as a pioneer undertaking in America to provide an entirely new concept in living for golden agers.

Ridgecrest Retirement Village, 4130 Northwest Blvd., Davenport, has moved from dream to drawing board to reality in a few short years, focusing the eyes of the nation's religious leaders on the Quad-Cities, where this experiment in inter-denominational and inter-faith Christian living is taking place, the newspaper reported.

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, Ridgecrest has grown considerably since the first 52 residents moved into 36 apartments and cottages on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, 1966.

It opened on a 20-acre site with eight cottages, or duplexes; a two-story building with 93 studio apartments, a 50-bed health center and a Volkswagen Microbus to shuttle residents to doctor appointments and other destinations.

The two-story building, or high rise as it was called, sported a dining room with a fireplace. A library with a wall of books and big windows overlooked an inner court.

Ridgecrest was aimed at people between the ages of 62 to 79, although exceptions might be made for young-looking, healthy octogenarians, the Times-Democrat reported. (In August, Ridgecrest will have five centenarians if all remain in good health.)

Today, Ridgecrest has 37 cottage units and 115 apartments for independent living, a 150-seat chapel, a nursing center with 100 beds and a 60-unit apartment for those who require assistance. Residents enjoy a myriad of amenities to include a cafe and gift shop, beauty/barbershop, general store, fitness center and computer room.

Bert Vigen, Ridgecrest's executive director since 1996, said the village looks to the future with optimism and expects to continue program innovation over the next 50 years.

The driving force behind Ridgecrest Village was the Rev. John W. Koning, a Presbyterian minister from Davenport. A former missionary in Africa and chaplain with the U.S Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II, he saw a need for a community where elderly people could receive help and care so that they could live comfortably and yet independently in their retirement years.

As the pastor at Newcomb Presbyterian Church, he had visited several older members of the community who were experiencing problems, as his son, John W. Koning Jr., wrote in a biography of his father, Picking Up Bottles.

One was a woman who had not had a decent meal in several weeks. Another lived alone in a house strewn with spoiled food, dirty dishes and other filth. Koning once found her blacked out in a bathtub where she had fallen.

He was very concerned about the plight of the elderly, his son wrote.

A 1963 visit to Valley View, a retirement community in Des Moines, made Koning wonder if a similar complex could be developed in Davenport. The administrator of Valley View told Koning about Kenneth Berg, a Presbyterian minister from Missouri. He helped Koning organize a Quad-City group to begin such a project.

The $1.8 million venture was financed by a $1.2 million loan from Prudential Life Insurance Co. and the sale of lifetime leases.

The 20-acre site was purchased from the Strieter Corp., a builder, developer and real estate company that had developed the Kimberly Village subdivision just north of the site. Strieter figured a retirement village was the perfect fit for its subdivision.

Many homeowners prefer to reside near their older or retired loved ones, the company said in a congratulatory advertisement published in the Times-Democrat.

Ridgecrest was established as an Iowa nonprofit corporation with a board of directors consisting of Christian ministers and lay people, who serve without pay.

Brooks-Borg, a Des Moines architectural firm, designed the buildings. Priester Construction Co., Davenport, and Weitz Co. Inc., Des Moines, were the general contractors.

The dedication ceremony was held on March 11, 1967, with Times-Democrat publisher, Philip D. Adler, as keynote speaker.

After 20 years as pastor of Newcomb Presbyterian Church, Koning left the pulpit in 1966 to become administrator/chaplain at Ridgecrest Village. He retired in 1980 but remained as chaplain and director of social services until 1983. He died at age 80 in February 1986.

Koning told the Times-Democrat that a place such as Ridgecrest had been a longtime dream and that he had been praying and looking forward to it becoming a reality.

One of our biggest problems has been creating the image of a home for retired persons, rather than a nursing home," he was quoted as saying "Ridgecrest Village is in no sense a nursing home though we will have a 50-bed health wing in conjunction with the retirement village. We will offer life care to the persons who live here, something no other home offers.
New federal rules could make it easier for a Memphis-based company to fight allegations that it will "cherry pick" patients at its proposed new psychiatric hospital in Bettendorf.

The allegation has been an important part of the months-long debate over whether Strategic Behavior Health can open a 72-bed hospital at Tanglefoot Lane and Golden Valley Drive.

The Obama administration last week published a sweeping new set of regulations for Medicaid managed care organizations, and one of the provisions would loosen the rules governing federal funding for what are called Institutions for Mental Disease.

For years, the federal government has banned Medicaid payments for adults, those between 21 and 64 years of age, who get treatment at larger psychiatric institutions, or IMDs. Critics, however, say the prohibition is outdated and restricts access.

The new rules, which were published in the Federal Register last week, will allow payments to IMDs for adults for stays of up to 15 days.

Critics of the proposed hospital have argued that Strategic would not be able to accept Medicaid patients because of the longstanding federal rules and that it would instead lure the most profitable patients, ignoring the poor ones. They argued such a tactic would undermine existing providers.

For its part, Strategic has denied that and said 30 percent of patients would be on Medicaid. In a document sent to the state of Iowa last month backing its request to build the psychiatric hospital, Strategic Behavioral Health pointed to the new rule and said it plans to seek out contracts with the managed care organizations overseeing the program in Iowa.

"They tried to convince folks that we couldn't take adult Medicaid, this ruling shoots that argument down," Jim Shaheen, Strategic's president said in an email this week.

The argument over what is called the "IMD exclusion" is a part of a wide-ranging debate in the Quad-Cities over whether the state should give permission for Strategic to locate its hospital here.

The Quad-Cities' two largest hospitals, Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Health-Trinity, have opposed the application.

In addition to arguing that Strategic would pick off the patients with more ability to pay, the hospitals have said the Tennessee company would undermine their ability to draw professional staff and be inconsistent with the state's move toward regional delivery of behavioral health services. Strategic has disputed those assertions.

Iowa's State Health Facilities Council deadlocked on the question, 2-2, after an eight-hour hearing in February on whether to grant it a certificate of need. Because there was a tie vote  one member of the council was absent  the certificate was not granted. Strategic has said it will try again before the council at its next meeting in July.

Officials at Genesis and UnityPoint responded to the new federal rules by saying that, ultimately, it is up to the state of Iowa whether Medicaid payments will be allowed at IMDs in the state. That decision hasn't been made yet.

Ken Croken, Genesis' vice president for communication and advocacy, said until Iowa agrees to provide Medicaid payments, there's no change.

"I have no reason to think that will be the case before July 7," he said.

"If they do adopt these rules at the state level, that opens the door for SBH to receive payment for Iowa Medicaid patients. However, whether they decide to accept these patients or not is their business decision, not ours," Dennis Duke, president of the Robert Young Center, an affiliate of UnityPoint, said in a statement.

Strategic has said that it will accept patients regardless of their ability to pay.

A spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Human Services, Amy McCoy, said the issue still is being studied. It wasn't clear when the state might weigh in on the matter.

Representatives for UnitedHealthcare and Amerihealth Caritas said they would make their own decisions in consultations with the state.
The city is planning to tear out much of the parking lot that serves Rhythm City Casino's current riverfront location and replace it with grass once the boat leaves, Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch said Wednesday.

Klipsch briefed the city's Levee Improvement Commission of the short-term plan as city leaders revisit other long-term ideas.

"Like the Dock, we will clean up this area," Klipsch said, referring to last year when the city demolished the former restaurant.

Some parking will remain to serve the riverfront, but most of the seven acres will become public park space, possibly with the addition of mobile food vendors, Klipsch said.

"These are not hot dog stands," he said. "They are food trucks. That's the trend in cities like New York and Chicago."

The casino's boat already has sold, and the barge that has served the casino for decades is on the market. The city has not offered to buy the barge, Rhythm City Casino's general manager Mo Hyder said.

The casino, which is reopening near the Interstates 80 and 74 interchange on June 16, will have three months from that date to clear the boat, the barge and the porte chochere from the riverfront.

Alderwoman Rita Rawson, 5th Ward, said she looks forward to seeing the structures gone.

"Once they are gone, you will be able to see the full Centennial Bridge profile," Rawson said. "I don't want to block that in the future."

Meanwhile, city officials are revisiting older ideas for the downtown stretch of riverfront, such as RiverVision, which included an extension of LeClaire Park and a pier. Public discussion for the plan goes back to 2004.

"We have the RiverVision plan," Klipsch told commissioners. "It's not like we don't have a plan. Let's revisit that. The city spent a lot of money on that, and the community went through a very involved process.

"Let's very consciously decide what goes there."

No update on the status of Viking River Cruises docking in Davenport was given Wednesday. Klipsch has said that visits by Viking, if the European cruise giant decides to come, still are several years off because the company has yet to built vessels that can navigate the Mississippi River. The company also must go through legal paperwork to operate in the United States.
Davenport might have turned a scheduling conflict into a new riverfront amenity.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was looking for a place to dock its giant towboat, the Motor Vessel Mississippi, when it passes through the Quad-Cities on Aug. 1. But Davenport's Oneida Street Landing was booked that day.

So, the city's Levee Improvement Commission development director Steve Ahrens suggested an alternate location just downriver  the city's new River Heritage Park.

One problem  River Heritage Park has a long promenade, lawn and gazebo but no place to embark passengers. The Corps is willing to cut the promenade's railing, install a gate and make a few other modifications, and it can do so on its own dime, Corps spokesman Ron Fournier said.

The Corps would be happy to return the site back to its original condition after the towboat leaves, but the city had another plan in mind.

"I see this as an additional port of call for Davenport," Ahrens said Wednesday after briefing the Levee Improvement Commission on the plan.

"If that can all be done within our budget, we can do that and leave it that way," Fournier said.

Could, say, Viking River Cruises one day dock at River Heritage Park?

"I don't want to speak for them, but I don't know why not," Ahrens said. "Everyone knows that the water is deeper in the pool above (Lock and Dam 15)."

Viking has announced a future Mississippi River itinerary that includes a stop in Davenport, and the city has talked about welcoming the European cruise giant in LeClaire Park, just downriver from the lock and dam.

Meanwhile, River Heritage Park is surfacing as an alternative for cruise operators closer to home. Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch told levee commissioners Wednesday that the Celebration Belle might be interested.

Scott Schadler, operator of the Moline-based excursion boat, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Klipsch told commissioners he has a "long-term vision for boats all along the river."

The city has no written agreement with the Corps yet, but Ahrens could not hold back his excitement of the prospect at the Levee Improvement Commission meeting.

"Let's make this happen," he said. "This is great."

"It fits the theme of River Heritage Park," commissioner Bill Ashton said after the meeting.

River Heritage might pose another problem  limited parking. Currently, the parking lot has 30 spaces.

Fournier said the Corps will need to look at the parking issue as it plans its Aug. 1 public tour of the towboat. He said the boat's public hearing room alone can hold 200 people.

One parking solution might be found across the street where the former Howard Johnson hotel was torn down in December, Fournier said.

Ahrens said a dirt mound at River Heritage Park that is supposed to be cleared for greenspace could be used for special event auxiliary parking.

The Corps should have plans finalized in a couple of weeks, Fournier said.

The towboat last visited Davenport in 2013.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Iowa 1st Congressional District Democratic candidates Pat Murphy and Monica Vernon plan to stick to whats worked for them in previous encounters when they meet for what appears to be their final debate before the June 7 primary election.

Vernon, a former Cedar Rapids business owner and city council member, and Murphy, the former speaker of the Iowa House from Dubuque, will debate for the fourth time from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at the Tama Ballroom, 1411 E. 5th St., Tama.

Its about making clear what she will do in Congress, Vernon campaign manager Michelle Gajewski said. We have an economy that doesnt work for everybody, there are northeast Iowans getting left behind, so Vernon will emphasize making sure college is affordable, fighting for equal pay for women and ensuring womens access to health care.

Murphy will push his agenda of raising the minimum wage, requiring employers to provide paid sick leave and expanding the Affordable Care Act with a public option for coverage and allowing people into Medicare at age 55, his campaign manager, Mike McLaughlin said.

Social Security is sure to be an issue because Murphy will continue to press Vernon to release a questionnaire she completed to get the backing of the New Democrat Coalitions NewDemPAC, McLaughlin said. The group has backed the Simpson Bowles plan to raise the retirement age and cut Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Vernon has made protecting the sacred trust of Social Security a key part of her platform, saying seniors earned it, deserve it and must be able to count on it.

In that case, McLaughlin said, Vernon should release her answers so voters can see what led them to give her a $5,000 check.

I dont know if she supports Simpson Bowles, but the New Democrats do. Those arent progressive Democratic ideas, he said. Those are old Republican ideas.

Vernon is likely to hit Murphys old ideas to restrict abortion, Gajewski said.

She will drive home to women that when it comes to access to health care and making their own choice, Pat Murphy cant be trusted, Gajewski said.

The debate is sponsored by the Democratic parties of Tama, Benton, Marshall and Poweshiek counties. Members of the public are invited to bring their questions.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Tanned and smiling after returning from a trip to Florida for a reunion with sorority sisters, Holly Oppelt pulls no punches in talking about the diagnosis of breast and uterine cancer that turned her world around in 2013.

Its a shocktheres no other word for that, she said. It was hard to tell people I am close to.

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment quickly followed the diagnosis. Her last chemo treatment was in July of that year.

Since that time, she has worked on behalf of cancer patients and survivors in Muscatine through her position as a board member of Gildas Club Quad-Cities.

And on June 3, she will take a leading role in the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life of Muscatine as the event's designated Hero. Her role in the annual event will include welcoming participants, giving remarks as the event opens and telling her story of survival at the luminaria ceremony.

Active in Muscatine civic projects for years, Oppelt, retired vice president and trust officer at CBI Bank & Trust, says she is honored by the title of Hero.

It (cancer) is an unfortunate thing that happens in life, she said. I am lucky that both were caught in Stage 1.

Diana Tank, a volunteer committee member for the local Relay for Life and laboratory director at UnityPoint Health Trinity Muscatine, said Oppelts story is an inspiration.

I think because she really battled two different types of cancers, we felt her journey was quite awesome, Tank said. She just seems to be so positive.

Support for those going through cancer treatment is important, Oppelt said. That's one reason she is active in the Gilda's Club-sponsored support groups that are scheduled at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church.

While Oppelt said she loved her job in banking, she is happy, and certainly, busy, in retirement.

In addition to her Gilda's Club leadership, she is vice president of Trinity Muscatine Friends, and will assume the presidency next year. She is also on the Trinity Foundation Muscatine board.

Still, she says with a smile, she also enjoys her quiet times reading in a chair with a cat on her lap.

To date, 18 teams have signed up to participate in Relay for Life, which goes from 5 p.m. to midnight on June 3 at the Muscatine High School track.

Rain has forced the event to move inside the past few years, but Tank said they're hopeful to be outside this year.

"We will make that call fairly early," she said.

A survivors lap kicks off the walking at 6 p.m., followed by a caregiver lap. The luminaria ceremony takes place at dusk, usually around 9 p.m.

Tank says organizers are hopeful more teams will sign up. Information on signing up can be found at relayforlife.org/muscatinecountyiowa.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield said Thursday it is proposing an average base rate increase of 37.8 percent to 42.6 percent for its Affordable Care Act-compliant insurance plans for 2017.

The increases, which still must meet regulatory approval, will affect 30,000 people in the individual insurance market in Iowa.

That's just a fraction of the 1.6 million people the company insures overall, Wellmark said. The increase request is sure to turn heads, however. It was just last year that the Iowa Insurance Commissioner approved an average increase of 24.5 percent for Wellmark's ACA-compliant plans.

Those rates drew complaints from customers, as did increases for other insurers who also saw double-digit increases.

This will be Wellmark's first year on the exchange, where lower- and moderate-income families will be eligible for subsidies to help them pay for premium costs.

Those tax credits, which rise with premiums, are aimed at buffering people from premium increases. The Obama administration released a study earlier this week that said 85 percent of marketplace consumers in Iowa get tax credits and that the premiums people actually pay depends a great deal on whether they shop around and seek out the availability of the credits.

The Obama administration study said 59 percent of new and returning marketplace customers selected new plans in 2016.

Wellmark, the state's dominant insurer, attributed the rate increase proposal to several factors, including the number of large claims, the continued rise in costs for specialty drugs and a relatively small number of people who account for a large share of costs.

Wellmark said the overall cost of care for conditions costing more than $100,000 has risen 200 percent. It also said that 300 people drove 25 percent of its costs. For every $1 in premiums paid by members, $1.27 was spent in services, Wellmark said.

Wellmark said it lost more than $75 million on this part of its business.

"It is not as though we made any money," said Laura Jackson, the company's executive vice president for health care innovation and business development. "In fact we lost a tremendous amount of money. We wouldnt ask for these increases if it wasnt absolutely necessary to just even get to a place where next year we could break even. We will never make up for the losses. Its literally about trying to keep pace with the premiums for the people who are using these policies."

Wellmark also cited as a factor the expiration in 2016 of federal government reinsurance and risk corridor provisions aimed at buffering insurers against unexpected losses.

Rate information for the 90,000 members who have pre-Affordable Care Act plans will be available next month. Their utilization of health care services was lower than with people with ACA plans, Wellmark said.

The company said it is introducing new networks to try to control costs and improve health care services.

"We know the exchange marketplace has been tough for insurers over the last couple years, and one of the benefits we've had in watching from a distance is that successful plans have strong collaborations going with provider organizations," said Tom Newton, who is Wellmark's vice president for network engagement.

The company announced Thursday a joint venture with University of Iowa Health System and the University of Iowa Health Alliance to market new insurance plans in four counties under the name Wellmark Synergy Health. The plans are going to be available in 2017 in Scott, Linn, Johnson and Des Moines counties.

Wellmark also has formed a similar venture with Mercy Health Network for a broader area of the state.

Plans for the 2017 year will begin being sold on Nov. 1.

Other insurers in Iowa's marketplace also are proposing increases, but it's not clear in some cases to what extent. The state insurance division's website says that Medica, a Minnesota based insurer, is asking for a 19 percent increase. Aetna Health of Iowa, formerly known as Coventry Health Care of Iowa, is seeking an increase, but the amount was not listed.

Wellmark's proposed rate increases, along with those of other companies, will have to go before the state's insurance commissioner and be subject to a public hearing. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. July 23 at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines and also will be accessible to people through a video conference at the public libraries in Atlantic, Columbus Junction, Eldora, Spencer and West Union, as well as Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
Chad Pregracke will receive an honorary degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., during commencement ceremonies Sunday, June 5.

Others receiving the honor are U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who will deliver the commencement address, and Brenda J. Child, a leading scholar on American Indian history.

Pregracke is the founder of Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit organization based in East Moline dedicated to cleaning up and preserving our nation's rivers.

To date, Living Lands & Waters and its more than 90,000 volunteers have removed almost 9 million pounds of garbage from 22 rivers across the country.

Pregracke founded Living Lands & Waters in 1998 at the age of 23. Over the past 18 years, the organization has grown to include 10 full-time employees and a fleet of five barges, two towboats, six workboats, two skid steers and seven work trucks. The organization's mission also includes educational workshops and The Million Trees Project.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican, has called himself "pro-life" since he came to Congress a decade ago. This month, he's proving it.

Buchanan last week announced his support for President Obama's request for $1.9 billion to fight the Zika virus -- a decision he based in part on "new research revealing that Zika eats away at the fetal brain and destroys the ability to think."

He's right about that. The mosquito-borne virus is going to cause thousands of babies in this hemisphere to be born with severe birth defects, and Zika is on the cusp of devastating the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico and of spreading to the southern United States. Untold numbers of the unborn are being irreversibly harmed.

And yet the supposedly pro-life majorities in both chambers of Congress have done nothing with Obama's request, more than three months after he made it in early February. Republicans demanded that the administration repurpose money that was supposed to have been spent fighting Ebola, and the administration did so even though that virus has resurged in Africa. Now, the congressional delay is hampering our ability to monitor the spread, to test possible victims and to prepare a vaccine.

In fairness, the congressional lethargy isn't limited to Zika. The House has been in session only 210 of the 491 days of this Congress, including 36 days on which no legislative business was done, according to House Democrats' tally. Only 150 bills have been signed into law -- a fraction of historical totals -- and 25 of those were ceremonial renamings of buildings and roads.

But with Zika, the delay is inevitably going to cause more fetuses to be deformed -- and perhaps aborted -- and a caucus supposedly devoted to protecting them is silent. There may never be a consensus on abortion, but can lawmakers not agree to fight a virus that destroys the brains of fetuses?

The few Republican officials who have called for action on the Zika funds have close-to-home reasons. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, where the risk of spread is high, is coming to Washington this week to urge Congress to act. His fellow Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio, pleaded for action, too. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) has also supported Zika spending; she's pregnant with her second child.

On Monday, the National Governors Association, whose mostly Republican members will be on the hook when Zika arrives, urged Congress to act, saying "the nation is on the threshold of a public health emergency" and the prospect of "children born with severe, lifelong birth defects."

But there's quiet from the anti-abortion lobby. Groups I checked with haven't taken a position on the Zika response, other than a few that have said laws against abortion should not be loosened in Latin American countries because of the virus.

National Right to Life published an argument in March questioning whether Zika causes birth defects and citing a study that said only 1 percent of babies born to mothers with the infection have the brain condition called microcephaly. "Abortion advocates would have had us believe the risk of microcephaly was much higher," it said.

But Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a Washington Post editorial board meeting Tuesday that "I can almost guarantee you" that the rate of birth defects is higher than 1 percent; another study puts it as high as 29 percent.

Fauci said "it is very likely we're going to see local outbreaks of Zika in the United States," and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico "is on the precipice of a really serious disaster." Extrapolating from the pattern of the chikungunya virus, spread by the same mosquito, Fauci said that 25 percent of Puerto Rico's population of 3.55 million can be expected to contract Zika over the next year -- including "a lot of pregnant women."

And Ed McCabe, chief medical officer for the March of Dimes, told me Tuesday that Zika transmitted by local mosquitoes is on the "doorstep" of the mainland, too. "Every day we wait, we're at greater risk," he said. "Congress needs to act."

Will GOP congressional leaders listen? Democrats have proposed replacing the ad hoc responses to outbreaks (Zika, Ebola, pandemic flu) with $5 billion a year for the moribund Public Health Emergency Fund. This won't happen in the current political environment.

But taking a sensible step to stop Zika's spread? Let's hear no more from so-called defenders of the unborn until they've done it.
SPRINGFIELD  Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to approve $700 million in "stopgap" funding for social service programs that haven't received any state revenue in nearly a year.

In the latest sign of bipartisan progress toward ending the state's budget impasse, now in its 11th month, Republicans joined the Legislature's super-majority Democrats in approving the measure despite last-minute concerns from GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration.

At the same time, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent Rauner and the four legislative leaders a "framework" for a balanced budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The proposal includes $5.4 billion in new revenue, which would be generated by raising the state's personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 4.85 percent and by expanding the sales tax to some services, among other changes, according to a member of the group.

The lawmakers also outlined $2.4 billion in savings, including a $400 million reduction in Medicaid spending, $450 million from letting the state off the hook for repaying money borrowed from special funds to plug holes in last year's budget and $750 million from pension changes Rauner has proposed.

Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who is a member of the bipartisan budget group but declined to go into detail about its work, said the conversations among lawmakers have been "sometimes heated but generally productive."

"There's been a lot of progress in the last couple weeks," Rose said. "There's a long way to go."

Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, another participant who likewise declined to give details, emphasized that "there's no agreement."

As they were asked to do by the legislative leaders and the governor, lawmakers were simply putting together a "scenario" under which the budget could be balanced, Crespo said.

"We're just presenting the leaders with what they asked for," he said, noting that it will be up to them to round up the necessary votes to pass a budget plan.

In addition to lawmakers from both chambers and both parties, Rauner budget director Tim Nuding has participated in the talks.

Notably absent from the group's work has been any talk of items on Rauner's pro-business, union-weakening "turnaround agenda." That's because the group was assigned to stick to the budget.

But House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said any final agreement on budgets for this year or next "absolutely" must include some of the reforms the governor and his party are pushing for.

"We're not close to having a deal," Durkin said, adding that there's no plan at this point for a meeting of the governor, himself and the three other legislative leaders.

Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, is part of another bipartisan group of lawmakers that has been discussing the governor's reform agenda, which includes changes to workers' compensation laws, a property tax freeze and other items.

"Talks are slow, but the commitment continues," Brady said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the social services funding measure approved Thursday as a sign of the parties' continued willingness to work together.

It would authorize the use of $450 million from the commitment to human services fund, which receives dedicated revenue to support programs such as addiction treatment, autism services and rape crisis centers. Another $250 million would come from other special state funds for specific purposes such as affordable housing and foreclosure prevention programs. The funding would account for about 46 percent of what the programs received last year.

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who sponsored the legislation, said it was possible to reach an agreement because it doesn't include any general revenue, which Republicans have argued the state doesn't have because it's already spending more than it's bringing in.

Members of both parties said they still hope to get more funding to programs for the current year.

Senators also urged their House colleagues to take up a bill that was sent over earlier this month that would free up additional money for higher education, which hadn't received any state funding until a deal was struck late last month.
DES MOINES  The three privately run managed care organizations now administering Iowas Medicaid system have received, processed and paid more than 300,000 claims since taking over the states duties on April 1, the states Medicaid director said Wednesday.

Its good news right now for the first month of where we are, Mikki Stier told members of the Iowa Council on Human Services.

Billing is moving, said Stier, who noted that Medicaid claim processing time is averaging about 10 days, which is below the 14 days allowed under the state MCO contracts with Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley.

Contacts with the state Department of Human Services call centers set up to handle problems from Iowas 580,000 Medicaid recipients during the managed care transition have dropped from 3,000 daily to about 1,500 each day, Stier said. Up to 97 percent of Iowas providers have signed up with at least one MCO, while three of the four providers had registered with all three as of mid-April, she added.

Weve seen our call centers coming down, which tells us that were getting there, she said.

DHS Director Chuck Palmer said change is an upsetting and threatening thing to go through, especially when it involves health-care services, but fear is being allayed via a clear, sincere effort to make the transition a success on the part of a lot of people pulling together.

Most people, when you go into change, usually look for where they think the negative impacts could be, Palmer said in an interview. So, you usually assess whats coming at you by where are my vulnerabilities, wheres my risk; most people dont rush to wheres my opportunity?

So, yes, there are those individuals who say, Oh, my gosh, heres what Im afraid of. As theyve found that some of the things they were fearful of have not materialized, then the fear has gone down and the comfort has gone up. So, I think youve got some of that going on, he added.

Cynthia MacDonald, plan president for Amerigroup Iowa, told council members Wednesday her company has received about 131,000 claims from Iowa Medicaid clients since April 1 and paid out about $15.5 million with an average response time of 4.6 days. About 6 percent of claims have been denied for reasons such as services not allowed or covered, coding issues or claims that exceeded the contracted rate, she said, but noted denials are subject to further review.

MacDonald said her company has hired 371 employees across Iowa to assist in delivering services to about 185,000 Medicaid members in Iowa  including 7,500 in the Hawk-I childrens health insurance program  and to work with more than 27,000 providers statewide that have contracted with Amerigroup.

Were actually very pleased in how things have rolled forward, MacDonald said. I think its such a good thing for Iowans just to have it not be full of chaos and trauma. Its working very well.
After my story published this morning about the speculation that U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is under consideration as a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, a couple of other things came to my attention that I wished I had included.

One came from an astute tipster who wished to remain nameless. The tipster pointed out that while a 2015 South Dakota law would allow Thune to run for both vice president and senator, and probably win the Senate race against Democrat Jay Williams without having to do a lot of campaigning, there is one thing for Thune to worry about if he tries to run for both offices simultaneously.

If Thune joins the Trump ticket, South Dakota Democrats could ask Jay Williams to withdraw from the Senate race and be replaced by a stronger candidate, such as former congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin or Brendan Johnson, son of former U.S. senator Tim Johnson.

According to South Dakota's election calendar, Democrats would have until Aug. 2 to get Williams to withdraw and would have until Aug. 9 to replace him. If that were to happen, it could be much more difficult for Thune to win his Senate seat as a hedge against losing the vice presidency (if he were to become vice president and also win re-election to the Senate, he would resign from his Senate seat).

Yet the drumbeat for Thune as a Trump running mate continues. In my story today, I noted that former U.S. senator Scott Brown suggested Thune for Trump's running mate. I wasn't aware until this morning that former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich, in a recent interview with Time, also named Thune when asked who should be on Trump's ticket.
You don't expect to find paintings from motel rooms hanging in a New York art gallery. But Openhouse Gallery will be showing art from Super 8 motels and giving it away with help from comedian and lifestyle guru Amy Sedaris.

"Let me tell you something," Sedaris said in a phone interview last week. "That art could not be uglier. The hardest thing I ever did in my life was to come up with names for it all. That was really hard. You're just looking at something, and I don't know what to call it ... mindless art."

Sedaris was tasked with naming each of the artworks, about 100 of them. The Wednesday evening giveaway at Openhouse gallery is called "When the Art Comes Down: Works from the Super 8 Collection."

The "not-so-super" Super 8 artwork mostly consists of paintings, like "your very typical deer in a snowy field by a babbling brook," said Mike Mueller, senior vice president of Super 8's brand operations.

"Amy appreciates imperfection with humor. We thought as co-host, she could bring some really interesting light to what could be perceived as very uninteresting art," said Mueller.

Some of the works have hung in motel rooms for 40 years. They'll be given away to the public, first come, first served.

Mueller said the send-off would help "highlight the transformation" of the Super 8 brand. The brand's new look includes "decluttering our guest rooms by taking down art that amounted to noise," Mueller said. Instead, oversize bed headboards will be decorated with black-and-white photos of local points of interest.

Sedaris says she's familiar with the old Super 8s. "When I was touring with Second City, we always stayed in Super 8s," she said.

The brand modernization will encompass all 1,800 North American Super 8s by the end of the year.

Super 8 and Sedaris will also make a donation to The Center for Arts Education to mark the redesign.

The giveaway takes place during a week of high-end art fairs in New York City, but Sedaris noted that at the Super 8 event, "there won't be any security guards, that's for sure."
Promises of a better relationship between the federal government and Native Americans, and vows to boost opportunities for all Americans, highlighted Bernie Sanders messages on a campaign swing through western South Dakota on Thursday.

Sanders, the U.S. Senator from Vermont who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, met first with about 800 people in a gymnasium on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In the afternoon, he spoke before a crowd of more than 2,000 people under a sunny sky at Memorial Park in Rapid City. He was slated to speak in Sioux Falls on Thursday night.

At Pine Ridge, Sanders promised to honor past treaties and repair broken relations between Native Americans and the United States government.

Promises were made, treaties were signed, and they were not kept, Sanders said. If I am elected, we will keep those promises.

The remark was met with thunderous applause from the audience in the gym at Pine Ridge School, which gathered to see the only presidential candidate to visit the reservation so far during the 2016 election cycle.

In Rapid City, the crowd was comprised predominantly of young adults with some older adults mixed in. Two hours before the event was scheduled to start, lines of people waiting to enter the park stretched along the Memorial Park Promenade back to Omaha Street and up Fifth Street from the Rapid Creek bridge back to New York Street.

Vendors set up along the lines and sold T-shirts and buttons displaying Sanders Feel the Bern slogan, plus other more colorful slogans, including some featuring profanity. Some audience members wore T-shirts that tweaked Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

In his Rapid City speech, Sanders seemed to draw the loudest response from the crowd with his call for tuition-free public universities and colleges, and his proposal to allow people with student loan debt to refinance at the lowest interest rate they can find.

Sanders cited examples of people hed met with $50,000 to $70,000 of student-loan debt. Audience members began calling out higher numbers, up to $100,000.

Keying on that response, Sanders asked for a show of hands from people who have student loans. In the main area of the partitioned audience, where hundreds of people stood, nearly every hand went up.

Why are we punishing people for getting an education? Sanders said to a crescendo of cheers and applause. We should be rewarding people, not punishing people!

Many in the audience were college or technical-school students, including Mathias Wingert, who attends Western Dakota Technical Institute.

Hes just a guy who is very authentic when you look at him compared to the other candidates, Wingert said of Sanders. Hes the only guy who seems like he really cares about people.

At Pine Ridge, Sanders also pressed his proposal for free higher education and urged the young people in the audience to study hard and go to college. The message resonated with 16-year-old Teressa Shangreaux, who said she likes Sanders for his stance on reducing the cost of higher education.

Going to college is expensive, Shangreaux said, and were living in a place of poverty.

When the Pine Ridge event began, the smell of burning sage from a spiritual ceremony lingered in the air as Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele opened the event with a ringing endorsement of Sanders candidacy.

Sanders drew raucous applause as he launched into a stump speech about income inequality, tailoring his remarks to the particular hardships experienced by residents of Pine Ridge.

In Rapid City, Sanders supporter Katrina Wilke spoke first and reflected on how far the Sanders campaign had come since last summer, when 50 people gathered at the Rapid City Public Library to hear Sanders speak via live video feed.

Next was Jay Williams, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, who endorsed Sanders. Then came state Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission, who gave a greeting in Lakota and delivered a fiery introduction of Sanders, who came on stage while the song Keep on Rockin in the Free World blared through speakers.

Sanders spoke from a stage near the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, with a giant American flag draped to his side. His voice was hoarse and he put on a ballcap partway through his speech to shield his head and face from the direct sunlight, which made the air feel hotter than the mid-60s temperature.

At Pine Ridge, Sanders not only spoke but also listened to remarks from members of the audience, prompting them with questions about education, health care and other aspects of tribal life.

Anjeliqu Lopez, an 18-year-old student at Pine Ridge School, spoke up when Sanders asked the youths in the audience to talk about issues that matter to them.

Lopez said she and her friends are among those who occasionally turn to drugs and alcohol to get through the harsh realities of life on Pine Ridge.

A majority of us have seen the worst, Lopez said. A lot of times we have hard home lives that force us to go there.

Speaking after the event, Lopez said five of her friends have died this year alone, either by suicide or in drug- and alcohol-related accidents.

The sobering reality of life at Pine Ridge drew a sympathetic response from Sanders.

What I have heard loudly and clearly is theres a lot of pain in this community, the candidate said. There are a lot of people turning to drugs to escape the reality of their lives. I know that there are temptations out there with drugs and alcohol and everything else. That is not going to solve the problem. Youve got to fight back.

Evie Espinoza, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Health Director, told Sanders that the Indian Health Service has failed Native American people. She told stories of elders dying in ambulances because of substandard care.

We sit here and talk about all these negatives, she said. Theyre all interconnected. Because 150 to 200 years ago, our way of life was taken away from us, leaving us what we have to live in and fight for today. And we need your help. We need people like you.

For his part, Sanders took every opportunity to let his audience know that he was listening.

Poverty here, unemployment here, substance abuse here, is much much too high, Sanders said, and together we are going to create the jobs and the healthcare and the educational opportunities that people here on Pine Ridge and Indian Country are entitled to.

At both Pine Ridge and Rapid City, Sanders spoke of environmental stewardship as one of his highest priorities.

One of the most important lessons the Native Americans have taught this entire country, Sanders said in basically the same words at both Pine Ridge and Rapid City, is that all of us are part of nature. We have to live in nature, coexist with nature, and if we destroy nature, we are ultimately destroying the human beings of this planet.

Chas Jewett said Sanders stances in favor of clean energy and against oil fracking make him an appealing candidate to her, plus his willingness to engage with Native Americans during an election when no one else will.

Bernies for the people, Jewett said. Hes recognizing us as a sovereign nation.

Sanders, who also stopped at Mount Rushmore at one point, also railed against income inequality, proposed a $15 minimum wage, called for an expansion of Social Security, and advocated Medicare for all to guarantee health care as a fundamental right.

He said all of that is sensible and possible rather than radical. He reminded the audience in Rapid City that the abolition of slavery, womens suffrage and marriage equality were all once considered radical, too.

The struggle we have now is not that we dont know how to address the crises that we face, Sanders said. Its that the American people, in many respects, through the media, through think tanks, through all kinds of ways, have been beaten down into thinking we cannot have the future we deserve. And the answer is, yeah, we can.
The late travel writer Eugene Fodor once said, You dont have to be rich to travel well. Here in South Dakota, we think thats especially true.

Every year, our highways and Interstates are filled with people from every demographic looking for something new in South Dakota. And whether theyre lifelong residents or visitors from another country, everyone seems to find memories to last a lifetime courtesy of our beautiful state.

You dont have to be rich to travel in South Dakota, but every penny spent on gas, lodging, food and souvenirs adds up to big impacts on the local and national economy.

In the United States, travel is among the largest private-sector employers, supporting 15 million jobs in 2014. In 2015, traveler spending directly generated tax revenues of $141.5 billion for federal, state and local governments, including $270 million for state and local governments in South Dakota.

Because we share the beauty of our state with visitors from across the globe while keeping our economy strong, travel and tourism make for a win-win situation in South Dakota.

Were happy and thankful that others can discover what weve always known, that South Dakota is a land of infinite variety full of great faces and great places.

Were also grateful for the economic benefits that come from hosting our many visitors, allowing us to support essential services and programs throughout the state.

The benefits of travel and tourism are too many to capture in just one column. Thats one of the reasons I declared May 1-7, 2016, as National Travel and Tourism Week in South Dakota.

As the week comes to a close, lets recognize how much our tourism industry contributes to our state. Lets also realize how fortunate we are to live in a place that people from all over the world come to see.

Whether its the towering power of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial or a good cup of coffee and piece of pie from a small-town diner, theres always another place where you can find something new, unique and exciting in South Dakota.
LEAD | Following in-depth discussions at three public meetings over the last six weeks, the Lead City Commission has unanimously granted an easement to the Sanford Underground Research Facility to build an elevated, enclosed conveyor belt over Main Street extending to the towns massive Open Cut.

Construction of the conveyor and subsequent removal of 800,000 tons of rock from the 4,850-foot level of the former Homestake Gold Mine will make room for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment  which would be the largest, most expensive project in South Dakota history.

The proposed DUNE project involves a collaboration of more than 800 scientists from roughly 150 institutions in 28 countries. Its price-tag is estimated at $1 billion to $1.4 billion, about half of which would be spent in the Black Hills.

We appreciate the Lead City Commissions approval of the easement and the open discussions weve had with the Lead property owners along the way, said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. We will continue to provide further information about the project as our designs progress towards construction."

Newly installed Lead Mayor Ron Everett said the elevated conveyor was a preferred option to the estimated 40,000 round-trips by truck it would take to transport the crushed rock from the SURF to a disposal site.

Weve talked about dust and visibility and the Sanford Lab knows the city will be watching it closely and discussing any concerns as they come up, Everett said Wednesday. We had plenty of meetings, three public sessions, in which local residents got to say what they had to say.

Lead City Administrator Mike Stahl said the 20-year easement allows the SURF to use a small piece of property near its Manuel Brothers Park to construct and operate the conveyor and requires it to restore the property to its original condition following completion of the project.

The SURF already reached an easement agreement with Barrick, the Canadian-based owners of the former Homestake Mine and its massive Open Cut, to deposit the excavated rock in the open pit. In addition, the state Department of Transportation has granted the lab permission to build the conveyor over a state highway near Gold Run Park, Stahl said.
A man once dubbed "Porn's New King" was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on charges he scammed a Native American tribe and others of more than $60 million.

Charges against Jason Galanis and six others were announced by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan. Defense lawyers did not immediately comment.

Prosecutors said Galanis and others lied to the Oglala Sioux tribe from March 2014 through April about how proceeds from its bonds would be invested. They said the dealings occurred with the Wakpamni Lake Community Corp., an economic development corporation arm of the Oglala Sioux tribe of the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

The government alleges that Galanis and the others spent most of the proceeds on homes, cars, travel and jewelry. It said they duped investors into buying the bonds as well. Galanis was charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit investment adviser fraud and investment adviser fraud.

"Instead of investing the proceeds in a way that would provide capital for development and help cover the interest payments, the defendants allegedly pocketed most of it to pay for their own personal expenses," Bharara said in a statement. "The defendants' alleged fraud has left devastation in its wake: a tribe with tens of millions in bond obligations it cannot pay, and investors out tens of millions, left holding bonds they did not want."

Diego Rodriguez, head of New York's FBI office, said: "The alleged fraudsters named in this case didn't just see an opportunity to steal money when they thought no one was looking, they allegedly hatched a plan to scam a municipal entity from the start. The most egregious fallout from this scheme is that the bondholders now hold worthless securities, and the tribe can't make the interest payments due."

Galanis was labeled "Porn's New King" by Forbes magazine when it reported in 2004 that he had bought the nation's largest payment processor for Internet porn.
PIERRE | Landfills serving the southern counties of South Dakota received the green light Wednesday for state aid to help fight the potential spread of the Zika virus.

The state Board of Water and Natural Resources released grants totaling $650,000 to be spent mostly on collecting used tires.

The tropical mosquitoes that carry Zika virus like to lay their eggs in the standing water often found in old tires.

The virus causes severe birth defects in children. Through Tuesday, there were 479 U.S. Zika cases.

Im glad were being pro-active on the issue, board member Jackie Lanning of Brookings said.

The Zika-bearing mosquitoes are different than those that carry West Nile virus. West Nile-bearing mosquitoes breed in shallow, dirty water standing in ditches and grass.

The highest priority areas for the tire-collection money are the Southern Missouri Regional landfill that serves Gregory, Charles Mix, Bon Homme and Douglas counties; and the Vermillion landfill that serves Clay, Yankton and Union counties.

They will be able to tap $250,000 of state funding without providing any local match.

Four other landfills will be able to use $400,000 if they provide a 20 percent local match. They are Sioux Falls, Brookings, Mitchell and Tri-County (Pukwana).

Vermillion has actually already started picking up tires, Andy Bruels, a state Department of Environment and Natural Resources official, told the board.

State epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said a Zika-carrying species of mosquito hasnt been found in South Dakota. But, he added, people werent looking for them and have been focused on West Nile species instead.

South Dakota has become the epicenter for West Nile virus in the world, according to Kightlinger.

Zika mosquitoes have been found in states neighboring South Dakota. Surveillance is planned in South Dakota for this summer.

Whether the Zika mosquitoes will reach as far north as South Dakota isnt known, Kightlinger said.

They are very common tire-breeding mosquitoes, he said.
Russian Internet watchdog blocks access to site on Crimea run by RFE-RL

MOSCOW, May 12 (RAPSI)  Access to Internet site Krym.Realii, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty project, has been blocked in Russia, Natalya Poklonskaya, the Crimean Prosecutor, told RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday.

Earlier, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has initiated a criminal case against Nikolay Semena, a Krym.Realii journalist, over public calls for undertaking extremist activities. The Crimeas Republican Prosecutors Office collected respective materials and submitted them to the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) asking this Internet regulator to launch the procedures necessary to block access to this web site in the territory of the Russian Federation.

At this time, Roskomnadzor is undertaking measures to block access to this information resource,- Poklonskaya said.

Krym.Realii is a project launched by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in March 2014. The editorial board of the site is in Kiyev.
Victors Rusty Cowgirl Mercantile has a little bit of everything; western purses, belts, jewelry, repurposed furniture and rustic signs.

It also has a couple of outside vendors: Dominic Root who creates coffee tables, lamps and furniture; and Greg Struthers who creates horseshoe art.

The owners, Myrna DeMarco and Jeff Rohr, opened the store mid-April. The couple had a similar successful mercantile business in Washington.

We moved from Washington to assist my brothers in taking care of my parents, DeMarco said. Jeffs been fighting brain cancer for four years and he wanted to be sure I was able to take care of myself.

DeMarco has been coming to the Bitterroot Valley as her dads family settled here years ago.

Weve got a long history here and Ive been coming here since I was a child, DeMarco said. Its been nearly 30 years that Ive been trying to move here.

Struthers said he feels he should have been born a Montanan.

This is the best place in the world right here, he said.

He hunts and fishes but does not hike because he knows a better way.

Id rather ride a horse and let the horse do the work, he said.

We just wanted to start the store and we work really hard on keeping our prices reasonable, DeMarco said. We plan to add more items and are currently looking at candles to decide what company to bring in. Were trying to get some more items for men, like wallets.

Struthers said the goal was to cater to cowgirls who rodeo.

We are also going to do 10 percent off for 4-H and junior rodeo kids, he said. We were directors of our rodeo association back home and we want to get involved with the rodeo associations here. Rodeo is our thing and we want to cater to everyone but support the kids especially.

DeMarco said, Everyone works hard for the money in this valley.

Some of this jewelry is local from Artistic Impressions, she said. Most of our items are one of a kind or is made by us. A lot of the wood is from the Charlos Club House that was built and maintained by my great-grandparents.

Though open just three weeks, DeMarco said business is off to a great start and picks up every day.

Rusty Cowgirl Mercantile is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at 1385 U.S. Highway 93, north of Sheafman Corner. Turn west on Ardis Loop and visit Rusty Cowgirl Mercantile right next to 144 General Store owned and operated by Zane Few and Trudy Finn. The neighboring businesses help each other out.

144 General Store has rustic and pallet furniture, paintings, jewelry, lamps, mirrors, barn doors and creative inspirations.

Finn builds everything herself.

A lot of it is Pinterest-inspired because of the pallet craze going on at the moment, Finn said.

She does building, painting and refurbishing of furniture. She created several pieces from wood from a house in Victor, built in 1912.

Her work is called By the Grace of God Creations.

I have been blessed with a gift that I can look at something and I can build it, she said. I dont have plans for any of these, I dont have dimensions. It is a complete gift that I can see anything and know I can build it and put it together.

Finn said starting the business was a fun adventure.

So far, everything is original and I havent duplicated anything, she said. I do custom work, people tell me what they want and bring me their dimensions and I make it for them.

144 General Store is located at 1399 US Highway 93, Victor. Contact Finn at 406-369-3388.
The ringleader in Ravalli Countys largest-ever heroin bust was sentenced Wednesday.

Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton followed the terms of a plea bargain agreement and sentenced Marlen Ravelo, 47, of Port Angeles, Washington to a 30-year prison sentence, all suspended.

Langton went beyond the agreement and required Ravelo to pay $78,750 in a fine to the state.

State law allows the court to levy a fine equivalent of 35 percent of the street value of the illegal drugs in a persons possession.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Thorin Geist said Ravelo and her two co-defendants had nearly a quarter million dollars in heroin and methamphetamine when they were arrested last October.

Geist said he plans to file a lien against the $225,000 home that Ravelo owns in Washington State to ensure the fine will be paid.

The 30-year suspended sentence will run concurrent with a sentence yet to be imposed in a U.S. District Court on additional drug charges.

Geist said he expects that Ravelo will receive a five- to 10-year sentence in a federal penitentiary.

There is no federal parole, Geist said. That will all be hard time.

Ravelo was one of three people arrested last Halloween after law enforcement officers acted on a tip and stopped their vehicle in the Florence area. After being ordered out of the car at gunpoint, sheriffs officers found nearly a half pound of heroin and a similar amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

According to federal court records, Ravelo was part of a drug trafficking organization headquartered in western Washington led by a man named Antonio Contreras-Torres, aka Pipi.

The organization had been tracked by federal officers, who documented that Ravelo had obtained heroin and methamphetamine for distribution, including the drugs confiscated in Ravalli County.

Court records in Ravalli County said Ravelo and Mason Gregory Skerbeck, 23, of Washington State, brought the drugs into Montana with the intent to see if there was a market here.

Once in the state, they met Crystal Lee Griffin, 21, of Stevensville, who brokered deals at the University of Montana and in Stevensville.

The three were arrested while traveling to Stevensville to complete a transaction.

Both Skerbeck and Griffin have already been sentenced. Neither was required to pay the $78,750 fine.

At the sentencing, Geist told the judge that Ravelos only connection to Ravalli County was that she planned to open a drug trade route.

The impact of the drugs she planned to bring into the county would have been devastating, Geist said.

The message to drug dealers is to stay out of Ravalli County and stay out of Montana, Geist said.
Vietnam War commemoration program

In 2008 during the end of the Bush administration, the National Defense Authorization Act sanctioned the DoD to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the beginning (official) of the Vietnam War. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is the official title given to this program. It is designed for federal, state and local communities, veterans organizations and other nongovernmental organizations to become a commemorative partner (CP), not to glorify this war but to honor the service of veterans who participated in a conflict that ended in 1975.

Over 3.5 million soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines served in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) and many returning service men and women were not honored by the American public as had been the case in previous wars. Our fellow citizens have come to realize that we need to honor these soldiers even if we didnt agree with the war.

Organizations desiring to participate in the Commemorative Partner Program must submit a formal application to the DoD for approval. Western Montana is quite fortunate to have several organizations that are commemorative partners: the Montana Museum of Military History; the Western Montana Military Officers Association (WMMOA) and the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)-938, Bitterroot Chapter, to name a few.

I recently participated in two local programs where veterans were honored and 50th anniversary lapel pins were given out to the attendees. It was brought to my attention after our VVA meeting that Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is planning to host CP ceremonies himself in late May-early June. I was shown Mr. Zinkes office press release by one of our VVA members and it indicated that Rep. Zinke desires to distribute CP lapel pins in Missoula, Helena, Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls and Kalispell in less than a weeks time.

I know that Rep. Zinke is a veteran and probably intends to truly honor Vietnam veterans, but his timing might be questionable for choosing to do this while attempting to get elected a second time in office. Butte author and 20-year Army veteran David Abrams wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Feb. 14, 2016 New York Times entitled Veterans, Patriots and Pawns. Mr. Abrams writes for candidates, veterans are the most useful props imaginable. They are real-life stand-ins for any number of campaign trail virtues: patriotism, national defense, antielitism, take your pick. Abrams further writes that military service is charged with a special aura of bravery and honor that politicians cant resist glomming on to.

The Commemorative Partner Program is designed for communities, organizations, military service groups and the like, to set up their own events and activities to honor veterans through 2018, which is when the program ends. I dont believe it was intended for congressmen running for re-election to travel all over a state in six days handing out lapel pins.

Jim Hamilton, VP

Vietnam Veterans of America

Chapter 938  Bitterroot


Kathmandu, Nepal: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against the UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Lharkyal Lama on Thursday alleging him for amassing illegal prosperity.



The CIAA has accused Lama of amassing property worth Rs 92.4 million illegally by holding public posts on various occasions.



The CIAA has charge cited Lama for failing to prove legal sources for the property worth Rs 92.4 million.



Lama had begun to hold public posts after he was appointed as the chairman of Monastery Management Committee on January 3, 2002.



He was appointed as the State Minister for Finance in the Jhalanath Khanal's cabinet, later joined in the UCPN (Maoist) and appointed as the Constituent Assembly member under the proportional representation electoral system.


In this photo provided by Solar Impulse, Bertrand Piccard acknowledges the crowd prior to the takeoff of aSolar Impulse 2,a in Goodyear, Arizona, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The solar-powered airplane that landed in Arizona last week is headed to Oklahoma on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey. Photo: AP



GOODYEAR, ARIZONA: A solar-powered airplane that landed in Arizona last week is headed to Oklahoma on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey.



The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from Phoenix Goodyear Airport about 3 am Thursday with a destination of Tulsa International Airport.



It departed from northern California in the early hours of May 2 and landed at the airport southwest of Phoenix 16 hours later. Last month, it flew from Hawaii to California.



The globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.



After Oklahoma, the plane is expected to make at least one more stop in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey.



The Solar Impulse 2s 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.



Ideal flight speed is about 28 mph, although that can double during the day when the suns rays are strongest.



The plane had a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and three-day trip from Hawaii to Californias Silicon Valley.



The crew was forced to stay in Oahu, Hawaii, for nine months after the planes battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan.



Project officials say the layovers give the two Swiss pilots  Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg  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.



The solar project began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation.


sacw.net - 12 May 2016

Open letter to the writers attending Vedanta JLF London 2016: from Niyamgiri mountain to the river Kafue calling Vedanta to justice

12th May 2016

Dear All,

We are deeply shocked and dismayed to hear that you have agreed to participate at the Jaipur Literature Festival claiming to be aThe Greatest Literary Show on Eartha which has the worlds most hated company Vedanta as its key sponsor. Are you aware that Vedantaas activities are destroying the lives of thousands of people in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Punjab and also in Zambia, South Africa and Australia? Are you also aware that Zambian villagers are currently taking Vedanta subsidiary KCM to court in the UK, accusing it of consistently poisoning their water over the last decade?

In 2011 Zambian High Court Judge Phillip Musonda said he wanted to make an example of Vedanta for their agross recklessnessa in polluting the River Kafue without remorse, and highlighted KCMs donat care attitude whether human life which sacrosanct in our constitution was lost or not. In 2014 Vedanta 69% owner and Chairman Anil Agarwal was caught on video bragging to businessmen at a Bangalore conference that he had bought the Zambian copper mines at a fraction of their value and was making $500 million each year despite declaring a loss in Zambia. The Zambian government reacted by auditing the mines, and discovered vast tax evasion schemes and asset stripping.

In Korba, Chhattisgarh, India between 40 and 100 workers died at Vedanta subsidiary BALCOas aluminium smelter complex when a chimney under construction collapsed on them in September 2009. The subsequent judicial inquiry into the incident found Vedanta guilty of negligence and using sub-standard materials and construction methods. However, Vedantaas lawyers suppressed the report which was leaked by activists in 2014.

In Odisha, India a nineteen year struggle by indigenous communities, Dalits and farmers led to a historic victory in 2014 when Vedanta was stopped from mining the sacred Niyamgiri hills for bauxite. Vedantas attempt to secure the mountain through State Owned OMC was rejected by the Supreme Court again on May 6, 2016. Vedanta Aluminium Ltd had built the 1 mtpa Lanjigarh refinery at the base of the Niyamgiri hills in 2004, and even expanded it six fold, despite having no permission to mine bauxite from the hills above. Vedantaas launch on the London Stock Exchange in 2003 was based on the impression given to financiers that they had permission to mine Niyamgiri.

In Goa, India, Vedantaas iron ore mining subsidiary Sesa Goa (now Vedanta Limited) was the largest company indicted by the Shah Commission in 2012 for illegal mining, including failure to obtain leases or environmental clearance, and exporting exporting 150 million tonnes of iron ore from Goa in 2010/11 while only declaring 76 million, their agreed export allowance.

Not far from Jaipur itself Vedanta is accused by an employees union of casualising and de-unionising the labour force at Hindustan Zinc Ltd by reducing permanent workers to only 2500 of 18,000 workers. The Maton Mines Mazdur Sangh (Maton Mines workers union) is also opposing Vedanta for poor working conditions and destruction of crops and houses around the phosphate mines.

Vedanta has been attempting to create favourable public opinion by sponsoring International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the Our Girls Our Pride gender project and even the oxymoronic Mining Happiness campaign, using celebrities and media houses to hush up its liabilities. But each of these attempts has been exposed by grassroots groups and peoples movements pointing out Vedantas corporate crimes using social media and letter writing.

The Vedanta JLF SouthBank is yet again another cynical attempt to distract attention from Vedantaas crimes at a time when it stands exposed across India and internationally. Vedantaas interests are directly opposed to the Dalit, Adivasi, Bahujan Samaj and black communities it claims to be helping.

Literature doesnat exist in a vaccum. As public figures, we believe that writers and artists also have responsibilities. It makes little sense to discuss books and ideas and the problems of the world in abstraction, while being funded by and publicising a company that has been and continues to be a gross violator of human rights across the world. We hope that you agree, and will withdraw from involvement in this discredited and damaging PR campaign,rather than lending your name to it.

Yours sincerely,

o o o
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May-12-2016 01:01 TweetFollow @OregonNews Bernie Sanders Brings Down the House in Oregon's Capitol City Anxious supporters welcomed Bernie Sanders back to Oregon.

Photos by Michael Bachara, for Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem really knows how to throw a rally. Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders supporters were in line at 6:00 Tuesday morning, for the event that began over 12 hours later. That's dedication. Doors at the Salem Armory opened at 4:00 and Sanders took the podium at 7:00. From all corners of the state of Oregon, and beyond our borders, came thousands upon thousands of people excited to hear independent U.S. senator Bernie Sanders speak, and to see him in person. The energy in the building was electric. Several bands warmed up the crowd. He entered with a big smile on his face, It sure sounds like Salem, Oregon is ready for the political revolution! The crowd responded with roaring applause. The building was filled to capacity, about 4,500. Many more supporters were outside, listening in overflow, and cheering along without hesitation. This is Sanders fourth campaign visit to Oregon, coming in time to encourage voters to cast their ballot for him in the May 17 primary election. Kentucky votes the same day. "Let the great state of Oregon, the progressive state of Oregon, go on record: yes, we want a political revolution," Sanders said. He believes he will win in Oregon next week. If so, that will help boost him up in preparation for California, coming up June 7. Though many media outlets continue to predict former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton winning the Democratic nomination, Sanders told the crowds that he will not to drop out of the race. He was thrilled to share with the crowd the news of his big win in West Virginia that same day. We have now won primaries and caucuses in 19 states, and let me be as clear as I can be: We are in this campaign to win the Democratic nomination. He promised to fight for every last vote in Oregon, Kentucky, California, the Dakotas. If he wins a majority of pledged delegates, he says he'll talk superdelegates into leaving Clinton for him. Hillary Clinton has still not made it to Oregon this campaign season, though her husband has been here twice in the last few weeks. Highly anticipated was Mr. Sanders statement on cannabis/marijuana. In our state, where adult use is legal and we are working to remove the stigma as well as the jail terms, his position on the subject is making many Oregonians happy. And hopeful. Complete removal from the Federal Controlled Substance Act is the goal of most cannabis activists. De-Schedule, not Re-Schedule is their rally cry. Sanders proclaimed, "We have got to re-think the so called 'War on Drugs'. In the last thirty years, millions of Americans have received police records for possession of marijuana. And, if you're a young person trying to get a job, having that police record is a real serious issue. And that is why I believe that right now the Federal Controlled Substance Act lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug right alongside of heroin. That is crazy! That is why, if elected President, we will take marijuana out of the Federal Controlled Substance Act." The audience showed their approval with a thundering applause and cheers. A Future to Believe in is Bernie Sanders slogan. Thats exactly what his supporters are looking for, and they believe hes the man for the job. Ballots in Oregon must be received by election day, May 17th. Oregons choice will soon be known.









Photos by Michael Bachara, for Salem-News.com Photos by Michael Bachara, for Salem-News.com _________________________________________

Politics | United-states | Oregon | Most Commented on





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Kansas not planning to require COVID-19 vaccine to attend school

There is no plan to require the COVID-19 vaccine for school attendance in Kansas, as the CDC puts the shots on the childhood vaccination schedule.
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Seguin, TX (78155)

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Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 55F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 55F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
 Can and should Missouri, after completing its last execution for a while, send any extra execution drugs to other needy states? | Main | "Maximum security Nordic 'open prisons' look more like college dorms than penitentiaries" 

May 12, 2016

An effective accounting of why "Sentencing Reform is Seriously Stuck"

The quoted portion of the title of this post is from the headline of this effective new Roll Call commentary authored by David Hawkings, and it carries this astute subheadline "Presidential politics, poison pills and attack ads threaten hopes for bipartisan accord." Here are excerpts:

For more than 18 months, a rewrite of laws governing federal criminal punishments has been touted as the exception that was going to prove the rule: An effort that had so galvanized both conservatives and liberals that it would become one of the few memorable policy achievements of the current Congress. Well, the rule has held true about the deadlocked-by-polarization Capitol becoming only more so in the sessions before a presidential election. But the exception, by fits and starts, is growing ever less likely to be exceptional. Sentencing reform, as its known on the Hill, is seriously stuck. On the surface, it may not appear that way. Just offstage, theres a fundamental impasse that looks as if it can only be broken if one sitde caves in, thereby imperiling the highly unusual bipartisan coalition that has been the issues signature feature. Complicating matters further, there are solid presidential and congressional campaign rationales for a deal, but also political arguments in opposition being at least as forcefully expressed. All this is on clearest display in the Senate, where the legislation looks to be riding a little wave of momentum but may be close to publicly coming off the rails  buffeted by anxieties about Willie Horton on the right and anger at Wall Street greed on the left.... [T]heres a decent chance the [latest revised sentencing reform] bill will come to the floor this summer, assuming the appropriations process inevitably seizes up and there no longer is the need to devote the Senates time to spending bills. Along the way, the measure is going to face one assault from powerful Republicans determined to kill it outright, and another from Republicans willing to love it to death. Ted Cruz of Texas, who returned to the Capitol this week vowing to press ahead with the combative outsider tone of his presidential campaign, and Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the first senator to endorse de facto GOP nominee Donald Trump, are leading the lambasting of the bill as going way too soft on crime. A floor debate would give Cruz an opportunity to put his scorched-earth style for opposing legislation back on C-SPAN display. And though Trump has not taken an explicit position on the bill, his many authoritarian statements suggest hell take Sessions advice and come out emphatically against it  especially if his likely opponent, Hillary Clinton, whos become newly critical of mass incarceration, decides to endorse the bill. So its quite easy to envision law-and-order groups producing 30-second TV spots, evocative of the legendary Willie Horton ad from the 1988 presidential campaign, chiding even the GOP backers of the bill as pro-drug-dealer criminal justice weaklings. The other big obstacle, which might prove even more problematic, goes by the much nerdier label, mens rea. That Latin phrase, which translates as guilty mind, is law school shorthand for the way prosecutors are sometimes required to prove a defendants criminal intent in order to obtain a conviction. Under federal law, many categories of behavior are crimes only when the accused know what theyre doing is wrong and do it anyway  but some actions can bring convictions and imprisonment whether or not theres any willful criminal intent. Many influential Republicans, urged on by their business allies and such conservative fundraising forces as the Koch brothers, are eager to apply a blanket mens rea requirement across the federal criminal code. They say the government has too much power to convict companies and their executives without having to prove any criminal intent. And they are eyeing the sentencing overhaul bill as their best available vehicle for getting the job done. Lawmakers and activists from the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party deride this proposal as a thinly veiled effort to deliver a permission slip for more What, me worry? sketchy behavior to the same sort of bad actors in the corporate and investment worlds who melted down the economy eight years ago. These liberal forces, too, have the ability to produce punchy campaign commercials targeting those in Congress who go along. Even if the bill gets through the Senate without having to swallow the mens rea poison pill, top Republicans in the House are insisting that sentencing legislation will only move if its lashed together with their efforts to expand the need to prove criminal intent. The Obama administration argues the opposite, that the only way to sign a bill on sentencing this year is to negotiate protections for unwitting white collar criminals on a separate track. One again this campaign season, its the small clusters of combative voices at the edges that are likely to have more power than any collaborative majority in the middle.

Not only does this piece effectively detail all the ways in which and reasons when the revised SRCA might not make it through the legislative process over the next six month, it also hints at an intriguing and perhaps disconcerting reality that for me has now emerged: GOP Prez front-running Donald Trump is now perhaps the political power-player with the greatest opportunity to "unstick" the SRCA.

If GOP Prez candidate Trump were to make nice to certain key GOP leaders like Paul Ryan and Chuck Grassley and John Cornyn (not to mention key GOP funders like the Koch brothers) by getting seriously and vocally behind the significant sentencing reform efforts by the "establishment right" (with or without mens rea reform), then I would increase my optimism about the odds of these reforms becoming a reality. But if Trump stays mum on this front, or especially if prodded by folks like Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie to oppose any reforms, I think the 2016 campaign dynamics will come to doom reform at least until we get to the lame duck period.

A few 2016 related posts:

May 12, 2016 at 11:41 AM | Permalink

Comments

Doug, people don't like being sold a bill of goods---people like Ernest Spiller weren't the victims of an injustice, and this "one mistake" stuff is sheer and utter prevarication.

And the 'rats' insistence on allowing lunatic prosecutions of people who get lost snowmobiling etc. is nothing short of immoral.



Posted by: federalist | May 12, 2016 1:00:36 PM

Just how much of a non-starter is this "reform"? Consider this. The Senate passed a bill 98-0 to address SCOTUS's Paroline ruling more than a year ago and yet the House still has never acted on it. It hasn't even been brought up in committee.

If Congress can't even agree to beat the holy crap of sex offenders anymore, it isn't likely agree on anything else in criminal justice.

Posted by: Daniel | May 12, 2016 1:39:33 PM

that should read "out of"

Posted by: Daniel | May 12, 2016 1:45:53 PM

By the way,, the whole mens area thing is a red herring. The easy compromise here is that mens rea refrom will only apply to a natural born person. That would satisfy the Dems and allow the Republicans to claim victory.

Posted by: Daniel | May 12, 2016 1:48:23 PM

The strange thing is, there is a companion House bill, currently unamended but mostly matching the actual sentencing portion, and another slightly more liberal corrections bill. Neither have mens rea reform in them. I keep hearing that's a hot-button in the House.

Posted by: Fat Bastard | May 12, 2016 3:27:12 PM

Colorado voters will decide this fall if slavery and involuntary servitude should be prohibited as punishments for crimes, an exception in the text of the federal constitution's 13th Amendment and the parallel state constitutional provision in Colorado. Bipartisan majorities of legislators had to support the bill to get it on the ballot.

http://washparkprophet.blogspot.com/2016/05/slavery-on-colorados-november-2016.html

Posted by: ohwilleke | May 12, 2016 8:18:22 PM

Post a comment
 "Retribution and the Limits of Criminal Justice" | Main | "Detaining the Poor: How money bail perpetuates an endless cycle of poverty and jail time" 

A Sixth Circuit panel today issues an interesting (non)opinion about the state and fate of federal litigation over the fate and future of Michigan juveniles serving LWOP sentences that are unconstitutional because imposed under a mandatory sentencing system. Here is how the opinion in Hill v. Snyder, No. 13-2661 (6th Cir. May 11, 2012) (available here), gets started:

This long-running case returns us to the difficult topic of juvenile crime and punishment. Our return, however, is to a new legal landscape, one defined by the Supreme Courts developing jurisprudence recognizing that the unique characteristics of youth matter in determining the propriety of their punishment. This case began when Michigan charged and tried the named plaintiffs as adults for acts they committed while under the age of 18. Each received a conviction for first-degree murder and a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Michigan laws in place at the time rendered anyone convicted of firstdegree murder ineligible for parole, meaning that the plaintiffs in this case effectively received mandatory sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole for acts they committed as children.

Plaintiffs filed suit in federal district court in 2010 challenging, among other things, the constitutionality of the Michigan statutory scheme that barred them from parole eligibility. Since that time, at least three important legal events have come to pass. First, the Supreme Court held in Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012), that mandatory life without parole for those under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. Id. at 2460. Second, Michigan amended its juvenile offender laws in light of Miller, but made some of those changes contingent upon either the Michigan Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court announcing that Millers holding applied retroactively. See Mich. Comp. Laws Ann.  769.25, 769.25a (2014). And, third, the United States Supreme Court recently held in Montgomery v. Louisiana, 136 S. Ct. 718 (2016), that Millers prohibition on mandatory life without parole for juvenile offenders is indeed retroactive.

The district court wisely (and presciently) reached the conclusion that Miller should apply retroactively when it ruled on the parties cross-motions for summary judgment in 2013. That conclusion also drove the district courts issuance of an injunctive order against defendants requiring compliance with Miller. In light of the legal changes described above, however, and for the reasons that follow, we VACATE the challenged district court orders and REMAND for the district court to address these issues under the legal landscape established by Montgomery v. Louisiana, Miller v. Alabama, and this opinion.
A woman riding a bicycle along San Francisco's Great Highway suffered serious injuries Tuesday evening, when she was struck by a driver.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, it was 7:17 p.m. Tuesday when the 23-year-old woman rode her bike near the intersection of Great Highway and Vicente Street.

(It's a bit confusing, but if you look at a map you'll see that there are actually two "Great Highway"s that are parallel to one another in that area  one which runs directly against Ocean Beach, and a second one that intersects with the east-west running streets in the area. The cyclist, according to police, was on this latter stretch of roadway.)

Police say that a "vehicle collided with bicyclist," but provided no information regarding the vehicle's presumable driver. Bay City News reports, however, that the driver was an 18-year-old man. According to SFPD, no arrests were made at the crash site.

The cyclist suffered "skull fractures" in the collision, police say. She was transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment of what police say are life-threatening "major head injuries."

BCN reports that the driver "remained at the scene" and that "drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash." A call to police for more details on the circumstances of the crash was not returned at publication time.
Yesterday, news broke that a 17-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department serving in the Bayview Station was reported by his colleagues for allegedly highly racist remarks. The content of those remarks, the Examiner reported, was a threat that the officer had transferred to the station to kill black people. The Examiner claims to have gleaned that statement from an unnamed SFPD source.

However, today, the SFPD contests the Examiner's report, issuing the statement that "the phrase reported by the [Examiner] was never alleged by the Department to have been said by that member, nor did witnesses to the incident allege the member made that statement." Instead, the remark appears to be, according to the Chronicle, that the officer had transferred to the station to "chase negro boys around," and that another remark was a sexually suggestive comment to a female colleague.

But before the department could challenge the initial account of the statement  which appears to have been exaggerated via a game of Telephone  some jumped to its defense. The officer, whom the SFPD does not dispute was reported for his offensive remarks, did "nothing wrong," according to Gary Delagnes, a former police union president and current political consultant for the Police Officers Association.

The accused officer, whom the Examiner claims is Sgt. Lawrence Kempinksi, shouldn't be punished, says Delagnes on Facebook, and the officers who reported him "snitched" on him.

A couple of months ago one of our officers made a comment in the lunchroom at Bayview Station that he should not have made." Here, we might assume that Delagnes is referring to the threatening comment, but regardless, the Department does not deny that the statement was racist. "It wasnt smart but it certainly wasnt anything egregious enough to warrant any kind of discipline... Two other officers who heard the statement immediately raced to their superiors and snitched him off as our officers are now taught to do.

Delagnes also took issue with the fact that "the department felt as though they needed to boast about the incident by issuing a press release to the media applauding the officers for turning in their co-worker." Per the release to which he refers, sent out by the Department, "The investigation was completed in early April and, based upon the investigative findings, Chief Suhr suspended the member and forwarded the matter to the Police Commission with a recommendation for discipline up to and including termination."

While the horrifying contents of a second round of racist text messages sent between SFPD officers might serve as more direct proof of racism than the statement made by the officer in the Bayview, community leaders also seized on the alleged remark. Calling the now-questioned threat to kill black people a "tipping point," civil rights lawyer John Burris cited it as "evidence of deep seated and systemic racial bias within the ranks of SFPD."

Burris is calling on California State Attorney General Kamala Harris to step in with an investigation of the department, naming others at his side such as the Justice for Mario Woods Coalition. Per a press release, "Burris and the community demand independent investigations into SFPDs documented racist, bigoted and toxic environment and the unwarranted shootings of Alex Nieto; Mario Woods; Amilcar Lopez; and Luis Gongora."

Previously: [Update] SFPD Officers Report Colleague For Racist Remarks
"Hi, I'm looking for a $15,000, 24-karat gold massager," I asked an attendant at the Union Square pop-up shop for Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand Goop.





Cutting me off before I could mansplain what I meant by a "massager," she told me that she was familiar with the item. It was, however, not in the store.

Goop's pop up "MRKT," which is on Maiden Lane inside an incredible Frank Lloyd Wright building, showcases "local products" only. Ms. Paltrow's seeming massager of choice, endorsed here, is from Swedish company Lelo, in case you wanted to know.

Goop, a vendor of expensive, outlandish items from clothing to snake oils and unguents (e.g. this "aphrodisiac warming potion" called Sex Dust), sells some things only through its online shop, and doesn't sell everything it endorses. While the attendant's familiarity with the sex toy I asked for seemed to indicate that Goop does have it in stock somewhere, the knowledge might also have come from its general notoriety. I mean, how could you not talk about a 24-karat gold vibrating dildo?

Anyway, I'm still hopeful. I'll come back in to check for it soon, because it never hurts to ask.


Even with a plan to manage SF's formally-informal weed-honoring "holiday" of 4/20, the San Francisco Police Department captain whose station takes the brunt of the event's impact is calling for the city to either regulate the celebration or shut it completely down.

Though San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department had estimated this year's attendee count at about 8000, at a community meeting Tuesday night, Park Station Captain John Sanford archly announced that "We had somewhere in the area of 13 to 15 thousand individuals who decided to indulge in a day of smoking marijuana," Hoodline reports.

And though SFPD spent several days ahead of the event clamping down on nearby drug dealers and rousting homeless folks from the area near Golden Gate Park typically habituated by 4/20 revelers, the celebration still troubled Sanford, who said Tuesday that he worries about the "public safety issues" posed by the celebration.

"When you get that many people in one area, you are destined to have some problems," Sanford said. "I am definitely not a fan of 4/20. I really do think that the City will need to step up and do something to either legislate the things that happen, or to cancel 4/20 across the board."

Rec and Park chief Phil Ginsberg said last month that this year's 4/20 cost taxpayers about $50,000 in trash cleanup fees and resulted in a jaw-dropping 17,000 pounds of garbage. On top of that, Samantha Roxas, an aide for District 5 Supervisor London Breed, said Tuesday that SF spent an estimated $110,000 on public safety costs.

Breed has long been an opponent of the event, suggesting in 2013 that the event be shut down and that "Since marijuana is illegal, I don't think there's anything that can be done other than making sure there's enforcement to stop the event from happening altogether." Roxas was similarly 4/20-unfriendly, saying Tuesday that "We're hopefully getting to that place where the Board of Supervisors is getting to understand the impact [4/20 is] having on neighbors."

"It's incredibly expensive for the city," Roxas said.

"The numbers about how much this costs the city will help us make the case for whether we make it illegal, require that it be sponsored by someone so we have somebody paying for everything, or we just outright don't have it any more."

A sponsor, huh? Sean Parker, if your caller ID reads "415-554-4000," you'll know who's on the horn.

Related: The Dude Abides At 4/20 On Hippie Hill, And Of Course Stanley Roberts Was There Too

4/20's Enormous Mess, By The Numbers
Didn't know there was a basement? A photo posted by Genevieve L'Heureux (@genlhx) on May 11, 2016 at 4:08pm PDT

The ruins of a once-populous building at the corner of 22nd and Mission has been plagued with problems since it was the site of a fatal fire in January of last year. It has caught afire at least three more times, is full of rats, and its owner has been slapped with a lawsuit by 48 of its former tenants. And yesterday, area residents report, it was the site of yet another mess, when a construction vehicle that was supposed to be dismantling the disaster zone accidentally fell through the floor of the once-bustling structure.

Looking at the photos posted by Genevieve L'Heureux (embedded above and below) the CAT excavator was working at street level when it smashed through the ground floor and into, perhaps, the structure's basement.

According to CAT's website, excavators similar to this fallen one range between 18,517 and 88,800 pounds in weight.

The demolition effort has been months in the works, following a February 19 emergency order from San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection ordering owners to demolish what was left of the building. Described by Mission Local as "a symbol of landlord negligence," the many issues at the site have inspired legislation tightening rules around smoke detectors in residential buildings and "requiring that landlords keep the city informed of safety standards within their buildings."
Spotted some gray whales while I was on the GG Bridge! First time I brought my camera too, super lucky.  pic.twitter.com/ePIMn5DsOy  Chris Gallello (@cgallello) May 11, 2016

As SFist noted earlier this week  and as I myself witnessed first-hand from a sailboat on Sunday  there have been a bunch of whale sightings inside the Golden Gate recently. Not being whale experts, both I and the photographer who shot the above photos of a breaching whale on Tuesday believed we were probably seeing gray whales, as gray whale mothers and calves are known to take pit stops in bays like ours to nurse or rest on their trips north to Alaska. But, those are indeed humpback whales, and their appearances in the Bay in large numbers are actually alarming biologists, as the Chronicle reports, because this is not typical behavior for them at all.

So on the one hand, we're having some very special whale watching moments right here, even within view from land in many cases. But on the other, scientists are worried about all the bad things can happen when animals this big get too close to unwitting boats and vice versa, not to mention several other concerns.

But, then, the same thing seems to have happened with humpbacks  perhaps even the same family, or some relatives  last year.

Mary Jane Schramm, spokesperson for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, has an office at Crissy Field and last year she told SFGate that a sighting of a family of three humpbacks inside the Golden Gate was "really special." The spate of humpback whale sightings that continued just outside the Gate through July 2015 was reportedly due to larger numbers of anchovies and krill where they haven't typically existed before.

This year, almost a year to the day, the Chron returned to Schramm for another quote, and this time it's because of even greater numbers. "Ive been in this game for a lot of decades, and this is the first time Ive heard of this many humpbacks coming in this far," she said. She points out that humpbacks' food sources tend to be farther offshore, and they could become disoriented the farther they come into the Bay. "The deeper they get into the Bay, the more acoustically confusing it becomes," she says.

Humpbacks are rare sightings in the Bay because they tend to avoid narrow channels like the Golden Gate, and it's curious why they're here in such numbers over the last two weeks. The video below was shot by Lauri Duke, a volunteer at the Marine Mammal Center who said she'd never even seen a humpback in person before.

The other danger is whales breaching right next to boats or kayakers, which can result in this, as seen below, from Monterey Bay last September.

Luckily, those kayakers survived unscathed, but that actually is super dangerous when humpbacks can weigh up to 40 tons.

It's also unclear just how many whales there are, or if people just keep seeing the same pod hanging out in various places near Alcatraz and the Golden Gate. My group saw what we believe was a pod of four on Sunday, but it got confusing when they separated into two pairs at one point.

And this spate of sightings is of course making locals bring up the tale of Humphrey, a humpback who more than once tried swimming upriver into the Delta and became stuck there in 1985, making national headlines. Another pair of humpbacks, a mother and calf nicknamed Delta and Dawn, swam 90 miles upriver in 2007 after being in distress from being hit with a boat propeller  speaking of reasons why scientists are concerned.

Below, CBS 5's Chopper 5 footage of two humpback whales near Crissy Field on Monday.

Previously: Video: Pod Of Whales Frolics Near Crissy Field

Video: Rare Footage Of Gray Whale Mother And Two Calves Caught By Drone
The building includes a parish hall attached to the church building, full parish kitchen, conference rooms and parish offices. Following the Mass, the bishop led a brief prayer service in the new parish hall before blessing all of the rooms in the new building.

Parishioners and guests enjoyed refreshments in the hall, courtesy of the Guild. The local Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the Mass. Visiting priests included the Rev. Bruce Lawler, former pastor who began the planning and fundraising process for the new building; the Rev. Clair Boes, former pastor; the Rev. Richard Remmes, former associate; and the Rev. Merle Kollasch, who often assists at St. Marys. The Rev. Timothy Friedrichsen, pastor of St. Marys, and the Rev. David Esquiliano, parochial vicar of St. Marys, were also priests on the altar. Deacons at the Mass were Paul Kestel, Mark Prosser and Rick Rohr of St. Marys.
SIOUX CITY | To commemorate National Police Week, area law enforcement agencies will participate in a memorial ceremony at noon Monday for fallen law enforcement officers and deputies.

Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty will be recognized during a short ceremony outside City Hall, 405 Sixth St., by the Public Safety Memorial.

The public is invited to attend.

There will be an awards ceremony for members of the Sioux City Police Department following the service, held in the City Council chambers.

The Woodbury County Sheriffs Office will host a reception in the lobby of the Law Enforcement Center, located at 407 Seventh St.

Douglas Street will be blocked from Sixth Street to Seventh Street for an hour during the ceremony.

Family and friends of those receiving awards are invited to attend the ceremony.
SIOUX CITY | A woman who conspired to distribute meth was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison on Tuesday.

Brooke Franke, 37, of Sioux City received the sentence after pleading guilty Feb. 18.

Franke admitted her involvement in the conspiracy that distributed more than 150 grams of pure meth from 2014 through July 2015 in the Sioux City area.

Four ounces of meth were found on Franke during a search after her arrest.

Franke was sentenced to 90 months in prison. She must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system. She is currently being held in the US marshals custody until she can be taken to a federal prison.
SIOUX CITY | A former employee of a Sioux City law firm has pleaded not guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from her workplace.

Kristin Hermelbracht, 43, of Hinton, Iowa, entered her written plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of first-degree theft. Her trial was set for July 5.

According to court documents, Hermelbracht took $38,445 from Hillige, Frey and Roe from July 13, 2013, through Nov. 10, 2015, by writing herself checks and forging a partner's signature.

She also is accused of depositing funds of the firm and then giving herself gift debit cards, court documents said.
STORM LAKE, Iowa | A Storm Lake man has pleaded not guilty to forcing his way into a house and assaulting a woman.

Pedro Ekchan Jr., 34, entered his written pleas Monday in Buena Vista County District Court to first-degree burglary and two counts of assault causing bodily injury. His trial was set for July 12.

Ekchan was arrested March 26 after fleeing a residence in the 400 block of Hudson Street in Storm Lake. According to court documents, Ekchan had been asked to leave the home earlier in the night, then returned, forced his way inside and struck a woman with a beer bottle and punched her in the face.
SIOUX CITY | Two Woodbury County murder trials scheduled for this month have been continued until later this summer.

Isack Abdinur and Elias Wanatee had both been scheduled to stand trial in unrelated cases on May 24 in Woodbury County District Court.

On Wednesday, District Judge Steven Andreasen moved Abdinur's trial to Aug. 23. District Judge Duane Hoffmeyer rescheduled Wanatee's trial for July 26.

Abdinur, 36, a Somalia native police have characterized as a transient, is charged with first-degree murder for the June 23 stabbing death of Cornelia Stead, 43, in her apartment at 521 W. 16th St.

Assistant Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis had requested the continuance because more discovery is needed. A psychiatrist expected to be called as a witness was not available at the May trial date.

Wanatee, 47, of Sioux City, also faces a first-degree murder charge for the Feb. 17 stabbing death of Vernon Mace, 50, near West First and Turner streets.

The prosecution and defense had jointly requested the continuance in order to have more time to prepare for trial.
DES MOINES | It is too late to help ease Jeri Kings heartbreak, but she hopes a bill signed into law Thursday will prevent other families from enduring similar anguish.

Gov. Terry Branstad on Thursday signed into law a criminal justice reform package that provides more leniency in sentencing for some crimes and stiffens penalties for another.

The bill requires individuals convicted of child endangerment resulting in death to serve at least 15 years of the 50-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Kings granddaughter, Kamryn Schlitter, died in 2010 at 17 months old as a result of severe head injuries caused by a shaking or slamming. Kamryns father Zyriah Schlitter and his girlfriend at the time, Amy Parmer, were convicted of child endangerment resulting in death.

Because the crime had no mandatory minimum sentence, King said the family was dealing with parole hearings before the appeals process was finished.

It just feels like a fight that never ends, King said. This really will help the healing process so that we can fight the appeal process and begin the healing process.

In addition to the new mandatory minimum sentence for child endangerment causing death, the new law creates softer penalties for a pair of non-violent crimes.

The new law makes certain non-violent drug offenders eligible for parole after serving half the mandatory minimum sentence, giving more discretion to the parole board; and it creates a new, third class of robbery, which would make non-violent robbery attempts an aggravated misdemeanor instead of a felony, allowing for lesser penalties in robberies that do not threaten or cause injury.

Branstad said he believes the package represents reasonable and balanced reforms.

This is an important step that can help in reducing our prison population while keeping our communities safe, Branstad said.

The advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums praised the new law as a first step.

It puts Iowa well on its way to a smarter and more effective criminal justice system, Greg Newburn, the groups policy director, said in a statement. Gov. Branstads commitment to flexible sentencing will save money, but more importantly it will keep the public safe.

Rep. Dave Dawson, D-Sioux City, called the new law a great accomplishment that he expects will reduce the disproportionate number of minorities serving in the states jails and prisons.

In 2015, blacks accounted for 3.4 percent of Iowas population but 35.8 percent of the federal prison population in the state and 25.5 percent of the state prison population, according to the states non-partisan research agency.

Dawson and Rep. Ken Rizer, R-Cedar Rapids, guided the legislation through the Iowa House. A constituent relayed to Dawson the story of Tryniti Hill, a 4-month-old girl from Sioux City whose father fatally struck her in 2009. The father, Paul Hill, was almost immediately eligible for parole after his 2010 conviction for child endangerment causing death.

The Iowa Court of Appeals later granted Hill a new trial, and after subsequent court rulings that limited the evidence prosecutors could introduce at that second trial, Hill pleaded guilty earlier this month to a reduced charge that carried a five-year prison sentence. Because Hill had already spent nearly six years in custody, he was released from jail.

Both Dawson and Rizer said they believe state lawmakers should continue to examine mandatory minimum sentences for other crimes.

I think this definitely opens up a conversation. I think when were talking about minimum sentences, we need to make sure that the penalty fits the crime, Rizer said. Whats unique in this bill is that we actually allow the judge to have some discretion on mandatory minimums in order to better match the penalty to the crime. And I think that is a new and a revolutionary model for the state of Iowa, and we might want to look at some of the other mandatory minimums in that same light.
VOLLEYBALL

Northwestern

MacKenzie Keune, Sioux Rapids, Iowa: Keune is a 6-foot multi-sports standout who starred three years for the Sioux Rapids High School volleyball team. Keune averaged a team-best 3.5 kills, 1.8 digs and totaled 82 blocks and 28 ace serves in earning first-team all-conference honors her senior year. Also an all-district and all-area selection last fall, Keune was a second team all-conference pick as junior and totaled over 500 kills and 200 blocks for her career.

Caley Vink, Zeeland, Mich.: Vink comes to Northwestern after spending a redshirt season at Saginaw Valley State University (Mich.). A 6-foot outside/middle hitter, Vink starred multiple years for the Zeeland East High School volleyball team where she earned all-area and all-conference honors.

CROSS COUNTRY

Northwestern

Emma Van Meeteren, Sheldon, Iowa: Van Meeteren competed a combined seven years for the Sheldon High School cross country and track and field teams. Van Meeteren earned all-conference honors two years (sophomore and senior) and qualified for the state meet as a senior where she finished 56th.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa | Juliana Pennings' strangest memory involving the Tulip Festival parade, not surprisingly, involves Mother Nature.

The oddity? It happened in Pella, Iowa, not Orange city, her hometown.

As 2009 Orange City Tulip Festival Queen, Pennings joined her court in representing Orange City in parades at the Pella Tulip Festival. For an evening parade, she recalled, she and the court sat carefully to avoid rainwater that had soaked the float.

"I had my hat and three under-caps," she says. "A gust of wind came up and blew off my hats and two of the members of the court had to catch and help me with those hats."

Two other members of the court, meantime, sprawled out atop garbage bags on the float to keep the bags from blowing away. The bags were used to keep the seats as dry as possible.

"It was probably funny seeing us go down the street, me, trying to keep my caps and the others trying to keep everything dry," she says.

Pennings has all sorts of other Tulip Festival memories, but most of them having to do with Orange City, her hometown, and the city she serves as Tulip Festival & Community Tourism Director, a post she's maintained since 2014.

"This is my third Tulip Festival in this position," says Pennings, a 2012 graduate of Northwestern College.

It is in this role that Pennings directs tours each year throughout Orange City. The tours may take place on foot (smaller, informal tour downtown) or with Pennings at the front of a chartered bus, noting the industrial, historical, educational and commercial highlights within the Sioux County seat.

Tourists take tours, as do prospective employees of a number of manufacturing entities in Orange City. Sometimes, it might be someone interested in relocating to this community of 6,182 residents.

"I think we'll do six to eight chartered bus tours during Tulip Fest, and people may also take horse-drawn trolley tours during that time," says Pennings, who notes that volunteers direct those tours during the three-day May celebration.

"We provide information on the strong educational foundation we have in Orange City while talking about industry and recreation," she says. "We share things like the Diamond-Vogel company history, and how Pizza Ranch has its headquarters here."

Pennings also covers the settling of Orange City and how her hometown developed in the wake of Pella, Iowa's other predominantly Dutch settlement.

Visitors can join Pennings in seeing a model Vogel mill in action. They also get to try their hand at carving a wooden shoe in the new Stadscentrum facility across the street from Windmill Park.

"Andrew Vogel (founder of Diamond Vogel) learned to grind paint pigments in the old country," she says. "The old mill we show has gears, but doesn't actually grind paint pigments."

Common questions directed at Pennings often focus on authentic Dutch costumes and foods and when, exactly, the Tulip Festival takes place.

"People are often surprised to learn that 100,000 visitors come here to a city of 6,000 during Tulip Fest," she says. "Actually, people are surprised to learn how much industry there is here in a town of 6,000."

When not out promoting all things Orange City, Pennings can be found staffing the windmill that serves as the Orange City Chamber of Commerce headquarters. It is in this location that she helps visitors pick their seats for the Tulip Festival Night Show. It is also here that she picks up the phone to answer the most frequently heard question each April and early May.

"People call a lot this time of year to ask if we'll have tulips," she says. "They want to know when they will bloom and how tall they will be."

Pennings has her standard response at the ready.

"We don't know when exactly they'll bloom," she says. "But we have several varieties planted at several different time, which helps ensure that we'll almost always have tulips blooming for Tulip Fest."
Alleged home invasion, meth edition

SIOUX CITY | A homeless man is accused of climbing a fire escape to burglarize a home before assaulting the resident inside for a mobile phone, according to authorities.

He later admitted to using meth.

Adonis Tyrell Bess, 30, a transient, was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Thursday for a burglary that occurred Feb. 20.

Bess is accused of climbing the fire escape at 1423 Summit St., and breaking out the screen of an apartment bedroom while two residents were asleep inside.

One of the victims woke up to find Bess grabbing the victims belongings, including a phone, Bluetooth speakers and clothes valued at $450, according to court documents.

Bess allegedly struck the victim several times, but no injuries were sustained.

After being forced out of the apartment by the residents, Bess was found at the Warming Shelter, 916 Nebraska St., on Feb. 24.

The stolen items were still in Bess possession, along with a small plastic bag containing methamphetamine residue and a piece of plastic to smoke it, documents state.

In a post-Miranda rights interview, Bess admitted to Sioux City police that he was a meth user and knew the victim, but he denied climbing the fire escape, the theft or the assault.

Witnesses identified Bess as the man they saw climbing the fire escape.

Bess is currently being held in the Woodbury County Jail on $25,000 bond. He faces a second-degree burglary charge and fourth-degree theft charge.

Hide-and-seek? How about hide-and-seek... on meth?

STORM LAKE, Iowa | A man being sought for burglary was found by police at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake on Thursday under the influence of meth, and claiming people were chasing him, authorities said.

At about 8:36 p.m., Storm Lake police responded to the emergency room and found Domonick Tribble, 29, of Chicago, being treated by hospital staff, police said.

Tribble was being sought on a warrant from December 2015 for first-degree burglary of a residence at 116 Irving St. on Dec. 30.

Police said Tribble entered his estranged girlfriends apartment through a window and assaulted her before stealing her cellphone and fleeing.

Tribble is also wanted out of Buena Vista County on a warrant for failure to appear in court in reference to a possession of a controlled substance charge.

Tribble was treated at the hospital and released before being transported to the Buena Vista County Jail. He was booked for the two outstanding warrants and also charged with public intoxication.

He is being held on $25,000 bond.
Local search engine optimization (LSEO) is a powerful digital marketing strategy for business owners wanting to sell to local customers, if youre not showing up in local search, youre missing out.

Increased Web traffic, brand visibility, and an increase in revenue are all advantages of investing in SEO.

To take control of your local search results, follow the local SEO checklist and best practices below.

Local SEO Checklist

Keyword Research

Keyword research is a fundamental step for every successful SEO campaign. It involves discovering and analyzing phrases and terms that people are actually typing into the search engines to find local businesses like yours.

Google uses the text and hidden code on a website to understand what its about. Its very important to optimize a website around keywords that people are actually using.

For example, a painting company may be inclined to optimize their exterior painting page around the term exterior residential painting because that is the term the industry uses. However, through keyword research, they may find that people are actually using the term home painting service. If thats the case, their page should be optimized around the term home painting service.

If you are a local business, you can also add a geo-modifier to a keyword to make it location specific. For example, home painting service Portland or home painting service Portland Oregon.

So, how do you discover which keywords to rank for?

To start, brainstorm keywords yourself or ask customers, friends, or family what keywords they would use to find a business like yours. Take your list and input them into Googles Keyword Planner to find new keyword ideas and to get the estimated search traffic for those keywords. Googles tool will only provide you with advertiser competition, not SEO competition, but keywords with a high ad competition will normally have a competitive SEO score. Try to find a set of keywords that has at least a hundred people searching each month, but with medium to low competition levels. Then add them naturally into your titles and meta descriptions.

True keyword research is an in-depth and detailed process. Check out Backlinkos Definitive Guide to Keyword Research for a guide to keyword research.

Title Tags

Your title tag is one of the most important on-page SEO elements.

It is the main text that appears in search results. It also appears on top of your browser tab and when saving bookmarks. Titles provide users with a brief overview of what to expect when they click, and titles also tells Google what your page is about.

Your title should include the keyword you are trying to rank for, while at the same time accurately describe the page.

Here are some guidelines for writing the perfect title tag:

Keep your titles under 55 characters to ensure they display correctly in Google

Include your brand name whenever possible

The homepage title tag should always start with your brand name, followed by the services offered

Example: Sues Painting Company | Residential Painting in Portland

For more information on Title Tags, check out this guide.

Meta Descriptions

The purpose of a meta description is to provide the user and search engines with a brief synopsis of your page. Having interesting and descriptive meta descriptions may increase the frequency that people click on your result when it is shown.

Aim to write unique descriptions that are under 156 characters in length, so your words dont trail off

You can use this tool to preview what your titles and meta descriptions would look like in the search results.

See Also: 12 Point Checklist For Creating a Website

NAP Information

Next to SEO, N-A-P are the three most important letters in local search.

NAP is short for Name, Address, and Phone Number.

If you want to show up in local search, its crucial that Google understands where your business is located. Google is able to pick up NAP information on your website as well as on other sites around the web. It uses the consistency and quantity of NAP mentions as a ranking factor for local search.

The more often your business information is found on the web, and the more consistent it is, the higher your visibility will be in local search.

Customers Reviews

Over 92 percent of consumers read online reviews to find local businesses and services. On top of that, 60 percent of consumers judge a local business on its overall star rating with 43 percent find 3 out of 5 stars to be the minimum rating before consulting with that business. With so many people resorting to online reviews for business recommendations, it is imperative to get positive reviews.

The quantity and quality of your online reviews play a direct role in our search visibility. The more 5-star reviews your business has, the more online exposure it will receive.

To get positive reviews you will need to focus on creating an amazing customer experience. After every job is finished, politely ask for feedback.

Google My Business, Facebook, Yelp, Foursquare, Houzz, and Angies List are great places to receive and reply back to reviews. Read more about how online reviews affects your business and its online presence.

Image Optimization

Image optimization is an art in the SEO world.

Search engines dont see images the same way you or I do. Because of this, we need to give them additional information to describe the image. This can help increase the rankings for your target keyword.

We can optimize 4 aspects of an image to ensure its SEO-friendly:

Filename: This is the name of the image file when saved on your computer. Before uploading to your site, ensure the file-name has your target keyword in it. As an example: home-painting-service-photo.JPG

Title Text: This text will display when a user hovers over your image. It should include your keyword, and describe the image. Example: Home Painting Service in Portland.

Alt-Text: This text will display if an image fails to load. This is especially useful for the visually impaired. Again, this should include the keyword and describe the image.

Size: Before uploading to a website, images should be compressed and properly sized. You can use a tool like Photoshop or a free web tool like Compress JPEG.

Anchor Text Optimization

Anchor text refers to the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. Google uses the anchor text of a link to understand what the page is about. For example, if you hyperlink the words Home Painting, Google will assume that the page youre linking to is related to home painting.

Within your website content, you can hyperlink keywords to the related service page. This helps Google understand what your pages are about, and can lead to increased rankings for those keywords. In the example above, you would want to link every mention of home painting to your home painting service page.

Mobile Friendliness

If users are feeling frustrated when visiting your website due to a poor mobile experience like small text, needing to pinch the touch screen to zoom in, slow loading time, then you should update to a mobile friendly website.

Most mobile-friendly websites feature responsive web design, meaning that it is able to adjust to fit the screen size of any device. Responsive websites are easier to manage from an SEO perspective. Alternately, you can develop a separate website designed specifically for mobile.

In April 2015, Google announced a mobile-friendly update to its algorithm, which resulted in penalties against websites that were not optimized for mobile devices. Google also plans to roll out another mobile-friendly update in May 2016.

Failing to comply with Googles Mobile Friendly guidelines will result in a major loss in mobile search traffic.

Citations and Social Profiles

A citation is an online mention of your business with all or some of your NAP information. They generally take the form of a local listing in an online directory like YellowPages.

A social profile is like an upgraded version of a citation in that it is often more trustworthy, unique, and customizable. Examples of social profiles are Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

To build your websites visibility, you will need to create as many relevant and high-quality citations and social profiles as possible.

Follow these SEO guidelines when building citations and social profiles:

Be 100 percent consistent with your NAP information. Always use the exact same business name, address, and phone number.

If you move locations, you will need to update your NAP information on your website, citations, and social profiles.

Write unique business descriptions that summarize your companys history, niche, products, and services.

Upload at least 5 relevant, high-quality images, not including your company logo.

Select up to 5 relevant business categories with the first 3 being the most important.

Use a spreadsheet to track your passwords and usernames.

Delete duplicates. You only need one citation per location.

Google My Business

Google processes over 3.5 billion searches per day. If youre not listed on Google, youre missing out.

Google My Business, or GMB for short, is an incredible marketing platform for small businesses.

Here are some advantages to using Google My Business:

Manage and update how Google displays your business information.

Access insights on how users find your business.

Be found on Google Maps and help customers find directions to your business.

Respond to customer reviews.

you can also check a unique guide to google maps marketing

To list your business, go to Google My Business and type in your business name and address into the search bar.

If your business can be found:

Click on your business to claim your profile. Then, check the box I am authorized to manage this business and click Continue. Review your business address and make changes, if needed. Click Mail and Google will send you a postcard with a verification code. Once received, enter the code in Google My Business to complete the verification process.

If your business cannot be found:

Click This doesnt match. Add your business. Fill out the form with the most accurate information, then click Continue to proceed. After reviewing your address, click on Mail. Google will send a postcard with a verification code that should arrive at your business location in 1-2 business weeks. Enter the code in Google My Business to complete the verification process.

While waiting for your postcard to arrive, you can update your business address, description, categories, hours of operation and map marker. You can also upload images that will be shown in the local search whenever someone searches for your business.

To make any changes, click on the hamburger icon on the top left to open the menu. Click All locations. Then click Manage location to start editing.

Schema Markup

Schema markup is code that you can add to your website that helps search engines better understand certain types of information on your website.

All local businesses should utilize local business schema. This special code feeds your location and contact information directly to Google. Having this schema implemented on your site adds local trust and authority, which will help increase local rankings.

Some schema markup can generate rich snippets, which are enhanced elements to your result on the search results pages. By giving users a better sense of what to expect before actually visiting your website, users will be more likely to click on your page and stay on your website longer.

Google currently supports rich snippets for review ratings, recipes, organized events, videos, and news articles.

For more information on how to utilize schema markup, check out this guide from the Search Engine Journal.

Link Building

In Google, a link to your site counts as a vote. The more votes a website has, the more often Google will show that site to its searchers.

Links pass trust and authority. For example, if Forbes, Business.com and the Wall Street Journal all link to a website, that website will gain some of the trust and authority from these publishing power-houses.

Most websites will naturally have a few links, but you can increase your links (and your rankings) by link building.

Link building is the process of outreaching to authoritative, high-quality, and relevant websites to persuade them to link back to your website. It can help establish your brand, build your online exposure, and increase your websites ranking and traffic.

For example, your website may be mentioned in an online editorial. If the editorial website has a high authority, then it can greatly benefit your website.

Link building can be a daunting undertaking that requires regular outreach and follow up. However, you can acquire quality links for your website and foster new relationships in the process. Its a win-win!

Conclusion

Following this 12 point local SEO checklist and best practices can significantly help your website outperform competitors while building your brand reputation and exposure.
Small businesses are seemingly less likely to hang a Help Wanted: No Experience Necessary sign in their window these days.

New data from SurePayroll on employee training found that, of the more than 300 respondents to its survey, most small businesses (63.1 percent, to be exact) say that a job candidate must have the right experience to even be considered.

Most Small Business Not Interested In Training New Hires

The rest (36.9 percent) say theyll train a new hire for the job they need done even if they dont have experience.

So, with or without experience, the largest group of small businesses responding to SurePayrolls survey say they dont have a formal training process in place. Time and a lack of resources seem to be the biggest hangups small businesses have with training new employees.

Of the more than 300 responding, 29.6 percent said its a learn-as-you-go situation in regard to training.

Companies that have a formal training process are almost equally divided on how long it lasts. Just more than 20 percent say their training process lasts more than a month. However, nearly as many said their training regimen lasts less than a week.

Another 18 percent said their training lasts a week or two, and another 15.6 percent said it lasts a month.

SurePayroll New Hire Training Survey

Most responding to the SurePayroll new hire training survey say they never failed at training a new employee. However, some did say that they may not have picked the right person for the job in the first place.

One small business owner commented: As an employer, we give the necessary training to succeed at a particular position. It is then up to the individual employee to follow through. I dont think there is ever failure in training but possibly failure of appropriate placement for a particular position. Some employees excel in a position and some dont.

Onboarding a new employee is a critical step for any growing small business. The wrong pick for an open or new position within your company can be very costly.

But as a small business owner, you neednt be told that time and money are not on your side. You need to prepare for a proper training program. Still its a quandary that seems to impact the smallest businesses more than others.

Speaking to that, one small business owner told SurePayroll, Its difficult to train in a learn-as-you-go scenario, but there are no good options for a business with only a few employees. Cant afford a real training program, so its critical to select the right candidates.

For small businesses in this scenario, considering the cost and impact of a bad hire or a hire-gone-wrong, it may be best to get as many of the proverbial ducks in a row before you sign on a new employee.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Chambers FreeEnterprise.com and 1776, a public benefit corporation that funds high-growth startups, today released findings from their latest Innovation That Matters 2016 report, a study that outlines which American cities are the strongest drivers of the digital economy and how they got there.

The report ranks 25 U.S. cities according to their readiness to become digital economy hubs. It aims to help local startup community leaders benchmark their progress and identify strengths and weaknesses within their respective communities.

There is a wide array of technologies making their way into the market, said Donna Harris, co-founder of 1776 and contributor to the report, in a press briefing announcing the study. Everyday, we see things like smart objects, drones, artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality and more reported in the media, yet we have barely begun to scratch the surface on how this technology will impact us.

Heres Harris and other leaders with more on the study and what it means:

According to Harris, this digital era represents the biggest technology transition the world has ever seen and, quite possibly, the greatest economic shift it has ever experienced.

The wake this transition will leave behind has the potential to either be disastrous or game-changing for every city in the county, Harris said. What we wanted to know is how ready U.S. cities are to capitalize on this inevitable transition and what community leaders can do to ensure their cities will not only survive, but thrive.

Cities Included in the Report

The cities included in the report are:

Of the 25 cities examined, five rose to the top:

Boston San Francisco Bay Area Denver Raleigh-Durham San Diego

One of the most surprising finds was that the Bay area of San Francisco did not rank in first place. Rather, that honor went to Boston.

While San Francisco is the clear leader in total startup activity, its lack of a cohesive community and declining quality of life for residents helped move Boston to the top spot, Harris said. Entrepreneurs in Boston reported having a much better connection to the community overall and to the key things that Boston offers, such as top-notch universities and institutions.

Denver and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., also proved surprising. Even though they have fewer startups than larger cities such as New York and Los Angeles, the ties between the startups and institutions in the community are much stronger.

In preparation for writing the report, two researchers, Michael Hendrix and Patrick McAnaney, traveled to eight of the cities on the list  Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City and Seattle  meeting with leaders in the public and private sectors.

We picked eight cities we thought of as interesting hubs to study, and met with local startup community leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss their biggest challenges and greatest opportunities, McAnaney said during the press briefing.

We also surveyed 300 entrepreneurs in 25 cities, looking at traditional measures of startup activity, such as access to capital, as well as things like culture, how the quality of life in the various cities helped or hurt these entrepreneurs and how open their communities were to accepting the changes the digital era would bring.

Four Recommendations Help City Leaders Transition to Digital Hubs

Based on their findings, Hendrix and McAnaney, together with Harris and other contributors, developed four specific recommendations that provide a framework for how city leaders can evolve their startup communities into digital hubs.

The four recommendations are:

1. Understand the Inevitable Trajectory of the Digital Economy

It is critically important that city leaders understand the inevitable trajectory of the digital economy.

Before cities can embrace the possibilities of technology, they must first understand what those technologies bring to bear, Harris said. Too few city leaders grasp the magnitude of what these technologies bring and even fewer demonstrate a willingness to proactively question long-held norms in ways that cities can lead, operate and engage in the digital era.

See Also: This Top Ranked City for Entrepreneurs Might Surprise You

2. Imagine a New Future that Includes History  Where Technological Possibility Intersects with Legacy Assets and Unique Strengths

Cities need to lean on existing strengths while imagining a new future. Every city has assets to leverage, such as healthcare, education or livability. They need to identify those assets and be purposeful in unlocking them for the digital future.

3. Focus Beyond Startups to Include Corporations, Universities, Nonprofits and Local Government.

We wrongly define startup ecosystems as something separate from the rest of the citys economic infrastructure, Harris said. In reality, startups are feeders to become leading corporations for the future. Cities must integrate startup activities into the rest of the ecosystem, and large enterprise and government must be at the table. Collaboration is the key to future success.

4. Work Proactively Toward a New Governing Framework that Marries Technological Possibility and Regulation.

Government at all levels must work toward a proactive governing framework. Impediments in the regulation process must be addressed, to accommodate the new digital era, and cities must not be left to rely on a patchwork of archaic rules and regulations.

Connectedness Central Theme of the Report

From Harriss comments and the reports findings, it is apparent that how well-connected entrepreneurs relate to their communities  particularly to local government and area corporations  plays a vital role in the success of a city becoming a digital hub.

We confirmed that the secret sauce of [digital] ecosystem development lies in the creation of effective networks that bring together broad arrays of stakeholders within an industry, facilitate the open exchange of ideas and bridge cultural gaps between different groups to promote effective collaboration, the report said.

Entrepreneurs Feel Disconnect Exists

However, the report also reveals that, nationwide, just 32 percent of entrepreneurs feel connected to local corporations, and only 33 percent felt connected to local government.

It also indicates that, in many cities, a disconnect exists between their past and future regarding domination of certain industry sectors, such as healthcare or education. Not all cities are taking advantage of the assets they have and transitioning them to the digital era.

The report issues this caution: Just because a city has dominated in a certain industry in the past doesnt mean it will in the future.

Yesterdays expertise will not guarantee tomorrows economic wins, says the report. Without leaders who understand this and act to help their communities transition, cities will fall behind.

Click here to download a full copy of the report.
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
Jacqueline Maria Edelen, 45 of Hollywood, MD, affectionately known as "Peaches" was called home on May 8, 2016. Peaches was born on December 26, 1970 to Louise Marie and the late Calvin Aloysius Edelen, Sr. Peaches was preceded in death by her father, Calvin Aloysius Edelen, Sr. and grandparents, John and Louise Barnes and Theodore and Ophelia Edelen.



She was educated in the St. Mary's County Public School system. Peaches was employed as a home health care provider. She lived in Missouri for several years and while there, Peaches was a bus driver. Later, due to her illness she was brought back home to be with family.



Peaches enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, going to casinos, music, dancing and spending time with family and friends. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, but most of all she loved God.



She is survived by her mother, Louise Marie Edelen; one daughter, April Edelen; two sons, David and DeMarcus Spears; sister, Carolyn Edelen; brothers, Calvin Edelen, Jr. and John Barnes, III; ten grandchildren, Ka'Laya, Kaivon and KaLana Gross, DaTrina Spears, Dal'Marri and Dal'Niya Holley, Serenity Thomas, De'Malya, DeMani and Dacian Spears and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.



Family will unite with friends on Thursday, May 19, 2016 for visitation at 9:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 22375 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Interment to follow at the church cemetery. Donations to help with funeral expenses may be made directly to Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home by credit card or money order only. Arrangements provided by Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home.
Christopher Hale, Jr., 35, of no fixed address. (Booking photo, MSP)

LUSBY, Md.

(May 11, 2016)State police investigators from the Computer Crimes Section, Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), arrested a Calvert County man on child pornography related charges today.The suspect is identified as Christopher Hale, Jr., 35, of no fixed address. Police located Hale sleeping in his car in Prince Frederick when he was arrested without incident. After consultation with the Calvert County State's Attorney, Hale was charged with five counts of distributing child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was transported to Calvert County Detention Center and awaits a hearing by the District Court Commissioner.As a result of the investigation, a search and seizure warrant was executed on Hale's laptop found in his vehicle and in a Lusby residence where police believe he was staying with family. State Police Computer Crimes investigators and troopers from the Prince Frederick Barrack were assisted by agents from the Department of Homeland Security. Execution of the search warrant resulted in numerous types of digital media being seized, found to contain images of child pornography.The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of police agencies from around the state. Its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.
WASHINGTON

(May 11, 2016)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is being awarded amodification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-15-D-0026) to exercise an option in support of the Contracted Air Services (CAS) Program. The CAS Program provides contractor owned and operated Type III High Subsonic and Type IV Supersonic aircraft to United States Navy Fleet customers for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia (44 percent); Point Mugu, California (37 percent); and various locations outside the continental United States (19 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,380,880 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded amodification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-reimbursable contract (N00421-15-C-0038) to exercise an option providing for engineering, management, and technical services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in August 2016. Fiscal 2016 research development test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,346,311 will be obligated at time of award, none of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.Elbit Systems of America, LLC, through its subsidiary M7 Aerospace, LLC, was awarded aFirm, Fixed Price contract by the US Navy to perform modifications onC-26 aircraft. Upgrades will be completed by September 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.With a trusted legacy of delivering high quality modifications and upgrades to a wide range of airframes from military and corporate jets to turbo props, Elbit Systems of America, the Type Certificate holder for the C-26, was selected to install an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) upgrade and a Finmeccanica, Vixen 500E AESA radar on the Navy's C-26 aircraft. This modification will replace the existing weather radar with an AESA radar that meets the USNTPS requirements for training and supportability, and Navy Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) Open Architecture (OA) flying test bed requirements.USNTPS trains experienced pilots, Naval Flight Officers (NFOs), and engineers to become qualified test pilots, test flight officers, and flight test engineers that support test and evaluation programs. Graduates of the school must meet the test and evaluation requirements of the U.S. Navy and various other Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities in all U. S. military services, other U.S. Government agencies, civilian industry, and many foreign nations.The addition of the new Vixen 500E AESA radar will give students practical, hands-on experience with an advanced, compact, lightweight, radar that combines Fire Control, Surveillance and Reconnaissance search capabilities, along with target acquisition, tracking and prosecution. The design is intended for installation in small fast-jets, fighter lead-ins, trainers & modified business aircraft, like the U.S. Navy C/RC-26.The Navy's C-26 is a versatile, multipurpose transport aircraft that provides rapid-response personnel movement and high-priority resupply to remote sites. The global C-26 fleets continue to expand their mission capability and functionality through the expansion and integration of special mission equipment packages to meet the ever-changing requirements of today's Navy."Partnering with our military customers to develop a highly focused modification, repair and overhaul plan allows us to deliver an affordable, high quality solution that meets military requirements and keeps them in the fight," said Chris Hickey, vice president, Sustainment & Support, Elbit Systems of America. "This modification aligns with our strategy to extend the life and highlight the value of our C-26 franchise."Elbit Systems of America is known for its commitment to its customers, craftsmanship, integrity and value and is a multiple award recipient of the FAA's Diamond Award for Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) training.Based in San Antonio, TX, Elbit Systems of America's Sustainment & Support Solutions provides aircraft modernization, sustainment, and worldwide contractor logistics support to a multitude of platforms such as the Metro Merlin, C/RC-26, King Air, C-21, C-23, UC-35, ATR 42/72, DO-328 and many other platforms.
LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(May 12, 2016)The Leonardtown Barrack of the Maryland State Police (MSP) today released the following incident and arrest reports.COCAINE LOCATED DURING TRAFFIC STOP: On Friday, April 29, Cpl. Gresko initiated a traffic stop on a silver passenger car on Suburban Drive at MD Rt. 246 for a minor traffic violation. During the course of the traffic stop, Cpl. Gresko determined that the driver had given a fictitious name, and identified him as. Mr. Carroll was placed under arrest. Search incident to arrest revealed a digital scale containing suspected CDS, a large amount of U.S. currency, and two clear plastic baggies containing suspected CDS. Mr. Carroll was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Possession of CDS-Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Distribute CDS- Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Use Drug Paraphernalia, Making a False Statement to a Peace Officer, and Driving While Suspended/ Revoked. He was held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-016853)DUI, INDECENT EXPOSURE, FAKE ID: On Saturday, April 30, TFC Regina was stationary at the Wawa in California when she observed a silver passenger car pull into the parking lot. The driver,, exited her vehicle, pulled down her pants, and began urinating in the parking lot. Field sobriety was conducted, and Ms. Terrell was placed under arrest for DUI. She was also found to have a false government identification card through the state of Rhode Island. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with DUI, Indecent Exposure, and Possess/Use False Government ID. Ms. Terrell was held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-016953)ASSAULT: On Sunday, May 1, Corporal M. Grimes responded to the 39000 block of Harpers Corner Road for a reported assault. Investigation revealed that, had assaulted a male victim. Ms. Dobson was placed under arrest for Assault Second Degree. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-017172)MARIJUANA, OXYCODONE LOCATED DURING TRAFFIC STOP: On Tuesday, May 3, Tpr. R. Geyer initiated a traffic stop on a blue passenger car at MD Rt. 235 at S. Sandgates Rd for a minor traffic violation. The driver,, admitted to having marijuana and paraphernalia in the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, resulting in the recovery of marijuana, paraphernalia, and 6 Oxycodone pills. Ms. Windsor was placed under arrest for CDS: Not Marijuana and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was issued a civil citation for CDS Marijuana: Less Than 10 Grams and held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-017462)ASSAULT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT: On Thursday, May 5 at 9:37 pm, Senior Tpr. Evans responded to the 46000 block of Hilton Drive for a suspicious person. S/Tpr. Evans contactedin the parking lot of the apartment complex. Mr. Morgan began shouting obscenities, drawing the attention of occupants of the apartment complex. Mr. Morgan was placed under arrest and placed in S/Tpr. Evans' patrol car. While being transported to St. Mary's County Detention Center, Mr. Morgan continued to yell obscenities and spit on S/Tpr. Evans' left arm. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Assault and held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-017710)ASSAULT: On Sunday, May 8, S/Tpr. Evans responded to the 45000 block of Jay Dee Court for a reported assault. Investigation revealed that, had assaulted a male victim. Ms. Yannayon was placed under arrest for Assault Second Degree. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and held pending a bond review with the District Court Commissioner. (16-MSP-018219)
LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(May 12, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Vice Narcotics Division released the following incident and arrest reports. The Division is an investigative team comprised of detectives from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and Federal Drug Agents (HIDTA Group 34). The Division was established on September 1st, 2007.INMATE RECEIVING LETTERS SOAKED WITH SUBOXONE: Vice/Narcotics detectives received information that an inmate,, was receiving mail into the jail which was tainted with Suboxone. During the course of the investigation, evidence was recovered from his cell as well as from intercepted incoming mail. Letters were being sent into the secure facility after being soaked in the drug. Once inside the jail, Suspect Panholzer would eat the paper to ingest the drug. He was indicted and charged with several criminal charges including Introducing Contraband into a Detention Facility. At least one additional arrest is expected as a result of this investigation.POSSESSION OF METHADONE:, was arrested and charged with Possession of Methadone.PRESCRIPTION FRAUD RACKET: Vice/Narcotics detectives responded to a pharmacy in St. Mary's County for a reported fraudulent prescription. Information was then forwarded to surrounding agencies and the suspect was identified asOn May 3, the detectives were contacted by Narcotics detectives from Calvert County Sheriff's Office regarding the suspect Krouse-Boswell attempting to pass a fraudulent prescription in their jurisdiction.Shortly after being contacted, a St. Mary's County Vice/Narcotics detective was conducting an unrelated investigation at a pharmacy when they observed suspect Krouse-Boswell arrive and enter a Charlotte Hall pharmacy, pass a counterfeit prescription for Oxycodone and exit the establishment waiting for the prescription to be dispensed.Suspect Krouse-Boswell was arrested. Recovered from her person and vehicle were numerous items of evidence. Nineteen additional fraudulent prescriptions were recovered, some of which were signed and made under various names. The phone number on the prescription was called and it prompted the suspect's cell phone to ring. A prescription bottle containing several Oxycodone tablets was located as well and it was revealed it was also obtained through this fraud scheme.Detectives will continue the investigation within our jurisdiction and assist the Calvert County Sheriff's Office in their investigations as well. Additional charges are pending a review with the State's Attorney.
A group of social conservatives launched a petition against Disney after fans of the wildly popular movie "Frozen" urged the company to make character Elsa gay in the upcoming sequel.

Members of CitizenGo are demanding Disney "follow its normal trend and create a Prince character" with whom Elsa can fall in love, Right Wing Watch reports. In an email from the organization to its supporters, Gregory Mertz wrote Elsa having a female love interest is "frightening," urging CitizenGo members to tweet with the hashtag #CharmingPrinceforElsa.

The email reads in part:

Disney is facing fierce pressure from liberal groups who are demanding their writers turn Queen Elsa into a lesbian during the sequel, "Frozen 2."

Please join the 37,000 who've already signed our petition against this absurd "movement."

With our petition, we're suggesting Disney with a much better idea... An idea that promotes solid family values to our children and represents the natural family.

Join the 37,000 -- sign our petition, now, to Disney asking that Elsa fall in love with a Prince. #CharmingPrinceForElsa:

...

Queen Elsa a Lesbian? Thinking about our children, this idea is frightening.

Right Wing Watch notes one of the organization's five board members is Brian Brown, the president of the anti-gay marriage group the National Organization of Marriage.

CitizenGo's petition currently has more than 72,500 signatures of its 100,000 goal.

"We call on Disney to follow its normal trend and create a Prince character to fall in love with Queen Elsa," the petition reads. "We ask that Disney find a nice and loving Prince for Queen Elsa to fall in love with."

Last week it was reported fans were clamoring on social media, urging Disney to give Elsa a female love interest in the "Frozen" sequel, noting the inclusion would be a positive impact for LGBTQ youth. Since its release in 2013, many fans have pointed out the film's parallels to the LGBT community. Some also say the hit song "Let It Go" is is a metaphor for coming out.

Ultra conservative pastor Kevin Swanson, who has lashed out against "Frozen" in the past, calling "Let It Go," "Satan's rebellion anthem," once again lashed out against the children's movie during his online radio program this week, according to Right Wing Watch.

"Anybody who has the guts to stand up against the homosexualizing of kids in the present day will be shamed for it and that means that the homosexualizing of kids will be, I think, wholesale happening across this country in the next two, three, four, five, 10 years," he reportedly said. "Of course Elsa is going to get her girlfriend eventually. That's the way you destroy sexuality. That's the way you destroy an entire civilization. The entire social system of the United States of America is collapsing.

"You have got to be sure that you have homosexualized four-year-olds and six-year-olds and eight-year-olds and ten-year-olds in order to destroy a civilization because the destruction of a civilization happens over two or three or maybe four generations max," he added. "In order to bring a civilization down, you've got to homosexualize the kids."
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has suspended all city-sponsored travel to North Carolina and Mississippi due to the states' new transgender laws.

Rawlings-Blake made the announcement Tuesday in a letter to city officials, saying she hopes the city's efforts combined with those of other governments and companies "will push North Carolina and Mississippi" to change.



The letter says cabinet members shouldn't make travel requests to the two states "until the situation changes."



The new law in North Carolina directs government agencies and publicly funded schools to designate bathrooms for people based on their genders at birth.



Mississippi passed a law, effective July 1, allowing workers to cite their own religious beliefs as a reason to deny service.



Rawlings-Blake says she won't authorize trips to the states while the laws exist.
Take part in an informative and educational conversation about transgender issues as they pertain to the workplace and tourism in our area. TD Bank and the GFLGCC present: TRANSforming the Workplace -- Transgender Issues and Answers. It takes place on May 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place 17th Street Convention Center, 1851 SE 10TH Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

The presentation and panel discussion features perspectives from corporate, federal and tourism professionals with a focus on policy, legal, legislative and practical matters for employers.

Anti-transgender laws have recently passed in Mississippi and North Carolina, highlighting the need to educate people.

There is a lack of education and understanding, says Keith Blackburn, President/CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. I have worked with Richard Gray and our CVB in supporting last year's Southern Comfort Transgender Conference. I have learned that the transgender community faces obstacles on every level. That includes obstacles from society in general to jobs, travel, family and more.

The panel discussion will be interactive, so attendees will be able to ask questions and gain insight from TD Bank on a corporate perspective with policies and background.

Atticus Rank of SunServe will offer statistical information on practical matters and information for employers and also speak from a transgender man's perspective, Blackburn said.

Gina Duncan of Equality Florida will offer legislative updates, talk about corporate training and also speak from a transgender woman's perspective. Richard Gray of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB will discuss the recent transgender study on tourism, mention the upcoming Southern Comfort Conference and give practical information for hotel and hospitality businesses. Finally, Chris Courtemanche of the CIA will share the agency's policy and discuss the high profile story about "Jenny" as explained in a recent Advocate article.

The complimentary event begins with a brief networking component  with beer, wine and hors doeuvres served. Seating is limited, so please RSVP on GoGayFortLauderdale.com/events or email Keith Blackburn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Richard Gray, Managing Director LGBTQ Market for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In 1995 he developed the Greater Fort Lauderdales highly successful LGBTQ marketing initiative. An inductee in the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Associations Hall of Fame, a Fort Lauderdale hometown hero and a recipient of the gay plus Award for Achievement from MTV/Logo, Gray is passionate about all aspects of travel. Gray is also the Vice Chairman of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

Gina L. Duncan, Transgender Inclusion Director for Equality Florida.

Gina Duncan has served on the Orlando Human Rights Campaign Steering Committee as Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee. She chaired the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Career and Wellness Fair events. Duncan was elected President of the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA), the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Orlando. She was the first transgender person to serve as President of a major chamber of commerce in the country. She was the President of MBA and the Come Out With Pride event, which annually draws over 100,000 people to the Orlando area. Partnership Registry in both the City of Orlando and Orange County.

In 2014, Duncan became Equality Floridas Transgender Inclusion Director embarking on a career in corporate transgender inclusion training and consulting. Duncan has trained major corporations across the U.S. and was a guest speaker at the Global Summit on Human Rights in Milan, Italy. Duncan is now recognized as a national and international speaker on transgender inclusion in the work place. Duncan chairs Equality Floridas Transgender Inclusion Initiative, TransAction Florida, which is comprised of an 18 member advisory board from all over the state of Florida. TransAction advocates for transgender rights and protections through public policy, advocacy and education efforts statewide.

Chris Courtemanche, LGBT Community Outreach Program Manager for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA.)

He has been with the CIA for 21 years. Courtemanche is now the agencys LGBT Community Outreach Program Manager in the Diversity and Inclusion Office. His role as the LGBT Community Outreach Program Manager for the CIA is to dispel myths and misconceptions about the Agency with the ultimate goal of making the CIA an employer of choice for the LGBT community and creating a stronger relationship between the CIA and the LGBT community.

Atticus Ranck, Director of Transgender Services for SunServe.

He holds a Masters degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies from Florida Atlantic University. In his current position, he is an educator, advocate, and case manager helping transgender adults as they navigate a world that has no place for them.

Ranck has trained local organizations such as BARC and Fort Lauderdale Hospital on Transgender Cultural Competency and has presented on transgender-related issues across the country. For his work, Transgender Services has been named Best Place for Trans Folks 2015 by SFGN and Ranck has been named one of SFGNs OUT50.

Roxanne James, Diversity Relationship Manager with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at TD Bank.

She provides support and serves as a subject matter expert to TD's LGBTA, Women in Leadership and Veterans Subcommittees across the U.S. footprint. In the past year, she had led several Diversity initiatives to increase employee awareness and bolster TD Bank's commitment to be a diverse and inclusive workplace. Her most recent project has been TD's LGBTA "I'm Coming Out" podcast where senior leaders are interviewed about their workplace "Coming Out" experience and why it is important to bring your authentic self to work each and every day.
Germany's justice minister said Wednesday he will draw up legislation to annul the convictions of thousands of gay men under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-World War II West Germany.

Heiko Maas' announcement that he will seek to overturn the convictions and create a "right to compensation" came after an expert study commissioned by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency found that there is no legal barrier to rehabilitating the men.



"We will never be able to eliminate completely these outrages by the state, but we want to rehabilitate the victims," Maas said in a statement. "The homosexual men who were convicted should no longer have to live with the taint of conviction."



Some 50,000 men were convicted between 1949 and 1969 under the so-called Paragraph 175 outlawing sexual relations between men, which was introduced in the 19th century, toughened under Nazi rule and retained in that form by West Germany.



Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969 but the legislation wasn't taken off the books entirely until 1994. In 2000, Parliament approved a resolution regretting the fact that Paragraph 175 was retained after the war. Two years later, it annulled the convictions of gay men under Nazi rule, but not post-war convictions.



The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany said the study for the anti-discrimination agency "makes clear that the government can no longer hide behind spurious arguments that annulling the convictions would not be legally possible."



Maas said that the study will be taken into account in drawing up legislation, which would need parliamentary approval.



"We can only appeal to all political voices who have struggled with this issue so far not to use abuse it now for political trench warfare," he said.
Kepler-223 System UC Berkeley

A four-planet system observed several years ago by the Kepler spacecraft is actually a rarity: Its planets, all miniature Neptunes nestled close to the star, are orbiting in a unique resonance that has been locked in for billions of years.

For every three orbits of the outermost planet, the second orbits four times, the third six times and the innermost eight times.

Such orbital resonances are not uncommon our own dwarf planet Pluto orbits the sun twice during the same period that Neptune completes three orbits but a four-planet resonance is.

Astronomers from the University of Chicago and University of California, Berkeley, who are reporting the discovery online May 11 in Nature, are particularly interested in this stellar system because our systems four giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are thought to have once been in resonant orbits that were disrupted sometime during their 4.5-billion-year history.

According to co-author Howard Isaacson, a UC Berkeley research astronomer, the Kepler-223 star system can help us understand how our solar system and other stellar systems discovered in the past few decades formed. In particular, it could help resolve the question of whether planets stay in the same place they formed, or whether they move closer to or farther from their star over the eons.

Basically, this system is so peculiar in the way that its locked into resonances that it strongly suggests that migration is the method by which the planets formed that is, migrating inward toward the star after forming farther out, he said.

NASAs Kepler mission has unearthed many alternative scenarios for how planets form and migrate in a planetary system that is different from our own.

Before we discovered exoplanets, we thought that every system must form like ours, Isaacson said. Thanks to Kepler, we now have hot Jupiters, many planets that are closer to their star than Mercury or in between the size of the Earth and Neptune. Without the discovery of exoplanets, we would not have known that the Earth is something of an outlier.

California Planet Search

As part of the California Planet Search team, Isaacson obtained a spectrum of Kepler-223 in 2012 using the high-resolution echelle spectrometer (HIRES) spectrometer on the Keck-1 10-meter telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The spectrum revealed a star very similar in size and mass to the sun but much older more than 6 billion years old.

You need to know the precise size of the star so you can do the dynamical and stability analysis, which involve estimates of the masses of the planets, he said. The Keck telescope is absolutely critical in this regard.

Sean Mills, a graduate student at the University of Chicago, and his collaborators then used brightness data from the Kepler telescope to analyze how the four planets block the starlight and change each others orbits, thus inferring the planets sizes and masses. The team performed numerical simulations of planetary migration that could have generated the systems current architecture.

Exactly how and where planets form is an outstanding question in planetary science, Mills said. Our work essentially tests a model for planet formation for a type of planet we dont have in our solar system.

The resonance could have been set up within a few 100,000 years, as each planet in turn migrated close enough to the others to get captured. The astronomers suspect there were special circumstances that allowed the resonance to persist for 6 million years.

These resonances are extremely fragile, said co-author Daniel Fabrycky of the University of Chicago. If bodies were flying around and hitting each other, then they would have dislodged the planets from the resonance.

Scientists suspect that our solar systems massive planets may have been knocked out of resonances that once resembled those of Kepler-223, possibly after interacting with numerous asteroids and small planets or planetesimals. Other processes, including tidal forces that flex the planets, might also cause resonance separation.

Many of the multi-planet systems may start out in a chain of resonances like this, fragile as it is, meaning that those chains usually break on long timescales similar to those inferred for the solar system, Fabrycky said.

The work was funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and Polish National Science Centre.

A Resonant Chain of Four Transiting, Sub-Neptune Planets (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature17445.html)

California Planet Search (http://exoplanets.org/exoplanets_pub.html)
NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 10 May 2016. NASA

The SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is ending its stay tomorrow at the International Space Station. The commercial cargo craft has been packed with about 3,700 pounds of cargo, spacewalk gear and biological samples for analysis on Earth.

Astronauts Tim Peake and Jeff Williams will be at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm when the command to release Dragon is given at 9:18 a.m. EDT/1:18 p.m. UTC. Dragon will parachute to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean a few hours later for recovery by SpaceX personnel. NASA TV will televise the release and departure activities starting at 9 a.m.

While the astronauts in the U.S. segment loaded Dragon, their Russian counterparts conducted research exploring diverse fields such as physics, biology and human research. They researched how space radiation affects materials that simulate human tissue for the long-running Matryeshka study. The crew also looked at how the space environment affects a crew members carotid artery and immune system.

On-Orbit Status Report

SPHEROIDS De-installation: SPHEROIDS experiment containers were removed from KUBIK 6 and the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) before being transferred and packed into the SPHEROIDS launch bags for return on SpX-8. Incubation and data transfer has been completed for all samples according to schedule. The SPHEROIDS experiment investigates the effects of microgravity on endothelial cell function with respect to blood vessel formation, cellular proliferation, and programmed cell death. Results could help in the development of potential countermeasures to prevent cardiovascular deconditioning in astronauts and improve knowledge of endothelial functions on Earth.

Radiation Dosimetry inside ISS-Neutron (RaDI-N) Retrieval: The USOS crew retrieved all 8 of the Space Bubble Detectors that were deployed last week in the ISS for the Radi-N experiment and handed them over to the Russian crewmember to be processed in the Bubble Reader. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) RaDI-N investigation measures neutron radiation levels while onboard the ISS and uses bubble detectors as neutron monitors which have been designed to only detect neutrons and ignore all other radiation.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) High Quality Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) Removal: The PCG-Canister Bags were removed from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and the Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF) before being stowed for return on SpX-8. The JAXA PCG-Demo investigation crystallizes proteins using the counter-diffusion technique and permeation method that minimizes impurities, forming high-quality crystals for use in medical studies and ecological applications.

Multi-Omics Operations: The crew supported the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics investigation by collecting human samples and inserting them into MELFI. The investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts immune function by combining the data obtained from the measurements of changes in the microbiological composition, metabolites profiles, and the immune system.

Dose Tracker: The crew completed entries for medication tracking. This investigation documents the medication usage of crew members before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities.

Node 2 Nadir (N2N) Control Panel Assembly (CPA)-2 J5 Cable Remove & Replace (R&R): The crew successfully R&Rd the N2N Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) CPA-2 J5 cable with a spare cable flown on OA-4. This cable harness connects the latch controller, latch actuator, and position sensors for CPA-2 Latch 2. This R&R could only be completed as an Intravehicular Activity (IVA) during a N2N berthed vehicle phase as the cable is between the visiting vehicle and the ISS. Damage to the backshell of the cable was reported by the crew last year during SpX-6 departure vestibule outfitting.

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA1)/Node 1 Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Reconfiguration: Russian Segment and USOS split ventilation remains in effect. The Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) was moded to 60% production to increase the O2 partial pressure. USOS 24-hour average is 3.17 mmHg. Teams will continue to monitor CO2 at multiple locations throughout ISS.

SpX-8 Dragon Departure Prep: Today, the crew completed Dragon packing, egress and closed its hatch. Following hatch closure, the crew completed installation of the four Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Control Panel Assemblies (CPAs) at the Node 2 Nadir vestibule. Ground teams then completed associated activation and checkout of the CBM. Departure activities will continue tomorrow with the removal of power and data jumpers, Node 2 Nadir hatch closure, vestibule depress, and subsequent unberth. Dragon release is scheduled for 8:21am CDT tomorrow.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

SPHEROIDS Deinstallation of 4 experiment containers from KUBIK 6

Double Cold Bag (DCB) Packing

RADIOSKAF. Photo/Video r/g 2186

RADIOSKAF. VHF (Kenwood D700) Transceiver Setup and Activation to Broadcast Mode r/g 2185

SPHEROIDS Retrieval of 4 containers from MELFI

SPHEROIDS Container packing

??1-4 Dust Filter Cartridge Replacement in SM

DRAGON Transfers

Progress 432 (Aft) Transfers and IMS Ops / r/g 1812, 1832

JAXA Protein Crystal Growth canister removal

DAN. Experiment Ops r/g 0119

DAN. Experiment Operator Assistance / r/g 0119

Retrieval of JAXA Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) Ice Bricks

JAXA Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) Sample Pack

DAN. Experiment Photos / r/g 2179

Soyuz 719 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate

DRAGON. Transfers

RSS1 laptop BRI data download / r/g 2052

DRAGON. Transfers

Exercise Data Downlink via OCA

COL- DC Troubleshooting

KUBIK 5 Centrifuge Insert Circlip Recovery

KUBIK5 Interface Plate Removal

KUBIK5 Centrifuge Installation and Recovery

KUBIK5 Centrifuge Insert Installation

Dragon Center Stack Transfers

Soyuz 720 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate

Symbolic Activity Preparation / r/g 2183

Comm Subsystem [????] routine maintenance

Headset Audit / r/g 2178

??? Maintenance

Dragon Cargo Operations Conference

VIZIR. Experiment Ops with ????? Hardware r/g 2187

WRS Water Sample Analysis

Comm Subsystem [????] routine maintenance (LF path, Comm Panels, and VHF receiver test)

Headset Audit / r/g 2178

Multi Omics (MO) Sample Collection

Installation of Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assembly (CPA)

Multi Omics (MO) Sample Insertion into MELFI

Multi Omics (MO) Equipment Stowage

MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements r/g 2180

Dragon Egress in Preparation for Departure

Complete the Dose Tracker application, Subject

NAPOR-mini RSA. Cleaning Onboard Memory Storage ???-? vents / r/g 1906

Soyuz 719 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Terminate

RADIN Retrieval of Radi-N detectors

RADIN Handover of RADI-N Detectors to RS

MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeter detectors from USOS r/g 2180

DOSETRK Questionnaire Completion

MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements r/g 2180

Installation of Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assembly (CPA)

Soyuz 720 Samsung tablet charge, end

IMS Delta File Prep

TOCA Data Recording

VHF2d test from SM (using primary ???? sets )

Robotic Workstation (RWS) Display and Control Panel (DCP) Powerup in Cupola and LAB

INTERACTION-2. Experiment Ops / r/g 2181

Completed Task List Items

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Dragon departure prep

Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Wednesday, 05/11: SpX-8 unberth/splashdown, METEOR s/w image load, Sprint, Spheroids data copy

Thursday, 05/12: JSSOD M removal/Cubesat deployer insert, Rodent Research, Neuro Mapping

Friday, 05/13: USOS crew off duty as payback for working Russian Victory Day holiday on Monday, May 9

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status

Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  On

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Operate

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Full Up
NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 May 2016. SpaceX

SpaceXs Dragon cargo craft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 p.m. EDT, about 261 miles southwest of Long Beach, California, marking the end of the companys eighth contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.

A boat will take the Dragon spacecraft to a port near Los Angeles, where some cargo will be removed and returned to NASA within 48 hours. Dragon will be prepared for a return journey to SpaceXs test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing. Dragon is currently the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return a significant amount of cargo to Earth at this time.

Dragon is returning more than 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo and science samples from a variety of technological and biological studies about the International Space Station. The Microchannel Diffusion study, which investigated fluids at the nanoscale, or atomic level, holds promise for a wide range of technologies. Nanofluidic sensors could measure the makeup of space station air, or be used to deliver drugs to specific places in the body, for example. This type of research is possible only on the space station, where Earths gravity is not strong enough to interact with sample molecules, so they behave more like they would at the nanoscale. Knowledge gleaned from the investigation may have implications for drug delivery, particle filtration and future technological applications for space exploration.

On-Orbit Status Report

SpX-8 Unberth/Splashdown: Dragon unberthed successfully at 6:00 AM CDT with release at 8:12 AM CDT. Prior to unberth, flight computer FC1-C had an error flag indication, however, SpX and NASA teams confirmed that the error did not impact the Guidance Navigation and Control parameters needed for release and departure. Splashdown occurred at 1:52 PM CDT, less than 3 km off from the landing target point. The capsule has been lifted out of the water and is onboard the recovery boat.

Sprint Ultrasound 2 Operations: The crew set up a camera and video, configured Ultrasound 2, placed reference marks on the calf and thigh of right leg, donned Sprint (Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Training Study) thigh and calf guides, and perform thigh and calf scans with guidance from the Sprint ground team. When the scan is complete, the crew transfer data from Ultrasound 2 to the Ultrasound 2 USB Drive. Ultrasound scans are used to evaluate spaceflight-induced changes in the muscle volume. The Sprint investigation evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crewmembers during long-duration missions.

Fine Motor Skills: A series of interactive tasks on a touchscreen tablet was completed for the Fine Motor Skills investigation. This is the first fine motor skills study to measure long-term microgravity exposure, different phases of microgravity adaptation, and sensorimotor recovery after returning to Earth gravity.

Dose Tracker: The crew completed entries for medication tracking. This investigation documents the medication usage of crew members before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The data is expected to either support or counter anecdotal evidence of medication ineffectiveness during flight and unusual side effects experienced during flight. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) is occurring during missions.

Meteor Software Image Loads and UltraBay Adapter Installation: The crew attempted to load the software image prior to running four Meteor DVDs, however the software load was unsuccessful. The crew reported that the computer could not boot from any device which is consistent with earlier software loading problems. The crew took a picture of the boot screen, left DVD 1 in the laptop and suspended operations. They left the laptop and hard drive connected in Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) and switches to the laptop power supply and WORF were left on to allow for future ground commanded troubleshooting.

Intermodule Ventilation (IMV) Reconfiguration: As part of the ongoing effort to reduce ppCO2, earlier this morning the crew worked in Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)1 to better direct IMV airflow back into the Russian Segment. This activity consisted of reconfiguration of existing IMV hardware in PMA1 as well as installation of a new IMV Duct Tee and a 5 foot IMV duct.

Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) Checkout: C2V2 checkouts continued today with checkouts of the GPS ancillary data, broadcast ancillary data, audio and video on the return link, plus voice checks with crew and Electronic Systems Test Laboratory (ESTL). Testing will conclude tomorrow.

Ku Communications Unit (KCU) 1 Audio Video Interface Card (AVIC) failure  Today, the KCU-1 AVIC failed to diagnostic mode. This resulted in a temporary loss of all 6 video downlinks and two of the Space to Ground (S/G) audio channels. Ground controllers performed a reset of the AVIC, and all video downlinks and S/G 3 & 4 links were recovered nominally. This issue was seen once in 2015 and recovered in the same manner.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Dragon Vestibule Configuration for Demate

ALBEDO. FSS battery charge (start) / r/g 2206

Dragon/Node 2 Vestibule Depress

Cygnus Cargo Operations

Filling (separation) of EDV (KOV) for Elektron or EDV-SV r/g 2129

Closing Window Shutters 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 / r/g 6965

??? Maintenance

Psychological Evaluation Program (WinSCAT)

DAN. Experiment Operator Assistance r/g 0119

DAN. Experiment Ops. r/g 0119

METEOR Laptop Software Load [Aborted]

RADIOSKAF. Hardware deactivation/ r/g 2185

ISS HAM RADIO Power Down

DAN. Experiment Photos / r/g 2208

Water Recovery System (WRS) Drain Waste Water Tank, initiate

Node 2 Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Demate

BAR. Experiment Ops / r/g 2204

Cygnus Cargo Operations Conference

Dragon/Node 2 Vestibule Depress

DOSETRK Questionnaire Completion

Life On The Station Photo and Video / r/g 2000

Water Recovery System (WRS) Drain Waste Water Tank, terminate

USND2 Hardware Activation

WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV

SPRINT Experiment Ops

SPRINT Assistance for the test

Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Route and Checkout

ALBEDO. Photo Spectral System (???) Prep, Imagery, Closeout Ops / r/g 2201

Camcorder Setup to View LAB RWS Monitor 3

???? comm assets switchover to a backup set

Configure Robotic Workstation (RWS) for Dragon Release

SSRMS Dragon Release from Node 2 Nadir

Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Dragon release and departure monitoring

Symbolic Activity / r/g 2183

USND2 Hardware Deactivation

Crew Command Panel (CCP) Cable Routing

Symbolic Activity / r/g 2183

SPHEROIDS Copy Data to Laptop

DRGN Restow Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK)

C2V2 Setting up video equipment

Centrifuge Insert (CI) KUBIK 6 Ops

CGBA4 Hardware Deactivation.

Symbolic Activity / r/g 2183

RADIOSKAF. Closeout Ops r/g 2185

KUBIK6 Data Downlink and Centrifuge deinstallation

Symbolic Activity / r/g 2183

KUB6 KUBIK 6 Ops

KUB Centrifuge Installation

RWS Power Down

Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop Transfer log-files to ??? r/g 1888

Video stowage

Symbolic Activity / r/g 2183

MIRT-3 Micro-integrator Changeout (4)  Preparation steps

CUCU Deactivation

C2V2-VIDEO Testing

IMS Delta File Prep

ISS HAM Activation of ISS HAM Radio and Video

VHF2d test from SM (using redundant ???? sets )

Completed Task List Items

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Dragon departure

Sprint Ultrasound ops

Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 05/12: JSSOD M removal/Cubesat deployer insert, Rodent Research, Neuro Mapping

Friday, 05/13: USOS crew off duty as payback for working Russian Victory Day holiday on Monday, May 9

Saturday, 05/14: Crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status

Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  On

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Full Up
Located between the affluent neighborhood of Leblon and the beautiful Arpoador rock, Ipanema is at the heart of the South Zone in Rio de Janeiro. Youve probably heard the famous songbut theres more to Ipanema than tall and tan girls. The beach of Ipanema is divided into segments (postos) that are also the lifeguard tower numbers. Posto 9, for instance, was the go-to spot for the alternative, hippie, and gay crowd back in the 1980s. Until recently, Posto 10 was famous for its compulsive gymgoers and sunbathers obsessed with showing off their muscles. Today, thanks to Rios pluralism, Ipanema is quite diversified throughout its postos (yet without getting as tumultuous as neighboring Copacabana). Ipanema is also known for its numerous delicious juice bars, pay-by-the-weight restaurants, and fashion stores. And the coffee, you ask? Well, not so much.

Enter Kraft Cafe, a small Australian-inspired spot just a block from Posto 10. Owner Duncan Hay, an Australian expatriate, and his wife, Priscila, opened Kraft after Hay got laid off by an oil company in Brazil. Since they both loved to cook and have friends over, they decided they would do that for a living. So during a trip to his homeland, Hay corraled his friend Nick Raven, owner of Ravens Coffee, to talk about the tricks of specialty coffee roasting. Hay quickly realized he didnt have to deal with the logistical challenges of shipping the beans from the interior of Minas Gerais all the way to Denmark, Western Australia (the home of Ravens Coffee). Back in Brazil, he was around 300 kilometers from that farm. The coffee component of the Hays new startup became clearer when Duncans sister, who lives in the US, sent him an article on the growing influence of Australian coffee culture in New York City. So the couple decided they would try something that didnt yet exist in Rio: a cafe that served crafted coffee beverages and brunch-like food options all day long.

Krafts roasting spot is in Cosme Velho, also in Rios South Zone. This site, where Duncan roasts and cooks, can only be described as a beautiful old house at the feet of Corcovado Mountain. If you stretch your sight up the tree-covered slope, you could even spot the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Far beyond the noise, hearing only the songs of the birds around us, this place did not feel like Rio at all.

We open beer cansafter all, he says, its Fridayand start chatting about roasting. If Im going to do it, says Hay, Im going to do it properly. The beans I am sourcing come from many regions in Brazil, but once I roast them, its meits me on that bean. He wasted many pounds of specialty coffee early on while getting to know the craft and finding his sweet spot. He is constantly in experimental phase, making sure each roast is to his own quality standards before he puts the beans out for sale. Their La Marzocco GB5, which arrived three months before the cafe was able to actually open its doors (thanks to Brazilian bureaucracy and some unscrupulous service providers slowing things), went instead to the roasting home. Hay used that time to master the handling of the machine, with the help of his friend Jason Lee, a New Zealander and a seasoned barista.

I ask what he is most proud of serving at Kraft. Of course, he says the coffee, but he is not serving light-roasted nano-lots. Hays goal is achieving a roast that offers what Brazilians usually expect from an espresso: chocolate and almond notes, with a bit of acidity and without hurting the beans by overroasting. When you work with specialty beans, its not difficult to [do], he says modestly.

Another singular menu item is the flat whiteKraft is the only place serving it in Rio. Whats more, there is actually some mystery around the milk Kraft uses. I asked, but Hay refused to tell me the label. In fact, theres no labelI spotted baristas getting it from a clear glass bottle. Its indeed special, fresh milk; Id risk saying there is no other cafe in the city using fresh whole milk in their beverages. The general mandate in Brazil seems to be that every cafe in the country uses UHT milk bottles. With a laugh, Hay says that what Brazilians drink as cappuccinooverfoamed milk, bitter espressos with cinnamon and cocoa powdershould be forbidden. I sort of agree.

Beyond the coffee, Krafts nutritional juices and food have gotten raves. Priscila prepares and sources the health food offerings, the artisanal bread, and the juice menu; the cafes Glow juicekale, pineapple, coconut water, spirulina, and avocadois a hit, and in general the artisanal and ethnically oriented treats do well in this area of Rio, which is heavily visited by foreigners. The expat community has embraced Kraft (Duncan mentions Fabrizio Moretti, the Brazilian-American drummer of the Strokes, became a regular when visiting Rio), but neighbors who are going to or from the beach are also trying it outand approving! So now, the next time you are in Ipanema, you know there is a place to get good coffee.

Juliana Ganan is a Brazilian coffee professional and journalist. Read more Juliana Ganan on Sprudge.

Photos courtesy of Cicero Rodrigues.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The incident took place close to the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, CNN reported citing an anonymous US military official.

Reportedly, none of the US soldiers who are in Somalia on an advise-and-assist mission were injured.
"None of the big banks or ratings agencies that were engaged in criminal behavior and so were responsible for the [2008 Wall Street financial] crash was even indicted let alone prosecuted and jailed. scientist and political commentator John V. Walsh said.

Only one very small investor was convicted but no serious action was taken against any of the major US banks or other financial institutions involved, Walsh recalled.
It is unknown, however, how the new subway will be perceived by Western journalists. One of them, during his last visit to Pyongyang accompanied his TV report about visiting the local subways with this comment: North Korea has nothing else to be proud of, except of the metro and missiles.

According to Ivanov that is not true. He explained that currently Pyongyang is building beautiful homes for its citizens. For example, in May last year, on the banks of the River Taedong a whole street called Mirai was under construction with residential high-rise buildings of up to 40-50 stories.

Some of these houses are intended for scientists. As once it was in the Soviet Union, its residents are constantly trying to maintain a high culture of life and compete against each other to see who cleans their apartments better.

According to the journalist, the results of such competitions are reflected on tablets that are hung in the lobby on the first floor of the residential buildings. Those who win the competition of the cleanest apartment receive a tablet over their doors for everyone else to see.
According to her relatives, Tanzilya deserves the title Veteran of Labor. After all, she has worked for over half a century.

However, back in the day, there was no record keeping labor books where her work years could have been officially recorded. Now officials demand documented evidence or confirmation of her work but it is difficult to obtain that sort of confirmation when the witnesses have already passed away.

Looking back at Tanzilyas rich life her story is far from ordinary. She got married before the war. But her happiness was short-lived. Her husband was called to the war front and never returned. Their first-born died in infancy. When the war ended, she was 49 and still had neither family nor any children. But, as it turned out, her best years were yet to come.

Soon after, an elderly Kazakh proposed to the widow. After the war only a handful of young men returned to the village, so Tanzilya agreed. At 53 she gave birth to a son.

A year later her second one was born and at 57 years she became a mother once again.

Nowadays, all three of her sons have retired and they all live nearby. They have a big happy family and are proud of their mother.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014, less than an hour after takeoff. There were 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Boeing 777 aircraft.

According to the Malaysian Transport Minister, over 105,000 square kilometers (about 40,500 square miles) have been searched in an effort to find the planes wreckage.
Ayesha always wanted to do something unconventional. "More than being India's youngest pilot, I am happy for having accomplished my childhood goal," Ayesha told local media.

Now Ayesha is half way through her commercial pilot license  as soon as she completes the total 200 hours of flying, she will finally be able to work with an airline. For now she pilots single engine Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 aircraft.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The highest number of casualties were recorded in Herat province, where 47 combatants were killed, according to the statement.

No reference to the combatants' affiliation to any particular insurgent group was made in the official statement.

Security in Afghanistan has drastically deteriorated in recent months as both Taliban insurgents and Daesh, outlawed in Russia, the United States and several other countries, have expanded their activities in the south of the country.
During the talks both India and Bangladesh also took stock of bilateral engagements in various areas.

Foreign Secretary of India S. Jaishankar paid a bilateral visit to Bangladesh. The visit was part of regular interaction between the two sides. The Foreign Secretary called on Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and the Foreign Minister on May 11 and met the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary on May 12. During the talks both Foreign Secretaries reviewed the progress on decisions and understandings reached between the two countries the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015. Both sides noted with appreciation that there has been excellent implementation of decisions taken which are evident from the results in all the sectors. Key developments include progress on the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement, commencement of supply of 100 MW power from Tripura to Bangladesh, launch of coastal shipping services from Chittagong to Krishnapattanam, progress on energy cooperation, signing of dollar credit line agreement for execution of projects under US $2 billion line of credit. Both sides also take stock of decisions made during recent meetings of various bilateral mechanisms, the foreign secretary told media.

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankars visit is expected to prepare the ground for the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission led by foreign ministers of both countries to be held in Dhaka later this year.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The suggestion made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that US allies Japan and South Korea might develop their own nuclear deterrent would further promote insecurity, former US Secretary of State James Baker III said on Thursday.

"The more countries that acquire nuclear weapons, the more instability there is going to be in the world," Baker stated in a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the US role in the world.

Prior to the March Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, Trump suggested that the United States, shouldering too much of the defense responsibilities for its allies, might consider cutting Japan and South Korea from its nuclear umbrella, allowing the nations to develop their own strategic deterrent.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik, however, said Thursday that Minsk does not recognize the debt before Gazprom.

"We don't have any sort of debt, we pay in line with the intergovernmental agreement," Potupchik told journalists in Belarus.

"There is a debt before Gazprom for delivered gas and this debt over the last four months is more than $125 million," Russian Energy Minister Novak told journalists in Moscow.
It was also reported that Engie signed a deal to deliver at least 12 shipments of liquefied gas a year.

"This is 'environmental extremism,'" head of East European Gas Analysis Mikhail Korchemkin was quoted as saying by Gazeta.ru. "If those environmentalists find out that Gazprom uses fracking at its Markovskoye gas field they will call for banning Russian gas too."

According to the expert, the goal of the announcement is to "spark populist buzz in the media."

Head of the National Fund for Energy Security Konstantin Simonov noted that there is no law in France banning products produced with the use of fracking.

"I dont think this may be done in favor of Russia because political tensions are still high," he suggested.

According to Simonov, the true reason behind the possible ban would be the pricing for US-made shale gas. Its current price is $6-6.5 per British thermal unit while Russian gas is much cheaper. This is because of falling prices in Gazproms long-term contract which bind gas pricing to crude prices.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Under the terms of the Joint Plan of Comprehensive Action (JCPOA) deal on Irans nuclear program, international banks can do business with Tehran, US Secretary of State John Kerry said after meeting with his British counterpart and banking representatives in London on Thursday.

"We want to make it clear that legitimate business, which is clear under the definition of the agreement, is available to banks," Kerry stated. "As long as they do their normal due diligence and know who theyre dealing with, theyre not going to be held to some undefined and inappropriate standard here."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  He added that Thailand is interested in aviation equipment which can be used in disaster management and in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and emergencies, such as fighting forest fires.

"It would be nice if we could purchase equipment from Russia in exchange for Russian purchases of our agricultural goods and food for comparable sums in comparable amounts. If you [Russia] will buy our goods, we will have sufficient funds to purchase your equipment. We ask you to help us in this regard, the prime minister told RIA Novosti.

Earlier this year, a source familiar with the situation told reporters that negotiations were underway for the purchase of more Mi-17V-5 helicopters by Thailand, adding that the deal was expected to be concluded by the end of 2016.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Institute of Global Responsibility, the Civil Affairs Institute and Akcja Demokracja (Democracy Action) nongovernmental organizations submitted the signatures calling for the changes in the US-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to the office of Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, Polskie Radio reported.

Both TTIP and CETA have sparked controversy and concern in the European Union due to the secrecy surrounding the negotiations and the power they could give to international corporations at the expense of small and medium-sized businesses.

While the advocates of the agreements claim they could be beneficial for economic growth of all the participants, the opponents believe they will make it harder for the European states to regulate markets and, in particular, undermine the European Union's right to label genetically modified food and support local agricultural producers.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Iran had expected to receive tens of billions of dollars following the lifting of sanctions , USCongressman Eliot Engel noted during the hearing. Engel recalled that US Secretary of State John Kerry reported last month Iran has only received about $3 billion because of sanction relief.

"For reasons of political and security risk, existing sanctions, and the serious financial challenges associated with attempting business with Iran, many global banks have made it clear that they do not plan on doing business with Iran," Rosenberg told the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

Strategic advisory firm Financial Integrity Network Chairman Juan Zarate told the hearing it is up to Iran to prove it should receive additional business from the international community.
SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik)  The delegation will include Crimean Minister of Resorts and Tourism Sergey Strelbitsky and a number of other Crimean officials as well as lawmakers.

"The Crimean authorities' delegation, headed by [Crimean] Parliament speaker Vladimir Andreyevich Konstantinov, will pay a visit to Beijing on May 16-18. The purpose of the visit is the presentation of the Crimean tourist, investment and cultural potentials during an event at the Russian embassy," Georgy Muradov told RIA Novosti.

According to Muradov, the presentation, which will be held on the first day of the delegation's visit to China, is expected to be attended by about 200 guests.
When asked whether local media would have reported such cases if the situation was reversed, meaning that if Muslim refugees were harassed by Christians, Simon said that talking about bad things done by Muslims has long been a taboo in Germany.

But now I think its time we talked about this because it is important for hundreds of thousands of Muslims leaving their countries in Syria and Iraq. It is important for them and I think that it helps us talk about untold issues we had before. This is a challenge for us living in a democratic society.

Many human rights organizations have called on Berlin authorities to house Christian refugees separately from Muslims.

In the short term this could be a solution, but in the long term  no its not. We need to educate people coming here to accept democracy and give them a chance to stay if they accept our values and our way of life, Simon noted.

We have to help everyone coming here if they face war in their homeland. However, it may take one or two generations and if we want to integrate hundreds of thousands of young males in ten or fifteen years we need stricter immigration laws to make it clear that if you want to stay here you need to accept our way of life.

Not everyone will accept this, but I dont rule out a situation that we may have to send some of these people back. This is a challenge to German society, which is very open-minded and after everything that happened during the Second World War we refuse to tell anyone that Look, you have to accept our values, because people may think we are Nazis or something like that. But if we do not protect our values and our freedoms we will have a lot of problems in future.

We also need to protect those who want to live here and escape that kind of violence by Daesh, al-Qaeda and force those who are not ready to accept our values to leave because otherwise this would be a cultural suicide for all of us, Simon Jacob emphasized.
During the visit of the Russian delegation, participants of the talks agreed to maintain good political relations and expressed hope for developing economic ties.

This is not the first time when European politicians and businessmen have called for lifting sanctions against Russia.

Recently, One of Germany's largest political parties, Alternative for Germany (AfD), demanded the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. The resolution is expected to be sent to the government of the federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg on May 11.

"Anti-Russian sanctions should be lifted because they have turned against us and have negative consequences on the economy. Russia is one of the key partners of Baden-Wurttemberg, and our trade relations should not be dropped, " local MP Udo Stein was quoted by the Russian newspaper Izvestia as saying.

Anti-Russian sanctions were first implemented in 2014 after Brussels joined Washington in accusing Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis. The sanctions have been prolonged several times despite the fact that Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. On December 22, 2015, the European Council decided to extend the anti-Russian economic sanctions until July 31, 2016.

In late April 2016, the French National Assembly passed a non-binding resolution urging the removal of anti-Russian sanctions.
The US-founded Uber has promoted its low-cost offshoot as a car-sharing service, allowing drivers to participate without proper taxi licenses. However, Swedish courts, beholden to their need to regulate every part of their economy, showed no leniency for Uber or the 30 individuals who were convicted of operating a taxi without a license.

"It feels really sad that people have been affected by all this. Uber has been trying to support them the best way we can," Uber's manager in Sweden Alok Alstrom told newspaper Dagens Nyheter on Wednesday after confirming that the controversial service finally would be scrapped.

According to Uber's own figures, over the past three months, the low-cost service involved some 5,000 drivers and was used by 100,000 passengers.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  The survey by Germanys leading pollster Forsa revealed that 36 percent of those questioned supported limited sanctions against Russia, while 35 percent said they should be entirely scrapped. Only 18 percent said EU should keep sanctions pressure on Russia.

The opinion poll was conducted on April 11-12 and published in IPs May-June edition. Over 1,000 people were sampled.

Relations between Russia and Europe soured after the start of the Ukraine crisis in early 2014. Brussels accused Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian domestic affairs and imposed several rounds of sanctions on it. Russia denied the claim and introduced a ban on EU food imports.
The Norwegian government will seek to ensure that Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago midway between mainland and the North Pole, continues as a robust family community, a white paper, presented by State Secretary Gjermund Hagester of the Progressive Party, stated. The previous white paper on Svalbard was submitted only seven years ago, the normal interval being 10 years, noted Norwegian national broadcaster NRK . The reason is that Norway's previously steady economy has found itself in hot water.

According to Hagester, the government is relying on innovations to safeguard existing jobs and create new ones. Regina Alexandrova of the Conservative Party stated the priority is to move government jobs from mainland Norway to Svalbard, mainly in civil services and consumer business. Another aspect of the government's plan is to carry on with the tax breaks on Svalbard, thus appealing to both people and business alike.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The decades-old row was revived in April when neighbors exchanged rocket fire, killing dozens on both sides. A truce was agreed on April 5, but reports of violations continued. The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents reportedly have plans to meet in Vienna next week.

"I have nothing to say on this report," Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "Of course, Moscow will welcome any effort aimed at deescalating tensions in the conflict zone and returning to a dialogue on political settlement."

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when the mountainous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. It proclaimed independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a cessation of hostilities in 1994, effectively freezing the conflict.
The list of foreigners in the Ukrainian government included Financial Minister Natalie Jaresko (US), Economic Development Minister Aivaras Abromavicius (Lithuania), and Healthcare Minister Alexander Kvitashvili (Georgia). After being appointed, they all insisted on the need to improve the work of their ministries and introduce transparent mechanisms of state procurement.

In an interview with Ukrainskaya Pravda, Abromavicius said that procurement reform and restructuring had begun in his ministry. However, in February, he said that people from Poroshenkos entourage hampered the reforms. Soon after, Abromavicius resigned.

"I and my team dont want to be a cover-up for blatant corruption, or puppets for those who want take control over public money," he said.

In July 2015, Kvitashvili resigned. Previously, he worked with Saakashvili in the Georgian government. Kvitashvili said that politicians opposing reforms forced him to leave the government.

In turn, Jaresko never expressed her discontent of the government. In early-2016, she agreed to replace Yatsenyuk as prime minister. In August 2015, Jaresko reached an agreement with creditors to write off 20 percent of Ukraines debt, or $3.8 billion. However, finally Ukrainian national Vladimir Groysman was appointed prime minister and the new government has not been technocratic.

Kvitashvili, Abromavicius and Jaresko stepped down in April when Yatsenyuks entire government resigned.

In 2015, David Sakvarelidze, who worked in the Georgian General Prosector Office, was appointed deputy prosecutor general as well as prosecutor of the Odessa Region. In March 2016, he was fired by Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. Sakvarelidze criticized Shokin for undermining reforms.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, the Polish cabinet minister in charge of the national security, Mariusz Kaminski, said the countrys Internal Security Agency (ABW) illegally watched dozens of journalists and activists under the previous administration.

"The first step will be to submit a notification to the Prosecutor's Office on alleged crime committed by ABW based on official data presented in the Sejm [the lower house of the Polish parliament] by the minister-coordinator of security services. We will also appeal to ABW [demanding] disclosure of information on who and how was watched," Igor Janke wrote on Wednesday in his blog on the Salon24 information portal.

According to Kaminski, several bloggers of Salon24 were under ABW's surveillance as well.
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Angela Merkel has been criticized for her open door policy on migration, which saw more than 1.1 million migrants, many from the war-torn Middle East, arrive in Germany last year, DW wrote.

In another blow to Merkel, the Bavarian sister party to her Christian Democratic Union is contemplating an even more independent campaign in next years election than it did in 2013.

At a meeting of the CSU Strategy Commission for the 2017 election, Horst Seehofer, chairman of the CSU and Minister President of Bavaria, reportedly said that if the CDU fails to deal with the growing popularity of the right-wing Alternative for Germany, then the CSU should launch its own election campaign.

The populist AfD, which was initially founded as an anti-bailout alliance in 2013, is now represented in eight of Germany's 16 state parliaments. Even at the national level, the party has made strong gains, with opinion polls suggesting that they now hold between 12 and 14 percent of the vote, DW wrote.
At present, trouble is brewing in southeastern Turkey, an ethnically intricate region now turned into a warzone. Hundreds of people have been killed since Ankara launched a brutal crackdown on the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Kurdish-dominated areas near the Syrian border.

Today, there are 300,000 Kurds internally displaced in Turkey, whereas over one million people in total have been affected by the clashes between the army and the rebellious Kurds, warned researcher Siri Neset of the Christian Michelsen Institute in Bergen, Norway.

"We look at the pictures from eastern Turkey and see war-like conditions in many cities, so it would actually be hardly surprising if many tried to seek asylum in Europe," Ness told Aftenposten.
LONDON (Sputnik)  Currently, the UK capital of London hosts the global anti-corruption summit attended by high-ranking politicians from a number of countries.

During the summit, a number of countries, participating in the summit, including France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom are expected to announce measures aimed at tackling corruption.

"We will incubate an Anti-Corruption Innovation Hub to connect social innovators, technology experts and data scientists with law enforcement, business and civil society to collaborate on innovative approaches to anti-corruption," the government said in its national action plan for 2016-2018.
EU Foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels Thursday (May 12), six months to the day after the Malta summit, which promised to stem the flow of migrants attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean, facing the reality that their action plans has failed.

"We are deeply concerned by the sharp increase in flows of refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants which entails suffering, abuse and exploitation, particularly for children and women, and unacceptable loss of life in the desert or at sea," the declaration in Valletta, Malta stated.

Leaders of the European Union and their African counterparts pledged cash and other aid to slow the flow of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from the world's poorest continent.
When asked if trees can actually speak, Dr. Steppe said that this was just an interpretation of signals about how much water the tree has drunk during the day and how much is still left inside.

Basically it means that the tree is active at that moment and it gives you an idea about how much water it is consuming, she said.

When asked if a tree stops to tweet, does it mean that it is no longer alive, Dr. Steppe said: Well, the tree sends out signals as it grows and when it starts to shrink during the day. The larger the shrinkage is the more stress the plant has, and if a certain threshold is passed we can see that. Its like a heartbeat. If it is going up it gives you a warning. The same thing happens with trees where they shrink during a drought, when the air temperature is too high during a heat wave. Thats the way it works.
Lockheed Martin's F-35 was preferred to the other contenders, despite Boeing's obtrusive advertisement campaign of its Super Hornet, which many Danes dismissed as a nuisance. The Danish Government will recommend the purchase of 27 new F-35A Lightning II jets, also known as Joint Strike Fighters.

Defense Minister Peter Christensen earlier said the total lifetime costs of the new fleet would reach 56.4 billion kroner (8.7 billion dollars), whereas a recent Radio24syv report indicated the total cost of 28 fighter aircrafts over a 30-year lifespan, including equipment and maintenance, actually could run as high as a staggering 100 billion kroner (roughly 15 billion dollars).
EDINBURGH (Sputnik)  According to a report published by the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the bill of renewing Trident would amount to 205 billion pounds ($296 billion). The UK Government has consistently claimed that the total cost of replacing and maintaining Trident would be around 100 billion pounds.

"These figures are just staggering  and if even remotely accurate show the whole project is out of control before a vote has even been taken in parliament to renew. The escalating cost of this immoral weapon must now make the UK government stop the whole renewal," OHara said.

According to OHara, his party will "take every opportunity to vote against Trident."
ANKARA (Sputnik)  The Prosecutors Office accuses Kilicdaroglu of inciting people to commit crimes in his remarks about possible constitutional changes in Turkey, according to the newspaper.

Kilicdaroglu said Wednesday that it would not be possible to institute a presidential system in Turkey without spilling blood.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the CHP leader of betraying the countrys parliament and political system.
RIGA (Sputnik)  Any military conflict between Russia and NATO must be prevented as it could lead to the deployment of nuclear weapons, he stressed.

"I do not see any possibility of armed conflicts between Russia and any NATO member state or NATO as a whole. There's [the matter of] the nuclear weapon. On the one hand, it is an evil capable of destroying the world. On the other hand, as some experts say, this evil makes it possible to preserve peace since someone who wants to start a war understands that there will be no winners, so why unleash [war]," Veshnyakov told journalists.

Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Alliance did not seek confrontation or a new Cold War with Russia, as it is looking for more constructive relations with Moscow.
NATOs presence in the Black Sea should comply with the Montreux Convention, Karakus told Sputnik.

"The legal mechanism established by the document is aimed to maintain security for regional nations as well as create conditions to improve relations between them. It is not clear why Erdogan made this statement," he added.

As for Turkeys interests, the Montreux Conventions is more important than any other documents and treaties, Karakus pointed out.

According to him, all Black Sea countries should cooperate in accordance with the Convention.

"Maintaining security in the Black Sea is one of the most important tasks for regional countries. Up to now, this has been possible thanks to the Montreux Convention. No one should violate it," Karakus said.

"It is unacceptable that non-Black Sea nations are involved in regional security issues. Russian-Turkish ties should be improved as well as cooperation in the Black Sea," he concluded.
Metropolitan police received a call at 3:23am (local time), reporting of a sinkhole at Woodland Terrace in Greenwich. Officers found a dark blue family car, a seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira, peeping out of the hole twice as big as the vehicle.

This is the incident we are currently dealing with in Woodland Terrace SE7. 348RG pic.twitter.com/6FdT21zBSV  Greenwich MPS (@MPSGreenwich) 12  2016 .

The car's unlucky owner, Ghazi Hassan, was just visiting his brother the night before and parked the car near Benefice of Charlton St. Thomas' Church.

Sinkhole Woodland Terrace SE7 380 buses will be on diversion, road closed pic.twitter.com/QOvjpMF0Pa  Helen Jakeways (@hjakeways) 12  2016 .

Neighbors described being woken up by a sound like "thunder," but it was raining so much that it didn't surprise them much. According to police, nobody was injured in the incident.
MOSCOW (Sputnik), Ksenia Shakalova  In a surprise decision, Chancellor Werner Faymann stepped down on Monday as the head of state and leader of the Social-Democratic Party (SPO), OVPs senior coalition partner, saying he had lost the support of his party.

"The Government agreed on a high priority asylum reform that passed [through] the Parliament and is about to be in act. As we see this as a main goal to minimize the migration flow, we will demand any future chancellor to maintain and even intensify this policy. If this should be questioned, we may face some critical debates within the coalition," the OVP spokesperson said.

The parliament passed an amendment to the Asylum Act in April that adds a contingency mechanism, allowing the government to declare an emergency if the refugee inflow rises rapidly and send migrants back faster if they come from a country deemed "safe."
The controversial agreement brokered between the European Commission and Turkey allows for the return from Greece of "irregular migrants" to Turkey in exchange  on a one-for-one basis  for Syrian refugees in Turkey being relocated across the EU member states.

However, as part of the deal  which will allow for visa-free access to the Schengen zone for Turkish citizens  Turkey has to fulfil a number of important legal commitments  not least on human rights and press freedom issues. The EU is also demanding the loosening of anti-terror laws than have been used to detain journalists.

Helga Stevens, a lawmaker in the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, said that conditions for Turkey should be especially stringent, it being a candidate member state, without any double standards. She felt "ashamed of the irresponsible behavior of the Commission towards a dictator".
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In 2010, then-President Christian Wulff said that Islam belonged in Germany, calling on the country's leadership to respect religious diversity and promote cohesion in society.

Skepticism toward Islam is particularly high among the elderly, the survey by Infratest dimap for the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) broadcasting company found.

As many as 58 percent of the individuals polled believe that the major German political parties do not take the issue of radical Islam seriously enough, the poll's results showed.
Merkel was born in 1954 in Hamburg  then in West Germany  but the family soon moved to East Germany, where her father  who had converted to Lutheranism  had been appointed as pastor pastorate at the church in Quitzow, near Perleberg in Brandenburg.

After Germany was reunified, in 1990, Merkel won her seat at the Bundestag and was almost immediately appointed to serve as Minister for Women and Youth under Chancellor Helmut Kohl. On reunification, the Westmark replaced the Ostmark on a mark-for-mark basis and the West subsidized the East for many years  costing Berlin up to US$169 billion each year at one point.
This rejection by the Appeal Court was based on Article 232 of the Iraqi Civil Code. Despite this however, the group took their case to the Supreme Court. Lord Stumpton one of the five Supreme Court Judges confirmed the reason why the case had not been allowed a hearing in Iraq, which was due to the fact the group had missed the three-year deadline.

However, the group claim that an immunity order against the British armed forces, prevented them from taking the case to court in Iraq within the required time. Regardless of this immunity order, The Supreme Court sided with the decision made by the Court of Appeal and said that Article 232 was still applicable in this case.

In a statement sent to Sputnik by Amnesty International, UK Head of Policy and Government Affairs Allan Hogarth, said that the crimes committed against Iraqi civilians by British troops did happen, and they were some of the most horrific war crimes.

"It's an unpalatable truth that some dreadful incidents of abuse did occur at the hands of a minority of UK forces in Iraq. Let's not forget, the young hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, who died after suffering the most appalling abuse at the hands of British soldiers in Basra," Hogarth said.

Mr Hogarth went on to say, "Soldiers do a difficult and dangerous job, but they shouldn't be above the law when it comes to the torture of detainees and other dreadful acts."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the press release, the first forum is expected to focus on returning assets to Nigeria, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. The forum is scheduled to take place in the United States in 2017, with UK involvement as a co-host and the support provided by the United Nations and the World Bank.

"Prime Minister David Cameron has announced the creation of the first-ever global forum to step up international efforts on asset recovery. The Global Forum for Asset Recovery will bring together governments and law enforcement agencies to work together to recover stolen assets," the press release read.
The unrest led to four arrests on gun possession and attacking police with bottles, rocks and other items. Six similar arrests took place in Cannes and five more in Nantes.

Among the labor reforms proposed by Prime Minister Manuel Valls government are highly unpopular attempts to increase daily working hours and simplify firing procedures.

On tour in France and apparently we are near some kind of protest. pic.twitter.com/7NgU9L9Uji  Peter Surmanis (@PeterSurmanis) 12  2016 .

Knowing that the draft law would be rejected by lawmakers, the French government invoked article 49.3 of the constitution allowing the prime minister to pass a bill through the parliament without a vote if necessary. Triggering the clause allows the French parliament to debate a vote of no confidence against the government.

If Thursday's no-confidence vote succeeds, Valls' Cabinet will have to step down and repeal the bill or else it will go before the Senate.
For his part, economist Alexander Dudchak told the newspaper that the IMF will most likely provide Ukraine with a new tranche, but it will again accuse the government of corruption in the process. "For this the mission does not even have to look at the data. They know without doing so that a significant portion of the fund money will go into the pockets of officials. Such is the nature of the current authorities in Kiev, and the IMF's activities there."

The current reality, Dudchak explained, "is that Ukraine no longer has any other sources of funds for its budget. In theory, an economy is supposed to exist on domestic business, manufacturing, trade. But since everything was done, with the IMF's help by the way, to collapse the Ukrainian economy, the fund's managers have effectively become the sole entity holding the entire country on a leash."

Asked why the Western media has left its earlier tack and turned to a more candid criticism of the corruption of Ukrainian authorities, the analyst suggested that "it's all just a policy to put pressure on the government, and to force it to adjust its course."

"However, it demonstrates the West's attitude toward Ukraine's authorities. They are letting these people know that in and of themselves, they mean nothing to them. They were just an instrument to put pressure on Russia and to create a tension point in the region. Now they have done their job, and they can be replaced with someone else."

Ultimately, Dudchak suggested, IMF lending as an institution should be viewed separately from traditional lenders, who make repayment their number one priority. "When the IMF offers its loans, they have very different objectives; they aren't concerned with interest repayment, but with the ability to influence a country's foreign and internal policy. We saw how the fund factually instructed the Ukrainian parliament how to vote and which laws to pass. This is a political organization, one which solves crucial global geopolitical and economic problems. And loans are merely the smokescreen used for doing so."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Anywhere from 12,000 to 50,000 Parisians were estimated to march outside the French parliament building in a mass demonstration against the new bill that turned violent. Police dispensed tear gas and a handful of arrests were made on charges of gun possession and attacking law enforcement officials.

The unnamed Ruptly producer sustained injuries during her coverage of the unrest when a rock thrown from a crowd struck her in the head. She was hospitalized after receiving firs aid, the RT broadcaster told RIA Novosti.

RT UK camerawoman Hulya Sen was injured in the leg during protests against the same labor reform bill early last month. Another journalist, RT France correspondent Kyrill Kotikov-Convenant was swept up in the smoke as police fired tear gas while broadcasting the demonstration through social media.
A cleaner at the camp was alleged to have raped 30 boys aged between 8 and 12 from September 2015 until early this year, the BirGun daily said. The suspected rapist, whose initials were provided as E.E., was claimed to have paid 2-5 Turkish lira ($0.68-$1.69) in exchange for the acts.

The allegations surfaced after families of eight children filed a lawsuit, unfazed by their refugee status that kept other families from going forward, the newspaper said. It added that the scandal was revealed after military personnel noticed E.E. taking children to the surveillance cameras blind spots.
Speaking to the Verkhovna Rada, the countrys parliament, Poroshenko described Lutsenko as a good candidate to boost reform and build public trust in the governments prosecution arm. The newly-appointed general prosecutor echoed Poroshenkos remarks, stating that he is determined to "break the current inefficient and partly criminal system."

Those statements were met with shouts of "shame" in the parliament, as Lutsenko is deemed to be a cohort to those he is supposed to monitor.

"The basic idea is making sure that nothing gets done, Yegor Sobolev, an MP from the Samopomich party, that left Poroshenkos faction last year, said of the appointment. "All his [Lutsenkos] actions will be an imitation of work."
The anti-poverty activist claimed that if the leader of an African, Asian, or Latin American country engaged in the same acts as Cameron it would certainly be called corruption, "but when it comes to British politicians were not allowed to call them corrupt."

Was this summit organized after the Panama Papers leaks? What is Cameron doing?

"It was before the leak, it is something that they had in the works for a long-term and in part it is the government wanting to be seen taking action when it knows that there is a real problem about Britains role in corruption worldwide," said Hilary.

"Even before the Panama Papers came out, the role of Britain in promoting tax havens has always been a national scandal, and the city of London, the financial corner that acts like a hub for tax-dodging around the world that has come under increased scrutiny in the past few years," explained Hilary. "So this is something that has been building up to the summit today  the problem that the British establishment has because we are one of the biggest tax havens."

The Prime Minister called Nigeria and Afghanistan fantastically corrupt  Is this fair?

"There is no justification whatsoever for David Cameron to call other countrys leaders fantastically corrupt," said Hilary. "What the Panama Papers did is shine a light onto the secret world of tax-dodging and the use of tax havens across the world and this is something that really does lead back to Britain."

Hilary explained that Britain sits at the crossroads of the worlds tax havens, providing legal and banking services to British-affiliated protectorate territories like the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Jersey, and the Isle of Man, that host some of the worlds most blatant tax avoidance havens.
Tear gas was also used against demonstrators in the state of Bolivar, including against National Assembly deputy Rachid Yasbek.

Earlier this month, Venezuelas opposition submitted to the countrys authorities a petition with the signatures of 1.85 million nationals, almost 10 times more than required, in a bid to hold a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Shelley explained that terrorist organization have enormous flexibility and ability to switch between sources of revenue.

"There is now a large illicit trade in gold," Shelley stated at a US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee hearing. "Some of this is coming out of Columbia."
During the trial, the country will be run by Vice President Michel Temer. Talking about Temer and accusations of corruption against him the analyst said, It is hard to say what the outcome of the first process would be. It is true that if he was found to be guilty of corruption he would be ineligible for the presidency at this point. So we have a situation where Rousseff may be out and it is possible that Temer would be out.

The analyst added that as one goes down the chain, 8 out of 10 politicians are accused of corruption charges. In the case of Rousseff if the yes vote receives a two-thirds majority, she will be permanently suspended from the office  if the opposite happens she will be reinstated.

One of the most striking things about this crisis is that at the moment the extent to which it has polarized society and has pulled people to extreme positions. Now there is a large chuck of the population in favor of impeachment, there is a larger chunk of people against Rousseff and there is also a huge number of people supporting the government and Rousseff.

He further said that in his opinion it is a situation where the government wasnt particularly popular and wasnt exceptionally good and is now being removed from office through a mechanism that is being misused. It is going to end up weakening institutions and that is the real tragedy of this crisis.

Talking about how the next few weeks will develop for Brazil, Kenkel said, We will see Temer starting to set up his cabinet. We will start to see where the political deals were, we will see a political shift and shift in social policy. We will see whether it gets better from here, although I am skeptical.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the Sky News Arabia TV broadcaster, suicide bombers blew up three cars after managing to drive inside the camp. Following the explosions, the Yemeni military engaged the militants in armed clashes, according to the broadcaster.

Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Shiite Houthi rebels, the countrys main opposition force, supported by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula militants have taken advantage of the internal conflict, seizing control of Al Mukalla in April 2015. In late April, 2016, Al Mukalla was liberated from the terrorists.
BEIRUT (Sputnik)  The town of Darayya is located in the vicinity of the country's capital of Damascus. Syrian army has been battling with terrorist groups in the town since November 2012.

During the conflict, the population of the settlement has decreased from 78,000 to approximately 6,000, according to the UN estimates.

"The ICRC-SARC-UN carry out humanitarian aid delivery to Darayya. This is the first ever humanitarian convoy to this town in the suburbs of Damascus since the beginning of the siege in November 2012," the source said.
The arms are said to contain "chlorine-based toxins," the ministry detailed.

Al-Qaeda's offshoot in Syria appears to be amassing its forces in the region. More than 100 al-Nusra fighters have arrived to the Kafr Hamrah village, located in the northwestern suburbs of Aleppo, from Turkey, the ministry said, citing local civilians.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The UN reached 781,425 civilians, according to the report. Some 476,175 were from hard-to-reach areas, and 255,250  in besieged areas.

Last week, OCHA reported that 778,175 people received UN aid.

Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Moscow and Washington confirmed their commitment to enhance efforts to promote humanitarian assistance to Syrians in a joint statement issued May 9. The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) that Russia and the US co-chair is scheduled to take place next Thursday, May 19, in Vienna.

"We take heart in the Russian-US statement which says that we will be granted access to all of the besieged areas and all of the medical supplies that are unloaded will be granted. That's what the Russians and the Americans said in a joint statement last week, and that is what we expect to be ratified in Vienna next week," Jan Egeland told reporters.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian Helicopters company is coordinating with the country's Defense Ministry a program of combat helicopters modernization based on the aircraft's performance during an anti-terror campaign in Syria, the design and manufacturing firms deputy head said Thursday.

"We have an established program that is now being coordinated with the Russian Defense Ministry, and it would allow making minor or more significant adjustments to give our choppers more efficiency," Andrey Shibitov told journalists.

On September 30, Moscow began its anti-terror campaign in Syria on Damascus' request, during which the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted precision airstrikes against Daesh, outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
HAMA (Sputnik)  The militants infiltrated the town in the morning but some residents managed to escape and hide in nearby villages, witnesses explained.

The SANA agency further reported that the militants destroyed houses and seized properties.
An explosion occurred close to military barracks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. At least five people including one woman were injured.

Photo shows the situation aftermath car bomb explosion in Istanbul's #Sancaktepe targeting military vehicle. pic.twitter.com/xVj0s9muY5  hONoUR (@Jakoben1789) May 12, 2016

Ambulances are arriving at the scene.

First photos coming from explosion area show that blast is related to a car bombpic.twitter.com/mxSE5LU40B#Turkey #Sancaktepe  hONoUR (@Jakoben1789) May 12, 2016

Turkey has recently become the target of several terrorist attacks that targeted or killed foreigners. In January, more than ten foreign tourists were killed in a suicide attack in Istanbul.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Specifically, CENTCOM said the coalition struck Daesh tactical units near Al Shaddadi, Manbij and Mara, destroying fighting positions, staging facilities and several of the terror groups vehicles. In Mara, strikes destroyed 12 Daesh fighting positions.

"In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL [Daesh] targets," the release stated on Thursday.

In Iraq, US forces coordinated 13 strikes with the Iraqi government, hitting Daesh positions in 10 towns. In Mosul, two strikes destroyed nine Daesh rocket rails, a vehicle and one of the groups assembly areas, the statement noted.
The Syrian conflict has involved a number of different forces, and some of them are not interested in ending the war, Russian political analyst Azhdar Kurtov said in an interview with the newspaper Vzglyad

"Radical groups have strong positions near Aleppo. They are not ready for a compromise with Assad. Many of them also have foreign sponsors like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Even if Moscow and Washington has the same positions Ankara and Riyadh would continue to support terrorists," he pointed out.

The analyst added that radical groups in Syria will do everything they can to undermine the ceasefire.

"The war in Syria will end only after on the warring parties are defeated. Since such a situation is impossible the conflict will continue," he concluded.

Alexander Ignatenko, head of the Institute for Religious and Political Studies, noted that the situation in Aleppo is complicated.

"The main problem is the fact that al-Nusra Front terrorists have blocked themselves in Aleppo. There are also fighters of the Free Syrian Army and a number of other radical groups," he said.

Currently, it is impossible to separate the terrorists from other fighters in Aleppo, Igantenko underscored.

"Recently, the US and Russia have been in difficult talks on Aleppo. Moscow even addressed to the UN Security Council to label the Jaysh al-Islam as a terrorist group, but the move was rejected," the analyst said.

At the same time the analyst expressed hope that even a 48-hours ceasefire could improve the situation.

"Taking into account the position of Washington and personally the position of [US State Secretary] John Kerry, chances are high. Recently, Kerry admitted that opposition forces shelled civilians. When terrorists have support in the international arena they become very aggressive. This is why cooperation between Washington and Moscow gives hope for improvement," Ignatenko concluded.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Baker, who served as Secretary of State from 1989 to 1992, argued that in the cases of Libya, Egypt and Iraq, the United States "should not be so quick to come in and get rid of leaders that we dont agree with 1,000 percent of the time."

"These areas that are failed states are failed states primarily because we went in there  or at least in part  and upset the order because we didnt like the people who were running the show," Baker told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
BEIRUT (Sputnik)  According to the source, the sniper fired from a position in one of the buildings of a nearby ice production factory. The road to Aleppo is temporarily blocked, and the Syrian military forces are carrying out a special operation at the scene.

"The terrorist opened fire on the bus from the Ramuse district at the entrance to Aleppo. A child died of a bullet wound on the spot, several passengers were injured," a source in the militia told RIA Novosti.

According to staff in the central hospital in Aleppo, 136 civilians were killed by shelling of the city between April 24 and May 11.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Ankara has long been calling for a buffer zone on the border with Syria, where camps for refugees could be set up to take the load off overcrowded camps on the Turkish side of the border.

"It is more probable that they will become shelter areas for armed Islamists militants, where they will receive new weapons and where supplies to them will be provided. This would further prolong bloodshed in Syria," Chizhov said in an interview with German weekly Die Welt.

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sputnik that he regretted the fact that Turkey was blackmailing EU countries into accepting the idea of a safe zone in Syria.
BEIRUT (Sputnik)  The besieged town of Darayya, without drinking water or electricity for three years, was due to receive its first humanitarian aid since 2012. A convoy of five trucks was due to deliver medicine, vaccines, infant milk, personal hygiene products and school supplies before the ICRC tweeted it was refused entry "despite being given prior clearance from all sides."

"Our convoy did not arrive in Darayya because it was not allowed to. A statement will follow," Pawel Krzysiek told RIA Novosti.

Up to 8,000 out of the 78,000 pre-war population is estimated by the United Nations to have remained in Darayya 5 miles southwest of Damascus.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The Egyptian representative was reading a statement approved earlier by the 15-nation council.

"The members of the Security Council welcomed the recent efforts of the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, and the re-affirmation of their commitment to the nationwide cessation of hostilities that went into effect on February 27 across Syria," Aboulatta told the Security Council.

The statement also praised what it called a US and Russian pressure on factions in the Syrian conflict to "refrain from disproportionate responses to provocations and [to] demonstrate restraint."
The situation inside the terrorist ranks escalated in February, when Daeshs security service arrested several people from the Netherlands, accusing them of preparing to defect.

Some of the reasons as to why foreign mercenaries are leaving the ranks of Daesh is because they feel that they are getting smaller wages compared to their Arab insurgents but their missions are more intense and dangerous as they get sent to the most air strike prone areas.

As a consequence, foreign fighters are seeking to leave, despite violent threats against them by Daesh leaders.

Hence, the new bureaus aim would be to resolve the matters that are causing frustration to the foreign militants before the situation can escalate and result in mass defections by foreign fighters.

How exactly Daesh leaders plan to stop foreign militants from leaving remains unclear. Will these militants just walk into the migrants office and start gushing about their hurt feelings to doctor-like figures in white robes or will they be promised riches and gold at the end of the rainbow by bearded, robe clad figures?
Raging on for nearly five years, the Syrian civil war has killed over 400,000 people, according to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. Over 12 million people have been displaced in what is described as the largest ongoing humanitarian crisis in the world.

While US and Russian governments have launched joint efforts to end the conflict, Washington has repeatedly undermined those efforts by funding opposition groups as part of a thinly-veiled attempt to oust Assad.

Sending military aid to the Free Syrian Army and other "moderate" opposition groups, the US government has also inadvertently armed radical extremist organizations. Aid has routinely fallen into the hands of Daesh, also known as IS/Islamic State, and al-Nusra Front, the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate.
Erdogan added that he was disappointed with the lack of support from other nations involved in the five-year Syrian civil war.

"We do not believe the sincerity of any country that has not seen rockets falling on our town as if they fell on Moscow, London, Brussels, Paris or Berlin," he said.

"Let me say it here. We will not hesitate to take needed steps on our own if necessary."

The presidents comments come as no surprise as, in February, he indicated that Syrias sovereignty was less important than Turkeys own.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with sovereign rights of states that cannot maintain their territorial integrity. On the contrary, this is about protecting Turkeys sovereign rights," Erdogan said during a UNESCO Creative Cities Network event in Istanbul.
Both countries have blamed the fiasco on the other. According to an official from the Iranian Ministry of Culture, Tehran was worried about the safety of Iranian citizens after an October 2015 tragedy in which over 2,000 pilgrims, 464 of them Iranian, died in a stampede at Islam's holiest site, marking the deadliest disaster in the history of the pilgrimage.

Riyadh refuted Tehran's assertions. According to a statement carried by state-run news website Sabq, an agreement for arrangements for this year's haj was not signed due to Tehran's demands, which include the granting of visas inside Iran and transport arrangements that would evenly split the pilgrims between Saudi and Iranian airlines.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," the statement reads.
He also claimed that the recent Romanian and Polish missile defense installations will defend NATO members against the threat of short and medium-range ballistic missiles, "particularly from the Middle East."

US ambassador to Romania Douglas Lute supported the missile defense launch.

"Tomorrow is a demonstration that the US, Romania and the other allies contributing to the defence system mean what Article Five says," he said, referring to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, by which all NATO members will respond in the event of a military threat to any single member.

Ambassador Douglas Lute and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Frank Rose brief press on BMD in Bucharest, Romania pic.twitter.com/lRtvSbcGS6  US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 11  2016 .

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the establishment of the US-designed ballistic missile defense system in Europe.

The Deveselu site in Romania will host a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors and will officially be integrated into the NATO missile shield at the bloc's summit meeting, to be held in Warsaw in July.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Igor Borbot is suspected of having embezzled over 4 billion rubles (about $61.5 million) allocated to build a shipyard, Zvezda, in Russias Far East. He fled abroad and was red-flagged by Interpol at Moscows request.

"Hoping that Igor Borbot would be returned to Russia, the Prosecutor Generals Office and the Russian Investigative Committee have prepared relevant documents, translated them and sent them to the United States. However, their review was delayed," Kommersant said.

According to the newspaper, certain issues have emerged because of differences in Interpol and US-Russia extradition procedures.
Whether or not this was the right response by China and Russia, it is absolutely no surprise that both are now demonstrating that they have the ability to attack US satellites if they choose to do so. This was true 20 years ago, and it is more true today.

Postol also observed that the United States had failed to recognize that space was not simply the combat environment envisaged by generations of US national security policymakers.

Satellites are fundamentally vulnerable to antisatellite activities. The simple equation is that it takes very little in the way of technology and investment to be able to attack satellites, but it takes vast resources that are well beyond even the United States to protect them.

The huge cost of launching additional fuel for maneuver and other defensive measures into orbit meant space platforms would continue to be vulnerable, Postol pointed out.

Space is a kind of nuclear deterrent regime satellites can be much more easily attacked then they can be defended, he noted. There is no way to armor a satellite sufficiently to survive a direct attack.

Even if it were possible, Postol said, launch costs would make it completely prohibitive.

Other strategies like maneuver were just as pointless, Postol argued.

The fuel required to maneuver a satellite away from an attacking homing vehicle would cause the size and weight of the satellite to be so large as to make it fundamentally unlaunchable. Arming satellites with protective interceptors is also out of the question due to the huge costs involved.

Substituting large and expensive but highly capable satellites for less expensive less capable satellites had some merits. However, there were very large launch-cost penalties, and depending on the mission, the technology for building multiple less capable satellites may not be available, Postol cautioned.

One would think that the geniuses in the Pentagon would have understood this for 20 years while they were refusing to accept offers to negotiate a treaty with China and Russia.

During those two decades, the US Department of Defense consistently worked to block the possibility of negotiations for an antisatellite treaty, Postol recalled.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Thursday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to be held in Romanian Deveselu to mark the operational certification of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system.

"With the activation of the Aegis Ashore missile defence site at Deveselu in Romania on Thursday, our capability is being boosted further  significantly increasing the defensive coverage of NATO territory against medium and short-range missile attacks," Stoltenberg said, as quoted by the Alliance's website.

Stoltenberg added that he was grateful to the Romanian government and nation for the contribution made to the alliance's collective defense.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The deployment of air defense systems near Russia's borders undoubtedly poses a threat to the country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

"From the very beginning we have said that, according to experts  and we are certain of this, undoubtedly  the deployment of missile defense systems indeed poses a threat to the security of the Russian Federation," Peskov told reporters.

All governmental agencies responsible for Russia's defense keeping tabs on NATO's plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile systems, the spokesman added, saying that Moscow is taking appropriate security measures in light of the fact.
BEIRUT (Sputnik)  According to the central hospital in Aleppo, 136 civilians were killed by shells in the city between April 24 and May 11.

"Militants opened fire on the Christian district of Midan. Early [on Thursday] several shells fell in the Saif Dawla district, four more fell in the Azamiah district," a source from the defense forces said.
CHISINAU (Sputnik)  On Thursday, US and Romanian officials, including the prime minister, are taking part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Romanian commune of Deveselu, some 100 miles west of Bucharest, to mark the operational certification of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system, which is a land-based component of the US-designed ballistic missile defense system for Europe.

"The facility in Deveselu fully respects the provisions of the UN Charter and it is not directed against anyone in particular. It is a tool designed exclusively for self-defense from ballistic missile threats. It strengthens the ability of the NATO missile defense system and expands the coverage of protection for its allies in Southern and Central Europe, reducing the risk of future ballistic missiles attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic area," Ciolos said at the ceremony, as quoted by the Romania TV broadcaster.

According to Ciolos, the security environment in Europe continues to face challenges and threats, such as the renewal of frozen conflicts as well as the emergence of new ones.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States and its NATO allies integrated a ground-based Aegis battle management system into a planned missile defense network for Europe, a key step toward deploying interceptors capable of blocking nuclear capable rockets aimed at the continent, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Adm. Mark Ferguson told guests at a ceremony in Romania on Thursday.

"We have been working towards this day since President Obamas commitment in September, 2009 to the European Phased Adaptive Approach," Ferguson said. "From the selection of this site in 2011 and initial groundbreaking in 2013, both of our nations have moved rapidly to make this project a reality."
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  Earlier this week, Iran successfully conducted its latest medium-range ballistic missile test. In March, Iran held nationwide missile exercises, during which the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces test-fired two types of ballistic missiles, both of which successfully hit their targets. Iran's recent progress in developing its missile capability has raised concerns in Washington.

"As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with its allies to defend NATO," Work said in a press statement at the opening of NATO's ballistic missile defense site in Romania.
TSKHINVALI (Sputnik)  The government of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia is on high alert amid the ongoing large-scale Georgia-US military exercises, Gana Yanovskaya, spokeswoman for the South Ossetia president, said Thursday.

"We are always on guard since we don't expect anything good from Georgia. We sign agreements on bilateral cooperation and integration with Russia, as it is our only ally. Within the framework of our agreement with Moscow, we have listed the issue of providing security on the border as well as throughout the country," Yanovskaya said.

She added that South Ossetia has not ruled out the possibility that Georgia's allies are fueling Tbilisi's revanchist sentiment.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian Defense Ministry considers the possibility of purchasing military transport modification of the Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale) multirole helicopter, the deputy CEO for Production and Innovations at the Russian Helicopters company said Thursday.

"The vehicle has been created, it has already conducted the first hover flight. The project has been protracted a bit, we have had minor difficulties, but nevertheless, the defense ministry sees progress in the civil version [of the helicopter] and is ready to consider the helicopter for military transport purposes," Andrei Shibitov told reporters.
TALLINN (Sputnik)  The NATO frigates had earlier conducted exercises with the Estonian Admiral Cowan and Ugandi minesweepers and Tasuja diving support vessel.

"[NATO's Group 1] comprises the Spanish Alvaro de Bazan and British Iron Duke frigates. The frigates will stay in Tallinn until May 15. The purpose of the visit is to demonstrate NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea," the statement reads.

On Friday, Tallinn will host a meeting of the Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS 2016), which will be attended by representatives of 26 states. The forum is designed to allow the Navy commanders to discuss issues of common interest. Estonia will host the forum for the first time since 1990.
LONDON (Sputnik)  The RAF assumed its four-month rotation of the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission at the Amari air base in northwestern Estonia on April 28.

"This is another example of just how important the UKs contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is. We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression  demonstration of our commitment to NATOs collective defense," Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said.

The aircraft identified by the ministry as AN-26 Curl, AN-12 Cub and IL-76 Candid were detained because they "were not transmitting a recognized identification code and were unresponsive."
With substantial humanitarian gains but mounting challenges ahead, Loud & Clears Brian Becker sat down with Middle East policy analyst Zafar Bangash of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought to discuss the renewed joint peace efforts in Syria and what chance they have to succeed.

There has been limited success. US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday credited the Russian government with saving tens of thousands of lives and ensuring that a million people received aid by forging forward with its longshot ceasefire efforts in February.

Will the ceasefire in Aleppo hold?

"The situation in Aleppo is quite uncertain because there are a number of groups particularly ISIS, al-Nusra Front, etc. that are not included in the ceasefire agreement," explained Bangash, "The Syrian security forces control about 80% of the territory around Aleppo while the northeast part of the city is under the ISIS and al-Nusra Front groups."

Are there actually moderate rebel groups in Syria?

"There is no such animal as the moderate rebel, these moderate rebels exist in Americas imagination, and their definition is that anybody who is not part of ISIS and al-Nusra is a moderate," said Bangash. "There are a whole lot of groups that fight among themselves, as well as against Syrian forces and their allies, but the predominant groups are ISIS and al-Nusra front."

How can a ceasefire hold when al-Nusra and Daesh control parts of Aleppo?

"That is really the problem," admitted Bangash. "Both the US and Russia have said that they want to continue with the ceasefire that had come into effect on February 27, but both the US and Russia said that this ceasefire would not extend to al-Nusra and ISIS, so Im not sure how this ceasefire will hold."

Bangash suggested that the potential for a temporary peace remains, but that it cannot persist as long as the US continues to insist upon the ouster of Assad, and Daesh militants continue to flood across the Turkish border into Syria.

Another problem, according to Bangash, is the "United States has said that it will supply heavier weapons to the so-called moderate rebels and the US has been supplying these weapons to moderate rebels but they end up in the hands of Daesh and al-Nusra Front fighters."
Until recently, the Obama Administration has looked to cool tensions with the Saudi government, actively lobbying Congress to drop the 9/11-family-member bill, citing concerns that the US would risk facing similar lawsuits from other countries.

President Obama visited with Saudi King Salman, assuring him that the US government would not seek to exact concessions from Saudi Arabia on behalf of the 9/11 families.

Unfortunately for the White House, the plans of concealing Saudi involvement in terror actions on US soil for another decade have been dashed by Lehman, and the worst may be coming.

The 28 pages are just the start: the FBI has thousands more classified 9/11 documents

In another development in Florida, the White Houses hopes to keep secret the extent of Riyadhs involvement in the terror plot may be foiled, as a federal judge is weighing whether to declassify 80,266 pages of material that would reveal  in far more intricate detail  the hijackers Saudi connections and their activities in the weeks preceding the attack.

A group of lawyers and investigative journalists claim to have found hard evidence demonstrating that the Saudi royal family was directly involved in the plot  Mohamed Atta, the 9/11 ringleader, met with the Saudi royal family days before the attack, and phone records connect the House of Saud to the other hijackers.
"My complaint is there are no articulations," said Hellerstein. "The government has not said why 'this particular' photo is dangerous."

The legal standard normally applied to releasing public documents is whether the content creates an imminent threat to national security or US troops abroad  a standard that contemplates preventing disclosure of troop locations.

The ACLU argues that these images present no immediate threat to the US, that materials potential use as a recruiting tool for terrorists is speculative, and that the suppression of the torture photographs distorts the historical record about the extent of the US torture program.

The Department of Justice has successfully argued for a looser interpretation of imminent danger, by tacking on the consideration of national security, rather than the security of individual troops. Whereas imminence traditionally means an immediate threat, government lawyers argue that the court should weigh a threat as equal to the likelihood of harm.

Even under this standard, the government must not only argue that they considered these factors in determining that a document should not be released, but they must also document their reasoning  the point to which Judge Hellerstein took offense.
A Navy official speaking on condition of anonymity said the military branch lost confidence in Commander Eric Rasch, the executive officer of the squadron at the time of the incident. Rasch oversaw the training and readiness of the 400-plus sailors in the unit.

A press release by the Navys communication department confirmed the statement saying "Captain Gary Leigh, commander, CRG-1, made this determination following his review of a preliminary investigation into the incident near Farsi Island in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 12-13, involving 10 CRS-3 sailors."
LONDON (Sputnik)  The announcement regarding the creation of the anti-corruption center based in London will be made on Thursday, at the global anti-corruption summit in London.

"The UK will create the worlds first ever International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre, hosted in London, in partnership with the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Interpol. Experts, including from the National Crime Agency, will provide international co-ordination and support to help law enforcement agencies and prosecutors work together across borders to investigate and punish corrupt elites and recover stolen assets," Cameron's office said.

Cameron said on Monday that he would use the upcoming global anti-corruption summit to call for intensifying international efforts and greater openness.
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  The number of Brazilian senators supporting the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff has topped 50 percent, according to a televised meeting of the countrys upper house of parliament.

Forty-one senators have already expressed their support to temporarily suspend Rousseff. According to Brazilian law, a simple majority of 81 senators is needed to approve impeachment proceedings; however, there are currently only 78 senators present at the meeting.
"If the deal with Turkey collapses, I am afraid that the only alternative that some [European] governments have in mind is really to close the border of the European Union to the refugees," the expert on European asylum law at the European University Institute's Migration Policy Centre asserted.

De Bruycker also suggested that some EU countries would go as far as isolating Greece to keep the Balkan refugee route as unattractive as possible.

"Some member states are ready to isolate Greece from the rest of the European Union" to prevent migrants in the Balkans and in Greece itself from travelling north, the analyst asserted. "This would transform Greece into the EU's refugee camp."
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  Ankara and Brussels are in talks on the issue of visa liberalization. Last week, the European Commission recommended that the European Parliament vote on visa-free regime for Turkey once the country meets all 72 required conditions.

"Yesterday, the experts commenced the required legislative activities on the proposal of the European Commission," the source said.
Yet Berlin's defense spending has remained well below NATO's 2 percent threshold. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the country has allocated over 35.5 million euros , or 1.2 percent of its GDP, on defense in 2015. In the last decade, Germany's defense spending has not exceeded 1.4 percent of GDP.

US and NATO officials have long expressed their displeasure with Germany and other countries that have fallen short on military spending. In fact, only five alliance members allocate more than 2 percent of their GDP on defense: the US, Greece, Poland, Estonia and the UK.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The European Council has adopted a recommendation on Thursday, implying a prolongation of the temporal border control in several EU nations in exceptional circumstances, the EU body said in a statement.

"Starting from the date of the adoption, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should maintain proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of six months," the statement read.
Earlier in the day, inaugural ceremony in southern Romanian settlement of Deveselu marked the operational certification of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system . Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the establishment of an US-designed missile defense system in Europe.

Under NATO's planned missile defense system, approved in 2010, during a NATO summit in Lisbon, radars and interceptors will be placed in several NATO states, such as Romania and Poland. The shield will be strengthened by naval forces.

Moscow takes into account West's actions related to the air defense system in Europe and is ready to take resposive measures, Zakharova said.

"We continue to consider the destructive activity of the US and its allies related to air defense systems a direct threat to regional security and stability."

She emphasized that Russia has repeatedly called for cooperation, while the deployment of US missile defense in Europe threatens regional security. NATO only wanted to legalize its air defense system's deployment near Russia's borders, Zakharova said.

"They did offer to exchange information, a certain kind of partnership on this matter, but only within the framework of their program and their system. Why was this done? Mainly to legalize their own system, which they, as we now understand, never intended to put on hold."

Answering a question on Russia's possible withdrawal from the New START Treaty following NATO air defense missile system's deployment to Europe, Zakharova said that Moscow reserves the right to respond in the military-technical sphere.

Earlier in the day, the head of Russia's Arms Committee in the upper house of parliament, Viktor Ozerov, said that Moscow could withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in response to new air defense systems being deployed in Eastern Europe.

"Given that this [deployment of NATO air defense system to Europe] was and still is not our choice, of course, we reserve the right to appropriately respond with military-technical measures."

Zakharova added that Washington acts inconsistently in regard to the deployment of air defense systems to Europe.

Murder of Russian Su-24 Pilot
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Currently, the UK capital of London hosts the global anti-corruption summit attended by high-ranking politicians from a number of countries.

During the summit, a number of countries, participating in the summit, including France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom are expected to announce measures aimed at tackling corruption.

"I have been shocked by the degree to which I find corruption, pandemic in the world today," Kerry said, speaking at the London summit.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In April, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he expected OSCE to deploy a police mission in Ukraine's Donbass region in the near future to control the ceasefire implementation.

"None of the issues can be considered outside the general context of the Minsk agreements. The Minsk agreements represent a package of measures and steps that need to be implemented, and which, as we have seen, have not yet been done," Peskov said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert said that the watchdog planned on May 16 to impose ban on imports of Turkish vegetable marrows, lemons and grapefruits  all that is left in the allowed list  due to the systematic violations of sanitary requirements.

"You should ask Rosselkhoznadzor about it. Rosselkhoznadzor is not engaged in politics, Rosselkhoznadzor is engaged in its specific issues, that is why you should ask them about it," Peskov told journalists answering a question whether the reports were connected with worsening the situation in the Russia-Turkey relations or quarantine.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  If Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan cannot or does not want to meet the demands, the European Union will not introduce a visa-free regime for citizens from that country, the vice chancellor pointed out.

"As with any other country, Turkey should meet the criteria to cancel the visa regime. These visa standards are not [just] for Turkey  they are for all countries that we are holding such negotiations with. That is why Turkey should abide by them as well," Gabriel stated at a press briefing.

"I believe it makes sense for both parties to work on the conditions so that they are preserved. That is what we are working on right now. But there can be no deviations from these conditions, which also include the existence of constitutional jurisdiction, an impartial justice system and the absence of attempts to declare opposition justices, human rights organizations or journalists terrorists," Gabriel stressed.
Therefore, "despite Klimkin's efforts to push through a plan to transfer control of the border between Russia and the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic to the Organization for security and Co-Operation in Europe, no one else had anything good to say about it, and maybe didn't even notice it. Here, the principle of 'pay to play' is in place, and Kiev has nothing left but to play the fool"

The tendency to put increasing pressure on Ukrainian authorities is not new, and is making them increasingly nervous, the journalist added. "After US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's recent visit to Kiev, and a meeting of Ukrainian lawmakers with European colleagues, the participants of these meetings complained to Ukrainian media about 'being pressured from the West'. The position of the European side can be described as follows: 'if the Ukrainian side does not show progress on implementing its obligations, arguments in favor of maintaining sanctions against Russia will lose their relevance."

At the same time, Ostashko wrote, claims by Ukrainian and European experts and media that "Moscow is insisting on the implementation of the Minsk agreements so that sanctions can be lifted are nonsense."

"Our official position was set a long time ago and is perfectly clear: Russia is not conducting any negotiations on sanctions, nor is there any linkage to them and the situation in Ukraine. The Europeans themselves created a problem for themselves  let them solve it. As Russian farmers correctly joke, 'it would be nice to have another two-three years of sanctions, and after that we will become truly self-sufficient.'"
Furthermore, some Westerners even go so far as to wonder whether it is any good to stir up unpleasant memories of the outdated conflict.

"It [V-Day celebration in Moscow] has nothing to do with the US," a user named autumnlight wrote in the comments for the Guardian's article about Russia's 2016 Victory Day Parade, "Also, unlike WWII Remembrance Day celebrations in the UK, the Russian Victory Day parades look quite aggressively militaristic  more like a 'show of strength' than a reflection on the horror of war."

"These soldiers are not celebrating their own victory, but the victory of their grandfathers, few of whom are still alive. What is it these soldiers deserve exactly? And why?" another user dubbed BlueTooth2 added.

"Only the weak have to show the extent of their power the good ole USSR!" a user called TonyBags noted in comments below the Business Insider's report.

"Such an anachronistic ritual from Russia's Communist totalitarian days It's an orgy of propaganda and victory mythology. Russia would be better served coming to terms with its real history instead of this Stalinist mascaraed," JerseyJeff78 remarked in comments for CNBC's piece on the matter.

So, are they right? Maybe it's time to sweep the old story under the rug?

According to Gilbert Doctorow, the European coordinator of the American Committee for East-West Accord, and Edward Lozansky, the president of the American University in Moscow, the WWII memories are of ultimate importance, not only to the Russian Federation and former Soviet Republics, but also to the West.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Nizami, 73, who led the Jamaat-e-Islami political party, was hanged at the central jail of the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka just after midnight local time on Wednesday (18:01 GMT Tuesday).

"I want to share with you my deep grief over Nizami's execution. I believe that he did not commit any crimes for which he deserved such a punishment. We hope the Bangladesh government will make more fair decisions in future. We have recalled our ambassador to Dhaka because of this case. He has already landed in Istanbul. We have not heard any condemnation from the European Union over the execution. Why? Because the [man who was] executed was a Muslim scientist," Erdogan said in Ankara.
Following the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Sochi, Tokyo "has essentially agreed to set the territorial dispute aside," the publication noted, calling this development a "breakthrough."

Tokyo's relations with Moscow have been plagued by a decades-long dispute over the islands, known as the Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. The latter claims the islands of Kunashir, Iturup and Shikotan, as well as the Habomai islets that came under Soviet control following the World War II. The unresolved claim has prevented both countries from signing a peace treaty.

"These islands are an integral part of Russia, regardless of what they say about it in Tokyo," Vzglyad asserted. Vladimir Putin "does not intend to squander Russian territories," the newspaper noted, adding that all those interested in the issue in Russia, as well as in Japan understand this.
Bercuson suggested that the Russian offer, instead of being a heartfelt symbolic gesture from its northern neighbor, was really part of a twisted plot by the Kremlin "to loosen the ties that bind both the European Union and NATO," and "would surely like to take every opportunity that comes its way to work itself between the United States and Canada."

If Canada does end up needing help, he said, it won't be asking Russia, but will "turn to the United States." Canada, "as an independent country highly dependent on the United States for trade, security and defense, [needs] to proceed carefully when it comes to dealing with Putin's Russia."

The Russian president, Bercuson noted, 'annexed Crimea', supports separatists in eastern Ukraine, threatens the Baltic states, "deliberately provokes the US Navy and Air Force" off Russia's maritime borders in the Baltic Sea, and perhaps worst of all, "backs President Bashar al-Assad of Syria with military power."

Trudeau's rejection of Russian aid specifically, the analyst explained, is a righteous declaration that Canada would not "return to business as usual with Mr. Putin's Russia." Ottawa, he emphasized, is "displaying a refreshing hard-headedness by refusing to woo Russia in some misguided and indeed dangerous effort to balance our dependence on the United States with a new relationship with Russia. Or by allowing Russia to woo us."

Needless to say, not all Canadians share Mr. Bercuson's sentiment. Not seeing in the 'deep geopolitical significance' of accepting an offer to help, many Canadians suggested that in this case, Ottawa shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Politics aside, Russias intention WAS TO HELP Canada fight fires https://t.co/K4xoJk5TnK  Randy Fountain (@Randy_Fountain) 11  2016 .

Help is Help, guess not when the #Russians are offering huh https://t.co/IvfizDFPqg  Daniel Yazelle (@Obsideondemon) 9  2016 .
SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik)  The European Parliament on Thursday called on the European Union member states to fund Mejlis activities outside Russia and impose sanctions on those responsible for banning the organization.

"At a time when the entire world is fighting extremism and terrorism, I have no words to comment on the European Parliaments selective attitude. The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People is an extremist organization, this has been proven and ruled on in court. All the necessary evidence was submitted," she told RIA Novosti.

Mejlis actively cooperates with various organizations recognized as terrorist groups globally, like Hizb ut-Tahrir, she stressed.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Greece is trying hard to negotiate amendments to the list of banned food with Russia, he stressed.

"Greek exports have suffered badly [from the sanctions]. Certain agricultural products, included in the list of prohibited goods, were affected the most," Mardas told RIA Novosti in an interview.

"Russians have their point of view, we use the leverage that we have in order to get the most favorable results," Mardas added.
Taking a look back at the history of US-Russian relations between 2000 and 2016, the American professor concluded that Putin has been "less an 'aggressive' foreign policy leader than a reactive leader."

In the light of the recent NATO military buildup in close proximity to Russia's borders the question arises, "who is 'aggressing' against whom"?

However, Russia has already got up off its knees due to Vladimir Putin's policies, Cohen noted. It is neither a weak nor an isolated country.

In much the same way Gilbert Doctorow, the European Coordinator of The American Committee for East West Accord, noted in one of his latest articles for Consortiumnews.com that Washington should reconcile itself with the reality of a multi-polar world, where Russia plays an important role.

"American behavior towards Russia in the new millennium had been conditioned by a now seriously outdated view of its potential adversary as a failing state lacking in economic might and in social coherence to withstand serious pressure from outside, enjoying unjustified international rights inherited from its Soviet past and having as its only military props an aging strategic nuclear force that would be practically unusable if push came to shove because that would spell national suicide," Doctorow noted.

It is time for Washington to shift from the outdated "winner-takes-all" policy and adopt a more rational and pragmatic approach toward Russia.

Moscow and Washington could gain great benefits in cooperation on plenty of issues, including peace-keeping missions, investment and trade, culture and education, science and technology, to name just a few.
To clarify Beijing's position on the issue, Fu Ying, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and Wu Shicun, President of the National Institute of the South China Sea, published an article entitled "South China Sea: How We Got to This Stage" in the National Interest on May 9.

The experts shed light on the string of events that led to the recent tensions between Washington and Beijing in the South China Sea. They underscored that China has no motive to seek hegemony in the region and explained why the issue of territorial integrity is of ultimate importance to the Chinese.

"To observe China, one should never lose sight of the historical dimension. Though China is growing into a strong country, the painful memory of history is not long gone. The Chinese people have not forgotten that the country stumbled into the 20th century with its capital under the occupation of the imperialist armies, and for over a century before and after, China suffered the humiliation of foreign invasion and aggression," they stressed.

Beijing is interested in preserving peace and stability in the region as well as the freedom and safety of navigation and here China and the US' interests overlap, the experts noted.

They warned American policymakers against falling into the trap of misunderstanding and called for dialogue on the matter.

"China and the US and are not disputing parties to each other. Therefore, the two countries should avoid the trap of security dilemma and misunderstandings by engaging in dialogues and clarifying each other's intentions. China and the US need and should be able to work towards cooperation," Fu Ying and Wu Shicun emphasized.

Neither Washington, nor Beijing would benefit from a potential conflict over the South China Sea, the experts concluded.
Rosen said that he was 'stunned' by the apparent attempt at censorship, and added that the State Department "could not explain" to him "why this had been done."

The journalist said he noticed the missing question when doing a report on an interview given by Obama administration Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes to The New York Times Magazine. In the interview, the official candidly admitted misleading US Congress and the media on the timeline of negotiations with Iran.

The talks, Rhodes said, began in mid-2012, before US presidential elections, and before moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani came to power. The story about talks intensifying in 2013, he added, "was largely manufactured for the purpose of selling the deal."

'Legacy Concerns'

Speaking to Sputnik Persian about the odd incident, Emad Abshenass, editor in chief of the Iran Press newspaper, suggested that it was obvious to him that this was an attempt by President Barack Obama to preserve his legacy.

"For the United States, and for the Obama administration in particular, the issue of implementing the Joint Compressive Plan of Action (JCPA) on the Iran nuclear program is perhaps even more important than it is for Iran," the journalist noted. "After all, Mr. Obama sought to see to it that it was during his presidency that such a historical step  an agreement with Iran, took place."
"In fact, Ankara demonstrates its unwillingness to admit partial fault, given that it was her dreadful and treacherous actions, that led to the destruction of the jet, and thereby caused the death of the Russian pilot. In this case, we are urging Turkey to take thorough measures to find and bring to justice all those responsible for killing of the Russian pilot. It is not only Celik, but other militants under his subordination."

Russian pilot Oleg Peshkov was shot by a militant group under Celik's commanding, trying to parachute to the ground when his jet was downed by Turkey over Syria on November 24. Celik accepted responsibility for the pilot's killing as commander of a militant group. The suspect insisted that he had repeatedly ordered his men to take the Russian pilot prisoner, and not to shoot him.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The announcement came after the White House announced this week that later in May Barack Obama would become the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, the first city and civilian target in the world to be destroyed by an atomic weapon nearly 71 years ago.

"The annual meeting is one of several exchanges held by the United States and Japan each year to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," the note stated.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Bezan noted that the bill, dubbed "Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)," would amend the existing Special Economic Measures Act, which details sanctions on foreign violators of human rights.

"I want to make sure that all violators of human rights are held accountable for their actions, and the Sergei Magnitsky Law does just that," Bezan stated. "It is important for those that are responsible for the torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky and other human rights violations be held accountable."

Sergei Magnitsky, a legal consultant for the London-based Hermitage Capital Management investment fund, was detained in 2008 on suspicion of involvement in a tax evasion scheme.
John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want, speaks with Becker about the irony in the decision of Cameron to host the event that comes in the aftermath of the Panama Papers revelations that he was implicated in.

A U.S. missile defence system in Romania becomes becomes operational today. NATO and the United States say it is to protect from Europe from the threat of long-range missiles, but how does Russia view the existence of such systems right on its doorstep? With Poland getting ready to host missile defence systems as well, what are the limits to NATO growth and expansion? Journalist Mark Sleboda joins Becker to discuss these issues.

A Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. special forces in Afghanistan over the rules of engagement. The report shows that troops received no answers from their commanders last year over how far they were allowed to go to retake the city of Kunduz. Brian Terrell, the co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, joins Becker to discuss what the U.S. role in Afghanistan is 15 years after the invasion.
Mikhail Noskov, an acquaintance of Yerygin spoke during the farewell ceremony, saying that Yerygin was a very helpful, responsible and good-natured man.

According to Noskov, he and Yerygin took part automobile competitions at the Russian and international level. They worked together at the Voronezh auto club.

Last time we spoke in February about the event, the friend of the deceased said. Noskov added that Yerygin planned to take part in the tournament, but in the end he could not come. Back then he had not yet signed the contract for military service.
ROME (Sputnik)  A delegation of Italian members of parliament left for a three-day visit to Crimea on Thursday in a bid to support Russian-Italian ties, former Member of the European Parliament Giulietto Chiesa, who arranged the visit, said.

"It is a very positive event aimed at deepening the ties between our countries," Chiesa told RIA Novosti.

Some Italian politicians do not agree with their government's decision to follow the official anti-Russian policy of the European Union of punishing Moscow for incorporating Crimea into Russia, he added.
The two services, the Washington-based military news publication explains , "have put out requests for military-related apps built on blockchain, a decentralized digital ledger system."

Blockchain, a technology which allows a digital ledger to be stored in multiple copies across a large number of computers, and for changes to be registered instantly, uses a mathematical protocol to make it tamper proof, "creat[ing] an immutable record of the information; and since everyone has a copy of the data, records are still safe even if a few people are hacked." Financial firms and even governments have looked into the technology for a variety of applications.

Now, Defense One says, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon's secretive and often eccentric, James Bond-villain like research branch, is looking to militarize the technology, "us[ing] blockchain to create a secure messaging service. The group recently put out a public request for pitches on the project, and wants a web or native messaging app to help secure communications between different departments and even potentially troops in combat."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US politician vowed to temporarily shut down the US border for Muslims after last Decembers lethal attack in San Bernardino by a radicalized couple with links to Islamists.

"We have a serious problem. Its a temporary ban. It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on," Trump said Wednesday in a radio interview with Fox News.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga had earlier said that Obamas visit would give a strong boost to the worldwide nuclear nonproliferation movement.

Barack Obama will become the first sitting US President to visit the site where the US dropped an atomic bomb in 1945, killing an estimated 70,000 people in the final days of the Second World War.

Even though the possibility of a US apology was discussed ahead of Secretary of State John Kerrys recent visit to Japan, Washington was quick to make it clear that there would be no formal apologies offered, Dmitry Streltsov, a Moscow-based expert on Japan, said.

The Americans consider the nuclear bombings [of Hiroshima and Nagasaki] as fully justified as they helped save the lives of an estimated one million US soldiers who would have died during a full-scale ground operation on Japanese soil. They also believe that [the bombings] precipitated an early end of WW2. The Japanese view this as a senseless and barbaric act, Dmitry Streltsov said.

He added that the Americans feared that by saying they were sorry for the 1945 nuclear bombings they would undermine the entire historical concept of their much-trumped war with Japan during WW2.

The mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, earlier said he was not seeking an apology for the US atomic bombing of the city.

Hurting as they are from the US nuclear bombings of their cities, the Japanese still demand no moral compensation from Washington because they are still grateful to the Americans for their post-war prosperity, democratic institutions, etc. And also for saving them from the militaristic plague that hit their country during the 20th century. Thats why I dont expect any anti-US outbursts during Obamas visit, which is seen as a tribute to the memory of the innocent civilians who died there. I think the first visit to Hiroshima by a sitting American President will have a purely symbolical meaning, as an antiwar, pacifist gesture, Dmitry Streltsov said in conclusion.

Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 27, after attending the annual Group of Seven summit in Japan.

The city was nearly destroyed by a US atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Some 70,000 people  mostly civilians  were killed, and others have endured after-effects to this day.

The US dropped a second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced it would surrender on August 15, 1945.
"As Russia continues to spew its disinformation and false narratives, they undermine the United States and its interests in places like Ukraine, while also breeding further instability in these countries," Kinzinger said, introducing the bill to Congress on Wednesday.

For his part, Congressman Lieu added that "from Ukraine to the South China Sea, foreign disinformation campaigns do more than spread anti-Western sentiments  they manipulate public perception to change the facts on the ground, subvert democracy and undermine US interests. In short, they make the world less safe."

Kinzinger emphasized that a new federal agency to fight this threat would give Washington "a unique opportunity to respond to further manipulation by encouraging the free flow of truthful information," which "can prevent conflict and ensure future stability."
"Prospective bidders, I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon," Zimmerman explains on the website.

Travyon Martin, a 17-year-old boy from Miami, Florida was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman in February 2012. The teen was unarmed and Martin had no previous convictions or criminal record, Zimmerman claimed that the young teen had attacked him and he had to shoot him in self-defense.

His claim is supported on the auction site which Zimmerman is using to sell the gun.

"The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012," Zimmerman's statement says.

When police arrived at the scene of the shooting, they found Zimmerman on the floor, he was bleeding and had bruises on his hands and face.

George Zimmerman was eventually released without charge, however this all changed once the full story was heard.

Trayvon Martin's father was only notified of the killing when he filed a missing persons report. They immediately applied for legal representation and started a Change.org petition, which received more than a million signatures and led to Zimmerman being placed under house arrest.

Many believed that it was racial motives that had triggered Zimmerman's motives for killing the young teen. In a statement by President Obama to the media, he said, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon Martin." This coupled with the petition led to the case being investigated.

Watchung the #georgezimmermantrial #trayvonmartin #rip #justice A photo posted by @debbie17 on Jun 24, 2013 at 6:43am PDT

Zimmerman was charged for second-degree murder on April 11, 2012, but the trial began in June 2013. The all-female jury acquitted Zimmerman of murder, triggering protests across several American cities.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced a program shake-up on a trip to California this week. As part of the effort, leaders of DIUx are being replaced, a new office is opening in Boston, and new faces are being brought on board.

Some of what its taught us is not about DIUxs shortcomings so much as about our shortcomings as a department as a whole, Carter said Wednesday. I think we need to admit when we have to change.

Carter insisted that the changes are not due to failures in the controversial programs, but rather to a natural shift to a more Silicon Valley-based model, Defense One reports.
If an investment plan includes stocks that support the gun industry, the app will recommend options that are firearm-free.

The creators of the app found that over 35% of US stock funds include weapons manufacturers, equaling roughly $17.3 billion invested into the industry, Motherboard reported.
BISHKEK (Sputnik)  The ICDO is a 55-nation organization that seeks to better protect the civil population against both natural calamities and man-made disasters. Its General Assembly is meeting in Kyrgyzstans capital Bishkek.

"The Russian Emergencies Ministry is ICDOs strategic partner. Weve been running many joint projects together. Today, we signed an agreement on information exchange with the ICDO headquarters and its member states, which will open access to critical threat data," Puchkov told journalists.

The 22nd ICDO General Assembly meeting is being attended by 40 member states, which include Russia. The Assembly is convened every two years.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  This comes after Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov held consultation talks earlier today with EUs European External Action Service deputy chief for political affairs, Helga Schmidt.

"The focus was on the importance of enhancing cooperation between Russia and the EU to tackle the most urgent international problems and respond jointly to common threats and challenges," the statement reads.

The Russian and EU foreign policy officials exchanged opinions on the outlooks for EU-Russia bilateral cooperation and agreed a timeline of further contacts, the ministry said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Among the prize winners are episodes of the political show "The Big Picture," the stand-up comedy show "Redacted Tonight," several RT America News features, as well as promotional pieces created by the channel, RT said Wednesday.

RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan said that the awards indicate that the US audience is "demanding a real alternative in news," as quoted in the broadcaster's press release.

Executive Director of the Telly Awards Linda Day said that the awards, received by RT America illustrate the skill and creativity of the channel's staff, that "serves as a testament to great film and video production," according to the press release.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, the head of Russia's Arms Committee in the upper house of parliament, Viktor Ozerov, said that Moscow could withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in response to new missile defense systems being deployed in Eastern Europe.

"The US Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, including Aegis BMD and other systems deployed as part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA), is not designed or directed against Russia," Clay said when asked if Washington is concerned about Russias possible exit from the START. "We have made it clear to Russian authorities many times and at the highest levels."

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considers the deployment of the US missile defense systems in Europe a direct threat to regional security and stability.
"The world is sitting on the brink of an existential crisis," he noted. "We are looking square in the face of the very near-term prospect of a thermonuclear war."

Barack Obama, Billington added, has already deployed the necessary forces to Europe. The US president "insanely" believes that a preemptive strike against Russia or China "could take out the nuclear response capacity of those nations."

This strategy could result in a war, the analyst warned.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Eurasian Economic Union analyzed and took into account the European Unions experience in introducing its single currency. Before considering a single currency, the EEU must first achieve a highly integrated common market, something it plans to accomplish by 2025, the minister added.

"As for now, I see no need to introduce a single currency. There are no conditions and no requirements for this," she said during a press conference.

There are no ongoing talks on the Eurasian Economic Union's expansion but the organization is open to such negotiations, Valovaya stated.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Canadian government expects all government-sponsored Syrian refugees to be in permanent housing by mid-June, McCallum added.

"Securing permanent housing for Syrian refugees remains a key priority. As of today, 98 percent of government-assisted Syrian refugees have moved into permanent housing," McCallum stated during a meeting of the Parliaments Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Moreover, the government has allocated more than $38.6 million ($30 million US dollars) in additional funding for 2016 and 2017 for resettlement services that help Syrian refugees integrate into Canadian society, McCallum explained.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Donilon, who advised President Barack Obama during his first term, explained that the recent Daesh-inspired terror attacks in European capitals should serve as "a wake-up call" for Europe, whose responses and capabilities "vary substantially."

"The return of foreign fighters to Europe and the attacks in Paris and Brussels have highlighted how unprepared Europe is to address this threat [of terrorism]. Europes failures pose a clear and present danger to the United States," Donilon said in testimony to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In November, Daesh terrorists waged multiple attacks in Paris, claiming the lives of 130 people. Brussels was struck by a terrorist attack in March, which killed 31 people and prompted initial reforms in EU security, including promoting more information sharing among the 28 nation bloc.
Chibok Schoolgirl Tells of Boko Haram Kidnapping and other Extremist Dangers in Northern Nigeria

Human Rights Leaders Also Call for Help



Contact: Jeff Sagnip, 202-225-3765; chrissmith.house.gov

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- A Nigerian schoolgirl who twice escaped mass Boko Haram kidnappings told a congressional panel on Africa and human rights, chaired by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), of her harrowing ordeal and of the growing violence in the northern part of the country.



Photo: Chairman Smith greets Chibok schoolgirl Sa'a, who testified before his congressional global human rights panel.



Using the pseudonym "Sa'a" to protect herself and her family, the brave 20-year old explained how she escaped the clutches of Boko Haram and expressed the pain and sorrow she feels for those still in captivity every day.

"I have twice escaped from Boko Haram attacks on my schools, but many have not," said Sa'a. "Many live in fear every day. Their homes were burnt, so many people didn't have a place to sleep, food to eat or clothes to wear. They are now IDPs in other places." Click here to read Sa's' statement.

"We recently marked the tragic two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in northeastern Nigeria," said Chairman Smith (NJ-04), who has travelled to Nigeria to meet with families of the kidnapping victims. "Sa'a, is one of the few who escaped this mass kidnapping, but many of her classmates were not so fortunate. Many of these schoolgirls are believed to have been forced to convert to Islam and married to Boko Haram fighters or prostituted by this group. We now receive reports that some of them may be used as suicide bombers.

"For more than a decade, the Nigerian government has battled the deadly threat of Boko Haram, now the world's most dangerous terrorist group," Smith said. "However, that fight has obscured other threats in the northern region of Nigeria, including a worsening conflict between Fulani herdsmen and a multi-ethnic group of farmers. In addition, there is a newer threat from Iranian-supported Shiites whose recent conflict with the Nigerian military led to hundreds of deaths earlier this year." Click here to read Chairman Smith's opening statement.

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, with more than 180 million people. Lagos, its commercial center, is one of the largest cities in the world. The nation is Africas largest economy and largest oil producer, and key U.S. partner in the region.

Boko Haram is considered the deadliest terrorist group in the worldresponsible for 6,664 deaths last year alone. Since 2010, escalating clashes between Fulani herdsmen and a multi-ethnic group of farmers have left 3,000 people dead. An increasingly assertive group of Shia Muslims in northern states have come into conflict with the majority Sunni Muslims population in the areas such as Kaduna State, and last December, a clash between Shia and the Nigeria military left hundreds dead.

Smith has encouraged and tried to facilitate a more effective U.S.-Nigerian collaboration in the fight against Boko Haram, and U.S. counter-terrorism training has resumed after being suspended by the previous Nigerian government. Discussions are ongoing for further military assistance to Nigeria and its neighbors threatened by Boko Haram and other sources of extremist violence: Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Also testifying at the hearing were leaders from key human rights advocacy groups including former US Rep. Frank R. Wolf, Distinguished Senior Fellow, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative; Emmanuel Ogebe, Special Counsel, Justice for Jos Project; and Christopher Fomunyoh, Ph.D., Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute.

Congressman Wolf, a renowned human rights leader throughout his 34 years of service in the U.S. Congress (1981-2014), recently returned from a trip to Nigeria on a non-governmental human rights mission. Wolf told the committee: "While we were in Nigeria, the Agatu village was attacked. 200-300 were killed over a sustained 2-3 day attack. And the attackers did not move on, but rather occupied homes within the village." Click here to read Wolf's statement.

Emmanuel Ogebe testified that, "Inspired by Boko Haram's actions, ISIS abducted scores of Christians and Yazidi women in Iraq the following month thus also subscribing to Boko Haram's theology of weaponized rape, abduction, forced conversions and marriage." Click here to read Ogebe's statement.

Fomunyoh told the subcommittee, "Violence has contributed to negative economic growthNigeria could gain approximately $13.7 billion dollars a year in economic macroeconomic activity in the four most affected states were it not for the agrarian-pastoralist conflict." Click here to read Fomunyoh's statement.

Click here to watch a video of the May 11 hearing.

Smith visited Nigeria in 2013 and 2014, and heard from maimed victims of the terrorist group firsthand. He returned to Washington and introduced the "Boko Haram Terrorist Designation Act of 2013," H.Res. 3209. The State Department later agreed to declare the group a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) at the November 13, 2013, House hearing chaired by Smith. Other hearings held by Smith on Nigeria were held July 10, 2012, July 10, 2014 and January 27, 2015.

For most updated version of this release, click on:

chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398948
Groups Plan Major Rally and Prayer Vigil After Late-term Abortionist, Leroy Carhart, Sends Six Women to the Hospital Over a Four Month Period

Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741; Janet Kotowski, 240-606-3777



GERMANTOWN, Md., May 12, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- The event is named "Moment of Mercy" and the pro-life community will be calling for the State of Maryland to suspend Carhart's medical license pending a full investigation.



"Moment of Mercy" will take place on Sunday, May 22, at 1:30 P.M. on Wisteria Dr. in Germantown, MD which is located at the entrance to the Executive Park where Leroy Carhart's office is located.



Here is a link to the Facebook event page:

www.facebook.com/events/1774091956210502



Carhart has just been named in the ongoing Congressional investigations into the sale of baby body parts by the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives.



Since Carhart's practice has opened, he has sent at least nine women to the hospital and a young woman died after getting a late-term abortion from him.



Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition based in Washington, D.C., states;

"When Leroy Carhart opened his late-term abortion business in Maryland, the pro-life community held a massive rally warning that we would see women leaving his clinic in ambulances and dying because of his barbaric and unprofessional practices. Sadly, this has been the case with at least nine women being taken to the hospital and a 29 year old woman dying at the hands of Leroy Carhart.



"This is a national disgrace and women deserve so much better than this. As a first step, we call upon the State of Maryland to suspend Leroy Carhart's medical license while a thorough investigation takes place. We are confident if they do their job, his late-term abortion business will close for good.



"Simply stated, the State of Maryland has to make a decision if they will put protecting a disgraced late-term abortionist above women's rights and quality health care. How many more women have to die or be rushed to the hospital before Maryland government officials act?"

Janet Kotowski, Clinic Manager for Germantown Pregnancy Choices, adds;

"It all began when Jennifer Morbelli died in February 2013 after her late term abortion, and now, nine more women have suffered emergencies needing ambulance transports from Leroy Carhart's Germantown Reproductive Health Services. The Maryland Board of Physicians needs to do the right thing and suspend his license while a full investigation is conducted. Women deserve better."

For more information or interviews contact:



Rev. Patrick Mahoney at: 540.538.4741

Janet Kotowski at: 240-606-3777
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
tech2 News Staff

Last week we had seen the announcement of the Asus Zenvolution event on 30 May, just a day before Computex 2016. While there was no definite mention of what products would be launched, we all knew that Zenfone 3 launch was imminent. Now Asus CEO Jerry Shen has officially stated that the company will release the Zenfone 3 in June to target the mid-range market segment.

Asus has been using Intel chipsets in its smartphones, and has recently switched to Qualcomm chipsets. As you may know, Intel recently announced that it will not be making smartphone chipsets for now. But according to a report in Digitimes, since Asus is using Qualcomm chipsets since September 2015, its production of smartphones will not be affected by Intel's decision.

But going by the Zenvolution banner, which shows an Intel logo, it wouldn't be surprising if Asus did release an Intel chipset based smartphone. Unless that logo is meant for non-smartphone products with Intel chipsets inside - most likely PC related products such as the ZenBook.

According to the Digitimes report though, around 90 percent of the Zenfone 3 smartphones will be powered by a Qualcomm chipset and the remaining 10 percent will be run on MediaTek chipsets. Asus has seen an almost 40 percent year on year growth in its smartphone sales thanks to strong sales in countries in Southeast Asia, Brazil, Russia and Europe.

Shen said that the growth would remain flat in the second quarter compared to last year due to the transition to new phone models. While Asus' main segment to target will be the mid-range market, it is also expected to release some pones in the US $260 to $307 price brackets. Asus would be aiming to compete with Huawei and Oppo in the US $300 price segment in the China market, said Shen.

Shen also said that the Zenfone 3 would be selling in around six countries by August and would include products such as the Zenfone 3 Max, Zenfone 3 Deluxe and Zenfone 3.
hidden

By Asheeta Regidi

Recent reports of Facebooks bias against conservative news stories enlisted on its trending list created a huge outcry online. The Indian equivalent of such a situation would be Facebook being found to be biased against one political party, suppressing news articles relating to it, while promoting stories of the opposing political party. If these allegations are true, then Facebook will lose its immunity as an intermediary under the various cyber laws, and can open it up to litigations around the world from affected entities.

Intermediary immunity isnt unconditional

The law on intermediaries under Indian laws can be found in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (the IT Act). Intermediaries host and provide information provided by third parties. This includes websites such as Facebook, search engines such as Google and even online marketplaces such as Amazon.

Some of the information on these sites may be offensive to the recipients of this information. The number of third party entities who upload information on these websites can run into millions. This makes it impossible for an intermediary to monitor all content made available by it. As a result, intermediaries are protected from liability for any offensive or illegal content that may be uploaded onto their site. Effectively, if a reader is unhappy with any content he reads on his Facebook homepage, he cannot hold Facebook responsible for it. His only remedy is to sue the person who uploaded the content onto Facebook in the first place.

Of course, the immunity granted to intermediaries is not without the imposition of certain responsibilities. Intermediaries are immune only so long as they play absolutely no role regarding the content available on it. As per Section 79 of the IT Act, the intermediary must not:

initiate the transmission of the information, or

select the receiver of the transmission, or

select or modify the information contained in the transmission.

As soon as the intermediary performs any one of these steps, it loses its immunity. This is coupled with several due diligence requirements imposed under the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 (the Intermediary Rules).

The basis for intermediary immunity is similar under various legislations around the world. For example, Article 12 of the European Unions Directive on E-Commerce similarly protects an intermediary only so long as it does not select, modify or initiate the transmission.

Allegations of bias clearly lead to loss of immunity as an intermediary

The allegations of bias relate to Facebooks trending news section. This involves a process of selection of popular new stories using an algorithm, a review of the selected stories and then publishing on the trending news section. So long as the selection is completely unbiased, Facebooks immunity remains. The allegations of bias, however, are that Facebook suppresses stories which are conservative in their view, such as stories about the right-wing CPAC gathering, Mitt Romney, and Rand Paul. Yet another report alleged that Facebook censored pro-Trump news and negative Hilary news. This is clear case of selecting and modifying the information contained in the transmission by Facebook, as prohibited under Section 79 of the IT Act.

Reports also allege that Facebook restricted the access of users to about 30,322 emails and email attachments sent and received by Hillary Clinton during her tenure as secretary of state. These are instances of selecting the receiver of the transmission. Another accusation is that Facebook artificially injecting stories which were not popular into this section. This is a case of initiating transmission. If the allegations are true, therefore, it is clear that Facebook is playing a major role regarding the content being made available to its users. As a result, it will lose its immunity as an intermediary.

Intermediarys right of censorship

Under the Intermediary Rules, an intermediary is imposed with certain due diligence requirements. An intermediary can remove certain categories of harmful content, such as content which is offensive, defamatory, illegal, harmful to minors, or which threatens the security of the nation, and so on. This is why Facebook is justified in removing illegal content from the internet on its own account. However, the allegations here involve the removal of political content. Preventing or restricting the access of such political stories can only be justified if it falls under one of the heads, such as a threat to national security. In the absence of this, there can be no justification of a political bias on the part of Facebook.

The dangers of political censorship

The role social media plays in artificially influencing political viewpoints, particularly around the time of elections, has come into notice for quite some time. It is normal for a person to be biased about their political viewpoints. However, when a company like Facebook, which has the power to shape the views of millions of its users, abuses this power, then there is a lot to worry about.

On its part, Facebook has completely denied all allegations of bias. It insists that there are rigorous guidelines in place to ensure neutrality. It also insists that the reviewers play a very limited role, such as putting similar news stories selected by the algorithm under one head. It is possible that the bias has crept in because of the individual bias of the reviewers. However, Facebook cannot be irresponsible about the enforcement of its guidelines. Nothing short of such rigorous guidelines will continue to protect Facebook as an intermediary.

The author is a lawyer with a specialisation in cyber laws and has co-authored books on the subject.
hidden

India is one of the top priority countries for 'Facebook at Work' and the social networking giant will soon start testing the app with more companies in the country, top Facebook executives have said.

"Rolling out 'Facebook at Work' to companies in India is a significant milestone. We are excited at the high rate of adoption globally and I look forward to working with all businesses in India," Julien Codorniou, director of 'Facebook at Work' told reporters in New Delhi.

'Facebook at Work' is a new way for colleagues to collaborate effectively and be more productive at the workplace.

"Indians companies are one of the fastest to adopt 'Facebook at Work'," added Ramesh Gopalkrishna, head (APAC) at 'Facebook at Work', adding that over 60,000 companies globally are looking forward to join the new platform.

Across the globe, companies from banking to telecommunications to travel, retail and real estate have successfully deployed 'Facebook at Work'.

Indian firms like L&T Infotech, Godrej, Yes Bank, UST Global, Paytm, Practo, Zomato, Delhivery, BookMyShow, ibibo, AskMe, Urban Ladder, Girnarsoft (Cardekho, Zigwheels & Gaadi) KartRocket, Edureka, eVidyaloka, Vision India Foundation, Landmark Group and Telenor, among others, are already using 'Facebook at Work'.

Over 140 million people are on the main Facebook website in India and nearly 90 percent use it on smartphones.

"The initial results from 'Facebook at Work' implementation are very encouraging. The platform is bringing our global teams closer, enabling a culture change, and fostering innovation across the organisation," said Sanjay Jalona, CEO and managing director, L&T Infotech, in a statement.

'Facebook at Work' shares major features such as News Feed, groups, messages, events and search from the social networking site.

"I would say 95 percent of what we developed for Facebook is also adopted for 'Facebook at Work'," Codorniou added.

'Facebook at Work' also has its own standalone app on mobile.

IANS
tech2 News Staff

The next-gen Moto G smartphones, the rumoured Moto G4 and Moto 4 Plus will be officially announced on May 17 in India. In addition, these devices will only be exclusive to Amazon in the country. Prior to this, Moto devices were exclusive to Flipkart.

In a press statement, Amit Boni, Country Head, Motorola Mobility India said, "Amazon.in is the one of the best online marketplaces in India and we are glad to announce that we have exclusively partnered with Amazon India for our next Motorola smartphone."

Amazon India also confirmed the same on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/amazonIN/status/730412552937689088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

There have been plenty of murmurs in the rumour mill about Motorolas upcoming Moto G4 (or Moto G 4th generation) smartphone and its sibling, the G Plus. And while the handsets leaked out in plenty, few details were known about the actual specifications.

Twitter user Roland Quandt put out a detailed specifications sheet of the upcoming smartphone and as it turns out, theres is plenty of stuff in there as well. Adding to this is another leak that reveals some more confirmed specifications coming from another Twitter user Vaibhav Jain.

Combining both leaks, we can now expect the Motorola Moto G4 to arrive in a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 variant with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage and another model sporting a Snapdragon 617 with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The cameras would include a 13MP unit for the rear and a 5MP fixed focus unit up front. The handset is expected to arrive with dual SIM slots and will pack in a 3200mAh battery. The display is expected to be a 5.2-inch Full HD unit.

Coming to the Plus version of the handset, it is expected to come with a similar 5.2-inch Full HD display with the only addition being the 16MP camera on the back. This handset may also pack in NFC and Laser autofocus as an added bonus. Both handsets will boot to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and come with the standard splash-proof water resistance rating.
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Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp named a Foxconn vice chairman as its new president on Thursday, after reporting an annual loss that more than tripled due to slumping display prices and slower sales of client Apple Inc's iPhones.

In its first results since agreeing a $3.5 billion stake sale to Taiwan's Foxconn in April, Sharp said operating loss ballooned to JPY 162 billion ($1.5 billion or roughly Rs. 9,988 crores) in the financial year ended March from the previous year's JPY 48.1 billion.

The result was nevertheless better than the JPY 170 billion Sharp forecast in March. Net loss widened to JPY 256 billion from JPY 222.35 billion. Sharp also said Tai Jeng-wu, vice chairman of Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, would become its president.

The 30-year Foxconn veteran, a close aid to Foxconn founder Terry Gou, will become the first outsider to lead the century-old Japanese company. Tai is fluent in Japanese, played a key role in Foxconn's negotiations with Sharp, and has extensive experience running Foxconn's operations in Shenzhen, people at Foxconn told Reuters.

Sharp's outgoing Chief Executive Kozo Takahashi said the company and Foxconn aim to close the takeover deal by the end of June. The companies previously said the deadline was October 5.

The takeover by Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, would vastly expand sales channels for Sharp's display products and provide funds for developing advanced panels. The investment is also widely expected to help Sharp avoid delisting from the Tokyo Stock Exchange as it needs to clear liabilities in excess of assets within a year to stay listed.

Sharp will hold an extraordinary board meeting to approve Tai's appointment after the acquisition payment is settled, the company said.

Reuters
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When the tech giant Microsoft unveiled its AI or artificial intelligence-powered bot on Twitter for a playful chat with the people in March, little did the tech giant realise that the twitterati would begin slamming the innocent bot with racist and offensive comments. Launched as an experiment in "conversational understanding" and to engage people through "casual and playful conversation", Tay was soon taken off Twitter by Microsoft engineers. This was a soft experiment. But what if you can interact with a "chatbot" and send the AI-powered machine your financial requirements like you would text to your banker or chartered accountant in the near future?

Facebook wants this to happen and at its F8 global developer conference in April, the social networking giant unveiled AI bots right into its popular messaging app Messenger -- to allow 900 million monthly active users on Messenger to interact with businesses and get updates from them. "We think you should be able to text message a business like you would send to a friend and get a quick response," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the gathering. Sounds fancy, but are chatbots the future of online businesses? "Chatbots as a concept is going to evolve and become meaningful. They will create more opportunities for new companies to explode from nothing into prominence.

They will create many new business strategy opportunities. In my opinion, they will play a large role in online business but not every role," explains Tamara Gaffney, principal analyst, Adobe Digital Index. "We as humans are still very visual beings so I see them [chatbots] as part of the digital experience. I also note that when we talk to a machine, we tend to figure out how to speak to it very quickly and tend to ask it more specific questions such as asking for a specific brand in order to guarantee that the response is meaningful," Gaffney told IANS. Digital is entering a new era where technology takes on human qualities. Examples of driverless cars, voice-activated homes and AI-powered chatbots fill our minds with joy, admiration and anticipation.

"In reality, our first experiences with 'smart cars' and 'Internet of Things' (IoT) video systems has left us on the rollercoaster of great expectations followed by reliability and technical difficulties. Chatbots are likely to follow the same pattern," Gaffney points out. According to Facebook, there are over 50 million businesses on Messenger and the company is aiming to provide great valuable experiences for users and added value for businesses. Facebook has released a set of tools to allow software developers to create chatbots for the Messenger in partnership with businesses.

Chatbots have already been incorporated in some popular messaging services such as China's Wechat. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google are also working to bring this technology to their platforms. "Chatbots will bring the revolution in online and consumer-based industries which deal in the product and service sectors where millions of customers, buyers and sellers interact with limited sales or service executives to resolve their basic queries," notes Anoop Mishra, a Lucknow-based digital marketing and social media strategist. "It will help online businesses overcome the work load of customers or seller support division of the company, resulting in more customer satisfaction if the AI-powered bot is customised and tuned rightly," Mishra told IANS. Facebook has over 30 companies signed up to deploy chatbots on Messenger, including corporations like CNN, eBay, Burger King and Bank of America. "Many other companies are working on it and some of them have released their bots for testing purposes by evaluating its future worth," says Mishra.

According to Microsoft's Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella, "bots are the new apps." But for Gaffney, "An app is such an isolated concept". She says that Apps in the future would be transparent. "They will reside as a 'permission' to use artificial intelligence on a particular device but eventually we won't even know which app is driving our experience." It will eventually become seamless for us to use our voice to activate the chatbot. "At first, it will seem clunky and 'app-like' but we are already seeing examples of apps that suddenly appear with a suggestion like how long it is going to take to get home without us even asking. So a chatbot that requires interaction will eventually be replaced by a chatbot that anticipates needs and delivers information as if it were reading your mind," explains the Adobe analyst.

According to Mishra, it is too early to predict the serviceableness of chatbots in the industry because it is based on AI which works on the simulation of available words and sentences in a dictionary which is far behind human intelligence. While AI is being integrated into our lives -- with Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana and Amazon's Alexa -- there appears a long road ahead for bots. "Eventually, chatbots will be omnipresent but initially, they will be less than perfect. AI has many linguistic and sentiment-oriented programming requirements. Those requirements are going to be different in various regions of a country like India so a universal chatbot that covers the world with glory will be several years away," Gaffney emphasises.

Till then, learn to respect chatbots like Microsoft's Tay. These are machines but deserve some compassion so give them a chance to become part of your life.

IANS
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Leading telecom player Vodafone India has said it plans to acquire more spectrum to increase its network.

"We have plans to acquire more spectrum, whether they are in trading route, sharing route or action route, we have not announced yet. But we do have plans to have more spectrum. We feel that we need to increase our portfolio," Vodafore India managing director and CEO Sunil Sood told reporters here.

Sood said that in the next phase of its 4G roll-out, it will cover the key circles of Gujarat, Haryana, UP (E) and West Bengal soon. The company is already offering 4G services across the five circles of Mumbai, Delhi & NCR, Kolkata, Karnataka and Kerala.

With this roll out, its 4G services will be available across 1,000 towns this year, he said.

Announcing the second phase of its 4G roll-out, Sood said, "The response from customers who have experienced our 4G services in the five circles of Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi & NCR is positive and encouraging. As we expand our 4G coverage across the country, we remain steadfast in our commitment to offer our customers a world-class data and voice experience."

The nine circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, UP (E) and West Bengal, together contribute to just under 70 per cent of Vodafone India's data revenues.

Speaking about Vodafone 4G service, Sood said, "In the past year, significant investments have been made to expand, enhance and upgrade our network enabling us to provide a better and richer network experience to 198 million customers.

"We will continue our focus on deploying multiple technologies-2G, 3G & 4G to cater to the myriad connectivity needs of both urban and rural customers. Our future-fit network is ready to service the rising demands of an increasingly Digital India."

Commenting on the call drop issue, Sood said, "We are working on it. We have already invested over Rs 2,000 crore in Delhi, NCR region and Mumbai circles for adding fibre network and adding more sites. We have invested Rs 1,000 crore and added 3,185 sites and 600 km of fibre network last year in Delhi and NCR. In Mumbai we invested Rs 1,261 crore and added 4,963 sites along with 250 km fibre in last one year period."

"We have registered 40 per cent improvement in drop calls issue and 35 per cent reduction in network complaints," he added.

PTI
Saudi Arabia urged to take more doctors, nurses from BD



Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc on Thursday requested Saudi Arabia to recruit more doctors and nurses from Bangladesh.

Both the countries would be benefitted from this, he said when Saudi health ministry recruitment department General Manager Murjan Bin Mubarak Al-Murjan called on him at his office in the ministry.

In the meeting, they discussed sending consultant and registrar doctors from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia.

The minister thanked the Saudi government for the hospitality he received during his visit to that country in January. He invited the Saudi health minister to visit Bangladesh.

Manager Murjan Bin Mubarak Al-Murjan appreciated the Bangladeshi nurses, doctors and others working in Saudi Arabia. He referred to the long friendly relations between the two countries and said the Bangladeshi workers consider Saudi Arabia their own country.

Later, the Saudi delegation held a bilateral meeting with representatives of the health ministry, foreign ministry and other agencies concerned.
High official of the United Nations handing over crest to Senior Secretary of Home Ministry Mozammel Haque Khan when a delegation led by him visited UN Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan recently.
Facing the humanitarian problems

Tharanga Yakupitiyage :

Though the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit may seem timely, a debate ensues on an important question: is the world humanitarian system broke or broken?

The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, which takes place in Istanbul on May 23-24, was convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to address the pressing needs of today's humanitarian problems.

"We believe this is a once in a generation opportunity to address the problems, the suffering of millions of people around the world," said European Union Ambassador to the United Nations Joao Vale de Almeida during a press briefing. More than 125 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance globally. If this were a country, it would be the 11th largest in the world. Over 60 million are forcibly displaced, making it the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. Crises now last longer, increasing the average length of displacement to 17 years from 9 years.

However, need has surpassed capacity and resources. As of the beginning of May, almost $15 billion in appeals is unmet for crises around the world including in Nigeria, Central African Republic, and Syria. Approximately 90 percent of UN humanitarian appeals continue for more than three years.

The meeting therefore represents not only a call for action, but also an alarm to reform the increasingly strained humanitarian system.

From the recent earthquake in Ecuador to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, local communities and NGOs are often the first responders due to their proximity.

Among the summit's core responsibilities is strengthening partnerships and a multi-stakeholder process that puts affected civilians at the heart of humanitarian action.

"The current system remains largely closed, with poor connections toa widening array of actors," a summit synthesis report stated following consultations with over 23,000 representatives. "It is seen as outdated."

Senior Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute's (ODI) Humanitarian Policy Group Christina Bennett agrees, noting that humanitarian and aid structures have changed very little since it was first conceived.

"It's still a very top-down, paternalistic way of going about things," she told IPS. In an ODI report, Bennett found that the system has created an exclusive, centralised group of humanitarian donors and actors, excluding local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from participating.

In 2014, 83 percent of humanitarian funding came from donor governments in Europe and North America.

Between 2010 and 2014, UN agencies and the largest international NGOs (INGOs) received 86% of all international humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, less than two percent was directly provided to national and local NGOs.

This has prevented swift and much needed assistance on the ground.

Field Nurse for Doctor of the World's Greece chapter Sarah Collis told IPS of her time working in the Idomeni refugee camp in Greece, noting the lack of medical resources and basic items such as food and blankets.

"Distribution of blankets only happened at night because the aid agencies were worried about mass crowds," she told IPS. "This meant that single mothers and young families often had no chance," she added.

Collis also recalled that there were only two ambulances for the whole region and at times, her team often had to pile six people in an ambulance at once.

The most fast acting groups, Collis said, were the small NGOs and volunteers with direct funding sources and less red tape.

From the recent earthquake in Ecuador to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, local communities and NGOs are often the first responders due to their proximity. They also have better access to hard-to-reach areas, have familiarity with the people and cultures, and can address and reduce risk before disaster strikes.

On the other hand, larger organisations or institutions such as the UN often have difficulty conducting efficient and effective humanitarian operations.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) identified the UN as being at the "heart of the dysfunction" in the humanitarian system. They found that UNHCR's three-pronged role, as being a coordinator, implementer and donor, led to their poor performance in South Sudan, Jordan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In South Sudan's Maban county, UNHCR was reportedly slow in response and struggled to mobilise qualified staff.

Their "triple" role also made it difficult for subcontracting NGOs to share implementation challenges and for the agency itself to "admit to bigger problems or to ask for technical assistance from other UN agencies, for fear of losing out on funding or credibility." This, in turn, impacted the quality of information to make sound decision-making.

Though some funds from UN agencies and INGOs are provided to local NGOs, the relationship is more "transactional" rather than a "genuine, strategic engagement," Bennett says.

For instance, when aid is provided, it is often determined by the availability of goods and services rather than what people actually need or want on the ground.

"We don't have more of an alliancewith these organisations as equal players," Bennett told IPS.

These issues also came to a head during consultations for the World Humanitarian Summit in Geneva.

"Southern NGOs are demanding accompaniment rather than direction," Executive Director of African Development Solutions (Adeso) Degan Ali told government officials, UN representatives, and civil society. "Be prepared to be uncomfortable."

Though many acknowledge that there is an important role for INGOs and donor governments in the humanitarian system, there is an emerging understanding that such actors must shift their positions from one that is dominating to one that is enabling.

Organisations such as Oxfam and Adesso have called for the UN and large INGOs to enable local NGOs by directly providing funds. This will not only help them to prepare and improve their responses to crises, but it would also put decision making and power "where it should be," Oxfam stated.

They have also urged for a target of 20 percent of all humanitarian funding to go directly to local organisations. Already, a charter has been created to commit INGOs to these actions. Among the signatories are Oxfam, Care International and Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Despite these calls to action, Bennett told IPS that she does not believe that the World Humanitarian Summit will lead to change.

"I think it isn't something on the agenda of the World Humanitarian Summitpartially because they are hard to address and they're very political-these aren't easy wins," she said.

In order to achieve fundamental changes, donor governments and institutions with decision making power must address the underlying assumptions and power dynamics that hold the system back, Bennett remarked.

"Until they move, the system is stuck."

- IPS


Iraq humanitarian crisis `one of the world`s worst`

More than 10 million Iraqis are in need of immediate humanitarian aid, according to UN estimates.

The war against ISIL has created more than 3.4 million internally displaced people in Iraq, according to the UN

Al-Jazeera :Iraqi civilians and officials have voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in the country's western cities of Fallujah and Ramadi."The situation is deteriorating every day - the shortage of food is becoming worse," a member of the Anbar Province's security committee, Rajeh Barakat al-Issawi, told Al Jazeera. "ISIL fighters are banning all and any aid from entering the city [Fallujah]," he added.For almost two years now, Fallujah has endured a siege imposed on the city after it became the first to fall to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in January 2014.Since then, the Iraqi army has placed a near-total blockade, and ISIL has barred any civilians from leaving the city. With only a few routes remaining open, there is a serious shortage of food, medicine and fuel.Approximately 50,000 of the residents in Fallujah are at risk of starvation.Recently, the United Nations described Iraq's humanitarian crisis as "one of the world's worst", saying that more than 10 million Iraqis, making up almost a third of the population, are in need of immediate humanitarian aid. This number has doubled from last year.In a statement to the Security Council, UN Envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, warned of the potential mass displacement of an additional two million Iraqis in the coming months. He called on the international community to provide aid to those in Fallujah, whose conditions were described as alarming."The UN is deeply worried about humanitarian conditions in Fallujah in particular, which remains under ISIL control and effectively under siege. Food prices are increasingly exponentially and stocks in shops and households are running out, according to the World Food Programme (WFP) remote food security monitoring," Kubis said.The war against ISIL has created more than 3.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs), many living in camps without access to medical care, water and clothes, according to one UN official. Last February, Ramadi was fully recaptured by Iraqi forces and the United States-led coalition. The city, however, remains in dire need of assistance. Most of the houses have been destroyed, according to Ramadi residents.While locals say the situation is more manageable in Ramadi than in Fallujah, they have expressed concern over power cuts, the absence of medical facilities as well as the unexploded landmines.
Iran says pilgrims to miss Hajj after no deal with Saudi Arabia

AFP, Tehran :

Iran has failed to reach agreement with Saudi Arabia on arrangements for its pilgrims to join the annual hajj in September following the severing of ties, its culture minister said on Thursday.

An Iranian delegation held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at thrashing out a deal but with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran closed since January and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted they hit deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims."

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."

Iran has been insisting that Saudi Arabia issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since Riyadh broke off ties in January following the ransacking of its diplomatic missions by protesters after it executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Another contentious issue has been security, after a massive stampede at last year's hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians.

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.




Uthaan Boithok on drugs by NUB, DMP

Campus Report :

Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jointly organized a view exchange meeting to raise awareness among the students on drugs titled 'Uthaan Boithok' (Courtyard meeting) recently.

Prof Dr Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah, Chairman of Northern University Bangladesh Trust, was the chief guest at the meeting. Those present as special guests included Md. Abdul Ahad, Additional Police Commissioner, Gulshan Zone, DMP, Prof Dr Anwarul Karim, Pro Vice Chancellor and noted Researcher on Lalon, NUB, Anwar Hussain, Treasurer, NUB and Lt Col (Retd) Aqtedar Ahmed Siddiqui, Registrar, NUB.

In his speech, Dr Abdullah stated that in order to build a stable society and strong nation, our children must not get entangled in drug addiction and so he urged the teachers and students to work towards creating mass awareness.

In his speech, Ahad requested the students, teachers, employees and concerned authorities from the universities to provide their assistance in order to eradicate terrorism and drugs from society.

The meeting was presided by Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Police Commissioner. Also present at the programme were Deans of the various NUB programmes, heads of the departments, NUB teachers, officials and students.




Pakistan summons BD envoy



Amid diplomatic tension between Dhaka and Islamabad over war crimes trial, Pakistan authorities on Thursday

summoned acting Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Md Najmul Huda.

Bangladesh acting High Commissioner in Islamabad Md Najmul Huda was summoned at 11:30 am by

DG South Asia and Acting additional secretary of Pakistan Foreign Ministry Md Faisal, an official at the Bangladesh Mission told UNB.

Pakistan summoned the Bangladesh envoy two days after Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shuja Alam was summoned and handed over a note verbale protesting the issuance of press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan voicing concern over Supreme Court's dismissal of the review petition of war crimes convict Matiur Rahman Nizami.

In the note verbale, it was stated that by taking the side with those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the crimes of mass atrocities committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.

It is a matter of great regret that Pakistan continues to comment in the misguided defence of this convicted criminal, it said. These uncalled for reactions amount to direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, which is totally unacceptable, the note added.

It refuted Pakistan's labeling of the proceedings of the ICT-BD as 'controversial trials' and affirmed that Pakistan should in no way make biased, flawed and unfounded comments about the independent judiciary of a sovereign country. Despite Bangladesh's repeated overtures, the malicious campaign by Pakistan against the trials of the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh is on which is an impediment to bilateral relations, regrets the government of Bangladesh. The High Commissioner was told to take serious note of the points raised by Bangladesh and bring those to the attention of the competent authorities in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a media release expressing its disappointment at the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami for his crime against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971 saying, "His only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan."
BD-India to fight terrorism together

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh and India have expressed their firm determination to work together to fight counter violent extremism and terrorism, said visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday.

He came up with the remarks while talking to journalists after the bilateral meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Shahidul Haque at the State Guest House, Padma in the city.

Jaishankar said the two countries will further strengthen their existing structure and closely work together in a bid to fight against counter violent extremism and terrorism.

"I told my counterpart that I am here also to convey the government of India's strong support for the government of Bangladesh in the matter of terrorism and extremism," the Indian Foreign Secretary said.

He called terrorism and militancy a regional issue that 'directly concerns us as neighbours' and the two countries would work 'closely and bilaterally' in combating the menace.

"This is an issue which is of a direct concern to as never and we are in touch and we will work bilaterally and closely together on the matter, said the Indian Foreign Secretary.

He said during the Indian Prime Minister's Dhaka visit in June 2015, the two countries signed a number of agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), while the two foreign secretaries have reviewed the progress of those agreements.

"We have (come out with) a very good progress report . . . we really moved forward in a number of areas," he said, adding that eight of 14 commitments reached during the summit were fulfilled by now.

The Indian Foreign Secretary said that recently the two premiers had a video conference when they inaugurated broadband connections from Bangladesh to India and power supply from India's state-run Palatana plant to Bangladesh.

He said India now looked in the possibility of supplying more power to the next door neighbour with engagement of the private sector while New Delhi also reviewing possibilities to extend cooperation in energy sector as well in exporting diesel and exploring possibilities to export LPG.

"We also looked at line of credit that India offered to Bangladesh . . . I can say that we looked at the totality of our bilateral cooperation in all most every areas," Jaishankar said, pointing out that the last two months appeared 'very significant' for the progress in bilateral ties.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque told the briefing that they had discussed all aspects of bilateral relations during the talks. "As you know, we are active, dynamic and have close relationship with India," he said.

Shahidul Haque said terrorism will be fought together and for this existing mechanism between the two countries will be further strengthened.

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit India in October to attend BRICS conference. And the Prime Minister accepted the invitation in principle," he said.

India will host the eighth annual summit of BRICS from October 15-16 in Goa, in its capacity as chair of the influential bloc comprising five countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Earlier in the morning, the Indian Foreign Secretary held a meeting with a group of eminent citizens at Hotel Sonargaon.

During the meeting, he said Bangladesh and India can resolve their pending bilateral issues through maintaining good relation.

He came to Dhaka on Wednesday at the invitation of the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary and met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Youth stabbed to death in city

Relatives wailing after hearing the death news of Chhatra League activist Arif (inset) as he was stabbed to death by unidentified miscreants in city\'s Moghbazar Chairman Goli on Thursday.

An Awami League activist Arif was stabbed to death in the city's Moghazar area on Wednesday night.The deceased was identified as Arif, 20. Further details about him could not be known immediately.Sub-inspector Humayun Kabir, duty officer at Ramna Police Station, said unidentified miscreants stabbed Arif at Ambagan sometime after 10pm, leaving him injured.He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said.
AL man hurt in post-poll clashes dies

UNB, Rajshahi :An Awami League activist, who received bullet injuries in a series of clashes during vote counting after the union parishad (UP) polls at Sharundi village in Bagmara upazila on May 7, died on Thursday morning, raising the death toll in the incident to four.Montaz Ali,45, son of late Saber Ali of Sarondi village in the upazila and an activist of the local unit AL, succumbed to his injures at the Intensive Care Unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital at about 8:30 am, confirmed officer-in-charge of Bagmara Police Station Abdur Razzak. Seven people, who received injuries in the clash, including Montaz, were taking treatment under police custody at RMCH. Police filed a case making 1200 Awami League activists accused, including the seven. Earlier on May 9, another AL activist, Jahidul Islam, injured in the clash, died at the ICU of CDM Private Hospital at about 5:00 am.On May 7, two people were killed and at least 30 others, including five policemen, were injured in the clash during election. Witnesses said, followers of AL-nominated chairman candidate Jan Boksh brought out a procession in the afternoon at Sharundi village in Aushpara union. At one stage, supporters of AL rebel candidate Shahidul Islam swooped on the men of Jan Boksh around 5pm, triggering the clash.Several chases and counter chases took place during the 30-minute long melee. On information, members of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) rushed to the spot and fired gunshots to bring the situation under control. Jan Box claimed Siddiqur and Momtaz died on the spot due to the police firing.
Cross-exam on May 19

Court Correspondent :

The Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka on Thursday fixed May 19 to cross-examine complainant Harun-or-Rashid on behalf of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tareque Rahman in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamader of the court

passed the order fixing the new date after hearing on a time petition, submitted on behalf of the defence. Earlier, Advocate Sanaullah Mia filed a petition on behalf of Tareque Rahman's lawyer Barrister Fakhrul Islam that cited that Barrister Fakhrul could not appear in the court to cross-examine the complainant of the case as he was busy with some important family activities.

On April 28, Begum Khaleda Zia's council completed cross-examining Harun-or-Rashid. Besides, Advocate Sanaullah Mia appeared in the court on behalf of the BNP Chief as she could not come to the office on Thursday.

On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia, Tareque Rahman, former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, businessperson Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda Zia's former Principal Secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and former President Ziaur Rahman's nephew Momenur Rahman with Ramna Model Police Station accusing them of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore, which came as grant from a foreign bank for orphans.


Tapan, Jasim, 6 others sent to jail in Feni

Feni Correspondent :

Feni Awami League leader Khairul Bashar Tapan and Jasimuddin Buijja, accused of assaulting the UNO of Parashuram in Feni district, were sent to jail on Wednesday.

The accused earlier surrendered to a Feni Judicial Magistrate Court with bail plea. On the other hand, police submitted application for three days remand to interrogate them, but Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury rejected pleas of both the bail and the remand and sent them to jail.

Tapan is the Vice-President of Feni District Awami League and Jasimuddin is the General Secretary of Chitholia union Awami League and also Union Parishad Chairman.

On 5th May, Tapan tried to lure Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan to visit his Kindergarten when the Minister was going to Bilonia Land Port. But the UNO did not agree. At this, Tapan and his loyal activists clubbed the UNO, who has been now under medical treatment at Feni Sadar Hospital.

The other accused of the case namely councillor Abdul Mannan, Juba League leader Parvez, Rashedul Hasan, Faruk Ahmed, Nasiruddin and Taiyeb Masum were also sent to jail after Police produced them in the court.
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.
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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.

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Way before most of our alarm clocks jolt us awake, Callie Oxford is already up, preparing for her day. Its a day full of classes, activities, volunteering and service  one that probably wont end much before midnight. But that is the way the 15-year-old freshman at Harrisburg High School likes it, and its the way shes been raised.

Her schedule and her commitment to service is also why Oxford is the youngest Leaders Among Us honoree and the programs first second-generation recipient.

Ive grown up being really busy and being involved, she says. My great-grandmother, grandmother and mom all have been like that. Her mom, Amy Craig of Harrisburg, is the founder of SI Yellow Ribbon and a former Leader Among Us winner. If I am sitting still, I know that there is something that I could be doing. Theres always something to do.

Oxford says that along with her mother, her stepfather, Curt Craig, and her grandmother, Kathy Williams, urge her to be involved in the community.

My grandmother often is called a professional volunteer, she says with a laugh. Shes always doing something. She helps with my 4-H club, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, the school and more. I guess you can say volunteering is in my blood.

In 2014, Oxford launched a Pass It On initiative to challenge her classmates to share kindness and serve one another. Shes randomly left gloves and scarves around town for those who need them during cold weather and gone on mission trips with her church. Shes a member of the school bands drum line and speech team, a representative on the student council and involved in extracurricular groups outside of school. Its a wonder she even has time for school, but she must  carrying straight A's despite taking a full academic load, including every honors course offered. Shes also beginning the process of learning to drive and, this summer, will begin taking college-level classes at Southeastern Illinois College.

The goal is to graduate from SIC and high school at the same time, she says. People ask me how I do it all and thats a good question. Get up earlier and stay up later, I guess.

Her ultimate goal, she says, is law school.

Earlier in the year, Oxford was not only handling all of her coursework  Spanish, band, honors physical science, drivers education, honors English and honors Algebra II -- but also performing in her own schools play of Mary Poppins and playing the role of Tall Alice in the middle schools rendition of Alice in Wonderland.

Oxford says she tries to find time at school to do all of her homework so that shell have a chance to spend some time with her friends and, she says, shes not that different from her classmates.

I procrastinate on some things, she admits. I dont like assigned reading too much, so often I put it off until the week its due.

She never puts off helping others, though. One of her favorite service opportunities is the annual Christmas Shop with a Cop program.

The girl I assisted was more excited to get new underwear and socks for school than she was new toys, she recalls. That really hit me. I had to take a minute and realize that I am so blessed to have everything I need, and more, when there are people who cant buy basic necessities for themselves and their children.

She maintains that she wants to share that appreciation with others.

I want to show my own kids someday that they can help everyone. I want to carry on the tradition of helping. The best thing for me is getting hugs and smiles and knowing that it has made someone elses day just a little bit better. Thats why Im doing it.
To sit down and visit with Gary Hartlieb, you might tend to think you are conversing with a teenager or someone in his early 20s. Youll quickly notice the Apple Watch on his left wrist. Not far out of his reach are iPad and computing magazines, and he will probably tell you about the latest iPhone lesson he is preparing for a class he will soon be teaching. Thing is, Hartlieb is 69 years old.

Im what you call an early adopter, Hartlieb says, describing his thirst for the latest in computing products, especially those from Apple, but he wasnt always, as he describes it, Apple to the core.

I was an avid Apple hater, he recalls of his time as a English teacher at Murphysboro High School from 1969 to 1989. The interesting thing is that when microcomputers first started to be used and taught in high schools, I found it very fascinating. I was friends with the business teacher, and thats who had the school's only computer lab. I started on a TRS-80.

Hartlieb was the schools newspaper and yearbook sponsor, so the school got one for that. For Christmas in about 1985, his parents got him a Commodore 64.

I actually wrote my dissertation on that, he comments, adding that he began to think that computers were the future and he cobbled together a little computer lab. He also began teaching word processing to all of his English students. When he became Murphysboro School Districts curriculum director, a post he held for 15 years, he made technology a focus of the schools.

We really put a lot of pressure on teachers to use computers, and, by the time I retired, we had labs in every building and almost every teacher had a computer on his or her desk, he remembers.

Through it all, he remained loyal to IBM and Windows products.

After I retired, I was talking to a local computer guy when I needed a new machine, he says. He asked me what my interests were, and he talked me into a Macintosh. Within six months, I had gotten rid of every non-Apple product I had and I havent looked back.

Today he shares his love and knowledge of all things Apple with other retirees. Hes chair of the Southern Illinois Learning in Retirement organization and often teaches courses in iPhones and iPads. He also teaches similar classes for John A. Logan College.

Several of my students have told me that theyve been able to solve iPhone problems for their grandchildren, he says. The people in my classes now are pretty tech-savy. I think a lot of people in their 60s and 70s are very comfortable with technology and are very interested in keeping up.

Hartlieb is interested in keeping up, too, but not just with computing  with his community, too. Hes president of Jackson County Retired Teachers Association and served on Egyptian Area Agency for Aging. He has twice been a member of the Jackson County Board (serving as chairman for an eight-year stint beginning in 1998) and was the first chairman of the Jackson County Ambulance Committee.

From childhood on, I was always involved. I think I just do whatever strikes my fancy, he says, adding that he really enjoys his work with the Learning in Retirement program. I think we all need to learn throughout life and expand our horizons. Plus, I find the people to be very stimulating.

He does admit, however, to having a very unique role in the group.

I guess I am the resident geek, he says with a smile. Hes quick to point out that he shares his love with technology with his children and grandchildren, especially the eldest two who are now college students.

I made sure that the grandchildren all have Apple laptops when they go off to college, he says. That way, they have to call grandpa when they have a problem.

When they do call, hes sure to get the notification on his Apple Watch, just like all of the other 20-somethings.
The Anne West Lindsey District Library is partnering with Stone Soup Shakespeare Company for a free performance.

"A Comedy of Errors" will be performed Wednesday, May 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. on the librarys back patio. Shakespeare lovers of all ages are welcome. Popcorn will be provided.

The performance is free. Attendees are asked to bring one canned good or nonperishable item to be donated to the local food pantry.

 The Southern
MURPHYSBORO  A small group that formed to help support a historic city train depot seems to be stalling in its tracks.

A group operating under the Save the Depot moniker has met twice and is planning a third for Wednesday, May 18. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at 505 N. Stephen Drive, lot 87.

Murphysboro city council reverses vote on train depot demolition MURPHYSBORO  Members of the Murphysboro City Council have voted to stay a decision they mad

Group members, though, have yet to talk to the building's owner, Martin Schaldemose, about how he could or if he would want help. The group's leaders, Mitch Segler and Bradley Preiss, say they have heard from people who have spoken with Schaldemose, though, that he is not interested in their help.

Segler and Preiss  who did not know each other before an April 25 Murphysboro City Council committees' meeting  sought to form the support group afterward. They are now partnering with Allen Godwin, another local resident who created a Friends of Murphysboro GM&O Train Station group.

"Thats kind of why were in limbo, because were not sure which direction to go yet," Segler said. Segler has said he has experience in construction and could offer assistance in putting on a roof or with putting in windows on the train depot.

Restoration construction company provides second life for historic buildings CARTERVILLE  A half a dozen men are standing in front of a building, two on a scaffold as t

People concerned about the welfare of the building attended the meeting to voice their concern about the city's plans to see legal recourse to tear it down, some asking the city council to form a group to save it. Council members countered that they could not organize a group to support any efforts to save the train, and eventually those in the audience walked away with the idea to do that.

"Our hands are tied  regardless off how many people we have on board or even how much revenue or financial assistance we have, or volunteers  if he does not want to receive assistance from us," Preiss said.

The train depot was built in 1888 as part of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad line; it was later part of the Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad before the company left the line in 1977. The building was eventually bought by a group of Murphysboro businesspeople, who turned it into the first of about three restaurants, according to Jackson County historian Mike Jones.

Preiss, who said he has worked with the Historic Fairfax City, Inc., which preserves historic properties in Fairfax, Virginia, said the Save the Depot group would consider reaching out to Schaldemose again and then go back to the city council to talk about other options.

Its still a blight, its a blight right now  you have to agree with the city," Preiss said. "They just want something done to make it safe again  at least do that.

Schaldemose could not be reached Wednesday afternoon by telephone. He has said that he wanted to refurbish the depot to open as another restaurant.
SPRINGFIELD  Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to approve $700 million in stopgap funding for social service programs that havent received any state revenue in nearly a year.

In the latest sign of bipartisan progress toward ending the states budget impasse, now in its 11th month, Republicans joined the Legislatures supermajority Democrats in approving the measure despite last-minute concerns from GOP Gov. Bruce Rauners administration.

At the same time, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent Rauner and the four legislative leaders a framework for a balanced budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The proposal includes $5.4 billion in new revenue, which would be generated by raising the states personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 4.85 percent and by expanding the sales tax to some services, among other changes, according to a member of the group.

The lawmakers also outlined $2.4 billion in savings, including a $400 million reduction in Medicaid spending, about $450 million from letting the state off the hook for repaying money borrowed from special funds to plug holes in last years budget, and $750 million from pension changes Rauner has proposed.

Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who is a member of the bipartisan budget group but declined to go into detail about its work, said the conversations among lawmakers have been sometimes heated but generally productive.

Theres been a lot of progress in the last couple weeks, Rose said. Theres a long way to go.

Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, another participant who likewise declined to give details, emphasized that theres no agreement.

As they were asked to do by the legislative leaders and the governor, lawmakers were simply putting together a scenario under which the budget could be balanced, Crespo said.

Were just presenting the leaders with what they asked for, he said, noting that it will be up to them to round up the necessary votes to pass a budget plan.

In addition to lawmakers from both chambers and both parties, Rauner budget director Tim Nuding has participated in the talks.

Notably absent from the groups work has been any talk of items on Rauners pro-business, union-weakening turnaround agenda. Thats because the group was assigned to stick to the budget.

But House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said any final agreement on budgets for this year or next absolutely must include some of the reforms the governor and his party are pushing for.

Were not close to having a deal, Durkin said, adding that theres no plan at this point for a meeting of the governor, himself and the three other legislative leaders.

Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, is part of another bipartisan group of lawmakers that has been discussing the governors reform agenda, which includes changes to workers compensation laws, a property tax freeze and other items.

Talks are slow, but the commitment continues, Brady said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the social services funding measure approved Thursday as a sign of the parties continued willingness to work together.

It would authorize the use of $450 million from the commitment to human services fund, which receives dedicated revenue to support programs such as addiction treatment, autism services and rape crisis centers. Another $250 million would come from other special state funds for specific purposes such affordable housing and foreclosure prevention programs. The funding would account for about 46 percent of what the programs received last year.

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who sponsored the legislation, said it was possible to reach an agreement because it doesnt include any general revenue, which Republicans have argued the state doesnt have because its already spending more than its bringing in.

Members of both parties said they still hope to get more funding to programs for the current year.

Senators also urged their House colleagues to take up a bill that was sent over earlier this month that would free up additional money for higher education, which hadnt received any state funding until a deal was struck late last month.
MITCHELLSVILLE  Police on Wednesday located the pickup truck allegedly stolen by a Bellflower man wanted in connection with a police shooting and have intensified their search in the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area where the truck was found, an Illinois State Police commander said Thursday.

Capt. William Sons would not disclose specifically where the truck was found, but said police are confident that Dracy Clint Pendleton is or has been in the wilderness area since the search began Saturday night.

Pendleton, 35, is being sought on an arrest warrant out of Champaign County charging him with aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with a Saturday night shooting of a Mahomet police officer. The officer was reportedly shot in the arm and has been released from hospital care.

Sons said police are stepping up their search for Pendleton, adding patrols in the area.

We have information that he has been in the area. Weve had tips that we have been following up on. We have some pretty solid information from some earlier interview sightings that we are pretty confident that he is here or has been here, Sons said.

He added that police have had no contact with Pendleton and that authorities are seeking a peaceful resolution, asking that he turn himself in to police.

Authorities closed the Lusk Creek Wilderness area on Monday. It is a large, rugged landscape of more than 5,000 acres, most of it encompassing public land within the Shawnee National Forest in northern Pope County.

Sons said the area has been closed for public safety and he warned visitors to the forest outside the Lusk Creek Wilderness area to use caution and to report suspicious activity.

Pendleton is considered armed and dangerous, and police have said he may be in possession of an AK-47. On Wednesday, the FBI issued its own warrant for Pendletons arrest and is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Pendleton is reported to have survivalist skills and is familiar with the area, having lived in Pope County for at least one year in 2012, authorities have said.

During the exchange of gunfire, police believe Pendleton may have been struck in the neck and could seek medical attention. He also may walk with a limp because of a previous knee injury.

He is described as a white male, five-feet and 10-inches tall, weighing 155 pounds. He has blue eyes and blonde hair. He was last seen at about 9:15 a.m. Monday, wearing a black shirt, camouflage pants and boots. He has shaved his beard and trimmed his hair.

Sons on Thursday said police have not been able to substantiate one report that Pendleton was seen in the Rosiclare area on Tuesday.

Illinois State Police can be reached at 618-542-1483. Those who see the suspect may also call 911 or a local police agency, Sons said.
COLUMBIA  A Mexican man has been sentenced to more than 56 years in federal prison for the drug-related kidnapping of a St. Matthews man.

Ruben Ceja-Rangel and others kidnapped the man in July 2014 and held him for ransom. Officials claim the mans father owed Mexican drug dealers for 200 pounds of marijuana.

Ceja-Rangel, 59, of Groveland, Florida, was found guilty in U.S. District Court of kidnapping and six related charges, the South Carolina U.S. Attorneys Office announced Wednesday. Hell have to serve five years of supervised release once his prison sentence is over.

He was previously convicted in Texas on federal marijuana importing charges.

Officials say Ceja-Rangel conspired with Luis Castro-Villeda, 24, and Juan Fuentes-Morales, 27, to kidnap the St. Matthews man.

Pretending to be police, the men stopped the St. Matthews mans vehicle one morning as he was on his way to work, according to law enforcement.

The St. Matthews man was taken from his truck at gunpoint by Ceja-Rangel. He was blindfolded and taken to a residence near Garland, North Carolina, where he was held for several hours at gunpoint.

The St. Matthews man testified at one point he attempted to escape and that Fuentes-Morales struck him and pointed a .25-caliber gun at his head.

He was moved to Rosoboro, N.C., where he was blindfolded and chained to a workout bench.

The FBI recorded multiple phone calls with Mexican drug traffickers threatening to gouge out the St. Matthews mans eyes and ultimately kill him if his father didnt pay ransom.

The St. Matthews man was made to lie on the floor from July 9 to July 15, when an FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant at the home. Ceja-Rangel attempted to run out the back of the residence but was detained by federal officers.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, This case is the perfect example of how drug trafficking leads to violent crime and brings the real-life violence associated with Mexican drug-trafficking organizations to the United States.

The continued commitment to the war on drugs is the only way to ensure that Mexican drug-trafficking organizations know that the United States government and the FBI will do whatever it takes to ensure that lives are not lost as a result of drug trafficking and the violence associated with it.

Fuentes-Morales was found guilty of kidnapping and related charges in October. Castro-Villeda was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The Associated Press previously reported the kidnapped man was charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and faces a 20-year sentence if convicted.

The U.S. Attorneys Office could not be reached for comment on the case.

The case was initiated by the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department and was investigated by FBI agents from the Columbia Field Division and the Charlotte Field Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J.D. Rowell of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
An agreement signed Thursday will help Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College students transfer their courses to the online bachelors degree programs offered through the University of South Carolina.

OCtech students will now be able to transfer to online degree completion programs offered by USC-Columbia, USC-Aiken, USC-Beaufort and USC-Upstate.

The areas of study included in the agreement are business administration (USC-Aiken), criminal justice (USC-Upstate), elementary education (USC-Columbia), human services (USC-Beaufort), liberal studies (USC-Columbia), nursing (USC-Upstate) and organizational leadership (USC-Columbia).

In addition, an agreement has been put in place for health promotion (USC-Beaufort).

The criminal justice programs and nursing programs are already in place. The others will be effective for the fall of 2016.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on the campus of OCtech Thursday by OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin, S.C. Technical College System President Dr. James Jimmie Williamson and Palmetto College Chancellor Dr. Susan Elkins.

The Palmetto College of USC is an online bachelors completion program of the university.

The agreement was described as a perfect marriage by officials.

Tobin said the memorandum is a part of a two-year labor of love and will serve as a model for the technical college system.

He says the college has already placed a lot of emphasis on dual enrollment in an effort to get high school students ready for college before they graduate from high school.

OCtech is the first technical college in the state to roll out the agreement

This is another opportunity to show that pathway from high school to two-year to four-year to masters, Tobin said. We have created a pathway in all of our career tech programs as well as transfer pathways to create those opportunities for our students both as high school, middle college and traditional college students at this institution. It is a good marriage. I am looking forward to this relationship.

Elkins said the agreement provides greater access, flexibility and affordability for students with an associate degree to pursue their bachelors. Students will earn an associate degree prior to transferring into Palmetto College.

They can have access to this degree from anytime, anyplace, Elkins said.

Working with an advisor, students will create an academic roadmap that ensures all courses taken at OCtech will count toward their chosen field of study through Palmetto College.

The memorandum of understanding notes the three parties, express their commitment to the national goal of increasing the percentage of American citizens with university credentials.

By offering programs that are accessible, affordable and flexible, the three parties provide the citizens of the state of South Carolina with higher education opportunities for degree attainment, the memorandum states. Local citizens who attend a technical college campus can now remain local and complete their online bachelors degree conveniently in their own communities.

As new programs emerge, the parties pledge to encourage, facilitate and support new program articulation agreements, the MOU continues.

South Carolina Technical College System President James C. Williamson said the transfer agreement is modeled on a system used in Virginia in an effort to help reduce higher education regulations and mandates.

This continuum of education is really, really important and that fact that we support each other and support students that move through this continuum is really of paramount importance, Williamson said.

Williamson praised USC President Dr. Harris Pastides for helping propel the transfer program forward.
Southeast Frozen Foods, a company which provides retail distribution to grocery stores and cold storage for processors, manufacturers and distributors, is expanding its operations in Calhoun County.

This new expansion announced Thursday will result in a capital investment of $6 million and create 30 new jobs.

Were proud to announce yet another expansion and are proud to be a part of this community. Wed like to thank the Department of Commerce and Calhoun County for their continued commitment throughout this process, Southeast Frozen Foods President and CEO Rich Bauer said in a release.

This is Southeast Frozen Foods third expansion over the last eight years, representing more than $20 million in cumulative capital investments and more than 100 jobs created.

Located on 17 acres in Calhoun County, Southeast Frozen Foods distributes frozen and refrigerated foods to hundreds of retail grocery stores and provides cold storage services to processors and manufacturers of South Carolina food products.

With this project, the company will be expanding the total square footage at its facility to more than 200,000 square feet.

Hiring for the new positions is expected to begin in the summer of 2016. Those interested working at Southeast Frozen Foods team should visit the companys careers page online.

Southeast Frozen Foods commitment to both the local community in Gaston and our state as a whole is something we are extremely proud of. This investment of $6 million, and the 30 new jobs it means for Calhoun County, is a huge win for Team South Carolina, and we congratulate Southeast Frozen Foods on their continued success there, Gov. Nikki Haley said.
Its sad when the political divide is so wide that President Barack Obama cannot be praised for delivering an upbeat message in challenging young people to make the country a better place for all.

The president addressed commencement at Howard, the historically black university in Washington, D.C., this past Saturday, urging the predominantly African-American class to become civically engaged.

He told graduates the country is a better place today than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as one indicator of how attitudes have changed.

Referencing African-Americans, he said, Were no longer entertainers. Were producers, studio executives. No longer small-business owners, were CEOs. Were mayors, representatives  and someone in the crowd shouted out, President.

Im not saying gaps do not persist. Obviously, they do, Obama said. Racism persists, inequality persists.

Todays graduates are responsible for closing those gaps, he said.

America needs you to gladly, happily take up that work ... so enjoy the party, because youre going to be busy, Obama said. The work does not include attempts to silence political speech.

 Dont try to shut folks out, dont try to shut them down, no matter how much you might disagree with them. Theres been a trend around the country of trying to get colleges to disinvite speakers with a different point of view, or disrupt a politicians rally. Dont do that  no matter how ridiculous or offensive you might find the things that come out of their mouths. Because as my grandmother used to tell me, every time a fool speaks, they are just advertising their own ignorance. Let them talk. Let them talk. If you dont, you just make them a victim, and then they can avoid accountability.

He stated that young people should stand up for those less fortunate than themselves.

And that means we have to not only question the world as it is, and stand up for those African-Americans who havent been so lucky  because, yes, youve worked hard, but youve also been lucky. Thats a pet peeve of mine: People who have been successful and dont realize theyve been lucky. That God may have blessed them; it wasnt nothing you did. So dont have an attitude. But we must expand our moral imaginations to understand and empathize with all people who are struggling, not just black folks who are struggling  the refugee, the immigrant, the rural poor, the transgender person, and yes, the middle-aged white guy who you may think has all the advantages, but over the last several decades has seen his world upended by economic and cultural and technological change, and feels powerless to stop it.

So what is there not to like about the message?

Obamas foes cynically paid lip service in crediting him for espousing tolerance of political speech and for those with whom you disagree. And they also say he is wrong to equate success and luck  successful people are not successful because of luck; they are so because of hard work.

The presidents critics are finding fault where there is none.

The nation is badly in need of a message of tolerance in an increasingly volatile political season.

And failure to acknowledge good fortune in most any success story is shortsighted.

There is no better example than Obama himself. A master campaigner and capable politician, the then-Illinois senator capitalized on being in the right place at the right time to become president. Many young leaders of considerable capability never go on to become president or anything approaching such stature.

Barack Obama did not get where he is by luck alone, but he, the same as all successful people, wont shun good fortune. Give the president credit where credit is due. His message to graduates was positive and should not be painted otherwise.
WASHINGTON -- While Donald Trump and his court were further trying to explain how they would keep every Muslim away from American borders, an important event occurred across the waters that may change everything.

The good people of London in olde England, which is arguably the Western country that has had the most sobering problems with its Muslim population, has thrown care to the winds and elected Sadiq Khan as the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital city!

The handsome new mayor of the city where he was born and raised is a Labour politician and self-proclaimed feminist who supports gay marriage. Of great comfort to many English is that his website is devoted to combating radicalization and extremism in England and "empowering mainstream Muslims."

Is it possible that we are beginning to see the end of the first phase of the confrontation between East and West that has been raging for the past quarter century, but especially in the last two years as desperate Muslim refugees have swarmed over Europe?

Is it possible that the "moderate Muslims" who have been so difficult to find -- and whose voices regarding the horrors of ISIS, al-Qaida and all the other terrorists have been so silent -- might now be heard?

The "discussion" over Islam in Europe and the United States -- the Western, non-Muslim world -- has until now been so extreme at both ends that it is no wonder Europeans, Americans and other critics could hardly understand it.

It has coalesced into two alternatives that both happen to be baldly untrue. One: President Obama's "Islam is a religion of peace." And its critics: "We are at war with Islam, a religion of warfare."

If one reads even a few pages of Middle Eastern history, one has to see that Islam is both. Its history reels between great aggressions -- in its first 600 years, Islam expanded across all of North Africa -- and some magnificent accomplishments. It ruled Spain in one of the greatest periods in human history, and its universities in Baghdad and Cairo preserved Greek manuscripts when others would destroy them.

Today, large factions of Muslims, ISIS and all the others, are in major conflict mode, but certainly not for the first time. The majority of Muslims may not support these killers, but neither do they lend their voices nor their loyalties to the West.

Here is where immigration comes in. In London, with its 8.2 million people, one in eight is Muslim and many were born in another country. The fear of immigrants, and not only in England, is the "loss of civilization." And this fear is not without basis.

Islam, for whatever its good factors, holds that church and state are one. In almost all Muslim countries, there are no Christian churches and little respect for them. Therefore, out of respect for their own values and virtues, it is simply rational that non-Muslim countries should resist bringing in numbers of people from Muslim cultures who would overrun their own culture.

If Sadiq Khan can bring the voice of Islamic moderation to England -- where, in the north, Pakistani men prostituted 1,400 British girls, and others have attempted to Islamize the schools -- what a joy that will be.

A West with a small and appropriate number of Muslims, probably about 5 percent of the total population, could assimilate them and enjoy their differences without fear. A wise man at the top could accomplish this.

-----

Georgie Anne Geyer has been a foreign correspondent and commentator on international affairs for more than 40 years. She can be reached at gigi_geyer@juno.com.)
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"Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a bleeding conflict and we should not leave it to future generations, member of the State Duma of Russia, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Integration and Links with compatriots Leonid Slutsky has told AZERTAC.





He said that recent hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia showed that the problem must be solved quickly.





According to Slutsky, the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very sensitive.





Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, both my colleagues and I always apprehend the responsibility," he said adding that the conflict can be solved in the next few years.





The Russian MP pointed out that Moscow considers the format of the OSCE Minsk Group as rational and efficient for maintaining peace in the region. "But at the same time, we understand that the seven year old Madrid principles, have not been yet implemented, he said.





I am sure that the politicians are doing everything possible to promote the settlement of this conflict," Slutsky emphasized. He said that despite all the efforts of parliamentarians, heads of state and foreign ministers will always play a major role in the resolution of this complex conflict.




The US has apparently chosen not to take any significant action in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Matthew Bryza, the former US assistant secretary for South Caucasus and former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend May 11.

"It looks like the United States has decided to do nothing as the Minsk Group co-chair," added Bryza.

He noted that Russia took an active role in this process.

The US President Barack Obama didn't issue any statement at all at the moment of serious violence on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies, said Bryza.

"It looks like the US cleans the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to lead the region and this is the big mistake of the US," he added.

The former ambassador said the US could do more for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but it is not a priority for that country.

On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

"The End of the line" documentary, which was produced on the initiative of the International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA), was held at Nizami Cinema Center on May 11.

Vice president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.

Shot by the UK's Blue Marine Foundation, the film was translated into Azerbaijani through partnership with IDEA Public Union.

Rory Moore, project manager at the Blue Marine Foundation, hailed Leyla Aliyeva`s role in preserving marine fauna.

After the presentation participants of the event viewed the exhibition on the protection of marine environment.

With the aim of protecting and increasing the number of wild nature, IDEA Public Union founded in 2011 makes every effort to protect the nature for future generations.



The organization is aimed at promoting public awareness of environmental issues and action, collaboration with youth, education in the field of environmental problems and finding proper solutions for them.

IDEA identified the Caucasus Big Five project which envisages protection of five animals such as brown bear, imperial eagle, grey wolf, goitered gazelle and Caucasian leopard, considering symbols of the Caucasus and the regions main living beauty, being under threat of extinction.

IDEA and Wild World Foundation have also prepared an action plan on reintroduction of bison.



The organization has also become a network of young environmentalists from all around the globe, holding a number of conferences and meetings with the participation of international experts.








/By Azernews/

The Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles hosted an event dedicated to the 93rd birthday anniversary of Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev on May 10, 2016.

Titled Heydar Aliyev: The Founder and Architect of Modern Azerbaijan, the event was attended by Los Angeles County officials, Consular Corps members, representatives of various ethnic and religious communities, academics, as well as media reporters.

Welcoming the guests, Consul General Nasimi Aghayev spoke about the extraordinary life path of Heydar Aliyev and his outstanding role and tireless work in the preservation and strengthening of Azerbaijans independent and sovereign statehood. Highlighting the many difficult challenges the National Leader faced in preserving Azerbaijans independence and in shielding it from potential fragmentation, and how masterfully he overcame these difficulties, the Consul General said that the memory of Heydar Aliyev will always live in the hearts and minds of the Azerbaijani people.

Continuing the policies set forth by the National Leader, President Ilham Aliyev has taken many measures that have enabled Azerbaijan to undergo a tremendous transformation to become the largest political and economic power in the region and one of the most rapidly developing and modernizing countries in the world.

Following the Consul Generals remarks, Ms. Nancy Pearlman, dressed in Azerbaijani national costume, presented the premiere of one of the five documentary films on Azerbaijan that were produced by her EMMY-nominated ECONEWS Television and Radio Series.

Titled Azerbaijan: Land of Hope and Inspiration, the documentary provides information about Azerbaijans rich and colorful culture, history, traditions, architecture, beautiful regions and nature as well as tourism opportunities. The film also highlights the steady development of Azerbaijan as an independent nation, and the countrys positive multiculturalism and successful model of multi-faith tolerance and harmony, which allows for Muslims, Christians, Jews and representatives of other faiths to continue to live together in peace and mutual respect. All five films were produced with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Consulate General in Los Angeles. The premiere of the film Azerbaijan: Land of Hope and Inspiration received great ovations.

The event continued then with a photo exhibition reflecting different periods of Heydar Aliyevs life.
/By Azernews/

By Gunay Camal

The achievement of peace in the region is important for the region and will pave the way to strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Britain.

British Minister of State for Europe David Lidington made the remake in his letter, which was read out at public hearings held at the British Parliament over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azertac reports.

Lidington highlighted his concern over recent tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and casualties in recent battles, reminding that he signed the statement which called both sides to ceasefire on April 2.

Britain does not attend directly in negotiation but supports the efforts of international community and organizations such as the UN, OSCE for the solution of the conflict, the letter reads.

Britain hopes for the solution of the conflict within the framework of basic principles of Minsk Group and returning the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visited the region recently and direct consultations have been conducted with both sides. We will continue to call Azerbaijan and Armenia sides for strengthening peaceful negotiations.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan 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.

Azerbaijani MP Javansir Feyziyev, informing the British parliamentarians about the history of the conflict, reminded the division of Azerbaijan between Iran and Russia in 19th century and Armenians settlement in Azerbaijani lands after the division.

Those Armenians were mainly settled in Yerevan and Karabakh. Afterwards, Armenians made claims for the territories and occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories taking the advantage of the collapse of Soviet Union. Since that time, the conflict is a severe danger for the security and welfare, and also the obstacle for economic and social development, he said, voicing hope that the conflict will be resolved, peace will be restored and refugees and IDPs will return to their lands.

Azerbaijans ambassador Tahir Tagizade, for his part, reminded that Armenia is mono-ethnic country and Azerbaijani people became refugees and IDPs by Armenian force.

On contrary, Azerbaijan has never conducted any historical, cultural and ethnic cleaning as Armenia. The existence of the Armenian church in the center of Baku can be a good example despite continuing conflicts, he said.

The envoy further stated that the international community fails to force Armenia to peaceful solution of the conflict. The clashes occur in internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian provocations. It is our natural right to defend our internationally recognized territories and answer the threats against our sovereignty.

The silence of the international community to Armenias unfair behaviors leads to Armenias insistence on its unconstructive position. In April war, Armenia not only violated the ceasefire constantly, but also started to shoot the civilians. During the 4-day war, we did not intend to get strategic altitude and we made this step for the safety of civilians, he said.

The ambassador applauded fair position of Britain in the conflict, urging the UK and other countries to play a bigger role in the resolution of the conflict considering their historical relations with the region.

Armenia needs to understand that they cannot accomplish anything by violence and force. Restoration of peace and sovereignty, commerce and economic development as well as establishment of well-grounded relations is related to this, he concluded.

Long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared again on April 2 when the Armenian side began to shell the Azerbaijani positions and settlements along the frontline. To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and repulsed the enemy forces back. On April 5, the two sides agreed on a ceasefire. However, the Armenian forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline almost every day targeting civilians and shelling villages.

Baku has already announced that the ceasefire does not mean that Azerbaijans occupied lands will remain under occupation. Azerbaijan has agreed to ceasefire but warned that it will not turn blind eye if Armenian side commits provocation. Baku is ready for peace and sits at the table of negations, but it will not tolerate the endless occupation of its historical lands.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by head of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation Ramazan Abdulatipov.





On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and his own behalf, the head of state thanked Ramazan Abdulatipov and the brotherly people of Dagestan for their respect for the memory of outstanding statesman and public figure Aziz Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev praised the unveiling of the statue of Aziz Aliyev in Makhachkala yesterday, and highly appreciated the relevant decision of the head of the Republic of Dagestan. The President said a large Azerbaijani delegation attended the unveiling ceremony. President Ilham Aliyev thanked Ramazan Abdulatipov for warm and sincere words about national leader Heydar Aliyev, Aziz Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan during his speech at the ceremony. The President noted that Aziz Aliyev was an outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan and Dagestan. The head of state said that he was twice as happy as the head of state and, at the same time, a grandchild of Aziz Aliyev that the people of Dagestan always respected and paid tribute to Aziz Aliyev and highly appreciated what he had done for the development of Dagestan and strengthening of relations between our peoples. President Ilham Aliyev said such good traditions were among significant factors in the development of the bilateral ties between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan and cooperation between Dagestan ad Azerbaijan.





President Ilham Aliyev hailed the fact that the head of the Republic of Dagestan was the editor of Aziz Aliyev and Dagestan book, and thanked him for finding time to write a book about Aziz Aliyev, for good words about him in the book, and for highlighting Aziz Aliyev`s services to Dagestan and Azerbaijan and his activities during the years of the Great Patriotic War.





The head of state said the days of culture of Dagestan start today in Azerbaijan, describing this as a significant event for our country. Dagestan always was and will be a native land for us, where our brothers with whom we have historic ties, live, the head of state said. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan-Dagestan brotherhood played a vital role in the development of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which the two countries regard as strategic. The head of state said Azerbaijan was greatly satisfied with ongoing development processes, stable public and political situation in Dagestan under the leadership of Ramazan Abdulatipov, and extended his congratulations on significant accomplishments.

Ramazan Abdulatipov thanked the President of Azerbaijan for warm words and his attention to the issues of cooperation with Dagestan.





The head of the Republic of Dagestan said: The foundations of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan were laid by our national leaders Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin. Today, as the leader of the modern Azerbaijan, you continue the policy of developing our relations, which are based on strategic cooperation. Vladimir Putin emphasized the role of inter-regional cooperation in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani ties back in 2001. My visit is based on that stance, and we develop our cooperation with Azerbaijan. Yesterday we celebrated the unveiling of the statue of outstanding statesman of Russia, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Dagestan Aziz Aliyev. Aziz Aliyev had repeatedly said that we were a single nation. Indeed, our historic ties, thousands of years old, have common roots, similar cultures and traditions. At the same time, we have been bound together with the Russian people for more than 200 years.





Ramazan Abdulatipov recalled his previous meetings with President Ilham Aliyev, and emphasized the importance of the head of state`s position on the Russian language and culture.





During the meeting they exchanged views over different areas of cooperation.




To date, Turkey hasn't received 3 billion euros from the European Union (EU) to upkeep the Syrian refugees, Turkey's Presidential Administration told Trend May 11.

Instead of allocating the promised funds, the EU demands from Ankara to implement new social projects for Syrian refugees in Turkey, said the presidential administration.

The country has already spent around $10 billion to upkeep the Syrian refugees, said the presidential administration.

Earlier, Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir said that by late February, Ankara will get 3 billion euros allocated by the EU to upkeep the Syrian refugees in Turkey.

At present, over 2 million Syrian refugees are in Turkey. The Syrian refugee camps in the country accommodate about 300,000 people. The rest of them are spread throughout the provinces and cities of Turkey. In Istanbul alone, there are currently 40,000 refugees from Syria.
Iran's Mesbah satellite is ready to be launched into the orbit, an Iranian official said.

Mohsen Bahrami, the head of Iran Space Organization has said that the country is planning to build new sattlites dubbed "Mesbah 2" and "Nahid", Tasnim news agency reported.

Mesbah satellite weighs 75 kilograms and is designed to circle the Earth 14 times a day. The satellite was never launched as both Russia and Italy refused to cooperate with Iran on space projects.

Mesbah cost Iran about 100 trillion rials (about $4 million) to be built.

Earlier in January, Mahmoud Vaezi, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology announced that building a communication satellite and a remote satellite were on the country's agenda.
/By Azernews/

By Nigar Abbasova

Turkmenistan has launched large scale projects to ameliorate ecological environment of Aral Sea region.

The country has allocated considerable funds for the environmental improvement of Aral Sea adjacent area. The Turkmen government has already implemented several projects on the improvement of water supply, planting and land amelioration as well as cleaning-up of lands from groundwater.

One of the main steps taken by the government for the solution of Aral Sea ecological problem is the construction of artificial Altyn Asyr Lake (Golden Age). The construction of the water development facility provided the possibility of dump termination of mineralized drainage water to Amu Darya.

Formerly Aral Sea was one of the four largest lakes in the world getting one fifth of its water supply through rainfall, while the rest was provided by the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Water level in the Aral Sea began to decrease drastically starting from 1960s following the Soviet government's decision to divert the two principal rivers which feed the Aral, the Amou-Daria and the Syr-Daria and construct irrigation canals in order to boost cotton production.

The disaster is complicated by the imbalance between rainfall in the region and the high evaporation rate. So far, water volume in the Aral Sea has declined by over 13 times.

The Aral Sea crisis led to dire consequences for the countries of the region. With the drying of the sea, fishery and the communities that depended on them also collapsed. The increasingly salty water became polluted with fertilizer and pesticides and caused serious threads to the health of the region's population. The loss of the moderating factor of the sea also drastically influenced the climate of the region making winters colder and summers hotter and drier.

The Aral problem has also affected the north of Turkmenistan, in particular, Dashoguz region, where serious problems occurred associated with providing the population with clean drinking water.

Central Asian countries are continuously taking bids in order to mitigate the consequences of Aral Sea crisis.

The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was established in 1990 aiming at financing joint projects stipulated by Central Asian countries to save the Aral Sea and improve the ecological situation in the region.

In 1994, Central Asian countries adopted the Aral Sea Basin Program to develop new approaches in stabilizing the environment of the Aral Sea Basin, rehabilitating the disaster area around the sea, and creating different institution concerned in advancement of programs aims.

The current environmental situation in the Aral Sea region remains one of the most important global problems that affects the whole territory of Central Asia. Experts say that the ecological crisis is a real threat to the environment, flora and fauna, health of population in the Aral Sea region.
Bahrain's Bank ABC is set to appoint Christopher Wilmot to head its treasury department, sources aware of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.



Wilmot will start at the Bahraini lender next month, according to two of the sources, with one saying his title would be group head of treasury and financial markets.



The current group treasurer at Bank ABC, John Eldredge, will retire later this year, the two sources said.



Bank ABC was not immediately available to comment.



Wilmot, who had a brief stint at Bank ABC in 1999-2000 according to his LinkedIn page, resigned from First Gulf Bank after four-and-a-half years with the Abu Dhabi-based lender, it confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday. - Reuters
Leading real estate expert JLL said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry to improve transparency in the regions residential, retail, office and hospitality real estate market.



As an independent consultant, JLL will assist the Damman-based chamber to improve the quality and accuracy of data being collected and shared in the market by collaborating directly with major retailers, developers, hoteliers and government bodies, said Jamil Ghaznawi, the national director and country head of JLL Saudi Arabia, after signing the agreement with Ali Mohsen, the head of Eijad Holding and member of the chamber's Housing and Urban Development Committee.



"This MoU is part of a series of JLL Saudi initiatives to support greater real estate market transparency across the kingdom. Such collaborative initiatives will enable stakeholders to gain valuable insights in regards to market sentiment and challenges," remarked Ghaznawi.



"We are hopeful that this initiative will aid decision-making processes and contribute towards the economic development of the Province," he added.



According to Mohsen, the Dammam chamber's committee was formed from a group of leading developers in the Eastern Province who took it upon themselves to support initiatives that promote transparency and accessibility of information as this has a positive impact on the economy in general, particularly the real estate development sector.



"JLL is one of the first entities that aligned its vision with us and given its experience and excellence in real estate reporting, we are confident that this report will be a good addition contributing to the maturing of the market and determining its direction," he added.



Ghaznawi said it was encouraging to note that the recently announced Saudi Vision 2030 indicates a greater emphasis on market transparency.



"We believe our existing partnerships with King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and now with the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry will together form a strong foundation towards creating an environment for greater transparency in the kingdoms real estate market," noted the official.



"Going forward, JLL would look at partnering with more stakeholders and further enhance our transparency drive in the Saudi real estate market," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has witnessed a year-on-year growth in the recruitment of nurses as Dubais health care sector expands.

Fouad Chehab, director of nursing at Dubai hospital and chairperson of directors of nursing forum at the DHA, said: Over the last few years, 500 to 800 nurses are appointed every year. The DHA recognises the value of nurses in the health sector, in many ways they are the backbone of the health sector and therefore we have very clear recruitment strategies as well as defined career-growth pathways for nurses.

As per march 2016, the number of nurses at DHAs health facilities (five hospitals and 15 health centres) was 4,874 and the nurses are from over 20 countries.

The Dubai Health Authority organises at least two overseas recruitment trips each year and, once recruited, the nurses have several options to pursue further training programmes to seek specialisations as well as defined career paths. In 2015, the DHA promoted 1000 nurses and has provided fast-track growth path to exceptional nursing staff. This is one of the reasons our turnover rate is much lower than international standards, added Chehab.

Chehab also highlighted that the DHA provides several programmes to promote recruitment and retention of Emirati nurses. In the UAE, the number of Emirati nurses is been steadily increasing to a number of training colleges and thanks to the active role played by various health authorities across the UAE to promote and develop this field.

At the DHA we have fast-track career path options for Emirati nurses. They are also given scholarship to pursue higher studies in nursing, previously they needed to go abroad but now several colleges are available within the country itself, Chehab concluded. -TradeArabia News Service
Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) have signed a basic agreement to form a far-reaching strategic alliance between the two Japanese automakers.



Following an MMC share issue, Nissan will take a 34 per cent equity stake in MMC for 237 billion yen ($2.18 billion).



The strategic alliance will extend an existing partnership between Nissan and MMC, under which the two companies have jointly collaborated for the past five years.



Nissan and MMC have agreed to cooperate in areas including purchasing, common vehicle platforms, technology-sharing, joint plant utilization and growth markets, said a statement.



Carlos Ghosn, chief executive and president of Nissan, said: This is a breakthrough transaction and a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. It creates a dynamic new force in the automotive industry that will cooperate intensively, and generate sizeable synergies. We will be the largest shareholder of MMC, respecting their brand, their history and boosting their growth prospects. We will support MMC as they address their challenges and welcome them as the newest member of our enlarged Alliance family.



Osamu Masuko, chairman of the board and chief executive of MMC, said: Through its long history of successful partnerships Nissan Motor has developed a deep knowledge of maximizing the benefits from alliance partnerships. This agreement will create long term value needed for our two companies to progress towards the future. We will achieve long term value through deepening our strategic partnership including sharing resources such as development, as well as joint procurement.



Under the terms of the transaction, Nissan will purchase 506.6 million newly-issued MMC shares at a price of 468.52 yen per share. The price per share reflects the volume weighted average price over the period between April 21, 2016 and including May 11, 2016. Nissan will become the largest shareholder of MMC on closing, the statement said.



MMC and Nissan expect Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation and The Bank of Tokyo  Mitsubishi UFJ to maintain a significant collective ownership stake in Mitsubishi Motors, and to support the strategic alliance.



The transaction is subject to the signing of a definitive Alliance Agreement, expected by the end of May, 2016, the signing of a shareholders agreement with the current Mitsubishi Group shareholders of MMC and regulatory approvals. It is expected to close by the end of the year, it said.



The decision by Nissan to acquire a strategic stake in MMC marks the latest expansion of its Alliance model, built around a 17-year cross shareholding arrangement with Renault. Nissan has also acquired stakes or signed partnerships with other automotive groups including Daimler, and AvtoVaz.



On closing, MMC will propose Nissan nominees as board directors in proportion to Nissans voting rights, including a Nissan nominee to become chairman of the board, it said.



Reuters adds: Mitsubishi is weathering its third major scandal in under two decades after admitting it overstated the fuel economy of at least four of its models - mini cars sold in Japan, including two sold under Nissan's badge.



That admission has badly hit Mitsubishi, wiping $3 billion off its value and bruising a brand already losing market share.



"With little prospect of growth in the domestic car market, Nissan probably wants to get more involved in smaller vehicles given expectations of a surge in emerging markets and elsewhere," said Kiyoshi Yamanaka at T&D Asset Management.



"But taking a one-third stake feels a bit like a half-measure. The key will be how well Nissan is able to exert control over Mitsubishi Motors' governance and repair its damaged brand value." - TradeArabia News Service and Reuters
A new initiative aiming to drive the competitiveness of local precision engineering companies by developing their capabilities was launched at the recently held Precision Engineering Centre of Innovation (PE COI) Annual Conference in Singapore.



The A*STAR Collaborative Commerce Marketplace (ACCM) will encourage business collaborations and interactions between multi-national corporations (MNCs), small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) research institutes, and institutes of higher learning, a statement said.



The event was organised by A*STAR's Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), in collaboration with the Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association (SPETA).



The ACCM e-portal highlights the capabilities of local SMEs, so MNCs can easily source for prospective suppliers in Singapore. The platform also allows SMEs to gain insights to the needs of MNCs. Through this network, companies with similar interests can better connect with each other, and to A*STAR research institutes or universities that can help them bridge technology gaps. The ACCM is open to all government agencies, suppliers and industry partners.



A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SIMTech and SPETA also allows the associations members to accelerate and scale-up their adoption of technology. Through this collaboration, SPETA members can benefit from SIMTechs expertise in technology road-mapping and capabilities upgrading.



Members would also benefit from SIMTechs Manufacturing R&D Certificate Programme, and Singapore Workforce Development Agency funded courses offered by SIMTech. They would also gain access to SIMTechs state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, potentially reducing capital-intensive investments in equipment.



Dr Lim Ser Yong, executive director of SIMTech said: With the fast changing manufacturing landscape, the alliance with SPETA enables large-scale building of future-ready capabilities for PE companies to stay relevant. With its vast pool of member companies constantly looking for opportunities to grow their businesses, SPETA is an ideal platform for fast and mass adoption of technologies by local PE manufacturing companies to upgrade their competencies and capabilities. SIMTech is forging more of such partnerships with other trade associations to reach out to more companies in other manufacturing sectors.



Jeremy Fong, chairman of SPETA, said, For many years, SPETA has worked with SIMTech to support local Precision Engineering companies. To further help local companies retain and improve their positions in this competitive global industry, SPETA and SIMTech have found new areas for collaboration. Today's MOU signing marks a significant milestone, cementing an elevated partnership where both SPETA and SIMTech can leverage on each others strengths to reach out and help local SMEs upgrade and venture into high value-added sectors.



A joint R&D collaboration between SIMTech and Applied Materials, Inc. has also been created to develop key technologies in additive manufacturing.



The partnership aims to enable metal 3D printing of parts that can function in rigorous operating environments, such as semiconductor manufacturing. The collaboration combines Applied Materials leading expertise in materials engineering and manufacturing with SIMTechs additive manufacturing technology competencies, strong pre- and post-processing capabilities and infrastructure to support additive manufacturing projects.



Russell Tham, corporate vice president and regional president South East Asia, Applied Materials said: Applied Materials is well-positioned to contribute towards the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies. We are pleased to have had successful partnerships with A*STAR and its various institutes and we are excited to embark on this new partnership with SIMTech. Together, we look forward to innovating and creating value through new technologies that can strengthen Singapores competencies in this growing market.



To grow additive manufacturing capabilities among SMEs, SIMTech also signed an MOU with five SMEs under a new additive manufacturing Collaborative Industry Project (CIP) initiative. This will enable participating SMEs to tap into SIMTechs additive manufacturing expertise and facilities to accelerate their adoption of additive manufacturing technology.



It also equips the companies with capabilities to venture into new manufacturing sectors and become qualified suppliers, creating a healthy local eco-system for high value manufacturing.  TradeArabia News Service
Global ICT solutions provider Huawei was recently named the Best 5G Innovator at the inaugural LTE & 5G Mena Awards held in Dubai.

Commenting on the win, Sun Xiaofeng, vice president of solution sales and marketing for Huawei in the Middle East, said: We are excited by the award and this reflects our commitment and belief in the region. As the region continues to harness the potential of LTE and expand its networks, Huawei has proven to be one of the leading innovators in the regions mobile broadband market. With ambitious mobile broadband plans already underway, we believe that the Middle East will help lead the development of 5G globally and Huawei certainly plans to help facilitate that development.

Huawei also recently sponsored the LTE Mena conference where the companys president of wireless network marketing, Margret Hu, gave the opening speech.

Hu provided a mobile broadband blueprint for the next five years, saying: MBB development will make "Everything on Mobile" a reality. To realise this vision however, we must develop and unify cross-industry standards, contain costs, and promote cooperation among different stakeholders. These three factors will help drive growth in this market.

From now until 2020, we have three main targets globally: supporting 6.7 billion mobile broadband users, supporting a 1Gbps access rate, and supporting 1 billion connections for the cellular Internet of Things. In the region in particular, we believe that the emergence of a fully-connected world with boundless possibilities is imminent. Achieving these goals will most certainly require technology, business model innovation as well as cross-industry collaboration, she added.

More than 600 experts from the global ICT industry convened at the conference to discuss mobile broadband and other emerging technologies. Huawei partnered with telecom operators, analysts, regulators, and a host of other technology pioneers to put the Mena region at the forefront of todays connected world and map out the future road to 5G. TradeArabia News Service
Emirates Auction, a Dubai-based leading auction company in the Middle East, has announced that it will hold a series of electronic auctions this month for distinct car plate numbers registered in Ras Al Khaimah.



This development makes the company the first auction house to organise an electronic public bidding for distinct car plate numbers in the emirate.



Accessible also via Emirates Auctions smart application until 4:30 pm on Saturday (May 14), the electronic auctions will take place to sell distinct plate numbers.



Eng Yahya Jaber Al Shamsi, acting director general of General Resources Authority at Ras Al Khaimah, underscored the importance of utilising an electronic platform to facilitate the purchase and acquisition of distinct car plate numbers.

Al Shamsi added: The public biddings are our first fruitful cooperation with Emirates Auction in line with our efforts to provide quality services to our customers. In keeping with this commitment, we apply the best international practices and highest excellence and innovation standards. We look forward to organising similar initiatives in the future in our bid to set new standards of excellence in terms auctioning off unique car plate numbers in Ras Al Khaimah.



Abdulla Matar Al Mannai, executive director, Emirates Auction, said: Our collaboration also reflects our commitment at Emirates Auction to provide outstanding solutions and cutting-edge services in the domain of electronic auction. We are confident that this initiative will gain remarkable response in light of the growing trend among customers to tap smart applications for their transactions. We look forward to further reinforcing our strategic partnership with the Authority of Public Resources at Ras Al Khaimah in line with our common goal of efficiently addressing the needs and requirements of our customers in the emirate. - TradeArabia News Service


Luxury hospitality brand CampbellGray Hotels has announced the launch of a new property in Amman, Jordan, developed by Al Seraje Real Estate.



The launch of the Campbell Gray Living  Amman was marked by an exclusive event hosted by Gordon Campbell Gray, CEO of CampbellGray Hotels, at the Capital Club Dubai on yesterday (May 11).



Located in Abdali, Ammans new downtown, Campbell Gray Living includes residences, offices, boutiques, and a five-star hotel and is set to introduce a new level of luxury living to the city.



The private residences offer exquisite one, two and three-bedroom apartments designed by Martin Brundnizki Design Studio. Residents can enjoy luxury amenities such as a rooftop pool with private cabanas, 24-hour security, and five-star-hotel concierge and maintenance services.



The offices, which include office space both to rent and to buy as well as serviced offices, benefit from state-of-the-art meeting rooms, an independent reception lobby, dedicated underground parking, building management and more. The serviced offices will allow businesses to work efficiently and creatively in a space that has been designed and is completely managed and maintained for a hassle-free working environment.



Hosting a unique mix of exciting boutiques, cafes and restaurants, Campbell Gray Living has over 4,200-sq-m of exclusive premium retail space that will transform the luxury lifestyle scene in Amman

The development also includes the five-star hotel, Campbell Gray Amman, which comes as an addition to Campbell Gray Hotels.



The hotel will be completed in 2018, and will offer 180 guest rooms and suites, as well as an extensive array of amenities and facilities. These include an exclusive rooftop pool, restaurant, bar and terrace, a spa with an indoor swimming pool, a ballroom, various meeting rooms with state of the art business facilities and a private cinema.



Gray said: Campbell Gray Living, Amman is an exciting and vibrant addition to Amman and I am very much looking forward to the completion of this complex project. It is being created and built to the highest possible standards and the Audeh Group and I want it to be one of the most exciting focal points for both business and social life in Amman.



The offices and residences are available to GCC national, expats and investors.



Other regional openings metioned included a 48-room 'edgy' boutique hotel in Bahrain and the re-opening of the Phoenicia Hotel in Malta. - TradeArabia News Service


Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, has launched its second property in Saudi Arabia with the opening of the five-star Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana in Riyadh.



With its contemporary design, the hotel offers 236 rooms and suites spread over eight floors ranging from classic rooms to royal suites in addition to the Club Rotana, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of the business traveller.



Centrally located on the fashionable Olaya Street, Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana is surrounded by shopping districts and is only a short 20-minute drive from Riyadh International Airport.



The hotel offers luxurious restaurants and lounges, each with its own unique style; ensuring guests enjoy an exquisite dining experience. With its multi-functional venues, inclusive of nine meeting rooms and a spacious ballroom, Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana is fully equipped to host events ranging from lavish weddings to major conferences and exhibitions.



For those looking to stay fit while on vacation or a business visit, the hotel's Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club offers a full range of cardiovascular equipment and a free weight training area as well as sessions with a personal trainer upon request. Additionally, guests may relax and rejuvenate with the available expert massage therapists, sauna and steam rooms.



Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana also incorporates exclusive fully furnished offices which are available for rent. - TradeArabia News Service


Suppliers and buyers from all over the world will gather in Penang, Malaysia, next week for the inaugural WTM Connect Asia.



From May 18 to 20, international exhibitors will meet with Chinese, South East Asian and International Hosted Buyers at the Straits Quay Convention Centre for three days of pure networking and business.



The exhibitor line-up will bring together some key industry players including Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Visit Berlin, Philippines Tourism Promotions Board, Ministry of Tourism Indonesia, Marriott Vacation Club International, Cox & Kings and Tourico Holidays, among others.



Featuring a new pod format, the event will be focused on pre-scheduled business appointments, and filling up exhibitor and Hosted Buyer diaries before they even arrive to the event.



The event will also feature an inspirational forum where Azran Osman Rani, Ex CEO of AirAsia X and Indian-Nepali Sherpa Everest climber Jamling Tenzing Norgay will be sharing their unique life changing stories with the audience.



Charlie Cracknell, senior exhibition director of WTM Connect Asia, said: Im really pleased with the exhibitors and buyers we have coming to Penang next week. With such a strong group of people, the innovative new pod format and the incredible number of appointments set to take place, Im sure WTM Connect Asia will deliver great results for everyone involved.



Datuk Seri, director general of Tourism Malaysia, added: We are very excited and proud that Malaysia has been chosen to host the inaugural edition of WTM Connect Asia. It marks WTMs entry into South East Asia, and we are proud to collaborate on this together to pave the way for this event to take place here. This is a one-stop platform bringing together professionals from the tourism industry, it will certainly be a gathering not to be missed in one of Malaysias culturally vibrant cities." - TradeArabia News Service


Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
Linn Energy, one of Wyomings largest natural gas producers, on Wednesday joined the growing ranks of exploration and production firms to file for bankruptcy protection.

The move was long expected and followed months of negotiations with the companys creditors and investors. In a release Wednesday, Linn said the bankruptcy filing was part of an agreement with the companys creditors.

The Houston-based firm will receive a $2.2 billion credit line in exchange for lenders support for its restructuring plan and, for some, a stake in the reorganized company.

Like many others in our industry, Linn has been impacted by continued low commodity prices, Linn President and CEO Mark Ellis said in a statement. We believe that these steps will provide us the financial flexibility to successfully manage in the current commodity price environment and, when combined with constructive agreements with our remaining creditors and potential third-party financing, will provide a platform for future growth.

He said normal operations would continue as the company attempts to rework its debts.

Linn Energy was Wyomings ninth-largest natural gas producer in 2015. Its Cowboy State operations are largely located in the gas fields south of Pinedale.

Linn follows fellow Wyoming gas producers Ultra Petroleum and Escalera Resources into Chapter 11. Samson Resources, a major oil producer in the state, has also filed for bankruptcy protection.

In filing for bankruptcy protection, Linn becomes the latest in a growing list of companies to suffer from acquisitions made during the boom years.

Linn bought Berry Petroleum for $2.5 billion in 2013, in a deal that saddled Linn with Berrys debts. The transaction was valued at $4.3 billion counting Berrys debts.

The Houston company continued its series of acquisitions into 2014, when Linn announced it had purchased $2.3 billion in assets from Devon Energy.

Those deals came back to haunt the company following the collapse of oil and gas prices. Linn ended 2015 with $5.3 billion in long-term debt. The companys total liabilities ($9.97 billion) dwarfed its assets ($1.56 billion), according to financial filings.

The companys bankruptcy is complicated by the fact that it is taxed as a master limited partnership. MLPs, as they are often called, distribute income to investors and do not pay corporate income taxes.

But the companys corporate structure also comes with a downside for investors. Stockholders would be held responsible for a cancellation of the companys debts in bankruptcy, resulting in a large tax bill for Linn shareholders.

In April, Linn announced it had completed an exchange designed to relieve shareholders of that burden. The company said 29 percent of outstanding shares in Linn Energy were traded for stock in sister company Linn Co., which is taxed as a corporation. Linn Co. also filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday.
DOUGLAS  A group of lawmakers, accusing wind farms of seeking to shut down the coal industry, drummed up proposals Wednesday to increase taxes on the renewable energy source to raise money for education.

There are 21 wind farms across Wyoming that on a blustery day can produce 1,412 megawatts of power, and a handful of additional projects in the works. But much of the discussion during the Legislatures Joint Revenue Committee meeting at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds was on how the industry has allegedly contributed to the decline of coal.

In Wyoming, money that pays for school construction and major maintenance comes from an account that is mostly funded through payments made by coal companies when they lease federal land for mining. Coal prices have been down for years, and the account is drying up. Lawmakers discussed scenarios by which wind revenues could flow into the account.

Thats why its a logical tax, said Rep. Mike Madden, a chairman of the Revenue committee. Its too bad we dont have more turbines now.

The committee ultimately ordered its nonpartisan staff to draft two bills that would increase taxes on wind. One would increase the tax per megawatt hour of wind produced in Wyoming. The current tax is a dollar per megawatt hour. The actual amount of the change would be decided by the committee later.

The second bill that will be drafted would require wind companies to fork over a portion of the federal production tax credit they receive from the federal government  perhaps as much as $12 per megawatt hour. But the exact amount would also be decided later.

Wind energy industry representatives told the committee in person and in written communications that increased taxes might prevent development of the industry in Wyoming. That didnt seem to deter lawmakers.

If it kills a project, it kills a project, said Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower.

Jim Willox, a Converse County commissioner, said his county receives necessary revenue from the industry. He disagreed with a study by the Legislatures nonpartisan staff that compared taxes of coal and natural gas to wind and found wind pays much less. Coal and natural gas must pay severance taxes, because theyre removing a non-renewable product from the ground that future generations will not be able to access. Wind is renewable, he said.

Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, disagreed, arguing that wind turbines destroyed viewsheds for up to 200 years, a much longer time than mines and drilling rigs.

With wind, that viewshed is lost forever, he said. It is severed.

Rep. Sue Wilson, R-Cheyenne, suggested the committee should consider taxes for acreage that wind farms occupy. However, that concept failed to gain traction at the meeting.

Jody Levin, a lobbyist who represents Rocky Mountain Power, said company officials would be happy to discuss the issue with lawmakers at the next Revenue meeting.

Wyoming already has the highest wind tax in the nation, she said.

About 40 people attended the discussion. Many of them were fossil fuel lobbyists.
Thursday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A St.; Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 5:30 p.m., 456 S. Walnut; 6 p.m., Douglas, Congregational United Church of Christ, 405 N. 6th St.; 7 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley, public welcome; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 7 p.m., Edgerton, 763 Center St.; 7:30 p.m., Douglas, 628 E. Richards; 8 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4600 S. Poplar; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech St.; 8 p.., 328 E. A St., Faith. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: 307-351-1688.

Al-Anon: 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 7:30 p.m., 328 1/2 E. A (upstairs).

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Muni ladies golf

Pairings for Thursday, playing Highlands and Links with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Please check in 15 minutes prior to tee time. Highlands #1, McCarrel, Pfiefer, Sanford; Links #9A, Bain, Marsh, Fancher; Links #9B, Meyer, Schmidt, Pingel; Links #8A, Wheatley, Webb, Hill; Links #8B, Boyle, Dressor, Foster; Links #7A, Haydel, Farmer. For changes or additions, please call the pro shop at 233-6620.

Liz Cheney speaks at Five Trails

The Five Trails Rotary Club will hear from Liz Cheney at noon at the Casper Petroleum Club. Community members are welcome.

If you or someone you know of would like to present at a future Five Trails Rotary Club meeting, please contact Brian McCash at 259-3444.

Muni band auditions

Casper Municipal Band auditions will be held Thursday for the following positions: French horn, tuba, clarinet. Concert season runs June 9 through August 4. Rehearsals are every Tuesday and Thursday evening beginning May 17. Excellent sight reading skills are essential. Those interested, please call for additional information, 234-2453.

Animal House at Werner

Moles, Voles, Rats and Bats will be the topic for the May edition of Animal House at 4 p.m. at the Werner Wildlife Museum.

Animal House is free and open to the public and takes place in the Wyoming Room of the Werner Wildlife Museum, 405 E. 15th St. For more information, contact the museum at 235-2108.

Craig Johnson at Knowledge Nook

Craig Johnson, author of the Wyoming-based Longmire mystery novels, now a hit Netflix series, will be in Casper at 4 p.m., at The Knowledge Nook in Sunrise Shopping Center. He will be signing copies of the newest edition in his Longmire series, The Highwayman. The Knowledge Nook will hold customers books until May 17, the books release date, and then the pre-purchased copies can be picked up at store.

Craig Johnson at library

The Natrona County Library will host author Craig Johnson at 6 p.m. in the Crawford Room. The talk is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, available on a first come, first served basis. Copies of Johnsons books will be available for purchase, which he will sign following his talk. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.

UW-Casper

commencement

University of Wyoming-Casper will confer degrees on 87 graduates participating in commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. at the Casper Events Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Spring open house at St. Anthony

Discover the possibilities of what a faith-based education can do for your child. Please visit St. Anthony School for the spring open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at 1145 W. 20th St. St. Anthony School provides exceptional education for preschool through 8th grade students. If you have questions, please call the office at 234-2873.

Beekeepers meet

Thinking about becoming a beekeeper? Or do you already have hives? Stop by to learn more about bees and beekeeping. Natrona County Beekeepers Association will meet at 7 p.m. in Strausner Hall, room 207, at Casper College.

Cans for Hats

Joshuas Storehouse is giving out hats to people who donate a pound of aluminum cans (105 cans). Donors may choose from a selection of hats. Most of the hats range from $12 to $25 in value. Joshuas will then trade the cans for milk for children.

The Cans for Hats exchange will take place daily through Friday. The southwest bay door at 334 S. Wolcott is where the exchange will take place. This is a Milk For Minors Program. Call 265-0242 for more information.
The future of Caspers downtown has been a frequent topic in City Hall recently. That fact remained true this week.

Local leaders repeatedly emphasized that one of the Casper City Councils main goals was developing the citys downtown. If that meant limiting a new retail liquor license to the area, so be it.

The City Council was nearly split Tuesday night as they discussed how to use a new liquor license the city received from the state. City staff members recommended that the Council agree to limit the location of the license, keeping it near Caspers downtown core. Enough of the council members were eventually swayed and agreed to the restriction.

City attorney Bill Luben said tying the license to a specific location can spur development in portions of the community. If someone sells the business or moves, that retail liquor license is tied to that same location, Luben said.

You dont have very many economic development tools in your bag under Wyoming law, Luben said to the Council. This is one that you do have.

The city made a similar decision in 2014 when they limited the liquor license given to Urban Bottle Wine and Spirits. The license was restricted to 319 West Midwest Avenue, near Art 321, according to city documents.

But support of the new restriction wasnt unanimous.

Councilman Wayne Heili said other parts of town and new developments could benefit from having a retail liquor license. He said he was supportive of tying the license to a location, but he didnt want to restrict it right from the start.

We may be missing out, mentally, on a great opportunity to put a liquor license in a different part of town, Heili. Somebody may come and propose something that when we see it, well say, Holy cow, thats a good idea.

Alongside Heili, councilwoman Kenyne Schlager echoed that city should keep an open mind.

Id still like to see all the applications, Schlager said. And then if theres nothing thats wowing, then its downtown. It may end up being downtown anyway, but it would still be nice to kind of peek at the other potential ideas.

City officials said earlier this week that the city has 37 retail liquor licenses. Four of those are parked, meaning that theyre not being used.

The Council should avoid teasing applicants, councilman Charlie Powell said, if theyd likely end up choosing a proposal in the downtown area regardless.

I just think we need to be mindful of the fact that its a lot of work to put a proposal together, Powell said. ...If youre going to be competitive in an open process, youve got to put a lot of work together to make yours stand out.

The application period is expected to be open for 30 days. The city is tentatively planning on accepting applications from June 1 to June 30, Assistant City Manager Tracey Belser said. She said that there werent specifics on the exact area yet, other than that it would include downtown and possibly the Old Yellowstone District. Belser expected specifics will be included when the city advertises the application process.
A Bar Nunn man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl he had hired as a babysitter pleaded not guilty Thursday in court.

Benjamin Marquez is charged with first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Marquez, 28, has been released from jail on $15,000 bond pending trial.

According to court documents, Marquez and his girlfriend invited the alleged victim to their home in December to watch their baby while they attended a Christmas party.

When the couple returned, Marquez set up an air mattress in the babys bedroom for the babysitter to sleep on, the documents state. The couple had invited friends over and Marquez told the alleged victim to lock the bedroom door behind her so no one at the party did anything to her while she slept, according to the documents. The girl locked the door.

She woke later that night to a man on top of her having sex with her, the documents state. She told the man no several times and pushed him off her. The man left the room.

A nurse examined the girl at Wyoming Medical Center and collected a rape kit, according to the documents.

A Natrona County Sheriffs investigator interviewed Marquez, who said he and his girlfriend were the only people in the home who knew where the keys to the babys bedroom were located, the documents state. Marquez said he had blacked out during the night in question from drinking so much alcohol.

Marquez became teary-eyed during the interview and said he did not think he went into the babys room, but said, It could have been me. I could have done it, I dont remember, according to the documents.

The investigator collected a DNA sample from Marquez, which matched semen found inside the alleged victims panties, the documents state.
The issue came up at an assembly at Riverside High School in Basin. One student gave another two options, impersonate presidential candidates Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

The student chose Trump. She said heres a wall, and the Mexicans should go on the other side of it. It wasnt meant as an endorsement of Trump, but a caricature, said her principal Tony Anson.

Some students were taken aback. One walked out in protest. Parents and friends weighed in on Facebook. And school officials diffused the situation by talking with those involved about sensitivity and intent.

But a tiny school in Wyoming isnt the only one where teachers and kids are figuring out how to navigate current events this year.

The presidential primaries have brought a number of polarizing viewpoints into everyday conversation. A recent report from the Southern Poverty Law Centers Teaching Tolerance project, Teaching the 2016 Election: The Trump Effect, said many teachers are struggling to keep the vitriol out of their classrooms, and many are at a loss for how to talk about the presidential race, when speeches, debates and commentary contain discriminatory rhetoric.

The report, which sent surveys out to teachers and collected thousands of responses, found that more than 40 percent of teachers were hesitant to speak about the election because of the content of the candidates rhetoric, particularly that of the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump.

Teachers reported confusion, frustration and fear from students as a result of the rhetoric. Of the 5,000 comments the survey collected, one in five mentioned Donald Trump by name, while fewer than 200 mentioned any other candidate.

Minority students in particular are sensitive to the rhetoric, teachers said. Sixty-seven percent of teachers reported that students had expressed fear for their families after the elections. That emotion came especially from students of color, immigrants and Muslims.

The teachers also reported unkindness among students. One teacher from Portland said her staff had been prohibited from talking about the elections, but she heard a student tell another they would be deported if Trump became president.

What does a teacher do? I can assure you that if a student says that loudly and brazenly in class, far worse is happening in the hallway, the teacher wrote in the survey.

At Riverside, Anson said he hasnt seen much talk from the primaries trickle down into his school, other than the Trump impersonation. But given the nature of this presidential race, it will likely come up, he said.

Where some schools are hesitant to broach the subject, Anson disagrees. The kids should learn about current events and be given the opportunity to debate and discuss the issues, even sensitive ones like race.

Especially in a big election year, we talk about politics, and we think we have to talk about politics, he said. Its not something were gonna ignore or sweep under the rug. Weve got to face it.

The school invited a group to teach kids about voting closer to the general election. When the final candidates are chosen, that political discussion will be dealt with in the government classes, he said.

Thats as it should be, the principal added.

As far as how his minority students are faring, high school kids can be hard on each other even without the political discussion, he said. Basin is a small community where everyone knows each other, which helps. But the school has become extra sensitive to these types of issues, he added.

It does concern us when any student gets offended. We try to work through that, he said. We need to try and make sure our kids are aware  anything (you) do that is offensive, even to your friends, you need to be conscious of it.

Its a learning process for kids. The principal said he stopped a girl Wednesday who had said something insensitive to a friend in the hallway.

(I) said, You know we already have a student hurt over (these types of) comments, you cant do that. It has to stop or well have more severe consequences.
LARAMIE  Providing the first hard numbers on how the states deepening budget crisis is affecting Wyoming, Gov. Matt Mead said the University of Wyoming needs to cut $35 million from its just-approved two-year budget because of falling state energy revenues.

The $35 million is on top of nearly $6 million lawmakers cut from the states only public, four-year university during the legislative session that ended in early March, Mead said.

Mead delivered the news in person to the UW Board of Trustees on Wednesday afternoon.

While the news is tough, Mead said, hes confident the state and university will weather the crisis.

We will get through this, he said, noting his 18-year-old daughter has decided to attend the university.

Mead said his office is also discussing cuts in other state agencies, including the Department of Health and Corrections, but the UW figure is the first one settled on.

The news comes as the university prepares to undergo a change in its top administrative post. New President Laurie Nichols takes over from outgoing President Dick McGinity next Monday.

Nichols was not at the meeting Wednesday, but Mead acknowledged its a tough way to start out.

McGinity said the $35 million cut likely will mean personnel cuts although its too soon to put a number on it.

It will be difficult and painful, but the university will find a way, McGinity said.

The trustees will likely have to hold an extra meeting in June in order to apply the cuts to the new fiscal year 2017-18 budget.

Wyoming derives most of its tax revenue from the mineral extraction industry. However, low coal prices, growing wind and natural gas competition and new federal regulations have taken a toll on the industry. Several major coal companies with mines in Wyoming have filed for bankruptcy and hundreds of mine workers have been laid off in recent weeks. Thousands of other jobs directly and indirectly linked to the energy industry also have been lost.

The Legislature this past winter approved a slimmed down budget, but the situation has worsened since lawmakers left Cheyenne, forcing Mead to impose additional cuts that represent about 8 percent of the states new $3 billion two-year budget.

Speaking after the meeting with trustees, Mead said he believed the new cuts will be sufficient to get the state through the year and up to the next legislative session early in 2017.

However, if the budget crisis worsens this summer, a special session of the Legislature may be something you just have to do.

Mead said he still rejects raising taxes, noting that the state still has $1.59 billion untapped in a rainy day fund.

I just dont see thats doable for taxpayers; frankly as a taxpayer I dont think that either, he said.
DOUGLAS  A group of state lawmakers discussed Wednesday afternoon the possibility of increasing public school class sizes in early grades to save money on school construction and operations.

Currently, districts are required to keep classes at 16 students in kindergarten through third grade unless they receive a waiver from the Wyoming Department of Education. Rep. Mike Madden, a chairman of the Joint Revenue Committee, raised the possibility of increasing the number of pupils to 20 or even 24.

Having more students in a classroom would eliminate much of the need to build new schools. It would also save money in salaries to teachers and other personnel, said Madden, a Republican from Buffalo.

You end up with some savings statewide that is pretty significant, he said.

Revenue that flows to accounts for school operations and construction is down because the money comes from taxes energy companies pay on activities such as leasing federal land to mine coal. Coal, oil and natural gas are currently in a decline with no end in sight, as state economists continue to revise revenue projections downward. Discussion during Wednesdays Revenue committee meeting at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds focused on ways to raise and save money in state government.

Ultimately, class size is not a matter for the Revenue committee to decide. Sen. Bill Landen, a Revenue committee member who also serves on the Joint Education Committee, said he will bring it up with his colleagues as they study school issues. Legislative leadership has charged most committees to tackle aspects of state government expenses and revenues.

Education is no exception, said Landen, a Casper Republican.

Wyoming has enjoyed relatively low classroom sizes since a Wyoming Supreme Court decision in the 1990s required education funding be distributed equitably among all school districts. As a result of that decision, the Legislature mandated a number of changes to Wyoming public education, including the 16 students-to-one teacher ratio, said Ken Decaria of the Wyoming Education Association.

Small class sizes help students learn more, Decaria said.

Actually, the research is pretty strong, he said. It makes a difference.
SHERIDAN  No charges will be filed against Sheridan County and Prosecuting Attorney Matt Redle following a December dispute in which he allegedly kicked at another person and threw a coffee cup at her. But the investigation into the incident suggests he has a history of aggressive behavior.

In her review of the case, Albany County and Prosecuting Attorney Peggy Trent concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. But she noted Redles conduct could be the subject of a civil suit against the county or could constitute a violation of the Wyoming State Bar rules of conduct.

The case stems from a Dec. 11 incident that occurred after a sexual assault services meeting that Redle left early after a disagreement with Bonnie Young. Young is the executive director of the Advocacy and Resource Center, a victim services organization, and was the chair of the Sexual Assault Response Team at the time.

After the meeting, Redle met Young as she talked with Sheridan Police Department detective Jerome Smith outside the county building. All three had been in the meeting, along with Susan Carr, executive director of Compass, formerly known as Child Advocacy Services of the Big Horns.

Redle was visibly agitated, shaking and short of breath, Young later told Lt. Tom Ringley as part of the police investigation into the matter. Young said Redle told her she had ruined everything and hurt him deeply.

Surveillance video from the county building shows Redle throwing a coffee cup at Young; The cup went over her head when she ducked. Both Young and Redle also said Redle kicked at Young  a kick she felt but that was not strong enough to cause her to drop the coffee cup she was holding.

Young later said she was scared because it was clear to her that having a law enforcement officer present  Smith  did not deter Redle and that Smith was concerned enough to step between her and Redle.

Trent, the Albany County attorney who reviewed the case, said she declined to press charges because the evidence was insufficient. The video surveillance does not show Redle kicking at Young because the doorway blocks the view.

She noted that Sheridan County personnel policies do not include a process for prohibiting hostile work environments involving employees or elected officials. There is also no state statute prohibiting this type of conduct by elected officials.

The Sheridan police investigation includes a lengthy interview with Young that suggests Redles aggression in the Dec. 11 incident was not isolated.

Young said for a time she worked in an office set aside for the Advocacy and Resource Center within the county attorneys facility. During that time, she said she observed aggressive behavior from Redle. Young said Redle grabbed objects from staffers desks and threw them, and yelled at staff members in front of other people.

Young noted other conversations shed had with Redle in the past in which he was aggressive or she thought he was attempting to intimidate her.

I think the thing has always been, everybody puts up with it because everybody has to have his cooperation, Young said, referencing Redles position as the county attorney. And some people are just flatly scared of him, she added.

Redle has no say over the functions or finances of her organization, the Advocacy and Resource Center, Young clarified. However, as county attorney, his office coordinates with ARC to serve crime victims.

Young emailed Redle just a few hours after the December incident to say that due to recent events, she was stepping down as chair of the Sheridan County Coalition Against Violence.

Young said she never thought Redle intended physical harm, until the December incident, but intimidation and verbal attacks seemed frequent to her.

Other officers at the Sheridan Police Department had felt Redles behavior toward them in the past was inappropriate, Ringley told Young in his interview with her, although his own interactions with Redle had not been.

Young seemed torn while discussing the issue in a recorded interview that was part of the police departments investigation. She said the unlawful conduct charge that Redle might have faced, a misdemeanor, was not an egregious criminal charge and noted that she would be fine if no charges were pressed.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Redle said he would not argue with Trents legal judgment.

She also, I think, indicated that she found my behavior was unworthy of an elected official, Redle said, of the Albany County attorneys findings. And so Ms. Trent and I are in agreement on that.

In an interview with Ringley, Redle acknowledged the unfortunate irony of his aggression in December, as it related to a dispute over how to serve domestic violence victims.

It struck me after the fact that it was in fact abusive, physically abusive, he said. That certainly undermines my moral authority in situations where were talking about sexual abuse, domestic abuse, those sorts of things.

Redle also said that in retrospect, he was alarmed by his actions.

But I pulled the kick intentionally, which is even scarier to me, because, um, you know, that, to me, tells me, um, I was  I was intending to threaten her with that, he said in the interview with Ringley.

Redle emailed Young within a couple of hours of the incident apologizing and again two days later saying he was ashamed of his conduct.

Redle said Wednesday, as he did in an earlier interview with The Sheridan Press when the investigation began, that he would not dispute Youngs account.

As far as having disagreements with other officers, that is absolutely correct, Redle said. The fact of the matter is that the nature of the relationship between prosecutors and law enforcement can get tense from time to time based upon judgments that are made and I certainly wont dispute that I bring a lot of passion to the job.

Redle has been the Sheridan County attorney since 1987. His current four-year term will expire in 2018.
Wyoming Machinery Company is laying off employees.

Citing the downturn in the states energy sector, the heavy equipment maker announced Thursday that it had laid off about 6 percent of its workforce.

The company began offering early retirement packages earlier this year, and Thursdays layoffs were the next step in coping with Wyomings energy downturn. The company disclosed the layoffs in a statement to the Star-Tribune. A company representative declined to comment further.

The layoffs occurred in Casper and Gillette, according to the statement.

The job cuts come at a time when pink slips have become more commonplace in the states once-vibrant energy industry. Casper equipment provider Power Service Inc. cut more than 50 positions on March 18. The states two largest coal mines, Black Thunder and North Antelope Rochelle, laid off a combined 460 employees on March 31. A month later, Alpha Natural Resources laid off 37 employees at its two mines near Gillette.

Wyoming Machinery  which according to its website has locations in Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette and Rock Springs  started out in the Oil City in 1969. Roughly half of the companys employees work in Casper, according to the companys website.

The Casper-based company serves many sectors of the economy, but the oil and coal industries account for a sizable portion of its business.

Wyomings unemployment rate has also been steadily rising and reached 5.2 percent in March  the highest its been since 2012. That number is expected to grow in the coming weeks, when coal mining layoffs and other industry cuts are factored into the unemployment rate.
PHOENIX  Responding to pleas from restaurant owners, Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation Wednesday designed to block cities and counties from telling private employers what fringe benefits they must offer.

The measure is specifically aimed at preventing local laws that tell companies they have to offer things such as paid vacation time and maternity leave. Chianne Hewer, lobbyist for the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, testified to lawmakers that they need to preclude local options.

But Rebekah Friend, executive director of the state AFL-CIO, said Wednesday that lawmakers, and now the governor, may have overstepped their bounds.

She says a 2006 voter-approved measure establishing a state minimum wage also covers fringe benefits and working conditions. Friend said that law specifically allows local communities to establish standards above and beyond the minimum.

The Arizona Constitution specifically forbids the Legislature from tinkering with anything that has been approved by voters. Friend said this measure runs afoul of it and likely will lead to a lawsuit.

Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, who sponsored the measure, said he believes it will survive a legal challenge.

At the end of the day, as with anything, you can end up in court, Mesnard said. And then a judge is going to tell us the interpretation.

The business community is powerless to block living wage legislation pending in Flagstaff and being considered in other communities because the 2006 initiative specifically allows cities to set wages beyond what the state requires, which currently is $8.05 an hour.

Mesnards legislation is an end run of sorts. It limits the definition of wages to only the salaries being paid.

Everything else will now be defined in Arizona as nonwage compensation, ranging from sick pay, vacation pay, maternity leave and severance benefits to commissions and pension contributions.

Hewer told lawmakers that restaurants consider those things they have to keep in their pocket to be competitive against that restaurant across the street.

Mesnard said businesses, particularly those with multiple locations, should not have to deal with a patchwork of laws.

In Tucson, Councilwoman Regina Romero has pushed for an ordinance to require sick leave, saying she considers it part of a working family agenda. Romero said about half of Tucson workers do not have access to earned sick leave.

Romero said she may have to start smaller, perhaps adding a sick leave requirement to an existing Tucson ordinance that requires contractors who do business with the city to pay a living wage.

Tempe has considered the issue of paid sick leave but proponents backed off after stiff business opposition.
Hundreds of locomotives are sitting idle in Southern Arizona  a stark illustration of the impact of the energy markets recession on the railroad industry.

Nationwide, about 1,400 Union Pacific locomotives  more than 16 percent of the companys fleet  are parked in various staging areas off the main line.

The combination of an energy market recession, low commodity prices, the strength of the U.S. dollar and generally soft global economy, as well as muted U.S. retail demand, have all contributed to overall market weakness across many of our business lines, said Tom Lange, assistant vice president of corporate communications for Union Pacific.

Locally, the locomotives are parked near Interstate 10 and Marsh Station Road, near Benson. They began showing up about two months ago.

They just all of a sudden appeared and theyre still there, said George Scott, executive director of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group. We hope business gets better soon.

Energy economist Bernard Weinstein said the combination of low oil prices and the decline in coal use has had the biggest impact on the railroad industry.

The energy business has very strong linkages to other sectors of the economy, and transportation is one of them because we have to move things around, said Weinstein, associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

In addition to the stagnation in the commodities industries, the strong dollar makes our exports more expensive at a time when the global economy has not fully recovered.

Commodity cycles have been with us forever, Weinstein said. If Chinas economic growth picks up and if India liberalizes its economy, prices will improve. Thats the world of economics  there are many variables.

Union Pacific officials are keeping an optimistic outlook.
True Concord Voices & Orchestra will put on its most ambitious season to date in 2016-17, including a collaboration that will bring its largest number of performers on one stage.

The Grammy-nominated choir and chamber orchestra is joining with the University of Arizona Choral Department in January for Mendelssohns oratorio Elijah, featuring Grammy-winning operatic baritone Richard Paul Fink. The performance, arguably the cornerstone of the 2017 Tucson Desert Song Festival, will feature 70 vocalists and a 50-piece orchestra.

Weve never done anything this big. Its exciting, said True Concord Music Director Eric Holtan, who founded the ensemble 13 years ago. The piece is two hours or so. Its a long song, but it is as close to opera as it gets for someone like Mendelssohn.

Its a great work and I think people are going to be really stunned by it, he added. Its one of those pieces ... that doesnt get done very often in Southern Arizona. This will be a rare performance.

It is the first of two collaborations with the UA Fred Fox School of Music Choral Department over the next two seasons. The groups will join forces again in the 2017-18 season for Verdis Requiem, which UA Choral Director Bruce Chamberlain will conduct, Holtan said.

In February, True Concord will collaborate with Arizona Early Music Society on Monteverdis Vespers of 1610. Holtan said he will provide the vocalists and the society is bringing instrumentalists, who will perform on period instruments including lutes, coronets and Baroque strings.

Its going to be a first for True Concord, and I dont know if the Vespers has ever been done in Tucson, he said.

The partnership celebrates Arizona Early Musics 35th anniversary and the 450th anniversary of Monteverdis birth.

Also next season, True Concord will revisit Bachs Magnificat, a piece it performed in its fourth season in 2007 and an important work that Holtan said you want to circle back to every eight to 10 years.

Season subscriptions are on sale now and single tickets go on sale Sept. 6 at trueconcord.org

True Concord performs three or four concerts of each program at venues in Tucson, Green Valley and Oro Valley. For locations and times, visit trueconcord.org
I covered the gifts of poetry and fiction in my last column. The third gift I would love to magically bestow on every child is the gift of classical music.

When I was growing up (in a definitely non-affluent neighborhood) it seemed every house had a piano and nearly every child took piano lessons. Families who could not afford to buy a piano rented one. I practiced on my grandmothers old upright in her flat below. Its sad that we no longer find a piano in every home. And its sadder that many school districts have eliminated or de-emphasized music and art.

I stand firm in my opinion. All children should be exposed to music at home and in school. Ideally every child would learn to sing, read music and play an instrument well enough to have fun. Music enriches our lives, enhances self-expression and teaches us discipline. Music even increases the connections in our brain.

Neuroscientists looked at the possible relationship between playing a musical instrument and cortical thickening in the brain. Musical training increases connections in the motor areas of the cortex that control and coordinate movement. This is to be expected  think about how fast a professional pianists hands fly over the keyboard.

In addition, musical training is correlated with thickening of the brains cortex in the areas of executive function, inhibitory control and processing of emotions. Thinning in these areas is correlated with anxiety, depression and lack of attention. This explains why listening to and playing music can help people deal with emotions, and lead us to expect that music lessons might help a child reduce anxiety and gain control over powerful emotions.

Learning to play a musical instrument gives children not only a new skill but also a way to express themselves. They learn patience, especially important in these days of instantaneous touch-screen responses. Playing in front of others teaches poise and helps conquer fears of being on stage. When I am upset, listening to music can be a soothing, non-chemical therapy for me. I no longer play but many of my more talented friends play an instrument when they are upset.

Why classical music? All music is good for kids. There is plenty of evidence that prehistoric humans made music. Drumming on a log with a stick was probably an intuitive act but I salute the first man who cut holes in a reed to make a primitive flute! Listening to and playing all forms of music should be encouraged in children. They love the rhyme, rhythm and repetition of childrens songs like Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Classical music has qualities that are especially good for babies and children. Studies have shown that playing classical music to children boosts their concentration and also improves their listening to what others say and their social skills. Children exposed to classical music early are more likely to appreciate a wider range of music in later years.

Composer Mark Niekrug, quoted in the Huffington Post, advocates exposing young children to classical music early, especially nowadays. Im concerned about a world in which there is an almost corporate, aggressive move to lower peoples attention spans, so that your brain actually cant focus for more than half a minute on anything without needing some other stimulus. Thats terrifying. How do you even absorb and learn things? How do you expect kids to do well in school? He adds classical music can help young children focus. Great music can do that, because youre drawn into what youre listening to.

WQXR, the classical music station I listened to when I lived in New York, told listeners that the German transportation minister released an Adagio in the Automobile CD consisting of slow movement Mozart piano concertos hoping it would reduce aggressive driving on his countrys autobahns. The station next mentioned the five salutatory side effects of classical music: lowering blood pressure, relieving pain after surgery, making you more sensitive to emotions, helping you sleep and maybe even making you smarter. They ended the program with, WQXR is not a doctor. We only play one on the radio.

Dont know classical music? Take advantage of the great live music available in Tucson like the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Opera, Tucson Friends of Chamber Music, True Concord and the many others, plus all the wonderful offerings of the University of Arizona School of Music. You can find almost everything ever recorded on the Internet or at the library. Try it, you may like it.

Recent email from my son: Joshua (almost 4) has developed a recent affection for classical music and often asks for it when we are driving. Last night I played a video of Bernstein conducting Beethovens 5th.

Dad: Watch  that guy is going to walk out in front of the orchestra holding a thin white stick and everyone will clap. Josh: What is the stick for? Dad: He is the conductor. He keeps time with the stick so everybody knows how fast or slow to play. Josh: Wow, look all those people have a stick too! Dad: Those are not sticks, Joshua, those are bows; the violin is a bowed instrument. Josh: Whats that big instrument? Dad: Thats a bassoon. Josh: Can you buy me one? Dad: Sure someday. Josh: Great, then you can play your guitar and I can play my bassoon and we can play music together  and mommy will use the stick! (Grandmas editorial comment: Josh knows both how an orchestra works and who runs things at home.)
Shivani Misra is on a mission to fight stigma against kids with developmental disabilities. Her weapon of choice: a University of Arizona degree.

On Friday, the 21-year-old from Phoenix will cross the stage at Arizona Stadium to claim a bachelors degree in neuroscience and cognitive science, her first step to becoming a doctor who works with such children.

Shes one of about 6,000 graduates due to receive degrees during the UAs 152nd commencement, an event expected to occur in 90-plus degree heat Friday evening.

With the chance of record-breaking temperatures, school officials have made extensive plans to ensure a plentiful supply of drinking water for the 46,000 or so students and guests expected to attend.

Were definitely prepared, said Kasey Urquidez, the UA vice president in charge of the ceremony. Bottled water and large thermal water jugs with cups will be widely available, along with water bottle refill stations, she said.

The Class of 2016 includes scientists, engineers, teachers, lawyers, bankers, journalists, performing artists and achievers in hundreds of other fields.

Many are headed for the workforce, while others are bracing for several more years of graduate study.

Misra, who attended UAs Honor College and starts medical school at the Phoenix campus this fall, said she found her passion while working with the universitys Down Syndrome Research Group.

It was her first up-close experience with children who had different types of developmental disabilities, and she was struck by their resilience and emotional honesty.

I fell in love, she said, and also came to realize how much stigma still surrounds those with such conditions.

One of her goals is to raise public awareness, she said. The fact we treat them differently is just so frustrating.

Misra, who serves on the local March of Dimes board and teaches Pilates to students from the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, was named one of the UAs seven outstanding seniors this year.

Shell receive one of two Merrill P. Freeman medals, given for, among other things, outstanding qualities of moral force of character.

The other Freeman medal winner is Adam Geyer, who has been active in student government and Greek life and helped lead a program to increase awareness of sexual assault on campus.

Geyer will receive the same degree as Misra, a bachelors of science in neuroscience and cognitive science.

Each of the award-winning seniors is chosen by UA faculty and peers.

The other 2016 honorees include:

Robie Gold Medal recognizing qualities such as personal integrity, initiative and service.

Lorene Fisher: Bachelors of fine arts in dance; recognized as resident assistant of the year and active in Greek life.

Travis Sawyer: Honors College; valedictorian; bachelors of science (summa cum laude) in optical sciences and engineering

Provost Award honoring achievement by a community college transfer student.

Christopher Jabczynski: Bachelors of science in chemical engineering. He attended Pima Community College.

Robert Logan Nugent Award honoring high ideals and service to the community and the university.

Dana Kralicek: Honors College; bachelors of science (summa cum laude) in optical sciences and engineering; active in Arizona Ambassadors Honorary.

Fabio Mire: Bachelors of science (summa cum laude) in business administration. National Hispanic Scholar; student body treasurer.
PHOENIX  Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer could be on Donald Trumps vice-presidential short list.

During an interview Wednesday with Fox News Channels On the Record, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Brewer, who left office in 2015 after serving six years as governor, is fantastic.

Trump will announce his vice-presidential pick during the GOP national convention in July.

Trump dropped clues about who he may be considering during an interview with Greta Van Susteren, saying he was considering five to seven people. He said he is looking for someone experienced in government.

Tuesday night, Susteren said, Brewer had suggested Trump consider Oklahama Gov. Mary Fallin.

Well also Jan. Jan Brewer has been fantastic, Trump said. She has been so fantastic. You know I won so big, her territory, and we won so big. And she is a fabulous woman. And I agree with you, the governor of Oklahoma  fabulous person.

Trump would not say whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in the mix, but called him a very good guy and a talented guy.

It is unclear how seriously Trump is considering Brewer. In politics, names are sometimes leaked as under consideration for a post as a way of showing appreciation for that person.

Brewer, of Glendale, said Wednesday night, Like Ive always said, Im honored to be able to support him and I would be honored to serve him in any capacity.

On Sunday, Brewer said during a national news show she was willing to appear on a national ticket with Trump, but also said she didnt necessarily think he should pick a woman.
PHOENIX  Attorney General Mark Brnovich refused today to try to cancel next week's special elections despite foul-ups by Secretary of State Michele Reagan, saying there's nothing in state law to permit that.

At a hastily called press conference, Brnovich unloaded on Reagan for failing to comply with state laws requiring voters to get ballot pamphlets explaining the two issues before they got their actual early ballots. And he said there needs to be an investigation of why Reagan hid that information from the public for so long.

"This was a complete fiasco,'' Brnovich said.

"I don't know what the right word to express it,'' he continued. "But it pisses me off, as an Arizonan, as the attorney general.''

But Brnovich laid some of the blame on lawmakers for leaving him with his hands tied.

"We know that we want strict compliance with election laws,'' he said. "But the Legislature never provided any penalty.''

Reagan conceded that at least 200,000 pamphlets explaining Proposition 123 and 124 did not go out on time. She believes the affected households are all outside the two major counties.

More significant, the affected homes appear to be those with two people who are on the list to get early ballots. That means more than 400,000 voters could be affected.

Matt Roberts, her press aide, acknowledged his boss knew about the problem weeks before it was publicly disclosed. But he said she was doing the best she could in the interim to mail out the pamphlets to those who did not get it.

Brnovich also said there is no legal recourse against Reagan. He said that is up to voters.
A wildfire on Mount Lemmon was considered under control, but hotshot crews will continue to fight the blaze through the night, the sheriff's department said.

The Montrose Fire was discovered at about 5 a.m. in the area of Box Spring, about three miles northwest of Rose Canyon Lake. It is believed to be human caused, said Heidi Schewel, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

The 12-acre fire is burning in heavy downed timber and brush, Schewel said.

Helicopters will continue dropping water on the fire until about 7 p.m., the sheriff's department said. Rose Canyon Lake is expected to be reopened for fishing on Friday morning.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Pima County sheriff's deputies assisted in the rescue of a hiker who was discovered nearby. The man was dehydrated, after having been on the trail for a few days, and is not considered to have any connection with the fire, said department spokesman, Deputy Ryan Inglett.

Roughly 60 personnel are fighting the fire, with four helicopters dropping water from Rose Canyon Lake and hand crews engaged in full fire suppression efforts, Schewel said.
Since taking office in 2013, state Sen. David Farnsworth has worked each year at the Legislature toward a unique goal: increasing oversight for homeowners associations in Arizona.

Along with other critics of the states HOA rules, the Mesa Republican says the regulations currently in place for HOAs are insufficient and lead to problems for homeowners. Farnsworth introduced legislation this year aimed at making changes to how the associations operate.

We have a real mess, Farnsworth said about the state of HOA regulations. Its a very complex and challenging situation and theres no easy solution.

Concerns from critics of the current policy stem from the way the current dispute process works and the fact that community management companies  hired by HOAs to run their properties day-to-day operations  dont need a license to be community managers in Arizona.

Community management leaders argue their own regulations have kept members in check and they have doled out discipline themselves when necessary.

We feel like were policing our own fairly well, said Linda Lang, president and CEO of the Arizona Association of Community Managers, which lobbies for community management companies.

LEGISLATION

Farnsworths bills would add regulations to the operation of HOAs. SB 1496 deals with HOA directors, stipulating that if a member of the board of directors is removed from their position, he or she cannot be reappointed to that post. Its an issue that has been raised by homeowners.

The other bill is SB 1498, which would require HOAs to provide ample warning time for homeowners before charging late fees and inform homeowners of their right to dispute the fees through a state process. HOAs would also have to maintain members voting records for one year.

Both bills have passed the Legislature. Gov. Doug Ducey signed SB 1498 into law. The other bill has not yet been signed.

Farnsworth has introduced HOA-related legislation every year since he joined the Legislature. He said his desire to tighten HOA regulations stems from his constituents concerns.

Farnsworth said on some bills, he has faced resistance from two lobbying groups for HOAs and community managers: Arizona Association of Community Managers and Community Associations Institute, which lobbies on behalf of HOAs. But he has also worked with them to get legislation passed.

AACM and CAI both back SB 1496 and SB 1498. This year Farnsworth introduced two other bills aimed at HOAs, including one that would require community managers to be licensed, but pulled them after discussions with the two groups.

The statutes governing homeowners associations are not perfect and we need to, little by little, improve them, Farnsworth said.

CHANGES UNDERWAY

The HOA complaint process is in flux.

Currently, if a homeowner has a complaint against an HOA, that person contacts the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety to go through a dispute process. But Ducey has flagged that agency to be eliminated, in his push for agency consolidation.

We looked at the Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety and it became apparent that a lot of their duties and responsibilities could be relocated and consolidated into existing agencies with similar missions, said Daniel Ruiz, a spokesman for Ducey. The governors office estimates the move would save taxpayers about $500,000.

Under the budget that passed the state Legislature last week, the HOA dispute process moves to the Arizona Department of Real Estate.

Thats the natural place that you would go, Ruiz said.

The Department of Real Estate hopes to address heightened oversight for HOAs and the community management companies they hire, now that the dispute process is in its jurisdiction, said Judy Lowe, commissioner of the real estate oversight agency.

The community managers association, however, did not support moving the dispute process to the real estate agency.

Its not a very good fit for this, Lang said.

ISSUES WITH CURRENT RULES

In 2015, the Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety received 18 complaints about HOAs. The department refers disputes to an administrative law judge.

Farnsworth said this dispute process has not worked well for homeowners.

Its very expensive for people to go that route, he said.

More often, complaints regarding HOAs or community management companies are directed not to the state, but to the Arizona Association of Community Managers, Lang said.

AACM, the community management group, maintains a professional standards board that hears complaints from homeowners about their member organizations.

Last year, group managed 350 complaints from homeowners against its member companies. Since AACM was founded in 2003, three companies have been stripped of membership due to complaints about their practices, Lang said.

AACM also requires its members to participate in education programs it offers, which includes classes on Arizona law, HOA finance and the basics of association management. Members are also required to sign a code of ethics.

Critics arent sold on AACMs complaint process.

Thats not real regulation, said Roger Wood, a Tempe attorney who represents homeowners against HOAs. Its self-regulation.

NOT LICENSED

Community management companies arent required to be licensed by any state agency to operate in Arizona, so there isnt a government agency to go to with complaints about them. For this reason, many homeowners with grievances against the community management companies hired by their HOAs go through civil litigation, Wood said.

Wood cites examples of cases in Tucson in which HOA disputes have spiraled into legal cases.

One homeowner ended up racking up thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees after missing notices to pay his HOA over a parking violation. Another case involved a homeowner suing her HOA after it increased fees to support the private Skyline Country Club, which was on the brink of foreclosure.

Much of the evidence used against HOAs is anecdotal, said Carolyn Goldschmidt, an attorney who represents them. She is also a member of the Southern Arizona chapter of HOA lobbying group Community Associations Institute.

Much of the criticism of Arizona HOAs likely stems from a philosophical opposition to the idea of having a body govern how a person maintains his or her property, Goldschmidt said.

A lot of homeowners dont like HOAs, she said. They dont like the idea that they dont have to ask permission for their house projects. They just dont like to be controlled.
A small but vocal contingent of the New York City's political class characterizes those of us who are alarmed by increasing crime  and want more proactive policing, more effective prosecution and further refinement of state laws to ensure that lawbreakers face swift, sure consequences  as nothing but reactionaries. The city remains historically safe, they say, so the order of the day should be more criminal justice reform.
Nationally known surgeon Dr. Peter Rhee has had 32 addresses in his life and the one where he's stayed the longest is in Tucson.

But that's about to change.

Rhee's last day as top trauma surgeon at Banner  University Medical Center Tucson is June 20, he confirmed this morning. His new job will be chief of acute care surgery and medical director of the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

"I love Tucson so much. Its greatest asset is its people. I am so sad I have to leave," Rhee said in a telephone interview. "I feel like I am abandoning the town I love and Tucson has been so good to me and the people have been so generous."

Grady is the fifth-largest public hospital in the country and serves a large number of low income patients.

"I've always considered my work public service," Rhee said. "They recruited me heavily for a long time now it is a county hospital working with inner city people as well as taking care of entire metropolitan Atlanta."

In Tucson, Rhee is a tenured surgery professor at the University of Arizona with an endowed $1.7 million chair and also chief of trauma, critical care, burn and emergency surgery at Banner  University Medical Center Tucson.

He first came to Tucson in 2007 to help revive the hospital's struggling trauma program. At that time, the hospital was locally owned and called University Medical Center. Rhee was recruited by Dr. Rainer Gruessner, who was then the new department of surgery chairman and left the hospital in 2013 in a bitter dispute with administration.

The hospital was taken over by Phoenix-based Banner Health in a merger that was completed in 2015.

Rhee sprung into action on the morning of Jan. 8, 2011 when the hospitals trauma department was notified of a shooting on Tucsons northwest side. The rampage was an assassination attempt on then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and she was among the injured. She and 10 other victims were brought to UA Medical Center that day.

At Grady, Rhee will be going back into more academia and research, he says, working with two medical schools  Emory University School of Medicine and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

A 1983 graduate of Georgia Tech, Rhee earned his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

He has a masters in public health from the University of Washington is double boarded in general surgery and surgical critical care.

"We are extremely excited to have a surgeon of Dr. Rhee's extraordinary talents and experience join the Grady medical leadership team," Dr. Robert Jansen, executive vice president, chief medical officer and chief of staff at Grady Health System said in a prepared statement.

"Under his direction, Grady's already outstanding trauma services will advance to an even higher level of care."

Rhee serves on national steering and research committees, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's blood products advisory committee.

Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

A South Korea-born surgeon, Rhee came to Southern Arizona from the Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California Navy Trauma Training Center, where he prepared U.S. Navy doctors and medical personnel for the battlefield. He saw the Tucson job as a challenge.

The program was in disarray, the funding was a major issue and almost all the staff had left  which to me looked like an opportunity, Rhee recalled in his 2014 memoir, Trauma Red: The Making of a Surgeon in War and in Americas Cities.

In that book, Rhee wrote that building up the local trauma program wasnt easy. The only top-level trauma center in Southern Arizona, the Banner-University Medical Center Tucson handles about 5,000 patients per year whose injuries range from gunshot wounds and stabbings to car crashes and drownings. It wasnt unusual for him to work 120-hour weeks, he wrote.

Rhee also wrote about all the gunshot wounds he's seen on the job, including the victims of the Jan. 8 shooting.
PHOENIX  A herd of about 500 wild horses along the Salt River could get protection from everything from being removed by the Forest Service to being harassed by drunken tourists.

Gov. Doug Ducey has signed a bill that makes it illegal to harass, shoot, injure or slaughter a horse that is part of the herd. And even capturing or euthanizing a horse that is injured or causing problems would require written authorization from either the state Department of Agriculture or the Maricopa County sheriff.

Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, who spearheaded the legislation, said this should end the threats to the herd that began last year when the U.S. Forest Service announced it would round up the horses in the Tonto National Forest and sell them to protect the environment in and around the river. Environmental groups sided with the federal agency.

But that provoked an outcry from horse lovers and a lawsuit to prevent their removal.

The Forest Service agreed to back off, at least for the time being. The new law specifically authorizes the state to enter into an agreement with the federal agency, with the state effectively in charge of managing the herd.

Townsend said it shields the herd from humans, well-intentioned or otherwise.
Help India!

Kolkata : Days ahead of the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), a section of students on Thursday protested against the state governments failure to inform them about its the examination in the wake of NEET becoming mandatory for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country.

A delegation of students, led by All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), met the Director of Medical Education (DME) to clear the confusion over whether the state-level entrance exams would be held or not.

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The state government has not yet given us any answer and the exam is days away. Further, we have also demanded they appeal to the central government and move the Supreme Court, K. Hoque, an agitating student told IANS.

Holding that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) would isolate the students from the poor sections of society from taking up medical studies, Hoque said: Appearing for the examination would require preparation along the lines of the CBSE which is not available in the schools accessed by the poor sections of society.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to modify its April 28 order making NEET mandatory.

Holding that Prima facie, we do not find any infirmity in the NEET regulation on the ground that it affects the rights of the states or the private institutions, a bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that they found no merit in the applications seeking modification of its April 28 order making NEET the only route for admission to medical colleges.
Help India!

By Ubaid ur Rahman for Twocircles.net

Last December, Intelligence Bureau organised an All-India conference of Directors General of Police which was attended by Director General of Police (DGPs) of all the state and Head of various security agencies.

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According to an Indian Express report on December 22, Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma gave the most critical presentation on the radicalisation in the context of threats from the Islamic State. He goes on to cite random (and wrongful) arrests of Muslims in Mecca Masjid blasts case in 2007 as one the reasons for the radicalisation.

However, on December 30 2015, a report in Siasat Daily showed that Sharma denied that Hyderabad is particularly prone to radicalisation.

Considering that the two statements seemed out of sync with each other, I tried, in vain, to find his presentation and/or any notes on the discussions the DGPs might have subsequently had. In any case, here is what I was hoping were included in the critical presentation.

Radicalisation without contexts

Why is there a need to have these contexts when radicalisation and internal security are discussed? Maybe, due to it being a vast topic, it is necessary to have these contexts. And I hope the other contexts, in order of their precedence, were discussed too. If Hyderabad being the city in which (wrongful) and Random arrests have happened and yet the DGP of the state is denying that Hyderabad is particularly prone to radicalisation, it undermines the significance of the DGPs presentation and discussion if the caveat context of threats from the Islamic State was given the total focus or trumped contexts. What are these other contexts which can be a threat to internal security?

Prejudice and Radicalisation among the Police and the Civilian administration

Since Anurag Sharma reportedly brought it up, let us look at the Mecca Masjid blasts case. We all have heard of the cases where police looked the other way, ignoring the criminals and letting them get away. But that was not it: they also charged like a mad elephant in one particular direction, trampling citizens rights and their dignity.

It is shuddering to think about the number of total government resources spent in these (T)error arrests. Even if we go according to the official figures: think of the sheer number of police officers involved in these arrests. The amount of resources spent on preparing the documents for these cook-ups, their superiors time and resources that went in reviewing and approving these cases. The time and energy spent in preparing the what to show and what to hide for press releases. The time spent on preparing and filing the cases for the judicial process. The time judiciary spent on scheduling these cases for hearing, the time, space, money, police personnel, and other resources spent on keeping the under-trials in detention, producing them for the court hearings. And after these falsehoods were not sustainable any longer, the amount of resources spent on deliberations that the police and civilian administrations to come up with adequate face-saving.

The Mecca Masjid case is just one of many, and I hope the DGPs have discussed extensively that the radical actions of the officials in responsible positions are threatening internal security of citizens and deliberated on how to cure it.

Now, let us look at a case related to Mecca Masjid blasts, the Aler Encouter where 17 trained police officers were escorting FIVE undertrial prisoners for a hearing in court. Oe prisoner tries to snatch (on a day of their court hearing on the threat to their life from Police) a INSAS rifle (4.15 kg, 960 mm) from an accompanying officer, and is successful in snatching that weapon and fires upon that officer. To make it worse for the families, they then file an FIR against the dead prisoners and document this outlandish story and put in record their incompetence both in handling their routine duty as well as scripting a story. (various inconsistencies from various official sources is a matter of another topic).

The event and the behaviour of the involved policemen is similar to the Forbesganj incident where their despicable attitude is on shameless display.

A brief look at the Malegaon blasts case, The ATS filed a charge sheet in December the same year of the blasts. The case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which supported the ATS case and filed a charge sheet in 2010 against the same set of nine accused. Now, let us pause and reflect on this. ATS chargesheets, CBI reinforces it five years later (was it even investigating?) what the judges calls In my view the basic foundation or the object shown by the ATS behind the blast is not acceptable to a man of ordinary prudence.

These are only a couple of many more cases, I hope the DGPs have discussed the abhorrent behaviour of some of the police officers among them and civilian officials among us.

Radicalisation among Hindus

The following are just some of instances of Hindu radicalisation and by no means an exhaustive list.

 they first ask the crowd for Muslims and ask them to leave the rally because they say that they dont want their votes.

 < href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/deoband-bypoll-if-i-get-elected-they-will-feel-our-terror-says-bjp-leader-rampal-singh/">If I get elected, they will feel our terror, says BJP leader Rampal Singh

 BJP Councillor tries to evict Muslim family from a Hindu neighbourhood in Moradabad, police helpless

 Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA says he has power to carry out an encounter

 Yogi Adityanaths Men Telling Hindus To Rape Dead Muslim Women Is Beyond Shocking

 Muslims warned of final battle at Sangh Parivar meeting, MoS Katheria says weve to show our strength

 < href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/article-3527245/Muslim-man-21-kidnapped-beaten-Bajrang-Dal-activists-going-shopping-Hindu-girl.html">Muslim man, 21, kidnapped and beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists for going shopping with a Hindu girl

 (Muslim policeman at duty beaten up and paraded in Maharashtra). Or, for that matter, an on-duty police animal.

Which ISISs are radicalising them? Who are their recruiters? What economic benefits have not reached them? I hope the DGPs have discussed this in-depth and have come up with ideas on how to tackle them.

The above radicalisation contexts, definitely not new and were raised many times, if still were not raised and discussed (past due, at least a decade and a half ago) with highest precedence and actions formulated, then it is just another instance of targeting Muslims, Again, under a different pretext.

One more thing:

Peculiarly, Mr. Anurag Sharma reportedly used the word Random to describe the arrests, and particularly cited Mecca Masjid Blasts case. Here I hope that he clarified that the Randomness was not actually Random in the general sense, but random on a particular community which explains why the arrestees were all Muslim. Quite a few times, it was and continues to be twice Random, as the ones that were acquitted in the first round random report being called for interrogation more than one random times.

Moving further, Random, means without any basis. So, obviously, the Random arrests were illegal. But Mr. Anurag Sharma, in his reply to the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission, stated that No such Muslim youth persons was detained illegally, nor tortured, not harassed by the Task Force and SIT police of Hyderabad City. This raises a loads of questions. Then, who was responsible for these random arrests? Was Mr. Sharma not being straightforward then or was misled by whoever he inquired with? If he was misled, then when did he come to know about it and did it result in any action?

Where/who did Sharma inquire at that time? Can Sharma answer them or revise his original reply?


The European Union looking is looking to withhold budgetary aid and impose travel bans on human rights violators in the West African nation of The Gambia after its parliament unanimously voted a resolution calling on the commission and its member states to consider freezing all non-humanitarian assistance to the government of The Gambia and imposing bans and other targeted sanctions on its officials.

The Resolution on The Gambia 2016/2693(RSP) on fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general was tabled before the EU Parliament on Thursday following the ongoing violations of fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy, arbitrary arrests and deadly targeting of opposition leaders and their members.

EU is the Gambias main development partner since the mid-1970s and funded nearly all of The Gambia's infrastructure and roads construction works. It has expressed deep concerns about the rapidly-worsening security and human rights situation the worlds newest Islamic republic.

Brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters

Last month, security forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and the union has since called for swift and independent investigations into these events in which the UN said at least three people have died including a senior opposition figure, Ebrima Solo Sandeng. Sandeng was the opposition UDP Organizing Secretary. He with at least 30 others were arrested on April 14 during a peaceful demonstration staged at Westfield Junction in Serrekunda.

The peaceful protesters were demanding for justice and electoral reforms.

His reported death sparked anger among the party members and other Gambians who joined a peaceful protest led by the party leader Ousainou Darboe and executive members calling for his release dead or alive. They were equally arrested and now detained at the state central prison of Mile II and facing criminal charges at the High Court.

New European Union demands

Parliament firmly condemns the forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, and other human rights violations targeting dissenting voices against the government of President Yahya Jammeh, such as journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents, and critics, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people the EU parliament said in a statement.

The unions legislators have called for the immediate release of all protestors arrested during demonstrations and urged the international community to actively monitor the December elections in The Gambia that has already been marred by political violence, arrest and killings.

Incumbent President Yahya Jammeh who came to power since 1994 is seeking for a fifth term. Activists and rights group have been calling for targeted sanctions against President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates. The Human Rights Campaign and 15 other rights groups last week urged the White House to impose sanctions against the African strongman who has threatened to behead homosexuals order to send a clear message that continued human rights violations will place a more severe strain on U.S-Gambian relations.
Attacks on hospital staff to be shown zero tolerance Updated: 2016-05-12 08:26 By Yang Wanli(China Daily)

Good doctor-patient relationship requires sound medical system behind it, official says

The top health authority declared that zero tolerance will be shown for people who assault and injure medical personnel, after two doctors were severely injured on Tuesday.

A surgeon in Chongqing was stabbed several times in the face and back by a 19-year-old patient and two of his friends, while another doctor from Jiangxi province was beaten by a patient's family members after the patient died.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said on its website on Tuesday that it will crack down on hospital-related crimes in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security.

All the suspects involved in the two cases were detained by police.

Violence against doctors in China has grabbed public attention in recent days, with discussions about the safety of medical staff.

In Chongqing's Shizhu County Hospital, where the surgeon was stabbed, medical staff went on strike on Tuesday, calling for severe punishment of the perpetrators.

"Trust between patients and doctors in China is facing a crisis, which resulted in the violence," said Gong Xiaoming, a physician who quit a public hospital and now runs a private medical group.

He said medicine is far beyond the knowledge of the public, and people have limited access to reliable medical information explained in simple language.

"A lack of information is behind the conflicts between patients and doctors," Gong said. "Especially in many public hospitals where a doctor has to treat a large number of patients, good service isn't guaranteed. And conflicts are much likely under stress."

According to the health commission, outpatient visits nationwide increased by 300 million from 2014 to 2015. But medical disputes dropped by about 8 percent to 71,000 during the period.

More than 80 percent of medical disputes were resolved through civil meditation, said Jiao Yahui, an official at the commission. She said law enforcement should be strengthened to crack down on violence against doctors.

"A satisfactory doctor-patient relationship also requires a good medical system behind it," she said.

Wang Xiaodong contributed to this story.

What they say

Even if a doctor is at fault, there is no excuse for violence. Violence against doctors only encourages conflicts between patients and medical staff.

Li Ying, deputy director of the Health News Media Research Center at Communication University of China

Public trust of medical staff has eroded, and many medical incidents have been reported in recent years. Only a better system that values doctors' work, respects people's lives and brings equal rights to both sides can fundamentally resolve the conflict.

Xu Feng, journalist in Shanghai

Not just me but many of my colleagues are unwilling to encourage our children to study medicine. Safety is a basic need for us. If our lives cannot even be guaranteed, I can't see any charm in the work.

Yang Li, physician at Kunming Children's Hospital in Yunnan province

yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn

Nurses from a hospital in Cangzhou, Hebei province, hold placards that say 'Don't vilify doctors' at an event on Tuesday. The event calls for protection of medical workers and a harmonious relationship between patients and doctors. Fu Xinchun / For China Daily

(China Daily 05/12/2016 page5)
Tourism workers in HK worried Updated: 2016-05-12 08:26 By Luis Liuin Hong Kong(China Daily)

Forty percent of employees in Hong Kong's hotels and beverage industries have voiced worries about their career future, according to a recent survey by an industry association.

The city recorded a 15 percent slump in arrivals from the Chinese mainland in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period last year.

Among the respondents to the survey by the Hong Kong Hotels, Food and Beverage Employees Association in April, only 12.5 percent of the employees were optimistic about their jobs and the industry's prospects.

Most of the anxious employees are room attendants, receptionists and catering staff. They fear possible layoffs, saying their companies are firing people and urging workers to use up all the leave they had accumulated, said Barry Kai Hung-chuen, the association's executive officer.

The latest data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board show that the number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong decreased by 15.1 percent in the first quarter. The association estimates that the city will receive 54 million visitors this year, 5 million fewer than in 2015.

The slump in mainland visitors has taken a toll on the three- and four-star hotels whose profits come primarily from mainland tourist groups. According to the association, hotels in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan of the New Territories, Sai Wan of Hong Kong Island and San Po Kong in Kowloon have been seriously affected, with their occupancy rate dropping by nearly 50 percent.

Besides the change of multiple-entry travel permits for Shenzhen residents to one visit per week and a fallen yuan, "we believe a series of uncivilized campaigns against mainland visitors have contributed to the loss", said Yip Lau-ching, secretary-general of the association.

Yip urged society to stop politicizing everything.

"The worsening tourism industry will affect the livelihoods of the 665,000 employees in related businesses," Yip said.

Willa Wu contributed to this story.
Shadow of Nanjing hangs over Hiroshima Updated: 2016-05-11 15:47 By Martin Sieff(chinadaily.com.cn)

Doves fly over the Peace Memorial Park with a view of the gutted A-bomb dome at a ceremony in Hiroshima, Japan August 6, 2006. [Photo/Agencies]

The White House announced on Tuesday that US President Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima later this month when he visits the country to attend the G7 Summit. It will be the first visit by a sitting US president. However, it would be wrong to interpret this as a message that the US is apologizing for the atomic bomb it dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945, which killed tens of thousands of Japanese.

Hiroshima was the target for the world's first use of a nuclear weapon. A US Army Air Force B-29 called the Enola Gay  the name of the flight commander's mother  dropped the Uranium-235 implosive device. Around 75,000 people were killed immediately and another estimated 125,000 died in the following years from the radiation and other injuries they sustained.

Three days later, the only other use of nuclear weapons against a human-inhabited target so far took place, when another US B-29 bomber carrying a more powerful plutonium device destroyed the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

US policymakers led by then president Harry S. Truman approved the attacks as a desperate measure to end World War II without having to launch Operation Olympic, the allied invasion of the home islands of Japan.

Sober US military assessments estimated that the invasion might cost hundreds of thousands Americans dead and millions more Japanese casualties.

The war that Truman wanted to end as rapidly as possible had already cost, by most recent estimates, 80 million lives including at least 27 million Russian dead, 16 million Chinese, overwhelmingly civilians, and the six million Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

But what is always forgotten across the United States and Europe is that the terrible war did not begin with the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939: it began with the Japanese invasion and effort to conquer China in 1937.

In the first nightmarish summer of war in 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army drove west up the Yangtze River Valley, slaughtering everyone in their path.

When they reached the Chinese capital of Nanjing, they carried out the first monstrous atrocity of the war, the Rape of Nanjing, killing at least 300,000 people and the mass rape of untold numbers of Chinese women. The atrocities were so terrible they even shocked card-carrying German members of the Nazi Party who witnessed them.

Ironically, the city of Hiroshima played a fateful role in these awful events. For the Imperial Japanese Army's military headquarters from which the drive up the Yangtze and the subjugation of Nanjing were directed was based in Hiroshima.

In the more than 70 years since those awful events, Hiroshima has become the symbol of the feared new nuclear age. It is, therefore, understandable that the Japanese media are stressing the issue of nuclear non-proliferation. That should be a priority issue at the G7 Summit. That is especially the case since it follows so rapidly after the conclusion of US President Barack Obama's latest Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC.

But as today's government in Tokyo supports the confrontational US maritime policies in the South China Sea, those attending the summit would also do well to recall the reckless, headlong charge into war of the militarist Japanese governments of the 1930s.

For the road to Hiroshima truly began with the atrocities of the drive up the Yangtze eight years earlier.

The author is a national columnist for the Post-Examiner online newspapers in the US and senior fellow of the American University in Moscow. He is the author of Cycles of Change: The Three Great Cycles of American History
Crucial for judiciary to determine how man died Updated: 2016-05-12 07:33 (China Daily)

Lei Yang. [File photo from web]

What happened between the police and 29-year-old Lei Yang on Saturday night? The entire truth about Lei's death is indispensable if justice is not only done but seen to be done in this case.

According to the latest statement by the police released on Wednesday, the young man put up a fierce resistance when police officers tried to interrogate him about his visit to a foot massage parlor, where sex services were believed to be provided. He even bit a police officer and tried to escape. After he was again subdued and put handcuffed into a police van, he was observed to be in physical distress and sent immediately to a hospital where he died.

From the police statement, there is no telling whether the police officers assaulted him because of his resistance, nor is there any evidence to connect his death with what the police officers did to him.

The police also said that those in the foot massage parlor now detained for allegedly providing sex services confirmed that Lei paid 200 yuan ($31) for sex, and a condom collected from the parlor proves that Lei had sex there.

Given the speculation there has been about what happened that night, it is important the police provide as much evidence as possible to corroborate their version of events.

The police have promised that an autopsy will be performed on the body by a third party under the supervision of prosecutors to find out the true cause of Lei's death.

The longer doubts about his death exist, the more guesswork there will be about the actions of the police officers involved. As a result, the conspiracy theories on the grapevine will very likely enjoy the oxygen of publicity, causing a lot of damage to the reputation of the police and the credibility of the government.

The top leadership has previously said that efforts should be made to let people feel the justice and fairness in every judicial case.

Now the concerns the public has demonstrated over the official story regarding this particular case provides the judiciary with an opportunity to fix and consolidate its reputation and credibility by conducting a thorough investigation into the case and finding out exactly what happened.

Only that will ensure justice for both the deceased and the police officers involved.
Time for policy to focus more on consumption Updated: 2016-05-12 08:20 By ZHU QIWEN(China Daily)

Tourists select cosmetics at Sanya Haitang Bay International Shopping Mall.[Photo by Huang Yiming / China Daily]

The country's sputtering export machine has obviously caught the full attention of Chinese policymakers who rolled out supportive measures on Monday.

However, similar government efforts to help domestic consumers, which would be more cost-efficient and effective in sustaining China's overall economic growth, are still in short supply.

For the world's second-largest economy to steadily press ahead with its transformation from expansion led by exports and investment toward growth driven by consumption and services, it is necessary for the Chinese authorities to entice consumers to spend more.

The General Administration of Customs said on Sunday that China's export growth plunged from 18.7 percent in March to only 4.1 percent in April. Such a weaker-than-expected export figure has undoubtedly dampened the hopes raised by a slew of upbeat economic data in March. It also made it urgent for the Chinese government to do all it can to bolster sluggish export growth.

To cope with the global market uncertainties that have disrupted the country's trade performance so far this year, the State Council, or the Cabinet, released a guideline document on Monday that set out supportive measures such as optimizing tax refund policies for certain exports, enhancing export credit insurance and offering more financial support to Chinese manufacturers.

Given the contribution that China's rising status as a leading global trade power had made to the country's double-digit growth during the past few decades, it is understandable that Chinese policymakers are seeking to reignite this seasoned growth engine. But the focus on exports has time and again led Chinese policymakers to postpone making a comprehensive stimulus package for consumers as a top priority.

But it is neither possible nor desirable to build the already-huge export engine into the key driving force again. There needs to be less dependence on Chinese manufacturers' unremitting efforts to export at any cost.

Both the 10-trillion-dollar-plus size of the Chinese economy and the huge share of global trade that Chinese exporters have put a limit on the role that export growth will play in boosting China's overall economic growth in coming years.

Instead, the country's ongoing economic transition toward more sustainable consumption and services-driven growth means the country is relying more and more on domestic consumers who have enjoyed far less policy support than Chinese exporters over the past three decades.

Consumption has already made a bigger contribution than investment and exports to overall economic growth in the first quarter of this year, while services expanded 7.6 percent and now account for 56.9 percent of the country's GDP.

It is not that Chinese policymakers never provide any government support for consumption growth. Government subsidies for energy-saving household appliances and new energy cars are clear examples of a helping hand that please both Chinese consumers and producers.

But the scale and scope of such policy support has never gained as much sense of urgency as the policy support aimed at beefing up exports and investment.

The stable growth of domestic consumption, long eclipsed by breathtaking investment and the boom in exports, only began to shine when these two growth engines recently began to lose steam.

However, the country's status quo consumption policy can neither meet the rising demands of Chinese families for better products and services nor reflect the potential for consumption to grow into a much bigger driver of economic growth as it is in many other countries of similar or higher income levels.

Urgent policy support to boost investment or export growth may help avoid an unexpected hard landing. Yet, it is only a substantial boost to domestic consumption that will guarantee moderate but sustained economic growth for years to come.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily.

zhuqiwen@chinadaily.com.cn
Strict governance of Party essential to its mission Updated: 2016-05-12 08:20 By GUO YADING(China Daily)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the 6th plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, Jan 12, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Whether the campaign to promote stricter governance of the ruling Party can achieve the expected and desired effects depends on whether effective education and disciplines can be put in place, and whether a sharp sword is hanging overhead to deter violations of the Party's rules.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China convened in late 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as general secretary has adhered to stricter governance of the Party and introduced a strategic layout for building the Party.

Xi's theories and views on stricter governance of the Party are important guides for the comprehensive advancement of this work, and the push for stricter Party governance demonstrates Xi's sense of responsibility and mission as the leader of the Party.

Without stricter governance of our Party, we will sooner or later become disqualified as the ruling party and unavoidably be deserted by history, Xi has said.

Stricter governance of the Party is an inevitable requirement for the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics and the Party's mission to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

That Xi has put Party building in the context of the Chinese dream fully reflects the requirements of the times and his resolve to achieve this historical goal. Thus stricter governance of the Party is an inevitable requirement for the completion of the party's mission.

To strengthen Party building from an ideological perspective remains a basic principle. However, history proves that ideology is far from enough.

To promote stricter governance of the Party, we should tightly combine our efforts to strengthen Party building on both the ideological and systematic fronts, and promote their integration, Xi has stressed.

This remark profoundly states the dialectical relationship between the two, and points out the goals and direction for Party building. Such kind of clarification is of practical, targeted and long-term significance.

As Xi has said, to promote stricter governance of the Party requires institutional guarantees. Since Xi took office, revisions to the Party's regulations and the promulgation of new rules have institutionally standardized Party building work and advanced it in a systemic and comprehensive manner.

Experience has demonstrated time and again that if confined to partial aspects, Party building does not achieve expected effects. Given that the different aspects of Party building are mutually connected and cannot be separated, only with an overall plan, that is comprehensively advanced and evaluated can Party building achieve its purpose.

The CPC is a party that possesses abundant political resources and thus Party building should be based on its own political advantages and show its distinct characteristics. In this sense, the stress Xi has repeatedly put on the need to inherit and carry forward the Party's fine traditions is not only a reflection of the past experiences of Party building, but also a requirement for the current and future building of the Party.

Running through Xi's philosophy of stricter Party governance is a strong "problem" awareness and a clear "problem" orientation, both of which testifying to Xi's pragmatic attitude and sense of responsibility. These are also reflected in his severe crackdown on corruption and relentless campaign to eradicate extravagance and improve the government's working style.

Under the leadership of Xi, the Party will surely give Chinese people a satisfactory answer sheet in its campaign for stricter self-governance.

The author is a professor with the party school of Zhejiang provincial committee.
California, China work to boost business Updated: 2016-05-12 11:03 By Lia Zhiu in Los Angeles(China Daily USA)

Ca lifornia Governor Jerry Brown speaks at the California-China Business Summit on Wednesday in Los Angeles.RYAN MILLER / CAPTURE IMAGING FOR CHINAWEEK

China and California, the world's second- and eighth-largest economies, have been working at the sub-national level to seek cooperation in areas such as biotech, clean tech, investment and cross-border e-commerce to boost bilateral trade and investment.

A Chinese delegation of 130 members, including entrepreneurs and government officials, is visiting California. They attended the California-China Business Summit held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where they met their US counterparts.

The Chinese economy has slowed down recently, and China has reduced purchases, and all sorts of economic problems have been seen in different parts of the world, which illustrates the interdependency that the countries now have, California Governor Jerry Brown told the summit.

"In a very profound way, human beings are inclusively tied together by their mutual impact based on what they do," he said. "That's a big problem, because we have so many languages and differences. There's no doubt that leaders in Shanghai see the world differently than the leaders in Washington."

But he noted that through gathering together and business arrangements, "we build that connective tissue to slowly bring the world close together".

In the past three years since the framework of China Provinces-US California Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment Cooperation was established in 2013, Chinese enterprises have invested in more than 300 new projects, almost half of the total Chinese-invested projects in California, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Liu Jian told the summit.

China has become the largest trading partner of the United States. By the end of 2015, the United States had invested in 66,000 projects in China, and Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the US had reached $46.6 billion, creating more than 90,000 jobs in the US, according to Liu.

"I want to make sure the China relationship with California works in so many ways because I don't want to minimize the dangers in this world today," said Brown. "People will be affected, either positively or negatively, based on how the China-US relationship unfolds over the coming years."

"For our own prosperity we want China to be prosperous, for our own long-term well-being, we want China to advance in the technologies of reducing greenhouse gases, and develop ways to protect our natural environment," he said.

California, the principal trade gateway between the US and China, has been a key beneficiary of China's economic growth, not only because of China's major market for the state but also because of its increasing investment, according to a white paper by the Milken Institute.

"The most dynamic part of the relationship between the two has been the rise of Chinese FDI in California," the white paper said.

California has benefited in a major way, seeing Chinese FDI in the state rise from less than $100 million in 2005 to more than $9 billion in 2015, according to the white paper.

North American captures only 5 percent of FDI outflow from China, which means California is well positioned to capture a significant increase of Chinese investment in more sophisticated areas such as technology and real estate development, said Kevin Klowden, executive director of Milken Institute California Center.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
China, WIPO ink new agreement to enhance global IP cooperation Updated: 2016-05-12 04:56 (Xinhua)

GENEVA -- China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance partnership in the field of intellectual property (IP) protection.

The memorandum was signed between China's Minister of State Administration for Industry and Commerce Zhang Mao and the director general of WIPO Francis Gurry.

While placing particular emphasis on the Madrid System, a one-stop solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide, the memorandum builds on a covenant signed by both parties in 2010.

In light of China's economic growth, trademark law reforms and the country's efforts to streamline trademark registration, the agreement also takes into account China's growing role in the field of IP.

According to statistics, close to 2.9 million trademark applications were made in China last year, up from 766,319 in 2006.

China also ranked sixth in 2015 in terms of the number of applications filed under the Madrid System, with 2,321 applications filed by Chinese applicants.

"There is a huge potential for more Chinese application filings with the Madrid System," Zhang said.

"In the future, we'll continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to use trademarks in their 'Go Global' strategy, strengthen the promotion, training and consultancy of the Madrid System, and carry out universal education on international registration of trademarks," he added.

The minister hoped that the Madrid System would become the favored option for enterprises seeking to register international trademarks.

He also highlighted the importance of promoting Chinese brands internationally, in line with the country's status as the world's second largest economy.

"We believe that, in the next decade, trademark and brand strategies will be an important driver for economic development," he said

Zhang said China will continue with its market reforms and allow brands to play their active role of promoting competition, stimulating innovation and driving development.
Chinese, other foreign investors face new property clarity rules Updated: 2016-05-12 07:08 By Fu Jing in London(chinadaily.com.cn)

A national flag hangs across a street of houses in London, the UK, June 3, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

The Chinese companies and other foreign investors which hold or want to buy properties in UK must state who really owns them, according to the press office of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Cameron will be announcing a set of new global commitments at today's anti-corruption summit, to which China has sent a delegation. And it is expected that the Chinese delegation will be expressing the country's determination to continue its iron-fisted efforts in uprooting corruption.

The UK has attracted a growing number of Chinese companies and individual investors who have been buying properties in recent years while the bilateral economic and trade relations have deepened.

Cameron will also announce that the UK will host the first ever International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre in London to strengthen cross-border investigations.

According to the press office, any foreign company that wants to buy UK property or bid for central government contracts here will have to join a new public register of beneficial ownership information before they can do so. This will be the first register of its kind anywhere in the world.

Crucially, it will include companies who already own property in the UK, not just those wishing to buy. Foreign companies own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales. Over 44,000 of these are in London.

The new register for foreign companies will mean corrupt individuals and countries will no longer be able to move, launder and hide illicit funds through London's property market, and will not benefit from public funds.

France, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Afghanistan will follow the UK's lead and commit to launch their own public registers of true company ownership, while Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, Indonesia, Ireland and Georgia will agree to take the initial steps towards making similar arrangements.

The UK will launch its own fully public register next month  the first G20 country to do so.

His press office reported that Cameron will say at the summit that a global problem needs a truly global solution. It needs an unprecedented, courageous commitment from world leaders to stand united, to speak into the silence, and to demand change.

"That is why I am hosting this summit. Today is just the start of a more co-ordinated, ambitious global effort to defeat corruption," the press office quoted Cameron as saying.

To contact the reporter: fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
Beijing urges Manila to 'meet halfway' Updated: 2016-05-12 08:26 By Wang Qingyun(China Daily)

Beijing urged the new government of the Philippines to "meet China halfway" to solve maritime disputes.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks on Wednesday, after the likely Philippine president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, expressed willingness to talk with China about the issue.

"We hope that the new Philippine government will meet China halfway, properly deal with disputes and take concrete measures to push China-Philippines relations back to the track of sound development," Lu said.

Duterte said his country and China could set up joint ventures to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea. Agence France-Presse quoted his spokesman as saying the likely president-elect "is open to bilateral talks with China".

This is in stark contrast with the stance of the current Philippines government, which has rejected such talks. The Philippines filed an international arbitration case against China in January 2013 over the two nations' disputes in the area.

China reacted positively to Duterte's remarks.

"There will be no insoluble disputes" as long as the two countries stick to the principles of treating each other with honesty and seeking common ground while reserving differences, said Lu.

He said on Tuesday that bilateral ties have suffered great difficulties "due to reasons known to all", referring to the Philippines' continuous challenging of China's sovereignty in the South China Sea in recent years, including its filing of the arbitration case.

Zhou Fangyin, a professor of Chinese foreign policy at the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, said that unlike the current administration of President Benigno Aquino III, whose policies in the South China Sea have included "meaningless provocation", Duterte is likely to be "more flexible" on the issue.

"Duterte hopes very much that China will help the Philippines develop its infrastructure and economy, in order to strengthen his ruling foundation," he said.

Chen Qinghong, assistant researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Duterte is likely to be more practical than Aquino.

"He may adjust the Philippines approach to the South China Sea issue. But the room to adjust is limited," he said, adding that the country probably will continue to be heavily influenced by the United States.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn
Supporters of Brazil's Rousseff clash with police as her removal looms

Updated: 2016-05-12 11:05

(Agencies)

Women protest against the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff at Paulista avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BRASILIA - Supporters of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff clashed with police outside the Senate on Wednesday ahead of a vote to put her on trial for breaking budget laws, that would mark the end of 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America's biggest country.

If her opponents garner a simple majority in the 81-seat Senate, in a session that will last late into the night, Rousseff will be replaced on Thursday by Vice President Michel Temer as acting president for up to six months during the trial.

After speeches by half of the 70 senators who had registered to speak, 27 had indicated they would vote to put Rousseff ontrial, versus only seven against.

Outside Congress, where a metal fence was erected to keepapart rival protests, about 6,000 backers of impeachment chanted "Out with Dilma" while police used pepper spray to disperse gangs of Rousseff supporters, who hurled flares back. One person was arrested for inciting violence.
California, China work to boost business Updated: 2016-05-12 11:03 By Lia Zhiu in Los Angeles(China Daily)

California Governor Jerry Brown speaks at the California-China Business Summit on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging for China Week

China and California, the world's second- and eighth-largest economies, have been working at the sub-national level to seek cooperation in areas such as biotech, clean tech, investment and cross-border e-commerce, to boost bilateral trade and investment.

A Chinese delegation of 130 members, including entrepreneurs and government officials, is visiting California. They attended the California-China Business Summit held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where they met their US counterparts.

The Chinese economy has slowed down recently and China has reduced purchases, and all sorts of economic problems have been seen in different parts of the world, which illustrates the interdependency that the countries now have, California Governor Jerry Brown told the the summit.

"In a very profound way, human beings are inclusively tied together by their mutual impact based on what they do," he said. "That's a big problem, because we have so many languages and differences. There's no doubt that leaders in Shanghai see the world differently than the leaders in Washington."

But he noted that through gathering together and business arrangements, "we build that connective tissue to slowly bring the world close together".

In the past three years since the framework of China Provinces-US California Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment Cooperation was founded in 2013, Chinese enterprises have invested in more than 300 new projects, almost half of the total Chinese-invested projects in California, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Liu Jian told the summit.

China has become the largest trading partner of the United States. By the end of 2015, the United States had invested in 66,000 projects in China, and Chinese direct foreign investment (FDI) in the US had reached $46.6 billion, creating more than 90,000 jobs in the US, according to Liu.

"I want to make sure the China relationship with California works in so many ways because I don't want to minimize the dangers in this world today," said Brown. "People will be affected, either positively or negatively, based on how the China-US relationship unfolds over the coming years."

"For our own prosperity we want China to be prosperous, for our own long-term well-being, we want China to advance in the technologies of reducing greenhouse gases, and develop ways to protect our natural environment," he said.

California, the principal trade gateway between the United States and China, has been a key beneficiary of China's economic growth, not only because of China's major market for the state but also because of its increasing investment, according to a whitepaper by the Milken Institute.

"The most dynamic part of the relationship between the two has been the rise of Chinese FDI in California," the whitepaper said.

California has benefited in a major way, seeing Chinese FDI in the state rise from less than $100 million in 2005 to more than $9 billion in 2015, according to the whitepaper.

North American captures only 5 percent of foreign FDI outflow from China, which means California is well positioned to capture a significant increase of Chinese investment in more sophisticated areas such as technology and real estate development, said Kevin Klowden, executive director of Milken Institute California Center.

At the same time, California also provides excellent opportunities for return on investment. Recent high-profile Chinese investments such as Tencent's acquisition of Riot Games, BYD's bus factory, and Greenland USA's new complex in downtown Los Angeles complement China's growing profile in the technology sector, says the report.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
China, Morocco sign currency swap deal Updated: 2016-05-12 10:01 (Xinhua)

BEIJING - The central banks of China and Morocco signed a three-year currency swap deal worth 10 billion yuan ($1.53 billion) on Wednesday.

The deal, which came as King Mohammed VI of Morocco began a state visit to China, will facilitate bilateral trade and investment, according to a statement on the website of the People's Bank of China.
Germany to add 14,300 troops by 2023 in first increase since reunification Updated: 2016-05-12 17:29 By Wang Mengzhen(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen chats with soldiers during a visit of the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey, Jan 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Germany is going to expand its military forces for the first time since its reunification in 1990, marking an end to the country's successive army cuts after the Cold War.

Bundeswehr, the unified armed forces of Germany, is expected to add 7,000 military jobs and 4,400 civilian officers in the next seven years, AFP reported. The total number of additional troops is estimated to reach 14,300 so as to cope with new missions.

"A quarter century of a shrinking military is now over in Germany," German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced in Berlin on Tuesday, China News Service reported.

The central European federal state is also set to boost its military strength by updating its military equipment, budgets and personnel, Ursula said.

As a key member state of both the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), German forces are facing increasing challenges in overseas operations, including UN's peacekeeping mission in Mali, the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and the at-sea rescue of massive refugees in the Mediterranean. Currently, the German navy is building a large number of frigates to fulfill its multinational missions.

Armed forces in Germany have seen a significant reduction since the country's reunification. In 1990, the number of soldiers reached 585,000, but the number was cut to 178,000 as of December last year. In 2011, the German government imposed a cap of 185,000 soldiers.

The historic decision has raised strong concerns in Europe. As a response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has gone on-record saying that Russia will take "necessary actions" if NATO's military infrastructure approaches the Russian border, reported China News Service.
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The local trend is that the VN-Index was for the first time this year rising above 600 points, and some investors continue to hold onto their "iced tea" stocks, waiting for a miracle that will push their prices up. VNA/VNS File Photo

HA NOI  With bad business results, stocks of some firms were trading at just half or one third of a glass of iced tea priced at VN3,000 (13 US cents). However, some investors still seek their luck in such penny stocks.

The local trend is that the VN-Index was for the first time this year rising above 600 points, and some investors continue to hold onto their "iced tea" stocks, waiting for a miracle that will push their prices up.

When asked about basic indicators to buy stocks such as EPS (earnings per share) or P/E (price/ earnings per share), most investors said they never buy such penny stocks because bad business results from the firms would never lift their stock price.

However, in some cases, there were winners. Nguyen Hoang Son, an investor in HCM City said he earned VN200 million from just Resources JSC (TNT) stocks. Son bought those stocks at VN4,000 each which he then sold for VN14,000.

The shares have increased more than 10-fold from VN2,500 in 2015. Son earned far from what he could have expected with a profit margin of 250 per cent.

Another investor in HCM City bought Dream House JSC (DRH) at VN6,000 last year, and sold them when they reached VN 23,600 in early January, pocketing nearly VN100 million. She still regrets selling too soon as the shares are now worth VN45,000.

These two examples are among those that can encourage investors, especially those with tiny budgets, to spend on the local penny stocks despite those stocks receiving officially warnings due to accumulated losses from issuing firms.

However, according to Nguyen Thi Ngan Tuyen, head of the analysis section at Maybank Kim Eng Securities JSC, who has experience with penny stock followers, winners in the field could be counted on fingers. She said normally, low prices reflected firms continuous losses or even more serious problems, so in most the cases, investors would lose when prices went down.

According to stock market statistics, the number of stocks trading below par value (VN10,000 each) on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) was 171 out of a total of 367. Of which, 65 stocks were trading below VN5,000, 25 stocks were traded below VN3,000 dong, and 10 shares were traded below VN2,000 each.

Also, having more than 60 codes traded at penny prices, low-price stocks in the HCM Stock Exchange still maintained liquidity while most of the penny stocks in the northern bourse failed to have any liquidity for months.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Financial Investment (VAFI), said investors should be very careful of very low price stocks as they reflected the health of the business. They should learn about the health of the firms carefully from their financial statements and check their transparency of business information before buying.

He warned that those investors with no experience in the market would be most disadvantaged.

Some leaders of the HoSE, would strengthen the disclosure activities of firms in the future to help local investors grasp the situation of issuers of stocks they might buy. They would require all listed firms to explain and clarify all the required information for transparency. Those firms with continuous losses would be delisted in the bourse.  VNS
HA NOI  The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has entrusted relevant agencies to closely scrutinise the Panama Papers and act on the information in accordance with the countrys legal regulations.

This was announced by Nguyen Van Ngoc, director of SBVs National Anti-Money Laundering Department.

Ngocs order comes after several Vietnamese names were included in a huge database of secret offshore companies, part of the Panama Papers and Offshore Leaks investigations, posted online this week.

The department would also co-operate with other relevant ministries and agencies to deal with the cases in accordance with their respective functions and the countrys legal regulations, Ngoc said.

Although some Vietnamese names were published in the Panama Papers, no detailed information on the operations or transactions undertaken in the cases had been published as yet, he said.

According to Ngoc, the country currently has adequate foreign currency regulations that cover a range of issues, from payment transactions to money transfers in and out of Viet Nam for current accounts, capital transactions and open foreign accounts.

The Panama Papers, disclosed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) after they were obtained from Panama law firm and corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca, includes 11.5 million documents, some of which date back to the 1970s, that detail the financial and the attorney-client information of more than 214,488 offshore entities.

German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung was the first to gain access to the Panama Papers database after a tip-off from a source named John Doe. The newspaper then granted the ICIJ access to this database.

The Panama Papers, first reported by the media on April 3, illustrates how wealthy individuals, including public officials, are able to keep their personal financial information secret.  VNS
HA NOI  The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner of the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, flew between HCM City and northern Hai Phong City to celebrate the inauguration of Cat Bi international Airport on May 12.

The flights were witnessed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and by ministry representatives, Hai Phong City and agencies.

General Director of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) Pham Ngoc Minh said the flights were a gift to celebrate Cat Bi Airport and Hai Phong.

Minh said using the Boeing 787 at Cat Bi Airport demonstrated VNAs commitment to work with domestic airports to develop domestic and international flight networks, improve service quality, and meet passenger demand.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights are a good use of Cat Bi Airport, which is designed for Vietnam Airliness modern aircraft.

Vietnam Airlines has utilized air routes to and from Hai Phong since the 1990s. This has helped Hai Phong and Ha Noi to become entrepots for travellers and goods in the countrys northern region.

The airline will continue coordinating with relevant agencies to evaluate increasing passenger demand for more flights to and from Hai Phong, especially international routes. It also plans to use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus 350-900 XWB to better meet increasing demand.

Vietnam Airlines and budget airline Jetstar Pacific operate about 100 flights per week on five routes to Cat Bi Airport, including between Hai Phong and HCM City, and a Nang and Buon Me Thuot. The cooperation between the two airlines is part of the firms strategic plan for developing the double brand, VNA-JPA, to serve passengers in the northern region.

There are three domestic airlines operating at the airport, including Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietjet Air.

According to Hai Phongs Peoples Committee, there are four return flights per week between Hai Phong and Phu Quoc. There are also three return flights between Hai Phong and a Lat. New international routes from Hai Phong to China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand will open soon.  VNS
HCM CITY  Authorities in the Mekong Delta provinces have helped locals cope with the prolonged drought and salinity in rivers, minimising the losses caused by the twin disasters.

In Kien Giang Province, they are using 20 pumps to move saltwater out of the Rach GiaLong Xuyen and Ong Hien canals, trying to pump the salt water into the sea so that fresh water can flow from upstream into rivers and canals supplying Rach Gia City.

Nguyen Huu Hoai Phuong, director of the Kien Giang Water Supply and Drainage Co., said barges are used to carry freshwater, which is then pumped into a reservoir used by the companys water supply system.

On Sunday 15,000cu.m of fresh water was pumped.

With this water, Kien Giangs water pumping station can operate at 65 per cent of capacity, Phuong said.

In addition, the company has dug three wells to draw more water for peoples daily needs.

In Ca Mau Province, the chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, Nguyen Tien Hai, has instructed relevant agencies and authorities at district and commune levels to provide financial support to paddy farmers whose fields have been damaged.

The prolonged drought has damaged over 51,000ha of paddy fields, of which 33,000ha have been damaged by over 70 per cent.

It has affected the livelihoods of 36,000 rice farmers.

Families who suffered 30-70 per cent damage are receiving relief of VN1 million (US$44) per hectare of paddy in case of normal seeds and VN1.5 million ($66) in case of hybrid seeds.

The total compensation has added up to nearly VN90 billion, of which 70 per cent will come from the Government, 20 per cent from the province and 10 per cent from the districts.

The number of households affected by the natural disasters and the area damaged are on the rise because the drought is on-going, Ca Mau authorities said.

In Hau Giang Province, if the seawater intrusion into rivers lasts until the end of May, an additional 3,000ha of summer-autumn paddy could be destroyed and farmers in many districts will not be able to farm another 6,000ha (of the summer-autumn crop).

If the salinity continues until June, farmers will not be able to grow the years third rice crop (of 2016), while traditional crafts (such as water hyacinth knitting) will be suspended due to lack of raw materials.

The losses caused by the seawater intrusion in Hau Giang could amount to VN150 billion (US$6.7 million), according to the provinces Peoples Committee.

In early May, the provincial authorities measured salinity in Vi Thanh Town, Long My and Vi Thuy districts, and Long My Town, and found them ranging between 0.2 per cent and 1.78 per cent.

Provincial authorities have stepped up forecasts about salinity, built embankments and dredged canals to keep out saltwater and store fresh water for peoples daily needs

Meanwhile, groundwater levels in Bac Lieu Province are over two metres lower than last year, causing wells to dry up and posing difficulties for production and peoples daily activities, according to the Bac Lieu Centre for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation for Rural Areas.

Nguyen Thi Mai, a resident of Hong Dan Districts Ninh Hoa Commune, said a 0.5ha paddy field planted by her family over a month ago has lacked irrigation with canals and wells drying up. We hope there will be rain soon to save our paddy field.

Luong Ngoc Lan, director of the Bac Lieu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has urged relevant agencies to take measures to cope with the problems, like supplying water for residents daily needs.

But his department has advised farmers not to plant crops and breed shrimp now, telling them to instead wait for rains.

The provincial administration has also petitioned the Government for help to enable local residents to stabilise their production and daily activities.  VNS

Mekong Delta drought to be addressed at MDEC 2016

Integration and sustainable development in Mekong Delta region will be the main topic for the Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation Forum held in Hau Giang Province between July 11 - 15.

During a meeting yesterday about the forum, Nguyen Phong Quang, deputy head of South Western Steering Committee, said the forum theme would be Mekong Delta  Active Integration and Sustainable Development.

The MDEC Forum aims to promote the potential and strengths of the Mekong Delta region and improve economic cooperation towards sustainable development and investment attraction. Workshops on credit in favor of socio-economic development and on technological applications for enterprises in value chains will also be held.

Of note, Quang approved the Hau Giang Provinces proposal to organise a conference about the effects of drought and salinity intrusion in the delta and solutions to deal with the disaster.

The forum also targets enhancing cooperation with foreign countries, and with countries that have an interest in the management and use of natural resources of the Mekong River.

It will also promote trade cooperation, investment promotion and tourism.  VNS
On the occasion of the Independence Day of the State of Israel today (May 12), Viet Nam News presents an article written by Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam, Meirav Eilon Shahar.

I have the pleasure to celebrate once again the Independence Day of the State of Israel here in Viet Nam. This year, for our 68th anniversary, I would like the people of Viet Nam to discover some of the characteristics of Israelis.

A young society with ancient roots, Israel is home to a widely diverse population of more than 8 million citizens from many different backgrounds - a mosaic of people living together and contributing to its vibrant democracy. With an energetic, can-do spirit and remarkable social mobility, the inclusiveness of Israeli society celebrates the right to be different and empowers this broad range of people to coexist in harmony.

The land of Israel has a special meaning for all three main monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), and Israel is home to a variety of thriving religious communities. 75 per cent of the population of Israel is Jewish while the other 25 per cent consists of Muslims, Christians, Bahai and other minorities.

Life in Israel is anything but static. The rate of socio-economic mobility, at over 70 per cent, is among the highest in the world. As citizens of a young, dynamic country, Israelis select their own destinies, regardless of their background.

Yesterday night in Jerusalem, on the Eve of our Independence Day, 12 candles were lit by remarkable Israelis that have made major contributions to Israel. It is a custom we do every year and with that we conclude the Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers who died defending Israel and open the Independence Day festivities.

This year we chose the theme "Courageous Citizens" and the ceremony recognised Israelis who saved lives during war, terror, natural disasters around the world and helped people with disabilities. They come from all walks of life with different background, religion, ethnicity and gender. Such is the story of Gabi Barshishet, 49, who was honoured for his volunteer work with the Megilot Rescue Unit and expert involved in key rescue missions in Nepal, Haiti, Japan, the Philippines, and elsewhere in the world.

I believe Vietnamese and Israeli people share the same "courage" characteristic and unity. That together with the fact that we have been facing similar challenges from historical to modern times results in a close relationship between our countries.

The closeness of our ties is underlined by the growing bilateral political and strategic dialogue facilitated through high level visits. Last year we were honoured to host the official visit by Deputy Prime Minister Mr Hoang Trung Hai accompanied by a large group of businesspeople, Deputy Prime Minister and former Chairman of Central Economic Committee Mr Vuong inh Hue, and Chairman of Central Commission for External Relations Mr Hoang Binh Quan.

Furthermore, our countries share dynamic co-operation in the academic, scientific, technical and economic realms. After 23 years of diplomatic ties, Viet Nam and Israel have become important partners. In terms of commerce, Israel is one of Viet Nams major partners in the Middle East with bilateral trade volume of US$2.3 billion in 2015.

Israel is proud to be a partner of Viet Nam in knowledge sharing and transfer of know-how. As we believe human resources are key to the sustainable development of any country, Israel has been providing capacity building and training programmes to Viet Nam in multiple fields such as agriculture, water management, food security, education and entrepreneurship.

On this occasion, I would like to wish everyone in Viet Nam good health and prosperity as we say in Hebrew, "Yom Hatzmaut Sameach". VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with voters from the northern port city of Hai Phong at the weekend, confirming to do his utmost to improve national socio-economic management and continue building and promulgating new policies to increase labour productivity and facilitate business operation..
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for Victoria Kwakwa, the World Banks Regional Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific. VNA File Photo

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for Victoria Kwakwa, the World Banks Regional Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific.

The PM expressed his hope that with her deep understanding of the Vietnamese country and people, the World Bank (WB) official will continue to help Viet Nam with infrastructure and renewable energy development as well as the project on land database and educational cooperation.

As one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Viet Nam wishes to receive WB assistance to implement measures responding to this phenomenon in both the short and long terms, he said.

The Government leader also suggested the bank maintain its ODA provision to help the country address difficulties during the economic development process.

Kwakwa hailed PM Phucs drastic moves to develop the private sector as a good start to help enterprises overcome difficulties and grow stably.

She compared notes with the host on measures to counter the drought in the central and Central Highlands region and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

The WB is willing to help Viet Nam access preferential loans to develop renewable energy in order to reduce the negative impacts of climate change, which is part of the countrys commitments at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the WB official stated.

Viet Nam is one of five nations to receive priority to carry out the programme, she added.

She also affirmed that the WB will continue helping Viet Nam in restructuring debts, and addressing pressures and burdens on the State budget.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday hosted a reception for ambassadors of ASEAN member countries, expressing his belief that the diplomats will contribute more to enhancing the friendship and all-round collaboration between their countries and Viet Nam.

The leader noted with joy Viet Nams establishment of close co-operation frameworks with other ASEAN nations, including the special co-operation with Laos, the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive co-operation with Cambodia, the strategic partnership with the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, and the friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Brunei and Myanmar.

The PM called on all ASEAN member countries to join hands with each other to build an ASEAN of unity and solidarity, especially in the context of changes in the regional strategic climate and the growing strategic competition between powers.

Viet Nam would team up with its ASEAN peers in maintaining the groups key role, strengthening its solidarity and unity in handling regional strategic issues and other matters relating to the blocs relations with partners, as well as in defining the regional structure on the basis of forums led by ASEAN, he promised.

Mentioning the complicated developments in the East Sea, PM Phuc appealed to the countries to step up their co-ordination to promote ASEANs central role, maintain intra-bloc solidarity and common stance on the East Sea issue.

He stressed that ASEAN countries should push for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the full and effective compliance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards quickly reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in order to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and co-operation in the region.

Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities would closely co-ordinate with the ambassadors to help them fulfil their assigned tasks and make more contributions to the cooperation between Viet Nam and other ASEAN countries, the Government leader affirmed.

On behalf of the diplomats, Lao Ambassador Thongsavanh Phomvihane pledged to do their utmost to foster co-operation between their countries and Viet Nam, and contribute to the friendship and solidarity within ASEAN, for regional prosperity and development.

The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  An integration programme on military  civil medical services has created an extensive network of healthcare services and disease prevention and consolidated the countrys healthcare system at the grassroots over the past ten years.

Speaking at the fifth conference on military - civil medical service integration in Ha Noi on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am highlighted the programmes contribution to people and soldiers healthcare in remote, mountainous, border and island areas, along with protection and poverty reduction, in important defence and security regions of the country.

am said that the health and defence ministries should work closely in developing strategies for further consolidation of a healthcare system at the grassroot levels in border and island areas.

Along with infrastructure and facility investment, it needed to pay more attention to health and human resources and to expand effective models in the countrys weakest localities such as mountainous, remote, border and island areas.

The Deputy PM said that military hospitals not only performed traditional tasks of peoples healthcare and protection, disease and disaster prevention, but also provided medical services to local residents.

He suggested that the two ministries should promote the programmes advantages in victim search and rescue during disasters and other emergency situations.

Deputy Health Minister Pham Le Tuan said that in the near future, the programme would implement measures to develop a healthcare system at the grassroots level while ensuring military health services.

The programme would focus its activities on providing needy people living in difficulties and key defence and security areas more access to quality healthcare, and promote the health sectors abilities to respond to emergency situations, Tuan said.

Tuan said that the programme contributed to the countrys socio-economic development and defence and security consolidation from 2005 to 2015.

A network of 152 military  civil health clinics were established at border guard stations along the country border lines. Besides providing medical services, military medical staffs also participated in implementation of national health programmes such as immunisation, malaria and malnutrition prevention, population and family planning, according to Tuan.

Six health clinics were set up with modern facilities, especially operation rooms with telemedicine systems established in Bach Long Vi, Phu Quy, and Tho Chu islands, Tuan said.

The health ministry reports that the programme has an improved capacity of 529 commune health clinics nationwide with a total investment of more than VN420 billion (US$18.7 million) during the past ten years.

Under the programme, more than 23 million residents were provided free health check-ups while more than 65,000 soldiers received medical services by civil doctors.

On the sea and island areas, military medical force also provided rescue services to over 6,641 people, including 1,885 soldiers and 4,756 residents.

The defence ministry has appointed helicopters to send 62 injured and sick patients from the island to the mainland for emergency service and treatment.  VNS
THAI BINH  The Peoples Committee of the northern province of Thai Binh has instructed relevant agencies to correct the inaccurate information released recently regarding dead marine animals found at Tien Hai Districts Con Vanh Beach.

Since early May, a number of articles posted on websites and social networks have claimed fish, oyster and jellyfish had drifted on the shore of the local beach in Nam Phu Commune.

Pham Van Nghiem, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Tien Hai District, confirmed no dead marine life had been found on the local beach.

"The information is completely false," he said.

The head of the management board of the Con Vanh tourism zone, ao Manh Thang, also said the information was fabricated.

The board, in co-ordination with the border guards, inspected the 10km coastline but didnt see any dead marine animals, Thang said.

On Sunday, Nguyen Hong Dien, chairman of the Peoples Committee, led a delegation comprising committee members to inspect the beach.

The delegation said it found no dead sea creatures on the beach and that it would deal strictly with people who had posted this misinformation.

The local authorities also said they had not received any reports from tourists and local residents of dead marine life drifting onto the shore.

The provincial committee requested local authorities to strengthen inspection and strictly control the quantity of fish and seafood shipped from other areas to Con Vanh Beach.

The committee also asked the authorities to raise awareness and supply information on fishing and aquaculture to fishermen in the area.

Meanwhile, the environment protection activities around the beach have been intensified.  VNS
THANH HOA  The Hoa Binh Sugarcane and Sugar JSC will pay more than VN1.4 billion (US$62,790 ) as compensation to the households that suffered from the mass fish deaths along the Buoi River.

This was announced by the Peoples Committee of central Thanh Hoa Provinces Thach Thanh District.

Yesterday, heads of the company held a meeting with the provincial authority on the mass fish deaths along the Buoi River, which had adversely affected the local farmers. The company was blamed for discharging untreated waste water into the river, causing the deaths of tens of tonnes of fish.

Although no official conclusion was announced by the authorised agencies, the company admitted to discharging 250-300cu.m. of untreated wastewater per day into the river in late April and early May, polluting the river and impacting the life of the local people in 15 communes in Thach Thanh District and seven communes in Vinh Loc District.

The river had reported turned a muddy blue colour and had even started to smell recently. More than 17 tonnes of fish were killed affecting 34 households in Thach Thanh District.

The committee said compensation will be given according to the market price of VN80,000 per kg.

The company has been ordered to pay the compensation by May 18.

The committee also asked the company to provide rice to 71 households affected by the polluted water for the next six months. Representative of the company said they would consider the committees proposal and respond shortly.  VNS
HA NOI  Adopting drastic measures to minimise the impact of prostitution on society was identified as the core task of the prostitution prevention programme for 2016-20.

The measures encompass mobilising more community organisations to get involved in the prostitution prevention programme, raising public awareness among people from all walks of life on the need for prostitution prevention, piloting the model to prevention prostitution in several areas and strengthening inspections nationwide.

This was announced by Nguyen Xuan Lap, head of the Department for the Prevention of Social Evil under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, at this mornings workshop, held by the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control.

The workshop was organised to outline the core tasks of the prostitution prevention programme during 2016-20.

Participants in the workshop said prostitution was believed to have a range of negative effects on society, such as increasing the risk of spreading HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also leads to an increase in drug crimes and human trafficking.

Also at the meeting, it was reported that more than 11,200 prostitutes work in Viet Nam, based on the statistics of authorised agencies in 63 provinces and cities across the country.

However, participants at the meeting said the real number was much higher, noting it was hard for the authorised agencies to make accurate calculations as prostitutes had many tricks for hiding their activities.

Participants said prostitutes were now taking advantage of the boom in social networking sites such as Facebook and Zalo to promote their services and find clients.

Statistics revealed that 80 per cent of their clients were aged 18-25 years. Prostitutes were found mainly in parts of Hong (Red) River Delta, the northern central region, the south-eastern region and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.  VNS
In negotiations with the government of Mauritius, Indian tax officials found a bargaining chip in the tax treatment for money invested from Singapore in India.

It simply says if an investor from Singapore can claim to have spent a fixed sum of money as his investment in the island, the Indian government will not lift the 'corporate veil' to demand to know the antecedents of the money. This will apply even when India rings in its General Anti-Avoidance Rules on tax from next year. The latter would arm officials with the authority to demand difficult answers from foreign investors about the tax paid by them abroad.

The clause is known as limitation of benefits (LOB), typically one of several in the tax world's penchants for naming rules opposite to what they are supposed to mean. The India-Singapore tax treaty includes the clause but the treaty, being of an earlier vintage, did not. This although both have the same attraction for investors into the Indian stock market.

Port Louis has, however, begun to recognise the killer impact of the clause for swinging business away to Singapore as far as investments into India are concerned. In its recent negotiations for renewal of the double tax avoidance treaty with India, it had asked for being provided a similar benefit.

In other words a shell company will continue to get the benefits till August 2019 of the capital gains only if it makes the investments.

This clause protects the interests of investors transiting through Mauritius, though only as a temporary measure. The cost that the former paid is in having to give up the advantage of differential taxation of capital gains forever.

Even with the LOB inclusion, Mauritius has not gained much. After making the investments as mandated by LOB, for an investor the option of using Singapore or Mauritius are now equal. Rather, with the sophisticated financial sector Singapore offers, there is more probability of the investors preferring it to the Indian Ocean island.

For India, it really does not matter how the two countries arrange to ensure that investors make bona fide investments in either. For, in either case, they'd be subject to the capital gains tax regime that operates for domestic investors here, partially from April 2017 and fully from April 2019. If, as expected, the capital flows do not abate, it will prove the experts right who have been asking for this for long. It is possibly the most salutary anti-black money measure the Indian government has taken in a long while.

In 2005, when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Mauritius, he had offered a deal. He asked them to remove the advantage of zero capital gains taxation for business located in the island and investing in Indian stock markets. Since Mauritius was afraid this would drain out the capital being invested in its country, he had offered them a corresponding financial support to make it good. The sum involved was less than Rs 500 crore, not even a blip in the Indian budget. That government had passed up the opportunity. Indian tax officials said there is likely to be renewed discussion on this support, very soon.
The Mauritius route, which has long bedevilled Indias attempts to chase down black money and to introduce greater transparency into its financial sector, is finally set to become history. Thanks to a three-decade-old favourable double tax avoidance agreement (DTAA) with the small Indian Ocean island, it had become the favoured source for capital inflows into India. It accounted for over a third of foreign direct investment flows into India between 2000 and 2015. Some of that must have been regular global capital taking advantage of favourable routes into the Indian markets. But the suspicion persisted that a great deal of it was round-tripping, or black money flowing back into India. But now the government has, after renegotiating the treaty, gained the ability to tax capital gains arising in Mauritius from the sale of shares bought after April of 2017. The benefits from the treaty were also limited by the amendment. A clause in the new protocol seeks to ensure that shell companies can no longer take advantage of the DTAA  only companies spending more than Rs 27 lakh in Mauritius itself in the preceding 12 months can take advantage of the DTAA.
The finance ministry on Thursday met representatives of foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and deliberated on their concerns over taxation against the backdrop of India signing revised tax treaty with Mauritius this week.

Met FPIs with (Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia) for an intense discussion on tax concerns such as GAAR, tax treaties implications,, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha tweeted.

FPIs encompass all foreign institutional investors (FIIs), their sub-accounts and qualified foreign investors.

The meeting came amid concerns being expressed by tax experts about the taxation of Participatory Notes and the impact which the treaty revision can have over investments from other countries, including Singapore, Cyprus, and other low tax jurisdictions.

Tax experts have also flagged the issue of implementation of the General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR), which will come into effect from April 2017.

The revision of the Mauritius treaty this week has significant implication for India as bulk of the overseas investment have been routed through the island nation.

The three decade old Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) with Mauritius was revised after prolonged negotiations with a view to prevent tax evasion and round tripping of investments.

Under the revised treaty, from April 1, 2017, companies routing funds into India through Mauritius will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at half the rate prevailing during the 24-month transition period. Full rate, currently at 15 per cent, will kick in from April 1, 2019.
Russell graduated from Waterloo West High School, served in the U.S. Navy in Japan and then attended the University of Northern Iowa for two years. He worked as a salesman for Rath Packing Co., Sara Lee Distributing, Interstate Finance Co., American Finance Co., and retired from Farmers and Merchants Bank as vice president in 1993. He was active in his church and was a Christian Evangelistic Mission Board member; was a member of Lions Club, chamber of commerce, city council, Cancer Crusade of Delaware County, Greater Delaware County Foundation and the Eastern Iowa Intergovernmental Agency.
WEST UNION  Attorneys in Abel Quijas Jr.s trial for attempted murder will present evidence to six woman and seven men.

One is an alternate and will be dismissed if not needed for deliberations. Those discussions could take place as early as Tuesday, according to Judge Richard Stochl.

Prosecutor Douglas Hammerand, an assistant Iowa attorney general, and defense attorney Melissa Anderson-Seeber, Quijas legal counsel, were scheduled to offer opening arguments at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The charge against Quijas, 33, of Maynard, stemmed from an incident in September 2014. According to Fayette County Attorney Wayne Saur, law enforcement officials interrupted delivery of a substantial amount of illegal controlled substance as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation and tried to take Quijas into custody.

Quijas allegedly fled with an officer partially inside his vehicle and tried to run over Lt. Jay Tommasin of the Oelwein Police Department. Capt. Ronald Voshell Jr. was also involved.

During the confrontation, Quijas was shot in the arm.

Quijas eluded capture for about a day. He was subsequently treated for about five days at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City and then taken to the Fayette County Jail in West Union.

A conviction for attempted murder, considered a forcible felony, is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

Hammerand Wednesday indicated who some of his witnesses will be. Many officers associated with the Oelwein Police Department, including Tommasin, may testify.

Hammerand suggested he might also call representatives from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa State Patrol as well as Abel Quijas Sr., the defendants father.

Stochl advised jurors the court trial playing out of the next few days will feature a large difference from what television viewers regularly see on CSI.

Were not going to get done in an hour, Stochl said.
TOLEDO --While Dustin Jefferson received a mandatory life sentence last week for helping his mother kill his wife, other unrelated charges against him remain active.

Charges of alleged sex abuse of a 12-year-old girl are pending in Tama County. Jefferson's trial on that charge was scheduled to begin Monday, but Judge Mary Chicchelly has reset the trial date for Sept. 19.

Kerry O'Clair Jefferson, 32, died in September 2013, stabbed twice in the neck by Ginger Jefferson, 59. Ginger Jefferson was convicted of first-degree murder and began serving a life sentence in July 2014.

Prosecutor Laura Roan at Dustin and Ginger Jefferson's trials said the pair got into an argument with O'Clair Jefferson after a morning of heavy drinking. The confrontation developed because O'Clair Jefferson told police where to find her husband, according to Roan.

Meskwaki Nation police had an outstanding arrest warrant for Dustin Jefferson. He was wanted at the time for five counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

Roan and Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren prosecuted Dustin Jefferson for aiding and abetting first-degree murder and are pursing the sex abuse charges as a habitual offender. Before the murder conviction, Jefferson's criminal history already included three felony convictions in Tama County.

Prosecutors made three attempts to convict Dustin Jefferson of murder. The initial proceeding ended during jury selection because defense attorney Thomas Gaul raised objections about the lack of Native Americans in the jury pool.

A trial in late September concluded with a hung jury and no verdict. Judge Chicchelly moved the second trial to Jasper County after granting Gaul's request for change of venue.
WEST UNION -- Judge Richard Stochl on Thursday said he needed some time before deciding whether to stop defendant Abel Quijas Jr.'s trial for attempted murder.

Stochl promised to issue his ruling at 9 a.m. Friday, either allowing testimony to continue or cutting the proceedings off immediately and dismissing the jury.

Defense attorney Melissa Anderson-Seeber requested a mistrial after one of the state's witnesses offered his opinion while testifying in Fayette County District Court.

Quijas Jr., 33, of Maynard, is charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to drive a Chrysler 300M over Jay Tommasin, a lieutenant in September 2014 with the Oelwein Police Department.

Following a pre-arranged schedule, Thursday's court session ended about 12:15, but not before jurors heard opening arguments and from Kyle Bassett, a special agent with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

Bassett in September 2014 joined on a drug investigation initiated by Tommasin. The two led a team that included several other Oelwein officers and representatives from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol.

The effort began when FedEx in Waterloo notified Tommasin of a package from California being sent to an apartment at 210 First St. SE in Oelwein. Tommasin, who also testified Thursday morning, told jurors the address was one of those "tagged" by authorities as a potential destination in the city for illegal drug shipments.

Tommasin requested the Waterloo Police Department's canine visit FedEx, and the drug dog "hit" on the package. After getting a search warrant, Tommasin, Bassett and others carefully inspected the package at the Oelwein police station, according to Tommasin's testimony.

They discovered a child's toy but could see the container had been opened and resealed. When Tommasin split the toy, the officers found a 1/2 pound of crystal methamphetamine wrapped in plastic and concealed inside.

Bassett testified in that amount, the meth was worth up to $20,000.

Officers decided to make "a controlled delivery" and fanned out discreetly in the downtown Oelwein neighborhood. Most were in unmarked vehicles, but three state troopers converged at McDonald's, according to testimony.

Tommasin and Bassett put on FedEx shirts and took the suspect package addressed to Enrique Trujillo to the address, an apartment occupied by Abel Quijas Sr., the defendant's father. Trujillo was identified as Quijas Sr.'s grandson, though not Quijas Jr.'s son.

According to Bassett's testimony, Quijas Sr. accepted the package, first denying but later admitting the drugs were meant for his son, Quijas Jr. Quijas Jr. had received four or five such shipments, according to Bassett.

Bassett and Tommasin hid in the apartment as Quijas Jr. arrived to collect the package. The officers caught up to Quijas Jr. as he got into his car.

Bassett said he scuffled with Quijas Jr. and tried to get Quijas Jr. out of the vehicle. Both officers drew their weapons.

When Tommasin got in front of the car, Quijas "ripped" the steering wheel to the left, gritted his teeth and "mashed the gas," according to Tommasin.

"I clearly remember hearing the engine rev really loudly," Tommasin testified, adding "a look of rage" on Quijas Jr.'s face.

"I could tell by the look in his eye he was going to do whatever he needed to get out of there," Tommasin added.

The two officers each fired twice, and Tommasin said he remembered seeing blood on Quijas Jr.'s arm.

Bassett testified Quijas Jr.'s purpose seemed clear.

"There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to take that car and run over and kill Jay," Bassett said.

Anderson-Seeber objected to the answer.

Anderson-Seeber, prosecutor Douglas Hammerand and Stochl had previously agreed witnesses would not use the words "attempted murder" or any similar terminology.

As Anderson-Seeber argued in a pre-trial motion, "'attempted murder' is a legal conclusion the jury is called upon to decide."

Hammerand on Thursday said Stochl could offer a "curative" instruction to jurors, but Anderson-Seeber said the damage to her client is "so prejudicial we can't recover from it."

Stochl said he would research the legal question overnight and decide whether a mistrial is necessary.

"That's not something I want to rule on off the cuff," Stochl added.
CEDAR FALLS  The Board of Education Monday held its mid-year review of Superintendent Andy Pattee.

Were extremely, extremely pleased. Its a clean bill of health, Jim Kenyon, board president, said of the meeting.

Pattee met with the board behind closed doors, and no action was taken. Iowa code allows evaluations to happen in closed session.

You do this because thats really the way that you evaluate your CEO, said Kenyon. Among the discussion was progress on goals as well as ongoing and upcoming initiatives. Its a way of checking in.

Pattee has been superintendent of Cedar Falls Community Schools since July 2013. The board will go through further evaluation of the superintendent in June, which will be used in the process of setting his salary for the next year.

Typically, we have two of these a year, said Kenyon, in mid-winter and late spring. We had a lot on our plate and we put these back to back.
WATERLOO  When sculptor Chris Bennett approaches a project, he goes beyond how his subject looks.

He delves into the persons history to get a better understanding of them.

On Wednesday, the Keosauqua native was on hand to place the latest statue of Waterloo native and first lady Lou Henry Hoover at the site of her childhood home off Washington Street and West Park Avenue.

Work on the sculpture of Lou Henry Hoover  seated in a wicker chair with her left hand on a globe  started last year for Bennett.

Her face is an amalgamation of many different faces of her, everything from young to old because the bone structure stays pretty much the same, but you got to get different angles, Bennett said.

I made the figure in clay first with a steel armature in it on a real wicker chair.  Then I dressed a mannequin to determine the folds and arranged clay folds on the figure by looking at the mannequin back and forth, Bennett said.

From there, it was off to the foundry to make molds of the different sections.

There was a lot of cleanup and then reassembly, he said.

The Lou Henry Hoover bronze joins an earlier statue by artist John Jago on the site. Also placed Wednesday were three metal triangular columns, which will hold etched plaques and collages pertaining to the different aspects of her life. They were also created by Bennett with the help from Chawne Paige from the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

I kind of divided up the eras of her life. She was instrumental in keeping the Girl Scouts going in this country, and she helped Herbert Hoover with relief efforts, and she was a creative artist, and she was a mother and a wife and first lady. I depicted each of those eras, Bennet said.

The collages themselves will be added later.

Lou Henry Hoover was born in Waterloo in 1874, and her family later moved to California. She married Herbert Hoover in 1899, and he became president in 1929.

Bennett, whose studio is located in the artist community of Bentonsport on the Des Moines River, has been sculpting full time since 1979. He specializes in people and animals, and his works are displayed around the state.

He created Architectural Continuum, an aluminum and Plexiglas piece at the entry to the University of Northern Iowas Innovative Teaching and Technology Center in Cedar Falls. He also made a life-size statue of Waterloo native/Olympic wrestler Dan Gable at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
WATERLOO  The Salvation Army of Waterloo-Cedar Falls is closing its mens transitional house at 149 Argyle St. June 1 due to a suspension in federal funding for such facilities, officials here said.

The Salvation Army will continue to operate a transitional program for men out of its 229 Logan Avenue property. That facility had been used a a family shelter but has recently been closed for renovation. Of the five residents currently enrolled in the mens transitional shelter program, two are ready to exit while the remaining three will move to the new location and continue working toward self-sufficiency with the support of The Salvation Army.

The mens transitional house, funded by HUD through the Iowa Finance Authority, housed up to 10 men at a time for up to two years, with residents paying low rent while they tried to work themselves back into self sufficiency, Salvation Army development director Grace Kole said.

The transitional housing facility, like others around the state, were defunded due to a shift in priorities among various kinds of housing for disadvantaged persons.

We still find transitional programming very important, Kole said, and The Salvation Army will try to continue to provide those kinds of services as much as possible with available resources  even if it means longer stays in the organizations mens emergency shelter, temporary motel stays or other alternatives, in communication with other housing-related agencies.

The Salvation Army is working closely with the Cedar Valley United Way, the Local Homeless Coordinating Board, Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and the City of Waterloo to ensure this change in service location is executed in the least disruptive manner as possible, and disrupts as few residents as possible in other forms of assistance, the organization said in a press release.

Kole noted the defunding of the transitional housing is a federal funding issue and separate issue from The Salvation Armys annual red kettle campaign falling short of its goal over the holiday season.

The organization raised $606,311, falling short of the $730,000 goal to suppot its various activities and forms of assistance through the year.
WAVERLY -- Wartburg College has created a partnership with Western Illinois University to offer an integrated baccalaureate and masters degree program for students seeking a bachelors degree in history at Wartburg and a masters degree in museum studies from Western Illinois.

According to the colleges, the agreement will allow students to earn their Wartburg degree in four years before going on to earn a masters degree from Western Illinois in one year. The masters program, which typically requires two years to complete, is available at Western Illinoiss Quad Cities campus.

The nice thing is our students get to stay here for four years, but WIU also has a stream of well-prepared students coming into their program, Daniel Walther, Wartburg history professor and department chair, said in a prepared statement.

It has been a pleasure to work with WIU administrators to streamline this transition for our students, Wartburg President Darrel Colson added in the statement. This new cooperative program will be a great addition to the postgraduate educational opportunities Wartburg already offers.

To earn the degrees, Wartburg students must take several bridge courses, which will satisfy requirements for both degree programs.

Pamela White, Western Illinois museum studies graduate program director, said the program will be beneficial for students, as well as both institutions.

"We have had a number of undergraduate students come to us from Wartburg College's history program, so we know, from experience, what excellent students they are. We are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with Wartburg," White said.

For information about the Wartburg College history program, go online at www.wartburg.edu/history. Information about the Western Illinois graduate program is available online at www.wiu.edu.
EMS week

LOUIE ADAMS

Supervisor of Ambulance Services/Emergency Management, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

WATERLOO -- EMS Week is May 15-21. The Wheaton Franciscan HealthcareIowa EMS team, including AirCare II, Ambulance, and Emergency Department crews, would like to thank local EMS teams for their service and dedication to the health and safety of our communities. Our common purpose is caring for those that place their trust in us to achieve the best possible outcome. We truly believe this purpose is best fulfilled when we join together to commit to safety, knowledge and skill development, and collaboration.

The Wheaton Iowa EMS team is grateful to partner with local EMS teams to provide the most advanced professional care. Thank you for your commitment. Your devoted service is an example of excellence to others in responding and caring for fellow community members. We know your duties include more than the hours you are in service or responding to a call. Thank you for your diligence to all things that are in the best interest of the patients and loved ones you are serving. We are dedicated to partnering with you and are proud to serve alongside you.

Memorial thanks

DOUG ADEL

Jacobson Foundation Board of Directors

WEST DES MOINES -- On behalf of Richard O. Dick Jacobson, the Jacobson Foundation Board of Directors would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who honored Dicks memory by attending his celebration of life services or made contributions to the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation in his name. We were overwhelmed by the support, shared memories and kind words received from friends, colleagues and individuals positively impacted by Dicks generosity.

Over the past several weeks, it has been a privilege to pay tribute to Dick and his accomplishments, entrepreneurial endeavors and philanthropic spirit. As members of the board, we were able to see first-hand the number of lives he touched through his compassion for others. However, through our recent conversations with individuals and organizations throughout Iowa and beyond, we were able to gather a true sense of what Dick meant to the state of Iowa  he is an icon who wi! ll be remembered, and missed, for his hard work and love of people.

Please direct any inquiries regarding the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation to Doug Den Adel at dougdenadel@gmail.com or 4201 Westown Parkway, Suite 124, West Des Moines 50266.
A dairy defense

KURT LEERHOFF

CLARKSVILLE  As a multi-generation dairy farmer, I need to respond to some points made in the May 5 letter, Mom and cows.

1. Dairy cows never get to see or nurture their babies. This is not true on our farm, as the mother and baby are left together so the mom can nurture and feed her baby.

2. Cows on concrete. Our cows have sand-filled beds and get on pasture during warm months.

3. Artificial breeding. This is a practice used to improve legs, udders, etc., to make a more sound cow. Holstein bulls are known to get mean, and when they strike their intention is to kill you.

4. Milk production. At 4 years of age a cow is really coming into her peak. Many of our cows live 8 to 10 years.

My day starts at 3:20 a.m., and I work hurt, sick, weekends, holidays, 365 days a year, 15 to 18 hours a day. In 1980 milk prices were $13.05 per 100 pounds; it is now $13.92 per 100 pounds. God gave me the skill to be a dairyman and created the dairy cow to be a worker just like her owner. We do teamwork together and live by the old dairymans saying, Take care of your cows and they will take care of you.

Foster moms

PAM BOLIN

CLARKSVILLE  As a mother of three and grandmother of six, I had a wonderful Mothers Day! My day started with our dairy cows. I love walking into our free-stall barn each morning and seeing the cows relaxing on beds of sand, or eating free choice at bunks on either side of the barn, or waiting to be milked. Our baby calves are kept in individual huts just south of where the cows live. This allows us to give each calf specialized care and keep them healthy and safe.

We consider our cows the foster moms of the human race. A dairy cow can use things like grass and the stalks of corn that we as people cannot eat, and turn it into nutritious milk. With the growing population of this world and with food-insecure people even here in Iowa, I am proud to be a part of feeding the world. What other food can give you nine essential vitamins and minerals for only 25 cents a serving? So a big thank you to our foster moms for helping to feed my kids and the nation!!

Miller praise

TOM AND ANN STUBENRAUCH

JANESVILLE  Dr. Kent Miller has been our physician for more than 30 years. We have always felt he is a caring, knowledgeable and honest doctor. He takes the time to answer questions and explain treatments. We have confidence in his decisions and recommendations.

We plan to continue to have Dr. Miller as our primary physician.

Caring volunteer

CHRIS GENGLER

ELK RUN HEIGHTS  This morning I took three clients from North Star Community Services head injury program to Allen Hospital to visit a friend. I would like to thank volunteer Tim for getting a wheelchair for one of my clients who was walking with her walker. He pushed her through the halls to visit her friend.

Before leaving, Tim also made sure he pushed the client he had in the wheelchair over close enough for Larry and her to hold hands for a few minutes. Tim you sure were thoughtful and we sure appreciated your kindness. Allen Hospital is lucky to have such a caring volunteer.
Q: How many Habitat For Humanity houses nationwide have been built for veterans?

A: It appears the group doesnt keep statistics specifically for that. But it does operate Repair Corps, a joint program with the Home Depot Foundation to remodel or renovate homes for veterans. A Habitat spokesman also said, Habitat is very active in seeking out veterans who need decent shelter.

nnn

Q: Why did Black Hawk Gaming Association give $150,000 to the Cedar Falls Boat Club  a private club?

A: Black Hawk County Gaming Association executive Beth Knipp replies: Black Hawk County Gaming Association awarded $150,000 to the city of Cedar Falls for the reconstruction of the Island Park Beach House. The $690,000 reconstruction project was paid for with $255,000 allocated to the city of Cedar Falls by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the $150,000 Black Hawk County Gaming Association grant and the remaining $285,000 in private funds and donations raised by the North Shore Boat Club. The City of Cedar Falls owns and maintains the Island Park Beach House has a separate 28E agreement with the North Shore Boat Club governing their usage of the facility.

nnn

Q: I have lead pipes running from my pump house to my house and the acreage. Do I have to worry about those pipes given what happened in Flint, Mich.?

A: According to experts interviewed in a lengthy March 13 Courier article on this subject, people with private wells and lead pipes should have the well water tested regularly to ensure it is not corrosive. The public water supplies in Waterloo and Cedar Falls are tested regularly by the utilities.

nnn

Q: Is it legal to leave your boat parked in front of your house in Waterloo?

A: Boats cant be left in the street for an extended period of time and cant be parked in a front yard at all. Boats not exceeding 48 inches in height can be parked in a front driveway.

nnn

Q: Concerning the white-water run the city is proposing: How much insurance will they have to carry for liability for it, and what is the cost of that insurance?

A: The city of Waterloo already has liability insurance to cover all of its property. It has not been given any notice that its liability insurance premiums would increase due to the white-water course.

nnn

Q: Is there a website to look up to see where airplanes you see in the sky are flying to/from?

A: Yes. We typed websites showing flight activity into Googles search engine and three of the first four returns were websites that showed real-time commercial airline activity, which allow you to click on an aircraft for its itinerary.

nnn

Q: How do we set up a recall election of some of our Waterloo City Council members?

A: First you will need to get the Iowa Legislature to approve a law allowing residents to recall their elected officials. There is no such provision in the state law currently.
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 11, 2016 | 09:21 AM | MAYFIELD, KY

Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon left no doubt where his mind stood about Tuesday's tornado that struck the county: "God saved our kids yesterday."Redmon insisted that he wasn't an overly religious person that attended church regularly, but he said he witnessed the path of the tornado change direction as the twister was approaching multiple different county school buildings that were full of well over 2400 kids.An emotional Redmon proceeded to tell parents during the Wednesday morning news conference that they should go to church on Sunday, get on their knees, and thank God for what He did to protect as many people as He did Tuesday.Redmon went on to say that damage easily totaled in the millions across the county, and that crews were still assessing the extent of the damage.The video below, shot by Brittany Glisson while at Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield, shows the tornado moving toward the Graves County High School campus.It narrowly missed a direct hit to the campus.You can see the debris from buildings the twister had already destroyed as it's moving toward campus in the still photo captured from the video in this story. There are also photos of the tornado approaching the elementary schools in the county, with empty school buses getting ready to load kids at the end of the day.Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Paducah, Rick Shanklin, says preliminarily, the tornado reached an EF3 strength, indicating that this is the worst tornado across the area since the November, 2013 Brookport tornado. Shanklin says most of the path of the tornado was in the EF1 to EF2 range of damage, but he does believe it did cross the threshold of being an EF3 during an initial survey of the damage. He says crews will be making an official assessment throughout the day Wednesday, and coming days.Red Cross Assessment teams have been in the Mayfield area since Tuesday.Evelyn Miller with the America Red Cross says they are working with about a dozen individuals to get them immediate assistance with clean up kits, supplies, arranging places to stay, among other things.Miller says anyone with damage who has not yet met with the Red Cross can call their Paducah office at 270-442-3575.The Red Cross is not involved with coordinating volunteer efforts of debris cleanup, home repairs, etc.His House Ministries, based in Mayfield, is working with oversight from the county government in collecting donations to help those who lost everything in Tuesday's storm. You can click on the link below to donate directly.

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Deveselus MK 41

The Deveselus MK 41 launching systems that makes up the bulk of the missile defense program around and about Europe, the missiles that America says is defensive is easily re-equipped with offensive missiles. Dont like what I say? Then dont take my word for this! Take the word of the actual manufacturer of the device

MK41_VLS_factsheet  <<<<< - Download PDF and read or keep for yourself

At 7.6 meters long it is capable of launching the largest missiles such as those that support sea-based mid course ballistic missile defense and long-range strike. The 41 VLS can use the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile(ESSM), Tactical Tomahawk, Standard Missile3, Standard Missile 6 and Vertical Launch ASROC- Light weight Hybrid Torpedo. Among many many others

I know about these systems personally and they are disguised defensive weapons and are actually particularly made to be offensive. Kinda of Trojan Horse to be exact

Russia is not the only one who should be worried about such launchers, for the US will stockpile anything that it can launch.just in case! Yes they will, I knowand Europe should be thinking about how America is putting them under a prison situation, much more than Russia or anyone else

Can it be used to launch a nuke? Well from my past, Yes! We had Lance Missiles smaller than this launcher is capable of using and technology has advanced a bunch, since the 70s. So I can safely say, Yes it will be able to launch a Nuke (there are different sizes of these launchers as the program has been developed) with very little alterations of its structure or internals (Lance is around 6.+ meters long and 22 inches in diameter; would fit nice, just nice!)

I got to enjoy a year in Germany because of the Lance Missile

Europe Take Heed

To be honest with you! Russia should not be worried about these launchers, who should be worried is Europe and other friends of America. These launchers are a two faced device and can be turned upon a whim against anyone who is not toeing the line to the Almighty American Dream of Supremacy

Europe watch your back, the enemy is within, not outside your borders

WtR
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

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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

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Coral Casino:

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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:

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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.
WILMINGTON, NC, May 12, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Often, when we listen in on discussions about great works of fiction, we hear phrases such as 'It seemed so real' or 'It was like being there'. For murder mystery novelist Patrick Brigham, it IS real, as he has lived, and continues to live, right in the middle of the many of the storylines and situations he writes about, in The Balkans.



As the editor in chief of the Sofia Western News, the first English news magazine in Bulgaria and as a journalist, he witnessed the political changes in this once hard-core communist country. There, he personally knew most of the political players, including the old Communist Dictator, Todor Zhivkov, and his successors, Presidents Jhelev and Stoyanov.



The natural home of political intrigue, and the remnants of Bolshevism, Bulgaria proved to be quite a challenge, and for many of its citizens the transition was also very painful. Despite this, Patrick managed to survive these political changes, and now lives in Northern European Greece, writing mystery novels and crime thrillers.



Many of his short stories lampoon the politicians and diplomats, he met during his time in Eastern Europe and proffer a humorous account of their often absurd antics. His more serious archived material, not only address's issues concerning Cuba, India, Israel, Palestine and Afghanistan, but people as varied as ex - US President Bill Clinton and ex - President Todor Zhivkov the last of the Communist dictators.



Brigham's body of work includes:



'The Dance of Dimitrios' is a mystery novel that mixes some of the horrors of illegal immigration with everyday events. Detective Chief Inspector Lambert works for Europol - the European equivalent of the FBI - and is sent to Greece in order to solve a cold case. DCI Lambert has experience of people trafficking, the problems caused for governments throughout the world, Greece being the gateway into Europe, for countless Middle-Eastern migrants, political refugees and terrorists. The story involves the discovery of a woman's body found floating in the River Ardas, in Northern Greece. Believed to be of Middle-Eastern origin, she is buried in a communal grave along with other Islamic victims of drowning and promptly forgotten. When it is later revealed that she is actually an Englishwoman called Marjory Braithwaite - who has been living for some years in Greece - the British government turns to Europol for help. Realising that this probably means murder, DCI Lambert is dispatched to Greece.



In 'Judas Goat: The Kennet Narrow Boat Mystery,' Detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert - working at the time for the Thames Valley Police Authority - unravels a murder case which stretches from England to Bulgaria, South Africa to Belorussia, and finally Taiwan to Peru. What at first appears to be a straightforward murder, is revealed to be part of an international manhunt, the result of a major arms deal which has gone horribly wrong. Patrick Brigham begins his story with the discovery of a small mobile phone on the narrow boat which ends with the murder of a Chinese shipping magnate in broad daylight, in the streets of London.



'Herodotus: The Gnome of Sofia,' embraces disgruntled communists, cold war warriors, intrigue, deception and finally murder. Brigham introduces us to Sir Arthur Cumberpot, a man with an unspectacular diplomatic career, which is swiftly drawn to a close when he is appointed, by the FCO, as British Ambassador to Bulgaria. Due to some unforeseen mishaps his wife Annabel, is accused of being a spy and sent home to their house in Oxfordshire, while her background is checked by MI5. Lady Annabel Cumberpot is guilty of nothing, other than being the biological daughter of Jim Kilbey, Britain's most notorious spy. It seems that a jealous god has sought to visit the sins of the father upon her, but then so has everyone else. She is the victim of serendipity, but also of cover ups, duplication of thin evidence and exaggeration. But she is also heartless, treacherous, self indulgent and without shame. In his book, Brigham lampoons the British Diplomats of the day, and introduces you to the humorous side of diplomacy.



'Abduction: An Angel Over Rimini, set in 2002, and little Penelope Scratchford has been abducted in Italy. The Italian State Police, having given up its investigation, believes her parents to be responsible for her disappearance and her probable murder, but cannot prove it. The British authorities believe she is still alive, as does the UK media. In order to reopen this cold case, Europol offers its assistance, and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert - now retired from Thames Valley Police - is sent to Rimini as a Europol Liaison Officer, in order to assist the Italian police in re-opening their investigation. His quest takes him from Rimini to Greece and the River Evros, where illegal migrants frequently cross over from Turkey on their way into Central Europe. Following this recognised people smuggling route, his investigations also take him to Bulgaria, where he discovers a crooked adoption racket. Finding some promising leads to the whereabouts of the little English girl, he is finally able to establish if she is alive or dead.



"I live in the Evros Region in Northern Greece," Brigham stated, "and I have personally observed the forlorn illegal immigrants who then daily crossed the River Evros into Greece, from Turkey. Since many were English speaking - from Afganistan, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent - it was easy to converse with them, and of course the Greek police authorities themselves; who were well educated, and spoke perfect English. Knowing what was going on around me, was not the problem, but being able to tell the story - to a largely indifferent western public - was another matter. Ten years on and dominating the headlines, it is clearly different, but in the early 2000s, few in Europe could care less about these displaced refugees, until it began to affect their pocket."



"During Communism, and as one of the first English journalists to be based in Bulgaria, I interacted with most of the politicians and diplomats of the day, in my capacity as chief editor of The Sofia Western News, a monthly glossy magazine. This included Todor Zhivkov, the then deposed long term Communist ex President of Bulgaria - who I interviewed on a number of occasions -his first elected democratic successor Zhelyu Zhelev, followed by President Peter Stoyanov. Although many changes have occurred since, I must also mention King Simion II, who for three years and eighteen days, served as the Bulgarian Prime Minister. In the hope that he could salvage years of Communist waste, tyranny and turmoil - since he was deposed as Bulgarian boy king, in 1946 - and by putting his reputation on the line - amongst the torment and brazen political arrogance of the time - he was one of my greatest hero's."



Readers have praised his novels. One stated, "I am an ex cop - he must have done a lot of research to get so many things right. I felt when reading 'Abduction' that Patrick was relating an investigation, he actually carried out." Another said, "'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is entertaining, gripping, and also an astonishing Europol procedural read, making you want to read more. I was drawn into the story right away. I felt close to Michael Lambert and his way of analysing and detecting. All relevant characters became pretty real. 'Abduction - An Angel Over Rimini' is a good read for mystery fans, readers who like surprises, and occasional coincidences."



Patrick Brigham is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at [email protected]. Books are available at Amazon, Amazon.UK, Smashwords and from his website. More information is available at Patrick Brigham's website at http://authorpatrickbrigham.com/.



Patrick has been a writer and journalist for many years. He has published many short stories, newspaper and magazine articles. Born in the English Home Counties, he attended Public School and College before moving to London and embarking on his career. He has spent the last twenty five years in South Eastern Europe, where many of his stories are set, as well as in Oxford, Hampshire and Berkshire. As the Editor in Chief of the first English Language news magazine in Sofia, Bulgaria - between 1995 and 2000 - and as a journalist, he witnessed the changes in this once hard core Communist Country and personally knew most of the political players, including the old Dictator Todor Zhivkov and his successors Zhelev and Stoyanov.



# # #
"It's probably still too early to know the full impact of this new bill..."

PORTLAND, OR, May 12, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On March 29 Oregon governor Kate Brown signed a bill allowing Oregon dispensaries to sell marijuana-infused edibles and extracts starting June 2. The new bill comes after Oregon's recent legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2015.



Retail customers over 21 will soon be able to buy one "low-dose" marijuana-infused edible product per day. In Oregon, "low-dose" is defined as 15 milligrams or less of THC (the chemical that causes the majority of marijuana's psychological effects).



Adam Greenman of Adam Greenman Law in Portland cautions Oregonians that those limits only apply to what you can buy, not how much you can have with you.



"You can still only have 1 ounce of marijuana or less in your possession in public, and less than 8 ounces at home," he said.



The new bill does not affect current DUII laws, according to Greenman, but Oregonians should know that marijuana edibles and extracts affect the body differently than smoking. It can take longer for you to feel their effects and they can be more potent.



Greenman also reminded Oregonians that it is illegal to use any form of marijuana in public, and you may not carry marijuana across state lines -- even into a state where marijuana is legal.



He advises anyone interested in purchasing edibles and extracts to fully understand their rights before doing so.



"It's probably still too early to know the full impact of this new bill, so for the time being I urge extreme caution before testing the boundaries of these ever-changing laws," he said.



About Adam Greenman Law

Adam Greenman is a Portland-based lawyer specializing in DUII, personal injury, and criminal defense cases. Since founding Adam Greenman Law in 2007, he has been standing up for the underdog, defending the individual against the criminal justice system and battling against the insurance industry in personal injury claims.



# # #
"I'm a big fan so far. I would highly recommend this service to another condo unit owner." - Ann L of the Metropolitan of Skokie Condominiums

SKOKIE, IL, May 12, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Chicago is home to Wrigley Field, Al's Italian Beef, and Gigabit+ Internet provided by the most reliable and touted Internet Service Provider in the market. Now, a Chicagoland village has access to one of those bragging rights. Everywhere Wireless is expanding to the northwest!



Following in the footsteps of neighboring city, Evanston, the Village of Skokie - located 16 miles northwest of downtown Chicago - will begin to experience the 24/7 customer support and 99.99% uptime so many Chicagoans already know and love. Skokie is home to 64,000 residents, 24,000 households and 2,400 businesses, and is bordered by Glenview, Wilmette, Lincolnwood and the West Rogers Park and Edgebrook neighborhoods of the City of Chicago.



Included in the first leg of the expansion is the Metropolitan of Skokie Condominiums. A condominium owner in the building recently described her experience with the Internet Service Provider on Yelp, giving Everywhere Wireless a 5-star review.



"First of all, when you email or call Everywhere Wireless, someone emails you right back or answers the phone immediately. That in itself is amazing! said Ann L of the Metropolitan. "I am very pleased with the service and the speed so far. I know this company will grow so I hope they keep the same level of customer service as they get bigger and I also ask they keep the same prices. I'm a big fan so far. I would highly recommend this service to another condo unit owner."



As a fourth ISP option in a market that only includes RCN, Comcast and AT&T, Everywhere Wireless has been connecting residences and businesses in Chicagoland since 2010. The company rolled out its Gigabit+ Ethernet network in the City of Chicago back in 2013, offering speeds up to and beyond 1,000 megabits per second.



"We are very excited to be able to extend our network even further into the Chicago suburbs," says Quinn Murphy, Associate Director of Marketing at Everywhere Wireless. "I am confident that our newest customers in Skokie will be happy to be a part of the network that so many Chicago properties list as an amenity for their residents."



Everywhere Wireless owns and manages a Chicago-based Gigabit+ Internet Network, designed for multi-family communities and businesses, some of which include Cisco, CBS, Nike and Google. Everywhere Wireless partnered with the City of Chicago to deliver Wi-Fi to many of Chicago's beaches and parks including additions last summer at 31st Street and 57th Street. EW's network offers speeds of more than 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps), also known as Gigabit speeds.



# # #
May 12, 2016 | By Alec

Pope Francis is known for embracing numerous technologies as tools that can help mankind and bring us all closer together. Among others, you can already find his inspiring messages on Twitter and Instagram. But it looks like we can add another 21rst century technology to that list, as the Pope has also embraced 3D printing. During the General Audience at St. Peters Square in Rome earlier this week, the Pope blessed two 3D printer mini-factories that are heading towards Africa to make prosthetics for local amputees. Francis also met with the group of Italian schoolchildren who developed the mini-factories through a crowdfunding campaign.

The 3D printer factories themselves are the results of an amazing Italian crowdfunding initiative called Crowd4Africa. It was set up by 15 students between the ages of 15 and 17, all from the Jesuit-run technical school The Massimiliano Massimo Institute in Rome. They have been working very hard to make 3D printing available to those people who need it most. Together with the help of numerous volunteers and the Open BioMedical Initiative, they have done their best to develop two 3D printing mini-factories for hospitals in Gulu, Uganda and Kenge, the Congo.

Thats exactly where 3D printing is most needed. According to the World Health Organization, more than 20 million people in the world need prosthetics, with an estimated 2 percent receiving the help they need. The rest of those people are overwhelmingly located in the war-torn regions of Africa, where medical treatment is a rare thing. In the Kenge Caritas center in the Congo, theres only physician available for 150,000 people, while the Lacor Hospital in Uganda uses limited funds to help more than 250,000 people every year. We have chosen these location due to the level of difficulty locals encounter in acquiring prosthetics and the high costs they are faced with should they manage to get their hands on the product, the students explained.

In fact, traditional prosthetics in Africa can cost up to thirty times more than a prosthetic 3D printed on location. That is exactly why Crowd4Africa aspired to build two 3D printing mini-factories, consisting of a pellet shredder, an extruder, three 3D printers (one large one), a 3D acquisition system and two PCs. The set also comes with numerous tutorials, tools, and spare parts. Ideally, they can be used to turn local plastic waste (bottle caps and empty containers) into beneficial prosthetics. Taking their concept to Italian crowdfunding platform Eppela, the students were able to raise nearly $25,000 to successfully realize these 3D printing mini-factories with support of Postepay and Visa.

The 3D Printed WIL prosthesis is designed by Vito Losavio of Open BioMedical Initiative

These kits are now nearly ready to be shipped to Africa, and even received the best possible support you can find. During the audience in St. Peters Square, the students met with the Pope, who was very impressed with their enterprise. The Pope blessed their 3D printer factories, as well as one example prosthetic. The mini-factories also fit in closely with the Audiences central message of praying and caring for the sick.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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What are some examples of how you help members manage the transition of getting older?

Say that a member has received a diagnosis around cognitive impairment, and he or she doesnt know about neuropsychologists or geriatric care managers. Theres a whole world of professionals who can help develop a care plan or support a family caregiver. We try to put the member in touch with the resources that are going to help them.

One of our members who is in her mid-80s, and pretty strong and independent, said to me, I am in considerable denial about my own future. What you can do for me is dont protect me from the truth. Present things to me. Stimulate my thinking. Get me to come to one of these presentations about end-of-life planning. Get me to think about retirement community options in case I need that in the future, or just the whole notion of care. Whos going to care for me in the future, and how am I going to pay for it?





Do you compile a list of trusted outlets that can perform various services?



Absolutely. We call it a preferred provider network. Somebody calls and says, Im not able to prepare meals for myself. Could you get me in touch with someone who will do home-delivered meals? Or, Can you please put me in touch with an estate attorney? We connect people with trusted, checked-out professional providers.



What are the membership dues?



Fifty dollars a month for an individual and $62.50 for a household. We also offer scholarship funds  about 14 percent of our membership is scholarship.



How do you keep the costs down?



Were a lean machine. We do a really good job of using volunteers. We have about 140 nonmember volunteers of all ages. We have a volunteer manager who recruits and trains them. But what makes it work is the inspiration our volunteers feel. They want to make a contribution to their community. A lot of people are interested in a sort of collective well-being, and there arent a lot of places to express that.



What are the challenges of sustaining a village?



It surprises me that our membership isnt much larger than it is. We need to figure out how to break through that barrier. Its just raising consciousness around people being OK with getting older and being proactive about it.

Another challenge is the cultural barrier to asking for help. Weve asked our members why its so difficult to ask for help. People have told us, I was raised that way. If I ask for help, it means I'm weak. For older people, they think it might be a slippery slope: If I acknowledge that I cant do something, whats next?



Do you have any advice for people who are hoping to start an organization like this in their community?



Do it. It is so worthwhile. The power thats available to us in the community when people come together is tangible. Its such a wonderful thing






SMR ASX Announcement - First shipment of coking coal

Brisbane, May 12, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Stanmore Coal Limited (Stanmore or the Company) ( ASX:SMR ) is pleased to announce its first shipment of coking coal has been loaded at the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal. The first coal sale represents a major milestone for the Company, completing the restart of the Isaac Plains mine which was acquired in November last year.



HIGHLIGHTS



- The first shipment of coking coal through Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal has been loaded today



- This marks the first coal sale for Stanmore from Isaac Plains into offtake contracts with top tier Asian steel mills



Nick Jorss, Managing Director of Stanmore, said "On behalf of the Board I would like to express our sincere thanks to the key staff, contractors and consultants as well as to the 150 workers now employed at Isaac Plains who have worked diligently to restart the mine in such a rapid and safe manner."



"We are very proud to have joined the ranks of coal producers from Queensland's premier Bowen Basin which supplies some of the highest quality coking coal in the world as an essential raw ingredient to the steel industry. We are also very pleased to be contributing significant direct and indirect employment opportunities as well as kicking off the flow of millions of dollars in royalties each year to the State of Queensland."





About Stanmore Coal Limited





Stanmore Coal (ASX:SMR) is an operating coal mining company with a number of additional prospective coal projects and mining assets within Queensland's Bowen and Surat Basins. Stanmore Coal owns 100% of the Isaac Plains Coal Mine and the adjoining Isaac Plains East Project and is focused on the creation of shareholder value via the efficient operation of Isaac Plains and identification of further local development opportunities. Stanmore continues to progress its prospective high quality thermal coal assets in the Northern Surat Basin which will prove to be valuable as the demand for high quality, low impurity thermal coal grows at a global level. Stanmores focus is on the prime coal bearing regions of the east coast of Australia.
No matter how long you have lived in New Mexico, chances are you can find someplace new to go in the recently released outdoor guide from the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

Day hike: Hoodoo Pines, Ojito Wilderness

Length: 2+ miles

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate 2+ milesEasy to Moderate This is one of the easiest yet most unusual hikes in Ojito, and it is accessible to a wide range of skill levels. It leads to an area of mushroom-shaped rock formations called hoodoos and relic ponderosa pines. Getting there: From Bernalillo, travel on U.S. 550 about 21 miles and turn left onto Cabezon Road (CR 906) about two miles before San Ysidro. Follow the left fork approximately 9.25 miles to an Ojito Wilderness sign. Continue almost 1.75 miles to a developed parking area on the left side of the road. From the parking area, walk about 400 feet to the east, where a trail leads north into the wilderness on the opposite side of the road. Source: Wild Guide: Passport to New Mexico Wilderness

Wild Guide: Passport to New Mexico Wilderness is chock-full of history, color maps and photos that will inspire a bucket list for hikers, campers, backpackers and wanderers alike.

Mark Allison, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, said in a phone interview that the guide is a departure from the groups previous annual publications.

The Wild Guide traditionally has functioned more like a calendar of events and included a list of guided trips and other activities, he said. Over time, that format has become less useful.

So the group decided to take the book in a slightly different direction.

The out-of-print New Mexico Wilderness Areas: The Complete Guide by longtime Albuquerque outdoor writer Bob Julyan became the basis of the new guide.

We approached Bob and worked with him to build on his book (which went out of print in 2006), Allison said.

Allison said the Wild Guide is the only guide in print that features each of the states 26 designated wilderness areas and wilderness study areas.

Some of these hikes are pretty much unknown, he said. And that can make for a great adventure where you dont see very many people.

The guide also contains recent additions to public lands in the state, including the Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks national monuments.

Allison said the guide contains special insider tips for readers to be able to plan their own do-it-yourself adventures, including tidbits on history and other secrets.

He said the Wilderness Alliances website, nmwild.org, will contain supplemental information. The group is looking into the possibility of some type of digital format that can be downloaded onto a smartphone, Allison said.

But the way the book is bound, it is meant so you can photocopy pages and take them with you on your adventure, he said.

The book, released in April, costs $19.95 and is available through the website or in Albuquerque at Bookworks and La Montanita Co-op or in Santa Fe at Travel Bug.
Someone, it seems, is feeding Miesha Tate a line of bull  and the UFC womens bantamweight champion is gobbling it up and spewing it out.

In the past month, Tate has made several references to an alleged conversation that took place between UFC President Dana White and Albuquerques Lenny Fresquez, former champion Holly Holms agent.

Most recently, in an interview with MMA commentator Joe Rogan, Tate said White told her that he had come to Albuquerque before Tates upset victory over Holm and tried to talk Fresquez out of taking the Tate fight and instead waiting for a rematch with former champion Ronda Rousey. Holm had won the title with a stunning, second-round TKO of Rousey in Australia last November.

(White) told me this to my face, Tate told Rogan. He went down there to tell them dont fight Miesha Tate. The UFC did not want that fight to happen. They wanted the rematch to be the first fight. Hollys manager told him we want Miesha Tate and Dana said he threw up his hands and was like are you (expletive) kidding me?.

Hes like shes been the baddest (woman) other than Ronda for years now, and you want to take her lightly? You think youre just going to walk through her? and hes like yeah we got this. Like shes going to be a tune up fight.

Note that Tate never heard tune up fight or take her lightly from Fresquezs lips, and note that not even White  who has disliked Fresquez since the two first engaged in UFC contract negotiations in 2013  directly quoted him as saying those words.

Fresquez, throughout Holms UFC career, has studiously refrained from firing back at White. Wednesday, in a phone interview with the Journal, he took the same approach with Tate.

I have no comment on anything like that, he said.

Here, though, from a December 2015 interview with the Los Angeles Times Lance Pugmire, is Fresquezs on-the-record evaluation of Tate as an opponent for Holm.

Wed like to fight Miesha, he said. We understand there are risks, but Hollys a dominant champion, and she wants to fight the best. Right now, Miesha is the best.

In other words, hardly a tune-up.

Meanwhile, Team Holms decision not to wait for Rousey  despite the loss to Tate  doesnt look like such a bad thing.

After Holms victory over Rousey in November, Whites pitch was a rematch at UFC 200 in July. But now, White is saying hes not sure Rousey will fight in 2016.

I hope she does, White said on the Dan Patrick Show. (But) thats up to her.

After Tate beat Holm, White savaged Fresquez  first alleging he agreed to the Tate fight without Holms input. After Fresquez and Holm both repeatedly said the decision to fight Tate was Holms, White then bashed Fresquez for not talking her out of it. A Rousey rematch, White said, would have been far more lucrative.

As it is, Holm hasnt done badly financially. Her announced purse for the Tate fight was $500,000, and other sources might have pushed her take over the $1 million mark.

Shes a multi-millionaire already, Fresquez said after the Tate fight.

As for that illusory Rousey rematch, any percentage of zero is zero.

HOLM-SHEVCHENKO: As announced earlier this month, Holm (10-1) will face Valentina Shevchenko (12-2) in the main event of UFC on Fox 20 on July 23, two weeks after UFC 200.

As with Tate, Fresquez, said, the decision was a case of taking a fight with the toughest opponent available.

Other possible opponents were discussed, Fresquez said, mentioning Lauren Murphy (9-2, ranked 13th in the UFC bantamweight division) and Ashlee Evans-Smith (4-1, 15th).

Shevchenko, ranked No. 9, is one of only two top-10 challengers to Tates title who didnt already have a fight scheduled between now and July. Rousey (No. 2, behind Holm) is one. Liz Carmouche (9-5, ranked No. 8) hasnt fought since April 2015.

It was a team choice, Fresquez said of the decision to take the Shevchenko fight. (The UFC) gave us a few names, and that was the one that accepted and  that we felt made the most sense.

Shes a pretty tough girl, solid.  We didnt want to fight (an opponent outside the top 10) and get criticized. But any way we do it, well get criticized.

On March 5, the same night Holm lost to Tate, Shevchenko lost to Brazils Amanda Nunes by unanimous decision. Shevchenko lost the first two rounds and almost was submitted in the second, but was dominant  too little, too late  in the third.

Nunes (12-4, ranked No. 4) will fight Tate for the title on UFC 200.

Like Holm, Shevchenko is left-handed and is primarily a striker. She does have five wins by submission, however. Holms loss to Tate came via fifth-round rear naked choke.

Shevchenko is a native of Kyrgyzstan but lives and trains in Lima, Peru.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

For seven years, only occasional makeshift memorials have occupied the dusty patch of mesa where Albuquerque police once found the remains of 11 women and an unborn child.

Grieving family members of the victims for years have criticized the city and KB Home, the company that owns the land where they were found, for not making good on a promise to build a memorial on the site.

But a proposal heading to the City Council next week may finally provide the money to build a permanent memorial park on the patch of land  which has been called one of the largest crime scenes in American history.

While police have named a few men as possible suspects, nobody has ever been charged in the crime, and it remains the citys largest unsolved homicide case.

Eleanor Griego, whose daughter Julie Nieto was one of the women found buried there, visits the burial site every year on Feb. 2. Thats the day in 2009 that the first bone was found.

I feel the girls are still up there and thats why I want to go there instead of the cemetery, Griego said in a phone interview Wednesday. Its so depressing and so sad every time you go up there.

She said shes thrilled that city councilors are moving ahead with the proposal.

Im so excited, Im smiling from ear to ear, she said. It would mean they havent forgotten us.

Councilors Klarissa Pena and Ken Sanchez are asking their colleagues to approve $350,000 to build a spectacular memorial to the victims of the West Mesa murders. It would be on land donated by KB Home, they said.

The city and KB Home have talked off and on about working together on the project, but those negotiations stalled.

Pena said its time for the city to move ahead and prepare to build the park on its own, once the land is donated.

The community and especially the family members have waited too long to have some closure, Pena said Wednesday in an interview. Its something that needs to be done.

The $350,000 request will be part of a package of budget amendments introduced during a budget hearing today. A final vote on the budget proposal is expected at Mondays council meeting.

This is a step in the right direction, Sanchez said. I think we can get it done with that amount of money.

The money for the memorial park would be part of an overall spending plan of about $524 million for the budget year that begins July 1.

I know that its important to a lot of people, City Councilor Isaac Benton, chairman of the councils budget committee, said of the park.

If approved by the council, the budget proposal would then go to Mayor Richard Berry for his approval or veto.

Griego said shes very hopeful that it will be approved.

I want something to happen up there finally, she said. I think I would be there all the time. Ill go almost every day.
WASHINGTON  The number of Americans trying to join Islamic State overseas has dropped substantially since last summer, FBI Director James B. Comey said Wednesday, as the terrorist group has come under increasing pressure.

FBI agents have tracked an average of one person a month trying to travel, or actually traveling, to join the extremist group in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East since August, Comey told a news conference.

That compares to as many as 10 Americans a month in 2014 and during the first half of 2015, he said.

Islamic States brand has lost significant power in the United States, Comey said.

Comey said terrorist groups remain dogged in their recruitment efforts, however, particularly through social media.

The FBI has investigated about 1,000 cases  up from 900 a year or so ago  to determine whether a suspect is consuming terrorist propaganda, or acting on it, Comey said. About 80 percent involve Islamic State.

He spoke as federal prosecutors in Minneapolis made opening arguments in a trial of three Somali Americans accused of plotting to help the terror group.

The three are among dozens of Americans who have been charged with supporting Islamic State, though only a handful have gone to trial. Six individuals connected to the Minneapolis case have pleaded guilty, and one reportedly has gone to Syria.

U.S. officials previously noted an ebbing of the flood of foreign recruits to the Sunni militant group from around the globe as the U.S.-led coalition has stepped up efforts to counter its online propaganda, kill its leaders and track potential recruits.

Islamic State has lost large parts of its claimed territory in Iraq and Syria over the past year, but the group still controls several major cities in its self-declared caliphate and has upward of 30,000 foreign fighters.

Even as it suffers losses, Islamic State has lashed out with lethal terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Baghdad and elsewhere. The couple who killed 14 people in December in San Bernardino had claimed allegiance to Islamic State but had no direct links to the group.

In an hourlong session with reporters, Comey was tight-lipped about several ongoing investigations.

He declined to explain how the FBI cracked the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers. The FBI previously said that it paid a third-party to unlock the encrypted device, and Comey has suggested it cost more than $1 million to do so.

He would not provide a more specific figure Wednesday. People understand it cost a lot of money, he said.

Comey said he is carefully monitoring the FBI investigation of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of State from 2009 to 2012. He declined to provide details, however.

We want to do it well, and we want to do it promptly. I feel pressure to do both of those things, Comey said. Between the two things, we will always choose well.'

The FBI has been investigating whether Clinton or any of her aides mishandled classified information in thousands of work-related emails that passed through the private computer server, which was in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

The FBI has begun interviewing some of Clintons aides, but she said last weekend that agents have not yet asked to meet with her. The investigation is believed to be in its final stages.

Asked whether Clinton was correct in characterizing the probe as a security inquiry, Comey said he didnt know what that term meant. He said the FBI is conducting an investigation, though he would not say whether it was criminal in nature.

Im not familiar with the term security inquiry,  he said.
The University of New Mexico is ahead of the curve in offering incentives for students to graduate quicker and meeting other cost-saving goals, as outlined by Gov. Susana Martinez before a group of university administrators Monday.

The states other universities and colleges should follow that example and improve on it where they can.

While Martinez has her eye on moving students into the workforce more quickly to help the states economy, the overall cost to taxpayers and others is substantially lowered by graduating in four years as opposed to five or six.

Martinez said shed like to see at least half of all degree programs in the state get to the 120 credit hour benchmark by next fall and for administrators to come up with incentives to reward students for graduating in four years.

UNM has already begun reducing many undergraduate degree requirements to 120 credit hours from 128, and they plan to further expand those efforts. UNM also offers a tuition-free final semester for students who graduate in four years or less.

Reaching those goals while the Legislature cuts funding for higher education  by $20 million for the coming fiscal year that starts July 1  will take careful execution. And the Legislature has yet to ensure the long-term viability of its lottery tuition program, which pays the lions share of tuition for qualifying students.

Still, with New Mexico ranking 49th in the nation for four-year graduation rates and 47th for six-year graduation rates (using 2013 stats that actually showed an improvement over the previous four years), its apparent those efforts need to be implemented with a sense of urgency.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
SANTA FE  The minimum pay for corrections officers at New Mexico state-run prisons will jump by nearly $8,000 a year  from $26,229 to $34,195 annually  starting in July in an attempt to shore up chronic understaffing and reduce high overtime rates.

However, labor union officials said its unfair that only 557 of the states 1,046 corrections officers, those currently pulling in less than the new minimum salary, will actually get a pay raise under the plan presented Wednesday to a key legislative panel.

Miles Conway, a state spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, said the salary plan will cause divisiveness and another crisis in morale as New Mexicos most senior experienced officers are passed over for a pay adjustment that reflects their experience.

However, top-ranking Corrections Department officials say the agency intends to ask the Legislature, likely during the 2017 session, to also provide salary increases for veteran corrections officers who will not get raises this time around.

This is a first step, Deputy Secretary Alex Tomlin told members of the Legislative Finance Committee during Wednesdays hearing at the state Capitol.

Low pay for corrections officers has generated increasing concern in recent years in New Mexico, which had one of the deadliest prison riots in the nations history in 1980 at the old penitentiary outside Santa Fe.

In some cases, officers have said they face 16-hour workdays and up to 72-hour workweeks. As a result, the Corrections Department is on track to spend $17 million on overtime in the current budget year, Tomlin said.

In large part, the overtime is due to high vacancy rates  as high as 50 percent at some state-run prisons  caused by trouble recruiting and retaining employees with starting pay of just $13.65 an hour in most cases.

In an attempt to fix the problem, lawmakers approved an additional $4.5 million for Corrections Department pay increases in a $6.2 billion budget bill for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Most other rank-and-file state workers will not receive raises in the coming year.

State Personnel Director Justin Najaka told lawmakers Wednesday that the change in salary structure  which also includes an increase in the maximum pay for corrections officers  should make the Corrections Department more competitive with other law enforcement agencies and jail facilities, like the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.

He also predicted it will lead to a decrease in overtime pay and vacancy rates, but cautioned that improvements might not happen overnight.

It may take a year, or it may take two years, to demonstrate how successful this has been, Najaka told LFC members.

In addition to the 557 corrections officers, an additional 170 Corrections Department staffers  including prison wardens and other higher-ranking employees  will also get pay increases starting in July.
Two unidentified men and a woman have filed lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe alleging they were sexually abused as children by priests working in New Mexico parishes.

Three priests identified as alleged abusers include Jason Sigler, who served nine years in a Michigan prison after pleading guilty in 2003 to molesting two boys.

Other priests identified in the filings as abusers are Earl Bierman, who died in a Kentucky prison in 2005 while serving a 20-year term for child sexual abuse, and George Reiffer, a former Las Vegas monsignor.

The suits were filed in recent days by Albuquerque attorney Brad Hall in 2nd Judicial District Court in Albuquerque.

A man identified as John Doe 49 filed a suit last week against the archdiocese and St. Anthonys Parish in Fort Sumner alleging Sigler sexually abused him about 1974. The plaintiff at the time was a 10- or 11-year-old altar boy.

The Diocese of Lansing, Mich., sent Sigler in 1970 to a treatment facility for priests in Jemez Springs operated by the Servants of the Paraclete. The diocese later informed the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in writing that Sigler had been accused of molesting boys in Michigan, the suit said.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe assigned Sigler to serve as a pastor in Fort Sumner in 1974 despite warnings from the Diocese of Lansing, the suit said.

The archdiocese said Wednesday in a written statement that it doesnt comment on pending legislation, however, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe continues to be vigilant and stands firm on its zero tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct. We pray for all who have been victims of the sad reality of sexual abuse.

The archdiocese asked that all abuse cases be reported to civil authorities and to the archdioceses safe environment and victims assistance office at 831-8144. The archdiocese said it works closely with civil authorities to assure the safety of all.

Sigler, who left the priesthood in 1982, pleaded guilty in Albuquerque to a charge of criminal sexual penetration of a minor in 1983 and received a deferred sentence, according to Journal reports.

He returned to Albuquerque in 2014 after his release. Voice mail messages left Wednesday on a phone number listed in Siglers name were not returned.

In a second lawsuit, a man identified as John Doe 60 filed a suit last week against the archdiocese and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Santa Fe.

The New Mexico native alleges that at age 15 he was sexually abused in 1963 and 1964 by Bierman, a teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Santa Fe.

Bierman was convicted in 1993 in Kentucky of molesting boys while a teacher at the Covington Latin School and sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to news reports.

In a 1995 civil trial in Kentucky, a jury ordered the Diocese of Covington to pay $737,000 to a Kentucky man Bierman abused in the 1970s.

A third lawsuit filed Monday by Jane Doe E alleged she was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Las Vegas and a student at the parish school when she was sexually abused and raped by Reiffer many times in the rectory.

The abuse began in 1952 when the girl was 6, the suit alleges. Reiffers name has not surfaced in previous lawsuits and his whereabouts today are unknown.
A 23-year-old man shot and killed outside his West Side mobile home by a deputy U.S. marshal, who was investigating an unrelated case, was struck near his right armpit.

The bullet traveled downward and across Edgar Camacho-Alvarados body before it lodged in the left side of his chest. The single bullet caused his death, which was ruled a homicide, according to the autopsy report released Wednesday.

Robert Gorence, an attorney representing Camacho-Alvarados family, said Wednesday that tort claims notices have been filed at the state and federal level, which indicate a lawsuit may be filed over the shooting. Gorence said the family has also had an independent autopsy done.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Paul Hernandez fired the shot that killed Camacho-Alvarado at a mobile home complex near 75th and Central in February.

Hernandez told investigators that he entered the complex in search of another suspect when he encountered Camacho-Alvarado and the shooting occurred, according to New Mexico State Police, which is investigating the shooting. The agency previously said in a news release that Camacho-Alvarado flashed a gun at Hernandez, who gave chase before shooting Camacho-Alvarado near the steps leading to a home he shared with several family members.

The report said that Camacho-Alvarado had a rosary, phone, glass pipe and unknown black tar and white powdery substances in his possession when he was killed. He tested positive for morphine, methamphetamine and amphetamines, according to the toxicology report.

A State Police news release said that Hernandez told investigators that after a foot chase, Camacho-Alvarado was starting to raise his firearm and point it at Hernandez when he fired. They said a 9 mm Ruger handgun was found near Camacho-Alvarados body and that the gun was removed by Hernandez and placed in a nearby marshal vehicle.

The pistol was loaded and a bullet was in the chamber, according to police.

At the time of the shooting, deputy marshals were trying to arrest George Bond, who was wanted on murder charges out of Valencia County.

Bond was staying at a mobile home near the Alvarado family. He was taken into custody later that day and is scheduled for trial later this year, according to the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Ben Segotta, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, said State Police are still investigating the shooting. A State Police spokesman couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday.

Camacho-Alvarados family said their relative was working on his vehicle around 3:30 a.m. when he had a run-in with the deputy marshal.
AUSTIN, Texas  University of Texas System regents have postponed until July a vote on proposed rules allowing concealed handguns in campus buildings due to concerns that some might be too restrictive.

State law requires public universities to allow concealed handguns in classrooms and buildings starting Aug. 1.

The most controversial proposals have been for the flagship campus in Austin. They would allow professors to ban weapons from their offices. The school also wants to prohibit semi-automatic weapons from having a bullet in the chamber as a safety measure to avoid accidental discharge.

Those provisions have been attacked by gun-rights groups, which say the law is a key Second Amendment and self-defense measure. The Texas A&M System approved gun rules for its campuses in April.
SELLS, Ariz.  Federal border authorities say a Mexican man has been rescued from a rugged ridgeline outside the southern Arizona town of Sells.

Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Three Points Border Patrol Station received a 911 distress call from a man saying he was lost and stranded.

Relying on approximate GPS coordinates taken from the distress call, Tucson Sectors Search Trauma and Rescue Team began searching over an area in the Baboquivari Mountain Range.

A helicopter crew spotted a person lying motionless on the mountainside, but couldnt land due to rough terrain.

BORSTAR agents carrying packs loaded with medical equipment began a two-hour trek on foot to get to the 42-year-old man.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter airlifted the man to a hospital. He remains in Border Patrol custody.
RICHMOND, Va.  An attorney for a mentally ill man accused of trying to join al-Qaida-linked fighters in Syria asked a federal appeals court Thursday to overturn a ruling that would allow his client to be forcibly medicated, arguing that neither the public nor the government would be harmed if the man was civilly committed instead of prosecuted.

Joseph Gilbert told a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that civilly committing Basit Sheikh would virtually ensure he wouldnt be released to the community any time soon. He suggested that allowing the government to forcibly medicate in this case could open the door for many more to follow.

If you allow it in this case, theres no case where the government wouldnt be able to say: Serious crime, we should be able to stick him with this medicine,' Gilbert said.

Sheikh, of North Carolina, is charged with providing material support to a terrorist group for attempting to join Jabhat al-Nusra militants. He was arrested almost two years ago in an FBI sting to find and arrest Americans before they fought in Syria.

A federal judge ruled in October that Sheikh could be forcibly injected with anti-psychotic medication to see if it would make him competent to stand trial. Prosecutors say the Pakistan native refuses to talk to doctors and has resisted physical exams.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Rubin rejected Gilberts suggestion that retribution against Sheikh is the only interest the government has in prosecuting his case instead of civilly committing him. Rubin argued that Sheikhs prosecution would protect the public by deterring others from trying to join terror groups.

This is a priority for the executive branch, Rubin said. Those interests demand a prosecution here.

Rubin also dismissed Gilberts claim that the government failed to show that the proposed treatment ensures Sheikh is competent to stand trial. He said a research study discussed by one of the doctors who testified at an earlier hearing showed that nearly 80 percent of the 133 federal defendants who were forcibly medicated between 2003 and 2009 were restored to competency.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III said forced-medication orders are a sober decision that must not be rushed. But he said he didnt believe the lower court did rush to judgment on Sheikh, noting that several hearings on his competency were held.

He also questioned Gilberts suggestion that civil commitment would be enough in this case, saying that civil commitment orders are hard to get and hard to make stick.

Court orders to forcibly medicate a suspect before trial are rare, but not unheard of. There were only about 77 such cases in federal courts nationwide in the nine years after the Supreme Court ruling through mid-2012, according to a 2013 study by Georgetown University law professor Susan McMahon.

Jared Loughner, who killed six people and wounded 13 including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona in 2011, was forcibly medicated for schizophrenia at a federal prison medical facility so he could be competent to understand the charges against him. He pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.

The appeals court is expected to make a decision on Sheikhs case in a few weeks.

____

Follow Alanna Durkin Richer on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aedurkinricher. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/alanna-durkin-richer
BOULDER, Colo.  The driver of a school bus that tipped on its side in Boulder County last year is scheduled to go on trial in September after pleading not guilty.

Elizabeth Burris entered her plea Thursday in Boulder District Court. She is charged with multiple counts, including two counts of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and DUI.

The former St. Vrain Valley School District driver was driving eight students when her bus tipped in a steep part of a canyon near Lyons on Dec. 7.

At the time, police said Burris told a state trooper she was on about six prescription drugs. However, Burris attorney told KUSA-TV (http://on9news.tv/1X4LW6b) Thursday that she was not impaired by any drugs then, calling the crash an unfortunate accident.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Two men searching the back country of northeastern Tennessee on Thursday found a 9-year-old girl who has been missing for more than week and held the uncle accused of abducting her at gunpoint until police arrived, authorities said.

Donnie Lawson and Stewart Franklin found Carlie Marie Trent in Hawkins County, the same rural part of the state she had disappeared from on May 4 after police said her uncle Gary Simpson took her out of school without permission, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn said at a news conference.

Lawson and Franklin were acting on law enforcement appeals to search isolated areas on all-terrain vehicles, Gwyn said. Franklin, a Baptist minister, held Simpson at gunpoint while Lawson went to call police.

This is just two heroes that went onto the property just to see, by chance, could they be there, Gwyn said. And they were.

Gwyn said there were no indications that Carlie was harmed, but she was being taken to a hospital to be examined as a precaution.

Carlie is safe tonight because of an entire community pulling together and working with law enforcement to bring her home, Gwyn said. Anytime someone is taken like this  kidnapped  we know time is not on our side, and we have to act and react very quickly.  Thank God she was rescued safe.

Simpson, 57, is being charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and may face additional charges, Gwyn said.

Earlier Thursday, the TBI had added Simpson to its Top 10 Most Wanted list and warned that Carlie was in imminent danger.

Simpson is married to the sister of Carlies father. The families live close to one another in rural Hawkins County. The uncle and his wife had custody of Carlie and her little sister while their father was jailed on drug charges, but the girls went back to live with their father in 2015, TBI spokesman TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said earlier Thursday. Investigators had not been able to find any work history for Simpson.

Authorities issued the call to check remote areas or campgrounds based on surveillance video showing Simpson stocking up on items from an area Wal-Mart including a bikini, two tubes of colored lip gloss, nail polish, an outdoor chair and a childs nightgown.

___

The story has been corrected to show that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations incorrectly identified one of the men who found Carlie Marie Trent. His name is Stewart Franklin, not Roger Carpenter.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.  After being violently thrown to the ground and robbed of her purse and shoes during her first ever visit to Niagara Falls, Japanese tourist Koyuki Nakahara thought she would never return.

Yet she was back in New York last week, this time at the request of prosecutors who said her testimony was crucial in making sure her alleged attacker would be punished.

If I did not come back he would be released. It wasnt fair, Nakahara said by phone Thursday, the same day prosecutors in Niagara County announced an indictment in the case.

Robert Macleod, 44, of Niagara Falls, was indicted on charges of robbery, robbery as a sexually motivated felony, sexual abuse and assault. He had been arrested Dec. 31 after police released pictures from surveillance cameras and he later pleaded not guilty to robbery and assault and was released on $25,000 bail.

A phone listing for Macleod wasnt available, and the attorney who represented him when he was arrested didnt respond to telephone messages seeking comment. Arraignment on the new charges is expected later this month.

Deputy Niagara County District Attorney Doreen Hoffman said that without Nakaharas return to testify last week, the case likely would have been dismissed with no conviction.

Under the constitution, you have the right to confront your accuser, and we cant indict a case based on hearsay, Hoffman said. We cant just put in written statements given by victims.

Its a right that can embolden criminals who target tourists, Hoffman said. Criminals dont anticipate them to be here to prosecute.

Nakahara returned to the place where the man shed asked for directions on Christmas night responded by pounding her face into the concrete and dragging her into the dark where she feared she would be raped.

I dont have to go. Just forget it, Nakahara had told herself at home in Tokyo, convinced she had put the attack that left her bruised and frightened behind her. Then a Skype call with prosecutors who asked her to recount details brought home how deeply shed been affected. Testifying would make Niagara Falls safer for other women and would prove empowering for her, she decided.

I decided its OK to show my feelings and let the criminal know you cannot do that. You cannot hurt me because I am a woman, Im not as strong as you or Im not living here or whatever, she said.

During a news conference Thursday, authorities praised Nakaharas bravery and said they were happy to pay the travel costs to bring her back to the United States.

To step on a plane and travel for days to come back to an area that certainly, unfortunately, does not have pleasant memories and meet some people that she barely knew and relive the events that shed rather forget  Wow, Assistant District Attorney Robert Zucco said.

Robberies and assaults are relatively rare in Niagara Falls State Park, state statistics show. From 2011 to 2014, state parks police received an average of two reports of robberies  involving the use or threat of violence  and no more than one assault report each year. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster called the chances of being victimized exceedingly low, especially considering the influx of 8 million to 9 million tourists each year.

Nakahara had been traveling with a tour group when she ventured out of her hotel on her own and became lost. The stranger she asked to point her in the right direction at first seemed helpful. Then he pulled her hair and pushed her down to the ground. When he dragged her to a dark and secluded area, she was sure she would be raped and wondered if she would survive. But her attacker eventually fled and she was taken to a hospital.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of alleged sexual abuse, but Nakahara has said she wanted to discuss her case publicly.

Nakahara later continued on with her trip, which included stops in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, not wanting to be deprived by the attack of her chance to enjoy her travels.
EL PASO, Texas  The marshal for the U.S. Western District of Texas has left office after the Justice Department warned that he would be fired for misusing his office if he didnt resign.

A Justice Department spokesman on Thursday said only that Robert Almonte was no longer employed by the department. Spokesman Patrick Rodenbush wouldnt comment on the circumstances of Almontes departure.

However, the El Paso Times reported that a Tuesday email from a top Justice Department official to Almontes attorney said that Almonte would be placed on administrative leave for the purpose of terminating him if he didnt resign by 10 a.m. Thursday.

The Justice Department said in January said that an investigation had found Almonte had violated a number of polices.

Almonte and his attorney didnt return calls seeking comment Thursday.
The head of the International Accounting Standards Board is echoing concerns abroad also voiced by leaders of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about the increasing use of non-GAAP measures in the financial statements of public companies.

Speaking Wednesday at the annual conference of the European Accounting Association in Maastricht, the Netherlands, IASB chairman Hans Hoogervorst pointed to the widening difference between GAAP and non-GAAP numbers in financial reports. SEC chair Mary Jo White, chief accountant James Schnurr and deputy chief accountant Wesley Bricker have also warned against over-reliance on non-GAAP metrics in recent months.

Hoogervorst called for remuneration committees and investors to be aware of the potential pitfalls of basing policies and decisions on non-GAAP figures, saying they are often sugar-coated adjustments made by management.

While reducing the prevalence of non-GAAP measures is mainly the task of securities regulators, Hoogervorst believes the IASB also has a role to play. International Financial Reporting Standards currently provide relatively little detail on the formatting of the income statement, which can encourage the use of non-GAAP measures, he acknowledged.

Describing potential remedies the IASB may consider, Hoogervorst said, We may need to define more subtotals in the income statement; provide a definition of operating income which does not allow for obfuscating restructuring or impairment charges; and create a rigorous definition of the commonly used non-GAAP metric EBIT. We may have to do all of the aboveand maybe more.

Hoogervorst, however, reaffirmed that the bottom line, profit or loss, will remain the most important performance measure over time. No one can predict the extent to which seemingly extraordinary elements of income are recurring and not, he said. That is why it is important that the bottom line is as inclusive as possible and that it shows everything, warts and all.

In his speech, Hoogervorst recognized the importance of academic research in standard-setting and called upon academics to remain active in reviewing and commenting on IFRS and the standard-setting process.
Get ready to stay glued to your computers and mobile screens as Indias top comedy YouTube creators come together to launch a riot with their own individual comedy web series under the #LaughterGames property on YouTube. Lead by Only Much Louder, Culture Machine and Arre and sponsored by leading brands like Miranda and Kitkat - Indias top nine comic groups will launch nine web series on YouTube on their channels - dishing out shows to keep you in splits. Participating in this laugh riot #LaughterGames will see web series from SNG Comedy, East India Comedy, Anuvab Pal, Enna Da Rascalas, Random Chikibum, Kenneth Sebastian, Them Boxer Shorts, Arre and Put Chutney.

Kicking off the initiative, SNG Comedy has already gone live with two episode of its web series titled "What If" and Random Chikibum show called Random Daftar which revolves around office humor. Random Dafter show is a series of sketches that viewers working in a corporate environment will be able to relate with. Kenneth Sebastian is live with his show called Starboyz which is sci-fi comedy set in the future, and capture a group of South Indian Boys who are on a road trip of a lifetime. Over the next few days more creators will unveil their brand new shows under the #LaughterGames initiative.

Speaking about the concept, Ajay Nair, Chief Operating officer of Only Much Louder said, There is massive demand for original digital content in India across genres. We believe Laughter Games will be first of many digital properties that will provide such original content on a consistently scheduled basis. Fans will have plenty of great content to choose from for eight weeks with a variety of new, funny shows from their favourite creators

Speaking about shows from Put Chutney (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and Black Sheep (Enna Da RAscals) Sameer Pitalwalla, CEO of Culture Machine said, "Laughter Games is an affirmation of the coming of age of digital storytelling. It has allowed our creative teams to expand their palette and to commit to long form digital content, thats also supported ably in both monetisation and distribution by the worlds largest and most digital video platform

Put Chutney will launch a show that will capture the life of a typical 26-year software engineer, who is confronted with the uncomfortable truth that he is fit only for arranged marriage and how he finds comfort with four friends who are hell bent on setting his life on a unexpected course. And Black Sheep series put together by Enna Da RAscals, will capture how comedy is a serious business. Where two young enterprising and misguided entrepreneurs will take you behind the scenes to capture what really happens behind the scenes. East India Comedy will participate with their news format show called Outrage - that captures trending topics in the news covering the world of politics, pop culture, bollywood, sports, fashion, world news and everything that never thought was important.

Audience can stay tuned to the channels of these creators and get access to their latest web series launching soon. Another interesting series will be launched by Anuvab Pal titled Scenes from Indian Life (Arnuvab Pal), a short film series inspired from everyday life in India. Scenes from Indian life will capture instances of everyday life of Indians from train travel to cheating husbands to negotiations with auto rickshaws to know it all Bengali intellectuals and every aspect of Indian life that you can possibly imagine. You can also catch ThemBoxerShorts put together a mockumentary called Better Life Foundation which is set in an NGO with five passionate members whose attempts at making the world a better place are thwarted by an indifferent society, corrupt politicians and a bumbling accountant.
At the 2015-2016 ACEF (Asian Customer Engagement Forum) Awards, recently held in Mumbai, MRM//McCann India came away with one of the top honours  the Gold Award for the Most Admired Social Media Agency of the Year.

In addition to that, MRM//McCann also took home nine other Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in seven different campaigns across a range of disciplines and categories for clients like Google, Lufthansa, IFFCO, Intel and JCB. There was serious competition  this years ACEF Awards received 430 entries from across the Asia Pacific region, making the win that much more impressive.

The wins are a reflection of how our focus on creating and managing customer experiences through creative solutions that leverage technology and digital platforms are helping brands engage more actively and passionately with their audiences, said Punit Kapoor, Senior VP & GM India, MRM//McCann.

Part of the Interpublic Group, MRM//McCann is a global customer experience-marketing agency. The agency has 30+ offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
From the end of October this year, British Airways will be providing direct flights to Doha and Muscat from Heathrow Terminal 5.





Previously, customers flying to these Middle Eastern cities had to stop off in Bahrain en route Doha and Abu Dhabi en route to Muscat, but from 30 October both services will fly direct, reducing the journey time to both cities by approximately two hours.



British Airways will operate daily flights between Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain and a five-per-week service between Heathrow and Muscat.



Customers travelling to Abu Dhabi will be able to fly in the airlines new 787-9 Dreamliner.
It was announced this morning that the Danish Government is recommending the purchase of 27 F-35s for its future defence requirements.





Above: F-35As at Luke AFB, USA.

Courtesy Lockheed Martin



An announcement was made at 10 a.m. today in Copenhagen by the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, proposing that Denmark purchase 27 F-35s for DKK20 billion ($3bn).



Following this announcement, the next phase is an open debate in the Danish Parliament, which should last approximately one month before Denmark can officially approve the decision. If it does so, it will mean Denmark will join the other 10 countries which have decided to purchase the F-35 (Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, South Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, UK and US).



In an executive summary of the Type Selection of Denmarks New Fighter Aircraft, the F-35 - which was evaluated on an operational period of 30 years (2020-2049) - was deemed to be able to perform a wider range of missions than the other fighter options considered and led to an estimation that the fewer aircraft required would mean lower lifecycle costs.



An F-35 Joint Program Office statement said: 'We understand the selection process for the New Fighter Program is still ongoing and the Joint Program Office will continue to provide the Danish Government with the data needed to make an informed decision that is in their country's best interest'.



Lockheed Martin said it is pleased that Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to the F-35 programme with the down select of the F-35 in a fair and open competition. It also said the F-35 Lightning II will help ensure Denmarks national security and also positions Danish industry to capture long-term work throughout the life of the programme and that it will continue to work with Danish Industry on F-35 production throughout the life of the programme. The projected industrial opportunities with the F-35 will bring long term economic benefits to Denmark for decades to come.


Eglin activates F-35 Partner Support Complex

The 53rd Wing activated on May 11 the F-35 Partner Support Complex, a U.S.-owned facility here that handles F-35 Lightning II testing.



Robert Kraus assumed the new position as the complexs director, making it the first civilian-led unit in the wing. Kraus, a retired lieutenant colonel, served as the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron commander and 53rd Electronic Warfare Group deputy commander at Eglin Air Force Base prior to this new position.



The F-35 PSC is charged with providing mission data, intelligence support, lab facilities and training to the eight partner countries purchasing the fifth-generation aircraft.



"The growth of the PSC will relieve that pressure, as well as ensure our coalition partners are ready to participate in any future operations," Kraus said.



The partner countries include: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These countries provided critical design input and funding during the early stages of the F-35 program, which differs from foreign military sales customers.



"The PSC will directly support the partners, who currently have no indigenous capability to create mission data for the F-35," Kraus said.



The complex will interact with mission data programmers and data analysts from the partner nations. According to Kraus, one of the key projects for the unit is to support the partners in the creation of two separate hardware in the loop testing facilities -- only one currently exists.



The F-35 PSC started as a small team within the 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Eglin AFB, which provides F-35 mission data files to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The team staffs 24 civilian employees and contractors, with plans to grow to about 100 personnel. The new unit will report to the 53rd EWG.



While the mission of the complex has been ongoing for nearly five years, Kraus sees the formalization of the unit as a step forward.



"The formal activation of the unit will give me a greater ability to support the partners in their efforts," he said. "(I can now) elevate the partner support functions to an equal level with U.S. squadrons, as opposed to a subordinate role."



Plans are in the works for two separate buildings to hold the new unit and partner nation personnel. This includes the Australia/Canada/United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory building and the Norway/Italy Reprogramming Laboratory building. Additional support will be provided to Denmark, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Italy has begun the grisly task of raising a corpse-packed trawler from the seabed near Libya, a year after up to 800 migrants perished in the Mediterranean`s deadliest disaster since World War II.

Two bodies were recovered in the early stages of the delicate and complex operation being carried out by diving and marine company Impresub and heavy lifting specialists Fagioli under the supervision of the Italian coastguard.

Despite the costs and difficulties involved, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi vowed last year to salvage the wreck and give the victims decent burials as a symbol of respect for all the migrants who have died trying to reach Europes shores.

Around 9,000 people are known to have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since the current migrant crisis erupted in mid-2013. Aid agencies say it is likely many more disappeared without trace after being abandoned on the high seas by traffickers.

The two companies are using a specially designed device with hydraulic arms and underwater cameras to lift the wreck from its resting place, 380 metres (around 1,245 feet) down.

The perilously overcrowded migrant boat sank on the night of April 18-19 last year after running into a Portuguese freighter which had raced to its rescue, the collision sending panicked passengers stampeding to one side, causing the vessel to keel over.

Only 28 people survived. According to survivors, there had been up to 800 people packed onto the boat.

The recovery consists in clasping the wreck with the robotic device and bringing it to the surface without damaging it, if possible, engineer Egidio Ibba, Impresub`s director of operations, said in a video released by the navy.

All apertures on the boat have been sealed off to ensure none of the bodies within are lost as the vessel is lifted, and the navy said bits of the trawler had been removed to ensure a smooth lift to the surface.The Ievoli Ivory offshore tug ship, kitted out with the vast yellow hydraulic arms, has a crew of 20 as well as 35 technicians on board.

It began lifting the doomed ship at 1600 GMT on Wednesday. Bringing it to the surface was expected to take at least 20 hours.

The sunken trawler will then be lifted onto a barge which will begin the long, slow haul to the port of Augusta in Sicily, where forensic scientists from across Italy are on hand to begin identifying the bodies packed inside.

Even before it is taken ashore, accessible parts of the wreck will be examined to recover any bodies in reach, Ibba said.
An alleged middleman who India is desperate to question for the corrupt AgustaWestland deal has confirmed to a News channel that in 2008, he did describe Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a letter as the driving force of the decision to acquire new helicopters for use by top politicians when her party was last in power. However, Christian Michel James, who is based in Dubai, also said that he does not personally know either Mrs Gandhi or her son, Rahul, who is the Congress vice-president, and stressed that his written suggestion that they be lobbied by diplomats does not mean bribes were paid to them.

Recently, a Milan court sentenced the former bosses of Finmeccanica and its AgustaWestland unit to jail terms for corruption in the India deal. Documents it referred to included letters from middlemen that mentioned Mrs. Gandhi and other Congress leaders as people to pursue or influence to land the deal. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, which tackles financial crimes, are trying to piece together who was bribed in India for the helicopter scam. In Parliament, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the Congress misdoings stand exposed. Congress lawmakers walked out in protest, demanding that the Supreme Court monitor the investigation into the helicopter deal, which was signed in 2010 and cancelled in 2014.

However, the middle man Michel said that he stands by his earlier claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year met with his Italian counterpart in New York, and offered to release two Italian marines imprisoned in India on murder charges in exchange for information about the Agusta deal that could embarrass or implicate Mrs. Gandhi. In denying that its top bosses are linked to the Agusta scam, the Congress had questioned the authenticity of the note Mr. Michel verified. Other letters of imprisoned executives from Agusta, an Anglo-Italian firm, also name-checked Mrs. Gandhi and top Congress leaders; the papers were reviewed by a Milan court which has found Agusta guilty of paying bribes in India. The verdict  delivered a few weeks ago  has given the BJP considerable ammo in resuscitating the Agusta scandal as a national controversy and alleging new proof of the complicity of the Congress top bosses in the helicopter swindle. The order, worth Rs. 3,600 crores, was cancelled in 2014 after the Italian investigation ramped up. Mr. Michel has over the last few months repeatedly claimed that when Mr. Modi was in New York last year for a UN summit, he met on the sidelines with the Italian premier to solicit details gleaned from the Italian investigation that could be used against Mrs. Gandhi.

The Congress is now anxious by allegations of corruption that it has launched a protest, BJP and its leaders accused Mrs. Gandhi being involved in chopper scam and also attacked her saying Congress blocked investigations into, corrupt payments linked to an order of a dozen helicopters from Agusta, owned by Italian defense giant Finmeccanica. Congress president Sonia Gandhi refuted the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) allegations over AgustaWestland case and dared the ruling party to prove charges. She claimed that all the allegations against her in the VVIP chopper deal are baseless and part of the BJPs strategy of character assassination. She said they have nothing to hide. She asked for proofs and alleged BJP stating its a part of their strategy of character assassination. The Italian court ruling states how the firm lobbied with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her close aides besides the then NSA MK Narayanan and the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Gandhi was described as the driving force by the judge behind the AugustaWestland deal.

Subramanian Swamy, who took oath as the newly-nominated member of Rajya Sabha, spearheaded the BJPs attack against Sonia Gandhi and the Congress in Rajya Sabha. BJP had appointed Meenakshi Lekhi to lead the attack against Congress in Lok Sabha. From social network to Rajya Sabha the party randomly attacked Congress and its president but interestingly, the united Congress including Manmohan Singh came in defence of Gandhis and took aggressive stand against BJP. But I have to prove they are innocent to prove my innocence is more than enough to understand who are involved and what he would do to prove Gandhis are innocent, this statement coming from middle man is much more serious to look into. Meanwhile , his claim that Modi offered to exchange marines against evidence to shame Gandhis, that indicate that Modi is least interested in justice to those dead fishermen, but only interested in shaming Gandhis? If the statement about meeting in New York is not to be taken seriously, then so does his other statements, but his one statement is not taken seriously then its better to ignore other claim. Right now, the middle man brought BJP and Congress into a great fix. Lets see, how the politics move ahead in this issue.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Once I went to a pharmacy with a doctors prescription. While I could not crack the doctors calligraphy, the pharmacist got the name of the medicine right and commented sarcastically that the particular doctor used to prescribe only this medicine for the past 10 years, and told me not to worry. The doctor confirmed the medicine when I went to cross check. I wondered whom to trust  the doctor or the pharmacist?

We used to joke that every bad handwriting resembled doctors prescription. I bet that doctors do not on an average have worse handwriting than other professions, where most communications are typed. Also, doctors, while prescribing the costlier version of the medicine, often do not disclose to patients that variants of the same medicine are available at less than half the price.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM), an American NGO, reported that the untidy handwriting of physicians is responsible for 7,000 deaths a year. A study in New York (2010) found an astonishing 37 errors for every 100 paper prescriptions. An illegible prescription requires time to sort out with the doctor. In the case of urgent medication, the delay can result in patient discomfort.

As e-mail and texting have become our favoured means of written communication, handwriting has almost disappeared. Yet handwriting persists in medical prescriptions and thats unfortunate. Since the advent of modern medicine, doctors have gained notoriety for messy penmanship. One explanation for this is that they are pushed to see too many patients within the appointment slot, and are therefore rushed when writing prescriptions. Also, there is no incentive for beautiful handwriting!

I hope illegible writing is not a chapter taught in medical college. I know Shorthand as part of stenography. Is there any medical shorthand? I bet that doctors do not on an average have worse handwriting than other professions, where most communications are typed.

A local pharmacist tells me, I dont think all doctors have terrible handwriting. I must admit though, if a prescription looked too neat, I would get suspicious! with a mischievous smile, adding that doctors are the only adults who are forced to write their prescriptions themselves.

Perhaps, a doctor is not writing for you to understand, but writing for a pharmacist who will know what he means. If you dont understand a certain letter or a word in an average text, you can always infer by its context. The inherent ability doesnt work for medical prescriptions and the like.

From the patients perspective, illegible handwriting can lead to inappropriate dosage and a misread prescription can lead to mistreatment. As the patient is often not familiar with the jargon that is scrabbled in the prescription, the onus is on the pharmacist, who is tasked with the challenge of deciphering the content. In some countries like US, doctors are fined for illegible prescriptions.

Some doctors write prescriptions in an illegible manner, but write medical certificates clearly. The same doctors will have rock steady hands when making a surgical incision. Could it be a medical ego that doctors write illegibly as a kind of secret code, to keep patients in the dark? Reading prescriptions take practice. It is not something you can learn in school, because each doctor writes differently. Or their handwriting should be seen as a factor of medical intelligence?

Technology can ease this burden, as computers sooner than later would relay e-prescriptions directly to the pharmacy. While in US alone, 100,000 prescription errors occur every year, India does not have any such data. Hope this issue ceases its value in contemporary time and becomes a part of history. By the way, do female physicians write legibly?

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Actress Mia Wasikowska wishes she could spend more time with her family.

The 26-year-old is kept away from home for months at a time due to her successful Hollywood career and feels she is missing out on seeing her three nephews and a niece grow up.

Speaking at the European premiere of her new movie Alice Through the Looking Glass here, Wasikowska told BANG Showbiz: I have three nephews and a niece and they seem to like rocket forward  I sometimes feel as though its too fast!

Mia was born and raised in Canberra by her parents Marzena Wasikowska and John Reid, and has an older sister Jess and younger brother Kai.

Once she is finished with her promotional duties for the film, Wasikowska will be going home to meet her family.

Im going home soon to see everyone so that will be great, she said.
The statements made by Haji Rafat Hussain about Trupti Desai are his personal views and AIMIM doesnt endorse it says Imtiyaz Jaleel.

The AIMIM has distanced itself from the statements made by its leader Haji Rafat Hussain challenging Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai to enter a Parsi temple for confirming whether she is actually fighting for womens rights and not seeking publicity. Imtiyaz Jaleel group leader of AIMIM in Maharashtra legislative assembly said that Hussain is not the authorised spokesperson of the party to issue such statements.

The statements issued by Haji Rafat Hussain are his personal views and AIMIM doesnt endorse it. The trustees of temples, mosques, dargahs are competent enough to resolve the matter pertaining to womens entry inside places of worship, said Imtiyaz Jaleel.

Hassan Mulani, AIMIM secretary Thane district said Trupti is only trying to gain publicity through these acts. He said, Trupti Desai is simply working as an agent of the government. She is forcefully trying to enter temples and dargahs for gaining publicity. Trupti is keen to enter politics. When Muslims have become IAS and IPS officers then where is the question of discrimination against them. Mahim dargah and Ajmer Sharif Dargah allow entry of women inside the inner sanctum and its the decision of the trust and Islam has nothing to do with it.

Earlier Trupti Desai had entered Haji Ali Dargah and offered prayers. Haji Rafat Hussain had said that Trupti wont be able to enter the inner sanctum of dargah in her life time.

We are happy that Trupti Desai offered prayers at the Haji Ali Dargah. But the way she had on April 28 threatened the entire Muslim community that she would forcefully enter the dargah was not right, Hussain said.

She entered today with the police. I think she should not have done that and should have entered alone. We would have been much happy if she would have entered just like any other common person, he added

She would not be able to enter the majar-e-sharif throughout her life. She was allowed to go where women are allowed to enter. I would also like her to now try and enter a Parsi temple, where only Parsis are allowed to go, as that would confirm the people that she is actually fighting for womens rights and not for publicity, he said.

On the other hand, Trupti Desai said that she will continue to fight for gender equality. She said, I have entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality.

At Haji Ali Dargah, I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011. We saw where we are allowed till and where men go till inside Dargah, she added.

The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and offer their prayers. This ban came into force in 2011.
NOTE: Thank you to Dr. Y for allowing us to exceprt this post. Read more at Vaccination News. A new book from Skyhorse Publishing delves into the Thorsen scandal - buy Master Manipulator Master Manipulator: The Explosive True Story of Fraud, Embezzlement, and Government Betrayal at the CDC by James Grundvig from Skyhorse Publishing today before the copies disappear... like a certain researcher.

Edward Yazbak M.D.

For a period of time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had a love-fest with Danish Researchers who agreed to produce needed evidence that in spite of parental reports, MMR vaccination and Thimerosal containing vaccines played no role whatsoever in the increased prevalence in autism and autistic spectral disorders (ASD).

In 2005, I published The CDC finances, writes and helps publish Danish research, a discussion of five Danish studies.

Those five Danish studies (DS) were:

DS 1: Madsen KM, Hviid A, Vestergaard M, Schendel D, Wohlfahrt J, Thorsen P, Olsen J, Melbye M. A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 7;347(19):1477-82 PMID: 12421889

DS 2: Madsen KM, Lauritsen MB, Pedersen CB, Thorsen P, Plesner AM, Andersen PH, Mortensen PB. Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism: negative ecological evidence from Danish population-based data. Pediatrics. 2003 Sep;112(3 Pt 1):604-6. PMID: 12949291

DS 3: Hviid A, Stellfeld M, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M. Association between thimerosal-containing vaccine and autism. JAMA. 2003 Oct 1;290(13):1763-6. PMID: 14519711

DS 4: Lauritsen MB, Pedersen CB, Mortensen PB. The incidence and prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders: a Danish population-based study. Psychol Med. 2004 Oct;34(7):1339-46.PMID 15697060

DS5: Larsson HJ, Eaton WW, Madsen KM, Vestergaard M, Olesen AV, Agerbo E, Schendel D, Thorsen P, Mortensen PB. Risk factors for autism: perinatal factors, parental psychiatric history, and socioeconomic status. Am J Epidemiol. 2005 May 15;161(10):916-25; discussion 926-8. PMID:15870155

Studies 1 and 5 were funded by the CDC and co-authored by Diana Schendel PhD, at the time a CDC (NCBDDD) epidemiologist.

Poul Thorsen MD, PhD co-authored DS1, DS2 and DS5.

Thorsen did very well for himself as a CDC Principal Investigator and Liaison between the United States and Denmark in autism-related matters for years. He served on the Faculties of two US universities and incredibly, even on the DSM-V Committee.

Dr. Thorsens most notable achievement was the embezzlement of a couple of million dollars from the research funds he had access to. His multiple Federal indictments and the fact that he was featured for a long while on the Most Wanted Fugitives List of the Office of the Inspector General, HHS did not seem to affect his serene post-CDC life or his continued employment in Denmark.
By Anne Dachel A big thank you to the Sacramento Bee for this coverage, which does present both sides of this further episode in the actions of California State Senator Richard Pan.

The latest flareup of a conflict between vaccine skeptics and an inoculation-championing state senator has moved from a Capitol corridor to the realm of hashtags.

On Monday, Vaxxed producer Del Bigtree arrived at Pans office without an appointment to talk. After Pan exited without granting an audience, Bigtree pursued him down a hallway.

Posts recounting the incident, including a video, have circulated among vaccine skeptics who have gleefully promoted the hashtag #PanRan (theyve also leveled more threats; one wrote on Facebook she hopes Pan gets hit by a bus).

Not so fast, said Pan communications director Shannan (Velayas) Martinez. She started firing off tweets on Wednesday arguing that her boss simply strolled away and then Bigtree couldnt keep up. Naturally, it comes with its own hashtag (#del2slow), and suggests Bigtree is unfit  Appears #Vaxxed producer @delbigtree not used to stairs and displays poor fitness. #del2slow #SB277 @DrPanMD. Bigtree didnt respond to requests for comment.



Read more here:

A video from May 6, 2016 was also included.

Its a film about CDC cover-up information is being withheld from the American people. Its not necessarily pro-vax, anti-vax. Its just simply pro-choice for vaccinations or not.

Matthew Beelman: My son has autism. He didnt have any symptoms until about 12 months. And he received the MMR around that time. I didnt know anything about vaccines back then. I just trusted they were okay.

After he became autistic, I started looking into his condition as far as what I could do to help. Its amazing to see the different links Ive found, other peoples experiences, other parents and the timelines involved. Things started lining up.

A mother: My son, at four months, suffered severe vaccine reactions. Hes been able to recover from them. 



Read more here:



Read more here:

I think it's important to remember what the Sacramento Bee reported about Pan on June 18, 2015.

He personally received almost $100,000 in pharma donations during 2013-2014, and altogether the legislature took in nearly $3 million drug industry money.



Read more here:



Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism.
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2016 - Leading consumer advocates and environmental groups are pushing the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit the use of the term natural on food products or at least require them to meet the same standards as organic foods.

FDA has the clear authority and responsibility to ban the use of the term natural as false and misleading, the groups say in a filing that is among thousands of comments provided to the agency on use of the term.

The comments show a sharp split between the consumer and environmental groups and the conventional food industry, and also between the conventional industry and organic food companies as well as between the consumer advocates and the organic sector.

FDA, acting in response to conflicting petitions filed by the Consumers Union, Grocery Manufacturers Association and other groups, sought public and industry comment on how the term should be defined, including whether biotech ingredients should be permitted.

FDA doesnt have an official definition of natural, but the agencys longstanding policy is that natural means that the products dont include artificial or synthetic ingredients. The policy doesnt exclude any production methods, including the use of pesticides or GMOs.

GMA wants FDA to set a clear, but limited, definition of natural that the group says is needed to alleviate confusion and ensure consistency across the industry. The definition should allow for acceptable post-harvest processing and production methods including biotechnology, GMA told FDA.

The lack of a regulatory definition has led to widespread industry and consumer confusion, and consumer mistrust, GMA said.

The group also said the definition should be distinct from requirements for organic foods and balance the weight of consumer perception with the realities of current manufacturing practices, maintenance of food safety and public health, and consideration for future food processing technologies.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization specifically appealed to FDA to allow the use of GMOs in products labeled as natural.

Genetic engineering should not be a defining factor because it would be inconsistent with FDAs longstanding position that genetic engineering is merely an extension of traditional breeding, the Farm Bureau wrote. All breeding methods, including genetic engineering, modify DNA, a naturally occurring component of the plant. Nothing synthetic or artificial is introduced.

BIO argued, If natural means the absence of human influence, then no agricultural or food production activity is natural; all agriculture, and all human foods, bear the mark of human innovation, human intervention, or human choice.

Consumers Union was joined by the Consumer Federation of America, Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club in arguing for a ban on the term. Barring that, FDA should set strict standards that would be checked for compliance by independent certifiers, much as the federal organic standards operate, the groups said.

Moreover, to align the natural label with consumer expectations, the FDA should require all food labeled 'natural' to also be certified organic, as a baseline, the groups said. Organic standards bar the use of genetically engineered seeds and the use of synthetic pesticides.

The Organic Trade Association said the FDAs definition would have a real impact on organic foods and should be severely restricted. The term should have to be accompanied by a statement explaining its meaning, such as Natural  no artificial flavors or colors, the group says.

Watching for food stories such as this one? Sign up for an Agri-Pulse four-week free trial subscription to stay on top of this and other ag, rural policy and energy issues.





In a clear break from the consumer advocates, OTA opposes aligning the use of natural with organic standards. Using production standards for defining natural would create duplication with the National Organic Program and potentially create interagency regulatory conflict, and only create increased consumer confusion.

OTA also expressed doubt that standards for natural could be policed properly.

Like GMA, the International Dairy Foods Association said an FDA definition was needed to address confusion and provide needed direction to the industry.

IDFA also said that the agency should continue to allow the longstanding practice of using the term natural cheese to mean cheeses made directly from milk, distinguishing them from products derived from processed cheeses.

The American Food Industry Association, National Grain and Feed Association and Pet Food Institute filed joint comments urging FDA to allow GMOs to qualify as natural.

#30
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 - The solar industry recently launched the #MillionSolarStrong campaign to celebrate the now more than 1 million solar systems installed in the U.S. Together, these systems supply enough electricity to power the entire state of Pennsylvania, says the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The campaign quickly gained widespread backing with more than 70 organizations signing a declaration in support of making solar a bigger portion of Americas energy portfolio. The signees include some of the nations largest solar companies, as well as the Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, the Climate Reality Project, Union of Concerned Scientists, the National Electrical Contractors Association and the National Roofing Contractors Association.

American leaders, entrepreneurs and organizations across the country have come together to publicly recognize solar as part of the mainstream energy discussion, and thats not something that can be easily ignored, says Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. While it took us 40 years to hit 1 million U.S. solar installations, were expected to hit 2 million within the next two years. Solar energy isnt just here to stay, its rapidly growing because of the hardworking American families who have made it clear they want access to clean, affordable, reliable electricity.

A report issued by SEIA and George Washington Solar Institute, timed with the launch of the campaign, says solar accounted for almost 30 percent of new capacity in 2015. The report states that a combination of factors has allowed solar to scale from just 1,000 installations in 2001 to over a million today, including:

Installation costs dropping by more than 70 percent over the past decade, mostly due to panel efficiency improvements that made systems 66 percent cheaper compared to five years prior.

The predictability of a long-term, 30 percent federal investment tax credit enacted in 2008 and extended in 2015 through 2021.

State policies like net-metering and renewable portfolio standards that have allowed solar to break into markets and thrive.

Like what you see here? Agri-Pulse subscribers get our Daily Harvest email and Daybreak audio Monday through Friday mornings, a 16-page newsletter on Wednesdays, and access to premium content on our ag and rural policy website. Sign up for your four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription.





The report notes that solar jobs have grown by 123 percent in the past five years. There are now 209,000 Americans working in solar jobs, and that number is expected to double to 420,000 by 2021, says SEIA.

The 1 million installations generate enough electricity to power more than 5.9 million homes, SEIA says. With continued growth in solar, SEIA estimates by 2020, the source will generate enough electricity to power 20 million homes.
Iraqi Minorities Advocate for the Creation of New Provinces

If August 1914 shattered the received order of Europe forever, August 2014 dissolved the received tradition of protection for religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria. The lightening quick thrust of the Islamic State over northeastern Syria and down a broad band of Iraq in the summer of 2014 spelled disaster for the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Yezidis, Turkmen and other religious minorities that had been sheltered politically under the assumptions of so-called Sykes-Picot Agreement. Chief among those beliefs is that minorities had to be tolerated by any regime, whether colonial or indigenous. The Sikes-Picot Agreement -- a secret partitioning of the Ottoman Empire negotiated by Mark Sykes of Great Britain and Francois Georges-Picot of France -- defined future spheres of influence for their respective colonial empires. ISIS rulers have often stated that one of their goals is to dissolve the borders created by this agreement and the assumptions of pluralism that were built into it. Since the Caliphate was declared two years ago, every minority in its path has faced brutality, torture, humiliation and slavery in the face of a helpless and hapless central government in Baghdad. Just days away from the May 14 centennial of the ratification of the Sykes Picot Agreement that created the present borders of Iraq, the advocates for minorities are abuzz with plans to carve out new provinces that could be defended by ethnic militias. On April 16, Andrew Doran, a Washington-based senior adviser to the In Defense of Christians nonprofit told a closed meeting of the Westminster Institute that he favored the creation of an autonomous zone for the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Yezidis and other minorities that have lived on the wheat-growing Nineveh Plain for centuries. The area of the autonomous zone under discussion ranges between 800 and 5,000 square miles. "This is a time for radical creativity, a time to consider what a post-ISIL Iraq would look like," Doran told the Westminster gathering. "Those who believe in sovereignty and self-determination for any minority group in Iraq have a right to demand the same sovereignty and security for Christians, Yezidis other minorities." In Baghdad, the members of parliament representing the minority constituencies that are spread like a patchwork quilt from Basra to Mosul are busy crafting proposals that could respond to the urgent needs of the minorities in a post-ISIS Iraq. A hot topic in Kurdistan is whether the Yezidi minority of 350,000 Kurdish-speaking citizens who live outside the border of the Kurdish Regional Government will vote in a referendum to form a semiautonomous zone in Sinjar defended by its own militia. The Turkmen of Iraq, who are concentrated in Tuz-Khurmatu, Kirkuk and Talafer, are advocating an autonomous zone for themselves. "The Iraqi parliament must be serious to pass the law forming two new provinces, that is Tuz and Talafer, as well as the Turkmen Rights law," said Dr. Ali Al Bayati, an official with the Turkmen Rescue Foundation in Baghdad and an advocate for Turkmen political rights. "Both of these measures already have been passed by the Iraqi ministerial council during the Al Maliki cabinet in 2013." Al Bayati added that coalition countries should provide funding for economic development to Turkmen regions, to spur the rebuilding of Turkmen cities destroyed by war and for military aid to recruit and train Turkmen defense forces and constabulary. "The idea of an exclusive province for Christians is unacceptable to any Assyrian," said David Lazar, an Assyrian immigrant to the United States who heads the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation. He added, "This is unconstitutional, according to the Iraqi constitution, and no Assyrian or Yezidi want such provinces. What we want are three new provinces in Nineveh Plain, Sinjar and Telafar to form a new region -- a mini Iraq -- tied to Baghdad as part of Iraqi Federalism." Doran agreed that a zone set aside for discreetly defined ethnicities is counter-productive. "There is a history of Christians, Yazidis and others' living peaceably -- though Christians and Yazidis have been victimized by Kurds and others," he said. "The United States has to take into account where pluralism has worked, such as the Nineveh Plain, and where Christians and others have been victims. Peaceful pluralism is a wonderful ideal, but those groups who have been targets for discrimination and violence ought to be afforded a greater measure of autonomy. This doesn't mean breaking up Iraq. It just means greater local governance." Doran said that he advocates for a safe zone that could welcome a range of minorities, including Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen Shia, Shabbaks and Mandeans.
May 12, 2016

At the end of his recent interview with Al-Monitor, professor Zeev Sternhell offered an important recommendation. The world-renowned expert on fascism suggested that we use our imagination to identify the threat looming over Israeli society and prepare to deal with it properly.

It would have taken a particularly vivid imagination to predict that an Israeli prime minister would utter a sentence such as "Arab voters are coming out in droves." Who could have foreseen that the public would back a soldier who shot an injured man, and who would have thought that in 2016 a massive majority of Israelis (71.5%) would believe that Israeli control of the territories it captured in 1967 is not occupation?

It takes an imagination such as that of witty playwright Michal Aharoni to come up with a plot  imaginative to the point of being surreal  that turned into reality by the time the play premiered. (Full disclosure: Aharoni is the life partner of Al-Monitor columnist Shlomi Eldar).

The play focuses on a defense minister who is sick and on his efforts to recover. To save his own life, the minister (played by the wonderful Dov Glickman) is willing to violate a law he himself co-authored forbidding Jews from accepting organ transplants from non-Jews. He gets the heart of a Palestinian and, to buy the silence of the settlers, he engages in secret trading with them over funding and the authorization of illegal settlement outposts.

Three years ago, when Aharoni wrote "Angina Pectoris," the practice of separating Arab and Jewish families on maternity wards was just a rumor. It was only in April that Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich openly supported the practice in writing. The possibility that this thug Smotrich, who dreamed up the "beast parade" against the LGBT community, would hold the title of deputy Knesset speaker would have once been considered a bad joke.

"Angina Pectoris" is also a joke about us, citizens of Israel, being led by a group of shameless cynics. They subvert values, laws and political and economic interests to suit their selfish and political needs at any given time.

The spoiled and purist left doesn't escape criticism in Aharoni's treatment. The hilarious dialogue between the minister and the surgeon Gal Shechnik (played by Zohar Straus), a knee-jerk liberal peace activist who flew in from the United States especially to operate on the minister, reduces audiences to tears.

But the tears of laughter dry up as soon as people walk out of the Tzavta Tel Aviv Theater and back into real life. Or perhaps they turn into tears of shame. On the radio they're talking about the leader of the Zionist Camp, Isaac Herzog, crawling on his knees to join the government without even demanding changes in the government's policies.

The play's humor provides a bridge between the personal and emotional dimensions of the characters and their racist and aggressive views. The hard-hitting messages sink in thanks to the sophisticated direction of Tzion Ashkenazi and excellent acting by Glickman and Straus, alongside Tali Ben-Yosef (in the role of Massada, the defense minister's daughter, named after the daughter of the late Gen. Rehavam Zeevi), Shimon Mimran (as her fiance, the settler Matanyahu Ben-Tzadik) and Sharon Friedman (who portrays several characters: Dr. Kostokovski, Dr. Amir and Muein al-Hilo, the father of the dead Palestinian whose heart was donated to the minister).

"The play was written three years ago in reaction to a bunch of anti-democratic bills presented at the time to the Knesset by the government coalition," Aharoni told Al-Monitor. She met David Chack, the president of the Association of Jewish Theaters and artistic director of the ShPIeL-Performing Identity Theater in Chicago dedicated to the portrayal of Jewish stage characters. He decided to direct and stage the show in its English version (translated by Danny Wool).

The play's path to the Israeli stage was not smooth. No repertory theater would produce it. Perhaps the evil spirit of Culture Minister Miri Regev was its undoing. Perhaps the managers of the major theaters were afraid that people would not pay to see a play about the occupation and its dangerous side effects. "After all the repertory theaters refused to produce it, I started fundraising on [Israeli crowdfunding platform] Headstart and at the same time sent the play to the manager of the Tzavta Theater, Haimon Goldberg. He decided to produce the show and showed the text to Glickman, who got excited and the cast was put together around him."

All the upcoming shows in Tel Aviv sold out in one day. Cultural centers in the towns of Yavne, Nes Tziona, Raanana and Arad bought the show  an unusual decision for a play not produced by a repertory theater. "Even in Ariel they want it," Aharoni said. "The manager of the cultural center, Ariel Turgeman, told me he has no problem presenting different views as long as it's good theater and not propaganda, and it's not insulting or injurious but satirical in the good sense of the word."

Given the current state of Israeli society and politics, the settlers can afford to laugh out loud all the way to their next settlement outpost, all the way to the bank and all the way to the ballot box. The leftists can write as much satire as their hearts desire and act it out before them. They will even buy tickets. But as long as there are witty satirical television programs such as "Matzav Ha'Uma" (The State of the Nation) and "Eretz Nehederet" ("A Wonderful Land") and "Roim et Hasof" ("We See the End Coming"), there's hope for Israel's shaky democracy. He who laughs last, laughs longest. If only we could all laugh together.

Editor's note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
May 11, 2016

Congress hasn't managed to pass a single Iran-related bill since the nuclear deal went into effect last year, but that doesn't mean its supporters can breathe easy.

Behind the scenes, lawmakers in both chambers and both parties have been working together on comprehensive legislation that will seek to punish Iran for its human-rights abuses, ballistic missile tests and other activities. That strategy could help explain why a bill to renew sanctions on Iran's energy sector that expires at the end of the year has been bottled up in the Senate banking panel for the past 11 months despite bipartisan support for its passage.

"My sense on the Republican side is that the leadership is not going to accept a mere extension [of the Iran Sanctions Act] without additional sanctions," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "Certainly I want to get it done, period. But if it helps drive a bigger package, that's a good thing."

Menendez, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who opposed the Iran deal, has been working for months with panel chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., on broader sanctions legislation. That effort is on the verge of succeeding, Corker told Al-Monitor May 11.

"We have a bipartisan bill," Corker said, "and we're getting ready to roll it out real soon."

Menendez said a recent New York Times magazine profile of Obama's foreign policy advisor, Ben Rhodes, has only energized deal-skeptic lawmakers because of the dim view it takes of Congress. In the much-discussed article, Rhodes says that a "sober, reasoned public debate after which members of Congress reflect and take a vote" is "impossible."

"Certainly those of us who were already [wary] before the Rhodes interview became public and are very close to producing an Iran non-nuclear sanctions package obviously feel not only justified but vindicated," Menendez said.

House members likewise have increasingly been signaling their intentions to go after Iran with everything they can muster.

"Before this president leaves office, we must do everything possible to prevent his administration from making further concessions to Iran," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wrote in a May 9 op-ed in the right-leaning online news site Independent Journal Review. "This includes blocking any attempt to make it easier for the mullahs in Tehran to conduct their trade in dollars. We are also committed to renewing the Iran Sanctions Act by the end of this year."

"In the coming weeks," Ryan promised, "House Republicans will present the country with an overarching vision for our national security."

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., and ranking member Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., have been working on such legislation for several months. The two leaders at one point hoped to have a bill ready in time for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference in late March, but Engel said the timing wasn't right.

"We at first thought that maybe we could speed up whatever we could because the AIPAC activists could be great people to lobby for us," Engel told Al-Monitor. "But we realized it was rushing it and it wasn't really ready and we really didn't have consensus and we kind of ran out of time. But I want to make sure Iran's feet are held to the fire for everything that was promised under the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action], and if there are violations from Iran, we want to deal with them."

Engel, however, said he could support a stand-alone renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act, which lawmakers view as a vital backstop in case Iran cheats on its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA. Obama administration officials have urged Congress to hold off on the renewal for now, arguing that multilateral sanctions at the United Nations could be reinstated without the possibility of a veto if Iran is deemed to have cheated. But it's not clear if the president would veto such a bill.

"I think each issue stands on its own," Engel said. "I would be in favor of passing an ISA bill stand-alone. But I would also be in favor of doing that bill and another bill."

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said he supports renewing the Iran Sanctions Act and strengthening ballistic missile sanctions, but that the Republican leadership appears to want more.

"I think we could do both and get broad consensus," Cardin said, "but I do not sense a lot of enthusiasm by the Republican floor leadership to move in that direction."

As a result, he said, there has been "no progress" in his talks with Corker, suggesting that the chairman may end up releasing his bill with Menendez on board but not Cardin.

The negotiations haven't prevented individual members from trying to take aim at Iran on their own, but those efforts have so far gone nowhere. On May 11, the Senate voted 57-42  not enough to pass the 60-vote threshold  on an amendment to an energy spending bill by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., that would have prohibited the United States from buying heavy water from Iran to prevent it from inadvertently violating the deal.
May 11, 2016

A recent string of cases involving police abuse against citizens has stirred an uproar in Egypt against the Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for police and security matters. Calls for reform most recently re-emerged after the May 1 police raid on the Press Syndicate in Cairo.

A review of other abuses perpetrated in the past few months reveals that most of those cases were personally motivated and not related to official law enforcement. One widely covered incident occurred April 19, when a dispute erupted between a policeman and a drink vendor over the price of a cup of tea. The policeman opened fire on three vendors, killing one and wounding the other two in the east Cairo residential neighborhood of Rehab City.

Concern about abuse by police has caught the media's attention. On the evening of April 27, Egyptian news websites reported that, during a dispute, a policeman allegedly shot a bus driver in the El-Nozha area of east Cairo. Investigations by the prosecutor general later determined that the aggressor was not an ordinary policeman but a captain in the Directorate General for Information and Documentation.

According to Al-Youm Al-Sabeh newspaper, an eyewitness testified to investigators that fear about a repeat of the Rehab incident  led them to intervene and disarm the police officer after he shot the bus driver in the thigh. That police officer was released May 9 after he made peace with the family involved. He had been charged with attempted murder, but said he never intended to shoot the driver.

Both of those cases came soon after a policeman was sentenced April 2 to life in prison for shooting and killing a taxi driver in Al-Darb Al-Ahmar in February.

Parliament has discussed the issue of curbing police violence by debating a Police Authority Act, but hasn't adopted it yet.

My initial reading of the draft law did not reveal any practical solutions for police oversteps, despite the existence of legal provisions barring police officers from carrying their weapons when off-duty," said parliament member Haitham al-Hariri, who is affiliated with the opposition.

"Most cases of assault perpetrated by policemen against citizens occurred while they were on duty," as was the case with the Rehab incident. "On April 20, I submitted an urgent request to the speaker of parliament, asking that Minister of Interior Maj. Gen. Magdi Abdel Ghaffar be summoned to appear before lawmakers, but my request went unheeded," Hariri told Al-Monitor.

The perpetrator of the latest incident, in El-Nozha, was Capt. Ahmed Sameer Nassar, who was on duty as well, Hariri said, adding that he also submitted an urgent request to the speaker of parliament asking for that incident to be investigated, but he hasn't received a definitive answer yet.

In that incident, the officer arrived at the taxi stand and asked the victim to drive him to a certain area for a specific fare that the driver rejected. An argument ensued, leading to a physical altercation and the officer ultimately shooting the driver.

Hariri said that while security agencies are supported and respected, that will not keep lawmakers from holding the Ministry of Interior accountable when police violate the constitution and the law by killing in cold blood and by indiscriminately arresting citizens.

Some have argued that subjecting the police force to scrutiny would affect anti-terror efforts, something Col. Hatem Abdel Fattah Saber of the Nasser Military Academy disagrees with. He told Al-Monitor that the proposed law would help regulate police performance and would not impede the security services fight against terror groups.

Saber also added that a smaller number of police officers could effectively carry out the forces duties. He based his opinion on statements made by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the inauguration of a new Ministry of Interior building in late April, when he said 1,000 officers weren't necessary to secure the building, as Ghaffar had proposed.

Saber told Al-Monitor that at 12,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,350) per officer, training security personnel is very costly to the state, which has led to a greater reliance on security cameras and remote sensors.

A number of Egyptian politicians also support a reduced police force, arguing that such a solution could eliminate abuses. But Maj. Gen. Magdi Bassiouni, a former deputy interior minister and current member of the Police Academy faculty, told Al-Monitor he rejects any reduction in the number of police, and that the proposed Police Authority Act would set standards to evaluate regular police officers annually, the way ranking police officers are now. He said that under the proposed law, anyone who violates moral norms or is convicted of moral turpitude will be dismissed or referred to a disciplinary committee.

He also alluded to the possibility for offenders who are regular police to be relegated to reserve status, as occurs with ranking police officers, who spend two years on probation and are returned to active duty only if they prove to have been rehabilitated.

Disciplinary committees are viewed as issuing rulings that are less severe than those from courts-martial rulings, which could not be appealed. Courts-martial for police were abolished after the January 25 Revolution.

In the wake of the latest chain of events, some lawmakers are calling for courts-martial to be reinstated under the proposed Police Authority Act, including Homat Al-Watan (Guards of the Homeland) Party member Ahmed Abdel Wahed, who is known for his close ties with authorities.

Bassiouni asserted that parliament member Samir Ghattas' proposal in February to close down the Police Academy was driven by the steady increase in the number of graduates, which reached 350,000 regular police, compared with 35,000 ranking officers. Bassiouni went on to explain that the lectures he supervises and the efforts of the Ministry of Interiors training department aim to rehabilitate police and improve the manner in which they deal with the public.
May 12, 2016

CAIRO  There has been increasing media coverage of the so-called forced disappearances in Egypt. Many young Egyptians have fallen victim to arbitrary arrest under the protest law, and some have been detained without their parents being informed of the arrest or their whereabouts.

Al-Monitor interviewed parliament member and head of the Egyptian parliament's human rights committee Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat, who won by a landslide over his opponent, Ayman Abu al-Ella, a candidate of the Free Egyptian Party and the Egypt State Support Coalition. Sadat laid out the committees plan to address several contentious issues, in particular amending the protest law. He said the body is preparing to visit prisons and holding meetings with the parents of the disappeared.

The text of the interview follows:

Al-Monitor: What legislation will the committee put forward regarding human rights?

Sadat: According to the constitution, the main legislation that should be passed includes the transitional justice law, the church construction law and the formation of an anti-discrimination commission [called for in Article 54]. We are also working on issuing legislation related to organizing the work of the National Council for Human Rights, the national electoral commission and the civil associations law. All these are priorities for the human rights committee, and perhaps other committees will take part to expedite work on these pressing laws.

Al-Monitor: How would you assess the performance of the current human rights council?

Sadat: At first, the council had a modest performance, but in its last year it took positive stances vis-a-vis human rights, freedoms in prisons and forced disappearances. Its performance under the current circumstances is good, and the law would give it several competencies that would help it do a better job.

Al-Monitor: With the arrest of many youths under the new protest law, will its amendment be up for discussion again?

Sadat: Yes, several members of the human rights committee, among others, and I believe that it is necessary to amend this law to reduce the sanctions imposed on protesters. We will examine the possibility of amending it during the first session, which is scheduled to end in two months. If we fail to do so, it will be among the top priorities during the second session.

Al-Monitor: What is your take on the Interior Ministry's behavior toward journalists in Egypt, especially after the latest raid on the [Journalists'] Syndicate on May 1?

Sadat: I support the freedom of the press and respect for citizens rights and dignity. I support the Interior Ministrys implementation of the law, but I think both parties were mistaken. Unfortunately, this clash was the last thing we needed. They should have used common sense.

Al-Monitor: Do you support the Egyptian journalists demands for the dismissal of the interior minister after the raid on the syndicate?

Sadat: I think this does not have to be the solution to the problem. Another interior minister might come along and adopt the same line of action. I think the interior minister is not the problem. It is rather the police mentality and way of life that requires re-examination and more discipline. We cannot rely on a security mentality to address political issues, as this role is reserved for the legislative and executive authorities that seek to solve crises through dialogue and discussions.

Al-Monitor: Will the human rights committee cooperate with the defense and national security committee to put forward a bill that would restructure the Egyptian police?

Sadat: Of course, as the defense and national security committee is the one responsible for discussing this legislation with the human rights committee.

Al-Monitor: Forced disappearances have been on the rise lately in Egypt, with the Egyptian security apparatus arresting citizens arbitrarily without notifying their parents of where they are being held. Will the committee open this file?

Sadat: The forced disappearance issue is one of the committees top priorities. It will address this issue with the National Council for Human Rights [NCHR], which played a major role in this regard recently. The NCHR and the Interior Ministry have had extensive correspondence on this topic, and we will explore its content in addition to documenting such cases. The security apparatus should disclose the facts it has in this regard.

Security sources notified me about detainees who are held for investigation, amid parents claims of forced disappearance. Moreover, the Interior Ministry has documents asserting that some youths joined Islamic State affiliates like Wilayat Sinai in Cairo or Syria, among other countries where IS exists. Their parents know nothing about their fate, and they think their children have been forcibly disappeared.

As a human rights committee whose parliamentary members were elected by the Egyptian people, we will work with concerned parties to reveal the truth and expose it to the people at home and abroad.

Al-Monitor: What are the committees measures to address this issue through the parliament?

Sadat: Hearings will be conducted with the parents of some forcibly disappeared individuals in the presence of representatives from the Interior Ministry and the national security apparatus to find out the truth. This will happen in cooperation with the NCHR, and we will hopefully come up with written recommendations.

Al-Monitor: What will happen with these recommendations?

Sadat: The recommendations will be submitted to the presidency, the Justice Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the public prosecutors office, and perhaps other sovereign parties will participate since this issue is related to Egypts national security.

Al-Monitor: The situation of jails is another human rights issue. Will the committee send a delegation anytime soon to Egyptian prisons that house youths and Islamists?

Sadat: We will definitely carry out field visits to jails to check into their conditions, the situation of the prisoners and their rights including health care, good nutrition and a clean living environment. We will also ensure they are enjoying their right to engage in activities. Field visits will allow us to take a close look at all these conditions. The committee also includes former police officers who worked in prisons and who have a vision of improving prison conditions. Their opinions will be taken into account.

Al-Monitor: What do you think of the way prisoners who are detained for political reasons are treated?

Sadat: I have no idea what their situation is, but through field visits, we will find out whether there is maltreatment or bad service. Each prisoner should enjoy the same rights regardless of his political affiliation.

Al-Monitor: When will these visits happen?

Sadat: As soon as we are done with approving the committees plan of action and its final goals we will begin our field visits, probably in two weeks.

Al-Monitor: The government is taking strict security measures regarding the funding of rights organizations. You are the head of a rights organization yourself. How do you assess the current crisis?

Sadat: I always repeat that funding is not a crime. As long as it is granted under the states supervision and with its approval, it remains legal according to the constitution and international treaties that Egypt has signed. But it is important for the state to make sure that the funding serves activities that are in its interests and that this funding is granted through legal channels  banks, that is  to fulfill its purpose.

Besides, the money that funded organizations  be they associations or shareholding companies that are funded by the World Bank or United Nations  receive is monitored by the Accountability State Authority. All this is acceptable and must be encouraged by the state.

All these organizations play a role in villages and provinces and offer health, leisure and education services that are not provided by the government.

Al-Monitor: Should there be legislation defining the work mechanism of civil society more strictly to pave the way for a greater margin of state control?

Sadat: The goal behind the new legislation is to encourage civil society organizations and liberate them, but at the same time, it gives the state the right to be reassured over the activities of Egypts international community.

Al-Monitor: The Egyptian parliamentary delegation that traveled to Italy last month to discuss the murder of young Italian student Giulio Regini did not come back with a positive outcome. Is the committee playing a new role in this issue?

Sadat: First let me assert that the delegations visit was important, but it hasnt reached any solutions on the ground because the Italians aren't budging from their position. They are demanding that the Egyptian government reveal the truth about what happened, and the human rights committee here is concerned with this issue. It will meet with some leaders in the security apparatus to find out the real dimensions of the story. It will also meet with local organizations that have additional information to complete the picture. These visits will be followed by a visit to the Italian parliament. In case of mistakes or breaches, we must face the truth and clarify it to the Italian side. Perhaps they will understand or reconsider their rhetoric that is escalating by the day.

Al-Monitor: You previously talked about the security services intervening in holding elections for chairs of the parliamentary committees. After winning your committee seat by a landslide, with 38 votes as opposed to nine votes for your competitor, do you still have the same vision?

Sadat: I became head of the committee because the members wanted to elect the most competent candidate. According to my information, in addition to the coordination between the Egypt State Support Coalition and the Free Egyptian Party, a security agency was supporting the candidate they had agreed on.

Al-Monitor: So you did not ally with the Egypt State Support Coalition?

Sadat: No, this is out of the question. The Egypt State Support Coalition is trying to find out what went wrong and why their plans failed.
May 12, 2016

The Egyptian government is hindering Washington's ability to track billions of dollars worth of anti-aircraft missiles and other US weapons, the US government watchdog said in a blistering report just as Congress gets ready to renew the annual $1.3 billion request.

The United States provided $6.5 billion in military assistance to Cairo between 2011 and 2015 with the understanding that it would be closely monitored and it would serve American interests. Instead, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asserts that the Obama administration has often failed to meet those requirements due to resistance from their Egyptian counterparts, lack of guidance from Washington and insufficient staffing at the US Embassy in Cairo.

The State Department and the Defense Department (DOD) have established programs "to provide reasonable assurance that military equipment transferred or exported to foreign governments is used for its legitimate intended purposes and does not come into the possession of individuals or groups who pose a threat to the United States or its allies," the GAO said in its May 12 report. "However, gaps in the implementation of these end-use monitoring programs  in part due to limited cooperation from the Egyptian government  hampers DOD's and State's ability to provide such assurances."

The much-anticipated report also raised concerns with congressionally mandated vetting for the recipients of US military training and equipment.

"The US government completed some, but not all, human rights vetting required by State policy before providing training or equipment to Egyptian security forces," the GAO report states.

Among the report's key findings: Egyptian officials hindered US officials' efforts to confirm that US equipment such as Stinger rocket launchers and night-vision goggles were used appropriately; the DOD could not document that it completed end-use monitoring prior to 2015; and the State Department has yet to establish a process for conducting human rights vetting when providing equipment to Egyptian military units, despite agreeing to do so in 2011.

The report provoked a furious response from the two lawmakers who requested it: House Foreign Affairs Middle East panel chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.

"GAO's report shows an alarming and unacceptable amount of deficiencies in our end-use monitoring and human rights vetting programs in Egypt," Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement. "End-use monitoring must be fully utilized in order to ensure US-supplied and US-origin defense articles are used properly. Appropriate vetting of Egyptian forces must be performed to the fullest extent possible to ensure human rights are protected. The administration cannot allow these deficiencies to go unaddressed and must immediately take action to ensure all security equipment is being properly monitored and all recipients of both training and equipment are fully vetted."

Connolly went further and flatly told Al-Monitor that Congress should rethink its annual $1.3 billion military assistance package for Egypt in the wake of the report.

"While there are important strategic underpinnings to our security cooperation with Egypt, our Egyptian counterparts must understand that US assistance will not be used to carry out activities that run counter to American values," he said in a statement. "The stonewalling of US government officials carrying out vetting requirements enshrined in statute is entirely unacceptable and must be raised with Egypt at the highest levels of government."

GAO investigators found no evidence that any Stinger missile launchers had gone missing. However, they discovered that the alarm systems and closed-circuit televisions at two bunkers where they are kept weren't operational because of US funding shortfalls.

In another striking example, the United States provided satellite components to the Egyptians with the understanding that State Department officials would be able to monitor their use. When they got around to it, however, the satellite had already been launched.

One of the most damaging findings of the report could be its assertion that the State and Defense departments are not in compliance with congressional human rights vetting requirements for military training and equipment, which are named after Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

"We determined that the US government did not conduct required vetting before providing training for some of the Egyptian security forces," GAO found. "By not conducting all required human rights vetting prior to providing US training to Egyptian security forces, State and DOD are not in compliance with their policies regarding human rights vetting."

The report could have a significant impact on congressional purse-string holders as they finalize their foreign aid spending bills for the coming fiscal year.

Senate foreign aid panel chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has called for an emergency appropriation and a "Marshall Plan" for Egypt to combat the Islamic State insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula. But Leahy, who serves as the top Democrat on the panel, has long fought to preserve strict conditions on military aid.

The State Department last month wrote to Leahy and other Egypt critics to assure them that security assistance to Cairo was being properly vetted. The GAO report calls that assertion into question.

"State currently attests in memos that it is in compliance with the Leahy law," the report says. "However, without vetting policies and procedures, the US government risks providing US equipment to recipients in Egypt in violation of the Leahy laws."

The Obama administration's separate request for $150 million in economic aid for Egypt is already getting a rocky reception on Capitol Hill, following reports that $500 million to $700 million in previous-year funding is stuck in the pipeline because Cairo isn't cooperating.

A more detailed report was made available to Congress in February but kept from public view by the Obama administration.

Items excluded from the redacted version include "details of some training the United States provided to Egyptian security forces; [GAO's] estimate of the percentage of Egyptian security forces that were trained with US assistance from seven accounts in fiscal year 2011 through March 31, 2015, who were not vetted for human rights violations; and the details of challenges experienced by State officials implementing human rights vetting," the GAO report states. "This public version also excludes information on the number of defense articles purchased by Egypt from the United States, which DOD deemed to be sensitive but unclassified."

The report is the third and final installment in a series that Ros-Lehtinen and Connolly had requested in June 2013, at a time when then-President Mohammed Morsi's policies and the Egyptian judiciary's crackdown on US and domestic nongovernmental organizations were creating bipartisan concerns on Capitol Hill. The first report had identified potential risks in providing democracy and governance assistance in Egypt, while the second had described a clogged economic aid pipeline.
May 11, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Mahmoud al-Hasnat, 28, had hoped to find himself standing in front of a camera while holding a microphone after graduating as a journalist from the Faculty of Information at the Palestine Polytechnic University. Instead, these days, he is standing with his brother Moath, 24, behind the window of a truck they designed and turned into a mobile food caravan they named Karmoshty, which in Arabic means bite.

There are several fast food-related professions in the Gaza Strip, but the food truck the Hasnat brothers inaugurated March 28 is the first of its kind in Gaza. It was an emergency response to the high rate of unemployment in Gaza but inspired by practices in Europe. The brothers, proud of their business, no longer despair over opportunities lost.

Mahmoud, adding fried chicken pieces to a sandwich, told Al-Monitor, I worked in many media and social institutions but under contracts. I never had a steady job, so I suddenly found myself jobless, and this is why we started thinking about a mobile eatery.

Moath said that the idea came from a show on National Geographic. While watching, they noticed the popularity of trucks in European cities. I do not deny that I initially felt ashamed, but when I saw how happy people were for us, I felt great satisfaction, Moath said.

The brothers sell four types of sandwiches that come in different sizes, with or without cheese. All sandwiches include fried chicken marinated in their special sauce and served with fries, pickles and garlic dip. Mahmoud said, We tried several types of sauces for our fried chicken, and in the end we decided on this one, which we consider our secret sauce. It is the one that people liked the most.

One customer, Anas Akileh, was ordering a large sandwich when he saw Al-Monitors crew. He said, We know when the food truck arrives in each area through its Facebook page, and I wait for it to buy my lunch, because I work in a shop nearby. He praised the price of the sandwiches, noting that the most expensive one costs $2.

The truck crew consists of a driver and the two brothers, who work the trucks window. They wear green and yellow uniforms to brand their business. A friend of theirs takes phone orders for deliveries out of an office in al-Thalatheen Street in Gaza City.

Moath told Al-Monitor, I studied software and databases at the University College of Applied Sciences, but I did not find the right job. Many employers gave me empty promises, but no one helps youths find work. This is why we came up with this project as a family, and we are watching as it gradually succeeds.

According to a 2015 report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of unemployed people 15 to 29 years old stood at 30.2%. According to gender in that age group, 25% of men and 60.4% of women were found to be unemployed. The data also showed a significant disparity between the West Bank, with 18.2% unemployment, and Gaza, with 51.5% unemployment.

Al-Monitor observed the food truck in the Midan Falasteen Square in Gaza City and in Omar al-Mukhtar Street, in the Rimal district. In both places, people warmly welcomed it. Some wanted to buy a meal, others were just curious. Still others took selfies with the food truck, given its novelty on the streets of Gaza.

Asked about expenses, Mahmoud said, It cost us more than $7,000, which our family lent to us. The tuk-tuk, a small truck, cost us a lot, and we had to alter it on the inside to make it restaurant-like. We bought tin and wood panels and helped engineers design the space of a meter and a half in a way to fit a frying pan and a sink. We also installed a battery for our electricity usage.

Mahmoud said that the most beautiful thing about their work is the turnout of people, many of whom ask to take selfies with them. The hardest thing, however, is the issue of gas. Every week, they need a new gas cylinder, and the municipality sometimes insists on their moving the truck, which has an official license from the Ministry of Health.

With the help of the women in their family, which consists of 14 members living in one house, every night Mahmoud and Moath prepare 9 kilograms of marinated chicken that they will fry en route to each of their destinations the following day.

Necessity is the mother of invention is how Moath summarized his family's experience. He called on young people to remain hopeful and to pursue their ideas, no matter how crazy they might sound, because where there is a will, there is always a way.

A few days after the two brothers began operating their truck in Gaza, Khaldoun Barghouti and Abdel-Rahman Bibi, two former prisoners in Israeli jails, started a food truck in the West Bank that they named the Food Train.

Mahmoud may not have got the chance to stand in front of the camera as a journalist, but he managed to become a subject for the media to write about and cameras to film. His brother concluded by saying, Do not wait for your dream to come true. You have to make it come true. That's what we did.
May 12, 2016

After accusing Saudi Arabian officials of obstruction, Iranian Culture Minister Ali Jannati gave the strongest indication that Iran would not be able to participate in this years hajj pilgrimage, which is mandatory for all Muslims who are able to perform it.

During the last three months there were many efforts to resolve the problems of hajj this year with Saudi officials, but when we wanted to send the Iranian team to Saudi Arabia it took two months, Jannati said May 12 of the problems in scheduling and accusations of Saudi delays. Jannati made the statement while in the holy city of Qom to meet with religious leaders.

Jannati also said that Saeed Ohadi, the head of Irans Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, faced many problems in obtaining a visa to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss preliminary planning for Iranian pilgrims. Once Ohadi arrived, Jannati said that despite having a political passport, he was fingerprinted and his entourage's belongings were inspected.

Jannati said that Iranian officials have met with Saudi hajj officials four times and that the behavior of Saudis was inappropriate and cold. He said two of the main issues that have not been resolved are Saudi Arabia requiring Iranian pilgrims to travel to a third country to obtain a Saudi visa and Saudis insistence that Iranian planes not be used to transport Iranian pilgrims.

Jannati added that Iran would continue to try to ensure that the hajj pilgrimage takes place but accused the Saudis of sabotage.

Saudi and Iranian relations took a dive in January after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in response to the Saudi execution of Shiite leader Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Riyadh immediately cut all diplomatic relations with Tehran. Last years hajj in which 474 Iranians were killed in a stampede also deteriorated relations between the regional rivals. Iranian officials accused the Saudi government of mismanagement and called for the hajj pilgrimage to be administered by Islamic countries.

Ohadi, who is also in Qom, said May 12, In consideration of all the events that have taken place it is clear [the Saudis] have no inclination for our presence in hajj this year and have made the political atmosphere an excuse. Ohadi said that housing and meal preparations have still not been made and given Saudis behavior it is unlikely there is time for this to be arranged. The mandatory hajj will take place in September; the nonmandatory hajj, which Iran had previously suspended after two Iranian youths were sexually assaulted at Jeddah airport, can be made at anytime.

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, who met with Jannati today, blamed Irans Foreign Ministry for not taking a hard-line stance with the Saudi government, which he accused of using a religious event to take revenge on Iran. The Saudi government sees itself as the owner of the two holy mosques, and after enduring international failures they want to take revenge during hajj over Yemen, Syria and Iraq, Shirazi said May 12.

Most surprising of all, Shirazi was quoted demanding that Iranian officials draw a red line in regard to hajj, though by the context of the quote it is not clear if he meant to not attend hajj or demand that it be an honorable hajj as he was later quoted. The last time Iran did not take part in the hajj was after the hajj in 1987 when Iranian protesters clashed with Saudi police, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Iranian pilgrims did not return for hajj until 1991.
BBA Econ Growth Summit

UAB President and BBA Chairman Ray Watts addresses the crowd at the Birmingham Business Alliance's 2016 Regional Economic Growth Summit on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Harbert Center.

Birmingham's biggest image problem is that people just don't know a lot about it, one expert said Thursday at the Birmingham Business Alliance's Economic Growth Summit.

Andy Levine, President of Development Counselors International, urged guests to be ambassadors to Birmingham and talk well of it as often as possible when speaking to industry peers elsewhere.

"For a lot of people, Birmingham is kind of a blank canvas - they don't have a lot of knowledge about your community or about your region," Levine said. "That's really the challenge you have, from an image perspective - it's not that they have a positive perception or a negative perception, but they just don't really know a lot about Birmingham."

DCI is a company that specializes in media promotion for economic development purposes. The BBA is one of their clients, and Levine was the keynote speakers at the annual event.

Levine said when outsiders think of Birmingham, they often think of it as the birthplace of the civil rights movement. But more recently, they also think of Jefferson County's bankruptcy. ("Thank God for Detroit," Levine quips.)

DCI is working with the BBA to tell four stories about Birmingham: Innovation culture; the downtown renaissance; tackling talent attraction; and Birmingham as a global leader for human rights.

"Our economy remains strong and continues to grow, but more than that, I believe the trends we're seeing in Birmingham and in the metro region are moving us in the right direction," 2016 BBA Chairman and UAB President Ray Watts said. "We want to be as competitive as possible regionally, nationally and globally."

Brian Hilson also released the BBA's annual Regional Economic Growth Report.

Here's a few notable numbers from the report:
Thrive Alabama will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new HIV clinic this week on Sand Mountain.

The Albertville office will debut to the public from 1-3 p.m. Friday at 201 E. McKinney Ave., Suite A. Tours of the facility will be available.

The clinic offers a variety of medical and mental health resources, including primary medical care, case management, medication assistance, HIV testing and counseling, and substance abuse and behavioral health counseling to clients.

Telemedicine, which provides medical services remotely with audiovisual equipment and a secure Internet connection, will be available to patients.

"One of the most exciting new offerings are medical and mental health care through telemedicine so that patients in the Sand Mountain area do not have to travel to Huntsville to see a provider," Thrive said. "A visit can take place between the provider in Huntsville and the nurse and patient in Albertville."

In December, Thrive launched a wellness clinic for the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections on 600 St. Clair Ave., Building 7, Suite 18, in Huntsville. The nonprofit organization, formerly known as the AIDS Action Coalition, also has a facility in Florence to hep serve 12 counties in north Alabama.
Bathing_beauties_on_Biloxi_Beach.jpg

This undated photo from the University of South Alabama Libraries shows women on a Biloxi, Miss., beach in vintage swim costumes.

I've been getting more and more concerned about the state of customer service in the retail industry. Sometimes I think no one really understands my needs, otherwise someone would have already opened a store where a customer is served s'mores while being told how beautiful she looks in those elastic-waist capris/ granny panties/Aerosole shoes she just tried on. You know, something deserving of the name "lounge." One with no mirrors. Or size labels.

At this time of year, when the thoughts of many young women turn to pool parties and bikinis that best showcase their (whisper) pertinents, my thoughts turn to the horrors of the swimsuit search. I begin to wish we could return to a more modest time, when women wore massive bloomers, caps, stockings and even shoes into the water, and in some cases were floated out into the ocean in private cabanas. So I thought I would be nodding in agreement while reading a column about swimsuit shopping by Lindsey Robertson, a young blogger on Distractify, called "11 Thoughts All Women Have While Swimsuit Shopping." But no. Lindsey's thoughts were not remotely similar to mine, although I can vaguely remember having some of those musings in my 20s and 30s, along with "I'll never let myself get fat," and "I don't understand why older women wear those ugly orthopedic shoes."

But those of us who no longer wear shorts in public, or don any kind of bathing suit without those nifty little skirts with enough fabric to upholster a sectional sofa and matching loveseat, have much different concerns than highlighting our cleavage or wondering if our butt cheeks have cellulite. Ever since my knees developed back-fat, I'm more worried my toes are going to get cellulite.

I decided to make my own list of "5 realities retailers should know about middle-aged swimsuit shoppers," which could also be titled, "Listen up, store owners, while I tell you how to sell more swimsuits to middle-aged moms." Here it is:

1. Stop selling swimsuits that look like they were made from one of Jimmy Buffett's shirts. If I wanted to look like hibiscus-covered lawn furniture, I would drape myself in the patio umbrella. What I need is a suit that doesn't draw attention; something that blends. Like giant bloomers and a bathing cap.

2. Realize that for many of us "two-piece" does not mean bikini. It means a bottom half and a top half, with the top covering from neck to waist and the bottom covering from waist to knees.

3. Get rid of that yellow lighting that makes our thighs look like lumpy mashed potatoes buttered by Paula Deen. What we need is to be able to see ourselves how others beach-goers might see us: Through a haze of sunshine, and a bit of a beer buzz. From behind sunglasses covered in sunscreen fingerprints, and maybe with a grain of sand in one eye. Make dressing room lighting like that and, trust me, you could sell a bikini to Hillary Clinton. But don't.

4. For the love of grandma's peach preserves, please change the sizing standards. Numbered sizes are so varied they no longer have any value. Small, medium and large sizing works OK ... unless you're the large. Or worse, the horribly redundant size "extra-large" that's like saying, "Ida Mae's not just big. She's big big." Let's try something more reasonable, maybe even introduce southern sizing. Like tee-tiny, middlin', over-filled corn muffins, biscuit-fluffy, dumplin', and sack o' taters.

5. Serve wine in your dressing rooms. By the bottle. And maybe some s'mores. You know, in case it's a dessert wine.

Disclaimer: The preceding is a humor column. You know, a bit of levity to brighten cold, dark days filled with disgraced judges and political scandals. If you fail to chuckle, or even smile, rather than go about your day and letting me go about mine, I hope you will take the time to comment with "This is stupid!" or "Soooo not funny," or my personal favorite, "I hope you get FIRED!!!!!!" If you prefer, mail $2 to start a fund to sew a new swim skirt ... or send me to comedy school. Either way, thank you for reading. Find more columns here.
Pope Francis

Pope Francis puts on a skull cap given by a worshipper as he leaves after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

(Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis hugs Sister Carmen Sammut, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa at the end of a special audience with members of the International Union of Superiors General in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Pope Francis said Thursday he is willing to create a commission to study whether women can be deacons in the Catholic Church, signaling an openness to letting women serve in ordained ministry currently reserved to men. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool photo via AP)

Pope Francis said today he will create a commission to study the idea of allowing women to serve as deacons in the Catholic Church, that could end the centuries-long exclusion of women from ordination.

In a meeting at the Vatican this morning with 900 nuns from around the world, he was asked in a question-and-answer session why the church does not allow women deacons, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

They asked if he would consider setting up a commission to study the question.

"I accept," the pope said. "It seems useful to me to have a commission that would clarify this well."

Pope Francis said that he was aware that there were women deacons in the early centuries of the church.

The pope said he once asked his theology professor,

"What were these female deacons?" he recalled saying. "Did they have ordination or no?"

He added, "It was a bit obscure. What was the role of the deaconess in that time?"

The pope then showed an openness to discuss it.

"Constituting an official commission that might study the question?" the pope said. "I believe yes. It would do good for the church to clarify this point. I am in agreement. I will speak to do something like this."

The conversation happened as part of the triennial assembly of the International Union of Superiors General.

"The female diaconate is not only an idea whose time has come, but a reality recovered from history," Jesuit priest James Martin, editor of America magazine, said on Twitter. "Women deacons would mean that the church would finally be able to hear, during the Mass, about the experience of half of its members."
Evening of Wines, Alabama's oldest wine auction, celebrated its 31st year May 1 at the Country Club of Birmingham. More than 330 guests enjoyed a classic American steakhouse-style, four-course dinner, complete with bold wine pairings.

The festivities also included bidding for 120 silent and live auction lots, ranging from the finest wines to all-inclusive trips to Tuscany, Savannah and Charleston.

There was a poignant moment amid the revelry when Paige Langford shared her personal story of living with MS and then received a surprise tribute from her longtime employer Tom Curtin.

The annual event raised more than $250,000 to help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society support programs and services for those affected by multiple sclerosis in Alabama and Mississippi as well as drive cutting-edge research designed to find a cure for this devastating disease of the central nervous system.
A Cedar Bluff man has died as a result of injuries sustained in a wreck in Cherokee County on Saturday.

Alabama State Troopers said Robert Joe Fields Jr., 54, was injured when his 2003 Honda motorcycle left the road and struck a ditch on County Road 44 about two miles north of Cedar Bluff.

The wreck occurred at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Fields was transported to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga and died yesterday.

The accident is under investigation.
Billionaire businessman may have dominated primary polls but getting elected as US president will be an uphill task.

I was part of a very interesting show on Al Jazeera this week. The Stream invited me on to join a panel of fellow correspondents from across the globe. We were talking about how the world was reacting to the race for president of the United States.





It was interesting because the reaction was universal. From Europe to the Middle East and in Africa, the world it seems is terrified of what is happening in the US. Namely they are terrified of what a Donald Trump presidency would look like.

You can understand why many are expressing concern. Latin America is worried that he will build a wall and steal the remittances from their families. He has also promised to round up 11 million undocumented workers from across the globe and send them back to their home countries.

You could understand why 1.6 billion Muslims would be concerned  after all hes planned to ban them from coming to the country. He would likely let the roughly three million Muslims living in the US stay.

You could probably see why anyone who is actually a part of the global economy might be concerned. He has vowed to tear up all existing trade deals which would likely lead to a trade war.

READ MORE: The Republican presidential race  Then and now

Then he promised to basically default on the debt. He explained it as asking people to sell back US Treasury bonds at a discount. That is actually a default by a different name. He went on to try and explain that the country couldnt default because it prints its own money. He didnt explain exactly what that meant and economists are at a loss to figure it out either.

Given all he has said that is so extreme my fellow panelists had one question for me. How is it possible that America is backing Trump? I explained the country hasnt voted for Trump. He has won the support of the majority of Republicans who have voted in the primary. People who vote in primaries tend to be the most extreme members of their political parties.

More than 10 million people cast their ballots to give him the Republican nomination. That might sound like a lot but compare that with the 129,085,410 people who voted in the last presidential election.

The next question of course is can he win? It seems likely that he will face former secretary of state, senator and first lady Hillary Clinton. I put in all of her past titles to give you a sense of what her problem is.

You might read that and think experience, but for many Americans its a reminder that she has been on the national stage for more than two decades and they are tired of her.

Shes had her share of controversies and the majority of Americans say they dont trust her, they dont think she is honest. Shes still the subject of a federal inquiry into the fact that she set up her own private email server to use while secretary of state.

INFOGRAPHIC: Campaign money spent during the US elections

She says it was for convenience but many think it was an attempt to circumvent public disclosure rules. She literally could not have come up with a scandal that would do more to reinforce the negative narrative about her that she plays by her own rules. Her unfavourability rating is going to work against her. In polls just under 55 percent of people asked say they dont really like her all that much.

The good news for her team is that a lot more people have an unfavourable opinion of Trump. His number is 65.4 percent. You would be hard pressed to find a more unpopular presidential candidate at any time in the nations history.

He has a much higher unfavourability number if you break it down into groups. The vast majority of African-Americans, Latinos, women and young voters say they dont like him. That is a long list of critical groups. If he cant change their minds, he cant win the presidency.

You have heard many shell-shocked Republican politicians try to explain Trumps policy proposals by saying he is not a politician and he will need a little time to learn the issues. They promise he will be less extreme and act in a more presidential way.

They may want to check with their candidate who just explained he is going to continue to behave exactly the way he has in the primary. He basically says its worked so far so why change now?

Both of these candidates tend to bring out the passion of followers on the other side. Fervent Republicans will show up to vote if only to deny Clinton a victory. The most passionate Democrats will make sure they vote to keep Trump out of the White House.

The election will be determined by how those in the middle decide to vote; whether it is for a candidate or against one. And as we have seen in the past  in US elections fear is an excellent motivator.
Ryan might support Trumps run at the White House and even endorse him but he will never fully believe and commit.

Paul Ryan will never fully embrace Donald Trump.

There. Ive said it.

He might support his run at the White House. He might even endorse him.

But hell never fully believe, fully commit and fully support.

The clue is there in the statement after the pair met in Washington.

It was big news. Cable channels put a countdown clock on the screen. Satellite trucks staked out their positions in the early hours of the morning. I know this because they told me, not because I was there too.

But most of the statement could have been written beforehand.

The meeting was needed because Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, a senior figure in the party, refused to fully back Trump when he became the Republican Partys presumptive nominee.

Asked if he would endorse the candidate after his thumping win in Indiana which all but sealed the deal Ryan could only say: Im not there yet.

If ever there was a huge sign of the split Trump has caused within the Republican Party, here it was.

His words were quite a rebuke to the Republican candidate who had gathered the most primary votes in the partys history.

We got work to do

Ryan was asked what it was about Trump that troubled him. Was it his opposition to free trade? Or his plan to deport 12 million undocumented immigrants? Or his proposal for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the US?

We got work to do, replied Ryan.

So as protesters chanted outside the Republican National Committees headquarters in the shadow of Capitol Hill, the two came face to face.

There were no pictures of the meeting. No smiles recorded for the ages, and no warm handshakes.

They talked for 45 minutes.

The statement came soon after, suggesting it almost had been agreed in advance.

There was to be no endorsement at the end of the get together. Not this time.

There were the usual lines of it being a positive meeting, committed to working together and being encouraged about progress made.

But there is no hiding there is a lot of ground to cover.

They talked about how America cant afford to elect Hillary Clinton. And of course, they will meet again soon.

And heres the phrase which tells us Ryan will eventually embrace the Republicans likely nominee: While we were honest about our few differences, we recognise that there are also areas of common ground.

Trump camp

It allows Ryan to move into the Trump camp, but when the businessman says something outrageous or contrary to Republican beliefs, he has a ready-made out.

He can tell everyone: We said there were differences and I wont agree with everything he says, but we want to beat the Democrats and thats more important.

Thats if he doesnt say something outrageous before Ryan makes his leap.

Ryan has gone after Trump a few times about things he has said on the campaign trail.

And clearly Ryan would rather the Republican Party focused on his policy agendas of cutting spending, cutting entitlements and cutting taxes.

With his hesitation, he has placed himself as the self-appointed custodian of the soul of the Republican Party.

Backing Trump is a risk, but its one Ryan is ready to take.
Aleppo, Syria  Mahmoud al-Halabi was once the driver of a Syrian ministers wife. Nour al-Hassan was a stylish hairdresser. In the early days of the Syrian uprising, their personal rebellions brought them together and have since pushed them both to become fighters in Aleppos battle against President Bashar al-Assads forces.



Mahmoud, a 28-year-old rebel fighting on the frontline in the Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood, was fired from his job three years ago. He said he was jailed and tortured by the regime for a year, and then forced to leave Syria.



His crime? He had fallen in love with the ministers daughter.



He fled to Libya, where he took up his professional passion: sculpting. But when the Libyan revolution broke out in February 2011, he joined his friends in their battle against Muammar Gaddafis forces.

This is where I learned most of the fighting skills I now use in the fight against Assad, Mahmoud told Al Jazeera in Sheikh Saeed, now the most active frontline in the city.



Nour, 22, was a hair stylist at a salon in the centre of Aleppo. She is also the daughter a senior official in the ruling Baath Party.



A few months into the Syrian uprising, Mahmoud returned to Aleppo to join his countrymen in the struggle against Assad. Nour, meanwhile, had created a Facebook account under a pseudonym and became an activist on social media, organising protests and spreading news about the regimes crackdown.



When her father and brother, staunch supporters of Assad, learned about her opposition activities, they beat her to the point that she wound up in hospital. Her story became the talk of the town, and Mahmoud heard about her.

After I was released from hospital, I was stuck at home. Mahmoud came to help me escape the house, she said. I didnt know him well, but I still left with him. I completely defected from my family.

On the frontline

The two began organising protests and distributing anti-regime pamphlets. As the uprising turned into an armed struggle, they were both in favour of it.

We began transporting weapons into the Salaheddin neighbourhood together. I taught her how to use guns. Initially, I was teaching her for self-protection because her father organised several kidnapping attempts to bring her back home, Mahmoud said.

Nour is a sniper on the frontline in the Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood of Aleppo [Basma Atassi/Al Jazeera]



Later she wanted to participate in the fighting. We had many fights because of that but she eventually got her way, he said..

Nour has become a sniper on the frontline in Sheikh Saeed, where rebels are trying to push back regime forces and block the main road to Aleppo International Airport.

Recently, she said she had shot down a regime sniper who was targeting rebels in the neighbourhood.

Her comrades call her Abu al-Nour  a masculine nickname.

I dont see her as a female. She is one of the best snipers we have in the battalion. Thats how I see her, Ahmad, a rebel fighter, said.

Nour said she leaves all femininity behind when she goes to the frontline.

I do not feel like a woman whatsoever when I am here, she said.

For the sake of Allah

At first glance, Nour is indistinguishable from male fighters. Dressed in wide, black clothes, along with a black scarf that covers her head and face and a headband that reads there is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet, she could pass as a male member of Jabhat al-Nusra, a self-proclaimed jihadist rebel group, who usually adopt a similar dress code.

But a closer look at her big brown eyes  the only uncovered part of her body  reveals her long feminine eyelashes.

While women fighters are rare in Syria, videos have emerged of women holding guns, claiming to be fighting with the rebels. The regime has also deployed women in the fight against terrorists  the term it uses to describe opposition fighters.

Nour said nobody is stopping women from joining the armed battle, but they dont, probably because of weakness in faith or in heart.

Nour and Mahmoud got married in July 2012, one year after they met.

When I was injured on the battlefield, she covered me and dragged me from the line of fire. No other rebel in the battalion would have dared to do that, Mahmoud said.

This is when I decided she was the right person. We got married just a few days later.

Nour says she is fighting for the sake of Allah, and will not go back to her family.

My parents have a shield over their eyes. They cannot see the truth and there is nothing I can do about that.

Follow Basma_ on Twitter
Rafah border crossing, Gaza  Egypt opened its border with Gaza for the first time in three months on Wednesday. The Rafah border crossing is the only remaining gateway for Palestinians in Gaza to the outside world, after Israel imposed a siege on the Strip in 2007.





With this total closure, 1.8 million Palestinians are locked in and denied free access to the world, as the United National agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, wrote in a report in July 2015, a condition which is weighing heavily on peoples mental wellbeing.

Some 30,000 Gaza residents are on a waiting list to cross at Rafah. Only a few thousand, including patients, students and holders of residency permits in third countries, were likely to do so on Wednesday and Thursday before it closes again.

After Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the Egyptian military, toppled President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, relations with Gaza deteriorated dramatically. Egypts new rulers consider Hamas as an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they designated as a terrorist organisation .

Under Morsis rule, an average of 34,000 people crossed Rafah each month in 2012; in 2014, the border remained closed for 241 days, and in 2015 it was open for a mere 19 days.

READ MORE: Israels blockade keeps Gaza in the dark
Syrian and Russian air strikes have targeted rebel-held areas in Aleppo province, killing and injuring several people, as rebels captured a village in Homs province, monitoring group says.

The regime warplanes aided by Russian fighters targeted several neighbourhoods in Aleppo city, sources told Al Jazeera on Thursday. No information on casualties was available, but sources said several people were killed and injured.





Warplanes targeted al-Zahraa and al-Maysar shortly after the truce ended at midnight on Wednesday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday.

In Saif al-Dawla, a government-held part of Aleppo, at least three people were killed while 10 others were injured in a rocket attack on Thursday morning, the Observatory reported, adding that the source of the attack is still unknown.

Last Monday, government forces and rebels in Aleppo agreed to extend their truce for a second time, according to the Syrian army.

The cessation of hostilities was initially to last for two days but was later extended until Tuesday at 00:01 am (21:01 GMT Monday).

Announcing a further extension, the army command said: The regime of silence in Aleppo and its province has been extended by 48 hours from Tuesday 01:00 am [local time] to midnight on Wednesday.

A tenuous ceasefire has been in place since February brokered by Russia and the United States, but Damascus has continued to bomb rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo. Nearly 300 people have been killed in the recent upsurge of violence.

IN PICTURES: Death rains down on Syria as ceasefire wobbles

Once Syrias commercial heartland, Aleppo is now divided between the government-held west and the rebel-controlled east.

Elsewhere in Syria, rebel fighters captured al-Zara village in Homs province, which is about 35km north of the city of Homs, and reportedly abducted civilians in the village, Reuters news agency reported.

Meanwhile, an aid convoy was refused entry to a besieged Syrian town on Thursday, the Red Cross and UN said, blocking what would have been the first supplies to its residents for more than three years.

The organisations said their joint delivery was stopped at the last government checkpoint on the way into Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus. The town is held by rebels and besieged by government forces.

Despite having obtained prior clearance by all parties that it could proceed, the convoy was not allowed through, a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN said.
Question and answer session with Israeli prime minister draws criticism and ridicule over policies against Palestinians.

Benjamin Netanyahus online Q&A using Twitter hashtag #askNetanyahu has generated thousands of negative comments against the Israeli leader and Israels treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The session, which started on Thursday at 12:00 GMT, ignited a torrent of negativity and ridicule against him and Israels polices against the Palestinians.

Special Independence Day live chat: PM Netanyahu answers your questions.

Tweet your questions now at: #AskNetanyahu pic.twitter.com/1Oixmxio6b  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 10, 2016

The campaign, apparently designed to cast Netanyahu in the mould of Western leaders, quickly turned against him when it was announced 48 hours ago.

which war crime is your favorite hobby? #AskNetanyahu  Ramah Kudaimi ( ) (@ramahkudaimi) May 10, 2016

The Q&A was announced as a celebration of Israels May 15 anniversary of its independence day, an occasion Palestinians refer to as al-Nakba or the catastrophe for losing their national homeland that in 1948 became Israel.

Many Twitter users attacked Netanyahu for Israels war against Gaza in 2014, accusing him of war crimes and for his mistreatment of Palestinians under occupation in the West Bank and his continued blockade of the Gaza Strip.

#AskNetanyahu Why do Israeli soldiers fire at fishermen & farmers in Gaza's waters & buffer zone although they pose no danger to Israel?  Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) May 10, 2016

When will you resign? #AskNetanyahu  Tal Shafik (@TalSh) May 10, 2016

Some Twitter users took the opportunity to ask Netanyahu about domestic Israeli policies that ranged from its treatment of Holocaust survivors, to supportive questions such as what are the threats to Israeli security.

#AskNetanyahu

What is is the greatest threat to Israels security right now and what do you foresee as future threats?

#AskNetanyahu

What is is the greatest threat to Israel's security right now and what do you foresee as future threats?    (@Jeffrey_Addison) May 10, 2016

Al Jazeeras Mehdi Hasan used the occasion to invite Netanyahu for an interview on his own talk show Head to Head aired on Al Jazeera from Washington DC.

Dear @netanyahu, I've interviewed your justice & foreign ministers and your predecessor, too. Will you come on @AJUpFront too? #asknetanyahu  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 10, 2016
Protests across the country coincide with voting in parliament with 246 politicians in favour of no-confidence vote.

Frances Socialist government has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after forcing through a deeply divisive labour law that has made it easier for companies to fire staff.

With 288 votes needed to bring down the government of Prime Minister Manuel Valls, 246 politicians voted in favour of the motion, according to the official count.

Sparking months of street protests and widespread opposition, the controversial bill, which was finally pushed through on Tuesday, retains Frances cherished 35-hour working week but allows companies to organise alternative working times.





Those include a working week of up to 48 hours and 12-hour days for temporary periods. In exceptional circumstances, employees could work up to 60 hours a week.

A no-confidence vote has only succeeded once in Frances 57-year-old Fifth Republic: in 1962, when it was used to oust the government of Georges Pompidou.

Al Jazeeras Jacky Rowlands, reporting from Paris, said that among those who voted in favour were a number of Socialist MPs.

The votes cast by the rebels within the party are seen as a major blow for the government, she said.

The far-left Front de Gauche party said the goal of the no-confidence vote was not to bring down the government but to torpedo the reform.

New protests called by unions and student groups coincided with the vote and saw secondary-school pupils blocking schools entrances with rubbish bins in Paris, and roads blocked in the western cities of Nantes and Rennes.

Government must listen

The hardline General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union has called for weekly rolling strikes at the SNCF state rail company with the head of the CGT union, Philippe Martinez, saying it was time to move up a gear.

The government must listen. Democracy must prevail, within our movement and at the National Assembly, said Martinez.

By ignoring us, the government will end up hitting a snag.

Protests against the reform started on March 9, culminating in massive demonstrations on March 31 that brought 390,000 people on to the streets, according to an official count.

Frances deeply unpopular President Francois Hollande has just over a year left in office and had been banking on the labour reform as a standout initiative with which to defend his record.
Four Iraqis who allege they suffered torture by a US military contractor are battling for retribution in a civil court.

Journalist Salah Hasan Nusaif al-Ejaili painfully remembers his introduction to the infamous prison west of Baghdad known as Abu Ghraib.

The worst was the first day I arrived in Abu Ghraib, how they forced me to strip  naked in front of everyone, said Ejaili. They placed a black hood on my head and left me hanging all night.

Ejaili worked as a cameraman in Iraq for Al Jazeera Arabic channel in November 2003.

He was gathering information about an attack against American forces in Diyala. While at the scene, a US soldier asked him what he was doing and who he worked for.

When he answered truthfully, Ejaili was arrested. He would spend the next four months imprisoned in the notorious facility.



Former Abu Ghraib prisoner tells his story

First he was held hooded and chained in Diyala, taken next in a helicopter to Tikrit, and then driven to Abu Ghraib prison  a place where he alleges he was sadistically and criminally abused.

I was terrified, Ejaili said, adding that he thought he would be killed.

The Americans sang to him as he hung immobilised: Happy birthday Al Jazeera.

When graphic photographs surfaced in April 2004 showing the scandal in Abu Ghraib, it was all too familiar to Ejaili.

There were so many people in the prison with me, he said.

Nearly 13 years later, Ejaili and three other Iraqi men who say they were tortured at Abu Ghraib are still waiting to see if anyone can legally be held accountable.

On Thursday, a federal court in Virginia will decide if the US-based contractor CACI Premier Technology can be sued for alleged abuses at the prison. Al Shimari v CACI is a long-running civil suit that began in 2008 and is being argued on the prisoners behalf by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

READ MORE: US defence contractor wants Abu Ghraib lawsuit scrapped

Following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the Americans took control of Abu Ghraib prison and used it to detain and interrogate suspects. CACI was contracted to provide interrogation services and received more than $19m in payments.

The contract, awarded to CACI in August 2003, was to provide interrogator support, screening cell support, open source intelligence and special security office among other things .

Defense Department investigations found that CACI interrogators directed or participated in some of the abuses, along with a number of military personnel. Requests for comment from the Pentagon went unanswered.

CACI has called the civil suit baseless and in its defence argued: The plaintiffs have not identified any mistreatment they suffered at the hands of a CACI PT interrogator, nor have they developed evidence that CACI PT personnel directed anyone to mistreat any of these plaintiffs.

Ejaili, however, recalls things differently.

He said that sometimes in Abu Ghraib he would be chained to his cell and made to endure a day or two without food. During his interrogations, which happened every few days, he was stripped, sworn at, and sometimes there would be further punishment.

There was the humiliation and degradation, too, like the time he became violently ill and vomited. Ejaili was forced to clean up the mess with his own prison uniform  and then ordered to put it back on.

With the help of a lawyer, Ejaili was finally brought before an Iraqi court a few months after being detained and released from Abu Ghraib.

It was a matter of 10 minutes. The judge told me, There are no charges against you.'

And with that, Ejaili was dumped outside the prison with none of his personal belongings, not even his shoes.

Some of his co-plaintiffs make even more troubling allegations about their time in US custody.

Suhail Najim Abdullah al-Shimari, detained from 2003 to 2008, said he was given electrical shocks, threatened with dogs, and forced to partake in physical activities while naked.

Taha Yaseen Arraq Rashid, held from 2003 to 2005, alleged that he was placed in stress positions, shot in the head with a Taser gun, had his bones broken, was subjected to sexual acts while chained  and forced to watch a female prisoner being raped.

Saad Hamza Hantoosh Al-Zubae, released in 2004, had his genitals beaten with a stick and was kept in solitary confinement for almost a year.

READ MORE: Abu Ghraib: A justice denied

Ejaili is now living in Doha, Qatar, and working as a producer for Al Jazeera Arabic.

He is busy raising his three children and has told them nothing of his time in Abu Ghraib. His wife, however, she knows all the details.

All four plaintiffs are only looking for their cases to move forward through the courts.

Thursdays federal hearing will address the political question doctrine, which says the federal courts should not hear cases that are the responsibility of other government branches.

CACI is arguing that even if the company was at fault, it should be immune from a courts review.

To say that torture is a political question is to assert, contrary to Congress and international law, that torture remains a policy option, wrote David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

There is photographic evidence that men in Abu Ghraib were made to act like dogs, assembled in naked pyramids, and stand in crucifixion poses.

I am not shocked. Neither is anyone else who served at Abu Ghraib, Eric Fair, who worked for CACI, wrote about the images in his memoir, Consequence.

Instead, we are shocked by the performance of the men who stand behind microphones and say things like bad apples and Animal House on night shift.

Ejaili said he hopes the case pushes forward.

I simply want justice. Torture needs to stop everywhere, he told Al Jazeera. All my life I learned that justice is above all in America. So why not give me the justice I deserve?

Follow Jenifer Fenton and Saad Abedine on Twitter: @jeniferfenton; @saadabedine
Jerusalem  Tucked away on a steep, potholed street in Sur Baher, a suburb in the southeastern hills of Jerusalem, Sarah Ali Dwayats apartment sits empty.

On the front porch, a large banner bears the photographs of five teenagers from the neighbourhood currently imprisoned by Israel. One of them is her 19-year-old son, Abed.

The group stands accused of throwing stones at Israeli vehicles on a highway, allegedly causing the death of a driver, after clashes between police and Palestinian youths last September, on the eve of the Jewish New Year.

The trial is still going on, but already some of their family members have been forced from their homes  the victims of new measures ostensibly aimed at deterring alleged Palestinian attackers.

When we got the confiscation notice, we took all the furniture out, and now its scattered with friends and neighbours, Sarah said, pushing back a metal sheet covering one window to sneak a look inside.

Doorknobs to the home have been broken off, and entrances sealed with melted metal plates. Sarah, a widow for 15 years, and her 24-year-old daughter have moved to a smaller apartment in the same area, provided by a neighbour as a goodwill gesture.

Sooner or later, they will have to start paying rent again, Sarah acknowledged  and with property prices sky-high in Jerusalem, they will not be able to afford it. We had just started renovation work. Abed had found a job and had started to help. We are still paying the debts, Sarah, 59, told Al Jazeera.

When they came to seal the house [last month], a soldier told me, in Arabic, that it was to send a message to others, so they wouldnt carry out more acts of terror.

READ MORE: Israeli home demolition reach record high

Since last October, tensions have boiled over into violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the blockaded Gaza Strip.

During this period, the Israeli army has killed at least 206 Palestinians, including protesters, bystanders and alleged attackers, while 33 Israelis have been killed in stabbing and shooting incidents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of measures directed at alleged Palestinian attackers and their families, including the demolition or sealing of attackers homes and the revocation of permanent residency status for Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

Munir Nusseibeh, a human rights lawyer and director of the Community Action Centre at al-Quds University, believed that Sarahs son and two of his co-accused, Muhammad Abu Kaf, 17, and Mustafa Atrash, 18, were test cases. Israels interior minister issued a decision to strip all three of their Jerusalem residency in January, a move that is now being appealed in court.

They are the first at risk of residency revocation for throwing stones, and the first whose families have been displaced from their homes for throwing stones, Nusseibeh told Al Jazeera.

Allegiance, which allegiance? We pay tax to the Israeli municipality, and we get nothing in return. Did Yigal Amir get his citizenship revoked for killing the prime minister of Israel? by Abu Walid, father of Mustafa Atrash, who is on trial over stone-throwing allegations

A letter to Abeds lawyer from the Israeli Interior ministry states that a permanent residency status in Israel is based on a material connection between the resident and the state and that it requires basic commitment and loyalty in view of the fact that residency, and all the more so permanent residency, is not a status which only grants rights without any obligations.

When Israel occupied and unilaterally annexed East Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinians were designated as permanent residents rather than citizens of the state, a status akin to that of migrants in a foreign country. Since then, over 14,000 have had their residency revoked.

Over the years, the criteria for revoking residency have broadened. Two decades ago, Israels interior ministry revoked the residency of Palestinians who lived abroad for seven or more years, or who obtained residency or citizenship status in another country.

But after the Oslo Accords, a new policy was introduced whereby Palestinians would lose residency rights if they established their centre of life outside of Israel  such as in the West Bank or Gaza. Some 11,000 out of the 14,000 had their residency revoked under this policy.

READ MORE: East Jerusalem suffocates under harsh Israeli siege

In 2006, three elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council had their Jerusalem residency revoked on new grounds: breach of allegiance to the state. Their case is still pending before the Supreme Court.

No one was arguing that these parliamentarians posed a specific security threat to Israel, but rather it was because of their political belonging that they decided to cancel their right to live in Jerusalem, Nusseibeh said, noting that there are 13 known cases of residency revocation under the allegiance criteria.

If the Supreme Court approves the residency revocations in the 2006 case based on breach of allegiance, this will make a new important precedent  it will be the first time that the Supreme Court approves revoking residency based on political, rather than security reasons, Nusseibeh said.

All Palestinians in Jerusalem will be at risk of residency revocation according to the allegiance criteria, because Palestinians in East Jerusalem see the occupation as temporary and Israel as a foreign occupying power.

Abu Walid, the father of Mustafa Atrash, was indignant at this policy. Allegiance, which allegiance? We pay tax to the Israeli municipality, and we get nothing in return, he told Al Jazeera. Did Yigal Amir get his citizenship revoked for killing the prime minister of Israel? he added, referring to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin by a right-wing Israeli extremist in 1995.





Abir Joubran-Dakwar, a lawyer for the Israeli human rights organisation Hamoked who is working on the Sur Baher case, noted that there are a number of specific criteria under which citizenship can be revoked, including breach of allegiance.

However, this does not apply to residency, she said: A person who has his citizenship revoked becomes stateless, but the interior ministry will still have to give him a permanent residency status.

Israels interior ministry did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment on the matter.

At the end of April, Israels attorney-general temporarily suspended the revocation in the Sur Baher case, until the Supreme Court comes to a decision in the 2006 case.

Human rights groups, including BTselem, have argued in the past that home demolitions, denial of building permits, restrictions on family reunification, and the building of the separation wall are all among the variety of methods used by Israel to forcibly displace Palestinians and maintain a Jewish majority in Jerusalem, in violation of international law.

I believe the aim of this policy is to add a new method for the displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, to be able to displace even larger numbers, Nusseibeh said. Thats our concern.
Officials blame each other over talks failure that may see Irans Muslims miss out on annual pilgrimage.

Muslims in Iran could miss out on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year as Tehran and Riyadh trade blame over a failure to agree organisational details, according to media reports.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month, aimed at reaching a deal for Iranians to go for Hajj, which will take place in September.

Irans official IRNA news agency quoted Tehrans Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister Ali Jannati as blaming Riyadh for the impasse.

The Saudi Hajj ministry, however, said Tehrans delegation had refused to sign an agreement laying out arrangements for this years pilgrimage, according to a statement carried by state-linked news site Sabq.

Last years Hajj was marred by the death of at least 769 pilgrims, many of them Iranian, in a stampede at Mina on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca.





The arrangements have not been put together and its now too late, said Jannati, whose ministry oversees arrangements for Iranian pilgrims.

But a statement carried by Sabq said that Irans demands included the granting of visas inside Iran and transport arrangements that would evenly split the pilgrims between Saudi and Iranian airlines.

Iran is the only country that refused to sign the agreement on the Hajj. It insisted on a number of unacceptable demands, Minister of Hajj and Umra Mohammed Bintin told Saudi state TV channel Ekhbariya.

Saudi Arabia and Iran severed ties after protesters in Iran attacked Saudi diplomatic missions there following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia.

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. Saudi Arabias Hajj ministry, however, said that it informed the Iranians that they could get their visas through the online system used for all pilgrims coming from abroad.

Jannati said the Saudis did not accept our proposals on security, transportation and visa issuing for Iranian pilgrims.

A culture ministry official said Iran was very concerned over the security of Iranians during the holy ceremony and that talks with Saudi authorities were continuing.
University calls for laws to prosecute students and criminals who use gadgets such as smartwatches to cheat in exams.

A leading private university in Thailand is calling for a change in the law to prosecute students who cheat and the criminals who help them.

The call comes after the discovery of unusual high-tech cheating methods used by three female medical students.

Bangkoks Rangsit University cancelled its examinations on Saturday and Sunday for admission to its medical and dental faculties after the discovery of the methods, such as embedded cameras and smartwatches with stored information.

While cheating has long been a problem in Thai schools and colleges, the use of high-tech gear has taken the practice to a new level.

The cameras were used to take pictures of the test sheet and the smartwatches to receive answers from someone outside.

Three students were caught by university staff overseeing the exam on Saturday. The next day three more were caught, but they were not trying to get into the university.

Officials said the students were part of a group that is charging students thousands of dollars for exam answers.

Thailand does not have a law to prosecute students who cheat  something Rangsit University wants changed.

Exam cheating is not a minor offence. Its the start of other criminal offences, university administrator Kittisak Tripipatpornchai told Al Jazeera.

If we dont have law or tough measures to deal with this, our education system will never be competitive with other countries.

Educators say cheating has flourished because of an education system that makes exam scores the only criterion for assessing a students ability and granting admission into places of higher learning.
Once nicknamed Princess, Gulnara Karimova recorded catchy pop songs, wrote poetry, and designed clothes and jewellery.

The 43-year-old elder daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov has also held several diplomatic jobs and built a sprawling business empire with interests in almost every branch of the economy of this resource-rich ex-Soviet nation.

Leaked US diplomatic cables posted by the WikiLeaks website characterised her as a robber baron and her nations single most hated person.

Most Uzbeks see Karimova as a greedy, power-hungry individual who uses her father to crush business people  or anyone else who stands in her way, one of the cables said.



People and Power  The Long Arm of the Dictator

In the late 2000s, Karimova was rumoured to be a possible successor of her 75-year-old father, who has ruled Uzbekistan since before the 1991 Soviet collapse. Uzbek media described her as a patron of the arts and a successful businesswoman who supports orphanages, pays for the weddings of poor couples, and who had restored a medieval religious complex in the capital, Tashkent, where one of the worlds oldest Qurans is exhibited.

But in 2014, Karimova fell out with her father and was placed under house arrest after releasing hundreds of tweets in which she described a Shakespearean power struggle in the presidential family, accused her mother and younger sister of practising witchcraft, and lashed out at top Uzbek officials.

Her business holdings disappeared, and dozens of her former employees have been jailed.

A batch of papers leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm possibly marks a new low in Karimovas fall from grace  and the fate of her jailed boyfriend, a former Uzbek pop star.

The papers describe a string of companies owned by a certain Rustam Madumarov. This is the name of Karimovas longtime boyfriend who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in Uzbekistan in 2014  along with two of her confidants  on charges of stealing assets worth tens of millions of dollars and tax evasion.

Madumarov is listed as director of Stockbridge Plus Ltd and Trident Overseas Management Ltd, offshore companies linked to several more companies registered in the UK, Romania, Belize and Hong Kong, according to the website of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a Washington-based group that obtained 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca.

Unlike previous leaks of the Panama Papers that provided detailed descriptions of the offshore machinations of many politicians, the documents mentioning Madumarov simply state the names, addresses of his companies, and their links to each other.

Although Karimova is not mentioned in the list of more than 100 Uzbek nationals in the Panama Papers list, an analyst on Uzbek politics is confident that Madumarovs companies laundered her money.

Any money on Madumarovs account is Karimovas money, Moscow-based analyst Danill Kislov, and chief editor of the fergananews.com website, told Al Jazeera. He said Madumarov approached him on behalf of Karimova in 2003 offering to buy his news website, which offers rare insight into Uzbek politics and is now banned in Uzbekistan.

It is Rustams name her multimillion accounts in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, France and other countries have been registered to, Kislov said.

A government spokesman told Al Jazeera that he was unable to comment.

Madumarov was also behind three other companies, Studio Invest, Ruby International, and Invest Service Group, which paid tens of millions of euros for a villa in southeastern France, a luxurious apartment in Paris, and Chateau de Groussay, a historic castle outside the French capital, the AFP news agency reported.

A French court confiscated these properties in 2014 as part of an international money-laundering investigation into Scandinavian and Russian telecoms, which paid Karimova about $1bn to gain access to the Uzbek market, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an international group of investigative reporters.

One of the telecoms, VimpelCom, has already agreed to pay $835m as a fine after admitting it bribed Karimova.

The leaked Mossack Fonseca documents could be a miniscule part of Karimovas assets, says an OCCRP reporter who investigated Karimovas finances.

Gulnara used dozens of offshore companies in her various businesses, Miranda Patrucic told Al Jazeera.
Abdullah IbrahimSFJAZZSan Francisco, CAApril 29-30, 2016At 81, pianist, is still going strong, something he proved during a remarkable tour-de-force performance which spanned four nights at SFJAZZ in San Francisco.For the first two evenings (Thursday and Friday), Ibrahim appeared in the company of his Mukashi Trio. For these nights, Ibrahim brought together bassist, cellist, and composer, a Detroit native, andJr. who played flute, piccolo and clarinet.While Guyton has played with artists such as, The, Theand Chaka Khan, Jackson leads the NYC-based quintet. The two playing cello and flute in tandem with Ibrahim's piano proved a sublime treat for the ears. Guyton played flute and piccolo with scintillating zest; Jackson dexterously thumbed a number of adroit bass solos.Ibrahim's colorful personal history has contributed greatly to his prodigious musical output. Gospel and blues elements in Ibrahim's playing are clearly evident. He grew up in Cape Town, South Africa where his grandmother was the pianist for the local A.M.E. Church, while his mother led the choir. Christened Adolphes Johnnes Brand, Ibrahim began playing the piano at seven and was soon exposed to such musical influences as. Cape Town itself was a melting pot of styles: tribal music, Chinese, Indian and Islamic music was present, along with American pop and R&B. In 1962, he embarked on a three-decade exile in which he moved between Europe, the U.S. and Swaziland.After hearing him play in Switzerland,invited him to record for his Reprise Records, a date which proved to be the first of his sixty-plus recordings. At that time he was still known as Dollar Brand. The story behind this colorful name is said to be that, as a young man in Cape Town, Ibrahim would always carry a dollar in his pocket in the event that he would meet a Black American sailor selling coveted jazz 78s. Following his conversion to Islam in 1968, he changed his name to Abdullah Ibrahim. Since that time, he has produced a plethora of albums and CDs, and has also recorded several soundtracks for films by the renowned French director Claire Denis.The evenings, both with the trio and, the Saturday and Sunday night dates, featuring his veteran band, followed a similar pattern. The accompanying musicians' names and instruments were announced over the sound system. Then Ibrahim, clad in black, would take the stage and play one of his evocative and flowing solos to open the first of the evening's two sets. Each evening's second set would also commence with a virtuoso solo.Ibrahim mesmerizes onstage. His playing encompasses a multitude of range and tonalities. Some lines are delicateresembling waves washing up on a beachside cliffwhile others conjure up an immense wall of sound structures ranging from aural crystal cathedrals to rhythmic staircases. He builds layer on layer, constructing a polyrhythmic structure on top of a basic foundation. At times resembling a one-man instrumental chorale, at other moments a full orchestra, his playing is lyrical, rhythmic and sometimes percussive. His poignant compositions, which flow from one into another, might be likened to short stories set to sound.For Saturday and Sunday evenings, Ibrahim brought Ekaya to the stage. Guyton was again present; this time bringing his alto saxophone along to add to the sonic mix; Jackson brought his bass and cello, and four additional excellent musicians joined him onstage.Ibrahim has always shown tremendous taste in his choice of sidemen. For this date, his veteran band, another young musician hailing from Detroit, proved himself to be a master of the baritone sax and bass clarinet. Once a member of the late's Saxophone Sextet, he has also performed with a remarkable group of artists, including's incarnation of the, theBig Band and's Baritone Group.The versatilealso surprised, delivering vibrant notes on trombone and trumpet, while Bobby Lavell's tenor saxophone shined.on drums filled out the rhythm section.Saturday's second set was a high point. It began with an evocative and inspired piano solo by Ibrahim, which he ended by one hand fingering several piano keys. He stood and took a bow and pressed his hands together.The stage then darkened as the Mukashi Trio commenced to play. Some minutes later the remaining members of Ekaya took the stage, clad entirely in black. A gorgeous tenor solo by Lavell, along with Guyton's delicate flute, interfaced with Harding's formidable and conversational baritone. An inspired bass solo by Jackson followed. Then Murchison soloed soulfully on trumpet. One skillful phrase on the flute brought the tune to its conclusion. Guyton bowed and pressed his hands together. Then each the musicians took turns, bowing and pressing their hands together, to sustained applause.A standing ovation from the ecstatic audience brought the band back for still more intense flutistry, formidable baritone, stellar tenor and trumpet. An outstanding bass solo from Jackson, played in tandem with Terrill, wound down the tune and closed the evening. An enthralled crowd made its way to the doors.
After nearly four months, UF students had their voices heard.

In January, students asked the Florida Legislature to fund the rebuilding of the UF/IFAS Beef Teaching Unit, according to Alligator archives.

This year, the Legislature gave $2.6 million, in addition to the $1 million given to the Department of Animal Sciences last year, for the units expansion, said Geoffrey Dahl, the chair of the Department of Animal Sciences.

The Beef Teaching Unit is a 65-acre farm that hosts a herd of 35 cows and a variety of UF classes. It has two units: its North Unit, located at 3301 SW 23rd Terrace, and its South Unit, located at 3721 SW 23rd Terrace. The South Unit has been under construction.

The expansion is expected to be complete by 2017. Dahl said the expansion will not only improve animal management but will also be able to house four students in apartments.

Housing will add to their experience on campus and enrich their time here, he said.

Kate Shuffitt, a UF animal science alumna, said she looks forward to the units development because she feels the department doesnt get enough funding.

A lot of our facilities are old and broken down, she said. We work well with what we have, but its nice to know someone saw we needed the money for improvements and put in the effort.

In her time as an undergraduate student, the 22-year-old wasnt able to use the South Unit because of the construction, but she said shes glad other students will be able to in the future.

The kids that are going to come through here will get to have such a better experience and be more prepared, she said. So I think thats awesome in itself.

Email Monica at: mandrade@alligator.org

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Cows graze at the UF Beef Teaching Unit on October 27, 2014. UF created two new grass varieties that will bring better nutritional value and a longer lifespan to cows.
Man caught intruding by evidence of cigarette light

Gainesville Police arrested a Gainesville man Tuesday after they said he entered a home  despite the owners injunction against him  and hid in a closet, where he was later found with a lit cigarette.

The injunction, spurred by domestic violence, required James West, 28, to stay 500 feet away from the womans home, according to a police report.

The woman called police after she saw West. He returned at about 10 p.m. and burglarized her home, according to the report.

Police arrived and saw West run into a back room, where he then hid under a pile of clothes in the closet, according to the report. Officers found West after he lit a cigarette.

While in handcuffs, West started to yell and twist, trying to break free from the officers hold. Police then restrained his legs.

West also has open charges for the domestic dispute, along with marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Alachua County court records.

Police arrested West on charges of burglary and resisting an officer, along with two charges for violating the injunction.

Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he re mains in lieu of a $145,000 bond.

Hawthorne man punches neighbor in front yard Gainesville Police arrested a Hawthorne, Florida, man Tuesday afternoon after police said he fought his neighbor. At about 3 p.m., James Lawrence, 48, stood in his neighbors yard at Hawthorne Estates and spoke with the 71-year-old man, according to a police report. The conversation eventually turned into an argument, and Lawrence began to punch the man several times, according to the report. Emergency Medical Services transported his neighbor to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center for multiple cuts and bruises, according to the report. Lawrence was not injured. Since 2004, Lawrence has been found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in two separate incidents, according to Alachua County court records. Lawrence refused to be placed in handcuffs, and an officer then used a Taser on him, according to the report. The struggle left the officer with a small scrape on the pinky of his right hand, according to the report. Police arrested Lawrence on charges of aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he remains in lieu of a $75,000 bond. Man steals electronics from Gainesville woman Police arrested a Gainesville man Tuesday afternoon after they said he entered a home and stole an Xbox 360 gaming system, four games, two prescriptions and other items at the end of April. At about 10 p.m. on April 28, Antonio Green, 33, entered a womans apartment in the 1100 block of NW 39th Ave., according to a police report. Green stole a TV from a bedroom, the Xbox 360 and games from her living room and prescriptions from her kitchen, according to the report. The items are worth a total of about $205. Three days later, he sold the TVvalued at $125for $25 at Value Pawn and Jewelry on Main Street, according to the report. Green signed his name and provided a thumb print. Police later questioned Green, who said he bought the TV in order to sell it. He later said a man named Julian stole the TV from the womans home while she was sleeping. The Xbox 360 was later found at the home of Greens sister, and he eventually admitted to taking the womans property, according to the report. Police arrested Green on charges of larceny, fraud and dealing in stolen property. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he was released Wednesday afternoon on a $45,000 bond. Follow Sara on Twitter: @saradmarino Email: smarino@alligator.org

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Anjali Lloyd is a second-grade student from Hidden Oak Elementary School. Lloyd is also a first-place winner in the Peace Poetry Contest, put on by the Veterans for Peace.

I wish for a world with no hate, reads Lloyds poem submission. A world where people do not use their differences as bait.

Lloyd is one of 32 young poetry winners who will read their poems about peace to an audience of roughly 150 people this weekend at the Peace Poetry Reading and Reception event.

The seventh-annual reading will take place May 14 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, located at 4225 NW

34th St. At the event, three high school seniors and college students who advocate for nonviolent social change will receive $500 scholarships.

[The competition gets] young students starting to talk about peace so that when they get older and enter positions of power, they can have peace in mind when making decisions, said Jessica Newman, a Peace Poetry Contest co-coordinator.

K-12 students submitted poetry that was critiqued for style, imagery and content by a panel of UF English graduate students, led by Sidney Wade, a UF English professor and a former president of the Association of Writers and Writing Program.

We analyze the poetry the same way we would analyze any poem, Wade said.

The top three students and high honors selections from each age group will read their poems. They will also receive a bookstore gift card, a certificate of achievement and placement in the 2016 Peace Poetry Book, which is available for free at the event, at public school libraries, at bookstores and online.

Scott Camil, the president of Veterans for Peace and a Vietnam War veteran, got the idea for the contest from Bostons Veterans for Peace groups own Peace Poetry Competition.

In order to announce our contest, [the teachers] have to talk about peace, Camil said. Its good for parents and kids to talk about peace while writing their papers. Its not like a piece of cake. We all really enjoy hearing the poems.

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If asked to explain what they think it is like to live in Africa, most Americans would probably formulate a perception drastically different from the unapparent reality. As a result of either minimally skimming through the Africa section in newspapers or forgetting about the continent altogether, many Americans would draw from their high school history classes to describe todays Africa. This only becomes a problem when it seems it is more than just average Americans using information from decades ago, because although the possible solutions to benefit Africa have changed, policies have not.

While many African countries may still be considered underdeveloped socially, economically and politically, the one sign of hope is technological development. Josh Nesbit, CEO of Medic Mobile, even noted, he got better reception on his mobile phone in poor, rural Malawi than he did in California.

Innovators are not only utilizing technology to solve problems locally but also globally. For example, an M-Pesa program allows Kenyans to transfer money to family members without having to go through fragile and corrupt banking institutions. Additionally, Shimba Technologies has developed an app, MedAfrica, that looks to address health challenges in countries where the doctor-per-1,000-person ratio is as low as 0.2 percent. All of these problems seemed nearly impossible to solve not too long ago. Now, theres an app for that.

At the end of the day, however, it is going to take more than just nonprofits to shed light on problems plaguing Africa. When reading his book on the issue, I found that Alec Ross, who was the senior advisor for innovation for the Obama administration, seemed surprised to learn about the technological developments occurring in Africa this past decade. It is hard for the U.S. to take advantage of opportunities to improve Africa if the American government is unaware of them.

Although it may be hard to cure American apathy toward Africa, the least that could be done is a change in mentality at the highest power. With the incomparable size and power of the public sector, it is time for the executive branch to lend a hand. Besides, many possible opponents to brisk change in African foreign policy will have their hands busy these next few months with political issues here at home.

Joshua Udvardy is a UF mechanical engineering sophomore. His column appears on Thursdays.
One of the challenges for us in assigning current events with a dart or a laurel is the fact that there is just so much to talk about. Economies across the globe may be in recession, but we never seem to run short on our supply of ridiculousness. Experts are saying its market value is at an all-time high. So, with all of the ups and downs in recent world news, wed like to bring you a more international segment: Dartos y Laurel-schteinem? We digress.

First stop: Brazil. Current president Dilma Rousseff faces impeachment and stark disdain from the general Brazilian public after facing investigations of bribery and allegations of budget malpractice. However, the problem with impeaching Rousseff is what might follow after her.

Next in line for the presidency is current vice president Michel Temer, a man so awash in corruption and unfavorability, he would never be able to assume the presidency in any other scenario. He gets an automatic dart. His approval rating is 2 percent, and 60 percent of Brazilians want to see him impeached from his vice presidency position, let alone take the helm of the country.

Across the Atlantic pond, the people of London have elected Sadiq Khan, their first Muslim mayor. This is a huge leap when considering sentiments of Islamophobia in the West and the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe. Now, at the end of the day, Khan is a politician before anything else. While he rhetorically distances himself from extreme Muslims in London, he has a history of working and allying with fanatics in order to, presumably, get votes and political support. His political opportunism across the Muslim community should not be dismissed.

Nonetheless, he is incredibly moderate and liberal in general political practice, and his positions, such as supporting LGBT+ rights, bode very well for the future. So we give a laurel to Khan and Londoners for what seems to be a step in a very good direction.

Finally, we land in the Philippines: your future spouses low-key favorite honeymoon spot. Rodrigo Duterte is set to be the new president, and unfortunately for Filipinos (and your future spouse), many are coining Duterte as the Trump of the East. The Philippines is home to rampant economic inequality and poverty, so many Filipinos want change and have turned to Duterte as a man of bold claims and swift action.

In his campaign, however, hes made flippant and sexist comments about women and failed to deliver any kind of substantive platform. On law and order, hes even said, Forget the laws on human rights...you drug pushers and do-nothings better go out. Because Id kill you. At least says whats on his mind, right? Obviously, a whole bag of darts is in order.

So, keep in mind, dear readers, there are plenty of fish in the sea, and often times, those fish live in countries with the same sorts of political problems as American fish. Only, they get by without as many Michael Bay movies and Starbucks gift cards.
Courtesy to The Alligator Flat Land will play at Fridays Rage Fest, following a notable performance at the Okeechobee Music Festival. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show.

To end the first week of Summer classes, The Jam is bringing music and free beer to town.

Florida bands Morning Fatty and Flat Land will perform Friday at Gainesville Rage Fest, located at 817 W. University Ave.

Although the bands have had many shows at The Jam before, this will be the first Rage Fest officially, said John Pop, the bass player for Morning Fatty.

The bands other three members include Miller Joyner on lead guitar, Andrew White on lead vocals, guitar and keys and Tim Mulberry on drums.

Pop and White started the band in 2004 when they were in high school, and a friend introduced them to the two other members.

Mulberry, the newest member of the band, recently finished playing a six-month world tour with the Black Eyed Peas. He then auditioned for Morning Fatty, passing with flying colors.

We are rolling out some new songs, Pop said. We are getting into doing some sampling and getting into the dubstep-electro feel but fusing it with funk, rock and reggae.

The members are currently trying to coin a new genre. They started out playing reggae, moved to punk and psychedelic rock and have recently been dabbling in dubstep electronic music.

We are trying to stick to FRED music, Pop said. #FRED stands for Funk, Rock, Electro and Dub.

Courtesy to The Alligator Morning Fatty will headline The Jams first official Rage Fest on Friday. Tickets are $10 online or $15 at the door.

Morning Fatty has two studio albums and singles available on Spotify, Pandora and iTunes. Merchandise will be available at the show.

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Gainesville is our heart, Pop said. We have been to 500 cities, and we always keep coming back home  this is the spot.

Pop said Rage Fests other headliner, Flat Land, will compliment Morning Fatty to bring a great night of music to The Jam.

We have been to 500 cities, and we always keep coming back home. This is the spot.  John Pop, bass player for Morning Fatty

Weve been friends with Morning Fatty for years now, playing several shows and just being supportive of one another in the music scene, said Grant McLeod, the 26-year-old drummer of Flat Land.

Band members include vocalist and violinist Fae Nageon de Lestang, bassist Brandon Miller, guitarist Christopher Storey and percussionist and pianist Ian McLeod.

Flat Land has played on a wide range of stages throughout the Southeast, including the Okeechobee Music Festival in March and the Suwannee Hulaween in November 2015.

Flat Land has played together since the members graduated from UF four years ago. Each member of the band grew up playing different genres of music, but they describe the bands sound as ethereal funk fusion.

The band has a new single called Poco a Poco, which is a part of its new album coming out June 17. In English, the song means little-by-little, Nageon de Lestang said.

The chorus translates to little-by-little one goes far, she said. It is about getting where you want to be when you put your mind to something.

Even with new music coming soon, Flat Land is working hard to make sure the bands music stays true to its original sound.

Doors for Rage Fest open at 7 p.m., and beer will also be available at that time. The show will start at 8 p.m. Attendees must be 18 to enter. Tickets can be bought at the door for $15 or $10 in advance at squareup.com.
           2005     ..        










ACTUALITES Uganda: President Al-Bashir must be arrested and surrendered to the ICC

Alwihda Info | Par Amnesty International - 12 Mai 2016





Uganda must immediately arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), said Amnesty International today. Omar Al-Bashir, who is on the courts wanted list, arrived in Kampala this morning to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.



Uganda must face up to its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide, said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.



As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC. Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict.



The situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to the ICC in 2005 by the UN Security Council. Arrest warrants against President Al-Bashir have been outstanding since 2009 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur from 2003 to 2008.



A recent ruling by the Supreme Court of South Africa called the behaviour of South African authorities disgraceful for their failure to arrest President Al-Bashir according to their obligations under South African legislation implementing the Rome Statute, when he travelled to Johannesburg to attend the African Union Summit in June 2015.



In March 2010, the Ugandan parliament passed the International Criminal Court Bill which fully incorporated the law of the ICC into Ugandan law. The bill also provides for the arrest and surrender of suspects to the ICC. Speaking at the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC in November 2015, Ugandas representative unequivocally stated the countrys support to the International Criminal Court in the fight against impunity and that this commitment remains unwavering However, Uganda has also at times been critical of the ICC.



President Al-Bashir cannot be allowed to evade justice any longer, said Muthoni Wanyeki.



The government of President Museveni must act now to arrest him and ensure that the next flight he takes flies directly to The Hague where justice awaits him.





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The Ugandan authorities must halt the shameful assault on human rights that has cast a stain on the countrys electoral and post-electoral period, said Amnesty International today, on the eve of President Yoweri Museveni inauguration for a fifth five-year term.



President Musevenis inauguration comes amidst a crackdown on the rights to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly, said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.



The arbitrary detention of political opposition leaders and their supporters, the recent ban on live media coverage of opposition activities and the violent disruption of peaceful opposition gatherings in the lead up to and since election day not only violate Ugandas own Constitution, but also fly in the face of its regional and international human rights obligations.
If he's worried about fintech upstarts or bitcoin offering a high-tech alternative to Western Union's bread-and-butter business of money transfer, Chief Information Officer David Thompson doesn't let on.

Thompson, formerly the CIO of Oracle, Symantec and PeopleSoft, offers a cogent case for the payment giant's ability to innovate and stay relevant as interest in blockchain-based and even digital currency payments escalates. To that end, Western Union recently invested in Digital Currency Group, an investment firm focused on bitcoin and blockchain startups.

The upshot of a recent interview with Thompson is that he feels the costs of scaling a payments business, and the barriers to entry created by regulatory regimes, are steep. It will be harder than many assume for challengers to undercut established players like Western Union (and their prices), yet the established players have to stay abreast of technological changes and modernize their services.

Time will tell how well companies like Western Union adapted to change, and how safe their positions really were.

The following is a transcript of Thompson's comments that was edited for length and clarity.

Some think bitcoin could be a cheaper way to send money around the world. At one point Western Union CEO Hikmet Ersek said the company would use bitcoin only if it was regulated as a currency. Has that position softened?

DAVID THOMPSON: [Western Union's new investment in] Digital Currency Group is clearly aligned to digital currency and blockchain capabilities and how that might be disruptive in many ways. That allows a firm that specializes in this space to gives us insight into firms that potentially could be a partnership for us, a technology we might want to leverage, a market we might want to be entering.

Clearly there's a lot of dialogue in the industry and the press about digital currency, and much of that talk has shifted to a discussion of blockchain and not necessarily the digital currency itself.

We anticipated that shift because with digital currency, when you really think about it, until you have an ecosystem where you can use that value, there's not a lot of value to the individual user or consumer. I personally mine bitcoins to understand the technology and the ecosystem, that's my interest as a technologist. The only person I can pay with bitcoins is the guy who maintains my sprinklers. I can't go to Whole Foods and buy my groceries with bitcoin.

I do see promise with blockchain in the sense that that open ledger is really good for potential record reporting of documents and smart contracts. There are many governments looking at blockchain as a way to do birth certificates or titles, a smart contract in which certain terms are triggered and then it registers itself on the blockchain. I think the public blockchain is difficult to do financial transactions with. If you take Western Union, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, we're public companies, and if our transactions were all public, looking at them could potentially enable someone to produce our revenue projections before we can.

I think you'll see more closed-loop blockchain usages for financial services. That's something we're working with DCG and getting their perspective on. We're a heavily regulated entity, we operate in more than 200 countries and territories, and we have a lot of regulatory scrutiny. So any movement into new things requires due diligence, requires dialogue with regulators.

You do have a partnership with Ripple, which uses blockchain protocols to automate international payments. How is that going?

We have a pilot in place with Ripple, where we're looking at Ripple for intercompany settlements and cross-border settlements. Ripple is a capability where correspondent banking could be disrupted. We're just looking at it as a way to streamline our settlement process. We do have a robust capability for settlement through 200 countries, technology we've built for ourselves. I'm always open to ideas of using open source capabilities or off-the-shelf technologies. I don't know if there's business value in it or not. We're still at that pilot stage.

There are a number of blockchain-type companies that are trying to offer their own international payments service  TransferWise, WorldRemit and a number of others. What's your attitude toward those disruptors?

As a company, we're going to have competition, because this is a very robust market  there's high demand from customers for cross-border payments and remittances. TransferWise, PayPal [which recently bought Xoom] and some of these other firms have focused initially on domestic money transfer. As soon as you cross a border, the barriers to entry are significantly higher because of the regulatory requirements, the licensing requirements, and the anti-money-laundering, fraud and risk mitigation you have to put in place.

At Western Union, we moved $85 billion last year in consumer payments and 484 million business payments. In our digital business last year we generated over $300 million in revenue. TransferWise only generated $14 million. We're a dominant player in the digital money transfer space, and we'll continue to build and innovate.

There are people who say the cost of international remittances has to go down, especially for migrant workers sending money back home. Does Western Union have a take on that?

Yes. We're one of the most competitive from a pricing perspective. In many corridors from a fee perspective we're free. In many cases, if you look at the cost to send $1,000 from your bank cross-border, they'll be significantly more expensive than us.

One thing that's omitted from a lot of folks who discuss this topic is they're not looking at a compliance solution. There's a lot of people who want to put in technologies that will do things faster, but they miss the point that you have to have an AML program in place, you have to have fraud and risk management in place, you have to have consumer protection processes in place. The second you put that infrastructure in place, your costs associated with that service internally go up.

Even services out there that say they're going to disrupt the world and this is going to be free, once they start figuring out the requirements mandated by regulators, it quickly becomes intolerable. And many of the firms you'll see in this space are not profitable. They're burning through a lot of money from venture capital.

You said you're leading a digital transformation at Western Union  what are some of the changes you've made and plan to make?

We've had a bill pay transformation team of about 400 people based in San Francisco for more than four years. That team has built a robust digital platform based on Hadoop technology, a big data capability that allows us to in real time look across billions of rows of data, looking for fraud and risk patterns and general compliance infractions.

We process 31 transactions per second and we apply 1,000 compliance and risk rules to every transaction. The capability also allows us to provide streamlined know-your-customer processes for consumers, so they can have as little friction as possible. Our mobile app is among the highest rated in the app stores. These tools allowed us to be the largest digital money transfer company.

We made an announcement in Q4 of last year of a new product called WU Connect. We've built a set of APIs that allows our cross-border money transfer capabilities to be embedded into social media applications and messaging applications. We have signed contracts with WeChat and Viber where they have embedded our money transfer product into their applications. So if you downloaded Viber now, you could do a money transfer across borders in that. They're trying to make their apps sticky so consumers stay with them. The cross-border remittance is very social, whether it's a mother to her son or a husband to his wife, so we're finding customers are very attracted to this capability.

Where else might WU Connect be embedded?

Many of our retail agents are banks and postal services. You're starting to see many of those banks very interested in doing P2P money transfers in their mobile applications. You'll see many banking partners taking on this capability.

Do you ever worry about the risk of cyberattack to the payments system? And has Western Union added any special security layers to its network?

Do I stay awake at night worrying about cybersecurity? It is one of my top concerns as a technologist responsible for our technology platforms. We spend a significant amount of time, energy and resources on cybersecurity at Western Union. That's important because we operate in so many different remote locations. Our board and shareholders are interested in making sure we have resources allocated to cybersecurity.

We also invest in third-party firms that evaluate our capabilities to ensure if we have a weak link, we strengthen it. We have invested significant resources in denial of service attack mitigation. We've also put in what we call defense-in-depth capabilities in our infrastructure  multiple layers of protection. That's a real critical point in financial services.

We've connected to many intelligence agencies and law enforcement organizations around the globe, and we are plugged into those threat notices so we can be prepared. We also closely watch our insiders  through background checks, through technologies that watch employee and contractor behaviors  and we also have separations of duties for certain tasks.

Editor at Large Penny Crosman welcomes feedback at penny.crosman@sourcemedia.com.


Despite all their recent woes and growing pains, marketplace lenders have succeeded in one major way: pushing banks to up their game.

Commercial lending, specifically to small and midsize businesses, is an area ripe for disruption because it has historically been one involving a lot of human interaction and paperwork. Customers don't necessarily want that anymore; instead, they crave the convenience of being able to apply digitally and get a loan quickly.

"Commercial banking is the least automated area. If you walk into the back offices, you're going to see spreadsheets, sticky notes and folders," said Sam Kilmer, senior director of Cornerstone Advisors. "If nothing else, marketplace lending's focus on automation, on a faster experience, on the way they approach the sales process, has pressured banks to respond by prioritizing engineering over [human] energy."

Indeed, nonbank lenders focused on small businesses have succeeded in doubling their outstanding portfolio balances every year since the mid-2000s, according to Aite Group. Marketplace lending's growth wasn't wholly driven by the ease of its products  during much of its early run-up, banks were grappling with the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis and the spigot for small-business lending was tight.

Meanwhile 26% of businesses surveyed by Aite in a study released earlier this year stated they "probably or definitely" would consider using an alternative lender the next time they need credit, in part because online lenders often offer quicker decisions, faster funding and easier processes.

But banks have begun adopting technology to get their edge back. This week, Wells Fargo became the latest bank to roll out a small-business loan-focused product. FastFlex is a digital, fast-decision loan aimed at small businesses, with funding available as soon as the next day, the bank said. The service, which has been piloted since August and will be offered to all customers at the end of May, is also available to meet short-term credit needs, with one-year terms available at amounts ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. Customers can also choose a weekly payment plan.

"It's an option for our small-business customers that have a need for short-term financing or just a different credit option," said Lisa Stevens, Wells Fargo's head of small business.

In his annual letter to shareholders in April, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon also highlighted innovation in small-business lending as a priority. He said the bank this year will begin offering a product called Chase for Business, which will include a digital application process allowing business customers to sign up for what Dimon termed the "triple play"  a deposit account, business credit card and Chase merchant processing  with one signature and in one day. Historically, that process has taken longer and has involved a lot of repetitive paperwork.

He also touted a partnership with the online lender OnDeck Capital, under which Chase will use OnDeck's technology to quickly process loan requests.

FastFlex, however, was developed in-house by Wells Fargo technologists. Stevens would not say whether the product was developed directly because of the competition in small-business lending created by online lenders, but said it was part of an overall commitment it set in 2014 to lend $100 billion in five years to small businesses. So far, it has reached a little more than $40 billion of that goal, Stevens said.

"We are always looking at more innovation and technology that can help our small-business customers," she said.

And it seems the time may be ripe for banks to win back small-business customers lost to online lenders. In April 2016, small-business loan approval rates at banks of all sizes thrived while dropping at alternative lenders, according to data from Biz2Credit, a platform that connects small businesses with financing options. The data is based on the firm's analysis of more than 1,000 small-business loan applications on its website in April.

Marketplace lending, along with payments, has perhaps been the shining star of the fintech, but it has taken a few hits recently. Last week Lending Club CEO Renaud Laplanche resigned abruptly amid accusations of impropriety among senior officials. That came on the heels of Prosper Marketplace announcing mass layoffs and OnDeck Capital sounding warnings of slowing loan growth.

Regulators are paying increased attention to the sector, too. The Treasury Department this week released the findings of a yearlong study into marketplace lending, calling for tighter controls. And the California Department of Business Oversight has sent letters to 14 online lenders that do business in the state asking a series of probing questions regarding their compliance with laws and regulations dealing with referral fees, bank partnerships, fair lending and other sensitive issues.

Those issues could be well timed for banks as they seek to catch up. If they are able to address the speed and convenience issues, they have the embedded confidence of incumbency on their side. They also have a cheaper cost of capital.

"Customers have two questions: am I approved and when can I get the money?" said Pierre Naude, chief executive of nCino, a vendor that helps banks expedite the origination of small-business loans. The company has more than 100 bank customers in the U.S., up nearly 50% from a year ago. Its clients range from small banks to the $194 billion-asset SunTrust Banks. "The industry will be fantastically successful" if it is able to increase the loan approval process "because the banks still have the trusted branding and positioning in the market," Naude said.

If banks are able to regain any lost ground, what will that mean to the slew of marketplace lenders? Many will disappear, observers say. And others may recast themselves as vendors  rather than be lenders themselves, they'll provide banks with their technology. Banks could work with them to stay current with digital expectations, says Rohit Arora, chief executive of Biz2Credit, since they are nimble and can respond quickly to things like frequent updates to mobile operating systems.

Arora said he expects that in the next two years that the majority of small-business lending will be a fully digital process. Right now that is close to 100% for marketplace lenders, and close to zero for banks, he said. That transition will largely be driven by banks and marketplace lenders collaborating.

"There is going to be a convergence of fintech and banks. A year or 18 months ago, banks were dismissive  they didn't need this. That changed when the loans started getting bigger," Arora said. "At the same time, fintech has a disadvantage with the permanent capital. It is forcing the hand of both to partner."


Walmart and Visa have had a long and volatile relationship, and the retailer's latest lawsuit against the global card brand gives voice to a struggle that many other companies are too small to fight.

In the courtroom and in other venues, Walmart has often had the task of representing the retail industry in its fight for lower fees or more control of transaction data. In this instance, Walmart may be the one speaking up against Visa's EMV authentication policies, but it is far from the only company concerned.

Visa's promotion of signature authentication for EMV transactions allows banks to forgo the use of a PIN for EMV cards issued to U.S. consumers. This decision was meant to facilitate the spread of EMV cards in the U.S., but it eliminates a protection against stolen card use, adds potential costs for merchants and puts the U.S. at odds with other countries' EMV practices.

"Visa has acknowledged in many other countries that chip and PIN offer greater security," Randy Hargrove, a Walmart spokesperson, said in an emailed statement. "Visa nevertheless has demanded that we allow fraud-prone signature verification for debit transactions in our U.S. stores because Visa stands to make more money processing those transactions."

Visa did not respond to inquiries for this story by deadline, but it has long portrayed PIN as an authentication method that had been surpassed by more modern payment technologies. When announcing its EMV migration plan back in 2011, Visa talked up the advancements in other forms of transaction security and the impending arrival of Near Field Communication-based form factors such as mobile wallets.

But Walmart's disputes with Visa go back much longer than the beginnings of the U.S. EMV migration; the two companies have been engaged in court battles for over a decade.

In the latest lawsuit Walmart says the card brand is forcing the company to route transactions to Visa, rather than on alternative and less expensive PIN debit networks.

Walmart opted out of the high-profile $5.7 billion class action settlement over swipe fees between major retailers and Visa and MasterCard Inc. in late 2013  what would have been the end of a court battle that began in 2005  turning right around in March of 2014 and filing its own $5 billion lawsuit against Visa over its fees. That claim was settled out of court last year, and neither Visa nor Walmart shared details of the settlement publicly.

As for the debit routing issue, Walmart is not alone in stating that the card brands should not dictate where transactions should be sent, pointing to Durbin amendment's rule about allowing multiple routing options on debit transactions.

The Merchant Advisory Group, long at the forefront of those lobbying the card brands for PIN adoption with the migration to EMV chip cards in the U.S., has said all along that debit routing should be the choice of the merchant and in accordance with Durbin amendment regulations that call for two or more networks being available.

"It is not up to the networks or the card issuers, even though EMV has programmatically made it more difficult for merchants to exercise their routing rights," said Mark Horwedel, CEO of the Merchant Advisory Group. "It's certainly not surprising that merchants want to minimize their outrageous cost of acceptance as well as avoid the costs associated with chargebacks."

Merchants say that if they had to bear the costs of replacing their point of sale hardware to support EMV, they should have the option to use PIN authentication to protect against a wider range of fraud. EMV protects against card counterfeiting, but merchants note that a lost or stolen EMV card could still be used with a fraudulent signature.

Although the U.S. card brands agreed on their timeline for EMV migration, they are not all aligned on the merits of signature authentication. Discover CEO David Nelms recently said the industry "may be missing an opportunity" by not going with the higher level of security that PIN authentication provides.

In the meantime, the transition to EMV has had some drawbacks of its own. Merchants are facing a rise in chargebacks that they argue is not entirely related to counterfeit card fraud. And consumers complain of longer transaction times when using EMV cards; Visa and MasterCard plan to address this concern with a software update.

There has been no doubt over the past few years about where the various debit networks have aligned themselves in regard to EMV debit card routing, particularly under the Durbin amendment's call for providing merchants a choice of two or more networks so as to potentially have a less expensive option available.

In the meantime, the independent debit networks have continued to work to provide more application identifiers (AID) for routing EMV transactions to go along with what issuers normally have on their debit cards now  the agreed-upon common AID as well as the AID for the network brand on the card.

Thus, any request or requirement from a card brand to bypass PIN for signature authentication seems to eliminate many of the options that have been painstakingly put in place.

It's possible Walmart may not be entirely interested in fraud or a short-term desire for less expensive routing options with its latest salvo against Visa, said Richard Crone, chief executive of San Carlos, Calif.-based payments consulting firm Crone Consulting LLC.

"Walmart wants a PIN option on all transactions because it sets the stage for multi-factor authentication with mobile wallets, particularly Walmart Pay, in the future," Crone said. "It would be hard for the networks to maintain a card-not-present rate on a mobile payment that has layers of authentication and a payment token."

Walmart announced the Walmart Pay mobile app this year as a key part of its digital technology strategy, while also sending a signal that it wasn't going to wait on retailer-driven Merchant Customer Exchange, of which it remains a member, to deliver its customer-facing mobile wallet. Part of MCX's original mission was to design a mobile wallet that allows retailers to retain control of transaction data.

Whether Walmart's lawsuits against Visa will give it the freedom it desires remains to be seen, Crone said. The retailer might be better served in focusing on developing its mobile wallet and other consumer-facing technology as a way to apply competitive pressure to Visa and MasterCard, he added.

Jeremy Gumbley, chief technology and security officer for Creditcall, says that Visa wants to provide customer choice between signature and PIN during the EMV migration, but also empathizes with retailers wanting a return on their EMV investment.

"For a retailer the size of Walmart, this could cost it dearly, and all the while its consumers receive only part of the protection EMV can offer," Gumbley said in an email. "Not exactly a win-win for either party."
Guaranty Federal Bancshares in Springfield, Mo., has elected James Batten, a director of the company since 2006, as its next chairman.

The $652 million-asset holding company for Guaranty Bank said Batten will become chairman May 25, when the current chairman, Don Gibson, will step down, having reached the company's mandatory retirement age of 72. Gibson has been Guaranty's chairman since 2005 and a director since 2002.

Batten, a CPA, founded his own consulting firm in 2014. Before that he led operations at Convoy of Hope, a faith-based outreach organization, and before joining Convoy of Hope he headed operations at the faith-based AG Financial Solutions. He also led finance and accounting at O'Reilly Auto Parts, which he took public in 1993.

Batten's "accounting expertise, public company background, and community involvement make him an ideal leader for the board," Guaranty Federal said in a news release Wednesday.

Guaranty also announced Wednesday that it had elected John Griesemer vice chairman of the company and bank. Griesemer, a director of the company since 2008, is executive vice president, chief operations officer and a member of the board at Springfield Underground, a privately held construction materials suppliers and real estate developer.


Should he stay, or should he go?

That's the question being raised by a shareholder about William Wagner, the chairman and chief executive of Chicopee Bancorp in Massachusetts, which agreed in April to sell itself to in-state rival Westfield Financial for $110 million in stock.

Wagner will receive $350,000 annually as chief business development officer at Western New England Bancorp, a rebranded company that would be formed from the merger. The issue for some investors is a $1.3 million payment Wagner would receive in connection with a change-of-control agreement he has with the $800 million-asset Chicopee.

"Change-of-control contracts are designed to provide a payment to executives in exchange for giving up their jobs and providing material cost savings to the buyer," Terry Maltese, president and CEO of Maltese Capital Management, wrote in an April 28 letter to Wagner obtained by American Banker. "Their purpose should not be to offer a financial windfall to executives who keep their jobs."

Maltese, whose fund owns about 4.5% of Chicopee's stock, did not single out Wagner by name, but referred to unnamed "senior executives" at the company who are to receive such buyout payments. Maltese pressed Chicopee executives to give up their change-of-control payments so the $1.4 billion-asset Westfield could pay more to shareholders.

Maltese, who also wants the deal restructured to include an even split of cash and stock, pressed Wagner to consider accepting new bids from other banks.

The issue shows that investors are paying more attention than ever to the details of merger agreements, and they are willing to second-guess practices that have been commonplace in the past.

Wagner, for his part, said he is limited on what he can say about the payments since the companies have yet to file their proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "I've spent my whole life being totally candid with people, and it is awkward to talk about an issue when I can't tell them what I really know," he said.

"I understand the sentiment" of investors upset about the change-of-control payment, Wagner said. The new position "is not the job I have," he said, adding that the matter would be addressed in the proxy.

Efforts to reach other key players, including James Hagan, Westfield's president and CEO, and Johnny Guerry, managing partner at Clover Partners, which owns nearly 10% of Chicopee's stock, were unsuccessful.

Still, some industry experts brushed off the notion that the payment to Wagner is inappropriate.

"Nothing sticks out here in the terms" as suspicious, said David Baris, a partner at the law firm BuckleySandler and president of the American Association of Bank Directors, who read the change-in-control agreements and related documents. "Often there isn't one right or wrong call when negotiating a deal's terms."

Typically there are two triggers for a change-of-control payment, said Martin Nussbaum, a partner at the law firm Dechert. First, there must be a change of control such as a company's sale, followed by the executive losing his or her job or taking a new post with "substantial diminution in salary or responsibility," he said.

Larry Seidman, an activist investor in New Jersey who owns about 1% of Chicopee's stock, said he believes bankers should give up their change-of-control payment if they keep their jobs. Seidman, however, said he has no problem with Wagner's payment since he is taking a different job that pays considerably less.

Wagner, for instance, faces a 20% pay cut, based on regulatory filings.

"In banking today, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate," said Rod Taylor, president of Taylor & Co., an executive search firm in Atlanta. "And sometimes what you negotiate is what you deserve."

Change-of-control agreements are "a de facto incentive for the CEO to get a good deal for the bank," Taylor said, adding that it makes sense to have executives stay at acquirers if they can retain or bring in new business.

Therein lies another issue for Maltese, who claimed in his letter that the Westfield deal has done nothing to improve value for Chicopee's shareholders.

Westfield's stock is off by about 10% since the deal was announced on April 4. Maltese argued in his letter that the weakened stock and the lack of a cash cushion have been bad for investors.

Paying half the sale price in cash would make the deal less dilutive to Westfield's tangible book value and shorten its nearly five-year earn-back period, which in turn would help the buyer's sagging stock price, the letter said.

Seidman said he agreed with Maltese on that point. "Having the deal structured 50-50, with cash and stock, makes sense," he said.

Maltese, in a follow-up interview, said the drawbacks of an all-stock deal and the change-of-control payments were more than he could stomach. "Each of those things is pretty bad, but together they are really bad," he said.

Wagner defended the all-stock deal, while asserting that Chicopee's board is committed to the deal's original terms. "It is very common to have an all-stock deal in a strategic merger, which this is," he said.

"While we recognize Maltese's concerns, given the drop in the stock price, we don't know what the price will be when the deal closes," Wagner added. "We remain very enthusiastic and many shareholders like the deal. There are important decisions that need to be made when you structure a strategic merger, and we haven't done anything outside the box."

It is unclear whether Maltese, or any other investors, will actively oppose the merger. Maltese, Seidman and Clover collectively own about 14% of Chicopee's stock, based on regulatory filings. Company insiders, in comparison, hold about 12% of the stock, according to a 2015 proxy statement.

Seidman, for his part, said he wanted more information before discussing any future moves.

It is also unclear what Maltese might do next, though he did urge Wagner to share his letter with the rest of Chicopee's board.

"We do not object to a sale transaction, but we believe this transaction was structured poorly," he wrote.


Well, the calls to end "bank-on-bank violence" don't appear to be going well.

In an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box" Wednesday, JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon had tough words  and a petty insult  for Camden Fine, head of the Independent Community Bankers of America.

Dimon was asked on air about an op-ed he wrote last month for The Wall Street Journal, in which he argued that all members of the banking industry should work together as friends, not enemies. Community banks "depend on large banks" to provide them a range of services from investments to international payments, he wrote in the op-ed.

Fine took aim at the op-ed shortly after it was published. "Just because Jamie Dimon says 'let's sing kumbaya' doesn't mean community banks are going to line up like a Greek chorus," he said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

Dimon's response?

"I think the guy who wrote that is a jerk, OK?" he said on CNBC.

The nationally televised interview laid bare the ongoing tensions between large and small banks, despite the ongoing calls to put an end to industry infighting.

The American Bankers Association in particular has made an effort over the past year to end what ABA CEO Rob Nichols described as "bank-on-bank violence."

"We'll have more influence and clout working together rather than being segmented," Nichols said in an interview last fall with American Banker.

Dimon hasn't always practiced the restraint that he has recently preached. Defending JPMorgan's size and scope, Dimon described small banks as "risky" in his shareholder letter last year, noting that many of them failed during the financial crisis.

What's curious about Wednesday's exchange is that both Dimon and Fine took digs at each other, while at the same time calling for an end to the intraindustry bickering.

During the interview, Dimon noted that the $2.4 trillion-asset JPMorgan provides banking services to more than 800 regional banks. He also described the relationship between big and small banks as "symbiotic."

The ICBA, to say the least, disagreed.

In a press release this afternoon, Fine took aim at Dimon, saying that megabanks have failed to take responsibility for the financial crisis.

He also said that JPMorgan has a competitive advantage over small banks because it has a guaranteed backstop of "emergency infusions of taxpayer funding."

And, as a finishing touch, Fine described the calls to end "bank-on-bank violence" as "the new mantra of the 'too big to fail' banks and their hired-gun trade representatives."

So much for kumbaya indeed.


Doodle means to scribble absentmindedly. But Google Doodles are intentional iconography that attempt to redraw Americas great history. They elevate peripheral figures to iconic status and relegate religious holidays to amorphous greetings.

Google (now under the Alphabet umbrella) leverages its ubiquitous platform to doodle about holidays, anniversaries and famous people. Since about 26% of us are unsure from whom we got our independence; many believe that Karl Marx helped author the Constitution, and untold others cannot name our 3 major branches of government, they could provide a useful civic service.

Instead, the insular techies are enmeshed in Silicon Valleys progressive orthodoxy, choosing to superimpose todays mores on yesteryear while ignoring many heroic figures and religious holidays that weave together the grand tapestry of American history. Contrary to their claims, Google Doodles more often celebrate obscure anniversaries and niche figures, retroactively applying modern leftist sensibilities tainted by sexism, multiculturalism, secularism, environmentalism and racialism. Lets take a look.

Sexism:

On March 16, 2016, Google celebrated the 266th birthday of astronomer Caroline Herschel. By all accounts she was diligent, but her brother, Sir William Herschel, was more consequential in the field. Indeed, Encyclopedia Britannica describes Caroline as his faithful assistant. Even though William worked tirelessly to develop a natural history of the heavens, you wont find a Google Doodle of him.

Amelia Earhart (who failed spectacularly) was celebrated by Google on July 24, 2012, but in the Google Doodle archives its Charles Lindberg who has gone missing. I hate that he was sympathetic to the Nazis, but Google can be controversial and I suspect his omission has more to do with the sexist culture amongst the Google Doodlers whose communications officer is a Krisztina Radosavljevic-Szilagyi, whose online social profile ominously proclaims that shes a social action protagonist.

Multiculturalism:

On February 22, 2016, Google doodled the 161 year anniversary of a Serbian women doctor whose name has syllables reminiscent of Krisztinas: Draginja Ljocic Milosevic  at least its not hyphenated. Draginja was also a womens rights protagonist, but surely the American Susan B. Anthony is more deserving. If Google were intent on providing a public service faithful to our history, theyd spotlight Anthony with a doodle since a majority of Americans cant identify her as a founder of the Womens Rights movement.

Google says their Doodles celebrate famous people, so its incongruous that they would dredge up an unknown Serbian doctor -- who never even invented any vaccines -- as a poster girl for womens rights. The obvious answer  that it appeared only on Webpages in Serbia  is untrue.

Google also claims to celebrate holidays with its Doodles. Holy Moly, what are they putting in their holiday eggnog? Even though Christmas has been a federal holiday since 1870, were always greeted with a generic Happy Holidays. Their doodling started in 1998  thats 19 years of avoiding Merry Christmas.

Secularism:

In a nod to multiculturalism, Im sure the clever artists at Google/Alphabet could contrive to combine Christian and Jewish traditions. Even many of the Jewish faith appreciate the glorious Nativity scene, and are content to see it beside the menorah in public. Yet youll find neither in the Google Doodle archives.

Infamously, Google chose Cesar Chavez on Easter Sunday in 2013. There was an outcry, and Googles defenders responded that there was an Easter portrayal back in 2000. Once! If once is enough for this glorious holiday, why do they resurrect Womens Days, including the last 6 consecutive years? I think I smell social action Krisztina again.

Environmentalism:

If one doodle is enough to celebrate Easter Day, why do they foist upon us a bunch of Earth Days ? Take your pick from this list for any number of suitable substitutes to clean up Googles smog.

Of course we all want our environment to remain as pristine as possible, but 16 Earth Day celebrations during the 19 year history of Google Doodles is pollution. Unsurprisingly, Google is onboard the man-made Climate change bandwagon; indeed, the whithouse.gov press office reveals that Google is Providing Vast Cloud Computing Resources to Spur Creation of High-Resolution Drought and Flood Mapping, Apps, and Tools for Climate Risk Resilience

We all agree that while promoting economic development and creating good paying jobs that we must also protect our pale blue dot that hovers majestically in the vast void of space. But 16 Earth Day Doogles? That hardly reflects their mandate of being fun, surprising and sometimes spontaneous; rather, it bespeaks their political agenda, reinforced by their contributions.

Racialism:

Not many would begrudge MLK his Google Doodle. Actually, he has 12, which is far more than for all the U.S. Presidents combined. I couldnt actually find many Google Doodles celebrating Presidents Day, but I dont want to definitively accuse them of gross negligence in case their search engine algorithms are absentminded.

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman: lets be magnanimous and concede they both deserve a Google Doodle. But Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation and is generally considered one of our greatest presidents, is omitted. Riddle me this, riddle me thatits just confounding.

There are many examples, but heres another bizarre choice that wreaks of both racialism and multiculturalism. On April 15, 2016, Googles Doodle highlighted Samuan Samadikuns 85th birthday. Apparently hes a bright scientific mind from Indonesia who specialized in electrical engineering. But brighter or more influential than the plethora of great American electrical engineers, including Charles F. Kettering who holds 186 patents? Sorry, Charles, even though you gave so much back through your eponymous Kettering Foundation, you just sound too American to be recognized by Google.

Dont know much about history:

Im not sure whether Google should be intermixing business with iconography, but they like Earth Day so much they could at least remind us about the people and events that made America the last best hope of earth. We need it, since about 1/3rd of us would fail a naturalization test.

Googles Doodles arent absentminded; they arent even spontaneous fun. They dont celebrate our religious holidays with relish nor emphasize our American luminaries. They are deliberate, agenda-driven, social action propaganda that apologizes for American greatness. As Google parent Alphabet has surpassed Apple as the worlds most valuable company, the old question does Google hate America? deserves a huge doodle
Call me an idiot, call me whatever, but never call me a traitor. I will not let that claim go unanswered. Here's something about me none of you knows.

After visiting friends in New Jersey, I boarded a plane early on a September morning, not knowing that my life would be forever changed by what would happen that day. I slept for most of the flight but was awakened first by the plane's sudden movements. Banking hard to the right, then again, banking hard to the right. The captain came over the intercom, saying we were going to be grounded in Kansas City. A woman on the flight called her husband to tell him she was going to be late. He informed her that two planes out of Boston had been hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center. My stomach lurched as she relayed the information to us. The world was about to change forever.

I deplaned to witness the second tower collapse, the dust and debris enveloping the lower half of Manhattan. Strangers updated us as we walked through the concourse. The Pentagon had been hit by a plane. Another plane had crash-landed in western Pennsylvania.

It turns out that United 93 took off from the same airport my plane took off from: Newark, N.J. Some kind people took me in and let me spend the night in their home. I watched updates and President Bush's speech from the Oval Office.

The next day, while riding a Greyhound home to Utah, I felt a rush of fear I'd never felt before. That fear soon turned to anger. I hated feeling out of control. I wanted to fight back. It was then I decided to join the Army.

I arrived home the night of September 13. I went to take the ASVAB the next day. I formally joined the Army a week later, deciding to serve in the active Army instead of the National Guard.

The Army oath of enlistment states: "I, Layne Hansen, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Nowhere in that oath does it say I will swear allegiance to a man. Personally, I have always lived by this oath. I have been and will always be loyal to my country. I will pledge allegiance to the flag and the country it represents, but I will never pledge allegiance to a man, especially one as detestable as Donald Trump  a man who has already begun to lurch to the left, which is what we said he would do.

This has nothing to do with loyalty to the GOP, either. I left the party years ago. However, I have never given up my classical liberal views of politics. I would love to see the GOP gain a strong ideology, as I wrote on this site not long ago. A year and a half ago I called for John Boehner's removal as House speaker.

I am not holding my breath. I agree that the party needed a kick in rear to help it see that it needs a foundation of principles, but nominating the likes of Donald Trump is the worst of a lot of bad options.

Trump is already lurching to the left, and there is no telling where he'll end up on any given position. I have little doubt that his "wall" proposal (which is not his idea, but something he's made his followers believe) will be "negotiable" and will soon be off his platform altogether.

These are all moot points, because Trump has very little chance of actually winning. If you thought the liberal media was in the tank for Obama in 2008 and 2012, you're in for a rude awakening.

The irony is, the liberal media has an ally in Trump. However, they cannot stand him and will do everything they can to make sure he is defeated. Large swaths of the conservative media are also against him, which will make it impossible for him to rally the Republican base  something you need to nearly maximize to have a chance to win.

I return to Trump's followers, deliberately using this word instead of supporters. Their allegiance to the man is unbreakable, no matter how far he goes to the left in the coming months. We #NeverTrump people have been trying to tell you for months that this guy is a con man, a snake oil salesman, a shyster. You haven't listened, and now look at where we are. We have the worst nominee in the Republican Party's history, and that's saying something!

My goal from now until November will be to elect a conservative, even if only moderately so. I'm constantly told by members of the Trump cult that I should take a gamble. I will not do so. Call me a traitor if you want, but I am a traitor only to your dear leader. I have never been, and will never be, a traitor to my country.

Layne Hansen is a Ph.D. student in American politics. He can be reached for comment at layne.d.hansen@gmail.com.
For such proud proponents of smart diplomacy, President Obama and his administration sure make a habit of antagonizing foreign nations and/or their leaders through needless and often petty insults.

In President Obamas recent interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, the President labeled the European and Gulf nations free riders when it came to providing troops for UN or NATO interventions, and blamed the prime minister of the United Kingdom and the former president of France for the mess that is Libya, post-Qaddafi. He also criticized Saudi Arabia for its funding of radical Islam throughout the world -- though I suspect he did not use the term radical Islam -- specifically citing its misogyny towards women and its poor human record.

President Obama is, in my view, correct in some of these criticisms (especially when it comes the Saudis). However, I do question his willingness to make them public.

A U.S. president should always think carefully before he (or she) criticizes another world leader or foreign nation. A president has enormous power and respect throughout the world. His public criticisms should be made only when he wishes to put public pressure on his target and achieve some goal. He should avoid antagonizing others in a personal manner. He should shun petty and juvenile insults, which lower the prestige of the president and his office. Most importantly, he should always keep in mind that his criticisms could actually provoke these nations into taking actions in opposition to the interests of the U.S.

If President Obama is now going, hat in hand, to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to do damage control, that leads me to believe that the president was not careful enough with his words during his interview with Goldberg. This is not smart diplomacy.

Actually, it is an example of foolish diplomacy by insult. Here is another example -- during a press conference, Obama said of Russian President Putin, hes got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom. He also claimed that part of Putins shtick is to try to look like a tough guy. These childish insults, the New York Times reported, did indeed antagonize Putin. Following this name-calling, and possibly in response to it, Putin persisted with his tough guy routine, by seizing the Crimea from the Ukraine and intervening in the Syrian civil war. None of these Russian actions were positive from the perspective of the U.S. In Syria, the Russians have solidified the brutal Assad regime by devastating the non-ISIS Syrian rebels, some of whom have been funded by the U.S.

Was there any legitimate purpose to these Presidential digs on Putin? If so, what was it?

Unfortunately, President Obama is not the only figure in his administration to employ such foolish diplomacy. In 2014  once again, in the pages of the Atlantic  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was derided as chicken shit, aspbergery, and a coward by unnamed administration officials regarding the issues of Irans nuclear threat and the Middle East peace process. Considering that the U.S. was then in discussions with the Iranian regime on the way to produce its appeasement/nuclear deal, and that the administration has long sought to preside over an Israeli-Palestinian peace process to create yet another Palestinian state in the region, these insults strike me as extremely counterproductive. Further, one would expect that the administration might be concerned that insulting the Israeli PM with such personal and juvenile terms might also negatively impact the administrations relationship with Israel on other, less controversial, policies that it wants to implement.

Smart diplomacy argues the opposite approach  the more U.S. actions and policies that are going to be opposed by the Netanyahu government, the more the Obama Administration should praise Netanyahu. As they say, you can catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. But, nonetheless, the administration publicized these juvenile insults, seemingly just to antagonize the prime minister.

Of course, no list of foolish diplomacy would be complete without a statement from Secretary of State John Kerry. In 2014, Kerry stated that if theres no two (actually three)-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict soon, Israel risks becoming an apartheid state. Technically, this meeting was closed door, i.e., not open to the public. However, considering that it was told to a meeting of the Trilateral Commission of private sector leaders from North America, Europe and Asia, it is hard to believe that Kerry didnt realize (or should have realized) that the slight would get out. Since Israel obviously does not follow apartheid policies, and would be unlikely to do so in the future, both of which are facts that Kerry should recognize, this is a gratuitous and grave insult to the Jewish state, its government, and its citizens.

Once again, smart diplomacy would counsel that the secretary not insult Israel and the Israelis, but instead praise them.

After seven long years in office, President Obama and his administration have left the Middle East in chaos with their policies. Some critics have argued that they have done so by evil design. I find this hard to believe. Their foolish diplomacy suggests otherwise.

Adam Turner serves as general counsel to the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET). He is a former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee where he focused on national security.
In the 1970s, I opened my heart to an understanding of the Holocaust. I traveled around Poland in 1975, taking various conveyances or simply walking toward the darkness, some places marked in remembrance and most hoping to be forgotten. I stood before the ovens at Auschwitz. I encountered a drunken man who squired me through the Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw. It was an awful bog of forsaken headstones slumping helplessly upon each other.

Neither history student nor tourist, mine was not a carefully planned trip. The people I encountered living under communist tyranny stared at the way I was dressed  not because it was immodest, but because it was different. The closest I got to Treblinka was a dank roadhouse. When I tried to communicate the purpose of my travels, nobody would speak to me or even look at me.

Now I will describe the shards of a nightmare, but it really happened. I have never written this, and almost never spoken of it in 40 years.

I was walking down a main street in Warsaw. The area was where the Jewish ghetto had been. There was a Soviet-style apartment house, a gray people-storage box of a building. Next to it an area was being excavated, I assumed for construction. Perhaps I paused there because it was a bit of open space and there were children playing. As I sat there, I noticed a bone. I mindlessly picked it up  there were some dogs in the area who I assumed had buried it. Then I noticed another and another. Soon my lap was full of human bones, and I was holding a small jawbone in my hand. I did not know what to do.

I felt so guilty  surely I should tell someone about this, contact some Jewish organization. But I was afraid. I had a brush with authority on a previous trip to the Soviet Union when I slipped away from the tour guide. Though it was permissible to travel alone in Poland, I was still afraid. I was a 23-year-old girl, in a communist country, traveling haltingly as if blindfolded. I couldn't operate their phones. I dug through the area around me and collected the bones, scooped out a resting place for the interment, drew a Jewish Star in the earth, and prayed over the grave. As I stayed there, my surroundings withdrew, and I saw the souls as in a Chagall painting. Floating, bright, they spoke to me in a warm, Jewish way, as if to say, "What's to worry? We are fine, we are free."

Clear-eyed and undeluded, I support Donald Trump. I do not look to him to save America. The federal government is the problem, not the solution, and I fear that the America Trump hopes to restore is gone. I think that the affluence and technologies that obviated this Republic should now be used to create an intra-national economic secession and social apartheid to reconstitute a new nation under God. And every day I am abused and insulted in the most ferocious language for supporting Trump. It is being likened to a Nazi, to the monsters who starved and murdered the people whose bones I held, that prompts this psychoanalysis.

Pondering the voices calling Trump and his supporters Nazis, I noticed they are mainly right-wing and male. Glenn Beck called me "[b]eyond anything I have seen ... Trump supporters are rude, vile and nasty." He ranted that Trump is "grooming brownshirts." Charles Koch characterized Trump's statements on restricting Muslim immigration and focusing on the Muslim community for information on terrorism "[w]hat Nazi Germany would do."

Nazi-calling, especially by right-wing wealthy men, may reflect an unconscious psychodynamic. Trump epitomizes the Jungian warrior archetype to a degree unseen in politics in this author's lifetime. The warrior archetype unconsciously threatens and humiliates effete masculine psychology, in which animus or masculine energy has been systematically and relentlessly crushed in American males for 60 years. Nazism itself is an extreme hatred arising from unconscious projected weakness. The Trump-Nazi construct parallels that psychology. The reluctance to risk their own lives and the denigration of the real working warriors, of police and military, is a defense mechanism to protect against "wimp-shame."

For 60 years, warrior instinctualism has been celebrated in females and destroyed in males. This unnatural and humiliating psychology causes unconscious wimp-shame. Trump's extreme warrior archetypy inflames it.

Jung theorized two levels of the unconscious mind: the personal unconscious, which is the grist of individual psychotherapy, and the deeper instinctual unconscious of universal archetypy. Archetypy lives in the psyche and is also universally recognizable in the external world. Jung called archetypy in the world psychoid archetypy. Trump's overpowering warrior psychoid archetypy evokes unconscious shame in people who have lost confidence in themselves and lost the will to fight for America.

The masculine warrior in his fullness is the model of disciplined aggression. He is fighting for a cause, not for himself. Every day is do or die. He is vigorous and energetic, and the discipline of his aggression frees him from fear of enemies. His is loyal because he knows he cannot win without the loyalty of comrades. The warrior is emotionally detached, a pattern rejected in this world of the new sensitive male. The warrior does not hate the enemies of his cause  in fact, he respects and even loves them as worthy adversaries. Whether the warrior is noble or ignoble depends on whether the cause he is fighting for is just.

The ingratitude of the left inoculates them against wimp-shame. They are proud to let somebody else fight and die for them while devaluing the police and military who do so. In that sense, they are shame-less. It is the wealthy, effete right wing that is most threatened by Trump's aggression  and psychologically powerless to say no to Obama's illegal diktats.

Trump is not a Nazi; he is a throwback. He resembles a late 1950s Democrat  if John Kennedy had not been taken in death but placed in a spaceship for 53 years and, upon returning to America, was informed that millions of mostly poor and ill-educated people were invading America, demanding welfare, and taking the jobs of Americans. And by the way, the national debt is $20 trillion with a bullet. What would Kennedy do? He would fight for the USA as Trump is promising to do.

I feel exactly opposite to the Nazi-callers of the right and the left. What I like most about Donald Trump is his warrior archetypy. His insults are delicious, and nutritious for America, too! It is positively joyful to hear him make a mockery out of soul-killing political correctness. His example of coming out swinging every day is a tonic, and I believe that it will energize us for what lies ahead.

It would take another civil war to restore the United States, and that is not going to happen. The divisions are not primarily economic or geographical; they are spiritual and moral, which are addressed poorly through war. We are on the verge of a radical redefinition of nationalism into sub-national values and viewpoint communities, which is why I am proposing the JCUA. The heart of the righteous American warrior, the useful and grateful American, is healthy. As we reconstitute ourselves under God, in the name of the Jews who died in the Warsaw ghetto and whose bones I held, bandying the term Nazi against patriotic Americans must stop.
Many people seem to misinterpret the #NeverTrump movement as one dedicated to denying Donald Trump the GOP nomination and, by extension, the presidency. In fact, #NeverTrump is not a movement at all, but simply a commitment by its adherents, including this writer, not to vote for Donald Trump, ever, under any circumstances.

Ronald Reagan made this writer a Republican. Donald Trump, if he is nominated, will make him an independent.

Sad!

No matter how many times #NeverTrumpers explain why they cannot, will not vote for Trump, his supporters can't, or won't, get it. Nevertheless, here again, courtesy of Kevin Williams of The National Review, which publication Trump's supporters apparently have chosen as the object of their daily Two Minutes of Hate against #NeverTrump, is why #NeverTrumpers will not vote for Trump (emphases added):

It is not that Trump is less mentally stable than Mrs. Clinton (probably true)[,] ... more dishonest ... (difficult to say)[,] ... might do even more damage to the republic, or any other point of comparison between the candidates. The issue, instead, is this: Donald Trump is unfit for the office. He is unfit for any office, morally and intellectually. A man who could suggest ... that his opponent's father had something to do with the assassination of President Kennedy is unfit for any position of public responsibility. His long litany of lies  which include fabrications about everything from his wealth to self-funding his campaign  is disqualifying. His low character is disqualifying. His personal history is disqualifying. His complete, utter, total, and lifelong lack of honor is disqualifying. His time on Jeffrey Epstein's Pedophile Island, after which he boasted about sharing a taste with Epstein for women "on the younger side," is disqualifying. The fact that he knows less about our constitutional order than does a not-especially-bright Rappahannock River oyster is disqualifying. ... [T]he problem with Trump isn't that he is less fit to serve in comparison to Mrs. Clinton, but that he is unfit to serve, period.

Extensive  and accurate  as Williamson's list is, it is incomplete. Left off is Trump's statement that he would order U.S. soldiers to target terrorists' families.

The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families," Trump said on Fox News earlier this month. "They care about their lives, don't kid yourself. When they say they don't care about their lives, you have to take out their families.

Trump's opponents and critics  and, one would hope, his own supporters  pushed back that Trump, in his profound ignorance and amorality, was pledging to order his U.S. soldiers to adopt the savage sensibilities of the terrorists themselves by deliberately targeting civilians  old men, women, and children.

They said such an action would be a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention specifically and, in any case, immoral. They were right.

They said that if a President Trump ever were to give such an order, no American soldier would obey it.

They were wrong.

The writer does not know what history of the Vietnam War is taught in schools these days; however, he is old enough to have followed the contemporary reporting about this man

 and what he and the soldiers under his command did:

The My Lai Massacre ... was the Vietnam War mass killing of between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968. It was committed by U.S. Army soldiers from the Company C of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. Victims included men, women, children, and infants. Some of the women were gang-raped and their bodies mutilated. Twenty-six soldiers were charged with criminal offenses, but only Lieutenant William Calley Jr., a platoon leader in C Company, was convicted. Found guilty of killing 22 villagers[.]

Anyone reading beyond this point can be forgiven for crying:

The villagers, who were getting ready for a market day, at first did not panic or run away, and they were herded into the hamlet's commons. Harry Stanley, a machine gunner from the Charlie Company, said [that] [h]e first observed a member of the 1st Platoon strike a Vietnamese man with a bayonet. Then, the same trooper pushed another villager into a well and threw a grenade in the well. Further, he saw fifteen or twenty people, mainly women and children, kneeling around a temple with burning incense. They were praying and crying. They were all killed by shots in the head.

The list of atrocities goes on. And on. The writer really has no desire to quote  or read  more. But this is the essential part:

A large group of approximately 70-80 villagers was rounded up ... and then led to an irrigation ditch to the east of the settlement. All detainees were pushed into the ditch and then killed after repeated orders issued by Lieutenant Calley, who was also shooting.

Is the writer saying that the U.S. military is an organization of mass murdering monsters? Of course not. He is saying that in a 1.3-million-member military, there are many, perhaps a great many, soldiers who absolutely would obey an order to kill innocent, non-combatant men, women, and children  soldiers who may indeed be decent, honest, moral people in ordinary circumstances. But warfare is not an ordinary circumstance, nor is the military, where peer pressure, esprit de corps, and the instinct to conform and obey orders are strong, an ordinary organization.

There are men, women, and children living today who should thank God that Donald Trump said what he said on a debate stage, as a presidential candidate, and not from the Oval Office, as commander in chief. For what might a soldier willing to gun down women and children on the order of a lieutenant be willing to do on an order from the president of the United States?

The only way to prevent another My Lai is to commission only officers and elect only presidents who would never consider giving such an order.

Whatever her failings, this writer does not believe that Hillary Clinton, in her worst moments, would ever give an order such as the one Lieutenant Calley gave at My Lai.

But Donald Trump would. He said so. How many innocent lives are you willing to bet that he didn't mean it?

This writer is with Kevin Williamson. Donald Trump, intellectually and morally, but especially morally, is not fit to be president and commander and chief  or, for that matter to hold any office requiring moral judgment. Therefore, on November 8, if, as seems probable, Hillary Clinton holds a significant lead over Donald Trump, the writer will write in Ted Cruz or vote for a third party or independent candidate.

But if the election is close and there is no third-party or independent candidate sufficiently likely to garner sufficient electoral votes to throw the election into the House of Representatives  if the writer sees the slightest chance of a Trump victory  this conservative will vote for Hillary Clinton and not lose a minute's sleep for having so voted.

#NeverTrump.

Gene Schwimmer is a New York and New Jersey licensed real estate broker, author of The Christian State, and jolly good fellow at the Schwimmer Institute for Cogitation Advanced Applied Dilettantism. Impress your friends and get invited to all the best parties by following Gene Schwimmer on Twitter.
Mark Mezvinsky is lucky that his wife comes from a fabulously wealthy family. How else would the plucky young couple, soon to be parents of two children, afford the luxury ten million dollar apartment in a fashionable section of Manhattan? Certainly not through his financial genius. The New York Times reports:

It was a hedge fund portfolio pitched by Hillary Clintons son-in-law, Marc Mezvinsky, as an opportunity to bet on a Greek economic revival. Now, two years later, the Greece-focused fund is shutting down, after losing nearly 90 percent of its value, according to two investors with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Investors were told last month that the fund would close. The fund, Eaglevale Hellenic Opportunity, had raised $25 million from investors to buy Greek bank stocks and government debt.

The kid was betting on a bankrupt welfare states ability to right its course, Hahahaha! He should blame his parents, both former Democrat members of Congress (and one  the father  an ex-con imprisoned for fraud). Nobody but a clueless liberal would bet serious money on a welfare state reforming itself. Yet somehow young Mezvinsky, was able to raise $25 mill. Of course, being such a scion, he had some help:

Eaglevale Partners, a Manhattan hedge fund firm founded by Mr. Mezvinsky and two former Goldman Sachs colleagues, raised money for the Hellenic fund at a time when some on Wall Street had hopes for a revival in the Greek economy. For a time, Mr. Mezvinsky appeared at hedge fund conferences promoting the Greece investment thesis.

I wonder if MM had his own money in the fund? If not, then he is out nothing (except reputation), and almost certainly made nice management fees for setting up sucyh a loser.

But hey, Democrats (and especially Clintons) are about no consequences for bad decisions.

At least Chelsea and her beau have comparable track records at work. Chelseas performance as a highly paid NC correspondent was so awful that the network did not renew her contract. And her job at high-powered McKinsey & Company didnt last very long, either. No wonder Mommy and Daddy want her to enter politics.
During a closed door meeting of the progressive caucus on Capitol Hill, former House member and Florida Senate candidate Alan Grayson burst into the room and confronted Minority Leader Harry Reid.

Reid had issued a statement last month disparging Grayson, all but calling him a crook for using his House seat to promote his hedge fund. This led to a confrontation unusual in political circles.

The Hill

"Shame on you. Its not true, Grayson said, according to sources in the room. It is true, and I want you to lose, Reid fired back. Graysons confrontational approach was derided by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the leader of the CPC. Why are you doing that? Ellison asked, according to sources in the room. This is so stupid. Another source said other CPC members shared Ellisons sentiments. All the members were appalled by Graysons behavior, the source said. It was embarrassing for him and embarrassing for us that he behaved that way. Grayson, a liberal firebrand, is embroiled in a primary battle against Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) for the swing seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who had vied for the White House before bowing out of the race in March. Reid has endorsed Murphy in the contest. Reids office issued a statement after the meeting confirming the confrontation, saying the Democratic leader was honored to address the CPC but that Grayson decided to be disruptive, to the embarrassment of his fellow colleagues. Senator Reid took the opportunity to express his low opinion of Congressman Grayson to his face and remind him that the reason Senator Reid has said that Grayson is under ethics investigation and appears to be running a Cayman Islands hedge fund from his Congressional office in order to line his own pockets is because these things are true, as established by seventy-four pages worth of evidence from the Congressional Ethics Committee, the statement said. Grayson  who has dismissed the ethics complaint as frivolous and politically motivated  defended his conduct at the meeting, saying his motive was very simple. I wanted to find out why Harry Reid lied about me a couple of months ago, when he smeared me. ... I wanted to try to get to the bottom of it, Grayson told reporters. What he said was profoundly untrue, and even allowing for the fact that I am the anti-establishment candidate.

Calling Grayson a "liberal firebrand" is inaccurate. He's a bomb throwing radical who famously said on the House floor during the Obamacare debate that the Republican health care plan was for old people to "die quickly." His bizarre behavior in and out of Congress has people questioning his mental health.

It isn't that Reid is upset at Grayson's money making schemes as much as he knows Grayson would lose in November to just about any Republican. As for the Democratic primary, Rep. Patrick Murphy holds a comfortable lead over Grayson in the Democratic primary so Reid may, indeed, get his wish.
The siren sounded at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11, calling Israelis to stand in silence and remember. This Remembrance Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, Yom HaZikaron, is a time when Jewish citizens mourn for their loved ones across the land.

One poignant ceremony took place at the open plaza in front of the Jewish Agency. Executive Chairman Natan Sharansky lit a torch for the 23,447 soldiers and more than 2,500 Israeli citizens who have lost their lives to war and terror.

One of those who spoke at the solemn ceremony was 16 year old Leah Nahari, part of a Yemenite family living in Israel. Leah lost her father, Moshe, who was murdered in a 2008 anti-Semitic attack in Yemen. Leah was only nine years old at the time. She shared her heart about what it was like to lose her father at such a young age.

My eight siblings and I were born and raised in the Jewish tradition in the city of Raydah in Yemen. My father was dedicated to his family and his community and taught us to treat others with kindness and to love the Torah. One bright day, he went out to shop for Shabbat and never returned. A stranger accosted my father and demanded that he convert to Islam and abandon his Jewish faith. My father refused.

At that point the man pulled out a gun and shot Leahs father several times. After her father was murdered, Leahs family received threats from the gunmans family. Hatred of Jews increased in Yemen.

Our family as I knew it no longer existed. Our lives were shattered and full of fear.

In 2009, Leah and three of her siblings fled to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Agency. In 2012, Leahs mother and other siblings immigrated to Israel to build a new life in the Jewish homeland. Leah is happy as her brother is getting married soon and the family has managed to adapt well to Israeli society, despite the loss of Moshe.

More than 200 Jews around the world have lost their lives to anti-Semitic attacks since Israels establishment in 1948. Laying a wreath in memory of the victims, Sharansky declared, The war on our right to be a free people in our land has no borders. We have been attacked in France, in Copenhagen, and in Argentina. Today, we return to the attack in the marketplace in Raydah, Yemen, in which the Jewish teacher Moshe Yaish Nahari was murdered because he refused to abandon his faith. His last words were, I will remain a Jew. Our enemies keep trying to destroy Jewish life and we continue to build it.

Sharansky spoke about how the Jewish Agency continues to assist Jews who want to start a new life in Israel. The last remnant of 19 Jews from Raydah immigrated to Israel this year, along with 30,000 other Jews from around the world.

This Remembrance Day in Israel is a necessary time out for Israeli society, where respect for those who have given their lives is part of the memories that most families share. In a small country like this one, every person knows someone who died in either a war or a terrorist attack. Yet, Israelis are some of the happiest and most content citizens in the world.

As the sun sets over the land, Jewish citizens prepare to dance in the streets and enjoy fireworks in celebration of Israels 68th birthday. While it is not easy, Israeli Jews manage to go from sadness to joy, remembering the words in Psalm 30:11: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.
It's not clear where the notion that Poland has an advantage over Russia in its military equipment, as implied in James A. Nollets Why Russia will Never attack Poland,comes from, but it is incorrect.

Regardless of how unlikely it is that Poland and Russia would engage in a purely one-on-one total war -- especially given Poland's membership in NATO and protection under Article 5 -- if they did, Poland would lose very decisively, and very quickly. The battle would go along the lines of how the first Gulf War went for the Americans, except this time it would be Russia defeating Poland.

For the hypothetical, we assume Russia attacks Poland, and nobody comes to Poland's defence nor any of Russia's allies assist it.

Russia has nuclear weapons. Poland does not. Consequently, if Russia so desired, it could achieve a victory without any shots by simply demanding the unconditional surrender of Poland under the threat of using Russian strategic nuclear weapons on Polish military and civilian targets. Russia could turn Poland into a glass parking lot without sending any of its forces across the border. Game over for Poland.

But let's assume Russia decides to just employ its conventional forces and fight it out against the Poles without its strategic nuclear arsenal. And we further assume that since Russia is only fighting Poland, and Poland is only fighting Russia, each military can focus all its resources against the opponent.

Russia's cyber forces are very large and arguably some of the most talented. They would start the war, shutting down much of Poland's commercial and military communication capacities and putting its industrial and infrastructure systems out of commission. Russia also turns off the natural gas supply into Poland and begins setting up a naval blockade in the Baltic and North Seas to prevent any supply ships making it to Polish ports.

On airpower alone, Russia could decisively beat Poland in short order. The Polish air force is a joke compared to Russia. In terms of combat aircraft, Poland only has 36 F-16Cs, 31 MiG-29s, and 32 Su-22s. Stack that up against almost 1400 Russian air force combat aircraft that includes 252 MiG-29/35, 135 MiG-31, 277 Su-24, 199 Su-25, 321 Su-27/30, 61 Su-34, 70 Tu-22M, 41 Tu-95, 13 Tu-160, and an active fifth generation Sukhoi PAK FA with 60 more on the way. If the Russian navy joined the air fight, which they certainly would, add in another 14 MiG-29/K, 22 Su-24, 4 Su-25, and 28 Su-30/33. As well, the Russians have the support aircraft and infrastructure to readily carry the air attack in a sustained fashion against a nearby state.

Poland's Su-22s won't last very long, and the MiG-29s -- despite upgrades -- will still be outclassed and greatly outnumbered by the highly advanced Russia counterparts. Even if the Su-22s and MiG-29s managed to take out a couple Russian fighters, that still leaves only a few dozen F-16Cs -- advanced though they are -- up against well over a thousand advanced Russian fighters that are, in many cases, arguably as capable or more capable than the Polish F-16s.

Russia quickly achieves full air superiority over Poland, even with Poland's modestly impressive air defense systems which the Russian military would immediate target and destroy via its massive assortment of highly advanced surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles and precision bombs, all with the options of either conventional or tactical nuclear warheads.

Having full air superiority, Russia's large bomber fleet now begins pounding Poland's land-based military targets and removes, in tandem with the Russian navy, what remains of the Polish navy. Without air dominance, Poland's naval targets become sitting ducks in the Baltic for Russia's air assets. Of course, Russia's air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles also join the fight early on against Poland's navy, with little resistance coming back towards the Russians.

Within a few weeks to a couple months, Russia has now destroyed the entire Polish air force and all naval assets, most -- if not nearly all -- land-based military hardware, and taken out almost all of Poland's industrial capacity.

At this point, Poland is as defenseless as it was after Germany overran it during WWII. Minimal remaining land-based military hardware, no air force or naval assets to employ, and no electricity or heat or water or sewage. Poland is on its knees, and may yield -- if it is smart -- in an unconditional surrender without an occupying force.

But if not, in comes the Russian army and its capacity to mass more than 1200 combat helicopters and hundreds of transport aircraft, along with upwards of 15,000+ tanks and on the order of 50,000 other ground-based fighting vehicles. Most of Poland's 200 or so combat helicopters would have already been destroyed by missiles and bombs after Russia achieved air superiority, but whatever few remained at this point would be easily dispatched by Russia's combined forces.

The 1000 tanks and couple thousand other ground-based fighting vehicles that Poland had before the war started were massively outnumbered and, in general, outclassed. At some point, quantity has a quality all its own, and Russia's ground forces were well past that point against the Poles before the shooting began. It is irrelevant, though, since most of Poland's ground forces were already destroyed during Russia's air superiority bombing phase.

Thus, Poland may now have some remaining advanced army equipment, but nothing sufficient to do anything other than make a Russian occupation bloodier for both sides -- especially the Polish civilian population that is now in extreme duress after many weeks of no electricity, heat, running water, or functional sewage systems.

Based on the resolve of residual Polish resistance, Russia would have to choose the path forward from this point of victory, but Poland has lost. Poland knows all this would come to pass, which is why it is ramping up military spending and asking for NATO troops and defense systems on its soil.
As we try and try to fall in love with Trump, we continue to be troubled by his past statements. It wasn't long that he did not call her "crooked Hillary." In fact, he was very fond of Mrs. Clinton:

During the heat of the 2008 campaign, Trump took to his own blog to praise Clinton, writing that shed make a great president. Hillary Clinton said shed consider naming Barack Obama as her vice-president when she gets the nomination, but shes nowhere near a shoo-in, wrote The Donald about the heated Democratic primary in 2008. For his part, Obama said hes just focused on winning the nomination, although at least one member of his team said Clinton would make a good vice-president. (I know Hillary and I think shed make a great president or vice-president.)

At another point, he went on to defend Mrs. Clinton's Iraq War vote. In other words, Mrs. Clinton was given bad information and that is why she voted for the war. Never mind what Mrs. Clinton said on the Senate floor that she looked at the evidence.

Or that President Clinton also bombed Iraq over WMDs in December 1998.

A few years ago, Mrs. Clinton was a victim. Today, he is blasting her judgment to vote for the war. What is it? It can't be both.

Yes, people change. This is not change. This is very cynical. This is why many of us have questions about Mr. Trump.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter
The belief that the GOP has given Obama "everything he wants" is demonstrably false.

Over at NRO, Charles C. W. Cooke lists the issues against which the GOP has stood as a block to Obama's agenda:

Had the GOP not been standing in the way -- both from 2008, when it was in the minority everywhere, and from 2010, when it regained the House -- the United States would look dramatically different than it does today. Without the GOP manning the barricades, Obamacare could well have been single payer, and, at the very least, the law would have included a public option. Without the GOP manning the barricades, wed have seen a carbon tax or cap-and-trade -- or both. Without the GOP manning the barricades, wed have got union card check, and possibly an amendment to Taft-Hartley that removed from the states their power to pass right to work exemptions. Without the GOP standing in the way, wed now have an assault weapons ban, magazine limits, background checks on all private sales, and a de facto national gun registry. And without the GOP standing in the way in the House, wed have got the very amnesty that the Trump people so fear

The House and Senate GOP also sent a bill to Obama defunding Planned Parenthood and repealing and replacing Obamacare. Predictably, Obama vetoed it.

But the GOP's beneficial standing in the way does not stop there.

Steny Hoyer is Democratic House Whip from Maryland. His staff put together a huge list of GOP actions that they call "obstruction" (I count 71 items on the list). It's more accurate to call it acting like winners. When the GOP's opponents claim the GOP stood in their way, then the GOP is doing something right. When Dems lose the House, they're the obstructionists. Please click on that link to read the victories.

So why is this important?

There is a widespread belief among conservatives of the more robust variety, spread typically by talk radio, that the GOP has caved to Obama, so we need to lurch farther to the right. That's why solid conservative Paul Ryan is foolishly being primaried (and Mitch McConnell was in 2014).

The truth, however, is clear. The GOP has done its job remarkably well, since Obama has the constitutional veto. It's time to stop the circular firing squad and the blame game and unify to defeat Hillary in the fall.

James Arlandsons website is Live as Free People, where he has posted Conservatism is not dead, What turbo conservatives believe, Ten reasons for not shutting down the government, and Reagans balanced and reasonable politics.
Donald Trump said in a radio interview that his proposal to temporarily ban Muslim travel to the US is just a "suggestion" until "we find out what's going on."

Does this sound like a mere "suggestion"? Or a statement of policy?

"Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on," a campaign press release said. Trump, who has previously called for surveillance against mosques and said he was open to establishing a database for all Muslims living in the U.S., made his latest controversial call in a news release. His message comes in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, by suspected ISIS sympathizers and the day after President Barack Obama asked the country not to "turn against one another" out of fear. Trump's comments are likely to roil the Republican presidential race, forcing many of his opponents for the nomination to engage in a debate over whether there should be a religious test to enter America. But his proposal was met with enthusiasm by many of his supporters, who showed their approval via social media as well as at his rally on Monday night. "I think that we should definitely disallow any Muslims from coming in. Any of them. The reason is simple: we can't identify what their attitude is," said 75-year-old Charlie Marzka of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Compare that statement of intent with what he told Fox News yesterday:

We have a serious problem. Its a temporary ban. It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on, Trump said. But Trump didnt mince words in linking Muslims to the proliferation of terrorism around the world. We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world. You can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world: If they want to deny it, they can deny it. I dont choose to deny it, he said. Trumps comments came one day after he claimed he would make an exception for Londons first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, to enter the U.S. There will always be exceptions, he told The New York Times on Tuesday, while adding he was happy Khan was elected in the city. Khan was not impressed with Trumps gesture, telling CNN that the Manhattan billionaire was ignorant about Islam and that he hoped he would lose the U.S. election. Later on Wednesday, Fox News' Greta Van Susteren also asked about Trump's immigration plans, including forming a commission to work on his proposed Muslim ban. Im looking at it very strongly with Rudy Giuliani heading it, Trump said. Ive spoken to him a little while ago. Were going to put together a group of five or six people. Very, very highly thought of people, and I think Rudy will head it up, and well look at the Muslim ban." I have a lot of confidence in Rudy Giuliani, Trump concluded.

How long before Trump walks this comment back and pretends that this is what he meant all along?

Trump has a nasty habit of forgetting his original positions on issues and claiming to have said something else entirely. He's going to increase taxes on the rich. The next day, he said he wouldn't. His position on abortion has taken so many forms that no one knows where he stands.

These aren't slight shadings of positions that most politicians do. These are full blown reversals of what he has said previously.

It makes you wonder whether Trump stands for anything at al.
Bob Woodward has let the cat out of the bag: the Washington Post is all in on finding dirt, or as he put it, doing articles about every phase of his life." In these days of shrinking newsrooms, such a major bloc of editorial resources assigned to the life of a very public man is extraordinary. Pardon my skepticism, but I am doubtful that the Post has a comparable investment in examining every phase of Hillary Clintons (or Bernie Sanderss) life.

Woodward dropped the bombshell in an address to the National Association of Realtors, for which he no doubt was well paid, though not in the $300,000 range commanded by Hillary Clinton.

Bob Woodward, as portrayed by Robert Redford

Paul Bedard reports in the Washington Examiner:

Woodward, who has interviewed Trump, said that he has begun looking into Trump's New York real estate deals. "The New York real estate world is more complex than the CIA," he said.

The papers attitudes toward Hillary Clinton?

He also said that the paper is trying to get to the "essence" of Hillary Rodham Clinton, but he dismissed suggestions that she used a personal email server to distribute classified information. "I don't think anyone feels that there was intent on her part to distribute classified information in a way that was illegal or jeopardized security," he assured the crowd.

This formulation is suspiciously close to the Hillary Party Line, emphasizing intent (no emails marked as classified) over negligence, and ignoring completely the question of motive in setting up a private, unsecured email server not subject to FOIA rewquests. Suspicion toward motive is well justified considering Hillarys initial story, that she wanted the convenience of using one device, has been shown to be fraudulent, since she regularly had more than one such email-capable machine in her possession.

Where is the legendary skepticism of the Watergate reporter?

Woodward did promise the Post will cover both candidates in depth:

He said that Bezos has urged the Post to run as many stories on Trump and the other candidates so that voters can't say they didn't know about the eventual president. "He said, 'Look the job at the Washington Post has to be tell us everything about who the eventual nominee will be in both parties, 15 part, 16 part series, 20 part series, we want to look at every part of their lives and we're never going get the whole story of course but we can get the best attainable," said the famed reporter.

Correction: I have been advised by Jennifer Lee, Manager, Communications of the Post, that the Examiner's contention here is inaccurate:

Jeff Bezos has had nothing to do with the decision publish a Trump book or the Trump reporting. Those decisions are made by our newsroom.

Hillary Clinton has enough scandals to occupy 40 reporters digging between now and November, starting with her remarkable cattle futures trading that netted her $100,000 when her husband was governor of Arkansas, and which, once that round figure was reached, was never again practiced, despite her demonstrably stellar skills at a highly risky investment field.
Two sets of documents, each related to one of the two presidential frontrunners, are being withheld from public scrutiny, yet only one set is making big headlines. Democrats and NeverTrumpers are demanding that Donald Trump release his income tax returns, even as he is under audit, and making huge amounts of news. Meanwhile, the National Archives is refusing to release at least 12 draft indictments of Hillary Clinton produced in the course of the Whitewater independent counsel investigation. and almost nobody outside the conservative blogosphere is noticing.

John Fund of the steadfastly anti-Trump National Review calls the Trump tax documents, which he has not seen, a ticking time bomb.

Some Trump delegates and their alternates should write him an open letter demanding his unredacted tax returns. If he declines, they should declare they will abstain on the first ballot of the convention, driving him below the number needed to nominate. The delegates should not give Republicans a time bomb that could help take down GOP control of the House or the Senate, or both.

Mitt Romney, who eventually released his own tax returns after first refusing to do so, called Trumps refusal disqualifying and speculated the tax returns contain a bombshell. I vividly remember the consequences of Romneys release of his tax returns. As with any wealthy individual, there are countless claims that can questioned and disputed. And Romney was raked over the coals for his.

That disputability of any complex tax return is, in fact, why Trump is being audited. Not necessarily because of a bombshell but because the tax code is so huge, self-contradictory, and subject to interpretation that anyones decisions can be disputed. Especially when the IRS is in the hands of Lois Lerners. It is perfectly understandable to me why Trump would not release his tax returns. It only would feed his enemies ammunition, regardless of how upright and legally justified his returns were. He is guilty of being rich and attempting to minimize his taxes. Thats enough to demagogue him.

Meanwhile, it is not Hillary Clinton herself who is stonewalling her embarrassing documents. She has the taxpayer funded National Archives doing her dirty work. Judicial Watch:

New details continue to emerge from Judicial Watchs Freedom of Information Act fight with the National Archives over the release of draft indictments of Hillary Clinton in the Whitewater case. According to the Archives, release of the indictmentsdrafted by an independent counsel examining the Clintons relationship to a corrupt Arkansas S&L and an alleged cover-upwould violate grand jury secrecy and Mrs. Clintons personal privacy. FOIA request denied. Judicial Watch declined to take no for an answer, and so off to court we went. The case is now in the hands of a federal judge. In the course of litigation, new facts have come to light. Under FOIA, the Archives must produce a Vaughn Indexa tantalizing and at times maddening document. A Vaughn Index is the government saying: we are not giving you the documents, but here is an index of what we are not giving you, and why we are not giving it to you. Your tax dollars at work. In the National Archives Vaughn Index for the case, we learn that the government is sitting on at least twelve versions of the the draft indictment of Mrs. Clinton, including one listing overt acts. From the public record, we know that the Whitewater case centered around whether Mrs. Clinton, while First Lady, lied to federal investigators about her role in the corrupt Arkansas S&L, concealed documents (including material under federal subpoena), and took other steps to cover-up her involvment. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to indict Mrs. Clinton, concluding that they could not win the complicated, largely circumstantial case against such a high-profile figure. The draft indictments range from three to forty pagesthe former likely excerpts or scraps from longer documents, the Vaughn Index indicates. Some of the drafts doubtless are copies but many clearly are not. A total of 451 pages of draft indictments are being withheld by the Archives. In its final brief in the case, Judicial Watch took a wrecking ball to the Archives grand jury secrecy and personal privacy claims. Judicial Watch noted the truly enormous quantities of grand jury material already made public in the independent counsels final report. Judicial Watch provided the court with a detailed list of grand jury and non-grand jury material that had already been made public. If there ever was a valid claim to grand jury secrecy in this closely scrutinized case, it is long gone. The Judicial Watch brief noted that the Archives fails to identify a single, specific privacy interest Mrs. Clinton still has in the draft indictments following publication of the independent counsels report and hundreds of pages of grand jury materials, non-grand jury materials, and independent counsel legal theories and analysis that are already in the public domain. A typical FOIA privacy claim centers on unwarranted invasions of personal privacy. But in Mrs. Clintons case, the brief noted, the Archives makes no claims that disclosure of the draft indictments will reveal any particular personal, medical or financial information about Mrs. Clinton, much less anything intimate or potentially embarrassing.

Oddly enough, one set of documents is private, produced with private money and protected by privacy laws, and the other was paid for by taxpayers and is being withheld by a taxpayer funded agency responsible for giving the public access to important information.

We already live in Bizarro World.
On February 3, 1949, a crowd of over 25,000 gathered at New York Harbor to see the arrival of a merchant ship named Magellan. On the side of the French freighter was painted the words "MERCI AMERICA". Aboard was forty-nine French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts donated by French citizens. This was the Merci Train, a token of appreciation to the people of the US from the people of France, for the 700 boxcars of food and relief materials that Americans had sent to war-torn Europe in 1947.

The 700-car Friendship Train sent by the Americans was the brainchild of Drew Pearson, an American newspaper columnist and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Pearson was in Europe when he noticed that the Russians were being lauded and 'thanked' for their contributions of a few carloads of grain delivered to Europeans. Being a staunch anti-communist, the great fanfare celebrating these meager gifts rankled Pearson. He believed that the United States could surpass the communists in sending food to the desperate, hungry Europeans.

The West Virginia Merci Train Boxcar, located in Welch at Veteran's Park. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

At his initiative, a country-wide effort was launched starting from Los Angles. A train with a dozen boxcars filled with macaroni, sugar, flour and other food supplies left Los Angles on an eleven-day journey across eleven states stopping at more than thirty cities and towns along the way. Newspapers, radios, and local organizations including schools and churches helped spread the concept of Pearson's Friendship Train and urged Americans to donate food and supplies. The response was overwhelming. Food, clothing, fuel and other supplies began to pour in from all states.

When all trains originating from different parts of the country converged in New York, more than 700 boxcars loaded with $40 million worth in relief supplies had been collected. Once in New York, the supplies were unloaded and shipped off to France to be distributed directly to individuals throughout the country.

A boxcar from the Friendship Train. Photo credit: www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org

The following year, Andre Picard, a French railroad worker and war veteran suggested that France reciprocate by sending a gratitude train filled with gifts and mementos from his countrymen. Much of 1948 was spent collecting gifts from individual citizens. They ranged from art, wine, needlework, local specialties, furniture, books, homemade toys and childrens drawings, including a jeweled Legion of Honor medal that reportedly belonged to Napoleon. All in all, over 52,000 gifts were collected. These were crammed into 49 railroad cars, meant to be divided amongst the 48 American states with the remaining car to be shared by Washington D.C and Hawaii. Each boxcar was decorated with a painted 'Gratitude Train' ribbon and with 40 coat-of-arms representing the provinces of France.

The boxcars were the same infamous ones used to transport American troops fighting in Europe during World War I and World War II. Each was about 20.5 feet long and 8.5 feet wide, and could hold forty men or eight horses. Hence the boxcars were also called forty and eight. There were no seats, no windows, no toilets, and no sleeping or dining accommodations. Each man had barely enough space to sit down and they had to fit their bodies in rows to have enough room to lie down for sleep. The journeys were up to a week long.

The ship Magellan that brought the Merci Train. Photo credit: 7seasvessels.com

Once the French boxcars arrived in New York, they were loaded onto flatcars and sent off to far corners of the country. The nation's railroads charged no fees for their distribution and the Congress waived off duties. Each state had a reception waiting for their boxcar. The largest and most attended was in New York City where more than 200,000 people turned out to welcome that state's assigned box car. Several states sent their boxcars on tours of the state so everyone could see the car and its contents. The gifts were distributed to museums, hospitals, schools, churches, and other institutions. Some of these could still be seen at museums. Some were sold at auction, with the proceeds going to charity.

Out of the 49 boxcars, 43 survive to this day. They are exhibited in various municipal parks, railroad museums, fairgrounds and Veterans Posts across the country. This webpage list the current location of each boxcar.

A boxcar from the French "Merci train" being received during a ceremony. Photo credit: Abbie Rowe/Wikimedia

The crowd greets Nevadas Merci Train boxcar. Photo credit: aroundcarson.com

Ohio's Gratitude Train touring the state on a flatbed truck. Photo credit: ohiohistory.wordpress.com

Woman viewing doll display inside Ohio's Gratitude Train. Photo credit: ohiohistory.wordpress.com

The Kentucky boxcar is in New Haven at the Kentucky Railway Museum. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

An old photo of the Illinois boxcar, which didnt survive. It is presumed to be scrapped. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

The West Virginia Merci Train Boxcar, located in Welch at Veteran's Park. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

The Hawaii Merci Train Boxcar (shared by Washington and Hawaii), located on the grounds of the Hawaiian Railway in Ewa, Oahu, a short drive west from Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. Washington DC is rumored to have kept all the gifts loaded in the boxcar, while Hawaii got the empty car. According to Christian Vinaa, however, Hawaii did get some of the gifts. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

The Louisiana boxcar is at the Old State Capitol Museum in Baton Rouge. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

The Missouri Merci Train Boxcar, located on the grounds of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

The Oregon Merci Train Boxcar, located in North Bend, Oregon along the coast near Coos Bay. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com

Sources: Wikipedia / www.mercitrain.org / www.themetrains.com / www.skylighters.org / www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org
Back near the middle of January of this year, Google started pushing out a new feature for its Google Maps application called Driving Mode that was accessible once a user started up navigation. Driving Mode essentially gave users relevant information about the drive such as traffic updates, and based on navigation history Driving Mode could suggest a destination for you. At the time of the initial push for this new feature, it was available to U.S. users as well as a few other countries, and now Google seems to be rolling it out globally to anywhere that Maps is available to install, although its worth noting that even though it seems to be rolling out to everyone, it could still take days or longer for it to reach all Maps users, which should be expected for any feature inclusion that has to be deployed on a such a large scale.

So far, Google seems to be rolling it out to users in Lebanon, Australia, and the Netherlands, which suggests that it is hitting other regions around the world as well. Which countries those are is unclear as Google hasnt noted the rollout publicly or posted a list of places where its now being pushed to. Having said that, if you are a Maps user who has never had access to Driving Mode before, you can always open up Maps and check to see if its there.

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In another recent Google Maps update that came through to the Android app in the beginning of last month, Google made the notifications for Navigation more prominent and easy to see as the notification now houses a green background with white text, likely to mimic the visual appearance of the signs on freeways and highways. That same update also introduced other changes, such as a faster and presumably simpler process for adding photos and reviews to places that youve been to. Google also added the option to enable automatic download of Maps for offline use, which some users may not like, but it does add a level of convenience that takes the worry away from those who might be forgetful.
Samsung has been doing pretty well in terms of sales in the first quarter of the year, mainly thanks to their Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge flagship handsets. That being said, the company has introduced a number of other, mid-range devices this year, including the next-gen Galaxy J5, Galaxy J7, Galaxy A9 Pro, and the companys all-new Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016). Speaking of new devices, the Galaxy C5 handset has been leaking all over the internet for weeks now, and were still wondering when will Samsung introduce this smartphone. A number of Galaxy C5 real life images surfaced online, the device has been certified by Bluetooth SIG, and now a new leak popped up in China, read on.

According to the newly-surfaced information, Samsung actually plans to release two Galaxy C smartphones soon, the Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7. Both of these smartphones will sport a metal unibody build it seems, and will be between 6 and 7mm thick. The devices will, allegedly, going to be available in Silver, Gold, Pink and Gray color variants. Now, the main difference between these two phones will be in their size, the Galaxy C5 will sport a 5.2-inch display, while the Galaxy C7 will ship with a 5.7-inch panel, at least according to the available info. Both displays will sport fullHD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and the leak also mentions that the phones will ship with Samsungs Ultra High Quality Audio (UHQA).

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Now, aside from the display size difference, it seems like these two devices will sport an almost identical spec sheet. Both the Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 will be fueled by the Snapdragon 617 64-bit octa-core processor, along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage. The 16-megapixel camera (f/1.9 aperture) is expected to be available on the back of these devices, and an 8-megapixel snapper will be placed up front. Dual SIM has also been mentioned by the source, and the two devices will sport 2,600mAh and 3,300mAh battery packs, respectively. Now, youre probably wondering how much will these two phones cost, well, if the shared info is accurate, the Galaxy C5 will be available for 1,599 Yuan ($246) in China, while the Galaxy C7 will be priced at 1,799 Yuan ($276). Keep in mind that these prices will be valid for online purchases only, presuming the sources info is accurate.
Google has managed to get an inevitable fine that Russias Federal Anti-Monopoly Service was set to impose on the company today deferred, following a similar scenario last month where the fine was deferred until today. Back in September of last year, Google was charged and found guilty by the Russian competition watchdog for violating antitrust laws by making it compulsory for its services to be installed in all Android phones sold in Russia. Google is incidentally fighting a similar accusation in Europe after several attempts to settle the matter came to naught.

The matter came to head back in September when Yandex NV, Googles largest competitor in Russia, complained to the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service that Google was violating antitrust laws. The FAS found that Google was indeed breaking the law and ruled against the company, which Google sought to challenge through an appeal in a court. However, the Russian court upheld the ruling of the FAS in March following which the watchdog decided to impose a penalty on Google. Even though the fine was supposed to be discussed in April, it was postponed until today and has now been postponed further until May 31st. However, given that it is armed with a court ruling, this time, the FAS is expected to impose a hefty fine on Google eventually.

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This is not the first time that Google will have to pay up to atone for its antitrust practices and other measures. Back in January, Google settled a long-standing investigation on tax evasion in the UK by paying an equivalent of $185 million to Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in back taxes. However, the company is currently under fire in Europe for a similar accusation for which it was charged in Russia. The EU Antitrust Commission has alleged that Google twists its licensing practices to make Android phone manufacturers install its services like the Play Store, Gmail, Chrome, Search, YouTube, and Maps in all phones running the Android operating system. In short, those tablet and smartphone manufacturers are not free to choose which search engines and which browsers to install. This is not good. It is one of my priorities for consumers to enjoy a wide range of innovative mobile products, services, and platforms, said Margarethe Vestager, EUs Antitrust Commissioner. If found guilty, Google may have to pay as much as $7.5 billion to the EU as a fine.
The chances are good that you are a current user of Googles cloud computing platform, either directly via Android or Chromebook devices, or Googles products and services, or indirectly via a third party business using Googles cloud platform. Google operates and runs its cloud computing platform from fifteen data centers dotted around the world. These data centers represent the nerve centers of Googles infrastructure. Each contains arrays of servers, storage drives and kilometres of wiring keeping everything together. Data centers are not quite self sufficient but include canteens, emergency generators and recreation facilities. Each data center is unique with Google keen to re-purpose existing buildings, such as power stations, in order to convert them into data centers.

A typical data center is not going to be a particularly glamorous building: it will likely have dedicated infrastructure such as power and networking lines, plus cooling systems designed to keep temperatures down, but the building housing the technology is going to look ordinary. Google have decided to mix up four of their data centers by allowing a local artist to beautify the data centers by designing and painting a giant mural on the outside. The idea here is that it will allow the artist to add a human element to what is otherwise going to be a functional and boring building. The project also has the benefit of reminding people that these data centers are important buildings, too. Currently, Google has two datacenters dressed up in murals: one in Belgium and another in Mayes County, Oklahoma.

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In Mayes County, artist Jenny Odell has designed a mural to represent the flow of goods, power and information by combining a mix of Google Maps satellite imagery. This imagery was melded together using Photoshop and a small team hand-painted the building. At St. Ghislain, site of the worlds first free cooling data center on account of a plentiful supply of cooling water from local canals and what Google describes as a cold climate, a street artist called Obi-B has designed a colorful abstract mural. Oli-B has decided to portray the cloud from the perspective of the local community, employees and environment. Google has plans for two more data centers to gain murals, Dublin and County Bluff, and could roll out the project to include its other eleven data centers. Below is a gallery of images from the Google website, but there are a number of videos available on the Google blog website to show off the stunning artwork.
Xiaomi has introduced their all-new Mi Max phablet and MIUI 8 OS a couple of days ago. The company has hosted a press conference in China where theyve introduced their device and MIUI update, and it seems like more devices are going to be announced by Xiaomi in the next couple of weeks. The companys CEO has recently confirmed that the Xiaomi-branded drone will be announced before the end of this month, and he has just shared more info regarding the Mi Band 2 fitness tracker as well, read on.

Lei Jun has officially confirmed that the Mi Band 2 is going to be announced in early June. The companys CEO has revealed the Mi Band 2 design recently when he shared the first real life image of the device, and before the MI Max and MIUI 8 launch event, he said that the Mi Band 2 is not going to be announced alongside the companys phablet and OS update because the company is facing certain production issues. In addition to that, he said that the Mi Band 2 launch has been postponed for 1 month, so we presumed that the device will arrive in June, but Lei Jun wanted to be more specific, which is why he confirmed we wont have to wait long for the fitness tracker to become a reality.

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The Mi Band 2 will, unlike its predecessors, sport a display. The display will, allegedly, be able to show you various fitness-related info, along with the time and some other information. Some leaks even indicated that youll be able to control the companys upcoming drone with this fitness tracker, though it remains to be seen how accurate that info is. The Mi Band 2 will sport a silicone band, at least based on leaks, and it wont differ that much from what weve seen included with the Mi Band and Mi Band 1s fitness trackers. You can expect this fitness band to be quite affordable, just like its predecessors. The Mi Band and Mi Band 1s were both priced below $20, so it remains to be seen how affordable will the Mi Band 2 be in the end.
Samsung launched its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones earlier this year, and both of them have already become fairly popular within a short span of time. In fact, Kantar WorldPanel published a report earlier this week claiming that the two were the fifth-most selling handsets in the first quarter of this year in spite of having launched just weeks before the end of the quarter. With more people around the world starting to get their hands on the latest and greatest smartphones from Samsung, it is only natural that the market for third-party accessories for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will also get bigger with the passage of time.

While owners of the two handsets already have multiple cases and covers in the market vying for their attention, they can now add a new line of protective cases to the list of accessories to choose from in order to accentuate the look of their brand new acquisitions. Smartphone and tablet accessory-maker, Speck, has now released a series of cases for the current flagships from Samsung and Apple. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge cases, as can be seen from the official images, come in a variety of bright and cheerful colors, patterns and textures, with prices ranging from $34.95 to $39.95 for each. The options include polycarbonate cases in Fuchsia, Aqua Blue and Shocking Pink, all of which come with floral patterns. There are also a number of textured, rubberized cases for better grip and a few versions of Candyshell Clear cases as well.

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Speck is also offering a $30 discount to buyers whod run up a bill of $100, but anyone who spends at least $50 on the site is also entitled to a $10 discount. Those whore not using the latest Samsung flagships need not despair either. The companys website also has a ton of options for those using phones and tablets from a number of other manufacturers, including LG, HTC and Motorola, among others. Speck also has a number of options for those using Samsungs Galaxy S6 line of smartphones and Amazons Kindle line of tablets. The aforementioned discounts, in case youre wondering, are applicable to all products listed on the site.
Is an iPhone more reliable than an Android smartphone? The research and analytics company Blancco Technology Group says it is. In fact, it claims that Android devices are significantly more unreliable than their Apple-made counterparts. As Blanccos latest report linked below suggests, Android smartphones are almost twice as unreliable as iPhones given how the company recorded an astonishing 44 percent failure rate among them. For comparison, Blanccos latest study suggest only 25 percent of iOS devices break down during their usage cycle.

Even more interesting than the general failure rate comparison is the fact that the same research suggests the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S5 are the most unreliable Android smartphones on the market, which amounts to 7 and 6-percent of all failure cases, respectively. The recorded failure rate for the Lenovo K3 Note also amounts to 6-percent and is closely followed by the third generation Motorola Moto G (5%) and Samsung Galaxy S6 Active (4%). On the other hand, Blancco reports that every fourth failed iOS device is an iPhone 6 while the second most unreliable Apple-made phone is the iPhone 5s, responsible for 17-percent of iOS device failure cases. More bad news for Samsung is that the said analytics company concluded that its devices are responsible for no less than 43-percent of all device hardware failures in the first quarter of this year. The second most unreliable brand according to this study is Motorola which is connected to 14-percent of breakdowns. Furthermore, Blanccos study suggest that phones fail twice as much in Asia than they do in North America. More specifically, over half of Asian phones break down in their lifetime, while only 27-percent of the North American ones do the same. For comparison, the failure rate of European devices stands at 35-percent. Android also doesnt fare particularly well when it comes to security apps which Blancco found are particularly prone to random crashes, with the main culprit being the Lookout app responsible for no less than 82 percent of recorded crashes.

The survey described above was conducted for Q1 of 2016 and is available for a free download through the source link below for anyone whos interested enough to take a more in-depth look at the issue. Last but not least, its worth noting that the authors of the study have concluded that many cases of failures recorded have been caused by the actions of users and not some inherent flaw of the devices hardware and/or software.
Google Earth has been around for over 10 years now, and needless to say, throughout its lifetime the application has been the number one source of satellite imagery for countless people around the globe. However, for 15-year-old William Gadoury  a 10th-grade student at Academie Antoine-Manseau in Joilette, Canada  Google Earth might prove to be the tool of discovery for a lost 4,600-year-old Mayan city in Mexico.

William Gadoury gained an interest in the Mayan civilization roughly four years ago in 2012, trying to understand how the ancient civilization used to build structures and cities. He was intrigued by the fact that the Mayans were extremely good builders, but they often built in places that made little practical sense  far from rivers, far from fertile areas. He found this strange for a civilization that was so intelligent, so he turned to astronomy in order to try and find the answer as to why the Mayans built their cities as they did. Some 4,000-years ago Mayans were very good at astronomy, and after studying 22 Mayan constellations, William Gadoury has discovered that these constellations matched the placement of 117 known Mayan cities. However, a 23rd constellation was incomplete, which led the student to the realization that one city has yet to be discovered. He linked the known cities and constellations, and then took his study to Google Earth, looking for unusual, human-made structures / shapes within the dense jungle canopy that would account for the 23rd constellation. Interestingly enough, he found what looks to be a rectangular structure / shape that he believes might be the platforms of Mayan pyramids. However, he needed more conclusive evidence.

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Back in 2014 at the age of 13, Gadoury won first place at his school science fair, and won a trip to a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) international conference in Quebec City. The agencys officials were very impressed by Gadourys findings and the student was able to acquire higher-resolution images captured by the agencys RADARSAT-2 satellite. The images have reconfirmed Gadourys findings, however, a ground search would be required in order to truly confirm whether the linear shape within the dense vegetation has formed due to hidden man-made structures under the jungle canopy. CSA project officer Daniel Delisle adds: we are pretty sure that there are some features hidden there  I think theres a high potential of finding a city. On the other hand, not all archeologists have been persuaded by Gadourys findings. Ivan Sprajc, a Slovenian archeologist and Mayan expert says that while Gadourys efforts are commendable, the finding has no support. He added that The rectangle on the published image, supposedly a Maya site, is but an old milpa or cultivation plot, abandoned years ago, but definitely not centuries ago. Needless to say, the story has yet to be concluded and more studies need to be done before researchers determine whether or not Gadourys findings are as exciting as they seem at first glance.
In the United States, Verizon has been  for some time  the largest provider of wireless services for cell phones, and have been instrumental in shaping the landscape. Pushing ahead with 4G when it was first being introduced in the West, as well as now testing 5G technologies, Verizon has had a big hand in shaping todays wireless market. They are, of course, also a big name in wireline technologies that many households and business across the US rely upon to access the Internet and run their businesses. Recently, around 40,000 of Verizons employees went on strike, and are still on strike. However, these employees were related to the wireline side of Verizons business, and Big Red is more than keen to reiterate that the wireless side of things is still running smoothly, and that work on 5G is still carrying on as normal.

Chuck Hamby, a Verizon Spokesperson has said that For the Verizon Wireless network teams, its business-as-usual: we are still working every day to activate 4GLTE cell sites where needed, to deploy small-cell technology in urban areas that need the boost and that theyre even continuing to test 5G technology. We know that Verizon is keen on being first with 5G once the technology has matured enough, but the network hasnt given up on 4G LTE just yet, and Hamby goes on to state that Verizon is also continuing to add XLTE across the country and reach 500+ U.S. markets with that technology.

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These 40,000 employees are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) unions and have been on strike since April this year. The strike came about as the result of negotiations not succeeding, and these workers have been without a contract since August of 2015. How much longer the strike will last for is unclear, but Verizon have warned that some sort of damage could be done to their financial figures if it continues for too much longer. In terms of 5G testing, the networks FiOS network is probably carrying much of the weight in terms of backhaul, and while these tests wont represent a massive strain right now, this could change in the future, and without a full staff of wireline workers, things could go wrong in more intensive or real world tests.
In many markets, including the United States of America, wireless carriers differentiate between prepay and postpay customers in a number of ways. Prepay customers  those who pay for their wireless plans up front  are often considered the lesser kind of customer. There are a few reasons for this: some customers would not pass the credit referencing and checks put in place by the carriers, which is the typical consumer opinion. However from the perspective of the carrier, prepay tariffs typically earn noticeably less than postpay tariffs from an average revenue perspective. This can be down to a number of reasons such as prepay customers have a smaller budget for their wireless plans or because prepay customers are more price sensitive than postpay customers. The more price sensitive the customer, the more likely he or she is to move on in search of a better deal and during the early months, a carrier typically does not earn much from a customer. We have covered Verizon Wireless decision to largely ignore prepaid customers and instead concentrate on the more valuable postpay customers, which ties in with customers happy with Verizons network and customer services. In the recent earnings statement, Verizon announced prepay customer losses but considered these an acceptable casualty given their focus on the greater quality customers: that is, those prepared to pay more for their service. One reason why Verizons prepay service was not competitive is to ensure that customers signed up to equipment installation plans dont migrate to prepay service plans  which is happening more and more as prepay and postpay plans become more and more similar.

However, Verizon Wireless have today announced an improvement to how competitive their prepay services are with a permanent change that includes more data. The deals start on Sunday and customers will also benefit from unlimited calling to both Mexico and Canada on the most expensive plan. In the detail, the $60 sees the amount of data doubling to 6 GB a month, which includes a bonus 1 GB through the AutoPay Bonus. This gives unlimited talk and text messages to the United States, Mexico and Canada. The next plan down costs $45 a month and includes 3 GB of data (1 GB of this is the AutoPay Bonus), where formerly this plan only included 1 GB of data. Customers can add another 1 GB of data for $10 a month. Finally, the unlimited talk, text and Wi-Fi plan costs $30 a month. The $30 plan may also be used for basic handsets, plus a 300 plan at $15 (this includes any combination of 300 minutes, texts or multimedia messages and unlimited mobile web for $15 a month). These tariffs were previously offered as a special deal back in February and pull Verizons prepay services closer aligned with the competition.

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Verizon Wireless U-turn over prepay services appears to be an attempt to stem the flow of customers leaving the service. During the first quarter 2016, Verizon lost 177,000 prepaid customers (compared with a loss of 188,000 customers for the first quarter 2015). Perhaps after their announcement of using TracFone as a proxy for their prepay service, or seeing how T-Mobile USA and AT&T are making money from their prepay customers, Verizon has changed its mind?
Dirty Velvet

In 2005 then-Secretary of State Colin Powell stood in the Security Council chamber at UN headquarters in New York. He was there to make the case for an American-led war against Iraq. In a gesture with extraordinary resonance, UN officials hung a blue shroud over Pablo Picasso's painting, Guernica, for the duration of Powell's speech. Why? Some say it made a tidier background for camera crews, but it is just as likely that it was hung because the painting is about war, specifically, the devastation and inhumanity of it. In abstract black and grey shapes, Picasso presents horrormutilated people and animals, a mother holding the corpse of her child. It's hard to advocate war when a searing depiction anti-war horror surrounds you. That, artist Gregg Deal tells me as we sit in Albuquerque's Peace and Justice Center, is the power of art.

Deal, who works in various mediums including performance, paint and video, traveled to Albuquerque in the last week of April to paint a mural of Leonard Peltier on the west-facing wall of the university district's Peace and Justice Center (and to premiere a video at Rezilience). While a lot of people find it easy to dismiss art, art is the thing that creates movements, he continued, I don't think there's any way that you can evoke change unless you start to question the status quo. The only way you can question that is by creating a dialogue in which somebody is forced to consider it. Public art and performance art work really well that way. The mural itself is simple, direct and impossible to ignore. On the well trafficked intersection of Silver and Harvard is a portrait and in stark black lettering against bright blue painted bricks are the words: Free Leonard Peltier.

Leonard Peltier is a Chippewa-Sioux Indigenous rights and American Indian Movement activist who has been imprisoned for 39 years for the deaths of two FBI agents in the aftermath of a shootout on Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 despite the fact that there is no clear evidence against him. As such, he is one of the longest held political prisoners in the world. It's an incredible metaphor for Indigenous people, Deal said. He not just represents the struggles of the '60s and '70s for Indigenous rights, but also the struggle of Native people being cast aside and forgotten about.

This year, the last year of the Obama administration, has seen increased activism in support of clemency for Leonard Peltier. At 71 and in failing health, Peltier is held in a maximum security prison where he does not receive the degree of medical attention necessary for his conditions. Historically, presidents on their way out of office dole out pardons, and Barack Obama is most likely to provide that for Peliter. As his son, Chauncey Peltier said repeatedly in a meeting in support of his father's releasethis is his last chance for freedom.

My Indigenous voice comes through in everything, Deal continued on about his work. I have five kids  knowing that they're going to have to navigate things like identity and the way that stereotypes dictate the value of Indigenous people  those are things I touch on because our generation is so affected by popular culture and perception. As such, Deal often designs work that is fluid across mediums and donates his images to the organizations he partners with. For example, you can also buy a shirt with the same imagery that is on the mural at the Peace and Justice Center, the proceeds of which will go toward the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.

As we continued talking about art, history, the Washington Redskins and UNM's seal, Deal talked about the importance of the rising up of young Native people that are taking their rightful place and asserting their identity and not being defined by dominant culture, because, for example in the case of the racist mascot of the Washington Redskinsthat is also the power of art, to brand an entire marginalized people.

I always push for critical thought and critical theory in everything, Deal said. This conviction is evident in all of his work. In his performance piece The Last American Indian on Earth Deal dons a headdress, fringed leggings, a loincloth. There's a black handprint painted across his face. He at times holds a cardboard sign that says My Spirit Animal Is White Guilt or This Used to Be Indian Land But Everything Went to Crap. In effect, he becomes a caricature. He then documented the reactions he received and used them as a springboard for discussion. The reactions are sometimes devastatingly insensitive and shamefully ignorant. It speaks to the level of privilege and the level of misunderstanding  [how] knowledge of history is based solely and completely on Western culture dominance, so the value of Indigenous people is based only in Western culture.

These efforts of elimination haven't worked. They've done a lot of damage, but they haven't worked. And Leonard Peltier is a part of that and will not be forgotten. Native people have long memories, Deal said before he gathered his paints and began to work.
Cannes - Marco Bellocchio's 'Fai bei sogni' (Sweet Dreams) is set to open the Quinzaine des Realisateurs at the Cannes Film Festival, which unusually this year has no Italians vying for the Palme d'Or.



The adaptation of Massimo Gramellini's novel about grief after the protagonist's mother's death stars Valerio Mastandrea, Berenice Bejo, Guido Caprino and Barbara Ronchi.



Asked Thursday if he would have preferred to be in competition, Bellocchio - of Fists in the Pocket and Sleeping Beauty fame - said "I won't answer that question, I'll keep out of that game. It's not my first time at the festival and this is a serious work. Luckily the film will come out in the autumn and we'll learn a lot from the reactions we get here",.



Asked what had interested him in journalist and writer Gramellini's book, Bellocchio, 75, replied: "It was proposed to me by the production, but I glimpsed in this story something that profoundly belongs to me, and professional maturity gives you the advantage of discovering things that you feel in apparently far-off stories".


BEIRUT - For the first time in four years, a suburb of Damascus besieged by government forces received on Thursday a first instalment of humanitarian aid, Pawel Krysiek, spokesman in Damascus of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was quoted as saying by Lebanese media.



Daraya, south of Damascus, was one of the first areas to rebel against central authorities in 2011. Since then, it has been at the center of repeated massacres of civilians by Syrian government forces that have besieged the area, forcing the majority of civilians to endure lack of food and water.



(ANSAMed)
DUBROVNIK - A call for a united and closer Adriatic-Ionian region was made in a statement in Dubrovnik Thursday by the Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

The statement defines the future contours of the region, Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac explained during a press conference organized for the inauguration of the Forum taking place in the Croatian city on Thursday and Friday. ''All member countries - he said - the four members of the European Union (Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Greece) and four going through the membership process (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina) must benefit from cooperation''.



More prosperity, new jobs, integration of infrastructure and transport, energy and sustainable development are necessary. The statement of Dubrovnik, explained the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, is a clear indication of the will of the countries involved in the Strategy to stabilize and make the region prosper. ''Some 18 months ago this strategy was launched, now the time has come to focus on the implementation''.



The Commission, recalled Cretu, ''will have the role of facilitator and coordinator, to stimulate economic development, wellbeing, connections and render the shores of the Adriatic-Ionian macro region closer, with EU and non-EU members all on the same level''.
DUBROVNIK - The first Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region is opening Thursday in Dubrovnik, Croatia.



Jointly organized by the European Commission and the Croatian government, the Forum represents the first occasion since the Strategy was launched in November 2014, at the impulse of Italy as the rotating president of the EU Council, to discuss progress made so far and define which direction to take in four thematic sectors: blue growth; connecting the region; environmental quality; sustainable tourism.



The event is attended, among others, by the foreign ministers of some of the eight countries involved (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia). Among them are the diplomacy chiefs of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni; Albania, Ditmir Bushati; Bosnia-Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak; Croatia, Miro Kovac; Slovenia, Karl Erjavec; the Greek minister for European affairs, Nikos Xydakis; the Serbian minister for European integration, Jadranka Joksimovic; the secretary of State for European integration and chief negotiator of Montenegro, Aleksandar Pejovic; the EU commissioner for regional for regional policy, Corina Cretu, and national authorities in charge ofEU funds of the States that have adhered to the EU initiative.

Along with the ministerial meeting scheduled on Thursday at 2:00 am, three parallel sessions will be held during the two-day event on issues like maritime space and the resolution of conflicts of interest, the advancement of energy policies and transport and sustainable regional development, as well as business-to-business meetings between companies, national, regional and local administrations, commercial actors, the academic world and civil society.




President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday said that the ballistic missile defence shield at Deveselu is not targeted against any state, pointing out that it has a strictly defensive role.

"I am saying it once more as clearly as it can be: Aegis Ashore isn't directed against any state, it has a strictly defensive role. This is to ensure Romania's and the European allies' defence against some possible threats with ballistic attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic space," Iohannis said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Iohannis commended Stoltenberg for his participation in a ceremony to take place at Deveselu, showing that this marks the strengthening of cooperation in respect to the Strategic Partnership and the country's profile within the Alliance.

"Your presence in Romania, Mr Stoltenberg, reflects the importance which the North Atlantic Alliance attaches to our country. (...) I highly commended Secretary General Stoltenberg's participation in the inauguration ceremony of the missile defence facility at Deveselu today [Thursday], which marks both the strengthening of cooperation in respect to the Strategic Partnership between Romanian and the US, and Romania's profile within NATO in the perspective of integrating this facility with NATO's missile defence system," said Iohannis.

In his opinion, "the missile defence system makes both Romania and Europe safer."

"This system at Deveselu has strictly defensive capabilities, it is not directed against any state, it cannot be used offensively. This system ranges within the 28 for 28 logic, it is clear  each member protects each member, the 360 degree approach, as NATO must be prepared to face all challenges, all risks. We are not talking about Russia here. We know Russia uses the occasion to be very vocal, but they know as much as we do that the system isn't in any way directed against Russia; however, NATO must be prepared to deal with other incidents, coming from another area, from outside the Euro-Atlantic space. I expect the other elements of the missile defence system to be set up  the next in Poland  to deal very well with some threats of this kind," Iohannis added.

He reiterated support for declaring the initial operational capability of NATO's missile defence system at an incoming summit in Warsaw, as well as for increasing NATO's part in counteracting the new risks in areas such as cyber defence, terror combat and energy security.

The head of state underscored that Romania remains a trustworthy partner, actively involved in adopting and implementing the NATO decisions, showing that the Romania's actions constantly prove it.

"Romania fully meets its commitments pledged to the NATO Summit of Wales, which proves we are a credible ally. Proof in this respect is the honoured promise to increase our defence spending to 2 percent of the GDP next year," Iohannis said.

He also showed that it is important to ensure a credible and predictable presence of NATO forces on the eastern side and achieving a balance between the northern dimension and the southern dimension of the flank. "In the same context, we want the establishment of a permanent NATO naval force in the Black Sea  certainly with the observance of the provisions of the Montreux Convention. Moreover, I find opportune an agreement on a solution to conduct joint training of the allied forces in the region," said Iohannis.

He welcomed the latest progress with strengthening NATO's role in combating hybrid threats and voiced hope that the Alliance will reach a comprehensive approach in the area to complete the efforts made in the EU.

Source: Agerpres
Khalifa Al Zaffin, DACCs Executive Chairman said the masterplan will be ready by the end of the year.

It will address the transit and tourism needs of passengers using Al Maktoum International and service the whole of the UAE from Dubai South, he explained.

Al Zaffin added that Dubai South is also working closely with the UAEs GCAA, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and the industry to assist building owners with the certification of their helipads. We are ready to help them. There is now a requirement for these to be certified, there is a large number that still are not and this will all be part of the process of building a heli-taxi sector which will benefit the whole of the UAE.

Addressing the Global Airport Leaders Forum in Dubai, Al Zaffin said the aviation sector is expected to contribute over 32% Dubais GDP by 2020. He said that by the first quarter of 2018 the bulk of Flydubai operations will move to Al Maktoum International which will give breathing space at Dubai International.


Dubais second airport welcomed 257,813 passengers during the first three months of the year, an increase of 79.8 per cent compared to 143,374 in the corresponding period in 2015. The sharp increase in passenger traffic was spurred by demand on routes served by major carriers including flydubai and Qatar Airways among others and increased frequencies in 2016. The airport is served by 16 passenger carriers operating over 190 flights weekly to 25 international destinations.

Cargo volumes at Dubai World Central contracted in the first three months of 2016, with the facility handling 198,295 tonnes of freight compared to 213,006 tonnes in Q1 of 2015, down 6.9 per cent. DWC is home to 18 scheduled pure cargo operators that fly to as many as 57 destinations around the world.

Aircraft movements totalled 10,631 in the first quarter of 2016, a marginal decrease of 0.6 per cent from the 10,699 movements recorded during the corresponding period last year.

We are very pleased with the growth at DWC and expect the trend to continue, said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. The growth projection is based on two key factors. First is the planned move of flydubais entire operation to DWC by end of 2017. Second is the sheer convenience of using the facility. It takes only minutes for passengers to get from kerb to gate and the arrivals process is similarly efficient. Customers who use DWC once, usually come back as a result.

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: DWC's sharp rise in traffic by nearly 80% in just three months of this year highlights the effective operations there that allow passengers to seamlessly arrive and depart without the congestion seen at Dubai International.

There will be immense pressure to expand development at DWC to cope with burgeoning traffic growth, especially as flydubai gears up to move there next year and provide additional capacity for Emirates' organic expansion at Dubai International as it leaves that airport.

Ahmad added: DWC will need to grow it's physical size to make itself more attractive for airlines to commence services to and from the airport, but this has to be coupled with an appreciable increase in commercial airspace corridors to ease congestion over the skies of Dubai.
The addition of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra partnership further emphasises the airlines commitment and long history of proudly supporting events and organisations across the world in both the arts and sporting arenas.

The partnership, which will run until July 2017, includes support of the Spirit of Birmingham project which places music at the heart of local schools.

Richard Oliver, Country Manager, UK & Ireland said: We are proud to be the Official Airline Partner of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, known throughout the world for their excellence and professionalism. We look forward to not only welcoming the orchestra on board but being part of and supporting the important work that the CBSO undertakes in local schools.
Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet...
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Almost nobody in Russia remembered that Vladimir Putins closest friend from the 1970s was a St. Petersburg musician named Sergei Roldugin. Even fewer could imagine that the cellist with an old- fashioned haircut lived a secret life offstage, allegedly plotting huge scams and moving more than $2 billion through a network of offshore bank accounts and companies.
The headline for my last post was: Christies Gets It Done. At the press preview for last nights confidence-restoring contemporary sale, Brett Gorvy, Christies chairman of Post-War and Contemporary art, told me how he had worked to achieve that. With the benefit of hindsight, his strategy worked, but with some added help from the previous nights disappointing Sothebys sale of Impressionist and modern works.

As reported by Bloombergs Katya Kazakina, Christies staff members made phone calls yesterday before the start of their Contemporary sale, asking sellers to reduce their minimum prices, in light of the softening market that was painfully obvious at Sothebys. This hasty renegotiation is a time-honored practice when a rival house is first out of the gate and stumbles.

But there was more to Gorvys game plan before this emergency recalibration. Here are some edited excerpts from his comments to me almost two weeks ago:

We took a very conservative attitude in putting the sale together. We had understood the market as looking for top quality, priced as reasonably as possible to encourage bidding. There is a sense that a correction has happened and we are responding to that correction by bringing material to market that we feel is going to be universal in appeal.

Were looking at the May sales as a way of understanding the market. In November, the market was very split between one levela $170-million Modiglianiand other levels, where we saw paintings sell, but with a much smaller number of individuals competing at the higher levels. Whether the Twombly at Sothebys or the [Warhol] Four Marilyns that we had, the works sold but there was not the same intensity of bidding that wed seen at the May sales a year ago. [That less intense bidding also characterized this months sales so far.]

While there seems to be fantastic enthusiasm in the marketplace, volume is down and were not seeing estates coming. Thats just a question of timing: They havent become available.

We started with a very cautious approach. We wanted to build confidence back in the market. We saw very strong buyers present, but people were saying: I dont want to be the last man standing. I dont want to bid high for an object if ultimately there has been a correction.

People are seeing the price of oil coming down. Or theyre seeing the stock market in China affected. That brings a certain psychological impact.

Money is still as ready. The buying appetite is still there. What needs to happen is confidence. We said no to a lot of people this season in terms of putting material up when we thought the price was going to be too expensive. We felt we should go for material thats a little more classical in terms of tastevery tried, true and tested. For young contemporary works, we went for those objects where we felt the estimate span was very attractive.

Behind me [we were in Christies galleries] is the largest and one of the best Richard Princes Ive ever seen. This was a piece that, at the height of the Prince market in 2007-08, when he had his Guggenheim show, we would maybe have estimated at $9-12 million.

[As reported in the above-linked Bloomberg piece by Kazakina, this Nurse was part of an $81.4-million buying binge by Japanese collector Yusaku Maezawa, 40, the founder of an online retailer. Maezawa set new auction records for Prince and also for Basquiat.]

We talked to our consignors about an estimate strategy that, in some cases, prevented us from bringing more material into the marketplace. Collectors said, Id rather wait it out a season and see where it is.

Last May, we would have easily estimated the Rothko at $45-65 million. We were able to persuade the seller to put it in a $30-40 million, because we thought it was the best way of encouraging [bidders].
by Christopher Sharma

The agreement would amend existing laws, whitewashing crimes against humanity like rape, torture, murder, and kidnapping by government forces and Maoist rebels. Some 37 cases have been filed against Maoist leader. The government gives in to Maoist amnesty demand to avoid fall.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews)  The Government of Nepal and the main Maoist party have reached an agreement to amend laws against civil war crimes (1995-2006).

Under the deal, people guilty of rape, murder, torture and kidnappings will not be judged by the Commission set up to hear cases brought forward by civilians.

Outraged, human rights activists have slammed the government and the Maoists who recently threatened to stop backing the prime minister.

For analysts, with the amnesty, the government is giving in to the former rebels to avert its own fall. The government's decision has sparked anger across the country.

The civil war, which lasted more than ten years, saw government forces and Maoist rebels commit crimes against humanity. Some 17,000 people died during the conflict, with an additional 100,000 displaced until a comprehensive UN-sponsored peace agreement was signed on 21 November 2006.

Human rights advocates, survivors and victims families staged a sit-in in front of the office of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Some survivors and victims families have threatened to turn to international organisations if the deal is not immediately scrapped.

The nine-point agreement would place civil war crimes under an amnesty within 15 days.

Politics should not interfere with justice, said I P Aryal, head of Human Rights Organisation-Nepal (HURON). Amending laws and avoiding legal action against crimes will increase impunity and lawlessness. Justice and human rights should not be changed under any circumstances.

The deal comes less than a month since the start of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which is hearing complaints from victims' families.

Rajani Chaudhari, who lost two brothers, a husband and a cousin, said, "I demand that the murderer of my family be charged at any cost and that my complaint not be rejected."

What angers victims relatives it is that perpetrators of serious crimes would walk away scot free. One of them is Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leader and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. At present, 37 cases have been filed against him.

For the partys current secretary, Barsha Man Pun, the blame for the situation lies with international organisations who turned a few people [. . .] against us.

Still, he does acknowledge that during the insurgency, crimes were committed, but they should be seen as political, and individuals should not be held responsible for them.

"If insurgency cases are singled out, then all senior Maoist leaders would be sent to jail, including government officials. This would set back the peace process.
by Mathias Hariyadi

No official date has been set, but death row inmates, five Indonesians and 10 foreigners, will be executed "in mid-May. Mary Jane Veloso, a 30-year-old Filipina maid sentenced to death, was spared because her case is being prepared in the Philippines.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Everything is ready for a new wave of executions in Indonesia. No official date has been set yet, but the authorities have confirmed that 15 prisoners on death row will face the firing squad in mid-May.

Central Java police spokesman Senior Superintendent A Lilie Darmanto said that five Indonesians (a woman and four men) and ten foreigners (four Chinese, a Pakistani, two Nigerians, two Senegalese and a Zimbabwean) will be executed.

He did not cite any names, but some major drug traffickers are expected to be on the list. All is set in terms of firing squads, medical team and spiritual support.

There are 12 members in each firing squad team. Ten short-range gunmen, one commander and one holding a flash light. In order for the execution to take place efficiently, the event will be done simultaneously, Darmanato said.

The executions will take place on Nusakambangan Island, near Cilacap (Central Java).

Indonesia has some of the strictest anti-drug laws in the world, to fight what President Joko Widodo has called a "national emergency." From 1979 to 2015, 66 executions have been carried out.

Last April, Indonesia was criticised for executing eight people, including two Australians.

On that occasion, Jakarta saved the life of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, 30, a Filipina maid sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Veloso avoided the firing squad, because her case is still being prepared in the Philippines.

We have discussed her matter with our Philippine counterpart and they have confirmed that her case is still in process, said Attorney General HM Prasetyo.
Dutertes spokesman said that the trip to the Vatican has not yet been planned but it is a priority. The mayor of Davao wants to be forgiven for offending the pontiff at a rally.

Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The newly elected president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte wants to go to the Vatican to apologise in person to Pope Francis, for insulting him during the election campaign.

"The mayor repeatedly said he wants to visit the Vatican, win or lose, not only to pay homage to the pope but he really needs to explain to the pope and ask for forgiveness," said Peter Lavina, spokesman for the mayor of Davao who will begin his six-year presidency on 30 June.

In a speech to announce his presidential run, Duterte lashed out at Pope Francis for causing traffic jams in Manila during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015.

"It took us five hours to get from the hotel to the airport. I asked who was coming. They said it was the pope. I wanted to call him: 'Pope, son of a . . ., go home. Don't visit anymore'," Duterte said.

Duterte later apologised to the Holy Father in a letter and received a response from the Vatican offering "the assurance of prayers".

Lavina has said repeatedly in recent days that Duterte plans to adopt a more moderate and presidential tone when he assumes office, and that his gutter language and insults were part of a performance to attract voters' attention.

Raised Catholic, Duterte said he had left the Church after becoming mayor. If I obey the Ten Commandments or listen to priests, I would not be able to do anything as a mayor, he said in January.
by Nina Achmatova

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Recent legislative changes in Russia have made it possible to "legitimize the beginning of mass deportations" of migrants from the country. The warning was sounded by the "Civil Assistance" Committee, a group led by Human Rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina, who has long cared for refugees in Moscow and several times nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yesterday in Moscow, the Committee presented its report, "Administrative expulsion: A judicial matter or mass deportations?". The report is based on Supreme Court data , the statistics of the Federal Immigration Service (FMS), the study of legislation and monitoring of a series of legal proceedings in the district courts.



The report shows that in 2013, over 513 thousand deportation orders were approved by the Russian courts. The spokesman of the Committee, Konstantin Troitsky, has linked the phenomenon to the introduction, in 2013, of amendments to the legislation concerning the "violation by a foreign citizen or stateless person of the rules of entry or residency in the Federation." "Deportation has become mandatory in the case of repeated violations of the law, tax evasion or administrative sanctions," said Troitsky, who also talked about an increase in the number of raids by FMS authorities.



The Russian courts, according to the analysis, decide in favor of deportations in over 70% of immigration cases. In some courts, the judges take an average of three to five minutes to speak in favor of deportation. Since 2013, the Federal Immigration Service alone has denied entry to Russia for more than 1.6 million foreign nationals: in 2013, 449,600 (more than six times greater than in 2012); in 2014, 481,400 and in 2015 676 thousand.



Activists explain Moscow's attitude with the fact that Russia's policy towards the countries of the former Soviet Union has clear objectives: to maintain the visa-free regime and to tighten the rules for work and residence of foreign nationals; try to solve the problem of illegal immigration with mass expulsions and entry bans.



In the past Gannushkina had denounced the Russian immigration policy. For example with regard to the Middle East war refugees and particularly the Syrians, who are denied refugee status and for whom obtaining political asylum is more difficult than taking citizenship.
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by Xin Yage

Taipei (AsiaNews) - Generosity "gives rise to more generosity. And this is true in a particular way when generosity is rooted in the fertile soil of this bond said the prof. Lin, secretary of a great foundation that helps blind people in Taiwan, Taichung opening an informal meeting among directors of fund-raisers of some prominent Taiwanese Catholic foundations, along with members of the clergy and lay people who wanted to improve their fundraising activities required for the mission.

The meeting was held on May 9: "When we opened our Foundation - sais Lin  it would have been impossible to think about doing just one-tenth of all that we are doing now. With an open mind you can always find points in common with the people we meet. The donors generosity in terms of money flows from an even greater generosity that characterizes them as people".

The assistant pastor of the largest parish in Taipei, Fr. Wang added: "To raise money is to proclaim what we believe in a manner that allows us to offer to others the opportunity to be protagonists of our vision and our mission. For this reason, fundraising is a daily invitation to follow Jesus, to which we are called to have a greater self-esteem, knowing how to cooperate in the mission of God, and to do so joyfully becoming even happier and more confident in ourselves. "



What stands out most from the meeting was the emphasis on the spiritual aspect of fund-raising, something we rarely consider. The various interventions also revealed doubts and frustrations: "We can think about raising funds as necessary but not pleasant, with the aim of supporting spiritual goals. Or we may think that raising funds reflects a flaw in planning or lack of trust in the providence of God for our needs. Certainly, very often raising money means responding to a crisis situation, "said a lady who controls an assistence fund for the elderly.



In this regard, the steward of the Eastern Diocese of Taiwan noted: "If suddenly our organization or our community does not have enough money, then we begin to say, 'How can we raise the necessary money? We must begin to ask for money! 'At that moment we understand that we are not used to doing this. We may feel inadequate or embarrassed, not suitable for this important mission. And we begin to worry: 'Who will give us the money? How can we ask for it? '. In a spiritual perspective, we must instead think of the money collected as a ministry. And the ministry first of all means 'to receive the blessing of God' for those we serve. "



Fr. Chen, a southern parish of the island, says he learned a lot not only from the generous supporters of his parish, but also from a famous book by the American writer Henri Nouwen on the Spirituality of fundraising, which hopefully will soon be translated into Chinese. He says: "In an evangelical perspective, raising money does not mean responding to a crisis. Raising money is first and foremost a form of service, it is a way to announce our vision by inviting other people to participate. Vision and mission are so central in the lives of God's people, without vision and without the mission we get lost. Raising funds is to proclaim what we believe in a way that manages to give others the opportunity to participate in our vision and mission.



A question posed from the floor as whether this means not being afraid to beg for a project. Fr. Chen replied: "Collecting money is precisely the opposite of begging. When we aim to raise money, we're not saying, 'Please, can you help us because lately it's been tough!'. Rather, we are proclaiming: 'We have a vision which is amazing and exciting. We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you - your energy, your prayers, your money - in this work to which God has called us. " His intervention generated a loud round of applause because it underpinned the deeper meaning of a positive fund-raising for each significant project.



Sister Tsai instead is touring the island looking for stories of real 'miracles' performed by the Catholic Church in Taiwan in recent decades: "There are amazing works of unknown assistance carried out by the Christian community on this island. I remember when I asked Sister Helen Chen how she managed to build a nursery for children of Aboriginal families, she said: 'For me, years ago when I arrived in this village, I experienced a real conversion. We needed funds. So I felt that raising this money was a call to conversion '. According to Sister Elena conversion means to experience a profound change in our way of seeing, thinking and acting. Raising money, as a service, presupposes a real conversion. "



A country priest spoke of how his village was home to many seniors who only want to be listened to. Fr. Gou said: "Collecting money must always aim at creating a lasting new relationship between those who give and those who receive. Once a generous donor told me: 'I'll give you money if you accept the challenge of being a better pastor, if you stop being so busy and attend to your vocation more calmly, if you listen more to the people around you ! '. This was an important lesson, I stopped always being busy and - surprise! - I have seen firsthand the generosity multiply in the following months".



Mr. Wang, a professional accountant, is in charge of a medium size foundation. His speech starts with an example: "In raising funds, the people who do it as a profession are often much wiser than the people who do it for the ecclesial community. Those involved in the big business know that you never obtained a large amount of money if you ask for it as an act of charity. I remember visiting a famous fund-raiser in Shanghai, one of those who can bring in millions of dollars in one day, whose office was decorated with very beautiful objects. I told him: 'How can you have the courage to ask for money in this office?' He replied: 'My office is part of my way to introduce myself to people. It aims to communicate that I am aware of how you should invest your money, I know how to make capital grow. This inspires confidence in the people I meet here in this office, because they know that their money will be invested in the best way '. He taught me about being professional when meeting people (although glitz in my opinion can become counterproductive) with the underlying spirit: 'We demand funding confident in what we do, not apologizing, but rather because we are convinced that we offer something important '. That practitioner asked people to share his vision without hesitation, without having to apologize".

The president of the foundation for which he works probono, reinforces this message: "Exactly! If we do not have this confident approach, then we are disconnected from our vision and we loose the direction of our mission. We will also be cut off from our donors because eventually we will end up begging and they in turn will be just signing a check without understanding the significance of their contributions. There will be no real connection and unity of purpose, because we will have no way to communicate the spirit of our mission to them. We will have succeeded in making a money transfer, but we will not create a meaningful relationship. "



The meeting concluded with an informal document of the Bishops' Conference on the points on which to focus in this fundraising work. Two years ago was a scandal linked to the use of funds by a Buddhist foundation, resulting in a renewed insistence on total transparency regarding revenue and expenditure: "We need extreme transparency in the use of funds, we must always use them for the purpose of agreement with the donor, who trusts us in a mission that he or she alone could not accomplish. A profound attitude arising from prayer is therefore important: if we place our trust in God and not in the money we are asking for, we first create a relationship of understanding with those who are donating the money, and further clarify the meaning of the mission. God bless your work. "



The work of many Taiwanese foundations, not only Catholic, is crucial in helping people in extreme difficulty. According to recent statistics, Tzu Chi (), the largest Buddhist organization, collects more than $ 300 million each year for emergencies and ordinary needs in different projects on the island and internationally. Altogether, the Taiwanese foundations reach nearly one billion dollars in services provided each year.
by Fady Noun

Economic need and desire for revenge are the reasons that drive young Syrians to join the Jihadis. The conflict between Arab East and the liberal West is sterile. Arab societies and Arab Springs have failed. We need a new model of civilisation and international relations as well as the contribution of Arab Christians to fight Jihadism.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  The "quest for meaning", which a report by NGO International Alert includes alongside economic need and the desire for revenge as a motivation driving young Syrians to join jihadist groups, deserves analysis (see L'Orient le Jour, 5 May 2016). This, let us say it right away, is neither new nor surprising. Man needs meaning as much as bread, wrote Card Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, in Credo for today: what Christians believe (Ignatius Press, c2009).

Thus, because of failure to find meaning for their lives in the projects of society proposed to them young Syrians have looked for it elsewhere. Todays Arab societies are those based on military regimes or single party with secular ideologies built in the Arab world during the 20th century. A lot has been said about the regimes born from the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire, or in the wake of decolonisation, so there is no need to dwell upon them. Among the books written on the subject, one whose title resonates most eloquently is by Ghassan Tueni with Gerard Khoury and Jean Lacouture: Un siecle pour rien (A century for nothing). Few words that say it all; everything else is nothing but a show. Arab regimes have failed to propose, even less implement models of society that can meet Arab aspirations to a life that ensures, along with prosperity, a Third World "take-off", a certain dignity of meaning and an historical purpose.

We know that the "search for meaning" is also high among the motivations that drive young Westerners to travel to the Nineveh Plain. The search for meaning is irreplaceable: it defines the nature of the relationship that every human being has with his or her society, history, and finitude. This quest is not satisfied with a non-answer because this non-response ends up being a form of answer. Perhaps it is because of such forgetfulness, or unsatisfactory answers that the various Arab Springs have failed as an alternative to traditional Arab societies.

In Eric Voegelin et lOrient, millenarisme et religions politiques de lAntiquite a Daech (Eric Voeglin and the Orient, millenarianism and political religions from antiquity to Daesh), Renaud Fabbri sheds some light on the issue, and deserves some attention. The tome shows that the quest for meaning is constitutive of an individuals personal balance, and is equally necessary for political society as a whole.

"Voegelin uses the term 'transcendental representation' for a societys (absolute, paradigmatic) need to organise itself as a function of a truth that is transcendental, writes Fabbri. It is this 'transcendental representation'  which was symbolically abolished with the abolition of the Caliphate in 1923 after the fall of the Ottoman Empire  that Islamist thinkers and groups want to restore, sadly borrowing their models from archaic societies, apocalyptic loans, rather than seeking expressions that conform to the standards of an enlightened, historical, yet it to be define modernity.

The transcendental representation was also abolished in the West, in a process also dubbed the disenchantment of the world, starting in the 19th century with the civilisation of the death of God". Somehow, history confirmed Eric Voegelins argument, namely that religion would make a come-up, after going underground, in a pathological way in political religions (like Nazism and Communism), which ravaged the 20th century.

It is clear that Muslim societies today cannot identify with the secular model of society found in the West, for a simple reason, as Voeglin points out: in the latter, secularisation is interpreted as an aberrant form of immanentisation, a deification of society itself.

This clearly explains why the (Arab) East and the (Liberal) West cannot meet each other in nothing but a confrontational or sterile way, given the lack of a shared transcendental representation, or at least converging transcendental representations.

This is what has happened with the Islamic State (IS) group with the emergence of a hostile representation of the secular self-deifying order of the West. This hostility takes various forms, from economics to metaphysics and eschatology. Admittedly, this representation was not born with IS itself, but the latter gave it its first actual territorial form, not delocalised as was the case with al Qaeda.

Still, even putting aside ISs extreme model, we can more clearly see the path that lies ahead so that the encounters between civilisations generated by globalisation  as expressed in international organisations like the United Nations or bodies like the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership  may bear fruit beyond commerce. For these meetings to become the basis for human exchanges, or exchanges of values, these constructs and partnerships must still change at the cultural, but especially the spiritual level. What is missing from the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for it flourish, one may ask? A shared soul is the answer, as John Paul II put it, i.e. converging representations, a comprehensive holistic project. At this particular level, Fabbri believes that "the response to the contemporary disorder can only be spiritual in nature and must come primarily from Muslims themselves." And Europe will have to stop to doubt itself!

Clearly, any response to jihadism can never be purely military or security-oriented; it will have to offer another model of civilisation and international relations. Of course, the Islamic States utopianism is self-destructive. If IS was anchored only in a rational construct, it would not be multiplying its attacks outside its territory, particularly in the West. Without that, the big powers would have come to arrangement with it, especially since it rules over space and people. Now it has become everyones enemy, said in a recent interview Hamit Bozarslan, a political scientist at EHESS.

However, the need for transcendental representation will continue to lurk under the irrational utopia. Responding to Daesh will not be the prerogative of governments alone, but is something that falls on peoples and civilisations. Notwithstanding their fears and exiles, it would interesting to see what role Arab Christians can play as intermediaries to modernity, on the cusp between faith and reason. Insofar as Christians can wake up to that task!

By virtue of the paths of reflections that it can open, and the intuitions that it can nurture, Renaud Fabbris book is a great gem. A political scientists at the Universite de Versailles (France), the author is a specialist in political philosophy and the philosophy of religion. He lived for many years in the Middle East.
For Mgr Hinder, Pope Francis highlights not only the problems but also the joys of family life in a plain language that is close actual reality. The apostolic exhortation provides guidelines on how to love in families. Many values are shared with Muslims, but the fear of proselytising and mixed marriages remain an obstacle.

Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews)  Amoris Laetitia shows "not only the problems" but also "the beauty of marriage and the Christian family, said Mgr Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia (UAE, Oman, Yemen) about Pope Francis recent Apostolic Exhortation, published in early April.

For the 73-year-old prelate, the document is very important "for our families in the Gulf", even Muslim ones, because it deals with issues "in a in a language that is plain and close to their actual reality, good or bad. 

Pope Francis "provides many actual guidelines on how to love in families, and how to educate children in an atmosphere of understanding and love." Moreover, The sections where he talks about migration reflect the reality of our families: geographically split families, families in crisis because of the unfaithfulness of one or both partners, families uprooted from their cultural environment, etc.

In the UAE, 76 per cent of the population is Muslim (80 per cent immigrants). Catholics are only 9 per cent, mostly foreigners from Africa, as well as South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan and India).

Although many values are shared with the Muslim world, the prelate doubts the exhortation will make any inroads among Muslims because When Christian values are presented explicitly, there is always the barrier caused by the fear of proselytising.

The issue of mixed marriages is compounded by the non-validity of civil marriages and the need to provide pastoral outreach to couples separated because of work.

Mgr Hinders interview with AsiaNews follows:

Mgr Hinder, what value does the Amoris Laetitia have for Christian families in the Gulf?

The exhortation is very important for our families in the Gulf because it deals with all the problems they face, in a language that is plain and close to their actual reality, good or bad. For those working in family outreach, Amoris Laetitia will be a mine to accompany and help families, as well as those preparing for marriage. Pope Francis provides many actual guidelines on how to love in families, and how to educate children in an atmosphere of understanding and love. The sections where he talks about migration reflect the reality of our families: geographically split families, families in crisis because of the unfaithfulness of one or both partners, families uprooted from their cultural environment, etc.

And to what extent does it also embrace the Muslim world?

Although many values are shared with the Muslim world, I do not think the exhortation will seep a lot into their perception of things. When Christian values are presented explicitly, there is always the barrier caused by the fear of proselytising. Then there's the issue of mixed marriages, which is generally not recommended for the simple reason that, as a rule, the Catholic partner must convert to Islam (men) or is the victim of pressures that push towards conversion (women). Children by law are deemed and raised as Muslims. If the section in Amoris Laetitia that speaks of religious freedom (AL 248) was really respected we would have a new situation. For now, this remains a dream for almost all Muslim countries.

Your Excellency, what does it mean to be a family in a place of violence (Yemen), or in areas where Christians are a small minority?

In a situation of war and violence it is essential that family members support each other. This transcends the individual household. Families are called to help and encourage each other. This is even more important when one or both parents are separated from their children because they are drafted into the army or - more often  killed in war. Very often family and/or tribal ties are the only social network that still provides some protection and security. This applies to everyone, but especially to minorities like Christians.

Has the Church of Arabia promoted specific initiatives in favour of the family?

We know the "movements" that seek to provide care to families like Couples for Christ (mostly Filipinos), Marriage Encounter, Family Ministry, and others. We are also developing family and marriage counselling programmes. We seek to ensure close parental involvement in children's catechesis. Where necessary, we provide families with economic and financial support for their childrens education. We are always improving marriage preparation. We also organise family planning seminars in accordance with Church principles.

What are the areas that need the most urgent action?

Among the problems that need urgent actions is the non-validity of marriages, because they were only celebrated civilly. This is largely a cultural problem. In certain cultures, marriage celebrations must be lavish. Very often they get into debt for the rest of their married life because of social pressures. To be in good standing in a Muslim country, where common law relations are not allowed, people marry civilly, putting off the religious marriage to a later time, to avoid the exorbitant costs of the celebrations. We try to overcome this problem by organising  after solid preparation  simple group weddings to regularise non-valid marriages without forcing people into debt.

Another field is pastoral outreach to couples that are separated because of work. Very often they find themselves in an ambiguous situation, in which they seek an occasional or permanent companion for as long as they stay away from their family. Frequently marriages and families break down because of it. In some cultures, like Indias, parents still arrange marriages. Couples meet for the first time only a few days before the wedding. After that they are separated again for months or a whole year. It is obvious that in such cases a family cannot develop well, even if the marriage was properly performed.

The Emirates, Oman, and Yemen are nations with high immigration rates. Many Christians are economic migrants from Asia. What message does the apostolic exhortation have for them?

Amoris Laetitia (46) challenges us when it speaks about families in migration. Chapter 4 (AL, 89-164) on love in marriage is of great value for spousal and family relations. For our families, it can serve as a guide to improve the quality of family life and open up to others, not to turn the family into a self-sufficient closed island. Ultimately, I find it important that with Pope Francis we can see not only the problems, but also and above all the beauty of marriage and the Christian family. (DS)
How To Shave Your Balls

A Gentleman's Guide To Shaving Your Balls

Welcome to the dawning of a new grooming age. One where the modern gent takes pride in shaving his balls without succumbing to the public ridicule of coming off as less manly. You know this better as manscaping, and yes, its become the new it trend thats transcended the male grooming landscape and redefined our views of masculinity in the millennial era.



A hairy groin wont exactly score you points with the opposite sex these days, as most women are taking a liking to dudes with a smoother package. Think differently? Peep it. A study conducted between two public universities in the US documented in an issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine provided these intriguing stats:

49% percent of guys shaved off all their pubic hair at some point in a month

38% of all study participants claimed they were typically hair free

Roughly the same percentage of both sexes (76% women and 74% men) claim to shave their pubes

32% of men agreed shaving down their made them feel cleaner

Those numbers should sway you to perform some sort of deforestation. Still on the fence? OK. Another survey done by Gillette showed that 92% of women prefer a guy that keeps it nice and tidy down under. Argument done.

Its understandable how certain worries can plague your conscious such as taking a razor to such a delicate spot or the extra maintenance that comes with properly buzzing your grapefruits. But hey, its time to get with the program. Doing so can only give you less sweaty testes, provide for a more sensual oral experience, and result in an enticing bikini line, if youre all about the David Beckham, Euro-beach look.



So why shouldnt your nuts receive the same treatment as, say, your face, head, back, or nose? Heres an in-depth guide to how to shave your balls in style.

Learn To Proceed With Caution

The groin area harbours bacteria and yeast that can spread across the body when performing other manscaping duties using the same tools. Even the slightest laceration can result in that bacteria getting inside and leading to potential cases of abscesses, cellulitis, and Fournier gangrene: a necrotising infection that causes some pretty disgusting side effects.



Feel your scrotum and shaft for a second. Notice the several skin folds and grooves? The sensitivity of both areas makes them susceptible to cuts. Thats incredible scary when seeing how most common genital injuries reported take place in accident and emergency wards due to the direct consequence of hair removal. Ouch. So play nice down there.

Any good shave starts with providing a smooth cutting surface. Be sure to use your non-cutting hand to pull the skin back tight. The odds of nipping your jewels are less because youre preventing the skin from rolling underneath the blade. So tug that sack.



Maintaining a steady hand is vital for shaving your balls successfully as well. You might want to take a razor to the face first, so calm those nerves and practice precise strokes. This should build confidence when venturing down under. Shave in the direction of your hair and not against it, for this will stave off irritation and any post-shave stubble. Lastly, take the proper steps to implement a cleaning procedure such as wiping down your grooming tool of choice with rubbing alcohol. Wash your hands too before proceeding.

The Ballscaping Pre-Ritual

Common sense tells you at this point to never shave any body part under dry conditions. Thats just begging for a bloody or inflamed outcome. Hopping in the shower is the most effective way to soften crotch fur, for it will stimulate every lingering pube and allow for a smoother pass of the blade. Doing so opens your pores and lubricates the skin. Once out the tub, its all about prepping your sack with the right pre-shave and shaving solutions. The following three products fit the bill.

Body. Hair. Face. Shave. Lab Series covers all four verticals with a potent body wash that creates a rich lather formulated to purge the body of dirt, oil, and other pollutants. Its suitable for all hair and skin types with some reviewers co-signing its gentleness on coarse hair. The dense cushioning of its texture will deliver better razor glide and protect skin as well.

Lab Series Pro LS All-In-One Shower Gel, 20 at Boots

This multi-functional shaving elixir works to soften whiskers and soothe skin. The combination of active natural ingredients and essentials oils seep through hair to moisturise the shaving surface. And as an applicator, its incredibly active in cooling, healing, and tightening your sheath, which helps vastly when in taut mode.

Baxter Shave Tonic, 17 at Amazon

A shave gel is the best shaving agent to apply for many good reasons. Besides its translucent appearance, many come loaded with healing and moisturising properties. Nothing compares to Recipe For Mens foam-free offering, which gives forth maximum comfort by softening and lifting fur for slicker shaves. Aloe Vera, lemon extract, and menthol tame inflammation and nourish the nuts to prevent bacterial attacks and excess sebum from developing.

Recipe For Men Clear Shaving Gel, 16 at Amazon

Picking The Right Grooming Tools

No well-groomed gent enters the jungle without the necessary equipment to tame a hairy beast. Some guys prefer a razor over a body trimmer and vice versa. Others favour the more old-fashioned way of using scissors. Dont ask why. All these instruments complement each other when nipping hair off your balls. Just really depends on how close of a shave or trim you desire.

Hair growth patterns are genetic and some guys actually experience it near the base or lower shaft of their magic stick. Its considered normal. Shaving this form of pubic hair is a short-term quick fix. However, it must be shaved constantly as stubble regrowth is said to trigger irritation in a sex partner. Tweezers are known as the most popular solution because plucking hair out slows down the growth process. However, its very time-consuming. So why bother. Also, refrain from using any wax hair removal system because it can cause serious damage to your penis skin.

That being said, lets look and see how some of the others are beneficial to the ball-shaving experience.

Body Trimmers

Imagine your nut sack is your chin, only with a full-grown beard. No way youre going to take a straight razor to it before trimming it down. Before putting in any skin-level blade work, use a trimmer to shorten pubic hair to a manageable length. This will ensure you dont feel any hair pulling when getting closer to the skin surface.

Investing in one of these is a must. Guys with a bushy sack require the hardware to shorten their way through the weeds for a more intimate cut. A body groomer wont fully rid your privates of hair, but its the quickest and most useful way to achieve a basic shave.

The market has a variety of options available, some with multi-purpose features that come in handy for other manscaping needs.

AskMens pick for Best Body Hair Trimmer lives up to its hype with a skin-protecting shaving head made from hypoallergenic materials, plus five built-in trim options for precise trimming and a waterproof design. The premium foil design captures loose hair with every stroke. The self-sharpening blades also account for low maintenance care.

Philips Bodygroom Series, 58.06 at Amazon

Heres another waterproof electric body trimmer loaded with a nice list of bells and whistles. Were looking at seven different comb attachments and a trimming head that adapts to the contours of your body. Many have made mention of how great it is for sensitive areas, so word of mouth holds weight here.

Gillette Fusion Proglide Styler, 12 at Amazon

Manual Razors

The bolder route, cartridge-based razors deliver the cleanest and closest shave possible. But shaving like that requires more time and paying special attention to your testicles. No one wants a slashed up scrotum. Right? These selections just might encourage you to move forward.

Flexibility is everything when it comes to manscaping. Gillette makes one of the most resilient razors with patented FlexBall technology to reach every difficult curve down there. The cartridge is capable of pivoting in multiple directions and opens the lane for longer strokes to lessen the shaving time. Thinner blades are used for decreased facial resistance, which translates well on the balls.

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor, 10 at Amazon

As a razor, this 4-in-1 styling tool gets the job done. Though its biggest selling point is not the blade. Its the built-in power trimmer with three adjustable settings that executes trims at most lengths with finesse. Granted were not talking a fancy electrical trimmer here by any means, but the product is powerful enough to mow through pubes.

Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Groomer, 13.34 at Amazon

Scissors

Hairdressing clippers come in handy when looking to tame excessive hair growth. They prove to be incredibly useful for snipping through longer hair strands. Just dont expect a uniform finish or to complete a full trim in fast succession. If youre feeling that adventurous, wrap your fingers around these sharp sheers.

What makes these scissors such a popular item are its ultra sharp blades made from Japanese steel and tension screw for stable handling. Cutting offers balanced execution, doing all the work without forcing the user to apply extra pressure on thick hairs. Also comes with a removable finger rest for some extra comfort during an otherwise wholly uncomfortable grooming task.

Sanguine Professional Hairdressing Scissors, 12.40 at Amazon

A trusted name in facial hair shearing, Tweezermans cutters are serviceable enough to double as a pair of pubic hair scissors. Sharpness is guaranteed along the blades, whereas the curved tip guides the blades away from skin to reduce the risk of wounds. Men with coarse hair might need a more durable option, but those with more malleable threads will find cutting action to be reliable.

Tweezerman GEAR Stainless Steel Scissors, 17.45 at Amazon

Clean-Up Time

Thought the nightmare was over? Oh no. Just like your face, your balls deserve the same post-shave love. One word: Aftershave. The antiseptic agent keeps ingrown hairs and razor burn at bay. Dont settle for a splash-based formula. Why? Well, most liquid aftershaves contain alcohol. So unless you want your them burning up, look into an aftershave balm to hydrate and soothe the skin. Bonus: it provides a relaxing sensation during application.

Take other post-shave remedies into account, for some, if not all will be needed to take care of common skincare issues. Lacerations. Ingrown hairs. Razor burn. Common stuff basically. Add these to your virtual cart.

Half aftershave, half skin cream, Ahava employs an anti-bacterial formula that disinfects skin when spread sufficiently. Its a mineral-rich salve that absorbs quickly for instant moisturisation and relieves your nuts of any burns. Dead sea minerals are used as well to restore skin to its natural state.

Ahava Soothing After-Shave Moisturiser, 23.50 at Amazon

Sensitive types require something more gentle. DMC has the proper solution with an alcohol and fragrance-free balm made to calm skin from any discomfort. Its very cooling upon application. Then theres the impressive list of ingredients that condition skin incredibly well for a budget-friendly skincare product. Youre even left with a light, clean scent to freshen your underwear throughout the day.

Dove Men+ Care Sensitive Post Shave Balm, 15.99 at Amazon

Nothing better than an all-in-one.This unique moisturising deodorant is designed to keep you both fresh and hydrated all day long. The Crop Preserver is residue and oil-free, and is formulated with natural herbs that work to soften coarse hair in your most sensitive areas. Manscaping just got interesting. Comes in a set with a double-edged safety razor and disposable shaving mat.

Crop Preserver, 30 at Manscaped

Achieving the perfect ballscaping shave requires near-flawless strokes. So yea, accidents, even if minor, will occur. This is when an alum block comes in handy. Taylor's block is a post-shave healer with antiseptic qualities that calm razor burn and stop bleeding, all while closing skin pores to leave skin tight.

RazoRock Alum Block, 7.95 at Mankind

There Will Be Blood, But Dont Panic

If its your first rodeo, anticipate some slip-ups along the way. Keep a box of tissues on hand. In case you notice some minor bleeding, dont trip, just take a damp piece of bounty or toilet paper and apply pressure onto the cut. Hold it there for up to 10 minutes and it should stop the wound from leaking.



Follow these steps, practice patience, and your boys will be breathing hair-free going into the summer.

Related Reading

The Dos And Don'ts Of Manscaping That Every Guy Should Know

Electric Shavers Are Great, But These Classic Razors Are Better
You are the owner of this article.
Melbourne law firm KKR Lawyers has relaunched as Arro this week with a new online offering.



A fully online service, founder Simon Reid told Australasian Lawyer that the new system allows the firms lawyers to service young, entrepreneurial and techie millennials whod rather engage with a firm differently from the traditional model.



What Arro does in particular is create gateways on a website to allow customers to interact with us online and create products that they can purchase from us online, without having that traditional need to sit down and meet with us on a face-to-face basis, Reid said.



They can pay online, have the product developed and sent to them online, in a way thats slightly different from what we see as the traditional offering of the old style law firms and even in relation to virtual law firms.



Rather than a legal online library, like some virtual firms, five-lawyer-firm Arro provides a whole legal service online.



Were looking to assist start-ups in the narrative of their growth by offering these basic documents online together with the opportunity to subscribe and engage with us and provide effectively mentoring through the stages of their legal journey.



Users can speak with a lawyer instantly through an online chat, accessing critical information such as terms & conditions and privacy policies, all on a subscription-fee basis.



Were looking to create a different market place and a place for customers to feel comfortable with the law so that theyre not feeling those traditional feelings of angst about what things are going to cost or being treated as though they dont know anything and perhaps people being a bit dismissive of them, Reid said.



Really what we want to do is create an environment that allows customers to get [advise] in a way that they want to experience the transaction.




By Natalie Rens, PhD Candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience, The University of Queensland

Shutterstock

Imagine seeing this headline:

A zap to the brain could make you a genius

The story might go something like this:

Neuroscientists have proven that zapping your brain with an electrical pulse can make you three times smarter. In a recent study, researchers scanned the brain before and after applying a state-of-the-art technique, known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and found an increase in brain size that allowed individuals to solve a significantly greater number of challenging questions. Based on this evidence, a future in which it will be possible for each of us to unlock our inner genius is not far away.

Whats the problem here?

Youll be disappointed to hear that, in reality, significant improvements in a scientific study dont necessarily mean significant life improvements. Nor do we know if the effects extend past the one-hour duration of the experiment. They sure wont make you an all-round genius anytime soon.









Aaron Muszalski/Flickr, CC BY-SA





Almost every time we read about the latest scientific findings, they claim to be profound and life-changing. But theyre often about isolated effects that have rarely been tested in real-world contexts.

It is the essence of good experimental design to allow researchers to control for confounding variables, such as those found in the real world. But, as a result, the applications are often left for speculation.

Researchers understand this. But when it comes time for these findings to be broadcast to the public, it can be akin to a game of Chinese whispers.

The message, originally so meticulously portrayed in the carefully worded journal article, has not only been turned into a sales pitch but interpreted by somebody who doesnt even speak the same language.

Why does this happen?

The three sources

The problem of exaggerating scientific findings stems from the interactions of three groups of people: scientists; the media; the public. Each of these groups has its own motivation to make findings seem as widely applicable as possible.

Scientists

Scientists are typically reserved with the claims they make about their research. In fact, if theyre not, you should be worried.

Theyve often slaved away for many hours in the lab and know firsthand the limitations and pitfalls of their research. Many would be happy to sit inside their bubble of expertise and patiently continue building on knowledge that may one day lead to the betterment of humankind.

However, there is increasing pressure for scientists to prove their worth to society. This means finding, or creating, ways in which their research will save the world, and then doing their best to communicate this in the hopes that their funding continues.

The pressure from a culture of publish or perish results in an increase in practices like spinning data, or dubious practices like p-hacking.

The media









Kelsey Palghat





The role of the media in science communication is to sell findings to a public audience, which often translates to how far can we inflate the implications of whats been said?

Using ambiguous language is a key culprit for misinterpretation of findings. A modest scientist reporting on a small but significant (meaning statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance, as opposed to highly important) recovery in a mouse model of Alzheimers disease suddenly finds it reported that hes discovered the next cure.

Journalists under time pressure or those without a scientific background are also more likely to rely on summaries of studies written by other media outlets. Even worse, some viral brain-based practices, such as super-brain yoga (which claims that squatting while holding your earlobes will make you smarter) were never based on peer-reviewed studies to begin with. Believe us, its as ridiculous as it looks.

In the worst case, sexing up the results not only angers the researchers but ultimately deceives the public.









Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures/flickr





The public

The public is on the receiving end of the transmission and is often unaware of the embellishment the findings have gone through.

Neuroscientists, in particular, are seen as having unquestionable authority. Without reading articles critically, many people on the internet blindly buy into the claims that are being made: Oh! This app trains my brain so I can be a rocket scientist!

The second contributing factor is that members of the public are often all too enthusiastic to find ways in which the data is relevant to their own lives. This becomes an issue when the void created by scientists being unable to turn their claims into real applications is filled by ambitious, yet naive, individuals.

For example, take the latest trend in homemade tDCS systems, which continues despite warnings from scientists.

Where do we go from here?

Scientists need to take more care in how they report their results, the media needs to stop overselling, and the public needs to be trained in critical thinking.

But weve all heard this before. In reality, the problem is only likely to become greater as access to advanced technology becomes mainstream.

All we can do is give people a basic tool for digesting research - ask yourself: Does this sound too sexy to be true?

Understand that science works slowly and, as attractive as that new research sounds, its full impact will only be seen in future generations.

Most importantly, do not place blind trust in findings that claim to be based on science. Just because its neuro doesnt mean you should strap a battery to your head.

Natalie Rens receives funding from The Science of Learning Research Centre (Special Initiative of the Australian Research Council).

Kelsey S. Palghat receives funding from The Science of Learning Research Centre (Special Initiative of the Australian Research Council).

Originally published in The Conversation.
By Ritesh Chugh, Senior Lecturer (Information Systems Management), CQUniversity Australia

Shutterstock/hxdbzxy

Students at a medical college in Thailand have been caught using spy cameras linked to smartwatches to cheat during exams. They used wireless spycams in eyeglasses to capture exam questions, transmit them to associates elsewhere and receive responses through linked smartwatches.

But the entrance exam in question was cancelled after the plot was discovered and Arthit Ourairat, the rector of Rangsit University, posted pictures of the hi-tech cheating equipment on his Facebook page.









Arthit Ouraira/Facebook





The cheating attempt has already been compared to Hollywoods classic spy dramas but it shows how easily such high-tech devices are available to those who seek to gain an unfair advantage in educational pursuits.

Unfortunately, its a problem that will only get worse when devices such as smartglasses become cheaper and more readily available.

Smartglasses such as Google Glass have the capability to take photos, send information and also display information on the lens itself, eliminating the need to connect to a smartwatch.

Smartwatch ban

It was around this time last year that universities globally started banning, or at least exploring a ban on, smartwatches in exams.

Smartwatches are considered an aid to cheating in exams because they give easy access to stored text and images, language translation, mathematical calculations and internet access.

Subsequent bans on smartwatches were also introduced by school boards for Year 12 exams in Australia.

But a blanket ban on all watches  traditional or smart  could be on the horizon, especially because it is difficult and impractical for exam invigilators to differentiate between the two in an exam environment.

Other gadgets

Its not just smartwatches we need to worry about. A plethora of hi-tech cheating gadgets exist that would also not look out of place in a James Bond or Mission Impossible film.

These are devices such as special glasses with a built-in transmitter and a separate wireless earpiece, aimed at establishing a two-way secretive audio communication between people during exams.





There is a device marketed as a Cheating Watch that can store PDF, Word and other documents. But it also has a super-fast emergency button that locks other buttons and displays only the time when approached by any suspecting exam invigilator.





Many other devices are offered for covert cheating in exams through wireless audio transmission.

There is even an Invisible Watch that appears to display nothing when the watch is switched on. But when viewed with special glasses sold with the watch, the screen becomes visible and you can see any uploaded content, such as your exam cheat notes.





An open market

Before you criticise me for giving away details of these devices, I should point out that there is a very open marketplace where they are being spruiked and sold as gadgets to aid cheating in exams. They are not hard to find.

Similar devices are also being sold on Amazon and eBay, companies that appear to claim no ethical responsibility for what is being sold on their platforms. Prices range from as little as A$40 up to A$600, depending on the features.

Although these devices could be used for legitimate purposes, the marketing of such gadgets to students for cheating in exams is an issue that is plaguing educational institutions.

Globally, educational institutions abhor the erosion of academic integrity and want students who are smart with gadgetry  not smart-cheaters. The dilemma facing exam administrators is deciding which devices to ban and how.

Similar to the ban on mobile phones in exams, any devices capable of storing, transmitting, receiving and displaying digital information should also be banned.

So, as a starting point, a ban on watches  traditional and smart  for now is the way forward.

In order to eliminate the problem of differentiating between watches in an exam environment, some Australian universities have already implemented bans on all wristwatches. Others across Australia and the world should follow suit.

As newer surreptitious technologies emerge, educational institutions will have to come up with better plans to combat these new ways of cheating, and devise solutions that could range from banning devices to scanning for radio signals as was done using drones in an exam in China!

Ritesh Chugh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

Originally published in The Conversation.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia has made it easier to find out how to apply for citizenship.Following research and consultation changes have been made to the DIBP's citizenship pages on its website."We've improved the navigation to make it easier to find what you're looking for, and we've simplified the information so it's easier to read and understand. Some of the links have changed but there will be redirections," said a spokesman.Using the feedback gained from the research it should now be easier to find out what a person needs to do to apply for citizenship depending on their circumstances, for example if they are a migrant with permanent residence, the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, or were born overseas to a former Australian citizen.There are also options for those who have lost Australian citizenship and want to resume citizenship, are a New Zealand citizen, are Australian and adopted a child overseas and are Australian and need evidence of citizenship."If you have applied for citizenship online, or are in the process of applying, your application will not be affected and you will still be able to access your application through your ImmiAccount," the spokesman added.Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has formally declared Islamic State (IS) a terrorist organisation under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.He said that the declaration meant dual citizens could have their Australian Citizenship revoked if they are found to be a member of Islamic State.IS is the first organisation to be declared under the Citizenship Act using provisions passed by the Parliament last year in the Allegiance to Australia Act 2015."This declaration strengthens the Government's ability to protect the Australian community from people who seek to disrupt our way of life. Citizenship is our common bond, giving us reciprocal rights and obligations," Dutton explained."These new provisions recognise that people who engage in terrorism related conduct, have severed that bond with their community and denied their allegiance to Australia. I am satisfied that Islamic State meets the definition of a terrorist organisation under the Act. It is both engaging in acts of terrorism and is opposed to Australia and its interests," he added.
Hello everyone,



So I just realised that I wrote the name of one of my witnesses for partner visa wrong.



Is there anyway to edit that or do I need to fill the form for incorrect answers?



Thank you!
under the hood

You know, the kind of contraption that doesn't need AC, simply because it doesn't have body panels. It's all about a minimalist approach that would see anything but the basic stuff being left out.The obviously ultra-light result would only need a decent engine to shine, delivering a driving experience that's not only fast but also extremely direct.In fact, if we had a dollar for each time we came across a forum thread using titles such as "Anybody want to join me in my quest to build a really fast kart?" we'd be rich.And while most of these threads don't get too far, we're here to show you what happens when somebody leaves the keyboard behind and actually puts such a contraption together.With drifting having finally reached the phenomenon status it deserves, the machine we want to show you today is destined for sliding.Built by a crew called Nocturnal Motorsports, the drift Kart we have here is motivated by the infamous Nissan SR20DET engine. And if you're looking for something else than the Japanese automaker's turbo four, the team explains you can easily fit other reliable, tuning-friendly engines, from a 2JZ to an LS Using a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive configuration, the two-seater we have here comes with the mandatory hardware for a pro drifter, namely a hydraulic handbrake and a steering rack that allows for extreme angles.The machine is currently for sale, with the team having built a second version that is said to be considerably faster. Until somebody decides to ask the shop for such a build, you can check out the kart engaging in a bit of a drift battle in the clip below.
Nissan Motor Company has announced in a press release published today that they have signed a Basic Agreement with Mitsubishi Motors. The historic deal will form a strategic alliance between the two automakers.Confirming previous reports, Nissan has announced it will purchase a 34% equity stake in Mitsubishi Motors Company, for which it will pay 237 billion yen, the rough equivalent of $2.2 billion.MMC will first issue new shares for Nissan to purchase, thus strengthening a partnership that began five years ago.The deal between Nissan and Mitsubishi involves the purchase of 506.6 million newly-issued shares from Mitsubishi, at a price of 468.2 yen per share.As the two partners explained, the price reflects Mitsubishi Motors Corporations average stock value between April 21, 2016, and May 11, 2016.The period described is exactly the time when Mitsubishis fuel economy scandal erupted and when their stock value dropped significantly.In spite of a strong link between the acquisition and the drop in Mitsubishi share value , Nissan and its new partner claim they wanted to sign this deal for some time, and there is no link between it and the fuel economy scandal.Nissan and Mitsubishi will work together to save money and will collaborate in a number of areas, including purchasing, shared vehicle platforms, technology sharing, joint plant utilization, and growth markets. In other words, the two companies will gather their networks and resources to shed costs in areas where one of the partners lost money.Carlos Ghosn, CEO and President of Nissan , described this transaction as a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn sees the partnership as an intensive cooperation that will generate sizeable synergies.Nissans President and CEO promised to respect Mitsubishi Motor Company s brand and history while being their new largest shareholder. Furthermore, Mr. Ghosn pledged to boost Mitsubishis growth prospects, as well as address the brands unique challenges.
SUV

However, the three diamond brand might have a solution, and it's right in its neighborhood. We are talking about its current partners at Nissan, for which Mitsubishi is building Kei cars in Japan.The same partners at Nissan, who should receive compensation from Mitsubishi because the latter manipulated fuel economy tests to make their cars, seem more frugal than they were.Instead of turning its back to Mitsubishi and filing a lawsuit, Nissan is thinking about lending a helping hand full of Japanese Yen, their currency.The reported amount is about 200 billion yen, so we would hold that check with two hands to ensure its safety. If youre wondering how much that means in US dollars, its about $1.84 billion.However, while Mitsubishi and Nissan did confirm talks about a potential strengthening of their collaboration, the two companies refuse to recognize any buyout plans. As explained in the Japanese business paper Nikkei, Nissan will not buy out Mitsubishi entirely, but just a third of their shares.Some reports claim Nissan is considering the purchase of either 30 or 34% of Mitsubishi. Nikkei is reporting 30%, which would make Nissan Motor Company the biggest shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors. Currently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is Mitsubishi Motors' biggest shareholder, and they own 20% of stocks.If you look at dwindling Mitsubishi Motors stock values, Nissan might be able to buy more for their 200 billion yen. Either way, the same report says that the two companies are already in the concluding stages of negotiations and are expected to hold board meetings on Thursday (thats today) to decide on the tie-up.Some of you are probably wondering what Nissan might want from Mitsubishi, as the former is significantly wealthier than the latter, and they both have models in roughly the same segments. However, Mitsubishi does have a strong presence in the Kei car segment in Japan, which represents 60% of domestic sales volume.Furthermore, Nissan and Mitsubishi had plans to build an electric vehicle together, and Nissan might buy a third of Mitsubishi Motors stocks to ensure this still happens. We might also add that Mitsubishi has a successful plug-in hybrid, while Nissan does not sell a model like it anywhere in the world, so the tie-up could also involve sharing this technology.
With a 1.75-liter engine, the 4C was a foregone conclusion. It might have weighed close to nothing and the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement" is losing ground every day, but sometimes it still holds water. An engine that size without an electric motor to help it can't hope to achieve too much.But it wasn't that the 4C was underpowered that made people reluctant to own what is otherwise a very beautiful Italian car. It was its handling which didn't feel exactly right, as well as the build quality. The car felt like you were driving a tub - albeit a very aerodynamical one - which was pretty much accurate. The carbon fiber build with minimum soundproofing material (we did say it was light) made the sound resonate inside to the point where using the 4C on longer journeys started to hurt.This man from Holland, though, took a look at his 4C and then asked himself, "How could I turn this ability to resonate into something useful?" He thought about a guitar, but adding strings to an Alfa 4C is probably very difficult, so he settled for a drum. He opened up the doors and the tailgate and started pounding on the roof. Since he obviously had some previous hand-drumming experience, it didn't take him long to learn the sounds each spot on his new instrument made. From here, there was a very short way to go to a public demonstration.He might not be able to fill Wembley, but those who did catch his act seemed to be taken with what they saw. So much so, in fact, that they didn't even notice the horse and cart passing just above them on the bridge in one of the videos. We think it's silly and just a ridiculous way to grab attention. It takes just as much skill to bang on a bongo then on an Alfa 4C, so then why spend tens of thousands of dollars on an instrument, when you can have it for five? Plus, the bongo actually sounds better. And you don't run the risk of getting murdered by a hardcore Alfa Romeo fan. There, do we really need say more?
Tel Aviv University graduate Sharon Nir signs her memoir.

TEL AVIV GRADUATE VISITS PAGE ONE 6:30 PM THURSDAY, MAY 12

Sharon Nir, graduate of Tel Aviv University in Israel, will be at Page One Books 6:30 pm Thursday, May 12, to talk about and sign her memoir of moving to the United States, "The Opposite of Comfortable."

The book is described as such: "Sharon Nir, a young mother and successful businesswoman, is faced with the most difficult decision of her life; should she abandon her career and her place of birth, Tel Aviv, to follow her husband, who has been offered a once in a lifetime opportunity - a surgical fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City? In this heart-breaking and riveting memoir, Sharon shares her difficult but extraordinary journey of discovery: from her move to New York City, where she experiences loneliness and the shock of not having a career and the traumatic events of 9/11, to her return to Israel, the difficult relocation to Jerusalem and the discovery of a challenge her son has to face, through the baffling and grueling process of legal immigration in the United States, a journey that will force Sharon to question every certitude. What does it mean to lead a full life for a woman in the 21st century? The Opposite of Comfortable seeks to answer this difficult question while celebrating the strength and resilience of the female spirit."

Nir was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. She holds a Bachelor of Art degree in Language and Literature from Tel Aviv University, and an MBA in Marketing and International Management from Northeastern University, MA. As a system analyst and marketing manager in the high tech industry, Sharon developed the first Knowledge Management system in Israel and enjoyed a successful high-tech career when at the age of 29, she decided to follow her husband as his career took him to New York City. In 2009, the family immigrated to the United States. Sharon, her husband and two children reside in Albuquerque.

Page One Books is located at 5850 Eubank Blvd NE, Suite B-41, in Albuquerque's Mountain Run Shopping Center (southeast corner of Eubank and Juan Tabo). The Nir event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 294-2026 or visit www.page1book.com.

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Sharon Nir website: http://sharonnir.com
4WD

SUV

Back on May 14, 1966, the Subaru 1000 was launched. It was FHIs first compact passenger car powered by the boxer engine . It features a streamlined body thanks to FHI's aeronautical background, as well as technical features such as the front-wheel drive platform and center-pivot steering wheel.It was a car made led by its engineering, as it featured the double offset joint, inboard brakes, and independent four-wheel suspension system. Many of the features were designed to reduce the unsprung weight of the car.Many derivatives followed, including a 2-door sedan, a van and eventually the 1300G with a bigger engine andIn a way, you could say that Subaru is the least compromised car company in Japan, maybe even the world. While Porsche forgot about the heritage and used Volkswagen or Audi engines in recentmodels, all Subarus currently in production have a boxer engine. The only exceptions are the mini-vehicles in Japan... which you can't buy overseas anyway.And it's not like they made one engine and kept it. For example, there's a new "downsized" 1.6-liter unit available with a turbocharger. Diesel is also available in the boxer configuration and remains the most popular choice in Europe since its 2007 introduction.Without the boxer engine , one of the most popular sportscars of this decade wouldn't have existed. We are talking about the Toyota GT 86 , or, as we used to know it, the Scion FR-S. At its core is the same 2-liter you find in the WRX minus the turbo. You may not remember this, but "BRZ" stands for "Boxer engine, Rear-wheel drive, Zenith."In 2006, the 2.5-liter boxer engine with a turbocharger was voted that years winner in the 2 to 2.5-liter category. Of course, it's now considered too laggy and may be replaced by the 2.0L when the next STI model debuts.Not all boxer engines have four cylinders, though. For many years, bigger Subaru models have been available with 3-liter or 3.6-liter six-cylinder units. Because gas is cheap, it's still a popular choice on mid-sized models like the Legacy.Based on the deal signed with Toyota, we predict that Subaru will also combine the boxer engine with hybrid or even plug-in hybrid components. That could happen by 2020 or even earlier.
Photo courtesy of NHTSA.

This years national Click It or Ticket safety campaign kicked off May 12 in Chicago, with federal and state officials collaborating to promote greater seat belt use on roads across the country.

The U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police, the Chicago Police Department, and the Combined Accident Reduction Effort (CARE) joined together to launch the 2016 campaign. The goal is to convince all vehicle drivers and passengers to buckle their safety belts each and every time they take a trip.

Putting on your seat belt is one of the easiest and safest choices you can make, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The national seat belt use rate has steadily climbed, reaching 88.5% in 2014. But data from NHTSA show that almost half of passenger vehicle occupants (49%) who were killed in 2014 were unrestrained.

In addition, 57% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night were not wearing their seat belts, compared to 41% killed during daytime. In 2014, men wore their seat belts at a lower rate than women did  53% of men in fatal crashes were unbelted, compared to 40% of women.

We have made enormous progress as a nation in increasing seat belt use, but far too many people are still dying because they are not buckled up during crashes, said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. Before you even turn the key, make sure that everyone in your car has their seat belt on, every trip, day and night.

Law enforcement agencies will be out in full force encouraging drivers and all passengers to wear their seat belts.

The Click It or Ticket safety campaign continues to be an effective tool to help change the attitudes of many occupants who do not use their seat belts, said Jim Kruger, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police first vice president. So let me remind everyone that police will be mobilizing day and night to crack down on anyone who violates the seat belt law. If you choose not to wear your seat belt, you will receive a ticket.

At 94%, Illinois has one of the highest state seat belt usage rates, but there are still individuals who dont wear seat belts.

Thousands of Americans are alive today because a seat belt saved them during a crash. In 2014, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,802 lives. From 2010 to 2014, seat belts saved an estimated 63,000 lives, according to NHTSA.

The Click It or Ticket nationwide mobilization will include a paid advertising campaign, which runs from May 16-June 5, and an enforcement period, which takes place from May 23-June 5.

For additional occupant fatality crash data, click here.

To view a chart on state seat belt use in 2015, click here.
Nissan Motor Co. may take a controlling interest in Mitsubishi Motors Corp. with a $1.8-billion investment to acquire a third of the struggling automaker, Reuters is reporting.

The deal would give Nissan the largest share of Mitsubishi's next-highest investor Renault, which holds a 15% share. Renault also holds a 43.4% share in Nissan.

The boards of Nissan and Mitsubishi will meet separately on Thursday, May 12, to consider the proposal.

In late April, Mitsubishi admitted to inflating fuel-economy ratings for approximately 625,000 vehicles sold in the Japanese market, including the eK Wagon, eK Space, and Nissan Dayz, which the automaker created for Nissan Motor.
Photo by Steve Reed.

Sure, the 2016 International Car Rental Show (ICRS)  convened April 18 and 19 at Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas  was the industrys usual convocation to make new connections and reconnect with the old ones, share best practices, and understand new products and services. But this year felt different.

With some big issues on the industrys plate, ICRS has evolved into an essential forum to hash out those issues and formulate solutions.

Attendees traveled from 36 U.S. states and approximately 30 countries, including China, South Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, U.K., and India. This years show included special events for international attendees, including an international meet-and-greet networking session and the first meeting of association directors from around the world.

This year featured the first meeting of association directors from around the world, including China, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.

The event kicked off on April 17 with an evening cocktail reception, now an ICRS tradition. During the two-day event, attendees had several opportunities to spend time in the expanded exhibit hall, which featured exhibitors offering various services and products for the car rental industry.

The Big Issues

On Monday morning, the show kicked off with a keynote panel of representatives from car rental and travel platforms. Titled State of the Industry: The Aggregators View, the panel consisted of Imad Khalidi, CEO of Auto Europe; Bobby Healy, chief technology officer of CarTrawler; and Steve Matise, global head of supplier management for Travelport.

Monday's opening keynote address featured a panel of representatives from car rental and travel platforms (l to r: Steve Matise of Travelport, Imad Khalidi of Auto Europe, and Bobby Healy of CarTrawler). Photo by Steve Reed.

We consider ourselves an intermediary between the car rental companies and the consumer, said Khalidi. We brokers need to bring incremental business to the car rental companies with the right product at the right price, the right moment, and the right location.

The panelists also discussed the relationship between rental car prices and customer service.

Through our system, 62% of the cars that are rented arent the cheapest prices, Healy said. Price only affects a small part of the business; it really comes down to quality score. No amount of low pricing fixes a bad score.

The American Car Rental Associations general session covered specifics of the new recall legislation that passed as part of the 2015 transportation bill. Additionally, the session featured Bob Kolasky of the Department of Homeland Security, who discussed threats of terrorism and how rental car employees can educate themselves on suspicious activity.

Sharon Faulkner (at podium) and the other members of the American Car Rental Association Board (l to r: Gordon Reel, Greg Scott) addressed the legislative issues facing the car rental industry, including the recent passage of the recall bill. Photo by Steve Reed.

Terrorists have used rental cars as a means to go out and attempt terrorist activities, said Kolasky. Train your employees to report suspicious activity  such as someone providing multiple names on paperwork or using cash for large transactions, or if a vehicle is returned with unusual burn marks or odor.

During Tuesdays breakfast seminar, Peter Smith, Enterprise Holdings' vice president of global franchising, discussed the companys global expansion efforts. Since 2012, Enterprise has expanded its brands to more than 75 countries through franchising, acquisition, and investment.

Referencing China, Australia, and New Zealand as markets Enterprise has entered recently through partnerships or franchising, Smith said the company is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region for growth, with an eye to expand into Africa in the future. Our map is pretty full, but we still have a ways to go.

Peter Smith, vice president of global franchising for Enterprise Holdings, discussed Enterprise's ongoing expansion of its three brands: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent-A-Car, and National Car Rental. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.

Concurrent sessions featured various topics, including how to grow business-to-business rentals, how to use Graves Amendment to lower liability expense, tips for improving online marketing and phone sales, and how to motivate millennials in the workplace.

The seminar, The Recall Law Is Law  What Now? dove into how the new law will impact rental car operations. Panelists offered best practices on compliance and operational and customer service challenges.



The biggest burden we have right now is having to open 638 pieces of mail (recall notifications from NHTSA) to find out that 330 of them are for vehicles we no longer own, said Mike DeLorenzo, executive vice president of International Franchise Systems.

If youre just checking the NHTSA database once a week or once a month, I guarantee youre going to miss recalls, said Ross MacDonald, chief marketing officer for AutoAp. The sooner you know the status of a recall, the sooner you can get in line with the authorized franchised dealer to get it repaired.

Dont think that just because youre a little guy that you dont have any influence, DeLorenzo said, referencing how even the small car dealerships have strong relationships with legislators. You need to get involved in the process. I think our industry, we havent done that. Were seeing the consequences of not being involved with our legislators from long ago.

Niche Know-How

Designed for car rental operators serving Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, the third annual Latin American meeting was held on Monday April 18.

During the International Meet and Greet, foreign operators had the opportunity to network with other international attendees as well as operators from the U.S. Photo by Steve Reed.

It featured seven seminars covering issues facing the Latin American market today, including trends on booking cars through online travel agencies and brokers, how to strengthen standards for the market, maintaining employee engagement, and the investors view of the Latin American car rental market.

The show also featured a day of programming for another niche audience: auto dealers looking to strengthen their loaner programs. Opening with a view of the loaner market from representatives of four auto manufacturers, seminars covered topics such as tips for managing your rental and loaner business, how to develop a unique brand identity, and insight into the legal questions facing dealer rental programs.

Connected Car is Coming

The show concluded with a session focused on the future of transportation: connected car technology. Currently, the U.S. Department of Transportation is working with stakeholders to implement this connectivity.

Egan Smith of the U.S. Department of Transportation addressed the future of connected car technology and how it could impact the car rental industry. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.

Egan Smith, managing director of the U.S. Department of Transportations Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, addressed the impact of the connected car on the car rental industry in the U.S. and globally, as well as government mandates for implementation and pilot deployment programs.

A connected vehicle talks to other connected vehicles and advanced roadside infrastructure such as traffic signals as quickly as 10 times per second.

Connected vehicles have the potential to reduce non-impaired crash scenarios by 80%, said Smith. It provides 360-degree awareness with a range of 300 meters.

The 2017 International Car Rental Show will be held March 27-29 at Ballys Hotel and Casino.

Robert Muhs Wins Russell Bruno Award Robert Muhs. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher. Robert Muhs received the 2016 Russell Bruno Award for outstanding service to the auto rental industry at Tuesdays closing general session. Muhs serves as vice president, government affairs, corporate compliance, and business ethics for Avis Budget Group and is a member of the American Car Rental Associations board of directors. I am honored and humbled in being the recipient of the 2016 Russell Bruno Award, said Muhs. I am blessed to have a supportive management team at Avis Budget, colleagues at the American Car Rental Association and at Auto Rental News, and family that have allowed me to take on many legislative challenges. After 22 years in the rental car industry, Muhs is considered the dean of government relations within the industry. He has played active roles in the passage of the Graves Amendment, the Safe Rental Car Act, and various state initiatives, including allowing the sale of damage waivers in New York. Sharon Faulkner, executive director of the American Car Rental Association (ACRA), presented Muhs with the award. (Bob) has devoted most of his professional life to fighting literally thousands of legislative battles that affect the way we do business, said Faulkner. Bob is a force to be reckoned with when he presents his views and defends our car rental companies at legislative hearings. He is highly respected by his peers in governmental affairs throughout the country. The Russell J. Bruno Award has been given at the Car Rental Show since 2004 and recognizes outstanding service to the auto rental industry.

Attendees had several opportunities to interact in the expanded exhibit hall. Photo by Steve Reed.

In the booth for PurCo Fleet Services, attendes had the chance to interact with creatures you wouldn't want to find in a rental car. Photo by Steve Reed.

In the exhibit hall, Toyota's booth featured a virtual reality safety demonstration. Photo by Steve Reed.

During one of 12 concurrent sessions, panelists (l to r) Doris Morningstar of Hibu, Ian Kusinitz of Empire Rent A Car, and Jon Dill of NextCar, Priceless, and Rent-A-Wreck offered tips to improve a rental agent's phone performance and even rated several recorded calls. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.

The show featured several opportunities for networking, including a welcome cocktail reception on Sunday night. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.
Aero Electric Aircraft Corp.s solar-electric Sun Flyer airplane made its first public appearance at Centennial Airport in Colorado Wednesday. The proof-of-concept model, in development as a low-cost, environmentally friendly trainer, will be the test aircraft for its FAA certification, AEA said. The company also announced during a rollout event it is partnering with the University of Denvers Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science to research uses for electric propulsion, including unmanned aerial systems. Meanwhile, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology  which had ordered the first 20 Sun Flyers for a future training program  said Wednesday it will reserve five additional airplanes.

The Sun Flyer, a two-seat, low-wing trainer, features solar cells on the wings, lithium-ion battery packs and an electric motor that AEA says is quieter than conventional aircraft motors and is emission-free. Designed for flight schools, the aircraft will come with a tailored training program that AEA is developing in partnership with Redbird Flight. Flight tests for the Sun Flyer are expected to begin soon and continue through the end of 2016.
The Weekenders SocialFlight calendar turned up some busy events with lots in store for vintage enthusiasts, all taking place on Saturday.

Join fellow pilots for a grassroots fly-in to Massey, Maryland, where you can tour the Massey Air Museum and share your best chili recipe and/or hors doeuvre item. Good weather brings over 100 aircraft, especially taildraggers, biplanes and antiques landing on the ample, firm grass runway.

Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an antique car show, antique airplane static display, RC demos and plenty of other activities.

The Arkansas Wing of Angel Flight South Central will host a fly-in at Searcy Municipal Airport in the Bulldog Helicopters Hangar. Presentations willinclude non-towered airport operations, ATC operations, ADS-B avionics, maintenance and Angel Flight operations.Register for this event online so the host can provide a free barbecue lunch.

Brewton Municipal Airport in Alabama will host its sixth annual fly-in, with plenty of activities for all including airplane rides, military aircraft displays, hot air balloons, ultralights and rotorcraft, plus live music and food vendors.
11 May 2016 19:08 (UTC+04:00)

Military attaches of foreign countries accredited in Azerbaijan have today visited the frontline to view the area in Askipara village in Tartar where the Armenians-fired white phosphorus bomb, the use of which was banned by international conventions, fell.

Organized by Azerbaijan`s ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, the visit involved more than 20 representatives of military attaches of 13 countries, as well as field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Manager at Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Madat Mammadov said that an unexploded white phosphorous bomb was found in the village of Askipara, Tartar, on May 10. This was a 122mm mortar bomb, the use of which was prohibited by international conventions. It contains 3.08kg of white phosphorous. Weighing 27.07kg, the bomb was found at the depth of 2.3m. Due to the soft ground the bomb did not explode, and phosphorus leaked into the soil to the depth of 2m.

He said that the 1980 Protocol III on Incendiary Weapons of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons restricted the use of incendiary weapons as a means or method of warfare during armed conflict. Despite this, Armenia uses this munitions even against civilian population, he added.

Head of Tartar District Executive Authority Mustaqim Mammadov drew the military attaches` attention to the fact that 17 residential areas located close to the line of contact were shelled by the Armenian armed forces in April alone. Some 256 houses were damaged and 32 were destroyed in the shelling. Seven civilians were wounded, two IDPs were killed, he said.

ANAMA inspected 286 points, where the agency`s specialists found 60 unexploded ordnances. The use of banned munitions proves that Armenia targets civilian population.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hikmat Hajiyev told journalists that Armenia grossly violated all its commitments and obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law, as they continue to shell civilian population from heavy artillery. Armenia`s using the banned white phosphorous bomb is not a means or method of warfare. Their only goal is to commit terror, provocation and kill civilians, he said.

During this visit of the military attaches the fact of Armenians` using the prohibited white phosphorous bomb against civilians will be documented, and presented to international organizations, including the OSCE, and United Nations, Mr Hajiyev added.

White phosphorus (WP, chemical formula: P4) is a chemical substance that is white to yellow translucent, wax-like and has a pungent, garlic-like, acrid odor. White phosphorus ignites spontaneously upon exposure to air (it is pyrophoric) at a temperature of around 30-34 degrees Celsius (or lower) by reaction with oxygen. Regardless of intended purpose, weapons containing WP can have severe negative impacts on human health.

WP causes severe, partial to full-thickness thermal and chemical burns upon contact with skin, often down to the bone. Usually the phosphorus is scattered in small adhesive lumps, which result in a great number of fairly small but deep burns. If the burning phosphorus particles remain unextinguished, muscles and other deep tissues may be damaged, resulting in permanent loss of motor function.

WP is extremely toxic when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through burned areas. WP is also highly soluble in fat, and thus in human flesh. Absorbed through the skin WP can survive long enough in the human body to damage the heart, kidney or liver, leading to multiple organ failure or death. There is no antidote for white phosphorus toxicity. Burns from WP are slow to heal and likely to develop infections.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 15:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Gulgiz Dadashova

As the tensions on the frontline of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops strain the limits, the OSCE Minsk Group tasked with brokering a peace between the conflict sides has voiced a necessity of a presidential meeting.

In a joint statement issued on May 12, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group said in light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the Line of Contact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet.

Noting that there can be no success in negotiations if violence continues, and there can be no peace without a negotiation process, Ambassadors Igor Popov, James Warlick and Pierre Andrieu named Vienna as the venue for the long-awaited talks.

Our foreign ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion, the statement reads.

Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan last met in December 2015 in Bern to mull the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged due to Armenias illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Holding such a meeting was then regarded as a positive sign for the resolution of the conflict as the presidents did not meet for over a year. But, the Armenian side once again was able to smash hopes for peace staging provocations on the frontline.

Though the Bern meeting was expected to hush the intensive ceasefire breaches on the contact line, the situation indeed has worsened even more. Azerbaijans positions come under intensive fire of the Armenian armed forces on a daily basis.

Azerbaijan and Armenia called a truce exactly 22 years ago, on May 12 1994, to end the devastating war, but violence has flared up from time to time, most recently along the frontline of the troops. The Armenian troops most recently resorted to the aggression and provoked a deadly exchange of artillery fire in early April.

The mediating group and mainly Russia have pushed for a resumption of the peace talks as a vehicle for dialogue. However, the war rhetoric rose up following Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans refusal to sit at the negations table, despite Bakus repeated call for peace.

The Azerbaijani authorities have voiced commitment to continue the talks, emphasizing that the status quo cannot be kept and the Armenian occupation troops must leave the Azerbaijani lands.

Experts and politicians agree that keeping the status quo raises fears for anew of all-out war, which can spread to larger area than its region.

The current situation remains highly complicated and sensitive, they say. There's still enormous tension, enormous mistrust between the parties and diplomacy is what is needed to get us out of this tinderbox.

Will Yerevan show constructive position in talks  that is what concerns Baku.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 17:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Use of chemical weapon by Armenia while shelling the Azerbaijani settlements on the frontline area turned out a big story attracting huge attention.

Armenia grossly violated a Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT), which it has signed, using phosphorus artillery shell with regard to Azerbaijan, whose 20 percent of territory it keeps under occupation ignoring the UN SC resolution on immediate withdrawal.

Maya Kocijancic, representative of the European External Action Service (EEAS), reminded Armenia of the obligations taken by the country after signing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT).

Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT is an international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) found an Armenian unexploded white phosphorus artillery shell on May 10 during demining operations in the area.

The foreign military attaches visited the area next day to see by their own eyes the evidences of Armenian attack. The group included representatives of the German embassy, which holds the presidency in the OSCE this year.

The EU has no information that Armenia withdrew from the agreements under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons, Kocijancic told Trend. She also added that Armenia is a party to the agreement on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons since 1993, and signed the additional Protocol on safeguards agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1997. All participants of the agreement are regularly inspected by the IAEA.

Konstantin Mashovets, Ukrainian Armed forces Lieutenant Colonel and military expert, also expressed his thoughts over the issue. The application of the unexploded munitions with a chemical substance contradicts the requirements of the international instruments, he told Day.az news portal while commenting the use of chemical weapons by Armenia.

If Armenians in fact used chemical weapons in the course of fighting, then they can face with dire consequences, including the imposition of embargoes and sanctions, and this country should be internationally prosecuted. Azerbaijan must bring this fact to the attention of the world community.

Mashovets emphasized that defeat radius of chemical shells is high and if Azerbaijan proves the usage of chemical munitions by Armenia to international community, the reaction will be highly negative.

The use of such weapons is negatively perceived in the world and was repeatedly banned by various international agreements, including the Hague Convention of 1899, the Geneva Protocol of 1925, the Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons from 1993. In this case, the country that has applied and applies such weapons should be punished in accordance with the requirements of international conventions, the expert concluded.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Joseph S. Nye

Donald Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive US presidential nominee, has expressed deep skepticism about the value of Americas alliances. His is a very nineteenth-century view of the world.

Back then, the United States followed George Washingtons advice to avoid entangling alliances and pursued the Monroe Doctrine, which focused on US interests in the Western Hemisphere. Lacking a large standing army (and with a navy that in the 1870s was smaller than Chiles), the US played a minor role in the nineteenth-century global balance of power.

That changed decisively with Americas entry into World War I, when Woodrow Wilson broke with tradition and sent US troops to fight in Europe. Moreover, he proposed a League of Nations to organize collective security on a global basis.

But, after the Senate rejected US membership in the League in 1919, the troops stayed home and America returned to normal. Though it was now a major global actor, the US became virulently isolationist. Its absence of alliances in the 1930s set the stage for a disastrous decade marked by economic depression, genocide, and another world war.

Ominously, Trumps most detailed speech on foreign policy suggests that he takes his inspiration from precisely this period of isolation and America First sentiment. Such sentiment has always been a current in US politics, but it has remained out of the mainstream since the end of World War II for good reason: It hinders, rather than advances, peace and prosperity at home and abroad.

The turn away from isolation and the beginning of the American century in world politics was marked by President Harry Trumans decisions after WWII, which led to permanent alliances and a military presence abroad. The US invested heavily in the Marshall Plan in 1948, created NATO in 1949, and led a United Nations coalition that fought in Korea in 1950. In 1960, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a security treaty with Japan. American troops remain in Europe, Japan, and Korea to this day.

While the US has had bitter partisan differences over disastrous interventions in developing countries such as Vietnam and Iraq, there is a bedrock of consensus on its alliance system  and not just among those who make and think about foreign policy. Opinion polls show popular majorities in support of NATO and the US-Japan alliance. Nonetheless, for the first time in 70 years, a major US presidential candidate is calling this consensus into question.

Alliances not only reinforce US power; they also maintain geopolitical stability  for example, by slowing the dangerous proliferation of nuclear weapons. While US presidents and defense secretaries have sometimes complained about its allies low levels of defense spending, they have always understood that alliances are best viewed as stabilizing commitments  like friendships, not real-estate transactions.

Unlike the constantly shifting alliances of convenience that characterized the nineteenth century, modern American alliances have sustained a relatively predictable international order. In some cases, such as Japan, host-country support even makes it cheaper to station troops overseas than in the US.

And yet Trump extols the virtues of unpredictability  a potentially useful tactic when bargaining with enemies, but a disastrous approach to reassuring friends. Americans often complain about free riders, without recognizing that the US has been the one steering the bus.

It is not impossible that a new challenger  say, Europe, Russia, India, Brazil, or China  surpasses the US in the coming decades and takes the wheel. But it is not likely, either. Among the features that distinguish the US from the dominant great powers of the past, according to the distinguished British strategist Lawrence Freedman, is that American power is based on alliances rather than colonies. Alliances are assets; colonies are liabilities.

A narrative of American decline is likely to be inaccurate and misleading. More important, it holds dangerous policy implications if it encourages countries like Russia to engage in adventurous policies, China to be more assertive with its neighbors, or the US to overreact out of fear. America has many problems, but it is not in absolute decline, and it is likely to remain more powerful than any single state for the foreseeable future.

The real problem for the US is not that it will be overtaken by China or another contender, but that a rise in the power resources of many others  both states and non-state actors  will pose new obstacles to global governance. The real challenge will be entropy  the inability to get work done.

Weakening Americas alliances, the likely result of Trumps policies, is hardly the way to make America great again. America will face an increasing number of new transnational issues that require it to exercise power with others as much as over others. And, in a world of growing complexity, the most connected states are the most powerful. As Anne-Marie Slaughter has put it, diplomacy is social capital; it depends on the density and reach of a nations diplomatic contacts.

The US, according to Australias Lowy Institute, tops the ranking of countries by number of embassies, consulates, and missions. The US has some 60 treaty allies; China has few. The Economist magazine estimates that of the worlds 150 largest countries, nearly 100 lean toward the US, while 21 lean against it.

Contrary to claims that the Chinese century is at hand, we have not entered a post-American world. The US remains central to the workings of the global balance of power, and to the provision of global public goods.

But American preeminence in military, economic, and soft-power terms will not look like it once did. The US share of the world economy will fall, and its ability to wield influence and organize action will become increasingly constrained. More than ever, Americas ability to sustain the credibility of its alliances as well as establish new networks will be central to its global success.

Copyright: Project Syndicate:How Trump Would Weaken America

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12 May 2016 10:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Brucellosis, a global infectious disease caused by a bacteria, remains a complicated issue for Azerbaijan, which experienced the tough epidemic situation with brucellosis in its several regions by the end of 1980s.



The disease remains an infection, affecting mainly rural populations in the country. Compared to winter, in summer and autumn, the cases of brucellosis increase in number.

Consumption of raw milk and cheese made of raw milk (fresh cheese) is the major source of infection in human. The infection is also transmitted through direct contact with infected materials like afterbirth or indirectly by ingestion of animal products and by inhalation of airborne agents.

Since brucellosis is transmitted from animal to man, its on the focus of veterinary professionals.

Rita Ismayilova, the department head at the National Anti-plague Station recommended to be careful while purchasing milk or dairy produce.



Some people buy home-made milk and cheese from milkman, which have not undergone heat treatment. People got infected with brucellosis through the use of such products. To avoid contracting the infection, its necessary to boil raw milk before drinking, and leave cheese in salt water for 60 days, and roast the meat thoroughly, she explained.

State Veterinary Service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture regularly vaccinates large and small ruminants for brucellosis. Every year a significant number of cattle heads are examined for detection of brucellosis.

Spokesman for the State Veterinary Yolchu Khanveli said that the agency begins to conduct mass vaccination against brucellosis among small cattle.

Animals will be vaccinated with Rev.1 applied by eye drops used worldwide, in accordance with the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health.

The vaccine is produced in the form of drops and injections. Rev.1 manufactured for injection produces immunity in animals for two years, while drops for 4-5 years. As immunization is carried out by conjunctival method, the drug is dripped into the animal's eyes. Animals from three months and older are vaccinated.

Specialists say that in connection with the preventive measures, the disease cases has reduced by several times compared to the past 5-6 years.

The disease usually begins with a high fever, which lasts for 7-10 days, but in case of absence of appropriate therapy, the temperature would keep up even by 2-3 months. The fever is accompanied with chills, excessive sweating and general symptoms of intoxication. Later, it is joined by symptoms of musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular, nervous and other body systems.

--

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12 May 2016 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan and Germany enjoy excellent political dialogue and economic cooperation, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as he met with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Foreign and Security Policies Advisor Christoph Heusgen as part of his working visit to Germany.

Mammadyarov stressed that President Ilham Aliyev's visits to Germany in the past two years gave a great boost to relations between the two countries.

The sides discussed Azerbaijan-EU relations, energy partnership, TAP and TANAP projects, economic relations, Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, and a range of international and regional problems.

Mammadyarov highlighted the current state of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

He said that the Armenian armed forces continue to commit military crimes against Azerbaijani civil population.

Noting the importance of OSCE's role in mediating the dispute, he said Azerbaijan believed that Germany would contribute to the process during its chairmanship of the OSCE.

During the visit, Mammadyarov also met with German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two ministers issued a joint statement for journalists before the meeting.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on Azerbaijan-Germany relations, cooperation prospects, as well as Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, international and regional issues.

Mammadyarov informed his German counterpart about the latest escalation on the line of contact of the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, and provocations of the Armenian armed forces who continue shelling Azerbaijani civilians.

The Azerbaijani minister said the OSCE should be more active in the settlement of the conflict, and expressed his hope that Germany would contribute to the process during its chairmanship of the OSCE.

They also hailed political dialogue and economic cooperation between the two countries.

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12 May 2016 09:23 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and command staff of the Ministry inspected the construction work in newly built military camps along the frontline, Azertac reports.

The Minister visited the headquarters, barracks, hardware depot, canteens, bath and laundry complex and other facilities that are under construction.

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12 May 2016 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a bleeding conflict and should not be left to future generations, believes Russian MP Leonid Slutsky.

Slutsky, who heads the State Duma Committee on the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Integration and Links with compatriots, said that recent hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia showed that the problem must be solved quickly.

In an interview to Azertac, he said the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very sensitive.

Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, both my colleagues and I always apprehend the responsibility," he said adding that the conflict can be solved in the next few years.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.

The Russian MP further said that Moscow considers the format of the OSCE Minsk Group as rational and efficient for maintaining peace in the region.

"But at the same time, we understand that the seven year old Madrid principles, have not been yet implemented, he said.

I am sure that the politicians are doing everything possible to promote the settlement of this conflict," Slutsky emphasized, adding that despite all the efforts of parliamentarians, heads of state and foreign ministers will always play a major role in the resolution of this complex conflict.

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12 May 2016 11:32 (UTC+04:00)

The Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles hosted an event dedicated to the 93rd birthday anniversary of Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev on May 10, 2016.

Titled Heydar Aliyev: The Founder and Architect of Modern Azerbaijan, the event was attended by Los Angeles County officials, Consular Corps members, representatives of various ethnic and religious communities, academics, as well as media reporters.

Welcoming the guests, Consul General Nasimi Aghayev spoke about the extraordinary life path of Heydar Aliyev and his outstanding role and tireless work in the preservation and strengthening of Azerbaijans independent and sovereign statehood. Highlighting the many difficult challenges the National Leader faced in preserving Azerbaijans independence and in shielding it from potential fragmentation, and how masterfully he overcame these difficulties, the Consul General said that the memory of Heydar Aliyev will always live in the hearts and minds of the Azerbaijani people.

Continuing the policies set forth by the National Leader, President Ilham Aliyev has taken many measures that have enabled Azerbaijan to undergo a tremendous transformation to become the largest political and economic power in the region and one of the most rapidly developing and modernizing countries in the world.

Following the Consul Generals remarks, Ms. Nancy Pearlman, dressed in Azerbaijani national costume, presented the premiere of one of the five documentary films on Azerbaijan that were produced by her EMMY-nominated ECONEWS Television and Radio Series.

Titled Azerbaijan: Land of Hope and Inspiration, the documentary provides information about Azerbaijans rich and colorful culture, history, traditions, architecture, beautiful regions and nature as well as tourism opportunities. The film also highlights the steady development of Azerbaijan as an independent nation, and the countrys positive multiculturalism and successful model of multi-faith tolerance and harmony, which allows for Muslims, Christians, Jews and representatives of other faiths to continue to live together in peace and mutual respect. All five films were produced with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Consulate General in Los Angeles. The premiere of the film Azerbaijan: Land of Hope and Inspiration received great ovations.

The event continued then with a photo exhibition reflecting different periods of Heydar Aliyevs life.

--

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12 May 2016 11:14 (UTC+04:00)

The U.S. has apparently chosen not to take any significant action in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Matthew Bryza, the former U.S. assistant secretary for South Caucasus and former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend May 11.

"It looks like the United States has decided to do nothing as the Minsk Group co-chair," added Bryza.

He noted that Russia took an active role in this process.

U.S. President Barack Obama didn't issue any statement at all at the moment of serious violence on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies, said Bryza.

"It looks like the U.S. cleans the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to lead the region and this is the big mistake of the U.S.," he added.

The former ambassador said the U.S. could do more for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but it is not a priority for that country.

On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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12 May 2016 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The Azerbaijani parliament considered several amendments during its plenary session on May 10.

Parliamentarians propose to make amendments to the list of activities violating personal immunity. The law in effect envisages criminal responsibility for the deed. The amendment is proposed to the Criminal Code.

In accordance with the proposed amendment, acquisition of personal information by means of controlled unmanned devices will be regarded as violation of personal immunity. The amendment is aimed at the protection provision of personal life from outside interference.

The current law envisages a penalty should the deed is committed by an executive with the use of controlled unmanned devices. In accordance with the amendment proposed to the Criminal Code the punishment for the deed will be disqualification from holding certain positions for the term of up to two years, and arrest in certain cases.

The current Criminal code envisages fining at the rate of from 100 to 500 manats or corrective work for the term of up to one year for illegal information gathering about individuals, which is considered to be their personal or family secret, information dissemination, sale or transfer of the informative videos, photographs, and audio tracks. The amendment specifies that the penalty for the deed is disqualification from holding certain positions for the term of up to three years, and arrest with the term of up to two years in certain cases should the above mentioned act is committed by an executive.

The postponement of military service for students of masters or doctorate degree courses is no longer under consideration. The parliamentary committee on science has excluded from the bill on science a clause on assigning a delay from military service for students of master's and doctor's degree courses.

Isa Habibbeyli, parliamentary committee chairman on the issues of science and education and vice-president of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), said that the amendment was excluded from the draft law taking into consideration escalation of the tension on the frontline between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is inappropriate to allow for postponing military service while the country is under war conditions, Habibeyli said.

The article of the law on military service that allowed postponing military service for students of Masters and Doctorate degree programs was abolished in 2006. The law in effect specifies that bachelors are eligible to continue their education on the mentioned programs only after military service.

The legislation on science was adopted in the first reading but it was mentioned that it requires improvement. New improved version of the legislation has been included on agenda of the plenary session which is scheduled for May 17.

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12 May 2016 16:03 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Camal

The achievement of peace in the region is important for the region and will pave the way to strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Britain.

British Minister of State for Europe David Lidington made the remake in his letter, which was read out at public hearings held at the British Parliament over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azertac reports.

Lidington highlighted his concern over recent tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and casualties in recent battles, reminding that he signed the statement which called both sides to ceasefire on April 2.

Britain does not attend directly in negotiation but supports the efforts of international community and organizations such as the UN, OSCE for the solution of the conflict, the letter reads.

Britain hopes for the solution of the conflict within the framework of basic principles of Minsk Group and returning the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visited the region recently and direct consultations have been conducted with both sides. We will continue to call Azerbaijan and Armenia sides for strengthening peaceful negotiations.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan 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.

Azerbaijani MP Javansir Feyziyev, informing the British parliamentarians about the history of the conflict, reminded the division of Azerbaijan between Iran and Russia in 19th century and Armenians settlement in Azerbaijani lands after the division.

Those Armenians were mainly settled in Yerevan and Karabakh. Afterwards, Armenians made claims for the territories and occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories taking the advantage of the collapse of Soviet Union. Since that time, the conflict is a severe danger for the security and welfare, and also the obstacle for economic and social development, he said, voicing hope that the conflict will be resolved, peace will be restored and refugees and IDPs will return to their lands.

Azerbaijans ambassador Tahir Tagizade, for his part, reminded that Armenia is mono-ethnic country and Azerbaijani people became refugees and IDPs by Armenian force.

On contrary, Azerbaijan has never conducted any historical, cultural and ethnic cleaning as Armenia. The existence of the Armenian church in the center of Baku can be a good example despite continuing conflicts, he said.

The envoy further stated that the international community fails to force Armenia to peaceful solution of the conflict. The clashes occur in internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian provocations. It is our natural right to defend our internationally recognized territories and answer the threats against our sovereignty.

The silence of the international community to Armenias unfair behaviors leads to Armenias insistence on its unconstructive position. In April war, Armenia not only violated the ceasefire constantly, but also started to shoot the civilians. During the 4-day war, we did not intend to get strategic altitude and we made this step for the safety of civilians, he said.

The ambassador applauded fair position of Britain in the conflict, urging the UK and other countries to play a bigger role in the resolution of the conflict considering their historical relations with the region.

Armenia needs to understand that they cannot accomplish anything by violence and force. Restoration of peace and sovereignty, commerce and economic development as well as establishment of well-grounded relations is related to this, he concluded.

Long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared again on April 2 when the Armenian side began to shell the Azerbaijani positions and settlements along the frontline. To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and repulsed the enemy forces back. On April 5, the two sides agreed on a ceasefire. However, the Armenian forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline almost every day targeting civilians and shelling villages.

Baku has already announced that the ceasefire does not mean that Azerbaijans occupied lands will remain under occupation. Azerbaijan has agreed to ceasefire but warned that it will not turn blind eye if Armenian side commits provocation. Baku is ready for peace and sits at the table of negations, but it will not tolerate the endless occupation of its historical lands.

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12 May 2016 17:49 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

About 1,500 foreigners were expelled from Azerbaijan in April 2016 on the bass of 1,706 law breaches revealed by the county's State Migration Service.

Foreigners violated administrative legislative requirements such as rules of stay in the country as well as temporary and permanent residence procedures, Trend reports.

About 21 foreigners appealed with the request for issuance of new documents for temporary or permanent residency in the country by reason of their loss. Residence entitlement of 137 foreigners was legalized after fine imposition. 1,214 foreigners were expelled from the country within 48 hours. As many as 334 foreigners were expelled from the country in administrative order.

In total the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has received 9,384 appeals from foreigners and stateless persons on the subjects of prolongation of the term of stay in the country, issuance of permanent or temporary permits, acquisition, restoration and revocation of citizenship, determination of citizenship and refugee status, issuance and prolongation of labor activity licenses. The State Migration Service registered about 39,935 appeals from foreigners in connection with the registration upon place of stay in the last month.

The law in effect envisages that foreigners, stateless persons and citizens of other countries willing to stay in the country more than 30 days should be registered by the relevant department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In order to obtain a permit for temporary residence in the country foreigners and stateless persons should apply to the State Migration Service at least 22 working days before the expiry of the term of temporarily residence in the country.

The State Migration Service examined all appeals and took appropriate measures in accordance with the legislation of the country.

The State Migration Service is a special state authority implementing unified state policy in the migration sphere. Decree on establishment of State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan was signed on March 19, 2007. The Service is also concerned in the implementation of measures aimed at prevention of illegal migration.

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12 May 2016 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Ramazan Abdulatipov, the head of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation on May 12, Azertac reports.

President Aliyev, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and his own behalf, thanked Ramazan Abdulatipov and the brotherly people of Dagestan for their respect for the memory of outstanding statesman and public figure Aziz Aliyev.

The head of state praised the unveiling of the statue of Aziz Aliyev in Makhachkala yesterday, and highly appreciated the relevant decision of the head of the Republic of Dagestan.

The president said a large Azerbaijani delegation attended the unveiling ceremony. President Aliyev thanked Abdulatipov for warm and sincere words about national leader Heydar Aliyev, Aziz Aliyev and the Azerbaijani president during his speech at the ceremony.

President Aliyev noted that Aziz Aliyev was an outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan and Dagestan. President Aliyev said that he was twice as happy as the head of state and, at the same time, a grandchild of Aziz Aliyev that the people of Dagestan always respected and paid tribute to Aziz Aliyev and highly appreciated what he had done for the development of Dagestan and strengthening of relations between our peoples.

The president said such good traditions were among significant factors in the development of the bilateral ties between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan and cooperation between Dagestan ad Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev hailed the fact that Ramazan Abdulatipov was the editor of Aziz Aliyev and Dagestan book, and thanked him for finding time to write a book about Aziz Aliyev, for good words about him in the book, and for highlighting Aziz Aliyev`s services to Dagestan and Azerbaijan and his activities during the years of the Great Patriotic War.

The head of state said the days of culture of Dagestan start today in Azerbaijan, describing this as a significant event for the country.

Dagestan always was and will be a native land for us, where our brothers with whom we have historic ties, live, the head of state said.

President Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan-Dagestan brotherhood played a vital role in the development of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan, which the two countries regard as strategic.

The head of state said Azerbaijan was greatly satisfied with ongoing development processes, stable public and political situation in Dagestan under the leadership of Abdulatipov, and extended his congratulations on significant accomplishments.

Abdulatipov thanked the President for warm words and his attention to the issues of cooperation with Dagestan.

The foundations of the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan were laid by our national leaders Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin. Today, as the leader of the modern Azerbaijan, you continue the policy of developing our relations, which are based on strategic cooperation.

Vladimir Putin emphasized the role of inter-regional cooperation in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani ties back in 2001. My visit is based on that stance, and we develop our cooperation with Azerbaijan. Yesterday we celebrated the unveiling of the statue of outstanding statesman of Russia, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Dagestan Aziz Aliyev. Aziz Aliyev had repeatedly said that we were a single nation. Indeed, our historic ties, thousands of years old, have common roots, similar cultures and traditions. At the same time, we have been bound together with the Russian people for more than 200 years, he said

Abdulatipov recalled his previous meetings with President Aliyev, and emphasized the importance of the head of state`s position on the Russian language and culture.

During the meeting they exchanged views over different areas of cooperation.

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12 May 2016 15:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

France and Azerbaijan are keen to develop bilateral cooperation in different industries.

"French companies invested about 2.4 billion of dollars in the economy of Azerbaijan," Shahin Mustafaev, minister of economy said during the meeting with Marie-Ange Debon, Co-chairperson of Azerbaijan-France Business Council and senior Executive Vice-President of the SUEZ Group.

Addressing the meeting the minister mentioned that the economic ties between the countries are developing in different directions, currently some 40 companies funded by France are functioning in Azerbaijan. He called on French companies to invest in the spheres of agriculture, transport, construction, aviation, tourism, high-tech, and ecology and particularly to the project implemented in private sector.

Marie-Ange Debon, in her turn, underlined existing potential for the further development of cooperation between businessmen of the two countries. The visit will provide great opportunities for the acquaintance with business and investment potential of Azerbaijan, Debon said.

She expressed her confidence in continuing and diversifying economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and France.

Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) is keen to explore the perspectives of developing business ties with Azerbaijan. The visit which is the sixth in succession is expected to provide for large meetings and discussions on important political and economic issues with high-ranking representatives of the Azerbaijani government, heads of large state entities, local companies and international financial institutions functioning in Azerbaijan thus giving a stimulus for the further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and France in different spheres.

Aurelia Bushes, the ambassador of France to Azerbaijan also mentioned that Azerbaijan is a significant partner of France in the South Caucasus region. France is highly interested in broadening bilateral cooperation between the countries, she said.

The ambassador underlined that the economic reforms implemented in Azerbaijan provide for opportunities for foreign companies and very favorable conditions have been created in the country for foreign investors.

French companies are also participating in the petrochemical, food, agricultural, machine engineering, tourism and other spheres in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan attaches paramount significance to cooperation with France country as it is one of the Worlds leading countries. France assisted Azerbaijan in launching its first telecommunications satellite Azerspace which is considered to be one of the most important developments in the history of modern Azerbaijan. Turnover between the two countries in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to $233.13 million.

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12 May 2016 12:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The prospects for increasing bilateral cooperation in economics between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands is high on the agenda of talks in Baku, as a delegation led by Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands is visiting the country.

The Dutch delegation led by Henk Kamp arrived in Baku on May 11 to mull issues of mutual interest in the field of economy.

The delegation was received by President Ilham Aliyev, who described Azerbaijani-Dutch relations in political, economic and other spheres as successfully developing, saying all conditions were created in the country for foreign companies, including Dutch ones, to operate effectively.

Kamp said he was greatly impressed by the reconstruction work carried out in Azerbaijan and in capital Baku, adding that modern buildings made a harmony with samples of historical architecture here.

The Dutch minister hailed the level of relations between the two countries, praising the conditions created for Dutch companies in Azerbaijan.

As part of his visit, Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev hold a meeting with Henk Kamp.

Speaking at the event Mustafayev said that Dutch companies have invested in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan more than $330 million over the past three years.

He informed the participants about 112 companies with Dutch capitals operating in Azerbaijan, adding that a number of Dutch companies operating in Azerbaijan as contractors.

The minister said that there are ample opportunities for cooperation between the two states in various fields.

The sides proposed to expand cooperation in agriculture, ICT, energy, tourism, environment and transit cargo fields. Dutch companies were also invited to become residents of industrial parks and agro-parks.

After the two-day visit of the minister, an extensive business delegation of the Netherlands is expected to arrive in Baku. The upcoming business forum scheduled for May 17 is expected to play an important role in the development of relations between the two countries' businessmen.

Henk Kamp, for his part, praised the economic reforms implemented in the country and emphasized the opportunities for expansion of Dutch companies in Azerbaijan.



The relations between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan have strengthened over the past years. Companies with the Dutch capital operate in Azerbaijan in the spheres of shipbuilding, logistics, ecology and banking. A business center, which operates as a coordination center for companies, was created for strengthening business relations between the two countries.

Earlier Dutch Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Jan Gabrielse said the Netherlands is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in agriculture, adding that the main attractive areas for the Netherlands are water industry and lake water purification.

The trade turnover between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan amounted to $44.71 million in the first quarter of 2016, $21.65 million of which fell on exports to this country, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee.

A number of Dutch companies will take part in the agricultural exhibition Caspian Agro 2016, scheduled for May 19-21 in Baku. An exhibition hall of the Netherlands will be organized with support of the Dutch government.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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12 May 2016 14:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development expects growth in Azerbaijans economy in 2017.

The Regional Economic Prospects fresh report says that Azerbaijan is less susceptible to the negative effects of a slowdown in Chinese and Russian economies among other countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The fall in oil prices has had a negative impact on exporting raw materials. Other countries in the region have suffered from the recession in Russia, which is the main source of remittances and an important trading partner, the report reads.

A slowdown of Russian economy at one percent means slowing of GDP growth in several countries, however, this trend will have little effect to Azerbaijan, according to the bank.

The same is predicted for China. EBRD experts forecast that slowdown in China's GDP will weakly impact on Azerbaijans economy.

The EBRDs specialists predict one-percent growth for Azerbaijans economy in 2017, while in 2016 the bank expects the GDP to decline by 3 percent.

In 2015, Azerbaijan's economy grew by 1.1 percent. The strong GDP growth of 5.7 percent in the first half of 2015 is partly due to a large volume of construction projects. With the fall of the oil price, the growth slowed in the second half of last year and led to a reduction of export in the country, the report says.

The EBRD has been active in Azerbaijan since the country's independence.



The bank allocated billions of euros to finance more than hundred projects in various sectors of the economy in Azerbaijan since the beginning of cooperation in September 1992. Azerbaijan, the largest recipient of the EBRD funds in the Caucasus, is also one of the largest recipients in the CIS and Eastern Europe.



Since the beginning of cooperation the Bank has allocated 2.55 billion euros for projects in Azerbaijan, 55 percent of which was aimed at developing the private sector. The current portfolio of the EBRD in Azerbaijan amounts to almost 1.1 billion euros.

One of the EBRD's priorities in Azerbaijan is to contribute to the growth of the non-oil private sector by investing in dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises.

--

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12 May 2016 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Gulgiz Dadashova

The state of Azerbaijan is working to create a more attractive business environment, and make the country alluring for foreign investments.

"The ongoing active and deep economic reforms pursue this aim," said President Ilham Aliyev while talking to French businessmen.

President Aliyev received on May 11 a delegation of MEDEF, Movement of the Enterprises of France, visiting Baku to explore the perspectives of developing business ties with Azerbaijan.

The ways of bringing French investment, technology and services to Azerbaijan to help boost local production, investment and support economic growth in 2016 were the main focus of talks in Baku.

The two enjoy a common interest in developing the collaboration and partnership in economy, as the bilateral ties rely on strong political ties.

In a speech to leading French businessmen, the president praised the bilateral political ties, and reciprocal visits of the two countries leaders, noting that the solid political base offers new opportunities for doing business.

The French companies invested about $2.4 billion in Azerbaijan's economy, while over 40 companies with French capital operate in Azerbaijan. French companies are also involved in projects implemented by public investment. The trade turnover with France amounted to $233.13 million in the first quarter of 2016, of which $200.89 million fell on export to this country.

Bulk of French investments, surely falls to share of the oil and gas industry. However, of course, given the priority to diversify the economy, we would like to see more investment in other sectors, President Aliyev said.

Mentioning that the bilateral economic cooperation is already quite diverse and covers the areas of transport, as well as space industry, President Aliyev voiced an interest in launching the cooperation in the agricultural sector

Several projects have already been launched. The sector has great potential and is among priorities for Azerbaijan in expanding export opportunities, the president explained.

As the global energy sector still shows volatility, Azerbaijan is betting on agriculture. Agricultural sector which is one of the leading parts of non-oil sector projected to grow by 5.5 percent in 2016 and average of 5.2 percent in next 3 years.

France is the most dominant agricultural center of Europe: its share of the value of EU agricultural production is 18.1 percent. The sector plays the role of a crucial driver of growth and employment, as it ensures jobs for over 1.4 million people and provides 3.5 percent of national GDP.

Further hailing the bilateral ties in humanitarian sphere, the president reminded that a French lyceum operates in Baku while the work is underway for creating Azerbaijani-French University.

Surely, the humanitarian sphere does not create directly any business activity. However, it plays a very important role in promoting friendly relations and creating mutual understanding and partnership, emphasized President Aliyev.

The president further voiced his confidence that the developed economic cooperation will draw attention to sectors which are of priority for Azerbaijan.

Currently, Azerbaijan works to reduce dependence on oil prices, oil and gas sector establish a sustainable economy that will be able to provide a good standard of living for people. We are working in this direction, we carry out economic reforms and reforms in the area of increasing employment in Azerbaijan.

Over the past 15 years, $200 billion have been invested in Azerbaijan, with half being foreign investments. However, the bulk of foreign investment was made in oil and gas sector. And today it is necessary to pay more attention to other areas of the economy, the president said, adding that despite the fall in revenues the financial situation is stable.

President Aliyev stated that 2017-2018 will be a period of very active development of non-oil sector, noting that public and private investment have already been planned, while infrastructure projects will be of priority in investment making.

Once again noting the necessity of drawing more foreign investment into the country, President Aliyev stressed the necessity of finding a balance between the interests of investors and the interests of Azerbaijan.

So far, I think we coped with this task. However, this year is the year of the new economic situation. As I have repeatedly pointed out, we have entered the post-oil period. We cannot say that the petroleum era is over. We just have to leave aside this factor and shape our economic strategy as if we do not have oil and gas, the president said.

The projects creating conditions for business activity are of priority, the president added.

French Ambassador to Baku Aurelia Bouchez, who also took part in the meeting, in turn noted that the variety of sectors that the MEDEF delegation represents demonstrate the dynamics of the economic cooperation.

Meanwhile, Marie-Ange Debon, Co-chairperson of Azerbaijan-France Business Council and Senior Executive Vice-President of the SUEZ Group voiced readiness to continue operating in Azerbaijan and expand the ties.

During the Baku visit, the delegation also met with Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, who invited French companies to invest in the areas of agriculture, transport, construction, aviation, tourism, high technology, the environment and others, especially in the projects implemented in the private sector.
12 May 2016 14:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Baku will host a Week of Iranian Films co-organized by the Iranian embassys culture center and Azerbaijans Tourism and Culture Ministry.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for May 14 at Nizami Cinema Center, the center reported.

The film 'A bite of sugar' will be demonstrated on May 15 and on May 16, while the visitors will be able to enjoy the film 'Painting pool' on May 17.

Azerbaijan and Iran have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and diplomatic relations between the two countries were reestablished in 1992.

Currently, the two countries are focused on expanding economic ties in various fields, including industry, agriculture, energy, alternative energy, and transportation.

Iran is one of the top destinations for Azerbaijan tourists, while Azerbaijan continues to attract tourists from neighboring Iran. The country unilaterally abolished its visa regime with Azerbaijan in 2009, thus giving Azerbaijani citizens the opportunity to travel to Iran without a visa.

Today, the Land of Fire is developing its tourism potential and together with Iran may attract more tourists from around the world.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 16:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The catalog of works of the talented young Azerbaijani artist Maryam Alekberli was handed over to Vaticans Ministry of Culture, Azertac reports.

The catalog will be stored in the Ministry of Culture of the Holy See.

Vatican's Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture Monsignor Sanchez de Toca Alameda stressed that works of the young artist made wonderful impressions and her art imagination admired.

"Rich genetic talent and art abilities of this young girl are delightful. The sanctity coming from works of the young artist whom God has allocated unique talent gives to the viewer purity and cleanness. Bright, warm colors of works reflect innocence and purity of her inner world. These works breathing the paradise atmosphere urge the person to live, being guided by such divine concepts as sanctity, belief, religion, service to God who has created the Universe," said Alameda.

Then, he presented the catalog of works to the Pope.

Alameda noted that he represented Vatican at the first European Games in Baku. He said that he would meet and get closer acquainted with the works of the young artist during her following visit to Vatican.

The official is planning to hold Maryam's exhibition in the Holy See in the near future.

Born in 1991, Alakbarli developed a taste for painting and sculpting at a very early age and got actively involved in children's art to a point that her works went on exhibitions. Her works, including four of her albums, were displayed in Baku, Paris, Istanbul, Ankara, Rome and Moscow.

While suffering from Down's syndrome, lists of her work which mainly characterize educational themes are representative of her zeal and creativity.

Sensing deeply the real world with its problems, Maryam heartily incarnates her works with the warmness of her heart, her subtle perception of reality, although not appreciated in the way she warrants, she shows all the beauty of the world by dints of the language of colors and brush.



Maryam's art works have earned big success both in her motherland Azerbaijan and beyond its borders including Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey Lithuania and France.

Once, Juliette Binoche, world famous French actress, says, "Maryam has her own vision on the color combination." She shares her feeling of being impressed on the creativity of the young artist by stating that "Rose-red, yellow and brown tint, bright green, bloody red, black as antimony - she boldly works with these colors, like the nature creating the bright and harmonious world."

Earlier in 2013, "Colours of the Soul", a catalogue which features paintings of Maryam including her approval and appraisal by other artists, came out.



The colorfully illustrated catalogue, which was printed by the publishing house Sharq-Qarb, has published a complete series of the talented painter's light work.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 11:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Overweight is one of the most common problems related to lifestyle today.

Its not no longer a secret that severe overweight or obesity is a key risk factor in the development of many chronic diseases such as heart and respiratory diseases, or diabetes, hypertension and some cancers, as well as early death.

An escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity  globesity  is taking over many parts of the world. Today overweight threaten more than a billion of world population, according to the World Health Organization.

In Azerbaijan, in turn, some 60 percent of the population are suffering from overweight says Deputy Director of the Republican Endocrinology Center Babek Salek.

One of the major reasons of weight gain in the society, according to the doctor, is family traditions.

In some families, members lead a healthy lifestyle, often walk and go hiking. In others there is a real cult of food. Although genetic factor is regarded as one of reasons for overweight, not always the genes are to be blamed for excessive weight. Food culture in the family plays its role in this matter, he told local media.

The statistics shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled over the past five years in Azerbaijan, however, some experts consider that the situation with childhood obesity is not acute in Azerbaijan compared to Western countries.

Meanwhile, the recent research among the CIS countries has shown that some 25.2 percent of women and 17.8 percent of men are suffering from overweight. Lithuania is the leader among post-Soviet countries by the number of people suffering from overweight and obesity.

Sedentary lifestyle, one of the fourth largest causes of preventable death, also causes to overweight and obesity. Salek noted that people today are moving less, work of many are closely associated with computer, thats why active lifestyle seems impossible.

Effect of fast-food on obesity is probably known to everyone, and new fast-food cafes also contributed to increase of number of overweight people.

Me personally object the sale of fast food and soft drinks in school canteens, the doctor said.

Salek claims that women are more vulnerable to overweight.

For adolescent girls overweight may contribute to increased production of male hormones, what can increase body hair. Often obesity is due to hormonal problems. But very rarely someone sees a doctor in connection with obesity, he said.

Feeling of fullness typically presents immediately after or within 20 to 30 minutes after eating. Thats why doctors recommend to eat slowly and in small portions.

Today people are taking any measures for weight loss including medicine and surgery such as gastrectomy, which brings to the removal of a part of the stomach.



I am against such measures, because the stomach produces a variety of hormones and cutting it just to please your body figure is a wrong decision, he said.

Another way to get slim is liposuction, and its supporters believe that there is nothing easier than to sleep thick, and wake up slim. However, Salek believes that liposuction, like any surgery, can be traumatic, and there is no guarantee how it will end.

Looking slim is a desire of everyone, but is that worth such radical solution? Yet one should decide by own, but the most secure approach would be wiser.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 11:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Natural resource rich Azerbaijan decided to purchase gas from neighboring Russia in order to maintain oil production.

Azerbaijan's state-owned energy company SOCAR submitted a proposal to Russian Gazprom to purchase from 3 to 5 billion cubic meters of gas a year, Rovnag Abdullayev, SOCARs President told on May 11.

SOCAR is currently waiting for Gazproms decision, Abdullayev said, adding that there is no progress in talks with the Russian side at the moment.

He further noted that Azerbaijans natural gas is primarily needed for injection into reservoirs at the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of oil and gas fields on the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea, that's to say, to maintain a stable oil production.

The gas purchase will enable SOCAR to increase the volume of its injection into reservoirs, as well as, to test the capacity of gas storage facilities, said Abdullayev. Currently, their capacity amounts to about 3.5 billion cubic meters, but it is possible to increase it to more than 5 billion cubic meters, he added.

The gas swap with Gazprom will enable Azerbaijan to ensure the gas supply to southern regions of Russia and to test its own gas storage facilities in Kalmaz and Garadagh.

At the present, Gazprom has a contract for purchasing gas from Azerbaijan. This contract provides possibility to suspend and resume the gas supply any time.

Gazprom supplies 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to Azerbaijan since September 2015 in accordance with the five-year contract which offers possibility of extension.

SOCAR is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate, marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in domestic and international markets, as well as, supplying natural gas to industry and the public in Azerbaijan.

Three production divisions, one oil refinery and one gas processing plant, a deep water platform fabrication yard, two trusts, one institution, and 23 subdivisions are operating as corporate entities under SOCAR.

It has representative offices in Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Iran, Germany and Ukraine, as well as, trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore, Vietnam, Nigeria, and other countries.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 18:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Azerbaijan's energy giant SOCAR has still failed to find a buyer for its 17 assets in DESFA to finalize the deal with the Greek company.

SOCAR still continues search for an investor to divest a part of its 66 percent stake in Greek natural gas grid operator DESFA, which is a key condition to conclude the acquisition of the DESFAs assets, Reuters reported on May 11 by referring to the Greek Energy Minister Panos Skourletis.

SOCAR has not found a buyer for its 17 assets in DESFA in order to draw down its share to 49 percent, said Skourletis.

Recently, SOCARs president said that the company plans to hold a meeting with Greek Energy Minister and discuss the issue about the acquisition of the assets in DESFA on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Earlier, Skourletis said that SOCAR needs to sell 17 percent to a European company in order to complete the acquisition of 66 percent stake in DESFA.

He further added that SOCAR has the right to vote for a new shareholder.

Previously, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) received a formal offer from the Italian company Snam alliance Fluxys-Enagas about the purchase of 17 percent stake in DESFA, later Fluxys refused from this plan.

Dutch Gasunie and Italian Snam also were among those interested in purchase of DESFAs 17 percent shares.

SOCAR won a tender in December 2013 on the sale of 66-percent share in DESFA for 400 million euros ($448 million).

Nevertheless, in November 2014, the European Commission started an inquiry into the compliance of the deal on the acquisition of this stake with the EUs M&A regulations.

The privatization of DESFA is delayed due to the fact that the EC opposes to the transfer of a majority stake in gas operator to SOCAR. The European Commission does not want the control package of such a big Transmission System transferred to the hands of non-EU country, but remain under the Greek control.

Baku has earlier claimed that from Azerbaijan's perspective, there was no conflict of interest in acquiring a majority stake in DESFA as the gas owner to be pumped through the SGC was not Azerbaijan, but the Shah-Deniz Consortium.

SOCAR expects the issue to be resolved by the end of the current year.

Azerbaijan will start supply of 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Europe via TAP Pipeline in the first half of 2020.

In his remarks, Skourletis emphasized that TAP projects fit well with another gas pipeline scheme in the South Eastern European region- Interconnnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), and a planned LNG project in Greek Alexandroupolis city.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 11:09 (UTC+04:00)

Iran's Mesbah satellite is ready to be launched into the orbit, an Iranian official said.



Mohsen Bahrami, the head of Iran Space Organization has said that the country is planning to build new sattlites dubbed "Mesbah 2" and "Nahid", Tasnim news agency reported.



Mesbah satellite weighs 75 kilograms and is designed to circle the Earth 14 times a day. The satellite was never launched as both Russia and Italy refused to cooperate with Iran on space projects.



Mesbah cost Iran about 100 trillion rials (about $4 million) to be built.



Earlier in January, Mahmoud Vaezi, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology announced that building a communication satellite and a remote satellite were on the country's agenda.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 12:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

European countries view hydrocarbon-rich Turkmenistan as one of the main suppliers of natural gas.

The remark was made by Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat Ivo Petrov during the meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, reported the Turkmen government on May 11.

The diplomat noted that European countries are ready to discuss aspects of specific topics on cooperation in strategic energy sector.

Petrov also emphasized the exceptional importance of Ashgabat's energy policy, the most important direction of which is the diversification of export routes for Turkmen energy resources to the promising international markets.

Turkmenistan joined the OSCE on January 30, 1992. Over the past few years, Ashgabat held a series of major international forums of the OSCE and the UN, including those on the energy security issues.

Ashgabat considers it beneficial to intensify the energy dialogue within the OSCE, to formulate mechanisms for multilateral consultations on political, financial- economic, technological and environmental aspects of the construction and operation of multiple-option pipeline infrastructures.

Moreover, the country stands out for a number of initiatives on ensuring reliable and stable energy transit to the global markets in the framework of the UN.

Turkmenistan ranks fourth in terms of the volume of gas reserves in the world. Main buyers of its natural gas are China and Iran. Russian ceased purchasing Turkmen gas in early 2016. Until 2009, Russian Gazprom was the biggest buyer of Turkmen gas by acquiring about 40-42 billion cubic meters.

In the meantime, negotiations between Ashgabat and Brussels on bringing Turkmen gas to the EU have been held since 2011. The connection of Trans Caspian Pipeline to the Southern Gas Corridor is one of main alternatives to achieve this goal. The pipeline will stretch across 300 kilometers on the seabed of the Caspian.

In order to facilitate the realization of the TCP, Turkmen government reiterated earlier that the country is ready to conduct environmental impact assessment of the project together with foreign experts as other littoral states of the Caspian Sea -- Iran and Russia -- oppose this project by raising question on the environmental safety in their section of the sea.

Recently, Turkmenistan started the construction works of its section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.

By diversifying its pipeline routes, Turkmenistan gains a better position to negotiate a better price for its natural gas.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 May 2016 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

The migration problem of Syrian refugees remains a challenge for the world amid the ongoing Syrian crises since 2011.

The large influx of the Syrian refugees to Europe through Turkey and North Africa caused political crises among European states.

Earlier, in March 2016, the European Union concluded a refugee deal with Turkey in order to prevent the irregular migration of refugees to Europe through Turkey. In exchange, the EU was going to back visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in Schengen area.

However, the full scale implementation of this deal remains under question. Yet, Turkey has not received 3 billion promised by the EU to upkeep the Syrian refugees, Turkish Presidential Administration told Trend news agency on May 11.

The Administration noted that instead of allocating the promised funds, the EU demands from Ankara to implement new social projects for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The country has already spent around $10 billion to take care of the Syrian refugees, said the presidential administration.

Previously, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir said that Ankara will get 3 billion by late February that the EU allocated to upkeep the Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Currently, there are over 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. The Syrian refugee camps in the country accommodate about 300,000 people. The rest of them are spread throughout the provinces and cities of Turkey. At the moment, there are about 40,000 Syrian refugees only in Istanbul.

Whats more, integrating Syrian refugees into the society is easier in Turkey rather than in Europe.

In the meantime, experts has launched legalization process of the visa-free regime between Turkey and Europe by the proposal of the EU on May 11, reported Ria Novosti.

President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said that the visa liberalization will begin only after Ankara fulfills all requirements of the EU without exception.

To date, Turkey has fulfilled 67 out of 72 commitments to the European Union for canceling the visa regime.

Five remaining commitments that the Turkish authorities need to fulfill are to prevent corruption, to hold negotiations with Europol on operational agreement, to agree to judicial cooperation with all member states of the EU, to bring the internal rules on data protection in line with the EU standards and to revise the legislation on combating terrorism.

The rest terms on visa liberalization are expected to be fulfilled soon. Although, in his remarks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the EUs stance, saying Turkey would not change its anti-terror laws.

Canceling the visa regime with EU is one of the priorities for Turkey now. On May 3, Ankara cancelled the visa regime for the citizens of all 28 EU countries.

Nevertheless, the visa-free regime will be effective after the EU cancels the visa regime for Turkish citizens.

After cancellation of the visa regime, Turkish citizens will be able to stay without a visa for three months in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
 

       3.0 (      -       -         ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com
A trial date has been set for 32-year-old Derek Connell, who has been charged with murdering his mother and stepfather three years ago.
Moditions, the Ballymena-based gluten-free bakery has signed a deal worth an estimated 220,000 with Tesco Northern Ireland.

Moditions, based in Galgorm, Ballymena, is supplying its range of gluten-free bakes to an initial 15 stores across Northern Ireland, just two years after launching.

The range was created by Moditions founder Christine Shaw, as she endeavoured to create great-tasting gluten-free treats for her coeliac husband, based on old family favourite recipes from his childhood.

The range includes the Great Taste Award-winning gluten-free coffee cake, gluten-free jam & coconut cake, gluten-free sticky tea loaf and gluten-free Irish soda bread mix.

Shaw said: All of the recipes are simply old, traditional favourites, tweaked and altered ever so slightly to make them coeliac-friendly.

We source all ingredients locally where possible, and make our own jams on-site. We use only fresh free-range eggs and to keep saturated fat low, and use rapeseed oil instead of butter or margarine.
Paul Pigott plays by his rules when running a business these days. Shortly after earning his MBA from the University of Washington during the 1990s, the young entrepreneur got swept up in the dot-com era. While many business owners ended up either in rags or riches, he survived the times mania with one highly successful venture and two that didnt do so well.

Its funny how, unlike college, life in the business world teaches experience first and lessons later.

Ive learned an awful lot of what its like to run businesses, and I really began to appreciate businesses that have a positive cash flow because in the dot-com era that was rather scarce, Mr. Pigott recounted. I also learned to value competent people and having them in the right positions.

In 2003, Mr. Pigott bought Seattle, WA-based La Panzanella. The Italian bakery operated a neighborhood deli and distributed its rustic bread to about 100 customers, but the linchpin of the acquisition was the all-natural Croccantini, a rectangular artisan cracker sold in regional grocery stores and specialty retailers and served in the bread baskets of the areas hotels and fine restaurants.

Using a formulation developed by the mother of the bakerys founder, La Panzanellas Croccantini  crunchy little bite in Italian  are 4-by-7-in., herb-infused, kosher crackers that won seven honors at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trades Fancy Food Shows since 2001. Recognizing its potential for growth, Mr. Pigott sold the labor-intensive bread business, ditched the money-losing deli and focused on the profitable Croccantini operation.

With Antonio Galati, director of business development for the cracker line, who worked for the original owners, Mr. Pigott began the arduous effort of developing a national network of distributors.

Were fortunate. The crackers almost sell themselves, observed Mr. Pigott, owner and CEO. Theyre not a me-too product. People come up to me and say, I know your crackers. I had them at a party. I hear that all the time. We just needed distribution, and weve been consistent about attending shows to get the product noticed.

The diligence paid off. La Panzanellas Croccantini sales have increased more than tenfold since Mr. Pigott purchased the company. It now operates a 27,000-sq-ft automated plant in Tukwila, WA, and opened a 57,000-sq-ft facility in Charlotte, NC, in October 2011 to more affordably serve its Midwest and East Coast customers.

The golden rules

La Panzanella has prospered by following Mr. Pigotts rules. The first: Stay the course and never compromise on quality. Our role here is to protect the recipe, protect the process and dont mess with something that is a very well-loved product, he said. Thats why production remains in-house instead of moving it to a contract manufacturer as volume grew.

Another rule: Create new products that reflect consumers changing tastes and offer them multiple options for snacking and meal occasions. The large Italian crackers come in top-selling Original and Rosemary as well as Sesame, Fennel, Garlic, Onion, Black Pepper, Whole Wheat and Tomato/Oregano varieties. They are packaged in 5-oz boxes, 8-oz bags or bulk for food service accounts. Introduced in 2010, the 1.25-by-2.5-in. Mini Croccantini made their debut in Original, Rosemary, Sesame, Black Pepper, and Garlic flavors and are sold in 6-oz. trays or 6-lb boxes.

Initially, Mr. Pigott feared the minis might cannibalize the larger cracker business, but the two ended up complementing each other. Thats because the large crackers are used for special occasions, while consumers perceive the minis as snacks. The big [crackers] are really artisanal, rustic and cool-looking, and there is a real charm to them, he said. But if you are at home and want to have a couple of quick crackers, having a mini thats already cut to the right size is helpful.

To spearhead further product development, the company hired a Culinologist to identify trends that are appropriate for the line.

In the specialty cracker market, Mr. Pigott noted, the new product challenge involves developing not only different shapes and flavors, but also multiple packaging formats to target myriad snacking and meal applications. One example is packaging a couple of minis to accompany airline meals.

Yet another rule: Diversify as the business expands. La Panzanella started with small distributors, retailers and food service accounts. Once we had success there, the bigger chains noticed, and then the biggest guys said, We better bring you in. It kind of snowballed, Mr. Pigott said.

He considers these big accounts frosting on the cake. You never want them to be the cake because you never know when theyll change their minds and want something else, he noted.

Rules to manage growth

As the company expanded during the past two years, Mr. Pigott built a professional but entrepreneurial team with many members who had success taking small businesses to a national scale. I wanted people who were comfortable in businesses that were in a start-up phase, he explained.

To complement Mr. Pigott and Mr. Galati, who continues to be responsible for the companys cracker business development, the company added Mark Juranek, CFO; Terry Wakefield, COO; Bob Culleeny, director of quality assurance; Andrea Arnold, director of human resources; and Todd Whitten, director of sweets business development. Mr. Whitten oversees sales of the tea cookie products that La Panzanella acquired two years ago. With these managers supervising their different departments, Mr. Pigott takes a more strategic role on guiding its future.

From when I bought the business to today, its night and day, especially for the production process, he said.

When he purchased La Panzanella, Mr. Pigott acquired a bakery that needed to focus on the fundamentals. Just like a virtual business, a brick-and-mortar operation comes with its share of headaches. When I got here, I spent a lot more time on the production floor looking for ways to improve our processes, he recalled. Antonio Galati was  and is  doing a great job growing our sales, but our operations were extremely inefficient.

In the beginning, production yields averaged 45 to 50%, and Mr. Pigott said it was easy to see why. Mixer operators, for instance, would check the weather before making dough. On a hot day, the operators would add cool water. On cool days, the water would be warmer so the dough didnt get too sticky or soft. Talk about taking a rustic or artisan approach to baking, he said.

La Panzanella eventually set guidelines for mixing times and stored doughs in a temperature-controlled room until theyre used. I didnt hire these guys to be meteorologists, Mr. Pigott recalled. It wasnt fair to them, and it wasnt helping our product consistency.

Likewise, the dough got beat up during the sheeting process, baked unevenly in a jury-rigged system made up of three pizza ovens and the crackers cooled in tubs because there was no room for a conveyor in the original facility.

After moving to the Tukwila plant and nearly a decade of strategic investment in automation, yields now average above 90%. Every time we invested in equipment, we made sure that it didnt have any impact on what the product looked like, he said. We want each product to look a little different, but it needed to be lighter, darker or crispier within a range of acceptability and prescribed boundaries of what we considered consistent.

Production by the rules

In production, Mr. Pigott follows two overriding rules. First, attention to best practices delivers powerful dividends for productivity and profitability. Second, new and well-maintained equipment beats repairing old equipment every time.

Located in suburban Seattle, the Tukwila facility houses cracker, tea cookie and seasonal hard candy lines and has 14,000 sq ft of processing and packaging, 10,000 sq ft for warehousing and 3,000 sq ft for offices. La Panzanellas headquarters is located a couple of blocks away in an office building, thus maximizing production space at the bakery. The Charlotte bakery houses an artisan cracker and tea cookie lines and has a 30,000-sq-ft warehouse, 20,000 sq ft for processing and packaging and 7,600 sq ft for offices and administration.

Both bakeries are working toward British Retail Consortium certification under the Global Food Safety Initiative. There are a lot of things I have to think about today that I didnt have to worry about in 2003, Mr. Pigott said.

At the Tukwila plant, 35 employees work on two 12-hour shifts between four and five days a week. The size of the workforce can vary as volume increases with the holiday season or new orders come online.

Flour is stored in a 70,000-lb silo, and operators add minor ingredients to a horizontal mixer by hand. The cracker dough is stored in troughs that are rolled into a temperature-controlled room to ensure better product consistency.

A lift automatically elevates the troughs to the hopper of a Thomas L. Green sheeting system custom-designed for producing La Panzanellas Croccantini crackers.

After dough is extruded on the belt, a series of reduction stations rolls it to an appropriately thick sheet. A docking system perforates the dough sheet to create the crackers bubbly appearance and crunchy texture.

The sheet is then cut into four full-size Croccantini or 16 mini crackers. Each full-sized cracker can be evenly divided into four minis. The sheet is lightly salted before baking in a 60-ft tunnel oven from Gemini Bakery Equipment. With the new oven, our products are a lot more consistent and even colored than what they used to be, Mr. Pigott said.

After cooling for a few seconds, the freshly baked crackers travel under a simple roller device that separates the Croccantini pieces. The large crackers slide down a metal chute to a 75-ft-long mesh cooling conveyor.

During Baking & Snacks visit, the bakery produced mini sesame crackers. Employees manually snap the crackers into minis and put 40 to 42 pieces into plastic trays. The trays pass through a Bosch Doboy flow wrapper, metal detector and a Hitachi industrial inkjet printer that adds code dates and lot tracking data to the packaging before they are packed 12 into a case. A variety of other packaging systems can be rolled into place for boxed, bagged and bulk-packaged products.

Room for expansion

The Charlotte facilitys production mirrors the Tukwila operation. The biggest difference is that the custom-designed sheeter and oven are 40% wider. About 50 employees work three 8-hour shifts three to four days a week as the company further ramps up its business. This facility also has the extra space to drop in additional production capacity to support incremental business growth, Mr. Pigott observed.

La Panzanella currently sells about as many products in Washington and Oregon as it does from Virginia to Maine. Expanding to the East Coast provides a huge opportunity for growth. If you think of the relative population sizes, we should be doing 10 times the business in the Northeastern corridor than we do around here, he said. But the market is different out East. There are a lot more small stores and fewer large chains, and its expensive to ship product there. Now that we have the Charlotte plant, those distribution issues go away.

In an effort to expand internationally, La Panzanella lined up distributors in Canada, England and New Zealand, and the company recently exhibited at shows in Japan, Singapore, Germany and France. Additionally, its exploring ventures in Australia and parts of Asia. The company is developing smaller packaging formats for the Asian and European markets as well as exploring ways to extend the products shelf life.

Eyeing new national and international markets is part of a long-term strategy to double the companys revenues over the next five years. For Mr. Pigott, chasing the fast buck is in his dot-com past. Now, hed rather play by a different set of rules. Were profitable and want to remain profitable, he said. Its not only about growth. Its about remaining healthy, and we want to be prudent in how we grow.
Planned Parenthood has come under fire for allegations they sold fetal tissue, specifically body parts, for money. Those allegations have led to state governments pulling funding from Planned Parenthood clinics. At the federal level, there was some discussion about a potential investigation.

During a debate in Orlando, Rep. David Jolly, who is running for U.S. Senate, said he "was the only Republican" to vote against creating a U.S. House panel to investigate Planned Parenthood.

PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and gave it a TRUE rating on the Truth-O-Meter.

PolitiFact writer Josh Gillin says it really came down to a vote on money for the congressman.

He said during the debate and he said at the time of the vote, Hey! There were already three investigations in the House of various committees looking into Planned Parenthoods activities, and Jolly said, If were supposed to be conservatives and limit the role, the scope, and the spending of government, then we really dont need this panel,'  Gillin said.

Gillin went on to say Jolly wants to fund womens services, but not Planned Parenthood because of the abortion service they offer.

For that reason, Jollys claim received a TRUE rating.

SOURCES: Jolly only Republican who voted 'no' on Planned Parenthood Investigation
As Florida Democrats look ahead to the 2018 gubernatorial contest, some party strategists are keeping a keen eye on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, which they say could provide an unconventional model.

Many Democratic voters in Florida have sat out recent gubernatorial races, possibly due to uninspiring centrist candidates

A Clinton win in November may lead to midterm elections that follow historical norms, benefiting Republicans

Strategists believe a candidate with an unconventional approach may buck the current trends

Disillusioned by losing five consecutive attempts at capturing the Governor's Mansion, Democrats could face another challenging environment in 2018. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has already raised more than $4 million for a likely gubernatorial bid and, if Hillary Clinton were to win the presidency this fall, midterm turnout could follow historical norms and benefit the Republican ticket.



Trump, however, has proven that voters are hungry for unconventional candidates. His sometimes bombastic pronouncements not withstanding, Trump's command of the media landscape combined with his vast personal wealth have enabled him to win the affection of disaffected Republicans.



While Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida by a sizable margin, many Democratic voters - particularly those in progressive-leaning South Florida - have chosen to sit out the state's gubernatorial elections, which some party veterans say is due in part to uninspiring centrist candidates.



With Democratic North Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham - the daughter of Bob Graham, a former governor and senator - considering entering the 2018 race, the lessons of Trump's rise are weighing heavily on Democrats who believe it's critical to think outside the box. Many of them are intrigued by the potential candidacy of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, a well-heeled progressive who recently tapped his fortune to run radio ads implicitly criticizing Gov. Rick Scott's opposition to raising Florida's minimum wage.



Far from "Trumpian" in his thinking - a plus in Democratic circles - Levine has nonetheless taken Trump-like pains to show he has a finger on the pulse of the electorate. From the radio ads to a campaign-style website touting his accomplishments as mayor, his tactics indicate he could mount a decidedly unconventional candidacy - with the money to back it up.



"I don't think Democrats who are in a desert searching for water would say "no" to a progressive candidate who they felt came through that route," said Democratic strategist Gary Yordon.



Given the 2016 political landscape, it's a route that should rightly appeal to Florida Democrats, with the caveat that the 2018 election is still two and a half years away.
Police are looking for a man they say attacked a woman Tuesday morning as she ran through Berns Park in Tampa.

Female jogger attacked in Tampa

Police say suspect struck her over the head, but she managed to escape

Investigation is ongoing

The incident happened Tuesday at 6:10 a.m. in Berns Park, located near Hills and South Howard avenues.

Police say the woman was running near the park when she stopped to allow her dog to rest. That's when the suspect approached the woman from behind and hit her in the head with a blunt object. The victim was able to run away from the suspect and call for help.

The suspect is a white male in his 20s, approximately 5-feet-9 tall and between 150  160 lbs. police said. He is believed to have dark, short, curly hair and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and gym shorts with no shoes.

Witnesses said he fled south on Howard Avenue. It's unclear what the mans motives were, but police say they will be patrolling the area heavily in order to locate him.

This investigation is still active and Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of this suspect.

Anyone with any information regarding this case and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using our P3 Tips mobile application.




In an attempt to stay on top of the Zika virus, the Florida Department of Health is issuing daily reports.



And state lawmakers are getting involved as well.



109 confirmed cases in Florida

New cases in Pinellas, Orange counties

$1.1 billion in Zika funding approved by Congress



Gov. Rick Scott is meeting with members of Congress again Thursday to discuss the virus and Sen. Marco Rubio talked about increased funding this week on the Senate floor.



Congress said Wednesday it would approve $1.1 billion of the $1.9 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus



Republicans from states at greatest risk, such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia, have been slow to endorse President Obama's more than 2-month-old request for Zika funding.



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently reports more than 470 cases in the continental U.S., all so far associated with travel to Zika-affected areas.



"It is not a question of if, it is a question of when," Rubio said of the virus. "There will be a mosquito transmission of Zika in the continental United States at some point over the next days, weeks or months and we cannot get caught unprepared to deal with its consequences."



Meanwhile, officials in Hillsborough County began talking about an increase in funding to combat the virus.



Two more cases of Zika were confirmed in Florida this week - one in Pinellas County and one in Orange County. That brings the total number of confirmed cases in Florida to 109.



Health officials say that out of those cases, only five cases are still exhibiting symptoms. According to the CDC, symptoms associated with the Zika virus last between seven and 10 days.



Zika has been linked to fetal death birth defects such as microcephaly. The disease has been reported throughout much of Latin America and Caribbean in recent months, and has been confirmed in most of the United States.
The federal government is accepting public comment on a plan to fight the Zika virus by releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida.

FDA taking comments on plan to release GMO mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti mosquito is known to transmit Zika, other diseases

FDA, biotech firm studies say there would be no environmental impact

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is trying to decide whether to allow Oxitec, Ltd., a biotech firm, to release their Oxitec OX513A mosquitoes in Key Haven, near Key West.

Those mosquitoes are a genetically modified version of the species Aedes aegypti, which is known to transmit several diseases, including Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. The modified mosquitoes would be non-biting males that produce offspring that don't survive.

Environmental assessments by the FDA and Oxitec concluded that there would be no significant environmental impact from the OX513A mosquitoes.

The FDA's public comment period ends Friday.

To submit your comments online, go to www.regulations.gov and type FDA-2014-N-2235 in the search box. To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address. Include docket number FDA-2014-N-2235 on each page of your written comments. To read comments that were previously submitted, click here.



The Division of Dockets Management

HFA-305

Food and Drug Administration

5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061

Rockville, MD 20852


PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
Thank the two owners of this Palm Springs house for this marvel of a time capsule. The first homeowners decorated it, and the second set intentionally kept it as-is.

Except for the kitchen, this three-bedroom, 3,350-square-foot California residence has remained untouched since it was built in 1969. The current homeowners upgraded the kitchen but left the rest of the character-filled interior in its original condition.

"The original owner was a builder, Milton Seidner, who built a few homes in the Twin Palms neighborhood," listing agent Lucio Bernal says. "The home was sold to my client's parents in 1994 after his passing. My clients' parents lived in the home until they passed recently."

SEE ALSO: Nancy and Ronald Reagan's former California property for sale

The unique dwelling has drawn the attention of people from all over the world because of its bold vintage appeal.

"(The) home has been viewed by hundreds in the past month, both online and in person and the general (consensus) is, 'Keep it the way it is because it looks like a museum,'" Bernal says. "Some comments range from 'life-changing' to 'I remember that color as a kid.'"

Everything is custom, from the magenta- and rose-colored canopy bed in a bedroom, to the symmetric semi-circle couches that flank an over-sized coffee table in the living room. The wood-paneled den has a wet bar with a mirror backsplash. The home's swimming pool can be admired from several rooms in the house, including the royal blue master suite.

MORE VINTAGE HOMES: John Lautner house featured in 'The Big Lebowski' donated to Los Angeles museum

The most fascinating detail in this colorful home is, arguably, the bath tub surrounded by hot-pink carpet.

Also intriguing is the condition of the textiles and finishes that haven't faded or become distressed.

"That goes to show that quality stands the test of time," Bernal boasts.

This Palm Springs, Calif., home is listed at $850,000. Bernal and Benjamin "Chip" Romero at Berkshire Hathaway have the listing.
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The Better Business Bureau Serving Southeast Texas hosted its 19th Annual Torch Award Banquet, honoring non- and for-profit businesses.

CASA of Southeast Texas won this year's award in the not-for-profit charity category. Hope Women's Resource Clinic was a finalist for the award.

Sparkling Roof, LLC won in the for-profit small business category. Finalists in that category were Southwest Building Systems and Tiger-Rock Martial Arts of Bridge City.

In the for-profit large business category, K.A.T. Excavation & Construction Inc. went home with the award. Efficient Systems and Newtron Beaumont were finalists for the award.

The event featured Beth Misner, co-founder of BNI and BNI Foundation, as the keynote speaker. Howell Furniture's VP/Marketing, Shawn Hanley, served as the master of ceremonies. Christy Harrison, BBB LIT scholarship recipient, and Kennedy Andrews, Legacy Christian Academy 6th Grade student and Laws of Life 1st Place Essay Award Winner, were speakers at the event as well.

The 2016 Friend of the BBB was awarded to Jed Dollinger, who has retired from Wathen, DeShong, and Juncker, LLP.

The event contributes to the BBB Consumer Education Foundation, Inc. to fund scholarships to all four area higher education institutions: Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College - Port Arthur, and Lamar State College - Orange. Proceeds from the Torch Award Banquet allows BBB to contribute toward scholarships for college students across Southeast Texas. Total contributions over the past 19 years now totals to a quarter of a million dollars.
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ExxonMobil has settled negligence lawsuits filed by family members of two workers who were killed and six others who were injured in an April 2013 explosion and fire at the company's Beaumont refinery, a plaintiffs' attorney said Thursday.

A Jefferson County district judge signed the settlement agreement on Tuesday, one day before a contract worker was killed at the refinery while doing maintenance work.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The suit sought at least $1 million in damages.

The 2013 fire erupted from a heat exchanger that contract workers were maintaining during a turnaround of one of the 365,000-barrel-per-day refinery's units.

The plaintiffs contended that ExxonMobil and contractor Clean Harbors failed to "properly test, clear, clean, or monitor the heat exchanger."

ExxonMobil declined to comment.

ExxonMobil, Clean Harbors and the contractor Signature Industrial Services were fined a combined $45,600 for safety violations leading up to the fire, according to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which investigates workplace deaths.

Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office identified the 37-year-old Brownsville man killed at the refinery Wednesday as Miguel Barron.

An ExxonMobil spokesman said Thursday the company is working with the man's employer, AltairStrickland, to support Barron's family.

Barron was working on a heat exchanger when a pipe fell from above and struck him in the head and neck, sheriff's office spokesman Marcus McLellan said.

Barron died at the site shortly before 1 a.m., said Justice of the Peace Ransom "Duce" Jones, who ordered an autopsy.

"The safety and well-being of our employees is a top priority at AltairStrickland," said Mava Heffler, spokesperson for Emcor Group, the contractor's parent company. "Following our comprehensive safety plans and procedures, we are fully cooperating with regulatory authorities as they carry out their investigation."

EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news
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Accused by a grand jury convened by a special prosecutor of misusing office equipment and employees, former Jefferson County District Judge Layne Walker was arrested Thursday on a felony charge of abuse of official capacity.

Walker was indicted on the same day that one former and two current Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies were charged with two felony counts each related to tampering with physical evidence and government records.

The deputies' charges stem from a 2013 incident in Walker's courtroom involving a process server and a clandestine video camera, according to their indictments.

The accused are former deputy Steven Mark Broussard, 60, Sgt. John Chad Kolander, 46, and Chief Deputy Timothy Wayne Smith, 56.

Walker's indictment does not explicitly mention or link his charge to the deputies.

Instead, Walker is accused of using a government computer, printer and four government employees for personal gain between Oct. 18, 2005, and Jan. 6, 2014, according to the indictment.

"I'm as eager to find out what I've been accused of as y'all are," Walker said Thursday before his indictment was unsealed. "You'd think after a three-year period if there was something going on, I'd at least be asked some questions about it."

One of the four employees referenced in Walker's indictment, who asked that her name not be printed, told The Enterprise she was not questioned by investigators.

"Nobody's called me to go before a grand jury," she said. "I don't know why my name is on there."

The workers were not charged with wrongdoing.

The district attorney's office said a special prosecutor called by Criminal District Judge John Stevens conducted the investigations. Stevens could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Walker served as Jefferson County's 252nd District judge from 2003 until he resigned in 2014 to take a job in the private sector.

Because the total value of items and employee time Walker allegedly misused ranges from $1,500 to $20,000, the former judge faces a state jail felony, which carries a sentencing range of 180 days to 2 years, according to his indictment.

Walker and the deputies were booked Thursday at the Jefferson County jail and were released on their personal recognizance, a jail clerk said.

"We are certainly surprised by the turn of events," Jefferson County Sheriff Mitch Woods said in a printed statement. "This was totally unexpected. We will take the necessary steps to ensure the integrity and credibility of the Sheriff's Office as we have always done in the past."

As of Thursday, the two active deputies were suspended with pay, sheriff's office spokesman Marcus McLellan said.

Deputies linked to Hartman case

Broussard was charged with tampering with physical evidence and tampering with a governmental record, a third-degree felony and a state jail felony

He is accused of concealing a pen that contained video records, "with intent to impair its availability as evidence in (an) investigation," according to the indictment.

Broussard resigned in August 2013 after Woods recommended termination following an investigation into whether he mishandled evidence, according to previous Enterprise reporting.

Those allegations came in the wake of process server Stephen Hartman's arrest on May 28, 2013.

While attempting to serve Walker with notice of a lawsuit, Hartman was arrested for disrupting proceedings in Walker's courtroom, according to a lawsuit Hartman later filed.

Hartman alleged at the time that a pen camera he had in his possession during his arrest was stolen while in evidence. Broussard was accused of taking the pen home instead of logging it into evidence.

Kolander and Smith face the same charges as Broussard but for different reasons.

Kolander and Smith are accused of trying to present or use a probable cause affidavit for a search warrant on the pen with knowledge the affidavit was false, according to their indictments.

Third-degree felony convictions carry a sentencing range of 2-10 years.

McLellan said the office previously investigated the 2013 allegations and doesn't expect the indictments to launch a new internal investigation.

"They'll (Kolander and Smith) go on leave and then the sheriff will make a decision later," McLellan said.

EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, based in Kailua-Kona, has selected two executives to lead Maui Health System, the new company run by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii that assumes management of the Maui state hospitals July 1, according to a Pacific Business News report.

Here are five things to know about the picks.

1. Ray Hahn will serve as senior vice president and area manager. Mr. Hahn previously was COO of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente's Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers in California, and has worked with Kaiser Permanente in various capacities since 2005.

2. David Ulin, MD, will be the associate medical director of operations at Pacific Permanente Group and chief medical director of the Maui Health System. Dr. Ulin, a Maui pediatrician of 15 years, previously was associate medical director and physician-in-charge of Maui for Hawaii Permanente Medical Group.

3. Mr. Hahn and Dr. Ulin will oversee Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Maui facilities, which include Kula Hospital & Clinic, Lanai Community Hospital and Maui Memorial Medical Center.

4. The executives will have a role in care delivery, safety strategy, staff management and the development of a new financial model for the system, which faced millions in debt, according to the report. In January, the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. board signed an agreement transferring operation and management of the three Maui facilities from the state to Kaiser. Subsequently, Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced HHSC entered a lease agreement with the Maui system.

5. Wesley Lo, Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Maui Region CEO, will step down July 1 as Kaiser takes over, according to the report.

More articles on executive moves:

Hancock Regional Hospital CNO to retire: 4 things to know

LifeDojo picks healthcare veteran to lead enterprise business growth: 4 things to know

7 latest hospital, health system CEO moves
The Federal Trade Commission has appealed a federal judge's decision to allow the merger of Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center and Harrisburg, Pa.-based PinnacleHealth System.

Hershey Medical Center and PinnacleHealth announced their merger plan last June. In December, the FTC and Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane objected to the proposed integration of the two organizations.

Both sides presented their arguments during a week-long trial in April. On Monday, Judge John E. Jones III issued a 26-page ruling, denying the FTC's motion for a preliminary injunction. The following day, the FTC appealed the judge's decision.

To prevent PinnacleHealth and Hershey from moving forward with their merger, the FTC and state regulators have requested an injunction, which would put the case on hold pending appeal.

More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits:



8 False Claims Act settlements so far in 2016

12 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements

Florida physician convicted of 162 counts of healthcare fraud
House Republicans were issued a big win Thursday in their fight against the Affordable Care Act.

In a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's implementation of the ACA, House Republicans argued that the administration overstepped its powers when it began paying health insurance companies billions of dollars to reduce co-payments for lower-income people.

On Tuesday, a federal judge sided with the House GOP, ruling that the Obama administration has been improperly funding cost-sharing subsidies under the health reform law. In her opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer wrote that although Congress authorized the subsidy program under the ACA, it never actually provided money for it, according to Politico.

"Congress is the only source of such an appropriation, and no public money can be spent without one," Judge Collyer wrote.

The ruling, if it stands, could push insurance costs higher and serve a financial setback to millions of low-income Americans, according to the report. The cost-sharing subsidies are currently available to people with incomes between the federal poverty level and 250 percent FPL, according to Politico.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) was pleased with the ruling. "This decision is a critical step in protecting Congress's power of the purse from an administration that has repeatedly ignored fundamental principle of our Republic: the separation of powers," he said.

The Obama administration is expected to immediately appeal the decision, and the cost-sharing program will be allowed to continue pending appeal.

More articles on the ACA:

51% of physicians view ACA unfavorably and 5 more findings

3 CNOs on how the ACA changed their jobs
Although other health insurers  like UnitedHealth and Humana  are exiting the Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2017, Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will keep offering plans in 15 states  and potentially add even more, according to The Wall Street Journal.

During the insurer's first quarter earnings call, CEO Mark Bertolini said Aetna considered the ACA exchanges a "good investment."

Spokesman T.J. Crawford said Aetna has submitted proposed rates to regulators in each of the states where it currently offers plans. He added that Aetna has "no plans at this point to withdraw from any of those states," according to the report.

What's more, Mr. Crawford said Aetna has "preserved [its] options to enter certain new geographies pending careful evaluation of marketplace conditions," though it has "not made any final decisions on where we might enter new [ACA] states," according to the report.

Thus far, a regulator in Oklahoma has been informed of Aetna's plans to sell on the ACA marketplace in 2017.
A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery examines how consulting clinics in rural areas can improve orthopedic care.

The study authors examined orthopedic surgery outreach clinics in Iowa with data from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. The researchers found:

1. There were 4,596 visiting consultant clinic days in 2014, provided in predominantly rural sites.

2. The number of Iowa counties with orthopedic surgeons increased from 35 at the primary location to 88 at a visiting consultant clinic or primary practice location. There are 99 counties in Iowa all together.

3. Around 45 percent of the Iowa-based orthopedic surgeons participated in the visiting consultant clinics. Orthopedics surgeons drove a total of 32,496 miles per month to care for patients at these clinics.

4. The average driving distance for patients to the nearest orthopedic surgeon dropped from 19.2 miles to 8.4 miles for rural Iowans after the clinics were introduced.

5. The monthly visiting consultant clinics improved access to orthopedic surgeons for around 450,000 to 670,000 Iowans. The state has a total population of around 3 million.
Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for May 12, 2016.

AANS appoints Dr. Frederick Boop president

Frederick A. Boop, MD, will serve as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons' new president. He is the JT Robertson professor and neurosurgery department chair at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.

Bundled payments to account for 30%-45% of spine reimbursement in 3 years

Providers who are early adopters of bundled payments can increase patient volumes from payers, according to a Spine study. Organizations cite new patient volume, increased surgical yield and financial benefits from efficiency improvements as reasons for adopting bundled payments.

Senate Finance Committee attacks PODs in new report

The report said PODs "present an inherent conflict of interest that can put the physician's medical judgment at odds with the patient's best interests." HHS OIG reports and the Senate Finance Committee analyses suggest POD physicians overutilize spinal implants.

Age does not impact lumbar fusion patient-rated outcomes

Researchers analyzed age's impact on patient-rated outcome and complication rates associated with lumbar fusion, according to a Spine study. Researchers concluded geriatric age is not necessarily a contraindication for lumbar fusion. But, surgeons should use caution when choosing whether to perform spinal fusions on geriatric patients.

Spine surgery interventions should address mental health to reduce readmissions

Owoicho Adogwa, MD, presented research at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting examining how baseline affective disorders affected 30-day readmission rates for patients undergoing elective spine surgery. The readmission rate was three-fold greater for patients with psychiatric comorbidities compared with the other patients.

29% of orthopedic surgeons participate in ACOs

Orthopedic surgeon participation in accountable care organizations is up slightly from 2015, while participation in other payment models is down, according to the Medscape Orthopedist Compensation Report 2016. Three percent of orthopedists practice in cash-only practices, as compared to 4 percent last year. Only 1 percent practice in concierge practices versus 3 percent in 2015.

SpineGuard to launch PediGuard next week

Paris-based SpineGuard will commercially launch its PediGuard Threaded device next week. The device allows surgeons to enhance screw insertion, positioning and anchorage into vertebra, and is designed to enhance placement accuracy, decrease X-ray exposure and limit OR time.

Most physician practices employ 1 to 5 advanced practitioners

Most physician practices employ between one and five advanced practitioners (PAs or NPs), according to the 2016 Staff Salary Survey by Physician's Practice. The majority (42.5 percent) employ one PA or NP.
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Planners have recommended that a major new Lidl supermarket to be located at the struggling Connswater shopping in east Belfast does not go ahead.

One of Northern Ireland's oldest shopping centres, Connswater has been struggling to find another big name retailer to fill the void left by its two anchor tenants, Tesco and Dunnes.

Now, plans for a 23,000 sq ft Lidl store on the Connswater site have been put forward for refusal, despite support from the centre and traders in the area.

Planners have cited a number of reasons for not giving the new development the green light.

But it is primarily down to the availability of other vacant sites which already exist, including the now empty Tesco building at Connswater.

In the planning report, it identifies a number of other possible locations, including the now vacant Dunnes Stores building at Connswater - and the empty site at the Park Centre in west Belfast - along with other areas at shopping centres such as Forestside.

The report says it has received three letters supporting the application, including one from Gavin Robinson, DUP MP for East Belfast.

The agent behind the scheme has said the new store would add 10 new jobs, alongside around 2.5m of investment.

Jolene Gibson, chairperson of the Connswater Traders' Association, said: "There has been unanimous support from our elected representatives for the Lidl application which would bring vital new jobs, increase footfall and would act as a catalyst for other businesses to move into the centre and retail park."

Gerry Monaghan, Connswater general manager, said he "fails to understand why planning officials would recommend refusing this application in spite of there being no objections from residents, consultees or any other interested parties and despite a retail impact assessment concluding that there would be no adverse impact on any businesses in Belfast city centre or outlying areas".

Summing up its reasons for refusing the new centre, planners said the proposal "is contrary to the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland and the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP)".

It says that's due to its "failure to comply with the requirements for sequential assessment which, if carried out, is reasonably likely to identify the availability of sequentially preferred sites within the city centre".

The BMAP retail strategy seeks to promote Belfast city centre as the leading shopping centre, and sites outside the city are controlled to protect the retail in the heart of Belfast.

The application is due to be presented to Belfast City Council's planning committee on Tuesday.
The firm, which is big in London with black cab drivers and has a considerable presence in the Republic, is expected to arrive in Belfast this year

Belfast's taxi wars are to shift up a gear as Hailo, a rival of global giant Uber, prepares to compete for a share of cab fares in the city

Belfast's taxi wars are to shift up a gear as Hailo, a rival of global giant Uber, prepares to compete for a share of cab fares in the city.

The firm, which is big in London with black cab drivers and has a considerable presence in the Republic, is expected to arrive in Belfast this year.

Both Hailo and Uber allow customers to book taxis using a mobile phone app.

It's understood representatives from Hailo had meetings in Belfast last month.

It has been confirmed permission for it to operate has already been granted.

The new Department for Infrastructure said: "A taxi operator licence was issued to Hailo on January 22, 2016.

"To date there are no vehicles or drivers affiliated to this licence."

A spokesman for Hailo said it "always works closely with regulators prior to entering a new market, which is why we have obtained a licence for Northern Ireland".

"As the largest network of taxis on the island of Ireland, with over 10,000 drivers, we continue to receive a large number of enquiries from passengers and drivers in Northern Ireland about our plans to launch," he added. "But there is no announcement to make currently regarding a timescale for launch in Belfast."

FonaCab boss William McCausland said he was not worried about having another firm enter the market here.

"When Uber opened we had about 470 drivers, we now have 660 and a 40% increase in business," he pointed out.

"People know the quality of our business.

"I would not concern myself. I am concerned with how I operate my business."

Launched in November 2011, Hailo is available in more than 20 cities including London, Madrid, Barcelona and Osaka, and across the Republic.

Uber said it now had around 200 drivers on its books in Belfast, with another 100 in the "sign-up process".

Kieran Harte, general manager for Uber in the city, was blase about the fresh competition Hailo will bring.

"It's been fantastic, and the market has been great, and we are ahead of where we thought we would be in terms of partner drivers," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"It's got to the point where we can do more things, such as new marketing campaigns.

"Hopefully the competition will be of benefit to everyone in the market."
The UK's industrial production grew by 0.3% in March with the manufacturing sector growing 0.1%, official figures have revealed.

Year on year, manufacturing production fell 1.9%, the biggest fall since 2013, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures came in below economists' expectations and add to a spate of data indicating that the British economy is stalling.

Chris Williamson, c hief economist at Markit, said: "P roducers are being squeezed by a combination of weak global demand as well as waning sales in the home market, the latter in some cases linked to decision making and purchases by customers being affected by Brexit uncertainty."

Total production fell 0.4% over the first quarter, and m anufacturing also slumped 0.4% quarter on quarter.

However, the ONS left its first quarter economic growth estimate unchanged at 0.4% and Mr Williamson added: "The goods-producing sector therefore looks to be on course to act as a drag on the economy again in the second quarter, contributing to a slowing in economic growth to near-stagnation.

"Growth could be even weaker if surveys disappoint in coming months, which seems probable given the intensifying uncertainty over the outcome of the EU referendum."

On Tuesday, the ONS said Britain's trade gap in the first three months of the year widened to its biggest since the financial crisis, growing from 13.3 billion from 12.2 billion in the last three months of 2015.

The quarterly figures confirmed that Britain's industrial sector is in recession, the third in the last eight years.
Boris Johnson said Brexit would enable the UK to escape the "protectionism" of the EU

Leaving the European Union will enable Britain to strike trade deals with some of the biggest economies in the world creating almost 300,000 new jobs, Boris Johnson has claimed.

On the second day of his Vote Leave battle bus tour of the South West, the former London mayor said that Brexit would enable the UK to escape the "protectionism" of the EU which has held back negotiations on a series of major deals.

Vote Leave said that in recent years the EU had failed to complete a series of five key negotiations - with the United States, India, Japan and the Asean and Mercosur groups of nations - because of the protectionism within member states.

Speaking in Dorset, Mr Johnson said that outside the EU, Britain would be able to make its own arrangements with these economies - which EU figures suggest could bring 284,000 jobs to the UK.

"If we vote Leave we will be able to forge bold new trade deals with growing economies around the world. These are deals that the EU has tried and failed to achieve due to protectionist forces in Europe," Mr Johnson said.

"After we liberate ourselves from the shackles of Brussels we will be able to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs right across the UK.

"Predictably, the gloomsters want to do down Britain - they claim we are not strong enough to stand on our own two feet. What total tosh. There is a huge world of opportunity and prosperity out there if we take this opportunity to take back control."

The claims are likely to prove controversial. The Remain campaign has consistently argued the UK will be in a far weaker position to negotiate new trade arrangements as a single nation and that any new deals would take years to complete.

President Barack Obama has warned that Britain would be at "the back of the queue" when it came to negotiating a separate deal with the US in the event of a vote for Brexit.

During a visit to Reid Steel in Christchurch, Mr Johnson symbolically took a steel grinder to a metal placard showing the 350 million a week Vote Leave says the UK pays to the EU.
Sean Largey, Tesco NIs commercial manager, and Christine Shaw, founder of Moditions Bakery, announce the deal worth around 220,000

A small Northern Ireland bakery has won a 220,000 deal to supply gluten-free goods to Tesco.

Moditions, which started out in Christine Shaw's kitchen, will provide cakes and soda bread mix to an initial 15 stores here.

The company joins Rule of Crumb - also in Co Antrim - in meeting the growing demand for gluten-free food products.

Moditions, which is based in Randalstown, was set up two years ago by Christine, who wanted to make gluten-free baked goods for her coeliac husband.

Her coffee cake, jam and coconut cake, sticky tealoaf and Irish soda bread mix will be sold in Tescos from this week, coinciding with National Coeliac Awareness Week.

Christine said: "All of the recipes are simply old, traditional favourites, tweaked and altered slightly to make them coeliac-friendly. We source all ingredients locally where possible and make our own jams on-site."

Sean Largey, commercial manager for Tesco Northern Ireland, added that demand was growing among consumers for 'free-from' ranges from companies such as Moditions.

The news came as Rule of Crumb - a food company set up by business partners Colum McLornan and Claire Hunter, who also run the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle - said its share of the market was growing.

The business is now supplying goods from muffins, breads and pies to breaded chicken goujons, fish fingers and chicken Kievs.

Its chicken products are made by Premier Poultry in Downpatrick and stockists include online grocer Ocado and Booths Supermarkets, which has 29 stores in England, as well as independents and butchers in Northern Ireland.

It has also exported its goods as far way as France, Malta, the Middle East and Asia.

Mr McLornan said: "We are experiencing a huge increase in enquiries from all over the world for our gluten-free products. People are demanding a range of quality products which taste as good as the real thing."

Claire Hunter was named Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year in Business in 2014.
Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid at the BMI Pop Awards in LA

Friends star Courteney Cox and her Northern Irish boyfriend are set for the UK after she revealed plans to play a "kooky" American in a new British sitcom.

The actress said she is hoping to film a comedy in the UK called Truthing, in which she plays a character at the head of an "emotional rehab" centre.

Cox (51) was speaking on the red carpet of the BMI Pop Music Awards in Los Angeles, where she appeared with her partner, Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid, who is from Londonderry.

"It's a show called Truthing. It's like an emotional rehab led by an American kind of kooky person - myself," she said.

Asked whether she would be filming the sitcom in Britain, Cox replied: "I hope so, that's the plan."
Jack O'Connell said his tough background has helped him to become the person he is today

British actor Jack O'Connell has revealed that members of his family have threatened to sell stories about him to newspapers because they assume his Hollywood career has made him very wealthy.

O'Connell, who became famous in teen drama Skins and recently starred in Angelina Jolie's Oscar-nominated war film Unbroken, said he has a complicated relationship with people back home in Derby.

He will soon be seen in Money Monster opposite George Clooney and Julia Roberts and revealed people think he is as rich as his co-stars.

He told ES Magazine: "There's a lot of assumptions made. People assume that I'm wealthy beyond belief - and I ain't. I still need to work for a living.

"I have family members come out with claims, trying to threaten that they're going to go to the newspapers about me ... Where it becomes intrusive is that if somebody's giving me a hard time and I feel like I'm in a position where I have to defend myself, I can't do that either. I have to get punched in the head and walk away."

O'Connell told the magazine his tough background, which included a suspended prison sentence, has helped him to become the person he is today.

He said: "Whatever I went through then backs me up as a human and as an adult nowadays. I wouldn't wish that on anyone growing up, but now it's done me the world of good to see genuine hardship, genuine suffering, genuine poverty and to see humour in amongst them as well - to see people just getting on with it. I grew up knowing a lot of strong people.

"So yeah, for me as an adult now, wherever I am in the world I can always feel sturdy on my feet."

However, the suspended sentence has impacted his career.

Speaking about that time, he said: "It was all stacked against me ... I'm not going to make out that I sailed through it all feeling very cocky and sure-fire, like.

"I was f***ing terrified. But that was because of what I was potentially gonna lose. It was a case of putting a good version of accounts over to the court - for them to say, 'Well, there's a chance he might make something for himself if we don't send him down this time.' Thankfully they gave me a suspended sentence.

"It's been hard enough trying to get into America with all of that said and done. So I can't imagine, if that conviction had amounted to anything, how different things would be."

The full interview appears in this week's issue of ES Magazine, which is out on Thursday May 12.
Ben Wilson ready for the off at the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200 grid. Picture by Stephen Davison

William Dunlop on the grid during the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200 today. Picture by Stephen Davison

Michael Dunlop is all smiles after setting fattest Superbike time during the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200. Picture by Stephen Davison

Michael Dunlop (BMW ) during practice race for the Vauxhall International North West 200, in Coleraine. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press

Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT Racing BMW ) during today's practices for the Vauxhall International North West 200, in Coleraine. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press

Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 10th May 2016 Vauxhall International North West 200 Jill McWilliams along with her husband Jeremy McWilliams who is racing. Photographer - Matt Mackey / Press Eye

Miss North West 200 Chloe McMaster is congratulated by third placed Hollie Hanson and runner up Shannon Henry after the competition in the paddock on Tuesday evening. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Miss North West 200 Chloe McMaster wins the competition in the paddock on Tuesday evening. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Sweet 16: Alastair Seeley is one win away from breaking the NW200 record

All eyes at this North West are on Alastair Seeley as he bids to surpass his own and the late, great Robert Dunlops record of 15 wins at this weeks event.

Will it be sweet 16 for Alastair? I certainly wouldnt want to be the rider looking to take a Dunlop crown at the North West.

Its the big talking point among the fans and has created a lot of mixed emotions. On the one hand, theres a huge groundswell of personal support for Alastair, willing him on to secure the record in his own right and, at the same time, theres a great romantic attachment to the Dunlop name being synonymous with the famous Ballymoney dynastys home race.

Looking at it dispassionately and purely in racing terms, Alastair has the tools to get the job done, both psychologically and mechanically.

He is under a lot of pressure, theres no doubt about that, not least from Roberts two talented sons, Michael and William.

Michael has issued a clear mission statement that he will do all in his power to protect his dads record and we all know how determined Michael can be when he is fighting a cause.

Who will ever forget the incredible first race win he somehow battled to in tribute to his dad, just two days after Robert was tragically taken at the 2007 North West?

Michael was red hot in practice on Tuesday night, putting down a marker when he topped the Superbike session on his Hawk BMW with a speed of 121.652mph.

I thought hed need a second session on the bike to match the pace of the boys whove been on the rostrum in Superbikes this season but he wanted to nail it on the night, to let them know he was there, and thats what he did.

William has also fought some spectacular duels with Alastair at the North West and will be well up for another.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Miss North West 200 Chloe McMaster wins the competition in the paddock on Tuesday evening. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON Miss North West 200 Chloe McMaster is congratulated by third placed Hollie Hanson and runner up Shannon Henry after the competition in the paddock on Tuesday evening. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland -10/05/2016. Picture by Dessie Loughery International North West 200 Supertwin Race Jeremy McWilliams (SGS/IEG/KMR Kawasaki ) Chloe McMaster named Miss North West 200 for 2016. Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 10th May 2016 Vauxhall International North West 200 Jill McWilliams along with her husband Jeremy McWilliams who is racing. Photographer - Matt Mackey / Press Eye Chloe McMaster named Miss North West 200 for 2016. Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT Racing BMW ) during today's practices for the Vauxhall International North West 200, in Coleraine. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press PMAKER Chloe McMaster named Miss North West 200 for 2016. Michael Dunlop (BMW ) during practice race for the Vauxhall International North West 200, in Coleraine. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press PMAKER Michael Dunlop is all smiles after setting fattest Superbike time during the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200. Picture by Stephen Davison William Dunlop on the grid during the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200 today. Picture by Stephen Davison Ben Wilson ready for the off at the opening practice session for the Vauxhall International North West 200 grid. Picture by Stephen Davison Hector Neill looks over the grid. Vauxhall International North West 200. Philip Magowan Chloe McMaster named Miss North West 200 for 2016. Vauxhall International North West 200. Philip Neill Philip Magowan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Miss North West 200 Chloe McMaster wins the competition in the paddock on Tuesday evening. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Theres also the weight of expectation on Alastair, carried over from last year and the knowledge that theres a group of very good riders out to thwart him, but he copes with that kind of pressure every week in British Superbikes so he wont be fazed or deflected.

He also has excellent well-prepared machinery  BMW for the Superbike and Superstock races, Kawasaki for the Supersport outings.

The numbers add up, too. He has six chances to claim a new record... two tonight in Supersport and Superstock and four on Saturday  two Superbike, Supersport and Superstock.

It is inconceivable a rider of Alastairs calibre will not win one out of six starts. In fact, he has the capability to win more and become the new King of the North West, if not tonight, then for sure on Saturday.

I see his main threats in the 600 Supersport tonight coming from Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson who will be riding the bike he won on at the TT last year and who looked very impressive in practice on Tuesday.

In the 1000 Superstock, it will be Michael and Hutchy again along with Bruce Anstey and another veteran, Michael Rutter, who brought all his track knowledge and experience to the fore in posting the fastest lap in Superstock practice on Tuesday, a scorching 121.847mph, an unofficial lap record for the class.

I am still backing Alastair, though, to take his place in the pantheon of North West greats. Its probably too soon to call him a legend on a par with Robert or Joey Dunlop but he has been building a legacy.

Some will argue that the standard of opposition isnt as formidable now as in Roberts prime or, indeed, when I set my own record of five wins in a day in 1992. That day I had three world champions in Joey, Carl Fogarty and Brian Reid ranged against me.

But Alastair has to be given unequivocal credit for taking the wins against the best riders in todays market.

He stands on the verge of becoming the supreme champion of the North West and when it happens, he will fully deserve to go down in history for what he has achieved.

Phillip McCallen created North West history with five wins in one day in 1992. He is a BBC commentator at the event and owns a bike dealership at Boucher Road, Belfast
Cannabis with an estimated street value of 100,000 has been seized in Dunmurry

Cannabis with an estimated street value of 100,000 has been seized in Dunmurry on the outskirts of south Belfast.

Detectives from the Organised Crime Branch carried out the planned search yesterday.

"This seizure highlights our continued determination to tackle the scourge of illegal drugs in the local community and I would appeal to anyone who has concerns about illegal drugs to contact police," a PSNI spokesman said.

"We will look into any report that we receive as we work with the community to reduce the harm caused by these drugs."

East Belfast DUP MLA and Policing Board member Robin Newton welcomed the news. "Drugs are a scourge in our communities and I welcome the actions of the drugs squad as they continue their work in keeping our streets safer," he said. "The PSNI deserve our thanks and our support for another successful operation."
Daniel and Amy McArthur of Ashers bakery at Belfast High Court yesterday. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Solicitor Sam Webster with Daniel McArthur and his Wife Amy at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Daniel McArthur and his Wife Amy at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Gareth Lee ( Gay Rights activist) with Michael Wardlow (Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland) at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Daniel McArthur and his Wife Amy at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Gareth Lee ( Gay Rights activist) with Michael Wardlow (Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland) at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Gareth Lee ( Gay Rights activist) with Michael Wardlow (Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland) at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 09/05/2016 Daniel McArthur and his Wife Amy at Belfast High Court on Monday, The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery, the McArthur family, are seeking to appeal a ruling that found they acted unlawfully by refusing to bake a cake with a Slogan supporting gay marriage in May 2014. PHOTO Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Forcing Christian bakers to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan could amount to cruelty, Northern Ireland's top law officer argued today.

Attorney General John Larkin QC's assessment came as judgment was reserved in a landmark legal battle over the McArthur family's refusal of a customer's order.

Senior judges in Belfast pledged to give their verdict as soon as possible.

Ashers' Baking Company, run by the McArthurs, is seeking to overturn a finding that it acted unlawfully in declining Gareth Lee's order.

Mr Lee had requested a cake depicting Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie below the motto 'Support Gay Marriage' for an event to mark International Day Against Homophobia.

Bosses at the bakery refunded his money for the order because the message went against their Christian faith.

The family insist their problem was with the cake and not the customer.

But Mr Lee sued, claiming he was left feeling like a lesser person.

Last year Belfast County Court held that the bakery had discriminated against him on grounds of sexual orientation and religious belief or political opinion.

The firm was also ordered to pay 500 compensation to the gay rights activist, whose legal action was backed by the Equality Commission.

During a four-day hearing at the Court of Appeal lawyers for the McArthurs have challenged the finding by insisting it would have been sinful for them to complete the order.

Counsel for the family claimed it was wrong to force them to choose between operating a business or adhering to their faith.

In closing submissions today David Scoffield QC rejected claims that his clients' refusal subjected Mr lee to direct discrimination.

He said: "The reason the order was declined was conscience, it was nothing to do with this customer or any customer's political opinion.

"A customer with a different political opinion who wanted the same cake would have received the same response."

Supporting the McArthurs' case, the Attorney General has contended that it was wrong to force them to express a political view in conflict with their faith.

He insisted they should have constitutional protection for turning down a customer's order based on their religious beliefs.

And in his final arguments today, Mr Larkin claimed the problem in the case involved "coerced expression".

He told the court: "The wrong occurs, and can amount to cruelty, to make someone say something fundamentally at variance with their political opinion or religious views."

Following closing submissions the three appeal judges, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan and Lord Justices Weatherup and Weir, confirmed they were reserving their decision.
Police have been investigating the shooting in Belfast

A 51-year-old man has been arrested over a paramilitary-style shooting in Belfast.

The victim was shot a number of times in an alleyway in the north of the city on May 9.

Detective Inspector Nigel Snoddy said: "A man in his 20s sustained a number of gunshot wounds in the attack which took place in an alleyway between Sheridan Street and Donore Court in the early hours of the morning."

Police arrested the man in the greater Belfast area on Thursday evening. He is currently in custody.
A 51-year-old man has been arrested in Belfast following a paramilitary-style shooting in the New Lodge area on Monday.

The victim, aged in his 20s, was shot a number of times in the body, police said.

He was shot in an alleyway between Sheridan Street and Donore Court at about 1am on Monday.

Detective Inspector Nigel Snoddy said: "A man in his 20's sustained a number of gunshot wounds in the attack which took place in an alleyway between Sheridan Street and Donore Court in the early hours of the morning.

"The arrested male was detained in the greater Belfast area this evening. He remains in custody at this time.

Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin condemned the "vicious" shooting at the time.

She said: "This was a very serious incident. The young man was shot on a number of occasions and we could well have been looking at another fatality in north Belfast.

This shooting was wrong and I call on those behind it to end their war on the people of north Belfast.

Anyone with information on this incident should bring it forward to the PSNI."
The Northern Ireland Assembly is meeting for the first time since the elections

The Northern Ireland Assembly is to have its first formal opposition since the Good Friday peace accord after the Ulster Unionist Party announced it would not take a seat in the powersharing government.

Party leader Mike Nesbitt said the move heralded a new era for devolved politics in the region.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement established a form of government based on a ruling coalition executive made up of all Northern Ireland's main parties. The aim was to ensure all sections of a deeply divided society had a role in power.

While smaller parties and independents have sat outside the executive in past mandates, they have not been afforded the recognition, funding and status of an official opposition.

A new law passed earlier this year now enable parties with the electoral strength to enter the executive to instead form an opposition.

Mr Nesbitt made the announcement moments after Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein veteran Martin McGuinness were re-appointed First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively in the first sitting of the legislature since last week's Assembly election.

"Let battle commence," the UUP leader and former TV broadcaster told the Assembly chamber.

The UUP nailed its colours to the mast two days after receiving a proposed programme for government document and two weeks before the deadline for a new five year government plan to be agreed and executive formed.

With the DUP and Sinn Fein having consolidated their positions at the head of the executive in the election, the focus now shifts to the SDLP to see if it will follow the UUP out of government. The cross-community Alliance Party is expected to remain in the executive and again take on the politically sensitive justice portfolio.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his party would wait until negotiations around a new programme for government were completed.

"We will make a decision when that is finished - only then," he said.

"Mike Nesbitt will do what Mike Nesbitt will do. He has a mandate for the Ulster Unionist Party, I have a mandate for the SDLP's position, which was always to negotiate hard to try to achieve a programme for government that we can all sign up to. That is our position. That remains our position."

The UUP walked out of the power-sharing administration last autumn, when official opposition was not an option, amid a crisis sparked by a murder linked to the Provisional IRA.

Mr Nesbitt had said his party's return to the executive table post-election would depend on a number of factors, among them the need for a "progressive" programme for government and a commitment from the main parties to work collectively across departments.

He said neither had materialised.

Mr Nesbitt said an assessment by police chiefs that structures of the Provisional IRA remain in place also did not make a return to power with Sinn Fein an attractive option.

The UUP leader said his party's Assembly group had voted unanimously to form an opposition.

"This heralds a new era for devolved politics at Stormont, and a big, bold step forward to normal democracy for Northern Ireland," he said.

Eighteen years ago, the UUP, the then dominant force within unionism, was one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement while the DUP opposed the deal.

Mr McGuinness accused Mr Nesbitt of a lack of leadership, claiming he had "repudiated" the UUP's Good Friday Agreement legacy.

"I find that deeply disappointing," he said.

"I do think rather than being seen as leadership it will be seen as a lack of leadership, it will be seen as a lack of the Ulster Unionist Party's ability to accept the democratically expressed wishes of the people who have charged both the DUP and Sinn Fein with responsibility to lead this administration forward."

DUP Assembly member Paul Givan said the UUP had been rejected by the electorate.

"With Mike under internal pressure he is now running into opposition having lost the election," he said.

He added: "Whilst others have run away, the DUP, as the leaders of unionism will get on with the business of government."

As an official opposition, the UUP will have additional speaking rights in the chamber, be able to table opposition day debates, will fill some key scrutiny committee roles and have access to funded research services.

Alliance Party leader David Ford accused Mr Nesbitt of "grandstanding".

"Whether in opposition or not, today's move by the UUP shows Mr Nesbitt clearly makes decisions based on where he can best be seen, as opposed to what can best help the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
UDA leader Jackie McDonald stressed the need for the younger generation of loyalists to help make the initiative work

A paramilitary-backed loyalist umbrella group has issued a new protocol on flags and bonfires with the stated intent of reducing tensions and ensuring respect around the often contentious issues.

The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), which was set up last year with the support of the three main loyalist paramilitary groups - the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando - has also unveiled a new Battle of the Somme centenary flag which, it hopes, will be the main flag flown in unionist areas through the summer months.

Flags and bonfires have long been the source of community tension in Northern Ireland.

The annual proliferation of flags on lampposts across the region is riven with controversy, especially when the flags are left to become tattered in the elements or when flags carrying paramilitary motifs are erected.

Contention also surrounds the building and burning of bonfires to mark significant events in loyalist and republican narratives, such as the Protestant 'eleventh night' celebrations in July. Scores of homes were evacuated around a huge loyalist bonfire in east Belfast last year amid safety concerns.

The burning of tyres and symbols associated with the other side of the sectarian divide, such as flags or even effigies, has also attracted fierce criticism.

At an event in Belfast to launch the new LCC initiative, UDA leader Jackie McDonald stressed the need for the younger generation of loyalists to help make it work.

"We have been trying to get our message home about a better way forward and better focus and hopefully to move everybody on in a way where we are first class loyalists, not seen somehow as second class unionists, we want our people to be first class loyalists," he said.

Winston Irvine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which has links to the UVF, said he believed the new Somme flag would limit the erection of paramilitary symbols this summer.

"That's not to say this protocol is going to completely eradicate the use of paramilitary flags," he added.

"That's not the purpose of this initiative - this initiative is designed to ensure we progress the issues around flags. We know this is a hotly contested and contentious issue and we believe this is a very positive and constructive step forward in progressing that issue."

East Belfast community worker and former loyalist prisoner Jim Wilson stressed the protocol was voluntary and the council was "not telling" people what to do.

"We are suggesting to people that loyalism needs to get the monkey off its back and the monkey on its back is the lack of respect sometimes that some of our people show to people who live in those areas," he said.

"It's important that our young communities out there understand that loyalism needs to get our good name back as opposed to the name we have had over the past five to 10 years."

David Campbell of the LCC said: "Since the new year, the LCC has been consulting on the need to adopt protocols for the flying of flags and the erection of eleventh night bonfires in an attempt to demonstrate best practice in our communities and mutual respect for those of differing opinions."

Tony Blair's former chief of staff at Downing Street Jonathan Powell was instrumental in establishing the LCC.

In summary, the LCC protocol states:

:: The Union flag and Northern Ireland flag should be flown in a respectful manner, in places where they will command respect and not be used for provocative purposes. Flags should also be maintained in good order.

:: The LCC will erect the new flag commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers from the 36th Ulster Division at the Somme in 1916 on arterial routes in loyalist communities, subject to respect being shown in the vicinity of churches, schools and cross-community buildings.

:: The flag will be erected in June and taken down at the end of September.

:: LCC emphasises it has no responsibility for any bonfire sites. But it appeals to bonfire organisers to ensure the siting of bonfires, choice of combustible material and any adornments added, should at all times have respect for public safety, security of homes and business and safety of those attending.

The Irish government has welcomed the LCC initiative.

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said: "The display of flags and emblems in Northern Ireland is highly emotive and can at times be divisive, particularly in a society moving on from conflict. I commend the acknowledgement of the need for mutual respect, demonstrated in the development of the protocol, and look forward to these principles being put into practice.

"Discussions on how to build a greater climate of respect for differing traditions in Northern Ireland, and on how to build a shared society, based on parity of esteem, have been at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and successive Agreements."
The DUP has called for greater cross-border intelligence sharing after MI5 warned there was a "strong possibility" of a dissident terrorist attack in Britain.

The security services yesterday raised the official threat level to England, Scotland and Wales from Northern Ireland-related terrorism to 'substantial' for the first time in three-and-a-half years.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the move "reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity".

In a statement to the House of Commons, she said: "As a result of this change, we are working closely with police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place."

The stark warning from the Home Secretary comes after two men were shot dead in Belfast in the last month, with a further 25 on a hit-list. And Prison officer Adrian Ismay died as a result of injuries he sustained in a dissident bomb attack in the east of the city in March.

It is understood that recent information uncovered by the intelligence services led to the threat level being raised from 'moderate' to 'substantial' in Britain.

'Substantial' is the third most serious category out of five, and means that a terrorist attack is seen as a strong possibility. The threat level from dissidents in Britain was last raised to 'substantial' in September 2010, and then lowered to 'moderate' in October 2012.

The last successful attack by dissidents on a British target took place some 15 years ago when the Real IRA planted a car bomb in Birmingham.

Mrs May said police were currently working to ensure "appropriate security measures are in place".

DUP MP Ian Paisley and Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott have both called for vigilance.

Mr Paisley described the move as "an extremely worrying development".

"There hasn't been an increase from Irish terrorism to the UK mainland for quite some time, but this shows that dissident republicans have now built up their capacity to hit targets on the mainland, and if they were successful, it would give them the PR campaign they crave," he said.

Mr Paisley also urged the Government to work with its counterparts in the Republic to "strengthen the weak link in the chain".

"I know the Government will be speaking to Irish authorities and I would urge them to work alongside the PSNI and Garda Siochana and provide whatever assistance they can," he said.

"We must all work together to strengthen the weak link in the chain - the Republic of Ireland - and ensure that the border is strengthened and vital information is shared between all relevant bodies across both sides of the border and across the Irish Sea".

Mr Elliott said the decision to raise the threat level was not one the security services or Government will have taken lightly.

"People need to know which organisations are now posing an increasing threat to the security of the UK and what level of co-operation there is between these groups," he said.

"Irish republican terrorists have murdered and created destruction for years. We don't want any more of these actions, it is time people were allowed to get on with their lives. Today's raising of the threat level is a reminder of the need for vigilance."

Mrs May made the announcement to the House of Commons yesterday.

"As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place," she said.

The threat level to the UK from international terrorism remains at 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely. This has not been changed.

Mrs May said the threat level in Northern Ireland from terrorists also remains unchanged at 'severe'.

"The public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police," she said, adding that the main focus of violent dissident republican activity continued to be in Northern Ireland "where they have targeted the brave police and prison officers who serve their communities day in and day out".

The Home Secretary added: "The reality is that they command little support. They do not represent the views or wishes of the vast majority of people, both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, who decisively expressed their desire for peace in the 1998 Belfast Agreement and have been transforming Northern Ireland ever since.

"However, it is sensible, given their stated aims, that the public in Great Britain should also remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. But we should not be alarmed, and this should not affect how we go about our daily lives."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that 25 people in Belfast are currently under threat from dissidents.

North Belfast priest Father Gary Donegan said the threats were made against people accused by some individuals in their communities of "anti-social or criminal activity".

Fr Donegan has challenged those behind the shootings to step forward and explain themselves.

"The people that perpetrate the crimes are coming out of the shadows to do these things," he said.

"And they disappear back in again."

On Monday night takeaway deliver driver Dan Murray was murdered after being lured into a part of west Belfast by a bogus call in what was a third shooting in the city in 24 hours.

Last month taxi driver Michael McGibbon was killed in an alleyway shooting close to his north Belfast home.
Two brothers have been remanded in custody after pleading guilty to murdering an east Belfast man in his home with a guitar.

Moments before he was due to stand trial yesterday for the murder of 41-year-old Matthew Goddard at Christmas 2014, James Henry Turner (30) from Dunraven Court in Belfast, changed his plea to guilty.

Last week his older brother, 37 year-old William Turner from Glenea Grove in Belfast, also pleaded guilty to murder.

The pair have both been remanded in custody to await sentencing.

Mr Goddard was found murdered in the living room of his east Belfast home in Chobham Street on Christmas Eve 2014.

At the time it was said he had been the victim of a brutal and sustained attack, and had even been beaten with his own electric guitar.

A third man, Christian Walker of Ribble Street in Belfast was acquitted of the murder by direction of trial judge Mr Justice Treacy, after the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to him. This had followed Walker's guilty pleas to two additional charges in which he admitted perverting the course of public justice by giving the Turner brothers false alibis for the murder, and conspiring with them to pervert justice and the police investigation into the killing.

Prosecution QC Ciaran Murphy told Mr Justice Treacy that in light of Walker's guilty pleas he had taken further instructions and that the Crown was offering no further evidence of the murder charge in his case.

Mr Murphy added that Walker was therefore entitled to be formally acquitted by the jury of six men and six women, who were sworn in last week to hear the case.

Similarly, James Turner was acquitted of attacking another man when the prosecution offered no evidence on that charge. His brother is awaiting sentence on this charge, having pleaded guilty.

Walker was released on continuing bail while pre-sentence reports are prepared before all three men are sentenced next month.

Defence QC Charles McCreanor said that both psychiatric and psychological reports on Walker had already been lodged with the court. Mr Lyttle, speaking for Turner, said his client had been suffering from a long term brain injury and that it was intended that a psychiatric report on him will also be made available to the court.

For the prosecution, Mr Murphy said they would be providing victim impact reports from Mr Goddard's wife Maureen and immediate family.
The Assembly's official Opposition are to debate a probe into the botched Renewable Heating Incentive scheme, during proceedings branded "meaningless" by Sinn Fein.

It comes after James Brokenshire called an election for March 2, just 10 months after the previous poll, after Sinn Fein pulled the plug on the Executive through Martin McGuinness's resignation.

Assembly business will continue on until Wednesday, January 25 and dissolve the following day.

On Tuesday's agenda, set by the UUP and SDLP, MLAs will discuss a public inquiry into the RHI as well as the "failure of the Executive".

Sinn Fein MLAs however, will not attend the chamber, although its ministers will continue to work right up until the election.

Gerry Kelly described the day's events as "meaningless" given the previous day's events and that their "heads were focused on an election".

Proceedings begin at 10.30am.

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The soon-to-end Assembly opened officially on Thursday, May 12, 2016 - the fifth mandate since the Good Friday agreement and the most short-lived.

There are 38 DUP MLAs, 28 Sinn Fein members, 16 Ulster Unionists, 12 from the SDLP and eight Alliance among the 108 members as well as two Greens, two People Before Profit Alliance, one TUV member and one independent.

There are 29 new members for the previous term.

At the first session Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness were re-appointed First and deputy First Ministers.

The DUP's Robin Newton was elected Speaker with Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane appointed Principal Deputy Speaker alongside Deputy Speakers Danny Kennedy (UUP) and Patsy McGlone (SDLP).

Ms Ruane and her Sinn Fein colleague Catherine Seeley have both indicated they will not seek re-election.

On the first day of the Assembly, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt announced his party would move into opposition.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Northern Ireland Assembly Chamber Belfast East Belfast East: Andy Allen UUP Belfast East: Joanne Bunting, DUP Belfast East: Sammy Douglas, DUP Belfast East: Naomi Long, Alliance Belfast East: Chris Lyttle, Alliance Belfast East: Robin Newton, DUP Belfast North Belfast North: Paula Bradley, DUP Belfast North: Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein Belfast North: William Humphrey, DUP Belfast North: Nichola Mallon, SDLP Matt Mackey - Presseye.com Belfast North: Nelson McCausland, DUP Belfast North: Caral Ni Chuilin, Sinn Fein Belfast South Belfast South: Clare Bailey, Green Party Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast South: Paula Bradshaw, Alliance Belfast South: Claire Hanna, SDLP Belfast South: Emma Little Pengelly, DUP Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir Belfast South: Christopher Stalford, DUP Belfast West Belfast West: Alex Attwood, SDLP Belfast West: Gerry Carroll, People Before Profit Belfast West: Alex Maskey, Sinn Fein Belfast West: Fra McCann, Sinn Fein Belfast West: Jennifer McCann, Sinn Fein Belfast West: Pat Sheehan, Sinn Fein East Antrim East Antrim: Roy Beggs, UUP East Antrim: Stewart Clyde Dickson, Alliance East Antrim: David Hilditch, DUP East Antrim: Noel Jordan, DUP East Antrim: Oliver McMullan, Sinn Fein Darren Kidd East Antrim: Alastair Ross, DUP East Londonderry East Londonderry: Caomihe Archibald, Sinn Fein East Londonderry: Maurice Bradley, DUP East Londonderry: Adrian McQuillan, DUP East Londonderry: Gerry Mullan, SDLP East Londonderry: George Robinson, DUP Martin McKeown East Londonderry: Claire Sugden, Independent Fermanagh and South Tyrone Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Rosemary Barton, UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Arlene Foster, DUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Fein Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Sean Lynch, Sinn Fein Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Richie McPhillips, SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone: Maurice Morrow, DUP Foyle Foyle: Mark H Durkan, SDLP Foyle: Colum Eastwood, SDLP Foyle: Eamonn McCann, People Before Profit Foyle: Raymond McCartney, Sinn Fein Foyle: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Foyle: Gary Middleton, DUP Lagan Valley Lagan Valley: Robbie Butler, UUP Lagan Valley: Paul Given, DUP Lagan Valley: Brenda Hale, DUP Lagan Valley: Trevor Lunn, Alliance Lagan Valley: Jenny Palmer, Ulster Unionist Party Lagan Valley: Edwin Poots, DUP Mid Ulster Mid Ulster: Keith Alexander Buchanan, DUP Mid Ulster: Linda Dillon, Sinn Fein Mid Ulster: Patsy McGlone, SDLP Mid Ulster: Ian Milne, Sinn Fein Mid Ulster: Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein Mid Ulster: Sandra Overend, UUP Newry and Armagh Newry and Armagh: Cathal Damian Boylan, Sinn Fein Newry and Armagh: Megan Fearon, Sinn Fein Newry and Armagh: William George Irwin, DUP Newry and Armagh: Danny Kennedy, UUP Newry and Armagh: Justin McNulty, SDLP Newry and Armagh: Conor Murphy, Sinn Fein North Antrim North Antrim: Jim Allister, TUV North Antrim: Paul Frew, DUP North Antrim: Philip Logan, DUP North Antrim: Daithi Gerard McKay, Sinn Fein North Antrim: Mervyn Storey, DUP North Antrim: Robin Swann, UUP North Down North Down: Steven Agnew, Green Party North Down: Alan Chambers, UUP North Down: Gordon Mervyn Dunne, DUP North Down: Alex Easton, DUP North Down: Stephen Farry, Alliance North Down: Peter James Weir, DUP South Antrim South Antrim: Steve Aiken, UUP South Antrim: Pam Cameron, DUP South Antrim: Trevor Clarke, DUP South Antrim: David RJ Ford, Alliance South Antrim: Paul Girvan, DUP South Antrim: Declan Kearney, Sinn Fein South Down South Down: Sinead Bradley, SDLP South Down: Chris Hazzard, Sinn Fein South Down: Colin McGrath, SDLP South Down: Harold McKee, UUP South Down: Caitriona Ruane, Sinn Fein South Down: Jim Wells, DUP Strangford Strangford: Kellie Armstrong, Alliance Strangford: Jonathan Bell, DUP Strangford: Simon Hamilton, DUP Strangford: Michelle McIlveen, DUP Strangford: Mike Nesbitt, UUP Strangford: Philip Smith, UUP Upper Bann Upper Bann: Sydney Alexander Anderson, DUP Upper Bann: Doug Beattie, UUP Upper Bann: Jo-Anne Dobson, UUP Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann: John O'Dowd, Sinn Fein Upper Bann: Catherine Seeley, Sinn Fein West Tyrone West Tyrone: Michaela Boyle, Sinn Fein West Tyrone: Thomas Buchanan, DUP West Tyrone: Ross Hussey, UUP West Tyrone: Declan McAleer, Sinn Fein West Tyrone: Daniel McCrossan, SDLP West Tyrone: Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein / Facebook

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The SDLP followed suit.

Following their moves the following were selected as ministers in the new Executive.

The Executive Office: First Minister Arlene Foster DUP, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness SF

Minister for the the Economy - Simon Hamilton, DUP

Minister for Education - Peter Weir, DUP

Minister for Agriculture and the Environment - Michelle McIlveen, DUP

Minister for Communities - Paul Givan, DUP

Minister for Finance - Mairtin O Muilleoir, SF

Minister for Infrastructure - Chris Hazzard, SF

Minister for Health - Michelle O'Neill, SF

Minister of Justice - Claire Sugden - Independent

Junior Ministers - Alastair Ross DUP Megan Fearon SF
Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished on July 24 1991

The mother of Ben Needham has pleaded with the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police not to permanently recall the officer leading the investigation into the disappearance of her son following reports of a drinking binge on a Greek island.

A barrister representing Kerry Needham and her family has written to the force's temporary chief, Dave Jones, saying a decision to recall Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick could put the whole inquiry in jeopardy.

The letter states that "Ms Needham trusts the officers involved, believes they are working to the highest standards operationally and professionally and wishes there to be no disruption".

It adds: "To recall their leader is incredibly worrying for Ms Needham."

South Yorkshire Police have confirmed a senior officer has been recalled to the UK following reports that members of the team, which is on the island of Kos investigating Ben's 1991 disappearance, spent eight hours drinking wine and beer.

But the force would not confirm whether the officer recalled was Mr Fenwick.

The letter to Mr Jones, who only took over at South Yorkshire this month following the suspension of chief constable David Crompton in the wake of the Hillsborough inquests, was from barrister Ian Brownhill, who represents the Needham family.

Mr Brownhill said in the letter that Ms Needham "fears the entire investigation is in jeopardy".

He said: "I am instructed to strongly encourage you not to recall DSI Fenwick. Or, if his recall really is necessary, then please make it for the shortest of time possible."

The South Yorkshire Police officers have been dispatched to Kos in a fresh bid to discover what happened to Ben, who was just 21 months old when he went missing on the island in 1991.

Earlier, Ms Needham defended the officers at the centre of the row, telling ITV's Good Morning Britain she is confident they are doing all they can to discover the truth behind her son's disappearance.

She said: "They work so, so hard, putting every ounce of energy into trying to find out what happened to Ben and for this to come out, it could hinder the case.

"I know that without these officers we will not find the answers to Ben. I am so angry about it.

"No-one can understand how much hard work these officers put into this case. It is very, very cruel what has happened."

She told the programme: "Matt Fenwick is an amazing detective; he has been by our side for a few years now and we have never had any problem with his work.

"These police officers, they are human beings at the end of the day. What they choose to do in their own time is their business, not anybody else's.

"It is horrendous. I can't believe what has happened. We work together - the police, the media and myself, we work together as a team. This is just not team work.

"We are supposed to be trying to find the answers to what happened to Ben along with these detectives, and this could just hinder it. And I'm angry this report had to come out, it is just not nice."

South Yorkshire Police are investigating a report that the officers embarked on a drinking session hours after they launched a new appeal.

According to The Sun, by 5pm on Tuesday the officers had gathered for drinks at their hotel before heading to a pizzeria and bars.

The last members of the team to turn in wound up their evening at 1.24am, the paper said.

Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police said they had received extra funding from the Home Office to help in the search for Ben, from Sheffield, who vanished on July 24 1991.

Mr Fenwick told The Sun on Wednesday evening the team was "desperately" trying to find the youngster.

The officer stressed the team was "working really hard", adding: "We were up at seven this morning and we've got officers still out now (at 8.30pm) interviewing people. What I can say is that no public money was spent on alcohol."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We're absolutely committed to this investigation and require the highest possible standards from all of those involved. The team must now get on with the important task in hand."

She said: " Following concerns raised regarding the behaviour of some of those involved, the senior officer has been recalled to the UK with immediate effect to provide the details of exactly what has happened. An internal investigation will follow."

Mr Fenwick has been involved in a number of high-profile investigations for South Yorkshire Police. He has been the detective leading the inquiry into allegations against Sir Cliff Richard and he was also in charge of the investigation into the the murder of church organist Alan Greaves in Sheffield in 2012.
A disgraced Catholic primary school teacher has admitted posting a series of bigoted comments on Twitter in which she badmouthed Protestants and glorified the IRA.

Self-confessed 'Provo Princess' Anne-Marie Clements appeared in the dock in Scotland to plead guilty to posting "grossly offensive" messages on the social media site.

The court heard the 25-year-old, who had more than 3,300 followers, lost her job as a Primary 7 teacher as a result of her posts, which included referring to Celtic as "Ronnie's Fenian Band", posting about "William of Orange b*******" and boasting "every day's a RA day" - in reference to the IRA.

She pleaded guilty to breaching Section 172 (1)(a) of the Communications Act 2003 by posting tweets which were "of an indecent, obscene or menacing character" and which "contained sectarian remarks and remarks and images in support of a terrorist organisation."

Clements also admitted posting "grossly offensive" comments from her home in South Lanarkshire, an unspecified address in Perth, and elsewhere.

The case marks a spectacular fall from grace for the young teacher, who used her Twitter account to post selfies with former Celtic star Anthony Stokes and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, with her solicitor describing the situation as "a tragedy".

Shamefaced Clements glared at reporters covering her case yesterday and went to extraordinary lengths to avoid being photographed as she left court.

As temperatures hit 20C in a sun-soaked Paisley, Clements donned a huge green parka and pulled the hood right over her head to evade a waiting photographer.

She then ran from the building and into a waiting silver hatchback, believed to have been driven by her dad Henry, kept her hood up and cowered in the back as she was whisked away.

The disgraced teacher could not hide from the bigoted messages which she admitted to having posted on her Twitter account between November 18 and December 21 last year.

Procurator fiscal depute John Penman explained: "The essence of this is, between what amounts to a calendar month, at the addresses given in the libel, Miss Clements sent out a number of messages on this Twitter account."

The prosecutor said the tweets were spotted by a member of the public on Sunday, December 20 last year, who found them to be "extremely offensive and of a sectarian nature" and established the accused was employed as a teacher at St Mark's Primary School.

The Twitter user in question emailed the school and attached screenshots of her Tweets.

On November 18 last year, the court heard, Clements retweeted a tweet from another user which read: "Before we address the so called problem of refugees, what's being done about Protestants?"

Penman added: "She later posted a picture of suspected IRA personnel holding a rifle, wearing a ski mask, with the caption, 'Every day's a RA day'."

On November 26 last year - two hours before Celtic kicked off against Dutch giants Ajax in the UEFA Europa League group stage, in a game the Scottish side lost 2-1 - she wrote: "This is the one. Come on Celtic, intae these William of Orange b*******. Ronnie's Fenian Band."

As Sheriff Susan Sinclair fined Clements 600, she slammed her for her actions.

She said: "This is going to result in a complete life and career change from the one she set out not too long ago to pursue.

"The consequences have already been brought home.

"The comments you posted were wholly offensive, completely unacceptable and wholly inappropriate.

"This kind of behaviour simply won't be condoned or tolerated."
Jean-Claude Juncker attends a panel discussion about the future of Europe at the Europe Forum event in Berlin (AP)

Britons need to be aware that a decision to leave the European Union in next month's referendum would cause "manifold problems", European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.

Britain will vote on June 23 on whether to remain in the 28-nation EU.

Mr Juncker said in Berlin that Britons are not being told about the "full extent" of the problems an exit would cause.

He said that if Britain leaves, the EU will not change course but "everything would have to be rearranged".

Mr Juncker added: "The idea that, the day after the British referendum with a negative result, everything would carry on as it has so far is totally wrong.

"Those who leave the table can no longer eat at this table."

Meanwhile, German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that Britain will not get an improved membership deal with the EU if it votes for Brexit.

He said he wanted to end any speculation that a Leave vote could be used to improve on a deal won by Prime Minister David Cameron to change Britain's membership terms.

Mr Schaeuble said that "this is the only deal on the table. An 'out' vote cannot be used to get a better deal. 'In' means 'in' and 'out' means 'out'."

He said the decision was for the British people alone to make, and that "we will respect any decision that is reached".
Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said it has opened an investigation into the hackers' actions

Ukrainian hackers have published the names and contact information of thousands of journalists who have reported from rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine, raising concerns about their safety.

The hackers said they had gained access to computers used by the Russia-backed separatists to register journalists working in the conflict zone and felt it was necessary to publish the list "because these journalists collaborate with fighters from terrorist organisations".

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement condemning the publication of the list, which contains 7,000 entries and data on about 4,500 journalists, including their mobile numbers and email addresses.

"Publishing journalists' private contact details puts them at risk," Nina Ognianova, the CPJ Europe and Central Asia programme co-ordinator, said in the statement.

"At worst this action could be read as a thinly veiled call to target them."

Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said on Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the publication of the hacked data, which it said had already led to some journalists being threatened.

A letter signed by about 40 Ukrainian and foreign journalists said some of those on the list had received threatening emails and phone calls, while a broader concern was that some Ukrainian politicians were now calling for them to be considered "enemies of Ukraine" and barred from working in the country.

The letter noted that the rebels had detained nearly 80 journalists in eastern Ukraine, subjecting some of them to torture, so journalists abided by the separatists' "accreditation" requirement to give themselves some measure of protection.

The Associated Press was among the many media organisations whose journalists were on the list.

John Daniszewski, AP vice president for international news, said: "Providing news coverage is not the same as supporting any one side - quite the opposite.

"News gatherers for legitimate news organisations are objective. They cover and share information that the public needs.

"Ukrainians who believe in freedom should forcefully defend the value of news coverage to tell Ukraine's story.

"These hackers apparently have misunderstood the role journalism plays in a free society."

The hackers posted the list on a website called Myrotvorets, or Peacekeeper, on Saturday.

It attracted attention after a member of Ukraine's parliament, Anton Gerashchenko, praised the hackers in a Facebook posting on Tuesday.

Mr Gerashchenko said the list, which also included the names of 120 people working in the separatists' propaganda department, showed that Ukraine needs to do much more to counter propaganda from Russia and "its puppets".

He called for imposing controls over television content to prevent the distribution of information that could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity and on the accreditation process for foreign journalists, particularly those from Russia.
Malaysian police and army vehicles pass one another in Lahad Datu, Sabah, near the site of a standoff with Sulu gunmen, March 3, 2013.

Malaysian authorities said they arrested 22 men including 12 foreigners for suspected links to a foiled uprising against the government of the eastern state of Sabah three years ago.

We have reasons to believe that these men [were] allegedly involved in efforts to topple the government, and associated with the Royal Sulu Force, Sabah Police Chief Abdul Rashid Harun told BenarNews on Thursday, confirming the arrests of the 22 suspects under Malaysias Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.

The Royal Malaysia Police arrested the men as part of Gasak III, an operation mounted across Sabah over the weekend by the states Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and the police departments Special Task Force on Organized Crime (STAFOC), he said.

Abdul Rashid did not reveal the nationalities of the 12 foreigners, but said that two of them had birth certificates stating they were born in Sabah, and another man had a visitors pass from the nearby Philippines. The other nine foreigners had no identification papers, and the suspects ranged in age from 22 to 75 years.

In February and March 2013, Malaysian security forces put down an insurrection by some 200 fighters from Sulu  a neighboring province in the southern Philippines  who identified themselves as the Royal Army of Sulu and followers of the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III.

Seventy-two people, including 56 Sulu gunmen, 10 members of the Malaysian security forces and six civilians were killed in fighting spread over several weeks.

The Filipino group demanded to be recognized as representatives of the Sulu Sultanate that used to rule Sabah. In the past the sultanate was spread over several southern Philippine islands and parts of Borneo, including Sabah before it became a British protectorate in the 19th century. Sabah was incorporated into Malaysia in 1963, but the country still pays token rent to the Sulu Sultanate on an annual basis.

Ten Malaysians and the other 10 foreigners were detained on Saturday which was the second day of the Op Gasak III. The remaining two suspects were arrested on Monday at a location in Ranau, Abdul Rashid said.

Raids took place in Lahad Datu, Sungai Bilis and Tanjung Batu  parts of eastern Sabah where the foiled invasion and insurrection occurred. The operation, which was launched on Friday, resulted from months of planning and gathering of intelligence from sources including locals, Sabahs police chief added.

Since the conflict three years ago, the ESSCOM is responsible for overseeing security from northern Kudat to south-eastern Tawau.

Abdul Rashid said police still were trying to determine the suspects individual roles in the 2013 conflict.

All of them were most likely followers [of the sultan of Sulu], some were active informers, he said.

The arrests were announced Wednesday night in a message posted on Twitter by Malaysian Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

The 22 suspects were being held at police headquarters in the state capital of Kota Kinabalu, Abdul Rashid said.


For Immediate Release, May 12, 2016 Contact: Valerie Love, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 274-9713, vlove@biologicaldiversity.org

Jason Schwartz, Greenpeace, (347) 452-3752

Virali Modi-Parekh, Rainforest Action Network, (510) 747-8476 Hundreds Protest Federal Fracking Auction in Colorado In Break Free From Fossil Fuels Protest, Colorado Tells President Obama to Keep It in the Ground DENVER Hundreds of community, climate and anti-fracking activists today protested a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction at the Holiday Inn in Lakewood, Colo. About 300 activists from Colorado and surrounding states rallied outside the hotel, chanting, singing, carrying signs, banners and art. They then engaged in peaceful direct action to interrupt the auction proceedings. Protesters tell President Obama to Keep it in the Ground at a federal fossil fuel lease auction in Lakewood, Colo. Photo by Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity. The protest was organized by a coalition of groups led by local Colorado activists. It was part of a larger Keep It in the Ground movement calling on President Obama to halt new federal fossil fuel leases on public lands and waters, a move that could keep half of American fossil fuel reserves from being burned, and protect these precious resources for generations to come. Activists from across the country attended todays action, showing solidarity with local activists and drawing attention to a rising public-lands movement in western states that has been challenging BLM auctions for the past six months. Colorado and the public lands of the West are being treated as a sacrifice zone, with corporations profiting from the destruction of our communities, the landscape and the peoples health, said Remy, a Boulder-based artist and activist with First Seven Design Labs. As an indigenous person, the language behind keep it in the ground has been passed down to me from my elders. Its about respecting the land and the Earth, and its about justice for people who are being denied it. Colorados public and private lands have been pockmarked by oil and gas wells in recent years. The state has also seen firsthand many of the devastating impacts of climate change, including massive flooding and extended, more intense fire seasons. The action comes just days after the Colorado Supreme Court denied community authority to regulate fracking. When our political systems fail us, direct action is one of the few tools we have left, said Colorado activist and Greenpeace campaigner Diana Best. People here are finished with industry and government making us sick, polluting our communities and destroying the land we love. Today you can see that the resistance in Colorado is powerful and a key part of the escalating national fight. Enough is enough, said Valerie Love of the Center for Biological Diversity. President Obama has the power to stop new fossil fuel leases on our public lands, and he must do so to avoid climate catastrophe. We have protested at every fossil fuel lease sale over the past six months, and we will not stop until this destructive giveaway of public lands and waters is ended." The coalition, made up of local groups CREED, FrackFree Colorado, Colorado 350, Colorado Rising Tide, First Seven Design Labs and many others, and supported by national groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, Radical Arts Healing Collective, WildEarth Guardians and 350.org, was brought together as part of the Break Free global month of action. It is now turning its attention to Saturday, May 14, when hundreds of community members will converge in Thornton, Colo., to call for an end to fracking development in communities and on private lands. They will be joined by journalist and activist Bill McKibben. Background

Some 67 million acres of U.S. public lands are already leased to dirty fossil fuel industries, an area 55 times larger than Grand Canyon National Park and containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. Nearly one quarter of all U.S. climate pollution already comes from burning fossil fuels from public lands. Remaining federal oil, gas, coal, oil shale and tar sands that have not been leased to industry contain up to 450 billion additional tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution.



In September more than 400 organizations called on President Obama to end federal fossil fuel leasing. In November Senators Merkley (D-Ore.), Sanders (I-Vt.) and others introduced legislation to end new federal fossil fuel leases and cancel non-producing federal fossil fuel leases. Last month the Obama administration placed a moratorium on federal coal leasing while the Department of the Interior studies its impacts on taxpayers and the planet. Since November 2015, in response to protests, the BLM has postponed oil and gas leasing auctions in Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Washington, D.C.



Download the September Keep It in the Ground letter to President Obama.



Download Grounded: The Presidents Power to Fight Climate Change, Protect Public Lands by Keeping Publicly Owned Fossil Fuels in the Ground (this report details the legal authorities under which a president can halt new federal fossil fuel leases).



Download The Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions of U.S. Federal Fossil Fuels (this report quantifies the volume and potential greenhouse gas emissions of remaining federal fossil fuels) and The Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions fact sheet.



Download Public Lands, Private Profits (this report details the corporations profiting from climate-destroying fossil fuel extraction on public lands).



Download WildEarth Guardians formal petition calling on the Department of the Interior to study the climate impacts of the federal oil and gas leasing program and to place a moratorium on new leasing until completed that study is completed. Download the Center for Biological Diversitys formal petition calling on the Obama administration to halt all new offshore fossil fuel leasing. 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.


For Immediate Release, May 12, 2016 Contact: Tanya Sanerib, (503) 544-8512, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org Fish and Wildlife Service Bows to Pressure From States,

Leaves Lesser Prairie Chicken in Likely 'Death Spiral' TUCSON, Ariz. A lengthy legal battle in the fight over protection for lesser prairie chickens ended last night with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bowing to pressure from states to leave the beleaguered birds without Endangered Species Act protection. Lesser prairie chickens were protected as threatened in 2014, leading to outcry from states where the birds live, despite legal loopholes that allowed continued oil and gas drilling in their habitat. In 2015 a court in Texas ordered the Service to make a new decision about whether to protect the bird. The Service has just announced it will not attempt to overturn that decision, leaving the vulnerable species without any protection once again. When you refuse to protect a bird thats lost 92 percent of its habitat, your motivations are laid bare, said Tanya Sanerib, a senior attorney at the Center. The lesser prairie chicken now joins the wolverine, Pacific fisher and coastal marten on a growing list of species where Dan Ashes Fish and Wildlife Service has blatantly ignored science and prioritized industry profits over protecting our native wildlife. The lesser prairie chicken is a large, ground-nesting bird known for its elaborate courtship dances and booming calls. It inhabits shortgrass prairies, grasslands and oak shrub habitats across eastern New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Kansas and southeastern Colorado. Populations of this rare dancing bird of the Southwest have declined by as much as 99 percent. Conservationists first petitioned for its protection in 1995, and it was put on the candidate waiting list for protection in 1998. In court pleadings in 2016, the Fish and Wildlife Service noted that loss of even a small amount of suitable lesser prairie chicken habitat could put the species in a death spiral. Western states complained that the lesser prairie chicken should not have been protected under the Endangered Species Act because voluntary conservation agreements would provide adequate protection. But initially the Fish and Wildlife Service said in 2014 that those agreements were inadequate. After oil and gas interests and several counties in New Mexico filed a lawsuit challenging protections for the bird, the Service told the Texas judge hearing the case in 2015 that the voluntary conservation plan was not providing sufficient key lesser prairie-chicken habitat as called for by the Plans own conservation strategy. None of the facts that led scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect this greatly imperiled bird have changed, said Sanerib. It couldnt be clearer that Dan Ashes shameful decision to walk away from his duty to protect these iconic western birds has nothing to do with science or the law and everything to do with politics and private profit. 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. www.biologicaldiversity.org


For Immediate Release, May 12, 2016 Contact: Jonathan Evans, Center for Biological Diversity, (213) 598-1466

Caroline Cox, Center for Environmental Health, (510) 655-3900 x 308

Joe Minott, Clean Air Council, (215) 567-4004 x 116 Lawsuit Launched to Fight Delays in Cleaning up Ozone Pollution Twenty-two States Plus Washington, D.C. Fail to Set Up Clean-air Plans OAKLAND, Calif. A coalition of environmental and public-health groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency today because 22 states and the District of Columbia have failed to finalize plans to reduce ozone pollution, posing serious threats to public health, wildlife and ecosystems. Ozone pollution leads to thousands of hospitalizations and premature deaths each year in the United States, said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center. We cant wait any longer. The EPA needs to take steps now to enforce the Clean Air Act, both to save lives and to protect the environment from the scourge of smog and ozone pollution. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set nationwide, health and public welfare-based standards for ozone pollution and sets mandatory deadlines to develop plans to achieve and maintain air-quality standards. Todays lawsuit, brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Environmental Health and the Clean Air Council, demands that the agency correct violations for air-quality standards set in 2008 in order to establish plans to reduce dangerous ozone levels. The EPA has failed to enforce deadlines to ensure that dirty areas have plans to clean up their skies. Every additional day of delay puts more Americans at risk for potentially deadly diseases, said Caroline Cox, research director at the Center for Environmental Health. It is far past time for action to ensure clean air for all American children and families. People exposed to excess ozone may experience reduced lung function, increased respiratory problems like asthma, increased visits to emergency rooms, and potentially premature death. For trees, cumulative ozone exposure can lead to reduced growth and visibly injured leaves, as well as increased susceptibility to disease, damage from insects and harsh weather. Sensitive tree species that are at risk from ozone exposure include trees such as black cherry, quaking aspen, ponderosa pine and cottonwood. The EPA has an obligation to the public to ensure that regulations are approved in a timely way," said Joe Minott, executive director and chief counsel at the Clean Air Council. The public has a right to rely on government following the law in order to properly protect public health. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., have failed to finalize plans to reduce dangerous ozone pollution, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennsessee, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and supporters dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. The Center for Environmental Health works with parents, communities, businesses, workers, and government to protect children and families from toxic chemicals in homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. The Clean Air Council is a member-supported, nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air.
30 children raped in the refugee camp that Merkel visited in Turkey

30 children were raped in the perfect refugee camp that Angela Merkel visited with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

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ERK ACARER / erkacarer@birgun.net

They couldnt protect the refugee children in Turkey. A similar rape scandal like the Ensar scandal, where 45 children were raped by their teachers in Ensar Foundation, was uncovered in the refugee camps in Antep.

Welcome to the country which hosts the most refugees in the world writes on the gate of the Nizip Refugee Camp in Antep, where 30 boys were raped. The boys were raped for 3 months but the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) that runs the camp didnt notice the rapes for months.

Nizip Camp has the capacity of 14.000 refugees and was visited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the 23 April Childrens Day with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The rapes began on September and lasted until the beginning of 2016.

The rapes were exposed after families of 8 children decided to make a legal complaint. The rest of the families were scared about giving a legal battle as theyre refugees in the country.

RAPE FOR 2 LIRAS

The alleged rapist E.E., was working as a cleaner in the camp. During the prosecution he accepted the allegations and confessed that he convinced the children between the ages of 8-12 to have sex with him in return for 2 to 5 Turkish Lira (0.6-1.5  - 0.7-1.8$). The children also explained in detail how they were raped in the toilets. E.E. is now in pre-trial detention.

The scandal was revealed after military personnel noticed E.E. taking children to the blind spots of the cameras.

A high ranking military officer from the camp spoke to BirGun and accused AFAD for the scandal. AFAD is responsible of the camp and for this disaster, he said.

The camp was praised for its standards last month, during the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu, Vice Prime Ministers Yalcn Akdogan and Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Interior Efkan Ala and Antep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Sahin.
Hammered by plunging commodity prices, Africa's political and business leaders meet for three days this week at #WEFAfrica2016 to discuss diversification and entering the digital economy to kickstart growth.

Image by 123RF

The theme of the 26th WEF for Africa is Connecting Africa's Resources through Digital Transformation and is expected to draw more than 1,200 participants, including at least 10 heads of state.

"This is an opportunity for us also to consider what this means in the context of Africa, with ongoing opportunities and challenges," said Elsie Kanza, WEF's Africa head.

Africa, the world's poorest continent, is a major source of raw materials for more developed economies, including China which has tapped its resources to power its economic juggernaut. "The key question here is what are the new industries that can be created by Africans?" Kanza said.

Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit by slower growth partly caused by plummeting commodity prices. Growth is predicted to fall to around 3% in 2016, the lowest in nearly two decades.

Among the most affected countries are oil producing giants such as Angola and Nigeria and mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. But according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ivory Coast, Kenya and Senegal were among the nations recording strong growth above 5%, benefiting from cheaper oil, infrastructure investment and consumer demand.

"The key question here is what are the new industries that can be created by Africans?"

The so-called 'digital era' has been dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution by WEF founder and head Klaus Schwab who wrote a book on the theme and spoke of an age of artificial intelligence, 3D printing, self-driving cars, genetic editing and other sweeping changes.

Schwab's book says the new technologies will affect all disciplines, economies and industries and argues that the world must gear up to meet the challenge. But for Africa, this will be an uphill struggle against woefully inadequate infrastructure, poor power supply and weak internet penetration.

"You can't just become a high-tech hub without the fibre-optic cables, without sufficient power supply, and that is what is critical for a number of African economies that are looking to transform," said Natznet Tesfay, an analyst at advisory firm IHS Country Risk.

"If anything, the low commodity price environment just shows the greater need for Africa to transform its 54 markets to facilitate more industrial growth," Tesfay said.

Another pressing issue for Africa is developing the need to thrive in a digital age. According to experts, this will take time. "I believe there will be an adjustment period, a lot of investors were in Africa for raw materials," said Roger Nord, deputy director for Africa at the IMF.

Rwandan Finance Minister Claver Gatete said his country wants to become a "knowledge-based economy". "As a country that doesn't have much natural resources, as a country that is landlocked, we believe that IT can become something that is going to become very, very useful in terms of driving the economy."

Some countries have already begun to diversify, including Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer which recently opened its first cocoa processing plant.
Mall owner Resilient real estate investment trust has raised R1.1bn in an oversubscribed bookbuild, exceeding management's target by R300m.

The proceeds of the equity raise on Tuesday, 10 May, will be used, among others, to further grow Resilient's exposure to offshore real estate.

Resilient has a R14bn (about 33% of total assets) exposure to hard currency property markets through Romanian-focused New Europe Property Investments (Nepi), sister fund Rockcastle, which is building a presence in Poland, and FTSE-listed shopping centre owner Hammerson.

In Tuesday's accelerated bookbuild, just more than 8.5-million new shares were placed at a price of R129 per share - a 3.5% discount on Monday's closing price.

Resilient financial director Nick Hanekom said management was looking to bolster the company's balance sheet to maintain low levels of gearing, which stood at 21% at the December interim period.

"The board is seeing a number of investment opportunities including the redevelopment of local assets as well as some interesting new offshore opportunities," Hanekom said.

Resilient's South African shopping centres that are undergoing extensions include I'langa Mall in Nelspruit and Diamond Pavilion in Kimberley. Future extensions include Mams Mall in Mamelodi and Irene Village Mall in Centurion. Resilient owns 27 shopping centres in SA, mostly in smaller cities and towns.

Resilient has been one of the listed property sector's best-performing counters in the year to date, both from a capital and dividend growth perspective. It delivered 25.2% dividend growth for the six months to end-December, aided by hard currency dividends from Nepi, Rockcastle and Hammerson. The share price is up 20% year to date, ahead of the index's 11% over the same time.

Meago Asset Managers director Jay Padayatchi said there was probably a significant amount of pension fund appetite for Resilient's bookbuild given the surprising speed at which new shares had been taken up. "R1.1bn is not a small amount to raise so quickly in a falling market."

Source: Business Day
The much delayed merger to create Africa's largest Coca-Cola bottler was finally given the nod on Tuesday by the Competition Tribunal.

Approval was granted after conditions for the tie-up between divisions of SAB and Coca-Cola and the operations of the Gutsche family were hammered out in lengthy talks with Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, trade unions and the Competition Commission.

The commission finally approved the deal after the merging parties agreed to a series of conditions on employment, empowerment, localisation of inputs for Coca-Cola and Appletiser products and access to retail cooler (refrigerator) space for small beverage producers.

The merging parties said on Tuesday the deal, which was originally announced more than 18 months ago, would be implemented as soon as practicable.

SABMiller CEO Alan Clark said the merger would deliver demonstrable benefits to SA through significant inward investment, additional tax revenues, job creation, small-enterprise creation, domestic procurement and transformation.

The Coca-Cola Company's president James Quincey said the creation of Coca-Cola's largest bottling partner in Africa would strengthen its business, while closely aligning it with the South African government's imperatives for social and economic development.

The new company, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), will have annual revenue of $2.9bn and operate across 12 countries, accounting for 40% of Africa's Coca-Cola volumes. The deal will also see the Coca-Cola Company take over ownership of the Appletiser brands, although Appletiser will still be produced in SA for the domestic and African markets.

Appletiser inputs will be at least 80% South African and 20% of Appletiser SA will be sold to new black shareholders.

Black ownership of CCBA will increase from 11% to 20% over five years and the company will invest R800m to support enterprise development in agriculture and retail, and distribution in the Coca-Cola system.

The cooler issue was the final dispute that held up the process this week, with the merging parties and the commission eventually reaching agreement that smaller beverage producers could access up to 10% of all space in small retail stores, such as spaza shops, that have space for only one cooler.

The merger had already been approved by the competition authorities in all the other jurisdictions on the rest of continent and was delayed only by SA's regulatory process, in which Mr Patel had intervened on public interest grounds.

Source: Business Day
NEW YORK - The big clothing retailer Gap reported another quarter of declining sales on Tuesday, a sign of deepening trouble in its battle to keep up with fast fashion and online retailers.

The 47-year old apparel maker, known for its trademark blue denim, khakis and other mostly youth-oriented looks, saw sales fall at all three its store brands: Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy.

Sales in the first quarter fell 6.0 percent to $3.44bn, with Banana Republic sinking the most at 11 percent. Old Navy, the group's cheapest line mostly aimed at children and teens, outperformed its sister chains for most of 2015.

Key challenges for all three though include toughened competition from H&M, Uniqlo and other fast fashion chains, as well as the headwinds from a broader tilt against brick-and-mortar stores as more shoppers go online.

Gap, which a year ago announced plans to cut 175 namesake stores in North America, pledged renewed focus to streamline its operations and whittle its presence internationally to the most promising markets.

"Our industry is evolving and we must transform at a faster pace, while focusing our energy on what matters most to our customers," said chief executive Art Peck.

Peck said more details would be revealed when the company reports earnings on 19 May.

Wall Street's reaction was brutal, with shares plunging 12.4 percent in early afternoon trade to $19.11.

Credit Suisse questioned Gap's emphasis on cutting its overseas footprint, noting stores outside North America make up less than five percent of the total.

"We feel like more attention should be focused on rationalisation in North America where the company owns 2,600-plus stores," Credit Suisse said in a note.

Deep value retailers remain a "considerable threat" to Gap and the rise of online shopping poses risks for "traditional specialty retailers with outsized store footprints," Credit Suisse added.

Morgan Stanley slashed its earnings and stock price target in light of the report, adding that the weak results raised the possibility that a "bear case" for the chain was becoming more likely.

Morningstar analyst Bridget Weishaar was more generous, noting that other retailers have also struggled and that "sales can be reinvigorated through product improvements and a more nimble supply chain."

Weishaar said streamlining the chain's international footprint was "sound," but that returning sales to growth could be slowed by sluggish macroeconomic growth.

Source: AFP
The contribution of independent power producers under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPP) is expected to grow to about 7,000MW.

The energy contribution of independent power producers is expected to grow to approximately 7,000MW with the first 47 renewable energy independent power producers fully operational by mid-2016. Private investment in the programme currently exceeds R194bn, said Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson on Wednesday, 11 May.

Tabling the departments Budget Vote, in Parliament, Minister Joemat-Pettersson said the programme has become one of the worlds most progressive and successful alternative energy programmes.

Since their introduction, solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and landfill gas power plants have been going up across the country, feeding increasing numbers of clean energy into the national grid.

As at December 2015, the department had procured 6,377MW of renewable energy and has already connected 44 projects with a capacity of 2,021MW to the national grid, with many more under construction.

Bids in terms of the Bid Window 4 Expedited Round, totalling an additional 1800MW are currently under evaluation with the department set to announce preferred bidders in the second quarter of the financial year.

Bid Window 4, including the investments made though the small projects programme, will increase the investment amount to more than R255bn, said the Minister.

The department also remains on track to meet the national commitment to transition to a low carbon economy with the target of 17,800MW of renewable energy power by 2030.

The current renewable energy operational portfolio is contributing an increasing percentage of the buffer between the available supply and projected demand for electricity.

The department has procured private peaker stations to the capacity of nearly 1000MW that can be used when there is a larger demand than what the Eskom generators can produce.

The Avon plant in Eastern Cape, which was completed in September 2015, can produce 330MW, while the Dedisa plant in KwaZulu-Natal, when completed by the end of 2016 will produce 630MW.

Total projects costs were R8bn, while 210 permanent jobs and 6190 temporary jobs were created at both plants.

Last year, the department initiated a process of redesigning the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Bid Window 5 with attention to early, efficient and equitable benefits to communities and greater localised industrialisation.

A new RFP for Bid Window 5 will be released during the second quarter of this financial year, further fast-tracking investment in the sector.

To further boost renewable energy development in South Africa, we have determined, with the concurrence of the National Energy Regulator of SA, that 1,500MW will be generated from new solar technologies in a Northern Cape Solar Park, explained the minister.

The solar park will stimulate investment in new and expanding industrial and manufacturing facilities, the development of local supply chains and entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for South Africans.

The solar park will be developed in a clustered fashion, sharing common infrastructure and services such as access to land, water supply, feeder lines to electricity transmission system, roads and support industries.

As part of the Youth Month commemoration in June, the department will celebrate the strides made by the REIPPP towards the development and empowerment of the youth.

Not only have numerous employment opportunities been created, with 52% of total job opportunities specifically for youth, but they have also benefitted from various education and skills development initiatives preparing them for, hopefully, a bright and successful future, said the minister.

Coal

When coming to coal, the department is expected to announce the preferred bidders from the first bid submission for domestic coal projects in July 2016.

Bids with a combined capacity of 900MW were received and are currently in evaluation. The projected investment commitment from these coal projects is in the region of R45bn, and will be rolled out over the next four years.

An additional 3750MW of power will be generated utilising coal technology, through cross border projects that will augment the local Coal IPP procurement programme.

Integrated Energy Plan (IEP)

When coming to the IEP the minister said this represents the overarching energy policy and strategy statement that has been under development since 2012.

The minister said a final version of the document  which will provide answers to various questions that the country has been grappling with regard to the energy future - will be tabled for further discussion.

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the Gas Infrastructure Plan

Arising out of the process for developing the IEP will be the infrastructure plans in respect of the electricity, gas and liquid fuels sectors in more detail as recommended by the IEP.

The updated IRP process is well underway, the minister said, adding that it will be submitted to the economic sector and infrastructure development cluster in the second quarter of this financial year.

Similarly the Gas Infrastructure Plan will take its lead from the IEP, in regard to the gas pipelines, storage and other infrastructure that is necessary for meeting the energy demand through gas supply.

The budget appropriation to the department this year is R7.5bn of which 90.2% is earmarked for transfer to municipalities and state owned entities.
In September 1966, just over a year after it had been officially established, the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) hosted its first international congress, staging it in Rome, Italy.

A new tradition - the IRPA Presidential Medal was presented to Renate Czarwinski

Marking its 50th anniversary, day three of the 14th Congress, aka IRPA14  was dedicated to a celebratory programme.

A day to reflect

The day also allowed the congress to reflect on the most significant scientific achievements in radiation protection, using the 11 previous Sievert lectures  with which each congress since 1973 has been opened  as signposts.

Decline in young people entering the professional

One of the biggest challenges today is the dearth of young professionals entering the system, said Dr John Boice, recipient of the 2016 Sievert Award.

Its possibly the single most important issue. In the United States, there is a serious decline in the number of radiation professionals  in all areas  that we need, he noted.

Better listeners

Communicating to the public about radiation remains a concern for the industry. Some fresh new approaches may have to be taken, urged Dr Richard Toohey of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) in the US.

[The public] want us to hear what they have to say. What we have to do is become better listeners. We have to become empathisers, he said.

Radiation and the risk of cancer

Theres still a lot to be learnt about the role of radiation  particularly low doses of ionising radiation  in causing cancer, shared Dr Christian Streffer, winner of IRPAs 2008 Sievert Award and emeritus member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

This would provide more insight into the dose-response curve, which plots the relationship between radiation exposure and the risk for cancer. We need to know the mechanisms of cancer to get a better answer, Streffer said.

His experience has shown that young people and mothers of young babies are particularly concerned about the hereditary risks for cancer after exposure to radiation, said Michiaki Kai, professor of environmental health science at the Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Japan.

There is comforting evidence  studies have found that children born to those exposed to radiation in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, for instance, have no increased risk of cancer.

We need to share more scientific information with the public to help them improve their understanding, said Kai.

Repairing the environment

And remediation of the environment after exposure to high levels of radiation remains the biggest problem that we have noy solved, said Dr Abel Gonzalez , former vice-chairman of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and winner of the 2004 Sievert Award.

That said, added Gonzalez, there has been impressive progress in recent years in areas like occupational protection and the transport of radioactive materials.

The days celebrations were concluded with a lavish gala dinner at the CTICC.

The congress brings together close on 900 delegates from 72 countries at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) from 9 to 13 May..
SA Taxi have voluntarily committed 25% of their performance bonuses to community development projects of their choosing. The initiative is known as RU MAD (Making A Difference) and is linked to the company's Taxi Change Makers programme, which is geared to giving everyone in the organisation an opportunity to invest in social upliftment.

RU MAD and Taxi Change Makers are facilitated and coordinated by SA Taxis CSI arm, the SA Taxi Foundation.

RU MAD projects in recent months have included SA Taxi individuals and departments funding and getting hands on involved in the renovation of a place of safety in a Johannesburg township, the collection of upmarket clothes and evening wear that young people can wear to their matric dances or to job interviews, the stocking of libraries for rural and township schools, and the collection of plastic bags for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that uses them to create solar backpacks that serve as a domestic light source.

By contrast, Taxi Change Makers projects tend to have a less personalised or localised focus and involve the entire company. They include sponsorship of 100 child-headed households, the provision of study bursaries, sponsorship of mobile school libraries, and, from the beginning of 2016, collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and NGO Khensanis Collection in helping high school students prepare for their working lives.

Career guidance workshops

At weekend career guidance workshops, the three organisations provide insight for students into the full range of job opportunities that are available to them, as well as teaching them how to write CVs and fill in job applications.

An eye opener for those of us from SA Taxi has been the extremely limited view most school-goers have of the kinds of jobs they could do, says SA Taxi Foundation director Kalnisha Singh.

Career guidance was removed from the school curriculum some years ago. So neither teachers nor learners are being made aware of careers outside of the traditional and obvious ones of teaching, medicine, engineering, social work, and law.

Also, many learners believe that a university degree is necessary to make a good living. We were gratified to see the Department of Education point out that artisans such as plumbers, electricians, and builders are able to charge very competitive rates.

Not everyone is suited to university study and students shouldnt feel inadequate because theyre handier with tools than books.

At a recent career day held in March in Diepsloot, Gauteng, Singh and other SA Taxi volunteers were saddened to hear a student say that she could have done better, academically, but didnt want to stand out among her peers.

For many young people from disadvantaged areas, there seems to be very little hope of becoming a professional of some sort, Singh says. So its easier not to aspire to that life and for everyone to muddle along together.

We see time spent with such young people - opening up their horizons and proving to them, through our own stories, that living a productive, happy life is always possible - as absolutely crucial to transforming this country.

To help ensure that the full strength and capabilities of South Africas youth do flow into South Africas socio-economic environment, we will be rolling out this career preparedness initiative as broadly as possible during 2016. Its a sustainable project that will bring fresh momentum to communities that, at the moment, feel their options are very limited.
In a widely read article on GroundUp last week, we (GroundUp) featured a group of Zimbabweans who had turned their hand to farming in Malmesbury and had won an award for their entrepreneurship at the Zimbabwean Excellence Awards. We based the article on an interview conducted with Albert Zinhanga, one of the winners.

Albert Zinhanga, one of the N7 Farmers. Photo supplied via GroundUp

What he told GroundUp corresponded accurately with what he also told to the camera for the Zimbabwean Excellence awards, posted on YouTube.

When we wrote the original story, our reporter tried to contact the farm owners who own the land farmed by the N7 farmers (as the Zimbabweans call themselves). Zinhanga told our reporter that the owners said they did not want to speak to the media. Further investigation after publishing revealed inaccuracies and unverifiable information in Zinhanga's version of events about how the farming enterprise came about.

Marie Combrinck, wife of Koos Hoffman, owner of the Moreson farm, says the land on which Zinhanga and his three friends were farming was never abandoned and that she and her husband had been growing lupins for animal feed on the land. Combrinck said that at the time the Zimbabwean academics approached her and her husband in 2014, the lupins had been cleared as it was a winter crop.

Her husband allowed Zinhanga and his fellow academics to farm the land, permitting them to farm for a year free so that they did not get into debt. It was agreed that the N7 farmers would begin to pay rent after a year.

She insisted that there was never a problem with the pH of the soil as Zinhanga had told GroundUp. She says his claim that the land was not profitable is not correct and there was never a loss of over R1 million on the land as Zinhanga clearly stated to our reporter and in the video.

GroundUp visited the farm and contacted Zinhanga. He said that there had been a "misunderstanding" about the R1 million in losses and that the figure had come from the amount of money that the previous owner had invested in irrigation on the land. He said that he and his partners believed that the land was unused as it was empty when they began farming.

He sticks to much of his story, saying it is what they were told by Hoffman when they were originally taken around the farm. Despite this, he said that he accepts Combrinck's version. He insists that Hoffman and his wife were very helpful and generous. He said he was sorry for "any errors caused". Zinhanga said that "it is very rare for a white farmer to give a black farmer land for free".

The N7 farmers also confused N7 Meat with Moreson farm, where it operates. Michael Agnew runs N7 Meat and alerted GroundUp to the inaccuracies. Agnew's father used to own Moreson but sold it to the Hoffmans.

GroundUp regrets that it didn't independently check Zinhanga's version of events.
On Tuesday night, 10 May, the winners of the 2016 Women in Construction Awards were announced. The event took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre and was hosted by the City of Joburg.

Over 300 guests from the construction, cement and concrete industry applauded the finalists and celebrated the various winners.

Awards winners:

Individual categories:

Pioneer of Innovation: Noluthando Molao, associate sirector, Turner & Townsend, Johannesburg

New Starter of The Year: Etheldreder Koppa, assistant project manager, National Housing Corporation, Tanzania

Organisational categories:

Excellence in Career Development: Thobile Bhembe, junior site agent, Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Swaziland

Most Innovative Women Training Programme: The City of Cape Town's Transport Authority, Cape Town

Winning the award is recognition of all the hard work Ive put in over the last ten years while building my career. Id like to encourage other women wanting to break into the construction industry by saying that anything is possible with hard work, perseverance and a plan. Its vital to remember no-one wins alone. I have learnt that different people have different strengths and one should be able to acknowledge this and draw from this, said Noluthando Molao, winner of the Pioneer of Innovation award.

L-R: Marissa van Zuydam, marketing executive at Inyatsi Construction; Thobile Bhembe, junior site agent at Inyatsi Construction; Slivia Ngwenya, communications manager at Inyatsi Construction

Excellence in Career Development award winner Thobile Bhembe also commented on her achievement: I am honoured to be recognised by receiving this award. I am also proud to be the first female site agent at Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings. Id like to remind the youth interested in the construction industry to not only like Mathematics and Science, but work hard at it too. Construction is not a just for certain people, its for everyone.

The call for nominations for the Women in Construction Awards resulted in 37 nominations. A panel of judges - which consisted of 19 global industry experts - identified five individual finalists, representative of three African countries and six organisational finalists.

The Women In Construction Awards is an enabler, which shows women that their efforts within the industry are recognised. Seeing and hearing about women excelling in the construction sector proves that there is support for women in this male-dominated industry, said Women in Construction Awards director Athi Myoli.
In keeping with leading cities globally, Sandton Central, South Africa's business capital, is taking steps to become more people-friendly by increasing its walkability and, at the same time, boosting the economy, health and environmental benefits for the people who work, live, visit, run businesses and have real estate in the area.

mermyhh via pixabay

Welcoming people on foot

This is having remarkable knock-on effects, with many of Sandton Centrals new buildings responding with exciting new designs to welcome people on foot.

Traditionally, many of Sandtons buildings main access points, regardless of how you arrived, were through parkades. Now, Sandton is seeing a new generation of innovative commercial properties with welcoming street-level entrances that invite pedestrians in.

Elaine Jack

Elaine Jack, city improvement district manager of the Sandton Central Management District (SCMD), which manages the public urban spaces of South Africas cosmopolitan financial hub, comments: Much of Sandtons road infrastructure was developed with only vehicles in mind, typical of the development of its time. Today, however, it is increasingly recognised that walkability is an important part of sustainable urban design.

Walkability is influenced by the quality and width of pavements, footpaths and other accessibility features that give pedestrians right of way. It is also influenced by safety and how accessible buildings are to people on foot.

Beyond the environmental and health benefits of a walkable city, there are also many economic benefits. Better walkability can promote tourism and increase property value. It can also result in cost savings to both individuals and the community, more efficient land use and increase the livability in the area, as well as economic benefits from improved public health and economic development. Jack adds: Better walkability makes cities more appealing to people and to businesses.

The pedestrianisation of Sandton

Improvements that add to the walkability of Sandton Central can be seen mushrooming all around the city. Among the most visible are the latest changes underway around the Sandton Gautrain Station that connects vibrant street-fronted retail with people on foot. In fact, by bringing commuters right into the very heart of Sandton Central, the Gautrain has played a major role in growing pedestrianisation.

West Streets pavements were improved for last years EcoMobility World Festival, hosted by the City of Johannesburg and held in Sandton. Now, these pavements are getting an additional makeover that will significantly improve access for pedestrians.

Situated above and adjacent to the Sandton Gautrain Station, Kgoro Central is a new mixed-use development that creates a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment with urban planning and design that supports a pedestrian-centric milieu. This smart and green development includes wide, demarcated walkways, cycle paths and facilities, desirable activated public space for 24/7 living, and a healthy lifestyle in open and safe surrounds. It is aligned with public transport to enable people to flow more freely, be exposed to greater choices, and connect in new ways.

Already, the outer face of the station has come to life with new coffee shops, eateries, and shops. Improvements to the adjacent pavement will make them superbly accessible with a wide pedestrian zone of 5.2 metres in most areas  a massive improvement on the small strip of pavement that were there until recently. The new pavement design, which includes trees and balustrades, will also create a more social space that is appealing to people.

Sandton Central

Urban design and green building

The intention is to move Sandton into a much more slick, friendly, robust, and usable outdoor environment, says Diaan van der Westhuizen, urban designer at StudioMAS, who designed the look and feel around the Sandton Gautrain Station. And, it isnt only Sandtons streets and pavements that are becoming more human-friendly, its buildings are too.

Becoming more connected with the city, Sandton City added a new pedestrian-friendly entrance with its Protea Court expansion. The new entrance opens up to the corner of Rivonia Road and Sandton Drive and provides a welcoming connection point for the increasing street-level interaction in the area. In addition, the next generation of premium quality office buildings in Sandton Central is also being designed to welcome pedestrians.

Discovery is set to move to a new resource-efficient, cost-effective and environmentally-sustainable 87,000sqm global head office in 2018, developed in a joint venture by Growthpoint Properties and Zenprop Property Holdings. The developers are delivering a purpose-designed, ground-breaking green building at the gateway to Sandton Central, on the corner of Rivonia Road and Katherine Street, diagonally opposite Sandton City and a short walk away from the Sandton Gautrain Station. The building also meets Discoverys brief to create an inviting space for its employees to do their best and features a striking street entrance to welcome pedestrians in.

Another prominent example is Ablands Alice Lane development, which will open out onto West Street and Alice Lane. The development will feature its own vibrant piazza, with ground level retail and attractions, creating a people-friendly setting that encourages pedestrian movement.

Jack says: Sandton Central has always been an enterprising leading business and financial district. It is exciting to see it improving its walkability and transforming in line with the best cities in the world to provide an exceptional environment for all visitors.
As part of ongoing developments to position the Port of Ngqura as a container transhipment hub for Sub-Saharan Africa, two new landmarks have officially been launched by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). The two landmarks are a state-of-the-art administration building and an administration craft basin for pilot boats and tugboats, including office facilities for operational staff working on these craft.

Also included in TNPAs latest R700 million investment into the port is the vacuum-based automated mooring technology pioneered at Ngqura last year. Produced by global engineering group, Cavotec, the 26 mooring units were designed, custom manufactured and installed to meet the specific environmental conditions of the Port of Ngqura, which include strong winds that can negatively impact on cargo operations, safety and the ports efficiency.

TNPA chief executive, Richard Vallihu, said: These three major operational projects form part of Transnets Market Demand Strategy which is now in its fourth year of implementation and which aims to enable the effective, efficient and economic functioning of an integrated port system to promote economic growth.

Under the Transnet MDS, TNPA will invest R56 billion over the next 10 years across South Africas ports. These three projects at the Port of Ngqura represent an investment of R700 million, he added.

Port development offers opportunities

Ngqura Port manager, Mpumi Dweba, said: Such endeavours support the tremendous growth of the Port of Ngqura and match its profile as a world-class container hub, which is encouraging significant investment in the region. They are designed to improve port efficiency at our port and are boosting the economy of the Eastern Cape in the short term by creating additional jobs.

Dweba added: Specifically during the construction phase of the admin building and admin craft basin we have so far created 154 jobs at a cost of over R18 million  all of which goes into the Eastern Cape economy. Forty-eight of these jobs have been created for Black youth while 285 Eastern Cape employees are also benefiting from skills development programmes associated with these projects.

In addition, 16 small businesses in the Eastern Cape have been engaged to provide materials, equipment and services at a cost of R4.36 million  a further injection into the local economy.

She said that in, the longer term, these projects would help ensure the ongoing success of the province, the country and the region by supporting the Port of Ngqura to flourish as the major transhipment hub for sub-Saharan Africa and an important link connecting trade between South America and Asia.

A highlight of the launch was the hand-over of 10 computers to Soweto-on-Sea Primary School, donated by Cavotec as part of their corporate social investment contribution under the mooring system contract. The donation, which included installation and networking, will enable learners to access the internet and gain insight into Transnet and TNPAs business as well as future opportunities in the maritime industry.

Construction

Construction of the R255 million administration building, which will be one of the premier green buildings in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, is well underway with completion targeted for the end of this year. TNPA is pursuing a 4-Star Green Star SA rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for the building, which comprises a state-of-the-art five-storey building with a basement level and external parking areas.

With the capacity to house 205 staff, it will cater for Ngquras growing human resources as the port continues to create jobs within the region to support its ongoing expansion.

To date, Ngqura has operated without an administration craft basin for the docking of marine craft such as pilot boats and tugboats, as well as various vessels belonging to SAPS and SANPARKS. The new R362 million administration craft basin located at the root of the eastern breakwater in the port basin will facilitate this process safely in line with Ngquras growing fleet of craft.

Construction of the administration craft basin is planned for completion at the end of the year. Dredging is well underway and marine construction has commenced. The design of the craft basin ensures that the wave climate and wave resonance within the basin remain within specified limits. The tender evaluation process for the administration craft building began on 18 April 2016 and this building is planned for completion mid-2017.

These developments are part of Transnet National Ports Authoritys capacity installation programme intended to increase the handling capacity of this flagship port, as well as other port activities in future for South Africa. All Ngqura projects are subject to lengthy environmental assessment, design and tender stages to ensure that they comply with the strict conditions governing Ngquras operations in this environmentally sensitive area. TNPA controls and administers the port on behalf of the state.
South African Airways (SAA) insists that there is no deadlock in wage negotiations with four unions, despite fresh comments intimating that the national carrier is not in a financial crisis.

On Tuesday, unions in wage negotiations with SAA said they had revised upwards their wage demands from single to double digits after the airline's board chair Dudu Myeni said on Friday SAA was financially sound. "This company has money, it will continue to operate without government guarantees in future. Our aircraft are always full," Myeni said.

Her remarks were in apparent response to an earlier statement by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, that SAA would not be granted any further government guarantees to raise loan funding until a new board and management were appointed.

In February last year, SAA received a R6.5bn government guarantee from the Treasury, taking to R14.5bn the amount of guarantees given to the airline since 2007. The guarantee was needed to enable SAA to sign off its financial statements for 2013-14 as a going concern. SAA is now in need of another government guarantee to sign off its financial statements for 2014-15.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the unions said wage negotiations had now reached a deadlock, the dispute would be headed for conciliation, and that strike action was a possibility. But on Wednesday, SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said the airline had engaged four unions in "good faith bargaining" from the beginning of negotiations in April. He said there was no deadlock in negotiations.

"There are some unfortunate dynamics that have a potential to derail negotiations which up to this point have been averted," said Tlali. "As a responsible employer, SAA has not declared a deadlock on negotiations and as such is open to engaging with all parties with a view to reaching an amicable agreement. The unions have not declared a dispute on the matter yet."

Tlali said if the unions wanted to add new information to the bargaining process they would have to use a proper forum where all parties would be able to discuss issues to reach a settlement. "It is not advisable to have negotiations of this nature with the media as an intermediary. We remain optimistic that industrial action can be averted and is not on the horizon at this stage," he said.

Uasa spokesman Willie van Eden said on Wednesday the unions informed SAA management at a meeting on Friday that wage demands had been revised upwards following the chairwoman's comments. Van Eden also said it would be proper for SAA management to call on the unions to engage. "We made it clear at the last meeting where management stated its offer that we did not agree with their offer." He said the union was always open to further negotiations and "would never close the door" until the "final moment".

The four unions had been considering an offer of a 6% basic salary increase, a 7% increase on the employee housing subsidy, and 7% on the medical contribution, but have revised their offer to an 11% basic salary increase.

Source: BDpro
The Hyundai Motor Company has appointed Mike Song as the new head of its Africa and Middle East Region, commencing duties during the second week of May in Dubai.

Song will oversee operations throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as sub-Saharan Africa and the Canary Islands. He will be based at the Dubai Regional Headquarters in the United Arab Emirates.

Born in Korea in 1968, Song joined Hyundai in 1993 after graduating from Seoul National University. He was executive coordinator for sales and marketing in Canada from 2000 to 2005, worked within the Corporate Planning Division at Hyundai Global Headquarters from 2005 to 2009, and was sales coordinator for Hyundai Motor America from 2010 to 2014. Most recently, he has filled the role of head of Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East Group, based in Korea.

He joins the Africa and Middle East Regional Headquarters during an important period for the carmaker and will work to drive Hyundai sales in what are difficult market conditions through much of the region.

"Looking at the road ahead, there is considerable uncertainty in many markets, from the impact of low oil prices in the GCC and other petroleum producing countries, through to falling currencies in the two largest African markets - South Africa and Egypt," said Song.

Song replaces Jin (James) Kim, who returns to a senior management position in Korea.
Nissan said on Thursday it is in talks with scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors over a tie-up that could create one of the world's biggest auto groups, rivalling Toyota and Volkswagen.

Seiji Sugiura via Pixabay

The announcement came after Japanese media said Nissan will pay about $1.8bn for 34% of Mitsubishi, which has been plunged into crisis after bombshell revelations it cheated on fuel-economy tests for years.

"Nissan and Mitsubishi are discussing various matters including capital cooperation, but nothing has been decided," Nissan said on Thursday. The firms will hold a joint news conference later Thursday after separate board meetings.

The proposed deal would amount to Mitsubishi coming under the control of Nissan, making it the top shareholder ahead of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which holds a 20% stake, according to major media including national broadcaster NHK. Demand for Mitsubishi's shares skyrocketed in Tokyo, where trading was yet to begin as buy orders overwhelmed sellers. The stock was set to surge about 16% when trading starts.

Mitsubishi admitted last month that unnamed employees had manipulated data to make cars seems more fuel-efficient than they were. The scandal - reported to cover almost every model sold in Japan since 1991 - also includes mini-cars produced by Mitsubishi for Nissan as part of a joint venture. It was Nissan that first uncovered the problems with Mitsubishi's fuel economy data, but Mitsubishi has said Nissan had no part in the cheating.

So far, Mitsubishi has confirmed that four models and more than 600,000 vehicles - all sold in Japan - were involved in the fuel cheating, but warned the number of cars affected would likely rise. The company has suggested employees fudged the tests because they felt under pressure to meet ambitious fuel-economy targets. In some cases, cars appeared to be about 15% more fuel-efficient than they were in reality.

Analysts said a tie-up would give Nissan access to Mitsubishi's strong foothold in Southeast Asia and some key technology, including hybrids and minicars, which are hugely popular in Japan. The move would also help drive Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's long-held target of running one of the world's top three auto groups.

"My initial impression is that Mr Ghosn is trying to reach the pinnacle of his career," said Seiji Sugiura, auto analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. "Nissan has been less than perfect in emerging markets (such as Thailand, Indonesia, India) but Mitsubishi's brand there is very strong."

A tie-up would also be cheaper for Nissan since Mitsubishi shares have plunged by about 40% since the scandal broke. Mitsubishi sold about one million vehicles globally last year, making it one of the smallest among Japan's eight major automakers, also including Honda, Suzuki and Mazda.

The combined sales of Nissan, its French partner Renault, and Mitsubishi would top 9.5 million units annually. That is not far behind the 10.15 million sold last year by Toyota, the world's top automaker, and 9.9 million shifted by German giant Volkswagen. Chevrolet and Cadillac maker General Motors moved 9.8 million vehicles globally in 2015.

It is unclear what sort of financial hit Mitsubishi will take over the scandal. But on Wednesday it said the cheating did not affect cars sold overseas, potentially limiting the scope of the problem, and it ruled out a bailout by its top shareholders.

Mitsubishi Motors was pulled from the brink of bankruptcy a decade ago after it was discovered that it covered up vehicle defects that caused fatal accidents. The Mitsubishi group stepped in with a series of bailouts to save the firm.

Source: AFP
The upcoming BASA Africa Business Breakfast, supported by Standard Bank, will explore the emergence - and growing importance - of Creative Change: A New Business Paradigm.

Taking place at the Market Theatre on 19 May 2016, the breakfast will be addressed by Nairobi-based George Gachara, a social entrepreneur, cultural activist and managing partner at the HEVA Fund. He will be joined by Angie Burton, Standard Banks Head of Marketing and Communications for the Rest of Africa.

Increasingly there is a narrative developing around the emergence of a creativity era; one that is post the internet era, comments Jenny Pheiffer, Executive Head, Group Brand and Sponsorship at Standard Bank Group.

This is driven by the need for companies to be able to generate new and original ideas in order to build sustainable business for the future.

Were excited to be involved in this conversation about a new business paradigm for Africa and believe we have a meaningful contribution to make. Not only is Africa our home, but we have a long history of supporting the creative industries.

Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Arts and Culture, is also set to give his insights into the importance of the creative industries in Africa. In addition, Minister Mthethwa will outline opportunities for businesses engaging on the continent  a fitting contribution during Africa Month.

With Gacharas deep and extensive knowledge of Kenyas creative sector, he will share his learnings with the South African business community, with a particular emphasis on the role of creativity as a catalyst for innovative business thinking.

Burtons portfolio spans Standard Banks operations in an impressive 19 countries across the African continent, lending her singular insight into the kind of creativity it takes to work in such a diverse environment.

The BASA Africa Business Breakfast, supported by Standard Bank, is part of BASAs ongoing commitment to creating equitable and sustainable business-arts partnerships for the benefit of the whole society.

To book your ticket for the 2016 BASA Africa Business Breakfast, supported by Standard Bank, taking place on the 19th May, please contact Mandisa Tshiqi on az.oc.asab@asidnam or 011 447 2295.

Speakers Biographies

George Gachara

George Gachara is a social entrepreneur, cultural activist, cyclist and managing partner at HEVA Fund. He is based in Nairobi, leading HEVA's exploration of the creative industries in East Africa and the role business leadership can play in creating long-term economic and cultural value. As managing partner, Gachara consults extensively with practitioners, industry and government to address sector level questions. His hands-on approach allows for intimate understanding of the creative sector and has helped to focus his efforts on proactive planning, analysis and client support. In addition to his work at HEVA, George is a member of the NEST Collective - a dynamic Nairobi-based arts company, where he is a writer, film maker and thought leader. He is also an advisor for the Africa region with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for Young People, a Global Fellow for the International Youth Foundation and a recipient of the International Development Committee's Outstanding Leadership Award.

Angie Burton

Angie Burton started her career as a salaries clerk at Standard Bank while studying towards a BComm through UNISA, and later took up various roles within Marketing at the bank. After eight years with Standard Bank, she left to join Absa (Barclays Africa Group) where she spent 13 years in a range of marketing roles that eventually saw her heading up Absa Group Marketing. She re-joined the Standard Bank Group in 2011, and is currently Standard Banks Head of Marketing and Communications for the Rest of Africa. Her portfolio spans the banks operations in 19 countries across the African continent, and Angies passports boast multiple stamps from 17 of these. She holds an MBA and PMD from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

About BASA (NPC):

Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) is an internationally recognised South African development agency with a suite of integrated programmes implemented nationally and internationally. BASA encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts, securing the future development of the arts sector in South Africa and contributing to corporate success through Shared Value. Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture and the business sector as a public/private partnership. For more information on Business and Arts South Africa contact us on 011 447 2295 or visit our website: www.basa.co.za.




It's easy to get mopey and depressed when you read the papers. Violent crime. Rampant corruption. Failing education. Weakening rand. How will we possibly tackle all the problems our country faces? How can we create more jobs, equip the youth to participate in the economy, fix our leadership crises? Don't panic!

Alan Knott-Craig

The good news is that you dont have to do anything. The internet will save the day. The internet is information, and access to information solves all problems (except the problem of no Cremora in the refrigerator).

Not enough jobs? Dont panic. The World Bank says that for every 10% broadband penetration you have 1,28% growth in GDP0. SA only has 20% broadband penetration. That leaves 10,24% of untapped GDP growth! More internet means more economic growth means more jobs.

Worried about the lack of entrepreneurs? Dont panic. The internet opens up a world of entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital economy, allowing people to build online businesses, to telecommute and to access entirely new markets. More internet means more entrepreneurs means more startups means more jobs.

Feeling disillusioned with your leaders? Dont panic. #PanamaPapers is just the latest manifestation of 'The Age of No More Secrets'. If youre doing something dodgy you can be sure that your parents, your kids, and your taxman will find out. Youll be caught. More internet means more transparency means less corruption means better leadership.

No textbooks, schools and teachers? Dont panic. Khan Academy, Wikipedia, Siyavula and a plethora of online educational initiatives make it easy for kids to educate themselves. No need to wait for Superman to save the day. The youth can save the day for themselves. More internet means online teaching means online textbooks means educated children.

No access to healthcare? Dont panic. There are hundreds of healthcare websites that provide information on every condition known to man. You might not be able to get prescription drugs online, but you can at least self-diagnose without walking 20km to your nearest clinic and waiting in a queue for hours. More internet means more medical information means better health.

Tired of traffic? Dont panic. Internet access allows for tele-commuting, allowing people to work from home, stay off the roads, and alleviate traffic congestion. More internet means less traffic means less road rage.

Scared of crime? Dont panic. A US study showed that the number one reason the majority of convicts committed crime is because they thought they could get away with it. With Facebook there is no getting away with it. An example: The manager of a guest house in the Eastern Cape recently had a guest whod rung up a bill of R20,000 and then left without paying. Turns out hed given fake information, so they posted a photo of him on their Facebook page. Two months later a patron spotted the conman at a casino in Vereeniging, reporting him to security. The police were called and hes now in jail. More internet means more crooks being caught means less crime.

Slowly people are waking up to the fact that there are no more secrets (see above The Age of No More Secrets). If you lie, or steal, or cheat, watch out: your mom, your dad, your siblings, and your community will find out.

The internet is coming, it cant be stopped. The only question is how long will it take for all South Africans to have access to fast broadband? The good news is: faster than you think! The City of Tshwane is in year three of a project to deploy free Wi-Fi to within walking distance of all 2,9 million citizens.

This is not AlwaysOn Wi-Fi (which is always off). It doesnt require a PhD and ten minutes to log in. It doesnt promise 'free' and then give you a generous 10MB of data, just enough to download two emails. It doesnt give you speeds that recall the days of dial-up. Tshwane gives you 15MB/sec, 500MB per day, no login-in required, free Wi-Fi, with 780 sites and over 1,6 million devices having already connected.

The dream of internet access as a municipal basic service is already happening, today. If Tshwane can get it right, then the rest of South Africa can get it right. If the rest of SA can get it right, then one day all South Africans will be within walking distance of free Wi-Fi.

Our country has a bright future. Everyone will one day have fast internet. Everyone will have the same opportunity to learn, work, and make their voice heard. Everyone will have access to all the information. Until that day comes, dont be glum.

Look around you. We have no natural disasters. We have beautiful weather. We have friendly people. We have electricity and water and sewage and courts and hundreds of other services which most people in the world do not have. Dont take our beautiful country for granted. And dont let the negative stories get to you.

A friend of mine visited Australia for three weeks in December and almost didnt come back after reading the deluge of negative stories coming out of SA, thinking the country had completely fallen apart and there was chaos on the streets. He returned home only to find that, in fact, nothing had changed. His business was still going well, his kids still went to school plenty of problems, but nothing worse than it was before.

The news is noise. Dont let the noise distract you. South Africa is our home, there are no alternatives.

We are a country of many nations: Setswana, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiPedi, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele, Christian, Muslim, Hindi, Jewish, Bahai, atheist, black, white, coloured, Indian, old, young, capitalist, communist, socialist, vegan a rainbow nation. But we are not one nation, yet. We need universal access to the internet if we are to become one nation.

'Isizwe' means 'nation', so we created a petition at Project Isizwe, lobbying the government to accelerate the deployment of free Wi-Fi in public spaces. Sign our petition and well submit your signature to your local politician in advance of local government elections on 3 August 2016.

Go ahead and sign at Project Isizwe, and spread the word!

The future is bright, free Wi-Fi will save South Africa.

Read the original article on The Big Almanack.
On Thursday, 12 May 2016, Biz Takeouts Marketing and Media Radio show host Warren Harding ( @bizwazza ) looked at the expansion of the Cape Union Mart Group into e-commerce.

Amanda Herson, e-commerce director of Cape Union Mart Group, joins us to chat about the Group's brands, retail and e-commerce.

We chat to Amanda about:

 The start of Cape Union Mart Group, the growth and reason for going into e-commerce.  The e-commerce challenges faced, SA consumers and if SA businesses have been slow to pursue e-commerce?

 Amanda gives us her advice to new e-commerce players? What can we learn from the Cape Union Mart Group experience?

 Marketing for e-commerce vs brick and mortar retail stores?

 E-commerce logistics and why it is so crucial.

 How the SA consumer changed since the start of Cape Union Mart.

 The current e-commerce trends and what can we expect in the future?  What does the future for Cape Union Mart look like?

Amanda also tells us which is her favourite brand within the group.

Check out all the Cape Union Mart Group brands here:

Get all the information by listening to this weeks podcast.

Episode 173: Amanda Herson, Ecommerce Director of Cape Union Mart group.







Date: 12 May 2016 Length: 16:38min File size: 15.6MB Host: Warren Harding



The news roundup from Bizcommunity:

If you are interested in getting interviewed on Biz Takeouts, or want to suggest a show topic, email Warren Harding (@bizwazza) on moc.ytinummoczib@stuoekatzib.

Bizcommunity.com's Biz Takeouts Marketing & Media Show takes South Africa's biggest online marketing, media and ad industry platform to the airwaves and gives relevant, useful and interesting insights into all aspects of marketing in SA, Africa and beyond. Each week, the show features the movers and the shakers of the industry, current media trends, upcoming events and brand activities.

For more:
The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture has welcomed the announcement by the leadership team at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) that 90% local music will be played across its 18 radio stations.

This bold decision will not only celebrate the richness and diversity of local talent but will enhance the quality of lives of local artists, said a statement from the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture.

The committee has on numerous occasions called on broadcasters to increase the percentage of local content on their platforms.

It is on this basis that we are happy that the leadership of the SABC has listened and is implementing the committees calls albeit on a trial basis, said Xoliswa Tom, the chairperson of the committee.

She said what was even more reassuring is the fact that the SABC went far beyond the 40% minimum requirement of local music played as per Independent Communications Authority of South Africas regulations.

The 90% quota will ensure that local artists benefit financially, something that will trigger more economic activity within the country.

This increased economic activity will in turn lead to the creation of much-needed job opportunities. This will also ensure that artists invest more money in improving the quality of the products that they release.

She said this decision is a testament to the important role that the SABC, as a public broadcaster, ought to play in reflecting the South African story  in this case through music.

Furthermore, it brings to life the corporations mandate of nurturing South African talent. The committee further welcomes the fact that the broadcaster will increase its local content offering on television.

The committee encourages all other broadcasters to follow the SABCs lead and increase the percentages of local content on their platforms.
CDNetworks, the global content delivery network (CDN) with fully integrated Cloud Security solution, has been chosen by Africa Press Organization (APO), the sole press release newswire in Africa, to accelerate its press release distribution platform www.Africa-Newsroom.com, and bolster the online visibility of its clients' multimedia press releases in Africa and the world.

Alex Nam

CDNetworks provides journalists, consumers, and target audiences with an optimised experience by making Africa-Newsroom load three times faster, speeding up access to multimedia press releases. By using CDNetworks, static content is cached locally, close to the end user, thus reducing distance-induced latency from APOs local servers.

In addition, CDNetworks enables APO to quickly and reliably deliver dynamic content to users around the world. This decreases Time to First Byte (TTFB)  the time it takes from a user to make an HTTP request to the first byte of the page being received by the users browser  of www.Africa-Newsroom.com from 133ms to 7ms. At the same time, CDNetworks accelerates the downloading of press releases with multimedia content (videos, photos, documents and audio-files). These rich Africa-related multimedia press releases are now available to all journalists around the globe within a fraction of a second.

Adding multimedia content to a press release results in read rates well above industry standards when compared to a simple text-only news release. APO gives its customers the option to enrich their press releases - free of charge - by adding multimedia content such as photos, videos, audio files, links, and documents. CDNetworks will enable APO to deliver this content efficiently and meet the growing demand for multimedia press release distribution in Africa by consolidating its technological and commercial leadership.

Africa-Newsroom.com is the source of press releases and multimedia files related to Africa, publishing press releases, videos, photos, documents and audio-files for companies such as Samsung, Facebook, DHL, Visa, MoneyGram, PwC, Hitachi, Ecobank, Novartis, Caterpillar, Orange, and more (Source list: http://www.APO.af/DJbGqJ).

Accelerating global websites into emerging markets is one of our specialties. We are very happy that APO has entrusted us to speed up their unique platform for press release distribution and integrated marketing dedicated to Africa globally, said Alex Nam, managing director EMEA at CDNetworks.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Africas internet capacity is growing, however it remains slow when compared to other countries in the developing world. This makes it difficult for internet users to download rich multimedia press releases with high-quality images, video, documents and audio files, unless the content delivery process is supported by a high performance CDN.

CDNetworks unique position as the only multinational CDN with expertise and infrastructure in China, Russia and other emerging markets enables CDNetworks to be a trusted partner in local markets, while serving as foremost experts on extending into global markets.

CDNetworks accelerates more than 40,000 websites and cloud services over a network of 160+ global PoPs in established and emerging markets including China and Russia. The platform has been serving enterprise customers for 15 years across industries such as gaming, finance, ecommerce, high tech, manufacturing, and media. CDNetworks offices are located in the US, UK, South Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore.
In many sub-Sahara Africa's cities, Japan mostly evokes the image and the reputation of an economic and technology powerhouse. Yet, Africa Renewal, reports that the true picture of Japan's involvement on the ground is massive and diverse.

Image by 123RF

To many Africans, Japan is a country acclaimed for economic and technological prowess. Johnson Obaluyi in Lagos, Nigeria, says Toyota, the ubiquitous automotive manufacturer, comes to mind whenever Japan is mentioned. For Kwesi Obeng, a Ghanaian living in Nairobi, Kenya, it is technology. Beageorge Cooper, a consultant for the World Bank in Monrovia, Liberia, says she thinks of Japan as a former world economic power.

But its a different matter when Africans are asked about Japan-Africa relations. I will have to read up on that, says Cooper. I think we are importing their Toyotas, recollects Obaluyi. They support research into tropical diseases in Africa, says Obeng.

Such scant knowledge of the full gamut of Japan-Africa relations hardly reflects the true picture on the ground, considering that it was as recently as 2013 that Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced $32 billion five-year support for Africas development projects.

Before Abes announcement, Japans many interventions in Africa were mostly under the radar, attracting little fanfare. For example, not many know that Japans cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) in the continent rose from $758 million in 2000 to $10.5 billion in 2014, according to Forbes, a US publication. Indeed, Japan was Africas largest Asian economic partner until 2000, when China took the lead.

A pioneering initiative

By launching in 1993 the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) with the United Nations Development Program and the UNs Office of the Special Advisor on Africa, Japan pioneered efforts by Asian countries to engage directly with African leaders. The Chinese followed in 2000 with the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), while India joined the bandwagon in 2010 with the India-Africa Business Forum (IBF).

Often attended by a majority of African leaders, as well as investors and development experts, these gatherings have been opportunities to negotiate international trade and to attract investors and official development aid (ODA).

Japans decision to hold the sixth TICAD in Kenya in August, the first ever in Africa (previous conferences were all held in Japan), will likely stoke global interest in Japan-Africa relations. A prior visit to Africa by the prime minister in 2013 (with stops in Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia and Mozambique), the first by a Japanese leader since 2005 and the first ever to a francophone country, highlighted Africas investment opportunities, particularly for Japanese companies.

The prime ministers visit also triggered a scrutiny of Japans strategic intent and its policy towards Africa, with Stratfor, a US-based geopolitical intelligence firm, explaining that Japan is making investment forays into Africa because it is experiencing resource insecurities even as its economic growth challenges have become more urgent after the 2011 disasters and nuclear shutdown.

Attracting suitors

Africas untapped resources and its resilient economy are a powerful magnet for investors. The continents GDP growth averaged 5% in the past decade, according to the World Bank, while its economy was resilient against the global financial crisis of 20072008. This prompted Prime Minister Abe to express the view that Africa is no longer an aid recipient but rather a partner for growth.

Increasing investor confidence has led to a quadrupling of cumulative FDI since 2000 to about $470 billion. In short, Africa seems like a beautiful maiden attracting the attention of investment suitors worldwide.

All the same, a feeling exists that Africas economic growth has also forced a subtle change in the international rules of engagement. Forbes notes that China and India now concentrate on the construction of roads, bridges, railways and other commercial activities, rather than offering only ODA, as was the case in the past. The rationale is that infrastructure projects, often commissioned with fanfare, can be touted as evidence of constructive relations.

Unlike Chinas and Indias, the majority of Japans flows to Africa continue to be focused on development assistance rather than on commercial investment by Japans private sector, notes Harry G. Broadman, director of US-based John Hopkins Universitys Council on Global Enterprise and Emerging Markets in Baltimore, Maryland.

Japans competitive advantage

In Mozambique, Abe announced a $570 million ODA to develop the Nacala corridor region that stretches from northern Mozambique to Malawi. The project will include roads rehabilitation in Malawi and the establishment of a single border post between Malawi and Mozambique, and another between Malawi and Zambia.

Due to the volatility in commodity prices, Africas developing economies need Japans support, says Stratfor. However, while projects such as the one in the Nacala corridor may be worthwhile, It is illustrative of Japan maintaining a traditional aid-for-Africa approach, argues Broadman.

Broadmans critique is dismissive of Japans somewhat new pragmatic approach to its relations with Africa. Japans Foreign Ministry notes that its prime minister wants Africa to choose Japan as its true partner because Africa needs Japanese assistance and the organisational culture of Japanese companies which value human resources and place importance on creative ingenuity.

Japans competitive advantage is its high-quality products, concurs Broadman, and Africa can gain in areas such as transport, power generation and distribution and the manufacturing of construction equipment and machinery. He adds that Japanese firms are notable for sharing know-how and technology transfer.

While addressing the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Abe recalled that one of the African leaders told him: Only the Japanese companies teach us the morals of what it means to work and what the joy of labour is. The leader said further, Japanese companies that come to Africa never fail to bring with them this type of managerial philosophy. This philosophy, he further explained, means that companies seek to elicit ingenuity by enhancing the competency of each individual.

Abes pitch reiterates Japans eagerness to support Africas transformation through quality projects and transfer of knowledge. His speeches indicated a strategy consisting of a mix of ODA and empowerment. The African Business Education Initiative for Youth, which offers opportunities for Africans to undertake graduate studies in 58 Japanese universities, is one of Japans human resource development programmes for Africans. The first batch of 156 African students began their degree programmes in September 2015. We want to utilise our huge and excellent technology to support African countries to transform, Abe said in the margins of the UN General Assembly debate in New York in September.

Relations between Africa and Japan cannot be one-way traffic, says Broadman, meaning that opportunities exist for both. The plunge in the price of oil ($26 a barrel as of mid-February) and other commodities and the slowdown of the Chinese economy may stem FDI flows to Africa, offering Japanese companies much-needed space to operate. Japan would certainly benefit from increased access to African oil, suggests Broadman. And rather than buying copper from Latin America, Japan may now opt for Zambian copper.

Tsuneo Kitamura, the parliamentary vice president at the ministry of economy and trade, admits Japan is cautious in its approach to foreign investments. The Mail and Guardian, a South African publication, quotes Kitamura as saying, Japanese companies take time to decide where to invest, but they never give up in the middle.

Christophe Akagha Mba, Gabons mining minister, says that while the Chinese are taking advantage of falling commodity prices, The Japanese are still at the same stage. They have not even started significant investments yet, reports Reuters, a news service.

About 20 top Japanese business executives accompanied the prime minister on his visit to Africa. Japan, with economic rival China in mind, is looking for new overseas markets where it can sell its cars, power plants and generators and buy fuels and other raw materials, writes the Wall Street Journal.

Beyond the economy

Meanwhile, hundreds of Japanese peacekeepers are in Juba, South Sudan, providing critical engineering and logistical support to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Japans help in airlifting equipment and supplies to South Sudan and Entebbe in Uganda, where the UN has a logistics hub, is viewed as critical to peacekeeping operations. The Asian giant is also actively coordinating with Ethiopia and other regional players to end hostilities in South Sudan.

In addition, Japan plans to support conflict resolution and disaster mitigation efforts in Africa with $320 million. This includes $25 million to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the South Sudanese crisis. Japan believes mediation from neighbouring states such as Ethiopia is vital and should be supported, Abe said during his visit to Ethiopia.

Cultural and sporting ties are also being strengthened. Ahead of the 2020 Olympics, Japan is conducting a Sports for Tomorrow programme and enlisting the participation of African youths.

As Japan and Africa prepare for the sixth TICAD summit, Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta says Africa will use the occasion to showcase our own growth initiatives and expose to Japan the available opportunities for cooperation, trade and investment.

If Japan can help accelerate Africas transformation, as Abe has promised, perhaps more Africans may soon have a better-than-peripheral knowledge of Japan-Africa relations.

Source: Africa Renewal
Four young Egyptians have been remanded in custody accused of making fun of the government in a satirical video posted on social networks, judicial sources said on Tuesday, 10 May 2016.

The move is the latest in a crackdown on voices critical of the authorities in Egypt. At the same time, a fifth member of the group known as Street Children, arrested on Saturday, was ordered released on bail.

Their latest production appears to have touched a nerve as police round up activists involved in April protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for handing over two islands to Saudi Arabia.

Rights groups accuse Sisi of running an ultra-authoritarian and repressive regime since he deposed - in 2013- his democratically elected Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi.

Mahmud Ottman, a lawyer for the four, said they were arrested late Monday while visiting a friend's home in central Cairo. On Tuesday, Mohammed Adel, Mohammed Gabr, Mohammed al-Dessouki and Mohammed Yehya were remanded in custody for 15 days, their lawyer and a judiciary official said.

In the group's latest video, Street Children mock the devaluation of the Egyptian pound as well as the return of the islands to Saudi Arabia. The four are accused of "promoting ideas calling for terrorist acts by posting a video on social networks and YouTube", Ottman said.

They are also suspected of "incitement to take part in demonstrations disturbing the public order" and "inciting mobs to commit hostile actions against state institutions", he added.

A Cairo court on Tuesday ordered the release on bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about 990 euros) for a fifth member of the group, Ezzedine Khaled. He is accused of "inciting protests and publishing a video that insulted state institutions". Ottman said the bail had been paid and he expected Khaled to be released.

Attempts to protest last month against the handover of the two islands to Saudi Arabia were nipped in the bud by the authorities. Since then, they have also cracked down on activists, bloggers, lawyers and journalists.

The overthrow of Morsi, who was deeply unpopular, unleashed a police crackdown on his supporters that has killed hundreds of protesters and imprisoned thousands of people. Hundreds of people, including Morsi, have also been sentenced to death in speedy mass trials denounced by the United Nations as "unprecedented in recent history".
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Czech presidential spokesperson praises a racist website as a "highly pluralist medium"

12. 5. 2016

cas cteni 4 minuty





The widely-read alarmist, racist and xenophobic website Parlamentni listy [Parliamentary Newsletter; this is a misnomer, the website has nothing to do with Czech Parliament] which systematically whips up anti-muslim and anti-refugee sentiment in the Czech Republic, has been praised by Jiri Ovcacek, the official spokesperson of Czech President Milos Zeman, as a "highly pluralist medium, an island of positive deviation in the sea of one-sided media mainstream."

By praising Parlamentni listy, Ovcacek explained why the Czech President Milos Zeman regularly gives long, exclusive interviews to its reporter Radim Panenka. Several years ago, Panenka was a member of the extreme right wing "National Party" which became notorious for its campaigns against the Roma and against all minorities in the Czech Republic.

The National Party became infamous during recent elections into the European parliament when it offered "the final solution of the Roma question" within its election programme. During the election campaign, it used a flag on which white sheep kick away a black sheep against the background of the Czech national colours.

"We are the only people who have the courage to stand up and say that there are murderers, pedophiles, deviants and sadists in all the groups of the immigrants," said Zeman's favourite journalist Radim Panenka at a demonstration in Prague in March 2008.

Panenka now dissociates himself from this statement. Nevertheless, the following are the current headlines in Parlamentni listy, a "highly pluralist medium, an island of positive deviation in the sea of one-sided media mainstream," according to Jiri Ovcacek, the official spokesperson of the Czech President Milos Zeman:

A Philosopher Speaks: Zeman sides with the people against the ruling plutocracy. If we want to survive, we MUST be xenophobic. We will have to wage a bloody war against the muslims

Islamists are a murderous bunch and we fear the loss of our self-determination in the land of our ancestors. But the people in the street will force the politicians to do the right thing, even if we will have to go backwards

Migrants are here. I am upset by the attitude of the Czech government. Merkel is finished, says Slovakia after a refugee has been shot there

Perversion! Depravity! We have found out how many millions you are paying for the government "HateFree" project

We are cutting a branch we are sitting on. Where all this will lead to. Serious information about the further developments of the refugee crisis

The onslaught of hate speech on Parlamentni listy has been intense over many months. Here is a sample of headlines from September 2015:

- Vaclav Klaus in Bratislava: These are not refugees, do not call them thus. That word is a naivist, European concept

- Colonel Skacel on 9/11: Two high rises could not have collapsed after being hit by airplanes. Absolute nonsense. Terrorism is a myth

- Europe will go black. Fuck it, swore citizens during a meeeting. And the Czech immigration boss suprised people "We do not moan, so we will be punished."

- Billions of immigrants. Horrifying chaos, conflicts, war and death and catastrophe in Europe. Someone is organising this!

- 100 million immigrants will arrive, according to estimates. This is the end of Europe. The government must rebel against the threats and the crude blackmail from the EU

- Sociologist Petr Hampl: We have the right to deal with the refugees as though they were aggressors. The traitors of the Czech nation are helping them to exterminate us like the whites have exterminated the Red Indians. The Czech Human Rights Ombudsman, she is the real neo-Nazi

- This is death. There will be bloody tragedies. Hatred of the Czechs, monstrous behaviour, treachery, suicide, collaborators, chaos

- Lord Mayor in a Berlin immigration quarter: The immigrants rule us with a rod of iron and terrorise German children, adults and pensioners. They teach their offspring to fight against us

- Disgusting, we must leave the EU. Czech politicians' reactions against the quotas

The Czech Republic does have laws against hate speech and spreading alarmist news, but the Czech police is mostly not investigating these crimes and they are not being prosecuted.



Source in Czech: HERE



A Czech website which is in the forefront of spreading anti-refugee hatred

There are stories like this in the Czech Republic every day that never make it to the outside world because of a lack of translation. You can support us and help reveal what's happening in Central Europe today. Please make a contribution today on www.paypal.com and send your donation to redakce@blisty.cz. We fully rely on crowdfunding in our work. Thank you.

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The U.S.-embassy faced criticism from nationalists after they used the term Rohingya in a statement a few weeks before. A few days before Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had allegedly advised the US not to use the term Rohingya.

Suu Kyi has long faced criticism over her reticence to speak out more strongly in support of the Rohingya which face restrictions on access to health, employment and education in Rakhine state, where tens of thousands remain trapped in grim displacement camps following waves of deadly communal violence in 2012.

The deputy director general of Myanmar's foreign ministry, Kyaw Moe Tun, told AFP that while Suu Kyi had not given Marciel a formal instruction in a recent meeting, talks had touched on how to handle the current situation wisely.

Marciel also commented on business relations between Myanmar and the U.S., especially about the still remaining sanctions. The sanctions are under review, Marciel said. The United States has rolled back many of its sanctions to reward reforms since 2011, but kept a clutch of blacklists targeting junta-era cronies and their sprawling business interests as it seeks to push further changes.

We recognise that even these limited, targeted sanctions occasionally have unintended effects on the broader economy, the ambassador said.

Now in the aftermath of the transition to the new elected government we are again reviewing our sanctions, he said, adding that he could not yet say what the result of next week's review would be.

Washington is likely to maintain the backbone of its sanction powers in a nation where the military continues to wield huge political and economic power, despite Suu Kyi's November election win.In December the US temporarily eased restrictions on Myanmar's ports to unclog trade into the fast-developing country.The move freed businesses to import and export through the main Yangon port terminal, which is run by Asia World, one of the country's largest blacklisted conglomerates

Most important, Marciel reiterated during the speech, is that Myanmar proceeds in establishing human rights in the democratic transition of the government. As soon as this happens, sanctions will be removed step by step he said.

He also commented on the very important peace process stating No country can succeed without peace, but made it clear that the U.S. will only be in the position of an adviser in the process as Myanmar has to fix the terms and conditions by which peace should be gained by itself.

Marciel also said that the U.S. may use the term Myanmar instead of Burma in the future after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pointed out that the use of either is ok. But the final decision on this topic will be made in Washington. Most countries use Myanmar instead of Burma, but the U.S. had concerns because the decision to use Myanmar was made by the military government without the permission of the people, Marciel said.
A construction worker working for June Cement said: Now they have started collecting sand. A building is being constructed to park vehicles and for workers to live in. I am only a basic worker so I dont know when the factory will start its operation.

Another company, MCL Cement, has already started building a cement factory in Kyaikmaraw Township. It is due to start operations by the middle of the year and will produce 5,000 tons of cement a year.

The planned June Cement factory will also produce 5,000 tons of cement a day, but according to locals the company has not held any negotiations with them or explained the advantages and disadvantages of the cement factory to local people.

Nai Tun Kyi from Maekaro Village said: No explanations have been given to the local residents about building the factory. We heard that the cement factory will use coal power. If the waste produced from this factory flows into the Attaran Stream, the fish in the stream could become dangerous [for us to eat]. It could be dangerous for the people from the surrounding areas.

Nai Shwe Win from the Pyar Taung Area Development Association said: The company has not informed the local residents about the power source that will be used to operate the factory. If coal power is to be used, we would totally oppose it.

He also said that the cement factory could negatively affect local society, health and agriculture and that that tremors from factorys rock mining could structurally affect ancient pagodas, schools and peoples homes.

Locals said that June Cement had been buying farmland between Maekaro Village and Kawdon/Kawpanaw Village in Kyaikmaraw Township since before 2010 and that it now owns 700 acres of land.

The Myanmar Investment Commission granted June Cement permission to build the factory at meeting number 11/2016 on 25 March, 2016. Construction of the factory is due to start this month.

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
Following the explosion at Yangon's Insein Prison, the ban on package deliveries in most prisons across the country may result in the unnecessary...
Observers looking at the body-language and protocol suggested that at long last, the military might be toning down its demanding, confrontation course and has accepted the fact to be a subordinate to the elected civilian NLD regime, overwhelmingly supported by the countrys electorate. But a closer look at different issues that have been happening shows that this is not the case and in fact, just a give-and-take on the basis of a necessity, so that the coalition government between the Tatmadaw and the NLD could function. But however, the latent conflict continue to exist.

Let us look at the likely compromise between the two Bamar camps of elected government and the military on how each tend to take up positions on some of the issues that have popped up during these few days.

Suu Kyis plate is full, no argument about it. Some are inherited from the previous regime, while others are newly acquired ones. Recent issues making headlines are NLD-United Wa State Army (UWSA) interactions; Arakan Army (AA)-Tatmadaw armed clashes and political positioning, including parliamentary debate; ultra-nationalist movements and Suu Kyis regime mixed signals; and institutionalizing of State Counsellor Office.

NLD-UWSA problematic

U Soe Htay, a former senior military officer elected last year as NLD MP for Kawkareik township in Karen State, led a delegation to UWSA stronghold Panghsang of Shan State bordering China from 26 to 28.

However the MP, who is a member of parliaments peace and ethnic affairs committee said he had friendly relations with the leadership of the UWSA, when he was serving in the Wa area as a Tatmadaw commander, was reprimanded for undertaking such an important mission without the partys approval. Consequently, he was removed from the duty of peace and ethnic affairs committee, apart from prohibiting him to take up important partys duties for one year.

Following his visit Mr. Xiao Mingliang, deputy chair of the UWSA called on the government to hold a peace conference, including the participation of the United Nations and China as witnesses, and to urgently resolve the armed conflicts. Such a conference would include the federal government, parliament, the military and all ethnic armed groups.

Separately he called on the government to set up liaison mechanisms with ethnic armed groups, apart from the need to amend the constitution.

Earlier, prior to the meeting, Chinese media carried an eight-point statement by Xiao Mingliang, 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, according to the report of Myanmar Times.

AA and Tatmadaw row

The conflict between the AA and Tatmadaw has played out on two levels. One is militarily and the other within the parliament.

The Tatmadaw accused the AA of being anti-democratic and thus also also against the President Htin Kyaw government for starting the fight in Ararkan State.

On 16 April, Tatmadaw columns clashed twice with AA while combing operations in response of a tip-off that a 100-member AA contingent entered an area near Lawyamataung in Kyauktaw Township during the month. Responding to the Tatmadaws offensive, an ambush by the AA killed some of regimes troops and including a battalion commander, while quite a number of others were wounded.

AAs commander-in-chief Brigadier-General Tun Myat Naing recently told a news media that The conflict began when the Burmese Army advanced their units from the 5th, 9th and 15th Military Operations Commands into areas we occupy, prompting us to defend ourselves.

Following the armed clashes that caused the people to flee their homes in the affected areas, and peoples demonstration in nine Townships to end the war in Arakan State prompted the Arakan National Party (ANP) lawmaker U Wai Sein Aung to the Upper House of Parliament to table a proposal on 2 May, urging the Union government to include the AA in the peace process and requesting that the military agree to a cessation of hostilities.

Although the legislators earlier agreed to discuss the motion, due to the intervention of Defence Minister Soe Win, on 4 April the chambers speaker, Mahn Win Khaing Than of the National League for Democracy (NLD), opted to put a debate that began a day earlier on record rather than pushing for a more forceful endorsement of the ANP lawmakers proposal. The upper chamber voted to document the proposal by a vote of 195-6.

Prior to the voting to shelve it just as a record, several appointed military MPs rejected the parliamentary debate, including an MP from NLD saying that the case be best handled on a wider spectrum within the bounds of the nationwide peace process, the Defence Minister also explicitly said the military was defending against the attacks of the Arakan Army, which is responsible for the current conflict. They have a right to express their desires in a democratic way, but taking up arms and fighting against the army is worrisome for the future of our countrys democracy.

Ultra-nationalist movements

Adding to the mixture of the NLDs problems is the ultra-nationalists sabre-rattling, which the party seems to be giving in, if not exactly being cowed or appeased.

On 28 April, the ultra-nationalists supported by the Committee for the Protection of Race and Religion  commonly known as Ma Ba Tha  object to a recent statement by the US expressing condolences for victims of a boat sinking in Rakhine State. The statement said local reports alleged the victims were Rohingya  who are called Bengalis by those who dont recognise them as one of the 135 official ethnic groups.

Again, on 2 April, the ultra-nationalists continues unabated to press the government to denounce publicly objecting to the US embassys statement and pledged to regroup on May 5 with an even larger camp moving in from Ayeyarwady Region.

Perhaps, bowing to the pressure Suu Kyi was said to meet the US ambassador lately and advised not to use the term Rohingya to describe the persecuted Muslim population that has lived in Myanmar for generations, according to Bangkok Post report of 8 May.

We wont use the term Rohingya because Rohingya are not recognised as among the 135 official ethnic groups, said Kyaw Zay Ya, Suu Kyis spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry, who was at the meeting. Our position is that using the controversial term does not support the national reconciliation process and solving problems, said the report.

The ultra-nationalist seems to be satisfied according to a leader of the group with Suu Kyis handling the issue vis-a-vis the US ambassadors usage of the term Rohingya.

We dont want that word because they are not our nationality, said Thaw Bar Ka, a leader of the group. And now I read the news that the Foreign Ministry agrees with us. Its really good. At first, I thought the new government would be useless on this issue.

Institutionalizing State Counsellor Office

Suu Kyi seems to be really in a hurry to consolidate political power, as the move to institutionalize and create a ministry for her State Counsellor Office is being pushed forward, on the heels of the quiet protocol endorsement as ranking second only to the President within the administration, a few weeks earlier.

On 5 May, in a message sent to the Union parliament by President U Htin Kyaw said the new ministry would allow the State Counsellor to perform her duties more effectively.

A new ministry is needed to work more effectively on issues like national reconciliation, peace, development, rule of law and other government tasks, U Htin Kyaw said.

Section 202 of the Constitution says that the president, with parliamentary support, can restructure, axe and create ministries. In this sense, the government earlier has cut the number of ministries from 36 to 21, but also created a new Ministry for Ethnic Affairs.

Parliamentary debate on the proposal of setting up a new ministry for Suu Kyi is set to take place soon. That discussion is likely to feature objections from military MPs who registered strong opposition when the state counsellor position was created specifically for Suu Kyi. But Suu Kyis NLD can comfortably pass most of its bills because of its hefty majority.

Outlook and perspective

Looking at the said problematic issues, they could be grouped into the category of ethnic conflict, dealing with the ultra-nationalist pressure group and consolidating Suu Kyi and NLD political decision-making power.

The NLD handling of AA issue is controversial as it has agreed to shelve the proposal of debating the acceptance of AA in the peace process and also the curtailing the Tatmadaw offensive in Arakan State.

The Tatmadaw insistence of AA to surrender and its positioning that it is protecting the U Htin Kyaw government that is democratically elected could be interpreted in two ways. One is the likely acknowledgement that the Tatmadaw is the defender of a democratic regime, while the AA is labelled an anti-democratic group. The other would seem like the government giving the Tatmadaw necessary endorsement and legitimacy to launch offensive against the AA.

Adding to such generalization of the government siding with the military is the shelving of the ANP proposal to accept AA in the peace process and failure to stop the military offensive in Arakan State.

Regarding the issue of NLD member, without the partys knowledge, meeting with the UWSA and consequent reprimanding the said member is as if to show that the NLD is not doing anything without the Tatmadaws agreement, showing a degree of angst it has to upset the ethnic policy of Tatmadaw.

The military policy on the ethnic resistance could be summed up as the implementation of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) or total surrender and viewing the Kokang or Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Mong La or National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and UWSA as foreign proxies. AA and Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) are excluded from the peace process for they happened to be in alliance with the MNDAA in fighting the Tatmadaw, starting last year.

The NLD giving in to the ultra-nationalist group on the question of Rohingya terminology could also be seen that the party is quite far away from implementing the secular form of governance, which is a must in a democratic society, and behaving as being indifferent to the rising tide of racism in the name of protecting Buddhist religion.

The consolidation of Suu Kyi and NLD position in political decision-making is definitely not according to the liking of the military and how far the tolerance will be extended will likely depend on the level of give-and-take negotiation that could be thrashed out between the two adversaries.

For now, Suu Kyi seems to be leaning heavily only on the compromise worked out between her party and the military, as evident by the handling of the problematic issues of the day, while she is leaving the ethnic nationality camps in the cold.

So much so, Khun Tun Oo, head of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) and chair of the Shan National League for Democracy, recently said ethnic people cannot count on the ruling party, according to RFA report.

Ethnic people have only the United Nationalities Alliances (UNA)  a twelve ethnic political party alliance  or the National Brotherhood Federation (NBF) or the current ethnic representatives of parliament to rely on for ethnic affairs. Ethnic people can no longer rely on the NLD, he said during an opening speech at a UNA meeting on May 7.

Two glaring disagreement that have irked the ethnic nationalities were the NLD appointment of ethnic individuals to a number of cabinet positions without consulting the concerned ethnic parties and installing NLD-led State governments in Arakan and Shan States, where the ethnic parties were ahead and NLD only won a minority of seats in the two said State elections.

Compounded by the meaningful or lack of dialogue either with the ethnic party alliances or non-signatory Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), it is not a wonder that the sidelined ethnic camps have questioned the NLDs commitment to federalism and the peace process after it already broke power-sharing pledges.

Finally, bowing to the pressure of the ultra-nationalist just not to anger the group and even toeing its racist line of thinking for tactical reasons, such as worries to lose support base of the extreme-Buddhist groupings that are infected with Islamophobia, is not the way to go. The NLD would need to be firm in its commitment on federal democratic principles, brushing out its latent racism tendency that might exist within its rank and file, and embarks on the realization leading to the secular form of government, in words and deeds. Otherwise, all the promises of national reconciliation and peaceful promised land would be out of reach and could even dragged down the NLD to the level of anti-democratic and ethnocentric regime that it has strived to avoid and get rid of all these years.
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Nature at its Most Awesome

Home to one of the worlds most famous waterfalls, Niagara Falls is a town in Canada, not to be confused with its namesake on the other side of the river in the USA.

The Canadian town offers the best views of Niagara Falls, which are actually 3 waterfalls on the Niagara River. The main Horseshoe Falls magnificently thunders water over and bursts into spray as it hits the river. This spray is the inspiration for "Maid of the Mist", a boat that takes you close to the base of the falls  a fantastic photo opportunity.

Just downstream are the Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest of the 3, and next to them are the much larger American Falls. Both of these are in the USA, whereas the Horseshoe Falls crosses the border. You can also cross the border into the United States by walking over the Rainbow Bridge  just check your visa requirements first.

Many of the Canada Niagara Falls hotels are located by the riverside, so some offer fantastic views of these fabulous waterfalls. There are also lots of Niagara Falls hotels on Booking.com, so these are a convenient option if you arrive by car.


The Dragon spacecraft spalshes down in the Pacific Ocean. A SpaceX photo

CAPE CANAVERAL (BNS): The Dragon unmanned space capsule of SpaceX carrying over 1,678-kg of NASA cargo and science and technology demonstration samples from the International Space Station (ISS) splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 pm EDT (6.51 pm GMT) Wednesday.



The spacecraft had undocked from the ISS earlier on Wednesday.



It was launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 8, and arrived at the space station on April 10, carrying around 3,175-kg of supplies and scientific cargo to the ISS.



The spacecraft will be taken by ship to Long Beach, California where some cargo will be removed and returned to NASA, and then be prepared for shipment to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing, NASA said in a statement while detailing out the technological and biological experiments which were conducted in the orbital outpost and have been carried by the space capsule.



The spacecraft has also brought back to Earth the final batch of human research samples from former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's historic one-year mission. These samples will be analysed for various studies, the space agency said.



Dragon is currently the only station resupply spacecraft able to return a significant amount of cargo to Earth.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  With the widespread use of exchange-traded funds, investment experts say you need to understand what you are buying and how an ETF works within your portfolio.

ETFs have grown in popularity with the promise of low-fees compared with mutual funds. But not all ETFs are the same. Even if they are trying to track the same index, they can differ in how they do that.

An ETF can hold the stocks or bonds that make up the index that it is supposed to track, or it can be what is referred to as a synthetic ETF that uses a contract with a counterparty, usually a bank, which promises to pay the return of the index.

You just have to be careful with them and use them as a tool, rather than an investment on its own, says CIBC Wood Gundy portfolio manager Daniel Girard.

You use them as a piece of a total portfolio and just use them in a way that gives you the best risk-return profile with the lowest cost, says Girard, who is based in Waterloo, Ont.

Girard says he looks for simplicity, low-cost and ability to trade when it comes to ETFs.

Sometimes youll identify an ETF that looks great for a number of reasons, but it doesnt trade, he said.

You also need to watch for tracking error when the returns of the ETF are different from the index it is supposed to track. The difference can arise because of ETF fees and also because the ETFs holdings may not exactly match the index.

In recent years, the industry has moved to offer investors more than just a replication of a given index.

Traditional ETFs that track the S&P/TSX composite index, for instance, have a heavy weighting toward three sectors  financials, mining and energy. So an ETF that tracks that index may not provide the diversification that an investor wants.

So-called smart beta, or factor investing, offers a twist on traditional ETFs by weighting sectors differently than the index does.

BlackRock Canadas Pat Chiefalo says an investment manager can set different goals  for example, reduced volatility.

Maybe I want to assemble those stocks in a way to maximize my dividends, says Chiefalo, head of iShares Product at BlackRock Canada.

Alfred Lee, a portfolio manager with BMO ETFs, says outcomes of smart beta funds can vary because each is constructed differently.

If youre looking for low volatility, theres no rhyme or reason why you need the same sector exposures as the TSX, he said.
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This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In 2012, there were 11 million family caregivers in Canada. These caregivers were identified by Statistics Canada as being spouses, children, brothers, sisters, and friends. The most common cause for caregiving was due to age related disabilities and illnesses; with 44 per cent of the caregivers providing care to a parent; 16 per cent to a friend/neighbour/colleague; 13 per cent to a grandparent; eight per cent to a spouse; five per cent to a child and 10 per cent for others (brother, sister, etc).

About 25 per cent of Manitobans aged 65 and over required help from another person with at least one daily activity. These daily activities, also known as ADLs (activities of daily living) cover a wide range of tasks from housekeeping, transportation, medication administration, emotional support, financial help, bathing, etc. While some may only need assistance from a caregiver for one or two ADLs, others can be totally dependent on their caregiver to meet all their needs.

Being a caregiver can be a very over-whelming experience for some; they often feel there is a lack of resources to help them manage the role of caregiving. The Westman Caregivers group was formed this year to offer support, guidance and education to caregivers in the Westman area. On May 27, they will be holding a Caregivers Conference at the Victoria Inn. Tickets must be purchased for $10 in advance from the following businesses: Daughter On Call, Unique Uniforms and Brockie Donovan.

There will be lots of information from various organizations and businesses who will have displays on hand. Guest speakers include Cheryl George from Eden Canada to educate us all on Eden Alternative Care; Chris Ruhle from the Physician Assistants Association of Manitoba to discuss the role physician assistants can play in home care and long term care in Manitoba.

There will also be presentations from the Seniors Care Legacy Fund and Daughter On Call will present on Celebrating Caregivers. There is something for both professional (nurses, health care aides) plus family and community caregivers at this event. It is sure to be an informative day with a little fun thrown in for good measure! Westman Caregivers will be handing out swag bags to all attendees plus there will be free draws. Just remember that tickets have to be bought in advance, and for more information you can call 204-725-6629.

Wondering what you can do to help someone that is a family caregiver? There are lots of things you can do such as a simple phone call of support, a note of encouragement, offering to sit with their loved one so they can take a much needed break or delivering a home cooked meal. You may even consider purchasing tickets to the Caregiver Conference and taking a caregiver friend with you.

Gail Freeman-Campbell, LPN, is the CEO of Daughter On Call, Ltd.

 communitynews@brandonsun.com
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This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This week I have decided to write an article that is geared at a specific audience. I would like to speak to landlords regarding the restrictions they are placing on pet friendly properties.

Dear landlords: If you are going to set restrictions on tenants, please stop telling tenants to look for a small dog to accommodate a small yard or house.

I am shocked at how many landlords allow pets with restrictions. This particular restriction makes absolutely no sense to me and yet this is a restriction that is extremely common in rentals. Over the years I have asked landlords why they keep insisting on small breed dogs only for their rentals and consistently I am told that it is because of the size of the house or yard.

Im still not sure how size plays into that. The belief that small breed dogs need less space could only come from someone who has never met a Jack Russell Terrier.

According to experts, the top five most high energy dog breeds include the Jack Russell Terrier, the Boston Terrier, the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd and the Australian Cattle Dog. Note that not one of these dogs is a large breed. All are medium and small sized breeds.

This is not to say that there arent bigger breeds that have lots of energy. Dogs like Retrievers, Pointers, Dalmatians, and Huskies are definitely more active dog breeds that need regular exercise. Breed is only one contributing factor in activity levels and even then, there are always those dogs that dont conform to breed standards.

Size has nothing to do with a dogs energy level. You may be surprised to learn that among the most calm dog breeds are giants like the Mastiff, Greyhound and the Newfoundland Dog!

Personally, I think age plays a much bigger role in a dogs activity levels than their size does.

Adult dogs are more settled than puppies. This does not mean that adult dogs arent active, but rather that a dog is generally less active as an adult than they were as a puppy. And senior dogs are typically significantly more laid back then their puppy counterparts.

Adult dogs are typically better behaved than puppies and have had more time to learn and get a little training under their belt. In early stages of learning, young pups are simply more likely to chew things and get into trouble. As they grow and mature, dogs tend to have a better attention span, a little more patience and a better understanding of what their humans expect of them.

There are many other factors that can impact a dogs energy level  and have little to do with the dog and much more to do with the owners. Even the most active dog can be calm and easy to manage if they are exercised enough. And for the record, a fence is a lazy mans walk.

If a dog is given the right amount of exercise for their energy level, having a small yard should have little impact on the dogs behavior. I am always annoyed when I hear someone say that a dog needs a farm home because the dog has energy. Its kind of like saying that the solution to too much clutter is to move to a bigger house.

If you are a landlord and you are offering pet friendly housing, consider that an age requirement might go a lot further than restricting pets based on size.

Dana Grove is an animal lover who works with several pet organizations in Brandon.

 communitynews@brandonsun.com
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This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON  The man who has been the face of the fire fight in Fort McMurray is taking some time off.

Wood Buffalo fire Chief Darby Allen told reporters Thursday  10 days after fire first spread into the northern Alberta city  that he is handing control to others tasked with returning people to the community and rebuilding.

Im OK at putting out fires and getting people out. But the next phase is not mine, Allen said, at one point choking back tears while thanking his wife and two grown sons for their support.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses the Canadian Building Trades Union Policy Conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Trudeau is scheduled to meet with first responders today as he gets a first-hand look at the damage left by a raging wildfire that forced the evacuation of 80,000 in Fort McMurray, Alta., more than a week ago.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Ill be honest, I need a break, Allen said. Im going to spend time with my family and were going to hug a lot and Im going to have a couple of beers.

Ill rejuvenate myself and Ill be back in a week or so and Ill get on with being a fire chief again.

Allen has been one of the people leading the battle against the wildfire that swept into the city last week and his heartfelt updates on social media have made him a celebrity of sorts.

More than 2,400 homes and buildings were destroyed in the blaze and 530 were damaged, but firefighters under Allens charge have been credited with saving up to 90 per cent of the oilsands capital.

Several Fort McMurray firefighters also lost their own homes while working to save others. Officials say Allens house is still standing.

A 500-page report will likely be written about the beastly fire someday, said the chief, but until then he believes the most important call made was for the mandatory evacuation of more than 80,000 residents when the fire first entered the city May 3.

Four pets died in the fire, he said, and two people were killed in a car crash during the evacuation. A CBC Radio-Canada videographer was also taken to hospital in critical condition Thursday following a crash near one of the evacuation points, Lac La Biche.

Its incredible there werent more casualties, Allen said.

Crews continued to snuff out flareups Thursday, while inspectors assessed damage.

Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said key goals are making sure the fire is completely out, restoring utilities and ensuring the hospital is functional.

Thats especially important in an isolated region like Fort McMurray where the next nearest hospital is hours away, she told a briefing in Edmonton.

Larivee expects it will take five days to assess all structures in the city, but emphasized there is still no fixed date for a return.

The military is pulling out, but Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, commander of Joint Task Force West, said personnel will remain on high alert throughout the summer.

Fire official Chad Morrison said cooler weather has helped crews battle the blaze, which has grown to more than 2,400 square kilometres and is still raging in the forest to the east. Infrared scanners show there are still hot spots outside the city.

We have had a bit of a break here  but we are going to see more hot, dry weather starting Saturday, he said.

The good news with that is we will continue to see some southwest winds that will push the fire away from the community into the remote forested areas.

That being said, we are long from over in this fight.
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Dont make assumptions, be aware of your biases and dont be afraid to ask questions.

Those were some of the main messages coming out of cultural awareness workshops on Wednesday focusing on Islamic and Muslim culture.

I dont expect people leaving here to say, Oh, now Im going to wear a hijab, or I agree with it, said Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Social Services Association. They are free to disagree with me, but they have to give me the same right and respect to live my way as I would give to them. Thats what Canada is all about. Thats what multiculturalism is all about.

Jillian Austin/The Brandon Sun Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Social Services Association, presents to a crowd of 50 people at Assiniboine Community Colleges Victoria Avenue East campus on Wednesday. Service providers, representing justice, health care, education and family services attended the cultural awareness workshop.

The City of Brandon hosted the workshops at Assiniboine Community Colleges Victoria Avenue East campus.

Sandy Trudel, director of economic development, said as more Syrian refugees arrive in Brandon, it is important for service providers and the community at large to gain cultural knowledge and understanding.

Manitoba is committed to welcoming 1,500 to 2,000 refugees this year as part of Canadas response to the crisis. One government-sponsored family has settled in Brandon so far, and several more are expected.

Its a new demographic coming into the community that we dont have capacity on yet, Trudel said. The whole goal is to have everybody think of things differently, so that as they begin to meet the service needs of these new folks, theyre doing it with the right lens.

Fifty people attended the morning session, which included mainly service providers, including justice, health care, education and family services.

Siddiqui put on a similar presentation in Brandon in March at a Child and Family Services workshop.

Shahina is such a powerful speaker, her message is solid, but it is delivered in a way that everybody can connect, Trudel said. I think we saw that in the group a lot of those aha moments.

Siddiqui spoke about the importance of modesty, and explained the various clothing options that Muslim women wear: hijab (head scarf); niqab (face veil); jilbab (long tunic); burqa (full cover).

Hijab is a choice most Canadian Muslim women make as an expression of their submission to the Creator, Siddiqui states in her presentation.

A major misconception, she says, is that Islam mistreats women. A portion of her presentation addressed this issue.

Women have the same rights and responsibilities as their husbands, as the men, she said.

Men and women were created from a single soul  they are equals, according to the Quran, and domestic violence is an absolute violation.

Siddiqui said it is important to make the distinction between Muslims and terrorists.

We do it for KKK, we never say Christian terrorism, but we do for Islam, she said.

Another common misconception is the term jihad. Often associated with terrorists, it is actually a noble concept in Islam, Siddiqui explained.

It refers to the religious duty of Muslims, and is translated to the act of striving, applying oneself, struggling, persevering.

We cant put labels on people that are not fair and that create more distance and disruption, rather than cohesion and harmony, she said.

Siddiqui was pleased with the turnout, and gave a lot of credit to the participants.

Im honoured and Im very humbled by this experience every time I give it, she said.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
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Manitoba is paying attention to a change in Saskatchewan that will see hospitals and other health-care facilities open their doors 24 hours a day, seven days a week to families of patients.

The provincial Patient and Public Engagement Network is conducting a review of visitation policies currently in place in acute care hospitals across the province, a spokesperson for Manitoba Health said yesterday. Visitation policies, which remove restrictions around when patients are allowed visitors, are also tied to issues around family presence in health care.

The review will inform a province-wide family presence policy in Manitoba.

This includes recognizing and welcoming patients families, or other significant persons in their lives, as active participants in their care team as the patient prefers.

Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan said on Wednesday the change recognizes that loved ones are not simply visitors and play an essential role in improving a patients health.

He says people may have jobs that involve shift work and it hasnt always been easy for them to visit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For anybody thats been in the hospital, its helpful in terms of just their frame of mind and being positive that they have people that care for them look in on them and see how theyre doing, Duncan said Wednesday.

We havent been able to accommodate everybody just because not everybody could make it during visiting hours. This is just a way to hopefully accommodate people in terms of being checked in on by a loved one.

The province says allowing families more time to visit can lead to increased co-ordination of care with front-line staff, fewer medication errors and fewer readmissions.

Patients will get to decide whether they want visitors 24 hours a day. They will also define who they consider to be family  relatives or other people they are close to.

Duncan said patients sharing rooms may have to work with staff and each other to make some accommodations, such as using a different room or lounge.

I would say as well that there will be some circumstances where there will still be some restrictions; for example, if theres an outbreak in a facility, where theres a public safety issue, where somebodys in isolation, those sorts of things, he said.

Well still be mindful of that in terms of restricting some peoples access. But overall the policy is that there are not going to be visiting hour restrictions put on people that are in our facilities.

Duncan said Saskatchewan is the first Canadian province to welcome families around the clock.

 ctweed@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press

 @CharlesTweed
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Theres no word of arrests yet in the case of a woman who was badly beaten during a confrontation at a city nightclub.

But the manager of the hotel that runs the club says staff have provided the Brandon Police Service with a number of clues.

There was some long hours reviewing footage with BPS and trying to get as much information as we could to them, Royal Oak Inn and Suites general manager Aaron Tycoles, said on Wednesday.

We just wanted to make sure we took the steps to make sure everybodys safe.

In a previous interview, Desiree Fisher described how her fiancee, Nicole Fayant, was beaten by two men at Houstons Country Roadhouse in the early morning of April 3.

They said there was a confrontation after a group of men made unwanted advances toward Fisher and her friend.

Fayant, who had told the men not to touch the women and pulled them away, was attacked by two men.

The men then kicked Fayant in the face, and stomped and punched her as she was on the floor.

The men fled before police and paramedics arrived, leaving Fayant with her jaw broken in two places, Fisher said.

Police said they searched the area but the suspects couldnt be found.

The Brandon Police Service later issued photographs of three suspects, captured from video from one of the bars security camera.

Those images were shared on social media.

On Wednesday, BPS Sgt. Bill Brown said a number for any tips received by police as a result of their release wasnt immediately available.

However, while there have been no arrests, Brown said the investigation continues.

Fayant was reached by phone on Wednesday and said that, while shes still not happy with Houstons  she and Fisher said bouncers didnt step in to help during the assault  shes doing better.

Things are better now, now that Im able to get out and do something, Fayant said.

Because she couldnt get surgery right away due to demand, her jaw had to be reset. It was then fastened shut with bands and screws.

On Thursday, she had those bands removed and can now speak more easily and eat solid food again.

However, a titanium plate has been screwed in place to reinforce her jaw, and that will be necessary for the rest of her life.

The tow truck driver looks forward to returning to work, but it wont be before May 24.

Left sad and angry by the attack, she says her spirits have now picked up too.

Fayant said shes OK with the pace of the police investigation.

Things are going slow, but I understand that its a long process, Fayant said.

Besides the surveillance video, Tycoles said that bar staff passed along a tip to police.

A staff member, who was not working that night, she believes she knew who two of the individuals were, so she provided their names to BPS, Tycoles said.

After viewing the images released by police, the staff member seemed to recognize individuals who were regulars at the nightclub.

Tycoles said that photos of patrons  taken as they enter the bar to be compared to their ID  have also been given to police.

Theres facial shots of everybody thats scanned into the bar, Tycoles said. All that information has been turned over to BPS.

Weve provided that information to BPS, of every single male that was scanned in that night.

For privacy reasons, Tycoles said, the bar cant retrieve those images itself, so the business arranged for the company that stores the photos to provide them to police.

Because of the incident, Tycoles said a high-definition facial recognition camera has been added to capture the images of patrons as they leave the bar.

 ihitchen@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @IanHitchen
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OTTAWA  The federal Liberals are facing renewed pressure to offer extended EI benefits to three regions in the West that now meet the governments qualifications.

Internal documents obtained by The Canadian Press explain why certain regions didnt qualify for the help, which was aimed specifically at areas hit hard by a prolonged downturn in commodity prices.

The federal budget gave the extended EI benefits to 12 economic regions of the country, but left out Edmonton, southern Saskatchewan and B.C.s southern interior. All three would now qualify under the governments formula when the latest unemployment figures are taken into account.

St. Catharines, Ont., is one-tenth of a percentage point short of qualifying.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley plans to push Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to extend the package to Edmonton when the Liberal visits Alberta on Friday.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said Thursday the federal government needs to do the right thing.

The original mistake made by the federal government couldve have been fixed without this, but now its even more of a reason that they would want to make the adjustment and extend the benefits to those who are on employment insurance in the areas of our oilpatch, the southeast and the southwest, Wall said.

NDP EI critic Niki Ashton said the issue was about making sure Canadians can access the EI fund that belongs to them. Conservative critic John Barlow said the Liberals should have done more due diligence before making such a unilateral decision.

In the House of Commons, Rodger Cuzner, parliamentary secretary to Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk, said the government was reviewing the latest unemployment figures and the Liberals would respond appropriately.

The federal budget banked $582 million over the next two years to add five weeks of regular benefits to workers in qualifying regions, effective this July but retroactive to January 2015.

Long-tenured workers in the 12 regions identified in the budget could also see an extra 20 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 70 weeks  again, starting this July but retroactive to January of last year.

Qualifying regions had unemployment rates that were at least two per cent higher over three consecutive months between July 2015 and March 2016 from the baseline rate, defined as the lowest unemployment rate recorded between December 2014 and February 2015.

To qualify, regions also had to show no significant signs of recovery, the Employment Canada documents show. That means the unemployment rate after the three-month stretch didnt fall back to within one per cent of the baseline.

St. Catharines had two consecutive months of unemployment two per cent over the baseline and a third at 1.9 per cent over.

University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said at least two more regions, Yellowknife and Thunder Bay, could qualify next month provided the unemployment rate does not drop significantly.

Tombe said the government wasnt transparent enough in its budget for Canadians to understand how the 12 regions were selected, leading places like Edmonton and southern Saskatchewan to feel they were left out for less than objective reasons.

The documents say the recent rise in unemployment in the selected areas has stretched the responsiveness of the EI system. The issue is compounded because new work for jobless oilpatch workers is harder to find when the whole sector is hit.

The government has started fast-tracking EI claims from displaced residents of Fort McMurray and sent Service Canada workers into reception centres and nearby coffee shops to help anyone needing to file a claim.

The government is also moving ahead with a review of EI services to reverse a widely held belief that people arent getting the level of service they expect when they file a claim or call Service Canada with an EI-related question. Figures provided by the department show that in the last year, more than a million callers hung up because they were on hold for too long.

- With files from Jennifer Graham
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TORONTO  A global organization of scientists and bioethicists has released updated guidelines for research using stem cells, the so-called holy grail of regenerative medicine, stressing that the protection of patients must take precedence as the field continues to rapidly evolve.

The guidelines developed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) are aimed at assuring both the medical field and the public that research using these powerhouse cells is conducted with scientific and ethical integrity.

ISSCRs overriding goal is to improve human health through stem cell research, society president Sean Morrison told a media telebriefing Thursday. That means promoting sound and rigorous science as well as accelerating the translation of that research to help patients.

A researcher pulls a frozen vial of human embryonic stem cells at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., in this Oct. 22, 2008 file photo. A global organization of scientists has released updated guidelines for research into stem cells, the so-called ???holy grail??? of regenerative medicine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Paul Sancya

It also means opposing the marketing of unproven stem cell therapies to patients, said Morrison, head of the Childrens Medical Center Research Institute at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Childrens Hospital, said the ISSCR is aware theres an industry already out there that is marketing unproven stem cell therapies directly to patients.

Indeed, there is a growing international medical tourism business, in which patients desperate for treatments for serious or life-threatening illnesses travel to countries where unregulated clinics offer stem cell-based therapies that have not been proven to work and in some cases may be unsafe.

High-profile examples include former hockey great Gordie Howe, who travelled to Mexico in late 2014 for stem cell injections after suffering two debilitating strokes. Family members believe the therapy vastly improved the now 88-year-olds symptoms at the time, although Canadian stem cell experts questioned whether the experimental and unapproved treatment was responsible.

In December, friends of Spirit of the West frontman John Mann, who has early-onset Alzheimers disease, organized a crowdfunding campaign to help the Canadian musician pay for an experimental stem cell treatment not available in Canada or the U.S.

Its facilitated by the Internet, its facilitated by the international scope of medical care, its facilitated by rather weak regulatory structures in some countries and it is part of the concern thats really raised the alarm and is part of the impetus behind having these guidelines, explained Daley, who helped craft the recommendations.

There are many kinds of stem cells in the body, but much of the research focuses on embryonic stem cells and what are known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. Both have the power to give rise to almost any type of cell in the body, from brain and heart to kidneys and bone. But iPSCs are developed from adult tissues like skin cells, which can be chemically manipulated in the lab to return to an embryonic-like state.

While research using stem cells derived from donated embryos is allowed in Canada, the U.S. and several other countries, the guidelines recommend some restrictions.

The ISSCR holds that scientific research on preimplantation-stage human embryos is ethically permissible when performed under rigorous scientific and ethical oversight, especially in the areas of human development, genetic and chromosomal disorders, human reproduction, and new disease therapies, the document states.

However, the group warns against scientists going too far when it comes to the use of new gene-editing tools such as CRISPR/CAS, which allows researchers to remove minute slices of DNA with incredible precision. The technology could be used, for instance, to remove a mutated gene that causes an inherited disease.

This is obviously very important for biomedicine, but it also raises more challenging ethical questions, such as whether we should use the technology to edit embryos, said Daley, whos also a professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard Medical School.

But we draw a very clear distinction given that theres uncertainty about the safety of gene editing of embryos and not yet any kind of social consensus on whether it should be practised.

Although using such tools to modify the genome of human embryos can be used for basic lab-based science to advance biomedical knowledge, Daley said using altered embryos for human reproduction is premature and should be prohibited at this time.

While stem cells hold great promise, with hopes they could some day be harnessed to create replacement organs and cure such conditions as Parkinsons disease, macular degeneration-related blindness, diabetes and spinal cord injuries, the guidelines also caution researchers against hyping their results to the media and public.

Scientists are often very excited by their findings and occasionally scientists and others can overstate either the clinical promise or the timelines needed in order to convert a finding into a clinical application, said Jonathan Kimmelman, a bioethicist at McGill University who chaired the 25-member international task force that updated the previous 2006 and 2008 guidelines.

The guidelines clearly urge scientists to balance their communications with each other, as well as with the public, he said, and to make sure that the projected clinical applications are not unrealistically optimistic.

Rigorously designed patient trials that emphasize the safety and efficacy of any experimental therapy are the gold standard of medical research, and that holds for stem cell research efforts as well, the guidelines stress.

No doubt the path forward will be fraught with setbacks and not all of the clinical trials will work, but we believe that these trials will lead to new insights that will increase our chance of curing some of these diseases, added Morrison, referring to Parkinsons and other debilitating and often life-shortening disorders.

And even if we only succeed some of the time, it will change the world for subsets of patients who are currently beset by these terrible conditions.

Details of the guidelines and related articles were published Thursday in a number of journals, including Nature, Science and the Lancet.

Follow @SherylUbelacker on Twitter.
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MONCTON, N.B.  Wives of two fallen officers left a courtroom disappointed Thursday after the RCMP pleaded not guilty to Labour Code violations stemming from a 2014 shooting rampage targeting Mounties.

At this point were just hoping for a quick resolution, said Angela Gevaudan, whose husband Const. Fabrice Gevaudan was one of three Mounties killed when Justin Bourque began shooting at police in a residential neighbourhood.

It has been a frustrating process, said Nadine Larche, whose husband Const. Doug Larche was killed.

A group of senior RCMP officers, led by Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, centre, head of the RCMP in New Brunswick, arrives at Moncton Law Courts for the sentencing for Justin Bourque in Moncton, N.B., in an October 31, 2014, file photo. The case of alleged Labour Code violations by the RCMP related to the force's response to a June 2014 shooting rampage in Moncton, N.B., is due in court today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Trial was set for April 17, 2017. The RCMP are accused of four violations relating to the forces equipment, training and supervision.

The charges allege the RCMP failed to provide members with the appropriate equipment, information, instruction and training in an active shooter event, and failed to provide supervisors with appropriate information and instruction or training in an active shooter event.

The matter is going to go to trial and the RCMP is going to contest the allegations, said defence lawyer Mark Ertel Thursday.

In August 2014, two months after the shootings, Bourque pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for killing Gevaudan and Larche as well as Const. Dave Ross, while constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were wounded.

Bourque was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 75 years.

The RCMP had been expected to enter pleas and set a trial date during a court appearance in Moncton last month, but defence lawyer Ian Carter says the Crown and defence needed more time to discuss narrowing the issues in the case. They also talked about the possibility of achieving a resolution.

But instead, Ertel entered pleas of not guilty on Thursday. Outside the court, Ertel said the lawyers will meet for a pre-trial conference in January to try to condense the proceedings.

Maybe to streamline the procedure and to fine tune the time estimate which is now three months, and it could be shortened if we could come together on some parts of the case, Ertel said.

A review of the shootings said officers responding to the shootings faced a litany of problems that included communicating accurate information, accessing high-powered weaponry and securing protective equipment.

Bourque, 26, used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot the five officers in the city, and set off a 30-hour manhunt that drew in officers from around the region.
Opinion

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This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wow.

This time last week we were all watching the first videos of the fires coming into Fort McMurray. It was disastrous, ferocious, amazing and traumatic.

I remember watching a Global news reporter simply trying to report on the voluntary evacuation due to the closeness of the fire to the outer limits of the city. As the fire moved 18 feet per second  a rate so fast trees didnt just catch fire, they exploded  I watched live on air as his producer told him in his earpiece that the evacuation was upgraded from voluntary to compulsory.

And then, like 90 000 others, he got outta there  and fast. What followed were pictures and video, mainly shared on social media, that took our breath away. And it was shared again and again and again.

We had never seen anything like this before, and the virality of the video made it powerful to share nationwide, and then internationally.

Moving pictures, or video, in their absolute power to convey the dramatic reflection of the seriousness and peril of the situation, moved people emotionally. People across Westman and across Canada felt hopeless as we watched tens of thousands of people flee, many losing their homes and everything in them.

We wanted to help. We were so emotionally moved by the massive impact of the fire on so many, we needed to reach out to our fellow Canadians. And while many people donated to the Red Cross relief effort (now up to $60 million), with the federal and Alberta governments matching donations dollar for dollar, others were having food drives, goods drives, bake sales, haircut-a-thons and anything else a-thon that could be brought together or collected or gifted to the victims of the Fort McMurray fire disaster.

We had one caller to the radio station listening as he crossed into Manitoba from Saskatchewan on his way back to the East Coast with his family, after evacuating Fort Mac. Listening to all the plans for helping the fire victims being done in the listening area was overwhelming to him and his family.

And while many people and businesses continue to help, theres something we all need to remember when natural disaster strikes  cash is king, even in developing countries when earthquakes strike.

Now before Im accused of not supporting those collecting blankets, water, diapers and dog food, I want to be clear. I have supported any and all efforts to help the people of Fort McMurray, both personally and professionally.

And there is no such thing as a bad effort or bad help. In fact, collecting items can often help us feel better, too.

Remember I said the video of the fire was not only traumatic to those experiencing it. It is traumatic for those of us watching it  for some of us because we know people there, some have friends and family there, and some just cant take the images of families becoming refugees in their own country.

But I digress. I will continue to support any and all efforts to assist in the recovery and rebuilding of Fort McMurray, but I will say it again  if you can give anything to help victims of this or any disaster, it is always better to give money.

We know supplies like extra clothes, blankets and non-perishable food items are needed after a disaster. But we are wrong to think that the best way to get those goods to the victims of a disaster is by donating them ourselves.

In fact, by taking the great initiative to collect, pack and ship donations to a disaster area, we are risking making life more difficult for the overwhelmed relief workers and volunteers on the ground.

Im not saying this has happened in Alberta, because I have not seen it first-hand. But it is good advice to heed, and something we may want to think about when we want to help.

Fundraisers are great because they do something that brings in money to be donated. Dance-a-thons, walk-a-thons and haircut-a-thons are also great because the end result is money, which does the most good in the quickest way.

Please be careful collecting this stuff:

Blankets  A warm cozy blanket seems like the next best thing to a hug, but they are seldom in short supply. Relief organizations buy blankets directly from suppliers. They are clean, organized and ready for easy dispersal. Plus theyll get them cheaper than you ever will thanks to bulk discounts and corporate donations.

Pet food and supplies  The Humane Society of Canada will take your money and donate it to a country halfway around the world suffering a natural disaster. Or they can help in Alberta. If you want to help animals, dont send heavy bags of pet food and litter. Donate money to the Humane Society, or shelters near disaster areas (the Edmonton Humane Society, for example).

Non-perishable food and water  Yes, we all need food and water, especially in a disaster, but remember, every box of donations has to be opened, inspected and sorted. Food requires much closer inspection that other donations, because cans could be expired or damaged, at which point they become a health risk. Then the food needs to be organized, repackaged and distributed to those who need it the most. Experts say better yet, give to your local food bank, so they are well-stocked for emergencies, and once again, donate money to disaster relief organizations. Much like blankets, they will buy water and food in bulk at a massive discount, and help support the local economy, which is also recovering.

Volunteering at the disaster site  This can really complicate or even hinder response and recovery operations already underway. Disaster areas are often low on food and lodging. And goodwilled people who dont know where theyre doing or simply get in the way of professionals can do more harm than good. However, if you are trained and certified and want to volunteer to help, the best thing to do is affiliate with a national organization that is qualified to work with disaster response.

Watch for scams  Beware of phoney charitable organizations trying to scam you. Be careful about emails that solicit donations on behalf of people claiming to be victims, since they could contain viruses. You can always check the validity of charities online, and you can always trust the Canadian Red Cross.

Again, help is help and all help is good. It comes from the heart, and we all need to keep helping.

But we have also had people help us in time of need who have also contributed to the overwhelming circumstance of the need for help. Sometimes people who try and help us can make it worse.

Theyre not doing that on purpose. They just dont know what theyre supposed to do. And their heart aches to help in any way they can, so they do what comes naturally, and thats to give gifts of love.

Just remember, sometimes the greatest gifts of all is financing those professionals who can help best.

JOKE THIS WEEK

No joke this week. I promise I will have one next week. I am truly blessed by the number of people who tell me how much they love reading this column each week, especially the joke. If you like the joke, or maybe you just like reading it, please find it in your heart to donate $5 to the Red Cross relief effort. And I will promise to try and keep you smiling each week.

BIRTHDAYS

Kristie Wright  Samantha Krystal Shupe  Rayna Reimer  Missy Lindsay  Trisha Kerr  Dawn Hagman  Ashley Fisher  Jaycee Castle  Leslie Bryde  Faith Whetter

 Tyler Glen is a radio DJ on Star-FM. He writes a weekly column for the Brandon Sun. Twitter: @Tyler_Glen
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Being an indigenous person in Canada is too often a dangerous reality. But it doesnt have to be this way.

The tragic reality is that the health of Canadas indigenous people lags substantially behind other Canadians. The well-documented data shows the problem across all major illnesses and all age groups.

Infectious diseases remain a major source of illness among indigenous populations. Tuberculosis is epidemic in many communities. Seasonal respiratory viruses are a common cause of serious illness and death among babies and youth.

Chronic illness, like diabetes, is rampant, and too often escalates to a need for dialysis and limb amputation.

Mental health issues and suicide outbreaks have recently been in the news in communities like Attawapiskat and Pimicikamak, and they arent alone  such crises happen far too often in indigenous communities across Canada.

The problems are also not new, and while Canada has been good at documenting health crises and collecting evidence, weve been poor at doing anything about it.

What we know is that much of the serious health issues in indigenous populations is related to what researchers like to call the social determinants of health  low levels of employment, crowded living conditions and limited access to quality education. Indigenous health is also impacted by environmental factors and underperforming health and social services.

So who is responsible and what can be done?

The federal government provides services such as health and education to indigenous peoples as a constitutional responsibility and through a series of treaties and acts. The recent Supreme Court ruling (Daniels vs. Canada) confirmed that this responsibility now includes Metis people and so-called non-status Indians.

Canada has too often dealt in colonial terms with indigenous peoples, undervaluing, oppressing and discriminating against them  leaving deep scars. More recently,

the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has described a shameful era of government intent and church-sponsored support for what has now, accurately, been described as cultural genocide.

The future, however, could  and should  be a promising one. The demographic of indigenous peoples is young in relation to the rest of Canada. And indigenous young people are increasing and achieving higher levels of education. They also have high expectations of joining growing, committed and increasingly politically astute and (critically effective) communities.

Canada should not waste the potential of these youth by repeating mistakes of the past.

Health care is in general a provincial responsibility. But the shared involvement of two levels of government in health policy has been in part defined by two Health Accords (2003, 2004) focused on mutually agreeable priority areas, such as primary care, mental health, wait times and home care. The new Liberal government has signalled an interest in discussing a future accord.

Indigenous health should be our shared provincial-federal priority going forward.

Any new accord should do two things:

First, a substantive fiscal transfer from the federal government to the provinces is required to focus on health-care access, primary care, mental health and chronic disease management in indigenous populations.

<t-5>Ten years ago, the Kelowna Accord committed $5.1 billion of new federal investments in social development, including $1.3 billion just for health care. The accord was never implemented, making the gap even wider and the situation more desperate. The Kelowna financial framework should be urgently updated and translated into concrete initiatives in support of indigenous social and

health policies.<t-6>

Second, uncertainty over responsibility for indigenous health needs to end. All levels of government need to agree on objectives and goals, but program control should be given directly to indigenous peoples.

This can be accomplished through the establishment of indigenous health authorities. Several successful models exist around the world and in Canada. In British Columbia, for example, the First Nation Health Authority is in its early stages, but it is a step in the right direction despite a limited mandate that doesnt address all health and social needs.

The federal government and the provinces need to make indigenous health an urgent priority. It would be a prudent investment in everyones future Canada. Time is up.

 Brian Postl is an adviser with EvidenceNetwork.ca and dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and vice-provost, University of Manitoba. He is also chair of Research Manitoba. Pierre-Gerlier Forest is director of the School of Public Policy and Jack E. Palmer Chair in public policy at the University of Calgary.

 Troy Media
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thanks for thinking of us on Mothers Day

I just wanted to thank Memories Chapel for the roses they handed out to the people visiting loved ones at the Brandon Cemetery on Mothers Day. They not only gave me a rose to place on my moms grave, they gave me a rose as well. It brought tears to my eyes for the kindness they showed. Thank you so much.

Whats ahead for Albertas future

While the fires in northern Alberta continue to rage, we are starting to hear talk of rebuilding, thankfully. However, to me, this seems like the perfect opportunity to diversify and rebuild the Alberta economy, which the NDP promised to do. With a quarter of Canadas oil production offline, now is the time to be bold and rebuild Fort McMurrays oil industry, but also supplement it with something else. Nows the time  lets not squander this opportunity.

Just no pleasing some drivers

Some Brandon drivers cant deal with four-way stops and want them eliminated, others cant deal with the same traffic lane that is both for turning and non-turning and want them changed and of course those drivers that cant negotiate traffic circles and ridicule them and want them abolished. All of the above are tried and true efficient methods of traffic control. I think it is about time that the opinions of these drivers  regarding the best way to control traffic  should not be taken seriously and certainly never implemented.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The largest majority in modern Manitoba history takes its seat Monday in the legislature. Forty Tory MLAs square off against 14 New Democrats and three Liberals. It will be the first opportunity to observe the new political constellation in action.

Premier Brian Pallisters Progressive Conservatives, many of whom are rookies, are still learning the rules of legislative protocol, with cabinet ministers facing an even steeper learning curve. Nevertheless, the Tories have numbers on their side and are likely to take control of the civil service and the agenda quickly.

The real question is whether the opposition will be up to the task of holding the government to account and serving as the official watchdog for the public interest.

Of the surviving NDP MLAs, just three can be expected to offer a serious challenge to the government in the short term. Former premier Greg Selinger will be familiar with every file, particularly finance. Former cabinet ministers Andrew Swan and James Allum should be effective, too. The rest of the NDP crew, however, is either inexperienced or ineffective right now, although that may change over time.

As for the Liberals, with just three seats, they arent even an official party. That means the Liberals do not qualify for research funds, and will have limited opportunities to question the government during question period. Plus, the party is leaderless, despite Rana Bokharis claim she will stay on until a new leader is selected. Without a seat or even a party salary after

June 1, Ms. Bokhari is unlikely to be a strong voice at the legislature.

That means the job is up to former Liberal leader Jon Gerrard, who was first elected in 1999 and has considerable institutional depth and knowledge. His two colleagues, Cindy Lamoureux and Judy Klassen, are unknown quantities at this point, with limited political experience.

The bottom line: dont expect the opposition to be firing on all cylinders when the session begins.

Thats a concern because parliamentary government depends on an effective opposition. Government backbenchers do not serve as watchdogs, leaving only opposition MLAs to stand guard and scrutinize government operations.

Some observers, however, say opposition parties are not nearly as relevant today as they were 50 years ago.

Political scientist David E. Smith says the opposition role has moved from legislatures to social media and special interest groups, which play a larger role in shaping and informing debate.

In Across the Aisle: Opposition in Canadian Politics, Mr. Smith says Parliament is no longer the indisputable centre of Canadian political life. And the days when the opposition was the principal participant in parliamentary matters have also ended, he says.

The apparent weakening of opposition parties, however, is hardly something to be celebrated.

Among other things, legislatures exist to provide a forum for debate and discussion on the important issues of the day. A vibrant, intelligent opposition is important to that process. Without it, legislatures become nothing more than a place where laws and regulations receive rubber stamps.

Thats why the new Liberal and NDP MLAs who take their seats Monday need to understand their roles are critical to the proper functioning and legitimacy of the entire system.

And if the new political landscape in Manitoba does not generate healthy debate, then the blame will have to fall on the MLAs and the people who elected them.

As they say, we are stuck with the government  and opposition  we elect.

 Winnipeg Free Press
CityJet is to discontinue its service from Cork to London City Airport from June 26, just eight months after its launch.

The airline said that there was not enough demand for the service to make it commercially viable.

Pat Byrne, CityJets Executive Chairman said: "All the indicators suggested there would be strong support from both business and leisure communities, especially in view of the very significant convenience of City Airport due to its close proximity to the City of London and indeed the West End.

"There is a cost of this convenience as London City is probably one of the more expensive airports in Europe for airlines from an operational standpoint.

"Unfortunately, with the route now in its eighth month of operation, we have been unable to achieve our passenger load factor and average fare targets. Consequently, our 18 weekly flights failed to gain a market foothold sufficiently to ensure a continuity of this service."

Cork Airport expressed its disappointment at today's announcement.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, said: "Its very disappointing that CityJet has decided to discontinue its innovative London City route having invested significantly to develop the market over the past eight months.

"They are a great airline customer and we welcome the continuance of their summer season services to Nantes and La Rochelle as well as the Menorca charter service."

CityJet however said it is firmly committed to operating its new summer routes from Cork to La Rochelle and Nantes and its charter series to Menorca.

Mr Byrne said he is convinced that there are good potential opportunities for CityJet at Cork and that the airline will continue to assess the market in the region and pursue other opportunities if and when they arise.

CityJet said it will be in direct contact with all affected passengers who have booked on its website or through the CityJet Contact Centre so they can avail of a full refund.

Anyone with queries can contact the airline on 01-5251823 (Ireland), 0207 660 6060 (UK) or customersupport@cityjet.com

Customers who booked via a travel agency will be contacted directly by their agency.

Following today's news, Aer Lingus launched fares of 35.99 for travel from Cork to Heathrow in June, July and August.

Aer Lingus operates four times a day from Cork to London Heathrow all year round.

Aer Lingus Chief Commercial Officer, Keith Butler said: "Today's announcement of the suspension of the Cork to London City service serves as a reminder of the challenges facing all stakeholders in making new routes successful.

"While the suspension is disappointing news for the Cork and Munster region, Aer Lingus is committed to serving the London market."

Ryanair have also announced a 16.99 seat sale on its flights from Cork to London Gatwick and London Stansted.

The seats are available for travel in June, but must be booked on the Ryanair.com website by Sunday, May 15.
Thursday 12

Las Vegas Law (Investigation Discovery 8pm) I feel bad for Investigation Discovery. Theyre basically the 24/7 COPS network, but without actual COPS. Its like the TV equivalent of a knockoff Disney store in Thailand filled with Mickey Moose dolls.

Friday 13

Just Let Go: Lenny Kravitz Live (Showtime 6pm) With Prince now shuffled off this mortal coil, it falls to lesser shoulders to carry the sexy funk-rock burden.

Saturday 14

Apple & Onion (Cartoon Network 12:30pm) After several years as a storyboard illustrator on Gumball, George Gendi gets his own show about food-based best friends.

Tulips in Spring (Hallmark 7pm) When a young interior designer (Fiona Gubelmann from Wilfred) learns her father has broken his leg, she rushes home to rural Washington because her help is desperately needed at the family tulip farm. Will she choose love and farming or the big-city life? I wonder.

My Floating Home (FYI 8:30pm) Are you talking fancy houseboats or single-family dwellings in Houston?

Death Force (TCM 12am) TCM digs deep for this grindhouse/ blaxploitation film. Filipino director Ciro H. Santiago made almost 100 bargain basement action films, including this 1978 revenge flick starring Leon Isaac Kennedy (from the cult-hit Penitentiary series) and his wife, former Miss Ohio Jayne Kennedy.

Sunday 15

United Shades of America (CNN 8pm) Having hung out with KKK members in the South, comedian W. Kamau Bell heads to Camden, N.J. to talk to some trigger-happy policemen for his new documentary series.

Map of Hell (National Geographic 7pm) Host Danny Trejo (whoa, really?) sets out to discover the origins of the concept of Hell.

Monday 16

Mike & Molly (KRQE-13 7:30pm) Melissa McCarthy/Billy Gardells romantic sitcom goes off the air after six seasons and roughly 10,000 fat jokes.

Gotham (KASA-2 7pm) Well, its about time! Mad scientist Dr. Hugo Strange finally brings fan fave villain Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) back to life. Hopefully this will inject some life back into the show as well.

Tuesday 17

Megyn Kelly Presents (KASA-2 7pm) Donald Trumps favorite journalist gets her own celebrity interview show on FOX.

Coupled (KASA-2 8pm) Single women in bikinis compete for the attentions of various buff dudes in FOX umpteeth attempt to marry off every straight person in America.

Wednesday 18

Genius By Stephen Hawking (KNME-5 8pm) Super brainiac Stephen Hawking explains various scientific concepts to us mere mortalssuch as tonights premiere episode in which we learn why we can or cannot time travel.

Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives (Showtime 7pm) This musical documentary traces the impact of what has been called the best hip-hop radio show of all time, the Stretch and Bobbito Show on New Yorks WKCR. The film is directed by DJ Bobbito Garcia, though, and he may be a bit biased.

Blue Collar Backers (Discovery 8pm) Think Shark Tank but with less popular sharks. You know, like nurse sharks, carpet sharks, that kinda thing.
A Maynooth restaurant's gesture to an 12-year-old boy and his family has gone viral this week after being shared on Facebook.

Darach, whose dad is musician Colm Mac Con Iomaire, has Fragile X Syndrome - a genetic condition that causes learning disabilities, extreme social anxiety and autism.

His mother, Sheila MacNally, runs a Facebook page about Darach's Assistance Dog, Cassie and the difference she makes to their lives. Darach can easily be overwhelmed by sensory overload or anxiety and go into 'fight or flight' mode where he would panic and run away. Cassie helps by tethering him and Sheila says she is a hugely calming influence.

And this post from earlier in the week about a waiter's random act of kindness has had a particular impact on readers.

After a successful trip to see a play in Dublin and a visit to an aunt, Sheila, Colm, Darach and younger brother Oisin decided to stop for food in Bistro 53 in Maynooth on the way home with Cassie in tow.

And while things started off well, there was a blip when Cassie knocked over a glass of juice:

Darach always has an orange juice when we eat out, it's just part of the deal and it arrived swiftly. All good so far. But as we were ordering our food Cassie stretched under the table, knocked it a little and the whole glass of juice tipped into Darachs lap!

He lost it immediately, straight into meltdown, hitting his head and crying. Our first concern is that he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else and only then do we become aware of other people's reactions Thankfully he calmed down quickly and the waiter produced a replacement juice with a strawberry perched on the edge like a cocktail to jazz it up."

Colm, Darach and Roy Keane at an Irish Guide Dogs photocall

Sheila writes that they then ate quickly, with their eye on the clock and says they were all exhausted when it came to ask for the bill.

And thats when the waiter, Alex, surprised the family with a lovely gesture - he was going to cover the cost of their meal.

"I had to ask the waiter to repeat himself twice when he replied that he was going to pay for everything- I was sure I was hearing him wrong! But his colleague too insisted the delicious meal was on them."

Sheila says that while that meant a lot to them, what the waiter said next was even more touching.

"He looked me in the eyes and said "I want you to know you can always come here to our restaurant. Come back any time and you will always be welcome."

Sheila explained in the post why his words ended up bringing tears to her eyes:

"Navigating the world with someone with special needs can make you excruciatingly self conscious of others reactions and judgements but they made sure we knew it was ok to be out in a nice restaurant even when we're a bit ragged, need to bring an assistance dog, with a risk of inappropriate behaviours and public meltdown. "

They left what cash they had to cover the cost of the ingredients of the meal but Sheila says she is delighted "the post has got so much attention - as the saying goes- "So shines a good deed in a weary world" and promise that they will return when theyre next in the area.

As will many others, we imagine.

For more info on the work Irish Guide Dogs do, visit their website here
A 51-year-old man has been arrested over a paramilitary-style shooting in Belfast.

The victim was shot a number of times in an alleyway in the north of the city on May 9.

Detective Inspector Nigel Snoddy said: "A man in his 20s sustained a number of gunshot wounds in the attack which took place in an alleyway between Sheridan Street and Donore Court in the early hours of the morning."

Police arrested the man in the greater Belfast area on Thursday evening. He is currently in custody.
A judge has ruled that those facing charges arising from a water protest in Jobstown in Dublin will be tried in separate groups.

TD Paul Murphy is among 16 people facing various charges including false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage after the then-Tanaiste Joan Burton was allegedly trapped in her car for a number of hours in November 2014.
Update 12.40am: The chief executive of Nama has said that there is an issue with developers hoarding land waiting for a better return.

Brendan McDonagh's told the Housing and Homlessness Committee that since the start of 2014, they have sold land that could provide up to 20,000 units - but just 5% of that has so far been delivered.

He said that while there are a number of issues around planning and the density of housing, he believes owners and developers are waiting for a better return.

One of the biggest issues, and I know the Committee has discussed this, looking at your transcripts, really is that there is an issue with people buying land, effectively looking for a higher rate of return.

That has to be a big feature in my view.

Earlier: The chairman of Nama has said anyone who thinks that the agency can solve the housing crisis alone is mistaken.

Frank Daly told the Housing and Homelessness committee today that 88% of its housing stock has been sold to individuals and not vulture funds.

He also warned that the vast majority of the 6,000 housing units in Nama's portfolio are already occupied.

Mr Daly said that Nama's plan to deliver 20,000 units by 2020, will only be one part of the solution.

"Any analysis that claims that we can deliver all the homes that people need is mistaken," he said.

"That 20,000 represents about one fifth of the estimated 100,000 units demanded between now and 2020.

"So other players will have to make a contribution. We want to get more people into more homes, and we've every confidence that we will do so."
A former National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) official has been handed a two-year suspended sentence for passing on confidential information.

Enda Farrell, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, was responsible for the valuation of properties taken on by the agency.

This case was the first of its kind to become before the courts.

Farrell pleaded guilty to eight charges under a part of the NAMA Act, that makes it illegal to disclose confidential information - an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The court heard he was transferred to NAMA in 2009 and had access to a huge volume of confidential information.

It was his job to put a value on properties transferred to the agency.

Before leaving for another job in February 2012, he e-mailed the information to a third party business account. It was then forwarded onto his own personal account, from which he sent it to two investment companies.

It contained valuations from 2009 for NAMA controlled properties transferred from the likes of the Harcourt Doherty Group, the Cosgrove Group and the O'Flynn Group Tiger Developments.

It also contained valuations for a German portfolio containing around 25 properties, another portfolio containing hundreds of hotels and information relating to the loans of developer Paddy McKillen.

The information was described as "potentially commercially valuable" but the court heard he did not make anything out of the disclosure and NAMA was not at a loss because of it.

When asked why he did it, he later told gardai he was actually trying to advance NAMA's position and spoke about the stress he was under in the job - working 12 hour shifts, seven days a week.

At last month's sentence hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor heard he cooperated fully with gardai and even travelled back from Brussels voluntarily to answer questions.

The court heard of the devastating effect it has had on his life.

He is out of work and his career prospects were described as "bleak" as a result of what he did.

Without his mitigation, Judge O'Connor said the court would have considered a three-year sentence.

Before handing down a two-year sentence, which she suspended in full, she also said she would have taken a very different view if he had materially benefited from the crime.
Sinn Fein's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty believes the current government will last for less than two years.

The Opposition party said that it does not have faith in the arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

Fine Gael is relying on Fianna Fail to support its minority government, by abstaining in Dail votes.

Sinn Fein said that it does not think that a radical shift in Irish politics has taken place since the last General Election to allow the historically rival parties to co-operate effectively with each other.

Sinn Fein's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty said when he thought voters would be going back to the polls.

"I think that would probably be within a year, year-and-a-half," he said.

"The reality is, I think, that we expect there will be an election within a short period of time.

"I don't believe the sincerity of Fianna Fail in relation to this issue, I don't believe the politics is all changed, I don't think that's the case.

"There's huge political and ideological issues that have to be debated, and will continue to be debated.

"The idea that we will all sit down and hold hands around the Dail Chamber is ridiculous."
The National Bus and Rail Workers Union has suspended a ballot for industrial action at Irish Rail ahead of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Iarnroid Eireann has confirmed it will also attend the WRC talks tomorrow.

The union and the company are currently locked in a dispute over the introduction of a 10 minute DART timetable.

General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said: "The NBRU welcomes the fact that Irish Rail have agreed to attend at the WRC on Friday.

"We have always held the view that our jointly agreed negotiating procedures allow for either or both parties to refer contentious issues to the industrial relations third party state institutions for conciliation.

"We, for our part, have demonstrated our commitment to effecting service improvement by including the potential provision of the 10-minute Dart Service in our referral to the WRC.

"It would be prudent of Irish Rail to reciprocate by embracing an all-encompassing agenda, inclusive of discussions on reversing pay cuts and a long overdue pay rise for all rail workers."

Mr OLeary went on to say that the move sends a clear message to Irish Rail and the new Minister that the union prefers to "engage, discuss and negotiate".

He said: "Whilst engaging in industrial action is a fundamental right, it is very much a last resort."
The French government could pass a new law giving employees the right to ignore work emails outside working hours.

The move is aimed at helping workers to achieve a better work/life balance under the 'Right to disconnect' provisions.
NEW YORK: Gold prices rose more than 1% on Friday, on track for a weekly rise, as the dollar turned negative, with...
MANILA: The use of LNG imports for power generation in the Philippines next year should not be a disincentive for...
NEW YORK: Earnings reports from the four biggest US companies by market capitalization in the coming week may test a...
LONDON: Penny Mordaunt, one of two candidates to be Britains next prime minister, is still in the leadership race...
Most people know Lisa Wilkinson for being in front of the camera as host of the Today show, but Canberra breast cancer survivor Marina McDonald is one of few people who has first-hand experience of her work behind the lens as a photographer.

The TV show host, and self-confessed "photography nut", photographed Ms McDonald after her double mastectomy for the Canon Shine project in 2014.

Canberra breast cancer survivor and photographer Marina McDonald with daughter Sydney Dayal, 7, at home in Yarralumla. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

And now the tables have turned again, with Ms McDonald, now a professional photographer, returning the favour with a portrait of Wilkinson.

Posing for Wilkinson in 2014 reignited Ms McDonald's passion for photography and led to her starting a business with her brother while pursuing personal projects featuring her children Sydney and Noah Dayal.
That file is now posted at Thingiverse ("a universe of things"), a Brooklyn (New York) based website https://www.thingiverse.com dedicated to the sharing of user-created digital design files. As we write, this picture of the little blue model of a Canberra bus shelter (for anyone to paint in the true colours of the shelters on the national capital's streets), and the design for its 3D creation, is being shared by those people of the universe attuned to Thingiverse.

"devdsp", a member of the "Thingiverse community" saw our most recent piece in praise of the brutalist, or "bunker" bus shelters and was beguiled. He or she moved quickly to create a file that enables those who have a lasercutter, 3D printer or CNC to make their own model of a Canberra bus shelter.

Two of this column's very recent and critically acclaimed items have discussed, respectively, 3D printing and Canberra's unique-to-Canberra bus shelters. And now those two seemingly very different subjects have achieved a kind of topic marriage.

Model made by 3D printing of Canberra bus shelter. Credit:Thingiverse.

We remind readers that our aforementioned reference to 3D printing came in an item that allowed us to use a hard-to-forget image of a new orangutan (three-quarters finished) being made by 3D printing. It, and the two other images in the series (showing a new whale and a new elephant being made in the same way) have just been created by creative studio Young & Rubicam of Paris to serve a conservation campaign for the International League of Animal Welfare. The images come with the wistful message "If only they were this easy to reproduce", lamenting the way in which loss of wildlife is irrevocable and beyond any quick fix.

Yes, and if only Greek cafes and milk bars, once abundant in Australia but now fading away, were that easy to reproduce. As previously reported here, a new book Greek Cafes and Milk Bars Of Australia celebrates the importance of those special premises. Australians alive and dining in the heyday of the milkshake, remember them with fondness. Our 1930s picture, from the book, (look at the uniforms!) is of the Golden Star milk bar in Perth.

John Howard, of O'Connor, noticing our items, reminisces that "To country people the Greek cafe was a haven in town after a day shopping, attending a cattle sale or the barber, then requesting a mixed grill and a pot of tea."

"The plate was large and had no room for anything else on it but the grill which consisted of a beef steak, lamb shop, sausage, kidney, bacon, fried egg and tomato and a slice of toast. That with a few cups of tea were guaranteed to sustain us for the [sometimes long] drive home."
A rival developer has moved to fast-track a shopping centre planned for Denman Prospect in the Molonglo Valley following delays to the construction of a shopping centre in the neighbouring suburb of Coombs.

Capital Estates Developments managing director Stephen Byron said the Denman Prospect shops were originally planned to be opened in 2019 but he was confident they would now be opened by late 2017.

Bulldozers work last year on the early stages of laying out Denman Prospect.

Mr Byron said the move to speed up the Denman Prospect shops was a direct response to delays affecting the start of construction to the Coombs shopping centre, with its developer, Renato Cervo, still trying to get approval for its design from the Environment and Planning Directorate.

Mr Cervo had hoped to have the Coombs centre open this winter but has had his development application for the project knocked back twice by the directorate and a stop-work order placed over the site by Access Canberra until approvals are given.
The first two Syrian refugees of the 250 slated to come to Canberra under the Federal government's special intake of 12,000 have arrived in the city.

Community Services Minister Yvette Berry has welcomed the pair, believed to be an adult mother and daughter, to the ACT and said the territory was ready, willing and able to take more.

Syrian refugee boys await approval to enter Jordan. Credit:AP

"The ACT has recently welcomed two Syrian refugees to Canberra under the additional intake of 250 refugees through the Commonwealth government's resettlement program," she said.

"Along with the community, we are ready to take more Syrian refugees when asked to do so by the Commonwealth."
The new head of ANZ Bank's institutional business said he's not done with job cuts after the lender parted ways with more than 20 per cent of its top executives at the unit.

Mark Whelan, who took over the role in February, also said he plans to reduce risky assets in the division, which provides financial solutions to large companies, by 16 per cent, or $30 billion, in three years as part of a broader strategy of increasing return on equity.

The bank plans to reduce risky assets after its push into Asia, with more job cuts to come. Credit:Glenn Hunt

"We had built a model that was not right for current markets and our bank," Whelan said in an interview. "If we are going to simplify the organisation, it has to start at the top and filter lower. Most of the pain has been taken at the senior level and also at the middle level as we had built it for a global bank instead of a regional bank."

The cuts come as the Melbourne-based lender retreats from a seven-year push into Asia that was aimed at competing with banks such as HSBC Holdings and Citigroup. The expansion, while boosting revenue, saw ANZ 's return on equity diluted as loan margins fell and costs rose, forcing a rethink.
ExxonMobil's Altona oil refinery has defied the decline of Australian manufacturing and is set to grow production of petroleum products by almost 13 per cent.

A $20 million investment will see a pre-distillation stage added to one of the existing crude oil units at Altona, and will enable the refinery to grow its production of premium products.

ExxonMobil's Altona Refinery is defying the challenges and will grow production by close to 13 per cent. Credit:Luis Ascui

Production of diesel and jet fuel will increase as the refinery continues to chase the trend for motorists to prefer premium fuels, which are also the highest yielding products for oil companies.

Andrew Warrell, Exxon's refining manager for Australia and New Zealand, said the production growth would reverse the cuts that were made when the refinery was struggling to survive a decade ago.
It was classic Malcolm Turnbull, during his raging years around the sharemarket in the 1980s and 1990s, when he made a motza moving in and out of sharemarket situations, often in the shifting sands of the media landscape, and then as a mining promoter, which is an old standby for many of the country's money men over the years.

There was a play in logging concessions in the Solomon Islands which generated a handy $5 million profit for Turnbull and his mates, before moving on. And his play in Star Mining - where he was active with his one time business partner Alan Doyle -was fairly typical. Both have surfaced over their involvement with Star Mining in the latest release of Panama Papers, which listed business people who had various dealings through central American tax havens.

Star Mining generated an 80 per cent return for Turnbull and Doyle in a matter of months, according to press reports in the early 1990s. Turnbull garnered investor support for Star Mining, which at the time boasted a stake in a large alluvial gold venture in Siberia. Hopeful reports at the time claimed the company was expecting soon to pay a dividend, and had plans to expand its mine to a level of between 2 million and 2.5 million ounces a year. That got some big names involved, including Bankers Trust Australia, Mercury Asset Management of the UK and the AMP Society.
There is a very fine line between genuine unpaid educational or vocational work and legally impermissible unpaid labour. Conveniently for the government, the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) is silent on the definition of "intern" and does not adequately define "vocational placement", meaning there is potential for unprincipled employers to avoid compliance with workplace protections, like paying youth jobseekers a minimum wage.

A recent case demonstrates the program's potential illegality. The Fair Work Ombudsman prosecuted Crocmedia Pty Ltd for failing to pay award rates to two interns who participated in ongoing work experience. The court held that the "vocational placement" exception, which releases employers from an obligation to comply with workplace protections, was less likely to apply where interns were engaged for a significant amount of time and where they were expected to produce work that contributed to the commercial prosperity of the business.

Justice Riethmuller warned that penalties "are likely to increase significantly over time" with public exposure, meaning employers cannot rely on ignorance to excuse contraventions. Crocmedia were ultimately fined $24,000.

Under the program, businesses need only demonstrate a "reasonable prospect of a job" instead of an actual job at the end of the "internship" period to qualify for government incentives.

As 7-Eleven and other employment scandals revealed over the past year show, the perfect storm of improper regulation, oppressive franchise agreements, the prospect of significant commercial gains and vulnerable, culturally and linguistically diverse, non-unionised workers, means that businesses can and do act unethically and unlawfully. Businesses stand to gain significant sums in return for taking on "interns" under the program, with no tangible obligation to keep them at the end of the period. With the lack of jobs in the current market, what this really means is that businesses will get to exploit the cheap labour of program participants because the program does not create an employment relationship, meaning they will be outside the scope of the Fair Work Act's protection.
Harry Wu 19372016

Harry Wu was brutalised for 19 years in Communist Chinese prison labour camps, and ever since refused to let the world overlook human rights violations in his former homeland.

Harry Wu in Melbourne. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Wu, the son of a wealthy Roman Catholic family from Shanghai, 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.'"
We commend the Palaszczuk government for the steps it has taken to address the archaic time limits that currently prevent survivors of historic child abuse from accessing justice through the civil courts.

This week, it indicated for the very first time that it was open to changing the state time limitation laws for victims of child sexual abuse.

The time has come for Queensland to come in line with the other states on abuse victims. Credit:iStock

It's vital that these conversations continue, and that words are converted into action, action that ensures that no further abuse survivors are denied access to justice for crimes committed against them in their childhood.

I have represented hundreds of these courageous men and women, and have been fortunate enough to sit with them, and hear their stories. I've listened to them describe their fear; of speaking out, of not being believed, of being ignored or blamed. This fear kept them silent.
VISUAL ARTS

LAND OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE  ARTHUR STREETON in the Western District

Until June 13

JAM FACTORY ICON  GILES BETTISON: PATTERN AND PERCEPTION

Until May 29

Geelong Art Gallery, Little Malop Street, Geelong

For city dwellers, the chromatic richness of even the most unprepossessing bit of Australian bush can be a profound experience: the visual pleasure in subtle details of rocks, leaf and bark, and the heady feeling of light and space, can result in non-specific feelings of loss and longing.

Cliff and Ocean Blue, 1932, oil on canvas by Arthur Streeton, from the Geelong Art Gallery collection. Credit:George Stawicki

Just such awareness of an almost national estrangement from remote Australia figures in separate shows of work, on concurrent display for just a short time.

Tonal colourist Arthur Streeton (1867-1943) achieved early success as one of the Heidelberg School of Australian Impressionists, was an official war artist in Europe during World War I, won the Wynne Prize for landscape painting in 1928 (for Afternoon Light, Goulburn Valley) and was knighted for his services to art in 1937.
In what might be the most challenging work at this year's Next Wave Festival, Sydney-based performance artist Nat Randall's The Second Woman is an ambitious and durational work spanning 24 continuous hours.

A "cinematic performance experiment", it's inspired by a single scene in the 1977 John Cassavetes cult film Opening Night, using elements of the director's signature style and "rewiring" them to smudge the line between "acting and being".

Nat Randall's The Second Woman will repeat a scene from Opening Night 100 times with 100 different guests.

But Randall won't be performing the scene alone  she'll be repeating it 100 times with 100 strangers: a public call has gone out for 100 men to partake in her experiment, which she describes as a "conversation around relationships" that will explore the trade of emotion, intimacy, chemistry and authenticity.

Cassavetes is considered a pioneer of the cinema verite style and the critically acclaimed Opening Night stars his real-life wife Gena Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon, an alcoholic actress rehearsing for a play about a woman unable to admit she is ageing. When Myrtle witnesses the death of a young, adoring fan, she begins to confront her own mortality and her demons. It's an intense portrayal of self-destruction, and a meta-theatrical experience; Cassavetes also stars in the film and in the play-within-the-film.
While Mr Shorten has been campaigning in far-north Queensland this week, Mrs Shorten has visited the tightly-held Labor seats of Greenway in western Sydney and Bendigo. There is a long list of Labor candidates in marginal seats who have asked for her to visit their electorate before July 2.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wants to feel voter love, not just that of his wife, Chloe. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

It's easy to see why. Like her mother, Mrs Shorten is graceful and poised - even when faced, as she was on Thursday, with a rather testy-looking bull, frothing at the mouth, during a funding announcement for Beef Australia week in Rockhampton.

Mrs Shorten was born in Brisbane, worked as a copygirl at the local Sunday Mail newspaper in high school and has family who are sheep farmers. Her Queensland roots allows Mr Shorten, a Melburnian, to spruik his connection to a state where he needs to pick up a swag of seats in order to win government.

This week alone he has visited the Liberal-held electorates of Dawson, Herbert, Leichhardt and Capricornia. The state will be even more important, given Labor's woes in Western Australia, where the candidate for Fremantle, Chris Brown, has been disendorsed after revealing a spent conviction for assaulting a police officer.
The peak doctors' lobby has conceded it will be "difficult" to restore Labor's $57 billion funding agreement to public hospitals.

The admission is an election lifeline for the opposition, which has pledged to restore some of the funding but has not committed to reinstating the full amount.

The Coalition abandoned Labor's National Health Reform Agreement in 2014, effectively scrapping $57 billion in promised funding over a decade, which it argued was unsustainable. The Turnbull government will add $2.9 billion to hospitals over the forward estimates in a minor retreat from the cuts, backing down on a pledge to limit funding growth from 2017.

The Australian Medical Association has argued the Coalition should restore "drastic cuts" to hospital funding from recent years and successfully campaigned for the government to continue the current funding growth formula.
Hours before his father, Woody Allen, opens the Cannes Film Festival with a new movie, NBC reporter Ronan Farrow has published a harsh critique of how the media has tiptoed over the years around the allegations that Allen sexually assaulted his daughter, Dylan, when she was a young girl.

This isn't the first time Farrow has spoken out in defense of his sister. During the Golden Globes in 2014, after Allen received a big award on stage, Farrow tweeted, "Missed the Woody Allen tribute - did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?"

Now Farrow is taking aim at the media for allowing his father to continue his career as a powerful, in-demand director. In a long column for the Hollywood Reporter, Farrow details how reporters feel pressured to keep the Allen allegations under wraps. In one instance, he compares it to a similar situation: the sexual-assault accusations against Bill Cosby.

Farrow, a former MSNBC show host, says that while getting ready to interview Cosby's biographer in 2014, he wanted to bring up the fact that the book didn't mention the decades-old sexual-assault allegations against Cosby. Farrow says his producer strongly urged him not to bring up the topic. After all, it was "old news" and Cosby had never been convicted. Farrow wound up briefly asking the question on air, though the author said he found no merit in the allegations.
Unelected administrators will run 19 new councils in NSW for more than a year, after the Baird government sacked mayors and councillors from 42 councils on Thursday and drew fire for trashing local democracy.

But Premier Mike Baird brushed off the criticism, saying "people have us here to make decisions" and insisted the new councils would deliver better services for lower costs.

The administrators  mainly former public servants, council managers and a couple of mayors and former Coalition MPs  will have the power of mayors and councillors but will be prevented from changing development plans until elections are held in September next year.
A 40-year old man was crushed to death on Thursday night when he tried to stop his Toyota Camry, carrying his wife and two children, from rolling forward.

Police from Mount Druitt Local Area Command have been told the accident occurred on Rupertswood Road, Rooty Hill.

The man's children were in the back seat of the vehicle.

Neighbours tried to lift the vehicle off the man, police said.
Students have criticised NSW Police for allegedly shoving several students and pushing one to the ground during a protest in Sydney on Wednesday.

However, police say they have not received a complaint from any of the students.

In a rally held as part of a national day of action in capital cities around Australia, students marched down Broadway in Sydney's CBD to protest against deregulation of university fees and funding cuts to higher education.

A large number of police were present, including mounted patrols, general duties officers, and some from the Public Order and Riot Squad.
Students from the University of Sydney's Wesley College have apologised to sex workers after a massage parlour was infiltrated during an initiation activity by students who threatened the privacy of staff by taking unsolicited photographs.

It is the second scandal to hit the 99-year-old college this week after reports that a journal was distributed to students that labelled female residents as "bitches" and "hoes" and named students who had allegedly slept with the most men.

Sydney University's 99-year-old Wesley College. Credit:Christopher Pearce

First-year residents were instructed by the college's orientation week organisers to get a massage at Kings Court Massage on Broadway in Sydney's inner west and provide organisers with photographic proof they had entered the establishment.
Brisbane's Labor opposition has blasted a new Liberal National Party strategy for dealing with disruptions at council meetings, which has seen the business of civic governance repeatedly grind to a halt.

Council chairman Angela Owen has taken to adjourning council meetings due to disruptive behaviour in the chamber, rather than simply ejecting and suspending the offending councillor.

Labor leader Peter Cumming says independent Tennyson councillor Nicole Johnston should be kicked out for poor behaviour. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The situation has arisen when Cr Owen has taken umbrage at independent Tennyson councillor Nicole Johnston's interjections in the chamber.

Last week, Cr Owen used the kindergarten-like terminology "time out" to describe an adjournment, "so that Cr Johnston has a time out to reflect on her inappropriate behaviour and consider how she needs to behave in this chamber".
Scarves and jackets were out in force on Thursday after single-digit temperatures saw us tucking into our doonas a little tighter overnight.

Brisbane dipped down to 9.3 degrees, the coldest morning in the capital city this year.

Brisbane dipped down to single digits overnight.

It was also the coldest morning generally in most of Queensland since September last year, with Oakey, west of Toowoomba, boasting the coldest morning at -0.2 degrees.

The town of Kingaroy in the South Burnett region came in second at 0.5 degrees followed by Dalby at 0.6 degrees and Amberley at 1.9 degrees.
lnfamous British sci-fi author J.G. Ballard didnt write science fiction so much as altered reality imaginings. Though his work remains popular, most of his highly experimental novels have long fallen under the category of unfilmable. Ballards bleak, postmoderist dystopias dont surrender easily to conventional Hollywood filmmaking techniques. Aside from a few art school short films, the general population has been exposed to Steven Spielberg's 1987 vision of Ballard's conventionally autobiographical book Empire of the Sun and David Cronenberg's generally icky 1996 adaptation of the sex- and- twisted- metal fetish flick Crash. Now indie British auteur Ben Wheatley tries his hand at tackling Ballards eros- and thanatos-filled urban nightmare High-Rise. The result is a libertine Lord of the Flies for adults that delivers a good, old-fashioned shock to the senses.

Wheatley was the director of the intriguing indie horror films Kill List and Sightseers and most recently helmed the hallucinatory historical head trip A Field in England. His direction on High-Rise is both transgressive and cheeky, thanks in part to a script lucidly limned by screenwriter Amy Jump, who gave life to Wheatley's previous outings. The film sticks closely to Ballards original narrative, while providing plenty of visual style and ironic flourish.

Tom Hiddleston (Loki himself from Marvels Thor and Avengers movies) heads the cast as Dr. Laing, a medical school lecturer and newly eligible bachelor who moves into a depressingly modernist housing block on the outskirts of London. Its one of those brutalist concrete utopias that cropped up throughout England and Eastern Europe in the 1960s. Despite the fact that the place has the most modern of built-in amenitiesa supermarket, a school, a pool and a lot of high-speed elevators the film's opening sequence grimly informs us that it will all descend into a post-apocalyptic hellscape in something like three months. This should be fun.

Fashionably detached Dr. Laing moves into more or less the exact middle of the high-rise, placing him on the border line between the high-class upper floors and the working-class lower floors. While trying to avoid the building's already segmented social structure, hes derided as both a social climber and a cheap bastard. Despite his introverted nature, Laing gets to know several of his neighbors, including a very pregnant housewife (Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men), a testosterone-addled documentary filmmaker (Luke Evans from Fast & Furious 6), a pipe-smoking snob (James Purefoy, fresh off IFCs Hap & Leonard) and an oversexed single mother (Sienna Miller, last showcased in Foxcatcher).

Laing also crosses paths with The Architect. The appropriately named Anthony Royal (the distractedly aristocratic Jeremy Irons) is the engineer of this particular building, which he high-mindedly views as a crucible of change. Ensconced in the buildings impossibly well-appointed penthouse, Royal lords over the structure, vainly imagining it to be a futuristic vanguard of social engineering. Unfortunately, a class war is already brewing inside the off-kilter concrete tower. Shortly after Laing moves in, power and water outages being to affect the building. (Teething pains, assures Royal.) These deprivations are quickly blamed on the lowers, who are clearly sapping the buildings resources (at least according to the ritzy uppers). Before long, all semblance of social order is stripped away. The building suffers from full-fledged blackouts, there are riots in the supermarket, the residents descend into drug- and sex-filled orgies, and some folks start swan-diving off balconies in suicidal fits.

Ballards speculative look at economic tribalism is a bleak one, but Wheatley and Jump have tweaked the narrative into blackly comic territory. Not to be outdone by the debauchery of the lower floors, the aristocratic uppers stage their own end-of-the-world bacchanal, ticking off a list of supplies to be cannibalized from neighbors: liquor, drugs, canapes. Rome is burning and everybodys looking for a fiddle.

It takes next to no imagination to view Ballards apocalyptic apartment complex as a microcosm of modern society, with the effluvia of the 1 percenters trickling down onto the heads an increasingly angry 99 percent. Sure, its an allegory as obvious today as when Ballard penned it back in 1975. But that doesnt make it any less morbidly entertaining.

Theres a wicked, crazed energy on display in High-Rise. The cast is gung-ho as all get-out. As subdued as Hiddlestons character is forced to be, hes nicely surrounded by madmen like Evans angry revolutionary and Purefoys sleazy snob. Despite its ugly outlook, the film is gorgeously shot. Wheatley steeps himself and his film in Ballards era, perfectly recreating the depressive style of the 1970sfrom the burnt-orange color scheme to the white shag carpeting to what could be the creepiest-ever cover of ABBAs S.O.S. By the end, the narrative has broken down almost as badly as the social order. But even that seems perfectly fitting. If youre one of those cynical sorts, endlessly amused by watching civilization fall down around us, then this gleefully hedonistic one-bedroom in hell is ready and waiting for you to move in.
Australia's peak childcare agency is calling on the federal government to make an urgent election promise to meet rising childcare costs.

Families have shouldered seven to 10 per cent increases in childcare costs for almost five years, but childcare subsidies to help them have been frozen since 2012, Australia's Childcare Alliance said on Thursday.

Sarah Hanson-Young and Larissa Waters of the Greens visit a childcare centre in East Brisbane. Credit:Glenn Hunt

In last week's Federal Budget a $30-a-week extra for families to meet child care costs was delayed until July 2018, after the government promised to reduce the cost of childcare in the 2015 Budget.

That means a further two years without an increase in child care subsidies to parents.
Queensland's Aboriginal Affairs Minister will fly to the remote gulf community Aurukun on Friday in the wake of ongoing civil unrest that prompted the evacuation of teachers earlier in the week.

Two female teachers were allegedly threatened and the principal allegedly assaulted last weekend, according to local MP Billy Cook, after alcohol was smuggled into the dry community, causing widespread unrest.

It prompted Education Queensland to temporarily evacuate 25 staff to Cairns, amid fears for their safety.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Minister Curtis Pitt, also the state's treasurer, will fly to the community on Friday, saying discussions about a change in governance in the community were at the top of the agenda in a bid to restore calm.
The five suspected jihadis arrested in Cairns could well have made the treacherous sea voyage to Indonesia so they could join ISIS to fight in the Middle East, Australian Attorney-General George Brandis said on Thursday.

Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, who has been described as "an outspoken cheerleader for ISIS", was arrested in Cairns on Tuesday along with Shayden Thorne, Kadir Kaya, Antonio Grenata and another, so far unidentified, man.

The five men allegedly drove to far north Queensland from Melbourne with the intention of setting sail to Indonesia in a seven-metre motorboat.

Senator Brandis, in one of what will surely be many ministerial visits to the very marginal seat of Petrie, north of Brisbane, this campaign, said the government believed the group intended to travel from Indonesia to the Philippines, before going on to Syria to "participate with an Islamist terrorist organisation", thought to be ISIS.
The LNP won't force its members to shun men-only clubs, despite new leader Tim Nicholls disagreeing with their membership requirements.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced her ministers would be actively avoiding Tattersalls Club in Brisbane until it allowed women to join under their own stead, after male ministers were invited to join the exclusive club as "honourary members", but none of the women, including the Premier and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad were.

Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls and deputy Opposition leader Deb Frecklington. Credit:Scott Beveridge

On that same day, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had lunch at Melbourne's Anthenaeum Club, where membership is "limited to gentlemen".

In Queensland, the LNP held their international women's day luncheon at the men's only club last year, as well as it being the location of Campbell Newman's Brisbane book launch.
Queensland Parliament live: May 12, 2016

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He was diagnosed following X-Ray's last year after a rash of pneumoconiosis diagnoses were made.

The 55-year-old central Queenslander had worked underground for 28 years.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham has backed gas as Queensland's main source of energy. Credit:Michelle Smith

Mines minister Anthony Lynham announced the diagnosis in parliament on Thursday night.

A seventh Queensland coal miner has been diagnosed with black lung.

In April, workers and union members protested in Brisbane for workers rights and the treatment of victims of black lung disease. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

Late last month CFMEU workers marched through the city to bring awareness to the issue and have not ruled out further strike action, with fears more diagnosis's were around the corner.

Dr Lynham said the government's five point plan, announced in January, was addressing the issue.

"It's critical that government, industry and unions continue our work together to tackle the re-emergence of this disease," he said.

"I continue to expect full, frank and considered advice from the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee of union, employer and departmental representatives.
The man charged with the murder of his partner, a domestic violence campaigner, near Mildura two weeks ago is a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.

It can be revealed that Brandon Osborn is a patched member of the Rebels in Mildura.

Brandon Osborn has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Karen Belej.

Police fear that the gang appears to be trying to re-establish a presence in the northern Victorian town.

It is understood Mr Osborn, 36, was pulled over by police about two weeks before the alleged murder of his long-term girlfriend, 31-year-old Karen Belej, on May 1.
George Williams, the father of underworld identity Carl Williams, has reportedly died after suffering a heart attack.

Williams, in his late 60s, is believed to have had a heart attack in his Broadmeadows home.

He was placed on life support in hospital but, the Herald Sun is reporting, later died.

Police previously said that Williams, once his son's partner in drug trafficking, retired from the underworld and struggled with a chronic heart complaint.
A group of homeless people have built a makeshift shelter near City Square in response to a crackdown on rough sleepers and rising hostility from the public.

The group, which has set up a camp of tarps, umbrellas and cardboard boxes under a tree, said they had been the target of a tirade of abuse after media reports this week cast rough sleepers as a public menace.

Stuart Polden, 40, said he had been sleeping in the doorway of an abandoned building on Little Bourke Street for more than a year but was told by police on Thursday that he had to move on.

Mr Polden, who has been homeless for the best part of two decades, is one of about a dozen people who will bunker down in the temporary campsite tonight.
He said the screen doors were a critical and defining feature of the new stations, and confirmed each of the five new stations to be built as part of the Metro project would incorporate the feature.

The concept is quite simple. A wall of plastic separates commuters from the train, with the screen only opening when the train arrives.

The system is designed to both protect commuters and stop people jumping on the tracks, a common problem that has delayed many a City Loop service. They will also protect against accidental falls and suicides.

Perhaps one of the most-appreciated features for people waiting for a train will be the doors' function as climate control, blocking the wind that trains tend to push around the City Loop.

Platform screen doors are quite common the world over, with systems existing in London, Tokyo, Korea and Dubai among other places.
A shotgun, hockey mask, saw and sledgehammer were found in a stolen BMW that crashed in Melbourne's inner north overnight.

Police are still hunting for two men who most likely had to climb out of the car windows to escape after they hit a tree, parked cars, and a front fence in Clarke Street, Northcote, just after 2am on Thursday.

Darebin crime investigation unit Detective Sergeant Michael Wholohan said police had earlier tried to pull the car over on Merri Parade, Fitzroy North, after realising it was a stolen car.

The car had been taken from a Surrey Hills home in April in an aggravated burglary.
The Perth family who lost three children alongside their grandfather in the MH17 tragedy in 2014 have welcomed a new baby.

Anthony Maslin and Rin Norris' children, Mo, eight, Evie, 10 and Otis, 12, died when the plane they were travelling in was shot down over Ukraine.

The Maslin family released this photo of their children Evie (12), Mo (10), and Otis (8).

They had been heading home to Perth with their grandad Nick Norris after a family holiday in Europe, when their plane was struck my a missile, killing 298 passengers on board.

Almost two years on Anthony and Rin welcomed Violet May Maslin.
The Barnett government has handed down a disastrous State Budget on Thursday with the WA experiencing its biggest deficit in history - a record $3.9 billion as state debt is expected to rise to $40 billion.

In December, WA Treasurer Mike Nahan flagged a deficit of $31.4 billion and net borrowings of $29.55 billion.

Mr Nahan made it clear WA was not in a recession. Credit:Pip Doyle

State debt is currently $27.8 billion and is expected to blow out to $33.8 billion by next financial year before leaping to $40 billion by 2018-19.

As in the previous budget, the WA government has again embarked on an asset sale to help reduce the state's soaring debt.
When Martina Mirco arrived at an empty block on 17 School Road in Yarloop on Wednesday, tears rolled down her cheek.

The block used to contain the home of her brother Stuart King who died unexpectedly in November 2004, leaving behind a $53,000 Keystart mortgage he started just a year before his death.

But now there's nothing left after the Shire of Harvey demolished the home, despite a written request from Ms Mirco to council to be present while it was knocked down.

"It was here. They've knocked it down," Ms Mirco said.
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Two British-born sisters who fled with their children from Syria have begun a desperate fight to have their husbands with them in the UK.

Rosanne and Layla Samara say they have "lost everything", having brought their children to the UK to escape the constant threat of bombs and bullets.

They were certain that their UK passports would have allowed their husbands to join them but currently both men must remain in the Middle East.

Rosanne's husband Moayad Mahmoud, is still in Daraya, Syria, one of the most troubled areas of the country.

A wedding photographer, he takes his life in his hands each day to try to make a living  his shop was blown up by a suicide bomber targeting a government building across the road last year, and he recently survived being shot after getting caught in the cross fire while driving along a motorway.

Layla's husband Feras Khoula, pictured in the above video , is working in Saudi Arabia  in the marketing department of a cosmetics company  but his contract is due to end and he will then be forced to return to Syria.

Layla, 34, her husband and their children left Syria more than two years ago when her house in the centre of Daraya was bombed. She returned to the UK, in December at the same time Rosanne, 30, returned to the UK from Syria. Layla thought her husband would follow when his contract ended and Rosanne expected her husband to be able to leave Syria as soon as a spouse visa was sorted.

Both women came to live in Bristol  where another sister, Hannah, 28, lives. Layla and Roseanne are currently living together in emergency council housing in Southmead with Layla's children Yara, 12, Elma, seven and Jude, one, and Rosanne's children Alisa, 13, and Haitham, five.

The women have another sister, Amber, who is still in Syria having recently given birth.

"We've found ourselves in this terrible political loop-hole that's torn our families apart," Layla says. "My husband can't get a visa to come to the UK, and because the Saudis consider me to be Syrian  because I am married to a Syrian  Saudia Arabia now won't give me a visa to go out there to him. They're taking a much harder line on Syrians now than when we first went there.

"To get a spouse visa for him to come here, I would need to either have 68,000 in the bank, or would need to have been earning 25,000 for six months  that's just not possible for me."

Rosanne adds: "I'm in the same situation. We have looked at other countries  Italy, Turkey and so on, and it's the same everywhere. We just don't know what to do, and it really doesn't seem fair. We are British citizens. The irony is that it would be far easier if we were illegal immigrants or one of the refugees coming into Europe on boats.

"We could have tried to smuggle our husbands into the country illegally, but we've always tried to do everything properly, and it feels like we're being punished for it."

The sisters were born in the UK to their British mum and Syrian dad and moved to Syria when they were in their teens.

"We had a normal family life in Syria back in the 1990s," Rosanne recalls. "It was a nice place then."

Layla adds: "It was only when the uprisings started in Egypt five years ago that we began to think something might happen in Syria. But the government was strict, and we just said they wouldn't get away with it in Syria. But the civil unrest happened slowly on the streets, before it rapidly descended into civil war.

"Now it's just not a safe place to be. People are being caught in the cross-fire all the time  every day you hear of someone being shot."

Rosanne finally had enough last year when her daughter Alisa, 13, witnessed a friend being shot and the suicide bomber destroyed her husband's shop  leaving him with serious head injuries and he also lost a finger in the blast.

"That's when my husband insisted we get out for our safety," she says.

She gathered everything they could and took a taxi with the aim of reaching Lebanon in order to get passports for the children.

They faced guns at checkpoints and guards who would rip open their bags to rifle through their personal items while they questioned them at length.

When they finally reached Lebanon, officials refused to believe the children were entitled to British passports and the women had to find papers belonging to their parents in order to pass all the checks.

The whole process took several months.

They then returned to Syria and flew to Greece where they were forced to undergo further extensive checks as officials there did not believe their story.

Once in Bristol they were given temporary housing in Southmead but accept they could be moved at any time.

To survive they have had the support of the Red Cross and food banks.

Their MP, Charlotte Leslie, is currently working with them to find an answer to their situation and she told the Post she is hoping to discuss the matter with ministers as soon as possible.

Rosanne says: "I have a British passport and I never thought for one minute I would not be able to live here with my husband.

"I am able to communicate with my husband when there is an internet connection but that is not always possible.

"It is so dangerous over there  there is limited food and power and the constant threat of fighting and bombings  I dread the phone ringing in case it's bad news."

Syria - the world's largest battlefield

This week the BBC reported that the situation Daraya, where Rosanne's husband lives, is extremely dire, with shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.

At least 4,000 people are besieged in the town by Syrian government forces.

Residents of the town last received a delivery of aid in November 2012.

The town's electricity supply was cut off more than three years ago.

The Syrian Civil War is arguably the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, with more than a quarter of a million killed, roughly the same number wounded or missing, and half of Syria's 22 million population displaced from their homes.

What started as an attempt by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to shoot Syria's largest uprising into submission has dissolved into a regionalised civil war that has partitioned the country into three general areas in which terrorist organisations are dominant.

The country today is the largest battlefield the world has ever seen, with deep implications for the future boundaries of the Middle East and the spread of terrorism through the region.
With Rising Human Rights Violations in Honduras, Activists Demand Suspension of U.S. Military Aid

Posted May 11, 2016

Interview with Alberto Saldamando, counsel to the Indigenous Environmental Network, conducted by Scott Harris

The March 3 assassination of Honduran indigenous leader Berta Caceres, winner of the prestigious 2015 Goldman environmental prize, triggered widespread protests in the Central American country and across the globe. Caceres, who was murdered in her home, led her indigenous Lenca people and the Civic Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations of Honduras, or COPINH, that actively opposed the construction of the proposed Agua Zarca dam on the Gualcarque river, an area considered sacred by the Lenca. She had previously reported receiving numerous death threats from police, soldiers and local landowners because of her activism. On March 15, her colleague Nelson Garcia of COPINH was also murdered. A growing number of social justice activists, environmentalists and journalists have been killed or have disappeared since the 2009 coup in Honduras.

On May 2, the Honduran government arrested five men whom they say are linked to Caceres' murder. Two of those charged are employed by Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA), the construction firm engaged in a land dispute with the Lenca people over four controversial dam projects. One suspect is a retired Honduran Armed Forces lieutenant and military intelligence specialist and another was a Honduran Army special-forces veteran.

A delegation of indigenous rights activists from the U.S. traveled to Honduras May 2-4 and met with representatives of the U.S. Embassy. Among other issues, delegates asked the embassy staff to support Berta Caceres' family and the activist community demand that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights conduct an independent investigation into Caceres' assassination and that all security and military aid from the U.S. government to Honduras be suspended until the massive violations of human rights in Honduras ends. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Alberto Saldamando, counsel to the Indigenous Environmental Network, who participated in the Honduran delegation. Here, he recounts his meeting with U.S. officials and the concerns expressed by the Hondurans he met. [Rush transcript]

ALBERTO SALDAMANDO: The meeting with the embassy was not all that satisfactory, I'm sure they were all meeting good people. But you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there is this road to hell going on now in Honduras. While we were there and visiting the family of Berta Caceras, it was announced that they had arrested an Army major, an (unintelligible) director, and another director of the DESA, the hydroelectric company that Berta was struggling against, and the trigger man, for the assassination. But many people, all the people we talked to, believe that her assassination goes higher and goes into the highest reaches of government and the military. And until those people are prosecuted, there's not going to be any justice for Berta Caceres. And that's what the COPINH people were demonstrating about, that it can't stop where it is now. There's another level of intellectual authors of that crime that have to be arrested and prosecuted. And that's what they want and that's what they're expecting.

The U.S. has been involved in the investigation, some of the FBI people and their FBI-trained people have been conducting the investigation that led to these arrests. Well, COPINH and the civil society organizations are demanding that there be an independent investigation conducted by the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights. They have credibility. They have the investigators. They've done this before. They know how to investigate. But the United States says, "Well, the governmental investigation is adequate. It's been doing the job." But really, it's at best, a problem of perceptions. But if the people perceive that this investigation is not going to reach those most responsible for her murder, whether or not it's true, it's important that the United States at least, in the interests of the United States, that they not be seen as cooking this investigation. Whether or not it's true, the perception that the United States is leading this investigation is out there, the perception is that the United States will inhibit a complete and thorough investigation of this murder.

BETWEEN THE LINES: Now that you're back from the Honduras, what kind of pressure are you and members of your organization going to exert on the government to suspend U.S. military and security aid to the government of Honduras until the human rights situation is rectified there, and certainly topping that list is your advocacy and demand for an independent investigation of Berta Caceres murder?

ALBERTO SALDAMANDO: So the one thing that we are doing actually is really trying to tell the story of the Honduras to other indigenous peoples and other elements of civil society that are receptive to this. In the long run, we'll be writing letters to our congressional representatives about the dire situation (unintelligible) in Honduras and ask them to suspend this aid. In fact, there's a call from the civil society organizations we visited that all aid to Honduras is pending a resolution of all these human rights violations. We do plan to continue in our work with solidarity with the Honduran indigenous people and the (unintelligible) civil society. We need the whole of civil society in the United States as well, to take up the call. We need the participation of all, everyone, whether they're an organization or on their own, to demonstrate the solidarity with the people of Honduras and to contact their congressmen and representatives, senators to assure that military aid and military assistance, so-called security assistance not be given, but also that the aid we do give doesn't go to the corrupt officials and local officials in Honduras, that are really doing a gigantic land grab of indigenous lands and using these murders and these extrajudicial executions to intimidate the people and shut them up. Because a lot of the people we spoke to were frightened; they were scared. There really is a tremendous amount of fear in Honduras on the part of the social activists. It doesn't keep them from acting. But, really, that is a terrible condition to be in. A lot of activists, grassroots activists are being threatened with not only death, but also imprisonment, but being harassed. So we need people to demonstrate their solidarity with the indigenous people of Honduras and under civil society. What we can do is try to promote that solidarity, but I think your listeners as well might take an interest so that all these voices are heard.

Learn more about the Indigenous Environmental Network at ienearth.org.

Related Links:
Damien Darhks plan for a new world moved towards completion on Arrow Season 4 Episode 21,Monument Point, and Team Arrow did everything in their power to stop the nuclear armageddon. Their plan included reaching out to Felicitys criminal father for help.

Check out the best lines and exchanges from Monument Point.

Arrow Recap: Felicity and the Calculator Try to End Darhks Apocalypse >>>

The world is facing nuclear armageddon. My pride and my general dislike for my father can take a backseat for the next 20-plus hours.

 Felicity

Malcolm: Woof. I know, the predictability was a terrible flaw in the design.

Thea: Predictability is your flaw, too. Every time my life starts to suck, you show up.

Donna: I may not be in Mansa, but I know how to read, sweetie.

Lance: I think its Mensa actually.

Oliver, youre the last person on earth to lecture someone about lying to the people they love.

 Diggle

Donna: Its a Its a cabin in Cypress Cove we used to like to go to. Wed, you know Wed nurse a bottle of wine, make love to Lionel Ritchie. I was his Penny Lover. You know, your father could go all night.

Felicity: OK. Thats enough. I dont

Donna: You know, I think you were conceived in Ravenspur.

Felicity: Ohh, please make it stop, please.

Oliver, youre the last person on earth to lecture someone about lying to the people they love.

 Diggle

Noah: Felicity, I may be a terrible father

Felicity: May?

Noah: But Im not a monster. Terrible or not, I am your father. As long as I live, I have an interest in seeing that this world doesnt end.

I got fired before I could take the processor. I cant even show my face in there. Maybe we should call in a bomb threat, just empty the place, or maybe plant an actual bomb. Just a small one, one that doesnt hurt anybody, but we have to

 Felicity

Noah: I love all this subterfuge. Might our guardian angel be the Green Arrow?

Felicity: This was a line item on the budget list, and its still not fixed, and they have the gall to fire me.

Noah: This is fun, working together.

Felicity: Lets make this clear. This is not a father-daughter bonding exercise.

Lyla: POTUS and SECDEF have taken us to DEFCON-2.

Diggle: Just two? Theyre optimistic.

Lyla: They dont want to cause a panic. The President asked me if the fate of the world is resting in the hands of an IT girl, a criminal, and two guys in Halloween costumes.

Oliver: Theyre not Halloween costumes.

What is it with you? Why are you always at the mercy of some guy?

 Lonnie Machin to Thea

Oliver: You need to divert that missile.

Felicity: You are lucky that Im too busy to come up with a witty response to that right now.

Felicity: How many casualties?

Lyla: Tens of thousands. Monument Point would have been a couple million, Felicity.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET on the CW.



(Images courtesy of the CW.)
latest news

October 3, 2022

Dee Gambit

Hundreds  if not thousands  of new and returning TV shows and movies are released every month  your options of what to watch are endless. Variety, they say is ...
NBC has struggled with comedies in recent seasons, but the network is still determined to keep trying by ordering two new comedies for the 2016-2017 TV season about superheroes and murderers.

The network has ordered Powerless, set the DC Comics universe, and Trial and Error, a satire of real-life murder trials, to series. Thus far, Superstore is the only other comedy NBC has renewed for next season.

Powerless stars Vanessa Hudgens as an insurance adjustor in the universe of DC Comics, helping people deal with claims of damage after massive attacks involving superheroes and villains. It also stars Communitys Danny Pudi and Firefly/Suburgatorys Alan Tudyk.

Trial and Error follows a New York lawyer who travels to a small South Carolina town to defend a poetry professor accused of murdering his wife. It stars Nicholas DAgosto (Gothams Harvey Dent) as the lawyer and John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter) as the accused murderer.

Will either of these new comedies become hits for NBC, turning around the networks anemic comedy side?

NBC will reveal its full 2016-2017 schedule and line-up on Sunday, May 15.

(Image courtesy of NBC)
Jules Wainstein revealed her struggle with her eating disorder on The Real Housewives of New York City and now shes sharing more details about her battle with anorexia.

The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Jules Opens Up About Her Troubled Past>>>

I was swimming competitively in Florida, two-hour practices before school and after school, six days a week, the RHONYC newbie told People of how her eating disorder started in high school. I loved the discipline, I loved the schedule. I was comfortable that way.

The Hong Korn-born socialite quit swimming around the age of 17 and eventually felt out of control, resulting to her extreme calorie-counting.

I remember keeping a journal, counting my calories, what I ate, said Wainstein, who restricted her intake to between 800-1000 a day. I would make like a list of things that I would eat and add up every meal, every calorie.

I knew I had a problem from the beginning, she added. I thought I could fix it myself, but it just got worse.

According to Wainstein, her anorexia transitioned to bulimia in college.

It just consumed my entire life, said Wainstein, who dropped to 80 lbs at one point. I had no energy, I was always tired. I was depressed, I slept a lot. I was not very social.

At the age of 23, Wainstein entered a treatment center to seek help.

They make you hit rock bottom there, she explained. It wasnt like: Look at this raisin, how does the raisin make you feel? It was like: This is what you did to your family, this is how you made your family feel, this is what youre doing to your body. I mean, I cried every day in the beginning.

I realized I was making my body childlike because I couldnt face the responsibilities of the real world, she added. After months in recovery, you start to appreciate life and your body and you realize what you have  and then you build yourself up from there.

Slowly my body started to change  I gained weight. My body formed into an adult figure, she revealed. It was really incredible.

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Bravo)

(Image courtesy of Bravo)
Vegans, here's what to order at these South Jersey restaurants

Colonial Diner, Kitchen 519, Tortilla Press and Sabrina's are just some of the South Jersey non-vegan restaurants ready to serve you vegan fare.
Illegal cigarettes seized in Burnham-On-Sea and others parts of Somerset as part of an investigation into the illicit trade of tobacco may be helping to fund organised crime, it has been claimed.

A team of investigators say they have found widespread trade in illicit tobacco during a two-day visit to Burnham-On-Sea and other parts of Somerset on behalf of the tobacco industry.

Former Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Will OReilly led the operation  and he and a team of test purchasers were able to buy cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco that were available on the black market.

In total, the team were able to buy 12 separate packs of illicit cigarettes  two cartons of cigarettes and a pouch of roll-your-own tobacco across the Wells constituency. Four of those items were bought in Shepton Mallet, the rest in Burnham-On-Sea.

Mr OReilly said there were three types of illicit cigarettes. The first are diverted products sold only in foreign countries at a cheaper price and then smuggled into the UK to be sold, while the second are counterfeit ersions of familiar brands. The last group, known as illicit whites, are cigarettes manufactured for the sole purpose of being smuggled into the UK and sold illegally but buyers have no idea what is in them. Tests have revealed traces of arsenic, rat droppings, human faeces, dead flies and more.

The cheapest illicit whites found in the area were a pack of Jims on sale for 4 a pack.

The tobacco we bought in the shops appeared to be contraband  an industry which costs the UK over 2 billion a year. Cigarettes like this are often trafficked in bulk and are flooded into countries by organised crime groups who see cigarettes as an easier and more risk-free way to make money, instead of guns and drugs. The money raised is then plunged back into other criminal activities.

He warned smokers to be on the lookout for cheap tobacco which could be putting lives at risk. The problem with illicit tobacco is that its not regulated in any way, said Mr OReilly. Illegally bought cigarettes have been known to contain anything from rat droppings and dead flies to sawdust. They also dont contain safety features which can help to protect smokers from house fires, and illicit cigarettes have been linked to house fires which have caused deaths in other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Cllr David Hall, the Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council who oversees trading standards, said: All tobacco, legal and illegal, is harmful to health. The sale of contraband and counterfeit tobacco encourages criminal activity, damages the local economy and poses an additional threat to our children because it is sold at pocket money prices by criminals who are not interested in asking for proof of age.

Our trading standards team and HMRC are determined to crack down on the sale and supply of contraband and counterfeit tobacco in Devon and Somerset, and we will be joint test purchasing operations in the near future. Previous operations have led to some notable seizures and formal legal action against suppliers. This organisation should provide us the intelligence they have gathered so we can deal with it appropriately.
Airbus, the European aircraft maker, has signed a contract with component maker Aequs Aerospace (based at Belagavi, Karnataka) for manufacture of titanium components as it ramps up production of its A320neo aircraft for global consumption.

It is the first time an Indian company is getting a contract for the manufacture of critical components in an Airbus plane. Aequs will supply 100,000 machined parts, for use to mount engines on the wings of the A320neo aircraft over the next few years, to be made at its 100,000 sq ft factory at Belagavi (earlier Belgaum). The company is already a Tier-1 supplier for Airbus, one among 12 such suppliers in India (including government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics that manufactures doors for Airbus planes).

IndiGo, this country's largest passenger airline by market share, recently took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, part of an order of 24 aircraft to be delivered by March 2017.

India is a strategic market for Airbus, not only for its market size but also because of access to the right skills and resources. Were growing from strength to strength, said Srinivasan Dwarakanath, president of Airbus for India.

Airbus procures close to 80 per cent of the components that go into its planes from vendors across the globe. It says the contribution from Asia, especially India, is rising. Sourcing volumes from India have grown by 16 times in the past decade. Procurement from India  information technology, customer support and components  was $500 million (Rs 3,335 crore) in 2015 and is expected to grow to $2 billion in 2020.

For Aequs, the partnership with Airbus poses a $75 mn revenue opportunity by 2020. The company plans to hit revenue of $100 mn this year and $300 mn by the end of the decade.The company claims 85 per cent domestication of manufacturing components.

Its about creating value and shrinking the supply chain. Thatso why Airbus is interested in us to build this eco-system. Today, we are one location where you can bring in raw materials, forge, machine, surface treat, assemble and ship it to a customer, said Aravind Melligeri, chairman and chief executive at Aequs.

Airbus has grown its supplier base in India from three entities a decade earlier to 45-odd today. The countrys growing demand for aircraft matches its growing prowess in aeronautic manufacturing capabilities. Airbus says it takes close to 25 years to develop a country as an aeronautic hub and while India has the potential, it has a long way to go before it can get there.

With an order backlog of 528 aircraft for this country, Airbus said it would begin delivering a plane every week to India for the next 10 years, starting in the second half of 2016. To tap into all aspects of this growing system, the company will subsequently expand its engineering, customer service, aerospace parts supply and research and technology innovation arms here.

It recently announced the setting up of a pilot training facility on the outskirts of Delhi, for which it has allocated $40 mn (Rs 270 crore).
American e-commerce giant Amazon is not the only multinational entity grappling with policy bottlenecks here. Chinese internet major Alibaba, contemplating a direct India entry in e-commerce, is also learnt to be watching the policy space before it takes a plunge.

Making Alibaba nervous is Press Note 3, latest guideline on e-commerce from the department of industrial policy & promotion. This restricts discounting by sellers on any online marketplace platform.

Also, the high level of cash-on-delivery in Indian e-commerce and return of goods that come with it are another area of concern for the firm.

While permitting 100 per cent foreign direct investment in online marketplaces, the guidelines said e-commerce entities providing a marketplace will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services. And, shall maintain a level playing field. The implication is a crackdown on companies offering discounts, cash-back or other such incentives.

Another guideline in the way is that no e-commerce entity will permit more than 25 per cent of the sales through its marketplace from one vendor or its group company.

Alibaba, which in India already has investments in Snapdeal and One97 Communications-owned Paytm, did not want to comment on the challenges or hurdles it must cross to enter the India market directly. However, watchers and analysts are listing these. Arvind Singhal, founder of retail consultancy Technopak, says the e-commerce regulation is the single biggest challenge. How a discount is to be defined is also unclear. Its arbitrary and not at all transparent.



An executive at an international analyst research firm said the Jack Ma-led company is trying to iron out issues with the Customs department in India. He says Alibaba is likely to host sellers with a large number of Chinese goods as its unique selling proposition. Since return of goods is common when a customer is making payment after delivery, the company is working out the modalities of shipping back the Chinese merchandise in case of return, he said.

Aamir Jariwala, secretary, E-commerce Coalition, said re-export norms while shipping back products on return could turn out to be a big logistics issue. At times, the cost of return could be as much or more than the price of the product being returned, he pointed out.

Sector estimates peg cash-on-delivery at around 60 per cent of the total in the country. The average rate of return of goods is between five and 10 per cent of the items sold but could be much higher in some regions and pincodes. Experts also say the problem would resolve on its own over time as the market matures.

READY FOR INDIA RETRY

Largest investor in One97 Communications, which operates Paytm

Investor in Snapdeal

Operates wholesale business in the country

Planning direct entry into e-commerce
Google announced on Wednesday six Indian start-ups would join its Launchpad Accelerator at the tech giant headquarters at Silicon Valley in California in June.

This would be the second class of Indian start-ups. They will join 18 promising new companies from Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico.

The two-week boot camp, starting 13 June, will determine each start-ups challenges and deploy precise mentors and try to find solutions. Google resources would also be provided to enable the products or applications of these companies to scale up.

Those from India include Taskbob and Programming Hub from Mumbai, ShareChat and PlaySimple Games from Bengaluru, and RedCarpet and Magic Pin from Delhi.

The Indian start-up ecosystem is maturing very fast. Entrepreneurs are not shying away from the risks and are very eager to learn. Access to good mentoring and advice at early and middle stages has been a big gap which were looking to fill, said Paul Ravindranath, program manager, Google India.

He said: In our experience, many start-ups struggle with UX, building scalable architectures and go to market strategy. Launchpad Accelerator Program brings together mentors and experts from within Google and outside to help these start-ups succeed. The first batch from India has benefitted a great deal and we are excited to get on board the second batch.



The six-month-long mentorship program for start-ups will include $50,000 in equity-free funding, a two-week all-expenses paid boot camp at the Google headquarters, six months of ongoing mentorship and access to Googles full suite of Launchpad initiatives, and connections and product credits including Google Cloud and other products.

Amarendra Sahu, the co-founder of Nestaway, who was part of the first batch from India, said, If you believe you can build a world-class product, the mentors will push you to bet on yourself. We have benefitted a great deal from this program and have just closed a $30-million Series-C funding  one of the largest in India this year.



THE MAGNIFICENT SEXTET
Dr Reddy's Laboratories has reported an 85.6 per cent fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 74.6 crore for the quarter ended March. The reasons include provisioning to write down receivables from Venezuela and increased tax expenses. The profit figure in the corresponding quarter a year before was Rs 518.8 crore. Bloomberg consensus estimates had pegged net profit at Rs 559.7 crore.

Revenue for the quarter fell nearly three per cent to Rs 3,756 crore and came lower than Bloomberg consensus estimate of Rs 3,995 crore . The company says there was a decline in global generics revenue from emerging markets and Europe, as well as a revenue fall in pharmaceutical services and active ingredients (PSAI) from all over.

The Venezuelan government had blocked repatriation of dollar revenues from there; Dr Reddy's management has shown the dues of Rs 264.6 crore as a finance expenditure. Similarly, the company had to provide for higher tax expenses at Rs 173.9 crore in the quarter, as compared to Rs 74.2 crore in the corresponding one a year before. However, adjusting for the one-off provision and tax rate, the profit was in line with company's guidance.

The company saw surge in selling, general and administrative expense surge seven per cent year-on-year. This included increased remediation costs too. Companys three plants had received warning letters from US FDA in November 15 and updates on progress of remediation to the US FDA have been provided in January and March 2016.

Its been a challenging quarter. While there has been a marginal decline in revenues, there has been a greater impact on profitability, said G V Prasad, co-chairman and chief executive.

This is mainly due to the provision, made as a matter of abundant precaution, to write down our receivables from Venezuela. We will continue to actively engage with their government.



He said their biosimilars business was gaining. Our priority continues to be the strengthening of our quality management processes, he added.

For the full year ended March, consolidated net profit declined 9.8 per cent to Rs 2,001 crore. However, revenue grew 4.4 per cent to Rs 15,471 crore.

The gross profit margin at 59.6 per cent improved by 200 basis points over the previous year. That for the global generics and PSAI segments was 65.9 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. Revenues from global generics in 2015-16 was Rs 12,801 crore, an year-on-year growth of seven per cent, primarily driven by North America, Europe and India.

On the US FDA for reinspection of three sites of the firm, CEO G V Prasad on Thursday said, Weve completed 50 per cent of the remedial work. Well take few more months to complete the entire exercise and then we will approach the regulator for inspection.



Though we dont give any guidance, we expect an uptick happening in our revenues towards the second half of the current financial year as there were a number of important products lined up for nod. But it all depends on the approvals.
Company, one of India's leading two wheeler manufacturers, has rolled out a special TVS Scooty Zest 110 'Himalayan Highs' edition'. The company said that this is to commemorate TVS Scooty Zest 110's ride to Khardung La Pass by a female rider, Anam Hashim.

With this feat, TVS Scooty Zest 110 has earned a place in the India Book of Records for being the first 110 cc Scooter to reach Khardung La in the Himalayas, said the company in a statement.

The special edition, TVS Scooty Zest 110 Himalayan Highs, comes in an exclusive Himalayan High Brown colour, with beige pigmented panels and superior enhanced features such as new tapeset, body colour mirrors, body colour cover switch panels.

The special edition scooter features a special emblem honoring the feat of reaching the highest motorable road in the world at 18,380 feet.

Aniruddha Haldar, VP Marketing, Company, said "the Scooty has been an iconic brand for mobility in India. It's only fitting that the first 110 cc scooter to reach the highest motorable road is a Scooty Zest 110. TVS Scooty Zest 110 is available across all TVS showrooms and is priced at Rs 46,113 (Ex-Showroom Delhi).
Amazon, the Seattle-based online retailer, has highlighted uncertainties and regulatory risks in its India business, citing the latest e-commerce guidelines which allowed 100 per cent foreign investment in marketplace platforms but with several riders.

The company has pointed at the possibility of fines and financial penalties, as well as the risk of closure, in its quarterly report filings to the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

There are "substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation of laws in India and in China, it has told its shareholders. And, it is possible that these governments will ultimately take a view contrary to ours, it has said in the filings made on Wednesday.

Recently, the department of industrial policy & promotion came out with guidelines restricting price discounting on e-commerce platforms and preventing any vendor on an e-retail platform from doing more than 25 per cent of all sales.

In the case of Amazon, Cloudtail, its joint venture with Catamaran Ventures, the latter promoted by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, is the most prominent vendor on the platform. Amazon has said, For amazon.in, we provide certain marketing tools and logistics services to third-party sellers to enable them to sell online and deliver to customers. Without naming Cloudtail, the company added, we hold an indirect minority interest in an entity that is a third-party seller on the amazon.in marketplace.



Saying the company believes these structures and activities comply with existing laws, it added: They involve unique risks.



Its Chinese and Indian businesses and operations might, it said, be unable to continue to operate if "we or our affiliates are unable to access sufficient funding or in China enforce contractual relationships with respect to management and control of such businesses.

Amazon believes its businesses in India and China could be subject to fines and other financial penalties, depending on how its international operations were interpreted by regulators. It has also mentioned the possibility of getting its licences revoked or even an entire shutdown, subject to regulations and their interpretation.

In a post-earnings call with investors on April 30, Phil Hardin, head of investor relations at Amazon, had said, Were happy to see the recent clarifications (on e-commerce foreign investment in India). Were happy to operate in any regime and the more clarity, the better. He had not elaborated on how Amazon would manage Cloudtails business.
Rights activist today entered Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah to offer prayers amid tight security, saying her struggle was for gender equality. She however stopped short of entering the inner sanctum, an area that is shut to women worshipers.

"At the Dargah, I prayed that women be allowed to enter the inner sanctum, as was the case till 2011," Bhumata Ranragini Brigade chief Desai said, after coming out of the Dargah.

Desai had initially planned to visit the shrine in Mumbai on April 28, but stopped as protestors gathered to block her.

Desai, who reached near the entry of the causeway leading to the dargah situated on an islet off Worli coast in South Mumbai with fellow activists, left the spot after a few minutes.

Before heading to the spot, she told media that she was leading a "peaceful agitation" to assert women's right to go up to the core area (Mazaar) of the dargah.

She, however, made it clear that she had no intention to hurt religious sentiments of anyone but was only trying to make sure that women are given equal rights to pray in all places of worship.

She said she had also written to Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan seeking their support for the gender equality movement.

Expecting a face-off between the campaigners and the protesters, including those from AIMIM and the Samajwadi Party, police had barricaded the entire area.

Some supporters of the campaign also turned up there pledging support for the agitation.

Desai had recently successfully led campaigns to break bar on women at the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples in Maharashtra.

Earlier, a local AIMIM leader had threatened that he and his supporters would not allow Desai to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the renowned Dargah and they would smear her face with black ink if she does so.

A local Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat Shaikh accused Desai of playing politics.

Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse of the BJP said that the government will respect the High Court verdict that women should not be discriminated against at places of worship.

The Maharashtra government had in February this year favoured the entry of women into the Haji Ali Dargah.

The state government had then said before the Bombay High Court that unless the Dargah Board is able to prove that ban is part of their religious practice with reference to Quran, women should be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali.

The Dargah Board had said that the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah houses the grave of a male saint and in Islam it is sin for women to touch a male saint, and hence, women are barred from touching the tomb.

Asked why she is staging protest when the matter is sub-judice, she said "its not a question of being in a hurry. The matter is pending in the court since 2012. If women can be allowed to enter other places of worship, the same should be done in Haji Ali too."

Desai, whose previous campaigns were centred around Hindu temples, said her agitation for right to equality for women at places of worship in not linked to any religion.

"It's not about any religion. I am doing this for gender equality. Rules should the same for both men and women."

Referring to protests at Haji Ali against her campaign, the Bhumata Brigade chief asked "What is the Home Minister doing? He should ensure my safety and facilitate my entry into the shrine."

In a related development, a civil petition was filed today in a Mumbai Court seeking a ban on the entry of Desai into the inner chamber of the iconic shrine dedicated to a 15th century saint.

The petition, filed by activist Hemant Patil, also contended that she cannot stage a protest in the area around the dargah as it falls in a silence zone.

Counsel for the petitioner Wajid Khan argued that Desai should be governed by Muslim laws which do not allow women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine.

The Court posted the matter for arguments on June 15.

Meanwhile, Tardeo Police tonight registered cases against Desai, Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Awami Vikas League under the Bombay Police Act for violating prohibitory orders and carrying out protests without permission.

Police said they also arrested two activists of Awami Vikas League.

Members of Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Awami Vikas League were part of the protesters who had gathered to block Desai's entry into the shrine.

Police said they did not stop the Bhumata Brigade leader from entering the dargah.

"Police did not stop anyone. The bandobast was kept because we needed to maintain law and order. If she wanted to go as a normal citizen there would have been no problem. But she wanted to enter the dargah with a group and shouting slogans," a senior official said.
New Delhi, ranked worst in 2014, is no longer the world's most polluted city.

However, four other Indian cities were among the seven most polluted cities, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday, warning that over 80 per cent of the world's city dwellers breathe poor quality air.

According to a new report by WHO based on data collected between 2008 and 2013, New Delhi was the 11th most polluted city, while four other Indian cities - Gwalior (2), Allahabad (3), Patna (6) and Raipur (7) - figured among the seven cities with worst air quality.

The improvement in New Delhi's ranking comes after a string of measures taken by both the Centre and the Delhi government. These included levying of environment cess and implementation of the vehicle-plying rationing or the odd-even scheme to regulate traffic.

In a sample of selected mega-cities with a population above 14 million, New Delhi was, however, the most polluted, followed by Cairo and Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.

New Delhi's air quality was measured by the presence of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 which had an annual average measurement of 122.

Ten other Indian cities were also among the 20 most polluted cities in the world. In WHO's 2014 report, 13 out of 20 most polluted cities were in India. According to the WHO report, Delhi's annual mean PM10 was 229. Zabol in Iran figured as the city with dirtiest air.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Latest WHO report - Delhi no more most polluted city. Congrats Delhiites."



Tracking the presence of harmful pollutants like sulfate and black carbon, WHO found that air quality was generally improving in richer regions like Europe and North America, but worsening in developing regions, notably the Middle East and the Southeast Asia.

Urban residents in poor countries are by far the worst affected, WHO said, noting that nearly every city (98 per cent) in low- and middle-income countries has air which fails to meet the UN body's standards.

"Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on human health," Maria Neira, the head of WHO's department of public health and environment, said in a statement.

The UN agency's latest air pollution database reveals an overall deterioration of air in the planet's cities, and highlights the growing risk of serious health conditions also including stroke and asthma.
Making an impassioned plea to safeguard Parliament's powers, Finance Minister on Wednesday asked the Congress party to reconsider its opposition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and withdraw its insistence on handing over dispute resolution under GST to the Supreme Court.

Jaitley's plea came even as the apex court cleared the path for Chief Minister Harish Rawat to resume governance in Uttarakhand after one-and-a-half months of dramatic twists and turns and Centre's imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Replying to the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Finance and Appropriations Bills, Jaitley said: "If India has to grow, please reconsider your position on having a provision (GST Bill) that would surrender legislative jurisdiction to the courts."

The Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill were later approved by the upper house by voice vote.

"Step by step, brick by brick the edifice of India's Legislature is being destroyed," Jaitley said, referring to the Congress proposal to appoint a judge to settle disputes between the Centre and states on GST.

Continuing on the issue, he termed Congress' action as a misadventure. According to The Indian Express, Jaitley said: For heavens sake, I beseech you in the interest of Indian democracy not to go on this misadventure With the manner in which encroachment of legislative and executive authority by Indias judiciary is taking place, probably financial power and budget making is the last power that you have left. Taxation is the only power which states have.

"This is a political issue ... you can't hand over this power to the judiciary," he added.

On the Congress demand for a constitutional cap of 18% on GST, Jaitley said that though he had no problem with the rate proposed there could not be a constitutional limit placed in case adverse situations arose in future.

"There cannot be a uniform tax for all commodities. There are 'aam aadmi' (common man) commodities that could attract 5-6% tax... that the GST Council will decide. But why should luxury products like a BMW car be taxed only 18%," he asked.

In this connection, he said that the new fiscal had begun on a hopeful note with India's indirect tax collections for April rising 42% to over Rs 64,000 crore.

Not the first time Jaitley has spoken

In October last year, after the apex court struck down the Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, Jaitley had responded by saying that that democracy in India could not be "a tyranny of the unelected".

He had argued that weakening parliamentary sovereignty was not a necessary condition for strengthening independence of judiciary.

The apex court had struck down the 99th amendment to the Constitution, passed unanimously by the two Houses of Parliament and 20 legislative Assemblies in 2014. It had said that the amendment, which sought to replace the 22-year-old collegium system where judges appoint judges, impinged on the concepts of separation of powers and the basic structure of the Constitution. The NJAC Act had envisaged the presence of the law minister in the commission, while the prime minister and leader of the Opposition, apart from the chief justice, would comprise a body to select two eminent persons that would in turn appoint judges.

In a Facebook post titled 'The NJAC judgment - An Alternative View?', Jaitley, himself a former law minister, had argued against the move and said that the judgement was based on political bashing. He had argued that history belied any claims that only the institution of judiciary could protect democracy.

In the post, Jaitley had argued that the Supreme Court, in its focus on upholding the primacy of one basic structure, namely the independence of judiciary, had diminished five other basic structures of the Constitution, namely, parliamentary democracy, an elected government, the council of ministers, an elected prime minister and the elected leader of the opposition.

Judiciary vs Legislature

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in October last year, had declared the Democratic Alliance governments law for appointing judges of appellate courts unconstitutional.

But that is not the only case where the courts and Legislature have butted heads recently.

During his impassioned plea in Parliament on Wednesday, Jaitley, according to The Indian Express report, said that despite the existence of the Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund, the apex court has asked the government to create a new fund for disaster mitigation. Speaking against the apex court's move, he said, We have passed the Appropriation Bill, how do I get this money from outside. There cannot be any expenditure unless approved by Parliament.

Jaitley was referring to the Supreme Court's judgement on a public interest litigation by Swaraj Abhiyan on drought.

In a strong indictment of Centre and states' handling of the drought situation, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said if state governments maintain an "ostrich-like attitude", Centre cannot wash its hands of constitutional responsibility, since the "buck stops" with it.

The apex court directed the Centre to constitute a national disaster response force, as mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, within the next six months. It also directed it to set up a disaster mitigation fund within three months, as mandated by the Act and formulate a national plan on disaster management at the earliest.

The Centre's recent attempt at ousting Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and the state's Congress government through imposition of President's Rule also came a cropper when, on April 21, the state's high court quashed the imposition of Presidents Rule. On May 6, the Supreme Court ordered a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly, thereby putting an end to the Centre's argument that a political crisis in the state had justified the imposition of President's Rule.
The ongoing battle between the Centre and Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy escalated on social networking site Twitter. This time it was Minister of External Affairs who pushed out a series of tweets aimed at Chandy, reminding him that they had evacuated thousands of Keralites from strife-torn Libya, Iraq and Yemen.

Mr. Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?  (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016 Mr. Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya.'

Mr. Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

The provocation for this attack by Swaraj on Chandy came from a statement that he made today about Kerala government paying for the return of 29 Indians including 16 keralites from Libya. Chandy also said that they had to 'push' the Centre to act.

In fact, we paid for travel, Chandy said.

The war of words need to be seen in the context of the state going to polls on 16th May. Chandy had earlier taken offence to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement linking the state's infant mortality rate among scheduled tribes to Somalia. While Chandy sought an apology, the Prime Minister has maintained his silence on the issue.

Social media also witnessed campaigns with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Go Off Modi) thrashing at Modi over his comparison.

Twitteratis have also reacted to Swaraj's tweets, with some reminding both leaders not to play politics with rescue and relief work.

Malayalees, 2.8% of our population, bring in a quarter of foreign remittances - about 1.2 lakh crore rupees. https://t.co/OxBOniox7z  Tony Joseph (@tjoseph0010) May 12, 2016
Free food packets, new hand pumps and maximum power supply are some of the measures employed by the Uttar Pradesh government to provide succour to the drought-affected Bundelkhand region.

Last year, 50 out of total 75 districts in UP were declared hit due to deficient rainfall with the 7 districts of Bundelkhand being the worst affected. These include Lalitpur, Jhansi, Jaluan, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot districts.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on May 7, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had sought adequate assistance in combating in the state. He had urged the Centre to release funds for completion various pending projects, including potable water.

Talking to Business Standard, UP Relief Commissioner Anil Kumar today said the state was supplying free food packets to the affected families in Bundelkhand. These packets are being provided to about 1.80 lakh families covered under the 'Antyodaya' scheme, which enumerates poorest of the poor population for subsidised ration.

He claimed about 1,000 water tankers had been pressed into service to provide water in 11 parched districts in Bundelkhand and other areas in UP.

Earlier, the Centre had dispatched a 'water train' to UP for supplying water in the drought affected Bundelkhand.

The train comprising water-wagons sans water was stationed at the Jhansi railway station, however, the ruling Samajwadi Party government had turned down the offer and claimed the water train was not needed as there was ample amount of water in the existing water bodies in the region.

Instead, Yadav had asked the Centre to provide 10,000 water tankers, so that they could be deployed for ferrying water to the people in remote areas. The government also claimed that against its Drought Memorandum 2015, UP had so far received only Rs 934 crore against Rs 2,057 crore sought from the central government.

Meanwhile, the government is installing new hand pumps and re-boring tube wells, which had turned dry owing to depleting water table in Bundelkhand.

"We are constructing check dams to prevent water pilferage and replenishing ponds and water bodies," Kumar added.

The government had directed for 24 hr power supply in Bundelkhand, so that tube wells could be operated unabatedly during need. Apart from people, the relief commissioner's office is taking steps to providing water to the livestock and arranging for their fodder.

The UP Disaster Management Department had sought Rs 1,261 crore and Rs 2,057 crore for providing relief to farmers pertaining to rabi and kharif crops respectively.
On a drizzly Sunday morning, around a hundred students and teachers gathered at the gates of All Saints' School in Nainital. Led by environmental activist Ajay Rawat, they came to pick up all the flammable organic matter on the forest floor and put it in composting pits, to prevent a fire.

"Pine needles and twigs had become so dry that they were an inferno waiting to happen," said Rawat.

During the exercise, students discussed ways to prevent forest fires. "We should know what to do, for we live here and want to save our forests," said one of the students.

Uttarakhand government could learn a crucial lesson from these students. Across the world, governments involve, train and empower local communities to put off forest fires before they spread. In Uttarakhand, however, the community has been excluded from this exercise altogether.

"The focus of the forest department has remained the same since it was established by the British, i.e. revenue generation - not conservation, afforestation and community participation," said Mukti Dutta, Binsar-based environmentalist. "If the government engages local villagers to clear fire lines, plant local trees and create seedling nurseries, they would feel more like they have a stake in the well-being of the forests."



Instead, many observers have noted, the friction between the forest department and villagers has been growing, mainly because villagers are restricted from using forests resources. "A massive snowfall in December 2014 caused a lot of trees and branches to fall in Binsar. Even though allowing locals to clear the debris of fallen trees inside the buffer zone of the sanctuary would have given them access to timber and kept the forest floor free from flammable organic matter - the forest department didn't allow them. The result is that today, because of huge buildup of dry organic matter, 80 per cent of Binsar forest has been burnt" said Dutta.

The growing distance between local communities and the forests is worrying. "Most of the fires today are caused by sheer negligence, or worse, on purpose, because of discontentment with the way forests are being managed," said KC Suyal, joint secretary, Forest Rangers Association, Uttarakhand.

The other procedural failure is that forest fires are not recognised as National Disasters. This might be because of the erroneous but popular belief that fires are a natural aspect of the forest ecology. This is one reason why the government responded to the emergency in Uttarakhand very late.

"By recognising forest fires as National Disasters, the government will acknowledge that they are not natural," said Rawat. Further, such a move would create awareness among local communities to engage in fire-safety practices, not throw smouldering cigarette/beedi butts in the forest or burn crop waste close to the forests," he added. Most importantly, the government will be compelled to take timely action with involvement of the army or Indo Tibetan Border Police Force, when needed.

Increasing community participation and recognising forest fires as national disasters will both require policy changes. The destruction caused by recent fires should push all stakeholders to do everything possible to save what is left of the great Himalayan forests.
In a breather to Sahara chief Subrata Roy, the Supreme Court today extended his parole till July 11 to enable him to deposit Rs 200 crore with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, however, directed Roy and Sahara Group director Ashok Roy Choudhary, who were released on parole on May 6 for four weeks to attend rituals following the death of the Sahara chief's mother, to furnish individual undertaking to prove their "bona fide" and seriousness.

The bench, which gave relief to Roy, noted that the fresh list of properties provided in the sealed cover speaks that "value of your properties was far more than your liability".

"Why person with this kind of fortune shall be hesitant to make payment," the bench asked.

Sibal replied, "What is your fear? I will run away. I am going to give an undertaking that I will get Rs 500 crore in two months".

At the outset, Datar filed a status report indicating the progress made in the sale of properties belonging to Sahara group.

During the proceedings, Sibal submitted details of all the properties of Sahara group in India and abroad in a sealed cover and requested the court not to disclose the details of properties.

When the court saw the list of Roy's assets it expressed surprise why "such a rich person didn't pay a fraction of wealth and stayed in jail for two years."



Roy has been in Tihar jail since March 4, 2014 on the orders of the apex court in relation to a long running dispute with market regulator SEBI.

"We are inclined to give one chance to and Ashok Roy Choudhary to prove their offer to deposit 200 crore by July 11.

"We, accordingly, direct that the May 6 order would continue till July 11 subject to the individual undertaking being furnished by them," the bench, also comprising justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, said.

If they fail to deposit Rs 200 crore to SEBI by July 11, they will have to surrender and go back to Tihar jail, the court said in its order.

It also said Roy and Choudhary were free to meet prospective buyers of properties and move within the country in police escort as per May 6 order.

It also held that SEBI would meanwhile continue with the auction of properties of Sahara.

The bench also said Saharas can also go ahead with the sale and alienation of their other properties to raise the amount of Rs 5000 crore as a bank guarantee they have to deposit in addition to Rs 5000 crore to get bail.

The order was passed after the submission of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Rajeev Dhawan on behalf of Roy which did not receive objection from SEBI's senior counsel Arvind Datar.

However, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, who is appointed as amicus curiae in the matter to assist the court, said there are questions as to why Sahara was averse to sale of Aamby Valley and overseas hotels.

Seeking extension of interim parole for Roy till August 4, Sibal said the Sahara chief has already spent more than two years in jail and his client was ready to give an undertaking that he would pay a substantial amount of money in a span of 180 days.

"We have already suffered a lot. We have learnt the lesson. We have done everything we could do. We have even authorised SEBI to sell our properties at circle rates. Give us an opportunity. Give me a chance, I will arrange the money once I come out," Sibal said.

(Reopens LGD 31)



On May 6, the court had directed release of Roy on parole for four weeks to attend rituals following the death of his mother Chhabi Roy and allowed him to visit Haridwar and Ganga Sagar for the rites and ceremonies.

Prior to this, the bench had directed the Sahara group to furnish details of all its properties in a sealed cover to ascertain the fact as to whether they are sufficient for paying back the entire amount to the investors.

SEBI had told the court that it has engaged services of SBI Capital Markets and HDFC Realty to sell 66 properties of the Sahara Group.

The apex court had earlier asked SEBI to initiate the process of selling "unencumbered" properties of Sahara group, whose title deeds are with the market regulator, to generate the bail money for release of its chief.

SEBI was asked to devise a suitable mechanism for the sale in consultation and under the supervision of Justice Agrawal, former Supreme Court judge, and also seek help of experts or expert agencies, if required in the process.

The regulator was also asked to keep the Sahara group "duly informed about the steps taken by it in which event Sahara shall be free to provide such inputs as may be considered necessary so that the properties fetch a fair price towards sale consideration".

SEBI was also asked not to sell any property owned by the beleaguered group for a price less than 90 per cent of the circle rates for the area in question without the permission of the court, the Supreme Court had ordered on March 29.

For the interim bail of 67-year-old Roy, the court had put conditions like depositing Rs 5,000 crore in cash and a bank guarantee of equal amount and tough terms including payment of the entire Rs 36,000 crore, which includes interest. The money will be paid back to the investors of Sahara.
Supreme Court of India in perhaps one of its strongest indictments of both the Central and State government mainly of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana has pointed out several lacunae in the manner in which both state and Centre handle and drinking water crisis of 2016.



The crisis which has been due to back-to-back monsoon failure in 2014 and 2015 for the fourth time in more than 100 years has engulfed around 33 crores Indian spread across 11 states and Union Territories.



Following is the check-list of five major things which both the Centre and State governments should have done to mitigate the suffering, but failed to do as pointed out by the apex court.

1) The Centre failed to create National Disaster Response Force with specialist cadre to handle disasters like which is more of a management problem than anything else even more than 10 years after the Disaster Management Act was passed by the Parliament.

2) The Centre also failed to create a National Disaster Mitigation Act also as mandated by the Act. The National Disaster Plan as envisaged in the 2005 Act has also not yet taken shape.

3) The Management Manual, which is a must for all those dealing with this disaster and lays down specific roles and activities for both Centre and state has not been updated since 2009 despite many new developments taking place. The Court directed that the manual be updated by December 2016. The top court also said that while updating the manual, care should be taken so that equal weightage is given to rainfall failure and crop sowing shortage as vital parameters to judge whether an area has suffered drought or not.

4) The manual as per the SC should clearly lay down that all states should mandatorily declare drought latest by October that is a month after the withdrawal of southwest monsoon and employ modern methods to judge whether any region has received adequate rainfall or not. IMD in its latest order has in fact removed the word drought from its nomenclature and instead classifies it as deficient rainfall. If cumulative rainfall over a certain area is less than 10 per cent of normal it is classified as drought.

5) The Court also pointed to lack of prior-preparation in case of drought and said that both the updated drought manual and the National Plan should lay down what the cCentre and states plan to do in future to prevent calamities like drought.
The Central government finally summarised its defence today in the Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drug ban by which it had prohibited 344 FDCs from being produced and marketed in March of this year.

The ban had been challenged almost immediately by numerous pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Delhi High Court and has been a periodic post-lunch feature in Justice Rajiv Sahai End law's court since that time.

After hearing initial submissions in the petitions, the court had on March 14 provided the manufacturers interim relief by staying the operation of the ban vis-a-vis the petitioners.

In today's hearing, the Central government concluded its three-day long argument justifying the ban, centred on the grounds of public safety and pharmaceutical efficacy. In its summary, Advocate Rajul Jain appearing for the Central Government reiterated his earlier submissions and defended the action taken under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 by submitting that the section, in line with the spirit of the legislation, empowered the Central Government to act independently at any point in time to regulate drug safety standards.

He clarified the framework of the Act and identified the responsibilities of the various governmental bodies under the legislation.Jain also highlighted the wide powers given to the Central government to frame rules under the statute and conduct regulatory assessments in the interest of public well-being.

While defending the necessity of government supervision, the counsel stressed on the dynamic nature of the pharmaceutical industry and drew from the Kokate Committee Report, upon which the subsequent action was taken, which states that: "In the field of medicine, no data is final and is always open to review. What was acceptable a few years ago may not be so now."

The government's stand was opposed by the petitioner counsels and in particular the companies whose drugs had been previously approved under the mechanism of the Act (of which there are seven). The opposition led the presiding Justice End law to remark, "You (Central Government) have banned the drugs without giving an opportunity for approval (or re-approval). That is what is troubling me.

"In response, Jain drew the court's attention to the conduct of the aggrieved companies. He explained that the government had requested for data numerous times before conducting the evaluation and no one could claim to be left unaware.

"If they (the companies) chose not to come, they cannot be given benefit for their own wrong-doing" the counsel said. "Even if they had an NOC or approval, it was still incumbent on them to act in public interest," Jain further added.

While continuing his arguments, the advocate for the government also attempted to clarify the scope of judicial review in relation to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. He referred to various case laws where courts in the past have upheld such governmental action and restricted intervention only on the grounds of reasonableness and in cases without adequate public interest at stake.

Jain contended that the exercise in the present case was conducted in a logical and streamlined manner and upon the expert advice of the (Kokate) committee, which have sufficiently met the requirements attached to 'satisfaction' of the Central government, as contemplated in the Act.

After hearing the submissions advanced, the court extended its interim order in favour of the manufacturers and listed the matter again on May 19 for petitioner rebuttals.
The Union Ministry of Mines has ruled out the possibility of any cut in export duty on high-grade iron ore lumps, dashing hopes of exporters. At present, the duty is 30 per cent. Although we intend to reduce it, there is a strong protest from steel and pellet makers and also from the sponge iron industry. Keeping this in view, there would be no cut in export duty of high-grade ore, said mines secretary Balvinder Kumar.

The 2016-17 Budget removed export duty on iron ore lumps and fines with iron content of less than 30 per cent. While the move is expected to incentivise exports from Goa, it has failed to cheer exporters in Odisha.

In iron ore rich states like Odisha and Jharkhand, the inventory has been building up. As on end-March, iron ore stock (of lumps and fines) in Odisha was 76.9 million tonnes (mt) and 24.7mt in Jharkhand.

The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi) estimates 85 mt reserves of fines, for which there are hardly any takers. The domestic demand from steel, sponge iron and pellet industries is not adequate to absorb the production, resulting in continuous addition to the stockpile of ore. Fimi suggests the only remedy for clearing the stockpile is an export outlet. Hence, it pressed for abolition of export duty on all grades of ore.

On re-imposition of export duty on chrome ore and chrome ore concentrates, the ministry is yet to take a decision.

There have been representations from different stakeholders (on re-imposition of export duty). The government is still examining the issue, Kumar said.

The Union government had eliminated the 30 per cent export duty on chrome ore and chrome ore concentrates. The decision was a setback to domestic ferro chrome makers who fear dumping of cheaper ferro chrome from China and Malaysia, killing value addition.

Indias export of chrome ore reduced from 33.28 per cent of annual output in 2007 to 4.89 per cent in 2014. However, this trend is likely to be reversed with the removal of export duty. Ferro chrome makers have pleaded to the Union government to roll back its decision of lifting export duty on chrome ore.
India and five other nations, including China and Israel, signed a pact Thursday for automatic exchange of information on issues and develop new tools and standards for tackling base erosion and evasion.

"As part of continuing efforts to boost transparency by multinational enterprises (MNEs), Canada, Iceland, India, Israel, New Zealand and the People's Republic of China signed today the Multilateral Competent Authority agreement for the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports, bringing the total number of signatories to 39 countries," an OECD release said.

The signing ceremony took place Beijing.

Other countries which have already signed the pact include Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Italy and the UK.

The pact allows all signatories to bilaterally and automatically exchange Country-by-Country Reports with each other.

"It will help ensure that administrations obtain a complete understanding of how MNEs structure their operations, while also ensuring that the confidentiality of such information is safeguarded," it said.

In October last year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued final tax policy recommendations stemming from its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project.

The original concept of the BEPS project was to target limited, overly aggressive tax planning that resulted in inappropriate tax avoidance, particularly the elimination of 'cash boxes' - shell companies with few employees or economic activities and subject to little or no taxation.

The OECD/G20 BEPS Project set out 15 key actions to reform the international tax framework and ensure that profits are reported where economic activities are carried out and value created.

"Country-by-country reporting will require MNEs to provide aggregate information annually, in each jurisdiction where they do business, relating to the global allocation of income and taxes paid, together with other indicators of the location of economic activity within the MNE group.

"It will also cover information about which entities do business in a particular jurisdiction and the business activities each entity engages in," the release said.

G20 Leaders endorsed the wide-ranging BEPS package in November 2015, marking an historic opportunity for improving the effectiveness of the international tax system.

BEPS implementation is a key subject of discussion during the meeting of the Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) in Beijing, which has drawn high-level tax officials from more than 50 countries and international organisations.
The recently signed India-Mauritius tax treaty has expanded the definition of permanent establishment (PE) to bring various services offered by entities getting investments through the island country in the tax net.

With the introduction of the Service Permanent Establishment clause in the treaty, a foreign company in India will be taxable if its employees spent 90 days in India in the past 12 months, according to the text of the Protocol of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) signed on Tuesday.

After the amendment, such companies' business income in India will be taxable at 40 per cent, which is the corporate tax for foreign entities.

"Now a Service PE clause has been introduced in the treaty, which shall put to rest the tax planning practice followed by foreign entities - sending their employees to India through a Mauritius entity - to avoid taxes. With introduction of a Service PE clause, such foreign companies would be liable to tax on their global income attributable to India," said Rakesh Nangia, managing partner, Nangia and Co.

The tax will be at the highest applicable rate between the two countries. So far, a company or entity was deemed to have a PE in India if it had a place of business, office building, or factory workshop. Now, it has been extended to services as well.

The amendments also include a clause allowing source-based taxation at 10 per cent on fees paid for technical, managerial and consultancy services to foreign entities routing investments through Mauritius. So far, foreign companies earning "fees on technical services" (FTS) from India used to avoid paying tax in India, benefiting from the loophole.

"An argument was taken that since there in no clause of FTS in the treaty, FTS is not liable to tax in India," said Nangia.

The amendment to the 32-year-old treaty that aims to plug loopholes, which allowed investors to use the Mauritius route to evade taxes on capital gains in India, gives right to the source country (in this case India) to levy 7.5 per cent tax on interest earned.

The original treaty of August 1983 provided exemption on interest received by banks in the source state when they were residents of the other country.

However, exemption would continue to be granted in the case of interest arising from debt claims existing on or before March 31, 2017, provided it is derived and beneficially owned by any bank resident of the other country, carrying on banking business in the source state.

The amendment, which gives India the right to tax short-term capital gains from April 1, 2017, also allows the two countries to lend assistance to each other in collection of taxes.

Companies routing funds into India through Mauritius from the next financial year will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at 50 per cent of prevailing rate during a two-year transition period beginning April 2017. The short-term capital gains tax rate on securities exchanged through stock exchanges is at 15 per cent. The full rate will be imposed 2019 onwards.

The concessional rate of 50 per cent would be subject to fulfilment of conditions in newly-inserted Limitation of Benefit (LOB) clause, which applies to entities that spent at least Rs 27 lakh in Mauritius in the previous financial year.
to industry, which has seen a decline in the recent past due to slowdown in certain sectors and issues related to bad loans, is likely to see an uptick from next month (June), Board Bureau (BBB) chief Vinod Rai said on Thursday.

Managing directors we have met are very confident with the kind of measures we have put in place. Lending process would start very quickly and you will see very healthy growth in the of the banks, Rai said after the third meeting of the bureau since being set up in February.

We have given them comfort... You will see from the next month onwards, he said after nearly four-hour long meeting.

The newly-constituted BBB will meet heads of public sector on Friday to discuss various issues, including ways to rein in bad loans. The bureau will be having meeting with each one of them separately, he said.

The bureau was constituted to help government select heads of public sector (PSBs) and financial institutions and assist banks in developing strategies with regard to capital-raising and consolidation.

Besides, it is looking at bringing the non-performing assets, or bad loans, down in public lenders. State-owned banks have been grappling with mounting bad loans, which hit a high of Rs 3.61 lakh crore at the end of December. On consolidation, Rai said, it would happen in due course of time. The first priority is that lending process must start, second priority is vacancies must be filled up, said the former comptroller and auditor general of India. Asked if the PSBs would need more than Rs 25,000 crore budgeted for the current financial year, he said, once the results are declared, then we will get to know what is the requirement.



He also said the passage of the bankruptcy law was very useful. It strengthens the hands of lots of bankers. I think it will be very constructive.



There are 22 state-owned banks in the country, including SBI, IDBI Bank and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. Besides the chairman, the bureau has three ex-officio members and an equal number of expert members.

Expert members are ICICI Bank's former joint MD H N Sinor, Bank of Baroda's former CMD Anil K Khandelwal and rating agency Crisil's ex-chief Rupa Kudwa.

Its ex-officio members are Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Financial Services Secretary and RBI Deputy Governor.
Over-the-counter (OTC) products might soon become a reality in the insurance sector. Sources said the regulator is giving final touches to rules in this regard which could be issued in the next few weeks. Once done, insurance companies will be able to sell simple products without lengthy forms or documentation.

Presently, a product is first designed, priced and then sent to the regulatory body for approval. Once satisfied with the broad contours, the regulator approves.

In the recent past, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has said commercial products in general insurance may be sold under File and Use procedures, the term for an insurer being permitted to market a product without its prior noting.

This could soon be extended to life insurers, said sources. The segment has started to design products that are simple, so that these can be sold as OTC ones.

Complex products like unit-linked insurance might not be allowed to be sold OTC, as they are difficult to understand. Pure term or endowment policies could be sold freely if the regulations permit. File and Use require the products to be necessarily filed with the Authority before these are marketed. In guidelines on product filing for general insurance companies, Irdai said all retail products (including their modifications) shall first be filed with it.

India stands 15th globally with respect to premium income, in Swiss Res sigma study. This is because insurance penetration, measured as a percentage of premiums to a countrys gross domestic product, has been on a constant drop in India. The study says insurance penetration fell to 3.3 per cent in 2014-15, from 3.9 per cent in FY14. This has been the lowest since 2005-06, when penetration was 3.14 per cent.

It is anticipated that a number of smaller touchpoints will be activated like medical stores, grocery stores and petrol pumps from where OTC products can be purchased. This would not require any special training for the staff, except basic training in the concept of insurance and broad product categories.
The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday issued guidelines for voluntary surrender of licence by payment system operators (PSOs) under Payment & Settlements Systems (PSS) Act.

According to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act), it is mandatory to seek authorisation from the Reserve Bank to commence or operate a payment system in the country.

RBI said the option of voluntary surrender of Certificate Of Authorisation (COA) is available only to those entities which have either not commenced Payment System operations or intend to discontinue such operations.

For entities already into the operations, RBI said they will need to request in writing about the intent and reason for voluntary surrender of the licence.

They will also have to furnish details about escrow account, outstanding escrow amount and liabilities to merchants.

They will have to clearly state about not incurring any fresh liability during the process of drawing down of payment system operations. In case of MTSS  Overseas Principals, the process should be followed in respect of liabilities to customers and Indian Agents, the RBI said.

For entities who have not commenced operations as PSO, the RBI said they need to submit the relevant documents to Department of Payment and Settlement Systems of the RBI.

The Reserve Bank said, it had been receiving requests from PSOs -- Pre-paid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuers and Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS)Overseas Principals, for surrendering and consequent cancellation of the COA on voluntary basis.

The guidelines for voluntary surrender of COA are applicable to Payment System Operators -- PPI issuers, MTSS- Overseas Principal.
If Britain were to leave the European Union, it could cost Germany up to 45 billion euros ($50 billion) by the end of 2017 as exports from Europe's largest would likely be hit, a study by DZ Bank showed on Thursday.

Britain is counting down to a referendum on its membership of the European Union on June 23, with opinion polls showing voters are roughly evenly split.

"There's a lot at stake for the German because Great Britain is one of its most important trading partners," DZ Bank economist Monika Boven said.

If Britons were to vote for leaving the EU, the German would start to feel the effects in the second half of this year, Boven said.

In that case, the German economy would grow by 1.4% this year instead of DZ Bank's current prediction of 1.8%, and 0.5% in 2017 versus 1.7%, the study showed.

The German government expects the economy to grow by 1.7% this year and 1.5% next year. It has not released separate growth estimates in case of a .

Given that Germany's annual economic output is at least 3 trillion euros, DZ Bank estimates of what post- growth rates would look like would amount to economic output being around 45 billion euros lower by the end of 2017, the study showed.

"In our crisis scenario we're even expecting a slight recession in Germany around the turn of the year," Boven said.

Last year German shipments to the United Kingdom surged by almost 13% to just under 90 billion euros - the largest amount it has ever exported there. Germany only sold more goods to the United States and France.

Boven said the British market had helped stabilise the German economy at a time when the global economic environment had been tough, so the exporting sector would be directly hit if Britain were to leave the EU.
is the world's most influential source of news.

That's true according to every available measure of size - the billion-plus people who devour its News Feed every day, the cargo ships of profit it keeps raking in, and the tsunami of online traffic it sends to other news sites.

But has also acquired a more subtle power to shape the wider news business. Across the industry, reporters, editors and media executives now look to the same way nesting baby chicks look to their engorged mother - as the source of all knowledge and nourishment, the model for how to behave in this scary new-media world. Case in point: The New York Times, among others, recently began an initiative to broadcast live video. Why do you suppose that might be? Yup, the F word. The deal includes payments from Facebook to news outlets, including The Times.

Yet few Americans think of Facebook as a powerful media organisation, one that can alter events in the real world. When blowhards rant about the mainstream media, they do not usually mean Facebook, the mainstreamiest of all social networks. That's because Facebook operates under a veneer of empiricism. Many people believe that what you see on Facebook represents some kind of data-mined objective truth unmolested by the subjective attitudes of fair-and-balanced human beings.

None of that is true. This week, Facebook rushed to deny a report in Gizmodo that said the team in charge of its "trending" news list routinely suppressed conservative points of view. Last month, Gizmodo also reported that Facebook employees asked Mark Zuckerberg, the social network's chief executive, if the company had a responsibility to "help prevent President Trump in 2017." Facebook denied it would ever try to manipulate elections.

Even if you believe that Facebook isn't monkeying with the trending list or actively trying to swing the vote, the reports serve as timely reminders of the ever-increasing potential dangers of Facebook's hold on the news. That drew the attention of Senator John Thune, the Republican of South Dakota who heads the Senate's Commerce Committee, who sent a letter on Tuesday asking . Zuckerberg to explain how Facebook polices bias.

The question isn't whether Facebook has outsize power to shape the world - of course it does, and of course you should worry about that power. If it wanted to, Facebook could try to sway elections, favour certain policies, or just make you feel a certain way about the world, as it once proved it could do in an experiment devised to measure how emotions spread online.

There is no evidence Facebook is doing anything so alarming now. The danger is nevertheless real. The biggest worry is that Facebook doesn't seem to recognise its own power, and doesn't think of itself as a news organisation with a well-developed sense of institutional ethics and responsibility, or even a potential for bias. Neither does its audience, which might believe that Facebook is immune to bias because it is run by computers.

That myth should die. It's true that beyond the Trending box, most of the stories Facebook presents to you are selected by its algorithms, but those algorithms are as infused with bias as any other human editorial decision.

"Algorithms equal editors," said Robyn Caplan, a research analyst at Data & Society, a research group that studies digital communications systems. "With Facebook, humans are never not involved. Humans are in every step of the process - in terms of what we're clicking on, who's shifting the algorithms behind the scenes, what kind of user testing is being done, and the initial training data provided by humans."



Everything you see on Facebook is therefore the product of these people's expertise and considered judgment, as well as their conscious and unconscious biases apart from possible malfeasance or potential corruption. It's often hard to know which, because Facebook's editorial sensibilities are secret. So are its personalities: Most of the engineers, designers and others who decide what people see on Facebook will remain forever unknown to its audience.

Facebook also has an unmistakable corporate ethos and point of view. The company is staffed mostly by wealthy coastal Americans who tend to support Democrats, and it is wholly controlled by a young billionaire who has expressed policy preferences that many people find objectionable. . Zuckerberg is for free trade, more open immigration and for a certain controversial brand of education reform. Instead of "building walls," he supports a "connected world and a global community."



You could argue that none of this is unusual. Many large media outlets are powerful, somewhat opaque, operated for profit, and controlled by wealthy people who aren't shy about their policy agendas - Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, Fox News and The New York Times, to name a few.

But there are some reasons to be even more wary of Facebook's bias. One is institutional. Many mainstream outlets have a rigorous set of rules and norms about what's acceptable and what's not in the news business.

"The New York Times contains within it a long history of ethics and the role that media is supposed to be playing in democracies and the public," Ms. Caplan said. "These technology have not been engaged in that conversation."



According to a statement from Tom Stocky, who is in charge of the trending topics list, Facebook has policies "for the review team to ensure consistency and neutrality" of the items that appear in the trending list.

But Facebook declined to discuss whether any editorial guidelines governed its algorithms, including the system that determines what people see in News Feed. Those algorithms could have profound implications for society. For instance, one persistent worry about algorithmic-selected news is that it might reinforce people's previously held points of view. If News Feed shows news that we're each likely to Like, it could trap us into echo chambers and contribute to rising political polarisation. In a study last year, Facebook's scientists asserted the echo chamber effect was muted.

But when Facebook changes its algorithm - which it does routinely - does it have guidelines to make sure the changes aren't furthering an echo chamber? Or that the changes aren't inadvertently favouring one candidate or ideology over another? In other words, are Facebook's engineering decisions subject to ethical review? Nobody knows.

The other reason to be wary of Facebook's bias has to do with sheer size. Ms. Caplan notes that when studying bias in traditional media, scholars try to make comparisons across different news outlets. To determine if The Times is ignoring a certain story unfairly, look at competitors like The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. If those outlets are covering a story and The Times isn't, there could be something amiss about The Times's news judgment.

Such comparative studies are nearly impossible for Facebook. Facebook is personalised, in that what you see on your News Feed is different from what I see on mine, so the only entity in a position to look for systemic bias across all of Facebook is Facebook itself. Even if you could determine the spread of stories across all of Facebook's readers, what would you compare it to?



"Facebook has achieved saturation," Ms. Caplan said. No other social network is as large, popular, or used in the same way, so there's really no good rival for comparing Facebook's algorithmic output in order to look for bias.

What we're left with is a very powerful black box. In a 2010 study, Facebook's data scientists proved that simply by showing some users that their friends had voted, Facebook could encourage people to go to the polls. That study was randomised - Facebook wasn't selectively showing messages to supporters of a particular candidate.

But could it? Sure. And if it happens, you might never know.

2016 The New York Times News Service
Nissan Motor Co agreed to purchase a 34 per cent stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corp, as Japan's second-largest automaker comes to the aid of its minicar partner rocked by a fuel-economy testing scandal. Mitsubishi Motors will sell about 237.4 billion yen ($2.2 billion) in shares to Nissan, according to a filing Thursday. The purchase is poised to vault Nissan past Mitsubishi group companies to become Mitsubishi Motors' single-largest shareholder. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn is seizing on a more than 40 per cent plunge in Mitsubishi Motors' market value to gain ...
Finally, there is some clarity on the India-Mauritius bilateral tax treaty. The government said it had signed an amended treaty with Mauritius, which would tweak the previous Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). Markets opened marginally lower, recovered a bit and then resumed its journey lower.

There is little doubt that from an operational point of view, the treaty brings in a lot of clarity. But from the market's perspective, there are a few issues in the medium term. Lets look at the treaty first from an operational point of view before looking at how it will impact the market.

The treaty will surely help curb black money from entering the country by giving it the same treatment that an Indian investor gets. The government will now be able to tax investment coming in the country through Mauritius route. There is a window given by the government for investors which will help them plan their India strategy. For capital gains arising during April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019, investors will get a benefit of 50% reduction in tax rate, but from FY20 taxation will be at full domestic rates.

Mukesh Butani of BMR Legal gave a context to the entire issue in his interview with CNBC. According to Butani, India as a signatory to G20 Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project, which requires flagging stateless incomes and preventing it. The treaty sends the message that India is serious and taking the right steps towards it.

The second point Butani mentioned was from a tax policy standpoint. GAAR will kick in from April 1, 2017, and this treaty will now have to be kept in mind by policy makers while implement GAAR. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das pointed out that GAAR cannot ignore that we have signed up with Mauritius. GAAR will take note of the amendments appropriately, he said.

The third point was that the earlier grandfathering provision was upheld till August 2010. But now, it has been extended to March 31, 2017, in order to accommodate the delay. Butani pointed out that the India-Mauritius treaty with no capital gains tax was one of those exceptional treaties which was going against the grain of source based taxation and giving the rights to Mauritius to tax such income.

While there is operational clarity in terms of taxation, there are some issues which will have an impact on the market. First is the impact of tax. As Mauritius does not have short term capital gains tax, all profits post FY17 will be taxed at half the rate and post FY19 at full domestic rates. Investors will have their returns curtailed by the tax component.

Experts do not feel that this will prevent short- and long-term players from investing in India, as in a buoyant market taxes are taken as a small impediment. But the tax will definitely hurt algo traders and arbitragers for whom the profits will now be smaller. Options of routing the money through Singapore or Cyprus, the two other countries which enjoy the same tax treaty, will also be closed as Das clarified in the interview that the treaties were dependent on India-Mauritius treaty.

The bigger issue pertains to participatory notes or P-notes as they are popularly known. Of the $120 billion that foreign investors have pumped into the country, nearly $33billion is through P Notes. According to media reports, around 30 to 50% of the P Notes money is routed through ETF (exchange traded funds). Taxing ETF will impact liquidity in the market and probably make the investors shift to Singapore exchange to buy Nifty.

There are many issues in P Notes which will need clarity from the government. Not all P Notes participants might be inclined on disclosing their details. Brokers have repeatedly admitted that transition from P Notes to a regular account is a tedious task. India asks for details which no other country does. Many investors would not be comfortable with undergoing through the process. Further, there is still confusion on GAAR and the India-Mauritius issue.

There are taxation issues in P notes which can be a nightmare. Sridhar Sivaram of Enam Holding points out that the product will be very difficult even if capital gains are imposed on it. This is because of the structure of the product. It is like buying mutual fund units but the fund allowing each unit holder to trade according to them. The broker issuing P-notes will get taxed for every transaction.

Suppose if client A buys Reliance through the P-note route and client B sells Reliance the next day, again through P-note route. As far as India is concerned the broker has bought Reliance and sold it the next day and will be taxed on a short term basis. Client A will naturally object to him being taxed. Broker at his end will have to create a set-up to monitor the transactions for tax purpose or will ask the client to shift to a regular account.

Interview with foreign investors on TV channels showcase their confusion. The government will have to come out with clarifications as soon as possible. As has been this governments habit, it has always reacted after considerable damage has been done. Retrospective tax issue is a case in the point. It would be better if they clarify as soon as possible so that investors get time to realign their strategy. Arvind Sanger of New York-based Geosphere Capital rightly said that Indian markets may be under a cloud till further clarity emerges on it.
Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble -- Warren BuffetLife Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) used market volatility during the March quarter to raise its stake in companies on the Sensex, including Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), and Maruti Suzuki.

Of the 27 companies where shareholding pattern data for the March quarter is available, LIC raised its stake in 13 companies during the January-March quarter from the level seen in the preceding three months. In seven companies, the holding declined, while in the remaining seven the stake remained unchanged.

"This is a well-known pattern. Whenever the markets are in a correction or a volatile phase, or even when the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are selling, LIC comes in and buys or raises stake in stocks of blue-chip companies. And the companies it has raised stake in the March quarter have good stocks. These stocks will do well and generate a good return for LIC. The move also acts as a counter-balance to the FII selling," says Dhananjay Sinha, head of institutional research at Emkay Global Financial Services.

LIC bought shares worth nearly Rs 10,000 crore in 13 Sensex companies. At the same time, it sold shares worth Rs 1,852 crore in nine blue-chip companies, resulting in a net inflow of Rs 8,148 crore in the March quarter. FIIs and mutual funds, on the other hand, made a net investment of around Rs 3,000 crore each during the quarter in 27 companies, NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) data show.

By comparison, the Nifty 50 and the S&P BSE Sensex lost three per cent each during the March quarter, and hit their respective 52-week lows on February 29.

Meanwhile, data for 114 companies of the BSE 200 index obtained from Capitaline Plus reveal that LIC made a net investment of Rs 12,869 crore in the March quarter. Of this, it bought stocks worth Rs 16,084 crore in 47 companies and sold shares totalling Rs 3,215 crore in 24 companies.

Offer for sale



LIC also raised stake in non-Sensex companies such as IDBI Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Tata Chemicals, and Colgate-Palmolive India. On the other hand, it reduced holdings in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Ashok Leyland, and Indraprastha Gas.

In NTPC, India's largest power producer company, LIC holding increased three percentage points to 12.98 per cent in the March quarter from 10.03 per cent in the December quarter. LIC's holding in NTPC increased partly due to its participation in an offer for sale (OFS) by the government. LIC bought 243.1 million shares at an estimated value of Rs 3,182 crore during the March quarter in NTPC.

OFS enables promoters to dilute their holdings in listed companies.

Anirudh Gangahar and Archit Singhal, analysts at Nomura, suggest the government's proposed five per cent divestment in NTPC may remain an overhang on the stock price. But they have maintained a 'buy' rating on the stock, with a target price of Rs 175. In IDBI Bank, LIC increased its stake by seven percentage points to 14.37 per cent by buying shares through preferential allotment in the March quarter. It held 7.25 per cent stake in the bank at the end of the December quarter.

"The other aspect to raising stake is that LIC is also a government agent. It supports PSU (public sector unit) divestment and OFS. We have already seen that several times, like ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation)'s OFS a few years ago," Sinha adds.
Hours after Trupti Desai entered Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah and offered prayers, AIMIM leader Haji Rafat Hussain on Thursday said the Bhumata Brigade chief will not be able to enter the inner sanctum of the dargah in her lifetime.

The AIMIM leader said Desai should now enter a Parsi temple so as to confirm that she is actually fighting for women's rights and not for mere publicity.

"We are happy that Trupti Desai offered prayers at the Haji Ali Dargah. But the way she had on April 28 threatened the entire Muslim community that she would forcefully enter the dargah was not right," Hussain told ANI.

"She entered today with the police. I think she should not have done that and should have entered alone. We would have been much happy if she would have entered just like any other common person," he added.

When asked Desai had earlier said that she would now enter the inner sanctum of the dargah, the AIMIM leader said it was just a publicity stunt.

"She would not be able to enter the majar-e-sharif throughout her life. She was allowed to go where women are allowed to enter. I would also like her to now try and enter a Parsi temple, where only parsis are allowed to go, as that would confirm the people that she is actually fighting for women's rights and not for publicity," he said.

The Bhumata Brigade chief, who has been agitating for women's rights to enter places of worship which are otherwise traditionally considered out of bounds for them, today entered the Haji Ali dargah.

"Today I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality," Desai said after offering prayers.

"At Haji Ali Dargah, I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011. We saw where we are allowed till and where men go till inside Dargah," she added.

The Bhumata Brigade chief also said that they would stage a protest if the trustees do not allow women to enter the shrine in the next 15 days.

Thursday's event is the latest in Desai's movement after last month she was denied entry to enter the shrine.

Desai, who had earlier announced that she would enter the dargah on April 28, launched the campaign 'Haji Ali For All' in April to allow women to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer 'chadar' there.

The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and offer their prayers. This ban came into force in 2011.
Dilma Rousseff has been stripped of her presidential duties for at least six months after Brazil's senators voted 55-22 to impeach her and put her on trial.

The lawmakers accepted the charges against Rousseff, accusing her of manipulating government accounts to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014.

Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, will have to step aside for at least six months while she is tried in the upper house and her judges will be senators, many of whom are accused of more serious crimes, reports the Guardian.

For Rousseff's leftist Workers' Party and its supporters it's a day of shame for Brazil's political class.

While many acknowledge that her shortcomings that she never appeared comfortable dealing with Congress or communicating with the nation, they claim she is the victim of a "coup" by the opposition who were unable to accept her victory last election and deliberately caused instability to grab power.

"This is the saddest day in the history of our young democracy.This isn't a valid Constitutional process, it is a coup that goes against the opinion of the majority in the 2014 election," the Guardian quoted said Vanessa Grazziotin, a senator from the Communist Party of Brazil as saying.

Vice-President Michel Temer will now assume the presidency while Rousseff's trial takes place.

She made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court to stop the proceedings, but the move was rejected. The move brings an end to 13 years of the rule of her Workers' Party.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday reiterated that it will continue to pursue Pakistan to handover India's most wanted fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim, after a television channel claimed that it has tracked his location.

"The news reports referred only corroborates the facts that were already available with us. We will continue to pursue this matter and we expect Pakistan to hand over this international terrorist to us," Swarup told reporters at a media briefing.

Swarup also said that the Government of India has shared details of Dawood including his possible locations in Pakistan with Islamabad.

"Dawood Ibrahim is a UN designated global terrorist and a fugitive from Indian law, at several point of time his details have been shared by the Indian Government with the Government of Pakistan," he added.

Indian news channel CNN-NEWS18 had yesterday claimed that it has tracked down India's most wanted fugitive Dawood at his Pakistan-based location.

"CNN-NEWS18 has secured clinching video evidence of Dawood Ibrahim's presence in Pakistan, a claim denied by Islamabad for 23 long years," the news channel said in a statement released here.

The channel reportedly has used two Pakhtun men whose "names were withheld for safety reasons" to identify Dawood's Karachi-based residence with address bungalow No. D-13 Block 4 Clifton.

The location matches with one of the five addresses mentioned by India in its dossier to Pakistan.

The channel claimed to have checked all five addresses of Dawood mentioned in India's dossier to Pakistan, "Only one of the addresses in Karachi, D-13, Block 4, Clifton, was in a high security zone," it said.

"Starting at Clifton Marquee, a banquet hall named after the affluent Karachi locality where Dawood lives, the CNN-News18 team stopped every 100 metres, asking about Dawood Ibrahim's house. All those asked pointed to the same address D-13 Block 4 Clifton," the channel said in the statement.

"They (two Pakhtun men) made four rounds separately from different directions and spotted the house of Dawood Ibrahim. During the third round of recce, they checked about Dawood Ibrahim from a streetside stall," the statement added.

The news channel also claimed to have spoken to police officers in Karachi and the security guard at Dawood's mansion, "all of whom confirmed that Dawood has been living in Clifton".
Bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan turned sour as both nations summoned each other's envoys over Islamabad's condemnation in the hanging of former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Mizanur Rahman, secretary (bilateral) at Bangladesh's foreign ministry, summoned Pakistan's local envoy Shuja Alam at his office at 5:00pm, reports the Daily Star.

The move came immediately after Islamabad summoned Bangladesh's envoy there days after Dhaka asked to "stop meddling in its internal affairs.

It started after Pakistan voiced serious concerns over Nizami's execution by Bangladesh authorities for war crimes committed during the country's 1971 Liberation War this week.

Pakistan's parliament had yesterday passed a unanimous resolution in condemning the execution, a move that sparked outrage in Bangladesh.

Pakistan today summoned Bangladesh acting High Commissioner Nazmul Huda and handed over its resolution expressing "serious concerns" over the execution of Nizami.

Md Faisal, director general, South Asia of Pakistan foreign ministry, called for reconciliation after handing over the resolution to Nazmul Huda this afternoon.
The Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Thursday said that the passage of the Bankruptcy Bill is a perfect example of constructive cooperation in parliament towards economic progress.

Harsh Neotia, President, FICCI, said in a statement, "Bankruptcy Act is a much needed legislation for industry that would greatly help resolve issues pertaining to speedy winding up of insolvent companies, lowering NPAs, and redeployment of capital productively."

The FICCI was giving a response a day after the Rajya Sabha had passed a new bankruptcy code.

The opposition, however, had earlier insisted on tougher measures against corporate defaulters so that the nation's banks could be helped to recover over 120 billion dollars (nearly Rs 8 lakh crore at $1 = Rs 66) in troubled loans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also promised to introduce a code to address bank debts and improve the ease of doing in Asia's third largest economy.

India's efforts to clip the wings of high-profile debtors suffered a setback in March when tycoon Vijay Mallya flew to London as bankers pressed him to repay about 1.4 billion dollars(around Rs 9,000 crore) owed by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

The insolvency and bankruptcy code, earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, is expected to strengthen hands of lenders to recover outstanding debts by setting a deadline of 180 days for companies to pay or face liquidation.

The new law will make borrowers think twice before they think of defaulting on their loans.

The Debts Recovery Tribunal and the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act which exist now won't be able to interfere with this law. The 180-day period during which an insolvency case will be tried unde this law will be a moratorium and no other judiciary can interfere.

The law also calls for the setting up of between 15 to 20 National Company Law Tribunals to hear insolvency cases.

One major change is that insolvency practitioners will be appointed as administrators. Today, there is only one high court official who looks after the winding-up of a company.
Ali Haider Gilani on Thursday made a public appearance at his Lahore home for the first time since he returned to Pakistan from three years of captivity in Afghanistan.

"I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and hard work for my return. I am thankful to have reached home safely and happily. I feel great," Dawn quoted Haider as saying with his father Yousuf Raza Gilani by his side.

"I'd also like to thank everyone celebrating, especially those who came [to Lahore] all the way from Multan just to see me. I'd like to thank them all," he added.

He, however, refused to describe his ordeal or any details whether he would publish a memoir or not.

"It's a very long story," he said adding," I was very close to God before the Taliban too."

Meanwhile, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani thanked the US and Afghan forces efforts for rescuing his son.

"The way my son has been saved is a miracle," he said.

The former PM also revealed his son had written a manuscript for a book detailing his ordeal while in captivity, which has been burned since.

Gilani's kidnapped son Ali Haider Gilani was on Tuesday recovered in a joint operation of Afghan and US forces from an Al Qaeda compound in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

He was kidnapped after an election rally in May 2013 in his hometown Multan.

He returned Pakistan on Wednesday in a special plane sent by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday slammed state's Deputy Chief Minister Tejasvi Yadav's comment for comparing the Pathankot terror attack to the killing of a youth in a road rage incident in Gaya last week and called for a CBI inquiry into the matter.

Manji told ANI, "Every state government is responsible and answerable for whatever is happening within its boundaries and so is the case in Bihar. Now, if we talk of Bihar then I will say that the people of the state have voted for the JD (U) and RJD to maintain the law and order situation, I requested the Prime Minister for a CBI inquiry, the truth will come out then."

"Gaya is not the lone case which is an example of 'jungle raj', there are many more. This case was shocking, it showed the people of these parties believe that nobody can stand in front of them, they are terrorising people," he added.

Tejaswi Yadav yesterday listed several cases, including the Pathankot terror attack, to deny the opposition's charge that there was jungle raj in the state.

"Isn't raising of Pakistani flags in Kashmir valley an example of jungle raj? What about terrorists' attack on the IAF base at Pathankot, isn't that jungle raj," Tejaswi, the son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, said.

"In Madhya Pradesh, an officer was killed brutally by sand mafias. In Vyapam scam, witnesses were killed one by one ... but this is not called a 'jungle raj'," he said.

"When an engineer was killed in Jharkhand, neither the conscience of the BJP was pricked nor the BJP-supported media remembered 'jungle raj' jumla (euphism)," he added.

Opposition parties earlier trained guns at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allowing the return of 'jungle raj' after JD (U) MLC Manorama Devi's son Rocky Yadav allegedly shot dead a 20-year-old youth for overtaking his vehicle last week.
between India and Belarus today stands at around 450 million dollars and the two nations are now aiming to take this number to one billion dollars by 2018.

To achieve this target and a high turnover there was a need to effectively implement the existing roadmap for cooperation.

The two nations should focus on renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and bio-tech, automotive industry, hi-tech and food sectors as these offer ample opportunities for investment and .

Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of National Assembly, Republic of Belarus, said this at an interactive session organized by FICCI in association with the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in India.

Visiting with his business delegation from Belarus, Myasnikovich today called upon the Indian and Belarusian industry to promote interregional cooperation in an active manner. He assured that Belarus would help in transfer of technology, making India a technologically-advanced country.

He said that in Belarus four pharmaceutical production projects are being carried out jointly with Indian investors. Together with potential Indian partners, Bela-Russian leading world-famous industrial companies are working on establishing manufacturing facilities in India.

Underlining the challenges faced by the Indian and Bela-Rusian businesses, G V Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, said that communication gap, visa issuance and flight connectivity, were some of the concerns. He added that in today's day and age, communication gap can be easily bridged with the help of technology. On visa issuance and flight connectivity, Mr. Srinivas said that the two sides were aware of the issues and were working towards resolving it.

Andrei Hrynkevich, Head of Asia, Australia & Oceania, Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belarus, said that a highly skilled workforce, geographical position of Belarus and rapid economic development with a favorable investment climate made Belarus a good destination for investment. He added that with an industrially developed economy, well-developed transport and communications infrastructure, perfect access to different markets, Belarus is an attractive nation for international .

Vitaly Prima, Ambassador of Belarus, said that there was a need for stimulating economic activities between India and Belarus. The B2B meetings were a great opportunity for exploring new areas of cooperation and forging partnerships and in entering feasible projects.

Mikhail Myatlikov, Chairman, Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that there was a need for a framework for economic partnership to achieve the set target of a billion dollars by 2018.

He added that Belarus was one of the leaders among the CIS countries according to the level of economic development and offered business opportunities in various sectors.

Rakesh Bakshi, Chairman and Managing Director, RRB Energy Limited, said that to achieve the target of a billion dollars in trade between the two countries by 2018, India and Belarus need to de create a roadmap with clearly defines tangibles and deliverable. He added that pharmaceuticals, clean energy, defence and heavy engineering, were some of the key sectors where both the countries could establish fruitful associations.

Payal Koul Mirakhur, Vice President, Invest India, made a presentation on Invest India.

On the occasion, several agreements and Memorandum of Understanding were signed between the India and Belarusian companies.
ixigo, India's leading travel search marketplace has launched ixigo inspire -a Chrome extension that inspires travelers and instantly compares travel deals across travel sites.

ixigo's inspire plugin opens each new Google Chrome tab with a stunning background photo of an inspiring destination from around the world along with an array of quotes that can stimulate your travel aspirations.

Apart from this, the browser add-on helps you find the cheapest deals on hotels and flights. While you browse on any online travel website, ixigo automatically brings you the best deals available real-time, no matter which travel website they are on.

The extension enhances the traveler's browsing experience, by adding unique features like PNR lookups and PNR confirmation predictions for trains from ixigo's website. The extension also acts as a one stop solution to manage all your bookings.

Talking about this innovation, CTO and Co-Founder ixigo, Rajnish Kumar said, "ixigo aims at enhancing the end to end travel experience for our users. Not just do we want to provide you with the best travel deals, we also want to inspire and motivate you to travel. Each new browser tab now refreshes and informs you about a wonderful new destination to visit. At launch, we already have over two lakh users getting inspired to travel daily, and we expect this to become the default tab for five million travelers by the end of the year."

The ixigo inspire Chrome extension has received a great deal of positive feedback from users, especially on Twitter. In addition to all its existing features the plugin also allows you to refer and earn cash-back coupons that can be used on the ixigo travel app. Going forward, the extension will be coming out with an array of features that will not only inspire, but help you book your travel.
Japan aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors every year by 2030, and the country has been extensively promoting itself.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, a Japanese travel company helps facilitate local customers.

Kenji Nakamura, Managing Director, HIS Tours Co., Ltd. (Thailand), said, "As per our company's global expansion plan we started travel services in Bangkok for local customers six years ago. Primarily, we provide services to customers traveling to Japan. In Thailand, at that point, a tourist visa was required for traveling to Japan. After the visa issue solved, the situation became very user-friendly for customers. Japan has become accessible and soon turned into a popular travel destination."

HIS has setup many branches in Thailand, a majority of them located at public places like subways.

They have hired local staff to better communicate with the customers.

As per the promotion strategy, an entire train was painted and made into a HIS train.

The company has also used social media as a tool for promotional activities.

With visa relaxation and better information services in Thailand, Japan has become closer than before.

Pattapong Prueusrisauul, a customer, said, "When I visited Japan for the first time in 2010, a visa was required. However, when I made my second trip in 2014 to Kyushu, there was no visa needed. Along the course traveling to Japan, I became more and more comfortable with not only booking hotels, but also with public transportations, such as subway."

Over the past 40 years, with great variety, the YumYum brand produced by Wan Thai Food Industry Co. Ltd has been the favorite noodle product not only in Thailand, but also in many countries abroad.

Wan Thai Foods Industry Co, Ltd was established in Thailand in 1971. Ever since implementing the latest technologies and continuous pursuit of excellence, the YumYum brand has been widely loved among its customers.

In modern Thailand, the strong presence of convenient stores and mini-markets is changing customers eating habits.

Among the various types of products, the cupped noodle products are showing rapid growth in the market.

A member of the research and development staff of Wan Thai Foods Industry Co. Ltd. said, "First, our products have more vegetable than other brands. The second thing our products have tastes, aroma and flavor. And the third thing, our product is environment-friendly."

"ME PLUS" is a new item suitable for female office workers, a key customer group which lives in a fast-paced lifestyle.

A member of the marketing staff at Wan Thai Foods Industry Co. Ltd, said, "The benefits of "ME PLUS" are ENJOY rich soup, and the new style of instant noodles, which can fulfill the stomach appropriately with the right portions. "ME PLUS" has healthy benefits from vitamins A, C and E. Moreover, the product is very easy to prepare and convenient to eat with spoons. You can eat and work at the same time without worrying spill and getting dirty."

With the great tastes, healthiness and convenience delivered by YumYum products, Wan Thai Foods Industry Co., Ltd strives to create happiness and healthy life for everyone through making food products with quality.
Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav downplayed his comment that if the murder, caused by road rage, exemplifies 'lawlessness', so does January's deadly attack on the Pathankot air force base, saying that People who level allegations on Bihar should define 'Jungle Raj'.

"People who level allegations of 'Jungle Raj' on Bihar, I just asked them to define 'Jungle Raj'. Bihar road rage incident is sad and unfortunate. We assure family of victim justice will be done and culprits will be punished," Tejaswi told the media here.

"I said it in context of people who are trying to make an issue out of it, those who say there is 'Jungle Raj' in Bihar. I particularly didn't mention Pathankot, but also talked about Jharkhand and Vyapam in Madhya Pradesh," he added.

Tejaswi further asked as to why don't people talk about 'Jungle Raj' in other states with regard to incidents that take place there.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tejaswi listed several cases, including the Pathankot terror attack, to deny the opposition's charge that there was 'jungle raj' in the state.

"Isn't raising of Pakistani flags in Kashmir valley an example of jungle raj? What about terrorists' attack on the IAF base at Pathankot? Isn't that jungle raj?" Tejaswi, the son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, said.

"In Madhya Pradesh, an officer was killed brutally by sand mafias. In Vyapam scam, witnesses were killed one by one ... but this is not called a 'jungle raj'," he said.

Opposition parties earlier trained guns at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allowing the return of 'jungle raj' after JD (U) MLC Manorama Devi's son Rocky Yadav allegedly shot dead a 20-year-old youth for overtaking his vehicle last week.
Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) has allegedly fired six mortar shells targeting a camp of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Bandarban.

Lieutenant Colonel Reza of 57 Alikadam Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh said the helipad of the camp inside the remote Sangu Wildlife Sanctuary was damaged by the shelling, reports the Daily Star.

Reza said that Border Guard Bangladesh has prepared a protest letter, which will be handed over to the Myanmar border guards later in the day.

Meanwhile, additional forces of BGB have been deployed on border points and patrols have been strengthened.

Locals say that tension has been mounting on the border areas between both the nations.

On August 26, last year Myanmarese separatist group Arakan Army suddenly attacked on a BGB patrol team in Boro Modak area in Bandarban leaving two soldiers injured.
NIIT, a global leader in skills and talent development, and edX, the non-profit global leader in online learning co-founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), entered into a strategic partnership to redefine the online education space in India.

Through this partnership NIIT and edX aim to create high-impact learning experiences for learners by offering the next generation Blended Learning MOOC model that provides an engaging and live interactive experience that goes much beyond the core MOOC content. The partnership was announced by Rajendra Pawar, Chairman NIIT and Anant Agarwal, CEO edX and MIT Professor at a press conference in the capital today.

edX and NIIT pioneers in their respective domains have a track record of offering the best education and training experiences to their learners across the globe. Over the last 15 years, NIIT has continuously invested in its Blended Learning delivery capability through innovations such as its Imperia Synchronous Learning delivery model and its Cloud CampusTM with student-centric learning enablers. Under this partnership, the live synchronous delivery capability and on-ground student servicing capability of NIIT will be combined with the world class MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) provided by edX and its university partners to offer futuristic talent development programs to learners in India.

To start with, programs aligned to the changing future-skill-sets requirement of the industry in areas like Programming using Python from MIT, HTML5 from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Data Science and Analytics from Columbia University, and Data Science and Engineering with Spark from University of California, Berkeley will be offered jointly by NIIT and edX. These could be availed by students at the college, recent graduates or working professionals looking to upskill themselves.

Additionally, many organizations in India are also looking at integrating MOOC offerings in their overall talent development plans to bring in range and flexibility while promising to lower costs of upskilling employees. Select pilot courses would be made available to organizations looking at MOOCs for upskilling. NIIT will work closely with industry bodies such as NASSCOM and the member organizations to add value to the learning development initiatives.

Rajendra Pawar, Chairman, NIIT, said: "As a pioneer in the use of technology in education, NIIT has been at the forefront of technological and pedagogical innovations in learning. With the Indian education system moving fast towards online learning, MOOCs is a great way to bridge the quality, affordability and accessibility gap in education. It gives us great pleasure to join hands with edX, one of the leading providers of MOOCs, to transform the talent development space in India by introducing the next-level of MOOC-based learning that delivers superior outcomes and higher completion rates".

"NIIT and edX offer an unmatched, world-leading combination to learners in India", added Pawar.

Despite the popularity of MOOCs, recent studies have found that completion rates of the programs are low with some reported to be significantly lower than 10%. The low retention and completion rates are major concerns for educators and institutions. Only 5% of enrolled students complete a free MOOC. Even MOOC courses with paid verified certification options see completion rates of only 60 percent or higher. So there is significant scope for improvement which this initiative is targeting with its unique Blended Learning model.

The alliance between NIIT and edX will bring the best of eLearning and instructor-led education to the students. For select courses, NIIT and edX will offer a pre-configured course that includes the MOOC, blended services from NIIT, and the certification exam from the Institutional partner. Thus, the students will be able to earn a Verified Certificate from the concerned Institute.

Anant Agarwal, CEO, edX and MIT Professor, said: "At edX, we take our mission of increasing global access to high-quality education seriously. We connect learners to the best universities and institutions from around the world. India has always been a focus for us, especially with the government's emphasis on Digitalization and Upskilling. With this strategic tie-up, edX will offer a tremendous opportunity to learners to access high-quality education, with a blend of Instructor-led education by NIIT. We're proud to partner with a pioneering organization such as NIIT, and support its mission of providing quality training and know-how to a wide spectrum of learners.
One person was killed and nine others were injured in an accident in Chennai's Kishkinta Amusement Park on Wednesday evening.

According to reports, the mishap took place on a Ferris wheel and speculations are that it was due to some technical glitch.

The injured have been admitted to Deepam Hospital in the city's Tambaram area. Seven of the injured persons are said to be amusement park employees.
Raising the issue of Kashmir at the United Nations, Pakistan underscored the need for the body to stop pursuing double standards and injustices being done the Kashmiris and urged to honour the commitments made to them through its resolutions.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi speaking at a high-level debate on Peace and Security in the United Nations in New York raised the issue, reports Radio Pakistan.

The Pakistani envoy urged the 193 nation's body to play its role against the military aggression and denial of the right of self-determination to people living under occupation.

She also questioned why the Security Council was reluctant to refer legal disputes to the International Court of Justice.

Islamabad has time and again raised the issue of Kashmir at various UN platforms, to which New Delhi has strongly condemned citing clear interference in its internal affairs and unwarranted.
President Pranab Mukherjee will begin his two-day visit to Varanasi from today.

He will today deliver a special lecture on centenary year of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

According to a press release by the University, he will deliver the speech at Swatantrata Bhawan at 6 p.m. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik will be the Guest of Honour and Chancellor of BHU, Dr. Karan Singh will preside over the function.

The President will tomorrow morning attend Ganga Saptami at Dshaswamedh Ghat.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Varanasi in view of President Mukherjee's visit.
Tim Hiddleston buys an apartment with a view of the apocalypse in the social sci-fi

Tim Hiddleston buys an apartment with a view of the apocalypse in the social sci-fi High-Rise .

Apartment living falls apart in energetic adaptation of cult classic

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

New Mexico Film Foundation host filmmakers mixer, KiMo screens One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest , Albuquerque Comic Con looks for films.

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Santosh Bhardwaj, the marine engineer who was rescued after being held in captivity in Niger delta in Nigeria for over a month, on Thursday expressed gratitude towards Union Government for its efforts to rescue him from the clutches of the pirates.

Bhardwaj, who reached his residence in Varanasi on Wednesday, said the pirates took away all their money and belongings.

"They took over the ship, we hid but they held the ship captain hostage. Later on the pirates took all our money, and other belongings then held us captive in their hideaway. The Indian Government contributed a lot, especially External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj. The government was in constant touch with the Embassy and our company," Bhardwaj told ANI.

"The pirates basically wanted money, they then contacted the company we worked for and asked for ransom money. We were very scared at first. We didn't know what to expect but the pirates said they wanted money, and won't harm us," he added.

Swaraj had yesterday informed that Bhardwaj, who was kidnapped by pirates near Nigeria on March 26, has been rescued.

Swaraj took to Twitter and said, "I am extremely happy to inform that Shri Santosh Bhardwaj has been rescued from pirates in Nigeria."

Bhardwaj, an engineer in Singapore-based shipping company Transocean Limited, was kidnapped along with four colleagues from different countries when their ship Sampatiki was at sea, around 30 nautical miles off Nigerian capital Lagos.
RJD leader and former union minister Prem Chand Gupta on Thursday downplayed Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav's comparison of the Gaya road rage case with the terrorist attack the Pathankot air base, saying the grand alliance government under Nitish Kumar's leadership does not support crime.

"No one supports crime. Whatever happened in Gaya is unfortunate and saddening. The party his (Rocky) mother belongs to is JD (U); it has nothing to do with our party,' Gupta told ANI here.

"Yes, we are in alliance.Should we hang ourselves? Is that a solution? The police is taking action," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tejaswi listed several cases, including the Pathankot terror attack, to deny the opposition's charge that there was 'jungle raj' in the state.

"Isn't raising of Pakistani flags in Kashmir valley an example of jungle raj? What about terrorists' attack on the IAF base at Pathankot? Isn't that jungle raj?" Tejaswi, the son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, said.

"In Madhya Pradesh, an officer was killed brutally by sand mafias. In Vyapam scam, witnesses were killed one by one ... but this is not called a 'jungle raj'," he said.

Opposition parties earlier trained guns at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allowing the return of 'jungle raj' after JD (U) MLC Manorama Devi's son Rocky Yadav allegedly shot dead a 20-year-old youth for overtaking his vehicle last week.
Former union home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R.K. Singh on Thursday criticised Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav for comparing the recent Gaya road rage incident with that of Pathankot terror attack, saying the latter's 'immature' statement only showed that the state government is not at all serious about maintaining law and order in the state.

"This is a very serious matter. The statement made by the Bihar deputy chief minister implies that the state government is not at all serious or concerned about what happened in Gaya where a 19-year-old person lost his life. It is condemnable," Singh told ANI.

"If people who are in power in Bihar, have such a mentality, then I am afraid things are not going to change in the state. It is shameful that he (Tejaswi) is comparing the Pathankot terror attack with the Gaya incident... His statement only shows his immaturity," he added.

Tejaswi had yesterday compared Pathankot terror attack to the killing of a youth in a road rage incident in Gaya last week.

The Bihar Deputy Chief Minister listed a number of cases, including the Pathankot terror attack, in which seven security personnel were killed by Pakistani terrorists in January, to deny the opposition's charge that 'jungle raj' was returning in the state.

Tejaswi, who is the younger son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, alleged that the BJP has never initiated decisive action against the perpetrators responsible for violence in their respective states.

"In Madhya Pradesh, an officer was killed brutally by the sand mafia. In the Vyapam scam, the witnesses were killed one after the other. A JMM leader was killed in Jharkhand. Such episodes are never tagged as 'jungle raj', but in Bihar, they say it is 'jungle raj'. This is being done just to defame the government because they have been ousted from power (in Bihar) till 2019," he said.

Tejaswi also referred to the violence during the quota agitation in Gujarat and Haryana.

Rocky Yadav, the son of Janata Dal (United) Council member Manorama Devi, who has been accused of killing of a teenager in Gaya town, was arrested on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old was arrested in Bodh Gaya, about 15 kilometres from Gaya.

Yadav allegedly shot dead Aditya Sachdeva, a teenager at point blank range on Saturday night for overtaking his car on the Bodh Gaya-Gaya road.
Salman Khan has yet again sparked the dating rumours with Iulia Vantur after the two were recently spotted leaving Mumbai airport accompanied by the 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' actor's mother Salma Khan and sister Alivra Agnihotri.

The online leaked-picture, shows Salman discussing something with a guy over dinner while Iulia is seen sitting next to him.

Yesterday, the duo was spotted spending time together in Chandigarh, where the 'Kick' actor was shooting his upcoming flick 'Sultan.
Security forces have confirmed the arrest of a top Maoist commander in West Medinipur, West Bengal.

Mansaram Hembram, alias Bikas, was produced before a judicial magistrate court in West Medinipur district which sent him to police custody for 12 days on Wednesday.

He was wanted in a landmine attack on the then chief minister's convoy in Salboni town in 2008. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and then Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Pawan had a narrow escape on November 2, 2008 when a powerful IED, suspected to be planted by the left-wing extremists went off moments near a culvert on the Salboni-Medinipur road after their convoys passed through Kalaichandi in West Medinipur District.

The explosive device was attached to a wire that stretched nearly two km across an adjoining paddy field. The blast damaged a pilot vehicle, which was following the convoy. Six police personnel in the pilot vehicle were injured, two of them seriously.

The leaders were returning from Salboni after attending the foundation laying ceremony of Jindal Steel Works' mega steel plant. Police then suspected the CPI-Maoist to be behind the incident.

On Wednesday, Mohammad Habib, a lawyer said," The court granted 12 days of PC (Police Custody) for recovery of arms and ammunition. The IO (Investigating Officer) also said that there are some people who are absconding. Therefore, his PC is required for the arrest of the rest of the accused."

Maoists, also known as Naxals in India, are inspired by the political philosophy of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong. They say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers.

The rebels have operated for decades across a wide swath of central and eastern India, and grew in strength during recent times in areas where poor, tribal villagers came into conflict with mining companies seeking resources for industrialisation.

Maoists seek the violent overthrow of the Indian state but have so far not managed to spread significantly into urban areas.

They have killed police and politicians and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since the 1960s.
Asserting that the Uttarakhand episode has 'humiliated the Centre, the Shiv Sena on Thursday said this decision should have been taken diligently.

"The entire episode of Uttarakhand has humiliated the Centre because this decision should have been taken with more patience and considerations, it (Centre) should have been diligent in its approach but we think this didn't happen," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI.

"The episode of Uttarakhand should not repeat, it has been the advice of Shiv Sena since long," he added.

Attempting to corner the Centre for creating a crisis in the hill state, Raut said: "When one gets absolute mandate, then in one way there is terrorism of majority."

"The terrorism whether it is of gun or it is of power or majority is a threat to the nation. And we have been seeing that danger from the era of Indira Gandhi and we have also seen its consequences," he added.

In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena leader said that one should be more loyal and humble when people give him the absolute majority.

"Moreover, the majority and the power are never permanent, today it is with you and tomorrow it will be with someone else," he added.

President's rule has been lifted in Uttarakhand. The development came after the Supreme Court yesterday declared that Congress has won the floor test held in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

The court said, of the 62 votes in the 71-member assembly, Harish Rawat had won 33 votes. Nine rebel MLAs were not allowed to take part in the vote.
Even as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continues to maintain a stoic silence over the alleged involvement of suspended Janata Dal (United) MLC Manorama Devi's son Rakesh Ranjan Yadav, alias, Rocky Yadav, in the murder of teenager Aditya Sachdeva, the bereaved family is hopeful of the Bihar Government ordering a speedy trial.

Questioning Nitish Kumar's silence, Aditya's mother Chanda said she was shocked as to why the chief minister was not speaking. "We voted for him with great expectations as there was peace and happiness during his previous term. We used to roam around fearlessly. He will have to take decision in our favour, as our expectations are very high from him," she said.

Expressing her anguish over the fleeing of Manorama Devi after the Gaya Police allegedly seized six bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from her residence during a raid to nab the absconding Rocky Yadav on Monday night, she said she was surprised at the way she had disappeared.

"Though she had no involvement in the (murder) case, illicit liquor was seized from residence. I am surprised how she could flee," she added.

Aditya's father Keshav Chand Sachdeva said he was very hopeful of speedy justice after Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav's assurance. "We are hopeful that he would do justice considering us his family and Aditya his younger brother so that a good message goes across the state. I hope that he will deliver."

When asked about the chief minister's silence on the issue, Sachdeva said, "Only he can tell as to why he is silent, I have lost everything."

Talking about the police action in the murder case, he said, "If the higher-ups of the government are serious about delivering justice, the police will take the right course. If the higher-ups put pressure, then the police will also proceed in the right direction."

Rocky Yadav was arrested on Tuesday morning from his father's farm in Bodh Gaya., while the Excise Department had on Wednesday sealed the house of Manorama Devi.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who has been reinstated to the top post after proving majority in the floor test, will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the capital this afternoon.

During the meeting to be held at the Congress president's official 10, Janpath residence, Rawat will be accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues.

Earlier in day, Rawat held first Cabinet meeting in the Uttarakhand Secretariat. Thereafter, he met Governor K.K. Paul at the Raj Bhavan in Dehradun.

"I met the Governor to thank him for great management of work in our forced absence," Rawat said after meeting Paul.

The Centre had yesterday revoked President's rule from Uttarakhand after the Congress proved its majority on the floor of the House.

The Congress won by a margin of 33-28 in the floor test on Tuesday.

The result of the trust vote was handed over to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover yesterday along with video recording of the proceedings in the state assembly.

The Centre had imposed President's rule in the hill state on March 27.
Expressing great concern over the 'unusually high amount of violence, including such acts against women in the state, outgoing Chief Justice of Tripura High Court Deepak Gupta remarked that 'may be due to terrorism people have become immune to violence'.

Justice Gupta who was interacting with media persons yesterday, viewed that settlement of disputes should not be done by extra constitutional bodies those do not have legal basis.

At a time when the Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur said there is an inadequate number of judges to handle pending cases, according to outgoing Tripura High Court Chief Justice in the Northeastern states along with Tripura less number of cases being registered in the court is a matter of worry.

He appealed to the citizens to come to court and raise their problem for settlement of disputes and should extra constitutional bodies for settled as they are not legitimate. Moreover, he said that "in some of the Northeastern state traditional tribal courts go much beyond the jurisdiction; they have been settling rape cases, murder cases. That cannot be settled by tribal court."

Justice Gupta said that the traditional tribal laws of the region which needs immediate codification.

On determining the reason behind less number of people coming to court the Chief Justice Gupta felt may be due to low level of awareness about constitutional rights and fundamental rights of the citizens in the region beside poverty.

On the achievements of the High Court of Tripura during the last three years, Justice Gupta pointed out that there were a total number of 6,615 pending cases. But now pendency is reduced to 2,804 and pendency of old cases reduced to only 90 and which is just three percent.

Moreover, the Tripura High Court became the first in the country to introduce SMS service whereby every litigant and lawyers get information about the next date of hearing of the case in time. The same service is now operating in 59 of 66 lower courts of Tripura. After Tripura, push based SMS service started in many other high courts and also in the Supreme Court, Justice Gupta stated.

Justice Gupta is leaving Tripura today and would assume charge as the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday. He opined that without a high court, a state cannot be called complete and added that such courts have to be independent of the state so that it can keep a tab and prevent the legislative and the executive from violating the Constitution.

Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei of the Gauhati High Court has been appointed as the next Chief Justice of Tripura.
There was once a time in India when buying fancy European cars was an actual luxury, reserved only for the elite. But then came globalisation and, voila, a plethora of foreign automakers actually set up manufacturing facilities in the country. And with that, several manufacturers have continuously attempted to push up their levels of localisation. One of them, the German luxury carmaker BMW has now rolled out its 50,000th car locally produced in India, informed a press release on Thursday.

It was a unit of the all-new BMW 7 Series that received the distinction of being this very set of wheels. Launched at the Expo 2016, the all-new BMW 7 Series caught the eye of moneyed luxury enthusiasts with its futuristic technologies including Touch Command System, Wireless Charging, Sky Lounge and Remote Control Parking.

On the occasion, managing director of the BMW Plant Chennai, Dr Jochen Stallkamp said, It is with great pride that we are rolling-out the 50,000th car locally produced at BMW Plant Chennai. Each and every BMW that is locally produced is of the same international standards as anywhere else in the world and brings a smile on the faces of our customers.

In a bid to jump on the Make in India bandwagon, the Bavarian manufacturer has also increased the level of localisation at BMW Plant Chennai by up to 50 percent, added the release.

The Chennai plant of BMW, having commenced operations in 2007, currently produces eight different car models. The list includes the likes of the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1, the BMW X3 and the BMW X5.

Source : CarDekho
It was not very long ago that taxis were synonymous with black-and-yellow Premier Padminis in Mumbai and a slew of similarly-tinted Maruti Suzuki Omnis in the rest of India. But the meteoric rise of car aggregators  mainly Ola and Uber, has brought about a dramatic change in the countrys cab landscape.

As a result, premium carmakers like Honda are now breaking away from the taxi taboo and are planning to tap in on the potential of this segment. The Japanese carmaker expects the sales to taxi fleet operators to bring in incremental volume.

The radio-cab market is something which is definitely going to have an impact in the future, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Honda Cars India, Jnaneswar Sen told Economic Times in an interview.

The company is looking at this as a long-term strategy and is willing to be patient for results. For the fleet customers, we are not on top of mind, so the initiative will take time to mature. We have given our Amaze sedan for that segment and we are testing waters now with the fleet market, he added.

As per reports, Honda has supplied around 2.5 lakh sedans to drivers who are associated with Ola and Uber. It will also be spreading its wings in other segments soon by selling the Mobilio multipurpose vehicle to this market.

In the past, other manufacturers have been making the most of the fleet vehicle market even as the likes of Honda maintained arms length. Indias top two car manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor, have come out with specific fleet versions of their brands, Dzire and i10, respectively, which were different from those meant for personal buyers.

Apart from Honda, French automaker Renault is also expected to soon launch a fleet version of its MPV Lodgy that was launched in late 2015.

Source : CarDekho
Sales decline 5.35% to Rs 2966.12 crore

Net profit of Apollo Tyres declined 20.27% to Rs 245.16 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 307.48 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. Sales declined 5.35% to Rs 2966.12 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 3133.93 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015.

For the full year,net profit rose 11.81% to Rs 1093.02 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 977.61 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. Sales declined 8.00% to Rs 11707.80 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 12725.70 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Mar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Sales2966.123133.93 -5 11707.8012725.70 -8 OPM %16.0916.49 -16.8115.17 - PBDT473.17477.19 -1 1946.721801.61 8 PBT350.40389.57 -10 1522.831413.32 8 NP245.16307.48 -20 1093.02977.61 12

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Apollo Tyres' consolidated net profit fell 20.26% to Rs 245.16 crore on 4.61% decline in total income to Rs 3009.36 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016. Apollo Tyres' board of directors at its meeting held yesterday, 11 May 2016, approved the issue of non convertible debentures aggregating to Rs 1000 crore on private placement basis, in one or more tranches.

On a consolidated basis, Oracle Financial Services Software's net profit fell 3% to Rs 224.40 crore on 7% increase in total revenues to Rs 1013 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. On a consolidated basis, net profit fell 2% to Rs 1165.80 crore on 5% increase in total revenues to Rs 4092.80 crore in the year ended March 2016 over the year ended March 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

Adani Power announced that it has raised Rs 330 crore by allotment of 3,300 rated, listed, redeemable, zero coupon, non- convertible debentures (NCDs) of the face value of Rs 10 lakh each on private placement basis. The NCDs will be listed on the wholesale debt market segment of BSE. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

Jubilant Life Sciences announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Jubilant DraxImage Inc (JDI) and Cyclopharm have mutually terminated their previously announced term sheet for exclusive commercial rights of Technegas in the US market. Both parties have agreed to discuss potential commercial opportunities once Cyclopharm obtains United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval for Technegas, Jubilant Life Sciences said in a statement. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

TVS Srichakra's net profit rose 51.16% to Rs 51.44 crore on 12.95% growth in net total income from operations to Rs 525.24 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

Gulf Oil Lubricants India's net profit rose 38.17% to Rs 30.04 crore on 3.06% growth in net total income from operations to Rs 271.89 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

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Apollo Tyres fell 0.81% to Rs 152.15 at 9:44 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit declined 20.27% to Rs 245.16 crore on 5.35% decline in net sales to Rs 2966.12 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015.

The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 225.83 points, or 0.88%, to 25,822.85 .

On BSE, so far 2.43 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 2.12 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 155.10 and a low of Rs 148.65 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 223.30 on 5 August 2015. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 127.95 on 20 January 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 11 May 2016, falling 8.80% compared with 2.30% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 3.13% as against Sensex's 11.52% rise.

The mid-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 50.90 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

On a consolidated basis, Apollo Tyres' net profit rose 11.81% to Rs 1093.02 crore on 8% decline in net sales to Rs 11707.80 crore in the year ended March 2016 over the year ended March 2015.

Apollo Tyres' board of directors at its meeting held yesterday, 11 May 2016, approved the issue of non convertible debentures aggregating to Rs 1000 crore on private placement basis, in one or more tranches.

Apollo Tyres is in the business of manufacture and sale of tyres. The company markets its products under its two global brands - Apollo and Vredestein, and its products are available in over 100 countries.

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A bout of volatility was witnessed as key benchmark indices trimmed gains after extending initial gains. At 10:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 160.50 points or 0.63% at 25,754.25. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 46.75 points or 0.6% at 7,878.15. Bank stocks edged higher after the Rajya Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015 yesterday, 11 May 2016.

The Sensex hit two-week high when it rose 229.51 points or 0.89% at the day's high of 25,827.03 in morning trade. The barometer index gained 79.30 points or 0.3% at the day's low of 25,676.32 at the onset of the trading session. The Nifty, too, hit a two-week high when it gained 67.20 points or 0.85% at the day's high of 7,916.05 in morning trade. The index rose 22.60 points or 0.28% at the day's low of 7,871.45 at the onset of the trading session.

The broad market depicted strength. There were more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. 1,308 shares rose and 464 shares fell. A total of 86 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.57%, underperforming the Sensex. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.77%, outperforming the Sensex.

In overseas stock markets, most Asian markets were in red after overnight losses for US stocks. US stocks dropped yesterday, 11 May 2016, as disappointing earnings from Walt Disney Co. and a slump in stock prices of retailers led to selling.

Bank stocks edged higher after the Rajya Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015 yesterday, 11 May 2016. Among public sector banks, Punjab National Bank (up 0.69%), Bank of Baroda (up 0.96%), State Bank of India (SBI) (up 1.22%), Union Bank of India (up 0.73%), Canara Bank (up 1.02%), and Bank of India (up 0.69%) edged higher.

Among private sector banks, Axis Bank (up 1.44%), ICICI Bank (up 2.7%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 0.16%), HDFC Bank (up 0.16%), Yes Bank (up 1.02%) and IndusInd Bank (up 0.26%) edged higher.

The news of Rajya Sabha's clearance for the bankruptcy bill hit the market after trading hours yesterday, 11 May 2016. The Lok Sabha passed the bankruptcy bill on 5 May 2016. Once the bill becomes a law, it will help creditors recover bad debt faster. The bankruptcy bill aims to provide single unified law for timely resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy related cases in India. The law will come into force when it receives President of India's assent.

Capital goods stocks gained. Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) (up 1.19%), Havells India (up 0.76%), ABB India (up 0.61%), Bharat Electronics (up 0.68%), BEML 9up 1.32%), L&T (up 1.04%), Thermax (up 0.98%), and Siemens (up 0.27%) gained.

Apollo Tyres fell 0.85% after consolidated net profit declined 20.27% to Rs 245.16 crore on 5.35% decline in net sales to Rs 2966.12 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 11 May 2016. Apollo Tyres' board of directors at its meeting held yesterday, 11 May 2016, approved the issue of non convertible debentures aggregating to Rs 1000 crore on private placement basis, in one or more tranches.

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Sales decline 62.50% to Rs 0.09 crore

Net profit of Bharat Bhushan Finance & Commodity Brokers declined 14.29% to Rs 0.12 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 0.14 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. Sales declined 62.50% to Rs 0.09 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 0.24 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015.

For the full year,net profit rose 2.38% to Rs 0.43 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 0.42 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. Sales declined 15.25% to Rs 0.50 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 0.59 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Mar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Sales0.090.24 -63 0.500.59 -15 OPM %77.7866.67 -76.0069.49 - PBDT0.150.19 -21 0.520.53 -2 PBT0.150.19 -21 0.520.52 0 NP0.120.14 -14 0.430.42 2

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Receives bids for 3.56 crore shares

The initial public offer (IPO) of Parag Milk Foods closed on 11 May 2016. The IPO received bids for a total of 3.56 crore shares. It was subscribed 1.83 times as per data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) website. The IPO of Parag Milk Foods was earlier slated to end on 6 May 2016. The company had revised the price band of the issue to Rs 215 - Rs 227 per share from Rs 220 - Rs 227 per share earlier. The IPO opened for bidding on 4 May 2016.

The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 1.15 times. The non-institutional investors category was subscribed 3.08 times. The retail individual investors (RIIs) category was subscribed 2.12 times.

The IPO of Parag Milk Foods, one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of dairy-based branded foods in India, comprised of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 300 crore and offer for sale of up to 2.05 crore shares from existing shareholders.

The three investors who sold shares via the IPO are India Business Excellence Fund (IBEF) which is a unit scheme of venture capital fund Business Excellence Trust, India Business Excellence Fund I (IBEF I) and IDFC Private Equity Fund III (IDFC PE) which is a unit scheme of venture capital fund IDFC Infrastructure Fund 3. IBEF sold 21.09 lakh shares, IBEF I sold 39.17 lakh shares and IDFC PE sold 82.59 lakh shares via the IPO.

From the promoter group, Netra Shah sold 20.04 lakh shares and Priti Shah sold 11 lakh shares. Other selling shareholders sold a combined 31.81 lakh shares.

The company had raised Rs 342.85 crore by selling 1.51 crore shares to a total of 17 anchor investors ahead of the opening of the IPO. The shares were allotted to the anchor investors at Rs 227 per share, the top end of the Rs 220 to Rs 227 per share price band for the IPO.

The company will utilize the proceeds of the fresh issue of shares to fund the expansion and modernisation at its existing manufacturing facilities at Manchar in Pune and Palamaner in Andhra Pradesh and improving the marketing/distribution infrastructure. The company has earmarked Rs 147.70 crore the expansion and modernisation plan. It has earmarked Rs 2.29 crore for investment in its subsidiary for financing the capital expenditure requirements in relation to the expansion and modernisation of the Bhagyalaxmi Dairy Farm. A sum of Rs 100 crore will be used for partial repayment of the working capital consortium loan.

Promoted by Devendra Shah, Pritam Shah and Parag Shah, Parag Milk Foods manufactures a diverse range of products including cheese, ghee (clarified butter), fresh milk, whey proteins, paneer, curd, yoghurt, milk powders and dairy based beverages targeting a wide range of consumer groups through several brands. The company currently has aggregate milk processing capacity of 2 million litres per day. The cheese plant has a raw cheese production capacity of 40 MT per day. The company's two flagship brands are Gowardhan and Go.

The company operates a diary farm through its subsidiary Bhagyalaxmi Dairy Farms Private Limited. It is a fully automated cow farm housing over 2,000 holstein breed cows with superior quality yields. It produces farm-to-home premium fresh milk, which is marketed under the Pride of Cows brand in Mumbai and Pune.

Based on the consolidated financial performance, Parag Milk Foods registered net profit of Rs 31.92 crore on revenue from operations of Rs 1230.60 crore for 9 months ended 31 December 2015. The company reported net profit of Rs 25.96 crore on revenue from operations of Rs 1438.70 crore for the year ended 31 March 2015. The company has stated in its Red Herring Prospectus that it has not declared any dividend in the last five financial years. The company has no formal dividend distribution policy.

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Global aerospace major Airbus SAS on Thursday signed an agreement with Karnataka-based Aequs Aerospace to source 100,000 titanium machined parts for its A320 new engine programme.

"The parts will be delivered to Airbus plant at Toulouse (in southern France) where they will be assembled onto pylon structure for mounting engines on the aircraft wing," Airbus vice president Oliver Cauquil told reporters here.

As a tier-1 supplier of aerospace components and aerospace parts to Indian and global manufacturers, Aequs has set up a $100 million (Rs.667 crore) machining facility in the 250-acre special economic zone (SEZ) at Belagavi, about 500km from here.

"The multi-year contract for one-lakh titanium components to Aequs reaffirms our commitment to the government's 'make in India' progamme and increase sourcing from 45 Indian suppliers, including 15 in tier-1 category," said Airbus India president S. Dwaraknath.

The French aircraft maker for civil and defence sectors plans to procure components and sub-assembly parts valued up to $2 billion by 2020 from $500 million in 2015 from Indian suppliers.

"We employ latest technology with quality processes to meet high standards of Airbus to whom we supplied detail machined parts for its single aisle, long range aircraft since 2009, including wing parts for its A380 jumbo jet," said Aequs chief executive Aravind Melligeri.

The three-tier Indian suppliers, including the state-run HAL provide engineering and IT services, aero-structures, detail parts and systems, materials and cabins to Airbus for its A380, A350 and A320 family and A330 programmes.

"Our procurement from India has grown 16 fold since we started sourcing over a decade ago," Dwaraknath said.

Noting that each Airbus aircraft had some part made in India, he said Aequs was one of the two firms from where the titanium parts were being sourced for the A320neo programme. The other is a western firm.

Aequs plans to invest an additional $100 million during the next four years to expand production capacity and achieve $300 million from sales, including exports by 2020.

"We will ramp up our workforce to 5,000 engineers by 2020 from 1,500 in 2015-16 for executing the multi-year contracts to our global customers, including United Technologies Aircraft Systems (UTAS), Safran, Bosch, Eaton, Baker Hughes and Halliburton," Melligeri added.

With overseas production facilities in Europe and the US, Aequs recently acquired SiRA aerospace group in France for an unspecified amount to provide precision machining, assembly, aero engine testing, landing gear, aircraft actuation components, welding and fabrication of aircraft assemblies to its European customers such as Dassault, Safran and UTAS.

--IANS

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday discussed the threat of terror as well as global trade and regional stability with US President Barack Obama.

Both the US and Australian governments were pivotal in bringing about the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal between 12 nations which was signed in February after seven years of negotiations, and Turnbull said while the TPP had been approved in many nations, including Australia, it was still under review in the US, Xinhua news agency reported.

Despite the delay, the prime minister said Obama was confident it would be sorted by the end of the year.

"I've had a good discussion this morning (Thursday) with President Obama on a range of global and regional issues, one of which was the progress of the TPP trade deal," Turnbull said.

"As you know, it is another one of the big trade deals that has been agreed (upon). It has to be ratified by the Congress, but the president is confident it can be ratified before the end of the year. So we're very encouraged by that."

Turnbull said Obama also thanked Australia for its "extraordinary" contribution to the war against Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East, in which Australia has contributed both attack and support aircraft to the coalition effort.

"(Obama) briefed me on developments there from his perspective and I did the same from ours. He thanked Australia for what he described as our extraordinary contribution to the battle against IS," Turnbull said.

The prime minister said the conversation also briefly turned to regional stability, with both leaders agreeing with that any issues in the Asian region must be "resolved peacefully".

--IANS

ksk
Bangladesh's largest Islamist party staged a one-day strike on Thursday to protest against the execution of its former chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Nizami, 74, ameer (president) of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged on Wednesday for war crimes, reported Xinhua news agency.

Hours after his execution, Jamaat called a nationwide strike for Thursday.

Despite the strike, traffic on short routes in and around Dhaka was almost regular as no activities of pro-strike activists were visible.

In other parts of the country, the shutdown also reportedly had almost no impact on people's routine life.

Academic activities were hampered to some extent while attendance in the government and private offices was as usual. But businesses in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country opened as per schedule on Thursday morning.

Nizami served as the agriculture and industries minister in ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia's 2001-2006 cabinet.

--IANS

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Around 10 lakh bankers will go on strike on July 29 against the government's varied actions and inaction pertaining to the banking sector, said a top leader of All India Bank Employees'Association (AIBEA).

The decision to go on strike on July 29 was taken in the meeting of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) comprising all the nine unions in the sector- AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW, NOBO, held in Hyderabad on Wednesday, he said.

"The central government is going ahead with the measures that would weaken the public sector banks, inadequate capital infusion, consolidation and merger apart from issuing new bank licences, privatisation of IDBI Bank and permitting more private capital in regional rural banks," C.H.Venkatachalam, general secretary, AIBEA told IANS on Thursday.

According to Venkatachalam, the total bad loans in the banking sector has risen to Rs.10 lakh crore.

Bulk of these bad loans are due from big corporate business houses and no serious action is being taken to recover the money, he said.

Venkatachalam said the bad loans are being provided or written off against the profits of the banks so that they report a loss.

He demanded criminal action against wilful defaulters of bank loans.

There are over 7,000 wilful defaulters owing Rs.60,000 crore to the banking sector, Venkatachalam added.

--IANS

vj/ksk
China and the US held a meeting to discuss international norms of state behaviour in cyberspace and other security issues.

The meeting on Wednesday was the first discussion of Senior Experts Group on International Norms and Related Issues, a mechanism agreed upon during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US last September, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two sides held "positive, in-depth and constructive" discussions on issues concerning international norms of state behaviour in cyberspace, as well as international law and confidence-building measures in the field, according to the Chinese delegation.

The two sides agreed to hold a second meeting within six months, it added.

--IANS

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After analysing a 3D map of 3,000 galaxies 13 billion light years from Earth, an international team led by Japanese researchers has found that theoretical physicist Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is still valid.

Since it was discovered in the late 1990s that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate, scientists have been trying to explain why.

The mysterious dark energy could be driving acceleration, or Einstein's theory of general relativity, which says gravity warps space and time, could be breaking down.

"We tested the theory of general relativity further than anyone else ever has. It's a privilege to be able to publish our results 100 years after Einstein proposed his theory," said project researcher Teppei Okumura from Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics (Kavli IPMU) at University of Tokyo.

To test Einstein's theory, the team led by Okumura and colleagues, with researchers from Tohoku University and Kyoto University, used "FastSound Survey" data on more than 3,000 distant galaxies to analyze their velocities and clustering.

The results indicated that even far into the universe, general relativity is valid, giving further support that the expansion of the universe could be explained by a cosmological constant as proposed by Einstein in his theory of general relativity.

"Having started this project 12 years ago, it gives me great pleasure to finally see this result come out," added Karl Glazebrook, professor at Swinburne University of Technology who proposed the survey.

No one has been able to analyse galaxies more than 10 billion light years away but the team managed to break this barrier thanks to the FMOS (Fiber Multi-Object Spectrograph) on the Subaru Telescope which can analyse galaxies 12.4-14.7 billion light years away.

The details of the study were published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan.

--IANS

na/vm
London's first Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday once again hit out at US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, saying he hopes the presidential candidate loses the election.

Khan's comments come after he rejected Trump's offer to make him an "exception" to a ban on Muslims travelling to the US.

"Of course, I'll travel to America. But I'm hoping that he's not the guy that wins," Khan told CNN.

"I'm not exceptional. So for Donald Trump to say Mayor Khan can be allowed but not the rest is ridiculous because there are business people here (in London) who want to do business in America who happen to be Muslim.

"There are young people here who want to study in America who happen to be Muslim. There are people here who want to go on holiday in America who happen to be Muslim and around the world.

"Now by giving the impression that Islam and the West are incompatible, you're playing into the hands of the extremists."

Trump was manipulating people by playing on their fears rather than addressing them, Khan said.

"My message to Donald Trump and his team is that your views of Islam are ignorant."

Khan said America has a choice when it comes to elections in November.

"You have a choice of hope over fear, a choice of unity over division, you've got a choice of someone who is trying to divide your communities in America, but divide America from the rest of the world."

Khan has voiced his support for Hillary Clinton, and has said he hopes to see a female US president soon.

--IANS

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Hollywood actor Ian McKellen will inaugurate the seventh edition of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

Over 182 films from 53 countries will be screened at the festival, which will be held here from May 25 to May 29.

McKellen will be the chief guest at the festival's opening ceremony, to be held on May 25 at Liberty Cinema. The ceremony is open to all registered delegates of the festival.

"For too many years, gay characters appeared in films only as comic relief, as often as not meeting a sticky end, as if that's all they deserved. Increasingly, in India too, the film industry has matured, treating gay people with the same seriousness as straight characters," McKellen said in a statement.

McKellen is an English actor, who has taken many Shakespearean roles. He is globally known for his parts in Hollywood movies like Gandalf in "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit Trilogy" and Magneto in the "X-Men" movies.

The actor says he is looking forward to discover more about Bollywood's filmmakers.

"I look forward at Kashish to discovering more about Bollywood's filmmakers who reject fantasy for the truth about gay people," McKellen added.

McKellen is scheduled to visit India as part of "Shakespeare Lives on Film", on the occasion of the Bard's 400th death anniversary. The visit is organised by British Council and GREAT Britain Campaign.

"Sir Ian McKellen is an institution by himself, he is a big inspiration for the LGBTQ community throughout the world - through his films, through his theatre work and through his very own life," said the festival director Sridhar Rangayan.

--IANS

dc/nn/vm
Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Tarkash and Deepak on Thursday reached Kuwait on a four day visit, an official statement said.

The statement said Indian naval officers and sailors would undertake professional interactions with their Kuwait counterparts pertaining to nuances of maritime operations, including means of combating maritime terrorism and piracy.

They will also call on senior government and military authorities, sporting and cultural interactions and sharing of best practices, aimed at enhancing cooperation and strengthening mutual understanding between the two navies, are also planned.

The visiting ships are also likely to conduct exercises with the Kuwait Naval Force, it said, adding defence cooperation between India and Kuwait has been steadily growing through high level visits, training exchanges and port visits by naval ships in recent past.

India and Kuwait are also members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a voluntary and co-operative initiative between 30 countries of the Indian Ocean Region, which has served as an ideal forum for sharing of information and cooperation on maritime issues.

Indian Navy's ships Delhi, Deepak, Trishul and Tabar last visited Kuwait in September 2015. A delegation from the Kuwait Naval Force also participated in the recent International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam.

INS Delhi, an indigenous guided missile destroyer, is commanded by Captain Sandeep Singh Sandhu, INS Tarkash, a stealth frigate is commanded by Captain Pradeep Singh and INS Deepak, fleet replenishment tanker, is commanded by Captain Sujit Kumar Chhetri.

--IANS

ao/vd
A suspected terrorist toured potential targets in Britain, including Buckingham Palace and the Shard, while using fake IDs and posing as an Afghan refugee, it was reported on Thursday.

Hakim Nasiri, 24, was described as a "human bomb" when arrested in Italy this week and accused of being in an Islamic State cell.

Photographs posted on a Facebook page that, according to RT online, Italian police believe belongs to Nasiri show him posing near hotels in London's Docklands, Canary Wharf and the Premier Inn outside Westfield in Stratford.

Other photos show Nasiri on a commuter train in southeast London, outside Buckingham Palace and the Shard. He also posted pictures of jihadist symbols and weapons on social media.

The pictures have raised suspicions that Nasiri was conspiring to carry out an attack.

Other images, found on his phone, show the man brandishing an M16 assault rifle in what is thought to be a British supermarket.

"The phone images of Nasiri holding a machine gun were probably taken in the back room of a supermarket in England," Vincenzo Molinese, a colonel in the Bari carabinieri, told the Daily Mail.

British security sources said the rifle may be decommissioned or even a fake.

Nasiri used more than one identity when passing through Britain passport checks, claiming to be a restaurant manager from Birmingham and also a student in the city, they said.

Italian police had been monitoring Nasiri's alleged terror gang since December, when its members were detained after filming a shopping centre in Bari.

When police unlocked phones in the men's possession they found footage of terrorist training camps and instructions on suicide attacks.

The gang had been tracked visiting seven cities in nine days, paying budget air fares in cash. All five suspects had been granted refugee status in Italy.

--IANS

ahm/dg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an apology, not silence, to Kerala for comparing the state with Somalia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Thursday.

"Modi left Kochi last night without withdrawing his remarks. Malayalees all over the world are upset over the remarks of the PM," Chandy said in a Facebook post.

He was referring to the prime minister's remarks made at election rallies he addressed for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"With the pride of the Malayalees deeply affected, none expected silence from PM. Instead what all thought was he would withdraw the statements and apologise. Keralites continue to expect that the PM would apologise," said Chandy.

Modi said on Sunday that "the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia" - provoking protests across the state.

Modi also cited media reports that said tribal children in Peravoor were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump to make his case that the state had not been properly governed.

Chandy said Modi's comparison of Kerala, whose high social indicators are widely acknowledged, with Somalia was absurd.

After the protests, Modi was expected to retract his statement and apologise but he did not, Chandy said.

On Wednesday, Modi continued his attack on Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), without responding to criticism over his controversial remarks.

Chandy earlier wrote to Modi urging him not to bring "disrepute" to the Prime Minister's Office by airing "baseless remarks" about Kerala.

The BJP, which has never won an assembly or Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has been making a valiant attempt to defend Modi.
Carrying over 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo, science and technology demonstration samples from the International Space Station (ISS), a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning (India time).

The Dragon spacecraft was taken by ship to Long Beach where some cargo will be removed and returned to NASA and then prepared for shipment to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing, the US space agency said in a statement.

A number of technology and biology studies conducted in the unique microgravity environment of the space station returned aboard the spacecraft, including research in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology.

The "Microchannel Diffusion" study, for example, examined how microparticles interact with each other and their delivery channel in the absence of gravitational forces.

In this one-of-a-kind laboratory, researchers were able to observe nanoscale behaviours at slightly larger scales - knowledge which may have implications for advancements in particle filtration, space exploration and drug delivery technologies.

"CASIS Protein Crystal Growth 4" experiment also has applications in medicine - specifically, drug design and development.

Growing protein crystals in microgravity can avoid some of the obstacles inherent to protein crystallisation on Earth such as sedimentation.

This will enable scientists to use "designer" compounds to chemically target and inhibit an important human biological pathway thought to be responsible for several types of cancer.

The spacecraft also returned to Earth the final batch of human research samples from former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's historic one-year mission.

Additional samples taken on the ground, as Kelly continues to support these studies, will provide insights relevant for NASA's Journey to Mars as the agency learns more about how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, isolation, radiation and the stress of long-duration spaceflight.

Dragon is the only station re-supply spacecraft able to return a significant amount of cargo to Earth.

The spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 8 and arrived at the space station on April 10.

The spacecraft carried an experimental inflatable space habitat that might be crucial for future deep space explorations.

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), a $17.8 million project, will test the use of an inflatable space habitat in micro-gravity.

During its two-year test mission, astronauts will enter the module for a few hours several times a year to retrieve sensor data and assess conditions.

Inflatable habitats are designed to take up less room on a rocket, but provide greater volume for living and working in space once expanded.

This test allows investigators to gauge how well the expandable habitat protects itself against solar radiation, space debris and contamination.

--IANS

na/ksk
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's two-day visit to India from Friday will further cement bilateral relations, the external affairs ministry said on Thursday.

"We are confident that his visit will contribute to further strengthening the close and cooperative relations between India and Sri Lanka," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said in a release here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner in Sirisena's honour here on Friday.

Sirisena is scheduled to address the valedictory session at the 'Vaicharik Mahakumbh' being held as part of the 'Simhastha Mahakumbh' in Ujjain in Madhaya Pradesh on Saturday.

He will also go to Sanchi for a visit to the Sanchi Stupa and attend a function by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, during which he will unveil a statue of Angarika Dharmapala, the release said.

--IANS

sk/tsb/dg
Focusing on educating young children by engaging them through muppets featuring in TV serial Galli Galli Sim Sim, Sesame Workshop in India and MetLife Foundation has launched a new multi-media initiative called "Sapna, Bachat, Udaan: Aarthik Bal, Har Parivar ka Haq".

This initiative is the Indian adaptation of the global "Dream, Save, Do: Financial Empowerment for Families" programme.

The mobile community viewings (MCVs) and workshops aim to improve the knowledge, language and strategies on financial empowerment, to increase the dialogue between parents and children towards making informed choices around spending, saving, sharing and to help them realize their financial and non-financial goals.

"In India, our broader corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on for underprivileged children. Through our various CSR initiatives, including Sapna, Bachat, Udaan, we hope to create a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children in the communities in which we operate," said Tarun Chugh, MD and CEO, PNB MetLife.

The initiative aims to reach 1.7 million children (via multiple touch points) in Delhi Rajasthan, and Jharkhand through MCVs and workshops and over 18 million children through national television, conducted over a period of 3 years in collaboration with implementation partners.

"Through the Sapna, Bachat, Udaan initiative we aim to provide families access to the strategies and skills related to financial inclusion. Through various workshops we will provide information that helps families and children be better prepared for the future and potential setbacks," said Sashwati Banerjee, Managing Director, Sesame Workshop in India.

--IANS

som/vm
New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English on Thursday ruled out promised tax cuts in this month's annual budget, saying the government would focus on reducing the debt.

"By keeping on top of spending, we turned an 18 billion New Zealand dollar ($12 billion) deficit in 2011 into a small surplus last year," English told the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

"The 2014-15 surplus target was an extremely effective tool. But with that target achieved, the government is focusing more on repaying debt," he said.

Net government debt increased from six percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 to 25 percent of GDP last year as a result of the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Although our debt levels aren't high by international standards, we could be stretched if another economic shock or natural disaster hit," said English.

"So to prepare for the future, we are working to get debt down to around 20 percent of GDP by 2020."

The improved economic outlook would be helpful to the government's tax take, but spending pressures had changed as a result of higher-than-expected population growth and opportunities to invest in better public services.

As a result, the new spending allowances for the budgets this year and next year had been rearranged.

While lowering income taxes, particularly for low and middle income earners, remained a government priority, these would have to wait till next year or later, he added.

English will deliver his eighth annual Budget on May 26.

--IANS

lok/ksk/vm
The Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA), the apex body of software industry here, has unanimously elected Ranga Pothula as its next president for the term 2016-18.

Elected at the annual general body meeting of HYSEA held here on Thursday, Pothula, the vice president and centre head of Infor India Pvt. Ltd, takes over from Ramesh Loganathan, vice president and managing director of Progress Software.

Possessing 27 years of industry experience, Pothula is a successful business leader with 19 years association at Infor, before which he worked with Tata consulting engineers, CPRI, and supported many electrical industries as consultant.

"I see a great opportunity for HYSEA to play a vital role in the 'Digital India' and 'Start-up India' initiatives of government of India, and in achieving the goal set by the government of Telangana to double IT exports within the next 5 years from current Rs.68,000 crore," he said after taking over charge.

"Great infrastructure and policy environment with industry and government actively collaborating in grooming and growing the innovation ecosystem has been so effective that in 2 short years Hyderabad is now widely recognized as a major start-up and innovation hub in the country," said Loganathan.

--IANS

ms/vd
The CPI-M has urged "all secular, democratic forces" to unite against the central government's "attacks on democracy and the federal structure".

An editorial in the CPI-M journal "People's Democracy" said the ouster of the Congress regime in Uttarakhand and its return to office after judicial intervention had dented the Narendra Modi government's image.

"Its image has been badly dented. The anti-democratic ways of the Modi-(Amit) Shah duo has met with a roadblock," said the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

"However, given the growing authoritarianism of the regime, it will be too much to expect them to mend their ways.

"Without relying solely on the judiciary, all the secular, democratic forces must unitedly resist all attacks on democracy and the federal structure," it added.

The editorial said said the Modi government's "sordid attempt to topple the Harish Rawat government in Uttarakhand and install a BJP government with the help of defectors has been thwarted by a vigilant judiciary".

Rawat won a floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly in an unprecedented Court-monitored vote on Tuesday. The Supreme Court suspended President's rule for two hours to facilitate this process.

"The Uttarkhand episode should be a salutary warning to all those in the future who would like to use Article 356 to topple elected governments," the editorial said.

"Hopefully, the Congress has also got the message. It was the Congress governments at the centre which misused the mechanism of President's Rule the most to topple non-Congress state governments in the past.

"It became a victim of the same diabolical mechanism."

--IANS

mr/
Internet behemoth Google on Thursday announced it has shortlisted six Indian startups under the Google Launchpad Accelerator Program for mentorship at its headquarters in Silicon Valley, California.

Taskbob, Programming Hub, ShareChat, RedCarpet, PlaySimple Games and Magic Pin are the six startups which will start the programme on June 13, 2016.

"The six month long mentorship programme for mid to late stage start-ups will include $50,000 in equity-free funding, a two-week all-expenses paid bootcamp at Google headquarters, six months of ongoing mentorship and access to Google's full suite of Launchpad initiatives and connections and product credits including Google Cloud and other products," said a Google statement.

Google India program manager Paul Ravindranath said, "Access to good mentoring and advice at early to mid-stage has been a big gap which we are looking to fill. In our experience many startups struggle with UX, building scalable architectures and go to market strategy."

He said the Launchpad Accelerator Program brings together mentors and experts from Google and outside to help the startups see success.

Mumbai-based Taskbob offers a range of home services, while Programming Hub, also from the same city provides an app to learn as many as 15 programming languages like Python, HTML, C and others.

ShareChat from Bengaluru is a social networking chat platform in Indian languages, which enables sharing videos, jokes, songs, images and others.

PlaySimple Games, also from Bengaluru, empowers a user to build simple and fun social games, the statement said.

While Delhi-based startup RedCarpet gives instant credit for online purchases to be paid by in installments.

MagicPin, another startup up from the national capital, enables users to discover local merchants and transact with them, it also provides a platform to offline merchants and shows their promotions and loyalty programs in real time.

As part of the second class of Launchpad Accelerator Program, the six startups will join 18 others from Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico.

--IANS

sth/kb/dg
Thailand might buying four more Swedish jet fighters to add to a current squadron of 12 of the same type, Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong said on Thursday.

rajin, a former air force chief, said that he viewed the Saab JAS 39 Gripen multi-role combat aircraft as "technologically advanced" and suggested that his successor buy an additional four jets, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Thai air force currently deploys the 12 Swedish fighters at Air Wing 7 in the southern province of Surat Thani.

The Gripen squadron was procured in 2008 to replace the US' ageing F-5 Tiger fighters.

"One fighter squadron should not just consist of a dozen aircraft and four more should be added to it," said the deputy prime minister.

The JAS 39 Gripen is currently estimated to cost $69 million apiece.

--IANS

ksk/vm
The head of the Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Benazir Bhutto assassination, has said it had not probed three men named by her in a letter months before her killing, saying they might try to harm her.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, former Federal Investigation Agency additional director general Khalid Qureshi said the JIT had not investigated the former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt. General Hamid Gul (retd); former director general Intelligence Bureau (IB), Brig Ejaz Shah (retd) and former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi.

All these people were mentioned by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a letter she wrote to US lobbyist Mark Siegel in 2007 months before her assassination, Dawn online reported.

Bhutto, who was in office from 1988-90 and 1993-96, was killed in 2007 after leaning out of the sunroof of her bulletproof vehicle as she left a campaign rally in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

When asked by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, whether Qureshi had examined those named by Bhutto, the JIT chief replied in the negative.

It was also disclosed before the court that Qureshi was a member of the Punjab Police JIT which had conducted the initial probe.

The investigation into the murder was divided into two phases. Soon after Bhutto's assassination, the then Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) government formed a probe team of which Qureshi was a member.

The team arrested five suspects who belonged to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Al-Qaeda militant group took responsibility for the attack, but then president Pervez Musharraf was later indicted for not providing Bhutto enough protection.

In 2008, the investigation was assigned to the FIA and Qureshi was appointed the JIT head.

The JIT conducted another inquiry and implicated Musharraf, Deputy Inspector General Saud Aziz and Senior Superintendent of Police Shahzad in the case on account of the crime scene being washed to destroy evidence and for not providing Bhutto adequate security.

The JIT report also held Aziz responsible for not conducting Bhutto's autopsy.

However, when asked whether Qureshi watched the press conference held by former president Asif Ali Zardari after Bhutto's assassination, in which Zardari said he had not given permission for the postmortem because he did not want his wife's body to be "desecrated", Qureshi said he had not done so.

Qureshi also said he had never approached Zardari in this regard.

The court was adjourned till May 16 and the prosecution was directed to submit a report on the closing of evidence.

Musharraf has also been accused of treason and changing Pakistan's constitution as well as murder of Muslim leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi and Balochistan Governor Nawab Akbar Bugti.

--IANS

py/vm
Three foreign climbers reached the top of Mount Everest on Thursday after a two-year hiatus.

Two Britons, Kenton Cool and Robert Richard Lucas, scaled the 8,848-metre peak along with two Nepalese Sherpas at 8.20 a.m., an officer at the tourism department told Xinhua news agency.

Following their footsteps, a Mexican climber, David Liaono Gonzalez, along with one Sherpa, scaled the peak a few minutes later.

All Everest expeditions were cancelled in 2014, marking it a "Black Year" following the death of 16 Sherpas, while an avalanche triggered by the massive April 2015 earthquake that killed 19 climbers had also halted expeditions last year.

Earlier on Wednesday, nine Sherpas had reached the top of Everest to fix climbing ropes to the summit.

--IANS

ksk/vm
The customary law of tribal communities practised in some northeastern states violate provisions of the Indian Constitution, Tripura High Court's outgoing Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Gupta said.

Gupta, who will head the Chhattisgarh High Court, said: "Tribal leaders use the customary law sometimes to deal with murder, rape and heinous crimes. These traditional customary laws must be codified."

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday evening, he added: "Serious disputes and crimes should not be settled by extra constitutional bodies."

In the northeast, tribals comprise 28 percent of the population. Among them, there are 138 tribes with separate lifestyles, foods, customs and traditional practices.

Backing Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, Justice Gupta said retired judges must be appointed in the judicial system to reduce the pendency of cases.

He said: "When a separate high court was established in Tripura in 2013, 6,615 cases were pending in the high court (till March 2013 Tripura was under the jurisdiction of Gauhati High Court). The pendency has come down to 2,804.

"We are the only high court in the country where the arrears have come down at such a fast pace," he added.

Justice Gupta said that Tripura High Court was the first in India to introduce the SMS service whereby every litigant and his lawyer get case related information.

"After we introduced this scheme, it was commenced in many other high courts and also in the Supreme Court," he added.

The SMS service was also introduced in the district and lower courts of Tripura.

Justice Gupta, who gave some significant judgments during his tenure in Tripura High Court, felt that Tripura had a low conviction rate.

"FIRs must be registered immediately after the occurrence of any incident. Police were earlier reluctant to register FIR, causing delays in probe," he added.

"The level of honesty is high in Tripura and schemes, specially the social sector schemes, are better administered," added Justice Gupta, who left here on Thursday for Chhattisgarh.

--IANS

sc/rn/mr
Filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally, who was supposed to team up with actor Akhil Akkineni for a yet-untitled Telugu outing next, has reportedly exited the project.

"Vamshi was set to team up with Akhil, and he was initially interested. The Akkineni family wanted him to work on the Telugu remake of 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani'. However, he wasn't too keen on the idea because he had recently worked on the remake of a French film," a source told IANS.

Vamshi's "Oopiri", which had released in Tamil as "Thozha", was the official remake of French film "The Intouchables".

"Vamshi didn't want to work on another remake immediately. He was more interested to work on his own script which didn't go down well with actor Nagarjuna, who had planned to produce the remake under his home banner," the source said.

Since an amicable agreement couldn't be reached, Vamshi had no other option but to exit the project.

Vamshi plans to work with a bigger star next.

"He has a script ready to work with a leading Telugu star. He doesn't want to work on remakes for quite some time," the source added.

--IANS

hp/nn/vm
Four tourists, who disappeared while sailing near Malaysia's Borneo island, were rescued by a Vietnamese fishing boat, an official told EFE news on Thursday.

The official from the Maritime Authority of Malaysia, said the four tourists -- Spanish couple David Hernandez and his girlfriend Marta Miguel, Chinese national Tommy Lam and a Malaysian woman, Armella Ali Hassan -- disappeared on May 2 while the group was travelling in a boat from Balambangan Island towards Kudat district in Borneo; a journey they should have completed in two hours.

Malaysian authorities believe engine failure caused the boat to capsize and be swept away by the currents, and ruled out the possibility that the four might have been captured by pirates in the waters close to the Philippines.

The tourists are being transported back to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo's eastern Sabah state where they are expected to arrive on Thursday night or Friday morning.

--IANS

ksk/dg
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has demanded that New Delhi's Akbar Road be renamed after Maharana Pratap. In a tweet, Khattar asked Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh that the road named after Akbar, considered the greatest of the Mughal emperors, be changed.

The Ministry of Urban Development, led by M Venkaiah Naidu, which has jurisdiction over the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), was surprised: why would Khattar raise the demand with the minister of state for external affairs? Was Singh a descendent of the Rajput king, some wondered.

According to sources, Naidu is not in favour of renaming Akbar Road, though the ministry and the NDMC had approved and renamed Aurangzeb Road after former President A P J Abdul Kalam.
Naina (name changed), aged 13, no longer has to wait for eight hours to reach home before she can use a clean, safe toilet and does not miss school during her periods any more. Bhaskar (name changed), having stumbled over broken tiles and potholes, would shamefully resort to using the shrubs outside his school. Not any more, because his school toilet is now repaired and well lit-up. Naina and Bhaskar both study in government schools where children suffer innumerable difficulties and indignities in not being able to access safe and clean toilets.
Never before has a presidential campaign in the US generated so much puzzlement, concern, and even dread worldwide. In every corner of the planet governments and political analysts keep asking: what is Donald Trump actually up to? Does he actually mean what he says on the stump? Or is it just devilish demagoguery expertly capturing the mood of segments of the US public and playing with it? And how did he end up being the unstoppable Republican nominee for the presidency, defying all the rules of conventional wisdom? What does it say about America today, looking at the mirror image that Bernie Sanders' resilience offers on the Democratic side - as both have the same basic message: "We are fed up with the status quo and with the establishment that has been keeping it that way, to our detriment"?



Despite the apparent "off the cuff" nature of Mr Trump's remarks during his campaign, it would be self-defeating not to see a significant consistency and continuity in his pronouncements on foreign policy. It is not difficult to define some key orientations in the way he looks at the role of the United States in the world. Many tenets of US foreign policy will be revisited should he make it to the White House next November.
Carlos Ghosn's Nissan can help drive a recovery at Mitsubishi Motors. The Japanese carmaker he leads is paying its scandal-hit smaller peer 237 billion yen ($2.2 billion) for a 34 per cent stake. That sounds like a smart investment rather than a bailout.

The tie-up sounds economically rational. At the closing price on May 11, Mitsubishi Motors had a market value of about 483 billion yen. Getting just over a third in exchange for this capital injection amounts to a five per cent discount to a stock price that has halved this year because of a fuel-economy scandal.

Consolidation makes sense, too. By global standards, Japan's auto sector looks oddly fragmented. Industry leader Toyota recently swallowed subsidiary Daihatsu. But that still leaves Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors and Subaru - not to mention other truck- and motorcycle-makers. With the exception of makers of supercars, scale matters hugely for profitability. And Mitsubishi Motors is a tiddler, selling just over a million cars last year.

A tie-up with Nissan would allow the duo to work more closely on small cars: Mitsubishi Motors' testing problems surfaced in vehicles that the group supplied to Nissan. The presence of the $41-billion Nissan on its smaller rival's share register - and in its boardroom -might also speed up the adoption of better corporate governance.

More broadly, the duo could cut costs in production, development and procurement of other products, including compact cars, pick-up trucks, and especially electric vehicles - already a strength for both sides.

Ideally this would be a first step to a full takeover - assuming the other Mitsubishi Group firms that hold big stakes in their sister company agree. But even an alliance would be helpful. Ghosn, after all, has reaped huge benefits by joining forces with Renault, even though Nissan stopped short of merging with the French group. The duo boasts that the partnership led to ^3.8 billion of cost cuts and revenue boosts in 2014. It can be useful to travel in convoy.
Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, while striking down the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias decision asking service providers to compensate subscribers for dropped calls, called it arbitrary, ultra vires, unreasonable and not transparent. These words pretty much sum up Trais knee-jerk reaction to the problem that had become a hot political issue last year. True, Trai cannot be faulted for its intent: as the regulator, it should indeed worry about the quality of telecom services. But in its eagerness to be seen as strict on service providers, it overlooked some basic factors.
Disappointed expectations threaten to cast a shadow over the Modi government as it completes two years in office. This is a pity, because even those who were not enamoured of his politics wanted Narendra Modi to succeed for India's sake. His reputation for decisive leadership and for getting things done, his modern temperament and public embrace of economic reforms and liberalisation, combined with the Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary majority, represented a rare confluence of ingredients for India's long awaited emergence as a major and successful plural democracy.
The health ministry's draft Bill permitting passive euthanasia, or withholding medical treatment or a life support system required to keep a terminally ill patient alive, should be broadly welcomed. It has been framed on guidelines set out by the Supreme Court in 2011, drawn up following an emotive case involving an appeal by a human rights activist to withdraw food and treatment to Aruna Shanbaug - a nurse who had been in a vegetative state for three decades after being assaulted by a hospital assistant in 1973. Though the Supreme Court turned down that appeal, it allowed passive euthanasia in a landmark judgement. The apex court argued that stopping treatment did not amount to a "positive step to terminate life", as is the case with active euthanasia involving, say, the administration of a lethal injection or poison.
Fourteen Pakistani fishermen and four children were apprehended from a creek area near Koteshwar Border Out Post along the Indo-Pak border and two of their fishing boats seized by BSF, an official said today.

The four children are in the age group of 8 to 15, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) official in Bhuj said.

"During patrolling in the creek area, a marine battalion of BSF found two Pakistani boats fishing in Indian waters yesterday afternoon. They were spotted around 35 kms from Koteshwar Border Out Post. We have apprehended 18 fishermen and brought them to Koteshwar for further questioning," the BSF said in a statement.

While searching the mechanised boats, the BSF personnel found 350 kgs of fish, four fishing nets, an ice box and extra fuel stored in plastic cans, it said.

According to the official, all the fishermen will be handed over to Dayapar police station after BSF completes its investigation.

Pakistani citizens caught along the India-Pakistan land border as well as from inside the Indian waters are then sent to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Bhuj, after police files a complaint against them for violation of Indian Passport and Visa Act, he further said.

The BSF operation came a day after the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency apprehended 10 fishermen and seized two of their boats off Gujarat coast on Tuesday, claiming that Indian fishermen crossed the International Maritime Border Line in the sea and ventured into their waters.
With relief writ large on their faces, 16 Keralites, including children, who were stranded in war-torn Libya, reached here this morning.

29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, have been rescued from Libya, with nine families belonging to Kerala and three to Tamil Nadu.

It was an emotional homecoming for the people who hugged their loved ones amid tears as they emerged from Nedumbassery airport at 10.30 AM.

The flight carrying the 16 persons landed here at 8.30 AM this morning, after which they completed immigration formalities. The relatives of the rescued Indians had been patiently waiting since the early hours and there were cries of relief as they spotted them.

A nurse from Kerala, Sunu Sathyan, and her one-and-half year-old son Pranav had been killed in a rocket attack in the violence hit Zawiya city of Libya on March 25. Following this, other Indian nurses also working in the the hospital had decided to leave the area.

"I was in the same hospital. After the incident we moved to a shelter owned by a Libyan," said a member of the group who identified himself as Abraham.

Most nurses claimed that though they had got in touch with the office of External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office, there was no help.

"There were a lot of promises, but no help", one of them said, adding they had to pay about Rs nine lakh to buy tickets.

"Since the past one month, it was a miserable existence for us. There was a problem for food and medicines," another nurse said.

One of the nurses, hailing from Kozhencherry, said she and her three member family were in Libya for the last five years.

"We were unable to withdraw money from banks due to the situation there. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called us to ask about our plight," she told reporters.

Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said the expenses to purchase tickets would be re-imbursed to them.

The stranded passengers had reached Tripoli yesterday and NORKA was in touch with the Indian ambassador to Libya, Asar H Khan, who is presently based in Malta, Kannan told PTI.

"As per our request, the ambassador had got in touch with hospital, Libyan bank and Protocol officer in charge of foreign affairs in a bid to get the dues of the stranded Indians released", he said.

The stranded Indians had travelled from Tripoli to Istanbul and then to Dubai to arrive at Kochi this morning, he said.

There are totally 11 children, five of them infants in the age group of one and half years and two, Kannan said.

The three families from Tamil Nadu have gone to Chennai from Dubai, he said.

Most of them who returned are from Ernakulam, Thirissur and Pathnamthitta districts.

A pregnant nurse was among those evacuated.
Malaysia today said the two more pieces of plane debris found in South Africa and Mauritius "almost certainly" belonged to its jetliner flight MH370, bringing the total number of fragments believed to belong to the missing aircraft to five.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said following the "thorough examination" by international experts, the Malaysian Safety Investigation Team concluded that both pieces of debris "are consistent with panels found on a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft."



"As such, the team has confirmed that both pieces of debris from South Africa and Rodrigues Island are almost certainly from MH370," Liow said.

"This complements the results from the previous examination in March during which the team confirmed that the Mozambique debris were almost certainly from MH370," Liow added.

Today's announcement brings to five the total pieces of plane debris from MH370 discovered from various spots around the Indian Ocean.

The two pieces of debris discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island were an engine cowling piece with a partial Rolls-Royce logo and an interior panel piece from an aircraft cabin.

MH370's disappearance is one of the world's biggest aviation mysteries. The plane vanished from radar on March 8, 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people, including five Indians, on board.

The jetliner's journey is believed to have ended somewhere in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean about 1,800 kilometers off Australia's west coast.

Despite a two-year investigation costing millions of dollars, only one piece of debris has been confirmed as coming from the aircraft - a 6-foot-long wing flap that washed up on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

Australian officials last month had said the two pieces of debris recovered from beaches in Mozambique almost certainly belonged to the missing flight.

Australia is leading the massive multi-nation search in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be the final resting place of the Boeing 777.

The relatives of several passengers aboard flight MH370 have filed suits against the Malaysia Airlines amid doubts about the official explanation for the plane's disappearance.
Bangladeshi police today arrested four militants, including a key leader, closely linked to two operatives of a banned outfit allegedly involved in carrying out blasts in India two years ago.

Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the four militants form capital's Khilgaon and Fakirapul areas.

The militants belonged to Jamaatul Islam Mujaheedeen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned outfit which police say is behind a series of deadly attacks carried out on the country's secularists and liberals for the last three years.

"We have arrested four JMB operatives last night. One of them is the Dhaka district chief of the outfit," said RAB spokesman Mufty Mahmud Khan told PTI.

Noting that the details of the arrest will be disclosed later, Khan said JMB's alleged Dhaka chief Abdul Baten alias Khairul Islam and three others were arrested in two separate raids at the capital's Khilgaon and Fakirapul areas.

"We suspect they were poised for a fresh terrorist attack," Khan said.

Khan also said Baten was closely linked to fugitive JMB operatives Rahmatullah Masud Sajid and Mohammad Naim, the two suspects of blasts in West Bengal's Burdwan district two years ago.

On October 2, 2014 two suspected JMB operatives were killed and another injured in an explosion at a house in Kolkata's Burdwan area, just over the border with Bangladesh.

Security forces of both the countries arrested several suspects after the blast as an Indo-Bangla joint drive was launched on the borders to capture over 100 JMB men.

RAB's claim has come after inspector general of police Shahidul Haque last week accused homegrown JMB of carrying out most of the recent clandestine attacks using machetes.

"Out of 37 such murders since 2013 in the country, 25 were carried out by JMB," Haque had said last week as the main law enforcement agency was criticised for its failure to track down the killers.

Bangladesh has repeatedly ruled out existence of foreign Islamists outfits like IS and has alleged that fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami was patronising the killing spree to portray the country as an abode of foreign militants.

JMB has carried out a series of bomb attacks across Bangladesh, killing scores of people including two judges, prompting a massive anti-militant campaign.

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The officials had earlier suggested that the outfit had organisational network also in West Bengal state.

Six JMB kingpins including JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman and second in command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai were executed in 2007 after trial while several hundred others were handed down long term imprisonments.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

In the recent attacks, a liberal professor was brutally hacked to death last month. Two days later, Bangladesh's first gay magazine editor was brutally murdered along with a friend in his flat in Dhaka by Islamists.
Six police personnel, including a sub-inspector, were suspended here for allegedly providing 'special treatment' to a prisoner on transit.

Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Kumar Singh yesterday suspended PSI K K Singh, ASI Ganesh Waghmare, constables Praful Fulkar, Nirmal Rathod, drivers Sharad Shivankar, Vijay Paradkar and ordered a departmental inquiry against them.

"I have suspended all the six policemen after charging them of maligning the image of the entire police department, dereliction of duty and committing deliberate lapses in their duties," the SP told PTI.

One Pravin Diwate, lodged in Central jail here, on charges of murder, had complained of ill health and was taken to Nagpur for medical check-up. The doctors there referred him to J J Hospital in Mumbai, he said.

On May 5, he was escorted by the six police personnel to Mumbai. On their way, Diwate allegedly travelled in his own car and the cops did not object, officials said.

He also changed the itinerary and went to Pune where he stayed in a luxurious hotel on May 6 for around 16 hours. After this, Diwate reached Mumbai and after consultation with doctors was back in jail here on May 8, they added.
Six suspected terror operatives, alleged to have links with ISIS, were today sent to judicial custody by a special court after NIA submitted that they were not required for custodial interrogation in the case.

According to sources, during an in-camera proceeding, District Judge Amarnath sent accused Mohd Azeemusan, Mohd Osama, Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Meeraj and Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed to judicial custody till June 10 after they were produced before the court on expiry of three-day NIA custody.

The sixth accused, Mohd Mustaq Seikh, was sent to judicial custody till May 19 when his 90-day custody period, since his arrest, will expire.

The six accused were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in the case for allegedly having links with ISIS. The Home Ministry had later transferred the case to NIA.

The NIA had taken custody of the accused, who were in judicial custody earlier, on the ground that the probe in the matter was at a crucial stage and they were needed to be confronted with other accused arrested in connection with another terror case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had told the court that their custody was required in order to unearth larger conspiracy of ISIS.

It had earlier told the court that during the custodial probe conducted by the Delhi Police, certain names, codes and mobile numbers of some active members and motivator of ISIS, were disclosed by them.

These members were involved in furtherance of activities of their ideologies using Internet-based communications like Facebook, Skype and other platforms to lure youths in joining the proscribed terrorist organisation, it had claimed.

The Special Cell had registered the FIR in January under the sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. Later the case was transferred to the NIA and a fresh FIR was registered.
A group of around 90 persons, all residents of villages and colonies around Dhansa border in southwest Delhi, were detained as they tried to march towards the residence of Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today demanding extension of metro services to their area.

The group demanded that a metro station be built near the bus stand at Dhansa, for which they took out the march towards the residence of Naidu, the Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, in Lutyens' Delhi.

"Under its third phase, Delhi metro is connecting Dwarka with Najafgarh. We demand that the line should be extended till Dhansa. As per our knowledge, the survey for the same was done but the idea is still awaiting approval," said Jai Kumar, a resident of Saraswati Enclave in Dhansa.

Police were deployed on the approach road towards the minister's residence and all 90 persons, including several women, were detained at Parliament Street police station here at around 10 AM.

The detention was done under Section 144 of CrPC, DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.

Jai Kumar said a four-member delegation from the crowd was later allowed to meet the minister's private secretary at his office.

"It seems that the matter did not get approval because of a tussle between the Centre and Delhi government," he added.

The detained persons were released at around 2.30 PM.
Security personnel today evicted agitating opposition SC/ST MLAs allegedly by using force while they were staging a hunger strike outside the Chief Minister's chamber in Odisha Assembly premises.

The SC/ST legislators belonging to Congress and BJP were on hunger strike since yesterday demanding implementation of Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act.

The incident occurred when the striking lawmakers tried to obstruct the chief minister from entering his chamber. The ruling BJD MLAs threw a protective ring around the chief minister and ensured his safe entry.

However, the security personnel lifted the agitating MLAs from the dharna site and put restrictions on the entry of television cameras and media persons into the Assembly building.

"The security personnel in plain clothes lifted me forcibly and in the process I sustained injury on head. This is not acceptable," senior Congress MLA Bhujabal Majhi said.

The striking MLAs later shifted their dharna to a place near the Speaker's chamber. They threatened to intensify agitation if the government failed to fulfill their demands.

Though the demands have a bearing on the interests of people belonging to SC/ST categories, no ST/SC legislator from BJD took part in the dharna.

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra condemned the action of securitymen. "I condemn use of security forces to evict MLAs on dharna in Assembly. It is undemocratic," he said.

Earlier, Speaker Niranjan Pujari had appealed to the striking legislators to withdraw their agitation. Sitting on dharna on the Assembly premises contravenes rules, Pujari had said.

The leader of opposition said though the state government has decided in principle to reserve 38 per cent seats for SC/ST students, it is not being implemented in medical and enginering colleges.

Supporting the police action, Government chief whip Anant Das said, "Resorting to hunger strike in the Assembly premises is illegal. The protesting legislators have been evicted as per law".

The Opposition MLAs alleged that though the state government had promised to reserve 38 per cent of seats in Higher Education for SC and ST students, the decision had not been implemented in medical, engineering and other technical institutes.
An aid convoy was refused entry to Syria's Daraya today, the Red Cross said, dashing hopes for the first such delivery since regime forces began a siege of the rebel-held town in 2012.

"Sadly our aid convoy with UN and Syria Red Crescent was refused entry to Daraya, despite being given prior clearance from all sides," the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Twitter.

"We urge the responsible authorities to grant us access to Daraya, so we can return with desperately-needed food & medicines" outside the capital Damascus, it said.

ICRC's Syria chief Marianne Gasser, who was part of the convoy, described the refusal of access as tragic.

"Communities in Daraya are in need of everything, and it's tragic that even the basics we were bringing today are being delayed unnecessarily," she said.

"Daraya has been the site of relentless fighting for more than three and a half years, and we know the situation there is desperate," she said.

Daraya had a pre-war population of around 80,000 people but that has dropped by almost 90 per cent, with remaining residents suffering from severe shortages and malnutrition.

A five-truck convoy organised by the ICRC, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been due to deliver baby milk and medical and school supplies.

"Beyond allowing this initial convoy through, the ICRC and its partners need concerned authorities to let it provide other essentials such as food, and allow it to help restore basic services like water and electricity," the ICRC said in a statement.

The United Nations says more than 400,000 people are living under siege in Syria, most of them in areas besieged by the regime.

Syria's conflict has killed more than 270,000 and displaced millions since it erupted with the brutal repression of anti-regime protests in 2011.
With four Indian cities figuring in the top seven most polluted cities in the world, green bodies in the country today said air pollution is now a "national crisis" and strict and aggressive action is needed to check it.

Commenting on a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report which ranked Gwalior (2), Allahabad (3), Patna (6) and Raipur (7) in the top seven cities with worst air pollution, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) called for more aggressive and stringent action across all cities to check pollution.

"This indicates that air pollution is now a national crisis and needs strict and aggressive nation-wide action across all cities of India," said Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's executive director for research and advocacy.

"India urgently needs national air quality planning to ensure that all cities have clean air action plan that are implemented in a time-bound manner to meet clean air target," the CSE said.

On New Delhi being listed 11th in the report after being ranked worst in 2014, the CSE said although the national capital has "arrested and improved" air quality, it still has a "long way to go".

Terming it as "disturbing" that several Indian cities have shown substantial increase in pollution levels since 2014, CSE said that PM2.5 in Allahabad has increased by 92 per cent, in Ludhiana 34 per cent, in Khanna 30 per cent, Kanpur 24 per cent, Agra 20 per cent, Lucknow 18 per cent and Amritsar 17 per cent among others.

CSE analysis of the WHO report, however, said that there were lesser number of Indian cities in the list of top 10 and top 20 most polluted cities this year.

While four are in top 10 list as opposed to six last time and 10 are in the top 20 list as opposed to 13 last time, bad is that several smaller India cities including Patna, Allahabad, Ludhiana, Gwalior, Kanpur are more polluted than mega cities and are getting worse.

"This calls for more aggressive and stringent action across all cities of India," CSE said.

Noting that pollution does not recognise political boundaries, Greenpeace India said it has repeatedly called for an "urgent and comprehensive" National Clean Air Action Plan.

"Pollution does not recognise political boundaries, with polluted air travelling across long distances. Air pollution is a national crisis and demands a concerted national action plan in response," said Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

The NGO said that continuing rise of fossil fuel consumption in India along with several other factors, has contributed to an increase in air pollution levels.

"The government needs to make a determined switch to cleaner forms of energy. This is the only way to secure a healthy future for generations to come," Dahiya added.

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The CSE's analysis of the WHO data showed that there was 20 per cent drop in PM2.5 level since 2014 in Delhi but the annual levels are still double the ambient air quality standards and that demands more stringent action to protect public health.

It said the beginning of the second phase of action in Delhi has stabilised the air pollution trends in Delhi and a much larger number of vehicles is meeting the Bharat Stage IV standards that were introduced for new vehicles in 2010.

"The Supreme Court directives have imposed environment compensation charge on entry of each truck into Delhi and restricted entry of pre-2006 trucks. This has halved the number of trucks that contribute about 30 per cent of the transport sector pollution.

"The Rajghat coal-based power plant was shut down last year. The remaining coal power plant in Badarpur is operating at 30 per cent of its capacity. There is also a greater push for enforcement on waste burning and construction dust. All of these have prevented pollution from getting worse," CSE said.

It said Delhi has demonstrated that if cities take action to control pollution it will show results.

"Strong public awareness, judicial and executive action has started to catalyse second phase of action in Delhi. This will have to be taken forward to meet clean air targets to protect public health. Delhi still has a long way to go.
Airbus has awarded the contract to Aequs Aerospace for the supply of over 100,000 titanium machined parts forits A320neo (new engine option) programme.

Aequs is the only company which will be providing titanium parts for Airbus A320neo from India and it will be for teh first time from the country, Aequs officials said.

They said these parts will be delivered to the Airbus plant in Toulouse, France, where they will be assembled onto the pylon structure, used to mount engines onto the aircraft wing.

The contract positions Aequs as a "significant"Tier-1 supplier for Airbus. India is a strategic country for Airbus not onlybecause of market size, but also because of the access toskills and resources, Airbus division in India PresidentSrinivasan Dwarakanath told reporters here today.

Stating that Airbus is growing strength to strengthand is significantly contributing to Prime Minister NarendraModi's 'Make in India' initiative, he said, "this contract is a testimony to our commitment in developing the aerospaceecosystem in the country."



Aequs will perform the work at its 100,000 sq ftaerospace machining facility at the special economic zone inBelagavi, which was purpose-built to manufacture aerospace machined components for Airbus.

Commenting on the contract Aequs Chairman and CEO Aravind Melligeri said "We have a long-standing relationship with Airbus and have produced detail machined parts for its single aisle, long range, and large aircraft since 2009, including wing leading edge subassemblies for its A380."



Speaking about Airbus sourcing, Dwarakanath said, "In last ten years our sourcing volume has grown 16 times. Last year we were little over USD 500 million in terms of sourcing from India. When PM visited our facility last year our CEO has committed that cumulative volume over the next five years(2020) will be more than USD 2 billion."



Airbus has 55 per cent fleet share in the country and has more than 70 per cent order share.

Pointing out that 2016 is the year of neo, Dwarakanath said from the mid of this year Airbus will be delivering on anaverage one aircraft every week into India over the next 10years.
Al-Qaeda fighters and other ultraconservative Sunni insurgents seized a predominantly Alawite village in central Syria today, sparking fears of sectarian violence as families from the village were reported missing by activists.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said "terrorists" were killing townspeople, while Syrian state media said militants had looted and destroyed homes in the village of Zaara, which was previously controlled by the government.

Clashes between insurgents and pro-government forces continued into the afternoon as government or allied Russian aircraft pounded rebel positions, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that seven militants were killed.

The Local Coordination Committees, an activist-run network, said the insurgents killed over 30 pro-government fighters in the clashes.

Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Sunni Islamic militant group, led the assault on Zaara, along with the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's Syrian franchise, which often fights alongside opposition factions. The Observatory, which covers both sides of the conflict through a network of local activists, said families disappeared from Zaara after the militants took over.

Syria's conflict began with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad but escalated into a civil war after a brutal government crackdown and the rise of an armed insurgency. It became increasingly sectarian with the rise of Sunni insurgent groups and the arrival of Shiite militants from across the region to fight alongside Assad's government.

Assad and his family are Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the majority of Syrians are Sunni Muslims. Both the government and the opposition claim to represent the entire country with its various religious minorities, but armed groups on both sides have carried out sectarian attacks.

The International Committee for the Red Cross had to cancel an aid convoy to the nearby town of al-Houla, citing security concerns. A spokesperson for the ICRC did not say whether it was related to the clashes in Zaara.

The 24-truck convoy with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was to make the first aid delivery to the town since March, when aid reached 70,000 residents in the area for the first time since May 2015.

Syrian government forces have restricted access to the area since May 2012, according to the monitoring group Siege Watch. The Observatory says the siege intensified into a near-total blockade last year.
An NGO today demanded that flats of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society -- which is facing demolition in keeping with a Bombay High Court order -- be re-allotted to widows of Kargil war heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the nation.

Members of "Bharat Against Corruption" , led by its president Hemant Patil, today gathered near Adarsh Society tower at Colaba in South Mumbai here to stage a demonstration but withdrew their protest when police told them that section 144 of CrPc -- which prohibits assembly of ten people in an area -- was in force.

Patil and other members of the NGO were then taken to Azad Maidan police station and later let off.

Senior Police Inspector of Azad Maidan Police Station, Vijay Kadam, said, "the NGO members withdrew their protest and hence we did not take any action against them."



Later, speaking to reporters, Patil demanded that the Maharashtra government should file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order which had recently asked the Centre to demolish Adarsh Society as it was illegally built upon the plot of land.

The land was to be allotted to war widows and hence the allotment to bureaucrats and others was illegal, Patil told PTI.

The Bombay HC, on April 29, had ordered demolition of the 31-storey scam-tainted Adarsh tower and sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse" of powers, holding that the building was illegally constructed.

However, on a plea made by the Adarsh Housing Society, a division bench stayed its order to pull down the building close to the sea at Colaba for 12 weeks to enable it to file an appeal in the apex court, despite the Maharashtra government opposing it.

In its order, the division bench asked the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to carry out the demolition at the expense of petitioners (Adarsh Society).

The court asked the Centre and Maharashtra government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians for misuse and abuse of power to get plots under the scheme, originally meant for Kargil war heroes and war widows.
Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said today that he felt compelled to visit Gaza to understand its part in the global refugee crisis for a documentary he is filming.

While Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans have formed the bulk of the thousands of people fleeing to Europe, hundreds of Palestinians have also made the treacherous journey.

And Ai said he could not ignore the decades-old reality of Palestinian refugees due to their "long history".

"It is a big population and has such a complexity of political conditions and affects a huge society," he told AFP.

"If we are doing a documentary film we have to search (for) what happened in this refugee situation in the global sense and Gaza is a very, very important location we have to film in."



The Gaza Strip is home to more than 1.7 million people, over 1.25 million of whom are refugees, according to the United Nations.

Most come from families who left their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948, and Ai joked that he arrived "late" to the story.

While the global film world has been focused on the Cannes Film Festival this week, the dissident documentary maker, who was jailed for 81 days over his support for democracy and human rights in China, entered Gaza.

He travelled to a number of parts of the coastal strip, including Jabalia camp in northern Gaza where he met refugees and displaced people whose homes were destroyed during the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants.
Canberra and Washington will step up joint efforts to protect domestic steelmakers, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today, amid concerns about China flooding the market with below-cost products.

Turnbull made the remarks after a phone call with US President Barack Obama early Thursday.

Steelmakers in both countries are under pressure amid low prices of the alloy -- a result of a supply glut and falling demand in China as its economy softens.

"The president and I have agreed that Australia and the US will intensify our collaboration to ensure that the overproduction of steel is addressed," Turnbull told reporters in Melbourne.

"I've also raised this issue, I should say, with the Chinese leaders, in particular with Premier Li (Keqiang), who undertook and has committed publicly as well to reducing China's steel production by 150 million tonnes a year."



China is the world's largest steel producer and accounts for half of global production, with its manufacturers pumping out hundreds of millions of tonnes more each year than they need domestically amid the economic slowdown.

The supply glut has hurt steel-producing nations and led to plant closures and job losses.

In Australia, cash-strapped miner and steelmaking giant Arrium -- which operates in 15 countries with 8,350 employees -- was placed into voluntary administration in early April.

Canberra has introduced new anti-dumping decisions to support the local steel industry and is also set to hold a government inquiry into steel dumping.

"We need to address this issue because it is important that the viability of steelmakers in our country, and in the US and other nations, is preserved and not undermined by the exporting or the dumping of very cheap steel made in places where it is being produced at way below the real cost," Turnbull added.

Chinese officials contend that overcapacity in its steel sector is a result of cyclical change in the economy, and that they are striving to shrink the sector.
Congress today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comparison of Kerala with Somalia and said it was not only an insult to people of the state but also has invited wrath abroad for dragging a poverty-stricken country into domestic political discourse.

Addressing political rallies in Kollam district here, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghaulam Nabi Azad expressed his dismay over the Prime Minister's "unpalatable" remark and unbecoming of a prime minister.

"By making such comments, the Prime Minister has denigrated the nation and its shining achievements. He has not only insulted the highly erudite and world renowned people of Kerala state but has invited international wrath for dragging in a poverty-hit country, thus creating an embarrassment for the country," he said.

He said there was all respect for Somalians but comparing people of Kerala which has a literacy rate of 100 per cent with them is "regrettable".

"Prime Minister and his ilk should immediately offer unconditional apology in unequivocal words to the people of Kerala and desist from such utterances in future," he said.

He said such a comment from the Prime Minister only reflected Modi's ignorance about the pace of development of Kerala state.

"If Modi had a little knowledge of what Keralites have been contributing in the nation building, he would have not equated Kerala with poverty stricken Somalia," he said.

He also drew a comparison between Kerala and home state of the Prime Minister -- Gujarat -- and said Kerala has infant mortality rate of just 12 deaths for thousand, the lowest in the country, and Gujarat has the infant mortality rate of 36 much closer to National average of 40.

"Prime Minister should bother to talk about the development of Kerala under UDF Govt rather than making wild utterances. His statement is not only condemnable but it has been an insult to Karalite pride which people of Kerala reject vehemently," he said.

(Reopens DES50)



Azad said Modi was ignorant about the pace of development of Kerala. He should be proud of the development and progress of Kerala during the past five years of UDF Government, he said.

Keralite doctors, engineers, technocrats and para-medicos were spread all over the world and thus the state earns huge foreign currency and takes part in nation's development.

Even back home in India Keralites have proven their abilities in every field, he said adding Modi's "unwarranted utterances" have been widely condemned by Keralites in particular and common Indian in general.

He said Modi's statement had generated anger against BJP and the Sang Parivar throughout Kerala.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today took a dip in the Kshipra river with members of tribal communities at the ongoing 'Simhastha Kumbh', a massive congregation of Hindus, at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad (VKP), the RSS-affiliated organisation which works among the tribals, denied that it had arranged the event, which followed BJP chief Amit Shah taking the holy dip with some Dalit saints yesterday.

"Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad didn't organise any function for Bhagwat ji to take the holy dip with forest dwellers. The tribals, too, go and take dip in Kshipra freely and if some of them have taken bath with Bhagwat ji, nothing more should be read into it," VKP leader Yogiraj Parte said.

The RSS chief later also addressed a 'Janjati Sammelan', a gathering of members of tribal communities from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other places, organised by the VKP in Ujjain.

Hindu culture has its genesis in the tribal society, Bhagwat said. "The tribals have protected the forest since ages due to the sense of belonging. They have given rich forest produce to the countrymen," he said.

"The sense of belonging and sharing are the tenets of the Hindu religion," he said, adding, "time has come that the tribal representatives stood up for them and demand their rights."



"God helps those who help themselves," Bhagwat said, citing the quote in English.

Pravin Dolke, state organising secretary of VKP, said Bhagwat did not take lunch with representatives of the tribal communities as was expected, because he reached the venue late.

Yesterday BJP president Amit Shah participated in 'samrasata snaan' (bath for social harmony) and 'samrasta bhoj' (social harmony feast) with Dalit saints at the Kumbh Mela.
To achieve the target of constructing a toilet in every household, an important component of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's 'seven resolves', Bihar government plans to build 7,52,863 toilets in the next four years, a senior officer said today.

The state government would spend of Rs 602 crore to achieve this target, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department Chaitnya Prasad said.

The Centre will give Rs 4,000, while the state would provide Rs 8,000 for every toilet built, he said.

"Work is underway for construction of 38,155 toilets. There is a target to build 3 lakh toilets in the financial year 2016-17," Prasad said.

The Urban Development Department is entrusted to implement three out of the seven resolves of the Chief Minister which has been adopted by his ministry as policy of governance.

GIS mapping would be conducted simultaneously in all 69 towns of the state which would be a record in the country, Prasad said, adding after getting approval of the state Cabinet for Patna Metro, a detailed project report has been sent to the Centre.
Ruling BJP today slammed National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah for raking up tricky issues like NEET and Sainik Colony, alleging that the two are playing "politics of secessionism" and "encouraging separatists and anti-India forces" in the state.

"We strongly condemn the statements issued by the leaders of National Conference, in particular the father and son duo, FarooqAbdullah and Omar Abdullah on some recent issues such as NIT, shelter house for labourers, Sainik Colony in Valley and now on NEET, to settle political score with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the PDP-BJP alliance government," BJP spokesperson Virender Gupta said.

He said the statements were intended to "percolate anti-India feelings among the Kashmiri Muslims and encourage separatists and anti-India forces in the Valley". He alleged that the NC had "once again adopted the policy of alienating the Kashmiri Muslims from the national mainstream, thus putting the Valley in turmoil and derails it from the path of development."



With regard to the Sainik Colony issue, Gupta said the decision had been taken in March 12 at a meeting held under the chairmanship of state Governor and attended by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

He said the proposed Sainik Colony was to be developed at par with other colonies like colony for police personnel, employees' colony.

A similar Sainik colony exists in Jammu city which is meant for the armymen holding state subject.

"Then how is it going to affect the so-called special privileges enjoyed by the state under Article 370? What was the need for raising hue and cry, particularly when Omar himself was party to the decision," he asked.

He also said that opposition to National Eligibility Entrance Examination (NEET) for the students of Jammu and Kashmir by the Abdullahs is "completely illogical and baseless".
BJP today targeted Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for not visiting the family of a Dalit woman, who was raped and murdered in Perumbavoor in Kerala nearly two weeks ago.

"Why Rahul Gandhi has not visited Kerala? He could visit Hyderabad two times after the unfortunate suicide of Rohit Vemula in Hyderabad University," senior BJP leader and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here.

Hitting back at Congress and CPI(M) over the Hyderabad University incidents, Naidu claimed SFI leader and University Students Union General Secretary Raju Kumar Sahu has quit SFI in protest against the opportunistic politics and propaganda being allegedly played over Vemula's suicide.

He said Sahu, in his resignation letter, has said the student body heading the suicide agitation - the Joint Action Committee and the university's SFI unit, were funded by Congress and CPI(M).

"I would like Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) to react on what has been said by the General Secretary of Hyderabad Central University Students Union. He is a SFI activist. He resigned yesterday, held a press conference and exposed SFI, CPI(M) and Congress.

"He said the entire agitation was politically motivated. He said Congress and Left are funding the Hyderabad University movement," the minister told a press conference convened at Nedumbassery.

Naidu said "this is not our charge...These are the charges made by the General Secretary of Hyderabad Central University" and urged to both Congress and CPI(M) to "explain".

Naidu also accused Congress of "diverting" people's attention by raising "unnecessary" issues.

Reacting to Congress' attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark comparing Kerala with Somalia, Naidu said, "they are trying to divert attention of people".

"Issue in Kerala is corruption. Issue in Kerala is what happened in Perumbavoor. They are trying to unnecessary divert issues. Let them answer. What about solar scam, what about bar scam, what about palmolein scam, 2G scam," he asked and urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and senior Congress leader A K Antony to answer these questions.
BJP today said it will send a defamation notice to Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay for accusing it of spending Rs 700 crore to lure Congress MLAs and toppling the state government.

A defamation notice is being served on the PCC chief for levelling an unfounded allegation against the BJP without producing any evidence, state BJP president Ajay Bhatt said in a statement here.

Upadhyay had accused the BJP of spending Rs 700 crore to "buy" Congress MLAs and dislodge the Harish Rawat government.

Bhatt urged the CBI to probe all the sting operations carried out against Rawat.

Praising Governor K K Paul for taking some "very good decisions" in public interest during President's Rule, the BJP leader said the party will protest any attempt by Rawat government to reverse policydecisions taken during central rule.

"Apart from steps taken on the development front, the rule of the mining and liquor mafia in the state had been brought to an end under President's Rule which was even welcomed by people in general.

"Policy decisions taken during President's Rule should not be changed. If there is an attempt by Rawat government to reverse them, the party will protest it," Bhatt said.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today accused the Centre of attempting to "defame" Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi by raising the issue of AgustaWestland chopper deal, even though they had no role in it.

"BJP will not not succeed in its attempt, as it is raised only to defame them and they are not not involved in it," he told reporters here.

Referring to the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree raised by AAP, Gehlot, who is here to campaign for DMK-Congress candidates, alleged BJP has produced a 'fake' certificate.

On the May 16 Tamil Nadu elections, he claimed the prospects of DMK-Congress alliance were very bright.

He questioned how the ruling party could retain power when Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, her ministers and MLAs did not even bother to meet the people.
Concerned over spate of suicides in Punjab, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) today announced that they will hold protests across state.

BKU (E) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh said farmers in the state would hold agitation for five days from May 24.

Singh said due to non waving of crop loans the peasants in the state are committing suicide.

As many as 56 farm labourers' committed suicide this year in Punjab due to agrarian reasons.

He asked the state government to immediately make payments to farmers for the wheat purchased by government agencies.

The General Secretary also lashed out at the Badal government for its alleged anti-farmer policies.
An explosion occurred today close to a military barracks in Istanbul, leaving at least five people wounded, television reports said, as Turkey was on high alert for attacks.

The blast, which came from inside a car, occurred in Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul, the NTV and CNN-Turk channels said.

The explosion took place when a military service vehicle was passing the area but initial reports said none of the personnel inside were wounded.

Television pictures showed the vehicle where the explosion took place was almost completely destroyed, with yellow flames rising from the debris.

The explosion comes with Turkey on edge after two deadly attacks in Istanbul this year blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists, and a pair of attacks in Ankara that were claimed by Kurdish militants and killed dozens.
Boko Haram today claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed two police officers in northeast Nigeria, just days before a regional security summit on efforts to eradicate the Islamists.

The group, using the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), said in a statement posted on social media that the bomber "was able to detonate his explosive vest in the area of Maiduguri".

It claimed "at least 15 apostates (non-believers)" were killed in the attack, which happened at about 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Borno State Secretariat in the city.

But Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said only two died and said the attacker blew up as security personnel stopped him from trying to get into the government offices.

"Unfortunately in the process of stopping him, he detonated the improvised explosive device on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman...

"Sadly, the injured policeman died later," Usman said in an emailed statement, adding that 18 people were injured and taken for treatment.

Mohammed Kanar, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, and an accident and emergency spokesman for the Borno State Specialist Hospital, also confirmed just two deaths.

Between 19 and 24 people were injured in the blast, they added.

Locals and street vendors earlier told AFP the explosion initially appeared to come from a passing motorised rickshaw, which went up in flames and was gutted in the blast.

Boko Haram suicide bombers have previously used public transport to travel to multiple targets in the northeast and wider north.

The Islamist group was founded in Maiduguri in 2002 and the city has been repeatedly attacked since the insurgency turned violent in 2009.

But a relative calm has returned there in recent months as a military counter-insurgency makes apparent gains against rebel strongholds across the northeast.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is this weekend hosting leaders of neighbouring countries, plus French President Francois Hollande, and senior British and US government officials.

The meeting is expected to focus on boosting regional and international cooperation in defeating the Islamic State group affiliate, which has also attacked Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Government bonds (G-Secs) rebounded on good buying support from banks and corporates.

While, the overnight call money rates ended lower at the money market due to lack of demand from borrowing banks amid ample liquidity in the banking system.

The 7.59 percent government security maturing in 2026 rose to Rs 101.1250 from Rs 101.09 previously, while its yield softened at 7.42 per cent from 7.43 per cent.

The 7.88 per cent government security maturing in 2030 climbed to Rs 101.24 from Rs 101.1825, while its yield edged- down to 7.73 per cent from 7.74 per cent.

The 8.27 per cent government security maturing in 2020 gained to Rs 103.28 from Rs 103.2250, while its yield moved down to 7.32 per cent from 7.34 per cent



The 7.68 per cent government security maturing in 2023, the 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2029 and the 7.72 per cent government security maturing in 2025 were also quoted higher to Rs 100.66, Rs 99.71 and Rs 100.75, respectively.

The overnight call money rates ended lower at 6.55 from Wednesday's level of 6.80 per cent. It resumed lower at 6.60 and moved in a range of 6.80 and 6.45 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), purchased securities worth Rs 203.52 billion in 44-bids, for 1-day at the overnight repo operation at a fixed rate of 6.50 per cent as on today, while it sold securities worth Rs 10.45 billion from 20-bids for 1-day reverse repo operation at a fixed rate of 6.00 per cent as on May 11.
Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of world's largest tyre and rubber company Bridgestone today opened Fleet Point store in Coimbatore.

Inaugurating the store at Rajam Motors, Bridgestone India General Manager, Commercial Tyres marketing, Masahiro Fujita said the fleet point is a unique outlet that is designed to provide expert services exclusively for truck and bus radial tyre operations and maintenance.

The objective of this service is to assist in tyre care and reduce down-time, thus, eventually aiding in diminishing the operating cost for fleets, he said.

* * * * * *



Vistara to fly Kolkata-Delhi from June



* Tata-SIA Airlines joint venture Vistara today said it would launch a daily flight between New Delhi and Kolkata from June 10.

The company also said it would introduce a daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Kochi from June 20.

"The City of Joy, Kolkata, encapsulates the essence of modern India as a key commercial and educational centre that attracts a large number of business visitors and tourists from India and around the world," Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh said in a statement.

* * * * * *



NABARD appoints Nagoor Ali Jinnah as CGM, Tamil Nadu * National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) today announced the appointment of Nagoor Ali Jinnah as Chief General Manager for Tamil Nadu region with immediate effect.

Jinnah replaces Lalithaa Venkatesan, who was serving for more than three years.

Prior to taking up the new role, Jinnah was serving the Infrastructural Funding Departments at NABARD, Mumbai as its head, an official release said.

* * * * * *



Indigo expands domestic network



* Indigo airlines will introduce first daily non-stop flight connecting Coimbatore to Hyderabad from June 22.

The flight will leave Coimbatore at 0910 hrs to reach Hyderabad at 1040 hrs at the fare of Rs 2,406, while from Hyderabad, it will depart at 0720 hrs to arrive Coimbatore at 0840 hrs with a fare of Rs 2,890.

"We are confident that this service will prove immensely popular with our customers. With the increased flow of tourists and business traffic, we are pleased to provide direct and daily connections to meet the requirements of our customers," Indigo President Aditya Ghosh said in the release.

Liro Rossi appointed as CEO of Holiday Club resorts



* Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India today said Liro Rossi has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Finland based Holiday Club resorts Oy.

Rossi has been working with the company for 13 years as Director- Business Development, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India said in a filing to BSE.

He replaces Vesa Tengman who would continue as a member of the board, it added.

Holiday Club Resorts Oy is a weekly timeshare company in Europe and a significant operator in the fields of holiday housing and tourism. The company is owned by Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd, the acting management and Fennia Group.

* * * * * *



Coverfox launches 'doorstep claims service' in Delhi and NCR * An insurance portal Coverfox today said after Mumbai, it has now launched its 'Express Doorstep Claims Service' in Delhi and NCR.

The service commits to returning one's car within 3 days, after getting the vehicle serviced by a third party auto service provider. The company has tied-up with 70+ such providers in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida, a company statement said.

At present, the service is available to Bharti AXA, Liberty Videocon, and Future Generali car insurance customers in Delhi and NCR for select brands of cars. The company provides the service in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, and plans to launch it in other cities across country soon, it added.

* * * * * *



Sarthi Capital to manage 4 IPOs on NSE Emerge this month * A merchant banker Sarthi Capital Advisors today said it will be lead managing the Initial Public Offering of four companies namely Husys Consulting, Crown Lifters, AVSL Industries and Jet Knitwears, which are scheduled to launch their IPOs on NSE Emerge in the current month.

Sarthi Capital has listed over 25 SMEs till now on SME and ITP platform of the exchanges.

"We have been able to bring businesses for investors at SME Exchanges, which has been now over Rs 1,000 crore plus turnover companies," Sarthi Group's managing director Deepak Sharma said.

Wadhwa Group ties-up with Snapdeal



* Realty player Wadhwa Group today said it has tied-up with e-commerce platform Sanpdeal to make its properties accessible to customers online.

Snapdeal will showcase the Group's project 'Elite' in partnership with Terraform Realty, which features 1, 2, 2.5 and 3 BHK apartments and an array of amenities, the company said in a statement issued here.

Wadhwa Group Director Girish Shah said: "This is a huge step forward for us digitally. Snapdeal with their ever expanding customer base forms a perfect platform for us to showcase our upcoming properties."



* * * * * *



MEP Infrastructure bags 4 toll collections projects in TN * Toll road firm MEP Infrastructure today said it has bagged four short-term toll collection projects from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Tamil Nadu for 90 days each.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary Raima Toll and Infrastructure has acquired four short term toll collection projects in Tamil Nadu for a period of 90 days.

The company has received Letter of Award for toll collection at Salaipudhur, Ettuvattam, Kappalur and Nanguneri fee plazas on NH-7 in Tamil Nadu (Madurai-Tirunelveli - Panagudi - Kanyakumari section).

The subsidiary has committed to a remittance of Rs 46.44 lakh to the NHAI over the project tenure, payable on daily basis.

* * * * * *



L&T Infotech appoints Sudhir Chaturvedi as President Sales * L&T Infotech (LT) today said it has appointed Sudhir Chaturvedi as its President Sales.

In this role, he will lead the sales, business development and marketing teams globally, LTI said in a statement.

Most recently, Chaturvedi was the Chief Operating Officer at NIIT Technologies. He has also worked at Infosys.

"We are on a path to build the most client centric company in the industry and Sudhir brings expertise and results-driven approach to enable this transformation," LTI CEO and MD Sanjay Jalona said.
The government today approved widening of the crucial UP Gate to Dasna stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,983 crore, which will ease traffic congestion in the national capital.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for development of 8/6 laning of Delhi-Meerut Expressway - Package-II-Uttar Pradesh Border to Dasna Section of NH-24 in Uttar Pradesh," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement after the meeting.

The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 1,983.51 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities, it said.

The total length of the road will be approximately 19 kms.

"This work will be under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-VI. The approval is in Hybrid Annuity Mode," the statement said.

It said the project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh and in reducing the time and cost of travel, particularly for heavy traffic, plying between 'Delhi-Meerut' Uttar Pradesh Border to Dasna section on National Highway-24.

The other two stretches - Akshardham temple to UP Gate and Dasna to Hapur have already been approved by the Cabinet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31, 2015 had unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to be built at a cost of Rs 7,566 crore that includes construction of 28-km long 14 lane Delhi-Dasna section.

The National Highway will show a way to freedom from pollution, he had said.

Earlier Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the project will reduce the distance between the national capital and Meerut to 40-45 minutes from 3 hours at present.

The expressway will give a big thrust to development in western Uttar Pradesh and will make travel to cities like Dehradun, Moradabad and Bareilly much faster, he has said.

The Delhi-Meerut Expressway would be an access controlled highway and 31 traffic signals have been removed from the stretch.

While, the work on Delhi-Dasna section would cost Rs 2,869 crore, the construction of 46 km long six-lane Dasna-Meerut section of the expressway will cost Rs 3,575 crore.

Besides, six-laning of 22 km long Dasna-Hapur section of NH 24 will be built at a cost of Rs 1,122 crore.
The annual Char Dham pilgrimage has begun with the reopening of the portals of Badrinath shrine in the Garhwal hills after the winter break amid chants of Vedic hymns.

Elaborate rituals preceded the formal opening of the Himalayan temple, located at a height of 10,279 feet, yesterday, a senior Badrinath-Kedarnath Samiti official said.

The other three Himalayan temples on the circuit -- Kedranath, Gangotri and Yamunotri -- had reopened on May 9. With reopening of Badrinath temple, the annual Char Dham yatra has begun.

Badrinath shrine Chief Priest Ishwar Prasad Nambudiri threw the temple doors open in the wee hours in the presence of Mandir Samiti officials and thousands of devotees amid chants of Vedic hymns and "Jai Badri Vishal".

Over 8,000 devotees visited the temple, located on the banks of Alaknanda river, on the first day, he said. Former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri also offered prayers at the shrine.

The four Himalayan temples are closed every year with the onset of the winter when they remain snowbound.
China's Defense Ministry says a navy fighter jet on a nighttime training mission has crashed into buildings in an eastern city but the pilot had ejected safely and there were no reports of casualties.

A brief report on the ministry's website said the accident occurred around 7:30 yesterday in the city of Taizhou in Zhejiang province. It said parts of a sewing machine factory were destroyed in the crash, but the pilot had ejected and no one was apparently hurt on the ground.

It said the navy and East China Sea Fleet were investigating the cause of the crash.

The type of plane involved wasn't identified. China's navy operates older J-7 and J-8 fighters along with variants of the Russian Su-27, including a version assigned to China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.
Days after a youth allegedly tried to rape her, a 16-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide in Sutan Purwa village of Kanpur district.

The girl's family had alleged that a local youth Shivam had allegedly tried to rape her on May 9.

The girl was apparently depressed after the incident hanged herself from the ceiling yesterday.

"The accused allegedly used to tease the 16-year-old girl on her way to college," Kanpur Dehat SP Pushpanjali Mathur said.

The girl had complained to her family about the accused earlier, but they chose to remain mum fearing insult, she added.

Based on the complaint of the family members, a case has been registered against Shivam. The accused is still at large and a manhunt has been launched to nab him, she said, adding an investigation is on into the matter.
Democratic presidential front- runner Hillary Clinton took a jibe at Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump for not releasing his tax returns, which would be a break from the decades-long precedent in the race to the White House.

"Here is what Donald Trump wants to do. He has released just one detailed proposal in this whole campaign," Clinton said, referring to the real estate tycoon's tax plan.

"What about his taxes? So we'll get around to that, too, because when you run for president, especially when you become the nominee that is kind of expected," she said at an election rally in Blackwood, New Jersey.

"My husband and I have released 33 years of tax returns. We got eight years on our website right now. So you got to ask yourself, why doesn't he want to release them? Yeah, well, we're going to find out," said the 68-year-old former secretary of state, as she was joined by many others including the 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in asking Trump to release his tax returns.

In a post on his Facebook page, Romney said that not releasing ones tax returns is "disqualifying" for a presidential candidate.

"It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service," Romney said.

He said there is only one logical explanation for Trump's refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them.

"Given Mr. Trump's equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume it's a bombshell of unusual size," he said.

Trump quickly hit back, defending his decision not to release his tax returns unless the ongoing audit is completed.

"My taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election!" the 69-year-old tweeted.

In February, the Revenue Service (IRS) in a statement said there is nothing in law that prevents an individual from sharing their tax information.

"Nothing prevents individuals from sharing their own tax information," the IRS had said.

"The IRS stresses that audits of tax returns are based on the information contained on the taxpayer's return and the underlying tax law - nothing else. and religion do not factor into this.

"The audit process is handled by career, non-partisan civil servants, and we have processes in place to safeguard the exam process," said the agency.

Making tax returns public is not required of presidential candidates, but there is a long tradition of major party nominees doing so.
BJP chief Amit Shah today asked Congress and CPI(M) to explain the "ideology" behind their "dosti" (friendship) in West Bengal and "kushti" (wrestling) in West Bengal.

There is "dosti" in West Bengal and "kushti" in Kerala. The CPI-M leader and the AICC Chief should explain to people "the ideology behind it", BJP President Amit Shah said at a public meeting here.

Attacking Gandhi, Shah said: "Gandhi came to Kerala and became emotional. She said BJP questioned her patriotism.

"Soniaji we know your desh prem (patriotism)...(Rs)12 lakh crore corruption took place during the 10-year rule of UPA. Apka Desh prem Kahan tha us samay (Where was your patriotism then)," Shah said.

There was corruption everywhere during the UPA rule. "We know your (Gandhi's) desh prem very well," he said.

Targetting CWC member A K Antony's remark that BJP had hidden agenda, Shah said: "The only open agenda is to uproot and throw Congress-led UDF and CPI-M headed LDF into the sea."



Slamming Yechury, Shah wanted the communist leader to look into the mirror to see "his true face of violence".

"In Kerala, at least 250 RSS and BJP workers were killed by CPI-M workers," he alleged, adding: "BJP will not be cowed down by such violence, we will continue our fight till BJP forms government in Kerala."



He asked CPI-M to make clear whether V S Achuthanandan would be made Chief Minister if LDF comes to power.

"They will not answer. But I will answer. They will not make Achuthanandan the Chief Minister. CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan would be made the CM instead, even though they are seeking votes by showing the face of Achuthanandan," the BJP leader claimed.
BJP, which has faced flak over research scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide, today used the resignation letter of a key SFI leader of Hyderabad University's students' union to accuse the Left and Congress of exploiting sentiments of students.

Raju Kumar Sahu, the students' union general secretary, in the letter compared his "alienation" in SFI to that of Vemula and alleged that the action committee formed to lead the agitation following the Dalit scholar's suicide, was used for selective and political reasons.

"Sahu's resignation is not important but the serious questions he has raised over the Left parties are and his comments that how for political reasons they exploited sentiments of students. He said Vemula felt isolated due to working style of SFI and he was being treated similarly," BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav told mediapersons here.

Party's national secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed that Congress had joined the Left in targeting the Centre and BJP over the issue but both of them have been "exposed".

"Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should answer why Rahul Gandhi went to the Hyderabad University twice. Congress and the Left have played with sentiments of students and have been exposed," he said, questioning the "silence" of those who have been attacking BJP over the issue.

On the prospect of the GST bill's passage in Parliament, Yadav, a Rajya Sabha member, said it was in the country's interest and should be passed.

BJP is hoping that change in the number game in Rajya Sabha in coming months will be more suitable to its passage as the strength of Congress is expected to go down.
Congress member of Rajya Sabha Praveen Rashtrapal died here early today after suffering a massive heart attack.

Rashtrapal (76) is survived by three daughters and a son. His wife had passed away a couple of years ago.

His aide Amrut Pandya said that the MP from Gujarat had complained of uneasiness but before he could be provided medical assistance, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.

An AICC Secretary, who was also in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, Rashtrapal was associated with the trade union movement of Income Tax employees in particular and the Central Government employees. He was an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax before he took a plunge into politics.

He was a elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004). He was a member from the Upper House from April 2006 to April 2012 and was re-elected in April 2012.

Rashtrapal was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam in the previous Lok Sabha.

Following his demise, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day today.
A contract laborer from Odisha was killed today when a scrap iron rod he was using to charge a furnace, hit his face at a mill in Kondalam Patty, police said.

Nityhanath (23), hailing from Jesdar district in Odisha, died when the hot rod hit his face causing severe burn injuries, they said.

He was rushed to the government hospital here, but was declared brought dead, police said.
A local court today sought explanation from Superintendent of Police (Goa Crime Branch) on how details of investigation in connection with the rape case registered against expelled Congress legislator Atanasio Monserratte were getting "leaked" to the media.

The court today extended the police custody of Monserratte and the victim's mother by another four days.

Superintendent of Police (Crime) Karthik Kashyap was asked to submit his explanation by May 16 before Principle District and Sessions Judge B P Deshpande.

The court, which was hearing an application by Crime Branch seeking extension of police custody of Monserratte, said it was not satisfied with the explanation given by Investigation Officer Sudiksha Naik on media leaks.

Monserratte has been arrested for allegedly buying and raping a 16-year-old girl. The victim's mother and another woman Rosy Ferros has also been arrested by Crime Branch which has charged them with human trafficking.

During the hearing of the application for extending the police custody of Monserratte and the mother, defence lawyer Saresh Lotlikar pointed they had moved an application seeking to restrain police from divulging information about the case to media.

"The explanation has to come how everything is figuring in media. The concerned Superintendent of Police should explain how it is getting leaked to media," Lotlikar said.

Advocate Rajiv Gomes, who also represented Monserratte along with Lotlikar, submitted to the court that the statement given by the victim to the police was verbatim printed in media.

Investigating Officer Naik said the police were not leaking the information but the Judge refused to buy her explanation ordering Superintendent of Police to submit his reply.

"Let SP give the reply how investigation details were being leaked out. The reply filed by investigating officer (Sudiksha Naik) is not satisfactory. In-charge SP should file a detailed reply," the judge ruled in the open court hall which was packed with the MLA's supporters.

Mayor of Panaji city corporation Surendra Furtado was also in the court.

Earlier, Crime, Branch seeking extension in police custody of Monserratte, claimed that during the investigation, the officers have come across SMS communications between the lawmaker and the victim's mother.

"We want more time to probe this conversation. We have



to recover the mobile from the accused," said public prosecutor Nita Marathe.

She said the accused was not cooperating with the investigating officer.

However, defence lawyer Lotlikar argued that allegations that the accused is not cooperating cannot be a ground for keeping him in police custody.

He demanded that Monserratte be sent to judicial custody so that he can file for bail.
A Delhi court has sought a report from Tihar Jail Superintendent on a plea by Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy, facing trial for allegedly trying to set up a base of banned outfit CPI (Maoist) here, regarding his production in another case in a Telangana court.

Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh asked the Jail Superintendent to file the report by May 24. Ghandhy said in his application that he was required to be produced before the concerned court at Telangana where another case against him is pending.

He has also filed a plea urging that his further presence in the Delhi court be dispensed with till pronouncement of the judgment in this case which is at its final stage.

The court has put up the application for consideration on on May 24, the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, the court fixed the case for commencing final arguments here.

"List the matter for final arguments on May 24," it said.

A report has also been called by the judge from incharge of Patiala House Courts lock-up on a plea of co-accused Rajinder Kumar seeking directions to the lock-up incharge not to produce him in court in handcuffs.

Both the accused are presently in judicial custody.

65-year-old Ghandy is facing trial in the case for alleged offences punishable under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and various provisions of the IPC.

The court had earlier framed charges against co-accused Rajender Kumar under various sections of the IPC in the case.

Ghandy, an alumnus of the prestigious Doon School and St Xavier's College Mumbai, is facing prosecution in around 20 criminal and terror cases in different parts of the country.

According to the police, he was said to be part of the top leadership of erstwhile CPI-ML (People's War Group) since 1981.

He allegedly continued as a Central Committee member in CPI (Maoist) after the merger with People's War Group and was elected to the Maoist Politburo in 2007.

Ghandy was arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police for allegedly trying to set up a base for CPI (Maoist) in Delhi.

He was earlier absolved by the court of terror charges due to want of proper sanction. Later, a fresh charge sheet was filed with another sanction for his prosecution under the provisions of UAPA. Thereafter, he was charged with offences under the UAPA.
Bernie Sanders may be lagging in the race for the US Democratic Party nomination, but across the Atlantic his elder brother is betting on the former cross-country runner's stamina to clinch victory.

Britain-based Larry Sanders, 81, was among 'Democrats Abroad' members meeting in Berlin from today, rooting for Bernie Sanders to defeat first Hillary Clinton and then the Republicans' presumptive nominee, celebrity billionaire Donald Trump.

"He is determined, he will go all the way," said the elder Sanders, who lives in Oxford and is active in Britain's Green Party. "He expects there is a good chance that he can still win the nomination, although it's an uphill battle."



Sanders senior said his 74-year-old brother is hoping that his party's delegates will realise he is the best-placed candidate to beat Trump, who "would be a dreadful disaster for the United States and for the world".

"Bernard was a cross-country runner," said Larry. "They run uphill, they run downhill. Somehow or other it always seems to be in the mud.

"And the main thing that determines a good cross-country runner is absolutely determination and stamina, and Bernard has both. He had it when he was a child and he still has it now."



Of the overseas Democrats who voted in the primaries, 69 per cent chose Sanders, the senator from Vermont, against 31 per cent who backed former secretary of state Clinton, the party's front-runner inside the US.

Larry Sanders said many Americans abroad believe that Bernie's policy proposals are not radical or utopian, but in fact daily reality in their European and other host countries.
Scores of dalit women today took a holy dip along with Brahmin priests and Sanskrit scholars at ongoing Kumbh fair here on an initiative by an NGO to dismantle caste barriers and propagate equality.

Around 200 women from Alwar and Tonk districts of Rajasthan took bath at famous Ramghat on the banks of Kshipra river.

The women belonged to the caste whose members traditionally worked as manual scavengers, considered at the bottom of the caste hierarchy.

The event is viewed as an occasion that washed off their "untouchability".

The initiative was conceived by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh Sanitation movement.

"It's the biggest sign of changing attitude about India's outdated caste system," a release quoted Pathak as saying.

"This Kumbh ceremony should be viewed as a bold and successful step towards the egalitarian inclusion of the downtrodden in the religio-social world of the Hindus," the release quoted Pathak as saying.
Denmark's government said today it wants to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets with 27 US-built Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters.

"We can monitor our airspace... And work in wars and conflicts around the world," Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said at a press conference.

Rasmussen's minority government will now begin negotiations with six other parties in parliament over the order, which Rasmussen said was worth 20 billion kroner (2.69 billion euros, USD 3.07 billion).

Eurofighter's Typhoon model and Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet were also in the running for the order, which was expected after having been debated for over 10 years.

Denmark took delivery of its first F-16 in 1980 and currently has around 30 in operation. The F-35A fighter jets, which would replace the F-16 and which is still in development, are expected to be ready by 2027.

Denmark is one of nine partner countries, that also include Britain, Canada and Turkey, who are helping pay for the futuristic F-35A fighter jet's development.

A Pentagon report said in February that the F-35A remains dogged by dangerous problems sure to further complicate what is already the most expensive weapons project in history.

In the latest blow to the programme, engineers uncovered a slew of flaws during extensive testing of the newest versions of the F-35 series, the report found, adding to a litany of issues including software bugs, technical glitches and cost overruns.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has apologised to a former imam for "any misunderstanding", weeks after he accused the Muslim cleric of supporting the dreaded Islamic State terror group.

Cameron was criticised last month after he accused London newly elected mayor Sadiq Khan of sharing a platform with Suliman Gani, claiming the ex-imam was a supporter of the Islamic State.

"Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS," Cameron had said during the London mayoral campaign.

"In reference to the prime minister's comments on Suliman Gani, the prime minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic State. The prime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding," a Downing Street spokesman said yesterday.

Cameron's apology came after Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also said sorry to Gani, a former Tooting Imam who threatened legal action against him for repeating Cameron's accusations in a radio interview.

A spokesman for Fallon told the 'Mirror' he had simply quoted BBC presenter Andrew Neil and was 'unaware of the clarification'.

"Had he been aware, he would not of course have quoted him and as soon he became aware he put the record straight. He naturally apologises for this inadvertent error," the spokesman said.

Gani, a Conservative supporter, has stressed that he 'openly condemned the barbarity and monstrosity of Isis'.

He said he had never supported IS and now fears for his family's safety in light of the untrue accusation.

He also said he had already been subjected to verbal abuse by strangers in the street, who shouted "terrorist supporter" at him.

"In relation to David Cameron saying in Parliament that I support IS, I understand that he can do this despite it being untrue and at the same time avoid any legal implications by relying on Parliamentary privilege," Gani, had tweeted.
After spearheading campaigns to break bar on entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of two famous temples, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade chief Trupti Desai today entered the Haji Ali Dargah in the heart of Mumbai but did not venture into the inner chamber of the shrine where women are not allowed.

"At the Dargah, I prayed that women be allowed to enter the inner sanctum, as was the case till 2011," Desai said after coming out of the shrine.

"Police cooperated with us this time. This is a fight for gender equality. We will try to visit the inner sanctum next time," she said.

Desai had led a high-profile campaign last month to break the bar on women at the core area of the Dargah, but stopped short of entering the shrine at the last minute amid resistance by activists of outfits opposed to the move.

Desai, whose previous campaigns were centred around Hindu temples, had then maintained that her agitation for right to equality for women at places of worship is not linked to any religion.

The Maharashtra government had in February this year favoured the entry of women into the Haji Ali Dargah.

The state government had then said before the Bombay High Court that unless the Dargah Board is able to prove that ban is part of their religious practice with reference to Quran, women should be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali.

The Dargah Board had said that the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah houses the grave of a male saint and in Islam it is sin for women to touch a male saint, and hence, women are barred from touching the tomb.

Recently, Desai successfully led movements to do away with ban on women into the core worship area at Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples in Ahmednagar and Nashik districts of Maharashtra.

In a related development, a civil petition has been filed in a Mumbai court seeking a ban on the entry of Desai into the core area of the Dargah. The court posted the matter for arguments on June 15.
A 5-year-old girl in Detroit has died after she shot herself with gun found under her grandmother's pillow, the latest casualty from shootings by children across the US.

The handgun was under a pillow in her grandmother's bedroom when the girl came upon it, police said.

The girl, who was with two younger children about midnight on Wednesday, was playing with the weapon when it discharged, police said.

She was fatally wounded, they said.

Her grandmother, who was cooking downstairs at the time of the shooting, was questioned by police and released, CNN quoted Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Moreno as saying.

The investigation into the tragedy continues and no charges have been filed.

The victim, identified as Mariah Davis, was pronounced dead on arrival at a Detroit hospital.

The other children, ages 1 and 3, were unhurt, police said.

At least six children have shot and killed either themselves or a parent in the United States since April 20.

The shootings are not accidents, according to gun violence prevention activist Jonathan Hutson.

"These fatalities are unintentional, but they're not accidental," said Hutson, former spokesman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "They're foreseeable and preventable."



At least 14 states and the District of Columbia have laws that make gun owners criminally liable if they fail to prevent unauthorised access to guns by children, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

But many children are still shot unintentionally, he said.

On average, he said, nine children under age 18 are unintentionally shot in the United States every day. Of those, about seven die each day. Hutson said those numbers have been fairly steady over the past few years.

Twenty-four children under age 4 died from accidental shootings in 2014, the most recent year of data available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data does not distinguish whether those children shot themselves by accident or were shot by someone else.
Egyptian activists took to social media today to support an online campaign demanding the release of four detained members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's general-turned-president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

The activists posted phone-wielding selfies on Facebook, entitled "does a mobile phone camera rattle you?" and directed at el-Sissi.

The campaign comes after police on Monday arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children."



A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. The performers are facing several charges, including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions.

Recent clips by the group were entitled "el-Sissi, my president, made things worse," and "leave" a chant that was popular during the 2011 uprising that forced autocrat Hosni Mubarak to step down.

There were also ones mocking the president's habit of ending speeches with "Long live Egypt!" and his recent reference to advice by his late mother to "never to covet what belongs to others."



Beside activists, famous Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef often described as the Jon Stewart of Egypt took part in the online campaign. Youssef's show was taken off the air when freedoms significantly diminished after then-military-chief el-Sissi ousted Egypt's first freely elected leader, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi, in July 2013.

"If you truly are not scared of anyone, let them go free," Youssef posted, referring to the performers and alluding to el-Sissi's recent repeated assertions that no one scares him.

Egyptian actor Amr Waked, who played the rich Arab chieftain in the widely acclaimed 2012 movie "Salmon Fishing in The Yemen" also took part in the campaign.

El-Sissi took office in June 2014, nearly a year after Morsi's ouster. He has since overseen the arrest of thousands of Morsi's supporters as well as scores of pro-democracy activists who fueled the 2011 uprising.

Under his rule, many freedoms won as a result of the uprising have been eroded while a personality cult around el-Sissi has emerged. But the president has been devoting most of his time trying to revive the economy, initiating a series of ambitious infrastructure projects, while also battling a tenuous Islamic militant insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian leader has recently faced a wave of protests over his announcement last month that his government intended to surrender control over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The protests were met with one of the biggest rounds of arrests in the last two years.
EU member states today approved a six-month extension of border controls in the passport-free Schengen zone, which were reintroduced in some places in response to the migrant crisis.

The European Council, which represents the 28 EU member states, backed last week's recommendation from the executive European Commmission.

The Commission had received requests for an extension from Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden as well as non-EU Norway, which is also a Schengen member.

Since 2015 several countries in the 26-nation Schengen zone have reintroduced border controls due to the worst migrant crisis since World War II -- effectively suspending its principle of open-borders travel.

EU rules say countries in exceptional circumstances can reintroduce border controls for up to two years, in periods of up to six months at a time.

"Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should maintain proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of six months," the council said in a statement announcing the extension.

"Border controls should be targeted and limited in scope, frequency, location and time," it said.

It added such checks should be limited to what is "strictly necessary to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security resulting from the secondary movements of irregular migrants."



Member states like Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden have said the attacks on November 13 in Paris and March 22 in Brussels also "demonstrated that terrorist groups are likely to try and take advantage of deficiencies in border controls."



The extended controls affect the land borders between Austria and three neighbours: Hungary, Slovenia and Germany.

Also affected are Danish ports with ferry links to Germany, the Danish-German land border, some Swedish harbours and the Oeresund bridge, and Norwegian ports with ferry links to Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

The Commission on May 4 said the extension of checks on some Schengen internal borders was justified because the bloc's external border in Greece was still not solid enough despite an EU-Turkey deal that has dramatically reduced the flow of migrants over the Aegean sea.

Greece was the main point where the more than one million asylum seekers -- mainly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans -- entered Europe last year.
Spain's foreign minister today described the EU's deal with Turkey to stem the influx of migrants as a "botched job", blasting Europe's "inadequate" response to its worst migration crisis since World War II.

Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said he was unhappy with leaving the solution to the crisis in the hands of a country outside the European Union, despite Madrid having backed the controversial deal with Ankara.

"This deal we have signed with Turkey, it's a botched job," he told the Cope radio station.

"For Turkey to help us so that (refugees) do not come by sea en masse is good -- before, they were risking their lives and criminal gangs... Were benefiting from their misfortune," he added.

"But that does not mean that this is not a botched job, and it leaves the solution in the hands of a third country."



Under the deal, Turkey has agreed to take back migrants landing on Greek islands in exchange for political incentives including billions of euros in aid and visa-free European travel for its citizens.

The Turkish agreement is the cornerstone of the EU's plan to curb a crisis that has seen 1.25 million Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and other migrants enter since 2015, though the numbers of arrivals have dropped since March.

Garcia-Margallo criticised EU efforts on refugees as "very inadequate" compared to countries like Lebanon, which has taken in more than a million people fleeing the Syrian war -- equivalent to more than a quarter of its own population.

In April, acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faced heavy criticism from lawmakers over the fact that Spain had taken in only 16 asylum-seekers under an EU relocation plan, out of a promised 16,000.

Garcia-Margallo blamed problems with registering migrants for the slow progress, claiming registration centres in Greece simply "don't work".

"Greece does not have the civil servants to resolve all these problems and the rest of the countries are waiting for someone to tell us 'the process has begun and you must start taking in the refugees'," he said.

He called for a "genuinely shared European asylum agency" to speed up the process.
Police have booked some members of eunuch community for allegedly throwing coins during their procession, which could have potentially led to a stampede, at the ongoing Kumbh fair.

"We have registered a case against the eunuchs (Hijras) for taking out a procession without permission and throwing coins during the course of procession yesterday," Superintendent of Police, Manohar Verma told PTI today.

For the first time in the history of Kumbh, eunuchs have set up their 'akhara' (temporary monastery) and anointed their rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as their spiritual head ('Mahamandaleshwar'), drawing ire of 'All India Akhara Parishad'.

Yesterday, around 500 eunuchs sporting coloured sarees and Laxmi Narayan riding a horse reached 'Gandharav Ghat' (banks) of Kshipra river and took the dip amid cheering by onlookers.

Verma said police are identifying the eunuchs who participated in the procession and reportedly threw coins in public which jostled each other to collect them.

"You might be knowing that a tragedy had taken place due to throwing of coins at Nashik Kumbh," the SP said.

Around 39 pilgrims were killed allegedly when some sadhus threw silver coins resulting in a stampede at Nasik Kumbh in August 2003.

When asked whether Laxmi Narayan has been booked in this regard, the officer said, "We have registered a case and investigating the matter. The case has been registered against unidentified persons under various sections of IPC including section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)".

Earlier, the eunuchs had scheduled their holy bath on May 9 but later deferred it to May 12, before changing the plan yet again and taking out the procession yesterday.
A Dubai-based retail and hospitality conglomerate owned by an Indian-origin entrepreneur has started using Facebook at Work to connect its 10,000 employees across different departments in 11 countries.

Landmark Group's move aims to encourage collaboration and greater cohesiveness at the work place through helping 10,000 employees communicate in real-time via the rich social media platform across 11 countries.

Facebook at Work allows employees to connect easily with each other across departments and geographies - both from their desktop computers and from mobile devices using best-in-class Android and iPhone apps.

"Facebook at Work is a simple way for colleagues to communicate and share across time zones and global offices. We're excited for Landmark to realize the benefits of Facebook at Work - with increased productivity and collaboration across 10,000 employees in 11 countries," said Julien Codorniou, Director, Facebook at Work.

"Facebook at work is based on five pillars - Newsfeed, groups, timeline or profile, work chat and search. On top of this, there is security and analytics which is exclusive to this service," said Codorniou for whom the the biggest USPs are the fact that anyone who uses Facebook can use Facebook at Work too, and that it is mobile first.

Vipen Sethi, CEO, Landmark Group, said social media is certainly the way forward in the corporate environment of tomorrow.

"For a large and diverse company like ours, Facebook at Work is an ideal tool to encourage employees to collaborate with one another more efficiently and lead to faster and more decisive resolutions to daily operational challenges. We are confident this solution will significantly improve our cohesiveness as a company and enhance productivity," he said.

Facebook at Work was piloted in the organisation for over six months. During this time the Landmark team created and refined an administrative strategy to ensure that the platform serves the company's end users and business goals.

Employees' personal and professional profiles on Facebook at Work are kept completely separate, with dedicated mobile apps for Work and Work Chat. The data shared on Facebook at Work is accessible only by eligible members of the Landmark community.
is seeking to reassure Thai users that it safeguards their private data, after a series of arrests raised concerns the social network had failed to protect personal information from Thailand's military government.

A statement by Facebook's Asia-Pacific spokeswoman, Charlene Chian, said the company has not given any account information to the Thai government and its systems remain secure. It said it publicly lists government requests for data or blocking sites and responds according to law.

" uses advanced systems to keep people's information secure and tools to keep their accounts safe, and we do not provide any government with direct access to people's data," said the statement, received today by email.

Thailand's junta, which came to power in May 2014 after overthrowing an elected government, tries to tightly control dissent. Its guidelines for discussing an August referendum on a draft constitution make it virtually impossible to campaign for rejecting the draft without risking up to 10 years in jail.

The junta has also vigorously enforced a long-standing law against defaming the monarchy, which is punishable by three to 15 years imprisonment. Most prosecutions involve material posted on the Internet, and the cases are tried by a military court.

Late last month the authorities arrested eight people on charges of sedition and violation of the Computer Crime Act for material posted on that mocked Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Two also face charges on the more serious offense of defaming the monarchy. Evidence shown to some suspects reportedly indicated that police accessed some of their private messages. Police have not clarified the matter.

According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, the military government has charged at least 46 people with sedition, and the latest cases "are part of the junta's systematic repression of peaceful dissent and criticism" since the 2014 coup.

"Slapping people with sedition charges for political satire on Facebook shows that no political discussion is safe in Thailand anymore," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Thai authorities, who previously declared that clicking "Like" on a potentially illegal Facebook post could be cause for arrest, last week charged a dissident's mother for failing to rebut a Facebook message that allegedly defamed the royal family.

Users were also disturbed that Facebook recently blocked a site that allegedly mocked the monarchy, the first time it appears to have done so in Thailand. The page redirects to an announcement that it is blocked to comply with Thai law. In response to the Facebook issues, several activists have started a campaign to stop using the huge social network in favor of a competitor.

User concerns that their online privacy has been infringed, whether justified or not, have affected other online services as well. Worries that the LINE messaging service could be monitored caused some users to switch to Telegram and other competitors.
Agitating farmers staged demonstrations in four districts of Odisha today demanding pension, remunerative prices for their produce and adequate compensation for drought among other things.

The demonstrations, organised under the banner of Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), were held at the offices of the Collectors of Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts.

The agitation remained peaceful without any untoward incident, but several demonstrators were taken into custody at some places as a precautionary measure, the police said.

Members of the NKS locked the main gate the District Collector's office in Jagatsinghpur and staged a sit-in to press their demand, said NKS leader Laxmidhar Swain, who led the demonstration.

The state government should announce pension for the farmers without further delay and admit occurrence of suicide by peasants in the state, he said.

NKS has been demanding pension for peasants, compensation to families of farmers who committed suicide, higher minimum support price, social recognition, proper irrigation and cold storage facilities among other things.

NKS leaders threatened to intensify their agitation if the state government failed to initiate concrete steps to fulfil their demands.
Foreign banks have stopped opening branches in India as they need to set aside a lot more capital due to the country's "higher risk" credit rating and they feel it is "not worth" doing so, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has said.

In a lecture titled 'Why Banks?' as part of the Marshall Lecture 2015-16 series at Cambridge University yesterday, Rajan said greater demand on banks to hold capital in the post financial crisis scenario has come at a cost.

He said: "It made sense post financial crisis to ask banks to hold more capital. But one of the concerns bankers have been expressing, even if bankers may have low credibility because they have cried wolf too often, that eventually it will... Create greater aversion to taking on risky lending.

"We see some of that today. Certainly, as an emerging market central bank regulator, I see that foreign banks have stopped opening branches because our credit rating is BAA, which implies higher risk. From that perspective, international banks who are asked to put in money in India feel it is not worth it, because they have to set aside a lot more capital."



India has been assigned lowest investment grade rating with a high risk profile by various global agencies.

Rajan likened the situation in India to that of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in industrial countries, as in both scenarios the central factor is that more growth is required.

"So we need to ask ourselves, is more capital good or is it likely to impinge on activities banks do. There is a trade-off and this calls for more empirical work as to what the right level of capital is," said the former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund.

Rajan, on-leave Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago's Booth School,used what is described as "matchstick theory" in an attempt to highlight why doing away with banks was not essentially a viable option to the largely student and academic audience of the two-day lecture series organised by the university's Faculty of Economics.

He said: "There is a reason why banks operate. All these proposals to do away with banks, to my mind, will cause serious costs on the system, it will increase the cost of financing and therefore we have to be very careful.

"However, we do understand the consequences of systemic crises, they are severe, they are painful so more capital was warranted than what there was during the global financial crisis, but we have to be careful about going too far.
Dateline: Indonesia

A fisherman on a remote Indonesian island found what he believed to be a fallen angel floating naked in the sea. The Heavenly gift was taken back to the fishermans village and worshipped for several days before local officials pointed out that it was just a blow-up sex doll. Police went to the Banggai islands in Sulawesi province after hearing rumors that a bidadari, or holy spirit, had fallen from the sky and been discovered by a fisherman called Pardin. The alleged angel was taken back to Kalupapi village where Pardin lived. The fisherman posted several pictures online of the green-eyed, pale-skinned female figure dressed in a spare hijab that his mother took with her on boat trips. It was pointed out in local media that the figure appeared a day after a rare solar eclipse, which is a deeply spiritual event in Southeast Asia. We were hearing many stories, such as that the fallen angel was crying when she was discovered, police chief Heru Pramukarno told the AFP news agency. When our officers arrived they saw that the fallen angel was just a doll. It was a sex toy. Pramukarno surmised the villagers had no idea what the inflatable rubber woman was intended to be used for. They have no internet. They dont know what a sex toy is, the chief said. Officers confiscated the doll in case its presence caused unrest among the villagers.

Dateline: Israel

According to the Times of Israel a Jewish man has petitioned the Haifa Magistrates Court for a restraining order against God. The petitioner, identified as David Shoshan, argued that over a three-year period God had been particularly unkind to himalthough details of exactly what God had done were not detailed in court documents. Shoshan said he had tried for the last three years to obtain a restraining order from police. Despite the fact that Haifa police sent patrol cars to his home on 10 occasions, God evidently did not stay away, forcing Shoshan into court to prevent the Almighty from meddling in earthly affairs. Presiding Judge Ahsan Canaan denied the plaintiffs request, saying it was ludicrous. Documents from the court hearing did note that God himself did not appear in person at the session.

Dateline: Pennsylvania

Jesus was arrested in a Philadelphia Apple store after his cross blocked the aisles. Michael Grant, better known as Philly Jesus, has become a cultural icon for wearing a robe, dispensing Bible quotes and posing for photos in Philadelphia. According to WCAU-TV, the 29-year-old also performs baptisms in city fountains for tourists. Police say the manager of the Apple store in Center City called them on the night of Monday, May 2, after Grant refused to leave despite being asked multiple times. This country was built on freedom of religion, and I can go into a public place and be dressed as whoever I want and express myself however I want, Grant later told WCAU. The same way an African-American human being in the 1960s would be singled out in a white only store and asked to leave, I Philly Jesus was singled out in the Apple Store because of my visual faith I portraydressing up like Jesus and holding my cross. Witnesses say Philly Jesus full-sized crucifixion cross was blocking an aisle. He was handcuffed and arrested for defiant trespassing and disorderly conduct. Philly Jesus spent 12 hours in jail before being released.

Dateline: Texas

A Houston elementary is being scrutinized after a 7-year-old girl used a fake note to excuse herself from an after-school program. The crudely written note read: I want Rosabella to go too dus 131 today. Despite the obvious forgery, Rosabella Dahu was allowed to board the bus and go home instead of sticking around for her regular after-school program at Sheldon Elementary. Her parents werent at home and the child spent several hours alone outside the locked house before asking neighbors to use their bathroom. The neighbors ended up calling Rosabellas father, Charlie Dahu. Mr. Dahu expressed his shock to KTRK-13 Eyewitness News in Houston, saying, You can clearly see she did not even spell the word bus right. A spokesperson for the Sheldon Independent School District said they are currently investigating the situation and are reviewing our training procedures to ensure that our after-school grant program staff is properly trained in dismissal procedures.
The off shore casino industry in Goa has come to a halt since the last two days as fishermen continued to block channels in Mandovi river here by anchoring their trawlers in the waters, demanding immediate ban on use of LED lights for fishing.

The agitation by fishermen which started yesterday morning was withdrawn following a circular by the state government banning LED lights. But leaders of fishing community began agitating again late last evening after their talks with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on implementation of the ban failed.

"The off shore casino industry has come to a halt since the fishermen have taken charge of feeder boats and jetties," Srinivas Naik, Director, Casino Pride troop which operates two off shore casino vessels in river Mandovi told PTI.

He said the fishermen were requested to allow feeder boats to ply as they take customers from jetties to the off shore vessels.

"But they (fishermen) have refused to budge an inch. We have filed a formal complaint with the state government but police too have failed to give us relief," he said.

"There were some crisis moments yesterday when customers who were in the ship couldn't come out due to protests and they missed their flight," he said.

Goa has four off shore casino vessels plying in river Mandovi.
Four people, including three foreigners, who went missing 11 days ago in Malaysian waters are safe after they were apparently picked up by Vietnamese fishing vessels, officials said today.

Spanish nationals David Hernandes Gasulla and Martha Miguel, Hong Kong citizen Tommy Lam Wai Yin, and Malaysian Armilla Alihassan went missing in their small boat on May 2 in waters off the northern tip of Borneo island.

But Malaysian coast guard and naval ships conducting a search discovered them aboard Vietnamese fishing trawlers today morning during an inspection of the vessels, the coast guard said.

"All four missing people are alive. They are on board some Vietnamese fishing trawlers on the high seas," coast guard chief Ahmad Puzi told AFP.

The group was expected to be brought back to the Malaysian city of Kota Kinabalu on Borneo in the evening.

No other information on the foursome's ordeal or how they ended up on the Vietnamese ships was released immediately.

Malaysian fishermen over the weekend recovered an engine entangled in their net that was believed to be from the missing vessel, prompting fears that the boat had sunk.
Ahead of his maiden visit to China, Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that the four-nation grouping comprising China, Pakistan and the US has failed to rein in Taliban and restore peace in his country.

Abdullah is scheduled to visit China from May 15 to 18 during which he will hold talks with Chinese leaders and visit Urumqi, capital of Muslim-dominated troubled Xinjiang province which borders Afghanistan.

Seeking Chinese investment in war-torn Afghanistan, Abdullah said China plays an important role in Afghan issue.

But at the same time he said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) comprising China, Pakistan, the US and Afghanistan has failed to rein in Taliban and bring them to the table for peace talks.

"At this moment there are no talks (between the Afghan government and the Taliban) and that's due to the position that the Taliban have taken. They rejected the talks and they didn't participate," he told state-run Xinhua agency.

Afghanistan's friendly countries in their own ways have tried to help and there is also QCG, he said.

"The idea was that every country will use its own influence in order to facilitate the talks, but the mechanism has not yet yielded the result that was expected, due to the wrong path that the Taliban has chosen," he said.

"The principle position of Afghanistan remains that we will keep the door open for talks, but when war is imposed on us, we have no choice but to defend ourselves," Abdullah said.

China started taking active part in Afghan peace process after the high-profile visit of Afghan President AshrafGhani last year making Beijing his first destination after election.

Ghani also backed the formation of the QCG hoping that China-Pakistan will prevail on pressuring Taliban to settle for peace process in Afghanistan.

But the QCG process suffered a set back after the of the death of Taliban founder Mullah Omar.

Since then violence escalated in Afghanistan following which Ghani and his administration stepped up criticism against Pakistan and called for QCG to deliver on its promise.

Ahead of Abdullah's visit, Afghan Ambassador here Hekmat Khalil Karzai told Global Times that Kabul will demand answers from the QCG members about striking a deal with the Taliban.

China also hosted a Taliban delegation in the past.

"The objective of the QCG is to bring the Taliban to the table. If the four parties are not able to do so, then the reality is that they need to take actions against all of the groups that are not going to participate in the reconciliation," Karzai said.

"So far, all the parties' efforts have not brought the Taliban to the table. Our position is that we are going to ask each country, China, the US and particularly Pakistan, to tell us what they have done to deal with the Taliban," he said.

"The most important thing for the QCG is to deliver. When all the four countries came, they made good progress on paper, but after that they haven't been able to show results or deliver. Every country has its own agenda, but the objective of the QCG is not for them to work on different agendas but particularly focus on bringing Taliban to the table," he said.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider intends to write a book on the ordeal he had gone through in a three-year captivity of militants in Afghanistan.

"My son had written a manuscript for a book detailing his ordeal in captivity but it was burnt," Gilani said while talking to reporters at his residence here today.

Gilani, however, did not tell who burnt the papers.

"The release of my son is not less than a miracle," he added.

Making his first publicappearance at his residence here after getting freedom from the clutches of Al-Qaeda Haider thanked the people of Pakistan for their prayers.

"I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and hard work for my return. I am thankful to have reached home safely and happily. I feel great," Haider said.

To a question about his ordeal in captivity, Haider said: "It is a very long dastaan (story). Some other time I will tell you about this."



He did not say no when asked he intended to write a book on his ordeal.

When asked would he continue with the long beard he had grown in Taliban's captivity, Haider said: "I was very close to God before the Taliban too."



"Words are not enough to express our feeling. In three years, there was not a single moment that we lost hope and today my brother is among us," said Abdul Qadir Gilani, elder brother of Haider.

"I cannot believe that I am meeting you. Phupo, it is Allah's blessing that today I am among you. It is hard to speak about the time I spent during captivity," Haider's aunt Nighat quoted him as having said.

PPP ChairmanBilawal Bhutto said he had come here to meet Haider.

"He has returned home after three years. It is very good . First Shahbaz Taseer (son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer) was freed and now Ali Haider. I am very happy. Today is a big day as good are coming for the PPP," Bilawal said.

Haiderwas recovered in a joint operation of Afghan and US forces from an Al Qaeda compound in Afghanistan's Paktika province last Tuesday.

According to a spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan, Brig Charles Cleveland, Haider had been held in a compound occupied in Gaylan district by Al Qaeda operatives.

"Haider was the sole non-combatant, he didn't fight back, so we picked him up," he said.

Haider was kidnapped in May 2013 in Multan.

During his captivity, his abductors contacted the Gilani family and demanded release of 'some prisoners' from Pakistani jails in return of his release.
The government is creating a technology platform to collect and update latest information on human resources in the field of nursing in the country, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda today said.

This, he said, will help the government in better manpower planning and take policy-level decisions for nursing professionals.

"The work on creating an 'Indian Nurses Live Register' will help getting the latest, correct and realtime information on human resources in the field of nursing in India," Nadda said at Florence Nightingale Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan where 35 outstanding nursing personnel employed by the Centre, states and Union territories' administration were felicitated.

Listing other initiatives undertaken for strengthening of nursing cadre, the minister said some of them include upgradation of institutions from school of nursing to college of nursing, training of nurses, and development of nurse practitioner courses for critical care and primary health care services.

'National Nursing and Midwifery Portal' is being developed to gather and put all nursing-related information like government initiatives for the field of nursing, information on nursing and midwifery education and human resource availability, circulars, notifications, job opportunities and e-learning modules on a single platform.
Haryana Government has decided to send a proposal to the National Board for Wildlife to obtain clearance for four-laning of the Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar road passing along the eco-sensitive zone of Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon.

The Board's approval is needed for all projects which are to come up in the vicinity of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks or protected areas in any part of country, an official release said here today.

The State Wildlife Board today approved the proposal to be sent to National Board for Wildlife with some mitigation measures, at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here.

These measures include plantation of trees, construction of speed-breakers, no extraction of ground water and no construction plants such as hot mix plant to be set up within the limits of eco-sensitive zone.

Other measures include a bar on construction activity after 6 pm up to 1 km from the boundary of the park, and fixing noise limit of all construction equipment as per defined standards, the release said.

The widening of road is required for smooth movement of vehicular traffic and to reduce accidents without disturbance to wildlife, the release said.

Meanwhile the Chief Minister also stressed on water conservation, and directed officers to carry out a survey for developing lakes in the state.

He emphasised exploring possibilities for bringing water to the Badkhal lake in Faridabad.

It was also informed in the meeting that Forest Department in consultation with PWD (Building and Roads) will construct six paths on pilot basis in remote areas of Morni hill in Panchkula district to provide better connectivity to the residents.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said it is important to frame policies which would help avoid conflict between environment and development by treading the "middle path."



"Nobody says that environment should be totally damaged. But large multinational companies arrive, they cause damage to it. World has no answer to the conflict between environment and development. We have to avoid this conflict and find a middle path and follow it," Bhagwat said at a meet on the sidelines of the Kumbh mela here.

He was inaugurating the 'Vichar Mahakumbh', a three-day international conference organised as part of the month-long Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

"We have to frame such policies which lead us to find a path equidistant from environment and development. Tathagat (Buddh) has described religion as midway. We have to make such policies that ensure people tread on a middle path," he said.

"The rulers and administrators framing policies come from our society only. People should force them to frame good policies. After that, public should follow them genuinely and examples should be put before them to educate them on the issue," Bhagwat said.

The RSS head said religion and spiritualism may not battle each other. Instead, they should find solutions to global problems in coordination with each other.

He insisted on developing a way of life which is in accordance with the present day conditions.

"Mere deliberations on the issue will not serve the purpose. But we have to frame a policy so that it translates into our daily conduct also," he said.

"How the new world should develop, the model concept should be outlined on the basis of India's value system and prevailing scenario," he added.

Bhagwat said even science has now understood that there are few things in this world which cannot be viewed through microscopic equipment in laboratories.

"As science is progressing, it is coming close to spiritualism. Science is a way to know the truth but it has its limitations."



He also praised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for organising the 'Vichar Mahakumbh'.

"It has kept alive the tradition of thinking during the Simhastha mela.

(REOPENS BOM15)



Gayatri Parivar Head, Pranav Pandya said, "We are going through great moments of change. In the next 10 years, India would emerge as the world guru (teacher) and will lead it. Politics would get cleansed by 2026 and human heart will also become pure."



Juna Akhara Head, Awdheshanand said the solution to global problems will not come through economic or political arenas but through spiritualism. "India's spiritual world would lead the globe in solving them."



Referring to the issue of discrimination of women across the world, the Chief Minister said even in "developed nations" half of the population is being treated in an unequal manner.

He also lamented commodification of women by companies to sell their products and said this situation needs to change.

During the three-day long conference besides spiritual matters, issues like global warming and changes in environment will be deliberated upon to find solutions. Besides, the way of life in current scenario will also be discussed.

He said in the concluding session of this conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part as chief guest and would also release a Simhastha-2016 Declaration on the occasion.
A section of employees of Haryana power distribution companies today threatened to go on two-day strike from June 29 to protest against "outsourcing" of jobs at sub-divisions.

A meeting of Haryana Joint Action Committee held here today decided that the employees would observe strike on June 29 and June 30 to press for the acceptance of their demands.

The committee warned if the demands of power employees were not met they would be forced to proceed on an indefinite strike.

It also announced that an agitation would be started on May 16 under which dharnas would be organised at sub-division level.

Around 25,000 employees of Haryana power distribution companies went on a mass casual leave yesterday in protest against the state government's decision of "outsourcing" some of the operation and maintenance jobs of power sub-divisions in the state.

Describing the move of the Haryana government as "anti-employee", the protesting workers had threatened to intensify their agitation against outsourcing if the state government did not rollback this decision.
The Delhi High Court today refused to stay the oath-taking ceremony of four new judges of the Supreme Court on a plea made against their elevation to the apex court.

The four new judges, whose names have been recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and approved by President Pranab Mukherjee, are likely to be sworn in tomorrow.

Justice Manmohan turned down an oral plea made by advocate R P Luthra on his petition challenging the elevation.

"You have not filed any application. How can I hear it? Something must come before me. What should I allow? There must be an early hearing application as the matter is already fixed for tomorrow. There is no such application. Neither is there any application for oath ceremony (likely to be held tomorrow).

"I will allow in air or what? This is not that I'm hearing any matter at my residence. I am hearing in the court of law. There is some procedure, I cannot change that. You will have to file a proper application and get it listed before hearing the matter," the judge said.

The judge also said, "I cannot allow any of your requests made orally."



The court however said, "Still there is vacancy in Supreme Court. The lot has not yet been filled up. So you can try next time."



The court is already hearing pleas filed by Delhi-based lawyer Luthra and Mumbai-based lawyer, Mathews J Nedumpara, who have also sought directions restraining the collegium from recommending appointments to the higher judiciary and the government from acting on the recommendations till the system is "defect-free and fool-proof".

Meanwhile, another petition by advocate V P Tripathi on same grounds was today mentioned before a bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva who refused to list the matter for today saying there is "no urgency and there are already petitions challenging the recommendations. So your petitions too will come in the due course".

The high court had yesterday refrained from passing any interim stay order on their pleas challenging the collegium's recommendation and after a brief hearing of arguments it had adjourned the matter for tomorrow.

The four judges to be sworn in are Justice A M Khanwilkar of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice D Y Chandrachud of Allahabad High Court, Justice Ashok Bhushanof Kerala High Court and senior lawyer and former Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao to the Supreme Court. The names were cleared by the President yesterday.
A man, who was injured in the 2002 hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan, today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bollywood star's acquittal by the Bombay High Court.

The special leave petition (SLP) sought setting aside of the high court judgement and a direction to the 50-year-old actor and Maharashtra government to pay compensation for survival of petitioner Muslim Niyamat Shaikh and his family.

The main petition filed by the Maharashtra government challenging his acquittal is listed for hearing tomorrow before the apex court.

The petition filed by the injured man alleged that the high court has wrongly acquitted Salman by "ignoring the material points with regard to the statement of the petitioner before the police and the trial court" which had sentenced him to five years rigorous imprisonment.

"The judgement of the high court also suffers from other infirmities and errors and the respondent (actor) needs to be punished for offence of culpable homicide under section 304 Part-II of the IPC," it said.

The petition said the high court was not justified in not attributing knowledge on the part of Salman in driving the vehicle at a fast speed and under the influence of liquor and treating it as a pure and simple accident and not considering it a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 Part-II of the IPC.

The Maharashtra government has already challenged Salman's acquittal and sought restoration of trial court's decision.

It has said that among the errors committed by the high court was non-consideration of evidence of complainant Ravindra Patil, former police bodyguard of Salman, in its "proper perspective".

The family members of a man who was killed in the incident has also challenging the actor's acquittal by the high court.

The high court, in its verdict passed on December 10 last year, had held that prosecution had failed to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that the actor was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident and was drunk.

The high court judgment had come on an appeal by Salman, seven months after he was pronounced guilty by trial court of running over five people sleeping on a pavement outside a laundry in suburban Bandra with his Toyota Land Cruiser, killing one and injuring four others on October 28, 2002.

On May 6 last year, a sessions court had convicted Salman in the case in which one person was killed and four others injured after his vehicle crushed them when they were asleep on a pavement.
The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre how the test for determining safety and efficacy of a fixed dose combination (FDC) drug can be different from the test for grant of approval to the medicine.

The query was raised by Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw while dealing with nearly 300 petitions filed by drug majors challenging the government's March 10 decision to ban 344 FDC medicines, a decision which has been stayed by the judge in each case filed before him since March 14.

"Can test for approval be different from test for safety and efficacy? Can approval be denied by the committee when power to approve was with DCGI?" the court asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain.

The queries were made pursuant to the ASG's submission that the Kokate committee set up by the government had not gone into approvals and instead had looked into the safety and efficacy of FDCs. He also said that grant of approvals was done by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

The court then asked DCGI as to what was the procedure followed by it after it receives an application seeking approval for a FDC and directed it to file its standard operating procedures on the next date of hearing, May 19.

During the hearing, the court observed that the government had the liberty to take action against those manufacturing FDC drugs without approval but the Centre "chose to act under a different procedure" by "throwing away statutory provisions and appointing an expert committee".

It also noted that DCGI was granting approval "only as a formality" because the panel has cleared it and asked "how do you justify that the panel is applying its mind and not DCGI?"



"Obviously, there is some difficulty in saying they (FDCs) do not have approval and then banning them on that ground," it added.

The court also said that the "only question" that has to be answered is whether the ban was enforced by the appropriate authority.

To this, the ASG said the ban was enforced by the Centre which was the appropriate authority.

Concluding his arguments, the ASG also said that that the



court can speak to the head of the expert panel if it so desired.

Pharma companies like Pfizer, Glenmark, Procter and Gamble and Cipla, have contended in their pleas that the government has not properly implemented the powers under section 26A (power to prohibit manufacture of drugs and cosmetics in public interest) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Earlier, the drug firms had argued that the Centre's ban on the 344 FDCs was taken without considering clinical data.

The companies had also termed as "absurd" the government's claim that it took the decision to ban FDCs on the ground that safer alternatives were available.

Pursuant to the court's interim stay order, some well- known medicines on which the ban on sale was lifted were Pfizer's Corex cough syrup, P&G's Vicks Action 500 extra, Reckitt Benckiser's D'Cold, Piramal's Saridon and Glenmark's Ascoril and Alex cough syrups.

The March 10 notification says that "on the basis of recommendations of an expert committee, the central government is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to regulate by way of prohibition of manufacture for sale, sale and distribution for human use of said drugs in the country.
Himachal Pradesh government will set up a state health fund to generate resources for upgrading zonal and district hospitals to include facilities like surgeries and treatment of certain chronic diseases.

State Cabinet yesterday approved the recommendations of state Health Commission which envisaged creation of the health fund to upgrade health facilities in accordance with Indian Public Health Standards.

It has been recommended that Sirmour and Kangra districts be developed as model healthcare districts.

As per the IPHS guidelines, zonal and district hospitals would be upgraded to offer comprehensive care including ability to provide emergency services, level II trauma care, special newborn care, surgeries, psychiatric care as well as diagnosis and treatment of treatable chronic diseases.

The cabinet also approved the Eco-tourism policy-2016 aimed at attracting 10 per cent oftotal tourists visiting various destinations of the state by 2030.

However, the projects under the policy would not be exempted from provisions of the Forest Conservation Act.

The policy is based on the understanding that involvement of local communities in eco-tourism would support their livelihood needs and consequently create a stake for them in the conservation of local culture, ecology and environment.

The Cabinet reviewed the progress of implementation of budget assurance by various departments and directions were issued to them to expedite the implementation of pending works.

It was also decided to procure and distribute school uniforms under Mahatma Gandhi Vardi scheme to the students of Class I to X through e-tender by Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supply Corporation for 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The Cabinet approved the proposal to provide facilities in



Potential industrial zones in industrial corridors in Una, Sirmour, Kangra, Solan and Bilaspur districts of the state.

It also approved 100 per cent increase in honorarium of Gram Vidya Upasak from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 per month.

The cabinet gave its nod to the provision to give relief to the persons under the state disaster relief manual who were presently not covered under it. This included death or injury due to electric current, dog bites etc.

It was further decided that in absence of FIR or postmortem report, the medical certificate, death certificate, the relief could be provided on the statement of Panchayat heads or local representatives.

The Cabinet also decided to allot 528 MW Jaisi Hydel Electric Project to Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation and also approved for re-allocation of power generated to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd.

SJVNL had proposed that power generated in stage-I (219 MW) and stage-II (143 MW) of Luhri hydroelectric project to be given to SJVNL as per the hydro power policy of the state.

Approval was accorded for incorporation of the company (Special purpose vehicle), Kishau Corporation, by the state government as joint venture with the Uttarakhand government in equal equity participation to execute Kishau Multipurpose Project (660 MW).

The Cabinet approved a MoU to be signed between Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda and Sita Ram Jindal Foundation for construction of a Sarai (Inn) in the institute.

The Cabinet also decided to enhance the capital of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation to Rs 90 crore from Rs 70 crore and gave its nod for creating and filling 3,000 posts of teachers of various categories.
Surge in oil demand in India and other emerging nations will lead to reduction in global oil surplus in the first half of 2016, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today.

Keeping the global growth unchanged at 1.2 million barrels per day for the year, the Paris-based IEA said supply will exceed demand by an average of 1.3 million bpd in the first six months of 2016, down from the 1.5 million projected a month ago.

IEA's Oil Market Report for May "revised global oil demand growth for the first quarter of 2016 upwards to 1.4 million bpd, led by strong gains in India, China and more surprisingly, Russia. For the year as a whole, growth will be around 1.2 million, with demand reaching 95.9 million bpd."



The first quarter growth was driven by China, Russia and by transport fuel use in India.

"India is the star performer: oil demand in the first quarter of 2016 was 400,000 bpd higher year-on-year, representing nearly 30 per cent of the global increase. This provides further support for the argument that India is taking over from China as the main growth market for oil," the IEA said.

The forecast for world oil demand at 95.9 million bpd this year is higher by 100,000 bpd over previous year.

It said output from non-OPEC producers is expected to fall by 800,000 bpd in 2016, larger than previous forecast of 710,000 bpd fall.

"The global supply surplus of oil will shrink dramatically later this year," said the agency, which advises 29 of the most industrialised nations on energy policy.

IEA said global refinery throughput for the current quarter is forecast at 79.6 million bpd, with the 0.7 million bpd year-on-year gain falling below anticipated demand growth of 1.2 million bpd.

"The estimate for the previous quarter has been revised higher by 0.2 million bpd to 79.5 million bpd. India and Saudi Arabia are set to lead global annual increases this year," it added.

IEA said higher than expected Iranian oil production has helped stabilise the global oil market by offsetting concerns generated by wildfires in Canada and violence in Nigeria.

Global oil output rose to 32.7 million bpd in April.
In a first, government schools across the national capital are conducting three-week summer camps for class VI students to engage them in productive activities during vacations.

While at least 44,000 students from about 550 schools have enrolled with the camps which began here yesterday, certain schools had to opt out as they could not meet certain eligibility criteria laid down by the government to hold these camps.

"In its pursuit to ensure all round development of school children in the national capital, for the first time Delhi government has introduced summer camps for class VI students in its schools," an official statement said.

"The duration of the summer camp is three weeks -- May 11 to May 31. Parents are also invited on Saturdays and they can participate in joint activities with their children," it added.

The camps have been designed on three core themes -- food, water and waste -- and the children will be taught through fun-based activities and integrated learning techniques. A one-day training session was organised for about 1,500 guest teachers who will be involved in the summer camp.

The content material for the camps has been developed by non-governmental organisation Pratham which also conducted the teachers' training session.

"We have experience in conducting camps and such activities enhance learning of students. We suggested this to the government and they liked the idea and then the content was developed accordingly," said Fayaz Ahmad, Content Head, Pratham.
"Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich says he was initially upset with Will Smith not signing up for the sequel.

The 60-year-old German filmmaker hopes that fans won't be discouraged by Smith's absence, reported ET online.

"It was disappointing in the beginning. But my friends convinced me I should keep going. I said, 'Maybe I just shouldn't do it. I have so many other projects I want to do.'



"And they said, 'You have to do it. This movie is much bigger, your ideas are much cooler and some people will miss Will, but then they'll forget about it,''' Emmerich recalls. "I hope they're right!," Emmerich said.

The sequel, which comes 20 years after the original movie, will have Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A Fox and Bill Pullman reprising their roles.

The 1996 blockbuster saw Washington, DC and New York City getting destroyed amid an alien invasion. However, the director said he shied away from showing major destruction in his films following the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

"When 9/11 happened I said to myself, 'I will never ever destroy any building ever again.' Then when I had the idea for The Day After Tomorrow, I thought, 'Well, it warns people about global climate change so I could maybe do it.'



"But when you watch the movie, not one building falls. This huge wave comes in and there's not one building falling because I was so paranoid about people not wanting to watch that," he said.

"Independence Day: Resurgence" follows a new generation (led by Liam Hemsworth as fighter pilot Jake Morrison) as they battle the aliens.

The film will hit the theatres on June 24.
India and Bangladesh today began a five-day dialogue here between border guarding forces over a host of security issues, including drug trafficking and cattle smuggling across the over 4,000-km frontier the two neighbours share.

A 21-member delegation led by Border Security Force Chief K K Sharma yesterday reached Dhaka to hold the talks at the Pilkhana-based headquarters of their counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The 23-member Bangladeshi delegation is being led by BGB Chief Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed.

The talks were earlier scheduled to be held in December last year but had to be postponed due to the crash of a BSF aircraft in Delhi killing 10 personnel on the day of the departure of the Indian delegation.

The situation along the Indo-Bangla boundary has improved after the two sides signed an agreement on exchange of border enclaves.

The Indian team, including officials from the Union Home Ministry and border enforcement agencies, will discuss measures to further enhance security along the border and brief the BGB delegation about measures put in place to completely stop instances of cattle smuggling and other illegal substances across the boundary.

Indian delegation sources said that the BGB is expected to raise the issue of bringing about a complete halt on border killing incidents and suggest enforcement of some strict security protocols by both the sides to achieve this goal.

"A host of issues relating to activities of Indian insurgent groups suspected to be operating from the other side, smuggling of fake Indian currency, drugs and other banned items will be discussed. Some new measures to enhance operational efficiency and effective border domination between the two sides will also be discussed by the two sides," they said.

The last time the two sides met was in August last year when a BGB team travelled to India for talks.

A joint record of discussions will be signed between the two sides at the end of the Dhaka talks.
Notwithstanding the current chill in bilateral ties, Government said Thursday it was fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development and there was no reduction in aid extended by it to the Himalayan nation.

The statement came in the backdrop of reports that China has overtaken India as the top donor country to Nepal.

"I think this comparison is completely wrong. I have also seen these reports which say that India's aid to Nepal is $22.227 million. This is a misleading figure which totally distorts the picture. Actual funds released to assist Nepal from MEA's 'Aid-to-Nepal budget' are in the range of Rs 300 to 400 crore annually, or over $50 to 70 million," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The discrepancy could be because a good part of our aid is not necessarily routed through the Nepalese treasury.

Giving details of the assistance provided to Nepal in various sectors, he said major payments include about 3000 scholarships to Nepalese students annually and training for over 700 Nepalese citizens from security, economic and other organizations accounting for about Rs 75 crore.

In addition, we have approximately 20 Small Development Projects, he said, and noted that "Four Lines of Credit totalling $1.65 billion are available for utilization, of which only $150 million has been disbursed since 2010. Its interest equalization is borne by MEA. We look forward to their speedy utilization."



India also pays pension to ex-Gorkha soldiers, which is about Rs 1800 crore per year, or $300 million, he said, adding assistance under 'Operation Maitri' after the earthquake in Nepal last year was to the tune of Rs 400 crore, or $70 million.

"India is fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development. There is no aid cut in the case of Nepal," Swarup said.

Initial allocations of aid to Nepal and other neighbouring countries are based on actual expenditure levels in the preceding years and take into account absorption capacity of our valued partners, he said.

"If there is sufficient expenditure and more is required, funds are sought by MEA at Revised Estimate stage in the financial year. So more can and will be provided if and when required," he added.

Nepal had last week cancelled the visit of its President Bhidya Devi Bhandari to India and recalled its envoy to New Delhi Deep Kumar Upadhyay amidst reports that it suspected New Delhi of attempting to topple the K P Oli government. However, Indian officials had denied the charge.

When asked about India's representation at an International Buddhist conference in Nepal next week, Swarup said it will be represented at an "approriate level".

There were media reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were likely to attend the conference.
Notwithstanding the current chill in bilateral ties, India today said it was fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development and there was no reduction in aid extended by it to the Himalayan nation.

The statement came in the backdrop of reports that China has overtaken India as the top donor country to Nepal.

"I think this comparison is completely wrong. I have also seen these reports which say that India's aid to Nepal is USD 22.227 million. This is a misleading figure which totally distorts the picture. Actual funds released to assist Nepal from MEA's 'Aid-to-Nepal budget' are in the range of Rs 300 to 400 crore annually, or over USD 50 to 70 million," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here.

Last month, Nepal's Finance Ministry had said India's aid to the country had dwindled by over 50 per cent in the last five years to USD 22 million while China's assistance to the land-locked nation doubled.

The discrepancy could be because a good part of our aid is not necessarily routed through the Nepalese treasury.

Giving details of the assistance provided to Nepal in various sectors, he said major payments include about 3000 scholarships to Nepalese students annually and training for over 700 Nepalese citizens from security, economic and other organizations accounting for about Rs 75 crore.

In addition, we have approximately 20 Small Development Projects, he said, and noted that "Four Lines of Credit totalling USD 1.65 billion are available for utilization, of which only USD 150 million has been disbursed since 2010. Its interest equalization is borne by MEA. We look forward to their speedy utilization."



India also pays pension to ex-Gorkha soldiers, which is about Rs 1800 crore per year, or USD 300 million, he said, adding assistance under 'Operation Maitri' after the earthquake in Nepal last year was to the tune of Rs 400 crore, or USD 70 million.

"India is fully committed to Nepal's socio-economic development. There is no aid cut in the case of Nepal," Swarup said.

Initial allocations of aid to Nepal and other neighbouring countries are based on actual expenditure levels in the preceding years and take into account absorption capacity of our valued partners, he said.

"If there is sufficient expenditure and more is required, funds are sought by MEA at Revised Estimate stage in the financial year. So more can and will be provided if and when required....", he added.

Nepal had last week cancelled the visit of its President Bhidya Devi Bhandari to India and recalled its envoy to New Delhi Deep Kumar Upadhyay amidst reports that it suspected New Delhi of attempting to topple the K P Oli government. However, Indian officials had denied the charge.

When asked about India's representation at an International Buddhist conference in Nepal next week, Swarup said it will be represented at an "approriate level".

There were media reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were likely to attend the conference.
A Nepalese media report today claimed that a top Indian diplomat met Madhesi leaders and asked them to intensify Kathmandu-centric protests, a charge India dismissed as "yellow journalism" and a "mischievous effort to create controversies".

Indian Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Vinay Kumar met Madhesi leaders at a private institute in Saptari District in southeast Nepal last night and their talks were focused on Sanghiya Gathabandhan's (alliance of Madhesi and Janajati parties) Kathmandu-centric protests that it had announced earlier, Kantipur online reported citing sources.

"According to a leader privy to the development, the Indian officials advised the Madhesi leaders to focus on Capital-centric protests rather than district level protests as it is more likely to influence government to address the demands raised by Madhesi people," the report said.

"They reportedly urged the Madhesi leaders to ensure maximum participation in the Kathmandu-centric protest," it said.

The Indian Embassy here strongly denied that any political issues were discussed during the diplomat's visit to Saptari.

"Kantipur report on Deputy Chief of Mission's (DCM) visit to Saptari is a piece of Yellow Journalism. No political issues were discussed during his visit," the embassy tweeted.

"The focus of DCM in all meetings was Indian financed projects in Sapatari. The report is mischievous effort to create controversies. Kantipur's report may harm India-Nepal relations. Readers deserves better from mass media," it said.

The Kantipur report stated that the meeting with Kumar was attended by Madhesi Morcha's Saptari coordinator Gajendra Mandal, Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party's Deputy Chairman Sekhar Kumar Singh, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal's central member Shailendra Prasad Sah, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party's district Chairman Kapildev Yadav among others.

"If the protests are meant for your rights, continue it till you obtain them," a leader present in the meeting quoted Kumar as saying.

"Increase participation in Capital-centric protest; it will put pressure on the state to address your demands," the Indian diplomat was quoted as saying by the report.

The media report and India's denial comes amid a chill in bilateral ties.

Nepal had last week cancelled the visit of its President Bhidya Devi Bhandari to India and recalled its envoy to New Delhi Deep Kumar Upadhyay amidst reports that it suspected New Delhi of attempting to topple Prime Minister K P Oli's government. However, India had strongly denied the charge.

Over 50 people have lost their lives during the Madhesis' agitation. Madhesis had earlier enforced months-long blockade of Nepal's all trading points with India, creating huge shortage of essential commodities and souring Indo-Nepal ties.

Nepal had accused India of imposing an "economic blockade", which India strongly denied.
India today expressed strong support to Bangladesh in its efforts to fight terrorism and extremism, amid a spate of brutal murders targetting minorities, secular bloggers and foreigners.

"I told the (Bangladesh) foreign secretary that I am here also to convey government of India's strong support for the government of Bangladesh in the matter of terrorism and extremism," Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told reporters after holding bilateral talks with counterpart Shahidul Haque.

Jaishankar particularly appreciated Bangladesh's response to recent attacks against vulnerable sections of society.

He called terrorism and militancy an issue that "directly concerns us as neighbours" and the two countries would work "closely and bilaterally" in combating the menace.

Officials familiar with the talks said both sides also took stock of decisions made during recent meetings of various bilateral mechanisms in the areas of security and border management, railways, health, blue economy, establishment of Indian SEZs in Bangladesh etc.

An Indian High Commission statement here said Jaishankar's visit was expected to prepare the ground for the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission led by foreign ministers of the two countries to be held in Dhaka later this year.

The joint briefing of the top bureaucrats of the two countries came after Jaishankar yesterday called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, met Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali while he exchanged views with civil society figures at a breakfast meeting earlier today.

Jaishankar said that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Dhaka visit last year, the two countries signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding while the two foreign secretaries today reviewed the progress of those agreements.

"We have (come out with) a very good progress report... we really moved forward in a number of areas," he said, adding that eight of 14 commitments reached during last year's summit were fulfilled by now.

India now looked at the possibility of supplying more



power to Bangladesh with engagement of the private sector while New Delhi is also reviewing possibilities to extend cooperation in energy sector besides exporting diesel and LPG, he said.

"We also looked at line of credit that India offered to Bangladesh... I can say that we looked at the totality of our bilateral cooperation in almost every area," Jaishankar said, pointing out that the last two months appeared "very significant" for the progress in bilateral ties.

Bangladeshi foreign secretary Haque said the two sides discussed all aspects of bilateral relations during the talks.

"As you know, we have an active, dynamic and close relationship with India," he said.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

Last week, a 65-year-old Muslim Sufi preacher was hacked to death by unidentified machete-wielding assailants in northwest Bangladesh, two weeks after a liberal university professor was killed in a similar attack claimed by the dreaded ISIS.

The country's first gay magazine editor was brutally murdered along with a friend in his flat in Dhaka by Islamists two days after the professor's murder.

Less than two weeks ago, a Hindu tailor was hacked to death by machete-wielding ISIS militants in his shop in central Bangladesh.
Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has appointed two Indian Americans - a former F-16 pilot and an Iraq war veteran - in leadership positions for the Pentagon's centre in Silicon Valley aimed at innovation in IT solutions for the military.

The four-member team of Raj Shah and Vishaal Hariprasad, along with Christopher Kirchhoff and Isaac Taylor, would report directly to Carter, as he announced to scale up his brainchild Defence Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) that he opened in Silicon Valley last year.

It would also have another outpost in Boston, Carter said during his visit to Silicon Valley yesterday.

Since its launch eight months ago, DIUx has made progress in putting commercially-based innovation into the hands of America's soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, Carter said.

"We're upgrading this DIUx's processing power," he said adding that he has requested a USD 30 million in new funding to direct toward non-traditional companies with emerging commercially-based technologies that meet military needs.

"Because the missions now assigned to DIUx are far broader than any one person can oversee, I'm establishing a partnership-style leadership structure for DIUx, one that includes technologists, investors, and business executives," he said as he named the four partners - Shah, Hariprasad, Kirchhoff and Taylor.

Most recently, Shah was the Senior Director of Strategy at Palo Alto Networks. Previously he was CEO and Co-Founder of a cyber security company acquired in 2014.

Earlier he was a Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defence and began his business career as a consultant with McKinsey.

Shah has also served an F-16 pilot in the US Air Force where he completed multiple combat tours and has attended Princeton University and is an MBA from the Wharton School.

He is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and an affiliate at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).

Hariprasad is an Iraq War veteran who earned the Bronze Star Medal. He is the former Technical Co-founder and Director of Software Engineering for Morta Security, prior to the firm's acquisition by Palo Alto Networks.

A graduate of the US Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, he served as a Cyberspace Operations Officer for the air force and National Security Agency.

Hariprasad has served numerous combat deployments and stations overseas and holds a Master's degree in information technology from Virginia Tech University.
An Indian-origin fashion designer has been jailed for five years in the UK after being found guilty of attempting to steal one million pounds in tax fraud.

Sheel Khemka, 42, set up 12 companies and used them to front his scam. He had claimed to be a designer to the stars, appearing in a feature in 'Vogue' magazine for his Lofli range of jeans.

However, the UK's HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) got suspicious of his trading activity, involving unpaid bills and VAT claims.

It emerged that Khemka had only imported jeans worth 24,000 pounds from the US, which he passed around between 12 companies using false names and invoices to claim he was selling millions of pounds worth of designer garments in order to claim back VAT, the 'Evening Standard' reported.

"The scheme was dishonest from the start. I have severe doubts if jeans existed at all and you set up companies using the hijacked identities of friends. This was a sophisticated and well-planned fraud from which you used a lot of money on yourself - 200,000 pounds to buy a house," said Judge Nicholas Ainley at Croydon Crown Court during sentencing yesterday.

Khemka was sentenced to five years in prison and also banned from operating as a company director for seven years.

The fraudulently obtained money has been paid back.

Alan Tully, assistant director of the Fraud Investigation service at HMRC, said: "Khemka set up this fraud through greed, to fund a lavish lifestyle at the taxpayers' expense. Using the proceeds of his crime he bought a luxury home in Gloucestershire and a top-of-the-range Mercedes car.

"If he had not been stopped by HMRC officers he would have stolen millions of pounds of VAT. This was a sophisticated fraud that involved detailed planning and forgery, all for the benefit of one criminal."



According to the paper, Khemka submitted 12 VAT repayment claims between May and October 2009, receiving almost 498,000 pounds in refunds. A further 11 claims totalling more than 500,000 pounds, submitted during 2009, were not paid out.

Khemka based his business in London with satellite offices across the UK, which were often rented shortly before a visit by HMRC inspectors to check the repayment claims.

The "small quantity" of designer jeans bought from the US were moved from business to business with new packaging and labels, in an attempt to show that they had just been imported.

Khemka printed fake invoices, sales orders and other papers shortly before each meeting with HMRC, and asked local accountancy firms to sit in on the visits for an air of legitimacy.

He was arrested in central London in November 2011 and later charged with cheating the public revenue.
Late Indira Gandhi wanted her younger daughter-in-law to help her in politics after the death of Sanjay but Maneka was in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv.

"Although PM was always more fond of Sonia, during the period after Sanjay's death, she became a little more inclined towards Maneka.

"However, it failed to bring Maneka closer to her. Generally Sonia held the upper hand in household affairs while Maneka's views were considered by the PM when it came to political matters since Maneka had good political sense," says K P Mathur, Gandhi's personal physician.

Mathur, a former physician at Safdarjung Hospital here who served for nearly 20 years as the physician to the late PM and called on her every morning till her assassination in 1984, details Gandhi's journey as a politician and her relations with family in a new book 'The Unseen Indira Gandhi,' (Konark Publishers).

Within a couple of years of the death of Sanjay Gandhi, the book says, Maneka had to leave the then PM's house under rather trying circumstances.

"After Sanjay's death, PM's attitude towards her softened a great deal. In fact, she wanted Maneka to come and help her in politics.

"But Maneka was often in the company of people who were antagonistic to Rajiv. This grew into the formation of the organisation, the Sanjay Vichar Manch. It was an organisation which wanted to carry on with the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi. Maneka and her associates were part of it they were known to be acting against Rajiv although I never came to know what specifically they were doing," says Mathur.

What brought matters to a head was a convention of the Sanjay Vichar Manch which was held in Lucknow, which Gandhi advised Maneka not to address. Gandhi was touring abroad at that time and sent a message to Maneka but the latter went ahead and addressed the convention.

After Rajiv and Sonia's marriage the doctor said the former PM and Sonia took to each other within no time.

"Sonia gave a lot of respect and the latter showered her with affection and regard... Sonia very soon took over the responsibility of the household."



A voracious reader, Gandhi during Sundays and other holidays relaxed with some books, especially biographies of great men. She, says Dr Mathur, liked subjects connected with the body and the mind as well as popular science magazines and was fond of solving crossword puzzles in international publications.

"Sometimes, after lunch, she played cards. Her favourite card game was Kali Mam..." says the book.

The 151-page book describes Gandhi as "very tense, a bit



confused and not sure of herself" in the first year or two of her becoming the PM in 1966.

"In the initial phase of her premiership, PM used to be especially nervous when faced with some speaking assignments, either in Parliament or outside and would try and avoid it," writes Mathur who mentions Gandhi as getting stomach upsets during her early days as PM, which he believed was a result of nervousness.

But, says the book, notwithstanding the initial jitters, Gandhi was a very determined person. She visited Madras University, which was the epicentre of the anti-Hindi protests in Tamil Nadu and remained undaunted by hostile sloganeering.

"She told the students,'Don't say down with Hindi. Say up with Tamil.I will learn Tamil and you also learn Hindi'," Mathur recalls.

The doctor writes that the former prime minister appeared "quite perplexed and fidgety in the hours leading to the May 18, 1974 Pokhran explosions.

"When I asked about her health, she just answered in monosyllables. I tried to make some small talk but she wasn't attentive. She fixed her gaze on the telephone on her bedside table, lifted the receiver once and put it down. I looked in that direction and saw a notebook on which gayatri mantra was written in long hand," the book said.

The book also refers to the 'ominous emergency' years after Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975, when thousands of people were put in jail all across the country.

"The discontent against PM and Sanjay was growing by the hour and she as fast losing her people's confidence and sympathy... PM herself was not satisfied with the state of affairs, but somehow she did not intervene and let it go on. Perhaps she had become a victim of the tyranny of the excessive love she had for her younger son..."



After her defeat in the elections of 1977, Indira Gandhi decided to visit Belci in remote Bihar where upper caste land owners had massacred a number of Harijans over some land dispute but found it difficult to get transport to travel in the rainy season.

"Ultimately with her courage and determination she reached Belchi in the dark of night riding on an elephant.... All this she narrated to me on her return," says Dr Mathur.

The book is interspersed with written instructions and messages on bits of paper, collected by the doctor.

The tome talks about Gandhi's relations with foreign heads of government including Margaret Thatcher, former PM of the United Kingdom, who Mathur says, "respecting her age and seniority showed due deference" towards Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written a foreword to the book which describes Dr Mathur as one whose keen sense of humour and an ability to grasp the finer details of human emotion endeared him to all.
Renowned Indologist Professor David Shulman who was conferred with the prestigious Israel Prize for his research on India will donate the prize money of nearly USD 20,000 to a left-wing group that assists poor Palestinian residents of the south Hebron hills.

In a video posted online, the Hebrew University academic talked about hisdecision to donate the prize money to left-wing group Ta'ayush and his hesitation over whether to accept the prize at all in view of a raging controversy sparked by his left-wing activism.

Shulman, who is himself an active member of Ta'ayush and has been working with it to help improve the living conditions of Palestinians in the south Hebron hills for almost fifteen years, is to receive the NIS 75,000 (USD 20,000 approximately) prize today on Israel's Independence day.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett had made the announcement to confer Israel Prize on 67-year-old Shulman in February in the field of religious studies and philosophy.

The announcement had led to a bitter debate in the right-wing leaning media here which disapproved of the award for Shulman by a right-wing dominated government "to a researcher known for sympathy for Palestinians".

The prize committee in its recommendation had said that Shulman was "a brilliant researcher who had done breakthrough studies on the religion, literature, and culture of southern India".

"He is an internationally renowned expert in this field, and his work is enhanced by his command of a wide range of languages, including Sanskrit, Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam", it added.

Pushed by several media outlets for a comment on the decision, Minister Bennett had then justified the decision saying a researcher cannot be disqualified for the prestigious award because of his political opinion.

The prize committee in its recommendation had written that Shulman's studies "excel in their diversity, dealing with literary genres and various research topics including religion, mythology, art, folklore and imagination".

"In Israel he founded the field of India studies, and most India researchers in Israel are his students. Shulman has made an important contribution to research management and teaching in Israeli universities," it added.

US-born Shulman had won the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 1987, making him the first Israeli to be conferred with the honour.

He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Sciences and a winner of the Emet Prize, awarded annually by the Prime Minister's Office for excellence in academic and professional achievements.
Aimed at protecting investors against illicit schemes run by fraudulent financial companies, the Punjab government has decided to work closely with the Reserve Bank and capital markets regulator Sebi.

To protect the interests of investors, RBI has taken supervisory action on 18 such companies in last two years and has also run public financial awareness campaigns across the state, a Punjab government release said here today.

"IAS/PCS officers of the state shall also be trained on financial activities/management by RBI," it said.

The progress of RBI, Sebi and their coordination with state government was discussed during the meeting here of State Level Coordination Committee of Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) chaired by Sarvesh Kaushal, Chief Secretary Punjab.

State Level Coordination Committee has been formed to take concerted action in coordination with state government authorities, regulatory agencies, against delinquent entities and un-incorporated bodies involved in financial activities and other related issues, the release said.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary was informed by RBI that supervisory action has been taken on 18 companies of the region for non-adherence to the RBI guidelines.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary was also informed that the RBI has conducted one-day awareness programme on protection of interest of depositors at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy Phillaur and Police Lines Sangrur and Amritsar.

Sebi has also provided the training support to deliberate matters pertaining to collective investment schemes.

The Chief Secretary suggested to Sebi to send informative messages to the citizens of the state for public awareness against fraudulent companies.

The progress of implementation of Punjab Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) was also reviewed in detail and Chief Secretary was told that 346 Police Stations of the State are already using CCTNS and FIRs are being registered online.
Iran said today its nationals will miss the annual hajj, accusing Saudi Arabia of sabotaging arrangements following a diplomatic crisis and a deadly stampede at last year's pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia denied blocking Iranian pilgrims.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at reaching a deal for Iranians to go to Mecca in September.

It was the first dialogue between the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers since diplomatic relations were severed in January.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after demonstrators burned its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

But with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran still closed and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted, the talks hit a deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."



Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which now looks after Saudi interests there.

Saudi Arabia's hajj ministry, however, said it informed the Iranians that they could get their visas through the online system used for all pilgrims coming from abroad.

In a statement carried by Al-Riyadh newspaper, the ministry said the Iranians had demanded to be able to hold their own rituals, including protests chanting "Death to America, death to Israel."



Saudi Arabia seeks to keep political slogans out of the pilgrimage.

The kingdom "welcomes all pilgrims from all over the world and from all nationalities and sectarian backgrounds, and does not stop any Muslim from coming", the Saudi ministry of hajj said.

But the visits must occur "within the system and guidelines that organise hajj affairs," it said.

The ministry added that Saudi Arabia "did not at all ban Iranian pilgrims from coming. The ban came from the Iranian government which uses this as one of its many means to pressure the Saudi government.
Iran has failed to reach agreement with Saudi Arabia on arrangements for its pilgrims to join the annual hajj in September following the severing of ties, its culture minister said today.

An Iranian delegation held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at thrashing out a deal but with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran closed since January and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted they hit deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Ali Jannati told the official IRNA agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims."



"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."



Iran has been insisting that Saudi Arabia issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since Riyadh broke off ties in January following the ransacking of its diplomatic missions by protesters after it executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Another contentious issue has been security, after a massive stampede at last year's hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians.

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.
Islamic State group jihadists, including two suicide bombers, killed four Libyan soldiers and wounded 24 in their latest foray into territory controlled by the UN-backed government, the army said today.

Yesterday evening's attack on a highway checkpoint in the desert interior comes after the jihadists thrust west along the Mediterranean coast from their stronghold of Sirte earlier this month, overrunning a major crossroads.

The checkpoint at Saddada lies 50 kilometres west of the Abu Grein crossroads and marks a new advance into territory held by forces loyal to the unity government in Tripoli.

"Two suicide bombers, one in a vehicle and one on a motorbike, blew themselves up at the checkpoint where troops had gathered and clashes then broke out between our forces and the IS fighters," a spokesman for the anti-IS operations command told AFP.

Libya's LANA agency said the ensuing fighting went on for six hours.

Abu Grein, where the highway along the Mediterranean coast meets the main road south into the desert interior, lies 120 kilometres south of Misrata and its capture by IS prompted militia in Libya's third city to mobilise.

Saddada is just 100 kilometres from Misrata.

It is 190 kilometres from Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi which IS overran in June last year and has since transformed into a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants.

With its port and airport, there are fears the jihadists could use the city as a staging post for attacks on European soil.

The group is estimated to have around 5,000 fighters in Libya, and is trying to attract hundreds more.

Western powers including the United States, Britain and France have openly considered international military intervention in Libya against IS.

They have expressed strong support for the UN-backed unity government which has slowly asserted its authority in Tripoli since the end of March.
On World Nursing Day, Jammu and Kashmir government today said three new nursing colleges would be established in the state to meet the growing demand.

"The government is currently in process of establishing three nursing colleges at Baramulla, Rajouri and Anantnag with an intake capacity of 80 students every year," Minister of State for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash said.

The minister was speaking at a function organized at Government Medical College here organized by J-K Nurses Association.

Naqash said there is a dearth of nursing colleges in the state and students had to go outside to persue degrees in the field.

"Five general nursing schools are functional at various districts and government is in process of establishing more general, nursing schools at Pulwama, Kulgam, Sopore, JLNM Srinagar, Kokernag and Bandipora," the minister said.

The Minister also called for a high-tech training programme for the nursing students in the colleges and schools, saying the government is committed to provide facilities for the students.

"The government already provides scholarships to the candidates desirous of undergoing training in private colleges, provided the college is affiliated with the government of J&K," she said.

On the occasion, the nurses pressed for meeting their demands including granting them technical grade at par with other states of the country.

"We want technical grade in place of class fourth grade. It is in place in every state of the country except J-K," president Nursing Association Parveena Khan said.

She said the other demands include giving the nurses non-practice allowance, uniform allowance, creation of posts and fuilling up of higher posts and regularization of adhoc nurses.

The minister assured them the government would consider all the genuine demands of the nurses and asked them to come up with their grievances through proper channels so that their grievances could be considered.
As many as 41 Japanese nationals visiting the Kumbh fair here took ill and were admitted to hospitals.

"Twenty-six Japanese nationals were admitted to our hospital," Mahavnagar area government hospital Dr Vinod Gupta told PTI today.

The rest were admitted to the government district hospital, he said, adding they suffered from vomiting, dehydration, uneasiness, fever and diarrhoea.

They were discharged after their condition improved this morning, Dr Gupta said.

"They had come here yesterday morning and some of them didn't even have breakfast. They were put up at the camp of Pilot Baba. Today, they left for Bhopal from where they are supposed to return home," he added.
Militants, including suicide bombers, killed at least 13 Yemeni troops outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla today, the army said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

An army official spoke of three suicide bombings and held rival jihadists of Al-Qaeda responsible, but an IS statement posted online said one of its militants was behind the attack.

It was a rare intervention by IS in the city which was held by rival jihadists of Al-Qaeda for a year until they were driven out by government troops last month.

"A knight of the knights of martyrdom, brother Hamza al-Muhajir... Was able to detonate his explosives-laden car at a post of the apostates of the militia of (President Abedrabbo Masour) Hadi," the IS statement said.

Several soldiers were also wounded in the attack on the eastern outskirts of the Hadramawt provincial capital, the military official said.

The deadly assault came shortly before Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher arrived in Mukalla with several ministers on a one-day visit aimed at reviving government institutions in the city, a local official said.

One suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the gate of a base in the Khalf district, followed immediately by a second who blew up a car in the centre of the camp, the military official said.

Jihadists clashed with soldiers outside the base immediately after the bombings.

A third suicide bomber targeted the nearby residence of the commander of Hadramawt's second military region, General Faraj Salmeen, but he escaped unharmed, the official said.

The commander of the province's first military region, General Abdulrahman al-Haleeli, survived a suicide bombing against his convoy yesterday that killed four of his guards.

Al-Qaeda was driven out of Mukalla and nearby coastal towns last month with support from Emirati and Saudi special forces.

The Pentagon revealed last week that "very small number" of US military personnel has also been deployed around Mukalla in support of the operation to retake the city.

The US Navy also has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault ship called the USS Boxer and two destroyers.

"It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organisation in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

The offensive against Al-Qaeda comes amid a truce and peace talks between the government and Iran-backed rebels it has been fighting with support from a Saudi-led coalition since March last year.

Jihadists of both Al-Qaeda and IS took advantage of that conflict to expand their presence in Hadramawt and other areas of the south, including second city Aden where the government has its base.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today made a fresh offer to send 10 lakh litres of water from the national capital to drought-hit Latur in Maharashtra's parched Marathwada.

"The drought situation in Maharashtra is heart-rending. In a situation like this, it is incumbent upon all countrymen to assist the affected. If the Delhi government can assist you in any other way, then please let us know," Kejriwal said in a letter to the mayor of Latur.

Kejriwal also shared a copy of another letter, dated April 16, the Latur mayor had written to him thanking him for his offer to send water last month.

Kejriwal also tweeted, "It is collective duty of every Indian to help if a part of our country in distress."



Last month also the Delhi Chief Minister had made a similar offer.

He had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to resolve the water crisis and sought his help in sending water to the affected areas.

In a letter to Modi, Kejriwal had said the people of Delhi are ready to send 10 lakh litres of water per day to Latur for next two months and demanded the Centre make arrangements for transportation.
The Kenyan government will close Dadaab refugee camp, which has hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees and is often referred to as the world's largest camp, the East African country's interior security minister has said.

The decision has been condemned by domestic and rights groups and organisations dealing with refugees.

Dadaab camp, with an estimated 328,000 refugees mostly from Somalia, compromises Kenya's security because it harbors some of Somalia's al-Shabab Islamic extremists and is a conduit for smuggling weapons, Joseph Nkaissery said yesterday.

He said al-Shabab planned three large-scale attacks from Dadaab.

Last week the Kenyan government announced it intends to close Dadaab as well as Kakuma, a refugee camp housing 190,000 people, mostly South Sudanese fleeing civil war. At the same time the interior ministry said it had disbanded the department of refugee affairs, which oversees the registration and welfare of refugees. But on Wednesday Nkaissery said Kakuma will not be closed because it does not present a security risk.

The UN has urged to reconsider its decision to close Dadaab camp. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that the UN is calling on Kenya's government to avoid any action that is at odds with its obligations.

US Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement late yesterday said he was concerned by the decision to close the camps. He urged to continue its "leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma, consistent with its obligations."



Eleven non-governmental organisations operating in issued a statement Tuesday urging the government to reconsider the intended closure of the refugee camp.

Those signing the statement include the International Rescue Committee, World Vision, the Danish Refugee Council, Jesuit Refugee Service, Action Africa, Help International, the Lutheran World Federation, OXFAM, the Refugee Consortium of Kenya, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Heshima Kenya.

The group urged other countries to expand their resettlement quotas for refugees coming from the Horn of Africa in order to help Kenya and share the burden of hosting refugees.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said his government had not moved away from its responsibility to bring back Keralites, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the evacuation of 29 Indians from Libya including six families from Kerala by his government to reach out to people in the poll-bound state.

Chandy claimed when he along with Non-Resident Kerala Affairs Minister K C Joseph met Central ministers seeking evacuation of Keralites stranded in Libya, "Government of India asked why didn't they return when they were given an opportunity earlier".

"Their question is right. Earlier a flight was sent to Libya to evacuate the stranded Indians. Almost all of them were evacuated. Why didn't they join them?" Chandy said about the questions faced by the Kerala government from the Centre on the issue.

"When the family members of the Keralites stranded in Libya approached me and told me that if flight ticket is given, they would be able to return, I told them that the state government will pay for the ticket," he said.

When pointed out that some of the family members have said they had to shell out Rs 7 lakh for four flight tickets to Kochi, Chandy said that expense would be borne by the state government.

"The state government will reimburse that money. Due to some technical problem with regard to foreign exchange, to avoid delay in return, they paid their flight ticket," Chandy said in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Ernakulam Press Club.

Hours after 29 Indians, including five infants in the age group of one and half and two years and a pregnant nurse, were rescued from Libya, the Chief Minister said, "My government has not moved away from any responsibilities".

Amid tough triangular fight between Congress-led UDF, CPI(M)-led LDF and BJP-led NDA for the crucial May 16 Kerala Assembly polls, Modi had said his government has rescued Indians including Keralites after being stranded in strife-torn Libya.

"I have some good for you. Six families from Kerala and three Tamil Nadu residents, who were stranded in Libya, will return home safely tomorrow or day after. In total 29 persons have been rescued," Modi had told a BJP election meeting in nearby Tripunithura.

The BJP-led NDA government has been "very proactive"



whenever Indian nationals are in distress, Modi had said referring to the rescue of nurses in libya and of Fr Prem from the clutches of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The government had also succeeded in getting commuted the death sentence of five Tamil Nadu fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan prison. "They have been saved and they are happily living with their families," he had said, adding they met him during his election rally yesterday in Tamil Nadu.
Escalating his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial comparison of Kerala with Somalia, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the state government is considering legal action against him.

As Modi faced more heat from the Congress and CPI-M for his remark, Chandy said he has "humiliated" Keralites the world over and that people of the state expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence after it whipped up a controversy. Chandy also again asked Modi to withdraw the remark.

CPI-M said the situation in the state did not become like the African country because BJP never came to power here.

The comparison made by Modi at a poll rally in the state early this week when he said the "infant mortality rate among the scheduled tribe community in Kerala is worse than Somalia" has set off a political storm and triggered criticism in the social media.

Twitter users have responded with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Get lost Modi), a take off from the Mohanlal starrer, which features the famous punch line "Po Mone Dinesha" to ridicule some of the characters of his hit film 'Narasimham'.

"He is the Prime Minister of the country...He humiliated the people of Kerala by comparing the state with Somalia. We see it very seriously. The Prime Minister made statement based on certain media reports...It is wrong..," Chandy told a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Ernakulam press club in Kochi.

"Since he is the Prime Minister, he should have checked official records before making such statements. We are planning to take legal action (against the Prime Minister). Moving the Election Commission on this issue is also in our consideration," Chandy said.

Earlier in the day, in his Facebook post, Chandy, who had shot off a protest letter to PM on the issue, accused Modi of keeping mum on the controversy during his rally at Thrippunithura near Kochi late evening yesterday.

Stating that Kerala is far ahead than BJP-ruled Gujarat in addressing infant mortality rate and issue of malnutrition, the chief minister said what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister.

"We are No 1 in Human Development Index while Gujarat is placed at 11th position. The Prime Minister should give us an explanation," he said.

Chandy said Modi left the election campaign rally yesterday without answering his questions.

"It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from the Malayali community world over," Chandy said.

Attacking Modi for his Somalia remarks, CPI(M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power."



"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," he told reporters at Thiruvananthapuram.
Four persons including two children were killed after being struck by lightning in separate incidents in North Andhra region today.

The lightning claimed the lives of K Someswara Rao (9) and his brother K Praveen Kumar (5) when they were playing outside their house in Billaput area under Dumbriguda mandal in the Agency area of Visakhapatnam.

Sub-inspector of Dumbriguda police station B Ramakrishna said bodies would be sent for autopsy.

Two shepherds were killed in lightning strike in Jeegiram area under Saluru police station limits in Vizianagaram district early morning. They were identified as A China Sambayya (60) and M Siva (25).

The two were grazing the sheep in a field. The incident came to light after the sheep returned home without the owners.

Sub-Inspector of Salur police station, AS Rao, said bodies were handed over to the relatives following the autopsy.
A liquor trader was today shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants near a railway crossing in Govindpur on the outskirts of the steel city here, police said.

Sanjay Singh was on his way to Govindpur from Parsudih when unidentified assailants on motorbike intercepted him near railway crossing and fired at him indiscriminately, a police official said.

Critically injured Singh was rushed to a hospital with the help of local residents but doctors declared him brought dead, Deputy Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithany said.

Prima facie, he said, a dispute over a piece of land is suspected to be a cause for the killing.
The next Mahamastakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali at the famous temple here performed once in 12 years, will be a "simple" affairin the backdrop of severe drought in the state, pontiff of theJain Mutt has said.

The Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony is scheduled to be held in February 2018.

Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji after attending thefirst national-level Digambar Jain Committee meeting said his wish was to hold the Mahamastakabhisheka with "minimum expense" and not as a "mega event" in view of the drought, a release from the mutt said.

Stating that stress will be on religious activitiesand providing amenities to pilgrims, he said in accordance with the practice during the rule of Mysuru Maharaja and the British, both central and state government have promised support for the event.

Swamiji also said that the tournout was likely to be high this time as the Hassan-Bengaluru rail project is expected to be completed this year.

The Archaeological Survey of India has sent a proposal to the Union government to widen the steps of the hill on which statue of Bahubali is present.

Former Prime Minister andHassan MP H D Deve Gowda has promised to take up the matterwith the government, he added.
Rejecting Nepal government's fresh call for talks, the agitating Madhesi Front today asked the ruling coalition to create a "conducive atmosphere" for dialogue to end the political crisis plauging the country.

The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government of using excessive force to suppress their agitation demanding more constitutional representation.

"Government is not serious enough to address the issues raised by the agitating Madhesi parties through dialogue," the Front said and asked the government to create a "conducive atmosphere" for talks.

"(It) has used violence and excessive force to suppress the movement and turned deaf ear to the call of international community, civil society and national and international rights groups to investigate into the matter," the UDMF said adding that they would stage a sit-in at Singhdurbar, the main government secretariat complex, on Monday as part of its fresh protest programmes.

The UDMF reaction came after Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa on May 8 sent a letter inviting the Front for talks.

Madhesis, who have been violently agitating for months and had blocked all trading points with India, protest the new Constitution of Nepal, calling it discriminatory. They allege the new charter does not safeguard their political interests.

More than 50 people have died in the southern plains during their agitation, which had also crippled the landlocked country's economy as supplies from India were blocked.

The Front alleged that the Nepal government has not taken initiatives to treat those injured in the agitation and "not declared martyrs those who were killed during the agitation."



"The first amendment to the Constitution was not done as per the agreement reached between the government and the agitating (parties) but it was done only to mislead the people and the agitating groups," the joint statement said.

The Front said the government has not made public its concept regarding the 11-point demands raised by them.

"The way coalition government has made appointments to the posts of judges of the supreme court and the ambassadors to various countries, suggests that the principle of inclusiveness was totally neglected," it stated.

The Front pointed of the 21 envoys appointed, more than half were "upper-caste" Bramhins, which was contradictory to the principle of inclusiveness mention in the Constitution.

They, however, said the Front were ready for "meaningful and result-oriented talks.
Utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra today launched a more powerful variant of its compact SUV TUV300 priced at Rs 8.87 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The new variant, which comes with all new mHAWK 100 engine, delivers a power of 100 BHP and will be available in the top-end variants of T8 and T8 AMT trims of the TUV300.

The company said the AMT variant of the model has also been upgraded with more power and has been refined for smoother automatic gear shifts and a fatigue-free driving experience.

Besides, the company has also provided better cushioned seats and child safety seat mounts in the second row to make it a better proposition for the customers, it added.

"As an organisation we always like to hear to the customers and hence we are happy to introduce the more powerful TUV300 with the mHawk 100 engine," M&M Chief Executive (Automotive) Pravin Shah told PTI.

The enhanced power would enable the model to offer a more thrilling drive, he added.

"With over 25,000 TUV300s on Indian roads, it has emerged as a strong player in its segment. With its all new powerful engine as well as a winning combination of bold true-blue SUV design, safety, the TUV300 will become an even more compelling value proposition for our customers," Shah said.

In order to provide choice to the customers, the company would sell the T8 variant of the TUV300 with both mHAWK 100 and mHAWK 80 engine options.

The other variants would continue to be powered by mHAWK 80engine which delivers a power 80 BHP. The entry level T4 variant of the vehicle is priced at Rs 7.26 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).
The Indian-origin CEO of Malaysia'sRayani Air, which bills itself as the world's first Shariah-compliant airline today failed to attend a inquiry citing ill health, a month after its operations was suspended for failing to adhere to aviation rules.

Chief Executive officer Ravi Alagendrran,who is under pressure after the suspension of the airline's operations, said he had fainted because of high blood pressure.

The airline is owned by Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan. They used parts of their first names for the airline's name.

However, his wife Karthiyani attended the inquiry into the airline's unilateral decision to temporarily halt operations without approval of aviation authorities.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai had warned that the company risks losing its AOC if DCA is not satisfied with its explanation.

He also had said that DCA will conduct an administration and safety audit to determine if Rayani Air is fit for the AOC after serving provisional suspension.

On April 11, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) suspended Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of the airline owned by an ethnic Indian Hindu couple, for three months after the airline temporarily halted operations following a strike by pilots a couple of days earlier.

Rayani Air, which was launched in December last year, is the first local airline company to have its operations suspended for allegedly breaching the Civil Aviation Regulations 1966.
Police today said a 20-year-old man, who was arrested for the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl at a transit camp in Chanakyapuri area here last week, allegedly sexually assaulted at least four other girls at the same place.

Ronnie sexually assaulted at least four other girls, aged between 10 and 12 years, residing at the transit camp. He was arrested only after his latest victim, the four-year-old daughter of a neighbour, reported the matter to her parents, who raised an alarm, they said.

During interrogation, Ronnie made certain disclosures and when police teams, comprising women, were sent to the transit camp to talk to people there, four unreported cases emerged, police said.

"The accused has now been booked in four fresh cases under POCSO Act," DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.

Police are trying to ascertain if Ronnie had assaulted more girls in and around the transit camp.

Meanwhile, all the minor victims identified so far have been given counseling in the presence of their parents, police added.
Country's equity markets remained fragile during 2015-16 with trading volumes falling 9 per cent over the previous fiscal, largely owing to slow recovery of the economy, continued weak corporate earnings and volatility in the global markets, says a report.

The market volumes declined by 9 per cent, while the equity average daily volumes dropped by 10 per cent during 2015-16 to nearly Rs 3 trillion, domestic rating agency ICRA said in a report.

"The softening of the market can be largely attributed to slower than anticipated recovery in the domestic economy, continued weak earnings profile of India Inc and volatility in the global markets," ICRA said.

Besides, the report has found that while trading volumes on commodity exchanges rose 8 per cent during financial year 2015-16, they remain significantly lower than the volumes reported prior to the implementation of the Commodity Transaction Tax (CTT).

Similarly, on the currency exchange even though the volumes rose by 4 per cent in the last fiscal, it was lower than historic highs.

"The uptick in the currency segment volumes may be partly attributed to raising of stipulated limits for bank stock brokers by Sebi within the currency derivative segment to USD 1 billion from USD 100 million earlier," ICRA noted.

Further, the report estimates that the broking revenues for the industry has declined by about 7-8 per cent in 2015-16 compared to previous fiscal on the back of lower volumes and also pricing pressures across the segments.

A rise in cost structures - in the backdrop of players resuming hiring and executing expansion plans following a benign FY15 - kept the overall profitability matrices of brokerage houses under pressure.

"Standalone brokerage revenues and profitability will continue to witness some pressure in FY17 unless corporate earnings show signs of revival," ICRA Senior Vice-President and Co-Head (financial sector ratings) Karthik Srinivasan said.
The Home Ministry is likely to order an internal inquiry into the alleged irregularities in its Foreigners Division, which keeps an eye on "violations" of the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by NGOs.

A top official said the ministry is awaiting a report from the CBI, which registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs and missing of some crucial files, before ordering a departmental inquiry to examine the whole issue.

The ministry wants to ensure that all key files and documents related to Foreigners Division are in safe custody, the official said.

Some vital information was gathered by the Intelligence Bureau in last two years about activities of various NGOs following which action was taken against many of them.

The Home Ministry wants that no such key document goes missing, the official said.

Anand Joshi, Under Secretary in the Home Ministry, against whom the CBI has registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs went missing since yesterday. He was accused of taking away several files of different NGOs, including one related to Care India, a voluntary organisation.

Joshi, however, had claimed on Tuesday that CBI has not found anything from him and denied that he had taken any file to his home.

"All files were found in the Home Ministry itself. It can be verified after checking the CCTV cameras," he had said.

Joshi had claimed that he was pressurised and threatened by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad to give clean chit to some of the NGOs, including Ford Foundation, which was accused of violating provisions of FCRA. Prasad denied the allegation.

Prasad heads the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry.
A one-man inquiry committee of the Home Ministry, probing the missing files case related to the alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan, has been asked to expedite its work and finish the task by May 31.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is said to have told Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad to speed up the probe and submit his report by the end of this month.

Prasad, a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, is retiring on May 31 and the government wants the task given to him to be completed before his service comes to an end, official sources said.

Prasad is also embroiled in a controversy after an Under Secretary serving in the Home Ministry's Foreigners Division accused him of pressuring him (the junior officer) of giving clean chit to Ford Foundation, which allegedly violated provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Prasad has denied the allegation.

Top Home Ministry officials are of the opinion that the Ishrat-related files were misplaced and could be found if a concerted effort is made.

Government seems to be unhappy over the delay in finding the files and wants a quick report and Prasad has been told this in clear terms, the sources said.

The panel, constituted on March 14 following an uproar in Parliament, was asked to inquire into the circumstances in which the files related to the case of Ishrat, who was killed in the alleged fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004, went missing.

It was asked to find out the person responsible for keeping the files and relevant issues.

The papers which went missing from the Home Ministry include the copy of an affidavit vetted by the Attorney General and submitted in the Gujarat High Court in 2009 and the draft of the second affidavit vetted by the AG on which changes were made.

Two letters written by the then Home Secretary G K Pillai to the then Attorney General late G E Vahanvati and the copy of the draft affidavit have so far been untraceable.

(Reopens DEL 49)



Home Minister Rajnath Singh had disclosed in Parliament on March 10 that the files were missing.

The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides the Intelligence Bureau where it was said the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was a Lashkar-e-Taiba activist but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said.

The second affidavit, claimed to have been drafted by the then Home Minister P Chidambaram, said there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Ishrat was a terrorist, the officials said.

Pillai had claimed that as Home Minister, Chidambaram had recalled the file a month after the original affidavit, which described Ishrat and her slain aides as LeT operatives, was filed in the court.

Subsequently, Chidambaram had said Pillai is equally responsible for the change in affidavit.

Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.

The Gujarat Police had then said those killed in the encounters were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

(Reopens DES 26)



Meanwhile, official sources said the probe into the missing papers related to the Ishrat case has hit a roadblock at a time when the Ministry wants to finalise the inquiry findings by May 31.

While the one-man inquiry panel has met and spoken to most of crucial players of the period like Pillai and others, one key man continues to dodge the probe panel.

The most crucial player, the then Joint Secretary (Internal Security) D Diptivilasa, reportedly has refused to divulge details to the inquiry panel so far despite repeated requests, the sources said.

The panel has even given a written questionnaire to Diptivilasa but he has consistently refused to answer any queries on the issue.

Diptivilasa, who had retired from service in 2014, was Joint Secretary in the period when the second affidavit related to Ishrat Jahan was filed.
Congress today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark comparing Kerala with Somalia is an insult to "all Indians" and the state is "far far ahead" of Gujarat.

"The Prime Minister is known to make outrageous statements. This Prime Minister makes statements that are blatantly false...To go to Kerala and compare it with Somalia is an insult not only to the state but also to all of India," Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh told reporters.

He said Kerala is number one in the country in parameters of education, health, female literacy, women empowerment and infant mortality, and "far far ahead of Gujarat".

"If Kerala is Somalia, Gujarat is worse than Afghanistan," he said.

"I don't know what the provocation was for the Prime Minister to bring up Somalia and compare Kerala with it. This is an outrageous comment. It is an insult to all Keralaites, it is an insult to all Indians," he said.

The quality of life and social indicators of Kerala are better than most countries in the world including the United States, he said.
Reiterating that his proposal to ban entry of Muslims in the US is "temporary", Republican presumptive presidential nominee today said it is "just a suggestion" until the issue is worked out.

"We have a serious problem, it's a temporary ban, it hasn't been called for yet, nobody's done it, this is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on," Trump told Fox Radio in an interview.

"We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world, you can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world, if they want to deny it, they can deny it, I don't choose to deny it," he said responding to a question on newly- elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Trump said he would grant exemption to the Pakistani- origin mayor to come to the US under his presidency though he was critical of Khan.

"Well I assume he denies there is Islamic terrorism. There is Islamic radical terrorism all over the world right now. It's a disaster what's going on. I assume he is denying that. I assume he is like our President that's denying its taking place," the real estate tycoon said to a question on an interview by Khan to CNN.

"My message to and his team is that your views of Islam are ignorant. It is possible to be a Muslim and live in the West. It is possible to be a Muslim and love America," Khan told CNN.

Trump refrained from giving any hint on who his vice presidential nominee would be.

He said he would reveal the name at the Cleveland convention. But he praised two Senators Bob Corker and Jeff Sessions.

"Well Corker is a great guy. I want to keep it as a total surprise. I want to surprise even you. You have such access to me and everything I do, every once in a while I like to surprise even you. But I can tell you, Sessions and Corker are fantastic people, they love the country, they love their party and they love the country," he said.

While Sessions is helping him on immigration policies, Corker is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on foreign policy. It is Corker who has put a hold on the use of US taxpayers' money for sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan.
Chana prices eased by 0.16 per cent to Rs 5,797 per quintal in futures trading today as speculators cut down their positions, driven by sluggish demand in the spot market against ample stocks positions.

At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, chana for delivery in far-month July fell by Rs 9, or 0.16 per cent to Rs 5797 per quintal with an open interest of 3910 lots.

On similar lines, the commodity for delivery in June contracts shed Rs 6, or 0.10 per cent to Rs 5727 per quintal in 19,190 lots.

Analysts attributed the slide in chana futures to low demand in the physical market against sufficient stocks on increased supplies from producing regions after the government announced measures to check rising prices.

Meanwhile,the Maharashtra government yesterday demanded the Centre to release 10,000 tonnes of tur dal immediately from the buffer stock to meet the requirement of pulses in the state.
International politicians and diplomats vowed today to open up corporate records, quash money laundering and end bribery in a bid to stamp out what Prime Minister David Cameron called the global "cancer" of corruption.

But concrete results of a London anti-corruption summit were mixed, with many countries failing to commit to the toughest actions sought by Cameron.

Heads of state, ministers and diplomats from some 40 countries said they would "uncover corruption wherever it exists, and to pursue and punish those who perpetrate, facilitate or are complicit in it."



The governments made a plethora of promises: to fight bribery in public contracting and the oil and gas sector, to return stolen assets to their owners and to clean up international sports.

Firm commitments, however, varied widely. Just six countries, including Britain, Nigeria and Afghanistan, agreed to publish registers of who really owns companies in their territories a key goal of anti-corruption groups. Six more said they would "explore doing so."



The United States did not make that commitment, although Secretary of State John Kerry told the conference that a "pandemic" of corruption "is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we're fighting."



Today's meeting at London's elegant Lancaster House drew politicians from around the world, including the presidents of Afghanistan, Nigeria and Colombia, as well as representatives of financial institutions and civil-society organizations.

Cameron, who has made battling financial wrongdoing a priority, said "corruption is the cancer at the heart of so many problems we need to tackle in our world."



But critics say London's financial district, the City, is awash with ill-gotten gains, and many of the world's leading tax havens are British dependencies or overseas territories.

In a move to greater transparency, Britain has passed a law requiring British companies including foreign firms that own British property or seek government contracts to disclose who really benefits from their ownership.

Britain said the register meant that "corrupt individuals and countries will no longer be able to move, launder and hide illicit funds through London's property market.
A Chinese naval fighter jet, conducting a night drill, crashed into a factory in east China but its crew ejected safely.

The aircraft went down in Taizhou in Zhejiang Province around 7:30 pm yesterday during a night drill over a factory, navy spokesperson Liang Yang said.

The crew ejected and parachuted to safety, he added.

Part of the factory was damaged but no casualties have been reported, he was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua agency.

An investigation into the crash in on.
Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) today directed the NBPDCL to pay a compensation of Rs one lakh to the woman whose arm had to be amputated after she was electrocuted due to the company's negligence.

While hearing the plea from Tara Devi (35), a Commission member, Neelmani, passed the direction that the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd will pay compensation of Rs one lakh to the victim.

The power distribution company has also been directed to provide artificial limb to the victim bearing its entire cost.

The Commission has asked the power company to file a compliance report by July 25, 2016.

The direction was passed after a petition filed by Devi who complained to the Commission that she got electrocuted on May 5, 2015 while cutting grass near a farm when she came into contact with a 11 KV live hanging wire in the field.

After getting severely burnt in the incident, she was sent to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) from where she was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Her right arm was amputated to save her life, the Commission noted.

Devi, wife of late Lakshman Mahto, is a resident of Lelhaul village under Singhia police station of Samastipur district.

Neither an FIR was lodged despite her written complaint in this regard nor power supply was snapped despite informing various power distribution company's officials.

On previous hearing, the Commission had asked the company officials to explain as why not compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh be given to Devi.

Following its order, the power company today informed the Commission that NBPDCL has sanctioned Rs one lakh as compensation to the victim and the cheque will be delivery today.

The company also said artificial limb would be provided to the victim by "Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India(ALIMCO), Kanpur" and the entire cost shall be borne by NBPDCL.

A criminal case has been registered for carrying out investigation into the matter, BHRC was informed the police.
Local Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel today alleged that Sharad Pawar-led NCP was trying to "buy" some corporators and leaders of his party.

Jaleel claimed the NCP was trying to effect the rift in MIM through "allurement" ahead of May 16 'drought rally' of Pawar here.

However, the NCP has rubbished the allegation as baseless.

"Some leaders and corporators of our party (MIM) were offered up to Rs 30 lakh for joining NCP but no one is going to fall prey to this temptation," he told reporters.

The MLA also presented the "Action-Taken Report (ATR)" of the BJP-led government on wakf properties in the state.

"The government should snatch such properties which are identified as encroached upon by private parties and hand them over to Muslim community for setting up educational institutions and hospitals in the region," he said.

Jaleel claimed wakf properties worth more than Rs 1000 crore are encroached upon in Aurangabad itself by a few landlords and mafias.

He announced a 'dharna' protest on May 20 demanding action against the police officers who had arrested innocent Muslim youths in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case.

"These investigating officers had deliberately named these youths and indicted them in the Malegaon blasts case for the purpose of harassment. The government should take action against such officers under the provisions of MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act) and sue them," he said.

A sessions court in Mumbai had last month discharged nine Muslim men of all terror charges in the case, ten years after their arrest.

Jaleel said the then chief minister and home minister in the Congress-NCP government were aware about the innocence of the Muslim youths.

When contacted, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "the real face of MIM is that they are in cahoots with BJP. They are levelling baseless allegations as a face saving measure. There are no elections due in Aurangabad in near future so there is no need for us to lure them. Recently, an entire MIM unit from Beed joined the NCP".
India has said there is a need to monitor social media carefully with due safeguards for freedom of expression as such platforms are being misused "to disastrous effect" by terrorist groups to lure youths to their extremist designs.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin also voiced concern over the "targeted propaganda of hatred" on such platforms which were created to bring people together.

Given the misuse of social media "to disastrous effect by terrorist groups", there is a need to monitor social media carefully with due safeguards for respecting freedom of expression, he said at the UN Security Council open debate on 'Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism'.

"The Hydra-like monster of terrorism continues to spread across continents in developing and developed countries alike, aided by the targeted propaganda of hatred over the ever growing social media networks that were designed to bring people together," added the Indian envoy.

Akbaruddin said the rise of ISIS, which is drawing foreign terrorist fighters, a majority of them being males between mid-teens and mid-twenties from vastly varying ethnicities and economic status, is a sign of the immense complexities of the push and pull factors involved.

"Radicalisation can be prevented only if the youth develop stakes in their mainstream socio-political and economic milieu. Taking long-term care of the de-radicalised is also an important aspect in convincing the possible recruits of alternatives available to them," he said.

The Council, in a presidential statement, noted with concern that terror groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda crafted distorted narratives based on misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religion to justify violence.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Afghan envoy Nazifullah Salarzai blamed the creation of the Taliban in his country in 1994 for opening the current "tragic chapter" of terrorism in the world.

Without naming Pakistan but in a strong criticism of the country, he said the Taliban came before other terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and ISIS, and "their backers" had characterised the kind of terror the world was witnessing today, including stoning women to death, closing girls' schools and introducing suicide attacks that had brutalised Afghanistan's entire population.

Thousands of men had received training and logistical support in terrorist camps, acting as a precursor of current terrorists staging attacks in Asia, Europe, the US, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, he said.

(Reopens FGN12)



Salarzai asked how the Taliban and its brutal practices had come into being whereby they knew how to drive tanks and fly jets while staging conventional warfare and capitalising on prolonged political conflict in Afghanistan.

He said the most cost-effective and easiest recruit methods stemmed from religious outfits, sloganism and preying on weaknesses emerging from a prolonged conflict.

He questioned the continued motivation to use violence through proxies to pursue political goals and said the three main causes were a negative State rivalry in the region, tensions between military and civilian control in politics and trust deficits among States that had prevented constructive dialogue.

"In our case, it is not the ideology, but the initiation, enabling and facilitation role of political actors and their use of radical ideology for short-term gains that need to be addressed," he said.

Targeting the promoters and drivers of such policies that used violence to pursue political goals within State structures was crucial in dealing with threats of violent extremism, Salarzai said.

The differentiation between good and bad terrorists by a few actors was futile since all forms of terrorism must be condemned, he said.

Using Afghanistan as an example of how terrorists had taken advantage of a prolonged conflict, he said the world was now in dire need of reducing State rivalries and addressing trust deficits.
Nepal government has to ensure that the new constitution and any law that is implemented is "inclusive" and has the broadest possible support in "every part of the country", the Obama Administration said today.

Testifying before a Congressional committee on South Asia, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal said Nepal's earthquake struck as the country was transitioning from a decade-long insurgency that had crystalised grievances and mistrust among elements of its diverse population.

Nepal promulgated its long-awaited constitution last year, an important milestone in the country's democratic journey, she told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"The government's task now is to ensure that the new constitution -- as well as any implementing law -- is inclusive and has the broadest possible support in every part of the country and enshrines and protects basic human rights, including gender equality, equal rights to citizenship and religious freedom," Biswal said.

Like the United States, Nepal is gifted with a wonderfully diverse, tolerant, creative, and entrepreneurial population -- one that can only realise its full potential when everyone is treated equally before the law, she noted.

For Nepal, the State Department has requested USD 109.3 million in financial aid for fiscal 2017.

This includes Secretary of State John Kerry's pledge to help the Nepali people recover from the tragic earthquake that struck in April last year.

The World Bank estimates that reconstruction will take decades and cost US 6.6 billion of which donors have now committed two-thirds of the total amount.

Despite these pledges, there is a huge funding gap for reconstruction efforts, Biswal said, adding that donor commitments only meet reconstruction needs of 10 per cent for housing, 18 per cent for health facilities and 25 per cent for schools.

The United States, she said continues to work closely with Nepal's government to protect and assist the many Tibetan and Bhutanese refugees in the country.

Between 12,000 and 20,000 Tibetan refugees now live in Nepal, and the US Ambassador to the country serves as the Chair of the Tibet Contact Group, Biswal said.

Nepal has also hosted many thousands of Bhutanese refugees for decades and as part of one of the world's most successful refugee resettlement programmes, the United States has resettled over 86,000 Bhutanese since 2008.

"As this programme begins to wind down, we are committed to working with the United Nations and international NGOs to establish a durable solution for the remaining Bhutanese refugees in Nepal," Biswal said.
Four persons, including a Nigerian national, were arrested for allegedly being involved in an online fraud racket, police said today.

The Nigerian national, Chiazo Nwaneri (34) alias Jasper, was arrested from Delhi by Dimapur police, while his accomplices - Narender Singh Bisht (27), Laxman Karniyal (36), were arrested from Uttarakhand and Chandan Kumar Choudary (28) from Delhi.

Nwaneri, allegedly the kingpin of the racket, is also reportedly wanted in Thane and Pune on similar charges, police said.

Following complaints by three Naga women in Dimapur about being duped of Rs 38.23 lakh, an investigating team visited Delhi and Uttarakhand in the last two weeks, arrested the accused and brought them here on Tuesday.

The modus operandi of the racket was to target women aged 35 years and above by creating fake Facebook account (George Smith in the case of the three Naga women) and chat with them over a period of time to gain their confidence and get their phone numbers, police said.

The accused also lured victims through emails and SMSes by saying that they had won a lottery from reputed brands and must pay some amount for smooth transfer of the money into the bank account, they said.

Six mobile phones, 42 SIM cards, a laptop, nine ATM cards, three internet devices, three passbooks, three cheque books, three pen drives, Rs 31,000 in cash and a fake visa in the name of the Nigerian national were seized from them, police said.
Training and skills development firm NIIT has partnered with US-based edX to offer online courses from leading international universities including MIT and Berkeley to about 5 lakh people over the next three years.

"Through this partnership, NIIT and edX aim to create high-impact learning experiences for learners by offering a blended learning MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) model," NIIT Chairman Rajendra Pawar told reporters here.

EdX is a not-for-profit joint venture between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and offers online courses from world's leading universities like Berkeley, Caltech, IIT-Bombay and Princeton University.

Anant Agarwal, CEO edX and MIT Professor, said, "India has always been a focus for us, especially with the government's emphasis on Digitalisation and Upskilling. With this strategic tie-up, edX will offer a tremendous opportunity to learners to access high-quality education."



Pawar further said the course will be engaging and offer live interactive experience going much beyond the core MOOC content.

About 10 programmes across areas like programming using Python from MIT, HTML5 from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Data Science and Analytics from Columbia University, and Data Science and Engineering with Spark from University of California, Berkeley, will be offered jointly by NIIT and edX.

"In the next 3 years, we are looking at reaching to 5 lakh people," he said.

The 3-4 week courses will be priced between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000. These can be availed by students as well as working professionals looking to upskill themselves.

Despite the popularity of MOOCs, studies have found that completion rates of the programmes are low with some reported to be significantly less than 10 per cent.

The low retention and completion rates are major concerns for educators and institutions as an estimated 5 per cent of enrolled students complete a free MOOC.

Even MOOC courses with paid verified certification options see completion rates of only 60 per cent or higher.

"So, there is significant scope for improvement which this initiative is targeting with its unique blended learning model," he said.

For select courses, NIIT and edX will offer a pre-configured course that includes the MOOC, blended services from NIIT and certification exam from the institutional partner.

EdX has partnered with Indian universities like IIT Bombay, IIM Bengaluru as well as Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani. It has more than 7.3 lakh Indian learners and has seen 96 per cent growth in its Indian learner base over the last year.

Speaking on the launch of India's Nxt Tech Star movement,



Prakash Menon, President, Global Retail Business, NIIT Ltd. said, "Technology is fast changing. Platforms that are used today may become redundant tomorrow. Therefore, just skilling our youth is not enough, we need innovators and quick thinkers. India's Nxt Tech Star has been designed to encourage the spirit of innovation in youth, inspiring them to become the next tech idol who can redefine the world of technology."



An engineering or science graduate, not more than 25 years of age and with at least 60% marks in their graduation/post-graduation in any science discipline, enrolling for the May and June batches of the Java Enterprise with DevOps, MEAN Stack or Big Data programs under NIIT digiNxt can join the initiative. Students can walk-in to the nearest NIIT centre or to identified Cafe Coffee Day outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad & Bangalore, to enrol.

Once enrolled for the Diginxt program the students can sign up for India's Nxt Tech Star, wherein they will be provided with the option to choose a category of their interest. The Interested students will have to attend additional two-hour session every week where the ideas would be discussed further and they would be mentored by experts to create their app.

India's Nxt Tech Star would be chosen on the basis of Innovation Quotient of the project, Usability/Design, Market Potential of the idea. Students are expected to build, test and release a complete demonstrable version of their app. The projects will be judged by a combination of top architects, start-up CTOs, and product managers. The tech used for the projects would largely be up to the student and is expected to showcase futuristic stacks, awesome UX and a large degree of smarts embedded into the app.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2,50,000/- from NIIT. The first runner-up will win a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- and the second runner-up win a cash prize of Rs. 25,000/-. All the finale participants will be given a certificate of appreciation & merchandise worth Rs. 2000/-.

To know more about NIIT diginxt programs please visit: - www.Niitdiginxt.Com or Call Toll Free number:- 1800 102 6448



About NIIT



NIIT is a leading Skills and Talent Development Corporation that is building a manpower pool for global industry requirements. The company, which was set up in 1981 to help the nascent IT industry overcome its human resource challenges, today ranks among the world's leading training companies owing to its vast and comprehensive array of talent development programs.

With a footprint across 40 nations, NIIT offers training and development solutions to Individuals, Enterprises, and Institutions. NIIT has three main lines of business across the globe - Corporate Learning Group, Skills and Careers Group, and School Learning Group.
Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co today announced plans to acquire 34 per cent stake in beleaguered compatriot Mitsubishi Motors Corporation for 237 billion yen (over USD 2 billion).

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that they have signed "a basic agreement to form a far-reaching strategic alliance between the two Japanese automakers".

The alliance will extend an existing partnership between the two, under which they have jointly collaborated for the past five years, the companies said in a joint statement.

Nissan Chief Executive and President Carlos Ghosn said: "It creates a dynamic new force in the automotive industry that will cooperate intensively, and generate sizeable synergies. We will be the largest shareholder of MMC, respecting their brand, their history and boosting their growth prospects."



Terming the deal as "a breakthrough transaction and a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors", he added, "We will support MMC as they address their challenges and welcome them as the newest member of our enlarged alliance family".

Nissan said the decision to acquire a strategic stake in MMC marks the latest expansion of its Alliance model, built around a 17-year cross shareholding arrangement with Renault. Nissan has also acquired stakes or signed partnerships with other automotive groups including Daimler, and AvtoVaz.

On closing of the deal, which is expected by the end of the year, Nissan will become the largest shareholder of MMC, it said, adding that MMC would propose Nissan nominees as board directors in proportion to Nissan's voting rights, including a Nissan nominee to become Chairman of the Board.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp is currently in the midst of a scandal for overstating fuel economy. Last month, the company had admitted that it overstated the mileage of four of its mini-vehicle models affecting 6,25,000 cars.

"This agreement will create long term value needed for our two companies to progress towards the future. We will achieve long term value through deepening our strategic partnership including sharing resources such as development, as well as joint procurement," MMC Chairman and Chief Executive Osamu Masuko said.

Nissan and MMC have agreed to cooperate in areas including purchasing, common vehicle platforms, technology- sharing, joint plant utilisation and growth markets, the statement added.
Categorically ruling out himself to be considered as a Republican vice presidential candidate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has said he would vote for Donald Trump against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton despite his sharp differences with his party's presumptive nominee.

Once considered as a future of the Republican party, Rubio, 44, withdrew himself from the White House race after he lost his home state of Florida to Trump, 69 in primary.

"I've never had those conversations with anyone in his campaign, so I'm not saying that anyone has offered it to me or even suggested it for me. I'm just saying to you that I believe he would be best served by someone who more fully embraces the things he stands for, and that is certainly not me," Rubio told the CNN in an interview when asked if he is in consideration for vice presidential running mate of Trump.

In his first national interview after he quit the presidential race, Rubio said he would not support the Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, 68, in the November general elections.

"I signed a pledge that said I would support the Republican nominee and I intend to continue to do that," he said, indicating that he is pledge-bound to support Trump in the elections.

"On the one hand, I don't want Hillary Clinton to be the president of the US. I don't want her to win this election. On the other hand, I have well-defined differences with the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.

"Like millions of Republicans, you try to reconcile those two things. I intend to live up to the pledge that we made. But, that said, these concerns that I have about policy, they remain and they're there. That doesn't mean that Donald needs to change his positions in order to get my support or what have you. He should be true to what he believes in and continue to campaign on those things and make his case to the American people," Rubio said.

The top Republican Senator said he would not use the next six months to be critical of Trump as he advances his presidential campaign.

"Here's what I'm not doing to do over the next six months is sit there and just be taking shots at him. He obviously wasn't my first shot the because I was running for president. He has won the nomination. Now he deserves the opportunity to go out and make his case to the American people. And that's what he's going to do. I don't view my role over the next six months to just sit here and level charges against him.

"I know what I said during the campaign. I enunciated those things repeatedly. And voters chose a different direction. I stand by the things that I said. But I'm not going to sit here now and become his chief critic over the next six months, because he deserves the opportunity to go forward and make his argument and try to win," Rubio added.
Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o was left in awe with the "resilience of spirit" in Uganda, after filming her new film "Queen of Katwe" in one of the country's poorest neighbourhoods.

The Oscar winner, 33, portrays Harriet Mutesi, the mother of real-life chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi who despite their family's impoverished circumstances becomes a world champion, in the film, reported Contactmusic.

"There is an ease in the Ugandan demeanour that is very welcoming," she said.

"I love the melody of the accent, the food, the music and the people's inherent style. There was a familiarity with my home country, being right next door, but also complete surprise in what was so different. There is a resilience of spirit in Uganda.

"The slum of Katwe is a very difficult place to live, but you see these people living there with dignity. To go there and to have that environment to work from really did give life and meaning to our work. It was research, obstacle and inspiration."



The film is also her first onscreen role since her Oscar-winning performance in 2013's "12 Years a Slave". Over the past year, she has voiced characters in both "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "The Jungle Book" but she never actually appeared in either project.
During his historic visit to Hiroshima this month, Barack Obama would promote his vision of a nuclear weapons-free planet by becoming the first sitting US president to tour the site where America first dropped an atomic bomb in 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

"The President intends the visit to send a much more forward-looking signal about his ambition for realising the goals of a planet without nuclear weapons," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday.

Obama would be the first American president to visit Hiroshima -- the site of the first nuclear attack by the US on Japan -- later this month. The visit is also an opportunity to highlight the remarkable transformation in the relationship between Japan and the US.

"If you would have imagined that one of our closest partners and allies in Asia was Japan just 70 years ago, it would have been very difficult to imagine, given the hostilities between our two countries.

"But yet that's exactly what has occurred, based on a commitment of the leaders of our two countries to forge closer bonds. We've also seen deeper ties between our peoples. And even as we speak, there are thousands of US military service members who are stationed in Japan," Earnest said.

They operate on bases in Japan that enhance not just the national security of the US but also contribute in important ways to the national security of our Japanese allies, he said.

The US and Japan also work effectively together, including through our militaries on humanitarian relief efforts, on other emergency response efforts, including the natural disaster that the Japanese people suffered as a result of the Tsunami and an ensuing crisis at the nuclear facility in Fukushima, Earnest said.

"All of this is a testament to the way that the US-Japan relationship has dramatically changed over the last 70 years and the president is certainly interested in further marking the progression of that relationship by visiting Hiroshima," he said.

Obama is visiting Japan to attend the G-7 meeting. Obama's visit to Hiroshima follows that of US Ambassador to Japan and Secretary of State John Kerry.
Unable to get an assurance from the Speaker on protection of their rights in the Assembly, Opposition Congress and BJP today walked out of the House dubbing the ruling BJD as "intolerant" and blaming it for the week-long impasse over chitfund scam.

"We are walking out of the House in protest," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said while leading the walkout by Congress legislators as they failed to get a ruling from the Speaker.

BJP leader Basant Panda also made a similar announcement and staged a walkout when Speaker Niranjan Pujari moved for discussion on the demand of housing and urban development department ignoring the Opposition members' request of issuing a ruling in their favour.

Though the House remained adjourned till 3 PM, Mishra was allowed to speak in the post lunch session who sought a ruling from the Speaker.

"We, the Opposition members, are threatened with criminal case, abused and disturbed while speaking. The Opposition is ready to participate in the Appropriation Bill discussion tomorrow. But, is there any guarantee from the Chair that we will not face similar situation?," Mishra asked.

Calling the ruling BJD "intolerant", Mishra said though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker, he could not assure the Opposition that similar situation created by his party men would not be repeated.

"When I raised some questions in the all-party meeting to resolve the stalemate in the House, the Chief Minister replied in negative. As Leader of the House, he has the responsibility to resolve the impasse," he said.

In a letter to the Speaker, Mishra said, "We are very



much interested in participating in the business of the House tomorrow and express our views on the Appropriation Bill. It is because of the rigidity in the attitude of the government which is responsible for the non-functioning of the House."



"The government should be magnanimous in accepting the minimum demands of Opposition and come forward for discussion with an open mind. We seek your intervention for restoring normalcy in the House for tomorrow's business and we also seek your protection. Ruling party members, whenever facing criticism, are disturbing the House and not allowing the Opposition to have their say. This is highly undemocratic," Mishra said.

As the Opposition failed to invoke the Speaker to pass a ruling, they trooped into the Well creating a ruckus, forcing Pujari to adjourn the House five times in the day.

The Speaker said he had held at least six meetings till yesterday to bring normalcy in the Assembly. Chief Minister attended the meeting on May 10. Therefore, the Opposition should cooperate, he said.

The stalemate began a week ago after the Opposition demanded removal of Justice (retd) M M Das, who heads the chitfund probe commission, for his reported controversial statement and clarification from the Chief Minister on the issue.

The government, in the mean time, passed the demand of 31 departments through guillotine in absence of the Opposition.
Five "hardcore" Pakistani militants have been handed down the death penalty by military courts for committing heinous terror offences and the army chief today confirmed their sentences, a week after 11 Taliban militants were given the capital punishment.

The army said in a statement that the five were tried and found guilty by the military courts which were set up soon after Peshawar school attack of December 16, 2014 for speedy trial of terrorists.

"Today Chief of Army Staff (General Raheel Sharif) confirmed death sentences awarded to five hardcore terrorists," the army said.

It further said that they were involved in Safoora Chowrangi bus attack, IED blast near Saleh Masjid, killing of a social worker, Sabeen Mahmud, and attacks on law enforcing agencies.

All these terrorist attacks took place in Karachi. At least 45 minority Ismaili Muslims were killed in the Safoora Chowrangi attack in Karachi.

45 people, including 26 men and 17 women, were killed and 20 others were wounded while they were travelling in a passenger bus, run by a welfare service of the Ismaili community.

The convicts include Tahir Hussain Minhas, Saad Aziz, Asad ur Rehman, Hafiz Nasir and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat.

After endorsement of their deaths by the army chief, the last legal hurdle in the way of hanging has been crossed.
In a tit-for-tat, Pakistan and Bangladesh both summoned each other's envoys today, as the row over execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for 1971 war crimes escalated.

"A strong protest was lodged at the unfortunate hanging of Mr Motiur Rahman Nizami on the alleged crimes committed before December 1971 through a flawed judicial process," Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

Bangladeshi envoy Nazmul Huda was today summoned to the Foreign Office a day after Pakistan issued a statement expressing sadness over the "unfortunate hanging" and National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the execution.

The Foreign Office said the attempts by the government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, "despite our keen desire to develop brotherly relations with it, are regrettable."



FO further said that the 1974 Tripartite Agreement is the cornerstone of relations between the two countries.

It needs to be emphasised that, as part of the Agreement, the Government of Bangladesh "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency."



Pakistan reiterates its desire for friendly relations with Bangladesh, it added.

Hours later in Dhaka, Pakistan's High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the Foreign Office where he was handed over a strong note verbale.

"Pakistan's High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the foreign office where our secretary for bilateral affairs Mizanur Rahman handed him over a strong note verbale," a Bangladesh foreign office spokesman told PTI.

73-year-old Nizami's execution is linked with Pakistan as he was convicted for supporting Pakistan army in 1971 crackdown on dissidents in then East Pakistan.

Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry later in a statement said it conveyed a strong protest against a press release issued by Pakistani foreign office and consequent adoption of a resolution in parliament condemning Nizami's execution.

"Bangladesh has conveyed its strong protest against the (Pakistan foreign office) press release...Subsequent passing of a resolution at the National Assembly of Pakistan on the execution," the statement said.

It said thatby taking side of "those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the mass atrocity crimes committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971".

"So doing, it is also relentlessly opposing Bangladesh's efforts to ensure justice and break the culture of impunity for the crimes committed 45 years ago," it said.

The Pakistani envoy in Dhaka was summoned for the second



time in a week.

The statement said Dhaka "strongly repudiated Pakistan's version of Nizami's 'only sin', as mentioned in the Pakistan Foreign Office's press release was to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, whereas it was in abeyance at that time".

"In fact, he (Nizami) was tried for specific crimes he committed during the war of liberation of Bangladesh," the note verbale said.

It said during Nizami's trial, the court took solely into consideration the crimes against humanity and genocide he had committed in 1971 and the trial was "not at all based on his political identity or affiliation" while it was mere a coincidence that he belonged to some opposing political party.

"It was made clear to Pakistan High Commissioner that he (Nizami) not only cooperated with the Pakistani occupation force in committing various crimes against humanity including genocide but also masterminded the formation of Al-Badr Bahini which had gained particular notoriety for executing the prominent progressive Bengali intellectuals," it said.

The statement said Nizami's election to parliament through a "flawed and widely rigged voting, did not exonerate him from prosecution for such crimes".

It, however, acknowledged that "a die-hard anti-liberation person like Nizami became a Minister in Bangladesh" incidentally but added that the incident "would remain as one of the darkest and the most shameful episodes of Bangladesh's history".

The note verbale noted that Pakistan continued to "present a misleading, limited and partial interpretation of the underlying premise of the Tripartite Agreement of April 1974 which is totally unacceptable to Bangladesh".

The essential spirit of the agreement was to create an environment of good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence for ushering in long term stability and shared prosperity in the region, it said.

"(But) the 'clemency' mentioned in the agreement never implied that the masterminds and perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide would continue to enjoy impunity and eschew the course of justice," it said.

It added: "The Tripartite Agreement in no way restricted Bangladesh from prosecuting its own nationals for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity".

The envoy, it said, was also reminded that Pakistan had "systematically failed" in its obligation to bring to justice, "in compliance with relevant international norms and standards, those of its nationals identified and held responsible for committing mass atrocity crimes in 1971".

On May 9, Bangladesh had summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner over Islamabad's reaction to its Supreme Court judgment rejecting Nizami's final appeal.
A Pakistani journalist has been brutally shot dead by the relatives of a woman for supporting her in marrying a man of her choice without the family's permission in Punjab province, sparking massive protests.

Ajmal Joyia, who was in his 30s, was going home on a motorbike when he was targeted by at least three gunmen in Lodhran district.

He was killed on Monday while his cousin, who was also riding on the same motorbike, was critically injured, police said.

"Joyia was targeted by the relatives of a woman who married a man of her choice without the permission of the family," a police official said.

He had reportedly extended his support to the beleaguered couple and was said to have approached district authorities to provide the couple with adequate security, reports said.

Police have arrested one of the killers while two others were still at large.

Journalists in various cities of Punjab organised protests against the killing and demanded arrest of the killers and financial compensation for Joyia's family.

Honour killings are common in Pakistan and women defying family for love or marriage are often killed. Sometimes those supporting such couple are also targeted.

Last month, a teenaged girl was killed and her body was burnt in Abbotabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for allegedly helping her friend run away with a boy and marry him.
Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif today confirmed the death penalty given by the military courts to five "hardcore" al-Qaeda terrorists involved in the killing of 45 Shia Ismaili Muslims, murder of social activist Sabeen Mehmood and attacks on law enforcing agencies.

In a statement, the army said the five were tried and found guilty by the military courts which were set up soon after Peshawar school attack of December 16, 2014 for speedy trial of terrorists.

"Today Chief of Army Staff (Gen Sharif) confirmed death sentences awarded to five hardcore terrorists," the army said.

It said that they were involved in Safoora Chowrangi bus attack, IED blast near Saleh Masjid, killing of social worker Sabeen and attacks on law enforcing agencies in Karachi.

Kalashnikov-wielding militants donning police uniforms had killed 45 Shia Ismaili Muslims - 26 men and 17 women, shooting them in the head inside their bus on May 13 last year in the Safoora Chowrangi attack in Karachi.

The attack was claimed by the dreaded terror outfit ISIS, their first strike in the region.

The convicts include Tahir Hussain Minhas, Saad Aziz, Asad ur Rehman, Hafiz Nasir and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat.

"These convicts were tried by military courts," the statement added.

According to the military's wing, these five convicts were active members of al-Qaeda.

After endorsement of their deaths by the army chief, the last legal hurdle in the way of hanging has been crossed.

Among convicts is Saad Aziz - a BBA graduate from the Pakistan's prestigious Institute of Business Administration.

Saad has confessed to masterminding the murder of Sabeen, a prominent rights activist and co-founder and director of The Second Floor, who was shot dead in Karachi in April last year.
The Delhi High Court was today told that the committee on unauthorised religious structures, which was asked to re-verify the list of such buildings in Chandni Chowk area here, had not yet concluded its deliberations and would file its report soon.

A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru, which was hearing a matter pertaining to reconstruction of a water kiosk near Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, said it would proceed in the matter after getting the report of the committee.

The bench had on April 8 asked the Lieutenant Governor, who is Chairperson of the committee, to call a meeting to re-verify the list of unauthorised religious structures in Chandni Chowk area which was given to the court earlier.

During the hearing, Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the bench that deliberations of the committee were going on and they would soon file a report in a sealed cover.

"Let the committee consider and take a decision," the bench observed and also asked on what basis the earlier list of unauthorised religious structures in Chandni Chowk area was made.

The bench had earlier expressed its displeasure over the reconstruction of the water kiosk near Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib after its demolition on judicial orders and warned that it would not tolerate people taking law into their hands.

It had said that it would decide whether the kiosk was a heritage site or not and asked the government to inform it when the kiosk was built.

The high court had earlier ordered removal of illegal encroachments from footpaths and roadside of Chandni Chowk.

A mob allegedly indulged in violent protests last month when municipal officials had demolished the kiosk in the drive to remove encroachments following the high court's March 28 order. The 'piao' was rebuilt overnight after the officials had left.

Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had also filed a plea in the high court seeking that the water kiosk as well as another structure at Bhai Matidas Chowk there be not demolished as these were heritage structures.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave on a four-day visit to Oman and UAE next week as part of India's outreach to the strategically important and energy-rich middle east through greater cooperation across sectors.

Parrikar is set to leave for Oman on May 18 during which he will call on the top leadership there and hold bilateral talks with his counterpart.

Oman, considered to be closest to India among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), had signed a military protocol with India in 1972, which led to a three-year deputation of Indian Navy personnel to man Oman's Navy in 1973.

An MoU on defence cooperation was also signed between India and Oman in 2005.

Areas of cooperation include joint military exercises, military training and IT, educational courses and exchange of observers and formal visits.

Parrikar will also visit UAE, which was one of the countries visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

His visit to the country will coincide with an air exercise being held between the air force of both countries. Indian fighter planes will stop by in UAE on the way back from the Red Flag air exercise in the US.

Following Modi's visit, India and UAE had decided to establish a strategic security dialogue and boost defence ties besides resolving to work together in counter-terrorism operations, combating money laundering, drug trafficking and trans-national crimes.

The two sides had agreed to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, and in coastal defence.

The UAE also conveyed to India that it will cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India.

Ahead of Parrikar's visit, a flotilla of three warships had reached Dubai on May 7 to demonstrate India's commitment to maritime relations with countries in the Gulf region.

Earlier in his address at the rally, Union Health Minister



J P Nadda, also BJP's election incharge for the state, said Parivartan (change) did not just mean the change of a government but of a political culture.

"Parivartan means change of an entire political culture. Congress' political culture is based on commission whereas BJP's culture has its foundations in mission. Congress believes in reaping the fruits whereas we believe in serving selflessly," he said.

Alleging that the country's self-esteem was at its lowest during the UPA rule, Nadda said two-and-half-year of the Modi government had changed the global perception about India which is now being looked upon internationally as an emerging super power.

(REOPENS DES 27)



Nadda claimed that the country is taking big strides on all fronts under the Modi government and Uttarakhand has lagged behind in this forward march because of a "corrupt" and "inert" government.

"The state government is to be held responsible for Uttarakhand being left behind in this march to development. Such a government deserves to be sent back home," he said asking people to vote for BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave on a five-day visit to UAE and Oman next week as part of India's outreach to the strategically important and energy-rich middle east.

Parrikar, who is set to leave for UAE on May 18, will call on the top leadership there and hold bilateral talks with his counterpart.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited UAE last year.

Parrikar's visit to the country comes just ahead of an air exercise being held between the air force of the two countries this month.

Indian fighter planes will stop by in UAE on the way back from the Red Flag air exercise in the US.

Following Modi's visit, India and UAE had decided to establish a strategic security dialogue and boost defence ties besides resolving to work together in counter-terrorism operations, combating money laundering, drug trafficking and trans-national crimes.

The two sides had agreed to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, besides cooperation in coastal defence.

The UAE also conveyed to India that it will cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India.

Ahead of Parrikar's visit, a flotilla of three warships had reached Dubai on May 7 to demonstrate India's commitment to maritime relations with countries in the Gulf region.

He will visit Oman, considered to be closest to India among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), on May 20.

Oman had signed a military protocol with India in 1972, which led to a three-year deputation of Indian Navy personnel to man Oman's Navy in 1973.

An MoU on defence cooperation was also signed between India and Oman in 2005.

Areas of cooperation include joint military exercises, military training and IT, educational courses and exchange of observers and formal visits.

India had trained 150 Omani military personnel in 2014-15.
Gen Parvez Musharraf was today declared an "absconder" by a special tribunal trying the former Pakistani dictator for high treason as he failed to appear in person despite repeated summons and directed authorities to produce him before the court within 30 days.

The three-member court headed by Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Minakhel directed the government to publish advertisements in newspapers declaring Musharraf an absconder, and also place similar posters outside the court and the former military ruler's residence.

72-year-old Musharraf this month flew to Dubai for purported medical treatment after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on his foreign trips and it is believed that he may never return to face a slew of several high-profile cases against him.

The court - which had earlier asked the government to give a written explanation as to why it allowed Musharraf to go abroad without its consent - declared him as "absconder" after he failed to appear in person despite several summons.

It also ordered the prosecutor to submit a record of all properties owned by the accused by the next hearing on July 12 besides directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce Musharraf before the court within 30 days.

The court, that includes Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Mohammad Yawar Ali as members, launched trial of Musharraf in 2013 for abrogating the constitution in 2007.

Such an act is considered as high treason under article 6 of the constitution, which is punishable by death.

Musharraf came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, he resigned as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai.

He returned in 2013 to contest elections but was implicated in several high-profile cases and was not allowed to leave the country. He is facing trial in illegal detention of judges, also in 2007.

In January 2014, Musharraf suffered a "severe heart attack" on his way to a special court to face the high treason charges following which he was admitted to an army hospital.

Musharraf has also been charged in connection with the 2007 assassination of prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

In Janury, he was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the 2006 murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

He had said before leaving Pakistan in March that he was going abroad to seek medical treatment for a spinal cord ailment which has now developed several complications and will "come back in a few weeks or months".
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar Dam which has been a matter of decades-long legal battle between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, saying its structure is weak.

The petition filed by advocate Russel Joy claimed that the weakness of dam is an infringement of the fundamental right of security for the life and property of people living in the



downstream in case of any catastrophe.

"An expert committee with international expertise must be formed to examine the dam and decommission it. We should form a committee as per the American Federal guidelines for dam safety," Joy said in a press conference here.

He also flayed the 2006 SC-appointed empowered committee stating the absence of experts in the panel.

The Supreme Court in its May 2, 2014 verdict had held that the dam, which is 120 years old, is safe and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet.

The five-bench constitution bench had struck down a law promulgated by Kerala declaring Mullaperiyar dam as endangered and fixing the water level at 136 feet.

The apex court had earlier dismissed Kerala's plea to review its 2014 verdict saying there was no reason to interfere with the judgement of the Constitution Bench.

Mullaperiyar dam was constructed pursuant to the Periyar Lake Lease Agreement of October 29, 1886 across Periyar river.

The dam is situated in Thekkady district in Kerala and is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu government.
Securing a pilot's licence is now going to be just a click away as the aviation regulator DGCA is likely to make completely online 18 major services of the 162 identified as part of the e-GCA project.

Majority of these relate to approvals including for flight safety procedures, training and licensing, engineering and flight operations, among others.

E-Governance for Civil Aviation (eGCA) envisages online service delivery, automation of the systems and processes at the back-end and implementation of required IT infrastructure and service delivery framework.

As many as 18 services including the process of securing pilot's licence is set to go online from June 15 as part of the first phase of the e-GCA project, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said today.

As of now, majority of these functions are either manual or partially online.

All 162 items identified for this purpose are to go online by December at an investment of over Rs 80 crore, the official said, adding that Hewlett Packard has been mandated to execute the project.

The earlier timeline set by the government was March.

The eGCA project is aimed at completely automating the processes and functions of DGCA and its constituent directorates as well as provide a strong base for IT infrastructure and service delivery framework.
Police today arrested 15 Israeli rightwing activists who were planning to go to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound without authorisation, a statement said.

The compound is Islam's third holiest site and the holiest to Jews who call it the Temple Mount.

Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there, and incidents occur regularly when Jews try to ignore the rule and Muslims intervene to stop them.

Today, dozens of rightwing activists gathered in the centre of Jerusalem as part of a plan to head to the flashpoint site, police said.

"A police officers ordered them to disperse but they refused and 15 of them were arrested," the statement said.

Before police intervened, the activists "committed acts of violence" against Palestinians, police said.

"They had formed a human chain to prevent local residents from entering the Old City and committed acts of violence against them," said the statement, which gave no further details.
The Delhi Police today pleaded with a court to cancel the bail given by a juvenile justice board to a teenager who had allegedly run over a 32-year-old man with his father's Mercedes leading to his death, saying the relief was granted wrongly.

Additional Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar, after hearing the arguments, reserved the order on the police's plea for May 18.

Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava argued that the juvenile justice board had granted bail to the boy, who has just turned major, without any fresh bail application, which was "wrong".

"The board had first denied bail to the boy on April 19. Thereafter, he was granted bail on April 26 by the board without filing of fresh application which was wrong.

"We were not even shown the psychological report of the boy due to which we could not argue on that aspect," he said.

The boy's counsel, however, submitted that he was rightly granted bail and the court should also see that it was for the welfare of the youth.

The incident took place on April 4 when marketing executive Siddharth Sharma was trying to cross a road near Ludlow Castle School and the speeding Mercedes hit him.

A case under IPC sections 304 A (causing death by rash or negligent act), 279 (driving on a public way so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) and 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human life) was lodged against him.

The prosecutor also argued that as per the provisions of



the law, the custody of the juvenile has to be given to a "fit person" who can properly take care of him but the board gave the boy's custody to his mother without even analysing if she was fit.

The board had on April 26 granted bail to the youth who had sought the relief to appear in entrance examinations.

Before that, he was refused bail by the board observing that he was a repeat offender and had blamed his parents for allowing him to drive at such an age.

The police has booked the juvenile for the alleged offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and he was sent to the reform home.

The police had said that the car was being driven at a speed of at least 80 km per hour and Sharma was flung several feet in the air by the impact of the crash.

After the incident, a group of youths stepped out of the vehicle and fled the spot, abandoning the car there, it had said.

The police had earlier arrested a man who claimed to be the actual driver of the Mercedes at the time of the incident but did a volte-face after he got to know the victim was dead.

The driver and the boy's father, who was also arrested earlier, were granted bail by the court.

The youth had appeared before a Delhi court to surrender and moved a bail plea which was rejected on the ground that it was a matter of JJB. He was then produced before the board.
Election Commission-appointed surveillance teams have seized over Rs 154 crore in cash in states where Assembly elections are either underway or over, with the maximum seizure of Rs 94 crore in Tamil Nadu.

However, the EC, in a latest data said, out of the total Rs 94.88 crore seized in Tamil Nadu, Rs 45.65 crore was released after verification, as it was "not linked" to any political party or candidate at the hustings.

A total of Rs 22.87 crore has been seized in Kerala, out of which Rs 1.43 crore has been released while in poll-bound Puducherry, out of the total seizure of Rs 4.08 crore, Rs 4.3 crore has been released.

Similar seizures in West Bengal and Assam, where polls have ended, stand at Rs 20.75 crore (Rs 4.67 crore released) and Rs 12.33 crore (Rs 5.42 crore released) respectively.

"The total progressive figure for cash seizures in states, as of yesterday, stands at Rs 154.91 crore. The seized cash, in some cases, is being released after ascertaining the bona fide and legitimate purpose of the funds and post verification that it does not have links to a political party or candidate," a senior official said.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.

Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the EC had last month also issued some special instructions to be followed by observers and members of the surveillance teams deployed in the state.

The Commission had sought "stepped-up vigil" across Tamil Nadu to detect and intercept cash and other inducements being used to lure voters and ensure that a level-playing field is maintained.

The counting of votes in all the five states is slated for May 19.

The Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 4 after the Commission had announced the schedule for the Assembly polls.
A 45-year-old priest has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl behind a temple premises in northwest Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area, police said today.

The incident came to light yesterday when the five-year-old girl complained of pain in her abdomen and later told her mother that when they had gone to the temple two days ago, the priest, Rajesh Shukla, had sexually assaulted her, police said.

The police were informed and the minor was counselled. She further told investigators that the priest had lured her to a secluded spot behind the temple premises and allegedly committed the crime, a senior official said.

"A case was registered on the basis of the girl's complaint and the accused was arrested under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act," DCP, Northwest Delhi, Vijay Singh, said.

Shukla, a native of a village in Uttar Pradesh, stays here with other priests in the temple premises. He was produced before a court which sent him to 14 days judicial custody, police said.
A 66-year old retired IAS officer, a native of Punjab, is fighting the May 16 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu on the BJP's lotus symbol, in a rare instance of a north Indian testing electoral fortunes in the Dravidian heartland.

Ujagar Singh, a native of Khiali, about 21 km from Barnala in Punjab, is a candidate of the Akila Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (AIMKMK), an ally of BJP, from Sozhinganallur constituency in the city outskirts.

A former IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of 1977 batch, he has held various positions in the state government and retired as Special Commissioner, Government Data Centre here in 2010.

Though he belongs to AIMKMK, he is contesting on the symbol of BJP in tune with the arrangement between the allies.

It is not quite usual to find a north Indian contesting election down south, especially in Tamil Nadu where political leaders often cry foul over "imposition of Sanskrit or Hindi" by parties holding the reins of power at the Centre.

Asked what prompted him to jump into Tamil Nadu politics though he happens to be from Punjab, Ujagar Singh says, "I was convinced about the welfare programmes of the party like free education. Moreover I was requested by AIMKMK chief Devanathan to fight the polls and I know him, he is a good leader."



When IAS officials from other states mostly go back to their native places after retirement, what prompted him to stay back?



He says, "Tamil people are very kind, nice and large hearted, they have no jealousy and no chauvinism like you find in some other places in our country."



"Also, my decision to stay back is in fulfilment of my promise to late Chief Minister (AIADMK founder) M G Ramachandran, a great humanist who wanted officials like me to stay back post retirement," he says, adding the idea was to continue to work for the welfare of the people.

Praising people of Tamil Nadu again, Singh says "I am



very happy to be here, Tamils are such a friendly people, they help you and my entire family is settled in Chennai, though I have several of my relatives living in Punjab."



Though his spoken Tamil cannot be termed very good -- in terms of pronunciation - he still manages to communicate well.

He says, "I can read, write and speak Tamil as well. I learnt Tamil from Pandit Srinivasan in Thanjavur".

Recalling his efforts to study the language, he says "I used to devote at least two to three hours everyday to learn Tamil. Now I read all Tamil newspapers and magazines."



On people's response to his campaign, he says, "They welcome me. I am happy."



To a question on seeking votes after working nearly 40 years as a bureaucrat, he said, "I am not a politician (yet), but I tell people that I understand their problems better than other candidates by virtue of my long stint in administration. I will solve their problems."



Persons like Ujagar Singh very rarely appear on Tamil Nadu's political horizon. Nearly four decades ago, a similar name was in the poll fray in the state.

It was S D Ugam Chand, a native of Rajasthan and a business man settled in Chengelpet near here. He won in 1980 and 1989 Assembly elections as a candidate of the AIADMK from Madurantakam constituency.
Taking a serious view of an alleged ragging incident at a Delhi Public School hostel in Noida in which two class XI students were injured, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Uttar Prdesh Chief Secretary, district magistrate and SSP of Gautam Budh Nagar.

The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports, carried yesterday, that two students of class XI, were beaten mercilessly by their seniors for protesting against outlawed practice of ragging and reporting the matter to the school authorities.

The incident happened on May 8 when the boys were returning to their hostel after their dinner.

"Observing that the incident raises issue of serious violation of right to life and dignity of the young students, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar calling for reports within four weeks," NHRC said in a statement.

The Commission said ragging has been banned in educational institutions and certain guidelines on recommendations of the Raghvan Committee have been issued in this regard.

The Supreme Court, while deciding the Civil Appeal No 887 of 2009, has also referred to ragging as an ugly scar, which is required to be obliterated from the face of educational institutions.

The school authorities are legally bound and responsible to ensure protection of students from the menace of ragging, the Commission said.

Reportedly, a few days ago too, one of the victim boys had suffered in the hands of his seniors in the name of ragging.

However, the school management, after giving him first aid, had asked him to stay at home for a few days. Even after the May 8 incident, the school management first tried to persuade the parents of the victims not to file a report with police, the statement claimed.
Sri Lankan police today arrested former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger brother Basil in connection with an alleged land transaction involving money laundering, police said.

Basil, a former economic development minister during his brother's 10-year rule, was produced before a court in the southern town of Matara which granted him conditional bail after impounding his passport.

He is currently on bail in another case of alleged misappropriation of state funds after serving several months in prison and the court hearing is still taking place.

The Rajapaksa family has faced many charges of financial and public property irregularities since his defeat to the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena in January last year.

The family has dismissed all charges as a political witch hunt.

The former president's younger son Yoshitha was also remanded over money laundering charges. He has also been released on bail.

Rajapaksa in his May Day speech said the entire family is to be put in jail by the current government in acts of political revenge.

His son also accused the government of carrying out a political witch-hunt and said they have been facing such "harassment" from a long time.

"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 last week.
A Supreme Court bench today recused from further hearing a plea of the Centre seeking restoration and restart of amphitheatre Rabindra Rangshala which is currently in ruins in Central Ridge, a declared reserved forest area here.

"We have been there. If we allow you, then it will give me pain for my entire life. Let other bench hear and decide it," Justice J S Khehar, who is heading the bench that also included Justice C Nagappan, said while referring the matter to the Chief Justice of India for further allocation.

The Ministry of Culture has moved the court seeking its nod for restoration of Rabindra Rangashala on the ground that no concrete structure will be set up and it is an attempt to revive the amphitheatre in the Upper Ridge area where several schools and Ganga Ram Hospital are running with the permission of this court.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that once a forest can't always be a forest. There are hospitals, schools and other establishments running with the permission of the Supreme Court and people from various places come for morning walk in the area, he said..

To this, the bench said that there are a huge number of trees which will be affected if this open air theatre, with a seating capacity for 8,000 people, is restarted.

Rohatgi said that the entire area is spread over 800 acres of land and the theatre occupies only 37 acres.

The bench also took on record the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report filed by Forest Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in compliance with an earlier order of the court.

"It is proposed to have rehabilitation and retro-fitting work of the existing structures at Rabindra Rangshala as existing structures have been not used for a long lapse of time and not maintained either. Henceforth, levelling and exacavation is not envisaged.

"Since removal of vegetation from renovation area is envisaged, therefore, it may affect the ecology of the area. The soil quality of the area may get disturbed if construction debris are not managed properly," the report has said.

On February 26, the apex court had asked MoEF to file EIA, with regard to the proposal of renovation.

Environmentalist M C Mehta, who had filed a PIL on the pollution issue decades ago, opposed the plea of the Centre, saying that the Upper Ridge has been declared a forest and described as the 'lungs' of the city.

The structure, conceived and created by the Rabindranath



Tagore Centenary Committee headed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was Delhi's cultural hot spot for three decades.

The unique open air theatre is lying abandoned for the last two decades after the Centre on the Supreme Court's intervention declared the Ridge area a reserved forest in the mid-1990s.
A rebel Congress MLA today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Uttarakhand High Court judgement upholding the decision of the Speaker to disqualify her in the Assembly.

The plea in this regard was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi which posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.

The disqualified Congress MLA, Shaila Rani Rawat's petition was mentioned by advocate M L Sharma, who had yesterday made an attempt to stop the opening of the result of the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly but did not succeed.

She was disqualified along with eight others, who all have already challenged the High Court decision in the apex court which had refused to grant any relief of stay before the May 10 floor test.

The apex court has clarified that they will remain disqualified unless it allows their petition.
A six-member delegation of Royal Bhutan Army today visited Indian Army's South Western Command and discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation.

The delegation headed by Goonglan Gongma, Chief Operations Officer, held discussions with South Western Army Commander Lt Gen Sarath Chand, a release said.

Besides attending a cultural programme, they also visited City palace, Jantar Mantar and Amber fort before returning to Bhutan.

The visit is expected to enhance and strengthen the already existing close friendship and cooperation between the Royal Bhutan Army and the Indian Armed forces.
Russia today detained four Crimean Tatars, a group opposed to Moscow's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, on suspicion of belonging to radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, lawyers and prosecutors said.

Since it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Russia has cracked down on the peninsula's Muslim Tatar community with frequent house searches, arrests and closures of independent media and has banned the group's governing body.

Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) seeks to re-establish a Caliphate -- a pan-Islamic state based on Islamic rule harking back to medieval times -- and has been banned in Russia since 2003.

Rights lawyer Emil Kurbedinov told AFP that today morning two busloads of armed officers swept into the town of Bakhchysaray, Crimea's ancient capital, and searched five homes and a cafe.

The FSB officers detained four Crimean Tatars and took them to the security force's headquarters, the lawyer said. He added that the men were likely to be formally arrested in custody on Friday.

"I see this as real repression," Kurbedinov said.

Crimea's fiercely pro-Kremlin chief prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya said on Facebook that the FSB had arrested three suspected participants and one organiser of a local cell of Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir party, outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organisation.

She accused the men of carrying out "hidden anti-constitutional activity through carrying out propaganda among the public."



The suspected organiser of the "terrorist cell" faces up to 20 years in jail, while participants face up to 10 years.

Poklonskaya told Russian agencies that the FSB had also summoned a prominent Crimean-Tatar community leader, Ilmi Umerov, for questioning on suspicion of making "public calls to breach Russia's territorial integrity."



Umerov was a longtime head of the Bakhchysaray district who quit when it moved under Moscow's control.

Crimean prosecutors today also announced that US-funded Russia Free Europe/Radio Liberty's website, which carries and views on Crimea, has been blocked in Russia as extremist.
Six 'sadhus' were today injured as they clashed with each other using sharp-edged tridents allegedly over election for different posts in their Akhara during the ongoing 'Simhastha Kumbh' here, leading to the arrest of two seers.

Four of the injured 'sadhus' were admitted to the district hospital, while the two others, hurt in the clash during which sharp-edged 'trishuls' (tridents) were used to attack each other, were treated at the Akhara, Additional Superintendent of Police Manish Khatri told PTI.

Two sadhus have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

According to some pilgrims, loud sounds of gun shots were heard during the clash which took place at 'Ahavan Akhara' (temporary monastery).

However, police did not confirm the use of firearms saying they are investigating the matter.

A case was registered and further investigations are on, the ASP said.

The clash is suspected to have taken place over elections for different posts in the Akhara, police officials said.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders today won the West Virginia primary defeating Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton by more than 15 percentage points even as the former US secretary of state looks set to secure the party nomination.

However, Sanders' win is unlikely to prevent Clinton from emerging as the presumptive Democratic nominee, given that she has a massive lead over him in the delegates count.

At a campaign rally in Oregon, Sanders acknowledged that he has an uphillclimb in terms of becoming the party's nominee, but said he would continue his fight till the end of the primary season.

As a consolation, Clinton won the Nebraska primary, but she is not getting any delegate from it. The delegates were allocated in the March 5 primary, which was won by Sanders.

Clinton received 10 delegates as against Sanders' 15.

In the Republican party, the sole candidate Donald Trump won both the primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska taking his total delegate count to 1,107.

Trump now needs 130 delegates to officially become the presumptive nominee of the party.

This seems to be a forgone conclusion given that he is the only candidate left the in fray.

"It is a great honour to have won both West Virginia and Nebraska, especially by such massive margins. My time spent in both states was a wonderful and enlightening experience for me," Trump said in a statement.

"I learned a lot, and that knowledge will be put to good use towards the creation of businesses, jobs, and the strengthening and revival of their economies. I look forward to returning to West Virginia and Nebraska soon, and hope to win both states in the general election," he said.

"Likewise, my time spent last week with the great people of Oregon will hopefully lead to another victory next Tuesday," said Trump who was attacked for the first time by Sanders.

In his victory speech in Oregon, where the primary is scheduled for next Tuesday, Sanders said the country should not elect Trump.

"Our message to the Democratic delegates who will be assembling in Philadelphia is, while we may have many disagreements with Secretary Clinton, there is one area (where) we agree. And that is, we must defeat Donald Trump," Sanders said.

"And after all the votes are cast and counted and this contest moves to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the delegates will decide which candidate is the strongest nominee to take on Donald Trump in November. All of the evidence indicates that I am that candidate," he said.

A latest opinion poll released today revealed that Sanders defeated Trump in a hypothetical match in the November general elections but Sanders conceded that he has an uphill climb.
Drug major Sanofi is recalling four batches of its painkiller Combiflam in India after the country's drugs regulator found the lots sub-standard.

The company has taken the step after the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) found out that the batches of Combiflam were "not of standard quality" as they failed disintegretion tests.

When contacted, a Sanofi India spokesperson told PTI: "Some batches of Combiflam tablets were found to have a delayed disintegration time. There is a pharmaceutical parameter that requires the breakdown of a tablet in the human body to be assessed."



In the case of Combiflam, though the disintegration time was delayed, doctors and patients can be assured that there is no impact on the safety and efficacy of the product, the spokesperson added.

"However, as the drug regulator have categorised the said batches as sub-standard or not of 'standard' quality, we have recalled the affected batches and already implemented suitable measures to address this concern," the spokesperson said.

This qualifies as a Class III recall wherein consumption of the product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences, the company further said in a regulatory filing.

"We have acted immediately and completed the recall for two batches, while the recall of the remaining two batches is ongoing," it added.

The company has analysed the issue and appropriate remedial steps have been taken to ensure that the tablets disintegrate within the specified timelines, it said.

Consequently, the company does not expect the recall to affect the Combiflam sales, the company said.

According to the company's latest annual report, Combiflam, which is a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen, is one of Sanofi's five largest brands in India.

Shares of Sanofi India today ended at Rs 4,330 a piece on the BSE, up 0.27 per cent from previous close.
The Supreme Court Thursday directed budget airline to pay Rs 10 Lakh as damages to a flyer, suffering from cerebral palsy, who was forcibly offloaded in 2012, saying the manner in which she was deboarded depicts "total lack of sensitivity".

The apex court noted that the disabled flier Jeeja Ghosh was not given "appropriate, fair and caring treatment" which she required with "due sensitivity" and the decision to de-board her was "uncalled for".

"On our finding that acted in a callous manner, and in the process violated Rules, 1937 and Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), 2008 guidelines resulting in mental and physical suffering experienced by Ghosh and also unreasonable discrimination against her, we award a sum of Rs 10,00,000 as damages to be payable to her," a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal said.

Ghosh was offloaded from a flight on February 19, 2012 from Kolkata when she was going to attend a conference in Goa hosted by NGO ADAPT (Able Disable All People Together), the second petitioner in the case.

The apex court said the decision to offload Ghosh was taken by the airlines without any medical advise or consideration and her condition was not such which required any assistive devices or aids.

"Even if we assume that there was some blood or froth that was noticed to be oozing out from the sides of her mouth when she was seated in the aircraft (though vehemently denied by her), nobody even cared to interact with her and asked her the reason for the same.

"No doctor was summoned to examine her condition. Abruptly and without any justification, a decision was taken to de-board her without ascertaining as to whether her condition was such which prevented her from flying. This clearly amounts to violation of Rule 133-A of Rules, 1937 and the CAR, 2008 guidelines," the bench said.
Markets watchdog Sebi today exempted the government from making an open offer to the shareholders of Allahabad Bank following the proposed equity infusion that would hike its stake in the lender by more than five per cent.

The central government, a promoter of Allahabad Bank, has proposed to infuse capital worth Rs 690 crore in the lender against allotment of equity on preferential basis in favour of it.

The capital infusion is part of government's programme to shore up the bank's capital base for meeting Basel norms.

The government, presently, holds 61.38 per cent stake in the bank and the proposed allotment of 10,92,29,064 equity shares of Allahabad Bank would increase its shareholding by around 5.83 per cent to 67.21 per cent mandating an open offer under the Takeover Regulation.

The bank had filed their applications with the markets regulator to seek exemption on behalf of its promoter.

Subsequently, Sebi, in an order passed today, said there would be no change in the management control post equity infusion in the bank.

In addition, "such additional capital will help the bank to keep a safe buffer over and above the minimum norms of Basel III and would give additional leverage to raise further equity capital at a later date as and when the need arises.

...Capital adequacy of the bank is a requirement to protect its small customers as well as the public shareholders who have invested in its equity."



The regulator further said this was a 'fit' case to grant exemption under the Takeover Regulations to the government from the obligation to make an open offer with respect to its proposed increase of shares/voting rights in Allahabad Bank, pursuant to proposed preferential allotment of equity shares.

The exemption has been granted subject to the condition that the government or the bank would ensure compliance with the statements, disclosures and undertakings made with regard to the transactions, among others.

Under the Takeover norms, when entities who hold 25 per cent or more shareholding in a company acquire additional 5 per cent or more in that particular firm, in a financial year then they are required to make an open offer.

Earlier also, the government has been granted such exemptions in case of other state-run entities in similar circumstances.
Thousands of police personnel were today deployed across Bangladesh to prevent violence in the wake of a nationwide strike call given by the country's main Islamist party to protest the hanging of its chief for war crimes committed during 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) has called the strike to protest 73-year-old Motiur Rahman Nizami's hanging on Tuesday, heightening tensions in the Muslim-majority nation already reeling from a series of killings of secular activists and bloggers.

Several clashes had erupted between police and Jamaat activists yesterday in parts of Bangladesh. Police had fired rubber bullets on stone-pelting Jamaat supporters in the northwestern city of Rajshahi, where a liberal professor was hacked to death by Islamists near his home last month.

Despite Jamaat's call for a strike, shops and other businesses remained open in Dhaka. Jamaat's previous such strike calls protesting the trial of their senior leaders for war crimes have also went largely unheeded.

Police said several thousand personnel have been deployed in the capital, including in key places, to prevent violence.

No violence was reported in the capital or at Nizami's hometown Pabna in the northwest.

Security was tight across Bangladesh, with checkpoints erected on main roads in the national capital to deter violence, and thousands of police patrolling the streets.

Jamaat, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh, described Nizami's execution as a "planned murder".

Jammat, a militia force, is blamed for conducting a systematic massacre of a large number of intellectuals just ahead of Bangladesh's December 16, 1971 war victory.

Nizami was the fifth top perpetrator to be hanged for crimes against humanity since the trials began six years ago.

But the initiative posed a major challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has faced strong international pressure to stop the executions. Rights organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch protested the death sentences while some groups also raised questions about the standard of the trial process.

Officially three million people were killed during the 1971 war.
Shiv Sena today attacked BJP over the Uttarakhand issue and said the mandate its senior ally had secured was not to indulge in "suspicious" activities and "needless" acts even as it wondered if an emergency-like situation would emerge in the future.

Sena, in an editorial in its mouth piece 'Saamana', hailed the judiciary for "saving" democracy in Uttarakhand and said handling of the situation in the hill state by the Centre had served as a "tonic" for Congress' revival.

"Power is a double-edged sword. Do not chop off your own nose with this sword. It has happened so in Uttarakhand," Sena said.

Those who tried to show their "might" by imposing the President's Rule in the state have fallen flat on their face, it said.

"We are sad that this has given a revival tonic to Congress," it added.

"BJP has been embarrassed completely. Circumstances in Uttarakhand were not conducive for Congress but they have now turned beneficial for the party due to the grave mistakes of our own," it said.

Referring to the rebellion by nine Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand, Sena said the government there had been reduced to a minority.

"Had the trust vote been taken then, Congress government in Uttarakhand would have been defeated. However, the President's Rule was imposed to avoid show of strength," it said.

"The courts had to intervene there due to the mistakes of those in power. The courts saved democracy. People have not elected you (BJP) to power to indulge in suspicious activities and needless acts," Sena said.

"This is not the way to make the country Congress-free. Rebellion and horse trading are a disease. Instead of treating this disease, if it is being spread, we are worried about the future of the country. We wonder if there will be a situation of lawlessness and emergency in the future."



Taking a swipe at BJP for "its policy of favouring creation of smaller states", the Sena said such states are now plagued by the disease of instability.

Sena's attack on BJP came a day after the Supreme Court declared that Congress has won the floor test held in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday.

The two saffron parties share power in Maharashtra and also at the Centre.
A shop owner was shot dead by four unidentified bike-borne persons at Gulab Vatika here, following which his family members and irate locals blocked Delhi-Saharanpur Highway in protest today.

Yesterday around 9 PM, the assailants reached the mobile shop of Manu Sharma, aged around 30 years, and shot at him. He died on the spot. They then fled towards Delhi, Superintendent of Police (rural area) Rakesh Pandey said.

This morning, Sharma's family members and locals blocked the highway for at least an hour demanding Rs 20 lakh as compensation for the victim's kin and arrest of the accused within three days, he said.

The blockade was removed following assurance of proper action by officials, the SP said, adding police are suspecting that the killing might be a fallout of old enmity.
Observing that India has made significant progress in implementing the in the last 18 months, the Obama administration told lawmakers that it is now up to individual companies to take decisions in terms of risks and opportunities.

"One of the areas we have been able to have significant breakthroughs is the civil nuclear cooperation. We have seen in the past year-and-a-half significant progress with respect to India establishing its liabilities law which are compliant with convention on supplementary compensation," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on South Asia.

India, she said, has now ratified it and is now a member of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

"India has established an insurance pool," she said in response to a question from Congressman Brad Sherman who wanted to have an update on the .

"I think, each individual company at this point has to make its own commercial decisions in terms of risks and in terms of opportunity. I think we are starting to see companies making those decisions," Biswal said.

"It is at this point largely a commercial decision. We stand ready through the US Government, through our financing bodies to support," the senior State Department official said.

It is believed that Westinghouse Electric and Nuclear Power Co-operation India Ltd are in advance stage of talks for building six nuclear reactors in Gujarat.

The long awaited commercial deal could be inked during next month's expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington. There has been no official confirmation of Modi's travel to the US yet.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today pitched for expanding higher and technical education facilities to accommodate over 1.5 lakh students annually and asked institutions to start faculties in rented buildings, including schools and malls, to meet the shortfall.

"Each year 2.5 lakh students pass +2 exams out of whom only around 90,000 are admitted to various institutions of higher and technical educations in Delhi. Where do we accommodate the rest 1.5 lakh students is a big question," Sisodia said at the third foundation day function of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women.

Stressing that expansion of higher and technical education is a "big need" of Delhi, he urged stakeholders to work for a "paradigm" shift in this regard.

Citing challenges of starting new courses, new buildings and recruitment, he assured these institutions that the government will not let them face problems of "funds and procedures".

"You fear of thinking big in terms of opening new courses, new buildings, recruitment. You may have your experiences of interacting with funds. But think big in terms of expanding educational facilities and leave the questions of funds and procedures to me," he said.

He said Delhi government's target is to arrange educational facilities for 1.5 lakh students for which "out of the box" measures will be needed.

"I am ready to extend the facilities. I am ready to offer government schools in the second shift for opening new faculties (of higher and technical courses)...All over Delhi there are private schools, vacant government school buildings that could be taken on rent. Take entire floors of malls which are lying vacant," the Deputy CM said.

A techno-business incubation centre at the university was inaugurated by Sisodia. He also unveiled a prototype of fuel efficient car, saw and took part in test drive of an all terrain vehicle and hybrid e-rickshaw, all designed and fabricated by girl students of the university.

He urged students to work on "utility oriented" ideas and try to think ahead of their times for success in their fields.

"The changes are fast-paced. Technological innovations are outdated in 6-7 years and so there is need to think at least 25 years ahead of your own times," he said.

Vice Chancellor Nupur Prakash and Education Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, teachers and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
At least six major industries have pulled back their projects from Odisha while South Korean steel player Posco has temporarily put its plan of setting up a 12-mtpa greenfield steel plant near Paradip on hold, the state government today said.

"Posco has put its Odisha project on hold temporarily," Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said while replying to a written question in the assembly.

The minister's statement on Posco takes on significance as it came barely three days after Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo informed Parliament that the Centre has not received any communication from South Korean steel giant Posco on "disinterest" in pursuing its proposed plant.

Mishra's reply was in response to a question from Congress member Kailash Chandra Kulesika, who wanted to know whether Posco has withdrawn its project.

To another question from Congress member Asshuman Mohanty, the minister said: "Posco India Private has deposited Rs 41,61,71,739 with the state-owned IDCO for procurement of land, out of which Rs 40,17,61,606 has been sent and exhausted for land acquisition."



Mishra, however, clarified that the government has no information on the expenditure incurred by Posco in Odisha.

Posco last month had informed the National Green Tribunal that its steel project in Odisha "cannot proceed" any further at this stage due to regulatory hurdles.

The steel maker told the green panel that it is yet to receive land and forest clearance for setting up the plant.

The project is billed as the largest FDI in India.

(REOPENS CES 10)



Of the 92 MoUs signed, six projects have announced withdrawal of their plans, Mishra added. The six included three each in steel and power sectors.

The industries minister, however, informed the Assembly that 46 industries have invested Rs 2,53,789.03 crore and become partially operational.
The Centre today told the Supreme Court that it is maintaining its stand of 2004 taken on the sensitive Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case and wants that both Punjab and Haryana should settle their disputes on the matter by themselves.

"In 2004, the then Attorney General appearing on behalf central government has said that he does not wish to make any statement nor is willing to file any affidavit. We are maintaining the same stand on the reference and want that states should settle their dispute by themselves," Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice A R Dave.

The bench, also comprising Justices P C Ghose, Shiva Kirti Singh, A K Goel and Amitava Roy, which is hearing the Presidential reference on SYL dispute, reserved its verdict on the issue and asked the parties to file the written submissions, if any, in seven days.

The Solicitor General further said that if Punjab has terminated the agreements, then it clearly means it does not want to provide water to other states.

To this, the bench said that the argument of Punjab is that unless it is determined, they would continue with the existing arrangements.

"If status quo is maintained then and what will the Tribunal decide and what Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and other states are getting today and what they were getting earlier were same, then there is no need for adjudication of the matter. If agreements are terminated, then no Tribunal is required to adjudicate the matters," the SG said.

The Centre had in past few hearings had also said that it was not taking sides and was maintaining a neutral stand.

During the ongoing hearing when Punjab Assembly had passed a law to return the land acquired on its side for the construction of SYL canal, Haryana government had approached the apex court which had directed status quo.

It had also appointed appointed the Union Home Secretary and Punjab's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) as the 'joint receiver' of land and other property meant for SYL canal.

Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, appearing for Delhi



government, told the bench they want to withdraw the earlier affidavit filed in the court.

"Our stand is that Delhi's right of its share of water be protected under the law. All existing rights be protected. For us, the matter of concern is that the allocation of water should be protected. We are not going into the controversy of Punjab and Haryana over the canal," she said.

Earlier, on April 25, a lawyer, who was sacked for making the stand of Delhi Government allegedly without instruction on SYL canal case, had told the apex court that Aam Aadmi Party government's ground for his removal was a "blatant lie".

Delhi government had earlier replaced advocate Suresh Tripathy as its standing counsel in the apex court for filing the written submission in the SYL matter claiming that the stand of supporting Haryana in the dispute was taken by him without any instruction.

Isolated by other stakeholders over the dispute over water-sharing of SYL canal, Punjab had earlier said that the apex court was not bound to answer the Presidential reference made at the instance of the Centre which had no power to resolve the dispute.

The Parkash Singh Badal government has submitted that a fresh Tribunal be set up to resolve all disputes with other states including Haryana on all aspects, which will also cover the riparian rights and the dwindling flow of water.

It had said that a fresh Tribunal was sought in 2003, about 18 months before the 2004 law, to review the 1981 Longowal Accord on river water-sharing in view of depleting flow and other changed circumstances.

The water-sharing agreement was between Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.

On Haryana's demand, Punjab has said that after its creation in 1966, it had become a riparian state of the Yamuna and was getting its share. At the same time, it had lost its riparian rights after it was carved out of Punjab.
A street food stall worker today died of burns, three days after being admitted to hospital following an altercation with a customer, in central Kolkata.

Police said the accused customer Mohammed Zakir has been arrested by Kolkata Police and charged under sectiion of unintentional murder.

On Sunday afternoon Zakir, a regular customer at the stall on the Ezra Street in the Hare Street Police Station limits, asked for rotis from Lalan Singh (27), a worker at the street food kiosk.

On being told that rotis were not made in the daytime, a drunk Zakir verbally abused Singh which soon turned violent, the cop said adding that suddenly Zakir pushed Singh and he fell on a cooking pot with fish curry being made.

"The hot fish curry scalded Singh's upper face and as a result his eyes and face got badly hurt... He sustanied almost 85 per cent burns," the police officer said.

Locals rushed Singh, a resident of Bihar, to Kolkata Medical college where he died this morning.

Zakir, who had fled from the spot, was later arrested from the area.
People with stressful lives are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories such as the Apollo Moon landings being staged in a Hollywood film studio, scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found.

The research shows that people who believe in conspiracy theories are more likely to be suffering from stress, or have experienced stressful events, than non-believers.

The study by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK is the first to assess the relationship between psychological stress and belief in conspiracies.

Researchers surveyed 420 adults (225 women and 195 men) aged between 20 and 78, and participants rated their belief that various conspiracies were true on a nine-point scale, ranging from one (completely false) to nine (completely true).

Examples of the conspiracies included that the Apollo moon landings were staged in a Hollywood film studio and that the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr was the result of a plot by US government agencies, researchers said.

The findings showed that a stronger belief in conspiracy theories was significantly associated with more stressful life events in the last six months and greater perceived stress over the last month, they said.

Women and men did not significantly differ in their belief in conspiracy theories. Younger participants were more likely to believe, but there was no significant correlation between belief in conspiracy theories and social status, researchers said.

"More stressful life events and greater perceived stress were both linked to greater belief in conspiracy theories. We think there are a couple of reasons why this might be the case," said Viren Swami from Anglia Ruskin University.

"Stressful situations increase the tendency to think less analytically. An individual experiencing a stressful life event may begin to engage in a particular way of thinking, such as seeing patterns that do not exist," said Swami.

"Therefore stressful life events may sometimes lead to a tendency to adopt a conspiracist mind-set. Once this worldview has become entrenched, other conspiracy theories are more easily taken on board," he added.

According to him, it is not stress that is driving someone's way of thinking, but rather a threat to their sense of control.

"In the aftermath of distressing events, it is possible that some individuals may seek out conspiracist explanations that reinstall a sense of order or control," said Swami.

The findings were published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
India and Sweden today discussed a host of issues concerning both the nations including counter-terror initiatives.

The discussions came up during Swedish Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson's meeting with Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju here.

The issues that came up included anti-terrorism, migration and radicalisation and the two sides assured of enhancing mutual cooperation, an official spokesperson.

The Swedish delegation that met the minister included Harald Sandberg, Ambassador of Sweden to India and other officers from the Ministry of Justice of Sweden.

Senior officers from Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs were also present in the meeting.
Syrian regime forces have battled jihadists who cut a key supply route west of ancient Palmyra, after new bombardments hit Aleppo city where a ceasefire was due to expire at midnight.

The latest fighting comes as world powers prepare to meet in Vienna next week to try to revive peace talks aimed at ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the Islamic State (IS) group on Tuesday cut the main road from Homs city to Palmyra just weeks after the army recaptured the city, a UNESCO world heritage site.

A military source told the SANA official agency yesterday that the Syrian air force had carried out strikes against IS around the main facility in the Shaer gas field, northwest of Palmyra.

A security source told AFP: "Military operations are ongoing in the Shaer gas field," which is one of the biggest in the central province of Homs.

Both sides have been battling each other in the desert around Palmyra since IS was ousted from the city in late March.

The jihadist group last week seized the Shaer gas field from the regime.

President Bashar al-Assad's troops retook Palmyra with support from Russian air strikes on March 27 -- an achievement his regime celebrated with concerts in its ancient amphitheatre last week.

But IS now surrounds Palmyra from all directions except the southwest, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that IS was within 10 kilometres of the city.

In Deir Ezzor province further east, at least seven civilians were killed, including a child, in regime air strikes on an area held by IS.

They died in "regime air strikes on the Shuhail district in the east of Deir Ezzor province targeting a health facility and other areas in the district", the Observatory said.

The Russian defence ministry's coordination centre in Syria meanwhile said there had been five breaches of a ceasefire in Aleppo over last 24 hours, killing eight civilians.

The local truce - brokered by Russia and the United States after a spike in violence in the city last month - was set to expire at midnight yesterday.
Fitness chain Talwalkars Better Value Fitness looks to raise up to Rs 125 crore through non convertible debentures (NCDs) to fund its expansion plans.

"In order to enhance long-term resources for financing the capital expenditure and for general corporate purposes, the company may offer subscription for NCDs up to Rs 125 crore, in one or more series/tranches, on private placement basis...During 2016-17," Talwalkars Better Value Fitness Ltd said in a postal ballot notice to its shareholders.

This year in March, the firm had announced its plans to invest Rs 100 crore over the next three years to open 100 gyms across Sri Lanka.

"Over the next three years, the company plans to inaugurate some 100 gyms across the length and breadth of Sri Lanka, investing about a crore in the latest equipment and technology in each of the facilities," Talwalkars had said in a BSE filing.

The company opened gyms in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Colombo-based Power World Gyms Ltd (PWG). In October last year, Talwalkars had picked up a 49.5 per cent stake in PWG for an undisclosed sum.

Talwalkars runs 176 fitness centres in 85 cities and towns across South Asia.
PRINT | EMAIL | PERMALINK Newscity Air Quality Bureau Evolves Policy Robert Maestas Convinced that the previous Democratic administration used unfair tactics and personal agendas to drive certain environmental policies in the state of New Mexico, Ryan Flynn, the current secretary of environment in this state has proposed changes to the department's Air Quality Bureau. Specifically, Flynn wants to change the way individuals and entities who do not conform to state clean air standards are managed and penalized for their missteps. Ryan wants to have more oversight on the way those penalized enact Supplemental Environmental Projects, short-term actions designed to ameliorate environmental transgressions in the communities where they took place. Although those violators also pay fines for their environmentally unfriendly tactics, Ryan says that projects undertaken during the Richardson administration were often colored by the influence of individuals in the former governor's circle. Although Ryan told the local daily that this new set of procedures is aimed at accountability, Richardson responded by telling the newspaper, I dont respond to absurd allegations by a political hack like Ryan Flynn. Citizens can view and comment on the new policies.

Medical Marijuana Use Surges Because the State of New Mexico receives an average of 2,700 applications for medical marijuana use every month, there is currently a backlog in the state system that grants access to medicinal cannabis. According to the Department of Health, there were about 14,000 New Mexico citizens enrolled in the program last May; this year the number of individuals served is closer to 24,000. All of this has resulted in a backlog in granting access to the pain-killing, non-narcotic herb. Officials at the Department of Health told local media outlets that the wait for a marijuana card has increased from 30 days to about 50. In an effort to overcome these growing pains, the DoH is adding temporary workers, moving to a larger space and working to upgrade infrastructure to make access to medical weed easier for the thousands that depend on it statewide, program spokesman Kenny Vigil recently told local teevee news reporters. Government officials continue to call for patience as these new aspects and practices are put into place for the good of patients across the state; officials say the burgeoning system and the subsequent workload has been extremely tremendous.
Indian-American Neera Tanden on Wednesday led the campaign in slamming the economic policies of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and alleging that this poses a threat to the economic future of women and families.

"Make no mistake, Trump's divisive comments about women's health are a direct threat to our dignity and economic security," said Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

"Trump is now trying to cover up the bald spots in his economic plan but women can see for themselves and women can see through his comb over," said Tanden, who was joined by Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

The two said that the trillions in tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires and corporations laid out in Trump's tax plan would be an enormous boon for the top 1% of earners, made at the expense of working families, seniors and the health of the economy.

Trump's plan would give $3 trillion over 10 years or more than 35% of its tax breaks to millionaires, enough money to ensure Medicare and Social Security's solvency for the next 75 years, repair the ailing infrastructure, or raise every person now living in poverty up to the poverty line.

Trump would give multi-millionaires in the top 0.1% like himself a raise of $1.3 million a year, or $100,000 a month.

Tanden alleged Trump's ideas are not the only risk a Trump presidency would pose for the economic future of women and families around this country.

"His tax plan gives $3 trillion to millionaires, that's enough to make Social Security and Medicare solvent for 75 years. Women, who rely disproportionately on Social Security, can't afford such an irresponsible giveaway," Tanden said.

Tanden and Mikulski said that Trump still opposes raising the minimum wage because he believes "wages are too high" and recently said he doesn't favour a federal floor for the minimum wage, which could leave many workers subject to a lower minimum wage.

At a time when two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women, this issue is critical to working families, they said.

"I'm with Hillary because I know that she's the only candidate who will make fighting for women and families her priority," Mikulski said.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav today sought to clarify his remark that Pathankot attack is also "jungle raj", saying he did not compare the terrorist attack to the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in Gaya.

Tejaswi drew support from his father and RJD president Lalu Prasad who hit out at BJP for "misinterpreting" the comment.

Tejaswi told reporters here he knew the difference between the both the incidents.

"I also talked about a large number of cases of road rage in Delhi, killing in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of Vyapam and murder in Jharkhand to highlight why the comment 'jungle raj' is made in the context of Bihar whenever some criminal activity takes place here," Tejaswi said in a bid to clarify his reaction in Delhi over the Gaya killing and opposition going hammer and tongs against the coalition government.

"We strongly condemn the killing of Aditya Sachdeva in which our government is taking stern action," he said.

"The Deputy CM did not speak anything wrong...He put his views strongly (over the Gaya incident)," Lalu Prasad told reporters in Patna.

BJP was spreading canards against Tejaswi by "misinterpreting" his comments that he compared Pathankot with the Gaya incident, the RJD chief said.

Lalu described the Gaya event as "dardanak" (very painful) and patted the grand secular alliance for prompt action in the incident.

Launching a counter-offensive against BJP for its "return of jungle raj" remark, Tejaswi had yesterday said if the killing of a youth in a road rage incident symbolised that, then even in the national capital, where such incidents happen in greater numbers, was no different.

"If one road rage incident takes place in Bihar and it is called 'jungle raj', then the maximum number of road rage incidents take place in Delhi. So, is there 'jungle raj' in Delhi? Pakistani flag is unfurled on the country's soil, isn't it jungle raj?



"Terrorists enter the most secure air base, isn't it jungle raj? If there is a Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, where one after the other murders take place, an IPS officer is killed, nobody says there is jungle raj. In Haryana, there was such a big riot and such unfortunate incidents of rape took place, but it is not called 'jungle raj'," the Bihar deputy chief minister had said.
Three militants of separate organisations were arrested from different areas of Manipur, police said today.

While a militant of the Tribal Revolutionary Army was arrested from Lailoiphai village in Churachandpur district on May 10, two others belonging to the proscribed outfit KYKL were caught the same day from Singjamei area.

Based on one KYKL cadre's information, one 9 mm pistol and three live rounds of 9 mm ammunition were seized from his residence, the statement said.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks comparing Kerala to Somalia kicking up a storm, top Congress and BJP leaders today sparred over the controversial analogy.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Prime Minister's statement was not in good taste even as BJP leaders sought apology from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for spreading 'false propaganda' against Modi,



"We are not against people of Somalia. He has compared Kerala for negative things of Somalia," Azad said at an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram district.

"In his (Modi) sub-conscious mind there is hate...Why people of Kerala are not voting for him. That is why he is abusing people of the state," he said.

Hitting out at Chandy, Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar said Chandy was trying to divert the attention from development issues and was 'spreading lies'. The chief minister was indulging in "false propaganda to cover up his administrative failure and corruption," he told reporters. "It is not the duty of Prime Minister to reply to the lies of chief minister," he said.

The prime minister was initiating steps for the country's development with a far-sighted vision. "I have only one thing to tell Chandy. Po Chandy...PoMone (Go off) Chandy," he said. The minister said during Chandy's tenure, corruption cases like solar and bar scams had erupted and a dalit woman was brutally raped and murdered. Government could not take steps to bring the guilty to book so far, he said. On the political situation in the state, he claimed the chief minister was indulging in 'adjustment politics' while shaking hands with CPI-M leader, Pinarayi Vijayan, he said. "In West Bengal, they celebrate honeymoon, while in Kerala they are having secret relations.

Joining the issue, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said



Congress and Left are afraid of Modi's appeal in Kerala and are running a social media campaign from behind to mislead the people and divert attention from the Dalit woman's murder. "People of Kerala are wise and intelligent," he added.

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan also hit back at Chandy, saying he should apologise for making 'baseless comments' against the Prime Minister.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the Prime Minister's refusal to withdraw the controversial remark shows his "arrogance".

"The remark is an insult to every citizen of God's own country," he added.
Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he will spend millions of dollars from his own savings and plans to raise USD 1 billion for November general elections which might end up being the costliest US presidential polls ever.

"I am raising money for the party. I am also going to continue spending money on myself. I think, I will raise a lot. I think, it is going to be a billion. I will raise whetever we need," Trump, 69, told Fox in an interview yesterday after his primary wins in West Virginia and Nebraska.

With the two wins Trump increased his delegate count to 1107, just 130 delegates short of being officially declared as a presumptive nominee.

He would officially be declared as Rpublican's presidential nominee at the party's Cleveland Convention in July.

During the primary campaign, Trump spent more than USD 47 million from own savings, which is far less than the amount compared to some of his rivals like Jeb Bush who raised more than USD 140 million for his White House bid but had to drop out midway.

Noting that he would continue self-funding his campaign, Trump said he would raise the money for the rest of the general elections so that the party can retain its majority in both the House and the Senate.

To reach the target of USD 1 billion, Trump last week named Steven Mnuchin as National Finance Chairman.

Chairman and CEO of Dune Capital Management, a private investment firm, Mnuchin is said to be well connected in the Hollywood and Wall Street, industries with uncertain loyalties to Republican presidential candidate.

According to the 'Wall Street Journal', Trump is a late entrant to the fund raising race.

His potential Democratic rival for general elections Hillary Clinton has raised USD 213 million this past year.

In an interview to 'The Wall Street Journal', Mnuchin said his role in the campaign stems from a "long-standing personal and professional relationship" with Trump after their first meeting 15 years ago.

"Do we expect that we will be raising funds and will get support from the film and finance industry? We do," he said, adding that Trump's negative comments about Wall Street were "very specific as opposed to broad-based comments."



US media reported Mnuchin also had ties with the Democrats.

In the past two decades, he contributed more than USD 120,000 to both Democrats and Republicans, Politico reported, adding that of this about USD 64,000 went to Democratic candidates and USD 40,000 to Republicans.

Announcing his appointment, Trump said Mnuchin brings unprecedented experience and expertise to a fundraising operation that will benefit the Republican Party and ultimately defeat Hillary Clinton.
Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, who is now the Republican presumptive presidential nominee, would meet top party leaders here on Thursday as part of his efforts to sort out differences and forge unity within the bitterly divided party before he mounts his presidential bid.

Topping the list of leaders is Congressman Paul Ryan, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, who last week dropped a bombshell saying he is not ready to support Trump as the presidential nominee of the party.

Days later he toned it down to say that he would do whatever the presumptive nominee wants him to do.

"On Thursday, the two men will meet in Washington, striving for party unity after Ryan refused to endorse Trump's presidential bid. When he arrives, Trump will have nearly clinched the GOP nomination by running squarely against Ryan's vision of what Republicanism is," the Washington Post said.

Trump would also hold meetings with the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of the US Congress and many feel that a Trump candidacy might put this majority at risk.

According to Time magazine, the Ryan-Trump meeting comes at a critical juncture as the two party leaders jostle for positions as the face of the future of the party.

The magazine said that Ryan is unlikely to embrace Trump after the first meeting.

"I'd be shocked if he embraces Trump all the way. The things Trump has said and done, both the policy reversals and the insults, just in the last week, I can't see how one meeting is going to change that. Trump's actions mean a lot more than any one meeting," a Ryan insider was quoted as saying by Time.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional leadership announced that it would unveil the "Trump Textbook" on Thursday.

It is a new report from Senate Democrats that will outline a number of policies to show that, despite attempts to keep their distance from Trump's policies, Senate Republicans have actually been pushing the same special interest-driven agenda for years.

On the eve of the much anticipated meeting, Trump received a shot in his arm as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced that he is endorsing the New York billionaire.

"I endorse . I am going to work very hard for the nominee," Gingrich told Fox News.

Politico reported that Trump, as part of his efforts to make peace with the Republican leadership, is turning to lawmakers for help on the policy front.
Turkey today recalled its ambassador to Bangladesh for consultations after strongly protesting the execution in the country of a top Islamist leader, the state-run Anatolia agency said.

Motiur Rahman Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a Dhaka jail late Tuesday for the massacre of intellectuals during the 1971 independence war with Pakistan.

Turkey's ambassador to Dhaka, Devrim Ozturk, is due to arrive back in Turkey today, the agency added.

The Turkish foreign ministry had already strongly condemned the execution, saying it did not believe that "Nizami deserved such a punishment".

It said that Turkey, which has abolished capital punishment, feared that the use of such methods risked creating "rancour and hatred between our Bangladeshi brothers".

Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey's ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sought to boost the country's power in the Muslim world well outside its Ottoman sphere of influence.

Nizami, a 73-year-old former government minister, was the fifth and the most senior opposition figure executed since the secular government in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation set up a controversial war crimes tribunal in 2010.

Turkey had last year also furiously slammed a death sentence handed to Egypt's deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was a close ally of Ankara until he was overthrown by the military in 2013.
With arrest of two persons, the police today claimed to have cracked a daylight robbery case in which valuables worth Rs 40 lakh were looted from a jewellery showroom here last month.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the April 30 robbery case at Rawalpindi jewellers showroom in Indirapuram and valuable worth Rs 30 lakh have been recovered from them, police said.

SP City Salman Taj Patil said three robbers had looted the valuables by taking all staff on gun point.

Patil said that acting on a tip off one robber Arush, resident of Rajendra Nagar, and Milind Tiwari, a goldsmith from Moradabad, were arrested from Chijarsi tri-section.
Two persons were killed and another was injured after a truck carrying them fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.

The mishap occurred late last night near Silangi village on Sonla-Maikhura motor road, District Disaster Management Centre said here today.

The deceased have been identified as Ramesh Chandra from Chamoli in Uttarakhand and Saurabh from Saharanpur.

Another Saharanpur resident, Arjun Singh, who was injured in the mishap, is being treated at a government hospital in Karnaprayag.
Two personswho allegedly kidnapped the chairman of a real estate group in north China's Shanxi Province were shot dead after they resisted an arrest by police, who managed to rescue the hostage.

The two kidnappers, surnamed Tong and Jia, were natives of the city's Nanjiao District and were shot while resisting arrest and attempting to escape, police said.

Police in the city of Datong received a report on Tuesday that chairman of the city's Huayue Group, surnamed Zan, was kidnapped by two armed men who demanded a ransom, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

More than 500 policemen were dispatched to rescue Zan.

Police found the men were driving two cars early yesterday morning and tried to arrest them.

The hostage was rescued, the local police said, adding the two cars, two guns and 31 bullets were also recovered from the scene.
Two youths drowned, two others swam to safety while one youth is missing when they had gone to take bath in Sikarhana river near Lal Parsa village of East Champaran district in Bihar today.

Sugauli police Station House Officer Awadhesh Kumar Jha said five youths had gone to take bath in the river. Of them, two youths drowned as they went into deep waters while another one is missing.

Divers have fished out the bodies of two youths who have been identified as Ved Prakash Singh (22) and Dipu Kumar (21), residents of Bariyarpur village under Chhitauni police station of the district.

Another youth Bittu Singh, a resident of Hawai adda locality of the town, is still missing, the SHO said.

Professional divers from Motihari have been pressed into service to find out Bittu.

All these five youths, who had yesterday come to their friend's house in Lal Parsa village, had gone to take bath in the river.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda embarked on a fourth decade in power today when he was sworn into office for a fifth consecutive term.

Museveni, 71, won February's election though the result has been challenged by opposition leaders, one of whom has been held under house arrest for most of the weeks since.

"I, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni swear in the name of the Almighty God that I shall faithfully exercise the functions of the President of the Republic of Uganda," Museveni said to cheers from the large bussed-in crowd gathered at a parade ground-cum-airstrip on a Kampala hillside.

He added he would, "uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution, and observe the laws of Uganda, and I shall promote the welfare of the people of Uganda, so help me God."



Wearing his trademark khaki bush hat with chin strap and a dark business suit, Museveni spoke into a clutch of microphones with canary yellow muffs the colour of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

More than a dozen heads of state, including Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, attended the swearing-in ceremony, the fifth since Museveni took power in 1986 at the head of a rebel army.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, but Uganda -- like many other African states -- ignored its legal obligation to arrest the Sudanese leader. Kenyatta's own crimes against humanity case was dropped by the ICC in late 2014.

Although African leaders initially welcomed the ICC they turned against the court when it began trying to hold them to account. During his speech Museveni dismissed the ICC as a "bunch of useless people" as Bashir nodded in agreement.

Museveni thanked Russia for its willingness to sell weaponry, "without conditions and arrogance like other countries," and promised a war on corruption. "When you see me in a tie do you forget I was once a guerilla?" he asked.

Leaders of Chad, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were also present.

Museveni's main political opponent, Kizza Besigye, was again arrested yesterday after holding his own swearing-in ceremony to protest what he says was a fraudulent election.
Members of the South Asian community held a candlelight vigil at the historic Dupont Circle to protest against the recent spate of murders targetting minorities in Bangladesh.

The attendees represented various organisations including the US chapter of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the World Hindu Council of America, along with the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) and LGBT leaders.

Tapan Dutta of BHBCUC-USA expressed dismay at the continuing atrocities against Hindus.

He urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take stronger measures to secure the homes, temples, and the lives of the country's indigenous Hindu community.

Toufique Hassan, Senior Counsellor at the Embassy of Bangladesh, said in his address to the people who had gathered that Prime Minister Hasina "adheres firmly to a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, and violent extremism."



There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

Jay Kansara, HAF director of Government Relations said "we won't let the people of Bangladesh stand alone as they confront Islamist extremism".

He encouraged attendees to call their US Representative to support H. Res.396. Introduced by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in July 2015 which is intended to bring attention to growing Islamist extremism, especially the ongoing nefarious activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated groups.

Hindu and other minority leaders hope that the legislation would be amended to reflect incidences and developing trends that have occurred since its inception.
The US has expressed concern over "narrowing of legitimate political space" in Maldives, saying too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars due to the government's "intolerance" for criticism.

There has been little progress since last year with respect to strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Maldives, Indian-American Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"While we acknowledge the extended medical leave granted to former president (Mohamed) Nasheed, we remain greatly concerned about the narrowing of legitimate political space: too many opposition politicians still remain behind bars because the government's intolerance for criticism or competition," Biswal said yesterday.

"We are also concerned about the fertile ground for recruitment that violent extremists find in Maldives, where the youth population struggles with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities in higher education," she said.

Maldives is also one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the impacts of climate change, and is threatened by seaborne trafficking of drugs and weapons, Biswal said.

The State Department has request a budget of USD 3.3 million for Maldives in financial year 2017.

This will allow the US to continue its engagement with Maldives to adapt to the impacts of climate change, counter violent extremism and increase maritime security, Biswal added. PTI LKJ



"We are also concerned about the fertile ground for recruitment that violent extremists find in Maldives, where the youth population struggles with high unemployment and a lack of opportunities in higher education," she said.

Maldives is also one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the impacts of climate change, and is threatened by seaborne trafficking of drugs and weapons, Biswal said.

The State Department has request a budget of USD 3.3 million for Maldives in financial year 2017.

This will allow the US to continue its engagement with Maldives to adapt to the impacts of climate change, counter violent extremism and increase maritime security, Biswal added.

Former Maldivian president Nasheed is serving a 13-year jail term on terror charges. He was granted 30 days of leave for medical treatment in the UK.
Heavily armoured MRAP vehicles provided by the US arrived in the Egyptian port of Alexandria today, the first batch of a total of 762 vehicles that are being transfered to bolster Egypt's counter-terrorism efforts.

The first shipment of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles from the US has arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian Army, a US Embassy statement here said.

The heavily armoured MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines and from other types of attacks.

The delivery marks the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States is transferring to Egypt, the statement said.

This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.

Originally designed to support United States military operations in Afghanistan, MRAPs provide enhanced levels of protection to soldiers and are proven to save lives, the statement said.

"The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the US and Egypt," US Embassy Senior Defense Official Major General Charles Hooper said.

This delivery of MRAPs is part of the US Department of Defense's Excess Defense Articles grant programme, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to Egypt.

This delivery is the most recent step taken by the US government in support of Egypt's fight against terrorism and is part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries.
The Obama administration has "recognised" the concerns of lawmakers with regard to sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and those are right now being taken into consideration, a top American diplomat told Congress today.

"We understand the very serious concerns that has been raised by the Congress and those concerns are right now being taken into consideration," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on South Asia.

"I do not have an update for you on with respect to that notification and where it goes. But I will say that we recognised the concerns that Congress has raised with us," Biswal said.

During the hearing Congressman Matt Salmon Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific praised the Obama Administration for taking into the strong viewpoint of the Congress and its lawmakers with regard to sale of eight F-16 to Pakistan.

"It looks that that sale is in kind of a limbo right now," he said.

"We have a very important relationship between the United States and India. We also have a very important between the United States and Pakistan. Each relationship stands on its own merit in furtherance of our goals and interest in both countries. We do not see them in any way as a zero sum," Biswal observed.

"The F-16 platform is the one we have felt has been used successfully in combating terrorism. That has been the basis on which the administration put forward the notification to provide an additional eight F-16s," Biswal said.

"This (opposition to sale of F-16 to Pakistan) was across the aisle. This was not just Republicans or Democrats. This was across the aisle and a lot of concern that was expressed to end to its credit the administration I believe is taking those things into account," Salmon said.
A US anti-missile defence system in Romania aimed at protecting NATO members from threats by "rogue" nations became operational today, triggering Russian fury despite US insistence it does not target Moscow.

Located in Deveselu in southern Romania, the missile interceptor station will help defend NATO members against the threat of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, particularly from the Middle East, officials said.

"Today the United States and Romania make history in delivering this system to the NATO alliance," said US commander in Europe and Africa Mark Ferguson at an inauguration ceremony with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

But Russia sees the missile system as a security threat right on its doorstep, despite the US and NATO insisting it is not aimed at undermining Moscow's defences.

"According to our experts' opinion, we are convinced that the deployment of the missile defence system is truly a threat to Russia's security," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

Relations between NATO and Moscow have sharply deteriorated since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, sparking fears among other eastern European countries that they too could be the targets of Russian aggression.

Stoltenberg said the missile installation "represents a significant increase in the capability to defend European allies against proliferation of ballistic missiles" as it becomes part of a broader NATO missile shield with an installation in Poland as well.

But he stressed that the system was not aimed at Russia and in fact was not capable of intercepting Russian missiles.

"The site in Romania as well as the one in Poland are not directed against Russia. The interceptors are too few and located too far south or too close to Russia to be able to intercept Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles," he said.

The Deveselu site will host a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors and will officially be integrated into the NATO missile shield at the bloc's summit in Warsaw in July.

Work on the site began in October 2013 and is thought to have cost USD 800 million (700 million euros).

The Western military alliance insists the role of the missile shield is a "purely defensive" response to external threats, notably from so-called "rogue states", having referred in the past to Iran and North Korea.

The US ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, has described the activation of the missile system as a gesture of his country's commitment to Article Five by which all 28 NATO members pledge a one-for-all, all-for-one response to any military threat if a member invokes the treaty clause in the face of an attack.
America's national security apparatus does not reflect its ethnic and racial diversity, National Security Advisor Susan Rice has said while noting that individuals like US Ambassador to India Richard Verma build bridges and deepen partnerships in a globalised world.

"We must acknowledge that our national security agencies have not yet drawn fully on the strengths of our great nation. Minorities still make up less than 20 per cent of our senior diplomats," Rice said in her address at a Florida University.

"Less than 15 per cent of senior military officers and senior intelligence officials. Too often, our national security workforce has been what former Florida Senator Bob Graham called 'white, male, and Yale'. In the halls of power, in the faces of our national security leaders, America is still not fully reflected," Rice said in her address, which is expected to have a long-term implication on the diversity of the national security apparatus.

"We can see the profound importance of our diversity in the realm of foreign policy and national security. Those who deride our diversity, my answer is: I see why it matters every day, in those who protect this country and grapple with the toughest global issues we face," she said, noting that she is privileged to work with brilliant and dedicated professionals across the government.

Rice argued that a diverse national security workforce enables US to unlock all of its nation's talent. There are some 320 million people in the United States. Nearly 40 percent are minorities, and an increasing number of them are earning college and graduate degrees, she said.

"As America becomes more diverse, so do our best people. The next Colin Powell or Madeleine Albright or Bill Richardson is out there. Our country-and our policies-will be stronger if we can bring them on-board," said the top national security of the President Barack Obama.

In Obama's first term, Rice served as the US Ambassador to the UN.

Rice said leaders from diverse backgrounds can often come up with more creative insights, proffer alternative solutions, and thus make better decisions.

"Think of the LGBT person in Bangladesh who knows that someone at the American embassy understands who she is. Think of the Iraqi soldier, learning to fight alongside Iraqis from other religious sects, who takes inspiration from America's own multi-ethnic force," she said.

"Think of young Haitians drawn to converse with a Foreign Service officer who has dreadlocks like their own - or our Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, showered with rose petals when he visits his grandmother's ancestral home in Punjab. That is how we build bridges and deepen partnerships in an increasingly globalised world," Rice said.

Rice said without tapping into America's full range of races, religions, ethnicities, language skills, and social and economic experiences, the US is leading in a complex world with one hand tied behind its back.
Uttarakhand police will soon have a dedicated Economic Offences Wing which will focus primarily on crimes related to land and benami properties, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said today.

Directives to this effect were issued by Rawat while reviewing the law and order situation in the state at a meeting with senior police officials including DGP M A Ganpati, Additional DGP Anil Raturi, ADGP R S Meena and IG Sanjay Gunjyal, an official release here said. Rawat, who was reinstated as Chief Minister yesterday, asked police not to come under pressure of any kind and act without impartiality towards anyone.

Noting that crime in the society can be reined in only when criminals feel deterred by the law enforcing agencies, , said police will have to play a more pro-active role to instil fear into the minds of wrongdoers.

He asked them to tighten vigil in areas adjoining Nepal and Uttar Paradesh.

Rawat expressed concern over the rise in land related crimes saying such cases should be solved on a priority and the guilty should be brought to book.

A tab should also be kept on communally sensitive areas and those caught trying to disturb communal amity must be sternly dealt with,he said.
Metals conglomerate Vedanta Resources today reported a net loss of USD 3.5 billion for the fiscal ended March 2016 hit by a non-cash impairment charge. primarily on its oil and gas assets.

The mining giant led by billionaire Anil Agrawal had posted net loss of USD 3.8 billion in 2014-15, it said in a regulatory filing.

However its attributable net loss rose marginally to USD 1.83 billion in 2015-16 against USD 1.79 billion in the previous financial year.

The London-listed firm's revenues declined by 17 per cent to USD 10.74 billion in the last fiscal from USD 12.88 billion in 2014-15 on account of an "exceptionally challenging commodities markets" globally.

The company's Chairman Anil Agrawal said: "Vedanta demonstrated resilience this year, delivering healthy EBITDA margin, strong free cash flow and lower gross and net debt in a volatile commodities market."



The company had record production in zinc, lead, silver at Zinc India, Aluminium, Power and Copper cathodes, he added.

Vedanta Resources CEO Tom Albanese said: "In FY2016, Vedanta demonstrated resilience in the face of exceptionally challenging commodities markets around the world.

"In my 40 years in the mining business I have seen the commodity cycle turn many times, although the severity of this torrid year was something no one foresaw."



The firm said a strong free cash flow of USD 1.7 billion enabled it to reduce net debt by USD 1.1 billion and gross debt by USD 0.4 billion.

Vedanta Resources declared a final dividend of 30 US cents per share.

A year ago with Vedanta had announced an ambitious goal of delivering savings of USD 1.3 billion over the next four years.

Through a combination of new business programmes, operational excellence, modernisation of the supply chain and innovative ideas it saved USS 325 million in the first year.

Albanese said Vedanta resources' current requirements are low with FY 2017 capex expected to be around USD 1 billion, 50 per cent of which would be across the high return zinc projects at Gamsberg and Zinc India.

Going ahead, Agrawal said: "Naturally, we now hope for an improvement in the dynamics of the global commodity markets. Indeed, we are cautiously optimistic for 2017; based on the visibility we have now, we believe a recovery may be emerging, led by zinc."



Meanwhile, in a country where GDP may double in the decade ahead, Vedanta looks forward to playing its part in unlocking India's wealth of world-class energy and mineral resources, he added.

On India, Agrawal said: "We see encouraging signs. Oil



cess, a tax on production of crude oil has effectively been lowered at current price levels and export duty on low grade iron ore has been removed completely."



The government has encouraged increased mining activity, by commencing auctioning of coal and other mineral blocks, he added.

Vedanta's iron ore operations in Goa resumed production and the firm has gained approvals to use power generated from 3 units of the Jharsuguda power plant for captive use and received environmental clearance for expansion of Lanjigarh alumina refinery capacity to 4 MTPS, he added.

"All are important steps towards increasing our capacity from our well-invested assets," Agrawal noted.

The firm said it has a target to deliver savings of USD 350-400 million in 2016-17 and is on track to deliver USD 1.3 billion by 2018-19.

On its capex for 2016-16, the firm said it will spend USD 300 million on Zinc India, USD 200 million on the Gamsberg project, USD 100 million for oil & gas with optionality for growth projects and USD 400 million on Aluminium and Power.

It said it has cash and liquid investments of USD 8.9 billion and undrawn committed lines of USD 1.1 billion as of March 31, 2016.
California-based television firm is looking at a sales growth of 80 per cent this year to clock revenue of Rs 500 crore on the back of enhanced presence and growth in online format in the country.

The company, which has 20 branded stores in leading metros, is planning to expand in tier II and III cities by adding 30 outlets by the end of December.

"We have grown to Rs 275 crore this fiscal from Rs 96 crore and now our target for next fiscal (2016-17) is Rs 500 crore," CEO and Design Head Devita Saraf told PTI.

She further added: "The online channel contributed 70 per cent of our sales and rest 30 per cent is from offline."



As part of retail sales expansion, the company is planning to open four stores in Mumbai, besides new stores in Delhi-NCR and in some other metros and new cities.

today launched a new range of PremiumSmart TV, powered by Quad-Core Internet Video Processor to tab the segment going for on-demand video content and gaming centre.

The range, which starts from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 in four different screen sizes would be available exclusively on its online partner Flipkart, besides VU stores.

Flipkart Head Large Appliances Amit Bansal said: "Since its launch, Vu has dominated LED and smart television segment by offering customers world-class technology and design at affordable price points."



When asked whether Vu Technologies would foray enter tablets and mobile handsets, Saraf said: "We would concentrate on display space."



The firm also plans to expand capacity of its assembling unit situated at Bhiwandi, Maharashtra to meet growing demand.

Vu Technologies imports its 100 per cent components used for panel manufacturing from countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan and assembles at Bhiwandi.

The company, which spends 10 per cent of its revenue on branding/marketing, would launch its TV commercial this year.

It has plans to spend 50 per cent of its total investment on branding/marketing on digital platforms.
President Pranab Mukherjee today stressed that the government should invest more on research saying we "cannot compete with empty words or slogans" as more fundamental work is needed to improve performance.

Addressing centenary year celebrations of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here, he urged the government to balance between various competitive demands and resources to meet investment needs in education sector.

"I am urging my government that please make more investment in research. We cannot compete with empty words or slogans we must substantially improve our performance for that we require more research more fundamental work in science."



He said merely 0.6 per cent of GDP investment in research is not adequate compared to three per cent in Japan, 2.8 per cent in the US and 2.2 per cent in China.

He suggested both public and sector private sector should make this an area of top national priority by substantially investing in research development and innovation.

He said merely physical expansion of education sector was not enough and there was a need to concentrate on quality education by developing scientific temperaments in students.

Citing importance of core civilisational values, he emphasised on harmony, compassion and love for all.

He said words like "Babylon" (one of the ancient cities, now in Iraq) and Japan's "Hiroshima" (which was devastated by nuclear bombs) ignite minds of people.

"They symbolise more than a geographical expression, more than a place or something, which talk of human values. Some events which had the turning point in the history of human civilisation.

"That is why I was thinking what could have been the better place than Kashi (another name of Varanasi), on the holy banks of Ganges, in the land of Lord Shiva to preach harmony, equilibrium, compassion, love, affection and universal humanism," he said.

Mukherjee expressed happiness in knowing that BHU in its curriculum is emphasising on these aspects.

He said if India wants to have the rightful place in the comity of the nations then "we shall have to pay the price".

"There are no free lunches in the world. World is highly competitive and materialistic too. And what could be that price. We must emphasise on innovation, on research, on building up scientific temperament," he said.

Mukherjee said India will have world's huge work force by 2030.

"More than 50 per cent of our population will be in the age group of zero to 25. But what should we do with this. This is a double-edged sword. It can be an asset it can be a liability. It would be asset if we provide them with adequate education, training in skilling them, enhance their employability," the President said.

Citing example of ancient seats of higher learning like Takshashila and Nalanda that attracted great minds from across the world for 1,800 long years, the President asked the universities, faculty and students to regain that position.

Mukherjee, who was scheduled to be in Varanasi for two days, cut short his visit and returned Delhi late in night.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik released commemorative coins of Rs 100 and Rs 10 denominations during the programme.

Karan Singh, who is Chancellor of the University, was also present during the function.
Reacting to execution of top Islamist leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, India today said it was supportive of the judicial process to ensure justice in war crimes committed during the movement for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

"The issue of war crimes trial is internal to Bangladesh. It has wide popular support. India has also been supportive of a judicial process to address pending issues of retributive justice for war crimes committed during the movement for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, replying to a question.

Fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief Nizami was hanged on Tuesday night at Dhaka Central Jail for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

The 73-year-old leader of the Bangladesh's largest Islamist party had refused to seek presidential clemency.

Nizami's final appeal against his death sentence for war crimes was rejected by the apex court on May 5.

Clashes broke out between activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and police in several Bangladeshi cities after the execution.
The Supreme Court today dismissed the plea of an estranged wife of a Naval officer seeking a CBI probe into her FIR alleging that besides her husband, four other Navy officers and spouse of one of them indulged in wife-swapping.

A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit asked the Director General of Kerala Police to set up an SIT headed by a police officer not below the rank of a DIG and conclude the probe in the 2013 FIR "preferably" within three months.

Rejecting the plea for CBI probe, the verdict, penned by Justice Banumathi said, "It is well settled that the extraordinary power of the constitutional courts in directing CBI to conduct investigation in a case must be exercised rarely in exceptional circumstances, especially, when there is lack of confidence in the investigating agency or in the national interest and for doing complete justice in the matter.

The bench said, "Considering the facts and circumstances



of the case in hand, in the light of ...Principles, we are of the view that the case in hand does not entail a direction for transferring the investigation from the state police/special team of State Police Officers to CBI. The facts and circumstances in which the offence is alleged to have been committed can be better investigated into by state police."



It also rejected the submission of the estranged wife of the navy officer that the cases, filed by accused including other Naval officers in the Kerala High Court seeking quashing of the FIR, be transferred to the Delhi High Court.

"The investigation in FIR ... Registered at Harbour Police Station, Kochi, is pending in Kerala and stated infra, we have directed further investigation in the said case by a special team of state police officers. When the investigation is pending in Kerala, it is desirable that the quash petitions filed under Section 482 of CrPC are heard in the High Court of Kerala, as the High Court will be in a better position to take note of further progress in the investigation and also consider the evidence recorded," it said.

The apex court also said that it transfers a case from one state to another only if there is a "reasonable apprehension on the part of a party to a case that justice will not be done."



Referring to the submission of the woman in the present case, it said that she has only alleged that the accused are naval officers and are influential.

"Mere apprehension that the accused are influential may not be sufficient to transfer the case. Since a special team of state police officers is constituted for further investigation, we are not inclined to order the transfer of the criminal miscellaneous petitions from the High Court of Kerala to the High Court of Delhi," it said.

Dealing with the difficulties to be faced by the woman in attending proceedings in Kerala, it said, "we request the Kerala State Legal Services Authority to nominate a senior counsel to represent the petitioner in the matters before the High Court."



It asked the Kerala High Court to take up case after the SIT completes the investigation in the FIR lodged by the woman.
The US today said it is looking forward to working with the newly-elected leader of the Philippines who during his election campaign had advocated extra-judicial killings to get rid of crime and drug rackets.

While the official verdict is yet to come, Rodrigo Duterte, the Mayor of Davao City has emerged as the winner in all the unofficial results.

"We're still awaiting the official results from officials in the Philippines. We look forward to congratulating and working with the winners of those elections on our active and close bilateral relationship," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

He said the US is prepared to commend the Philippines on its May 9 elections.

By all accounts, those elections appear to have gone smoothly and enjoyed historically high levels of participation. Those are all indications of a vibrant democracy, he said.

The White House, however, refused to comment on some of the controversial remarks of Duterte.

"I don't have any comments about the campaign platforms or the rhetoric used by any of the individual candidates in the Filipino election. We'll wait for the official results and we can comment more directly there about our ability to work with the winners of that election," he said.

"Obviously, we've got an important security relationship and our efforts to coordinate with the Philippines as they provide for some maritime security that has an impact on the economy here in the United States is important," he said.

Both the White House and the State Department also did not respond to questions about Duterte calling for multilateral talks to resolve some of the issues in the South China Sea.

"In general, our approach to the situation in the South China Sea has been that the US is not a claimant to any of the land features in the South China Sea. But the US does believe that those that have competing claims should find a way to resolve those differences through diplomacy and through established international procedures," he said.

"That continues to be our position and we certainly encourage all parties in that region of the world to pursue their differences and resolve their differences in that way. Our interest is in making sure those differences are resolved peacefully in a way that disrupt the free flow of commerce in the region," Earnest said.
Al-Qaeda militants, including three suicide bombers who blew up vehicles, attacked Yemeni government troops outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla today, a military official said.

Several soldiers were killed or wounded in the assault on the eastern outskirts of the city, which government troops recaptured from Al-Qaeda last month ending a year of jihadist rule, the official said.
As India aims to move towards less-cash society, a MasterCard study of micro merchants in India indicates that young businessmen in the age group of 35-45 are most likely to adopt electronic payment systems.

The report identifies the number of merchants most inclined to trials of e-payments at 10 per cent, or almost 5 million of the total 59.16 million known universe of micro merchants.

Merchants cited potential increase in revenue (46 per cent) as a strong driver for trials, followed by increased business efficiency (31 per cent) and enhanced shop image (30 per cent).

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in association with MasterCard is conducting a national campaign with MasterCard for incentivisation of usage of Debit-Credit Card & other digital mode of payments since last one year.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandewal said India is on the cusp of a payments revolution as this has been pursued as a key policy objective by the NDA government.

"Through our partnership with MasterCard, we have successfully been able to reach out to more than 50,000 traders and smaller businesses across eight states and intend to cover many more this year," he said.

Porush Singh, Country Corporate Officer, India and Division President, South Asia, MasterCard said effort is to ensure maximum outreach to merchants helping them make the link between the benefits of a non-cash payment system and how it can help mitigate many of their business challenges.

The study identifies young merchants (age 35-45 years), owning medium sized businesses (6 to 10 employees) and large sized businesses (11 to 20 employees), based across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bareilly as high potential segments for adopting new technology and moving to a non-cash payment system.
A 21-year-old youth working as a courier delivery boy, was arrested by the roving 'SHE Teams' which keep an eye on eve-teasers, on the charge of harassing a young woman.

Md Masiuddin, a resident of Golconda area here was working as a courier boy in a reputed online shopping website, since 11 months, Hyderabad police said in a release today.

He was given the company's mobile phone and SIM card and the contact numbers of its customers, by the company and used to deposit the mobile and SIM after his duty got over. In this process, he happened to contact the victim for delivery of some online product she has ordered, it said.

"Since then, he noted down her number and had been trying to chat with her and asking to make friendship with him, though the victim denied and warned him several times. Though, he continued to do the same and annoyed over this, the victim gave a complaint to the 'SHE Teams' over WhatsApp," it added.

As the victim was not willing to give a complaint, a petty case was registered against Masiuddin and he was arrested and produced in the court. Going through the evidence collected, the Magistrate has convicted him of 2 days jail sentence and fine, police said.

Similarly, five more persons including students were nabbed on charge of teasing and harassing women in different parts of the city.

Hyderabad police set up SHE Teams to crack down on eve-teasers and stalkers in October 2014. A single SHE Team consists of a male or female sub-inspector, a woman police constable and three police constables who carry hidden cameras for video recording.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's second-largest drugmaker, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd , reported a much lower-than-expected quarterly profit due to a write-off related to Venezuela's economic crisis which has damaged its business there.

Companies including Dr Reddy's have been trying for months to recover funds from OPEC member Venezuela as oil prices sink and food scarcity and power cuts stir public protest.

Dr Reddy's said it took a hit of 4.31 billion rupees ($65 million) in the January-March quarter because it could not get approval from the Venezuelan government to recover any more money beyond the $4 million it has already received.

As a result, profit slumped nearly 86 percent to 746 million rupees, while analysts polled by Thomson expected a profit of 5.52 billion rupees on average.

"We will continue to actively engage with the Venezuelan government to provide affordable medicine to fulfil the need of the people of the country, subject to repatriation of funds," Dr Reddy's Chief Executive GV Prasad said in a statement.

While revenues from North America, Dr Reddy's biggest market, rose 12 percent, and those from India were up 11 percent, they could not offset declining sales in Europe and emerging markets.

($1 = 66.6 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu/Ruth Pitchford)
rose towards six-month highs on Thursday, supported by data from the Energy Agency (IEA) showing tightening supply in addition to a surprise drop in US crude inventories.

Brent crude futures were trading at $47.87 per barrel at 1101 GMT, up 27 cents from their last settlement and near a six-month high of $48.50 hit at the end of April.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US crude futures were 35 cents higher at $46.58.

"We could see some additional momentum coming into the market if we take out the recent highs because that would automatically trigger buy signals around the world," said Ole Hansen, head of commodities research at Saxo Bank.

The IEA on Thursday raised its 2016 global oil demand growth forecast to 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from its April forecast of 1.16 million.

It also noted that output from Nigeria, Libya and Venezuela is down 450,000 bpd from a year ago.

Analysts said the IEA data was helping to support prices, although the gradual return of Canadian oil sands output and the expectation that prices are nearing levels that could trigger the return of some US production might cap gains.

"The only thing that could throw a spanner in the works to prevent oil from rallying further would be the (US) production," Saxo's Hansen said.

Traders said an expected increase in Canadian oil sands output following disruptions to over 1 million barrels of daily production capacity due to a wildfire was weighing on .

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday that US crude inventories fell by 3.4 million barrels to 540 million barrels last week, surprising analysts who had expected an increase of 714,000 barrels.

"With (refinery) runs recovering and production dropping, US (crude) stocks should begin drawing steadily from now," consultancy Energy Aspects said on Thursday.

"We estimate that North American inventories can fall by as much as 12 million barrels across May and June," it said.

Kuwait's acting oil minister said that recent price rises were fundamentally justified.

"Based on the decrease in production that has been shown in the last three weeks, I assume fundamentally the price represents the fall of production," Kuwait's Anas al-Saleh told Reuters on Thursday.

He also said that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Kuwait is a member, would not seek price supporting market intervention during its next scheduled meeting on June 2, and instead it would focus on dialogue between its members.

At an April meeting, rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran could not agree on deal terms, triggering criticism that the producers' cartel had lost its ability to act.
The number of foreign tourists visiting India using e-tourist visas has increased exponentially as 70,045 tourists arrived last month as compared to 19,139 during the same period last year, registering a growth of 266 per cent.

The UK continues to occupy the top slot, followed by the US and Russia among the countries availing e-tourist visa facility.

The growth was equally significant during the first four months this year as 3,91,094 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa from January to April compared to 94,998 during the same period last year, recording a growth of 311.7 per cent, according to an official release.

Launched on November 27, 2014, the facility is currently available for citizens of 150 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.

"This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-tourist visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries," the release said.

The UK topped in March with 18.82 per cent availing the facility, followed by the US (14.08 per cent), Russia (8.16 per cent), France (7.12 per cent), China (6.31 per cent), Australia (4.67 per cent), Germany (4.32 per cent) and Canada (3.70 per cent).

The share of Thailand was 2.09 per cent, while that of the Netherlands was 1.93 per cent.
Banking stocks such as ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Federal Bank and State Bank of India cheered the passage of Bankruptcy Bill and gained up to 3 per cent on the bourses.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill that seeks to create time-bound processes for insolvency resolution of companies and individuals.

ALSO READ: Rajya Sabha passes Bankruptcy bill: 5 banking stocks to bank upon

Insolvency is a situation where an individual or a company is unable to repay their outstanding debt.



Reacting to the development, the S&P BSE Bankex index gained 0.95 per cent to 19281.20. ICICI Bank (3.46 per cent) and SBI (1.87 per cent) contributed most to the index.


In the fracas of whether Vijay Mallya is a defaulter, a wilful defaulter, or - to be charitable - a victim of circumstances, lenders and politicians have upped the ante against the UB Group chairman who fled the country with nearly Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid dues but who claims he is in "forced exile" in the UK. Even those who have shamelessly partaken his generosity in the past are hunting in packs for political mileage.

With the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act, 2016 becoming a law, Mallya has a momentous opportunity to clean up his slate by declaring Kingfisher bankrupt. And escape the humiliation of an arrest and a jail term like Sahara group's Subroto Roy Sahara.

Now that both the Houses of Parliament have approved the Bill, it's a matter of time before the Act is notified. Mallya could make a headstart right after the insolvency regulator is set up. The Act provides for time-bound settlement, which should be swift and relatively painless.

Mallya has the option of asking the closed Kingfisher Airlines to file for bankruptcy - rather than in his individual capacity. The process may not be as simple as words go, but it is conclusive: The airline declares itself insolvent; the firm is wound up as an entity; the firm is declared bankrupt by the Court.

All he loses is the equity invested in the airline, and his reputation as an airline promoter. His personal and financial status stays intact.

That leaves him with the option of settling the debt taken against his personal guarantee separately. Or, alongside the bankruptcy proceedings, if the Courts so insist. Bankers say his personal guarantee was worth Rs 1,500 crore (including interest it would be nearly Rs 2,000 crore by now). But he is contesting that, too.

Interestingly, in his deposition before Rajya Sabha's Committee on Ethics, Mallya declared that as far back as 2013 he had petitioned Bombay High Court to declare his personal guarantee against the Kingfisher loan void.

His letter to the panel on May 2 says: "prior to the consortium of banks which had advanced loans to Kingfisher Airlines Ltd recalling those loans, in or about March 2013, I along with others filed suitin the Bombay High Courtseeking a declaration that the personal guarantee dated December 21, 2010 executed by me in favour of the consortium of banks was void, ab initio and non-est on the ground that it was executed by me under coercion." But as far as the personal guarantee is concerned, Mallya has enough cash in hand from the sale proceeds of USL to take care of the guarantee, including interest.

Yet, he can declare Kingfisher bankrupt without declaring himself bankrupt. Mallya did make, what I believe, was a serious offer to settle Kingfisher loans for Rs 4,000 crore. The principal he borrowed was around Rs 6,000 crore. With interest, it amounts to Rs 9,000 crore.

The foxy Mallya ensured he left headroom for hard negotiations between Rs 4,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore - the principal. But it won't come to that at all.

Unfortunately, no one entity can settle this debt by itself any more. It's being investigated by multiple investigative agencies, including CBI and IB, state agencies and who not. Multiple banks and multiple stakeholders will have to have a say in a 'settlement', if any.

But the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act tides over all that. Just in case pride is in the way, think of Donald Trump! His firms have declared bankruptcy four times, in 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009. Yet, he's halfway there to becoming the President of the world's most powerful nation!
Today, brands pervade our lives - be it food, clothes, shoes or phones - and drive the value of companies, particularly on the stock market. The brand value of Coca-Cola is a whopping $83 billion, while for Small Medium Enterprises, their sales turnover and assets generally create their value. In either case, the value of your employer brand has an impact on many areas - including your ability to deliver your growth opportunities, to hire the right talent, as well as to retain them.

Before we delve into the details of building a strong employer brand, let's start with the basics: what is an employer brand?

In my view, it is the internal and external perception of your company. It is often not a single 'something' that drives the perception. For example, the belief you have in the Apple brand starts with the shop you visit and the service they provide. The decision to purchase a wonderfully designed product is only reinforced when it works well, and by the reception and quality of the phone. If something does not work, you take note of how Apple deals with maintenance or the return policy. This end-to-end experience drives a belief in you and it is the belief that drives your behaviour - a positive belief will have you returning to buy more Apple products.

In the same way, a person experiences how a company responds to and leads their employees. This will be communicated to others and of course, will influence whether people are retained or if they will look elsewhere for a brand they want to work for.

So, what can you do to build a strong employer brand? There are many actions that can be taken to grow or strengthen your employer brand, and the energy exerted will be driven by how seriously you wish to be taken and how important your employer brand is to the delivery of business opportunities.

My goal here is not to overload you with the many actions that can help, but to share what I consider to be the critical few - 3 simple things you can do irrespective of the size of your organisation.

First, it is critical that you develop and communicate workplace expectations internally - what is acceptable and what is not. In developing the expectations, try to reflect the organisation you want to be and the people you wish to hire and retain. For example, as a software company, you will inevitably hire younger generations. Having flexible work hours and dress codes will help you, as these are important attributes today! However, frankly, these are the easy wins - expectations around leadership style and development of the team will carry far more weight and will be shared amongst top talent more than the hygiene factors.

The second step is to reinforce and redirect workforce behaviours. When a leader is seen as driving the right behaviours within their team, share the success and its impact on team morale and the business with the organisation. Equally, when a leader does not drive the right behaviour, they need to be told and redirected to what is expected. If this leader is permitted to continue with their unacceptable behaviour, it will undermine your employer brand building efforts.

The most important contributor to your employer brand is for the leadership team to view it as equally important as product brand value. In the great brands I have worked for, I can remember very clearly the good and great leaders who absolutely represented the brands they led. They made me proud to work there, valued my contributions, reminded me of my obligations to the employer brand in what they said, but most importantly in what they did.

The real employer brand is defined in the moment when an employee issue raises itself in the workplace. Is the company compassionate, caring or mechanistic in its HR actions? The rest of the workforce watch, as this will define exactly the company they work for.

Of course, we have a number of 'bad eggs' that simply don't represent their brand - I have worked for two of these in my life and frankly, most days were nightmares, with the actions of the leader undermining the greater brand aspiration!

In summary, value your employer brand as much as your company/product brand. Set expectations, hold people to these expectations, and always walk the talk. Companies as well as people define themselves everyday by what they say and, more importantly, do. There's no doubt - great employer brands built with this in mind will attract and retain top talent.

The writer is an HR thought leader and change-maker, and founder of WorkAmmo
Virtually rejecting opposition demand for debt waiver to farmers, the government on Wednesday said Centre is continuously monitoring the drought situation and urged all parties to work together to deal with the problem.

Replying to a short duration discussion in the Lok Sabha on drought, drinking water crisis and inter-linking of rivers, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the Modi-government has done a lot for the farmers in two years and this work cannot be compared with the previous government's work in 60 years.

On the opposition's demand of debt waiver to farmers, he said one of the members from Maharashtra had stated that such a scheme launched earlier have many faults.

To buttress his point, he cited a CAG report to say that Rs 271.49 crore were recovered from people who were not eligible for a debt-waiver scheme, which was to the tune of about Rs 72,000 crore.

In about 5000 cases, action was taken against bank staff and there were also instances of tampering with the records.

"The country is fortunate that a son of poor has become the Prime Minister and that is why he thinks about farmers and village," he said.

On the allegation that ministers are not visiting drought-affected areas and villages, Singh said several meetings have held in the Prime Ministers Office at highest levels with the Chief Ministers.

"This government is continuously monitoring the situation and coordinating with the states," he added.

He also asked the states to spend the amount received from the Centre for farmers on time.

Enlisting the steps taken by the government for farmers, the minister said they are targeting to cover most of the area to come under irrigation.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna, he said over 300 districts have prepared their irrigation plans and rest are expected to prepare by September, he added.

"In India if you are to make the villages prosper, you have to give proper irrigation facilities to them...even after 68 years of independence, we were not able to give proper irrigation facilities to farm fields," he said.

Singh said that although he favours increase in the minimum support price but whatever is fixed that too was percolating to the farmers.

"Some states like Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh give 4 per cent interest subsidy to farmers, other states too think about their reponsibilities," the Agriculture Minister said.

He said the government has increased the agri loan target to Rs nine lakh crore from Rs 8.50 lakh crore in 2015-16.

When he was giving the allocation figures, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said that "you please tell us what you are going to do...you have changed the norms then the figures automatically have increased. So please do not take credit for that. Tell us what relief you want to give. Will you visit Marathwada and other affected regions. Supreme Court too has directed you".

To this, Singh said the court has directed because in the last 68 years nothing has been done. "The Supreme Court direction is a mirror to what all you did and did not in the last 68 years," he said, hitting back at the Congress.

Giving details, he said, as per the manual drought management is responsibility of both Central and state government.

State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is available with states, he said, adding, the contribution of centre is 75 per cent while remaining is by states.

SDRF has been almost doubled to Rs 61,000 crore for five years upto 2020 as against about Rs 33,000 crore for the previous 5-year period.

Singh further said, the government has increased compensation to farmers affected by natural calamities.

As per the revised guidelines, he said, a farmer was eligible for compensation if 33 per cent of the crop was damaged. Earlier, the compensation was granted only if damage was 50 per cent or more.

Besides, he said, farmers having more than one hectare was also not eligible but the present government has raised this to 2 hectare or upto 5 acre.

He also said the government has tripled the compensation amount to Rs 4.5 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh in case of death caused by natural calamities.
Irish perfumier David Cox is preparing for a sales drive across the sea in Britain, but fears that if the country votes to leave the European Union next month the expansion will be thrown into disarray.

From small exporters like Cox to the central bank, Ireland is finding that uncertainty is the biggest enemy in trying to anticipate the consequences of a British exit or "Brexit."

Cox, whose Fragrances of Ireland business operates from a bustling warehouse south of Dublin, says any blow to the confidence of the British gift shop owners he supplies and their customers will frustrate his plans.

"For a small company like us, we need people to be willing to take a chance and that requires them to be confident that the end consumer has got 20, 30, 40 pounds in his or her pocket to spend on something new. If they're worried, they won't."

Ireland has the EU's fastest growing economy but also more to lose than any other member state when its nearest and largest trading partner decides in a referendum on June 23 whether to quit the union that both countries joined together 43 years ago.

Brexit, which Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called "a major strategic risk" to Ireland, could have far-reaching implications not only for trade and an economy still recovering from a banking collapse in 2008-09.

Peace in British-ruled Northern Ireland, security of energy supplies and freedom of movement for the large numbers of Irish citizens working in Britain might also fall into doubt.

Ireland may not spring to mind as a perfumer producer. But Fragrances of Ireland - like so many firms in a country of only 4.5 million people - has built up its business in export markets from its base in the small County Wicklow town of Kilmacanoge.

Seventy percent of sales are in the United States, compared with only 10% in Britain. But Cox aims to raise the number of small, independent British retailers that his firm supplies from 150 to 1,000 within the next two years.

Two years is also the period laid down in the EU's Lisbon Treaty for any country to negotiate an EU withdrawal.

No one knows what relationship Britain might hammer out with the EU should it leave, and Cox fears the country's economy and consumer sentiment will weaken during such a period. This would make it tough for his business to establish its name alongside global rivals such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder.

"Our plans would definitely be stalled because it's easy to cut back on a bottle of perfume you don't know," said Cox, whose firm employs 25 full and part-time workers.

Evidence is growing that the British economy is already slowing before the referendum and the pound has weakened against the euro. Though not yet critical, Cox says this depreciation is hurting his profit margins.

Some larger Irish firms have hedged against the currency risks. However, Cox said there is little a company of the size of his can do to protect itself.

In a survey of members last month, the Irish Exporters Association said 60% reported that the sterling weakness had already affected their business. Just five percent were in favor of Britain leaving the EU.

Ireland's finance ministry warned last month that the level of uncertainty from abroad generally was higher than at any stage since the financial crisis. A further five percentage point depreciation of sterling against the euro would reduce Irish gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.8% a year for the next six years, it estimated.

Ireland is vulnerable to any Brexit-related recession in Britain. Research by Davy Stockbrokers shows that a one percent decrease in UK economic output has led in the past to a 0.3% drop in Ireland.

The Irish economy is still forecast to expand by almost five percent this year, but the country needs all the growth it can achieve to cut a public debt that at almost 90% of GDP remains a problem.

Historic and personal links between Britain and what is now the Irish Republic, which broke away in the 1920s after a guerrilla war of independence, are also strong. Many Britons have family roots in Ireland and Irish citizens resident in Britain can vote in the referendum.

Kenny used his re-election as prime minister last week to highlight the "profound importance" of the referendum and has told his British counterpart David Cameron, who is campaigning to remain in the EU, that he will do whatever he can to help.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan also said this week that Dublin would be urging the Irish community in Britain and Northern Ireland to vote to stay in.

Ireland acknowledges there are limits to its own contingency planning. A Brexit group of senior officials has been set up in Kenny's department, government sources have said. Dublin is "exploring the potential risks and planning accordingly," Noonan told parliament last month.

The central bank has warned that Irish banks, which have lent heavily to the British property sector, would be hurt by a Brexit and has been working with them on their preparations.

But generally advance planning is extremely difficult. "It's unambiguous that the economic effect on Ireland is negative - the question is how big," central bank chief economist Gabriel Fagan said last month. "That depends very crucially on the scenario you envisage regarding the relationship between Britain and the rest of the EU."

Irish farmers and food producers, major suppliers to the UK, are also vulnerable, but the risks go beyond economics.

Dublin officials worry about the impact on Northern Ireland, which has the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the rest of the EU. During three decades of violence, this was marked by military checkpoints until a 1998 peace deal.

The fear for many is that any new border restrictions could endanger peace by reenergising demands for a united Ireland which would raise tensions with pro-British unionists. Northern Ireland's nationalist deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has already called for a vote on unification if Britain leaves the EU.

Doubts also surround the right of Irish citizens to live and work in Britain, which long predates the EU.

Pro-Brexit campaigners want tougher controls on immigration from the EU. While these demands have been directed at Eastern Europeans, an Irish government-commissioned report said last year that a Brexit also opens the possibility of restrictions on the free movement of workers between Ireland and Britain.

Brexit may not be all bad. The report noted some companies keen to stay in the EU might move from Britain to Ireland.

But it also flagged risks to the power supply security. If the UK electricity market became independent of the rest of the EU, Ireland would be vulnerable to any problems in Britain. The alternative, improved interconnection directly with the EU, would be very costly at a time when Ireland is struggling to meet basic infrastructure and housing needs.

Higher energy costs would hit Irish firms, which are already facing increased wage demands at home. Their competitive edge would be further eroded if Britain imposed any customs duties or new regulations that were costly to meet.

Such worries weigh on Pat O'Neill, whose Zenith Adhesive Components firm makes high-tech electronic, automotive and medical components in the central town of Athlone.

"Nobody is that unique. A lot of what I do can be done quite easily by English competitors and security of supply is very important," said O'Neill, whose clients include Jaguar Land Rover and the British army.

"The customer could say there may be a tariff put on this in a couple of years time, I'm tooling up now for a six-year project so I'll give this one to the UK guy. That's happening already, in a small way, but it is happening."

But even if Brexit happens, Irish firms believe Britain will remain open for business and they'll manage, whatever the trade relationship.

"It's not going to become North Korea overnight," said Cox. "I'd prefer it doesn't happen but we'd get on with it and find the best way around it." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
A new survey has been released today by 123.ie which indicates that affordability is a huge issue for those not currently on the property ladder with almost one in five (19%) reporting that they dont think theyll ever be in a position to buy their own home, even though 91% of adults currently renting or living with parents want to buy.



The survey was carried out online in April 2016 amongst 3,800 adults in Ireland who include landlords, homeowners and renters / those living with parents. It found that the majority would like to purchase a house (77%), just 5% would like an apartment and 17% would be happy with either.

However, for most, buying will not be a realistic prospect until at least 2020 and one in three respondents say that it could take up to five years before they are in a position to buy. The majority of those planning to buy in 2020 are aged 25-35 years (64%) and 31% are in the 18-24 years age bracket.



Barriers include the ability to service the mortgage (34%) whilst 18% cannot save enough money for a deposit. Twenty per cent of respondents think that the new salary to mortgage ratio is too restrictive.



Twenty four per cent of respondents currently renting or living at home are planning to buy in the next two years. Of these, 74% are aged 25-34 and 12% are in the 18-24 years age bracket. Over half (58%) of those planning to buy are currently living in Dublin or neighbouring counties. The short-term outlook for those who would like to buy is gloomy, with 71% of the opinion that property prices will continue to rise.



The survey shows that 39% of people in rented accommodation have had a rent increase in the past 12 months. Rent went up by more than 20% for 16% of respondents according to the figures from todays 123.ie Irish House and Home Survey. That would equate to a minimum rise of 3,600 per annum on a typical monthly rent of 1,500.



Fourteen per cent of those in rented accommodation have missed a rental payment in the past 12 months and whilst 14% say they simply forgot to pay, the overwhelming majority (61%) reported not having the funds to pay their rent.

It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 households in private rented accommodation, which is owned by around 200,000 landlords. In Ireland, the majority of landlords (94%) own between one and three rental properties.

The 123.ie survey shows that many became accidental landlords as a result of either living abroad and renting out their primary residence, or by renting another property that better meets their needs. Two thirds of rental property has been bought in the past ten years.



Of those who wish to sell, 11% plan to do so in the next two years whilst one third is waiting for the price of their property(s) to improve before putting it on the market. On the other hand, half of landlords are holding onto their portfolio. Just 6% are planning to add to their property portfolios over the next five years.

Two thirds of landlords have mortgages on their property suggesting that one third either inherited, bought for cash or have managed to pay off their mortgages. Those with mortgages are highly geared with one in four owing 100% or more of the current value of the property and 30% between 70  100%. Only 22% have less than a 50% gearing according to the 123.ie Irish House and Home Survey.

Head of Marketing at 123.ie, Padraig ONeill said, "Many landlords bought for investment or pension purposes and they were hit hard by the economic downturn. They are now stuck in negative equity and their loan-to-value ratio means that they are badly caught in up in debt. There is no quick fix solution."

He added, "They either ride out the storm and hope that property prices will rise, allowing them to pay off their mortgage, or play the long-game and hold on to the rental property. Were surprised with the response from landlords, which shows that there is currently a lack of interest in buying rental property despite the high rent / value in the market at present."



Source: www.businessworld.ie

For more visit: www.123.ie

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Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to axe about 200 jobs at its retail bank, according to sources close to the process, as the British high street lender continues to scale back its branch network.

RBS, which is 73-percent state-owned, is in the midst of a major restructuring that includes reducing the size of its retail network as part of an aggressive cost-cutting programme.

The latest job losses mean RBS will have eliminated more than one in 10 positions at its UK branch network in the past two months at a time the country's third-largest lender is faltering in its aim to be ranked best for customer service.

RBS has cut about 1,350 positions out of a workforce of 12,000 people in its branch network since mid-March and has closed more branches than any other British lender in the past two years.

The employees affected by the latest cuts work in Scotland, Wales or southwest England, according to the people close to the process.

"This is nothing short of a year-long cull of local branches across the country," said Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union. "RBS seem to be sending a message that properly staffed branch services are only for the privileged."

The bank, which was rescued with a 45.5 billion pound taxpayer bailout at the height of the financial crisis, is also cutting a further 20 branches, the sources said, taking the total to 52 closures so far this year.

"We review our branch network regularly to make sure the services we provide are appropriate for each local community, based on customer usage and other ways to bank in the local area," a spokesman for RBS said.

RBS came bottom of more than 30 lenders for customer satisfaction in a poll this year by Britain's largest consumer body Which?, despite pledges to improve its reputation after going bust during the global financial crisis.

Customers also voted RBS the worst British bank for a second year in a row in separate survey by the price comparison website uSwitch in September, with consumers putting it last for customer trust and value for money.

At its annual shareholder meeting in Edinburgh last week, Chief Executive Ross McEwan justified the closure of more branches saying they were expensive and being used less as more people banked online.

McEwan said the number of people going into branches had dropped by half on average since 2010, while the number of people making transactions online had jumped fourfold

"The use of transactions at counters is a bygone day in most cases," he told the meeting. "Unfortunately, that is the harsh reality that we have to live with." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Cache County Executive Craig Buttars said he is pleased with the way things are going in the efforts to gather support for a water conservancy district. At Tuesdays Cache County Council meeting, Buttars told the council that there are still visits scheduled to some communities.

Weve had 10 different cities pass that resolution, Buttars told the council. They have noticed, with the county, to either hold their own public hearing or else hold a public meeting with the county at our next meeting on (May) 24th. We will hold our meeting on the 24th here in the Cache County Council chambers.

Buttars said he is hoping that all of the cities and towns will approve the resolution to form a district at that time. The website <a href=http://cachewaterdistrict.com/ target=_blank>cachewaterdistrict.org</a> has been created to provide additional details about the proposed district.
Due to its unprecedented scale, some commentators have termed the escalation of violence in early April along the Line of Contact in Nagorno-Karabakh the April War of 2016. In fact, the recent fighting saw an unprecedented involvement of heavy military technology  including tanks, armored vehicles, aviation, and drones  alongside hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of military personnel in multiple locations simultaneously. Having cost the lives of up to a hundred people on both sides of the frontline, the April War has challenged some common wisdoms that have held since the 1990s.

BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of the hostilities, observers focused on identifying the culprit of the escalation. Currently, most observers outside Azerbaijan agree that Baku made the initial thrust. In military terms, most independent experts and journalists agree that Azerbaijan attained some  rather limited, but still significant given the longstanding stalemate  successes on the battlefield and beyond. In an unexpected assault on the forward positions of Armenias and Nagorno-Karabakhs armies, Azerbaijani troops succeeded in seizing control over several villages in the northeast and southeast of the republic, along with some strategic heights. In contrast to what the authorities in Baku assert, at least two villages in the northwest  Talysh and Madagiz  appear to have been recaptured by Armenian forces, while the strategic Laletepe mountain in the southeast appears to have remained in the hands of Azerbaijani forces. The exact scope of territorial changes in the area has been highly contested by the warring sides, and the justifiability of sacrificing dozens of troops for limited strategic gains is under question. However, several important inferences may be drawn from the April clashes.

IMPLICATIONS: First, in contrast to what many have claimed in and outside Armenia, the clashes illustrated that Armenias defenses along the Line of Contact are actually penetrable. Locally stationed Azerbaijani forces appear to have made advances without the reinforcement of additional supplies of heavy weaponry, military personnel, and technology. Still, they were able, at least for a limited period of time, to relatively easily penetrate the advanced positions of Armenian forces in the northeast and southeast of the unrecognized republic. The Azerbaijani offensive only lasted several hours and it is unlikely that Azerbaijani troops lacking reinforcements planned to thrust deep into Armenian-held territory. It appears that, contrary to popular belief, the Azerbaijani military has improved enough to be capable of breaking through Armenian defenses, although at a high cost. Many considered this unlikely before the April War.

In fact, Azerbaijans army has become a much stronger force to be reckoned with since the early 2000s. Baku has purchased technologically advanced weapons  mainly from Russia and Israel  that have enabled the Azerbaijani army to deal hard blows to the Armenian forces, which lack advanced equipment and weapons. While Azerbaijan possesses over a hundred T-90S tanks and substantially modernized T-72 tanks, Stepanakert has to rely on outdated T-55 and T-72 tanks, while the Armenian military largely relies on poorly equipped T-72 tanks. In addition, the Azerbaijani military has purchased modern anti-tank and anti-aircraft complexes from its strategic partner, Israel. Acquisitions include LYNX autonomous rocket launchers, which according to experts outperform competing systems, for instance the Russian-made Smerch launchers. Jerusalem has also sold Baku Heron and Searcher drones, and trained Azerbaijani military personnel to use them. The clashes showed that this asymmetry means a serious disadvantage to the Armenian forces. Azerbaijani forces can strike with far more accuracy than the Armenian military, which has to rely on outdated zone-based, and thus by far less effective, targeting. The Azerbaijani militarys deployment of a suicide drone that hit a bus carrying volunteers from Armenia cost the lives of seven people, but had a much higher psychological impact.

Second, the Azerbaijani armys morale also appears to have strengthened. Armenians are depicted as the nations eternal enemy and the prospect of a renewed war is promoted to the masses by the media. Since the mid-1990s, Armenian society has gotten used to its self-perception as indisputable victors who won a relatively easy war with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis are routinely portrayed as incompetent soldiers, lacking morale and courage. Against this background, the eruption of hostilities  and the Azerbaijani advances  struck a psychological blow to the Armenian public, which has considered a return to war in Nagorno-Karabakh highly unlikely. Conversely, Azerbaijans propaganda machine has made a substantial effort to remind the population of the shameful outcome of the previous war, preparing it for the likelihood of renewed hostilities  and of the consequential need for self-sacrifice for the sake of liberating the ancestral homeland of Karabakh.

Third and related, as Pavel Felgenhauer has asserted, the Armenian counteroffensive got stuck in its earliest phase, despite the swift reinforcement of Armenian forces by weapons and military servicemen from Armenia. Armenian strategists hoped to attain an easy victory  taking the fight to the enemys territory as during the war in the 1990s. Given the flat terrain controlled by Azerbaijani forces to the east of the unrecognized republic  in contrast to the rugged mountainous terrain of Nagorno-Karabakh, which favors defense over offense  the Armenian top brass has traditionally considered their ability to push Azerbaijans forces to the east, and thrusting into its territory, as a given. The subsequent Armenian counteroffensive indeed seemingly managed to recapture most of the previously lost positions, particularly northeast of Nagorno-Karabakh. Yet it remains unclear whether the reinforced Armenian troops were actually willing  or able  to push the adversary farther into its hinterland. The fact is that Armenian troops either refrained from or failed to make advances into territory held by Azerbaijan before the hostilities, beyond the contested villages, while Azerbaijani forces managed to hold the strategically important peak of Laletepe in the southeast theater.

Fourth, the fact that Azerbaijan deployed many advanced weapons purchased from Russia, Armenias key ally, has sparked massive outrage in Armenia. Indeed, Armenian military experts, political analysts, and increasingly also members of the political elite, have questioned their strategic allys arms sales to Armenias key enemy. After all, Russian authorities must have been aware that the weapons they sold to Azerbaijan could be used in an armed confrontation with Russias single remaining ally in the region. The controversy was further compounded by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozins recent claim that Moscow would respect its previously agreed trade deals with Baku  and continue to provide its strategic partner, as Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev now terms Azerbaijan, with weapons in accordance with previous deals. Moreover, in the direct aftermath of the fighting, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly spoke of the underutilized potential of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, inviting Baku to join the Moscow-dominated Eurasian Economic Community and Collective Security Treaty Organization. In Yerevan, some conspirators have gone so far as to suspect that a prior Russian-Azerbaijani deal emboldened Baku to attack Armenian positions in Karabakh.

CONCLUSIONS: In physical terms, with the partial exception of the Laletepe peak, Bakus military advances in early April are negligible. The seizure of several square kilometers certainly cannot challenge Armenias domination over Nagorno-Karabakh, the overall status quo in and around the area, and the situation of the provinces around the unrecognized republic that remain under Armenian occupation. Only a major military confrontation could change the status quo. Such a confrontation, however, would be highly destructive, possibly dragging Russia, Turkey, and Iran into a risky regional war, and shaking the regimes both in Yerevan and Baku. Besides the tactical gains outlined above, Baku risks a major setback should its policy of slow advances in and around Nagorno-Karabakh continue. In the case of a major military confrontation with Armenia, Baku should reckon with Moscows involvement on Yerevans side. Unless Baku can strike a prior deal with Moscow, including significant concessions from Azerbaijan for instance in the energy, political, or economic fields, Moscow will be more than likely to aid its last remaining ally in the South Caucasus. As of today, Moscow is primarily interested in tactically utilizing the current  and rather minor  confrontation between the South Caucasian neighbors in an effort to boost its position, flirting with Baku to reestablish itself vis-a-vis an important regional country.

Touting the outcome as a significant tactical victory over the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh may, however, boost popular expectations in Azerbaijan of an easy victory. In a deteriorating socio-economic situation, the Aliyev governments efforts to divert attention to an external enemy may backfire as the Azerbaijani population, encouraged by increasing revanchist appeals, could push the government to take serious action in Karabakh. But President Aliyev and his associates fully understand the dangers of a failure in Karabakh. Yet the temptation to play the Karabakh card may be too big to resist, which could eventually lead the government in Baku into its own trap.

AUTHORS BIO: Emil Aslan Souleimanov is Associate Professor with the Department of Russian and East European Studies, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic (https://cuni.academia.edu/EmilSouleimanov). He is the author of Individual Disengagement of Avengers, Nationalists, and Jihadists, co-authored with Huseyn Aliyev (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), Understanding Ethnopolitical Conflict: Karabakh, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia Wars Reconsidered (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), and An Endless War: The Russian-Chechen Conflict in Perspective (Peter Lang, 2007).

Image Attribution: www.bbc.com, accessed on May 10, 2016
Last Sunday, Mothers Day, Steven joined the global community to say a short prayer to thank God for his mother.

If it was not for her, Steven would not have made it to the University of Gorokas postgraduate diploma in education, a competitive program that attracts students only of the highest calibre.

Like other people he is proud of his parents, in particular his mothers care, love and protection for him over the years.

STEVEN Kaogo hails from West New Britain Province and is a student at the University of Goroka.

This is a tribute to those people who gave a hand in assisting a University of Goroka student who this week lost his mother

Ten on Wednesday Steven heard that his mother was called home by the same God that he had thanked on Mothers Day. His family in Kimbe are making arrangements for her funeral.

Steven was broken-hearted and decided to go to West New Britain to pay his last respects to his mother before she is laid to rest. He needed to travel via Nadzab to Hoskins by air, returning a few days later. This trip would cost him K500.

Like many Papua New Guinean students, Steven struggles to pay for his study with minimal support from parents and generous relatives. He did have the money to go home. And he did not want to pray for comfort and help to a God that had not protected and kept his mother.

So what would he do? The thought of not visiting his mother for the last time would disturb his studies. Crying for his mother in the confines of his room would give him but a temporary sense of acceptance and comfort.

Steven was shattered mentally, physically and emotionally. There was no quick answer from anyone for him.

But other people around him became his brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and bubus. Gods mysteries were revealed through these people. They provided help, peace and comfort.

They took the role of Gods angels on earth and were available to extend Gods hand to a person distressed and in need of help.

It took an email sent from one angel to other angels for an amount of K500 to be gifted in a short time. The actions of these angels drew Steven closer to his mother and to God.

Helen Vetunawa and the staff who freely give their time and contributed money to assist Steven, and those people who kept Steven in thoughts, are Gods angels. They were available to extend Gods hand on earth to him.

When Steven visits his mother and pays his tribute, he will also carry with him our gesture and hearty tributes on behalf of the Humilaveka community. Steven will return to University of Goroka knowing that we are there for him.
Contributed Rendering The Texas Transportation Commission in Austin on Thursday unanimously approved naming a team led by Flatiron Constructors Inc. and Dragados USA Inc. the winning bidders for designing and erecting a new Harbor Bridge that officials have called a "100-year bridge." Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file The Harbor Bridge

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By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times

A large crowd turned out Thursday to learn what it will take to serve on a community advisory board that will oversee land acquisition in Hillcrest for the Harbor Bridge relocation project.

In short, it will take time, commitment and strong communication skills.

Speaking at the Oveal Williams Senior Center on Thursday, representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation went over the bylaws that will govern the board and the expectations of members who will serve on it.

The advisory board will consist of about 30 members and will meet quarterly. A list of residents interested in being board members still was being compiled, said Rickey Dailey, a transportation department spokesman.

Creation of the board was specifically called for as part of a four-party agreement late last year involving the transportation department, the port, the city of Corpus Christi, and the Corpus Christi Housing Authority.

Transportation officials want to replace Corpus Christi's distinctive bowstring Harbor Bridge over the next five years. The new span's path is expected to heavily affect Hillcrest, a historically black neighborhood.

The Port of Corpus Christi authorized up to $20 million to buy properties in the neighborhood and to relocate residents who want to move.

Among the board's purposes will be to serve as a "two-way conduit of information" between transportation officials and the neighborhood on such issues as the voluntary acquisition program, the relocation benefits program and the relocation of tenants in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex.

Sam Johnson attended, hoping to both learn about the advisory board and to hear anything new on the relocation program.

Johnson has lived in Hillcrest for 63 of his 82 years, but said he was concerned more about Sam's Barber Shop, the Kennedy Avenue business he has owned for close to three decades, because a lot of his client base may be moving out.

"I'd be open to serving, but mainly I want to hear what they have to say," he said. "They're talking about relocating all these people. It's important to keep up."

When complete, the replacement bridge will be the longest of its kind in the nation, measuring 1,655 feet at its main span.

Construction is expected to continue five years, until late spring of 2020. The Harbor Bridge will be demolished after the new span is opened.

Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES TPCO America Corp. plant along State Highway 35 in Gregory. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES TPCO America Corp. plant along State Highway 35 in Gregory.

SHARE TPCO America logo CALLER-TIMES FILE TPCO America Corp. is finishing up on phase one of its plant near Gregory and moving to phase two in the near future, the plant is schedule to go online in the 2016. CALLER-TIMES FILE Furnace stacks rise above the TPCO America Corp. facility near Gregory Tuesday, March 18, 2014 as phase two of the plant construction will begin in the near future.

By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times

GREGORY  Officials for TPCO America Corp. say they're confident their massive $1.3 billion pipe-manufacturing plant under construction near Gregory will be operational by the end of 2017.

A 1 million-square-foot industrial facility sits at State Highways 35 and 361 on what was once acres of sorghum fields as far as the eye could see. It's here local operators meld scrap steel and hot metal into tons of seamless steel pipe, mainly for use in the energy industry.

While the plant is at least 12 months from completion, officials for the Chinese company say they are making pipes and have successfully developed a variety of pipe casing for customers in Canada.

"Things have been very exciting for us around here," said Robbin Goodman, a business operations specialist for TPCO America.

TPCO America is a subsidiary of the Tianjin Pipe (Group) Corp., which has been supplying seamless steel pipe to major international oil and gas companies for two decades, including those based in the Gulf Coast.

Its plant near Gregory represents the largest single investment by China in a U.S. manufacturing facility. Ground was broken on the 253-acre plant in 2011, and construction there has been steady.

Jennifer Armstrong, assistant operations manager for the facility, said construction at the plant would continue through 2016, with commissioning expected to get underway early next year. Commissioning is a phase of a project where equipment and processes are tested to verify if they function according to their design specifications or objectives.

Company officials expect commissioning to run four to six months.

For now, roughly 100,000 metric tons of pipe can be produced at the Gregory facility each year. Once the plant is finished, it will be capable of making five times that amount, Armstrong said.

In the meantime, local operators have managed to finish the first production of Tianjin Pipe Generation 2 (TP-G2), a proprietary thread that company officials are marketing for its Canadian market.

Landing that contract was crucial for the company in its efforts to establish a stronger footprint in North America.

"It's a significant milestone," Goodman said. "For us, it means the training of our local workforce has been truly successful in meeting global needs."

TPCO America is one of roughly a dozen international companies that have converged on the Corpus Christi area in recent years, attracted by the Eagle Ford Shale energy play.

Energy experts believe the formation contains about 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and more than 3 billion barrels of oil.

The TPCO plant will be powered by electricity and natural gas and will recycle water and retain stormwater for reuse.

Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam

PROJECT TIMELINE

Jan. 1, 2009: Tianjin Pipe (Group) Corp. announces plans to build a $1 billion steel pipe manufacturing facility on 252 acres east of Gregory.

May 26, 2009: San Patricio County commissioners unanimously approve more than $40 million in tax incentives for TPCO .

April 14, 2010: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality unanimously approves the companys air quality permit application, which had been submitted in November 2008.

Aug. 26, 2011: TPCO officials break ground to the cheers of local and state officials and legislators. The company estimates construction to take about 34 months.

Nov. 8, 2012: More than 400 people show up for a hiring event to fill the first round of about 30 job openings at the TPCO mill. The company expects to eventually employ between 600 to 800 workers when both plant phases are fully operational.

March 19, 2014: TPCO officials announce plans to begin the second phase of construction on the pipe mill as phase one construction wraps up.

Mid to late 2017: Company officials expect the plant to be operational.






Natalia Contreras/Caller-Times FILE Members of Abundant Life Fellowship Church plan to build a cross at Interstate 37 and Carbon Plant Road across the highway from the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.

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By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

A Corpus Christi pastor who was being sued by an atheist activist is now seeking to have the atheist sanctioned.

Pastor Rick Milby of Abundant Life Fellowship and several city officials were named in the latest string of lawsuits Patrick Greene of San Antonio filed related to religious activities. In March, Greene said he would dismiss the suit because his wife was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and osteoporosis.

But Milby wants to halt Greene from filing any more lawsuits. The pastor's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case and sanction Greene. A hearing on that request is scheduled for May 24.

Greene told the Caller-Times he plans to file court documents stating his "lawsuit isn't frivolous and they are harassing me."

Greene initially sued Milby on accusations he violated state law when he invited the mayor and council leaders to the ground breaking of a cross at Interstate 37 and Carbon Plant Road. The cross is supposed to be the tallest cross in the Western Hemisphere.

Greene later dismissed Milby from the suit and amended it to accuse Mayor Nelda Martinez and City Councilwomen Carolyn Vaughn and Lucy Rubio of violating law when they attended the January groundbreaking for the cross. Lawyers for the city called the suit frivolous and disputed that the city leaders' actions violated law. Greene later dismissed the suit altogether.

"Greene has a long history of litigation threats, vexatious litigation, and using litigation as a tool to harass both city officials as well as private citizens throughout the state," Milby's motion states.

Milby wants 347th District Judge Missy Medary to order Greene to pay the court $100 and bar Greene from filing further legal action against Milby. Milby also wants the judge to bar Greene from filing lawsuits in Texas based off a law meant to protect citizens from litigation that impedes their First Amendment rights. If Greene does sue again, Milby wants the judge to order he be sanctioned $5,000 per suit.

"Pastor Milby seeks only to deter Greene from any such future actions, rather than seek monetary gain for himself, and asks the court to consider a sanction against Greene sufficient to deter him from future meritless litigation throughout the state," the lawsuit states.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Corpus Christi Fire Department officials prepare to recover a body on Wednesday on the Nueces Bay.

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By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

The Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man found by Coast Guard as the boater who went missing Tuesday.

Gary T. Caviness Sr., 53, was located by a Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi helicopter about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday near Nueces Bay. He was recovered with the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife and Corpus Christi Fire Department and brought back on shore near North Beach.

Forensic investigator Hugo Stimmler said Caviness was from Georgia, but he also had a Corpus Christi address. The autopsy has not been conducted yet, Stimmler said.

Crews searched for the man since Tuesday afternoon, when another man called port police saying a boat he was on turned over. The man swam to shore but couldn't find Caviness. A dog that was also on the boat was located by search crews Tuesday.

Twitter: @Caller_Jules
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By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times

A woman and two children were killed after a passenger vehicle crashed into an 18-wheeler truck Wednesday afternoon on a highway west of Riviera.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials say a 2004 Chevy Malibu carrying five passengers was traveling east on State Highway 285 when it swerved off the road at a curve. The driver overcorrected and struck a truck head-on, said Trooper Nathan Brandley. Troopers responded to the call around 3 p.m.

The front-seat passenger, 21-year-old Kris Gonzalez of Mission, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 3-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy were also killed in the wreck. Brandley did not identify the children, but said they are Pharr residents.

The driver was flown by HALO-Flight to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial. Brandley said she is in critical condition. A 1-year-old boy also survived the wreck, and he was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg with injuries that are not life-threatening. The truck driver did not suffer any major injuries and was released at the scene.

Troopers were still investigating the wreck Wednesday night.

Twitter: @Caller_Fares
SHARE Caller-Times file Singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez performs during the recording of her LP "Selena Live" on Feb. 7, 1993 at a free concert held at Memorial Coliseum.

Last weekend served as a reminder of what a wonderful gift Selena Quintanilla Perez was to Corpus Christi and the world. The second Fiesta de la Flor attracted 55,000 people, some from other countries, who celebrated her life and music and enjoyed the best of what her city has to offer.

Event organizers who had the benefit of last year's experience were better prepared with more choices to make visitors' stay worthwhile. The event planners lined up 30 food trucks and 78 vendors to go along with the two-day display of the best of Tejano musicianship.

Last year's event attracted 52,000 attendees. If 3,000 more this year doesn't sound significant, consider that the price of admission doubled  to a still-bargain $10 per day (last year's $5 cover charge amounted to a giveaway). A nearly 6 percent volume increase at twice the price is an unlikely achievement for any enterprise. Imagine a car manufacturer or candy bar maker pulling it off. It would be a historic event.

The crowds of festival-goers making their way to the event made quite a visual impact along the waterfront. Those who witnessed the throngs are likely to consider the 55,000 count conservative. Like last year, the crowds were friendly and fun-loving. Rarely are that many people, bunched together in a finite space, so laid back and well-behaved  even when the restricted space is without a roof. That reminds us, this year's event benefited from incident-free weather, a nice, karmic contrast to last year's storms.

The event also expanded its impact on the community with events such as the Silent Disco at the Art Museum of South Texas and a painting class at La Palmera mall organized by local artist and activist La Lisa Hernandez. The painting class benefited a worthy cause, the Women's Shelter of South Texas.

This year's musical lineup had a more purely Tejano flavor. It would have been interesting to see what a difference a year would have made to the attendance numbers had there been just one more-mainstream artist or group like last year's first-night headliner Los Lobos. Top-quality Tejano is easy for any music lover to appreciate, including the uninitiated  if lured past the gate.

In death as in life, Selena is a hard-working ambassador who brings joy to a continually expanding audience. The Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau reports 83 million digital, print, television and radio mentions and views generated by Fiesta de la Flor. That's phenomenal exposure for Corpus Christi.

The Visitors Bureau will be happy with the heads-in-beds count. But the relationship goes deeper. Look for bureau CEO Paulette Kluge's guest column Sunday in which she also will acknowledge the event's enrichment of quality of life, for residents and visitors alike, as a celebration of culture and of Selena's enduring spirit.

The bureau staff and Quintanilla family are the drivers of this event, with the corporate sponsorship assistance of Citgo. Thanks to Citgo for recognizing and making a worthy investment.

It isn't lost on this editorial board that our acknowledgment of Fiesta de la Flor's value to our community guarantees us a geometrically larger audience simply because the topic is Selena. The duty we fulfill here is a privilege, a joy and an opportunity, thanks to Selena and to the event.

We look forward to next year and beyond for Fiesta de la Flor, which should remain a part of Corpus Christi for as long as Corpus Christi exists.
A contractor from Canandaigua is the latest Republican to enter the race to succeed state Sen. Michael Nozzolio.

Floyd Rayburn, president and CEO of F.G. Rayburn Mason Contractors, declared his candidacy Thursday. He's one of at least 10 Republicans who have privately or publicly expressed interest in the 54th Senate District race.

Rayburn's own experience as a businessman  his company now employs roughly 50 people, with more workers being hired as warmer weather sets in  shaped his platform. He said in a phone interview that addressing state mandates, lowering taxes and providing regulatory reform will be a few of his top priorities.

"New York is not the most friendly business state," he said. "It's gotten worse."

Other issues Rayburn wants to tackle in the state Senate includes the SAFE Act, a controversial gun control law Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed in 2013.

Rayburn, who said he hunts and owns several guns, acknowledged that it will be an uphill battle to repeal the law while Cuomo is in office.

"The only thing we could do is maybe stop the funding of it," he said.

On ethics reform, Rayburn supports stripping pensions from state legislators who are convicted on corruption charges. His comments came moments before a federal judge sentenced ex-state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to 5 years in prison.

Rayburn also believes term limits are needed. He said if elected, he will serve no more than three two-year terms in office.

"I plan to build a team down there that's going to change the direction this great state is in," he said.

Republicans in the 54th Senate District are expected to meet May 25 to designate a candidate to succeed Nozzolio, R-Fayette, who announced in February that he wouldn't seek re-election this year.

Along with Rayburn, the GOP candidates include Canandaigua Supervisor Pam Helming, Lyons Supervisor Brian Manktelow and Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler.

Rose Supervisor Kenan Baldridge is the only Democrat in the race. He's been endorsed by the six county Democratic chairs in the district.

The 54th Senate District includes all of Seneca and Wayne counties, plus portions of Cayuga, Monroe, Ontario and Tompkins counties.
PARTNER CONTENT Dear Xaxis, I wonder about the data my agency is using in the services they sell me. How do I know if its accurate? Thanks, Data Skeptic Dear Data Skeptic, Many advertisers place a lot of trust in their agencies and take what is reported based on the strength of the working relationshipthat usually enables execution of great work. But with increasing pressure all around for transparency and accountability thanks to persistent issues of fraudtrust is no longer enough. Rohan Philips For advertisers who transact online, ensuring accuracy is relatively straight forward. One could measure the accuracy of the data by measuring the cost of acquiring a new or existing user: typically you will find re-targeting, models of re-targeting, CRM and certain intent data sources outperform others. However, when you start to measure behaviour, demographics, cross-device data amongst others it starts to get a lot more complex. Using a third-party to audit will give you the best measure of accuracy. Xaxis recently went a global audit of our DMP Turbine using comScore, which measured the accuracy of the data in comparison to other data sources in the market. In this audit, comScore assessed segments for accuracy by validating Turbines audience data against the 1.9 trillion interactions observed by comScores global census monthly. The results were heartening, with Turbine outperforming its benchmark in accurately predicting consumer purchase intent and interests across its proprietary, real-time audience segments. It proved that our solution precisely mapped to the intended targets across all addressable media. Audits are daunting exercises, and the industry is still at a stage where such measures are voluntary rather than mandated. So ask your digital agency if its solutions have been independently tested and audited, or whether it has plans to do so. The proprietary nature of such solutions means you cant let everyone under the hood but if a trusted and knowledgeable third-party is involved, it is the best reassurance any advertiser can ask for. Rohan Philips

Vice-president, products and strategy, Xaxis Asia-Pacific
The agency world has been facing a new crop of players offering many of their traditional tasksconsultancy firms. In a bid to be more creative and react as new technologies disrupt the marketing industry, more and more consultancies are snapping up boutique firms specialising in creative and design, alongside developing their own in-house capabilities.

In an effort to perform greater transformational work for clients, consultancies have been aggressively acquiring and integrating these design firms, arguing that the acquisitions allow them to meet changing client expectations around design thinking, along with helping to keep them entrepreneurial and bring in local talent.

Accenture is one such consultancy on the acquisition trail. The firm completed its purchase of London-based design firm Fjord in 2013, saying their clients needed to capitalise on the disruptions being created by digital and to sustain engagement with consumers.

In July 2015, Accenture acquired Chaotic Moon, an Austin-based digital design agency, which will work with Fjord in building its digital services through its digital arm Accenture Interactive.

Its about getting the right blend of local expertise and combining that with the ability to tap into an acquisition and lever global talent, says Patricio De Matteis, MD for Accenture Interactive in Asia. This helps our clients reimagine their product services and their experiences. And it helps break the gap between thinking of marketing in isolation, sales in isolation and services in isolation. Truly bridging that capability is something we can provide.

Accentures design studios in Asia are currently limited to Australia and Hong Kong, but there are plans to launch across New Zealand and mainland China.

Clients are moving from a perception that the user experience is just something pretty to an overall business transformation, says Inaki Amate, MD at Fjord Greater China. So you require a high degree of integration and complexity at every single element. That is difficult if you have to integrate with several different agencies. If you are looking to transform your business, you probably want to rely on someone who has a good track record at transforming businesses in this sort of way. I think that is what we are doing.

The Big Four consultancy and accountancy firms have all been active in this area. PwC acquired the Hong Kong-based design and creative agency Fluid at the end of last year, obtaining Fluids capabilities in digital, design and strategy.

Our clients have been asking us for [these types of acquisitions] says Colin Light, China digital consulting leader for PwC. We acquired Booz & Company a few years ago, and that gave us strategy capabilities. Weve had management and technology consulting capabilities for a very long time, and a lot of our clients are saying to us they need the middle bridging from strategy to operational management and execution. Customer engagement and loyalty, and understanding how to get the best out of our brand, and thats a critical part of what design is. So weve created PwC Experience Centres around the world that bring together creative talent, business talent and technology talent, and it puts that business experience and technology together in collaborative teams. We believe that can really unlock that part of the value train.

Elsewhere, IBM snapped up three different firms that specialise in digital marketing, creative and design earlier this year, and in August last year EY bought digital design company Seren. Deloitte Digitals global revenue reached US$2.1 billion last year, with about 7,000 employees.

Consultancies says their clients come to them when they are at a transformational stage of the business, and it makes complete sense to coherently link together all aspects of the transformation.

But does this mean consultancies are the greatest threat to advertising agencies?

Theres been a lot made of companies like PwC going head to head with agencies, and I think weve always been clearwe still work with agencies as our partners on a huge range of opportunities, says Light. We also have our own creative design capabilities that probably brings a level of business and technology experience that those agencies might not have themselves. Most of our clients are trying to solve some form of transformational problem, and thats where I think we tend to pick up most of that type of work ... Some of the big ad agencies are big clients of PwC, and we firmly believe in that partnership model. They might have direct influence over the brand strategy or running individual campaigns and social executions and much of that we dont directly compete on.

The market is certainly in a period of flux. Many traditional ad agencies have also been buying up technology firms and even product development worktypically consultancy domains. Many predict that the market is set for a period of consolidation and potentially failures.

I think we still seedepending on the maturity of the marketa lot of marketers going to their small boutiques and digital agencies as a matter of habit and comfort, says De Matteis. But I see a lot more consolidation in the future. The reality is that change only comes when you have the maturity and conviction to reimagine your business models, products and services. We are seeing consumers leading the way faster than our clients. With a blurring over how different industries can shape expectations, clients need to think how best to imagine their brand.

BIG IDEAS

Welcome to the new normal

Jeff Estok, managing partner, Navigare

The emergence of consultancies as direct competitors to agencies is getting attention of late. Some say its a passing fad; others say a misguided attempt to grab what rightly belongs to agencies. To those who blindly prophesise the failure of these groups, I have but one word in replybollocks!

Not only are they here to stay, they are getting more powerful. Successful mining of the consumer marketing space is not just about opportunity for them. It is business-critical.

Faced with the decline of their cash cow, which is audit practice, the consultancies have to find new revenue stream.

The digital economy has provided just that path, allowing them to focus on large-scale digital business transformation, with the customer at the centre:

l They understand that clients prefer an end-to-end solution. To quote PwC: PwC has an aspiration to be in Category of One, where we help our clients all the way from strategy to execution. Sound familiar? One-stop shop? Or to use Sir Martin Sorrells recent moniker, horizontality?

l While customer centricity has never been core, they are acquiring the necessary capabilities to credential themselves in this new space. No different from the path that agency holding companies have long employed, but with a critical differenceconsultancies are integrating them into their businesses.

l They focus on acquiring design firms, as innovation is critical to transformation, and design is the catalyst for that. They also acquire digital firms to give them broad channel execution expertise and address the long-held notion that they are only about strategy, not about execution.

Should the adland be worried? Yes. Deloitte would not have spent US$200 million in design acquisitions if they didnt consider this to be core business. More worrying for agencies is that this puts consultancies in the CMOs office, not just the CEO.

As success breeds success, you would expect the consultancies to acquire more firms with broader, scalable skills and continue to marginalise agencies. Welcome to the new normal.

Our view: Creative agencies may have been too slow to develop the capabilities brands need today and are in grave danger of losing out to consultancies.
Now live, the dedicated, Japanese-language site, www.campaignjapan.com, will provide a mix of news, analysis and opinions, case studies and workincluding content created in Japan and content translated from Campaign's global network.

David Blecken, executive editor, Campaign Asia-PacificJapan, will lead Japan coverage from Tokyo and curate the Japanese-language site.

In addition, he will provide enhanced coverage of Japan in English, for Campaign Asia-Pacific and the rest of the Campaign global network.

Editor's note by David Blecken, executive editor, Campaign Asia-PacificJapan:

Japan remains the worlds second-largest advertising market and third-largest economy. Not only that, but its culture fascinates and inspires millions. It seems wrong, then, that international coverage and understanding of the countrys marketing industry is so scant.

Japanese advertising is unique and often highly imaginative. At the same time, there is lots of room for the marketing industry to grow. Many Japanese marketers are keen to develop their careers not just domestically, but on a global scale. They want to measure their work against that in similarly advanced countries. Its not easy to do, given the shortage of access to Japanese-language information on the global business of marketing.

With the launch of Campaign Japan, we hope to help change that. As the only international marketing industry publication to produce original, bilingual content from Tokyo, we aim to support the industry by looking at it in a new light and presenting it to the world.

We are not going to emulate Japans existing industry coverage. Our goal is to look at Japan not in isolation, but in a global context. We will bring our own perspective to some of the most interesting aspects of Japanese marketing, while presenting professionals in Japan with the most relevant information and insights from the rest of Asia and the US. We hope to inform, but also inspire new thinking.

As we launch, we find a country in transition. Like many mature economies, Japan still faces its challenges and uncertainties. But the outlook is more positive than it has been for years. Not only are Japanese brands approaching the world with new energyinternational brands and service providers are also seeing renewed potential for business in Japan.

The business of marketing is changing too. New channels mean more transparency and measurability. Online video and programmatic technology are going to be major growth areas for some time to come. PR is increasingly able to compete with advertising for the same budgets. Independent agencies and young people have a stronger voice. As big advertising networks diversify their services to include things like product and UX design, so do management consultancies. Marketers can draw on more sources of creative thinking than ever before.

Over the next few weeks, we will explore what it takes to be global; we will hear from industry legends and new players in the creative space; we will examine the rise of data-driven marketing; and we will present contrasting opinions from thought leaders. We hope that whether you read in English or Japanese, you will enjoy what we offer, and look forward to advancing Japan's marketing industry with you.

Illustration credit: Ogilvy & Mather Japan
| BY Ricki Green |

The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) is bringing together some of Australias foremost leaders and practitioners in new-age customer experience technologies to its CX Marketing Summit, to be held on Tuesday 21 June 2016 at Dolton House in Sydney.

This must-attend event for anyone working in the CX market space will feature a variety of speakers sharing their insights on how todays technologies are rapidly changing the way businesses interact with customers, and the importance of business leaders to stay at the forefront of new technologies.

Says Lee Tonitto, chief executive officer of AMI: It is important that we recognise the change that is happening in the customer experience space, and identify the best methods and technologies that are driving this change. We want our members to be on top of all the latest CX trends. This conference is the perfect way to introduce them to new technologies, and how theyre being used to drive best practice in customer experience and achieve marketing goals.

With customer expectations continuously rising, buyers are more connected and have more knowledge and options than ever before. There is a need for business to place more emphasis on the CX business strategy to satisfy customer demands and to deliver timely, relevant and personalised information across every customer touch point and engagement channels.

The AMI 2016 CX Marketing Summit will explore the importance of driving innovation in customer experience through the design and implementation of a trifecta strategy  website, mobile application, and retail presence  and identify the organisations cultural challenges associated with the design of customer experience

Key opinion leaders and industry experts including Andrew Lark  chief marketing officer of Xero, Cameron Woods  marketing director of LOreal South Asia, and Mel Greig  radio personality and television panellist, will be sharing their expertise at the conference.

Alex Alwood, CEO of The Holla Agency has been helping brands grow for over 20 years and has written a book detailing the evolution from traditional marketing into brands needing to focus on customer experience.

Says Alwood: More and more were seeing traditional marketing techniques becoming redundant. No longer is a retail store or the telephone the only way to communicate with customers. Todays marketing techniques give brands the tools to grow by designing emotional experiences that connect and engage to improve customer experiences.

Says Andrew Lark, chief marketing officer of Xero, who has built some of the worlds most successful e- commerce sites, online communities, and mobile applications: With the growth in technology, CX dimensions are rapidly multiplying and becoming increasingly complex. Im excited to be sharing my insights on the importance of keeping up with and mastering customer experience.

Industry professionals across the marketing communications industry who are involved in brand, product, customer service, and project management, whose recommendations or decisions affect the experience that a customer will have with a product or service, are encouraged to attend the conference.

Other speakers at the event will include Howard Spreadbury  head of retail at M&C Saatchi, Linda McGregor  founder of All About Eve, and Samantha Bartlett  general manager of marketing and consumer capability at Australia Post.

For further information on the AMI 2016 CX Marketing Summit, and to register for the event, please visit: www.ivvy.com/event/CX16

Event details

Tickets

CPM

Early Bird Registration: $435

General Registration: $525

Member

Early Bird Registration: $495

Member Registration: $595

Non Member

Early Bird Registration: $660

Non-Member Registration: $795

Student

Student Member Registration: $100*

*Students must have a valid student card

Date: Tuesday 21 June 2016

Time: 9.00am  5.00pm

Venue: Dolton House, Hyde Park  181 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
| BY Ricki Green |

An ad by Melbourne agency Clemenger BBDO for Maltesers that lightens up a classic cult horror movie has won the 2016 Gold Siren award for the best radio ad of the year presented tonight at Alumbra at Docklands in Melbourne.

The ad, titled Texas Chainsaw Massacre by creatives Elle Bullen and James Orr (left, with host Tom Gleeson) and directed by Eardrums Ralph van Dijk, took out the Gold overall win, plus the Silver Siren for the single category.

The ad concept, Lighten up your movie with Maltesers gives the 1970s horror classic a family makeover, showing a bag of Maltesers can lighten up even one of the scariest movies of all time. Judges found the innovative creative, attracted listener attention, was engaging and drew in the audience.

It was one of those campaigns where the gags just leapt off the page, said van Dijk, but it was vital that we played it with a straight bat. The VO guy we cast was never shown the full script, so he never knew they were parodies.

The Gold Siren winners and their client Maltesers receive automatic entry for the winning ad into the Cannes Advertising Lions Festival in June, plus accommodation, airfares and delegate passes to attend the event.

The Silver Siren for campaign (minimum of three ads in a series) was won by Sydney agency BMF for the ALDI Australia series of ads Liquor Translator. BMF creative team Cam Blackley, Alex Derwin, David Fraser and Dantie Van Der Merwe produced three amusing ads El Toro Macho, Highland Earl Blended Scotch and Renberg Cider featuring a brewer, winemaker or distiller from a different country and a deadpan, insensitive trilingual translator that uses cultural stereotypes and mistranslates.

The Siren $5,000 Client Award, judged by an industry panel of clients rather than the Siren Creative Council, is chosen from the five overall 2016 round winners and was won by one of the three ads in the BMF ALDI liquor campaign called El Toro Macho.

Multiple Siren winners Ralph van Dijk from Eadrum and Paul Le Couteur of Flagstaff Studios (pictured left) took out the Silver Siren in the craft category for production of the Gold Siren winning ad Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The craft category recognises the quality of the ad production and takes into account the acting performance, the skilful use of music and sound design.

At the presentation of the Siren Awards in Melbourne, Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia said: Humour in radio ads can gain so much cut through on radio. All the winning ads combine excellent writing, clever craft, plus comic timing and are deserving winners of this years Siren Awards.

The 12th annual Siren Awards, run by Commercial Radio Australia, recognise the best radio advertising in Australia. The 2016 awards were hosted by comedian Tom Gleeson at Alumbra at Docklands in Melbourne.

The Gold Siren and the runner-up Silver Siren winners, across the Craft, Single Ad and Radio Campaign categories, were selected from hundreds of entries over five rounds of judging throughout 2015-16. They were judged by the Siren Council, comprised of creative directors and producers from leading advertising agencies and studios throughout Australia.

Winning ads can be heard here at www.sirenawards.com.au.

2016 Siren Award winners

Gold

Commercial Title: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Brand: Maltesers

Advertising Agency: Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne

Creatives: Elle Bullen & James Orr

Creative Director: Evan Roberts

Silver

Radio Single

Commercial Title: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Brand: Maltesers

Advertising Agency: Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne

Creatives: Elle Bullen & James Orr

Creative Director: Evan Roberts

Silver

Radio Craft

Commercial Title: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Brand: Maltesers

Production Company: Eardrum, Sydney

Director: Ralph van Dijk (Eardrum)

Casting: Earcasting

Sound Studio: Flagstaff Studios, Melbourne

Sound Engineer: Paul Le Couteur (Flagstaff Studios)

Advertising Agency: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne

City: Melbourne/Sydney

Creative Director: Evan Roberts (Clemenger BBDO)

Silver

Radio Campaign

Campaign Title: Liquor Translator

Brand: ALDI Australia

Advertising Agency: BMF, Sydney

Creatives: Cam Blackley, Alex Derwin, David Fraser & Dantie Van Der Merwe

Creative Directors: Cam Blackley & Alex Derwin

Client Award

Radio Single

Commercial Title: El Toro Macho

Brand: ALDI Australia

Advertising Agency: BMF, Sydney

Creatives: Cam Blackley, Alex Derwin, David Fraser & Dantie Van Der Merwe
| BY Ricki Green |

Saatchi & Saatchi Australia has developed a way to deliver emergency communications to outback Australia via Toyota LandCruisers.

Its a well-known fact that the Australian Outback is a vast, harsh and unforgiving place. 5 million square kilometres (over 65% of the country) receives no mobile signal. In times of emergency the lack of reception can be incredibly dangerous. However, while you might be far from a cell phone tower in the Outback youre never far from a Toyota LandCruiser.

LandCruisers legendary toughness and ability to go anywhere has made them Rural Australias most popular 44. And in many places theyre the only vehicles youll see.

Thats why Saatchi & Saatchi, in partnership with Flinders University, is pioneering a new device that can be fitted in Toyota LandCruisers, enabling them to create a pop-up emergency network that will bring communications to the most remote parts of the Outback. The device has been engineered using a clever mix of WI-FI, UHF and Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) technology, an area that lots of people are looking into  including NASA for interplanetary communications, to turn vehicles into communications hotspots each with up to a 25km range.

The technology is being piloted in a fleet of LandCruisers fitted with the device in the remote Flinders Ranges  one of the most harsh and dangerous parts of the Australian outback  where the Mars Society test their vehicles.

Says Brad Cramb, divisional manager  national marketing, Toyota: The marrying of communications technology and the LandCruiser  a vehicle that has a long history in the outback  presents a huge opportunity for us to provide much-needed infrastructure to remote communities around Australia.

Says Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen of Flinders University: Humanitarian technologies arent just something nice to have, they all too often end up being the difference between life and death. It is hard to conceive of a more robust and extensive support network for Outback Australia than the collective LandCruiser drivers of this country.

Says Mike Spirkovski, executive creative director, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia: Its amazing that in this day and age with such epic technology advances in mobile communications over 65% of Australia still receives no mobile signal.

With this in mind and the fact that Toyotas Land Cruiser is one of the toughest vehicles in the world and rural Australias most popular 44 we created the Land Cruiser Emergency Network.
The Pentagon will review an appeal that could result in 74 names being added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Thursday the Department of Defense will consider whether to add 74 U.S. Navy sailors to the memorial.

The sailors were killed in June 1969 when the USS Frank Evans was involved in a collision with an Australian aircraft carrier. Among those who died in the accident were Larry Reilly Jr., whose father, Larry Reilly Sr., survived the crash and now lives in Syracuse.

Four other New Yorkers were killed in the accident: James Franklin Bradly of New York City; Terry Lee Henderson of Buffalo; Dennis Ralph Johnson of Tarrytown; and John Townsend Norton of Brooklyn.

The names of the 74 sailors weren't added to the memorial wall because the accident occurred outside of the designated combat zone. However, the USS Frank Evans did provide support to the American military during the war.

"For more than four decades, surviving crew members and relatives of those lost on the USS Frank E. Evans, like Larry Reilly Sr. of Syracuse, have struggled to understand why geographic lines have superseded these sailors' sacrifice and service," Schumer said in a statement.

"Getting the Department of Defense to agree to review this appeal  which would add the names of these 74 veterans, including Larry Reilly Jr., to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial  is a critical step towards justice for these families."

Schumer has long supported the campaign to put Reilly's son and 73 others on the Vietnam memorial.

He sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus requesting a review of why the sailors have been left off the wall.

Mabus responded and revealed he supports adding the sailors to the memorial.

In February, Schumer wrote to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter urging him to add the 74 names to the wall. As the head of the Department of Defense, Carter will decide whether the sailors' names will appear on the wall.
Where you live can impact what you pay for drugs under Medicare
Gunman opens fire at St. Louis school, 2 dead

Three people were dead, including the gunman, and six others were injured after a gunman opened fire at a St. Louis high school. It's Monday's news.
The Auburn Rotary Club will host its annual AMBA blood screening from 6 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Auburn YMCA, 27 William St., Auburn.

The screening costs $40, and checks for cholesterol levels, anemia, kidney and liver functions. Optional low-cost tests are also available for PSA, hemoglobin, TSH, vitamin D and colorectal functions.

Authorization from a personal physician may be required.

The event, which has been held for more than 25 years, is a fundraiser for the Auburn Rotary Club.

For more information, or to register, call (800) 234-8888.
Cayuga County is celebrating Economic Development Week from May 8 through May 14. Economic Development Week was created by the International Economic Development Council in commemoration of its 90-year anniversary as the largest professional membership organization for economic developers.

Economic developers are charged with generating economic growth, creating better jobs for residents and facilitating an improved quality of life. The industry remains as complex, challenging and rewarding as ever. Members of Congress are also highlighting the work of our nations economic developers through special resolutions that are appearing in the Congressional Record.

Your local economic developers at the Cayuga Economic Development Agency are celebrating Economic Development Week with the launch of a new website, cayugaeda.org. The new format makes it easier to find information about starting, growing or locating a business in Cayuga County. Some highlights include the News and Projects pages. In the past, projects were reported annually, but now they will be posted as they become available to the public. Its important for the community to know what CEDA does to create jobs, grow our economy and create a sustainable quality of life. For example, in 2015, CEDAs services resulted in the creation of 118 new jobs, the retention of 115 jobs and capital investments of $28.8 million.

The Featured Sites portion of the website has been simplified to focus on key (large) properties for business attraction. CEDA works with businesses of all sizes, so while the smaller manufacturing, office or retail spaces may not be listed online, they are still tracked within an internal database and shared with those looking to start or relocate a business. If you have a space available, make sure its listed with CEDA. The website now has a contact form with the goal of engaging individuals and businesses to provide direct personal assistance.

In honor of Economic Development Week, heres a little of what weve been up to:

 As CEDAs Business Development Specialist, I work on business attraction, which means bringing in new businesses that are opening a new location or relocating. At the moment, the most noticeable attraction project is Grober Nutrition. This 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is being built to the east of Cayuga Milk Ingredients within the Cayuga County Industrial Park. Grober will be taking the milk permeate byproduct from CMI, blending it with other fats and further processing it to make milk replacer for small animals, predominantly dairy calves. Their first phase of operations is expected to begin in September with the second phase ramping up in early 2017, creating 34 new jobs over the first three years.

While the multimillion-dollar attraction projects take several months or even years to materialize, I also work with local entrepreneurs who are interested in starting their own business. CEDA works closely with SCORE, a resource partner of the Small Business Administration, which provides free and confidential counseling services to small businesses. This collaboration has resulted in several new business startups. Most recently: Alter Image Salon, the Growing Tree Boutique, Penirds Snowplowing and Lawn Service, Handy Skills by Mr. Mills and LIFT: Live It Fitness & Training. Entrepreneurs and business owners typically seek mentoring for business planning, financial projections, marketing strategy, licensing information and access to other resources. These services are free and confidential.

 Bruce Sherman, CEDAs economic development specialist, has been busy working with the existing businesses in Cayuga County on retention and expansion. A large part of Shermans job is to connect our countys industries with resources and other organizations that offer supportive services. In the world of economic development, business assistance is more than just providing a business with a grant or tax exemption. Introducing various tools to businesses to help expand their sales is just as, if not more, important than providing traditional incentives. Some of those assisting agencies are the local Workforce Investment Board, the CNY Technology Development Organization and the Central New York International Business Alliance. Many companies have expanded recently: Inns of Aurora, Owasco Marine, Aurora Shoes, Stonewell Bodies, Repair Plus, the Springside Inn, Johnston Paper, D&W Diesel and Currier Plastics, to name a few.

CEDA is a private sector, 501(c)(3) local development corporation established to implement a comprehensive economic development strategy for all of Cayuga County. CEDAs mission is To foster a sustainable quality of life in Cayuga County through job retention, expansion and attraction. Working as a one-stop business development service provider, CEDA provides easy access to all of the information, incentives and resources needed to develop, innovate and succeed. To learn more, visit cayugaeda.org.

A special thanks to local photographers Bill Hecht, Chris Molloy, Michael Bruton and Benjamin Walter, who provided the beautiful imagery of Cayuga County, and the web development expertise of Totum Design Co. Along with the new website, users can stay apprised of CEDAs work by following it on Facebook and Twitter @Cayuga_EDA.
New York State Police Troop E's Forensic Identification Unit, Collision Reconstruction Unit and Computer Crime Unit will be getting a new home as part of an approximately $9 million building project, according to a release.

Troop E covers 10 counties including Cayuga and Seneca, and the expansion will add 13,000 square feet to its headquarters on Rochester Road in Canandaigua.

With the explosion of new technology and the current facility being 50 years old, state police decided it was time for an update.

"We're excited about the new center being built," said Troop E Commander Major Craig Hanesworth in a press release. "It shows the commitment by the State Police to the law enforcement efforts here in the Finger Lakes region."

Police are expecting nine investigators, two senior investigators, one trooper and two support staff to be assigned to the new building. A larger vault space of 2,000 square feet will house the increasing amount of evidence police collect.

Other key features of the building will include a fingerprint processing laboratory, a forensic computer analysis laboratory, a 1,600 square-foot cold storage unit for long-term evidence, a forensic garage for vehicle processing, an evidence receiving area, specialized rooms for hazardous evidence including firearms and drugs and a stationary evidence preservation system unit to dry and preserve biological evidence.

Groundbreaking for the new building took place on Thursday.
Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 10:08AM

Samsung Electronics Canada announced today the Canadian availability of the Galaxy TabPro S, a two-in-one device designed for on-the-go consumers and business professionals seeking the productivity of a laptop with the ultra-portability of a tablet. The device will retail for $1,299 with keyboard accessory included.

The Galaxy TabPro S runs Windows 10 Pro from Microsoft. It combines an Intel Core m3 processor with 4 GB RAM + 128 GB solid state drive. It is the first in the Galaxy family of devices to run on the Windows 10 Pro operating system, offering a full-size ergonomic keyboard with trackpad along with a 12 Super AMOLED touch screen display.

Our world is more mobile than ever and there is a demand for a device that meets both the personal and business consumption needs of Canadians, said Paul Brannen, Senior Vice President Mobile, Samsung Electronics Canada. Whether youre working, browsing, streaming or gaming, the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S lets you do all those things, delivering excellent productivity and functionality within an ultra-portable, two-in-one design.

The Galaxy TabPro S with Windows 10 Pro combines the convenience of a tablet with the high performance of a laptop to deliver the ultimate style, speed and power that can be easily adapted to the home and business environments for maximum efficiency and enjoyment. With a 12-inch Super AMOLED display, a long-lasting 10.5 hour battery, Adaptive Fast-Charging* and a streamlined, compact tablet form factor, Tab Pro S provides true mobile business productivity. Windows 10 Pro offers innovative features such as Cortana, a personal digital assistant; Microsoft Edge, designed to deliver a better web experience; and streaming Xbox One game content to Windows PCs.

The Galaxy TabPro S is a Windows-based two-in-one, perfect for Canadians who want the functionality of a Windows 10 Pro device, said Jason Hermitage, General Manager, Microsoft Canada. The Windows 10 Pro-based Galaxy TabPro S is a great companion for someone in the office, between meetings, or at home relaxing.
"As a result both mother and baby recovered well after the birth," she said. "[The investigation found] only a preliminary clean of the patient's room had been undertaken following the birth and that a full clean was completed as soon as staff became aware."
Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper.
"This is where Malcolm Turnbull has got to get tough and just say simply "are you trying to bury me?" Malcolm Turnbull has got enough on his plate without having to deal with forced amalgamations for god's sake.
Auburn Fire Department: May 1-7, 2016

 Fires: 1 (1 fire in a structure fire)

 Motor vehicle accidents: 1 (with injuries)

 EMS: 85 (3 cardiac, 21 trauma, 1 unconscious person, 1 cardiac arrest with CPR , 3 overdose, 1 Narcan admin.)

 Hazardous conditions: 3

 False alarms: 2

 Investigations: 3

 Haz mat: 5

 Service calls: 6

 Mutual aid: Given 1 (haz mat  motor vehicle accident)

 Fire prevention presentations: 1

 Fire safety consults with businesses: 7

 Fire inspections: 19

 In total, personnel took part in 411 hours of documented training this week. Some topics included fire codes, safety and personal protective equipment, epinephrine updates, high-rise procedures, fire investigation and professional development.

 All personnel are completing update tours of the NUCOR facility to improve familiarization and safety in the event of an incident.

 Four personnel attended fire investigator training at the New York State Fire Academy.

 May 3  New epinephrine kits were put in service after department-wide training.

 May 5  While conducting training on heavy vehicle stabilization at the training facility on Quarry Road, our haz mat team was requested to respond mutual aid to Poplar Ridge for an overturned vehicle with hazardous material leaking from it.

 May 7 and 8  Auburn Fire Department hosted a Swift Water Rescue class that will be conducted over the two weekends by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and in cooperation with Throop Fire Department and the staff at the Water Filtration Plant.

 Fifteen personnel representing all ranks are continuing a program through Onondaga Community College and coordinated by the Syracuse Fire Department, which will improve their education and training and can be applied to a degree in fire science.

 Several staff members assisted in providing firefighting and EMS training throughout New York state this week.
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.
Nirma University, Ahmedabad has invited applications for admission to 4 years Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) programme.

Admissions are offered in the following programmes at Nirma University Institute of Technology for the academic session 2016:

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Information Technology

Electrical Engineering,

Electronics & Communications Engineering

Instrumentation & Control Engineering and

Mechanical Engineering

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants should have passed class 12 Science examination in subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with minimum percentage of marks and should have appeared for JEE Main 2016.

How to Apply?

Candidates should visit the official website to apply online.

Selection Procedure:

Of the total intake 35% seats will be filled by the candidates who have passed the qualifying examination from the schools in India. Applicant's performance in the JEE Main will also be considered while shortlisting students for admission.

Important Dates:

Last date to submit filled in application form: June 23, 2016
Calling games for a major league team throughout a full season is bound to create some personal connections between a broadcaster and players. Thats a lot of time spent around each other and a significant investment of time and energy.

Even a broadcaster like Chicago White Sox TV play-by-play man Ken Harrelson, who cut back his schedule to 81 games this season (which may be his last), still feels a connection to a team whose games hes called for 30 years. Letting some personal feelings show when something upsetting happens on the field is probably natural (if not always professional).

Yet Harrelson may have gotten a bit dramatic on Wednesday when he said he was leaving the booth to check on Todd Frazier, who suffered an injury to his face during the fourth inning of the White Soxs game versus the Texas Rangers. Here is the play where Frazier got hurt:

Your browser does not support iframes.

The image of Frazier jumping up with his glove covering his face, then immediately running to the clubhouse was certainly troubling. He didnt even stay on the field to be looked at by a trainer, which indicated that he knew something bad had happened, maybe something fans didnt need to see.

As it turns out, Frazier did indeed need five stitches to repair a lacerated lower lip. Though you cant see the actual impact, its pretty clear from the video that Fraziers face hit a seat quite hard as he dove into the stands after a foul ball.

But Harrelson didnt just want to wait for an update to come up to the broadcast booth. Upon seeing Frazier quickly leave the field, he informed colleague Steve Stone that he was going down to the clubhouse to see what happened. Im going downstairs, he told Stone, actually interrupting him. You take over.

We probably shouldnt poke fun of Harrelson for showing some compassion after what looked like a potentially nasty injury. But that didnt stop several people from making cracks on Twitter.

Hawk standing over Frazier right now. pic.twitter.com/XDMGKhYY2A  GasMoneyBob (@GasMoneyBob) May 11, 2016

Where is the Todd Frazier update from Chief Facial Injury Correspondent Hawk Harrelson????  Tom Cooper (@CSNCoop) May 11, 2016

What exactly was Hawk aiming to accomplish by dashing downstairs, anyway? Did he feel he could offer a medical opinion? Hold Fraziers hand as they administered the stitches? Apply the sutures himself? (Hey, weve all watched the doctors do it on ER! Maybe Hawk practiced on a pigs foot too.) Put back the tooth that may have been knocked out?

Hawk Harrelson said it appears Frazier's teeth went through his lip. "I'm no doctor, but it appears he'll be okay."  Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) May 11, 2016

Well, OK  that is a bit more graphic account of the injury than Harrelson may have had, if he were simply passing along news he was given. At least Hawk clarified that hes not a doctor, in case anyone was unclear on that after his urgent dash to Fraziers side.

BREAKING NEWS: Hawk Harrelson performed the five stitches on Frazier and gave him a juice box afterwords.  Ryan Rasmussen (@ryguy1244) May 11, 2016

Dr. Harrelson is examining Frazier right now. #WhiteSox  Conquest (@glsings) May 11, 2016

Again, Fraziers injury did appear to be rather serious and the visual of him covering his face, running off the field in apparent fear of what happened was indeed disturbing. But Harrelsons job is also to call the action that transpires on the field and he basically abandoned that duty, which doesnt seem like the most professional conduct.

Then again, Harrelson has enough tenure and status that he can probably do just about whatever he wants. (I mean, just listen to his play-by-play calls when the White Sox give up a home run or lose a ballgame.) And if this is indeed his final season, Hawk doesnt really have to worry about his job status.

Still, well await word on whether or not Harrelson accompanies Frazier home Wednesday night and perhaps watches him sleep through the night. Someone probably has to make Frazier soft scrambled eggs, oatmeal or smoothie in the morning too. And the White Sox are off Thursday, so Hawk will have the time.
With the legislative session concluded, the Daily Sun is recapping the major bills of the session and how the three members of LD6 representing the Flagstaff region voted. Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson, and Sen. Sylvia Allen all were asked for comment. Only Allen responded.

University budget:

The approved state budget included $32 million restoration for state universities, including $19 million of one-time money, as well as $5 million for economic freedom schools at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Of the approved money, Northern Arizona University will receive $1.5 million in ongoing funds, and $4 million in one-time funds, NAU President Rita Cheng said in a statement. Cheng said the approved money will allow the university to close the year with a balanced budget, after reporting a structural deficit of $4 million earlier in the year. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Private Vouchers:

House Bill 2482 and Senate Bill 1279 would have phased in taxpayer funded vouchers to pay for all student to attend private schools. The current law allows parents of students with special needs or in schools rated D or F to receive empowerment scholarships to private schools. This law would have expanded eligibility to all students.

Allen, Thorpe and Barton are listed as sponsors to these bills. Neither bill passed. Yes votes: Thorpe, Allen. Barton did not vote as the bill did not advance to the entire House of Representatives.

KidsCare:

Senate Bill 1457 attached KidsCare, a federal program for health insurance for children for low income families, to a bill that expands the empowerment scholarship program. The expansions to the voucher program include children of parents with sensory disabilities, expands eligibility to siblings of students with special needs and allows for the voucher program to pay for assistive technology and tuition to vocational programs. KidsCare, a health insurance program hosted by the federal government, expands Arizonas Medicaid program to reach children of families with incomes that are 200 percent of the poverty level or below. Allen said she voted against including KidsCare because the children are already eligible for health care under the Affordable Care Act.

Were supposed to provide for people who are at the poverty level, KidsCare is up to 200 percent, Allen said. Once you get people on these programs its very difficult to change and take them off again.

The bill was originally introduced without the KidsCare addition. At that time, Allen was listed as a sponsor. The bill was signed into law by Ducey.

First vote (without KidsCare): Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Second vote (with KidsCare): No votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen

JTED funding:

House Bill 2642 and Senate Bill 1525 negates a vote from last year to remove $30 million in funding from the states Joint Technical Education Districts.

Allen, Thorpe and Barton are listed as sponsors to these bills. The measure was signed into law by Ducey. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Minimum wage

House Concurrent Resolution 2014 sends to the ballot a request to gradually raise the states minimum wage from $6.75 to $9.50 by 2020. The state minimum wage would increase based on the cost of living each year. It also states that, if approved by voters, counties, cities and towns would not be able to establish a minimum wage that was higher than the states. The prime sponsor of the bill was Rep. Bob Thorpe. Yes votes: Thorpe, Allen No vote: Barton

Plastic bags

HB 2130 and 2131 prohibit local governments from regulating the sale or use of plastic bags and take-out containers. The Legislature passed a similar law last year, which include language prohibiting local governments from requiring businesses and apartment complexes to report their energy use. The Legislature split the two items into two separate bills this year and passed both.

When asked about banning cities from regulating plastic bags, Allen said she didnt think the majority of the public was concerned about the issue.

Its a freedom issue too, government doesnt have a right to go in and regulate a store and tell them how they have to operate, she said.

The bills were signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey on March 14. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Local laws vs. state laws

SB 1487 gives the Arizona Attorney General the authority to investigate any municipal law, upon the request of a legislator, to determine if the local law violates a state law. If the local law does violate a state law, the attorney general can order the Arizona Treasurer to withhold state-shared revenue that is supposed to go to the local government. Sen. Sylvia Allen was one of the co-sponsors on the bill. Allen said one reason why there were so many bills preventing cities from setting their own regulations was for consistency purposes.

Youve got to have consistency in our state. If you have different communities passing different laws that are different from state statutes, its very difficult for small businesses, she said.

Ducey signed the bill into law on March 17. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Drones

State rules governing the use of aerial drones. It also prohibits cities, towns and counties from creating their own rules governing drones. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Vacation rentals

SB 1350 gives local governments the right to tax online vacation rentals from websites such as airbnb, but also prohibits local governments from attempting to regulate any online vacation rentals, unless its for health or safety reasons. Yes : Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Photo enforcement

SB 1241 prohibits state and local governments from using photo enforcement cameras on state highways. Ducey signed it into law on March 21. No:Thorpe, Barton; Yes: Allen

Pet stores

SB 1248 creates state regulations on where pet stores can get dogs and cats. Prohibits cities and towns from creating their own regulations. Yes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Business regulations

SB 1524 limits the ability of a county or city government to create new regulations on an individual or businesses unless there is an urgent need that is not addressed by a state law. It also requires a threat to the health or safety of the public before a local government can put a new regulation in place. Allen was one of 12 co-sponsors on the bill. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Land owner petition

HB 2568 requires cities and counties to approve a petition from all the property owners in an area to create a community facilities district that exceeds 600 acres. It requires the property owners to sign an agreement that would exempt the local government from any liabilities involved with the district. The districts are used to raise money for things such as public infrastructure. The current law requires 25 percent of the land owners to petition the local government. Ducey vetoed the bill on Tuesday. In a press release, Ducey said the bill did not have enough protections for taxpayers. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Local governments also got a few bonuses from the Legislature this year including some restoration of funds and some new regulatory powers.

Highway User Revenue Fund

HB 2708 restored $30 million to the Highway User Revenue Fund. Cities get money from the fund to help pay for roads. The restoration is a one-time event. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Border task force

HB 2695 used $96 million from the states Highway User Revenue Fund to pay for $1.3 million for a border strike task force, $500,000 in grants to cities, towns and counties for the prosecution and incarceration of crimes related to illegal immigration and $1 million to the Arizona Department of Revenue for a study to replace the states tax accounting system. Ducey signed it on May 10. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Sober living home

HB2107 allows cities to put regulations in place to protect the health and safety of the public living near a sober living home. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Population estimate

HB 2483 lets counties and cities submit an updated population estimate between federal censuses in order to change the amount of funding it gets from the state. Thorpe was a co-sponsor on the bill. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Tax change requirements

SB 1523 requires taxing entities to approve any tax increase that is 15 percent or more by a unanimous roll call vote. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Sentence minimums for undocumented immigrants

HB 2451 requires undocumented immigrants who are convicted of felonies to serve at least 85 percent of their prison sentence before Arizona Department of Corrections can turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. Previously, the head of the Department of Corrections was allowed to turn an undocumented immigrant over to ICE after they had served just half of their sentence unless they were convicted of homicide or a sexual offense. Governor Doug Ducey signed the bill into law March 20. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Sentence minimums for undocumented immigrants

SB 1377 would have set mandatory minimum sentences for undocumented immigrants. It also would have made them ineligible for probation, suspension of sentence, community supervision, commutation, work furlough or release. The original version proposed mandatory minimum sentences for felony and misdemeanor offenses. The final version, which still did not pass, had been amended to limit mandatory sentences to felony convictions.

Allen said she voted for the bill because she wants undocumented immigrants to be held to the same standards as citizens.

Our citizens arent let out early, she said. You arent up for parole until you have served 80 percent of your time. Its not right for illegals to be able to get off serving less time, Allen said.

Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

State Supreme Court

HB 2537 would add two more justices to the Arizona Supreme Court, increasing it from five to seven judges. The governor would appoint the new justices to serve six-year terms. The number of Justices on the Supreme Court was last increased in 1960 from three to five. The states existing Supreme Court justices initially opposed the because they said their work load didnt justify the addition of two judges, but they later came out in support of the bill when it was packaged with a funding increase for the courts that included raises for judges. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Potlucks

HB 2341 fixes clunky language in previously enacted legislation that unintentionally made it illegal for anyone in Arizona to hold a potluck unless it was at a workplace. Bob Thorpe was one of the sponsors. There was only one nay vote in the Senate and no opposition in the House. Ducey signed it March 18. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Revenge porn

HB 2001 is the state Legislatures latest attempt to stop so-called revenge porn. It modifies existing law to specify that it is unlawful for a person to intentionally disclose a private image of another person who is identifiable from the image itself or from information displayed in connection with the image. The bill also addresses First Amendment concerns that have derailed previous efforts. Specifically, it says sharing someone elses private image is only illegal if the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy and the person who shared it intended to do some sort of harm to the depicted person. It also specifies that just because someone sends a private image to another person electronically doesnt necessarily mean they have given up their right to privacy.

Allen said the bill is sadly necessary.

Unfortunately people are using web as a way to be vindictive and hateful to get back at someone, she said.

Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Groundwater pumping restrictions

SB 1268 would allow cities in Cochise and Yuma counties to opt out of a water supply requirement adopted by those counties. That requirement mandates developers provide proof of 100-year water supplies before building can be approved. Both bills would have cleared the way for at least one big development in Sierra Vista in Cochise County.

SB 1400 would require supervisors in Cochise and Yuma counties to periodically review their adequate water supply requirement and allows the County Board of Supervisors to rescind that requirement if it is done by a unanimous vote.

While the bills wouldnt apply to northern Arizona counties, many worried they would pave the way for more loopholes to be created in the states 1980 Groundwater Management Act.

After they were passed in both houses, Ducey vetoed both bills on Monday, May 9, saying they threaten the certainty and sustainability of Arizonas water supply. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen.

Grand Canyon National Monument

HB 2585 would empower the Attorney General to take action to restrict the size of an existing or newly created national monument if the State Land Department determines the monuments size is larger than it needs to be to care for and manage the objects designated for protection.

The subject of national monuments in Arizona has been in the spotlight after U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva introduced a bill in October, 2015 to establish a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Act. Allen said she voted for the bill because of concerns that a monument designation could could limit the ability for state land to generate revenues through mining, logging and grazing leases. It passed in both houses and was sent to Gov. Duceys desk on May 6. Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen. All three were primary sponsors

Billboard lighting

House Bill 2507 would have allowed electronic billboards in certain areas of Mohave and La Paz counties where they are currently banned under a 2012 state law.

The bill failed in a senate committee in March after drawing fierce criticism from the states astronomy industry.

Thorpe and Barton voted for the bill before it died in the Senate committee.

Solar fee compromise

After introducing competing measures on solar fees for voters to consider this fall, groups on both sides of the issue agreed to stand down.

One ballot initiative would have blocked regulated utilities from charging solar customers based on their peak demand, versus simply their overall usage.

It would also create a constitutional amendment that would prevent utilities from reducing the amount they credit solar customers for excess energy they generate and send back to the grid.

On the other side of the issue, were two initiatives that had already received preliminary Senate approval. One would have, among other things, required the Arizona Corporation Commission to set different rates for solar customers than non-solar customers and another would have regulated solar-leasing companies as public utilities and have their rates approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Allen voted for both measures.

Control of public lands

HB 2644 establishes an interstate compact to study and develop political and legal mechanisms for transferring federally controlled public lands to the states. Barton and Thorpe co-sponsored the bill but it never received a hearing.

HB 2051 allows the state to take action if it determines a catastrophic public nuisance, exists on federally managed lands. That determination could take into account tree density, forest health, fuel loads, insect and disease infestation and watershed protection.

It was held up in the County and Municipal Affairs Committee.

Thorpe was a co-sponsor.

Corporation Commission conflict of interest

HB 2123 replaces the conflict of interest standards that apply to the Arizona Corporation Commission with the standards that guide the Legislature. Of particular focus is a provision in the Legislatures conflict rules that say as long as a vote or other action affects 10 or more people, there isnt a conflict of interest.

The bill passed in both houses and was transmitted to Gov. Ducey on May 6.

Yes votes: Thorpe, Barton, Allen
After Mitsubishis automotive division got battered over the fuel economy test rigging fiasco, the companys future may be at stake, although it could still survive thanks to Nissan.



Bloomberg reports that Nissan Motor Co. may invest more than 200 billion yen ($1.84 billion) in an attempt to take over the companys bleeding automotive arm, as the Yokohama-based car maker is reportedly in the final stages of talks to effectively buy a 34% stake of Mitsubishi Motors. This way, Nissan would become the top shareholder.

Last month, Mitsubishi announced that more than 600,000 of their cars have falsified fuel economy figures since 1991, by using a different method for Japans official coasting test. Moreover, Nissan uncovered the false data used in the fuel consumption trials, but despite all this, the aforementioned vehicle manufacturer still hopes to continue the partnership with Mitsubishi; possibly even tackling the electric car market.

This will allow Nissan to continue to sell re-badged Mitsubishi kei cars  which make almost 30% of its sales volume in Japan  and also tackle the electric niche in Asia where Mitsu has considerably more brand power.

PHOTO GALLERY
Toyotas retro-inspired off-roader, the FJ Cruiser, will be sent into the sunset, as its production will to cease this August, following a decade-long run.



The announcement is official and it comes almost three years after it was phased out in the United States, with the limited-run Trail Teams Ultimate Edition, due to poor sales.

The FJ rides into the sunset as a vehicle renowned for its ability to traverse rugged outback trails while offering plenty of utility for all types of activities and being equally well-suited for everyday driving. It will leave lasting memories as one of the most iconic vehicles in Toyotas rich SUV history, helping to bring renewed energy to the Toyota brand, said Toyota Australias Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Tony Cramb.

Based on a shortened version of the Land Cruiser Prado platform, the Toyota FJ Cruiser was first seen in concept form at the 2003 NAIAS, only to debut in production guise two years later, at the same event.

On the Australian market, where it will be kept for three more months, it has a starting price of $46,990 AUD ($34,618 USD) and power comes solely from a 4.0-liter V6 petrol engine, producing 272 PS (268 HP) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque, connected to a five-speed automatic transmission.

PHOTO GALLERY
A Carscoops reader snagged pictures of GM testing two different body styles of the common replacement to the Buick Regal, Opel Insignia, and according to some accounts, possibly even the Holden Commodore.



The Buick Regal may have aged well, but that doesnt detract from the fact that its based on GMs eight-year old Opel Insignia, and the competition, be that from upper-trim levels of mainstream mid-size cars or base compact luxury models, have moved forward.

It has been said that the next Buick Regal wont adopt the fastback styling of its European twin, the Opel Insignia. This begs the question what was the five-door model with its more striking coupe-like roofline doing in Colorado where reader Brett Borgard caught it next to the more conventional four-door sedan, the answer to which is either the reports are wrong or GMs engineers were just evaluating both models in the States. At this point, though, we can only speculate. Another unknown is whether Buick will import the Insignia Wagon from Germany.

Even though the Verano will reportedly be phased out from the US market so Buick can focus on crossovers leaving the Regal as its entry level sedan, the new mid-size model will get a bigger footprint expanding rear passenger legroom, but at the same time, it will lose a great deal of weight over the current car.

Riding on the same platform as the latest Chevrolet Malibu, the next Regal will take advantage of GMs smaller displacement turbocharged four-cylinder units, possibly offering a 1.5L unit alongside a newer 2.0L turbo engine. We should see a hybrid model and a replacement for the GS sporting a high-output V6 and all-wheel drive.

Sources expect the new Buick regal to go on sale in mid-2017 as a 2018 model year.

Spy nod to Brett Borgard for the pics!

Photo Gallery
The Swedes assault on the premium segment is getting really, really serious with their new Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA fighters.



And after the raving reviews of the XC90 and the launch of the impressive S90/V90, we have high expectations indeed for the new 40-Series.

Images teasing the new models were uploaded on Snapchat and were accompanied by the tag Not your daddys Volvo  just in case anyone has missed the latest XC90, S90 and V90 that have already passed this message along.

The new car will be fully unveiled at the companys HQ in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 18 and, although we have no official info yet, it is rumored that it concerns two models, the V40 hatch and the XC40 compact SUV, which will be shown in concept form.

Volvos new design language has caught on with customers and reviewers alike, so it makes sense for the the C-segment newcomers to closely mirror the styling of the larger models. The signature Thors Hammer LED running lights incorporated in the headlights and the clean look at the front set the new models apart from the competition, while at the same time giving them a modern look that is indeed as far removed from your daddys Volvo as, say, a 1994 Nokia cell from an iPhone 6S.

Co-developed with Chinese owner Geely, the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform that has from the outset been engineered to be up to premium class standards and reduce costs will underpin both new models.

The engine range will comprise of three- and four-cylinder turbocharged units and, potentially at a later date, a plug-in hybrid or even all-electric powertrain, too, might follow.

With the compact SUV segment booming in all major markets it wont be surprising if the XC40 will indeed be the first one to be launched, as early as 2017. The V40 hatch is next and the S40 nameplate will be making a comeback for an Audi A3 Sedan-rivaling saloon.

Photo Gallery
Photo: aboriginalbusinessmatch.com

For the fourth time, the Penticton Indian Band hosted an event that connects aboriginal decision-makers with more than 100 aboriginal and non-aboriginal companies.

Aboriginal Business Match West took place this week at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

"The PIB is very proud to be hosting the Aboriginal Match West again this year," said PIB Chief Jonathan Kruger.

"It continues to be a huge success, as we've been helping First Nations communities and businesses create millions of dollars worth of business deals. Any way we can create healthier and stronger communities feels right. It's great to be able to contribute."

ABM is a hyper-productive incubator for business development, partnerships and joint initiatives.

This year's participants included several aboriginal companies, area construction companies, financial service businesses.

Jessica Burlon, with Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School in Winfield, said she had a few appointments Tuesday morning that went really well.

"It's getting to talk to the different companies and getting their perspective and input and hearing their needs and how we can fill them," she said.

Amanda Willett, with Eagle Bay Financial Services Ltd. based out of West Vancouver, described the event as a way to be quickly introduced to people who may need their services and also an opportunity to connect with people they already have business relationships with.

Another representative, Ren Baskin with Capri Insurance Benefits Division, shared their enthusiasm.

"Probably the biggest thing is it brings people from all over B.C. to one location, and you can meet them face to face," he said.

ABM also continues to grow, with events in other places including Saskatchewan, Prince George, Alberta and Ontario this year.

"ABM has grown," said Kruger. "And we even have delegates from the U.S. government here monitoring it with plans to talk about and do it in the United States."
Photo: Environment Canada

After nearly two months of record breaking highs, things are getting a little cooler and damper today.

According to Environment Canada, the Okanagan is in for a short stretch of a much-needed weather pattern.

We are so dying for some rain, so we are finally getting some, says meteorologist Lisa Coldwells.

This is the first cold low that we have seen develop this spring. A cold low has a cold core which will give the Central Interior episodes of rain.

Coldwells says this weather movement is in the Cariboo at the moment and is sliding towards the southeast.

The Okanagan Valley will just get brushed by this cold low. It will be more in Salmon Arm and into the Kootenays, says Coldwells.

This afternoon, the Okanagan is looking at showers developing and there is going to be probably one or two thunderstorms embedded in this area of showers.

She says this round of thunderstorms will fortunately come with rain.

The amount of rain the Okanagan can count on is probably a couple of millimetres, maybe two to five.

The cooler weather system with highs of about 18 C is expected to last at least two days, but the sun will be back just in time for the weekend.

As the cold low moves and shifts south of the border, we will return to sunny skies with above-normal temperatures again. Temperatures around 25 C or so, so very pleasant conditions coming up for the weekend.

To check out your local forecast, click here.
Photo: Contributed

Tourism Penticton announced the new executive for their board of directors this week.

Former vice-chair Jessica Dolan, general manager of the Ramada Penticton Hotel and Suites, has accepted the nomination to take over the role of chair of the board.

The move came after Diana Stirling, owner of LocoLanding Adventure Park, decided to step back from the role, as her focus turns to the adventure park's busy summer season.

"I am very proud to take on the role of chair of Tourism Penticton's board and looking forward to working closely with the Penticton Hospitality Association in the coming months to create a unified and sustainable tourism organization that will better serve all of our tourism stakeholders," said Dolan.

The merger between Tourism Penticton and the Penticton Hospitality Association is progressing and the new organization is expected to be formed by this fall.

Others on the board are vice chair Ian MacDonald, representing Liquidity Wines, treasurer Cameron Smith, representing Joy Road Catering, and secretary Laura Hunt, with Global Spectrum.

It will be business as usual for Tourism Penticton throughout the summer season until the merger with the PHA is formalized.
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The School District 67 board continues to move ahead with plans to close three schools.

On Monday, a motion to rescind the closures of Trout Creek and West Bench elementary schools was voted down 6-1.

The board also discussed the Summerland solution and their subsequent meeting on May 2 with two parents.

Most comments praised the parents on their presentation but also explained that the proposal did not address the pressures of under-enrollment and funding constraints that the district currently finds itself in.

The parents who proposed the solution could not be immediately reached for comment.

The board also had first and second reading of the annual budget bylaw for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The third and final reading will occur at the June regular board meeting.

According to board chairwoman, Linda Van Alphen, the board is actively working on transition plans for all affected schools. The third school to be closed is McNicoll Park Middle School.

Last month they announced the change in administrative appointments throughout the district.

"I believe from the trustees' point of view the most important aspect of the closures is that every child will have the opportunity to be welcomed into their new environment through several different transitional activities set up by the administrators and staff at each school," said Van Alphen.

"On the first day of school in September 2016, many children will be greeted by the familiar faces of students, teachers, support staff and in some cases administrators at their new school."
Photo: Thinkstock.com

Ottawa has once again been a busy week as a number of debates have been occurring while bills progress through the House in some cases assisted by the Liberal government through invoking time allocation to limit debate and force votes. In addition to time allocation bills such as the assisted suicide legislation, it is being fast tracked through committee stage review where a government dominated committee is consistently refusing the vast majority of amendments from opposition parties in order to force this legislation through onto third reading before it will hit the Senate. In other words our new Liberal government is using precisely the same tactics as the previous Conservative government used in order to advance government legislation through the House. The primary difference I have noticed is that in the past when these tactics were used pundits often applied terms such as anti-democratic or dictatorship whereas the same tactics used today by a different government are referred to as legitimate tools of democracy.

Why do I raise this point? In reality Parliamentary tools such as time allocation, prorogation and closure were created so that majority governments can ultimately implement the mandate they were given by voters. Few governments could implement policy effectively if the legislative agenda could always be derailed or otherwise usurped by the opposition. In the last Parliament when I sat on the government side of the House I always found it deeply disappointing and at times troubling how often pundits and some media would refer to the legitimate use of parliamentary tools as somehow being anti-democratic. While I feel it is fair game in opposition to point out that Liberals promised not to use similar tactics it must also be pointed out that the tactics themselves are fair game and are part of decades old Parliamentary procedure.

What is time allocation and why is it used? Time allocation is sometimes confused with closure - that is a different Parliamentary procedure.Time allocation sets a fixed period of time that is available in the House of Commons to debate a specific stage of debate during a bill. Closure is different in that it ends the debate and calls for a vote. Why does a government use time allocation? There are a variety of different reasons that time allocation is invoked by government, however the most common reason is that government will have a number of bills to move through the House and into the Senate. If too much time is spent debating a particular bill it will bog down the House and delay the passage of other legislation. Typically government and the official opposition house leaders will try to work together to agree on time limits for each debate on a specific bill however when there is disagreement more often than not time allocation may be used.

In some cases there might also be bills that may be embarrassing or otherwise politically award for the government so the government may use time allocation to advance a bill very quickly through the house. A good example of this was bill C-10 that essentially removed a restriction on Air Canada that would allow it to eliminate maintenance jobs here in Canada and potentially move those jobs into other countries with lower wages. Obviously the government in this case did not desire to spend a considerable amount of time debating a government bill that potentially eliminates Canadian jobs  thus time allocation was used. As I have now reached the 550 word allocation of my weekly report I must also conclude with an invitation for citizens to contact me directly with comments or questions at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Surrey RCMP has released video surveillance footage of the suspect in the sexual assault of a female realtor.

The assault happened at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at a residence in the area of 128th Street and 92nd Avenue while the realtor was conducting an open house.

A photo released by police shows the suspect running northbound on 128th Street immediately after the incident. A surveillance video shows the suspect crossing the street heading westbound on 92nd Avenue.

The suspect is described as a South Asian male in his late 20s to mid-40s, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8, with brown eyes and a dark brown well-groomed beard. He was wearing dark coloured pants, a light coloured shirt, a light grey jacket, a white turban and he spoke with an accent.

Investigators have spoken to multiple area residents, canvassed for video surveillance and conducted a forensic examination.

This investigation continues to be a top priority for the Surrey RCMPs Special Victims Unit (SVU).

Surrey RCMP has liaised with its real estate partners to ensure safeguards are in place to help protect employees.

These include taking precautions and having a buddy system. More information is available for realtors through the British Columbia Real Estate Associations website.

Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or go to solvecrime.ca.
Photo: cellebrite.com

While "textalyzer" technology is not something currently being considered for B.C., it is on the government's radar.

Textalyzer technology, developed by Israeli company Cellebrite, essentially allows police to see your phone's recent activity history without a warrant. It reveals whether you might have been doing something like texting when you shouldn't have been  like a breathalyzer allows police to check roadside whether or not you have been drinking and driving.

It was created to immediately determine whether drivers have been using their phone to text, surf the Internet or make calls around the time of a crash.

The new technology could soon be in the hands of police officers in New York state, as a bill was tabled in April that would allow for the roadside scan of a smartphone.

The technology is controversial as many feel it violates one's rights, as the police would not require a warrant like they currently do.

Public Safety Minister Mike Morris says that while the technology is not currently available to law enforcement in Canada, police will examine all tools available to them to enforce the law.

I am sure police officers are looking at every tool available that will help them with their investigations, says Morris.

The Ministry of Public Safety adds that it will continue to look at what other jurisdictions are doing, and will be watching how it unfolds in New York.

We keep an eye on new technologies that could help police in making our roads safer provided always that we ensure laws related to privacy and the charter are respected, writes the Ministry. We are confident police understand this with the use of any technology.

The provincial government announced new higher fines on Monday for distracted driving, some of the highest in the country.

The provincial government is now calling distracted driving a "high-risk" offence, doubling the current fine and imposing an extra penalty point  first-time offenders will now face a minimum $543-hit to the wallet, starting June 1.
Photo: CTV Kathryn Borel, a former CBC employee, speaks outside of a Toronto courthouse on Wednesday.

What's the power of an apology?

For victims of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, experts say receiving acknowledgment of wrongdoing can help the healing process and allow them to find emotional closure  but only if the expression of regret is sincere and includes the perpetrator taking responsibility for their actions.

On Wednesday, former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi issued an apology in court for "sexually inappropriate" conduct towards co-worker Kathryn Borel, who had accused the "Q" star of grabbing her from behind and grinding his pelvis into her at work.

"I want to apologize to Ms. Borel for my behaviour towards her in the workplace," Ghomeshi, 48, said in his statement to the court about the alleged 2008 incident. "I now recognize that I crossed boundaries inappropriately... I did not appreciate the damage that I caused."

The statement was part of a court settlement in which Ghomeshi signed a peace bond, leading to a sexual assault charge against him being dropped by the Crown.

Judge Timothy Lipson said the fact Ghomeshi signed the peace bond "does not amount to an admission of guilt on his part to any criminal offence."

Ghomeshi's lawyer, Marie Henein, also said the resolution was not an admission. "With this apology, Mr. Ghomeshi has done everything that the Crown and the courts have asked him to do," Henein said.

Dr. Suvercha Pasricha, a psychiatrist who works in the women's inpatient unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said experiencing a trauma, such as physical or sexual assault, can disrupt a person's sense of self, destroy their ability to trust others, harm relationships and cause ongoing depression and anxiety.

"The impact of a trauma on human beings, whether it's a sexual assault or any other form of trauma, it can erode people," said Pasricha, who works with women who have suffered childhood and adult abuse or mistreatment.

"It would be very powerful to hear an apology from a perpetrator if they truly feel that the perpetrator is taking ownership of their actions," she said.

"The first and foremost thing for a person who goes through trauma is just to be validated and to be heard; that their experience actually happened to them, and this was not something that was created in their own head."

Outside court, Borel read a statement to the media, saying she agreed to accept Ghomeshi's peace bond and apology arrangement in order to forgo a trial, which would have "maintained his lie, the lie that he was not guilty, and it would have further subjected me to the very same pattern of abuse that I'm currently trying to stop."

"Jian Ghomeshi has apologized, but only to me," continued Borel, 36. She said there were other women who came forward to the media and made allegations.

"And yet Mr. Ghomeshi hasn't met any of their allegations head on.... All he has said about his other accusers is that they're all lying and that he's not guilty.

"And remember: that's what he said about me."

Ghomeshi was acquitted in March on sexual assault and choking charges, related to three other complainants, to which he had pleaded not guilty. The judge found the three complainants were not credible enough to sustain a conviction.

Ghomeshi had been expected to stand trial next month on a single charge of sexual assault related to the 2008 incident at CBC headquarters.

Admitting in his statement that his workplace conduct was "sexually inappropriate," Ghomeshi said of Borel, "I realize that there is no way for me to know the full impact on her personally and professionally."

He concluded by apologizing to his mother, sister and the friends who stood by him "throughout this difficult time."

"I regret my behaviour at work with all of my heart and I hope that I can find forgiveness from those for whom my actions took such a toll."

Dr. Patrick Keelan, a registered psychologist in Calgary whose private practice includes counselling people who have experienced various forms of trauma, agreed that hearing an expression of remorse can help victims find some emotional closure and move forward after having their lives upended.

"If it's a properly executed apology, it can have a really good impact on the victim in terms of helping them to heal from the negative emotional impact that focuses on ruminating and resentment and anger," he said.

"When the perpetrator gives a very heartfelt and sincere apology, it has the possibility of helping the victim to change their 'hot thoughts' about the perpetrator," allowing the wronged person to move towards forgiveness  while not condoning or excusing the act.

But Keelan said if a victim perceives an apology as insincere, or that it does not include their attacker taking ownership for their actions, it can backfire, fuelling even greater negative thoughts about the perpetrator and further harming the victim's emotional equilibrium.

Ideally, he said, a meaningful apology should express regret, acknowledge responsibility for one's actions, and provide a remedy.

"One thing that often gets overlooked is it's sometimes the victim expressing to the perpetrator, whatever the offence is, that, 'It's not OK what you did to me and I want you to know that,'" Keelan said, noting that courts often allow victim impact statements to be submitted as part of trial proceedings.

"That can be as important in healing as getting an apology because you're setting boundaries for the person, you're taking a stand, which indicates that you need to be treated properly."
Photo: The Canadian Press Mark Smich

Dellen Millard fatally shot Tim Bosma and later disposed of his body in an animal incinerator dubbed "The Eliminator," his co-accused told their murder trial as the victim's family and friends wept in the courtroom.

"He looked mad, like a lunatic, like something came over him," Mark Smich said of Millard as he got out of Bosma's truck during a test drive three years ago.

Smich took the stand Wednesday in his own defence and related his version of the events that occurred the night the Hamilton man was killed.

Bosma's widow sobbed and his mother rushed out of the courtroom, tears streaming down her face.

Smich said he saw Bosma's body slumped over the dash of his Dodge Ram truck and a bullet hole through the window shortly after going on a test drive on the night of May 6, 2013.

"There was a lot of blood," Smich told the jury.

Smich, 28, of Oakville, Ont., and Millard, 30, of Toronto, have pleaded not guilty in the death of Bosma, who vanished after taking two strangers on a test drive of a pickup he was trying to sell.

Smich testified he and Millard had planned to steal a truck and were going on test drives to "scope out" vehicles, adding that he helped research the trucks on the Kijiji and Autotrader websites with Millard setting up test drives with a pre-paid phone.

The idea was to return later to steal a truck if the conditions were right, Smich told the jury, but said there was never a plan to bring a gun or hurt anyone.

Smich said Millard was driving and Bosma was the passenger in Bosma's truck and he was following in Millard's Yukon, when the Dodge suddenly swerved to the side of the road "some time" into the test drive.

Millard, Smich said, got out of Bosma's truck, came over to Smich and said he was "taking the truck" and grabbed a flashlight from the Yukon.

"I got out and I see a bullet hole through the window and Mr. Bosma laying head first on the dashboard," Smich said.

"I was shocked. Utter and complete shock. I was in disbelief," Smich told court about seeing Bosma's body in the truck.

"I said 'what the f--k is going on?' Dell (Millard) looked liked something came over him ... I never seen him like this," Smich said.

Smich said he freaked out, but was terrified of Millard, who told him to change license plates between the two trucks.

"At that point, I didn't know, I felt like I had no choice. I was scared," Smich said.

Smich also said he thought he saw Millard put a gun into a satchel he had draped over his shoulder as he got out of Bosma's truck.

"I did not know he bought a gun," said Smich, who had earlier described Millard as "kinda like a bigger brother."

He said Millard got back into Bosma's truck and he followed as they drove to Millard's farm near Waterloo, Ont.

At that point, Smich said he got a better look at Bosma's body.

"There was blood all over the whole left side of Mr. Bosma, all around his head," Smich said.

Smich said Millard then wrapped Bosma's body in a sheet and told him to put it into the incinerator, but Smich said he couldn't because he had injured his shoulder.

Millard dumped the body into the incinerator, but was "in a huff" about having to do it himself, Smich testified.

The pair hooked up "The Eliminator," which was on a trailer, to Bosma's truck and Millard drove it to his hangar at the Waterloo airport with Smich again following in his friend's truck, Smich said.

At the hangar, Smich said, Millard turned on the incinerator with Bosma's body inside.

He said Millard told him to strip Bosma's truck, which he said he did by cutting out the carpet and seat belts and washing out the blood with a hose. They worked together to remove all the seats.

He told court he didn't go to police because he was scared and confused and wanted to speak to a lawyer.

Later in the week, Smich said he helped Millard and one of his workers continue to strip the truck, which Millard wanted to paint red.

"This time when I seen him, he was back to normal Dell (Millard), just normal Dell," Smich said. "He was absolutely normal Dell, which scared the s--t out of me even more."

He said after Millard's arrest, he asked one of their mutual friends to get drugs out of Millard's home in Toronto. Along with the bag of drugs, he said he received a toolbox that had a gun inside, wrapped in cloth.

The gun, a Walther PPK, was the same gun he saw Millard put in the satchel the night Bosma died, Smich said.

"I didn't kill Mr. Bosma," Smich said.
Photo: Contributed

Trans Mountain and the Simpcw First Nation have agreed to work together.

The two signed a Mutual Benefits Agreement Tuesday in recognition of their continued partnership and desire to create employment and business opportunities.

This agreement is based on trust, respect and collaboration, and will create meaningful employment and lasting benefits for the Simpcw people, said Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada. The Trans Mountain expansion project team is building long-term relationships with aboriginal communities along the proposed pipeline corridor to not only create new opportunities and shared prosperity, but to ensure that the project design and planning incorporates appropriate measures to protect aboriginal interests in the lands and waters.

The agreement builds on a partnership that was formed in 2007 when the band signed a benefit agreement with Trans Mountain regarding the first expansion phase, referred to as the Anchor Loop project.

The agreement represents a real partnership  we will play an active role in all aspects of the project within our territory, from environmental stewardship to benefiting economically, said Chief Nathan Matthew.

Matthew added key components to providing our consent to Trans Mountain for this project was ensuring the community takes a leadership role in conducting the environmental work within our territory, and that the membership benefits in a real way.

The agreement went to a community referendum March 13.

The agreement will provide Simpcw with milestone and annual payments, and contains commitments on environmental protection, employment and training, and business opportunities. The agreement also contemplates an emergency response strategy including associated training, equipment and infrastructure.

The Simpcw First Nation is a 720-member community in the Thompson River Valley and part of the Shuswap Nation.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The federal Liberals are putting all hands on deck with a special cabinet committee to co-ordinate Fort McMurray aid and reconstruction efforts in advance of the prime minister's visit to the fire-ravaged region on Friday.

Justin Trudeau has received an appeal from Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for enhanced employment insurance benefits for the Edmonton area as a consequence of last week's mass evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

But that's just one thread of a multi-government effort that's expected to go on for months or years.

No timeline has been placed on when Fort McMurray's residents can begin returning to the northern Alberta oilsands hub, which lost about 10 per cent of its 25,000 buildings to the fire that's covered some 2,300 square kilometres and continues to burn.

Major oil producers, however, are already planning an imminent return to business and some economic forecasters now predict the fire will have a negligible impact on national Gross Domestic Product numbers for 2016.

That's good news for both the federal and Alberta governments, whose finances are being hammered by the drop in revenues that comes with a fire-related loss of more than a million barrels of oil a day.

Nine different ministries are involved in the federal ad hoc committee, which will be chaired by Calgary MP Kent Hehr, who serves as veterans affairs minister and associate minister of defence.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said earlier this week that a dozen different departments and agencies of the federal government are already involved in the Fort McMurray response.

Ministers with responsibilities in public safety, natural resources, economic development, infrastructure, labour and employment insurance, status of women, health and defence have been named to the government steering group.

"We know there's going to be an awful lot of work in the coming weeks and months to rebuild Fort McMurray and there will be many different departments and ministers involved," Trudeau said Wednesday as he headed into the daily question period in the House of Commons.

"I think pulling it together so that we can focus our efforts, co-ordinate and do everything we possibly can to help the citizens of Fort McMurray get through this difficult time is responsible and appropriate."

Edmonton-area MP Rona Ambrose, the interim Conservative leader, offered rare praise for the Liberal government move.

"For things to happen quickly, everyone has to come together around the table very fast and start to make decisions to move things forward, so that's the right approach," said Ambrose.

The Red Cross announced that it would distribute $50-million in donations directly to evacuees within the next 48 hours, while the Alberta government is setting up a debit card system for registered evacuees.

The federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements  a 46-year-old program that uses a formula to provide funds to provinces in the case of major natural disasters  will automatically kick in to cover uninsured losses. The parliamentary budget office warned in February that the program is chronically underfunded, with payouts expected to average more than $900 million annually over the next five years. while only $100 million a year is earmarked to go into the fund.

Ottawa is also fast-tracking employment insurance claims from displaced Fort McMurray workers, many of whom have dispersed across the country.

"We haven't looked at the financial implications," said Employment Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk. "EI is to be there when people need it, and the folks at Fort McMurray definitely need it, so we're stepping up."

The Alberta premier, in her daily update on the fire situation on Wednesday, made a direct and pointed appeal for Trudeau to extend enhanced EI provisions to the Edmonton region, noting last week's April employment report shows that the city now qualifies  a situation made worse by the influx of unemployed fire evacuees.

"We are well past the point of justifying the need for the Edmonton area to be included under the new rules for EI," said Notley.

The longer term reconstruction of Fort McMurray will require deeper pockets and multiple levels of government.

Hehr, the committee chair, told The Canadian Press the committee's job is to "look after the rebuilding of Fort Mac ... in both the short and the long term."

He said the people of the community are owed that, but it's also important to the economic health of the country.
Photo: CTV

UPDATED: 7:32 p.m.

A 19-year-old man is in hospital in serious condition this evening after being shot in East Vancouver Wednesday afternoon.

Police responded to reports of gunfire near Dundas Street and Nanaimo Street at 3 p.m., where they found the wounded man.

Police have made no arrests in the shooting yet, but are talking to witnesses and looking for video in the area.

Const. Brian Montague of the Vancouver Police Department says they believe the shooting was targeted and drug related, although it is still early on in the investigation.

Shootings are usually targeted at individuals who are involved in high-risk behaviour associated to guns, drugs or gangs - this attack appears no different, Montague said. However, when they take place in the middle of the day and in residential neighbourhoods, they put everyone at risk.



Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Vancouver Police Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

ORIGINAL: 4:46 p.m.

Vancouver Police were called to Nanaimo Street and Dundas Street Wednesday afternoon for reports of a shooting.

Police responded to the scene at 3 p.m. and remain at the scene in East Vancouver.

The VPD has released no additional information about the shooting at this time.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Crews are working around the clock to restore power and natural gas to the fire-ravaged city of Fort McMurray, but the chief operating officer of the utility that serves the area says it's impossible to say how soon residents will be able to go home.

It's slow and dangerous work.

"If you can imagine a charred power line pole that we don't want to take out of service, but we want to reinforce  it's something we obviously want to do with great care," Atco COO Siegfried Kiefer said Wednesday following the company's annual meeting.

"Both of the products we deal with are invisible and both can kill you."

More than 80,000 people were forced to flee when a ravenous wildfire attacked several neighbourhoods in the northern Alberta city last week.

The blaze destroyed about 2,400 structures, but about 90 per cent of the city was saved.

Kiefer said about 75 per cent of Fort McMurray's buildings could have their power turned back on, but at this early stage it wouldn't be safe.

"We won't turn power on to many of the regions until inspections are complete," he said.

"Obviously you don't want to if there's any residual gas or if there's any kind of explosion potential."

As for natural gas, Atco cut off the supply to the city when the fire started as a safety precaution, Kiefer said, and turning it back on can't occur until gas lines are checked.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley didn't have an update Wednesday on when Fort McMurray residents may be able to go back. Earlier in the week, after touring the city by ground, she said a schedule would be out in about two weeks.

"I understand it's hard for people not to have a definitive timeline," she said. "But at the same time, I don't want to give them a definitive timeline, have them build their hopes around that ... and then discover an infrastructure deficit that we didn't previously know about that delays things by a week or two."

Kiefer said he couldn't pinpoint how soon repairs will be completed, but suggested it would be "less than a month."

Once they are, re-entry is likely to be staggered, he said.

"That's how it worked in the Slave Lake fires. We took blocks of communities and allowed members of that area of the town to come in."

Atco also has a division that provides modular buildings, office trailers, workforce housing and camp and lodging services.

Kiefer said once first responders are done their work, the company will be making the most of 4,000 beds it already has available in the Fort McMurray area.

Atco is also willing to "ramp up" delivery of additional temporary housing if the province decides it's necessary for people returning to the city while their houses are rebuilt.
Egyptian Streets

Employees speak on phones at an exchange office in downtown Cairo June 5, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt has surpassed South Africa as the second largest economy in Africa, according to Christian Viljoen, an economist at the auditing and advisory firm KPMG South Africa.

Viljoen reached this conclusion by analyzing the latest figures released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook report, released in April.

Ever since Nigeria rebased its gross domestic product (GDP) data in 2014, South Africa has been considered the continents second largest economy. But according to the new IMF statistics, South Africas slowing economic growth, together with the depreciation of its currency, the rand, has led to a decline in the US dollar value of the economy in the period from 2012 to 2015.

The countrys currency was depreciated by as much as 50 percent, which resulted in an average decline of the nominal US dollar value of South Africas GDP of almost 7 percent per year between 2012 and 2015.

In the same period, Egypts nominal US dollar GDP increased by an average of 7.5 percent per year. Comparing the depreciation of both the South African and Egyptian currencies during this period showed that the pound was devalued at a much slower pace than the South African rand. This is because the Central Bank of Egypt has had much tighter control over the pound since 2011, when social unrest gripped the country, than has been the case in South Africa.

The IMF predicts the South African economy to grow by only 0.6 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2017. Egypts economy, on the other hand, is projected to expand by 3.3 percent this year; although this number is larger than that of South Africa, it represents a drop from last years 4.2 percent. 2017 is expected to see economic growth reach 4.3 percent.

The Egyptian Central Banks tightly managed approach to the pound contributed to Egypts economy climbing to second place in Africa. But it is worth noting that, had it not been for the decline of the rands value, South Africa would not have surrendered its status as the continents second largest economy behind Nigeria, according to Viljoen.

However, the KMPG economist points out that there is significant uncertainty about the short- and medium-term development for the Egyptian pound.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Health Canada said Wednesday it will fund two additional mental health workers and a case manager for youth in Attawapiskat to assist with the northern Ontario reserve's suicide crisis  a move that comes after the federal government came under fire by the region's MP and the community's chief.

The department has yet to indicate when the workers will be on the ground in the troubled community and what level of training will be required.

Outside the Commons, Health Minister Jane Philpott could only say an update will be provided once more information is available.

"We are working on a long-term plan for responding to the needs of Attawapiskat, as well as other communities that are facing similar concerns," she said.

"We're very pleased to be able to announce that we will make the resources available to make sure that there are long-term solutions and we'll work with our partners to make that happen."

NDP MP Charlie Angus cancelled a high-profile trip to the United Nations this week to visit the beleaguered reserve instead to highlight the lack of federal support for youth.

He was baffled by the fact the Liberal government didn't seem to know the reserve's permanent mental health worker wasn't available to residents under 18.

Angus said he was pleased there will now be additional resources for the community but he remains upset false information was provided about what is available to address a crisis so severe it garnered global attention.

"What really concerns me is 30 days into a serious suicide crisis, they either didn't know what was on the ground or they were making facts up," Angus said.

"Either way, that's really not credible behaviour given the severe risk we are facing with young people."

After multiple requests from The Canadian Press for information, the department confirmed Wednesday there is a permanent mental health worker in the community from the Weeneebayko Health Authority who focuses on adult services.

A youth wellness worker and family intervention worker with a provincial children's aid agency  Payukotayno Child and Family Services  are also in the community.

The Ontario government announced Monday it will keep an emergency response team on the ground to assist with the crisis.

Indigenous suicide is grave concern across the country, Angus added, noting it is one of the reasons his party has been pushing the Liberal government on the complete lack of mental health dollars contained within its recent budget.

"Attawapiskat, right now, has international news and we are still not fixing the problem on the ground," he said.

"What about all the other communities that have been asking for help that don't have the mental health workers where young people are at risk and are not getting any treatment."

There is serious dysfunction inside Health Canada on its inability or refusal to respond to the serious health and mental issues facing indigenous youth, he added.

"We have to change the operating culture in Health Canada where they are continually denying services to children and families based on some bureaucratic decision to save pennies when lives are at risk."

In January, The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found Ottawa discriminated against First Nations youth in its delivery of child welfare services on reserve.

"The panel acknowledges the suffering of those First Nations children and families who are or have been denied an equitable opportunity to remain together or to be reunited in a timely manner," the ruling said.

Cindy Blackstock  a social worker who spent nine years fighting the government on the issue  said the $71 million that is set to flow this year on child welfare falls far short of what is needed to close gap.

She pegs that figure at $200 million this year alone.

Follow @kkirkup on Twitter
Photo: BC Hydro

UPDATE: MAY 12, 8:30 a.m,

Power was fully restored to West Kelowna residents at 4:26 a.m. this morning.

The outage, affecting 3,408 customers, was caused by a downed power line at 7:31 p.m. Wednesday night.

UPDATE: MAY 11, 10:35 p.m.

BC Hydro crews are on site working to restore power to the remaining 1,930 customers.

The utility is estimating power will be back on by 3 a.m.

The outage was caused by a downed power line.

ORIGINAL

Thousands of West Kelowna residents are without power Wednesday evening.

A power outage has impacted residents southeast of Highway 97, south of Mount Boucherie, since 7:30 p.m.

As of 7:36 p.m., the outage had affected 3,408 BC Hydro customers.

The cause of the outage is not yet known, but BC Hydro crews have been dispatched to the scene.
Photo: CTV

Homicide investigators have been called to Abbotsford, B.C. after a body was found Wednesday in a rural blueberry field.

Abbotsford police Sgt. Judy Bird says a farm worker made the discovery just before 5 p.m. (at Boundary and No. 3 Roads).

Bird says while the death appears suspicious, the investigation is in the early stages and little else is known at this point.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been contacted and will take over the investigation.

Police say the body is that of an unidentified male.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Crews are working around the clock to restore power and natural gas to the fire-ravaged city of Fort McMurray, but the chief operating officer of the utility that serves the area says it's impossible to say how soon residents will be able to go home.

It's slow and dangerous work.

"If you can imagine a charred power line pole that we don't want to take out of service, but we want to reinforce  it's something we obviously want to do with great care," Atco COO Siegfried Kiefer said Wednesday following the company's annual meeting.

"Both of the products we deal with are invisible and both can kill you."

More than 80,000 people were forced to flee when a ravenous wildfire attacked several neighbourhoods in the northern Alberta city last week.

The blaze destroyed about 2,400 structures, but about 90 per cent of the city was saved.

Kiefer said about 75 per cent of Fort McMurray's buildings could have their power turned back on, but at this early stage it wouldn't be safe.

"We won't turn power on to many of the regions until inspections are complete," he said.

"Obviously you don't want to if there's any residual gas or if there's any kind of explosion potential."

As for natural gas, Atco cut off the supply to the city when the fire started as a safety precaution, Kiefer said, and turning it back on can't occur until gas lines are checked.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley didn't have an update Wednesday on when Fort McMurray residents may be able to go back. Earlier in the week, after touring the city by ground, she said a schedule would be out in about two weeks.

"I understand it's hard for people not to have a definitive timeline," she said. "But at the same time, I don't want to give them a definitive timeline, have them build their hopes around that ... and then discover an infrastructure deficit that we didn't previously know about that delays things by a week or two."

Kiefer said he couldn't pinpoint how soon repairs will be completed, but suggested it would be "less than a month."

Once they are, re-entry is likely to be staggered, he said.

"That's how it worked in the Slave Lake fires. We took blocks of communities and allowed members of that area of the town to come in."

Atco also has a division that provides modular buildings, office trailers, workforce housing and camp and lodging services.

Kiefer said once first responders are done their work, the company will be making the most of 4,000 beds it already has available in the Fort McMurray area.

Atco is also willing to "ramp up" delivery of additional temporary housing if the province decides it's necessary for people returning to the city while their houses are rebuilt.

The mayor and councillors from the Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which includes Fort McMurray, held their first meeting since the fire at Edmonton city hall on Wednesday.

They talked about the city's capital budget, about starting to plan for the eventual return of the evacuees, and the need for temporary housing as the city rebuilds.

"We're going to have a component that has inclusion of members of the province, explaining to myself and council what our roles and responsibilities are," said Mayor Melissa Blake.

"We're very anxious to get back into it. But at some point, we move from the phase that we're in to where we actually do end up taking over the recovery of our community."
Photo: The Canadian Press

For years, Paul Martin was a fixture in the halls of Parliament, as finance minister in Jean Chretien's Liberal government and then as prime minister himself.

Now, a portrait of Martin has been unveiled that will  just as Martin did in real life  displace his former boss.

The new painting means Chretien's picture will be bumped down the corridor leading to the House of Commons, because the PMs are displayed in order of their time in office.

The portrait by renowned artist Paul Wyse depicts Martin standing ready for a debate in the Commons.

It's a reflection on the need for Parliament to shape the policies that affect the every day lives of Canadians, the 77-year-old Martin said after the curtain was pulled to reveal the work.

"Parliament is important," Martin told a room filled with family, MPs, cabinet ministers and current and former Liberal staffers, but without the presence of Chretien.

"And I believe if Canadians are to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead in this ever-changing world, they will have to be presented with the choices before them," he said.

"And that means that Parliament must reclaim centre stage as the place where those choices are made."

Wyse had to make his own choices as he attempted to capture Martin's essence with a brush.

The portrait of Martin unveiled Wednesday was actually the second one that Wyse completed.

The first one sits in his private collection because it didn't properly convey the image of Martin that he was trying to capture, said the artist.

"There was a lot of things that we discussed that we wanted to have included in the portrait," Wyse explained.

"But taking a moment and thinking about (the first portrait), it was kind of like rearranging the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to get a better fit."

Martin used the unveiling to lament the failure of the previous Conservative government to formally adopt the Kelowna Accord, which aimed to improve the health and well-being of Canada's indigenous peoples.

"Had the accord been honoured, I believe we would have lived a very different decade," said Martin.

"But since 2006, too little has changed. The unfairness was allowed to persist, and time marched on," the former PM said before congratulating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his actions to rebuild the federal government's relationship with First Nations communities.

For his part, Trudeau commended Martin for fostering five years of federal budget surpluses during his time at the helm of the Finance Department.

"He confronted a fiscal crisis in this country, one that was on the verge of crippling our economy," said Trudeau.

"His bold choices were right for the time and ended up paying dividends that we still see to this day."

The Conservatives were quick to point out what they described as the stark contrast between the Trudeau government's plan to go into deficit spending with no balancing of the budget in sight, and the measures Martin enacted in the mid-1990s to curb federal spending during times of economic growth.

Trudeau also noted that Martin stood with the Liberals in the last election campaign in support of borrowing money to grow the economy.

Wyse's other works include portraits of former Commons Speaker Peter Milliken, pop legend Billy Joel and actor Harry Connick Jr.

The portrait of Martin will be the 21st to hang in the Centre Block, occupying a wall space directly across from a main elevator close to Confederation Hall in the corridor leading to the House of Commons.
Photo: World Vision

More children than ever are being exploited in the travel and tourism sector in Canada and around the world, according to a new report released Thursday.

The two-year study, produced by the non-governmental organization ECPAT International, found that child-sex tourism has increased drastically and changed in nature in the last 20 years despite strong global efforts to combat the problem.

The main reason is the "phenomenal" increase in global travel, which has created more opportunities for abuse, says a member of the task force that oversaw the report.

"These are opportunities that are being created for travellers to engage in these kinds of activites, and an alarming number of people are making the decision to opt to engage in them," Ernie Allen said in an interview.

The study found that Canada and the United States, which have traditionally been considered "source countries" for abusers, are increasingly also becoming destinations.

Although little empirical data exists, the study also suggests that children are becoming involved at a younger age, and more kids in both countries are engaging in sex for survival.

In Canada, indigenous women and children are especially vulnerable and are often moved around to be exploited near oil rigs or mining sites, the report reads.

The study found that over the last 20 years, the profile of an offender has changed from the stereotype of a white, western, wealthy, middle-aged male pedophile who travels to a less-developed country specifically to exploit children.

Now, the majority are "situational" offenders  people who may have never dreamed of sexually exploiting a child until given the opportunity to do so and are mostly local or domestic travellers.

"These are business travellers, these are migrant transient workers, these are volunteers," Allen said.

Montreal was listed as a Canadian "hot spot" for child sex tourism due to its proximity to the U.S. border and the many sporting events and festivals it hosts.

Transport hubs, trade conventions, concerts and remote workplaces are among the other problem spots in Canada, according to Allen.

"Exploitation entrepreneurs are seizing those opportunities to provide  among other things  kids," he said.

The Internet has exacerbated the problem by providing a lower-risk way for offenders to connect with victims and for traffickers to advertise their services.

Allen praised the efforts of Canadian law enforcement, especially the RCMP and Quebec provincial police, for taking a "leadership role" in tackling the problem, as well as the former Conservative government for bringing in tougher penalties for child predators.

But because of the widespread and under-reported nature of the crimes, he says governments and law-enforcement agencies will require strong partnerships with the private sector to make significant progress.

Some hotels, airlines and travel and tourism companies have made commitments to combat the problem, but Allen says more need to join in by putting policies in place and by training employees to recognize and report incidents.

"The only way not to find this problem in any community is simply not to look," he said.

"The good news is we've begun to look. The bad news is you have to look, then you have to act. And you have to put the kinds of systems in place to minimize the risk that this will happen."
Photo: Contributed

A global organization of scientists has released updated guidelines for research into stem cells, the so-called "holy grail" of regenerative medicine.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research says its guidelines are aimed at assuring both the medical field and the public that research is being conducted with scientific and ethical integrity.

Society president Sean Morrison says the guidelines are essential for showing under what circumstances stem cell treatments are safe and effective.

The new set of principles cover research integrity, transparency and patient welfare, while highlighting the need for accurate communication about the state of stem science to the public.

The ISSCR says scientists, clinicians, industry and the media all have a responsibility to present balanced reports of both the progress and setbacks related to stem cell research.

The new guidelines were developed by a task force of 25 experts in stem cell science, clinical research and bioethics from nine countries, including Canada.

"The public recognizes that stem cell research holds promise for treating diseases and disorders affecting millions of people around the world," said Dr. George Daley, a professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard University, who helped develop the guidelines.

"We remain steadfast in our commitment that only safe and effective treatments based on proven science should be marketed to patients, Daley said in a statement.
Photo: taxsupport.ca

Documents outlining how the federal government chose 12 economic regions for extended EI benefits suggest B.C.'s Southern Interior and at least two other areas would now qualify for the same help.

The documents, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, explain why other regions didn't qualify for the help, aimed at areas hit hard by a prolonged downturn in commodity prices.

University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe says three regions  Edmonton, southern Saskatchewan and B.C.'s Southern Interior  would qualify under the government's formula when accounting for the latest unemployment figures.

He says at least two more regions could qualify requirements next month, should the unemployment rate not drop significantly.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the federal government should provide the same benefits to workers in Edmonton, and is expected to push the issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when the Liberal leader visits Alberta.

The federal budget banked $582 million over the next two years to add five weeks of regular benefits to workers in qualifying regions, effective this July but retroactive to January 2015.

Long-tenured workers in the 12 regions identified in the budget could also see an extra 20 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 70 weeks  again, starting this July but retroactive to January of last year.
Photo: Skylar noe-vack

Firefighters in Penticton quickly doused a small fire at an apartment Thursday morning.

They responded to a call at about 8:30 a.m. reporting smoke coming from a deck on the second floor of the building on Fairview Road.

They found a plastic garbage bag on fire and put it out.
Photo: Google Street View

Work is expected to start Monday on construction of the new Horizon Village Lift Station in West Kelowna.

The old lift station will be removed, before three new, energy efficient pumps, a new control system building, emergency storage capacity and backup power supply are installed.

The new system is designed to serve about 3,000 customers in the West Kelowna Estates area more reliably and efficiently.

Both senior levels of government are kicking in $454,000 toward the $1.36 million project. The City of West Kelowna is responsible for the remaining costs.

West Kelowna is being forced to grow up quickly. A little more than a decade ago this city was a largely rural area," said Mayor Doug Findlater.

"As our community continues to grow rapidly, the demands on our municipality to provide reliable and efficient urban services have never been greater; and, the costs of providing essential transportation, wastewater and water infrastructure continue to increase. The City of West Kelowna thanks the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia for partnering with us, so we can keep our heads above water in meeting our infrastructure needs.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of October.

This is one of 26 lift stations maintained by the city.
Photo: Contributed

Fire restrictions are being implemented throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Okanagan.

Effective noon May 15, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the region to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

The prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15 or until further notice.

Prohibited activities include:

The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre.

The burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time.

Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.

The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.

From April 1 to May 11, BC Wildfire Service crews responded to 36 wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, many of which were the result of poorly planned open burning.

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning and a map of the affected areas is available online.

The prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, people should check with local authorities to see if any other burning bylaws or restrictions are in effect.

Always check the venting conditions before conducting an open burn. If venting conditions are rated poor or fair, open burning is restricted.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000, or if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

Call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on your cellphone to report any fire or smoke.

For the latest information on wildfire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the B.C. Wildfire Service website, Twitter or Facebook.
Photo: CTV

A man facing a second murder trial on allegations that he drowned his wife in Revelstoke wants to move the proceedings out of Kamloops.

Peter Beckett, 59, is charged with murdering Laura Letts-Beckett in Upper Arrow Lake in August 2010.

The couple lived in the rural community of Westlock, Alta., about 90 kilometres north of Edmonton, and were vacationing in B.C. when Letts-Beckett died.

Last month, after a trial spanning three months and deliberations over seven days, the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared.

At a pre-trial conference Wednesday in Kamloops, Beckett and his lawyer Donna Turko indicated they will apply to have the second trial in another city due to publicity surrounding the case.

The Crowns case against Beckett, a former New Zealand town councillor who moved to Alberta to marry Laura Letts, is a circumstantial one.

Prosecutors allege he killed his wife so he could cash in on her life-insurance policy and teachers pension.

Beckett maintained she committed suicide or died after falling into the lake.

Letts-Beckett admitted to having suicidal thoughts in a 2007 diary entry.

Court heard she ended up in the lake while she and Beckett were on an evening boat ride near Shelter Bay Provincial Park campground.

She was not wearing a life-jacket and was not a strong swimmer.
Photo: Contributed

A 17-year-old Maple Ridge youth has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after a crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend.

A release from Ridge Meadows RCMP says charges follow an investigation of the May 10, 2015 crash on the Haney Bypass, east of Vancouver.

The teen was 16 at the time and was driving a Volkswagen that collided with an SUV before ramming a utility pole.

His 15-year-old girlfriend died and the young driver and two people in the SUV were hurt.

Cpl. Brenda Winpenny says RCMP will not comment on any other details regarding the crash on Mother's Day.

She says it's hoped the charge will offer the young girl's family some relief.
Photo: Contributed

St. Anns Academy was locked down over the lunch hour on Thursday after a patient under psychiatric care fled from Royal Inland Hospital, say Kamloops RCMP.

Officers were called in around 12 p.m. after the man took off from hospital's emergency department.

"Security had last seen the man walking toward St Anns Academy, which is located next to the hospital," said RCMP spokesman Const. Jason Epp.

"Police resources were immediately sent to the area to look for the man, as well as secure the school which was placed on immediate lockdown as a safety measure."

The patient was located a short distance away from the school and was returned to the hospital approximately 15 minutes after police had been called in.

At no time did the man enter the school or have contact with any of the children, said Epp.

No further details have been released.
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Beginning in October 2012, Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) implemented measures to improve HCV testing and care among the AI/AN population in northeastern Oklahoma. During October 2012July 2015, the percentage of all persons tested for the first time increased fivefold. HCV treatment was initiated for more than half of the approximately 400 patients identified with chronic HCV infection, 90% of whom completed treatment and were cured.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the most common bloodborne infection in the United States, is the leading cause of liver-related mortality and disproportionally affects the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. New all-oral HCV therapies can halt disease progression and provide a cure, but increased testing is needed to identify persons living with chronic HCV infection because more than half of infected persons are unaware of their infection.

An estimated 3.5 million persons in the United States are living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, resulting in approximately 20,000 deaths each year, primarily from cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (1,2). American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have the highest incidence of acute HCV infection among all U.S. racial/ethnic groups and are at greater risk for HCV-related mortality compared with the general population (3). In 2013, new antiviral drugs became available that make possible 812 week treatment regimens with fewer adverse events and are able to achieve sustained virologic response (SVR) in >90% of treated patients (4), equivalent to a cure of HCV infection. Also of note, HCV testing recommendations were expanded in 2012 by CDC and in 2013 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to include one-time testing of persons born during 19451965 (the baby boomer cohort) in addition to anyone at increased risk for HCV infection (5,6). Given the availability of new HCV drugs, expanded testing recommendations, and high incidence of HCV infection in AI/AN populations, in October 2012, Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) implemented a tribal HCV testing policy.* As part of the policy, CNHS added a reminder in the electronic health record (EHR) for clinical decision support and provided HCV education to primary care clinicians. From October 2012 to July 2015, among 92,012 persons with at least one CNHS clinic encounter, the cumulative number who received HCV screening for the first time increased from 3,337 (3.6%) to 16,772 (18.2%). The largest percentage of HCV screening was among persons born during 19451965. Of 715 persons who tested positive for HCV antibodies, 488 (68.3%) were tested for HCV RNA; among those 488 persons, 388 (79.5%) were RNA positive and were thus confirmed to have chronic HCV infection. Treatment was initiated for 223 (57.5%) of the 388 with chronic infection; 201 (90.1%) completed treatment, of whom 180 (89.6%) achieved SVR. CNHS has successfully increased HCV testing and treatment and is now collaborating with CDC and other external partners to develop an HCV elimination program for the Cherokee Nation that might serve as a model for similar settings.

The Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized government of more than 317,000 sovereign Cherokee persons in the United States. CNHS is an independent network that includes one hospital and eight clinics with a centralized EHR system providing care to approximately 131,000 AI/ANs (87% Cherokee and 13% other federally recognized tribes) in 14 counties of primarily rural northeastern Oklahoma.

During October 20122015, an infectious diseases specialist serving CNHS provided in-person hepatitis C training to clinicians and allied health professionals in each health care facility. Fifteen workshops were organized with a total of 291 participants. In response to the expanded national HCV testing recommendations, CNHS collaborated with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to design and implement an EHR reminder to test patients born during 19451965. Beginning in August 2013, the EHR reminder was added on a rolling basis depending on local priorities and capacity, reaching all primary care clinics by January 2014. The EHR prompt targeted any person born during 19451965 who had at least one medical visit in the preceding 3 years and no documented HCV antibody test in the medical record.

In conjunction with expanded testing, CNHS increased capacity to provide care for HCV-infected patients as well as to decrease patients waiting and travel time for evaluation. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) telehealth program (7,8) was implemented in July 2014 to increase primary care provider capacity to care for HCV-infected patients. ECHO implementation enabled expansion of HCV care and treatment services from one clinic with one health care provider with expertise in HCV care to five clinics staffed by seven HCV-trained health care providers, including three physicians, two nurse practitioners, and two pharmacists. In January 2014, an HCV registry was established to monitor clinical care for HCV RNA-positive patients who initiated antiviral treatment. The registry is maintained by the infectious diseases clinic of CNHS. In October 2015, public health nurses began outreach activities for HCV-infected patients, including home visits.

To evaluate the impact of the new testing and care and treatment strategies, de-identified data from the CNHS centralized EHR system and the HCV registry were extracted and analyzed. HCV testing coverage was calculated as the proportion of patients with at least one clinical encounter with CNHS during October 2012July 2015 who received one or more HCV antibody tests during that period. Progression along the steps of the cascade of care was examined by two methods: 1) the percentage of persons with HCV antibodies who completed each step, and 2) the percentage of persons at each step who moved to the next step. SVR was defined as undetectable HCV RNA obtained at least 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Advanced liver disease was determined based on noninvasive liver staging methods as identified by serologic biomarkers (fibrosis-4 index >3.25) (9).

During October 2012July 2015, a total of 92,012 patients aged 20 years had at least one medical encounter with CNHS. Among these patients, 90% were residents of the 14-county CNHS tribal jurisdictional area, 56% were female, and 29.4% were born during 19451965. The cumulative proportion of the population tested for HCV antibodies increased fivefold, from 3.6% to 18.2%, and did not differ by sex. By July 2015, the largest cumulative percentage of persons tested (39.5%) were in the baby boomer cohort (19451954 and 19551964), representing a sixfold increase (Figure 1).

Among the 16,772 patients tested for HCV antibody, 715 (4.3%) were antibody-positive. Among the HCV antibody-positive patients, 488 (68.3%) had a confirmatory HCV RNA test performed, of whom 388 (79.5%) were found to be chronically infected (HCV RNA-positive). More than half (57.5%) of persons with chronic HCV infection initiated treatment, of whom 89.6% achieved SVR (Figure 2).

Among the 223 patients initiating treatment, HCV genotype 1 (GT1) was the most common infection (157 patients, 70.4%), followed by GT2 (35 patients, 15.7%), GT3 (30 patients, 13.5%) and GT4 (one patient, 0.5%). Among the 134 patients in the baby boomer birth cohort, 50 (37.3%) were found to have advanced liver disease. Among the 86 patients with chronic HCV infection born after 1965, 23 (26.7%) had evidence of advanced liver disease. Seven patients who initiated treatment failed to complete treatment because of noncompliance (four), psychiatric complications (two), and pregnancy (one). Twenty-one patients were lost to follow up (including one who died) before testing for SVR.

As direct, oral, interferon-free antiviral agents became available and clinic capacity improved, the number of patients treated for chronic HCV infection increased over time. More than 15 patients (range = 1631) initiated treatment in eight of the 19 months (Figure 3).
Identifying persons with HCV infection in American Indian/Alaska Native populations is a priority. Implementation of clinical decision tools should be considered to improve testing and detection; clinical capacity should be adequate to provide the follow-up care and treatment necessary for cure.

In June 2012, the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented national recommendations for one-time HCV testing in the birth cohort. During 20122015 HCV testing coverage in the American Indian/Alaska Native birth cohort increased from 7.9% to 32.5% in IHS facilities serving largely remote and rural populations across 35 states. Testing coverage in individual IHS facilities ranged from 1.9% to 75.1%; the largest increase occurred among facilities that deployed an electronic clinical decision support tool for HCV testing.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and disproportionally affects American Indians/Alaska Natives. Curative HCV therapies provide an opportunity to reduce the prevalence of HCV infection in the United States. Adults born during 19451965 (birth cohort) account for approximately 75% of the estimated 3.5 million persons with HCV infections in the United States and are recommended to receive one-time testing for HCV.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a substantial and largely unrecognized public health problem. An estimated 3.5 million persons in the United States are currently living with HCV infection, at least half of whom are unaware of their infection (13). Persons born during 19451965 (the baby boomer birth cohort) have a sixfold higher prevalence (2.6%) than adults of other ages, and represent 81% of all persons chronically infected with HCV (4). Therefore, in addition to recommending testing for all persons at risk for HCV infection, CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend one-time HCV testing for the birth cohort (5,6). Compared with the national average, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons have approximately twofold the rate of acute HCV incidence and HCV associated mortality (2). In June 2012, the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented HCV testing in the 19451965 birth cohort and created a nationally standardized performance measure to monitor implementation of the recommendation. As of June 2015, the proportion of the birth cohort screened for HCV increased from a baseline of 7.9% (14,402/182,503) to 32.5% (68,514/211,014) among the AI/AN population served by IHS nationwide; provider training and the use of clinical decision tools were associated with increases in HCV testing. With this fourfold increase in testing in just 3 years, IHS needs to prepare for the challenges associated with increased identification of persons living with HCV infection.

IHS provides care to approximately 1.9 million AI/AN members of 566 federally recognized tribes through a large network of health care facilities. IHS operates 46 hospitals, 344 health centers, and 230 village clinics and health stations in 35 states.* Among hospitals and health clinics, 77% (300/390) are tribally operated, and the remainder are federally operated. Most facilities provide primary care in remote and rural settings.

An estimated 85% of IHS facilities use a common electronic health record (EHR), which routinely provides data to monitor a set of preventive health performance measures through the electronic Clinical Reporting System (CRS). In 2011, annual HCV antibody testing of the birth cohort was added as a performance measure to establish a baseline in anticipation of the release of expanded CDC recommendations for HCV testing in August 2012. HCV testing coverage is measured as the proportion of the total health care users within the population (i.e., AI/AN residents of a defined catchment community with at least one clinical visit in the past 3 years) born during 19451965 with at least one documented HCV antibody test and no previous recorded diagnosis of HCV infection. Persons with current HCV infection were identified using International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. HCV antibody testing was ascertained using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes, or local facility taxonomies. Nationally, CRS reports HCV antibody tests performed in patients in all federal and tribal facilities by sex and age. Data from federally operated IHS facilities were further stratified by facility, sex, and age; because of current data sharing agreements, such stratification was not performed on data from tribal facilities. No patient-level data are shared on the CRS platform. Results from HCV antibody tests are not available in aggregate, and thus, are not reported here.

Because IHS facilities are decentralized, implementation of HCV testing for persons in the birth cohort is a local decision based on capacity and priorities. With the publication of HCV screening recommendations by CDC in August 2012, support for HCV testing was integrated into existing programs using methods and strategies that have been documented as successful in IHS facilities (e.g., EHR clinical decision support tools, local testing policies, and nursing collaborative agreements to order laboratory tests for indicated testing procedures) (7). Based on best practices identified nationally, regionally, and locally, IHS also implemented clinical trainings and obtained telehealth support. Provider training and other technical assistance were offered to all facilities; however, their use was optional.

During 20122015, the unique birth cohort patients tested for HCV antibody in combined federal and tribal IHS facilities increased fourfold from 14,402 (7.9%) to 68,514 (32.5%) (Table 1). HCV testing was higher among females across all years (Table 1). The 62 federally operated service units accounted for 53% (112,319/211,014) of the total IHS birth cohort population eligible for testing in 2015; facilities in the Southwest region, which is the most populous among the federally operated facilities, had the highest testing rates (Table 2).

By June 2015, the proportion of the birth cohort tested by geographic regions varied from 31.2% to 41.2%. However, there was much greater variation in birth cohort testing observed by facility, ranging from 1.9% to 75.1%. The average testing coverage of the birth cohort among federal facilities in the top testing quartile was 58.5% (17,288/29,606); 14 (93%) of the 15 facilities had deployed the HCV clinical decision support testing reminder as of June 2015. Among the bottom quartile of federal facilities, none had implemented a clinical decision tool; average testing coverage of the birth cohort was 16.4% (2,781/17,128).
Discussion

Substantial gains toward polio eradication were made in 2015, with a 79% decrease in the number of polio cases reported worldwide compared with the number of cases reported in 2014. The removal of Nigeria from the list of countries with endemic polio in 2015 creates the opportunity for the African Region to join the Region of the Americas and the South-East Asia, Western Pacific, and European regions, as the fifth of six WHO regions to be certified free of indigenous WPV. Certification will occur after a minimum of 3 years of sensitive AFP surveillance. In addition, the Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradications declaration of the eradication of WPV type 2 in 2015, and the absence of reported circulation of WPV type 3 since 2012, allows focus on WPV type 1 as the sole circulating type of WPV in the world, endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. WHO considers the continued transmission of WPV type 1 between both countries to constitute a public health emergency of international concern under the 2005 International Health Regulations. Continued focus on identifying groups of children who missed polio vaccination through routine immunization or SIAs, improving SIA quality, and increasing AFP surveillance sensitivity in these countries is needed to stop transmission.

In 2015, Afghanistan had a major reduction in WPV cases. The majority of cases were reported from Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan, and were genetically linked to cases in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for continued improvement of cross-border coordination and SIA synchronization. Although some children are missed during SIAs in Afghanistan because of inaccessibility and security concerns, the majority are missed during SIAs because of managerial issues, including inadequate microplanning and campaign implementation. The southern region, although accessible for program implementation, has very limited access for supervision and monitoring. Innovative approaches, such as the 4th-day revisit strategy during campaigns, the use of permanent vaccination teams dedicated to regular house-to-house visits, and vaccination at transit points leading in and out of insecure areas need to continue to be regularly used to reach all missed children (5). The recent establishment of emergency operations centers at the national level and in three critical regions enhances the countrys capacity to plan and implement polio eradication activities.

Progress in Pakistan accounted for most of the sharp decline in the number of polio cases during 20152016. The substantial gains made are, at least in part, attributable to the establishment of a cohesive national emergency operations center that implemented a rigorous National Polio Eradication Emergency Action Plan (6). However, operational problems with vaccination of all children during SIAs, program accountability at all levels, and ongoing movement of unvaccinated children across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border remain challenges facing the polio program in Pakistan.

Although no WPV cases were detected in countries without endemic WPV circulation, seven countries reported cVDPV outbreaks during 20152016, demonstrating the risk for VDPV emergence associated with low OPV coverage. In each of these countries, certain factors, such as the concurrent Ebola epidemic in Guinea and instability in vaccine procurement and public trust in Ukraine, diminished the quality of routine immunization services and allowed the emergence and spread of the outbreaks. Approximately 95% of cVDPV cases since 2006 have been caused by cVDPV2 (9). Therefore, with certification of the eradication of WPV type 2, in April 2016, 154 of 155 planned countries and territories** discontinued use of type 2 Sabin vaccine by switching from tOPV to bOPV for routine and supplementary immunization during a globally synchronized initiative that spanned 2 weeks, from April 17May 1, 2016 (9). The global switch from tOPV to bOPV will markedly reduce the risk associated with type 2 cVDPV emergence and transmission; however, the global community must continue to support strong routine immunization service delivery to curb the risk for type 1 or type 3 cVDPV outbreaks or transmission after WPV importation from countries with endemic poliovirus transmission.

With progress made during 20152016 toward interruption of WPV transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the world is closer than ever to the eradication of polio. Continued cooperation between the two countries is needed for this goal to be reached. In addition, the greater worldwide community needs to remain vigilant in implementing the Global Polio Eradication Initiatives Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan for 20132018 to end WPV and VDPV transmission (10).
A Mismatch Between Patient Education Materials About Sickle Cell Disease and the Literacy Level of Their Intended Audience

Elizabeth McClure, MS; Jared Ng, MD; Kelly Vitzthum, MPH; Rima Rudd, ScD

Suggested citation for this article: McClure E, Ng J, Vitzthum K, Rudd R. A Mismatch Between Patient Education Materials About Sickle Cell Disease and the Literacy Level of Their Intended Audience. Prev Chronic Dis 2016;13:150478. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.150478external icon.

PEER REVIEWED

Abstract

Introduction

Despite the first goal of the 2010 National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, the literacy demands of much health information exceeds the reading skills of most US adults. The objective of this study was to assess the health literacy level of publicly available patient education materials for people with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods

We used 5 validated tools to evaluate 9 print and 4 online patient education materials: the simple measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) to assess reading grade level, the Peter Mosenthal and Irwin Kirsch readability formula (PMOSE/IKIRSCH) to assess structure and density, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to assess actionability (how well readers will know what to do after reading the material) and understandability, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDCs) Clear Communication Index (Index) to obtain a comprehensive literacy demand score, and the Printed Cancer Education Materials for African Americans Cultural Sensitivity Assessment Tool.

Results

Materials scores reflected high reading levels ranging from 8th grade to 12th grade, appropriate (low) structural demand, and low actionability relative to understandability. CDC suggests that an appropriate Index score should fall in or above the 90th percentile. The scores yielded by materials evaluated in this assessment ranged from the 44th to the 76th percentiles. Eight of the 13 materials scored within the acceptable range for cultural sensitivity.

Conclusion

Reading levels of available patient education materials exceed the documented average literacy level of the US adult population. Health literacy demands should be a key consideration in the revision and development of patient education materials for people with SCD.

Top

Introduction

Public healths population-based strategies for improving community health include outreach to and communication with vulnerable populations. Patients, their families, and their communities need clear, understandable information; therefore, clear communication is a component of public healths mission at the national, regional, state, and local levels (1). As indicated by the 2010 National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, accessible health information is key to promoting population health (2).

The first goal of the 2010 National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy calls for the development and dissemination of health and safety information that is accurate, accessible, and actionable (2). However, surveys conducted by the US Department of Education and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicate that large proportions of adults in the United States and in most industrialized nations have difficulty understanding commonly available written information (38). The most recent assessment of adult literacy skills indicates that more than half of US adults have difficulty using print materials and basic arithmetic in everyday activities and tasks (7). Each wave of literacy assessments of US adults indicated that minority population groups were more likely than majority population groups to have limited literacy skills (4,7,8). Approximately 80% of people with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the United States identify as black (9). The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) found that only 2% of US black adults were proficient in general literacy skills compared with 13% of the general population (8). The 2006 NAAL subreport, which addresses health literacy, found that 12% of US adults were proficient in prose, document, and numeric health compared with only 2% of black adults (5). Although easily understandable health information should be accessible to everyone, special consideration should be given to making health information accessible to population groups with documented low literacy skills  those living in poverty and in under-resourced areas, members of minority population groups, and members of immigrant populations.

Unfortunately, as more than 2,000 peer reviewed studies showed, health information is often inaccessible because materials are written at reading levels that exceed the literacy skills of most US adults (3). Furthermore, one study in health literacy indicated that people with limited literacy were more likely to experience diminished health outcomes (10). The mismatch between the literacy skills of patients and the literacy demands of health education materials and instructions may play a significant role in enabling or inhibiting people to make healthful choices (6,11,12).

Insights from health literacy studies are directly applicable to public healths mission to improve the health of communities and the prevention and management of chronic diseases. SCD is a significant concern among the many issues addressed in public health practice. This disease is disproportionately experienced by people of African, Mediterranean, or Latin descent (13) and affects an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people in the United States (9,13,14). Several acute and chronic complications are associated with SCD, requiring complex disease management in both home and clinical settings. However, SCD patients in the United States have notably diminished comprehensive care services available to them, relative to other genetic disorders (15). Thus, patients with SCD and their family members could benefit from having appropriate educational materials about treatment options and procedures to help them in planning and making decisions (3). However, studies and investigations related to health literacy and SCD are absent from the literature. This study examines the literacy level required for use of available SCD educational materials (literacy demand) and the cultural appropriateness of such information for the intended audience.

Top

Methods

The lead author (E.M.) conducted an initial search of the literature to find widely available educational materials related to SCD. Because state health departments, public hospitals, and other public institutions frequently rely on free print and electronic information provided by national organizations when choosing educational materials for families and communities, we evaluated only free materials. We identified materials through the PubMed database by using the MeSH term sickle cell anemia or one of the key terms, sickle cell or sickling, in the title and abstract and the publication type, patient education. The educational materials were reviewed and were excluded if they were not written in English, if they were not free, if they were not intended for use in the United States, or if they did not meet the topic criterion of patient education. These criteria yielded 9 print and 4 online materials, which we then reviewed for literacy and numeracy demand (ie, the level of literacy and facility with arithmetic required for readers to understand the material and take appropriate action based on what they read).

We analyzed the educational materials by using several tools and guidelines to assess the characteristics of the materials (Table 1). The simple measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) readability test was used to ascertain school grade reading level. SMOG determines grade level with attention to both word and sentence length (16). The PMOSE/IKIRSCH measure (named for the individuals who developed the measure, Peter B Mosenthal and Irwin S. Kirsch) was used to assess structure and density in displays (lists, charts, graphs) contained in the materials (17). PMOSE/IKIRSCH provides a grade-level score based on the complexity of documents and the presence of all needed information within the confines of the document. A series of bullet points was considered a list if the content of each bullet point was less than a complete sentence.

We used the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to evaluate the understandability and actionability of materials (18).Understandability is the degree to which people with low health literacy can interpret key messages, and actionability is the degree to which people can know the proper next steps (eg, when and where to seek care, which healthful behaviors to adopt) on the basis of the information provided (19,20). In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDCs) Clear Communication Index (Index) was used to provide one overall outcome measure of readability and audience appropriateness, which is an amalgamation of measures related to the relevance of 1 to 4 factors  core items, behavioral recommendations, numbers, and risk (21). Because minority racial/ethnic groups make up most of the SCD patient population, the Index stresses that analyses and discourse must examine issues of culture in addition to, and in the context of, health literacy. The Index assesses appropriateness for the audience and, therefore, cultural appropriateness. However, to more specifically assess the materials cultural appropriateness, we also applied the Printed Cancer Education Materials for African Americans Cultural Sensitivity Assessment Tool (AACSAT). This tool measures acceptability in the cultural domain that the other measurement tools we used do not address, in the format, visual message, and written message (22).

Three authors (E.M., J.N., K.V.) independently scored all materials with each tool. As part of a training in health literacy theory and reading level measurement in a graduate course at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, each of these 3 authors reviewed a set of materials unrelated to the subject matter and presented their findings to a panel of 8 experts trained in health literacy theory to analyze any differences, resolve errors, and establish consensus. Thereafter, each of the study materials was read and assessed by each of the 3 authors independently, and inconsistencies were resolved in group meetings of all authors. The PEMAT, Index, and AACSAT components each contain value judgments bounded by standardized parameters. For these assessments, the average of the reviewer scores was reported. When the 2 initial scores differed by more than 10%, the scores were discussed and recalculated by all 3 authors. The lead author (E.M.) was solely responsible for the AACSAT.

Top

Results

The PubMed search returned 6 sources for patient education information of which 3 sources were eliminated during initial review because they were not written in English, were not available free of charge, were not intended for use in the United States, or were not related to patient education. The 3 remaining sources of patient education materials were CDC (23), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (24), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) (25). NIH and AAFP materials were Web-based, and the CDC materials were formatted for print distribution but were available online. The NIH publication was a multipage site with comprehensive outlines of risks, diagnoses, symptoms, and treatments (24). It included lists, charts, statistical graphs, and other graphics. AAFP, however, provided a 1-page synopsis of SCD for parents of children with a new diagnosis of SCD. Its website contained no charts, statistical graphs, or other graphics (25). Five of the 9 materials from CDC addressed self-management and complication prevention. Those 5 CDC materials ranged in length from 1 to 40 pages of text, and 2 of the 5 included photo images. Four of the 9 materials focused on disease overview and disease inheritance. They ranged in length from 1 to 2 pages, and they all contained photos. Two of them contained an image illustrating the inheritance pattern of SCD (23). Table 2 presents the scores from each of the 5 tools for each of the educational materials.

The SMOG scores of the materials we evaluated ranged from 8th grade to 12th grade reading level; most materials fell in the 10th grade to 12th grade range. A SMOG score of 7 or below is recommended for average readers. A score of 8 is generally assumed to represent the reading skills of average high school students (16). SMOG focuses on word and sentence length. Several sections of the assessed materials contained long complex sentences exceeding 3 lines of text.

Only 3 of the materials (printed or Web-based) contained lists, and none contained charts or statistical graphs. PMOSE/IKIRSCH assesses charts, statistical graphs, lists, and layout and is scored on a 17-point scale. All materials with lists received a PMOSE/IKIRSCH score indicating a low complexity level (Table 2). Scores in this range are estimated to require an 8th-grade literacy level. As indicated by the PMOSE/IKIRSCH tool, use of simple lists with 1 heading and a limited number of items minimizes literacy demand (17).

Next, all 13 materials were scored with PEMAT. All materials scored above the 50th percentile in understandability, except the How Is Sickle Cell Anemia Treated NIH Web page (Table 2). As noted, PEMAT evaluates understandability of materials (ie, patients from different backgrounds can understand the messages conveyed) and actionability (ie, patients from different backgrounds know what to do with the information), and scoring is based on clarity of purpose, organization, and difficulty of content (including numerical demand). PEMAT has no recommended cutoff for acceptable scores. Rather, the scores are meant to be used as relative indicators of quality when choosing between materials (18). Low PEMAT scores indicate that the materials assessed would be improved by simplifying content. For example, all numerical concepts should be presented in a way that does not require the reader to perform any calculations (19). Finally, all 13 materials scored low on PEMAT in actionability, relative to usability. Many of the materials discussed healthful behaviors but did not provide explicit instruction or diagrams demonstrating actions to be taken.

The Index yields a percentile score, and CDC states that documents with appropriate health literacy demand will score at the 90th percentile or higher (21,26). None of the materials received a score in the 90th percentile or higher, and some were below the 50th percentile (Table 2). The Index has 7 main areas of interest, including 2 behavior- or action-oriented foci and 2 numeric concept-related foci. Similar to the recommendations drawn from PEMAT, low scores from the Index assessment indicate that the included materials could be improved with more behavioral and instructive language.

Finally, the AACSAT printed cancer education materials yielded scores in the acceptable range for 8 of the 13 materials evaluated (Table 2). Scores were acceptable if materials achieved cultural relevance and appropriateness for the intended audience in format, content, and graphics (22). Acceptable scores from the AACSAT were obtained by meeting the audience-specific literacy demand requirements addressed in SMOG, PMOSE/IKIRSCH, PEMAT, and Index and inclusion of culturally relevant and modern imagery (22).

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Discussion

The free patient education materials assessed are those derived from a PubMed search meant to capture documents that clinicians would be likely to recommend to patients, that came from government agencies or professional societies, and that public health departments are likely to disseminate through community organizations and clinics. The reading level of the materials assessed fell between 8th-grade and 12th-grade levels, and these scores are considered too high for the general US adult population (27). Problematic content associated with high scores can be mitigated with attention to vocabulary (ie, substitute short and common terms for long, unusual, or technical terms. For example, use doctor instead of physician) and with attention to sentence length (ie, long sentences increase reading difficulty). The various charts and lists included in the assessed materials yielded literacy demand scores at appropriate levels. Scores related to the graphics explaining heredity of SCD, however, indicated high literacy and numeracy demand. Results also indicated a need for action-oriented language (eg, Do X. Then do Y. rather than something like It is recommended that patients do X followed by Y.) and instructions about what to do as a result of reading the materials. At the same time, findings indicated that some basic concepts were clearly described and that many of the materials contained culturally appropriate content.

Given the proportion of Americans proficient in quantitative literacy reported in the 2003 NAAL report and in numeracy reported in the 2013 OECD report, use of numeric content must be treated with caution (8). Broad assessments of the 13 materials evaluated suggest that the presentation of numeracy content was overly complex and lacked adequate explanation. The Index tool points out that an explanation with graphics is particularly important for mathematically complex concepts such as those displayed in the inheritance tree in patient materials related to risk and sickle cell trait (2325). Insights at this level of detail demonstrate the strength of the Index, a more complex tool. The inheritance graphics and explanations of illustrations in educational materials for people with SCD require careful attention to ensure they are understandable by their intended audience.

Our assessment of the 13 patient education materials included in our analysis suggests that literacy and numeracy demands associated with use of these materials are likely to exacerbate difficulties people with SCD have in understanding patient education information designed to assist them in managing their disease. This may contribute to health literacy disparities and related health outcomes outlined by the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (2). The educational materials addressing SCD receive scores that exceed recommended reading levels to ensure accessibility for the average American adult who has completed high school (27).

The content of the materials evaluated addressed some of the major issues related to SCD. Many issues that affect lifelong health of people with SCD, however, were not covered. Several patients lose primary and regular health care during the transition from pediatric to adult care (15). These ideas were covered in the publication 9 Steps to Living Well with Sickle Cell Disease in College, but transition of care is not directly addressed in that publication (23). Additionally, management of SCD differs from childhood to adulthood, and no specific guidelines were offered for each stage of life in the materials assessed. Finally, perhaps the most complex issues in living with SCD relate to accessing information on pain management and routine care (28). The materials examined in this study did not address these issues directly.

Our study had 2 limitations. First, no patient group or review team apart from the authors was involved in the analysis of materials. Therefore, assessments were inadequate for drawing full conclusions regarding cultural relevance and appropriateness (29). However, AACSAT provided one indication of appropriateness of the patient education materials for their intended audience (22). Second, the sample was limited to free publications. Many educational materials for patients with SCD were developed by nongovernment organizations and by private institutions and were not necessarily free. Only free materials were included in this evaluation. Despite these limitations, this study provides an assessment of available materials through use of several different tools for assessing health literacy demand. Use of 5 different tools highlighted strengths and weaknesses of patient education materials in several domains of health literacy  organization, content, word choice, numeracy, usability, actionability, and cultural sensitivity.

Resulting scores for the 13 publications evaluated fell short of the standards articulated in the commonly referenced Doak, Doak, and Root text, Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills, which covers educational theories and applies them to improving health communication (27), and in the 2010 National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (2). A better match between the literacy requirements of the materials and the known literacy levels of their audience would better address information access needs of patients with SCD. Matching materials to their audience would improve the ability of people with SCD to make decisions and take healthful action.

The results of both the preliminary literature search and materials assessments suggest that there is a shortage of available and appropriate published information for people with SCD. Study findings indicate that SCD patient education materials should be revised or developed to use language tailored to their intended audience (24). In addition, input from patient focus groups to address appropriateness and usefulness (29) is critical.

This study supports the importance of health literacy as a key consideration in the development and revision of patient education materials for people with SCD. Health departments should assess the suitability of materials they distribute in their communities. In so doing, health departments can use existing tools such as the Index and related documentation for analyses. An understanding of the literacy skills of US adults must help shape the development of important health information (30). An awareness of the existing mismatch between commonly available health materials and the literacy levels of the intended audience can help inform strategic decisions of public health professionals for dissemination of information.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the people with sickle cell disease and their families who voiced a need for education materials in the qualitative work under way by the Department of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Elizabeth McClure, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Epidemiology, 135 Dauer Dr, 2101 McGavranGreenberg Hall, CB No 7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Telephone: 785-865-8212. Email: emcclure@unc.edu.

Author Affiliations: Jared Ng, Kelly Vitzthum, Rima Rudd, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. McClure is also affiliated with Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

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References

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Tables

Table 1. Comparison of Characteristics Captured by Four Tools for Assessing Health Literacy Demand

Literacy Assessment Tool SMOG PMOSE/IKIRSCH PEMAT Index Organization Tool does not assess this component Simple-list structure Material breaks or chunks information into short sections Material uses bulleted or numbered lists Sections have informative headers Material is organized in chunks with headings Combined-list structure (includes pie-charts and time-lines) Presents information in logical sequence Most important information is summarized in first paragraph or section Intersected-list structure (includes bar charts, line graphs, and maps) Provides a summary Nested-list structure (includes bar charts and line graphs with tested tables Material uses visual cues Material contains a reasonable number of labels Material uses visual aids Material contains a reasonable number of items Visual aids reinforce content rather than distract Dependence (material) does not make reference to information in an outside document) Visual aids have clear titles or captions Material uses illustrations and photographs that are clear and uncluttered Material uses simple tables with short and clear row/column headings Content of Main Message Tool does not assess this component Tool does not assess this component Purpose is evident Material contains one main message No distractors Main message is at the top, beginning, or front Main message is emphasized with a visual cue Material contains visual(s) that convey or support the main message Material explains what is known or not known about topic Word Choice and Style Material contains minimal necessary word length Tool does not assess this component Material uses common, everyday language Material always uses language the primary audience would use Material contains minimal necessary sentence length Medical terms are defined Main message and calls to action use active voice Active voice is used Use of Numbers Tool does not assess this component Tool does not assess this component Numbers are clear and easy to understand Material always explains what the numbers mean Material does not expect user to perform calculations Audience does not have to conduct mathematical calculations Risk Tool does not assess this component Tool does not assess this component Tool does not assess this component Material explains the nature of risk Material explains the risks and benefits of recommended behaviors If numeric probability is included, it is explained with text or a visual Actionability Tool does not assess this component Tool does not assess this component Material states at least one action reader can take Material includes one or more calls to action for primary audience Material addresses user directly when describing action Material includes one or more behavioral recommendations for primary audience Action is broken down into manageable, explicit steps Material explains why recommendation is important Material provides a tool that can help user take action Material includes specific directions about how to perform the behavior Material explains how to use the charts, graphs, tables, or diagrams to take actions

Table 2. Health Literacy Demand Scores of 13 Patient Education Materials on Sickle Cell Disease, Evaluated by Measurement Tool

Measurement Tool Educational Material SMOGa PMOSE/ IKIRSCH Measureb PEMAT Usabilityc PEMAT

Actionabilityc PEMAT Overallc Indexd AACSATe Toolkit for Living Well With Sickle Cell Disease (16) 10 5 68 58 64 57 3.0 Tips Sheet: Supporting Students with Sickle Cell Disease (16) 12 6 65 76 70 58 2.2 Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell Disease (16) 11 f 74 0 38 44 3.2 Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell Disease and College (16) 11 f 73 40 61 75 2.3 Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell and Pregnancy (16) 11 f 68 36 52 55 3.0 Fact Sheet: Sickle Cell Trait 10 f 75 27 51 63 3.1 Living Well With Sickle Cell Disease (16) 10 f 70 28 49 59 3.0 Five Tips to Prevent Infection 10 f 85 63 74 76 3.0 Emergency Guide: When to See the Doctor (16) 9 f 83 64 72 64 3.2 NIH Web pages: What Is Sickle Cell Anemia (17)? 10 f 78 0 42 46 2.5 NIH Web pages: Causes (17) 10 8 66 0 35 53 2.5 NIH Web pages: How Is Sickle Cell Anemia Treated (17)? 12 f 44 18 32 52 2.0 AAFP Web page: When Your Child Has Sickle Cell Disease (18) 8 f 75 62 68 71 2.9

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Longitudinal Trends in Tobacco Availability, Tobacco Advertising, and Ownership Changes of Food Stores, Albany, New York, 20032015

Akiko S. Hosler, PhD; Douglas H. Done, MPH; Isaac H. Michaels, MPH; Diana C. Guarasi, MPH; Jamie R. Kammer, MPH

Suggested citation for this article: Hosler AS, Done DH, Michaels IH, Guarasi DC, Kammer JR. Longitudinal Trends in Tobacco Availability, Tobacco Advertising, and Ownership Changes of Food Stores, Albany, New York, 20032015. Prev Chronic Dis 2016;13:160002. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.160002external icon.

PEER REVIEWED

Abstract

Introduction

Frequency of visiting convenience and corner grocery stores that sell tobacco is positively associated with the odds of ever smoking and the risk of smoking initiation among youth. We assessed 12-year trends of tobacco availability, tobacco advertising, and ownership changes in various food stores in Albany, New York.

Methods

Eligible stores were identified by multiple government lists and community canvassing in 2003 (n = 107), 2009 (n = 117), 2012 (n = 135), and 2015 (n = 137). Tobacco availability (all years) and advertising (2009, 2012, and 2015) were directly measured; electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were included in 2015.

Results

Percentage of stores selling tobacco peaked at 83.8% in 2009 and declined to 74.5% in 2015 (P for trend = .11). E-cigarettes were sold by 63.7% of tobacco retailers. The largest decline in tobacco availability came from convenience stores that went out of business (n = 11), followed by pharmacies that dropped tobacco sales (n = 4). The gain of tobacco availability mostly came from new convenience stores (n = 24) and new dollar stores (n = 8). Significant declining trends (P < .01) were found in tobacco availability and any tobacco advertising in pharmacies and in low (<3 feet) tobacco advertising in convenience stores and stores overall. Only one-third of stores that sold tobacco in 2003 continued to sell tobacco with the same owner in 2015.

Conclusion

The observed subtle declines in tobacco availability and advertising were explained in part by local tobacco control efforts, the pharmacy industrys self-regulation of tobacco sales, and an increase in the states tobacco retailer registration fee. Nonetheless, overall tobacco availability remained high (>16 retailers per 10,000 population) in this community. The high store ownership turnover rate suggests that a moratorium of new tobacco retailer registrations would be an integral part of a multi-prong policy strategy to reduce tobacco availability and advertising.

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Introduction

Most tobacco retailers also sell food (eg, convenience stores, supermarkets, and drug stores) and are the primary community locations where people of all ages are exposed to tobacco products and pro-tobacco messages. Studies of youth tobacco-related behavior indicate that frequency of visiting convenience and corner grocery stores that sell tobacco is positively associated with the odds of ever smoking and the risk of smoking initiation (1,2). Largely unregulated point-of-sale tobacco advertising entices experimental smoking by adolescents and encourages experimental smokers to become regular smokers (3,4). Point-of-sale tobacco advertising is associated positively with illegal tobacco purchases by underaged youth (5). At the community level, both youth and adult smoking is positively associated with densities of tobacco retailers in the neighborhood where they live (69). Furthermore, proximity to tobacco retail outlets triggers stronger urges to smoke (10) and reduces the likelihood of smoking cessation by adult smokers (11).

As part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, the public health community has experimented with promoting laws against tobacco sales in pharmacies and grocery stores and regulations that curtail the number or density of tobacco outlets in communities and near schools (1215). Determining the feasibility of such approaches requires an understanding of the tobacco retail environment. However, research findings on the tobacco environment are mostly cross-sectional. Studies that examined long-term changes in tobacco availability and advertising are scarce.

The purpose of this study is to describe and explain trends in directly measured tobacco availability, tobacco advertising, and ownership changes in various types of retail stores selling food in a defined urban community from 2003 to 2015. We also assessed the availability and advertising of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in 2015, because this new product is now the most used tobacco product among middle- and high-school students (16).

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Methods

The setting of this study was 6 zip code areas in downtown Albany, New York. This area has been designated as a priority community of our universitys research center since 2002 because of elevated chronic disease risks of its residents, including high prevalence of smoking (17). On the basis of decennial population census data, the study area had a population of 52,700 in 2000 and 54,100 in 2010, or about 55% of the citys total population in both years. Approximately 42% of the area residents were African-American, 8% were Hispanic, and 4% were Asian, with the poverty rate of 34%.

Data collection took place from June through August in 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2015. We defined an eligible store as a retail outlet that sold at least one of the following indicator food items: fresh milk, bread, or fruits or vegetables that were fresh, frozen, or canned. Stores that were located inside the access-restricted area of an office building were excluded. We initially identified locations of stores by combining various administrative lists of retailers obtained from government agencies (ie, lists of inspected food retailers, registered tobacco retailers, off-premises liquor license holders, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program authorized retailers, and authorized lottery retailers). Our team of trained survey takers systematically canvassed the study area to verify the eligibility of all listed stores and find additional eligible stores not on the lists. With permission from the store owner or manager, we conducted an in-store observational assessment using a paper tool called the Food Retail Outlet Survey Tool. This tool had excellent interrater agreement of all tobacco measures (  0.90) (18). All eligible stores granted permission to conduct an in-store assessment in all data collection years. The University at Albany institutional review board reviewed and approved the study protocols.

Tobacco availability was measured by the presence of any tobacco products for sale in 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2015. We used the registered tobacco retailers lists obtained from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to verify the legality of selling tobacco and to collect store ownership information. We also used the New York State Department of Healths Youth Access Tobacco Enforcement Annual Reports to identify any disciplinary actions on retailers that resulted in tobacco registration suspension or revocation. In 2009, 2012, and 2015, indoor tobacco advertising was measured by the presence of any objects bearing the name, image, or both of a tobacco brand that were placed inside the store. The platforms of advertising included stickers, posters, plaques, price cards, and banners, as well as free-standing pieces such as counter mats and change trays. Tobacco advertising placed at the eye level of a young child (<3 feet) was measured separately and identified in this study as low tobacco advertising. Availability of e-cigarettes and indoor advertising for e-cigarettes were measured in 2015 only.

Data on supermarkets, convenience stores (with or without gas pumps), pharmacies, dollar stores, and specialty food stores (ie, stores that sell food products such as produce, meat, fish, dairy, baked goods, ethnic groceries, or natural foods) were retained for this study. We excluded seasonal outdoor markets and produce trucks.

Counts and percentages of stores selling tobacco or e-cigarettes and having their advertising inside the store were tabulated for each relevant data collection year. We used the 2 trend test to evaluate significance of the changes in percentages over time. Reasons for changes of tobacco availability, whether it was because of tobacco sale status change (dropped or added tobacco sales) or business conversion (closing or opening of stores) were examined by tracking stores longitudinally. We defined existing store as a store that has been operating the same type of food business at the same address, regardless of a change in appearance, name, or ownership. A store that went out of business was defined as a store that disappeared physically (boarded up or demolished) or was transformed into a different type of food or nonfood business. All analyses were repeated for each type of store. We also tracked changes in ownership for a baseline cohort of stores that sold tobacco in 2003. SPSS version 23.0 (IBM Corporation) was used for data analysis. In addition to quantitative analysis, we conducted an informal interview with 2 key members of the tobacco-free coalition based in Albany in 2015 and collected information about their activities with regard to reducing tobacco availability and advertising in stores.

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Results

Eligible stores included for this study were 107 in 2003, 117 in 2009, 135 in 2012, and 137 in 2015.

Tobacco availability and advertising

The number of stores selling tobacco peaked at 107 in 2012 and declined slightly to 102 in 2015 (Table 1). Percentage of stores selling tobacco peaked at 83.8% in 2009 and gradually declined to 74.5% in 2015, but the trend was not significant (P = .11). Convenience stores and supermarkets continued to have high percentages (80%100%) of stores selling tobacco, and dollar stores had increasing percentages of stores selling tobacco (P = .08). Pharmacies were the only type of store in which percentage of stores selling tobacco significantly declined, from 100% in 2003 and 2009 to 50% in 2015 (P = .003). All stores selling tobacco were registered properly to sell tobacco.

Indoor tobacco advertising was found in 76.1% of all stores in 2009, then gradually declined to 65.0% in 2015, although the trend was not significant (P = .05). Common platforms of advertising were hanging cigarette price cards and plates attached to tobacco manufacturer-supplied cigarette display cases. Most convenience stores had advertising, while no supermarkets had advertising in all 3 years. Additionally, all supermarkets eliminated tobacco display shelves and made tobacco products totally invisible from customers before the 2009 data collection. We learned that this was the result of a targeted campaign by members of the local tobacco-free coalition, who successfully negotiated with all major regional supermarket chains to cover up tobacco products in 2007 and 2008. Pharmacies were the only type of stores with a significant decline of having any indoor tobacco advertising, from 100% in 2009 to 50% in 2015 (P = .007).

Convenience stores were most likely to have low tobacco advertising (57.7% in 2009). However, the proportion of convenience stores having low tobacco advertising declined significantly to 18.8% in 2015 (P < .001). Supermarkets, pharmacies, and dollar stores had no low tobacco advertising at all in all data collection years. Stores overall also had a significant decline in low advertising, from 39.3% (46 stores) in 2009 to 11.7% (16 stores) in 2015 (P < .001).

E-cigarette availability and advertising

E-cigarettes were sold in 47.4% of all stores, or 63.7% of stores selling tobacco in 2015. Convenience stores were most likely to sell e-cigarettes (63.5%), followed by dollar stores (55.6%) and pharmacies (50.0%). No supermarkets sold e-cigarettes, and all e-cigarette-selling stores were registered to sell tobacco.

All dollar stores that sold e-cigarettes (5 of 5) and nearly all convenience stores that sold e-cigarettes (52 of 54) had indoor advertising of the product; supermarkets, pharmacies, and specialty stores had no advertising for e-cigarettes. Some pharmacies strategically placed e-cigarettes next to tobacco cessation products. Common platforms of e-cigarette advertising were manufacturer-supplied display cases and brand-name stickers. Low advertising of e-cigarettes was rare and found only in 2 convenience stores.

Reasons for tobacco availability change

The most common reason for the decrease in tobacco availability was stores that sold tobacco going out of business (Table 2). Sixteen such stores, of which 11 were convenience stores, went out of business during the 12-year study period. Conversely, the most common reason for the increase in tobacco availability was opening new stores that sold tobacco. A total of 39 new stores selling tobacco were added in this community in the 12-year period, with most of them being convenience stores (n = 24) or dollar stores (n = 8).

A change of tobacco sale status in existing stores was much less common. Only one existing store (a dollar store) added the sale of tobacco during the entire study period. Nine stores, (4 pharmacies, 3 specialty food stores, and 2 convenience stores) dropped tobacco sales, and most of them (n = 7) did so during the 2012 to 2015 period. None of these stores had a record of tobacco registration suspension or revocation, indicating that the drop of tobacco sales was voluntary.

Among the 4 pharmacies that dropped tobacco sales, 3 were CVS pharmacy chain stores, which became tobacco-free according to company policy in September 2014 (19), and the remaining pharmacy was independently owned. We learned that the local tobacco-free coalition was directly responsible for the drop of tobacco sales in the independent pharmacy. Members of the coalition repeatedly met with pharmacy owners in the region and persuaded them to discontinue selling tobacco in 2011.

Ownership change

Table 3 presents a summary of ownership changes for the baseline (2003) cohort of 87 stores selling tobacco. Seventy-three stores (83.9%) continuously sold tobacco, but only 29 of them (33.3%) had the same owner for the 12-year period. Two stores had as many as 4 owners in the same period. An additional analysis found that 19 of the cohort of 87 stores were corporate-owned pharmacies, supermarkets, and convenience stores. Although 68.4% of corporate-owned stores continuously sold tobacco without ownership changes, only 23.5% of independently owned stores did the same. This difference was significant at P < .01 (data not shown).

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Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine long-term trends of directly measured tobacco availability, tobacco advertising, and ownership changes in retail stores selling food in a defined community. The longitudinal design allowed us to investigate how and why tobacco availability and advertising changed over time.

During the study period, New York State enacted legislation aimed at reducing tobacco users, including expanding the comprehensive New York State Clean Indoor Air Act in 2003, substantial increases in the state tobacco excise tax in 2008 (from $1.50 to $2.75 per pack) and again in 2010 (to $4.38 per pack), and several amendments of the Youth Access Tobacco Control Law. In 2011, the annual tobacco retailer registration fee was also raised from $100 to $300 (20,21). Despite this anti-tobacco legislation, tobacco remained widely available in this study community. Estimated per 10,000 population, tobacco retailer densities were 16.4 in 2003, 18.2 in 2009, 19.7 in 2012, and 18.7 in 2015. These density figures fell in the highest range reported by a study conducted in comparable midsize cities in California (8). A further analysis indicated that the number of tobacco-selling stores increased at a greater pace in minority neighborhoods (census block groups with racial/ethnic minorities 50%) compared with nonminority neighborhoods. (Figure). We hypothesized that this was explained in part by a higher smoking rate in minority populations, as well as greater availability of affordable commercial properties suited for tobacco retail businesses in the minority neighborhoods. Albany County (where the study community is located) had only a 2% decline in adult smoking prevalence from 2003 to 2009, whereas adjacent urban counties had a nearly 25% decline during the same period (22).

Figure. Number of Stores Selling Tobacco, by Racial/Ethnic Composition of Census Block Groups, Albany, New York, 20032015. [A tabular description of this figure is also available.]

A small number of stores voluntarily dropped tobacco sales: 9 from 2009 through 2015, of which 5 were independently owned convenience stores or specialty food stores. These 5 stores had only 1 cash register each, and their average business hours (76 hours per week) were significantly (P < .01) shorter than those of other stores selling tobacco (113 hours per week), indicating that they were low-volume retailers (data not shown). Voluntary withdrawal of tobacco from convenience stores is rare, and most store owners are not willing to give up selling tobacco products even when incentives are provided (23). We hypothesized that the increase in tobacco registration fee in 2011 was most likely responsible for the drop of tobacco sales in these low-volume retailers. Dropping tobacco sales by chain and independent pharmacies also contributed to a small decline in tobacco availability. This fact reflected a growing social pressure toward a ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies by health care communities (24,25), consumers (12), and policy makers (13), as well as the successful targeted campaign by the local tobacco-free coalition.

For tobacco advertising, we observed that the in-store environment has become less pro-tobacco. The significant decline in low tobacco advertising in all stores  and convenience stores in particular  were important milestones, because the likelihood of young children being exposed to pro-tobacco messages in stores was reduced. Tobacco advertising attached to product display (ie, display cases and price cards), however, was still common in most stores, except in supermarkets and specialty food stores. Pharmacies that were not tobacco-free continued to have open tobacco displays and indoor advertising. A 2011 study of retail tobacco advertising in New York State reported that pharmacies had a 56% bigger space for tobacco display than did all other tobacco retailers. The researchers recommended that pharmacies should be targeted for further campaigns to eliminate point-of-sale advertising (26).

E-cigarettes were available in nearly two-thirds of stores selling tobacco (63.7%). This figure was higher than the previously reported 31% to 34% in a sample of tobacco retailers in the United States (27), 53% in licensed tobacco retailers in Kentucky counties (28), and 59.9% in tobacco retailers in 11 college communities in North Carolina and Virginia (29), suggesting that e-cigarettes are becoming increasingly more available in retail stores. Literature confirms that the market for e-cigarettes has grown rapidly, resulting in a 321% increase in sales during 2012 and 2013 in the United States (30). Nonetheless, e-cigarettes represent only approximately 1% of total tobacco product sales in the United States (30).

Finally, we found that stores selling tobacco had a high business turnover rate; only one-third of the tobacco-selling stores identified at baseline continued to sell tobacco with the same owner in 2015. In New York State, all new store owners must file a tobacco registration at the Department of Taxation and Finance to legally sell tobacco. This requirement creates an opportunity for state and local governments to regulate tobacco availability by setting limits on the number, location, or types of retailers (20). For this community to have a moderate density (<14.0 per 10,000) of tobacco retailers (8), approximately 26 retailers should be eliminated from the 2015 count of 102. We estimated that such a reduction could be achieved if no new registrations were granted for 3 to 4 years. Prohibiting sales of tobacco in pharmacies (including supermarkets with a pharmacy department) would reduce 9 tobacco retailers. Because mostly corporate-owned pharmacies do not change ownership as often as independent convenience stores do, an additional policy approach targeting the elimination of tobacco sales in pharmacies is viable.

Our study has limitations. We focused on stores selling food, because they are the most common and influential type of retailer for community tobacco exposure; however, there are other types of tobacco or e-cigarette retailers from whom we did not collect information. For each data collection year, fewer than 10 bars, clubs, and smoke shops that registered to sell tobacco existed in this community. Additionally, an estimated 3 to 5 vape shops that sold e-cigarettes without New York State tobacco retailer registrations existed. Intervals between data collections were 3 to 6 years, which were sufficiently long to observe significant changes, but the intervals were not sensitive enough to identify a specific point when a change had occurred. We did not collect information on the availability and advertising of tobacco cessation products and medications. The conclusions derived from this study may not be generalizable beyond this study community.

Tobacco availability and advertising in stores can change subtly in response to tobacco control efforts by local public health advocates and an increase in the state tobacco retailer registration fee. The pharmacy industrys self-regulation on the sale of tobacco can also contribute to changes. However, these changes are small and not sufficient to significantly improve the retail tobacco environment overall. Our study community experienced a net increase of 15 tobacco retailers in the 12-year period. Persistent tobacco advertising and a wide availability of e-cigarettes in convenience stores and dollar stores were also noted. Because stores selling tobacco have a high ownership turnover rate, a legislation to enforce a moratorium on new tobacco registrations may be a feasible approach to curb the excess availability of tobacco in this community. An additional policy approach to eliminate tobacco sales in pharmacies and continuous support for local tobacco control efforts targeting minority neighborhoods may be feasible.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant no. U48 DP000028) and the University at Albany Faculty Research Program. We thank the Capital District Tobacco Free Coalition for sharing information about their activity. No author had any conflict of interest to declare.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Akiko S. Hosler, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, East Campus, GEC 147, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144. Telephone: 518-402-1561. Email: ahosler@albany.edu.

Author Affiliations: Douglas H. Done, Isaac H. Michaels, Diana C. Guarasi, Jamie R. Kammer, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York.

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References

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Tables

Table 1. Proportions of Stores Selling Tobacco and E-Cigarettes, and Having Tobacco and E-Cigarette Advertising, by type of Store, Albany, New York, 20032015a



Characteristic Supermarket Convenience

Store Pharmacy Dollar

Store Specialty Food Store Total n/N (%) Sold tobacco 2003 3/3 (100) 72/73 (98.6) 8/8 (100) 0/2 (0) 4/21 (19.0) 87/107 (81.3) 2009 3/3 (100) 78/78 (100) 9/9 (100) 3/5 (60.0) 5/22 (22.7) 98/117 (83.8) 2012 4/5 (80.0) 82/83 (98.8) 8/9 (88.9) 6/9 (66.7) 7/29 (24.1) 107/135 (79.3) 2015 4/5 (80.0) 83/85 (97.6) 5/10 (50.0) 7/9 (77.8) 3/28 (10.7) 102/137 (74.5) P for trend .30 .43 .003 .08 .46 .11 Tobacco advertisement 2009 0/3 (0) 74/78 (94.9) 9/9 (100) 3/5 (60.0) 3/22 (13.6) 89/117 (76.1) 2012 0/5 (0) 78/83 (94.0) 8/9 (88.9) 6/9 (66.7) 3/29 (10.3) 95/135 (70.4) 2015 0/5 (0) 76/85 (89.4) 5/10 (50.0) 7/9 (77.8) 1/28 (3.6) 89/137 (65.0) P for trend NA .17 .007 .47 .21 .05 Low tobacco advertisement 2009 0/3 (0) 45/78 (57.7) 0/9 (0) 0/5 (0) 1/22 (4.5) 46/117 (39.3) 2012 0/5 (0) 25/83 (30.1) 0/9 (0) 0/9 (0) 0/29 (0) 25/135 (18.5) 2015 0/5 (0) 16/85 (18.8) 0/10 (0) 0/9 (0) 0/28 (0) 16/137 (11.7) P for trend NA <.001 NA NA .17 <.001 Sold e-cigarettes 2015 0/5 (0) 54/85 (63.5) 5/10 (50.0) 5/9 (55.6) 1/28 (3.6) 65/137 (47.4) E-cigarette advertisement 2015 0/5 (0) 52/85 (61.2) 0/10 (0) 5/9 (55.6) 0/28 (0) 57/137 (41.6) Low e-cigarette advertisement 2015 0/5 (0) 2/85 (2.4) 0/10 (0) 0/9 (0) 0/28 (0) 2/137 (1.5)

Table 2. Changes in Tobacco Availability in Food Stores, by Number of Stores, Albany, New York, 20032015

Characteristica Supermarket Convenience Store Pharmacy Dollar Store Specialty Food Store Total Stopped selling tobacco 20032009 0 0 0 0 0 0 20092012 0 0 -1 0 -1 -2 20122015 0 -2 -3 0 -2 -7 Total 0 -2 -4 0 -3 -9 Went out of business 20032009 0 -2 -1 0 0 -3 20092012 0 -3 0 -1 0 -4 20122015 0 -6 0 -1 -2 -9 Total 0 -11 -1 -2 -2 -16 Started selling tobacco 20032009 0 0 0 0 0 0 20092012 0 0 0 0 0 0 20122015 0 0 0 1 0 1 Total 0 0 0 1 0 1 Newly opened 20032009 0 8 2 3 1 14 20092012 1 7 0 4 3 15 20122015 0 9 0 1 0 10 Total 1 24 2 8 4 39 Net change 20032009 0 6 1 3 1 11 20092012 1 4 -1 3 2 9 20122015 0 1 -3 1 -4 -5 Total 1 11 -3 7 -1 15

Table 3. Business Status and History of Ownership Transfers, Baseline Cohort of 87 Stores Selling Tobacco, by Number of Stores, Albany, New York, 20032015

Characteristic 1 Owner 2 Owners 3 Owners 4 Owners Total Sold tobacco continuously 29 29 13 2 73 Stopped selling tobacco 5 1 0 0 6 Went out of business 4 2 2 0 8 Total 38 32 15 2 87

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North America: fires at plant and quarry

ICR Newsroom By 12 May 2016

On Tuesday fires broke out at both the Cemex Balcones Quarry, Texas, USA, and the Lehigh Hanson Materials cement plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.



Sara Bouffard, Cemex director of communications, said no one was hurt. The fire was ruled accidental and determined to have been caused by welding. Fire marshal Kory Klabunde said he was unsure how much damage the fire caused, but the investigation was complete.



Lehigh Hanson Health and Safety Director, Gerry Sanderson, said the plant was not shut down or evacuated, and that the coal silo fire had been contained, with damage to the facility appearing to be minimal.

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IKEA on Thursday announced plans to install a solar energy system atop its Memphis store opening late fall 2016. Panel installation will begin this summer, with completion expected in early fall for what will be the largest rooftop solar array in the state of Tennessee.

The 271,000 square-foot future IKEA Memphis, including approximately 800 parking spaces, will be built on 35 acres in the Wolfchase Corridor along the southwestern side of Interstate-40 near the Germantown Parkway exit. Until fall 2016, Memphis-area customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores: Atlanta, GA; Frisco, TX; or St. Louis, MO; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

The stores 250,675-square-foot solar array will consist of a 1.46 MW system, built with 4,424 panels, and will produce approximately 2,000,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 1,406 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)  equal to the emissions of 297 cars or providing electricity for 205 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents at

www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator).

For the development, design and installation of IKEA Memphis customized solar power system, IKEA selected Hannah Solar, an Atlanta-based full service, certified solar integrator. Linkous Construction is managing the site work and building of the store that will reflect the same architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.

We are excited about furthering our sustainability commitment with solar panels on the future Memphis store, said Lars Petersson, IKEA U.S. president. At IKEA, we have a mission to create a better everyday life for the many, and IKEA Memphis can add to this goal with Tennessees largest rooftop solar array.

This installation will represent the 44th solar project for IKEA in the United States, contributing to the IKEA solar presence atop nearly 90 percent of its U.S. locations, with a total generation goal of more than 40 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings  as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement)  and globally allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020, reinforcing its confidence and investment in solar photovoltaic technology.

Consistent with the goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 700,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns approximately 300 wind turbines, including 104 in the U.S.

For more information visit IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.


Thirteen Glass Farm Residents on Saturday became the founding members of the Glass Farm Block Leaders, a group of volunteer who will keep their residents informed and involved in neighborhood and city-wide activities; serve as liaisons between the residents and the neighborhood association; and as ambassadors for new residents on their block.

Glass Farm lies in the heart of the 37406 zip code and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the City of Chattanooga. Blight along with high crime rates in recent years has created an environment where many residents do not feel safe but still have a strong love for their community. These residents are taking a stand to restore the beauty and the safety of their neighborhood block by block.

Dr. Everlena Holmes, a resident of Glenwood, established the Glenwood Block Leaders in 2008 and serves as the coordinator of that group. In 2015, Dr. Holmes established the Avondale Block Leaders.

The Glass Farm Block Leaders will be promoting:

 Physical revitalization of their block by reporting code violations including overgrowth and neighborhood cleanup events.

 Neighborhood safety by reporting and monitoring vacant houses and suspicious activity.

 Social revitalization by welcoming new residents and connecting neighbors to each other at block parties.

 Community empowerment by informing residents of events, community meetings and organizing voices for area concerns.

Glass House Collective, a non-profit working to bring life back to Glass Street and Glass Street back to life through artist and resident led initiatives, serve as sponsors of the Glass Farm Block Leaders.

The founding members are just the beginning of the Glass Farm Block Leaders. The founding members of the Glass Farm Block Leaders include: Maria Bradley, Frank Bryant, Melanie Esquire, Jeffrey Evans, Danna Forester, Audrey McClure, Thomas Miller, Amanda Mitchell, Timothy TJ Mitchell, Johnny Pattman, Janette Richie, Belinda Thronton, and Glenda Welcher.

Dr. Holmes, with the assistance of Good Neighbor Network, Habitat for Humanity, and Glass House Collective, hopes to get a block leader(s) from each of the 29 streets in the Glass Farm Neighborhood. This summer, groups will continue to canvas with local students and organizations to recruit more volunteer block leaders. If residents and other neighborhoods are interested in learning more about how to establish a Block Leaders group for their neighborhood, they can reach Dr. Everlena Holmes at emholmes@epbfi.com or by calling 423-622-0974.
During the golden age of muscle cars, dealerships across the country were more than happy to make your performance car even hotter. With expertise gained from local drag strips, dealers like Yenko Chevrolet in Pennsylvania, John Fitch in Connecticut, and Galpin Ford in Los Angeles would transform stock cars into their own unique regional models, and some have since gone on to become legends in their own right. But those days are largely over, and other than some interior bits and graphic packages, there arent many dealerships left that are willing to crack your brand new car open and tinker with it before you drive it off the lot.

Luckily, it feels like were living in the great golden age of cheap horsepower, so that doesnt seem necessary anymore. The Shelby GT350 packs 526 horsepower, and can be had for under $60K. For a little more, you can drive away (for the love of God, carefully, please) with one of the Dodge Hellcats, the 707-horsepower duo that set the performance car world on its ear. But now, a Ford dealer in Ohio is putting all the high horsepower bargains to shame with a 727-horsepower Mustang GT. The best part, you can drive it off the lot  with no money down  for $39,995. Oh, and they deliver to anywhere in the country, too.

According to Lebanon Ford of Lebanon, Ohios website:

Lebanon Ford Performance (LFP) has found a way to build a 727 horsepower  2016 Mustang GT for: $39,995. This is not a misprint and you are not buying a pre-owned vehicle. This is a brand new, 2016 GT with a ROUSH Phase 2 Supercharger. When we are finished, you are a set of tires, a few suspension tweaks and a good driver away from a 10.95 quarter mile. The best part, we can do it all with $0 down, pending credit approval. Your car will be built and ready to roll within a week and can be shipped to your drive way, any where in the United States.

Starting with a base $32,995 Mustang GT, the performance department bolts on Roushs Phase 2 Supercharger, which lists for $7,549.99. If youre doing the math, that adds up to $39,944.99, netting Lebanon a cool $50.01 in profit. Of course, the base car gets you 727 horsepower, and not much else. The dealer is more than happy to beef up the rest of the car for you, which in our humble opinion probably isnt a bad idea.

Speaking with The Drive, LFPs Roush parts manager Charlie Watson described how the dealer figured out how to win the horsepower war for less. Lebanon wanted to  focus on establishing a nationwide base of enthusiasts rather than making huge profits on each car  something we dont think itll have much trouble doing.

On top of installing the supercharger, LFP will cover everything from brakes to suspension components, to wheels and body kits. It even offers two-tone leather interiors to further set its cars apart. These modifications are popular, and most of the Mustangs end up leaving the lot for around $45$50K, with a few cars reaching close to the $60K mark. Still, compared to the competition, its one hell of a bargain.

It remains to be seen whether or not a Lebanon Mustang can keep up in the corners with a GT350, or really scare the wits out of a Hellcat. But LFP stands behind its work; it offers a three-year, 36,000 powertrain warranty that will be honored at any Ford dealership in the country. With that peace of mind, wed love to get behind the wheel of one and see what it could do at the dragstrip, just like its dealer-special ancestors did half a century ago.

Like classics? Its always Throwback Thursday somewhere.
The box was inconspicuous, but Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) postdoctoral researcher Megan Bruck Syal immediately knew its contents: two meteorites around the size of walnuts. They formed about 4.6 billion years ago and survived a history of violent collisions in the asteroid belt before being bumped into a near-Earth-object orbit by gravitational interactions with the planets.

After finally raining down on Earth, these rocks were scavenged in Antarctica by researchers, sorted and classified at NASA Johnson Space Center, then mailed first-class to Bruck Syal.

Now that these space rocks are in Bruck Syals hands, they are mere months away from fulfilling their destiny. They are to be vaporized by a high-powered laser, and the data they yield on asteroid deflection could one day save the planet.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," Bruck Syal said, referring to the eventual certainty of a large celestial object impacting the Earth. "Our challenge is to figure out how to avert disaster before it happens."

So far, NASA has identified 14,000 near-Earth objects  a number growing by more than 1,500 per year  and calculated the probability of impact for each. Included in that group are more than 1,600 potentially hazardous asteroids that come within 20 times the moons distance to the Earth. But even with all these objects mapped, it doesnt do any good to see the catastrophe coming if nothing can be done to avert it.

Defending the planet with science

Bruck Syal is a member of the Laboratory's small planetary defense team, a group of physicists, material scientists, engineers and computational researchers working with NASA, Los Alamos and Sandia national labs and collaborators across a number of universities and international research centers. The challenge facing this international coalition of scientists is to detect and deflect the next large Earth-bound object.

This program is one of dozens of research efforts that grew out of the capabilities and expertise developed and honed in Lawrence Livermore's weapons program, and an example of how the Laboratory is using science and technology to make the world a safer place.

Over the years, the team has focused its research on two principle methods of asteroid deflection: nuclear explosions and hypervelocity projectiles. The goal isnt to destroy inbound space objects, but rather to nudge their trajectory just enough to make them miss. But its exceedingly difficult to be certain how best to deflect an asteroid, and even more difficult to be certain that it will work at the Earths most urgent moment.

Each comet and asteroid has its own unique character, which presents a challenge for predicting how an individual target would respond to a deflection attempt, Bruck Syal explained. The makeup may vary significantly from asteroid to asteroid. An individual body may have an abnormal orbit or rotation, and its size would also affect which method we might use to deflect it.

Preparing samples for destructive evaluation

Space rocks aren't like most laser targets. They tend to be much more heterogeneous, often containing chondrules, pebbly inclusions that were melted early in solar system history and embedded in a matrix of finer-grained material. It's this heterogeneous nature that makes it difficult to obtain the experimental data that will ultimately inform how best to deflect an incoming asteroid.

Theres very little known about asteroid strength, Bruck Syal said. Were doing everything we can to know more about how asteroid materials respond under extreme conditions.

The final days of these space rocks will be busy. Bruck Syal is teaming up with Laura Chen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford . Chen is analyzing data from recent experiments to help determine what sort of laser pulses to use to extract the data they need from the rocks. The team also needs to get the right set of diagnostics in place to capture the data.

All the while, Bruck Syal will send the rocks across the one-square-mile Laboratory to one of the last remaining master opticians on Earth, who will cut and polish the space rocks down to thicknesses of tens to hundreds of microns, with sub-micron variances across the samples.

Come fall, they will be mounted inside the target chamber at LLNLs Jupiter Laser Facility, a countdown will ensue, and months of preparation will come down to a nanosecond laser pulse, sending a haymaker shockwave through the samples. It is at this moment, when they are vaporized and converted into data, that they will have fulfilled their destiny.

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Scott Mandell, CEO of Enjoy Life Foods, stands May 11, 2016, with trays of his company's products at one of its Schiller Park plants. Mandell co-founded the company, which launched in 2002 and last year was acquired by Mondelez International. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

The social media reaction was both swift and expected last year when news broke that Oreo-maker Mondelez International acquired Enjoy Life Foods, the Chicago-based manufacturer of health-conscious foods free of common allergens.

After all, Mondelez is a Big Food giant known for its processed foods. Think Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins, Cadbury chocolates and, of course, Oreos. Enjoy Life Foods, by comparison, is a young company successfully catering to the fast-growing market of health-focused consumers.

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The two companies couldn't be more different.

"People, quite frankly, were like 'Can't believe you sold out. They're going to change everything,'" said Enjoy Life Foods CEO Scott Mandell.

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Workers at Enjoy Life Foods package cookies May 11, 2016, at a plant in Schiller Park. Enjoy Life has been purchased by Mondelez International and production will be moving to a new 200,000-square foot facility in Indiana. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

"What we told our consumers was, 'Listen, we hear you, No. 1, but No. 2, Mondelez bought us because of our brand promise, not in spite of it. This brand promise is not going to change.'"

Such corporate marriages are becoming increasingly common in a changing food landscape, where large, traditional food companies are gobbling up smaller, nimbler firms already established in the coveted realm of food considered to be natural, organic and healthy. The authentic product stories and trusted brands that resonate with health-focused consumers often are easier to buy than to create in a lab. Put simply: If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.

And wary of screwing up a good thing, large food manufacturers are often giving the smaller companies they acquire freedom to operate independently, along with access to abundant resources in sales and distribution. For companies like Enjoy Life, the impact of such deals can be transformative.

In the next few months, Enjoy Life will be moving production from two plants in Schiller Park to a new 200,000-square foot facility in Indiana, while retaining its corporate headquarters in Chicago. Most of the Schiller Park workforce, which fluctuates between 90 and 130 nonunion employees, will be laid off as Enjoy Life hires new in Indiana, Mandell said.

With more room to grow and increased ability to sell its products globally, Enjoy Life is poised to grow from its projected $50 million in sales this year to a $500 million business within 10 years, Mandell said.

For Deerfield-based Mondelez, a $30 billion global snack food powerhouse, the deal is more about long-term growth strategy. For a purchase price of about $81 million, Mondelez bought a pioneer of the growing "free from" category. Enjoy Life's products  primarily cookies, bars and baking chocolate  are known for being free of the eight most common allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish.

"We used to kid that we're the leader in a category that didn't exist," said Mandell, 45, father of three and a former banker. "And then ultimately, the category did exist."

Enjoy Life Foods operates as a wholly owned subsidiary and makes its own business decisions  an arrangement stipulated by Mondelez, not the other way around, Mandell said.

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That's really what they were buying. It's trust in that brand.  Scott Mandell, CEO of Mondelez-owned Enjoy Life Foods

"We're keeping Enjoy Life separate to nurture its entrepreneurial spirit while offering back-office support and global resources to help Enjoy Life to grow faster than it could otherwise," Valerie Moens, a Mondelez spokeswoman, said in an email.

The arrangement between Mondelez and Enjoy Life Foods aims to strike the delicate balance of keeping a small company true to its roots while pumping it full of resources to make it grow. But it's an arrangement that has been tried, with mixed results, by other food makers. Consider, for example, Kellogg's purchase of California cereal company Kashi in 2000, a success story that turned into what many food industry insiders consider to be a cautionary tale on the importance of autonomy.

In the eight years that followed the acquisition, Kashi continued to operate as an independent company but with much more resources. Sales grew exponentially. As the years progressed, though, Kellogg started to "treat Kashi more like a brand rather than its own separate entity," said Jeff Grogg, a product development executive with Kellogg who worked on the Kashi team until 2009.

Beginning in 2007, Kellogg folded Kashi sales into the larger corporate business and in 2013 moved Kashi to Battle Creek, Mich., where Kellogg is headquartered. Such changes, combined with other corporate decisions and economic factors, led to a precipitous drop in sales.

Now back in California, the Kashi business remains a turnaround in progress. In a quarterly earnings call earlier this month, Kellogg executives said Kashi performance was improving, despite a decrease in sales compared with the same period a year ago. In the early going, it's been smoother sailing for General Mills, which paid $820 million for Annie's, a business known for its organic macaroni and cheese, in 2014.

Annie's, still based in Berkeley, Calif., operates independently and calls its own shots, said Steve Young, Annie's vice president who oversees natural and organic business initiatives for General Mills.

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The thinking, Young said, was: "Let's not break what's not broken."

Since the acquisition, Annie's has expanded into other categories, such as cereal, soup and yogurt  business decisions made by Annie's leadership but assisted by the vast resources and distribution network of General Mills, Young said. Sales are growing by double digits, he said.

"How do you keep the spirit of the small and complement it with the power of the big?" Young said. "We're constantly looking hard at how that might be done better."

For large food companies trying to get with the times, the playbook extends beyond traditional mergers and acquisitions. General Mills has established a venture capital fund called 301 INC, intended to invest in food startups when they're still small. The fund allows General Mills to keep up with the latest in food trends, while also establishing an inside track on deals in certain cases, Young said.

Campbell's Soup Co. has a similar venture fund, called Acre Venture Partners. Other companies may soon be following suit, as the pressure's on to move faster in identifying trends.

Companies also are trying to make what's old new again. ConAgra Foods, the food manufacturer known for brands like Slim Jim, Chef Boyardee and Reddi-Wip, has been working to "renovate" its existing brands with "modern attributes" that appeal to today's consumers, said ConAgra Chief Growth Officer Darren Serrao.

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Case in point: ConAgra announced Wednesday that its Alexia frozen potato products will be sourced from nongenetically modified ingredients by the end of 2016; Alexia also launched two new organic products that will be sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market.

Acquisitions remain key, though. Last May, ConAgra, which is in the process of moving its headquarters from Omaha to Chicago, bought Blake's All Natural Foods, a New Hampshire-based purveyor of pot pies made from mostly organic ingredients, adding to ConAgra's existing quiver of pot pie brands, which include Marie Callender's and Banquet.

"It's very difficult to create new brands," Serrao said. "It's expensive and the odds of success are very low."

Consumers are less likely to embrace a brand created by a large company as authentic, said Victor Friedberg, managing director of the Chicago-based venture capital fund S2G Ventures, which specializes in food investments.

Many better-for-you brands start from some personal story or a sincere belief that appeals to shoppers, Friedberg said.

"The challenge is, as these small companies grow, as the acquisitions take place, can the mission remain front and center in how they operate and what values they adhere to at scale?" Friedberg said.

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In other words, can you sell the business without selling out?

Mandell thinks so. He and co-founder Bert Cohen  who's no longer with the company  launched Enjoy Life in 2002 after developing the plan together at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Enjoy Life quickly grew along with consumer demand for products free from gluten and common allergens. But more capital was needed to take it to the "proverbial next level," Mandell said. In fall 2014, Enjoy Life hired an investment banker and talked to several large food companies before striking the deal with Mondelez.

In the not-so-distant future, shoppers in Europe and other markets throughout the world might be staring at a grocery shelf, deliberating between Enjoy Life cookies and Oreos.

But Enjoy Life has no intention of changing its recipe for success.

"That's really what they were buying. It's trust in that brand," Mandell said.

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Twitter @GregTrotterTrib
A bill extending basic labor protections to housekeepers and nannies in Illinois passed the state Senate on Wednesday in a unanimous vote.

The Illinois Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which passed in the House a year ago, would amend four state laws to include domestic workers, who, along with agricultural workers, are excluded from minimum wage and human rights protections.

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"Right now they're exploited and abused," said Wendy Pollack, director of the women's law and policy project at Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, an advocate for the bill. "And we are talking for the most part about women with their own children, taking care of other people's children."

The bill proposes domestic workers  including house cleaners, child care workers, elder companions, cooks and chauffeurs  be covered by Illinois' Minimum Wage Law, which requires workers be paid $8.25 an hour, and the One Day Rest in Seven Act, which requires employees get at least 24 hours of rest in each calendar week and a meal period of 20 minutes for every 7.5-hour shift.

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They also would be covered by the Illinois Human Rights Act, which protects against sexual harassment, and the Wages of Women and Minors Act, which prohibits employers from paying women and minors "an oppressive and unreasonable wage."

The bill, which aims to formalize domestic work as a vocation, covers workers regularly employed at least eight hours a week in domestic jobs, a classification that excludes occasional babysitters. It covers live-in workers, people employed by agencies and workers with a one-on-one agreement with a household.

Many domestic workers are immigrants who are paid under the table. While the proposed law won't necessarily prevent people already violating the law from continuing to do so, the plan is to launch an education campaign informing employers of their obligations and employees of their rights so they know to stand up for themselves, Pollack said.

In a 2012 survey of more than 2,000 nannies, caregivers and housecleaners in 14 metro areas, 23 percent of respondents overall and 67 percent of live-in workers said they were paid below the state minimum wage.

With an aging population, dual-earner households and time-strapped families driving a growing demand for domestic help, "we need to make sure that these positions are attractive to people as real work," Pollack said.

Advocates say they are hopeful Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign the bill.

"Because it is so basic, we'd be really disappointed if it wasn't signed," said Shelly Ruzicka, spokesperson for workers center Arise Chicago.

aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com

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Right, designer Jessica Lagrange, architect Marc Trudeau and builder Matthew Ehrard, speaking and answering questions for real estate professionals at 189 E. Lake Shore Dr., in Chicago, on Wednesday May 11, 2016. The owners, John Kern and his wife Anne, have been trying to sell the condo. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune) (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Homebuyers are racing each other to make offers on lower-priced homes and condos in many parts of the Chicago area, but the luxury housing market is seeing just the opposite.

Buyers are biding their time and questioning prices in the $1-million-plus segment, while many sellers are frustrated by the need to slash prices, especially in affluent suburbs.

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"Sales absolutely have slowed" this year, said Christine Lutz, an agent at Kinzie Real Estate Group in Chicago. Closings, she said, are only about half the pace of the same period last year.

Sales of Chicago-area homes and condos priced over $1 million dropped 9 percent during the first three months of this year, according to Re/Max research. The median sales price of single-family homes dropped 2 percent to just under $1.39 million, compared with a year ago. And it took significantly longer to sell a home. This year, sellers of luxury homes had them on the market an average of 155 days before arriving at a deal with a buyer. Last year, it was only 118 days.

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Real estate agents say the downturn in the luxury market would be even more obvious if the data showed the large number of homeowners who listed homes but then yanked them off the market when they were unable to sell at the price they expected.

Buyers have become sensitive to prices, Lutz said. Meanwhile, the "sellers have not yet caught on."

Since the housing recovery began, prices have been climbing each year. In popular areas such as Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, they now exceed the peak reached before the housing market crash. In 2007, the median sales price of a single-family home in Lincoln Park was $1.425 million, according to the Chicago Association of Realtors. During the first quarter of this year, the median price was $1,885,000.

Rising prices have encouraged people to put more homes on the market, and homebuilders have been busy too.

Now, "the inventory (in Lakeview, Roscoe Village and Lincoln Park) is more than I've ever seen," said Bernadette Kettwig, an agent at Related Realty who has been selling in the luxury market for 13 years. "The amount of inventory in the $2 million and above (segment) is exceeding demand and will drive prices down."

Yet, Lincoln Park and downtown have been among the most resilient areas, said Jim Kinney, vice president of luxury homes for Baird & Warner. The suburbs are facing the challenge of changing tastes and demographics.

To get younger millennials in the workforce, companies are moving to the city, and executives have followed. Motorola Solutions, Kraft Heinz, United Continental Holdings and Hillshire Brands have all fled their suburban headquarters for downtown digs in recent years.

"If you drive anywhere, you pull your hair out," said Kinney, and the taste for large traditional suburban homes has declined as urban living in modern luxury buildings downtown has climbed.

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"A lot of empty nesters want to get downtown but can't sell their homes," he said.

The result is "a painful process" as people wait for months to sell large luxury homes and ultimately cut prices sharply, said Lisa Dooley Trace of Griffith Grant & Lackie

Buyers are cautious now about buying large homes, she said. "They are savvy. They know that people lost millions of dollars as homes fell 35, 40 or 50 percent during the horrible correction. That's made people conscious about risks in buying them."

She noted a 1928 "gorgeous, magnificent" 9,499-square-foot home that won a historic preservation award in Lake Forest. The owner had purchased the five-bedroom home for $4.87 million in 2006, did major improvements and tried to sell it for $5.2 million in 2014. Recently, the property went under contract after the price was cut to $3.495 million.

There are 40 homes listed for sale for more than $3 million in Lake Forest, and they've been available for more than a year. The peak in Lake Forest sales was 56 transactions in 2007. Last year there were only 16, said Kinney.

"When some of these homes close (at sharply lower prices), it will put downward pressure on the market," said Trace.

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The disconnect between what buyers and sellers think about home prices was picked up in a recent Fannie Mae survey on home purchase sentiment. The firm reported that sharply higher prices lately had prompted a near-record number of people in April to say it was a good time to sell a home. On the other hand, the people saying it was a good time to buy fell to almost a record low.

Nationally, the slowdown in the luxury market is merely slower growth rather than the declines Chicago is incurring, said Skylar Olsen, Zillow economist. She found prices in the top 10 percent of homes in the Chicago area down 16.6 percent during the 12-month period that ended March 31. That compares with a 4.2 percent increase nationwide.

"Chicago is going through a tough time," Olsen said. "It's really lagging the U.S. It doesn't have the job growth, and it's not gaining population." She noted that increases in population are an important driver of home prices.

In the Chicago area, Kinney noted the same trends spotted by Zillow. "Everyone is saying they are not getting the traffic they were seeing last year."

But while Kinney said he has done more transactions this year than last, the luxury market is up against pressures in the Chicago area that don't exist in many other major metro areas.

"We are No. 1 or 2 for people moving away," he said, and with a state budget crisis and long-term financial problems, "some people are anticipating taxes up 30, 40 or 50 percent. That doesn't make happy campers."

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gmarksjarvis@tribpub.com

Twitter @gailmarksjarvis
LINCOLN -- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln granted 2,816 degrees during historic commencement exercises May 6 and 7.

In his final event as UNL chancellor, Harvey Perlman delivered the address at the undergraduate commencement May 7 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Art Thompson, president of the Cooper Foundation in Lincoln, received the Nebraska Builder Award during the ceremony.

Timothy Carr, department chair and the Jean Sundell Tinstman Professor of Nutrition and Health Sciences at UNL, delivered the address at the graduate and professional degrees ceremony May 6 at the arena. Lyle Denniston, legal journalist, professor and author, addressed the law graduates May 7 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The following is a list of area graduates by hometown.

Adams:

Katherine Mary Weber, College of Business Administration, bachelor of science in business administration.

Ashland:

Beatrice:

Andrew Thomas Benson, College of Engineering, bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Kya Elizabeth Campbell, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of arts.

Hillary Donna Fischer, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in insect science, bachelor of science in plant biology.

Caleb Michael Havekost, College of Business Administration, bachelor of science in business administration.

Logan Alese Husa, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences with highest distinction.

Katelyn Marie Kunzman, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of arts.

Justin Daniel Kyser, College of Business Administration, bachelor of science in business administration.

Jonathan Michael Policky, UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, bachelor of science in criminology and criminal justice.

Morgan Marie Sexton, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences with distinction.

Samantha Marie Weickert, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences.

Sydney Renee Workman, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences with distinction.

Cortland:

Samuel Joseph Murray, College of Engineering, bachelor of science in electrical engineering with distinction.

Erin L. Schoenbeck, Graduate Studies, master of fine arts.

Daykin:

William Jesse Ebke, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences.

Diller:

Cassandra Ann Lottman, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of science.

Fairbury:

John William Ebke, College of Engineering, bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Lauren Nichole Howell, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of science with distinction.

Trent Ryne Simpson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in applied science.

Rachel Jean Snyder, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, bachelor of journalism.

Jared Michael Williams, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in agronomy, bachelor of science in horticulture.

Firth:

Samantha Lynn Henderson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in agricultural education.

Jared Robert Pinkerton, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in animal science.

Paige Noelle TenHulzen, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences with distinction.

Humboldt:

Sierra Maureen Joy, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences.

Justin Daniel Judge, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in animal science.

Sterling:

Jenna Shay Elson, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of arts.

Matthew Scott Erickson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in mechanized systems management.

Table Rock:

Calvin Reid Freeman, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of arts.

Tecumseh:

Laynee Ann Davison, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of arts.

Virginia:

Adam James Frerichs, College of Engineering, bachelor of science in agricultural engineering.

Wilber:

Christopher John Duba, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in applied science.

Rachel Renee Ericksen, College of Education and Human Sciences, bachelor of science in education and human sciences.

Trev Matthew Havel, College of Business Administration, bachelor of science in business administration with distinction.

Kacey Lynn Holroyd, College of Business Administration, bachelor of science in business administration.

Wymore:

Jared John McKeever, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in animal science.
Chef Eric Ripert of the multi-Michelin-star Le Bernardin in New York City will be the guest of honor June 1 at a special three-course dinner at Nico Osteria to salute his new memoir, "32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line."

The menu from Erling Wu-Bower, Nico Osteria's chef de cuisine, is still being developed but will feature dishes inspired by Ripert's book (Random House, $28). Bret Heir, wine director for the 1015 N. Rush St. restaurant, will direct the pairings. The dinner, which begins with cocktails at 6 p.m., will also feature a discussion with Ripert moderated by Chandra Ram, editor of Plate magazine.

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Tickets are around $165 and are available via Eventbrite. The price includes a signed book, a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres and dinner.

Besides being executive chef at Le Bernardin, Ripert is host of his own television program, "Avec Eric," and the author of five cookbooks. He is vice chairman of the board of City Harvest, a New York-based food rescue organization, as well as a recipient of the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest honor. He serves as a regular guest judge on Bravo's "Top Chef."

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For a review of Ripert's book, go here.

wdaley@tribpub.com

Twitter @billdaley

Note: This article has been updated with a new, lower price for the event.
No less than his ravishing 2009 melodrama "I Am Love," Luca Guadagnino's "A Bigger Splash" is a swooning cinematic appeal to the senses  two hours of al fresco lovemaking, gorgeous scenery and simmering erotic warfare. Which is not to suggest that the movie short-circuits rational thought or inquiry; on the contrary, its teasing, sun-drenched surfaces are likely to prompt a series of questions. When was the last time you sampled a freshly made ricotta? What's the going rate for a villa rental in Pantelleria? When exactly did Ralph Fiennes become one of the greatest actors working today?

Those inclined to measure a movie star's worth in Oscar nominations might point to Fiennes' mid-'90s breakthrough with "Schindler's List" and "The English Patient." But if a truer measure of an actor's greatness is the ability to surprise over the long haul, I'd set the date about a decade later, around the time he quietly walked away with the Keira Knightley vehicle "The Duchess," and well into his galvanizing five-film run as Lord Voldemort. By the time he stepped into "The Grand Budapest Hotel," brilliantly skewering  and deepening  his own costume-drama repertoire, it was clear that he was just beginning to explore the full measure of his protean gift.

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That gift is on glorious, supremely uninhibited display in "A Bigger Splash," a moody Mediterranean-noir cocktail that would be worth imbibing if for no other reason than to witness Fiennes' show of pure, untrammeled id. Whether strutting about in the nude with a magnificent lack of embarrassment, seducing a crowd with a karaoke cover of Deep Fish's "Direction NYC," or cheerfully antagonizing everyone in sight, he is an impudent, insistent life force in a movie that slowly and meticulously charts a course for death.

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That grim outcome won't surprise anyone who has seen Jacques Deray's 1969 film "La Piscine," whose tale of a romantic quadrangle on the French Riviera (starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet and Jane Birkin) furnishes the movie with a loose narrative template. The title of "A Bigger Splash," though inspired by a 1967 David Hockney painting, might just as well describe Guadagnino's desire to one-up his source material. Availing himself of a starry cast featuring Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson, and sampling a range of cinematic influences that includes Michelangelo Antonioni, Claude Chabrol and early Roman Polanski, this Italian auteur has made one messy but satisfying cannonball plunge into the Hollywood deep end.

In a nod to her oft-noted resemblance to David Bowie, Swinton plays a world-famous rock star, Marianne Lane, who is recuperating on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria after a recent throat operation. She's under strict orders not to use her voice, which is just fine for her and her documentary-filmmaker boyfriend, Paul (Schoenaerts), a sensitive hunk who easily matches Marianne's reticence. Silence is golden and life is bliss, at least until a snake appears in this private Eden  first literally, and then in the form of an old friend named Harry (Fiennes).

Overstaying his welcome the moment he arrives, Harry is a record producer and Marianne's ex-lover; as it turns out, he's also the guy who introduced her to his friend Paul. The affection that once united the three of them still flickers in the present, though too weakly to dispel the clouds of lust, jealousy and thinly veiled hostility that begin to gather. Making matters worse and further complicating the sexual geometry, Harry has brought along Penelope (Johnson), the sultry-sullen young daughter he's only just met for the first time. The fact that people keep mistaking her for his girlfriend delights him no end, and is clearly meant to keep us similarly guessing.

The final act, though anticlimactic in its tying up of loose ends, also delivers an unexpected shift in perspective, possibly forcing a reassessment of who the real victims of the story might be. Does "A Bigger Splash" end with a cathartic affirmation of its characters' happiness, or a cynical indictment of their privilege? Guadagnino isn't telling. But he's made the rare movie that, for all its delight in its own beautiful surface, turns out to be altogether less shallow than it appears.

jchang@tribpub.com

"A Bigger Splash"  3 stars

MPAA rating: R (for graphic nudity, some strong sexual content, language and brief drug use)

Running time: 2:04

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Opens: Friday

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Diaz and Mateo have a good chunk of material that's available on YouTube, which is where Armisen first saw their work. "I really liked their stuff," he said. "There was a sense of humility and seriousness to it. A lot of comedy tends to show off a little bit  and by the way, I have nothing against that  but what spoke to me was that there was something about them that had some realness that I really liked. I just liked them as a combo."
Nobody wants to be second. We all want to be first, and that includes Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut who, as part of the history-making Apollo 11 mission in 1969, followed Neil Armstrong onto the surface of the moon.

In his new book, "No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon," Aldrin, now 86, admits that for years he "bristled" when introduced as the "second man on the moon." Even now, although he has largely made peace with the issue, it remains a tender subject, as evidenced in this recent interview with Printers Row in preparation for book tour appearances in Chicago, including one as part of Printers Row Lit Fest on June 12.

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The interview also touched on several other topics, including lessons learned over his long career and his role as the nation's foremost advocate of aerospace research and, in particular, a manned mission to Mars. Here's an edited transcript of our chat.

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Q: The structure of "No Dream Is Too High" is a bit of a hybrid: part memoir, part philosophical discussion of lessons learned.

A: That's right. I go through a chronology of events that brought about some significant realization on my part, and I wanted to relay that to people. I also wanted to challenge conventional wisdom, such as the phrase, "Failure is not an option." People like that phrase, but the fact is, things can go wrong. Remember Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. So you have to be prepared at all times for things that turn out not to your liking. That doesn't mean you're going to be focused on things going wrong all the time, because then you're not paying attention to what you ought to be doing. Fear of failure is a paralyzing emotion.

Q: Speaking of things going wrong, or potentially going wrong  I don't think I knew, before reading your book, that when you and Neil Armstrong were preparing to land on the surface of the moon, the landing module had only 15 to 20 seconds of fuel remaining. Had you run out of fuel, you might have dropped rather abruptly onto the surface, which presumably would not have ended well.

A: Well, we had an abort system. When Houston called out 60 seconds, we were 100 feet from the ground. You had to be prudent about not wasting time descending. By the time we were at 30 seconds, we were at 10 feet from the ground, and I felt we were in good shape.

Q: But you had to spend more time than expected selecting a landing site.

A: The surface right below us, Neil didn't think was suitable for landing. The obvious thing to do was to pitch forward slightly and fly over to the other side of the place we were trying to avoid. That used a little more fuel than landing short, but if we landed short, we might have lost sight of where we wanted to end up. So that's what we did.

Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969. (HO / Getty-AFP)

Q: Certainly, though, there were multiple points along the way where things might have gone seriously wrong.

A: Sure. That's always the case. But we don't dwell on that. Doing what we did, we felt everything went rather well.

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Q: You talk about Armstrong a fair amount in the book  your relationship with him, the ways in which you differed. He was the strong, silent type, as you describe him, while you were more talkative. In latter years, you say you've remained friends but have not spent much time together. By contrast, you and the other Apollo 11 crew member, Michael Collins, are much closer, and in touch fairly often.

A: Neil is an aircraft test pilot. That's his background. After our flight to the moon and back, he elected to stay with NASA in the aeronautics program, not the space program. I concentrated, while I was there, on the space end of things. I retired after a year and concentrated on space activities.

Q: So we shouldn't take your lack of contact with him over the years as evidence of any kind of ...

A: We got along very well when we were on the backup crew for Apollo 8. Where things might get a little concerning is where the media, and then other people, began to ask, "Who's going to be first on the surface of the moon?" You guys made a big thing of that. A decision was made, after reflecting on the choices, and the decision was a correct decision.

Q: Your chapter on this is called "Second Comes Right After First." You write, "In the normal patterns of NASA and the space program, I should have been the first person to walk on the moon." The commander of the mission, in this case Armstrong, would normally have stayed with the spacecraft while you went outside.

A: I did not say that I should have been the media hero, the person that forever after people say was the first man on the moon. No. That's something that goes to the commander of the mission.

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Q: But even some of your colleagues didn't agree. As you say on page 58, several of them said, "This isn't right, Buzz. You should be the first one to set foot on the surface." But in this case, NASA decided that it was symbolically important for the commander of the mission be first on the lunar surface. You're comfortable with that, I take it.

A: Yes, I am, except that 12 people walked on the moon. One person has chosen to write his memoirs as "First on the moon." Another person has chosen to write his memoirs as "Last on the moon." I did not write my memoirs as "Second person on the moon." But I'm always introduced, and will be, as that. Just before I die, if I give a speech somewhere, I can tell you that if somebody introduces me, it will be, "And here is the second man on the moon." All I'm saying is that I don't feel that that labeling is something that should be carried on in respect to somebody who was a member of a team. Of course somebody has to be first, and we'll label it as first. But do you have to always label somebody as second? That's all I'm saying. But I'll always be second. I'm first, right now, in doing things for our future, and I've been first for quite a while, because other people (from the space missions) are doing other things. They're retired, they're not paying attention to the space program, but I am. I don't give a damn about what people want to say about "the second man on the moon," because I know more than any of those other people about how to get to Mars. That is my objective.

Q: You say in the book that when you call Collins, he says, "I don't want to talk about Mars."

A: (Laughs.) That's just typical. And if I start talking to (astronaut) Jim Lovell, he's been asked to be an adviser to people who want to go back to the moon. ... I can't understand that. When your career has been a part of a mission to the moon, then when that's over, you want to concentrate on a plan to get back to the moon? I don't think the public in America is going to support a strong effort by the United States to go back and find ourselves picking up where we left off 50 years ago. I'm looking for the future, which has to do with getting to Mars.

Q: How can that happen, especially given the limited resources available to the space program?

A: For one thing, we need a coordinated effort between government and the private sector. The government designs rockets that are competing with rockets designed by the private sector. The government should not be designing rockets that are in competition with the private sector, especially when they're based on old technology. But the Congress says, "Build that rocket!"

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I do believe that we should continue to look forward, to inspire the world with what America achieves, and we do that by way of the moon. That doesn't mean we land and launch from the moon; it means to develop refueling capability on the moon for going to Mars. That would make it much easier than it was for us in the Apollo program, because we didn't have refueling. We had to build a very big rocket, and then two spacecraft. That's not necessary now because of refueling on the moon.

We also want to bring together the other nations of the world in this effort and not compete with them. We want to cooperate, to assist the other nations and form a global coalition that will design and assemble a base on the moon and eventually a base on Mars. We can do that without large expenditures in cooperation with other countries.

Q: You've been frustrated by some aspects of the space program and its oversight, particularly in relation to a Mars mission.

A: You know, we had a president. His name was Eisenhower. He made his farewell to the nation by warning about what he called "the military-industrial complex," which was trying to make more money for the industry by enticing the Congress to build more military things than were needed. That was his concern.

My concern now is that in the area between the aerospace companies and the Congress and the lobbyists, there is a connection that is driven by short-term greed on the part of the congressmen, on the part of the lobbyists and on the part of the companies. The Congress is in position to establish the budget, to oversee what is being done, but they're motivated by something that over the years has been called pork  bringing back things to their district, to their state.

The result is that we end up building rockets that we don't need for the immediate future, and it keeps people working on old things, such as Aries 5, which used technology developed in the 1970s and went into the space shuttle  the solid rockets, the engine, the big tank  and puts those together without the shuttle. Aries 5 did not make a successful program to the moon  the solid rockets that were used to replace the initial ones have never flown in space  and yet this is the rocket that Congress, states, districts and the aerospace companies are very happy with. But it's not, in my estimation, the rocket that's going to take us to Mars. It's a short-term fix for people who want to get all they can out of it while the getting is good.

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Q: You met President Obama recently on Air Force One on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Did you have a chance to speak to him about your views on the space program?

A: I was on the plane, yes, and when it opened, there was a request for me to join the president. We went down the steps together, waving to the crowd. So the crowd saw the president talking to this hero of the past, and I guess the implication was that he and I had talked about the future. But that was not really true. I was there for a photo opportunity that was for the White House.

Q: If you had been given a block of time to speak to him, what would you have said?

A: I would have talked to him about the time and effort I've put in since 1985 when I switched from encouraging missions to the moon to developing an attractive system for taking people to Mars. It does involve doing things on the moon, in particular developing refueling capability on the moon that would enable rockets to take us much more capably in the direction of Mars. Without that, you're probably not going to get to Mars, and you're certainly not going to be able to come back.

Kevin Nance is a Chicago-based freelance writer and photographer whose work appears in The Washington Post, USA Today, Poets & Writers Magazine and other publications. Follow him on Twitter @KevinNance1.

"No Dream Is Too High"

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By Buzz Aldrin with Ken Abraham, National Geographic, 223 pages, $22

Printers Row Lit Fest

Buzz Aldrin will appear at Printers Row Lit Fest at 2:30 p.m. June 12. Visit www.printersrowlitfest.org.
"The Paper Trail" by Alexander Monro and "Paper" by Mark Kurlansky are competing histories about the global impact of the invention of paper. (H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock / Getty)

Two new books about the history of paper  both tell the same story, right? Well, not really, and, in their differences, the books reveal much about the writing and reading of history.

Consider this paragraph from "Paper: Paging Through History" by Mark Kurlansky:

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It was a macabre scene on the deserted, wind-swept killing fields of the Napoleonic Wars before the burial details went to work. Ragmen picked through the dead, stripping off their bloodstained uniforms and selling the cloth to papermakers.

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That's a paragraph that will grab your attention. It opens a chapter that looks at the problems that paper mills in Europe had in finding enough rags to serve as the raw material in the creation of their product, a problem ultimately solved by the use of wood pulp.

Now, look at this poem from 811 A.D. by Chinese writer Bai Juyi that Alexander Monro quotes in "The Paper Trail: An Unexpected History of a Revolutionary Invention." It has to do with the death of his 3-year-old daughter Golden Bells:

A daughter can snare your heart; / And all the more when you have no sons. / Her clothes still hang on the pegs, / Her useless medicine lies by her bed. / We saw you off down the village street / And watched them pile the earth on your grave. / Do not say you're just a mile away  / Between us now lies eternity.

In contrast to the battlefield scene, this poem, while filled with a sad beauty, may seem routine. After all, haven't parents always mourned deeply when a young child dies? Yes, but, as Monro explains, it wasn't until paper became cheap enough and widely available within the Chinese culture that the inner life of an individual such as Bai could be communicated across great distances and even, as in his case, across centuries.

Beyond its functional uses for him as a bureaucrat, Bai employed paper for poems, diaries and letters that show "the pain of personal loss, the pleasure of intimate friendship, frustration over government corruption, anger at extremes of wealth inequality, spiritual epiphanies or moments of intense communion with nature." Indeed, Monro notes that Bai wrote so much that it is possible 12 centuries later to get a deep, textured feel for who he was and what made him tick.

Kurlansky is well-known as the author of bestsellers that tell interesting stories about such seemingly unlikely subjects as cod and salt, and he takes the same approach in "Paper," providing a rambling stroll through the technological development and refinement of paper and its use by and impact on people. It's the book of a former journalist, breezy and discursive, and will attract a lot of readers.

Monro's "The Paper Trail" is much the better book, but that may actually hurt it when it goes head-to-head with "Paper" at online and brick-and-mortar bookstores.

Here's why: The use of paper, which began some 2,000 years ago in China, played a key role in the spread of Buddhism and Islam and the development of highly sophisticated and powerful cultures in the Middle East and Far East. But Kurlansky gives little attention to that part of the history. Instead, he tells the story through the lens of Europe, even though paper-making didn't get started there until more than a millennium after it was employed in China.

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Kurlansky's book is rooted in a Western-centric world view that nowadays seems quite antiquated. It's impossible today to talk about politics, business and culture except in an international context. What happens in an obscure corner of the world can have a major effect on the U.S., and vice versa.

History books need to recognize this as well, but, for the English-reading public, the details of the Chinese and Middle Eastern past are little known while names and locations in those parts of the globe remain rather alien. So it's safer for a writer such as Kurlansky to stay within the comfort zone of readers. He deals with the Asian history of paper in about 50 pages and devotes the rest of his book to Europe and its colonies.

Monro signals a much different emphasis with the book jacket of "The Paper Trail" which features a large Chinese character for the word zhi, which means "paper." Indeed, he doesn't even get to Europe two-thirds of the way through his narrative.

A former journalist who served in Shanghai, Monro dives deep into the Asian and Middle Eastern cultures to examine how the discovery and spread of paper permitted civilizations to blossom and also how paper broke down isolation.

Before paper, writing was put on such widely varied surfaces as turtle shells, bronze, stone, bamboo, silk, parchment, papyrus and even the shoulder blades of camels. All of these, though, were items only the rich or the government could afford.

Paper was different. It could be used for ephemeral writing, such as a first draft, and for personal writing. Indeed, once Chinese intellectuals began using paper for letters, they "expressed wonder  at being able to communicate with friends easily (and inexpensively) even when they were many miles away."

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In contrast to Kurlansky's meandering approach, Monro tends to be more analytical and more focused on the way human life changed because of paper. He quotes one Chinese scholar as saying that receiving a letter from his friend "felt like meeting face to face." This is an acute insight and calls to mind to the way life changed when the telephone made instant communication possible across miles and even thousands of miles.

Much of Monro's book details the tight links between paper and religion down through the ages. In Chinese Buddhism, for instance, paper made it possible for many more scribes to copy the faith's scriptures. That was important because the simple physical act of writing out the holy texts was itself sacred and meretricious, regardless of the specific words in those texts.

"Instead, their spiritual power is indivisible from their material, ink-and-paper presence, winning merit for their scribes, owners and worshippers alike. Copying a sutra was taken so seriously that a scribe would occasionally write it out in his own blood, in the hope it would work to the spiritual credit of a recently deceased parent (or himself)."

Islam, initially, was slow to adopt paper  or any writing surface  for the Koran since the holy book is meant to be recited. Nonetheless, as a direct gift from God, the Koran had to be correct in all respects so an official written version was needed, and, from there, the sacred scripture went on to become the "lodestone of a new civilization," enabling the creation of a far-reaching religious and cultural community.

This strong relationship between paper and religious expression also occurred in Europe where paper helped fuel and spread the Protestant Reformation  and the Catholic Counter Reformation. One example: The King James Version of the Bible, writes Monro, "has been the most influential book in the English language."

To give Kurlansky his due, "Paper" is filled with interesting tidbits as readers of his earlier popular histories would expect. In one case, for instance, he notes that Michelangelo used a great deal of paper for poems, letters, notes and drawings. Kurlansky writes:

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Almost any piece of paper he used contained a few sketches.  A stunning drawing of the resurrection of Christ is also marked with a shopping list.

For me, though, the most striking story in the two books comes from Monro's "The Paper Trail," and it has to do with J.S. Bach.

Monro points out that, during his lifetime, Bach won fame as an organist. Just a few of his compositions circulated among other musicians, and those were in manuscript form. None was printed until half a century after Bach's death in 1750. And, when they were, Bach became Bach. Monro writes:

"It might be tempting to see this as somehow a failure of print culture, but it can easily be seen as an example of printing's success, since print offered the opportunity to revive a composer's work long after his death, perhaps even to grant him the worldwide and enduring fame he had lacked in life."

In other words, without paper, we moderns might never have heard Bach.

Now, that's a story to grab your attention.

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Patrick T. Reardon, who had a 32-year career as a Chicago Tribune reporter, is the author of five books.

"The Paper Trail: An Unexpected History of a Revolutionary Invention"

By Alexander Monro, Knopf, 368 pages, $30

"Paper: Paging Through History"

By Mark Kurlansky, Norton, 416 pages, $27.95
Lobster poutine, a dish combining lobster, cheese and scallions atop a mass of French fries, is a large appetizer at Catch Kitchen + Bar in West Point, Prince Edward Island. (Jay Jones / Chicago Tribune)

WEST POINT, Prince Edward Island  As the waitress walked over with a menu, she pointed to the activity on the pier just a few feet away.

"We've got a little excitement today," she said. "It's drawing the crowds."

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"Crowds" was an exaggeration, considering just three people stood watching the "excitement," which entailed the lowering of a new engine into a boat, part of a modest fleet in this tiny fishing village on the western edge of Canada's smallest province.

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The customers at Catch Kitchen + Bar (www.facebook.com/TheCatchPEI/info), which shares a building with the local community center, include those who've made the drive to nearby Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, where a black-and-white-striped lighthouse towers over a lonely stretch of beach.

Guests in the know often order the lobster poutine. Even though it's listed as an appetizer, the bowl contains enough french fries  topped with cheese curds, scallions and chunks of lobster in a cream sauce  to easily fill two tummies.

The poutine, a uniquely Canadian concoction, contains two of PEI's biggest claims to fame: lobster and potatoes. Both are hugely important to the economy of the island, wedged between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Of course, lobster is a lure for tourists, but so, too, is the lowly potato.

That point is emphasized by the 13-foot fiberglass spud outside the Canadian Potato Museum (www.peipotatomuseum.com) in O'Leary, where visitors are welcomed with samples of chocolate potato fudge.

A walk through the exhibits illustrates the importance of PEI's potatoes. Farming and harvesting equipment, some of it dating to the 1930s, is on display, and a film explains that potatoes are the province's biggest cash crop. One quarter of the sprawling nation's taters are grown on the comparably tiny island. Guests learn that a single spud contains more potassium than a banana. The tuber is, of course, the core ingredient at the museum's restaurant, PEI Country Kitchen.

It's impossible to miss the word potato during even a cursory glance at the menu. There's potato soup served with a potato biscuit. The deep-fried potato skins  loaded with bacon, cheese and sour cream  come with a side of freshly cooked potato chips.

Locals, however, stop by for the far-from-ordinary French fries, made with potatoes harvested just a few miles away.

"It takes about 10 minutes to prepare a really good fry," museum manager Donna Rowley pointed out. After the slices are soaked in cold water, they're blanched using low heat before being fried in hot oil for 2 1/2 minutes. "People go gaga for them."

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During an eastward, cross-island drive, handwritten signs advertising "dug daily" potatoes dot the roadsides. But in the village of Georgetown, with its clapboard buildings, seafood is the economic engine.

"We need some more fish, folks. The pressure is on you," skipper Perry Gotell told his rod-and-reel-holding guests during a voyage aboard the Tranquility 2000.

Gotell, who comes from a long line of fishermen, retired after 30 years to launch Tranquility Cove Adventures (www.tcapei.com).

During a two-hour trip along the Brudenell River, an ocean inlet, landlubbers learn the ways in which lobster, rock crab and mussels are "hauled." They're encouraged to grab a rod to try to hook some mackerel. The oily fish are then grilled on board using lemon pepper and other seasonings.

PEI locals are divided over the best place to enjoy fresh seafood. Three small restaurants often make the list: Rick's Fish and Chips in St. Peter's Bay, the unrelated Richard's Fresh Seafood in Stanhope and Water Prince Corner Shop in Charlottetown.

At Rick's (www.ricksfishnchips.com), owner Rick Renaud cooks with fish such as cod, haddock, mussels and oysters, which he incorporates not only into his fish and chips but also dishes such as Cajun mussels and seafood pizza.

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"I buy fish from fishermen," he said. "We try to keep it as fresh as we can."

Freshness is also top of mind at Richard's (www.richardsfreshseafood.com), which includes a market selling the local catch. Folks who've had their fill of fish-and-chips can indulge in a 2-pound order of steamed clams or a lobster club sandwich, served with tarragon mayo on a grilled Kaiser bun.

In the bustling capital of Charlottetown, plan to book ahead for a table at the small Water Prince Corner Shop (www.waterprincelobster.ca), located in what was once a store at the corner of Water and Prince streets. Owner Shane Campbell has grown his business for 25 years.

"I source the best that's out there," he said of his food. "I read the guest book (to review comments) first thing every morning."

The restaurant's so busy that Campbell keeps a thousand pounds of live lobsters in tanks beside the kitchen. The lobster dinner comes with seafood chowder and steamed mussels.

During a three-hour walking tour of the Charlottetown waterfront, visitors learn how residents and the sea are inextricably linked.

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"We're all about food here," Mary Kendrick, the owner of Experience PEI (www.experiencepei.ca), said. She added that guests are "feeling, touching and tasting" during the Taste the Town tour.

The morning began with a stop at Lobster on the Wharf (www.lobsteronthewharf.com), where guide Paul Kelley pulled a whopper of a crustacean from a tank as he shared that it takes seven years for them to reach 1 pound in weight. Seafood samples are passed around before moving on to try mussels at Claddagh Oyster House (www.claddaghoysterhouse.com).

At the final stop, it was back to the rich earth. The Chip Shack is where Caron Prins, the self-proclaimed "Queen of Fries," holds court. The guides say her hand-cut fries are PEI's best, although that's a crown for which there are plenty of contenders.

Jay Jones is a freelance writer.

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Granddaughter advances to National History Day competition

More than 3,000 motivated students in grades six through twelve compete in National History Day in Missouri each year. On April 30th, nearly 600 students who have advanced from regional competitions throughout Missouri gathered at the state contest on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia to showcase their exemplary work.

Mikayla Lenners, an eighth grade student from Gower, Missouri was awarded first place Junior Individual Documentary winner at the Missouri National History Day competition. She will advance to the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day contest to be held in College Park, Maryland June 12-16 where she will compete with other finalists. She was also awarded the Dr. Howard Croteau Memorial Prize of $100 for best Junior Individual Documentary. Mikayla is the daughter of Doug and Monica Lenners of Gower and granddaughter of Donald and Elnora Lenners of Beatrice.

This was Mikaylas second year participating in National History Day and also second time advancing to state competition in Columbia. Last year she participated in the exhibit category but this year she chose to compete in documentaries. Her documentary titled The Children Encounter Charles Loring Brace and the Orphan Trains reveals how thousands of homeless children in New York City were taken westward by orphan trains by the Childrens Aid Society and other organizations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Charles Loring Brace was the individual credited for helping these children and her documentary focuses on his efforts.

In addition to creating her own documentary, Mikayla was also required to write a 500 word process paper explaining how she completed her research and how her topic relates to the annual theme as well as an annotated bibliography citing every source used in her yearlong research. I have learned so much from participating in National History Day and I have discovered that I love researching Lenners stated. I already have an idea what topic Im going to choose for next years competition, she added. She plans to compete again next year when she will graduate to the senior level division and will begin her research this summer.

National History Day contests have been held this spring in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and at international schools in Central America, China, Korea, and South Asia. Students created historical projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Using primary and secondary sources, participants focus their projects around an annual theme. The 2016 theme is Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. The top two entries in each category from each affiliate/state advance to the national competition.

National History Day is more than just a day, its an experience, said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. Creating an entry for the Contest helps students hone research and critical thinking skills that are hugely beneficial to college and career readiness. And, the competitive aspect of the contest is often a nice motivator to nudge students to go above and beyond what they might otherwise have done.
Federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, right, shakes hands with President Barack Obama as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court on March 16, 2016. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland will return to his alma mater Niles West High School in Skokie to give the commencement speech, school officials announced Thursday.

"Judge Garland was honored that his high school, Niles West, invited him to speak at its graduation on May 29th and looks forward to returning home to speak to the class of 2016," said White House spokeswoman Rachel Racusen.

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Principal Jason Ness said the school is elated to host Garland, "someone who also walked the halls, sat in the same classrooms, was in the same activities, that's very inspiring."

Ness said he just Googled Garland's name and cold-called his office with the invitation a few weeks after President Barack Obama nominated the Lincolnwood native to the Supreme Court in mid-March to fill a vacancy following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Merrick, whose nomination has been opposed by some Senate Republicans, serves as a federal appeals judge.

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The principal said he wasn't expecting anything to come of it and was surprised when Garland agreed and called back in person.

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"He's a very humble individual," Ness said. "For him to be here, it's going to be a very special day."

Garland was valedictorian, head of the student council and voted "most intelligent" by his peers his senior year when he attended Niles West in the 1960s.

When Obama introduced Garland at the White House, he referenced Garland's commencement speech at his own Niles West graduation decades ago that made waves.

He was about to address the audience as senior class president, but first a fellow student gave a speech that turned into a statement against the Vietnam War, angering some parents and administrators until someone cut off the microphone. Fellow classmates recalled that when Garland approached the podium, he began with the famous tribute in support of free speech: "I might not agree with what you said, but I will defend your right to say it."

Niles West officials said the graduation ceremony later this month will be open to only graduates and their guests, not the general public.

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Four people, including a 16-year-old boy and a 60-year-old man, were shot shot in Chicago Wednesday afternoon and evening, police said.

 At 11:35 p.m., a 55-year-old man was shot in Roseland by someone he knew, police said. The two were arguing in an apartment in the 10700 block of South Eberhart Avenue when one of them shot the other man in both legs. He went to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and his condition was stabilized.

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 At 10 p.m., a 23-year-old man was shot in Englewood. He was on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of West 69th Street when he was hit in the finger. He went to Holy Cross Hospital and was listed in good condition.

 The 16-year-old was shot about 9:15 p.m. in the Washington Park neighborhood. He was seen running from an alley in the 6000 block of South Calumet Avenue and collapsed with a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

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 The 60-year-old man was riding a bicycle near a vacant lot in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue at 12:55 p.m. when he saw a group of people and heard gunfire. He realized he had been shot in the calf and went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.
Joseph Monye posts a missing person flier about his brother, Ambrose Monye, along 57th Street near South Ellis Avenue on April 29, 2016, in Chicago. Ambrose Monye was reported missing since April 22 and was thought to be last seen in the area. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The body of a man pulled from Lake Michigan on Sunday has been officially identified as missing medical student Ambrose Monye, officials said.

Monye's body was found in the water near the 5400 block of South Lake Shore Drive and pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy Monday was inconclusive about the cause and manner of his death, and more studies were being conducted, according to the medical examiner's office.

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Ambrose Monye, 28. (Chicago Police Department)

Police initially said Monye, 28, a medical student at a university in Guadalajara, Mexico, was last seen April 21 in the area of Jackson Park Hospital at 7531 S. Stony Island Ave. On Wednesday, they released an updated missing person bulletin saying he was last seen April 22 in the area of 55th Street and Lake Park Avenue.

Monye's brother Joseph said the last time he heard from him, the pair talked about their clinical rotations at Jackson Park Hospital on April 21. Ambrose Monye had given his younger brother, who is also a student at the Guadalajara university, advice on the internal medicine rotation.

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Ambrose Monye was finishing up his rotations and was getting ready to graduate next month from the medical school, according to his brother, who reported him missing April 24. Ambrose had already bought tickets to his graduation that is taking place in about four weeks.

"He was excited for graduation," Joseph Monye said. "There was no reason to think anything was going on."
Cook County Judge William Hooks sharply assailed a Chicago police officer for his allegedly false testimony before throwing out the evidence. That prompted prosecutors to dismiss the charges against two drug suspects. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago police have begun an internal investigation into allegations that as many as six officers lied in their court testimony and are prepared to take at least one of the officers off the street because of a judge's determination he had testified falsely in a narcotics case.

The inquiry, confirmed by a police spokesman, comes in response to a Tribune investigation that documented more than a dozen examples over the past few years in which judges concluded officers gave false or questionable testimony in court.

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The Cook County state's attorney's office, meantime, has filed what it calls a disclosure notice regarding a veteran officer, Jorge Martinez, whose testimony in a narcotics case led a judge earlier this year to throw out the seizure of a $50,000 brick of cocaine, resulting in the release of two suspects. That case was at the center of the weekend Tribune report; prosecutors, responding to the Tribune's inquiries about the case, filed the notice stating that Martinez had been found to have testified falsely.

Prosecutors are reviewing other cases the Tribune highlighted to determine if disclosure notices are warranted in those cases as well.

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Disclosure notices are provided to criminal defense lawyers to alert them to when a potential trial witness has been found to have given false or questionable testimony.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, saying the department "takes allegations of perjury very seriously," confirmed that internal investigators will review transcripts and conduct interviews to determine if any of the six officers testified falsely. The officers will remain on the streets, though Guglielmi said that Martinez could be stripped of his police powers when the department receives the disclosure notice from prosecutors, as officers typically are during investigations into whether they lied.

The other officers whose testimony the department will review  all named in the Tribune investigation  are James Lynch, Wahbe Askar, Steven Carroll, Garland Coleman and George Karuntzos. The department's Bureau of Internal Affairs will conduct the review, Guglielmi said.

"Internal affairs is looking into all the officers and will be conferring with our prosecutorial partners," Guglielmi said.

The Tribune was unable to reach any of the officers Wednesday. The department has said that none of them plans to talk publicly.

The disclosure notice on Martinez had been sent to the Police Department, said Sally Daly, spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office. Under a new policy, the office will inform the department and other law enforcement agencies when a disclosure notice is filed regarding one of their officers.

Previously, the state's attorney had not done so, and as a result, there was no guarantee the police agencies learned when officers provided testimony a judge concluded was false or questionable.

Martinez was the sole witness at a hearing in November for Miguel Rodriguez and Antonio Garcia, who were arrested on drug charges after police found a brick of cocaine in the minivan they were riding in. Martinez testified that he was on a drug surveillance operation when he saw the minivan fail to signal for a right turn; he and other officers abandoned that surveillance because of the traffic infraction.

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Lawyers for Rodriguez and Garcia questioned Martinez's testimony, saying that it defied credibility that the officers  members of a special unit  would break off drug surveillance to make a traffic stop. Judge William Hooks agreed, sharply assailing Martinez for his testimony before throwing out the evidence. That prompted prosecutors to dismiss the charges against both.

Hooks even suggested in court that prosecutors should charge Martinez with perjury, according to a transcript of the hearing.

What's more, Hooks summoned a supervisor from the state's attorney's office to the next court date. When Assistant State's Attorney Brian Sexton, the chief of the office's narcotics bureau, appeared before Hooks in January, the matter seemingly was being handled.

"At this juncture I am satisfied that management has looked into  is looking into the issues that I raised," Hooks said, according to the transcript from the brief hearing. "I have confidence in Mr. Sexton and his assistant in charge here who I have talked with."

The disclosure notice regarding Martinez, however, was not sent to the Police Department until after the Tribune inquired about it late last month -- nearly four months after Sexton appeared in Hooks' courtroom. Sexton, according to Daly, notified the state's attorney's Special Prosecutions Bureau, which typically handles police corruption cases. The bureau is still reviewing the case, Daly said.

Hooks has declined to comment.

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The disclosure notice, which states Hooks found Martinez's testimony "to be false," could be filed in every case in which Martinez is listed as a potential prosecution witness. The state's attorney's office did not say how many of Martinez's cases might now be affected, but Daly said the office is reviewing cases in which he was involved and trying to determine his role.

Filing additional disclosure notices on Martinez will "depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case," she said.

But already at least one defense lawyer has tried to challenge Martinez's credibility in another case. In Hooks' courtroom Monday, the prosecutor said Martinez was a potential witness against a drug suspect named Gregory Fikes and a disclosure notice would be filed. Fikes' lawyer, Jayne Ingles, asked Hooks to lower the bond for Fikes, who was facing possession of marijuana with intent to deliver charges.

Ingles said she argued that Martinez had provided sworn information to obtain a search warrant in the case that was not truthful.

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"There are allegations in that search warrant that my client adamantly denies" Ingles said in an interview Wednesday. "I didn't have anything to refute those claims with until the finding that the officer was not credible in that case."

Hooks, according to Ingles, denied her bond request and told her he would judge Martinez's credibility in Fikes' case on its own merits.

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"Unfortunately, unless you have definitive proof of those things, it's very difficult to prove," Ingles said. "They have search warrants, and they know how to write things up, so it's tough to defend those cases."

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A Woodstock man awaiting trial on charges that he caused serious injury to his infant son has been jailed after authorities said he violated an agreement not to have contact with the boy.

Cody Pennington, 21, was ordered Thursday to serve the next two weekends in McHenry County Jail as sanctions for the violation.

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After his then-4-month-old son was diagnosed with a skull fracture and brain hemorrhaging in April 2015, Pennington was charged with aggravated battery to a child causing permanent injury and great bodily harm, according to court records.

As part of his pretrial supervision and the terms of his bond, Pennington was banned from seeing his son.

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"All I can say is, I know it was something I should not have done," Pennington told Judge Sharon Prather. "All I can say is, I love my son."

Prather warned Pennington about further violations.

"All you are doing is hurting yourself and hurting your case. It's like you are thumbing your nose at this court. It's stupid," Prather said before handing down his punishment. "I'm warning you, Mr. Pennington, you better not violate any rules."

According to police, Pennington called 911 in April 2015 to say the boy was crying uncontrollably and appeared to be in distress.

The child was treated first at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock then transported to Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge, where authorities told police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that the boy's injuries were consistent with those caused by violent shaking, police said.

Pennington and the baby's mother were interviewed at the hospital by Woodstock detectives. Pennington was arrested the following day.

Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Kevin Robinson is no stranger to the criminal justice system. Robinson is suspected of killing three people and barricading himself inside a home, where he died. May 12, 2016. (WGN-TV / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

Jonathan Ford had few words for the man suspected of killing three members of his family. "Turn yourself in. Let it go."

As he spoke Thursday, the suspect was holed up in a home on the Far South Side, surrounded by police SWAT teams. He was not letting go.

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He leaned out a window and exchanged gunfire with officers around 9:30 a.m., five hours into the standoff, according to police. Around noon, the voice of the suspect's mother blared from a bullhorn: "I'm outside. Please come out. I love you. I love you, son."

No response.

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Police lobbed tear gas canisters into the home and, still not seeing or hearing anything, fired stun grenades. They entered the home shortly after 3 p.m. and found the 31-year-old suspect, Kevin Robinson, dead of a gunshot wound, according to Anthony Guglielmi, the top police spokesman.

Police said it appeared Robinson shot himself, but were waiting for a final determination from an autopsy Friday.

Police believe Robinson fatally shot his girlfriend, Makeesha Starks, 26, her stepfather, Jerome Wright, 50, and another relative, Kiara Kinard, 26, in their home in the 1500 block of West 71st Street about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday.

He fled to a home in the 10300 block of South Union Avenue. Speaking to reporters outside the home after the standoff ended, police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters Robinson was a felon who was convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 Kedra Robinson, sister of the triple murder suspect, (center) after being notified by police that he had been shot to death after barricading himself inside a home near the intersection of 103rd Street and South Union Avenue Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Johnson said Robinson served under two years of an eight-year sentence for armed robbery highlights a problem with the criminal justice system in Illinois and the need for stricter sentencing guidelines.

"We have too many guns in Chicago and too many people willing to use those guns," said Johnson, flanked by other command staff, as he stood in the street near 104th Street and Union. "If anybody thinks being a police officer is easy, they've never done it. This is a challenging job."

The standoff began around 4:30 a.m. when another woman with whom Robinson had a relationship called the police when he was at her home, Guglielmi said. The two have a child together, Guglielmi said, but he couldn't say why she called police.

According to court records, Starks requested a protection order against Robinson on Dec. 30, 2014. A judge granted it, but on Jan. 21, 2015, the order was removed at Starks' request.

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Robinson is believed to have opened fire shortly after dropping Starks at the home, police said.

He walked into the house and put a gun to his head, threatening to kill himself, police said. The girlfriend's mother, stepfather and another woman were in the house, and Robinson asked them about his girlfriend, who was in the basement with several children, police said.

One of those children, about 7 years old, belongs to Robinson and his girlfriend, police said.

Robinson made Starks, and possibly the children, come upstairs before the woman's parents ran from the home, police said. At some point, he opened fire in the house, killing Starks and badly wounding Kinard, police said.

Starks was shot in the head and died at the scene, while Kinard died later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after being shot in the back, police said.

The parents ran off in opposite directions along 71st, police said. Robinson chased after Wright and shot him in the head, killing him, police said. He then got in a car and fled.

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The girlfriend's mother, who escaped unharmed, paced barefoot in the rain at 71st and Laflin streets late Wednesday. She kept asking about her 50-year-old husband, apparently not seeing his body under a sheet across 71st.

"Oh my God," she cried, clasping her heads around her head. "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God."

Kevin Robinson (Chicago Police handout )

The woman, in a white T-shirt and dark pants, told police that her daughter was the one who was shot in the head. "He killed my baby," the woman repeated, louder and louder. "He killed my baby. He killed my baby."

A man in all black with a black cap walked up and hugged the woman, who continued crying. "They shot my baby," the woman said. "I need to find my husband. I need to find my husband."

His body was hidden by a white car parked across the street.

Soon there were about a dozen family members and friends at the scene.

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"They shot my baby's brains out," the woman wailed. "They shot my baby's brains out."

One relative, a man in a black hoodie, started sobbing after he came up to the woman and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Momma, don't say it," he yelled. "Momma, don't say it."

He fell to his knees at the woman's feet and continued sobbing. His head touched the ground, and he slammed the asphalt several times with his fists.

"No, no, no," the man cried, trembling.

After a few moments, the man stood and threw his cellphone to the ground.

"I can't believe he did this!" another man yelled. "I can't believe it."

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A woman in a yellow jacket walked up with three young children.

She stopped near the mother and started screaming after she heard the news. She said she was a twin sister of Starks. The children, two girls and a boy, also started screaming and crying.

One of the men picked up the smallest child, a girl, about 5, in a pink jacket, and started walking away with the other two children.

"(The children) don't need to see this," said Angel Parks, a neighbor. "Go through the alley."

Parks said her mother, who lives across the street, called her after hearing gunshots. "It's past horrible," Parks said. "I'm just trying to be here to support them."

(Chicago Tribune Graphics)

The sobbing stopped for awhile but around 1 a.m., the mother started crying again. "I need to go over there," the woman pleaded with police. "Let me go. Let me go."

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A moment later, she apparently got word that not only her daughter died, but her husband as well.

"They killed my baby and my husband," she yelled in horror.

She bolted east on 71st, throwing up her hands as family members followed. "This can't be real," she cried. "This isn't happening."

About half an hour later, the rain started. Some relatives went to their cars, others pulled out umbrellas.

One man started yelling over the phone while standing in the middle of 71st. His voice was muffled by the rain. "What's going on with my sister?" he yelled. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong with my sister?"

His sister was apparently Kinard, who died at Christ hospital. Hearing the news, he let dropped the phone on the wet ground and laid on his back in the middle of the street, sobbing in the rain.

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Hours later, SWAT teams surrounded the home in the 10300 block of South Union, police said.

"There was a lot of love in this family. It's a very, very tragic and sad case," Ford said. "This is an outsider who did this. It's not a violent family, it's a very loving family.

SWAT teams surround a Far South Side home where a man suspected of killing his girlfriend, her father and another relative barricaded himself May 12, 2016. (WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

"I can't speak highly enough of them. They were great, hard working mothers," he continued. "Jerome was a man's man who cooked, cleaned, worked hard. He didn't deserve it at all. He deserved to grow old to a real old age."

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Robinson's sister claimed her brother was trying to surrender when police shot him.

"That boy didn't do nothing to deserve (it)," the sister said. "He tried to surrender and they shot at him like seven times when he put his hands in the air and told them he surrendered and they still killed him."

Eric Russell, a Robinson family spokesman, said Thursday afternoon the family "doesn't buy the narrative" and have already sought legal counsel.

"The family is of the opinion that every avenue was not given for a peaceful surrender."

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Chicago Tribune's Carlos Sadovi and Grace Wong contributed.

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Chicago gang kingpin Nathaniel Hoskins was sentenced to life in prison on May 12, 2016, for racketeering conspiracy that included soliciting the murder of rival gang member Marcus Hurley. Surveillance video provided by the U.S. attorneys office shows the scene moments before the fatal shooting of Hurley in April 2011 near Division Street and Pulaski Road. May 12, 2016. (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

The reputed "king" of the Imperial Insane Vice Lords street gang was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for racketeering conspiracy that included soliciting the murder of a rival gang member in a war for control of a lucrative open-air drug market on Chicago's West Side.

Nathaniel Hoskins, 47, shook his head slightly as U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo announced the sentence, which carries no possibility of parole. In the courtroom gallery, several of Hoskins' family members broke out in sobs, and his daughter ran out of the courtroom screaming.

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In making her decision, Bucklo rejected arguments from Hoskins' attorney that he had tried to be a "peacemaker" in the ongoing war between the Imperial Insane Vice Lords  also known as the Double I's  and the Four Corner Hustlers gang over drug territory near Division Street and Pulaski Road.

Bucklo noted Hoskins was caught on video surveillance at the open-air drug market and that in telephone wiretaps he talked about arranging the 2011 killing of a Four Corner Hustler after a member of the Double I's had been fired upon days earlier.

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The judge said she was particularly disturbed by a video played at Hoskins' trial showing activity in April 2011 at the street corner he controlled. The footage showed young children playing stick ball on the corner, "clearly enjoying their afternoon," when suddenly they all scattered. Several of Hoskins' henchmen could be seen moving onto the corner, the judge said. Moments later, drug rival Marcus Hurley was gunned down as he exited a convenience store about a block away.

Bucklo said some of the kids likely witnessed the shooting. And in a case of violence begetting violence, some probably are now gang members themselves, she said.

Hoskins stood for the entire 90-minute hearing dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit with eyeglasses perched on his clean-shaven head. Before the sentence was handed down, he lowered his glasses and read an apology that he had written on a piece of notebook paper.

"I am not a monster, nor a menace to society or the community," Hoskins said. "I am a human being."

Hoskins said he had grown up without a father figure and was lured into the gang life by a ranking member who'd taken him under his wing. He was able to escape the lifestyle in the early 1990s when he moved to Las Vegas, where he became a "family man" who took care of his wife and kids, Hoskins said. But he threw it all away when he decided to return in the mid-2000s and take over the gang he'd grown up with.

"Coming back to Chicago was one of the worst mistakes in my life," Hoskins said.

Hoskins was one of nearly three dozen leaders and members of the Imperial Insane Vice Lords taken down in 2013 in a sweeping indictment involving almost two decades of drug trafficking. Hoskins was arrested at O'Hare International Airport as he was boarding a flight to Las Vegas, authorities said.

Hoskins was accused in the indictment of ordering Hurley's murder. The gang henchman who allegedly carried out the killing, Andre Brown, was himself fatally shot in June 2012, authorities said.

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In addition to Hurley's slaying, authorities alleged three high-ranking members  Torrie King, Julian Martin and Raymond Myles  plotted a murder in May 2011, but the killing was not carried out. Another gang leader, Joseph Faulkner was charged with ordering the January 2010 shooting of a rival who was wounded but survived.

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All have been convicted in the case. King was sentenced to just over 19 years in prison and Myles received 7 1/2 years, records show. Faulkner and Martin are awaiting sentencing.

In asking for a sentence of 20 years for Hoskins, his attorney, J. Clifford Greene, said Thursday that Hoskins was "groomed to lead a certain kind of life" by gang members who acted like father figures and promised all the trappings, including fancy clothes, flashy cars and attention from "beautiful women."

Greene said that when Hoskins returned from Las Vegas, he saw the gun violence that had taken over his neighborhood and tried to run the gang like it had been in the old days, with a more businesslike approach and without all the shootings. But the gangs fragmented, so the reality was "it was every man for himself," he said.

But prosecutors scoffed at the notion of Hoskins as peacemaker. In his remarks asking for a life sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajnath Laud said Hoskins' "uniquely destructive" brand of drug trafficking terrorized a neighborhood where families were trying to raise their children.

"He ratcheted up the violence," Laud said. "He ordered the murder of another human being. There is no offense more serious than premeditated murder. It's off the charts."

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jmeisner@tribpub.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
After referring to the Lucas Museum as a "elephantine project" on the opening page of its filing late Wednesday in federal appeals court, Friends of the Parks threw up a new roadblock three pages later, underscoring a determined fight against the lakefront development.

The group "could  and would  proceed to bring the state claims in state court" even if the appeals court rules in favor of the city, Friends of the Parks' lawyer, Thomas Geoghegan, wrote in response to the city of Chicago's emergency motion. "To start over in state court would of course significantly delay resolution. In other words, it would not remedy the claimed harm."

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The filing in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came a week after the city pursued an unusual legal maneuver known as a writ of mandamus, which asks a higher court to circumvent the normal appeals process and undo a ruling by a lower court.

The city's lawyers are seeking a swift ruling from an appeals court panel to end the district court process. With "Star Wars" creator George Lucas' team expressing frustration at the legal holdup in Chicago, city officials are worried the museum project may head elsewhere.

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But Friends of the Parks, whose 2014 lawsuit is the last remaining blockade to the original proposal for the museum on Chicago Park District land south of Soldier Field, argued in its filing the city's maneuver has "no merit" and asked the appeals court to dismiss the motion.

"Plaintiffs are entitled to their day in court  a final decision on the merits  and but for the delaying tactics of Defendants, they would have had it by now," the filing states.

Friends of the Parks says the city's plans to build the Lucas Museum do not constitute a public emergency and states there is no reason why the city and Lucas cannot wait for a ruling in district court.

"Defendants have failed to show that they cannot obtain the relief they desire by proceeding in the district court, which has set the deadline for dispositive motions for August of this year."

City attorneys last week filed a petition arguing the district court lawsuit should be tossed out. In that brief, the city said a federal court should not be allowed "to meddle in a sensitive land-use issue."

"To allow it to do so when it might cause the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois to lose this museum would be devastating," the city filing states.

The next steps in the appeals process or a decision date from the panel were unclear Thursday.

Lucas wants to build a museum housing a collection of his digital, traditional and narrative artworks and showcasing film creation at a site along the city's lakefront. The museum has gained approval from City Hall and the City Council.

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A spokeswoman for the Lucas Museum said Thursday that representatives did not have a comment on the legal developments. A city Law Department spokesman also had no comment.

The parks group contends that the original Lucas Museum plans violate the public trust doctrine and that the project would benefit Lucas more than city and state residents. A new plan to build the museum on the shell of the demolished Lakeside Center at McCormick Place is on hold and may be abandoned after the parks group said it was opposed to the plan and would consider legal action there as well. That plan would require state approval, borrowing nearly $1.2 billion and extending five taxes beyond their expiration date. The museum itself would be paid for by Lucas at a cost of $743 million.

The legal maneuvering indicates the city may feel the South Lot site is its last chance to keep the museum in Chicago. The appeals court filing relates to the original site.

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Tacked on to the city's legal filing is a signed declaration from Angelo Garcia, vice president for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, in which he says a nonlakefront site in Chicago is not an option. He wrote that museum officials are "unwilling to put this project on indefinite hold pending the conclusion of this litigation, and will thus abandon its plans to locate in Chicago unless this legal uncertainty is promptly resolved."

"The city expects the futuristic building, located in the city's very heart, to become a Chicago icon, and to burnish the city's reputation for bold and innovative architecture," the petition stated. "The creation of this world-class cultural attraction, with incalculable attendant social and economic benefits, is a matter of enormous importance to the city."

The city argues the Lucas Museum lawsuit should not even be a matter for the federal courts at all. Since the Park District owns the land proposed for the project, and the legislature authorized lease of the land for museums, the city argues the case "goes to the heart of local autonomy and state sovereignty." The state legislature amended the law in 2015, allowing the city to lease "formerly submerged" lakefront land to museums.

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The mayor's office said last week that the parks group's claims are "frivolous" and that the city cannot wait for the courts to decide the case. The mayor's office indicated that "if immediate review is denied, there will be no litigation to appeal, as the museum will abandon its efforts to locate in Chicago."

Friends of the Parks has said it is opposed to any museum project along the city's lakefront, either at the originally proposed South Lot site or McCormick Place. The group suggested the former Michael Reese Hospital site or an area on the west side of Lake Shore Drive near 18th Street as two possible alternates as a way to keep the museum in Chicago.

poconnell@tribpub.com

Twitter @pmocwriter
A Beatrice man was sentenced to 16-20 years in prison Thursday for two counts of attempted first-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

Jose L. Salinas, 27, was sentenced by District Court Judge Paul Korslund, who said a lengthy prison sentence was warranted, despite Salinas cooperating with the investigation throughout the process.

A 14-year-old girl undergoing this type of crime is just horrendous and cant be tolerated, Korslund said.

Salinas was initially charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor. These were reduced as part of a plea agreement.

Salinas was sentenced to 16-20 years on each of the two counts, though the sentences shall run concurrently. He was given 479 days credit for time served in the Gage County Jail during the case.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Gaertig argued that Salinas was led to believe the victim was 17 years old and that the assaults were not violent in nature, though Korslund indicated from a pre-sentence investigation that the victim felt she had no way out of the situation.

She felt she had to give in, Korslund said. As she describes the incidents she shows that you were much stronger than she was and she couldnt resist.

Gage County Attorney Roger Harris previously said there were two instances from Nov. 15-26, 2014 when Salinas sexually penetrated a girl who was 14 years old at the time.

Harris said an investigation by Beatrice Police revealed the two assaults happened at a Beatrice residence.

After interviewing the teenage victim, officers questioned Salinas, who corroborated her story regarding the sexual acts.

Salinas comprehends around 20 percent of the English language and appeared in court with assistance from a certified interpreter.
Kristen Freeman, a senior at Lake Zurich High School, and Mike Lowe, a 2014 graduate who says he has been banned from taking Kristen to the school's prom because of a stunt he pulled as a Lake Zurich junior. (Provided by Ann Freeman)

Mike Lowe tweaked Lake Zurich High School administrators good 3 1/2 years ago.

When they announced measures to eliminate "grinding" at school dances, he organized an alternative to homecoming where dirty dancing was welcome. The mischievous stunt made news from Chicago to Cambodia and turned Lowe into a high school celebrity.

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Now, two years after he graduated, it's payback time.

Lowe said the school has forbidden him from attending the prom Saturday with his girlfriend, Lake Zurich senior Kristen Freeman, 18. He was not given a straightforward reason, he said, but has no doubt the denial is related to his high school caper.

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"They didn't give me that due process," he said. "They decided I was a bad nut in high school and they wouldn't allow me to go because of that."

School officials didn't return calls seeking comment, but Principal Kent Nightlinger said in an email that Lake Zurich has veto power over nonstudents seeking to come to school dances.

"For guests who are past (Lake Zurich) students, they may be granted permission to attend if they left us in good standing," he wrote. "We will not comment beyond this on any specific situation relating to a current or past student."

Freeman's mother, Ann Freeman, said the decision wasn't fair to Lowe or her daughter.

"It took her prom night away," she said.

Lowe was a Lake Zurich junior in the fall of 2012 when the school announced a crackdown on grinding, a lewd dance style in which a boy presses his groin against a girl's backside. Lowe said the ban, similar to those enacted by other school districts, was part of an overreaching campaign to govern student dress and behavior.

"A lot of people think it is just about grinding," he said at the time. " But it's really about sticking up for ourselves."

After numerous rejections from building owners, Lowe said, he rented a hall, hired a DJ and put on an event the same night as homecoming. Students could dance as they wished, but Lowe said the night wasn't vulgar or unsafe, and ended up raising hundreds of dollars for charity.

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Lowe now attends Harper College with an eye toward finishing a pre-law degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In Ann Freeman's view, he has become a perfectly respectable young man.

"He is a really upstanding, forthright kid," she said. "He's just extremely easygoing and really takes care of people."

But that opinion, perhaps, is not shared by administrators at his alma mater. After Lowe sought permission to attend the dance, he said, school officials told Kristen Freeman at the last minute that he wouldn't be allowed to go.

Lowe said he asked for a reason, and after much hemming and hawing was told it was because of "inappropriate content" on his social media accounts. Indeed, a recent cover photo on his Facebook profile showed him using a urinal  one of several less than tasteful images that were visible on his publicly accessible pages.

He said his social media presence was no worse than any other young person's, and that he was sure the rejection was actually due to his junior year shenanigans.

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"They're saying no one's ever going to learn from their mistakes," he said.

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But does he think he made a mistake?

"It was a good event," he insisted. "It got a point across  and it raised $1,000 for charity."

In any case, Lowe and Kristen Freeman have accepted that the prom is not to be. She is out $400 for her black, sequined ball gown, but Lowe said he'll still give her a reason to wear it Saturday.

"I told her I'm going to take her out for a nice night, and hopefully we'll have more fun than we would have had at their dance," he said.

jkeilman@tribpub.com

Twitter @JohnKeilman
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will name former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrea Zopp to a new City Hall position as a deputy mayor on Thursday, placing the businesswoman and former head of the Chicago Urban League in charge of neighborhood economic development.



Emanuel's move to appoint a prominent African-American woman to the post allows him to address what some critics view as a shortcoming of his administration  a failure to create enough jobs and business opportunities in economically-depressed neighborhoods on the South and West sides. The new cabinet-level position for Zopp also comes as Emanuel works to rebuild trust in the African-American community after his handling of the Laquan McDonald police shooting controversy have driven his approval ratings, particularly among black voters, down to record lows.



In that vein, Emanuel also will announce Thursday morning that the CTA will make improvements to four bus routes and two branches of the Green Line on the South Side.



Zopp will carry both the title of deputy mayor and chief neighborhood development officer to "further drive the mayor's neighborhood strategy and improve the quality of life in every corner of the city," Emanuel's office announced in a news release late Wednesday night.



The Emanuel administration said Zopp will have a wide range of responsibilities on creating growth at small businesses, attracting large companies and manufacturers to the city, improving roads and bridges, adding more parks and fighting crime.



"Zopp's charge will be to build on these efforts, while driving the work of the entire administration through the lens of building better neighborhoods  from city services to infrastructure to education to economic development to public safety and expanding opportunities in struggling communities," Emanuel spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said in the news release.



Those are areas that Emanuel came under fire for during his 2015 re-election campaign, when challenger and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia repeatedly railed against what he termed the mayor's neglect of the neighborhoods. That strategy played to critics who have painted Emanuel as "Mayor 1 percent," a politician who accepts large political contributions from millionaires and doesn't always put a priority on serving all of the city's 77 neighborhoods.



Zopp made her first foray into politics last year, when she announced she'd take on U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth in the March 2016 Democratic primary for U.S Senate. Zopp finished a distant second in the three-way contest with 24 percent of the vote.



Prior to her run for Senate, Zopp served as the CEO and president of the Chicago Urban League. Zopp also worked in the corporate boardrooms of Sara Lee, Sears Holdings and Exelon, earning an executive salary, but she positioned her Senate campaign as one representing the underserved and impoverished within the African-American community.



That theme dovetails with her new City Hall position, but her background goes beyond business.



A 1981 Harvard Law graduate, Zopp worked in the criminal division in the U.S. attorney's office. A decade later, she joined the Cook County state's attorney's office under Republican Jack O'Malley and went on to become the first woman and first African-American appointed to the position of first state's attorney.



Emanuel's office also announced current Deputy Mayor Steve Koch would remain in his position, which he has held since 2012.



Koch, the mayor's office said, "will continue to oversee economic affairs for the city, including responsibility for the city's financial team, economic and development policy, driving job growth and attracting corporate headquarters."



On Thursday, Emanuel and Zopp are scheduled to appear at the 95th Street Red Line station to announce a series of CTA service changes. Here they are, according to the administration:



*The 95th Street bus will combine separate east and west segments to create a continuous route.



*The #4 Cottage Grove bus will extend south from 95th Street to 115th Street.



*The #71 71st Street bus will extend all trips from 73rd to 112th and Torrence, with increased frequency.



*The #26 South Shore Express service will start earlier and run later.



*The #34 Michigan and #119 Michigan/119th bus routes will see more buses running during midday and evening hours.



*The Cottage Grove and Ashland/63rd branches of the Green Line will get more trains during rush hours.
SANFORD, Fla.  George Zimmerman's name trended on Twitter late Wednesday night, and it will likely be filling most social newsfeeds throughout Thursday. That's the day his auction begins -- he's selling the very gun he used to kill unarmed, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. He calls the gun an "American Firearm Icon" and wrote that proceeds will be used to "fight [Black Lives Matter] violence against Law Enforcement officers" and to "ensure the demise of Angela Correy's persecution career and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric," though he hasn't expounded upon how.

Naturally, people are furious.

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"If George Zimmerman can find a way to make himself even LESS likable, you can accomplish anything," one user tweeted. "He makes me sick," tweeted another. "We should crowdfund a project to launch him into the sun," suggested another.

But this is far from the first time Zimmerman has stoked the fires of controversy by somehow nodding to the trial that burned his name into the public consciousness.

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On February 26, 2012, George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Martin, a black teenager dressed in a hoodie, was unarmed when Zimmerman killed him. All the boy carried were Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea, items that became symbols as the world reacted to the delayed arrest of Zimmerman. A petition on Change.org calling for his arrest gained more than 2 million signatures, and a rally in New York calling for the arrest of Zimmerman attracted hundreds. Zimmerman was eventually arrested and charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. On July 13, 2013, he was acquitted by a Florida jury.

The country responded to the verdict with nationwide rallies. From sea to shining sea, men and women gathered in black hoodies and protested the verdict and the controversial "stand your ground" law that seemed to protect Zimmerman. Throughout (and even after) his trial, a multitude of comparisons between O.J. Simpson and Zimmerman -- and their trials -- abounded.

Given his acquittal, it might be natural to think Zimmerman would attempt to distance himself from controversy, particularly any with a racial bent. It would certainly be natural to assume he wouldn't use the situation to inflate any "celebrity" he might have gained. Aside from the simple fact that despite his acquittal, some Americans consider him to be a cold-blooded murderer, he was raised Catholic, eschewing the limelight. He served as an altar boy from age 7 to 17 and would conduct "home visits" with his mother to feed the less fortunate, Reuters reported.

But he has not responded by stepping away from notoriety.

Following the trial, Sara Brady, President of President of Sara Brady Public Relations, suggested in a blog post that Zimmerman needed to repair his public image. She wrote:

"Mr. Zimmerman needs to be realistic about his future and determine what he wants. Does he want to remain in hiding? Does he want to do some very hard work so he can be free in society? Is he interested in contributing toward helping heal a nation hurting? At some point, and with the right objective and authenticity, he could begin to repair his image."

Instead, his life has become a series of public controversies that seem to imply he wants the nation to remember the very reason he gained infamy in the first place or, perhaps, that he suffers, at best, from a case of impaired judgement. Now that he has the media spotlight, he hasn't let go of it, despite receiving "death threats," as he told WOGZ.

The most blatant example of this came last October when he retweeted a photograph of Trayvon Martin's slain body. The original tweet read "Z-man is a one-man army." Following media outrage, Zimmerman claimed he wasn't aware the tweet included a photograph.

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"I did not, and never will knowingly re-tweet a picture of a deceased body," Zimmerman wrote in a statement posted to Twitter, according to CBS News. "I do not want to see or relive the night I was attacked and had to use lethal force to defend my life."

Zimmerman is no stranger to Twitter controversy. He's used it to call President Barack Obama an " ignorant baboon" -- which was widely perceived as a racial slur. Perhaps he remembered Obama's comment after the shooting that "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids." And Zimmerman he allegedly invoked the shooting of Martin by tweeting at a critic, "We all know how it ended for the last moron who hit me. Give it a whirl, cupcake."

Those tweets -- and all his others -- can't be linked to, because his account was suspended in 2015 after he posted semi-nude photographs of his ex-girlfriend. In the captions, he included her personal email address and telephone number and accused her of having sex with a "dirty Muslim."

Now, his online presence consists of his website. Its homepage displays a photograph of a cigar dangling from the fingers of an arm tattooed with "sic vis pacem para bellum" -- Latin for "If you want peace, prepare for war" -- and a pistol tucked into a holster. On the "about" page is a personal recounting of the Martin shooting.

Racial conflict and firearms appear to be a recurring theme for Zimmerman. Last August, he teamed up with Florida Gun Supply - a gun store that had publicly declared itself a "Muslim-free zone" - to sell prints of a painting by Zimmerman depicting a Confederate battle flag and the inscription, "The 2nd protects our 1st."

He's also been back in the courtroom several times since the Martin trial. Less than a month after his acquittal, Zimmerman was pulled over for speeding, CNN reported. According to dashcam footage, he allegedly had a gun on him and the officer said, "Don't play with your firearm, OK?"

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Later in 2013, he was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a shotgun at his girlfriend. The case was later dropped. Two years later, he was arrested again -- this time for charges of domestic aggravated assault for allegedly throwing a bottle of wine at his girlfriend -- and again the charges were later dropped.

Finally, last May, Zimmerman was shot, receiving minor injuries, during a dispute with a motorist named Matthew Apperson. In 2014, Apperson had called the police in a different dispute, saying Zimmerman had allegedly threatened him by saying, "Do you know who I am?" and "I'll f--ing kill you," according to Vox.

In fact, his legal troubles go back to 2005, when he was arrested twice. First in a domestic dispute that ended with a broken engagement and a restraining order filed against him. Then, for the battery of an officer after he shoved an undercover agent who was arresting Zimmerman's underage friend for being in a bar.

Controversy seems to follow Zimmerman so doggedly that this isn't even his first controversial auction.

In Dec. 2013, he sold a painting of an American flag for $100,099.99, despite critics' claims that it was "very primitive" and a "desperate cry for attention," Time reported. His follow-up painting, named "Angie" after Angela Corey, the special prosecutor who was appointed by Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott to investigate the death of Trayvon Martin, didn't fare so well. It depicted Corey with her fingers pressed against her thumbs and a caption reading, "I have this much respect for the American judicial system." But he was wasn't allowed to sell it because it was an exact replica of an Associated Press photograph, the USA Today reported.

Regardless of what George Zimmerman hopes for his public image to be, one thing is certain: he's being discussed, fervently. As of early Thursday morning, more than 24,000 people had used his name in a tweet on Twitter.
LINCOLN -- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln honored Nebraska eighth-graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance April 28 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The Big Red Stars program is designed to recognize outstanding eighth-grade students in Nebraska. These talented young people were nominated by school principals and guidance counselors for showcasing strong leadership skills and academic promise.

The ceremony was sponsored by UNL and EducationQuest. Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards and special remarks from Peter Ferguson of Lincoln Public Schools.

The following is a list of students honored as 2016 Big Red Stars, by hometown:

Beatrice: Dawson Huls, Faith Kelly, Alexxandra Malchow

Deshler: Anthany Collins, Adam Roth

DeWitt: Bailey Waltke

Fairbury: Darby Paulsen, Isadora Schwab

Falls City: Dillon Ebel, Trey McAfee, Mackensie Nelson, Luke Schawang

Firth: Alex Heetderks, Morgan Koehler

Hebron: Bailey Kiburz, Destiny Poisel

Johnson: Josh Hoff-Boring

Nebraska City: Sarah Murray, Miguel Perez

Odell: Melina Kostal, Madison Vater

Pawnee City: T.J. Mawhiney

Steinauer: Dana Christen

Sterling: Joel Rathe, Torie Tucker

Tecumseh: Monica Thipphavong, Eli Waring

Virginia: Caleb Bredemeier

Western: Halle Pribyl

Wymore: Aryel Lane, Lauren Trauernicht
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Wednesday that he may not release his tax returns until after November's election, citing legal advice amid an ongoing audit of his finances.

The real estate mogul, according to the Associated Press, said Wednesday that he would not overrule advice from his legal counsel not to publicly disclose his tax returns before an audit by the Internal Revenue Service is completed - including if the audit is not completed before Election Day.

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Former GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who has been one of his party's most vocal critics of Trump, called Trump's decision not to release returns "disqualifying" in a statement release on social media.

"It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service," Romney wrote. "Mr. Trump says he is being audited. So? There is nothing that prevents releasing tax returns that are being audited."

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Romney has previously accused Trump of attempting to conceal a "bombshell" by withholding the release of his taxes, which he repeated again Wednesday. Romney's hesitation to release his own tax returns became an issue in the 2012 campaign.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton also hit Trump for not releasing previous tax returns, pointing to her own public disclosures.

"See, when you're running for president. ... that is kind of expected," she said of a public release during a campaign event in Blackwood, New Jersey. She said that she has released 33 years' worth of returns spanning the course of her and her husband's political careers.

"So you have to ask yourself, why doesn't he want to release them?" she said.

Trump sought to temper the furor Wednesday in a tweet: "In interview I told @AP that my taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election!"

In interview I told @AP that my taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2016

Anne Gearan contributed to this report.
A bill that would weaken Gov. Bruce Rauner at the bargaining table with AFSCME, Illinois' largest employee union, is headed back to the General Assembly. (Christian K. Lee / AP)

As far as Springfield drama goes, last fall's failure to override a veto because of one rebellious Democrat stands out as memorable theater.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, thought he had the votes to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of legislation that would have empowered the state's largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The bill would have limited Rauner's authority to bargain during contract negotiations. So Rauner vetoed it. Every Illinois taxpayer should have applauded him for doing so.

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But when the motion came before the House to override his veto, it crashed and burned. Madigan didn't have enough votes. One of his caucus members, Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, failed to show up. Dunkin was out of town when Madigan had to have every Democratic vote.

Dunkin's absence and his outspokenness about Madigan's iron fist cost him his political career. Madigan ran a candidate against Dunkin in the March primary and beat him.

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Dunkin's tenure in the House is ending. But the ghost of last year's veto override effort will be making a repeat performance before Dunkin departs.

The House and Senate early this year again passed a version of the bill, at AFSCME's behest. Rauner has until Tuesday to act on it. His aides say he'll veto it. That would set up another potentially dramatic showdown.

If Democrats in the House and Senate override Rauner, taxpayers could get stuck with a more expensive labor agreement between the state and AFSCME.

If Democrats do not override Rauner, the negotiations between AFSCME and the governor move to the next phase. The two sides are currently arguing before a state labor board judge to determine if they have hit an impasse. But that process, which at least gives Rauner a chance at achieving an AFSCME contract that's fair to taxpayers, stops if the override turns the bill into law.

Remember, this is a bill that takes the unprecedented step of removing the authority of the executive branch to fully negotiate on behalf of all those Illinois taxpayers. The bill would create a process by which the two sides would submit contract proposals to an arbitration panel. An arbitrator would choose the winning proposal. Arbitrators tend to favor organized labor, which is why AFSCME is fighting so hard for the legislation. The union wants to make an end-run around the governor.

Rauner estimates the cost of AFSCME's contract demands are about $3 billion in wage increases and benefit increases during the life of the proposed four-year contract. Illinois cannot afford it.

And a new twist in the bill would add another $400 million in wage increases to AFSCME workers, for whom pay has been frozen since June when their contract expired. An administrative law judge already ruled their wages could be frozen, but AFSCME wants to do an end-run around that too.

Labor-friendly Democrats  and there are a few Republicans too  ought to remember that the Rauner administration already reached contract agreements with more than a dozen trade union and Teamsters units. Rauner won the support of the AFL-CIO last fall when the two sides compromised on unemployment insurance, toughening the standards under which employees can file claims if they're hurt on the job.

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Point being: Other unions recognize the dire financial condition of Illinois. Other unions realize the squeeze is hurting the state's most vulnerable citizens. Other unions have agreed to reasonable requests from Rauner, such as working 40 hours per week before collecting overtime. Currently, AFSCME workers get to start the overtime clock at 37.5 hours. It adds up.

Other unions have been reasonable.

One union has not.

AFSCME is the outlier. Lawmakers should recognize that, and stop this special interest group from muscling its demands through the General Assembly at the expense of taxpayers who likely would foot the bill.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
But that raw comparison doesn't tell you all you need to know. Some districts have robust property tax bases and comparatively few low-income and non-English-speaking students. These districts need less money per pupil from the state to fund good schools than districts that labor under greater challenges. And the question for lawmakers everywhere, not just Illinois, is how to weigh those challenges and distribute state resources in a way that assures all children access to quality public education.
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.
Protesters block a street during an anti-Trump rally outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was speaking in Burlingame, Calif., April 29. Hundreds of protesters jostled with police in riot gear outside the hotel. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images)

Perturbed about protests: Why are all these people protesting Donald Trump in California and waving Mexican flags when they are in the United States? Why aren't the police deporting them for breaking the law? And they wonder why people are rooting for Trump. Many people who probably never liked Trump are voting for him because they can't stand the way this country is going. Hopefully, Trump gets in and gets these people out of here.

Freedom of speech: This is about the presidential candidates and the rallies they hold, especially the ones held by Donald Trump. I think the man has a right to speak his mind. Whatever happened to the freedom of speech? He's not hurting anyone. In fact, I think he will win, and I hope he does. These people who protest probably don't know how to vote or even how to write their own name.

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Comment about Kelly: I see where former astronaut Mark Kelly was in our state to push a new bill to make all gun store workers undergo background checks. I don't know where he gets his information, but he claims that only the gun store owner undergoes a background check. That is absurd. There isn't a gun store around who would hire someone without a FOID card. You need a FOID card in Illinois to be able to handle a gun. This is just another bunch of nonsense put out by the antigun people.

Vexed about vacant buildings: On Lake Street between Jericho and Second streets, there are no less than four vacant commercial buildings. They have been unoccupied for close to a decade. Sadly, this condition is evident throughout Aurora. Don't we have development officials in the city to find uses for these buildings? With all these vacancies, it might be time to change the players.

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Police action labeled as wars: Has anyone noticed since 9/11 all the police action our country has had and is still having? The powers that be are calling them wars. If our country uses our military, it should be to win or lose. The only thing we are losing are lives while also disabling our soldiers who are losing their arms, legs and their minds. There is still no win. They are just driving around in trucks mounted with guns in the back. I'm a World War II veteran. We won that war, or did we? We sure haven't learned anything from that war.

Riled about riots: I would like to know why these demonstrators are getting away with all this violence in different cities. What is wrong with the police and cities in general? They are saying that if Donald Trump gets in, there will be more riots. This is the United States, and half these protesters don't belong here. Also, keep religion out of politics. People never get along about religion.

Word about Great Wall: The Donald promises to stem the tide of industry leaving the United States with the exception of bettering our relations with China by contracting the same firm that built the Great Wall.

Bring back ballroom dancing: The show "Dancing with the Stars" was uninteresting this year. It was like aerobics with burlesque clothing. It was really watchable when it had ballroom dance steps and clothing. If you watch it for skilled dance movements now, you won't see it. They are just people doing extreme aerobic movements.

Chinese caps: Did anyone watch the news showing that Donald Trump supporter hats are made in China? How about that?

Stop outsourcing: I want to know when is our government going to do something about outsourcing? Every time I call customer service about something, I am always reaching someone in China, Mexico or India. We have Americans qualified to do these jobs. Why do they keep outsourcing our jobs?

Overcrowded schools: Protesters against Donald Trump over his stand against illegal immigration will soon find out the Good Ship Lollipop sinks from too many passengers. Public schools are sinking from overcrowding, and building more schools is out of the question for Illinois.

Rooting for Rauner: Donald Trump is a good talker about what should be done. Gov. Rauner is a doer. The Democrats are destroying Illinois and this country financially. It would take 100 Rauners to pull America out of the quicksand.

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Search for legal citizens: Instead of reporting on how many millions of illegal immigrants are here underneath the invisible border, how about finding at least one who completed the legal process to become a citizen of the United States.

Social absent time: I'm not on any school board or government job, but I do have common sense. When children are allowed to miss school days for something other than illness, are those children requested to make up those school hours? Do we as taxpayers pay for children to have social absent time? I always thought school was the most important time in a child's life.

Greed is not good: I would like to talk about teacher salaries. I think they are greedy with what they expect to get in retirement. Some of them get as much in retirement as they made when they were working. Teachers are greedy.

Wondering about transgender washrooms: I wish somebody would tell me where all this transgender bathroom business started. It seems like it came out of nowhere. Nobody asked the majority what they wanted. Everybody is going for this minority thing. Why should we change what we are doing for a small part of the population? I think the majority should rule and not the minority.

Editor's note

Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line
Tom Campbell

What do a billionaire and a socialist have in common? Yes, both are running for President but, more importantly, both have a better understanding for the pulse of America than do those currently in power. Despite constantly being discredited by media pundits, elected officials and party establishments both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are populists, still alive, racking up votes and donations.How can this be true? Both Bernie and Donald understand the great disgust and anxiety voters feel about the way things are. They want change and they want it now.It is more than a little ironic that a rich, narcissistic white guy can put voice to a middle class that feels disenfranchised and fears for their futures, are angry with politicians who don't listen and favor special interests, of people who appear to be obstructing rather than governing. Many Americans now believe the deck is stacked against them and their future is not bright. A large number acknowledge that Donald Trump makes outrageous and ridiculous statements, many with which they don't agree, but they flock to vote for him because they see him as one who has not been bought and paid for, one who is unafraid to challenge the establishment, one who would turn Washington upside down and force dramatic change. He is a catalyst.At the other end of the spectrum of irony is Bernie Sanders, an old guy who is energizing the millennials, the group we're told doesn't get involved in politics. They despise the corruption in big business, as well as the animus, stagnation and control of special interests in government at all levels. Faced with the reality they will never attain the same standard of living as their parents - many don't even desire it - they face huge college debts, the result of ever-escalating costs of higher education, rising healthcare costs and lower wages. Many of them acknowledge that Bernie doesn't stand a chance of even winning the nomination, much less the presidency, but they are also fed up and rally behind the idealism of free college tuition and free healthcare he is advocating. Bernie is also a catalyst.Hillary Clinton represents the status quo, the establishment, the traditional. Without question she is the most seasoned and experienced candidate left standing. By past measures she should win the election handily, but Hillary either doesn't understand the depth of unrest or isn't willing to change.Until just recently I wouldn't have given Donald Trump any chance to win the presidency. Now I'm not so sure.What we are witnessing is no less than a political revolution. The most fascinating aspect of it is that the powers that be aren't listening. They just don't get it. Or perhaps they do understand and don't want to face the prospect of loss of money and power. Whether in the Congress, in business or the political parties those in power are so busy protecting and defending their institutions that they can't or won't acknowledge that the sands on which they stand are shifting. This is not a time to be tone deaf.
On Saturday (April 30, 2016) the NAACP/Belhaven's Press Conference was amoment for themovement. It's been 2 years since Vidant Health closed Pungo District Hospital. In the hearts and minds of this rural community and knowledgeable outsiders, there is little doubt that Vidant Health never intended to keep Pungo Hospital operating.Pungo Hospital, like many rural hospitals, was no stranger to financial problems having filed bankruptcy in 2001. Facing costs associated with overstaffing, fiscal mismanagement and failure to install federally mandated technology, etc. the Board of Directors were desperate to find a way to keep the Hospital open.At the same time Vidant Health was acquiring 2 local midsize hospitals (Duplin and Beaufort County) that were floundering financially in amounts far greater than Pungo's $1.5 million loss. It is a well known fact that Rural Hospitals are not designed to be profitable. If they break even, they're doing well.Some have raised concerns about the current financial status of Vidant Beaufort Hospital. Since 2011 there has been a loss of transparency in Vidant's financial reports. This is due to Vidant's decision to utilize Consolidated Reporting. Financial data for Vidant hospitals is "Blended and Combined" into Vidant Health the parent company. Even Vidant Medical Group (Physicians) finances are no longer reported separately, making promises of transparency null and void.As time goes by more and more pieces of this tangled mess are coming to light. Belhaven Town Mayor Adam O'Neal has laid his personal and political life on the line for his people. Few individuals possess the tenacity and perseverance to take a stand against injustices such as those that have been visited upon Belhaven citizens.On the other hand, we have a small group of individuals - Pantego Creek, LLC. whose leadership is indebted to Vidant's seed money - $50,000 set up and $10,000 for application for Tax Exempt Status. According to a CPA, this process that should have taken about 6 months instead ended up taking 3 years from September, 2011 until October 2014.After several attempts Pantego Creek, Llc. received a 501-c-3 status with a specific category 509-a-3.c) Section 509(a)(3): "Supporting Organizations - an organization that is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of one or more organizationsPantego Creek, Llc.'s stated mission and sole purpose as submitted to the IRS is no longer valid. Vidant closed Pungo Hospital and transferred the property deed to Pantego Creek.Pantego Creek, Llc.'s reluctance to release the property deed to the Town may be a sign that they no longer trust Vidant to live up to its commitment. Once the new Medical Office Building (MOB) opens will Pantego Creek turn the deed over to the Town?The new Belhaven MOB is scheduled to open in June. In a request to the NC DHHS Certificate of Need (CON) office for an exemption from review, Vidant stated no new services will be offered and since Vidant intends to pay for the MOB out of reserve funds, no State oversight would be required. The initial cost summary estimated the MOB would cost $4.3 million. That now has reportedly increased to $6 million. The property is now deeded to Vidant Medical Group (Physicians) for tax purposes.Originally promised to be open 24/7 year round, a later Vidant document sets a 3 year term and possible reduction of hours. There is some question of the utilization of the Helipad which requires stabilization of patients being transferred by helicopter. The fact remains 25,000 individuals are being denied emergency services in a rural area in which life-threatening accidents are a known factor.There is a sense of urgency because there has been movement by a Pantego Creek member that threatens "demolition". In recent weeks, an environmental contractor was hired which is one of the first steps to demolition. The town people have taken this possibility seriously and have setup a 24/7 campsite across from the Hospital building.In 2014 Vidant agreed "to contribute an amount up to $800,000" for the express purposeto the (hospital) property. Additionally Vidant offered extensive help in vetting a demolition contractor, obtaining a fixed price proposal and assured the LLC. assistance if the price proposal exceeds the $800,000. All the Llc. has to do isandReviewing Pantego Creek's financial data in the IRS 990s show they have little, if any, cash on hand but they reported non-cash contributions in 2014 with cash value of $840,400. After selling a single land parcel of the hospital property to a member for $100,000 (which had a tax value of almost $400,000) they applied this money toward mounting legal bills and paid their Beaufort County Tax Bill ($35,000+) just a few weeks shy of the public release of Delinquent Taxes.It all came to a head on April 30th. Reverend William Barber, State NAACP Head and Mayor O'Neal held a Press Conference to end all press conferences. No holds barred! They jointly announced the filing of formal complaints with the Department of Justice U.S.Attorney General Loretta Lynch to an audience of about 50 residents, NC NAACP representatives and Belhaven town officials.Rev. Barber filed for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division into the surprise removal of Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch, Jr. from the case remanded to him, allegedly without notice. Judge Fitch is one of a few minority Judges in Eastern NC. He was replaced with a White judge. Was proper court process followed?Rev. Barber pointed outHe cited examples of Vidant's attempts to defraud and undermine justice in the court system, undue influence and interference in the settlement attempts between Belhaven and Pantego Creek.Mayor O'Neal filed a lengthy detailed Anti-Trust Complaint citing numerous allegations against Vidant and Pantego Creek, Llc. Several exhibits were included substantiating the allegations. Clean Hands and Transparency are not now and never have been strong suits of Vidant Health.
Lake County Sheriff's Office photo shows Justin J. Serak, who is charged with obstructing justice in the death of 16-year-old Shaquan Allen at the Allendale Association in Lake Villa. (Lake County Sheriff's Office )

A Wisconsin man charged with obstructing justice in the death of a 16-year-old Allendale resident earlier this year entered a not guilty plea Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Justin Serak, 27, of Grafton, Wis., pleaded not guilty to the obstruction charge before Judge Daniel Shanes at an arraignment hearing Thursday morning.

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James Davis, 37, had already pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and obstructing justice in connection with the March 30 death of Shaquan Allen of Chicago.

Both Davis and Serak were employees of the Allendale Association in Lake Villa when Allen died.

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Prosecutors said the 16-year-old Allen was having a "behavioral episode" on the evening of March 30 when Davis and Serak each took an arm and tried to escort him back to his bedroom. Allen became combative, officials said, prompting Serak to grab his legs while Davis took control of his upper body and put him in a chokehold.

When Allen became unresponsive and was placed on the floor, authorities said that the two employees agreed to a story that Allen had knocked over a cup of water, slipped and fell.

Shanes told Serak Thursday that the charges against him allege that he threw water on or around Allen during the incident and provided "false information" to police investigating the death.

Serak's defense attorney, Robert Ritacca, said he was going to file motions to sever the trials of his client and Davis, and to request a speedy trial for Serak, meaning it must be held within 160 days of his notification to the court.

Ritacca has also attempted to subpoena information from Allendale related to the incident. Attorneys for Allendale present at the arraignment Thursday said they would attempt to have the subpoenas quashed on grounds that they involve medical and mental health information.

But Ritacca said after the hearing the information he has requested involves policies at the facility regarding "how to handle a disruptive client."

Ritacca also said he plans to challenge the grand jury indictment against Serak, claiming it is insufficient to warrant the charges against him.

Serak, who is free from custody after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bail, is scheduled for a May 24 case management hearing, and Shanes set a trial date for Serak of July 18.

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Davis remains in the custody of the Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail. Davis currently is scheduled for the same case management and trial dates as Serak.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

Twitter @jimnnewton5
The UNC Board of Governors gave system president Margaret Spellings a vote of confidence in dealing with the issues and the fallout surrounding H.B. 2 and the flurry of lawsuits that have resulted.

UNC President Margaret Spellings and Board of Governors chair Lou Bissette confer prior to a March 2016 meeting of the board. (CJ photo by Kari Travis)

Should Americans be thankful for North Carolinians setting precedent in taking a stand for their state's right to manage the safety of their public facilities, where separation of the sexes remains, or should they follow Bruce Springsteen's lead and boycott the state as bigots since they will not allow grown Transgender men to use the same bathrooms /locker rooms as pre-pubescent girls? North Carolina is right to control the separation of the sexes as a matter of decorum and safety. North Carolina is a bigoted state to not require that children of opposite sexes share the same public facilities with adults of the opposite sex, although misidentified - the Transgender. I generally prefer the natural environs of the vacant, although rather public, large tree. 236 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



CHAPEL HILL Following a three-hour special meeting of the UNC Board of Governors Tuesday, university leaders agreed to seek legal representation in a federal lawsuit over House Bill 2, the controversial "bathroom bill" that has sparked state and federal litigation over alleged civil rights violations.Board members also said they will continue to stand behind new system president Margaret Spellings and her decisions on how to handle the situation, said BOG chair Lou Bissette.Bissette stated following the meeting.Bissette continued.Members met in closed session to discuss the federal suit against the state and determined that they needed outside legal assistance to deal with the Justice Department's lawsuit.Spellings, who wrote to the Justice Department Monday to assure them that the university would abide by federal anti-discrimination laws, also expressed to officials her concern over the crossfire that has placed the university in a compromising position.she wrote.At stake for the university is $1.4 billion in federal funds that last year was granted to the UNC system for the purpose of research and financial aid.Board members are divided on the issue, as revealed in multiple email exchanges published on Tuesday in The News and Observer.wrote board member Champ Mitchell to several of his colleagues.In contrast, on May 5 - the day following the Department of Justice's assertion that H.B.2 violates the Civil Rights Act and Title IX - board member Steve Long wrote to Bissette, advising him to consider legal action.Long wrote.Enacted March 23 by a special session of the General Assembly, H.B. 2, known as "the bathroom bill," overturned a Charlotte nondiscrimination ordinance that would have allowed transgendered individuals to use public and private bathrooms and changing rooms of the sexual identity they chose.Under the new legislation, public schools and agencies must offer single-sex multiple-occupancy bathrooms, and students are required to use those facilities based on their biological sex, rather than their self-proclaimed gender. Private businesses, however, are able to operate their restrooms under whatever parameters they choose.Spellings, who has been at the center of heated protest since her election last year, on April 5 released a memo stating that the university would comply with H.B. 2, an announcement that fueled outrage among students and faculty alike.The former Secretary of Education for the George W. Bush administration, Spellings has continued to take fire from student protestors who say her track record is "anti-gay" and discriminatory.Spellings responded again to these accusations on Tuesday, stating publicly that UNC is an institution that upholds diversity and acceptance.Spellings said.
Two sisters from Zion have both pleaded not guilty to charges of official misconduct for allegedly altering court files while formerly employed with the Lake County Circuit Clerk's Office.

Leticia Gonzalez, 45, pleaded not guilty before Judge Daniel Shanes Thursday to eight counts of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony. Shanes said at her arraignment hearing that the charges stemmed from altering records for her benefit and the benefit of another.

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Her sister, Veronica Ventura, pleaded not guilty Wednesday before Judge Mark Levitt to two counts of official misconduct.

Prosecutors have not elaborated on the case beyond alleging the two altered court records for their benefit while employed as clerks. They have since been terminated from their positions in the Circuit Clerk's office.

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The alleged activities go back as far as 2010, Circuit Court Clerk Keith Brin said in a statement.

"This type of conduct undermines the integrity of our court system and will not be tolerated," Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said in the same release.

Brin said that an internal audit revealed unauthorized changes in court files and that both the Chicago office of the Secret Service and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office were notified of the findings, and an investigation led to the arrests and charges.

Brin said additional system safeguards have been put in place to help ensure that such actions do not take place again.

Both women posted their required bonds and are free from custody.

Shanes scheduled an Aug. 12 trial and a June 14 case management hearing for Gonzalez.

An Aug. 15 trial date and a July 18 case management hearing have been scheduled for Ventura.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

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Twitter @jimnewton5
A judge said Thursday that a Barrington man free on bond after allegedly killing his wife must report to court within 24 hours of his release from an area hospital, where he is currently receiving in-patient treatment.

But Judge Daniel Shanes deflected a request from Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg that Larry Lotz should be required to wear a leg monitor upon release from the hospital, where his attorney said the Vietnam War veteran is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.

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"He's charged with first-degree murder," Rothenberg said to Shanes.

"I'm aware of the charges," Shanes responded, adding that Lotz is out after posting the required money for a $3 million bail. The judge noted Lotz is currently in the hospital and will be required to follow all of the requirements set by the court's pretrial services department.

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"If he's not in the hospital and pretrial wants him to stop by (to report in person) every day, he's here every day," Shanes said.

The judge directed defense attorney Robert Hauser to appear before him with Lotz within 24 hours of his release from the hospital, and said that if Hauser is not available he will need to find another attorney to step up for him.

Rothenberg expressed concern that Lotz was not being monitored by the pretrial services department while in the hospital, but Hauser responded that Lotz had spoken to pretrial representative Wednesday.

Although Shanes had refused to reduce the $3 million bail on May 2, the defendant's two sons, as well as other family and friends, pooled money and posted the $300,000 necessary for his release from custody later that day, Hauser said.

Hauser added it was necessary to gain Lotz's release in order for him to receive mental health treatment that he was not receiving in jail. Hauser has said he is considering an insanity defense for Lotz.

Lotz allegedly shot and killed his wife, Karen Lotz, on Jan. 15 after an argument prosecutors said began over a coffee pot being left on in the kitchen of the couple's Barrington home.

He was arrested Jan. 15 after he called 911 and told dispatchers he had shot his wife, according to authorities.

Terms of the bond release include that Lotz possess no firearms and that he report regularly to the pretrial services department.

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Hauser has said that a pretrial assessment and report for Lotz showed that he was at a very low risk to re-offend, and the attorney said he wants to assure the public that Lotz is "not a danger to anybody."

jrnewton@tribpub.com

Twitter @jimnewton5
All Waukegan High School students were issued a Chromebook device to use for learning purposes starting this school year. (Waukegan District 60 / Lake County News-Sun)

The expansion of a technology initiative that would put a laptop in every Waukegan School District 60 student's hands is not dead.

The proposal to expand the program to the middle schools returned to the agenda of the Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting after being pulled just two weeks earlier because of the district's "uncertain finances," school officials said.

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The board has three options to consider when the topic returns at its next meeting later this month, said Rich Pattison, associate superintendent of information technology services. It can kill the program, keep it going at just the high school level or expand it to the middle schools.

The district rolled out the high school phase of the program at the beginning of this school year at an initial cost of $1.9 million, which included 5,000 Chromebooks, 4,600 cases, training for about 375 teachers and staff members, and the expansion of wireless networks at both high school campuses.

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A pilot program was also implemented for sixth-graders at Abbott Middle School this year.

The proposal originally had been to expand the program to all sixth-graders in the district, but incoming Superintendent Theresa Plascencia requested that the devices instead go to next year's eighth-graders to help them prepare for the SAT, Deputy Superintendent Mary Lamping said.

The district had not known the state was switching the college entrance exam it requires to the SAT from the ACT, Lamping said.

The Illinois State Board of Education announced the change in February after the ACT lost an appeal.

If the Waukegan school board decides to expand the technology program, the Chromebooks being used by the high school's seniors would be handed down to the incoming sixth-graders or eighth-graders at each of the district's five middle schools, Pattison said.

That expansion would cost about $455,000 a year, $323,000 of which would go toward new devices for the incoming freshmen and $132,000 to buy enough devices to offset the enrollment differences between the outgoing seniors and the middle schoolers, Pattison said.

If the program is kept at just the high school level, the devices being used by the outgoing seniors would instead go to the incoming freshmen, requiring about $157,000 to purchase enough devices to offset enrollment numbers, he said. The cost would be about $330,000 for the subsequent years when the devices would have to be aged out.

"All the kids need technology, not just eighth grade," said school board member Victoria Torres, pointing to her own son, whose grades and enthusiasm for school shot up after getting his Chromebook.

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Pattison noted that many students see an initial burst of improvement upon getting the devices because of the organizational help provided by the devices. Heather Spaulding, a sixth-grade teacher who had been involved in the pilot program at Abbott Middle School, added that the devices also allow her to move around the classroom more and give students the opportunity to look up information for themselves.

Despite the financial concerns raised two weeks ago, Lamping said the funding is available to expand the program to one grade, though not all the grades.

The district will use savings from a spending freeze adopted in January to support the expansion, spokesman Nick Alajakis said.

District staff had also looked at four options for offsetting the costs of the program but ultimately settled on a rollover accident-protection plan that kept the price reasonable for families but provided an incentive to take good care of the devices, Pattison said.

Board Vice President Rick Riddle questioned that model, saying he had never heard of an insurance plan where users only had to pay once if they didn't have any claims.

emcoleman@tribpub.com

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Board pay raises

Several members of the Lake County Board argued for a pay increase because it brought them up to the salary of board members of surrounding counties. Would these board members be requesting a pay decrease if the salaries of those same surrounding counties were less than Lake County? Watch a board meeting on television and you might decide some of these members are already over paid.

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Forgot about federalism?

When you see the federal government clashing with North Carolina over the so-called bathroom bill remember that federalism is a system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a national government. The United States government was founded on the principles of federalism. The U.S. political system evolved from the philosophy of federalism. The Federalist Papers essays by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison  were written to convince people to approve the Constitution. Federalism helps explain why each state has its own constitution and powers such as being able to choose what kind of ballots it uses, even in national elections. The national government oversees the election results, but each state controls its own voting procedures.

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Twitter @NewsSun

Talk of the County is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-4554 or email talkofthecounty@tribpub.com. For a continuously updating blog of Talk of the County comments, visit newssunonline.com/talk.
Christine Zelaya, right, speaks at a Glencoe District 35 board meeting. Zelaya was named the new principal of Holmes Elementary School in Oak Park on May 10. (Daniel I. Dorfman, Pioneer Press)

Though her former position as curriculum director in the Glencoe District 35 administration office seemed like an ideal spot, Christine Zelaya said she knew she belonged inside a school.

After interviewing with Oak Park District 97 staff and community members, Zelaya was chosen as the new principal of Holmes Elementary School, a move that became official with board approval May 10. Zelaya's one-year, $122,774 contract was unanimously approved by District 97 board members.

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"Oak Park has a wonderful reputation that goes far beyond its borders," Zelaya said. "I appreciate the diversity they have in the district, and the expectations they have of all students is evident. I'm really ready to be a part of it."

Zelaya said she believes in "continuous improvement" when it comes to leading a school, and she said it's something she practices herself. While holding a job with a real estate company, she noticed her son's school in Chicago did not have a preschool program. That discovery led her to become more involved with the school.

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"I was living in Lincoln Park, and when I was getting ready to enroll him they said they no longer had a preschool program," Zelaya said. "They said they would love to do that if they had parent interest and participation."

Deciding to do something, Zelaya knocked on doors and worked with other parents to bring preschool back to the school.

"I volunteered in his preschool, kindergarten and first grade," Zelaya said. "When he was in first grade, I went back to school to finish my bachelor's degree. I've been going to school ever since."

As she wrapped up her bachelor's degree at Northeastern University, Zelaya was a student teacher at Falconer Elementary School in Chicago, which cultivated a love of classroom technology.

"One of my classmates was using technology in her classroom, and seeing the students and how motivated they were for learning really motivated me," Zelaya said. "I went back to school to study technology for my master's degree."

After earning her master's from Walden University, Zelaya began working as a teacher and eventually shifted to an administrative role. She served for four years as principal of Rupley Elementary School in Elk Grove Village and four years as principal of Sycamore Trails Elementary School in Bartlett, all while wrapping up her doctorate from National Louis University.

Last year, she moved on to Glencoe District 35, where she served as curriculum director until resigning her position in March.

"Although I had been on this upward trajectory from teacher to principal to administrator, I realized my heart wasn't there [as a district employee]," Zelaya said. "I learned a lot while up there, and I appreciate the opportunity. I realized I was truly passionate about being in the building, and that drew me to look for principal jobs."

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Zelaya will assume her new role as Holmes principal on July 1, and she said she is already looking forward to meeting parents, staff and students.

"With any new position, it's really about building relationships," Zelaya said. "I know I have a lot of learning to do as far as different initiatives of what the district is working on. I feel my beliefs mirror what the district wants to do. I believe in continuous improvement, so I want to continue to dig a little deeper and help everybody move forward."

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @steveschering
British flags are seen over Regent Street in central London, April 19, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Chinese companies and other foreign investors which hold or want to buy properties in UK must state who really owns them, according to the press office of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Cameron will be announcing a set of new global commitments at today's anti-corruption summit, to which China has sent a delegation. And it is expected that the Chinese delegation will be expressing the country's determination to continue its iron-fisted efforts in uprooting corruption.

The UK has attracted a growing number of Chinese companies and individual investors who have been buying properties in recent years while the bilateral economic and trade relations have deepened.

Cameron will also announce that the UK will host the first ever International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre in London to strengthen cross-border investigations.

According to the press office, any foreign company that wants to buy UK property or bid for central government contracts here will have to join a new public register of beneficial ownership information before they can do so. This will be the first register of its kind anywhere in the world.

Crucially, it will include companies who already own property in the UK, not just those wishing to buy. Foreign companies own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales. Over 44,000 of these are in London.

The new register for foreign companies will mean corrupt individuals and countries will no longer be able to move, launder and hide illicit funds through London's property market, and will not benefit from public funds.

France, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Afghanistan will follow the UK's lead and commit to launch their own public registers of true company ownership, while Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, Indonesia, Ireland and Georgia will agree to take the initial steps towards making similar arrangements.

The UK will launch its own fully public register next month  the first G20 country to do so.

His press office reported that Cameron will say at the summit that a global problem needs a truly global solution. It needs an unprecedented, courageous commitment from world leaders to stand united, to speak into the silence, and to demand change.

"That is why I am hosting this summit. Today is just the start of a more co-ordinated, ambitious global effort to defeat corruption," the press office quoted Cameron as saying.
A clerk of Bank of China counts US dollars at a domestic branch. [Photo/Xinhua]

When Bank of China moves to 7 Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan this fall, it will join major American financial institutions in the neighborhood, and continue its expansion in the US as its overseas business grows.

"The strengthening of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US has brought us a lot of new business, which has brought pressure to our work," said Xu Chen, director of Bank of China's US branch, in an interview with China Daily.

"Our number of employees is increasing quickly, and the old building (on Madison Avenue and 48th Street) wasn't big enough, so we needed to move to a new office building.

"The (new) building is located just next to Bryant Park and the Bank of America Tower.

"Being located near Bank of America marks the close economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and it also indicates the role that China's economy plays in the world," he said.

The building by Bryant Park sits on Sixth Avenue, or Avenue of the Americas, which Xu said is symbolic. Bank of China paid $600 million for the 28-story building in 2014, and will occupy more than half of it.

Bank of China's assets abroad have risen 54 percent over last year. The bank's overseas profit rose more than 5 percent, accounting for almost a quarter of total profit.

It will continue providing traditional services to customerssuch as bond investing and trade servicesand develop its retail services because of the growing number of Chinese students in the US and of those immigrating to America for work.

In response, the bank opened a Flushing, Queens location last year to serve the fastest-growing Chinese community in New York.

In addition, Bank of China has been active in cross-border renminbi transactions as the Chinese currency continues to internationalize; the US branch will increase renminbi liquidation and settlement, Xu said.

The bank's focus on the US comes at a time when Chinese investment in the American market is at an all-time high: Chinese foreign direct investment in the US in 2015 grew 30 percent over 2014 totals, hitting $15.7 billion.

Activity this year has already surpassed 2015 numbers, and Xu said the bank sees the trend becoming even stronger.

"The US is the most desired destination for Chinese investors," Xu said.

The US market is big, offers a wide variety of products, and certain sectors can provide expertise that Chinese companies may be lacking, he said.

The food and beverage, energy, and healthcare industries can provide China with services that its aging and growing population would need, he added.

"Being a populous country, China is already experiencing what we call an 'aging society'. For the pharmaceutical, healthcare sectors, there is a greater and greater need for their services," he said.

"The US is also a leader in fields like biotechnology, so I feel the two countries will find ways to cooperate more and more," he said.

Xu said he sees the environment as another point of collaboration, given China's partnership with the US on climate change and limiting carbon emissions.

"There is huge cooperation potential for the two countries in the clean energy sector, since the two countries jointly promoted the agreement on global reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in Paris last year, which pushed forward the development of the usage of environmentally friendly natural resources," he said.
Violence against medical staff continues to make headlines in China, highlighting the urgency of protecting practitioners, and more importantly, improving communication between patients and doctors.

Last week, a retired doctor in Guangdong was stabbed to death by a former patient. On Tuesday, in Chongqing, a doctor was stabbed by a friend of one of his patients. On the same day, a doctor in Jiangxi was beaten up by seven relatives of a patient.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said all suspects had been arrested, and reiterated the "zero tolerance" policy, saying it is the duty of society at large to foster "a healthy and stable environment for patients" and "a safe environment for medical personnel."

Acute symptoms

Strained doctor-patient relations and hospital violence are rooted in frustration, misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.

Authorities have long been aware of the stress suffered by medical personnel. A report by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association last year claimed that nearly 60 percent of medical staff had experienced verbal abuse and over 13 percent had been assaulted.

In 2014, over 7.6 billion treatments led to 115,000 disputes. Law-enforcement agencies arrested 1,425 people in 1,349 cases and dealt with 4,599 "security incidents" in hospitals. Accordingly, security guards have been employed and hospitals are often equipped with CCTV and alarm systems.

Third-party mediation platforms have been set up to deal with disputes. In 2014, 66,000 disputes fell into these safety nets and more than 85 percent were solved amicably.

Many large hospitals now have departments specifically to manage disputes, and more doctors are covered by medical liability insurance.Practitioners are no longer allowed to accept sweeteners from medicine companies nor gifts from patients.

Incidences of hospital-related violence fell in 2015 for the fourth consecutive year, down 12.7 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Chronic pain

The attacks demotivate doctors and nurses. After each tragedy, many replace their social media profile pics with black ribbons in grief and protest.

"Patients are never our enemy, illness is," said Yang Zhen, a doctor with the Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, calling on doctors look at extreme cases rationally.

Echoing Yang's view, Chen Penghui, a doctor from Fujian Medical University First Hospital, said silent rage cannot ease the tension between patients and staff, but understanding can.

"Patients get frustrated when a consultation lasts only a few minutes after they have waited in line for hours. We hope they respect us and understand the pressure we are under," said Chen.

Medical staff are urging the media to be objective and impartial when reporting medical disputes.

"Many people are prejudiced against the medical profession through sensational stories or rumors circulating on the Internet that exaggerate the conflicts," said Chen.
Zhang Xiaozhuang, the former dean of the Guangdong Provincial Maternal and Child Care Hospital, stands on trial Tuesday for charges of corruption. [Xkb,com.cn]

Zhang Xiaozhuang, the former dean of the Guangdong Provincial Maternal and Child Care Hospital, stood on trial Tuesday for charges of corruption.

The procuratorate brought three charges against Zhang, and its indictment claims that the man took more than 4.28 million yuan (US$656,440) in bribes for the hospital's infrastructure constructions and equipment procurement.

The CPC's disciplinary inspection commission suspected him of taking bribes and violating the hospital's financial regulations, among other disciplinary misconducts in November 2014, and began investigating him.

The investigation findings also showed that after Zhang's daughter gave birth in Australia, he had the hospital pay for her maternal care products and gave three month paid-leave to his hospital's director of rehabilitation and a specialized chef to look after her in Australia.

Zhang has denied all three charges, arguing that he was "only wrong in introducing the kid of his friend to the hospital for business cooperation" and that he "should not have had others pay for the hospital's affairs."

The court hasn't announced a verdict yet.
Bullet holes are seen on the window of Chinese billionaire Zan Baoshis car after his kidnappers engaged in a gun fight with the police on May 10, in Datong City, Shanxi Province in north China. [Photo from Wechat]

Two suspected kidnappers were shot dead during a gun fight with the police on Tuesday afternoon in north China's Shanxi Province, local media reported on Thursday.

The two suspects abducted Zan Baoshi, president of a local real estate company, in the morning while Zan was on his way to work in Datong City. They demanded a ransom of US$20 million.

The suspects opened fire after being surrounded by police in the afternoon in a village near Datong. They were both killed during the gun fight, and Zan was rescued.

So far, the identity of the suspects is unknown, the police said.

Before the kidnapping, Zan had kept a very low profile, and little was known about him. According to available online information, he established the Datong Huayue Construction Group in 1996, and the company is now worth 2.8 billion yuan (US$430.64 million).

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Germany's federal investigators have opened cases against dozens of people who have arrived in Germany seeking asylum for suspected terror links, German media reported on Wednesday.

Since the beginning of the refugee wave last year, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has received some 369 tip-offs about potential suspects, according to German newspaper "Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung".

Forty of these tip-offs have become more concrete, prompting investigations of some individuals on suspicion of belonging to a terror organization and preparing a serious crime.

"More terror attacks cannot be ruled out," a spokesperson for the BKA told the newspaper, adding, however, that they currently have no concrete evidence of a planned attack.

In response the BKA's statistics, Wolfgang Bosbach, interior affairs expert for Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party, warned that there are massive problems with the registration of refugees when they arrive in Germany.

In recent months, some 60 percent of new arrivals have reached Germany without passports or identity papers, Bosbach said.

"The dangers that arise from this must be taken very, very seriously -- that is something that the attacks in Paris and Brussels have also made clear to us," the CDU politician said.

The opposition Left party, however, warned against anti-refugee "scaremongering."

"The possibility that individual IS members -- perhaps even trained attackers -- could be among the large number of refugees should not lead us to put every asylum seeker from Iraq and Syria under general suspicion," the party's domestic policy spokesperson Ulla Jelpke said.
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A high-ranking military commander survived an assassination attempt when a suicide bomber struck his convoy in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout on Wednesday, leaving about eight people killed and 15 others injured, a security official told Xinhua.

According to the Yemeni security source, a suspected al-Qaida suicide bomber slammed his explosive-laden car into the motorcade of General Abdul-Rahman Halili, head of the First Regional Military Command based in Hadramout province.

The suicide attack occurred near a military base loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in the Qatan area of Hadramout province.

An intelligence officer told Xinhua that the suicide attack slightly injured General Halili and left eight of his bodyguards killed and 15 others injured.

Yemeni government forces and the Saudi-led Arabian Coalition launched well-planned and unprecedented attacks against key bastions of the al-Qaida terrorist group in the country's southern and eastern regions during the past few weeks.

Hundreds of Yemeni soldiers newly trained by the Saudi-led coalition and supported by special UAE troops managed last month to recapture the coastal city of Mukalla, Hadramout's provincial capital, after intense fighting and intensified air raids on al-Qaida positions.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the botched assassination attempt, but the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot is believed to be behind most such attacks in the past, which usually targeted security and government factions.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot, also known as Ansar al-Sharia, emerged in January 2009. It had claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on Yemen's army and government institutions.

It took advantage of the current security vacuum and the ongoing civil war to expand its influence in Yemen's southern regions.

The fragile security situation in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when a war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, half of them civilians.
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China handed over medical equipment to the National Ayurveda Research and Training Center of Nepal on Wednesday.

More than 230 items worth 2.26 million U.S. dollars were transferred to Kathmandu-based center, which was established in 2011 with Chinese assistance.

Addressing the handover ceremony, the Nepalese government expressed appreciation toward China for extending support in the traditional medical field of Ayurveda.

"The granted medical equipment is useful to address the aim of this research and training center. We are very much thankful to the government of China for ensuring regular research activities in the field of Ayurveda," Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, secretary at Ministry of Health and Population, said.

The equipment included advanced machines for CT scan and X-ray, research tools and kits for basic health and emergency treatments along with training and research materials.

The research center has been providing training to more than 100 medical professional annually in the field of Ayurveda.

Nepal is one of those countries which are rich in culture, tradition, knowledge of Ayurveda and transitional health practices.

Ayurveda and traditional medical practices are prevalent in the community through locally available medicinal herbs, knowledge and their application.

As per the government data, there are about 264 species of indigenous herbal plants and 3,500 kinds of other plants of medicinal value in Nepal.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the upcoming summit between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could help establish a strategic partnership between the two sides.

Over the past two decades, Russia and ASEAN have obtained huge experiences in fruitful political, economic and humanitarian cooperation, which provided a good basis for raising the relations to a new level of strategic partnership, Putin said.

The summit, to be held in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on May 19-20, marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue partnership between Russia and the regional organization.

"This cooperation has become an important factor of stability and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region," Putin said.

According to the Russian leader, the summit agenda includes a broad range of issues related to improving regional security and the fight against growing threats of international terrorism, militant extremism and transnational crime.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum would focus on effective measures to expand cooperation in energy, transportation and infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology.

Putin also expressed the hope that the summit would consider the possibility of "establishing versatile contacts" between ASEAN and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

The dialogue between ASEAN and Russia started in 1991, when Russian representatives were invited to attend a ministerial meeting of the regional organization.

Russia was subsequently elevated to a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1996. The first ASEAN-Russia summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2005 and the second one in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2010.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday evaluated the performance of Russian weapons deployed in Syria, saying they performed well but there was room for improvement.

New aircrafts like Su-34 bombers and high-precision cruise missiles were used with "high performance characteristics," Putin said as he is hosting a series of meetings from Tuesday to Friday on Russia's defense industry development.

"Long-range precision weapons, both air- and sea-based, were used in combat for the first time in the fight against terrorists in the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin noted, adding that the experiences should be comprehensively studied, while steps should be taken to further improve the weapons systems and boost combat power.

The Russian military has been engaged in Syria since last September, fighting extremist groups including the Islamic State.

In the first meeting of the series on Tuesday, Putin and his advisers discussed the results of Russia's anti-terrorism operation in Syria, identifying problems revealed during the mission.

A professional investigation and a "most thorough" analysis should be conducted to solve the problems and "adjust the future direction of the military equipment's development and improvement," Putin said.
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No other country is fighting against the Islamic State (IS) as Turkey is, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"No other country has more casualties to Daesh (IS in Arabic) than Turkey," Erdogan said in a televised speech at the 10th meeting of the General Staffs of the Balkan countries.

The Turkish president claimed that other countries from an anti-IS coalition did not take any steps including necessary intelligence-sharing to fight the group.

"Turkey is expected to take all necessary measures on its own," he said, noting that Turkish security forces have killed up to 3,000 IS militants in Syria and in Iraq alone.

The president rejected as "unfair, relentless and baseless" claims made by some countries about Turkey offering support to the IS.

"The portrayal of Turkey as a country that helps Daesh -- excuse me if this will sound harsh -- is despicable," he said, adding that Ankara knows which Western countries have contributed to IS weapons inventory.

A team of Turkish special forces reportedly conducted operations in IS-held areas in northern Syria on May 7 to destroy missile launchers.

Turkey's border province of Kilis has come under rocket attacks from northern Syria since mid-January, in which 20 people were killed and 70 others injured.

In addition, the IS has been blamed for some deadly bombing attacks in Turkey in recent months.

Addressing an event in Ankara, the national capital, on Tuesday, Erdogan vowed to use "all alternatives" to fight the IS along Turkey's border.
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The Islamic State (IS) group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the massive car bomb explosion in the eastern Iraqi capital of Baghdad that killed 64 people and wounded 87 others, the group said in an online statement.

One of the group's suicide bombers detonated his car bomb in the predominantly Shiite district of Sadr City, leaving nearly 70 killed and some 100 wounded, according to the statement, of which the authenticity could not be independently verified.

Earlier in the day, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua that a massive blast occurred in the morning when a booby-trapped car went off at a popular outdoor market in the Shiite bastion of Sadr City district, killing up to 64 people and wounding 87 others, many of whom were women and children.

The explosion destroyed many stalls and civilian cars and caused damage to several nearby shops and buildings, the source said.

The IS has frequently targeted areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq.

Iraq is currently witnessing a wave of violence since the IS group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014.

Earlier, a report by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq estimated that 741 Iraqis were killed and 1,374 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in April across Iraq.
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The Kenyan government said Wednesday it has set aside 10 million U.S. dollars for the repatriation of all Somali refugees in Dadaab camp in northeast region.

Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaisserry told journalists in Nairobi that the exercise should be complete by the end of the year.

"To kick start the repatriation process and subsequent closure of the Dadaab refugee complex, the government has availed with immediate 10 million dollars," Nkaisserry said.

The government has also established a taskforce on repatriation of refugees whose mandate will be to oversee, manage and expedite the repatriation and closure of the Dadaab camp that hosts approximately 330,000 refugees.

The taskforce should present its report by or before May 31 and thereafter the government will be putting out a timetable for the execution of the repatriation process.

The repatriation exercise will only affect refugees residing at Dadaab camps and not the 190,000 refugees at Kakuma camp.

Nkaisserry said that the decision to close the camp was arrived at in November 2013, when Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR signed tripartite Agreement setting grounds for repatriation of Somali refugees.

He noted that there has been very slow progress on the implementation of the agreement and decried lack of commitment by the international community to the repatriation bid.

"So the decision has been made by the government reflecting the fact that the camps have become hosting grounds for Al-Shabaab as well as centres of smuggling and contraband trade besides being enablers of illicit weapons proliferation," he added.

The CS said that in light of the changing landscape of global terrorism with new terrorists entities seeking to root themselves in our region, it would be inexcusable for the government to overlook its primary constitutional responsibility to protect her citizens and their property.

He noted that several large scale attacks including the Westgate shopping mall, Garissa University and the Lamu attack were planned and deployed from Dadaab refugee camp by transnational terrorists groups.

The government official said that as a result of insecurity created by existence of refugee camps, Kenya suffers the brunt of negative consequences such as travel advisories and poor humanitarian rating with obvious negative consequences to the economy.

"Some of these attacks were aimed at the interest of our international partners yet Kenya continues to bear the brunt of these attacks on their behalf with negligible support from them," he said.

According to the interior ministry, refugees are not permanent settlements and yet this seems to be what refugee camps in Kenya have been turned into.

"Refugees camps are supposed to be a temporary humanitarian remedy awaiting stabilization of their countries of origin," Nkaisserry said. The CS said that Kenya will not be the first country to send back refugees.

"Rich, prosperous and democratic countries in Europe are also turning away refugees from Syria," he added.

Earlier, Principal Secretary in the ministry of Intrior Dr. Karanja Kibicho said all refugees in the Dadaab camp will be repatriated to Somalia by May next year despite calls against the move.

Kibicho said the first batch of the refugees will have been moved by November, noting that Kakuma camp which mainly hosts refugees from South Sudan will not be affected, as it "does not pose any threat."

Kibicho said it is only Dadaab camp that has remained a "source of headache" for Kenya; the camp has a terror cell and "thriving illicit trade."

"We are assuring the world that there will be no Dadaab refugees by May. This is an undertaking we are making as a government," he said.

He said the government has put in place plans to make sure those targeted do not "escape" from the camps to neighbouring counties.
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An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2015 from a seaplane of Hainan Maritime Safety Administration shows cruise vessel Haixun 1103 heading to the Yacheng 13-1 drilling rig during a patrol inSouth China Sea. [Xinhua]

China on Wednesday suggested the United States, when talking about "freedom of navigation," make a distinction between commercial ships and warships.

Freedom of navigation for commercial vessels has never been obstructed in the South China Sea, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a daily press briefing.

U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said on Tuesday in Vietnam that freedom of navigation operations were important to smaller nations.

"If the world's most powerful navy can not sail where international law permits, then what happens to the ships of navy of smaller countries?" Russel told reporters.

The United States appears to advocate freedom of navigation for military vessels in the South China Sea, which is against international law, said Lu, noting that no other country in the world would even suggest such a thing.

According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign vessels enjoy the right of innocent passage through territorial seas, but military vessels are not endowed with the same right, said Lu.

The United States refused to ratify the UNCLOS and introduced "freedom of navigation" operations in 1979. These operations have met with opposition from the very beginning, especially from smaller nations, he said.

"We hope the U.S. will respect basic facts when talking about the feelings of smaller nations," he said, suggesting the United States sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible to give its words on international law more force.

China on Tuesday expressed "resolute opposition" to a U.S. warship patrol in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.

The warship, USS William P. Lawrence, illegally entered Chinese waters near the islands on Tuesday without the permission of the Chinese government.
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The impeachment process of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff came to a critical point on Wednesday, with a voting which can - and most likely will - result in the president being suspended from office.

The Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to begin impeachment proceedings against Rousseff. A simple majority for the motion will remove the president from the position and force her to face a final trial, which should be scheduled within 180 days.

In that case, which is highly likely, Vice President Michel Temer will temporarily take the rein of the country now mired in political chaos.

The situation now is controversial and potentially incendiary.

Rousseff sees Temer as one of the masterminds of the impeachment process. She has been vocal in denouncing what she considers a coup orchestrated by her running mate and Eduardo Cunha, who was recently suspended from his position of lower house speaker by a Supreme Court decision.

Tuesday, the government made a final move to try to halt the process: Attorney-General Jose Eduardo Cardozo filed an injunction at the Supreme Court to cancel the impeachment, on the grounds that there were procedural flaws during the impeachment process.

The case is being analyzed by Supreme Court Judge Teori Zavascki. His decision is expected to be announced before the Senate voting and may be a new turnaround in the already complicated case.

THE IMPEACHMENT

Rousseff is being impeached for allegedly committing a crime of fiscal responsibility by signing some decrees which altered the budget without consulting the Congress. A crime of responsibility is a requirement foreseen in Brazilian Constitution in order to impeach a president.

The problem is that the fiscal measures to which Rousseff resorted are common practice in Brazilian administrations, and their legality has never been questioned until now.

As Rousseff herself said earlier this week, while she signed six decrees of this kind last year, one of her predecessors, Fernando Henrique Cardoso -- whose party is now in the opposition and is most vocal about the impeachment -- signed dozens in a similar period.

At least 16 governors signed the same decrees since their term started in January 2015. Temer signed several decrees last year, while standing for the president. Their decisions, unlike Rousseff's, have not been questioned so far.

While one may not agree with Rousseff's stance that the impeachment process is a coup, it is hard to deny that the process is filled with controversial and shady aspects, which the government was quick to denounce. The participation of Eduardo Cunha, for example, is essential to the process.

In the first half of 2015, as Rousseff started her second term, after being elected with the narrowest margin in Brazilian history, the opposition started its efforts to take her down, first trying to annul the results of the election, which proved fruitless, and later by campaigning for her impeachment.

At the time, Temer and Cunha, both affiliated to the largest allied party in Rousseff's coalition, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), said there was no legal basis for an impeachment case.

As lower house speaker, it was up to Cunha to accept any impeachment requests against the president, starting the formal process, and he quickly disregarded the many requests.

However, things began to change when the Lava Jato (Carwash) Operation, the mega Federal Police operation which uncovered a major corruption scheme surrounding Petrobras, started to get too close to Cunha.

He was accused of taking major bribes, and, later on, Swiss authorities revealed that Cunha had four undeclared accounts in Swiss banks, with an amount of money he never declared and whose origins were shady at best.

Investigations indicated that the money originated from massive bribes taken by Cunha to favor some companies in Petrobras contracts. A process to investigate him in the lower house's Ethics committee was to be opened, but the ruling Workers' Party (PT) had seats in the Committee and could halt the process before it even started.

Cunha appealed to PT, but the party, under pressure from its own members, denied help. In the very same day, Cunha changed his mind and decided that the impeachment process against Rousseff had sufficient legal basis.

The attorney general accused Cunha of abusing his power and opened an impeachment process in a vendetta, but Cunha denied it.

PMDB'S ROLE

Though Cunha and Rousseff had never liked each other, PMDB remained a coalition party. However, its support to the government was crumbling.

Another major figure of the party, Vice-President Temer, was very dissatisfied with his and the party's role in the administration, as evidenced by a letter leaked to the press in late 2015.

In a somewhat whiny tone which was mocked at the time, Temer listed in the letter a series of grievances and complaints. The letter was regarded as a sign that Temer and his allies in PMDB were more inclined to jump ship than they had been in the past.

After the beginning of the impeachment process, in December, rumors started about PMDB's decision to jump out of the government.

The party denied such rumors at first, but by late March, in a national convention, it decided to leave the coalition -- a decision attributed mainly to Temer's group inside the party.

PMDB publicly took a stance for the impeachment, increasing the tensions in relation to the Vice-President, who now clearly seemed to be working to take down Rousseff in order to get her place.

The decision sped up the impeachment process, with lower house voting scheduled for April. After PMDB, other smaller parties in the coalition started to publicly consider leaving the coalition as well, and some did, leaving the government without congressional support in a crucial moment.

TO THE VERY END

Regardless of the seriousness - and some might argue, hopelessness - of the situation, President Rousseff repeatedly said she will resist until the very end.

In a ceremony on Tuesday, she said she is tired of traitors and backstabbers, but reiterated her intent of "honoring the 54 million votes" she received by resisting with all her strength.

Regional organizations such as the Organization of American States, the South American Union and the South American Market and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights expressed concerns about the legality of the impeachment process.
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A Chinese research institute said on Wednesday it has commenced discussions with Kenya's wildlife body to explore technical cooperation in the fight against poaching of iconic mammals.

Senior officials from Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) held discussions in Nairobi with their counterparts from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in order to advance strategic technical cooperation in wildlife protection.

Feng Songlin, president of SARI, said provision of appropriate anti-poaching technology will underpin cooperation with Kenya's wildlife body.

"We have conducted research on anti-poaching technologies that would be beneficial to Kenya's wildlife authority," Feng told Xinhua, adding that Sino-Kenya partnership in wildlife protection has reached a new level.

As an affiliate of the Chinese Academy Sciences (CAS), SARI has been at the forefront conducting groundbreaking research that can strengthen biodiversity conservation.

Feng said that SARI and other partners have developed state of the art anti-poaching technology that would help revolutionalize the war against this menace in Kenya and the eastern African region.

"Since 2015, we have been holding discussions with officials from Kenya Wildlife Service and have showcased technologies that could boost anti-poaching activities in the country," said Feng.

He revealed that SARI and partners have developed an all-weather comprehensive anti-poaching vehicle that could help track and report movement of poachers in real time.

"This technology is unique and holistic. It integrates wireless communication and infrared cameras to help detect and report movement of poachers," Feng told Xinhua.

He added that Kenyan and Tanzanian wildlife authorities are keen to acquire the vehicle to halt slaughter of giant mammals for their trophies.

China's support towards anti-poaching initiatives in Kenya has increased since the state visit to the east African nation by Premier Li Keqiang in May 2014.

During his visit, the premier announced new technical and financial support to strengthen wildlife and ecosystems protection in Kenya.
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The European Union (EU) on Wednesday reiterated its commitment and continued support to Iraq in the fight against Daesh, also known as the Islamic State or IS, after a car bomb attack earlier hit a busy market in Sadr City district in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

The European External Action Service spokesperson said in a press release that the attack "continues the appalling trend of terrorist attacks perpetrated by Daesh across Iraq in its attempts to undermine the restoration of normal life and government in the country."

"The EU expresses its condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured," it said.

The EU side said that it is of the utmost importance for all Iraqis to show solidarity and unity in response to the threat of Daesh, adding that "all the political leaders are expected to engage constructively in the interest of the Iraqi people and to overcome their differences to allow a united effort to restore peace to their country."

The attack, which killed at least 93 people and wounded more than 100 others, came after a car bomb was detonated near a restaurant in Baquba on May 9.

The IS, an extremist group, also known as the ISIS or ISIL, claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to a message on the Twitter account for Amaq, a media outlet linked to the terrorist group.

Iraq is currently witnessing a wave of violence since the IS group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014.
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The Somali government on Wednesday slammed a sensational report that appeared in the Washington Post, alleging its security forces were involved in violation of children's rights.

In a statement, Mogadishu trashed the report from the leading American newspaper, terming it misleading and factually inaccurate.

"We are concerned by the report appearing in the Washington Post on May 7, which alleged that fundamental rights of children have been violated. As a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of the child, we are concerned by these allegations and will conduct thorough investigations to establish the truth," it said.

The paper reported that security personnel in the Horn of African state violated the rights of children during anti-terrorism operations.

In a strong rebuttal, Mogadishu claimed that it is the Al-Shabaab militants who were responsible for gross violations of children's rights and not the security forces.

"The government uses legitimate tools in its military and ideological war against terrorism. Al-Shabaab on the other hand recruits and radicalizes children to carry out violence against innocent civilians," said the statement

It added that Mogadishu has intensified rehabilitation and re-integration of children who were previously recruited by Al-Shabaab.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been recruiting Somalia children and youth as it employs new tactics to perpetrate violence and terror.

The statement said deradicalization programs targeting children and youth who joined Al-Shabaab are implemented within the confines of law.

"In these difficult times of terrorism and violence across the world, children are a primary group of victims who must be supported quickly and holistically," said the statement, adding that the government has prioritized children empowerment in its national development programs.
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Russia completed on Wednesday the construction of energy bridges linking Crimea, putting an end to the peninsula's reliance on Ukraine for its electricity.

"We have managed to break through an energy blockade of Crimea in a short period of time," Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a video conference regarding the launch of the final electricity line.

The power bridge is four cables along the seabed across the Kerch Strait that separates Russia from Crimea.

The new line, which is the fourth and final cable, will provide Crimea with a total of 800 megawatts from Russia, which combined with the peninsula's own capacity, will be enough to meet its power needs in the summer, according to a Kremlin statement.

Meanwhile, two more power plants were under construction in the Crimean cities of Simferopol and Sevastopol, which will provide an additional 470 megawatts by September 2017 and another 470 megawatts in 2018.

The autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were absorbed into Russia in March 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Ukraine and Western powers.

Since then, the peninsula with a population of around 1.8 million has suffered from repeated power cuts by the Ukrainian side, and had to introduce an energy saving regime.

Russia launched on Dec. 2, 2015 the first electricity line from the coastal Krasnodar city through the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from Russia's mainland.

The second cable that was put into operation on Dec. 15 and doubled the energy bridge's capacity, and the third line on April 14 this year further relieve Crimea's energy shortage.

Russia is also building a 19-km bridge across the Kerch Strait, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2018 and would reduce Crimea's dependence on supplies, cargo and passenger traffic via Ukraine.
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The world's longest railway tunnel will be ceremonially opened on June 1 and final preparations are currently underway, a source with the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) said Wednesday.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel, hewn through mountain rock and providing a high-speed rail connection between northern and southern Europe, will become one of the main rail links across the Alps and the longest in the world, with a length of about 57.1 km.

"While the first setting-up work operations for the great festival are being executed, inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel final tests and completion work are taking place," the FOT source said.

Heads of state and government of Switzerland's neighbouring countries, as well as the transport ministers of the countries along the Rotterdam-Genoa freight corridor, as well as 1,100 guests and 300 media representatives are expected to attend the official ceremony of the opening of the tunnel.

On the following weekend of June 4 and 5, visitors can travel through the world's longest railway tunnel in special trains, the Swiss government source said.

The commercial services for the tunnel is scheduled from December of 2016.

After 64 percent of Swiss voters accepted the AlpTransit project in a 1992 referendum, construction of the tunnel began in 1996, with the total cost for the project setting as 9.8 billion Swiss francs, or 10.3 billion U.S. dollars.

The main purpose of the Gotthard Base Tunnel is to increase total transport capacity across the Alps, especially for freight, notably on the Rotterdam-Basel-Genoa corridor, and more particularly to shift freight volumes from road to rail to reduce fatal crashes and environmental damage caused by ever-increasing numbers of heavy lorries.
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South Korea's defense ministry said Thursday that it has been carefully monitoring the nuclear test site of the Dmocratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"(The DPRK) has completed preparations (for a test) at the Punggye-ri test site. We are continuously monitoring the developments there," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a press briefing.

He said Pyongyang remains "ready" to detonate another atomic device at any time.

Yonhap quoted a source familiar with the activities at the nuclear test site in the country's northwest saying that movements of workers and vehicles are still seen in recent satellite imagery, which is a sign that preparations for an underground nuclear experiment are continuing.

Pyongyang was expected to carry out its fifth nuclear test before the seventh congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) that ended on Monday.

In his three-hour speech aired by the state TV on May 8, the top leader of DPRK Kim jong-un described the DPRK as a "responsible nuclear weapons state," saying Pyongyang will strive for world denuclearization and faithfully fulfill obligations of nuclear non-proliferation.

He also proposed the two sides on the Korean Peninsula hold talks at all levels so as to remove misunderstanding and distrust.

However, Seoul has turned down the rare olive branch from Pyongyang saying the proposal is merely a propaganda drive with no authenticity.

"They are only an expression of the DPRK's perception of the current reality and its position on it," the Unification Ministry's Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee has said.
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SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship returned to Earth on Wednesday after a one-month journey to the International Space Station, U.S. space agency NASA said.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule is connected with the International Space Station with the robotic arm, on May 25. 2012.[Photo/Xinhua]

The unmanned spacecraft was released from the orbiting lab at 9:19 a.m. EDT (1319 GMT) and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:51 p.m. EDT (1851 GMT) about 261 miles (420 kilometers) southwest of Long Beach, California, where a recovery team will retrieve it.

More than 3,700 pounds (1,700 kilograms) of cargo, science and technology demonstration samples were brought back from the space station, including research in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology.

The Microchannel Diffusion study, for example, examined how microparticles interact with each other and their delivery channel in the absence of gravitational forces, said NASA.

The spacecraft also returned to Earth the final batch of human research samples from former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's one-year mission, which ended in March.

The samples will "provide insights relevant for NASA's Journey to Mars as the agency learns more about how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, isolation, radiation and the stress of long-duration spaceflight," it said.

Dragon, the only resupply spacecraft able to return to Earth intact, lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 8, and arrived at the space station on April 10, carrying almost 7,000 pounds (3,200 kilograms) of supplies and scientific cargo on the company's eighth NASA-contracted commercial resupply mission.
Wen Eden Yidian (Photo: China Aid) China Aid

Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence.

(Ruian, ZhejiangMay 6, 2016) Following the apprehension of two Christians in Chinas coastal Zhejiang province in late April, their youngest son spoke exclusively with China Aid about everything that occurred after officials arrived at the familys home on the night of April 25.

Wen Xiaowu (Photo: China Aid)

According to the youngest son of Wen Xiaowu and Xiang Lihua, two criminally detained Christians, more than a dozen uniformed and plainclothes government officials demanded entry to their home on April 25. They displayed a search warrant and ordered Wen Xiaowu and Xiang to come with them. An hour later, the authorities returned to the home and detained the couples eldest son, Wen Eden Yidian, for attempting to prevent his parents detention

On April 27, the Ruian Municipal Public Security Bureau issued notices charging Wen Xiaowu and Xiang Lihua with gathering a crowd to disturb public order and Wen Eden Yidian with obstructing public service and sentencing all three to criminal detention.

Xiang Lihua (Photo: China Aid)

However, local Christians allege that police apprehended this couple for their meetings with U.S. Consulate officials in Shanghai to discuss an ongoing cross demolition campaign. Additionally, church members claim authorities had been trying to frame Wen Xiaowu and Xiang Lihua because they provided legal defense counsel to churches experiencing government-backed persecution.

In response to these events, China Aid contacted officials from the U.S. State Department and urged them to pressure the Chinese government for the immediate and unconditional release of Wen Xiaowu, his wife and their son.

This matter is an example of the authorities violating Wen Xiaowus right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, China Aid president Bob Fu said. We call on the American and Chinese authorities to take action immediately so that Wen Xiaowu, his wife, and their son can be released.

China Aid exposes abuses, such as those experienced by Wen Xiaowu and his family, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China.

China Aid Contacts

Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.chinaaid.org
Traders wait for Chinese online retail giant Alibaba's stock to go live on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York on Sept 19, 2014. In 2015, Gucci and other brands owned by Paris-based Kering SA filed a suit in New York against Alibaba.AFP

Taobao tells vendors that they must offer proof of authenticity for luxury goods

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's online marketplace Taobao is stepping up its effort to crack down on counterfeit luxury products by requiring sellers to submit proof of authenticity as the Chinese e-commerce giant improves its image on its journey of globalization.

Taobao, China's largest customer-to-customer platform, has informed its online vendors that they must upload proof of the authenticity of luxury goods, such as invoices or authorization letters from the luxury brands from May 20 for examination. Those who fail to pass the examination cannot list the products online or may even get their funds frozen by the platform.

"The goal of the new rule is to create a healthy and trustworthy shopping environment and protect the legal right of consumers and brand owners," Taobao said in an online notice to its millions of vendors in early May.

The tighter control on sales of luxury goods on Taobao is Alibaba Group's latest move in cracking down counterfeit products.

Alibaba Group, now the world's largest retailer in terms of the annual transactions made on its online platforms, is seen as a haven for knockoff goods. Many Western brands have accused the e-commerce giant of not doing enough to tackle counterfeit products.

In 2015, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands owned by Paris-based Kering SA filed a suit in New York against Alibaba, seeking damages and an injunction for alleged violations of trademark and racketeering laws.

Searching keywords "Gucci Purse" on Taobao on Wednesday, more than 100 pages, each filled with 48 items, can be found on the site. The prices for the products ranged from 850 yuan ($130) to about 35,000 yuan.

With the tightening control over the sales of luxury goods kicking off next week, a significant number of vendors who sell fakes are expected to be blocked from Taobao's site.

Lu Zhenwang, an independent internet expert and the chief executive officer of the Shanghai-based Wanqing Consultancy, said that the new rule will be effective in cracking down on fake luxury goods.

"Luxury goods, which are usually big-ticket items, are one of the major targets for copycats in China. The Chinese government has made cracking down on fake goods on e-commerce platforms one of the top priorities and the Western luxury brands have also called for Alibaba to take action," he said, adding that pressure from both inside and outside the country has made the e-commerce giant to step up effort in the crackdown on fake goods.

Alibaba in April became one of the first e-commerce firms to join the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to fighting product counterfeiting and piracy.
An image of Holiday Inn Express in Shanghai on Jan 7, 2015. [Photo/IC]

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC has launched a new franchise model for its Holiday Inn Express brand in China, aimed at increasing the pace of its expansion in the competitive medium-ranged market.

"The new model has been tailored to the Chinese market and provides owners with the benefits of operating a franchise model, but with additional benefits and features from IHG's managed model," according to IHG. Previously, IHG was responsible for hotel management for the property owner.

IHG signed its first "Franchise Plus agreement" with Shanghai Yaqi Business Hotel Co Ltd, for a 260-room Holiday Inn Express hotel in the Hongqiao area of Shanghai. The company says the move has been answering a need from the rapid rise of the middle class in recent years, which has led to significant demand for mid-scale hotels in the country.

Kenneth Macpherson, Chief Executive Officer of IHG in China, said: "The launch of Franchise Plus for our Holiday Inn Express brand is an important milestone for our business and for the accommodation landscape in China. We are confident that the new model will be an engine of growth for IHG and our business partners in the coming years."

Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing mid-scale brands, with more than 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotels globally and over 620 in the pipeline. Since its arrival in China in 2004, Holiday Inn Express has quickly become a leader in the mid-scale segment, in more than 30 provinces and municipalities with 66 opened hotels and another 67 in the pipeline.

IHG continues to be a market leader in the region, operating 268 hotels across 100 cities, with another 212 in the pipeline. Outperforming the market and a growth in rooms in China has helped drive a strong revenue increase for the company.

According to its preliminary results for the year to Dec 31, 2015, IHG's revenue per available room increased by 0.3 percent, with significant declines in Hong Kong and Macao offset by growth of 2.9 percent on the Chinese mainland. Full year growth on the mainland was particularly strong in first-tier cities, up 6 percent.

Zhao Huanyan, senior economist at Huamei Hotel Consulting, said it is a global practice to franchise hotels and an increasing number of multinational hoteliers were considering adopting such a practice in China to speed up their development.
A clerk of Bank of China counts US dollars at a domestic branch.XINHUA

BOC increases bite in Big Apple Larger NYC branch comes as Chinese 2015 FDI in the US grew 30% to $15.7 billion

When Bank of China moves to 7 Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan this fall, it will join major American financial institutions in the neighborhood, and continue its expansion in the US as its overseas business grows.

"The strengthening of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US has brought us a lot of new business, which has brought pressure to our work," said Xu Chen, director of Bank of China's US branch, in an interview with China Daily.

"Our number of employees is increasing quickly, and the old building (on Madison Avenue and 48th Street) wasn't big enough, so we needed to move to a new office building.

"The (new) building is located just next to Bryant Park and the Bank of America Tower.

"Being located near Bank of America marks the close economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and it also indicates the role that China's economy plays in the world," he said.

The building by Bryant Park sits on Sixth Avenue, or Avenue of the Americas, which Xu said is symbolic. Bank of China paid $600 million for the 28-story building in 2014, and will occupy more than half of it.

Bank of China's assets abroad have risen 54 percent over last year. The bank's overseas profit rose more than 5 percent, accounting for almost a quarter of total profit.

It will continue providing traditional services to customerssuch as bond investing and trade servicesand develop its retail services because of the growing number of Chinese students in the US and of those immigrating to America for work.

In response, the bank opened a Flushing, Queens location last year to serve the fastest-growing Chinese community in New York.

In addition, Bank of China has been active in cross-border renminbi transactions as the Chinese currency continues to internationalize; the US branch will increase renminbi liquidation and settlement, Xu said.

The bank's focus on the US comes at a time when Chinese investment in the American market is at an all-time high: Chinese foreign direct investment in the US in 2015 grew 30 percent over 2014 totals, hitting $15.7 billion.

Activity this year has already surpassed 2015 numbers, and Xu said the bank sees the trend becoming even stronger.

"The US is the most desired destination for Chinese investors," Xu said.

The US market is big, offers a wide variety of products, and certain sectors can provide expertise that Chinese companies may be lacking, he said.

The food and beverage, energy, and healthcare industries can provide China with services that its aging and growing population would need, he added.

"Being a populous country, China is already experiencing what we call an 'aging society'. For the pharmaceutical, healthcare sectors, there is a greater and greater need for their services," he said.

"The US is also a leader in fields like biotechnology, so I feel the two countries will find ways to cooperate more and more," he said.

Xu said he sees the environment as another point of collaboration, given China's partnership with the US on climate change and limiting carbon emissions.

"There is huge cooperation potential for the two countries in the clean energy sector, since the two countries jointly promoted the agreement on global reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in Paris last year, which pushed forward the development of the usage of environmentally friendly natural resources," he said.

Jiang Xueqing contributed to this story.
When Chan Sing, 31, started his first company in 2012, it was difficult for the startup to find capital in his hometown Hong Kong.

"The fund raising channel in Hong Kong at that time was mainly banks, but it's not easy for an internet-based startup like us to secure sufficient financing," said Chan. "We were lacking in collateral, but needed large investment to expand our client base."

Last September, he started his second startup across the border, in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub in Shenzhen. He received a 50-million-yuan investment in less than six months.

Covering about 58,000 square meters, the E Hub opened in December 2014 in the Qianhai special economic zone, part of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone.

The E Hub has eight incubator partners, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Telecom, CT Venture, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Lenovo's Legend Star and DJI Innovations, to provide financial, professional and mentor support to startup teams.

The E Hub intends to create an environment that Hong Kong's young entrepreneurs would like. It has invited Hong Kong-based architect Barrie Ho to design its eight office buildings, which will be managed by a Hong Kong company.

It also promises rent-free offices for one year, on-site residence at reasonable rental, a Qianhai-Hong Kong shuttle bus service and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

The E Hub last year attracted 124 startups, about half of which are from Hong Kong. It plans to incubate another 50 HK teams in 2016.

Three Hong Kong teams ranked in the top ten of the most funding raised and another four listed in the top ten of revenue by the end of 2015.

"The opportunity cost in Hong Kong for entrepreneurs is relatively high, with high rents and labor costs, and the Hong Kong market is small," said Amy Fung Dun-mi, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

The federation has been working with the E Hub to help Hong Kong youth to start their own businesses. Fung said Hong Kong applicants are "very active."

She said the E Hub has become the first choice for many Hong Kong youth when planning to establish startups on the mainland as its entrepreneurial environment is improving day by day.

In addition, the biggest attraction for Chan is the E Hub integrates the advantages of Qianhai and Hong Kong. Chan said his startup, Ekstech Limited, is developing a vertical search engine for cross-border e-commerce traders so they could find the most suitable product directly.
When opening a wedding bouquet candy box, couples can find two pairs of red socks folded into the shape of roses. Compared with wedding candy, giving socks as gifts to couples seems more memorable.

As one of the sock manufacturers at Jilin Northeastern Socks Textile Industrial Park, Sun Xiaotian started his business after graduating from a Japanese college in 2002. Innovative styles and unique vision have made his products popular in the market.

With 30 staff, Sun achieved sales revenue of 8 million yuan ($1.23 million) last year, and achieved a profit margin of around 20 to 30 percent. Now the company is discussing exporting its socks to Russia.

"My business showroom was stocked with more than 30 kinds of personalized sock products, including socks in the shapes of Christmas trees and birthday cakes. Making socks as beautiful as flowers has become my motto," Sun said.

In Jilin province, northeastern China, the sock industry has nearly 80 years of history with traditional techniques. In recent years, the local government has focused on brand building, e-commerce platform development and technological innovation, to promote the growth of a comprehensive sock and textile industry.

Last year, the industrial park, which was established in 2005, achieved an annual output value of 6.5 billion yuan ($1 billion) and the sock business generated 50,000 new jobs.

Most socks from the industrial park carry price tags ranging from 100 yuan to 200 yuan. Baotai Socks Ltd's Manager Tang Benwen showed a pair of socks made from nano-materials, with an export price of 110 yuan.

The current fixed assets of the industry park have reached more than 40 million yuan in total, and its socks have been exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan and South Korea.

The park encourages e-commerce companies to cooperate with sockmakers, and help enable them to sell socks online. Sockmakers at the park have opened more than 1,000 online shops, offering about 20 varieties of new-material socks. The most expensive pair sells for 400 yuan.

Now the park ranks top in China for its output volume of cotton, and second in terms of the production volume of socks. In the past decade, its production capacity increased from 800 million to 6.5 billion yuan.

The park provides preferential policies to encourage more college students to work in projects at the park.

Contact the writers at zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn and liumingtai@chinadaily.com.cn
SHENZHEN -- China must do more to protect intellectual property (IP) if it wants its companies to come up with original products and compete abroad, according to the founder of Huawei, the Chinese telecoms giant that has been successful largely through R&D.

"Only if it protects intellectual property will China see more inventions. Ensuring originality is respected will attract more people into this field and help original ideas grow into industries," said Ren Zhengfei.

Huawei has become a standard-bearer for China's industrial sector after its 30-year rise from a small workshop into one of the world's leading manufacturers of telecoms equipment. Spending 10 percent of its annual budget on R&D, Huawei is of even more interest now that the government is encouraging startups and bigger companies to "innovate" in the hope that their creativity and modernization can spur the slowing economy.

Ren Zhengfei founded Huawei in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in 1987. He has kept himself out of the media spotlight and rarely speaks to reporters. However, in a sit-down interview with Xinhua, the 72-year-old gave his views on the company and tech market's past, present and future.

Ren noted how Chinese companies have missed out on the first wave of the Internet boom. "Global tech giants like Cisco, Google, Facebook and Apple have emerged with the popularization of broadband, but there were few Chinese companies involved, and this is because of weak IP protection," he said.

All is not lost, however. Ren sees opportunities for China to lead in emerging sectors, such as virtual reality, in the coming years -- providing the reassurance of IP laws being enforced.

"Ticket to the world"

Huawei stands out among Chinese companies for employing nearly half its workforce in R&D positions. The company held more than 50,300 patents by the end of 2015, a year in which it made the fourth highest number of patent requests in the European Union.

Earlier this year, Huawei signed a major patent licensing agreement with Sweden's Ericsson under which the two firms can use each other's patents in certain types of technology around the globe. Ren compared it to "buying a ticket to the world."

He outlined a strategy of friendly competition "under the IP umbrella."

"We've paid a lot of patent licensing fees over the years. Meanwhile, we've also received a large sum and signed patent deals with many companies," the company founder said.

Uncompromising, focused

Huawei operates in more than 170 countries and regions and employs about 170,000 people worldwide. Its net profits last year rose to 36.9 billion yuan (about $5.67 billion) and global revenue grew to 395 billion yuan, up 37 percent year on year. For the past few years, its annual growth has averaged 30 percent.

The immense success has fueled speculation over whether it will go public. But Ren dismissed the possibility, explaining how he thinks responsibility to shareholders may cause it to compromise and lose focus.

"We have always remained distant from quick money like stocks and the property market," he said.

"I remember there was a stock exchange downstairs at a Huawei office, crowded with people trading stocks. Upstairs, Huawei executives sat quietly like a pool of water. We were absolutely undisturbed.

"Had the company gone public, the shareholders would probably have forced me to expand sideways... and we would not have secured our threshold like we did," he said.

Ren is optimistic about the company's potential to lead "the future information society," but he also warned against corporate sloth after a period of rapid growth.

Huawei succeeded because it committed to one focus and invested heavily in its core businesses of telecommunications, including building infrastructure for phone and Internet operators, Ren said.

"Huawei remains committed to telecommunications. For the past 28 years, we have done only one thing. We became the leader in big data transmission, and now we intend to stretch that lead."
An area of track on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway line. [Photo by Ni Shubin/Asianewsphoto]

A three-year action plan to improve the country's infrastructure has been formally launched, with a total investment of 4.7 trillion yuan ($723.8 billion), the Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday.

The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport, aims to improve the rapid transit net, basic traffic net and urban transit net, establish an integrated transportation network and better leverage the fundamental role of combination advantage and network efficiency.

The action plan includes 303 projects covering railways, highways, waterways, airports and urban rail transit, with 131 projects in 2016, 92 projects in 2017 and 80 projects in 2018.

In terms of railways, the country plans to invest 2 trillion yuan to promote 86 projects, build and rebuild about 20,000 kilometers of railway.

The country also plans to invest 580 billion yuan, 460 billion yuan and 60 billion yuan respectively to promote 54 highway, 50 airport and 10 waterway projects.

When it comes to urban rail transit, the country will promote 103 projects and build 2,000 kilometers of new lines, with investment of 1.6 trillion yuan.

The plan also calls for improving fund support and increasing the capital investment from the central government. Meanwhile, the country should speed up reforms on investment and financing system, boost public-private-partnership cooperation.
GENEVA -- China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance partnership in the field of intellectual property (IP) protection.

The memorandum was signed between China's Minister of State Administration for Industry and Commerce Zhang Mao and the director general of WIPO Francis Gurry.

While placing particular emphasis on the Madrid System, a one-stop solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide, the memorandum builds on a covenant signed by both parties in 2010.

In light of China's economic growth, trademark law reforms and the country's efforts to streamline trademark registration, the agreement also takes into account China's growing role in the field of IP.

According to statistics, close to 2.9 million trademark applications were made in China last year, up from 766,319 in 2006.

China also ranked sixth in 2015 in terms of the number of applications filed under the Madrid System, with 2,321 applications filed by Chinese applicants.

"There is a huge potential for more Chinese application filings with the Madrid System," Zhang said.

"In the future, we'll continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to use trademarks in their 'Go Global' strategy, strengthen the promotion, training and consultancy of the Madrid System, and carry out universal education on international registration of trademarks," he added.

The minister hoped that the Madrid System would become the favored option for enterprises seeking to register international trademarks.

He also highlighted the importance of promoting Chinese brands internationally, in line with the country's status as the world's second largest economy.

"We believe that, in the next decade, trademark and brand strategies will be an important driver for economic development," he said

Zhang said China will continue with its market reforms and allow brands to play their active role of promoting competition, stimulating innovation and driving development.

"We will enhance facilitation of trademark registration, crack down on trademark infringement and counterfeit, and protect the exclusive right of trademarks according to the law," he added.
BEIJING -- China ranks fourth in the world in terms of manufacturing ability, according to a report released on Thursday by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

The top three manufacturing powerhouses are the United States, Germany and Japan, according to the report, 2015 China Manufacturing Development Index.

It said China has been bridging the gap between it and the front runners since 2000.

"Manufacturing forms solid ground for a strong nation and it is crucial to upgrading China's economy," said CAE President Zhou Ji.

A year ago, China's State Council unveiled a 10-year plan entitled "Made in China 2025" aimed at modernizing China's manufacturing. It set a target of China matching Japan and Germany's manufacturing standards within 10 years.

There are still huge obstacles for China to overcome in order to meet such goals, including excess capacity and inferior production quality, the report said.

It also pointed out that China needs to change a status quo where many key industrial techniques are still monopolized and controlled by the West.
A container ship docks at the Port of Ningbo, East China's Zhenjiang province, Jan 18, 2105. [Photo/Xinhua]

China International Consumer Goods Fair (CICGF), held annually in the famous harbor city of Ningbo, is one of the four largest import and export fairs in China. It has been successfully held for 14 sessions. The 15th CICGF (CICGF 2016) will be held from June 9 to 12, 2016. The Fair mainly focuses on consumer goods for everyday life including Ornaments and Gifts, Kitchenware, Products of Daily-use, Imports and E-commerce. The exhibition center covers more than 100,000 sq. m with a capacity of holding more than 5,000 standard and special decoration booths.

Last year, the 14th CICGF attracted around 2,500 companies to exhibit their products and more than 9,808 overseas buyers from 93 countries and regions including top international purchase companies like Auchan, Li & Fung Group of Hong Kong, Hanover, ABS Home, Metro, Wal-Mart, and so on.

Overseas exhibitors and buyers spoke highly about past CICGFs. "I've visited the electronics exhibition section. There are so many kinds of products. Here, I can communicate with manufacturers directly and greatly reduce purchasing cost. And it's easy to get quotations and compare prices here," Australia buyer Jonathan expressed his happiness.

Korean exhibitor Chung Shanchoo brought non-stick pans to the Fair. For him, CICGF offered opportunities to know preferences of Chinese consumers and enter Chinese market. With the growing amount of international purchases, CICGF is becoming a channel and platform for many transnational purchase companies to achieve one-stop purchase, supplier and global market expansion.

Various types of business activities such as economic and technical co-operations and exchanges, investments, exhibitions and trades, conferences and forums, cultural communications will be held in flexible ways at the same period. Businessmen from all over the world are gathering in Ningbo, exchanging business information and developing friendship. We sincerely invite you to attend the 15th CICGF, either as exhibitors or buyers.

China-CEEC Investment and Trade Expo 2016, organized by MOFCOM and Commercial Ministries of the Central and Eastern European Countries, will be held concurrently with the 15th CICGF.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council summarized and praised the cross-Straits relations of the past eight years on Wednesday, saying they "will be written into the annals of history".

The mainland and Taiwan have reached mutual political trust during the past eight years and signed 23 agreements that have improved cross-Straits cooperation in many fields and reduced conflict on international affairs, Ma Xiaoguang, the office's spokesman, said during a media briefing.

The regular briefing was the last before the island's government transition on May 20, when Tsai Ing-wen, the chairwoman of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, will assume leadership and deliver a speech.

When asked by a reporter from Taiwan to comment on the island's current leader, Ma Ying-jeou, and his performance during two tenures, Ma Xiaoguang said the cross-Straits relations in the past eight years have been widely supported by people from the both sides and by the international community.

The accomplishment is obvious to all and cannot be denied, he added.

It was not until 2008, following Ma Ying-jeou's election victory and the rapid warming of cross-Straits relations, that a communication mechanism was established that handles day-to-day issues.

One month after the meeting in November between President Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou, the heads of cross-Straits affairs on both sides used a newly established hotline to talk to each other.

The peaceful development of cross-Straits relations has been based on the 1992 Consensus, which says that both the mainland and Taiwan are parts of one China, said Ma Xiaoguang. The positive interaction across the straits will go forward only with continued mutual acknowledgment of the 1992 Consensus, he added.

"Our demand is reasonable. We don't ask the new leadership to do anything beyond what we have requested since 2008," he said, adding that peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is what people from both sides want.

"Cross-Straits relations have entered a crucial stage," he said. "The ball is now in the hands of Taiwan's new leader. People are waiting to see which way" the new leadership chooses.
Stones at Qomolangma Base Camp in the Tibet autonomous region have been defaced by tourists. Photo by Jiang Jiahua/For China Daily]

The county in Tibet that is home to the world's highest mountain is taking steps to stop graffiti by visitors at the peak's tourism hot spots.

Dingri county said on Tuesday that it has had enough of visitors leaving their marks at the scenic spots on Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest in the West.

The north slope of the 8,848-meter peak is in Dingri county, and Qomolangma Base Camp, at an altitude of about 5,200 meters, is the county's gateway to the mountain.

The base camp, near the border of China and Nepal in the Himalayan mountain range, is a big tourist attraction, and graffiti is common.

The four main tourism monuments that the county maintains on the mountain are always tarnished with graffiti, according to staff members at the Dingri tourism bureau.

"The graffiti includes people's names, verses and sometime paintings," said Drolma, a staff member at the bureau.

She said the bureau has started a blacklist to ensure that the names of those caught defacing the scenic spots are publicized.

"And we plan to set up several graffiti boards at the tourism spots this year," said Drolma. "We hope these will meet the graffiti needs of tourists."

According to the bureau, more than 30 staff members are employed to look after the tourism spots on Qomolangma. They are responsible for ticket checking, environmental protection work and keeping an eye on tourists.

However, there are no teams designated to fight the graffiti problem, so all staff members regularly pitch in to help get rid of the markings.

The bureau said it is sometimes difficult to dissuade tourists from writing on the monuments at scenic spots, and some tourists become abusive if stopped.

"Simply stopping people from doing it is not enough. It is important to raise people's awareness of what is correct behavior for tourists," said Drolma.

Qomolangma Base Camp received 62,000 tourists last year and brought in ticket revenue of 14 million yuan ($2.15 million). During the peak season, the camp saw 550 visitors a day, Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the bureau, a newly built tourism center in the county is expected to be fully operational by the end of May. It will offer improved services, including medical care, food, accommodations and shopping opportunities.
Beijing urged the new government of the Philippines to "meet China halfway" to solve maritime disputes.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks on Wednesday, after the likely Philippine president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, expressed willingness to talk with China about the issue.

"We hope that the new Philippine government will meet China halfway, properly deal with disputes and take concrete measures to push China-Philippines relations back to the track of sound development," Lu said.

Duterte said his country and China could set up joint ventures to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea. Agence France-Presse quoted his spokesman as saying the likely president-elect "is open to bilateral talks with China".

This is in stark contrast with the stance of the current Philippines government, which has rejected such talks. The Philippines filed an international arbitration case against China in January 2013 over the two nations' disputes in the area.

China reacted positively to Duterte's remarks.

"There will be no insoluble disputes" as long as the two countries stick to the principles of treating each other with honesty and seeking common ground while reserving differences, said Lu.

He said on Tuesday that bilateral ties have suffered great difficulties "due to reasons known to all", referring to the Philippines' continuous challenging of China's sovereignty in the South China Sea in recent years, including its filing of the arbitration case.

Zhou Fangyin, a professor of Chinese foreign policy at the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, said that unlike the current administration of President Benigno Aquino III, whose policies in the South China Sea have included "meaningless provocation", Duterte is likely to be "more flexible" on the issue.

"Duterte hopes very much that China will help the Philippines develop its infrastructure and economy, in order to strengthen his ruling foundation," he said.

Chen Qinghong, assistant researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Duterte is likely to be more practical than Aquino.

"He may adjust the Philippines approach to the South China Sea issue. But the room to adjust is limited," he said, adding that the country probably will continue to be heavily influenced by the United States.
The Yangtze River Delta is set to build a global reputation for its cluster of cities by 2030 by focusing on high-end equipment manufacturing and modern services, the State Council said on Wednesday.

At an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, the State Council, which is China's Cabinet, ratified a plan to further develop the Yangtze River Delta urban cluster. The 30 cities in Shanghai and Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces account for one-fourth of China's economy and cover 354,000 square kilometers.

Two other such clusters are the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei province region in the north and the Pearl River Delta urban cluster in South China's Guangdong province.

To cultivate new momentum for economic growth and upgrade traditional industries, innovations should be strengthened in key areas of high-end manufacturing such as information technology, the biopharmaceutical industry, auto making and new materials, according to a statement released after the meeting. Additionally, modern services such as finance, technological research and development, and logistics should be enhanced, it said.

Local governments should conduct pilot programs to establish an integrated market of finance, land and property transactions, and they should cooperate on public services such as education, healthcare and social security, the statement said.

It added that the Yangtze River Delta urban cluster should make great efforts to attract foreign investment and talent while testing free trade ports and making foreign trade easier.

Ecology will be a key to the region's further development, with remedial steps taken to promote clean soil, air and water. In addition, a compensation mechanism will be set up under which businesses will make up for using a large amount of such resources as water.

Lyu Bin, director of the Urban and Regional Planning Department at Peking University, said: "I am optimistic about the city cluster's future, because the region has the country's most intelligent people and most opened-up economy."
Lei Yang. [File photo from web]

Beijing police on Wednesday denied using excessive force on a man who died in police custody after he was detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.

Lei Yang, 29, was stopped by police officers in plain clothes at a foot massage salon in Beijing's Changping district at 9:14 pm on Saturday night, a police statement said.

Officers were monitoring the salon after receiving tips that it was involved in prostitution, the statement said. Lei refused to cooperate, tried to escape, bit officers and knocked down the mobile phone that was being used to record the incident.

He was eventually subdued and placed in a car, the police said.

Xing Yongrui, deputy head of the Dongxiaokou police station under the sub-bureau of Changping district, who was present during the incident, said it took two police officers and four auxiliary officers about 20 minutes to subdue Lei because he tried to escape the scene.

After Lei was taken into a car, he jumped from the back seat to the front seat, kicked the driver and forced the car to stop, the statement said. He then jumped out the car, fleeing while shouting, "fake police".

Police recaptured Lei, handcuffed him and put him into another vehicle with Xing.

En route to the police station, Xing said, he noticed something wrong with Lei as he had "stopped resisting and was very quiet". Lei was taken to a nearby hospital at 10:05 pm and pronounced dead at 10:55 pm.

Xing told People's Daily there was no excessive force used during the whole process, and that proper procedures were followed in line with the law.

Gao Chunzheng, an officer at the sub-bureau in Changping district who was in charge of a preliminary investigation on Monday, said all evidence was obtained legally.

Gao said DNA collected from a condom found at the scene matched Lei, and that statements from other suspects who were detained, including a woman who allegedly provided sex to Lei, also supported the police suspicions.

Lei admitted to the police that he paid 200 yuan ($30.8) for services he received at the salon, Xing said.

Lei's wife questioned the three-hour delay between Lei's death and her being informed of it. She said she made more than 40 phone calls to Lei after he failed to meet relatives at Beijing Capital airport as planned.

She said she was informed by police about Lei's death at about 1 am.

Police said the delay was due to problems confirming Lei's identity. His phone and wallet had been dropped and scattered in the grass near the spot where he was detained. After his death, police scoured the scene again and found the phone was ringing and answered it.

On Wednesday, some alumni from Renmin University of China, from which Lei graduated, published an open letter online, saying they were stunned and angry about Lei's death. They called for a transparent investigation.


Nurses from a hospital in Cangzhou, Hebei province, hold placards that say 'Don't vilify doctors' at an event on Tuesday. The event calls for protection of medical workers and a harmonious relationship between patients and doctors. [Photo by Fu Xinchun/For China Daily]

The top health authority declared that zero tolerance will be shown for people who assault and injure medical personnel, after two doctors were severely injured on Tuesday.

A surgeon in Chongqing was stabbed several times in the face and back by a 19-year-old patient and two of his friends, while another doctor from Jiangxi province was beaten by a patient's family members after the patient died.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said on its website on Tuesday that it will crack down on hospital-related crimes in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security.

All the suspects involved in the two cases were detained by police.

Violence against doctors in China has grabbed public attention in recent days, with discussions about the safety of medical staff.

In Chongqing's Shizhu County Hospital, where the surgeon was stabbed, medical staff went on strike on Tuesday, calling for severe punishment of the perpetrators.

"Trust between patients and doctors in China is facing a crisis, which resulted in the violence," said Gong Xiaoming, a physician who quit a public hospital and now runs a private medical group.

He said medicine is far beyond the knowledge of the public, and people have limited access to reliable medical information explained in simple language.

"A lack of information is behind the conflicts between patients and doctors," Gong said. "Especially in many public hospitals where a doctor has to treat a large number of patients, good service isn't guaranteed. And conflicts are much likely under stress."

According to the health commission, outpatient visits nationwide increased by 300 million from 2014 to 2015. But medical disputes dropped by about 8 percent to 71,000 during the period.

More than 80 percent of medical disputes were resolved through civil meditation, said Jiao Yahui, an official at the commission. She said law enforcement should be strengthened to crack down on violence against doctors.

"A satisfactory doctor-patient relationship also requires a good medical system behind it," she said.

Wang Xiaodong contributed to this story.

What they say

Even if a doctor is at fault, there is no excuse for violence. Violence against doctors only encourages conflicts between patients and medical staff.

Li Ying, deputy director of the Health News Media Research Center at Communication University of China

Public trust of medical staff has eroded, and many medical incidents have been reported in recent years. Only a better system that values doctors' work, respects people's lives and brings equal rights to both sides can fundamentally resolve the conflict.

Xu Feng, journalist in Shanghai

Not just me but many of my colleagues are unwilling to encourage our children to study medicine. Safety is a basic need for us. If our lives cannot even be guaranteed, I can't see any charm in the work.

Yang Li, physician at Kunming Children's Hospital in Yunnan province




Airports in Hebei province will work with railway operators to attract more travelers to the province, airport managers said.

"We are negotiating with China Railway Corp and Beijing Railway Bureau to let more high-speed rail services stop in Shijiazhuang and other Hebei cities that have an airport, which will attract more passengers from neighboring regions to use our airports for their trips," Li Ning, deputy general manager of Hebei Airport Management Holding Co, told China Daily on Tuesday.

Currently, there are 30 high-speed rail routes that stop at Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, Li said, adding that his company also hopes civil aviation authorities will work with the railway company to integrate the air and rail ticket systems, which are now independent, to facilitate passengers.

Wang Yaqi, marketing director at the management company, said five more high-speed rail routes will add a stop at Shijiazhuang Zhengding.

The central government decided in 2014 that civil aviation industries in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei should better coordinate their operations and development. Under an agreement signed in December 2014 by Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Hebei Airport Management Holding, the Beijing airport should be dedicated to mostly international flights while airports in Tianjin and Hebei would handle more domestic service.

The agreement aimed at relieving the heavy burden on Beijing Capital and boosting the growth of Tianjin and Hebei airports.

Under the arrangement, tickets for domestic flights departing from the Shijia-zhuang airport are much cheaper than those departing from Beijing Capital to the same destination, Li said, adding that it's only an hour by high-speed train from Beijing West Railway Station to Shijiazhuang Zhengding, which has led a lot of residents living in the capital's western and southern areas to choose Shijiazhuang Zhengding as their departure or arrival airport.

"Passengers can buy air tickets and check in at the Beijing West station," he said. "Moreover, we offer free hotel accommodations at our airport to passengers whose flights are scheduled for early morning."

From January to April, about 100,000 travelers took a train to the Shijiazhuang airport and flew from there, or landed at the airport and then went to other places by train, Li said.

Zhao Yunfei, manager of the Hebei branch of low-cost carrier Spring Airlines, said about 11,000 passengers a month would fly to Shijiazhuang on his airline and then take a high-speed train to Beijing.

Passengers will save money - nearly 40 percent - on an air ticket from Shijiazhuang compared with the cost from the Beijing Capital to the same destination, he said.

Li Wu, general manager of Hebei Airport Management Holding, suggested the government should build more railways and highways to link Beijing and Hebei so passengers can conveniently use transportation facilities in Hebei.
Toymaker Lego has opened its largest retail store at Shanghai Disney on May 11, 2016.[Photo/VCG]

Shanghai Disney goers will have another attraction to visit this summer as the toymaker Lego has opened its largest retail store in the world at the resort.

The store is decked out with giant Lego dragons and walls filled with multi-colored plastic bricks, aimed at attracting both children and adults.

"I like castles... Because castles are very beautiful and I like beautiful houses."

"I hope Lego can gradually attach importance to the Chinese market, and produce the landmarks accordingly."

Lego's is setting up a factory in China which should be operational in 2017 in Jiaxing, 100 kilometers from Shanghai.

Jacob Kragh, the general manager of Lego China, said entering the Chinese market was crucial.

"Because in China we have many children that are still out there without having a good quality play experience, and this is the reason why we feel that in order to be successful in the long run, we have to make sure we reach more Chinese children."

The company now has 250 designers, and launched 350 products last year.

The Shanghai Disney theme park is slated to open on June 16.
The number of Chinese students funded by the government to study in Japan has increased in recent years, an overseas study expert said.

Zhang Ning, deputy secretary-general of the China Scholarship Council, said the number increased to 738 in 2015 from 569 in 2013.

Zhang was speaking at the 2016 China-Japan University Forum, which was hosted in Beijing by the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

According to Zhang, the increase was mainly due to a growing number of undergraduates and joint degree PhD students. He said PhD students have long been well represented among students supported by the government for studies in Japan.

"From 2013 to 2015, 831 PhD students went to Japan, 47 percent of all those supported by the government to study in that country," Zhang said.

Jiang Yundou, who teaches Japanese at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian, Liaoning province, said the growing number of government-funded students sent to Japan meshes with the country's development strategy.

"China has long paid great attention to nurturing talent by sending people to study in other countries, including Japan," he said.

According to Zhang, the CSC supported 26,000 people in 2015 (not including those who had received CSC scholarships before but were still studying) in their overseas studies, 25 percent more than the previous year. Among them, almost 20,000 were visiting scholars, postdoctoral students and joint degree PhD students.

Kazuo Todani, an official at Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, said Chinese students now make up 40 percent of all international and exchange students in Japan.

He also said the ministry would continue to support the Young Leaders' Program, a scholarship program of the Japanese government to foster future leaders in Asia, while deepening the students' understanding of Japan.
Forty percent of employees in Hong Kong's hotels and beverage industries have voiced worries about their career future, according to a recent survey by an industry association.

The city recorded a 15 percent slump in arrivals from the Chinese mainland in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period last year.

Among the respondents to the survey by the Hong Kong Hotels, Food and Beverage Employees Association in April, only 12.5 percent of the employees were optimistic about their jobs and the industry's prospects.

Most of the anxious employees are room attendants, receptionists and catering staff. They fear possible layoffs, saying their companies are firing people and urging workers to use up all the leave they had accumulated, said Barry Kai Hung-chuen, the association's executive officer.

The latest data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board show that the number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong decreased by 15.1 percent in the first quarter. The association estimates that the city will receive 54 million visitors this year, 5 million fewer than in 2015.

The slump in mainland visitors has taken a toll on the three- and four-star hotels whose profits come primarily from mainland tourist groups. According to the association, hotels in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan of the New Territories, Sai Wan of Hong Kong Island and San Po Kong in Kowloon have been seriously affected, with their occupancy rate dropping by nearly 50 percent.

Besides the change of multiple-entry travel permits for Shenzhen residents to one visit per week and a fallen yuan, "we believe a series of uncivilized campaigns against mainland visitors have contributed to the loss", said Yip Lau-ching, secretary-general of the association.

Yip urged society to stop politicizing everything.

"The worsening tourism industry will affect the livelihoods of the 665,000 employees in related businesses," Yip said.

Willa Wu contributed to this story.
Zhang Wei again courts controversy with his latest film about how the world treats an autistic child. Chen Mengwei speaks with the director about his motivation.

Two years ago, Zhang Wei made his name by directing The Factory Boss, a plot based on true stories that tells of the rise and fall of made-in-China products through the perspective of a sweatshop owner. Two years later, the director has again grabbed media attention by turning his camera toward autistic children with The Destiny.

"I use 100 minutes to foretell the whole life of a 9-year-old autistic child. I'm exploring a destiny inherited from genes. I'm also trying hard to show the life struggles of a mother facing desperation," the 51-year-old says, while sitting up in bed in his signature red T-shirt and plaid pajama shorts in his room at the Ambassador Palace Hotel in Udine, Italy.

A still from The Destiny, directed by Zhang Wei, which portrays conflicts in the lives of an autistic child and his mother. Photos Provided to China Daily

This new film earned him an invitation to the 18th Far East Film Festival in the city for a premiere on April 29.

The main character, Xi He, is an autistic boy born in a blue-collar family. His mother, the heroine, works at a bank, while his father fixes air conditioners.

Xi sometimes loses control in class. He even bites others and urinates on the floor.

His classmates' parents protest and have their children boycott classes, forcing the school to expel him.

Zhang depicts Xi's mother shouldering pressure from all sides and begging to send Xi back to a normal school.

The storyline is simple. But the portrayal of an autistic child's family and school life is striking. It's like watching a documentary. And isn't.

"This isn't a documentary. It's not literary. It's something in between. I consider that my own style," he says.

"No one in my movie is wrong. Xi's family, his classmates' parents, the school, the media, the government ... they all have solid reasons for their actions. I don't want to take a stand."

Zhang initially tried to dodge questions about his motivation, which drove him to interview more than 100 families facing such challenges and people working in the special-education system across the country.

He eventually disclosed that a close relative faces this reality and declined to say more, citing privacy concerns.

This made him attuned to autism in children.

In 2008, a 16-year-old autistic boy in Shanghai was reportedly locked up in an iron cage every day when his father went to work in a factory, the city's Eastday.com reported.

In 2012, a 9-year-old autistic boy in Shenzhen jumped out of a window and died after other parents' protests kept him out of school, the local New Express Daily reported.

The World Health Organization estimates one in 160 children has an autism-spectrum disorder.

Reading about these realities broke Zhang's heart - and set his mind racing.

He threw out three scripts for a trilogy and frantically rewrote the plot with his team.

"It's the job of politicians and economists to change society. My role, as an artist, is to document the era and make my audiences think."

The four films Zhang has finished focus on sensitive social topics that trigger public debate.

But he denies outside forces have influenced his decisions.

"It's my hard-earned cash that I'm spending. Every cent of it. There's no way I'd mess with my money."

Many scenes of Xi and his mother in The Destiny were shot in two subway cars that Shenzhen's government offered for free, partly because of his reputation. Zhang was previously a deputy of the city's legislature.

He paid all the passengers who appear in the film 80 yuan ($12) per day, which added up to 30,000 yuan daily. Those scenes took over two weeks to shoot, and Zhang loathed the notion of wasting any shots.

"It's money in my left hand, and creation in my right. I can't overindulge," he says.

Zhang is unique among China's big-name directors in that he spent most of his life as a businessman and finances his films with his own company.

He refuses to take money - or orders - from anyone.

"Sometimes, I'm like a kid. Sometimes, I'm like a godfather. I have so many faces that I'm trying to find a way to strike a balance."

Zhang started out as a migrant worker in Shenzhen at age 16, when he left his family in Hunan province's Hengyang in 1981.

His first job was as a salesman. He later started his own business in Shenzhen.

His company, Shidean, was the top producer of video-intercom doorbells and paid more than 10 million yuan in taxes to Shenzhen a year, he says.

He sold a major chunk of Shidean to Legrand, a multinational electrical-installation supplier based in France, in 2006. Other bidders included General Electric and Schneider Electric.

Zhang unloaded his remaining stakes last year to finance his films.

"My previous competitors are worth more than 10 billion yuan now. But I've never regretted my decision. I want to leave something behind after I die," Zhang says.

The Destiny made it to the final rounds of the Golden Mulberry at the 18th Far East Film Festival but lost to A Melody to Remember, a wartime drama directed by Lee Han from the Republic of Korea.

Back in his studio in Beijing, Zhang says he has received invitations to screen The Destiny at international film festivals in the United States, Russia, India, Italy, among other places.

He's talking with several charities that help autistic people. He has pledged to donate all revenues from the film to them.

In the meantime, he's negotiating the details of the domestic release.

Contact the writer at chenmengwei@chinadaily.com.cn

Zhang Wei, an entrepreneur-turned-director, has made four films on social topics that trigger public debate.

(China Daily 05/12/2016 page20)
Shi Yingkang, former president of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University.[Photo/Sina Weibo]

A former president of one of the country's leading medical institutions, the West China Hospital of Sichuan University, was found dead in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Wednesday afternoon.

Shi Yingkang, 65, fell to his death from the 20th floor of his apartment building, which was within walking distance of the hospital.

Liao Zhilin, chief of the hospital's publicity department, said it was "certain Shi was not murdered".

"But it is unknown whether he committed suicide or fell from his residence accidentally," he said, adding that the apartment building is privately owned and not associated with the hospital.

Liao denied speculation that Shi's death was in some way related to a recent visit by a Party discipline inspection committee, as reported on caixin.com

"As a matter of fact, it is the National Audit Office that is auditing the university. It is a regular audit which is not targeting the West China Hospital of Sichuan University," he said.

In response to the death of Shi, who served as president of the hospital from 1993 to 2013, a prominent section of the university's website was turned over to an obituary on a black background, mourning a "great loss".

It said the former president was instrumental in turning the hospital into a leading medical establishment for hospital management, theoretical research and practical applications, as well as a national-level treatment center for difficult, complicated and critical diseases in West China.

On Wednesday night, medics lit candles forming a giant heart in the hospital's compound, offering their condolences for the late Shi.

Shao Zhenyong, a native of Henan province who worked at the hospital for six years before moving to the Longquanyi district hospital in Chengdu two years ago, was among them.

He said Shi was a renowned cardiac surgeon who was well regarded both as a medic and a manager.

"It was Shi who changed an obscure hospital which was only known in Sichuan into a famous one in China. He was nice to his colleagues," Shao said.

Liao, from the hospital publicity department, added: "Shi had a hot temper and an unyielding character. But he was nice to the staff in the hospital."

Shi's daughter, an associate professor with the hospital's nephrology department called Shi Yunying, wrote a post on WeChat following her father's death.

"He became disillusioned and tired. So he wanted to leave," she said.

Liao speculated that the former president may have been influenced by his father's suicide, which occurred during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Shi Yingkang came from a line of famous doctors. His father was the founder of the pediatrics department at Chongqing Medical University, his mother was a renowned gynecologist and obstetrician and his uncle, a cardiothoracic surgeon, was president of Shanghai First Medical College.

He had given a lecture on medical sector reform three days before his death, according to a report on caixin.com
He Jiang will become the first Chinese student to give the commencement speech at Harvard University. [Photo from Sina Weibo]

A student from Central China's Hunan province will become the first Chinese student to deliver a commencement speech at Harvard University on May 26, 2016.

He Jiang, a doctoral student in biochemistry at the university, was chosen by the prestigious university as the only representative of postgraduates at the commencement, China Youth Daily reported on Wednesday. Director Steven Spielberg will also give a speech at the commencement.

Accorded the highest honor by the university, He, who was born in a village in Hunan province, said: "People living in Chinese villages often believe that it's useless to study and children from humble families cannot be successful in their careers. However, I cannot agree with those opinions," he told the Daily.

He added: "Education can change a person's life as it can bring a person from one world to another world. I hope my experience can encourage the rural students to pursue their studies and realize their dream."

"He's speech will give the graduating class a different perspective," said Judith Huang, a Harvard graduate, "I think it's particularly brave for him, since most Chinese students are unlikely to do public speaking, and it's also really tough to get selected to make a commencement speech."

According to He, his parents in the small village always encouraged him to study hard.

Unlike many other families in his village, his parents never thought about finding a job in big cities like their counterparts and leaving their two sons at home without their care.

"Though my father didn't finish high school, he kept telling stories to my younger brother and me," said He. In the man's memory, father's stories are all supportive of hard work, the Daily quoted him as saying.

He's father was strict with his sons' studies. He and his younger brother studied inside their home, while the other boys in the village played in the fields. "At that time, I felt my father was very 'inhuman'. But now I realize that's the best choice he made in that rural environment," He said, according to the report.

Unlike his strict father, He's mother took her sons' side when her husband criticized the boys. Though his mother was illiterate, she preferred to sit with her sons when they studied rather than gossip with other women in the village.

He remembers that he and his younger brother liked telling stories from their books to their mother and discussing them with her. The childhood experience made the boys keen to study hard.

He says his mother's encouraging style is exactly the same as the habit in American culture.

"During my first days in Harvard, I often felt puzzled when my tutor encouraged me to try all my suggestions," said He, according to the Daily.

Encouraging others is embodied in American's daily lives, he said. Nobel Prize winners or distinguished people are used to encouraging the younger generations and letting the youth feel that they have promising futures.

He said the opportunity to speak at the commencement would not have happened without Professor Diana Eck's encouragement.

"The professor told me you can have a try if you think you can speak at the commencement," said the young man, who was afraid to apply for the chance as very few Chinese students had applied before, the paper quoted him.

After beating three students from Harvard Kennedy School in the third and final round, the Chinese student got the chance to realize his idea of letting his counterparts hear the voice from China.

About the upcoming speech at the commencement, He said he will introduce the development of traditional Chinese medicine in the rural area of China. Based on this introduction, "I want all Harvard students to think about the uneven distribution of science and technologies in modern world, and realize the social responsibilities they should undertake," said He to the Daily.

He plans to go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral research fellow after graduating from Harvard University.
NANNING - Eight people are dead and four others injured after the tricycle farm vehicle they were riding in overturned on a country road in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Thursday morning.

Local authorities said that three people died at the scene. One died on the way to hospital, and another four died in hospital. Two of the four survivors receiving medical treatment sustained severe injuries.

The accident happened around 7:30 am, when the vehicle packed with farmers was en route to a local fair.
A formation of the Nanhai Fleet of China's Navy finished a three-day patrol of the Nansha islands in the South China Sea in early May. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army Daily has lambasted the United States for sending a warship near Chinese islands, saying in an opinion piece on Thursday that so-called freedom of navigation (FON) operations have flouted the basic spirit of international law.

Though the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) upholds the principle of FON, there is also a balance between such freedoms and individual states' sovereignty, it said, citing some countries' practice of asking for authorization to enter or designating certain sea lanes for passage.

Yet, the United States does not recognize such a balance, deeming it harmful to its maritime supremacy, said the paper. "The United State has not, to this day, ratified UNCLOS and is not willing to see any kind of constraint on its deployment of warships."

The article noted that UNCLOS does not have a universal standard on whether warships can enjoy innocent passage in a country's territorial waters, yet what the United States has been advocating is exactly the freedom to willfully conduct military activities.

The United States likes to boast that it is a force for the greater good of world peace and routinely brings up the issue of FON, yet FON is never an issue in the South China Sea, according to the paper.

On the contrary, such FON operations have disturbed the situation and undermined regional stability, said the paper. "In fact, FON is only a tool for the United States to interfere in regional affairs, shape regional arrangements and defend its maritime supremacy."

The FON that the United States has been pursuing is not in line with what the international community is looking for, because such FON operations only serve the national interests of the United States, it added, warning that such operations can very easily cause miscalculations.

The paper ran the article after a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "resolute opposition" to USS William P. Lawrence's illegal patrol on Tuesday in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.


An international anti-corruption association passed a declaration on Thursday to better share experience and increase legal cooperation in fighting graft.

The declaration was made and issued during the closing ceremony of the Ninth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, held in Tianjin.

The declaration highlighted the importance of international cooperation in fighting graft, calling the association's members to improve efficiency of anti-corruption work, make it more professional and pay closer attention to its effect.

It suggested that members voluntarily cooperate with their own legislatures, make and update related laws and ensure their anti-graft departments are independent to play a role in the fight.

The association's efforts in pursuing, freezing and returning illicit gains were applauded in the declaration, but it added that related work should be further strengthened.

Dieudonne Massi Gams, president of Cameroon's national anti-corruption commission, said during the conference that reporting clues was a key part of the fight and suggested that members increase the number of such reports.

He cautioned members not to be "silent in front of graft" if they were to destroy corruption.

Barumpozako Angele, from the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, spoke highly of the association's contribution in the fight against graft.

"Corruption is a complex issue. Anti-corruption institutes should join efforts to fight by exploring effective measures," she said. "We should share experience and communicate more about anti-corruption work."

The conference lasted two days, with anti-graft professionals from more than 70 countries and regions, including China, Russia, France and South Korea.

The theme of the conference was "The Future of Anti-Corruption Authorities: Lessons Learned and Charting the Way Forward". Participants discussed investigation, prosecution, prevention, education and judicial cooperation in anti-graft work.

The association, established in 2006, is the first anti-graft nongovernmental organization initiated by China.
Beijing police have intensified efforts to clamp down on economic crime and brought nearly 1,000 suspects to justice in the first four months of this year.

Between January and April, more than 1,100 such crimes were detected and around 960 suspects were detained, Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said on Thursday.

These crimes ranged from producing and selling counterfeit branded commodities to illegal fundraising among the public.

Jia Lei, an officer at the bureau's investigation department, said in a single case in Xicheng district, 20,000 reproduction branded clothes were seized worth more than 1 million yuan ($154,000).

In another case in Daxing district, knockoff lubricants worth 150,000 yuan were seized on April 30.

Jia said in the first four months of the year, the number of illegal fundraising cases that involved economic fraud was on the rise.

"Some companies forged documents and made up investment stories to rip off the public of millions of yuan," He said, adding that "people must be on high alert for online financial programs".

All of the sham companies involved claimed that the rate of return could be more than ten percent, while some claimed up to 100 percent, Jia said, adding that people should report suspicious financial practices to the financial supervisory body.
China will strengthen efforts and inject new impetus into global coordination in the fight against corruption, a Chinese government minister pledged on Thursday.

Minister of Supervision Huang Shuxian made the promise when he joined dozens of world leaders and high-level officials in London for the Anti-Corruption Summit.

"The Chinese government has made cooperation, the pursuit of fugitives and the recovery of criminal proceeds part of its work plan on anti-corruption," Huang said at the summit.

He said China will continue to pursue fugitives and their illegal assets, adding that since 2014 it has brought back 1,657 fugitives suspected of corruption and economic crimes from 71 countries and regions and recovered illegal assets worth 6.29 billion yuan (about $1 billion).

"We will crack down on transnational commercial bribery, punishing such activities by both Chinese companies overseas and foreign companies in China," Huang said.

The summit was attended by leaders including British Prime Minister David Cameron, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. It focused on the cost of corruption, as well as how to expose, punish and eradicate it.

While Britain is pushing global efforts, Chinas measures have already attracted international attention.

Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said the Chinese leadership has placed anti-corruption measures high on the agenda on the basis that the rule of law applies to everyone.

"The efforts in this campaign should continue with respect for the law, which will help foreign investors to have more confidence in the institutions of the countries they are investing in, as well as their local partners," Dewit said.
Efforts to focus on how local authorities live up to promises and tackle the scourge of pollution

A resident reacts to the air in Handan, Hebei province, in April. The city, known for its highly polluting industries, such as steel, is facing an industrial transformation. Provided To China Daily

Environmental inspections by the central government have been given more power and increased importance, and will include all provinces, according to a Chinese environmental official.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection will be China's second national authority, after the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, to have the power to send inspection teams and hold discussions with provincial leaders.

Fourteen more provinces will be subject to central government inspection this year after a pilot mission was completed in heavily industrialized Hebei province, Liu Changgen, head of the National Environmental Protection Inspection Office, said in a web interview.

Plans for the follow-up inspections are awaiting approval from national authorities, so it is not yet clear when they will begin, according to sources close to the matter.

Findings from the Hebei inspection disclosed on Wednesday showed many problems, ranging from rapid ecological degradation to ineffective reinforcement of laws and regulations.

Liu said the central-level inspectors held discussions with all top provincial officials during their monthlong mission to Hebei, which accounts for nearly 25 percent of the nation's steel output and is among the most heavily polluted provinces.

Surrounding Beijing, Hebei had five of China's 10 cities with the worst air pollution problems in the first quarter of this year, according to the Environment Ministry.

Liu said that during the inspection, his colleagues and he received more than 100 calls a day from Hebei residents telling them of local pollution problems.

He said the environmental protection inspection teams will prioritize efforts to review how local authorities have met their promises and solved problems the inspectors find.

Liu said the Environment Ministry has formed a talent pool of more than 120 people devoted to the inspections, and they will be sent randomly to targeted areas. Such inspections will cover all provincial areas every two years.
The number of Chinese students funded by the government to study in Japan has increased in recent years, an overseas study expert said.

Zhang Ning, deputy secretary-general of the China Scholarship Council, said the number increased to 738 in 2015 from 569 in 2013.

Zhang was speaking at the 2016 China-Japan University Forum, which was hosted in Beijing by the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
The ever-closer partnership between the two countries reflects mutual continental ambitions

During the last decade, China and Morocco have shared a common conviction in their approach towards Africa. Both countries have placed the continent at the core of their economic development strategies and both have heavily invested on the economic and social levels.

Trade between Morocco and China has grown rapidly; but, more importantly, that trade has evolved in nature.

While still imbalanced, the structure of imports and exports tells us a lot about the vigorous economic relationship at work and is a great indication of the potential that lies ahead.

One might think that Morocco's exports to China consist mainly of raw materials, but a closer examination shows a different picture: 28 percent of the $530 million of goods we exported in 2014 were integrated circuits, and around 10 percent were garments.

Our imports from China, totaling $3.5 billion, are very diversified, and range from electronic equipment to tea, which is still the first imported good from China (5.4 percent).

All of this is very important, but it only tells half the story.

At continental level, Morocco and China are on the path of building a trilateral relationship aiming at giving more market depth to both partners.

Last November, the Moroccan city of Marrakech hosted the first Sino-African Business Summit, at which more than 500 participants discussed how this partnership could be strengthened and how we should together tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

For the first time, business communities from China, Morocco - and the rest of Africa - engaged in an open dialogue that helped create opportunities and lift some of the possible misconceptions about China's economic agenda in the region.

Experts who participated in this important event agreed that Morocco and China would create more value by working together than by pursuing their own individual paths, especially in the greater northwestern part of Africa. The reasons for this are simple: our economic strategies in the region complement one another, and there are more areas in which it is in our best interest to cooperate rather than compete.

In addition, analysts are increasingly convinced that Morocco gives China the best platform when it comes to setting up industrial investments to reach the 400 million French-speaking consumers of West Africa.

Morocco's institutional and macroeconomic stability make it an ideal location for long-term investments, and its strong regulatory framework contributes to the country's business-friendly environment.

A common ambition

Most of all, Morocco shares a common ambition with China, which is to become a strategic partner in Africa's development by helping create a strong, resilient consumer-based market. To that end, Morocco included a specific initiative within its 2014 plan for industrial acceleration, which will provide Chinese companies with dedicated industrial zones where they can establish complete ecosystems in order to boost their productivity and increase their export capabilities in the area.

Furthermore, Morocco established Casablanca Finance City in 2010, a pan-African financial center that has rapidly become the leading financial center in Africa, ranking first in the latest Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI).

Casablanca Finance City provides both status and a comprehensive fiscal package to financial institutions and the regional headquarters of multinational corporations aiming at developing their businesses and investments in Africa.

To date, more than 100 multinational corporations have acquired the CFC status, including information and communication technology solution provider Huawei, insurer AIG, carmaker Ford, the Boston Consulting Group, investment fund Abraaj and BNP Paribas.

Two months ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming Bank of China to CFC. For us, this was a clear signal that the strategic and economic partnership between China and Morocco is reaching a new dimension, which we hope to intensify over the coming years.

The writer is the CEO of Casablanca Finance City Authority. For more information about CFC, please visit Casablancafinancecity.com, as well as its Twitter and LinkedIn pages for latest updates. Twitter : @casafinancecity LinkedIn: Casablanca Finance City

(China Daily 05/12/2016 page7)
Veteran American actor and director Woody Allen [Photo/Mtime]

With almost enough star wattage to forget the grim anti-terror measures in place, the Cannes film festival opened on Wednesday with Woody Allen's Cafe Society, starring Kristen Stewart.

The veteran American actor and director opened the show for the third time with his work, but once again his film will not be in the main competition, whose judges are this year led by Australian director George Miller.

"For any group to come together and judge the work of other people is something I would never do," Allen told a news conference on Wednesday.

"It...is something I do not believe in. So I do not want to participate in it."

The red carpet awaits some of Hollywood's biggest stars, such as Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron and George Clooney, as the French Riviera town transforms into the film capital of the world for 12 heady and exhausting days.

This year is one of the most star-studded in recent times, and Twilight megastar-turned-indie-darling Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively and Steve Carell are among those appearing on the red carpet for the opening film.

Allen, 80, gets the party started with his coming-of-age tale about a young couple who fall in love in 1930s Hollywood, which is being screened out of competition.

Allen is the narrator of Cafe Society, his 46th film which he describes as "like reading a novel on his life".

The feature is Allen's 14th presented out of competition in Cannes and his thirdHollywood Ending in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011to open what is arguably the world's most prestigious film festival.

However the director told French radio this week that he "is not at all blase. I am always happy to come to Cannes."

Cafe Society is also one of five films whose rights are held by Amazon, a sign of a shift in the cinema industry, which is increasingly opening up to subscription services, although straight-to-streaming site Netflix is still being snubbed by Cannes.

His new film brings Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg together on screen for the third time, after 2009's Adventureland and last year's American Ultra.As in many of his films, there is a lot of Allen himself in the protagonist of Cafe Society.

"If this was years ago, I would have played this part much more narrowly myself because I'm a comedian, not an actor. Jesse gave it much more complexity," Allen said.

Nearly 90 feature films from all over the world will be shown in this year's official selection.

These include 21 which are in the running for the Palme d'Or main prize, such as The Last Face by actor-director Penn featuring his ex-girlfriend Theron and the latest offering from French-Canadian wonderkid Xavier Dolan of Mommy fame.

The first of the big Hollywood films, Foster's drama about a Wall Street tipster Money Monster, starring Clooney and Roberts, screens on Thursday. And Steven Spielberg will roll out his blockbuster version of Roald Dahl's The BFG on the weekend, although neither are competing for the main Palme d'Or prize.
Born in China, the upcoming Disneynature feature directed by Lu Chuan, focuses on the lives of endangered animals in China.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Celebrated director Lu Chuan has gained a new perspective on the animal kingdom while working on a coproduction with Walt Disney Studios in China, he tells Xu Fan.

Lu Chuan has been making films for the past 17 years but the changes he has encountered at work in the last few years have been huge.

The Chinese director now finds himself speaking English more frequently, leading members of international filmmaking units and even supervising shoots in China's remote areas from Beijing.

Hailed as one of the best directors of his generation, Lu's recent experiences can be attributed to one thingan upcoming Disneynature feature called Born in China, which is set to hit mainland theaters in the second week of August.

The film is being made jointly by Disneynature, a film label of Walt Disney Studios and Lu's Chinese film studio.

The Sino-US production will be released in China ahead of its 2017 world debut.

Typically, foreign films in China are released either simultaneously with the rest of the world, or a few days after their global release.

The film covers the lives of five animal families in Chinasnow leopards, giant pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, Tibetan antelopes and red-crowned cranes.

Lu's international camera unitsfrom Germany, Britain and the United Stateswent deep into the animals' habitats and filmed for 18 months.

"It's my first English-language film, and it was a great opportunity to see how the world's top wildlife camera crews work," Lu, 45, tells China Daily over phone.

Although the trailer of the film makes it appear like a documentary, Lu says it is actually a "narrative feature".

"We have a script which focuses on the stories of the animal families," he says.

Interestingly, Lu, originally had a more ambitious plan for the film.

China is home to more than 120 endangered wildlife species, and Lu had initially selected 10 for the film. But his list was cropped and among the animals left out was the Asian elephant as it is found in India as well.

For the director, Born in China is not his first animal-themed film.

His award-winning Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (2004) is based on a volunteer patrol that tries to protect endangered Tibetan antelopes from poachers.

But the Disneynature film gave him a new understanding of the craft and filmmaking management.

He found that the main priority of the five teams of photographers, who were each assigned one species, was "not to disturb the animals or the locations".

"Each team had up to 20 people. But, after they completed preparations for the shoot, only the photographer and an assistant would stay on in the wild, with the rest leaving the area," says Lu.

"The cameramen would transmit footage every two or three days if they got some interesting moments. But the editing was a torture," he adds.
South Korean drama Descendants of the Sun becomes a hit with China's online community.[Photo/CFP]

The country's largest online broadcasting platform held a two-day seminar in Beijing called iQiyi World last week to offer a view of the company's ambitions in TV dramas and films.

According to iQiyi, 304 feature-length films were released via the website in 2014, which Yang Xianghua, vice-president of the company describes as the "first year of big films online".

The number climbed to 612 in 2015, and Yang predicts it will surpass 2,000 this year.

"Chinese filmmakers produce about 700 feature-length movies every year, but only about 250 enter the cinemas. So, where will the rest go?" asks Yang, who believes that websites will give them the opening.

As of now, only a certain portion of the money that iQiyi makes from advertisements or paid programs is given to filmmakers. But, no filmmaker earned more than 1 million yuan ($153,500) a film on iQiyi in 2014.

Nevertheless, there were 35 filmmakers in 2015. And, it is estimated more than 200 will earn more than 1 million yuan per film this year.

Explaining the rise in the number of films expected to cross the mark of 1 million yuan, Yang says this is due to improved quality of film making.

"This (the higher earnings) will also lead to bigger-budget films appearing in the web space," he says.

"Before 2015, almost all big online films had budgets less than 1 million yuan, but we believe this year we will see productions costing between 5 million and 10 million yuan."

He also says that the lower cost of distribution online compared with the cinemas will attract major production houses to switch to online distribution channels.

Both online films and drama series are often rapped for focusing mainly on horror, soft porn or supernatural themes which the authorities keep a close eye on.

However, the industry is now eager to shake off this image. For example, iQiyi says it plans to focus on more positive material after paid users on its platform surpassed 10 million in December 2015.

It has since cooperated with South Korean producers to make and release Descendants of the Sun, a military romance which attracted more than 2.6 billion views since its premiere in February, making it the most watched Korean drama broadcast on Chinese websites.
Visitors enjoy calligraphic works at Beijing's Shanshui Art Gallery. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An ongoing exhibition at Beijing's Shanshui Art Gallery is showing dozens of Chinese ink paintings and calligraphic works. More than 300 artworks tell how Chinese artists, both professionals and amateurs, have been translating traditional art forms into a modern context.

The artworks will then tour the United States, Britain and France. Wu Yiping, vice-president of the exhibition organizer American Postal Group, says through the exhibition, they hope to encourage more Chinese artists to present the excellence of Chinese art in the world. The exhibition runs until May 28 and acts as a warmup for an upcoming art blockbuster showing nearly 100 paintings of Picasso at the same venue.
The possibility of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union has been troubling its member states since a referendum was put forth in 2015 in the British Parliament, but the prospect holds broader implications that stretch beyond Western nations, experts believe.

"If Brexit (Britain's exit) takes place in June, China will certainly reconsider some of its long-term investments, because it will not have the access to EU markets as if the UK was a full member of the EU," said Philippe Le Corre, visiting fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution.

Le Corre spoke at a panel discussion on China's overseas investments in Europe at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Monday.

"Particularly, the nuclear project might be questionable," said Le Corre, referring to the Hinkley Point nuclear deal between China and the UK, which President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister David Cameron signed in October 2015.

Hinkley Point would be China's largest inward investment in the history of the UK, with plans to construct at least one nuclear power plant on the Somerset coast and the possibility of two more.

Construction of the first power station, Hinkley Point C, is expected to cost stakeholders $26 billion, create 25,000 jobs and provide enough energy to power 6 million British homes when up and running. China is expected to cover about a third of the cost.

Vital though this nuclear project may be to Chinese outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI), China has various other interests in the region, with OFDI to Europe reaching record highs in 2015.

"If recent trends continue, China will replace Japan as the largest net creditor in the world in the next five years," said David Dollar, senior fellow at Brookings.

According to the Rhodium Group, China has expanded its investments in Europe.

The increasing growth of Chinese OFDI may result in more structured negotiations between China and its European investment targets in the future, something that the US has been keen to establish.

Le Corre said this business of FDI from China is going to take a new step, probably this year, with the signature of a bilateral investment treaty, which is also something that is going on in the US.

Allan Fong in Washington contributed to this story.
Nurses from a hospital in Cangzhou, Hebei province, hold placards that say 'Don't vilify doctors' at an event on Tuesday. The event calls for protection of medical workers and a harmonious relationship between patients and doctors.[Fu Xinchun/For China Daily]

Good doctor-patient relationship requires sound medical system behind it, official says

The top health authority declared that zero tolerance will be shown for people who assault and injure medical personnel, after two doctors were severely injured on Tuesday.

A surgeon in Chongqing was stabbed several times in the face and back by a 19-year-old patient and two of his friends, while another doctor from Jiangxi province was beaten by a patient's family members after the patient died.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said on its website on Tuesday that it will crack down on hospital-related crimes in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security.

All the suspects involved in the two cases were detained by police.

Violence against doctors in China has grabbed public attention in recent days, with discussions about the safety of medical staff.

In Chongqing's Shizhu County Hospital, where the surgeon was stabbed, medical staff went on strike on Tuesday, calling for severe punishment of the perpetrators.

"Trust between patients and doctors in China is facing a crisis, which resulted in the violence," said Gong Xiaoming, a physician who quit a public hospital and now runs a private medical group.

He said medicine is far beyond the knowledge of the public, and people have limited access to reliable medical information explained in simple language.

"A lack of information is behind the conflicts between patients and doctors," Gong said. "Especially in many public hospitals where a doctor has to treat a large number of patients, good service isn't guaranteed. And conflicts are much likely under stress."
A boy eats a chicken leg he found in a garbage landfill in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province on Sept 18. Like him, many children in rural China cannot afford to go to a kindergarten. [Photo/China Daily]

A 14-YEAR-OLD TEENAGER was found dead on April 11 in his bed near a factory in South China's Guangdong province where he and his mother worked, China Youth Daily commented on Wednesday:

The teenager's sudden death is disturbing and disheartening. He (and many of his kind in rural China) dropped out of school early and started working before he reached 16, which is not allowed by China's Labor Law.

Although recruiting underage workers is illegal, companies still do so from time to time, not only because of the lower cost of child labor, but also because migrant workers' appeal to them to employ their children so the families can be reunited.

Worrying about their kids being left unattended during the winter or summer holidays, which can last for months, some migrant workers choose to bring them to the workplace in the cities. This, to some extent, is an acceptable way of sustaining the family bonds, but the youngsters can do little but work as child laborers.

Other so-called left-behind children who quit school at a young age, tend to spend a lot of time playing online games at local internet cafes. Their obsession with virtual reality has a lot to do with both their parents' long absence and the internet cafes' failure to keep them out as required.

It is obvious that the public intervention designed to assist left-behind children, who have easier access to the internet and greater desire for personal wealth and independence, has failed to function. For them, quitting school and working is the only practical choice, partly because higher education is losing its magic in offering them hope of a better life.

The left-behind children in rural regions have become a sore point in China's social governance, and will keep haunting all parties concerned, including their parents and local governments, as many of them have started their adventure of exploring urban life. Of course, they are welcome to study and work in bigger cities, but this teenager's death shows the price they may pay.
This satellite image shows the Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands. [Photo/Xinhua]

The situation in the South China Sea took a worrying turn for the worse on Tuesday after the US guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence conducted another so-called freedom of navigation operation near Yongshu Reef in China's Nansha Islands.

The US is on shaky ground using this justification as internaitonal maritime law never authorizes military vessels any freedom of navigation into territorial waters of another nation.

If the US really cares about the unrestricted flow of goods on the sea, it should refrain from flexing its military muscles on China's doorstep, as this is only raising tensions in the region.

China responded to the latest provocation by deploying two navy fighter jets, one early-warning aircraft and three ships to track and warn-off the US warship. This is an appropriate countermeasure to the challenge to its maritime sovereignty and security.

More resolute measures can be expected in the future as China has reiterated that its resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity is "as firm as a rock".

As the Pentagon steps up its provocations in the Chinese waters, China is left with no choice but to strengthen its countermeasures. The situation is evolving in a worrying way as it is leaving less room for consultation and compromise, and the cycle of tit-for-tat actions risks setting the two countries on a collision course.

Despite being conducted in the guise of the common good, the moves by the US in the South China Sea smack of its arrogance as the world's sole superpower. In essence they are intended to maintain its "unchallenged primacy" in the Asia-Pacific, which the Pentagon fears may be compromised by China's growing economic and military strength.

But that's a misreading of China's intentions.

"The broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and the US," President Xi Jinping once said. China has no intention or interest in vying for dominance with the US in region. But it is wrong to expect it to allow its sovereignty to be threatened.

This has been proved by the history.
"Candidates all want to see how the first exam in Asia turns out. That 'wait-and-see' attitude is the main cause of the sharp decrese in candidates."

Chen Li, a headmaster at a SAT training school, suggests why fewer Chinese candidates are taking the new SAT test.
The five Chinese teachers featured in the BBC documentary Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School. The documentary triggered a heated debate on British and Chinese education methods.

Last week, as I was correcting the midterm exams for my students in the advanced English writing class, I was shocked by the incoherence and illogic in their compositions.

That prompted me to take a moment to reflect upon my teaching experience for the past twelve years in China

My main objective was to come to terms with the reason behind my shock. Logic would lead me to believe that by now I should be accustomed to the poor quality of English writing by Chinese students.

I realized that the reason for my perplexity is the fact that my students were in an advanced English writing class, which means that they were attending the class to polish their writing skills, not to learn the basics.

Bearing in mind the fact they have been learning English for more than 8 years (Most of my students have been studying English for a period that ranges between 8 and 10 years) they should have acquired the fundamentals of English writing including coherence and logic.

Attempting to figure out the reasons behind their failure to follow logic in their writing, I gave them a simple exercise of puzzling out the sequence of events in a short story. Unfortunately, they had a hard time in coming up with the right sequence.

From my years of teaching in China, I learnt that Chinese students are taught to memorize.

In a discussion with foreign professors during a seminar that I attended a few years ago, I was informed that they were aware of the intelligence and diligence of Chinese students. However, they witnessed the misuse of those qualities to become memorizing machines instead of coming to complete comprehension of the subjects through analysis and critical thinking.

To emphasize their points of view, they mentioned that a Chinese student will be able to memorize a whole book yet he/she may not be able to analyze one page of its contents.

Of course, they might have been exaggerating in their assessments of the capacity of Chinese students. However, one must acquire the courage to admit that their evaluations may be partly true.

The fundamental question that should be asked: Do the Chinese methods of teaching foreign languages need an overhaul? Certainly, for the sake of saving the invaluable time of our students, they need to be altered or at least modified.

Is the task of changing the methods of teaching foreign language easy? Not by a long shot. Actually, it needs a great deal of effort and time. However, the rewards are tremendous.

The following important question may creep into our minds: How could we launch an overhaul of the methodology of teaching foreign languages in general and English in particular?

Linguistic experts ought to hold seminars or conferences to discuss the issue in detail in order to come up with an effective and efficient plan to accomplish that task.

The Chinese government and Chinese educational institutions should play essential roles in achieving that objective.

The government could select competent Chinese English teachers to send them abroad in collaborative programs with English speaking countries to advance their comprehension of the English trains of thought and to be familiar with the latest advances in the methodology of teaching English. The same could be done with other foreign languages.

Upon their return to China, they can share their knowledge and experiences with other teachers at their schools, colleges or universities.

Both government and educational institutions could invite foreign linguistic experts to come to China to give workshops to Chinese foreign language teachers.

All middle schools, high schools and universities must put a great deal of emphasis on the importance of critical thinking.

Universities with departments of foreign languages ought to exert every possible effort to be selective in admitting students to the foreign language majors.

They must do their best to choose qualified teachers to educate those students bearing in mind the fact that most of them will become foreign language teachers in the future.

Teachers have to be sufficiently conscientious to allocate time to familiarize themselves with the latest advances in the methodology of teaching foreign languages.

Students have a major responsibility. They must acquire enough courage to get rid of their illogical fear, useless apprehension and utter timidity to be active in class and to make sure that their teachers are fulfilling their responsibilities.

My article was not written to offend anyone. It is intended to open a forum of discussion to improve the quality of education for our students who are the future of our beloved China.
An image of Holiday Inn Express in Shanghai on Jan 7, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Forty percent of employees in Hong Kong's hotels and beverage industries have voiced worries about their career future, according to a recent survey by an industry association.

The city recorded a 15 percent slump in arrivals from the Chinese mainland in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period last year.

Among the respondents to the survey by the Hong Kong Hotels, Food and Beverage Employees Association in April, only 12.5 percent of the employees were optimistic about their jobs and the industry's prospects.

Most of the anxious employees are room attendants, receptionists and catering staff. They fear possible layoffs, saying their companies are firing people and urging workers to use up all the leave they had accumulated, said Barry Kai Hung-chuen, the association's executive officer.

The latest data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board show that the number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong decreased by 15.1 percent in the first quarter. The association estimates that the city will receive 54 million visitors this year, 5 million fewer than in 2015.

The slump in mainland visitors has taken a toll on the three- and four-star hotels whose profits come primarily from mainland tourist groups. According to the association, hotels in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan of the New Territories, Sai Wan of Hong Kong Island and San Po Kong in Kowloon have been seriously affected, with their occupancy rate dropping by nearly 50 percent.

Besides the change of multiple-entry travel permits for Shenzhen residents to one visit per week and a fallen yuan, "we believe a series of uncivilized campaigns against mainland visitors have contributed to the loss", said Yip Lau-ching, secretary-general of the association.

Yip urged society to stop politicizing everything.

"The worsening tourism industry will affect the livelihoods of the 665,000 employees in related businesses," Yip said.

Willa Wu contributed to this story.
[Photo/Xinhua]

Airports in Hebei province will work with railway operators to attract more travelers to the province, airport managers said.

"We are negotiating with China Railway Corp and Beijing Railway Bureau to let more high-speed rail services stop in Shijiazhuang and other Hebei cities that have an airport, which will attract more passengers from neighboring regions to use our airports for their trips," Li Ning, deputy general manager of Hebei Airport Management Holding Co, told China Daily on Tuesday.

Currently, there are 30 high-speed rail routes that stop at Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, Li said, adding that his company also hopes civil aviation authorities will work with the railway company to integrate the air and rail ticket systems, which are now independent, to facilitate passengers.

Wang Yaqi, marketing director at the management company, said five more high-speed rail routes will add a stop at Shijiazhuang Zhengding.

The central government decided in 2014 that civil aviation industries in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei should better coordinate their operations and development. Under an agreement signed in December 2014 by Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Hebei Airport Management Holding, the Beijing airport should be dedicated to mostly international flights while airports in Tianjin and Hebei would handle more domestic service.

The agreement aimed at relieving the heavy burden on Beijing Capital and boosting the growth of Tianjin and Hebei airports.
St. Andrews University in Scotland, the UK. [Photo/IC]

A rising number of Chinese students who aim to further their higher education in the European Union will benefit from an extension of at least nine months of stay after their studies end, according to new rules agreed by the European Parliament on Wednesday.

The new rules, valid for all the students and researchers from non-EU states, are designed to attract more skilled labor for all 28 member states of the bloc, which has a population of about 500 million but is faced with a challenging aging problem.

The harmonised EU entry and residence rules, approved by the European Parliament, has clarified and improved conditions for non-EU interns, volunteers, school pupils and au pairs but they will only be put into force within two years, a transition period to allow the member states to adapt national laws.

Currently, there are more 200,000 Chinese students studying for their higher education in European Union countries and roughly half of them are studying in UK, according to official figures.

"I am very happy to hear about this as now I am seeking to apply for my second masters degree in London and this will allow me more chances to stay longer in UK after my graduation in 2017," said Li Siyu, finance major in Leicester University who would graduate in September.

"So I am crossing my fingers to see if the UK still stays in the EU after the referendum next month and as an EU member, it should observe the new rules."

Currently the UK operates strict rules for graduates from non-EU countries and China Daily has learned that Chinese students are allowed at most two or three months extra after their studies end.

Some Chinese students have to apply for a tourist visa to UK if they plan to attend their graduation ceremony.

Men Jing, professor of the College of Europe in Brugge, Belgium, also welcomed the rule changes, which could help enlarge the talent pool in European countries, because they take into account the serious problem of an aging population.

"I hope this change is attractive for Chinese students as some of them want to find a job here finally," said Men, whose college offers two scholarship for Chinese students on EU-China studies.

But Men is curious as to why the European Parliament has relaxed the policy amid the growing challenges of unemployment and immigration.

Constantine A. Papadopoulos, professor of the American College of Greece welcomed the new EU Directive, which he says comes at a very appropriate time for his university.

"Like many institutions of learning around the world, we have embarked on a drive to attract even more international students because we have the resources and the advantages of a very attractive location," said Papadopoulos.

"We have seen great increases in Chinese tourists to Greece in recent years. Why not solidify this friendly relationship with something more long-lasting? After all, our two countries have strong cultural affinities. It is time we upgraded and modernized them."

According to the new European rules, the students and researchers may stay at least nine months after finishing their studies or research in order to look for a job or to set up a business, which should also ensure that Europe benefits from their skills.

And they may move more easily within the EU during their stay. In future, they will not need to file a new visa application, but only to notify the member state to which they are moving, for example to do a one-semester exchange.

Researchers will also be able to move for longer periods than those currently allowed and have the right to bring their family members with them and these family members are entitled to work during their stay in Europe.

Students will have the right to work at least 15 hours a week, according to the rules.

"I am glad that the EU recognizes the value of attracting highly skilled people to come here and to entice them to stay by creating a harmonized European system applicable in all member states, said European Parliament member Cecilia Wikstrom.

"This undoubtedly means that European universities will be able to strengthen their competitiveness on the global arena and become more attractive than ever to ambitious and highly-educated people from other countries, thanks to considerably improved conditions in the EU", she added.

To contact the reporter: fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
President of the Brazilian Senate Renan Calheiros (R) listens to Senator Aecio Neves during a ssession debating on the voting of the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BRASILIA - The Supreme Court rebuffed a last-ditch bid by President Dilma Rousseff to halt a vote in the Senate on Wednesday that is expected to put her on trial for breaking budget laws and end 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America's biggest country.

If her opponents garner a simple majority in the 81-seat Senate in a session that will last late into the evening, Rousseff will be replaced on Thursday by Vice President Michel Temer as acting president for up to six months during the trial.

There were signs Rousseff was preparing for defeat: she plans to dismiss all her cabinet and has given instructions that there should be no easy transition for a Temer government because she considers her impeachment illegal, presidential aides said.

With a change of government imminent, Temer plans to swear in new ministers on Thursday afternoon, Senator Romero Juca, head of his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), told reporters.

Rousseff, who has been in office since 2011, has seen her popularity crushed by Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s and a two-year probe into a vast kickback scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras.

The prospect of business-friendly Temer taking power has driven Brazilian financial markets sharply higher this year, on hopes he could cut a massive fiscal deficit, restore investor confidence and return the economy to growth.

The political crisis has deepened Brazil's recession and comes at a time when Brazil hoped to be shining on the world stage as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiroin August.

A Supreme Court judge denied an injunction Rousseff sought on Tuesday to halt the Senate vote. Justice Teori Zavascki rejected as "legally implausible" the government's argument that impeachment was flawed because it was started out of revenge by the former speaker of the lower house.

In a momentous session followed by many Brazilians live on television, each senator was given the chance to speak. A final vote could take place after midnight (0300 GMT on Thursday).
NAIROBI - A Chinese research institute said on Wednesday it has commenced discussions with Kenya's wildlife body to explore technical cooperation in the fight against poaching of iconic mammals.

Senior officials from Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) held discussions in Nairobi with their counterparts from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in order to advance strategic technical cooperation in wildlife protection.

Feng Songlin, president of SARI, said provision of appropriate anti-poaching technology will underpin cooperation with Kenya's wildlife body.

"We have conducted research on anti-poaching technologies that would be beneficial to Kenya's wildlife authority," Feng told Xinhua, adding that Sino-Kenya partnership in wildlife protection has reached a new level.

As an affiliate of the Chinese Academy Sciences (CAS), SARI has been at the forefront conducting groundbreaking research that can strengthen biodiversity conservation.

Feng said that SARI and other partners have developed state of the art anti-poaching technology that would help revolutionalize the war against this menace in Kenya and the eastern African region.

"Since 2015, we have been holding discussions with officials from Kenya Wildlife Service and have showcased technologies that could boost anti-poaching activities in the country," said Feng.

He revealed that SARI and partners have developed an all-weather comprehensive anti-poaching vehicle that could help track and report movement of poachers in real time.

"This technology is unique and holistic. It integrates wireless communication and infrared cameras to help detect and report movement of poachers," Feng told Xinhua.

He added that Kenyan and Tanzanian wildlife authorities are keen to acquire the vehicle to halt slaughter of giant mammals for their trophies.

China's support towards anti-poaching initiatives in Kenya has increased since the state visit to the east African nation by Premier Li Keqiang in May 2014.
Women protest against the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff at Paulista avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BRASILIA - Supporters of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff clashed with police outside the Senate on Wednesday ahead of a vote to put her on trial for breaking budget laws, that would mark the end of 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America's biggest country.

If her opponents garner a simple majority in the 81-seat Senate, in a session that will last late into the night, Rousseff will be replaced on Thursday by Vice President Michel Temer as acting president for up to six months during the trial.

After speeches by half of the 70 senators who had registered to speak, 27 had indicated they would vote to put Rousseff ontrial, versus only seven against.

Outside Congress, where a metal fence was erected to keepapart rival protests, about 6,000 backers of impeachment chanted "Out with Dilma" while police used pepper spray to disperse gangs of Rousseff supporters, who hurled flares back. One person was arrested for inciting violence.
The Moranbong Band, an all-female DPRK pop band formed by top leader Kim Jong-un, performs at a celebratory concert marking the end of the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang, DPRK, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held an artistic performance Wednesday to celebrate the just-concluded 7th Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The show was jointly given by the Moranbong Band, Chongbong Band and the state merited chorus, with more than 10,000 people watching including around 3,600 party representatives who took part in the congress, at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium.

Four of the five members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee watched the performance on the podium, except for top leader Kim Jong-un, who was just elected as chairman of the WPK.

The show was presented in two sections, each lasting one hour and a half, with a break of 30 minutes.

A picture of the DPRK leader Kim Jong-un appears on the big screen during a celebratory concert marking the end of the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang, DPRK, May 11, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

When the three art troupes performed the last song together, a picture of Kim was shown on a big screen. The entire audience stood up and gave thunderous applause.

The Moranbong Band was established and named at Kim's request in 2012 and soon became the most widely known and popular light music group in the DPRK.

The state merited chorus was organized by late leader Kim Jong-il and is well known for singing songs that embody the revolutionary spirit of the Juche idea.

The Chongbong Band, composed of seven members, was newly orchestrated in 2015, the creation of which was also attributed to Kim. The band made a public debut in Moscow in early September 2015.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang held a mass rally and parade at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the end of the four-day party congress.

The ruling party's 7th congress opened Friday for the first time in 36 years. It was the first party congress since Kim came to power in late 2011.
China called on the international community on Wednesday to help its ongoing efforts to seize suspected corrupt officials who flee overseas and recover their illicit gains.

The appeal came as the country has launched a new round of the "Sky Net" anti-corruption campaign this year.

China is willing to work more closely with other countries in fields such as information sharing, technology, law enforcement and training to fight graft, Meng Jianzhu, the country's top law enforcement official, said at an international meeting in Tianjin.

"Corruption is a cancer worldwide. To eradicate corruption is the joint mission of all countries and anti-graft agencies," he said at the opening of the Ninth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.

Meng said that thanks to global efforts, more than 1,000 corrupt officials and economic fugitives were brought back to China from overseas last year.

China has deployed a massive crackdown against corruption since the current leadership took office in November 2012.

As part of the crackdown, China launched the Sky Net campaign early last year to bring back suspected corrupt officials hiding abroad and confiscate their ill-gotten assets. A new round was launched last month for 2016.

Anti-graft professionals from more than 70 countries and regions, including China, France, Russia and South Korea, are taking part in the two-day conference.

The association, established in 2006, is the first anti-graft nongovernmental organization initiated by China.

In another effort to strengthen cooperation, a Chinese delegation has arrived in London to attend the Anti-Corruption Summit, scheduled for Thursday, which is aimed at stepping up global action to expose, punish and eradicate graft.

The one-day summit, hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron, will attempt to deal with issues including corporate secrecy, government transparency, enforcement of international anti-corruption laws, and strengthening international institutions, according to organizers.

"Emerging economies such as China and India have a great role to play in combating global corruption by ensuring that their public officials and businesses act with integrity. It is gratifying to see that the leaderships in these countries are committed to fighting corruption and money laundering," said Indira Carr, a professor of law at the University of Surrey.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/12/2016 page1)
California Governor Jerry Brown speaks at the California-China Business Summit on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging for China Week

China and California, the world's second- and eighth-largest economies, have been working at the sub-national level to seek cooperation in areas such as biotech, clean tech, investment and cross-border e-commerce, to boost bilateral trade and investment.

A Chinese delegation of 130 members, including entrepreneurs and government officials, is visiting California. They attended the California-China Business Summit held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where they met their US counterparts.

The Chinese economy has slowed down recently and China has reduced purchases, and all sorts of economic problems have been seen in different parts of the world, which illustrates the interdependency that the countries now have, California Governor Jerry Brown told the the summit.

"In a very profound way, human beings are inclusively tied together by their mutual impact based on what they do," he said. "That's a big problem, because we have so many languages and differences. There's no doubt that leaders in Shanghai see the world differently than the leaders in Washington."

But he noted that through gathering together and business arrangements, "we build that connective tissue to slowly bring the world close together".

In the past three years since the framework of China Provinces-US California Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment Cooperation was founded in 2013, Chinese enterprises have invested in more than 300 new projects, almost half of the total Chinese-invested projects in California, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Liu Jian told the summit.

China has become the largest trading partner of the United States. By the end of 2015, the United States had invested in 66,000 projects in China, and Chinese direct foreign investment (FDI) in the US had reached $46.6 billion, creating more than 90,000 jobs in the US, according to Liu.

"I want to make sure the China relationship with California works in so many ways because I don't want to minimize the dangers in this world today," said Brown. "People will be affected, either positively or negatively, based on how the China-US relationship unfolds over the coming years."

"For our own prosperity we want China to be prosperous, for our own long-term well-being, we want China to advance in the technologies of reducing greenhouse gases, and develop ways to protect our natural environment," he said.

California, the principal trade gateway between the United States and China, has been a key beneficiary of China's economic growth, not only because of China's major market for the state but also because of its increasing investment, according to a whitepaper by the Milken Institute.

"The most dynamic part of the relationship between the two has been the rise of Chinese FDI in California," the whitepaper said.

California has benefited in a major way, seeing Chinese FDI in the state rise from less than $100 million in 2005 to more than $9 billion in 2015, according to the whitepaper.

North American captures only 5 percent of foreign FDI outflow from China, which means California is well positioned to capture a significant increase of Chinese investment in more sophisticated areas such as technology and real estate development, said Kevin Klowden, executive director of Milken Institute California Center.

At the same time, California also provides excellent opportunities for return on investment. Recent high-profile Chinese investments such as Tencent's acquisition of Riot Games, BYD's bus factory, and Greenland USA's new complex in downtown Los Angeles complement China's growing profile in the technology sector, says the report.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
Having received little attention from Chinese companies, New York state is ripe with potential for Chinese investment, even if New York City gets most of the attention of Chinese looking to diversify their overseas portfolios, said Daniel Rosen, founder of the Rhodium Group consultancy.

New York has a history of being a strong manufacturing state in the US, and yet more than two-thirds of upstate New York doesn't have any Chinese business activity.

In 2015, Beijing-based Bohui did acquire Ithaca-based Advion, a life sciences equipment manufacturer, but overall there has not been much investment in upstate New York.

"You've got some [activity] around Buffalo, some around Schenectady and Rochester, but there are a lot of empty investment pockets there, waiting for something to happen," Rosen said on Tuesday at the China Institute in New York.

"Governor Cuomo has given indication that he's aware of this. There's a lot of excitement in upstate Albany about what the governor's office has in mind to try to illuminate what the logic is for more China-New York state investment," he said.

In 2015, New York received $5.4 billion in Chinese investment through 18 deals, but most of that money was funneled into real estate and hospitality and financial services, according to Rhodium figures.

Furthermore, China's job-to-investment ratio in New York is low, because much of the capital spent on real estate and property does not yield jobs. Some prominent real estate deals, however, will lead to construction jobs.

Upstate New York is where manufacturing jobs can be brought back, and the Empire State might have success in emulating a trend that has worked well for the Carolinas in the South. The Carolinas also were predominantly manufacturing states and lost many jobs when manufacturing was outsourced to other countries.

But Chinese companies have helped reverse the trend in recent years, such as Chinese-owned Volvo's announcement to build a new plant near Charleston, South Carolina, and Keer Group's decision to establish a cotton-yarn plant in the state.

"So we know what success needs to look like; New York state can benefit from that as well," Rosen said.

"We have tremendous infrastructure We still have some of the finest engineering, higher education in the world in New York state, and tremendous assets to work with. I won't call them stranded assets, but they're definitely underutilized today," he added.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily 05/12/2016 page2)
The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has grown in numbers and influence in recent years, but there are still challenges to meet if it wishes to play a role in shaping America's future, said US lawmakers.

In selecting May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) gathered for a press conference at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on Wednesday.

"Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial population in the country," said Congresswoman Judy Chu, a Democrat from California and chairwoman of CAPAC. "And as our community continues to grow, it's so important for the AAPI community to understand the importance of exercising our voices."

The Asian American community has historically shown lagging participation in the American democratic process.

"At the 2014 election, only 55 percent of AAPI's were registered voters compared to the national average of 71 percent," said Congresswoman Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York.

"The right to participate in the political process is a powerful tool. If we don't vote, our growing numbers mean nothing in the political process," she said.

The AAPI community is "vastly underrepresented" at all levels of government, said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat from Hawaii.

"This speaks directly to the need for making sure that we have easy and open access to voting, voter registration, and making sure that voter participation actually occurs," she said.

"The divisive rhetoric of this election requires us to come together and reject the idea that Americans can be separated by their race, religion or sexual orientation," said Congressman Mark Takano, a Democrat from California. "And this needs to happen at all levels of politics, from the school board to the White House."

"We've made great strides in the Asian-American community, but there is still a ways to go," said Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California. "My hope is that people get more involved, that they vote, that they take more interest in civics.

Chu is cautiously optimistic about the prospect of growing the AAPI community's political influence.

"AAPIs are going from being marginalized to being the margin of victory," she said. "But in order to make sure we are the margin of victory, we have to get involved, we have to stay involved, and we have to exercise our right to vote."

Allan Fong in Washington contributed to this story.
The ink was barely dry on the new sister state-province agreement between Michigan and Guangdong province when the two regions got down to the business of economic development.

Companies from Michigan and Guangdong engaged in a form of "speed dating" for commerce Wednesday in Detroit at the China (Guangdong)-US (Michigan) Economic & Commerce Forum that was organized by the Department of Commerce of Guangdong province with an assist from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Noting that Michigan already had a significant cluster of Chinese companies in the state  more than 200 representing an investment of over $3 billion  Tony Vernaci, vice-president of the MEDC, said there was room for more cooperation.

"Our focus is on strengthening Michigan's global automotive leadership while also building on an excellent foundation of technology and research and development," he said.

"We have one purpose and that is to promote cooperation between China and Michigan," said Zou Xiaoming, commercial consul of China's Consulate General in Chicago. He noted that the value of trade between China and Michigan now exceeded $12 billion.

After speeches and an official welcome, match-making sessions were set up between companies from Guangdong and Michigan. They were given 30 minutes to see if there was a "match" before moving on to the next session.

"We came here to seek cooperation opportunities in the US," said Tom Tang, CEO of Supude, a division of Dongguan Superduper Group Co Ltd in Guangdong. His company makes cell phone accessories like ear pieces and cases and has annual sales of about $100 million.

Tang said the company wasn't necessarily looking for an export outlet since the market in America was "pretty well saturated".

"We are really seeking any new technology and ideas that we can develop down the road," Tang added.

Gerry Roston is the CEO of Civionics, an Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan startup that makes wireless sensing systems for manufacturers.

"Our system can tell you the current health of your manufacturing system and whether there is or could be a problem down the road," said Roston. "If there is a potential problem, you can determine the best time to shut down production to take care of it and minimize the downtime."

Roston is scheduled to travel to Shanghai next week to meet with a potential investor in China. "I'm really here to learn today," he said. "I want to get as much information as I can before next week."

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
The Singapore-Sichuan Hi-Tech Innovation Park (SSCIP), jointly developed by Singapore and Sichuan province, is looking for investors in the United States, Japan and Europe, mainly in the fields of biomedical sciences and interactive digital media.

Investment promotion trips are already planned for the year, said Kelvin Teo, CEO of Sembcorp Development, one of the shareholders of Sino-Singapore (Chengdu) Innovation Park Development Co Ltd, developer of the SSCIP, at a written interview with China Daily.

Teo said the park will house five main sectors: biomedical sciences, interactive digital media, environmental technologies, high-end manufacturing and assembly and producer services.

Since the inception of the project, 20 companies have made a commitment to set up R&D centers and headquarters, with a total investment of more than 18 billion yuan ($2.95 billion), he said.

The park is also in advanced investment talks with a further eight companies.

Construction work on the park, which is located in the southern part of the Chengdu High-Tech Zone (CDHT) and covers 10.34 square kilometers, began in 2012 and it is expected that all infrastructure will be completed by 2020.
China and the United States held their first senior experts group meeting in Washington on Wednesday to address international standards of state behavior and other crucial issues for international security in cyberspace.

The Senior Experts Group on International Norms and Related Issues, as the meeting is called, is expected to meet twice a year. It is the result of a commitment made by the two countries during President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US last September.

Wang Qun, director general of the department of arms control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Chinese delegation, which included members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security and other institutions.

The US delegation was led by Christopher Painter, coordinator for cyber issues at the Department of State. It included representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, according to a State Department press release.

Cybersecurity was a contentious issue between the two governments before Xi's state visit, when both governments reached a consensus on several key issues.

Joseph Nye, a professor at Harvard University and assistant secretary of defense for international security aff airs from 1994-1995, praised the progress made on cybersecurity during the Xi-Obama summit last September.

He described it as good for international governance in cyberspace at a seminar in Washington.

"When they do the right thing, we ought to give them credit," he said of the diminished cyberattacks from China against US commercial targets.

Chinese sources, however, said months ago that attacks originating from the US have not abated since last September's summit.

During that September summit, the two governments agreed to provide timely responses to requests for information and assistance concerning malicious cyber activities. Both agreed to cooperate with requests to investigate cybercrimes, collect electronic evidence and mitigate malicious cyber activity emanating from their territory.

Both sides also agreed to provide updates on the status and results of those investigations to the other side.

The two governments agreed that neither country's government would conduct or knowingly support cyberenabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors.

Last December, Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun co-chaired the first China- US High-Level Joint Dialogue on Cybercrime and Related Issues in Washington with US Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

The improving relationship between the two countries in cybersecurity has been cited by officials and pundits on both sides as an example of how the two big powers can effectively manage their differences while expanding cooperation.

(China Daily USA 05/12/2016 page1)
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff arrives to a meeting with jurists at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, March 22, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Brazilian Senate on early Thursday voted for an impeachment trial against President Dilma Rousseff, suspending the president from office.Rousseff will be suspended until the Senate submits the case to a final trial, which will happen in up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer will take over in the period.In the impeachment trial, it will take a two-thirds majority to remove Rousseff from the presidency permanently.Analysts say this may not be difficult as the opposition managed to get two-thirds in the first voting.Temer, whose Brazilian Democratic Movement Party recently left the ruling coalition, is seen as a spearhead in the impeachment of Rousseff. Media reports say he has an entirely new Cabinet prepared and intends to make significant changes, shifting the direction of the administration.The president and vice president have yet to make any public statements on the latest developments.The Senate gave the go-ahead to the impeachment trial by 55-22 in the early hours of Thursday after over 20 hours of heated discussion. Different from the session in the House, the Senate session gave supporters a chance to defend the president before the vote.The opposition said the impeachment was necessary. Senator Magno Malta of the Party of the Republic compared the impeachment to a surgical operation."Brazil today is like a diabetic, feverish body, with a leg compromised by gangrene, ready to be amputated. And the logic is this: if we amputate the leg, we save the body; by not amputating the leg, we compromise the entire body," he said.Senator Angela Portela from the ruling Workers' Party said the impeachment was not logical as it was based on alleged mistakes made in last year's accounts. She also warned about the social impact."We will be removing a victorious government proposal and a generous project to redesign our society, a project which foresees inclusion, protection of minorities, reduction of inequalities and economic growth with justice," she said."It is not fair to do what they are doing to the Brazilian democracy. They are not taking down President Dilma. They are taking down popular vote," said Joao Viana, another senator of the Workers' Party.
Chen Mengzhu delivers her speech at the first round of the International Public Speaking Competition in London , May 12, 2016. [Photo by Cecily Liu/chinadaily.com.cn]

Winners of the China Daily-organized 21st Century Coca-Cola Cup National English Speaking Competition put up a strong fight at the first round of the International Public Speaking Competition in London on Thursday.

Wang Xiwen, 17, a high school student at Shanghai Foreign Language School, and Chen Mengzhu, 19, a second year student of New York University Shanghai, impressed audience and judges with their speeches, delivered with fluency, confidence and impact.

Chen's speech addressed the importance of focusing on solutions for pollution, and Wang spoke about the benefits of thinking positively. Contestants give 5 minute speeches, followed by questions from the audience.

This international competition is hosted by the non-profit organization English Speaking Union, with about 50 outstanding participants from 48 countries coming to London to compete. The list of participants for Friday's semi-finals will be announced on Friday morning.

The outstanding performance of the Chinese students at the international competition coincides with the growing trend of Chinese students' increasingly dedicating their time to English learning.

The China leg of the competition, the "21st Century Cup," was started in 1996 by China Daily. Liu Xing, and Xia Peng, China's national champions in 1996 and 2005 respectively, have also won the international competition.

Jane Easton, director general of ESU, said that Chinese contestants' speech standards are very high. She added that the international public competition is very important for the work of ESU, which supports the improvement of English speech globally, which is particularly useful in sectors involving international cooperation, like business, the internet, the arts and education. "English can become the language that brings together countries who may not share each other's languages," she said.

Michael Yip, one of the judges, said the quality of the Chinese contestants' speeches were "as good as anywhere else in the world". "A long time ago you'd see a large disparity for the quality of English in China, but now people are so good at public speaking that they'll perform just as well (as other countries' speakers) in competitions like this," said Yip.

Xia, the competition's 2005 champion, who now acts as the leader for the Chinese contestants' delegation, said the international public competition greatly helps Chinese students to learn English in a way that emphasizes communication, so they can put what they learn in the classroom into practice.

Xia met with the two Chinese contestants in London a week before the competition, and led five training sessions with them during the week. The sessions worked towards creating a good theme for the competition, question answering skills and techniques, and delivery skills.

"Doing well in a competition like this is not just about speech content. Delivery, in knowing when to slow down and when to push forward one's message strongly are key to making an impact, which is the purpose of making a speech," Xia says.

In addition, the technique of incorporating China specific context into one's speech is highly recommended, according to Xia. "If the purpose of the speech is to make an impact, it's then recommended that students share with an international audience what is already familiar to them."

Chen said she felt it is a great honor to participate in the competition. "I really enjoyed meeting my fellow contestants, who are young people from all over the world, and hearing more about their perspectives on life." During the same week of the competition, the contestants went on an excursion to see more of London, including visits to the House of Parliament, British Broadcasting Corporation's TV studios and Hampton Court Palace.

"I used to think that coming to a competition like this would mean I need to choose between either working hard towards winning or being able to enjoy the process, but this trip allowed me to realize I can do both," said Chen.

Wang is in London accompanied by her mother Wang Yue and father Qian Zhongqi, who are proud to see their daughter's performance. Wang said her daughter has always been a high achiever at school and handles her own academic and extracurricular activities well, therefore she rarely needed to worry.

"We are in London to support our daughter, to help her feel she is not alone in this competition. She said she is glad to have us in the audience, as it boosts her confidence," Wang said.

To contact the reporter: cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com




This satellite image shows the Yongshu Jiao of China's Nansha Islands. [Photo/Xinhua]

China enjoys widespread support among the international community for its decision not to accept or take part in a case initiated by the Philippines over the South China Sea, according to a senior diplomat.

Beijing does not feel isolated and has always been a firm defender and practitioner of international law, the diplomat said on Thursday.

Xu Hong, director-general of the Department of Treaty and Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a news conference in Beijing, "Many countries ... are hyping this issue up, but no matter how loud their voices are, they still represent a minority of countries in the world."

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague regarding its disputes with Beijing over the South China Sea. A ruling by the court is expected soon.

In recent months, Beijing has received increased backing from the international community for its stance on the South China Sea, with more than a dozen countries' top diplomats agreeing that related disputes should be resolved through negotiations by countries directly concerned, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Xu said on Thursday that the tribunal on the South China Sea has no jurisdiction, as the issue concerns territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

"The tribunal has no jurisdiction over the arbitration, so any decision made by such an institution is not legally binding, and there is no such thing as recognition or implementation of its ruling," Xu said.

Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said, " The Philippines aims to harm the global image of China.

"The court ruling will stir a new wave of tension in the South China Sea."

Joseph Matthews, director of the ASEAN Education Center, said the Philippines' unilateral attempt at arbitration over the South China Sea dispute is fundamentally flawed as the arbitration tribunal has no jurisdiction over the dispute.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
KIGAL -- Huawei,a Chinese Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution provider, announced Thursday plans to expand safe city solutions in Africa, providing ICT-based security systems to help in incident prevention, emergency response and evidence collection.

Eman Liu, President of Huawei Enterprise Business in Eastern and Southern Africa Region, announced this at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Kigali.

According to Liu, safe city solution is part of smart city, a combination of different ICT solutions like wireless network (broadband), smart phones, cloud computing.

Liu said that Huawei wants to partner with the African country government to introduce the safe city solutions in the continent.

Huawei already provided safe city solutions in Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Mombasa since last year.

Rwandan capital Kigali has also adopted the Smart Kigali initiative, supported by Huawei, which aims at modernizing the lifestyle of Kigali City dwellers and visitors through use of ICT.
(Photo : Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Microsoft Corporate Vice President Panos Panay introduces a new tablet titled the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 at a media event for new Microsoft products on Oct. 6, 2015 in New York City.

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Consumers who have been waiting for the arrival of Microsoft Surface Pro 5 may need to extend their patience further as the previously rumored 2016 release date might not happen anymore.



According to a report by Yibada, Microsoft is yet to unveil the update to Windows 10.



Pending the availability of Redstone 2, the upcoming biggest upgrade to Windows 10, the highly-anticipated portable computer would not be around as well.



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Accordingly, such update is of high importance considering that it is expected to bring about exceptional changes by way of adding new capabilities to the operating system while enhancing the existing features found in the predecessors of new device.



Given the anticipated enhancement via Redstone 2, the report claimed in its gathered rumors that the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 model would be the "best way to showcase" of how "compelling" Windows 10 would eventually become.



Apart from the speculated reason behind the delay of the upcoming model's arrival was the release of Intel's Kaby Lake, the preferred processing chip of Microsoft for its top-of-the-line products.



Based on the report, the successor of Sky Lake would only be commercially ready during the last part of 2016, which makes it impossible for Microsoft to incorporate it right away into the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 unit to meet the rumored 2016 release date.



However, despite the fact that consumers may need to wait a little longer, they are guaranteed of an awesome-performing portable device from the American company.



With Redstone 2 and Kaby Lake coupled with Ultra HD 4K display and USB 3.1, users would reportedly enjoy the benefits of having decided to wait for the coming of Microsoft Surface Pro 5, rumors pointed out.







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TagsMicrosoft Surface Pro 5 Rumors, Microsoft Surface Pro 5, Microsoft, Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date, Kaby Lake, Redstone 2
(Photo : Getty Images.) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday Termed China's recent moves in disputed South China Sea as 'counterproductive.'

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is on fire after Panama papers document leak linked his financial transactions to a Russian gold mine.



Australian Financial Review broke the news that the Panama papers named Australia's top government leader as one of the former directors of a company set up by law firm Mossack Fonseca to develop a $20 million Siberian gold mine as early in 1993.



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The news, however, reports that "there is no suggestion (Turnbull) had acted improperly," despite his name being included in the leaks.



The news couldn't have come at a right time last Thursday morning now that election campaign is getting tougher. Cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos -also facing issues related to political donations - who spoke on behalf of Turnbull on ABC radio.



"Can you hear that noise behind me? That's the noise of a dead horse being flogged," Sinodinos said of the "20-year-old matter."



Turnbull has established for himself a successful career as a merchant banker, being a business partner of former New South Wales premier Neville Wran.



Turnball is just one of the high profile personalities indicted in the Panama Papers leaks. Iceland's prime minister had to resign from his post after his name was dragged on the scandal. British Prime Minister David Cameron is now riding the tough tides after his father's implication on the scandal. He already opened his tax records at the height of his father's business activities.



Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said when asked on ABC News Breakfast that Turnbull can well manage the issue.



"Our PM clearly has questions to answer, we've got the British PM David Cameron who stands up and does full interviews about his father's economic arrangements but we've got a PM who now seems to have some very sharp questions to answer," she said.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Periscope viewers witnessed a tragedy, as a woman in France live-streamed herself jumping in front of a train.

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In a disturbing application of technology, a 19-year-old French woman used live-steam service Periscope to film herself committing suicide near Paris on Tuesday.



The suicide was the culmination of almost two hours of live broadcasts, in which the woman built suspense up to the tragic end.



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"I have reached the point where nothing pleases me. Nothing can make me want to get up in the morning," said the woman, who called herself Oceana.



A French newspaper reported she said that at about 4 p.m. those watching would "see something."



The woman shot the final video as she jumped in front of a train at Egly station at 4:29 p.m.



According to a text the woman sent a friend, the cause of her distress was her ex-boyfriend, who she claimed had raped her.



Periscope, a company owned by Twitter, removed the video. However, French authorities are attempting to obtain the footage.



Investigators also talked to the victim's family, who the New York Times reported "described her as being psychologically fragile."



This is not the first instance of Periscope being used for live-streaming horrific events. There have been multiple rapes and assaults broadcast.



In May an 18-year-old woman filmed what appeared to be the rape of her 17-year-old friend in Ohio. The prosecutor said that the woman streamed the alleged crime because she "got caught up in the likes" from viewers on Periscope.



Another incident in Bordeaux, France involved two teenagers filming themselves attacking an intoxicated man.



Technology researcher Thomas Husson told the New York Times that these occurrences were bound to happen.



"It would be very difficult to prevent such events from happening," Husson said. "We now live in a dictatorship of real time."



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TagsPeriscope, Twitter, France, Suicide, Paris, Egly station, ohio periscope rape
(Photo : Getty Images) Beijing and Washington are set to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the current global security situation, missile defense and several other topics.

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Officials from China and the United States will meet on Thursday in Washington D.C. for a security cooperation meeting, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.



Lu Kang, China's foreign ministry spokesman, said US and China will partake in the eighth Consultation on Strategic Security and Multilateral Arms Control in the US capital to discuss the status of China-US security situation, among other concerns.



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"We hope this consultation will promote strategic mutual trust and contribute to building a new type of major-country relations between China and the United States," Lu said.



Lu told the press that Chinese vice foreign minister Li Baodong and US undersecretary of state Rose Gottemoeller would co-chair the meeting



He said the two nations will discuss a whole gamut of security issues which include the current world security situation, global nuclear governance, outer space safety, missile defense, and China-US security cooperation.



US-China shaky relations



Meanwhile, a Chinese senior official said Beijing and Washington need to talk more often and reaffirm their commitments to build closer ties amid worrisome perceptions of shaky relations between both nations.



Fu Ying, chairwoman of the National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee, called on China and the US to reaffirm their solidarity by doing more talking and closing the gap between negative global perception of China-US relations and the reality that ties are closer than ever.



She said that despite the growing economic partnership between the two nations, as well as their mutual cooperation on important global issues such as the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, experts in the US have predicted that with the current speed China is going in its economic and political affairs, conflict between the two sides is inevitable.



"The need for cooperation and the impact of competition are both growing. The gap between perceptions and real life may reflect the need to rebuild consensus," Fu said on Tuesday at a seminar at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.



Deteriorating



Fu said China and the US have accomplished so much in terms of strengthening their bilateral relations, but some naysayers have consistently said that ties between the two sides are deteriorating.



She said the leaders of China and the US hold meetings semiannually and China has become the US' largest trading partner on a monthly basis. Around five million people traveled between the two nations last year, and the two sides came to together to push for the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change.



Fu said that although there is a large number of 'optimistic voices' on China-US relations in Washington, there are also some who believe that the US' "constructive engagement" policy pursued by past Washington administrations needs to be reviewed.



Friendly moments



"In the past 30 years, we had friendly moments, but never very close; we had problems, but the ties were strong enough to avoid derailing. Now we are at a high level, and if we work together, we are capable of making a difference in the world, but if we fight, we will bring disaster to the world," Fu said.



Fu said the US has been sending 'confusing' messages sometimes as reflected in its reluctance to acknowledge China's accomplishments such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).



Part of the risks involved in strengthening bilateral ties between the two sides is the current tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, she pointed out.



Fu emphasized that the US has committed blatant provocations to China's sovereignty in recent years after Washington launched its 'pivot to Asia" policy. She added that disputes over controversial issues between the two countries have been exploited.



Fu said the two countries should seriously think about Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal that the China and US should avoid conflict as they move towards a new model of major country relations, respecting each other's sovereignty.


(Photo : John Moore/Getty Images) A young girl has been abducted on the streets in Sichuan Province.

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A young Chinese girl has been abducted in western China, according to her mother.



The three-year-old girl from Chongqing had traveled with her mother named Yang Qian for a visit to her grandmother in Nanchong, Sichuan province, the West China City Daily reported. They were out for a morning walk in the neighborhood when the abduction occurred, Yang told the police.



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According to Yang, she was taking her daughter for a walk on a nearby street when a woman in a vehicle approached them to ask for directions. Failing to understand the woman's dialect, Yang told her to look for another person to ask.



Yang explained that while they were conversing, the woman touched her daughter. "Why did she touch me just now?" Yang quoted her child. After this, Yang said she remembered being hit on the head, consequently she lost her consciousness.



Yang said she woke up a few hours later and had to locate her purse and mobile phone before she could inform the police of the incident. She said the woman appeared to be in her 40s and was riding a white van without a licensed plate.



The police are currently investigating the matter.



Abductions



Kidnappings, such as Yang's, could be stopped when quick intervention - or an error from the culprit's end - is made, as seen in a foiled abduction attempt reported last month.



The suspected kidnapper, a 25-year-old man, was caught by security guards after he attempted to kidnap the seven-year-old daughter of a businessman from Lanzhou in Gansu province.



He followed the girl as the latter went out of school to have lunch at home. Once there, the man abducted the girl and put her inside his backpack. However, before leaving the residential building where he abducted the child, he texted the girl's father and demanded a ransom of 100,000 yuan (about $15,388).



The girl's family immediately informed the building's management of the incident. The management then quickly dispatched security guards to block all exits.



The guards found the man hiding in a maintenance room. They also found the girl unconscious inside the backpack.



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TagsNanchong, Yang Qian, Sichuan, abduction, Kidnapping, Chongqing
(Photo : Wikipedia) Wolves still suffer from slower population growth rates due to legalized hunting.

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A new study reveals how legalized hunting of wildlife may not necessarily reduce poaching activities. Many worldwide governments and organizations resort to the legalization of hunting under controlled regulations to fight illegal hunting, however, researchers say that this approach may not be efficient in eradicating of illegal hunting trends.



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According to co-author of the study, Guillaume Chapron of the Grimso Wildlife Research Station under the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, governments have succumbed to killing in an attempt to conserve wildlife, tin order to justify this act. In this new study, there is no scientific support behind this approach and so-called solution.



By analyzing data based on protection policy changes for carnivores in the United States, especially the growth rate of wolves, this helped them create a model revealing that controlled and legalized hunting already significantly affected wolf populations in Michigan and Wisconsin in recent years.



More specifically, researchers observed slower rates in the population growth of these wolves, in a repetitive pattern. Due to legalized hunting, their growth rate only became 12 percent from 16 percent.



Researchers claim that there are no natural factors to consider, where they believe that the most likely driving force for slower population growth rates is due to poaching. They also observed that during the time when there are hunting policy changes, poaching activities even increased.



These new findings also suggest that the legalizing of wolf hunting also depicted a total loss of regard to the iconic status of the creature, of America's rich wildlife. These results also predict that the government may totally remove restrictions on poaching, which could mean a losing end for conservation efforts.



Apart from wolves, Chapron also says that those wildlife affected by legalized hunting are similar carnivores as well, such as the lynx, wolverines and mountain lions.



The most recent example of this threat is the possible delisting from the endangered species list of the American grizzly bear in the Yellowstone region and nearby states, which could lead to controlled hunting even if the iconic bear has not yet fully recovered, with only less than 700 individuals in the U.S.



This new study is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal.



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Tagswolves, wildlife conservation, poaching, legal hunting, endangered species, US, wildlife
(Photo : Getty Images) A Chinese steel worker walks past steel rods at a plant on April 6, 2016 in Tangshan, Hebei province, China.

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With growing problems linked to China's so-called 'zombie' companies, authorities have announced that a detailed plan will soon be released to lessen overcapacity.



According to China's economic planner and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the plan will support banks to impose differentiated credit laws to firms across various fields.



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Also, there will be an agreement between banks and firms to differentiate inquiries and give efficient financing services.



Under the new guidelines, more support will be provided to companies that are starting or upgrading to traditional ones. Moreover, financial establishments will be encouraged to provide long-term loans to tech companies, tech equipment factories and other industries.



However, the new guidelines also stipulate that loans to 'zombie' companies that have suffered continuous losses or have remained unpaid will be withdrawn or cut off.



China's industrial firms (aluminum, paper, and steel) have reported gross overproduction capacity problem, soaring as high as 13 percent in 2015 from just 0 percent in 2007.



Earlier this year, China vowed to clean up these 'zombie' companies by 2020. Zhang Yi, the chairman of China's Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's (SASAC), said the agency will fix the growing problem of unviable 'zombie' companies over the next three years, according to Reuters.



In September 2015, the Chinese government rolled out an ambitious plan to reform these companies through "mixed ownership" promotion as well as merging and acquisition encouragements.



Zhang Xiwu, SAAC's deputy head, also said China plans to centralize state-owned capital to key markets and restrict investments that are incongruent with the existing national standards.



These 'zombie' companies, which are indebted businesses, are only surviving with the help of the government and banks. Although these are generating cash revenues, these companies only have funds enough to pay off the interest on their loans and not the capital debt itself.



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TagsZombie companies, china
(Photo : Getty Images) Beijing said on Wednesday that Taiwan will have to take complete responsibility for any impending crisis resulting from strained Cross-Strait ties.

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The incoming Taiwanese government will have to bear the blame for any impending crisis with China, Beijing said on Wednesday as it braces for pro-independent president Tsai Ing-wen to take charge of the island nation next week.



"If there are those who are unclear on this point, or are offering encouragement from the wings, this is really not a sensible act," spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office Ma Xiaoguang said. "We must repeat, if there is deadlock across the Taiwan Strait, or if there is a crisis, the responsibility will be on the heads of those who change the status quo."



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The latest warning from China comes after Taiwan accused Beijing of interfering to undermine its World Health Organization (WHO) 'observer status' earlier this week. China had raised doubts over Taiwan's ability to keep its WHO observer status.



Beijing maintains that Taiwan's participation in the WHO is solely based on its acceptance of the "one China" principle.



A telephone fraud scandal last month highlighted the strained relationship between the two countries. The Kenyan government deported dozens of Taiwanese nationals to China, infuriating officials in Taipei.



Taiwan demanded the immediate release of all the deportees. However, China rejected the demand and prosecuted the deportees according to China's law.



China has warned against secessionist plans in Taiwan since pro-independent leader Tsai Ing-wen earned a sweeping victory of the country's presidential election in January. President Xi Jinping has warned Taiwan against any secessionist movement and demanded that Taipei must accept 'One China' principle.



Tsai Ing-wen is yet to make an official statement on 'One China' principle since winning the presidential election in January. However, her party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officially does not recognize the principle.



The 'One China' principle, also known as 1992 Consensus, signifies that both Mainland China and Taiwan are essentially part of 'one China.'



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Tagschina, Taiwan, Tsai Ing-we, China and Taiwan, One China principle
(Photo : Getty Images) Baidu's profits have slumped over the past few years as Chinese internet regulators have cracked down internet advertising.

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Baidu Inc. is planning to overhaul its business model, shifting from its current search oriented model to one that focuses on 'artificial intelligence.'



Baidu CEO Li Yanhong said in a company's internal letter on Tuesday that this change will help the company to develop new products in areas such as search, automatic translation, and driverless vehicles. Industry observers say that the shift in business model will likely affect the company's short-term profitability.



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Li also promised to put more emphasis on user experience and set up a department to weed out any action or behavior that damages its user' experience.



"The department will have the final say to veto any behavior that is not in line with a good user experience," Li said in the internal letter. "Some of the measures we take may have a negative impact on the company's income. But I believe it is the right thing to do."



Li's pledge to root out questionable behavior comes amid an ongoing probe over the death of a 21-year-old college student. The student died last month after undergoing experimental treatment in a medical facility that was advertised on Baidu.



Following this incident, China's Cyberspace Administration ordered Baidu to overhaul its paid search result by the end of this month.



Many analysts see this as a major setback for the search engine giant as the company's profit, and revenue is expected to take a great hit.



This is not the first time that Baidu has been grilled by Chinese authorities. Earlier this year, the search engine giant came under scrutiny for manipulating search results and disseminating pornographic ads on its site.



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Tagschina, Baidu, Li Yanhong, Chinese Search Engine Gaint
(Photo : China Photos/Getty Images) A Chinese nurse climbed out the second floor window of a hospital to stop a patient from committing suicide this week.

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A nurse in western China stopped a patient from jumping to his death on Tuesday by climbing out of the window to push him back.



The patient, an elderly man, was suffering from serious lung diseases, according to Chengdu Business Daily. He was receiving treatment from a hospital in Chengdu in Sichuan province when he tried to kill himself by jumping from the window in his second-floor room. He tried to do this as he thought that he would not recover from his illness.



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A security guard saw the patient attempting to jump and rushed in to pull him back to safety. The nurse, 26, saw them and quickly rushed to help. She climbed out the window and positioned herself on a ledge while holding the elderly man's arm.



Others also helped to pull the patient back to safety.



The nurse told the newspaper that she was focused on ensuring the patient's safety, and did not think of her own safety as she rushed to help.



Daring Rescues



Public servants in China have been risking their lives to ensure the safety of the general public. Earlier this month, rescuers in eastern China were able to prevent a woman from jumping off her fifth floor flat by kicking her back in.



The unidentified woman was perching on the window of her flat in Xuzhuo in Jiangsu province on May 4. Photos of the incident showed that she was visibly upset and holding rat poison in her hands. Responding to the situation, rescuers quickly entered her flat to persuade her to refrain from jumping.



Meanwhile, another team of rescuers went up one floor higher. Once there, one of the rescuers went out from a window directly above the woman. Securing himself using a rope held by other rescuers, the rescuer then jumped down to kick the woman back to safety.



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TagsChengdu, Sichuan, nurse, Suicide, lung disease, elderly
(Photo : YouTube) The Xiaomi Mi5S could hit the market soon.

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The privately owned Chinese electronics company, Xiaomi, is a relatively new player in the smartphone market. Recently, the company unveiled and made available the latest handset in their flagship smartphone line, the Mi 5. Announced in February, the Mi 5 has been one of the sought after device at present. There is, however, a question of how the latest Xiaomi phone compares to phones from more established brands like Samsung.



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So how does the Xiaomi Mi 5 compare one of Samsung's best offerings - the Samsung Galaxy Note 5?



Specifications



According to Techno Buffalo, the Mi5 runs on the Snapdragon 820 processor. It is equipped with a 3000 mAh battery, 4GB of Ram and up to 128 GB of storage. The phone also boasts of a formidable 16MP rear camera and is equipped with a finger print reader.



On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is powered by an Exynos 7420 processor. Like the Xiaomi Mi 5, the Samsung phone has 3000 mAh battery and 16MP camera. The Samsung Note 5 however has an expandable memory limited to 32GB to 64GB.



Design



The design for the Mi 5 is not a far cry from Xiaomi's recently released Mi Note. It has a metal frame which comes in white, gold and black.



According to Know Your Mobile, aesthetically, the Note 5 is an improved version of the Note 4. It features a curved glass rear panel similar to the design of the Galaxy S6 Edge.



Pricing



Like the Mi Series Handsets, the Mi 5 goes for $305-$450, depending on storage capacity. The pricing of Mi 5 is significantly lower than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, which goes for $540.



Xiaomi, the Beijing based brand, has since produced a variety of smartphone and tablet lines including the Mi series, Mi Note series, MiPad, and RedMi Series. The company has also ventured into manufacturing blood pressure monitors, air purifiers, action camera and other smart home products. In 2015, the company announced that they have sold a whopping $70 million handsets - making them the second largest Chinese smartphone manufacturing after Huawei.



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Tagsxiaomi mi5, Xiaomi Mi5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 5, Xiaomi vs Samsung
Christians in Iraq baffled at how U.S. can find water on mars but not ISIS in the desert 12 May, 2016 by Samuel Smith/CP , |

WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner)  A Chaldean priest who oversees hundreds of Iraqi Christian refugees displaced by the Islamic State says Iraqi Christians blame the United States government for not protecting them and their ancient communities from being conquered by the barbaric terrorist group.

Father Douglas al-Bazi, who runs the Mar Elias Church and displacement center in Ainkawa, is in the U.S. this week to raise awareness about the plight facing hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians who are forced to live as refugees after IS [also known as ISIS or ISIL] overtook their homes and villages in the Nineveh plains of Iraq in 2014.

Bazi, who is originally from Baghdad and was kidnapped from his church and tortured for days by Islamic militants in 2006, shared his story with a group of reporters and writers in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday and discussed the Iraqi Christian community's aggravation with the U.S. government.

While President Barack Obama was calling IS the "JV team" and ignored "very, very clear" warnings about the rise of dangerous radical extremists groups in Iraq following the U.S. military's complete withdrawal from the country in 2011, IS seemingly had little trouble conquering Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, and large swaths of territory in Northern Iraq in the summer of 2014.

As IS conquered Christian and Yazidi towns in Northern Iraq, many Yazidis and Christians were forced flee their homelands or risk being killed for their faith. It wasn't until IS began making its way toward the Kurdish town of Erbil later that year that the U.S.-led coalition finally started its airstrike campaign against the militant organization.

Bazi explained that the timing of the airstrike campaign has left many religious minority refugees wondering why the U.S. did not act sooner to save their own villages.

"When the Islamic State attacked, no one took action until the Islamic State arrived to Erbil. [It wasn't until then] when the Americans started bombing the Islamic State," Bazi said in broken English. "So the Yazidis and Christians, they ask why America just helped those people and they forget about us? Also another group called Shabak, they had the same feeling."

As it emerged in September 2015 that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had discovered water on Mars, many around the world celebrated the discovery. However, that discovery left suffering Iraqi Christians families who are living in 10-by-15-foot iron containers in the Mar Elias displacement center with a sour taste, Bazi said.

"My people, they [ask why] NASA can find water on Mars but they were not able to find the Islamic State [when] they were just in the middle of desert by hundreds, [with] Toyota cars everywhere," Bazi explained. [They were] just in the middle of the desert and [the U.S.] was not able to find them by satellite. This is a disappointment."

Although the U.S. State Department designated IS' treatment of Christians and others in Iraq and Syria as a genocide in March, the U.S. has done very little since then to provide help for the suffering Christian refugee communities in Erbil, Bazi said.

"My people blame America for what has happened. [The] genocide [designation] was the first time the Americans said, 'We care,'" Bazi stated. "But caring means more than words. It means taking action for my people."

A humanitarian source close to the situation in Iraq said that although millions of dollars in foreign government aid is being sent, very little to none of that money is going to help Christians and other religious minorities because the money is being funneled through the Iraqi government and not given directly to the agencies and organizations providing for the refugees.

The source added that most of the funds used to help support the Christian refugees are being funneled through churches and dioceses who are working with them directly.

Additionally, Christians in Iraq and Syria are largely overlooked for resettlement in the U.S. The U.S. relies heavily on resettling refugees who register with United Nations refugee camps. However, most Christians avoid registering with U.N. camps due to fear of being persecuted by Muslims.

Bazi added that once IS is defeated, he doesn't believe many Christians will want to go back to their homes and villages, knowing what has happened in those places.

"For sure, our people are not ready to go back," Bazi said. "Maybe they go back for one reason  just to sell their houses."

In order to give the Christians and other religious minorities confidence that things will be different in a post-IS Iraq, Bazi stresses that the Constitution that was passed in 2005 during the U.S. occupation must be changed.

"Our constitution actually it is Part 2 of Quran," Bazi argued. "The Western country when they looked at our Constitution, they read just the first part, that it is based on democracy. They say, 'Oh yea, that's good,'" Bazi explained. "But they ignore the other point [that states] you cannot have any law against Shariah and Quran. That makes me forget about the first part [about democracy]."

The Iraqi constitution does in fact state in Section 1, Article 2: "No law may be enacted that contradicts the established provisions of Islam."

This article published by the Christian Post and used with permission.
COMMENTARY: Can fighting global warming save your soul? 12 May, 2016 by James Wanliss , |

INDIA (Christian Examiner)  What does it take to be a good person? Different cultures have different answers.

The floors of Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India, heave as masses of fat rats clamber to get to food offered by devout Hindu worshippers. Feed the rats, sight a white rat, or eat food discarded by rats, and you will be blessed. You are doing good just by being there. But if you accidentally step on a rat it is a grievous sin. Only the purchase and offering of an expensive golden rat statue offers hope of forgiveness.

Westerners may scoff at such superstition, but are they so different?

Ask yourself, are you a good person if you plant trees once in a while and stop kids from teasing animals? It is not enough.

From President to movie actor to kindergarten teacher the storyline is that we have a moral duty to save the planet from runaway global warming. Various tangible sacrificesgood deedsare demanded as evidence of true devotion to the cause.

It is certainly a paradigm shift when it becomes culturally normal to ask, as one website does, "Can you save the earth by simply wiping?" Do such acts as using only two squares to clean up after a toilet visit, or driving a hybrid car, or not driving at all make a person good?

You know you are part of a cultural phenomenon when the notorious South Park television show pokes fun at the new religion of green. In one episode a deadly attack of Smug afflicts the little mountain town whose residents all drive a hybrid vehicle called the Pious.

James Hansen, the Dr. Strangelove of global warming, and a space physicist like myself, piously told Supreme Master Ching Hai: "Be veg, go green, save the planet." Groovy.

Surely men like Hansen are much too sophisticated and cosmopolitan to be seduced by ancient pagan superstition and nature worship. It is not as if he is calling for rat worship. To be sure the environmentalist movement is far too broad and nuanced to be allured by pagan religion alone. Nevertheless, in a palpable way environmentalism provides the foundation of an alternative religion for those who reject the uniquely Christian view of humans as the image of God.

Politicians command devotion to Mother Earth, movie stars scold, and the media wrings its hands in despair. In Los Angeles, James Cameron said of his blockbuster Avatar, "Look, at this point I'm less interested in making money for the movie and more interested in saving the world." Cameron sees his work as a charitable donation, like Christians see their tithes as a way to support the propagation of the gospel. "Some percentage of the presumably-massive 'Avatar' sequel gross will go to charity," Cameron said in an interview. "Fox has partnered with me to donate a chunk of the profits to environmental causes that are at the heart of the 'Avatar' world."

Radical environmentalism has become, as Al Gore dreamed in his Nobel Prize speech, "the central organizing principle of the world community." It is a religion with a vision of sin and repentance, heaven and hell. It even has a special vocabulary, with words like "sustainability" and "carbon neutral." Its communion is organic food. Its sacraments are sex, abortion, and when all else fails, sterilization. Its saints are Al Gore and Leo DiCaprio.

Guilt ridden? Well, now people with money to burn can buy indulgences just as in the medieval Roman Church. Forgiveness for sins is only a carbon offset away.

It is possible to calculate the extent of one's sins online. According to TerraPass, over the past three years my weekly driving has resulted in about 5,224 pounds of CO 2 a year, and for a mere $29.95 I can buy an indulgence that will offset the environmental impact of my reckless, indeed sacrilegious, lifestyle.

These carbon offsets will do as little for the salvation of the world as indulgences would for my soul. But for people with a desperate spiritual hunger, they are both panacea and penancea promise of guilt-free living and a purpose-driven life. Rat's chance to that.

Perhaps we should remember what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:2023 about asceticism and apply it to this issue:

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used)according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

James Wanliss, Ph.D., is Professor of Physics at Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C. He is a Senior Fellow and Contributing Writer for The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, and author of Resisting the Green Dragon: Dominion, Not Death. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed physics articles, has held the NSF CAREER award, and does research in space science and nonlinear dynamical systems under grants from NASA and NSF.
Italy defies Vatican to allow gay unions 12 May, 2016 by Isla Binnie , |

ROME (Reuters)  Italy's parliament approved same-sex civil unions and gave some rights to unmarried heterosexual couples on Wednesday after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called a confidence vote to force the bill into law.

Italy is the last major Western country to legally recognize gay couples and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzi's ruling majority.

The bill had faced stiff opposition from Catholic groups who said it went too far, while gay activists said it was too timid.

While parliament was voting, gay rights groups gathered outside with a banner reading: "This is just the beginning."

"Today is a day of celebration in which Italy has taken a step forwards," Renzi said in a radio interview after the legislation was approved.

The 41-year-old premier promised to prioritize legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014, but the bill has proven to be one of the most contested of a raft of initiatives he has pushed through parliament.

The bill, originally presented in 2013, cleared its final real hurdle earlier on Wednesday with the confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies, which passed it by 369 votes to 193. The chamber then rubber-stamped the bill with a final ballot.

"There is still a long way to go for full equality but this is an excellent starting point," said Gabriele Piazzoni, president of gay rights group Arcigay.

The bill gives gay couples the right to share a surname, draw on their partner's pension when they die and inherit each other's assets in the same way as married people.

'STILL WORK TO DO'

"There is still work to do on adoptions ... There is still work to do on lots of areas that still exclude a section of Italian citizens," Monica Cirinna, a senator from Renzi's center-left Democratic Party who gave her name to the original bill, told state TV RAI outside parliament.

Co-habiting unmarried couples get the right to be treated as each other's next of kin if one partner is taken ill, dies or is imprisoned. They also get some rights to a shared home.

Both homosexual and heterosexual couples may also have the right to try to claim alimony at the end of a relationship.

It was the second time the bill was put to a confidence vote, which is called to curtail debate, having been approved in the upper house Senate in the same way three months ago.

The "stepchild adoption" clause was arguably the most disputed aspect of the bill. It stoked outrage among social conservatives and Catholics who saw it as a step toward legalizing surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy.

The new legislation allows courts to grant homosexuals parental rights regarding each other's children in certain circumstances, a practice which has led to a handful of recent rulings in favor of homosexual parents.

A survey conducted shortly after the bill passed the Senate suggested it reflected the views of most Italians.

Shortly after the vote, deputies from conservative opposition parties said they would call for a referendum to cancel the new legislation.

 With additional reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio, Gavin Jones and Gabriele Pileri
Russell Moore provoked Donald Trump into attack, Robert Jeffress says 12 May, 2016 by Marisa Lengor Kwaning , |

WASHINGTON (Christian Post)  Pastor Robert Jeffress has defended Donald Trump's attacks on Russell Moore, arguing that Moore had it coming because he provoked Trump.

On Monday, prominent Christian ethicist Russell Moore, a vocal critic of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, was called nasty, heartless and a terrible representative of evangelicals by Trump on Twitter.

Although Moore has received support from various partners and members of the Southern Baptist Convention, not everyone within the convention has come to his defense. Jeffress, senior pastor of the 12,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas and vocal Trump supporter, ardently defended the Republican candidate.

In an email to The Christian Post, Jeffress said, "Trump's response to Moore was not unprovoked. Moore had been launching vitriolic attacks not only against Donald Trump's policies, but also personal attacks against [his] character."

The pastor also insinuated that Moore had it coming, arguing "when you keep poking the bear don't be surprised when the bear takes a bite out of you."

Do evangelicals have the right to question the presumptive nominee's character?

According to Jeffress, any Christian "who objects to Trump on the basis of his past has selective amnesia," in the sense that, in previous elections Christians overwhelmingly supported men like President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, Republican nominee John McCain in 2008, and Newt Gingrich during the 2012 Republican primaries, despite the fact that they had each been married multiple times.

"In God's eyes everyone has a past and needs His forgiveness. There are no perfect politicians, pastors or laymen. Every Christian needs to prayerfully consider [their] choice for president. While every Christian has the right to make his own choice regarding a president, no Christian has the right to condemn other Christians for their choice," Jeffress said.

In a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC's "Meet the Press Daily," Moore agreed with Trump's remark: "I am a nasty guy with no heart, which is why I need forgiveness of sins and redemption through the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Moore, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, is the eighth president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and a former dean of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Among those who know him personally, Moore is considered a remarkable representative of evangelicals for his desire to articulate biblical truths while engaging culture.

Trump was likely responding to Moore's remarks about him on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday, where he lamented the "awful cultural rot on television [and how they plan] to put it on C-SPAN for the next four years and to give a model to our children," be it Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton "of an amoral sort of vision of America."

Moore went on to say that the two front-runners represent "an embrace of the very kind of moral and cultural decadence that conservatives have been saying for a long time is the problem." He warned that support for either candidate would lead to a "sexual revolutionary party that is hostile to everything that we [evangelicals] believe in."

CP reached Moore's office for a response but he was unavailable.

This article published by Christian Post and used with permission.
School play depicts rape, filthy language and public urination Guest Columnist | 11 May, 2016 by Todd Starnes / Fox News

HOUSTON (Christian Examiner)  Carnegie Vanguard High School's one act play had a little something for everyone: depictions of male-on-male rape, male-on-female rape, filthy language, on-stage urination, and an actress who simulated wiping her private parts at center stage.

Oh yes, there was also a scene where a male cast member turned his back to the audience and dropped his pants, as fellow cast members deliver dialogue about the size of his appendage.

Click here to join Todd's American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives!

The Houston high school's racy production of "Holy Day" has generated great angst among the good church-going people of the Lone Star State.

"Hello Dolly" it is not.

A Houston Chronicle columnist described the show as "psychologically intense, an exploration of subjects such as violence, sex and race."

READ THE FULL STORY AT FOXNEWS.COM!

Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. His latest book is "God Less America: Real Stories From the Front Lines of the Attack on Traditional Values." Follow Todd on Twitter@ToddStarnes and find him on Facebook.
Southern Baptist state leaders accuse mission organization of strong arming Editorial Staff | 11 May, 2016 by Joni B. Hannigan

NOTE: Since this article was first published, NAMB president Kevin Ezell, has written an article "How NAMB-State Convention Cooperation Agreements Work" and has stated NAMB's preference is Cooperative Agreements "be available to anyone" but that because of the "stated preference of some of the conventions" there is a "confidentiality" clause in the documents. Read full article here

ATLANTA (Christian Examiner)  Several Southern Baptist state conventions leaders have accused the denomination's North American Mission Board (NAMB) of linking financial support from the national entity  funding for church planting and other ministries  to secretive Cooperative Agreements which include a clause that threatens to withhold ministry funds to the states if disclosures about the agreement  or concerns  are shared publicly.

Cooperation is the essential bond among Southern Baptists whose 46,500 churches are autonomous, but historically have rallied together around a common theology and the desire to work together in evangelistic missions at home and abroad.

Local associations, state conventions and the national denomination (which includes domestic and overseas mission boards and an extensive seminary education system) each adhere to a system of independent governance  driven by elections, boards and appointments  that provides accountability to the churches which ultimately are the centers of sustainability for a massive system of financing and budgets which includes special offerings, but for long-term health and growth relies heavily on the systematic and regular offerings of its members.

Increasingly, however, the particulars of how funds are distributed to state conventions (essentially returning a portion of what was sent to the national convention from the churches of these same state conventions) has come under scrutiny after revelations that NAMB places a restriction on the distribution of funds tied to the silence of state leaders about the "Cooperative Agreements" which in essence places 100 percent control of church planting in these states with NAMB.

Breaking the secrecy not only puts funding from NAMB at risk, but may even lead to dismissal, some state convention executive directors say.

The gag orders come at a time when Southern Baptists have reorganized their domestic missions strategy to focus on church planting as the primary means of evangelizing North America.

But statistics show, after five years, NAMB has fallen far short of the goals set as part of its reorganization.

Four current state executive directors  and a former one who claims he was terminated, in part, over disagreements related to the terms of a Cooperative Agreement  recently agreed to interviews with the Christian Examiner.

FORMER STATE EXECUTIVE CLAIMS WRONGDOING

Following an assertion by Will McRaney, former executive missional strategist of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, whose two-year tenure ended June 9 of last year, that he was fired after Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, threatened to withdraw mission funding for the state convention unless state leadership dismissed him  Christian Examiner spoke with Randy Adams and Nate Adams, and two other state executives who confirmed there are concerns about the way the Cooperative Agreements are written.

"Unfortunately, I can't really discuss our state's Cooperative Agreement with you," one state executive told Christian Examiner. "I signed an agreement with them that I couldn't say anything critical of them and since I can't really define what that means  I can't say anything further. Our funding is dependent upon that."

Another state executive answered questions about his state and NAMB and how they partner together for church planting and evangelism, and are able to determine the location and number of church plants  but drew the line at talking about funding for these initiatives.

"There is a non-disclosure clause" in the agreement he signed, the state executive told Christian Examiner. "If I violate the agreement, that jeopardizes our agreement and I'm respectful of it."

On further thought, that executive stated "this is a new piece of the puzzle" and that previously the state executives worked under a collective agreement he believed was more "helpful" to all involved.

"I personally don't see a need for it to remain confidential," he said. "It is a little cumbersome."

The new confidentiality does not hinder the work between state executives, however, he admitted. "I can call any of the directors and they tell me where they stand. I'm sure this violates the letter of the law and violates the Cooperative Agreement; so it's a little awkward."

FUNDING, SUPERVISION, HEALTHCARE

Until the last few years, NAMB provided funding and health insurance at various levels in a number of non-traditional state conventions for missionary/employees, while the states provided supervision and the remaining funding.

Increasingly and with a new strategic plan, NAMB moved to grant 100 percent of funding and health insurance for positions while also providing direct supervision for those positions  which states counted on to continue to do ministry. In addition, NAMB is increasingly working directly through Send North America (SNA) cities and through what is called sending churches.

In order for NAMB to agree to fund those missionaries at 100 percent, it required the state to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with a non-disclosure statement, according to Randy Adams, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention.

More than 20 states initially entered into 100 percent agreements, but an estimated 6-7 states, including the NBC, opted against such an arrangement, after which time they were notified that their workers would lose health insurance if they would not agree to the new arrangements, Adams said.

Although Adams said he believes "NAMB's leveraging of health insurance pressured states into entering into the 100 percent agreement," the NBC was able to work out a plan by which the strategy for the state convention is localized.

"I felt like it was vital and important that the staff in the Northwest Convention had one employer and the strategy in the Northwest should be a local strategy and not a national strategy," Adams told Christian Examiner.

Adams previously addressed church planting in a commentary published in a Baptist state newspaper. He noted several state conventions had reduced staffs in order to send more money to mission enterprises via the Cooperative Program, but even so, "we are also planting fewer churches than we did a decade ago."

With the churches of the Northwest Convention contributing over $3.5 million to the Cooperative Program, Annie Armstrong Offering, and Lottie Moon offering (over $1.5 million of which is sent on to the SBC executive committee from the pioneer state), Adams said he is aware of the importance of cooperation.

That's why he appreciates NAMB's efforts, he said. Still, the difference is, "we used to collaborate with them ... but now we are told the decisions that are made for us."

Adams told Christian Examiner he believes McRaney raised several of these concerns in his recent postings regarding NAMB and although he has not yet heard NAMB address specifics of the situation, he said, "I trust Will."

"To me the accusations are very serious allegations and the specifics of those allegations, I think, require a response," said Adams, who told Christian Examiner he previously served as a trustee for a Southern Baptist seminary for 10 years. "They have basically just dismissed [McRaney's accusations] without dealing with the particulars of the allegations."

McRaney told Christian Examiner he believed NAMB trustees were "dismissive" and "uninformed" in rebuffing several requests he made to meet with them and discuss his situation.

Other than being sent a letter by NAMB attorneys within hours of receiving a letter from trustee officers who denied any wrongdoing  which McRaney characterized as an attempt to "shut me down again"  he claims the situation has received scant attention.

NAMB JUSTIFIED IN CONFIDENTIALITY

Nate Adams, executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association and no relation to the Northwest Convention's Randy Adams, spoke with Christian Examiner with the understanding that his state has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with NAMB that puts limits on what he can say about it.

Speaking positively, however, he said, "so far so good, we are cautiously optimistic" about the arrangement.

Offering an explanation for the rationale behind the agreements, Nate Adams said he believes there has been a "rocky road" between some state conventions and NAMB and that in an effort to provide strategic and focused efforts, they have moved ahead in this manner.

"NAMB is providing the funding," Adams said, adding that initially Illinois did hold out on the 100 percent agreement but the additional expense of health insurance was "a financial burden we couldn't bear."

Making it clear this is NAMB's "prerogative," Adams added that when it came to the states initially reluctant to enter into an agreement, "Will [McRaney] had the most severe conflict and Randy (in the Northwest Baptist Convention) is the last man standing, but most of the mid-size states saw the inevitability."

UNITY DESPITE DIFFICULTIES

Randy Adams said despite the difficulties, churches in the Northwest are experiencing a "resurgence" of growth with increased baptisms and Cooperative Program giving.

"At the same time, I believe fear has kept people from standing together and speaking out and addressing serious concerns and questions," Adams said.

Real unity is dependent on leaders standing up "under the light of day," he said.

Although secrecy about a Cooperative Agreement may keep a particular state executive and others mum about issues they would rather lay out on the table, one state executive (who asked for anonymity) said this "won't breed division" among state leaders.

In his opinion, "somewhere along the line there is a breakdown of trust ... and it's not between the executive directors," he said.

Forecasting what he hopes are better days ahead, the state executive said: "We all strive for unity and we would like to see nothing more than that there would be a return to a broad scale union between the state conventions, the associations, and the entities. That would be the pinnacle in the Southern Baptist Convention work for the future  that we have no boundaries, feel no concerns, and have no pressure.

"I do see more of a drive towards unity and would really love to see that continue on," he mused. "To not look for anyone to be raked over the coals."
Trump idolized, endorsed by radical Hindu group for stance against Muslims 12 May, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

NEW DEHLI (Christian Examiner)  Donald Trump has received an unusual endorsement in the 2016 Republican presidential primary  that of the Hindu Sena, an ultra-nationalist and sometimes violent political movement in the world's second most populous country.

Members of Hindu Sena conducted a "hawan," or prayer service, for Trump on Wednesday, asking the "gods" to intercede on his behalf because of his promises to take on radical Islam. The threat of Islamic terrorism in India has come into sharp focus in recent years because of the growth of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and a new push into the country by the Islamic State. Hindu Sena, however, also opposes Christianity.

Members of the party believe Trump's measures, such as his call to halt Muslim immigration into the United States and destroy ISIS, make him the best choice for president of the United States. They also believe his efforts will have an effect globally.

"The whole world is screaming against Islamic terrorism, and even India is not safe from it," Vishnu Gupta, founder of the Hindu Sena, said. "Only Donald Trump can save humanity."

We want Donald Trump to win the presidential polls. He has promised to uproot Islamic terror and we support this ideology. I have been a follower of his speeches and the world needs a strong leader like him to be able to counter Islamic terror groups. Especially for a country like ours, which has bitter relations with our neighbors, we need a strong anti-terror policy to keep the terrorists at bay.

The members of the ultra-nationalist group lit offering fires and offered Sanskrit prayers around statues of the Hindu gods Shiva and Hanuman, but also turned their eyes to pictures of Trump, placing the characteristic red dot or "tilak" in the middle of Trump's forehead on each picture. In the Hindu culture, a red tilak on a man signifies the valor or auspiciousness of a king, a warrior or high government official.

A banner hanging above the group explained its support for the New York billionaire. Trump was their choice, it said, "because he is hope for humanity against Islamic terror."

"We want Donald Trump to win the presidential polls. He has promised to uproot Islamic terror and we support this ideology," Gupta said.

"I have been a follower of his speeches and the world needs a strong leader like him to be able to counter Islamic terror groups. Especially for a country like ours, which has bitter relations with our neighbors, we need a strong anti-terror policy to keep the terrorists at bay."

Ironically, on the same day Hindu Sena was praying for Trump and praising his anti-Muslim rhetoric, the candidate was moderating his stance on Muslims.

In an interview on Fox News, Trump was asked about the comments addressed to him by the newly elected mayor of London  Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim elected mayor of a major European city.

Khan called Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric "ignorant" and said he should, if elected president, allow Muslims into the country or Islamic radicals will use the ban as a pretext for attacks. Trump dismissed that idea because, he said, there is already a problem with radical Islam and terrorism. Khan, he said, is denying that fact.

"Well, I assume he denies there is Islamic terrorism. There is Islamic radical terrorism all over the world right now. It's a disaster what's going on. I assume he is denying that. I assume he is like our president that's denying its taking place," Trump said.

"We have a serious problem. It's a temporary ban. It hasn't been called for yet. Nobody's done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on. We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world; you can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world. If they want to deny it, they can deny it. I don't choose to deny it."

Trump said, however, that Khan would be allowed to enter the U.S. because "there will always be exceptions."

The idea that the proposed ban on Muslims was "just a suggestion" wasn't the only way Trump softened his stance. The candidate also said he hopes to establish a commission to study immigration policies and determine what action the government can take on Muslim refugees and immigrants. Trump is reportedly considering former Republican presidential candidate and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the chair of the commission.

However, Trump faces an uphill climb with Giuliani, who has called his idea of a ban on Muslims "unconstitutional."

"I think we have to be very careful about who we let in. I don't think we should let any of the refugees in. I think they should be put in a safe zone in Syria, but if you do a ban on all Muslims, I have no question that you violate the First Amendment," Giuliani said in December 2015.

"The reality is if you let no one in, you could say well, they have no constitutional rights but once the government sets up a system, the government cannot discriminate in the way it applies that system. So the minute the government sets up an immigration system it can't use religion as a test or race or gender as a basis for why someone can't come in."

Some 50 lawmakers agree with Giuliani. They've co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Don Beyer [D-Va.] to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act before Trump has a chance to enact his ban. The bill would add a single phrase to current law:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of the immigration laws, an alien may not be denied admission to the United States because of the alien's religion or lack of religious beliefs.''

Trump's team further moderated the candidate's stance on Islam when it made changes to its delegate layout in the all-important state of California  the state that is likely to push Trump over the 1,237 delegates he needs to clinch the Republican nomination.

On Wednesday, a British newspaper reported that an "anti-Muslim" pastor was quietly stepping down as a delegate in California. Guy St. Onge, who was listed as one of three pledged delegates for Trump in California's 35th congressional district, said he voluntarily left the post to "take one for the team."

It isn't immediately clear what St. Onge meant, but he was originally on the list submitted by the Trump campaign to the secretary of state. What is known is that St. Onge, who describes himself as a minister, is alleged to have made comments indicating he would kill Muslims in his front yard (if they attacked him).

St. Onge reportedly surrendered his delegate post just after reporters contacted Trump's campaign to inquire about his past and the past of several others on Trump's list of pledged delegates  one of them a known white nationalist, William Daniel Johnson. Johnson, who once called for the revocation of U.S. citizenship for all non-white Americans, would have represented California's 34th congressional district.

The Trump campaign reportedly attempted to submit a corrected list of delegates  without St. Onge and Johnson  but failed to meet the May 9 deadline. A new list is posted on the California Republican Party's website. Neither St. Onge nor Johnson are on it.

St. Onge told a reporter he was no longer a delegate for Trump by his own choosing.

"I will take one for the team; loyal to a fault you might say ... Jesus loves you, but not the trouble you try and cause for others," St. Onge said. "I have spoken to the appropriate people, thank you. Have a great day and may God bless you."

On May 10, the Trump campaign issued a press release in which it claimed the list submitted to the state of California the day before included a "potential delegate" whose name was supposed to have been removed  presumably Johnson's.

"Upon careful review of computer records, the inclusion of a potential delegate that had previously been rejected and removed from the campaign's list in February 2016, was discovered. This was immediately corrected and a final list, which does not include this individual, was submitted for certification," Tim Clark, Trump's California state director, said in the press release.
Last week, John Kasich and Ted Cruz suspended their presidential campaigns, making Donald Trump the presumptive Republican nominee. The news left many evangelicals praying for Nebraska senator and avid Trump critic Ben Sasse to jump into the race as a third party candidate and sharing Russell Moores article on voting for the lesser of two evils.

D.C.-based pastor and writer Thabiti Anyabwile took a different tact.

Let the hate begin, he tweeted earlier this week. But if choice is between [Hillary] Clinton and Trump, I'm voting Clinton. I'll go back to not voting when this man is defeated!

But a lot of people arent convinced. Just prior to Cruzs concession, polls showed anywhere between 16 percent to 24 percent of churchgoing evangelical voters faced with a Trump vs. Clinton matchup, would choose to stay home or vote for a third-party candidate. (Heres a deep dive into the numbers.)

Anyabwile, who has emphatically stated that he is no fan of Clinton, has abstained from voting in recent previous presidential elections.

For the last several elections, Ive been that principled guy saying I just cant vote for anybody, Anyabwile said. But this particular election has brought me to a place where Im staring my principles in the face and I have a different type of crisis of conscience. I cant opt for a personal type of quietism here, where I palliate my own conscience. I actually have to inform my conscience.

Anyabwile joins Katelyn and Morgan on this weeks Quick to Listen to discuss third party options, what its historically like to vote as an African American, and what makes ...

1
Theres no milk in the fridge at Sandra Browns home in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicagos South Side. Not much food in the cabinet, aside from Ramen noodles. Were it not for the kindness of Sandras great-grandmother, who owns the house, Sandra and her familyher husband, baby daughter, grandmother, step-grandfather, and an unclewould be living on streets. The Browns, like more than a million American families, live on less than $2 in cash a day.

Many Americans have spent more than that before they get to work or school in the morning, write sociologist Kathryn Edin and her co-author, H. Luke Shaefer, in $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America. Yet in 2011, more than 4 percent of all households with children in the worlds wealthiest nation were living in a poverty so deep that most Americans dont believe it exists in this country.

Edin, professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University, first studied the lives of poor families while volunteering at the now-demolished Cabrini-Green housing project as a student at Chicagos North Park University. She went on to earn a PhD from Northwestern and has spent her career detailing the effects of poverty on family life. $2.00 a Day follows the lives of families who have been left behind by the welfare reform of the 1990s. These are families caught in an endless cycle of jobs that dont pay nearly enough and periods of living on virtually no income. She spoke with former CT senior news editor Bob Smietana last fall.

Why do so many people live on two dollars or less each day?

I wrote my first book on how single mothers make ends meet. I toured the country for six years, ...

1
Ricky Self could not have prepared himself for the phone call he received on April 26. As associate pastor at Pineview Baptist Church in the tiny town of Harvest, Alabama, hed been spending the last two days helping his congregation grieve the loss of Jennifer Norsworthy, a mother of six who had passed suddenly at the age of 40 from a blood clot.

Now, Self learnedjust 48 hours laterthere was an ambulance at the Norsworthy residence again. Jennifers husband, Toby Norsworthy, had passed from a heart attack in his sleep, leaving the couples six children orphaned. (Relatives suspect that the stress of losing his wife was a factor, The Huntsville Times reported.)

The couple had been married for 10 years, Self said, and had three children togetherMickey, 11, Aurora, 9, and Lainie, 6, according to the Times. Jennifer also had three children from a previous marriageQuinten, 20, Riley, 17, and Bradley, 13. Toby, a computer programmer, led the churchs Awana youth program and taught middle school boys in Sunday school, while Jennifer Norsworthy, a stay-at-home mom, had led Sunday school for high school girls and was involved with the womens ministry.

God really transformed their life, Self said about the couple, adding that they were Alabama transplants who had converted to Christianity the first year in the state after being invited to Pineview in 2010. They didnt grow up with that, he added. They werent just Sunday Christians. Brother Toby read the Bible three times in the first year.

In the wake of their passing, the church spent two consecutive Sundays grieving together. Self noted they have had more than their fair share of suffering for a church of upward of 250 members, with two other members passing from cancer in their 40s. Our senior pastor described it as a very broken church, Self said. It was hard to preach and do worship.

The service the morning of Tobys death was full of weeping, encouragement, and prayer, Self said. To me, grieving together is a time that all of us are heartbroken, he said. I thank God when he designed the church the way he diddesigned to support each other.

In response to the tragedy, the church has been heavily supportive. Pineview has provided meals, a financial account in which 100 percent of proceeds will go to the children, and other practical needs. Theyve also offered emotional support, even as they learn the value of prayer in tragedy.

Were like a lot of people: we like to be hands-on and like to fix things. But one of the things we encourage people to do is pray for our family, Self said. As Christians, were so hands-on wanting to fix the problem, to show themselves to the family. We just tried to show the hope that we have; we know that were going to see them again.

In addition to the churchs fundwhich has raised more than $17,000 in supporta childhood friend and former classmate of Tobys set up a GoFundMe page that raised more than $86,000 in less than two weeks. Donations can be made to Pineview Baptist or to the GoFundMe page.

As a church, its our job to be there for that and love on them and pick up those roles, Self said. Its what Jesus told us to doto help the orphans and widows.
Star Studded Lineup Announced for Annual 'In the Wait' Singles Conference on June 10 and 11

Two-Day Event Hosted by The Lighthouse Church to Feature Insights from Top Christian Leaders, Grammy-Nominated Gospel Artists, Television Personalities, Authors and More



Contact: Velma Trayham, Founder, ThinkZILLA PR & Consulting Group, 888-509-1145, velma@itsthinkzilla.com



HOUSTON, May 12, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Lighthouse Church, a fast-growing Houston-based ministry under the leadership of Pastor Keion Henderson, announced today that its annual "In the Wait" Singles Conference will take place on June 10 and 11. The conference will feature insights from some of the nation's most influential Christian leaders, celebrated and top-selling Gospel artists, television personalities, authors and more.



This year's star-studded line up includes Grammy-nominated artists Myron Butler and Vashawn Mitchell, WE TV's "Braxton Family Values" matriarch Evelyn Braxton, and Varion "Se7en the Poet" Howard.



The event's lineup of influential Christian leaders include:

Pastor Terrance Johnson, founder of Higher Dimension Church and co-author of "The Answer"



Pastor Nick Nilson, young adult ministry leader at Lakewood Church



Anthony O'Neal, founder of Anthony O'Neal Ministries



Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, founder of New Season Christian Worship Center and President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference



Dr. Jasmin Sculark, founder of Dr. Jazz Ministries

"Each year, we are thrilled to welcome thousands of single men and women to The Lighthouse Church who want to be inspired, encouraged and equipped to live faithful, fulfilled and Christ-centered lives," said Pastor Henderson. "It's a high energy, dynamic event and we welcome anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with God and others, find healing from past relationships and prepare themselves for a faithful love."



The event, which will kick off with a celebrity red carpet, will be held at The Lighthouse Church, located at 6650 Rankin Road in Humble. Ministry and music will be led by Pastor Henderson and the church's worship leader, Angel Davis. The conference's theme is 50 Shades of Single. Worship experiences and workshop sessions will provide attendees with a greater understanding of how to live a Christ-centered family life, how to wait patiently on God, how to manage finances, how to make better relationship decisions and more.



Registration for "In the Wait" is now open. VIP level admission is available and includes a pre-conference mixer on Thursday, June 9 and preferred seating throughout the two-day event. For more information and to register to attend "In the Wait," visit www.pastorkeion.com/inthewait2016.



Stay connected before, during and after the event by follow and using the #InTheWait2016 hashtag via social media. For vendor and media opportunities, contact Velma Trayham, founder of ThinkZILLA PR & Consulting Group at velma@itsthinkzilla.com or (888) 509-1145.
home Video Billy Graham warns Christians: Never underestimate the devil's power to deceive

Evangelist Billy Graham warns Christians about Satan's real nature and to explicitly never underestimate the devil's deceptive powers.

In a post on his Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website, Graham discussed how the devil is able to deceive people and make them think that he's nothing to be feared. He even points out that the devil is so deceptive that most people are led to believe that he doesn't exist.

He went on to cater another perspective drawing on from what the Apostle Paul said about Satan sometimes seemingly a good angel promoting what's good and standing for what's right. "But even when Satan appears to be on the side of good, he is only using it as a mask to deceive us and hide his real intentions a which are always evil," Graham explained. He added, "Paul wrote, 'Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light' (2 Corinthians 11:14)." In an older post on the same website, Graham said that even Jesus referred to the devil as the murderer and the father of lies.

The world-renowned preacher also tackled the devil's definitely evil nature. He wrote that Satan is absolutely evil because of the fact that totally resists God and all of His plans. However, Graham emphasized that the devil is also a defeated foe. He explained that when Christ died on the cross and resurrected the third day, Christ defeated not just death and Hell but even Satan. The pastor noted that the day will come when Jesus will deal the devil a fatal blow as well.

Graham further said about the devil, "He is not as powerful as God a but he still is a powerful spiritual force who works against God in every way he possibly can," He pondered, "No wonder the Bible commands us to 'Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11).'" Graham advised Christians to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ to subdue the evil and his deceptive works.
home World China releases pastor who protested removal of crosses from church buildings

A pastor who protested against the Chinese government's cross demolition campaign was released Monday, May 9.

Zhang Chongzhu, who pastored the Pyongyang Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church in Zhejiang, had been detained since August 2015. He made a lot of noise last year when the government notified Zhejiang churches that the crosses on their buildings would be removed.

He sent word outside China about the government's new campaign and invited them to "stand in a circle and watch" as the crosses are demolished in the Chinese province.

Speaking at a radio station interview, Zhang Chongzhu said the noise he made was the only solution he could think of in order to find support from outside China and cause the authorities to check their actions.

However, his bold opposition to the cross demolition campaign led to his arrest in August. On Sept. 9, he was put under residential surveillance. In China, residential surveillance is carried out in two ways: in the suspect's home, or in a place designated by the authorities. The latter is usually imposed if doing the surveillance at the suspect's home "may impede the investigation," according to China Change.

In March, Zhang Chongzhu's wife spoke at a radio station and said that her husband had been formally arrested March 9 on charges of "stealing, spying, buying or illegally providing state secrets for institutions and people outside the country."

Before he was arrested, Zhang Chongzhu was set to meet with David Saperstein, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom. He was to meet Saperstein together with human rights lawyer Zhang Kai, who represented churches suffering persecution from the cross demolition campaign.

Local church members believe the scheduled dialogue with the U.S. ambassador could have been the real reason for Zhang Chongzhu's arrest, according to organization China Aid, which advocates for religious freedom in the country.
home US Christian group expresses support for Donald Trump

A Christian organization has shown support for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, a view that not every Christian leader shares.

According to The Washington Post, American Renewal leader David Lane sent an email to 100,000 pastors on Tuesday, expressing that, given the options on who will stand as the next U.S. president, Trump is the obvious choice. He said that it's not a matter of "the lesser of two evils" but rather on "who will inflict the least damage to freedom and liberty."

"Between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, this is an easy choice. What and how will Mr. Trump do? I don't have a clue," he wrote. "But with Hillary we do know, the progressives that she will stack on the Supreme Court alone will set-back America for a century. ... Codifying transgender bathrooms rights will only be the beginning of nine unelected and unaccountable justices imposing a godless agenda, tearing America apart brick-by-brick."

This is in high contrast to other church leaders' view that Trump is not the right choice. According to the report, almost 60 of them signed an open letter last week denouncing the business mogul and urging Christian voters to reject him. Russell Moore, the president of Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has been vocal about his stance regarding the U.S. presidential hopeful.

"As of this week, the nation faces a crazier election season than many of us ever imagined, with Donald J. Trump as the all-but-certain nominee of the Republican Party," Moore wrote in an article on The New York Times. "Regardless of the outcome in November, his campaign is forcing American Christians to grapple with some scary realities that will have implications for years to come."

Lane thinks otherwise. He reportedly said in his letter that Trump could be "one of the top four presidents in American history," although he deems that the 69-year-old candidate needs to go back to former president Ronald Reagan's model of "running and governing on 'principle' and 'moral absolutes.' "

Some Christians who have initially shown opposition to Trump have softened somewhat, such as Family Research Council's Tony Perkins who told The Christian Post that he is open to Trump if he, in turn, is "open to working to gain the support of the evangelical community."

Trump, according to CP, already has the support of some evangelical leaders, including Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, and Pastor Robert Jeffress of a Dallas megachurch. He had also shown openness to work with the Heritage Foundation.
home World Christian, non-Muslim asylum seekers in Germany experiencing widespread harassment

A report by six non-government organizations says that Christians and non-Muslim asylum-seekers in Germany are being bullied and harassed by other migrants and even security personnel, and the call for separate housing seems to become more urgent.

"Our political leaders have not taken appropriate measures to protect the Christian minority," The Washington Post quotes the statement of Open Doors, an organization that tries to protect persecuted Christians worldwide. "The impression that this dramatic development is being suppressed and ignored has solidified."

The organizations interviewed 231 Christian migrants now residing in Germany's asylum centers, majority of whom came from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. According to RT, the researchers found out that 88 percent of the respondents experienced being harassed by Muslim asylum seekers because of religion. Moreover, 50 percent claimed to have been harassed by the asylum centers' guards, who are said to be mostly Muslim. Of those interviewed, 42 percent said they had insults thrown at them, while 37 percent said they had incurred physical injuries. Death threats were received by 32 percent of the respondents.

According to the report, Action on Behalf of Persecuted Christians and the Needy, another organization that was part of survey, said that somewhere around 40,000 refugees who belong to religious minorities, including Christians, experience harassment in one form or another in Germany asylum centers because of religion. Those who fled their homes in hopes of finding a safer place to live have reportedly been surprised to find out that they are still at risk of physical and verbal abuse from other migrants and even guards.

"'Discrimination and violence against Christian refugees in refugee centers happens far more frequently than this testimony," the statement by Open Doors reads. "Although media, religious leaders and assistants and human rights organisations, many note the increasing number of documented assaults by Muslim refugees and security personnel in the accommodation, policymakers have generally not taken sufficient measures to protect the Christian minority."

Markus Rode of Open Doors Germany said that the result of the study is just "the tip of the iceberg."

In the organization's press release, they listed several suggestions, including the need to find out people's religious affiliation and consider this information when assigning accommodations. Moreover, they are suggesting that regular training be provided to the refugee centers' staff and security personnel regarding religious conflicts and protection of religious minorities. The number of non-Muslim custodial staff members should also be increased.
home World Israeli victims of terror attacks honored prior to Israel's Memorial Day

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews hosted an event on Monday, two days ahead of Yom Hazikaron or Israel's Memorial Day, where the families of those who died or were injured in terror attacks since September gathered together.

"It's important that every Israeli citizen feel the scope of the debt we owe you," said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president and founder of the IFCJ, as quoted by Breaking Israel News.

Among those who attended was the father of Cpl. Hadar Cohen, a 19-year-old border police officer who died in February after being shot by terrorists.

"My daughter took down the terrorist, saving lives," said Ofer Cohen. "I won't tell a lie, we have no comfort in the face of the great void Hadar left behind. The embrace of the people of Israel helps us deal with a difficult situation. We're proud when we hear, for example, that four baby girls have already been named after her."

According to an earlier report by BIN, the young officer along with the other members of the Border Patrol unit were at the Damascus Gate when they noticed three men who were acting suspiciously. When the men were asked to produce their identification cards, they shot Cohen in the head and neck and stabbed another female officer. The Israeli unit was able to take down the assailants, but Cohen was critically injured. She died before reaching Hadassah University Medical Center, while her colleague was severely hurt and had to undergo emergency surgery.

Yesterday, Cpl Hadar Cohen (19), a Border Policewoman was killed by 3 terrorists in Jerusalem. Blessed be her memory pic.twitter.com/pOikHchALc a IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 4, 2016

"Great people in this country are dealing with great challenges," Capt. Ziv Shilon, who lost an arm when the Gaza Strip was bombed in 2012, said at the event. "If we, the wounded, know how to overcome the little things, nothing will stop us."

The IFCJ is a philanthopic organization that wants to promote greater understanding between Christians and Jews. Founded in 1983, it also aims to build support for Israel.

"One day prior to Israel Independence Day Israel observes Yom HaZikaron, Israel Memorial Day," Rabbi Eckstein wrote on May 11. "On this solemn day, Israel remembers the soldiers killed during her many wars, and all Israelis who have died in the ongoing and seemingly never-ending terrorist campaign against the Israeli people. More than most nations, Israel knows all too well the truth of the old adage that 'freedom is not free.'"
home World More Scripture booklets needed in Europe as thousands of refugees pour in

As refugees from the Middle East pour into Europe, the demand for literature that helps believers share the love of Jesus to them has increased.

Many Christians in different parts of Europe view the influx of refugees in their respective countries as an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ. By their own initiative, groups of Christians reach out to refugees from the Middle East and share the gospel using a Scripture booklet, a small piece of literature designed to help believers tell people about the love of God through Christ and bring them to a decision to accept Jesus in their lives.

Helen Williams from World Missionary Press, an organization that produces Scripture booklets, said the demand for such literature in Europe has risen with the arrival of the Muslim refugees, many of whom are hearing the gospel for the first time.

"We hear politically that it's a difficult situation a and it is a for the countries in Europe, and yet it's an open door for the Gospel," Williams said.

Williams said they have been receiving requests for more Scripture booklets. In Sweden, for example, a woman was moved by what has happened to the refugees, and she felt compelled to tell them about her hope in Jesus. She wrote a letter to World Missionary Press asking for more copies of Scripture booklets.

In Germany, a group of believers shared the gospel to Syrian Muslims, 10 of whom accepted Jesus as their Lord. But the good news does not end there. The new believers have agreed to work together to share the gospel to other refugees so they, too, can know about Jesus.

"These people have hungry hearts and they have needy hearts and now's the time," Williams said. "I think if people have open eyes, they'll find that there are people all over who would love to have the Word in their language, and they never have totally understood it, never been reached."

Williams also emphasized the need for prayer and urged believers to pray for those who are reaching out to the refugees and for the work of World Missionary Press. She also asked for prayer for the refugees that Christians are reaching out to, that even if they lost everything because of the Middle East crisis, they will find hope as they hear God's Word.
home Faith Non-stop prayer sessions shield Bible smugglers in North Africa

A prayer session started in 2003 that was supposed to last for only a week is still going on 24/7 for the past 13 years and is credited for providing protection to Bible smugglers in North Africa.

International Christian persecution watchdog ministry Open Doors is helping this ceaseless prayer gathering live in an unidentified North African country where Christian-related materials are banned. Those who are caught in possession of such items are at risk of facing at least two years of imprisonment.

Partners of the ministry face difficulties in fulfilling their task of Great Commission but are confident that the unending prayer will deliver them in trying situations.

"[The Open Doors partners] were telling us that when they take the materials backs to their churches and to whoever needs these books, they have to go through 20 checkpoints, and at every single checkpoint they could be searched," a British volunteer by the pseudonym Holly told Christian Today. "The whole car can be searched; they might look inside the boot, under the bonnet, even cut open the spare tire if there's one in the back and look inside it to see if there's anything illegal in there. But it was amazing because [the Open Doors partners] said, 'We can keep the Bibles on the back seat of the car, they'll just never see them.'"

Holly said that the partners attribute all this to the continuous prayer meeting they started thirteen years ago. They claim that the church has always had someone praying for every second since then.

Holly herself claims that she managed to safely smuggle 30 Bibles into the country. She also recounted a close incident when airport security checked everyone's bags but hers. She thought what happened was amazing that only her bag wasn't searched and credited God for her rescue.

The volunteer also explained that the church leaders in this country have only a few pages of scripture; the church is growing rapidly, and people are getting to know Jesus quickly that they just need to supply more Bibles and training materials for pastors and church leaders as quickly as they can.
home US North Carolina files lawsuit against US government over transgender bathroom law

North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for its attempt to stop the state from implementing the controversial transgender bathroom bill.

Last week, the department sent a letter to North Carolina saying it had until Monday, May 9 to amend its transgender bathroom bill, known as House Bill 2. The department said the bill violates civil rights. Refusal to comply could cost the state hundreds of millions in funding for state universities.

However, the state was not intimated by the letter and said that it will not comply with the deadline. On Monday, the state filed a lawsuit against the department's directive to block House Bill 2. North Carolina officials said the DOJ had a "radical reinterpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act," Fox News reported.

"I do not agree with their interpretation of federal law. That is why this morning I have asked a federal court to clarify what the law actually is," North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said in a statement. "This is not a North Carolina issue. It is now a national issue."

The lawsuit is meant to uphold the law, which McCrory described as a "common sense privacy policy." It says that the Justice Department's move is an attempt to "unilaterally rewrite long-established federal civil rights laws." The lawsuit further says the department is employing a "baseless and blatant overreach."

The North Carolina transgender bathroom bill requires transgenders to use public bathrooms based on the sex assigned to them at birth instead of their gender identity. State legislators said it was written primarily to protect women and girls from possible sexual assault.

With the threat of losing much needed school funding, the North Carolina public university system has joined in on the issue and declared that it will support the federal law regarding the transgender bathroom bill.

According to UNC System President Margaret Spellings, the university has long implemented policies that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
home World Sudan finally frees church leader after 5 months detention without charges

A pastor from a Sudan church was released from prison on Tuesday, May 10 after being detained since December last year.

The pastor, Telahoon Nogose Kassa, was arrested five months ago by Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). It was not clear why he was arrested, as he was detained without charges. However, NISS is allowed to keep a prisoner for up to four and a half months even without a charge, Morning Star News reported.

Sudan was scheduled last week for a Universal Periodic Review on human rights abuses, which was conducted by the United Nations.

Kassa is a discipleship pastor at Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church. Members of the church speculate that his arrest had something to do with his intervention against the government's attempt to grab the church's property.

The government had planned to sell the property to interested investors and harassed the church repeatedly. It also destroyed the church's worship center to pressure it into compliance.

According to witnesses, NISS agents went to Kassa's home on Dec. 13 and ordered him to go to their office. He went to NISS the following day as instructed, but without explanation, he was taken away as a prisoner. Authorities allowed no one to visit him except his parents.

They interrogated him for five days and asked him about a foreign missionary who went to the church's class on discipleship, a previous report said.

Kassa was not the only pastor illegally detained by NISS. Rev. Peter Yein Reith and Rev. Yat Michael were arrested based on false charges in January 2015 and December 2014, respectively. Both pastors had expressed opposition to the land grabbing and defended Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church against the government. They were released months before Kassa's arrest.

Kassa's family was happy that he was finally let out of prison.

"Finally, Telahoon is released, thanks for your prayers," his brother wrote on his Facebook page, while reminding everyone to pray for the release of others who are still detained.
home World To be Christian in Iraq is an impossible mission, says priest from Baghdad

A priest shared to a church in California what he went through when he was detained by jihadists in Iraq in 2006, and said that it's impossible to be a Christian in the Middle-Eastern country.

"To be Christian in Iraq, it's an impossible mission," Father Douglas said, as quoted by Express. "But even so, I'm not actually surprised when they attack my people. I'm surprised how my people are still existing."

According to the report, the priest was on his way home from a mass in Baghdad when the al-Qaeda conducted the attack. He was there when his church was bombed, after which he was taken as a hostage and was subjected to torture for more than a week.

"They destroyed my car, they blew up my church on front of me. I got shot by AK-47 in my leg. The bullet is still in my leg. And I had been kidnapped for nine days," he narrated. "They smash my nose and my teeth by hammer. And they broke one of my back discs."

Father Douglas is now staying in the Northern Kurdish terrirory and works with Christian refugees and displaced people who had no choice but to flee the violence in their homes.

The report says that the current estimates of Christians remaining in Iraq is less than 200,000. Non-government organization Open Doors USA said, given the current plight and flight of Christians from the Middle East, there is a chance that Christianity would be extinguished from the place of its roots.

There is an international outcry against the persecution of Christians in many parts of the world. They have been subjected to inhumane treatment, including murder, rape, abduction of youth and making them into sex slaves, and many more. They are forced to convert to Islam or suffer the consequences like having to pay a special tax, imprisonment, and even death. In March, the United States Secretary of State John Kerry declared the actions of the Islamic State aka Daesh as genocide.

"In my judgment Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups ... under its control, including Yazidis, Christians and Shia (Shi'ite) Muslims," he said. "Naming these crimes is important, but what is essential is to stop them."

A petition for the United Nations to likewise declare the atrocitiies against Christians in Syria and Iraq as genocide had gathered 400,000 signatures.
home World U.K. buses to carry slogan praising Allah; Christian group deems it unfair

The Muslim observation of Ramadan this year will begin June 7, and in the two weeks leading to it, people in London will be seeing buses emblazoned with ads that say "Subhan Allah," which translates as "Glory be to God." This, however, is deemed as unfair by Christians whose own attempts at advertising their beliefs have allegedly been suppressed.

"We have chosen bus advertising because it allows us to put our message across cost-effectively to a wide cross section of people," said Islamic Relief UK director Imran Madden, as quoted by The Yorkshire Post. "This campaign is about raising awareness as well as raising funds. We hope it will be received very positively because we have a positive message to share."

According to the report, the Islamic slogan will be placed in 180 buses in London. After the month-long Ramadan, it will be put on 460 buses that travel across cities with high Muslim populations, including Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester. The ads aim to help curb the "negative climate" that surrounds or is assocated with Muslim communities in the United Kingdom as well as with Islam.

"In a sense this could be called a climate change campaign because we want to change the negative climate around international aid and around the Muslim community in this country," Madden said. "British Muslims are an incredibly generous community who give over 100 million to international aid charities in Ramadan."

However, Christians see this as unfair. In 2014, Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, blocked a bus advertisement that he deemed as "offensive to gays" as it suggests that homosexuals can "get over" homosexuality. Similarly, an ad that featured people, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, reciting the Lord's Prayer was not allowed to be shown in Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue movie theaters late last year.

"Increasingly what we see is accommodation being made for certain groups and a fear by the elite of consequence if they do not make way for certain groups," said Andrea Williams, head of Christian Concern. "It (the ruling elite) bends over backwards to ensure that groups like (gay rights charity) Stonewall and Islamic Relief are given space but is very concerned when it comes to Christian advertising or morality, so that is where you find a certain message being censored."

She said that the elite are afraid that Christian messages would offend; thus, they are censoring these from public spaces, as can be seen in their cases at the Christian Legal Centre. Meanwhile, for fear of being seen as critizing Islam, they accomodate Islam as much as possible.

"If these adverts are running then we should ensure that space is given for Christian adverts to run," Williams said, "but what we are seeing in many situations is the removal of access to public space for Christian groups."

Islamic Relief UK, however, told The Independent that this is a fundraising campaign similar to those raised by Christian Aid, Tearfund, and other Christian charities. It's a part of wider campaign with leaflets, posters, and videos that would give information about their humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Kenya, Syria and Gaza.

And just as Christians seem to be more generous during Christmas, Muslims tend to give generously during Ramadan.
home World Yemeni Christians, civilians suffering from war

Christians and other religious minorities are suffering in Yemen as much as those in other places in the Middle East. The predominantly Muslim country of 26 million people ranks 11th in the Open Doors 2016 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution because of their faith.

"There is no God, but God. Mohammed is the messenger of God; The Islamic State, God's curse on Christians," is the translation of the message scrawled on a Christian Yemeni's living room wall, reports the Human Rights Watch.

According to the group's Yemen & Kuwait Researcher Belkis Wille, the Christian man alias John was running a library in Taizz, and among his collection were Christian books. He was not worried about the various threats he received in recent years over his faith, but customs officials who confiscated his February 2015 shipment of Christian books have reportedly suggested burning them because "they were offensive to the community and religion." His lawyer was also told to be careful of people who might put into their heads to burn John's library if the shipments were to be allowed to get into the city. In April, he fled because of the escalating violence; and in September, masked men were seen entering his apartment and library, taking his Christian books into their vehicles, then burning them in a public marketplace.

The report also says that witnesses allege that the bombing of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Aden in December was done by Islamists, as well as the burning of the Church of St. Joseph in September. In March this year, unidentified men stormed into a church-run retirement home, killing 16 people including four nuns, and kidnapping a priest.

On Wednesday, a suicide bomber caused the death of six security personnel and two civilians and the injuries of 17 people, including the target, General Abdul-Rahman al-Halili, commander of Yemen's First Military Region. Reuters reports that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to the article by Human Rights Watch, Christians in Yemen, composed of native Yemenis and those who came to the country to find refuge, have felt and are feeling rather acutely the pressure and impact of war. There is an estimated 41,000 of them, although some might have already fled. Nonetheless, the Christians who are in the country along with other civilians -- some 80 percent of the population -- are in "a dire humanitarian crisis." According to Open Doors USA, the hunger crisis there is among the worst in the world.
Adultery: Should a repentant pastor be allowed to minister again?

Should pastors who commit adultery be permanently barred from ministry? There's no consensus, according to new research from the Southern Baptist Convention's LifeWay Research reported by Baptist Press.

The researchers asked 1,000 senior pastors for their views on how to handle allegations of misconduct in general and adultery in particular. They were split over how long a pastor should be barred from public ministry if he or she had an affair. One in four (24 per cent) said withdrawal should be permanent, while a third (31 per cent) say it should be between three months and a year. A quarter aren't sure.

Older pastors (over 65) are more likely to want a permanent ban, while middle-aged pastors are more likely to want three months to a year.

African-American pastors (45 per cent) are more likely to say a pastor should leave for three months to a year than white pastors (30 per cent).

There's also a split along denominational lines, with nearly half of Lutherans saying an affair should bar someone permanently from ministry, while among Baptists it's only 30 per cent. Only 13 per cent of Methodists and Pentecostals think so and only 11 per cent of Presbyterian/Reformed pastors.

"The Scripture says pastors must be above reproach," said Ed Stetzer, LifeWay executive director. "So it's not surprising that some want to see fallen pastors banned from ministry. Still, pastors are also people who talk about forgiveness regularly and, by and large, they want to see those who fall have a chance at restoration."

The study also identifies issues around what action should be taken when allegations are made against a pastor and whether he or she should step aside while they are investigated. Nearly half say they should.
Cameron announces new anti-corruption measures at global summit

David Cameron will urge dozens of nations to redouble efforts to combat corruption at a summit meeting on Thursday, days after he described two of the countries attending as "fantastically corrupt".

Cameron is hosting representatives of about 50 states at the anti-corruption conference, including the presidents of Afghanistan and Nigeria, which he told the Queen were "possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world". Cameron has since said the leaders of both countries are working hard to fight corruption.

Cameron will announce on Thursday that foreign companies that own property in Britain will be forced to make public their true ownership in a register of beneficial ownership information to be launched next month, a senior British official said.

"The evil of corruption reaches into every corner of the world. It lies at the heart of the most urgent problems we face  from economic uncertainty, to endemic poverty, to the ever-present threat of radicalisation and extremism," the British Prime Minister will say at the London conference, according to his office.

"A global problem needs a truly global solution. It needs an unprecedented, courageous commitment from world leaders to stand united, to speak into the silence, and to demand change."

France, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Afghanistan would also commit to launching public registers of true company ownership, according to Number 10.

Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, Indonesia, Ireland and Georgia will agree to take the initial steps towards making similar arrangements, it added. Some of Britain's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have also signed up to share their beneficial ownership registers with other countries.

Cameron put tackling corruption, including tax avoidance, at the heart of his agenda when he hosted a summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialised democracies in 2013.

Thursday's summit, which brings together leaders such as US Secretary of State John Kerry and a deputy foreign minister from Russia, is seen as a milestone in those efforts.

But after Cameron described Nigeria and Afghanistan as "fantastically corrupt", a senior British official said Britain would not be lecturing other countries.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday he would not demand an apology from Cameron. Buhari, who has a reputation for personal probity and has pledged to crack down on corruption in Nigeria, said Britain should instead return assets held by corrupt officials.

Cameron has come under pressure over his fight against corruption since the release of the "Panama Papers", leaked documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca that named the prime minister's late father Ian Cameron among the list of clients.

He said he once had a stake in his father's offshore trust and had profited from it, but that was before he became prime minister.

The senior British official said the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory that the leaked documents suggested was home to more than half of the 200,000 companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, would not be attending the summit.
Christian missionary held by North Korea tells detainees: Don't lose hope

A Christian missionary detained for two years in North Korea urged American citizens still held in the reclusive country to remain hopeful.

Speaking at a briefing in Washington on Wednesday, Kenneth Bae, 47, also said the international community should remember the suffering of North Korea's citizens.

Bae, a Korean-American, was the longest held US citizen in North Korea since the Korean War. He was running a legal tour company in North Korea when he was sentenced to hard labour for 15 years in April 2013 following accusations that he was committing hostile acts against the state and encouraging citizens to work against the government.

He was sent to a camp for foreign detainees where about 30 guards kept watch over him as their sole prisoner.

Bae said he had to shovel coal, perform farm chores and dig the earth.

He was released in November 2014 when US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a secret visit to North Korea and came back with Bae and fellow American Matthew Miller.

US citizens Kim Dong Chul and Otto Warmbler are both currently detained by North Korea, and have been sentenced to hard labour. Chul, a Christian missionary, has been accused of subversion and Warmbler of trying to steal a propaganda banner.

"Continue to have hope in the US government that they are doing everything they can to secure your release and also just take one day at a time," Bae urged them.

He has recently released the book Not Forgotten about his experience in North Korea, and on Wednesday described what led to his arrest.

Bae said that on his 18th trip leading tours in the country, North Korean authorities discovered his hard-drive had Western media coverage of such topics as the country's 1990s famine, material which he said was loaded by mistake.

Bae said he was accused of trying to overthrow the government through his Christian worship and by spreading Western ideas.

North Korea has consistently been named the worst country in the world to be a Christian. Under dictator Kim Jong-un, the government maintains absolute control through the systematic repression of its citizens. According to Aid to the Church in Need, of the 400,000-500,000 Christian population in North Korea, at least 50,000 are thought to be in hard labour camps, while tens of thousands of citizens, including many Christians, have defected to countries such as neighbouring South Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia.

Rev Hyeon Soo Lim, a 61-year-old Christian missionary from Canada, has been held in Pyongyang since February 2015 after disappearing during a humanitarian trip to the country.

He was sentended to life in prison and hard labour in December after being charged with 'crimes against the state' by a North Korean court.

His family said his trips to North Korea  of which he had undertaken more than 100 since 1997  were never politically motivated, but the government does not tolerate any missionary or religious activity deemed to threaten the state's supremacy.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Church of England looks to use government's apprenticeship fund for new vicars

Church of England clergy could be trained with state money raised by the government's new apprenticeship levy.

The Church of England has said it is in talks with the business department about how it could gain access to the fund after second Church estates commissioner Caroline Spelman told MPs the Church "would very much like to see the levy being used to train more ordinands".

Spelman added: "I hope the government will support the Church's quest to use some of the moneys from the apprenticeship levy to meet its shortfall of approximately 40,000 ordinands."

The Church aims to increase the number of ordinations by 50 per cent by 2020 and will use some of its 6.1 billion fund to do so.

However the Church has also expressed an interest in using the levy announced by the Chancellor in his 2015 autumn statement. The new scheme will be imposed in April 2017 and forces companies with a wage bill of more than 3 million to pay a 0.5 per cent charge.

The Chancellor said the scheme will mean big businesses will help shoulder the burden of training workers and will raise 3bn a year for three million new apprenticeships.

The Church of England has said it will also have to pay the levy. A spokesman told TES: "The Church of England pays stipends to 8,000 clergy and others through a central payroll system for simplicity and efficiency, so will have to pay the apprenticeship levy. At the same time, the Church is heavily committed to training, with hundreds if not thousands of future clergy, youth workers and others in training in any year.

"The Church of England is, therefore, discussing  internally and with BIS [Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]  how we can work with the apprenticeship levy to maintain those high levels of professional development. Those talks are at a very early stage."

A spokesperson for the department said no group had made a formal bid for a clergy apprenticeship but it would be happy to speak with the Church of England.

The spokesperson added: "Through roundtables, meetings, events and webinars we continue to engage with thousands of employers about the levy. We welcome expressions of interest in developing new apprenticeship standards at any time."
DRC: Worship leader and deacon among 9 people killed by Islamist militants

Christians are fleeing after Islamist militants murdered another nine people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nearly 50 people have now been killed in one week, according to World Watch Monitor.

Only last week, almost 40 villagers were slaughtered in North Kivu province.

The latest attack was in Ituri province. Up to 15 people were murdered, including the worship leader and deaconess of a local church, part of the Eglise du Rocher mission organisation. The same organisation lost a pastor and his wife in an earlier attack in 2014 and the local church, which closed its mission to Mbuti Pygmies as a result, has yet to re-open.

After the latest attack, Mike Anticoli, founder of Eglise du Rocher, wrote on Facebook: "Please Pray for our Churches and DR Congo. These are OUR people on the ground as well as so many innocent people. Such horrible news. We just lost 2 more of our workers in Church on the Rock. We lost a Deaconess and Worship Leader. Please pray for their familes and the rest of the Church. The killing continues. Families are separated and hoping to find each other. Many are displaced. I have no words..."

The deaconess, Eva Makanaiye, and the worship leader, Rose, both left behind five children.

Anticoli told World Watch Monitor: "Our pastor ran away with two of his children. The whole night he did not know where his wife was, or his three other children. People spent the night in the jungle under heavy rain. This morning our pastor came back and found his wife and children all alive. Praise God!"

Armed forces failed to help, even though a Congolese army base was located just 300 metres away and a UN base just 500 metres away.

The attacks come in the context of a wider war against Christianity in Congo.

Locals blamed Muslim Defense International, formerly known as the Alliance of Democratic Forces, but the group has not claimed responsibility. The group was linked to Adi Amin, Uganda dictator, and according to the UN is responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths. Its abuses include forcing Christians to convert to Islam.
Escaped Chibok schoolgirl: I thank God for the lives of my fellow captives

The international community must not give up hope of finding the missing schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria two years ago, one of the young women who managed to escape has said.

Speaking at a congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday, Sa'a (not her real name) recalled the night of April 14, 2014 when Boko Haram militants overran her school in Chibok, Borno state, in northern Nigeria.

She said the jihadists shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) as they entered the school, forcing all the girls out of bed and into classrooms. "Next, they started burning everything  our clothes, our books, our classrooms  everything in our school," Sa'a said.

The militants then marched the girls to their trucks, and forced them in. "If we did not, they were going to shoot all of us," she said. Sa'a and a friend managed to jump out as they were driving through the forest. "I would rather die so my parents will see my body and bury it than to go with the Boko Haram."

Sa'a now lives and attends college in the US through the Education Must Continue Initiative; a charity run by and for victims of Boko Haram's insurgency. Around 3,000 displaced children and young people have returned to school through the scheme.

However, she remains troubled by the difficulties still experienced by millions of people in Nigeria.

A report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in April warned that one million children have little or no access to schools as a result of Boko Haram's attacks.

More than 910 schools have been targeted by the Islamist group, whose name means "Western (or non-Islamic) education is a sin". At least 611 teachers have been deliberately killed and another 19,000 forced to flee. At least 1,500 schools have closed.

In a video released in May 2014 Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, said women and girls would continue to be abducted to "turn them to the path of true Islam" and ensure they did not attend school.

The fighting has sparked a largely unreported refugee crisis with an estimated 2.2 million people, including 1.4 million children, displaced. Only around 10 per cent are in government-recognised refugee camps where there is some schooling. The other 90 per cent are living with friends and family members with little or no access to education.

HRW researcher Mausi Segun said: "In its brutal crusade against western-style education, Boko Haram is robbing an entire generation of children in northeast Nigeria of their education."

Sa'a wants to study science and medicine and use her knowledge to help her country, but doesn't know if it will ever be safe enough.

"Many live in fear every day. Their homes were burnt, so many people didn't have a place to sleep, food to eat or clothes to wear... The Nigerian government promised to rebuild the Chibok school, but it is still burned two years later," she said.

"Thanks to God, I am safely here in the US and doing well with my studies, but I worry about my family in Nigeria. People ask me if it will be safe for me to return to Nigeria. I ask, is it safe for anyone in Northern Nigeria?"

Sa'a recalled seeing a video released by Boko Haram on the two year anniversary of the Chibok kidnapping.

More than 200 girls taken that night are believed to remain in captivity, The footage, believed to have been filmed on Christmas Day last year, showed 15 girls dressed in black hijabs and talking to a cameraman off-screen.

It was the first possible sighting of the girls since Boko Haram released a video of them in May 2014.

"I am glad to see that some of them are alive," Sa'a said. "The moment I saw them and recognised their faces, I started crying, with tears of joy coming rolling down from my eyes, thanking God for their lives. Seeing them has given me more courage not to give up. Seeing them gives me the courage to tell the world today that we should not lose hope."

"I have had dreams," she continued. "With what I have been through, some of the dreams are scary. But now my dreams are good. I have a dream of a safe Nigeria; a Nigeria where girls can go to school without fear of being kidnapped; a Nigeria where girls like me are not made into suicide bombers and little boys are not routinely stolen and turned into terrorists; a Nigeria, where even if the worst happens and children are stolen, that every effort is made for their swift rescue; that those who can help will help; and that those who can speak will speak out for those who can't speak for themselves.

"I dream and I pray for freedom, safety, and peace to win in Nigeria."

Speaking ahead of the congressional hearing, US Rep Chris Smith, chairman of the Africa and Global Human Rights Subcommittee, said Boko Haram was "now the world's most dangerous terrorist group".

Frank Wolf, a former US Rep and distinguished senior fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, noted that according to the Global Terrorism Index 2015, Boko Haram killed more people than Islamic State in 2014, making them "the single most deadly terror organization in the world".

He warned that "the crisis plaguing Nigeria is multi-faceted, but one that must be addressed by the Nigerian government, our government, and the international community".

"The challenges that face Nigeria are great," Wolf added. "However, it is my firm belief that the United States and other Western nations have a vested interest in confronting one of the worst crises of our current day. Nigeria has been fractured and forgotten and it is my hope that this hearing may light the spark that is needed to elevate this crisis to the place it deserves."
Evangelical Alliance rebuts Barnabas Fund allegations

The Evangelical Alliance has issued a comprehensive rebuttal of accusations made against it by the Barnabas Fund and Barnabas Aid International charities in a booklet entitled Hard Pressed On Every Side.

The Barnabas booklet, sent to thousands of supporters and made available online, alleged the charity was ignored in favour of other religious liberty organisations and that its former General Secretary, Rev Joel Edwards, had "urged churches to open their pulpits on Sundays for Muslim preachers".

It says the EA urged the World Evangelical Alliance to "break its partnership with Barnabas Fund" and that the Barnabas trustees "are very sad to see how the EA UK's current leadership is moving away from conservative evangelical values".

When the booklet was released in February the EA said it was "surprised and saddened" by the comments made in Hard Pressed on Every Side and was "dismayed that the trustees chose not to discuss their allegations with us first to avoid misinformation and confusion".

It said: "We have written to both organisations seeking to clarify who has issued this document and with what authority and asking for evidence for comments which appear unfounded."

Two meetings between Barnabas and EA representatives followed, which the EA said were held in a "warm, gracious and business-like manner". At the second of these meetings the Barnabas representatives were shown the EA response and invited to comment.

The EA said it was "with sadness" that it had made the document public. However, it continued, the nature of the Barnabas booklet, its wide circulation and the "questions and confusion that have resulted among our members and others" left it "needing to make what we trust will be regarded as a carefully-measured response".

The EA denies it marginalised Barnabas before the charity's resignation in 2013 and points out that its founder Patrick Sookhdeo  currently facing a charge of indecent assault which is due to be heard next February  wrote a major article for its Idea magazine. It says Barnabas Fund has provided no evidence to support its claims.

The EA flatly denies the Barnabas claim that its former general director Joel Edwards had "urged churches to open their pulpits on Sundays for Muslim preachers". It cites a sentence from an article in 2006 in which Edwards said: "Imagine the impact if every Christian community invited a Muslim cleric to its worship service to explain his faith and how they viewed Christianity." The EA says Barnabas' account "seems an unfair representation on either Joel's content or indeed his motivation", adding: "Had this been a matter of concern to BF leadership, we would have hoped they would have raised this matter during the seven years before their resignation from EA, or indeed, in their letter of resignation."

The EA says it declined advertising from Barnabas because of the charges against and later conviction of Sookhdeo on a previous sexual assault case and informed the World Evangelical Alliance of the situation as it was exposed to "reputational risk" if it continued to associate with the charity.

It denies the Barnabas accusation that was "moving away from conservative evangelical values", saying: "The leadership of EA has worked hard to maintain and develop good relationships across the full breadth of evangelicalism. Our commitment to evangelism, biblical literacy, religious liberty, an orthodox, biblical approach to human sexuality and a biblical view of marriage, has reinforced our historic evangelical values."

Hard Pressed On Every Side criticised a number of individuals and Christian organisations. Among them was this website, which revealed details of Sookhdeo's treatment of former trustees and the failure of Barnabas Aid International to accept he was guilty of indecent assault and intimidating witnesses.

The booklet also criticised the Church of England, which it accused of racism towards Sookhdeo, Open Doors, Release International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. It accused Muslims in Colorado Springs of manipulating search engine results to improve the ranking for articles "biased against" Sookhdeo. It also claims his car was "apparently deliberately sabotaged" in a "life-threatening incident".

The booklet also refers to a meeting of 12 senior Anglican leaders in April 2015 at the London offices of Christian Concern which concluded that he had been "deliberately targeted" and was innocent of the charges of sexual assault and intimidating witnesses. It claims that a "representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury was present". However, a spokesman for the archbishop told Christian Today: "A Lambeth Palace staff member attended the meeting as an observer only and was not representing the Archbishop of Canterbury. The staff member did not have a decision-making role and any decisions made during that meeting were a matter for the Barnabas Fund."

Barnabas Fund has been asked to comment on this story.
Former Facebook employees reveal social media site suppresses conservative news; company denies accusation

Former employees of Facebook have accused the social networking site of suppressing conservative news stories from the "trending" news section, including the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gathering, Mitt Romney and Rand Paul although these were trending among users.

These former "news curators" told Gizmondo that they were told to artificially insert selected stories into the trending news section even though they were not trending.

The revelation contradicts Facebook's declaration that trending topics are based on "topics that have recently become popular on Facebook," Gizmondo reports.

"Depending on who was on shift, things would be blacklisted or trending," a former curator told Gizmondo. "I'd come on shift and I'd discover that CPAC or Mitt Romney or Glenn Beck or popular conservative topics wouldn't be trending because either the curator didn't recognise the news topic or it was like they had a bias against Ted Cruz."

The former employee said among the suppressed topics on Facebook were former IRS official Lois Lerner, who the Republicans accused of inappropriately scrutinising conservative groups; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; and former Fox News contributor Steven Crowder.

"I believe it had a chilling effect on conservative news," the former curator said.

It was revealed that news from conservative outlets like Breitbart and Newsmax that were trending enough to be picked up by Facebook's algorithm were excluded unless mainstream news outlets like the New York Times covered the same stories.

The former curator said the omissions were based on his colleagues' judgment and there was no evidence that Facebook management ordered them to do so.

But managers at the trending news team told curators to manipulate the trending module by putting stories deemed by management as important. They used "injection tool" to push topics on the trending module so readers can see them rather than allowing topics to surface on their own.

"We were told that if we saw something, a news story that was on the front page of these 10 sites, like CNN, the New York Times, and BBC, then we could inject the topic," according to one former curator. "If it looked like it had enough news sites covering the story, we could inject iteven if it wasn't naturally trending."

The former employees cited the cases of the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris as topics that were injected into the module.

"Facebook got a lot of pressure about not having a trending topic for Black Lives Matter," the former curator said.

In response, Facebook told the media that "we take allegations of bias very seriously."

"Facebook is a platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum. Trending Topics shows you the popular topics and hashtags that are being talked about on Facebook," the company said.

The company said Facebook's guidelines ensure consistency and neutrality and do not allow the suppression of political views. Policies also bar prioritisation of one story over another.
Gay marriages soon to take place on UK military bases

Gay marriages could soon be celebrated on military bases for the first time.

In a response to a parliamentary question, Minister for Armed Forces Penny Mordaunt revealed this week she had ordered a pilot study for Ministry of Defence sites to be registered for civil marriages and partnerships.

Christian Today reported last December that no same-sex couples in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force had been married in a military chapel in spite of regulations making provision for such ceremonies being passed two years ago. This was because all 12 of the "sending Churches" responsible for the supplying chaplains to minister in the country's 190 military chapels are opposed to same-sex marriage.

Labour MP Madeleine Moon tabled a written question to Mordaunt last December asking how many military chapels are registered to conduct same-sex marriages.

Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth and a Royal Navy reservist, replied at the time: "The Ministry of Defence allows same-sex marriages in military chapels, but none of the sending Churches using the chapels currently allows same-sex marriages to be conducted there.

"I have asked the chaplaincies of the three services to advise me on how Parliament's sanction of same sex-marriages may be fully implemented."

Moon then followed up with another question, to which Mordaunt replied that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 "reflects the Government's commitment that no religious organisation or representative will be forced to conduct or participate in same sex marriages."

She continued: "Recognising the established position of the Sending Churches which does not allow for the conduct of same-sex marriages within military chapels, I have recently directed that a pilot project is implemented to explore registering Ministry of Defence sites for civil marriages and partnerships; this includes same-sex unions. The timing of the project is being finalised but I anticipate that it will start shortly and run for a number of months."

A long-term ban on homosexual people in the armed services ended in 2000.

National Secular Society spokesman Keith Porteous Wood said: "Most people will be astonished that same-sex couples in the armed forces are denied the religious freedom to have a religious marriage in any military chapel, all of which are paid for from public funds.

"The law must be amended to prevent such marriages carried out by liberal religious organisations being vetoed by other religious denominations sharing the premises.

"Similarly, places of worship should have the legal freedom to conduct such marriages, under the principle of subsidiarity, as many do.

"The law should not be enforcing unpopular denominational religious discipline."
Hindus pray to their gods for Trump to win U.S. election, saying he's 'humanity's hope against Islamic terror'

Presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to be having a difficult time in convincing Republican leaders to support him in the November presidential election. However, in faraway country in Asia people are actually praying to their gods for him to win the election.

In India, members of a right-wing Hindu group lit a ritual fire and chanted mantras Wednesday asking the Hindu gods to help Trump win the U.S. presidential election, the Associated Press reports.

Trump appears to have endeared himself to Hindus after he called for a temporarily ban on Muslims entering America and a crackdown on extremist groups abroad.

"Only Donald Trump can save humanity," said Vishnu Gupta, founder of the Hindu Sena nationalist group which is spearheading a prayer campaign for Trump. "The whole world is screaming against Islamic terrorism, and even India is not safe from it," he added.

"Donald Trump is the man with brave heart. He vowed to destroy Islamic terrorism," Gupta said. "He is our hero and deserves our support."

Members of the group gathered in a New Delhi park, bringing a collection of statues depicting such Hindu gods as Shiva and Hanuman as well as photos of a smiling Trump with red dots daubed on his forehead.

They also hung a banner declaring their support for Trump "because he is hope for humanity against Islamic terror."

They chanted Sanskrit prayers asking the gods to favour Trump in the election. They also threw offerings such as seeds, grass and ghee into a small ritual fire.

Krishna Prasad, the editor of Outlook, says Indians are comparing the rise of Trump and the election of Narendra Modi as India's Prime Minister in 2014. "Both were outsiders, and both ran on a demonstrable record of getting things done," says Prasad, according to a CNN report.

"Modi and Trump tapped into the angst of the people. Trump's racist comments mirror things that have been said here as well," he adds, pointing to recent comments by ruling-party parliamentarians on Islam.

"Trump evokes all kinds of feelings in India," says S. Prasannarajan, editor of Open magazine.

"Indians admire his popularity, his success, his wealth. Indians aren't impacted by the Mexican borderthey are more taken by the idea of a strong leader who isn't always politically correct."
Indiana pro-life group installs boxes to save babies abandoned by their mothers

A pro-life organisation in Indiana is installing "baby boxes" for mothers who are considering abandoning their newborns.

Each box is temperature-controlled and padded. When a mom opens it, a call is automatically made to 911. When a baby is placed in the box and the mom shuts its door, it automatically locks and a second call is made to 911, according to LifeSite News.

Paramedics are then tasked to arrive within three to five minutes to take the baby to a hospital. Indiana's Child Protective Services will then take custody of the baby.

The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organisation was founded by Monica Kelsey, who was abandoned by her mom after she was born.

The organisation sponsors baby boxes placed outside state fire stations.

"As a child who was abandoned by my birth mother two hours after I was born, I am honoured that Christ has me spearheading a programme that will save the lives of abandoned children. This is truly in His honour!" she said.

Two baby boxes have been installed in Woodburn and Michigan City.

Indiana's Knights of Columbus aims to sponsor 100 boxes in the state with each box costing $2,000 each.

All U.S. states have "safe haven" laws which have saved hundreds of babies.

"In Arizona they have been using 'Baby Drawers' for 10 years, with great success, saving babies from abandonment by giving women complete anonymity. There have been countless lives saved by their programme," Kelsey said.

Indiana's Safe Haven Law gives a mom 30 days after giving birth to give her baby to authorities.

"There are options, and abortion does not need to be one of them," said Shawn Sullivan of the South Bend (IN) Life Center.

However, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) officials recommended that the baby boxes not be installed due to safety issues.

ISDH spokesperson Jennifer O'Mally told the Indianapolis Star that a study by child health experts said "there are no standards or protocols that can ensure the safety of children placed in these devices."

But Kelsey said the baby boxes have been tested and improved to comply with safety standards.
Irish Christian bakers ask appeals court to overturn discrimination ruling, saying gay cake violates their conscience

A Christian couple from Belfast, Northern Ireland who were found guilty of discrimination for refusing to make a gay-themed cake are asking a court to overturn the ruling, saying complying with the cake order would have violated their conscience.

The McArthur family, owner of the Ashers Baking Company in Belfast, seeks to overturn a court ruling last year over the case filed by LGBT activist Gareth Lee in 2014, according to The Irish Times.

"They could not in conscience provide a product with a message that was inconsistent with their deeply held religious beliefs in circumstances where the evidence was clear that they believed that to do so would be sinful," said Barrister David Scoffield QC.

Scoffield said the case was not about refusing to sell a cake but a refusal to sell a particular cake.

Lee, a member of the LGBT group Queer Space, ordered a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie with the phrase "Support Gay Marriage" for a private event to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.

He paid 36.50, or about $52 at Ashers' Belfast city centre branch. However, two days later he received a phone call from the company saying it could not make the cake.

Owner Karen McArthur, a born-again Christian, said in her heart, she knew she could not make the cake but accepted the order to avoid any confrontation.

Daniel McArthur said his family could not compromise their religious beliefs.

District Judge Isobel Brownlie ruled that the bakers violated the equality law and discriminated against Lee and ordered them to pay 500, or about $720, to Lee for damages.

Scoffield told the appeals court that the important questions was why the order was not fulfilled.

He said the case raises the issue of principle and to which extent those who have deep religious convictions can be required by law to act in a manner inconsistent with their beliefs.

"It makes it extremely difficult for any business such as a printer or someone who, as we have seen in this case, creates T-shirts or creates cakes, to run any kind of bespoke service if faced with the position that someone could come through your door and order something which is clearly objectionable," he said.
Is this the best theological resource a student could have?

Anyone who really wants to understand their faith and know how to apply it in the world has to read. Books are the most important weapon in the armoury of thinking people, whether they're pastors, theologians or just ordinary folk who want to ground their faith in knowledge.

But books are expensive. So are subscriptions to academic journals. And they go out of print, so really worthwhile material isn't easily available. If you're a pastor or a student in a developing country you can only dream of being able to browse the shelves of a top-class library with a collection built up over decades or centuries.

So Theology on the Web is an absolutely brilliant way of bringing the learning of the ages into the homes of anyone with an internet connection.

It's a project aimed at digitising and making freely available theological books that are out of copyright or where copyright has been waived. Books and articles are scanned, processed and indexed. Collaboration with journal publishers means that in total around 32,000 items are available for free downloads. There are seven linked websites under its banner, dealing with biblical studies, theological studies, the early Church, the mediaeval Church, the Reformation, biblical archaeology and missiology.

As well as actual articles, there are bibliographies that are invaluable to students. So, for instance, you can click on EarlyChurch.org.uk and go to 'Councils and Creeds'. Each Council and Creed has a section, with authors ranging from Ambrose to Wayne Grudem. Or go to TheologicalStudies.org.uk and you can search doctrines, philosophy, spirituality and much more besides. Want to find out more about Karl Barth? Click on 'Theologians', then there are books by Barth, books about him and bibliographies. There are also sections on denominational journals, and Theology on the Web also supports the STEP Bible software project run from Tyndale House, Cambridge.

For anyone interested in theology, this is paradise.

It's a massive project  and it's all the work of one man, who does it in his spare time.

Rob Bradshaw is a graduate of Bangor University and Mattersey Hall Bible College. He's passionate about Christian and church history and about making theological resources freely available for those who want them. He's in full-time employment, and he spends every free moment he's got working on Theology on the Web.

It began in 2003 when he started to upload his own articles onto the web. "It struck me that it was a waste of time because there was so much better stuff sitting on people's shelves," he tells Christian Today.

He started to write to authors and publishers of journals to ask if he could digitise them and was surprised at the positive response. Copyright is the main issue: in the UK it expires 70 years after an author's death, but in the US everything published before 1923 is in the public domain (after that it gets too complicated, he says). But many publishers were happy to see their books given a digital life after the demand for them in print had gone.

As things took off, people began to approach him and ask him to digitise their material. Just recently, Redcliffe College in Gloucester moved to a new building and passed on a thousand books from its library to Rob, which he's gradually working through.

It's gestures like this that mean the work is becoming increasingly demanding. He's learned how to scan and process books to get the best possible result, with high-quality black and white text and colour covers. But a 100-page book still takes him around two hours, and many are longer than that. He pays tribute to his wife, who takes more than her fair share of the domestic load and shares his passion to make these books available.

Rob is driven by a desire to help people learn from the best authors. "Students should read as widely as possible," he says. "They might disagree with who they're reading, but they should read the original, not just what people say about them.

"I do filter some stuff out. But I keep it as broad as possible because the essence of education is that you read very widely and make up your own mind."

That's one reason he's keen to keep the free-to-access model. "I'm independent, I have no axe to grind. I can include books by Calvinists and Arminians, Methodists and Anglicans  there's no conflict."

In a perfect world, he says, he'd be attracting enough support from a large number of small donors to make it possible for him to devote two or three days a week to the project. "More and more stuff is becoming available. This could become a major source for people to tap into if they're studying missiology, for instance."

Most importantly, the fact that the books are available for anyone with an internet connection means they can be accessed by people who can't get to libraries. "I've had contact with people from the Far East, South America, Africa  places where there's no access to journals," Rob says.

"I don't believe these resources should be restricted to university students."

Click here to find out how to support Theology on the Web.
Pakistani Christian boy on the run after $10,000 offered for his body

A fatwa has been declared against a young Christian boy in Pakistan after he was accused of blasphemy.

Imran is now on the run and a $10,000 reward has been offered for his body after Muslim colleagues accused him of watching an anti-Islamic video on this phone. Fellow Christians in his village in Punjab, Pakistan have been given three options: convert to Islam, leave the village forever, or hand over Imran so he can be burnt.

This is according to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) who help persecuted Christians in Pakistan. In a statement they say one of Imran's Muslim work colleagues, Bilal, took Imran's phone and looked up the anti-Islamic videos on YouTube. Imran was then accused of blasphemy for having the videos.

Imran was beaten and locked away, but was released by members of the local Catholic church.

However three days later Imran discovered that Bilal had explained the situation to Muslim scholars who had issued a fatwa against him. A fatwa is a religious decree and means it is permitted for Imran to be killed.

News of the fatwa spread and a decree was issued from the local mosque to encourage Muslims to impose a boycott on Christians. Shopkeepers have stopped selling food to resident Christians and a local businessman offered 10 lakh Pak-rupees (nearly $10,000) for his body. At this point Imran fled.

Local media outlets have now reported that Christians in Imran's village face a choice of convert, leave, or hand over Imran, according to CLAAS.

Nasir Saeed, director CLAAS UK, said local Muslims had "no right to impose any of these conditions".

He said: "I cannot believe that such things are still happening in this world. Such treatment towards Pakistani Christians is a slap on the face of the Punjab and central government, and to all those who never tire of telling the world that minorities are protected and enjoying equal rights in the country.

"I don't understand how watching a video on the internet can be criminalised as an act of blasphemy. And if this is blasphemy then all those who watch this video or any other videos against Islam have committed blasphemy and everyone should be arrested, charged and punished under the blasphemy law.

"I believe this is not an act of blasphemy and if people still think Imran has committed blasphemy then he should be punished according to the law. No one has any right to take the law into their own hands, harass local Christians, threaten them, burn Imran alive or force Christians to convert to Islam or leave the village.

"Such conditions from lay people make a mockery of the law. The Government of Pakistan must take this matter seriously, provide protection to the local Christians, and those who are breaking the law should be dealt according to the law."
Sudan releases pastor imprisoned without charge since December

An evangelical pastor held without charge in a Sudanese prison since December has been released, according to his brother.

Telahoon Nogose Kassa was one of two church leaders held by the authorities after they were arrested by Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services. The other, Rev Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour, vice-moderator of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC), remains in custody.

Kassa's brother wrote on his Facebook page: "Finally, Telahoon is released, thanks for your prayers and hope the rest will be released."

When the men were arrested Sudanese religious freedom activist Kamal Fahmi told World Watch Monitor, a persecution watch group, that the cases were "representative of a much larger campaign by Sudan's government to eradicate Christianity" since the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

Fahmi said Sudan had intensified the "indiscriminate harassment and arrests of church leaders and active church members". "Foreign Christian workers have been deported. Sudan has stopped the import of Christian literature and scriptures, while confiscating most of the Christian literature in the country and closing the only Christian bookshop in the capital Khartoum," he said.

Among other counter-Christian measures the Sudanese government announced in April 2013 that no new licences would be granted to build churches. Church building have been bulldozed on the grounds that they belonged to the South Sudanese.

Sudan is designated a Country of Particular Concern by the US State Department and is eighth on the 2016 Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted.

The country's president, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The non-apology: why it's corroding our public life

It's a sad, sad situation and it's getting more and more absurd. It's sad, so sad. Why can't we talk it over?

If you're wondering why my opening line here is familiar, that's because it's not my line. It's Elton John's. In one of his most famous lyrics, he goes on to say, "Oh it seems to me, that sorry seems to be the hardest word."

He's right of course. We all know how difficult it can be to apologise when we've done something wrong. Even if we didn't mean harm, saying sorry leaves us vulnerable. Yet, it's essential. Without apologising, breakdown in human relationships would be so much more common than it already is. On a bigger level, without apology, wounds which have run deep for generations are so much harder to heal. Think of the truth and reconciliation process in South Africa or the remarkable grace in the face of obscene racist violence demonstrated time and again in the Southern United States.

These brave examples of forgiveness make it all the more remarkable that one of the most common forms of apology in the 21st Century is actually the non-apology. You know the kind of thing. Rather than saying, "Sorry I did something wrong," a politician or celebrity will say, "I'm sorry for any offence caused."

There are variations on this theme, "Sorry that what I intended didn't happen," "Sorry that you had to find out this way," "Sorry that the reaction has been worse than I anticipated."

None of these are actually apologies for the action that took place. They're apologies for the way people reacted to the action or the circumstances surrounding the action. This is such a well-established performance that it now serves to highlight what's missing from such a statement  namely a recognition that something wrong was done and that there is contrition over the event itself  not just that the person is sad they got caught.

The latest example came from David Cameron. During Prime Minister's Questions he accused a Muslim leader from south London of being a supporter of Islamic State. Cameron said, "Suliman Gani. The honorable member for Tooting has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS."

When it became clear that Gani hadn't publicly done any such thing thing, the Prime Minister's spokesperson issued an apology. "The Prime Minister was referring to reports that he supports an Islamic state. The Prime Minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding."

Spot the non-apology? The Prime Minister apologises for any misunderstanding  as if it was those of us who heard his words and misunderstood them that were to blame for the error. Except we didn't misunderstand his words. We understood them perfectly well. Cameron accused Gani of being a supporter of IS and as far as we can tell, he isn't  in fact he has denied it.

Cameron is just the latest in a long line of non-apology issuers. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard recorded a bizarre video apology in which they used sincere words to apologise for bringing their dogs into Australia illegally. Their faces told another story, though. In fact, this week, Depp made fun of his own apology.

That's a relatively minor case. But the non-apology has a long track record. NPR has listed the development of one of the most famous non-apology phrases  "mistakes were made." Beginning with Ulysses S Grant in 1876, it has been used by Presidents of both parties in the aftermath of major errors.

Nixon used it after Watergate, Reagan said it after the disgraceful Iran-Contra affair, while Bill Clinton was also recorded as saying it during one of his numerous periods of contrition.

The non-apology is such a familiar trope in popular discussion that it's even spawned a mocking hashtag on Twitter - #SorryNotSorry. Checking out the tag reveals people doing something they're really not sorry about. That's the effect of the non-apology. It really functions to tell us that the person issuing it isn't actually sorry for what they've done at all.

Seth Myers has had enough of it. The comedian blasted non-apologists, including John Kasich and Hillary Clinton recently:

Non-apologies debase public debate. They strip an apology of all its meaning and worth  a way of weaseling out of something that's been done wrong. It doesn't sit well with us in the UK and the USA because we don't expect our public figures to be perfect, but we do want them to be sincere when they're wrong. In fact we need them to be, if we're to trust them in the future.

In a piece for the LA Times, Brendan Tapley draws on the Judeo Christian heritage of the two countries to explain why we despise a non-apology. "After all, the Jewish faith devotes one of its high holy days to atonement (Yom Kippur), and for Christians, Jesus Christ is best emulated through the sacrament of reconciliation, which hinges on the act of confession and asking for forgiveness." It's time our leaders remembered that, and acted accordingly. They could start with an apology for all the non apologies...
Trump rows back from Muslim ban after Sadiq Khan's attack: 'It was just a suggestion'

Donald Trump has rowed back from his "total and complete shutdown of all Muslims entering the US" and said the policy was "just a suggestion".

The presumptive nominee for the Republican nomination softened his stance in an interview with Fox News Radio after Sadiq Khan, London's new mayor who is a Muslim, expressed concern he would not be able to visit the US.

Trump said he would make an "exception" for Khan as he praised the Labour mayor's success. But Khan rejected Trump's offer and said the Republican's views on Islam were "ignorant" and would make the US and the UK "less safe".

Trump's softening comes just before he is due to meet the Republican house speaker, Paul Ryan, a self-proclaimed "compassionate conservative".

Ryan has previously criticised Trump's policy and his campaign more widely. A number of Republican leaders have now backed Trump, despite extensive efforts to support his rivals for the nomination. But Ryan is yet to endorse the Republican candidate, saying he is "not yet ready" to do so.

The shift in stance on the Muslim ban is not the first time Trump has changed his mind on a policy suggestion. Until recently though he has remained resolute. Last week he reiterated the ban, even if it hurt him at the polls.

"They're destroying Europe, I'm not going to let that happen to the United States," Trump said on Wednesday during an interview on Morning Joe on May 4.

"I don't care if it hurts me," he told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. "I'm doing the right thing. I've been guided by common sense, by what's right."

However since then Khan has won the London mayoral election and Ryan has refused to endorse his candidacy. Trump will meet Ryan, senator majority leader Mitch McConnell and other senior figures on Thursday in an attempt to resolve differences and unite the Republican party.
UK accused of 'enabling corruption' as Cameron hosts global summit

David Cameron has announced measures to tackle money-laundering after the UK was accused of facilitating global corruption through tax havens.

In an interview with Christian Today, a spokeswoman for Christian Aid said the "UK is enabling corruption around the world" and called on the Prime Minister to "focus on what he can actually do".

Spokeswoman Rachel Baird said: "Cameron should do what he can and start with tax havens the UK controls rather than lecturing other countries."

The first global anti-corruption summit is being held in London on Thursday. Ahead of the gathering the Prime Minister was caught on camera telling the Queen some "fantastically corrupt" countries were coming including "Nigeria and Afghanistan  possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world".

Baird said the UK was by no means the only country that facilitated corruption or even the worst but said Cameron could lead by example.

Cameron has said companies that own property in the UK will have to be declared on a new register. The government said the register would mean "corrupt individuals and countries will no longer be able to move, launder and hide illicit funds through London's property market, and will not benefit from our public funds".

Some of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies will join the register which will be available to the police. Christian Aid told Christian Today they wanted all UK-owned tax havens to sign up to the register and said it should be publicly available.

Ahead of the conference Cameron called the corruption "the cancer at the heart of so many of our problems in the world today". In an article for the Guardian he wrote: "It destroys jobs and holds back growth, costing the world economy billions of pounds every year.

"It traps the poorest in the most desperate poverty as corrupt governments around the world siphon off funds and prevent hard-working people from getting the revenues and benefits of growth that are rightfully theirs."

Ahead of the conference Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders wrote to the Prime Minister and said the UK was "among the main enables of corruption". They branded it a "moral outrage", a phrase Christian Aid agreed with. The charity has campaigned against tax havens extensively and said "transparency is a big part of the answer".

Baird told Christian Today: "Transparency tends to deter corruption. It rolls back secrecy."
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United Airlines passengers waiting to board flights at Bush Intercontinental Airport will be able to play electronic games, order food and drink and make other retail purchases without having to leave the gate under a new multimillion-dollar renovation plan being announced Thursday.

The plan, which includes the addition of some 8,000 iPads for public use in Bush's three United terminals, is based on a concept the carrier began implementing in 2014 at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Fliers can see some of the first new elements in Terminal E, where temporary versions of CIBO Express Gourmet Markets are selling healthy food options from local suppliers.

The most noticeable changes will be inside the Terminal C north concourse slated to open early next year.

"Houston was the next logical choice, and we will continue to look for opportunities to roll out this program where we can," United's vice president of corporate real estate, Gavin Molloy, said Wednesday.

Local chefs Restaurants in the C north concourse slated to open early next year at Bush Intercontinental Airport will have five local chefs helping with the restaurant concepts and menus. Roland Laurenzo of El Tiempo Cantina will create a taqueria.

Ryan Pera of Coltivare will bring local, seasonal pizzas to the terminal.

Chris Shepherd of Underbelly will open a Houston-focused tavern.

John Nguyen of Cajun Kitchen is known for merging Cajun seafood staples with Vietnamese flair.

Monica Pope of Beaver's will create a locally inspired panini bar. See More Collapse

"We really believe that the ground experience is an integral part of the traveler's journey."

Other upgrades at Terminals C, E and B South include lounge-style seats with USB power outlets and restaurants getting help from some of Houston's most notable chefs. In the new C North concourse, for instance, Roland Laurenzo of El Tiempo Cantina will create a taqueria; Ryan Pera of Coltivare will design local, seasonal pizzas; and Chris Shepherd of Underbelly will help open a tavern catering to the region's diverse tastes.

"We're working together to create the best customer experience," said Rick Blatstein, CEO of OTG, which will oversee the food, beverage and retail operations.

OTG invested more than $120 million in the Newark project. It hasn't released a price estimate for Bush Intercontinental but said it's a larger project.

United hopes upgrading its terminals will improve the customer experience. The airline ranked last among traditional carriers in the J.D. Power 2016 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, which was released Wednesday.

Jack Stelzer, a retired Houston-based airline consultant, said United's terminal upgrades will "somewhat temper the passengers' angst" after getting through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. Anything airlines can do to make travelers feel more comfortable and pampered is good, but United will still have to perform well operationally.

Travelers place a higher level of importance in arriving on time and with their luggage, Stelzer said.

OTG wants to give the airport terminals a strong Houston vibe.

"The Houston experience should be the Houston experience," Blatstein said. "That's why we work with local chefs."

He said the company watched Houston for two years to select these chefs.

"You guys have an amazing culinary scene," he said.

Chefs will help with the restaurant concepts and menus. They will also train chefs to work at the airport and connect OTG with local suppliers.

"We source where they source because you really can't get the flavor unless you're sourcing local," Blatstein said, emphasizing the company's desire to properly represent the chefs.

The dining and retail spaces are being designed by the Rockwell Group architecture firm. The terminals at Bush Intercontinental are expected to complete their transformations by 2021.

Randy Goodman, business development coordinator for the Houston Airport System, described United's partnership with OTG as "innovative and creative."

"The mission of the Houston Airport System is connecting the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston," Goodman said in an email. "We must continue to invest in our terminals to meet air traffic growth and the wants and needs of our customers."

This arrangement is possible because the terminals getting a makeover are leased entirely to United, Goodman said. The airline is responsible for all costs associated with these terminals and is responsible for managing concessions.

"This arrangement is advantageous for the city of Houston because it frees up capital and resources to be used elsewhere at the airport," he said in the email.
Last month, the Houston area-based car tuning brand Hennessey Performance Engineering shattered the record for the worlds fastest convertible. Their souped up Hennessey Venom GT reached a top speed of 265.6 mph, smashing an unofficial record for top-down cars.

Now the people behind the run have published a video on the supercars backstory. Professional driver Berian Smith made the run on a 2.9-mile runway at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California on March 25. The mad dash beat the previous record of 254 mph held by a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Vitesse by 11 mph.
As the old gag goes, Game of Thrones is like a Tweet: it's got 140 characters and usually ends with something horrible.

So far the show's makers have done an amazing job of casting all those characters  easily 140 of them  and in nearly every case, the actor embodies the role exactly as described by George RR Martin in his books.
The 69th Cannes Film Festival is upon us, a time where stars from around the world descend upon France for eleven days to walk the red carpet and check out the newest movies.

With each year just as glamorous as the last, stars have flocked to the south of France for this festival for nearly seven decades not just for the films but also to frolic in the sun, sign autographs for fans, or even splash around in a fountain - and we have the pictures to prove it.
The Dark Knight was spotted in broad daylight here in Houston Tuesday, far away from Gotham.

According to an image of the caped crusader discussed on Reddit, Batman was seen in front of the Houston Police Department, riding around in a Polaris Slingshot. The three-wheeled motorcycle is afar cry from the legendary Batmobile but still looks like fun to drive, nonetheless.
A man is in custody after a FedEx driver was carjacked Thursday in southeast Houston.

The incident happened about 11:10 a.m. in the 1500 block of West Bay Boulevard near the BayBrook Mall, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the driver was in her truck in a parking lot near a Toys R Us store when a man with a gun walked up and ordered her out of the truck and then drove away in it. A citizen saw the robbery and drove after the suspect.

The suspect headed north on the Gulf Freeway, possibly hitting a car, police said. He exited the freeway and turned into the parking lot of the Cedar Ellington apartments at 15603 North Freeway.

The citizen who was following the man told police the suspect abandoned the truck, jumped over a fence and ran into a nearby wooded area.

Police later took a man into custody, but it was unclear if he was the carjacking suspect. His name was not released.

No injuries were reported.
Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday morning at a large home in west Houston.

The fire broke out about 9:50 a.m. at a two-story home at 8899 Sandringham in the Memorial area just west of Memorial Park, said Capt. Ruy Lozano of he Houston Fire Department.

No injuries were reported.

Lozano said when firefighters arrived they saw heavy smoke billowing up from the house. They called for extra equipment and personnel.

Investigators have not yet determined what sparked he blaze.
Police are searching for two men who broke into a car dealership early Thursday morning along Interstate 45 in north Houston.

The incident occurred about 1 a.m. at Lone Star Ford at 8477 North Freeway, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston lice Department.
A 60-year-old man was taken into custody early Thursday morning following a nearly five-hour standoff with police after he had threatened a friend with a knife during an altercation at an apartment in southwest Houston.

The incident began about 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 3200 block of Norfork near Buffalo Speedway, said John Cannon, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department. It ended about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Cannon said the man and an acquaintance got into argument during the day that continued into the evening. At one point, the man grabbed a knife and threatened the other man, who escaped the apartment unhurt and called police.

The man who had been threatened told officers the other man was in the apartment and had a knife. Officers spotted the man with the knife on the apartment balcony. They asked him to come outside to talk about the fight, but the man refused and went back into the apartment.

The officers, Cannon said, tired to convince the man to leave the apartment, but the man ignored them. The officers called SWAT to the scene.

When SWAT officers arrived they also tried to coax the man outside but he continued to refuse to leave the apartment, Cannon said. After a few hours, SWAT officers went into the apartment to get the man, yet he refused to surrender. The officers shocked him with a Taser and he was taken into custody.

No injuries were reported.

Cannon said the man will likely be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the fight with his acquaintance. No information about what sparked that argument was released.
Poor Jose. After more than a decade of prominence at the top of Texas' list of popular male baby names, its decline in the past few years has been swift and steady.

From 1996 to 2009 Jose was number one, meaning right now, at this very instant, there is likely at least one Texas teacher calling for "Jose" and attracting a crowd.
Early Tuesday evening, the T.J. Martell Foundation hosted its inaugural "Let's Talk Houston!" dinner on B&B Butchers rooftop at sunset. While there no performances during the leukemia, cancer, and AIDS research organization's first fete  founder Tony Martell's "Music's Promise for a Cure" non-profit began in 1973 after industry veterans including Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington hosted a nightclub fundraiser in homage to his son, T.J.  chatter, food, and breathtaking views of downtown's skyline were plentiful.

Guest "hosts" Scott and Kimberly Bayley, Hunter Bell, Ray Benson, Christian Boehm, Kathy Bracewell, Elizabeth Swift Copeland, Sam Dekker, Chris Goins, GONZO247, Kevin Hodge, Jackie Wallace, Travis Lenig, Luca Manfe, Henry Richardson, Dominique Sachse, Dr. Karan Sra, Dr. Samantha Robare-Stout, Lou Savarese, and Hunter Yurachek kept 150 diners entertained at distinctively individual tables.
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One of four affluent young men known as "Los Porkys" was arrested Wednesday night on allegations that he raped an underage girl.

Enrique Capitaine Marin, a former Woodlands resident, was detained in Mexico, in San Isidro, Torreon, after being spotted at a coffee shop. Marin, who attended College Park High School in The Woodlands, was originally believed to have been hiding in the Houston area.

Luis Bravo, Veracruz's Attorney General, on Thursday told Mexican station Radio Formula that the arrest comes one month after Mexican authorities employed the assistance of Interpol, which helped to locate three of the four members of the notorious "Los Porky's" crew.

This group has elicited outrage in Mexico, with people saying that the suspects received preferential treatment due to their affluent families.

"The young men have been labeled the 'Porkys of Costa de Oro' on social media, and presumably belong to a criminal group composed of 'Juniors,' the privileged children of government officials and the wealthy upper class," Sinembargo news site reported.

Daphne Fernandez said she was raped in Veracruz in January 2015, but a criminal complaint was not filed until May, 2015.

"Every attorney I've spoken to has told me that my daughter's testimony, the videos, and other evidence we have presented should have been enough to have these men apprehended a week after the formal complaint," Daphne's father, Javier Fernandez, told the New Yorker.

Daphne was 17 years old at the time of the attack. She was reportedly outside of a nightclub in Veracruz when she was forced into a black Mercedes, raped and taken to the residence of a suspect where she was again attacked.

The girl's father said the rape of his daughter was ignored for months because of the suspects' powerful families.

He's called upon the help of the press to get the word out.
Fewer children are enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten program and quality is low but Texas is investing slightly more money in early education than it did the year before.

Those are the takeaways from the National Institute for Early Education Research report released Thursday finding modest gains in enrollment, quality and funding for pre-K across the country, but a mixed bag for Texas over the 2014-15 school year.
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A group opposing the plan to rename seven public schools named after people with connections to the Confederacy is threatening a lawsuit if the Houston Independent School District does not suspend Thursday's scheduled vote on the issue.

In a letter to HISD lawyer David Thompson, attorney Daniel Goforth says the school board's vote "violates its own regulations."

The resolution does not identify the source of funding for renaming the campuses, which Goforth contends will cost millions of dollars to the taxpayer.

In the latest wrinkle in the ongoing controversy of the school names, Goforth said his firm is representing a group of community members along with alumni and students of the schools that HISD is planning to rename.

The suggested names were produced by committees of parents, teachers, students, alumni and community leaders, HISD officials said.

BACKGROUND: HISD releases list of proposed school name changes

But Goforth alleged the community preferences were rejected by the school board in favor of their own predetermined choices.

Some of the schools were named for leaders of the Confederacy, like Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis. Others on the list don't meet that standard, such as Sidney Lanier, who is known more for his poetry than his military service in the Civil War.

In his letter, Goforth said HISD had no set criteria and "cherry picked" the schools it wanted to rename. He contended the district "morphed the criteria for selecting schools to be renamed from schools named after Confederate leadership to mere participants."

Goforth said his clients will initiate legal proceedings unless HISD withdraws the renaming plan until the total cost is identified and an objective standard of the person's participation in the Confederacy is determined.
Cody Duty/Staff

Harris Health Systems is confirming that a hidden camera was found in a staff restroom May 5 at Ben Taub General Hospital.

Hospital staff turned the camera over to Houston police.
Standing in front of a house and acting suspicious while carrying drugs is a pretty good way to get the attention of the police.

Letting police know there are more drugs, as well as guns, inside the house will definitely command police interest.
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BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Safer, '60 Minutes' mainstay, to retire

NEW YORK - CBS News veteran Morley Safer, a "60 Minutes" correspondent for all but two of the newsmagazine's 48-year history, said Wednesday that he's retiring from television.

The network will mark the occasion with an hour-long special on Safer's career Sunday after the regular edition of "60 Minutes."

"It's been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air," Safer said. "But most of all I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast."

Safer's first report on "60 Minutes" in 1970 was about the training of U.S. sky marshals. His 919th and last, a profile of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, was broadcast in March. At 84 and dealing with health issues, Safer had cut back on work in recent years and was seen in a wheelchair at fellow correspondent Bob Simon's funeral last year.

He was a London bureau chief for CBS News in the late 1960s before joining "60 Minutes."

SOUTH CAROLINA

Officer indicted in shooting death of black motorist

CHARLESTON - A former North Charleston, police officer was indicted Wednesday on federal civil rights charges in the shooting death last year of an unarmed black motorist.

In a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, the former officer, Michael T. Slager, already facing state murder charges in the death of Walter L. Scott, was accused of violating Scott's civil rights, obstructing justice and unlawfully using a weapon during the commission of a crime.

The case drew national attention in April 2015 when a video of the encounter, shot by a bystander, was released. The video showed Scott being shot after a traffic stop. Slager, 34, who is white, had pulled Scott, 50, over for a broken brake light, and said he had fired because he feared for his life after Scott grabbed his Taser.

But the video showed Scott running away after a brief scuffle, and Slager firing eight times.

NEW YORK

Lotto lightning strikes 2nd time for father of 3

WEST BABYLON - A construction worker who won $1 million in a lottery scratch-off game four years ago has defied enormous odds by hitting a $1 million jackpot again.

But don't call him lucky.

After Bruce Magistro hit the jackpot the first time in 2012, his wife, Yvonne, lost a three-year battle with cancer. Much of the prize money went to pay for her medical bills.

"This is definitely a gift, from her to him," his son, Nick Mayers, said.

State lottery officials introduced Magistro at a news conference at the Long Island gas station where he bought the second winning ticket April 11.

"This is impossible," Magistro said he thought as he scratched off a lottery ticket and realized he won $1 million. "I just couldn't believe I hit it two times."

He now plans to share his winnings with his three children and his fiancee.

Magistro won $1 million on a different lottery scratch-off game he played at the same gas station in 2012.

VETERANS

Bill honoring female pilots sent to Obama

WASHINGTON - Congress has sent President Barack Obama a bill that would allow female World War II pilots known as WASPs to continue placing their ashes at Arlington National Cemetery.

The House approved the bill Wednesday hours after it cleared the Senate by voice vote. The legislation won broad support from Republicans and Democrats.

"It's been just 19 weeks since the Army's decision to kick out our pioneering female World War II pilots was brought to light, and we've been fighting ever since," said Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., one of the bill's sponsors and a retired Air Force fighter pilot.

The WASPs served in a unit called Women Airforce Service Pilots. They flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat.

ITALY

Parliament OKs law to recognize same-sex unions

ROME - After decades of struggle by gay rights groups, and months of contested political negotiations, the Italian Parliament gave final approval Wednesday to a law recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples.

The vote - 372-51, with 99 abstentions - was followed by long applause in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament. At the Trevi Fountain in Rome, people with rainbow flags gathered to celebrate.

Nearly every Western country has legalized same-sex marriage or some form of civil union for gays and lesbians. Italy was perhaps the most prominent exception.

NEPAL

After disastrous 2 years, 9 guides conquer Everest

KATHMANDU - Nine Nepalese guides reached the top of Mount Everest on Wednesday, becoming the first climbers in two years to conquer the world's highest mountain after two successive natural disasters.

Nepal Mountaineering Department official Gyanendra Shrestha, who is at the base camp, said the group reached the 29,035-foot summit on Wednesday.

The Nepalese Sherpa guides are hired by expeditions to carry equipment and fix ropes on the icy and rocky slopes for the use of the foreign climbers.

Nepal is hoping for a safe 2016 season on Everest, after an avalanche caused by an earthquake killed 19 climbers and injured 61 others at base camp last year. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche above the base camp.

SYRIA

ISIS forces again advancing upon historic Palmyra

BEIRUT - Islamic State militants advanced toward the central Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday, threatening to besiege the world-famous ancient site several weeks after the government recaptured it from the extremists.

Media allied with the IS group and other activists said the militants seized a strategically located but deserted rocket-launching site close to an air base less than 40 miles from Palmyra. For the government forces, the capture effectively severs a highway linking Palmyra to the provincial capital Homs, threatening government supply routes.

The IS advance on Palmyra comes despite a partial cease-fire with the mainstream opposition militias.

From wire reports
The list of celebrities and major political figures mentioned in the Panama Papers grew again this week. They captured a wizard last night, with the addition of Harry Potter star Emma Watson to the leaks.

She joins celebrities from Simon Cowell to Jackie Chan to Lionel Messi who have been tied to the tax fraud leak by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca. A number of politicians have appeared in the leaks including Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, who stepped down after their release.
DALLAS -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday called for all Republicans in the state to support presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, using his first convention speech as governor to explain why the party should not allow Hillary Clinton to be elected president.

Abbott, who had endorsed hometown favorite Ted Cruz in the 2016 GOP primary, did not mention Trump in his speech, but he repeatedly criticized the likely Democratic nominee and urged a unified approach to defeating her.

"Ted may have come up short, but that does not end the war. America does not have the luxury to get this election wrong," said Abbott, ticking off major issues such as gun rights, energy production and the in-limbo U.S. Supreme Court before adding, a bit somberly, "We need to come to grips with the reality."

The explanation of the governor's position took up much of his time, although it was far from the most well-received part of a fiery 35-minute speech in which Abbott defended his call for a Convention of States, laid out part of his agenda for next year's legislative session and entered the debate over the bathroom rights for transgender Americans.

Abbott, who before Thursday had remained mostly quiet on the nationwide battle over a North Carolina law requiring people to go to the bathroom of the gender of which they were born, went all in on the issue in his speech. Alluding to a lawsuit that the U.S. Department of Justice has filed against the law, Abbott said that "Obama is turning bathrooms into courtroom issues."

"I want you to know that I am working with the governor of North Carolina," Abbott said, "and we are going to fight back."

There was plenty of other red meat in the speech to thousands of Republicans gathered here to approve a party platform and elect delegates to the national GOP convention. Abbott also promised that during next year's session he would fight to prohibit the transfer of fetal tissue from abortions and to end so-called "sanctuary cities" with more lenient policies for deporting undocumented immigrants.

He also defended his call for a Convention of States to add provisions to the Constitution such as a balanced budget amendment and the power of states to overturn the Supreme Court, an idea that is a major part of the book that Abbott governor is unveiling at the convention.

The governor acknowledged some fears among conservatives that the convention would go too far, noting that "it takes just 13 states to block any radical idea."

"Now is the time to restore our Constitution," he said.
DALLAS  Texas' 5th Court of Appeals, in an unusual hearing with every available judge present, on Thursday questioned whether the criminal securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton may be flawed because of the way the grand jury that indicted him was chosen.

Paxton's attorney asked the court to dismiss the felony charges because a judge included "volunteers" on the grand jury, instead of randomly quizzing potential jurors. He also argued that the law under which Paxton was indicted is preempted by a federal law and effectively has been repealed.

"Quite simply, the court did not follow the rules," Bill Mateja, Paxton's attorney, told the nine justices present to hear arguments in an expedited hearing requested by the attorney general. Normally, three justices hear such appeals.

Justice Molly Francis, who noted that she had selected many juries as a state district judge, questioned why using volunteers would be reason to toss the indictments.

"Isn't this just an effective use of a judge's time?" she asked.

Special Prosecutor Brian Wice insisted the grand jury selection did not violate any laws or procedures. "This was as random a grand jury (selection) as I've seen in 35 years of practice," he said.

And while other judges also quizzed Mateja and Wice about the way the grand jurors were selected, questioning whether it caused Paxton any real legal harm, Chief Justice Carolyn Wright expressed concern that thousands of other criminal cases may have to be tossed if the court were to agree with Paxton's argument.

"Every case decided by that grand jury would have to be dismissed ... and any case in this state where a judge" selected jurors in the same manner could be affected, as well, she said.

Mateja agreed, but said the Legislature has mandated specific selection methods for grand jurors that were not followed in Paxton's case.

"It is better to nip it in the bud now rather than to let it fester," he told the court.

Paxton, who was elected in November 2014 and indicted in July 2015, is accused of recruiting customers for a friend's investment firm without being registered with the State Securities Board as an "investment adviser representative," a third-degree felony. He admitted to the violation and paid a $1,000 fine to the State Securities Board in 2014.

Mateja, however, argued that state law has been invalidated by a federal law under which the firm Paxton was representing was registered. Wice countered that the state law is separate and enforceable.

Paxton also faces two first-degree felony fraud charges for allegedly encouraging investors, including a fellow lawmaker, to buy stock in a Collin County technology start-up in 2011 without disclosing he was being compensated by the company.

Separately, Paxton is being sued over the same allegations in federal court by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which says Paxton acknowledged receiving 100,000 shares in the technology company known as Servergy as a gift from the CEO, who had offered to pay him for recruiting investors.

Last year, Paxton's attorneys unsuccessfully tried to convince the district court judge presiding over the state case to throw out the indictments. No date has been set for a ruling by the appeals court, but attorneys suggested it could come by late summer.

"This is not about the criminalization of politics, it's about the criminalization of securities fraud," Wice said before the hearing, in response to suggestions that the prosecution is politically motivated.

Paxton, in his first detailed public comments about the case, late Wednesday posted a video online proclaiming his innocence and asserting that he will be vindicated if the case gets to trial. He also suggested he was being targeted because of his Christian conservative beliefs.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said.

On Thursday, Paxton, dressed in a dark suit, powder blue shirt and Republican-red tie, remained stoic on the front row of the courtroom as his attorney argued to dismiss the charges. Afterward, speaking to reporters in a hall, he complained the case involves "false charges" and predicted, "We will prevail."

Mateja echoed that, saying he expected the charges to be dismissed eventually.

While he would not predict how the appeals court will rule, Mateja said Thursday "was a good day for the home team and a good day for Ken Paxton."
DALLAS - The soul-searching path to accepting Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee is on full display at the Texas GOP convention, as party leaders try to rally the thousands of delegates here to remember their common enemy.

Gov. Greg Abbott, still bragging about his crushing defeat of Wendy Davis in 2014, used his time on the convention stage to bash Hillary Clinton and warn the delegates about what her administration could bring. Abbott brought all the red meat for his friendly audience: She's going to take away your guns, kill energy jobs, and force liberal social values down Texans' throats.

"We need to come to grips with the reality," Abbott said of the state of the Republican race. And later: "We must defend the Constitution by defeating Hillary."

In reality, a Clinton White House would assuredly prompt Texas leaders to file a bevy of new lawsuits over the next four years  a process that has become rote to them but still fires up the base that attends conventions. Abbott basically promised as much when he fondly recalled how many times he sued the federal government as Texas attorney general, but he also warned the delegates not to let all his work go to waste. He did not file 31 lawsuits on behalf of the state so that Clinton could continue President Barack Obama's policies another four years, Abbott told the crowd.

Still, above all, Abbott said he wanted a Republican in the White House. He just never mentioned that Republican by name. Every honest projection, of course, puts Texas in the Republican column for the general election, and everyone here knows that. Which is what makes it possible for Abbott and other state leaders here to say merely that they have to unite against Clinton, all the while receiving rapturous applause. Texas is not going to be a crucial battleground state, so less may be more when it comes to Trump here, at least when it comes to the state's top leaders.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick echoed the sentiment during his speech, though he ratcheted up the threat of Clinton winning Texas in November and actually mentioned Trump's name.

"I know the time of healing will come to some faster than others, but, folks, we must unite," he said. "We must support our Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump. We must not give up Texas to the Democrats."

The Republican Party of Texas' convention is the first step in the healing process, and the messages from the state's No. 1 and No. 2 to their party's activists seem to be: get there however you want, but please get there with us.
DALLAS -- Under a spinning display of red, white and blue lights, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged the Texas GOP convention on Thursday to support Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee.

During a 15-minute speech, he rallied Republican attendees on the opening day of the state convention to get active ahead of a presidential election that would shape "the future of the world."

And he pledged he would push a strong conservative agenda in the state Legislature when it reconvenes in 2017, aimed at bathrooms, more border security, lower cost of education and lower property taxes.

"We will fight to keep Texas the leader of the free world in conservative values," he said.

Patrick kicked off his talk with jesting remarks on transgender bathroom rights, and he promised legislation "to keep men out of women's bathrooms, locker rooms, showers"  a cause that the former talk radio host has passionately adopted since it erupted in Houston last fall over questions of bathroom use for transgender people.

"It is great to be at the largest Republican convention on the planet," Patrick said. "And not one man wants to use the ladies room."

His focus on the topic comes after it has surged in national prominence, following a series of state laws targeting transgender bathroom use, and debate of the issue on the presidential campaign trail. Patrick alleges that if localities allow transgender people to use the bathrooms that suit their gender identity, male criminals will take advantage of the policy, dress up like women and enter their bathrooms.

He described a hypothetical scene of an 8-year-old girl who couldn't use a public restroom without fear of "a boy walking in on her."

Legislation barring that scenario was just one accomplishment Patrick, who as lieutenant governor presides over the state senate, predicted for the next session.

To prove it would happen, he stressed his fulfillment of campaign promises in the previous session. He said senate Republicans reduced the number of Democrats chairing committees from six to two, passed an open carry law, nixed the state's public integrity unit, made modest reductions in property taxes and approved $800 million spending on border security.

"We need someone in the White House to partner with us to close down the border once and for all," he said. "I don't know if Mexico is going to pay for the wall or who is going to pay for the wall, but we need a wall."

The Legislature, he said, would "make college affordable for every family in the state of Texas," after tuition has risen 140 percent in the last two decades.

Property taxes will come down by lowering the budgets of Texas cities, counties and school districts, he said.

Patrick sung the praise of Sen. Ted Cruz  the former presidential candidate who Patrick supported on the campaign trail  and foresaw a bright future for the Texas firebrand, who he called the fresh leader of a conservative movement.

Still, he told Cruz fans in the room that healing would mend the wounds wrought by Cruz's loss to Trump, and that the time would soon come for them to vote Trump and block the Democrats from a third White House term.

If Trump wanted to unite the fractured GOP base, Patrick suggested, he should nominate Cruz to the Supreme Court.

"Ted would be the greatest Supreme Court justice in the history of our country," he said.

Looking ahead to coming three days of convention, Patrick said it should be an opportunity to unify the party, put aside their differences from the presidential primary and get ready to fight together in the general election. The convention would focus on honing "Texas values," he said, and on developing "boldness and courage to stand our ground on every issue."

"The world depends on a strong American, and America depends on a strong Texas," he said. "They see Texas as the America that all America used to be."
Thousands of the most fervent Texas Republicans will gather in Dallas Thursday through Saturday to decide what kind of party they want to belong to.

After a bruising Republican presidential campaign that saw Sen. Ted Cruz, their favorite son, concede the race to New York mogul Donald Trump, the Republican Party of Texas convention this week is sure to include some fireworks. Above are a few things to watch for:
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Houston has retaken the top spot when it comes to dogs attacking postal workers. Although we've reclaimed the title from Los Angeles, it's obviously not something to brag about.

Each year the United States Postal Service releases a list of cities that have the most reports of dogs biting postal workers.

In 2015, Houston led the pack (pardon the pun) with 77 total dog attacks on postal workers, up from just 63 attacks in 2014, according to the postal service. Nationwide, 6,549 postal employees were arracked by dogs last year, the USPS said.

The annual report always coincides with National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which aims to get the word out about dog attack prevention. Sadly some dog attacks can prove fatal for the very young and the elderly.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs annually and half of those victims are children.

THE 2014 REPORT: Houston comes in second for dog bites on postal workers

In most years, Houston and Los Angeles trade places as the top dog-bite city, but in 2015, Los Angeles fell to the No. 4 spot, with San Diego and Cleveland, Ohio, tied for second place.

Los Angeles beat out the Bayou City in 2014 with 74 attacks. But last year, the City of Angels had 19 fewer dog attacks than in 2014, with just 56 reported.

Dallas was tied for third place with Chicago in 2015 with 57 dog attacks. Fort Worth and San Antonio tied for tenth place with 39 dog attacks.

Dogs attacking postal workers or anyone for that matter is a problem that needs to be addressed.

To help address the problem of dogs attacking postal workers, representatives from Houston's animal shelter and adoption facility, BARC, routinely take part in postal service training exercises to educate carriers on how to diffuse and prevent situations with certain four-legged troublemakers.

RELATED: Dogs that have bitten the most people

The USPS always reminds customers to keep their animals secured if a postal workers comes by. They also note that to some dogs children taking mail from a stranger can be construed as a threatening act to a dog.

In the event that a postal worker feels threatening by a dog at a residence its possible that the customer might be asked to instead pick up their mail at their local post office until assurances are made that the dog will be secured.

We're not sure if its the color blue of the uniforms but dogs and postal workers seem to have had a bad relationship over the years. It's possible that dogs can smell bills and are trying to protect us.

The top cities in the United States for dog attacks on USPS employees

1.Houston

2.San Diego / Cleveland, OH

3.Chicago / Dallas

4.Los Angeles

5.Louisville

6.Kansas City

7.Philadelphia

8.Columbus, OH

9.Portland, OR

10.Fort Worth / San Antonio
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The battle between Donald Trump and Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore slammed into high gear this week after the presumed Republican presidential candidate dismissed Moore as "truly a terrible representative" of Evangelicalism.

In an acerbic Monday Tweet, Trump also characterized Moore as "A nasty guy with no heart!" reports the Christian Post.

Moore, who is president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has consistently argued throughout the primary season that evangelical Christian voters should not support Trump as the lesser of two evils.

On Sunday, he appeared on CBS News' "Face the Nation," where he opined that Trump's rise in Republican politics reflects an "embrace of the very kind of moral and cultural decadence that conservatives have been saying for a long time is the problem."

Further, Moore asserted that conservatives "now are not willing to say anything when we have this reality television moral sewage coming through all over our culture."

Meanwhile, Religion News Service reports that evangelicals may have a hard time determining how to vote in November now that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz folded his bid for the Republican nomination.

Cruz, a member of Houston's First Baptist Church, actively courted conservative Christians as he battled more than a dozen other candidates for the Republican title.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

A Battleground Poll, the news service says, found that those who attend church at least once weekly favored Trump over Clinton by 9 percentage points; among those who attend less often, slightly more than 5 percent favored Clinton.

Other studies showed that declining but still substantial numbers of "born again Christians" may opt not to vote.

Reuters news service reports than 20 percent of self-identified born-again Christians would abstain from casting ballots in November; 23 percent who worship weekly said they would not vote.

A Barna Group survey recently found Trump has a minus-38 percent favorability rating among evangelicals; Clinton, minus-61 percent.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
Say what you will about newly minted London mayor Sadiq Khan, but the man has chutzpah. When likely Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that he would make an exception to his hypothetical Muslim travel ban and welcome Khan to the United States, Khan demurred. Donald Trump and those around him think that Western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam, the Muslim mayor said. London has proved him wrong.

Khans assurances about mainstream Islam in Britain are undermined by the findings of an extensive recent survey of British Muslims. The study, conducted in connection with an April 2016 documentary, What British Muslims Really Think, shows that hundreds of thousands of Khans countrymen hold views utterly incompatible with those of free societies on matters of jihadism, politics, and culture. Consider that, of the 1,081 individuals surveyed to represent the views of Britains more than 3 million Muslims:

Only 74 percent completely condemn suicide bombing to fight injustice; Only 66 percent completely condemn stoning those who commit adultery; Only 53 percent completely condemn violence against those who mock Muhammad; Only 34 percent would contact police if they believed someone close to them was involved with jihadism; 23 percent believe Sharia law should replace British law in areas with large Muslim populations; 52 percent believe homosexuality should be illegal; 31 percent believe polygamy should be legal; 39 percent believe women should always obey their husbands; 35 percent believe Jews have too much power in the UK.

These indicators only confirm how seeds of Islamist supremacism have spread throughout British society; chilling episodes over the last decade have made the dangers clear. Britons remember, of course, the 7/7 jihadist attacks in London in 2005, but much more recently, at least 1,500 British Muslims have emigrated to join ISIS, and outspoken Islamist cleric Anjem Choudary has been charged with supporting the group. In 2014, the Rotherham Borough Council released a report detailing a sexual-abuse scandal in which at least 1,400 children from 1997 to 2013 were raped by multiple perpetrators, abducted, trafficked to other cities in England, beaten and intimidated. Reportedly, those who knew of the crimes remained silent for fear of being called racists, as the perpetrators were Muslim immigrants.

Also in 2014, a government investigation uncovered Operation Trojan Horse, an organized effort to Islamize Birmingham schools. Such episodes would not have come as a surprise to anyone who read British journalist Melanie Phillipss 2007 book, Londonistan.

As Daniel Johnson writes of Sadiq Khans hometown:

Here in London, which is home to about a third of British Muslims (including thousands of migrants who live below the radar of the authorities), we have already seen the assertion of power by political Islam. The takeover of Tower Hamlets by a corrupt Islamist politician, Lutfur Rahman, may be a harbinger of things to come. Last year he was removed from office by special commissioners, but for five years Rahman and his cronies ran a borough of nearly 300,000 people, distributing a budget of more than 1 billion. . . . The Muslim block vote is such a formidable electoral force that for Islamists to dominate a city it does not need to have a Muslim majority.

Khan, Johnson writes, has worked hard at projecting a moderate image as a modern, liberal Muslim with no sectarian baggage. He no longer protests, as he did in 2004, that Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi perhaps the most influential preacher in the whole Islamic worldis not an extremist. . . . He has carefully distanced himself from Babar Ahmad, who was later convicted of terrorist offences, and other extremists with whom he was once associated. Khans other dubious associations are worth noting. He reportedly shared a platform on at least nine occasions with alleged Islamic State-supporting South London cleric Suliman Gani; attended a 2006 rally against the publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad, headlined by Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood-linked Dr. Azzam Tamimi, who threatened fire . . . throughout the world if publishers failed to cease running such cartoons; represented anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in an attempt to overturn the U.K.s ban on his entrance to the country; and consulted with the defense team for Zacharias Moussaoui, the would-be twentieth hijacker of 9/11.

Johnson chronicles Khans extensive record as a solicitor representing Islamic extremists. Most notoriously, he spoke in favor of incorporating Sharia law into the British legal system in 2004, saying, There are some . . . uncontroversial areas of Islamic law which could easily be applied to the legal system . . . in the UK. One of these uncontroversial areas was polygamy, the recognition of which would allow Muslim husbands in the U.K. to enjoy tax exemptions on inheritance for multiple spouses. Khan also spoke out against laws stopping forced marriages. And in a 2009 interview with Irans English-language Press TV, Khan referred to so-called moderate Muslims as Uncle Toms.

Does all of this reflect compatibility between Londons mainstream Islam and Western liberalism? The most charitable interpretation of Khans words and actions would be similar to that taken by the Obama administration regarding Irans jihadist leadersthat their words are merely for domestic political consumption to appease the hardliners. Yet, even if one accepts such rationalizations, the existence of such a powerful contingent of hardlinersin Khans case, in the heart of the Westis hardly reassuring.

Khan has spoken of how he will back Britains Jews when it comes to the challenges the Jewish community will face, and reportedly believes his disgraced anti-Semitic Labour Party colleagues ought to undergo training on tackling anti-Semitism. Khan also previously voted for gay marriage, which puts him further at odds with the Islamists with whom he has interacted in the past. Could it be that his liberal words and gestures are the ones meant for domestic political consumption?

Either way, Khans response to Trump was telling, especially when he said: Trumps ignorant view of Islam could make both of our countries [the U.S. and Great Britain] less safeit risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of extremists. Here, he uses the same rhetoric as other Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups in the West, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which paints Westerners as aggressors who incite jihadism with their words, instead of holding jihadists responsible for their own savagery.

If Sadiq Khan truly wishes to separate himself from Islamists and establish himself as a Western liberal, he would proclaim that words and cartoons dont kill people, jihadists do, and that totalitarian Islamist ideology has no place in Western democratic societies. And if Khans London really is the bastion of liberalism that he claims, he will be joined by thousands of Muslims in support of such words and efforts. We probably shouldnt hold our breath.

Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images
Peste 300 de liceene s-au inscris in Startup School si sunt gata sa invete bazele antreprenoriatului tehnologic. Vezi cum a fost la evenimentul de lansare a programului national de educatie antreprenoriala
Intact Financial Corp. may post insured losses of as much as C$1.1 billion ($850 million) from the wildfires in Alberta, which could dent the Canadian economy harder than Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S.

Intact, Canadas biggest property and casualty insurer, said the damage claims will lead to net losses of C$130 million to C$160 million, or as much as C$1.20 a share, according to a company statement Monday. Jaeme Gloyn, an analyst with National Bank of Canada Financial, estimated the C$1.1 billion figure based on the companys per-share data. The Toronto-based insurer had net income of C$147 million in the first quarter.

The devastation brought on by the wildfires is unprecedented, Intact Chief Executive Officer Charles Brindamour said in the statement. The scope of the damage and destruction that we have observed in recent days is a reminder of the important role we play in getting our customers back on track.

The fires have covered 965 square miles and devastated the town of Fort McMurray, which was evacuated last week. Its likely to be the costliest natural catastrophe in Canadian history, Fitch Ratings said Monday in a statement.

Insured Losses

Industrywide insured losses could reach C$9 billion, according to reports from Bank of Montreal and others. With Canadas 2016 gross domestic product estimated at $1.8 trillion, or about 10 percent of U.S. GDP, the disaster could be bigger on a relative basis than Katrina, based on an analysis by Imperial Capital. Katrina, the storm that hit New Orleans in 2005, cost $60.5 billion, according to data from Munich Reinsurance and the Insurance Information Institute.

The flames are scorching a region thats home to oil and gas producers including Suncor Energy Inc. and Cnooc Ltd.s Nexen. At least 1,600 homes and structures have been damaged. Thats more than triple the number from the Slave Lake Fire in Alberta in 2011, previously the countrys most costly fire and third-most expensive catastrophe, according to Aon Plc.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley plans to tour the city Monday to assess the damage. Losses could be multiples higher than the Slave Lake fire, in part due to the greater average home price in Fort McMurray, Fitch said.

Intacts Estimates

Intacts damage estimates imply industry-insured losses of C$4 billion to C$7 billion, according to a report Monday from National Bank of Canada.

Intact rose 0.5 percent to C$87.92 at 3:04 p.m. in Toronto after falling four straight days last week, the longest streak since January, as the fires spread.

Intact will easily earn their way through the impact of Fort McMurray wildfires, Gloyn wrote in a report.

Intact said the assessment of insured damages, which was made using satellite imagery and exposure geocoding technology, is still early and assumes the wildfires wont return to Fort McMurray. The company received about 19 percent of its premiums from Alberta as of last quarter. RSA Insurance Group Plc and Allianz SEs Canadian unit are among other insurers that have been hurt by losses and claims from the fires, which forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Bad weather moved into the Ohio River Valley on Tuesday after a series of powerful storms hit the Plains, including deadly tornadoes that destroyed homes and overturned vehicles in Oklahoma.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith said Tuesdays risk was not as great as it was Monday, when about two dozen tornadoes were reported across six states. In southern Oklahoma, crews were assessing damage from a tornado blamed for two deaths that sliced through two counties at speeds of between 135 mph and 165.

Theres a home where basically theres no walls left, Smith said. Everything that used to be the home is just a pile of rubble, so theres no roof, theres no walls  theres just kind of the foundation where the home used to be.

The National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center had warned Tuesday that communities along the Ohio River were at risk of seeing strong storms. The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, posted online Tuesday evening that tornadoes had touched down in western Kentucky and southern Illinois.

News outlets near Mayfield, Kentucky, reported that homes and businesses in the area were damaged, and Kentucky State Police said at least eight people had been injured there.

A separate system was poised to move through north Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while another storm system should bring storms to the area from north Texas to near St. Louis on Wednesday.

Oklahoma emergency officials said two 76-year-old men were found dead after Mondays storms, one near Wynnewood and another about 35 miles away near Connerville. The medical examiners office said it was conducting autopsies to determine how the men died.

Smith said the damage measured in Garvin and Murray counties was consistent with at least an EF3 tornado, a category of tornadoes that are capable of stripping the outer walls from even well-made homes. That storm, caught on video by several storm chasers, appeared white against the dark clouds of a supercell storm.

The Storm Prediction Center said it received about two dozen reports of tornadoes on Monday from parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Colorado Springs, Colo., officials are eyeing a moratorium on building in landslide zones as owners of about 80 homes participate in the citys third landslide-related buyout since 1995.

Heavy rains that plagued Colorado Springs during spring and summer 2015 saturated slopes and caused significant damage to public infrastructure and prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue a Major Disaster Declaration. The heavy rains also triggered several landslides in very isolated areas on the citys west side. There have been reports of landslide activity in some neighborhoods on the west side of Colorado Springs including Rockrimmon, Skyway and Broadmoor Bluffs neighborhoods.

Signs of damage caused by landslide activity include but are not limited to, recent significant cracks or separation along walls, foundation or flooring of the property or windows/doors may no longer open/shut properly. Many homes experience some cracking as land settles over time, however the shifting caused by landslide activity is typically fast with noticeable differences within weeks or months.

According to the Colorado Springs Transit Office website, the landslides remain active and could experience further movement. Due to the potential number of property owners impacted by the landslides, the City of Colorado Springs has been working to pursue possible options to assist impacted property owners.

In an effort to provide assistance and to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures, the City of Colorado Springs intends to file an application for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) on behalf of impacted property owners through the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This is a statewide competitive grant process and there is no guarantee that the City of Colorado Springs will be awarded grant funds from this program. The application is due to the State in May 2016, but the entire process from start to finish may take several years.

The Gazette reports homeowners signed on to pursue buyouts, condemnation and demolition in a program administered by Colorado and funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Councilman Don Knight is among those asking for the moratorium on new developments in landslide areas while city officials study the issue.

Council President Merv Bennett says the issue will come up for discussion at the May 19 summit with Mayor John Suthers.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Georgie's Girls Akron

Akron police are investigating an armed robbery at Georgie's Girls strip club.

(Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com)

AKRON, Ohio -- A masked man robbed a strip club at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon.

The robbery happened about 2:30 p.m. at Georgie's Girls strip club in the 1300 block of Brittain Road.

A 23-year-old bartender told police she was preparing to open the business when the man walked into the building.

The man, who wore gloves on his hands and a bandanna around his face, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the woman, according to police reports.

The man demanded money. The woman gave him $265 and the robber ordered her to the ground before he ran out the front door.

The woman was not injured and no arrests have been made.

The robbery is the 26th time police have been called to the strip club this year. The bar next door, Georgie's Pub, has had nearly two dozen calls to police in the same time frame, including for a patron who fired several gunshots in the bar last month.

Georgie's Girls has been burglarized twice in the past month, with robbers targeting bottles of liquor to steal.

Other calls to the clubs include fighting, shots fired and cars being stolen from the parking lot.

Police were called to the strip club 33 times in 2015, including once for an armed carjacking, and once for a stabbing.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- An inmate was found dead at the Beachwood Jail on Tuesday night, police said.

Emma Pearson, 51, of Garfield Heights, was found unresponsive in her cell about 10:30 p.m.

Pearson was taken to University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office said in a statement released Thursday.

The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine her cause of death.

The Beachwood Police Department issued a brief statement about the incident, but did not answer any questions about Pearson, including why she was arrested or how long she was in the jail before she died.

Pearson had no pending cases in city or county court records.

If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.

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A_typical_Maaco_center.jpg

A typical Maaco franchise center.

(Courtesy of Maaco)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maaco, the auto painting and collision repair franchise, announced plans late Wednesday afternoon to expand its market to Cleveland with eight new shops by 2018.

According to a press release, Cleveland was chosen because of its number of registered vehicles. In addition, the expansion is part of Maaco's overall national projections to double the size of the company over the next three years.

"Maaco offers a great lifestyle for franchise owners, boasts one of the best item 19s in the industry and isn't limited to those with automotive experience. We're looking for entrepreneurs with a wide variety of backgrounds," said Rob Cambruzzi, vice president of Maaco Franchise Development.

To jumpstart the Cleveland development, Maaco executives are seeking single and multi-unit franchise partners, requiring no prior automotive experience. The initial investment to purchase a Maaco franchise is about $285,000, according to the press release.

Maaco plans on adding 60 new franchisees over the next year across the country. To learn more, visit www.maacofranchise.com, or www.maaco.com.
AKRON, Ohio -- A federal appeals court has forced Akron federal Judge John Adams to recuse himself from a criminal case after the defendant claimed that he often used heroin with the judge's brother and nephew.

Eric Ramey was in front of Adams on charges of creating and passing counterfeit money at Holmes County businesses.

Ramey wrote in a petition to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in November that he used heroin and opiates with Jerry Adams Sr. and Jerry Adams Jr. every day for 14 months.

The judge said that he was estranged from this part of his family and he refused to step down from the case after Ramey and his attorney brought the information to his attention.

In a two-page order issued Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the Cincinnati-based appeals court wrote that it felt that removal "is warranted in this case." The panel did not provide any further explanation for its decision.

Ramey, 30, of Orrville, had asked the court to seal filings in the appeals court case, which would have kept the matter secret. The court rejected the request.

(You can read the filings at the bottom of this story.)

In his petition, Ramey wrote that his girlfriend and Adams' nephew were involved in a theft case and that Ramey might be called as a witness. Ramey also wrote that he was friends with Jerry Adams Jr., "and on one occasion actually encountered Judge Adams at a nursing home."

"Estranged or otherwise, knowledge that a defendant has used drugs on a daily basis with a close family member for an extended period of time in [and] of itself would lead a reasonable person to believe that the Judge's impartiality 'might reasonably be questioned,'" Ramey's petition says.

Adams called Ramey's statements into question in a November letter to the appeals court. The Akron judge also wrote that Ramey did not show that he would treat Ramey different than other defendants.

"As Mr. Ramey has shown nothing more than the fact he alleged had an illicit relationship that involved conduct wholly unrelated to his indictment, he falls well short of demonstrating any appearance of antagonism, let alone a deep seated antagonism," Adams wrote.

The case was re-assigned to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi, another Akron federal judge. Ramey is scheduled to plead guilty on Tuesday.

Carlos Warner, Ramey's federal public defender, said in an email statement that "Mr. Ramey is doing well in his recovery and I hope he continues on his current positive path."

Adams said in an email sent by his law clerk that, "I have no independent knowledge of a relationship between the defendant and the persons referenced in the petition or the activities alleged in the petition, but I have followed the direction of the appellate court and recused from the matter."

He continued, "As the Sixth Circuit did not detail any reason for my need to recuse, I cannot comment further on the issue."

Adams' time on the bench has proved controversial.

Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, the 6th Circuit has removed the judge from at least two other cases in recent years.

One involved a lawsuit filed by a group of firefighters against the city of Akron alleging discrimination in the city's promotion process. That case, along with another case he presided over involving the city, caused then-Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic to send a public letter to the judge to ask him to recuse himself from all cases involving the city.

Adams also publicly reprimanded federal public defender Debra Migdal in 2011 for issuing subpoenas in a criminal case. The appeals court later admonished Adams for punishing Migdal, writing that he abused his discretion and that he "relied on clearly erroneous factual findings."

The judge is also known for taking steps to admonish attorneys who commit wrongdoing, something that other judges rarely do.

Adams had attorney Brent English arrested in October outside the Cleveland Justice Center. He brought English to court to have him explain why he missed a hearing in a six-year-old foreclosure case.

On Friday, he publicly admonished longtime Cleveland criminal defense attorney Craig Weintraub after the attorney was overheard cursing at a prosecutor.

If you'd like to discuss or comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A federal judge on Thursday ordered a Parma man charged with sex trafficking to remain in jail while he awaits trial.

Magistrate Judge Thomas Parker's decision comes after he heard testimony that Richard Purnell was caught after setting up a sexual encounter with undercover FBI agents.

Parker also ruled during the hearing that there is enough evidence for a criminal case to proceed against Purnell, 55. He said that the U.S. Marshals Service should hold Purnell while the case is pending because there is evidence that he is "a danger to the community."

The FBI arrested Purnell Friday night on sex-trafficking charges. Prosecutors say he responded to ads and had sex with teenage girls who advertised their services in the Cleveland area.

One of the victims was a 14-year-old girl who told investigators that Purnell was a regular customer. He started raping her when she was 13, according to a criminal complaint.

During Thursday's hearing, FBI Special Agent Shawn Hare testified that Purnell was caught after agents searched the phone of Ronnie Pratt, a Cleveland man who is charged with acting as the pimp for the 14-year-old and two others.

Hare said agents posted an ad Thursday on Backpage.com that was under the same username as the victim. Two hours after the ad was placed, Purnell responded, thinking he was texting the girl, and they set up a meeting at his house for the next day, Hare testified.

Hare read a series of explicit text messages Purnell sent to the FBI agents in which he appeared to be negotiating rates and what would occur during the encounter. Hare said agents told Purnell that the victim would bring another teenage girl.

"Do you play with one another?" Purnell texted the FBI agents, to which they responded "yes."

"That could be fun," Purnell texted back.

Agents showed up instead.

Hare said he found a hunting rifle in Purnell's bedroom and $685 in the pocket of his sweatpants. This was important because Hare said the girl thought "her life would be in danger" based on previous threats Purnell made.

Ed Bryan, Purnell's federal public defender, argued that the evidence presented was not strong enough to show that Purnell knew the girl was under the age of 18. He said that the victim has a tattoo across her chest and advertised herself as a "lovely college girl."

"I don't think this is a slam dunk, as the government suggests," Bryan said.

But Hare testified that Purnell should have known the age of the victim. He said the girl looked young, and, in the last encounter, agents texting him to set up the encounter said the person the girl would bring with had just turned 17 years old.

The criminal complaint says Purnell sent and received 5,854 text messages and talked on the phone 204 times with numbers used on Backpage.com ads.

More than 1,000 of those texts were sent in conversations with three underage girls, according to the complaint.

Purnell faces at least 10 years in federal prison if he is convicted of having sex with the the victim when she was 14 years old. If he is convicted of raping the girl when she is 13 years old, he must serve at least 15 years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has prosecuted several human-trafficking cases in the past few years. Purnell's case is the first one in which a "customer" is charged with sex trafficking, though Hare testified that the 14-year-old had multiple people with whom she had sex.

The federal statute allows for those who solicit a child for sex to be charged with the same crime as somebody who recruits or advertises the services.

This article was updated to modify the description of his conduct.

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Fatal Elyria fire map.png

A woman died and another person was injured in a house fire Thursday morning in Elyria.

(Google maps)

ELYRIA, Ohio -- A woman died and another person was hurt in a house fire Thursday morning in Elyria, fire officials said.

They were the only two people inside the single-family ranch home in the 400 block of Greenwood Court when the fire started around 5:45 a.m.

The person who survived the fire was taken to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center with unknown injuries.

Fire officials were not releasing the names of the victims Thursday morning.

When fire crews arrived, the rear of the home was fully engulfed, a fire official told cleveland.com.

It was too soon to determine the cause of the fire or value of the damage, the fire official said Thursday morning, adding there was "significant damage."

Crews were still at the scene as of 11 a.m.

Firefighters from Elyria, Lorain, North Ridgeville and Sheffield Village battled the blaze.

Woman dies in early morning house fire in Elyria: ELYRIA, Ohio  A woman died in a fire early this morning at... https://t.co/FsZmqZyd7G  Natasha R. Watts (@Tasha_RWatts) May 12, 2016

If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.

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For the over 9 million employees in the U.S. franchising industry, a storm is brewing. A new federal ruling enacted by the National Labor Relations Board rewrites joint employment law, which could upend the traditional way local franchisees independently hire, set wages, manage their staff and run day-to-day operations on Main Street. Under the ruling, a franchisor and franchisee can be deemed to share the ability to govern the workers' terms and condition of employment  tasks that have traditionally been left to the discretion of franchisees.



The ruling, based on a decision involving waste-management company Brown-Ferris Industries of California, has been widely viewed as a victory for unions looking to hold large corporations liable for labor practices at individual locations. Under the old standard, a company had to have direct control over employment conditions to be a joint employer, but the new test considers indirect and unexercised control. The labor board, which is charged with protecting workers' rights to organize and fair labor practices, has said its goal is to make sure companies in all industries can be held responsible for labor violations committed by their contractors. CNBC contacted the NLRB for their views, but the organization declined to comment. McDonald's, like many other franchise chains across the country, is waging war against the U.S. National Labor Relations Board to preserve the decades-old franchising model that fast-food companies  and all other corporate franchisors  have adopted. Under the traditional system, the franchisor is not responsible for the workforce of independent franchise owners who are typically small businesses operating under a corporate brand umbrella. The large fast-food chain has more than 14,200 outlets in the United States that employ 90,000 workers.

Last December the NLRB began targeting McDonald's by issuing unfair labor practice complaints against McDonald's franchisees and their franchisor McDonald's USA. It has been reported that NLRB plans to hold the corporate parent liable as "joint employer" along with the franchise operator. Workers began filing complaints with the NLRB in 2012, saying that McDonald's and some franchisees threatened, surveilled, disciplined and fired them for protesting for higher wages and union rights in the demonstrations. Those complaints came well before the Brown-Ferris case broadened existing NLRB "joint employer" standards, and McDonald's was again before an administrative NLRB judge over these issues in March, which received national attention. According to a McDonald's USA spokesperson, "This is just the first step in what is likely to be a long process, and despite what happens at the NLRB hearing, McDonald's USA will continue the fight through the administrative process and eventually into a court of law where we feel confident we will then have a fair process and ultimately prevail."

As she stated: "McDonald's USA is not a joint employer. The NLRB is applying a new legal standard that would undermine a successful American business model that has enabled thousands of families to operate their own small businesses and support millions of jobs."

"The NLRB ruling is a nebulous standard that allows them to target any business contractual relationship they want," said Michael Layman, vice president of regulatory affairs for the International Franchise Association. "It doesn't just affect the franchising industry. It affects how car manufacturers and car dealerships across the country oversee their workforces, too." The IFA has also said that it is concerned, because entrepreneurs are drawn to the industry so they can operate independently. This new ruling makes the future unclear, and it could possibly damage investment into the sector. "It is an attack by bureaucrats and union bosses that can stunt job growth and do damage to the economy," said Aziz Hashim, chairman of the IFA and managing partner of NRD Capital. "Franchising contributes $1.5 trillion annually to the U.S. economy and is the largest vocational system in America. We train people to do jobs and pay them at the same time. It's a gateway to entrepreneurial opportunity. Why stymie its growth?" "The good news is that the franchising industry is trying to get ahead of the problem," said Gerry Weber, CEO of Fast-Fix, a jewelry- and watch-repair chain with 160 locations throughout the United States that employs 900 workers. "They are lobbying in Washington, along with other trade groups to ensure this new ruling doesn't get traction." "So far, none of our franchise owners are panicked," he stressed.



Franchising contributes $1.5 trillion annually to the U.S. economy and is the largest vocational system in America. Aziz Hashim chairman of the IFA
Eyefocusaz | Getty Images

Untouched beaches, new instrastructure, history aplenty - Sri Lankan hoteliers are keen to show international tourists that there are upsides to holidaying in a former war zone. Jetwing chairman Hiran Cooray told CNBC he was confident the best growth prospects for Sri Lanka's hotel industry were in the northern and eastern parts of the country, rather than the capital Colombo. "Jaffna has some beautiful islands that haven't been well explored, there is an opportunity for beach tourism, for historical tourism, there is so much more opportunities here. I think Jaffna will do very well in the future," he said. Cooray is referring to Sri Lanka's pristine, unexplored territories, where investment had long been stymied by a 26-year civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Northern Province-based Tamil rebels. Jetwing's new, 55-room property - which stands right in the middle of Jaffna, the former Tamil stronghold that is the capital of the Northern Province - is the first boutique luxury hotel to open its door the bustling city since conflict ended in 2009.

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Cooray's confidence is shared by Vijitha Wijesuriya, the managing director of East-West Properties. "There is a lot of inventory coming into Colombo from the likes of Shangri-La, John Keells Holdings and Hyatt, so the space is a bit crowded at the moment," Wijesuriya said. "Sri Lanka has 18,000 star-classified hotel rooms; 7,000 of those are available in Colombo and about 10,000-plus rooms in the rest of the country," he said. But at present there were only a handful of big hotel properties with more than 100 rooms outside Colombo, so the potential for growth was huge, he added. East-West Properties sealed a partnership with Marriot International four years ago to develop a property in Weligama, in the southern part of Sri Lanka that is famed for its sandy beaches.

The hotel, Marriot's first property in Sri Lanka, will open in November, and Wijesuriya is already eyeing new opportunities. "Tourism is going to be a big business in Sri Lanka, we are looking at four other properties with Marriott, possibly in Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and also in the west coast," the developer said. "We had nearly two million tourists visiting Sri Lanka last year and we should hit 2.5 million tourists this year. But while there is an exponential increase in tourist arrivals, there isn't an exponential increase in accommodation options," he said. Seven years after the end of the civil conflict, Sri Lanka is slowly rebuilding its reputation as a global tourist destination, attracting international hospitality brands to its shores. The country's improved infrastructure is a key part of the attraction.
The CEO of J. Rogers Kniffen Worldwide Enterprises spoke after Macy's reported its worst sequential same-store sales decline since the financial crisis. Macy's and other retailers got slammed by a warm winter and cool spring, as well as the continued migration of millennials to fast fashion and off-price stores, Kniffen said.

About one-third of American malls are not long for this world, retail analyst Jan Kniffen said Thursday.

The results are also a sign of the country's oversupply of retail space at a time when commerce is moving online, he added.

"On an apples-to-apples basis, we have twice as much per-capita retail space as any other place in the world. The U.K. is second. They're half of what we are. So, yes, we are the most over-stored place in the world," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

With the U.S. having an estimated 48 square feet of retail space per citizen, the footprint is poised to decline "pretty fast," Kniffen said.

In his view, about 400 of America's 1,100 enclosed malls will fail in the coming years. Of the survivors, about 250 will thrive and the rest will struggle. Likewise, Macy's probably needs 500 of its roughly 800 existing stores, he said.

He said the mall owners and operators most likely to come out on top are Taubman Centers , General Growth Partners and Simon Property Group .
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Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan isn't backing down from a controversial fight in his company's home state any time soon. "Our employees are worried this law will impact them," Moynihan said on CNBC'S "Closing Bell" Thursday afternoon. "We think it ought to be repealed." However, he stopped short of saying whether Bank of America would pull jobs from North Carolina if the legislation went unrepealed. The statehouse beef has drawn international attention since North Carolina enacted House Bill 2  better known as the "bathroom bill"  a law that prohibits people from using restrooms that do not correspond with the sex on their birth certificates.



Since being signed into law by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory in March, the legislation has been criticized for unfairly targeting transgendered individuals. Bank of America isn't alone on Wall Street in its opposition of the legislation.



Brian Moynihan, president and chief executive officer of Bank of America Corp., speaks during the 2016 Charlotte Chamber Economic Outlook. Chris Keane | Bloomberg | Reuters

Other banks, including Deutsche Bank , Citigroup and Wells Fargo all issued statements calling for the repeal of the bill in the days and weeks following its passage. Silicon Valley piled on, with companies including Paypal , scotching plans to expand within North Carolina and citing the bill for their decision.

The legislation has also cost North Carolina revenue from various concerts. Musicians including Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen have cancelled shows in protest of HB2.

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Earlier this week, the rhetoric surrounding the bill was ramped up, with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the U.S. Department of Justice suing the state, saying HB2 is a violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964. McCrory and another state officials filed a suit against the DOJ the same day, saying their suit was "a baseless and blatant overreach" that stemmed from a "radical interpretation" of the Civil Rights Act.

"This action is about a great deal more than just bathrooms," Lynch said earlier this week in prepared remarks. "It was not so very long ago that states, including North Carolina, had signs above restrooms, water fountains and on public accommodations keeping people out based upon a distinction without a difference."
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (l) and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (r). Getty Images

"To pretend we're unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength," he added. "This election is too important to go into an election at half strength." Ryan and Trump have met in person only once before in 2012, and spoke over the phone in March. Ryan has said he would step down as chair of the GOP convention in July if Trump asks him to. Following Trump's meeting with Ryan and Priebus, the real estate mogul will meet Republican leaders in both the House and Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Ryan will also attend the House leadership meeting. A spokesman for Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt told NBC News, "The senator will use the opportunity to remind him that what we say and how we say it matter in making it clear that our common goal is defeating Hillary Clinton and guiding America in a new direction." Trump said it was his goal to unite the GOP after rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich ended their 2016 bids last week. But since becoming the party's de facto nominee he wasted no time in engaging in the kinds of rhetoric many in his party had feared, continuing to accuse Clinton of "playing the woman card" and attacking her and her husband for the former president's sex scandal.
Getty Images

China is mulling plans to tighten tax reporting requirements on multinationals operating in the country to help close a massive global loophole. If the plan goes ahead, multinationals would have to file extensive reports on internal pricing and costs between overseas branches and headquarters, sources said. The plan is China's contribution to a global effort to stamp out the common practice of multinationals altering the price put on labor, services or intangible asset transfers within global operations to allow firms to divert profits to low-tax countries. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that these kinds of profit-shifting practices amounted to about US$100 billion-US$240 billion in lost tax revenue each year, equivalent to up to 10 per cent of global corporate income tax revenue.

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A source at a law firm told the South China Morning Post that the State Administration of Taxation issued a consultation draft on the proposal at the end of last year, specifying that multinationals would have to disclose affiliated businesses and how intangible assets, labour and other internal cost transfers were made. "[Internal transfer pricing] is a grey area to utilise loopholes in tax rules between different countries, but now the governments [of those countries] are acting to close the hole," the source said. More from the South China Morning Post :



Hong Kong police to mount biggest security operation for a visiting Chinese state leader

Showdown in the South China Sea: how ruling by Permanent Court of Arbitration may play out in Asia

Queen tells of 'very rude' Chinese officials during Xi Jinping's UK visit in new diplomatic gaffe The OECD has been pushing for countries to set universal reporting standards to close the loophole since 2012. The source said the draft by China's tax authorities was an attempt to bring domestic rules into line with OECD standards

Tax partners from Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers said the new rules were expected to take effect retrospectively from January 1, 2016. The source at the law firm said the draft had provoked much debate because of the magnitude and detail of the documents multinational companies  both Chinese and foreign  would have to submit to tax authorities. "We suggested it be more specific on implementation and more feasible otherwise it would lower the incentive for multinationals to invest in China," the source said. But Jeff Yuan, a PwC China and Hong Kong transfer pricing services leader, said multinationals faced similar changes elsewhere. "The extra documentation work is not only happening on the mainland but in major economies as well. It is the first time that major economies have taken joint action to address the tax avoidance issue amid growing globalization," he said.
Both Macy's and Kohl's saw the internet coming, Cramer explained, but assumed it wouldn't impact them because they thought they were something special. Then they thought they could beat the web by joining it.

"In many ways, the decline of Macy's, as well as the pulverization of the stock of discount chain Kohl's after a terrible quarter and guidance today, is like what happened to the newspaper industry and the book store space," the " Mad Money " host said.

When Cramer listened to the conference call of Macy's this week, and it seemed to him that Macy's wasn't acknowledging the real elephant in the room  Amazon . Instead of recognizing that it had a real problem on its hands, it said that the problem had to do with a stronger dollar impacting tourist traffic.

The problem with retail isn't that people aren't spending, it is where the money is being spent, Jim Cramer said.

Amazon is the web, and retailers are like newspaper companies with websites.

Cramer recollected visiting the headquarters of Borders 10 years ago and discussing with top executives what little power Amazon had. At that time, it was just an annoying fly that needed to be swatted. They thought what mattered was the experience of going to the store.

Clearly, management didn't realize that people have limited time, and simply want to buy books and read them in the most convenient way possible.

Cramer sees the same thing happening in retail.

Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer



Cramer Remix: Outperforming stocks you've never heard of

Cramer: The real poetic justice behind Disney

Cramer's 'dirty half-dozen' industrials getting ready to explode higher

"We now know that Amazon has more free cash flow than any of these department stores will ever have, and it's even funded by other retailers who need Amazon's web services to thrive online. In that sense, Amazon is the web, and retailers are like newspaper companies with websites," Cramer said.

When Cramer started TheStreet.com 20 years ago, he went from one newspaper company to another looking for funding. He would demonstrate the ability to have real-time updates and ideal delivery of information, versus the packaging and printing of a newspaper.

In that time many battled with slow dial-up internet connections and banner ads, so the idea of someone putting their credit card information on a website was crazy.

Newspapers told Cramer they were making too much money enjoying the current process.

"Needless to say, by the time they figured things out it was way too late, and all they ended up doing was creating suicidal versions of themselves online," Cramer said.

The only newspaper companies that could survive were those with proprietary content that people wanted to pay extra for. News became something people could get for free online, which hurt the industry.

Department stores are now in the same position, Cramer said.

Cramer hopes Macy's can turn out to be the equivalent of The New York Times, where people are willing to pay for content.

However, if Macy's thinks the problem with retail is the lack of newness, excitement of selection, a slowing consumer or a strong dollar  it won't be able to return to the glory days.

"The problem is the web, especially Amazon, and until they face up to that fact, they are going to be in trouble for a very long time," Cramer said.
Credit Agricole reported a 71 percent fall in first-quarter net income, weighed down by the launch of its plan to revamp complex shareholding ties with its parent group, and weakness in French retail and investment banking.

Chief Executive Philippe Brassac announced a major structural overhaul earlier this year aimed at overcoming internal divisions and reassuring investors of its capital strength.

The bank said on Thursday that quarterly net income fell to 227 million euros ($259 million) from 784 million a year earlier, hit by the moves to optimise its balance sheet and reduce the future cost of debt carried by the bank.

The restructuring plan also led to the loss of the parent banks' contribution to the listed entity's earnings.

Analysts in a Reuters poll had on average predicted a 64.5 percent decline in net income to 278 million euros.

Excluding one-off items, net income fell 9.3 percent to 394 million euros, the bank said.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Kohl's  Kohl's reported adjusted quarterly profit of 31 cents per share, 6 cents below estimates, with revenue also missing the mark. Kohl's said quarterly sales were challenging and that it took significant discounts to clear out excess inventory.

General Electric  JPMorgan Chase resumed coverage of GE with an "underweight" rating, saying positives from the company's portfolio transformation and its technology potential are more than reflected in its current stock price.

Chipotle Mexican Grill  The restaurant chain added $100 million to its previously announced $1.9 billion stock buyback program.

Jack In The Box  Jack In The Box reported quarterly earnings of 85 cents per share, beating estimates by 5 cents. Revenue was slightly above Street expectations, with sales boosted by a nearly 10-percent revenue jump at the company's Qdoba chain.

JetBlue  The airline reported an April load factor of 84.1 percent, down 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. Passenger traffic did jump by 8.5 percent, but capacity was higher by 10.8 percent.

CA Technologies  The company formerly known as Computer Associates beat estimates by 3 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 60 cents per share, with revenue also above estimates. The software company also gave a better than expected forecast for the full year, as it expands cloud-based and mobile applications.

Caterpillar  Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman said the heavy equipment maker is poised to move quickly into the Cuban market once a U.S. trade embargo is lifted. His comments followed a meeting with Cuban officials in Havana.

Tiffany  The luxury goods retailer left the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, without citing a reason. That follows departures from the group by Gucci and Michael Kors , with Kors having specifically pointed to the admission of Alibaba to the group as its reason for leaving.

Las Vegas Sands  Las Vegas Sands settled charges with the state of Nevada by paying a fine of $2 million without admitting or denying guilt. The casino operator had been accused of violating state gambling laws, following federal charges involving anti-money laundering measures.

Apple  Apple is denying reports that it plans to stop offering music downloads on its iTunes service.

AstraZeneca  The company's cancer drug selumetinib has been granted "orphan drug" status by the Food and Drug Administration. The drug is designed to treat certain forms of thyroid cancer.

Monsanto  Monsanto is getting a boost this morning on reports that Germany's BASF is working with investment banks on a potential takeover bid for the maker of agricultural chemicals.
A former Deutsche Bank managing director and an accountant were sentenced to a combined eight years in jail on Thursday, drawing a line under the UK financial watchdog's eight-and-a-half year insider dealing inquiry.

Martyn Dodgson, a 44-year-old financier who advised the government during the credit crisis, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for his part in an elaborate scam that prosecutors said made over $10 million between 2006 and 2010.

It is the longest UK prison term handed down for the crime.

Andrew Hind, a 56-year-old former finance director of fashion chain Topshop was sentenced to three-and-a-half years at London's Southwark Crown Court after being convicted of conspiracy to insider trade on Monday.

Insider dealing - using confidential information to trade on the stockmarket - carries a maximum seven-year sentence in the UK. But the longest term handed down to date had been four years.
Wireless charging start-up uBeam has been accused of having a sham product by a former employee, TechCrunch reported Wednesday.

The company  launched in 2011 while its founder was a student at the University of Pennsylvania  says it has created a device that can wirelessly charge nearby devices, like mobile phones and laptops, using ultrasound waves. Its technology has been written about by The New York Times, Fortune and TechCrunch, among other media outlets.

This week, however, a blogger claiming to be uBeam's former vice president of engineering published a series of posts casting doubts on the company's product. The blogger, TechCrunch reported, said uBeam has yet to hold a public demonstration of its product because it does not work. (An independent science writer later confirmed that the blogger is an ex-uBeam employee.)

https://twitter.com/leegomes/status/730485599031857153

"While in theory [uBeam] may be possible in limited cases, the safety, efficiency, and economics of it mean it is not even remotely practical," the blogger wrote.
Calling 2016 the "year of the outsider," former Vice President Dan Quayle told CNBC on Thursday that Donald Trump can beat Hillary Clinton.

"He knows how to win," Quayle, who's backing Trump, said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "He knocked off 16 Republican and a lot of them were really good, solid people and would have been good presidents."

Trump arrived at GOP headquarters in Washington on Thursday to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said last week he's "not ready" to support the businessman-turned-presumptive-GOP-presidential nominee. The two hope to open a dialogue aimed at unifying the Republican Party.

Quayle, vice president under George H.W. Bush, said he "not going to get into Paul Ryan's head," but believes the speaker was buying time with those comments because Texas Sen. Ted Cruz folded so quickly after Indiana.

"[Trump] is going to find out as he starts to go around Capitol Hill, folks in Congress, they need a lot of stroking. You got to be nice. He can be nice when people are nice to him," Quayle said.

Quayle said Trump, if elected president, will have to deal with Ryan.

"In business, you try to get a deal, it doesn't work out; guess what, you just go onto the next deal," Quayle said. "In this situation as you're president, if you don't get a deal, you go on to the next deal but you're dealing with the same people."

Quayle predicted Ryan will come around because "a great majority of his caucus will support Donald Trump, without qualification."

The obvious choices for Trump's running mate would be former GOP presidential rivals Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida or Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Quayle said.

"But the one I think would be a really good choice, not on too many people's lists is ... Rob Portman," the Republican senator from Ohio, Quayle said. "Look at his background  congressman, trade representative, OMB director, U.S. senator  he's got it all."
French president Francois Hollande is so determined to push ahead with his suggested labor reforms, he resorted this week to a rarely used law which allows for reform by decree.

By evoking Article 49 of the French constitution, despite nationwide protests from the public for months, Hollande and his cabinet pressed ahead with changes to the workforce that include scrapping France's 35-hour week, as well as making it easier for employers to hire and fire employees.



The move sparked criticism from various politicians including from inside his own Socialist party and resulted in the government facing a no confidence vote in the National Assembly on Thursday, introduced by parties of the right and aimed at toppling the government, reported the New York Times.



Although it is unlikely for the motion to succeed, Hollande's government would fall and the bill would be rejected if it does. If the motion fails, the bill will go to the Senate, according to the New York Times.


The gun used to kill Trayvon Martin, a young black teenager who was shot in Florida, which was set to be auctioned at a starting bid of $5,000, is no longer available for purchase, according to several media reports.

George Zimmerman, the man accused of killing Martin in 2012, had listed the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm on a gun broker website.



"The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012," Zimmerman said in the now deleted description.



Gunbroker.com, the website on which the gun was posted, has yet to confirm to CNBC if the gun is no longer up for auction, but the former link to the item now returns an error message.

The Trayvon Martin case sparked outrage nationwide when Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Martin in Sanford, FL.



Zimmerman alleged that Martin was acting suspiciously and wearing a 'hoodie,' a hooded sweatshirt, that he refused to remove. Zimmerman called the police from his car but before they arrived, Martin was shot and killed. Zimmerman claimed he was acting in self-defense after Martin attacked him, an allegation that was never confirmed.


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Global alcoholic drinks volumes registered a decline of 0.7 percent in 2015, entering negative territory for the first time in more than a decade, according to new research published by Euromonitor International, translating into a loss of 1.7 billion liters of alcoholic drinks volume sales since 2014. The market analysis firm's data offered some sobering insights for global drinks companies on Thursday, with data confirming that global alcoholic drinks consumption declined in many countries in 2015, notably in anticipated growth markets China, Brazil and Russia. The report noted that "historic growth narratives derailed due to the influence of macro headwinds hitting China, which recorded a 3.5 percent decline. Brazil and Eastern Europe showed further weaknesses, falling 2.5 and 4.9 percent, respectively." While Western Europe and Australasia flatlined, North America's 2.3 percent growth "provided a shot of optimism in an otherwise sobering global landscape where even the potential of AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa) was diluted by currency volatility and commodity price fluctuations," the report said.



Taketan | Getty Images

China still represents the largest alcoholic drinks market, followed by the U.S. and Brazil while Germany is the fourth largest market for alcoholic drinks globally and is the largest European market, despite its 1.5 percent decline of alcoholic drinks volume in 2014-2015.

Read More How much alcohol is healthy? Depends where you are

Still, in terms of per capita consumption of alcoholic drinks, nine out of the top ten markets are based in Europe, with Australia representing the exception. Countries in the region dealing with economic hardship, such as Greece, Russia and Ukraine, also saw declines in alcoholic drinks volumes.

Drinking trends
"Global oil supplies rose 250,000 barrels a day in April to 96.2 million barrels a day (mb/d) as higher OPEC output more than offset deepening non-OPEC declines," the IEA said in its monthly report.

The IEA said in its latest oil market report on Thursday that a rebalancing of supply and demand was starting to become evident from the existing supply and demand data which showed that global oil supply was starting to look more measured. Demand was resilient and a surplus of oil could start to shrink later this year, it added.

Global oil markets are heading towards a long-awaited equilibrium, according to updated supply and demand data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

However, it noted that year-on-year, "world output grew by just 50,000 barrels a day in April versus gains of more than 3.5 million barrels a day a year ago" and noted that 2016 non-OPEC supply is forecast to drop by 800,000 barrels a day to 56.8 mb/d.

Despite the higher output from the 12-country OPEC group, the IEA noted that falling non-OPEC supply and rising demand could cause oil stock growth to decline in the latter half of the year helping the supply and demand dynamic  and crucially, oil prices  to return to a more stable footing.



"The net result of our changes to demand and supply data is that we expect to see global oil stocks increase by 1.3 million barrels a day (mb/d) in the first half of 2016, followed by a dramatic reduction in the second half of 2016 to 0.2 mb/d."

The IEA's Oil Industry and Markets Head Neil Atkinson told CNBC on Thursday that the expected decline in the growth of global oil stocks pointed towards a rebalancing in markets.

"The point being that we have the direction of travel towards balance and a big factor in the change in the stock-build picture between the two halves (of the year) is the major fall-off in production in the non-OPEC countries as a whole."

"The market is very forward-looking and as it looks through the second half of 2016 and into the early part of 2017 there is a growing expectation that the market will, if not actually balance, certainly get very close to balance."



Before investors got too excited, however, Atkinson stressed that global oil stocks remained "enormous" and would time to run-down.

"The problem we've got is that if you want to see higher oil prices in the rest of 2016, what you need to remember is that oil stocks are at very, very high levels  even if they're going to grow by a very small amount compared to what we've seen and they're not likely to start falling until 2017. So there's a big buffer or big dampener on prospective rise in oil prices by the fact that these enormous stocks do exist and will exist for some time to come," he said.

The IEA noted that oil stocks in the OECD (the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which includes most European nations, Australia and the U.S.) declined for the first time in a year in February, lending support to the view that "the global supply surplus of oil will shrink dramatically later this year."

In terms of demand, the IEA left its outlook for global oil demand growth in 2016 at a "solid" 1.2 mb/d, unchanged from last month. But it said that revised first-quarter data showed demand growing faster at 1.4 mb/d, "in spite of the northern hemisphere winter being milder than usual."

"This strong (first quarter of 2016) performance might raise expectations that demand will remain at this stronger level causing us to raise our average figure for 2016," it said, although it noted recent International Monetary Fund forecasts in April, in which the lending agency revised down its expectations for global gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2016 from 3.4 percent to 3.2 percent.

Read MoreIs the American dream of energy independence dead?



Interestingly, it said India was the "star performer" in terms of oil demand growth. Oil demand from the rising Asian powerhouse was 400,000 barrels a day higher in the first quarter from the same period last year, "representing nearly 30 percent of the global increase" in demand.

It said that it will publish a detailed forecast for 2017 in next month's report, "thus providing clarity on when the oil market could reach its much-anticipated balance."
Google declined to comment. The Information previously reported that Google was plotting a competing version of Echo, a portable speaker with voice assistant tech.

Google's device will resemble its OnHub wireless router , according to several sources. We don't know if it has a name yet, but internally the project goes by "Chirp."

A product team at Google is working on a hardware device that would integrate Google's search and voice assistant technology, akin to the Amazon Echo, Recode has learned.

Sources said the device is unlikely to launch next week at Google's I/O developer conference, but plans are for it to land at some point this year.

We should, however, get a peek at it and its potential next week  voice search and intelligent personal assistance will occupy center stage at the company's splash show, along with virtual reality.

Google has long had voice assistant tech in its Android phones  beckoned by the words "Okay, Google"  that many in the industry see as leading the pack. (People inside Google think so, too.) But it has yet to bake that into the home, a key growing marketing for Google and its rivals. Its OnHub router, released last summer, does not have voice recognition capabilities.

Amazon, on the other hand, has moved headlong into the home with Echo. One analyst estimated that Amazon has sold three million units.

And Echo is collecting the type of data  what consumers search for, listen to and buy, and how they talk to machines  that Google loves. Amazon has long been considered a big threat to Google's core business as web and mobile app users go to the online retailer for product searches.
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The Republican Party is in danger of splitting apart, former Clinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal said Thursday. "I think that the Republican Party is in danger of going the way of the Whigs," he said, referring to the 19th century political party whose members split to form today's Republican Party and the defunct Know Nothing Party. "Parties do break up. They do disintegrate. They disappear, and they become something else," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box". Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is meeting with GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday following an exchange last week in which Ryan said he was not yet ready to support Trump. Trump fired back that he was not ready to support Ryan's agenda.

Blumenthal, who advised both Bill and Hillary Clinton, is currently promoting his book, "A Self-Made Man: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln." Blumenthal has also worked for MediaMatters, which seeks to counter conservative messaging in the media. Blumenthal said the Whig Party broke up for the same reason divisions are emerging in the Republican Party. The party was riven apart by disagreements over race and immigration, he said. The Southern U.S.-centered Know Nothing members were nativists who objected to a wave of immigration, while Abraham Lincoln was anti-nativist, he said. In order to set up a new party, Lincoln had to figure out how to deal with a movement of radical abolitionists, Blumenthal added. "So you had to deal with the party people and the movement people, so it all sounds similar, not only on the Republican side, but also on the Democratic side today," he said. The Democrats face their own insurgence in the form of Bernie Sanders supporters, who have embraced positions further to the left than front-runner and establishment candidate Hillary Clinton has taken. Though the delegate math is against Sanders, Blumenthal said the Vermont senator has the right to go head-to-head with Clinton until the very end, just as Clinton did against Barack Obama in 2008.
Anti-Occupy Central protesters stand behind a police cordon on Nathan Road at Hong Kong's Mongkok shopping district October 3, 2014. Bobby Yip | Reuters

Hong Kong police are mounting their biggest security operation for a visiting state leader, citing the threat of international terrorism and radical localism in the city. Starting from next Tuesday, about 6,000 police officers will be deployed each day to protect the chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, with the risk level for Zhang Dejiang raised to the maximum "very high" during the three days he spends here.\ The manpower deployment will be up to three times that arranged for the visits of a sitting premier and president in recent years, when the risk level was considered "high". Not since 2008, when Hong Kong hosted the equestrian competitions of the Beijing Olympics, has there been a security presence of this size throughout the city, a top government source told the Post. Police are now finalizing the measures for Zhang, who will land at Hong Kong International Airport around noon next Tuesday. The source cited the recent terrorist attacks in Europe and the threat posed by separatists from China's troubled Xinjiang region as risks, adding that there was also potential danger from rising localist sentiment and radical protests.



Referring to an alleged bomb plot aimed at disrupting a critical Legislative Council vote that was busted by police last June, and a blast in a rubbish bin during the Legco debate on the controversial copyright bill, the source said: "They showed that radical localists must not be neglected during major events or the harm could be as severe as a terrorist attack," the source said. Zhang will be escorted around town by his personal bodyguards, elite security personnel from the Central Security Bureau, and top officers from the VIP Protection Unit of the Hong Kong police force. At least 3,000 police officers, including those from the local Counter Terrorism Response Unit, Police Tactical Unit and Airport Security Unit, will be on duty at any given time during Zhang's visit. Joining them will be snipers from the elite Special Duties Unit, known as the "Flying Tigers". More from the South China Morning Post :



Hong Kong police to mount biggest security operation for a visiting Chinese state leader

Showdown in the South China Sea: how ruling by Permanent Court of Arbitration may play out in Asia

Queen tells of 'very rude' Chinese officials during Xi Jinping's UK visit in new diplomatic gaffe "Each shift lasts 12 hours. So we need 6,000 officers a day and it will take up a headcount of around 18,000 for the three-day operation," the source continued.

"The manpower will focus on Hong Kong Island, the airport and Kowloon East."

He stopped short of revealing what Zhang would be doing in Kowloon. In contrast, police deployed only about 2,000 officers each day during then vice-premier Li Keqiang's visit in 2011, and about 3,000 officers when then president Hu Jintao came to Hong Kong in 2012. Both leaders made home visits in Kowloon East. Zhang will stay at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Wan Chai and deliver a keynote speech at the Belt and Road Summit on China's trade strategy, to be held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre next Wednesday. The force's elite search teams will secure the area after a thorough inspection. The source said larger areas than before would be declared off limits outside the venues than during the state leader visits. More than 250 water barriers, weighing two tonnes each when full, will be used to cordon off restricted zones, while demonstration zones will be designated much further away than usual.
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Obamacare was hit with a potentially damaging blow Thursday. A federal judge has ruled that the Obama administration isn't authorized to reimburse insurers on Obamacare marketplaces for billions of dollars worth of subsidies given to millions of health plan customers to help pay their out-of-pocket medical costs. The ruling, if ultimately upheld, threatens to destabilize the market for individual health insurance plans, according to a leading Obamacare expert.

Judge Rosemary Collyer's ruling, which she immediately stayed pending an expected appeal by the administration, came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives against the administration for spending that money without congressional authorization. At stake is more than $150 billion expected to be paid to insurers over the next decade. If Collyer's ruling in House v. Burwell is ultimately upheld by a higher court, it would mean that many customers of Obamacare exchanges would continue receiving subsidies from insurers to lower their out-of-pocket health costs  but leave the insurers without any reimbursement from the federal government. That, in turn, could lead some insurers to either exit the Obamacare marketplaces, or to raise their premium prices significantly to compensate for their loss of expected money. "This ruling could eventually increase health-care costs for as many as 7 million people with low and moderate incomes," tweeted Sara Collins, vice president for health-care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund. "Ultimately, this could destabilize the marketplace resulting in higher premiums for everyone," Collins wrote. More than half of the nearly 13 million customers on Obamacare exchanges currently receive the so-called cost-sharing reduction assistance as part of their health plans. The assistance with copayments, deductibles and coinsurance charges is available to those customers whose household incomes are between 100 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Some of those customers would likely not sign up for Obamacare plans if they did not have cost-sharing assistance, which can greatly reduce their out-of-pocket co-medical costs, and, in some cases, eliminate them altogether.

The administration has argued, unsuccessfully, to Collyer that even if the payments the government has been making to insurers were not separately authorized by Congress, they are effectively authorized by the Affordable Care Act itself.

Collyer wrote that the administration's argument that the ACA obviously authorized the payments is "a most curious and convoluted argument whose mother was obviously necessity." In her opinion, the judge noted that a major Supreme Court ruling in 2015, which had upheld the legality of other Obamacare subsidies, premium tax credits, awarded to enrollees of the federal health exchange, had said, "If the statutory language is plain, we must enforce it according to its terms." Collyer then wrote: "The Affordable Care Act unambiguously appropriates money for Section 1401 premium tax credits but not for Section 1402 reimbursements to insurers. Such an appropriation cannot be inferred." Read the major Obamacare ruling here. "None of Secretaries' extra-textual arguments  whether based on economics, 'unintended' results, or legislative history  is persuasive," Collyer wrote, referring to claims made by the secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services, and of the Treasury. "The Court will enter judgment in favor of the House of Representatives and enjoin the use of unappropriated monies to fund reimbursements due to insurers under Section 1402. The Court will stay its injunction, however, pending appeal by either or both parties."
Shares of Monsanto rose more than 8 percent Thursday after reports that two German firms were interested buying the agrochemical company.

Bloomberg reported that Bayer is exploring a potential bid for Monsanto, citing people familiar with the matter, while multiple reports said BASF was is working with investment banks on another bid.

Bayer and BASF declined to comment. Monsanto did not immediately respond to CNBC's comment request.
Norway's arms-length relationship with the European Union is popular among British politicians looking for an alternative to full membership  but the Nordic country's prime minister is equivocal about whether the U.K. should look to imitate it.



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"I think Norway is a small country that is used to the fact that larger countries decide a lot in the international economy. I'm not sure if the Brits will go back to a system where the EU decides and they just follow up," Erna Solberg, Norway's leader since 2013, told CNBC on Thursday in London. Some U.K. politicians who want the country to vote in the June referendum to leave the EU say Norway exemplifies how to thrive outside the 28-country bloc. Like Iceland and Liechtenstein, Norway belongs to the European Economic Area, but not the EU. This model allows countries to participate in the European common market for goods, services, people and capital, while opting out of EU joint policy on issues like agriculture, fisheries  one of Norway's major industries  and indirect taxation. Fans of the Norwegian model include Conservative politician Owen Paterson, who was formerly the environment secretary and is campaigning for Brexit. He says membership of just the EEA would allow the U.K. to benefit from the free movement of workers in the region, without having to accept migrants' dependents or extended family members. Critics of the Norwegian model say the U.K. would lose sovereignty, because it would be obliged to adopt the economic rules governing the single market without having a say over them.

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"We have a model that we are part of the internal market  that means that all the labor regulations, all the market regulations, [are] put into Norwegian policies  and we are not at the decision-making table ... We are giving quite a lot of sovereignty over to the EU without voting on those issues," Solberg told CNBC on Thursday. She added that the U.K. might be forced to adopt EU regulation it had previously opted out of if it quit the union but remained part of the EEA. "It is good for Norwegian businesses  but you are lacking the voice and [the U.K.] will have to adapt to a lot of EU regulations that you in fact, some of them, you have even opted out of," Solberg told CNBC. Major differences exist between the U.K. and Norway's economies, despite the countries' proximity and similarly high levels of wealth and living standards.


In its latest oil market report released Thursday, the International Energy Agency said a rebalancing of supply and demand is becoming evident. However, crude stockpiles remain "enormous" and would need time to fall, Neil Atkinson, head of oil industry and markets at the IEA, told CNBC Europe.

Recent downgrades to global economic growth forecasts suggest the crude market is not out of the danger zone, Harry Tchilinguirian, global head of commodity markets strategy BNP Paribas, said Thursday.

Tchilinguirian said the IEA remained conservative in its forecast for the year despite noting that demand growth for crude picked up in the first quarter. BNP Paribas is expecting weak global growth this year, citing the International Monetary Fund's latest downward revision last month.

"I think there's some caution here in terms of that pace of rebalancing, so oil is not exactly out of the woods just yet," Tchilinguirian told CNCB's "Squawk on the Street."

A string of unplanned outages has sustained bullish momentum in the crude market, he said. Prices got support this week after wildfires in Canada's oil sands region knocked out production, and an added boost from outages in Nigeria.

"All these interruptions in supply are keeping that bullish momentum alive. However, I think the market is sort of forgetting about the broader fundamentals, which still show excess supply over demand," he said.

On Wednesday, a surprise decline in U.S. crude inventories lent further support to oil prices, pushing U.S.-benchmark West Texas Intermediate above $47 a barrel for the first time this year.
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Philadonna Wade's story plays out across middle America on a daily basis but is seldom told. It's the story of the working poor who labor in tough jobs  like Wade's position as an assembler for a Ford Motor plant  that don't pay enough to keep them off public assistance. In fact, fully 1 in 3 Americans who work in the manufacturing sector are receiving some form of public assistance, according to a study released this week by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education. Of those who came to their positions through temp agencies, a category in which Wade falls, half are on some type of safety net program. It's not that Wade wants to be on food stamps and Medicaid, among other programs, it's that the mother of four has no choice.

"I absolutely hate being on public assistance," she said in an interview. "You constantly have people judging you." Behind the government jobs reports that show an average 232,000 new positions created over the past 12 months, and the ensuing White House cheerleading about the strength of the economy, are people like Wade who languish at manufacturing jobs that are supposed to be the backbone of U.S industry but instead are poverty traps with little hope of escape. The UC Berkeley study found that low wages, and not inadequate hours, are the primary culprit for why so many manufacturing workers require public assistance to survive.

"Historically, blue collar jobs in manufacturing provided opportunities for workers without a college education to earn a decent living," said the study from researchers Ken Jacobs, Zohar Perla, Ian Perry and Dave Graham-Squire. "For many manufacturing jobs, this is no longer true." Wade lives in Lorain, Ohio, a blue-collar town on Lake Erie where annual income of $32,494 is well below the state average of $48,081 and the unemployment rate of 6.5 percent is above the state's 5.1 percent and well above the national average of 5 percent. As a state, Ohio ranks near the bottom of the list in terms of the family participation rate in welfare programs for production workers, with 24 percent of families participating against the national average of 34 percent.



Manufacturing workers in the safety net State Total family participation for mfg workers (%) Mississippi 59 Georgia 47 California 45 Texas 42 Arkansas 41 Tennessee 40 Alabama 39 New York 39 North Carolina 39 South Carolina 39 All states 34

Source: Source: UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education

The most recent Labor Department figures show that the median wage for production jobs is $15.51 an hour, or barely above the $15 an hour minimum wage figure that is the goal of the nationwide "Fight for 15" campaign. The unemployment rate for production-related jobs is 5.8 percent overall and considerably higher for women, at 8.2 percent. For Wade, a 31-year-old single mother who works as an assembler at the Detroit Chassis plant in Avon, Ohio, having work is a good thing but the low wages are rough. She makes just $9.50 an hour and some weeks doesn't even get a full 40 hours. "You look at what you're supposed to be making and you look at what you are making. It's sad," she said. "I was promised a lot of things. ... You think this is going to happen, I'm finally going to be able to move out of the projects and get off food stamps. ... I feel like a bum, but I know I'm not a bum."
Shares of Party City recovered losses from a fickle trading session Thursday. The stock closed more than 2 percent higher after falling nearly 2 percent in early trading,and dipping more than 9 percent a day earlier, ahead of earnings.

The company beat Wall Street earnings estimates by a penny but posted a surprise drop in revenue.

Same-store sales for Party City dropped by 1.5 percent, while retail sales rose by 2.6 percent, thanks to the addition of 38 new stores in the past year. The company reiterated full-year guidance.

"We are pleased with our first-quarter results, which were generally in line with our expectations," said CEO James Harrison, in a statement. "We continued to make progress executing against our growth strategies."

Party City cited Easter as a reason for a downturn in key same-store sales. The holiday fell into the first quarter as opposed to the second quarter last year. But some analysts were not sold on the justification.

"While this argument seems plausible, we do not buy the excuse, mainly because the earlier timing of Easter should also have had a positive impact on the quarter's sales," said Carter Harrison, retail analyst at research firm Conlumino, in a note. "The wider truth is that other factors are playing a role in diminishing growth."

Harrison cited strong comparatives from Frozen merchandise and a "reorganization of the company's gifting category". Soft consumer sentiment could have also played a role, Harrison said.
While retail's slump has some investors concerned about the future of malls, one investment pro thinks fears of shopping centers' demise is premature  at least for the good-quality ones.

"There are malls which are in trouble. There are shopping centers, there are offices, and this has been going on for hundreds of years," said Marc Halle, head of global real estate securities at Prudential Real Estate Investors and senior portfolio manager of the Prudential Global Real Estate Fund .

"Good properties, well located, well managed, will continue to do well."

Those "A-quality" malls are seeing a lot of shoppers and a lot of sales, Halle told CNBC's "Power Lunch" Thursday.

This week both Kohl's and Macy's posted their steepest quarterly same-store sales declines since the recession, prompting fears about the survival of malls.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Thursday he expects to support Donald Trump's run for the White House but sidestepped the question of whether he's already on board.

"We've had conversations," the Tennessee Republican told CNBC's "Squawk Box," adding that "at the end of the day" he would support the party's nominee. Corker said he sees "a great deal of evolution taking place" with Trump.

"I thought the foreign policy speech was a step in the right direction," Corker said.

He was referring last month's foreign policy address, in which Trump rejected the terms of the nuclear deal with Iran, called for more investment in missile defense in Europe and accused the Obama administration of tepid support for Israel.
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In Africa, mobile technology is transforming the way people live and work. Mobile payments  which can be made using 'dumb' phones  are becoming incredibly popular, and phones are even being used to monitor the health of pregnant women. Toto Health is a Kenya-based company looking to help expectant mothers and parents of young children. Their app sends text messages tailored to stages of pregnancy or a child's age. To give one example of how the app works, a mother in her ninth week of pregnancy could receive a text informing her that vitamin D can help to prevent a miscarriage as well as help a baby's brain develop, and can be found in everything from fish and eggs to sunlight.

"Toto Health works over texts and voice messages, we've built an intelligent system," Felix Kimaru, CEO of Toto Health, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy. "Based on the date of birth of the child, or the state of pregnancy, the system is able to send information that is relevant to you at that particular point," Kimaru added. The impact of technology on our planet, and areas such as Africa, is significant.

"It's opened up a huge technology opportunity for entrepreneurs and especially young entrepreneurs in Africa to solve our problems at large scale and reach African populations using mobile technology," Sheilah Birgen, team leader of m:lab East Africa, told Sustainable Energy.

m:lab East Africa is a group of four organizations that is seeking to identify and develop sustainable enterprises. In terms of Africa's potential, there is a considerable amount when it comes to technology and how it can transform people's lives.


Marc Grow, a student at Columbia Business School, won this year's idea contest at the Sohn Investment Conference , beating out many others, including professionals, in the eyes of a hedge fund all-star judging panel that included Bill Ackman and David Einhorn. Grow sat down with CNBC's Scott Wapner to explain how he came up with his idea and what it was like to present in front of the 3,000-plus attendees of the prestigious New York conference. Each year at Sohn, students, analysts and other new finance professionals submit an investment thesis to a panel of prominent hedge fund managers, who then select the winner based on the soundness of the analysis and 12-month return potential. Find out his idea and how he won the contest below in an exclusive video for CNBC Pro. Pro members can access other premium content from the Sohn Conference below: Pro Talks: Jim Chanos on shorting, Tesla and Enron Rising hedge fund stars at Sohn moving markets Social's Palihapitiya sees Amazon worth $3 trillion

Marc Grow, a student at Columbia Business School, won this year's idea contest at the Sohn Investment Conference, beating out many others, including professionals, in the eyes of a hedge fund all-star judging panel that included Bill Ackman and David Einhorn. Grow sat down with CNBC's Scott Wapner to explain how he came up with his idea and what it was like to present in front of the 3,000-plus attendees of the prestigious New York conference. Each year at Sohn, students, analysts and other new finance professionals submit an investment thesis to a panel of prominent hedge fund managers, who then select the winner based on the soundness of the analysis and 12-month return potential.

Find out his idea and how he won the contest below in an exclusive video for CNBC Pro.


Shares of Valeant fell more than 5 percent Thursday after the New York Times reported the company has not kept the discount promises it made to Congress.

The pharmaceutical company told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February that it would cut as much as 30 percent off the drug prices. But according to the Times, many U.S. clinics are still waiting.

"I think we definitely would be among the top users," Scott Knoer, the chief pharmacy officer at the Cleveland Clinic told the Times, referring to the drugs Nitropress and Isuprel. "I would assume we would be on that list."
Salesforce employees Source: Salesforce

Want a career with benefits? The finance and tech industries have the best employee benefits on average, a new study from review site Glassdoor found. The retail and food services sectors offer the worst benefits on average, the study revealed. Despite the rise in "sharing economy" jobs  which often do not offer benefits  nearly 60 percent of job seekers rank benefits and perks among top considerations before accepting a job, according to an earlier study by Glassdoor, which conducts research on job-market trends. For the study, Glassdoor looked at a sample of almost half a million benefits reviews posted by employees on its site over a 15-month period (June 2014 to September 2015). Reviewers rated benefits on a 1 to 5 star scale, with 5 stars representing high satisfaction.

Researchers focused on eight industries: business services, education, finance, health care, information technology, retail, manufacturing and restaurants and food services. The firm looked at overall benefits ratings, and broke out three categories: parental leave, 401(k) plans and free lunch and snacks. Overall, the finance, IT and manufacturing sectors earned the best ratings with 3.72, 3.68 and 3.64 stars, respectively. When companies are competing for workers or strong unions are involved, benefits get a boost, said Glassdoor chief economist Andrew Chamberlain. At the other end, the retail and food services sectors offered the poorest benefits packages. They garnered 3.11 and 2.73 stars, respectively. "Even when benefits are offered in those industries, they are low quality  a double whammy for workers in restaurants and retail," said Chamberlain. "Workers who have the most access to benefits and the best benefits are always those with the best bargaining power," he said. "Software engineers or certain quantitative people in finance, for example."



One example is cloud company Salesforce, which was named the top company employees want to work at by job listings site Indeed. It offers all the usual health and financial benefits and takes it one step further by throwing in wellness benefits. The goal is to boost employee engagement  meaning involvement, enthusiasm and commitment  and to fend off competitors looking to woo top talent, said Jody Kohner, vice president of employee engagement at Salesforce. Across all industries, employee engagement has hit crisis levels, according to a Gallup report published in January. Just 32 percent of U.S. employees are engaged. Worldwide, the figure drops to 13 percent.



Salesforce offers its employees paid volunteer time off. These employees spent time volunteering at a soup kitchen. Source: Salesforce

Salesforce's wellness perks aim to solve that problem. They include seven paid annual volunteering days, $100 a month to spend on wellness services  such as a gym membership, massage, or consultation with a nutritionist  in-office meditation sessions led by monks and mindfulness rooms on every floor. "The hunger for this from our employees was unbelievable," said Kohner. Fierce competition for highly skilled talent in the tech and finance industries means companies must pay attention to what employees want. For example, Netflix offers parental leave for the first year following a child's birth or adoption, Airbnb gives employees $2,000 a year for personal travel and Zillow covers the cost shipping breast milk for employees who are traveling, according to Glassdoor. "The people who work here [at Salesforce] are going to get called by recruiters all day long and we need to give our employees a reason to not take that call," said Kohner. "Culture becomes the deal breaker, because everybody is going to come at you with a very handsome offer, from a financial perspective."



Drilling into the numbers for three specific types of benefits  family leave, 401(k) benefits and free food  here are the best and worst sectors for benefits. Parental leave: finance, IT, education

If family is important, finance, tech and education are the most generous industries when it comes to family leave benefits. Finance really stands out  the sector notched a 3.77-star rating. IT and education garnered 3.71 and 3.60 stars, respectively. The lowest-rated for parental leave were in retail (3.41) and health care (3.36.) "It's ironic that the health industry  which is full of medical professionals  is behind the curve in terms of maternity and paternity leave," he said.

Saving for retirement: finance, education, manufacturing

When it comes to saving for retirement, when companies do offer 401(k) plans, there was less variation in the way employees rated those benefits than others, the report found. Finance topped the list, at 3.83 stars. It makes sense that finance would lead when it comes to financial benefits, said Chamberlain. "Those people tend to care more about that, just because of their training, and I think that companies tend to respond by offering great plans," he said. Education and manufacturing also offer strong 401(k) packages, notching up 3.77 and 3.76 ratings, respectively. This is one area in which the IT sector does not shine, with a rating of 3.36. The tech industry's workforce skews younger, and companies are catering benefits packages to address employee priorities, said Chamberlain. "Free meals and video games might catch the eye of a 25-year-old programmer more than a 401(k) match," said Chamberlain.



Saving for retirement is particularly tough for those in food services, business services and retail, which had respective ratings of 3.28, 3.31 and 3.34. For job seekers in those industries, do your research and beef up on skills and training, said Chamberlain. Bigger companies, such as Trader Joe's and Costco, tend to offer better benefits than smaller companies, he said. "Knowing where to look can make the difference," he said.



Eating at the office: tech, business services, manufacturing If free food is your thing, head to techland. Tech's legendary food and snacks benefits earned the sector the top spot in this category with 4.06 stars out of five. Two other sectors also offer great lunches and snacks: business services, rated 3.94, and manufacturing, which earned a respectable 3.9 rating. One bright spot for those in restaurants and food services was the food and snacks, which employees rated 3.80. "It is a silver lining for people in food service," said Chamberlain. Those in finance, for once, did not come out on top when it comes to free food and snacks. They were on a par with other less-well paid businesses, such as health care, with a 3.76 rating. Teachers and store clerks are out of luck when it comes to free food  those two sectors garnered the lowest ratings at 3.22 and 3.34.


ITHACA, N.Y.  Tompkins Trust Company announced it has named Jennifer Tegan, partner/owner of Cayuga Venture Fund, to its board of directors.

Tegan is also president of the board of Upstate Venture Association of New York (UVANY), a membership trade organization whose mission is to increase access to capital for entrepreneurs and companies in upstate New York. As part of her role with Cayuga Venture Fund, she also serves on the corporate boards of GiveGab (Ithaca), Intrinsiq Materials (Rochester), and True Gault (New York City).

Were extremely pleased to welcome Jennifer to the board, Greg Hartz, president and CEO of Tompkins Trust, said in a news release. Her financial experience and business leadership will be great assets to our organization.

Tegan has bachelors and masters degrees in geology from Smith College and University of Cincinnati, respectively, and her MBA from Cornell University.

Since its inception in 1994, Cayuga Venture Fund and its member investors have invested more than $70 million in technology companies in upstate New York, many of which are based on research performed at Cornell University. The fund has also helped to attract about $300 million of investor capital to technology startup companies in the region, according to the release.

Founded in 1836, Tompkins Trust has 13 branches in Tompkins County, Cortland, and Auburn.

Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com




I think you can see that you have a simple array error. The compiler seems to have been quite clear about that.



I suggest that you resolve that array error.

The code will then work fine.



I cannot help you any further with this issue Gus.



Hello,

I am automating the outlook using vb.net using

Copy Code Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook



I want to add a unsubscribe link to the mail header.



I have done mail automation using asp.net which has option to add unsubscribe link in header

Copy Code Dim Mail As New System.Net.Mail.MailMessage() .Headers.Add( " List-Unsubscribe" , oModPass.OurunsubscribeMailId)



But this is not working in outlook.

Is there any alternatives for '.header.add' in 'Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook'

In simple I want to add a link as shown in this link



Google Images[^]



Please help.



this StackOverflow thread[^], something like this should work:

VB.NET Copy Code Public Sub AddCustomHeader( ByVal mail As MailItem, ByVal headerName As String , ByVal headerValue As String ) Dim prop As String = " http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/string/{00020386-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/" + headerName mail.PropertyAccessor.SetProperty(prop, headerValue) End Sub





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer









List-Unsubscribe[ ^ ]:

plain Copy Code List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:unsubscribe-espc-tech-12345N@domain.com>, <http:





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer









Thank you so much.. You made my work easier.



Hello everybody!



I M facing a brain busting issue for the last 3 days and desperately seeking help.



As a most trivial example, I M using the NorhtwindDataSet and has dropped only 3 Fields - ProductID, ProductName, and the UnitPrice from the Products table (in details view) on to the form. The Navigator displays all the records without any problem.



When I modify any value from any of the 3 fields, it accepts obediently. But, when I run the form again, No modification is there - the same old values are making faces at me. The auto-generated code behind is as below:

VB Copy Code Private Sub ProductsBindingNavigatorSaveItem_Click_3(sender As Object , e As EventArgs) _ Handles ProductsBindingNavigatorSaveItem.Click Me .Validate() Me .ProductsBindingSource.EndEdit() Me .TableAdapterManager.UpdateAll( Me .NorthwindDataSet) End Sub

I tried my own Save button, and copied the above code in its Procedure, with no luck.



I have tried this with plenty of databases, including my own database tables as well, with exactly the same problem.



Please help me, taking me as a novice.

Regards





Not a single project is functioning to Insert or Update any record, whether in DataGridView or in detailed format.

I M suffering and seek help desperately.



Regards



I hate to ask this question, but this is my first time using SQLite from the nuGet package.

System.Data.SQLite (x86/x64) and it installed EF6, SQLite Core, SQLite EF6, SQLite LINQ



I wrote a DLL for the DAL, and a DLL for the SQL Linq Call. Then I wrote a function to just get a count from the table to trigger creating the database. I tested it using SQL Server and it worked fine. Created the database and tables, then seeded the tables.



So then I switch over to SQLite. Adjusted the App.Config file - see below

This App.Config is from the main program project. I have App.Configs in the DLL's as well, not sure If I need them or not. Copy Code <configuration> <configSections> <section name= " entityFramework" type= " System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission= " false" /> <!-- For more information on Entity Framework configuration, visit http: </ configSections > <connectionStrings> <add name= " DefaultConnection" connectionString= " Data Source=WSACORE2-VM1\SQLServer; Initial Catalog=AccountMateExtras2016; User ID=mvc.connector; Password=9Moret9z" providerName= " System.Data.SqlClient" /> <add name= " SQLiteConnection" connectionString= " data source=d:\Amp\SIS\AMExtras.sqlite" providerName= " System.Data.SqlLite.EF6" /> </ connectionStrings > <startup> <supportedRuntime version= " v4.0" sku= " .NETFramework,Version=v4.5.1" /> </ startup > <system.data> <DbProviderFactories> <remove invariant= " System.Data.SQLite" /> <add name= " SQLite Data Provider" invariant= " System.Data.SQLite" description= " .NET Framework Data Provider for SQLite" type= " System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory, System.Data.SQLite" /> <remove invariant= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6" /> <add name= " SQLite Data Provider (Entity Framework 6)" invariant= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6" description= " .NET Framework Data Provider for SQLite (Entity Framework 6)" type= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6.SQLiteProviderFactory, System.Data.SQLite.EF6" /> </ DbProviderFactories > </ system.data > <entityFramework> <defaultConnectionFactory type= " System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.SqlConnectionFactory, EntityFramework" /> <providers> <!--<provider invariantName= " System.Data.SQLite" type= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6.SQLiteProviderServices, System.Data.SQLite.EF6, Version=1.0.101.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=db937bc2d44ff139" />--> <!--<provider invariantName= " System.Data.SqlClient" type= " System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" />--> <provider invariantName= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6" type= " System.Data.SQLite.EF6.SQLiteProviderServices, System.Data.SQLite.EF6" /> </ providers > </ entityFramework > </ configuration >

Then I ran this in the EF DLL and got that error in the subject line.

Copy Code Imports System Imports System.Collections.Generic Imports System.Linq Imports System.Data.SQLite Imports System.Data.SQLite.EF6 Imports System.Data.SQLite.Linq Imports AccountMate_DAL.DAL Imports AccountMate_DAL.Models Imports AccountMate_EF6 Public Class ef_seed Public Shared Function Create_Database() As Integer Dim pValue As Integer = 0 Using context As New ameContext() pValue = context.SMTP_SEND.Count() End Using Return pValue End Function End Class

I have no clue on this, and I did search for 2 hours on the subject. Any help appreciated!

Maybe the Linq I use above is not valid with SQLite.







I'm wondering if this is worth the time. This program uses old Dbase IV or Foxpro database files, and I wanted to use something faster and more modern for a new program feature that stores all the emails sent in the database, so if one fails it can be resent.



This kicked my butt, but I don't get an error anymore. I couldn't figure out the App.Config part the way the bulk of examples showed, but I did figure out how to point the database to a network drive via code in the Application, and pass it to EF6 DAL.



So in case your looking for an example of how to point SQLite to a network drive without hard coding the path, this is it, well I think it is, until something better comes along.



I apologize in advance for this being in VB. All the examples where in C#



My project has 3 modules, because it's getting too large in size.

Main Project EXE

Data Access Layer DLL

Entity DLL



I went back and stripped out the SQLite from the main project and Entity DLL and just installed it in the DAL DLL. Then just made references for SQLite back to the DAL. Then stripped out the SQLite and EF stuff in the App.Configs of DLL's



So in the DBContext class in my DAL, I added the conn string to use in New() Copy Code Public Class ameContext Inherits DbContext <ObsoleteAttribute( " The default connection factory should be set in the config file or using the DbConfiguration class. (See <a href=" http: Public Shared Property DefaultConnectionFactory As IDbConnectionFactory Public Sub New(ByVal conString As String ) ' << I added the conn string to use MyBase.New(conString) ' SQLite doesn ' t support auto database creation Entity.Database.SetInitializer(Of ameContext)(Nothing) End Sub End NameSpace Then I added a SQLiteConfiguration File to my DAL Class, which gets called from the DBContext above. Copy Code Imports System.Data.SQLite Imports System.Data.SQLite.EF6 Imports System.Linq Imports System.Text Imports System.Data.Entity.Core.Common Imports AccountMate_DAL Namespace System.Data.SQLite.Entity Public Class SQLiteConfiguration Inherits DbConfiguration Public Sub New() SetProviderFactory( " System.Data.SQLite" , SQLiteFactory.Instance) SetProviderFactory( " System.Data.SQLite.EF6" , SQLiteProviderFactory.Instance) SetProviderServices( " System.Data.SQLite" , CType(SQLiteProviderFactory.Instance.GetService(GetType(DbProviderServices)), DbProviderServices)) End Sub End Class End NameSpace And added a SQLiteConnectionFactory Class to my DAL Class, which gets called from the DBConfiguration above. Copy Code Imports System.Data.Common Imports System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure Imports System.Data.SQLite Public Class SQLiteConnectionFactory Implements IDbConnectionFactory Public Function CreateConnection(ByVal connectionString As String ) As DbConnection Implements IDbConnectionFactory.CreateConnection Return New SQLiteConnection(connectionString) End Function End Class The App.Config for the VB App, All I did was declare the DefaultConnectionfactory, which is the name of my DAL. Copy Code <entityFramework> <defaultConnectionFactory type= " AccountMate_DAL.SQLiteConnectionFactory, AccountMate_DAL" /> </ entityFramework > Finally in the program, when initializing the context, I added the connstring, connstring is that string that was in the App.Config of the vb.net app shown below, higlighted in blue. Get the string and then delete it. Copy Code <add name= " SQLiteConnection" connectionString= " data source=d:\Amp\SIS\AMExtras.sqlite" providerName= " System.Data.SqlLite.EF6" /> Copy Code Dim context = new ameContext(connstring)

Hope that helps, like I said it was pretty confusing to figure out. And the examples were so basic and assumed it works.



[edit] 05//11/2013

Had no modify the DBContext to stop Database Creation

But I wrote a record to it, and updated the record 5 times now.



Be cool if I can figure out a way to detect the whether its using SQL Server or SQLite in the DBContext.



modified 13-May-16 11:08am.



How we can get last 12 months using current month with we select departmentTitle and ReadingDate(Apr 2016) from table

and also add sum of meterreading using departmentTitle and ReadingDate.



My Query is:

SELECT CONVERT(varchar(3), ReadingDate, 100) AS XText,SUM(MeterReading) AS DataText,MonthlyTarget AS YText FROM tblReadings WHERE ReadingDate =apr 2016 AND DepartmentTitle=ADS GROUP BY CONVERT(varchar(3), ReadingDate, 100), MONTH(ReadingDate),MonthlyTarget ORDER BY MONTH(ReadingDate)



Required output is:

[Month from date] [Sum of meterreading]

[Apr] [12000]

[Mar] [16000]

[Feb] [20000]

[Jan] [18000]



SQL Copy Code where Readingdate >= dateadd(year,-1,ReadingDate)

Typed from memory so you need to check the syntax

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity

RAH





But I want selected month and previous 12 months..

and my where condition is



Where ReadingDate <= 'Nov 2016' AND DepartmentTitle='ABC'



Required OUTPUT:

Nov 2016

Oct 2016

Sept 2016

Aug 2016

Jul 2016

Jun 2016

May 2016

Apr 2016

Mar 2016

Feb 2016

Jan 2016

Dec 2015





Never underestimate the power of human stupidity

RAH





SQL Copy Code WHERE ReadingDate BETWEEN DATEADD(YY, -1, GETDATE()) AND GETDATE()

As aside, instead of using SQL Copy Code CONVERT ( varchar ( 3 ), ReadingDate, 100 ) AS XText try (SQL 2008 and later) SQL Copy Code DATENAME(mm, ReadingDate) AS XText



CHill60 wrote: SQL 2008 and later

In this case, MSDN is wrong, or at least misleading. The DATENAME function was available at least as far back as SQL 2000:

DATENAME : SQL Server 2000 Books Online[^]





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer







Thanks for info.



I always check when a function I'm suggesting was introduced - you're right, MSDN is misleading on this one. I'll do more robust checking next time





Never underestimate the power of human stupidity

RAH







We want only required Month and Year from date instead of date in where condition.



This is my Query:





SELECT TOP 12 CONVERT(varchar(3), ReadingDate, 100)+CONVERT(varchar(4), ReadingDate,102) AS XText,SUM(MeterReading) AS DataText,(MonthlyTarget) AS YText

FROM tblReadings

WHERE DepartmentTitle='abc'AND ReadingDate BETWEEN DATEADD(mm,-12,ReadingDate) AND '31 may 2016'

GROUP BY CONVERT(varchar(3), ReadingDate, 100)+CONVERT(varchar(4), ReadingDate,102), MONTH(ReadingDate),YEAR(ReadingDate),MonthlyTarget

ORDER BY YEAR(ReadingDate) DESC, MONTH(ReadingDate) DESC





I Want this output -

'may 2016'



Is there any way to find out the status of opening a recordset in VBA? I thought it was the SQL that was slow but it is instantaneous. It is the open of the recordset that is slow and I would like to be able to monitor its progress.



ORIGINAL QUESTION SHOWN BELOW FOR HISTORY

I'm running an SQL query in VBA in Excel to return a record set. Is there any way to know the progress of the query so I can show it on the status bar (or elsewhere)? If there are millions of records that would be better than "please be patient" or "processing 15,000,000 records".



modified 5-May-16 19:04pm.






When you handle objects in Entity Framework, the underlying SQL is abstracted and, frankly, immaterial. You can treat a table, SP, or view in exactly the same manner, they're mapped out in the .edmx file. Since you're clearly using Database first, you'll want a look at Entity Framework Relationships - EF Designer[^]. In Entity Framework there aren't really "Joins" (since that's more of a database concept) there are "Associations" (as a more OOP concept) that are defined in your application, and parsed into joins by Entity Framework when querying the data source.



What this allows you to do is ignore the relational structure of the database and implement your own within the confines of your application. It doesn't change the database itself, just how your application looks at it. The best part is that it doesn't lean on the database to provide those details; ie the implementation of a store procedure has no impact on the functionality of Entity Framework.



For my money, it's generally best to use tables as a data source, but that's not always possible. In my mind it gives the purest look at the current state of the data and avoids some of the "gotchas" that can creep up when calling code (functions or SPs) rather than the data itself, or the holes that are often created by views. As a final caveat, tables are the only clean way to write transactions to the database. You can use Functions or Stored Procedures for that, but the implementation and business rules are dependent on the DBA, and I'm not a giant fan of handing off application critical items to a third party; at least in a data-driven, enterprise system. If those are your only options, though, you can work with them seamlessly.



Regardless of the underlying method used to derive the data, it is consumed in exactly the same way in an application context. You will have a collection of entities, defined as classes in your application, mapped to the database by your .edmx file, and instantiated as called by Entity Framework.



So the short answer (that I meandered greatly from) is that it doesn't matter what a Stored Procedures looks like or how it is invoked, as long as it exposes the data that you need in your application, to include the data that you need to form concrete Associations.

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

- Benjamin Disraeli







I think I understand and was making things more complicated then they are. Because the stored procedure uses a main database to pull back the data then I only need to map to that one database an not worry about the other databases or views that the stored procedure it pulls from. I am sorry for all of the posts back and forth I have causes but now I have learned something I did not know before. Thank you very much!



I am new @ asp.net ,please answer my problem..

How to use Datarelation to Create Menu in c# asp.net?





There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.





There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.



I am taking input from the keyboard of Emp Date,Expiry Date. Here I am trying to calculate number of days between insurance date and Expiry date.and I am trying to display the value in a text box named as "days left".and also trying to save the data in the table and it should bind to MVC grid Simultaneously.

we are using 'Java script' to achieve the above Task by using "DayDiff()" function.but we are not get it what we are expecting.Please suggest me the best way of approach to achieve the task.



thank you.......



modified 13-May-16 2:03am.





Also follow the rules that Richard has given to make sure that whatever you do it has to adhere to best practices.



Has anyone tried to use the Metro-UI-CSS framework with ASP.NET 5.0 in Visual Studio Community 2015?



If so, were you successful? What parts of Metro-UI did you use? Did they work straight out of the box or did you have to add extra code to make them work?



My own experience, which was a very simple test, did not work. I was testing the "slide" capability of a tile where the text changes by sliding down when the cursor is placed within the tile. The initial condition displayed my text at the chosen font size. When the cursor was placed over the tile, the text slid down displaying the new text at my chosen font size, but it also displayed the text at the default font size over the top, thus making it unreadable.



In addition, the footer section, which should be displayed underneath the body section, was placed within the body section of the page; something I have never experienced before.



back in March[^]?





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer











It seems to me that something fundamental is wrong if the classic footer section is placed inside the body section.



i'm using dropdownlist statically for gender field its not showing me proper data when im trying to update pls help..

Database doesn't contain any special Gender DB table..



Controller code for Edit:



public ActionResult Edit(int id = 0)

{

EmployeeCrud emp = new EmployeeCrud();

var empval = emp.FindById(id);

var empentity = new EmployeeEntity();

if (empval != null)

{

empentity.EmpID = empval.EmpID;

empentity.FirstName = empval.FirstName;

empentity.LastName = empval.LastName;

empentity.ContactNo = empval.ContactNo;

empentity.EmailID = empval.EmailID;

empentity.Address = empval.Address;

empentity.Dob = empval.dob;

empentity.Gender = empval.gender;

empentity.DeptName = empval.DeptName;

empentity.DeptID = empval.DeptID;

empentity.Desination = empval.desination;

empentity.Joining = empval.joining;

empentity.Salary = empval.salary;

Copy Code } ViewBag.DeptID = new SelectList(db.Depts, " DeptID" , " DeptName" , empentity.DeptID); return View(empentity); } [HttpPost] public ActionResult Edit(EmployeeEntity employee) { if (ModelState.IsValid) { EmployeeCrud emp = new EmployeeCrud(); var empval = emp.UpdateEmp(employee.EmpID,employee.FirstName,employee.LastName,employee.ContactNo,employee.EmailID,employee.Address,employee.Dob,employee.Gender,employee.DeptID,employee.Desination,employee.Joining,employee.Salary); db.SaveChanges(); return RedirectToAction( " Index" ); } ViewBag.DeptID = new SelectList(db.Depts, " DeptID" , " DeptName" , employee.DeptID); return View(employee); }

Create View Code:

@model MvcEmpCrud3.Models.EmployeeEntity



@{

ViewBag.Title = "Create";

}

Create

@using (Html.BeginForm()) {

@Html.ValidationSummary(true)

Copy Code <fieldset> <legend>Employee </ legend > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.FirstName) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.FirstName, new { placeholder = " Enter First Name here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.FirstName) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.LastName) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.LastName, new { placeholder = " Enter Last Name here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.LastName) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.ContactNo) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.ContactNo, new { placeholder = " Enter Contact No here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.ContactNo) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.EmailID) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.EmailID, new { placeholder = " Enter EmailId here" } ) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.EmailID) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Address) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextAreaFor(model => model.Address, new { style = " width: 300px; height: 70px;" , placeholder = " Enter title here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Address) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Dob) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.Dob) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Dob) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Gender) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .DropDownList( " Gender" , new List<SelectListItem>{ new SelectListItem{ Text= " Male" , Value= " Male" }, new SelectListItem{ Text= " Female" , Value= " Female" } }, " Select Gender" ) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Gender) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.DeptID, " Dept" ) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .DropDownList( " DeptID" ,@ViewBag.DeptID as SelectList, " Select Department" ) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.DeptID) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Desination) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.Desination, new { <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/placeholder" >@placeholder </ a > = " Enter Designation here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Desination) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Joining) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.Joining) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Joining) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Salary) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.Salary, new { <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/placeholder" >@placeholder </ a > = " Enter Salary here" }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Salary) </ div > <p> <input type= " submit" value = " Create" /> </ p > </ fieldset >

}

@Html .ActionLink("Back to List", "Index")

@section Scripts {

@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryval")

Copy Code <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/scripts" >@Scripts </ a > .Render( " ~/bundles/jqueryui" ) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/Styles" >@Styles </ a > .Render( " ~/Content/themes/base/css" ) < " script type=" text/javascript " > $(document).ready(function () { $(" #Dob " ).datepicker({ changeMonth: true, changeYear: true, dateFormat: 'dd/mm/yy' }); $(" #Joining " ).datepicker({ changeMonth: true, changeYear: true, dateFormat: 'dd/mm/yy' }); }); </script>

}



Edit View Code:



@model MvcEmpCrud3.Models.EmployeeEntity



@{

ViewBag.Title = "Edit";

}

Edit

@using (Html.BeginForm()) {

@Html.ValidationSummary(true)

Copy Code <fieldset> <legend>Employee </ legend > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .HiddenFor(model => model.EmpID) <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.FirstName) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.FirstName) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.FirstName) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.LastName) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.LastName) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.LastName) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.ContactNo) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.ContactNo) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.ContactNo) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.EmailID) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.EmailID) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.EmailID) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Address) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.Address) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Address) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Dob) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.Dob) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Dob) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Gender) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .DropDownListFor(model => model.Gender, new List<SelectListItem> { new SelectListItem{Text= " Male" ,Value= " Male" }, new SelectListItem{Text= " Female" ,Value= " Female" } }) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Gender) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.DeptID, " Dept" ) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .DropDownList( " DeptID" , String .Empty) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.DeptID) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Desination) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.Desination) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Desination) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Joining) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .TextBoxFor(model => model.Joining) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Joining) </ div > <div class = " editor-label" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .LabelFor(model => model.Salary) </ div > <div class = " editor-field" > <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .EditorFor(model => model.Salary) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/html" >@Html </ a > .ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Salary) </ div > <p> <input type= " submit" value = " Save" /> </ p > </ fieldset >

}

@Html .ActionLink("Back to List", "Index")

@section Scripts {

@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jqueryval")

Copy Code <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/scripts" >@Scripts </ a > .Render( " ~/bundles/jqueryui" ) <a href= " http://www.codeproject.com/Members/Styles" >@Styles </ a > .Render( " ~/Content/themes/base/css" ) < " script type=" text/javascript " > $(document).ready(function () { $(" #Dob " ).datepicker({ changeMonth: true, changeYear: true, dateFormat: " dd-mm-yy " }); $(" #Joining " ).datepicker({ changeMonth: true, changeYear: true, dateFormat: " dd-mm-yy " }); }); </script>

}





There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.







Are you expecting the dropdown showing the correct gender by default while Edit view in the page?



C# Copy Code Hi to Everyone What I want to do is read from a database a list of already entered data which has a date as part of the record, I am fine with that, then using the standard ASP controls + free AJAX controls or other free controls where there is no caveat to their use. Display in a calendar control or the like a standard month style layout but with all the previously used/ selected days highlighted in some way so the user knows what dates have been previously used. So with the current date being 09/May/2015 (UK Time) if data had been previously entered against (02/05/2016), (05/05/2016), (08/05/2016) Those days would be highlighted in the calendar control or similar I could of course provide a side list of previously used dates in a separate control but where is the challenge in that. I am not a seasoned ASP person my background is desktop development in VB3, VB5, VB6 VB.Net and C# and T-SQL so I know a thing or two about programming just not the ASP controls or what they can accomplish. Thanks to all who reads this



Good day



We have a asp.net website high traffic website. When a user registers we store the ip address i that user,when the login we store all ip addreses he used and we have a blocking module which blocks a username and all the ip's associated with that username. So that those who want to create other accounts from same location will be blocked. This morning we had few incidents where we needed to block the fake user. Can anyone scrutinise my approach and there is anything to my approach that i can add to make it rock solid i would appreciate. We also have a mobile app which also does the same in terms of Imei and it blocks the phones which is easy.





Spoted in Daniweb-- Sorry to rant. I hate websites. They are just wierd. They don't behave like normal code.



C#/VB.NET/ASP.NET/SQL7/2000/2005/2008

http://www.vimalsoft.com

vuyiswa[at]vimalsoft.com Vuyiswa Maseko,Spoted in Daniweb-- Sorry to rant. I hate websites. They are just wierd. They don't behave like normal code.C#/VB.NET/ASP.NET/SQL7/2000/2005/2008vuyiswa[at]vimalsoft.com





As you may already know IP banning has it disadvantages, but to be honest, there is no really reliable method to block new users based on old data...

No IP address, no email, no user-name and nothing other will for sure connect one account to an other, so always will miss someone bad, why probably block someone innocent...

So with all the sorrow - there is no 'rock solid' solution, but bad and worst only...

Skipper: We'll fix it.

Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?

Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.



I'm trying to use gSOAP with C++ to pass a std::list of a simple structure using the soapstd2 compiler to generate the relevant WSDL for a legacy application that I'm trying to offer as a web service.



Heres the gSOAP header that I have defined in the legacy C++ app:



C++ Copy Code #import "stl.h" class ns__arpaTarget { public: int nTgtNo; std::string name; double dRange; double dBearing; ns__arpaTarget(); ~ns__arpaTarget(); }; class ns__arpaList { public: std::list < ns__arpaTarget > arpa_lst; }; int ns__getArpaList( ns__arpaList* lst );



I'm compiling this within Visual Studio 2008, with the following pre build event to generate the WSDL:



C++ Copy Code W:\gSOAP\gsoap- 2 .8\gsoap\bin\win32\soapcpp2 -I W:\gSOAP\gsoap- 2 .8\gsoap\import -t W:\gSOAP\gsoap- 2 .8\gsoap\WS\typemap.dat -j -s gSOAPArpaWebService.h



This is all building fine at the server end (I have an implementation of the function which builds and runs and supplies a list of my simple structure) - it's also generating the WSDL which looks like this:



XML Copy Code =" 1.0" =" UTF-8" < definitions name =" Arpa" targetNamespace =" http://localhost:5801/arpa.wsdl" xmlns:tns =" http://localhost:5801/arpa.wsdl" xmlns:SOAP-ENV =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:SOAP-ENC =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xmlns:xsi =" http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd =" http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:ns =" http://localhost:5801/arpa.wsdl" xmlns:SOAP =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/soap/" xmlns:HTTP =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/http/" xmlns:MIME =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/mime/" xmlns:DIME =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2002/04/dime/wsdl/" xmlns:WSDL =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/" xmlns =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/" > < types > < schema targetNamespace =" http://localhost:5801/arpa.wsdl" xmlns:SOAP-ENV =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:SOAP-ENC =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xmlns:xsi =" http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd =" http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:ns =" http://localhost:5801/arpa.wsdl" xmlns =" http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault =" qualified" attributeFormDefault =" unqualified" > < import namespace =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" / > < complexType name =" arpaTarget" > < sequence > < element name =" nTgtNo" type =" xsd:int" minOccurs =" 1" maxOccurs =" 1" / > < element name =" name" type =" xsd:string" minOccurs =" 1" maxOccurs =" 1" / > < element name =" dRange" type =" xsd:double" minOccurs =" 1" maxOccurs =" 1" / > < element name =" dBearing" type =" xsd:double" minOccurs =" 1" maxOccurs =" 1" / > < /sequence > < /complexType > < element name =" getArpaList" > < complexType > < sequence > < /sequence > < /complexType > < /element > < element name =" arpaList" > < complexType > < sequence > < element name =" arpa-lst" type =" ns:arpaTarget" minOccurs =" 0" maxOccurs =" unbounded" / > < /sequence > < /complexType > < /element > < /schema > < /types > < message name =" getArpaList" > < part name =" Body" element =" ns:getArpaList" / > < /message > < message name =" arpaList" > < part name =" Body" element =" ns:arpaList" / > < /message > < portType name =" ArpaPortType" > < operation name =" getArpaList" > < documentation > Service definition of function ns__getArpaList < /documentation > < input message =" tns:getArpaList" / > < output message =" tns:arpaList" / > < /operation > < /portType > < binding name =" Arpa" type =" tns:ArpaPortType" > < SOAP:binding style =" document" transport =" http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/http" / > < operation name =" getArpaList" > < SOAP:operation soapAction =" " / > < input > < SOAP:body parts =" Body" use =" literal" / > < /input > < output > < SOAP:body parts =" Body" use =" literal" / > < /output > < /operation > < /binding > < service name =" Arpa" > < documentation > service described at http://localhost:5801/ArpaService < /documentation > < port name =" Arpa" binding =" tns:Arpa" > < SOAP:address location =" http://localhost:5801/arpaserver.cgi" / > < /port > < /service > < /definitions >



At the client end I'm referencing the generated gSOAP WSDL and successfully importing the service via an ASP.NET web application - but when I try to use the service function of the imported service to retrieve the list of ns__arpaTarget types the service only offers the following function signature that I don't understand or know how to use (perhaps this is my problem?):



C# Copy Code Radar_Services_Web_Client.ArpaSrv.arpaTarget[] ArpaPortTypeClient.getArpaList( Radar_Services_Web_Client.ArpaSrv.getArpaList getArpaList1 )



Note: I have tried this without a list and I am able to get a single structure out from the service into the client call successfully. I've also tried a list of pointers to ns__arpaTarget - as the gSOAP documentation tells me this is a safer way of doing so but the same problem occurs (i.e. I get the same strange signature to use in the client).



Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Gary.


Attorneys in Fiji case given until December to suggest trial date

Judge gives defense and prosecuting attorneys until Dec. 19 to suggest trial date and duration.
Fall Arts Spotlight: Nina West Creator Takes a Turn in Hairspray

Andrew Levitt returns home not as his beloved drag queen character, but as Edna Turnblad in the touring Broadway production of Hairspray.
April 7, 2016 - An industrial building was completed in Legacy Park in Olive Branch, Mississippi. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

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By Ted Evanoff of The Commercial Appeal

Commercial real estate brokers from Canada and the United States toured Memphis today to get a first-hand look at the regions logistics abilities.

Andy Cates, chief executive of the Colliers International real estate office in Memphis, said about 75 Colliers brokers from throughout North America arrived for tours Wednesday and Thursday.

The session is part of Cates effort to steer more distributors and manufacturers to the region, where 1.86 million square feet of industrial space came on line early this year, chiefly in the Mississippi suburbs.

We sold these guys in every possible way there is to sell them about Memphis, Cates said, pointing out each broker is in contact back home with about 50 clients.

Tours today include the Canadian National intermodal yard and the 1-million-square-foot Nike apparel distribution center. Visitors on Wednesday saw the FedEx facilities in Memphis, the BNSF intermodal yard in Memphis, Legacy Park industrial park in Olive Branch, and the Gateway Global Logistics industrial park near Byhalia.

Despite the new construction, the industrial vacancy rate remains about 9.2 percent, reflecting the pace of expansion by distributors in the region. About 1.7 million square feet of space was absorbed in the first quarter, Colliers reported.

Metropolitan Memphis contains about 2,400 factory, warehouse and distribution buildings covering nearly 232 million square feet. The logistics industry employs about 55,000 workers in the nine-county metro area.

Cates said brokers liked Memphis. They stayed Downtown in The Peabody, Hampton Inn and the Madison hotels, were treated to barbecue and cocktails, and lunched with Greater Memphis Chamber officials in Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid. The brokers came from cities including Atlanta; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto; and Charleston, South Carolina.

"Theyve had a phenomenal time, Cates said.

The tour is part of Colliers regular program for its logistics and transportation brokers. Visits have been scheduled or taken place to the Panama Canal, the port of Rotterdam, the ports of New York and New Jersey and California inland from Los Angeles.

In its first-quarter Memphis market summary, Colliers reported on new industrial buildings, saying, All but 77,000 square feet of the completed construction is located in Desoto County, with more than 1 million square feet of Class A warehouse space delivered at Hillwoods Legacy Park. IDI Gazely also completed a little more than 400,000 square feet at Crossroads Distribution Center and approximately 275,000 square feet at Stateline Business Park.

Cates said lease rates average about $3.15 per square foot, which he described as favorable compared to the $4 price prevailing in Dallas and larger markets.
April 22, 2016  From left, Scott Armacust, Jim Cernosek, Barbara Blum and George Awtrey clear an abandoned and overgrown property at 4222 Boyce in the Oak Ridge neighborhood. Volunteers from Wright Medical and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association spent the afternoon clearing overgrown properties and cleaning trash from the streets. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

David Waters Columnist SHARE April 22, 2016  George Awtrey, left, and Barbara Blum clean trash before mowing an overgrown and abandoned property at 4222 Boyce in the Oak Ridge neighborhood. Volunteers from Wright Medical and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association spent the afternoon clearing overgrown properties and cleaning trash from the streets. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal) April 22, 2016  Barbara Blum, a volunteer from Wright Medical, edges along an overgrown sidewalk in front of an abandoned property at 4222 Boyce in the Oak Ridge neighborhood. Volunteers from Wright Medical and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association spent the afternoon clearing overgrown properties and cleaning trash from the streets. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

Some of the city's movers and shakers gathered in an East Memphis hotel ballroom Tuesday to "Celebrate What's Right About Memphis."

In this case, it's the billions of dollars now being invested in big building projects from Crosstown Concourse to Central Station to remake the city.

"We're too hard on this city," Andy Cates, the local businessman and philanthropist, told the crowd at a luncheon sponsored by the New Memphis Institute and the First Tennessee Foundation.

Yes, we are.

Meanwhile, at a Downtown church, some of the city's ministers and social workers met to contemplate what's also right about Memphis.

In this case, it's the millions of dollars and hours now being invested to help homeless families, foster children and others who are just trying to make it.

"This city can be a hard place to live," said Chere' Bradshaw, executive director of the Community Alliance for the Homeless, who spoke at the Memphis Families symposium at Calvary Church.

Yes, it can.

This is Memphis 2016  a city on the brink of boom and bust.

Or both.

It could go either way in older-ring, working-class neighborhoods like Oak Ridge.

"There are still a lot of people here who care, a lot of pride," said Joel Martin, president of the Oakridge Neighborhood Association. "We're doing all we can to keep this neighborhood strong, but it's a struggle."

Like Memphis, the Oak Ridge neighborhood finds itself tilting between prosperity and instability, between bloom and blight.

It's bordered on the north and east by local investment boomlets such as the University of Memphis, Audubon Park, and Wright Medical.

It's bordered on the south and west by Parkway Village, Barron Manor, Getwell Road and other areas battered by predatory lenders, out-of-town landlords, and public and private disinvestment.

"Over the past 10 years, Oak Ridge got just about every bad investor it could get," said Lynda Whalen, president of the Southeast Memphis Neighborhood Partnership.

"They are doing what they can to stabilize it, but they are dealing with blight and crime and so on and they don't have a lot of tools."

Sound familiar?

Nearly 7 in 10 people in Memphis live in economic distress. That's the highest rate of economic disparity among the nation's big cities, according to the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan think tank.

The big new developments will boost the fortunes of many. But will it help lower-income people, landlords and merchants, or merely push them from less affordable, rising neighborhoods into more affordable, declining neighborhoods?

Will the impressive and encouraging redevelopment of Downtown and the urban core help or hinder neighborhoods on the edge?

"Without new strategies, tactics, and systems, blighted properties will continue to spread like a virus throughout the Greater Memphis region," it says in the Memphis Blight Elimination Charter, released in March by a large and broad group of community leaders and organizations.

"Blighted properties are almost always the product of larger forces, such as irresponsible investment practices, failed public policies, extreme poverty, urban sprawl, racial injustice, or a lack of economic and educational opportunities ...

"Residents must be empowered in their fight against blighted properties with new tools and resources. The public and private sectors in Memphis must partner with neighborhoods to leverage their strengths in pursuit of our common goals."

In other words, the same larger forces that led to the decline of areas like South Main and Crosstown are (still) at work in areas like South Memphis and Frayser and Hickory Hill.

And neighborhoods on (or over) the brink will require the same creativity, collaboration, commitment and investment that is driving the big development projects.

Last month, volunteers from Clean Memphis and employees from Wright Medical and International Paper joined Oak Ridge residents to help clean up the Getwell corridor and several of the most egregious abandoned properties in the neighborhood. They removed tons of grass and trash, including 67 old tires.

"We're trying to send a signal that there are still people here who care," said Martin, who lives with his wife in the home she grew up in. "Don't forget about us."eco
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By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal

A letter carrier is headed to prison for five years after delivering drugs through the mail, U.S. Atty. Ed Stanton's office said Thursday.

Frederick Burton, 52, of Memphis was sentenced Wednesday for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and marijuana through the U.S. Postal Service.

According to court information, from late 2013 to the spring of 2014, Burton arranged with leaders of a drug trafficking organization to have express mail packages containing drugs mailed to addresses on his route. In exchange for money, Burton would divert the packages to members of the drug organization.

Law enforcement captured video surveillance on more than two dozen instances that showed Burton diverting packages to people off his assigned mail route.

Investigators estimated that Burton distributed over 800 kilograms of marijuana and oxycodone.

In February, Burton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana.

Burton worked for the post office since 2001 and is currently on leave without pay.
SHARE Jeffrey Free

By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

Memphis police have arrested two men in a bizarre kidnapping over the weekend, in which four men chased the victim into a convenience store then spirited him away.

Jeffrey Free, 23, has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping and possession of a firearm. Jammie Baker, 34, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. Both are being held at the Shelby County Jail.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Exxon at 1335 S. Bellevue Blvd. The victim told police he was in an argument over missing money when four suspects started chasing him.

The victim took off running, he told police, with the four suspects behind him. One yelled, "Shoot him! Shoot him!" The victim ran out of breath at the Exxon, where the four suspects grabbed him and put him into an SUV. They released him about an hour later, but he had bruises, cuts and a broken nose.
By David Royer of The Commercial Appeal

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker knows there are some issues where he and Donald Trump disagree, but he shared some advice Wednesday for voters concerned about how the presumptive Republican presidential nominee would handle foreign affairs.

"Let's just chill for a while," the Tennessee Republican said during a podcast interview with Otis Sanford, a columnist for The Commercial Appeal. "Let's really see what a Trump presidency would be about."

Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said several times that he sees Trump evolving on foreign affairs, and said the "realism" of Trump's views is more akin to former 41st president George H.W. Bush than the neocon policies that came into vogue in Washington around 2000.

Still, there were a few issues on which Corker drew a bright line on policy differences.

Asked about Trump's assertion that countries including Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia might need to develop nuclear weapons, Corker expressed reservations: "I would have a different point of view on that."

He also reiterated his stance against Trump's suggestion that Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S.

"A ban just runs completely counter to the values and principles of our great nation," Corker said, although he would support a "pause" on immigration from certain countries.

Trump is set to meet Thursday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has so far withheld an endorsement for Trump and publicly shared concerns about policy differences between the GOP and its front-runner.

Corker said Republican primary voters have sent a message they want a candidate who is "irreverent" and who would "shake up the status quo," and he is committed to supporting the party's nominee.

Asked what he would say if the Trump campaign called him for advice about moderating the candidate's outspoken tone, Corker interrupted Sanford with a laugh.

"I don't think they'll call me about that," he said.
SHARE Bill Gibbons (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal files)

By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  State Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons is stepping down from his position at the end of August, Gov. Bill Haslam's office announced Wednesday.

Gibbons, the former Shelby County district attorney general, has headed the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security since January 2011 when Haslam took office and appointed him to the Cabinet position.

The announcement from the governor's office didn't mention Gibbons' future plans, but an announcement is expected Thursday in Memphis about the creation of a new partnership between the Memphis Crime Commission and the University of Memphis that Gibbons is expected to lead. There was earlier speculation in Memphis that he would return to head the non-profit crime commission, which is currently headed by an interim director, Rick Masson.

As state commissioner, Gibbons also served as chairman of the Governor's Public Safety Subcabinet. Under his leadership using a data-driven approach, traffic fatalities in Tennessee have decreased; five of the six lowest years in terms of the number of traffic deaths in the last 50 years have occurred during his tenure.

He also directed improvements to the driver services division, including the addition of new technology, that have resulted in the average wait time dropping from 35 minutes in 2011 to less than 20 minutes, the governor's office said.

"Bill's passion for public safety has been an incredible asset to our administration and to our state. He has been instrumental in creating and carrying out a coordinated public safety action plan that helped make Tennessee safer, and I am grateful for his service to Tennessee," Haslam said in a statement released by his press office.

As chairman of the Public Safety Subcabinet, Gibbons led the group of 11 commissioners and agency directors in developing a plan that resulted in reduced methamphetamine production, an increase in the number of drug treatment court participants, tougher sentences for repeat domestic violence offenders, and more family justice centers across the state.

He also co-chaired the Governor's Task Force on Sentencing and Recidivism, reviewing the state's sentencing structure and helping shape the Public Safety Act of 2016, approved by the state legislature last month.

"I am thankful to Gov. Haslam for giving me the opportunity to serve as commissioner and as chair of his public safety subcabinet. It has truly been a special opportunity to make a tangible difference in state government and the lives of many of our citizens." Gibbons said in a statement.

Gibbons launched a race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination but withdrew before the 2010 primary, eventually won by Haslam. He was one of the earliest appointees to the governor's Cabinet, after 15 years as Shelby County district attorney.

Prior to that he was a partner in the Memphis law firm of Evans & Petree and served as a member of both the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission. Gibbons first started his state government career in 1979 as a special policy assistant for former Gov. Lamar Alexander.
Sen. Bob Corker (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

By Otis Sanford

Sen. Bob Corker spoke with columnist Otis Sanford in a podcast Wednesday, a day after speculation picked up over the Tennessee Republican's viability as a possible vice presidential choice for Donald Trump.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week offered to help Trump develop a foreign policy platform and complimented Trump on a recent foreign policy speech, making him one of the few senators to publicly embrace Trump as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

But a statement from Corker's office Tuesday appeared to dismiss talk of a spot on a Trump ticket.

The interview with Corker took place a day before Trump is set to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has so far withheld an endorsement for Trump and publicly shared concerns about policy differences between the GOP and its front-runner for president.
Gov. Bill Haslam (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

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By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  The top two legislative leaders said Thursday they don't expect Gov. Bill Haslam to veto any of the controversial bills still awaiting his review, including repeal of the Hall income tax, defunding the University of Tennessee's diversity office and a lawsuit to restrict the federal refugee resettlement program in Tennessee.

House Speaker Beth Harwell and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said the governor hasn't signaled any intention of a veto to them but said it's possible he might allow one or more of the bills to become law without his signature.

Haslam was on an economic development trip to Korea, China and Japan from May 2 through Wednesday and has not been available to talk with reporters. Ramsey and Harwell were in Nashville for the monthly meeting of the State Building Commission and spoke with reporters afterward.

"I don't think he'll veto them. That's just my gut feeling. He hasn't told me that," said Ramsey, R-Blountville. "Are there are some he may let become law without his signature  possibly  but we haven't even talked about that. Just from the relationship we have, I think if there was going to be a veto I'd have heard about it by now and I haven't. I could be surprised."

Harwell, R-Nashville, also said Haslam gave her no indication he would veto anything.

"He indicated toward the end (of the legislative session) that he didn't see anything that would cause us to need an override session, so I'm anticipating that means he's going to sign them. Or at least allow them to become law without his signature," she said.

The House last month rejected a proposal to reconvene later this spring to consider overriding potential vetoes by Haslam. His last veto occurred before the legislature ended  a bill designating the Bible as "the official state book of Tennessee"  and an attempt to override the veto failed in the House.

Since then, he has allowed one bill to become law without his signature: a measure allowing full-time employees of the state's public colleges and universities who have handgun-carry permits to go armed on their campuses, provided they notify the police agency with jurisdiction over the campus.

A bill to reduce the state's Hall income tax on certain stock and bond dividends and interest from 6 to 5 percent effective with the current tax year  and to totally eliminate the tax in 2022  hasn't yet arrived on the governor's desk. When it does, he'll have 10 days, counting Saturdays but not counting Sundays and holidays, to sign it into law or veto it, or it automatically becomes law without his signature.

Haslam favored the tax cut but expressed concerns about its elimination six years from now, saying that should be left to future state leaders depending on the state's finances at the time.

The bill to reallocate about $436,000 from UT Knoxville's diversity office and into minority engineering scholarships for one year arrived on the governor's desk Monday, giving him until May 20 to act on it. A resolution directing the state attorney general to file a lawsuit against the federal government to force compliance with the federal Refugee Act of 1980 and seek state approval for resettlement of refugees in the state also was transmitted to the governor Monday.
Dorsey Hopson

By Jennifer Pignolet and Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dorsey Hopson was optimistic Wednesday night that the city of Memphis might be willing to contribute operational funds to county schools, even on a one-time basis.

But Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, along with several City Council members, indicated Thursday that would be, at minimum, an uphill battle.

Strickland's office said in a statement that he has not been asked, but "will not consider making that amendment to the budget."

In Wednesday's school budget work session, during which Hopson said he will ask the county for an additional $35 million to balance the district's budget, school board member Stephanie Love asked whether the city had been asked for money.

Hopson responded that he had already had conversations with "some city council people" about the possibility of a one-time funding, possibly matching philanthropic grants that the community has provided to support the Innovation Zone turnaround program.

He said feedback had been positive from the council members, although he didn't name which ones, and said he expects the topic will come up in city budget work sessions in the coming weeks.

The iZone received a $10 million grant from Teacher Town, USA, a funding initiative that channels private dollars to education in Shelby County. The money will be broken up into grants of $3 million each of the next two years and $4 million the following year.

SCS also received grants for $2.6 million over two years from the Plough Foundation and $1 million over three years from the Assisi Foundation of Memphis.

City Council member Patrice Robinson, a former school board member, said she's open to discussions about how the city could help fund the schools, and said a one-time grant "sounds like a viable option.".

"But we'd have to look at it in the scope of everything else we're trying to do as well," she said, adding that the mayor's budget is "tight."

Strickland didn't leave much wiggle room in his proposed $667 million operating budget, which City Council has to approve by the end of June.

The city stopped funding the old Memphis City Schools system in 2008 as City Council members complained that city taxpayers  who also pay county taxes  were being tapped twice by a school system that was, despite its name, independent of the city.

That decision triggered a complex legal case that ended in 2015, when the city agreed to a $28 million settlement with Shelby County Schools. As part of the settlement, the city pays SCS $1.3 million per year.

Council member Martavius Jones, also a former schools board member, said he hasn't been approached about the city giving money for iZone schools, but said he doubted the city has the money.

If the SCS is short of funds, the County Commission  which is funded largely from property taxes paid by city residents  should take up the slack, he said.

"I don't think the county is really meeting its obligation to fully fund education for children in Shelby County schools, the majority of which are Memphis children," he said.

Council member Janice Fullilove said it would be "a surprise" if the city was able to find the money to support the schools, even just for this year.

"I don't even know where we'd get the money from if there was a commitment from the City Council," she said.
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By Adam Tamburin, The Tennessean

NASHVILLE  A panel from the Tennessee Board of Regents reviewed materials that set the stage for modest tuition increases at a network of state colleges in the fall.

During a special called meeting of the college system's Finance and Business Operations Committee on Wednesday, a top administrator indicated colleges including University of Memphis would avoid raising tuition by more than 3 percent during the next academic year.

Dale Sims, the board's vice chancellor for business and finance, presented early estimates of each college's jump in student-generated revenue, which comes from tuition and other student fees. Those estimates are based in part on requested funding from each institution and required employee pay raises.

(To read the complete story, go to Tennessean.com)
SHARE Quinton Tellis

By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

Quinton Tellis, the man charged with capital murder in the 2014 burning death of Jessica Chambers, has waived extradition and could return to Mississippi for trial by summer, District Attorney John Champion said Thursday.

Tellis pleaded guilty in Monroe, Louisiana, to unlawful use of a debit card in connection with an unrelated case there. Tellis, 27, was charged with using the card of a slain Louisiana woman, but he was not charged with her death.

A jury had been selected and testimony was to begin in the Louisiana case Thursday, but Champion, who is in Monroe for the case, said Tellis accepted the guilty plea. Champion said as part of the proceedings, he asked if Tellis would waive extradition. He said Tellis agreed to do so.

"I think he'll still have to be processed into the prison system here (in Louisiana), and I have no idea how long that will take," Champion said.

The prosecutor added, however, he suspects extradition to take several months, "and once they notify us he's in, we can go get him."

Champion speculated earlier it could be around the end of the year before Tellis returned to Mississippi. But he now says since Tellis accepted a guilty plea to the Louisiana charge, avoiding trial, and agreed to waive extradition, it should speed up the process considerably.

"I would say definitely by mid- to late-summer," he said of Tellis' probable return.

Tellis was charged with capital murder in the Chambers case in February, culminating a 14-month investigation into the 19-year-old's burning death in her hometown of Courtland. Tellis, also from Courtland, knew Chambers before marrying and moving to Louisiana. They both attended South Panola High School.

A motive has not been made public.

The Chambers slaying horrified the tiny Panola County town where it occurred and garnered national attention. She was found alongside a road not far from her home the evening of Dec. 6, 2014. With burns over 98 percent of her body, Chambers was transported to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where she died hours later.

Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty against Tellis, who was charged as a habitual offender.
May 12, 2016 - Diane McNeil, board chairwoman of the Unknown Child Foundation. (Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

Leaders of an effort to establish a memorial for children who died in the Holocaust are making slow but steady progress toward raising funds, project spokeswoman Diane McNeil says.

McNeil, board president of the Unknown Child Foundation, discussed the project on a Suburban Voices podcast. She says she hopes the planned memorial will feed off the crowds that developers of Elvis' Circle G Ranch in DeSoto County hope to draw. The memorial site is a small part of the development plans envisioned for the property.

Listen to McNeil as she discusses the memorial, interest in the Holocaust and Elvis' largely unknown Jewish heritage.
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By Catherine Rampell

WASHINGTON  Last week, a 40-year-old man  with dark, curly hair, olive skin and an exotic foreign accent  boarded a plane. It was to make an uneventful hop from Philadelphia to nearby Syracuse.

Or so dozens of unsuspecting passengers thought.

The man kept to himself, intently if inscrutably scribbling on a notepad. His seatmate, a blond-haired, 30-something woman sporting flip-flops and a red tote bag, looked him over. He was wearing navy Diesel jeans and a red Lacoste sweater  a look he would later describe as "simple elegance"  but something about him didn't seem right to her.

She decided to try out some small talk.

Is Syracuse home? She asked.

No, he replied curtly.

He deflected further questions. He appeared laser-focused on those strange scribblings.

Rebuffed, the woman began reading her book. Or pretending to read, anyway. Shortly after boarding had finished, she handed the flight attendant a note.

Then the passengers waited. After they'd sat on the tarmac for about half an hour, the flight attendant approached the female passenger again and asked if she now felt OK to fly, or if she was "too sick."

I'm OK to fly, the woman responded.

She must not have sounded convincing, though; American Airlines flight 3950 remained grounded.

Then the plane returned to the gate, and the woman was escorted off the plane.

The wait continued.

Finally the pilot came by, approaching the real culprit behind the delay: that darkly complected foreign man. He was escorted off the plane, too, and taken to meet security personnel.

What do you know about your seatmate? An agent asked the man.

Well, she acted a bit funny, he replied, but she didn't seem visibly ill. Maybe, he thought, they wanted his help in piecing together what was wrong with her.

And then the big reveal: The woman wasn't really sick at all! Instead this quick-thinking traveler had Seen Something, and Said Something.

That Something she'd seen had been her seatmate's notes, scrawled in a script she didn't recognize. Maybe it was code, or a foreign language such as Arabic, possibly the details of a plot to destroy innocent lives aboard Flight 3950. She may have felt it her duty to alert the authorities. The curly-haired man was, the agent informed him politely, suspected of terrorism.

The curly-haired man laughed.

He laughed because those scribbles weren't a foreign language or some special secret terrorist code. They were math.

Yes, math. A differential equation, to be exact.

Had the crew quickly Googled this good-natured, bespectacled passenger, they might have learned that he, Guido Menzio, is a University of Pennsylvania economist known for his work on search theory.

They might also have discovered that last year he was awarded the prestigious Carlo Alberto Medal, given to the best Italian economist under 40. That's right: He's Italian, not Middle Eastern, or whatever heritage ordinarily gets ethnically profiled on flights these days.

Menzio was on the first leg of a connecting flight to Ontario, where he would give a talk at Queen's University. His nosy neighbor had spied him working out some properties of a price-setting model. Perhaps she couldn't differentiate between differential equations and Arabic.

Menzio showed the authorities his calculations and was allowed to return to his seat, he told me by email. He said the pilot seemed embarrassed. Soon, the flight took off, more than two hours late.

The woman never reboarded.

A spokesman for American Airlines said the woman had indeed initially told the crew she was sick, but when she deplaned she said the reason for her illness was the troubling behavior of her seatmate. At that time, she requested to be rebooked on another flight. The crew then called for security personnel, who interviewed Menzio and determined him not to be a "credible threat." (The spokesman could not disclose the female passenger's name for privacy reasons, so I wasn't able to contact her for comment.)

Menzio says he was "treated respectfully throughout," but remains frustrated by a "broken system that does not collect information efficiently." He's troubled by the ignorance of his fellow passenger, as well as "a security protocol that is too rigid  in the sense that once the whistle is blown everything stops without checks  and relies on the input of people who may be completely clueless."

Rising xenophobia stoked by the presidential campaign, he suggested, may soon make things worse for people who happen to look a little other-ish.

"What might prevent an epidemic of paranoia? It is hard not to recognize in this incident, the ethos of (Donald) Trump's voting base," he wrote.

In this true parable of 2016 I see another worrisome lesson, albeit one also possibly relevant to Trump's appeal: That in America today, the only thing more terrifying than foreigners is ... math.

Catherine Rampell's email address is crampell@washpost.com.
Select Commodity All Ajwan Alasande Gram Almond(Badam) Alsandikai Amaranthus Ambada Seed Amla(Nelli Kai) Amphophalus Antawala Anthorium Apple Apricot(Jardalu/Khumani) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar Dal(Tur Dal) Ashgourd Astera Avare Dal Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Balekai Bamboo Banana Banana - Green Barley (Jau) Bay leaf (Tejpatta) Beans Beaten Rice Beetroot Bengal Gram Dal (Chana Dal) Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Betal Leaves Bhindi(Ladies Finger) Bitter gourd Black Gram (Urd Beans)(Whole) Black Gram Dal (Urd Dal) Black pepper BOP Bottle gourd Bran Brinjal Broken Rice Broomstick(Flower Broom) Bull Bunch Beans Cabbage Calf Capsicum Cardamoms Carnation Carrot Cashewnuts Castor Seed Cauliflower Chapparad Avare Chennangi Dal Cherry Chikoos(Sapota) Chili Red Chilly Capsicum Chow Chow Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum(Loose) Cinamon(Dalchini) Cloves Cluster beans Cock Cocoa Coconut Coconut Oil Coconut Seed Coffee Colacasia Copra Coriander(Leaves) Corriander seed Cotton Cotton Seed Cow Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea(Veg) Cucumbar(Kheera) Cummin Seed(Jeera) Custard Apple (Sharifa) Dalda Dhaincha Drumstick Dry Chillies Dry Fodder Dry Grapes Duck Duster Beans Egg Elephant Yam (Suran) Field Pea Firewood Fish Foxtail Millet(Navane) French Beans (Frasbean) Galgal(Lemon) Garlic Ghee Gingelly Oil Ginger(Dry) Ginger(Green) Gladiolus Cut Flower Goat Gram Raw(Chholia) Gramflour Grapes Green Avare (W) Green Chilli Green Fodder Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) Green Peas Ground Nut Oil Ground Nut Seed Groundnut Groundnut (Split) Groundnut pods (raw) Guar Guar Seed(Cluster Beans Seed) Guava Gur(Jaggery) He Buffalo Hen Hippe Seed Honge seed Hybrid Cumbu Indian Beans (Seam) Indian Colza(Sarson) Isabgul (Psyllium) Jack Fruit Jaffri Jamun(Narale Hannu) Jarbara Jasmine Jowar(Sorghum) Jute Kabuli Chana(Chickpeas-White) Kacholam Kakada Kankambra Karamani Karbuja(Musk Melon) Kartali (Kantola) Khoya Kinnow Knool Khol Kodo Millet(Varagu) Kulthi(Horse Gram) Lak(Teora) Leafy Vegetable Lemon Lentil (Masur)(Whole) Lilly Lime Linseed Lint Litchi Little gourd (Kundru) Long Melon(Kakri) Lotus Lotus Sticks Lukad Mahedi Mahua Mahua Seed(Hippe seed) Maida Atta Maize Mango Mango (Raw-Ripe) Marasebu Marget Marigold(Calcutta) Marigold(loose) Mashrooms Masur Dal Mataki Methi Seeds Methi(Leaves) Millets Mint(Pudina) Moath Dal Mousambi(Sweet Lime) Mustard Mustard Oil Myrobolan(Harad) Neem Seed Niger Seed (Ramtil) Nutmeg Onion Onion Green Orange Orchid Ox Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) Paddy(Dhan)(Common) Papaya Papaya (Raw) Patti Calcutta Peach Pear(Marasebu) Peas cod Peas Wet Peas(Dry) Pegeon Pea (Arhar Fali) Pepper garbled Pepper ungarbled Persimon(Japani Fal) Pigs Pineapple Plum Pointed gourd (Parval) Pomegranate Potato Pumpkin Raddish Ragi (Finger Millet) Raibel Rajgir Ram Rat Tail Radish (Mogari) Raya Resinwood Rice Ridge gourd(Tori) Ridgeguard(Tori) Rose(Local) Rose(Loose) Rose(Loose)) Round gourd Rubber Sabu Dan Sabu Dana Safflower Sajje Same/Savi Season Leaves Seemebadnekai Seetafal Seetapal Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) She Buffalo She Goat Sheep Snake gourd Snakeguard Soanf Soapnut(Antawala/Retha) 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

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When last we left Mingis on Tech, the focus was on Windows hybrids and laptop ports and the stern criticism leveled at Apple's MacBook by Computerworld Editor in Chief Scot Finnie. (Yes, we're still debating USB Type C ports.)

In this episode, the MacBook strikes back. Apple expert Michael deAgonia shows up with the star of the show -- a top-end MacBook (vender price) in stylin' Space Gray -- to pooh pooh's Finnie's earlier critique and highlight the little laptop's many advantages. Executive Editor Ken Mingis is convinced, natch; Multimedia Content Editor Keith Shaw, not so much.

From there, the conversation turns to mega trade shows like last week's Interior 2016 in Las Vegas (which Shaw attended) and CES and whether such events have outlived their purpose -- especially since many companies now put on their own shows.

Word to the wise? Your favorite tech show may be getting smaller in the years to come -- if it survives at all.

For an audio podcast only, click play (or catch up on all episodes) below.

Happy listening, and please, send feedback or suggestions for future topics to us. We'd love to hear from you.
Apples going to show us the future (at least for a year) of all its platforms at WWDC 2016 in a few short weeks time, so what can we expect for the system at the heart of everything Apple does, OS X? Here is what people are whispering about:

OS X becomes macOS?

There has been speculation Apple plans to change the name of OS X to bring it into line with its other operating systems, tvOS, iOS and watchOS. Right now of course were all calling OS X 10.12, but might it simply become macOS 1.0? Its possible, Ars Technica argues. Oh, and the OS is code-named Fuji.

Continuity & Handoff

The company has more or less told us to expect more integration across all four of its operating systems. Even in the WWDC press release, Apple marketing VP, Philip Schiller, said: WWDC 2016 is going to be a landmark event for developers who are coding in Swift, and building apps and products for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. Apple is already hugely proud of its unique Continuity solution that enables us to work across all its platforms  I think it likely the company will extend this, partly because no other platform matches it, and partly because its so useful. Might Apple introduce improved developer tools to enable third party apps to join the Continuity party? Might we also learn a little more about the companys seeming plan to get most every user onto its most advanced processors?

Siri for Mac

After three years of internal testing, Apple may add Siri support to your Mac. Available via an icon in the Menu bar and through a range of keyboard and application shortcuts, this will extend to Hey Siri support when your computer is plugged into power. You should be able to use this to adjust System settings, launch apps and more. It is possible this may also integrate voice control functions currently made available using Dictation and Accessibility tools available in OS X.

Night Shift

Apple has introduced Night Shift across iOS devices. It makes complete sense for the company to make this a standard feature on future Macs.

Better Photos

A Japanese Apple-focused Website claims Photos will be updated with new tools, such as those for editing EXIF information and touch-based parameter adjustment tools, similar to those found in the latest editions of the app on iOS. The report specifically warns that Aperture-level functions wont yet be made available. (Might Apple introduce these as fee-based Extensions to Photos app?)

MapKit

Apples decision to embed a Maps image on the page announcing the event suggests it will at last open Maps up to its developer community, most likely by introducing an official MapKit API. Might we also see StreetView like features appear in some cities?

Swift

What Apple reveals about Swift, particularly as regards platform-agnostic development, will likely be underplayed, but impressive. When it does talk about Swift be sure to ponder the implications of its news on enterprise development.

Safari

Apple has been quietly making significant moves in the Web standards space:

On the one hand it has begun putting WebRTC support in place inside Safari, enabling new in-browser tools for users.

And from June all new iOS apps will need to support IPv6. The company began supporting IPv6 many years ago, but overall support is vital to the evolution of IoT and connected devices.

So what do these moves mean to Safari? At some level I think these standards enhancements in combintion with Apple's OS and development improvements should help empower Apple and third parties to create new breeds of zero-configuration applications and services via apps or the browser with which to support and manage multiple connected devices. Which leads nicely to:

HomeKit

Apple is widely expected to launch a standalone HomeKit app for iOS devices. Why would it only launch this for iOS devices? Surely the iMac in your office (and the Apple TV in your den) have parts to play within your smart home?

That about nails most of the whispers in circulation right now. Have I missed any? Please let me know in comments below.

Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?

Want more Apple TV tips? If you want to learn how to get the very best out of your Apple TV, please visit my Apple TV website.

Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.
Historically, May has been a big month for Microsoft updates. This May, we see 16 updates, covering all versions of Windows, IE and Edge as well as an update for Adobe Flash player.

With eight updates rated as critical and the remaining patches rated as important, Microsoft seems to have adopted a new clustering approach to patches. We have seen pairings of IE and Edge in the past, but this month we see core components (VBscript and JScript) linked with browser updates. In addition, we also have kernel updates linked to kernel mode driver updates (MS16-060 and MS16-061). We are also missing MS16-063! And, this month we also get the benefit of a nice looking infographic from Shavlik.

This is a really big patch release from Microsoft, so I suggest you take some time to test out some of the core system component updates. Patch the Adobe and browser updates (MS16-051 and MS16-052) as a matter of urgency. But maybe wait on the .NET update (MS16-065) for a few days to get some more clarity on the patch changes.

MS16-051  Critical

MS16-051 is the first update from Microsoft for this May Patch Tuesday and replaces last months update to Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), MS16-037. It attempts to resolve five reported issues that could lead to a potential remote code execution scenario on a compromised machine. This update attempts to resolve more memory corruption issues with the JScript and VBScript scripting engines. Due to a publicly disclosed and exploited vulnerability in these scripting engines, this is a patch now update from Microsoft

MS16-052  Critical

MS16-052 deals with four reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge, two of which attempt to address similar scripting engine memory corruption issues to those raised in IE. It appears that all of these vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge are exposed to a specially crafted web site where an attacker could execute arbitrary code leading to a remote code execution scenario.

MS16-053  Critical

MS16-053 attempts to address the two core scripting engine (VBScript and JScript) vulnerabilities not covered by the previous IE and Edge updates. This patch is targeted at older operating systems (Vista and Server 2008) and appears to offer some protection for older systems that do not have the latest version of IE installed. While neither of the two issues has been publicly disclosed, one has been exploited in the wild, so make this Microsoft update a priority in your patch deployment effort.

MS16-054  Critical

MS16-054 is a critical Microsoft update that addresses four privately reported vulnerabilities in all of the currently supported versions of Office, with the potential to lead to a remote code execution scenario. This is large security update that also includes a significant number of feature level fixes. If you are heavily dependent on scripting automation with Microsoft Office, you may want to test your line-of-business (LOB) applications for any gaps in script handling. Add this update to your priority patching effort.

MS16-055  Critical

The next critical updatem MS16-055, addresses five vulnerabilities in the key Windows Graphics system component. This update affects all supported versions of Windows and, if left unpatched, could lead to a remote code execution scenario. There are a number of memory handling and corruption issues that are raised with this update. Make this patch a priority in your deployment effort.

MS16-056  Critical

MS16-056 is a critical update that addresses a single reported vulnerability in the Windows Journal (JNT) component that could lead to remote code execution scenario. This update changes the way Journal files are handled, so that an attacker is not able to exploit these memory related issues and execute arbitrary code with the same security privileges as the logged on user.

MS16-057  Critical

MS16-057 attempts to resolve a single reported memory handling vulnerability in the Windows Shell that could lead to a remote code execution scenario on a compromised machine. Add this update to your standard deployment effort.

MS16-064  Critical

The final update rated as critical by Microsoft for May is security release MS16-064. Like last month, this is actually not an update to a Microsoft product, but an update to Adobe Flash Player. At the time of writing, not all the information is publicly available. However, it looks like this update will be associated with 23 issues and a critical zero-day exploit. This is an absolutely urgent patch now update from Microsoft and Adobe.

MS16-058  Important

MS16-058 addresses a single privately reported vulnerability in Microsofts Internet Information Server (IIS). Due to a problem with how Microsoft handles library loading (DLLs) issues, an attacker with local access to the compromised system could initiate a remote code execution scenario. Recent versions of IIS are not affected, and with a local access requirement to exploit this vulnerability, adding this update to your standard deployment effort is sufficient.

MS16-059  Important

MS16-059 attempts to address a single reported vulnerability in Windows Media Centre Link (MCL) files that could lead to a remote code execution scenario. An attacker would have to direct a user to a specially crafted web page to execute code on the compromised machine and so the exploitability index is relatively low. We have seen a number of these issues with Media Centre in the past. As noted before, for most enterprises the potential impact for making this update is low. Add this update to your standard patch deployment effort.

MS16-060  Important

MS16-060 attempts to resolve a single privately reported issue in the key Windows component, the Windows Kernel. Interestingly, this update is paired with MS16-061 as both attempt to resolve memory handling and link parsing issues in key Windows components.

MS16-061  Important

A single privately reported vulnerability in the Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (RPC) component is addressed with MS16-061. This update attempts to resolve another memory corruption issue in a key Windows component that could lead to a remote code execution scenario. Add this update to your standard patch deployment effort.

MS16-062  Important

MS16-062 attempts to resolve four privately reported vulnerabilities in the way Windows handles memory addresses which could lead to an elevation of privilege scenario on a compromised system. This update directly affects the DirectX kernel component and how it handles internal kernel memory.

MS16-065  Important

MS16-065 is a pretty significant update for the .NET framework that attempts to address a single privately reported vulnerability that may lead to a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack resulting in an information disclosure security scenario. This update affects all currently supported versions of the Microsoft .NET framework and therefore all versions of Windows. It appears that the file manifest for this update is currently obfuscated at the time of writing, so I cannot advise on the nature or scale of the changes included.

MS16-066  Important

MS16-066 addresses a single, privately reported vulnerability in how Windows allows certain kernel mode memory pages to be accessed by specially crafted applications. It has a minimal impact profile, and so add this patch to your standard patch deployment effort.

MS16-067  Important

MS16-067 addresses a single privately reported vulnerability in the Microsoft Volume Manager Driver that has a minimal impact profile. Add this update to your standard patch deployment effort.
Mozilla has asked a court that it should be provided information on a vulnerability in the Tor browser ahead of it being provided to a defendant in a lawsuit, as the browser is based in part on Firefox browser code.

At this point, no one (including us) outside the government knows what vulnerability was exploited and whether it resides in any of our code base, wrote Denelle Dixon-Thayer, chief legal and business officer at Mozilla, in a blog post Wednesday.

Mozilla is asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, in the interest of Firefox users, to ensure that the government disclose the vulnerability to it before it is revealed to any other party. The rationale behind the request, according to Mozilla: Any disclosure without advance notice to Mozilla will increase the likelihood that the exploit will become public before Mozilla can fix any associated vulnerability in Firefox.

The Tor browser comprises a version of Firefox with some minor modifications that add privacy features, and the Tor proxy software that makes the browser's Internet connections more anonymous, according to the filing.

The FBI had in 2015 used what it described as a network investigative technique to monitor users visiting a child pornography site, hidden on the so-called Tor anonymity network, which it had seized but kept live to identify its visitors.

The court has asked the government to produce information related to a security vulnerability that it exploited in the Tor browser. The defense wants information on the exploit to find out if the government exceeded its warrant conditions.

In its filing on Wednesday, Mozilla warned that absent great care, the security of millions of individuals using Mozillas Firefox Internet browser could be put at risk by a premature disclosure of this vulnerability, according to the filing.

The government has so far refused to tell Mozilla whether the vulnerability at issue in the case involves a Mozilla product. But Mozilla said in the filing that it has reason to believe that the exploit used by the government is an active vulnerability in its Firefox code base that could be used to compromise users and systems running the browser.

The government has also refused to tell Mozilla if the exploit went through the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP), which is a government process for deciding whether to share or not information on security vulnerabilities, according to Mozilla.

If Mozilla is not allowed to intervene in the case to protect its interests, the court should certainly allow Mozilla to appear as a friend of the court or amicus curiae, according to the filing.
Microsoft is revamping the email editor in Outlook for Mac, providing new options for working with images and adding new fonts.

The biggest change is the ability to resize and rotate images. If you insert a very large image, for instance, you'll soon be able to make it more reasonably-sized for email recipients.

Users are also getting access to a broader set of fonts, font colors, bulleted lists and other formatting options.

The changes will roll out in mid-May, Microsoft says, starting with people who are part of the Office Insider early release program.

The update is important for the features it provides now, and also for those it will support in future, including tables. Currently, tables have to be copied from another Office program like Word or PowerPoint.
Microsoft's Edge browser has slipped to its smallest-ever percentage of Windows 10 in the U.S., according to data from a consortium of government websites.

Edge, the default browser in Windows 10, was used by 22.1% of those running the new operating system in April, data from the Digital Analytics Program (DAP) showed. DAP tallies visits to more than 4,000 websites on over 400 different domains maintained by U.S. government agencies. The traffic predominantly originates in the U.S., although between 10% and 15% of visitors access the sites from overseas.

DAP's April measurement of Edge's portion of Windows 10 was the smallest since the operating system's release in July 2015, falling below the former low-end mark of 22.4% set in November.

April was the first full month after Microsoft debuted support for extensions -- often called add-ons, in Edge. Many had speculated that users were waiting for add-on support before committing to the browser, and once that support was in place, its share would climb.

The initial Edge add-ons, however, were not only few in number but also niche. It was just earlier this week, for example, that popular ad-blocking add-ons, including AdBlock and Adblock Plus, appeared for Edge.

Other data sources showed a decline in Edge among Windows 10 owners as well. Irish metrics vendor StatCounter, for instance, pegged Edge's U.S. share -- the same demographic, more or less, that was tracked by DAP -- at 16.4% for April, a slight uptick from the previous low of March but down from the 18% at the end of 2015.

Worldwide, Edge was also off earlier numbers. U.S.-based Net Applications, for example, which measures user share, tapped Edge's global share of Windows 10 at 30.6%, flat for the third month in a row but lower than 2015's numbers, which ranged from 36% (in September) to 31% (in November). And StatCounter's global usage share for Edge as a fraction of Windows 10 was 12.7% in April, a new low.

Edge's inability to attract a majority of Windows 10 users has contributed to the overall decline of Microsoft's browser share, which last month fell to second place, behind Google and that company's Chrome. Microsoft's expectation -- when it told Windows users that they must upgrade to the newest version of Internet Explorer (IE) supported for their OS -- was likely that as Windows 10 adoption grew, so would Edge. That might have been enough, perhaps, to make up the shortfall in IE as users were forced to pick another browser.

But Edge's poor showing has, for now at least, wrecked that strategy.
Something bizarre has happened in Wales. Neil Hamilton has returned to politics.

In 1997, when he was thrown out of the House of Commons by the electors of Tatton, it seemed inconceivable that Hamilton could ever make a political comeback. The Conservative Party, on which he had inflicted grievous embarrassment by his bumptious and impenitent behaviour during the cash-for-questions affair, was never going to welcome him back.

Yet here he is, 19 years later, not just as one of the seven UKIP candidates newly elected to the Welsh Assembly, but as their leader. It was supposed that his fellow Assembly Member, Nathan Gill, UKIPs leader in the principality and the architect of its success there, would assume that role.

But Hamilton stood against Gill, and beat him by four votes to three. UKIPs national leader, Nigel Farage, has described this as unjust and a deep act of betrayal.

For Farage detests Hamilton, and prevented him standing as a UKIP candidate in England at the 2015 general election.

Hamilton, with characteristic impenitence, says of Farage: I was chosen democratically by our AMs. I cant see why Nigel should have a problem with democracy.

In case that does not sound insolent enough, Hamilton directs a further barb at Farage: We in Wales will give appropriate weight to the opinion of the MEP for the South East of England.

How reminiscent this behaviour sounds of the way Hamilton behaved during the 1980s and 1990s. But not all readers of ConHome can remember that distant period, and even those of us who lived through those times may have suppressed some of our more painful memories.

So here is a short account of the life of Mostyn Neil Hamilton. He was born in 1949 in Fleur-de-Lis, a pit village near Blackwood, in Monmouthshire. Both his grandfathers were coal miners, and his father was a chief engineer for the National Coal Board.

Hamilton the younger was educated at Ammon Valley Grammar School, the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. At the age of 15 he joined the Conservative Party, for which he stood as a parliamentary candidate in February 1974, in Abertillery, and in 1979 in Bradford North.

From an early age, he opposed the Common Market, as it was then known, and espoused free-market economics. He was a playful and ebullient reactionary, who loved shocking people. In June 1983, he was elected as the Conservative MP for Tatton, in Cheshire, and got married to Christine Holman, who had worked as secretary to several Conservative MPs, including the famously extrovert Gerald Nabarro, and Michael Grylls, the father of Bear Grylls.

Neil and Christine Hamilton were good company, deeply devoted to each other and all the better for being a bit louche, and they in turn inspired a high degree of loyalty. As Lord Lexden, now the Conservative Partys official historian, recalls, Neil and Christine were great friends of mine. Colourful and careless, but not crooked has always been my view.

In the summer of 1990, a few months before the end of Margaret Thatchers premiership, Hamilton was made a whip. He was one of those who visited her at Number Ten, during her downfall, to implore her to carry on.

He backed John Major for the succession, and from April 1992 until October 1994 served as minister for deregulation and corporate affairs.

Then disaster, as described in the diaries of Hamiltons friend and fellow MP, Gyles Brandreth, who in his entry for Wednesday 19 October 1994 writes:

Ive just come from the Chamber where Stuart Bell, out of the blue, on a point of order, got up and told the House that the Guardian is accusing Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith of taking 2,000 a time to ask questions on behalf of Harrods. It beggars belief. Theres a buzz in the building that makes me feel people believe it. I am now off to the Smoking Room to see if the first editions are in yet.

The next day, Smith admitted he took money from Mohammed Al-Fayed, the proprietor of Harrods, and resigned. Brandreth, who had been a friend of Smith since Oxford days, was bewildered:

This doesnt make sense. Neil and Christine are real friends. I cant believe it  and yet  I almost dont want to put this in writing  I know they did go to Paris at Fayeds expense. They revelled in it. They relish these treats. But a Paris freebie is one thing: 2,000 quid a question quite another.

The conventional thing for Hamilton to do in these circumstances would have been to stand down from his ministerial post unless and until he could clear his name. But instead he protested his innocence, clung to his job and issued a writ against the Guardian. As Brandreth reports,

The Tea Room is not happy: no smoke without fire, Neils a greedy bugger, we all know that, let him fight his libel action from the backbenches, then come back in glory. The last line (from Sir Fergus Montgomery) is the right one, isnt it?

Within a few days, Hamilton was forced to resign, having upset almost everybody, including the Prime Minister, John Major. But Hamilton continued to protest his innocence. I believe him, but millions wont, Brandreth writes.

A band of like-minded friends including Lord Harris of High Cross continued to stand by Hamilton, and contributed to his legal fees. But he possesses a catastrophic inability to keep quiet, or to show the slightest degree of penitence even for the inconvenience he is causing to his supporters, let alone for anything he may actually have done.

Sir Gordon Downey, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, conducted an inquiry, and found Hamilton guilty of taking cash for questions. In 1997, the BBC journalist Martin Bell stood as an independent candidate against him in Tatton, was given a free run by the other parties and defeated him.

Hamilton fought a libel action against Al-Fayed, lost, and in 2001, unable to pay his legal costs, went bankrupt.

And that, one would think, was the end of Hamilton, at least as far as politics was concerned. Having become a conspicuous representative of the sleaze of which Majors government stood accused, Hamilton embarked on a tawdry career as a minor celebrity.

He and his wife, Christine, slaked their apparently insatiable thirst for attention by appearing on a series of downmarket television programmes: as the Guardian has recently reminded us, Neil danced for the cameras while having fish poured over him by Johnny Vegas, and Christine flirted with Louis Theroux.

Yet UKIP was waiting for him, and in 2011, when he attended its annual conference, he at once stood out as a person of superior experience and eloquence, as well as irrepressible shamelessness. So although Farage, having at first made him welcome, succeeded in blocking his attempts to stand for the Commons in a winnable English seat, Hamilton was able, in his native Wales, to gain admission via the UKIP list to the Assembly.

And there he is, helping yesterday to block the attempt by Carwyn Jones, the Welsh Labour Leader, to be re-elected as First Minister. For Hamilton is a man fertile in expedients, who will have seen what a wizard wheeze it was to add UKIPs seven votes to those of Plaid Cyrmu and the Conservatives in order to thwart Labour.

Hamilton is in his element, giving any number of interviews in which in a tone of sweet reasonableness he justifies unblushing intransigence. What a strange reminder he is, to some of us, of old, unhappy, far-off things, and battles long ago. And how angry Farage must be to find himself upstaged by this gifted, genial but also impossibly selfish and disreputable survival from the last century.
One might have assumed that the Scottish election would be the high-point for devolved drama in this election cycle, but yesterday the Welsh Assembly, of all places, tried to top it.

What happened was that the newly-minted Assembly failed to elect a First Minister.

How did this happen? At the elections, Labour lost a seat (a spectacular win in Rhondda by Leanne Wood, the Nationalist leader), taking them to just 29 seats in the 60-seat chamber. Plaids one gain put them on 12, the Tories lost three and slipped into third with 11, UKIP won seven, and the Liberal Democrats just one.

It was a disappointing night for the Conservatives  who had been hoping for gains, including the last Lib Dem seat whose Westminster equivalent we took last year  but more importantly it cost Labour their majority. Labour and Plaid then each lost one AM to serve as the Presiding Officer and her deputy.

But Labour didnt make any arrangements with the other parties to make sure that Carwyn Jones, their incumbent First Minister, was re-elected, presumably because there isnt a credible alternative government in the Assembly.

Yet when Plaid put their leader forward to contest the position, every single Conservative and UKIP AM rowed in behind her. Only Kirsty Williams, the sole surviving Lib Dem AM, brought Jones to a tie.

Votes are taken by the Presiding Officer (speaker) one by one in alphabetical order. If Williams had abstained, the Assemblys two right-wing parties would have elected a very left-wing, stridently nationalist First Minister.

Did they know which way Williams would jump? If not, it was surely an extraordinarily irresponsible thing to do.

In truth, despite this embarrassment Labours reading of the arithmetic of opposition is broadly correct.

For all that Wales employs proportional representation, Plaid Cymru take a decidedly adversarial approach to parties on the centre right. Wood has ruled out any deal whatsoever with either the Conservatives or UKIP. That fact is Labours ace in the hole.

It leaves the 18 right-leaning AMs with no reason whatsoever to back Wood. Her administration would give them nothing. It would be a Nationalist minority government daring Labour to join with the right and vote down progressive legislation.

Yet it also leaves Wood precious little leverage against Labour, which is probably why they were so complacent going into yesterdays vote. Having poured scorn on all her potential coalition partners, the Nationalist leaders only route to the First Ministers office relies on the votes of right-wing AMs who dont appear to have any rational reason to provide them.

One can see why Labour didnt think that possibility likely before yesterday afternoon.

The party who do benefit, of course, is the decimated Lib Dems. Williams vote is all that kept Jones in the running yesterday and if UKIP and the Conservatives were to repeat their stunt she, who votes near-last, would be gifted a huge amount of influence.

I understand the desire to give Jones a bloody nose. Labour has misgoverned Wales, and Jones has completely bought into the soft-nationalist, blame Westminster defence so popular with ailing devolved regimes. His demands for an end to the sovereignty of Parliament  the foundation stone of our constitution  warrant the odd (political) kicking.

But we should have learned the lesson from when the Scottish Conservatives propped up a minority SNP administration in 2007-11: it never pays to be complacent with nationalists.

It is obviously much to be welcomed that Plaid have not had the success of their Scottish counterparts, although this election was a fillip for them. But that is no reason to gift them the profile and resources of the Welsh executive for five years.

Some might argue that it would be wrong to keep an incompetent unionist regime in office if there were a pragmatic, competent Nationalist-led alternative in the wings. But this is Plaid, whose only criticisms of Labours left-wing misrule in Wales are that it has not been left-wing enough and that too much of it has been conducted in English.

Perhaps it will turn out that this is in fact a master-stoke by Davies, and he walks away with real concessions. But Labour have always been happier working with the separatist left than the unionist right, so they may well seek to buy off Wood rather than her unlikely allies  all whilst promising the one-seat Lib Dems whatever it takes to keep them on side.

Yesterdays vote provided an afternoon of high drama and embarrassed a complacent administration. Those meagre rewards do not, yet, seem to justify the risk the Tories took in backing Plaid.
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There are cases wherein people would turn to heartburn drugs to aid them by blocking acid-producing cells that are in line with a persons stomach though relying on them could turn out costly if this recent study is to be believed.

It seems that an over-the-counter drug was found to accelerate the aging of blood vessels and could lead to issues as far as its long-term effect on heart health. It seems that when faster aging blood cells are exposed to an antacid Nexium (esomeprazole), the study claims that the performance of cells that are responsible for the prevention of heart attack or stroke is affected.

This perhaps sheds more light on why proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have shown increased risk of heart disease since they do include Nexium.

"Our finding that the lining of blood vessels is impaired by proton pump inhibitors is a unifying mechanism for the reports that PPI users are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke and renal failure," said Dr. John Cooke, chair of cardiovascular sciences at the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

Despite the findings, Nexium manufacturer AstraZenecca issued a statement singling out that cause and effect may not be reliable since it was done under a laboratory setting and not on humans within a controlled clinical trial.

AztraZenecca goes on by saying that PPI medicines are safe and effective if used in accordance with its label. Unfortunately the ones who are using PPIs have reportedly not used it according to the set guidelines by the FDA. The guidelines call for individuals to limit it to a four-week course of treatment at only three-times a year.

"They are being used ubiquitously, for long periods of time. They aren't being used as originally approved," Cooke said.

Despite those claims, Dr. P.K Shah believes that findings stand to provide a reasonable explanation on how PPIs might affect the heart health of long-term users. Shah is the director of the Oppenheimer Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The clinical data presented is helpful but Dr. Shah believes that there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered.

For the study, cultured the cells that line the walls of blood vessels (endothelial cells ) were exposed every day to doses of Nexium, something similar to what patients would receive for an extended period of time., which are called endothelial cells.

It was found that long-term PPI exposure impaired acid production by the lysosomes in the cells, which normally clear waste products. But when exposed to PPIs, the lysosomes didn't produce enough acid to clear waste. From here, the waste build-up caused endothelial cells to age rapidly and hamper their ability to protect blood vessels.

"Bottom line: If you take a daily PPI, which can save lives in the right scenario, check with your doctor and see if you really need it," said Dr. David Robbins, interim chief of gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
Kashmir: Finalising The Physical Integration!

By Mohammad Ashraf

12 May, 2016

Countercurrents.org

(After having failed in theirovert attempts to integrate Kashmir by wooing Kashmiris, the physical integration of the state which was ensured through subtle and covert means is now being given final touches!)

The extremist Hindutva elements in India with their collaborators in Jammu, tried to effect total merger and integration of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir right from the day of the signing of the instrument of accession by the then Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir, late Hari Singh. The accession itself was limited to three aspects and was conditional subject to ratification by the people of the state through the exercise of their free will. In fact, allegedly, Maharaja himself was not very keen for the merger of the state with the Indian Union and wanted to maintain an autonomous status. His hand is supposed to have been forced by the Tribesmen entering the state with tacit Pakistani approval. The story of those turbulent times has been recorded in umpteen numbers of books written by a galaxy of historians, the connected officials, politicians and others. While on one hand Pandit Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and others were trying to woo Kashmiris to a so called secular India of Tagore, on the other hand Patel with the help of RSS and others was trying to force complete integration of the State into the Golwalkars India!

In the beginning, Sheikh Abdullah, the tallest Kashmiri leader was taken in by the bonhomie of Pandit Nehru and others but the subsequent agitation of Parija Parishad in Jammu for total integration which was sternly put down by him causing a tremendous media furor in entire Indiamade him doubt the correctness of his decision, the expression of which landed him in prison for eleven years! The major official integration was effected in the time of G M Sadiq. The tunnel of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was utilized to effect integration in various spheres including the political, financial and other aspects. The so called Article supposed to be safeguarding the States Autonomy was extensively used to integrate the state into the Indian Union and it is now only a hollow shell! While on one hand hue and cry is raised about the removal of this article generating upheaval among the local people, on the other hand very subtly measures are taken to integrate the state fully in a very surreptitious manner. The apparent aim seems not only to merge the territory into the mainland but also to make the local people totally dependent on outside aid.

The most important resource, the water has already been mortgaged by the so called leaders. The state could not only live but be very prosperous without any outside dole had Kashmiris been able to exploit the potential of hydro-electric power on their own. The campaign for outside dependence was started from the very day of the deposing and imprisonment of the Kashmiri leader who had been used to gain the peoples support for the accession of the state. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad started the culture of subsidy which has finally reduced the state to an economic wretch!

Some of the recent moves appear as the final touches to the full geographical, economic and political integration of the State. The conversion of REC into NIT which changed its composition of 50% State and 50% Central to 80% Central and 20% State; the recent trouble at NIT; the move regarding the identification and process for acquiring land for setting up Sainik colonies and composite townships for Pandits; the proposal for setting up shelters for outside labour almost a million of whom are already here, have been alleged by local leaders to be moves to change the demography of the State. The continuous presence of Army and Para-military along with outside labour has already changed the demography. However, physical integration of any territory in the world by turning the locals as inmates of a big prison does not last long. This is a historical fact which the authors of the present move for integration need to keep in mind. The British had to leave India in spite of having held it for two centuries. The French had to leave Algeria; the Italians had to leave Libya and in recent times the Americans had to leave Vietnam and the Russians Afghanistan! The Americans are right now in the process of leaving Afghanistan!

The only integration which lasts is the integration of the mind and the soul. Both the Indian Government and the Indian people in general have so far utterly failed in integrating the mind and the soul of Kashmiris into the Indian mainstream. The stark evidence of that is the extreme alienation especially among the new generation of Kashmiri youth. One and all have admitted this alienation caused by the suppression faced by the people during the last two decades at the hands of the security forces operating with total immunity. The extent of alienation is evident from the increasing new wave of militancy and the total outright open support of the people to these new militants.

There are two possibilities. Either the neo-nationalists in India realise that by forced physical integration of the land they cannot win over Kashmiris and take practical measures to end the oppressive regime. This would involve repealing AFSPA and all other black laws, releasing all imprisoned youth and leaders, and starting a realistic political dialogue both with the local leaders and across the border for the final resolution of the problem. In the alternative, the continued oppression even if ensuring total physical integration of the land will result in a massive outburst which no one will be able to control and may ultimately result in a South Asian Armageddon !



Mohammad Ashraf, I.A.S. (Retired), Former Director General Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir










Germany Produced So Much Renewable Enrgy On Sunday That It Had To Pay People To Use Electricity

By Lauren McCauley

12 May, 2016

CommonDreams.org

Germany, the fourth-largest economy in the world and a leader in renewable energy, produced so much energy this weekend from its solar, wind, hydro, and biomass plants that power prices went into negative territory for several hours. Consumers were being paid to use energy.

According to Quartz, around 1 pm on Sunday, May 8a particularly "sunny and windy day"the plants supplied a combined 55 gigawatts, or 87 percent, of the 63 gigawatts being consumed.

"The power system adapted to this quite nicely," Christoph Podewil, of the German clean energy think tank Agora Energiewende, told the publication. "This day shows again that a system with large amounts of renewable energy works fine."

According to Agora, the average renewable mix in 2015 was 33 percent.

"This is big," wrote Jeremy Deaton, a journalist with Climate Nexus. "Sundays spike in renewable output shows that wind and solar can keep pace with the demands of an economic powerhouse. Whats more, the growth of clean energy has tracked the growth of Germanys economy."

Another key takeaway, according to Deaton, is that the milestone was made possible because of a people-powered "energy revolution."

"Sundays performance highlights the success of the Energiewende, or 'energy transition,' Germanys push to expand clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and democratize power generation," he wrote. "Smart policies have opened the renewable energy market to utilities, businesses and homeowners. As of 2012, individuals owned more than a third of Germanys renewable energy capacity."

However, according to the reporting, the green power haul was slightly complicated by the inability of nuclear and coal plants to be taken offline "so they went on running and had to pay to sell power into the grid for several hours, while industrial consumers...earned money by consuming electricity."

Which, campaigners note, is all the more reason for Germany to expedite its sustainable development goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Leaders in Germany are currently debating reforms to the country's clean energy policies, which the renewable energy industry has expressed concern over. Among other policy items, the government has proposed slashing support for onshore wind energy by 7.5 percent starting January 2017, according to a draft document reported on by Reuters Wednesday.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License








'Either They Will Give Us The Government or We Shall Takev It'

By Mickey Z.

12 May , 2016

World News Trust

Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power. Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini may or may not have said this, but theres no doubt he lived it and imposed it and continues to influence many of us because of it.

Exploiting the fears of an anti-communist ruling class in Italy, Il Duce (the leader) installed himself as head of the single-party fascist state in 1925 after declaring three years earlier that, either they will give us the government or we shall take it by descending on Rome. Virulently anti-communist, anti-Semitic, and anti-labor, Mussolini was prone to pronouncements like this: We stand for a new principle in the world. We stand for the sheer, categorical, definitive antithesis to the world of democracy.

Putting this doctrine into action, Il Duce took aim at Italys labor unions. The result, says author Michael Parenti, was to smash their unions, political organizations, and civil liberties. This included the destruction of labor halls and the shutting down of opposition newspapers.

In the name of saving society from the Red Menace, Parenti explains, unions and strikes were outlawed in Italy (and in Hitlers Germany, too). Union property and farm collectives were confiscated and handed over to rich private owners.

Even child labor was reintroduced in Mussolinis Italy.

Despite or perhaps because of the Blackshirts, the terror tactics, the smashing of democratic institutions, and the blatant fascist posturing, Mussolini received some rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.

It is easy to mistake, in times of political turmoil, the words of a disciplinarian for those of a dictator. Mussolini is a severe disciplinarian, but no dictator. wrote New York Times senior foreign correspondent, Walter Littlefield, in 1922. Further serving the corporate roots of the U.S. media, Littlefield went on to advise that if the Italian people are wise, they will accept the Fascismo, and by accepting [they will] gain the power to regulate and control it.

Six days earlier, an unsigned Times editorial observed that in Italy as everywhere else, the great complaint against democracy is its inefficiencyDr. Mussolinis experiment will perhaps tells us something more about the possibilities of oligarchic administration.

In January 1927, Winston Churchill wrote to Il Duce, gushing: If I had been an Italian, I am sure I would have been entirely with you from the beginning to the end of your victorious struggle against the bestial appetites and passions of Leninism. Even after the advent of war, Churchill still found room in his heart for the Italian dictator, explaining to Parliament in 1940: I do not deny that he is a very great man but he became a criminal when he attacked England.

Other unabashed apologists for Dr. Mussolini included:

Richard W. Child, former U.S. ambassador to Rome, who stated in 1938: It is absurd to say that Italy groans under discipline. Italy chortles with it! It is victor! Time has shown that Mussolini is both wise and humane. The House of Morgan, which loaned $100 million to the Italian government in the late 1920s, and then reinvested it in Italy upon its repayment. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, who, also in the late 1920s, renegotiated the Italian debt to the United States on terms more favorable (by far) than those obtained by Britain, France, or Belgium. Governor Philip F. La Follette of Wisconsin (considered presidential timber in the 1930s), who kept an autographed photo of Il Duce on his wall. A 1934 Cole Porter song originally contained the lyrics, Youre the tops, youre Mussolini. (It was eventually changed to youre the Mona Lisa.) As late as 1940, 80 percent of the Italian-language dailies in the United States were pro-Mussolini.

Support from a higher source was provided by the ultraconservative Pope Pius XI who shared Mussolinis Bolshevik paranoia. In exchange for Fascist recognition of the independence of Vatican City, the pope bestowed his blessing upon Il Duces invasion of Ethiopia and his intervention in the Spanish Civil War. Even after Italy had aligned itself with Nazi Germany, the papacy never broke with either Fascist regime.

Finally, for support from the highest of all sources, there was FDR himself who, well into the 1930s, was deeply impressed with Benito Mussolini and referred to the Italian ruler as that admirable Italian gentleman.

Coda

Either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is going to be elected U.S. president this November. As distasteful as this is to accept, the choice is real: Obamas third term or Mussolinis second?

Take-home message: Mock and downplay Trumpism at your own peril.

Mickey Z. can be found here.














Neil Young To Tour Europe Protesting Monsanto And GMOs

By Colin Todhunter

12 May, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Neil Young has a long history of activism. He is a co-founder of Farm Aid, which works to support small and family farmers in North America, while his song Ohio is often considered to be one of the greatest protest songs ever made. Last year, Young pledged a $100,000 donation to Vermont's legal fight against the GMO-labelling lawsuit, and he has recently been involved in putting together a new website that will help people engage with issues such as GMOs, farming, ecology, justice and climate change (access the site here).

His new albums The Monsanto Years (2015) and Earth (2016) have a strong anti-corporate theme running through them and feature songs exploring global hunger, pesticides, GMOs, seeds and ecology. Young spent part of 2015 touring the US. The tour was different from the usual concert tour because it was accompanied by an activist village comprising a coalition of leading non-profit organisations housed in numerous tents.

These organisations travelled with Young and his band to raise awareness and educate concert-goers about the deleterious impacts of industrial agriculture, environmental issues and the negative impact of corporate control of government. The tours gave a diverse group of NGOs involved in ecology and social justice issues an opportunity to reach out to the public with their message and materials.

The village comprised six tents with the themes of GMOs, earth ecology, energy and climate, freedom and justice, future of farming and news you can trust (the same as those on the new website). The host NGOs were also keen to bring in local groups to highlight local initiatives.

GMO Free USA hosted the GMO education tent. Diana Reeves, GMO Free USA Executive Director, says Young's inclusion of her organisation on his national tour brings the GMO issue to music fans who might have otherwise not known about it. It also gave the organisation the chance to connect with many farm belt residents.

She says:

"I heard story after story from residents who were concerned about increasing rates of cancer. My father has cancer. My aunt has cancer. My neighbors have cancer, said one concertgoer. At another venue we met a couple - he was a cancer survivor and his very pregnant wife was battling cancer. It was heartbreaking. We heard stories from farmers who have no choice but to grow GM crops because they are surrounded by neighbors who are growing them. We were told that they were certain they would be sued by Monsanto if they grew non-GMO because contamination by pollen drift would be inevitable. But theyre afraid to speak out. These GMO growers are their neighbors. Their friends. Even their family members.

Reeves founded GMO Free USA with the organisations first and ongoing campaign, a national boycott of the Kellogg Company. Kelloggs net sales have been down for seven out of eight quarters.

She adds:

The great thing about the boycott is that it happens at a personal level and you can effect change without having activist stamped on your forehead. It only takes one major food company to change the entire industry. America doesnt want GMOs. The faster Kelloggs gets the message, the faster their financial outlook will improve. Im looking forward to connecting with people along the West Coast, educating and growing the boycott.

Thousands of educational brochures about GMOs and postcards informing people of the Kelloggs boycott were distributed in all the cities during the July Midwestern and East Coast tour.

The public response during the tour was overwhelmingly positive. Luan Van Le, GMO Free USA Communications Director, states:

We imagined there would be more resistance to the information we were distributing in the Midwestern GMO agriculture belt. But what we found was strong support Neil had the courage to record an unreserved album about the most pressing issues in this country and on this planet. There is too much at stake today to be silent or passive.

Coming to Europe

Neil Young argues that The Monsanto Years are here and we are living them:

Monsanto is the poster-child for what is wrong with corporate controlled government in our world. The Monsanto Years encompasses several associated subjects that millions of people worldwide are concerned about and active in. Earth is not ours. We are of the Earth. That's how I feel. When we plunder our own home we hurt our children and their children after them.

At a time when there is a concern about the corrupt TTIP leading to an influx of GMOs into Europe, the UK government working hand in glove with the GMO biotech to get GM crops planted in England above the heads of the public and apprehension about new genetic engineering techniques side-stepping regulations, Young is bringing his combination of music and activism to Europe.

As was the case in North America, the activist village will be part and parcel of the package. Beyond GM was an integral part of the North American tour and will be managing all the GMO tents during the UK/Republic of Ireland (ROI) leg and coordinating the GMO tents on the European mainland segment.

Beyond GM believes that campaigning needs to change and the tour presents a great opportunity. Co-founder and Director Pat Thomas Public feels that outreach and finding ways of taking the issues to the people is key to promoting engagement and change and that this kind of tour is ideal for reaching out to large groups of people who are not the usual suspects  the same ones that turn up at every rally. In this respect, the activist village provides a platform for grassroots NGOs to engage with a much bigger audience, one that may be sympathetic to their causes but which is not necessarily attracted to attend marches or meetings.

Pat Thomas states:

"The majority of people want to be GM free and believe the UK is somehow safe. Few realise that the meat and dairy they are eating is GM-fed or that the UK government is stealthily - and undemocratically - pushing ahead with plans to plant GMOs on our soil by 2017. New field trials have just been given the go ahead for GM camelina and GM potatoes and we are on track to start living the GMO nightmare that people in the Americas are so desperately trying to escape. Big public forums like Neil Youngs The Monsanto Years tour and its activist village are an important opportunity to open peoples eyes to whats really going on."

There will be lots of information available. GM Free Me photos will be taken, and there will be various free organic giveaways. The UK leg of the tour hopes to focus on and bring in agroecological groups (for example, the Landworkers' Alliance and urban solutions like those the Kindling Trust works on) and also showcase local community supported agriculture projects.

GMO groups expected to involved in the European segment of the tour include 

France: InfOGM

Spain: Amigos de la Tierra

Belgium: The Field Liberation Movement

Finland: Associated Organizations and Citizens to Promote GMO Free Finland

Sweden: Friends of the Earth Sweden (stil tbc)

Norway: Nettverk for GMO-fri mat og for (Network for GMO-free food and animal feed)

Netherlands: ASEED (Action for Solidarity Environment Equality and Diversity)

Switzerland: StopOGM

Italy: Slow Food

Germany: Gen Ethisches Netzwerk

Austria: Global2000

Farming groups will include (others to be confirmed) -

Dublin: Landworkers Alliance

Belfast: Boxa + another CSA scheme with info from Irish Organic Farmers & Growers

Belgium: Bioforums new agroecology network of 16 organisations

Finland: Southern Finland Organic Farming Association

Netherlands: working with ASEED again but to put together a different agroecology network

Neil Young European Tour Dates

There may be one or two dates/venues not yet confirmed that are not included below, but they wont have a village in them.

UK/ROI

June 5 / Glasgow / SSE Hydro NO VILLAGE

June 7 / Belfast, Ireland / SSE Arena

June 8 / Dublin, Ireland / 3Arena

June 10 / Leeds, England / First Direct Arena

June 11 / London, England / O2 Arena

France

June 13 / Lille, France / Le Zenith de lille Arena

June 15 / Lyon, France / Halle Tony Garnier

June 16 / Marseille, France / Le Dome de Marseille

Spain

June 18 / Madrid, Spain / Mad Cool Festival

June 20 / Barcelona, Spain / El Poble Espanyol

France

June 21 / Toulouse, France / Le Zenith de Toulouse

June 23 / Paris, France / AccorHotels Arena

Belgium

June 24 / Antwerp, Belgium / Sportpaleis Arena

Scandinavia

July 3 / Helsinki, Finland / Hartwall Arena

July 5 / Rattvik, Sweden / Dalhalla Amphitheater

July 7 / Larvik, Norway / Stavernfestivalen

Netherlands

July 9 / Amsterdam, Netherlands / Ziggo Dome

Switzerland

July 12 / Montreux, Switzerland / Montreux Jazz Fest,Auditorium Stravinski

Italy

July 13 / Padova, Italy / Villa Contarini Town Square

July 16 Lucca, Italy / Lucca Summer Festival, Piazza Napoleone

July 18 / Milan, Italy / Estathe Market Sound Festival

Germany

July 20 / Leipzig, Germany / Volkerschlachtdenkmal

July 21 / Berlin, Germany / Waldbuhne Amphitheatre

Austria

July 23 / Linz, Austria / Clam Castle

Colin Todhunter is an independent writer: his website is here














RSS-Zehar Ki Kethi

By Abdul Majid Zargar

12 May, 2016

Countercurrents.org

In my earlier article(http://www.countercurrents.org/zargar090416.htm), I wrote about the ever growing tentacles of RSS to spread its wicked ideology throughout India & its select neighbors. A question arises-how does it achieve this purpose? The answer lies in visiting the organizational structure of RSS.

While RSS is the mother organization fully controlled by Brahmins, it has around forty affiliated sub-organisations or subsidiaries through which it spreads its ideology. The group as a whole is called as Sangh Parivar (Family) which stands for the most retrograde, patriarchal and anti-minority brahmnical ideology. Its currency is deep & universal anger ,ideology sullen and negative and Philosphy hatred against Minorities particularly Muslims. It is an undeniable fact that almost all enquiry commissions on communal violence in India - from Bhagalpur, Jamshedpur to Bhiwandi, Meerut & Gujrat -have found the visible and invisible hand of fanatic mobs aligned with this extremist parivar.

The highest decision making body of the Parivar is called Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. The Brahmin gene is coded into the parivar by the mother organization(RSS), whose founder (Hedgewar), most important thinkers (Deen Dyal Upadahay,Golwalkar & Savarkar), current & past leaders (Bhagwat & Sudarshan), as Similarly the core political leadership like Shyama prasad Mukerjee,Vajpayee,Arun Jaitly ,Nitin Gadhkari, Sushma Swaraj vests with Brahmins-

RSS members conduct shakas which is essentially a daily gathering of swayamsevaks, held in an open ground for an hour either in the morning or in the evening. It is started by doing Parnam (by putting right hand on chest) to the Flag of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In shakha, swayamsevaks perform exercises, sing patriotic and devotional songs, have discussions on topics like Perceived persecution of Hindus, Shuddi & Ghar wapsi (Conversion of Muslims into Hinduism), construction of Ram Temple, Uniform civil code & abolition of article 370 etc. Reciting false History (for instance portraying all Muslim rulers as anti-Hindu demons) painted in saffron color is a usual topic of discussions. Though at present open only to men, steps are afoot to open shakas even for women.

A Look at some important family members of RSS.

a) Bhartiya Janta Party or BJP- Originally floated in 1951 as Jan Sangh, it was rechristened as Bhartiya Janta Party or BJP in 1980 following split of Janta party .It works as Sanghs political wing which helps it wear a democratic veil, disseminate its views using Govt. platform, implement its programmes officially and more particularly to post men of its choice in various Govt positions whenever & wherever it seizes power through electoral politics. For instance when BJP seized power at centre in 2014, it placed persons subscribing to its ideology by replacing heads of vital institutions like Indian Council for Historical research (ICHR0), Indian Council for cultural relations (ICCR),National Book trust (NBT), NIT Nagpur, Central Board of film certification (CBFC), Prasar Bharti, Tata Institute of fundamental research(TIFR), National Council of Educational research & training(NCERT), Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla (IIAS) etc. etc. Ditto for States where it is in power. As will be seen cultural & educational institutions helpful in spreading RSS ideology are its primary targets. Even NITs have not been spared. This partly explains the recent happenings at NIT,Srinagar.

b) Vishva Hindu Parishad-Founded in 1964, this organization is mainly engaged in construction of temples & anti-cow slaughter campaign . This organization played a central role in demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and is now campaigning for construction of Ram temple at the same site. Its duties also includes to connect with overseas Hindus & collect funds for RSS. Its executive president is Parveen Tagodia, a cancer surgeon by profession but cancer personified by actions.

c) Bajrang Dal- This rag tag force is made up of ruffians, musclemen & uneducated trolls whose job is to spread terror among minorities. Most of its members are armed with deadly weapons. Remember Graham Stains & his family was burnt alive by a member of this gang called Dara Singh. More recently a pregnant christain lady & her husband were set on fire after drenching them in petrol in Bastar district.This organization along with VHP played a crucial role in Gujrat riots of 2002.

d) Durga Vahini-it is the women wing of RSS. It aggressively recruits young women to receive ideological education and to learn karate and lathi, ostensibly for self defence. In the Bijnor riot in 1990, its activists organized a procession through the Muslim quarters of city shouting provocative slogans which started violence. Members of this wing (some seen arriving in long sedans) were responsible for loot & plunder of Muslims shops in Gujrat who had either been killed or fled the city in riots 2002.

e) Akil Bhartya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP)- It is a student wing of RSS. It is present in every Govt. or non-Govt educational institution. It fights school/College elections to grab unions for furthering RSS objectives.

f) Bhartiya Kissan Sangh-Ostensibly committed to revive traditional agricultural knowledge & practices, this organization is invariably used to harass Muslims of rural areas and engineer riots whenever required to dispossess them of land holdings through distress sales.(See Jitendra Narayan report on Jamshedpur riots of 1979)

g) Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh- Founded in 1955, it is the largest Trade union affiliated to RSS. Ostensibly committed to promote good Employer-Employee relations, this organization is used to influence Mill workers & their families with RSS ideology. In times of need this industrial force is used to displace Muslims in Industry like Moradabad, Bhiwandi etc.

h) Vidya Bharti-Founded in 1952,this organization has a network of more than 25,000 (yes twenty five thousand) schools generally called as shishu Mandirs or Gurukuls run by RSS. These schools put emphasis on Hindu scriptures & Prayers. This is an important element in RSSs policy of catch them young.This organization along with Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has made inroads in inaccessible areas of our state in Chenab & Pirpanchal regions.

i) Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram-Founded in 1952, this organization is dedicated for betterment of tribal community.It runs around 28000 tribal schools including some in North-Eastern States. The ultimate objective is to convert tribals into Hinduism.

j) Vishwa Samvad Kendra. This is the Communication Wing of RSS, spread all over India for media related work. It has a team of dedicated IT professionals which spreads information through social media and inter-net. It has floated many fringe sub-groups whose job is to demonize & Malign Muslims through social media, comments & response to news items appearing in digital edition of newspapers. One notices these right-wing fanatics pouncing on any mention of words like Islam,Muslims or Pakistan with choicest invectives & abuses. Most of its team members use fake identities to escape legal action. Corporate Media helps them by providing space in their digital editions in violation of policy of civil & decent comments. It made an immense contribution to Modis success in Gujrat & national elections 2014 by influencing & polorizing educated class of Indians.

k) Muslim Rashtriya Manch. Nurturing a false idea that Indian Muslims are not fully integrated with Indian mainstream, this Organisation has been founded to involve Muslims in National integration programmes. Many religious heads and Imams have been enrolled to spread the RSS ideology of Indianness among Muslims. A separate sub-group has been created to work in Kashmir. The avowed objective of RSS to indianise Islam is carried out through this forum.



l) Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. Under Indian Constitution, Sikhs are classified as Hindus and not a separate & distinct minority. This organization has been floated with the aim of reinforcing that ideology among Sikhs.

Think-Tanks:RSS has eight think tanks which advises it on political, economic, religious, cultural , security and international affairs; These are-

a)Vivekananda International Foundation: Founded - 2011, Main objects-To promote quality research and in-depth studies on national issues. 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 the products of this think tank who have been picked for national duties. Lt. General(Retd) & former core Commander 15 Corps, Srinagar Syed Atta Hasnain, is also associated with this organisation.



b)India Foundation: Founded in 2014. Main objectives to bring out 'Indian nationalistic perspective' on various issues with a that can help understand the Indian civilisational influence on contemporary society". This foundation has same influence on Modi government's policy thinking which National Advisory Council had on UPA-1's.(Economic Times 3rd August 2015)

c)Forum for Integrated National Security: Founded 2004- Objectives-To promote a belief that only a secured nationhood can provide peace and prosperity to citizens'

d) Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation: Set up in 2008, the foundation is "committed to the nationalist ideological vision and thoughts of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay that strives to strengthen and to uphold issues and positions in tune with India's national interest.

e) India Policy Foundation: Established in 2008- Objectives to engage in high quality research, influential thought leadership, educated debates and policy recommendations to issues of national importance for India.

f)Forum for Strategic and Security Studies: Set up in 2010, objectives to provide a platform for research, analysis, option formulation and evaluation of national security policies of, and security relationships between, states, particularly those in South Asia and the Asia Pacific region".

g) Public Policy Research Centre:Established in 2011 objectives to address the emerging challenges of 21st century.

h) Centre for Policy Studies: Established in 1990 Objectives to be "an institute for research and study aimed at comprehending and cherishing the essential civilisational genius of India, and to help formulate a polity that would allow the Indian genius to flourish and assert itself in the present day world".Its subjects of specialization include Ayodhya and the Future India, Changing Religious Demography of India and Sanatana Bharat Jagrita Bharat, among others.

Other Affiliated Organisations:

a) Seva Bharti. Meant to help economically weaker sections among Hindus

b) Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, To promote the concept of Swadeshi Indian made goods

c) Saraswati Shishu Mandir, To establish Nursery Schools

d) Rashtra Sevika Samiti, A Volunteer Association for Women

e) Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Hindu Volunteer Association  overseas wing

f) Anusuchit Jati-Jamati Arakshan Bachao Parishad, Organisation for the improvement of Dalits

g) Laghu Udyog Bharati It is an extensive network of small industries affiliated to Sangh Parivar

It will be noticed that there is hardly any segment or area which has been left untouched by RSS. It explains how it has been able to raise its tally in Indian Parliament from 2 in 1984 to 282 in 2014.

(The author is a practicing chartered Accountant. E mail: abdulmajidzargar@gmail.com)

P.S: In my concluding article, I shall respond to all questions raised/expected to be raised in response to my earlier and this article.












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If you are a Hoosier Republican like Gov. Mike Pence or U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski or Larry Bucshon or even young Joseph Albert Hollingsworth III who could end up in competitive races this fall, mental dexterity drills or a brain game fitness test would be a good idea.

Keeping up on the issues with presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump will require deep thought, cunning scope and adroit maneuvering.

Take Trump's call for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. He made it last December after jihadist terror attacks in Paris and California, calling for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." It was something he reiterated in March with NBC's Lester Holt, saying, "They're destroying Europe, I'm not going to let that happen to the United States."

This later morphed into Trump saying that it might be OK for rich Muslims to come to America (presumably the millionaire Osama bin Laden might not have made the cut).

In the wake of winning the Indiana primary and the rest of the field fading away, Hoosier Republicans began lining up behind the Trump standard. Gov. Pence said in Terre Haute on Thursday, "I'm going to campaign hard for the Republican nominee because Indiana needs a partner in the White House. I look forward to supporting our presumptive nominee. I think Donald Trump will do very well in the Hoosier State." U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, speaking to Rossville High School students on the same day, responded to a question, "I do support Donald Trump for president and that's because for no other reason than it's all relative to other choices in the race."

I posed a question to Pence and Rokita: "Do you support Donald Trump's proposed ban of all Muslims entering the United States?" And if so, could they cite a law, statute or U.S. Supreme Court decision that would allow a president to ban entry of someone based on their religious preference?

Pence's gubernatorial office referred back to a statement he made on Dec. 8 when he told the NWI Times, "I think comments that suggest that Muslims should be banned for the United States are offensive and unconstitutional. The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religions is at the very heart of our constitutional guarantee for all people of this country."

At his campaign kick off on Wednesday, I asked Pence specifically about Trump's proposed Muslim ban. He responded, "As you remember in my career, I have disagreed with Republican leaders many times. I've had more than a few battles with a Republican president over things like spending and big government policies. I am not immune in disagreeing with people with otherwise I support. I am supporting the presumptive nominee because I need a partner in the White House. I need a partner who will work with us to create jobs in Indiana."

It's one thing to break with a president on spending or entitlement expansion. It's quite another to do so over something "offensive" and "unconstitutional."

But is it unconstitutional? University of Chicago Law School Prof. Eric Posner, who is an expert on executive power, calls it a "terrible idea" and an affront to American values, that would not "enhance security." But he said there is a 50/50 chance the U.S. Supreme Court would uphold such a ban. "The immigration law delegates to the president extensive powers to exclude people who he thinks might threaten security, or any way might be detrimental to the interests of the United States," Posner told NBC News.

On the "values" front, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rounded up Americans of Japanese heritage on the West Coast during World War II and put them into concentration camps. It is one of the nation's darkest chapters.

Rokita, whose district is home to the Islamic Society of North America, is an attorney but did not respond to specifics on the Muslim ban, saying on he supports Trump because he believes that Hillary Clinton is a "likely, if not potential, criminal."

Then on Wednesday, Trump demoted his proposed Muslim immigration, saying it was a "suggestion."

Republicans, particularly those who endorse Trump and offer to campaign for him, will need to get used to this. Trump has made an array of controversial to outrageous statements and stances, including the deportation of 11 million illegal immigrants, to defaulting on the national debt, to flip-flops on abortion rights and tax cuts for the wealthy.

While some of these ideas poll well, he offers a policy kaleidoscope of moving goal posts where positions shift and morph, perhaps into an alternative universe. No other politician can get away with this. It's important to remember that as an entertainer, Trump can reinvent his self and flip on a whim.

Down-ballot Republicans will likely find themselves hyperextended as the press and constituents seek to know whether they stand with their nominee, and not knowing whether the Trump will shift his position down the road.

The columnist is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at www.howeypolitics.com. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.
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By Kelly Gifford of the Courier and Press

The upcoming production at D'Alto Studio of Performing Arts is a spoof on film noir and classic murder mystery plot lines.

"Three Murders and it's Only Monday" combines the stereotype film noir character with a satirical viewpoint on the genre itself. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the studio and has performance through Sunday.

The show opens with three deaths at Peaceful Pines Sanitarium. A private investigator is sent to figure out what happened, and it doesn't quite go as planned. The comedy is poking fun at its own genre and the archetypal characters that come along with it.

Director Naem Madi said to spoof anything the cast needed to understand the genre well. The cast, made of up of area high schoolers, didn't have much experience with film noir so Madi had each of them read a murder mystery novel and watch films as well.

"You have to understand what you are spoofing or else the audience won't understand it either," he said. "The kids really put in the reach to grasp what they needed to do with their characters."

One of the biggest challenges that faced the students was the pacing of the show. Between the fast talking and tricky transitions, Madi said making sure everyone was on their mark was a pivotal element for the show to be successful.

Allison Compton, who portrays Tara Dillaise, the dame of the show, didn't have much exposure to the genre before starting the show but was very glad she discovered it. Compton said learning more about her dramatic and very confident character as a whole allowed her to better connect with her.

"I like connecting to someone that is totally different from who I am," she said. "But there are still similarities between us. Yes, she is definitely this big, beautiful character that is a total presence on stage, but she is also smart and sometimes kind and has a lot of other layers too."

Madi hoped that this show would help area students connect with a genre they may not have known about and also continue their love of theater in the process. He added that he hopes to continue doing shows that give area high school students opportunities to perform as well.

"We have an education component that we want to stretch even further," Madi said. "We hope that this show will help others see that we are here for that."

If You Go:

What: D'Alto Studio of Performing Arts presents "Three Murders and it's Only Monday"

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: D'Alto Studio Theater, 303 N. Stockwell Road

Tickets: $12 for adults and $10 for students.
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Continuing

'barbershop: the next cut'

As their surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, the crew at Calvin's Barbershop come together to bring some much needed change to their neighborhood. Stars Ice Cube, Regina Hall and Anthony Anderson. (PG-13)

'Batman v Superman:

Dawn of Justice'

Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) clash over differing philosophies about what kind of heroism is needed to protect the world, while the public they're defending is becoming increasingly mindful of the damage that superheroes and masked vigilantes cause. The duo are soon forced to confront an even greater threat created by nefarious billionaire Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). (PG-13)

'the boss'

A titan of industry is sent to prison after she's caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget. Stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell and Peter Dinklage. (R)

'Captain America: Civil War'

Political interference in the Avengers' activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man. Stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. (PG-13)

'Deadpool'

A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool. (R)

'the huntsman: winter's war'

As a war between rival queen sisters Ravenna (Charlize Theron) and Freya (Emily Blunt) escalates, Eric (Chris Hemsworth) and fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain), members of the Huntsmen army raised to protect Freya, try to conceal their forbidden love as they combat Ravenna's wicked intentions. (PG-13)

'the jungle book'

The man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi) flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba). Guided by Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley) the panther and the bear Baloo (voiced by Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don't have his best interests at heart. (PG)

'keanu'

When Rell's (Jordan Peele) beloved pet kitten Keanu is taken from his home, he and his friend Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) seek out those responsible to recover the cat, but find themselves in over their heads dealing with violent gang members. (R)

'London has fallen'

After the British prime minister passes away, his funeral becomes a target of a terrorist organization to destroy some of the world's most powerful leaders, devastate the British capital and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. The only hope of stopping it rests on the shoulders of the president of the United States (Aaron Eckhart), his formidable Secret Service head (Gerard Butler), vice president (Morgan Freeman) and an English MI-6 agent (Charlotte Riley) who rightly trusts no one. (R)

'Kung Fu Panda 3'

Continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness," Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home. Stars the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman. (PG)

'Mother's Day'

Three generations come together in the week leading up to Mother's Day. Stars Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Julia Roberts. (PG-13)

'my big fat Greek wedding 2'

A Portokalos family secret brings the beloved characters back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding. Stars Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris, Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan. (PG-13)

'race'

Jesse Owens' (Stephan James) quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy. (PG-13)

'the revenant'

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a 19th century fur trapper who seeks vengeance against the companions who robbed him and left him for dead following a vicious grizzly bear attack. (R)

'10 cloverfield lane'

A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) discovers the horrifying truth about the outside world while living in an underground shelter with two men (John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.). (PG-13)

'whiskey tango foxtrot'

A journalist recounts her wartime coverage in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Stars Tina Fey, Margot Robbie and Martin Freeman. (R)

'zootopia'

In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a fugitive con artist fox and a rookie bunny cop must work together to uncover a conspiracy. Stars the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Idris Elba. (PG)
Members of Code Pink protest outside the Republican National Committee building in Washington on May 12, 2016.

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By David Jackson, USA TODAY and Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

WASHINGTON  and pledged Thursday to work together to defeat Democrat in the fall general election  though the Republican House speaker again stopped short of formally endorsing his party's presumptive presidential nominee.

"The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents," Ryan and Trump said in a joint statement issued after their private meeting. "That is why its critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall."

Ryan and Trump also said they were "honest about our few differences," and more discussions will be scheduled. They said they "remain confident theres a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal."

Speaking later with reporters, Ryan declined to answer directly whether he expects to endorse Trump, though he described his session with the New York businessman in unfailingly positive terms and gave every indication that the process is headed toward eventual support.

Were off to a very good start, Ryan said, adding that aides to him and Trump will be meeting "to just walk through the details of their issue agendas. The House speaker said it is "no secret" that he and the presumptive nominee have their differences and full unity "takes more than 45 minutes."

Trump tweeted that he had a "great day in D.C." with Ryan and other Republican leaders, and things are "working out really well!"

Both Trump and Ryan struck conciliatory notes before and after their meeting, which was devoted to disputes over issues like free trade, immigration, taxes and entitlement reform.

Participants began planning the meeting after Ryan announced last week he is not yet prepared to back Trump's presidential bid, even as he wrapped up the GOP nomination with a series of big primary wins.

The summit with Ryan began a trio of unity meetings for Trump on Thursday. The businessman-turned-candidate also met with a larger group of other House Republican leaders and Senate Republicans. The latter crowd included Senate Majority Leader , who described it as "a very good, constructive meeting."

Republican National Committee Chairman , who sat in on the Trump-Ryan summit, tweeted that "the meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity."

Some Democrats expressed skepticism that Trump and Ryan can ever get along. David Axelrod, long-time adviser to President Obama, said on Twitter their commitment to work together "is like me saying I'm totally committed to losing 10 lbs. We'll see."

Ryan characterized Trump personally in positive terms, telling reporters that the nominee-in-waiting is "a very warm and genuine person," and they had "a very pleasant exchange." The Wisconsin Republican declined to say whether Trump offered him any assurance that he would moderate his tone and language in the campaign, something Ryan has repeatedly expressed concern about.

"It was important we discussed our differences," Ryan said. "It was also important we discuss the core principles that tie us all together.

Ryan also said that Trump wants him to remain chairman of the upcoming Republican convention in July, and I am happy to serve in that capacity.

Protesters and reporters camped out in front of Republican national headquarters as Trump and Ryan met inside.

The demonstrators included a Trump impersonator wearing a giant, coiffed Trump head who delivered a stand-up impersonation of the real estate mogul, ridiculing his rhetoric and views.

A few counter-protesters also showed up, including Ben Williams, who played the bagpipes as protesters chanted away.

Williams, whose selections included Amazing Grace and the Marine Corps anthem, said he wanted to provide an "alternate sound" to the protesters and in support of the efforts of both political parties to advance their agendas.

Anti-Trump protesters, meanwhile, chanted in Spanish and English and held signs calling the Republican candidate "dangerous," "divisive" and "deceitful."

As Trump raced to the nomination, many Republicans criticized him for opposition to free trade agreements, immigration legislation, and certain U.S. military commitments. While Ryan has said the government needs to address the rising costs of entitlements  a key part of his legislative program  Trump says Republicans should not touch programs like Medicare and Social Security.

Trump and Ryan have also clashed throughout the campaign. The House speaker criticized Trump over his proposal to impose a temporary ban on Muslim entry into the United States and his apparent reluctance to disavow the support of white supremacists. Trump has criticized Ryan's proposed budget cuts and his performance as 's running mate during the 2012 presidential election.

Ryan had said he did not have huge expectations for his meeting with Trump, that achieving real unity will take time and hard work and that the two men need to get to know each other  all suggesting that an endorsement isn't imminent.

But theres a great deal at stake in how their relationship unfolds. If Trump goes on to the White House and Ryan remains speaker, it could set the tone for a hugely consequential partnership.

The speaker could face real political risks in withholding his support.

Trumps clinching of the nomination is increasing his popularity among GOP voters, some national polls suggest, raising the potential cost of opposing him. Some GOP colleagues are impatient that Ryan hasn't endorsed yet.

At the same time, there are many Republicans in Congress who share Ryan's concerns about Trump and welcome the waiting game. Some GOP members fear a Trump loss in November that could also cost the party its control of the House and Senate.

Back home in Wisconsin, however, Ryan's political risks appear relatively low.

Ryan has a GOP primary this summer against a political newcomer, businessman Paul Nehlen. But polls in Wisconsin show Ryan is far more popular than Trump in his home district, giving him some leeway in how he handles the situation.

Yet some Trump allies, including 2008 vice presidential nominee , have threatened to support Ryan's primary opponent if he does not come around.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Palin said that Trump should not cede "any victorious ground to the losers who got us into the mess we're in. And he won't. He'll own the meeting like a boss."

Ryan, meanwhile, doesnt sound too worried about a backlash.

Asked by Janesville radio host Stan Milam Tuesday how much sleep he was losing over the specter of Sarah Palin coming to town to campaign against you, Ryan laughed and said: Im not. Im doing just fine ... Im not sweating that stuff.
These bars of silver and dozens of firearms were among the items seized during an early November 2015 raid at a property south of Wheeling, Ind.

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By Douglas Walker, The Star Press / USA TODAY Network

MUNCIE  Authorities want to retain ownership of 458 silver bars  believed to be worth more than $220,000  seized from a northern Delaware County property last November.

A forfeiture lawsuit filed on behalf of Delaware County Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold also targets miscellaneous coins  believed to be worth several thousand dollars  found Nov. 5-7 during a massive search of 140 acres in the 18700 block of North Wheeling Avenue.

According to search warrants, authorities unsuccessfully looked for human remains on the property, just south of the community of Wheeling.

An informant had told Muncie police the former owner of the land, James Buddy Reynolds, for years operated a marijuana distribution empire at the site, and had fatally shot an associate and buried his body there.

In forfeiture actions, property alleged to be tied to criminal activities can be seized to pay for law enforcement expenses.

The forfeiture suit  filed on behalf of Arnold in Delaware Circuit Court 1 by Muncie attorney Daniel Gibson  alleges Reynolds, who died in 2012, engaged in criminal activities including the sale of large quantities of marijuana and money laundering.

The suit describes a criminal enterprise that saw deliveries of massive amounts of marijuana to the Wheeling Avenue property by a Mexican drug cartel, with Reynolds regularly (paying) cash for precious metals such as gold and silver in a bid to hide his profits.

The forfeiture suit alleges Reynolds eventually bought a 10,000-acre property on a mountainside in Panama, and paid associates to travel to that country with large amounts of cash he then kept in safes there.

It contends the silver and coins seized from the Wheeling Avenue property  which is now owned by Reynolds nephew  were derived from his uncles illegal activities, and are subject to forfeiture.

Technically, the forfeiture lawsuit is against the property being targeted  the suits listed defendants are 458 silver bars and miscellaneous coins.

However, a copy of the action was forwarded to local attorney Mark McKinney, who apparently represents the Wheeling Avenue propertys current owner.

A notice from Delaware County Clerk Michael King informed McKinney that if a response was not received within 20 days, a judgment will be entered... for what the plaintiff has demanded.

The total weight of the confiscated silver  120 bars weighing 100 ounces, and 338 smaller bars, each weighing 10 ounces  exceeded 950 pounds.

Eric Hoffman, Arnolds chief trial deputy, said Wednesday that a criminal case stemming from the November search has been filed in Muncie City Court.

Chasity Mills, 40, listed as living in the 18500 block of North Wheeling, is charged with possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.

McKinney has filed an appearance in that case as defense attorney.
SHARE People line up at Universet food store in Leningrad, USSR, in 1991.

The Sanders generation gap is huge and the Cold War is a largely overlooked reason why.

By Zachary Jonathan Jacobson

 lock on young people has been a constant throughout the Democratic presidential primaries. Exit polling shows he won 83% of voters under 30 in Pennsylvania last month, 74% in Indiana last week and 71% in West Virginia on Tuesday.

Why are Millennials so enamored of Sanders? Most hypotheses credit their enthusiasm for sweeping moral goals such as transparency, fairness and justice. Perhaps young voters prefer Sanders call for revolution over s more pragmatic incrementalism. Perhaps they are put off by Clintons questionable use of a private email server and her highly paid speeches on Wall Street.

Clinton has intimated time and again that Sanders powerful diagnoses of American economic ills (read: without prescriptions) are the big draw. , playing the 74-year-old Sanders on NBCs Saturday Night Live, explained it this way: The young people love me ... because Im like them. I got a lot of big plans and absolutely no idea how to achieve them.

I would add a historical reason for the generational split: Unlike older people, Millennials have no memories of socialism, communism and the Cold War that framed American foreign policy from 1945 to 1991. During that period, the shifted all parts of its economy, whether business, health or education, to government control. The end goal was a Utopian communist state in which class was abolished, egalitarianism ruled and all citizens would equally own their means of production.

Sanders proudly calls himself a democratic socialist. For a vast number of Americans old enough to have lived through the Cold War era, referring to oneself as a socialist elicits reactions that range from dangerous suspicion to laughable condescension. Previously, a man with avowed respect for Fidel Castro would be disqualified as a high-level politician. Previously, a man who honeymooned in the former Soviet Union would be disqualified. A socialist (democratic or not) would recall not but aggressive Soviet communism, and would be disqualified.

During the Cold War, many followed s dictum that the Soviet Union was an evil empire bent on world domination. NATO was formed to contain the threat of its expansionist ambitions. Nuclear arsenals were erected against it. American arms flooded into anti-Soviet client states. Proxy battles and covert coups were run from the White House, the , the CIA and the in order to thwart the designs of fledgling revolutions. For most of the Cold War, little could be trusted because little could be verified. Spies swarmed into the Soviet Union and the satellite nations it controlled. Radio towers were raised to beam them Western propaganda in order to convince people in the Soviet sphere of influence that they had allies in the West.

Mainstream Americans dismissed the socialist model on economic and/or human rights grounds. It was said time and again that no matter how attractive a theory, in practice socialism and communism failed to create a strong and diversified enough economic engine to power a first-world nation. There were the endless blocks of crumbling gray apartment buildings, each identical one after the other after the other; the lines for bread in Leningrad; the empty food-store shelves in Moscow. Soviet expatriates wept as they saw for the first time the abundance in the aisles of American grocery stores.

There were the stories of the Gulags slave labor, arrests without trial, political purges, the disappearance of writers, artists and political dissidents. There was the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Perhaps most symbolically fitting, in the early 1980s, the Soviet Union and its failing socialist doctrine were best captured by the series of sclerotic general secretaries passing away one after another in short order.

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

All this the Millennials missed. And now, for them, socialism is a doctrine modified by an adjective and associated with the progressive parties of Western Europe. Their impressions fall far short of the miseries of the Warsaw Pact.

Not unlike their late socialist and communist brethren, American youth increasingly have found their bogeymen in the titans of industry. Less and less does the idea of an intrusive Orwellian bureaucracy haunt young Americans. Sanders wants a vast expansion of the federal government, including government-run single-payer health insurance and free public higher education. Most Millennials favor a moderate to large role for government in health care, and they certainly don't mind the idea of free college.

The protests against police abuse and young peoples militant protection of their privacy rights are exceptions to this generation's big-government predilections. Nonetheless, stripped of the moderating forces of an existential enemy, untroubled by the spectacle of the command-down state, seemingly unaware of the feeble returns of a true socialist economy, Sanders Millennial guard sounds more and more unbound from reality.

Nuance has left the building, and Clinton is having a hard time getting it back in.

___

Zachary Jonathan Jacobson is a Cold War historian. He received his Ph.D. from .

In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes diverse opinions from outside writers, including our Board of Contributors. To read more columns, go to the Opinion front page and follow us on Twitter @USATOpinion.
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Cloud News

Trilio Ramps Up Channel Program For Its First-To-Market OpenStack Backup Service

Kyle Alspach

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Startup Trilio Data offers the first native OpenStack backup and recovery service and is looking to bring in more partners for its newly launched channel program, the company told CRN.

OnX Enterprise Solutions, a solution provider with headquarters in Toronto and New York, is the lead channel partner nationally for Trilio Data.

Brian Davis, vice president of open cloud solutions at OnX, said hes been working with telecommunications and financial services companies that have started to adopt Trilio or are at the proof-of-concept stage with Trilios offering.

Usually you have a [proof-of-concept] runoff against several products, but really its a one-horse battle because [Trilio] has the only product out there, Davis told CRN.

Trilio CEO David Safaii said all of the companys sales are going through the channel and were looking to absolutely bring in more partners.

Those may include regional partners around the U.S. that bring expertise in specific verticals. On such partner so far is Hanover, Md.-based Alliance Technology Group, which focuses on government customers.

Trilio also is looking to soon add partners in Europe and Asia, Safaii said.

When you talk about the journey of OpenStack, whether youre just starting down this path to roll out a cloud, its ongoing and iterative in nature, he said. Solution providers are critical to this.

Many organizations that are looking to deploy an OpenStack cloud will eventually find that business needs such as compliance dictate that theyll need a data assurance service -- and find that their only options are to develop your own in some form or fashion, or use a more hardened product like Trilio, said OnX's Davis.

Davis added that hes aware of several other companies that are working on a native OpenStack backup service, but theyre a year or two behind Trilio.

The feedback [from initial customers] has been great, and quite honestly its because of the way that they are doing their backups. Theyre looking at both VM-based and hypervisor-based backups, and you dont get both of those normally, Davis said.

Trilio, Hopkinton, Mass., was founded in 2013 by Murali Balcha, a former engineering manager at EMC who was involved with OpenStack work, and Giri Basava, who was also previously an engineering leader at EMC and whose work included VMware integration.

The 15-person company has raised a seed funding round from two venture capital firms, Safaii said, though the firms and the funding amount arent being disclosed.

As far as how many partners Trilio is looking to add, Safaii said he doesnt have a specific target to share but noted that the company is being pretty selective.

Were in a bit of a unique position, as the only data protection vendor out there [for OpenStack], that we can pick and choose. Our plate fills up very quickly, he said.
Style And Substance

Welcome to our latest business-class laptop throwdown. Today we're looking at two recently refreshed offerings running Windows 10 -- Lenovo's Yoga 900 and Dell's XPS 13. The Yoga 900 2-in-1 is a bid to win over users with flare and flexibility, while the focus of the XPS 13 laptop is more on taking the standard business-laptop formula and making it feel fresh and fully capable of meeting today's basic work needs.

To get a sense of which one might be the best fit, we've compared the specs and prices of Lenovo's Yoga 900 2-in-1 and Dell's newest XPS 13 laptop. Here's a look at what we found.

Also, be sure to check out more of the CRN Test Center's side-by-side comparisons of the latest smartphones, tablets, and 2-in-1s.
SHELTON - Two brush fires off Bridgeport Avenue are being battled by firefighters Thursday afternoon.

One fire was reported at 555 Bridgeport Ave. and the other one is near a long-stay hotel near the Tennessee gas pipeline.

Firefighters were able to open the gate to the gas facility to access the area where the brush is burning.

The fire at 555 Bridgeport Ave., south of the Starbucks across the street, was reported under control shortly after 1:30 p.m.

At 1:55 p.m., firefighters reported the fire near the gas line was under control.

Bridgeport Avenue was closed to traffic until firefighters cleared the scene.
A year ago at this time, I was spending the better part of every day sitting in a chair at the Bridgeport Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit, worrying about my daughters.

Sydney Laureen Swavy and Alexis Joanna Swavy were born May 4, 2015, at slightly less than 32 weeks of gestation. They each weighed a little more than three pounds, and couldnt yet breathe or eat on their own. For more than five weeks, they stayed at the unit, commonly referred to as the NICU. And I stayed with them.

I never spent the night there  though it was tempting, sometimes  but my days were blurs of flourescent lights, beeping monitors and the tiny faces of my girls. Usually, my dad was by my side, because I had delivered by Ceasarean section and couldnt drive myself at first. So we would make our way up to the unit, park ourselves by the incubators that held my babies, and gaze helplessly as my kids worked to make themselves strong enough to come home.

Sometimes, I would get to hold them as they took their meals through a tube. I learned to change their diapers through the holes of incubator and to take their temperature.

We lived on hospital cafeteria food. We developed friendships with some of the nurses there  a confusing number of whom were named Donna, leading us to call them Blonde Donna, Brunette Donna, or Donna with the tan. After a long day at the hospital, I would go home, wait for my husband to get home from work and, more often than not, head back to the hospital.

Eventually, the girls grew bigger, and began taking their meals from bottles instead of tubes. They moved out of incubators, and into boxes called cribs, which bore almost no resemblance to any crib Ive ever seen in an actual home nursery. Then, one special day, my girls finally got to come home.

Today, they betray almost no traces of those little nubs of humanity I sat with for more than a month. They just turned 1 on May 4, and theyre big, healthy girls who are trying their hardest to walk and talk. (They might even be too spunky and robust. Last week, Syd learned how to slide one arm out of her top. Im not sure Im ready for her to start undressing herself.)

With their tumultuous beginnings in the rearview, its sometimes easy to forget the spot where all of us spent the bulk of those first few weeks. But  and this cant be overstated  without places like the Bridgeport NICU, babies like mine likely wouldnt survive. So when the hospital hosted its annual reunion for NICU babies and their families, I had to go. I wanted their former doctors and nurses to see how big theyd gotten. And, I think I also wanted to remind myself where my babies came from, and how lucky we were that such places exist.

The reunion always takes place on the first Saturday in May. Usually its outside, but due to the recent run of rotten weather, this year it took place at the hospital cafeteria, my old stomping ground. Dozens of families came to the event  some with children who were only mere months old, and probably not long out of the NICU.

I only saw a few nurses I recognized. None of the Donnas appeared to be there, unfortunately, but there were a few familiar faces, such as Karen, the nurse who taught me how to give my babies a bath, and Marilyn, who cared for my daughters on numerous occasions. I saw Dr. Harris Jacobs, chairman of pediatrics at the hospital, and Dr. Robert Herzlinger, chief of neonatology. Though I can never be sure how well the doctors remembered my girls  they see hundreds of babies every year  Im sure that seeing any babies who have graduated from the NICU to be strong and healthy gives them a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

One of the nicest moments of the NICU reunion was seeing another family who had twins in the unit at the same time we did. We barely knew each other, but there is sort of a weird, unspoken bond that comes from seeing someone day after day who is going through something very similar to what youre going through. I remember that one of their babies went home long before ours and, though I was jealous, it gave me hope to see other babies start to move on. Today, their kids appear to be strong and healthy, too.

We didnt stay at the reunion long  there were a lot of people squeezed into a fairly tight space, and my kids are still at the age when they can only take so much excitement. Still, Im glad I went back and revisited some of the key people from that time of my life. Though it was a painful time in a lot of ways, its part of who they are, and part of who we are as a family.

Amanda Cuda is a reporter for the Connecticut Post. Email: acuda@ctpost.com
Pa. is about to vote. Here's what to know about voting and ballot access in 2022

Elections
DeSantis and Crist sparring in Florida governor's debate: Live updates

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are sparring with Democrat Charlie Crist in a debate Monday night. Trailing, this is Crist's last chance at closing the gap.
The power suit has moved out of the office and onto the street in a variety of colours with the celebrity support of Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett.

by Damien Woolnough
Manhunt: Police appeal for clues to Melanie Road's killer

On Monday, I was listening to the PM programme on Radio 4 when the news came through that a man called Christopher Hampton, 64, had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl, Melanie Road, in Bath in 1984.

Ever since his arrest, he had denied anything to do with the murder, but shortly before the start of his trial, he had changed his plea to guilty.

For 32 years, Hampton had lived an apparently normal life as a married man.

You married and had a child and lived your family life for all those years knowing the extreme misery you must have inflicted on your victims family, said the judge, but you were too callous and cowardly to put an end to their heartache. He then sentenced him to a minimum term of 22 years. You will very likely die in prison.

This news took me back to an afternoon in 1984, when I was loitering at my desk in the office of a glossy magazine, with, as usual, nothing much to do. Suddenly, the telephone had rung. The caller introduced himself as a detective with the Kensington and Chelsea police.

I believe you were staying in Bath on the night of June 9th.

Yes, thats right.

A young woman was murdered that night.

Yes, I replied. I remember seeing the headline on a news-paper hoarding.

There was a pause.

Thats not the question, is it? he said. The question is: did you do it?

Its not every day you are asked if you are a murderer, which is why, so many years later, I still remember our conversation virtually word-for-word.

No, I laughed nervously.

Nevertheless, wed like you to come in and answer a few questions. Its part of a routine investigation.

The next morning, I went along to Chelsea police station. A detective came to meet me, and then escorted me into an interview room, where another detective was already sitting. It was a curiously unnerving experience. Obviously, I knew I was innocent, but what if they thought otherwise?

Christopher Hampton, 64 (left), was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl, Melanie Road (right) in Bath in 1984

They asked me my name and address, then asked me to confirm that I had been staying at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath on the night in question. Yes, I said, I was: in those days, I had a cushy job reviewing deluxe hotels for a now defunct magazine called A La Carte.

Next, they asked me if anyone else had been with me, and then they took her name and address. And what were your movements on the night in question?

Finally, they took out a photograph of the poor victim and placed it in front of me.

Do you recognise her? No, I replied. By this time, the two detectives were staring very hard at me, clearly in the hope that I would twitch or blush or do something suspicious. This made me feel self-conscious. Had I said No too off-handedly, or with too much vehemence? Was I behaving suspiously?

Needless to say, the moment you start worrying that you are looking suspicious, you start to feel suspicious. It was similar to the generalised murmur of guilt you feel when you go through Nothing to Declare at customs, even though you do, indeed, have nothing to declare.

My interview came to an end, at which point the two detectives became much more friendly. Purely routine, one of them reassured me.

He explained that when a murder investigation hits a brick wall, the local police sift through all the hotel reservations, and then squads up and down the country have to interview every single person in their neighbourhood who stayed in the city that night. Feeling more relaxed, I pointed out that it was unlikely a murderer would book into a hotel under his own name.

The detective smiled ruefully. Of the 17 people who had given their addresses in the Chelsea and Kensington area that night, only nine had registered under their real names: Bath, like Brighton, is a popular destination for dirty weekends.

And that was that, as far as I was concerned. For a while, I kept an eye open for any news on the case, but I didnt see anything, and, after a few months, put it behind me.

It emerges that, over the course of the next 32 years, the police swabbed 2,555 people for their DNA, pursued 7,723 different inquiries and produced 30,000 documents, one of which, presumably, has my name on it.

Over the years, I have told the story of my interview to various friends. People tend to sit up and listen when you tell them you were part of a murder investigation. Sometimes, when I have finished, I have felt a few eyes lingering on me a little too long.
A few moments before Islamic terrorists set about murdering innocent civilians, and usually killing themselves, they almost invariably shout 'Allahu Akbar', which means 'God is Great'.

That is what gunmen cried out as they stormed the Bataclan concert hall in Paris last November, killing 89 people. It is what Islamic State terrorists yelled before detonating bombs that caused the deaths of 34 people in Brussels airport in March.

Whether the barbarity is carried out in Britain, continental Europe, the United States, Russia, the Middle East or Pakistan, it is usually preceded by the words  so mystifying and blood-curdling  'Allahu Akbar'.

The unidentified masked man shouted the Islamic phrase for 'God is great' four times as he stormed the building pretending to be a suicide bomber

So when Greater Manchester Police staged a terrorist attack training exercise involving hundreds of volunteers in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the Trafford Centre, it seemed perfectly sensible for the 'pretend' bomber to scream 'Allahu Akbar'. That is what Islamic terrorists do. Any such outrage is most likely to be their work.

Yet after some ripples of protest in the Twittersphere, Greater Manchester Police rapidly raised the white flag and apologised for racial stereotyping. They say the phrase should not have appeared in the drill, and it was 'unacceptable' that it did.

Some people will say this capitulation is no great matter. I disagree. It seems to me to bespeak a deep reluctance on the part of the police, born of an over- developed sense of political correctness, to confront the reality of the threat that faces us.

The utter fatuity of the police's public eating of humble pie is highlighted by a real event that took place on the same day. A knifeman screamed 'Allahu Akbar' before stabbing one man to death and attacking several others at a railway station near Munich. This is the real world, not a fantasy makeover.

Why did Greater Manchester Police climb down and repudiate what was unquestionably a realistic re-enactment of what would be a terrible incident? They were obviously frightened by the imputation that they were being nasty to Muslims.

One characteristic tweet came from a Manchester peace activist called Dr Erinma Bell, who objected that 'we need to move away from stereotypes if we want to achieve real learning. A terrorist can be anyone'.

That's bunkum, of course. Magistrates or elderly ladies or Anglican clergymen are most unlikely to be terrorists. Forty years ago, the danger came entirely from the IRA. Now  though the Government yesterday raised the threat level of a Northern Ireland-related terrorist attack in Great Britain to 'substantial'  Islamic extremists pose by far the greatest danger.

A more respectable, though still misguided, objection came from some moderate Muslims. I heard one of them on the radio making the heartfelt plea that ordinary Muslims frequently say 'God is Great' as a way of expressing appreciation or gratitude to Allah. This man insisted that Muslims such as him who abhor terrorism find it painful for a phrase so precious to them to be associated with violence.

One can see what he means. But isn't the point, whether we like it or not, that Islamic terrorists have appropriated 'Allahu Akbar'? This may be painful to many Muslims, but it is a fact that terrorists utter these words. I don't believe the truth should be adulterated to suit the sensibilities of moderate Muslims or anyone else.

Taking hold: Armed police response can be seen entering through one of the Manchester mall's front doors during the mock terror attack

Decent, law-abiding Muslims have to face up to the uncomfortable reality that a lethal handful of their co-religionists do commit atrocities in the name of Allah. The way to deal with this aberration is not to sweep it under the carpet and pretend it doesn't exist, but to confront it head on.

Greater Manchester Police, of course, are most at fault for airbrushing the facts. I'm afraid their anxiety not to offend Muslims is strikingly at odds with the much less indulgent attitude towards Christians shown by the police.

Fundamentalist Christians in our society may be irritating to secular types and even to other Christians, but they do not let off bombs or threaten life and limb. That may be why the police are happy to trample over their feelings.

Let me give just two examples out of many. Last year, police in Norfolk investigated a Baptist church that had put up a poster which suggested non-Christians were liable to roast in hell. It was an extreme point of view, but not one which did harm to anyone, and in keeping with what most Christians used to believe.

Nonetheless, PC Plod suspected that a hate crime had been committed and the church was forced to remove the sign. Can we conceive of that happening to a mosque which had put up a similar poster? I don't think so.

Sorry: In a statement posted online Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan (pictured) apologised for the 'unacceptable' use of the phrase

Even more worrying was the case of a Christian preacher called John Craven who several years ago was arrested after he had quoted the Bible to two gay teenagers who had sought his views on homosexuality. He was held in custody for 19 hours.

It's true he was subsequently awarded 13,000 by way of compensation, but that does not excuse the behaviour of the police. And the boys in blue in this instance were the very same Greater Manchester Police who have just demonstrated such sensitivity towards Muslim feelings.

Many Muslims are as unfriendly to homosexuality as are Christian fundamentalists, but I can't imagine an imam being slapped in jail for 19 hours after reading the Koran to a couple of gay teenagers. It would never happen.

The truth is that when it comes to religion, the police are guilty of double standards  and not only the police. A Muslim charity called Islamic Relief has paid for adverts proclaiming 'Glory be to God', which will soon appear on the sides of buses. Yet last November, three leading cinema chains refused to run a 60- second advertisement featuring the Lord's Prayer.

In a free society there can be no objection to buses carrying Muslim slogans as long as they don't incite law-breaking or violence. But it seems extraordinary that they should be allowed in one arena, while the prayer which Christ enjoined us to say is not permitted in another.

STEPHEN GLOVER says it seemed perfectly sensible for the 'pretend' bomber to scream 'Allahu Akbar' as that is what Islamic terrorists do

All I am asking for is equality under the law. There is lots of evidence that the police and other authorities are far more anxious about offending Muslims than they are about upsetting non-Muslims, particularly Christian fundamentalists.

We should confront the truth  which is that a tiny, but dangerous minority of Islamic extremists want to destroy our values and wreck our society, and that they believe, however outrageously, they are doing this in the name of Allah.

Suspected Afghan Islamic State terrorists Hakim Nasiri and Gulistan Ahmadzai, recently arrested by Italian police, are said to have had photos of potential British targets on their smartphones and social media profiles. When in London they were followed by police, who observed them in the Docklands area taking pictures of a shopping centre, hotels, fitness centres, a cinema and restaurants.
They were just two overheard snatches of conversation with the Queen, lasting no more than a few seconds each. But how eloquently they revealed the two-faced hypocrisy of Britains political class.

Take David Camerons remark that Nigeria and Afghanistan are fantastically corrupt countries.

It was the truth, of course. But this paper doesnt recall the Prime Minister telling us any such thing when he shovelled 435million of our money into Nigerian and Afghan pockets last year.

In public, he speaks of the overseas aid budget (scandalously fixed by law at an arbitrary 0.7 per cent of national output) as our duty to the worlds poorest.

Soul of discretion: The Queen was this week caught on film telling a senior policewoman at a Buckingham Palace garden party that the Chinese had been very rude during last years presidential state visit

Lavish: The Government insisted all the stops must be pulled out for last years state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, pictured with Kate and the Queen, because China is a world power and big trading partner

Only now, in an unguarded moment, does he reveal what he truly thinks about the recipients of the taxpayers cash he splashes out to burnish his halo.

Or take the Queens revelation about the rudeness of Chinese officials during the state visit by President Xi Jinping.

The Mail warned at the time that George Osbornes kow-towing to China would earn nothing but contempt from this brutal and corrupt regime.

Whether or not Her Majesty meant to be overheard, we congratulate her on telling the truth behind the politicians pretence of a diplomatic triumph.

In the Commons yesterday, Mr Cameron made light of his overheard remark, saying: First of all I had better check the microphone is on before speaking.

Wouldnt it be healthier for democracy if politicians said what they actually believe  whether the microphone is on or off?

Damning donations

For a powerful reason to vote for Brexit, look no further than the four rapacious multinational banks high on the list of donors to the Remain campaign.

Between them, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Citi have paid almost 20billion in US fines for their role in causing the 2008 financial crisis.

Bankrolling: J P Morgan  which warned Britain would be left 'isolated' if it didn't join the euro  has donated 500,000 to Britain Stronger In Europe. Pictured, the bank's headquarters in New York City, New York

Indeed, all played a large part in bringing the eurozone to its knees  Goldman Sachs in particular, by cooking the books to allow Greece to join the single currency. Meanwhile, all have spent millions lobbying the European Commission.

True, the Leave camp has attracted larger donations  though this takes no account of the vast sums of taxpayers cash spent by the Government on propaganda for Remain.

But the Leave campaigns donors are mostly self-made individuals with a passionate commitment to democracy and freedom from Brussels bureaucracy.

This week, Iain Duncan Smith branded the EU a friend of the haves rather than the have-nots  a conspiracy of political elites, banks and big businesses against families struggling to make a living against competition from cheap migrant labour.

The list of Remain donors underlines his point.

Who could fail to be moved by the story of the woman in her twenties who ended her life under Dutch euthanasia laws because of her mental suffering as a victim of child abuse? Moved, but also appalled. The Mail has long warned that legalising mercy-killing for the terminally ill is a slippery slope, leading to many more deaths than law-makers intend. This tragic and horrifying case shows how wise MPs were to throw out Lord Falconers Assisted Dying Bill last year.
When Melbourne author and public speaker Chris Helder's father died four years ago, little did he know that in the midst of his grief he would come up with a philosophy that he would live by.

Not only did this Eureka moment alter his own belief system, but it also influenced his public speaking subjects and his latest book, Useful Belief.

According to Mr Helder, there is absolutely no use in 'being happy' and 'thinking positively' when you're going through something hard or have something to conquer.

Instead, you are much better off employing his 'useful belief' theory, which, according to the expert, is the key to getting out of a negative rut and achieving your goals.

Useful belief: Instead of following people's advice to keep your chin up, Mr Helder recommends thinking of something useful and practical to help your situation

Personal believer: According to the expert (pictured), this is the way in which you can get out of your rut and achieve your goals - this is reflected in his latest book, released in February

LEARN TO THINK USEFULLY * According to expert, Chris Helder, there is no use in 'being happy' or 'thinking positively' when you're going through something hard. * Instead, you need to employ 'useful belief', which gets him through as many as 30 situations a day. * Useful belief is a one-step system that Mr Helder says is easy to incorporate into your daily life. * According to the expert, every time you feel like you're falling into a negative trap, you need to become conscious and ask yourself if what you're thinking about is useful. * If it isn't, forget it. * Mr Helder also abides by the Red Toyota Theory, which basically equates to if you're looking for something, you will find it. If not, then you won't see so-called red Toyotas. * According to the author and expert: 'If you don't feel positive, think useful.

For Mr Helder, this realisation came when he was in San Francisco at his father's funeral:

'I was grieving, obviously,' he tells Daily Mail Australia.

'But I was also facing the prospect of 15 public speaking gigs over 18 days as soon as I got back to Australia.

'I could have gone to pieces, and I certainly felt that I might, but I decided to think usefully rather than approaching things in an emotional way.

'If you're having a great day and someone tells you to think positively, then that's all great, but if you're not and someone says "chin up" then that's really not what you need.

'This new way of thinking really catapulted me through 18 difficult days.'

According to Mr Helder, who says he has spent his life listening to public speakers and positivity evangelists, everyone should think about what needs to get done when they want to get through a hard day in life or at the office:

'It's a one-step system that's really easy to incorporate into your everyday life,' he says.

Personal reasons: Mr Helder (pictured) came up with this theory when his father died and he was at his funeral in San Francisco - he says he had 15 gigs in 18 days as soon as he got back to Australia, but needed to think 'usefully' and try to get through the difficult period - as a result, he found things easier

Every time you feel yourself falling into a negative trap, be conscious that you're doing so and ask yourself: Is this useful?

'Every time you feel yourself falling into a negative trap, be conscious that you're doing so and ask yourself: Is this useful?

'I do it about 30 times a day, and also find myself applying it to other people's lives, too.

'Take that Adele song for example; the one where she sings: "They say that time's supposed to heal you, but I ain't done much healing,".

'Every time I hear it, I find myself saying aloud: "Come on Adele, you KNOW that's not useful!"'.

One-step system: According to Mr Helder, his useful belief system is a one-step system, in which every time you find yourself falling into a negative trap, you need to be conscious that you're doing so, and then stop and ask yourself: 'Is this useful?'

Mr Helder has several practical situations to help the beginner to think usefully instead of emotionally:

'Say you have a meeting you have to go to, but you know it's going to be a waste of time,' he says.

'Instead of focussing on the fact that it's going to be pointless and not useful for your day, why not be open to being inspired?

'If you go in to that meeting with an open mind, and think with useful belief, then if there is a small nugget of takeaway value to be had, you'll get it.'

This is something Mr Helder more commonly calls his 'Red Toyota Theory'.

This theory supports the idea that if you're not looking for red Toyotas, you'll probably see none on your way into work.

However, if you decide to buy a red Toyota, you'll start to see them everywhere.

Practical life: Mr Helder has several real-life scenarios in which you can adopt his useful belief theory - such as in the office when you have a meeting you have to go and you know it's going to be useless

Red Toyota Theory: According to his Red Toyota Theory, if you go into something with an open mind, rather than feeling like you will gain nothing, you will be more likely to discover a nugget of goodness if there is one

Another practical situation in which Mr Helder says you can employ useful belief is when it comes to energy levels:

'Ask anyone how they are and many people will say they're tired,' he complains.

'But energy is a choice. And it's useful to say and be tired when it's 10.30pm at night, not at 10am in the morning.'

I took 117 flights last year and can put my hand on my heart and say jet lag isn't real

For Mr Helder, this specific example manifests itself in his approach to jet lag, which he staunchly believes is fake:

'I took 117 flights last year and can put my hand on my heart and say jet lag isn't real.

'This works for me because I spend one third of my life flying, and if I said I hated it, and had terrible jet lag as a result, then I might as well say I hate 33 per cent of my life.

'If you don't feel positive, think useful,' he finishes.

'You'll get through it, and much better than if you try and fail to stay positive.'

You can buy Chris Helder's new book here, and visit his website here.

Mantra to remember: According to Mr Helder, 'If you don't feel positive, think useful'
The cotton undies that you pull on every day might be making you infertile.

The culprit is a chemical that textile manufacturers use to treat cotton, that is then used to make many brands of underwear.

Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs) are a class of ingredients that are found in many chemical formulations used when making a number of cotton, knit and silk products.

Potential risks: Some studies have found NPEs found in non-organic brands of underwear can cause infertility

More than just comfy undies: Might Good Undies uses organic and chemical free Fairtrade cotton

What are the impacts of NPEs for humans? Can impact the placenta leading to potential pregnancy loss and other complications

Can disrupt the bodys natural hormone cycles for regulating hunger and appetite

NP has been found in human breast milk, and exposure has been linked to breast cancer

NPEs are in detergents that are used by textile makers, and the residue can then end up on the final product.

According to one study, this is an issue as the presence of NPEs in pregnant women can impact the placenta leading to potential pregnancy loss and other complications.

There has also been a link between NPEs and breast cancer.

Despite this, many people who make underwear continue to use detergents containing NPEs, potentially impacting a woman's health.

Peace of mind: Mighty Good Undies ensure the cotton used in their underwear is ethically sourced

Certified organic: Their garments are produced chemical free and organically

One underwear company, Mighty Good Undies, is hoping to offer women an alternative. They have launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund their new line of organic and chemical free underwear.

Co-founder Elena Antoniou explained that the aim is to make everyday undies that are ethically made and organic, so you can have peace of mind when putting them on each day.

'Our cotton is not only organically grown, but it is certified under the Fairtrade Cotton Standard, the same Fairtrade system that produces coffee or tea,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Dangers of NPEs: the ingredient is found in chemical formulations in many cotton, knit and silk products

Making change: A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to fund the organic and chemical free range

Co-founder Elena Antoniou: The aim of the company is to produce ethically made and organic everyday undies

'The entire supply chain is certified to the highest standards and no corner is cut', Ms Antoniou said.

'We produce in a supply chain that is certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) -- the worlds best, and most comprehensive, environmental standard for textiles,' she explained.

'It ensures that the cotton is grown and processed, without harmful pesticides, or toxic chemicals that can end up as residues on our clothes and harm the environment and our personal health.'

More research is currently being undertaken on NPEs for more conclusive evidence, but it might be a good idea to be more aware of what you're putting next to your body each day - especially if you're trying to fall pregnant.
She's not a fan of the 'microneedling' roller as she thinks it's

Could this be the end of your make-up bag as you know it? A new breed of accessories is shaking up the beauty world, making traditional tools such as brushes, powder puffs and tweezers look so last century.

These innovative products span the unusual to the downright wacky, claiming to offer make-up addicts solutions to beauty problems - along with some they probably never even dreamed of.

Annabel Cole tried some of the quirkier options to see if they really are worth the investment.

My Big, Fat, Bouncy Brush by Lee Stafford, 12.99, boots.com

Bouncy brush to pump up the volume

My Big, Fat, Bouncy Brush by Lee Stafford, 12.99, boots.com

What does it look like? A medieval weapon or knights mace, like a spiked ball.

What does it do? Adds volume and curl while you blow dry without hopelessly tangling your hair.

How does it work? Twist strands around the brush as you blow dry.

The vents allow hot air to flow through it as you work.

Does it deliver? This is very similar to the Bomb Curl Brush from Japan, which has legions of fans online.

Using it takes a bit of practice, but once mastered the ball-shaped brush provides volume and, unlike round brushes - which always seem to get tangled up - the hair really does glide through it.

Perfect for long, flowing tresses in need of some extra va-va-voom.

8/10

Silicone Face Slimmer, 4.99 Amazon.co.uk

Rubbery lips give you a firm jawline

Silicone Face Slimmer, 4.99 Amazon.co.uk

What does it look like? Very strange indeed. This set of bright rubber lips from Japan must be one of the wackiest beauty gadgets ever invented.

What does it do? Gives you an instant DIY facial workout.

How does it work? The giant lips have a rubber piece at the back which you put inside your mouth and position so that the lips are covering your own. Once in position, the idea is to make vowel sounds for several minutes to tighten the facial muscles.

Does it deliver? As a non-invasive face lift, I am willing to give it a go. Positioning the lips is uncomfortable but not painful. This seems a good alternative to knives and needles - as long as you dont mind looking daft.

4/10

Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover, 20, Boots.com

A Slinky way to get rid of hair

Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover, 20, Boots.com

What does it look like? A Slinky been crossed with a nutcracker

What does it do? According to the blurb, this gadget swiftly and effortlessly does away with unwanted hairs on the neck, cheeks, chin and upper lip.

How does it work? Its like threading, without the thread. Holding the coloured handles, you have to place the coils flat on your face. When you rotate the silver knobs, unwanted hair gets caught in the coils and is then pulled out at the root.

Does it deliver? Yes. It was worked particularly well on area of soft, downy hair at the side of my face. Areas requiring more definition, like eyebrows, were trickier and I had to resort to tweezers for more precision. There is definitely an ouch factor but thats par for the course with this type of hair removal.

7/10

ZGTS Dermaroller, 9.99, Amazon.co.uk

Spiky roller to banish wrinkles

ZGTS Dermaroller, 9.99, Amazon.co.uk

What does it look like? An instrument of torture. A hand-held roller spiked with 540 tiny needles.

What does it do? The Dermaroller is a home microneedling gadget. For anyone not in the know, microneedling is a fashionable beauty therapy during which tiny needles are used to puncture the skin, kick-starting natural collagen production. Enthusiasts claim it rejuvenates the skin and can help with everything from scar tissue to wrinkles.

How does it work? Worryingly, the Dermaroller comes without instructions. The firms website advises using the roller once a day, five times a week on affected areas. I was told to roll vertically, horizontally and diagonally four times in each direction. It wasnt painful but the stinging sensation was unpleasant. My skin was left feeling sore afterwards.

Does it deliver? The website for this roller promises results in two to three weeks. I can see the appeal, especially if you suffer from problem skin, but common sense left me feeling this treatment would be better left to professionals - on grounds of hygiene alone. And without proper instructions I worried about overdoing the treatment and damaging my skin.

3/10

Makartt nail shields, 9.99, Amazon.co.uk

Tip top nail polish stencils

Makartt nail shields, 9.99, Amazon.co.uk

What do they look like? Barbie pink plastic hoops.

What do they do? Give your at-home manicure the professional touch.

How do they work? The kit comes with 26 shields in ten different sizes. Simply select the right sizes for your finger tips and put them on.

Nail varnish is then applied inside the arch-shaped stencil for a uniform shape.

Do they deliver? Yes. I was pleased to find that, once you have found the correct size, the shields stay on the finger tips very securely.

For someone like me who has rather unsteady hands and cant afford to fork out for regular professional manicures, they are a real godsend. Added to that, they are plastic which means that you can use them again and again.

8/10

Eylure Brow Stencils, 4.95, superdrug.com

Perfect brows from a kit

Eylure Brow Stencils, 4.95, superdrug.com

What do they look like? Pieces of clear plastic with eyebrow-shaped holes.

What do they do? The pack contains four eyebrow stencils which, according to the blurb, can make any brow go from drab to fab in just a few minutes.

How do they work? Very simply. Choose a shape (slim, medium, high or full arch). Place the stencil over your eyebrow and fill in with a crayon or shadow.

Remove and tweeze any stray hairs outside the desired shape.

Do they deliver? Yes. They are cheap, reusable and ideal for anyone with unpractised eyebrow-plucking skills.

7/10

Shadow Shields, 7.50, cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Glitter catchers for party eyes

Shadow Shields, 7.50, cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

What do they look like? Half moon-shaped plasters

What do they do? Badged as the ultimate multi-tasking beauty tool these self-adhesive pads are designed to fit under the eye to protect foundation against stray eye shadow and glitter. They can also be used to create a straight edge for eyeliner and eye shadow.

How do they work? Peel off the backing and simply stick under your eye. Remove when you have finished applying eye make-up.

Do they deliver? Definitely the kind of tool you didnt realise you needed until it came along. A must for party girls but not essential for everyday use.

On the down side, although the shields protected my make-up from eye shadow spillage, some foundation came away when I peeled off the shield and so I had to reapply.

6/10

Eyelure Heated Eyelash Curler, 10.20, Ocado.com

Magic wand for lashes

Eyelure Heated Eyelash Curler, 10.20, Ocado.com

What does it look like? A high-tech mascara wand.

What does it do? Uses gentle heat to create dramatic, evenly-curled eyelashes.

How does it work? Let the curler heat up for 20 seconds and then hold it on the lashes.

Does it deliver? Not as well as I had hoped. The heat given out was surprisingly low. While that is probably sensible for a tool you are using next to your eyes, it didnt feel like it was enough to be effective.

After ten seconds use on bare lashes there was no visible impact. Results were better when I used the wand after putting mascara on but the end result was not really the dramatic curls that were promised.

On the plus side, though, this curler is much more comfortable to use than an old-school hand-held clamp.
Every now and then I question the point of our Royal Family. Apart from when I wonder why a man as heroic as Prince Harry is still single and wish the Duchess of Cambridge would stop wearing those awful tan tights, they rarely enter my world.

But this week I've found a reason to love the Windsors - for among their midst I have spotted a splendid new Queen.

This fearless female is so formidable she looks like she would give Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and even Boudicca a run for their money.

Lorraine Candy's new favourite royal is Mia Tindall, the daughter of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall

The first time I saw her she was attempting to wrestle a giant of a man to the ground. This muscle-bound 6ft, 16st former rugby player was putty in her hands.

Overwhelming him with her surprise tactics, she set on him like a samurai warrior and the relentless pounding she gave this man mountain left him puffed out and powerless.

Her victory was all the more impressive given she was wearing a T-shirt with 'I'm super cute, don't you think?' written on it.

Arise Queen Mia, the feisty two-and-a-bit-year-old who is my new favourite royal. Mia the Magnificent is the daughter of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall.

This toddler is mischief-maker in chief, a regal rascal with such a wilful and spirited nature that you can't help but wish she was in charge of everything.

With her wild-child hair and no-holds-barred lust for life, she is the polar opposite of the ever-so-neat, not-a-hair-out-of-place little royals we're used to. And seeing pictures of her messing around at Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, where her mum was competing, filled me with maternal joy. 'Look,' I commented to Mr Candy, 'someone else has a Mabel. It's nature not nurture after all.'

Mia 'fixing the electrics' beside a tent on a horsey day out. Lorraine sees in Mia a fellow 'toddler handful', just like her own daughter Mabel

If you Google Mia, the phrase 'toddler handful' ranks highly. And there is a rogues' gallery of Mia pictures: parent escapee Mia fiddling with electric cables beside a tent on another horsey day out while adults rush to stop her; manic Mia standing on Uncle Peter's lap in a restaurant, waving a fork around with menace as he tries unsuccessfully to grab it; Mia hanging upside down; Mia tackling her cousins by their knees.

Captured on film there's all manner of irresistibly cheeky behaviour that I recognise from the past five years of parenting Mabel, our fourth and final child.

Wonderful Mabel is that child in the cafe, supermarket, cinema, soft-play centre or swimming pool that you are glad is not yours. The one with a raspy voice a few decibels too loud (her laugh is reminiscent of Sid James from the Carry On films).

Mia Tindall, right, and cousin Savannah Phillips lark about as they attend the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2016

She's bossy, demanding, uncontrollable in crowd situations, and the reason I have more lines round my eyes than most women my age.

She's a ball of energy who can run faster than Mo Farah. Looking after Mabel is like wrestling a slippery eel.

Babysitters only come once (I usually find her asleep on top of them on the floor in the lounge when I get back). She's the toddler we rarely took to our local pottery cafe because the breakage fees were too expensive.

Being with Mabel is always being two minutes away from potential disaster. You're constantly on the lookout for near-death situations and have to check out every new location with the thorough eye of a bodyguard protecting a president. It leads to some extreme fibbing.

One of the problems with a toddler like Mia or Mabel is that you can't stay cross at them for long because they are what the T-shirt says: 'Super cute.' And everyone is secretly jealous of their lust for life

When we visited my husband's boss's house for a 'family fun day', she made an instant beeline for the pond, and the only way I could stop her throwing herself in it was to warn her loudly that it was full of starving crocodiles, much to the shock of another mum whose child, quietly playing on the lawn, instantly burst into tears.

For a year she chose to carry a large, owl-shaped, sand-filled doorstop around as her 'special' toy, which was extremely inconvenient, especially as she kept dropping it on people's feet. This stubbornness is admirable and probably the personality trait of someone who'll be a successful adult.

One of the problems with a toddler like Mia or Mabel is that you can't stay cross at them for long because they are what the T-shirt says: 'Super cute.' And everyone is secretly jealous of their lust for life, their overwhelming urge to try everything and have as much fun as possible.

In fact, my new mantra for life is 'be more Mia' and I'm starting a petition to have her crowned Queen as soon as possible. If she'll sit still long enough, that is.
In what may be the weirdest stunt this week, one artist proved that men can survive without nipples.

Karim Boumjimar, an 18-year-old Spanish-Moroccan artist, took to Twitter to tell his followers that he'd removed his two nipples and planned to sell them online to the highest bidder.

His move begged the question, what other body parts can don't we need?

Well thankfully celebrity doctor Andrew Rochford has been able to answer that query, telling Nova's 'Fitzy and Wippa' that there are actually eight body parts or reactions we've accrued over time that we can now live without.

Scroll down for video

Conversation starter: Karim Boumjimar, an 18-year-old Spanish-Moroccan artist, sparked the conversation of what body parts we can do without after having his nipples and belly button surgically removed, all in the name of 'art'

In the formation of a human baby everyone inherits genes from both their mother and father, however in the womb we all begin as female.

Eventually men get a Y chromosome, proving the difference between them staying as a woman or becoming a man.

Nipples are a trait inherited from the mother's side which men just happen to keep, despite the fact they serve no real purpose.

But Dr Rochford explained that as humans have progressed from the caveman era there have become a number of other body parts and reflexes that are now surplus to our requirement.

'(They're) evolutionary things that we no longer need,' Dr Rochford said.

At the top of his list was something that a lot of people have removed.

Appendix: According to Dr Andrew Rochford the appendix (pictured open above) was designed to digest a number of plant materials that we no longer eat

THE BODY PARTS AND ACTIONS WE NO LONGER NEED Appendix

Sinuses

Tonsils

The muscles behind the ear

Earlobes

Goosebumps

Palmer Grasp

Nipples (just for men) - Dr Andrew Rochford

'The appendix. We dont need an appendix. We had it because it digests certain plant materials which we dont eat anymore,' Dr Rochford explained.

Following that he moved on to what may be just a small hollow air pocket in your nose, but one that can literally give you a headache.

'Sinuses, those air filled spaces in your head that give you a shocking headache,' he said.

'They dont really know why weve got those. I mean it makes sense for people with heavy heads because it makes their head lighter, but they dont really know.'

Next he named one of the most obvious.

'Tonsils is the other one you can live with out, obviously if youve had your tonsils removed, thats a part of the immune system from the past which we dont need,' Dr Rochford said.

Sinuses: 'It makes sense for people with heavy heads because it makes their head lighter, but they dont really know why we've got those' Dr Rochford said

Co-host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli noted that having them removed at a young age could actually be a positive.

'Its designed to slow you down as a teenager I reckon the tonsil, just to pull you in,' he said.

Fourth on the list was something we haven't used since being the prey of wild animals.

'The muscles that move your ear, we have them but we dont need them because we dont move our ears anymore,' Dr Rochford said.

Tonsils: Possibly the most obvious one, tonsils are a regularly removed part of the body

Earlobes and goosebumps: While many women may protest, Dr Rochford says earlobes are not a required part of the body. Similarly goosebumps, which were once used to keep animals warm, are no longer crucial

'That came from a point when you were concerned about things coming up behind you to eat you.'

He added that humans could also do without another part of the ear, although many women may protest.

'And ear lobes, why do you need ear lobes, aside from earrings?' he said.

Apparently we can do without goosebumps, which were once relied on to make animals warmer and to also look bigger in the face of a predator.

'Goosebumps, so the small muscles that moves your hair when you get cold and all your hair stands on end, we dont need those,' Dr Rochford said.

Finally he named a reflex found only in babies, which stems back to the days of children clinging to their parents' back like koala joeys.

'Theres a reflex that we no longer need, its called a palmar grasp,' he said.

'Anyone whos got a young child this is a really cool thing to do. So what you do with a baby up to the age of four months is if you rub your fingers along the palm of their hand, they will automatically grip it.

'That grip is strong enough to hold their body weight, but please dont test this bit!'

Unfortunately for Mr Boumjimar, Dr Rochford didn't name the bellybutton, which the European artist told Twitter followers this week he next intends to turn into a necklace.

Palmar grasp: This reflex found in babies up to four months old was used by children to cling onto their parents as they moved among tree tops

Disgusting: Mr Boumhimar posted a picture of his severed nipples on Twitter, promising a belly button necklace would be his next creation
Farrah Millar, 37, and her partner Brad, had been through three cycles of IVF over four years before they were blessed with their little girl, Lehnae.

Just five months after Lehnae was born, Ms Millar found out that she was miraculously expecting again, this time a baby boy.

But just 18 hours after her second miracle baby was born on March 29, her life was turned upside down with a shock diagnosis of stage three breast cancer.

Miracle: Farrah Millar, 37, went through IVF for four years before she gave birth to her daughter Lehnae, 14 months, and then found out she was miraculously pregnant again just five months after giving birth

'Around the the time I found out I was pregnant I discovered a lump under my arm and in my left breast but I didn't do anything about it... I was breastfeeding and so many changes go on in the breasts,' Ms Millar, from Perth, told Daily Mail Australia.

'I was so busy looking after my dad because he had had a heart attack and I was looking after my 14-month-old so I never really thought about the lumps.'

But Ms Millar mentioned them to her midwife the week before she was due for a caesarian and was sent in for an urgent ultrasound.

Heartbreaking news: 'The first thing out of my mouth was "Oh my God I've got cancer". I just knew it by the way they were looking at me,' she said

'I was just processing everything': 'I had this amazing little boy who was such a miracle and this amazing little girl and my brain just left the building. I started going on this ridiculous train of terrible thoughts,' she said

'I had biopsies done as well and they said they would be able to tell me my results on the Tuesday - the day I was booked in for my C-section,' Ms Millar said.

People were looking at me with their heads tilted everywhere I went because I was carting this newborn around with me. Farrah Millar

'On the Tuesday it all went well and then on the Wednesday morning I came out of the shower to find my doctor in my room with two nurses standing looking at me.

'The first thing out of my mouth was "Oh my God I've got cancer". I just knew it by the way they were looking at me.'

The nurses held Ms Millar's hands while she was told the news as her newborn baby boy Rhylan lay beside her... and right in the middle of the conversation her mother walked in with Lehnae.

'It was this big festival of tears and questions and shock really,' Ms Millar said.

'I was just processing everything... I had this amazing little boy who was such a miracle and this amazing little girl and my brain just left the building. I started going on this ridiculous train of terrible thoughts.

'All I could think was that I might never get to see them grow up. I'd had these amazing babies and we had tried for so long and then to fall pregnant again we were simply blown away.'

Little miracle: 'Maybe on some level he knows what is going on. He is looking after me rather than me looking after him,' Ms Millar said of Rhylan

Ms Millar had thoughts racing through her head about her sickness, what this meant, whether she would lose her hair, whether she would lose her breasts and ultimately, whether she would survive.

What followed were weeks of blood tests, ultrasounds, body scans and heart scans to check for other tumours.

'I was in a massive daze because I was in hospital for four days recovering and was still weak and then after all the tests I was still in disbelief because cancer had never touched my life so closely,' she said.

'For it to happen to me it felt like a dream and it still does some days, it's not real to me. And people were looking at me with their heads tilted everywhere I went because I was carting this newborn around with me.'

There are days like Mother's Day when I'm not feeling great and I start to wonder how many more I will have. Farrah Millar

Ms Millar was told she would have to stop breastfeeding within a few weeks, so she made sure to have little Rhylan by her side at all times to breastfeed until the last possible moment.

'One of the nurses told me after I had the radioactive dye injected into me that I wouldn't be able to touch Rhylan for eight to 12 hours because of the dye so from that minute really I couldn't feed him,' Ms Millar said.

'Mum took us to Kmart to buy bottles and formula on this whirlwind trip because we hadn't expected it.'

Ms Millar, who has a 72 per cent chance of beating her type of cancer, had her first chemotherapy treatment on April 18 and she will need to have them every second week for the next four months.

Determined: Ms Millar, who has a 72 per cent chance of beating her type of cancer, had her first chemotherapy treatment on April 18 and she will need to have them every second week for the next four months

This will then be followed by surgery, either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, and then radiation therapy every day for six weeks.

'I swing between confidence and fear. I've read a lot about similar situations and a lot don't end well but there are a lot that do,' Ms Millar said.

'There are days where I know I can do this and I feel great but then there are days like Mother's Day when I'm not feeling great and I start to wonder how many more I will have... that is why my page is so helpful for me because I can pour my emotions out.'

Ms Millar started a Facebook group, #FarrahsArmy, so she could share her journey with friends, family and other women.

'These women have done so much for me - from care packages and gifts and even just being there for a chat on hard days. The outpouring of support I've had from complete strangers has been amazing,' Ms Millar said.

Helping others: Ms Millar started a Facebook group, #FarrahsArmy , so she could share her journey with friends, family and other women

'I've been so blessed and I hope and pray that anyone else in this situation is able to surround themselves with this kind of support also.'

The determined mother-of-two says she is trying to carry on as normal and stay strong for her children.

'My son is an amazing baby, he is so chilled and we drag him from hospital to hospital and I can't imagine having a baby that is fussy. I don't know how I could have managed.

'Maybe on some level he knows what is going on. He is looking after me rather than me looking after him.'

New world: 'It's so completely daunting, I call it the cancersphere. Once you are stuck in it it's so overwhelming and it takes over your whole life and it puts you in this bubble,' Ms Millar said

No regrets: 'I get up and tend to two other little people who need me more, I feel completely normal doing normal mum things and I am beyond grateful for them, they are incredible,' she said

Ms Millar said she also hopes to help other women and mothers going through a similar journey and hopes to make the journey less terrifying for them.

'It's so completely daunting, I call it the cancersphere. Once you are stuck in it it's so overwhelming and it takes over your whole life and it puts you in this bubble.

'For me to have gone through this diagnosis without children would have been so much easier on one hand because I'd be able to cook better food and go to yoga and pay attention to my own health.

'But I wouldn't change it for the world. I get up and tend to two other little people who need me more, I feel completely normal doing normal mum things and I am beyond grateful for them, they are incredible.'

New perspective: 'Before I had cancer and was pregnant my biggest fear was how I would be able to manage two babies under two and what it was going to be like,' she said

Ms Millar says she has been changed by the experience so far and that she would never have shared snaps of her breastfeeding or revealing pictures in the past.

'I'm painfully shy with terrible self esteem... so for me to do that is remarkable,' she said, referring to a raw breastfeeding snap she had taken professionally.

'I guess I could lose that breast at some point and after all the surgery my body will be so scarred... I wish I'd celebrated it more in my lifetime and been more proud of it as going forward I will never be that version of me ever again.'

Her perspective on raising children has also been changed significantly.

'Before I had cancer and was pregnant my biggest fear was how I would be able to manage two babies under two and what it was going to be like,' she said.

Stay strong: Ms Millar says she is optimistic about the future and hopes she can inspire others to get checked and those who do have cancer, to surround themselves with support

'Now I am doing this and have cancer I realise how much I would have smashed this... and realise how amazing it would be if I was healthy.

'It's hard because I feel like I am stealing their lives in a way because I'm wishing the year away... I want this to be over so I can be a mum! I feel guilty for that but I just want to enjoy them and be healthier and enjoy having these amazing kids.'

Ms Millar says she is optimistic about the future and hopes she can inspire others to get checked and those who do have cancer, to surround themselves with support and feel free to allow yourself moments to 'ball uncontrollably.'

On a mission to educate: 'For this message to get out there is amazing and it's so great to know I can help educate and spread it far and wide,' she said

'Many women have told me they have had pap smears or checks where they have neglected it in the past,' Ms Millar said.

'My story has been a wake up call to some and they realise how those tests so many of us neglect are very important.
Today, Daily Mail Australia shared the story of Niki Richardson, 46, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, who was left with a horrifyingly bloodied face, blistering and swelling following an invasive laser treatment.

The clinic,Lumps and Bumps Skin Clinic, responded to Ms Richardson's claims with a statement on their Facebook page, posting: 'A false and ludicrous post has been shared over social media in attempts to defame Lumps And Bumps Skin Clinic.

'These posts have been orchestrated by one person with the intent to tarnish our reputation. The photos that this woman has shared look horrific to the everyday person however they demonstrate the normal healing process following such an aggressive treatment.'

And, indeed, a quick browse through the clinic's Facebook page reveals that Ms Richardson is far from the only person who has had the treatment suffered from where it appears common for it to result in a bloodied, red face as a result of a procedure.

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Bloodied and blistered: Niki Richardson has described an 'excruciating' laser treatment that has apparently left her with inflammation and swelling three months later. She is pictured here six hours after the treatment

Not alone: However, she is not the only one whose face has been left red and bloodied after laser surgery - a browse of the clinic's Facebook page reveals women with faces like this

Clinic response: The clinic themselves have posted on Facebook, writing: 'These posts have been orchestrated by one person with the intent to tarnish our reputation. The photos that this woman has shared look horrific to the everyday person however they demonstrate the normal healing process following such an aggressive treatment'

Case study: Three days after her treatment (left) Ms Richardson's face still appears red and inflamed, and by the time six days had passed (right) scabs had formed

Terrifying photos: Though the clinic says such redness is normal, people have been quick to say that the reviews and comments section of their Facebook page has disappeared

Happy times: Ms Richardson, from Mornington in Victoria, is seen here before she had the procedure

WHAT IS ERBIUM LASER RESURFACING? * Erbium laser skin resurfacing is the treatment of choice for those who would like to achieve dramatic improvement in the appearance of their skin. * This procedure removes superficial lines to moderately deep wrinkles with less pain, fewer side-effects, and a more rapid recovery than other treatments. * An erbium laser provides a milder and less invasive treatment option than a carbon dioxide laser. - medicinenet.com Advertisement

Instead, she is one of many men, women - and even children - who have photos from the clinic where their faces are bloodied post treatment.

Ms Richardson, however, told the Daily Mail Australia that she still has severe inflammation three months later, saying:

'It was excruciating, I went into shock when it was being done.

'I had metal covers over my eyes - and [the therapist] asked me if I could feel the blood running into my eyes.

'I told her I couldn't feel it because the pain was so intense but I did tell her I could feel it splattering on my arms,' Ms Richardson said.

Lumps and Bumps Skin Clinic have further responded by deleting the reviews and post option from their Facebook page; an action which has provoked further outrage among some clients and the general public.

Unnatural results: Other photos show red spots and scarring

STATEMENT BY LUMPS AND BUMPS SKIN CLINIC 'A false and ludicrous post has been shared over social media in attempts to defame Lumps And Bumps Skin Clinic. 'These posts have been orchestrated by one person with the intent to tarnish our reputation. 'The photos that this woman has shared look horrific to the everyday person however they demonstrate the normal healing process following such an aggressive treatment.' Advertisement

'I can't seem to find your reviews section,' one woman writes below the clinic's statement.

Other photographs on the Facebook page show a variety of men and women's faces pouring with blood, alongside comments from the clinic such as:

'Straight after erbium laser treatment. The bleeding will subside.'

Another comment reads similarly:

'Laser resurfacing will cause the skin to bleed and become very red for at least a week.

'When treating really aggressively for lines or scarring, skin can weepy and stay red for months. The redness is due to blood vessels forming to heal the treated areas.

'The blood vessels will go once they have finished doing their job. The results are worth it.'

However, for Ms Richardson, the bloodiness remains some three months later, and despite turning to the clinic's Facebook page to voice her opinion, she found her comments and pictures were being removed.

''I tried working to start off with [after the treatment] but my pain actually got worse. By the end of the first week I was so sick,' she said earlier.

Ms Richardson also told Daily Mail Australia that she has since been contacted by a number of other women who claim to have had similar experiences at the clinic - which has now re-located to Canberra.

Daily Mail Australia has approached the clinic a number of times for comment.

If you have a similar story, please email FemailAU@mailonline.com

Still not good: Three months later (pictured) Ms Richardson's face still appears to be inflamed and red

Painful: Immediately after the treatment, Ms Richardson claims bruises had already formed under her eyes

Unknown infection: Eight days later what is claimed to be a painful infection had formed on some parts of Ms Richardson's face

Not just physical: Another woman, 73, who also claims to have been treated by the same practitioner, says she has been left physically and emotionally scarred by her treatment

Maureen Murray, who also claims to have seen the same woman, is pictured here after treatment

Personal experience: She went to get treatment at the Canberra clinic which relocated after Mornington

Still not healed: Ms Richardson says she took this photograph eight weeks after treatment
Laura's weight began to spiral after she was molested as a young child

She dropped almost 300lbs (21st 6lbs) with the help of gastric surgery

A formerly obese woman who shed more than 300lbs (21st 6lbs) has told how her extreme weight-loss almost cost her her marriage.

At her heaviest, Laura Perez, 42, from San Antonio, Texas, weighed 594lbs (42st 6lbs) but dropped 200lbs (14st 4lbs) after gastric surgery two years ago and has since shed a further 97lbs (6st 13lbs) taking her to 297lbs (21st 3lbs).

Despite achieving her weight-loss dream, the 42-year-old has confessed that her relationship suffered as a result when her husband Joey started to become increasingly jealous and distant.

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At her heaviest, Laura Perez, 42, from San Antonio, Texas, weighed 594lbs (42st 6lbs)

The 42-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, dropped 200lbs after gastric surgery two years ago and has since shed a further 97lbs taking her to 297lbs (right)

Despite achieving her weight-loss dream, 42-year-old Laura Perez confessed that her marriage suffered as a result when her husband Joey (left) started to become increasingly jealous and distant

After years of Joey needing to shower, dress and feed his wife, he said he felt 'pushed out' and when Laura began being able to look after herself.

Appearing on My 600lb Life: Where Are They Now?, which aired on TLC last night, Laura said: 'Our relationship had reached breaking point.'

Laura added that she was delighted when she reached her target weight, which qualified her for skin removal surgery, but she realised that before improving her body further, she needed to work on her marriage.

Through relationship counselling, Laura helped Joey realise that while she didn't 'need' him any more she still 'wanted' him and the couple professed their love for each other.

When Laura (pictured slimmed down 297lbs) began being active her husband Joey felt unneeded

Laura was delighted when she reached her target weight, which qualified her for skin removal surgery (pictured above), but realised that before improving her body further, she needed to work on her marriage

Before: Laura's mom Carmen and Joey had to help clean Laura's body and get her ready for the day

Through marriage counselling Laura helped Joey realise that while she didn't 'need' him any more she still 'wanted' him and the couple professed their love for each other

Two years ago, Laura was left fighting for her life after she developed a deadly case of pneumonia following her weight loss surgery.

Before the operation, which was covered My 600lbs Life, she admitted that she was afraid she would die on the operating table.

But it was actually her persistent refusal to address the symptoms of a lung infection that almost cost the 41-year-old her life.

'We got her just in time to keep her alive, but its not looking good right now,' Laura's surgeon Dr Younan Nowzaradan told the cameras. 'She is very close to dying.'

Laura is now active. She swims and goes to the gym in order to continue her weight-loss journey

As Laura shed weight, she began doing things for herself and even going to the gym, but Joey felt 'pushed out'

Now: Laura was delighted when she reached her target weight for skin removal surgery

In the same room nearly two years ago: Weight loss expert Dr Younan Nowzaradan told Laura she had to lose 50lbs before being eligible for gastric bypass surgery

Joey had to help Laura get out of bed in the morning because she was morbidly obese, weighing 594lbs

The Houston-based doctor explained that Laura's family said she hasn't been feeling well, but she never came to the hospital.

Instead, Laura was later rushed to the emergency room, where she was placed in the intensive care unit and given a ventilator because she couldn't breathe on her own.

'A patient this size can't handle any sort of sickness,' Dr Nowzaradan said. '[Her] body has nothing left to give.'

Laura's common law husband Joey tearfully watched her quietly battle the infection in her hospital bed.

Laura Perez's husband Joey held her hand as she battled pneumonia after her surgery on My 600lb Life

Before undergoing weight loss surgery, the 41-year-old cried that felt 'trapped in her own body'

'Laura is my life,' he said. 'She's been there with me through thick and thin.'

Despite her severe condition, Laura miraculously managed to make a full recovery after spending two weeks in the hospital  but sadly her illness was just one of her many set backs.

When Laura first travelled to Houston to meet with Dr Nowzaradan, she was told that she needed to shed 50lbs from her 594lb frame before being eligible for gastric bypass.

'She is physically in one of the worst shapes I have ever seen,' the doctor said of Laura, who was a diabetic and needed an oxygen tank and a wheelchair with her at all times.

After Laura lost the necessary weight, Dr Nowzaradan proceeded with the surgery, only to find in the midst of the procedure that Laura's liver and spleen were far too large for her to actually undergo the gastric bypass.

Emotional trauma: When Laura was a young child (L), she didn't have a problem with her weight. She started piling on the pounds (R) after an older cousin started molesting her when she was only five years old

Soulmates: Joey and Laura met when she was 27-years-old. He said he was attracted to heavier women at the time and liked the way she looked

Instead, he had to do a gastrectomy, in which he removed 80 per cent of Lauras stomach. Although the procedure wouldn't be as beneficial to her weight loss as a gastric bypass, it was all he could do.

Laura, who almost cancelled the surgery the night before it was scheduled because she feared it would kill her, was devastated to learn that the doctor couldn't perform the gastric bypass.

Weeks later she was deathly ill and fighting for her life, but battling pneumonia gave Laura even more determination to lose weight once and for all.

'It made me realise how much of my life I had wasted,' she said. 'I have taken all this pain and bitterness and all I have done was eat instead of dealing with it.'

Major problem: Laura, who said she is addicted to sweets, can be seen eating candy that Joey had given her

Panic mode: Laura's niece watched her aunt cry into her pillow the night before her surgery because she feared the procedure would kill her

She continued: 'I thought if I lost the weight, then I would start to get happy, but its really just been bringing everything to the surface and I don't want to run from it anymore.'

As a young child, weight was never an issue for Laura, but after an older cousin began molesting her when she was only five-years-old, her eating habits dramatically changed for the worst.

'I never told my parents anything so the molestation went on for years,' she told the cameras while crying. 'My whole life just changed, so I turned to food, That was my comfort.'

Being the heaviest kid in elementary school brought her even more pain.

Family support: Laura's mother and sister spend time with her before her scheduled surgery

Change of plans: In surgery, Dr Nowzaradan learned that Laura's liver and spleen were too large for gastric bypass. Instead, he had to perform a gastrectomy, in which he removed 80 per cent of her stomach

Filled with fear: Joe tearfully watched Laura as she battled pneumonia in the intensive care unit at the hospital

'They would call me fat and say: "You are going to break the desk,"' she tearfully recalled. 'And I took all that pain and kept eating.'

Laura weighed more than 300lbs when she was in high school, and she was even heavier when she met Joey at the age of 27.

'I did like heavy set girls when I was younger,' Joey said. 'I liked the way she was.'

But after gaining so much additional weight Laura confessed that she had started to feel more like a burden in his life.

Joey and her mother Carmen had to do almost everything for Laura, including bathe her.

Turing to God: Laura can be seen lighting a candle at church after recovering from her life-threatening bout of pneumonia

Final results: A year into her journey, Laura was weight and learned that she had lost 237lbs

Laura explained that she felt 'trapped in this body'.

'It's just humiliating to have to your family do everything for you like this,' she said. 'Some days I want to die, so they don't have to take care of me anymore.'

She said she wants to get healthy, but admitted that she was battling an addiction to food. To make matters worse, Joey was often helping her sneak sweets behind her mother's back.

'She means the world to me. I love my wife a lot,' he explained. 'It's hard to tell her no because I love her.'

Warm embrace: Laura hugged Dr Nowzaradan and thanked him for saving her life

Before and after: Laura first entered Dr Nowzaradan's office in a wheelchair with oxygen, and now she was able to walk out on her own two feet

But Joey also noted that his biggest fear is that she will just give up on herself.

Laura's love for Joey, her mother, and her nieces, whom she calls her 'babies', is ultimately what drove her to see Dr Nowzaradan in the first place.

'I need to live for my babies,' she said, adding: 'I need to live for myself.'

After her bout with pneumonia, it dawned on Laura that she needed to deal with her emotional issues and began to see a therapist.

'A new body won't matter if I still feel the same way,' she said.

Laura tried on a dress for Joey. It would become the first one that she would ever purchase and wear

Laura was able to go out with her nieces for the first time in their lives. They spent the day painting pottery

Dr Nowzaradan was concerned that she had only lost 18lbs since her surgery, and noted that she was on her way to gaining weight again.

But slowly, Laura began to heal emotionally. She had a heart-to heart with her mom about the abuse she faced as a child and she was finally beginning to forgive those who hurt her. And it was this emotional closure that enabled her to really buckle down and lose weight.
The Duke of Cambridge today urged men to stop 'feeling so strong' and talk about their issues at an event to highlight mental health.

William, 33, spoke at a meeting in London for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity dedicated to tackling male suicide.

The prince said he became involved because of his experiences as an air ambulance pilot, where his 'first job was a male suicide' and met with crew at the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station, in London.

The Duke of Cambridge has said he wants men to stop 'feeling so strong' and talk about their issues, pictured during the launch of a new project for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), in London

The prince, who spoke at the launch of a coalition project between the emergency services and transport services, said it was 'fantastic' they were trying to 'bring the issue to the surface' and to 'do something' about male suicide rates - which he described as 'staggering'.

'I want to try and help you guys elevate the issue that you deal with to another level if we can,' he said.

'And get, particularly on the male side, more men talking about it.'

With suicide as the biggest killer of males under the age of 45, William said he was 'staggered' by the statistics.

'In some of my charity work I have come across issues like this before, and coupled with my air ambulance work where my first job was a male suicide, I realised starkly how big a problem we have in this country,' he said.

'It was really close to me on that first day and one of the guys told me on average there are five attempted suicides a day.'

William said he became involved because of his experiences as an air ambulance pilot where his first job was a male suicide

William said he was 'staggered' by the statistics of male suicide in the UK and became aware of the issue when he stated working for the air ambulance service

William meets staff as he attends the launch of a coalition between emergency services for male suicide prevention

The prince speaks to staff at the Tower RNLI Lifeboat station and feels passionate on the subject of preventing male suicide

William found when he started working for the air ambulance service, they dealt with an average of five attempted suicides a day, pictured speaking to members of the RNLI crew

William admires the crew members' bright yellow suits, the crewmen have dealt with more than 500 call outs last year, of which more than half were suicide attempts

William said that at that point he had not really heard about the issue, even though he is 'fairly tuned in to' his charity work.

'We need to do something about it,' he told the meeting.

'Get more men talking about their issues before it is too late and to stop feeling so strong and unable to seek help.

'Because it can destroy families, it can destroy lives.'

The coalition aims to develop a resource aimed at equipping all men with an understanding of how to identify and support other men who are down, depressed or suicidal.

William addressed representatives from National Rail, the RNLI, British Transport Police, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and the Samaritans.

They were brought together by the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for their first meeting at Unilever House.

Prince William speaks to staff at the RNLI and wants to do something about the issue and get men talking about their problems

William went out onto the frontline to meet the 'day to day heroes' dealing with the often harsh reality of male suicide, pictured with RNLI staff

William meets staff and shares a smile with them, so far this year the team of 55 volunteers and 10 full-time staff, who man the station round the clock, have safely pulled eight men and women from the water

The coalition of emergency and transport services aims to pull together the expertise of those who deal, on a daily basis, with male suicide.

Afterwards, William went out onto the frontline to meet the 'day to day heroes' dealing with the often harsh reality of male suicide.

The royal visited the nearby RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station which has responded to three suicide attempts - all men - on the River Thames in the last 24 hours alone.

There he met crewmen who dealt with more than 500 call outs last year, of which more than half were suicide attempts.

So far this year the team of 55 volunteers and 10 full-time staff, who man the station round the clock, have safely pulled eight men and women from the water.

They roughly have three minutes after a victim hits the water to rescue them alive and must be ready to launch within 90 seconds.

The passion behind William's mission to encourage men to speak about their feelings before they become one of those statistics was clear to see.

'How do you guys deal with some of the things you witness?' William asked.

Crew member Craig Burns told him: 'What's really difficult is that sometimes you see faces more than than once. That's really troubling.'

He was told the sometimes the most difficult aspect of the job was seeing the reaction of the families who had lost a loved one - their feelings, he heard can range from bewilderment to anger and grief.

William said he hoped to 'get more men talking about their issues before it is too late' at the meeting with emergency services and transport services, pictured yesterday during a tour of Oxford University's Magdalen College

William spoke at the event to launch a resource for men to identify and support other men who are down, depressed or suicidal, pictured yesterday in Oxford

William was speaking at a meeting with representatives from National Rail, the RNLI, British Transport Police, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and the Samaritans, pictured yesterday at the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford

Stuart Simpson, of the Met Police Marine Unit, said: 'But one time we had someone we pulled out who came back six months later to thanks us for pulling her out of the river. She said we had change her life. That was very rewarding. So it's not all bad news, sometimes it's good news.

'The passion we show in trying to save them can make a difference.'

William asked: 'Do you guys think that some young guys don't talk about their issues enough, don't want to talk about this before it is too late?'

Mr Simpson replied: 'Well it's a macho world, isn't it. It's very much social media, not want wanting to talk about your feelings. It's often more macho to open up and show your feelings but a lot of men don't see it that way.'

Before he left William donned a life jacket and climbed on board one of the lifeboats, the Hurly Burley, with the crewmen, sparking much excited chatter about how fast the boat could go and its manoeuvrability in the water.

Males currently account for 76 per cent of all suicides.

Each year more than 2,500 rail workers deal with the aftermath of those who take their own lives, while a further 1,100 actively prevent them.

The fire and rescue services attend 1,500 incidents of this nature a year, while the figure is even greater for ambulance service members who attend the majority of suspected suicides.

Yesterday the prince spoke to students and benefactors during a visit to Oxford University's Magdalen College to open a brand new library.
A bra marketed as an 'ideal first bra' by high street giant Matalan has been criticised as 'too sexualised' for children.

The 4 item of underwear, that has a plunge-front and padded cups, can be found in the section of the store aimed at two to 13-year-olds.

Now Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has branded the underwear as 'totally unsuitable' after she was contacted by a concerned parent about the bra.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, (pictured) has slammed Matalan for stocking a 'padded' bra in their two-13-year-old section of the shop

The Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse and Domestic Violence said: 'The bra is totally unsuitable for young girls.

'The design of the bra, which is black, with padding and a plunge-front, is too sexualised for any young child.

'Furthermore, despite advertising this as a 'teen' bra, the sizes available to buy are tiny, which means that the girls actually wearing the item could be younger than eight.

'Matalan are compounding this issue by selling the bra in the 2 to 13-years-old section.'

She added: 'The sale of clothes like this contributes to the sexualisation of children. These garments put children at risk and could be used in abusive images.

'It is tough enough for parents to protect their children from abuse without high-street stores selling items that make their job more difficult.

The bra, which retails at 4, is sold as an 'ideal first bra' but critics have claimed that it is too sexualised for children and have called for it to be removed from stores

Sarah Champion, the Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse and Domestic Violence, wrote to Matalan about the bra after being contacted by a parent called Judith who was concerned that the plunge-front, padded item was being marketed as a 'first bra for girls'

In her letter, Sarah Champion wrote that items such as the bra, 'create a perception of young girls as consenting and sexually confident, despite the very opposite being true in fact or in law'

'I am calling on Matalan to engage with the parent who contacted me and remove the item of clothing from their stores immediately.'

Sarah's concerns have been backed up by Twitter users who have taken to social media to discuss their worries over the potential sexualisation.

Wendy Kirkland says: 'Totally agree. In my view young girls don't need bras until they have summat to put in them. Padded???? Ffs.'

Nikki Ledingham called for Matalan to discontinue the underwear writing: @matalan I request that you withdraw the black padded bra aimed at prepubescent girls. Sexualizatuon of chuldren increases risk of CSE' (child sex exploitation).

Ann Seal has called for the government to take action tweeting: #@Number10gov please speak out. black padded bra for 8 yr old in @Matalan #itsnotok #cse #sexualisation

The War on rape account agreed adding: 'Selling padded bra's for children under 10yrs. Please retweet to stop the sexualisation of little girls'

A spokesperson for Matalan says that the bras are not sold by a specific age but sold on size instead

A spokesperson for Matalan said: 'Since 2011 we have been working in conjunction with Mumsnet, where this sensitive issue was raised as part of their Let Girls be Girls campaign. We purposely ensure that our girls bras are not sold to specific ages but are sold in sizes.

'They have been developed following customer feedback that girls want bras to protect their modesty at this sensitive age. The bras in question are not padded so as to enhance cleavage but are a smooth moulded shape to act as a modesty and comfort layer.

'We conduct thorough tests and speak to our customers for their feedback and as such, will always investigate any claims against Matalan regarding the suitability of our products.
From 500-year-old crowns to heirlooms once owned by Napoleon, Europe is home to some of the world's most fascinating and extravagant pieces of jewellery thanks to its rich history.

Now, a British jeweller has created a detailed infographic looking at just that. They have charted the most stunning crown jewels in Europe, from an emerald tiara that once belonged to Empress Josephine, to a pearl that ended up adorning the neck of Elizabeth Taylor, with many dating back hundreds of years.

Taking an in-depth look at the pieces belonging to royals from six countries - the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark - their history is almost as fascinating as the rare jewels themselves.

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Queen Elizabeth wears the Coronation necklace in 1953. With 25 cushion-cut diamonds and a 22.48-carat pendant, this 150-year-old piece may be the glitziest in the British monarchy's entire collection

A British jeweller has charted the most stunning crown jewels in Europe, from an emerald tiara that once belonged to Empress Josephine, to a pearl that ended up adorning the neck of Elizabeth Taylor

George Pragnell, a jeweller based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, have created the infographic, which encourages viewers to 'decide for yourself which country you think boasts the most incredible jewellery collections.'

UNITED KINGDOM

George IV State Diadem

It's not hard to see why this glittering piece of headwear is also known as the 'diamond diadem'. Created for George IV in 1820, it is now worn by British Queens. Queen Elizabeth II wore it in an official photograph for a set of 1992 Post Office stamps, as well as the state opening of Parliament.

In 2012, the historic piece went on display at Buckingham Palace to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee. Set with 1,333 diamonds it was made for just 800 - the equivalent of 600,000 today.

Engagement ring of Diana and Kate

Prince William famously proposed to the now-Duchess of Cambridge with the same ring that his late mother had worn, a 1 million 12-carat blue Ceylon sapphire set with 14 sparkling diamonds.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Duchess had vetoed souvenir versions of her sparkling ring being sold as part of a new collection of replica Royal jewellery going on sale to the public.

The George IV State Diadem is also known as the 'diamond diadem'. Created for George IV in 1820, it is now worn by British Queens. Queen Elizabeth II wore it in an official photograph for a set of 1992 stamps

Knock-off: Earlier this year, it was reported that the Duchess had vetoed souvenir versions of her sparkling ring being sold as part of a new collection of replica Royal jewellery going on sale to the public

St Edward's is - unsurprisingly - safely locked away at the Tower of London. Regarded as the principal piece of British regalia, it was created in 1661 and is one the oldest crown jewels, named after Edward the Confessor

A source told MailOnline: 'I expect the feeling at Kensington Palace is that it's rather naff to sell cheap copies of Diana's engagement ring. One can hardly blame Kate for vetoing the idea of them selling a knock-off of the ring she wears every day.'

The Coronation necklace

With 25 cushion-cut diamonds and a 22.48-carat pendant, this 150-year-old piece may be the glitziest in the British monarchy's entire collection, and is such it is reserved exclusively for coronations of future queens. Our current Queen famously wore it to her 1953 coronation.

St Edward's Crown

This historic piece is - unsurprisingly - safely locked away at the Tower of London. Regarded as the principal piece of British regalia, it was created in 1661 and is one the oldest crown jewels.

Named after Edward the confessor, it was worn by the Queen in her commemorative coronation photos and stamps.

SPAIN

From an ancient pearl to a white gold ring, the jewellery of the Spanish royals dates back hundreds of years

Queen Letizia of Spain wears the Prussian tiara for her wedding in 2004. Created in 1913, this diamond and platinum piece was created when Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia married Prince Ernst August of Hanover

The Prussian tiara

Created in 1913, this diamond and platinum piece was created for Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia for her wedding to Prince Ernst August of Hanover before eventually gifting it to Princess Frederika when she married into the Greek monarchy.

More recently, it was worn by Frederika, Queen Sofia of Spain, and her daughter-in-law Queen Letizia on their wedding days.

Queen Letizia's engagement ring

The decidedly non-traditional 16 baguette diamond engagement ring with a white gold trim was bought from Suarez jewellers and reportedly cost 2,139.

Letizia's rock: Her decidedly non-traditional 16 baguette diamond engagement ring, with a white gold trim, was bought from Suarez jewellers and reportedly cost 2,139. Letizia wed King Felipe of Spain in 2004

The La Peregrina pearl (pictured on Elizabeth Taylor in 1992) is one of the most famous in the world. After reportedly being found by a slave on the Gulf of Panama, it found its way to the European royal family

This dazzling crown that dates back almost 250 years is regarded as the main symbol of the Spanish monarchy, although rarely worn in real life. It has been on display at the Royal Palace of Madrid since 2014

La Peregrina

The pear-shaped 16th-century pearl is one of the most famous in the world. After reportedly being found by a slave on the Gulf of Panama, it found its way into the jewellery boxes of the European royal family, being worn by Queen Mary I and owned by Joseph Bonaparte during his brief tenure as King of Spain in the nineteenth century.

It once famously got lost in a sofa at Windsor Castle before being recovered, and was eventually bought at Sotheby's for $37,000 (25,000) before being given to his wife Elizabeth Taylor as a Valentine's Day present.

La Corona Real

This dazzling crown that dates back almost 250 years is regarded as the main symbol of the Spanish monarchy, although rarely worn. It is made from gold, and has been on display at the Royal Palace of Madrid since 2014.

SWEDEN

A tiara owned by Empress Josephone and a crown dating back to the sixteenth century: A potted history of the Swedish crown jewels

The pearl-encrusted Cameo Tiara first belonged to Empress Josephine and is believed to have been a gift from her husband Napoleon; Princess Victoria of Sweden wore it to her 2010 wedding to Prince Daniel (pictured)

Bling bling: Before tying the knot with Prince Daniel - her former personal trainer - Victoria was wooed with this white gold ring topped with a huge sparkling diamond. It was reportedly bought from court jeweler W.A. Bolin

The Cameo Tiara

Owing its name to the seven miniature scenes - or cameos - that decorate it, the pearl-encrusted crown first belonged to Empress Josephine and is believed to have been a gift from her husband Napoleon in the early nineteenth century.

After passing hands between Queen Hortense, Queen Josephine, Crown Princess Margaret, Princess Ingrid (later Queen of Denmark) and Princess Sibylla it eventually made its way into the hands of the Swedish royal family, and was worn by Crown Princess Victoria at her wedding to Prince Daniel in 2012.

The amethyst tiara - once a necklace - has been worn by Queen Silvia, Princess Victoria (pictured in Copehagan in 2007) and Princess Madeleine - who styled it as a bandeau for the 2012 Nobel banquet

Crown Princess Victoria's ring

Before tying the knot with Prince Daniel - her former personal trainer - Victoria was wooed with a white gold ring topped with a huge diamond.

It was reportedly made by court jeweler W.A. Bolin, and bore such a strong resemblance to her mother's that some wondered in the days after the engagement if it actually was Silvia's.

Necklace/ Tiara from the Napoleonic Amethyst Parure

The dazzling purple necklace - actually two bracelets which can be joined together - dates back to the early nineteenth century while, confusingly, the tiara used to be a necklace.

Now a firm favourite with the Swedish royals, it's been worn by Queen Silvia, Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine - who styled it as a bandeau for the 2012 Nobel banquet.

Crown of Erik XIV

This 1561 piece was created by Flemish goldsmith Cornelius ver Weiden for the coronation of Eric XIV of Sweden the same year. Still used in ceremonies to this day, it is now held in the Treasury along with the rest of the Swedish Royal Regalia.

NETHERLANDS

Fro m a crown made of fish scales to a patriotic engagement ring: The Netherlands' finest crown jewels

The stunning aquamarine necklace is a firm favourite with the Dutch royals, with Crown Princess Maxima wearing it at the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, Monaco in 2011 (pictured)

The Stuart Tiara

Named after the Stuart diamond - one of the rarest in any royal collection and a whopping 39.75 carats, this tiara has a rich history.

The stone was bought by King William III or Orange and Queen Mary II, and cut into a large pear shape. Up close, it's said to have a subtle green-blue tint, another reason it's so rare.

Eventually returned to the Dutch royals in 1702 it has been worn as a brooch, a pendant and a clasp - before eventually becoming a dazzling tiara in 1897.

The heirloom - said to contain an additional 900 individual diamonds - had its last public outing in 1972 when the late Queen Juliana wore it on a state visit to Windsor.

The Stuart Tiara - which is said to contain 900 diamonds - had its last public outing in 1972 when Queen Juliana wore it on a state visit to Windsor (pictured, with Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Bernhard)

William-Alexander of the Netherlands proposed to his now-wife Maxima with this ring made from an orange stone, the country's national colour. The oval diamond is flanked by two large teardrop-shaped diamonds

Queen Maxima's engagement ring

Ever the patriot, William-Alexander proposed to his now-wife Maxima with a ring made from an orange stone, the country's national colour. The oval diamond is flanked by two large teardrop-shaped diamonds, with several smaller stones around the edges.

Necklace from Netherlands' Aquamarine parure

The stunning art deco-style necklace made from a mix of square and rectangular aquamarines is a firm favourite with the Dutch royals, with Crown Princess Maxima famously pairing it with an ice blue gown at the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, Monaco in 2011.

Crown of the Netherlands

Made from gold-plated silver and - rather unusually - 'gems' made from glass and fish scales, the crown was never designed to be worn and is more of a symbolic piece.

NORWAY

The Norweigan royals' glittering collection features a historic emerald tiara and a ruby-encrusted ring

Empress Josephine's Emerald tiara

Much like the Cameo tiara, this was first owned by Napoleon's wife; made by the French jeweller Bapst, it comprises geometric emeralds mounted on a glittering gold and silver frame and made its way to Norway via Sweden.

It comes as part of a set with matching earrings, a necklace and a brooch, and is a favourite of Queen Sonja.

Crown Princess Mett-Marit's ring

This unusual engagement ring stands out thanks to its bright pink, crescent-shaped rubies alongside three diamonds. Crown Prince Haakon got down on one knee in 2000 with the ring once belonging to his late mother, Crown Princess Marth.

Queen Sonja of Norway wears Empress Josephine's emerald tiara. Made by the French jeweller Bapst, it comprises emeralds mounted on a glittering gold and silver frame, and made its way to Norway via Sweden

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears the Norweigan amethyst tiara in Copenhagan. It was created around 1990 and gifted to Queen Sonja by her husband King Harald V and can also be worn as a necklace

Norweigan amethyst tiara necklace

Created around 1990 and gifted to Queen Sonja by her husband King Harald V, this piece can be worn as both a necklace and a tiara.

A popular piece with the Norweigan royals, Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore it to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's 70th Birthday Gala Performance at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen.

The King's Crown

Commissioned back in 1818 for the coronation of King Carl Johan after the original was allegedly misplace in the sixteenth century, the current version is royal extravagance at its finest - featuring eight gold hoops, a globe of blue enamel and an amethyst cross on top of it.

It's also adorned with peals, amethysts, topaz and a huge green tourmaline. While it has not been worn in recent years, it was placed on the altar - alongside the Queen's crown - during her marriage to King Harald V in 1991.

DENMARK

The Danish royals' collection features emeralds galore and a golden crown made in the sixteenth century

The Danish Emerald parure tiara

Consisting of 67 emeralds and a mind-boggling 2,650 diamonds, this glittering tiara made in 1840 also comes with matching earrings and a brooch.

With some of the individual jewels having been in the Danish royal family since the eighteenth century, the tiara is often seen adorning the ever-glamorous Margrethe II of Denmark, who this year celebrated her 76th birthday.

Crown Princess Mary's engagement ring

Featuring a large diamond flanked by two ruby baguettes, this three-part ring was desgined to resemble the Danish flag and was debuted when Crown Prince Frederik proposed to Princess Mary in 2003.

Queen Margrethe II wears the Danish Emerald parure tiara at a banquet in 2015. Consisting of 67 emeralds and a mind-boggling 2,650 diamonds, the glittering tiara made in 1840 also comes with matching earrings (pictured)

The crown jewels emerald necklace

Part of the tiara set (see above), the emerald and diamond necklace - reserved exclusively for the use of the current queen - they are not allowed out of Denmark which means that wearing them to foreign engagements is out of the question.

Christian IV's crown
The modeling industry isn't always glamorous for the young women in it  and even less so for the children and teenagers who are in over their head and taken advantage of.

Actress and writer Jennifer Sky, now 39, has been a vocal advocate for child models since she left behind her own career of posing in front of the camera, and she explained in a new video just why it's so important to protect girls in the industry.

'I now suffer from PTSD because of the abuse I was subjected to as a child model in the fashion industry,' she says in the confessional clip by Real Women Real Stories.

Scroll down for video

Traumatic: Jennifer Sky, 39, said her days as a teen model left her with PTSD

Traveling the world: She started modeling at 14 and worked in Mexico, Italy, and Japan

Grown-up: As an adult, she acted on General Hospital and had a recurring role on Xena: Warrior Princess

Jennifer managed to go on to have a career as an adult, earning recurring roles on General Hospital and Xena: Warrior Princess  but she certainly didn't come out of the modeling world unscathed.

She started modeling when she was 14, traveling the world to shoot campaigns and magazine covers.

'I had wanted to go new places, to try bold new things,' she explained in an op-ed for the New York Times in 2014. 'But I soon learned that this was a world where young womens rights were worth less than the clothing they wore.'

Speaking in her Real Women Real Stories video, Jennifer confesses that she was molested and neglected, and men exposed themselves to her.

'Once when I was 15, I was trafficked to Mexico, I was given drugs, and coerced into being photographed topless. This was for a large national campaign for a spray tan company,' she says

Industry issues: Now, she writes and advocates for teen models, whom she says aren't taken care of

Dead inside: She dropped out of modeling after seeing herself on this cover of Sassy at the age of 17; she thought their was sadness behind her eyes

At a shoot in Italy, she was made to stand in a swimsuit in a freezing pool for hours before the photographer screamed at her since her skin had turned blue.

In Japan, she did less professional modeling and more standing around and looking pretty, as she was sent to parties with wealthy European businessmen who clearly hoped to sleep with her. She wrote in detail about those experiences in Atavist magazine.

Being young and so far from her home in South Florida, Jennifer wasn't in much of a position to advocate for her own best interested.

Finally, at 17, she left the business, spooked by how sad and lifeless her eyes look on her first cover of Sassy magazine.

She's speaking out about these experiences now because these young models often don't have a voice  and she says it's adults' responsibility to make sure they're cared for.

Harrowing: She also detailed some of her troubling time as a model in an article called Queen of the Toyko Ballroom in Atavist magazine

Taking a stand: Jennifer said she wants people to come together to end abuse against women and children

'The unfortunate thing for me, as a models rights activist, is that I am a lone voice here. Im a lone voice talking about what happens to these children, utilizing my own experiences and highlighting them, saying this happened to me, this is actually borderline human trafficking,' she wrote in Atavist.

'This is borderline child labor, a borderline slavery issue.'

'The fashion and textiles industry now makes $2.5 trillion a year globally. In America alone, it makes $250 billion,' she explains further to Real Women Real Stories. 'If corporations will not protect the children they employ, it's up to us to compel them to.
A burger so lethal you must sign a legal waiver and have someone else drive you home.

It sounds ridiculous, but that's exactly what Perth restaurant Johnny's Burgers has created.

Owned by renowned chef Johhny Wong, the adults-only Demon's Revenge burger contains a sauce 1,400 times hotter than a jalapeno chilli.

Burgerzilla! This man took on the challenge to eat another one of Johnny's Burgers insane creations, the 'Burgerzilla'

While from the outside it may look like a simple, innocent double-cheeseburger, one bite is guaranteed to prove otherwise.

WHAT'S IN A 'DEVIL'S REVENGE'? For the cost of $25 you get... A standard double cheese burger

Cheese

Bacon

Salad

And a sauce 1,400 times hotter than a jalapeno Source: WAtoday

The American-style restaurant's creation is so hot that those suffering from a pre-existing stomach or heart condition are not allowed to eat it.

Mr Wong told WA today that more than 300 brave souls have accepted the challenge, but just one has succeeded..

'One man finished it, but he left with the shakes and shivers and had to take the next day off work,' he said.

'I'm very cautious about who takes the challenge and we ask competitors to sign a waiver that they don't have any pre-existing health conditions that might preclude them from taking part  and that they take part at their own risk.'

Burger King: Restaurant owner Johnny Wong enjoys one of his own creations at his Perth eatery

Monster: If eating one of Johnny's earlier masterpieces the 'Burgerzilla' doesn't fill you up, there's always a side of chips

Inside the secret sauce are two chillies, the Carolina Reaper and Bhut Jolokia.

Together they combine to create a heat equivalent to 3.5 million Scoville units - the international scale on which spice is measured.

To put that in perspective, it's the equivalent of digesting U.S grade pepper spray.

A normal Jalapeno rates at just 2,500 on the scale.

'I accept the risks': Diners must sign a waiver before indulging

Burger heaven: More than 300 brave souls have accepted the 'Demon's Revenge' challenge, with just one person succeeding. Pictured are two of the restaurant's other burgers, one which uses Krispy Kreme donuts as the bun and the other one known simply as Chilli Chilli Bang Bang
A glass or two of wine or beer every night reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to research in Southern Denmark

A glass or two of wine or beer every night reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to research.

In a study of 22,000 post-menopausal women, scientists found that alcohol had a protective effect on the heart - but it also increased the risk of them developing breast cancer.

Participants had two more drinks of alcohol a day over five years, which was found to decrease their risk of coronary heart disease by 20 per cent.

However, it was also found to increase the risk of breast cancer by 30 per cent.

Professor Janne Tolstrup, the leading author from the University of Southern Denmark, told The Telegraph: We found that an increased alcohol intake over a five-year period resulted in a higher risk of breast cancer and a lower risk of coronary heart disease among post-menopausal women, compared with a stable alcohol intake.

The results support the hypotheses that alcohol is associated with breast cancer and coronary heart disease in opposite directions.

The findings come after Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, published alcohol guidelines in January making dramatic cuts to the safe level of consumption to no more than 14 units a week for men and women.

The new guideline is equivalent to less than two glasses of wine per night.

In February, Dame Sally said that research showing wine could protect the heart was weaker than previously believed.

Alcohol is believed to be the cause of about 11 per cent of female breast cancers in Britain.

Despite the new study finding a link between alcohol and cancer, findings also showed that it may have a positive effect on other health conditions.

Alcohol can reduce the risk of heart disease, which currently kills 80,000 a year, by boosting good cholesterol levels, according to experts.

A study by the Mediterranean Neurological Institute published this week also discovered that consuming two small cans of beer each day reduces cardiovascular disease by about one quarter.

In a study of 22,000 post-menopausal women, scientists found that alcohol had a protective effect on the heart - but it also increased the risk of them developing breast cancer (file photo)

It found that moderate drinking was likely to be beneficial for protecting against heart disease.

It said: Unless they are at high risk for alcohol-related cancers or alcohol dependency there is no reason to discourage healthy adults who are already light or moderate beer consumers from continuing.

But experts have warned that it was still crucial to reduce consumption of alcohol.
Glasgow is known for its deep fried mars bars and the intense rivalry between its football teams.

But it is also one of the most polluted cities in the UK and Ireland, a new report has revealed.

The World Health Organisation has named and shamed more than 40 towns and cities for breaching safety levels for air pollution.

It said poor air quality is a major cause of disease and death - increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.

More than 40 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland have been named and shamed for breaching safety levels for air pollution. Pictured are the top 10 places with unsafe levels of fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5. Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Leeds and Eastbourne are top

One way the global health body assesses air quality is by examining the levels of a type of pollution known as particulate matter (PMs).

WHO's latest data shows that 11 urban areas across the UK and Ireland breached the safe limit set for one type known as PM10.

These include Port Talbot, Stanford-Le-Hope, Glasgow, London, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Eastbourne, Nottingham, Southampton and Oxford, as well the town of Longford in Ireland.

And more than 40 towns and cities across Britain and Ireland breached the safe levels for another measure known as PM2.5.

TOP TOWNS AND CITIES THAT BREACH POLLUTION STANDARDS Here is a list of the areas across the UK and Ireland which have been named by the World Health Organisation for breaching safe levels for fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5. The British Lung Foundation said the number of towns and cities breaching standards is 'deeply concerning'. The British Lung Foundation said the number of towns and cities breaching standards is 'deeply concerning' :: Glasgow :: Scunthorpe :: Leeds :: Eastbourne :: Salford :: London :: Southampton :: Longford, Ireland :: Port Talbort :: Birmingham :: Stanford-Le-Hope :: Chepstow :: Portsmouth :: Stoke-on-Trent :: Oxford :: Thurrock :: Warrington :: Armagh :: Cardiff :: Bray, Ireland :: Norwich :: Leamington Spa :: Newport :: Bristol :: Wigan :: Manchester :: York :: Hull :: Nottingham :: Plymouth :: Swansea :: Carlisle :: Prestonpans :: Liverpool :: Belfast :: Londonderry :: Brighton :: Galway, Ireland :: Middlesbrough :: Birkenhead :: Saltash :: Southend :: Dublin, Ireland Advertisement

The top 10 included Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Eastbourne, Salford, London, Southampton, Longford, Ireland, Port Talbort, Birmingham.

WHO said that across the world 80 per cent of cities that measure outdoor air pollution are failing to meet its guidance for safe levels of air quality.

Only 2 per cent of cities in poorer countries have air quality that meets international safety standards, while 44 per cent of richer cities do.

It said ambient air pollution, made of high concentrations of small and fine particulate matter, is the greatest environmental risk to health.

Overall, more than 7 million premature deaths occur every year due to air pollution, 3 million of them due to particulate matter in outdoor air.

The report, which focused on outdoor rather than household air, compared data collected from 795 cities in 67 countries between 2008 and 2013.

Tracking the prevalence of harmful pollutants like sulfate and black carbon, WHO found that air quality was generally improving in richer regions like Europe and North America.

But in developing regions, notably the Middle East and southeast Asia, it was worsening.

The quality of air pollution data provided by individual countries varies considerably, and WHO does not compile a ranking of the world's most polluted cities.

This is because many countries are so bad that they have no monitoring system for pollution so and cannot be included in its database..

In a sample of selected mega-cities with a population above 14 million, New Delhi was the most polluted, followed by Cairo and Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.

Crucially, key African centres like Nigeria's mega-city Lagos were excluded from the list because of the sparse availability of air quality data in many parts of the continent, WHO said.

The dirtiest air was recorded at Zabol in Iran, which suffers from months of dust storms in the summer.

A sample of European data showed that Rome had slightly worse air than Berlin, followed by London and Madrid.

Common causes of include too many cars, especially diesel-fuelled vehicles, the heating and cooling of big buildings, waste management, agriculture and the use of coal or diesel generators for power.

Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO's assistant director general for family, women and children's health, said: 'When dirty air blankets our cities, the most vulnerable urban populations - the youngest, oldest and poorest - are the most impacted.'

Dr Maria Neira, director of the Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO, added: 'Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on human health.

'At the same time, awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality. When air quality improves, global respiratory and cardiovascular-related illnesses decrease.'

Commenting on the report, Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner, said: 'This is yet another report which shows the air we breathe is unsafe. With 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK from air pollution, what more will it take for our political leaders to act?

'This is a public health crisis. It's time it was treated that way. We need fewer and cleaner vehicles with a Clean Air Zone in every city and large town - and politicians must urgently introduce a diesel scrappage scheme to get the worst polluting vehicles off our roads, as well as more investment in alternatives to driving.'

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, added: 'It is deeply concerning that 40 UK towns and cities are failing to meet WHO standards for the smallest, most harmful pollution particles.

'These particles are able to reach deep into our lungs and even into our bloodstream, and can have a serious impact on our breathing and wider health.

'It is clear from this report that the UK is facing an air pollution crisis.

'Unfortunately, the Government's response so far has been inadequate. Swift action must be taken to reduce pollution levels in the UK and protect our lung health.'
Most couples famously vow to look after one another 'in sickness and in health' on their wedding day.

But when Donna and Karl Ferris recited the lines on their big day seven years ago, little did they know how literal it would become.

Mrs Ferris was given just four hours to live after both her kidneys failed and told only a transplant would save her life.

Incredibly, her husband was found to be a match and the couple from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, are now hoping to start a family after successful surgery.

Donna Ferris received a kidney from husband Karl after she was given just hours to live by doctors

Mrs Ferris spent three years on dialysis after visiting her GP with back ache and discovering she was suffering from kidney failure.

When the 33-year-old's kidney function dropped from 15 per cent to just three per cent in July last year she was given just four hours to live.

Doctors were able to fit a neck line for dialysis but told Mrs Ferris she would need a kidney transplant - so her 34-year-old husband, stepped in and offered one of his own kidneys.

Now the couple, who have been together 16 years, are recovering well and hope to try for a baby in 12 months' time.

'We always used to joke that Karl would end up saving my life in some way and now he actually has - he has been amazing,' said Mrs Ferris.

'I honestly don't know where I'd be without him. My kidneys failed so it was all pretty scary for us.

We always used to joke that Karl would end up saving my life in some way and now he actually has Donna Ferris, 33

'I still have to go to the hospital three times a week for check-ups, but apart from that we are both doing really well.

'One of the biggest things that we'd like to do now that we're on the mend is start thinking about having a family, doctors have told me that in 12 months we can start trying for a baby.'

After she was told she would need a transplant both her parents were tested to see if either were matches but for their own health reasons they were unable to proceed.

Mr Ferris decided to get tested and when he discovered he was a match he said he 'didn't think twice' about going ahead with the operation.

The couple, who have been married seven years, underwent their operations at Royal Liverpool University Hospital on April 25.

They have been given three months to recover before Mrs Ferris, a former shop assistant, hopes she can return to her job in summer.

Mrs Ferris, who had kidney failure, received a kidney from husband Karl after doctors found they were a match

The couple, who have been together for 16 years, were married seven years ago and made their 'in sickness and in health'. They are now planning on starting a family after he successfully donated a kidney to Mrs Ferris

Surgeons removed Mr Ferris's kidney in the morning before it was transplanted into his wife the same afternoon in a three hour procedure.

Mr Ferris, a warehouse supervisor said: 'Giving Donna one of my kidneys was a complete no brainer for me, she's my wife and I just want her to get better.

'I don't think of it as having lost my kidney at all/

A lot of people have said how brave I am for doing it but when I knew that she needed a live kidney I didn't think twice about it Karl Ferris, 34

'A lot of people have said how brave I am for doing it but when I knew that she needed a live kidney I didn't think twice about it.

'I wasn't too nervous to have the operation but I knew it was a major thing and I'd never had an operation before.

'There was only a 50 per cent chance of the kidney working so I'm so glad it seems to doing well. It is just a relief to help her and see her getting healthier.'

A spokesman for NHS Blood and Transplant said: 'What Karl Ferris has done is a very selfless act.

'He has done something genuinely good for someone in desperate need of a transplant.'

They said more than 1000 people choose to donate an organ as a living donor each year but added there were still about 5,100 people waiting for a kidney in the UK.

'These people rely on the generosity of others donating their organs, in life or in death, to save or improve their life.

'Living donation is highly successful but not everyone has someone who can donate to them and only some organs can be donated from a living person.

'Patients waiting for a transplant rely heavily on the generosity of people donating their organs after their death in order to offer them the chance of a transplant.'
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Have you ever wondered what will kill you?

It's a morbid thought, but an intriguing new graphic reveals how the chance of dying from different causes changes at different stages of their life.

Using information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UCLA statistician Nathan Yau has plotted how cause of death varies across gender and race, based on mortality data from 2005 through to 2014.

Published on his Flowing Data website, the causes include death in young children, those due to infection, cancer, endocrine (hormonal) diseases such as diabetes and mental and behaviour disorders.

Diseases of the nervous system, such as epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are also charted along with circulatory system problems such as heart disease.

He also included respiratory diseases, digestive problems, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the genitourinary system, congenital defects, external causes and other diseases.

UCLA statistician Professor Nathan Yau has created a graph to show how what is most likely to kill us changes as we age. This graph shows the main causes of death for women throughout their lifetimes. Age is plotted on the horizontal axis, while the percentage of women dying from each cause is shown on the vertical axis. The coloured bars represent each cause of death, from respiratory diseases to digestive problems. It shows that 10 per cent of women age 20 die of cancer, but the disease kills 40 per cent of those who dying at age 60

Double the amount of men die of external causes - such as road traffic accidents - than women, the graph of male causes of death shows. Less than 20 per cent of men die from from congenital, genitourinary, respiratory, nervous and endocrine (hormonal) causes in their teenage years, only to rise to above 40 per cent by the time they are 60.

The graph shows that while less than 10 per cent of 20-year-olds die of cancer, it kills around 40 per cent of 50-year-old women and more than 30 per cent of men the same age.

Less than 20 per cent of men die from from congenital, genitourinary, respiratory, nervous and endocrine (hormonal) causes in their teenage years, only to rise to above 40 per cent by the time they are 60.

External causes - such as road traffic accidents - are the single most likely cause of death until people reach their mid 40s. But men are twice as likely to die of them than women throughout their lives - at 10 per cent overall compared to 5 per cent for women.

There were also notable differences between races. For example, while five per cent of black or African American people die from infectious and parasitic diseases, only two per cent of white people do.

Professor Yau has also created a test which reveals what you are most likely to die from once factors such as gender and race have been considered.

The test, which can be taken by clicking here, works by asking users to enter details including age, gender, and ethnicity before they can watch how their life and death may unfold.

It shows how the age you are today can affect what you are most likely to die of at various stages in your life.

So while a baby born today is most likely to die in the first few years of life from a congenital problem, a man who is 30 today who dies at the age of 80 is most likely to be killed by a circulatory problem - such as a heart attack or stroke - or by cancer.

Black or African Americans are nearly twice as likely to die from infectious and parasitic diseases than white people (five per cent compared to two per cent).

Writing on his website, Professor Yau explains how the different dots relate to the various causes of death, listed right.

'Colour corresponds to cause of death, and the bars on the right keep track of the cumulative percentages. By the end, you're left with the chances that you will die of each cause,' he writes.

By changing the age, the number of dots changes with a much lower mortality rate among children leading to fewer colourful circles.

For example, the leading causes of death in someone who is less than 12 months old are perinatal or congenital i.e. a condition inherited from birth.

However, this compares to circulatory problems, such as heart disease and stroke, being the most likely cause of death for both men and woman in their 50s.

The infographic, based on data from US death certificates between 1999 and 2014, shows how an-eight-year-old boy is most likely to be killed by an 'external factor,' such as an accident, if they die at the age 18.

The chart calculates this cause to be behind 67 per cent of deaths in these circumstances, compared to respiratory causes like asthma coming in at 17 per cent.

The older people get, the more likely they are to die from disease with anyone over the age of 80 having a 40 per cent or higher change of dying from a circulatory problem, regardless of the demographic.

'This surprised me, because it seems like cancer would be the leading cause just going off general news, said Professor Yau.

'This is certainly true up to a certain age, but get past that and your heart can only keep going for so long,' he said.

Across the globe, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death, accounting for 31 per cent of the total figure, according to the American Heart Association.

30-year-old women, who die in 50 years time aged 80, can expect to succumb to similar causes with circulatory at 39 per cent and cancer, 29 per cent, compared to lesser causes such as infection at five per cent

The coloured dots show that a female born now who dies at the age of one is most likely to succumb to a perinatal cause, which is behind 60 per cent of deaths, a congenital cause, at 30 per cent and the nervous category making up the remaining 10 per cent

Interestingly, a 25-year-old man who dies at 30 is far more likely to die of an external cause (68 per cent) - like a car crash - than cancer (11 per cent) or an infection (five per cent)

Figures issued by the World Health Organisation for 2012 revealed that 68 per cent of all deaths globally were from what are known as noncommunicable - rather than infectious diseases.

The main four noncommunicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart disease and stroke), cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases.

Infectious diseases, pregnancy and childbirth and nutrition conditions collectively were responsible for 23 per cent of global deaths, while injuries caused 9 per cent of all deaths

Deaths from often preventable causes - such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and lung conditions - were most common in high-income countries, where they accounted for 87 per cent.

Tobacco use is a major cause of many of the worlds top killer diseases  including cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease and lung cancer.

The World Health Organisation estimates that tobacco use is responsible for the death of about 1 in 10 adults worldwide. Smoking is often the hidden cause of the disease recorded as responsible for death.

If a 50-year-old man died in five years time, he could expect it to be caused by any of the above but circulatory problems and cancer remain the leading reasons, accounting for more than half of deaths between them
Scientists have identified a new cause of devastating neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.

They believe an out-of-control immune system may be to blame and say there is strong

evidence the mental decline common to these diseases is caused by 'auto-inflammation',

This is where the body's own immune system develops a persistent inflammatory response - and over time, this inflammation causes brain cells to die.

Previously, researchers have focused on the role of protein deposits called amyloid plaques that lodge in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.

'But it is now clear that this is an inadequate explanation for Alzheimer's disease,' claim the researchers, from the University of Adelaide.

Scientists believe an out-of-control immune system may be to blame for devastating neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's

There are many distinct forms of neurodegeneration including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.

These conditions are distinguished by the different types of brain nerve cells that are first affected and by the symptoms that first appear.

However, as all of these diseases progress, they become more similar.

Study leader, Professor Robert Richards, believes that instead of many different mechanisms, each disease has the same underlying mechanism - and common pathway of nerve cell loss.

'Our interest in the body's own immune system as the culprit began when we discovered immune system agents become activated in a lab y model of Huntington's disease,' he said

'Remarkably, researchers from other laboratories were at the same time reporting similar features in other neurodegenerative diseases.

'When we pulled the evidence together, it made a very strong case that uncontrolled innate immunity is indeed the common cause.'

Previously, researchers have focused on the role of protein deposits called amyloid plaques that lodge in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. But it is now clear that this is an inadequate explanation for Alzheimer's disease,' claim the researchers, from the University of Adelaide

The innate immune system is the first line of defence in cells, and normally distinguishes molecules that belong to the body from foreign, disease-causing, molecules.

It is an alarm and response system with a self-destruct mechanism to contain and eliminate invaders or abnormal cells, like cancer.

Malfunctions can occur from various triggers, including genetic mutations, infection, toxins or physical injury.

Initially, the innate immune system protects the tissue against these triggers, but prolonged activation becomes self-perpetuating, causing brain cell death to occur.

'We hope this new way of understanding neurodegeneration will lead to new treatments,' Professor Richards added.

'Currently we have no effective treatments to assist the millions of affected people, and these diseases are an enormous burden on families and the public health care system.'

'We now need to further investigate the immune signaling molecules, to identify new drug targets that will delay the onset and/or halt the progression of these devastating diseases.'
Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and his cousins may have received money in the scandal-tainted AgustaWestland deal to front a bigger activity in Mauritius, British defence broker Christian Michel told India Today in an exclusive interview.

The air marshal and his cousins  Sanjeev, Sandeep and Rajeev  are under investigation for their suspected role in the Rs 3,600-crore deal, which allegedly saw kickbacks being paid to Indian officials and politicians to swing the contract for a dozen VVIP helicopters.

I think - this is only my opinion and I am not an expert  it will be found that they only received enough money to look like they are part of a bigger picture, said Michel during the interview in Dubai, the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.

British defence broker Christian Michel gave India Today TV his perspective on the ongoing AgustaWestland scandal. He is accused of being one of the middlemen in the deal, which is under investigation in India and abroad.

The former IAF chief is accused of reducing the flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m, which put British-Italian company AgustaWestland in the race for the deal. He has denied the charge.

The Briton, whose role is being probed by India and Italy, voiced his suspicions about the conduct of other alleged middlemen, Guido Haschke, Carlo Gerosa and Gautam Khaitan, in the scrapped chopper contract.

The controversy resurfaced last month when an Italian court judgment referred to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - among others - though it gave no evidence of wrongdoing by them.

Former IAF chief SP Tyagi is being grilled by the CBI, but denies all claims of corruption against him.

Haschke, Michel alleged, created the bigger picture for the Tyagis to front in order to get into the deal and make the money he made.

"I think they (the Tyagis) were a front; a cover for a much bigger activity going on elsewhere (Mauritius), he said.

Mauritius and Khaitan, he insisted, hold the key to the entire scam.

Michel alleged that Khaitan is the brains behind the deal.

He set up the structures, he opened the bank accounts, he was responsible for moving the money; so he knows. He knows what went on. He must know.

But the defence dealer sought to exonerate the top Indian leadership, from both the former BJP and Congress governments, of involvement in the scandal.

To say that a man like (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee or Dr Manmohan Singh or (then defence minister AK) Antony is involved is ridiculous ...it's impossible. They would not do that. You are looking at a level below that, Michel said.

Also, he bluntly denied having any personal political connections in India.

I try and avoid meeting leaders because my expertise is in implementation (of potential aviation projects), and I am very well-paid for doing that, he said.

Michel said there was no need for him to meet the ruling Congress leadership back then.

They were not interfering in business; they were letting the business go forward. So, there was no need for meetings.

No. Never, he replied tersely when asked if he ever met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

In a sensational disclosure, Christian Michel denied meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi (right), former prime minister Manmohan Singh (centre) or ex-defence minister AK Antony (left) during the 10 years of the UPA government.

Asked if industrialist Sanjeev Julie Tyagi could have been instrumental in swinging the business in favour of AgustaWestland, he said no single individual had that capability.

I dont think he could play any major role in swinging this deal - (it's) too big a decision. It's the VVIP aircraft for one of the greatest, most powerful countries in the world. One man cannot swing that deal, Michel said.

Is it not possible at this very high level decisions were taken on merit? Is that something which is so impossible for a developed nation like India to do?

The Briton said he also believed a great deal of money had gone back to Italy.

The way the media is playing it I am not sure it's that way. But there's something there which is wrong. My opinion - and it's just my opinion - is that a great deal of money went back to Italy, and Haschke has already admitted that some of it went back to Italy. But I don't think it's still the full story," said Michel.

It is over three years since the CBI registered cases to probe kickbacks in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal

Asked about his meeting with Sanjeev Julie Tyagi, he said the businessman had introduced himself as a very powerful and clever industrialist.

I have to say he looked like a perfect gentleman, very, very English... very nice man and that is as far as it ever went, Michel recalled.

But he maintained Julie Tyagi made no promise to him about securing the deal.

The British national expressed his faith in the Indian judiciary, but admitted he feared arrest if he returned to New Delhi to depose.
Daniel Masih earns about Rs 150 a day running a rickety cycle rickshaw in Dadwan, a sleepy village in Punjabs Gurdaspur district. His wife makes about the same as a home help.

The couple and their three young children live in a dark, dingy room along a narrow lane, far removed from the fast cars, flashy tools, and glamorous life of James Bond - whose occupation Daniel says he shared for many years.

The 48-year-old recalls visiting Pakistan about a dozen times while working for the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Indias foremost foreign intelligence agency.

Daniel Masih, who now runs a rickshaw, says he worked for the R&AW and visited Pakistan a dozen times

I was given the task to bring back maps and photos of bridges, says Daniel.

He was arrested in the neighbouring country on charges of spying in 1993, but released four years later. Daniel says he received Rs 15,000 from Indian officials on his return.

I visited Pakistan 10 to 12 times from Dera Baba Nanak sector and used to return within three days and would get up to Rs 3,000 per visit.

Daniel, who recently converted to Christianity, says that during the four years he was jailed in areas such as Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, he was tortured several times during interrogation - but did not reveal that he was a secret agent.

His is not an isolated case of a former spy wallowing in misery. Punjabs backwoods, particularly Dadwan village, are dotted with people who say they worked for Indian intelligence organisations - jeopardising their lives for a few thousand rupees, or languishing in Pakistani prisons for years only to be disowned by their employers and country after their release.

The agencies stopped paying them after they were caught. Their wives and children are leading miserable lives. They now work as labourers, porters, rickshaw pullers and home helps.

I was brutally tortured in prison. I was paralysed soon after I was released from (Pakistans) Kot Lakhpat jail in 1999. I have been dying a little every day over the past 10 years. Nobody came forward to help me. There was no pension, no medical help, says 50-year-old David, Daniels neighbour.

He says he was arrested in 1999 on charges of espionage and spent more than eight years in jail.

My wife and four children were forced to go without food for days, he said.

When my wife approached the Jammu-based agency office for help, she was given Rs 100. We are patriots and put our lives at stake. Is this the way the government should treat us?

Dadwan in Gurdaspur is known as a spy village. Unemployment is high in the area, and many of those engaged in espionage are lured by the promise of reliable work. (Picture for representation only.)

Experts say intelligence agencies routinely recruit from poor families living in areas of Punjab bordering Pakistan.

I was not interested in working as a spy, says 50-year-old Sunil, who was arrested twice.

The officers compelled me. When I was caught, nobody visited my family. See the wounds? [he points towards the bruises on his hands and his hips]. They tortured me like an animal. What did I get in return? Nothing. I have no pension, no money.

Sunil, 50, says he worked as a spy and was tortured after being arrested twice

Sunil says he was arrested in 1999 at Sialkot and was released in 2006. He went on another mission for the R&AW in 2011, and was caught once more. He was let off three years later.

Are we citizens of this country? he lamented. Smugglers are better than us; at least they get enough money. We just got wounds for patriotism.

Many of these people are now demanding justice and compensation following the 2013 death of Punjab farmer Sarabjit Singh in a Lahore jail, where he was kept for several years after being convicted of terrorism and espionage.

The issue received international attention through a popular campaign for his release, and a biographical film on him will be out this month.

After his death, the Punjab government provided compensation of more than Rs 1 crore, a job for his daughter, and a gas agency for the family.

The state has announced similar reparation for the family of Kirpal Singh, an alleged Indian spy who purportedly died of a cardiac arrest in Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail last month. However, no financial help has come so far.

I am proud of my brother who sacrificed his life for the country. The state and central government should help us as we are a poor family, said 60-year-old Jagir Kaur, Kripal Singhs sister.

Harcharan Singh Bains, adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, said authorities are considering the case and efforts will be made to help other Indian prisoners jailed in Pakistan.

Unemployment is the trigger

By Manjeet Sehgal

Once a prosperous state, Punjabs economy is now in the doldrums. After the failure of agriculture, the states unemployment problem has reached alarming proportions. The unemployed are either searching foreign countries for greener pastures or indulging in the narcotics trade.

The worst-affected are the border areas where there are no employment opportunities. Poverty has driven many youths to take up anti-social and anti-national jobs like smuggling.

The family of Kirpal Singh, who worked as a courier for the intelligence agencies. He was arrested on February 29, 1992, and allegedly died of a heart attack in Pakistan's Kot Lakhpat Jail on April 11, 2016.

Spying is another activity which the youths in border villages consider to be a lucrative option.

Dadwan village in Gurdaspur is known as a spy village. While about a dozen former and active spies and couriers reportedly belong to this village, dozens of their counterparts live in neighbouring districts.

The spies double up as smugglers and couriers. Sources said they cross over from Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Jammu, and Amritsar sectors with liquor and/or any other item in demand in the neighbouring country.

After finishing their 'tasks', the spies return with narcotics. As their motive is to earn money, at times they also start working for Pakistani agencies.

A sizeable number of spies interviewed for this story are Dalits or Dalit Christians. Kirpal Singh was also a Dalit.

One of the biggest reasons, besides monetary gain, that compels youths to become spies is the lure of a regular job.

However, they get neither jobs nor money when they miss their targets and are arrested.

The life of a spy

By Manjeet Sehgal in Gurdaspur

Saroj Lata holds a copy of her husband Roop Lals prison diary. The spy spent a total of 26 years in various Pakistani jails.

Roop Lal was born and brought up in Marada village in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab. He joined the Rajputana Rifles in 1960 and fought four wars between 1960 to 1969. He left his job in 1969 and joined Indian intelligence in 1970.

He had successfully completed five spy missions, including Operation Sardodha, Operation Dera Gazi Khan, Operation Machh Jaail Queta Balochtan, and Operation Gilgit Azad Kashmir between 1971 and 1974, but had also faced arrest three times in 1971, 1972 and and 1974, respectively.

He was housed in Sialkot Jail between 1974 and 1977, and was later shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. He also spent time in Mianwali, Multan, and Sahiwal jails during his extensive incarceration between 1979 and 1991.

Roop was sentenced to death in 1976, but the then Indian government intervened and his sentence was stayed.

The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1998, and Roop was released in 2000 after spending a total of 26 years in various Pakistani jails.

He wrote his jail diary, titled Pakistan: Return from Gallows, before he died in Gurdaspur on February 14, 2011.

In it, he writes: The word spy is a respectable in ones own country, but becomes an abuse when arrested.

In his diary, he also shares how he lured two Pakistani women to get highly sensitive information. He married a Pakistani nurse Shabiran in 1972, but she left him after he was arrested on spying charges.

He then married Tahira, a lecturer in a medical college. He completed operation Sargodha after this marriage.
In a sensational twist to the Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani and Peter Mukerjeas driver told the court on Wednesday that he wanted to turn approver in the case.

Shyamvar Rai, who was in the Mumbai court, confessed that he was present at the spot when Sheena was allegedly murdered and took part in the killing.

He claimed he was under no pressure to co-operate and was "repentant" about his involvement in the crime.

In a sensational twist to the Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani (pictured) and Peter Mukerjeas driver told a Mumbai court that he wanted to turn approver in the case

Sheena Bora went missing on April 24, 2012. Her mother claims that she is living in the US

The driver told the court that Sheena had been killed by strangulation.

Under Section 133 of the Evidence Act, an accomplice can turn approver. After turning approver, whatever testimony will be helpful for the trial, said senior lawyer Abha Singh.

Shyamvar Rai is the driver of Indrani Mukerjea, who is a suspect in her daughter Sheena Bora's killing - along with her husband Peter Mukerjea, and former husband Sanjeev Khanna.

Indrani was arrested in August 2015, and has been in custody ever since.

Former media baron Peter Mukjarjea was arrested in November 2015 for allegedly concealing and destroying evidence in the case.

In March, he moved a fresh bail plea before a special CBI court, calling the allegations against him false, baseless, and unbelievable.

He also put the onus on his wife Indrani, saying that she was highly ambitious and was willing to go to any lengths.

In the bail application, Peter claimed it was not him, but Indrani, who objected to the romantic relationship that developed between their children, step-siblings Rahul and Sheena.

He also denied claims that Indrani told him about the murder.
Anand Joshi, an under-secretary in the home ministry who is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), mysteriously went missing on Wednesday.

The official left a note behind addressed to his wife, claiming he was facing mental harassment and has made too many enemies while serving the nation.

Joshi was called to the CBI's headquarters on Wednesday to face questioning over alleged corruption while dealing with foreign-funded NGOs.

Joshi was called to the CBI headquarters for questioning after claims he had stolen a file relating to an NGO. (File picture)

The controversy follows the home ministry's crackdown on foreign-funded organisations, which raised eyebrows soon after the Narendra Modi-led NDA government took power in 2014.

As well as Joshi, the officials in the Foreigners Division who deal with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) are under the scanner for their regulation of foreign-funded NGOs.

A home ministry spokesperson did not wish to comment on the matter as investigations are ongoing.

The MHA has cracked the whip on several foreign-funded NGOs, including a high-profile international environment activist group, cancelling its FCRA registration.

It is alleged that Joshi served 60- 70 notices to NGOs arbitrarily in November 2015 without taking the proper approvals.

He is also accused of stealing a file relating to the Sabrang Trust which went missing in March 2016.

Sabrang, an NGO run by Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, has been under the home ministry's scrutiny for various FCRA violations.

However, Joshi has claimed that file was never in his possession.

The official has also hit back, making serious allegations against additional secretary BK Prasad who heads the foreigners division.

Prasad calls the charges against him rubbish and baseless.

The CBI is investigating the matter and the truth will come out, he said.

Joshi had claimed that he was pressured by his superior to give a clean chit to some of the NGOs which were served FCRA notices, including the Ford Foundation.

Speaking at their home in Indirapuram, his wife said Joshi was last seen at around 2am, following which he went to sleep.

When I woke up around 7.30am, the main door was ajar and he (Joshi) wasn't there. I later found the note he left behind, she said.

Police teams rushed to the senior officer's house and his wife's statement was recorded.
Much to Islamabads chagrin, the line coming out of Washington is loud and clear: Pakistan is now being asked to pay for F-16 jets from of its own pocket.

The message the US is sending by threatening to yank financing for the F-16 jets could not be more categorical.

Purchase

Pakistan can still purchase the fighter jets, but Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Senator Bob Corker has promised to block any US funding for the deal, in a reflection of congressional anger at the Pakistani government for what many say are its close relationships with anti-American Islamist militants.

The US has refused to subsidise Pakistan's purchase of eight F-16 jets, citing "congressional objections".

The jets and other military equipment approved for sale to Pakistan will cost the US exchequer around $700m.

Earlier this year, the Obama administration had approved the sale of up to eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

But Bob Corker announced earlier this week that Pakistan will have to pay full price for its purchase from the United States.

Senator Corker commented: Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose.

Some members of the US Congress, led by Sen. Corker, had objected to the use of US funds to give subsidy to Pakistan for the sale of the F-16s.

This is based on what they have seen as the Pakistan governments support of militant groups that targeted Americans and Afghans, and their inadequate support to the Afghan peace process.

Pakistan is reportedly exploring alternative options, such as the Russian SU35 and the Chinese J10 and J20 stealth fighters.

Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister, said that Pakistan will opt for jets from some other place, if the US funding is not arranged.

It is clear that even if the issue is resolved, US-Pakistan relations are only going to go downhill.

In many ways, this was bound to happen. Pakistan could not have expected to play China and the US off against each other for long.

Moreover, Pakistans dubious role in Afghanistan is creating a strong backlash in the US.

In his address to a joint session of Afghanistans two houses of parliament last month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani threatened to lodge a formal complaint against Pakistan in the UN.

In a departure from his earlier stand, Ghani called on Pakistan to forego its attempts to bring the Taliban to negotiations and take military action against the militant group.

Diplomatic

The Afghan president had threatened: If we do not see a change, despite our hopes and efforts for regional cooperation, we will be forced to turn to the UN Security Council and launch serious diplomatic efforts.

Despite Pakistans repeated assertions that it would go after Taliban leaders, who refused to engage in the peace process involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and China, negotiations have stalled and deadly attacks in Afghanistan have increased as the Taliban carries out its 'Spring Offensive'.

On April 19, the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack against a security agency responsible for protecting senior government officials and VIPs, which killed 64 people and injured 347 others.

Afghanistan has alleged that this deadly attack in Kabul was planned by the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

Rather than engaging Pakistan, Kabul is now retaliating by talking of isolating Pakistan.

Dawa Khan Meenpal recently suggested that Pakistan is in the state of isolation. We want to use diplomatic initiative to isolate Pakistan at regional and international levels and to tell the world where the terrorists are and which country and intelligence (agency) supports them.

Washingtons anger is reflective of this growing divide in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

Sale

When the Obama administration decided to go ahead with the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, India's reaction was strong.

It had openly disagreed with the US' stand that the ammunition would help in the fight against terrorism, and argued that the weapons would be used against India.

The US Ambassador to India was summoned to underscore Indias displeasure.

Delhi is seriously concerned about the changing balance of air power in the region as Pakistan today has four squadrons of F-16 fighters, all built with US assistance.

But Indo-US ties today are at a completely different level.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets ready to address the US Congress next month, Washington and Delhi need to find a better way of managing Pakistan so as not to impact the positive trajectory of their bilateral ties.

There is a larger strategic reality that confronts India and the US beyond Pakistan.

This is clear from recent attempts by the two states to swap anti-submarine warfare technology in order to counter the threat from Chinese submarines.

It is likely that a joint US-India exercise on anti-submarine warfare will take place in the Philippine Sea and include Japan as the two navies gear up to hedge against patrols by Chinese nuclear-armed submarines.

Pakistan has been sent a message from the US polity that it cannot blackmail the US.

India should remain alive to such changes in the US and leverage them accordingly.
Pro-Brexit campaigner Paul Marshall is ranked in the worlds top 25 hedge funders by Alpha magazine, with earnings of 100million last year.

Tufty-haired Marshall certainly makes an unusual master of the universe. Despite the partys hostility towards hedgies, hes a lifelong Liberal Democrat and once worked for late leader Charlie Kennedy.

He even agreed to advise Nick Clegg during the coalition, a lapse that doesnt appear to have damaged his career prospects.

What many dont know about Marshall, 56, is that his hirsute son Winston, 27, plucks the banjo for genteel folk rockers Mumford & Sons.

After recently being spotted in San Jose, former Marks and Spencer boss Marc Bolland and his ferret-like successor Steve Rowe, 47, met with the Prince of Wales on Monday.

High Street retailers dont usually get such a royal seal of approval, but M&S has cleverly positioned itself by working with the Princes Trust and embracing many of Charless environmental initiatives. Plus Bolland, 57, and Charles have much in common.

They share a fondness for fine tailoring, blasting pheasants and fretting about the future.

Former UBS trader Tom Hayes, currently serving an 11-year sentence for manipulating Libor rates, has turned to crowdfunding to raise 150,000 for his appeal.

Shy, quietly spoken Hayes, 35, unkindly dubbed Rain Man by his colleagues after the savant played by Dustin Hoffman in the 1988 film, has so far drummed up 16,890.

His biggest donation is 500 from Guardian Care Homes boss Gary Hartland. Ironically, the businessman, 54, is currently suing Lloyds in a multi-million-pound claim related to Libor fixing.

The Bank of Englands brainbox chief operating officer Charlotte Hogg has agreed to ride in the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood.

Other entrants to the charity sprint in July include TalkTalks pixyish boss Dido Harding, 48. As a keen horsewoman, auburn-haired Hogg, 45, will be much-fancied to win. Im also advised her petite frame will be ideally suited to the tricky Sussex downs track.

Employees at British Home Stores have launched the slogan #SaveBHS in a bid to rescue the beleaguered retailer.
My favourite clothes get eaten by moths every spring: I have tried lots of deterrents and treatments but nothing works! What can I do to get rid of moth infestation?

Common clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella) are the small silvery brown insects often seen in fleeting glimpses upon opening the wardrobe door. Tinea Pellionella is another silvery case-bearing moth that eats clothes.

Both species are tiny, but easily visible to the naked eye. But its not the moth that causes the damage, its their larvae: they munch through natural fibres, such as wool and cotton, as they grow.

Females can lay up to 100 pinhead-sized eggs over a three-week period before they die. They choose hidden, dark corners of our homes where the rice grain sized larvae can munch away undisturbed on cashmere, silk, wool, feathers and sheepskin.

As well as clothes, the larvae feed on dust, hair (human and pet), dead rodents and feathers.

Thanks to one of the warmest winters for decades, a clothes moth epidemic is predicted in 2016.

'Common clothes moths can cause significant damage to fabrics (made from natural fibres) within properties if left untreated. Moth larvae usually feed on hair, feathers, wool and fur,' says David Cross of Rentokil.

'They are often found in dark, hidden areas where clothes are stored, behind or below furniture.

'To avoid playing host to an unwanted collection of visitors on your precious belongings, it is important to remain vigilant to the signs of an infestation such as holes in fabrics and insects crawling on the floor near or around upholstered furniture.'

Thanks to one of the warmest winters for decades, a clothes moth epidemic is predicted in 2016.

Traditional natural treatments for moth infestations have involved lavender and cedar, either hung in bags or layered between clothing, as well as tackling infected clothes by washing on high heat or freezing.

Manmade treatments include mothballs, which used to coontain a chemical called naphthalene to kill the insects, giving drawers and clothes within that chemical taint.

But acute inhalation of the chemical agent has been shown to have associated side effects, including anaemia to liver and neurological damage.

Due to naphthalene's flammability many modern mothball formulations instead now use 1,4-dichlorobenzene, but health fears have arisen in the US over this chemical too.

Pest controllers say moth populations have been rising over the years, not just because of warmer winters, but also because of our cosseted modern lifestyles. Above: Australian bogong moths

There is an insecticide spray, Pest Experts Formula C (pest-expert.com, 8.29). This contains Cypermethrin, which acts as a neurotoxin on moths larvae and eggs.

It is not known to have any serious health effects on humans, though it is listed in the U.S. as a possible human carcinogen on the grounds that it has been found to cause tumours in rats.

Besides moths, Cypermethrin is highly toxic to fish and honeybees, so should not be allowed to pollute outdoors.

You can also use Demi-Diamond moth traps (pest-expert.com, 9.74 for a pack including three holders and ten pads).

The pads release synthetic pheromones  chemicals released by female moths to attract males.

The idea is that the males flock to the pads thinking they are about to rendezvous with a mate  only to find their feet sticking to the surface of the pads. The pads are supposed to last eight to 12 weeks.

If you want all-out chemical warfare against moths, try a fogger (Formula P Fogger, pest-expert.com, 7.50 for enough gas to fill a 13ft square room)  or smoke bomb  which will produce a cloud of insecticide fatal to moths, but it can also set off your smoke alarm.

You are instructed to release the fogger, then close the door and leave the room for two to three hours, after which you should ventilate it thoroughly. The active ingredient is pyrethrin, an insecticide found naturally in some chrysanthemums.

It is of low toxicity to humans, though it can cause irritation if handled and affect asthma if inhaled, as well as triggering diarrhoea in some cases.

HOW TO BEAT THEM FOR FREE BEWARE CHARITY SHOPS: Old or second-hand clothes can contain moths, or their larvae, which look like inch-long, silvery threads. Experts suggest keeping all second-hand fabrics in sealed plastic bags until they have been thoroughly washed or dry-cleaned. GIVE THEM A SHAKE: If you shake out your clothing in the daylight every few weeks, you will flush out any moths and hopefully dislodge their larvae. Carpets and upholstery can also play host to larvae so dont forget to give them a good beating. KEEP THEM CLEAN: Moths love stained and grubby clothes, particularly honing in on dried-on food or make-up and hair products. Wash clothes at above 118F (48C) for at least half an hour to kill the insects off. SEAL, THEN STORE: Sealed plastic storage bags may be the ultimate in anti-moth defences, while very delicate items can be covered in acid-free tissues before they are bagged. You can even try freezing garments that cannot be washed. AN OLD FAVOURITE: Mothballs normally contain the chemicals naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, and release noxious vapours which slowly kill insects. However, the unpleasant scent is almost impossible to remove, so natural alternatives such as cedar balls may be preferable.

In high doses it has also been known to cause seizures in dogs, but it can be very effective against moths.

But pest experts - including those at Rentokil - are now using an ingenious new pheromone treatment to tackle moth infestations. The chemical lure mimics the scent of females and so attracts male moths.

As males investigate they become coated in the pheromone as well, and so appear female to others. The lure is covered in an entostatic dust that sticks to the male moths, coating them in pheromones.

As the confused males try to mate with one another, it reduces mating with females and so reduces moth populations and larvae.

The method has been used in historic houses, theatres and commercial premises but now it's available as a product for long-suffering homeowners.

Now garment storage expert Julia Dee, founder of Total Wardrobe Care, has launched a product for homeowners.

The Moth Decoy confuses the male moths to stop them breeding and creating the larvae that damage clothes.

The Moth Decoy confuses the male moths to stop them breeding and creating the larvae that damage clothes.

The secret is a small block of waxy powder infused with synthetic female moth pheromone - the chemical 'message' that attracts males to females.

Male moths are attracted to the pheromones, which stick to their antennae when they come into contact with them.

The result is chaos in the moth community, as other male moths follow the 'false' female trails of pheromone-coated males and fail to breed.

Over time, without directly killing any moths, the population will start to diminish.

The product could be a well-timed boon to moth-victims on a budget as getting in pest control companies can be expensive, especially as they are likely to raise prices in the wake of a mild winter.

Rentokil has said it has seen a 20 per cent increase in requests for moth treatments this year. It charges 1,587 to rid a three-bedroom house of moths.

For this amount Rentokil offers a 'heat-pod treatment'  a 6ft by 8ft tent that contains a rack that heats clothes up to 132F (56C), sufficient to kill the larvae.

The pest control firm says it will also carry out two spray treatments, and this will take about four hours during subsequent visits.

Figures released by Rentokil show that inquiries about moths between December 2015 and March 2016 rose by a fifth compared with the same period the previous year.
A 10.3billion takeover of the O2 mobile phone network by rivals Three has been blocked by the European Commission in a move that could spell the end of telecoms mega-mergers.

The proposed deal would have reduced the number of mainstream mobile networks from four to three.

Consumer groups and the UK regulator, Ofcom, had opposed the deal for fear it would reduce competition, drive up prices and lead to worse customer service.

The concerns were accepted by the European Commission which yesterday announced it will not allow the deal to go ahead.

Research by Ofcom found that mobile prices were 10 per cent to 20 per cent lower in countries with four networks, rather than three.

Its chief executive, Sharon White, said if the deal had been allowed to go ahead the new company would have controlled four in ten of all mobile accounts.

The decision puts pressure on BT, which had its own merger with mobile giant EE approved earlier this year.

Meanwhile, BT is fighting off the threat of having its Openreach arm, which provides all the cables and poles for the UK telecoms industry, split from the main business.

It is thought regulators which approved the BT merger will now pile extra scrutiny on the firm, effectively forcing it to open up all the networks and cables for smaller telecoms firms to compete.

And it could even spell a disaster for BT when the auction of the new super-fast 5G mobile phone spectrum is put up for sale.

It is understood that the process may encourage smaller firms, such as Three, to get a bigger share of this sought after market.

Three is owned by Hutchison, which is the flagship company of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing. It had agreed in principle to pay 10.3billion for O2, which is owned by the Spanish company Telefonica.

Margrethe Vestager, the EUs anti-trust chief, said: Allowing Hutchison to take over O2 at the terms they proposed would have been bad for UK consumers and bad for the UK mobile sector.

The goal of EU merger control is to ensure that tie-ups do not weaken competition at the expense of consumers and businesses.

Hung up: The proposed 10.3billion takeover of mobile operator O2 by rival Three has been formally blocked by the European Commision, possibly opening the door for a bid from the owner of Virgin Media

We want the mobile telecoms sector to be competitive, so that consumers can enjoy innovative mobile services at fair prices and high network quality.

The Commissions decision means the UK will retain four networks, EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three, competing for customers.

The owner of O2, Telefonica, is now likely to look for an alternative buyer. Liberty Global, which owns the pay TV and broadband supplier, Virgin Media, is considered a likely suitor.

However, Hutchison has indicated that it will not take the Commissions decision lying down and could mount a legal challenge.

The company said it was deeply disappointed by the decision. A spokesman added: We will study the Commissions decision in detail and will be considering our options, including the possibility of a legal challenge.

We strongly believe that the merger would have brought major benefits to the UK, not only by unlocking 10billion of private sector investment in the UKs digital infrastructure but also by addressing the countrys coverage issues, enhancing network capacity, speeds and price competition for consumers.
Business leaders have called on the Government to finally give the green light to a third runway at Heathrow after the airport promised to curb noise and pollution.

The Institute of Directors said ministers had run out of excuses while the Confederation of British Industry warned that years of dithering has damaged the economy.

The comments came after Heathrow launched a fresh bid to convince Prime Minister David Cameron to press ahead with expansion at the airport rather than at rival Gatwick.

Time to act: The Institute of Directors said ministers had 'run out of excuses' while the Confederation of British Industry warned that years of dithering has damaged the economy

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, last year found that expanded airport captivity is crucial for the UKs long-term prosperity and backed expansion at Heathrow. But the Government has still not made a final decision.

Building a third runway at Heathrow would bring an end to nearly two decades of wrangling, as well as marking a dramatic U-turn by the Prime Minister.

In 2009, before he took office, Cameron declared: The third runway at Heathrow is not going ahead, no ifs, no buts.

13 YEARS OF EXCUSES AND DELAYS 2003 Labour government outlines plans for third runway at Heathrow 2008 Conservatives come out against third runway; Labour delays decision 2010 New Coalition government rules out third runway 2012 Airports Commission launched July 2015 Commission backs a third runway at Heathrow; Conservative government promises to make a decision by end of the year December 2015 Decision delayed until summer 2016 Yesterday Heathrow makes concessions in bid to get runway approved

But Heathrow bosses are increasingly confident they can win enough support in the Cabinet and among MPs to get the go-ahead in the wake of the mayoral elections in London.

The election of Labours Sadiq Khan  who like his Tory predecessor Boris Johnson and defeated rival Zac Goldsmith is opposed to expansion at Heathrow  means supporting Heathrow would pit Cameron against a Labour Mayor of London rather than a fellow Tory.

Amid fears over noise and pollution, Heathrow said it would ban night flights between 11pm and 5.30am if it is allowed to build a new runway.

There is currently no ban on night flights, although there is a limit of 5,800 take-offs and landings between 11.30pm and 6am each year.

Heathrow is also promising to address concerns raised by the Airports Commission about the impact on the environment and local community.

The West London hub is supporting the introduction of an independent noise authority and revealed it would accept any Government decision to rule out building a fourth runway in the future.

In a letter to Cameron, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: I am proud to submit a comprehensive plan that meets and exceeds your demands.
Tycoon Sir Philip Green looks set for a bitter row with pensions regulator after launching an attack on its role in the sale of BHS, writes Laura Chesters.

The dispute revolves around who knew what in the run up to BHS being sold last year for 1 by Green to Retail Acquisitions, led by three-times bankrupt Dominic Chappell.

The retailer fell into administration last month with a pension fund deficit of 571million.

Green has disputed the account of events given by The Pensions Regulator chief executive Lesley Titcomb.

Battle: Sir Philip Green looks set for a bitter row with pensions regulator after launching an attack on its brole in the sale of BHS

He fired off a letter to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee and the Work and Pensions Select Committee to point out what he believes are inaccuracies in her comments given to the select committee hearing on Monday.

Titcomb claimed at the hearing that the regulator only learnt of the sale of BHS last year from the newspapers. However Green says his Arcadia Group had contact with the regulator weeks before the sale.

Titcomb hit back claiming that although the regulator had been informed that a sale of BHS was likely, there was not sufficient information to assess the potential impact on the pension schemes.

MPs have asked her to now clarify what this means. Work & Pensions Committee chairman Frank Field MP said: This is an important intervention by Sir Philip Green. Its central message is disturbing.

Now the Pensions Regulator has been asked to hand over all its records of discussions with Green and the BHS trustees.
OIL SLIP Oil services company John Wood Group issued a profit warning as the continued falls in the price of crude continues to hit.

It said profits could fall 20 per cent but added that it remains focused on cutting costs and improving efficiency so that it is well positioned for when market conditions recover.

STONG FIBRE Broadband operator CityFibre has secured two contracts worth 7million in Milton Keynes and Northampton.

The company, which lets broadband providers use its fibre optic cables to offer their own internet services, signed deals with communications firms Exa Networks and DBfB.

The contracts will run for six years and are set to benefit 500 businesses and schools.

CityFibre shares yesterday rose 2.1 per cent, or 1.25p, to 60.25p.

FESTIVE CHEER Harrods managing director Michael Ward has been tempted to stay on until the end of January rather than leave, as planned, in the summer.

It is thought he was asked to stay on for its key Christmas trading period and the financial year end of the Qatari-owned firm.

SUPPLY SIDE Walmart-owned grocer Asda has announced an extension to a scheme with its suppliers.

Its Sustain & Save Exchange programme helps suppliers connect to share advice on cost savings and efficiency. It said it has already helped firms remove 35,000 tons of CO2 emissions from their supply chains.

LAST DRINK The boss of drinks giant Diageos Africa and Asia Pacific business is to leave after 27 years.

Diageo European president John Kennedy and Latin America chief Alberto Gavazzi will expand their responsibilities to fill Nick Blazquezs job. Blazquez will leave at the end of next month.

FRESH DELIVERIES Amazon is to start selling fresh groceries from Morrisons imminently, after accidentally posting the supermarkets products on its website this week.

A tie-up between the supermarket and the online giant was announced in February. The Morrisons groceries which appeared on the website were later removed, but had featured sky-high prices such as four pints of milk for 68.75 and bananas for 27.99, according to Retail Week.

FEET FIRST Japanese sportswear firm Asics was boosted by a 7pc jump in sales in Europe in the first quarter of this year.

Sales reached 196million in the period helped by demand for its trainers.

A trend for 1990s styles and models as well as a fashion for sportswear had also helped sales.
One of Britains most successful hedge fund managers was among the industrys top ten earners last year  raking in a whopping 210million.

Sir Chris Hohn, who runs The Childrens Investment Fund Management, was ranked tenth on a Rich List of the worlds highest earning hedge fund managers for 2015.

He was the only Briton on the list, which was dominated by Americans but also included one Norwegian  Ole Andreas Halvorsen of Viking Global Investors.

Coining it: Chris Hohn, left, Claims he doesnt care about money. Right: his ex-wife Jamie Cooper who received a 337m payout

Other Brits to make it into the top 25 on the list, which was published by Institutional Investors Alpha magazine, were Paul Marshall and Ian Wace who run London-based Marshall Wace.

Hohn, 49, is one of Britains leading hedge fund managers having set up The Childrens Investment Fund Management, or TCI, in 2003.

He was caught up in the row over the privatisation of Royal Mail after it emerged TCI made a huge profit buying and then selling shares for a profit  fanning the flames in the row over whether the Government had sold the company too cheaply.

WORLD'S TOP 10 FUND BOSSES MADE NEARLY 7BN LAST YEAR The worlds ten best paid hedge fund managers trousered nearly 7billion last year despite turmoil in the global economy. The top two in the Rich List published by Institutional Investors Alpha magazine were Kenneth Griffin of Citadel and James Simons (pictured above) of Renaissance Technologies who both earned 1.2billion. They were followed by Raymond Dalio at Bridgewater Associates and David Tepper at Appaloosa Management on 970million. American Griffin, 47, who started trading while at Harvard, founded Citadel in 1990. He and his wife of 11 years, Anne Dias-Griffin, who is founder of a rival hedge fund firm Aragon Global Management, divorced last year citing irreconcilable differences. They have three children. He is a member of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago and donated 7.6million to build its new chapel. The modern building is called The Gratz Center in honour of Griffins grandparents. In 2013 he snapped up four huge homes in Palm Beach, Florida, estimated to have cost around 89million, and this year is reported to have bought Jackson Pollock painting Number 17A for 138m. Simons, 77, an American mathematician and code breaker who specialises in pattern recognition, set up Renaissance Technologies in 1982 and is said to be worth nearly 10bn. He is the only child of a Jewish family, and his father owned a show factory. He lives with wife Marilyn in Manhattan and Long Island, and is the father of five children  although two died young under tragic circumstances. He shuns the limelight, though earlier this year asteroid 6618 Jimsimons was named after him by the International Astronomical Union in honour of his numerous contributions to mathematics and philanthropy.

Hohns wealth is estimated at 720million even after he was told to hand over 337million in 2014 following the collapse of his marriage to Jamie Cooper-Hohn.

The couple  who had homes in London, the United States and the West Indies  had fought over assets totalling more than 700million at the High Court before a judge finally settled on the staggering sum.

The couples long-running divorce case bordered on farce at times with Hohn accusing his ex-wife of seeking maintenance payments for a dog that never existed.

They married in Washington DC in 1995 and had four children, including triplets, before divorcing in April 2013.

Hohn, who was born in Addlestone, Surrey, was knighted in the Queens birthday honours list in 2014 for services to philanthropy and international development.

The star hedge fund manager has given more than 1billion to charity through The Childrens Investment Fund Foundation which is linked to his business and was run by his wife.

The foundation was set up by Hohn and Cooper-Hohn in 2004 to improve the lives of children living in poverty in developing countries around the world.

Hohn, whose father was a Jamaican-born car mechanic who moved to Britain in the 1960s, and whose mother was a legal secretary from East Sussex, graduated from the University of Southampton with a first in accounting and business economics.

He then completed the MBA, or Master of Business Administration, course at Harvard Business School where he was among the top 5 per cent of all graduates.

Before setting up TCI he worked for private equity group Apax Partners and Wall Street hedge fund Perry Capital.

In an interview with the Financial Times in December, Hohn described TCI as the antithesis of the classic hedge fund as it celebrated a bumper year while rivals floundered. We take risk, he said.

They are short term whereas we are long term. They are passive, and we are engaged. They charge high fees, we charge less.

Alpha magazine calculates the earnings of hedge fund managers by counting gains on their capital in their funds as well as their share of the fees. Hohn and TCI declined to comment.

Cooper-Hohn had said the wealth had been created as a result of their partnership. But Justice Roberts concluded that Hohn  who was educated at a state school  was a financial genius who had made a special contribution to the creation of the couples fortune.

Hohn had told the judge: Over the long term I am an unbelievable money-maker.
A 75-year-old businessman is being forced to buy a 60,000 Zurich annuity against his wishes because he refuses to pay for financial advice about his pension arrangements.

His defiant stand against 'rip off advice' has left John Small, who owns a wholesale upholstery firm in Southampton, struggling to gain control over his total savings worth around 356,000 with three pension providers.

Despite receiving a letter with contrary instructions from Mr Small, Zurich says it will set up a 'default' annuity for him within the next few days after delaying 'for as long as is reasonably possible' under the terms of his plan. It explains that he must claim retirement benefits after turning 75, or take financial advice if he wants to move his pot elsewhere.

Mr Small has sent a personal letter of protest to the Prime Minister about the legal requirement forcing savers to get professional advice before unlocking some pension pots worth 30,000-plus.

John Small: Owner of wholesale upholstery firm in Southampton reaches an impasse in efforts to sort out his pension

This rule, which applies to pots with safeguards like guaranteed annuity rates, is intended to stop people unwittingly giving up valuable pension benefits.

But it's become a source of grievance for some savers, who are angry at being forced to shell out for what they believe is costly and unnecessary advice. Many people are loath to take financial advice, with half of over-55s stating they were unwilling to pay for such help in a survey last year.

Mr Small, who wants to merge his three pension pots in an invest-and-drawdown scheme and take an income from it, has already explored his options with the Government's free Pension Wise guidance service.

But his adamant refusal to pay for further help from a financial adviser means he has reached an impasse that is preventing him from sorting out his pension.

'It's just the principle that I take professional advice. I have been in business for 50 years. I know what I am doing. I would like to know I have got the choice,' he says.

In his letter to David Cameron, he complains about the firms who refuse him his pension because he won't employ 'a so-called financial adviser'. He writes: 'They say it's Government policy! I have worked hard all my life for nothing it seems. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth.'

One pension firm boss, Chris Wiscarson of Equitable Life, where Mr Small holds a pot he doesn't need to get advice on, expressed fellow feeling, saying: 'I have some sympathy with both sides here.'

Mr Wiscarson told This is Money he is in a similar situation of having to take financial advice before getting his hands on his own pension, explaining: 'I know what I want to do and I don't want to incur the cost of financial advice.'

WHEN IS IT COMPULSORY TO TAKE FINANCIAL ADVICE ABOUT YOUR PENSION? Pension freedoms have given people greater power over how they use their retirement savings. But to prevent people unwittingly giving up valuable benefits, the Government also legislated to ensure all pension scheme providers make savers take financial advice if they want to: 1) Access a defined contribution pot with valuable guarantees - like death benefits or an annuity rate better than you can get on the open market - worth 30,000-plus 2) Transfer or cash in a final salary pension pot worth 30,000-plus. Read more here about the rules for accessing your savings after pension freedom.

Deadlock with pension giants Zurich and Aviva

Pension freedoms reforms promised over-55s the opportunity to spend, save or invest their retirement pots as they wish.

But Mr Small, who is still working at the business he built up over 50 years, has hit a dead end in efforts to settle his financial future.

He has three pots which totted up to around 356,000 when he last checked.

1) Zurich: 60,000 which comes with a guaranteed annuity rate, so advice is required.

Under his 'compulsory purchase annuity', Mr Small will get 6,780 a year if he takes a 25 per cent lump sum, and 9,160 a year if he doesn't.

2) Aviva: 227,000 under a retirement annuity contract - a deferred annuity known as a 'section 226' pension - which comes with safeguarded benefits, so advice is required.

3) Equitable Life: 69,000 with no GAR or other special benefits, so this can be transferred without getting financial advice first.

The firm's chief executive, Mr Wiscarson, confirmed to This is Money that Mr Small could move this pension pot elsewhere once he is ready to do so.

Zurich on brink of forcing 'default' annuity on pensioner

Insurer Zurich says it intends to set up a 'default' annuity for Mr Small within the next few days.

He has ordered the pension firm in writing not to do so, but Zurich says its contract allows it to do this if Mr Small doesn't provide alternative instructions.

The firm says: 'As Mr Small has reached age 75, he must now claim the retirement benefits available on his plan, which he can do by taking a Zurich annuity or shopping around on the open market, or seeking advice and transferring his funds elsewhere if he wishes to pursue other retirement options beyond taking an annuity.

Aviva: Offering 500 towards Mr Small's bill for financial advice

'We have explained his options in detail on several occasions since we first wrote to him in July last year and have delayed converting his pension into an annuity by several weeks to enable him to seek advice and make alternative retirement provision which he has not done.

'Mr Small's plan benefits from a guaranteed annuity rate which gives him additional protection in the form of a higher annuity rate and as a result of Government requirements linked to guaranteed annuity rates he is required to take advice in order to choose an alternative to an annuity.

'In line with the terms and conditions of his plan we have delayed for as long as is reasonably possible and will be converting his pension pot into a Zurich annuity within the next few days.'

Aviva offers 500 towards advice bill

Aviva says Mr Small can transfer his pension pot elsewhere if he wants, but under Government rules he will have to take financial advice as his policy came with safeguarded benefits.

The insurance giant has already paid Mr Small 150 for the inconvenience caused, and is offering him a further 500 towards any bill for financial advice and a single point of contact at the firm to see him through the transfer process.

Aviva will also ensure he can take a quarter of his pot as tax-free cash if he wants although he is now over 75, which is normally the cut-off point for doing this.

An Aviva spokesperson said: 'We accept our service has not been up to the required standard and apologise for this. In recognition of the fact that at times we did not deal with Mr Small's requests as well or as quickly as we might have, we will ensure that he is still able to take up to 25 per cent of his fund as a tax free lump sum should he so wish.

'We will also make a contribution towards the cost of his obtaining independent financial advice up to a maximum of 500 inclusive of VAT. This offer is made as a goodwill gesture.'

Mr Small wrote back to Aviva: 'Regarding financial advice, I have repeated to you over and over, I am not taking so-called pro advice. I find your offer of 500 an insult. My local pro wanted 1,200 for initial advice then a further 1,300 if I decided to to accept the advice - complete rip off.'

He has made a complaint about Aviva to the Financial Ombudsman. An FO spokeswoman said she couldn't comment because it was an ongoing case.

Chris Wiscarson of Equitable Life: Expressed fellow feeling with Mr Small, saying he also has to pay for financial advice, despite knowing what he wants to do with his pension

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: 'Anyone with a defined benefit pension or guaranteed annuity rate is required to seek independent financial advice before accessing savings above 30,000.

'This is because these schemes offer higher levels of return and its important that consumers understand the risks of giving up the additional benefits that they offer.'

What do financial experts say?

'I cant see a straightforward resolution to this issue that will enable your reader to consolidate his pensions via one arrangement without seeking advice,' says Gary Smith, financial planner at Tilney Bestinvest.

Regarding Zurich's stance, he says that its terms and conditions are likely to state the customer has to buy an annuity or make other arrangements by the age of 75. However, Mr Small could make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman about the matter if he wishes.

'I can fully understand Mr Smalls position and the frustration that he feels in not being able to transfer his Zurich and Aviva pension plans on an "execution only" basis, without advice,' went on Mr Smith.

'The requirement to seek advice is there to protect the consumer from potentially losing valuable retirement benefits on transfer. That said, not all guaranteed annuity rates offer real value to a consumer and often it would be in their best interests to transfer out and lose the benefits provided.

'Indeed, it is not unusual to have a guaranteed annuity rate that is only available on a single life basis, payable annually in arrears and with no guaranteed period, and this is likely to be of no real value to many. This is on the grounds that if you were to die during the initial 12-month period the pension provider would retain all of your pension fund without having to pay any annuity at all. Therefore, where is the value in that?

'In respect of the compensation that Aviva has offered, I would add that they have no requirement to offer him any monetary payment at all to put towards the cost of advice.

'However, as he has already identified, an amount of 500 is unlikely to cover the advice costs associated with making pension transfer recommendations (this could be four or five times more than this amount).'

Taking it right to the top: John Small has sent a personal letter of protest to Prime Minister David Cameron about the legal requirement forcing savers to get financial advice before unlocking some pension pots

Mr Smith also cautions: 'Even if Aviva were to offer to cover the full cost of the advice, Mr Small needs to be aware that an adviser might not recommend the transfer once they have reviewed his financial affairs.

'This would potentially be the case if the safeguard benefits provided were offering real value that the adviser deemed to be in the best interest of Mr Small to take. Furthermore, most advice firms will not recommend a transfer of pensions that include safeguard benefits on an "insistent client" basis.

'This then creates a further issue as, if Mr Small were to seek financial advice and was told not to transfer the benefits then, in theory, Zurich and Aviva could potentially process the transfers as advice had been sought and your reader would have been made aware of the benefits he would be giving up.

'However, in my experience companies such as Zurich and Aviva would still require the adviser to sign the discharge form to say that advice had been given and these declarations often read as if a "positive" recommendation to transfer out had been made by the adviser, and they would not be able to sign this.

'That said, the legislation simply requires Mr Small to seek financial advice and, in the event that the adviser did not recommend the transfer, he should still be able to provide both Zurich and Aviva with a copy of the advice report that he had received and instruct them to process the transfers as he would be fully aware of the benefits he was giving up. If Zurich and/or Aviva would still not process the transfers then he would have grounds to complain.'

Protest: Some people are angry at being forced to shell out for what they believe is costly and unnecessary advice about their lifetime savings

Mr Smith raises a further point involving death benefits payable from pension plans, now that Mr Small has passed his 75th birthday.

He says it's highly unlikely that any of his existing plans offer succession drawdown, so the value of his pension funds would probably be paid out as lump sums to his nominated beneficiaries if he died now.

However, these lump sums would be added to his beneficiaries' other taxable income in the tax-year of payment, and be subject to a tax charge of up to 45 per cent.

Mr Smith says: 'If he were able to transfer his pensions into a pension plan that did offer succession drawdown, then his beneficiaries could inherit the remaining value of his pension on death, without any immediate tax charge, but any subsequent income withdrawn would be subject to income tax at the appropriate rate.'

Independent retirement expert Alan Higham, who runs the PensionsChamp.com website, says of Mr Small's situation: 'I'm afraid he either has to take advice or use the funds to buy an annuity.

'Ultimately the law requires advice to be taken before he can move his two pensions for flexible access.'

Mr Higham says that if Mr Small does take financial advice, he may well find he is advised not to transfer and to buy an annuity with some of his pots, because they might offer very generous terms.
There has been a huge rise in banking fraud in the last decade, despite more measures put in place to protect us from losing money, or even life savings.

For example, recent data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau shows internet banking fraud losses were up 64 per cent to 133.5million last year, while telephone bank fraud losses ballooned 92 per cent to 32.3million.

Overall, banking fraud is rising at a whopping 72 per cent a year. Losses reached 755million in 2015.

Supermarket sweep: One reader has written in to share the story of his wife having her bank cards stolen after a trip to the shops

Last month, we revealed how Action Fraud  the body those who fall victim to scams are urged to contact  only investigates a small sliver of the 30,000 cases a month it receives.

And some fraud remains more basic than cyber criminals hacking into your online banking or posing as bank staff on the phone, as this anonymous reader letter below suggests...

Some weeks ago, my wife used her credit card at a local supermarket.

As she was loading her shopping into the car, a woman distracted her and my wife drove off, unaware that a man had opened the boot to steal her credit cards from her purse. This was captured on CCTV.

Three hours later, my wife got a text from one of her credit card companies asking if she'd just bought 1,000 of goods at a London store.

We spotted her cards were missing and cancelled all of them, but by then the thieves had used my wife's cards to obtain 8,000-worth of cash and goods.

I asked the credit card companies for details of where the cards were used. One refused, saying it wasn't allowed to under the Data Protection Act, but the other bank gave me a full list of the times, locations and amounts charged with the stolen card.

I contacted the stores where the goods were bought, giving them the card number, time, location and amount spent, but none would provide a copy of the purchase receipt, or any details of what had been bought.

I asked the supermarket to check its CCTV and it identified the thieves watching my wife enter her PIN (personal identification number) at the till and the man stealing credit cards from my wife's bag. They agreed to keep the CCTV for the police.

I visited the ATM machines used by the thieves, one at a garage.

It agreed to copy the CCTV recording and give it to the police, but the company which owned the ATM wouldn't even confirm if its machine had CCTV.

Another ATM was at a bank - and the bank refused to give its CCTV recording to the police, saying its internal fraud investigators would handle it.

After we reported the cards stolen, a large purchase at a London store was refused and the credit card retained by the store.

There should be CCTV available at the store. The bank credit card fraud investigators said similar thefts happen all the time but they have no access to any of the CCTV footage.

They said the police were no longer investigating the matter and are interested in it only as a statistic.

I've seen groups of people at my local supermarket observing other customers. Several times, these groups have walked together to the tills when a vulnerable-looking customer went to pay for shopping.

VICTIM OF A SIMILAR FRAUD? Have you fallen victim to banking fraud, either after having your cards stolen or via crooks online? Contact us in confidence: lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk

Each time I saw this, I alerted the security staff, and when the people saw the security staff approach, they immediately headed for the exit, leaving their shopping behind.

I've also seen a constant stream of people using a huge number of credit cards in an attempt to withdraw cash from the ATMs.

They seem to be trying various number combinations until either money is dispensed or the card is retained by the ATM.

I watched one couple try to use 20 cards, most of which were retained by the machine.

At one supermarket, a woman parked her car at the far end of the car park and groups reported to her to hand over what looked like credit cards.

Every so often, a motorcycle arrived and collected a package from the woman. It looked to me as if she was operating an organised credit card fraud.
The name of Bin Laden has returned to haunt the West and revive the flagging fortunes of Al Qaeda as an international terrorist force.

Five years after his father's death, 23-year-old Hamza Bin Laden has released a message beseeching 'mujahideen' from across the world to 'unite' to fight the West.

In his audio statement Hamza urges: 'The Islamic umma (nation) should focus on jihad in Al-Sham (Syria) ... and unite the ranks of mujahideen there. There is no longer an excuse for those who insist on division and disputes now that the whole world has mobilised against Muslims.'

Scroll down for video

Five years after his father's death, 23-year-old Hamza Bin Laden has released a message beseeching 'mujahideen' from across the world to 'unite' to fight the West

The Al Qaeda leadership believes there is huge propaganda value in invoking the Bin Laden name

It is not known whether Hamza was in the compound when the raid happened. Pictured: The bedroom where Bin Laden was killed five years ago

His intervention comes days after Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri also called on jihadis in Syria to unite.

'The matter of unity today is one of life and death,' Zawahiri said in his own message posted online on Saturday.

Hamza was just 17 when teams of American Seals burst into his father's Pakistan headquarters, killing his father and members of his family.

He somehow survived - although it is not known whether he escaped or was no longer living at the compound at the time of the raid.

The Al Qaeda leadership believes there is huge propaganda value in invoking the Bin Laden name because it allows them to stake their claim to be the legitimate representative of jihad in the Middle East.

In recent years Al Qaeda and its Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al Nusra, have lost territory and fighters to the more dominant Islamic State during a long-running mutually destructive conflict. Al Qaeda has also lost key leaders as a result of IS assassinations and Coalition bombings.

As the natural heir to Osama Bin Laden, Hamza's name and more youthful profile will boost Al Qaeda's recruitment of jihadi fighters from all over the world.

Heir apparent: Hamza bin Laden, believed to be in his early to mid-20s, was reportedly groomed by his father Osama bin Laden to take over leadership of Al-Qaeda

The Al Qaeda leadership believes there is huge propaganda value in invoking the Bin Laden name

Hamza's emergence as an influential voice among Al Qaeda's leadership is particularly embarrassing for the Americans.

Following the 2011 US raid on the compound in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was living, it was reported that Hamza had been killed alongside his father. White House officials announced his death, before further analysis showed that it was another son, Khaled, who had been killed.

It unclear where Hamza was at the time of the raid.

But letters found in the Abbottabad hideaway suggest that even in the months before his death Osama bin Laden was grooming Hamza as his successor.

He repeatedly discussed ways to prevent Hamza from falling into the hands of Al Qaedas enemies. And the Al Qaeda leader said he wanted his son to avoid Waziristan where the Americans were using drones to target the network.

Max Abrahms, a terrorism academic and expert on Al Qaeda based in the US, told MailOnline that Bin Laden's son could play a key role in displacing Islamic State in the region.

He said: 'Al Qaeda and IS are competing with each other to attract the same kind of jihadis.

It was believed at first that Hamza had been killed in the raid, with his death announced by the White House

Further analysis showed that it was another son, Khaled, who had been killed. Pictured: Then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden receive an update

Max Abrahms, a terrorism academic and expert on Al Qaeda based in the US, told MailOnline that Bin Laden's son could play a key role in displacing Islamic State in the region. Pictured: A Pakistani Army soldier inspecting the part of the wreckage of a US military helicopter that crashed inside the compound

'One of the reasons IS has succeeded in recruiting more fighters to its cause is because it has a strong leadership under Baghdadi.

'This has been made easier since the death of Bin Laden who was, contrary to what some suggest, influential with the group right up until his death. (Ayman) al-Zawahiri does not have the same personality.

'I think you might argue that by bringing out Bin Laden's son Al Qaeda is both trying to evoke the family name of Bin Laden which still carries so much importance (for jihadis) while at the same time directly challenging the Baghdadi leadership.'
Valuable works of art worth over 12million that were snatched from a museum in Italy have been recovered in the Ukraine after thieves attempted to send them there by post.

The 17 rare works of art, including pieces by Tintoretto, Rubens and Mantegna, were recovered by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in what the nation's president Petro Poroshenko hailed as a 'brilliant operation'.

The paintings were stolen from Verona's Castelvecchio museum last November when three masked men entered the museum in a medieval castle after it closed.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko inspects the paintings that had been stolen from an Italian museum that then turned up in his country

The managed to sneak in just before the alarm system was activated and tied up a security guard and cashier before quickly taking the paintings.

Now it has emerged the masterpieces have been discovered by Ukrainian border guards in plastic bags on a small island on the Dniester River between the Ukraine and Moldova.

The Ukrainian Border Guard agency said the paintings had been mailed from Moldova to Ukraine's Odessa border region and kept there by members of a criminal group that included citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and Russia.

In March, the Italian authorities announced the arrest of 13 suspects in the case in Italy and the ex-Soviet nation of Moldova.

They included the Italian guard on duty when the robbery took place and his twin brother along with the brother's Moldovan wife, who were arrested in Italy.

The paintings were stolen from Verona's Castelvecchio museum last November when three masked men entered the museum in a medieval castle after it closed

Investigators had analyzed 4,000 hours of video and hundreds of phone calls to identify the suspects.

In intercepted phone calls, the thieves congratulated themselves, calling the heist 'a big hit,' and saying they would have to wait a few months before trying to offload such valuable paintings.

After the discovery of the stolen paintings was announced President Poroshenko said: 'We have not only preserved the global value of these paintings, but also reaffirmed Ukraine's prestige by such efficient actions.
A Massachusetts man accused of locking a Verizon worker inside an unventilated underground utility vault because the worker parked on his grass has pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

Westborough resident Howard Cook Jr, 73, who has a history of aggressive outbursts, entered the plea Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court.

Cops say the retired utility official locked Michael Hathaway in the vault on August 5, 2013, by pulling out the extension ladder, locking the hatch and placing large rocks on top - and didn't care if he suffocated.

Guilty: Howard Cook Jr (pictured left, with lawyer James Gribouski), 73, pleaded guilty Tuesday to locking a Verizon worker in an underground utility vault in 2013 because the man parked on his grass

Hathaway has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since the incident, Telegram.com reported.

The conflict occurred after Hathaway parked his Verizon vehicle on grass outside Cook's self-storage business in Westborough in order to access the vault.

Prosecutors said Cook followed Hathaway - who had nowhere else to park and was legally entitled to use the grass - to the vault, then verbally abused him while he worked.

They said he then locked Hathaway in the vault and stole his van keys too.

That not only left Hathaway in the dark, but also in danger of suffocating, as the ventilation system automatically shuts off when the door is closed.

Hathaway used his cellphone to call police. And when officers went to Cook's house to retrieve Hathaway's keys, they day, he didn't care when he learned Hathaway might have suffocated.

Cook was sentenced to a year of probation, six months of it supervised, and ordered to complete an anger management program.

Hathaway's family were unhappy with the result, and had previously asked for Cook to be placed on probation for five years under house arrest, so that he could experience confinement like Hathaway had endured.

'This never should have taken this long,' Mrs. Hathaway said, reading from her victim-impact statement, according to Telegram.com.

'Mr. Cook, we've watched you smiling in every court appearance from the day this happened. This will be following you for the rest of your life.'

And Hathaway's eight-year-old daughter, Paisely, read from her own statement: 'When I heard about what happened to my daddy, it was very scary. I was so sad,' she said.

'My daddy was just trying to do his job. I don't like it when my dad goes to work. I worry about him all the time.'

However, Cook's lawyer, James Gribouski, said 'This was just a blip on the screen of a very good life' and that Cook 'deeply regrets the five minutes of actions he did on that day.'

Cook has a history of angry outbursts, Telegraph.com reported.

In 2006 he was made to pay $500 in damages after he damaged a woman's vehicle by banging his own vehicle's door against it because she parked too close.

And in 2011 a Florida restaurant had to call police to remove Cook who had become irate and and threw his plate of food on the floor because they'd run out of double-baked potato.
Close to 20,000 convicted criminal immigrants were released from jail by Homeland Security last year, it has been revealed.

Among the more than 19,700 convicts freed was Jean Jacques, an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, who killed a Connecticut woman just six months after he was allowed out.

The U.S. tried repeatedly to deport Jacques, but his native Haiti wouldn't take him back after he served more than a decade in a state prison for attempted murder and committed multiple parole violations.

ICE has released tens of thousands of convicted criminals. Combined, those people have been convicted of hundreds of thousands of crimes, including murder and sexual assault (file photo)

Each time Jacques was arrested on a parole violation, he would serve a sentence in state prison and then be released to immigration custody.

At least three times, Haiti refused to take him back, so Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in early 2015 did the same thing they do thousands of times a year  they released a violent criminal immigrant from jail.

Six months later, Jacques killed Casey Chadwick, a young Norwich, Connecticut, woman. He was convicted of murder last April and faces sentencing this summer.

Jacques is a textbook example of the kind of immigrant living in the U.S. illegally that the Obama administration says should be returned to his home country. But that's easier said than done.

Jacques' release and that of more than 19,700 convicted criminal immigrants during the 2015 budget year reveal yet another complication in the country's complicated immigration system. ICE has released tens of thousands of convicted criminals. Combined, those people have been convicted of hundreds of thousands of crimes, including murder and sexual assault.

Jacques' case and those of others like him show how difficult it would be to carry out proposals by some politicians, including presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, that immigration officials simply find and deport the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally.

ICE Director Sarah Saldana told Congress recently that agents routinely have little choice but to release immigrants.

Jean Jacques (left), an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, killed Casey Chadwick (right). He was convicted of murder last April and faces sentencing this summer. The U.S. tried repeatedly to deport him, but his native Haiti wouldn't take him back

Saldana said the agency is bound by a complex set of immigration laws and rules that govern which immigrants have to be detained and which ones can be set free while they wait for an immigration judge to rule on their case.

Add to the mix a years-long immigration court backlog of nearly half a million cases and some criminal immigrants could be free in the United States for years before being ordered out of the country.

'What is unacceptable is even one (release). Why did you release even one person?' Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, asked Saldana.

Saldana also told lawmakers that an effort to develop a system to alert local authorities about a newly released criminal immigrant is underway.

But lawmakers and others say it's not enough.

'They got caught committing a crime. They were convicted of the crime and instead of following the law and deporting them, you released them... and they commit more crimes,' Chaffetz said. 'That is so wholly unacceptable.'

ICE Director Sarah Saldana (pictured) said the agency is bound by a complex set of immigration laws and rules that govern which immigrants have to be detained and which ones can be set free while they wait for an immigration judge to rule on their case

Chester Fairlie, the Chadwick family's lawyer, said criminal immigrants like Jacques need to stay in jail. And the government could pressure other governments to take back their citizens, he said, by cutting aid packages or reducing the number of visas available for their citizens to come to the United States.

'It seems to me that our State Department should have enough leverage to say to them, you cannot arbitrarily refuse to take these people back,' Fairlie said.

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill in March 2015 that would allow the U.S. to continue to detain some criminal immigrants even if their home country won't take them back. It hasn't progressed beyond the committee.

But Chaffetz said the administration already can pressure foreign governments to take their citizens back by curbing visas. He said Homeland Security officials need to ask the State Department to impose those visa sanctions.

'By U.S. law, these countries must accept deportations or we won't give any more visas,' Chaffetz said. 'All I'm asking is that the administration enforces current law.'

The State Department said Wednesday it has been asked to curb visas in the past, and a meeting is planned between State and DHS officials.

It is expected that DHS officials will make a new request for some visa sanctions, but it's unclear which countries may be targeted.

Jacques' case and those of others like him show how difficult it would be to carry out proposals by some politicians, including presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, that immigration officials simply find and deport the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally

The government has briefly stopped issuing some temporary work visas for immigrants from certain countries that have refused the return of their citizens, including Guyana in 2001.

Such efforts can be a sort of signal to other nations considering blocking the return of some criminal immigrants.

'You can do it in a targeted way and stop issuing certain categories of visas,' said Igor Timofeyev, a former director of immigration policy and a special adviser for refugee and asylum affairs at DHS during President George W. Bush's administration.

But the effort can be fraught with political and diplomatic complications, Timofeyev said. In the case of China, for instance, a complicated political and economic relationship means that being able to send home criminal immigrants is not the only consideration for an administration.

Nevertheless, Chaffetz and other Republican lawmakers have repeatedly pressed DHS officials to kick-start efforts to penalize countries whose governments have refused to cooperate with deportation efforts.
lied to the Oglala Sioux tribe from March 2014 through April about how proceeds from its bonds would be invested

Jason Galanis is accused of scamming a Native American tribe and others of more than $60million

A man once dubbed 'Porn's New King' was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on charges he scammed a Native American tribe and others of more than $60 million.

Charges against Jason Galanis, 45, and six others were announced by US Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan. Defense lawyers did not immediately comment.

Prosecutors said Galanis, his father John 'Yanni' Galanis, Gary Hirst, Hugh Dunkerley, Bevan Cooney, Devon Archer and Michelle Morton lied to the Oglala Sioux tribe from March 2014 through April about how proceeds from its bonds would be invested.

They said the dealings occurred with the Wakpamni Lake Community Corp., an economic development corporation arm of the Oglala Sioux tribe of the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

The government alleges that Galanis and the others spent most of the proceeds on homes, cars, travel, designer clothing like Gucci, Prada, Valentino and jewelry.

It said they duped investors into buying the bonds as well. Galanis was charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit investment adviser fraud and investment adviser fraud.

'Instead of investing the proceeds in a way that would provide capital for development and help cover the interest payments, the defendants allegedly pocketed most of it to pay for their own personal expenses,' Bharara said in a statement.

'The defendants' alleged fraud has left devastation in its wake: a tribe with tens of millions in bond obligations it cannot pay, and investors out tens of millions, left holding bonds they did not want.'

Diego Rodriguez, head of New York's FBI office, said: 'The alleged fraudsters named in this case didn't just see an opportunity to steal money when they thought no one was looking, they allegedly hatched a plan to scam a municipal entity from the start.

'The most egregious fallout from this scheme is that the bondholders now hold worthless securities, and the tribe can't make the interest payments due.'

US Attorney Preet Bharara (above) said: 'The defendants' alleged fraud has left devastation in its wake: a tribe with tens of millions in bond obligations it cannot pay, and investors out tens of millions, left holding bonds they did not want'

Galanis was labeled 'Porn's New King' by Forbes magazine when it reported in 2004 that he had bought the nation's largest payment processor for Internet porn.

According to the New York Post, this is the third time in nine years that Galanis has been accused of masterminding a financial fraud scheme.

Galanis and his 73-year-old father were arrested in September and 'charged with operating a pump-and-dump that netted them nearly $20million,' the Post reported.

In addition, he was accused of using nearly $500,000 of the proceeds to pay for legal bills related to his pump-and-dump case.

'The defendants also allegedly duped unwitting investors into buying the bonds by hiding material facts about them, including their lack of liquidity,' Bharara said in a statement.

Court papers allege that the father-son-duo worked the Sioux scam prior to their arrests in September and still continued on with it after they were released on bail.
Paul Rater (pictured) was sentenced to six months in jail for abandoning his five-year-old granddaughter in the desert in November 2015

An Arizona man was sentenced tosix months in jail for abandoning his five-year-old granddaughter in the desert and instructing her to 'shoot any bad guys,' prosecutors said.

Paul Armand Rater, 54, of Buckeye, pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse under a plea agreement stemming from the November 2015 incident, county Attorney Bill Montgomery said.

The girl was reported missing by familymembers four hours after Rater took her for a ride in his newpickup truck, authorities said.

She was found holding a .45-caliber pistol during asearch of the area by her mother and an off-duty firefighter,court records said.

She told sheriff's detectives that she had been told to'shoot any bad guys' and added: 'I don't know why papa leftme.'

Rater was located at a store and he admitted to leaving the girl under a tree with his gun after his vehicle apparently had broken down and he left to seek help.

But he then proceeded to go into an establishment where he had drinks and ate a cheeseburger, court records showed.

'There still has been no satisfactory explanation for whythat happened,' Montgomery said at a news conference on Wednesday. 'I can't tell you why.'

But during his first court appearance last year, Rater explained why he did it - because he was hungry and thirsty, the Washington Post reports.

Rater claimed his truck had broken down and he left his granddaughter under a tree when she became tired - but he then went to a bar and got a burger and drinks

Rater told Superior Court Commissioner Alysson Abe that his new ruck had broken down and gotten stuck while four-wheeling and he wasn't able to dig it out.

He had left his cellphone at home, he said, so the pair started walking and he only left her under the tree after she couldn't walk anymore.

'My truck got stuck, I just bought this truck. So I walk with my granddaughter, she was crying, pissing, moaning, 'cause she got tired, she wanted to take a nap.

'I had to try to get to a f****** phone, because I forgot my phone, so for miles there's nobody anywhere. I put her under a shade tree and put my gun down because I didn't want to carry it.'

Rater claimed he had walked for miles until he eventually ended up where he started - but claimed that when he called for his granddaughter, he got no reply.

'I tried to dig the truck out again. By then, I couldnt, I was so thirsty, I couldnt stand it,' he told the commissioner.

'So I started walking to see if I could see her again, make sure she was OK. I didnt see her. I called for her. She said she was tired, so I guess she went to sleep, took a nap.'

He claimed that he started walking again and found a place to get food.

Rater insisted that he called his wife as soon as he made it inside, before ordering the burger and drinks.

'Only reason why I got something to eat was I hadnt eaten in six hours,' Rater added. 'I drank two sodas and then I started drinking beer because I dont like soda, so, I was dehydrated.'

Rater's pickup truck (pictured) broke down in the desert He said he went to find help, leaving the girl under the shade of a tree

The girl was found holding a .45-caliber pistol in a secluded part of the Arizona desert (above, file photo) near Buckeye Hills by her mother and an off-duty firefighter during a search of the area

But according to the Sheriffs Office, Rater showed up at the South Buckeye Equestrian Center about 5.30pm and never mentioned his granddaughter, The Arizona Republic reported.

He ordered a cheeseburger and drank four alcoholic drinks before calling his wife, it is claimed.

'Once he was in civilization, he went to a bar, had a drink, had a hamburger, didnt bother to tell anyone there was a five-year-old child missing in the desert,' Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Jeffrey Pitts told Commissioner Abe, the newspaper reported.

'He was in care of the child, he placed her in extreme danger by leaving her in the elements like that.'

In a probable-cause statement, deputies said: 'While he was looking for help, he came across multiple people and never thought he should call 911.

'He said he did ask the people to look for his granddaughter because he left her in the desert.'

In addition to the jail time, Rater was also sentenced to 10 years probation at his sentencing hearing in MaricopaCounty Superior Court in Phoenix on Monday.

Rater's attorney, Robert Ditsworth, could not immediately bereached for comment on Wednesday.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz mocked the 'chaos' in the GOP today and insisted that comparisons to her own party's bitter battle over the White House are erroneous.

Bernie Sanders has accused the national party of stacking the deck against him at the convention, and many of his supporters say they will not vote for Hillary Clinton in November if she's the Democratic nominee.

Yet Wasserman Schultz told reporters on a press call, 'I'm not at all concerned that we are going to have a divisive fight at our convention. At our convention we are headed towards unity.'

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz mocked the 'chaos' in the GOP today and insisted that comparisons to her own party's bitter battle over the White House are erroneous

The DNC head's stated purpose for holding the call was to warn lawmakers and Republican Party leaders they can run from Donald Trump's inflammatory statements but they will not be able to hide in November.

'The irony is that Trumps impending nomination is the result of years of the Republican Party elevating extreme voices, and using divisive campaigns that sought to exploit unfounded fears for political gain,' she said. 'Theyve made their bed, and now theyre lying in it.'

Trump's status as the presumptive nominee 'ensured his partys problems wont be limited to convention chaos -- hes going to force GOP races big and small across the country to own his ugly, divisive and dangerous rhetoric all the way to the general election,' she argued.

As reporters pointed out the division within Wasserman Schultz's own party, exemplified by Sanders' assault on the DNC, and the possibility of a food fight on the convention floor in Philadelphia this July, the leading Democrat argued that it's not the same at all.

A House Speaker refusing to support his party's nominee is 'unprecedented' she said as she discussed Paul Ryan's meeting tomorrow with Trump on Capitol Hill.

Additionally, past Republican nominees and presidents are boycotting their party's convention over Trump, she noted.

'The Republicans are in unprecedented division and chaos, and frankly they've acknowledged that they are,' she argued.

That's not to say that Democrats are all rowing in the same direction at present, either, though, she admitted.

'Towards the end of any campaign, primary or general, you're gonna have more pointed language used and the candidates are gonna make sharper distinctions with one another,' she said.

The Democratic Party official candidly stated, 'I've cautioned both candidates and their campaigns and their supporters to be mindful of the tone that they use, especially at this point, because in short order we're going to need to be able to reunify.'

'And while I'm confident that once our candidates, once they sit down at the end of this primary, that they will be able to come together, and they'll set the tone for their own supporters, we have a lot of passionate people on both sides who support our party's candidates and we want to make sure that we're not making it harder for them... to unify either.'

Bernie Sanders has accused the national party of stacking the deck against him at the convention, and many of his supporters say they will not vote for Hillary Clinton in November if she's the Democratic nominee

Wasserman Schulz brought up 2008, when Clinton faced off against Barack Obama, as an example of her party's historic ability to come together after a bloody primary.

'The contest was actually closer in terms of the votes that each candidate had earned and the delegates they had earned,' she said, 'and it was much more divisive in terms of tone.'

She said, 'Ultimately we easily came together, there were some people that were resistant, and we have a process in place that made the majority of them comfortable, and we were able to elect Barack Obama.'

Sanders is upset with Wasserman Schultz and the DNC for appointing just three of his supporters to 75 slots on convention committees that will determine the rules and platform.

He last week sent a letter to the DNC that said, 'If we are to have a unified party in the fall, no matter who wins the nomination, we cannot have a Democratic National Convention in which the views of millions of people who participated in the Democratic nominating process are unrepresented in the committee membership.

'That sends the very real message that the Democratic Party is not open to the millions of new people that our campaign has brought into the political process, does not want to hear new voices and is unwilling to respect the broader base of people that this party needs to win over in November and beyond.'

His campaign said in a statement that if the slots are not 'fairly allotted one result could be floor fights.'

'If the process is set up to produce an unfair, one-sided result, we are prepared to mobilize our delegates to force as many votes as necessary to amend the platform and rules on the floor of the convention,' Sanders warned in his letter.

Clinton is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination as she leads in both votes and delegates. Sanders could play the spoiler for her in November by refusing to send his supporters her way over differences with the Democratic Party, though

The DNC has denied the charges, and Schultz today argued the Democratic presidential candidate has a 'fundamental misunderstanding' of how the committee appointment process for the convention works.

Each of the three standing committees has 180 members, she said. The DNC has the power to select 25 each. The rest are allotted proportionally to the campaigns based on their vote totals.

She said she did not understand how that could 'by anyone's definition...be perceived as a committee being stacked.'

'So no, I don't think that Senator Sanders' concern is valid or warranted, and the rules already cover that the candidates will proportionally earn the representation based on a statewide vote,' she said. 'So no, that is not a valid concern.'

Clinton is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination as she leads in both votes and delegates. Sanders is seeking to make a comeback in the race by taking her by surprise in New Jersey and California on June 7.

His pathway to victory was already narrow and took another hit today when his California state director quit over differences with the campaign in terms of strategy.

The progressive senator's last chance to impact the race will come at the convention, when he and his supporters put their energies toward shaping the party platform.

He'll also have a choice, as Clinton did in 2008, of giving a speech that brings his supporters into the Democratic Party fold and directs them to his former opponent's corner.

Sanders has said he'll get behind Clinton if she beats him but has not detailed the extent of that support.

His fight with the DNC over committee assignments is unlikely to be his last attempt at leverage.
The convictions were in the 1980s, Mr Brown was aged 18 and 19

Mr Brown assaulted an officer and drove under the influence of alcohol

Labor is planning to drop one of its candidates in the first week of the federal election campaigns for failing to disclose two convictions from the 1980s.

Femantle Candidate Chris Brown can be disendorsed as early as Thursday for assaulting a police officer and driving under the influence of alcohol, reported the ABC.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has instead chosen to support Fremantle's Josh Wilson, the local deputy mayor and chief of staff to outgoing Fremantle MP Melissa Parke.

Fremantle candidate Chris Brown to be dumped by Labor after he failed to declare two convictions he committed as a teenager in the 1980s

Mr Brown, a Maritime Union Official, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer during an altercation with other men and received a 12-month good behaviour bond as a result.

For driving under the influence Mr Brown was fined $200, reported The West Australian.

'I'm a fine upstanding citizen that was caught up in a couple of these things when I was an 18, 19-year-old, and I've had no other issues or convictions since,' Mr Brown told the ABC.

Mr Brown reportedly pleaded guilty to the assault under guidance from his lawyer but has since wished he challenged the conviction.

In 2011 Mr Brown successfully applied for a spent conviction and as a result did not need to list the assault on preselection paperwork.

Despite not being legally obliged to declare the convictions Mr Brown reportedly told Labor representatives about the offences one month ago after he was advised it will not be an issue.

'I've had these two instances, I don't hide from it, that's part of who I am, and I actually think I should be using them as a strength to show youth there's a positive way forward,' Mr Brown said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is expected to support Fremantle's Josh Wilson, the local deputy mayor and chief of staff to outgoing Fremantle MP Melissa Parke

Since the occurrence the MUA denounced Labor's plan to dump a candidate over matters that were carried out as a teenager a number of years ago.

'On the waterfront by the way we're not all members of the Salvation Army, but I have got to say this is an absolute miscarriage of justice,' MUA national president Christy Cain said.

The plan to dump Mr Brown came after the ALP national secretary George Wright wrote a letter of recommendation to Mr Shorten.
The father of one of Australia's most notorious gangsters Carl Williams has died from a heart attack at the age of 69.

George Williams is believed to have been setting up a television set in his Melbourne home when he took ill and collapsed.

He was taken to hospital but could not be revived, it has been reported. The father-of-two spent time in prison with his son before his slaying in 2010.

Scroll down for video

George Williams (seen above, right, with his son Carl in 2004) has died at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack

According to The Herald Sun, George Williams spent the last few years of his life defiantly fighting off violent attacks on his family home.

He is understood to have been setting up a television set in his house when he collapsed and was taken to hospital.

Reports suggest his partner, Kathleen Bourke, and other relatives were with him when he died.

His death comes six years after Carl's brutal murder in Barwon Prison after being struck on the head with part of an exercise bike by a fellow inmate.

He was 39-years-old at the time and serving a life sentence for the murders of Jason Moran, Mark Mallia and Lewis Moran.

Matthew Charles Johnson, another inmate at the prison, was convicted of his killing and sentenced to 32 years imprisonment in 2011.

Williams (left in 2010) spent 20 months behind bars with his son (right in the same year) when both were convicted of drug trafficking offences in 2007

Carl Williams (above with his father in 2004) was murdered in Barwon Prison in 2010 by another inmate

Matthew Johnson (above) was convicted of killing the 39-year-old and sentenced to 32 years imprisonment

Johnson murdered Williams by bashing him to death with part of an exercise bike in Barwon Prison in 2010. Above, he is seen approaching him from behind moments before the killing

Williams and his father had spent 20 months together in the prison near Geelong (above) when he died

At the time speculation circulated the attack was aimed to silence Williams who had been informing police about Melbourne's gangland networks in exchange for a reduced sentence.

George's other son, Shane, died of a heroin overdose in 1997. His wife, Barbara, died in 2008 after battling depression.

In 2010, after the death of his youngest son, the convicted drug dealer was crippled by grief.

In an interview with the ABC his partner told how he had doted on Carl since being freed from jail.

'George has just been there for Carl 250 per cent of the way. He just dotes on him.

'It's just terrible for George. This son has taken over because his other son died. I don't know if he'll get through it,' she said.

The pair spent 20 months together behind bars after being convicted of drug trafficking. George was freed in 2009 and had hopes for a quieter life, it was claimed.

George Williams (above at the Supreme Court in 2013) settled a $700,000 tax bill with the Australian Tax Office that year after unsuccessfully suing the State of Victoria for compensation for his son's death

George (above at his son's funeral with his widow Roberta in 2010) was crippled with grief following his death

Williams (above during his 2007 trial for the murders of three people) was believed to have been helping police with investigations when he died

An inmate who spent time with the pair in the prison told Sydney Morning Herald he had 'no enemies' and 'wanted to be left alone.'

After his son's death, he spent years fighting a $700,000 tax bill with the Australian Tax Office. He settled the dispute in 2013, agreeing to pay a reported $513,000 in unpaid tax and interest owed to the government from 2011.

The case was due to go to trial at the Supreme Court, with Williams arguing the State of Victoria be held liable for the bill because of his son's cooperation with police work.

He and Carl's widow, convicted drug dealer Roberta Williams, sued the state after his death, claiming he should have been given better protection while assisting investigations.

They argued that they had been deprived of the financial benefits of his cooperation and sought damages for the emotional affects of his death.

Last year The Age reported the criminal's daughter, Dhakota, would receive compensation in cash when she turned 18.
The decision not to prosecute the death of mother-of-seven Lynette Daley is to be reviewed by barristers who've been given the task by the same man whose office refused to prosecute in the first place.

New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions, Lloyd Babb, SC, has appointed barristers from outside his office to review the decision as public attention and pressure over the case increases, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Daley, aged 33, was found naked, bloodied and bruised on Ten Mile Beach in northern NSW in January 2011 and two men allegedly present when she was injured, Adrian Attwater and Paul Maris, were never prosecuted.

'Given the importance of maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice, I have taken the unusual step of seeking advice from independent counsel,' the ABC quoted Mr Babb as saying.

Mother-of-seven Lynette Daley, 33, who died on a northern New South Wales beach in 2011 as a result of blunt force genital tract trauma

One of the suspects in her death, Paul Maris, who was never prosecuted. Police went to court to seek apprehended violence orders against him four times between 2005 and 2015

'These two very experienced and highly regarded barristers from the private bar will review all the material and provide their advice to me.

'I will then proceed to make my decision and advise the public of the outcome.'

It's been revealed by The Daily Telegraph that police sought apprehended violence orders against Mr Maris on four occasions in the past 11 years.

They went to court four times between 2005-2015 seeking AVOs against Paul Maris, 46, to protect four different women, not including Ms Daley, according to The Daily Telegraph.

An autopsy found Ms Daley died from blunt force genital tract trauma allegedly being caused by Mr Attwater, 42, ABC's Four Corners reported.

Mr Attwater and his friend, Mr Maris, took Ms Daley to Ten Mile Beach for a camping and fishing trip the day before she was allegedly assaulted.

The two men, who were known to police at the time, allegedly forced Ms Daley to perform a series of sex acts in the back of Mr Maris' four-wheel-drive while she was heavily inebriated.

Mr Attwater and his friend, Mr Maris, took Ms Daley to Ten Mile Beach for a camping and fishing trip the day before she was allegedly assaulted

Mr Maris told police he destroyed key pieces of evidence such as the blood-soaked mattress and Ms Daley's underwear before law enforcement arrived at the scene.

And while on the phone to the emergency services, Mr Attwater was recorded calling his motionless girlfriend Lynette Daley a 'f**kin' b***h' while he believed he was on hold.

'C'mon, wake up babe where are ya? Hey ya? You f**kin' b***h,' he can be heard saying while being recorded by NSW Ambulance.

'What a good f**kin' Australia Day, f**k's sake...f**king hell you bloody b***h.'

NSW coroner Michael Barnes said Mr Attwater and Mr Maris' accounts of what they subjected Ms Daley to were 'inconceivable and dishonest' following an inquest in 2014.

The interior of Mr Maris' 4WD after police were called to the scene where Ms Daley died

Mr Attwater was charged with manslaughter and Mr Maris was charged with manslaughter accessory after the fact.

But the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute either man despite mounting pressure from the police and NSW coroner, leaving Ms Daley's family deeply shocked and frustrated.

Ms Daley's stepfather told Four Corners the system did not care about her.

'She was just a statistic with the DPP and with them. You know, it was just another Indigenous girl, we'll sweep it under the carpet. You know, they're a dime a dozen, this happens all the time, we'll let it go.

Ms Daley's sister, Pauline, told Four Corners that her life felt empty since her death in 2011.

'We don't celebrate birthdays, Christmas anymore. Life is not the same. It's never going to be the same,' Pauline said.
As the EU Referendum campaign started to bite, Westminster seemed peripheral. Down in Cornwall, Boris Johnson was causing sunlit mayhem with his new Leave the EU battle bus. This was a vast red thing, painted that colour to appeal to Labour voters.

Mr Johnson was accompanied by Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who walked at his side with the air of a female Special Branch officer (there to protect the public, perhaps).

For our blond hero it was not so much a day's campaigning as an excuse to stretch his waistline. There is something of Winnie the Pooh in Boris. Show him a 'hunny' jar and he will get his nose stuck in it.

Getting stuck in: Boris Johnson bought some asparagus during a trip to Truro market in Cornwall

Cheers to that! Mr Johnson stopped off in a pub on the Vote Leave tour, left, and enjoyed an ice cream today

Ice cream! Beer! Asparagus! All were licked and squeezed  as, nearly, were a few West Country maidens who bravely threw themselves in Boris's path. He pushed his ice cream cornet at a passing woman in sunglasses, asking her if she wanted it. At least he didn't push it into her nose for fun.

Selfies were shot by the barrow load as he hit Truro and other points west like one of those weather fronts the Met Office nowadays insists on naming. Storm Boris: starting moderate becoming stronger, occasionally windy, good. By now he had a Cornish pasty in his hand. He waved it in the air.

I think he may have been trying to cool it down. They are beggars when too h-h-h-hot, particularly if you are trying to make a speech at the time and your eyes start to water.

Down the flank of his bus was written the claim that we send 350million a week to Brussels. The Remain crowd hate this figure, saying that some of the money is given back to us by the EU. How charitable of them. However, Boris argued that we should be the ones to decide how our loot was spent.

His bus had a big NHS symbol to suggest that the money would be spent better on hospitals than on European pet projects. 'We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take back control of our country and our democracy,' roared Boris.

Too hot to handle: The former London mayor waves a pasty as his Leave battle bus tours Cornwall

He did a Radio 4 interview with John Humphrys in which poor Humphrys could barely interject a sentence.

On BBC breakfast telly he claimed that some 10billion a year of our money is blown by the EU on things such as 'Greek tobacco farming and Spanish bull-fighting'. Ole!

Then he was off again, leaping into crowds of yokels. One woman picked up her pug dog and brought it to him, as though to be blessed by St Francis of Assisi. Boris engaged the dog in conversation as best he could but the pug was giving nothing away about its voting intentions.

In the City of London, meanwhile, the Remain campaigners played their own sunbeam, their own master of feel-good optimism. Folks, put your hands together for that legendary election winner, that pharaoh of fun, Gordon Brown.

The pharoah of fun: Gordon Brown appeared on Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan, Editor-at-Large of DailyMail.com

The Broonster, whose haircut is returning to what it was in his student days  turbulent, Byronesque, tugged low on the brow  did a turn on ITV's early-morning telly with Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. Arguing for a Remain vote, Gordon had an important disclosure to make.

'We have always been part of the world,' he said. One of the most infamously introspective men to have been Prime Minister added that 'Britain is an outward-looking country' and we should therefore embrace the European Commission for all time to come. Scottish viewers had their own programmes.
Police have vowed to continue a probe into child abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath  even though a key witness has been discredited

Police have vowed to continue a probe into child abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath  even though a key witness has been discredited.

Mike Veale, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, said he was satisfied it was appropriate to continue the investigation into the former prime minister, who died in 2005.

He said the operation  which has so far cost 367,965  would proceed despite the Metropolitan Polices decision to close down its VIP sex abuse inquiry, in which Sir Edward was named as a suspect by a discredited witness known as Nick.

Last August, Wiltshire Police was criticised for holding a bizarre televised appeal for witnesses outside Sir Edwards former house in Salisbury in the shadow of the citys cathedral.

A senior officer urged victims not to suffer in silence and to contact them if they had been abused by the respected politician. Lurid allegations against the late Tory PM, including that he stopped then Tory MP Harvey Proctor castrating Nick with a penknife at a paedophile sex party, have since been comprehensively demolished.

But Wiltshire Police, leading an inquiry involving seven forces into historical abuse allegations against Sir Edward, said the nine-month investigation remains live.

In a letter to the Commons home affairs select committee published last night, Mr Veale said: We are committed to going where the evidence leads and it will conclude when we are satisfied that our objectives have been proportionately achieved.

As with all investigations, the length of the inquiry will usually be commensurate with the complexity, seriousness and volume of allegations. I would ask no inference is drawn, suffice to say I am satisfied the length of this investigation is proportionate.

Mr Veale, who has 16 police officers dedicated to the allegations dating back nearly 50 years, said he would personally conduct due diligence on the investigation, codenamed Operation Conifer, to ensure proportionality, legality and necessity.

He added: I will continue to think carefully about the implications of [the] operation. Doing the right thing is more important than the reputation of Wiltshire Police, and I am satisfied that it is appropriate for the investigation to continue.

Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the home affairs select committee, said: Concerns have been expressed to the committee over the rationale for this investigation and its cost.

'Ministers have previously criticised the inappropriate decision for a senior police officer to appeal for individuals to come forward with information at the gates of Sir Edward Heaths former home. We will be monitoring this issue closely.

Mike Veale (pictured), Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, said he was satisfied it was appropriate to continue the investigation into the former prime minister, who died in 2005

Wiltshire Polices inquiry began last year following allegations it covered up child sex claims against the politician, who never married. Forces including Kent, Jersey and Hampshire have been involved in the probe.

As part of the investigation, officers will spend up to two years trawling through Sir Edwards private papers, questioning lunch guests at his old home Arundells, as well as former political aides and staff.

They will also try to track down any surviving crew on his yacht over extraordinary claims he abused a boy before throwing him overboard.

Nick, who has since been exposed as a fantasist, claimed to have been raped by the former PM and also made lurid claims against a group of Establishment figures, including ex-Home Secretary Leon Brittan and former head of the army Lord Bramall.

But in March, the Met made the humiliating decision to scrap its 2million Operation Midland inquiry having failed to find any corroborating evidence.
and hit Basden who died after the impact

Tragedy: Trenton Basden was killed on Tuesday night after a deer crashed through his windshield

Police say a Georgia teen driver was killed after a car in westbound lane hit a deer, sending the animal crashing into his windshield.

Trenton Basden was reportedly driving home on Highway 369 on the eastbound lane on Tuesday night when a Toyota Scion in the other lane crashed into a deer and sent it flying towards Basden's Honda Civic.

The deer went through the windshield and hit Basden who was killed by the impact, according to Fox Atlanta.

Basden was a senior at North Forsyth High School and on Wednesday morning his teachers and fellow students held a prayer circle in front of the school to honor his memory.

'He was a great guy, and now hes gone. Its terrible,' friend Caleb Holtzclaw told WSBTV.

'Everybody loved him and had awesome things to say about him,' Holtzclaw added.

Holtzclaw visited the crash site one day after his friend died. The boys were in the same math class and became close.

'I just wanted to. I dont know. I felt like I should,' Holtzclaw said of visiting the tragic scene.

The school principal released the following statement: Our Raider Nation is mourning the tragic loss of senior Trenton Basden. He was an excellent student and friend to many.'

Events: Trenton Basden was reportedly driving home on Highway 369 on the eastbound lane on Tuesday night when a Toyota Scion in the other lane crashed into a deer and sent it flying towards Basden's Honda Civic

Spokeswoman for Forsyth County Schools, Jennifer Caracciolo, said counselors will be on hand to talk to students.

Sadly, Tuesday was Basden's mother's birthday. She nor his father, who is in the ministry, have been named.

Police say no charges are expected in the fatal crash. The driver of the other car was not injured.

Brasden would have graduated from high school on June 1 and worked at a Chick-fil-A. He was an accomplished student enrolled in several AP courses.

The restaurant posted the following message on their Facebook page: 'Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the loss of one of our own,'Chick-fil-A said in the post.

'We will remember Trenton Basden as a team player, hard worker, and most of all part of our Chick-fil-A Family. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and extend ours to his family during this tough time.'
More than six years after David Cameron first promised the new law, Number Ten will pledge to introduce legislation in the next session of Parliament to end the rampant abuse of human rights

Plans to scrap Labours Human rights Act and replace it with a British Bill of Rights will finally be included in the Queens Speech next week.

More than six years after David Cameron first promised the new law, Number Ten will pledge to introduce legislation in the next session of Parliament to end the rampant abuse of human rights.

But the Bill will stop short of original plans for Britain to quit the European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg.

Instead, it will settle on a compromise devised by Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

The UK will remain a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and foreign criminals and terrorists will still have their cases heard by Euro judges.

But when there is a clash between British judges and their counterparts in Strasbourg the final decision will rest with the UK.

Government insiders say that, if they had tried to quit the ECHR altogether, the legislation would not get through Parliament  with a sizeable number of Tory MPs opposed to the idea.

But the watered-down proposals look certain to be attacked by the Tory right, which has raged for years at the courts rulings, such as blocking the deportation of Abu Qatada.

They could also open up a damaging Cabinet split between Home secretary Theresa May and other senior ministers.

Less than two weeks ago, she told a London audience: The ECHR can bind the hands of Parliament, adds nothing to our prosperity, makes us less secure by preventing the deportation of dangerous foreign nationals.

So regardless of the EU referendum, my view is this. If we want to reform human rights laws in this country, it isnt the EU we should leave but the ECHR and the jurisdiction of its Court.

The Queens Speech, due next Wednesday, will also feature a Bill guaranteeing people living in rural areas will get access to faster broadband.

The legislation will commit the Government to ensuring that every household have access to a minimum 10 megabits per second (Mbps) connection speed, amid complaints that people living in the countryside have been left behind.

The UK will remain a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and foreign criminals and terrorists will still have their cases heard by Euro judges. Pictured: Former president of the ECHR, Briton Sir Nicolas Dusan Bratza in Strasborg

Measures to ban organisations, gag individuals and close down premises used to promote hatred will be included an Extremism Bill

The bill will also extend vetting rules so that employers will be told of known extremists to prevent them from working with children and other vulnerable groups or from carrying out roles in sensitive areas.

However, ministers are braced for a row over how precisely to define extremism.

At the same time , Home Secretary Theresa may will also face a battle to finally get her Investigatory Powers Bill through Parliament after a year of consultation.
The son of a low-income earner who said he could not afford to take his daughters to the movies on ABC's Q&A has accused Duncan Storrar of being a drug user.

Mr Storrar's story made national headlines and kick started a campaign to buy him a toaster, which has raised almost $55,000 in two days.

But Mr Storrar's son, Aztec Major, told The Australian his father, who claims he had 'a disability and a low education', was 'not the person he's making himself out to be'.

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Aztec Major (pictured), the son of a low-income earner who said he could not afford to take his daughters to the movies on ABC's Q&A, has accused Duncan Storrar of being a drug user

'He doesn't deserve it [the money]. He's used drugs,' Mr Major, who lives in Geelong in Victoria, said.

Mr Storrar did admit to the ABC to taking drugs in the past but had never drunk alcohol before.

'I gave up smoking weed years ago. No I don't smoke weed [now]. I certainly don't drink alcohol,' he said.

Mr Major, who took his mother's surname, said he starting using drugs after moving in with his father at the age of 17, which was the start of his 'downward spiral'.

'Duncan was using drugs... it is been around 2 years since I last saw him... I witnessed him using marijuana in front of me,' Mr Major told Daily Mail Australia.

'My time living with Duncan was was an emotional battle with myself. Coming to terms with having a father in my life again was very hard.

Mr Storrar (pictured) did admit to taking drugs in the past but had never drunk alcohol before

Mr Major, who took his mother's surname, said he starting using drugs after moving in with his father at the age of 17, which was the start of his 'downward spiral'. Above is a photo of the pair when Mr Major was one

'I feel like he was a small influence on myself using but I want it to be very clear that I am responsible for any decision that I made to use drugs with him.'

After living with Mr Storrar, Mr Major - who lost his mother to breast cancer when he was nine years old - said his drug habit started to escalate.

'From there I had no parental laws in force and was partying a lot and failed my VCE. I began to use many party drugs,' he said.

'Soon I became addicted to methamphetamine and GHB, using nearly everyday.

'A lot of events happened very quickly, rehab, hospitalisation due to overdosing and criminal offences. I had no self control and was on a downwards spiral.

'After this I had to cut the bad people out of my life and my father was one of them.'

Mr Major said the support of his family and best friend helped him 'break out of this negative cycle' as well as will power.

After living with Mr Storrar, Mr Major - who lost his mother to breast cancer when he was nine years old - said his drug habit started to escalate

Mr Storrar's story made national headlines and kick started a campaign to buy him a toaster, which has raised almost $55,000 in two days

The gofundme campaign page has been flooded with kind comments and well wishes for the man

The apprentice spray painter said he had been sober since late 2014.

Mr Major said he wanted to be clear that this was not about 'vengeance' but the way Mr Storrar depicted himself as an 'Aussie battler' was not right and 'in my eyes he is undeserving of the money'.

'Duncan does not deserve this money and [it] should go towards a worthy cause. I believe the Cancer Council because... my mother passed away when I was nine due to breast cancer,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I would also like this to be shown to young men and women going through hard times that there is light at the tunnel.'

The fundraiser for Mr Storrar was started by Samuel Slammer Fawcett on Tuesday after the father's appearance on Monday's Q&A on the ABC.

Mr Fawcett said he had been in contact with Mr Storrar who was 'quite overwhelmed' by the attention.

'His view is that all he did was ask a question on the telly and suddenly there's all this attention on him. It must be pretty intense,' Mr Fawcett said.

The fundraiser organiser said Mr Storrar had told him he intended to donate a 'large portion' to another family who 'broke [his] heart with their touching attempts to help him... despite arguably being in a situation more dire than his'.

The father explained the difference it would make to his life if the Federal Government lifted the tax-free threshold to Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer (pictured)

Mr Storrar spoke about how he could not afford to take his children to the movies

The hashtag #IstandwithDuncan was also trending online earlier in the week

Mr Fawcett added Duncan's priority was his children and he was going to put the money in a 'safe place' to help with their education.

During the ABC program on Monday night, Mr Storrar explained to Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer the difference lifting the tax-free threshold would make to his life.

As a man with 'a disability and a low education', the father said he had to tell his daughters he was too broke to take them to the movies.

Ms O'Dwyer's response involved an explanation about how tax cuts are being used in other ways - like to help a cafe purchase a $6,000 toaster.

'I've got a disability and a low education, that means I've spent my whole life working off minimum wage. You're going to lift the tax-free threshold for rich people,' Mr Storrar told the panel.

'If you lift my tax-free threshold, that changes my life. That means that I get to say to my little girls, "Daddy's not broke this weekend, we can go to the pictures".'

'Rich people don't even notice their tax-free threshold lift. Why don't I get it? Why do they get it?,'Mr Storrar asked.

The hashtag, 'I stand with Duncan', was also trending online earlier in the week, with many thanking the everyday Australian for sharing his story and putting their struggles in perspective.




The rape of a woman inside a Rebels outlaw motorcycle clubhouse was on the 'lower end of seriousness', a lawyer has claimed.

Rebels member Benjamin Steven Craig, 33, was found guilty of raping the woman at a clubhouse in North Hobart back in October 2013.

His lawyer Garth Stevens told Hobart Supreme Court this week that his client had pleaded not guilty to the rape because he believed the sex was consensual, The Mercury reports.

Rebels outlaw motorcycle member Benjamin Steven Craig (not pictured) was found guilty of raping the 28-year-old woman at an outlaw motorcycle clubhouse in Hobart back in October 2013

Mr Stevens said no violence, weapon or pre-planning had been used.

'This is an example of the type of crime at the lower end of seriousness,' Mr Stevens said.

The victim, a 28-year-old woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, also delivered a victim impact statement in court during Craig's sentencing proceedings.

She said she had considered Craig a friend before she was raped and had tried to take her life multiple times since the attack.

'I am a young woman. This is not the way I envisioned my life would be,' she said.

Craig faced Hobart Supreme Court this week for sentencing where his victim, 28, read out her impact statement stating she had tried to take her life several times since she was raped

'I trusted the rapist and considered him my friend. I could not have been more wrong.

'Benjamin Steven Craig treated me as nothing more than dirty, useless rubbish.'

Mr Stevens told the court Craig had lost his job, his home and family as a result of the trial, time in custody and conviction.

He told the court Craig did not have an prior convictions and was involved with the Rebels due to his love of motorcycles and charity work.
A scheme that has allowed just one Afghan interpreter sanctuary in Britain is 'very generous', David Cameron said yesterday.

The Prime Minister defended his government's policy of leaving hundreds of interpreters  who served alongside the British  in Afghanistan facing Taliban attacks.

He said the heroes  branded 'spies' by the Taliban  should stay in the country, the most rapidly deteriorating war zone in the world, so they can 'rebuild it'.

'Very generous': David Cameron defended the policy for interpreters in the House of Commons

There are two government schemes for Afghan interpreters. To qualify for the first relocation scheme, interpreters must have been working for the military on an arbitrary date in December 2012.

There is a second scheme where interpreters have to prove they have been intimidated.

While 270 have been allowed to live in Britain as a result of the first scheme, only one has been allowed under the second. The Daily Mail has been campaigning to give interpreters sanctuary.

David Cameron said the heroes  branded 'spies' by the Taliban  should stay in the country, the most rapidly deteriorating war zone in the world, so they can 'rebuild it'. Pictured, file image of British troops in Afghanistan

Speaking about the second scheme yesterday, Mr Cameron described it as 'a very generous scheme to try and encourage those people that either wanted to stay or hadn't been translators for a long enough period to stay in Afghanistan and help rebuild that country'.
The lawyer for a taxi driver who sexually assaulted a woman in his taxi has told a court the attack wouldn't have happened if the woman was sitting in the back seat.

Omar Ibrahim Hassan, 42, avoided a jail sentence on Wednesday in the Melbourne Magistrates Court after a magistrate voiced concerns about the delay between the attacks and the charges being laid.

Hassan was driving the woman home from a nightclub in the Melbourne suburb of Ringwood in the early hours of November 3, 2013, reported The Age.

The lawyer for taxi driver Omar Ibrahim Hassan, 42, said the sexual assault, which took place when Mr Hassan was driving the woman home in November 2013, could have been avoided if the woman was sitting in the back

He was found guilty in February by Magistrate Andrew Capell after a contested hearing.

On Wednesday Mr Capell handed down a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

The delay between the woman reporting the incident and charges being laid was attributed to police under-resourcing, the court heard.

Mr Capell rejected a statement by Hassan's lawyer claiming the attack wouldn't have happened if the woman sat in the back seat and not next to the driver.

Defence counsel Ben Mallick said: 'She could avoid this incident happening by sitting in the back seat.'

Mr Capell told Hassan he had breached the woman's trust in him to get her home safely.

'Something came over you and you took advantage of her circumstances,' he said.

'Whether she was in the front seat of the car or the back seat of the car, it doesn't matter.'

Magistrate Andrew Capell said Hassan had breached the woman's trust in getting her home safely, saying that he 'took advantage of the woman's circumstances'

Mr Capell said the incident had the potential to deter people from using cabs in circumstances where they should not drive.

The magistrate decided against a community corrections order because of Hassan's otherwise good character.

Hassan left war-torn Ethiopia as a young man to raise a family, gain steady work and deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, said the magistrate.

He said a suspended jail term still sent a 'strong message' that such behaviour would not be tolerated.

Prosecutor Jo Piggott called for a jail term and said Hassan had not acknowledged the seriousness of the offence.

She said the victim, according to a statement, no longer used taxis and felt unsafe on public transport, had regular nightmares and panic attacks and the medication she took for her anxiety left her unable to work, drive or hold a proper conversation.
Advertisement

In its glory days, the yacht Sequoia was a spit-polished, floating mini-palace, on which presidents from Herbert Hoover to Jimmy Carter entertained dignitaries and diplomats - or simply sought refuge from the Oval Office and the glare of the international spotlight.

Now, the National Historic Landmark, built in 1925, lies rotting under a layer of shrink wrap in a Virginia shipyard as attorneys argue over who should pay to repair it, how much it will cost, and who will ultimately own the vessel.

'It's not a pretty sight,' Earl McMillen III, founder of Rhode Island-based McMillen Yachts Inc., told a Delaware judge Wednesday.

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A Delaware judge is holding a hearing Wednesday to determine a price at which a lender can exercise an option to purchase the former presidential yacht Sequoia, pictured in 2013, or cede possession to its current owners

In this June 19, 1973, photo, president Richard Nixon, center left, is engaged in a conversation with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, center right, while sailing down the Potomac River aboard the yacht Sequoia

President John F. Kennedy opens presents during his 46th, and last, birthday party held aboard the Sequoia in 1963

President Herbert Hoover pictured disembarking in an undated photograph

President Herbert Hoover, left, is pictured aboard the Sequoia in an undated photograph

ABOARD USS SEQUOIA, PRESIDENTS PLOTTED, NEGOTIATED AND PARTIED It is said that president Franklin D. Roosevelt and general Dwight D. Eisenhower planned D-Day aboard the yacht. Roosevelt, who was paralyzed from a bout of polio, had an elevator installed on the ship. Lyndon B. Johnson later removed the elevator and replaced it with a bar. Harry Truman was said to have been aboard the yacht when he made the decision to drop nuclear weapons on Hiroshima. Truman reportedly damaged a table on the ship with a cigar cutter after he became angry during a poker game. He also installed a piano on the yacht. John F. Kennedy celebrated his 46th, and last, birthday party on the ship. Because he feared his enemies were bugging him, Richard Nixon reportedly had an electronic shield installed around the ship. Nixon was also said to have made the decision to resign while on board the yacht. Richard Nixon negotiated with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev aboard the Sequoia in 1973. Historian Arthur Schlesinger has said that he witnessed Robert F. Kennedy 'exchange poignant glances' with Jacqueline Kennedy on board the Sequoia and that the then two disappeared below deck. Upon their return, the pair looked 'as chummy and relaxed as a pair of Cheshire cats,' Schlesinger said. This was said to have happened in May 1964, six months after the death of president Kennedy. Sources: Sequoia Presidential Yacht Group, New York Post, New York Times The USS Sequoia is pictured during a trip on the Potomac River in an undated photograph

McMillen's testimony came in a hearing ordered by Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III to help him determine a price at which a lender can decide to exercise an option to purchase the Sequoia or cede possession to its current owners.

The Sequoia was put up for sale in 1977 by Carter

In recent years, the privately owned, 104-foot wooden vessel, which Carter had sold in 1977, has been used for entertaining and sightseeing tours of the Potomac River, offering four-hour charters for $10,000 (plus food and drink) from its dock at a Washington, D.C., marina.

The ship has lain in dry-dock on a railway at Chesapeake Boat Works in Deltaville, Virginia, since late 2014, as attorneys for FE Partners LCC and the Sequoia Presidential Yacht Group LLC argue over its fate.

'It is unfortunate that she has had to suffer for the last year and half,' McMillen said.

In 2012, the Sequoia group, led by Washington lawyer and businessman Gary Silversmith, entered into a $7.5 million loan agreement with FE Partners, an investment entity formed by Washington, D.C.-based Equator Capital Group and members of the Timblo family of India, which has interests in the mining and hospitality industries.

Under default terms of the loan agreement, FE Partners can exercise an option to purchase the yacht for $7.8 million.

Sequoia filed a lawsuit in 2013 seeking to prevent FE Partners from exercising its purchase option, but it later agreed to a default judgment in favor of FE, which alleged that it was fraudulently induced and that Sequoia had breached the loan agreement.

FE Partners has declined to exercise its option, however, as attorneys argued over how much the option price should be reduced because of needed repairs, liens and other outstanding liabilities. FE says it is already owed more than $3.8 million in loan repayments and legal expenses.

McMillen, meanwhile, has estimated that it will cost about $4 million to get the yacht into good condition and working order, as required under the loan agreement.

'I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anything worth saving in her hull structure,' he said Wednesday, citing rotten and broken framing, floor timbers and planking.

In addition to replacing the entire hull, McMillen, testifying for FE Partners, said the boat's electrical and plumbing systems also need significant upgrades and repairs. He noted that the Sequoia does not even have a depth sounder.

'I wouldn't operate a boat in the Potomac without one,' he said.

McMillen's repair estimate includes almost half a million dollars to move the boat from its current location to his shipyard in Rhode Island for repairs.

'It's not cheap, ... but when you consider the value of the boat, the potential value of the boat, and her history, you don't want to take any chances,' said McMillen, adding that he doesn't believe the necessary 'talent,' including shipwrights experienced with wooden boats, can be found in the Chesapeake Bay region.

President Ford hosts an informal dinner and a Cabinet meeting on the USS Sequoia, May 7, 1975

All the President's men: The once great ship has lain in dry-dock on a railway in Deltaville, Virginia, since late 2014

Up on deck: Aboard the once pristine Sequoia yacht

President Herbert Hoover, center, walks on the docks next to the USS Sequoia in this undated photograph

Presidents Richard Nixon, left, and Bill Clinton, right, in undated photographs taken aboard the Sequoia

A lifesaver is hung on the USS Sequoia presidential yacht, May 29, 2003 in Washington, D.C.

The main, presidential bedroom in the Sequoia, where presidents from Hoover to Carter have slept

Silversmith claims FE Partners is grossly overestimating the cost of needed repairs as part of a trial strategy to drive up the purported liabilities in order to acquire the Sequoia for little or nothing out of pocket.

'It definitely needs work, but it doesn't need to be rebuilt,' he said during a break in Wednesday's hearing.

The Sequoia ownership group contends that it will cost only about $310,000, as estimated by Chesapeake Boat Works, to address problems outlined in Coast Guard inspections and to get the Sequoia floating again.

Following a daylong hearing, Glasscock, who has taken a keen interest in the case while also expressing frustration at the long-running legal battle, told attorneys he is considering hiring his own independent marine surveyor to determine what repairs are needed.
No ambushes are walks in the park, but within a few seconds it became swiftly and violently apparent that we were being hit extremely hard. As well as the tell-tale crackle of AK-47 assault rifles, I could hear the rapid chatter of Russian-made PKM machine guns, and even the thudding of Dushka heavy weapons.

In short, we were in a bad place  and it was all because of me.

I was a major in the Welsh Guards, and that morning in early 2009 I was leading a unit of 18 British soldiers and 45 members of the Afghan National Army on foot on a mission that was intended as a show of force in southern Helmand.

But as we had advanced, it was obvious that we had stirred up a hornets nest of activity, with locals disappearing off on motorbikes, no doubt to warn the Taliban who were further upriver.

Unsung heroes: Robert Gallimore in Afghanistan in 2009 with interpreter Shams, left, and Afghan soldiers

Despite being heavily outnumbered, I had decided to press ahead because the Taliban were already cutting off the escape route back to our vehicles.

The rate of fire being brought down on us was extraordinary, and we did our best to return it. All of us were using whatever weapons we had to hand, but I knew we could not match those machine guns.

Among those returning fire was my interpreter, a 19-year-old Afghan called Shams, who was bravely firing back with his Makarov pistol.

Sadly, it was not long before we suffered our first casualty  an Afghan soldier shot in the stomach. Shortly afterwards we suffered another, as an Afghan soldier was shot through the wrist.

Stretchers were called for, and the two wounded men were placed on them. I could not help but notice that among those carrying a stretcher was none other than Shams.

Despite the confusion of battle, I noticed that he was doing as much as any man  perhaps more than any other.

But Shams wasnt just being brave, he was also being clever. It was his job to monitor the radio traffic of our attackers, and it became clear to him that the Taliban knew we were outnumbered, and that they would surely press on with their attack.

Shams came up to me, his normally impish face deadly serious and wide-eyed. He advised me that we needed to get out immediately, as the Taliban would not scuttle, and would certainly press home their deadly advantage.

This was a tough judgment call for Shams to make, but I trusted him completely. I ordered an immediate withdrawal before we were surrounded, and, just like in the movies, we managed to get over the bridge near our vehicles with the Taliban right on our heels.

Later that day, I reflected how lucky we had been.

Thankfully, our wounded men survived, and there had been no other casualties. There was no doubt that was partly thanks to the quick thinking Shams, who was clearly so much more to us than an interpreter.

Shams was also a young man of immense charm.

A comic character, he desperately tried to Westernise himself as much as possible, and he behaved like a mischievous and likeable son. My men really liked him, and he more or less became our mascot.

For Shams, there was no doubt that the British presence in his country was utterly benign. We Brits were the saviours of Afghanistan, and we were going to kick out the Taliban, whom he hated with an understandable passion.

In short, there was no cynicism in Shams.

'Very generous': David Cameron has defended the policy for interpreters in the House of Commons

Today, I expect he is nothing but cynical, for he, like hundreds of other interpreters who risked their lives and those of their families to help us in Afghanistan, has been shamefully betrayed by this country.

Ever since British troops withdrew from Afghanistan in October 2014, I have been enraged by the complete lack of duty of care we have extended to these young men  who are now ruthlessly targeted by the Taliban because of their work with our forces.

We provide them and their families with no protection, and despite the huge number of immigrants we allow into this country, we are not even willing to offer asylum to the likes of Shams.

In my view, this is a national disgrace, and this is why I fully support the Mails Betrayal Of The Brave campaign, which has sought to highlight the plight of these brave interpreters.

Earlier this month, the Mail reported the desperate story of 29-year-old Nangyalai Dawoodzai, a translator for British forces in Helmand province, who took his own life after being told he did not qualify for asylum in the UK and would be deported.

He was a tragic victim of this shameful policy  a brave ally, on whom the Government turned its back.

Yet on Monday, a court ruled to keep Afghan interpreters out of Britain  siding with the Government  if they had not still been on active service on a specific date in 2012. Those in the defence community are already rightly sympathetic, but they dont control our borders  the Home Office does. We need action, and we need it now.

The Mail has previously reported how some interpreters have been murdered by the Taliban  how fighters were said to be going from door to door rounding up dozens of men linked to international forces  and this is something I am all too aware of.

When I was serving in Helmand, I also worked alongside two other interpreters called Naz and Habib. Like Shams, they were real characters and brave.

In 2012, after I had left the Army, I received an email from Shams, who told me that he and his family were receiving death threats and night letters  formal threats from the Taliban left at his home at night.

But there was worse news  he said that he had not heard from Naz and Habib, and he strongly suspected that they had been killed by the Taliban. Shamss fears were uncorroborated, but now I have little doubt that he was right. I tried emailing them both several times, but I received nothing.

An Afghan officer contacted me to advise me not to hold out much hope. Every indication is that Naz is dead, and I cannot trace Habib.

Unsurprisingly, Shams was terrified that he, too, would be killed, along with his siblings and his parents. He specifically asked me to help him come to the UK, and I said I would do everything I could.

David Cameron said the heroes  branded 'spies' by the Taliban  should stay in the country, the most rapidly deteriorating war zone in the world, so they can 'rebuild it'. Pictured, file image of British troops in Afghanistan

For the past four years, I have entered into a Kafkaesque world of military and governmental bureaucracy and cowardice. I wrote to my then local MP, Don Foster. He was excellent, and got me in touch with Home Office Minister James Brokenshire, and the then Minister for the Armed Forces, Mark Francois.

I learned that because Shams had stopped being an interpreter for the British Army in the summer of 2012, he was not eligible for asylum under the criteria laid down by the Ministry of Defence.

These criteria were little less than comical. Interpreters had to be working for the British in December of 2012, by which time the UK had largely ceased combat operations and was well on its retreat to Kabul.

In effect, we were mostly offering asylum to interpreters who may well not have experienced combat, and who had been operating in the safest place  the Afghan capital.

I regarded this as insane, and I was eventually informed that exceptions could be made if the interpreter seeking asylum had been under fire and shown exceptional bravery. As Shams had been under fire countless times, and had bravery in buckets, I felt confident he would sail through the process.

I gathered up all the evidence I could, and told Shams to do the same  he had many glowing references from British Army officers, and he had also kept the threatening letters from the Taliban.

You wont be surprised by what happened next  he was denied asylum. I couldnt work out why, and when I phoned the Home Office, I was informed that he would have a better chance of being granted asylum if he managed to get to the UK.

This was extraordinary  here was the Home Office actually advocating that Shams should enter this country illegally!

Indeed, when I made a Freedom of Information request to find out how many Afghan interpreters had managed to get the asylum criteria waived due to their exceptional circumstances, I got back the answer  none. So I now knew that I had to take matters into my own hands. I wired Shams a total of 2,500, and told him to get out of Afghanistan and make his way to Europe.

These people have risked their lives for us: we must not betray them when they need us most

And so, like hundreds of thousands of others, he embarked on an incredible odyssey that took him nine months.

As of January 2015 he has been safely held in an asylum centre in Western Germany.

I am ashamed that I have helped line the pockets of the people smugglers, but what choice did I have?

In July last year, I decided that I needed to take things a step further. Fearing that Shams would be held for ever in the centre or, worse, be sent back to Afghanistan, I informed my family that at the end of our summer holiday in France, we would be taking a detour into Germany in order to pick up one 5ft 4in Afghan, and would then smuggle him back into Britain.

My wife, who is the most law-abiding person I know, instantly agreed: she knew it was the right thing to do. Telling our three children  all of whom are under ten  was somewhat more challenging. Please dont tell those nice people at the border that Daddy has a friend hiding in the car, I said, much to their bewildered amusement.

Thankfully, before we had to put our operation into action, Shams told me that his asylum application in Germany was going to be heard in October  just a few months away  and we agreed that it made more sense for him to stay put.

Frustratingly, it has now been delayed. He has permission for the time being to stay in the holding camp, but he is in very low spirits.

When he arrived, the chances were that he would easily get residency and citizenship in Germany  and would then be able to enter the UK perfectly legally as an EU citizen.

However, recent changes mean that German authorities are only supposed to grant asylum for interpreters who helped their own forces, and Shams has been told it is unlikely he will get citizenship after all. He is crushed.

The fact is, we should be welcoming the likes of Shams with open arms.

Were often being told that the best way to fight extremist Islam is with moderate Islam, and what better way to do so than to have hundreds of former Afghan interpreters going around British schools and community centres, warning people of the reality of extreme versions of Sharia law?
David Cameron has been forced to make a grovelling apology in Parliament to a cleric who he wrongly labelled an Islamic State-supporting extremist.

During the bitter battle to become Mayor of London, the Prime Minister attacked Labour candidate Sadiq Khan for appearing at events alongside the former imam Suliman Gani.

The premier told MPs: Suliman Gani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times.

David Cameron (left) has been forced to make a grovelling apology in Parliament to Suliman Gani (right), a cleric who he wrongly labelled an Islamic State-supporting extremist

This man supports IS. He even shared a platform ... I think they are shouting down this point because they dont want to hear the truth.

Anyone can make a mistake about who they appear on a platform with. Were not always responsible for what our political opponents say. But if you do it time after time after time it is right to question your judgment.

However, it has since emerged that comments which the PM was relying upon to support his claim were wrongly interpreted.

Mr Gani had spoken in support of the creation of an Islamic state - but, crucially, not the Islamic State terror group, also known as Daesh.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon could face a big legal bill after Suliman Gani announced he was suing the Cabinet minister over claims he supports ISIS

This morning Mr Cameron issued a short statement in Parliament to 'clarify' his comments, telling MPs: I was referring to reports that Mr Gani supports an Islamic state.

'I am clear that this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and I apologise to him for any misunderstanding.

Mr Gani had challenged Mr Cameron to make the accusations outside of the House of Commons, where he would not be protected by parliamentary privilege and could be taken to court over any defamatory allegations.

Mr Gani has already started legal proceedings against Defence Secretary Michael Fallon over claims he supported ISIS.

The Tory Cabinet minister could face a significant legal bill and Downing Street refused to say this morning whether the taxpayer would be forced to foot the costs.

Mr Cameron's apology to MPs today came after Tory MP Keith Simpson asked him to 'clarify his recent remarks concerning Suliman Gani'.

No10 and the Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith have been roundly criticised for the way the London contest was conducted. It ended on Friday night with a resounding victory for Mr Khan, who became Londons first Muslim mayor.

The Conservative campaign focused on alleged links between Mr Khan, a former human rights lawyer, and Islamist extremists. Mr Goldsmiths own sister, Jemima Khan, distanced herself from the tactics.

But it has since been pointed out that Ghani supports the idea of an Islamic state, leading the PM to make a grovelling apology. Pictured: Khan attends the signing ceremony for the newly elected Mayor of London

As the result was announced on Friday, Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi, the first female Muslim minister to attend Cabinet, Tweeted: Our appalling dog whistle campaign for London Mayor lost us the election, our reputation & credibility on issues of race and religion.

A string of other senior Tories savaged the Goldsmith camp. The most senior Conservative in the London assembly, Andrew Boff, said the tactics used by the Goldsmith camp were ridiculous and had blown up bridges with the Muslim community.

He said the approach would damage integration in London and was a bizarre thing for a London politician to do.

I dont think it was dog whistle because you cant hear a dog whistle - everybody could hear this, he said.
He and his mother Tonya fled to Mexico where they were eventually arrested and extradited back to the US

sentenced to ten years probation but breached the conditions when he was filmed drinking

The Texas teenager who famously used an 'affluenza' defense after he killed four people in a drunk driving crash will stay in jail for another two years after a judge denied his appeal.

Ethan Couch, 19, was sentenced to four consecutive terms of 180 days  one for each of the four lives he horrifically snuffed out in a 2013 drunk driving crash - when he appeared in court last month.

Today, Judge Wayne Salvant signed an order reaffirming the probation terms he imposed at that hearing. He also canceled another court date on the matter scheduled for May 16.

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Affluenza teen Ethan Couch, who turned 19 on Monday, appeared in adult court on Wednesday where State District Judge Wayne Salvant said he will review recommendations from prosecutors as well as Couch's attorney

Couch was just 16 when he got behind the wheel of his father's F-150 truck with three times the legal limit for alcohol in his blood.

He smashed into a stationary white Mercedes SUV at 70mph, killing the driver, Breanna Mitchell, along with mother and daughter Holly and Shelby Boyles and pastor Brian Jennings, who were all trying to help Mitchell get her car going.

The teen became notorious when a psychologist told his trial he couldn't be held responsible for his actions because he suffered from 'affluenza'  an affliction supposedly born of his privileged yet dysfunctional upbringing.

At court last month, where Couch faced justice for the first time as an adult, Judge Salvant had told the teen: 'You're not getting out of jail today' before sentencing him to two years behind bars for the 2013 drunk driving crash which killed four and injured nine.

Couch's lawyers spent much of the 90 minute hearing at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth arguing whether the judge had the power to impose such a harsh penalty.

Tragic victims Breanna Mitchell (top left), Brian Jennings (right) Hollie Boyles (bottom left) and daughter Shelby Boyles all died in the horrific card crash caused by Ethan Couch in 2013

Sergio Molina has been confined to a wheelchair since the tragic accident caused by his former friend Couch

Scene: Couch's parents, whose wealth was used as part of his affluenza defense in the deadly crash (above), said they could not afford the rehab and paid just $1,170 a month

His attorneys argued for his immediate release but Tarrant County Prosecutor Riley Shaw said that the 'myth' that Couch was a juvenile deserving of preferential treatment ended Monday.

'Nothing I do is in stone, so I might reconsider,' Judge Salvant told both parties during the sometimes-heated legal exchange.

The sentence had been greeted with visible satisfaction from family members of his victims including Alex Lemus, the brother of Sergio Molina - a one-time best friend of Couch who was left needing round the clock care for the rest of his life following the 70mph horror smash.

The bearded teenager is serving out his sentence as the maximum security Lon Evans Correctional Center - where he has been languishing in solitary confinement for his own safety.

When he is eventually released, Couch's probation restrictions will remain 'consistent' with those he faced as a juvenile, the judge ruled.

They include banning him from driving or being around alcohol, pot or other controlled substances.

He will also have to hold down a job and meet regularly with a community supervision officer.

Couch's half-brother Steven McWilliams, 29, and his wife Misty, 29, were also in court to support him but his mom Tonya, 48, remains on house arrest for her part in allegedly helping him flee to Mexico.

Couch was initially sentenced to ten years probation and a year of court-ordered rehab, which it has since been revealed to have cost taxpayers $200,000 because his parents could not afford to pay.

But he ran into problems, however, when a video surfaced online of him attending a boozy beer pong party - a clear probation violation.

Couch fled to Mexico with his mother in November rather than face the courts after breaching probation but was eventually arrested (pictured on his arrest in December)

Pricey: Ethan Couch's court-ordered rehab as part of his sentence for killing four people in a drunk-driving cash in 2013 cost taxpayers $200,000 (above in February)

Troubled: Couch, who turned 19 on Monday, will appear before a judge as an adult on Wednesday to hear the new details of his probation (2013 mugshot on left, 2016 mugshot on right)

He fled to Mexico with his mother in November rather than face the courts.

Tonya Couch allegedly withdrew $30,000 from her bank and called estranged husband Fred to tell him that he would never see either of them again.

The mother and son then drove 1,200 miles to the Pacific beach resort of Puerto Vallarta where they stayed at the glamorous Los Tules resort.

While there, Couch made repeat visits to a 'sex club' called Harem where he was allegedly spotted snorting cocaine and guzzling Pacifico beers - running up a $2,000 tab which he was forced to ask his mother to settle.

The two later moved to a run-down apartment four blocks from the beach but were discovered after a signal from one of their cellphones alerted authorities as they dialed out for Domino's pizza.

Both initially contested their extradition from Mexico but Tonya was returned to the US in early January with Couch following on the 28th.

Since her return, Tonya has been held under house arrest at the Fort Worth home of eldest son Steven McWilliams, 29.

She faces being sentenced to ten years in prison for hindering apprehension of a fugitive, with Judge Salvant also overseeing her case.

Since her return from Mexico with her son, Tonya Couch has been held under house arrest at the Fort Worth home of eldest son Steven McWilliams (pictured arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, on December 31)

Couch, meanwhile, was held briefly in a juvenile facility before being transferred to the 444-bed Lon Evans Correctional Center, where he has been housed in either a solitary confinement or separation cell.

Authorities fear the slightly-build prisoner - number 0879903 - is so feeble he will be unable to defend himself if he is attacked by an inmate seeking fame or notoriety.

The jail, which opened in 2012, houses those deemed the worst of the worst of the 3,600 people either awaiting trial in Tarrant County or whose sentences don't warrant them being moved to a state prison.

Daily Mail Online previously revealed how Couch whiled away his hours working out to Richard Simmons exercise tapes and was fed three basic meals a day, slid into his cell through a 'bean chute'.

His father is also embroiled in an unrelated case after he was accused of impersonating a police officer.

The court heard previously that Couch had an blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit for adult drivers when he swerved off a road near Fort Worth and hit a disabled car, killing its driver and three people helping her. Several other people were injured.

Breanna Mitchell, 18, had broken down at the side of a highway in Texas and was trying to fix her vehicle alongside Hollie Boyles and her daughter Shelby, who lived nearby, and youth minister Brian Jennings, who had also stopped to help.

Couch left the road while traveling at 70mph and hit the group, killing all of them, and paralyzing Molina from the neck down after he was thrown clear of the truck.

The Star-Telegram reports that his court-ordered rehab at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon cost approximately $20,000 a month, and that he was there for 10 months in 2014 from February through November.

But taxpayers have ended up footing most of the bill after Couch's parents paid just $1,170 claiming they could not afford the cost.

Ethan's father Fred Couch (left) and half-brother Steven McWilliams enter court for Ethan Couch's hearing at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth

He then received treatment at The Next Step Program in Amarillo which cost a total of $11,000, which the court ordered his parents to pay.

Couch was released from that program in February 2015, and on December 2 video emerged of him at a beer pong table.

Couch was reported missing just days later when he missed a probation hearing. He was captured with his mother on December 28 in Puerto Vallarta.

Tonya did not attempt to fight deportation and within days was back in Texas where she posted bail of $75,000 and is now awaiting trial for hindering the apprehension of a felon.

Meanwhile, Couch launched an appeal against deportation and stayed in Mexico for over a month after being captured in December.

He eventually dropped and his attorney, Scott Brown, hinted that Couch could have been taken to Mexico against his will.

Couch did not appear to be being held unlawfully when he was captured and was caught after using a credit card to order pizza.
The High Court of Australia has granted the Queensland Department of Prosecution special leave to appeal Gerard Baden-Clay's downgraded conviction of manslaughter.

Baden-Clay was convicted of his wife Allison's murder in 2014, but that was downgraded to manslaughter last year by the Queensland Court of Appeal after his lawyers argued he could have unintentionally killed his wife.

On Thursday prosecutors were granted special leave to appeal against the controversial downgrade which caused public outcry last year.

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This week the High Court of Australia will decide whether the Queensland Department of Prosecution will be allowed to appeal to have Gerard Baden-Clay's (left) murder charge reinstated over the death of his wife Allison (right)

Earlier it was reported the decision could go three ways, the first of which was the court could grant special to appeal or refer the matter to the Full Bench.

Alternatively, the leave to appeal could have been dismissed and the decision of Queensland's Court of Appeal left to stand.

However they also had the power to order the matter to proceed to oral argument at a hearing in which each side gets 20 minutes to put forward their case about the application.

The DPP applied to appeal Baden-Clay's manslaughter conviction following community outrage over his reduced culpability in the death of his wife Allison in April 2012.

Last year Baden-Clay (pictured) has his murder conviction downgraded to manslaughter

Baden-Clay was convicted of her murder in 2014, but that was downgraded to manslaughter last year after his lawyers argued he could have unintentionally killed his wife.

The appeals court ruled it could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt that Baden-Clay intended to kill Allison.

Allison's body was found on April 30, 2012, ten days after her husband has reported her missing from their home in Brookfield.

Allison was found on a creek bank 10 days after her husband reported her missing
Energy Minister Mark Bailey refused it, describing it as '

The Queensland Parliament has boycotted an exclusive members club in Brisbane after it invited male ministers to join - but banned the Premier and Deputy Premier because they are women.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Jackie Trad and seven other female ministers were not invited to join Tattersall's Club, a 150-year-old membership club in Brisbane.

Male members were invited to join in letters received this week but have refused in solidarity with the Premier who said all ministers would boycott the club until it changed its rules.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Palazczuk said the club had 'closed its doors' to women.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) has led her Parliament in a boycott of a male members club in Brisbane after it offered male ministers membership but refused it of her and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (above left)

'I am proud to lead a Government and serve in a Parliament where women are valued members.

'When doors are closed to women, men and women will demand they open them. Tattersalls should open its doors.

'Until they change their policy, my Ministers wont be attending functions there,' she said.

Tattersall's, which last year year capped membership with a view to only allowing new members every six months, has not responded to their comments nor Daily Mail Australia's repeated requests.

Women may be admitted with 'partner' card which are only issued if the candidate is the partner of an existing, male member.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt, Energy Minister Mark Bailey and Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe have all refused the invitation.

Writing to the club, Mr Hinchcliffe explained he would not attend any events held there while the current policy stands.

The 150-year-old club in Brisbane (above) does not issue memberships to women, allowing them to enter with 'partner cards' which show they are a next of kin to a male member

The exclusive club (above) charges new members $1,100 to join and then $1,038 a year for city dwellers. Sons, stepsons, grandsons or sons-in-law of members are given a discount

The club (whose members are seen above in 1926) said women could enjoy its facilities at weddings and functions

The club sent this letter to several male ministers last week inviting them to become members

'While the Club's rules prevent the equal access of women to become members, I will not be accepting membership on any terms.

'Equally, I make it known that I do not accept invitations to events held at the Club for the same reasons,' he said.

Development Minister Andy Lynham threw the letter he received out upon receiving it while Energy Minister Mark Bailey wrote:

'I will not be a member of an exclusive men's club that relegates women and daughters to a secondary 'partner' membership status.

'It is my understanding that your invitation to me derives from the fact that I am a male Minister in the Palaszczuk Government - a Government that is proud to be led by women in its two most senior leadership roles.

Stirling Hinchliffe, the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, declined the offer (above)

Mark Bailey, the Minister for Energy, urged the club to reconsider its position to 'more readily reflect the times'

'In addition, I am proud to serve alongside my seven other women Cabinet colleagues. The thought of accepting membership to a club that would relegate my colleagues to a secondary, partner status is unconscionable.

'I take this opportunity to encourage your Board to reconsider your eligibility rules to more readily reflect the times.'

Organisations that exclude women based on their gender have absolutely no place in modern society Deputy Premier Jackie Strad

Deputy Premier Ms Strad described it as 'disgraceful'.

'I find it ironic that, despite being the Deputy Premier, Planning Minister and a state legislator who is able to make decisions that affect this organisation, because I am a woman, I can't become a member,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is 2016, organisations that exclude women based on their gender have absolutely no place in modern society.'

The club describes itself as 'the most prestigious Membership Club in the Brisbane CBD' and boasts of its 'influential network of like-minded members'.

Ordinary membership incurs a $1,100 joining fee unless the candidate is the son of an existing member in which case they pay $550.

Annual fees are priced a $1,038 and members must live 'within the Brisbane statistical area'.

Ms Palaszcuk (centre), her Deputy (left) and Treasurer Curtis Pitt have urged the club to change its rules

Cheaper memberships are offered for the elderly and those who live outside the city while Honorary Memberships, the kind offered to the Cabinet, are free.

On its website it attempts to justify the policy in an FAQ section beneath the title 'How does a Private Membership Club for men remain relevant today?'.

'Tattersall's Club is not only a Club for male Members to enjoy, but also for their partners and families.

'Partners are welcome to obtain a Partners Card, providing them with access to Club facilities and services.

'Partners are also welcome to bring guests to the Club, or enjoy the amenities at their own leisure,' it said.

Women who are neither the wives of male members nor invited by a member can attend weddings and functions there freely.

It is not clear how many of the male Cabinet ministers received invitations to join the club. Steve Miles, the Minister for Environment, did not.
Shocking footage has emerged showing a woman allegedly attacking a man's car with a lighter because he wouldn't give her a ride.

The woman had approached a car stopped at an intersection in Melbourne's Brunswick suburb requesting a lift, but when the driver refused, she allegedly pulled a lighter out of her bag and lunged at the vehicle, stabbing the window.

Luckily, the windows of the vehicles were up and the driver wasn't injured.

The woman is wanted by police who would like to speak to her after she allegedly stabbed at a man's car

The woman had reportedly attacked the victim's car after he denied her request for a lift

She appears to be yelling as she gestures at the car during the video.

After abusing the man and attacking the car he told her to go away, The Age reported.

At the end of the video, the woman walks off behind the victim's vehicle.

During the March 15 incident, the driver managed to record the woman's actions using a mobile phone.

Police released an image of the woman on Thursday in a bid to identify her.

She's described as Caucasian, mid-late 20s, long blonde hair and was wearing a blue dress and black boots.
British industry has slipped into recession for the third time in eight years amid a crisis in manufacturing, steel and North Sea oil and gas.

The Office for National Statistics said industrial production fell 0.4 per cent in the first three months of the year after an identical decline in the last quarter of 2015.

The decline over two consecutive quarters means that the sector is once again in recession following punishing downturns in 2011-12 and 2008-09.

Downturn: British industry has slipped into recession for the third time in eight years amid a crisis in manufacturing, steel and North Sea oil and gas (file photo)

It leaves the UK economy even more dependent on the increasingly dominant services sector, despite Chancellor George Osbornes promise in 2011 that the country would be carried aloft by the march of the makers.

Factory output was 1.9 per cent lower in March than in the same month last year due to dwindling demand, the steepest decline since May 2013.

Ruth Miller, a UK economist at Capital Economics, said the British economy is now precariously unbalanced, while Chris Williamson, chief economist at research group Markit, said the second quarter of the year may be worse.

Experts say a global slowdown may derail Britains recovery along with scaremongering over Brexit.

The UK economy is even more dependent on the increasingly dominant services sector, despite George Osbornes promise in 2011 that the country would be carried aloft by the march of the makers

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimated the economy grew by just 0.3 per cent in the three months to the end of April.

That follows growth of 0.6 per cent in the final three months of last year and 0.4 per cent in the first three months of this year.

Britains trade in goods deficit  the difference between exports and imports  widened to 34.7 billion in the first quarter of the year.

The deficit with the EU hit a record high of 23.9 billion as Britain bought more from countries such as Germany and France than they bought from the UK.

Industrial production is still 10 per cent below the pre-recession peak it reached in 2010 even though the economy is bigger than ever.

Basic iron and steel production was 37.3 per cent lower in March than in the same month of 2015.

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: While adverse global conditions remain a major challenge for manufacturing, this is now being exacerbated by a slowdown in the domestic economy.
Carriages from decommissioned trams that were used more than 90-years-ago have been restored to make a unique home, a popular bar and may also get the green light to be converted into cafes.

A W-Class Melbourne tram has already been transformed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home and been marketed for $427,000 in Muckleford Victoria, 130 kilometres from Melbourne City.

Plans to restore 20 to 50 W-Class Melbourne trams may also go ahead and will be used as mini museums with a cafe inside in a proposed $400,000 venture.

A W-Class Melbourne tram has been transformed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home and has been marketed for $427,000 in Muckleford Victoria (pictured)

The original windows and domed room remain intact (pictured) in the quirky house which was originally built as a 'hippy' getaway. This study has been built on one side of the W-Class tram (pictured)

Sitting in the heart of a property with more than eight hectares of bushland the 10 A Frame Track renovated tram home also includes mudbrick sections built primarily around the tram.

Owner Gary Markoff, 62, told the Daily Mail Australia this was his hippy house and he converted the old 1920s tram because he needed a place to live.

He said: I needed a home and I didnt have much money at the time.

I bought the tram for about $260 and the rate to bring it out to the bush was about three times that.

The home has been marketed at $427,000 and sits on a eight hectare property with a dam, horse paddock and trails around the bushland

Owner of the home Gary Markoff said the tram has all the furnishings of a modern middle class home including running water in the kitchen (pictured) and bathroom as well as solar powered technology

Mr Markoff who is now a psychologist said the tram has all the furnishings of a modern middle class home and is completely self-contained.

He said: The home has solar panels, a diesel generator and its completely self-contained, I mean other than having to get a couple of bottles of gas I dont need to do much.

The office is in the front carriage where the drivers compartment once was and a bedroom sits on the other end rich with timber panelling and a hand rail suspended from the ceiling.

Floorboards, windows and the original domed roof remain intact in the quirky home and a modernised water system including tanks and dams are available to new home owners.

The 10 A Frame Track renovated tram home also includes mudbrick sections built primarily around the tram to house bedrooms (pictured) on either end of the carriages

Plans to convert several of the 200 trams in storage into modern cafes to commemorate Melbournes transport history has also started with artist rendering's (pictured) to show what it will look like

But this wont be the last time a W-Class tram will be renovated with plans to convert several of the 200 trams in storage into modern cafes to commemorate Melbournes transport history.

Artist's impressions comfortable couches and wooden tables added to the interior of a tram carriage  which if plans go ahead  could be seen on the lawns of the State library.

Sites near Queen Victoria Market and along Southbank have also been flagged as potential locations for the quirky eateries.

The trams are currently sitting in Newport depot with broken windows, covered in graffiti and rusting and a Facebook group call Melbournes W-Class trams have said many people complain about the appalling conditions.

Artist's impressions comfortable couches and wooden tables added to the interior of a tram carriage  which if plans go ahead  could be seen on the lawns of the State library

Sites near Queen Victoria Market and along Southbank have also been flagged as potential locations for the quirky renovated trams around Melbourne city

Melbourne advertising director Michael Abdel said he came up with the concept for Melbourne Coffee Co in a campaign he started to use the carriages as a 'mini museum'.

He told The Herald Sun: 'We want to make them in mini museums and for people to enjoy their coffee while learning what each tram did in its lifetime and how it lived.'

Melbourne is known for its W-Class trams and its coffee and what better way to have a Melbourne experience.'

An aim to see the trams in locations in New York and London have also been proposed, although Public Transport Victoria have stalled on their decision.

Another W-class tram was turned into a bar, called Tram Bar (pictured), in Melbourne's CBD but closed in early February in 2015

Tram Bar was a popular venue that sold imported beers, boutique wines and ciders and had a range of personalised cocktails available to customers

Public Transport Victoria spokesman Adrian Darwent told the Herald Sun that there was 'significant interest' but sending them overseas would not be part of the process.

He said: 'W-Class trams are an important part of Melbourne's public transport history and we are keen to find new and innovative ways to keep these trams in the community.'

Another W-class tram was turned into a bar, called Tram Bar, in Melbourne's CBD but closed in early February last year.

Sir Elton John (pictured) was also the proud owner of a Melbourne tram - the W2.520 that sits on his manicured lawn acquired some time in the 1980s

The famed musician said the purchase was likely one of his 'drug induced moments' and cost him 'ten thousand to buy it and a million to ship it over'

Sir Elton John was also the proud owner of a Melbourne tram - the W2.520 that sits on his manicured lawn acquired some time in the 1980s.

The famed musician told the Daily Telegraph the purchase was likely one of his 'drug-induced moments' and cost him 'ten thousand to buy it and a million to ship it over'.

The W-class trams were produced between 1923 and 1956 by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board and began to be phased out of Melbourne in 2009.

There are 200 green and gold W-Class Melbourne tram (stock) in storage and a $400,000 proposal has been put forward to Public Transport Victoria to restore them and make them into mini museums and cafes
A two-year-old girl has died after her mother forgot her and left her sitting in the car seat.

The mother thought she had taken her child to Little Footprints Learning Center in Gluckstadt, Indiana, about 18 miles north of Jackson, before going to work.

But when she returned to collect her, daycare workers told her she had not dropped off her daughter.

When the mother went to collect her daughter from Little Footprints Learning Center in Gluckstadt (pictured), she was told she had never dropped her off

Randy Tucker, Madison County Sheriff, said the mother became distraught and dashed to her car, but realized her daughter was still strapped in the car seat.

He said it was a tragic accident and based on the evidence it did not appear that any charges would be filed.

Authorities have not released the name of the child or parents.

Other parents rushed to pick up their children when they heard what happened.

'I can't imagine how she's feeling,' Lauren Johnston said. 'It's just all together scary.'
A teenager is fighting for her life after she had an argument with her brother and decided to jump out of a moving van.

The 17-year-old Brisbane girl was sitting in the backseat of the graffiti-covered vehicle with her grandmother as the trio headed along Progress Road, Richlands at 10.30 pm on Wednesday.

Police allege the teenager had a disagreement with her brother, who was driving the unique van at a 'reasonable speed', and launched herself out of the rear door.

She sustained critical head and chest injuries, 9News reported.

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Brisbane teenager is fighting for her life after she had an argument with her brother and decided to jump out of a moving van (pictured)

The 17-year-old was sitting in the backseat of the graffiti-covered vehicle with her grandmother as the trio headed along Progress Road, Richlands on Wednesday night

The 17-year-old was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane's southeast and remains in a critical condition.

Her grandmother and brother were uninjured.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident and are looking for members of the public who may have seen the bizarre van travelling along Progress Road.

'The young woman was travelling in a motorcar with some relatives and at this stage it appears that the young woman has jumped out of the vehicle while it was travelling at a reasonable speed,' Queensland Police Inspector Steve Flori said.

Police allege the teenager had a disagreement with her brother, who was driving the unique van at a 'reasonable speed'

The teenager sustained critical head and chest injuries and was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane's southeast

'The young woman was travelling in a motorcar with some relatives and at this stage it appears that the young woman has jumped out of the vehicle while it was travelling at a reasonable speed,' Queensland Police Inspector Steve Flori said
Woolworths may be under threat of takeover from a private equity giant after fierce competition from Coles and Aldi has driven down the price of its 'dirt cheap' shares.

Private equity groups Blackstone and Carlyle were rumoured to have been looking at a move for Woolworths six months ago, but The Australian now claim leading investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) have been running the numbers on the supermarket giant for a few weeks.

Both Woolworths and KKR have declined to comment on the rumours, which follow a credit downgrade and 34 per cent share price decline since February 2015.

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Woolworths may be under threat of takeover from private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts after fierce competition from Coles and Aldi has driven down the price of its 'dirt cheap' shares

However, Scott Phillips from Motley Fool claims the private equity giant have been 'sniffing around' as share prices are 'dirt cheap' and the investors can see potential for Woolworths to start bouncing back following waning sales over the third quarter.

'This is a high-quality business going through some temporary tough times. If you're spending US dollars you're getting a lot of Australian dollars for the benefit, and with the Woolworths share price so low it makes perfect sense,' he told radio station 2GB.

He said Woolworths had its 'time in the sun' when Coles faced declining sales, but acknowledged the market can be quick to turn around especially considering the embattled supermarket still had millions of customers visiting its stores each week.

'This is one of the best retailers in the world, and it's got one of the best footprints, the best supplier negotiation teams in the trade. They really are a high-quality asset,' he told 2GB.

Investment firm KKR are rumoured to be running the numbers on Woolworths as their share prices are 'dirt cheap' (Pictured: Founding partners of KKR, George Roberts, left, and Henry R. Kravis, right)

Woolworths has been facing declining food and liquor sales amid strong competition from Coles and Aldi

Woolworths has been facing declining food and liquor sales amid strong competition from Coles and Aldi, while its failed Masters hardware chain and struggling discount retailer BigW are also weighing on its bottom line.

This comes as Woolworths' new Chief Executive Officer Brad Banducci said it could take another 'three to five years' before the retailer can expect to overthrow its competitors, as recent sales results show consumers are continuing to choose rivals.

Australian food and liquor stores showed sales drop by 0.9 per cent, adjusted for Easter, over the last four months, while competitors Coles outperformed Woolworths for the 27th consecutive quarter, recording an an increase in sales of 5.9 per cent, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Chief Executive Officer Brad Banducci has only been at the helm of the embattled retailer for around a week, but has announced the supermarket is on its way to improvement despite waning sales over the third quarter

Mr Banducci, previously head of Woolworths liquor, said the under-performing retailer have been hurt by deflation but added that he is certain the group can turn things around if given the time.

'The sales performance in Australian Supermarkets continues to be impacted by high levels of deflation, predominantly from our price investment,' Mr Badnucci said on Tuesday.

'It will be a three to five year journey to rebuild Woolworths Supermarkets, but we are confident we are on the right track,' he added.

In order to remain competitive in an 'aggressive' pricing market, the supermarket chain said it would increase investment in April so it is able to offer store wide discounts, particularly in the bakehouse.

In order to remain competitive in an 'aggressive' pricing market, the supermarket chain said it would increase investment in April so it is able to offer store wide discounts, particularly in the bakehouse

Woolworths said it has also increased the number of staff, especially in peak hours over the weekend, in a bid to 'restore sales momentum' and improve 'team culture'

Coles outperformed Woolworths for the 27th consecutive quarter, recording an an increase in sales of 5.9 per cent

Woolworths said it has also increased the number of staff in peak hours over the weekend in a bid to 'restore sales momentum' and improve 'team culture'.

Total sales across the Woolworths Group did show improvement, with an increase of 0.3 per cent, while general merchandising took a hit, recording a decrease of 4.6 per cent on the previous year.

Mr Banducci has commenced a review across 'all aspects' of the business, but reminded consumers it was 'too early to quantify the financial impact' of that review until the delivery of its complete 2016 results.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, retail analysts have forecast Woolworths' yearly sales to remain weak while Coles and discount retailers like Aldi and Costco will continue to flourish.
The parents who lost their three children in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over the Ukraine almost two years ago have a new baby girl.

Violet May Maslin was born on Tuesday to Perth's Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris.

'Violet's birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate,' the couple said in a statement on Thursday.

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Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris, who lost their three children in the downing of flight MH17 over the Ukraine almost two years ago, have a new baby girl (pictured)

Violet May Maslin was born on Tuesday to Mr Maslin and Ms Norris with the three children. Above are Ms Maslin and Ms Norris with Mo, Evie and Otis

'We still live with pain but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us, always brings light to our darkness.'

Mr Maslin and Ms Norris, who is also known as Rin, said their family was 'torn apart when MH17 was blown out of the sky by the violent anger of a nationalist missile'.

'We believe that Mo, whose 14th birthday was Saturday, Evie, 12 next week, Otis, 10 next month, and Grandad Nick have sent us an amazing gift,' the couple went on to say in a statement released through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

On July 17, 2014, MH17 was shot down as it flew over eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement, the couple (pictured) said: 'Violet's birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate'

Mr Maslin and Ms Norris's children Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, 8, are pictured above

On July 17, 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight 17 was blown out of the sky as it flew over eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all people on board including the three children

STATEMENT FROM ANTHONY MASLIN AND MARITE 'RIN' NORRIS Violet May Maslin came in to the world on Tuesday 10 May, bringing with her love and light, hope and joy. Our family was torn apart when MH17 was blown out of the sky by the violent anger of a nationalist missile, on July 17, 2014. Our three innocent, beautiful and inspiring children were killed, alongside their grandfather, Nick Norris. We believe that Mo, whose 14th birthday was Saturday, Evie, 12 next week, Otis, 10 next month, and Grandad Nick have sent us an amazing gift. Violets birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate. We still live with pain, but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us always, brings light to our darkness. As Martin Luther King said, 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.' We will continue to love all four of our children equally. Violet brings some hope and joy for us. We hope she brings hope and joy for you too.

An international investigation found the plane was downed by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile, believed to have been fired by pro-Russia separatists.

All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 Australian residents and citizens.

Among the dead were Mr Maslin and Ms Norris's children - Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, eight.

Their grandfather Nick Norris, 68, was also killed.

The children were returning home to Perth for school while their parents stayed behind in Amsterdam.

The MH17 crash site near the village of Hrabove, some 80 kms east of Donetsk, in the Ukraine

Investigators examining the crash site to collect human remains and belongings following the downing of the plane

Ministry team workers of the emergency situation of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic and members of the Dutch expert team collect parts of the plane

The children were travelling with their grandfather from Amsterdam back to Australia

Their grandfather Nick Norris (pictured), 68, was also killed on the doomed flight
A gate was left open on the property and the horse fell into the ditch

A rescue team spent more than four hours on Tuesday excavating a horse from a two-metre-deep drain filled with thick mud.

The eight-year-old thoroughbred horse could barely keep its head above the mud when the Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team were called to the challenging rescue near Levin, north of Wellington in New Zealand.

Pictures show the distressed, yet sedated, horse covered in the dark soil and unable to move while surrounded by mounds of dirt.

A gate was left open on the property and the horse wandered into the paddock and fell into the ditch, Massey University VERT founder Hayley Squance told Daily Mail Australia.

The Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team spent more than four hours on Wednesday excavating a horse (pictured) from a drain ditch filled with mud north of Wellington, New Zealand

A gate was left open on the property and the horse wandered into the paddock and fell into the ditch (pictured)

A team of at least 11 people helped remove the horse and pull the horse to a different paddock

A 12-tonne digger was used to lift the horse vertically out of the ditch

The scared horse worked its way deep into the large hole because it was frightened and wriggled, causing the surrounding dirt to fall and trap him, Ms Squance said.

A 12-tonne digger was called to help remove the piles of dirt on either side of the horse and a board was placed under the horses head to help keep it elevated and out of the mud, the VERT team said on their Facebook page.

'He was a lot happier with this in place,' the team said.

A tarp was also placed over the horse to keep more dirt from falling on him.

'This extraction required a lot of movement of dirt,' the VERT team said.

'Once the dirt was removed from the chest and abdominal area, he was able to breath a lot better.'

The horse could barely keep its head above the thick mud in the narrow ditch (pictured)

A digger was called to help remove the piles of dirt on either side of the horse and a board was placed under the horses head to help keep it elevated and out of the mud

'He was a lot happier with [the board under his head] in place,' the VERT team said

'Once the dirt was removed from the chest and abdominal area, he was able to breath a lot better,' the rescue team said

A veterinarian then climbed down to the horse and anesthetized the horse so that it could be lifted out vertically from the drain and onto a large board by the digger.

A group of at least 11 people then pulled the horse on the board from the hole to another paddock and it is soon seen standing up again.

'A lot of happy responders (veterinarian, VERT, fire, digger operator) and owners, once they saw the horse standing,' the VERT team said.

A veterinarian then climbed down to the horse and anesthetized the horse so that it could be lifted out vertically from the drain and onto a large board by the digger
The media watchdog should be asked whether it would be 'fair' to stop Nigel Farage going head-to-head against David Cameron in a major debate on the EU, the Culture Secretary has said.

In a dramatic intervention this afternoon a furious John Whittingdale blasted David Cameron over reports he 'stitched-up' a deal with ITV to avoid a head-to-head EU debate with Boris Johnson.

He said it was 'extraordinary' that the broadcaster bowed to the Prime Minister's demands to debate Ukip leader Nigel Farage instead of leading Tory Brexit figures.

Mr Farage is not a member of the official Leave campaign but ITV announced that he will represent the Brexit side of the debate in its landmark EU debate on June 7.

Mr Whittingdale said Ofcom should review ITV's decision not to invite someone from Vote Leave to take part in the head-to-head against the PM.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale (left) said it was 'extraordinary' that the broadcaster bowed to the Prime Minister's (right) demands to debate Ukip leader Nigel Farage instead of leading Tory Brexit figures

Broadcasters had clamoured for the Prime Minister to be involved in the debates but ITV bosses agreed last night to accept Downing Street's demands to avoid a 'blue-on- blue' head-to-head.

Vote Leave reacted angrily to the announcement and even accused ITV of 'effectively joining the official In campaign'.

And in a remarkable threat to the broadcaster, a Vote Leave source said: 'There will be consequences for its future - the people in No 10 won't be there for long.'

ITV defended its decision to invite Mr Farage instead of a Vote Leave member and denounced the Brexit campaign's accusations of bias as 'unacceptable, if not shocking'.

This afternoon Mr Whittingdale, whose role as Culture Secretary oversees the broadcasting industry, said it was wrong of ITV to overlook the 'extremely articulate, persuasive people in the Vote Leave campaign' in favour of Mr Farage - seen as a divisive figure.

In a dramatic intervention this afternoon a furious John Whittingdale blasted David Cameron (right) over reports he 'stitched-up' a deal with ITV to avoid a head-to-head EU debate with Boris Johnson (left)

He told Sky News: 'The idea that the Prime Minister has attempted to tell ITV who they should invite or who they should not invite seems to me extraordinary.'

Asked whether ITV should rethink their decision not to invite someone from Vote Leave to take part in the head-to-head against the PM, Mr Whittingdale said: 'Yes I do because I do think that since we have two officially recognised campaigns representing either side of the argument it is right that each of them should put up the most articulate person who they feel would make the best case and then the public will have the benefit of hearing the arguments and will be in a better position to make up their minds on the 23rd of June.'

Mr Whittingdale said it would be fair to refer ITVs decision to broadcasting regulator Ofcom. It looks very odd, if the representative of the argument for leaving is not somebody from the official campaign.

I hope they will listen to the arguments but if the leave campaign feels ITV have failed to be sufficiently balanced... Ofcom have a system whereby they adjudicate and Im sure Vote Leave might wish to make a complaint if that is their view if they feel it has not been a fair process.

Sky News has agreed to stage two shows that will see Mr Cameron face live questions from journalists and members of the public on June 2 and then the following night the pro-Brexit Justice Secretary Michael Gove will face the same crowd.

Number 10 wants to avoid Mr Cameron taking part in the BBC debate at Wembley, which will take place in front of 12,000 people. His team insist the other pro-EU parties should be represented.

Downing Street said Mr Cameron wants to avoid 'blue-on-blue' battles and the referendum debate turning into a Tory civil war.

One member of Vote Leave launched a highly personal attack on ITV's political editor Robert Peston (pictured left) over the broadcaster's decision to invite Nigel Farage (pictured right at the premiere of Brexit: The Movie last night) to take on David Cameron

Ofcom has since said that it is not within its remit to edit editorial content before broadcast.

A spokesman said: 'As a post-broadcast regulator, we don't check or approve any broadcaster's editorial content before transmission. We assess any complaints we receive after a programme is aired and, if necessary, investigate whether it has breached the rules in our Broadcasting Code.'

But Vote Leave sources have pledged to take ITV to court over its decision to choose Mr Farage instead of a member of their campaign.

'ITV admitted to us that the only reason they were asking for Nigel Farage was to secure the Prime Minister,' a source from the campaign said.

'They are allowing Number 10 to choose their opposition. This is because Number 10 are refusing to debate leading Vote Leave figures.

'ITV have effectively become part of the In campaign. We will take them to court and we will win.'

One member of Vote Leave launched a highly personal attack on ITV's political editor Robert Peston.

'ITV is led by people like Robert Peston who campaigned for Britain to join the euro,' the source said.

Julie Etchingham, who moderated ITV's leaders' debate during the 2015 election, will present an hour-long live programme in which Mr Cameron and Mr Farage will debate

Tory grandee Nicholas Soames hit out at Vote Leave's 'toxic' response to news that ITV had invited Nigel Farage to represent the Brexit side of the EU argument in their debate on June 7

'ITV has lied to us in private while secretary stitching up a deal with Cameron to stop Boris Johnson or Michael Gove debating the issues properly.'

The Vote Leave source added: 'The Establishment has tried everything from spending taxpayers money on pro-EU propaganda to funding the IN campaign via Goldman Sachs.

'The polls have stayed fifty fifty. They're now fixing the debates to shut out the official campaign.'

Mr Peston dismissed claims of bias as a 'mad slur' and insisted that ITV was 'wholly impartial in the EU referendum debate'.

And Tory grandee Nicholas Soames hit out at Vote Leave's 'toxic' response to news that ITV had invited Nigel Farage to represent the Brexit side of the EU argument in their debate on June 7.

He tweeted this morning: 'Lethal, toxic combo of malice and dismal but wholly predictable chippiness from Leave in ITV row.'

The Mail revealed on Monday that Downing Street had been accused of trying to deliberately scupper the TV referendum debates by refusing to put up the Prime Minister.

Both the BBC and ITV wanted to hold major events in the days leading up to the June 23 vote  featuring the biggest hitters from the In and Out campaigns.

Last year ITV hosted the election debates with all seven party leaders days, including (from left to right) former Labour leader Ed Miliband, Plaid Cymru's leader Leanne Wood, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Tory leader David Cameron

Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were both lined up to lead the charge for Leave  but Downing Street strategists baulked.

Julie Etchingham, who moderated ITV's leaders' debate during the 2015 election, will present an hour-long live programme in which Mr Cameron and Mr Farage will in turn answer questions from a studio audience. It will be broadcast at 9pm on June 7.

Michael Jermey, ITV's director of news and current affairs, said: 'People will be able to hear leading politicians on both sides of the debate put forward their arguments in the same place and in the same programme.

'Across the two programmes there'll be an opportunity for different shades of opinion from both camps to express their arguments.'

Broadcast sources said that prominent members of Vote Leave, including Mr Johnson, have been invited to take part in a two-hour TV debate on June 9.

They pointed out that Ukip polled 3.9million votes a year ago and finished third in the election.

One source said: 'ITV thinks viewers have a right to hear what the Ukip leader has to say on the referendum.'

News of Mr Farage's invitation to the show was met with anger in the Vote Leave camp. Launching a furious tirade against

Boris Johnson accused David Cameron of 'totally demented' scaremongering yesterday on the Brexit campaign trail.

He hit out at the PM's claims this week that peace in Europe would be threatened if Britain left the EU.
A British property developer accused of slitting the throats of his estranged wife and her 68-year-old mother has been discovered living in a homeless camp four days after the brutal killings.

Dave Thomas McCann, who is originally from the UK but was living in California, was found sleeping in a camp near the town of Seaside on Wednesday after police were tipped off by a homeless man.

Police believe 49-year-old McCann murdered his wife Tierney Cooper-McCann, 36, and her mother, Judith Cooper, 68, at their home in Clovis on Saturday.

Dave Thomas McCann, 49, was arrested on Wednesday, four days after he allegedly killed his estranged wife Tierney Cooper-McCann, 36, and her 68-year-old mother Judith Cooper

Police say McCann was found sleeping in a homeless camp in Seaside, around 160 miles away from where the murders took place on Saturday morning in the town of Clovis

McCann ran a property development business in the UK before moving to California. His social media pages suggest he had only lived in the city of Clovis for around a year.

His sister-in-law Cortney Rider believes that his failing marriage and folding business may have caused him to snap and attack his family.

Ms Rider was at the house where the attacks took place and said she feared she also would be killed.

She told ABC News that she was awoken by the sound of McCann kicking the front door down in the early hours of the morning.

She told the Channel: 'I went in and grabbed the phone and was getting ready to call 911 and by the time I walked out he was slitting [Ms Cooper-McCann's] throat.

'He looked at me and said "you're next," and I immediately ran out the front door and ran to the next door neighbors'.'

She says McCann then went back into the house and returned to the back bedroom where her mother had locked herself in.

McCann is then said to have kicked the door down before also slitting Mrs Cooper's throat, then fleeing the home before police arrived.

McCann is accused of slitting the throat of Cooper-McCann (left) and her mother (right) after kicking his way into their home in the early hours of Saturday

Cortney Rider, Cooper-McCann's sister, said she was in the house when McCann broke in and watched him cut her sister's throat, claiming he told her 'you're next' before she escaped next door

The day before the killings, McCann contacted Clovis police and asked for an escort in order to go to his wife's home and collect some things, which was carried out without incident, records show.

McCann's LinkedIn profile shows he founded SOS Energy and Property Solutions, a company providing renewable energy and water to homes, back in 1999.

Before moving to the US, he worked in Sheffield in the late 1980s, Dronfield in Derbyshire in the 1990s and London since 1999.

The company's website now displays a picture of a dog with the message: 'Due to circumstances beyond our control, this company is closing. Our prayers are dedicated to the Cooper Family.'

Police believe McCann fled the scene of the killings in a Penske removal truck before abandoning it two hours away in the city of Paso Robles.

From there officers think he may have used a bicycle and hitched rides to the city of Seaside, where he was eventually found living among the homeless.

McCann was spotted several times but avoided using his credit card or cell phone to throw police off his trail. He was eventually found after a tip-off from a homeless man

The killings took place in Clovis, not far from San Jose. McCann was found in the coastal town of Seaside

McCann did not use a cellphone and did not withdraw money from an ATM, which could have pinpointed his location, Clovis Police Chief Matt Basgall said.

He added: 'This is a case where Mr McCann went off the grid.'

A break in the search came when a homeless person tipped off investigators to McCann's whereabouts. Officers found McCann asleep at the homeless camp, Basgall said.

McCann was pictured being taken into custody in handcuffs wearing a t-shirt with 'run in the name of love' inscribed on the front.

Officers previously thought McCann may have been trying to travel home to the UK, though they did not identify which part of the country he came from.

Those who know McCann told ABC that he spokes with a thick Irish accent and walks with a limp because of a work injury.

Police said McCann is a British citizen living in the United States on a green card.

TV pictures show the scene of the attack where McCann's estranged wife and mother were killed
Desperate farmers are pushing for a 'milk levy' after dairy companies slashed prices they pay for raw milk - meaning shoppers may be forced to pay up to 50 cents extra per litre.

Last month, Australia's biggest dairy supplier Murray Goulburn, which is renowned for its Devondale milk brand, announced it was no longer feasible to pay its suppliers $5.60 per kilogram for milk and would drop prices to $4.75 to $5 per kilo.

A crisis meeting was held in Terang, in Victoria's southwest, on Wednesday night and lobby group Farmer Power has urged the Turnbull government to intervene.

Shoppers may be forced to pay up to 50 cents extra per litre for milk after desperate dairy farmers pushed for a 'milk levy'

Last month, Australia's biggest dairy supplier Murray Goulburn announced it was no longer feasible to pay its suppliers $5.60 per kilogram for milk

'Milk is sold for bugger all compared to water,' President of Farmer Power Chris Gleeson told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Gleeson said if each shopper were to pay an extra $50 per year on milk, the dairy industry 'crisis' would be solved.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has pledged to do more to help the Victorian farmers impacted by the move.

'I understand their hurt. I'm going to try and get down there. We're going to try and see what further we can do,' he said.

But Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said the minister has been acting too slowly.

A crisis meeting was held in Terang, in Victoria's southwest, on Wednesday night and lobby group Farmer Power urged the Turnbull government to intervene after dairy companies slash prices they'd pay for milk

'Milk is sold for bugger all compared to water,' President of Farmer Power Chris Gleeson said

Murray Goulburn acknowledged that its suppliers would be hit hard by the lower milk price, especially given the very dry conditions in many areas

'ASIC needs to be in there asking those questions and whatever the outcome of those inquiries, it might very well be helpful to producers,' he told ABC TV.

The world's largest dairy company Fonterra also slashed its prices from $5.60 per kilogram to $5.

'Something has to change in this industry. We've got to cover costs of production,' Mr Gleeson said. 'The only way we're going to survive is if we get a higher return on [our] investment.'

Murray Goulburn blamed the stronger Australian dollar and poor sales of adult milk powder in China for its woes.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce pledged to do more to help the Victorian farmers impacted by the move

Mr Gleeson said if shoppers were to pay an extra $50 per year on milk, the dairy industry 'crisis' would be solved

It acknowledged that its suppliers would be hit hard by the lower milk price, especially given the very dry conditions in many areas.

Murray Goulburn chairman Phillip Tracy said growth in sales of adult milk powder in China had been extremely strong in the first half of fiscal 2016.

As a result of the increased demand in the first half, management significantly lifted forecast sales in the second half and increased production, but growth slowed.

Murray Goulburn consequently had to reduce sales forecasts and was left holding excess stock as a result of increased production.

Murray Goulburn is renowned for its Devondale milk brand
The defence lawyer for Sydney investment banker Oliver Curtis says his insider trading trial will hinge on whether his former good mate, the prosecutions star witness, can be trusted.

The New South Wales Supreme Court has heard John Hartman grew up with Mr Curtis, an investment banker and the husband of Sydney public relations maven Roxy Jacenko. The pair went to the prestigious Riverview school and lived together in Bondi, the court has heard.

Prosecutors allege between May 1, 2007 and June 30 2008, the pair of finance industry workers made $1.433 million thanks to inside tips from Hartman, then an equities manager at Orion Asset Management.

Mr Curtiss defence lawyer Murugan Thangaraj SC told the jury in his opening address on Thursday there was 'no case' without Hartman's evidence, which he said the Crown prosecutors would 'heavily' rely upon.

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Investement banker Oliver Curtis arrives at the New South Wales Supreme Court on Thursday with his wife public relations maven Roxy Jacenko

Mr Curtiss defence lawyer Murugan Thangaraj SC said the insider trading trial will hinge on whether the prosecutions star witness, John Hartman, who formerlly lived with the accused, can be trusted

'Theres no dispute the trading took place,' Mr Thangaraj said. 'The issue is Mr Hartmans evidence.

'Is he honest? Is he reliable? Can we trust him?

The prosecution has told the court Hartman was imprisoned for 15 months over charges relating to 'illegal dealing'. Prosecutors said he struck a deal with authorities for a discounted sentence, agreeing to speak about Mr Curtis.

Defence lawyer Mr Thangaraj said: 'One of the issues relevant to determine is - was he acting in self interest when he spoke to ASIC about Mr Curtis? Or was he coming clean with the truth?'

Mr Curtis (left) arrived at the NSW Supreme Court in a trim navy suit as he and a high-heeled Ms Jacenko (right), also dressed in black, strode past waiting media

Mr Curtis, who grew up with witness Hartman, smiled as he approached the court clutching his wife's hand

Mr Thangaraj told the court Hartman was sprung by his broker in mid-January 2009 on trading that had nothing to do with Mr Curtis.

His broker made it clear he would tell Mr Hartmans boss, he said. 'Mr Hartman speaks to his lawyer and then goes and speaks to ASIC (the Australian Securities and Investment Commission).

Mr Thangaraj said: He made an allegation against a good mate, Mr Curtis, and (that) had two benefits.

Number one was less time in jail. Two, the benefits of the deal that he made for ASIC.

'One of the issues for you (the jury) to determine will be well how do we describe that deal?

'Was it an extraordinary deal?

'Mr Hartmans end of the deal was pretty straightforward. Plead guilty to something agreed and give evidence against his mate.

Hartman grew up with Mr Curtis and the pair went to the prestigious Riverview school (pictured) before living together in Bondi

The couple were pictured outside the court on Wednesday

Ms Jacenko and Mr Curtis have two children, Pixie and Hunter. The couple are pictured above in a file photo from a happy moment

On Wednesday morning, a photo of Ms Jacenko's two children, Hunter and Pixie, sitting on a couch appeared on her daughter's Instagram account. The photo was captioned: 'Did someone say hump day?'

'What motivated Mr Hartman to claim this agreement?

Senior Crown prosecutor David Staelhi told the jury of eight man and four women Hartman will begin to give evidence on Monday.

Mr Curtis is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading.

The Crown will have to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors told the court on Monday Mr Curtis used the money from Hartmans tips to purchase a $20,000 Ducati motorcycle and a $60,000 Mini Cooper for Hartman. The pair also used some of the money to go on a extensive' trip to Las Vegas and Whistler, Canada, with friends, the court was told.
Lena Dunham has paid tribute to her former Girls co-star Nick Lashaway after the actor was killed in a car crash.

Lashaway, who appeared in the second season of the hit HBO show', was killed in the tragic smash in Framingham, Massachusetts, earlier this week.

Today Dunham posted a picture of the 28-year-old, who briefly played her love interest on Girls, on her Instagram account as she paid an emotional tribute to 'sweet Nick.'

Lena Dunham (right, at the Blossom Ball, Chelsea Piers on April 19) has paid tribute to her former Girls co-star Nick Lashaway (left at YouTube Music Awards in 2013) after the actor was killed in a car crash

'Just heard the incredibly sad news that Nick Lashaway was killed in a car accident on May 8th,' she wrote on Wednesday.

'Nick was such a talented, funny and kind person and we were so lucky to have him as part of the family when he played Frank in episode 207,' she continued in the caption, alongside the picture of Lashaway and Dunham appearing together in the show.

'We will always remember the week we shared with him, his playful smile and his easy instincts and how much he made us laugh when we had to stay up all night in the woods. We are sending love to his family and friends and feeling such gratitude for his gifts. RIP sweet Nick.'

Lashaway had played Frank in Girls; Jessa's 19-year-old step-brother who Hannah (played by Dunham) ends up hooking up with when they go to visit Jessa's family upstate in episode 207 of the show.

Richard Shepard, who directed Lashaway in the episode, added his tribute, tweeting: 'Sad news. Nick Lashaway who was so great in my GIRLS ep 'Video Games' has died at 28. Funny, sweet & talented. RIP.'

Lashaway, originally from Washington, District of Columbia, was killed in a three-car pile-up on Badger Road in Framingham, Massachusetts on Monday evening.

Today Dunham posted a picture of the 28-year-old on her Instagram account as she paid an emotional tribute to 'sweet Nick'

Lashaway (pictured at a Hollywood cast meet and greet for My Soul to Take in 2010) was killed in a three-car pile-up on Badger Road in Framingham, Massachusetts on Monday evening

Dunham had posted on her Instgram account saying she had just heard the 'incredibly sad news' as she paid tribute to the 'talented' Lashaway

The other two motorists were injured but survived the crash at just after 6.30pm.

Retired Framingham Police officer Ted Piers told Metro West Daily News that he had found Lashaway unconscious behind the wheel of his Jeep - which was on fire.

He and his sons pulled him to safety and performed CPR until emergency services arrived.

Lashaway was rushed to the nearby MetroWest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police Lt. Harry Wareham said Monday.

The crash is still under investigation.

Lashaway appeared in Girls alongside Dunham in the episode Video Games, had been acting for more than a decade.
A bomb squad was called to a primary school after a teacher mistook a seven-year-old boy's home project for a 'propane gas bomb' and phoned police.

The Year 2 student had been working on the project at home and brought it to Hallet Cove Primary School in Adelaide to show staff on Thursday morning.

Science teachers feared it resembled a propane gas bomb and phoned police who sent a bomb squad, ambulance and firefighters to the scene.

Ten members of staff were evacuated from part of the building while members of South Australia Police's 'Explosives Co-ordination section' removed the device.

Hallet Cove Primary School in Adelaide was evacuated on Thursday after staff mistook a child's home project for a propane gas bomb and phoned police

It was later found to pose no risk. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia after the ordeal, Principal Mary Asikas said staff were merely eager to follow safety precautions when they phoned for help.

'It's a bit of a storm in a teacup. A year 2 boy was working on a project at home - he's very inquisitive.

'He brought what he had made in to show his teacher and the teacher thought: "I think this looks like something I see on TV."

'They informed leadership, we took a look and called police. We have quite a few science and maths teachers here and one of them looked at it and thought that because there were batteries on it, if there's gas in it, it could inflame.

South Australia Police attended the scene (above) and removed the device on Thursday morning

A bomb squad was deployed to the school where they removed the device and ruled out risk (file image above)

'We thought we'd take the right precautions.'

Ms Asikas said the device resembled a 'propane gas bomb' and that the project was not part of the school's curriculum.

'We'll be speaking to the parents but it was just all innocent,' she added. On Thursday morning South Australia Police confirmed the incident.

A South Australia Police spokesman said: 'Officers from STAR Group's Explosives Co-ordination Section attended along with the MFS and Ambulance Service as a precautionary measure.
A woman has claimed she 'went in to shock' while there was blood running down her face during an invasive laser treatment.

Niki Richardson, 46, from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, went to a local skin clinic to have 'erbium laser resurfacing' - a process which she hoped would reduce the appearance of scars on her face.

She claims she was told the process may leave her with 'some redness, maybe a bit of inflammation and maybe some weeping' for week or so after.

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Niki Richardson has described an 'excruciating' laser treatment that has apparently left her with inflammation and swelling three months later. She is pictured here six hours after the treatment

Three days after her treatment (left) Ms Richardson's face still appears red and inflamed, and by the time six days had passed (right) scabs had formed

Ms Richardson, from Mornington in Victoria, is seen here before she had the procedure

Instead she said she walked from the clinic with blood pouring from her face and claims to still have severe inflammation three months later.

The clinic, Lumps & Bumps Skin Clinic, denies any wrongdoing, saying that what she experienced was part of the normal healing process following such an aggressive treatment.

However, Ms Richardson told the Daily Mail Australia 'It was excruciating, I went into shock when it was being done'.

'I had metal covers over my eyes  and (the therapist) asked me if I could feel the blood running into my eyes.

'I told her I couldnt feel it because the pain was so intense but I did tell her I could feel it splattering on my arms,' Ms Richardson said.

Two weeks prior to the treatment, Ms Richardson said she had a consultation with a practitioner as well as a woman she was told was the clinic's GP.

She was prescribed the heavy-duty painkiller Penthrox - also known as the 'green whistle' - to use during treatment and a bleaching cream to apply in the two weeks leading up to the procedure.

'That alone I thought was unusual because I wasnt aware that I would have to see two people', Ms Richardson said.

Three months later (pictured) Ms Richardson's face still appears to be inflamed and red

Immediately after the treatment, Ms Richardson claims bruises had already formed under her eyes

Eight days later what is claimed to be a painful infection had formed on some parts of Ms Richardson's face

During the appointment she was told the procedure was an intense one so it would leave her with some redness and swelling the weeks following.

'So I interpreted that myself as looking kind of sunburnt, a bit of puffiness and maybe some weeping', Ms Richardson said.

However she claims she was not prepared for the 'excruciating' pain of the treatment, which she was told by a skin doctor should have been done under general anesthetic in a hospital.

'The pain was unbearable but I did say just keep going Ill let you know if I cant cope,' Ms Richardson said.

'I said to her  I can feel Im going into shock and I was freezing cold.

'(The therapist) said try and stay still, and I said "I cant Im shaking so much".

Ms Richardson said she was told after the procedure that she should have used the pain relief, which she said she was prescribed by the clinics GP prior to the treatment, as the discomfort was 'to be expected with the level of laser I've just used'.

Another woman, 73, who also claims to have been treated by the same practitioner, says she has been left physically and emotionally scarred by her treatment

Maureen Murray, who also claims to have seen the same woman, is pictured here after treatment

She went to get treatment at the Canberra clinic which relocated after Mornington

'When the treatment was finished she wiped some of the blood from my face...'

'I got up off the table and there was a mirror in the corner of the room and I just walked over there and thought "what have I done"?'

'I could not believe what I was seeing, it was absolutely shocking.'

Six hours after the laser treatment, Ms Richardson's face was still bright red with blood.

Three days later her face had swollen so much that her eyes were almost closed, Ms Richardson said.

'I tried working to start off with but my pain actually got worse. By the end of the first week I was so sick.'

Since going public with her story Ms Richardson said she has been contacted by a number of other women who claim to have had similar experiences at the clinic - which has since relocated to Canberra.

Ms Richardson said she had been posting to the clinic's Facebook page but claimed her comments and pictures were being deleted.

Ms Richardson says she took this photograph eight weeks after treatment

She said she has spoken out to try and encourage others to come forward

The clinic has since publicly responded to the controversy in a post to their public page.

Denying the claims, the clinics post read: 'A false and ludicrous post has been shared over social media in attempts to defame Lumps & Bumps Skin Clinic,' it read.

'These posts have been orchestrated by one person with the intent to tarnish our reputation.

'The photos that this woman has shared look horrific to the everyday person however they demonstrate the normal healing process following such an aggressive treatment,' the post finished.

Think Legal lawyer Paul Flintoft, who is representing a number of other people who have potential claims - apparently against the same practitioner from the clinic, has urged anyone else who had a similar experience to come forward.

'There are people that have been impacted upon  that are making complaints in the ACT and Victoria', Mr Flintoft told Daily Mail Australia.

'A lot people are embarrassed to come forward because this about health and beauty.

'They've tried to fix whatever they perceived as the issue, so they're reluctant to come forward.'

The lawyer said anyone with concerns about these types of treatments should contact the relevant health authority and seek legal

However, noting the clinics Facebook page, it appears to deny doing anything wrong and says that the effects are because of the aggressive type of treatment that Ms Richardson sought.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was shirtfronted by an angry Melbourne mother of two demanding answers over the cost of sending her sons to school on day four of the election campaign.

Single mum Melinda demanded to know how the PM expected her to pay for her children's schooling without the Schoolkids Bonus which will be cut in July.

She's also upset the government wants to strip back family tax benefits.

'I don't care what you do to me, but give the kids a chance, give them a fighting chance,' she told Mr Turnbull.

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Malcolm Turnbull shirtfronted by angry Melbourne mother-of-two Melinda on day four of the election campaign

Melinda challenged the PM over the cost of public education with the Schoolkids Bonus to be cut in July

Single mum Melinda (pictured right) demanded to know how the PM expected her to pay for her children's schooling without the Schoolkids Bonus which will be cut in July

Mr Turnbull tried to placate Melinda by insisting his government was committed to education but she told him her inability to pay Year 10 costs for one of her children was 'ruining his chances to become something'

Melinda was in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin when she saw the media pack waiting for the prime minister to appear after he inspected a local defence engineering business.

She vented about having to choose affordable subjects for her Year 10 son at a local school which had exhausted its welfare budget last year after 10 months.

'I'm ruining his chances to become something, to contribute to society, because he's just going to get a bad job,' she told Mr Turnbull, fighting the urge to swear.

The PM listened to the tirade for about seven minutes before Melinda walked away.

He insisted he was committed to education, telling her the coalition was putting more money into schools than any government.

'It's a massive expenditure,' he said.

The income tested Schoolkids Bonus is worth $865 each year for secondary school students and $428 for each child in primary.

But the young mum questioned whether political parties were listening to her and others like her.

'I just need you to hear the mums at the coffee shop and at the school gate,' she said.

Mr Turnbull promised to have further discussions with her about education policy.

'I want your boys to have the chance to do whatever they want,' he told her.

'I can feel what's in your heart.'

Melinda wasn't sold on Mr Turnbull's response but was prepared to listen to what he had to say.

'I don't want to be rich and famous, I just want to have a fair go and I just want my kids to have options,' she told reporters.

This confrontation comes just a day after a case of mistaken identity with another woman as she got onto a Sydney train and mistook Mr Turnbull for a train conductor.

A woman boarding a Blue Mountains line train in Sydney on Wednesday was greeted at the door by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was on his way to Emu Plains for a community morning tea

The video, filmed by David Sharaz, shows Mr Turnbull standing at the door welcoming passengers onto a train heading to Emu Plains in western Sydney on Wednesday morning.

As the woman climbs up into the train from the platform, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says to her: 'Hello, do come on - how do you do?'

She looks at him and replies with: 'Good thank you. And who are you?'

Mr Turnbull looks momentarily bemused before replying with: 'I'm ahh doing a bit of conducting on the train.'

The woman then replies with: 'Oh that's good!'

Mr Turnbull was on his way to Emu Plains for a community morning tea with business owners and mothers at the Penrith Gallery with the member for Lindsay, Fiona Scott.

The woman, after being greeted by the Prime Minister said 'Good thanks. And who are you?'

The Prime Minister looked momentarily bemused before saying: 'I'm ahh doing a bit of conducting on the train'
Mexican-American Actor Danny Trejo attended a safety meeting at a California high school on Wednesday night two days after a massive melee broke out over what may have been a race related issue.

While some at the Sylmar High School safety meeting in the San Fernando Valley argued that tensions between black and Hispanic students had nothing to do with the brawl, Trejo apparently disagreed.

'There IS a race problem. Your heads are in the sand,' Trejo said at the meeting, according to Beverly White of NBCLA who tweeted a photo of the actor as he spoke with passion.

Outspoken: 'There IS a race problem. Your heads are in the sand,' Danny Trejo said at a Sylmar High School safety meeting on Wednesday

Caring: Trejo does not have children who attend the school but he is a concerned member of the community

Mexican-American Actor Danny Trejo (pictured Wednesday) attended the meeting two days after a 'race fueled' massive lunchtime brawl broke out a day before

Gratitude: He was thanked by students for attending and later told them he was happy to be involved

Trejo has two children thought they are not students at the school. He decided to attend the meeting because he is a member of the community, according to Fox 11.

Trejo has starred in several films and television shows and is most recognized as the character Machete, originally made for the Spy Kids series of movies. The role was later expanded into Trejo's own series of films.

The Sylmar High Newz, a Twitter page dedicated to keeping students updated about campus activity ,thanked Trejo for taking part in the discussion about Monday's melee.

Trejo urged students at the school to speak at the meeting and several stood up to talk about how much they love their school and how they were disappointed about the amount of negative media attention the school was getting.

One student told Fox 11 that she thinks the fight was gang related and said that students at the school have gang affiliations but added that she doesn't think the issue was about race.

The mass brawl involving about 40 people broke out on the campus of a Los Angeles high school, in a fight that officials believe was started at prom over the weekend.

A team of 12 officers and a supervisor dispatched by LA Unified School Police tried to break up the brawl as it happened.

According to reports, the fight lasted for 20 minutes, with numerous videos taken at the scene since uploaded to YouTube.

Major brawl: A team of 12 officers and a supervisor dispatched by LA Unified School Police tried to break up the brawl as it happened at Sylmar High School in San Fernandino Valley at lunchtime on Monday

An officer can be seen here in his video trying to restrain a student was kicking another on the ground

According to reports, the fight lasted for 20 minutes, with numerous videos taken at the scene since uploaded to YouTube

A mass brawl involving about 40 people broke out on the campus of Sylmar high school on Monday, in a fight that officials believe was started at prom over the weekend

Scene: Footage posted to YouTube showed a number of teens involved in a physical altercation

Witnesses said everyone walked away and that no one was taken to hospital, but several students were bloodied and bruised with black eyes.

KTLA 5 News reported that the reason behind the brawl was race and gang-related.

It is said that tensions flared between some black and Hispanic students at the prom at the weekend, and that school officials were worried the problem would come to a head Monday.

The videos show punches and kicks being through around, as other students fled for cover.

Officers can be seen jumping in to break up the fights, as others begin happening around them.

'It was just uncontrollable,' said one student,

'It was just uncontrollable': Student Juan Ayala (left) and another junior (right) give interviews after the fight

The principal sent out a letter to parents Monday to inform them of the fight and that students involved are receiving disciplinary actions. But there were no known arrests.

James Lee, the school's principal, said in a statement to parents that 'multiple students participated in a conflict during lunch on campus'.

According to Lee, 'disciplinary actions have been taken' and the parents of the students have been contacted.
George Zimmerman's auction for the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin is back on after the first site pulled the listing - insisting they didn't want to have anything to do with it.

The Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm, used in the 2013 shooting of the unarmed black teen, was due to be auctioned off on Thursday morning with bids starting at $5,000 on GunBroker.com until the posting was removed.

The auction site took the listing down minutes after the sale was to have started at 11am.

The message, 'Sorry, but the item you have requested is no longer in the system' appeared on the page instead.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, officials with GunBroker.com said it reserves the right to reject listings, and has done so with Zimmerman's.

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George Zimmerman, left, was auctioning off the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin (right) with in 2012. The listing was taken off the website Thursday and he placed it on UnitedGunGroup.com on Thursday afternoon

The former neighborhood watch captain said the gun had only recently been returned to him by the Department of Justice following his murder trial

Now, Zimmerman is selling the murder weapon on UnitedGunGroup.com (above) for the same starting bid as he did on the first site

Zimmerman explained that he planned to lock it in a safe to eventually give to his grandchildren if the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm didn't sell

'Mr. Zimmerman never contacted anyone at GunBroker.com prior to or after the listing was created and no one at GunBroker.com has any relationship with Zimmerman,' the statement said.

'Our site rules state that we reserve the right to reject listings at our sole discretion, and have done so with the Zimmerman listing.'

However, Zimmerman told the Orlando Sentinel that GunBroker.com was not 'prepared for the traffic and publicity surrounding the auction of my firearm. It has now been placed with another auction house.'

Now, Zimmerman is selling the murder weapon on UnitedGunGroup.com for the same starting bid as he did on the first site, but no one has placed a bid for it yet as of Thursday afternoon.

'United Gun Group offers a free platform for law-abiding citizens to buy, sell, trade and discuss firearms and related products,' a statement on their Facebook page reads announcing the gun auction.

'United Gun Groups stance is that as long as Mr. Zimmerman (or any other UGG member) is obeying the letter of the law, his personal firearm sale will be permitted on our network.

'UGG reminded Mr. Zimmerman to ensure the gun is shipped from one FFL to another FFL. He appears to be following all applicable laws.'

GunBroker.com took down Zimmerman's listing, citing that they didn't want any part of the publicity it was receiving. The message above is what appears on the page where his listing was

Zimmerman (pictured in court in 2013) made headlines after shooting the unarmed 17-year-old on February 26, 2012, during a neighborhood patrol in Sanford, Florida

Zimmerman wrote on the site that a portion of the proceeds will go to 'fight BLM violence against Law Enforcement officers, ensure the demise of Angela Correy's persecution career and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric.'

In both listings of the weapon, he has claimed that the 'many have expressed interest in owning and displaying the firearm including The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.'

However, the museum said in a statement it had not done so and had no plans to display it.

The former neighborhood watchman said the US Justice Department returned the pistol, which took it after Zimmerman was acquitted in Martin's 2012 shooting death.

In the description of the gun that on the site, Zimmerman wrote: 'Prospective bidders, I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon. '

'The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012.'

When first challenged on his decision to sell the gun which robbed a 17-year-old boy of his life, Zimmerman told Fox News 51 he was a 'free American' and so 'can do what I like with my possessions.'

The former neighborhood watch captain said the gun had only recently been returned to him by the Department of Justice following his murder trial.

The 32-year-old was acquitted of the charges after the fatal shooting of Martin in 2012.

He made headlines after shooting the unarmed 17-year-old on February 26, 2012, during a neighborhood patrol inside a gated community in Sanford, Florida.

The case shocked the nation, sparking protests across the country with demonstrators demanding Zimmerman's arrest and a full investigation.

On July 13 the following year, he was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

The former neighborhood watch captain had planned to open the auction for the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm (pictured during the trial in June 2013) on Thursday morning on GunBrokers.com before they took the listing down

Amy Siewert, from FDLE, showed the jury how George Zimmerman's gun can be fired during his trial in Seminole circuit court, in Sanford, Florida in July 2013

Zimmerman relisted the gun on UnitedGunGroup.com Thursday afternoon and described it on the auction as the 'firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012'

Zimmerman told investigators he had fired because he feared for his life after he confronted Martin, who was returning from a store while visiting his father at the same townhome complex where Zimmerman lived.

The former neighborhood watched captain claimed he acted in self-defense during the fight where he claims he was punched by the teen.

Martin's parents have always insisted that Zimmerman initiated the fight.

Since his acquittal, he has had a series of run-ins with the law and courted online controversy a number of times by bragging about killing the African-American teenager on social media.

He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief after his then-girlfriend said he pointed a gun at her face during an argument.

Zimmerman was accused by his estranged wife Shellie of smashing an iPad during an argument at the home they had shared. However, no charges were ever filed due to a lack of evidence.

And following his third arrest for domestic violence allegations earlier this year, Zimmerman's lawyer admitted his client 'has not been lucky with the ladies.'

Thousands of demonstrators marched along the streets in Sanford, Florida, during a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) rally demanding for justice in the shooting of Trayvon Martin

The shooting of the unarmed teen by Zimmerman sparked protests across the state and country (pictured at the Orange County Courthouse is Orlando, Florida, Wednesday, July 17, 2013)

Thousands took to the streets across America after Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of 17-year-old Martin

Last year, Zimmerman referenced Martin's death when someone sent him the message: 'It's slap-an-idiot Wednesday.'

He replied: 'We all know how it ended for the last moron that hit me. Give it a whirl cupcake.'

Hours later, he posted numerous racial slurs in a series of tweets as well as a selfie he took as he smoked a cigar in a swimming pool.

He posted pictures of Michael Brown and Vester Flanagan with the caption: 'If @BarackObama had two sons'.

Zimmerman also branded President Obama an 'ignorant baboon' for his statements about the high number of gun-related deaths in America after the on-air shooting of WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

Using a number of homophobic slurs, he wrote: 'Pansy Fester [sic] lee Flanagan, too much of a daisy to deal w/racism. Murders 2 whites. Hate crime, 100%. Racist Obama says nothing condeming [sic].'

Zimmerman also cashed on on his notoriety to sell a painting on eBay for more than $100,000.

He sparked fury on Twitter yet again last September after retweeting a picture of Trayvon Martin's dead body.

Since Zimmerman's, left, acquittal, he has courted online controversy a number of times by bragging about killing Martin (right)

A fan had posted the shocking image on the social network alongside a message to Zimmerman saying: 'Z-Man is a one man army.'

Zimmerman then retweeted the image to more than 10,000 followers on his account, which he often uses to troll people online.

In the latest headline-grabbing move, he posted the first ad for the gun online which he billed to potential buyers as the 'opportunity to own a piece of American history.'

And he claimed he 'couldn't care less' if many people found the move in bad taste although he admitted that he had received more death threats than usual after posting the ad online.

The 32-year-old insisted that 'going into hiding' was not going to keep him safe from what he described as 'radicals.' 'It won't help,' he added.

Zimmerman planned to lock the gun in a safe to eventually give to his grandchildren if it didn't sell on the auction site. 'If I sell it, and it sells, I move past it,' he explained prior to the listing being removed on GunBroker.com.

Martin's family declined to comment on the sale of the weapon but said that the The Trayvon Martin Foundation, set up in his name, was continuing its mission to 'end senseless gun violence.'
Almost 900 male asylum seekers and refugees are no longer being detained at Manus Island.

The 898 men being held at the Australian detention centre in Papua New Guinea are now able to leave during the day, but only if they sign documents agreeing to be responsible for their own safety, according to ABC.

The altered restrictions are in compliance with a PNG Supreme Court ruling on April 26 declaring that detaining the men was a breach of their constitutional rights.

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Almost 900 male asylum seekers and refugees are no longer being detained at Manus Island, an Australian offshore detention centre (pictured) in Papua New Guinea

The men are now able to leave during the day to the island's (pictured) main city, but only if they sign documents agreeing to be responsible for their own safety

The refugees are also able to leave the island if they agree to resettle elsewhere in Papua New Guinea - an option only eight men have agreed to but three of those men have returned to the detention centre (pictured)

If they decide to leave the facility, the men can catch a bus into the island's main town every morning and can opt to stay at an immigration centre overnight, according to ABC.

The men cannot walk out of the facility because it sits on a PNG naval base  a restriction that refugee Behrouz Boochani said doesn't allow for absolute freedom.

'They are still controlling us,' he said. 'Even when we want to go from Oscar to Delta [internal compounds] we should give our ID cards to the officers.

'It means we are not free to walk.'

Only eight men have signed agreements to leave Manus Island and settle elsewhere in PNG.

The men cannot walk out of the facility because it sits on a PNG naval base  a restriction that refugee Behrouz Boochani said doesn't allow for absolute freedom

Three of the eight men tried to resettle in Lae but returned to the island, saying that they have been threatened and robbed.

Another three of the men are working and a fourth was recently hired for a new job.

One other refugee is in hospital after being robbed repeatedly.

Earlier this month, former and current detainees at the island immigration detention centre lodged an application for compensation after the Supreme court decreed their detention is and was illegal.

The ruling opened the door for the current and former asylum seekers to each claim up to $125,000.

Earlier this month, former and current detainees at the island immigration detention centre lodged an application for compensation after the Supreme court decreed their detention is and was illegal

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.

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.
Bill Shorten may have been celebrating his 49th birthday on Thursday, but it was his wife Chloe that grabbed all the attention as his election campaign rolled on this week.

The Australian reports that the Labor leader was treated to an impromptu rendition of 'happy birthday' by the students Frenchville State School in the central Queensland seat of Capricornia he was visiting.

But it was his wife Chloe that caught the eye instead. Wearing a bright yellow skirt and pink lipstick, she made the biggest impact as she joined her husband on the campaign trail for the first time.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten was joined on the campaign trail by his wife Chloe on Thursday

Mr Shorten's wife certainly brought some colour to the campaign as she appeared in Rockhampton with her husband dressed in a bright yellow skirt.

It was also a big day out for the pupils of Frenchville State School who also found themselves in the limelight as the couple were taken on a tour of the premises.

The couple walked around shaking hands and high-fiveing the many students there. Later they both sat at the chidren's small tables to meet and greet the star-struck kids.

Mr Shorten also did not miss the chance to get into his wife's good books as she made her first appearance on the campaign by giving her the perfect compliment on the day.

The couple met students at Frenchville State School in the central Queensland seat of Capricornia

After being asked by reporters if he received a good birthday present this year, the opposition leader smiled and just looked at his wife.

'My present is standing right next to me,' he said.

The Shortens visit to Capricornia also had a more serious ring to it as it is a crucial seat for Labor to win in the election.

Bill Shorten and wife his wife Chloe share some cake and a birthday kiss

When asked if he received a good birthday present, the opposition leader looked at his wife and said: 'My present is standing right next to me'

It is the coalition's most marginal seat in parliament, which is held by Liberal-Nationals MP Michelle Landry by 0.8 per cent. Before the 2013 election took place, it had been Labor's for 15 years.

The Government and Opposition are currently neck and neck ahead of July election, with latest polls suggesting the difference between the parties is just one per cent

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called an election for July 2 on Sunday, and Mr Shorten welcomed the challenge got down to campaigning immediately.
South Australia Ambulance Service is on standby at the scene

Office workers surrounding the property were evacuated in the afternoon

It was reported a mental health patient was holed up in a house with a gun

Officers cordoned off Carrington Street in the city's CBD on Thursday

A swat team has evacuated offices and is preparing to swoop on a house in Adelaide's CBD amid reports a mental health patient is holed up with a gun.

Officers from South Australia Police's Special Task and Rescue (STAR) squad have cordoned off Carrington Street in the heart of the city to negotiate with the man, it was reported.

South Australia Ambulance Service is also at the scene on standby.

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Heavily armed police cordoned off a CBD street in Adelaide on Thursday amid reports of a man with a gun

According to Channel Nine, office workers in nearby buildings were evacuated after being told of a man in the vicinity who was wielding a gun.

It is not clear whether he has emerged from a property where he was believed to be hiding.

SA Police were unable to clarify the details on Thursday afternoon as the incident unfolded.

It is understood the man, who has not been identified, is a mental health patient. It was earlier claimed there were fears he was making an attempt on his own life.

No one has been treated by paramedics and no shots are believed to have been fired.

'We haven't treated anybody. We're just on standby with SA Police,' said an ambulance service spokesman.

Heavily armed officers were seen approaching the house on foot dressed in swat uniforms shortly before 3pm.

Media and by-passers have been held back from the scene as officers continue to work.

For confidential support call Lifeline on 13 11 14

Office workers in nearby buildings were evacuated and told of a man who was holed up with the weapon
He is also accused of attacking Adelaide-based internet

A 15-year-old boy could be jailed for up to 10 years for cyber attacking a school, a government agency and an internet service provider.

The teenager, from Adelaide, was arrested in April after a two-week-long attack, which he is believed to have carried out on his home computer  just to see if he could, according to The Advertiser.

He allegedly attacked Reynella East College, Adelaide-based internet provider NuSkope, and a government agency, but it is unknown whether it was a state or federal agency.

A 15-year-old Adelaide boy could be jailed for up to 10 years for cyber attacking a school, a government agency and an internet service provider in May and April - just to see if he could (stock photo)

The boy has been charged with three counts of unauthorised impairment of computer systems and appeared at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court (pictured) on Thursday

He allegedly disabled the computers at all three organisations with denial of service attacks  which flood a computer with repeated requests for information and causes it to crash.

NuSkope was attempting to deflect attacks on the internet and computers at Reynella when they became the target themselves, The Advertiser previously reported.

About 10,000 customers were affected over a two-night period, NuSkope chief technology officer Michael Blake said.

He allegedly attacked Reynella East College, Adelaide-based internet provider NuSkope, and a government agency, but it is unknown whether it was a state or federal agency (stock photo)

The boy has been charged with three counts of unauthorised impairment of computer systems and appeared at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He has been released on a $100 bond, ordered to stay away from the school and banned from using the internet, The Advertiser said.

He will face court again in June.
A man whose wife told him to buy a lottery ticket based on his horoscope has won $500,000 after following her advice.

The lucky Virgo, who wished to remain anonymous, bought the ticket at Pak 'n Save in Ormiston, Auckland, last week.

He admitted the only reason for the purchase was guidance from his better half who'd read that he would come in to money when browsing horoscopes.

A New Zealand man won $500,000 in the lottery after buying a ticket on the advice of his wife who read his horoscope

He told The New Zealand Herald: 'My wife phoned me out of the blue and said "I've been reading your horoscope and it says you're going to come into money - you should buy a Lotto ticket today.

'Luckily I did as I was told.' The win has sparked a new belief in astrology, he added.

'I don't know about all the other Virgos, but my horoscope definitely came true last week.'

The couple plan to use the money to pay off their mortgage and take time off work.

Five other players each won $25,000 on Wednesday across New Zealand while another two each won $500,000 ($465,000 AUD).

The man bought the ticket at Pak 'n Save in Ormiston, Auckland (pictured above) in April

In a statement My Lotto said: 'Two other Kiwis will also be celebrating tonight after winning $50,000 each with Strike Four.

'The winning tickets were sold at Ballantrae Four Square in Kawerau and Botany Junction Four Square in Auckland.'

No one claimed the Powerball First Division jackpot which now stands at $8million.
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It's the waterside 15-room Sydney mansion selling for $20 million which has the property tongues wagging and it's nowhere near the harbour.

Palazzo Georges on the Georges River in the southern Sydney suburb of Sylvania is on the market and is set to shatter the record for the highest price paid in the area - $8.5 million two years ago.

According to Domain.com.au the property extends over three titles across 1400 square metres and the land was once owned by Australian formula one world champion Sir Jack Brabham.

The river mansion known as the Palazzo Georges is set to break records and sell for $20 million

Home called 'Point Piper of the south' took three years to build and is being sold by rag-trader George Georges

53 - 55 Harrow Street is known as Palazzo Georges at Sylvania in Sydney's south

Taking centre stage on a prime waterfront landholding in one of the Sutherland Shires most exclusive cul-de-sacs, Palazzo Georges is sheer elegance combined with vast space and beautiful water views

The land on which the southern Sydney mansion is located once bought for just $110,000 by F1 great Sir Jack Brabham

The 53-55 Harrow Street home, which took three years to build, is in the ownership of fashion guru George Georges and his wife Kathy.

Among its inclusions are five bedrooms and six bathrooms and property analysts believe it gives some of the waterfront properties on Sydney Harbour and in the east a run for their money.

The land itself has a history steeped in another design industry, furniture. The prime waterfront property was once the home to furniture tsar Keith Lord.

Agents describe the manor as 'grand scale waterfront excellence with world class luxury'.

Domain calls it the 'Point Piper of the south' and it's not hard to see why with the multiple levels connected by an internal elevator and a north facing position bringing amazing views of the Georges River.

It makes for a stunning property on an enormous 1,300sqm parcel of due-north-facing land on one of the rivers deepest points

The Georges bought the three lots in 2002 for a then suburb record of $4.3 million and redeveloped it over three years

Multiple levels inside the 15-room mansion are connected by internal elevator and there is a 'world-class cinema'

The Point Piper of the South has a circular dining room, parents retreat with a salon room, library and music room

The multiple levels are connected by an internal elevator and north facing position provides for intimate views over the Georges River

The river mansion known as the Palazzo Georges is set to break records and sell for $20 million

The top class private cinema is a spectacular feature.

'Taking centre stage on a prime waterfront landholding in one of the Sutherland Shires most exclusive cul-de-sacs, Palazzo Georges will leave you breathless with its sheer elegance, vast space and beautiful water views,' the property report states.

It also boasts a waterfront jetty, three pontoons, its own swimming pool, along with a library and music room.

A rotating circular dining room makes for a special dining experience, and in keeping with the theme there is garaging for six cars with turn table parking.
An Australian man who has been assaulted twice in as many weeks is fighting for his life in a Bali hospital after suffering significant head injuries in a brutal late-night home invasion.

John Neil Bourke, 63, has been placed in a medically induced coma at the Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar as he recovers from a seven hour surgery after Indonesian doctors tried to release the pressure on his brain caused by significant internal bleeding.

The retired engineer, from Darwin, was found in a critical condition at his blood spattered Kerobokan villa in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a 'targeted attack' on the expat who recently asked a friend to look after his dog in case anything happened to him, Nine News reported.

John Neil Bourke, 63, has been placed in a medically induced coma at the Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar as he recovers from a seven hour surgery

The retired engineer has been attacked twice in the last two weeks and made an eerie request for his friend to take care of his beloved dog in case anything happened to him

Dr Gipsy Ayu, a volunteer who has spent hours by Mr Bourke's bedside, said a piece of his skull was removed but has not yet been replaced as doctors are still trying to bring down the swelling around his brain.

She said Mr Bourke's recovery 'won't be easy' given his age, adding that if the 63-year-old wakes up he will require a significant amount of support from family and friends.

Doctors are monitoring his brain activity and vital signs but he is expected to remain on a ventilator until he shows signs of being able to breath independently.

Mr Bourke's wife Bertha is expected to land in Bali on Wednesday afternoon, while several other Australians travelling or living in the area have rallied at his bedside to offer emotional support.

The retired engineer was found in a critical condition at his blood spattered Kerobokan villa (pictured) in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with police arriving shortly after to gather evidence in the investigation

Mr Bourke's wife Bertha (right) is expected to land in Bali on Wednesday afternoon

Dr Gipsy Ayu, a volunteer who has spent hours by Mr Bourke's bedside, said a piece of his skull was removed but has not yet been replaced as doctors are still trying to bring down the swelling around his brain

A CAT scan of Mr Bourke's brain, with white patches showing bleeding on the brain

'I want to help simply because it's what I like to do. No one should be alone in that kind of situation. Glad to see at least some of his friends are here,' one woman said.

While it was initially reported the hospital had been refusing to perform surgery as Mr Bourke does not have sufficient health insurance, doctors agreed to help the critical patient 'on the base humanity'. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise fund for his medical bills, with almost $3,000 worth of donations pledged at the time of publication.

Mr Bourke was taken into surgery at 9.30pm local time, 11.30pm Sydney time.

Police are investigating the incident but have not been able to get Mr Bourke's account of the attack due to his deteriorating condition.

Nothing was taken from Mr Bourke's home during the home invasion and it has been suggested the attack was motivated by a property dispute, according to Nine News.

Police confirmed the home was secure at the time and does not appear to be broken-in to.

Polce Fanggidae, who had been staying in Mr Bourke's villa at the time of the attack, said he found the expat lying in a pool of blood after hearing noises throughout the night.

'When I was asleep, around 1.30am, I heard noises, but I didn't think anything of it and went back to sleep. By 4.30am, I heard louder noises,' he told the Brisbane Times.

Doctors are monitoring his brain activity and vital signs but he is expected to remain on a ventilator until he shows signs of being able to breath independently

Doctors are monitoring his brain activity and vital signs but he is expected to remain on a ventilator until he shows signs of being able to breath independently (Pictured: Before surgery)

Mr Bourke, 63, is believed to have relocated from Darwin to Bali around a decade ago

Local friend Gabriel had said Mr Bourke needed 'immediate surgery to relieve the pressure from his internal bleeding'

'When [John] didn't answer, I looked down from the second floor and saw him in the living room, covered in blood. There were trails of blood from his room to the living room,' he added.

Mr Polce, who has been too afraid to return to the villa, said he felt Mr Bourke was expecting the vicious attack as he asked him to take care of his beloved dog in case the worst transpired.

'John said to me about three days ago, if anything happened to him, if he died, he wanted me to take care of the dog. He cares a lot about the dog,' he told the Brisbane Times.

Another friend, Brandon Ingram, said Mr Bourke had been attacked with a machete-type weapon.

'He was hit by a sharp object that caused a laceration above his left eye,' he told The Age.

Mr Bourke's neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said he thinks the attack was planned and that an assault which took placed inside his home almost two weeks earlier was a botched attempt on his life.

Another friend, Brandon Ingram, said Mr Bourke had been attacked with a machete-type weapon

'John said to me about three days ago, if anything happened to him, if he died, he wanted me to take care of the dog. He cares a lot about the dog,' Mr Polce said

He told ninemsn that Mr Bourke's dog alerted him when an intruder armed with a stick broke into the house 11 days before Wednesday's vicious attack.

'A guy came into the villa and beat John but he managed to defend himself and the assailant fled.'

He said both times the valuable items inside Mr Bourke's attack remained untouched which led him to believed Mr Bourke was the target.

'I believe it was a targeted attack. Both times were a planned attack, the first one just didn't go to plan.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Daily Mail Australia that they are aware of Mr Bourke's situation and are providing consular assistance to him and his family.

'Due to Privacy Act obligations, we will not provide further comment.'

Mr Bourke was originally being treated at Kapal Hospital but was transferred to Sanglah a short time later.
The Auburn council where controversial developer Salim Mehajer served as deputy mayor before he was suspended will now cease to exist under the NSW government's merger plan.

Dozens of councils have been sacked and 19 new ones created under the government's controversial amalgamations plan, which was announced on Thursday.

A further nine councils will also be created pending the outcome of legal action taken over the proposals.

The Auburn council where controversial developer Salim Mehajer (pictured) served as deputy mayor before he was suspended will now cease to exist under the NSW government's merger plan announced on Thursday

While most local councils are set to join up with neighbouring councils under the plan, Mehajer's Auburn City Council will be divided into two different local government areas.

Auburn Council was sacked in February and an administrator was appointed following allegations some councillors were misusing their positions of power for personal financial gain.

Under the government's merger plan, administrators and interim general managers were on Thursday appointed to each of the new councils, and they will remain in place until council elections take place in September 2017.

New large councils will be created in Sydney's Northern Beaches, Inner West, Central Coast, Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown areas.

Dozens of councils have been sacked and 19 new ones created under the NSW government's controversial amalgamations plan. Premier Mike Baird was pictured speaking with protesters in Sydney earlier this year

While most local councils are set to join up with neighbouring councils under the plan, Mehajer's (pictured with his wife Aysha) Auburn City Council will be divided into two different local government areas

THE 19 NEW COUNCILS TO BE FORMED Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah councils) Queanbeyan-Palerange Regional Council ( Queanbeyan and Palerang) Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra) Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong) Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin) Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury) Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai) Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River) Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young) Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville) City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby) Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd) Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree) Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool) Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee) Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba) Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington) Federation Council (Corowa and Urana) Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)

The councils to disappear include Marrickville, Manly, Randwick, Rockdale, Holroyd, Ryde, Lane Cove, Gosford, Pittwater and Dubbo.

Each new council will receive up to $10 million to meet the costs of merging, while $15 million will also be given for new community infrastructure.

Local Government Minister Paul Toole said the mergers would not affect the day-to-day business for councils.

New rules to clamp down on dishonest councillors and a $2500 cap on political donations for council elections were also announced as part of the reforms.

NSW Premier Mike Baird was confronted by protesters who were against the forced council amalgamations back in January. A review of the merged councils will be conducted in four years.

Premier Mike Baird announced plans to overhaul the state's councils in December last year after asking councils to prove their 'fitness' for the future

This includes moves to close a loophole in legislation that allows council officials to vote on planning matters in which they or a relative have a pecuniary interest, where the permissible use of the land is not being altered.

COUNCIL MERGERS TO HAPPEN PENDING LEGAL ACTION Botany and Rockdale Randwick, Waverly and Woollahra Bathurst and Oberon Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby Blayney, Cabonne and Orange Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield Shellharbour and Wollongong

'I think this is a message about saying to councillors or anyone thinking about running for a councillor, don't consider it if you are thinking about lining your pockets,' Mr Toole said.

Premier Mike Baird announced plans to overhaul the state's councils in December last year after asking councils to prove their 'fitness' for the future.

The plan was to reduce 152 councils in NSW down to 113 but that will now become 115.

'I strongly believe that we have taken decisions that are in the interest of ratepayers from one end of the state to the other,' Mr Baird said.

'There have been many groups across the state that don't want to see change.

'(But) I think having smaller head offices and having more money that goes towards childcare, parks, sporting facilities, frontline services - I think that's a great thing for the state

A review of the merged councils will be conducted in four years.
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There's a baby elephant boom for New South Wales zoos, with two big bundles of joy expected within six months of each other.

The Western Plains Zoo's endangered Asian elephant Thong Dee will give birth this November, becoming the first calf to be born at the Dubbo zoo, in New South Wales.

It comes as another elephant named Pak Boon, based at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, is expected to give birth in April 2017.

Both calves will be a draw-card for tourism in the area and represent a successful conservation breeding program of the species which has declined by half over the last 35 years.

Western Plains Zoo's endangered Asian elephant Thong Dee (pictured) will give birth this November - becoming the first calf to be born at the Dubbo zoo, in New South Wales

Deputy premier and member of parliament for Dubbo Troy Grant said: 'A baby elephant on the way is the perfect reason for visitors from other parts of the state to pack their trunks and head to the world-class Taronga Western Plains Zoo.'

He went on to say that the mini baby boom was very 'exciting' for zookeepers and displayed the success of conservation breeding programs across Australian zoos.

Across New South Wales and Victoria, three calves have already been born in Taronga Zoo and four in a Melbourne Zoo.

New South Wales environment minister Mark Speakman said: 'This is a very exciting time for the entire team at Taronga, with two elephants due within six months of each other.

Zookeepers at the Dubbo zoo were excited to see the ultra-sound (left) of the elephant calf who will mark a successful conservation breeding program for the endangered Asian elephant species when it is born

'It will be the first time an elephant has been born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and demonstrates the success of Australia's conservation breeding program.'

It has been a year since four Asian elephants including Thong Dee were transferred from Taronga Zoo Sydney to Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

At the current rate of decline, Asian elephants could be extinct in the wild within 20 years and have a population of between 410,000 and 650,000 world-wide.

Thong Dee (pictured) will give birth six months before another calf is born at Taronga Zoo in early April next year. The lucky mother's will play a part in the conservation of a declining population of Asian elephants
A prominent DJ and a promoter who are fixtures on Melbourne's nightclub scene swallowed a kilogram of the horse tranquiliser drug ketamine before travelling from Asia to Melbourne, it has been alleged.

DJ Kasey Roy Taylor, 44, who is also a recording artist and record label owner, has been charged with attempting to smuggle a traffickable quantity of the drug, also known as 'Special K' through Melbourne International Airport in April, Fairfax reported.

An online music biography says that Taylor has 'one of Australias biggest ever dance music exports, and one of the most widely recognised DJs around the globe today', attending all major festivals in Australia and overseas.

'Australias biggest ever dance music export' DJ Kasey Taylor (pictured) has been arrested at Melbourne airport with another man and charged with attempting to smuggle 1kg of horse tranquiliser by allegedly swallowing it

Kasey Taylor, 44 (pictured) 'one of the most widely recognised DJs around the globe today', allegedly swallowed 500g of the drug ketamine and arrived by plane from Asia in Melbourne last month

Kasey Taylor and a Melbourne club promoter tried to go through customs at Melbourne airport (pictured) in April but were detained by Australian Border police who took them to hospital so, it is alleged, the drugs could pass through their system

Taylor and the club promoter allegedly ingested 500 grams each of the drug some time before their flight landed in Melbourne.

Ketamine is an animal anaesthetic taken as a hallucinogenic 'party drug' and is popular in dance culture but can cause death when mixed with alcohol.

Australian Border Force arrested the two men after they disembarked from their flight and attempted to go through customs.

They were taken to Melbourne Alfred Hospital so that the drug might pass through their systems.

Australian Federal Police media confirmed the two men were apprehended and examined under the Customs Act and that each man allegedly swallowed about 500 grams of the drug.

Kasey Taylor, who started his music career at the age of 13, owns the label Vapour Recordings and tours internationally.

Kasey Taylor (pictured), who told a DJ music magazine that keeping healthy and fit was important in the music industry, allegedly ingested the hallucinogenic party drug 'Special K' before landing in Melbourne

Ketamine or 'Special K' (pictured) is an animal anaesthetic taken as a hallucinogenic 'party drug' and is popular in dance culture but can cause death when mixed with alcohol.

Taylor and the club promoter allegedly ingested 500 grams each of the drug some time before their flight landed in Melbourne where they were taken to Alfred Hospital (pictured)

He told lofi45 online DJ magazine that he is also passionate about sport and fitness. 'Keeping fit and healthy is very important when you have a hectic lifestyle in the music industry,' he said.

'Saying that though, beer drinking is also one of my favourite sports!' Asked to describe himself in five words, he jokingly responded 'Gets to kill people and get away with it.lol.'

Taylor was granted bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court and will appear again in August for a committal mention.

Fairfax media reported that police have apparently had Mr Taylor and other members of Melbourne's club scene under surveillance for months.

In April raids on two club addresses, including the Railway Hotel in the southern Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, detectives allegedly found methamphetamine, thousands of Ecstasy pills and cash.

A Melbourne DJ and the Railway Hotel's manager and another man were arrested and later appeared in court on drugs charges.

There is no suggestion that the owners of the premises are involved in any illegal activity.
The man accused of destroying almost 70 graves including those of babies lashed out at media after a court appearance on Thursday, grabbing cameras, gesturing rudely and almost running over a photographer with his vehicle.

Muhummad Ibrahim, 25, was leaving Burwood Local Court in Sydney after a hearing for which he was late, when he appeared to turn on the media.

It was as he turned around his Jeep, which had been parked in a no stopping zone and had a parking ticket under a windscreen wiper, that he almost hit a photographer before departing, The Daily Telegraph reported.

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Muhummad Ibrahim, 25, accused of destroying almost 70 graves, lashed out at media outside court on Thursday

Mr Ibrahim was filmed grabbing aggressively grabbing at a camera when approached by reporters

He made an offensive gesture as he drove off in his Jeep, which had been parked in a no stopping zone and had a parking ticket under a windscreen wiper

At least 50 and possibly almost 70 Orthodox Christian graves in the Rookwood Cemetery were trashed last November (pictured)

Images from the cemetery taken after the destruction show toppled headstones, smashed crosses and debris strewn across the ground

He's been charged with destroying property worth more than $150,000 and supplying a prohibited drug, after at least 50 and possibly almost 70 Orthodox Christian graves in the Rookwood Cemetery were trashed last November.

Mr Ibrahim and his co-accused, Nassim Raad, have pleaded not guilty to charges against them.

On Thursday, Mr Ibrahim's hearing was cut short as Mr Raad didn't show up.

Magistrate Eve Wynhausen adjourned the court case so the pair could face a hearing together, The Daily Telegraph reported.

After an earlier court appearance in March, Mr Ibrahim was confronted by Russian patriots, many in military dress, and hurled abuse at him, calling him a coward.

After an earlier court appearance in March, Mr Ibrahim was confronted by Russian patriots, many in military dress, and hurled abuse at him, calling him a coward

A caretaker at the cemetery said Greek Orthodox Christians who visited relative's graves every day were 'deeply distressed' by the damage

He's been charged with destroying property worth more than $150,000 and supplying a prohibited drug

Mr Ibrahim and his co-accused, Nassim Raad, have pleaded not guilty to charges against them

Images from the cemetery taken after the destruction show toppled headstones, smashed crosses and debris strewn across the ground.

A security guard at the cemetery told the Telegraph how he saw a father visiting his infant's grave sobbing.

And a caretaker said Greek Orthodox Christians who visited relative's graves every day were 'deeply distressed' by the damage.

Mr Ibrahim and Mr Raad's case returns to court on June 30.
Malcolm Turnbull has come under attack for lunching at a posh Melbourne gentleman's club just hours after being confronted on the street by a single mother.

Mr Turnbull was pictured leaving the Athenaeum Club on Collins St, Melbourne on Thursday while on a campaign swing through Victoria. Only men can be members.

The prime minister - who Daily Mail Australia has revealed is also a member of an elite Sydney men's club - quickly came under attack for his dining choice.

'Liberal leader is having lunch at exclusive mens-only Athenaeum Club. If youre a woman, hes not for you. #ausvotes,' the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter account said.

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pictured leaving the Athenaeum Club on Collins St in Melbourne

The exterior of the private men's club where the prime minister dined on Thursday afternoon

An interior shot of a dining table at the Athenaeum Club, a 'private social club for gentlemen of good character'

Mr Turnbull spoke to the media at a brewery in Mornington earlier on Thursday

The Athenaeum Club describes itself as a 'a private social club for gentlemen of good character, attainment or promise'

Since 1868, its members have been drawn from 'fields of science, business, literature, the arts, learned professions or the public service'.

'Membership of the Club is limited to gentlemen, by invitation only.

'Candidates for membership, in general, require the support of a proposer, a seconder and four referees, all of whom must be Club members.'

Last September, Daily Mail Australia revealed the prime minister was a member of Sydney's Australian Club, another gentleman's club in Sydney.

There, he rubs shoulders with some of the country's richest and most powerful men.

Prominent members of the men's club are said to include former prime minister John Howard and James Packer.

Mr Turnbull's press secretary confirmed on Thursday he is still a member.

This picture shows the fine dining facilities inside the Australian Club in Sydney where Mr Turnbull is a member

A view from the top of the Australian Club - which has expansive views of the Harbour and Macquarie St

The prime minister's meal came after Melinda, an angry mother-of-two, confronted Mr Turnbull over cuts to family tax benefits.

'I don't care what you do to me, but give the kids a chance, give them a fighting chance,' she told Mr Turnbull.

Melinda was in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin when she saw the media pack waiting for the prime minister to appear.

She vented about having to choose affordable subjects for her Year 10 son at a local school which had exhausted its welfare budget last year after 10 months.

The prime minister spent seven minutes being lectured by angry mother-of-two 'Melinda'

She confronted Mr Turnbull over cuts to family tax benefits and the axing of the School Kids bonus

Mr Turnbull tried to placate Melinda by insisting his government was committed to education

'I'm ruining his chances to become something, to contribute to society, because he's just going to get a bad job,' she told Mr Turnbull, fighting the urge to swear.

The PM listened to the tirade for about seven minutes before Melinda walked away.

He insisted he was committed to education, telling her the coalition was putting more money into schools than any government.
Gay members of the armed forces may soon be allowed to get married on British military bases.

Defence Minister Penny Mordaunt has ordered a pilot project to examine registering Ministry of Defence sites for civil marriages and partnerships, including same-sex unions.

The move was disclosed in response to a parliamentary question on the use of military chapels for same-sex weddings. There are 190 state-funded military chapels in England and Wales.

New ideas: Gay members of the armed forces may soon be allowed to get married on British military bases. Pictured: Lance Corporal James Wharton ties the knot with air steward Thom McCaffrey in London in 2013

Even though a law allowing gay marriage was passed in 2013, such ceremonies are banned by the Anglican church and another 11 Christian denominations that provide chaplains to the forces.

Miss Mordaunt asked the chaplaincies of the air, military and naval services in December 2015 for advice on how Parliament's approval of same-sex services could be implemented in the chapels.

In a written answer this week, she told how under the terms of the 2013 act, no religious organisation or representation could be forced to conduct or participate in same-sex marriages.

She said she had instead recently directed that a pilot project is implemented to explore registering Ministry of Defence sites for civil marriages and partnerships; this includes same-sex unions.

Proposal: Defence Minister Penny Mordaunt (pictured) has ordered a pilot project to examine registering Ministry of Defence sites for civil marriages and partnerships, including same-sex unions

Miss Mordaunt continued: The timing of the project is being finalised but I anticipate that it will start shortly and run for a number of months.

The MoD is keen to be seen as a gay-friendly employer and has seen a string of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual military personnel reveal their sexuality.

Before 2000, openly gay people were banned from service, and those who suspected personnel of being gay had a duty to report them to authorities.
Shoppers reacted with horror to a pop-up leather shop containing fake animal intestines, blood and even a beating heart.

The stunt by animal cruelty charity PETA Asia was designed to change people's attitudes to the suffering of animals.

Video footage released by the charity - a branch of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) - shows the reactions of mainly female shoppers.

PETA Asia's vice president Jason Baker said: 'Every year, hundreds of thousands of reptiles are crudely bludgeoned and skinned alive, all for the sake of so-called luxury shoes, belts and bags.

'PETA's gruesome pop-up shop reminds shoppers that the only way to keep blood and guts out of our closets is to choose vegan clothing, shoes and accessories.'

The pop-up shop, in one of Bangkok's trendiest shopping malls, was the idea of advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather.

The products on sale included crocodile skin jackets containing fake sinew inside (pictured)

PETA Asia said: 'Crocodiles in Thailand are being farmed in the most inhumane of conditions. They are crammed into putrid tanks and ponds before being subjected to the cruelest of slaughter practices; being shot or hammered to shatter their spines and cause paralysis.

'Some are skinned alive. And an average handbag requires the slaughter of not one, but four crocodiles.

'The blood, in demand for its purported medicinal properties, is drawn from the animal while the meat and hide is processed.'

This fake crocodile handbag contained fake blood and body organs

Thailand has the largest crocodile farming industry in the world, with about 700,000 of the creatures killed annually.

PETA Asia said: 'Snakes suffer no less. Every year, at least 440,000 pythons are caught in the jungles of south-east Asia, where some are hung, decapitated, and then skinned.

'Some have their jaws forced open, a hose inserted into their body cavity, and then are pumped full of water so that their skin becomes easier to remove.

The shop contained fake snakeskin wallets smeared in blood (pictured)

'The skin is then ripped from the animal's body, sometimes while they're still alive. A cold-hearted end for these remarkable, cold-blooded animals.'

Ogilvy & Mather's creative director Puripong Limwanatipong said the idea was to make consumers aware that 'every leather product caused a sensitive animal to endure a miserable life and suffer a terrifying death'.

'By surprising shoppers with the cruelty behind the exotic-skins industry, we can wake them up and spark change that will save animals' lives,' he said.

From outside this crocodile skin bag looks expensive and luxurious but unzip it and there is a horror inside

Much of the crocodile- and snake-skins are eventually exported or used in Asia to make luxury leather goods for fashion houses which sell them in Europe, North America and Australia.

The stunt comes as Peta announced on Thursday it had acquired shares in Prada in a bid to pressure the company over ostrich leather 'goose bump' handbags.

Peta's Mimi Bekhechi said: 'Every Prada goose bump bag means a young ostrich has been turned upside down in a stunner then ejected to have their throats cut and be plucked in a miserable and terrifying slaughter.'

Mail Online has sought to obtain a comment from Prada.

Thailand is home to the biggest crocodile farming industry in the world, with around 700,000 creatures passing through crocodile farms every year

PETA Asia says snakes are sometimes skinned alive and sometimes their jaws are pinned open before water is pumped inside them while they are still alive, to make skinning easier

The fake shop (pictured) opened in one of Bangkok's most luxurious shopping malls

This picture, released by PETA Asia, appears to show a snake being decapitated while still alive

Are they real? Just open them up and see. Fake crocodile skin handbags on sale in the pop-up shop

The shop contained snakeskin belts (pictured) which had a gory secret on the back
Banks and multinationals could be made criminally responsible for employees who embezzle funds, launder money and evade tax.

A shake-up of the rules on corporate liability would see big companies hit with huge fines if they fail to stop employees committing financial crimes.

The move is expected to be set out by David Cameron at an anti-corruption summit in London today as he attempts to counter claims that the UK is a destination for the world's dirty money.

David Cameron is set to announce new measures to punish multinationals for wrongdoing by their staff

It is believed the Prime Minister will reveal Britain is devising criminal offences for businesses that fail to stop their workers engaging in fraud, The Times reported this morning.

Authorities in Britain could be given similar powers to those in the US, where a bank was recently given a $500million (350million) fine over the Libor fixing scandal.

Until now, UK prosecutors have been impeded by a legal requirement to identify the 'controlling mind' in a company then link that individual directly to criminality.

The move emerged as Mr Cameron greeted world leaders - including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the presidents of Afghanistan, Nigeria and Colombia - this morning in his bid to crack down on corruption.

The summit aims to produce a global declaration against corruption and break what Mr Cameron has called the 'taboo about tackling this issue head-on.'

Banks, civil-society organizations and the International Monetary Fund will also be present at the gathering.

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has called on Britain to return plundered assets held in British banks

But critics say the PM's mission has been undermined by Britain's tolerance for tax havens and his description of some attending nations as 'fantastically corrupt.'

It emerged in leaked papers from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca last month that Mr Cameron had a stake in an offshore firm established by his late father, although he sold his shares in 2010, before he became prime minister.

He ruffled feathers before the summit when a television microphone caught him saying 'leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries' were coming. Speaking at a Buckingham Palace reception with Queen Elizabeth II, he referred to Nigeria and Afghanistan as 'possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world.'

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani - elected in 2015 and 2014, respectively - have promised to curb corruption in their countries.

Mr Buhari said he wasn't seeking an apology from Cameron, but wanted something 'tangible' - the return of plundered Nigerian assets held in British banks.

'Corruption is a hydra-headed monster and a canker that undermines the fabric of all societies,' Mr Buhari said Wednesday at a pre-summit meeting. 'It does not differentiate between developed and developing countries.'

Mr Cameron was caught on camera (pictured with John Bercow, the Queen, Justin Welby and Chris Grayling) describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as being 'fantastically corrupt'

Cameron has said that battling bribery, money-laundering and other forms of financial wrongdoing is a priority for his government.

But critics say London's financial district, the City, is awash with ill-gotten gains, and many of the world's leading tax havens are British dependencies or overseas territories, including Jersey and the British Virgin Islands.

In a move toward greater transparency, Britain has passed a law requiring British companies - including foreign firms that own British property - to disclose who really benefits from their ownership.
A YouTube prankster has escaped being convicted for trespassing on a number of private rooftops for videos on his viral channel.

Brooke Jordan Roberts, 18, pleaded guilty to four counts of being unlawfully on premises between December last year and April in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The teenager released a series of clips of himself scaling a number of private building rooftops before posting them to his 200,000 social media followers, reports The Advertiser.

Brooke Jordan Roberts earns up to $9000 a month through his PrankNation YouTube channel

The teenager has amassed millions of views with his pranks, such as the 'Racism is Alive' clip, which illustrated people's different responses to being asked for change by people of different nationalities.

He earns up to $9000 a month through his through his PrankNation YouTube channel, which he launched in 2014.

'There was absolutely no suggestion that he was on the premises for any unlawful purpose, no damage was caused and no items were taken. He simply did not get permission,' Adelaide magistrate Bob Harrap said.

'I have no problems with you fully developing your website but you need to do that in a manner which is 100 per cent legal, if you do not you will end up with a criminal history and your future employment options will be limited.'

He was given a two-year good behaviour bond and escaped criminal conviction.

Another teenager and friend of Mr Roberts also faced court this week facing similar charges.

He released clips of himself scaling the Uni House building in Rundle Mall (left), and another building in Gawler Place (right)
A group of migrants has had to be rescued by Greek coast guard in after trying to swim back to Turkey shortly after arriving in Europe.

The four men had attempted to make the four-mile swim from the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, back to the Turkish coast, but had to be saved by coast guard vessels.

This comes as Europe's top rights watchdog warned that Greece needs to take urgent measures to address overcrowding and poor living conditions in refugee camps on its islands and mainland.

The four men had attempted to make the four-mile swim from the island of Chios back to the Turkish coast

The men, reportedly Moroccan, had been staying in one of the criticised refugee and migrant camps on Chios.

Having become disillusioned with the situation in the camp, they put on life vests and attempted to swim back to Turkey, Breitbart reports.

The men were soon spotted struggling and they were later rescued by coast guard vessels.

Meanwhile, human rights watchdog Council of Europe warned that the conditions in Greek refugee and migrant camps are in dire need of attention.

The Council said some facilities were 'sub-standard' and able to provide nomore than the most basic needs such as food, hygiene productsand blankets.

Saved: The men, believed to be Moroccan migrants, had to be picked up by the Greek coast guard after attempting to swim more than four miles to Turkey

The four migrants had been staying in one of the criticised refugee and migrant camps on the Greek island of Chios in the Aegean Sea

The report echoes warnings by other rights groups and aidagencies who say Greece has been unable to care properly for themore than 800,000 people reaching its shores in the last year,fleeing wars or poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

The Council described dire living conditions in severalsites visited on a March 7-11 trip, just before the EuropeanUnion and Turkey reached a deal that reduced arrivals butincreased the number of people held in detention awaiting asylumdecisions or deportation.

It said in its report that people who reached Greece werelocked away in violation of international human rights standardsand lacked legal access.

At Greece's Nea Kavala temporary transit camp, people wereleft burning trash to keep warm and sleeping in mud-soakedtents, according to the report.

The Council called for the closure of a makeshift camp inIdomeni, where some 10,000 people have been stranded en route tonorthern Europe due to the closure of Macedonia's border.

Germany has taken in most of the 1.3 million refugees andmigrants who reached Europe across the Mediterranean in the pastyear, triggering bitter disputes among the 28 EU member stateson how to handle the influx.

Dire situation: Migrants and refugees protest against poor camp conditions and the closed border to Macedonia at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni

Europe's deal with Turkey last month gave its leaders somebreathing space but has come under pressure since Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoglu, one of the sponsors of the accord, steppeddown.

The morality and legality of the deal has been challenged byhuman rights groups, however, and a provision to grant Turkishcitizens visa-free travel to Europe in exchange for Ankara'shelp remains politically contentious.

In a separate report, a trio of European Parliamentarians onTuesday described the poor conditions faced by people who havebeen returned to Turkey under the deal.

'We have seen how the migration policies imposed by theEuropean Union have terrible consequences on the lives ofthousands of people,' said Cornelia Ernst, a German member ofthe European Parliament and a co-author of that report.

'Turkey has been hired as a deportation agency, putting intopractice the migration policies designed in Brussels.'

The left-wing deputies said on their May 2-4 visit to Turkeythey had met people who complained of not being able to claimasylum in Europe, which would run counter to internationalhumanitarian law.
Shannon Egeland, convicted in a mortgage fraud scheme, pleaded guilty to additional federal charges after admitting he ordered his son to shoot him in the legs in an effort to collect on a disability insurance policy and delay his prison sentence

It was a dramatic tale: A man was attacked on the side of a road and badly wounded the day before he was to report to prison in an Oregon mortgage fraud scheme.

Shannon Egeland told police he had stopped to help a pregnant motorist when he was hit in the head and shot.

That story turned out to be false, but the truth was equally bizarre.

Egeland, 41, has admitted he ordered his teenage son to shoot him in the legs so he could delay his prison term and collect on a disability insurance policy. The shooting broke a bone in one of Egeland's legs and led to the amputation of one of his feet.

On Wednesday, the former Bend developer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a charge that stemmed from the disability insurance policy he applied for a week before the shooting.

Egeland was vice president of the now-defunct Desert Sun Development, which orchestrated tens of millions of dollars in mortgage fraud during central Oregon's real estate boom and bust from 2004 to 2008.

He was one of 12 people indicted in the scandal, The Oregonian reported. It primarily involved two schemes, one centered on commercial development projects and the other on a home construction-flipping scheme.

Company officials falsified loan documents and secured construction loans for projects that were never completed, prosecutors alleged.

Egeland was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role. He was wounded in the roadside shooting near Caldwell, Idaho, on July 31, 2014.

Prosecutors said besides suffering a disability in a deceitful manner, Egeland lied in the insurance application he sent across state lines from Idaho to Portland's Standard Insurance Company, prosecutors said. He told the company he had not been arrested in the past 10 years.

In late 2010, Egeland was convicted of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. In 2013, he was convicted of theft for stealing $9 worth of items from a store.

Egeland also pleaded guilty Wednesday to willful failure to pay child support. Beyond answering procedural questions, he did not make a statement at the hearing in Portland.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford said he planned to recommend a five-year prison sentence, tacked onto what Egeland already is serving.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown scheduled sentencing for Oct. 5, though it could get pushed back because it coincides with the trial she is overseeing for Ammon Bundy and others charged with occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.
Supermarket chain Coles has been pumping up petrol prices so it can charge less for groceries, a new report suggests.

It is believed that the money Coles makes by charging more for petrol helps them to discount food and alcohol prices, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

The practice is being scrutinised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, who say they will keep an eye on Coles in response to the claims.

Coles supermarkets are thought to charge two to three cents more for petrol than competing supermarkets

A recent report by Deutsche Bank shows that, while petrol prices have fallen by up to 7 per cent at most Australian supermarkets in the last three months, prices at Coles have only fallen by 2.6 per cent.

This means that average fuel prices at Coles have been higher than competitors by two to three cents per litre.

The ACCC has confirmed it is aware of the claims and is keeping a close watch on Coles.

Coles is thought to charge more for petrol so it can lower the cost of its groceries in store. The profit it makes from petrol is used to subsidise food and liquor

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: We do keep a close eye on these things.

Theres some sense that, rather than reducing petrol prices, they are, if anything, doing the reverse at the moment.

What were seeing rather anecdotally is consistent with the Deutsche Bank report. But its too early to tell.

Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Simotas said Coles could make up to $65 billion by June if it keeps up the practice.

He said: A couple of cents per litre across over a billion litres of petrol sold per quarter is a significant sum of money.

We believe this tailwind, combined with operating leverage from strong like-for-like sales growth in supermarkets, should provide Coles with the firepower it needs to continue to invest heavily in prices while maintaining or continuing to grow food and liquor and petrol margins.
Ucas chief Mary Curnock Cook (pictured) has claimed a fall in boys going to university is due to the rise of female teachers in Britain's schools

An admissions tsar has claimed a fall in boys going to university is due to the rise of female teachers in Britain's schools.

The 'dominance' of women taking classes is contributing to male students ending their academic careers early, says Ucas chief Mary Curnock Cook.

Ms Curnock Cook made the controversial comments in the foreword of a study that says girls are 75 per cent more likely to go on to university.

Currently there are 455,000 teachers at state schools across the country and 74 per cent are women.

Writing in the report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), Ms Curnock Cook said: Many commentators, including me, have suggested that the dominance of women in the school workforce may play a role in boys under performance relative to girls.

'While this report does not find evidence to support the theory, I remain instinctively convinced that, as in any other area of life, gender imbalance will itself generate further imbalance.

'Just as the performance of boys at GCSE has declined relative to girls, so the proportion of female teachers has increased.

'Up until 1993, male teachers in secondary education were in the majority. In the UCAS Teacher Training admissions (UTT) service today, more women apply and they also achieve higher offer and acceptance rates.'

The HEPI study also revealed that around five-sixths of universities and colleges have more female than male students.

But apart from initial teacher training, only two institutions have set targets for 2016/17 on recruiting more men.

The report argues that failing to address the issue now is simply storing up problems for the future.

Dealing with the under-achievement of young men at university does not interfere with tackling other inequalities in the system - such as the gap between rich and poor, it said.

'The weak performance of people from disadvantaged backgrounds or certain ethnic groups can only be fully addressed by dealing with the differences in male and female achievement,' it continued.

'For example, while men underperform overall, poor white men have the worst record of all.

'So tackling the underperformance of young men is essential if we are to tackle other dismal higher education performance indicators.'

Ms Curnock Cook writes: 'On current trends, the gap between rich and poor will be eclipsed by the gap between males and females within a decade.'

Latest Ucas figures show a record 9.2 percentage point gap entry rate between the sexes, with women 35 per cent more likely to go to university than men.

Currently there are 455,000 teachers at state schools across the country and just 26 per cent are male

'If this differential growth carries on unchecked, then girls born this year will be 75% more likely to go to university than their male peers,' Ms Curnock Cook added.

The study suggested that one reason for the gulf may be that in the past, careers traditionally chosen by women, such as nursing and teaching, did not require full degrees.

When this changed, the number of women in higher education dramatically increased, it said.

If students taking subjects linked to medicine - such as nursing, and education were taken out of figures, the difference between the total number of male and female university students falls from around 281,000 to 34,000.

HEPI argues that a number of policies would help to boost the numbers of men at university, including official sources of information targeted specifically at young men, and a Take Our Sons To University Day.

It also calls for more institutions to consider setting goals for male recruitment. The study goes on to say that there is evidence that young women's brains change earlier than males, and it is possible that some young men may benefit from not being rushed straight from school to university.

HEPI director and report co-author Nick Hillman said: 'Nearly everyone seems to have a vague sense that our education system is letting young men down, but there are few detailed studies of the problem and almost no clear policy recommendations on what to do about it.

The Higher Education Policy Institute study says that girls are 75 per cent more likely to go on to university

This graph from the HEPI study shows the decline in men going to university over the decades since 1920

'Young men are much less likely to enter higher education, are more likely to drop out and are less likely to secure a top degree than women.

'Yet, aside from initial teacher training, only two higher education institutions currently have a specific target to recruit more male students.

'That is a serious problem that we need to tackle. Of course women face substantial challenges too. Female graduates earn lower salaries than male graduates.

'Female academics face too many obstacles in being promoted. Lad culture can make life uncomfortable for female students.

'But policy-making is not a zero-sum game in which you have to choose between caring for one group or the other.
An Australian scientist has spotted a group of female mountain gorillas in the midst of same-sex passion - the first time homosexual behaviour of its kind has been formally documented in the wild.

Associate Professor Dr Cyril Grueter, a primate expert from the University of Western Australia, was examining the feeding patterns of gorillas in Rwanda when he made the stunning discovery.

'Instead of seeing aggression between females over food we saw them engaging in sexual behaviour which was quite surprising,' Dr Grueter told Daily Mail Australia.

Pictured: Two female gorillas observed engaging in sexual intercourse in Rwanda, East Africa

Associate professor Dr Cyril Grueter, an Australian primate expert, studied female gorillas in the wild to learn more about their sexual behaviour (stock image)

Through rigorous daily observation across two years, Dr Grueter learnt that a majority of the female gorillas would turn to each other for sexual stimulation when rejected by males.

'They were obviously deriving sexual pleasure from each other ... I never expected to see something like this,' he added.

'Gorillas are closely linked to humans and we thought by looking at this behaviour we could learn a little more about our own evolution.'

Of the 22 female gorillas examined from 2008 to 2010, 18 engaged in sexual activity with other females, including 'genital rubbing,' 'genital closeness' and mating calls during intercourse.

'It usually happens that two females get on top of each other, rubbing their bellies and genitals together, thats the most frequent expression (of sexual intimacy),' said Dr Grueter.

His research into same-sex behaviour between female gorillas is the first formal report of its kind (stock image)

He also explained that the behaviour of the female apes appeared to be motivated purely by sexual arousal rather than attraction, showing the flexibility of their sexual preferences.

'Our main conclusion is that its purely sexual behaviour, they can easily shift from preference,' he said.

'Its not necessarily that they have same-sex orientation, its purely sexual behaviour.'

Dr Grueter also observed that females engaging in same-sex intercourse would often seek privacy.

'There was also a tendency for such copulations (sexual intercourse) to take place in secluded places with dense vegetation,' a study published by PLOS ONE on Thursday revealed.
David Cameron today promised to crack down on corruption in Britain as he urged international leaders to make major reforms.

The Prime Minister welcomed Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari to a major summit at Lancaster House in London just days after described the country as 'fantastically corrupt'.

Nigeria was one of six nations - including Britain - to sign up to Mr Cameron's 'gold standard' of public registers of company ownership despite the row over the PM's embarrassing gaffe.

Australia is considering joining the leading group but Mr Cameron admitted he had more work to do to persuade the US - despite Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledging corruption was as dangerous as terrorism.

Mr Cameron's hosting of the summit risked being overshadowed by the Electoral Commission asking the High Court to force the Conservative Party to disclose papers linked to an electoral fraud probe.

David Cameron greeted Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari to the stage at his anti-corruption summit just days after he was caught on camera claiming the country was 'fantastically corrupt'

Mr Buhari also met with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, left, and Prince Charles, centre, at Clarence House today, pictured

The summit concluded today with 11 nations joining a now 29-strong group that will draw up registers of ownership accessible to governments but not public.

The group includes the Cayman Islands, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The Prime Minister used his opening speech to warn foreign companies that own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales that they will be required to disclose their ownership.

And speaking at the Lancaster House venue, Mr Cameron called corruption 'the cancer at the heart of so many of the problems we need to tackle in our world' - noting that illicit flows alone cost the world 1.26 trillion US dollars.

Mr Cameron promised a number of measures would be pursued in the UK, with London seen as one of the prime international centres for people wishing to launder illicit assets.

The Prime Minister aid: 'We will expose corruption, so there is nowhere to hide. If you don't know who owns what, you can't stop people stealing from poor countries and hiding that stolen wealth in rich ones.

'Here in the UK we want to clean up our property market and show there is no home for the corrupt in Britain, and all foreign companies with properties in the UK will have to register publicly who really owns them, who really controls them.

'No foreign company will be able to buy UK property, or bid for central government contracts, without joining the register.

'We have also had a very frank discussion today about changing cultures in sport. The world knows that sport can be riddled with corruption, so only when we deal with corruption in sport will people feel we are really dealing with corruption more broadly.

'We are building a global movement against corruption. What we are talking about is stopping the corrupt hiding their loot from the authorities.'

Mr Cameron said tax-dodging destroys jobs, holds back growth, traps people in poverty and can undermine security by making citizens more susceptible to the 'poisonous ideology of extremists'.

The PM - who was embarrassed to be overhead calling Nigeria and Afghanistan 'fantastically corrupt' in a conversation with the Queen days before the summit - stressed that it was 'a challenge all countries need to address' including the UK and US.

Mr Buhari appealed for the conference to agree measures that would see assets 'stolen' from the country and hidden in Western capitals and other places to be returned.

John Kerry and Mr Cameron led discussions in the first section of today's summit, which was called against the backdrop of the leak of damning papers from Panama that revealed tax avoidance

Mr Kerry looked bored with the summit at different points of the proceedings today, which are expected to conclude this afternoon with the publication of a communique

Under the new rules, overseas firms will have to sign up to a new public register if they own or buy property or if they want to bid for central government contracts.

Mr Kerry said he had been shocked at the extent of corruption in the world since taking on his role in the Obama administration.

Mr Kerry said: 'We are fighting a battle, all of us. Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we are fighting or the other challenges we face.

'There are sceptics as to whether this is a passing fancy ... or whether this is a beginning, a serious commitment.

'I hope and I believe that something different is happening.'

Mr Kerry warned that some states would seek to step in and fill the demand for secrecy if others were persuaded to open up - saying it was vital to show a zero-tolerance approach.

The summit today was attended by scores of nations and bodies - but excluded key players such as the governments of Panama and the British Virgin Islands and organisations such as Fifa.

The Lancaster House summit was greeted by protesters, pictured, who demanded Mr Cameron shut down British-owned tax havens

Earlier, Mr Cameron has been told the West's 'drug habit' is to blame for corruption in Afghanistan after his embarrassing on-camera gaffe.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani pointed to the impact of the heroin trade as he prepared to attend a summit in London.

The Prime Minister risked derailing the gathering earlier this week when he was filmed boasting to the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury that he had some 'fantastically corrupt' countries attending.

He singled out Nigeria and Afghanistan during the unguarded conversation at Buckingham Palace.

In response, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that instead of an apology he would be demanding Britain return billions of pounds stolen by crooked officials and laundered in this country.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani arrives for the London summit at Lancaster House today, where he was greeted by Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire

Mr Ghani played down Mr Cameron's remaks in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.

He insisted the countries were 'partners' and pointed out that he had been elected on a platform of tackling corruption within Afghanistan.

But he added: 'It is the drug habt of the West. The most significant driver of corruption is the narcotics cartel and that narcotic cartel is driving both terrorism, extremism and corruption.'

Banks and multinationals could be made criminally responsible for employees who embezzle funds, launder money and evade tax, under plans being announced at the summit by Mr Cameron.

A shake-up of the rules on corporate liability would see big companies hit with huge fines if they fail to stop employees committing financial crimes.

It is believed the Prime Minister will reveal Britain is devising criminal offences for businesses that fail to stop their workers engaging in fraud.

Authorities in Britain could be given similar powers to those in the US, where a bank was recently given a $500million (350million) fine over the Libor fixing scandal.

Until now, UK prosecutors have been impeded by a legal requirement to identify the 'controlling mind' in a company then link that individual directly to criminality.

The planned moved emerged as Mr Cameron greeted world leaders - including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the presidents of Afghanistan, Nigeria and Colombia - this morning in his bid to crack down on corruption.

David Cameron used the summit today to set out new anti-corruption plans. He was fully backed by several nations while others signed up to interim measures

The summit aims to produce a global declaration against corruption and break what Mr Cameron has called the 'taboo about tackling this issue head-on.'

Banks, civil-society organizations and the International Monetary Fund will also be present at the gathering.

But critics say the PM's mission has been undermined by Britain's tolerance for tax havens and his description of some attending nations as 'fantastically corrupt.'

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the summit today

It emerged in leaked papers from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca last month that Mr Cameron had a stake in an offshore firm established by his late father, although he sold his shares in 2010, before he became prime minister.

He ruffled feathers before the summit when a television microphone caught him saying 'leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries' were coming. Speaking at a Buckingham Palace reception with Queen Elizabeth II, he referred to Nigeria and Afghanistan as 'possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world.'

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani - elected in 2015 and 2014, respectively - have promised to curb corruption in their countries.

Mr Buhari said he wasn't seeking an apology from Cameron, but wanted something 'tangible' - the return of plundered Nigerian assets held in British banks.

'Corruption is a hydra-headed monster and a canker that undermines the fabric of all societies,' Mr Buhari said Wednesday at a pre-summit meeting. 'It does not differentiate between developed and developing countries.'
A US Air Force source has claimed that a squadron of attack jets was being armed and fuelled on the night of the deadly attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012.

The jets, believed to be F-16s were on the runway ready to launch, as terrorists bombarded the US consulate, killing four Americans.

The source claims the fighters could have launched from Aviano Air Force Base in Northern Italy and re-fuelled at Naval Air Station Sigonella before providing air support over Benghazi.

Terrorists attacked the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012 killing four Americans

Sources claim F-16s based at Aviano Air base in Northern Italy (file photo from 1999) were being armed and fuelled ready to provide air support for the Americans desperately fighting for their lives 1,000 miles away

US fighter jets could have flown from their base on Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy to the Naval Air Station Sigonella to refuel before providing air support over Benghazi according to a source

Benghazi is more than 1,000 miles from Aviano and beyond the combat patrol area of an F-16 without refuelling.

The US military had previously said there was no re-fuelling aircraft available over the Mediterranean meaning they could not launch against Benghazi.

However, a source who was in a squadron at Aviano on September 11, 2012 said he was told Fox News: 'a real world mission was going down'.

'There were people everywhere. That flight line was full of people, and we were all ready to go. Only they were waiting for the order. It never came.'

The source claimed he was not looking to give away any information that could damage the US military, however he said

Former US Navy Seals Glen Doherty, left, and Tyrone Woods, right were killed in a CIA station in Benghazi

Ahmed Abu Khattala was detained by US Navy SEALs in Libya and is standing trial in Washington accused of arranging the terror attack

'I definitely believe that our aircraft could have taken off and gotten there in a timely manner, maybe three hours at the most, in order to at least stop that second mortar attack  and basically save lives that day.'

US Ambassador Chris Stevens and Sean Patrick Smith, a State Department information officer were killed in the first attack.

Former Navy Seals Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed almost eight hours later when the CIA complex they were guarding came under mortar attack.

The source claims that by refuelling on the ground at Sigonella without shutting down their engines using 'a hot pit maneuver', they could have continued to Benghazi to provide air cover.

One former anti-terror officer who was at Delta Force headquarters during the attack told Fox News: 'For some reason they were all shut down, and I think it leads back to a policymaker somewhere because nobody in the military is going to shut down an operation. We had hours and hours and hours to do something ... and we did nothing.'

The Justice Department has announced that it will not seek the death penalty against Ahmed Abu Khattala, a Libyan militant suspected of being involved in the deadly attack.

Abu Khattala, captured by US special forces in Libya two years ago and brought to the States aboard a Navy ship, has been awaiting trial in federal court in Washington in connection with the September 2012 violence at a diplomatic compound in Benghazi.

Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

Among those killed in the terror attack was the US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, pictured

Terrorists stormed the diplomatic compound and launched a mortar attack on a CIA facility in Benghazi

Prosecutors have described him as a ringleader of the attacks, which quickly emerged as a political flashpoint and became the topic of congressional hearings involving Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, secretary of state at the time of the rampage.

The 18-count indictment arises from a burst of violence that began the night of September 11, 2012, at a State Department diplomatic compound, an attack prosecutors say was aimed at murdering American personnel and plundering maps, documents and other property from the post.

Abu Khattala has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder of an internationally protected person, providing material support to terrorists and destroying U.S. property while causing death.
A website created to bring communities together has ended up doing the opposite, as neighborhood networking site Nextdoor.com found its 'warning' system being used for racial profiling rather than reporting suspicious activity.

Over the past few years, users from Alabama to California have been caught posting 'warnings' about ethnic minorities - often black men - doing nothing more dangerous than walking through neighborhoods.

And now the the SF-based social media network is having to change its system to adapt, after efforts by an Oakland pressure group.

Troubled: Despite the racism-free utopia shown on its welcome page, neighborhood networking site Nextdoor.com has been troubled by users who use it to racially profile people in their area

Reports: The site allows users to easily send 'suspicious' activity warnings - with photos - to their neighbors, which has led to some users reporting black men for the 'crime' of walking or driving down their street

Racist: This message, from North Carolina, is one of many racial profiling messages. A man who did nothing more than walk down a 'dead end' street is identified as suspicious and pursued by an armed Nextdoor user

Originally created in 2011 to help neighborhoods grow closer through communication - which can be especially difficult in large cities, where neighbors rarely meet face-to-face - it has instead become a hotbed of racist gossip right across the US.

On Monday, residents of a Birmingham, Alabama, neighborhood received an 'urgent alert' - a message sent out to all members immediately - that read: 'Two young black guys walking up Monarch. No car in sight.'

Some users mocked the profiling, some supported it. But it bothered Roy S Johnson, a black member of the group, enough that he wrote about the experience for AL.com.

And in January, North Caroline-based journalist Ryan Pitkin posted a series of screengrabs from Nextdoor on Twitter, showing racial profiling.

One reported seeing a 'light-skinned black male' walking up a street in Charlotte city center. The writer said the man was 'odd... got out my car and grad [sic] a weapon and headed in [his] direction... he sprinted... cops have been called.'

No actual crime or activity other than walking - and later sprinting from someone with a weapon - was identified.

That same month SF Chronicle reported on how users in Oakland's Dimond District received an alert that read 'My boyfriend just saw two suspicious African-American men in a car. They drove their car up the street, made a U-turn, and parked.'

'What were trying to get people to look at is what was the potential crime  being black in Oakland?' asked local Audrey Esquivel, a member of Neighbors for Racial Justice (NRJ) who has been speaking out about the prejudice found on the site.

'Sometimes there would be posts about a black man walking by too slowly and they would take his picture and post it on Nextdoor,' NRJ member and Oakland resident Shikira Porter said.

Video Courtesy KRON4

Changes: Site CEO Nirav Tolia has ordered changes that will make users give more details about 'suspicious' characters, including details of actual criminal activity. The site will also scan for uses of racist terms

Now, company chief executive Nirav Tolia said, the site will no longer allow immediate postings on the crime and safety section, which receives 3million posts a day.

Instead, users will have to fill out several forms before a message can be published.

'If you make it really easy to post anything, people don't have to think,' Tolia said. 'But if you insert these decision points it forces them to think about what they are doing.'

The forms will ask users to detail criminal behavior before they describe a suspect, and will force them to describe the person from head to toe and not just by race.

The site now also scans for mentions of race that may be offensive. And if a racial profiling post somehow gets through anyway, anyone can flag it for removal.

The calls came after continued pressure from NRJ, which last October complained to Oakland Councilwoman Annie Campbell Washington about the site being used for racial profiling.

She formed a council committee and met with Nextdoor representatives to address the issue.

'The work that Nextdoor has done is truly groundbreaking and they were willing to meet with myself and members of the community and really dig deep to take on the issue of racial profiling and make real change in the way their users are posting,' Campbell Washington said.

The company has been testing the changes since April in the San Francisco Bay Area and several East Coast cities and plans to take the new rules nationwide by summer.

Porter, who helped create the changes, said she hopes having to fill the forms will force neighbors to really watch those who they deem suspicious.

'Maybe if they watch a little longer they'll see that people are just being in the world, just like them,' she said.
The Russians have finally discovered what The Queen has known for the best part of the past 90 years - the joys of owning Welsh corgis.

Although Her Royal Highness does not use her pups to hunt down drugs and explosives, that is exactly what police in Moscow believe the tiny dogs could be good for.

Police in the eastern European country are training corgis as service dogs as their stature allows them to move under cars and through tight spaces in search of contraband, it is claimed.

Pembroke Welsh corgis, such as the one pictured, are being trained by Russian police as they believe they could be ideal for hunting down contraband in small or tight spaces

The Welsh corgi is favourite breed of Queen Elizabeth and she has owned more than 30 of the dogs since she was 18 years old. Here she is pictured with her pet corgis in 1980 (left) and 1974 (right)

The first pups to undergo the training are aged two and six months old, though officers in Moscow warn they may yet buckle in tests.

Welsh corgis are famously The Queen's favourite breed and she has had about 30 since she was 18 years old.

The Moscow police decision to use them now offers a slightly bizarre common interest between Russian authorities and the Royal Family.

Elena Haykova, the head of Moscow police' dog unit, told RIA Novosti they were currently comparing two pups to other breeds.

'It's not certain they will be able to join the ranks of working dogs, but in any case, the experiment will be interesting.'

She added that the dog's small size and low centre of gravity would be ideal for attempts to search out explosives or contraband underneath cars.
Animal rights activists are calling for an investigation into zoo

Lying on the ground as tears roll down her face, Yani the elephant has become the latest animal to die in one of Indonesia's 'death zoos'.

The female Sumatran elephant had been kept in dirty, rusting cages at the Bandung Zoo on the island of Java and fell ill last week.

Before her death, zookeepers decided to move Yani from her enclosure and place her on to the ground.

Tears roll down the face of Yani the elephant, who later died in an Indonesian zoo after being kept in filthy conditions

Pictures showed the animal appearing lethargic with large sores on her body as tears rolled down her face in the moments before her death.

Efforts to save the elephant were also hampered as the zoo had been without a resident veterinarian for almost a year.

Now the zoo has been closed pending an investigation into Yani's demise, as her cause of death is yet to be determined.

However a spokesman insisted that they had done all they could to save Yani by consulting vets, zookeepers and providing medicine.

After falling ill, volunteers moved Yani from her enclosure in order to move her on to the ground after she had suffered sore on her body

Indonesia's ill-maintained zoos have sparked anger from animal rights activists and politicians in the country

Indonesia's ill-maintained zoos have sparked anger from animal rights activists and politicians in the country.

Many of the wildlife parks there are in a poor condition and house animals in filthy, cramped enclosures.

Bandung mayor Ridwan Kamil visited the sick elephant before it died as anger mounted about the case.

He said: 'If they don't have the budget to manage (the zoo), they should seek support.'

An online petition calling for the zoo to be cleaned up, which has gathered over 10,000 signatures, said animals there looked emaciated.

Efforts to save Yani, pictured, were also hampered as the zoo had been without a resident veterinarian for almost a year

Animal activist Femke den Haas, from rights group the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, criticised a lack of clear rules about how Indonesian zoos should be run with regard to such things as cage size and feed.

She explained: 'Yani's case is really just the tip of the iceberg because many animals are dying in Indonesian zoos.'

The WWF estimates there are between 2,400 to 2,800 Sumatran elephants left in the wild, with poaching and loss of their rainforest habitat blamed for population decline.
The number of migrants coming to Britain from the EU could have been 800,000 last year, according to a new study - more than triple the official estimate.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has combined long-term and short term migration figures to produce a fresh estimate for the total arrivals.

The finding came as the watchdog released analysis of the gulf between official figures for arrivals from the EU and how many National Insurance numbers have been issued.

Around 1.3million more NI numbers have been given out to EU citizens since 2010 than are accounted for in official statistics.

The ONS has used a new method to estimate combined long term and short term immigration from the EU for last year. The 'headline' long-term figure for 2015 was 260,000

The ONS said 'short term' migration was largely responsible for the difference, and pointed out that the existing headline statistics focused on those arrivals coming for the longer term.

But a combined estimate produced by the experts using a new method suggested the total could have been as high as 800,000 in 2015. The official level was previously stated as 260,000.

The findings were seized on by Eurosceptics. Employment minister Priti Patel said: 'These figures - which had to be dragged out of the government - show the scale and impact of immigration from the EU is even higher than previously admitted.

'It is out of control - and cannot be controlled as long as we stay in the EU.

'This puts huge strains on the NHS, housing, schools and other public services.

'The only way we can take back control, and deliver on our manifesto commitment to reduce migration is to Vote Leave on 23 June.'

Former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said the estimate showed migration was 'running out of control' and accused the government of trying to bury the news under other announcements. The White Paper on BBC reforms was published today and David Cameron is hosting an international anti-corruption summit in London.

'They put it out on a day when they also put out something in the hope that you at the BBC will say 'oh, we've got to really report the BBC' and other bits they're piling out. I've been in government long enough to know how these things are done,' Mr Duncan Smith said.

The watchdog was due to publish the report at the end of the month, closer to the EU referendum  but the date was brought forward.

Since 2010 over 2.2m NI numbers have been issued, but official estimates suggest that just under one million EU citizens had come to the UK.

The ONS pointed out that NI registrations tend to spike once new countries are allowed into the EU, noting that the surge coincides with Romanians and Bulgarians having the right to work in the UK.

'Short term migration (between 1-12 months) from the EU for work and study has been growing and largely accounts for the recent differences between the numbers of long-term migrants (over 12 months) and NI registrations for EU citizens,' the report said.

The ONS has blamed 'short term' migration for the gap between NI numbers issued to EU nationals and official figures for arrivals

Deputy National Statistician for Population and Public Policy Glen Watson said: 'We are confident the International Passenger Survey remains the best available way of measuring long-term migration to the UK.

'National Insurance number registrations are not a good indicator of long term migration. This research shows that many people who register for National Insurance stay in the UK for less than a year, which is the minimum stay for a long-term migrant according to the internationally- recognised definition.

'National Insurance numbers registrations do, however, provide a valuable source of information to highlight emerging trends.

'The number of short term migrants coming to the UK to work or study has been rising recently, but you need to consider the short term migrants leaving these shores as well to get the full picture.'

A 'difference method' for estimating the overall EU immigration figures, including those who stayed between one and 12 months, gave a level of 600,000 for last year.

The ONS also said a 'ratio method' had suggested the figure could have been 800,000.

Any remaining gap with the NI figures could potentially be 'explained by looking at the number of visitors that come to the UK for work or business for less than one month', they said.

Separate HMRC figures released today suggested that even long-term immigration may have been underestimated.

A million European Economic Area nationals apparently registered for a NI in the four years to 2013-14, and worked or worked or drew benefits in that year.

But the ONS figures showed 739,000 long-term immigrants recorded as entering over that four year period.

Former Whitehall economist Jonathan Portes - a supporter of EU membership - said: 'Taken together, the DWP and HMRC data suggests to me that there was a degree of undercounting of long-term migration from EU member states.'

Answering an urgent question in the Commons on the issue, immigration minister James Brokenshire said the ONS had proved there was no 'conspiracy' over the figures on arrivals.

Former London Mayor Boris Johnson on the EU referendum campaign trail yesterday. He has accused the pro-EU camp of being 'dishonest' about immigration

His Tory predecessor in the role Damian Green said the body had 'bust the myth' that the NI figures showed migration was much higher.

But Eurosceptic Conservative MP John Redwood said: 'The note slipped out does not answer the discrepancy.'

He added: 'The fact is that over a five year period 1.2 million additional people came here, got a job and a NI number and lived here for a considerable time even if some of them have now departed.'

Leave campaigner Boris Johnson yesterday accused the pro-EU camp of being 'dishonest' about the level of migration to Britain.

Speaking at the launch of the Leave campaign's road campaign, said there had been a huge rise in immigration 'without consent' from the public.

He said politicians had been driven to 'dishonesty' because they did not want to admit they cannot control immigration while Britain is inside the EU.

The Tory big-hitter's comments will be seen as a further swipe at David Cameron over his long-standing promise to reduce net migration to below 100,000-a-year  a target he has consistently failed to meet.
Parenting involves teaching your children vital life skills, which for this Turkish father included firing a loaded gun.

A video, shared by the father himself, shows him teaching his young son how to shoot a handgun in north-west Turkey.

The father is seen loading the gun before teaching his son, who appears to be around five years old, how to hold it.

Father-and-son time: A video, shared on social media, shows a man teaching his young son how to shoot a handgun in Korfez, a town in the north-western region of Marmara in Turkey

'Come on, show me that you are your father's son,' the man can be heard saying.

The father then instructs the boy to hold the gun with both of his hands, before the child slowly raises the firearm and fires it five times.

The father cheers with every shot he takes, each time shouting: 'Pull the trigger, pull it!'

After the magazine has been emptied, his father takes back the gun and proudly says: 'He is a true man, this should be a lesson to the ladies'.

Another man, who is recording the scene, also compliments the boy on his shooting.

Quality parenting: The man first loads the gun and then hands it to the child, who appears not to realise that he is holding a dangerous weapon, and instructs him to hold the gun with both of his hands

The child then slowly raises the firearm and fires it five times while his little brother plays in the background

The video, believed to have been filmed in Korfez, a town in the north-western region of Marmara, is causing heated online debate in Turkey.

After being widely shared on social media in Turkey, many are questioning the father's suitability as a parent.

Many commenters have highlighted the fact that an even younger child, believed to be the boy's little brother, is running around in the background.
France's prime minister Manuel Valls is a hate figure in Paris with street protesters angry at his new labour laws but he seems more worried about a Twitter spat with a fictional character.

Mr Valls pushed through the controversial legislation - which will introduce longer working days and make it easier to fire employees - on Wednesday night without allowing a debate.

More than 50 rebel Socialist MPs had threatened to vote against the labour law, so Mr Valls used Article 49.3, a rarely used clause in the French constitution, to bypass parliament.

Kevin Spacey as the Machiavellian politician Frank Underwood in House of Cards. His quotes include: 'The road to power is paved with hypocrisy, and casualties. Never regret'

But he immediately came under fire from Frank Underwood, the fictional character in the TV series House of Cards, played by Kevin Spacey.

The mischievous makers of the Netflix series tweeted Mr Valls on the official House of Cards Twitter profile with a cryptic quote from the Machiavellian US politician Underwood: 'Democracy is so overrated'.

Despite being busy with the deadlock in the French parliament Mr Valls had the time to hit back on Twitter with a quote from Winston Churchill: 'Dear Frank, Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all others ;) Never forget!'

Democracy is so overrated 'Frank Underwood'

It does not say much for Mr Valls' popularity that his message was retweeted or liked only 4,400 times, compared with 33,000 mentions for Underwood's sarcastic comment.

It is possible that House of Cards waded into the row in a bid to raise the profile of the series, which is due to be broadcast on Netflix in France for the first time later this year.

House of Cards is loosely based on the original British series, which starred the late Ian Richardson as government whip Francis Urquhart, who enjoyed nothing better than plotting and scheming.

Spacey plays Underwood, an oily Democrat from South Carolina, who starts out as a whip but ends up as president of the United States.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has seen his Socialist Party torn apart by the controversy over the labour

He is known for his sinister quotes, such as: 'Power is a lot like real estate. Its all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source, the higher your property value.'

Mr Valls' Socialist government faces a vote of no confidence today and the labour laws will only come into force if he successfully weathers that storm.

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, herself a Socialist, is also opposed to the new law and told Europe 1 radio: 'This law does just nothing for social justice and it shocks me to hear that improving the protection of employees boils down to making it easier to lay them off.'

Under the new law France's cherished 35-hour week remains in place but firms can negotiate with local trade unions on more or fewer hours, up to a maximum of 46 hours

The CGT union has called on port and dock workers to strike against the law on May 17 and 19.

Mr Valls, like his boss President Francois Hollande, has been under siege in recent months amid plunging opinion poll ratings.

Last month he chided economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, in front of TV cameras.
Not guilty: Sam Obeghe, 24, pictured leaving Bolton Crown Court yesterday, was having sex with the woman at his flat at the end of a drunken night out

A Nigerian student was falsely accused of rape by a 21-year-old shop assistant who claimed she drunkenly thought she was having sex with his white friend, a court heard yesterday.

Sam Obeghe, 24, was having sex with the woman at his flat at the end of a drunken night out in Bolton, Greater Manchester, only to stop when she unexpectedly cried the name of his 22-year-old friend Zack Garrigan.

As he did so, the woman, who had earlier been having sex with Mr Garrigan at the flat in nearby Heaton, ran her fingers through Mr Obeghes hair and realised she was with the wrong man.

She stormed out in hysterics, her mother alerted police and within three hours of the encounter, University of Salford economics student Mr Obeghe was arrested in his pyjamas.

He was ordered to face court and endured a 17-month wait until a trial, but was unanimously acquitted of rape by a jury at Bolton Crown Court after just 27 minutes of deliberation.

During the trial the woman said the bedroom was pitch black and she couldnt see anything, despite Nigerian-born Mr Obeghe being of a different ethnicity and having various different features to white Mr Garrigan.

The incident occurred on December 5, 2014 when the woman had got drunk while out with a friend. The two women met Mr Obeghe and Mr Garrigan in the Vogue bar in Bolton and in the early hours of the morning the four of them plus another man went to the students flat.

Mr Obeghe, who had not been drinking, gave the party a lift in his BMW but once they got back the woman and Mr Garrigan began kissing and headed into the defendants bedroom for sex.

The woman said she and Mr Garrigan did not have intercourse and she fell asleep whilst he went into the lounge to try to find some Viagra.

Different man: Mr Obeghe only stopped having sex with the woman at his flat in the Heaton area of Bolton, Greater Manchester, when she unexpectedly cried the name of his 22-year-old friend Zack Garrigan (pictured)

But she told the court she was subsequently woken by a man she thought was Mr Garrigan in the bed and they began having sex.

She said: I was saying Zacks name because I thought it was him I was having sex with. The person hugging and kissing me didnt feel any different. I thought this was Zack

'I called his name four or five times. It went on for a couple of minutes until I put my hands through his hair and realised it was not Zack but was Sam. I was screaming what are you doing?

He ran out of the room. I was embarrassed and ran out. Zack was asking what was wrong, I was just saying that I needed to get out.

Innocent: Mr Obeghe, who had not been drinking, gave the party a lift in his BMW but once they got back the woman and Mr Garrigan began kissing and headed into the defendants bedroom for sex

Mr Obeghe, who at the time worked for a fashion brand, said he had met the woman while helping Mr Garrigan celebrate his birthday and he and agreed to let the group go back to his flat at 5am.

Im a human being and if you get touched like that you have a motivation to move on Sam Obeghe

I could tell she was drunk - her and Zack were the same, he said. Music was playing and they were kissing and then went into my bedroom.

I sat there thinking what have I done bringing them back here because I had work the next day.

'I saw Zack coming out, first naked and I was saying come on, I need to go to bed.

I asked him are you guys leaving? but he was not really paying attention to what I was saying and I said Im going to go and get her out.

Night out: The two women met Mr Obeghe and Mr Garrigan in the Vogue bar (pictured) in Bolton and in the early hours of the morning the four of them plus another man went to the students flat

I walked into the bedroom sat on the bed and started nudging the woman saying go and meet Zack in the living room. At first I lay there thinking finally I can go to bed but she grabbed me.

Birthday: The woman said she and Mr Garrigan did not have intercourse and she fell asleep whilst he went into the lounge to try to find some Viagra

I was just thinking I didnt really want to have sex with her but Im a human being and if you get touched like that you have a motivation to move on.

I figured she was probably very drunk but she grabbed me saying come on Zack then I realised shes thinking Im Zack so I jumped off the bed and jumped out of the room.

I went into the living room and told Zack: Man you will not believe what shes just done. Zack was sort of laughing and then I saw her storming out and she was screaming. I was in shock. I didnt climb on top of her and kiss her.

After the not guilty verdict Mr Obeghe, now 26, was too upset to comment, but his lawyer Sarah Johnson said: We are not suggesting this is a wicked woman telling a wicked pack of lies.

But she couldnt remember everything that happened in that bedroom. Shes not someone you can say is accurate and reliable.

She said the room was pitch black and she couldnt see anything, despite the defendant being of a different ethnicity, having different features and a different voice.
He is due to

Man charged on May 4 with nine counts of child molestation and rape

at in-home day care run by his

with the rape of a girl, 11, and her sister, four

A man has been charged with the rape of an 11-year-old girl and the attempted rape of her four-year-old sister at a family day care centre in Queensland.

Police allege the 56-year-old man from the Logan area, south of Brisbane raped the girl and tried to rape her sister while they were being cared for at his home between July last year and April 28.

Details of the charges were revealed when he was released on bail by Supreme Court Justice John Bond, The Courier Mail reported.

A man has been charged with the rape of an 11-year-old girl and the attempted rape of her four-year-old sister at a family day care centre in Queensland (stock image)

The man was charged on May 4 with nine counts related to child molestation and rape which allegedly occurred at the in-home day care centre operated by his wife.

He denied any involvement in the child molestation.

He allegedly told both girls dont tell anyone, the Courier Mail reported.

The court heard that the man was well trusted by the victims family to look after the children.

Police allege the man raped the 11-year-old girl on a couch at his home and showed her pornographic images on his iPhone while driving her to school.

The four-year-old sister told police she performed a sex act on the man in the lounge room after he showed her how, and the 11-year-old said she witnessed this.

The man is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court (pictured) on June 30

The court was told that the man had a 'blue card' clearing him to work with children but he was not a 'licensed worker in the business,' the Courier Mail reported.

As a condition of his bail Justice Bond prohibited the man from contacting the girls' family.

The mans wife has since shut down the day care centre.
Hundreds of Iraqi civilians who say they were detained and mistreated by British forces have been stopped from suing the Ministry of Defence for damages by senior judges.

More than 600 Iraqis had alleged they suffered at the hands of British armed forces who were part of the Coalition forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009, but launched their claims for compensation in 2013 - years after the event.

The claims were launched in England against the Ministry of Defence in what has become known as the 'Iraqi Civilian Litigation' after they were prevented from proceeding in Iraq itself, where the coalition armed forces enjoy immunity from legal action.

Hundreds of Iraqi civilians who allege they were detained and mistreated by British forces have been stopped from suing the MOD for damages by senior judges. Pictured are UK soldiers in Basra in 2007

The claims were given the go-ahead by the High Court in London but were blocked by the Court of Appeal because of a time bar imposed under Iraqi law - a decision which has now been upheld by Supreme Court justices.

The Supreme Court ruling means the MoD will avoid paying out millions in compensation.

The decision follows a Daily Mail campaign to end the witch-hunt against British troops. When criminal cases against them have failed, lawyers have lodged compensation claims on behalf of their clients.

Iraqi law provides for a three-year deadline for bringing claims, but this can be suspended if an 'impediment' has prevented legal actions going ahead.

Legal representatives for the Iraqi civilians claimed Iraqi law allowed the limitation period to be suspended because they were impeded from taking action in time by a Coalition Provisional Authority order which gave Coalition forces immunity from being sued in Iraq.

MoD lawyers successfully argued that most of the cases were invalid because of a three-year limitation period in Iraqi law that begins 'from the day on which the claimant became aware of the injury and of the person who caused it'.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair with British troops in Basra in January 2004

British legal firm Leigh Day was acting for the civilians as the Court of Appeal ruled that the Iraqi limitation period was not suspended in December 2015.

Leigh Day and Public Interest Lawyers have been accused of using an Iraqi agent who touted for business in the aftermath of the war.

But the civilians' appeal was dismissed unanimously at the highest court in the UK today as justices upheld the appeal court's conclusion that the limitation period continued to operate.

The Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17 - which remains in force today - states that coalition forces in Iraq are 'immune from local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction', but is 'devoid of legal effect' in English courts.

Lord Jonathan Sumption QC, one of a panel of five Supreme Court justices who considered the latest appeal, said a substantial number of the cases were time-barred in Iraq because they had been brought outside a three-year limitation period imposed by article 232 of the Iraqi Civil Code.

Lord Sumption said the Coalition order applied only in Iraq and was not an impediment to 'the only relevant proceedings', which were those launched in England. The limitation period under Iraqi law therefore continued to run.

He said: 'The Supreme Court unanimously dismisses the appeal by the Iraqi civilians, and affirms that the Court of Appeal was right in the result.'

The result will come as a relief to the MoD, which has already paid out around 20million compensation over claims of torture and human rights abuses by British troops.

A spokesman from Leigh Day said: 'The MoD has already settled hundreds of claims by Iraqis in relation to abuse and wrongful detention following the ill fated war of 2003 under the Government led by Tony Blair. A war which will come under close scrutiny in the Chilcot inquiry which will report in July.

'This technical judgment has the result of revising the hurdle that the majority of the remaining cases brought by Iraqi civilians against the MoD will have to get over to enable their claims to be heard in the British courts.

'We remain confident in the merits of the test cases going to trial this summer, brought exclusively against the UK Government over their role in southern Iraq.'

Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon has previously criticised 'ambulance-chasing law firms' as taxpayers have had to foot a 150million bill for legal fees in cases brought by people claiming human rights breaches in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, he said: 'There is a pernicious industry trying to profit from dubious claims lodged against our Armed Forces years after the alleged incidents.

'We are determined to tackle it and this judgement, which will save the taxpayer millions, is a big step in the right direction.

'Defence spending should go on defence, not into lawyers pockets.'

Speaking in January, Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'It is clear that there is now an industry trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen and women who fought in Iraq.'
A dramatic boat fire which forced more than 40 tourists to jump for their lives is believed to have been sparked in the ship's engine.

There were 46 passengers aboard the Spirit of 1770 when an inferno broke out in the engine room, forcing tourists - many of them Chinese nationals who could not swim - to jump overboard off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

Police said 19 people spent the night in hospitals in Bundaberg and Gladstone, with various ailments ranging from mild hypothermia and seasickness to suspected fractures.

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There were 46 people aboard the Spirit of 1770 when an inferno broke out in the engine room (pictured)

The 46 passengers were forced to jump overboard, many of them Chinese nationals who could not swim

Police said 19 people spent the night in hospital with various ailments ranging from mild hypothermia and seasickness to suspected fractures

All 46 passengers on board the 25-metre catamaran were forced to scramble into the ship's liferafts.

English traveller Gemma Sargent said she was woken by people shouting about the fire.

'All of a sudden the captain goes `Get off the boat!' and I'm looking at him thinking `How?',' the English tourist told Seven News. 'Everyone literally got shoved off whether you could swim or not.'

They drifted in the liferafts for several hours before three rescue boats arrived.

Gladstone Police Inspector Darren Somerville said two of the boats were fishing crews who had volunteered to help.

'It was a lengthy process to get them all on board - the conditions weren't great,' he told reporters.

One woman said they were in the water for a 'long time' after the boat caught fire

All 46 passengers on board the vessel were forced to scramble into the ship's life-rafts when the ship went up in flames

Passengers were forced to jump overboard off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland (pictured)

Once back on land many were treated for hypothermia and sea sickness.

Staff at the 1770 Marina Cafe stayed up until midnight cooking food and handing hot water to passengers as they came ashore.

'They looked freezing but all they wanted was hot water ... I think some had to jump in the water when they got off the boat,' cafe owner Phil Geck said.

Community members also rushed to their aid, donating clothes and blankets.

'There was no shortage of help ... they came from everywhere,' Mr Geck added.

Three passengers aged in their 50s and 60s remain in Gladstone Hospital with minor injuries.

Most of those onboard were in hospital overnight suffering from hypothermia

Marine Safety Queensland is co-ordinating an investigation into the circumstances that led to 23-metre long vessel being left at the bottom of the ocean

Inspector Somerville said initial interviews with the ship's crew indicated the fire started in the boat's engine.

Marine Safety Queensland is co-ordinating an investigation into the circumstances that led to 23-metre long vessel being left at the bottom of the ocean.

Lady Musgrave Island is a popular tourist spot, with sightseeing cruises to the island and limited numbers of campers allowed to stay on the island.
SNL star Pete Davidson has launched into a blistering attack on the priest and principal of his former Staten Island school.

The edgy comedian, 22, who is the youngest member of the cast, posted his rant on Wednesday following news of a lawsuit against Father Michael Reilly for racial and homophobic abuse of his staff.

According to the lawsuit, Father Reilly regularly referred to women as 'b****s' or 'tw*ts', called gay people 'f*gs', said he was going to kick one black man 'back to the jungle' and throw a staff member battling cancer 'to the f*****g curb'.

Labeling Father Reilly 'an absolute monster' on his Instagram account, Davidson told his 322,000 followers that his ex-teacher at St Joseph by The Sea High School was an 'epic piece of s**t' and an 'ultimate jerk off'.

Pete Davidson of Saturday Night Live posted a rant about a priest at his former high school who is being sued over his foul-mouthed behaviour

Accused: Father Reilly (left behind the camera and right) is being sued for abusive and aggressive behavior and was attacked by Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson

Davidson (right) said that Father Michael Reilly 'ruined' his time at St Joseph By The Sea High School in Staten Island

'I went to this high school and I'm glad something is finally being done about Father Reilly' he wrote, beside a picture of a US newspaper running the story.

The comedian - whose firefighter father died on 9/11 - said the priest 'has ruined that high school. He should have been fired years ago.'

The stand-up did not elaborate on his strongly held opinions, but was backed on social media for his principled stance.

According to to the 12-page Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit filing seen by the New York Daily News, Father Reilly 'unleashed a constant stream of rude, crude and inappropriate remarks including saying the word f*** in almost every sentence in some form.'

The lawsuit has been brought by three staff members who worked under the priest, who say he and two subordinates created a foul-mouthed, hostile work environment.

They claim they even spread rumors that one of the plaintiffs was a pedophile.

In the documents, it is alleged that Reilly called women t**ts and more than one woman a 'tw**aria'.

He also refers to women as 'bitches,' according to the suit.

He is also accused of using derogatory language to refer to gay men and said that a black member of staff should 'go back to the jungle.'

'His behavior is intolerable in a civilized work setting,' said the plaintiffs' attorney Michael G. Dowd to Staten Island Live.

'He goes after older faculty. He's constantly denigrating women, African-Americans and the elderly. Father Reilly's behavior is outrageous to any decent human being.'

According to the lawsuit, Father Reilly abused an elderly teacher who had to take time off to have chemotherapy to fight their cancer.

'Doesn't he know his life is over? What's he going to do next? Come in on a gurney with an I.V.? I'll have to kick him to the f---ing curb,' the lawsuit alleges Father Reilly said.

Father Reilly has denied all the allegations in a letter sent to parents which they received on Wednesday.

He said that the lawsuit was 'absurd'.

Lawsuit: Three teachers at St. John by The Sea High School are trying to sue their principle Father Reilly

Missed: Pete Davidson with his father Scott, who was killed when the second hijacker crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11

While it is not known exactly what prompted Davidson to launch into his tirade, the 22-year-old has already become something of a legend on the New York City stand up circuit, despite his relatively young age.

The star is thought to be dating Seinfeld creator Larry David's daughter, Cazzie.

The two have been seen getting close on Instagram, with each sharing photographs of one another on her birthday.

He took to the stage when he was 16 as a therapeutic outlet after his father's death and aged 20, joined the fortieth season of Saturday Night Live.

Getting closer: Pete Davidson and Cazzie David have been posting images to each other's social media for the past month or so, sparking suggestions they are together

Retired firefighter John Sorrentino told the New York Post: at the time 'He never once used the fact that his father was fireman who died on 9/11 to help him get through any doors.

'Peter earned everything he got and he deserves his shot on 'SNL,' Sorrentino said.

Pete was aged seven when his father Scott was killed as he climbed the steps to help the guests of the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel.

Scott, aged 33, when he died was assigned to Ladder Co. 118 in Brooklyn Heights, which responded to the Trade Center site after the second hijacked airliner struck.

'When they arrived on the scene, they parked their rig at West and Vesey streets, then vanished into the thick, cloudy smoke and soot,' said his father in an interview at the time reports Silive.

Can't believe it's been 13 years. Feels like it was just yesterday. Words can't express how much I miss you,' Pete, who live in Brooklyn, tweeted in 2014.
A woman has faced court accused of the hit and run of a seven-year-old boy in front of his primary school while she allegedly drove without a valid licence.

The boy had been crossing Valley Road outside Campbelltown East Public School in Sydney's west about 3pm on Monday, when he was allegedly struck by a car in front of his mother.

The 32-year-old motorist pulled over briefly before fleeing in her red Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback without offering assistance, police allege.

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A seven-year-old boy (pictured) was hit outside Campbelltown East Public School in Sydney's west on Monday about 3pm

The 32-year-old motorist (pictured) pulled over briefly before fleeing in her red Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback without offering assistance, police allege

The boy was taken to hospital by ambulance with a minor leg injury.

The mother of the boy, Jenny Tran, told Nine News it was 'so lucky that he's alright'.

She was outside the school to pick up her young son when she heard a 'bang'.

Ms Tran said drivers should always stop in such incidents whether the motorist was wrong or right.

The mother of the boy, Jenny Tran (pictured), told Nine News it was 'so lucky that he's alright'

The boy was taken to Campbelltown Hospital by ambulance with a minor injury to his leg

'I feel terrible [for my son] and I don't want anything to happen to any kids,' she said.

The 32-year-old woman was charged on Wednesday.

She was refused bail at Campbelltown Local Court on charges of failure to stop and assist after impact causing injury and not giving her details to the hurt person.

She was also charged for driving with an expired licence and unrelated offence of contravening an AVO.

The 32-year-old motorist pulled over briefly before fleeing in her red Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback without offering assistance, police allege

Ms Tran was outside Campbelltown East Public School (pictured) to pick up her young son when she heard a 'bang'

The 32-year-old driver was charged on Wednesday and refused bail at Campbelltown Local Court
Mr Mallick said: 'Her mum told her not to sit in the front seat'

His lawyer, Ben Mallick, said Hassan's victim could have avoided the attack

A lawyer who suggested a sexual assault victim should blame herself for choosing to sit in the front of a taxi has apologised for his inapprorpriate comments.

On Wednesday, barrister Ben Mallick said that the sexual assault victim of a Melbourne taxi driver could have avoided it if she had chosen to sit in the back of the car instead.

Mr Mallick apologised for the comments on Thursday after facing a vicious backlash on social media and criticism from fellow lawyers, reported The Age.

The lawyer for taxi driver Omar Ibrahim Hassan, 42, said the sexual assault, which took place when Mr Hassan was driving the woman home in November 2013, could have been avoided if the woman was sitting in the back

He said: It was an inappropriate statement. I didn't mean it that way.'

Mr Mallick was representing Omar Ibrahim Hassan, 42, in Melbourne Magistrates' Court when he made the offensive remarks.

Hassan was being sentenced for the indecent assault of a Melbourne woman in 2013.

Mr Mallick said: She sat in the front seat. She was advised by her mum not to do that.

She can avoid this happening by doing what other women do - by sitting in the back seat.

The comments caused widespread outrage on social media, with even a Member of Parliament taking to Twitter to express their disgust.

Victorian MP Louise Staley said: 'Classy from lawyer Ben Mallick to limit woman to the back seat of cabs to avoid assault.'

Another Twitter user, Karen, said: 'What a load of nonsense Ben Mallick. Sitting in the back seat of a taxi doesn't guarantee safety.

'The only way someone can be guaranteed safe from sexual assault by a taxi driver is if the driver doesn't assault them.'

Magistrate Andrew Capell said Hassan had breached the woman's trust in getting her home safely, saying that he 'took advantage of the woman's circumstances'

Hassan assaulted the woman while driving her home from a nightclub in the Melbourne suburb of Ringwood in the early hours of November 3, 2013

Prosecutor Jo Piggott called for a jail term and said Hassan had not acknowledged the seriousness of the offence.

She said the victim, according to a statement, no longer used taxis and felt unsafe on public transport, had regular nightmares and panic attacks and the medication she took for her anxiety left her unable to work, drive or hold a proper conversation.

Mr Capell decided against immediate imprisonment because of Hassan's otherwise good character, saying a suspended jail term still sent a 'strong message' that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
The diners were shocked when they were given this bill saying 'I'm a plad [sic] a**hole' and 'I have a small penis' - chef Peter Chang has now fired four members of staff, including his own daughter

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A famous Chinese chef has sacked four staff - including his own daughter - after customers were told they were an 'a**hole and 'had a small penis' on their receipt.

Peter Chang, 53, who served as chef at the Chinese Embassy, fired staff for what he described as being a 'deeply disturbing' incident.

It took place at the Arlington, Virginia, restaurant bearing his name - which opened last year - on Saturday evening.

The diners, three of whom were dressed in plaid, had a tense moment when they asked why their rice had been served in a family-sized bowl, rather than individual bowls [as is custom in China].

The group told staff 'just wanted to let you know the way it's done in China' which added to the awkwardness.

When they had finished their meal they also asked to split the bill.

Responding to their request, the server allegedly said: 'That's totally how they do it in China.'

Speaking about the comment one of the diners, Matt, recalled: 'I obviously had no idea what that meant, because I'm just a white guy from Arlington.

'But my friend from China, he told us after she left, "In China, one person pays for it. That's not at all the way things are done in China, so she's being sarcastic." Then we saw the receipt.'

On the bill, below the food and drink, staff had typed out the insults which included spelling 'plaid' incorrectly.

In response to the offensive remarks, Mr Chang fired four staff members including his daughter, Lydia Zhang.

His longtime business partner Gen Lee said: 'Business is business.'

He added: 'According to the assistant manager, they've done this before. I was so shocked.'

Mr Lee said the newly opened Arlington restaurant had been the only one he did not personally manage, but that he would now.

The offensive bill was given at this Peter Chang restaurant in Arlington, Virginia last Saturday evening

In a statement sent to the Washington Post, Mr Chang said: 'I sincerely apologize to the guests who were offended when they dined at my Arlington restaurant. I am deeply disturbed by the incident.

'I am sorry, my respected guests. I also apologize to all my friends who have had trust in Peter Chang. We made a mistake and let you down.

'We made a mistake and we must correct it.'
A mother's 10-year social media campaign to find her daughter's killers has led to the arrest of the last suspect.

California authorities said on Wednesday that the final suspect in the 2006 drive-by shooting, William Sotelo, had been arrested last Friday in Mexico.

The 28-year-old gang member is accused of driving the car from which bullets were fired that killed Crystal Theobald on February 24, 2006.

William Sotelo, 28, was arrested on Friday in connection with the killing of a 24-year-old woman. He was questioned shortly after the 2006 incident but disappeared soon after - until mother Belinda Lane tracked him down

In the weeks following the killing, Ms Theobald's mother, Belinda Lane, took to social media, posting frequently to seek information on Sotelo's whereabouts.

She set up fake MySpace pages and eventually began communicating with Sotelo, which led to detectives bringing him in for a voluntary interview in 2006.

Sotelo provided information that moved along the investigation, but police didn't have enough evidence to detain him at the time, and he disappeared almost immediately.

The grieving mother kept up her posts on Facebook, and in 2014, she received a tip that said Sotelo was in Mexico. She forwarded the information to detectives, who worked with the FBI and Mexican authorities to track him down.

'The extent to which she kept up her efforts to bring this person to justice, it's impressive,' police lieutenant Christian Dinco said. 'It just goes to show the love she has for her daughter.'

Lane said she breathed a huge sigh of relief Saturday when she learned the suspect - who had been a fugitive since charges were filed in 2007 - was caught.

Crystal Theobald (left) was shot in the Riverside, California in 2006. Sotelo is accused of driving the car from which the gun was shot

'My sister gave me a mother-child statue and I wrote a message on the statue promising her that if it took my last breath I was going to get him and give her justice so she could rest in peace,' Lane told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

'Friday I was able to fulfill that promise and that's everything I could ask for.'

Sotelo - who was 17 at the time but was charged as an adult - faces counts including murder and attempted murder.

Sotelo and several others had been driving around in two vehicles, seeking to avenge a shooting from earlier that day.

Investigators said it was possible they mistook the car Ms Theobald was in for one belonging to a rival gang, according to Lt Dinco.

Also in the car with Ms Theobald were her boyfriend, who was shot in the abdomen, and her brother, who was not hurt.

The man convicted of pulling the trigger, Julio Heredia, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2011.
Student Mijin Zahir (pictured) wants compensation from leading surgeon Shailesh Vadodaria

A student who claims her nose collapsed after it was worked on by a celebrity Harley Street plastic surgeon is suing for more than 50,000.

Mijin Zahir, 27, wants compensation from leading surgeon Shailesh Vadodaria after her nostril was weakened and she was left with a 'kink' in her nose because of his alleged work.

Miss Zahir, from Colindale, first decided to go under the knife in 2010 after telling Mr Vadodaria that she wanted him to make her nose 'ideal' with 'perfect symmetry.'

However, she subsequently had to undergo two further nose jobs to straighten out the mess left by the first one.

She is now suing Mr Vadodaria, who also has a clinic in Glasgow, claiming he 'mishandled' her nose job and displayed 'negligent surgical technique.'

But Mr Vadodaria, from Rickmansworth in Hertforshire, is vigorously defending the claim, insisting: 'A surgeon cannot be held negligent because the result is not perfect.'

Mr Justice Garnham, at London's High Court, heard Miss Zahir claim she had a 'straight' and 'very symmetrical nose' prior to the operation, which was intended to shave her cartilage and slim her nose down.

Christopher Stephenson, for Miss Zahir, explained to the judge that inside a person's nose there are twin 'rims' of cartilage, 'not unlike the McDonald's arches (or) the stiffener in a shirt collar', which 'prevent the nostrils from collapsing when one breathes in during respiration.'

It was damage to one of these arches of cartilage which led Miss Zahir's right nostril to 'collapse' and her nose to 'deviate' following the surgery, the barrister said.

It left her with difficulty breathing on the left side of her nose, as well as being horrified with the cosmetic result, which involved an 'irregular nose tip, asymmetrical nose and collapsing right side,' he added.

'In any medical procedure there are a range of acceptable outcomes. We say this result was outside that range,' the barrister told the judge.

An expert medical witness for Miss Zahir told the judge that, in his opinion, the 'collapse of the right nostril' was down to 'negligent surgical technique' and 'mishandling' of the operation by the surgeon.

He told the judge: 'The damage caused in this procedure is outside the range to be expected. Minor irregularities do occur, but I consider this to be far from minor.'

But Ranald Davidson, for the surgeon, told the court: 'The results of cosmetic procedures are variable. A surgeon cannot be held negligent because the result is not perfect.

'Miss Zahir talks about her nose not being ideal (after Mr Vadodaria's surgery).

Mr Vadodaria describes himself as 'one of the UK's leading cosmetic surgeons' and strongly denies the claims of surgical negligence by Miss Zahir

'Any surgeon cannot produce an ideal result. One cannot guarantee perfect symmetry,' he went on.

He told the judge that 15% to 20% of nose jobs need to be redone, adding: 'She was given adequate warning regarding the risk of revision surgery and residual asymmetry.

'There is a risk inherent in these procedures of creating asymmetry,' he added.

Mr Davidson also told the judge that the surgeon claims Miss Zahir's nose was already slightly wonky before the surgery, something she denies.

Miss Zahir was claiming up to 100,000 when she launched the case, but is understand to have agreed to accept 35,000 now, plus substantial legal costs, should liability be proved.

Mr Vadodaria describes himself as 'one of the UK's leading cosmetic surgeons'.

He regularly appears in the media to provide expert opinions, and has featured in Channel 4's 'Embarrassing bodies', Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire magazines and various documentaries.

He hit the headlines last year when one of his patients died from an infection after he performed an 8,000 'Brazilian bum lift' on her.

A coroners investigation found she died from complications related to the operation and that Mr Vadodaria was not implicated in any wrongdoing.
Terrifying CCTV footage has captured the moment a service station worker was held up by an armed robber wielding two large kitchen knives.

Police are hunting a man who rode his bike to Metro Petroleum in western Sydneys Granville at 3am on Thursday before brandishing the blades and demanding cash.

The unnamed 25-year-old store attendant said he is living in fear and has not brought himself to tell his family about the ordeal, reports Yahoo.

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CCTV footage shows the man coming into the store and brandishing the blades before demanding cash

The vision shows the horrified worker, who is a university student, handing over two tills of notes which the robber snatches into his bag before fleeing the scene down Guildford Road.

Police have released a description of a man who they want to speak with. They believe may be able to assist in their investigations.

The man is described as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged in his 30s and unshaven. He was last seen wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

The unnamed 25-year-old store attendant said he is living in fear and has not brought himself to tell his family about the ordeal
David Cameron and the Tories are under mounting pressure over campaign spending after the elections watchdog accused the party of failing to cooperate.

The Electoral Commission said it is asking the High Court to force the Conservatives to disclose material relating to the fraud investigation, which involves a number of police forces and more than 20 MPs,

The extraordinary step - which comes as the Prime Minister is hosting an anti-corruption summit in London - comes after the party only handed over 'limit' information despite repeated requests going back to February.

The authorities are looking at the apparent failure to register accommodation costs of activists bussed around the country by the Tories to help secure votes in key constituencies.

Conservative Party Lord Feldman has been criticised over his handling of the situation

A probe by the Daily Mail and Channel 4 News uncovered claims that the Tory Party breached campaign spending rules by recording accommodation costs of activists bussed into key constituencies under national expenditure instead of under individual candidates' limits.

Deliberate breach of spending limits  usually around 15,000  by individual candidates is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or even a one-year jail term.

Any candidate found guilty would be barred from holding public office for three years, triggering a new election.

Bob Posner, the Electoral Commission's Legal Counsel, said in a statement today: 'If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts.

'We are today asking the court to require the Party to fully disclose the documents and information we regard as necessary to effectively progress our investigation into the Party's campaign spending returns.'

Forces actively investigating the claims include West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire.

Each constabulary said it had launched an investigation after receiving allegations of electoral fraud at the General Election last year. They are all understood to relate to Tory MPs based in each force's area.

Earlier this month a Cabinet minister failed to fully endorse the expenses returns.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark would say only that he had 'every reason to suppose' the Tories properly reported their 2015 General Election expenses.

He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'There are often investigations as to how things have been conducted. I have every reason to suppose that the arrangements that we had... get reported in the required way.'

The Conservative Party has blamed an 'administrative error' for failing to register some accommodation costs.

A spokeswoman said: 'We advised the Electoral Commission on 29th April that we would comply with their notices by 1pm today  and we will do so. There was no need for them to make this application to the High Court.'
Pictures from Lizard Island have emerged presenting a bleak picture of the already fading Great Barrier Reef.

The photos, taken by Lyle Vale from Coral Watch at the University of Queensland, show the devastating effects that increasingly warm water is having on the Australian icon.

Biologist Justin Marshall told the Guardian that more than 90 per cent of the coral around Lizard Island, a major tourist destination, was dying.

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Almost gone: more than 90 per cent of Lizard Island's stunning coral reefs are in trouble

Biologists at the University of Queensland think warmer waters are the main cause of the trouble

Coral can bounce back from bleaching events in a matter of days, but each one weakens the overall health of the skeleton

Fish rely on coral for shelter and as a place to lay their eggs, so the loss of the reef will have a huge effect on the ecosystem of the reef

'These photos show a story, he said.

The shocking thing to think about is what youre seeing there is happening over a 1000-kilometre stretch of the reef, to at least half of it.

An area of the Great Barrier Reef the size of Scotland has coral that is dying right now. Or dead  probably dead.

The bleaching process occurs when coral gets stressed. This occurs mostly during unexpected temperature changes, but also during tropical cyclones or freshwater inflows.

The coral releases the algae which usually live inside it, and serve as a primary food-source. This causes the colour to fade away and if the algae does not return, the coral will die.

Healthy: Coral in good condition will display the bright colours that have enticed people from all corners of the globe

Bleached: The polyps of this coral are pink, and all of the algae has left as the coral endured stress

Dead: The return of colour does not mean the return of health - there is a thin film of algae on the outside of the coral, but it has not recovered

Such a catastrophe stretches further than just the reef  coral affects the intensity of currents and waves, and limits the amount of carbon dioxide in the water. Many species of fish use the reef as shelter for them and their eggs.

According to the Coral Watch website, corals can recover from a bleaching event in a matter of days. However each event weakens the coral over time.

Marshall said that considering the Great Barrier Reef brings in billions of tourism dollars every year, Australia should grow up and begin to take action.

Lizard Island in particular will suffer, despite recently reopening its self-titled resort, which was destroyed by Cyclone Ita in 2014, and then again by Cyclone Nathan in 2015.

They spent millions of dollars, said Marshall.

Tourists are going to go there and go: Wheres the reef?'

The reef used to be a glowing sea of colour, and a safe haven for fish such as the clownfish

The reef that brings in tourists will likely not exist in a few years, which would deliver a devastating blow to both the ecosystem and the economy

Healthy coral can also help lessen the intensity of currents and waves
He's the controversial IVF doctor who has made a dream come true for an Indian woman to give birth at the age of 72.

Daljinder Kaur says her family is now complete after two gruelling years of fertility treatment resulted in her having a son, Armaan, last month, with husband Mohinder Singh Gill, 79, making them the world's oldest parents.

But as the elderly parents celebrate the arrival of their 'miracle boy', fertility king Dr Anurag Bishnoi who made it all possible faces questions over the ethics of allowing a woman in her twilight years become a mother for the first time.

As the truth sinks in that the new parents are unlikely to live beyond the boy's tenth birthday, one medic accused Dr Bishnoi of giving IVF treatment 'a bad name'.

Proud: Daljinder Kaur, 72 (left) and husband Mohinder Singh Gill, 79, (right), had son Armaan on April 19 following two years of controversial IVF treatment

Newborn: Little Armaan (pictured) was born to his elderly parents in Punjab, weighing 4lbs 4oz

Controversial: Dr Anurag Bishnoi has defended his practices, saying age is not a factor when he considers a patient's eligibility for IVF treatment

India is now moving to regulate the industry - as it reels from the controversy of a succession of elderly citizens unlikely to see their parents grow old using IVF to have children.

However, Dr Bishnoi, who already had a client over 70 who became a mother, has defended his ethics, saying: 'A womans age is no factor for me when I consider helping them to become a mother.'

He told MailOnline: 'I am only concerned with their pre and post pregnancy health. In this part of the world couples without children don't feel part of the society, it has terrible consequences on a couples place in their community.

'We have a different family system in India compared to Britain.

When I see a woman, who has struggled to become a mother and has been depressed for decades, it gives me ultimate happiness to put a child in her arms. We want to see them happy and their happiness is our happiness.

Daljinder said the doctor initially refused her case until medical tests showed she was in good health for her age

'There is no better thing in this world for a couple than having a child and for those who do not have children, its the worst kind of punishment.

'A 60-year-old woman from a rural part of India is as healthy and fit as a 45-year-old woman with an urban lifestyle. And as long as my 60 and 70-year-old patients are fit Ill continue to help them.'

Mrs Kaur said: Childless couples should never abandon hope and should never give up, no matter what the circumstances are. Take advice from the specialists.

Mrs Kaur had her first pregnancy in 46 years of marriage in order to end a legal battle over a 500,000 family inheritance, her husband has claimed.

She became pregnant using donated eggs after trying since the 1970s to become pregnant. She suffered three miscarriages as doctors later discovered her fallopian tubes were blocked.

But her husband, a farmer, has admitted they were so determined to have the baby to lay claim to his late father's estate.

Two years ago they saw an advert for the National Fertility Centre and decided to make an appointment.

But after failed attempts at IVF in 2013 and 2014 the couple started to feel deflated before Mrs Kaur conceived with donor sperm and eggs on the third attempt in 2015, 20 years after her menopause.

Mrs Kaur said: The doctor initially refused to take my case considering the possible complications and risks with my age. But I was determined and kept going back until he agreed.

'The desire to have my own child was so intense that I was prepared to take any risk. I always wanted to be a mother like any woman.

Little Armaan was born by caesarian on April 19, weighing 4lbs 4oz.

Dr Bishnoi, who runs the clinic with his gynaecologist wife Dr Aman Bishnoi, 39, said he was reluctant to treat Mr Kaur at first but she was determined.

Id never come across a woman of her age so determined to have a child, he said. She was always punctual and never hesitant, willing to do anything we asked or needed.

'We take cases depending upon the medical condition of the woman.

In her case, at first I thought she looked weak so I said I needed to test her fitness levels and we were surprised to see she was very fine at her age.

Reluctant: Dr Bishnoi, who has a gynaecologist wife Dr Aman Bishnoi, said he was not keen to treat Mrs Kaur at first but changed his mind. Id never come across a woman her age so determined to have a child, he said

Clinic: An IVF cycle with the National Fertility Centre costs Rs200,000 (2,200) and Dr Bishnoi has said he would consider British patients if they had been turned away in their own country

Clinic: The National Fertility Centre in Delhi where another of the patients was a woman over the age of 70

Dr Bishnoi, who himself has two children aged six and 14, got into fertility after is parents were gynaecology doctors.

He said: I grew up around talk of women desperate for children and how important it was for them to become a mother.

After I finished my studies in Leeds, in Britain, I decided to join the IVF field back home in India.

My mother was the IVF genius and she was the one who started accepting older women at our clinic.

'One day a patient came in aged 48 and she was desperate to become a mother. She was healthy and further tests proved she was fit to carry so we went ahead. It was successful and word soon spread.'

We cannot deny treating these women just because they will not live to see their children grow. Dr Anurag Bishnoi

But when we helped Rajo Devi give birth at 70, in 2008, our patient list went through the roof. Rajo's motherhood was an important chapter in Indian IVF history.'

We now see 6,000 women a month and 30pc of those are aged above 50.

Thats approximately 1,800 women a month who are old enough to be grandmothers, never mind first time mothers, its quit amazing.'

An IVF cycle with the National Fertility Centre costs Rs200,000 (2,200) and Dr Bishnoi has said he would consider British patients if they had been turned away in their own country.

If, due to age the UK wouldnt allow treatment, we would treat them but I dont feel the urge to treat foreigners. My need to help is targeted at women in India whose lives are turned around irrevocably when they become mothers, even at 65, he added.

A womans age is no factor for Dr Bishnoi when he helps them have a baby.

He added: Death cannot be controlled; nobody can guarantee a person's life. Young woman even die during childbirth. We cannot deny treating these women just because they will not live to see their children grow.

'For many, the joy of motherhood is far more important than seeing their children grow up to marry. I feel its my duty to help women become mothers no matter what age and cherish their role as a woman.'

However, Dr Bishnoi has been fiercely criticised for his ethics.

Dr Hrishikesh Pai, boss of Indias gynaecologists federation, has said he 'totally condemns' the practice - adding: 'With science, you can make a 90-year-old person pregnant. The question is not about technicalities, it's about ethics. Our responsibility is to the patient.'

Fellow fertility doctor, Aniruddha Malpani, added such treatment 'gives IVF doctors a bad name'.

Pride: The couple, from Amritsar, in Punjab, northern India, had been trying for a baby since they got married in 1970 but suffered three miscarriages

Precious: But little Armaan faces an uncertain future with neither of his parents likely to still be around by the time her reaches his tenth birthday

Mrs Kaur is now back home settling into family life with their son Armaan, which means wish or desire.

Mr Gill said: He is a blessing from Almighty. We named him Armaan because he was our only desire. I feel complete now.

There is no particular age to enjoy motherhood. Almighty has given us Armaan and he will take care of him. I dont feel our age will impact on his childhood and well have no difficulties raising him.
Half of all migrants claiming to be children are lying, according to Austrian officials who say the 'juveniles' are sometimes in their 30s and have grey hair and beards.

The unnamed official told Austrian journalists: 'It is completely absurd. We have men turning up here with full beards and grey hair claiming to be children.'

Austrian officials said that of 2,200 asylum seekers claiming to be children, 951 were found to be considerably older following medical tests.

Migrants who have crossed the border from Austria are pictured walking to a registration point in the village of Simbach in southern Germany. Officials in Austria say half of all migrants who say they are children are adults

But under Austrian law every person claiming to be a juvenile has to be given child status, until medical tests can prove otherwise.

An official from Austria's Bundesamt fur Fremdenwesen und Asyl (BFA) immigration agency said two million euros (1.59m) had been spent on these medical tests.

Very few migrants from Syria, Afghanistan or Nigeria have birth certificates or other identity papers which can be relied upon to give an accurate estimate of their age.

One police officer working at the Traiskirchen refugee centre, south of Vienna, told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper: 'We have fully grown men with beards and grey hair who are telling us that they are 17 years old.

He added: 'When they tell us that they are children, it instantly gives them the right to have their family join them as they are children. It also gives them better conditions and legal rights especially with regard to their asylum applications.

'We have fully grown men with beards and grey hair who are telling us that they are 17 years old Police officer

'Even when it's completely obvious that the person in front of us is not 17 years old, we are forced to treat them as a child until medical tests prove otherwise,' he added.

A spokesman for Interior Minister Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said: 'If there is a suggestion that a person claiming to be a child is not the age they claim, then a test is organised. That means a medical examination and a professional report by a qualified expert.'

The number of fake claims has shot up.

In 2014 there was only one bogus child claim out of 178, whereas last year there were 951 out of 2,200.

The majority of those 'fake children' were from Afghanistan (691), with only 46 from Somalia, 44 from Nigeria and 40 from Pakistan.

A migrant walks to a refugee camp on the Greece/Macedonia border. The migrant crisis has resulted in huge numbers of asylum application in Austria, many of which are from people who are claiming to be children

In a small number of cases the medical test cannot prove adulthood.

MIGRANTS BUYING 'FAKE LIFE STORIES' TO TRICK AUTHORITIES THEY ARE SYRIAN REFUGEES Migrants stuck in refugee camps in Calais are paying fraudsters for 'fake life stories' in the hopes that it will help them claim asylum in France Migrants with no legitimate asylum claim are purchasing false 'full life stories' of having fled war and persecution. A 'Syrian background story' could sell for around 50 euros, an interpreter who works in Calais told French media. The fraudsters, known as 'life sellers' work in Calais and Paris, where thousands are desperate obtain a right to remain in Europe.

Around 1,000 child migrants were reported to have gone missing in Greece but it appears that many of them may have actually been adults who managed to get across the border and tried their luck in Hungary, Austria or Bulgaria.

A migrant's age can have a far-reaching impact on their lives.

In 2005 a woman was shot dead while holding a baby at a party in Peckham, south London.

Her killers Timy and Diamond Babamuboni claimed to be 15 and 17 at the time but police had severe doubts and both had forged Nigerian birth certificates.

Police had wanted to carry out dental tests which would have identified their age but the pair both refused to co-operate.
of more than $3.6 million

Sold three paintings for a combined

Mohamed Siddique, 68, and Peter Gant, 60, found guilty on Thursday

Two men have been found guilty of selling fake Brett Whiteley paintings for more than $3.6 million dollars.

A Supreme Court jury found Melbourne art restorer Mohamed Siddique, 68, and dealer Peter Gant, 60, guilty of the art fraud on Thursday.

At the centre of their month-long trial were two large Lavender Bay paintings and a third artwork called Through the Window.

Blue Lavender Bay- one of three fake paintings at the centre of a month-long art fraud trial

A Supreme Court jury found Melbourne art restorer Mohamed Siddique, 68, and dealer Peter Gant (pictured), 60, guilty of the art fraud on Thursday

Two men have been found guilty of selling fake Brett Whiteley (pictured) paintings for more than $3.6 million dollars

Mr Siddique was accused of creating the paintings at a studio in Collingwood, Melbourne.

Blue Lavender Bay was purchased by Sydney Swans chairman Andre Pridham for $2.5 million in 2007, while Orange Lavender Bay sold for $1.1 million two years later.

The third painting was set to be sold for $950,000.

Jacaranda by Brett Whiteley- Two Melbourne man have been found guilty of selling fake Brett Whiteley paintings to con wealthy buyers

When suspicions were raised that Orange Lavender Bay was a fake, Mr Grant refunded the buyer but then sold the painting again for $122,000 in 2013.

Mr Whiteley's ex-wife Wendy earlier told the trial that she knew the paintings were fake the moment she saw them.

The Blue Lavender painting was the first thing she saw walking into Mr Pridham's multi-million-dollar Mosman home in April 2008.

She thought to herself 'it's not right' but didn't say anything.

Art dealer Peter Gant leaves the Victorian Supreme Court in Melbourne on Thursday

'It's a big deal to tell someone "you've got a huge fake on the wall",' Ms Whiteley told the court in April.

Ms Whiteley said the paintings lacked her late husband's spontaneity, wit and spirit.

'I don't know everything he painted, but I certainly know what he didn't,' she said.

The maximum penalty for obtaining financial advantage by deception in Victoria is 10 years.

The two men remain on bail and will return to court next week.
Accused 19-year-old has allegedly breached his bail nine times now

She passed away two days later with her husband and children by her side

Andrea Lehane was hit by a illegal motorbike while shopping in September

The Melbourne teen accused of fatally striking a mother with his mini-motorbike is again at risk of having his bail revoked after a court heard evidence of another breach of his conditions.

Jakobsson, 19, was bailed last October after being charged with culpable driving causing the death of Andrea Lehane, 34, who was hit on a zebra crossing at a Melbourne shopping centre car park.

The details of the latest alleged breach have been suppressed and Caleb Jakobsson's bail has been continued until Monday when he will learn if he will have to surrender his freedom.

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Caleb Jakobsson - the teenager accused of running down a mother while riding an illegal motorbike - has allegedly breached his bail for a ninth time

On Thursday, a Melbourne court heard that the teenager had allegedly been filmed drinking alcohol, directly against his bail conditions

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg said it was concerning to hear the latest drinking allegations

The teenager was seen leaving the court holding a cigarette and plastic bag filled with his belongings after a court appearance in April

Mr Jakobsson fronted the Melbourne Magistrates Court last month after the relative he is staying with, who cannot be identified, reported him to police for breaching his curfew.

At the April hearing, Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg added more conditions to Jakobsson's bail, including he attend court for regular reviews.

Detective Sergeant Mark Patrick gave evidence of another breach at the first of those reviews on Thursday. However he said it was committed last year, before the curfew breaches were reported.

Prosecutor Cheri Lee told the court it was a 'flagrant' breach.

'What you have is a flagrant disregard for orders made by the Supreme Court,' Ms Lee said.

On Thursday, a Melbourne court heard that Mr Jakobsson had allegedly been filmed drinking alcohol, directly against his latest bail conditions

The 19-year-old was granted bail last year with conditions that included a curfew between 10pm and 9am and abstaining from alcohol

Mr Jakobsson was granted bail last year on the proviso he would abstain from alcohol, not drive a motor vehicle, and adhere to a strict nightly curfew between 10pm and 9am (pictured leaving court on Thursday)

Andrea Lehane, pictured with husband James, was hit on a pedestrian crossing at the Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre in September and died at The Alfred hospital two days later

The teen's relative said she had failed to report Jakobsson's breaches, despite giving an undertaking to the Supreme Court that she would, because she was trying to show mercy.

'I didn't think he was a threat,' she told the court on Thursday.

'In every one of those instances he was somewhere local.'

The court heard Jakobsson breached his curfew on January 24, twice in February, three times in March and three times in April.

On one occasion he did not come home at all.

Jakobsson is accused of striking Mrs Lehane with his mini-motorbike as she crossed a pedestrian crossing, then speeding away.

The nurse and mother of two died on September 25 last year when her family turned off her life support after being told she would not survive her brain injuries.

Magistrate Rozencwajg reserved his decision until Monday.

Ms Lehane tragically left behind a son and daughter, aged three and four, and heartbroken husband James

Jakobsson is accused of striking Mrs Lehane with his mini-motorbike as she crossed a pedestrian crossing, then speeding away
Donald Trump has disclosed his tax returns when in the midst of audits to state gambling officials - yet still won't to prove he can run the country.

The Republican presidential candidate handed over tax returns, when the subject of ongoing Internal Revenue Service audits, to officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as part of the process of seeking casino licenses in those states.

Yet he has cited this exact reason as why he cannot release his tax returns and said he would not do so until the audit is complete.

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The Republican presidential candidate handed over tax returns [when the subject of ongoing Internal Revenue Service audits] to state gambling officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Trump's attorneys included tax returns from 2000 to 2004 as he tried to build a casino in Philadelphia, CNN reported, in a project that was ultimately rejected.

He also turned over his tax returns in New Jersey as state law requires five years' worth of tax returns from casino licence applicants.

In March, Trump released a letter from his attorneys saying his tax returns for 2009 and every year since were still the subject of ongoing audits.

When asked by CNN why he had shared his tax returns for the casinos but not now, his spokeswoman Hope Hicks repeated how they would be published when the audit is finished.

Although not legally required of presidential candidates, the release of tax returns has been considered the norm for party nominees since Gerald Ford released a copy of his tax returns in 1976.

Donald Trump doesn't expect to release his tax returns before November, citing an ongoing audit of his finances

Former GOP nominee Mitt Romney (left) again tore into presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump (right) for not releasing his tax returns to the American people

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney wrote a long-winded Facebook post today condemning presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump for not releasing his taxes, suggesting there's a 'bombshell' inside

Earlier this week Mr Trump told the Associated Press 'there's nothing to learn from them' in relation to his tax returns.

During the primary battle, Mr Trump promised that he would release his tax information but then backtracked and said he was unable to do so immediately because he was being audited by the Internal Revenue Service, and his lawyers advised him against it.

He told AP that if the audit was not completed by election day, he would not simply release them.

Reacting to that, former GOP nominee Mitt Romney attacked 'The Donald' for his refusal to release his taxes.

'It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service,' Mr Romney wrote today in a strongly-worded Facebook post.

He concluded from Trump's foot-dragging that there must be 'a bombshell of unusual size' tucked inside.

Mr Romney, a businessman in his own right who lost the presidential election to President Barack Obama in 2012, has used the 'bombshell' line before, attempting to pressure Trump in February to release his income taxes.

Writing on Facebook, he said: 'Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate's representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest.
A high school teacher has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to nine counts of having sexual intercourse with a young person under the age of 17 years.

Casey Lee Sullivan, 33, had sex with three of her students between 2012 and 2015.

The Hobart Mercury reported Sullivan, a mother of two, had sex with one boy while she was student teaching because he paid her attention.

She contacted a 15-year-old student via social media the year after, and had sex with him in a car at a nearby beach.

Sullivan first slept with a student when she was student teaching at a high school. One of her victims was only in year nine (stock image)

Then in 2015, she used the internet to contact yet another student and proceeded to have intercourse with him on school property on gym mats.

Eventually her crimes caught up with her, as the third student bragged about the experience to his friends, using messages from the former teacher as proof.

The affair continued for months afterwards, and the married woman sent him text and picture messages of an explicit nature.

Sullivan was jailed for two years, with eight months suspended provided she did not commit another offence for two years after she was released.

She will be eligible for parole in just eight months, and will spend seven years on the sex offenders register.

Regarding one boy, who was in year nine when he began to have sex with Sullivan, Chief Justice Blow said: There are likely to be long term consequences with his sexual development,Sky News reported.

The crimes were so serious, particularly in light of her position as a teacher, that a prison sentence is called for.
Donald Trump and Paul Ryan, the top-elected Republican, hailed a peace talk on Capitol Hill today as a 'great conversation'  but the two men left the meeting separately without so much as a public shaking of hands.

The GOP strongmen were meeting to come to grips with each others' brand of conservatism as they barrel ahead toward the general election.

A joint statement from the two camps dubbed the meeting 'a very positive step.' But Ryan is still holding back his support for the presumptive GOP nominee. Some members of Ryan's conference are also holding out as they watch to see if Trump will be an anchor that weighs down their own reelection chances.

'It's very important that we don't fake unifying,' Ryan said at a solo press conference in the Capitol afterward, telling reporters it will take more than a single, 45-minute meeting to come together.

Trump met later with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. As if to send a message to the reluctant Ryan camp, Trump tweeted out a black and white photo of him listening intently to McConnell, a wily tactician who has endorsed Trump.

'Great meeting with Mitch McConnell and Republican leaders in D.C.,' Trump tweeted. 'I think that everybody felt it was quite good,' McConnell told reporters in brief remarks in the Capitol afterward.

Ryan, a policy wonk who took over after Speaker John Boehner failed to contain intra-party divisions, praised Trump at times but took care not to embrace his most controversial proposals.

He said he had only met him briefly before and found him to be 'a very warm and genuine person.'

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'It's very important that we don't fake unifying,' Paul Ryan said at a Capitol Hill press conference after his meeting with Trump today, telling reporters it will take more than a single, 45-minute meeting to come together

Good side: Trump tweeted an image of him listening intently to Mitch McConnell, who has endorsed him

'We are now planting the seeds to get ourselves unified,' Ryan, said, although he acknowledged serious policy differences remain.

'This was a process. It takes a little time,' Ryan added.

He said he 'heard a lot of good things from our presumptive nominee, but declined to say how the two men had bridged gaps on Trump's controversial plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border or ban foreign Muslims from entering the U.S.

The meeting and its highly-orchestrated PR rollout comes a week after Ryan said he was 'not ready' to back Trump. Since that time, some lawmakers have fallen in line, including a group of House Committee chairmen who said it was paramount that the party 'coalesce around the Republican nominee.'

Some lawmakers in swing districts, including moderate Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, say they are not yet 'persuaded' to go for Trump.

The official response was all positive. As the meeting concluded Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said on Twitter, 'The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity.'

He admitted to MSNBC in an interview, though, that healing the wounds of the GOP's particularly ugly primary will require effort.

Trump and Paul Ryan, the top-elected Republican, hailed a peace talk on Capitol Hill today as a 'great conversation' - but the two men left the meeting separately without so much as a public shaking of hands. Trump is seen entering the building earlier today

'People didn't think this thing was going to be over two weeks ago,' he said. 'People thought that Senator Cruz was at least gonna go to California. That didn't happen. That may have threw a few people off.'

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Trump and Ryan, the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee who is frequently rumored to still harbor presidential ambitions of his own, got together Thursday at the urging of Priebus, whose job is to get Republicans elected at a levels of government in November.

Trump and Ryan got together today at the urging of Priebus, whose job is to get Republicans elected at a levels of government in November

The billionaire also met with other House and Senate Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who have sway over the rest of their caucuses.

Ryan is most identified with the House Republican budgets he has crafted that would cut Medicare and establish vouchers for health coverage.

Trump has repeatedly spoken against cuts to Medicare and Social Security, while Ryan has criticized Trump's temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.  a proposal Trump himself appeared to waver on Wednesday.

Ryan told reporters the two men's policy staffs had begun meeting. 'Going forward were going to go a little deeper into the policy weeds to make sure we have a better understanding of one and other.'

WHAT THEY SAID AFTERWARDS - 'WE WERE HONEST ABOUT DIFFERENCES' The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why its critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall. With that focus, we had a great conversation this morning. While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground. We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident theres a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal. We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Party's history. This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification. A JOINT STATEMENT FROM HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN AND DONALD J. TRUMP

As Trump arrived at the RNC headquarters this morning in Washington he confronted by protesters from progressive groups including CODEPINK and Americans United for Change who held up signs bashing him as a 'racist' and calling his ideas 'dangerous.'

Party leaders normally rally around their presidential nominee in full force at the end of a primary, but Ryan, who now serves as House Speaker, and other Republican leaders continue to have concerns about Trump's rhetoric and some of his policies that conflict with the Republican agenda.

After their meeting, Ryan and Trump jointly said: 'The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why it's critical that Republicans unite around our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall.

'With that focus, we had a great conversation this morning. While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground.

The statement also said, 'We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal.

'We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Party's history. This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification.'

Ryan said the process of coming together 'takes a little time'

As Trump arrived at the Republican National Committee headquarters this morning he confronted by protests from progressive groups including CODEPINK

Americans United for Change also held up signs bashing calling him 'dangerous'

As Trump and Ryan gabbed inside the RNC, rank-and-file members of the GOP fretted about the nominee who has taken over the party.

Donald Trump has taken few and sparse policy positions and the few that weve seen have been conflicting or contradictory, fretted Rep. Charlie Dent, a centrist Republican from Pennsylvania.

He was one of many GOP lawmakers going in and out of the Capitol Hill Club next to the RNC. Its a place where lawmakers dial for dollars as they arent allowed to do in their congressional offices  the foundation of a political system Trump circumvented and calls rigged.

I would like to hear much more clear positions on policy, much more specific positions on policy, Dent continued. Withdrawing from NATO for example I think was not a very good idea to suggest it on the day of a terrorist attack in Brussels. When one of your allies is under attack the last thig you should be doing is talking about withdrawing from an alliance when theyre seeking reassurance at that particular moment, he added.

Representative Charlie Dent is witholding support from Trump, even as Speaker Ryan makes nice with him

Dent said the Ryan meeting was a good opportunity to clear the air.

I have withheld support. Ive said Donald Trump he has to convince many Americans including myself that hes ready to lead this great nation. Hes gotta do that. At this point I havent been persuaded.

I was probably one of his greatest opponents and that has changed because it appears that its now between him and Mrs. Clinton, said Arizona Rep. Trent Franks.

While as a conservative I cannot trust Donald Trump to do the right thing I most certainly can deeply trust Hillary Clinton to do the wrong thing every time, Franks said just steps from the RNC.

Speaker Ryan is way ahead of all of us. He was wise in not leaping before he carefully surveyed the territory in front of him, Franks added.

Mr. Trump has held a number of different positions that are antithetical to the Republican platform, Ill put it that way, Franks said. I am hopeful that some of that represents a lack of understanding on his part, the presidency being the very first office he ever pursued. Time will tell.

Donald Trump and Paul Ryan are going to come together, predicted Rep. Chris Collins of New York, who backed Trump early and said he met with Ryan Wednesday.

He made clear it was Ryan who had to adjust to the new reality of Trump. The Speaker needs a relationship with the next president of the United States, and Donald Trump will be the net President of the United States.

Mike Lee, a conservative senator who endorsed Cruz, told supporters last night during a tele-town hall, 'I have not supported Donald Trump up to this point, I have not endorsed him. I have some concerns with him.'

Lee said, according to the Washington Examiner, 'He scares me to death; so does Hillary Clinton. There is no easy choice right now.'

John Fleming of Louisiana told Reuters, 'I really think everything has to be resolved by the end ofthe convention.'

Ryan as speaker will oversee Republicans' nominating convention in Cleveland in July. He says he will step down as convention chair if that's what Trump wants, but the intra-party fight does not seem to have come to that just yet.

Ryan indicated today that he and Trump still needed to work out their differences on key policy issues.

'Our policy teams are meeting to just walk through details. ... going forward we're going to go deeper in the policy weeds,' he said.

Ryan has previously voiced his disagreement with Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States -which he last night walked back - and his plans to deport more than 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

Their also at odds on trade, and now taxes, which Trump says he might raise.

Trump has also made comments about women that have put some Republicans on the fence.

Media members camp out to await Trump's meeting with Ryan

Ryan met with a group of women legislators in his caucus on Tuesday to discuss Trump and spoke on Wednesday to House members who are backing the presumptive GOP nominee. He also met this week with a group of about 30 holdouts in the House who are flat-out refusing to get behind Trump, a tipster told DailyMail.com.

Immigration rights activists also protested outside of the Republican National Committee this morning

Democrats, meanwhile, pounced on the discord, drawing attention to all the Republican and conservative forces opposing Trump.

Hillary Clinton's campaign said in a statement, 'Donald Trump has for years proven himself to be a loose cannon whose hateful language and dangerous policies will do serious harm to working families and put Americas security at risk, and Republicans are continuing to acknowledge that a President Trump would be too big a risk.'

The Democratic National Committee hit Trump and the GOP in a statement that said, 'Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell probably wont hold Trump accountable today for all his empty promises, including his pledge to release his tax returns, but voters certainly will.

'The American people ought to know whether Trump has been paying his fair share and how much he would benefit from his own reckless tax plan,' National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach said.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said he said the joint statement with some amusement and mocked congressional Republicans for wasting their time and energy on arguing with Trump rather than accomplishing any number of things from passing a budget, to providing relief to Puerto Rico to funding programs to fight opioid addiction.

There are any number of critical priorities that Republicans could be focused on, he said. But right now we see Republicans much more focused on their relationship with the presumptive nominee.
A dog-owner has uploaded a video of himself training his pet to do a Nazi salute, boasting that it took him five minutes.

The man can be heard encouraging his dog to 'Sieg Heil', which is a salute performed with a straightened arm.

The video, which was posted on Wednesday, was apparently in response to a recent viral video which saw a Scottish man train his girlfriend's pug to do the Nazi salute and jump when it heard 'gas the Jews'.

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A US man trained his dog to do the Nazi 'Sieg Heil' salute by feeding ger treats and rewarding her

He can be heard laughing in the video, which he said was inspired by a similar video made by a Scottish man - which led to him being arrested

He first orders the dog to 'sit' before repeating 'Sieg Heil' until his pet lifts one of her front legs.

She is rewarded with a dog treat, and her laughing owner films them repeating this a number of times.

The video appears to have been posted from the US, and the dog's owner has an American accent.

On the post, the dog owner links to a recent video made by Markus Meechan, 28, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

The call centre worker was arrested on suspicion of a hate crime and spent the night in prison - he denied that he meant to be offensive and said he had trained the pug to annoy his girlfriend.

The video, which received almost a million views, showed Meechan's girlfriend's pet pug Buddha responding to anti-Semitic phrases and jumping up on hearing the words: 'Gas the Jews.'

Meechan also filmed the two-year-old dog watching speeches made by Hitler from the Leni Riefenstahl directed film 'Olympia' which documented the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The dog's owner does not divulge his pet's name in the video, which appeared on line on Wednesday

In the video blurb, the LiveLeak user boasts that his dog has learnt the offensive gesture in five minutes

On another occasion he filmed it lifting its paw on hearing the words: 'Sieg Heil.'

The dog belongs to his girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 28.

Police said the arrest should be a warning that videos which cause offence will not be tolerated.

Detective Inspector David Cockburn said: 'This clip was shared online and has been viewed almost one million times.

'I would ask anyone who has had the misfortune to have viewed it to think about the pain and hurt the narrative has caused a minority of people in our community.

'The clip is deeply offensive and no reasonable person can possibly find the content acceptable in today's society.'

He added: 'This arrest should serve as a warning to anyone posting such material online, or in any other capacity, that such views will not be tolerated.

'This clip has been shared and viewed online, which ultimately has caused offence and hurt to many people in our community.

Call centre worker Markus Meechan, 28, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, spent the night behind bars after he uploaded a video which showed his girlfriend's pet pug Buddha responding to anti-semitic phrases

'There is no place for hate crime in Scotland and police take all reports of incidents seriously.'

Despite the trouble the two minute and 23 seconds clip has caused Meechan, the video remains available on YouTube and has been viewed more than 938,000 times.

Last month call centre worker Meechan apologised to the Jewish community for the video, which he said was made to annoy his girlfriend.

He said: 'I am not a racist at all, anybody who knows me could tell you that.

'I'm freaked out because everyone's going to actually think that I hate Jews now and I don't at all. I'm kind of panicked about it.

'Honestly, I don't hate anyone, the whole purpose of this was just to annoy my girlfriend.
World famous brothel owner Dennis Hof is reaching out to lend a hand to shamed Fox news correspondent Ed Henry.

Henry, who took leave from Fox after details of his alleged affair with 42-year-old Las Vegas stripper Natalia Lima emerged, is well liked by the Nevada Moolite Bunny Ranch owner.

That's why Hof is offering Henry something special that most men would love to have  three VIP Bunny Ranch booty passes to use for free sex whenever he wants.

Hof exclusively told Daily Mail Online: 'I love the team over at Fox, I'm a big Fox News fan. Sean Hannity was at the Bunny Ranch filming Hannity's America a few years ago.

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Nevada Moolite Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof has offered to reach out to shamed Fox News correspondent Ed Henry. He wants to give Henry three VIP Bunny Ranch booty passes to use for free sex whenever he wants

Henry took leave from Fox after details of his alleged affair with 42-year-old Las Vegas stripper Natalia Lima emerged

'I've been on air with a lot of those guys, including Ed Henry, and that's why I'm offering him these passes as a courtesy to keep him out of trouble.

'I want Ed to think of these booty passes like he'd think of a AAA card - you hope you won't use it, but when the time comes that you really, really need it, you reach in your pocket and pull one out.

'With these passes he can stay out of trouble by keeping away from the strippers and won't have to attempt to impress anyone by texting his d*** pics.

'He'll get what he needs and will have a great time doing it. We'll treat him right at the Bunny Ranch and no one will know about it, especially his wife.

'And Ed doesn't have to worry that he's the only TV exec doing it. We get more than our share of network big shots out here - hey, conservative guys like to have sex too.

'These big wigs jump on a plane from JFK to Reno, have some playful fun with my beautiful ladies, and get back on a flight to be at work by Monday morning.'

And as far as Henry's alleged mistress goes, Hof has an offer for her too.

He told Daily Mail Online: 'It's time Natalia Lima goes legit. Being a stripper is a stepping stone to the Bunny Ranch and I want to offer her a job.

Hof said that Henry would 'get what he needs and will have a great time' at the ranch and that his wife of six years, NPR's Deputy Washington Editor, Shirley Hung, wouldn't know about his visits

Hof told Daily Mail Online that he's a 'big Fox News fan', and that Fox News host Sean Hannity once stopped by the Bunny Ranch filming Hannity's America

'Even though she supposedly made $2,000 an hour dancing for Ed Henry, she can do much better working for me.

'She was good enough for him, so I'm sure she'd be good enough for my other clients as well.

'Natalia is a pretty lady who obviously likes to have a good time.

'My clients would be standing in line to spend some time with her.

'We'll train her and get her up to speed, and she'll probably end up being a Bunny Ranch favorite. Those are the girls that make $500,000 a year.'

It is believed that Lima, whose real name Natalie Albrandt, performed steamy $2,000-an-hour routines for Henry in a private VIP 'Skybox' at Sapphire Las Vegas strip club.

In the interview with In Touch Lima detailed how her lengthy friendship with Henry turned sexual last spring after he invited her up to his room at the Wynn Hotel - the place where he married his wife, NPR's Deputy Washington Editor, Shirley Hung, 46.

'Whenever he was in town, we would pretty much just have sex,' added Lima.

Hof also had an offer for the woman Henry allegedly had an affair with, Natalia Lima - he wants to give her a job at the Bunny Ranch. It is believed that Lima, whose real name Natalie Albrandt, performed steamy $2,000-an-hour routines for Henry in a private VIP 'Skybox' at Sapphire Las Vegas strip club

'We were friends for a few years before we did anything, and a nice guy... a kinky nice guy.'

She also detailed his penchant for bubble baths and shared some of the explicit text messages the two exchanged, including one that contained emojis of unpeeled bananas and female lips.

Further texts exchanged by the pair included a message from Henry in which he exclaims: '[You are] so beautiful', 'love that pic of you!!', those eyes', 'are u thinking right there about us making love?', 'cause i am...', 'i will make love to you over and over so that we can wear u out and sleep:)', 'now that i saw that old photo shoot of you...'.

He then added: 'i cant stop think about watching [redacted] in my room ...:)'

In response, Lima then said: 'yes can't wait!!!!!!! We have a great chemistry. with no chemistry sex isn't good...don't u agree?'

Henry then replied: 'i agree,' when i see you pic...,' i get [redacted].'

Henry has been married to Hung since 2010. They married in Las Vegas.

Fox News said in a statement shortly after details of the alleged affair were revealed: 'We recently became aware of Ed's personal issues and he's taking some time off to work things out.'
Advertisement

The former Hollywood home of screen legend Cary Grant has sold for $3.5 million.

The house called Las Palomas is in the Palm Springs area dubbed 'Movie Colony'. Grant lived in the home for two decades between 1954 and 1972.

Grant hosted some of Hollywood's classic stars in the luxury home, such as Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Katharine Hepburn.

Cary Grant's Palm Springs home of 20 years Las Palomas, pictured, has been sold for $3.5 million after being fully refurbished

The luxury property is set on 1.5 acres of land, which is unusual for a house in the Movie Colony area of Palm Springs

Grant hosted many of the greatest stars of the 20th century such as Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra

Cary Grant, left, regularly entertained a host of stars at his luxury house including Grace Kelly right, and singer Frank Sinatra

Director Alfred Hitchcock, who convinced Grant to star in North By North West during one visit to the home had a guest room named after him.

According to listing agent Eric Lavey the six bed, six bathroom mansion is set on 1.5 acres and covers 6,000 square feet.

It comes with a lavish swimming pool, a gym and 19th century Spanish farmhouse decor.

Lavey from The Agency said: ;It belonged to one of the biggest Hollywood actors in the last 100 years - that says everything.

'Movie Colony has deep rooted history with Hollywood and once again it's where the stars come to escape to.

'For the last four or five years it's been blowing up.

'I call this the Hamptons of LA - except we have 45 weeks of good weather.

'And the 1.5 acres of land is very difficult to duplicate.'

Legendary director Alfred Hitchcock was such a regular visitor to the home that Grant named the guest room after him

The 6,000-foot property sits on a 1.5 acre plot and is in an ideal location to escape from the madness of Hollywood

Real estate agent Eric Lavey said the property was where Hitchcock convinced Grant to star in his movie North By Northwest

According to Lavey, the Movie Colony of Palm Springs was the area where the classic era stars of Hollywood wanted to live

The house is decorated in the manner of a 19 century Spanish farm house but it has been recently refurbished to a high standard

Lavey claimed that over the past four or five years the property in the area really has been 'blowing up'

For more than 30 years until his retirement at the end of the 1960s Grant was one of the most famous actors in Hollywood
GUESSING GAME: 'The Confessions of Congressman X' is due on bookshelves May 24 and Washington is abuzz with speculation about who wrote it

A new book threatens to blow the lid off of Congress as a federal legislator's tell-all book lays out the worst parts of serving in the House of Representatives  saying that his main job is to raise money for re-election and that leaves little time for reading the bills he votes on.

Mill City Press, a small Minnesota-based 'vanity press' publisher describes 'The Confessions of Congressman X' as 'a devastating inside look at the dark side of Congress as revealed by one of its own.'

'No wonder Congressman X wants to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. His admissions are deeply disturbing.'

The 84-page expose is due in bookstores in two weeks, and Washington is abuzz with speculation about who may be behind it.

The book, a copy of which DailyMail.com has seen, discloses that the congressman is a Democrat  but not much else.

The anonymous spleen-venter has had a lot to say about his constituents, however.

Robert Atkinson, a former chief of staff and press secretary for two congressional Democrats, took notes on a series of informal talks with him  whoever he is  and is now publishing them with his permission.

'Voters claim they want substance and detailed position papers, but what they really crave are cutesy cat videos, celebrity gossip, top 10 lists, reality TV shows, tabloid tripe, and the next f***ing Twitter message,' the congressman gripes in the book.

'I worry about our country's future when critical issues take a backseat to the inane utterings of illiterate athletes and celebrity twits.'

Much of what's in the book will come as little surprise to Americans who are cynical about the political process.

'Fundraising is so time-consuming I seldom read any bills I vote on,' the anonymous legislator admits. 'I don't even know how they'll be implemented or what they'll cost.'

'My staff gives me a last-minute briefing before I go to the floor and tells me whether to vote yea or nay. How bad is that?'

And on controversial bills, he says, 'I sometimes vote "yes" on a motion and "no" on an amendment so I can claim I'm on either side of an issue.'

'It's the old shell game: if you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em.'

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'POMPOUS A**': The anonymous Democratic congressman who spilled his guts in a new book had harsh words for his own party's Senate Minority Leader

CALM BEFORE THE STORM: The new congressional tell-all is likely to cause controversy  and inspire a whodunnit-style guessing game  on Capitol Hill

POVERTY POSEURS: 'Congressman X' says lawmakers don't want to 'mingle' with the poor 'unless it's for a soup kitchen photo op.' House Speaker Paul Ryan and his wife Janna washed pots at Youngstown, Ohio's St. Vincent DePaul dining hall in 2012

The congressman laments that politics has become a matter of picking a team by the jerseys they wear rather than looking at the players underneath.

'Things are so partisan today most folks vote the straight party line, even though they don't know s*** about who they're voting for. They just don't want the other guys to win,' he explains.

And he seemingly takes a shot at the Bill and Hillary Clinton Foundation, noting how family philanthropies can be the beneficiaries of what amounts to bribes in exchange for legislative favors.

'Some contributions are subtle,' he explains. 'Donations to a member's nonprofit foundation. Funding a member's charitable pet project. Offsetting the costs of a member's portrait to adorn the committee room he or she has so faithfully served.'

'It's all a bunch of bulls*** to get around gift bans and limits on campaign contributions. Where there's a will, there's a way.'

The mystery man reserves special scorn for Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who serves as Senate Minority Leader.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE READ THE BILL: The unnamed Democrat behind the new book says his staffers give him 'a last-minute briefing before I go to the floor' and then tell him 'whether to vote yea or nay'

SHORT ATTENTION SPAN AMERICANS: 'Voters claim they want substance and detailed position papers, but what they really crave are cutesy cat videos, celebrity gossip, top 10 lists, reality TV shows, tabloid tripe, and the next f***ing Twitter message,' the congressman gripes

One chapter is titled 'Harry Reid's a Pompous A**' and says the senator is 'sometimes a bit too clever for his own good. The same goes for [Republican Sen. Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell and his pathetic lieutenants. Ditto for most of the House leadership bullies on both sides of the aisle. They wield too much dictatorial power, manipulating legislative procedures and denying members due process.'

The larger picture that emerges is one of disenchantment with the political process and the professional office-holders behind it.

Especially those in the Democratic Party.

'Our party used to be a strong advocate for the working class,' he says. 'We still pretend to be, but we aren't. Large corporations and public unions grease the palms of those who have the power to determine legislative winners and losers.'

'Most of my colleagues want to help the poor and disadvantaged. To a point,' he adds. 'We certainly don't want to live among them. Or mingle with them, unless it's for a soup kitchen photo op. ... Poverty's a great concern as long as it's kept at a safe distance.'

Much of Washington's problems are created on the fringes of America's dominant political parties, he says.

'CONGRESSMAN X' SPELLS IT ALL OUT IN TELL-ALL BOOK ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES: 'Like most of my colleagues, I promise my constituents a lot of stuff I can never deliver. But what the hell? If it makes them happy hearing it, and they're stupid enough to believe it, shame on them.' ON THE MYTH OF SPENDING RESTRAINT: 'I contradict myself all the time, but few people notice. One minute I rail against excessive spending and ballooning debt. The next minute I'm demanding more spending on education, health care, unemployment benefits, conservation projects, yadda yadda yadda. I'm for having everything, just like my constituents.' ON WASHINGTON CORRUPTION: 'How ironic that most of us in Congress run against Congress and the culture of corruption we perpetuate. It's as if we've all lost our f***ing sanity and become Don Quixote setting our sights on righting all that's wrong in the political world we've created. Insincerity from the heart. It's just another component of politics as usual.' ON LOBBYING CONGRESS: 'Business organizations and unions fork over more than $3 billion a year to those who lobby the federal government. Does that tell you something? We're operating a f***ing casino.' ON THE AGING CONGRESS: 'Seniority sucks. Most of the leaders in both parties  House and Senate  are living fossils who don't exactly convey an attractive and vigorous image of Congress. We need to weed our geriatric landscape. Replace longtime careerists with new blood. People who understand the power of collaboration.' ON MEDIA BIAS: 'Political columnists, TV commentators, and talk show hosts are inherently biased and aspire to effect election outcomes. Pretending otherwise is a thing of the past. You're either red or blue, and there's no in-between. Little wonder voters flock to TV stations, newspapers, and websites offering them the partisan news slant they believe in. ... Journalists are a lot like the politicians they interview. The more elite ones are puffed up with self-importance and entitlement.' ON RUNNING FOR OFFICE: 'Election campaigns are a pain in the a**. Unless I win. In which case it's a nice ego boost. Then it's back to shaking the money tree and selling access to me and my legislative staff. ... I've also learned it's important to cultivate a concocted image of myself. To make sure the public sees me as I want them to see me. Brand management 101. S***, I'm marketed no differently than a fancy car or athletic shoes.' Advertisement

'The GOP have their crazy wingnuts, and we have our loony leftists. Screw them both. What we need are more common-sense lawmakers. Folks who see both sides of an issue. Who are open to accommodating each other's priorities. Today, both sides assume their views are the only logical ones.'

'I'm concerned my party has an activist far-left wing intolerant of center-leftists. Like the Republican Tea Party, these ideologues are much too rigid and extreme in their beliefs. And they're equally unappealing to mainstream Americans.'

He cites education policy as an example: 'I'm a strong advocate of improving our public schools. I also see the near-term value of vouchers and charter schools committed to lending a helping hand to disadvantaged kids. Especially inner-city kids.'

'Hell, most of us send our children to private schools and wouldn't be caught dead sending them to public schools in places like DC. How hypocritical's that? It's time to set aside petty politics. Are both parties so f***ing stubborn they can't work out a reasonable compromise on this common-sense issue? Our educational system's in the toilet, and all we do is snipe at each other.'

The publisher released a few short samples to the public on Amazon.

'Most of my colleagues are dishonest career politicians who revel in the power and special-interest money that's lavished upon them,' Atkinson recorded his mystery collaborator saying.

'My main job is to keep my job, to get reelected. It takes precedence over everything.'

'Fundraising is so time consuming I seldom read any bills I vote on. Like many of my colleagues, I don't know how the legislation will be implemented, or what it'll cost.'

The book also takes shots at voters as disconnected idiots who let Congress abuse its power through sheer incompetence.

'Voters are incredibly ignorant and know little about our form of government and how it works,' the anonymous writer claims.

'It's far easier than you think to manipulate a nation of naive, self-absorbed sheep who crave instant gratification.'

And the take-away message is one of resigned depression about how Congress sacrifices America's future on the altar of its collective ego.

'We spend money we don't have and blithely mortgage the future with a wink and a nod. Screw the next generation,' the author writes.

'Nobody here gives a rat's a** about the future and who's going to pay for all this stuff we vote for. That's the next generation's problem. It's all about immediate publicity, getting credit now, lookin' good for the upcoming election.'
University students have apologised to sex workers after their college initiation required them to enter a massage parlour and take unsolicited photographs of sex workers.

First-year students at University of Sydney's Wesley College bombarded Kings Court Massage on Broadway under instruction by orientation week organisers, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The same college came under fire on Wednesday after its journal, funded by compulsory students fees, was revealed to have named women and revealed details about their sex lives.

In February, organisers of a 'scavenger hunt' for the college's orientation week initiation had instructed first-year students to get photographic evidence of receiving a massage at the parlour.

First-year students at University of Sydney's Wesley College bombarded Kings Court Massage (pictured) on Broadway under instruction by orientation week organisers

A group of eight students wearing Wesley shirts went to Kings Court reception, where they were told photography was prohibited to protect the anonymity of staff and customers.

One of the male students then allegedly offered $10 to be photographed with a worker's hand on his shoulder.

He then signed a business card, took a photograph and left when he was told the 'degrading request' was inappropriate.

A second group later reportedly attempted to take a photograph.

One of the Kings Court workers is reportedly a 20-year-old student from University of Sydney.

She told Sydney Morning Herald she feared being outed to her peers.

Cameron Cox, a sex worker and CEO of NSW Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP), told Daily Mail Australia it was 'appalling' the students thought it was 'fun' to go to a workplace in that manner.

'If it was any other sort of business - maybe a hairdresser or doctor's surgery - you wouldn't find it on the o-week list,' Mr Cox said.

Wesley College (pictured) came under fire on Wednesday after its journal, funded by students, was revealed to have named women and revealed details about their sex lives

'They obviously see it as some sort of source of humour that people do that sort of work. In NSW it is legitimate and legal work.'

He said there was a perpetuated 'meme of sex workers'.

'They aren't treated as normal workers, even though they are.'

Mr Cox said the behaviour of the students 'illustrates the sort of stigma that sex workers face every day'.

'If a group of sex workers went to Wesley College and started cavorting around and taking photographs in people's rooms, I'm sure there'd be an outcry,' Mr Cox said.

Wesley College has written a letter of apology to Kings Court and said it was 'never our intention to cause any harm or disrespect to you, your business, or your staff'.

Wesley College has written a letter of apology (pictured) to Kings Court

Values of the University of Sydney college include 'acting responsibly, and actively ensuring the safety of others', 'displaying respect to others', 'accepting responsibility' and 'striving to be the best we can be'.

Mr Cox made the point that sex work is treated like any other business  paying tax, using ABNs, and covered under the same regulations of all other occupations.

'Like any other customer service industry, sex work can be subject to difficult clients at times,' Jules Kim, CEO of Scarlet Alliance, told Daily Mail Australia.

She said 'stigma and discrimination' was a factor but that they were 'very fortunate the NSW government has decided to recommend that the best practice model would be decriminalisation remain in NSW'.

Earlier this week, the state government announced they would continue to support decriminalisation of sex work after a parliamentary inquiry.
The father of a nine-year-old girl says the man accused of abducting her was obsessed with his daughter.

Carlie Marie Trent, of Rogersville,Tennessee, has been missing for more than a week and authorities say she was kidnapped by her uncle, Gary Simpson.

There have been no confirmed sightings of the youngster since she was signed out of her school by Simpson, 57, under false pretenses on May 4  despite hundreds of tips pouring in.

Her father James Trent, 39, revealed that Simpson and his wife often looked after Carlie and that he wanted her to all to himself, WVLT reports.

Now, he is hoping for her return but fears that she just wont be the same.

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James Trent (left) the father nine-year-old girl Carlie the man accused of abducting her was obsessed with his daughter and 'wanted her all to himself'

He had access to her every day, he was obsessed with her, he wanted her and he wanted her all to himself, Trent told the news station. Thats a scary thing to think about.

He explained that after Simpson married his sister Linda, they lived next door and the couple often babysat the little girl.

While he doesnt believe Simpson will harm his daughter, he is concerned about how the incident will affect her after it is over.

Itd be a great moment, but then again, its gonna be a scary moment because Im just wondering how shes going to be.

I she going to be as happy as she was or is she going to be scared to death of everybody? Thats what I worry about, that she just wont be the same.

There have been no confirmed sightings of the youngster since she was signed out of her school by Gary Simpson (pictured) under false pretenses on May 4

Simpson (left) may have taken his niece (right) Carlie to an isolated area like a campground or a park

But Simpson's wife Linda told the New York Daily News that she believes her husband is 'up to something bad'.

'I'm very worried. I'm very concerned,' she said. 'I think she's in a lot of danger. I don't see why you would kidnap a kid if you weren't up to something bad.'

Authorities said Simpson had taken custody of Carlie and her younger sister with his wife of 34 years, the girls' biological aunt, while their father, a single parent, went back to work after spending time in prison.

Trent said he had relied on Simpson and his sister to look after his daughters for years, and was shocked that his brother-in-law would do something like this.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Bureau of Information has stressed that the case is not just a custody dispute and that Carlie could be in grave danger.

Simpson was Carlies former guardian, but had recently lost custody and was back in her fathers care before her disappearance.

We realize Gary Simpson is Carlie Trents uncle by marriage, but we have specific  and credible  information that Carlie Trent is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said at a news conference on Wednesday.

When we say a child is in danger, we absolutely mean it.

He added: 'As the days go, our concern for [Carlie's] well-being only grows,'

The bureau is working through more than 100 tips they have received since an Amber Alert was issued.

Simpson stocked up on several items before taking Carlie out of school and fleeing  including a bathing suit, a pack of underwear, two bottles of nail polish, two tubes of lip gloss, authorities said

They also said Simpson stocked up on several items before taking Carlie out of school and fleeing  including a bathing suit, a pack of underwear, two bottles of nail polish, two tubes of lip gloss.

The bureau released pictures of those items as well as a surveillance video taken later that same day at the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Rogersville that showed Carlie with her uncle.

Simpson may have taken his niece to an isolated area like a campground or a park, authorities said.

They may be in a white van with a Tennessee registration of 173GPS.

The pair were last seen in Simpsons white Dodge 2002 Conversion. It was described as having chipping paint and a stripe down the middle.

Carlie is described as 4ft 8ins with blonde hair and blue eyes. Simpson is 5ft 10ins and is balding with brown hair and eyes. Both are white.

There is currently a $15,000 reward for Carlie's safe return.
Bar owners in a suburb of the Danish capital, Copenhagen, have lobbied a government minister for help after being targeted by Muslim youths extorting money and demanding a so-called 'Sharia zone'.

The barkeepers in Nrrebro say they been harassed for months by so-called Sharia patrols, which have threatened them and vandalised bars in broad daylight.

Heidi Dyrnesli, who runs the Cafe Heimdal, told Radio24syv: 'Recently some young men came into the bar and shouted that all guests should leave.

Nrrebro (pictured) is one of Copenhagen's trendiest districts but the area has a high immigrant population and some Muslim youths resent the sale of alcohol and have been hassling customers

'They shouted so that the site belongs to them and that Nrrebro is Sharia zone, so there is no drinking alcohol.'

On Wednesday local businesses in Nrrebro collared Immigration and Integration Minister Inger Stjberg and demanded to know what he planned to do about it.

Ms Stjberg said the youths needed to stop harassing bar owners and get 'an education and a job, so they can become part of Danish society.'

She was later verbally abused by two women during a walkabout in Nrrebro,

The women, who called her 'Nazi' and 'fascist' were both arrested and face a fine for swearing at a government minister.

Nrrebro is a suburb just to the north of the city centre which has a large immigrant population.

There are sizeable communities of Arabs, Turks, Pakistanis, Bosnians and Somalis but they remain a minority -Five years ago a group called Call to Islam began calling for a 'Sharia zone' in the area.

Immigration and Integration Minister Inger Stjberg said there was no way a 'Sharia zone' would be introduced in Nrrebro (pictured)

They began daily patrols and approached people who were drinking or gambling, pointed out they were against Islam and urged them to stop.

But in recent months other groups have taken things a step further, throwing stones and firecrackers at businesses they have targeted.

Birgitte Fischer, who owns the Mucki Bar, said one gang had demanded 60,000 kroner (6,000) in 'protection money'.

Earlier Ms Stjberg addressed Arab activists on Facebook, telling them to 'behave yourselves' and added: 'You live, and live in the greatest country in the world.

'Opportunities are right in front of you. So stop your rampage, threats and yelling.' Stjberg wrote on Facebook.

Opportunities are right in front of you. So stop your rampage, threats and yelling Inger Stjberg

She insisted 'Sharia zones' would never be allowed in Denmark and said: 'No I can guarantee you that it is not (going to happen) and will never be.'

Ms Stjberg added: 'And you're kinda pretty lucky that this is not a Sharia zone, as you get a fair trial when the police get a hold of you.'

Chief Inspector Allan Nyring, of Copenhagen police, told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper: 'The problem is not nearly as bad as the press make it out to be.

'Of course, it is serious for the bars that are targeted, but we are dealing here with a small group of disaffected youths who, as soon as spring starts, decide to go out and show off.

'We often experience this problem at this time of year, but we manage it through dialogue and by punishing the responsible parties if necessary.'

Jonas Christensen, a Danish TV presenter, told Mail Online: 'This is not the first time something like this has happened in Nrrebro. There have been incidents of Jewish people being attacked, and it's usually by Muslim immigrants.

'It is sad that it has developed like this. My dad used to live in Nrrebro in the 1960s and he said there were not so many immigrants and it has changed a lot.'

Mr Christensen said it was incidents like this which had boosted support for the far-right Danish People's Party, which has made significant inroads during the migrant crisis
A Los Angeles jury has awarded $8million to the fomer Lorbeer Middle School student who was repeatedly molested by history teacher Steven Andrews (pictured)

A Los Angeles jury awarded a 19-year-old woman $8million on Monday in a lawsuit she filed against her former school district and the teacher who repeatedly molested her in 2011.

According to court records, the unnamed woman was just 14 years old when she became sexually active with Lorbeer Middle School history teacher Steven Andrews, then 41.

The two allegedly had sex a dozen times at Andrew's home, in a hotel when they were supposed to be on a field trip and even in a locked classroom, after Andrews wrote the girl notes to get out of other teacher's classes.

Andrews has since been fired from his job and is currently serving a 15-year sentence in prison on 17 felony convictions connected to the abuse.

The Pomona Unified School District will be responsible for paying 80 per cent of the judgement, while Andrews will have to pay the remaining $1.6million. School officials have not said whether they are appealing the decision.

The victim's attorney, John C. Taylor, says that the school district is just as much to blame for the abuse that happened to his client, for not doing more to stop the affair.

'They had red flag after red flag about Andrews behavior toward her. They truly looked the other way. They were more worried about the school district or the teacher,' he said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The two allegedly had sex a dozen times at Andrew's home, in a hotel when they were supposed to be on a field trip and even in a locked classroom at the school (pictured above), after Andrews wrote the girl notes to get out of other teacher's classes.

Court records indicate that the victim met Andrews in 2009, when she was just 12 years old and he was her seventh-grade history teacher.

By the fall of 2010, the teacher started giving her gifts and spending time alone with her, regularly writing notes so that she could get out of other teacher's classes to spend time with him.

The sexual contact reportedly started in the spring of 2011, when the two would go to a locked classroom or the school gym to be together.

On one occasion, another staff member walked in on them alone and warned Andrews 'to be careful and knock it off'.

And on another day in May 2011, Andrews took a day off and drove the girl to his home where they had sex. That day, the school principal tried calling the girl to his office, and found that she wasn't at school. When administrators could not locate the girl, they called her mother and then Andrews. Andrews pledged to look for the girl and soon afterward, she walked into the school with Andrews and a security officer.

The principal reportedly informed the assistant superintendent about that incident, but the district did not launch any formal investigation into Andrews.

And in yet another incident, the two were supposed to be on a field trip to Disneyland, when they took off to a hotel nearby to have sex.

The two were caught after Andrews' wife found inappropriate texts on his phone and told another teacher, who in turn informed the principal.




A British former air hostess has become a star of Nigeria's 'Nollywood' film industry after mastering pidgin English.

Claire Edun, from Winchester, Hampshire, became interested in the language - a version of English spoken in West Africa - after visiting the country through work.

Her almost-flawless use of the dialect led to her being scouted by one of Nigeria's top directors and she has now become a hit in the country's flourishing film industry.

The 31-year-old's new movie has become such a success that she is now famous with cinema-goers in the African state and has been nicknamed Oyinbo Princess - meaning 'White Princess'.

Claire Edun has become a huge star in Nigeria after a top film director heard her speaking pidgin English

The former air hostess taught herself the language after visiting while flying into the West African Nigeria

She admits that tredding the red carpets of Lagos is a million miles from the village pantos and school plays which she first acted in, but she has grown a love for Nigeria, which she now considers a home from home.

She told MailOnline: 'It's very weird. I still have to pinch myself sometimes and remind myself that this is actually happening.

'When I am in Nigeria, people often recognise me and stop me for selfies. Even in London the other day, I was stopped by a Nigerian in Woolwich and asked for a photo.

'One of my first memories of acting was of me on a stage in a panto in a community hall in Titchfield, a small village in Hampshire, so I've come a long way since that.'

Claire, whose family has no connection to Africa, went to private school and then college in the UK and has always had a passion for acting and drama.

After working in Greece, she got a job as an air hostess and says she 'fell in love' with Africa while stopping there overnight between flights.

She says she starting swapping routes with other stewardesses so that she could visit Nigeria as much as possible and became interested in its films and music.

She has been dubbed Oyinbo Princess, meaning 'White Princess', in Nigeria and is loved by cinema-goers

She says she hopes to build bridges between the two countries and show that Nigeria isn't 'all Boko Haram'

Claire said: 'I lived in Peckham [south London] which is like little Africa and got to know pidgin by watching subtitled Nigerian films and listening to songs.

'I was so impressed with Africa because I had always been told that it was this dangerous place where everyone was starving and I guess I just believed that.

'But when I started visiting I discovered it was the most amazing place, people are so friendly. You have to be careful about your security, but it's not all Boko Haram like we hear in Britain.'

She posted a video of herself speaking pidgin on Facebook which was shared by a friend and seen by a top director in Nigeria, Lancelot Imasuen, who was hugely impressed with how she spoke.

He got in touch with her and made her the star of a hit romantic comedy, ATM, alongside one of Nigeria's most famous actors, Alexx Ekubo.

The film is about a Nigerian man who plans to use an English girl as a route out of the country, but learns to love his homeland through the eyes of his new wife.

The 31-year-old grew up in Hampshire, performing in village pantos, but is now on billboards around Africa

She has been attending premieres of her hit romantic comedy, which will now be shown in Britain

Despite having no African heritage, she has completely mastered pidgin, which she speaks in the film

She said: 'It's about a British girl who comes to Nigeria and marries a Nigerian man who wants to live in Britain.

WHAT IS PIDGIN ENGLISH? Pidgin began when European traders started visiting the West African coastline to barter for slaves in the 15th century. Similar to Creoles found in the Caribbean, it spread as English became a language of prestige in colonial times. In a country whose inhabitants speak a hundreds of different dialects, it is used as a lingua franca, or bridge language. Widely-used phrases include 'How you dey?' (how are you?), 'I dey fine' (Im okay) and 'wahala' (problem).

'It's got some good messages in it, like having pride in where you come from rather than thinking the grass is always greener elsewhere.'

Claire is herself married to a Nigerian man, Richard Edun. The couple tied to knot four years ago with photos showing the bride wearing both a traditional white gown and African wedding robes.

The actress now divides her time between her home in Portsmouth and Lagos, where she attends film premieres and has become a hit with the country's media.

She added: 'My parents are obviously really worried about me every time I come over here. My dad especially, he's always looking at the Foreign Office advice online and telling me which areas I can and can't go.

'But they know I'm following my dream and so understand.'

Her film has become such a hit that a UK premiere is planned for the Nigerian community in London.
Melbourne artist Hamishi Farah, 25, claims he was denied entry to the United States and deported home without any explanation

A young Australian artist has questioned why he was refused entry to the United States and deported home after a humiliating 13 hours locked up in a customs cell.

Hamishi Farah, 25, was travelling from Melbourne to New York for his own solo exhibition at an art fair when he was intercepted at Los Angeles airport by two guards, one armed with an assault rifle.

The Australian citizen, who is of Somali heritage, had his passport and phone confiscated and was fingerprinted before being handcuffed to the wall of a cell, which also held an Egyptian and Israelis.

'[I was in custody for] 13 hours or so. It's kind of lucky compared to the poor Egyptian fellow who was there for five days and a couple of other dudes who were from Israel who were there at the same time,' Mr Farah told the ABC.

Unable to make any phone calls, he claims to have then been interrogated by guards who asked him whether he was able to produce quality art without the inspiration of drugs.

'I was mocked by them for being an artist when I tried to explain my story, they called me an idiot and a prima donna,' Farah told The Age.

The Australian citizen, who is of Somali heritage, was held in a cell for 13 hours before being escorted by armed police onto a Qantas flight back to Australia

'I was mocked by them for being an artist when I tried to explain my story, they called me an idiot and a prima donna:' Farah said armed security guards interrogated him and insulted him (file image)

Mr Farah believes his harsh treatment was prompted by a SSSS security code that was printed on his boarding pass

After an excruciating half day in the upstairs cell, Farah was eventually escorted by armed police onto a Qantas flight headed straight back to Australia.

He says no-one on the flight wanted to sit anywhere near him.

'I got to board first. Then all the families that were in my line [of seats] requested to be moved away.'

Mr Farah's social media accounts suggest that he is now considering legal action.

He believes a security code that was printed on his boarding pass might have had something to do with the special treatment that he received.

'I can't draw any other conclusions [than my colour]. If you're brown, if you get an SSSS on your boarding pass ... make sure you're as invisible as possible,' he advised.

SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, and indicates that the passenger is likely to endure an extra security screening by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents.

'I was furious, and a bit confused but also I'm a black boy who was raised in white Australia,' said Farah.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told ABC they knew an Australian man had been denied entry to the United States in April 2016.

'Decisions on whom to admit or deny entry to US territory are within the sovereign jurisdiction of US authorities,' the spokesman said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were aware an Australian man had been denied entry to the United States
Pope Francis said he is willing to create a commission to study whether women should be allowed serve as deacons within the Catholic Church.

The pontiff was addressing a meeting of 900 women who were members of various religious congregations from around the world.

When asked about the prospect of female deacons, Pope Francis said he was not opposed to the idea.

Pope Francis, pictured yesterday in St Peter's Square in the Vatican admitted today he will establish a commission to consider the introduction of female deacons within the Catholic Church

Pope Francis, pictured here earlier today with Japan's Prince Akishino and wife Princess Kiko stressed the important role played by women within the Church during a latter meeting with 900 female Religious

A deacon can lead certain services but cannot say Mass. A deacon can also administer a parish in the absence of a priest.

Under current rules, the Church allows married men who are at least 35 to sign up as a deacon.

However, the Vatican stressed decision to allow women deacons would not lead to the ordination of female priests.

According to the National Catholic Reporter, Pope Francis revealed he had discussed the issue of women deacons many years ago with a 'wise' professor. They were unable to determine the role women deacons held in the early church.

He said: 'Constituting an official commission that might study the question? I believe yes. It would do good for the church to clarify this point. I am in agreement. I will speak to do something like this.'

Pope Francis said there were theological and liturgical issues over whether a women can deliver the homily in a Mass because the priest is serving 'in persona Christi'.
A teenager bravely fought off an armed intruder with an umbrella after being tied up and threatened with a knife in his 5 million Hampstead home.

A-level student George Zelonka, 19, was revising in his bedroom in the house he shares with his father when the intruder burst into his room.

The man dressed all in black, wearing gloves and masked, was brandishing a nine inch knife.

He forced Mr Zelonka to lie face-down on his bedroom floor, while he tied him up with cable ties and brandished the blade in his face.

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CCTV footage caught the moment George Zelonka, 19, fought off a knife-wielding burglar with an umbrella

Mr Zelonka, left and right, said the experience was 'terrifying' and had little time to think about his actions

Mr Zelonka said: 'Obviously it was terrifying. I didn't know what to make of it. I only had a minute to think about it while he was tying me up.'

He continued: 'The first thing that came to my mind was that he was a burglar and he was going to steal things, but when I started hearing plastic bags I was worried he'd kill me.

'He told me he'd kill me if I moved while he was tying me up.'

At this point, Mr Zelonka leapt into action and jumped to his feet, somehow managing to snap the cable ties in the process.

He began shouting at the intruder saying, 'You don't know who you are dealing with, get the f*** out.'

Mr Zelonka continued: 'If you're asking me how it felt after I freed myself from the ties, it was even more terrifying.

'I didn't know how it was going to go because obviously he had the knife.'

The 19-year-old said he was 'no hero' and that his actions were prompted by the 'adrenaline kicking in'.

The intruder, still brandishing the knife, began jabbing it towards Mr Zelonka, in a defensive way.

Mr Zelonka said: 'He was backing out jabbing his knife at me to keep me away. In the end he actually asked me 'can I go now?'

Mr Zelonka, left and right, managed to escape being tied up and chased off the intruder with an umbrella

'I grabbed the umbrella and followed him out. It's quite heavy and I thought I could do some damage with it so I kept chasing him.'

He then chased the culprit barefoot 100 yards until he reached Hampstead Heath.

Mr Zelonka added: 'I'm not sure it was totally me chasing him. He was running away. It was the adrenaline. I knew if I didn't chase him I would lose him so I just kept running.'

His father Paul Goldstein, a property developer, was at work at the time.

Mr Goldstein said: 'At first I thought it was a prank, but he has never played a prank on me before though.

'He was very hysterical and I asked him whether I should call the police and he said yes. That's when I knew it wasn't a prank.'

Mr Zelonka is currently preparing to sit his A-Levels in theatre studies, film studies and psychology, with a view to study film at Exeter.

His father said: 'If you've got children it's something which you can understand that I am upset about.

'And I'm upset that someone has broken into my house, of course.'

Mr Goldstein also said he didn't know what the motive was, as the intruder ran past his office with his laptop and wallet in full show.

Mr Goldstein described his son as a 'nice, affable lad' who had 'never been in a fight before' but was phsyically strong.

He said: 'He hasn't got an aggressive bone in his body.'

He added that Mr Zelonka, who is half-American and half-British, used to get teased as a youngster due to his 'goofy accent'.

He said: 'I'm proud of him because it could be the making of him in terms of his self-confidence'.

However, while Mr Zelonka dreams of working in film, his father said he would not need the incident for inspiration.

He said: 'He won't need it. He's very creative and artistic,'

Mr Zelonka, left and right, managed to escape being tied up and chased off the intruder with an umbrella

Mr Zelonka added: 'I'm relieved that he did't hurt me, I just really want them to catch the guy. I don't want it to happen to anyone else.'

Police are appealing for witnesses and have launched a hunt for the offender, who was described as being dressed all in black and of 'Oriental' appearance.

According to the Evening Standard, a newsletter sent to residents has distanced this incident with a series of violent robberies that took place in Hampstead earlier this year.

PC Edward Bromilow wrote: 'I understand many of you will draw parallels to the horrible burglaries last year, however at this time - there is no information to suggest this is part of a linked series of crime.

'We have lots of questions and very few answers, we are yet to establish who this man was and what his motives were.'

In November 2015, burglars struck five times in one week in one Hampstead street while a mother was violently robbed on her doorstep by masked men who threatened her child.

Three patrol cars and two mounted officers were sent to Mr Zelonka's home and a helicopter was requested but unable to attend due to bad weather.

No one was injured and nothing was taken from the home.
A teenager left fighting for her life after leaping from a moving van during an argument with her brother has been identified.

Carmen Pua, 17, was sitting in the backseat of the graffiti-covered vehicle with brother Kevin Pua as the pair headed along Progress Road, in Queensland's Richlands on Wednesday night.

After a row between the siblings kicked off the teenager leaped from the rear door of the vehicle, which was travelling up to 60kph, reports Yahoo.

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Carmen Pua (left) launched herself from a moving van driven by her brother Kevin Pua (right)

The 17-year-old was sitting in the backseat of the graffiti-covered vehicle with her grandmother as the trio headed along Progress Road, Richlands on Wednesday night

'It's just shocking it shocked everybody, didn't expect that to happen,' Mr Pua said.

The brother has spoken of his frantic attempts to save his her life after the teenager was found 20m from the car.

She sustained critical head and chest injuries.

The 17-year-old was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane's southeast and remains in a critical condition.

Police allege the teenager had a disagreement with her brother, who was driving the unique van at a 60 kilometres an hour

The teenager sustained critical head and chest injuries and was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane's southeast

Her grandmother and brother were uninjured.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident and are looking for members of the public who may have seen the bizarre van travelling along Progress Road.

'The young woman was travelling in a motorcar with some relatives and at this stage it appears that the young woman has jumped out of the vehicle while it was travelling at a reasonable speed,' Queensland Police Inspector Steve Flori said.
A coroner has revealed today that she has received 'significant' evidence that police had prior knowledge of the Birmingham pub bombings.

A total of 21 people were killed and 182 injured in the devastating blasts at two city centre pubs on November 21, 1974.

Six men - known as the Birmingham Six - were jailed in 1975 for 16 years before their convictions were quashed in what is considered to be one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.

A coroner has revealed today that she has received 'significant' evidence that police had prior knowledge of the Birmingham pub bombings. Pictured are fire officers searching through debris after the blasts in 1974

Families of the victims have tirelessly campaigned for more than 40 years for a new inquest to be held, claiming corrupt police covered up the truth about the blasts.

In February, a pre-inquest hearing was told an IRA 'mole' may have tipped off officers before the deadly explosions at the Tavern In The Town and the Mulberry Bush.

The proceedings were adjourned to allow West Midlands Police time to hand over all relevant evidence before a decision was made whether to hold a fresh inquest.

Today, Senior Coroner for Birmingham Louise Hunt revealed she had received 'sensitive material' that officers had advanced knowledge of the bombings.

The hearing at Solihull Civic Centre was also told victims of the atrocity may have survived if they had been treated more quickly by emergency services.

'I have seen sensitive material that I'm not aware was in any other papers [seen previously by the inquiry],' Ms Hunt said.

'That information is significant and does raise concerns over potential advanced notice (which police had).

Six men - known as the Birmingham Six - were jailed in 1975 for 16 years before their convictions were quashed. They are pictured on their release from prison in 1991

'That's as much as I can say regarding that because the information is currently being kept confidential.

'There's an issue about whether it should be made public or not.

'I think it's very important that as much of the information as possible is made public.'

People may have died because they weren't treated quickly enough Ashley Underwood QC

Ashley Underwood QC, representing the victims' families, told the coroner: 'You are now in a position to safely make a decision over the resumption of the inquest.

'You have unfettered discretion.

'We clearly say we have presented material that justifies restarting it.

'The only reason there wasn't an inquest is the unsafe convictions which were later set aside.

'Information has arisen that police or security forces had advanced notice of what happened.

'People may have died because they weren't treated quickly enough.

'There's an allegation that there was an intelligence source working with police and there was an inadequate response by first responders and there was then a cover up.'

A hearing will now be held next month to determine whether the information passed to the coroner should be disclosed in public or not.

At 8.17pm on November 21, 1974 a bomb exploded in a duffel bag in the Mulberry Bush pub in the Rotunda, Birmingham, killing ten people.

21 people were killed and 182 injured in the devastating blasts at the Tavern In The Town and the Mulberry Bush (pictured) pubs on November 21, 1974

Ten minutes later a second bomb went off in the Tavern in the Town pub, killing 11 more and injuring 182.

A third bomb outside a bank on the Hagley Road failed to explode.

The victims who died were all aged between 17 and 51.

The attacks were blamed on the Provisional IRA and six men, Patrick Joseph Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerard Hunter, William Power and John Walker, were convicted of the attacks in 1975.

They served 16 years in prison before being successfully released on appeal in March 1991.

No-one else has ever been arrested or charged in relation to the bombings.

Jeremy Johnson QC, representing West Midlands Police, told the coroner: 'We agree there is sufficient information for you to make a ruling.

'We have no principled objection to you resuming this inquest.

'As to whether there was an advanced notification of the bombings from an informant or some sort of state conspiracy, we submit there was no evidence to support what was a series of allegations and assertions.

'We have provided you with a huge amount of information and the vast majority has been provided under confidence to interested parties.

'I'm not going to comment on the detail of the evidence but we do say there's no evidence whatsoever for any conspiracy theory that the state or some other agency was involved in the bombings or knew they were going to occur.

'We submit the evidence positively demonstrates there was no advanced notification.

'We agree there is strong evidence at least one officer gave untruthful evidence at the original criminal trial.

'There was an investigation and it led to a prosecution. But that's not a basis for resuming an inquest.

'It's not the purpose of an inquest to investigate police misconduct.

'Regarding the sensitive material, there may be scope for discussion about it's disclosed publicly without disclosing prejudicial information which may be injurious to the public interest.'

In 2001 each of the Birmingham Six were awarded compensation for wrongful imprisonment by the state - ranging from 840,000 to 1,200,000.

In 2014, Kieran Conway, a former senior officer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), formally admitted the group's involvement in the Birmingham pub bombings.

Outside court after today's hearing, family members of the dead compared the case to that of Hillsborough.

Julie Hambleton, 53, whose sister Maxine, 18, died in the blasts, said: 'We are obviously happy we have got this far and we are incredibly grateful to our supporters.

'The families are getting stronger with the support. Thankfully it is not going to be dragged out any longer.

'The sensitive material is significant to us but we don't know what that is.

'West Midlands Police has been consistent in the way it's treated all the victims, they've done nothing but treat us with contempt, very similar to the Hillsborough families.

'I wrote to the chief constable of West Midlands Police in 2009 and I got a response from an inspector saying he was too busy to deal with us.

'We are of the mindset that this is David and Goliath. We want truth for the 21 people murdered in cold blood and we have to believe we are going to get it.

'We have to believe we're going to get it because we live in a democratic society.

'If people aren't held to account for crimes then we can't claim to live in a free country.'

Paul Rowlands, 53, from Stourbridge, who lost his father John, 46, in the bombings, said: 'I'm optimistic about the inquest reopening.

'I've seen a significant amount of information which I can't talk about. I just want the truth to come out.

'I believe there's a lot more to this than meets the eye.'
Advertisement

A 10-metre high sculpture of a man grabbing his own buttocks is part of an art exhibition that has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize.

Anthea Hamilton is one of four artists nominated, receiving a nod for her solo show Lichen! Libido! Chastity! at SculptureCentre in New York, which features two hands clutching the bare bottom, as well as a brick-printed suit.

The other artists on the shortlist are Michael Dean, Helen Marten and photographer Josephine Pryde, whose installation Thinking By the person I Am at CCA Wattis in San Francisco includes a small working train.

This sculpture of a man grasping his buttocks, pictured, by Anthea Hamilton has been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize

Hamilton's 'Brick Suit', also from her Lichen! Libido! Chastity! show at SculptureCentre in New York, is also part of the nomination

Photographer Josephine Pryde, whose installation Thinking By the person I Am at CCA Wattis in San Francisco includes a small working train, pictured, is also nominated for the Turner Prize

Blooming Genera, pictured, makes up part of Helen Marten's exhibition. She has been nominated for her Lunar Nibs project in Venice and New York solo show Eucalyptus Let Us In

The Turner Prize will return to Londons Tate Britain with an exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists ahead of the awards ceremony in December, which will be broadcast live on the BBC.

Mr Dean, who works primarily in sculpture, is nominated for his solo exhibitions Sic Glyphs at South London Gallery and Qualities Of Violence at de Appel arts centre, Amsterdam, and reference the everyday urban environment, such as the corrugated metal of a shop shutter.

Ms Marten is nominated for projects including Lunar Nibs at the 56th Venice Biennale and the solo exhibition Eucalyptus Let Us In at Greene Naftali in New York.

Sculptures by Michael Dean from his Sic Glyphs show in south London and Qualities of Violence in Amsterdam earned him a nomination

Work by Dean and Pryde, left and right respectively, will be shown at London's Tate Britain along with the other nominees

Pictured: Marten's Limpet Apology (traffic tenses). She uses objects she finds in sculptures and painting-like tableaux

Her work uses found objects and crafted elements in sculptures and painting-like tableaux.

The winner of the Turner Prize, announced in December, will collect 25,000, with the other shortlisted artists receiving 5,000 each.

The award was established in 1984 and is awarded to a British artist under 50 for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

The exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists will be at Tate Britain from September 27 to January 8 2017.

Last year's winners were a collective of 16 artists under 30 called Assemble, who were awarded the prize after being invited by residents of the Granby Four Streets area of Liverpool to help them save their homes.

The estate had fallen into disrepair in the years after the 1981 Toxteth riots and was earmarked for redevelopment.

But some residents were determined to stay  and, with the help of Assemble, regenerate the housing and public spaces from the ground up and make it a place people actually want to live in.

Hamilton, left, and Pryde, right, are competing for a 25,000 award given to the winner of the Turner Prize, with the other nominees earning 5,000 each

Work by Dean, left, and Marten, right, along with their fellow nominees will go on show at the Tate between September and January

The Turner Prize judges praised Assemble for helping the residents without resorting to corporate gentrification. It was recognised as a work of art rather than architecture, after judges argued that it did more to change the way people live than other exhibitions.

They draw on long traditions of artistic and collective initiatives that experiment in art, design and architecture, the judges said.

One estate resident said: They brought art into everyday living and everyone has a right to that.

The Turner Prize has a reputation for controversy, with previous winners including Martin Greeds light going on and off and Grayson Perrys pots featuring imagery of child abuse.

Assemble, a collection of 16 artists under 30, won last year's Turner Prize after transforming a run-down Toxteth estate in Liverpool
America is the home of the brave - and there are few braver than the soldiers that defend it, or the families that wait for them at home.

So it seems right that USMC Staff Sgt. Clayton Walker, returning from his fifth deployment, should surprise his ten-year-old daughter Cassidy after she sang the national anthem at a Braves game Wednesday.

And what a surprise - or series of surprises - it was, Fox Sports reported

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Reunited: Staff Sgt. Clayton Walker was reunited with his daughter Cassidy after she sang the National Anthem before a Braves game Wednesday. the Marine had been on his fifth deployment out of the US

Happiness: Both father and daughter cried tears of joy in the heartwarming reunion. Walker had appeared on the field's giant screen earlier in the night to make his in-person appearance even more of a surprise

Cassidy was at the team's home ground, Turner Field, to sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' with the rest of her classmates from Langston Road Elementary School, when the first surprise occurred.

Before the group had started singing, they were told to look up at the field's giant screen - where a recording of her father suddenly appeared, standing next to a sign reading 'Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force.

'How's it going, Braves fans?' Walker said.

'I'm currently deployed at Sigonella, Italy... I've been here for over a year, but tonight I'm here for my daughter Cassidy, who's a part of the choir singing the national anthem.

'Cassidy, I cant wait to be home soon,' Walker's recording said. 'I cant wait to see you. I love you, bug.'

The young girl was visibly moved by the sight of father, with a friend patting her on the shoulder as she tried to hold back tears of joy.

But the surprises didn't end there.

Once she and her classmates had finished their rendition of the National Anthem, the announced welcomed a new guest to the field: 'Ladies and gentlemen, all the way from Sigonella, Italy, Staff Sgt Clayton Walker!'

Walker barely had time to wave to the crowd before Cassidy, moving as fast as her legs could carry her, barreled into him and was swept up into a great big bear hug.

The crowd applauded wildly as Walker lifted the girl off her feet, reunited with his daughter at last.

Walker had been serving as the Intelligence Chief for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force  Crisis Response Africa.

He will now return to his duties with the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, based in Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

His service awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars and the US Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, AJC.com reported.
Police in North Carolina have released the body cam footage of the moment an officer shot dead a woman coming at him with a butcher's knife in an effort to show the shooting was justified.

Chieu Di Thi Vo, 46, was shot and killed by a police officer on March 25, 2014, after police were called to a fight at an apartment complex in Greensboro.

Vo, who was born in Vietnam and did not speak English, was having an argument with her mother and was shouting in Vietnamese when cops arrived.

Police say she came at the officer with a meat cleaver and refused orders to drop the weapon when he opened fire, Fox 8 News reported.

Disturbing video: This is the moment that Chieu Vo, 46, was shot dead by an officer responding to reports of a fight between Vo and her mother at an apartment complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, in March 2014

Vo, who did not speak English and had bipolar disorder, was shot several times and is seen falling to the ground, with the meat cleaver in her hand, in the body cam footage

The footage shows the woman collapse to the ground screaming in pain after being shot about four times

At the end of the clip, the officer goes over to Vo, who is now on her back. Her family say police unnecessarily used deadly force

The disturbing video was released at the request of the Vo family, who maintain police acted improperly and did not need to fatally shoot Vo, who suffered from bipolar disorder.

A witness who called 911 can be heard saying that Vo was chasing her mother around the grounds of Aberdeen Townhomes with a knife.

Capt. Mike Richey says the blade was eight inches.

The body cam footage of officer Tim Bloch shows him asking people the whereabouts of Vo as the video starts.

The video captures the officer screaming, 'put it down', before firing several rounds.

Vo stops for a second before falling to the ground, screaming.

Both Bloch and his captain said the use of deadly force was necessary.

'My training took over and it's what probably saved my life,' Bloch told Fox 8 News.

Officer Tim Bloch (right), the cop who shot dead Chieu Vo (left), was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time of the shooting and has since left the force

'We have serious concerns about the process in which the city has taken on to release the video,' Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Coalition Cat Bao Le said

Bloch was cleared of any wrongdoing by law enforcement investigations and left the force in 2014.

He claims the video does not show him giving Vo CPR after the shooting.

Captain Scott said the shooting incident lasted for about six seconds. Vo died in hospital two days later.

'It was a tragedy for the police department, the Vo family and this community,' Scott said.

However Vo's family say it is unacceptable how the case has been handled, particularly that it took two years for the video to be released publicly.

'We have serious concerns about the process in which the city has taken on to release the video,' Executive Director of Southeast Asian Coalition Cat Bao Le told Fox.
He was born with an upside-down head, severely deformed limbs and his mother was told by doctors she should allow him to die.

But Claudio Viera de Oliveira has defied the odds so much that he now has written a book about his life after reaching the age of 40.

Mr Oliveria from Monte Santo in Brazil, was born with arthrogryposis, a rare condition that fuses his joints together, which left him with his head upside down and facing the wrong way.

Resourceful: Claudio Vieira de Oliveira has a rare degenerative disease of the joints that has left him without the use of his limbs ... and an upside-down head

Condition: Mr Oliveria from Monte Santo in Brazil, was born with arthrogryposis, a rare condition that fuses his joints together, which left him with his head upside down and facing the wrong way

Happy: When Mr Oliveria was born, doctors told his mother, Maria Jose Vieira Martins, she should starve him to death as he was so ill but she ignored their advice

But after learning he could use a pen in his mouth to type words and even his lips to use a mouse or a phone, he came up with ways of overcoming his difficulties.

He even went on to qualify as an accountant and gives inspirational speeches at special events.

And now Mr Oliveria has publishes his first book, called 'El mundo esta a contramano' (The world is the wrong way around), which was launched at the Art Museum of the city of Sao Paulo, in the south-eastern Brazilian.

When Mr Oliveria was born, doctors told his mother, Maria Jose Vieira Martins, she should starve him to death as he was so ill.

Author: Claudio Viera de Oliveira, from Brazil, who was born with an upside down head and deformed limbs but has now written a book on his experiences

His independence has seen him succeed at school and has qualified as an accountant from the State University of Feira de Santana

He cannot use a wheelchair because of his unusual shape, making it hard for him to be independent outside the home

She explained: 'People started to tell me that my baby was going to die because he could hardly breathe when he was born. Some told me not to feed him.'

But despite the advice, she decided to ignore doctors and Mr Oliveria taught himself everyday skills.

He explained: 'Since I was a child I've always liked to keep myself busy and work - I don't like to depend totally on other people,' he said. 'I do a bit of accounting, research for clients and consulting.

'I have learned to turn on the TV, pick up my cell phone, turn on the radio, use the internet, my computer - I do it all by myself.'

His independence also saw him succeeding at school and qualifying as an accountant from the State University of Feira de Santana.

Motivational: His independence saw him succeeding at school and qualifying as an accountant from the State University of Feira de Santana where he regularly returns to give motivational talks (pictured)

His mother added: 'We never tried to fix him and always wanted him to do the normal things everyone else does.

ARTHROGRYPOSIS: THE CONDITION THAT FUSES JOINTS TOGETHER Congenital arthrogryposis is a rare condition that causes curved joints in several areas of the body at birth. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a deformation of the joints themselves, but one of the tissue that surrounds them, thus fusing joints in place. It is caused by a number of factors, including lack of space in the uterus, muscle abnormalities, nerve abnormalities, blood circulation problems and maternal illness. The condition is present in about one in every 3,000 babies and is usually detected before birth. Treatment options include physiotherapy, splinting and surgery. Advertisement

'That's why he is so confident. He is not ashamed of walking around in the street - he sings and he dances.'

At eight years old, Mr Oliveria, who had previously been carried everywhere, began to walk on his knees.

His family had to change the floor of the house so he could walk around without injuring himself.

His bed, plugs and lights had to be made lower so that he could do things for himself without asking for help.

He cannot use a wheelchair because of his unusual shape, making it hard for him to be independent outside the home - but he begged his mother to be allowed to go to school and learn with the other children.

He added: 'Throughout my life I was able to adapt my body to the world. Right now, I don't see myself as being different. I am a normal person.

'I don't see things upside-down. This is one of the things I always talk about in my interventions as a public speaker.

'Nowadays it's much easier to deal with the public, I'm not afraid of it anymore and I can say that I am a professional, international public speaker and that I receive invitations from all over the world.'
A suspected rapist was arrested after he allegedly attacked a women inside an elevator in his apartment complex after she bit half his tongue off.

The 19-year-old victim was followed into her apartment complex in the Purpan area of Toulouse in southern France.

The man ran off after he was bitten and police alerted local hospitals to report any men appearing needing tongue surgery.

French police, file photograph, arrested the man after he attended hospital seeking treatment for his tongue

The suspect has been remanded in custody in Toulouse following his arrest for attempted rape

According to French police, the man, who is in his 20s, lunged at the woman, pulled at her clothing and attempted to violate her in the lift.

The victim bit her attackers tongue when he attempted to kiss her, forcing him to flee.

French police found a great deal of blood at the crime scene as well as a section of the attacker's tongue.

According to La Depeche, police arrested the suspect within a couple of hours of the attack and matched his DNA to the blood and tongue section back in the apartment.
I watched MPs debate whether to ban Donald Trump from the UK in disbelief. Elected politicians, discussing a nonsense topic just because cretins with too much time on their hands clicked on another pathetic petition.

Here we go again. This time, our paid representatives in parliament will be discussing a far more pressing matter of the moment. Women's shoes.

It turns out the big question facing our nation when we are under threat of a terror attack and the NHS is in crisis, is should women have to wear heels at work.

Shoe choice: Nicola Thorp was told she had to wear heels of at least two inches, rather than flat shoes at work

Brilliant! Focus at its finest. Call Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and get me some podiatry police.

Thanks to 100,000 muppets signing another blasted petition started by a woman sent home from a temp job for not wearing heels, Parliament is obliged to respond.

She says she is an actor. I understand this to be code for receptionist, whether that's in PwC or KFC.

I should confess. I am not one for a heel. With every year that passes, my love for them fades. Happily I am my own master, and have reached a point in my career where the shoe on my foot no longer represents me, my mighty mouth or the organisations good enough to employ me.

I go shiny flats. Or lesbian lace-ups as my gay mates tease. Mainly because I need to move at speed and straight men find me intimidating enough without me towering over them as well.

My old boss liked his female staff in heels. At my introductory lunch a senior female on the staff apologised for not giving me the heads up about my ugly feet. I told her I liked my feet to match my face. We've not spoken since.

When I worked in the Wimpy for 1.40 an hour at 14, I served Bender Burgers in red dungarees shoved so high up my crotch they itched the back of my throat

But despite having kicked off heels for good, I do understand the need for rules especially in a fluid work place where staff churn is high.

As a Security Guard for Disneyland Paris, I collected a freshly pressed policeman's outfit from backstage at Disney each day

You might think people will dress appropriately for their job out of pride. But you would be sorely mistaken. Given half a chance temp staff rock up in the same gear they crashed out in after drinks at a party. Or flip flops and a tutu.

How you are supposed to represent a large corporate in beach gear is beyond me. Even if you work in the media and have manicured your feet to perfection, I don't want to see them or hear them as you slap, slap, slap, slap off to Pret on the coffee run.

When you are working your way up the ladder, you keep your head down and do what you are told.

When I worked in the Wimpy for 1.40 an hour at 14, I served Bender Burgers in red dungarees shoved so high up my crotch they itched the back of my throat. As the Pick 'n' Mix girl at Woolworths, I wore a cheap polyester dress and overall with black ballet flats and 15 denier regulation American Tan tights.

And as a Security Guard for Disneyland Paris, I collected a freshly pressed policeman's outfit from backstage at Disney each day. The French don't even trust their staff to wash. Wisely so.

Staff need to dress appropriately for the message their employer is trying to send. And perhaps temping firms need to make these rules black or white for efficiency's sake. They can't discuss every shoe every day for every temp. So the rules need to be binary. This or that. Yes or no. Stop or go.

Heels rules out Crocs, Birkenstocks or flip flops. Praise be for that.

If your heels hurt - like the picture of the bloodied feet of an American waitress on Facebook, then use your wages to buy shoes which actually fit

And if you don't like it, go and find another job where you can walk bare foot, expressing yourself through the medium of mime and dance. Like a real actor... for example.

If your heels hurt - like the picture of the bloodied feet of an American waitress on Facebook, then use your wages to buy shoes which actually fit. Shoving hot feet into plastic is the podiatry equivalent of using a hairdryer on vaginal thrush.

Americans don't do sympathy. And I love it. Hire and fire at will. Six weeks' unpaid maternity leave. And two weeks' holiday if you're lucky. In the States, your place in the food chain is far more clear.

Clear rules help everyone get along. Rules are - by nature - equal. You just need to work with them.

During my time at Sandhurst, regulation boots were issued in one standard fit. There were no such thing as men's or women's. I became an expert at threading cotton through blisters to drain away the ooze and toughen my feet up the hard way.

I'd argue many women's interpretation of the business smart rule book has gone too far, opening up a yawning gulf between them and their male peers. A blouse and a M&S Cardigan is not a suit. Even if you did get it in the sale and Pam from HR says it looks lovely.

Uniform, even the uniform of business, has flexibility in it. You just have to find the flex which works for you. OK so you have to wear heels? Find the comfiest, smallest heel you can afford.

I understand the feminazis love fighting and are always looking for the next scrap on their vagenda.
The FBI held back more than 80,000 pages on the 9/11 attacks from public view - including some that could prove the long-denied links between the terrorists and a Florida family with a connection to Saudi Arabian royals - it has emerged.

Shortly after the attacks occurred, the FBI raided a Saratoga home owned by Esam Ghazzawi, an adviser to a nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, and found its occupants had apparently left in a hurry.

The Bureau later denied any connection between the family and the attackers. But now, The Daily Beast reports, a judge is deciding whether to release long-hidden files that could prove they were lying.

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Terrorists: 9/11 ringleader Mohamed Atta (left) and hijackers Ziad Jarrah (center) and Marwan Alshehhi (right) have been linked to the Florida home of a Saudi Arabian family - though the FBI denies the connection

Home: The men are said to have visited this Saratoga home, owned by an adviser to the Saudi royal family. Thousands of pages of FBI files are now being considered for release that may prove the connection

Some of the pages seen by Sen. Bob Graham, the Florida Democrat who chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee's 9/11 investigation, include proof the family had been in contact with three 9/11 attackers.

Those men were ringleader Mohamed Atta and co-conspirators Ziad Jarrah and Marwan Al-Shehhi, all of whom are said to have visited Ghazzawi's home in the prestigious Prestancia gated community.

It was occupied by Ghazzawi's daughter Anoud al-Hijji, her husband Abdulazzi and their three small children at the time.

Suspicions have lingered for a long time that money from Saudi Arabia - a long-time ally of the US - funded the 9/11 attacks.

So the connection between the terrorists, Ghazzawi's daughter, Ghazzawi himself and Saudi royalty would fuel those suspicions.

Connections: The owner of the Saratoga house is an adviser to the nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd (left). Speculation that Saudi money backed the terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden (right) has long swirled

And now the pages that might confirm that connection are being pored over by a federal judge in Florida who must decide whether to declassify the documents or leave them in the FBI's secret files for good.

The files emerged after a long-standing struggle between the FBI and a group of independent reporters supported by Graham.

Two of those reporters - Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan - managed to find a counter-terrorism source who told them in 2011 that the FBI had received proof that Atta and Jarrah had visited the compound.

That was news to Graham, who had not been told anything about the al-Hijjis or their home while chairing the Senate Intelligence Committee.

He went to the Bureau's Tampa office and demanded to be shown the information - and there he learned that they had proof of not just Atta and Jarrah, but also Al-Shehhi being in contact with the family.

Meanwhile, the FBI was continuing to deny publicly that the al-Hijji family was connected to the 9/11 attackers.

Campaigner: Florida senator Bob Graham (pictured) has long campaigned for transparency about the 9/11 investigation and backed up investigative journalists who sued the FBI under the Freedom of Information Act

Graham confronted the FBI with claims that initial reports on the family claimed 'numerous connections' to the terrorists.

But the Bureau wrote off the agent who filed the reports as 'not a good writer and should not be taken as the last word,' Graham told The Daily Beast.

And yet, the site said, that agent was reportedly promoted to a counter-intelligence task force after 9/11 - unusual for an agent they had dismissed as incompetent.

Things changed when Florida reporter Dan Christensen, who had opened the watchdog site Florida Bulldog with Summers and Swan, sued the FBI under the Freedom of Information Act.

They continued to deny having any information connecting the al-Hijjis with the attackers until Graham said he would testify under oath that he had seen exactly that - at which point they 'found' 35 pages of documents.

The Justice Department said those heavily redacted pages were all that they had, but Judge William Zloch, who was overseeing the case, wasn't convinced.

He told them to go back using new search methods provided by Christensen and his lawyer.

This time they came back with an incredible 80,226 pages of files marked PENTTBOM - code for 'Pentagon/Twin-Towers Bombing.'

But whether those files are seen by the public - and if they are, how much of them escapes the censor's pen - is not yet known. And neither is exactly when they will see the light of day.

Bureau: The FBI initially claimed it had no files, then admitted to 35 pages - and after further pushing from a judge opened up its doors to the 80,226 pages of information. The discovery came after a long campaign

Judge Zloch demanded the FBI turn over all the files on May 1, 2014, and is still going through them - with no idea of when he'll finish.

And that process is slowed down, The Daily Beast said, by legal restrictions that mean Zloch can only take a portion of the documents out of secure storage for examination at a time.

But Christensen told the site that he's confident that the files will prove the claims his sources made about the family's contact with the attackers.

After all, he argues, if the information in the files proves that his sources are wrong, the FBI could just release that information.

'Ive spent five years on this. Ive got other things to do. If theres nothing to this, then tell me,' he said.

The al-Hijji home at 4224 Escondito Circle was raided by the FBI shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

A security guard had told authorities that the family had left in a white van on August 30, 2001 - leaving behind three cars.

Truth: A federal judge ordered the FBI to open up the files to him on May 1, 2014 - but is still going through them, with no end in sight. However some are confident Saudi connections to 9/11 will be uncovered

It struck him as odd, but he didn't report anything until the attacks two weeks later.

When agents raided the home they found an open safe, food left on counters and dirty diapers in the bathroom bin - all signs that the family had left in a hurry.
, but admits to spanking them as a form of discipline

A 30-year-old man in Missouri is accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old twin girls and a three-year-old girl over potty training.

Jaron Jones was charged Wednesday by prosecutors in Grandview with three counts of abuse or neglect of a child.

On May 6, police were called to Children's Mercy Hospital after Amber McGuire brought her three children in with bruises on their inner thighs, bottoms and backs, WDAF reported.

Jones is McGuire's boyfriend and helps to watch the kids while she is away at work for 12 hours a day.

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Jaron Jones, 30, is accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old twins girls and a three-year-old girl over a potty training accident. Jones was charged Wednesday by prosecutors in Grandview with child abuse

On May 6, police were called to Children's Mercy Hospital after Amber McGuire brought her three children (pictured) in with bruises on their inner thighs, bottoms and backs

'The defendant seemed to have unrealistic expectations for potty training kids at the age of 2 and 3,' charging documents said, according to WDAF.

McGuire took photos of their injuries on her phone, and confronted Jones on May 6 about the marks on her girls, the television station reported.

Jones claims to have no idea where the marks on the toddlers came from.

He told WDAF that he takes the girls to the park and likes to take photos to capture their moments together.

'Being a man, the best feeling in the world is being a father,' Jones told WDAF.

Jones is McGuire's boyfriend and helps to watch the kids while she is away at work for 12 hours a day. He claims to have no idea where the marks on the toddlers came from. One of the twins is pictured above

Jones denies that he abused the girls and said that he takes the girls to the park to play. 'Being a man, the best feeling in the world is being a father,' Jones told WDAF. One of the twins is pictured above

'The allegations are false that I beat her kid. Like I just hauled off and beat a three-year-old? What? No, no.'

However, court documents state that he was upset with the kids because of a potty training accident.

He told WDAF that he was 'blindsided when prosecutors charged him with abusing the three girls.'

'Lauree just pulled off her diaper and just, I immediately said, 'wow, this is the first time it happened,' my kids never did this. I got Lauree cleaned up and I did spank Lauree but I didn't cause those bruises,' he told WDAF.

Jones admitted to the television station that he spanks the girls as a form of discipline and parenting.

McGuire does have one daughter with Jones, and he was awarded full custody of her last year. That child is not one of the three children involved in this child abuse case.
A victim of wage fraud has said he is 'scared' for fellow 7-Eleven workers after the convenience chain scrapped the independent panel into the scandal.

The panel was set up to process thousands of claims of underpayment, but has been sacked and replaced with an in-house system to assess 'valid' claims across Australia.

The move has prompted fear the identity of workers  who came forward on the basis their anonymity would be guaranteed  could be compromised.

Former worker Pranay Alawala, who has spoken out despite the risk of deportation, told The Age he is 'feeling scared for all the workers who have put in submissions because they are no longer protected'.

Former worker Pranay Alawala, who has spoken out despite the risk of deportation, said he is 'feeling scared for all the workers who have put in submissions because they are no longer protected'

'I think it is really a disgrace what has now happened. I am afraid there will be bullying and threats of deportation,' he said.

Many 7-Eleven workers in Australia are international students.

A worker last week claimed to Mr Alawala a franchisee asked their worker for the money he was awarded in a payout by the panel.

The worker claimed to have been threatened with deportation for speaking up and had been beaten by the franchisee.

Mr Alawala told fellow workers to trust the panel when he was awarded $33,000 in compensation by the Fels Wages Fairness Panel in March.

Other workers subsequently submitted claims with the belief their complaint would not be passed on to their franchisee.

7-Eleven has sacked an independent panel set up to process thousands of claims of underpayment and replaced with an in-house system to assess 'valid' claims

'I think it is really a disgrace what has now happened. I am afraid there will be bullying and threats of deportation,' Mr Alawala said

Under the new terms for the in-house panel set up by 7-Eleven, a franchisee will be informed, The Age reported.

Co-workers will now be interviewed, prompting fear they could be bullied or paid off.

And more documentation will be required from a complainant. However, payroll records have been falsified by some franchisees.

Professor Allen Fels headed the now-axed independent panel, and said the new 'bogus' system was designed to reduce claims from workers.

He said the standard of proof had been raised 'impossibly high', and said 7-Eleven were trying to abandon their promise of anonymity.

'They didn't want an independent panel, they're doing it themselves. The first problem is they're not independent, their wish is to minimise the payout,' he told the ABC on Wednesday.

Prof Fels says franchisees had been intimidating workers into not submitting claims for payment, which he estimated could climb to $100 million.

Professor Allen Fels headed the now-axed independent panel, and said the new 'bogus' system was designed to reduce claims from workers

On Twitter, Prof Fels wrote: 'My concern now is for the people working in 7-Eleven, their privacy and protection from franchisees and who will help them get correct wages'

'In some cases with threats of physical violence but more often dire threats of retaliation against them and their families of numerous kinds,' Mr Fels said in a statement.

However, new 7-Eleven chairman Angus McKay on Thursday claimed some workers were trying to defraud the company.

'We've given numbers of examples where we see this process as having been compromised,' Mr McKay told ABC radio.

Prof Fels hit back, and said the 'handful' of so-called fraudulent complaints didn't stand up.

'On detailed investigation, none of these claims stood up as cases of fraud,' Professor Fels said on Wednesday night.

He said 7-Eleven has 'eagerly' jumped on unproven claims of fraud among some workers.

'We've been asking them for months to come up with evidence and they keep failing to do so,' he told the ABC.

'It's just a story they want to generate in order to discredit the panel a bit and give themselves an excuse for managing the process and getting the claims down.'

The Fair Work Ombudsman is continuing to investigate 7-Eleven franchisees for underpayment

He called on the senate to investigate as 7-Eleven was clearly trying to get out of its public commitment to repay workers.

Mr McKay rejected Prof Fels' claim that 7-Eleven wanted to get out of paying the money.

'I will respectfully say Allan is wrong,' Mr McKay said.

Mr McKay said the panel was terminated after disagreements over whether to include 'intelligence' from franchisees about workers committing fraud.

So far 400 workers have been paid a combined $12 million since the process began eight months ago, with another 1931 being assessed and a further 1400 about to start.

Prof Fels believes most of 7-Eleven's 20,000 workers over the past decade have been underpaid by about half.

There have been cases of people paid as little as $5 an hour and claims a worker had been down to 47 cents an hour.

Prof Fels claimed on Twitter 7-Eleven had been 'pressing for weeks to reveal the identity and nature of claims - this would be a serious breach of trust and we refused'

'All current claims were submitted on the basis that neither 7-Eleven nor franchisees would know the identity of the claimants,' Prof Fels said

'Many claimants were, and continue to be, frightened of retaliation, they do not trust 7-Eleven in handling data,' he continued

The union for the ripped-off workers is worried 7-Eleven may be trying to make the scandal disappear from sight.

'You've really got to question what 7-Eleven's motives for doing this are,' SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said in a statement on Thursday.

'It is important to state unequivocally that the process for claims will continue and 7-Eleven will pay all legitimate claims by franchisee employees for the past underpayment of wages,' 7-Eleven chairman Michael Smith said in a statement.

'Ethical corporate standards cannot and should not be outsourced. We are happy to be held to the standards we have set for and expect of ourselves.'

The Fair Work Ombudsman is continuing to investigate 7-Eleven franchisees for underpayment.
The Treasury must be 'broken up' because it is run by 27 year old civil servants with no long term economic plan, Iain Duncan Smith claimed today in a renewal of hostilities with George Osborne.

The former work and pensions secretary, who explosively quit the government over benefit cuts in March, said the Treasury interfered in all policy areas and was the 'worst thing' in Britain.

Mr Duncan Smith said the way the system was set up meant it was a 'fight at all stages'. He had a succession of battles with Mr Osborne's officials in Government.

The ex-minister admitted he breathed a 'sigh of relief' after resigning because it meant he would no longer have to deal with the Chancellor's staff.

The Conservative election campaign last year was hung on Mr Osborne's idea of a 'long term economic plan' and the accusation the Treasury is incapable will fuel frustration inside Government.

Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, pictured this week campaigning for Vote Leave, today slammed the Treasury for dominating government

Mr Duncan Smith made the incendiary remarks at a round table discussion withPolitico today.

The former Tory leader said: 'The worst thing we have in Britain is the Treasury.

'The culture of the Treasury is almost unique in the Western world that a country's government is so dominated by one organization.'

Mr Duncan Smith added: 'I think it has to be broken up, I have reached that conclusion.'

He partly laid the blame at Gordon Brown's feet.

The remarks highlight the row between Mr Duncan Smith and chancellor George Osborne

The Labour chancellor spent a decade at the Treasury building an alternative powerbase to Tony Blair's Downing Street.

But Mr Duncan Smith was scathing about the Treasury as an institution.

He said: 'The average age in the Treasury is 27. They spend no more than two years in any single part of the Treasury.

'They have no collective memory for any agreement or decision that had been taken before they arrived at their desks.

'Everything is up for grabs immediately someone new moves in and they dictate every single policy area across government.

'It is a fight at all stages.'

He added: 'I just simply make the point that these kind of decisions that were made in Germany  and to an extent are being made in America and others  to try to revitalize industry are very difficult to be made with them parked in the middle of this, because it's not a department that is characterized by the concept of vision.

'This is a department that is characterized solely by a lack of vision.'

Mr Duncan Smith was forced to defend his resignation after the Budget after facing claims he had found an excuse to spend more time campaigning in the EU referendum.

He insisted his decision to quit was motivated by concerns about the social justice of Government austerity policies.
A former Deutsche Bank boss and ex Topshop finance chief have been jailed for Britain's biggest insider trading scam.

Martyn Dodgson, 44, a former managing director at Deutsche Bank, handed inside information from the investment banks he worked at to his close friend Andrew Hind, 56.

Hind, an accountant who worked as a finance director for Topshop in the 1990s, passed it on to others to trade on their behalf between November 2006 and March 2010.

The group would then split the profits, which came to nearly 6.7m.

Martyn Dodgson (left handed inside information from the investment banks he worked at to his close friend Andrew Hind (right) during their scam

Using 'burner' phones, sophisticated encryption and codenames including Maserati, Lamborghini55 and Nobu the pair kept their dealing away from the authorities.

They met in an Indian restaurant to swap envelopes of cash which were stashed in safety deposit boxes.

Dodgson even admitted having an 'Iron Key' - an encrypted USB stick that also allows the user to surf the internet with no record being logged of sites visited or searches made - locked in a safe in his Hampstead home.

He said he had forgotten the password, and hadn't used the device - originally developed for the secret services - for three or four years.

His long-time friend Hind had three Iron Keys of his own, but refused to reveal the password for any of them.

Dodgson pocketed 469,000 while Hind made 238,000, prosecutor Neil Saunders told Southwark Crown Court.

They used the insider knowledge to trade on shares in Legal & General, BskyB, Just Retirement, Scottish & Newcastle and Paragon Group.

Today Dodgson, of Hampstead, was jailed for four and a half years and Hind jailed for three and a half years.

Hind, of Muswell Hill, dressed in a brown stripy polo shirt and beige trousers, showed no emotion while Dodgson, wearing a checked shirt and blue chinos, looked blank and held his chin in his hands.

Judge Jeffrey Pegden told Dodgson: 'You took home price sensitive documents which your colleagues were working on at Deutsche Bank.

'It was a gross breach of trust placed in you. And all of this happened whilst you were earning a very good income. You received 600,000 from Deutsche Bank in 2009.'

He told Hind: 'In my judgement, you were a middle man passing on inside information to the traders.'

Addressing the pair, he said: 'This was persistent, pro-longed and dishonest behaviour.

'Insider dealing is not a victimless crime, and those who involve themselves in it are criminals - no more, no less.'

The pair will spend at least half their sentence in prison.

Martyn Dodgson took home 'price sensitive documents' which colleagues at Deutsche Bank (pictured, its office in London) where working on, during his scheme

They were found guilty on Monday following a four-month trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Three other men - traders Benjamin Anderson, 71, Iraj Parvizi, 50 and former Panmure Gordon broker Andrew Harrison, 46 - were acquitted by the jury.

Mr Parvizi shot to prominence in the City, earning 70m a day, having come from humble beginnings working in a kebab shop in Kent.

Anderson and Parvizi admitted adding their own money to investments carried out on behalf of Hind, but claimed they were unaware his stock picks were based on insider information, it was said.

The convictions end a nine-year investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the National Crime Agency, which started in 2007 and included a series of dawn raids in 2010.

Dodgson, who was arrested in 2010, previously worked at investment banks Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers, before joining Deutsche Bank in October 2008.

Hind, also arrested in 2010, was a finance director for Topshop in the 1990s.

In mitigation, Bill Boyce QC, defending Hind, told the court: 'From the day they were arrested, given their backgrounds, every morning Hind and of course Dodgson were awoken in fear.

'Every night before they went to bed for six years they would have gone to sleep, if they did, in fear.

'There would have been the gnawing, raw anxiety. From the moment they were arrested, they were effectively unemployable.'

Hind had also been using drugs before his arrest, but has cleaned himself up since, he added.

Alison Pople QC, defending Dodgson, criticised the delay, pointing out the trial was due to start in September 2014.

She said: 'He would have already served 16 months of any sentence the court imposed in a conviction at that stage.

Speaking after Dodgson and Hind were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) a spokesman for the Financial Conduct Authority called the case 'extraordinary and complex'

'And he would be that much closer to a point where he and his family could start to put these proceedings behind.'

After the pair were found guilty, Mark Steward, director of enforcement and market oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said: 'This was an extraordinary and complex case of a type not prosecuted in this country before.

'The message is loud and clear that the FCA will not tolerate sophisticated predatory criminals abusing our markets.

'This case demonstrates our capability and determination to root out this kind of abuse and ensure our market and the investing public are properly protected.

'Dodgson was an experienced and well-paid banker, well aware that what he was doing constituted a criminal offence and who conspired with Hind to abuse our market and to profit at the expense of the investing public.'

Their convictions bring to five the number of convictions secured in the Operation Tabernula insider dealing investigation, the FCA said.
George Clooney is making his disdain for Donald Trump known not just here in the United States but also overseas.

The actor was interviewed by members of the international press at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday afternoon, and took some time to share with them his opinion of Trump.

'There's not going to be a President Donald Trump,' said Clooney, who held a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton last month in Los Angeles where tickets reportedly went for $353,400 per couple.

'That's not going to happen. Fear is not going to be something that drives our country. We're not going to be scared of Muslims or immigrants or women. We're not actually afraid of anything.'

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Speaking out: George Clooney (above on Thursday) spoke about Donald Trump during a press conference in Cannes

Strong words: 'There's not going to be a President Donald Trump,' said Clooney, who held a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at his LA home last month (Trump above last week)

Clooney, who was on the Croisette to promote his film Money Monster, went on to say; 'Trump is actually a result in many ways of the fact that much of the news programs didn't follow up and ask tough questions.

'Twenty-four-hour news doesn't mean you get more news, it means you get the same news more. More and more and more you hear these guys, their ratings go up because they can show an empty podium saying "Donald Trump is about to speak," as opposed to taking those 30 seconds and saying, "Well, let's talk about refugees,' which is the biggest crisis going on in the world right now."'

Clooney then tied things back to the film he is promoting by saying; 'This movie is talking about one of the things that I think is a great disaster in the way we inform ourselves right now.

'We've lost the ability to get to and tell the truth and get to the facts.'

Clooney previously spoke out against Trump at the Toronto Film Festival last September, and his comments about Mexicans, saying; 'Anyone who says intolerant words should be laughed at, and I think that's what history will do.'

Cast: Clooney was on the Croisette to promote his new film Money Monster (l to r: Julia Roberts, Clooney, Caitriona Balfe and Dominic West)

Money Monster, which is getting mixed reviews, opens this Friday.

The film, which was directed by Jodie Foster and also stars Julia Roberts, Catriona Balfe, Dominic West and Jack O'Connell, was made for $27million and is projected to make a little over $10million in its opening weekend according toThe Hollywood Reporter.

Reporter critic Todd McCarthy wrote in his review that the movie 'emerges as a pretty ordinary film about an extraordinary predicament, one in which the writers contrived to bring all the principals together down on Wall Street.

'The wrap-up, and the way it too easily employs both comeuppance and tragedy, is rather too neat for real life, and there's a feel-good aspect to it as well in the way the sneaky, morals-free culprit is forced to be held to account in the most public and embarrassing way possible.
Police said she demanded they call the security at nearby Rick's Bar because they would 'order' the officers not to arrest her

She said 'oh f***' and then attempted to speed away, before trapping herself in a middle school parking lot next to the police department

An officer attempted to pull her over after she nearly hit another car

ZyZe McCausland, 32, was also charged with trying to flee police at high speed and resisting an officer without violence

Exotic dancer ZyZe McCausland, 32, tried to eat her shirt before taking a breathalyzer test after she was arrested for a DUI, according to Key West police

A Florida stripper who found herself under arrest for driving under the influence began to eat her shirt before the breathalyzer test, police said.

ZyZe McCausland, 32, has been charged with a DUI as well as trying to flee police at high speed and resisting an officer without violence.

As she was taken into custody, McCausland told the officers 'you'll be sorry' and demanded they call the security team at the bar she had just been in.

McCausland first caught a Key West police officer's attention when she nearly hit another car with her white Mazda.

Sgt Pablo Rodriguez, who was standing on the street, flagged her down and told McCausland to stop and pull over on the side of the road.

He heard her say 'Oh f***' and then she accelerated away as fast as she could, according to the arrest record.

Rodriguez entered his patrol car and began to follow McCausland, who ran multiple stop signs as she continued to try and elude him, police said.

McCausland then turned into the parking lot of the Horace O'Bryant Middle School, which is adjacent to the parking lot of the Key West Police Department.

Rodriguez said he then saw McCausland run out of her car and attempt to wake up her passenger in the front seat, who was 'extremely intoxicated and unconscious'.

When they did not wake up, McCausland attempted to flee on foot before Rodriguez caught her and placed her in handcuffs, the sergeant said.

Officer Jesse Young arrived on the scene and said McCausland was 'yelling, crying, screaming and acting completely irrational'.

That's when McCausland demanded he call the security team at Rick's Bar 'because they would order me not to arrest her'.

McCausland was charged with a DUI as well as trying to flee police at high speed and resisting an officer without violence early Sunday morning

'I explained I do not work for Rick's, nor will I take orders from anyone from Rick's', Young wrote in the arrest report.

Police said McCausland was also slurring her speech, had bloodshot eyes, could not follow 'simple instructions' and needed to be physically guided when she walked to keep her from falling.

Young also said she had an 'overpowering odor' of alcohol coming from her breath, and a fresh Rick Bar's stamp on her arm.

After McCausland refused to take a field sobriety test, Young said he had to place her in his patrol car against her will.

McCausland was taken to Monroe County Jail, where she agreed to take a breathalyzer test.

Young said he took off McCausland's handcuffs and instructed her not to put anything in her mouth. She then 'stuffed a large portion of her shirt into her mouth and began chewing at the fabric'.

McCausland was placed behind bars on $10,500 bond.
Advertisement

Amid fierce storms across the South and Midwest, residents were treated to an unusual spectacle.

Hundreds of enormous marshmallows appeared to coat the dark ominous sky, stretching from Colorado to Texas to Missouri.

In fact, the bulbous formations are called 'mammatus clouds', a set of buoyant pouches that form out of turbulent air.

They are named after the Latin word for 'breasts', given their bulbous shape, caused by massive quantities of water vapor.

Mesmerizing: Enormous marshmallows appeared to coat the sky, stretching from Colorado to Texas (pictured on Wednesday) to Missouri

The bulbous formations (seen here in Belleville, Illinois) are called 'mammatus clouds', buoyant pouches that form out of turbulent air

They are named after the Latin word for 'breasts', given their bulbous shape, caused by massive quantities of water vapor

Unlike most flat-bottomed clouds, these mesmerizing formations have unusually well-defined shapes.

Each 'pod' can stretch up to a mile long, though they usually only stay in formation for a few minutes.

Physicists have many theories as to how these clouds form as there are many factors in play.

Usually for the clouds to form, there must be a sharp change in temperature.

It also relies on a particular interplay of rising and falling air.

They are usually associated with severe storms during periods of intense humidity.

The clouds sparked excitement on Tuesday and Wednesday across the country.

Residents flooded the internet with pictures of the unusual clouds across Texas, into Oklahoma, and up into Missouri and Illinois.

It came after fierce storms blistered the southern belt.

Unlike most flat-bottomed clouds (left in Illinois, right in Texas), these mesmerizing formations have unusually well-defined shapes

Each 'pod' can stretch up to a mile long, though they usually only stay in formation for a few minutes. Pictured: Wentzville, Missouri

Physicists have many theories as to how these clouds form as there are many factors in play. Pictured: Collinsville, Illinois

The clouds sparked excitement on Tuesday and Wednesday across the country. Pictured: Yoder, Colorado

Several massive tornadoes churned above Oklahoma on Monday, killing at least two people, with hail as big as grapefruit hitting the US state, the authorities and US media said.

The storms began forming in southern parts of the state in the afternoon, local media reported, with the first confirmed twister hitting near Elmore City, in rural Garvin County.

A tornado also touched down in central Iowa, the National Weather Service reported, saying there were no immediate reports of damage. Another twister hit near the state of Nebraska, it said.

The storms are expected to move into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Tuesday, forecasters said.

Another storm system swept across northern Texas to Missouri on Wednesday.
had met that threshold during his command until 10pm on December 15

Snipers could have risked a murder charge if they had shot and killed Lindt Cafe gunman Man Haron Monis at any time before the fatal operation concluded.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch has told the inquest into the December 2014 siege that while Monis was armed with a gun, suspected of carrying a bomb and threatening hostages, NSW Police were not in the practice of 'arbitrarily assassinating people who are involved in criminal incidents'.

Police are trained not to shoot unless there is a risk of death or serious injury.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch has told the inquest into the December 2014 siege that NSW Police were not in the practice of 'arbitrarily assassinating people who are involved in criminal incidents'

Mr Murdoch further indicated that he would have expected a deliberate action entry plan to have been launched after Monis fired a shot in the direction of fleeing hostages at 2.03am

Snipers could have risked a murder charge if they had shot and killed Lindt Cafe siege gunman Man Haron Monis (pictured) at any time before the fatal operation concluded

Mr Murdoch did not consider the siege reached that threshold during his command of the operation until 10pm on December 15.

'From my understanding from the vision I've seen of Monis walking around inside the cafe, we were a long way from being assured that a shot would be justified,' he said.

In his handover to the commander who followed him, Mr Murdoch said he was confident there could still be a peaceful resolution.

He said that there was also no indication Monis would fatally shoot cafe manager Tori Johnson when he did.

A young female employee came running out of the Lindt cafe shortly before 5pm and was sheltered by waiting police

'I truly believed that he wouldn't hurt the hostages,' Mr Murdoch said.

Mr Murdoch further indicated that he would have expected a deliberate action entry plan to have been launched after Monis fired a shot in the direction of fleeing hostages at 2.03am.

The decision to launch that action fell to the forward commander and was not made until 2.13am, after Mr Johnson was killed.

Earlier the inquest heard that police were concerned Mr Monis had someone inside the cafe assisting him.

'We had one obvious offender but to my mind it was possible there was a sleeper, an assistant we didn't know about that may have been a customer or client of the cafe,' Mr Murdoch said.

Mr Murdoch said that there was also no indication Monis would fatally shoot cafe manager Tori Johnson (pictured) when he did

This coupled with fears that Monis had a bomb that could have killed everyone in the cafe, formed part of the decision to not enact a deliberate action plan and storm into the cafe.

Tactical officers only entered after Mr Johnson was killed.

Barrister Katrina Dawson was killed after being struck by police shrapnel in the gunfight that also killed Monis.

'Whilst two young, innocent Australians lost their lives, we had to consider that it could have been a whole lot worse,' Mr Murdoch said.
The millionaire Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd each claimed 27p in expenses for a 900-metre journey.

Mr Hunt, one of the richest Cabinet ministers and believed to be worth more than 10 million, billed the taxpayer for two separate trips of just 0.6 miles in his South West Surrey constituency.

Ms Rudd, who previously worked as a venture capitalist in the City, was reimbursed 27p for a journey in her East Sussex seat of just 0.6 of a mile - just under one kilometre - despite being in charge of Britain's effort to combat global warming.

The millionaire Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (left) and the Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd (right) each claimed 27p in expenses for a 900-metre journey

Remarkably they were not the most penny-pinching of claims in the latest release of MPs' expense claims today.

Tory MP Julian Smith was paid 9p for a 300-metre trip in his Skipton and Ripon constituency in North Yorkshire.

And fellow Labour MP Daniel Zeichner claimed 13p for a 0.3 mile journey in his Cambridge constituency.

Their claims for mileage were for their constituency staff, but North Dorset Tory MP Simon Hoare was reimbursed 17p from the taxpayer for a 600-metre trip he took himself.

SNP MP ORDERED TO REPAY 555 EXPENSES Phil Boswell (pictured), SNP MP for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, was ordered to pay 555 back for office expenses he claimed SNP MP Phil Boswell was ordered to repay 555 of parliamentary expenses after an investigation by expenses watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Association (Ipsa). Mr Boswell wrongly claimed for publicity videos that were posted on YouTube, Ipsa found. The probe followed a complaint about the Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP by a member of the public. Mr Boswell has accepted the findings and repaid the cash, Ipsa said. The watchdog looked at six videos put out by Mr Boswell in a series entitled Keeping You Informed. He submitted an invoice from a company called Deep Fried Film that included a two-hour photo/video shoot costing 60 and 150 for a day of photo/video post-production along with a 450 bill for three days of video production. Mr Boswell told MPs that when he realised that two of the videos did not comply with expenses rules he had them removed and replaced with edited versions. 'When informed that the compliance officer believed that all six of the videos were outside the scheme, he expressed surprise,' the watchdog's report said. Ipsa has now ruled that five of the videos breached expenses rules because they did not relate to parliamentary activities. Advertisement

Other costs picked up by the taxpayer included a 40p toilet brush - an expense claim by Michelle Thomson, who was suspended by the SNP last year after police launched an investigation into her property deals.

Meanwhile Nadine Dorries, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, continued to claim expenses despite promising she would 'work for free' after she faced an investigation by the expenses watchdog in 2014.

She has claimed more than 5,000 in the last six months for various costs, including rent, the congestion charge and office stationary.

Ms Dorries was forced to repay 3,000 worth of travel expenses in 2013 for wrongly claiming for travel taken to look after family members and her sick dog.

She then chose to go public with her promise to stop claiming personal expenses.

She told her local newspaper: 'I feel that the best thing to do is to remove all claims and I'm lucky because I've got personal support and can do that. I've got a great partner.

'I'm going to work for free, I have to live in Bedfordshire because it's what my constituents expect from me, but as I sit on and chair committees I have to have accommodation in Westminster.'

But the latest publication of MPs' expense details shows Ms Dorries has decided to scrap the pledge and is claiming expenses again, which she is fully entitled to.

Their is no suggestion any MPs mentioned have broken expenses rules.

SNP MP Phil Boswell was ordered to repay 555 of parliamentary expenses after an investigation by expenses watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Association (Ipsa).

Mr Boswell wrongly claimed for publicity videos that were posted on YouTube, Ipsa found.

The probe followed a complaint about the Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP by a member of the public.

Mr Boswell has accepted the findings and repaid the cash, Ipsa said.

The watchdog looked at six videos put out by Mr Boswell in a series entitled Keeping You Informed.

He submitted an invoice from a company called Deep Fried Film that included a two-hour photo/video shoot costing 60 and 150 for a day of photo/video post-production along with a 450 bill for three days of video production.

Mr Boswell told MPs that when he realised that two of the videos did not comply with expenses rules he had them removed and replaced with edited versions.

'When informed that the compliance officer believed that all six of the videos were outside the scheme, he expressed surprise,' the watchdog's report said.

Ipsa has now ruled that five of the videos breached expenses rules because they did not relate to parliamentary activities.

Tory elections fraud probe: Now watchdog calls in the courts after complaining that the party is failing to cooperate

David Cameron and the Tories are under mounting pressure over campaign spending after the elections watchdog accused the party of failing to cooperate.

The Electoral Commission said it is asking the High Court to force the Conservatives to disclose material relating to the fraud investigation, which involves a number of police forces and more than 20 MPs,

The extraordinary step - which comes as the Prime Minister is hosting an anti-corruption summit in London - comes after the party only handed over 'limit' information despite repeated requests going back to February.

The authorities are looking at the apparent failure to register accommodation costs of activists bussed around the country by the Tories to help secure votes in key constituencies.

Conservative Party Lord Feldman has been criticised over his handling of the situation

A probe by the Daily Mail and Channel 4 News uncovered claims that the Tory Party breached campaign spending rules by recording accommodation costs of activists bussed into key constituencies under national expenditure instead of under individual candidates' limits.

Deliberate breach of spending limits  usually around 15,000  by individual candidates is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or even a one-year jail term.

Any candidate found guilty would be barred from holding public office for three years, triggering a new election.

Bob Posner, the Electoral Commission's Legal Counsel, said in a statement today: 'If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts.

'We are today asking the court to require the Party to fully disclose the documents and information we regard as necessary to effectively progress our investigation into the Party's campaign spending returns.'

Forces actively investigating the claims include West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire.

David Cameron was hosting an anti-corruption summit in London today as the row over Conservative Party election spending escalated

Each constabulary said it had launched an investigation after receiving allegations of electoral fraud at the General Election last year. They are all understood to relate to Tory MPs based in each force's area.

Earlier this month a Cabinet minister failed to fully endorse the expenses returns.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark would say only that he had 'every reason to suppose' the Tories properly reported their 2015 General Election expenses.

He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'There are often investigations as to how things have been conducted. I have every reason to suppose that the arrangements that we had... get reported in the required way.'

The Conservative Party has blamed an 'administrative error' for failing to register some accommodation costs.
ISIS terrorist Khaled Sharrouf is said to be locked up and imprisoned by the ruthless death cult he once served, despite persistent reports he was killed in a drone strike last year.

According to reports by The Australian, Sharrouf's mother-in-law, Karen Nettleton, passed on the remarkable claim to Australian counter-terrorism authorities last month after a trip to Turkey.

It had previously been reported that Sharrouf died while fighting alongside best friend, Mohamed Elomar, claims that were only recently confirmed by the 14-year-old daughter of Khaled, Zaynab.

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ISIS terrorist Khaled Sharrouf is said to be locked up and imprisoned by the ruthless death cult he once served

It had previously been reported that Sharrouf died alongside best friend Mohamed Elomar in a drone strike. His daughter confirmed he had died in battle in March

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis told The Australian that the government was definitely aware of recent claims that Sharrouf had been imprisoned, but was unable to verify it himself.

'Whatever the position, the Sharrouf case is the clearest possible example of the perils that people expose themselves to when they foolishly travel to the Middle East to fight with terrorists,' Senator Brandis said.

It is unclear how Sharrouf - once a poster boy for ISIS - is now being held captive by the very same group, but Ms Nettleton is understood to have told authorities that Sharrouf was imprisoned after attempting to flee Syria earlier this year, The Australian reported.

Elomar and Sharrouf gained national notoriety when they fled Australia to fight alongside ISIS in Syria in 2013, posing for pictures on social media while holding severed heads.

Sharrouf even got his seven-year-old son to hold up the severed head of a soldier in the Syrian city of Raqqa, accompanied with the caption 'that's my boy,' in an image that shocked the world.

Khaled Sharrouf's daughter Zaynab, 14, told The Daily Telegraph in March that she knew 'for sure' that her father was dead.

Sharrouf even got his seven-year-old son to hold up the severed head of a soldier in the Syrian city of Raqqa

Sharrouf has reportedly been imprisoned by ISIS after attempting to flee Syria earlier this year

The child bride also revealed how she and her four younger siblings had been left to fend for themselves and are living in constant fear following the death of their mother Tara Nettleton.

'My daughter and siblings are fine. I'm doing fine, just a lot of stress these days,' she said in a series of messages to the Daily Telegraph.

But this was thrown into doubt when it emerged in February that Sharrouf had supposedly been making threatening phone calls in an attempt to stop law officials from seizing his home.

Zaynab said she was aware of the rumours but revealed that his death was confirmed to the family.

Her mother Tara died from appendicitis complications in late 2015 after she was unable to access crucial medical treatments.
A CCTV camera caught the horrific moment a concrete slab fell from a balcony onto a woman as she manoeuvred a pushchair with her young child.

The 31-year-old mother suffered serious head injuries but miraculously her baby was unharmed.

The woman was rushed to hospital in St Petersburg, Russia and is believed to be in a grave condition.

A normal day: The 31-year-old mother was seen on CCTV footage pushing her young child in the pram

Police are seeking eyewitnesses but it is believed the block fell off a balcony in the residential building on Yaroslav Gashek Street.

A criminal case has been opened amid suspicions of a failure to maintain the building.

The woman left the pushchair in front of the building as she opened the door.

Terrifying moment: The woman is hit by a large concrete slab falling from the building in St Petersburg, Russia

She immediately falls and lies sprawled on the pavement. A split second earlier, and the child would have been hit

She was hit as she pushed her child towards the door.

She immediately falls and lies sprawled on the pavement.

A split second earlier, and the child would have been hit.
An 'exorcist' raped and tortured a 16-year-old Pakistani girl for four days to 'rid her of demons' - and then told her mother 'evil spirits' broke the teenager's neck.

The girl, named locally as Sara, was taken to the man by her mother, who believed the exorcist, or 'pir', would cure her stomach and psychiatric problems.

But instead, her daughter was returned to her dead, with the exorcist blaming it on the 'djinn', or evil spirits, who had possessed her.

The girl, named locally as Sara, was taken to the man by her mother, who believed the exorcist, or 'pir', would cure her stomach and psychiatric problems. Pictured: A man waiting to be 'cured' of evil spirits

The girl was taken to the pir, named as Jindwada, last weekend by her desperate mother.

According to local papers, Jindwada then took advantage of the situation, saying she would need four days to cure the girl at his home in Sandhlianwali, almost 300 miles south of Islamabad.

The mother accompanied the girl to his home, but then he separated them - taking the vulnerable teen into a second room, where he raped and tortured her for the next four days, reported The Nation.

On Wednesday, he handed her dead body back to her distraught mother, who brought her back to their village, near Burewala.

It is understood her neck had been broken.

But they have refused to report the death to the police, claiming it was 'God's will'.

However, according to The News, lawyer Mazhar Farid Malka and social activist Dr Waryam have demanded an investigation is carried out, and the fake faith healer prosecuted.

But instead, her daughter was returned to her dead, with the exorcist blaming it on the 'djinn', or evil spirits. Pictured: Padlocks and threads symbolising prayers left by worshippers are seen attached to a metal grill

Less than three weeks ago another fake exorcism left a young girl in hospital in Punjab.

The girl had been brought to the exorcists by her sister because she was not getting good marriage proposals, Dunya News reported.
OkCupid is being sued by a woman who was raped by a man she knew from the website.

Devin Richard Hartman, of Mableton, Georgia, used the name 'Zach Anderson' on an OkCupid account, and met up in June 2014 with a 26-year-old woman who he met on the website.

The woman reported having six beers while with him at a bar before later waking up on her doorstep without her keys, cell phone or underwear, and believes she was also drugged.

An exam conducted the day after they met determined she had been sexually assaulted, and Hartman was charged with rape and aggravated sodomy.

Devin Richard Hartman (seen left following the 2014 arrest and right in 2016) used an alias on OkCupid and was convicted of rape and aggravated sodomy

While she was at Grady Memorial Hospital where she had the exam, drugs were not found in her system.

However, police said drugs could have been out of her system by the time of the screening, according to the AJC.

The woman's lawsuit, AJC reported on Wednesday, claims that 'OkCupid defendants failed to exercise reasonable care in operating its website, monitoring users, screening users, and acting on reports of rape and sexual assault.'

The woman and Hartman met on June 20, 2014, at TAP bar in Midtown Atlanta, and she was under the impression that she was meeting with Zach Anderson.

Devin Richard Hartman (pictured left in a photo used on the fake account), of Mableton, Georgia used the name 'Zach Anderson' on an OkCupid account. He met up in June 2014 with a 26-year-old woman at a bar

The woman told investigators she had drinks with Hartman before her date dropped her off at her car.

She later blacked out and woke up on the doorstep of her Brookhaven home.

The next day, she went to Grady Memorial Hospital where she took an exam that determined she had been sexually assaulted.

Police were able to link Hartman via phone records and DNA evidence, according to My Fox Atlanta. He was arrested on March 2, 2015.

He was convicted in December 2015.

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office said in a release at the time: 'The weeklong trial against Hartman included testimony from four other women who accused Hartman of sexual assault in various counties. Two of those cases are still pending.'

He is now serving two consecutive life sentences, according to MyAJC.

'The suit alleges that OkCupid.com and its parent companies should have known Hartman was a predator and should not have permitted him to use the site,' the news outlet wrote.

An OkCupid spokesperson said in a statement: 'While incidents like this between individuals who meet on OkCupid are extremely rare, it doesnt make them any less horrifying.

'OkCupid has positively changed the lives of millions of people through the relationships and marriages it has sparked, but given that scale, we are no more immune from people with bad intentions than society at large.

'We just received these allegations so we can't comment on the facts, but we always advise our users to protect themselves by exercising prudence with the people they meet, whether on a dating site, through an acquaintance, or at a coffee shop.

'As for the legal claims themselves, we believe they are without merit.'

An exam determined the woman had been sexually assaulted, and Hartman was charged with rape and aggravated sodomy. He was convicted in December (above Hartman, left, in court)
An order which should have closed the Brussels metro an hour before the terror attack which left 16 dead failed to reach authorities - because the email was sent to the wrong address.

Two attempts to alert the relevant authorities to the fact two suicide bombers had detonated themselves at the airport failed to reach the relevant authorities, a commission into the March 22 attacks heard.

The third suicide bomber blew himself up on a metro near Maelbeek station, in central Brussels, 21 minutes after the first warning was sent, but not received.

Federal authorities sent the first warning to shut down metro at 8.50am and then sent an email to wrong address for the head of transport police

A total of 32 people died in the two attacks - 16 at the airport, and the same number on the metro.

Jo Decuyper, chief of railway police for the Brussels region, told the commission he had first learned of the suicide bombings at 8.03am - shortly after the first bombs exploded in the departures hall of Zaventum airport.

However, it took almost an hour for authorities to decide to shut down the city's public transport system.

The first command to shut down the metro system was sent at 8.50am, according to CNN, but failed to reach the correct person.

Federal officers then tried to contact Mr Decuyper, who did not receive the order until after a third suicide bomber had blown himself up because the email - sent four minutes before the Maelbeek attack - had gone to his personal account.

Mr Decuyper also told lawmakers on Wednesday a national emergency communications network known as ASTRID didn't function well, and that some text messages he tried to transmit from his cellphone are still stuck in the 'out' box.

A woman consoles her children at a street memorial following the bomb attacks in Brussels, Belgium

However, he told the commission that it would not have made a difference as it would have taken at least 30 minutes to shut down the network.

'Even if I had had a button to interrupt everything and to evacuate  which evidently does not exist  it would not have prevented it, he said, according to De Standaard.
A Hillsborough survivor has launched an appeal to find the 'hero' who saved his life after seeing himself on the man's shoulders in a TV documentary aired 27 years after the disaster.

Joe Smith was just eight when he was rescued from the crush by a man who was among thousands of fans in the Leppings Lane stand at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989.

Now 35, Mr Smith is bidding to track down his rescuer and says he has 'one potential strong lead' after his Facebook post was shared more than 100,000 times since Wednesday afternoon.

He saw himself on the shoulders of the man while watching a BBC Two documentary.

Hillsborough survivor Joe Smith has launched a bid to find the 'hero' who saved his life after seeing himself on the man's shoulders (pictured) in a TV documentary aired 27 years after the disaster

Mr Smith, from Kirkby, wrote on the social media site: 'The man whose shoulders I am on is the man who helped save my life at Hillsborough!

'I've never in 27 years seen this image until the documentary just released, and it's thrown me big time.

'I would love to find this man and thank him for what he did for me that day.'

Mr Smith was just eight when he was rescued from the crush by a man who was among thousands of fans in the Leppings Lane stand at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989

Mr Smith said his legs were being crushed as he sat at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's ground. His stepfather lifted him to get him out before Mr Smith was passed over people's heads and taken to the other end of the ground where fans looked after him

Mr Smith had gone to the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest with his stepfather and brother. Last month inquests concluded that the 96 fans who died in the crush on April 15 1989 were unlawfully killed.

The retail worker from Liverpool told MirrorOnline: 'I'd seen a lot of footage of the disaster, but nothing prepared me for this - it was just such a massive shock to the system.

'I was quite emotional when I first saw the the footage, in fact, I'm welling up just thinking about it.

Joe Smith (left) was just eight when he was rescued from the crush by a man in the Leppings Lane stand at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989. His Facebook post (right) has been shared more than 100,000 times

'I was only eight at the time, so my recollection is sketchy, but it brought all the memories flooding back.'

Mr Smith said his legs were being crushed as he sat at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's ground. His stepfather lifted him to get him out before Mr Smith was passed over people's heads and taken to the other end of the ground where fans looked after him.

'I always had difficulty remembering how I got out off the ground,' Mr Smith told the BBC.

'It's only when I saw the footage I realised this guy had pulled me out and put me on his shoulders and helped me.'
An autistic student who missed his senior prom because his sister was too old to be his date will get a second chance with a special dance held in his honor.

Jayce Whisenhunt, 19, was devastated after his sister Jessica Helling, 24, was told she exceeded the age limit to attend the prom for students of Montgomery Central High School in Clarkesville, Tennessee.

Whisenhunt, who has autism, ADHD, and a learning disability, left the party in tears because he didn't want to stay without his sister.

His story went viral after his father Tone Whisenhunt posted on Facebook about it  and slammed the school for not making an exception to the rule than bans dates over the age of 20.

Jayce Whisenhunt, 19, (right) was devastated after his sister Jessica Helling (left) was told she couldn't accompany her brother to prom at Montgomery Central High School in Clarkesville, Tennessee

Then, a group of woman decided to throw Jayce a special dance in his honor at the same location, the Wilma Rudoph Events Center.

They created a GoFundMe page to raise money to put on the event, called Jayces Prom, which will be open to students and their relatives from all schools.

In three days, the page has raised more than $7,000.

Helling is already invited as prom queen, and the event will include a limo, dinner, DJ and red carpet.

This is all coming together great, Helling told The Tennessean. I never expected the community, and now the whole world, to reach out and help as much as they have.

Whisenhunt (left), who has autism, ADHD, and a learning disability, left the party in tears because he didn't want to stay without his sister (right)

Father Tone Whisenhunt (right) said: 'Where was the protection when he was getting bullied all through school, but they want to protect him at a prom?'

Me and my brother both are so excited and honored to have this opportunity, and we couldnt thank everyone enough for all their kindness and support.

She added that the outpouring of support means the world to me and my family.

The prom planner Michelle Gordon told the paper that their original goal had been surpassed but the page will stay up for a while  and any money not used for Jayces prom will go to sponsor other special-needs foundations.

Because of how much interest there has been in the event, we are working to ensure the additional funds that continue to come in go toward making this event as exciting as possible and increasing awareness for autism and special needs.

Jayce, who attends a program at an off-site location separate from the high school, had spent weeks practising his dance skills and a friend had bought him a $400 suit.

The school district set the age limit to ensure the safety of the students, and guests who are 19 or 20 are subjected to background checks before they are allowed to attend, according to News2

He and his sister had gone out for dinner before they arrived at the prom.

'I asked her because I dont have anybody else for a friend, nobody else to hang out with, he told News2.

A group of woman decided to throw Jayce a special dance in his honor at the same location, the Wilma Rudoph Events Center

Helling, who graduated from the same high school, said she was honored to accompany her younger brother, and spent the whole day making him feel special.

According to the GoFundMe page, their father made sure they had flowers, and the siblings went out to dinner and took photos together before the big event.

'It was heartbreaking. It took everything for me not to bawl and squall crying because he had looked forward to it,' she told the local news channel.

The school district said they set the age limit to ensure the safety of the students.

Guests who are 19 or 20 are subjected to background checks before they are allowed to attend, according to News2.

But the student's father was upset by the way his son was treated and choked back tears when he told WSMV: 'Your kids have one prom and he didnt even get to go to it.

'Thats what upsets me the most.'

Tone told ClarkesvilleNow.com: 'I just think they should have some kind of an exception for special needs kids when it comes to their prom.

'Where was the protection when he was getting bullied all through school, but they want to protect him at a prom?'

Montgomery County school district spokesperson Elise Shelton said a copy of the rules was sent home, and that an exception could have been made if it had been planned beforehand.
Eight families living in Nixip Refugee Camp have now pressed charges

He paid the boys 35p to 1.20 to have sex with him in the camp toilets

The cleaner, known as E. E., is said to have raped as many as 30 boys

A cleaner paid boys as young as eight 35p so he could rape them in the toilets of a refugee camp, hailed by Angela Merkel as a success just last month.

The man, named only as E.E., was able to take advantage of at least 30 boys between eight and 12 for more than three months unimpeded at Nizip Refugee Camp in Antep, Turkey.

His alleged crimes - for which he would pay the boys a couple of lira - were only exposed after police noticed him taking children to 'blind spots' around the camp, out of sight of the cameras.

The cleaner is alleged to have raped 30 boys aged between eight and 12 in the Nizip Refugee Camp toilets over the course of three months. Pictured: Refugees looks on as German chancellor Angela Merkel visits in April

E.E. is alleged to have raped the first boy in the toilet in September, offering him somewhere between 35p and 1.20 to have sex with him, Turkish newspaper BirGun reported.

He continued to target boys at the camp, which has 14,000 refugees living within its boundaries, until the start of this year.

Eight families have now decided to press charges - the rest of the boys' parents are said to be too scared to make a fuss.

E.E. is understood to have admitted his crimes, and it being kept in custody by the authorities.

The revelation is another blow to German Chancellor Merkel's attempts to assuage fears over the deal struck with Turkey which will see refugees returned to the country after arriving in Europe.

His alleged crimes were only exposed after police noticed him taking children to 'blind spots' around the camp, out of sight of the cameras. Pictured: Angela Merkel at the camp in April

Merkel, along with European Council President Donald Tusk and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, visited the camp on April 23 - International Children's Day, singing the camps praises.

While there, they opened a child protection centre.
A pizza shop owner in Virginia posted what some considered to be a controversial sign outside his business about the transgender restroom debate.

The lettered sign board appeared with a new message that some appreciated and others disagreed with outside of Windy City Pizza in Virginia Beach on Monday.

'We have a men's room. We have a ladies room. If this confuses you, we can help!' the sign read, according to WTKR.

One of the two shop owners told the television station over the phone that he does not have a specific stance on the issue, but enjoys posting messages on the sign board to stimulate conversation.

Controversial?: A pizza shop owner in Virginia posted what some considered to be a controversial sign (above) outside of his business about the transgender restroom debate

The lettered sign board appeared outside of Windy City Pizza (above) in Virginia Beach on Monday

One of the two store owners (pictured) told the television station over the phone that he does not have a specific stance on the issue, but enjoys posting messages on the sign board to stimulate conversation

The message on the sign first appeared to gain attention on Monday, which was the same day that the US government and North Carolina announced lawsuits against one another over the controversial bathroom bill known as HB2, WTKR reported.

The Justice Department is suing North Carolina over the law that bans transgender people from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch condemned the anti-LGBT legislation on May 9.

She claims the law amounts to 'state-sponsored discrimination' and is aimed at 'a problem that doesn't exist.' She insisted that the law only serves to 'harm innocent Americans.'

The law states that transgender people must use the bathroom that conforms with the gender on their birth certificate.

Just as quick as the sign was put up on the board, it was taken down and changed. On Tuesday, the message was changed and it now reads: 'Doing our part to shrink the gender pay gap. We underpay guys too!'

Since it was introduced in March, the ruling has sparked state-wide demonstrations, while a host of celebrities and companies have announced a boycott on North Carolina until the law is repealed.

Just as quick as the sign was put up on the board, it was taken down and changed.

On Tuesday, the message was changed and it now reads: 'Doing our part to shrink the gender pay gap. We underpay guys too!'

Many people on Facebook appreciated the message about the transgender restroom debate and wrote messages of support.

Jessi Richardson Lynch wrote on the Windy City Pizza Facebook page and said: 'Just wanted to stop by and say good job on the sign outside!! We love you guys even more now!!'

Another user named James Stalls wrote: 'Hey be strong. It's ok for others to say what they want to so why can't you.'

Some people who disagreed with the message also shared their thoughts on Facebook.

'You lost me & my business! All your sign does is display your ignorance and bigotry!' DeeGee Vollmer-Thow wrote on the Windy City Pizza Facebook page.

Jennifer Davis also wrote: 'So you went from a sign about the bathroom laws to a sign making fun of the gender pay gap?! Classy bunch...I guess you're trying to be cute but it comes off as snarky and tasteless.'
Sean Penn believes his interview with Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman has had a significant impact on the war on drugs.

The actor made headlines in January when it emerged he had interviewed the murderous cartel leader without tipping off authorities, who were desperately trying to locate and recapture him.

And his rambling 10,000-word account of the farcical stunt, published by Rolling Stone, was scathingly mocked for giving El Chapo the global publicity he wanted.

It featured beaming photographs of the Oscar winner with the fugitive, who has since been recaptured and is set to be extradited to the US for a trial.

Days after the article's release Penn told Charlie Rose he regretted the saga.

But in a new interview with the Financial Times, Penn pedals back on those words, saying he now thinks he has in fact changed the international conversation about drug trafficking.

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Controversy: Sean Penn (left) made headlines in January when it emerged he had met with El Chapo (right) without tipping off police, who were desperately trying to locate and recapture him after six months at large

'When I said it failed, that turned out not to be the case,' he told the FT's Matthew Garrahan over lunch at the Oceana club in Santa Monica.

'There's no question there's ultimately been more conversation about the drug war.'

Penn gave no specific examples of this impact. He added: 'I can't prove it. But I've noticed that there's been more debate.'

By way of supporting his claim, Penn told Garrahan he recently met Mexico's former president Vicente Fox in Los Angeles.

'He told me he agreed with everything Id said in the article,' Penn said.

The secret meeting took place in October last year and came after del Castillo and the kingpin shared a raft of flirtatious text messages.

El Chapo was captured in the Mexican city of Los Mochis in January - a day before Penn's article was published - and he is now back in a maximum security prison.

Penn later said he 'assumed' Mexican authorities knew he was meeting El Chapo - though he wrote about trying to hide from authorities in his Rolling Stone piece.

Speaking to the FT, Penn also hit out at Kate Del Castillo, the Mexican actress who brokered his meeting with El Chapo.

Dispute: Penn claims Kate Del Castillo (right), who brokered the meeting with El Chapo last October, was delighted with her international fame after his article, even though Del Castillo claims she felt 'betrayed'

Penn gave no specific examples of the impact he has had but insists there is 'no question' about it

Del Castillo insisted she had no idea Penn was going to write a Hollywood-style tell-all account of their journey to finding the drugs lord.

The 42-year-old actress claims she contacted Penn in the hope that he would make a movie about El Chapo's life.

But once the article came out, and she also became headline news, she said she felt 'used'.
Also speaks passionately about the need for a permanent U.S. moon base

Gingrich carries some baggage, having had an affair that led to a messy divorce and hurt his presidential campaign

He also went toe-to-toe with the Clintons during Bill's impeachment

A former bomb-thrower in the House, Gingrich helped Republicans seize power in 1994 by going after establishment power-brokers

Ex-speaker helped pave the way for Trump with scathing attacks on the media in failed 2012 run

Donald Trump is considering as a vice presidential running mate former Speaker Newt Gingrich  a bombastic Republican who has gone after the Clintons with mixed results and vilified the media on the national debate stage.

Rick Tyler, a former Gingrich aide who worked for Senator Ted Cruz's presidential campaign, said he is 'confident' Gingrich is being considered, Bloomberg News reported.

Former GOP candidate Ben Carson, who Trump has put on a group to sort through potential running mates, recommended Gingrich, a person knowledgable about Trump's short list told the news outlet.

Gingrich impressed Republicans in 2012 with his sharp-edged debate performances on TV, when he hammered liberals, the Clintons, and the media. He managed to win the South Carolina primary before his campaign imploded.

Unlike some people who's names have been floated, Gingrich isn't ruling it out. 'I would certainly talk about it,' he told Sean Hannity on Fox News Wednesday. 'I wouldn't turn it down automatically.' He added: ''I am in the 'not no' column.'

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Tough debater: Gingrich impressed audiences with slashing attacks on his rivals and on Democrats in 2012

In some ways, it presaged Trump's successful attack on establishment forces, although Gingrich had served in Congress for decades and later enjoyed lucrative consulting and book opportunities.

His organization campaign suffered a rash of defections early in his bid, amid complaints that Gingrich handed too much power to his wife Callista, after the couple jumped off the campaign trail for a two-week Mediterranian cruise.

But Gingrich was able to come back and compete with Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum among Republicans who were opposed to resistant to Mitt Romney becoming the party's nominee.

Gingrich's call for maintaining 'American exceptionalism' during the campaign helped lead him to propose a permanent U.S. base on the moon, an idea that ended up drawing more snickers than inspiration.

New Frontier: Gingrich has called for a permanent U.S. moon base, while Trump regularly calls for infrastructure investments on planet earth

In a campaign that is expected to feature withering attacks on Hillary Clinton as two candidates with high negatives do battle, Gingrich is an experienced hand at political warfare.

Gingrich helped lead the House to impeach Bill Clinton during the 1990s, although he also acknowledged having an affair during impeachment.

On the eve of the South Carolina primary in 2012, Marianne Gingrich told ABC News Gingrich had asked her for an 'open marriage' but she refused.

'Oh he was asking to have an open marriage and I refused ...That I accept the fact he has somebody else in his life. And I said no - that is not a marriage,' she told the network.

Legislative know-how: Trump has said wants a VP who can 'get things passed'

A key part of the vice president's campaign role is traditionally to attack the main candidate of the other party, something Gingrich has already practiced.

In 2014, he compared Hillary Clinton to Kim Kardashian.

'You have to understand the problem Bill has,' Gingrich said on CNN's 'Crossfire.'

'Bill is to politics what Fred Astaire was to dancing, he is just automatically amazing, and he wants to have Ginger Rogers out there dancing, just as Fred Astaire did. Instead it's a little bit like watching Kim Kardashian get kicked off the set by Prince because she couldn't dance.'

Gingrich campaigned regularly with wife Callista in 2012

But ex-wife Marianne Gingrich dropped a bombshell by saying on TV Gingrich had wanted an 'open marriage'

His attacks on general corruption and perks enjoyed by entrenched Democrats helped Republicans seize control of Congress in 1994 after decades in the minority.

Other names thought to be under consideration include Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, Ohio Governor John Kasich and Ohio Senator Rob Portman.

Trump told Fox News he was considering Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.
A man who was stabbed in New York Wednesday decided he'd rather die cursing cops than tell them who killed him.

Police were called after Daniel Pena, 23, was stabbed in the chest at least twice at around 7pm in the Bronx. Realizing the man was dying, police tried to get him to give up the name of his attacker - to no avail.

'As he took his dying breath, his last words to police were, "F*** you,"' a law enforcement source told NY Post.

Scene of the crime: Daniel Pena, 23, was stabbed in the courtyard of 2953 Decatur Avenue (pictured) but chose to curse cops with his dying breath rather than say who killed him

Pena lost consciousness and was taken to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was attacked in the courtyard of 2953 Decatur Avenue, near St. Marys Orthodox Church and Bedford Park Boulevard.

His death is the first homicide of 2015 for the 52nd Precinct, the Norwood News reported.

An officer allowed a friend of Pena's to smack him in the face in order to keep him awake while medics applied pressure and bandages to his wounds, the site said.

Police are still hunting for his killer, but initial reports by the Norwood News described four Hispanic men fleeing the scene.

They are said to have run a short way down Decatur before 'possibly' driving away in a tan Jeep Cherokee with a sunroof.

Pena was the second person to die of a stabbing in the Bronx Wednesday: Willie Lopez, 32, was found dead with a stab wound to the chest at around 10:30pm, Metro reported.
A temporary restraining order against him was granted in March after Wilson filed a protection from abuse request

Norris was taken into custody after police found him sleeping in his car

The four children, aged 5, 8, 11, and 12 suffered gunshot wounds in their hands, hips chest and thighs and are in stable condition

Coral Anita Wilson, 34, was killed in her Birmingham home on Wednesday

Coral Anita Wilson, 34, was allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend, the father of her eight children, at her Birmingham home on Wednesday night

An Alabama mother is dead and four of her eight children are in the hospital with gunshot wounds after their father allegedly shot them during a horrific domestic disturbance.

Coral Anita Wilson, 34, was found dead in the living room of her Birmingham home on Wednesday night. Her boyfriend, Sedrick Norris, has been arrested.

The hospitalized children, aged 5, 8, 11, and 12, suffered wounds in their hands, hips, chest and thighs.

Police said the four children are in stable but serious condition. It was previously reported that the 12-year-old had suffered life-threatening injuries.

It is not currently known if Wilson and 37-year-old Norris were ever married but Wilson goes by Norris' last name on Facebook.

The four children who were not shot are 13, nine, six and 8-months-old.

A woman who lived next door and was close friends with Wilson said Norris came to his girlfriend's home earlier that night and asked to see his children.

When Wilson refused and would not let him inside the home, Norris allegedly kicked the front door's screen and left, according to WFIE.

Two hours later Wilson's neighbor said she heard gunshots.

When the woman went outside to check on the noise, four of Wilson's children were running toward her for help. Three of them had been shot, and one had been shot or grazed by a bullet.

'Tete, I've been shot,' she recalled one of them saying. 'My daddy shot me.'

Police said Wilson's 12-year-old daughter was shot in the chest and her 11-year-old son was shot in the hand and hip.

Her five-year-old boy was hit in the jaw and her eight-year-old daughter was hit by shrapnel in her leg.

Wilson's neighbor brought the four children into her house, their injuries soaking her in blood,

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Sedrick Norris, 37, (left) also allegedly shot four of his and Wilson's children before he fled on foot. Police found him six hours later and took him into custody

The hospitalized children, aged 5, 8, 11, and 12, suffered wounds in their hands, hips, chest and thighs. The four children who were not shot are 13, nine, six and 8-months-old (who is not pictured)

'He kept trying to pass out on me,' she said of one of the children while recalling the horrific night to ABC 33/40. 'I kept trying to bring him back, doing the best I could.'

'It was a mess, it really was. There was enough blood to scare anybody. The kids were upset, they didn't know what to do.'

Wilson filed a protection from abuse request against Norris in March, saying he knocked her over a table on Valentine's Day

Police arrived at the scene around 10.15pm and found some of the children in the yard. Wilson's boyfriend had fled on foot.

Norris was arrested six hours later after officers found him asleep in a car, covered in a pile of clothes in the driver seat.

Authorities said Norris was compliant while being taken into custody and seemed relieved he had been caught, according to The Huntsville Times.

He is currently being interviewed by detectives, who hope to soon learn his motive.

A temporary restraining order was granted after Wilson filed a protection from abuse request against Norris in March, saying he had pushed her over a table on Valentine's day and caused her to knock their nine-year-old daughter over.

Wilson asked that her boyfriend be kept away from both her and their children at home and school.

The protective order was extended on May 4, according to ABC 33/40.

Police said there was a long history of domestic violence at Wilson's residence, and the couple have been in court several times since 2003.

The four children who were not injured are currently in the care of family members.

'This is something the family members are wrapping their arms around,' said Birmingham Police Chief AC Roper.

'It's a shock to them that this could occur in the still of the night.'

Wilson's neighbor said she suffered from lupus. The woman helped her out with the eight children every morning, getting them ready for school.

'Anything she needed for those babies I'd do,' she said. 'And don't ask for nothing. That's what a friend would do.'

'All of this could have been avoided,' she said. 'I'm very happy they got him.'

Just 10 hours before he was accused of shooting her dead, Norris shared a photo that Wilson had posted on Facebook a few weeks ago.

'Baby bout to enjoy this beautiful beautiful day,' she wrote in the caption of the photo that shows her pointing up at the sky.
EU migrants poured into Britain at the rate of one every 40 seconds last year, according to a bombshell report the Government tried to bury.

The extraordinary revelation that 800,000 EU citizens exploited free movement rules to move to the UK was dragged out of Whitehall following a six-month battle.

The number of incomers is more than the entire population of Tyneside.

Tory ministers campaigning to quit the EU said the migrants - many of them from Eastern Europe - were driving down wages and putting huge pressure on public services. They said even more would come in future as a result of the new national Living Wage.

The ONS has used a new method to estimate combined long term and short term immigration from the EU for last year. The 'headline' long-term figure for 2015 was 260,000

David Cameron was attacked by his own MPs for trying to bury the Office for National Statistics report beneath a major announcement about the future of the BBC.

The MPs, including serving ministers, joined migration experts in arguing it was now clear the true level of mass immigration to Britain from the EU had been undercounted for years.

Yet the Government still insisted that its statistics could be trusted. They said that, because not all of the 800,000 migrants stayed for a year or more, they should not all be counted in the official net migration figures.

The ONS said the 800,000 figure was fair to use in relations to the number of arrivals last year, though some of the migrants would have left during the year.

Jonathan Portes, the ex-government adviser who fought a six-month battle for the release of the figures said he also believed the ONS was still undercounting - with a possible discrepancy of up to 260,000 over the last four years.

Yesterdays analysis suggests there were 1,000,400 long-term migrants to the UK from the EU between June 2011 and June 2015, which means they stayed for more than a year.

But other figures for the same period show 2,234,000 National Insurance numbers were allocated to EU nationals - a gap of 1.2 million.

The ONS said much of this gap was accounted for by the fact many of those with NI numbers were working or claiming benefits for less than 12 months then going home, so need not be counted.

In doing so, the ONS published for the first time an analysis of the number of short and long term EU migrants combined.

The total number of arrivals from the European Union was 2.4 million from 2011 to 2015.

This was 1.5m higher than the figure for just long term migrants - which officials had previously focussed upon.

Around 1.3 million more NI numbers have been given out to EU citizens since 2010 than are accounted for in official statistics (pictured)

Last year alone, there were a staggering 800,000 arrivals - or one every 45 seconds.

Meanwhile, around 1.3 million more NI numbers have been given out to EU citizens since 2010 than are accounted for in official statistics.

MPs said that, to the man or woman who missed out on a job or couldnt get an appointment with a GP, it was entirely irrelevant how long the EU citizens stayed for.

In a blistering attack, ex-cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said he was astonished that his own Government would attempt to downplay the impact the migrants were having on jobs and housing.

He said that, to the British citizens who missed out as a result of them being here, the fact they went home after less than a year was no consolation whatsoever.

The ex-work and pensions secretary said: They come in, they do hotbedding in bed and breakfasts and things like that, they then take take jobs at much lower rates.

This has forced the salaries of people in low-skilled and semi-skilled jobs down so they have suffered directly as a result of uncontrolled borders with short-term migration.

Im astonished that a government, my government, can sit here and say we had a pledge to bring down migration to tens of thousands but its all right then because it doesnt matter how many people come in as long as they dont stay more than 52 weeks.

The immigration statistics were released following a long-running argument over whether the ONS is undercounting immigration from the EU - especially Eastern Europe

It was triggered because there are far more National Insurance numbers being given out to migrants than show up in the officials statistics. HMRC spent months refusing to release full date on the NI numbers. It finally caved in after huge pressure from the Mail and other campaign groups,

Employment minister Priti Patel said: These figures - which had to be dragged out of the government - show the scale and impact of immigration from the EU is even higher than

previously admitted. It is out of control - and cannot be controlled as long as we stay in the EU. This puts huge strains on the NHS, housing, schools and other public services.

Short term migration is highly significant, and arguably most damaging in terms of wages and work conditions.

Former London Mayor Boris Johnson on the EU referendum campaign trail yesterday. He has accused the pro-EU camp of being 'dishonest' about immigration

Mr Johnson said politicians had been driven to 'dishonesty' because they did not want to admit they cannot control immigration while Britain is inside the EU. Pictured, migrants break through fences in Macedonia

Last night, it was claimed Tory MPs were so furious at the PMs handling of immigration that letters demanding his resignation were already being submitted to the chairman of the partys 1922 Committee demanding his resignation.

One pointed to the fact that, as recently as November, Mr Cameron had claimed action was needed to curb benefit claims by migrants, as 40 per cent of new arrivals were taking money from the State.

The Home Office said that the ONS report was a vote of confidence in immigration statistics.

But Mr Portes, principal research fellow at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said while he respected the views of the ONS - he disagreed the matter was settled. (MUST)

He pointed to figures buried in yesterdays study suggesting the number of migrants settling here over the past four years could have been undercounted by up to 260,000.

In a lengthy dissection of the the ONS report, Mr Portes wrote: The evidence suggests that the migration statistics have in fact undercounted EU migration to the UK.

He said long-term migration figures - people moving to the UK for a year or more - gave a figure of 739,000 arriving in the four years to June 2014.

But, according to HMRC data handed to the ONS, one million people from the EU who had registered in the four years to April 2014 had an active National Insurance Number.

This means they paid tax or received benefits so were definitely in the UK.

Alp Mehmet, Vice Chair of Migration Watch, said: What matters is the increase in the European-born population in Britain which is not consistent with the immigration figures. This ONS report has not addressed that question.

This ONS release agrees with our earlier analysis which noted that short-term migration accounts for much of the difference between national insurance numbers and the immigration figures, but not for all of it.

We still have no explanation for the increase in the Eastern European population of 90,000 a year over the last four years, when the net migration figures showed only 40,000. We stand by our estimate that EU migration may have been undercounted by as much as 50,000 a year.

A Government spokesman said: Despite recent questions about the figures, the ONS have now put this issue beyond doubt. As their report explicitly states, national insurance numbers are not a good measure of levels of migration.

As the Government has consistently pointed out, national insurance numbers can be obtained by anyone working in the UK for just a few weeks, and the ONS explains clearly why the number of national insurance registrations should not be compared with migration figures  because they measure entirely different things. Short-term migrants have never been included in the long-term migration statistics, which are governed by UN definitions.
Heavily-armed French police were pictured spraying an unassuming and defenceless protester wearing flip flops and a manbag as tensions mounted across the country.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Paris and beyond today to protest against plans to force through a pro-business bill bringing in longer working days and weaker unions.

The protests quickly descended into violence - with rioters on one side hurling Molotov cocktails and rocks at the police, and officers responding with pepper and tear gas.

But the pictures emerging from France raise questions about whether or not they were targeting the right people.

French riot police officers sprays pepper gas at a demonstrator during a protest in Paris against proposed changes to labour law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote

Tens of thousands took to the streets to protest the bill. It would see longer working hours and weaker unions

Rioters hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at the police in Paris as the protests became violent

Protesters were angry that the Socialist government was going to push the bill through Parliament without a vote.

The party's offices were among the buildings targeted, as people accused the politicians of being 'traitors to their class'.

'They have let us down in the most disgraceful way possible,' said a masked demonstrator in the French capital who asked to be referred to as Gilles.

'What they are doing is not democratic - that is why we have to fight them out on the streets.'

Prime Minister Manuel Valls insisted the reforms were vital in battling economic failure.

The unemployment rate is currently well above 10 per cent, and small businesses are shutting down all the time.

The conservatives tried to object by setting up a no-confidence vote on Thursday evening, but with 246 votes they failed to gather the minimum of 288 needed to bring down the government.

The contested labuor reform  including longer workdays, easier layoffs and weaker unions  will now be debated in the Senate. A date hasn't been set, but it's expected to be discussed in the coming weeks.

But tens of thousands took part in demonstrations, saying France would become a nation of workers on short-term contracts, with next to no security.

The party's offices were among the buildings targeted, as people accused the politicians of being 'traitors'

Prime Minister Manuel Valls insisted the reforms were vital in battling economic failure in a country where unemployment is well above 10 per cent

Critics say France will become a nation of workers on short-term contracts, with next to no security

They were joined by anarchists and hard left students dressed in black, and waiving Marxist flags.

President Francois Hollande claims that a simplification of working practices would be good 'for both workers and employers' and 'help France to advance' within the global economy.

But many fellow Socialists oppose the reforms, and they have been joined by militant trade unionists in weeks of protest.

When 50 Socialist MPS tried to block the reforms in the National Assembly, Mr Hollande and Mr Valls resorted to a government decree to try and get the measures through.
RAF Typhoon fighter jets scrambled to face down three Russian military aircraft that were approaching the Baltic skies.

The jets were launched from Amari air base in Estonia to intercept the Russian transport planes which were allegedly not engaging with air traffic control as expected.

The planes appeared 'unresponsive' and didn't transmit the recognised identification code in what was branded an 'act of Russian aggression' - but flew away when the RAF jets hovered over them.

A Russian IL76 Candid aircraft was shadowed by a RAF Typhoon fighter jet (bottom) after it - along with two other Russian military transport planes - approached Baltic skies

The interception of the three aircraft - an AN-26 Curl, AN-12 Cub and IL-76 Candid - was the first intervention of the RAF's latest mission to keep airspace in the area secure as part of the Baltic Air Policing Mission.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon branded the move an 'act of Russian aggression'.

He said: 'This is another example of just how important the UK's contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is.

'We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to Nato's collective defence.'

A second Russian plane - the Russian An26 Curl aircraft (left) - was intercepted by a RAF Typhoon jet

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon branded the move an 'act of Russian aggression' (Pictured a Russian An26 Curl aircraft - right - being shadowed by a RAF Typhoon)

Four RAF jets were deployed to join Baltic Air Policing for the four-month mission in April.

The NATO effort sees alliance members without their own air policing assets assisted by others in four-monthly cycles.

In this rotation, which is the third consecutive year the year the UK has committed to BAP, UK jets work alongside Portuguese F16s operating from Siauliai in Lithuania.

One of the pilots involved in the mission said it went smoothly.

They said: 'The scramble went exactly as planned, we launched our Typhoon aircraft quickly and then using our advanced sensors and mission systems, combined with support from our Battlespace Managers on the ground, carried out textbook intercepts of the three aircraft.'

The Russian aircraft was said to appear unresponsive and did not communicate with air traffic control as was expected (pictured the Russian An12 Cub)

Four RAF jets were deployed to join Baltic Air Policing for the four-month mission in April (pictured the Russian An26 Curl aircraft)

Wing Commander Gordon Melville added: 'We have once more proven our ability to secure the skies in the vicinity of the Baltic States and have demonstrated the close link between the Royal Air Force, Estonian and Nato units that have planned and enabled this defensive response so successfully. We will continue to standby 24/7 to secure the Baltic skies.'

During the last mission Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled 17 times, intercepting more than 40 Russian aircraft.

The news of the interception comes as the Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain earlier this week - despite Russia's anger as American tanks rolled into its backyard.

Hundreds of soldiers gathered at the military base of Vaziani - once used by Russia, just outside the capital Tbilisi - for the opening ceremony of the exercise, dubbed 'Noble Partner 2016'.

As the sky filled with paratroopers while some 650 American, 150 British and 500 Georgian soldiers watched on in front of a fleet of tanks, Moscow's anger was almost palpable.

Last week, it said the decision to hold the exercise on its doorstep was 'provocative' and 'aimed at deliberately rocking the military-political situation in the South Caucasus'.

The Russian Foreign Ministry went as far as to accuse the United States - which has also dispatched an entire mechanised company, including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and, for the first time, eight M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks - was indulging the 'revanchist desires of Tbilisi'.

It is a charge which Georgia has strongly denied.
Revealed: The British supermarket where international terror suspect Hakim Nasiri was filmed brandishing an assault rifle (pictured) has been revealed to be a store in a Birmingham suburb

The British supermarket where an international terror suspect was filmed brandishing an assault rifle has been revealed to be a store in a Birmingham suburb.

It came as Hakim Nasiri said last night that he had posed for fun and that the weapon was a fake.

The 23-year-old made the claims to his lawyer after being arrested in Italy on suspicion of being part of an Islamic State cell.

Police in Bari issued the picture of the Afghan holding the fearsome-looking M16 gun, as well as photographs of Nasiri at a number of landmarks in London they claim he was scouting as possible terror targets.

Yesterday the Mail tracked down the store where Nasiri was pictured with the rifle. Food World is in the Birmingham suburb of Lozells, near where he lived last summer.

Paul Singh, who owned the supermarket at the time, said the gun was his and was a toy.

Mr Singh said Nasiri came and asked me for work but I didnt give him a job, adding: He was friendly with some of my staff and used to hang about there, sometimes having a cup of tea with them in the back [storeroom].

'That must have been when the picture was taken but I dont know when or who took it.

'The gun was mine. I left it in the shop one day, its a toy which fired white plastic pellets. Ive told the police all of this.

Nasiri worked in a car wash opposite the store. The owner, an Albanian called Leonard, said: He was not extreme at all, in fact he would despair at some of the actions of radical Islam.

He said Nasiri worked for him for about a year until last summer, adding: I had to sack him because he had been stealing. The last time he took about 60.

Nasiri came to Britain after his asylum claim in Italy was rejected. He lived in under different names, saying he managed a fast food shop in Birmingham while trying again to claim asylum in Bari.

This is the supermarket where a man branded an international terrorist by Italian police posed with 'a military assault rifle'. Hakim Nasiri (right) brandished the M16 weapon at the Food World grocery store in Birmingham

Yesterday the Mail tracked down the store where Nasiri was pictured with the rifle. Food World is in the Birmingham suburb of Lozells, near where he lived last summer. This is the storeroom

Paul Singh, who owned the Birmingham supermarket (pictured) at the time, said the gun was his and was a toy

He was finally granted asylum in Italy on May 5.

A friend in Birmingham, Wahid Rizwan, 41, said: There was no hint of malice in him. He got engaged last summer. Hakim said his parents had found him a bride.

Nasiri appeared in court in Bari yesterday with two men accused of involvement in migrant smuggling  Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29, and Zulfiqar Amjad, 24. They were allegedly recorded trying to buy firearms to defend their turf in Calais from rival gangs sending illegal immigrants to the UK.

Ahmadzai, an Afghan, was remanded in custody but the judge freed Nasiri and Pakistani Amjad, saying the evidence was not serious enough to keep him behind bars.

Outside prison, Nasiris lawyer Adriano Pallesca said the gun photo was taken for fun while his client was living in Britain illegally.

The terror target photos were simply pictures of landmarks taken by the young Afghan migrants as they toured London, he added.

Mr Singh said Nasiri asked me for work but I didnt give him a job, adding: He was friendly with some of my staff and used to hang about there, sometimes having a cup of tea with them in the back [storeroom]'

Nasiri worked in a car wash opposite the store (pictured). The owner, an Albanian called Leonard, said: He was not extreme at all, in fact he would despair at some of the actions of radical Islam'

My client is entirely innocent. He is not an international terrorist, he is a peaceful, normal guy. This has been an injustice.

Italian police could face a compensation claim from Nasiri. However he is also alleged to have links to a people-trafficking gang who used the same passport forger as Paris terrorist Salah Abdeslam.

Abdeslam, now in custody in France, was in Bari last year and met Muhamad Majid, an Iraqi forger.

Yesterday Majids lawyer, Marco Vignola, said: The police have found phone connections between my client and Nasiri and Ahmadzai. My client handled all the illegal entries in Bari, he was in charge of providing false documents.

It is unclear how Nasiri arrived in Britain after failing his asylum claim in Italy, where he arrived in 2011, but he seemed able to freely come and go between Birmingham, London, France, Italy and even home to Afghanistan for joyful family reunions.

He lived in Britain and Italy under a series of different names, saying he worked as a manager of a Dixy Chicken fast food shop in Birmingham, while also pursuing his asylum claim in Bari.

Nasiri came to Britain after his asylum claim in Italy was rejected. He lived in under different names, saying he managed a fast food shop in Birmingham while trying again to claim asylum in Bari

Police in Bari issued the picture of the Afghan holding the fearsome-looking M16 gun, as well as photographs of Nasiri at a number of landmarks in London they claim he was scouting as possible terror targets

This graphic shows suspected targets in Britain including several in east London's Docklands, a hotel at West India Quay, the luxury Sunborn yacht hotel in Royal Victoria Dock and an Ibis hotel nearby

Nasiri worked in a car wash opposite the store, where the owner, an Albanian called Leonard, said: He was not extreme at all, in fact he would despair at some of the actions of radical Islam when I asked him about it.

He said Nasiri worked for him for about a year until last summer, adding: I had to sack him because he had been stealing. The last time he took about 60.

A friend of Nasiris in Birmingham, Wahid Rizwan , 41, said: 'There was no hint of malice in him from what I knew of him.

'He told me he was from Afghanistan and was here on Italian papers. He got engaged last summer. I remember him telling me about it. Hakim said his parents back home [in Afghanistan] had found him a bride.
Trump last week called Graham a 'poor representative and an embarrassment to the great people of South Carolina'

' Some will hold their nose. I just can't go there with Donald,' Graham said last week

Donald Trump is taking his D.C. diplomacy into overdrive, even trying to mend fences with Senator Lindsey Graham  who he ripped just days ago as an 'embarrassment.'

One thing The Donald did not do is dial Graham directly, after famously giving out Grahams' cell phone number at a South Carolina rally during the heat of the campaign, in an early sign of how nasty the primary campaign would become.

'I had some mutual friends that said, 'I think he'd like to talk to you,' Graham told a group of reporters in the Capitol, just hours after Trump wrapped up a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan.

After receiving the smoke signal, Graham said it was he who made the first move.

'I called him,' Graham said, going on to describe a 'very pleasant' conversation on a call that was 'very cordial.'

'He's got a great sense of humor,' Graham continued. 'He's from New York. He obviously can take a punch.'

'Of all the people running, he's the guy I'd want to go to dinner with,' Graham added.

Not on speed-dial: Graham says he called Trump after hearing through a friend that Trump wanted to speak

But Trump's courtesy call didn't win him Graham's political backing, even as some former adversaries are falling in line with the presumptive nominee.

'I'm sure he wants all the support he can get. I told him I'm going to stay right where I'm at in terms of the presidential race.'

He said he and Trump 'talked mostly about national security and told a few jokes.'

Trump has been upping his diplomacy as he tries to unify a deeply fractured Republican Party where many top leaders have said they'll sit out the race and skip the Republican convention.

On Wednesday, he gushed that Senator John McCain, a close friend of Graham's was a 'great guy' and a 'hero.'

Last year, Trump said of McCain, who spent five years as a Vietnam POW: 'I like people who weren't captured,' although his campaign never suffered the doom predicted by some pundits.

Graham said in a statement released Thursday, 'I know Mr. Trump is reaching out to many people, throughout the party and the country, to solicit their advice and opinions. I believe this is a wise move on his part.'

Graham said last week he wouldn't hold his nose and vote for Trump

He added: 'My position remains the same regarding both candidates running for President. I will do what I can in the Senate to help the next president. The next president will inherit a mess.'

Graham said last week he was refusing to vote for Trump, who he says 'conned' Republicans into voting for him.

'I just really feel that the Republican Party has been conned here and this guy is not a reliable conservative Republican,' Graham told CNN Friday.

Graham said in a statement that he 'cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as Commander in Chief.'

'Some will hold their nose. I just can't go there with Donald,' Graham said.

Trump ridiculed Graham throughout the presidential campaign while Graham, a respected voice within the party on defense issues who nevertheless got thumped in his own state of South Carolina.

Graham called Trump a 'jackass,' prompting Trump to give out Graham's cell phone during one of his televised rallies.

Campaigning in South Carolina, Trump called Graham a 'total lightweight  here's a guy, in the private sector, he couldn't get a job. Believe me  couldn't get a job. He couldn't do what you people did  you're all retired as hell and rich, okay? He wouldn't be rich. He'd be poor.'

'When it comes to the Donald, nothing surprises me anymore. It's just too bad, really,' Graham responded at the time.

Trump said Graham had called him 'begging' for a good reference with a Fox News morning show, and left his cell number.

Check your messages: Trump gave out Graham's cell phone number in South Carolina

Hard choices: Graham blasted Trump in a series of tweets

He won't back his former Senate colleague Clinton

Graham clashed with Trump over Iraq, immigration, and just about everything

Graham sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee

See you in November: Anything's possible after the election

Trump hit back with a blistering statement.

'I fully understand why Lindsey Graham cannot support me. If I got beaten as badly as I beat him, and all the other candidates he endorsed, I would not be able to give my support either. Every time I see Lindsey Graham spew hate during interviews I ask why the media never questions how I single handily destroyed his hapless run for President,' Trump said in a statement.

'As a candidate who did not receive 1 per cent in his own state  compared to my victory at nearly 40 per cent with many others in the race  he has zero credibility. He was a poor representative and an embarrassment to the great people of South Carolina.'

'Judging by the incompetent way he ran his campaign, it is easy to see why his military strategies have failed so badly  we can't even beat ISIS!' Trump added. 'While I will unify the party, Lindsey Graham has shown himself to be beyond rehabilitation. And like the voters who rejected him, so will I!'

In explaining his decision not to endorse Trump, Graham referenced how Trump last week brought up a National Enquirer story claiming Senator Ted Cruz's father was pictured with Lee Harvey Oswald.

'I've just got a hard time supporting somebody who claims that Ted Cruz's dad was associated with Lee Harvey Oswald and involved in the Kennedy assassination,' Graham said.

'I've got a hard time supporting somebody for president who spent thousands of dollars of their own money trying to find out if President Obama was born in Kenya versus Hawaii. I think that's crazy.'

He continued: 'I'm just glad we're having the convention in Cleveland, not Area 51. I think Donald Trump has gone to places where very few people have gone, and I'm not going with him.'

Graham tweeted that 'absolutely' will not be supporting Hillary Clinton, although he also tweeted that he won't be going to the GOP convention.

'Hillary Clinton represents the third term of Barack Obama & our nation cannot afford to continue those failed policies at home or abroad,' he wrote.

Earlier in the campaign, Graham called Trump a 'race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot,' in comments to CNN that have already been used in a Hillary Clinton web ad.

Graham dropped out after performing poorly in his home state, then threw his support to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Later, when Cruz emerged as the last vessel of the 'stop Trump' movement, Graham backed the more conservative Texan.
A Baptist minister has told how he helped rescue a missing schoolgirl from the uncle who kidnapped her by holding the man at gunpoint.

Carlie Marie Trent, nine, from Rogersville,Tennessee, had been missing for more than a week after authorities say she was kidnapped by her uncle, Gary Simpson, 57.

The pair were discovered on a remote property around 15 miles from the where Carlie was last seen on Thursday by Roger Carpenter and friends Donnie Lawson, Stuart Franklin, and Larry Hamblen.

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Roger Carpenter, a Baptist minister, has told how he rescued missing nine-year-old schoolgirl Carlie Trent by holding her uncle Gary Simpson, 57, at gunpoint until police arrived

Carpenter said he and three friends were riding around on a remote piece of land on ATVs when he spotted Carlie carrying a teddy bear. The group followed her back to a property where they found Simpson (right)

Carpenter told KSBW that he and his friends, who are hunters and farmers that know the area well, had been driving around the area on ATVs for the last week looking for signs of Carlie.

Then, on Thursday afternoon, they spotted a little girl walking around holding a teddy bear and followed her back to a property where they found Simpson.

Carpenter held Simpson at gunpoint while Lawson called police who rushed to the spot and took the man into custody.

TBI Director Mark Gwyn said: 'I think this is just two heroes that went onto the property just to see, by chance, could they be there, and they were.'

Gwyn added that Carlie is now being taken to be assessed by doctors, but appeared to be OK when police took custody of her.

Carpenter added: 'This man that we were after lives not far from my farm, and I know that country all over pretty good, and just had a good suspicion that if I was going to hide thats where Id go.

'Ive got a little granddaughter, Calie Carpenter, that is almost a spitting image of this girl, and when she went missing, everybody was calling saying, and "Its not Calie, is it?"

'Boy, it struck home and it hurt my heart. I couldnt hardly look at my granddaughter without crying. I had to do something.'

Simpson, who was said to be 'obsessed' with the schoolgirl and had recently lost custodial rights over her, was added to Tennessee's top ten most wanted list earlier in the day, WBTV reports.

The reward for information leading to Carlie's discovery had also ballooned to $40,000 earlier in the day, thought it is not known if this had anything to do with her being found.

While the exact charges against Simpson have not been released, his warrant listed a charge of especially aggravated kidnapping.

That offense is a Class A felony punishable by up to 60 years in jail and a fine of $50,000.

Carlie's father, James Trent, said he was hoping that his daughter would be found. He said: 'I was still positive [the police] were going to find her because they were relentless in their search.

'It was getting worse and days were passing, but I still had confidence she was coming home. When I get to see her Ill be 100 per cent.'

Cops had warned Simpson was likely in a remote area after he was seen stocking up on camping supplies in a Kmart shortly before Carlie vanished (pictured)

Simpson is now charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and is facing up to 60 years behind bars

Police had previously warned that Simpson may have been hiding out at a campground after Walmart CCTV footage showed him buying camping gear on the day the girl vanished.

The pair were later seen at a Walmart buying groceries, WVLT-TV reports, including bread, peanut butter, paper towels and crackers. Simpson was not at a campground when he was arrested.

Simpson also bought items including a bathing suit, a pack of underwear, two bottles of nail polish, two tubes of lip gloss.

The news of Carlie's rescue comes on the same day that Trent, 39, revealed Simpson and his wife looked after the girl and accused Simpson of he wanting her to all to himself.'

He had access to her every day, he was obsessed with her, he wanted her and he wanted her all to himself, Trent told the news station.

Thats a scary thing to think about.He explained that after Simpson married his sister Linda, they lived next door and the couple often babysat the little girl.

Authorities said Simpson had taken custody of Carlie and her younger sister with his wife of 34 years, the girls' biological aunt, while their father, a single parent, went back to work after spending time in prison.

James Trent (left) the father nine-year-old Carlie, said Simpson was obsessed with his daughter and 'wanted her all to himself'

Simpson stocked up on several items before taking Carlie out of school and fleeing  including a bathing suit, a pack of underwear, two bottles of nail polish, two tubes of lip gloss, authorities said

Simpson was Carlies former guardian, but had recently lost custody and was back in her fathers care before her disappearance.

While Trent doesnt believe Simpson will harm his daughter, he is concerned about how the incident will affect her after it is over.

Itd be a great moment, but then again, its gonna be a scary moment because Im just wondering how shes going to be.

I she going to be as happy as she was or is she going to be scared to death of everybody? Thats what I worry about, that she just wont be the same.

Simpson's wife Linda has earlier told the New York Daily News that she believes her husband is 'up to something bad'.

'I'm very worried. I'm very concerned,' she said. 'I think she's in a lot of danger. I don't see why you would kidnap a kid if you weren't up to something bad.'

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had also warned: We realize Gary Simpson is Carlie Trents uncle by marriage, but we have specific  and credible  information that Carlie Trent is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death.
A woman in China has had probably the worst car-sharing experience after her driver showed up half naked without wearing underpants.

The female passenger later posted a picture of the driver on social media, which showed the man had only used a pair of shorts to cover his genitals while driving in the city of Tianjin.

Popular car-hailing app Didi, the Chinese equivalent to Uber, confirmed the woman's claims and said they had blocked the man's account permanently, reports the People's Daily Online.

Shameless: A car-hailing app user claimed her driver had showed up without wearing any underpants. The horrified passenger took a picture (above) as proof

According to the report, the unnamed woman posted her shocking experience on May 9 under the account name 'dan dan mian 0228'.

The post said she took the lift on the morning of the day in central Tianjin.

She said when she first entered the car and sat down on the passenger seat, she didn't notice what the driver was wearing.

She and the driver had talked about a variety of topics, from shopping to perfume, the post claimed.

The woman said all of sudden she noticed the man was not wearing any pants and that he only used a pair of shorts to cover his crotch.

Horrified, she took a picture as proof of the man's bizarre actions before asking him to pull over and fleeing the car.

In a follow-up post, 'dan dan mian 0228' claimed she had spoken to a representative from Didi and the company had banned the driver's account.

She also said that the man seemed to have no shame and was threatening her by text message.

In the evening of May 9, a spokesman from Didi said the company had looked into the woman's claims and confirmed the incident to media.

The company said it had banned the man from offering his service through the app permanently.

Further investigations are being carried out by the local police.

In a social media post, the woman shared her shocking story with a screen shot (above) of her complaint to the car-share app Didi

Chinese equivalent to Uber: The woman said she used Didi, a popular app providing car-sharing service

Many people on Chinese social media have commented on the woman's post.

One user wrote: 'Did you not ask him why he doesn't wear pants to drive? There is always a reason for it'.

While another user said: 'This is the most disgusting man!'

And another commented: 'Girls pay attention to safety'.

Car-hailing app Didi is facing a crackdown in China due to incidents such as these.

Earlier this month, the company was forced to admit that a passenger using their service had been killed and robbed by one of their drivers in Shenzhen, southern China.

The driver surnamed Pan was tracked down by police and later admitted that he had picked up the woman and had driven her to an isolated area.

Once there he threatened her with a knife and killed her.

Didi is just one of many car-hailing apps in China.
An emotional video has emerged of a young girl crying while accidentally bumping into her policeman father while he is on patrol.

The man, from China's Zunyi city, has long working hours and rarely gets to see his young daughter, reports Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of the People's Daily Online.

The heartbreaking video posted online on May 11 shows the child crying and won't let go of her father while he patrols the streets.

Heartbreaking: The girl cries when seeing her father on patrol because she rarely gets to spend time with him

Sad: Footage shows the girl becoming emotional and hugging her dad who works as a policeman

The footage shows the young child very upset when she sees her father.

According to Chinese media, she was crying because she doesn't get to spend much time with her father as he has long working hours.

The video was originally posted on Zunyi old town traffic police department's Weibo page.

The post read: 'Speaking from the heart. The father chose people before himself and its a responsibility of all police. We hope his family can understand.

'I hope you can be a support for him'.

The post has had many comments angry that the father hasn't been able to see his young daughter.

One user wrote: 'She's just a little girl. She just wants to have a father to accompany her in childhood. In her mind, police means little at all.'

While another commented: 'There must be more understanding of the police. Do not take their hard work for granted.'

And another said: 'Give him a break now.'

Furious: The post has had many comments angry that the father hasn't been able to see his young daughter

Brave man: The police department's post on Weibo said they hopes the man's family could understand
Two car owners in China have been locked in a bizarre stand-off for over a year.

According to reports, the two owners decided to take matters into their own hands after getting involved in a fight in Xi'an, Shaanxi province by blocking the other in with their car.

The Porsche blocked in the BMW leaving both stranded at the residential area ever since, reports the People's Daily Online.

Ongoing argument: Apparently the owner of the Porsche decided to block the other in after an altercation

Resolution? Police have now stepped in to try and mediate the situation but have had no luck so far

Not moved for a year: The vehicles have been sitting around since April 2015 gathering dust

According to Chinese media, the men live in the same residential community.

They got into a fight around a year ago which turned violent. However instead of calling the police, the Porsche Boxster driver decided to box in the 5 series BMW.

Both of the vehicles have stayed there ever since collecting dust and have apparently not been moved since April 2015.

Police in Xi'an have reportedly stepped in to try and mediate the argument.

The owners haven't come to check on their cars once since the time they have been there.

According to Autohome.com.cn, the starting price for the Porsche is around 600,000 yuan (63,700) and the BMW 5 series costs between 430,000 (45,600) to 770,000 yuan (81,700).

There have been cases of cars blocking in others along with garages in the past.

Web users have noticed that the cars are stuck outside a bank and because of this the company, ICBC have been forced to open another next door.

One garage owner was so fed up by being blocked by other cars that he hired a forklift truck to place them on the garage roof.

Pictures of the scenes in Qingdao were posted onto the Chinese social media on February 21 and were quickly shared. Many web users cheered the garage owner's decision by saying 'well done'.

Almost neighbours: According to Chinese media, the men live in the same residential community

An odd way to settle an argument: The car owners have been locked in a bizarre stand-off for over a year
The US military is at the forefront of futuristic tech from lasers on aircraft to stealth jets and now it has been showing off its developments designed to help its soldiers and patients.

At a science fair-style event at The Pentagon, the $3 billion agency has demoed its advanced prosthetic arms able to restore the sense of touch and feel to amputees.

It also showcased implants that can help restore the memory of people suffering brain injuries or in people with post traumatic stress disorder.

At a science fair-style event at The Pentagon, Darpa has demoed prosthetic arms able to restore the sense of touch and feel to amputees. One of the amputees at the event was Johnny Matheny (shown)

One of the amputees at the event was Johnny Matheny.

Mr Matheny, 61, lost his left arm to cancer in 2008, and now works with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better know as Darpa.

'In the beginning, you had to think pretty hard about individual movements,' said Matheny as he demonstrated his mastery of the black metallic limb, clenching the fist and swiveling his wrist in a natural-looking motion.

'It just comes natural now, I don't even have to think about it.'

'SOFT' EXOSUIT WILL LIGHTEN LOAD Engineers have created a flexible exosuit designed to make their lives slightly easier because it reduces the energy cost of walking when carrying heavy load. The textile suit, using cables and motors, could also be used by hikers and emergency professionals who are first on the scene of an incident. The suit, produced by engineers at Harvard University, comprises a waist belt, two thigh pieces and two calf straps, connected by cables to two motors mounted on a backpack. The energy from the motors travels via cables to the suit which transfers it to the wearer. The suit becomes active only when it detects a walking motion. It assists the hip and ankle joints which together contribute about 80 per cent of the power produced by the leg joints during walking.

To see Darpa's other impacts, look no further than the phone in your pocket.

Many of the technologies inside - including the accelerometers that tell the phone which way is up, the voice recognition software and the touch screen - are all rooted in Darpa research.

Even the web has Darpa ancestry, as the agency helped build the first connections between computers.

Mr Matheny's prosthetic arm is experimental, meaning it must still clear regulatory hurdles before it is commercially available.

It clips directly onto his body thanks to a metal device surgically placed into the remainder of his arm, amputated above the elbow.

Mr Matheny controls it through sensors that pick up signals in the residual nerves that once ran to his fingertips.

Standing in the next stall was Fred Downs, 71, a former combat soldier who ran the US Department of Veterans Affairs' prosthetics program for 30 years.

Mr Downs lost his left arm when he stepped on a 'bouncing Betty' landmine in Vietnam in 1968. The devices shoot out the ground and explode at waist height.

'When you are a strong healthy solider, you get blown up and your whole life changes,' Lieutenant Downs said.

'You look at the array of prosthetic devices, it gives you hope and makes you realize that you are going to be able to become functional again and independent.'

Such technology was once the realm of science fiction - like the 1980 classic movie 'The Empire Strikes Back,' where Luke Skywalker gets a prosthetic hand after losing his own in a lightsaber dual with Darth Vader (shown)

Mr Matheny's prosthetic arm is experimental, meaning it must still clear regulatory hurdles before it is commercially available. It clips directly onto his body thanks to a metal device surgically placed into the remainder of his arm, amputated above the elbow (pictured)

More than 1,600 US troops underwent amputations during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, often after hitting roadside bombs.

Lieutenant Downs uses a silver-coloured prosthetic called a Deka arm that he controls by twitching muscles in his feet.

These signals are transmitted wirelessly to the arm, which also can be controlled in a manner similar to Matheny's.

First developed in 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the Deka for commercial sale.

Such technology was once the realm of science fiction - like the 1980 classic movie 'The Empire Strikes Back,' where Luke Skywalker gets a prosthetic hand after losing his own in a lightsaber dual with Darth Vader.

Other technologies on display included a phone app that allows the real-time translation of spoken Iraqi Arabic to English and a model of a vertical takeoff aircraft (pictured)

The showcase also featured climbing pads that mimic the structure of a gecko's foot to let a human scale almost any surface (pictured being demonstrated at the Washington event)

Darpa is pushing such technologies further still.

Already, scientists have tested artificial limbs that let a wearer 'feel' sensations, and a paralyzed woman controlled two robotic arms with thought alone, through wires connected to the brain.

'We are just getting into what's possible,' said Justin Sanchez, the director of DARPA's Biological Technologies Office, which is developing memory implants for people suffering from traumatic brain injury.

About 340,000 current and former US troops have the condition, which can be caused by concussion or explosions.

Mr Sanchez said patients have shown a 20-30 percent improvement in memory, but he expects that number to rise.

Retired Lieutenant Fred Downs, who lost his arm to a land mine in the Vietnam War, uses his robotic hand that moves and provides sensations similar to a normal limb during the Darpa Demo Day at The Pentagon

Engineers recently created a flexible exosuit designed to make their lives slightly easier because it reduces the energy cost of walking when carrying heavy load. An exhibitor is pictured discussing a similar under suit that helps people on long marches reduce fatigue and avoid injuries at the event

'That shows how the accelerated pace of Darpa work can change how we think about these problems,' Mr Sanchez said.

Other technologies on display included a phone app that allows the real-time translation of spoken Iraqi Arabic to English, climbing pads that mimic the structure of a gecko's foot to let a human scale almost any surface and radio technologies that let military operators communicate when their signals are being jammed by an enemy.

'Sometimes, it doesn't work well enough, it may just die on the vine or perhaps get picked up years down the line,' Darpa spokesman Rick Weiss said.
moved pasted their frustration, they tried new strategies to open the box such as flipping it and dragging it around

If animals were led to a locked box, they would start flicking their tail

The way squirrels move their tails says a great deal about their emotional state.

Researchers observed how fox squirrels flick their bushy tails in frustration when an obstacle stood between them and a nut.

Although their tails snapped with aggression, the team says this type of frustration can help the creatures improve their strategies for finding food.

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Researchers tracked 22 wild fox squirrels and trained each one to perform a series of foraging tasks, which was done through food reinforcement using a walnut. These tasks led them to different opened and locked boxes containing nuts or grains

WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND? Researchers tracked 22 wild fox squirrels and trained each one to perform a series of foraging tasks, which was done through food reinforcement using a walnut. These tasks led the critters to different opened and locked boxes containing nuts or grains. After each squirrel ran the course nine times, they were tested in one of four different conditions: a control condition with the expected reward (the walnut), an alternative reinforcement (a piece of dried corn), an empty box or a locked box. Researchers videotaped the events and found once the animals moved pasted their frustration, they tried new strategies to open the box such as flipping it and dragging it around.

The study was conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, which is said to be among the first studies of this kind performed with free-ranging animals, reports Berkeley News.

'Our results demonstrate the universality of emotional responses across species,' said study lead author Mikel Delgado, a doctoral student in psychology at UC Berkeley.

'After all, what do you do when you put a dollar in a soda machine and don't get your soda?

'Curse and try different tactics.'

Delgado and his team tracked 22 wild fox squirrels and trained each one to perform a series of foraging tasks, which was done through food reinforcement using a walnut.

These tasks led them to different opened and locked boxes containing nuts or grains.

After each squirrel ran the course nine times before being tested in one of four different conditions: a control condition with the expected reward (the walnut), an alternative reinforcement (a piece of dried corn), an empty box or a locked box.

After each squirrel ran the course nine times, they were tested in one of four different conditions: a control condition with the expected reward (the walnut), an alternative reinforcement (a piece of dried corn), an empty box or a locked box

Researchers videotaped the events and found once the animal moved pasted its frustration, it tried new strategies to open the box -- such as flipping it and dragging it around. The team says the study shows that squirrels are persistent when facing a challenge

As predicted, the squirrels' tails began to flick if they stumbled upon a piece of corn or a locked box  which proved to be the most irritating.

Researchers videotaped the events and found once the animal moved pasted its frustration, it tried new strategies to open the box -- such as flipping it and dragging it around.

They also spent more time interacting with the box.

'This study shows that squirrels are persistent when facing a challenge,' Delgado said.

'When the box was locked, rather than giving up, they kept trying to open it, and tried multiple methods to do so.'
It is the most active volcano in Europe, blowing its top every few years and spewing magma to release pressure.

But rather than being an immovable funnel of rock, Italy's Mount Etna grows and shrinks as the years roll by.

An animation from Nasa, using radio satellite imagery, has captured this activity to make the volcano appear as if it's 'breathing' over the course of a decade.

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An animation from Nasa has captured Mount Etna 'breathing' over the course of a decade (still pictured). The volcano, located on the island of Sicily and the most active in Europe, last erupted in December 2015

The animation was originally released by the space agency in 2012, but has recently re-emerged on social media.

According to LiveScience, the animation was created from satellite data from the European Space Agency.

Two Esa satellites captured images of Etna from the heavens and bounced radio waves off the surface, in a process called radar interferometry.

By detecting changes in the rates at which the radio waves returned to the satellites the space agencies could determine the peaks and troughs of the landscape.

Two Esa satellites captured images of the volcano by bouncing radio waves off the Earth's surface, in a process called radar interferometry. The radar data was then analysed and animated to show the changes over time. Pictured is the spectaular 2013 eruption of Mt Etna

WHY MOUNT ETNA 'BREATHES' Nasa created the animation in 2012 from European satellite data. Two Esa satellites, ERS1 and ERS2, bounced radio waves off the surface to measure the topography of the surface in a process called radar interferomtry. The animation shows the crust is distorted as the volcano's magma chamber - 5 km (3 miles) below sea level - swells with magma. The volcano is seen to shrink when the pressure is released - coinciding with eruptions.

Stitching the radar imagery data together from the ERS1 and ERS2 satellites shows how the region's crust changed over time.

Red areas highlight the greatest amount of displacement, which showed that some areas grew as much as 6 inches (15cm).

Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory explained the reason for the shift is the deformation of a magma chamber around 3 miles (5km) below sea level, which swells as it fills with magma and shrinks after each eruption releases the built up magma and pressure.

As the animation plays, viewers can see multiple the changes coincide with multiple eruptions.

At the start of the video, a large eruption is in progress which ended in March 1993.

But after this, the volcano can be seen to swell over the next two years until another significant eruption at the end of 1995.

Early on in the Nasa animation, radar data shows the volcano is not significantly growing or shrinking, coinciding with eruptions in the early 1990s (still pictured)

But towards the end of the animation the topography shows that some regions of the volcano (marked in red) have grown by around 6 inches (15cm), as the magma chamber below sea level swells

Nasa explained: 'Eruption activity progressively increased in magnitude through the late 1990's and culminated with large flank eruptions in 2001 and 20022003.'

Mount Etna has been active for thousands of years and one of the Sicilian volcano's largest recorded eruptions was in the latter half of the 1600s.

This killed an estimated 20,000 of the island's inhabitants. But historians first recorded its rumblings in 475 BCE.

The volcano, which last erupted in a spectacular display in early December, has five craters which regularly smoke and spew lava.

Growing and shrinking volcanoes are a visible reminder of the active geology of the planet.

One of the most demonstrative examples of such activity  and referenced by Bill Bryson in A Short History of Nearly Everything  is the dormant Mexican volcano Paricutin.
Two leading Australian archaeology experts have admitted they have no direct evidence for their claims this week to have found the world's oldest axe with a handle.

A statement issued by the Australian National University said 'the world's oldest hafted axe'  one with a handle - had been found in Western Australia.

Dated to between 46,000 and 49,000 years old, this meant aboriginal colonists likely invented the world's leading technology at the time - and were at least 11,000 years ahead of any other humans.

But these claims have now been called into question.

Two leading archaeology experts have admitted they have no direct evidence for their claims this week to have found the world's oldest axe with a handle. A statement issued by the Australian National University said 'the world's oldest hafted axe'  one with a handle - had been found in Western Australia (pictured)

The ANU statement was based on an academic paper published in the journal Australian Archaeology, in which Professor Peter Hiscock of the University of Sydney, and Professor Susan O'Connor of ANU described their discovery of fingernail-sized rock fragments from a cave in the Kimberley region.

These showed the tell-tale signs of having been manually worked to produce a ground edge.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal found alongside the fragments provided the estimate of the axe's age.

When questioned by MailOnline about how small samples from the cutting edge of a stone tool could prove the tool had a handle, both Professor Hiscock and Professor O'Connor acknowledged there was no such evidence.

NO EVIDENCE FOR THE CLAIMS A hafted axe is an axe with a handle attached. Stone hand axes have been dated to over 3 million years, but the Australian find was said to be the earliest axe to have had a fully formed handle. The latest reports suggest the technology was developed in Australia after people arrived around 50,000 years ago. However, when questioned by MailOnline about how small samples from the cutting edge of a stone tool could prove the tool had a handle, researchers there was no such evidence. One added whole axes have been found in Australia dating to about 25,000 years and they have features such as handle 'waists.' Another said: 'We hypothesise it may well have been hafted, though of course we acknowledge that it cannot be tested. 'Design and context features make me feel the likelihood is high. But who knows?'

Susan O'Connor replied to enquiries by acknowledging it is 'not possible to know from such small pieces that it was hafted.'

But she added whole axes have been found in Australia which date to about 25,000 years and they have features such as 'waists' for the haft.

As part of the research, O'Connor said the team 'inferred' these flakes came from a hafted tool.

Peter Hiscock endorsed this position.

'We hypothesise it may well have been hafted, though of course we acknowledge that it cannot be tested. Design and context features make me feel the likelihood is high. But who knows?'

Stone hand axes have been dated to over 3 million years, but the Australian find was said to be the earliest axe to have had a fully formed handle.

Fragments of the axe were unearthed from a cave in Windjana Gorge National Park in Western Australia more than 20 years ago, but have only now been recognised for their significance.

The archaeologists said the axe - which was found without a handle attached - dates to between 46,000 and 49,000 years ago, shortly after people first arrived in Australia.

This would make it at least 11,000 years older than the previous record holder, an axe found in Japan.

The axe fragments (pictured) were unearthed in Kimberley, Western Australia in the 1990s. When questioned about how small samples from the cutting edge of a stone tool could prove the tool had a handle, both researchers admitted they had no evidence, with one saying: 'Who knows?'

Stone tools first emerged more than 3 million years ago, but analysis of the samples may be the earliest example of hafted axe technology ever being used. Researchers said other regions don't show evidence of this type of tool use until around 10,000 years ago. Pictured are examples of full axe heads examples

What made the new findings so significant is that throughout the rest of the world, hafted axes do not appear until just 10,000 years ago.

The samples suggested the technology was invented in Australia, and not imported when the first people arrived about 50,000 years ago.

'We know that they didn't have axes where they came from. There are no axes in the islands to the north,' said Professor O'Connor earlier this week. 'They arrived in Australia and innovated.'

The axe fragments measure just a few millimetres and were first discovered by Professor O'Connor in the early 1990s, from a large rock shelter known as Carpenter's Gap 1.

OLDEST HAFTED AXE POINTS TO ABORIGINE ORIGINS The axe fragment was unearthed in Kimberley, Western Australia in 1990s in Windjana Gorge National Park. New analysis of the fragment show it is made of fine-grained basalt rock which was shaped by grinding it against much softer rocks, such as sandstone, giving it its edge and polished finish. Researchers believe it would have been used as a tool to cut down trees and sharpen wooden spear heads. While the earliest stone tools emerged 3.4 million years ago, ground-edged tools such as the axe, emerged much later. According to the Australian researchers, their fragment could be between 46,000 and 49,000 years old. The team said evidence of this type of hafted stone axe didn't emerge in other parts of the world until as recently as around 10,000 years ago. However, these claims have now been called into question. The axe fragment was unearthed in Kimberley, Western Australia in 1990s. Researchers believe the fragment may be significantly older than the earliest axe found in Japan, which coincides with aborigines first arriving on the Australian continent

The flakes were analysed by Professor Peter Hiscock from the University of Sydney.

'The question of when axes were invented has been pursued for decades, since archaeologists discovered that in Australia axes were older than in many other places,' he said.

'Now we have a discovery that appears to answer the question.'

The analysis of fragments revealed the axe is made of basalt that has been shaped and polished by grinding it against a softer rock like sandstone.

Researchers Tim Maloney and Sue O'Connor (pictured left and right with examples of early axe technology) led the latest analysis of the axe fragments. They believe the technology may have been invented in Australia after the first people arrived on the continent

Pictured is a complete axe head, an example of early stone age tools. Such tools would have been fundamental to life of first Australian settlers, but if the samples found were from an advanced hafted axe technology, it hints that these early Aboriginal peoples were more advanced than previously thought

The archaeologists said the axe would have been used for a variety of tasks including making spears and chopping down trees.

But it seems the inventors did not export their new hafted axe technology. Although humans spread across Australia, axes were only made in the tropical north.

Carpenter's Gap 1, where the fragments were found, is a site of great archaeological importance in Australia.

The large limestone rock shelter is believed to have been almost continuously occupied since the first humans arrived around 50,000 years ago.

Excavations have revealed fragments of marine shells and shell beads, which must have been transported at least 100 km (60 miles) from the sea.

The roof and walls of the shelter are covered in pictographs and motifs including animal tracks, made using red, yellow, brown, and white ochre and charcoal.
Mainly used to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue

There are currently 58 of these surgical systems in the NHS

The robot is controlled by a human surgeon sitting a few feet away

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with more than 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

But help in beating this form of life-threatening disease is coming in an usual form - from robots.

A revolutionary form of surgery that uses a state-of-the-art robot to remove tumours has treated more than 350 patients in its first 18 months in a hospital in Wales.

A revolutionary form of surgery which uses a state-of-the-art robot to remove tumours has treated more than 350 patients in its first 18 months in a hospital in Wales. Named the da Vinci robot, the equipment is being used three days a week in the University Hospital of Wales, and solely on prostate cancer patients

Named the da Vinci robot, the equipment is being used three days a week in the University Hospital of Wales, and solely on prostate cancer patients.

Surgeons controlling the robotic machines, pictured

Since it was introduced to the hospital, more than 350 operations have taken place using the 2.5 million ($3.6 million) device.

There are currently 58 of these surgical systems in the NHS, undertaking operations for a variety of common complaints, from the removal of kidney and bladder cancers to basic heart surgery - though their main use is in surgical removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue in men with prostate cancer.

All robotic surgery is performed using keyhole techniques, involving a few small incisions in the abdominal wall through which a miniature video camera and surgical instruments are inserted.

The robot has three different components - the robotic cart, the surgeon console and the endoscopic stack or column.

Since the first surgical robot arrived at St Mary's Hospital, London, in 2000, the number of them in UK hospitals has multiplied rapidly.

The da Vinci robot is the most common, a set of three or four robotic arms controlled by a human surgeon sitting a few feet away.

'I start all operations just like a normal keyhole procedure and then, when everything is ready, the robot slave unit is placed next to the patient,' said Dr Shahab Siddiqi, a surgeon who has used the Da Vinci robot, writing in The Spectator.

There are currently 58 of these surgical systems in the NHS, undertaking operations for a variety of common complaints, though their main use is in surgical removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue in men with prostate cancer. Staff preparing for surgery in the operating theatre pictured

RISE OF ROBO-SURGERIES Most common is the da Vinci robot (pictured), a set of three or four robotic arms controlled by a human surgeon sitting a few feet away Since the first surgical robot arrived at St Mary's Hospital, London, in 2000, the number of them in UK hospitals has multiplied rapidly. Most common is the da Vinci robot, a set of three or four robotic arms controlled by a human surgeon sitting a few feet away. There are currently 58 of these surgical systems in the NHS, undertaking operations for a variety of common complaints, from the removal of kidney and bladder cancers to basic heart surgery - though their main use is in surgical removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue in men with prostate cancer. In 2012, 1,595 of these operations were carried out using robots - 29 per cent of the total performed. In future there could be many more robot operations. Earlier this year, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children used a Neuro-Mate robot to drill into the brain of a teenager with epilepsy and implant electrodes to detect the area triggering his seizures. Once located, this scrap of tissue was removed. But safety concerns have been raised in the US, where several lawsuits have been filed against Intuitive Surgical, which makes the da Vinci robot. Advertisement

Grandfather Alan Blackham, from Creigiau, opted to have his prostate cancer removed using the robot in March. The 60-year-old (pictured) first discovered he had the disease after discovering blood in his urine and later undergoing a biopsy

A ROBO SUCCESS STORY Grandfather Alan Blackham, from Creigiau , opted to have his prostate cancer removed using the robot in March. The 60-year-old first discovered he had the disease after discovering blood in his urine and later undergoing a biopsy. He now acts as a 'buddy' for other men going through the process. He said: 'When I was first told I had prostate cancer, the only words I remember the consultant saying were 'I'm not giving you a life sentence'. 'That stuck in the back of my mind.' After researching the robotic surgery on the internet, he said it was a 'no brainer' to undergo the prostatectomy using the surgical robot. 'The machinery makes the operation so much easier on the body,' he said. 'Even though it's a robot carrying out the procedure, it's the surgeon who is in control. The whole team were absolutely fabulous in the way they dealt with me.' Advertisement

'This slave unit has robotic arms.

'These arms are attached to keyhole instruments that in turn enter the patient's body through small incisions at different sites.

'I will then leave the patient and go and sit in the surgeon console, which is usually at the side of the operating theatre (but can be miles away).

'I use hand and foot controls in the surgeon console to control the slave unit arms and instruments to operate.'

The surgery, which has been described as the 'gold standard' for prostate cancer treatment, has greatly improved outcomes since it was brought to the University Hospital of Wales in September 2014.

It is mainly used for prostate surgery, but there is scope to use it for other procedures in the near future.

Cancer and heart operations could soon be carried out entirely by robots - reducing the risk of mistakes, according to new research.

Although robots have been used in hospitals for decades, those are controlled by surgeons.

Last week it was revealed a supervised autonomous robot has been able to successfully perform soft tissue surgery, outperforming experts in open bowel surgery in pigs.

Although robots have been used in hospitals for decades, they can only be worked by surgeons. Last week it was revealed a supervised autonomous robot has been able to successfully perform soft tissue surgery, outperforming experts in open bowel surgery in pigs. Stock image

Researchers designed and programmed Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (Star) to perform complex surgical tasks (pictured). Equipped with a robotic arm and surgical tools, Star combines smart imaging technologies and fluorescent markers to navigate and adapt to the complexities of soft tissue

By taking human intervention out of the equation, they could potentially reduce complications and improve the safety and efficacy of operations.

MEDICAL ERRORS AND DEATH Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer, a new study has today revealed. More than 250,000 deaths each year are caused by medical error, patient safety experts at Johns Hopkins University identified. That figure surpasses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) third leading cause of death, respiratory disease, which kills close to 150,000 people each year. Advertisement

Dr Peter Kim, of the Children's National Medical Centre, Washington DC, said: 'Probably the most surprising part was when you compare it to current standards of practise, the machine does it better.

'Just imagine having the best technology and technique available and having these intelligent systems. It will ultimately have better outcomes and save lives.'

He said with further development, autonomous robotic surgery may one day take human error out of the operating room, improving care for patients undergoing bowel surgery, tumour removal and other soft tissue surgery.

His researchers designed and programmed Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (Star) to perform complex surgical tasks.

The researchers tested their robot against manual surgery by expert surgeons, carrying out a simple bowel procedure called a laparoscopy, and robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System (pictured). Under supervision, Star proved superior to all approaches in suturing and reconnecting bowel segments

Equipped with a robotic arm and surgical tools, Star combines smart imaging technologies and fluorescent markers to navigate and adapt to the complexities of soft tissue.

The researchers tested their robot against manual surgery by expert surgeons, carrying out a simple bowel procedure called a laparoscopy, and robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System.

Under supervision, Star proved superior to all approaches in suturing and reconnecting bowel segments, known as intestinal anastomosis, in experiments on pigs.

The animals survived the operation with no complications, reports Science Translational Medicine.

Dr Alex Krieger, also of the Children's Medcial National Centre, said: 'Current robotic surgery is tele operated. The robot is directed by the surgeon.

'Our innovation is really to make it more autonomous, so you do not have to direct every motion.

'You program in what is the ideal spacing between sutures, what is the perfect tension and how many sutures should be placed and then the robot executes this suturing plan.'

Efforts in automating surgery have made headway for hard tissues, such as in bone cutting, but have proven challenging for soft tissues, which are malleable and mobile and, thus, more unpredictable.
Biologists have discovered a strange single-celled creature which lacks the usual cellular 'power stations needed' to produce energy.

It was thought all complex cells, including animals, plants and fungi, contained the tiny power-producing organs called mitochondria.

But a team in the Czech Republic has discovered a microscopic creature that contains no trace of them at all, making them a biological oddity.

Biologists have discovered a strange single-celled creature which lack the usual cellular power stations needed to produce energy. The creature, called Monocercomonoides (pictured), is at odds with the idea that mitochondria are essential components of eukaryotic cells

The creature, a type of single-celled organism called Monocercomonoides, is at odds with the idea that mitochondria are essential components of eukaryotic cells.

This group includes animals, plants, fungi and a host of others.

Mitochondria generate the power for cells by using oxygen and sugar to produce packets of chemical energy called ATP.

But instead of using these organs to produce energy, scientists believe the single-celled creatures use a chemical process involving sulphur.

'In low-oxygen environments, eukaryotes often possess a reduced form of the mitochondrion, but it was believed that some of the mitochondrial functions are so essential that these organelles are indispensable for their life,' explained Dr Anna Karnkowska, a researcher at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Eukaryotic cells, which include animals, plants and fungi, contain many of energy producing mitochondria, which produce chemical energy. Pictured are mouse fibroblast cells, with the DNA contained within the nucleus (blue), and thousands of energy producing mitochondria (green) clearly visible

Instead of using mitochondria to produce energy, scientists believe Monocercomonoides (pictured) use a chemical process involving sulphur, which they may have inherited from bacteria

LIFE WITHOUT MITOCHONDRIA New research from biologists in the Czech republic and Canada has revealed a complex cell which contains no trace of mitochondria. The creature is a type of single-celled organism called a Monocercomonoides and is at odds with the idea that mitochondria are essential components of eukaryotic cells - which include animals, plants, fungi. Researchers have known about species of monocercomonoides for more than 80 years, and the organisms are related to single-celled human parasites, which live in low-oxygen environments. Rather than evolving without mitochondria, biologists believe that the cells lost these power organs at some point in their evolutionary past. The team aims to find out at exactly which point in the past the creatures lost their mitochondria, adding that there may be a whole group of organism to which the creature belongs which also lack the organelles. The findings are significant because they go against what biologists widely held, that mitochondria are essential components of eukaryotic cells.

'We have characterised a eukaryotic microbe which indeed possesses no mitochondrion at all.'

Rather than evolving without mitochondria, biologists believe the cells lost these power organs at some point in their evolutionary past.

Instead, it is thought the cells swapped traded DNA with bacteria  in a process known as gene transfer  in order to inherit a sulphur transfer process which produces energy.

The findings are published today in the journal Current Biology.

The authors explained: 'This is the first example of a eukaryote lacking any form of a mitochondrion, demonstrating that this organelle is not absolutely essential for the viability of a eukaryotic cell.'

Researchers have known about species of Monocercomonoides for more than 80 years, and the organisms are related to single-celled human parasites, which live in low-oxygen environments.

But new analysis of the creature's genome, led by researchers in the Czech Republic and Canada, showed they lacked mitochondrial proteins.

The team believes Monocercomonoides have 'evolved beyond the known limits that biologists circumscribed'.

'This amazing organism is a striking example of a cell which refuses to adhere to the standard cell biology text book, and we believe there may be many more similar examples in the so far hidden diversity in the world of microbial eukaryotes-the protists,' said Karnkowska.

Researchers have known about monocercomonoides (pictured) for more than 80 years, and the organisms are related to single-celled human parasites which live in low-oxygen environments. Rather than evolving without mitochondria, biologists believe the cells lost these organs at some point in their evolutionary past

The researchers said they'd now like to learn more about how these organisms function.

They'd also like to better characterise Monocercomonoides and its relatives to understand their discovery in a broader, evolutionary context.

WHAT ARE MITOCHONDRIA? In every cell in the body, mitochondria are responsible for producing energy (in the form of ATP) which the cell needs to function. If our cells do not have energy, then the tissues or body organs that the cells are made up of do not work properly. It is thought mitochondria evolved independently from eurkarotic cells and the two joined at some point in the very distant evolutionary past, when a common ancestor of animals, plants and fungi engulfed a smaller independent organism.

'Existence of such organism proves the fact that a eukaryotic cell - cells with a true nucleus - can live without mitochondrion,' said Dr Vladimir Hampl, a biologist at Charles University in Prague and senior author of the study.

The biologist said the team now aims to find out at which point in the past these creatures lost their mitochondria, adding there may be a whole group of organism to which the creature belongs, called oxymonads, which lack the organelles.

Dr Hampl told MailOnline: 'Before we knew about this organism, it seemed that mitochondrion is present in all eukaryotic cells, even if in some it does not produce energy, which is otherwise the best know function of it.

'Still, even without the energy production, the mitochondria were performing other essential metabolism without which the cell could not live.
Everyone knows what it is like to wake up after a heavy night of drinking, feeling they won't make it through the day.

For a group of 18th century British soldiers, however, this feeling was more of an unfortunate reality.

Researchers have discovered varying concentrations of lead in the bones of 31 soldiers, and they think one of the likely causes for this poisoning is the rum they drank.

A group of scientists from Lakeland University, Ontario examined 31 people found in the Royal Naval Hospital in English Harbor, Antigua. The skeletons ranged from infants to adults, and provided clues to the diverse nature of the population

British soldiers were sent to seize French possessions in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars, in the late 18th century.

A group of scientists from Lakeland University, Ontario have now examined 31 people found in the Royal Naval Hospital cemetery in English Harbor, Antigua.

The skeletons ranged from infants to adults, and provided clues to the diverse nature of the population.

Men of both European and African ancestry were buried in the cemetery.

The European men were British naval personnel, while the African men were enslaved laborers associated with the Navy.

Professor Tamara Varney, lead author, and her team found a range of lead concentrations in the skeletons they sampled.

'Excessive drinking and lead poisoning have been suggested as being serious health issues for the navy of the period,' Professor Varney told MailOnline.

'But this idea had never been tested on the remains of individuals serving in the navy at the time. Previous work in this area includes the testing of the skeletal remains of enslaved labourers from a sugar planation in Barbadoes. But not with SR-XRF that we have been using.'

Men of both European and African ancestry were buried in the cemetery. The European men were British naval personnel, while the African men were enslaved laborers associated with the Navy. Three adult skeletons from the Royal Naval Hospital cemetery in Antigua (circa 1793-1822) are shown

WHERE DID THE LEAD COME FROM? There are a number of ways the soldiers could have been exposed to lead, including canned goods, medicinal treatments, and contaminated water sources. But this cemetery pre-dates the use of canned foods by the Royal Navy, which makes those an unlikely source. Because the skeletons are associated with a hospital, medicinal use could explain the high lead levels, as could the fact that Antigua lacks sufficient natural water sources to provision an army. Rainwater stored in cisterns or other lead-lined containers could have contributed. Another possibility 'is the consumption of lead contaminated alcoholic beverages, notably rum,' Professor Varney and colleagues said. 'Rum was both formally and informally distilled using lead worms (condensation coils) on stills, and it was consumed in quantity by naval personnel who were entitled and accustomed to at least their daily allotment of rum, a well-established tradition in the Royal Navy.'

Using a technique called synchrotron radiation x-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF), Professor Varney essentially mapped the distribution of lead in a thin section of human bone from 17 adult males.

Then, they used mass spectrometry to measure the precise amount of lead in the bones.

The concentrations ranged from between 13 and 336 parts per million, where a 'normal' range of lead is 5 to 30 ppm.

A person with more than 80 ppm of lead in their bones normally shows symptoms of lead poisoning.

Before it was discovered to be toxic, lead was used to make pipes, pots, ammunition, cosmetics and flavouring.

There are a number of ways the soldiers could have been exposed to lead, including canned goods, medicinal treatments, and contaminated water sources.

But this cemetery pre-dates the use of canned foods by the Royal Navy, which makes those an unlikely source.

Because the skeletons are associated with a hospital, medicinal use could explain the high lead levels, as could the fact that Antigua lacks sufficient natural water sources to provision an army.

Rainwater stored in cisterns or other lead-lined containers could have contributed.

Another possibility 'is the consumption of lead contaminated alcoholic beverages, notably rum,' Professor Varney and colleagues said.

Excessive consumption of Antiguan rum, along with potential medicinal treatments and stagnant water, likely contributed to the high levels of lead in the bones of these men associated with the British Royal Navy, the researchers said.

British sailors in Antigua may have died from lead poisoning caused by drinking too much rum. Before it was discovered to be toxic, lead was used to make pipes, pots, ammunition and flavouring. A burial site is shown

Excessive consumption of Antiguan rum, along with potential medicinal treatments and stagnant water, likely contributed to the high levels of lead found in the bones of these men associated with the British Royal Navy, the researchers said. Remains of two soldiers are pictured

'Rum was both formally and informally distilled using lead worms (condensation coils) on stills, and it was consumed in quantity by naval personnel who were entitled and accustomed to at least their daily allotment of rum, a well-established tradition in the Royal Navy.'

On top of this, one of the skeletons that did not have high levels of lead did have high levels of mercury.

This toxic element was commonly used in the era before antibiotics to treat diseases like syphilis and yellow fever.

British soldiers were sent to seize French possessions in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars, in the late 18th century. Locator map pictured

Yellow fever epidemic is known historically to have affected European soliders in the West Indies, so it is possible this particular man was treated with mercury to the point that he suffered from mercury toxicity.

Although the dangers of heavy metals like lead and mercury have been known for centuries, bioarchaeologists around the world are finding evidence of heavy metal poisoning in a variety of skeletons.
So-called 'reconciliation programmes' established after civil wars can help societies to heal, but they may do so at the expense of individuals' mental health.

This is the conclusion of a major study carried out across 200 villages in Sierra Leone which suffered more than a decade of civil war between 1991 and 2002.

Reconciliation efforts there led to greater forgiveness and strengthened social cohesion, but also caused damage to the psychological health of individuals, the researchers found.

The establishment of truth and reconciliation programmes after civil war can help societies to heal, but this may be at the expense of individual mental health, according to a new report. An image of a Kamajor carrying a rocket propelled grenade in Sierra Leone in 1998 is shown above

This included worsening of depression, anxiety, and trauma.

'Talking about atrocities can prove traumatic, and invoking war memories appears to re-open old wounds,' said Professor Oeindrila Dube of New York University, one of the authors of the study published today in the journal Science.

But the truth and reconciliation efforts were also shown to improve social relations in communities divided by the war.

The reconciliation programme in Sierra Leone, called Fambul Tok ('family talk'), brought victims face to face with perpetrators of war crimes.

Reconciliation efforts in Sierra Leone led to greater forgiveness, and strengthened social cohesion, but also caused damage to the psychological health of individuals, the researchers found. Patricia Lamboi (pictured) 16, lost both her parents in the conflict and was forced to become a prostitute

THE WAR IN SIERRA LEONE The republic of Sierra Leone, in west Africa, experienced a devastating civil war from 1991 to 2002. More than 50,000 people were killed, thousands more had limbs amputated, and over 3 million people  half the population  was displaced. Much of the violence took place within communities, with members from the same villages taking up arms against each other. Following the conflict, the Sierra Leonean government and international community set up a national Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but this covered only a small fraction of the atrocities that took place.

Victims described the atrocities they had suffered, while perpetrators admitted to crimes and sought forgiveness for their actions.

Crucially, nobody was compensated financially or punished for participating.

The scientists tracked 2,383 people in 200 villages - 100 villages where the programme was implemented, and 100 where it was not.

People's attitudes towards former combatants, their mental health and the strength of their social ties were measured, nine months and 31 months after the programme.

The results showed that reconciliation has both positive and negative consequences.

Forgiveness and trust of perpetrators increased by as much as 22 per cent, and social network strength increased as individuals formed more friendships and relied on one another for help and advice.

But post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 36 per cent higher in villages where the programme was implemented, compared to the control group.

'Our results suggest that policymakers need to find ways to mitigate the negative effects of confronting war memories when designing these programmes,' said Professor Jacobus Cilliers of Georgetown University.

'This is a fruitful avenue for future research.'

In the programme, victims described the atrocities they had suffered, while perpetrators admitted to crimes and sought forgiveness for their actions. An image of SLA troops at the front line is Sierra Leone is shown
More than 3,000 years ago, the flourishing Bronze Age civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean suddenly met their downfall.

The Trojan War erupted as one of the final events culminating an era of chaos which one archaeologist has named 'World War Zero', plunging the region into a Dark Age soon after.

And, it was all begun by a mysterious and powerful civilization which came to be known as the 'Sea Peoples,' a new theory suggests.

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More than 3000 years ago, the flourishing Bronze Age civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean suddenly met their downfall. The Trojan War erupted as one of the final events culminating an era of chaos which one archaeologist has named 'World War Zero,' plunging the region into a Dark Age soon after

WHO WERE THE 'SEA PEOPLES' Egyptian texts describe raids on Cyprus and Syria by the 'Sea Peoples.' The researchers suggest these mysterious attackers are actually the Luwians. It's argued that the many Luwian-speaking petty kingdoms and western Asia Minor, a peninsula also called Anatolia, joined together in a coalition to attack the neighbouring Hittites. After destroying the Hittite empire, the Luwians ruled a massive territory from Northern Greece to Lebanon, the researchers say. They were later destroyed during the Trojan War, when the Mycenaean kings joined together to fight them. Advertisement

The new ideas presented by Luwian Studies propose a scenario that could explain the fall of the Bronze Age around 1200 BC, and the events leading up to the Trojan War.

In the new scenario, it's argued that the many Luwian-speaking petty kingdoms and western Asia Minor, a peninsula also called Anatolia, joined together in a coalition to attack the neighbouring Hittites.

As these Luwian kingdoms spoke a common language, they can be discussed as a single civilization, Eberhard Zangger, head of the Zurich-based non-profit, explained to New Scientist.

During the second millennium BCE people speaking a Luwian language lived throughout Asia Minor, Luwian Studies explains.

They were contemporaries, trading partners, and at times opponents of the well-known Minoan, Mycenaean, and Hittite cultures of Greece and Asia Minor.

When the Bronze Age drew to a close, the Greeks lost the art of writing for many centuries. But, the Luwians maintained this for roughly half a millennium, the researchers say.

Texts from the Luwians were discovered in the 19th century, before the Mycenaean, Minoan, and Hittite documents.

Hittite texts reveal that the Luwian coalitions occasionally grew powerful enough to attack the empire.

The new theory suggests the Luwians did so once more, roughly 3200 years ago, converging upon the capital Hattusa from both land and sea.

Later Egyptian texts describe raids on Cyprus and Syria by the 'Sea Peoples,' and the researchers suggest these mysterious attackers are actually the Luwians.

Attackers set fires to temples and palaces, and drove out the ruling class until the Hittite civilization 'vanished into oblivion for three thousand years,' according to the proposal.

The massive Luwian civilization then ruled a territory from Northern Greece to Lebanon, they say.

In the new scenario, it's argued that the many Luwian-speaking petty kingdoms and western Asia Minor, a peninsula also called Anatolia, joined together in a coalition (red) to attack the neighbouring Hittites (green). The new theory suggests the coalition converged upon the Hittite capital Hattusa from land and sea

Shortly after, the Mycenaean kings in Greece banded together to destroy the Luwians, who could not defend their large territory. The Myceneans built a large fleet and attacked the port cities of Asia Minor, which were easily destroyed

Shortly after, the Mycenaean kings in Greece banded together to destroy the Luwians, who could not defend their large territory.

The Myceneans built a large fleet and attacked the port cities of Asia Minor, which were easily destroyed.

Then, the two armies gathered before Troy.

The subsequent battle  the infamous 'Trojan War'  ended in the complete destruction of the Luwian coalition, and the fall of Troy.

But, the victors were met with their own chaos in the years to follow.

Kings returned home from war to clash with the deputies who had since assumed their roles, and some didn't return at all.

Few kings were able to resume their claim to the throne, and 'traditional Mycenaean kingdoms existed next to areas of anarchy,' the researchers explain.

Eventually, a civil war tore through the civilization, and the Mycenaean Era was brought to an end.

A Dark Age began soon after.

Then, the two armies gathered before Troy. The subsequent battle  the infamous 'Trojan War'  ended in the complete destruction of the Luwian coalition, and the fall of Troy. But, the victors were met with their own chaos in the years to follow. 'The Burning of Troy,' pictured above

The researchers from Luwian Studies say this scenario could explain the sudden end of the Late Bronze Age, but not all archaeologists agree with the concept of a 'lost' Luwian civilization, New Scientist explains.

And, some debate the 'World War Zero,' narrative, and explain that that many archaeologists have become skeptical of the ancient narratives which describe 'approximate historical truth,' like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

'Archaeologists will need to discover similar examples of monumental art and architecture across western Anatolia and ideally texts from the same sites to support Zangger's claim of a civilization,' Christoph Bachhuber, of the University of Oxford, told New Scientist.

Though it's been met with some criticism, archaeologists say the research will bring the Late Bronze Age era of western Anatolia into the light for future studies.
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Contrails are a result of combustion leaving the planes engine, but get it close to the sun and it creates a stunning rainbow effect.

A Japanese photographer snapped a plane emitting a rippled rainbow of clouds in the sky over Oshinomura, Yamanashi and shared the brilliant images on Twitter.

The iridescent colours appear when contrails form near the sun and the light reflects off millions of water droplets or ice crystals that form in the condensation from the plane.

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A Japanese photographer snapped of a plane emitting a rippled rainbow of clouds in the sky over Oshinomura, Yamanashi. The brilliant colours appear when contrails form near the sun and the light reflects off small droplets of water or ice crystals that form in the condensation from the plane

HOW DO CONTRAILS FORM? The phenomenon of contrails occurs when aircraft fly above 25,000ft, where the air temperature is around minus 86F. Contrails form when water vapor condenses and freezes around small particles that exist in aircraft exhaust. The water vapor comes from the air and from the plane itself. They are usually short-lived, But if there is already a significant amount of moisture in the atmosphere they can linger for hours, as the excess water vapor from the engines tips the surrounding air past its saturation point. And rainbow contrails appear when they form closer to the sun and the light reflects off millions of water droplets or ice crystals that form in the condensation from the plane.

The photographer, KAGYA, shared rare sighting with Twitter saying he just pointed his super telephoto lens towards the sky and caught the plan flying through a cloud of five different colours.

KAGYA has been working as digital artist since the 1990s and has kept the theme of nature in most of his pieces, such as the universe, the blue planet and humankind  so rainbow contrails fits into his passion.

The phenomenon of contrails occurs when aircraft fly above 25,000ft, where the air temperature is around minus 86F.

This causes water vapor emitted by the engines to crystallize and form the familiar white streaks across the sky, known as contrails.

These can be short-lived.

But if there is already a significant amount of moisture in the atmosphere they can linger for hours, as the excess water vapor from the engines tips the surrounding air past its saturation point.

Although both rainbow and traditional contrails can make a stunning picture, they could also be the reason more solar radiation is reaching our surface, scientists have warned.

Researchers have found new data that suggests the layer of crystals left from the contrails is causing a more diffused type of light.

There isn't enough data to support how much of an effect the icy haze left by airplanes has had, but researchers believe it might be altering the climate system.

'This haze is caused by airplanes, and it is gradually whitening blue skies,' said Charles Long of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, at a press conference this week at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.

'We might be actually conducting some unintentional geoengineering here.'

This theory comes from a previous study of how much sunlight reaches Earth's surface.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, the sun's light seemed to deem then started coming back in full force, proving that energy isn't constant.

When scientists looked for a cause, they tried linking these changes to the sun's variable output, said Martin Wild of the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich during the press conference.

Tremendous amounts of aerosols were sent into our atmosphere in the mid-20th century, which ultimately blocked some of the sun's energy.

The photographer, KAGYA, shared rare sighting with Twitter saying he just pointed his super telephoto lens towards the sky and caught the plan flying through a cloud of five different colours. KAGYA has been working as digital artist since the 1990s and has kept the theme of nature in most of his pieces, such as the universe, the blue planet and humankind  so rainbow contrails fits into his passion

This was caused by the soaring levels of pollution, but once highly populated countries like the U.S. and Europe decreased their amount of pollution, including the amount of aerosols, and the sun appeared to slightly brighten.

In addition to these findings, Long and his colleagues found that some of the sun's light travels directly on the Earth's surface, but some of it gets scattered while travelling through the atmosphere.

With less pollution, this diffuse light should have decreased, but instead it appeared to be increasing.

The phenomenon of contrails occurs when aircraft fly above 25,000ft, where the air temperature is around minus 86F. This causes water vapor emitted by the engines to crystallize and form the familiar white streaks across the sky, known as contrails. Rainbow contrails make for a stunning picture like this image take in the Mid Sussex District 10 years ago

He believes air traffic is the reason for all these particles, as exhaust from an airplane engine has aerosols and water vapor. It's extremely cold high in the atmosphere and these particles serve as nuclei for ice crystals, which form the bright contrails seen flowing behind a plane.

Some of these contrails have been found to contribute to climate change, according to other scientists.
People from Cork don't like food. They are completely and utterly obsessed with it.

From ruddy-faced butchers at the English Market to the innovative vegetarian restaurant chefs doing clever things with kale and couscous, it's all about the edible.

From the moment I check into The River Lee Hotel, a short walk from the centre, it's clear that I won't go hungry.

I plonk myself in an armchair on the terrace bar and watch swans guide their cygnets around the river bend.

Cooking up a storm: Feasting is an art form in a city where the harbour trade brought food from far and wide

Soon a Taste of Cork plate arrives, piled with local cheese, cold meats, soda bread and home-made date chutney.

It's a taste of things to come. The city is effectively an island, like the eye of a needle between two channels of the river, linked by 22 bridges. All of the main streets were once rivers.

Land was reclaimed and quaysides developed with wealth generated by trading butter, whiskey, sugar, tea and beef  as Alice Coyle of Fab Food Trails explains, the modern city really was built on food.

We walk past beautiful, if crumbly, Victorian buildings that house bookshops, cafes and bars.

It's a short walk to grand old buildings such as the Opera House and Crawford Art Gallery, which houses everything from Roman sculptures to abstract paintings and light installations.

Cork is far from cohesive in its look, but you get the impression it doesn't care. It's far too busy having fun.

Alice guides our group around some of the foodie highlights, taking in trendy coffee bar Filter where beans are displayed in jars like sweets and iced coffee is served in beer bottles.

Then it's The Rocket Man, a juice and salad bar on Princes Street, which operated from the back of a van until a year ago.

Further along the street is Nash 19, a Cork institution that's served classy comfort food since 1992. As owner Claire Nash admits, the restaurants are good in Cork  but the producers are better.

The farms (and there are more here than in any other Irish county) are the restaurants' outof-town supermarkets. The English Market, in the centre of the city, is their pantry.

Established in 1778, this is one of the world's oldest markets. It has survived fires, flooding and attempts by the council to turn it into a car park. Little old ladies haggle for sausages and suited gentlemen fork out for smoked salmon from Frank Hederman's renowned smokehouse, which has supplied the Queen.

Upstairs is Farmgate Cafe, which overlooks the market. It's time for another feed, and more local produce: spiced beef carpaccio, wild boar salami, apple chutney and salty, crumbly cheeses. There's barely a breather before I am bombarded with more tasty offerings, this time at vegetarian restaurant Cafe Paradiso.

High spirits: Get to know Ireland's whiskey heritage with a tour of the Jameson distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork

I eat cavolo nero (black cabbage) and Hegarty's cheddar tortellini followed by feta and pistachio couscous cake. The dishes are tasty, cleverly composed and, of course, packed with local (and a little not-so-local) produce.

Paula, from The River Lee Hotel, explains the city was once the domain of the American 'blue rinse brigade', keen to tick a trip to Ireland off their bucket lists. Now the age group is more varied, with young couples and groups of friends enjoying outdoor activities such as sailing around the bay and rowing along the River Lee.

The vibrant bar scene is also a draw, from hidden drinking dens to microbreweries such as Rising Sons. and it seems people here love their drink almost as much as their food.

One of the more unusual watering holes is Arthur Mayne's, which used to be a pharmacy.

Beyond cabinets filled with dusty medicine bottles, evaporated perfumes and ancient syringes, there are people eating tapas at wooden tables.

Another place with bags of character is Crane Lane, which is in an old theatre in the centre. It has four bars and live music every night.

Over at the Jameson distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork, tour guide Brian explains the mystery of the 'e' in 'whiskey'.

This was first added by the Paddy distillery in 1913, in an attempt to distinguish its product as superior. Unfortunately, other Irish and American distillers followed suit. Our last feed is at Fishy Fishy restaurant in quaint Kinsale, half an hour from Cork.

Apparently, it's known for disproportionately high numbers of divorced and single people of a certain age. Locals like to joke: 'Are you married, or living in Kinsale?' Which perhaps explains why four-times divorced, hard-drinking chef Keith Floyd had a bolthole here. That  and the food.
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Those afraid of heights will have a double scare heading up to the roof of New York's Met Museum this summer.

Standing on the rooftop of the iconic Fifth Avenue museum is a 30ft replica of the home of psychotic murderer Norman Bates from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film, Psycho.

Created by British artist Cornelia Parker, the sculpture initially looks like a real house but the clever copy is actually made up of two wooden facades made from a dismantled red barn in up-state New York, so visitors need not run for the hills.

The seeds of the idea for Parker's horrifying folly, whose frontage is supported by scaffolding that can withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour, grew from paintings by US artist Edward Hopper - which inspired the design of the house in Hitchcock's thriller - and classic red barns in rural America, which the artist wanted to somehow include in the piece.

Parker revealed to Dezeen that one of her main aims when creating the spooky sculpture was to create a contrast between the Manhattan skyline and the roof of the museum.

Parker said: 'When I saw the roof and the skyline, I knew I wanted to make something architectural. I read that the Psycho house was based on Hopper's House by the Railroad, so the red barn and the Psycho house became merged.' The sculpture will be on view to the public until October 31 2016.

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Standing in the corner at the top of the iconic museum on Fifth Avenue is a 30ft large-scale 'Psycho Barn' sculpture

The sculpture was created to resemble the Bates family's sinister mansion from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho

Designed by British artist Cornelia Parker, the sculpture initially looks like a real house. Pictured right: The Bates family mansion

Everything down to the porch, windows and layout of the the fictitious murderer's mansion has been mimicked

The sculpture is actually made up of two wooden facades made from a dismantled red barn in up-state New York (pictured)

Scaffolding supports its wooden frontage, which can withhold winds of up to 100 miles per hour

The idea for the creation came when artist Cornelia Parker was looking at paintings by US artist Edward Hopper, classic red barns in rural America and of course the 1960 thriller, Psycho (pictured)

The artist revealed that she wanted to created a contrast between the Manhattan skyline and the roof of the museum

The 'domestic house' on top of the museum stands against some of the world's tallest skyscrapers in the background

Parker said: 'When I saw the roof and the skyline, I knew I wanted to make something architectural. I read that the Psycho house was based on Hopper's House by the Railroad, so the red barn and the Psycho house became merged'
A former erotic film actress has been fined CAD $36,000 (19,500) after her drunken actions on board a plane caused the flight to make an emergency landing.

Harlee McBride, 67, best known for her starring role in 1970s erotic film Young Lady Chatterley, was tied to her seat using plastic restraints on an Air France flight from New York to France in 2014.

She had consumed two drinks prior to boarding the Boeing 777 but became embroiled in a dispute with cabin staff after they refused to serve her more alcohol.

Harlee McBride, 67, best known for her starring role in the 1970s erotic film Young Lady Chatterley, was tied to her seat using plastic restraints on an Air France flight from New York to France back in 2014. She's pictured right with Peter Ratray, who was not involved in the dispute

The Air France flight was diverted to Newfoundland, Canada, after the argument flared

The captain took the decision to make an emergency landing at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland and Ms McBride was taken into custody.

At a court in Gander, McBride pleaded guilty to 'intentional interference with the performance of the flight crew', reports Metro News.

The actress was absent at the hearing, with the plea given by her lawyer Ellen O'Gorman.

Statements of facts were read out, and the court heard how the Gander International Airport Authority received a call about an unruly intoxicated female.

This was not disputed by the defence team.

She was fined $3,850 for an international emergency landing at Gander, worth about $3,150 for plane servicing, and $19,500 for fuel.

Provincial court Judge Harold Porter also fined her an extra $10,000.

Harlee McBride, alongside husband Richard Belzer, now wants to put the flight incident behind her, according to her lawyer

McBride, who is married to Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Richard Belzer, once played the role of an Air France stewardess in the film Raid on Entebbe, starring Charles Bronson.

The court heard how a tray of food fell to the floor during the disturbance, but McBride insists this was not thrown.

She also maintains that she was also reacting to inappropriate behaviour from a man seated next to her, but took full responsibility for the diversion.

CBC News reports that '13 crew members were forced into overtime because of McBride's actions', and Air France said there was a return fee of $10,000 for McBride, but 'the crown could not prove that this fee was charged and it was not included in the final judgement'.

McBride, who has flown with Air France since the incident, was flying back home after attending the funeral of her brother.

'When she looks back, she's glad to put an end to this, pay the fine and get on with her life,' O'Gormon told the court, according to Metro News.
A British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London was forced to divert to Iceland when an off-duty member of staff was found 'slumped on the toilet seat' having 'slashed his wrists.'

The man was discovered in the cubicle by his co-workers on the Airbus A380, in which several Hollywood executives bound for Cannes were travelling. It is not known what he had used to cut himself.

He was given emergency medical help before the plane made a safe landing in Keflavik early Tuesday morning.

A British Airways flight from the US to London diverted to Iceland when a man was found in the toilet with his 'wrists slashed'

'This was a terrible incident, everyone was upset,' a British Airways worker told The Sun, who say that the man was a BA member of staff.

'There was blood and tears. It was truly shocking.'

The Sun report that the man, who it is believed was travelling as a passenger on the flight, was found 'slumped on the toilet seat after executive passengers noticed the cubicle had been locked for a long time'.

The plane is believed to have contained several Hollywood executives, who were travelling on to the Cannes Film Festival from Heathrow.

Publicist Stan Rosenfield, whose clients include George Clooney, was among those on BA Flight 282.

Passengers on the London-bound flight had a two-hour delay while the injured man was taken off the aircraft and hospitalised

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, he said: 'Earlier, I remember going to the bathroom and it said occupied. A little while later, the same thing happened, so I just went to another bathroom.

'Then there were a series of beeps  I've never heard anything like it. All the flight attendants converged in the galley where the bathroom was and drew the curtain.'

A spokesperson for BA told MailOnline Travel: 'Our Los Angeles to Heathrow service diverted into Iceland so that a customer could receive medical assistance.

'The customer was taken to hospital locally and the flight continued to Heathrow after a two-hour delay.'

The passenger is believed to have been discharged from hospital the same day, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

This is a developing story.
Birds are generally considered hazards in the world of aviation as a bird strike can damage planes and even cause fatal accidents.

It's a problem that costs as much as $937million a year in the US alone, with airports using an array of methods to frighten them away, including shooting them dead.

But scientists from US research university William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, believe that they may have a more humane solution to the avian problem - playing a noise that scares birds by preventing them from hearing each other or listening out for predators.

Birds are generally considered hazards in the world of aviation as a bird strike can damage planes and even cause fatal accidents - but new technology could humanely deter birds from airports and reduce the number of bird strikes

The study was carried out by researchers at an active airfield in Virginia. Three test sites were set up (as above). Two reference sites were used as controls while a third was installed with the audio device

Their proposed solution is to deploy at airports a 'sonic net' of 'pink noise'. This is similar to white noise, but can be produced at a frequency that interferes with birds' hearing.

Dr John P Swaddle, one of the researchers, told MailOnline Travel: 'This is a noise that masks, or blocks, predator sounds.

'This is the key difference between our technology compared with those that use startle, alarm, or predator sounds - which birds habituate to quite quickly.

'We are playing a noise that prevents birds from hearing each other or listening out for predators. This makes the area very scary for them, and so they leave. They dont appear to get used to this - the effect doesnt wane over time in this study, its just as strong at the end of four weeks as it is at the beginning.'

In the area covered by the sonic net, the researchers have found an 82 per cent reduction in the number of birds.

Details of the eight-week study by Dr Swaddle and Dr Dana Moseley were published in the April edition of Ecological Applications.

They set up the study at three different sites near an active airfield in Virginia.

Results of the study over an eight-week period showed that there was a significant decrease in the number of birds in the sonic net area. Even in the mid-noise area, where the effects were reduced, there was still a substantial reduction in birds recorded

WHAT IS PINK NOISE? Pink noise is similar to white noise and it's audible to humans.

Its wave frequency, or wavelength, is between20 hertz to 20,000 hertz.

Unlike white noise, lower frequencies for pink noise are actually louder and have more power.

It's generally used to test speakers but has also been used to mask background noise and increase productivity. Source: livescience

The sites had similar characteristics, such as proximity to the runway and minimal vegetation.

Two of the three sites were used as controls, with no sonic net devices installed, while a third had the speaker.

To test the effectiveness of the device, the researchers stood at a single point in each site for 30 minutes four times a week and counted the birds that flew into the test area.

The timings of the counts were randomised but two were in the morning and two were in the afternoon.

After four weeks of counting, the researchers turned on the audio device and amplified the sound.

In the area closest to the device, considered to be protected by the sonic net, the sound was maintained at a minimum of 80 decibels - just slightly quieter than the noise that a typical food blender will make.

Further away from the speaker, in a space named 'mid-noise area', the researchers measured the sound at 65 decibels, or about as loud as conversation in a typical restaurant.

Both devices were on for 24 hours a day for the next four weeks, during which the researchers continued their counting.

Based on bird strike data collected by various US government departments and previous bird-strike studies, the researchers estimated that while the sonic net is in use, the potential cost of a bird strike is just $162 per half hour compared to $4,526 when it's not used

At the end of the study period, the researchers found that the area protected by the sonic net saw an 82.3 per cent reduction in the number of birds while the mid-noise area had a 65 per cent fall in the number of birds.

In comparison, the untreated areas saw no change.

Based on bird strike data collected by various US government departments and previous bird-strike studies, the researchers estimated that while the sonic net is in use, the potential cost of a bird strike is just $162 per half hour compared to $4,526 when it's not used.

As the majority of bird strikes take place during take off or landing, the technology could be targeted at those areas of the airport in the same way that the test site is targeted.

The technology could soon be making its way to commercial airports, too.

Dr Swaddle added: 'The company were working with - Midstream Technology - have several ongoing contracts and installations that are keeping birds away from, for example, a shopping mall in LA, and an electrical substation in Arkansas. They are in the process of negotiating longer term projects at a couple of airports, too.'
Thomas Cook have been ordered to pay 20,000 compensation to 41 passengers delayed when their plane was grounded by Mexican authorities - because a $200 air charge wasn't paid.

A judge at Manchester County Court ruled that the holiday giant was liable to pay 41 passengers compensation of 600 (487) each after they were stranded in Cancun for two days.

And the ruling could mean Thomas Cook pays out as much as 450,000 (350,000) in compensation as there could be as many as 750 other passengers affected by the delay.

A Thomas Cook flight was grounded by Mexican authorities in Cancun over an unpaid $200 (Mexican dollar) 'air navigation charge' (file photo)

Flight TCX325 from Cancun to Manchester Airport was scheduled to depart at 5.30pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012, but hundreds of passengers were delayed for 43 hours when Mexican Authority SENEAM impounded the aircraft.

The plane, an Airbus A330, carries 400 people at a time and should have made two journeys from Cancun to the UK that weekend.

SENEAM accused the airline of failing to pay a compulsory $200 (Mexican dollar) 'air navigation charge', preventing the aircraft from departing until the alleged outstanding fee was paid. The airline dismissed the claim that there was any debt outstanding.

Thomas Cook representatives said they attempted to pay the fee to SENEAM when they were told the plane would not be allowed to fly, but that the Authority would not accept cash or a cheque.

The airline was told it must use a payment process that was not in operation over the weekend, meaning the airline would not be able to pay until Monday morning.

Thomas Cook has accepted a judge's decision to award 41 passengers 20,000 in compensation, and have apologised for the delay

YOUR RIGHT TO DELAY COMPENSATION According to European Regulation EC 261/2004, air passengers who were delayed by three hours or more in the last six years may be entitled to up to 600 as long as their delay was not caused by 'extraordinary circumstances'. The law applies to flights departing an EU country or landing in an EU country on-board an EU airline.

Passengers were sent to a hotel for two nights, eventually arriving in Manchester at 2:20am on December 3, 2012 - 43 hours late.

The judgment was handed down today after an appeal hearing in March.

His Honour Judge Main awarded Aly Lewis & Others (41 passengers in total) 487.80 each for a 43 hour delay, after Thomas Cook refused to pay the group compensation outside of court.

In today's ruling Judge Main said: 'The origin of the event here, a dispute over landing and navigation fees, was an event inherent in the normal exercise of the activities of an air carrier.'

Flight delay lawyers Bott & Co Solicitors said that around 750 more people who were stranded in Cancun are also entitled to 600 each for the delays caused by the impounding, though they may not be aware of it.

Aly Lewis, an IT training consultant from Bristol, had been on holiday in Cancun with her husband Garton Lewis, an engineer, when the delay took place.

Mrs Lewis said: 'It wasn't a case of having two days' extra holiday. It was impossible to relax because we had no idea how long we were going to be there. We kept getting told to check-out of the hotel, only to be told to check back in again after hours of waiting around. During all this time nobody would tell us why we were delayed or when we could go home.

'One Thomas Cook rep eventually told us the delay had been caused by weather, but then another told us it had been caused by a technical problem, when of course it was actually down to the Mexican Authorities impounding the plane.

'When we eventually got back home, trying to claim direct from Thomas Cook was awful. They ignored our first two letters, only replying after the third and fourth.

'They told us we weren't entitled to compensation, so we contacted the CAA, who took just as long to reply. By the time we instructed Bott & Co, we'd spent a whole year getting nowhere fast.'

HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR FLIGHT DELAYS On which flights can you claim compensation? Under a piece of European law called EC Regulation 261/2004, you are entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed by more than three hours on arrival - and it was the airline's fault. If the disruption was outside the airline's control, and instead the result of 'extraordinary circumstances' such as bad weather, air traffic control problems or strikes by airport staff, it doesn't have to pay out. These rules apply to all flights made from airports in the EU irrespective of the airline, and flights made to EU airports on EU airlines. The rules also cover flights from/to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, even though these countries aren't in the EU. How much compensation is possible? On a short flight (for example London to Barcelona), the amount payable is 250 (about 200) per person; on a mid-length flight (say, UK to Istanbul), it's 400pp (around 320); and on a long-haul flight (for example, UK to the United States), it's between 300 and 600pp (about 240 to 480), depending on the length of the delay. What you paid for the flight is not relevant to the amount of compensation, and that's something the airlines say is unfair. As payment, the companies sometimes offer vouchers to go towards the cost of a future flight. Don't feel obliged to accept: you are entitled to the money. Passengers should be aware of how much compensation they would be due for various flight delays What about care and assistance? Nothing has changed here with the recent court rulings. Under the European Union rules, if your flight is late by more than two hours on short flights, three hours on mid-haul flights, and four hours on long flights, then airlines have to provide some food and drink, means of communication (refunding the cost of essential telephone calls) and, when needed, accommodation. If the airline doesn't look after you, you can claim back your costs. Crucially, airlines are required to deliver care and assistance whatever the reason for the delay or whoever was at fault. How to seek compensation or reimbursement: First, put in a claim against the airline. The CAA (caa.co.uk) has useful information on how to go about doing this effectively, and a template claims letter you can download for a flight disrupted due to a technical fault. If your claim is rejected and your flight was from the UK, the CAA can argue your case. If your flight was from another EU country, you'll need to turn for help to the enforcement body for aviation of that country. If all that sounds like too much hassle, you could sign up with a no-win, no-fee legal firm specialising in such compensation claims. But bear in mind, the firm will take a fee plus a percentage of the payout if the case is won.

While she was still in Cancun Mrs Lewis set up the 'Thomas Cook Tcx325 Epic Fail' Facebook page, which affected passengers have been using to exchange information and to discuss claiming flight delay compensation.

Forty-one of the passengers went on to enlist the help of flight delay compensation law firm Bott & Co Solicitors, who secured the court victory for the group.

Bott & Co flight delay lawyer Kevin Clarke, who acted on behalf of Lewis & Others said: 'This case illustrates perfectly the lengths that people have to go through in order to secure compensation. After all of that time and effort going through the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Lewis group still had to seek help from lawyers to get the money they were entitled to.

'The airline may say that this delay was not its fault, but that is missing the intention of the Regulation; while a delay may not be an airline's fault, the law says it is their responsibility.

'The regulation is designed to protect passengers  it tells the airlines that in the event they have to pay compensation they should pursue any other organisation if they believe it to be ultimately responsible.

'The correct course of action would have been to pay these passengers immediately and then discuss the matter with the Mexican Authorities if they really felt they were to blame, rather than involving so many people in lengthy court proceedings.'

Holidaymakers have finally won more than a three year battle to claim compensation for Thomas Cook's delayed December 2012 flight out of Cancun

According to European Regulation EC 261/2004, air passengers who were delayed by three hours or more in the past six years may be entitled to up to 600 as long as their delay was not caused by 'extraordinary circumstances'.

The law applies to flights departing an EU country or landing in an EU country on-board an EU airline.

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook Airlines told MailOnline Travel: 'We're extremely sorry our customers experienced such a delay on this flight, which was the result of an unfortunate set of circumstances that we believed to be extraordinary.
She's been busy promoting her latest movie Love and Friendship, around the U.S.

And Kate Beckinsale showed off her impeccable sense of style as she stepped out to chat about the film in NYC on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old wowed in three outfits during the day, with her last look being the biggest show stopper as she arrived at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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Ole! Kate Beckinsale wowed in a pretty dress for an appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Van Helsing beauty modeled a black off the shoulder pencil dress with Spanish-style ruffle detail.

Embroidered flowers around the frill trim added some colour to her look and highlighted her slender shoulders.

Kate teamed the dress with strappy black heels and pulled her brunette locks into a pretty ponytail.

Beauty in black: The 42-year-old star teamed the sexy pencil dress with towering heels

Making it pop: Embroidered flowers around the frill trim added some colour to her look and highlighted her slender shoulders

Kate admitted she 'loves horsing around' as she appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The British actress said: 'I own a pantomime horse costume. I do tend to travel with it just in case of a low moment or I feel a bit depressed or you get some bad news or something like that.

'Generally, get the horse on and you just cheer up immediately.'

Colbert shared a video clip of Beckinsale as the rear of the horse, dancing around her house. When it comes to donning the ensemble, Beckinsale admitted there are 'strict rules' as to who goes in what end.

'The tallest person is at the back - there are rules for a horse costume. I mean, strict rules, otherwise it makes a very wonky horse,' she deadpanned.

Immaculate: The Pearl Harbour beauty sported a natural makeup look

Meet and greet: The actress happily chatted with fans outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre

Earlier on, in her first outfit of the day, Kate flashed her toned and tanned legs in an unusual monochrome chiffon frilly wrap-style mini.

Killer multi-coloured heels completed her sartorial choices.

Seemingly never aging, the British actress displayed her flawless complexion is only minimal natural make-up which showcased her killer cheekbones.

You what? Kate Beckinsale admitted she 'loves horsing around' as she appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The British actress revealed she travels with a pantomime horse costume

She said: 'I own a pantomime horse costume,' Kate giggled. 'I do tend to travel with it just in case of a low moment or I feel a bit depressed or you get some bad news or something like that'

Funny lady: When it comes to donning the ensemble, Beckinsale admitted there are 'strict rules' as to who goes in what end. 'The tallest person is at the back - there are rules for a horse costume'

Adding: 'I mean, strict rules, otherwise it makes a very wonky horse' she deadpanned

There it is: She also revealed that the costume is usually at the very top of her packing list - unless she's just jetting away for a weekend. In that case, she trusts herself 'to remain happy for two days'

She had a bronzed hue added to her eyes although covered them with round framed sunglasses on her way into the NBC studios.

The brunette beauty wore her voluminous tresses in a centre parting and high ponytail.

Kate - born Kathrin - also shared a snap from on set as she chatted to Matt Lauer, after finally joining Instagram on Tuesday, as well as a picture being glammed up by her squad.

Leggy display: Kate showed off her impeccable sense of style as she stepped out in another chic outfit earlier in the day

Stylish: The actress wowed in the first two stunning outfit choices as she started her day on the Today show

Suns out pins out: She flashed her toned and tanned legs in an unusual monochrome chiffon frilly wrap-style mini

Interview: Kate - born Kathrin - also shared a snap from on set as she chatted to Matt Lauer on the Today programme

Behind the scenes: She also shared a picture being glammed up by her squad

She captioned the snap of her in the mirror getting preened by two male helpers: 'Touch-ups and tatts. @Todayshow #LoveAndFriendship #BTS.

The single mother-of-one, who is estranged from Len Wiseman after 11 years of marriage, later swapped into an all-black ensemble which flashed her toned tummy in a suedette cropped top.

A cropped tuxedo style jacket and cigarette pants kept the attention on her impressive figure and long legs as she joined a Q&A session at AOL studios.

Changed: She later swapped into an all-black ensemble which flashed her toned tummy

Well-tressed: She had released her brunette locks into loose flowing waves for the chat

Chatty: She joined a Q&A session at AOL studios

She had released her tresses into loose flowing waves for the chat.

The daughter of late British acting legend Richard Beckinsale, who passed away when Kate was just five years old, shares 17-year-old daughter Lily with ex-boyfriend Michael Sheen, 47.

The Pearl Harbour star has kept a jovial and close relationship with her ex, who is now dating Sarah Silverman, 45.

Elegant: A cropped tuxedo style jacket and cigarette pants kept the attention on her impressive figure and long legs

Stepping out: Vibrant high heels added a splash of colour as she accepted assistance from a male pal

The London-born brunette reunited with filmmaker Whit Stillman on the project, who also directed her in Last Days of Disco in 1998.

Kate replaced Sienna Miller as the widowed Lady Susan Vernon on Love & Friendship and Chloe plays her close American friend Alicia Johnson.

The period film - based on the 1790 Jane Austen novella Love and Freindship (sic) - which was written by the author when she was 14-years-old - hits US theaters this Friday and UK theaters May 27.

The actress described her character in a recent interview.

'Shes this rather sort of narcissistic, naughty, bright, manipulative, shameless woman,' she explained.

'Everything is so light and entertaining and witty, but the kind of social commentary is really important and on point.' she told USA Today.

Working together: The London-born brunette reunited with filmmaker Whit Stillman on the project, who also directed her in Last Days of Disco in 1998

Kate stuck with her modern tux as she arrived for a third appearance of the day, at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Her hair was once again swept into a chic updo, as she smiled brightly as she arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

She's appearing as a guest on the chat show alongside B.J. Novak.

Classic with a twist: Kate stuck with her modern tux as she arrived for a third appearance of the day, at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Emma Roberts rocked a reversible green-and-orange satin jacket while running errands in Hollywood on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old niece of Julia Roberts paired her tiger-embossed cover-up with cut-out capri leggings, New Balance trainers, Ray-Bans, and Balenciaga's 'Papier A4' mini leather tote.

The Ashby actress - who relies on stylist duo Kara & Brit Smith - later met up with pals for lunch.

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Why choose? Emma Roberts rocked a reversible green-and-orange satin jacket while running errands in Hollywood on Wednesday

Emma will have to dye her auburn locks back to blonde before shooting the second season of FX's Scream Queens in July.

'I had been blonde for Chanel for so long,' Roberts told Teen Vogue of her convicted murderer/Kappa Kappa Tau president.

'I just wanted to do something new and mix it up. I think I feel most myself as a redhead which, who knew? [I'm] sad I'm going to have to dye my hair blonde again because I'm loving being a redhead.'

Ready for the gym! The 25-year-old niece of Julia Roberts paired her tiger-embossed cover-up with cut-out capri leggings, New Balance trainers, Ray-Bans, and Balenciaga's 'Papier A4' mini leather tote

Make-up free: The Ashby actress - who relies on stylist duo Kara & Brit Smith - later met up with pals for lunch

Returning to the Nine Zero One salon: Emma will have to dye her auburn locks back to blonde before shooting the second season of FX's Scream Queens in July

Roberts told Teen Vogue of her convicted murderer/Kappa Kappa Tau president: 'I had been blonde for Chanel for so long. I just wanted to do something new and mix it up. I think I feel most myself as a redhead. [I'm] sad I'm going to have to dye my hair blonde again because I'm loving being a redhead'

On Wednesday, Lionsgate dropped the scantily-clad trailer for the 5ft2in starlet's upcoming film Nerve, which was adapted from Jeanne Ryan's 2012 YA novel.

Emma plays Vee in the daring online game thriller - hitting UK/US theaters July 27 - with Dave Franco and Juliette Lewis.

But first, audiences will next see the nepotistically-privileged millennial as Joan in the boarding school horror-thriller The Blackcoat's Daughter, which hits US theaters July 15.

'The only way out is to win': On Wednesday, Lionsgate dropped the scantily-clad trailer for the 5ft2in starlet's upcoming film Nerve, which was adapted from Jeanne Ryan's 2012 YA novel

'Watcher or player?' Emma plays Vee in the daring online game thriller - hitting UK/US theaters July 27 - with Dave Franco and Juliette Lewis
She plays a girl who will stop at nothing to win the man of her dreams, but she would not have to try too hard to win him over with not one but two sexy looks.

Bella Thorne certainly dressed to impress as she arrived on the set of her new film wearing a sexy tight black dress and boots to film, You Get Me, before changing into skimpy shorts.

The 18-year-old star was a sexy yet sporty vixen for her day of shooting in San Pedro, California, on Wednesday.

Strut it out: Bella Thorne certainly dressed to impress as she arrived on the set of her new film, You Get Me, in San Pedro, California, on Wednesday

Change of pace: While Bella's first look impressed, the star made a quick change into another more beachy-ready look which included a pair of very short shorts, which showed off her long legs

While it was her co-stars Halston Sage and Taylor John Smith who were meant to be bringing sexy back on set with a passionate scene on the beach, Bella stole the show.

The former Disney star dressed in her I'm-a-saucy-baddie best for Wednesday's shoot, with the actress stepping out in some impressive thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots.

The black flat boots - which retail for just under $800 - laced up her thigh at the back and drew attention to her toned legs.

Turning the heat up further, Bella wore the boots with a pair of DKNY fishnet stockings and a tight black mini dress.

Sorry guys: While it was her co-stars Halston Sage and Taylor John Smith who were meant to be bringing sexy back on set with a passionate scene on the beach, Bella stole the show

Stepping out: The former Disney star dressed in her I'm-a-saucy-baddie best for Wednesday's shoot, with the actress stepping out in some impressive thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots

Centre of attention: The black flat boots - which retail for just under $800 - laced up her thigh at the back and drew attention to her toned legs

Snaps to you: Turning the heat up further, Bella wore the boots with a pair of DKNY fishnet stockings and a tight black mini dress

Break time: While some starlets starve themselves ahead of a big shoot, Bella does the opposite, with the star heading straight for the catering truck

Get in my tummy: The 18-year-old said on Instagram, 'I'm always ordering food... I really can't stop eating all day LONG'

The dress featured snaps all the way up the front of it and, unlike her designer shoes, came with a much more affordable price tag, retailing for under $30 from Windsor.

Toning the sexy down slightly, Bella added a black cap to her look over her long red hair.

For the shoot, The DUFF wore her hair out with a small braid at the front which flowed as she strutting her way around set.

She was later pictured flaunting her perfectly toned legs in a pair of very tiny red shorts which she teamed with a tucked in white blouse with had matching embellishments.

Sandals only: The teen swapped her boots and dress for something a little less sexy and a little more boho

Relaxed style: For the scene, Bella donned a pair of high-waisted maroon coloured shirts with a embroidered cream billowing blouse

Oh hey there: Shooting with Taylor, the star pretended to take Polaroid snaps of her on-screen love interest

A little chilly? Between takes the star wrapped a big black jacket around her as it was a little windy

The look was topped off with a pair of brown leather sandals which wrapped around her leg as she carried a camera bag on her shoulder.

Her hair was styled in a half-up do with a statement plait detail.

While some starlets starve themselves ahead of a big shoot, Bella does the opposite, with the star heading straight for the catering truck.

Bella loaded up at craft services and posted a picture of herself doing so on Instagram.

The 18-year-old said she loves food: 'I'm always ordering food... I really can't stop eating all day LONG.'

Multi-tasking: Grabbing herself a coffee too, Bella did some behind-the-scenes interviews ads she waited for her time in front of the camera

Lovely locks: For the shoot, The DUFF wore her hair out with a small braid at the front which flowed as she strutting her way around set

Grabbing herself a coffee too, Bella did some behind-the-scenes interviews ads she waited for her time in front of the camera.

Also shooting Wednesday was Halston, who plays her love rival, and Taylor John.

The pair were getting hot and heavy on the beach as the cameras rolled.

From Here To Eternity: Also shooting Wednesday was Halston, who plays her love rival, and Taylor John, who rolled around in the sand and shared a kiss as the cameras rolled

Doing their best From Here To Eternity impersonation, the on-screen couple rolled around on the sand sharing a passionate kiss.

For their scene, Halston wowed in an orange with blue embroidery triangle bikini top which she wore with cut off denim shorts.

The 23-year-old's ombre blonde hair was styled so it looked wet and hung in untamed waves.

Beach babe: For their scene, Halston wowed in an orange with blue embroidery triangle bikini top which she wore with cut off denim shorts

Taylor John meanwhile wore a pair of navy and turquoise boardshorts without a shirt.

You Get Me follows Tyler - played by Taylor John - who after an argument with his perfect girlfriend Ali - played by Halston - lands in the arms of sexy new girl Grace, played by Bella.

The morning after he finds out that Ali wants to take him back, but at the same time he realizes that Grace is actually a new student at their school and is hell-bent on getting her new man.

The movie is slated for digital release some time later this year and is written by Ben Epstein and directed by Brent Bonacorso.
With a new engagement and a baby on the way, Blac Chyna has a lot to celebrate.

And the glamour model, who is set to wed reality star Rob Kardashian, is also presiding over a growing business empire amid her high-profile romance.

The busy entrepreneur is set to make millions from her new Chymoji line and gets paid thousands for strip club appearances and Instagram endorsements.

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Growing empire: Blac Chyna showed off her tiny baby bump as she and fiance Rob Kardashian launched her new Chymoji line in Los Angeles on Tuesday

She also runs her own Lashed beauty salon and cosmetics line and the clothing line Fin88.

But Blac's earnings are still far behind that of her future sister-in-law Kim Kardashian, who has raked in a fortune from her reality show, mobile game Kim Kardashian Hollywood, blockbuster Kimoji app and her subscription lifestyle website and app - along with 12 seasons of her hit reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

On Tuesday, Blac showed off her baby bump as she and Rob celebrated the launch of her profitable new Chymoji line in Los Angeles. Blac is also mother to three-year-old son King Cairo, who she shares with ex-fiance Tyga - who is now dating Rob's sister Kylie Jenner.

Her cheeky emojis quickly shot to the top of Apple download charts and are set to earn her a seven figure sum.

See Blac Chyna updates as she rakes in cash from growing business empire and Chymojis

Number one: The model thanked fans as her cheeky app shot to the top of the download charts. She is set to make millions from the new emojis

Variety: The Chymojis include a lemonade reference and political emojis like Blac kissing Donald Trump

It comes after Kim and Blac's best friend Amber Rose both made a fortune from their own line of sexy emojis.

Fortune estimated Kim was making $1 million a minute on the day she launched her blockbuster Kimojis, which sold for $1.99 and quickly topped the Apple charts.

Kim has also earned an estimated $85 million from her Kim Kardashian Hollywood game, which is free but lets users purchase cute outfits.

Birthday girl: Blac and Rob arrived at Miami airport on Wednesday, ahead of her strip club appearance to celebrate her 28th birthday

Blac's string of beauty and fashion businesses are likely to benefit from her growing fame.

She runs beauty salon Lashed Bar, the Lashed line of eyelash extensions as cosmetics, and has her own clothing line Fin88, which will soon relaunch with a new website. She is also planning a new line of lipsticks.

Blac and sock entrepreneur Rob are also reportedly in talks to star in their own reality show, which would significantly increase her income.

Star attraction: The music video dancer earns an estimated $7500 per club appearance

Like the Kardsahians, Blac also earns thousands from making personal appearances at clubs.

She and Rob jetted into Miami on Wednesday to celebrate her 28th birthday by hosting a party at a strip club.

And the 28-year-old is likely to earn $7500 per appearance, with more in tips if she performs, a talent agent told People magazine.

Businesses: Blac snapped a selfie from her Lashed bar in Encino, one of her many business ventures

Expanding empire: The 28-year-old also has a line of Lashed eyelashes and cosmetics, and is revamping her Fin88 clothing line

Meanwhile, Kim was reportedly paid $500,000 for club appearances for her 30th birthday in 2012, and around $100,000 for appearing at 1Oak nightclub in Las Vegas for one New Year's Eve.

Like many celebrities, Blac and Kim also earn money for product placements on Instagram.

The future Angela Kardashian has more than 6 million followers and Kim has a staggering 69.7 million.

Still on top: Kim Kardashian, seen at the Met Costume Gala on May 2, has reportedly earned hundreds of millions of dollars from her mobile game, Kimojis, lifestyle app and reality show

Celebrities can earn up to $30,000 for an endorsement on Instagram, depending on how many likes they get, Michael Schweiger from pop culture agency CEG Talent told People.

If a post gets 300,000 likes, Blac can earn $30,000 for a single Instagram plug, he said.

Blac frequently endorses a variety of products on the social media site.

On Wednesday, she shared an endorsement for a 'Miracle Bust' breast enhancement pill, and previously has plugged everything from 'anti-bloating' tea to teeth whitening products to her favorite novels.
They are thought to have rekindled their romance following Millie Mackintoshs split from Professor Green.

And the former Made In Chelsea star did little to dispel the rumours as she was pictured showing her support for Hugo Taylor as she attended the Taylor Morris collection launch in London on Wednesday evening.

The TV personality put on a leggy display in a plunging summer dress which features a crochet top and a simple floral pattern.

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Keeping mum: Millie Mackintosh did little to dispel the rumours as she was pictured showing her support for Hugo Taylor as she attended the Taylor Morris collection launch in London on Wednesday evening

The 26-year-old teamed the dress with a camel suede jacket while she accessorised with a black bag.

Millie sported a trendy black choke for the occasion while she wore her locks in light waves and opted for a natural make-up look.

Hugo was sure to rock one of the shades from his collection as he posed for pictures without his rumoured partner.

Pretty as a picture: The TV personality put on a leggy display in a plunging summer dress which features a crochet top and a simple floral pattern

Simply chic: The 26-year-old teamed the dress with a camel suede jacket while she accessorised with a black bag

The pairs good pal Spencer Matthews was also in attendance and was in the company of his rumoured new flame Morgane Robart.

Rosie Forstescue, Sinitta, Diona Ciobanu, Olivier Wayne and Game Of Thrones actress Laura Pradelska were also in attendance.

Newly-single Millie split from rapper husband Professor Green, in February after two-and-a-half years of marriage.

Riding solo? Hugo was sure to rock one of the shades from his collection as he posed for pictures without his rumoured partner

New flame? The pairs good pal Spencer Matthews was also in attendance and was in the company of his rumoured new flame Morgane Robart

Millie and Hugo have been linked on numerous occasions in the wake of her marital split, and were pictured getting cosy at British Polo Day in Dubai in March, before spending the night together at her London home a mere matter of weeks later.

They recently added the birthday bash of former Made In Chelsea co-star Caggie Dunlop, but were careful to avoid being snapped together.

Hugo, 29, previously dated Mille for six months in 2011, before she tied the knot with Pro Green - real name Stephen Manderson.

At the fashion forte: Rosie Fortescue opted for a lacy mini dress which she teamed with colourful animal print crossbody bag

Familiar face: Game Of Thrones star Laura Pradelska wore a more colourful ensembles which she teamed with lace-up boots

Feeling the chill: Sinitta opted for a grey on grey ensemble as she went braless for the breezy evening

Following rumours of their supposed rekindled romance, the star's estranged husband has since tweeted about lost love.

The rapper - who parted ways with the television personality after two and a half years as man and wife in February - opened up about love and heartbreak as he took to his Twitter account.

He wrote: 'Where's all the heart gone... To have a heart... So much f***ery. So much distraction. Having the realist discussion.'

Swan lake: Olivier Wayne got close to one of nature's most elegant creatures during the soiree

Cool blue: Musician Talia Storm teamed a blue leather jacket with black jeans while she sported cut out heels

How low can you go? Model Diona Ciobanu put on a very busty display at the event

Professor Green and Millie announced they had split after two and a half years of marriage in February.

In a statement at the time, they said: 'It is with sadness and regret that we confirm our separation.

'It is a mutual decision, we still care deeply about each other and would like it to be known that it is on amicable terms and we wish each other well.'

Stylish guests: Aline Lima and Lucy Chappell were also in attendance at the launch

Bros: Hugo and Spencer were seen posing together at The Serpentine Lido terrace
Megan Hilty made an amply-charged appearance at the Drama Desk Awards Nominees Luncheon in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old thespian was busting out of blue plunging pencil dress, which she paired with nude peep-toe platforms.

The Good Wife guest star was celebrating her nod for outstanding featured actress in a play.

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Eye-popping cleavage: Megan Hilty made an amply-charged appearance at the Drama Desk Awards Nominees Luncheon in Manhattan on Wednesday

Surgically enhanced: The 35-year-old thespian was busting out of blue plunging pencil dress, which she paired with nude peep-toe platforms

Blonde ambition: The Good Wife guest star was celebrating her nod for outstanding featured actress in a play

Megan ended her two-month run March 13 at American Airlines Theatre as scantily-clad British starlet Brooke Ashton in the play-within-a-play farce Noises Off.

The Carnegie Mellon grad - who also scored a Tony nod - will continue her nightly cabaret act at the Carlyle Hotel with husband Brian Gallagher until Saturday.

Hilty and the Concussion ADR mixer are proud parents of 20-month-old daughter Viola.

Another blonde turning heads at the New York Marriott Marquis was Jane Krakowski in a grey-striped pencil dress and stilettos.

Sardines everywhere: Megan ended her two-month run March 13 at American Airlines Theatre as scantily-clad British starlet Brooke Ashton in the play-within-a-play farce Noises Off

My #costume until March 6. Starting March 7 I'll be in sweatpants and eating pizza & french fries for EVERY MEAL. #NoisesOff A photo posted by meganhilty (@meganhilty) on Jan 17, 2016 at 12:14pm PST

Musical harmony: The Carnegie Mellon grad - who also scored a Tony nod - will continue her nightly cabaret act at the Carlyle Hotel with husband Brian Gallagher (R) until Saturday

'Best Mother's Day ever! #LuckyLady #CentralPark #Family': Hilty and the Concussion ADR mixer are proud parents of 20-month-old daughter Viola

The 47-year-old triple-threat will compete for outstanding featured actress as the seductive and flexible Ilona Ritter in the 1963 musical comedy She Loves Me at Studio 54.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - who also scored a Tony nod - posed with Bright Star's Carmen Cusack and Steve Martin.

Carmen made her Broadway debut in the new North Carolina-set musical written and composed by the 70-year-old comedy icon alongside Edie Brickell.

Holding her certificate: Another blonde turning heads at the New York Marriott Marquis was Jane Krakowski in a grey-striped pencil dress and stilettos

Running through July 10: The 47-year-old triple-threat will compete for outstanding featured actress as the seductive and flexible Ilona Ritter in the 1963 musical comedy She Loves Me at Studio 54

Star-studded festivities: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - who also scored a Tony nod - posed with Bright Star's Carmen Cusack and Steve Martin

Rocking a green skirt: Carmen made her Broadway debut in the new North Carolina-set musical written and composed by the 70-year-old comedy icon alongside Edie Brickell

Bluegrass belter: The Home funnyman and 50-year-old Brickell are up for outstanding music, while Cusack is up for outstanding actress for originating the role of Alice Murphy

The Home funnyman and 50-year-old Brickell are up for outstanding music, while Cusack is up for outstanding actress for originating the role of Alice Murphy.

Two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange - who will soon join Susan Sarandon in FX's Feud - held court in a simple LBD.

The 67-year-old powerhouse is nominated for outstanding actress for her role as Mary Cavan Tyrone in Eugene O'Neill's 1912 drama Long Day's Journey Into Night at the American Airlines Theatre.

Diva! Two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange - who will soon join Susan Sarandon in FX's Feud - held court in a simple LBD

Running through June 26: The 67-year-old is nominated for outstanding actress for her role as Mary Cavan Tyrone in Eugene O'Neill's 1912 drama Long Day's Journey Into Night at the American Airlines Theatre

PDA pair: The Horace and Pete star enthusiastically hugged The Father's Frank Langella, who's nominated for outstanding actor in a play as Andre

Who will win? Other nominated gentlemen included Jessica's co-star Michael Shannon, Fully Committed's Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and She Loves Me's Zachary Levi

I've loved getting to know this new broadway powerhouse, @cynthiaerivo. She's one special lady! Thank You #dramadeskawards for the nominations for @fullybroadway! A photo posted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) on May 11, 2016 at 8:56am PDT

The Horace and Pete star enthusiastically hugged The Father's Frank Langella, who's nominated for outstanding actor in a play as Andre.

Other nominated gentlemen included Jessica's co-star Michael Shannon, Fully Committed's Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and She Loves Me's Zachary Levi.

The Color Purple's Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo both dolled up for their Broadway debuts as Sofia and Celie, respectively.

Jennifer Hudson was snubbed: The Color Purple's Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo both dolled up for their Broadway debuts as Sofia and Celie, respectively

'Backstage with the beautiful ladies!' Later on Wednesday, the original Sofia - Oprah Winfrey - visited the cast (including Jennifer Hudson't replacement Heather Hedley) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Just left the #dramadeskawards reception. Thank you for this nomination. #humbled #happytheatregirl Now time to go do 2 shows!! @bwaycolorpurple A photo posted by Danielle Brooks (@daniebb3) on May 11, 2016 at 9:37am PDT

Twinning! The Royale co-stars Robert Christopher and Montego Glover posed together after already winning a special Drama Desk Award for outstanding ensemble performance

Later on Wednesday, the original Sofia - Oprah Winfrey - visited the cast (including Jennifer Hudson't replacement Heather Hedley) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

The Royale co-stars Robert Christopher and Montego Glover posed together after already winning a special Drama Desk Award for outstanding ensemble performance.

The ceremony for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards will be hosted by Michael Urie on June 5 at Manhattan's Town Hall.
She made a serious statement in a sheer dress at the Cafe Society premiere as the Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday.

But Kristen Stewart was back to her usual grungy style for the Opening Gala Dinner, changing into a seriously low-key look later on in the evening as she kept the party going in the South of France.

The 26-year-old actress ditched her glamorous red carpet frock for a more comfortable, tomboy inspired ensemble to mark the opening of the 69th annual festival.

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Tomboy style: Kristen Stewart shunned the glamorous dress code in a laid-back, preppy ensemble to attend the Opening Gala Dinner at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night

Kristen stood out from the crowd in her laid-back look, flashing her abs in a plain cropped T-shirt.

The Twilight star paired her white tee with a statement skirt in a nautical colour theme and casual checked trainers.

The A-list actress matched her red lipstick to the bold stripe on her ultra preppy skirt.

Keeping it casual: Kristen stood out from the crowd in her colour-coordinated look, flashing her abs in a plain T-shirt and nautical themed skirt

Daring to be different: The Twlight actress embraced her usual low-key look in spite of the glamorous event

Friendly display: Kristen laced an arm around the Festival director Thierry Fremaux

Dressed down: The blonde bombshell was in great spirits as she kept the party going into the evening

Kristen laced an arm around the Festival director Thierry Fremaux as she partied the night away.

Earlier in the evening, Kristen took a serious style risk in a daring dress which was equal parts seductive and demure as she walked the red carpet for the premiere of Cafe Society.

Kristen's edgy look was the perfect way to kick off the 69th annual festival in France where she joined her co-stars including Blake Lively and director Woody Allen.

Making a sartorial statement: Kristen stole the show at the Cafe Society premiere as the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival got underway in the South of France earlier in the evening

Sheer perfection: The 26-year-old screen siren opted for a daring shirt dress with strategically placed pockets preserving her modesty

The actress dared to bare in the sheer black shirt, featuring strategically placed pockets at the bust to preserve her modesty.

The fashion-forward number boasted a full patterned skirt bearing an abstract pattern in a mint green hue.

She completed her chic attire with a pair of simple black heels, adding an elegant finish to the statement look.

See Cannes Film Festival updates as Kristen Stewart dons sheer dress for Cafe Society premiere

Naughty but nice: The gown was equal parts seductive and demure, thanks to a beautiful full skirt bearing a mint green pattern

Edgy: Kristen's platinum blonde bob and a slick of scarlet lipstick perfectly complemented her red carpet ensemble

Leading lady: The romantic comedy brings Kristen and Jesse Eisenberg together on screen for the third time, after 2009's Adventureland and last year's American Ultra

Line-up: The A-list actress joined Jesse, Woody Allen, Blake Lively, Corey Stoll and Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro at the event

Kristen's newly bleached blonde bob and a slick of scarlet lipstick perfectly complemented her red carpet wardrobe.

The newly-single star - who recently split from her French girlfriend Soko - was in excellent spirits as she helped present award-winning filmmaker Woody's new project.

Cafe Society is the third time a film by Allen, who does not enter them for competition, has opened the festival, following Hollywood Ending in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011.

Main trio: The newly-single star - who recently split from her French girlfriend Soko - was in excellent spirits as she joined her co-star Jesse Eisenberg (left) and director Woody Allen at the opening ceremony (right)

Laid-back look: The Still Alice actress wore her platinum blonde crop in a deliberately dishevelled style

Sprightly: 'I'm 80 and I can't believe it!' Allen told a news conference earlier in the day. 'I'm so youthful, agile, nimble, spry, mentally alert that it's astonishing'

The romantic comedy brings Kristen and Jesse Eisenberg together on screen for the third time, after 2009's Adventureland and last year's American Ultra.

Eisenberg's character leaves New York City for Hollywood, hoping his impresario uncle, Steve Carrell, will give him a break.

His eye is taken by Stewart, but he has to settle for friendship until she comes to tell him her lover has left her.

Warm welcome: President of the Cannes Film Festival Pierre Lescure (bottom L) and the General Delegate Thierry Fremaux (second L) greeted the cast and director in style

Fashion risk: Kristen went braless under the sheer shirt, which showed off the tattoo on her right forearm

Passionate discussion: Woody - who revealed during a press conference he had no intention of retiring - enjoyed a chat with the actress

Close friends: Kristen and Jesse have become firm friends after working together on two previous occasions

Hat trick: Cafe Society is the third time a film by Allen, who does not enter them for competition, has opened the festival, following Hollywood Ending in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011

Stars of the show: The trio ascended the steps of the Palais Des Festivals side-by-side

With his 49th film about to open the Cannes Film Festival, Allen revealed he has no plans to retire.

'I'm 80 and I can't believe it!' Allen told a news conference. 'I'm so youthful, agile, nimble, spry, mentally alert that it's astonishing.'

Earlier in the day at the photocall for Woody Allen's new movie, Cafe Society, Blake Lively stole the show in a red jumpsuit.

The 28-year-old looked absolutely beautiful as she led the star-studded arrivals in the glamorous ensemble which allowed a hint of her baby bump to be seen.

Stunning: She's expecting her second child with Ryan Reynolds but Blake Lively still stole the show sartorially when she arrived at the photocall for Woody Allen's new movie, Cafe Society at the opening day of the 69th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday

You guys are all here for me? Actress Blake wore her caramel blonde locks up in a ponytail and she gave a glimpse of her pretty metallic silver sandals as she ascended some steps ahead of her photo opportunity

The fitted number was low-cut and had spaghetti straps and had a matching neck tie which added an extra touch of elegance to the look.

Actress Blake wore her caramel blonde locks up in a ponytail and she gave a glimpse of her pretty metallic silver sandals as she ascended some steps ahead of her photo opportunity.

Blake plays the character of Veronica in the movie, which is slated for release on July 15 in the USA.

See Cannes Film Festival updates as pregnant Blake Lively shows a hint of her bump in a jumpsuit at Woody Allen's Cafe Society photocall

A good choice: Blake plays the character of Veronica in the movie and stars alongside Kristen Stewart, who plays Vonnie and Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Bobbie. It is slated for release on July 15 in the USA

Growing their family: Blake and husband Ryan are already parents to one-year-old daughter James, who they named after Ryan's late father

That's her story and she's sticking with it: Kristen Stewart looked as though she was alerting everyone to Blake's braless assets but she was in fact looking at something behind her

What's going on here? Luckily Blake had a team on hand to make sure she didn't have a wardrobe malfunction

Wow thing: An illuminating flash bulb highlighted her beautiful features as she showed her stunning smile

What a vision: The girls appeared to be getting on very well as they stood by the branded podium

She was in good company on the day as she giggled with Kristen who looked elegant in a white Chanel skirt, flashing a hint of her toned tummy in a cropped T-shirt.

Of course, she added a punk vibe to her chic ensemble, flaunting her platinum blonde locks and dark roots as she smiled for the cameras. Flashing an inking on her arm, she added some inches to her height with a pair of black and white Christian Louboutin heels.

Clearly they weren't the most comfortable of footwear as she soon whipped them off and carried them in her hands.

A polished look: She was in good company on the day as she giggled with Kristen who looked elegant in a white Chanel skirt, flashing a hint of her toned tummy in a cropped T-shirt

Not comfortable? She soon whipped off her Louboutins after the pain got a little too much

Happy: Blake had a huge smile on her face as she talked to the movie's director Woody Allen and co-star Kristen (right)

Oi oi! Kristen appeared to be in high spirits as she stood with a giant crowd behind her (left) as she snapped away on a disposable camera (right)

Anyone got any sunglasses? Kristen shielded her eyes from the sun as she posed for snaps with Blake and Woody

Talk about popular: The trio attracted mass attention as they worked their magic at the photocall

All stars: (L-R) Kristen Stewart, director Woody Allen, Blake Lively, Jesse Eisenberg and Corey Stoll

She wore a smattering of gold chains around her neck and even took some snaps of her fans on a disposable camera.

Director Woody Allen stood alongside the girls and later sat alongside them and Jesse as he accepted questions and answers about the movie from journalists.

He was spotted sneakily checking his phone for messages during a quiet moment.

Hang on, I've got a voicemail! Woody was spotted sneakily checking his phone for messages during a quiet moment as he and Blake were joined by actors Jesse Eisenberg and Corey Stroll (far right)

Keeping it real: Jesse cut a casual figure in his jeans and New Balance trainers as he posed with his hands in his pockets

Centre of attention: Blake and Kristen were sat next to the famous director at the busy press conference

Deep in thought: Corey Stoll and Jesse Eisenberg were also happy to answer question as they spoke to members of press

Happy girl: Blake seemed delighted to be taking a place by Woody's side as they spoke about their film
She has made a living out of snapping pictures of herself donning chic bikinis.

And fashion blogger Natasha Oakley, who boasts an incredible social media following of 1.7 million fans, is maintaining her penchant for posing while in tropical Jamaica.

The 25-year-old swimwear designer took to Instagram on Thursday to flaunt her enviable figure in a white one-piece swimsuit as she rode a horse through the crystal clear beach waters.

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Life's a beach: Natasha Oakley posted a picture of herself in a skimpy white swimsuit while riding a horse through the shallows in Jamaica

Glimpses of her side boob and her taut tummy could be seen through the revealing design that did little to keep her sizable assets into place.

Seemingly make-up free for the casual occasion, Natasha let her blonde tresses cascade down over her shoulders.

The swimming costume featured a deep V-neckline and peek-a-boo cut-outs with intricate weaving.

She completed her beach day look with a gold choker and rounded sunglasses.

Just another day in Jamaica, the beauty captioned the picture which sees her place one arm on the reigns while thrusting her body upright.

Bach babe: Lying seductively on a pebble lined beach, Natasha extended her long and tanned limbs and closed her eyes as she soaked up the balmy climes

Earlier that day, the blonde beauty took to the photo sharing site to upload another two pictures of herself modelling one of her latest collaboration designs with Revolve.

The beauty already has her own swimsuit collection called Monday Swimwear with best friend Devin Brugman.

The two pals also have a fashion blog called A Bikini A Day which sees them model bikinis 365 days a year.

Lying seductively on a pebble lined beach, Natasha extended her long and tanned limbs and closed her eyes as she soaked up the balmy climes.

Close-up: The digital fashion influencer showed off her gym-honed figure in all its glory in the tiny floral two-piece which boasted tassels and a halterneck design

Arching her back upwards, the digital fashion influencer showed off her gym-honed figure in all its glory in the tiny floral two-piece which boasted tassels and a halterneck design.

She wrote alonsgide the post : 'Feeling this collection our Collab with @beachriot X @revolve for the #REVOLVE5x5#REVOLVEaroundtheworld.'

In the next picture, the beauty posted a close-up of her face.

Looking relaxed on the beach, a fresh faced Natasha prompts one arm behind her head as she enjoyed the tropical atmosphere.

Her long locks were styled to fall evenly over the rocks behind her.

She simply captioned the post: 'Home.'

Natasha's trip to Jamaica comes just days after she was announced as the front cover star for Cosmopolitan magazine.

Front cover stunner: The beauty made the front cover for Cosmopolitan magazine for its June edition\




Kim Kardashian caught up with Scott Disick for lunch on Wednesday.

And in her usual fashion, the reality star caused a stir with her outfit choice, opting for a racy lace-up ensemble.

The 35-year-old KUWTK star was pictured at Katsuya in Hollywood in thigh-high boots and a tight bodysuit with lace-up detail.

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All tied up: Kim Kardashian caused a stir in a revealing lace-up ensemble as she met Scott Disick for lunch at Katsuya in Hollywood on Wednesday

Kim's boots by designer Tony Bianco were laced all the way from her toes to mid-thigh and featured towering stilettos heels.

She also flashed her bra through the sheerness of her top and sported a plain black choker and gold chains around her neck.

As she entered the restaurant Kim hid her famous derriere with her black bomber jacket which she wore hung low off her shoulders.

She covered her eyes with large black shades and left her thick raven locks loose for the casual outing.

See Kim Kardashian updates as the KUWTK star meets Scott Disick for lunch in LA

Casual outing? The 35-year-old reality star teamed Tony Bianco thigh-high boots with a lace-up bodysuit

Skin on show: The TV star also flashed her bra in a slightly sheer top with plunging neckline

E! stars: Kim was meeting with Scott, 32, as cameras rolled for Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Scott, 32, kept it low-key in a cream sweater and grey jeans.

The self-proclaimed 'Lord Disick' is father to Kim's sister Kourtney's three children, Mason, six, Penelope, three and Reign, one.

After the lunch date, Kim shared an adorable Snapchat of her youngest child, Saint.

In the sweet image, the TV star holds hands with the five-month-old boy.

Didn't get the memo: Scott, 32, kept it low key in a cream sweater and grey jeans

Nothing to see here: Kim hid her sizable rear with a black bomber jacket which she wore hanging from her shoulders

Supertstar coming through: She covered her eyes with large black shades and left her thick raven locks loose for the casual outing

As and Scott were busy having lunch, Kim's husband Kanye was busy having a business meeting across town.

Kanye stepped out from his meeting wearing a pair of his Yeezy 950 boots in brown as well as a coaches jacket from his Yeezus tour merchandise.

The rapper then roared out of the parking lot in has very fancy - and very expensive - silver Maybach.

Luxury wheels: The duo arrived and left in separate cars

Heading off: The self-proclaimed 'Lord Disick' is father to Kourtney's three children, Mason, Penelope and Reign

Meanwhile in a preview clip for the upcoming episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim credits Blac Chyna for bringing brother Rob, 29, out of his shell.

The mother-of-two discusses the the romance with sister Khloe - eventually deciding that it must be a good thing.

Khloe introduces the subject by asking Kim in an obviously planned but meandering fashion: 'Don't we kind of think it's a miracle that Rob, who doesn't even show up to Christmas for the past three years, literally he wouldn't leave his room, but the fact that now he's created a Snapchat, the fact that now he wants to be so public, blows my mind.'

Work to be done: As and Scott were busy having lunch, Kim's husband Kanye was busy having a business meeting across town.

Repping himself: Kanye stepped out from his meeting wearing a pair of his Yeezy 950 boots in brown as well as a coaches jacket from his Yeezus tour merchandise

Nice motor: The rapper roared out of the parking lot in has very fancy - and very expensive - silver Maybach

And Kim agrees, mentioning Rob's pregnant fiancee by name: 'She gave him confidence, more power to her.

'After Rob and Blac Chyna started dating, Rob is now, like, all over social media and, like, out and about.'

Although Chyna was once a friend of Kim's, she was ditched from the inner circle after her ex Tyga dropped her and started dating Kim's sister Kylie Jenner, 18.

After the lunch date, Kim shared an adorable Snapchat of her youngest child, Saint holding her hand

That romance is still ongoing - putting the other family members in an undeniably awkward position, not least because Tyga and Chyna share custody of their young son King Cairo.

Kim explained: 'He hasn't been like this in so long that even though there's been some drama then if this is what it takes, then I don't care who he's dating. I'm just so happy that he's feeling better about himself.'

But Khloe points out that she was the one to give little brother Rob a home during the years he struggled to cope with the family's fame.

And she adds with obvious anger: 'He just has no loyalty.'

Keeping Up With the Kardashians airs on E! Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
They've spent endless days in Jamaica in an effort to flaunt their new swimwear line.

And on Wednesday, Natasha Oakley's BFF and business partner, Devin Brugman, was at it again.

Wearing just a cream patterned two-piece, the Bikini A Day blogger was pictured working on her deeply bronzed glow as she sat on some rocks.

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Soaking up rays: Natasha Oakley's best friend and business partner, Devin Brugman, flaunted her figure in a bikini once again on Wednesday, in Jamaica

Tossing her hair back and closing her eyes, she appeared to be in the throes of enjoying the warm sun.

Throughout the day Devin made sure to share even more envy-inducing snaps of her toned physique, and her 1.2 million followers wasted no time double tapping every photo.

In another shot, the Maui beauty was seen showing off her pert derriere in a pair of revealing cut-off shorts.

The Los Angeles-based model also posed on a swing alongside bikini-clad friend, Rocky Barnes, captioning the cheeky photo 'Swingers.'

Cheeky: In another shot, the Maui beauty was seen showing off her pert derriere in a pair of revealing cut-off shorts

Joking around: The Los Angeles-based model also posed on a swing alongside bikini-clad friend, Rocky Barnes, captioning the cheeky photo 'Swingers'

Fans were also treated to pictures of Devin's other girlfriends, including her business partner and this month's Cosmopolitan Australia cover girl Natasha.

The Aussie A Bikini A Day co-creator was pictured saddled on a horse while wearing a high-cut cream-coloured bikini.

Devin gushed about her friend in the caption, simply writing 'Obsessed with this'.

Loving life: Tash and Devin have been posting several snaps of themselves during their holiday in Jamaica

Tash's curvaceous physique and deep tan didn't go unnoticed, with fans also hailing her in the comments section.

Tash and Devin rose to stardom in 2012 after their A Bikini A Day Instagram account won them legions of fans across the globe.

The blonde and brunette stunners would post daily photos of themselves wearing bikinis, and later decided to capitalise on their popularity by creating a bikini-based website.

They now boast a combined 2.8 million followers.

Devin recently announced a business collaboration with BeachRiot and Revolve on Instagram, which will no doubt help broaden their market.

The duo, along with their model pals are promoting the line in Jamaica.
Australian actress Teresa Palmer is a doting mother to her two-year-old son Bodhi Rain and step son Isaac, eight.

So it's no surprise the 30-year-old has now established her own parenting website called Your Zen Mama.

The Choice star recently completed a photo shoot for the new project and it features her adorable lookalike son.

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Up, up and away! Australian actress Teresa Palmer has established her own parenting website, called Your Zen Mama, and is seen posing in a photo shoot for the site with her son Bodhi Rain, two

In one image, Teresa beams as she lifts him on her shoulders and holds his hands as he giggles at the thrill.

He is dressed by his mother in brown, red and white top and pants while Teresa stuns in a lace high-neck Juliette Hogan dress.

The blonde star has has her golden tresses out or over her shoulders and she wears minimal makeup in an effort to show off her natural beauty.

In another snap, she is seen posing alongside her site's co-founder, pregnant American actress Sarah Wright Olsen and Sarah's son, Wyatt, two.

Sweet: In another snap, she is seen posing alongside her site's co-founder, pregnant American actress Sarah Wright Olsen and Sarah's son, Wyatt, two

The women kneel on the ground of a forest-like location, and cuddle their toddlers, with Teresa planting a kiss on Bodhi.

In another image, Teresa and Sarah lift their boys in their arms and enjoy a laugh with their offspring.

'Your Zen Mama will be an all encompassing space to build a community of parents and caregivers discussing the comedy, beauty and complexity of pregnancy and parenthood,' Teresa told Daily Mail Australia of the site, which will launch June 1.

'We want to create an environment which is focused on what connects us rather than what divides us, a place where all are accepted, supported, encouraged and welcomed without judgement.'

She also said she and Sarah will be exchanging their own stories about motherhood on the site.

'We will be sharing personal and intimate stories of our mothering journeys and things we have learned along the way,' she added.

The star also took to Instagram to share one of the shots from the photo shoot, describing Your Zen Mama as: 'A community for parents & caregivers to feel empowered, inspired, accepted and supported' and called Sarah her 'soul sis.'

She also said the website is the 'sister site' to Your Zen Life, another website she initially created with friend and Australian actress, Phoebe Tonkin, which focuses on health and well-being.

Adorable: In another image, Teresa and Sarah lift their boys in their arms and enjoy a laugh with their offspring

Her pride and Joy! Sarah is seen in another idyllic snap showing off her baby bump and giggling with her son

Teresa shares son Bodhi with her husband, actor and director Mark Webber, 35.

She recently described motherhood as her 'greatest joy' in a sweet Instagram post on Mother's Day.

In her post, she also acknowledged the likes of women who wanted to be a mother, mothers, and mothers who had lost their children.

She told Daily Mail Australia that the post 'sums up' what she wants to achieve with the site, that is 'finding perspective and meaning in the peaks and valleys of it all.'

'We want to embrace and acknowledge all who join our community and celebrate the ways in which we all navigate our own personal journeys,' she added.
Robert Downey Jr has said he doesn't like to focus on past mistakes.

The actor posed for the cover of GQ Style's summer issue in some stylish looks as he opened up about his marriage and long career.

But when asked about the last time he'd failed, the Iron Man star said he didn't like to look at disappointments as failures, but instead as opportunities to stay humble and do better.

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Leap of faith: Actor Robert Downey Jr looked sharp in a blue Boss suit and showed off his Exton tattoo in honor of his four-year-old son as he posed for GQ Style's Summer issue

Robert went barefoot in a light blue Boss suit as he showed off his 'Exton' tattoo in honor of his four-year-old son in the men's fashion bible.

Asked to name the last time he'd failed at something, the 51-year-old joked that he'd couldn't get Exton to sleep and was up until 3am.

'But as far as straight-up failure, I don't want to talk about failure,' the Captain America: Civil War star said.

'I want to talk about moments of humility.

'Like when you feel suddenly sick and embarrassed but then you have to continue on to the next moment immediately in full view of others.

'Because it's not failure if you just recognize, I fell short, and that's okay,' he said.

Star power: The 52-year-old told the men's fashion bible that he doesn't like to dwell on failures, but tries to think of them as a way to stay humble and do better in the future

Robert famously struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years, and spent more than a year in jail in 1999 for a parole violation related to a felony drug conviction, after cops pulled him over for speeding and found heroin, cocaine and a gun in his car.

However, he got sober with the help of wife Susan Downey, turned his life around and is now the highest-paid actor in Hollywood thanks to the Iron Man blockbusters.

In December, California Governor Jerry Brown pardoned the actor's felony conviction for drug possession.

And Robert told GQ Style that he and his producer wife - who he called his best friend - go to couples therapy to keep their relationship on track.

Looking sharp: Robert wore a smart grey suit and purple tartan tie as he attended a screening of Captain America: Civil War in New York City last week

'It's like housekeeping,' Robert explained.

'You know what I mean? And it's so much better to have housekeeping come in, just changing the sheets a couple times a week. Not when Ron Wood has just trashed it.

'So I think half the job is communicating to the point where what you're really doing is team-building and conflict resolution and all that stuff,' he said.

'And then there's times where, like, maybe we'll have an appointment, Susan says, 'I'm fine. You need to talk to them about this, that, and this.' I'll be like, 'Okay, yeah, that's good, too.''

The pair wed in 2005, and are parents to son Exton and one-year-old daughter Avri.

Robert also has a 22-year-old son, Indio, from his previous marriage to Deborah Falconer. Musician Indio has also struggled with addiction and had a cocaine possession charge dismissed in March.
Roxy Jacenko cut a serious demeanour in black as she arrived at NSW Supreme Court for day two of her husbands trial, where he faces an insider trading conspiracy charge.

Clutching Oliver Curtis's hand tightly, the Sydney PR maven arrived, head bowed, in a smart miniskirt suit with her gaze hidden behind dark Ray-Bans as they bowled into court.

She struck a slightly less conservative figure than a day earlier in a shorter ensemble and opted for more daring heels that lace up to the ankle.

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Support: PR guru Roxy Jacenko wore a smart miniskirt suit and hid her gaze behind dark sunglasses as she supported husband Oliver Curtis at NSW Supreme Court on Thursday

The mother-of-two kept close to her husband's side and appeared locked in deep thought as she clutched her mobile phone.

The married couple - who are parents to social media sensation Pixie, four, and their two-year-old son Hunter Curtis - kept their composure as press photographers snapped them in the street.

Prosecutors allege Mr Curtis conspired with his former best friend, John Hartman, to commit insider trading offences between May 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.

A day earlier: Roxy also wore black for the first day of his trial, where he faces an insider trading charge

Walking tall: The married couple kept their composure as press photographers snapped them in the street

The alleged offences netted the pair $1.433 million, prosecutors told the New South Wales Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Just prior to jury selection, the 30-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge telling Justice Lucy McCallum and potential jurors: 'Not guilty, your honour.'

On Wednesday the court heard the businessman bought his childhood friend a $900 Blackberry phone so he could use its 'secret' text messaging system to exchange insider tips on share trades, prosecutors allege.

Preened: Roxy remained poised while he husband smiles as they arrived for the hearing

During his opening address, senior Crown prosecutor David Staehli SC heard that Oliver Peter Curtis used tip-offs from his former best friend John Hartman to net the alleged profit, which they then shared.

Mr Staelhi told the court Mr Curtis used money from the alleged scheme to buy Hartman a $60,000 Mini Cooper vehicle and a $20,000 Ducati motorcycle.

The money was also used to take the pair and their friends on a holiday to Whistler, Canada and Las Vegas.

Holding on tight: The mother of two stayed closely by Mr Curtis's side

Mr Curtis was accused of using $156,000 to pay 12 months upfront rent on the $3,000-a-week Bondi apartment where he was living with Hartman, who prosecutors said did not have to pay rent.

It was also claimed by Mr Staehli that Mr Curtis went to the city and bought Hartman a Blackberry phone before the first of the 45 alleged transactions that allegedly occurred under the scheme between May 2007 and June 2008.

At the time, Mr Hartman was an equities manager at Orion Asset Management and Mr Curtis worked as a banking analyst.

Concealed: She hid her gaze behind dark sunglasses as she cut a serious demeanour

Mr Staelhi told the court the phone was given to Mr Hartman so he could send him tips on Blackberry's 'secret' text messaging system, known as 'pinging'.

He told the eight men and seven women on the jury the benefits of using the Blackberry meant 'you could send a message which was not capable of being intercept-able'.

'Such a message would be secret... discreet.'

Justice Lucy McCallum also told the jury Mr Curtis was innocent until proven guilty.

If found guilty, the Australian investment banker could face a maximum five-year jail sentence.

Happier times: Roxy and Mr Curtis have two children, Pixie and Hunter. The couple are pictured above in a file photo from a happy moment

Meanwhile, over the weekend, Roxy took to her social media sites to share candid family snaps as they celebrated Hunter's second birthday together.

The PR guru paid a sweet tribute to her beloved little tot as she shared the snap, which saw Oliver kissing their son tenderly on the forehead.

Roxy captioned the sweet image: 'Such a joy my little boy'.

'Such a joy my little boy': Over the weekend, Roxy took to her social media sites to share candid family snaps as they celebrated Hunter's second birthday together
Rob Kardashian is going all out for pregnant fiancee Blac Chyna's 28th birthday.

The 29-year-old reality star hired an airplane to fly over their Miami hotel with a message reading 'Happy birthday Angie I adore you!!!' on Wednesday.

The couple jetted in to Florida ahead of Blac's appearance at a strip club, where the model - real name Angela White - is hosting her birthday bash.

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Going big: Rob Kardashian hired a plane to fly a gushing birthday message over their hotel in Miami for pregnant fiancee Blac Chyna's 28th birthday Wednesday

And formerly-reclusive Rob is making no secret of his love for his wife-to-be, showering her with attention on her big day.

In addition to the gushing birthday message in the sky, Rob gave Blac 28 gorgeous floral bouquets, complete with 28 love notes listing the reasons why he loves her.

The reality star, 29, shared video of a beaming Blac posing in front of the pretty red and pink flowers on Instagram on Wednesday.

'28 bouquets of flowers with 28 reasons why I Love Her for her 28th Bday' he wrote.

See Blac Chyna updates as Rob Kardashian hires plane to fly birthday banner for her

Public love: The 29-year-old's sweet message read 'Happy Birthday Angie I adore you!!!'

Birthday girl: Rob and Blac arrived at Miami airport earlier on Wednesday ahead of her birthday party at a strip clu

He added: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA!! Awwwww I'm the best ...I LOVE YOU !!'

'Oh my God,' Lashed salon owner Blac says in the clip, lifting her phone high above her head to try to capture all flowers on camera.

Rob also gifted the pregnant model a white cake reading 'Happy Birthday Angela Love, Rob.'

Grand gesture: Rob also shared an Intagram photo of Blac with the 28 bouquets of flowers he sent her, along with 28 love notes on Wednesday

Think pink: 'Oh my God,' Blac gushed as Rob shared video of the 28 bouquets and 28 love notes he sent her for her birthday

While Rob calls his love 'Angie,' she will reportedly go by Angela Kardashian after they tie the knot.

The couple announced they are expecting their first child together last week, after a whirlwind romance and engagement that caused drama with his famous family.

Blac has a three-year-old son, King Cairo, with Rob's half-sister Kylie Jenner's boyfriend Tyga.

The couple also stepped out in Los Angeles on Tuesday as they celebrated the launch of Blac's new Chymojis, which are tipped to earn her a seven figure sum.

Birthday girl: The pregnant model was all smiles as she showed off the lavish floral display

Sweet treat: The former Keeping Up With The Kardashians star also sent Blac a white cake he signed 'Love, Rob'








She's more than just a pretty face who knows her way down a catwalk.

And on Wednesday evening, David Jones ambassador Jessica Gomes, 30, proved that her talents far exceeded her knowledge on fashion, showing off her rock hard abs during a dance class in Sydney.

The sporty brunette impressed her 189,000 social media followers in a short video uploaded to her Instagram account, with moves which spanned from hair-flicking, body rolling, shimmying to Rihanna's Kiss It Better.

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David Jones ambassador Jessica Gomes flaunts her washboard abs while showing off her dance prowess during hip-hop class

Jessica wore black tights, a tank top and a flannel top wrapped around her slender waist in the video she later captioned:  L O L // Late night dance sesh.

The models fans were also quick to comment.

One fan wrote: 'I love her she's so cute HAHAH [sic].

Up beat: The sporty brunette impressed her 189,000 social media followers in a short video uploaded to her Instagram account, with moves which spanned from hair-flicking, body rolling, shimmying to Rihanna's Kiss It Better

Dance wear: Jessica wore black tights, a tank top and a flannel top wrapped around her slender waist in the video she later captioned

Spirit fingers: The Star flung her arms around as she danced

While another added: Nice moves.'

A day earlier Jessica posed in an eye-catching monochrome ensemble.

The 30-year-old David Jones ambassador showed off her phenomenal figure in a daring white and black singlet top with a deep V-neckline, revealing her ample cleavage.

Daring to bare: David Jones ambassador Jessica Gomes took the plunge in a sheer lace top and black trousers during a late night styling session on Tuesday

The slinky shirt included sheer lace detailing around the bodice, as well as a strap on the front to hold her ample bosoms in place.

She teamed the edgy singlet top with a pair of flared black trousers, which not only showed off her lithe and toned legs but gave them an elongated appearance.

The catwalk model styled her luscious brunette locks into loose waves which danced around her face, while keeping her make-up fresh faced and clean.

Jessica completed her daring ensemble with a nineties inspired choker around her neck.

Staying put! Jessica (centre) will continue her runway duties closer to home, reportedly re-signing with Australian retailer David Jones for another 12 months for a rumoured $350,000

Despite the late hour for the fitting, the beauty looked to be in good spirits.

She later captioned the post: 2 N I T E// Late fittings with @dalemckie we are feeling this @celine.world cameo..& @strateascarlucci pant & @nataliechapmannc choker. I'm not feeling the time. Goodnight.

Days earlier, Private Sydney claimed the 30-year-old will stay on with the department store for another 12-months, for a rumoured $350,000.

Top spot: Miranda Kerr previously held the same brand ambassador position with David Jones before she left in 2013, promoting Jessica to the top spot for the retail giant

The Perth-born beauty has been an ambassador for the department store for three years and regularly appears on the runway during Fashion Week and at new season collection launches.

Miranda Kerr previously held the position as lead model for David Jones before she left the brand in 2013 to pursue her career in the US.

Jessica's renewed commitment to the store, means Jesinta Campbell will continue to be number two to the LA-based model.
She has worked hard for this body, so she is not about to keep it under wraps.

Khloe Kardashian wowed as she left a studio in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old demanded attention in a skin tight ensemble that highlighted every hard fought for curve.

Out of the blue: Khloe Kardashian wowed as she left a studio in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday

For her day of filming, no doubt pieces to camera for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the star dressed in an all-blue look.

Khloe encased her pert derriere in a high-waisted knee length cobalt skirt which clung to her form.

Making the look even more eye-popping, the star added a long sleeve turtleneck bodysuit by Love And Labels in matching blue which was anything but reserved.

The bodysuit - which she wore tucked into her shirt - was made from sheer mesh and showed off both Khloe's slim physique and her strapless blue lacy bra.

See Khloe Kardashian updates as she's a sheer delight in a very tight cobalt ensemble

If you've got it, flaunt it: For her day of filming, Khloe encased her pert derriere in a high-waisted knee length cobalt skirt which clung to her form

Dare to bare: Making the look even more eye-popping, the star added a long sleeve turtleneck bodysuit in matching blue which was sheer and clung to her like the skirt did

Arriving in style: The star was driving what appeared to be a Rolls Royce Waith, which is not her usual motor though she has been seen in a red one

Breaking from her blue theme, the reality star wore the look with a pair of brown Christian Louboutin pointed toe pumps.

The star then added another pop of vibrant colour courtesy of her red alligator leather Hermes Birkin bag.

The bag matched perfectly with the red interior of the Khloe's black Rolls Royce Wraith.

Khloe has previously driven a red Wraith so either she just got herself a new one or she had it changed to black and added criticism rims and other features.
Anne Hathaway welcomed her newborn son Jonathan on March 24.

And the 33-year-old is already showing off an enviable post-pregnancy figure less than two months after giving birth.

The Oscar-winning actress was spotted in the sun-soaked Hollywood Hills on Wednesday in a boho chic ensemble which highlighted her svelte physique.

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Hot mama! Anne Hathaway, 33, showcased an svelte post pregnancy figure less than two months after giving birth to her son Jonathan on March 24

The Devil Wears Prada star donned a vintage inspired midi frock with shades of midnight blue, rosy pink and coral.

Her flowing dress was held up with thin spaghetti straps and cinched at the waistline with a tassled bow, only further showcasing her impeccable form.

She teamed the colourful garb with strappy bronze gladiator sandals and a small, leather burgundy designer handbag.

Hathaway opted for barely there make-up with the exception of a touch of pink gloss and donned a pair of large-framed shades to shield her from the California sunshine.

Boho babe! The Oscar winner donned a vintage inspired midi frock with shades of midnight blue, rosy pink and coral

The Les Miserables favourite seemed in good spirits as she spent her first Mother's Day on Sunday with her son and husband, Adam Shulman, 35.

After the trio spent the morning on a relaxed hike, Hathaway and Shulman - who wed in 2012 - enjoyed an afternoon to themselves at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

Hathaway was beaming as she strolled hand-in-hand with her handsome hubby who both sported dark denim jeans and tinted shades.

Svelte star! Hathaway's dress cinched at the waistline with a tassled bow, only further showcasing her impeccable form

Final touches: Anne teamed the colourful garb with strappy bronze gladiator sandals and a small burgundy designer handbag

And while Anne has her hands full with a newborn, it was announced in March that once her life settles down, director Garry Marshall plans on putting out a third installment of the Disney franchise, The Princess Diaries.

'I was with Anne Hathaway a couple weeks ago, it looks like we want to do Princess Diaries 3 in Manhattan,' Marshall told People.

But he added that the actress 'is very pregnant, so we have to wait until she has the baby and then I think we're going to do it.'

Anne rose to fame after starring as Mia Thermopolis in the original 2001 film and it's 2004 The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement sequel.
Shane Warne has accused Brynne Edelsten of tipping off the paparazzi after he was seen heading to her home for a nightcap during the early hours of Thursday morning.

Taking to his social media sites in the afternoon, the 46-year-old addressed the matter and suggested that the Australian socialite planned the set-up.

The sighting outside Brynnes home came shortly after the two stars partied at the All In For Charity poker tournament in Geelong - which was also attended by the likes of Brendan Fevola, his wife Alex and Mick Gatto.

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'How sad is that?': Shane Warne (left) has accused Brynne Edelsten (right) of tipping off the paparazzi after he was seen heading to her home for a nightcap during the early hours of Thursday morning

On his official Facebook and Instagram page, Shane wrote: Some people never cease to amaze me. Listen to this one. After a fun night raising money for breast cancer in Geelong last night, me & a few friends plus Brynne Edelsten went out for a couple of drinks.

Brynne then invited me back to her place around 1am for a nightcap, when I arrived, paparazzi were conveniently waiting outside her home to get the pic, coincidence?

Later adding: I left instantly and thought how sad is that!

Twitter rant; Taking to his social media sites in the afternoon, the 46-year-old addressed the matter and suggested that the Australian socialite planned the set-up

The sighting outside Brynnes home came shortly after the two stars partied at the All In For Charity poker tournament in Geelong  which was also attended by the likes of Brendan Fevola, his wife Alex and Mick Gatto

The father-of-three - who has a reputation for being a ladies man - has been linked to countless bombshells since splitting with ex-wife Simone Callahan in 2007.

He famously started dating English beauty Elizabeth Hurley in 2010, with the pair briefly getting engaged before calling it quits on their relationship in 2013.

After that he was linked to busty glamour model Emily Scott, with the pair dating for approximately three months in 2014.

Lothario: The father-of-three has been linked to countless bombshells since splitting with ex-wife Simone Callahan in 2007 - he famously started dating English beauty Elizabeth Hurley (pictured) in 2010

Meanwhile, Brynne was famously married to medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten for four years before they parted ways at the end of 2013.

The 33-year-old recently opened up about their controversial relationship, telling Channel Seven's The Morning Show: 'I don't regret marrying him.'

The TV star then went on to confess that she could understand why the public had branded her as a 'gold digger' at the time, saying: '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.'

Former love: Meanwhile, Brynne was famously married to medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten for four years before they parted ways at the end of 2013

Being frank: The 33-year-old recently opened up about their controversial relationship, telling Channel Seven's The Morning Show , 'I don't regret marrying him'
Victoria's Secret Angel Stella Maxwell put on quite a sideshow Wednesday between takes of a shoot on Miami's South Beach.

The Northern Irish 24-year-old - who relies on fitness trainer Shawna Cordell - nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction in the flirty b&w-striped jumpsuit.

The University of Otago grad officially got her 'wings' in April 2015, but she's been with the lingerie brand for two years.

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It's the new cleavage! Victoria's Secret Angel Stella Maxwell put on quite a sideshow Wednesday between takes of a shoot on Miami's South Beach

At one point, Stella received a friendly kiss from Victoria's Secret main photographer Russell James.

The 53-year-old lensman also directs most of the racy VS adverts, like the new 'Dream Angels' campaign.

On Tuesday, Maxwell's fellow models Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, and Elsa Hosk accidentally dropped James on the sand.

'Look Mum I can fly!' Australian-born, Manhattan-based Russell joked on his social media.

Taped in? The Northern Irish 24-year-old - who relies on fitness trainer Shawna Cordell - nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction in the flirty b&w-striped jumpsuit

Globetrotter: The University of Otago grad officially got her 'wings' in April 2015, but she's been with the lingerie brand for two years

Affectionate colleagues: At one point, Stella received a friendly kiss from Victoria's Secret main photographer Russell James

Best job in the world? The Australian 53-year-old lensman also directs most of the racy VS adverts, like the new 'Dream Angels' campaign

'Look Mum I can fly! Thought I was doing great but got dumped': On Tuesday, Maxwell's fellow models Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, and Elsa Hosk accidentally dropped James on the sand

Miami  with the @victoriassecret family @stellamaxwell #nomakeupmakeup A photo posted by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on May 10, 2016 at 8:35am PDT

Cant think of anyone Elsa id rather spend the day with  @hoskelsa @victoriassecret A photo posted by Stella! (@stellamaxwell) on May 10, 2016 at 6:20pm PDT

'Thought I was doing great but got dumped.'

Last week, the Belgian-born beauty - who rocked a rose gold Topshop gown - was seen leaving the Met Gala after-party at the Boom Boom Room with newly single Kristen Stewart.

The blue-eyed blonde was even following the 26-year-old Cesar Award winner as she reunited with her Runaways co-star Dakota Fanning on the red carpet.

Sideboob flasher: Last week, the Belgian-born beauty - who rocked a rose gold Topshop gown - was seen leaving the Met Gala after-party at the Boom Boom Room with newly single Kristen Stewart

'They absolutely did not hook up': The blue-eyed blonde was even following the 26-year-old Cesar Award winner as she reunited with her Runaways co-star Dakota Fanning on the red carpet

'They absolutely did not hook up,' a source told Us Weekly.

'Stella has mutual friends with Kristen, and they just hung out a little at the party.'

It's the first lady to be romantically linked with Stella since her 2015 spring fling with 'pansexual' pop diva Miley Cyrus.
She is certainly a colourful character.

But Kylie Jenner was looking glorious in all-red as she showcased her lithe legs after stepping out in a trendy blazer in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

And it seems to be the 18-year-old's new favourite hue, as she arrived at the family's studio in the affordable Van Nuys area in a scarlet Rolls-Royce.

First of the summer wine: Kylie Jenner showed off her legs after wearing just a blazer in LA on Wednesday

Scarlet woman: She seems to have a new favourite hue if he matching coat and Roll-Royce is any guide

The natural beauty was looking in fine form indeed in her patterned velvet jacket, which was opened to give the merest glimpse of her bra and worn as a dress, as well as a pair of black leather boots.

While she seemed dressed to impress as she attended the family studio, perhaps even more exciting is the prospect she may have working on a follow-up to her sensational musical debut as a guest vocalist on the track Beautiful Day by young rapper Burberry Perry.

Meanwhile Kylie, who is dating diminutive rap giant Tyga, stars in an exciting deleted clip from Keeping Up With The Kardashians, in which she tells her half-sister Kourtney she believes her father speaks to her beyond the grave.

She seems stunned to learn she had scheduled a makeup launch on February 22, which is the same day as Robert Kardahian's birthday.

See Kylie Jenner updates as she showcases her toned legs in scarlet blazer

Nice bodywork: And the Rolls-Royce was easy on the eye also as the prodigiously talented teen flashed her perfect pins

Just popping out: Her jacket was opened just enough to give the merest glimpse of her lacy bra

It's a rap: Fans will be surely waiting with baited breath to see if she was working on a follow-up to her epic music debut at the family studio

Natural beauty: Kylie brushed aside her glossy tresses to display her delicate features

Sports luxe: The young fashionista ensured the look wasn't too glamorous by pairing it with black trainers and ankle socks

Leggy display: The thigh-grazing design was perfect for showing off her shapely pins as she walked

Kylie explained: '22 is my favourite number. I've been saying 22 since, probably two years ago. I don't know, I feel like your dad, like, talks to me.'

This was a revelation that seemed to carry much water with her sibling.

Kourtney said: 'It's interesting. Some people are more in tuned to receiving it, so, like, you're one of those people.'

Mystic Kylie concurred, replying: 'Yeah. I feel like he definitely talks to me.'

Mysterious stuff indeed.

Let me help you! Kylie got some assistance from a male employee

Beyond the veil: Kylie explained to her half-sister Kourtney she believes her father Robert talks to her in a deleted scene from Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Clair-textiant: Perhaps the endearingly vain teen was looking to see if the famous lawyer had sent her any text messages from the other world
She is often seen modelling bikinis or lingerie.

And despite somewhat covering up on Wednesday, former Australia's Next Top Model contestant still managed to show off her best assets.

The busty blonde showed why she was given the lucrative title of the 'face of Guess' as she slipped into a revealing number at the launch of Interval Summer 1 16 collection in Sydney.

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Taking the plunge: Simone Holtznagel showed off her enviable figure in a polka-dot playsuit at a fashion launch in Sydney on Wednesday

The blonde model, who boasts an ample DD-cup, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging polka-dot playsuit as she heated up the fashion event.

Simone's enviable figure was certainly on show in the thigh-skimming ensemble that showed off her toned and tanned legs, and gave a glimpse of her cleavage.

She heightened her petite form with a pair of heels.

The 22-year-old styled her glamorous outfit with minimal accessories, opting for a simple black belt around her slender waist and a pearl bracelet.

Famous curves:The blonde model boasts ample DD-cup size curves

The beauty queen was polished to a high standard with her blonde tresses styled in waves, while impeccably-applied makeup highlighted her natural beauty.

Simone was joined by a host of stars at the event, including actress Emma Lung and fashion bloggers Talissa Sutton and Danielle and Nicole Benton.

Meanwhile, the former reality TV star told The Daily Telegraph that she couldn't date an American because they 'take themselves a lot more seriously'.

Still looking good: The 22-year-old posed with a packet of Smiths chips in a post to Instagram

Simone also thinks that American guys don't understand her sense of humour - and are too preoccupied with how they look.

'American boys are kind of stupid... When I say something or crack a joke to an American guy, it just goes straight over their heads, then I will explain it again and they still dont get it,' Simone said.

'Also, they need to realise, I am the girl,' she continued. 'If you are more worried about the way you look than I am about how I look, then there is something wrong with you.'

Winks: The blonde beauty winked at the camera with a red beverage in her hand

Despite the harshness of the American dating scene, Simone confessed she'd rather date an Australian because they are 'more down to earth' and 'masculine' than their US counterparts.

Simone first found fame on Australia's Next Top Model in 2011 after placing third on the reality series.

She kick-started her career in the States by signing to Guess in October 2014 and has since appeared on the runway and in numerous campaigns for the brand.

She still regularly models Down Under and recently flaunted her curvy figure for underwear retailer retailer Bras N Things.
She has been dating the estranged wife of Australian businessman Geoffrey Edelsten saying the two of them have a lot in common.

And judging but these pictures it seems reality star Angelique 'Frenchy' Morgan and Gabi Grecko are two peas in a pod.

The bronzed glamour model, who starred in the UK version of Big Brother, was seen teetering along the sun-dappled streets of Malibu in fluorescent platform heels and dress that showed her G-string.

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What a sight! Reality star Angelique 'Frenchy' Morgan as seen teetering along the sun-dappled streets of Malibu in fluorescent platform heels and dress that showed her G-string

Flushed in pink: The The barbie doll-esque blonde wore a dress that showed her underwear and rounded posterior

The barbie doll-esque blonde was seen wandering around in a dress with pink dots and showed off her pink lips, pink hair and pink nails.

She appeared engrossed in a phone call as she did her talking while walking.

And as she turned to walk towards a car park, she flashed her very perky derriere exposed in a G-string.

Reality star: Frenchy featured on the British version of long running show Celebrity Big Brother in 2014

Dating: Frenchy is dating former Gabi Grecko, who has split from Australian businessman Geoffrey Edelsten

Frenchy, who has made headlines for her outrageously X-rated antics in Britain and the United States, recently told of her love for Gabi, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'We talk everyday, we are together as BFFs and dating.

'And, yes, I am bisexual,' she added.

'Frenchy' says she is keen to get to know the estranged wife of Mr Edelsten, 72, better after the pair met for the first time in April.

Splitsville: Gabi and estranged husband Geoffrey parted last year after a rollercoaster relationship

'Her [sic] and I have been texting everyday calling and face timing .We are having so much fun,' she said.

'We only have been in long distance relationships as I live in Malibu and she lives in NYC ... but who knows what will happen?'

For her part Gabi, 26, declared her love for Frenchy on Instagram and later told Daily Mail Australia: 'I'm bisexual. I broke up with my boyfriend and now I'm dating a hot woman in her forties...'

Not shy: Both women are not timid when it comes to flashing the flesh... even in public

She went on: 'I'm dating an older woman, I'm in love, we want to keep it low for now about who she is to see if it works out but I really like her. She's in her forties but she looks 25.

'I'm still getting over my marriage ending but I think that may have been the end of men for me.'

The colourful personality excitedly declared a month prior she was dating 'age appropriate' Jason, whom she had met through friends, saying: 'I really like him. It's good. It feels right.'

Frenchy - who has appeared on US reality shows Rock of Love With Bret Michaels, I Love Money and The Playboy Mansion - previously released a bikini-clad film clip 'I Wanna Get Naked' in 2014.
She recently returned to her native Australia, after chasing the bright lights of Hollywood where she was successful in securing a number of auditions.

But actress Emma Lung appeared to be relishing in her role of being a mother as she attended the launch of the Interval Summer collection in Sydney's Potts Point on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old arrived at the event cradling her adorable one-year-old son Marlowe in her arms, as she showed off her slender frame in a chic ensemble.

Doting: Actress Emma Lung appeared to be relishing in her role of being a mother as she attended the launch of the Interval Summer collection in Sydney's Potts Point on Wednesday

The Wanderlust star appears to have wasted no time bouncing back to her pre-baby body, as she revealed her svelte figure at the event.

Emma looked radiant and relaxed as she wore an elegant all-black ensemble consisting of trousers and a silk camisole.

The mother-of-one showed off her newly-dyed honey tresses, which she wore down and straight with a fringe framing her pretty features.

Radiant: The 34-year-old appears to have wasted no time bouncing back to her pre-baby body, as she revealed her svelte figure at the event

Keeping her make-up to a minimum, Emma showcased her natural beauty as she rested her cherubic son, who she shares with film director husband Henry Zalapa, on her hip.

Emma and her family recently spent two-months in Los Angeles, where she scouted for work, heading to a number of auditions for acting roles.

Marlowe is the first child for Emma and Henry, and the new parents are cherishing time with their cherubic son, whom they welcomed in April 2015.

Baby makes three! Emma shares son Marlowe with film director husband Henry Zalapa

He features heavily throughout Emma's social media feed, with the proud mother sharing plenty of snaps with her fans.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the Myer Autumn/Winter 2016 fashion show earlier this year, Emma said juggling motherhood with her job was 'intense but rewarding.'

Of her son, she said: 'He is such a cool baby that I am happy to juggle everything,' she explained.

She added: 'I am so determined to not give up on my career as well.'

Cherubic: Marlowe is the first child for Emma and Henry, and the new parents are cherishing time with their son, whom they welcomed in April 2015

Juggling: The family recently returned to their native Australia, after visiting Los Angeles for two months where Emma was successful in securing a number of auditions

Despite loving her new role as a parent, Emma insisted she doesn't want more children 'for a long time.'

Emma then gushed about her little bundle of joy, describing him as 'incredibly determined, very happy, very funny, very curious and cheeky.'

Henry revealed the toddler has already inherited his mother's zest for fronting the camera, explaining he had already starred in a movie alongside his mother when he was just two-weeks old.

He's a natural! Henry revealed the toddler has already inherited his mother's zest for fronting the camera, explaining he had already starred in a movie alongside his mother when he was just two-weeks old

Proud parents: Despite loving her new role as a parent, Emma insisted she doesn't want more children 'for a long time'




His battle with Multiple Sclerosis inspired her to make people laugh, and he certainly knows how to get her laughing too.

Amy Schumer is one of the busiest in Hollywood but when it comes to her dad, she has all the time in the world.

Despite a demanding filming schedule on Wednesday, the 34-year-old had something much more important to do on, hang out with her father, Gordon.

Busy day: Amy Schumer was busy at work in New York on Wednesday on her show (pictured on set with Keith Robinson) but she made sure to find time to have lunch with her father, Gordon

Time with his girls: Gordon's suffers from MS and lives in an assisted living facility so Amy and her sister Kim Caramele went there to have a meal with him

Due to his MS - which he was diagnosed with when Amy was 12 - Gordon lives in an assisted living facility.

So on Wednesday, Amy and her sister Kim Caramele went to go have lunch with their father as she is in town filming her show Inside Amy Schumer.

Posting a video of their lunch on Instagram, it was the comedian's sister - who she calls her 'road manager ' - who had everyone laughing for a change.

Gordon hooted with laughter which in turn made Amy laugh as they made silly jokes at the table and Amy captioned the video: '#road manager Killing at the home with our dad.'

#road manager Killing at the home with our dad. A video posted by @amyschumer on May 11, 2016 at 10:14am PDT

Laughs with a side of lunch: Posting a video of their lunch on Instagram, it was the comedian's sister - who she calls her 'road manager ' - who had everyone laughing for a change

But with Amy in the middle of filming her Comedy Central Show, Inside Amy Schumer, after lunch she had to head straight to set.

On Wednesday the star was filming at the Comedy Cellar in New York and the scene saw her reunite with an old friend, Trainwreck co-star Keith Robinson.

After wrapping filming inside the venue, the pair hammed it up for photographers as they left.

Back to work: But with Amy in the middle of filming her Comedy Central Show, Inside Amy Schumer, after lunch she had to head straight to set at the Comedy Cellar with her Trainwreck co-star Keith

Amy told waiting snappers that the comedian was her husband and threw her arms around him.

Keith is recovering after having a stroke and his co-star held on to his walking stick for him as the posed for pictures.

Wednesday was certainly a big day for the Comedy Central show as a very special guest star was also on set, Anna Wintour.

Hamming it up: Amy told waiting snappers that the comedian was her husband and threw her arms around him

While not known for her comedic abilities - or even cracking a smile much - seems the magazine editor will appear in an upcoming episode.

Clearly being on the fun-loving set had inspired her, as Anna looked close to smiling as she made her way through Greenwich Village, and even took off her signature shades for a moment.

Amy's ability to make people laugh comes from her father's struggle as their situation pushed her to hone her comedy skills as she tried to find something to laugh about when her family was experiencing their darkest days.

Fashionably funny? Wednesday was certainly a big day for the Comedy Central show as a very special guest star was also on set, Anna Wintour

That's different: Clearly being on the fun-loving set had inspired her, as Anna looked close to smiling as she made her way through Greenwich Village, and even took off her signature shades for a moment

Gordon was even inspiration for the father character in Amy's film Trainwreck, who also struggled with MS.

The pair are very close, with the star posting an Instagram of them out and about in New York two weeks ago saying, 'They hate us because they ain't us'.

Speaking of how it impacted her childhood - Gordon was unable to work and went bankrupt before the star's parents then got divorced - the star told CBS Sunday Morning that she had to laugh.

Best fireds: Amy and her dad are very close, with the star posting an Instagram of them out and about in New York two weeks ago saying, 'They hate us because they ain't us'

Art imitating life: Gordon was even inspiration for the father character (played by Colin Quinn) in Amy's film Trainwreck, who also struggled with MS

She told the program's Mo Rocca: 'I love to laugh. I seek laughter all the time. I think that's something that also comes with having a sick parent is you don't know what's going to happen and so I'll be like, ''I'm psyched my legs still work.''

'And I want to, like, experience all I can and make as many memories as I can.'

While she now has a very serious boyfriend Ben Hanisch, she admitted her father's illness and her parents subsequent divorce took its toll on her own relationships.

'It affects your relationships for sure. Everybody I meet and I'm like, ''Yeah, he's cool, but would, like, would I push him in a wheelchair? You know, would I want him to push me?'' So, yeah, I go there pretty quick. Other people are like, ''Should we go to Hawaii on vacation?'' I'm like, ''Do I want you to change my colostomy bag?'' It just changes your perspective.'
He has developed a love for a look that could be charitably called California casual.

But Alec Baldwin proves he still scrubs up well after he wore a suit as he headed for home after a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood on Wednesday.

With his hobo chic consigned temporarily to the dustbin, the Hunt For Red October hunk showed he still has some of the old magic as he purposefully plodded around outside the studio.

Thomas And Friends: Hilaria and husband Alec Baldwin brought along baby son Rafael to Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood on Wednesday

The notoriously grumpy 58-year-old looked good for his age in a smart navy suit and trouser, black pullover and leather shoes.

His flexible 32-year-old other half meanwhile looked fantastic in a baggy cardigan, casual dress and high heels.

Yoga instructor Hilaria, who announced to the world she was expecting her third child with Alec in March, also made sure her baby boy Rafael got plenty of attention by carrying her in her arms.

She shared an adorable picture of her worn out family after their visit to the show, which occupies the comfortable spot between late night leader Tonight and Stephen Colbert's struggling

Hilaria said: 'That guy from the movies, a busy baby business man, a powerful princess, and a very tired pregnant mommy. It's pretty glam here... welcome to who we are. Behind the scenes @jimmykimmel'

Suit you sir: Fast Show tailors Ken and Kenneth would approve of this smart bespoke number, though they may have rued his lack of a shirt and tie

Forget the Hunt For Red October: Alec was just trying to find the studio exit as they wandered around

Things that go bump in the afternoon: Leggy yoga instructor Hilaria showed off her blossoming belly

Gangway: The security guards stood to attention as the man who is arguably the world's greatest actor arrived at the studio carrying his suit

It is somewhat ironic the Beatlejuice beefcake is on his way to having a yet another young child given his previous comments on the subject.

Alec had scoffed at the idea of starting a family with his much younger wife before she first became pregnant, saying: 'Have I thought about having more kids? Oh sure, that would be great, that would be heaven, that would be fantastic.

The actor also recently taped a segment for The Ellen DeGeneres Show , where he talked about fatherhood

'As my friend said to me, when you have children, typically in a second marriage, when you're older and you get married again to a woman who would have children, you must always remember that you make sure the children attend a college where the commencement ceremonies are held in a facility with a wheelchair accessible ramp.'

Thankfully the man who is arguably the world's greatest actor changed his mind, and they now seem blissfully happy with their burgeoning family.

The actor also recently taped a segment for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he talked about fatherhood.

Alec told his host: 'I have my older daughter Ireland and my wife Hilaria and I have Carmen and Rafael. And were having another one in September.'

'My wife is the greatest person I have ever known,' he gushed. 'She is just a living doll, she is great person and a great mom. We have a girl and a boy and we are going to have another boy.'

That's more like it: The family man seemed delighted when his brood had finally tired themselves at Kimmel
She was left red-faced after being knocked back at the door of an A-list Logies after party on Sunday evening.

But on Thursday, Pia Miller showed no signs of a bruised ego while Instagramming a glamorous selfie

The Home And Away star revealed a sultry gaze while showcasing her trademark brunette tresses in the smouldering photo shared with her followers.

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Unbothered: Pia posted a sultry selfie just days after been barred from an A-list Logies after party

Despite the ordeal, the Chilean-born model made no mention of the incident and instead opted to shift the focus onto her work.

'Working on something special today  hair and makeup by the aaaaamazing @katieangusmakeupartist,' she wrote.

The 32-year-old Mother of two has been active on social media in recent days without directly addressing the awkward nightclub incident.

Instead, the stunning actress appears to be taking the high road after sharing a series of posts ranging from sexy selfies to philosophical wise quotes.

Mother and son: The Home And Away star attended the Logies with her son Isaiah

'She was real that was the thing that made her beautiful,' one post read.

'Last minute touch ups with my lil gentleman @izzypowell13,' she captioned in a photo with her son.

As the TV star attempts to move forward after the nightclub mishap, footage of the cringe worthy moment she was denied entry into Shane Warne's club 23 at 2am in Melbourne continues to circulate online.

In the minute-long clip, a worse for wear Pia and her boyfriend Tyson Mullane are seen confidently approaching the Crown Casino hot spot which hosted the creme de la creme of Australian TV but within seconds, they are barred entry.

'Sorry, wrong network, sorry darling,' one door woman unapologetically asserts.

Barred: A door woman at Club 23 in Melbourne wasted no time denying Pia and her boyfriend entry into the A-list event

Stunned: The couple made a graceful exit after being turned away

The couple makes a graceful exit before returning, only to be turned away for a second time.

Earlier in the night, Pia appeared to be enjoying herself at the star-studded Logies ceremony which she attended with her son Isaiah.

'Thank you for having us @tvweekmag #Logies2016  #Bestdate @izzypowell13,' she wrote.
Tensions were running high as filming of BBC crime thriller Top of the Lake moved to Coogee on Thursday.

Lead actresses Elizabeth Moss, 33, and Gwendoline Christie, 37, were snapped filming on a concrete lot by the ocean in the beachside Sydney suburb.

Alone on the wharf, the two appeared to be having a heated conversation and at another point looked tense with Christies hand on her prop gun.

High tension: Top of the Lake actresses Elizabeth Moss and Gwendoline Christie were snapped filming on a concrete lot by the ocean in the beachside Sydney suburb. At one point during the tense scene Christie was standing just behind Moss with her hand on her holster appearing to be calling out to someone

The pair earlier stood with line sheets practising the scene while gesturing wildly at each other, making it likely they were having an argument about the case.

Mad Men actress Moss plays Kiwi detective Robin Griffin who with a uniformed cop played by Christie is in Sydney investigating a body that washed up on Bondi Beach.

There was a lot of discussion between the actors and crew about where to stand for the potentially pivotal scene and how best to deliver their lines.

Part of the scene was spent with the two characters facing each other about a metre apart, Christie with her back to the water.

Arguing: Alone on the wharf, the two appeared to be having a heated conversation, likely an argument about the case

No laughing matter: It was unlikely that the serious scene called for laughter so perhaps someone got a line wrong during one of many takes

Smoking: The towering Game of Thrones actress was again seen smoking a cigarette, as in a previous shoot in Sydney alley, but it is not clear if this was in character or if she was lighting up during a break

The towering Game of Thrones actress was again seen smoking a cigarette, as in a previous shoot in Sydney alley, but it is not clear if this was in character or if she was lighting up during a break.

She was again wearing her police uniform but was without the flak jacket present in previous scenes. She wore her uniform cap off camera but had it off during filming.

In another part of the scene, Christie was standing just behind Moss with her hand on her holster appearing to be calling out to someone.

Places please: Moss and Christie walk with a crew member to take their position for filming as the director sends them to their spots

Getting it right: There was a lot of discussion between the actors and crew about where to stand for the potentially pivotal scene and how best to deliver their lines

Taking positions: Christie and Moss stride back to their places for another take

Moss spends much of the scene clutching a plastic water bottle but was not seen drinking from it.

The crew had assembled a track along the wharf to move a dolly-mounted camera to shoot the scene.

The show's plot revolves around a case involving an unidentified body of an Asian girl washed up on the beach.

The second season picks up four years after where the first one ended, for which Moss won a Golden Globe for her performance.

Award winner: Moss won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of detective Robin Griffin in season one

Last month the production for the six-episode miniseries shut down Bondi Beach while Moss and Christie filmed a dramatic action scene with guns drawn.

A man emerged from a hiding place under the sand brandishing a shotgun but was arrested before anyone was hurt.

Australian actors Ewen Leslie and Alice Engler will also appear in the gritty drama, which is set for a 2017 release.
He's well known for his own unique bohemian style.

And Johnny Depp showcased the more dapper side of his stylish wardrobe on Wednesday when he stepped out or a meal at Sexy Fish in London.

Heading to the luxury Mayfair eatery, a favourite haunt for A-Listers in London, the 52-year-old Black Mass actor went for a retro-inspired look - rocking a fedora and three piece suit.

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Dapper Depp: Johnny Depp showcased the more dapper side of his stylish wardrobe on Wednesday when he stepped out or a meal at Sexy Fish in London

Currently in the UK promoting his latest film, Alice: Through The Looking Glass, the Hollywood heartthrob appeared keen to sample the restaurants signature sea food dishes.

Stepping out for a meal with some friends, the actor looked to have come prepared for the ever-changeable British weather.

And while the rocker and actor may be fond of a more casual look from time-to-time, he made sure he was dressed to impress for the meal.

See Johnny Depp updates as he cuts a dapper figure in a black three piece suit in London

A suave look: Heading to the luxury Mayfair eatery, a favourite haunt for A-Listers in London, the 52-year-old Black Mass actor went for a retro-inspired look - rocking a fedora and three piece suit

Classic yet quirky: Opting for a classic three-piece black suit with red detailing, the actor ensured his tailored look had a suitably quirky edge to it by wearing a black open-neck shirt with a sweeping collar

Opting for a classic three-piece black suit with red detailing, the actor ensured his tailored look had a suitably quirky edge to it by wearing a black open-neck shirt with a sweeping collar.

The actor rounded his look off with a pair of chunky leather black boots, which added to the vintage Americana look the actor's ensemble called to mind.

Making a statement with his accessories, the Pirates of The Caribbean star donned a brown fedora at a jaunty angle which he teamed with a pair of blue-lensed glasses, a stack of silver earrings and a necklace.

Dressing to impress? The actor rounded his look off with a pair of chunky leather black boots, which added to the vintage Americana look the actor's ensemble called to mind

Hats off to you! Making a statement with his accessories, the Pirates of The Caribbean star donned a brown fedora at a jaunty angle

Style statement: He teamed the hat with a pair of blue-lensed glasses, a stack of silver earrings and a necklace

With his mane of dark hair slicked-back and kept under control by his headware, the actor made sure his trademark goatee and moustache were impeccably groomed.

Obviously enjoying his time in the capital, Johnny appeared to be in high spirits and couldn't help but smile as he entered the eatery.

The three time Oscar-nominated actor is currently on the promotional trail for the sequel to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland (2010), in which he reprises his role of The Mad Hatter.

Only the evening before Johnny graced the blue carpet at the film's London premiere alongside his co-star Mia Wasikowska who plays the titular Alice.
A group trip to the Maldives apparently 'organised' by Stephanie Pratt looked like the holiday from hell on Monday's episode of Made In Chelsea.

Following the broadcast, castmembers Tiffany Watson, Nicola Hughes and Louise Thompson have been subjected to days of abuse on social media from viewers accusing them of being 'ungrateful' to Steph for 'treating' them to a vacation.

However, Louise and Nicola have taken to their Twitter and Instagram accounts to vehemently deny that Stephanie paid for the holiday, insisting it was the production company behind the E4 show.

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Hitting back: Louise Thompson took to Instagram on Thursday to defend herself against accusations of 'bullying' and being 'ungrateful' following Monday's episode of Made In Chelsea, set in the Maldives

Enough already: Louise hit back at receiving abuse from people on social media as she shared a photo of Stephanie Pratt and Tiffany Watson on Instagram

Louise, 26, in particular was accused of 'bullying' the former Hills star after they had a heated discussion by the pool during the episode.

Posting a photo of Steph and Tiffany in their pool in the Maldives on Instagram on Thursday, Louise wrote: 'For those morons who will not stop hurling abuse at my page. I am incapable of hurting a fly let alone bullying a 30-year-old woman who has been playing the reality TV game for over 10 years. The word 'bully' is very strong so stop with the false accusations.

'AND Steph did not pay for my trip to the Maldives, I am not that much of a cheapskate.'

Then taking to Twitter, she added: 'To set the record straight, Steph didn't pay for my "holiday" to the Maldives. Did she call and invite me on "her" trip? No.'

See MIC updates as Louise Thompson hits back at claims Stephanie Pratt paid for holiday

'So you're using me so you can come to the Maldives': Stephanie Pratt gave the impression she had organised and paid for the trip during Monday's episode of Made In Chelsea

Frustrated: The 26-year-old denied that Stephanie had paid for her holiday or invited her

Over the past few days, Louise and her co-stars were accused of being 'nasty' to Steph after she 'treated' them to a 'freebie holiday'.

One commented on Louise's Instagram page: '@louisethompson.official is a user for going on the trip when she said Steph doesn't bring anything to her life... girl you brought your a*s to Maldives. So now what?! Looks like she brought something to your life.'

Another wrote: 'Just think it's sad how they all went on a freebie to the Maldives, and they were all nasty to Steph.'

Explaining how the holiday happened, Louise tweeted on Monday: 'Sometimes, albeit rarely, you just have NO choice on whether or not you go on an abroad trip, I know it sounds really strange.

'Wouldn't have been very good tv if Steph was sat on a beach on her own.'

Lonely: Stephanie spent a lot of time on the holiday by herself after falling out with a lot of her female co-stars

All about the storylines: Louise said it made good television for the unlikely group to go on holiday together

In another Instagram snap, Louise referred to the contrast of a difficult holiday in a piece of paradise: 'My @missoni pants enjoyed the Maldives (more than my mates).'

Shortly after Monday's episode, Nicola took to Twitter to set the record straight on who had funded the holiday: 'Steph didn't pay for the holiday fyi.'

On Tuesday morning, she tweeted claims that Steph had paid for her own upgrade to business class, but later deleted the comment.

Tiffany's older sister Lucy, who is no longer friends with Steph, also took to Twitter to claim that Steph had not paid for everyone's holiday, but also deleted her tweets.

After TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou showed her support for Lucy during the broadcast, tweeting: 'Love the girls loyalty to @imLucyWatson & also remember every1 they had to go to the trip there on a show #MadeInChelsea.'

Lucy replied: '@MissGeorgiakx people think she paid for them all to go to the Maldives.'

The following morning, Lucy added: 'I understand some things are edited to be a certain way, but the show pays for the holidays, not the cast. However much they may pretend,' but soon removed her statement.

Monday's episode saw Stephanie, Tiffany, Nicola, Louise, Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead, Josh 'JP' Patterson, Alex Mytton and Sam Thompson jet off to the Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa at Dhonakulhi.

Fall-out: Tiffany and Steph ended their friendship after the latter threatened to reveal her younger co-star had slept with another man in Hong Kong

Another row: Stephanie also fell out with Nicola Hughes as she accused her of being a 'sheep'

Chipping in: Nicola also added that Stephanie hadn't paid for her to go on holiday

However, Steph ended up having separate rows with Nicola, Tiffany and Louise during their stay at the lavish resort, where rooms cost around 600-700 per night.

Steph and Louise's relationship had been soured in recent weeks after the latter expressed her disapproval of the American labelling Alex 'cute', despite him being in a relationship with Nicola.

As they sat by the pool, Louise admitted she was surprised she was 'invited' on the trip by Steph, claiming she felt 'like a back-up plan'.

Stephanie then asked: 'Then why did you come?', to which Louise replied: 'It's a good question... All my close friends are here.'

The California reality star then declared: 'So youre using me so that you can come to the Maldives?'

Despite forgiving Steph was admitting she fancied her boyfriend, their truce didn't last long after the former accused Nicola of being a 'sheep', claiming she wasn't being loyal to her.

Lovely view, shame about the company: Louise claimed she had 'no choice' but to go on the Maldives trip

Supportive: TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou came to Lucy's defence during the broadcast, with the latter commenting about who paid for the holiday... but later deleted her tweet

Steph blasted Nicola, saying: 'I wouldnt have invited you if I thought you would keep switching back and forth.'

Meanwhile, Stephanie and Tiffany ended their friendship after the Celebrity Big Brother star reminded her pal she had continued to keep her secret about cheating on boyfriend Sam Thompson in Hong Kong last year.

Steph appeared to blackmail Tiffany as she warned her: 'I feel like you guys are all excluding me! I just keep thinking: why am I keeping all your secrets and being your friend when youre not a good friend to me.'

Following their clash, Tiffany ended up confessing she had in fact slept with another man in Hong Kong, rather than just kissed him as she initially revealed last year, to a devastated Sam.

A spokesperson for Made In Chelsea declined to comment on the row.
He shot to fame as a child as the baby-faced star of About A Boy.

And Nicholas Hoult was hard at work on his latest project on Wednesday as he took to the streets of New York City to resume filming for his biopic drama Rebel In the Rye.

Puffing away on a cigarette, the British star, 26, channelled the reclusive author J.D. Salinger and dressed the part in a long navy trench coat, reminiscent of the WWII era.

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Getting in to character: Nicholas Hoult was hard at work on his latest project on Wednesday as he took to the streets of New York City to resume filming for his biopic drama Rebel In the Rye

His chocolate brown locks were parted down the side and he wore a crisp white shirt underneath, which showed off a peek of his chest hair.

The movie tells the story of the writer's rebellious youth, his frontline experiences during the Second World War that left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and the great love and loss of his life - all of which inspired his greatest work.

The life of the literary legend prompted more filming earlier on in the day where Nicholas and co-star Kevin Spacey embraced in a hug.

Spacey, 56, has been taking on the role of noted writer and teacher Whit Burnett, who edited the magazine Style in the 1940s, which published many works of authors who would go on to become major talents.

Smoking hot: Puffing away on a cigarette, the British star, 26, channelled the reclusive author J.D. Salinger and dressed the part in a long navy trench coat, reminiscent of the WWII era

Dapper dude: His chocolate brown locks were parted down the side and he wore a crisp white shirt underneath, which showed off a peek of his chest hair

Co-star: Spacey, 56, has been taking on the role of noted writer and teacher Whit Burnett who edited the magazine Style in the 1940s which published many works of authors who would go on to become major talents

Whilst Nicholas - the ex-boyfriend of Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence, 25 - looked smart in a navy blue shirt and grey trousers, Spacey donned a maroon-coloured two piece, which he teamed with a printed tie.

It proved to be a busy day for the actors, who shot different scenes earlier on - calling for different ensembles.

After Nicholas was spotted walking to his trailer, he transformed into Salinger with a pair of dark brown trousers with a lighter colored jacket and brown brogues.

Kevin wore a two piece consisting of a grey check suit with a lighter gray shirt complete with a brown tie as he filmed scenes where he snapped pics of Hoult with a vintage Polaroid camera- before going on to have his make-up touched up between takes.

Friendship: Nicholas filmed scenes with co-star Kevin Spacey, which saw the duo embrace each other

New scene: Earlier on in the day, Kevin filmed scenes where he snapped pics of Hoult with a vintage Polaroid camera

Old school selfie! It proved to be a busy day for the actors as they filmed multiple scenes for the biopic

The flick which is written and directed by Empire co-creator Danny Strong will also star The People vs. O.J. Simpson star Sarah Paulson and Hope Davis.

Nicholas- who split with his ex Jennifer back in 2014- will next be seen reprising his role as Beast for X-Men: Apocalypse, which hits theaters May 27.

He will also lend his voice to a new Netflix-BBC adaptation of Watership Down, along with Star Wars: The Force Awakens star John Boyega.

All smiles: Nicholas arrives at his trailer ahead of a full day of filming earlier on Wednesday




It's the type of thing that can tip a scary film into the territory of down-right terrifying.

But Wolf Creek's John Jarratt has revealed the crazed chuckle that is now synonymous with his character, the murderous Mick Taylor, took him some time to perfect.

Speaking with The Fix in a video interview published on Thursday, the 63-year-old said knew he was onto something when his Labrador cocked its head.

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'I wanted it to sound like a chuckle at the beginning and like Jaws music at the end': Wolf Creek's John Jarratt said it took him six months to perfect his creepy chuckle

'It took me six months to get that laugh,' he explained.

'I told Greg [McLean, the director] want to work out a chuckle that sounds like a chuckle at the beginning and sounds like Jaws music at the end.'

He added that quite a lot of improvisation was involved in developing the character, saying 'I always do that, [the film] lends itself to that.'

Mick's return: After an original film and a sequel, Wolf Creek is returning as a six-part miniseries

Should she stay or should she go? Lucy Fry's character Eve makes the decision to stay in Australian and hunt Mick down

The horror film franchise, which debuted with the first movie in 2005 and released a sequel in 2013, has now been turned into a six-part miniseries.

24-year-old Australian actress Lucy Fry joins the cast as an American backpacker who is the sole survivor after Mick slaughters her entire family.

Though unlike the films, rather than playing the victim, there will be a stronger theme of revenge.

'She [her character Eve] has the choice to stay in that victim mentality and go back to the US or stay here and hunt him down,' she told News Corp earlier this week.

Mick of course finds the whole notion he is being hunted 'quite delicious' said John, suggesting he considers the whole thing a game.

'When Mick finds out that Eve is chasing him, he thinks thats bloody marvellous.'

Wolf Creek is available to view now exclusively on Stan.
On a night dedicated to best of female fashion it was little wonder that one of Australia's greatest style ambassadors caught the eye at the In Style and Audi Women of Style Awards in Sydney on Thursday evening.

The David Jones model was in fine form as she arrived at the city's Star Events Centre ahead of the annual ceremony in a thigh-skimming silver dress from Australian high end designer Zimmerman.

With a striking embellished floral design the outfit ensured Jessica commanded her fair share of attention on the night.

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Looking good: Model Jessica Gomes caught the eye in a thigh-skimming silver dress from Australian high end designer Zimmerman at the In Style and Audi Women of Style Awards in Sydney on Thursday evening

An intricately laced chest exposed plenty of tanned flesh, while puffed arms gave the look an additionally fashionable flourish.

The model enhanced her look with a pair of bold strappy heels that drew further attention to her toned legs as she made her way across the red carpet.

Tasteful as always, Jessica ensured her dress dominated on the night by accessorising with an understated grey clutch, while her brunette locks with effortlessly maintained with a simple centre parting.

Stylish: With a striking embellished floral design the outfit ensured Jessica commanded her fair share of attention on the night

Leading the line: The model is best known for her work with Australian retail chain David Jones

The model accentuated her naturally bronzed skin tone by selecting her make-up from a dusky colour palette.

While she's best known as the face of David Jones, she made a foray into acting with Transformers and looks to be focusing more on screen appearances going forward.

Acting has always been there and I felt like now was the right time and a lot of doors have opened for me, she told Today Extra.

New move: She has also made a foray into acting with Transformers and told Today Extra she looks to be focusing more on screen appearances going forward

The 30-year-old beauty gushed about the acting prowess of Hollywood star actors Bruce Willis and Owen Wilson, who she will appear alongside in two upcoming films.

To be able to work with such incredible artists right off the bat I really got to learn a lot from them. Bruce is so awesome, she said, her face lighting up in a big smile accompanied by enthusiastic hand gestures.
She's proved she's got what it takes when it comes to strutting her stuff on some of the most distinguished catwalks in the world.

And model Montana Cox showed she also knows how to work a red carpet, as she rocked a thigh-skimming dress at the InStyle Women of Style Awards at The Star in Sydney on Thursday night.

The stunning 22-year-old, who shot to fame after being crowned winner of Australia's Next Top Model in 2011, showed off her long limbs in the black pinafore-style dress by Valentino, which featured intricate green and red detail across the front.

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Legs eleven! Montana Cox, 22, showed off her slim pins in a short black pinafore-style dress at the InStyle Women of Style Awards at The Star on Thursday

Montana paired the high-neck dress, which highlighted her toned arms and envy-inducing physique, with simple black pointed heels with ankle straps and black and gold drop earrings for the stylish event.

A black clutch with a patterned strap for an addition of colour and studded detail completed her edgy look.

The stunning model opted for dramatic make-up for the high-profile event, with a heavy smokey eye and a layer light plum-coloured lipstick, complementing her dress.

Top model: The Australia's Next Top Model winner knew how to work her best angles on the red carpet and looked confident in front of the cameras

Selfie! The gorgeous brunette shared this snap to her Instagram before attending the event on Thursday, along with the caption: 'Incoming'

Her dark locks were parted in the middle and styled in a messy updo, framing her naturally beautiful features perfectly.

Now based in New York, Montana has well and truly been Australia's Next Top Model's most successful winner, having walked for some of the world's most coveted fashion houses.

And she will now offer her years of expertise to this year's batch of modelling hopefuls as a guest mentor.

The leggy brunette will join twin models Zac and Jordan Stenmark as mentors on the show's tenth cycle.

Finding success: Now based in New York, Montana has well and truly been Australia's Next Top Model's most successful winner, having walked for some of the world's most coveted fashion houses. Pictured here with

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph in an interview published in early May, the model said she felt 'nervous' about being on the other side of the table.

'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.'

Jennifer Hawkins will return as host, alongside judges Alex Perry and Megan Gale, who is now a permanent fixture on the panel.
He split with long-term partner Kourtney Kardashian in July.

And while Scott Disick is rumoured to have moved on from the reality star with model Megan Blake Irwin, the 32-year-old party king has kept silent regarding the nature of his relationship with both women.

However, it appeared that Scott called at least one of the women he's been courting 'crazy' in a cryptic Instagram post on Thursday.

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Two to chose from: While Scott Disick is rumoured to have moved on from Kourtney Kardashian with Megan Blake Irwin, the 32-year-old party king has kept the nature of his relationship with both women ambiguous

Posting an image of infamous horror movie serial killers Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th) and Michael Myers (John Carpenter's Halloween) in bed together, caption above it reads: 'When you're in a relationship and you're both crazy.'

And in an apparent reference to his own experiences in a relationship, Scott added his own thoughts on the meme, writing alongside it: 'I know the feeling!'

Sharing the image with his 15.7million followers, the E! star and event host's post soon gathered his fans attention and racked up 130,000 likes.

However, it remains unclear as to who Scott was referring to, as he has remained tight-lipped on the nature of his relationship with both Megan, 21, and Kourtney, 37,

Give us a clue? However, it appeared that Scott called at least one of the women he's been courting 'crazy' in a cryptic Instagram post on Thursday

'I know the feeling!':Posting an image of infamous horror movie serial killers Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers in bed together, caption above it reads: 'When you're in a relationship and you're both crazy.'

Following their split in the summer Scott has remained close to Kourntey - who he shares three children with.

They recently returned from a trip to Cuba with Mason, six, Penelope, three, and one-year-old Reign where they filmed scenes for Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Kourtney threw Scott out of their home last summer because of his persistent partying and cheating.

Still close: Following their split in the summer Scott has remained close to Kourntey - who he shares three children with

Moving on? However, despite Scott's close relationship with Kourtney - and her apparent single status - he is rumoured to have begun dating Australian beauty, Megan

But the pair, who never married, have tried to remain on friendly terms for the sake of their kids.

And Scott continues to appear in the family's reality show.

However, despite Scott's close relationship with Kourtney - and her apparent single status - he is rumoured to have begun dating Australian beauty, Megan.
The Cannes Film Festival is as famous for its glamorous guests as it is for its movies.

And Victoria Beckham offered a lesson in looking effortlessly stylish as she stepped out of her hotel in the southern French town on Thursday.

Clad in a pair of billowing navy flares, the 42-year-old designer dazzled as she prepared to head home to Britain after an action-packed couple of days.

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Chic: Victoria Beckham offered a lesson in looking effortlessly stylish as she stepped out of her hotel in the southern French town on Thursday

With a contrasting white and blue strip lining the seam of her trousers, Victoria gave the illusion of extra height on her lean pins, whilst she actively elongated her modelesque frame with a pair of patent black court heels.

Sheathing her lithe frame, she teamed the flares with a billowing white shirt, whilst a chunky gold bracelet lined her wrist.

She finished off the ensemble with a large black saddle bag that she slung over her shoulder and a pair of her trademark oversized sunglasses.

See Victoria Beckham updates as she looks effortlessly chic leaves Cannes Film Festival

Heading home: Clad in a pair of billowing navy flares, the 42-year-old designer dazzled as she prepared to head home to Britain after an action-packed couple of days

Leggy lady! With a contrasting white and blue strip lining the seam of her trousers, Victoria gave the illusion of extra height on her pins, whilst she elongated her frame with a pair of patent black court heels

Victoria's stylish outing came after she dazzled on the red carpet of the film festival's opening gala on Wednesday.

Clad in a black bustier and fitted trousers from her eponymous clothing line the star posed up a storm for the opening night premiere of Woody Allen's star-studded film Cafe Society.

Following her stunning appearance, she decided to let her hair down with with fellow guest Eva Longoria as she was pictured grasping a bottle of tequila whilst her gal pal held a large glass of wine.

Looking lovely: Sheathing her lithe frame, she teamed the flares with a billowing white shirt, whilst a chunky gold bracelet lined her wrist which complemented her delicate midi rings

All about the accessories: She finished off the ensemble with a large black saddle bag that she slung over her shoulder and a pair of her trademark oversized sunglasses

Catch me if you Cannes: Victoria prepared to head home to Britain after making her elegant appearance at the star-studded and glamorous Cannes Film Festival

The pair made the most of their time together in France, with Victoria sharing a series of hilarious insights into their activities.

The British beauty recently showed off her incredible flexibility when she kicked her leg up in the air and posted the results on Instagram and she opted to return to her old tricks.

Wearing her monochrome jumpsuit and killer heels, she threw one leg up in the air, while Eva, wearing a backless grey number balanced herself on the back of a hotel sofa.

Magical in monochrome: Victoria's stylish outing came after she dazzled on the red carpet of the film festival's opening gala whilst clad in a black bustier and fitted trousers from her eponymous clothing line

Canne you kick it? The British beauty recently showed off her incredible flexibility when she kicked her leg up in the air and opted to return to her old tricks alongside gal pal Eva Longoria

Time out: The activities had clearly taken their toll on the mum-of-four who also shared a snap of herself relaxing on bed with a rejuvenating face mask

Victoria shared the image with her followers simply captioning the image with the words: 'High kicks in Cannes X I @Evalongoria Good night Cannes X #Girlsgirl x VB.'

The starry duo also had some fun with snapchat, as they used one of the filters to transform themselves into rabbits.

But the activities had clearly taken their toll on the mum-of-four who also shared a snap of herself relaxing on bed with a rejuvenating face mask.
She became a mum for the first time in December.

And Michelle Bridges has said Sunday, her very first Mother's Day, was a 'pretty special' moment shared not only with her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis and five-month-old son Axel but also her own mother.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the InStyle & Audi Women Of Style event in Sydney on Thursday, the 45-year-old admitted: 'It was nice to be with my mum and be a mum - [it was] pretty special'.

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'Mother's Day was pretty special': While at the InStyle & Audi Women Of Style event on Thursday in Sydney, Michelle Bridges and Steve 'Commando' Willis recounted their first Mother's Day since the birth of son Axel

'It was fantastic, it was very low key,' the personal trainer and entrepreneur said of the day.

Michelle then revealed she had been serenaded by her boys first thing in the morning, saying: 'I had a song sung to me by both Axel and Steve'.

As she recounted the festivities, Commando admitted it was something that just came to him.

'It was low key': The 45-year-old gushed about enjoying her low key day as a mum to her five-month-old son Axel as well as with her own mother, calling the moment 'pretty special'

Sunrise serenades: Commando admitted he woke up with a song in his head and just had to sing it to his leading lady with their boy

'I woke up and it was just in my head - I don't know why - and I just started singing it,' the ex-army man told Daily Mail Australia with a laugh.

'And you know when you hear a song and you might not even like it but you just hear yourself singing it over and over,' he added, with Michelle pipping up to admit: 'I loved it'.

Commando also touched on the special meaning of Mother's Day for him.

'[It's] What's important in life and family and friends and sharing in those special moments, that's what's important.

'And as much as you might get caught up in things like this, which are fantastic, where are your roots and who is a part of that because that's your inner circle,' he added.

Dressed to impress! Michelle showed off her post baby body in a sexy knee-length dress featuring a thigh-high slit as well as a high neckline, offset by the asymmetrical neckline, while Commando looked sharp in a suit

Whole lot of love: The couple shared loving glances at one another as they posed together for photographers, both inside and outside the event

The couple, who first met working together as trainers on The Biggest Loser, looked dapper and dolled up to the nines for the evening soiree.

Michelle showed off her post baby body in a sexy knee-length dress featuring a thigh-high slit as well as a high neckline, offset by the asymmetrical neckline.

Pleats across the bust of the navy design drew the eye to the top of the dress, while the TV personality pulled her locks back into a low bun to fully show off the neckline.

Adding stunning drop earrings and a chain handbag, Michelle completed her glamorous look.

Dolled up: The couple, who first met working together as trainers on The Biggest Loser, looked dapper and dolled up to the nines for the evening soiree

Couple's dressing: Appearing to somewhat couple's dress, both Michelle and Commando donned black patent leather shoes to the event

Meanwhile, Commando looked sharp in a fitted charcoal suit, complete with matching Windsor knot tie.

Appearing to somewhat couple's dress, both Michelle and Commando donned black patent leather shoes to the event.

They also shared loving glances at one another as they posed together for photographers, both inside and outside the event.
Kendall Jenner certainly knows how to dress for the task at hand - and Thursday at Cannes was no exception.

Following the unwritten rules of the French Riviera style code, the model was channeling something between retro Parisian chic, old Hollywood and nautical inspirations in a jumpsuit and cat eye sunglasses.

The 19-year-old was flanked by her mother Kris, 60, who was less subtle in her style choice and reflected the sea vibes at the Magnum beach party with vigour in a striped ensemble.

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Retro style: Kendall Jenner looked chic in a white jumpsuit on Thursday as she turned out for an event at Cannes Film Festival

Kendall's sleeveless ensemble elongated her catwalk-ready figure and she even added dainty sandals to her leggy look.

She had a wave for the fans as she floated through the crowds with a miniature clutch bag in one hand.

The supermodel acted like the aggressive coastal wind in her hair was intentional and styled it out as if strutting down the runway.

See Kendall Jenner updates as she and her mum Kris arrive for Cannes beach party

Riviera ready: Her mother, Kris Jenner was in a nautical-inspired number that matched on the top and bottoms

Boarding a boat: She was due to appear on a yacht to party with Magnum

Blowing kisses: With a wave, the stunner blew kisses to the cameras and the crowds

Old Hollywood glamour: She dazzled in her retro cat eye sunglasses

Not a hair care: She walked into the wind, which made her hair out of control

All intentional: And the photographers certainly captured her big hair moment with delight

It was her first official outing since arriving in the south of France with her mother from Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Obviously, Kris wasn't going to miss it, and she followed behind with a dutiful smile, getting swept up the hysteria of her daughter's appearance.

Keeping Up With Kardashians matriarch Kris offset a billowing top with skintight leggings that cropped off below her knee.

A little wave: For her first public appearance, Kendall had a smile and a wave for the cameras

In her stride: She made the hair mishap look intentional, as if on a runway

Strut: She strutted on tall heels that further elongated her catwalk-worthy figure

Calling out to her: The model caused something of a frenzy from the fans

Blowing in the wind: The star did her best to keep her tresses from being blown in the breeze

Sunkissed: Kendall looked radiant as the warm sunshine beamed down on her

They arrived on the coastline in a plush vehicle but were soon boarding a boat to party in style, the French Riviera way.

The duo were there to 'Release The Beast' with the ice cream brand as they simultaneously run the Kendall x Magnum campaign.

Magnum have recently gone high fashion, recruiting the likes of British beauty Suki Waterhouse to work with them.

Magnum beach: She was there to party with Magnum, barely taking off her chic shades for a second

A bit of all white: Kendall's pristine jumpsuit stood out against the brown branded backdrop

Star attraction: As she turned to the side she showed off her svelte shape

Doing her thing: Kendall expertly posed for the photocall, drawing on her wealth of modelling experience

Model material: Kendall removed her quirky shades for the pictures; her face looking typically flawless

Subtle: The raven-haired beauty produced a hint of a smile before entering the venue

Proud: Smiling mum Kris couldn't hide her delight at supporting her model daughter

Watch your step: She too wore heels, which made it tricky to navigate the boat

Gorgeous: She certainly hadn't inherited the same curvy jeans as Kylie, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney

All smiles: Her make-up look was parred down with nude lips

Arriving by car: Though she arrived in a white car, she would soon be on another boat

Style queen: Fans clamoured to get a glimpse of the stunning model

Enjoying life: Later in the day, Kendall was seen with her long locks scraped back away from her face as she chilled out at her hotel at Eden Roc

Catching some rays? She made sure to stay out in the sunshine to expose her bare arms to the sunshine

Peachy! The slim fit of the all-in-one was flattering on her tiny waistline and peachy derriere - she had also changed into comfortable flats

All eyes on her: Kendall looked relaxed while sitting on a lavish zebra-stripe chair

Proud mum: Kris looked on from the front row as Kendall was interviewed on stage

In her element: The model looked at ease as she held her mic and fiddled with her strappy heels
She's the former Home and Away star living the dream in Los Angeles.

But during a return trip from Hollywood from this week, actress Tessa James stopped by the InStyle and Audi Women Of Style Awards gala at Sydney's Star casino.

The 25-year-old debuted her striking new silver hair colour on the red carpet on Thursday, and dressed to impress in a Dion Lee frock.

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New look: Ex-Home and Away Tessa James (pictured) walked the red carpet at the InStyle Women Of Style Awards in Sydney on Thursday in a chic Dion Lee dress

The California-based star flashed a pearly white smile for the camera, as she flaunted her curves in the stylish blue dress, which featured a cut out detail on the hem.

Finishing off her look a slick of plum lipstick, the ex-soap actress looked in healthy and happy spirits while the camera bulbs flashed.

The petite actress also opted for a pair of off-white high heels and appeared to wear toe nail polish that matched her bold lips.

Nice do! The 25-year-old debuted her striking new silver hair colour at the ceremony

Tessa, who postponed her Hollywood dream to receive treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma last year, also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her style philosophy.

'I think someone who is really content and happy with who they are is someone who is stylish,' she began.

'Do I have a style icon? Yeah, I really love The Row, and I love Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and the way that the dress. I think they're really chic.'

'I think someone who is really content and happy with who they are is someone who is stylish,' said Tessa of her style philosophy

Chic: Finishing off her look a slick of plum lipstick, the former soap actress looked in healthy and happy spirits

Meanwhile, Tessa remained tight-lipped about her upcoming projects in LA - but confirmed she is still flying 'back and forth' to the States for auditions.

'I have something coming up but I can't talk about it,' she concluded.

In 2014 Tessa was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes, after she discovered a lump above her collarbone.

Then living in America, she returned to Queensland to be with her NRL star husband Nate Myles.

Tessa began treatment in September that year, and revealed she was in remission in August 2015.
He won over even more fans with his performance as suave Jonathan Pine in TV hit The Night Manager.

And now it looks like Tom Hiddleston could be even closer to replacing Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond after he was spotted at the same venue as the franchise's film-maker.

A source told MailOnline how the actor was spotted at London's Soho House: Dean Street on Wednesday, with 007 director Sam Mendes.

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Replacement? Tom Hiddleston (left) has been rumoured to replace current James Bond Daniel Craig, who has played the role for 10 years

Sam has helmed two Bond films in recent years, but also has non-007 interests, having recently announced he will direct and produce The Voyeur's Motel, adapted from Gay Talese's novel.

Tom, 35, has been one of the names in the frame to replace Daniel, who has played the suave MI6 agent since Casino Royale 10 years ago.

Although Daniel, 48, or producers haven't confirmed the actor has retired the role, there has been a flurry of speculation in recent months.

Last week, Tom played down the rumours, telling chat show host Graham Norton: 'The thing is the position isn't vacant as far as I am aware. No one has talked to me about it.

'I think the rumours have all come about because in the Night Manager I play a spy and people have made the link.'

Ready to move on? Daniel with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and director Sam Mendes in 2014

In an interview with Esquire magazine this month, the London-born star praised Bond creator Ian Fleming's character: 'I think it's because he represents an archetype.

'There's this idea of British strength which doesn't draw attention to itself but gets the job done. That's our brand.

'We know it's inelegant to blow your own trumpet and impolite to show how much you care, and yet we expect you to win! You don't find it in France or Spain.'

In February, Daniel's good friend, actor Mark Strong referred to the his pal's role as 007 in past tense.

He told Shortlist magazine: 'Do you know what, Id have loved to have played the villain in a Bond movie while Daniel was doing it because hes a pal and that would have been great. But I think hes come to the end of his Bond time and so its probably never going to happen, but that would have always been great.

'Im not going to make predictions': Daniel admitted last year he was contracted for one more film

When the Shortlist journalist suggest Mark should try and convince Daniel to play Bond for a fifth and final time, he admitted 'there are powers at work greater than us who make all these decisions'.

Mark went on to suggest Daniel had decided to close the door on the franchise after playing Bond for a fourth time in last year's Spectre.

He added: 'He has been [wonderful] and hes loved it. But I think he feels like hes mined it. Hes done what he wants with it. That point has come.'

Although Daniel denied reports in January he had quit the role of Bond, he told the Mail On Sunday's Event magazine last September that there's a deal in place that might require him to keep going.'Im contracted for one more but Im not going to make predictions.'

Meanwhile, a bookmaker has suspended betting on who will be named the next Bond after a large bet was placed on Tom following reports of the secret meeting.

A flurry of bets over the past 24 hours tipped the actor to replace Craig as the next 007, making him the 2-1 favourite.

After a particularly big gamble, his odds plummeted to 1-2 and Coral suspended betting.

Luther star Idris Elba and Homeland actor Damian Lewis had been frontrunners for the job in previous months, Coral said.

Elba was priced at 9-1 and Lewis at 14-1 before betting was suspended. Poldark star Aidan Turner had 3-1 odds and Mad Max: Fury Road actor Tom Hardy was at 4-1.
They're the globetrotting bikini bloggers known to flaunt their curves everywhere from Bondi Beach to Los Angeles.

But the latest exotic destination for Sydney-based Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman is Jamaica's luxury Round Hill Resort in Montego Bay.

The Bikini A Day models stripped down to promote Revolve's new swimwear collection the 5x5 Swim Project this week, joined by a group of gorgeous model pals.

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Busty pals: The latest exotic destination for Natasha Oakley (L) and Devin Brugman (R) is Jamaica's luxury Round Hill Resort in Montego Bay, as they modelled bikinis from Revolve's new collection, 5x5 Swim Project

Natasha and Devin were joined by Hailey Clauson, Ludi Delfino, Alexis Ren and Rocky Barnes for the sun-kissed holiday.

Australian-born Natasha displayed her flawless bikini body in a stylish blue floral ensemble featuring a Cleo top with tassel accents.

With her luscious blonde locks flicking in the breeze, the 25-year-old cast a sultry pose at the camera while showing off her toned tummy and runway-ready legs.

Meanwhile, her brunette pal Devin proudly displayed her all-natural DD-cup breasts in an aqua halter-neck bikini.

Swimwear chic: Australian-born Natasha (pictured) displayed her flawless bikini body in a stylish blue floral ensemble featuring a Cleo top with tassel accents

Model behaviour: With her luscious blonde locks flicking in the breeze, the 25-year-old cast a sultry pose at the camera while showing off her toned tummy and runway-ready legs

The California-born beauty, 26, showed off her shapely hips and hourglass frame in a pair of tie-side Brazilian bottoms.

As she posed for the camera, Devin looked every inch the male fantasy as she offered a glimpse of a sexy text tattoo under her left bosom.

Elsewhere, she was photographed in an off-white bikini with a pair of bootylicious scrunch bottoms.

Bosom buddies! Meanwhile, her California-born pal Devin, 26, (pictured) proudly displayed her all-natural DD-cup breasts in an aqua halter-neck bikini

Despite their busy photo shoot schedules, it seemed Natasha and Devin still had time to enjoy their Caribbean getaway.

The pair also posed for a group shot with their model friends while enjoying a yacht trip against the backdrop of a lush bay.

Natasha concealed her gaze behind a pair of rose-tinted aviator sunglasses, while Devin flaunted her kissable cleavage in a bandeau bikini.

Here come the girl: Despite their busy schedules, Natasha and Devin still had time to enjoy their Caribbean getaway, posing for a group shot with their pals while enjoying a yacht trip against the backdrop of a lush bay

Drinking in the views: Later, the girls were spotted enjoying drinks in the afternoon breeze, as Devin put on a leggy display in a pair of Daisy Duke cut-off denim shorts

Later, the girls were spotted enjoying drinks in the afternoon breeze, as Devin put on a leggy display in a pair of Daisy Duke cut-off denim shorts.

The models also flaunted their pert derrieres as they soaked up the late afternoon sun on their luxury boat.

And the cry of 'Bottoms up!' was no doubt heard as the group sipped glasses of wine while flashing their shapely posteriors to the camera.

Cheeky! The models flaunted their pert derrieres as they soaked up the late afternoon sun on their luxury boat
Sarah Jessica Parker always fashionably knocks it out of the park even on her 'casual' days.

The Sex And The City star looked effortlessly chic although dressed down for an outing with a pal in New York on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old actress made a statement as she rocked a pair of enviously green heels for her leisurely spring afternoon.

Always fashionable: Sarah Jessica Parker looked effortlessly chic although dressed down for an outing with pals in New York on Wednesday

Despite turning down the glam factor, SJP looked stylish in a pale blue peasant blouse and grey 7 For All Mankind skinnies.

She rolled up the jeans so her towering olive-colored high-heeled sandals were on full display. Her fabulous footwear were gladiator-inspired and featured three straps with buckles around the ankles.

The mom-of-three didn't disappoint with her accompanying accessories either.

She toted a large snakeskin bag on her shoulder and carried a blue velvet blazer in her arms should the weather call for a jacket.

Springtime: Despite turning down the glam factor, the Sex And The City star looked stylish in a pale blue peasant blouse, grey skinnies, olive high-heeled gladiator-inspired sandals and fabulous accessories

Sarah topped the relaxed ensemble off with silver jewelry - a few layered necklaces and a cuff.

The blonde beauty opted for a natural look wearing minimal make-up under a pair of black sunglasses.

And she wore her signature long wavy tresses down and parted in the middle.

The famous actress appeared to be having a great afternoon with her friends as she and a blonde pal were both spotted with big smiles on their faces.

Passion project: The actress recently made the press rounds talking about Anaphylaxis For Reel - an initiative encouraging people managing potentially life-threatening allergies. SJP instagrammed this shot earlier this month

The actress recently made the press rounds talking about Anaphylaxis For Reel - an initiative encouraging people managing potentially life-threatening and severe allergies to share their story through the power of film.

The passion project is near and dear to the star as her own family copes with food allergies. The actress has been married to actor Matthew Broderick since 1997, and the pair have three children: 13-year-old son James along with six-year-old twin girls Marion and Tabitha.

SJP is currently starring on the new TV series Divorce alongside Molly Shannon.
On screen, it will mark one of the most emotional episodes for Sam Mitchell yet as she bids goodbye to her mother Peggy Mitchell.

But it looked as though it was a different story when the cameras stopped rolling as Danniella Westbrook appeared in sprightly spirits on the EastEnders set on Thursday.

The 42-year-old actress was pictured reapplying her lipstick and playing around with her onscreen son- who she appeared to almost drop when she carried him in her arms.

Fixing up: Danniella Westbrook was seen reapplying her make-up on the EastEnders set as she filmed the emotional funeral of her onscreen mother Peggy Mitchell at a graveyard in Essex on Thursday

Braving the stone-laden pathway in skyscraper stilettos, the Celebrity Big Brother star was pictured swinging around the youngster, though the star almost looked at risk of dropping the child when he jaunted back his body a little too far.

Fortunately, Danniella possessed the strength to pull him back up, avoiding what could have been a nasty fall.

The London native was also seen snapping a selfie with a horse as she continued to revel in her time back on the EastEnders set after so many years away.

See Eastenders updates as Danniella Westbrook almost drops onscreen son

Whoops! The star was also seen playing around with her onscreen son- who she appeared to almost drop when she carried him in her arms

Careful! Braving the stone-laden pathway in skyscaper stilettos, the blonde was pictured swinging around the youngster, though the star almost looked at risk of dropping the child when he jaunted back a little too far

Phew! Fortunately, Danniella possessed the strength to pull him back up, avoiding what could have been a nasty fall

But it was a very different story when the cameras were rolling as Danniella showed off her acting prowess and turned on the waterworks as she sobbed her heart out during her fictional mother's burial.

Her sombre mood was shared by the rest of her onscreen family who all fought back the tears as they laid to rest one of Albert Square's most cherished faces.

Despite being a well-known face, it looked to only be a sparse crowd gathered around the lowering of Peggy's coffin, which was located right next to the gravestone of arch rival Pat Evans.

Horsing around: The London native was also seen snapping a selfie with a horse as she continued to revel in her time back on the EastEnders set after so many years away

Pucker up: The animal lover also gave the horso a peck on the nose

Tearful: It was a very different story when the cameras were rolling as Danniella showed off her acting prowess and turned on the waterworks

Emotional: The star sobbed her heart out as she exited the service in the company of her onscreen son

Risque: The star sported a rather daring look for her mother's funeral in a plunging bodycon dress and sky-high stilettos

Steve McFadden, who stars as Phil Mitchell in the soap, appeared to avoid the burial, though was spotted walking up a grassy slope at the back of the graveyard to pay his respects after everyone had gone.

His character was seen holding a bunch of flowers and laughing, seemingly sharing memories with the gravestone of his late mother.

Noticeably absent from proceedings was Ross Kemp, who plays Peggy's younger son Grant Mitchell.

Serious: Actress Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell) was stern-faced as she walked alongside co-stars Perry Fenwick (Billy Mitchell) and Scott Maslen (Jack Branning)

Saying goodbye: Steve McFadden, who stars as Phil Mitchell in the soap, appeared to avoid the burial, though was spotted walking up a grassy slope at the back of the graveyard to pay his respects after everyone had gone

Farewell: The actor was pictured carrying his mother's coffin

The actor made an explosive return to the show this week, though it would seem he doesn't stick around for long as only Phil, her nephew Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Phil's son Ben (Matthew Silver).

The funeral possessed a horse drawn hearse wheeling the coffin into the churchyard, a wreath spelling out Mum in white and pink roses lined the windows of the carriage.

More filming for the funeral took place earlier in the day which saw more members of the cast come out to pay their respects.

Sweet: The matriarch was given a beautiful send-off with a 'Mum' reef and and a series of beautiful bouquets

Catching up: Sam chatted to actress Anna Karen, who plays her aunt Sal Mitchell in the soap

Best foot forward: Rita Simons, who portrays Roxy Mitchell, switched between a pair of fringed white boots and studded stilettos

Still smiling: Despite the morbid scenes, the girls seemed in high spirits between takes

Gone all out: The funeral possessed a horse drawn hearse wheeling the coffin into the churchyard, a wreath spelling out Mum in white and pink roses lined the windows of the carriage

Despite being a well-known face, it looked to only be a sparse crowd gathered around the lowering of Peggy's coffin

Peggy's death has been in the works for months, and saw her return to Walford in January to reveal she was dying, after Barbara told bosses she wanted her character to be killed off because she is leaving the show permanently.

Speaking about filming her final scenes, the 78-year-old actress was overcome with emotion as she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.

She said: 'They were hard but, sorry I'm going to get upset, I did my crying afterwards, I had to.'

What would she say about that? Peggy's gravestone will be located next to her arch rival Pat Evans'

Peggy's death has been in the works for months, and saw her return to Walford in January to reveal she was dying, after Barbara told bosses she wanted her character to be killed off because she is leaving the show permanently.

Speaking about filming her final scenes, the 78-year-old actress was overcome with emotion as she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.

She said: 'They were hard but, sorry I'm going to get upset, I did my crying afterwards, I had to.'

In character: Harry Reid, who plays Peggy's grandson Ben Mitchell, fought back the faux tears on set
She's no stranger to the red carpet and rarely gets her outfit choices wrong.

And Terry Biviano stunned once again at the InStyle Women of Style Awards at The Star in Sydney on Thursday night in a figure-hugging black minidress.

She kept her look simple and sharp, with no deviation from her strictly black colour palette and the dress revealed Terry's trim and toned physique.

Sleek and sexy! Terry cut a striking figure in a black minidress and black pointed toe heels, baring her bronzed and glowing skin

With a small slit at the waist, the one-shoulder Carla Zampatti dress highlighted Terry's impressive figure, and flattered in all the right places.

The 41-year-old shoe designer, who is married to former Sydney Roosters captain, Anthony Minichiello, 35, wore a pair of her own label's black pointed toe heels.

The striking beauty accessorised with a bejewelled black clutch and stunning Bulgari drop earrings in white and gold.

Keeping it simple: Terry opted for a classic flick of black eyeliner and a layer of blush pink lipstick

Terri kept her make-up relatively simple, opting for a neutral hues and a flick of black eyeliner with dramatic lashes.

And her blush pink lipstick and soft eye shadow added a lovely subtle touch.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on the red carpet, Terry gushed about having recently spent Mother's Day with husband Anthony Minichiello and daughter Azura.

Trim pins: The mother-of-one was baring all in the thigh-skimming dress, showing off her incredibly toned physique

'Anthony surprised me with a Mother's Day trip away, it was amazing,' she said.

'We went to a lodge in New Zealand called Treetops. It was just about relaxing and enjoying our little family. It was an incredible time.'

The mother-of-one said 'style is something that comes from within' and named Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn as her own style icons.

Less is more: The 41-year-old shoe designer opted for minimal accessories for the event, wearing a collection of Bulgari jewels

'It's how you live your life, how you treat people and how you are as a woman or as a person,' she continued.

'Clothing, accessories and make-up and all those frivolous things add to someone's personal style. That's what makes it fun.'

Terry added that she thinks she has a budding fashionista on her hands with her two-year-old daughter, Azura.

'The greatest day with my little family': Terri married former Sydney Roosters captain, Anthony Minichiello, 35, in 2012 and she posted this sweet snap to Instagram last month

'I'm trying to keep her away from my high heels and my make up, because that's all she wants to do.

'Then she wants to kick the footy around and run around in the mud so she's well rounded,' she joked.

Terry and Anthony wed in January 2012 at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral and this year celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary.

The glamorous couple welcomed Azura, their first child, in December 2013.
She recently confirmed her split from long-term boyfriend James Argent.

And Lydia Bright seemed to be showing him exactly what he was missing as she headed to the ITV studios in London on Thursday.

Clad in a pretty floral frock, the 26-year-old TOWIE star was a vision of beauty on the outing and seemed in good spirits despite the break-up.

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Case of the ex: She recently confirmed her split from long-term boyfriend James Argent. And Lydia Bright seemed to be showing him exactly what he was missing outside the ITV studios in London on Thursday

Cinched in at her tiny waist, the cream dress highlighted her slender curves whilst the pink floral print kept the dress looking flirty and fun.

Showing off her tanned and toned thighs, the empire line dress skimmed past her thighs, blowing behind her in the breeze.

Slinging a large nude handbag over her shoulder, she matched the accessory to a pair of patent nude heels which added some extra height to her frame.

See updates on the TOWIE stars as Lydia Bright dazzles in a flirty floral dress after Arg split

Pretty as a petal: Clad in a pretty floral frock, the 26-year-old TOWIE star was a vision of beauty on the outing and seemed in good spirits despite the break-up, sensibly changing her nude heels into ballet flats

Leggy lady! Showing off her tanned and toned thighs, the empire line dress skimmed past her thighs, blowing behind her in the breeze whilst she accessorised with a large nude handbag slung over her shoulder

Wearing her golden locks in cascading curls, her glossy tresses were styled in a side parting, framing her pretty face.

Painting her plump pout with a slick of pink lipstick, she drew attention to her sparkling blue eyes by lining her lashes with several sweeps of mascara.

Keeping her accessories to a minimum, she rounded off her ensemble with a chunky gold bracelet and a myriad of rings on her fingers.

Natural beauty: Painting her plump pout with a slick of pink lipstick, she drew attention to her sparkling blue eyes by lining her lashes with several sweeps of mascara whilst she painted her nails periwinkle

Tan-tastic: Bronzed and beaming, the reality starlet appeared to be still sporting a tan from her healing jaunt to Indonesia, after which she revealed in an Instagram post on Wednesday she is officially single

Bronzed and beaming, the reality starlet appeared to be still sporting a tan from her healing jaunt to Indonesia, after which she revealed in an Instagram post on Wednesday she is officially single.

Clearly having had time to think things over, the 26-year-old reality starlet attached a lengthy caption to an image from her holiday - as she insisted that 'some things just aren't meant to be'.

It was reported earlier this month that Lydia finished things with her long-term boyfriend after he allegedly relapsed into his cocaine habit.

Onwards and upwards: Lydia Bright has broken her silence over her split from James Argent

She soon jetted away to Bali, seemingly determined to forget her troubles, when she spied a sign reading: 'I'm single and happy' - much to her delight.

The boutique owner added a caption on the image: 'Just returned from the most spontaneous, magical trip to Indonesia. I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to travel the world and experience such beauty.

'I saw this sign at the Tagenungan waterfall in Bali and it made me smile. Life threw a massive curveball at me over six weeks ago. But I can now say I have healed and I am happy. Some things in life just aren't meant to be. #Indonesia #Traveling #SEAsia #Closure #NoRegrets'.

See TOWIE updates as Lydia Bright breaks her silence over split from James Argent

All over? The 26-year-old TOWIE star reportedly split from her co-star boyfriend James 'Arg' Argent after he relapsed into his alleged cocaine habit

Seemingly embracing fresh starts and new beginnings, Lydia got inked up with her first ever tattoo during the trip inspired by her recent turn on Bear Grylls' survival show.

Adorned with a fish hook on her index finger, she revealed she went under the needle after an incident while fishing left her scarred.

She said: 'So here it is my ever tattoo. A fish hook. In February, I took part in the biggest challenge of my life 'Bear Grylls The Island.' I got a nasty, extremely painful fish hook stuck in my finger that left me my proud scar.

Tatted up: Seemingly embracing fresh starts and new beginnings, Lydia got inked up with her first ever tattoo during the trip inspired by her recent turn on Bear Grylls' survival show

'I got this tattoo in Bali to represent my wonderful world travels and incredible experiences'.

Last week Lydia made vague references to her love split in Instagram posts before finally speaking out on Wednesday.

'Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,' she wrote as she delivered a broad, carefree smile in front of the most serene of backdrops.

Paradise: Lydia thanked her 'difficult road' for bringing her to Indonesian paradise on Wednesday as she posted a serene snap

With wet, salted curls, the gorgeous blonde posed in a super-plunging swimsuit, swinging from a sea swing.

Thanking a 'difficult road' for bringing her to such a paradise, she appeared to reference the news that she has endured yet another tumultuous split from Arg, thanks to his alleged cocaine habit.

'Good morning from Bali,' she said. 'The most magical place in the world,' she continued as she alerted fans to her sudden getaway.

And while she's yet to reference her newly-single status directly, she welcomed the addition of 'new friends' to her trip and sipped on Pina Colada cocktails in her latest holiday pictures.

Sipping Pina Coladas: After jetting to Bali to take her mind off things, things appear to be blissful for Lydia

'New friends, old friends': She posted a group snap on Wednesday to let fans know she's 'making friends in Paradise. Cocktails and sunset.'

Lydia's impromptu trip came just one day after the revelation that on-again, off-again sweethearts James and Lydia had gone their separate ways again.

She reportedly split from her co-star after he relapsed into his alleged cocaine habit, and while she has jetted off to the sun, he has headed to bootcamp.

Looking a beacon of relaxation and zen, Lydia shared a host of defiant snaps with her 751,000 Instagram followers in which she looked a world away from her troubles.

One snap saw Lydia sat in a meditative pose while sporting traditional dress with the faintest trace of a smile at the corner of her lips.

The only way is up... Lydia has made a bid to escape her love woes by heading somewhere cleansing

She added the caption: 'Good morning from Bali, the most magical place in the world Add me on snapchat to watch my journey lydiabrightsnap'.

Lydia appeared to shun the typical Essex glam in favour of a simple look, with her blonde tresses tied in a loose bun with curly tendrils framing her face.

Another image saw Lydia in the same ensemble bathing under a water fountain, where she seemed to hint about her relationship status as she wrote 'Freedom'.

She wrote beneath the snap: 'Cleansing our mind, body and souls at the Tirta Empul #Bali #Dreams #Freedom'.

Freedom: Another image saw Lydia in the same ensemble bathing under a water fountain, where she seemed to hint about her relationship status as she wrote 'Freedom'

The blonde beauty took a picture of a glass of wine, penning the caption: 'I have arrived in Paradise. #Bali #SEAsia'.

Taking a moment out, Lydia also showed images of her dining experiences and a relaxing moment in which she applied a face mask.

James, 28, spent a stint in rehab facility The Priory in December 2014 yet sources tell The Sun that he has slipped back into his old ways.

Paradise: The blonde beauty took a picture of a glass of wine while penning the caption: 'I have arrived in Paradise. #Bali #SEAsia'

Boutique owner Lydia is said to have discovered her boyfriend 'a bit out of it' after which she became enraged due to her passionate hatred of narcotics.

While James' representation refused to comment when approached, Lydia's have remained unreachable, yet the blonde beauty seems to be in a carefree state.

See TOWIE updates as Lydia Bright jets away from her troubles as she enjoys girls' trip

Both Arg and Lydia have been at the forefront of TOWIE since its 2010 inauguration, where viewers have watched their love story play out - yet it appears the end is in sight.
It was another day and another stunning outfit for Kate Beckinsale as she stepped out in New York City on Thursday.

The 42-year-old was spotted leaving the posh Ritz-Carlton hotel to continue her promotional trail for new movie Love & Friendship.

Kate looked fantastic for the outing in a skintight dress featuring a detailed floral print in pink, purple, black and white hues.

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Flower power: Kate Beckinsale looked lovely in a floral dress as she stepped out in New York City on Thursday

The midi-length frock by Rebecca Vallance clung to the actress's slender figure, and she highlighted her tiny waist even further with a black patent belt.

Kate added several inches to her already statuesque 5ft 7in frame with a pair of sky high black and pale pink sandals.

The Total Recall star styled her long caramel locks in voluminous waves and she sported natural make-up under her mirrored sunglasses.

Kate, who had appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert the previous evening, headed out of her hotel with a bodyguard.

In fine form: The actress highlighted her slender figure in the colourful printed Rebecca Vallance dress, teamed with a black patent waist belt and sky high sandals

Natural beauty: Kate wore her caramel tresses in voluminous waves and sported natural make-up under her mirrored sunglasses

The mother-of-one is believed to be single following her split from director Len Wiseman in November after 11 years of marriage.

Kate has 17-year-old daughter Lily Mo Sheen from her previous eight-year relationship with Michael Sheen, and the exes remain close friends.

Her latest movie Love & Friendship is an adaptation Jane Austen's epistolary novel Lady Susan, which was never published by the author.

Style chameleon: The 42-year-old had sported three very different outfits for press appearances the previous day, including a $95 black vegan Aritzia 'Octave' top (M)

Hard at work: Kate is busy promoting her latest film Love & Friendship. She is pictured at a New York screening for the movie on Tuesday

Kate plays Lady Susan in the film, which also stars her The Last Days Of Disco co-star Chloe Sevigny, as well as Stephen Fry and Xavier Samuel.

Speaking about her character to USA Today, the brunette beauty revealed: 'Shes this rather sort of narcissistic, naughty, bright, manipulative, shameless woman.

'Everything is so light and entertaining and witty, but the kind of social commentary is really important and on point.'

Love & Friendship, which was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival in January and currently boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, will be released in the US on May 13 and the UK on May 27.
Ryan Gosling doesn't mind being outnumbered by girls in his family.

During an interview on Good Morning America the actor was asked how he feels now the girl-to-boy ratio is 3 to 1 after his partner Eva Mendes gave birth to their second daughter Amada, on April 29.

The 35-year-old heartthrob raved: 'It's heaven. It's like walking through a field of flowers every day. I live with angels.'

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'It's heaven': Ryan Gosling raved about life with partner Eva Mendes and daughters Esmeralda and Amada in an interview on GMA on Thursday

He added jokingly: 'It's a ray of sunshine in a dark time, honestly, because with Russell [Crowe] really, it's sad. It's sad that we've turned out this way,'

Gosling visited the GMA set in New York on Thursday where he talked about his new movie The Nice Guys, which he stars in alongside Crowe, 52.

The movie hunk plays detective Holland March in the comedy, while Angourie Rice plays his daughter, Holly March.

'It's like walking through a field of flowers every day. I live with angels' The Nice Guys star said. He welcomed second daughter Amada on April 29

The 35-year-old actor joked: 'It's a ray of sunshine in a dark time, honestly, because with Russell [Crowe] it's really, it's sad, it's sad that we've turned out this way,'

'She's incredible. It's one of her first films,' Ryan said of the 14-year-old actress. 'She was definitely the most mature person on set.'

It was revealed this week that the Drive star and his longtime girlfriend welcomed baby Amada Lee last month after keeping the pregnancy secret.

Their second child arrived just two weeks after the first reports the couple were expecting again.

Movie hunk: Ryan was seen arriving at the GMA studios wearing jeans and a sporty red and grey jacket

Heading out: The actor waved to fans as he left the studios in New York

Out and about: Ryan was pictured leaving his hotel earlier in the day showing off his muscles in a white t-shirt

Gosling and Mendes, 42, also share 20-month-old daughter Esmeralda.

The couple have been together since 2011 after meeting on the set of their movie The Place Beyond The Pines.

In buddy comedy The Nice Guys, Crowe plays a contract killer to Gosling's private investigator, with the pair working together to solve the mysterious disappearance of a porn star in 1970s Los Angeles.

The Shane Black directed comedy is released on May 20.

Where next? The actor chatted with an assistant as he left the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan

Something's funny: The actor enjoyed a good giggle when he stopped by the Sirius XM studios the same day

Promo: Ryan posed alongside his The Nice Guy co-stars Matt Bomer and Russell Crowe
Lauren Phillips has broken her silence over the incident at the Logies after party on Sunday.

The Channel Nine presenter has thanked those who rushed to the aid of her brother Bo Phillips, after he was allegedly 'knocked out' following a 'scuffle' with actor Malcolm Kennard, who played serial killer Ivan Milat in a recent TV movie.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph on Thursday, the presenter described the post-Logies event, which saw her brother taken to hospital, as 'really scary', adding: 'You never want to see someone you love like that.

Breaking her silence: Lauren Phillips has thanked those that came to the aid of her brother Bo Phillips after an alleged 'scuffle' with actor Malcolm Kennard at a Logies after party on Sunday, which saw Bo taken to hospital

'what was most important to me was just making sure that Bo was OK and thankfully he is now,' the Myer ambassador said

Adding: 'And I am just so, so grateful for everyone who helped on the night. There were friends of ours and people we didnt know, a lot of people rallied around us which was great.'

One of those people was I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Australia co-host Dr Chris Brown, who was understood to be the first on the scene and administered First Aid.

An onlooker told The Daily Telegraph: 'Bo suddenly hit the deck. He hit the ground pretty hard. Dr Chris Brown was first to the scene, rolling him on his side and checking him over.'

Bo Phillips took to social media on Monday to let family and friends know he was OK after the widely publicised incident.

Hero: TV vet Chris was said to be first on the scene, rolling over Bo and checking him over

'I'm fine': Bo (pictured with Lauren on Sunday) later took to Facebook to assure family and friends he was OK, although he remained unclear on what prompted the incident

Scuffle: Actor Malcolm Kennard (pictured), who played notorious serial killer Ivan Milat in a TV movie, was allegedly involved in the incident

'A disappointing conclusion to an otherwise terrific night,' he noted, adding: 'Crown, and Club 23 staff are to be commended, and thanks also to all that assisted.'

'I am unsure what prompted the incident. Fortunately, I am fine,' Bo told friends.

It's understood the family are yet to see CCTV footage of the incident, which took place in Shane Warne's Club 23 at approximately 3.30am on Monday morning, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Malcolm is understood to have arrived at the Channel Nine party uninvited, after revelling at the Channel Seven and Shine production company parties earlier in the night.

Not a winner: Kennard, who was nominated in the Most Outstanding Actor category for his portrayal of the 'Backpacker Murderer' in Catching Milat, lost out to Alex Dimitriades on the night

Scene: The scuffle broke out on the balcony of Shane Warne's Club 23 in Melbourne's Crown Towers at around 3.30am in front of other high-profile stars

TV star: Kennard was on a Channel Seven table during the event and was not on the list for the Channel Nine after party

The actor was nominated in the Most Outstanding Actor category for his portrayal of the 'Backpacker Murderer' in Catching Milat, but lost out to Alex Dimitriades on the night.

He was on a Channel Seven table during the event and was not on the list for the Channel Nine after party, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Nine spokeswoman Michelle Stamper told the Herald Sun: 'We are disgusted that someone who was uninvited would attend our private party and behave in such a repulsive manner. Nine is investigating the matter.'

Paramedics confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that they were called at 3.30am with a report that a man had collapsed.

Siblings: Bo posted this picture of him fooling around with his sister Lauren several months ago

But the ambulance was cancelled a few minutes later and paramedics did not attend.

'We were called back a few minutes later and told we were not required,' the spokesman said.

Police said that a complaint has not yet been lodged with them on Monday and it's understood no charges have been laid in relation to the incident.

Kennard's Sydney agent David Sheridan declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
Despite his roles in successful films such as Black Hawk Down and Wimbledon, the handsome Danish actor soared to worldwide fame as Jaime Lannister in the HBO fantasy drama, Game Of Thrones.

And in a March interview with Esquire, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau discussed his early career, his fans, fame and whether or not he would have watched GOT if he hadn't starred in it himself.

The 45-year-old star was in Dubai for The Middle East Film & Comic Con, allowing the perfect opportunity for his profile and photo shoot for the magazine, which took place at the Sofitel hotel in the city's downtown area.

Intimate Profile: In a March interview with Esquire, Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau discussed his early career, his fans, fame and whether or not he would have watched GOT if he hadn't starred in it himself

The dapper actor was photographed in numerous button-ups and suits, hair freshly cut and styled to mirror both the classic and modern gentleman.

Nikolaj's fashion shoot took place in a 2,615 sq ft suite of the Sofitel, with the star utilizing many of the rooms as his set.

In one shot, The Other Woman, dressed in a blue, three-piece suit, appeared to be the modern day businessman as he looked over the city before him.

With others, a story appears to unfold of a busy New York type. Nikolaj, dressed in plaid, appeared to retreat to his hotel room floor and bathtub, with coffee, room service and newspapers surrounding him.

Career opportunities: The father-of-two, who initially received knight roles when he first started on HBO, has gained worldwide success and a wider choice of movie roles

In GOT, the star's character appears to have taken a more favorable light, compared to his initial beginnings, where his character Jaime has committed rape, murder of a king and engaged in an incestuous relationship with his sister.

The father-of-two, who initially received knight roles when he first started on HBO, has gained worldwide success and a wider choice of movie roles.

With that kind of fame, the father-of-two sympathizes with his younger cast mates.

'I always feel for the younger cast members in Game of Thrones. Theyre really clever and smart. If you look at Sophie Turner, 20 [who plays Sansa Stark] and Maisie Williams, 19, [who plays her sister Arya] they were kids when they started [in 2011] and now theyre these international celebrities and stars.'

'They have a lot of social media followers and theyre living that life For anyone whos very young, and gets a lot of attention and a lot of money, it must not be an easy thing to navigate Im not sure I would have been able to cope with it like they have done,' he said.



Confessions: For five months of the year, Nikolaj is filming Game of Thrones, a show which he himself might not have watched himself

For five months of the year, Nikolaj is filming Game of Thrones, a show which he himself might not have watched.

Wife Nukaaka, whom he's been married to for 18 years, has not seen a single episode.

'Shes like, Oh I dont know if its for me! he laughs. Im not going to force her to watch it. I dont really care, its just my job. And to be honest, if I hadnt been in it, maybe I wouldnt have watched it. I mean, I probably would have done, but I would have had that same Erm, Im not sure if this is for me..."'

Hollywood crowd: Having been on the controversial show since season one, Nikolaj has amassed fans, and has seen his professional career take a different turn, having appeared in Vogue and been on the guest list for the Met Gala

Having been on the controversial show since season one, Nikolaj has amassed fans, and has seen his professional career take a different turn.

He recently shot an editorial for Vogue alongside Joan Smalls.

It was fun, everyone was lovely but there was definitely a feeling of Ooooh this is Vogue.' And there were, like, a million people on set; it was insane,' he recalled.

As for the prestigious Met Gala, put on by the magazine fashion house, the star attended for the first time last year and was also on the guest list for this year's fete.

The early days: Prior to his fame, the actor, who still lives in his native Denmark, began his career at the Danish National School of Theater in 1989, receiving his inaugural role in Nightwatch in 1994

Prior to his fame, the actor, who still lives in his native Denmark, began his career at the Danish National School of Theater in 1989, receiving his inaugural role in Nightwatch in 1994.

He would later speak to Ewan McGregor, who starred in the US version of the thriller, but was warned by the actor to 'promise to never watch it.' It did not rate as successful as the Danish take.

Nikolaj's version 'was a really big hit, so I immediately became well-known, which was not necessarily a good thing, because then you are known for that one thing,' he pointed out.

'Theres nothing worse than a young kid who thinks hes really successful, its infuriating, so I moved to London afterwards to pursue my career, just get other work and experience other stuff.'

Nikolaj continued to work steadily since Nightwatch, landing his first Hollywood role in 2001's Black Hawk Down, and has continued to book movies ever since then. He appeared in in God's of Egypt with Gerard Butler, a film which was somewhat criticized.

The truth: He would later speak to Ewan McGregor, who starred in the US version of the thriller, but was warned by the actor to 'promise to never watch it.' It did not rate as successful as the Danish take

As for Game of Thrones, the show is set to air until at least 2018, and there's no telling if his character will stay on until then, or be killed off.

Aside from the show, the actor has other outside ventures he would like to pursue and is not necessarily a fan of advice from others.

'Ive done a lot of movies, Ive learned from a lot of great people, and I like to tell stories,' he said.

'I think advice is cheap. You can only really learn by doing and making mistakes. Sometimes you can work with someone who really [messes] up and you are like, "Oh right, Ill remember that. I shouldnt do that, ever!"'

Variety just announced that the actor is set to star in Small Crimes, a dark comedy directed by E. L. Katz,

To read the full story, please visit www.EsquireME.com.
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He is one of America's most handsome, and successful, TV stars.

So it should be absolutely no surprise that John Stamos, 52, found himself in demand with his gorgeous girlfriend, Caitlin McHugh, while they holidayed in Europe on Thursday morning.

The smouldering hunk and his brunette beauty, 32, were seen putting on a romantic display in southern Italy's Positano, a cliffside village on the Amalfi Coast, where they indulged in a private photo shoot on their five-star hotel balcony.

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Getting close: John Stamos, 53, found himself in demand with girlfriend, Caitlin McHugh, while they holidayed in Europe on Thursday

The good-looking performer, who's known for his roles in ER, Full House, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Grandfathered, kept it casual in a white dressing gown and thick-rimmed glasses.

Clutching a professional camera as he directed his lingerie-clad muse, the light entertainer was clearly enjoying her company as he snapped away at close proximity for maximum exposure.

Keeping a keen eye on his dazzling woman, the suave star certainly commanded attention with his chiseled features and confident poise, while displaying a sexy tan.

Romance: The smouldering hunk and his brunette beauty, 32, were seen putting on a romantic display in southern Italy's Sicily, where they indulged in a private photo shoot on their five-star hotel balcony

Snapping his muse: Clutching a professional camera as he directed his lingerie-clad muse, the light entertainer was clearly enjoying her company as he snapped away at close proximity for maximum exposure

She's certainly not shy! The up-and-coming actress look more than happy as she posed up a storm in the sun, boldly displaying her impressive figure in a semi-sheer lace two-piece, which was anything but conservative

Not that his stunning guest was any less eye-catching, of course. The up-and-coming actress look more than happy as she posed up a storm in the sun, boldly displaying her impressive figure in a semi-sheer lace two-piece, which was anything but conservative.

Writing around as she made love to the lens, she seemed determined to please her beau as she struck a variety of sultry poses.

Occasionally, the pair would take a break from their playful photoshoot to assess the shots - frequently breaking into mutual laughter.

Sexy: The good-looking performer, who's known for his roles in ER, Full House, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Grandfathered, kept it casual in a white dressing gown and thick-rimmed glasses - while she showed off in lingerie

Handsome man: Keeping a keen eye on his dazzling woman, the suave star certainly commanded attention with his chiseled features and confident poise, while displaying a sexy tan

Action shot: Writing around as she made love to the lens, she was determined to please her beau as she struck a variety of sultry poses

Visibly smitten, Caitlin - who displayed a tattoo on her right thigh - could later be seen hugging John from behind and keeping him close.

Wrapping her arms around his toned waist, there was little room between them which was a clear sign of how well the lovebirds seem to be getting on in their passionate romance.

John recently let slip that he was seeing Caitlin - though keeping mum about her identity - while appearing on The View.

Visibly smitten, Caitlin - who displayed a tattoo on her right thigh - could later be seen hugging John from behind and keeping him close

That's a bit cheeky! The aspiring actress flashed her backside as she posed on the balcony of their hotel

Getting on famously: The couple seemed inseparable as they spent time together in Positano - a cliffside village on the Amalfi Coast

He was discussing his upcoming tour with The Beach Boys, with whom he has toured intermittently since the 1980s, when he revealed that he had FaceTimed Caitlin during a gig so that she could enjoy his performance.

'The other night [during a concert], I grabbed my phone 'cause this girl I'm dating ... she loves this song, Disney Girls, so I put on FaceTime... I thought I could get away with it but people were tweeting, 'Who are you FaceTiming?!'' he said.

The television fixture had previously been married to actress Rebecca Romijn from 1998-2005.

Loved up: Wrapping her arms around his toned waist, there was little room between them which was a clear sign of how well the lovebirds seem to be getting on in their passionate romance

Flaunting her flesh: The brunette beauty showed off her enviable figure as she reclined in a variety of poses in the sunshine

Good times, indeed! The American actor John Stamos and his model, actress girlfriend Caitlin McHugh look happy while on holiday

Packing on the PDA: The couple later indulged in some public displays of affection as they embarked on a boat ride

Spring in her step: Caitlin seemed delighted as the couple were seen enjoying a boat ride, sunbathing and eating on a balcony

Preparing to make a splash: Caitlin led the way as the couple walked towards a private yacht for some fun on the waves

Getting close: The couple were virtually inseparable as they strolled along the Italian destination point hand-in-hand

Putting on a leggy display: Caitlin ensured she showcased her toned legs in a pair of seasonal Daisy Dukes

Mwah! The affectionate pair frequently stopped on their relaxed journey to enjoy a kiss in full view of onlookers

Cosying-up: The pair couldn't keep their hands off one-another as they dined out at a local lunch spot

He's loving the attention! Handsome John couldn't help but smile as he basked in the attention of his latest girlfriend

Tactile: The couple could hardly stand to be apart as they stepped out together on their romantic European jaunt

Life's a beach! Navigating the rocky beach, the pair seemed to go incognito as they passed fellow holidaymakers

More physical contact! Just when you think they can't get any closer...John reaches out and puts a hand on Caitlin's shoulder

Soaking up the sun: John and Caitlin clearly aren't struggling to have a good time as they bask in the warm weather

Setting sail: The passionate pair are helped on and off the private boat by a team of local mariners

Making a splash: The couple then enjoyed a private yacht ride which saw them take to the waves of the Amalfi Coast

Looking good: The latest sighting comes after John publicly revealed he was dating Caitlin on US talk-show The View

Hats off to her: Caitlin may have been flaunting her figure, but she was keen to protect her hair and scalp with a cap

The lady in red: Swishing her hair around for dramatic effect, Caitlin put on another sexy display in a little red dress

The lady in red: Swishing her hair around for dramatic effect, Caitlin put on another sexy display in a little red dress

Snap-happy: John can't resist capturing their myriad romantic moments on film as he snaps away on his digital camera

Lights, camera, action! John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh seen on holiday in Italy where they indulge in yet another photoshoot

Tiring work, eh? Caitlin yawns as she struggles through the most taxing part of her day - reading what appears to be a menu...
She might be pregnant, but Blac Chyna has obviously got no intention of changing her lifestyle.

The former exotic dancer celebrated her 28th birthday in typically racy style on Wednesday night - making it rain dollar bills onto naked women dancing in front of her at a Miami strip club.

With an awkward looking Rob Kardashian loitering at her side, the confident mother-to-be took charge of the evening, grabbing bank notes from a huge stack her fiance held in his hands.

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Is this the baby shower? Pregnant Blac Chyna makes it rain dollar bills on naked women... as awkward looking Rob joins her at a Miami strip club for her birthday on Wednesday night

This is how you do it! Giving a new meaning to the term 'baby shower', she then threw handfuls of dollars over the twerking behind of a female, bent double in front of the couple

Giving a new meaning to the term 'baby shower', she then threw handfuls of dollars over the behind of a female dancer, bent double and twerking in front of the couple.

Her fiance Rob, who shunned any publicity before he dating Chyna in January, looked almost embarrassed as she hollered and threw out handfuls of cash during the paid appearance.

Chyna, who displayed her growing baby bump in a flattering white jumpsuit, kept close to her man, turning and chatting to him as he sipped on a drink.

See Blac Chyna updates as she makes it rain dollar bills on naked women

Not feeling it? Her fiance Rob, who shunned any publicity before he dating Chyna in January, looked almost embarrassed as she hollered and threw out handfuls of cash during the paid appearance

Birthday treat: The couple spent a late night at G5ive Strip Club in Miami, Florida, having jetted there earlier

The couple spent a late night at G5ive Strip Club in Miami, Florida, having jetted there earlier in the day.

While Chyna skipped a previous club promotion due to 'morning sickness', she had rallied in order to attend the launch of her Chymoji app the previous night.

On the red carpet Rob, 29, rather poignantly claimed his hopes for a 'private' family life, as he explained: 'I mean it's my first time, so everything is exciting, literally.

'I'm happy and I just like to keep it, you know, keep it private...as private as can be.'

Baby time: Chyna, who displayed her growing baby bump in a flattering white jumpsuit, kept close to her man, turning and chatting to him as he sipped on a drink

Keeping it 'private': Rob had revealed his hopes for his future family life earlier in the evening

Meanwhile his baby's mother-to-be - who already has a three-year-old son with ex Tyga - displayed her affection for her future husband, before revealing that she's been getting some pregnancy advice from within his family.

The mum-of-one has turned to her soon-to-be sister-in-law Kim Kardashian, who has been offering her some guidance.

Excitable: Pregnant Chyna was in high spirits on her birthday

Saucy: It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that the party was a racy affair

Popular: The club was packed to the brim to celebrate the birthday girl's big day

In their first interview since announcing their happy baby news, Chyna told E! News: '[Kim's] gives me a lot of tips, actually.'

It looked like Blac had picked up some effective styling tips from mother-of-two Kim, who is well-versed in the tricks needed to achieve a healthy, happy and seriously stylish pregnancy.

On her birthday, Blac was drawing attention to her waist in a wide-legged jumpsuit that helped to balance out her impressive curves.

Loved up display: In her bridal whites, Blac was putting on an affectionate display with her future husband

Plenty to talk about: The couple weren't short on conversation as they stood and chatted inside the event

Party-hard stars: The duo weren't going to let the expectancy of their first child stop them partying

Bumping along: Rob recently revealed that he was excited about becoming a father for the first time

In her bridal whites, the star put on a very affectionate display with Rob, who was characteristically clad in all black.

Kim and Blac's recent truce comes after the former friends fell out when Kim's little sister Kylie Jenner began dating Tyga - the father of Blac's son.

But after an initial coolness towards Rob's relationship, his engagement and subsequent baby news has seen the Kardashian clan have begun to warm to Chyna.

Smitten: Rob looked to leave his future wife blushing as he cracked some jokes

Cute twosome: They shared a few laughs as they partied in an exclusive area of the venue

Dressed to impress: Styling tips might have come from Kim too, since she emphasised her waist

In a preview clip for an upcoming episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim explained: 'She gave him confidence, more power to her.

'After Rob and Blac Chyna started dating, Rob is now, like, all over social media and, like, out and about.'

Giddy: She looked excited to be ringing in her 28th birthday with Rob

Happy birthday to ya! The beauty was gifted with an extravagant pink birthday cake for the occasion

The pair began dating in January and became engaged last month, initially planning a lavish wedding in front of Rob's extended family, that would include his teen half-sister Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend, Tyga, who's the father of Blac's son .

They were believed to have been considering destinations such as Mexico or the Bahamas for their nuptials. But according to Us Weekly, they are now considering simply eloping instead.

It comes after their plan to announce their happy baby news on Mother's Day last Sunday was ruined after the information was leaked.

Busty display: The party wasn't short on outfits that flashed the flesh, with one of Chyna's pals rocking a nude crop top

Sweet nothings: She turned he face to Rob to whisper to him affectionately

With fans: Admirers were keen to take selfies with the reality TV stars








With her curvy figure she's always looked at home in glamorous ballgowns.

And Sofia Vergara stunned in a bold yellow strapless version of the dressy garment as she filmed a commercial for Aguila beer in her native Colombia this week.

The 43-year-old actress' famous curves were accentuated in the beautiful gown as she smiled and waved during a break on set.

Hey there! Sofia Vergara stunned in a yellow strapless gown as she filmed a commercial for Aguila beer in her native Colombia this week

The Modern Family star was in the city of Cartagena and shared several snaps from the day on set on her Instagram.

She positively glowed in the dress with featured a sheer overlay of fabric with floral print.

Sofia wore big beaded gold earrings and sported her golden brown locks in soft waves.

Bold red lipstick finished off the look.

Alongside an Instagram snap of her dancing in her dress, the actress wrote: 'On the set #cartagena'

Sexy senorita! Sofia wore big beaded gold earrings and sported her golden brown locks in soft waves

Hourglass curves: She positively glowed in the dress with featured a sheer overlay of fabric with floral print

It's been a fun trip for the actress, who also attended her cousin Alejandro Vergara's wedding while visiting her home country.

And on Wednesday she was honoured when she was presented the keys to the city of Cartagena.

The ceremony took place at the Santa Clara Hotel where Mayor Manuel Vicente Duque handed her the keys.

Va-va-voom: The 43-year-old actress showed off maximum cleavage in the gown

TV star: The Modern Family beauty was followed by crowds of fans

He gushed of the actress: 'Sofia's humble personality says it all,

'She was happy and delighted to be receiving the keys to the city surrounded by the Cartagena ambience... Sofia more than deserves these keys. She is a Barranquillera that has put Colombia's name up high.'

Sofia grew up in Barranquilla, two hours north of Cartagena.

Sofia appeared to have made the trip without her husband Joe Manganiello, but her 23-year-old son Manolo did accompany her.

Sofia has recently kept a caring eye on Magic Mike star Joe , 39, after he was rushed to hospital where he is understood to have undergone emergency surgery for a burst appendix.

Happy! The actress gave some of her best poses for Instagram snaps

Gracias Cartagena !!!! #nomequieroir  A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on May 11, 2016 at 9:20am PDT
It's official: Kim Kardashian cannot sit still in one city.

Last week the 35-year-old reality star was in Cuba shooting Keeping Up With The Kardashians with Khloe and Kourtney, then she jetted back to LA.

On Thursday the mother-of-two revealed she was off to Europe next week to help her friend, Italian fashion designer Valentino, celebrate his 84th birthday.

Jet set: On Thursday Kim Kardashian revealed she was off to Europe next week to help her friend, Italian fashion designer Valentino, celebrate his 84th birthday

Getting closer to Kim: The raven haired looker was wearing a plunging patterned dress as she posed alongside the designer himself as well as husband Kanye West and Valentino's longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti

The destination is not known, but the king of the red dress usually rings in his birthday in Italy.

The E! queen also shared a throwback photo.

Kardashian was wearing a plunging patterned dress as she posed alongside the designer himself as well as husband Kanye West and Valentino's longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti.

Kim's caption read: 'Happy Birthday to the last Emperor Valentino! We can't wait to celebrate with you next week!!!! We love you!'

Naughty Kimmy! In another shot she is sticking her tongue out as she walks with Valentino and a woman in a white dress

No umbrella handler needed: The three carried their own cover ups

They were on the grounds of Valentino's villa.

In another shot she is sticking her tongue out as she walks with Valentino and a woman in a white dress. She added an emoji of a birthday cake.

This post comes after Kim stepped out to Katsuya in Hollywood in a black outfit.

The drawstring top showed off her decolletage expertly and the tight jeans proved she's been on a treadmill.

Salsa class: Last week the 35-year-old reality star was in Cuba shooting Keeping Up With The Kardashians with Khloe and Kourtney
She was the toast of the town at the Magnum beach party earlier in the day, looking the picture of class in an elegant jumpsuit.

But Kendall Jenner certainly saved her best look until last, emerging later on Thursday evening in a gorgeous patterned gown with a plunging neckline as she kept the party going at the evening event during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival.

The 20-year-old showed off some serious skin in the daring dress, which was cut to under the bust and featured a thigh-skimming hemline.

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Arriving in style: Kendall Jenner looked incredible in a plunging patterned gown as she partied at the Magnum party during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night

Gorgeous: The 20-year-old showed off some serious skin in the daring dress, which was cut to under the bust and featured a thigh-skimming hemline

Kendall's striking dress featured a colourful overlay in flattering shades of orange, purple and brown.

The asymmetric material was gathered at the waist and flowed behind her as she made her grand arrival, flanked by her momager Kris Jenner.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians beauty displayed her long and lean legs in the dress, setting off her glamorous attire with simple strappy heels.

Leggy look: The model muse made the most of her long and lean legs in the flattering gown

Momager duties: Kris Jenner accompanied her stunning daughter to the event

Glamazon: Kendall kept her hair and make-up look classic, adding a touch of elegance to the look

Picture perfect: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians beauty has rarely looked better

Model looks: The flowing gown in flattering shades of orange and purple made the most of her svelte frame

Stunning: Kendall swept her dark tresses up into a bun and enhanced her pout with a slick of coral lipstick

The model muse added a touch of elegance thanks to her classic hair and beauty look, sweeping her dark tresses up into a bun and enhancing her pout with a slick of coral lipstick.

Family matriarch Kris - who chaperones her daughter at every major fashion event around the globe - was bringing up the read in a gold spangled minidress.

The star looked fantastic for the occasion, looking far younger than her 60 years in the statement dress.

Here she comes! Kris looked fantastic in her glitzy minidress, looking far younger than her 60 years

Supportive: Family matriarch Kris chaperones her daughter at every major fashion event around the globe

Extreme cleavage: The 20-year-old beauty went braless in her eye-catching attire

Exotic vibes: Kendall was embracing Magnum's 'Release The Beast' slogan in her gorgeous gown

Sealed with a kiss: The reality starlet blew a kiss as she walked the red carpet, watched by proud mum Kris

Looking good: Once inside the bash, Kendall worked her magic on the red carpet, proving why she's such a popular draw for the ice-cream brand

Once inside the bash, Kendall worked her magic on the red carpet, proving why she's such a popular draw for the ice-cream brand.

Earlier in the day, the model was channeling something between retro Parisian chic, old Hollywood and nautical inspirations in a jumpsuit and cat eye sunglasses.

The brunette was flanked by her mother Kris, 60, who was less subtle in her style choice and reflected the sea vibes at the Magnum beach party with vigour in a striped ensemble.

Like mother, like daughter: The showbiz matriarch proudly posed alongside her striking offspring

Working her angles: The catwalk sensation showed off her perfect pins in the statement gown

Elegant touch: The brunette beauty completed her look with a pair of gold stud earrings

Taking her place: Kris was keen to pose for a picture alongside her second youngest child

Good genes: Kris looked sensational as the duo partied the night away at the event

Flawless: The model's make-up was immaculately applied with contouring bringing out the definition in her cheeks and dark lipstick enhancing her plump pout

Costume change: Kendall's cleavage-baring dress had a feather-lining for a lavish finish

Perfect peepers: Kendall underwent a costume change at the Magnum event with her beauty captured in a stunning black and white shot

Leggy display: Both women opted to showcase their lithe limbs for the party

Light and airy: Kendall's dress billowed in the light breeze as she stepped out just behind kris

Like mother, like daughter: Kendall and Kris upped the glamour stakes for the Magnum party as they stepped out in thigh-skimming dresses

Easy does it: The pair tentatively made their way down the steps with Kendall holding on to her mum's shoulder

All that glitters: The duo also showcased plenty of cleavage in their striking ensembles

Party time: Bright-eyed Kris glanced at the cameras as she neared the bottom of the stairs

Leading the way: Once on flat land, Kris looked far more comfortable as she was directed by security

Work it: Rita Pereira posed up a storm in a semi-sheer gown with an opaque bodysuit

All smiles: Stefanie Geisinger and Sami Slimani put on a close display in front of the cameras

Glamour girls: Marisa dos Rei Nunes displayed her intricate arm tattoos in her sleeveless cream gown, while Cara Daur smouldered in a full-body black dress with a cut out from her hip teasing a glimpse of flesh

Gothic-tinged: Victoria Guerra rocked a black satin ensemble with an offset tie keeping her modesty covered

Hot! Russian-Swiss model Xenia Tchoumi looked sensational in a shimmering gown and matching heels

Kendall's sleeveless ensemble elongated her catwalk-ready figure and she even added dainty sandals to her leggy look.

She had a wave for the fans as she floated through the crowds with a miniature clutch bag in one hand.

The supermodel acted like the aggressive coastal wind in her hair was intentional and styled it out as if strutting down the runway.

See Kendall Jenner updates as she and her mum Kris arrive for Cannes beach party

Retro style: Kendall looked chic in a white jumpsuit on Thursday as she turned out for an event at Cannes Film Festival earlier in the day

Riviera ready: Her mother, Kris Jenner was in a nautical-inspired number that matched on the top and bottoms

Boarding a boat: She was due to appear on a yacht to party with Magnum

Blowing kisses: With a wave, the stunner blew kisses to the cameras and the crowds

Old Hollywood glamour: She dazzled in her retro cat eye sunglasses

Not a hair care: She walked into the wind, which made her hair out of control

All intentional: And the photographers certainly captured her big hair moment with delight

It was her first official outing since arriving in the south of France with her mother from Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Obviously, Kris wasn't going to miss it, and she followed behind with a dutiful smile, getting swept up the hysteria of her daughter's appearance.

Keeping Up With Kardashians matriarch Kris offset a billowing top with skintight leggings that cropped off below her knee.

A little wave: For her first public appearance, Kendall had a smile and a wave for the cameras

In her stride: She made the hair mishap look intentional, as if on a runway

Strut: She strutted on tall heels that further elongated her catwalk-worthy figure

Calling out to her: The model caused something of a frenzy from the fans

Blowing in the wind: The star did her best to keep her tresses from being blown in the breeze

Sunkissed: Kendall looked radiant as the warm sunshine beamed down on her

They arrived on the coastline in a plush vehicle but were soon boarding a boat to party in style, the French Riviera way.

The duo were there to 'Release The Beast' with the ice cream brand as they simultaneously run the Kendall x Magnum campaign.

Magnum have recently gone high fashion, recruiting the likes of British beauty Suki Waterhouse to work with them.

Magnum beach: She was there to party with Magnum, barely taking off her chic shades for a second

A bit of all white: Kendall's pristine jumpsuit stood out against the brown branded backdrop

Star attraction: As she turned to the side she showed off her svelte shape

Doing her thing: Kendall expertly posed for the photocall, drawing on her wealth of modelling experience

Model material: Kendall removed her quirky shades for the pictures; her face looking typically flawless

Subtle: The raven-haired beauty produced a hint of a smile before entering the venue

Proud: Smiling mum Kris couldn't hide her delight at supporting her model daughter

Watch your step: She too wore heels, which made it tricky to navigate the boat

Gorgeous: She certainly hadn't inherited the same curvy jeans as Kylie, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney

All smiles: Her make-up look was parred down with nude lips

Arriving by car: Though she arrived in a white car, she would soon be on another boat

Style queen: Fans clamoured to get a glimpse of the stunning model

Enjoying life: Later in the day, Kendall was seen with her long locks scraped back away from her face as she chilled out at her hotel at Eden Roc

Catching some rays? She made sure to stay out in the sunshine to expose her bare arms to the sunshine

Peachy! The slim fit of the all-in-one was flattering on her tiny waistline and peachy derriere - she had also changed into comfortable flats

All eyes on her: Kendall looked relaxed while sitting on a lavish zebra-stripe chair

Proud mum: Kris looked on from the front row as Kendall was interviewed on stage

In her element: The model looked at ease as she held her mic and fiddled with her strappy heels
They made their red carpet debut as a couple earlier in the week at the Global Gift Gala in Paris.

And, days later and a few hundred miles south, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Liam Payne stepped out together once again, looking every inch the smitten couple of Thursday.

The pop stars appeared happy in each other's company as they walked the red carpet at the Chopard Trophy Ceremony during The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival.

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He's a lucky guy! Liam Payne looked proud to be on girlfriend Cheryl's arm as the smitten pair attended the Chopard Trophy Ceremony during the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday

Swoon! The couple were seen leaning into one another as they enjoyed their red carpet romantic display

Looking utterly stunning, 32-year-old Cheryl wowed as she slipped her petite curves into a glittering striped jumpsuit that allowed her to flaunt her braless chest.

The disco-inspired all-in-one was incredibly low-cut, sitting just above her navel, and included a wide band around her waistline and long, flared trousers to add to the vibe.

Her slender frame was perfect for the stylish jumpsuit in tones of scarlet, black, white and gold.

Keeping it simple, the former Girls Aloud star wore her long brunette locks in the most poker straight of styles, her lengths framing her face flawlessly.

Disco-diva delight! Looking utterly stunning, 32-year-old Cheryl wowed as she slipped her petite curves into a glittering striped jumpsuit that allowed her to flaunt her braless chest

Bringing their love to the limelight: Cheryl and Liam only made their red carpet debut in Paris on Monday, so were keen to step out together again

Handsome gent: Looking as proud as punch to be on his lady's arm for the night, One Direction star Liam, 24, cut an incredibly handsome figure in a black tuxedo

As ever, the naturally pretty star accentuated her doe-like eyes with lashings of mascara and smoky shadow, and a nude shade on her lips added a modern aesthetic to her otherwise retro look.

Looking as proud as punch to be on his lady's arm for the night, One Direction star Liam, 24, cut an incredibly handsome figure in a black tuxedo.

And he managed to show off his slight edgy nature as the tattoo on his hand crept out from the sleeve of his classic, grown-up attire.

The smitten pair - who have been dating for a few months - were pleased to pose for snaps together at the star-studded do, which took place on the second night of the prestigious film festival.

The look of love: Liam looked absolutely smitten with his girlfriend as he showed off his beaming grin

Perfect pairing: The twosome - who are eight years apart in age - looked to be thoroughly enjoying their time in the limelight

Racy Cheryl! The star had no qualms in flaunting her bare chest, revealing her small but perfectly formed cleavage in her retro garment

Meanwhile, according to The Sun, Cheryl's estranged husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini's launch of his pop-up restaurant, Cosy Box, didn't go too well.

Instead of a host of famous faces turning up, EastEnders' Sid Owen, famous for playing Ricky Butcher arrived with a number of leggy models.

Moreover, the paper claims he had to postpone the opening for an hour in order to lay carpet and paint the walls.

Other famous faces at the Chopard party included A-list actresses Julianne Moore and Kirsten Dunst - one of the members on this year's Cannes jury - and British actor, Star Wars' John Boyega.

It was a special night for the 24-year-old young actor from Peckham in London, as he was awarded the prestigious Trophee Chopard, a prize given by the jewellery brand annually at the film festival by a jury of professionals to two young actors in order to recognise and encourage their career.

Also at the prize-giving ceremony were French actress Juliette Binoche, actor and Cannes jury member Mads Mikkelsen and British model Amber Le Bon.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Cheryl and Liam - who were recently rumoured to have moved into an LA mansion together - were seen departing Paris for Cannes.

Golden goddess: Julianne Moore looked a vision in a metallic golden gown as she arrived for the fancy party

Always flawless: The 55-year-old Oscar-winning actress wowed as she glimmered on the red carpet, fresh from an appearance at the evening's main premiere for Money Monster

Less is more: Actress and Cannes juror Kirsten Dunst kept it simple in a beautiful blue and silver knife and fork embellished dress

Home-grown talent: British Star Wars actor John Boyega was also at the bash who won an award on the night

Well done! It was a special night for the 24-year-old young actor from Peckham in London, as he was awarded the prestigious Trophee Chopard, a prize given by the jewellery brand annually at the film festival by a jury of professionals to two young actors in order to recognise and encourage their career

Cheryl, who is attending the world-famous event as part of her duties as an ambassador for L'OREAL, looked in particularly high spirits as they boarded a private jet.

But while the love-birds appeared to be in high spirits as they departed the City of Love, they were possibly about to face their biggest challenge yet as a bonafide couple, as Cheryl's ex-husband is also in Cannes.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday morning, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini shared a photo of the city at dawn.

Attending the Film Festival with his luxury foodie pop-up, Cosy Box, the restaurateur captioned the image: 'More than 15 #cannesfilmfestival and still Feel like it's my first every-time... it won't be long now (sic).'

With both the new couple and Cheryl's second-husband both attending the film festival, Liam and Cheryl could be faced with the prospect of running into Jean-Bernard.

All that glitters: British model Amber Le Bon looked lovely in a nude-pink ensemble with a low-cut neckline and glittered effect

Dapper gent: Actor and Cannes jury member Mads Mikkelsen posed with Caroline Scheufele, the Artistic Director and Co-President of Chopard
Ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are all the rage.

But It looked as though Gigi Hadid prefers the classic yellow cab, as the famous model hailed one for a fun photo shoot in New York on Thursday.

The 21-year-old beauty sported a revealing asymmetrical crop top for the unique shoot.

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Old school: It looked as though Gigi Hadid prefers the classic yellow cab, as the famous model hailed one for a fun photo shoot in New York on Thursday

Her eye-catching cobalt blue top by PAPER London seemed to be a hybrid style, featuring a bandeau look with a sash that draped over the right shoulder.

Obviously the very short garment highlighted the model's amazingly toned tummy.

The black trousers were fitted enough to reveal her svelte frame, while two gold zippers ran the length of each leg and provided some interesting detail.

She works out: Obviously the very short garment highlighted the model's amazingly toned tummy

New style? Her eye-catching cobalt blue top seemed to be a hybrid style, featuring a bandeau look with a sash that draped over the right shoulder

Looking great: The some-time reality star's lengthy locks were coiffed to perfection with a subtle part on the left

The details: Some very elaborate strappy stilettos in the same bold cobalt blue color and a small tan clutch rounded out the sexy and sophisticated ensemble

She appeared to have a ball as she was tasked with hailing and then entering and exiting a taxi, while being blasted at times with a fan

Femme fatale: The blonde confessed to the magazine that things in her life are so crazy now career-wise she does not even dare to dream what is next

If you've got it flaunt it: Gigi stunned in her revealing crop top and cigarette trousers

Mirror image: Gigi changed into a second blue ensemble to stare at her reflection whilst water was hosed down the mirror she posed in front of as part of the scenes

Out of the blue! Gigi showed off her incredible abs in a plunging crop top and pencil skirt co-ord as she posed up a storm on top of the walkway for the make-up company

Some very elaborate strappy stilettos in the same bold cobalt blue color and a small tan clutch rounded out the sexy and sophisticated ensemble.

The some-time reality star's lengthy locks were coiffed to perfection with a subtle part on the left.

She appeared to have a ball as she was tasked with hailing and then entering and exiting a taxi, wile being blasted at times with a fan.

And Gigi wasn't alone for the shoot as she was joined by supermodel pal Jourdan Dunn.

Model moment: Gigi wasn't alone for the shoot as she was joined by supermodel pal Jourdan Dunn

Blue-tiful: Clad in a V neck crop top and black mini skirt, the 25-year-old showed off her gym-honed figure

Helping hand: Jourdan was assisted by a crew member who adjusted her outfit

Sleepy? Jourdan looked as though she was feeling pretty tired ahead of her long day at work

Supermodel strut: All eyes were on her as she sashayed down the walkway ahead of the shoot

As she hits the streets of New York, Marie Claire magazine released an interview with the mega star.

The blonde confessed to the magazine that things in her life are so crazy now career-wise she does not even dare to dream what is next.

She told the magazine: 'Sometimes things aren't a dream because you don't really think it's a possibility, you know?

Model face: Gigi showed off her natural modeling ability in this up close shot

Monochrome: The beauty wore a pair of black tracksuit trousers with a black and white jacket

She's got style: The model then added a pair of reflector sunglasses to her laid-back outfit

In the hood: Gigi donned a short sleeved black Adidas hoodie with matching tracksuit bottoms
She's known for her off the wall sense of style.

And Kristen Stewart didn't rest on her quirky fashion laurels as she arrived at the Vanity Fair magazine party at Tetou Restaurant during the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday evening.

The 26-year-old Twilight actress looked as though she could have stepped out of a classic vampire film in her striking black and white attire for the soiree.

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Twilight vibes? Kristen Stewart looked lovely - if not a little vampire-like - in her choice of attire for the Vanity Fair party at Tetou restaurant in Cannes on Thursday

She covered her petite frame with a pair of oversized billowing black trousers, that almost appeared to look like a skirt, her pointy heel-clad feet poking out from underneath the ostentatious hemline.

Keeping it monochrome, the Chanel muse donned a lovely white sheer lace blouse with black buttons and a large collar, undone over her decolletage to add a hint of sex appeal.

But there was more: the Hollywood beauty wore a cropped black bolero-style jacket over the top of the blouse, keeping her warm against the chilly French Riviera evening.

Black and white: The 26-year-old Chanel muse donned a lovely white sheer lace blouse with black buttons and a large collar, undone over her decolletage to add a hint of sex appeal

Dramatic look: She covered her petite frame with a pair of oversized billowing black trousers, that almost appeared to look like a skirt, her pointy heel-clad feet poking out from underneath the ostentatious hemline

Layers of fun: The Hollywood beauty wore a cropped black bolero-style jacket over the top of the blouse, keeping her warm against the chilly French Riviera evening

A couple of layered necklaces added some stylish additions to her look, as did the ravishing deep blood red lips and heavy smokey eye, adding definition to her already striking features.

Kristen's cropped platinum blonde mane was teased into messy curls, but done on purpose to give her a real bed-head appearance.

It was altogether a fitting style for the star, who is in Cannes to promote her new film Cafe Society, directed by Woody Allen and also starring the likes of Blake Lively and Jesse Eisenberg.

She spent much of the first day of the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival - Wednesday - with her cast mates as they took part in the photocall and later walked the red carpet at the premiere: the film was selected to be shown at the offical opening ceremony gala.

Striking look: A couple of layered necklaces added some stylish additions to her look, as did the ravishing deep blood red lips and heavy smokey eye, adding definition to her already striking features

It suits her! The start monochrome look was just another flawless example of unique style from the actress, who is in Cannes to promote her new film, Woody Allen's Cafe Society

Careful! As she stepped out of her car, Kristen seemed a little unsteady on her towering heels

Kristen's outfits while at the film festival thus far have been as wildly unexpected as ever: for the premiere she sported a sheer black shirt with a beautiful full skirt, and later in the evening she changed into a very casual t-shirt, skirt and trainers for the official Cannes opening night dinner.

The newly-single star - who recently split from her French girlfriend Soko - was in excellent spirits as she helped present award-winning filmmaker Woody's new project on Wednesday.

Cafe Society is the third time a film by Allen, who does not enter them for competition, has opened the festival, following Hollywood Ending in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011.

The romantic comedy brings Kristen and Jesse Eisenberg together on screen for the third time, after 2009's Adventureland and last year's American Ultra.

Eisenberg's character leaves New York City for Hollywood, hoping his impresario uncle, Steve Carrell, will give him a break.

His eye is taken by Stewart, but he has to settle for friendship until she comes to tell him her lover has left her.

Making a sartorial statement: Kristen stole the show at the Cafe Society premiere as the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival got underway in the South of France on Wednesday evening

Sheer perfection: The screen siren opted for a daring shirt dress with strategically placed pockets preserving her modesty
Australia PM listed in Panama Papers

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is named in the Panama Papers, it emerged on Thursday, causing an unwanted headache for the multi-millionaire former banker in the middle of an election campaign.

He is listed as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company, Star Technology Services Limited, set up by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca in the 1990s.

The link was uncovered by the Australian Financial Review, days after details on more than 200,000 secret offshore companies associated with the tax haven company were published.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is listed as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company, Star Technology Services Limited, set up by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca in the 1990s Mark Graham (AFP/File)

The use of shell companies, foundations or trusts in offshore jurisdictions is often legal and Turnbull rejected any wrongdoing.

"Can I just say to you that as the article acknowledged, there is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever," he told reporters on the campaign trail in Melbourne ahead of national polls on July 2, which are shaping up as a close race.

"There is nothing new there. The company concerned was a wholly-owned subsidiary of a public-listed Australian company."

While not incriminating, the revelation piled pressure on Turnbull as he seeks to win the July poll against Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten on a platform of boosting jobs and economic growth.

Turnbull said the company had been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Australia's principal stock exchange, adding that "Neville Wran (former state premier of New South Wales) and I were both directors for about two years".

The newspaper said Turnbull and Wran joined the board of the company in October 1993, hoping to develop a Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log. They both resigned two years later and the company went bust in 1998.

Asked if the company paid any tax in Australia, Turnbull said it would have done if profitable.

"Had it made any profits, which it did not, regrettably, it certainly would have paid tax in Australia," he said.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said: "We've got a PM who now seems to have some very sharp questions to answer when it comes to his own involvement in companies set up in the Virgin Islands."

Turnbull is not the first political leader linked to Mossack Fonseca.

Reports in April based on the explosive dossier linked some of the world's most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron and others to unreported offshore companies.

The data forced the resignations of Iceland's prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, and Spain's industry minister Jose Manuel Soria.
Trump, Republican leaders aim to make peace in Washington

Thursday's high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders including House Speaker Paul Ryan marks a critical point in the billionaire's presidential quest, with party grandees pressured to close ranks and support the presumptive nominee.

Ryan, the top-ranked Republican currently elected to public office, dropped a bombshell and triggered soul-searching within a fractured party last week when he said he was "just not ready" to support Trump as the flagbearer.

The concerns have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November and hold the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Concerns have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Donald Trump nomination could doom Republican efforts to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November Jason Redmond (AFP/File)

With the party divided, Trump and the Republican establishment aim to put differences aside ahead of what is expected to be a brutal campaign battle against Clinton.

"The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles," not bandage deep wounds and move on, Ryan said Wednesday.

"After coming through a very bruising primary, which just ended like a week ago, to pretend we're unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength."

Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, took up the speakership last October pledging to modernize the party's image and reach out to minority groups that traditionally vote Democratic.

But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative New York real estate mogul Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

- 'Respect for Paul' -

Trump is expected to meet Ryan at 9:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday at party headquarters in Washington. He will be looking for more than just a photo op.

"I have a lot of respect for Paul and I think we're going to have a very good meeting," Trump told Fox News on Tuesday.

"If we make a deal, that will be great," he added later. "And if we don't, we will trench forward like I've been doing and winning, you know, all the time."

Trump also meets Reince Priebus, the powerful chairman of the Republican National Committee that helps coordinate financing for the party nominee's presidential campaign. Priebus has called for Republicans to unite behind Trump.

Later that morning, he meets with top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell and the chamber's other GOP leaders.

While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there were signs Wednesday of a growing move to unite behind Trump.

The chairman of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon, saying in a statement Trump posted on his Facebook page that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee... and maintain control of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate".

On Tuesday, Republican Senator James Inhofe criticized Ryan's statements, saying Trump "is the nominee, he's going to be working together and have to establish a workable relationship, and I think they will."

"But that's not a good way to start," he added.

A handful of pro-Trump House Republicans met with Ryan Wednesday to urge him to back the billionaire.

There is fence-mending to be done. Ryan bristled in December when Trump proposed his Muslim ban. "This is not conservatism," he warned.

Trump said he felt "blindsided" by Ryan's move last week, telling NBC Sunday that "if he doesn't want to support me, that's fine".

Although some Republicans called for a genuine conservative candidate to challenge Trump and Clinton in November, that prospect has dimmed.

"Most of my members believe he's won the nomination the old-fashioned way," said McConnell, who after months of expressing concern about how a Trump nomination might affect Republican efforts to hold the Senate, has expressed support for him.

"We know that Hillary Clinton will be four more years of Barack Obama. I think that's going to, in the end, be enough to unify Republicans across the country."

Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they separate themselves from The Donald.

But others downplayed the crisis, saying there was plenty of time for Trump to flesh out his policy positions and develop a more presidential bearing.

"Things have a way in politics and government of working themselves out," Senator Chuck Grassley told reporters. He was elected to the Senate in 1980 when onetime Hollywood film icon Ronald Reagan became the party's presidential nominee.

"Remember, everybody thought Reagan was going to take us down to defeat."

US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan dropped a bombshell and triggered soul-searching within a fractured party when he said he was "just not ready" to support Trump Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File)

Donald Trump is also due to meet with top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell (L) and the chamber's other GOP leaders Saul Loeb (AFP/File)

Many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as Donald Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States Rob Kerr (AFP/File)
Obama weighs lifting Vietnam arms embargo

The White House is considering lifting a decades-old arms embargo against Vietnam in time for President Barack Obama's visit to the booming Southeast Asian nation this month.

As both countries warily eye China's military build-up in the disputed South China Sea, officials said Obama is weighing an end to the Cold War-era ban on lethal weapons exports.

Obama begins his first visit to Vietnam on May 21, some 41 years after the North Vietnamese army and its Viet Cong allies marched into Saigon, humiliating the world's preeminent superpower.

The White House would like the visit to Vietnam by President Barack Obama to turn a page on the murderous 19-year war that defined both nations and killed untold thousands Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)

Now the former foes -- who fought a murderous 19-year war that defined both nations and killed untold thousands -- are putting ideology aside and gradually building deeper trade, military and political ties.

Washington and Hanoi have been pushed together by Vietnam's increasingly vibrant 80-million-people-strong economy, Obama's "pivot to Asia" and a mutual desire to limit China's regional clout.

Under President Xi Jinping, Beijing has taken a more assertive stance on territorial claims in the South China Sea -- deploying materiel to the disputed Spratly Islands.

Recent military reforms announced by Xi dramatically increased navy spending.

With that, some inside the Obama administration argue that the time has come for the United States to help bolster Vietnam with the sale of advanced military equipment.

"It is a relatively easy argument for those who favor lifting the ban," said Christian Lewis of the Eurasia Group, a consultancy.

"The benefits of deepening strategic ties to Vietnam and simultaneously containing China exceed the perceived downside of supplying Vietnam military hardware," he added.

If the ban is lifted, most observers expect sales to start small -- in part to assuage concerns about human rights, and in part not to spook China too much.

Recent preparatory visits by US-based arms contractors to Vietnam focused on the sale of less controversial maritime surveillance and patrol hardware.

But in the medium term, the embargo would open the way for sales across the board.

"This is going to be a long term thing, but it has strategic importance because of the psychological shift," said Richard Fontaine, president of the Center for a New American Security.

Vietnamese military spending has increased dramatically in the last decade, by 130 percent since 2005, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

China and Vietnam share a checkered history of border disputes, invasions and conflict and anti-Chinese sentiment has helped frame Vietnamese national identity.

During the Cold War, Vietnam was closer to the Soviet Union than it was to its behemoth neighbor to the north.

Much of Vietnam's arsenal today is made up of aging Russia-built equipment.

But some in the US Congress still oppose lifting the arms embargo, voicing concern that weapons could be used to trample human rights.

Vietnam's ruling Communist Party retains a white knuckle grip political power and its cadres' economic interests.

Obama is expected to meet the country's de facto leader, party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong when he visits Hanoi, as well as Tran Dai Quang -- the former head of Vietnam's controversial domestic security force who became president after an April party Congress.

But the end of the ban seems likely. Senator John McCain, one of an estimated seven million American Vietnam War veterans, has publicly stated his support for sending arms.

- New era -

The White House would like the visit to turn a page on the war, focusing on a pending trans-Pacific trade deal and on changing American attitudes about Vietnam and Vietnamese attitudes about America.

"Vietnam has a dynamic economy and they have a rapidly growing middle class," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

But there are still doubts about how that TPP trade deal would be implemented, in a country where whole sectors are run like fiefdoms of senior party officials and competition is intra-party.

Vietnam is "a country that is trying to decide exactly how it's going to orient its economy in the decades ahead," Earnest acknowledged.

Still, Western diplomats spot an opportunity in Vietnam's eagerness to diversify trade partners outside China.

"We are looking at potentially transformative growth over the next decade, simply because footwear and garment manufacturers are going to be able to export to the United States," said Lewis.

The White House would like the visit to focus on a pending trans-Pacific trade deal and on changing American attitudes about Vietnam and Vietnamese attitudes about America Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP/File)

The US Navy guided missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence sailed close to a disputed South China Sea reef Beijing has built up into an artificial island on May 10, 2016, prompting China to express "dissatisfaction and opposition" MC2 Andrew P. Holmes (Navy Media Content Operations (NMCO)/AFP/File)
Staid US credit unions smell profits in pot industry

Credit unions are the fuddy-duddies of US finance: unimaginative community banks that shy from risk, leaving the sexy business to the big-time Wall Street banks.

But one business that the big banks find way too risky is proving to be manna from heaven for credit unions: marijuana.

The industry of pot for recreational or medical use, newly legal in parts of the United States, has a big problem: how to handle huge amounts of cash rolling in when banks, conscious that federal laws still deem marijuana illegal, won't take the chance to let the marijuana growers and vendors open accounts.

The industry of pot for recreational or medical use is newly legal in parts of the United States Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File)

That's where credit unions, essentially local savings banks that do home, car and small business loans, come in. With many only regulated by state authorities, they are opening their doors to marijuana entrepreneurs, helping to buoy what is projected to become a $20 billion industry by 2020.

Mostly concentrated in the US Northwest, the marijuana business has been frozen out by regular banks, which are closely regulated by Washington and could lose their licenses if they are involved in illegal business.

That forces legal pot purveyors to carry around large amounts of cash for salaries, supplies, rents and tax payments. They can't make electronic transfers or write checks.

A number of credit unions have seen an opportunity, and are offering the industry money deposit, transfer and payment services.

"It is in the best interest of our members and of their communities that they are able to safely manage their business finances," said Kelli Hawkins of Numerica Credit Union, a pioneer of the new business.

- Blacklisted -

Donald Morse, president of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council and owner of The Human Collective dispensary in Portland, said his business accounts were shut down by banks half a dozen times over the past six years.

"If you are honest with them and say 'I am in the cannabis business,' they will refuse to open your account," he said.

To get accounts, he ended up lying about the nature of his business. But the truth was found out. "I've been blacklisted," Morse said.

Without a bank, moving cash is more than just inconvenient -- especially when paying the government the 25 percent tax on sales each month.

While looking over his shoulder against being robbed, Morse said, "I have to go down with cash to the Department of Revenue, going to a special bulletproof room and give them the money."

Aiming to help the young industry in their states, Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Cory Gardner of Colorado have introduced legislation to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services.

"Forcing businessmen and businesswomen who are operating legally under Oregon state law to shuttle around gym bags full of cash is an invitation to crime and malfeasance," said Merkley.

- Odorless cash, please -

In the meantime, the credit unions, which only represent seven percent of the US banking industry, are getting the marijuana business.

It's not exactly what they are used to in their clientele. While money is not supposed to have a smell, some credit unions like Oregon's Maps Credit Union are insisting that all cash deposits be devoid of cannabis odors.

"We do charge a premium and a minimum monthly fee to offset the additional costs of monitoring and managing these accounts and the additional regulatory oversight required," said Carmella Murphy Houston of Salal Credit Union in Seattle, Washington.

"The accounts are priced to be profitable but fair as we hope to bank these businesses for the long run."

Strict conditions or not, requests for new accounts are flowing in. In 2014, Salal received 2,000 requests but only opened 200 accounts.

The particular needs of the industry have given birth to special service providers.

Link to Banking, which is staffed by anti money-laundering specialists, and Kind Financial, a software vendor, have joined hands to help marijuana companies and their credit union bankers negotiate the regulatory maze for risky business.

Their partnership offers banks software that "provides real-time information of the customers and of the customers' customers," said Kind Financial chief executive David Dinenberg.

Mostly concentrated in the US Northwest, the marijuana business has been frozen out by regular banks Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File)
Philippine communist chief hopes to end exile under Duterte

Philippine communist rebel leader Jose Maria Sison has expressed hopes of ending nearly three decades in exile under the new presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, a potentially explosive homecoming opposed by senior military figures.

Sison, now 77, fled to Europe soon after peace talks failed in 1987 and has stayed abroad since, while one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies continued to claim thousands of lives.

"I will return to the Philippines if Duterte fulfils his promise to visit me," the Netherlands-based Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder said in comments posted on his Facebook page late Wednesday.

Jose Maria Sison (L) and then Philippines House Speaker Jose de Venecia, seen meeting a hotel in Amsterdam, in 1997 Cor Mulder (ANP/AFP/File)

"The prospects (for peace talks) seem to be bright at the moment," Sison added.

Sison, a political science professor, established the party in December 1968 and it launched a guerrilla campaign three months later.

The rebellion has left at least 30,000 people dead, by official account.

The New People's Army is believed to have fewer than 4,000 soldiers, down from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s, according to the military, however it retains support among the deeply poor in the rural Philippines.

Incumbent President Benigno Aquino revived peace talks soon after taking office in 2010 but shelved them in 2013, accusing the rebels of insincerity in efforts to achieve a political settlement.

The talks got bogged down after the communists demanded the release of scores of their jailed comrades whom they described as "political prisoners", which the Aquino government rejected.

Duterte, who was Sison's student at a Manila university in the 1960s, is the longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao. Some of the communists' strongholds today are near Davao, and Duterte has maintained relations with them.

Last week, local television station ABS-CBN released footage of Duterte chatting with Sison via Skype on his laptop.

"I'm a socialist," said Duterte, who won Monday's election in a landslide.

The network said the chat took place shortly after communist rebels freed five police hostages last month in Davao.

- Peace hopes -

Sison said in the comments posted on Facebook he had congratulated Duterte via an intermediary on his win and called for the resumption of peace talks, a ceasefire, the release of political prisoners, and the "arrest and trial of Aquino".

Duterte was ready to release ailing and elderly rebels on humanitarian grounds, as well as those whom the movement appoints as peace negotiators after vetting by the military, police and state prosecutors, his spokesman Peter Lavina said Thursday.

"Our people are suffering from the internal conflict.... (Businessmen) doing business in these areas have been suffering for long. Any move to still the guns, declare ceasefire would be very welcome," Lavina told reporters.

He said Duterte planned to see Sison during a trip to Europe before the president-elect takes his oath of office on June 30.

Sison's comments were a transcript of an interview he gave to Dubai's Khaleej Times newspaper.

Sison said he hoped to return home after Duterte begins his term, but the communist leader added the new government must first take steps to ensure his personal safety.

"I will not dive into any situation in which the Duterte government is still unsettled and there are unwieldy elements... who violently oppose my homecoming," he added.

Lavina said the new government would uphold previous security guarantees for rebel negotiators while the military said it would support Duterte's peace efforts.

"If it's part of the peace efforts, he (Sison) is welcome to come here. But as for his other enemies, that would be another matter," military spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato told AFP but declined to elaborate.

Senator Antonio Trillanes, a Duterte critic and former military rebel, warned last week that some in the military were "strongly averse" to Duterte's long-standing ties with communists, and that the reaction "could be violent".

Lavina said the Trillanes warning was a personal opinion that "remains to be seen".

The spokesman said Duterte would consider communist figures for his cabinet, where retired military and police figures would also be represented.

Incumbent Philippine President Benigno Aquino shelved peace talks with the communist rebels in 2013, accusing them of insincerity in efforts to achieve a political settlement Ted Aljibe (AFP/File)
More debris 'almost certainly' from MH370: Australia

Two more pieces of debris were all but confirmed on Thursday to be from flight MH370, adding fresh clues to the mystery of the Malaysia Airlines plane which is presumed to have crashed at sea.

The fragments washed up on beaches in South Africa and Mauritius in March and brought to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's laboratories for testing.

After an expert examination they were found to have "almost certainly" come from the fated Boeing 777 aircraft, which vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board.

An item of debris recovered from the beaches in South Africa and Mauritus Saeed Khan (Australian Transport Sefety Bureau and Malaysian MOT/AFP)

Five pieces of debris have now been identified as either definitely or probably from the jet, all discovered thousands of kilometres from the ongoing search zone, likely swept there by currents.

The latest breakthrough follows a wing part recovered last year from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, which neighbours Mauritius, and confirmed by Malaysian authorities as from MH370.

Since then two more items found about 220 kilometres (140 miles) apart from each other in Mozambique in December 2015 and February 2016 have been examined.

The ATSB has said these too were "almost certainly" from the Malaysian plane.

One of the new parts, washed up at Mossel Bay in South Africa, was an aircraft engine cowling, identified from a partial Rolls-Royce stencil.

While there was no direct link on the cowling unique to MH370, the ATSB said the stencil was consistent with those developed and used by Malaysian Airlines.

Mossel Bay is more than 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from Vilankulo, the Mozambican resort where one of the earlier pieces of debris was found.

The other part, which came ashore on Rodrigues island in Mauritius, was a decorative laminate from a "work table" in the main cabin, used by no other Boeing 777 customer than Malaysia Airlines.

Given this, the ATSB concluded that "part no.3 was a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 engine cowling segment, almost certainly from the aircraft registered 9M-MRO", which operated as MH370.

"Part no.4 was a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 panel segment from the main cabin, associated with the Door R1 closet, almost certainly from the aircraft registered 9M-MRO."

- Still hopeful -

One of the pieces found in Mozambique, which had a number stencilled on it, was identified as a segment from a Boeing 777 flap track from the right wing, with the stencilling conforming to that used by Malaysia Airlines.

The other, which had the words "No Step" on it, was part of a Boeing 777 horizontal stabiliser panel with stencilling also consistent with that used by the carrier.

Australia is leading the painstaking search for the plane in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be its final resting place, and has so far scoured 105,000 square kilometres of deep ocean floor without finding any trace.

Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester remained optimistic that more evidence could be found, offering hope to devastated next-of-kin still grasping for answers.

"The Australian government will continue to work closely with the Malaysian government and the Peoples Republic of China in our efforts to locate the missing aircraft," he said.

"We remain hopeful the aircraft will be found."

Despite this, if nothing turns up once the designated 120,000 square kilometre zone is fully searched, it is likely to be abandoned, Australia, Malaysia and China have jointly said.

In an operational update this week, Australia said three ships continued to hunt for the plane but winter weather had set in, with waves up to 12 metres (39 feet) and high winds hampering them.

A piece of debris (L) that was found on a Mozambique beach and has since been found to be 'almost certainly' from the missing flight MH370, seen next to comparisons of Boeing stencilling and Malaysia Airlines ones -, Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (Australian Transport and Safety Bureau/AFP/File)
While the pressure on Western women to have a large curvaceous bottom is a somewhat recent phenomenon, in Ivory Coast, a 'big booty' it has been on trend for decades.

Ivory Coast women use any and all methods to enhance their god-given shapes, including creams, oils, padded underwear and even stock cubes.

More worrying is the emergence of 'miracle pills', which claim to help enlarge women's buttocks, but are in fact nothing more than counterfeit drugs which could cause serious health issues.

Scroll down for video

Boosting business: Two young women at a market in Ivory Coast, where 'big is beautiful' bottom enhancers come in all shapes and sorts, and at any cost, inquire about a booty boosting cream

'You need to have good hips to be dubbed a beauty in Ivory Coast,' said a saleswoman named Sarah. 'Men like women with a bit of bottom best.'

Round is beautiful because it symbolises wealth and health, said political scientist Jean Alabro. It also heralds 'happy pregnancies' due to 'the crucial role played by buttocks' in deliveries, he said.

At Abidjan's biggest market, Treichville, a shop-owner who gave her name only as Evelyne does a busy trade in 'grossifesse' (butt booster) or 'botcho' cream. In Ivorian slang, or 'nouchi', 'botcho' means 'vast rear end'.

The cream, which pot labels variously say is made of cod-liver oil, honey or shea butter, sells like hotcakes, and a couple of boxes stacked high with the cream lie on the floor waiting to be dispatched to neighbouring Ghana.

'It's my best-seller', said Evelyne, and does far better than her pots of 'nice breast' cream or tubes of 'bazooka' to 'firm up and enhance men's members.'

Big is beautiful: Ivory Coast women go to great lengths to get the desired shape, including spending thousands on creams and oils

Big is beautiful: Traders in Abidjan make a mint from different types of boosters, including padded knickers

Big promises: A woman shows pots of 'bottom enhancing' creams, which tend to be made of cod-liver oil, honey or shea butter, in a market of Treichville suburb of Abidjan on

Dozens fly off the shelves a day, she said, despite the fact that at 15,000 to 25,000 CFA francs (23 to 38 euros, $26 - 43) a shot, it remains expensive in a country where annual income was around 100 euros a month in 2014.

'Not a single customer's come back to complain,' she added, saying 'you can guarantee a result after 30 days' use.'

'It's not like those pills where you puff up and then deflate.'

Other 'enhancers' sold in more sophisticated packaging are also available at Treichville, mostly imported from English-speaking African nations, notably Nigeria.

Often made from corticoids, they can cause diabetes, high blood pressure or infections that potentially can lead to coma, said Fatima Ly, a dermatologist and venereologist in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

In that city the miracle pills - nore often than not counterfeit drugs - are causing a huge public health problem involving thousands of people every year, she said.

A seller shows off padded panties at a market in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Sia Kambou (AFP)

Innocent: Bottom-enhancing underwear is one of the innocent methods used - more worrying is the emergence of counterfeit drugs promising to help boost bums

Nice ads: A picture taken in a market in Abidjan shows different products supposed to enhance bottom

Padded panties and butt boosters on the other hand are less of a liability, and far cheaper at 9,000 CFA francs (13.7 euros) a piece at Kader Camara's store.

'They're relatively new on the market,' he said. 'In the old days, women used to sew several loin cloths together when they went dancing.'

He also has thigh enhancers for women with skinny legs that are known as 'pistols' because they slip on and off, he said, mimicking the way a cowboy moves his gun in and out of a holster.

Another technique involves Maggi instant broth cubes, that staple of African cuisine, but as a suppository rather than as food.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, where the practice is thought to have begun, a song has been written about the wonders of instant broth and bottoms.

'Women think it will add volume because it's greasy,' said a young woman called Francine, a notion panned by Peggy Diby, a Nestle/Maggi spokeswoman in West Africa.

'The broth is only for cooking,' she said of a technique likely used by women on low budgets.

Women with financial means have the option of booty-boosting surgery abroad, and Parisian plastic surgeon Robin Mookherjee, who flies to nearby Dakar every month, claims to have treated 'hundreds of women patients' from west Africa, notably from Ivory Coast, for 3,000 to 4,000 euros an operation.
Art not sex, Pakistan's dancers take a stand

With her arms stretched out and her hands elegantly curved, the young dancer stamps her feet with aplomb, defying prejudice.

Her art is reviled by many in religiously conservative Pakistan, where it is often linked with prostitution.

"We constantly have to explain to people that dance is an art form, it's not just about what happens in the red light areas, not just about entertaining men and sexuality," says Suhaee Abro.

Pakistani classical dancer Sheema Kirmani (C) instructs students at her home in Karachi Asif Hassan (AFP)

Graceful and poised in her richly coloured sari, she practices the odissi form of dance, in which movements of the face and hands are perfectly timed.

Dance is deeply embedded in Pakistani culture, in marriages, folk festivals and films -- the complex choreography similar to that found in Bollywood.

But it is also deeply frowned upon in the Muslim-majority country for women to be seen dancing outside of a family setting, and worse still to perform for money.

"Unfortunately it is associated with the 'dancing girls of Lahore'," says Rahat Kazmi from the National Academy for Performing Arts -- a reference to prostitutes swaying awkwardly in the red light district of Pakistan's cultural capital.

- Threat of the Taliban mindset -

Historically, classical dance in the subcontinent was the domain of tawaifs, courtesans of the Mughal Empire, which ruled India for hundreds of years until the advent of British rule in the 19th century.

Like the geishas of Japan, they were known as connoisseurs of the fine arts before their status deteriorated, especially under British rule, to mere prostitutes.

Today, prostitutes sometimes use dancing as a cover to carry out their illegal trade.

It is therefore necessary "to create this bifurcation and say that no, this is art also", according to Kazmi.

"I am a practising Muslim and a dancer, and I don't see why this should clash. My heart does not feel anything wrong," says anthropologist and professional dancer Feriyal Aslam, who practices Bharatanatyam, a form from southern India.

"But my mum herself feels it is wrong, She thinks 'what will I say to God one day, that I did not tell my daughter to do the right thing'," explains the 40-year-old, who has also written a thesis on the subject.

Dance was banned in 1981 as part of an Islamisation drive led by military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.

His directive specifically targeted dancers wearing ankle bells, an essential accessory of the main classical forms which the regime associated with obscenity and nudity.

The directive exists to this day but its application has eased, though new threats have emerged.

"Now the bureaucratic hassle is not so strong, but the Taliban mindset had gotten into the mind of the people," says dancer Sheema Kirmani.

Anyone in the audience "who feels that he might get to heaven by killing you can just walk up to the stage and do so," she says.

- 'Dance is dance' -

What's more, dance enjoys no institutional support, with dancers often forced by economy to work second jobs, and both the private and public sectors reluctant to be associated with the disreputable art.

That reluctance is amplified by Pakistani classical dance's shared lineage with India.

Pakistan has been desperate to distinguish itself from its neighbour and arch-rival since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.

But odissi and bharatanatyam are historically linked to Hinduism, and many Pakistani dancers complete their training in India due to the lack of facilities back home.

"(By) creating an identity which had nothing to do with our Indian past, we gave up on dance, music, theatre," says Kirmani, known as a "guru" in her own right.

"But what identity can Pakistan create in just a few years, if it denigrates all common past?" she added.

"There is no Hindu or Muslim dance, dance is dance," adds Suhaee Abro, a former student of Kirmani.

One form that has gained a sort of official recognition is kathak, with its dazzling and noisy footwork akin to flamenco, and dancers whirling like dervishes.

This indulgence derives from the fact that it was practised in the Muslim court of the Mughals.

To rehabilitate dance's image, "people need to be exposed to good proper classical dance", says Adnan Jihangir, a rare example of a male kathak dancer, whose own parents took seven years to accept his passion and see him perform.

"I do all I can to create an audience for dance -- by offering something different from the vulgar movements they see on television," he says, lamenting the ubiquity of suggestive dance moves that have been popularised by Bollywood.

Feriyal Aslam remains optimistic for the new generation, pointing out that these challenges are also an opportunity for innovation as dancers adapt traditional forms to the modern, local context.

"It is unique and exciting as a dance scholar to see what Pakistani classical dancers are able to do," she says.

Pakistani classical dancer Suhaee Abro performs at an event in Karachi Asif Hassan (AFP)
Former coup leader elected Comoros president: provisional results

Former coup leader Azali Assoumani was elected as president of Comoros, according to provisional results released Thursday, after last month's election was partially re-run due to violence and "irregularities".

In the re-run at 13 polling stations, Assoumani beat Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi by 2,271 votes to 1,308, the electoral commission said, confirming his narrow victory in April.

Two percent of the electorate were able to vote again Wednesday on Anjouan, one of the three main islands of the archipelago nation set off the east coast of Africa.

Former coup leader Azali Assoumani has been elected as president of Comoros, according to provisional results

Hundreds of people waited in line during the day as armed security forces stood guard to ensure polling was smooth.

Last month, voting on Anjouan was tarnished by broken ballot boxes, interruptions in voting, accusations of ballot stuffing and some incidents of violence.

"I am very satisfied," Assoumani, who was president from 1999 to 2006, told AFP after the provisional count.

Soilihi, who is known as Mamadou, made no immediate comment.

His spokesman said that his campaign remained confident of securing victory when the Constitutional Court releases the official result.

The provisional result was announced after tear gas was used overnight to disperse some Assoumani supporters.

The country's Chief of Staff Youssouf Idjihadi said the army deployed 200 soldiers on Anjouan.

In Mramani in the island's south, where voting had to be discontinued last month after a crush of voters, soldiers were on duty outside one school where ballots were cast.

Voting passed off without any major incident, according to an AFP journalist.

Assoumani took 40.98 percent of the nationwide vote in April, just ahead of Soilihi, the ruling party's presidential candidate, who picked up 39.87 percent.

- History of coups -

Assoumani first came to power in 1999 after ousting acting president Tadjidine Ben Said Massounde in a coup.

He then won the presidential election three years later, stepping down when his term ended in 2006.

If the result is confirmed, the presidential inauguration is scheduled for May 26.

"I expect concrete benefits for my vote: a decent price for cloves, work for my children and food at affordable prices," said Idrissa Ahmada, a farmer and father of nine before polls closed.

The three islands that make up the Comoros -- Anjouan, Grande-Comore and Moheli -- have a total population of just under 800,000 people, nearly all of whom are Sunni Muslims.

The fourth island of Mayotte voted against independence and is still governed by France.

Allegations of fraud have beset the election process, and Soilihi rejected the April result.

After the first-round vote in February, 19 of the 25 candidates complained about fraud and demanded a recount that was denied by the courts.

The first round took place only on Grande-Comore island, in line with electoral rules to choose the president on a rotating basis from the three islands. The April 10 run-off was nationwide.

Comoros' electoral system was established in 2001 after about 20 coups or attempted takeovers, four of which were successful, in the years following independence from France in 1975.

Assoumani is set to take over from outgoing President Ikililou Dhoinine, who completed his five-year term in office.
Sierra Leone's first Ebola-hit community reconsiders its traditions

Violently coughing up blood, the woman was close to collapse when brought to Kailahun hospital in eastern Sierra Leone from her village close to the Guinean border.

For nursing staff, the spectre of the killer Ebola virus had returned.

"My staff went into PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)," said Samuel Massaquoi, medical superintendent of the hospital. "People said that if she came from near Guinea she had Ebola."

Bendu Alliou sits with her infant daughter outside a hospital in Kailahun, eastern Sierra Leone Marco Longari (AFP)

Urging calm, the doctor immediately implemented the screening measures used at the outbreak's height, when Ebola cases arrived on a daily basis.

That was one month ago -- the patient was instead diagnosed with advanced tuberculosis -- but it is a clear example of how the the fear of Ebola still grips the heart of this community.

The district was the first in the country to record cases back in May 2014 after the initial outbreak in southern Guinea.

The virus killed around 230 people in Kailahun but its impact did not end when the area was declared Ebola-free a year ago: residents say entrenched attitudes to health and tradition have changed significantly.

"The outbreak started here. Every patient at that time was considered a suspected case," Massaquoi said, standing metres from the now empty triage building, where health workers in hazmat suits once worked in scenes resembling a horror film.

His hospital received a real boost, he said, with extra funding for equipment from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and targeted training for staff from Britain's Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

"It was not like this two years back. It has improved significantly," the general practitioner said. That was reflected by an uptick in the number of patients admitted post-Ebola, many of whom previously viewed the hospital as a place of death, not healing.

- Traditions upended -

Kailahun's first spate of cases is believed to have originated from the funeral of a traditional healer in a village close to where the Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone borders meet.

Ebola sufferers were crossing to see her from Guinea before she too succumbed to the virus. Many west Africans believed Ebola was a curse, and turned to their local witchdoctor rather than attempt the long distances and meet the elevated costs of government health facilities.

"Ebola came, but it came with lessons. Most of them who treated Ebola patients died," Massaquoi said.

"It was only when the powerful healers started dying that people started believing this is real. We lost quite a good amount of them," he said, with many no longer as convinced of their invincibility.

The Red Cross sought to engage the healers in the fight against the virus, persuading some to advise visitors that they could not cure Ebola, and pointing them to dedicated treatment centres.

Prevention in the form of better hygiene is highly visible in the proliferation of hand-washing stations at the string of villages that dot this rural district.

Another influential group has altered its activities post-Ebola in Kailahun: the female secret societies that dominate rural life in this part of west Africa, whose primary role is to initiate girls into womanhood.

Traditionally they would carry out female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice performed on 90 percent of girls in Sierra Leone, according to UNICEF.

But in 19-year-old Baindu Alie's village, they have stopped.

"(Families) are afraid, so there is less trust in the societies," she said.

The girls' loss of blood during the excision, usually performed with a razor, was now known to be a possible transmission point for Ebola, medical professionals in the community confirmed to AFP.

- Survivor communities -

Naima Morie, 20, lives down the road from the district hospital and is an Ebola survivor. Three of her family members were not so lucky, including a sister who died in her arms.

Morie had symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea when she arrived at the Ebola treatment unit (ETU), and was driven there semi-conscious.

When she came round, "my whole system was very hot, boiling hot inside," she told AFP.

Morie made a full recovery, and in February gave birth to a baby boy named Joseph.

"When I was out of the ETU and went back home they were all rejoicing," she said, describing the reaction back in her village. "Now babies that are sick, they visit the hospital after seeing me survive."

Not everyone is so accepting. The stigma of Ebola remains a problem, and survivors have held protests in recent months against the government, claiming free follow-up treatment and scholarships for their children have not been delivered as promised.

According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) there are more than 4,000 Ebola survivors living in Sierra Leone, and the virus killed many of country's already limited number of health workers.

Ebola is one in a long list of epidemics that have ravaged this community, each leaving its own generation of survivors and broken families.

Huge roadside signs in the district now proclaim: "It's not the end for Ebola survivors; it's the end for stigma", alongside more faded billboards that read "An HIV test saved my life".

Hard hit by the Ebola virus the capacity of the small hospital in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, has been stretched over the course of the epidemic Marco Longari (AFP)

Ebola prevention in the form of better hygiene is highly visible in the proliferation of hand-washing stations in the Sierra Leone district first-hit by the disease Marco Longari (AFP)
Mao's influence lingers 50 years after China's Cultural Revolution

Fifty years after the Cultural Revolution spread bloodshed and turmoil across China, the Communist-ruled country is driving firmly down the capitalist road, but Mao Zedong's legacy remains -- like the embalmed leader himself -- far from buried.

No official commemorations will mark the anniversary of the May 16, 1966 declaration of what historian Simon Leys called a "gigantic outbreak" of collective frenzy and years "of upheaval, of blood and madness", when Mao unleashed his shock troops, the Red Guards, on his own party and people.

From top cadres to writers and teachers, millions were persecuted during the violent class struggle that ensued, which left China greatly weakened but the personality cult around Mao stronger than ever.

Security guards protect painting 'Chairman Mao Goes to Anyuan' by Liu Chunhua, in Beijing Robyn Beck (AFP/File)

In a backlash against the trauma, shortly after Mao's death in 1976 his successor Deng Xiaoping -- himself a victim of the purges -- unravelled his predecessor's policies.

Deng's "Reform and Opening" introduced market forces and foreign capital, paving the way for the country's stunning rise to become the world's second-largest economy.

But the party's official verdict on Mao in 1981 -- which declared his ideas 70 percent good and 30 percent bad -- has not eliminated his appeal to diehard loyalists or knocked him from his position at the top of the national pantheon, ahead of Deng, and still emblazoned on the country's banknotes.

The ruling party has sought to sideline resurgent neo-Maoist strains -- epitomised by the fall of ambitious high-flyer Bo Xilai, jailed for life in 2014 in a murder and corruption scandal.

But Mao's influence lingers on -- an anniversary concert at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing earlier this month featured revolutionary chants glorifying Mao, prompting online controversy.

The Global Times, which is close to the ruling party, this week quoted university professor Zhang Hongliang calling for a new national campaign against "traitors" hostile to the party.

"It's sad that many capitalist entrepreneurs stand against the CPC and betray the nation," he was quoted as saying.

Mao's body still lies preserved in a glass case in his mausoleum on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, and his admirers flock to pay their respects in his home town of Shaoshan, a major 'Red Tourism' site.

Hong Kong-based China expert Jean-Pierre Cabestan told AFP: "Some leftist movements are tempted by the idea of class struggle, fuelled by rising inequality."

It was not official policy, he added: "Quite the reverse."

- Stability at all costs -

The driving concept behind the Cultural Revolution -- a violent class struggle -- is unthinkable in China today, even as rising inequality between the rich and poor grabs global headlines and low-paid factory workers mount tens of thousands of strikes each year, despite an absence of free trade unions.

President Xi Jinping, the first party chief from the generation of the Red Guards, was himself "sent down" to the countryside for six years, and desires stability at all costs.

He has ruthlessly imprisoned critics, and espouses the importance of communist values more regularly than that of economic reforms.

The term "little cultural revolution" ("xiao wenge") has been used as shorthand for the president's crackdown on dissent from lawyers, bloggers and other regime critics.

The drive has run in parallel to a rigorous anti-corruption campaign, which critics charge is a thinly veiled political purge.

Top business figures have disappeared into custody for days on end, and wealthy Chinese have been moving money and family members overseas to give themselves a safe haven if they fall foul of authorities.

At the same time, Cabestan said Xi was moving the climate back towards that of Mao, giving the impression he was distancing himself from Deng and wanted to "reestablish some kind of repressive authoritarianism".

An elderly man takes a closer look at a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, at an exhibition in Beijing

Deng Xiaoping's 'Reform and Opening' introduced market forces and foreign capital to China, paving the way for the country's stunning rise to become the world's second-largest economy John Giannini (AFP/File)
Gaza Salafists look to IS for inspiration

Militants inspired by the Islamic State group's ideology are seeking to benefit from the desperation of young Palestinians to strengthen their foothold in the Gaza Strip.

But the Salafists in the enclave tread a fine line to avoid conflict with Hamas, the Islamist movement which has ruled the strip for a decade but does not share IS's world view.

Leaders of the Salafists, who are adherents of a strict Sunni interpretation of Islam, claim to have 3,000 fighters in Gaza.

Palestinian Salafists take part in a protest against the printing of satirical sketches of the Prophet Mohammed by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in January, 2015 outside the French Cultural Centre in Gaza city Mahmud Hams (AFP/File)

While the figure is impossible to verify, experts see an increasing use of IS-style rhetoric to attract support.

"Some groups use the Islamic State label and claim to have adopted jihadist ideology to attract teenagers who have lost all hope," said Assaad Abu Charakh, a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza.

Last week saw the heaviest cross-border clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas and other militant groups since 2014, raising fears of a return to hostilities, though calm has since returned.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2006 aimed at containing Hamas, the Jewish state's arch enemy.

At almost 45 percent, the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is among the world's highest.

Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, but Israel and the international community refused to accept the results, demanding Hamas renounce violence, recognise Israel and respect agreements signed between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

The party imposed its rule on Gaza a year later after a quasi-civil war.

- Qassam Brigades defectors -

But some members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, argued elections were un-Islamic and defected to form Salafist groups.

Abu al-Ansari al-Ina, a leader of the "Young Salafist Fighters," one of the major jihadist groups in Gaza, is one such defector.

The priority, he argues, is the "fight against the Jews in Palestine, even if the strategic goal is the introduction of Islamic law in the world."

He says he is under surveillance and took precautions before meeting an AFP journalist.

Two hundred Gazans, including some of his movement, have crossed into Egypt to join the ranks of the Islamic State "despite Hamas' attempts to stop them," he says.

Most used the tunnels that once linked Gaza to Egypt, while others took advantage of the occasional openings of the Rafah border crossing, the only of Gazas borders crossings not controlled by Israel.

The vast Sinai desert is gripped by an insurgency that Egypt regularly accuses Hamas of supporting.

Egypt's air force has destroyed a large number of the tunnels and established a buffer zone along the Gazan border.

Abu Sayyaf, military commander of another Salafi movement, insists Israel is the primary enemy.

"Our priority now is to strengthen the military capabilities of our fighters to kill the Jews, the enemies of God," he said.

"We do not want confrontation with Hamas," but "we will not hesitate to fight the infidels or anyone who stands in the way of our fighters."

- Escalation fears -

Hamas security services reached an agreement last year with the jihadists after arresting about 100 of them: in exchange for their release, the groups committed to respect the truce with Israel and not to attack Palestinian or foreign institutions in Gaza.

Though limited, Salafi attacks endanger the ceasefire which Hamas is tactically keen to uphold.

Gazan groups have been firing rockets into Israel for years, with Israel retaliating by striking Hamas positions -- holding the militant group responsible for stability in the enclave.

Many fear the tensions could escalate into clashes between Hamas and jihadi groups if rocket attacks occur.

Salafi jihadists threatened Hamas in online videos, with some claiming the shelling of Qassam bases. "We met our commitments but Hamas did not, they again arrested some of our fighters," says Abu al-Ina.

Mahmoud Zahar, a top Hamas official, says the authorities "discuss and are trying to reason" with the imprisoned Salafists, but have no choice but to use force against aggressors.

A Salafist was killed last year by Hamas forces who had come to arrest him.

Some jihadists "were planning to kill their neighbours and relatives," Zahar said, provoking Hamas to step in to prevent "a huge explosion".

Asked about the IS links, Abu al-Ina al-Ansari says they merely consist of "an exchange of ideas but are not organisational".

"We agree with the clear message sent by the Islamic State to the miscreant West: 'Stop your attacks, we will stop our attacks'".
Iran says pilgrims to miss hajj after Saudi 'sabotage'

Iran said Thursday its nationals will miss the annual hajj, accusing Saudi Arabia of sabotaging arrangements following a major diplomatic row and a deadly stampede at last year's pilgrimage.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at thrashing out a deal for Iranians to go to Mecca in September.

It was the first dialogue between the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers since diplomatic relations were severed in January.

A massive stampede at the 2015 hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians Mohammed al-Shaikh (AFP/File)

But with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran still closed and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted, the talks hit deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has looked after Saudi interests since Riyadh broke off ties in January following the ransacking of its diplomatic missions by protesters after it executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Said Ohadi, head of the Iranian Hajj Organisation, said that Riyadh had also refused to lift a flight ban on Iranian airlines for the pilgrimage, which all capable Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lifetime.

Another contentious issue has been security, after a massive stampede at last year's hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians.

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.

"Unfortunately in Saudi Arabia there is a very hostile political climate towards Iran," Ohadi said.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states have been staunch backers of Syrian rebel groups who have been fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.

Iran, with Russia, has been among the regime's main supporters in the conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

Saudi Arabia is also leading an Arab military coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels who have seized swathes of territory in Yemen.

The hajj had been a source of dispute even before last year's stampede.

In 1987, Saudi security forces suppressed an unauthorised protest by Iranian pilgrims, prompting a break in diplomatic relations that lasted until 1991.

The official death toll was more than 400, including 275 Iranians.

Iran suspended the lesser pilgrimage, umrah, which is undertaken throughout the year, in April 2015 after an alleged sexual assault on two teenage Iranian boys by Saudi police at Jeddah airport.
Truce ends in Syria's Aleppo as aid heads for besieged town

The truce in Syria's battleground city Aleppo expired Thursday with no new last-minute extension, as a besieged town near the capital prepared to receive its first humanitarian aid in four years.

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

Regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Aleppo's rebel-held eastern districts with no reports of casualties, following air strikes overnight that killed two fighters.

The Syrian city of Daraya had a pre-war population of around 80,000 people but that has dropped by almost 90 percent Hussam Ayash (Local Council of Daraya City/AFP/File)

In the Damascus region, aid agencies were to deliver relief supplies to the rebel-held town of Daraya on Thursday, the first since 2012, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

"This is the first ever humanitarian convoy to this town in the suburbs of Damascus since the beginning of the siege in November 2012," ICRC spokesman Pawel Krzysiek said.

Five trucks organised by the ICRC, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were to deliver baby milk and medical and school supplies.

The United Nations says more than 486,000 people are living under siege in Syria, more than half of them in areas besieged by the regime.

- Jihadists seize village -

A temporary truce in Syria's second city Aleppo expired on Wednesday night after it had been extended twice through 11th-hour diplomatic intervention by Moscow and Washington.

The former economic hub has been divided between the regime-held west and rebel-controlled east since 2012 and has been the scene of some of the worst fighting since 2011.

The truce -- brokered by Russia and the United States -- came into force after a spike in violence in the northern city last month that killed more than 300 civilians.

Neighbouring Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country's forces are preparing to "clean" the Syrian side of the border of Islamic State (IS) group jihadists after the Turkish town of Kilis came under repeated deadly rocket attacks.

"We are doing all the necessary preparations to clean the other side of the border because of the problems in Kilis," Erdogan said amid persistent speculation of a possible Turkish cross-border ground operation, without giving details.

The meeting between world powers in Austria next Tuesday comes as jihadists have dealt a series of setbacks to President Bashar al-Assad's troops in the country's centre.

In Hama province, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate and its rebel allies Thursday captured Zara village, where most residents hail from the same offshoot of Shiite Islam as the president, a monitor said.

"Alawite families were kidnapped and pro-regime fighters taken hostage," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

In nearby Homs, also central Syria, fighting has raged near the Shaer gas field -- one of the biggest in the province -- after IS seized it from the regime last week.

- Stalling peace talks -

IS also cut a main regime supply road between Palmyra and Homs on Tuesday, just weeks after the regime recaptured the historic city.

Assad's troops retook Palmyra with support from Russian air strikes on March 27 -- an achievement his regime celebrated with concerts in its ancient amphitheatre last week.

But IS now surrounds Palmyra from all directions except the southwest, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that IS was within 10 kilometres (around six miles) of the city.

Al-Nusra and the IS are not included in a fragile nationwide ceasefire between the regime and non-jihadist rebels implemented in late February to set the ground for peace talks.

The last round of peace talks in Geneva reached a deadlock in April when the main opposition group suspended its participation over mounting violence and lack of humanitarian access.

Talks have also faltered over the fate of Assad, with the opposition insisting any peace deal must include his departure.

But Damascus says his future is non-negotiable.

Crisis in Syria: the battle for Aleppo

A truce came into force after a spike in violence in Aleppo last month killed more than 300 civilians Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File)
Yemen suicide attack kills 15 troops near Mukalla

Militants, including suicide bombers, killed at least 15 Yemeni troops outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla on Thursday, the army said, in attacks claimed by jihadists.

An army official spoke of three suicide bombings and held Al-Qaeda responsible, but the rival Islamic State (IS) jihadist group said one of its militants was "martyred".

It was a rare intervention by IS in the city which was held by Al-Qaeda for a year until they were driven out by government troops last month.

Yemeni security forces patrol a street in the port city of Mukalla, on May 3, 2016

"A knight of the knights of martyrdom, brother Hamza al-Muhajir... was able to detonate his explosives-laden car at a post of the apostates of the militia of (President Abedrabbo Mansour) Hadi," IS said in a statement posted online.

Several soldiers were also wounded in the attacks on the eastern outskirts of the Hadramawt provincial capital, the military official said.

The deadly assault came shortly before Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher arrived in Mukalla with several ministers on a one-day visit aimed at reviving government institutions in the city, a local official said.

One suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the gate of a base in the Khalf district, followed immediately by a second who blew up a car in the centre of the camp, the military official said.

Jihadists clashed with soldiers outside the base immediately after the bombings, with the army saying at least 15 soldiers had died in the bombings and gunfight.

Bin Dagher inspected the base later in the day, another military official said.

A third suicide bomber targeted the nearby residence of the commander of Hadramawt's second military region, General Faraj Salmeen, but he escaped unharmed, the official said.

The commander of the province's first military region, General Abdulrahman al-Haleeli, survived a suicide bombing against his convoy on Wednesday that killed four of his guards.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on Thursday claimed the attack on Haleeli, SITE Intelligence monitoring agency said.

Al-Qaeda was driven out of Mukalla and nearby coastal towns last month with support from Emirati and Saudi special forces.

- US navy ships -

The Pentagon revealed last week that a "very small number" of US military personnel has also been deployed around Mukalla in support of the operation to retake the city.

The US Navy has several ships nearby, including an amphibious assault vessel, USS Boxer, and two destroyers.

"It does not serve our interests to have a terrorist organisation in charge of a port city, and so we are assisting in that," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

The offensive against Al-Qaeda comes amid a truce and peace talks between the government and Iran-backed rebels it has been fighting with support from a Saudi-led coalition since March last year.

Jihadists of both Al-Qaeda and IS took advantage of that conflict to expand their presence in Hadramawt and other areas of the south, including second city Aden where the government has its base.

IS has claimed several attacks on government and coalition targets in Aden in recent months.

Washington regards Al-Qaeda's Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous and has stepped up a longstanding drone war against AQAP in recent weeks.

But the jihadists retain a strong presence in the southeast and still control several towns in the interior valley of Wadi Hadramawt.
Australian asylum-seeker camp 'open' after PNG court ruling

Asylum-seekers held at an Australian camp in Papua New Guinea can now freely come and go from the centre, their lawyer and media said Thursday, following a Supreme Court ruling that their detention was unconstitutional.

Australia's policy of sending asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to offshore camps was thrown into disarray last month when PNG's highest court ruled against the detention of 850 men on Manus Island.

The lawyer acting for the asylum-seekers in the Supreme Court case, Ben Lomai, told AFP the detainees have been able to leave and return to the facility since Wednesday.

Australia is keeping more than 850 asylum-seekers on Manus Island

PNG's Deputy Chief Migration Officer Esther Gaegaming told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Thursday that "no asylum seeker or refugee is in detention".

"We are continuing to work towards fully implementing the orders of the Supreme Court."

After the April 26 ruling that holding asylum-seekers on Manus was "contrary to their constitutional right of personal liberty", PNG's prime minister ordered the facility to close.

In early May, more than 750 asylum-seekers at the camp launched legal action in Canberra's High Court to be moved to Australia.

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said there were ongoing discussions between the two nations over the Manus camp.

"PNG's a sovereign nation. They have responsibility for their Regional Processing Centre... so that's the basis on which we will work with te PNG authorities," Dutton said, stressing that the men would not be brought to Australia.

In October, another Australia camp, on the island of Nauru, threw open the doors and allowed inmates freedom of movement.

Lomai said the detainees could now move freely during the day around Manus -- but not depart the island -- as long as they sign in and out of the facility.

"If they go out overnight, they will have to advise where they're going and where they're staying," Lomai added.

Refugee advocates called for more freedoms with activist group GetUp saying it still made Manus a "prison island".

Lomai said his firm was due back at the Supreme Court on Monday with an application for the enforcement of the men's constitutional rights, which could lead to compensation claims.

Australia's hardline policy has been criticised by the United Nations, but Canberra says it prevents deaths at sea and secures the nation's borders.

Australia's immigration detention facilities
Yemen foes discuss military pullouts, arms handovers: UN

Yemen's government and Iran-backed rebels have discussed the crucial issues of military withdrawals, the handover of weapons and the restoration of state institutions during peace talks, the UN said Thursday.

Negotiators on Wednesday also debated the logistical details of a release of prisoners and detainees announced a day earlier, UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement.

It was their third day of consecutive face-to-face meetings -- the longest run yet in the three-week-old talks.

Huthi rebels seized control of the Yemen capital Sanaa in 2014 Mohammed Huwais (AFP/File)

"Parties began to present their visions on the withdrawals and the handover of weapons, especially mechanisms of withdrawal and assembling of forces," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said.

He did not say if the teams made any progress on these issues, which are central to any peace settlement in the impoverished Arab nation.

A working group focused on political issues meanwhile discussed "specific aspects for the restoration of state institutions and the resumption of the political dialogue," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said.

A UN Security Council resolution has ordered the Huthi Shiite rebels to pull out of territory they occupied in a 2014 offensive and surrender heavy arms they captured.

There has been mounting international pressure to end the Yemen conflict, which the United Nations estimates has killed more than 6,400 people and displaced 2.8 million since March last year.

The two sides said Tuesday they had agreed to free half of all prisoners and detainees within 20 days, but the UN said the agreement has not been finalised.

The Huthis and their allies loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh seized most of Yemen in the 2014 offensive, forcing internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his government to flee.

Pro-government forces, backed by Saudi air power, pushed the rebels out of five southern provinces last year.

The Huthis however still control the capital Sanaa as well as large parts of the country's north and west, and the Saudi-led coalition has drawn strong criticism over heavy civilian casualties.

The rebels are demanding the formation of a consensus transitional government to handle the pullout and arms issues but the government delegation insists Hadi is the legitimate head of state.

More meetings are scheduled for Thursday. The talks follow two failed peace attempts in June and December last year in Switzerland.

Mauritian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has served as the UN Special Envoy to Yemen since 2015 Yasser al-Zayyat (AFP/File)

The UN says more than 6,200 people have been killed in the Yemen conflict since March 2015 Saleh Al-Obeidi (AFP/File)
Rare Sumatran rhino born in Indonesia

A Sumatran rhino gave birth to a female calf at a sanctuary in Indonesia on Thursday, taking the critically endangered species a step further away from extinction.

The baby was born at 5:40 am on western Sumatra island, and within hours was walking around and feeding from its mother, authorities said.

It was the second baby born to rhino Ratu. Her previous birth four years ago marked the first time a Sumatran rhino had been born in an Asian breeding facility for more than 140 years.

A female rhino named Ratu with her calf born on May 12, 2016 at their sanctuary in Lampung, Indonesia Stephen Belcher (International Rhino Foundation/AFP)

The new calf and Ratu, whose name means "Queen" in Indonesian, were both in good health although the mother looked "exhausted", the government said.

"We are very thankful for this birth, as Sumatran rhinos are rare animals," environment ministry spokesman Novrizal Tahar told AFP.

Ratu was observed stretching in her maternity pen in recent days, a signal her long-anticipated delivery was nearing.

The birth took around two hours. Just two hours after being born, the calf -- which has not yet been named -- began walking and feeding, according a statement from the forestry ministry.

The birth "demonstrates the government of Indonesia's commitment, in cooperation with the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, towards rhino conservation efforts in Indonesia," it added.

- Under threat -

Sumatran rhinos are extremely rare, with just 100 believed to exist in the world. The birth is a major boon for the species, which last year was declared extinct in Malaysia.

Ratu, a wild rhino who wandered out of the rainforest and into the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park a decade ago, had become pregnant after meeting with Andalas, a male rhino at the park.

Ratu's first baby, Andatu, was born at the sanctuary in 2012.

Births of Sumatran rhinos in captivity are rare. Thursday's birth was only the fifth of a Sumatran rhino in a breeding facility.

Despite being the smallest of the five remaining rhino species, Sumatran rhinos have very long pregnancies that last about 16 months.

Harapan -- the brother of Andalas -- was transferred from the United States to the Sumatran sanctuary last November in the hope he would find a mate.

In March, environmentalists made physical contact with a Sumatran rhino on the Indonesian part of Borneo island for the first time in 40 years, but it died a month later.

Covered in woolly hair ranging from reddish brown to black in colour, Sumatran rhinos are the only Asian rhinoceroses with two horns.

While Javan rhinos are considered the world's rarest, Sumatran rhinos are under increasing threat.

They are targeted by poachers as their horns and other body parts fetch high prices on the black market for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, their rainforest habitat on Sumatra island is being destroyed due to the rapid expansion of palm oil and pulp and paper plantations.

Sumatran rhinos have very long pregnancies that last about 16 months
US 'queries' Goldman Sachs, others on Panama Papers

New York's banking supervisor has asked four investment banks including US group Goldman Sachs and France's BNP Paribas for details of any offshore dealings related to the Panama Papers scandal, according to a source close to the matter.

The regulator, the New York Department of Financial Services, launched a review after the leak of 11.5 million confidential documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, which set up more than 200,000 shell companies.

A global media investigation into the documents, published in April, revealed how the rich and powerful had stashed their assets in offshore entities, sometimes keeping their wealth out of the sight of law and tax officials.

The Panama Papers are a trove of about 11.5 million leaked documents of the law firm Mossack Fonseca Aaron Tam (AFP/File)

The four investment banks -- Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered and Canadian Imperial Bank -- have until May 23 to respond to the New York supervisor's information request, said the source, who spoke to AFP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

The banks are not accused of any wrongdoing.

The New York regulator, which has the authority to investigate and sanction banking and insurance institutions operating in New York, including Wall Street, asked the banks for any documents and communications with Panama-based Mossack Fonseca, the source said.

The New York regulator, which hit BNP Paribas with a record fine of nearly $9 billion in 2014 for violating US sanctions, could decide to open an investigation if it is not satisfied with their answers, the source added.

The banking supervisor had already sent out similar requests for information related to the Panama Papers on April 21 to 13 other financial institutions including: Societe Generale of France; the Dutch bank ABN Amro; Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank of Germany; Credit Suisse of Switzerland; Nordic institutions Svenska Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank Finland and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken; and Bank Leumi of Israel.

The US Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into revelations from the leaked Panama Papers in April, according to an official letter from the office of Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.

The Panama Papers dossier linked some of the world's most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron to offshore companies.

Iceland's prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, and Spain's industry minister Jose Manuel Soria, were forced to resign when they were tied to shell companies.
Sudan's Bashir returns from Uganda after 'short visit'

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir returned Thursday from a "short visit" to Uganda, his first trip to Kampala since his International Criminal Court indictment in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Sudan's official news agency SUNA had earlier reported that Bashir was on a two-day visit to Uganda, which is a signatory of the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

"From the start this was meant to be a short visit. It was only to attend a special event," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Ismail told reporters at Khartoum airport after Bashir returned.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies Ashraf Shazly (AFP/File)

In Kampala, Bashir attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Musevini, who took office for a fifth consecutive term.

Relations between Khartoum and Kampala have been strained for years amid accusations that both support rebel groups in each other's country.

But after South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, ties improved, with Museveni visiting Khartoum last year.

Sudan has previously accused Uganda of backing rebel groups in the south before independence as well as in the vast war-torn region of Darfur.

Several leaders of Sudanese rebel groups from Darfur still reside in Uganda.

Kampala for its part has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group from Uganda.

Hours after he left for Uganda, rights group Amnesty International urged Kampala to arrest Bashir given that it has signed up to the ICC.

"Uganda must face up to its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide," Amnesty's director for East Africa, Muthoni Wanyeki, said in a statement.

"Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict."

But Ismail said: "The visit was successful ... The people of Uganda and officials of Uganda gave President Bashir an official and public welcome."

Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan that he denies.

Darfur has been gripped by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region.
Turkey preparing to clear IS from Syrian side of border: Erdogan

Turkey is preparing to "clean" the Syrian side of the border of Islamic State jihadists after a Turkish border town came under repeated deadly rocket attacks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

"We are doing all the necessary preparations to clean the other side of the border because of the problems in Kilis," Erdogan said amid persistent speculation of a possible Turkish cross-border ground operation, without giving details on the preparations.

Around two dozen people have been killed in the Turkish border town of Kilis by rocket fire from IS jihadists since January, prompting the army to respond with artillery fire.

Turkey claims 24 people have been killed in the border town of Kilis by rocket fire from Islamic State jihadists in Syria Ilyas Akengin (AFP/File)

Turkey, a member of the US-led coalition battling IS, also allows US jets to use its air base in southern Turkey for air strikes on the extremists.

But Erdogan complained that Turkey was not receiving the support it desired from its allies in the fight against IS and indicated Ankara was prepared to take unilateral action.

"While our citizens fall martyr every day in the streets of Kilis by rockets launched from the other side, what can we expect from our allies?" he said.

"Let me say it here. We will not hesitate to take needed steps on our own if necessary," he said.

Turkish media reports have indicated a 20-strong Turkish military team crossed into Syria over the weekend on a reconnaissance mission to seek out IS launchers to target in artillery strikes, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Erdogan said what happens in Kilis would be a "litmus test" to show the anti-IS coalition's sincerity in dealing with the threat.

"We do not believe the sincerity of any country that has not seen rockets falling on our town as if they fell on Moscow, London, Brussels, Washington, Paris or Berlin," he said.

Map showing the border between Syria and Turkey

Turkish soldiers stand guard in Akcakale by the border with Syria in 2012 Bulent Kilic (AFP)
Japan stage director Ninagawa, adapter of Shakespeare, dies at 80

Yukio Ninagawa, a world-renowned Japanese stage director known for his adaptations of Shakespeare, died Thursday at a Tokyo hospital, his theatre and a family member announced. He was 80.

Ninagawa died of complications from pneumonia, an official at the theatre he led told AFP.

The director had reportedly been hospitalised since December.

During his career, Japanese theatre director Yukio Ninagawa adapted most of Shakespeare's plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III Toshifumi Kitamura (AFP/File)

Ninagawa's daughter, photographer Mika Ninagawa, mentioned his passing on her blog.

"He was a cool father who fought until the end," she wrote.

Ninagawa debuted as a director in 1969 and gained international fame at the 1985 Edinburgh Festival when he directed a samurai-style Macbeth in which actors performed in Japanese kimono on a stage with a giant Buddhist altar.

He adapted most of Shakespeare's works for the stage -- including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III -- and launched a project to perform the playwright's entire canon of plays in Saitama prefecture, Ninagawa's native region north of Tokyo.

Ninagawa's productions have been performed regularly overseas since he brought his version of the Greek tragedy Medea by Euripides to Greece and Italy in 1983.
Donald Trump wins unlikely fan club in India

Donald Trump may face a long, tough road to the White House, but some fans in India at least are pulling together to try and get him divine assistance.

A far-right Hindu group held prayers this week in the Indian capital to support the presumptive Republican presidential nominee whom they hailed a fighter and a saviour of humanity.

Vishnu Gupta said his fringe Hindu Sena outfit backed the US billionaire's suggestions to temporarily ban Muslims from travelling to America and to crack down on extremist groups.

A far-right Hindu group held prayers this week in New Delhi to support the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump whom they hailed a fighter and a saviour of humanity Sajjad Hussain (AFP)

"We are great fans of Trump. We really like his thoughts on various subjects," Gupta told AFP.

"We totally support Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the US. In fact Mr Modi should take a similar stand," he said, referring to Indian Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump made his comments during the Republican race underway in the United States to decide his party's candidate for the country's November presidential elections.

The real estate tycoon has also during his campaign made fun of Indian call centre workers and accused foreigners of stealing American jobs.

But Gupta is undeterred, and this week held a prayer session on a blanket in a New Delhi protest park with a handful of devotees.

Together they lit a ritual fire alongside pictures and posters of Trump sporting a red dot or Hindu bindi on his forehead, together with posters of Hanuman -- the Hindu god of strength and courage.

"America needs a firebrand leader like Trump. If Trump goes on to become president, he can help India fight Islamic terror," Gupta said.
Drought forces Coca-Cola to halt canned drinks in Namibia

Coca-Cola will stop production of all canned drinks in Namibia and has warned consumers of possible shortages, the company said Thursday, as a regional drought worsens across southern Africa.

Businesses in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, have been ordered by city authorities to cut water consumption by 30 percent -- underlining the impact of a drought that has also gripped Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.

"We will cease the manufacturing of all canned products locally -- substituting them with imported canned beverages from South Africa," Frik Oosthuizen, head of Coca-Cola in Namibia, said in a statement to AFP.

Coca-Cola will stop production of all canned drinks in Namibia as a regional drought worsens Hildegard Titus (AFP)

"This decision has been taken as a direct result of the water crisis that is facing the Central region of Namibia and we are making every effort to continue to supply our customers."

Production of all drinks in glass bottles will also be halted at the Coca-Cola factory in Windhoek, but will continue at its plant in the north of the country.

Plastic bottled drinks will still be produced in Windhoek.

A notice posted by US-based Coca-Cola in Namibian newspapers last week warned customers of possible "sporadic shortages country wide".

"In the short term, prices will not be adjusted," it added. "We are working on alternatives to ensure sustained full supply."

Josua Amukugo, Windhoek municipality spokesman, told AFP that the city "highly appreciates the decision to implement our call to use water wisely."
Uganda's Museveni sworn-in for fifth term

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda embarked on a fourth decade in power on Thursday when he was sworn into office for a fifth consecutive term.

Museveni, 71, won February's election though the result has been challenged by opposition leaders, one of whom has been held under house arrest for most of the weeks since.

"I, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni swear in the name of the Almighty God that I shall faithfully exercise the functions of the President of the Republic of Uganda," Museveni said to cheers from the large bussed-in crowd gathered at a parade ground-cum-airstrip on a Kampala hillside.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni is one of Africa's longest serving leaders and has been in power since 1986 Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File)

He added he would, "uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution, and observe the laws of Uganda, and I shall promote the welfare of the people of Uganda, so help me God."

Wearing his trademark khaki bush hat with chin strap and a dark business suit, Museveni spoke into a clutch of microphones with canary yellow muffs the colour of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

More than a dozen heads of state, including Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, attended the swearing-in ceremony, the fifth since Museveni took power in 1986 at the head of a rebel army.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, but Uganda -- like many other African states -- ignored its legal obligation to arrest the Sudanese leader. Kenyatta's own crimes against humanity case was dropped by the ICC in late 2014.

Although African leaders initially welcomed the ICC they turned against the court when it began trying to hold them to account. During his speech Museveni dismissed the ICC as a "bunch of useless people" as Bashir nodded in agreement.

Museveni thanked Russia for its willingness to sell weaponry, "without conditions and arrogance like other countries," and promised a war on corruption. "When you see me in a tie do you forget I was once a guerilla?" he asked.

Leaders of Chad, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were also present.

Museveni's main political opponent, Kizza Besigye, was again arrested on Wednesday after holding his own swearing-in ceremony to protest what he says was a fraudulent election.

After his swearing-in Museveni stayed on the podium behind bulletproof glass and held up the various instruments of power including the presidential seal and a Uganda flag.
Jodie Foster says women directors seen as 'too risky'

Jodie Foster, who presented her first mainstream film as a director in Cannes Thursday, said many studio bosses still dismissed female filmmakers as "too great a risk to take".

The two-time Oscar-winning actress, who began her career at the age of three and is one of a handful of females in Hollywood to carve out a successful directing career, highlighted the challenges women face.

Foster noted "drastic changes" on film sets from her years as a child actor, when the only women on set were the make-up artists and the person playing her mother.

US director Jodie Foster promotes "Money Monster" at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, on May 12, 2016 Loic Venance (AFP)

But "the one arena where it hasn't really changed at all is directing for mainstream studio movies," she observed.

Foster, 53, said the turbulent economy and changing technologies had left studio bosses more risk-averse than ever.

"I think studio executives are scared, period, (and) for some reason women are lumped into that category of 'too great a risk to take'."

However Foster, who won Oscars for her roles in "Silence of the Lambs" and "The Accused", admits that having grown up in the industry, it was easier for her to become part of the boy's club.

But even as she encouraged other women to take a seat in the director's chair, the star of her first big-budget genre movie "Money Monster", Julia Roberts, admitted she was not cut out for it.

"I consider it hugely complimentary that people ask me if I want to be a director. But I do not," Roberts told reporters.

"Because I know my intellectual limitations and I know the limitations of my patience and I can't have more than four people in an hour ask me a question that needs an answer," said the married mother of three, drawing a laugh.

- Not 'some big plot' -

Roberts, 48, said taking the helm of a film was "something like playing the cello or painting that I envy and hope in another lifetime I might be drawn to".

"But I think in this life I just want to admire it from a small distance and be glad when my capabilities come into the orbit of a director that I just live to serve and impress," she said with a smile for Foster.

In the United States, only nine percent of directors are women, according to a 2016 study from the University of San Diego.

Another study released this month by the European Women's Audiovisual Network found that only one film in five in Europe was made by a female director.

Foster has directed several movies, as well as episodes of television series "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards".

She said she did not think there was "some big plot" by men trying to put women down in the film business, but it was more about being stuck in traditional models.

Foster described the difficulty in placing trust in a first-time director, and placing the vision of a multi-million-dollar film in their hands.

- Half of the human race -

"I was once in a movie where a director -- who was a really smart guy -- spent the entire movie in his bathroom calling his wife.

"You're looking for the best bet and it is hard to look at a face that is 100 percent different to yours and that you carry traditional perceptions about and you worry you are going to make a bad choice."

Foster was asked about the perception that audiences don't want to see movies about women.

"I don't know who those people are. I want to look at human lives. I don't know anyone who would be disinterested in half of the human race."

Foster said she was able to see herself in all of her characters, even the men, something that was harder for male directors to do.

"One of my biggest pet peeves as an actor, whenever a male writer was searching for motivation for a woman they would always just go to rape. It was ridiculous."
Monsanto surges on report of possible Bayer bid

Shares of US agricultural giant Monsanto surged early Thursday following a report that it could receive a takeover bid from German drugmaker Bayer for $40 billion or more.

Monsanto, a major manufacturer of agricultural seeds and herbicides such as Roundup, jumped 12.9 percent to $102.00 in pre-market trade after Bloomberg reported that Bayer officials were mulling a bid for the US company. The report cited people familiar with the matter.

A report by StreetInsider.com said Monsanto could receive a bid from German chemical giant BASF.

Monsanto jumped 12.9 percent in pre-market trade after Bloomberg reported that Bayer officials were mulling a bid for the US company Juliette Michel (AFP/File)

In Frankfurt, Bayer fell 4.2 percent to 95.78 euros, while BASF dipped 0.3 percent to 68.20 euros.

Monsanto, BASF and Bayer all declined comment.

Agricultural suppliers like Monsanto have been pressured by low commodity prices that have caused farmers to cut orders for supplies. In March, Monsanto slashed its earnings forecast for 2016.

The sluggishness in the industry has also sparked deals such as a mega-merger between DuPont and Dow Chemical.
Trump, Republican leaders hold 'positive' talks in Washington

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump fell short of winning an endorsement from House Speaker Paul Ryan Thursday but both men said they had taken a "positive step" toward unifying the party behind the billionaire's remarkable White House run.

Trump, facing a critical early test of his general election candidacy, met with Ryan to air their differences, and with other Republican leaders.

Despite several Republicans acknowledging deep fissures within the party about a standardbearer whose policies often stray from conservative orthodoxy, Trump emerged from the meetings sounding optimistic about a rapprochement.

US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan addresses his weekly briefing after meeting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

"Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well!" he said on Twitter.

In a joint statement afterward, Trump and Ryan called their meeting a "positive step toward unification" and stressed the party's paramount goal is to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.

But Ryan, who declared last week that he was "not ready" to support Trump as party flagbearer, withheld his endorsement.

"I think this is going in a positive direction and I think this is a first very encouraging meeting," Ryan told reporters. "But again, in 45 minutes you don't litigate all of the processes and all the issues and the principles that we are talking about."

Despite outstanding differences, Trump appeared to strike a delicate peace with the party establishment that he was so quick to attack on the campaign trail.

"While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground," the pair said in their statement.

"We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal."

The real estate mogul, who has never run for elective office before, also met with top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has offered his support of Trump.

- 'Clear the air' -

But concerns about the tone and substance of Trump's campaign have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to win the presidency and hold their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Charlie Dent, a centrist House Republican who did not attend Thursday's meetings, told reporters Trump's Washington pilgrimage was "an opportunity to clear the air."

Trump "has to convince many Americans, including myself, that he's ready to lead this great nation," he said. "At this point I haven't been persuaded, but I'm ready to listen."

Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, has pledged to overhaul the party's image and reach out to minority groups.

But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

In the latest sign he is tacking toward the center, Trump appeared to walk back his call for a Muslim ban, telling Fox News Radio Wednesday that it was "just a suggestion."

Ryan said he discussed "core" conservative principles with Trump, including constitutional and right-to-life issues and the separation of powers within the US government.

But he acknowledged that he did not know Trump well enough yet.

"Going forward we're going to go a little deeper into the policy weeds to make sure that we have a better understanding of one another," he said.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, who also met with Trump, argued that Ryan was startled at how Trump suddenly prevailed last week, and that the speaker wanted to "kick the tires a little longer" before offering an endorsement.

Outside RNC headquarters about a dozen protesters chanted "Undocumented! Unafraid!" in defiance of Trump's vow to deport millions of illegal immigrants if elected.

Trump ignored the protesters and entered the building through a back door.

While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there are signs of a growing move to unite behind him.

The chairmen of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon Wednesday, saying in a statement released by Trump that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee" and maintain GOP majorities in Congress.

- In a pickle -

Democrats were quick to offer their analysis, with leaders in the party insisting their Republican counterparts enabled Trump's rise with anti-immigrant, anti-woman and obstructionist policies.

"The fact is, Senate Republicans have been governing from the Trump textbook for years," Senator Chuck Schumer, the likely Senate minority leader next year, told reporters, adding that Republican lawmakers are in a quandary over 2016.

"They embrace him, they have trouble. They run away from him, they have trouble," Schumer said. "They're in a huge pickle."

Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they distance themselves from The Donald.

But even Graham appeared to be softening, saying he had a "good 15-minute discussion" by phone with Trump Wednesday about national security, part of Trump's outreach to party factions.

"This is a wise move on his part," Graham said.

Donald Trump arrives for a meeting with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on May 12, 2016 in Washington, DC Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

Donald Trump Adrian Leung, John Saeki (AFP)

Immigration rights activists protest outside of the Republican National Committee in Washington, DC on May 12, 2016 Mandel Ngan (AFP)
Guinea-Bissau president sacks government

Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz sacked his entire government on Thursday, demanding that the ruling party choose a new cabinet to lead the country out of its political crisis.

The move came as the west African country struggles to resolve a nine-month political crisis within the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) that has disrupted the functioning of both the government and parliament, raising concerns overseas.

Ministries have been placed under security forces' control, according to witnesses and security sources, while the PAIGC was meeting to decide how to respond.

Guinea-Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz listens to questions during a joint press conference with his Ivorian counterpart after their meeting at the Presidential palace in Abidjan on June 11, 2014 Sia Kambou (AFP/File)

The crisis erupted in August when Vaz fired prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, who heads the PAIGC, putting the president on a collision course with the party he himself belongs to.

In a message to the nation carried on national radio and television, Vaz said the ball was in the ruling party's court.

"It is up to the party which won a majority in the legislative elections to propose a government capable of deserving the trust of the parliamentary majority," he said.

"The best solution would be the formation of a government which reflects the majority sentiment of the people in parliament and is able to govern in stable conditions," he added, suggesting he wanted to see a tie-up between PAIGC and its traditional allies.

Analysts said the head of state, who is relatively isolated within a ruling party dominated by his former premier, was looking to assert his influence by enlarging the parliamentary majority.

- A festering dispute -

Vaz said he had faced three options for tackling the crisis: a major overhaul of the government, the formation of a new government or early elections, as PAIGC's Pereira had demanded.

But Vaz said elections were "not an adequate means of resolving the problems with discipline, cohesion and internal unity in the political parties".

Both camps say the two men had disagreed over how to run the country, especially on how to tackle corruption.

Last year the crisis initially appeared to have been averted with the nomination in September of party veteran Carlos Correia as premier.

But it flared up again in December after Correira's policy statement failed to win approval in parliament following the abstention of 15 rebel MPs. They were immediately excluded from the party but it cost Correira his parliamentary majority.

Since then, the dispute has rankled, interrupting the work of both the government and parliament, despite several attempts at mediation, including from overseas.

Tensions at the top have raised concern within the international community, which had hailed the progressive return to constitutional order since Vaz was elected in May 2014 in this former Portuguese colony, which has a history of chronic instability and repeated military coups.

The chronic volatility has fanned poverty in this country of 1.6 million, which has few resources other than cashew nuts and fish and has attracted the attention of South American drug cartels who have turned it into a cocaine-trafficking hub.

During a visit to the country in March, representatives of the UN Security Council underlined the need for its institutions to be allowed to function normally.

Guinea-Bissau has suffered multiple military coups since independence in 1974 and the army continues to play a heavy role in politics.
Refugees fear Kenya's plan to shut camps

Kenya's plan to close the two refugee camps, including the world's largest, and send Somali refugees home has upset Somalia's government and sparked fear among some who have sought shelter there.

"If we are chased away from this place I cannot go back home to Somalia," said Momina Omar Semboka, 39, a refugee in Kakuma camp, who comes from Kismayo in southern Somalia.

"We are scared, we are not happy about this decision, we cannot go back home to our country. Al-Shebab are everywhere," said Mwajuma Ramadhan Mwechiwa, 42, also from Kismayo, referring to the Al-Qaeda-linked militants who control territory in Somalia and operate in Kenya.

Women and children wait for supplimentary feeding for infants at a relief and health centre in Kakuma, Turkana District, northwestern region of Kenya on August 8, 2011 Simon Maina (AFP/File)

Kenya hosts around 600,000 refugees, some of whom have lived in the country for a quarter century.

It says it wants to close Kakuma in northwestern Kenya and Dadaab, in the east of the country, because they have become breeding grounds for Al-Shebab and centres of crime and contraband.

On Thursday in Mogadishu, the authorities warned the move was likely to backfire by increasing the risk of insecurity.

Saying the government had "grave reservations", the Somali foreign ministry said in a statement that "this decision will negatively affect the majority of Somali refugees."

It "will make the threat of terrorism worse, not better, given the volatile situation this sudden decision and the proposed subsequent actions will cause," it added.

Last week Kenyan officials announced a plan to refuse new refugee arrivals and to shut Dadaab on security grounds.

The camp, located on the Kenya-Somalia border, is home to around 350,000 people.

Kakuma hosts around 180,000 people, almost a third of them Somalis.

On Wednesday Interior Minister Joseph Ole Nkaissery said money had been set aside and a timetable for repatriating refugees and closing Dadaab was being drawn up.

"The refugees will be repatriated to their countries of origin or to third-party countries for resettlement," Nkaissery said.

Aid agencies and the United Nations have reacted with dismay to the Kenyan plan.

Visiting Kakuma on Thursday, David Miliband, former UK foreign minister and head of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) charity, said refugees must not be forcibly returned to Somalia.

"Our own view is very strongly that the historic long term international commitment that refugees should not be forcibly returned to their country of origin should be maintained," Miliband said.

"Our position is not to be for or against camps, we are for or against dignity and human support for refugees," he added.

Kenya has appointed a task force, due to report later this month, that will produce recommendations and a timeline for closing Dadaab.

Miliband said there must be "informed decision-making that respects the Kenyan perspective and also respects the rights of refugees who are, after all, the innocent victims of other people's wars."

The Somali authorities said there already existed a plan for the future "safe and dignified resettlement" of refugees in their home country.

"Abandoning this will be a legal and moral failing on the part of Kenya," they said.

"Expelling vulnerable Somali refugees at a time Somalia is making internationally recognized progress towards stability and institution building, will only increase the risk of insecurity in the region."
Global child sex tourism rising, thwarting efforts to fight it

The sexual abuse of children by tourists and travellers is a growing scourge around the globe that has largely managed to outwit attempts to curb it in the last two decades, a major study warned Thursday.

The landmark report released in Thailand, South Africa and Washington makes for grim reading, with researchers concluding that "no region is untouched by this crime and no country is 'immune'".

More than 70 child protection agencies, charities and academics contributed to the UN-backed "Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism" -- trailed as the most comprehensive review of its kind.

New technology is allowing predators to share information and abuse more easily, a report says Thomas Coex (AFP/File)

"We now have the largest bank of information ever gathered on this issue. And the main finding is that, despite 20 years of hard work... exploitation in travel and tourism has expanded across the globe, outpacing attempts to stop it," Dorothy Rozga, executive director of ECPAT International which oversaw the report, said at the Bangkok launch.

While the nature and level of child sex abuse by travellers varies region to region, the report's authors pinpoint two major contributing causes for its spread: cheap travel and new technology that allows predators to share information and abuse more easily.

The authors say public and policing perceptions of child sex tourism are often outdated.

"White, Western, wealthy, middle-aged men are no longer the typical offender," they write.

Instead offenders can come from all walks of life, with many perpetrators opportunists and not people who would consider themselves serial paedophiles.

"They do, however, have one thing in common: the chances of being arrested, charged and punished remain slight. Repeat offenders target the countries with the weakest legislation and enforcement. There is a valid sense of 'impunity'," Rozga said.

- Local and regional abusers -

An example of child sex tourism's changing nature can be seen in Southeast Asia, long one of the globe's biggest child sex tourism hotspots.

The authors note that while white Western paedophiles are still a problem, enforcement has tightened thanks to increased cooperation between Western governments and Southeast Asian nations.

Dutch ambassador Karel Hartogh highlighted that work at the Bangkok launch but said much more needed to be done.

"Right now millions of children around the world are still at risk of sexual abuse. We should and can better protect them," he said.

In Southeast Asia victims are more likely to be targeted by local or regional travellers -- such as Japanese, Chinese and South Korean tourists -- primarily because they travel throughout the region in far greater numbers.

Child protection charities however say they have seen less cooperation from regional countries than Western authorities.

"Unfortunately the level of cooperation from the regional governments is far different from what we receive from Western law enforcement agencies," said Seila Samleang, director of APLE (Action Pour Les Enfants) which runs investigations to ensnare paedophiles in Cambodia.

"For example, we have been working on many cases involving Chinese nationals, but there was not one case where the Chinese police became involved in the investigation or prosecution of their own citizens.

"It's the same for many governments and law enforcements agencies nearby as well."

Europe, once known as primarily a source of paedophile tourists, is now emerging as a destination, especially in some Central and Eastern European nations that are lacking child protection laws.

In the Middle East and North Africa, the authors cite ongoing conflicts, the low status of women in many cultures and traditions such as "temporary marriage" as contributing factors.

Poor countries in South Asia and Latin America that already have a reputation for weak law enforcement, meanwhile, have seen huge expansion in both local and foreign travel.

Predators are also able to abuse in increasingly remote places.

Researchers say, for example, that there is anecdotal evidence that children can be increasingly bought for sex in places such as Myanmar, Laos, Moldova, Peru and some Pacific Island nations.

"Twenty years ago, it might have been possible to sketch a rough global map showing where international travelling sex offenders were from, and where they were going," the study says.

"Today, the distinctions between countries of origin and countries of destination are blurring."
US troops call in drone strike against Shebab in Somalia

US special operations forces working with African partners called in an air strike against the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group in Somalia on Thursday, killing five, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said US troops were advising and assisting Ugandan troops from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in southern Somalia, west of Mogadishu.

The AMISOM troops were raiding an illegal Shebab roadblock where the jihadists were extorting payments from drivers.

A Ugandan soldier serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia on guard duty in the port city of Merca, Lower Shabelle Region, Somalia on February 12, 2016 Ilyas Ahmed (AMISOM/AFP/File)

"They came under fire from the Al-Shebab militants, and we called in an air strike in their defense," Davis said.

A US defense official said the strike was conducted by drone. Five Shebab fighters were killed, and there were no reports of injuries to the Ugandan or US troops.

Another defense official had earlier said the US troops took part in the firefight, but Davis said that was not the case.

"We were nearby, but not directly involved," he said.

The Shebab group was chased out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but remains a dangerous threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where it carries out frequent attacks.

The United States has a small presence of about 50 troops, assisted by air power, in the impoverished country.

The Pentagon periodically announces results of its strikes in Somalia, including one in March on a Shebab training camp that killed more than 150 fighters who were planning a "large-scale" attack.

Davis said it is not unusual to see Shebab members setting up roadblocks.

"It's a very remote country with lots of big uninhabited areas where if there's a road, it's not hard for a bad guy to set up a spot there to be able to shake down people who go down the road," Davis said.
Court orders India's SpiceJet to compensate disabled flyer

India's top court Thursday ordered budget airline SpiceJet to pay one million rupees ($15,000) to an activist with cerebral palsy who was offloaded from one of its flights four years ago.

The Supreme Court said Jeeja Ghosh endured mental and physical suffering after she was deboarded from the flight on her way to the western state of Goa to attend a conference in February 2012.

In a petition to the court, Ghosh, 46, said she was offloaded because the pilot felt she was not fit to fly on her own, despite her pleas that she had travelled without an escort in the past.

India's Supreme Court asks budget airline SpiceJet to pay one million rupees to an activist with cerebral palsy who was offloaded from one of its flights in 2012 Raveendran (AFP/File)

Although SpiceJet later apologised, Ghosh approached the court seeking compensation, accusing the airline of discrimination and saying her fundamental rights had been violated.

In passing the judgement Thursday, the Supreme Court said Ghosh "feels haunted with that scene when she was pulled out of the plane, like a criminal. She continues to have nightmares".

Judge A.K. Sikri also quoted famous American disabled rights activist Helen Keller in a judgement that was scathing of airlines' treatment of disabled passengers in general.

"'A rare few see a closed door, try the knob, if it doesn't open and they find a key and if it doesn't fit, they make one!' These rare persons we have to find," he said.

Ghosh said she hoped the judgement would set a precedent and send a message to carriers.

"Compensation amount is not important, setting an example is more important," she told the NDTV television network.

"I'd just like to send out a message to everyone, just don't give up."
Artist Ai Weiwei says Gaza key part of refugee crisis

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said Thursday he felt compelled to visit Gaza to understand its part in the global refugee crisis for a documentary he is filming.

While Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans have formed the bulk of the thousands of people fleeing to Europe, hundreds of Palestinians have also made the treacherous journey.

And Ai said he could not ignore the decades-old reality of Palestinian refugees due to their "long history".

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei meets university students in Gaza City on May 12, 2016 Mohammed Abed (AFP)

"It is a big population and has such a complexity of political conditions and affects a huge society," he told AFP.

"If we are doing a documentary film we have to search (for) what happened in this refugee situation in the global sense and Gaza is a very, very important location we have to film in."

The Gaza Strip is home to more than 1.7 million people, over 1.25 million of whom are refugees, according to the United Nations.

Most come from families who left their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948, and Ai joked that he arrived "late" to the story.

While the global film world has been focused on the Cannes Film Festival this week, the dissident documentary maker, who was jailed for 81 days over his support for democracy and human rights in China, entered Gaza.

He travelled to a number of parts of the coastal strip, including Jabalia camp in northern Gaza where he met refugees and displaced people whose homes were destroyed during the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which runs the Gaza Strip, have fought three wars since 2008, while Israeli authorities have maintained a blockade on the enclave.

Ai also visited the Rafah border crossing with neighbouring Egypt which Egyptian authorities opened temporarily for two days from Wednesday morning, where he interviewed a number of refugees crossing from Gaza.

He shared a series of photos from Gaza on Instagram, ranging from armed men to a starving tiger in a Gazan zoo.

In another photo, he poses with a number of young Palestinian women by the port in Gaza City.

Mona Karaaz, a medical student at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, was among them and said she was considering leaving for good.

"I want to travel to Germany or any European country to find a job there. In Europe maybe I can become a scientist," she said.

- 'Invisible refugee crisis' -

Gaza has been run by Hamas since it took the territory by force in 2007 from the rival Fatah movement, which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

Years of talks aimed at reconciliation between the parties have failed.

"We lost hope in the (Palestinian) Authority and Hamas and all the factions," Karaaz said, adding that she hoped Ai "can take our message to the world".

More than 6,000 Palestinians last year arrived in Greece, a major migrant gateway to Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration.

But Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nation's body for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said competing UN remits meant they often "fall through the cracks" and do not get the help they need.

Dozens of Palestinians from Gaza drowned when their boat to Europe sank in late 2014.

"Amid the massive refugee flows today, the Palestine refugees are the invisible refugee crisis," Gunness said.

Ai's film, which he said is expected to be shown next year, discusses refugee issues across the globe.

He said he had faced a number of obstacles on his global tour, in which he conducted hundreds of interviews with refugees in Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Macedonia and elsewhere.

"To shoot (video) in refugee situations is not easy," he said. "All the refugees are oppressed by political powers."

"We had problems but we always overcame those problems," he said.

Ai also shared online photos of his entry and exit visas from Palestinian and Israeli authorities, which are nearly impossible for many Gazans to obtain.

And he called for Israelis and Palestinians to understand each other better.

"We are living in the 21st century. We have to accept all humans are equal. We are not different from each other," he said.

"We have to coexist. We have to understand and to be inclusive to other people -- different types of people -- because humanity is the only thing we have."

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei takes pictures in Gaza City on May 12, 2016 Mohammed Abed (AFP)

The Gaza Strip is home to more than 1.7 million people, over 1.25 million of whom are refugees, according to the United Nations Roberto Schmidt (AFP/File)

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei takes pictures as he meets female university students in Gaza City on May 12, 2016 Mohammed Abed (AFP)

Palestinian children climb a tree in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip Mohammed Abed (AFP/File)
Using tip-offs, stealth Cambodia's paedophile hunters go to work

Using tip-offs, stakeouts and stealth, civilian investigators are playing a crucial role in helping Cambodian police track down foreign paedophiles, as they battle to spread the message that the impoverished nation will no longer be a playground for abusers.

Down a dark side-street off Siem Reap's boisterous red light district, a Cambodian man sits in the driving seat of an auto-rickshaw, a cigarette hanging from his lips, his eyes fixed on a bar across the road.

But he is not touting for passengers. He is an undercover informant on a stakeout, a concealed notepad and camera the only giveaway of his trade.

A Cambodian investigator monitors watches tourists in Siem Reap province Tang Chhin Sothy (AFP)

His target for the night is a Western man who has raised suspicions because of his behaviour with children, triggering an around-the-clock surveillance operation.

"When there is a suspect, we send our agents down to look at the area, keep an eye out for movement and suspicious activity," Meas, a 38-year-old investigator who runs a network of civilian informants in the central Cambodian city, told AFP.

Southeast Asia has long been a global epicentre for child sex abuse by both Western and regional tourists.

A landmark study released Thursday by a coalition of nearly 70 child protection agencies looking at child sex abuse by tourists around the world says that while some successes have been made in Southeast Asia, it remains an "enduring phenomenon that has plagued the region for several decades".

Cambodia has transformed itself from a war ravaged nation into one of Asia's fastest growing economies and an increasingly popular tourist destination.

But it remains poor and has an unenviable reputation as a sex tourism hotspot, including for paedophiles drawn to a country where children can still be bought and all too often, police also have a price.

Cambodia's grim reputation as a child sex hub caught global attention when British glam rocker and serial paedophile Gary Glitter was eventually deported in 2002 after years living in the region in impunity.

Enforcement has significantly improved since then, but there are still wide gaps in the safety net and civilians supplement the policing.

- 'Fight not over' -

Meas, who asked AFP to use a pseudonym, is an investigator with Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), a charity which specialises in catching paedophiles and caring for their victims.

The year after Glitter was deported, there were just eight paedophile arrests according to government data, but no recent detailed figures have been released.

Last year, APLE's own investigation led to 22 arrests and the charity says perpetrators and accomplices tend to be evenly split between locals and foreigners.

Meas said he has personally overseen investigations that have busted around 60 people. But investigators know they cannot rest on their laurels.

"While the situation in Cambodia is getting better each year, the fight is not nearly over," Khoem Vando, APLE's deputy director of field operations, told AFP.

"Foreign paedophiles are still targeting Cambodia, but their modus operandi has changed," he said.

Technology is creating new headaches for those trying to stop the abuse as sex tourists can better prepare their journey in advance.

One Thailand-based investigator told AFP that encrypted chat rooms have long allowed abusers to share images and advice.

But now websites such as AirBnB, which allow people to privately rent accommodation, and video messenger apps like Skype are making it possible to locate both victims and privacy before abusers even arrive land in a country.

"Yes that's happening," said Meas, "Technology helps them. We have to increase our expertise in this field."

- Patchy international cooperation -

Over the years Western embassies have ramped up cooperation with authorities in Southeast Asia in a bid to stop their nationals from abusing children.

Most European and North American embassies in Bangkok, for example, have police officers stationed in them dedicated to anti-paedophile work.

But as another foreign Bangkok investigator, who asked not to be named because they work with Thai police, commented, there has been much less cooperation from Asian countries whose nationals visit Cambodia in greater numbers than Westerners.

"There's been decent cooperation over recent years with some embassies," the investigator said. "But I can't say they same for the Japanese, Chinese and South Koreans. And they have a much bigger footprint in the region."

Voluntourism and orphanages are another risk area, as they give paedophiles a seemingly innocuous route to their victims instead of approaching them on the street.

A former director of APLE was himself jailed earlier this year for abusing 11 children under his care at a Phnom Penh orphanage he ran after leaving the charity in 2005.

He insists he was set up by APLE investigators, a charge the charity denies and the court rejected.

Some blogs in Cambodia, mostly written by foreign expats, have accused APLE of overzealously targeting foreign men who may be innocent and simply trying to help poor locals.

But Meas rejects this. Walking through a Siem Reap park that is a known hotspot, he says legal cases are only brought after lengthy investigations and once compelling evidence has been compiled.

On a bench in the distance a caucasian man is playing a ukelele to two Cambodian children.

"It's difficult," he said. "He could be a completely innocent and a good person. But that's the kind of interaction we must look out for and follow up."

And with that he calls an agent on his phone.

Cambodia is a popular tourist destination with an unenviable reputation as a sex tourism hotspot Tang Chhin Sothy (AFP)
To tap into digital revolution, Africa needs power, summit hears

For the digital revolution to succeed, Africa must improve public access to electricity, delegates at the World Economic Forum on Africa said as they met for a second day in Kigali.

Plugging households in to the grid remains a major challenge on this continent where more than 600 million people have no access to power, said delegates meeting in the Rwandan capital at a three-day summit known as Africa's Davos.

"Without access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy, Africa cannot really take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution" former UN under-secretary general Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella told AFP, referring to the digital revolution.

Energy supply in Africa remains a huge challenge, with more than 600 million people having no access to power Florian Plaucheur (AFP)

"The investors were very clear that you need good, determined governments and public policy that will last and are predictable for 10, 20 years," he explained after talks between public decision-makers and representatives of the private sector.

But the first step was addressing the continent's lack of access to power.

"You much recognise that the fourth industrial revolution.. is just simply about providing access to electricity," African Development Bank (AfDB) president Akinwumi Adesina told a press conference.

"Everything revolves around having access to power," said Adesina who told AFP in February that the AfDB was to invest $12 billion in the energy sector over the next five years to promote universal access to electricity.

- 'Like blood in the body' -

Last September, the bank unveiled a landmark initiative to solve Africa's huge energy deficit by 2025, in a programme which Adesina said would boost the continent's industrial capacity and its competitiveness.

"With that, we will be able to improve the access of small- and medium-size enterprises to electricity, we will be able to improve the industrial capacity that Africa has, we will also be able to improve the competitiveness that Africa has in global markets," he said.

"Electricity is like blood in your body."

Although Africa was rich in resources, it lacked the necessary policies to encourage long-term investor interest in energy projects, Yumkella said.

Governments "should do for the energy sector what they did for mobile telephony: you deregulate, you privatise, you incentivise, (and) private capital will come in," he said.

But some warned of the need to move swiftly, saying regional governments could see opportunities quickly snapped up by eager western investors.

"The negative scenario is, of course, that Africa once again will be exploited by western countries and companies who have invested much higher in the fourth industrial revolution," warned Adam Ikdal, director of the South African branch of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Thousands of Arabs march for Palestinian return in Israel

Thousands of Arab Israeli protesters marched in favour of a right of return of millions of Palestinians on Thursday, the same day Israel celebrated its independence.

The Israelis of Palestinian origin were seen carrying Palestinian flags and others holding up signs demanding the right to return for refugees at the rally in the Negev desert.

Organisers said it was the first time such a demonstration has been held in the Negev.

Arab-Israeli protesters hold Palestinian flags as they march for the right of return for Palestinian refugees, near the southern Israeli Bedouin of Rahat on May 12, 2016 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP)

Israeli Jews, in contrast, celebrated in public parties in two very different sets of reactions to the 68th anniversary of Israel's founding.

Israelis hail independence day as what they call the reformation of the Jewish state.

For Palestinians, however, the events of 1948 are seen as a "nakba" -- catastrophe in Arabic -- as more than 760,000 Palestinians, estimated today to number about 5.5 million with their descendants, fled or were driven from their homes.

The Nakba will be formerly marked on May 15.

Marchers carried the slogan "On the anniversary of your independence, remember our nakba."
A fifth of Syria's Palestinians have fled the country: UNWRA

More than 20 percent of Syria's Palestinian refugees have fled the country and its five-year war, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency said on Thursday.

"Before the war, there were 560,000 Palestine refugees. We estimate that currently about 110,000 to 120,000 have left the country," UNRWA chief Pierre Krahenbuhl said on a visit to Damascus.

"There are about 45,000 who went to Lebanon, 15,000 to Jordan," he said.

There were 560,000 Palestine refugees living in Syria before the start of the conflict in 2011

"The others - therefore almost half of those who have left - have travelled, we presume, through Turkey and then to a variety of other countries.

"Some of them will be in Europe. We know of Palestine refugees who have reached parts of Asia. We know of some who have reached Latin America."

Syria is home to 12 refugee camps, three of them unofficial, according to UNRWA.

Before the war, some 160,000 mostly Palestinians and Syrians lived in the district of Yarmuk in southern Damascus.

But the once thriving suburb has been devastated by conflict since late 2012 and UNRWA cannot access the camp to distribute aid to some 6,000 remaining residents.

"UNRWA will not give up its efforts to try to find ways to have this type of access in the future but in the meantime we are... concentrated on providing the assistance that we can in the neighbourhoods directly beside Yarmuk," Krahenbuhl said.

"The situation for Palestine refugees and civilians inside Yarmuk remains extremely desperate -- very, very difficult."

Last month, the Islamic State group had almost evicted rival Al-Qaeda jihadists from Yarmuk, according to a Palestine Liberation Organisation official.
Aid convoy to Syria's besieged Daraya refused entry

An aid convoy was refused entry to Syria's Daraya Thursday, the Red Cross said, dashing hopes for the first such delivery since regime forces began a siege of the rebel-held town in 2012.

Further north in the province of Idlib, unidentified aircraft carried out more than 60 raids targeting a military airport controlled by Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, killing 16 jihadists from Al-Nusra Front and allied fighters, a monitor said.

A truce in Syria's battleground city Aleppo expired, meanwhile, with no new last-minute prolongation after it had been extended twice through last-minute intervention by Moscow and Washington.

Opposition forces (R) escort a convoy of aid vehicles heading to the government-held Shiite towns of Fuaa and Kafraya in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, on April 30, 2016 Omar haj kadour (AFP/File)

The five-truck convoy organised by the ICRC, the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been due to deliver baby milk and medical and school supplies to Daraya.

"We urge the responsible authorities to grant us access to Daraya, so we can return with desperately-needed food & medicines" outside the capital, said the International Committee of the Red Cross after the convoy was refused entry.

A UN said it had decided against going ahead with the convoy after "nutrition items" were removed.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and the resident humanitarian coordinator had "decided to abort the mission to Daraya because of the removal of nutrition items for children other than vaccines from the UN convoy at the last checkpoint," said spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Daraya had a pre-war population of about 80,000 people but that has dropped by almost 90 percent, with remaining residents suffering from severe shortages and malnutrition.

- 'We want to eat' -

In a video posted by the town's council on Facebook, residents begged for food and drink.

"We don't want books or pens. We don't want just medicine," said one young woman clutching a baby, her voice breaking.

"We want to eat. We want to drink."

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

They hope a broad ceasefire in Syria could help the flow of desperate needed relief supplies to reach people trapped by fighting and violence.

At least one civilian died in regime shelling in the town on Thursday afternoon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In the northern city of Aleppo, emergency workers reported no deaths in eastern rebel-held areas since the local truce expired on Wednesday night.

But two civilians including a woman died in sniper fire on the divided city's regime-controlled west, said the Observatory.

That truce came after a spike in violence that killed more than 300 civilians on both sides of the city last month.

The Britain-based Observatory said a top Al-Nusra chief was among 16 jihadists killed in a wave of more than 60 air strikes on Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said it was unclear if the strikes were carried out by the Syrian regime, Russian or US-led coalition aircraft.

Al-Nusra and its allies seized the military airport from regime forces last September.

Also on Thursday Al-Nusra captured Zara village in central Hama province, said the monitor.

- Stalling peace talks -

Al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are not included in a ceasefire between the regime and non-jihadist rebels implemented in late February to set the ground for UN-backed peace talks.

World powers are to meet in Vienna next week to try to push faltering peace talks towards ending a five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people.

The last round of peace talks in Geneva reached a deadlock in April when the main opposition group suspended its participation over mounting violence and lack of humanitarian access.

Talks have also faltered over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, with the opposition insisting any peace deal must include his departure. But Damascus says his future is non-negotiable.

"My priority is how we can resolve this crisis through political dialogue," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The head of Syria's main opposition group, Riad Hijab, earlier called for tougher action against Assad, whom he claimed had effectively received a "green light" from Moscow and Washington to continue bombing civilian areas.

Millions have fled Syria's conflict since it started with anti-government protests in 2011.

These include 20 percent of Syria's Palestinian refugees, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency said Thursday.

Before the war, Syria was home to about 560,000 Palestinians whose ancestors fled the 1948 foundation of Israel and ensuing conflicts.

Syrian government forces patrol the Syrian city of Daraya, southwest of the capital, Damascus, on February 24, 2016 Youssef Karwashan (AFP/File)

Syrian children play in the courtyard of their school in Aleppo's rebel-held eastern district of Shaar on May 7, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)
Trial begins in case of black man's death in US police custody

A Baltimore police officer went on trial Thursday in the case of Freddie Gray, an African American who died last year while in custody, sparking riots and looting in this gritty city.

The death of Gray became part of a wider debate in the United States over alleged police brutality.

The current trial, involving Officer Edward Nero, is the second related to Gray's death. Another trial last year ended in a hung jury and a mistrial was declared.

Edward Nero, a Baltimore Police Officer who was involved in Freddie Gray's arrest, arrives for the start of his trial on May 12, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland Mark Makela (Getty/AFP)

Nero is among six officers being tried separately in this Atlantic port city. He is accused of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Gray, 25, had been picked up on April 19, 2015 after fleeing at the sight of police and suffered a snapped spine while being transported unrestrained in the back of a Baltimore police van.

In Thursday's trial, attention focused quickly on why officers did not put a seat belt on Gray, as per regulations for transporting detainees.

Since he was not restrained, Gray bounced around in the back of the van, hitting the walls.

The fact that Gray was not wearing a belt seemingly helps the defense argument that the death was an accident.

But it could also help the argument that Baltimore police treat suspects roughly when they transport them.

"Police procedure do not allow what these officers did," said Michael Schatzow, chief deputy state's attorney.

Defense attorney Marc Zayon described Nero as a conscientious police officer and said Gray was not restrained because he was moving around so much.

Gray was "passively and actively resisting arrest, banging in the wagon, kicking the wagon," Zayon said.

And in any case it was up to the driver of the van, not Nero, to decide whether to put a belt on Gray, the lawyer said.

Nero, who has not been jailed, chose to be tried by a judge rather than by a jury. The judge is black, as are two-thirds of the people of Baltimore.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are under a gag order barring them from speaking with the press about the case.

The police officers involved in the case -- three white and three African Americans, including a woman -- claim Gray's death was an accident.

No one has yet been convicted in Gray's death.

The city of Baltimore agreed in September to pay $6.4 million in a settlement with Gray's family, part of a string of seven-figure payouts by cities to avoid wrongful death lawsuits brought by the estates of those killed against authorities potentially liable for the death.

Gray's death reignited already searing discontent over police tactics following a series of high-profile cases of unarmed black men killed by police.

It sparked days of mass protests, riots and looting in Baltimore, just a short drive from the nation's capital of Washington.
Iran blames Saudis for hajj 'sabotage'

Iran said Thursday its nationals will miss the annual hajj, accusing Saudi Arabia of sabotaging arrangements following a diplomatic crisis and a deadly stampede at last year's pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia denied blocking Iranian pilgrims.

A delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at reaching a deal for Iranians to go to Mecca in September.

A massive stampede at the 2015 hajj killed more than 2,000 foreign pilgrims, including 464 Iranians Mohammed al-Shaikh (AFP/File)

It was the first dialogue between the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers since diplomatic relations were severed in January.

Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after demonstrators burned its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

But with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran still closed and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted, the talks hit a deadlock.

"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Iran's Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. "The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.

"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims.

"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."

Jannati's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance oversees Iran's hajj organisation which held the abortive negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Iran wants Saudi Arabia to issue visas through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which now looks after Saudi interests there.

Saudi Arabia's hajj ministry, however, said it informed the Iranians that they could get their visas through the online system used for all pilgrims coming from abroad.

In a statement carried by Al-Riyadh newspaper, the ministry said the Iranians had demanded to be able to hold their own rituals, including protests chanting "Death to America, death to Israel."

Saudi Arabia seeks to keep political slogans out of the pilgrimage.

- Saudi says 'welcomes all' -

The kingdom "welcomes all pilgrims from all over the world and from all nationalities and sectarian backgrounds, and does not stop any Muslim from coming", the Saudi ministry of hajj said.

But the visits must occur "within the system and guidelines that organise hajj affairs," it said.

The ministry added that Saudi Arabia "did not at all ban Iranian pilgrims from coming. The ban came from the Iranian government which uses this as one of its many means to pressure the Saudi government."

The Iranian delegation "refused to sign the agreement to finalise preparations for this year's hajj... insisting on their demands," the ministry said.

It added that "those who have banned their citizens from this right (to perform the pilgrimage) will be held responsible for their decision in front of God and the whole world".

Another contentious issue has been security, after a stampede at last year's hajj killed about 2,300 foreign pilgrims including 464 Iranians.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.

"Unfortunately in Saudi Arabia there is a very hostile political climate towards Iran," Ohadi said.

Riyadh has repeatedly denounced Iranian "interference" in the region, and fears Tehran will be further emboldened under an international nuclear deal which this year began lifting sanctions on Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in February that Iranian pilgrims were still welcome to visit Islam's holiest sites in the kingdom, despite diplomatic tensions.

The annual hajj and the lesser pilgrimage known as umra draw millions of faithful from around the world each year.

Muslim pilgrims gather to perform noon and afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque in Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, on September 23, 2015 Mohammed Al-Shaikh (AFP/File)
Residents hold protest blaming leaders for Baghdad carnage

Hundreds of residents of a neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital rocked by a devastating bombing that killed dozens of people held a protest Thursday, blaming the government for the carnage.

Most of the demonstrators were supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who has a massive following in Sadr City, the area where at least 64 people were killed in a car bomb blast on Wednesday.

The attack, the worst to hit the Iraqi capital this year, was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, but the demonstrators blamed Iraq's political leaders.

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr wave their national flag and hold posters calling for the Minister of Interior Mohammed al-Ghabban to leave his post as they protest on May 12, 2016 in Baghdad Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)

"What happened is a reaction by the politicians, because we entered parliament," said Umm Abbas, a 38-year-old woman whose brother was killed in the bombing.

On April 30, Sadr supporters who had been protesting for weeks to demand a cabinet reshuffle and reforms broke into the fortified Green Zone and stormed parliament.

"Politicians threatened us publicly and we thought there would be a campaign of arrests, but it seems they carried out this explosion instead," Umm Abbas said.

"It wasn't Daesh (behind the explosion, it's the politicians," said Abu Ali al-Zaidi, 45, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

He and some of the other demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghaban.

Some of the protesters who did not go as far of accusing the government of plotting the bombing nonetheless charged that too little was being done to prevent such attacks.

"The government is supposed to put in place certain procedures to protect the people, but they are not offering anything," said Sheikh Kadhim Jassem, 72.

Two other bombings in Baghdad claimed 30 more lives on Wednesday.

Iraq has thousands of security personnel deployed in the capital, but searches at checkpoints are cursory if they take place at all, and fake bomb detectors are still in widespread use.

A months-old political crisis in Iraq has led to repeated mass demonstrations and has hampered the functioning of the government at a time when the country is battling IS jihadists on several fronts.

Security forces are currently engaged in large-scale military operations in the provinces of Anbar and Nineveh, where IS's two major remaining hubs in Iraq are located.

Iraqi forces have regained significant ground from IS, which overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014.

But the jihadists still control significant territory in western Iraq, and are able to carry out frequent bombings in government-held areas.

The United States and the United Nations have warned the political impasse could undermine the fight against IS.
Boko Haram claims suicide attack in NE Nigeria

Boko Haram on Thursday claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed two police officers in northeast Nigeria, just days before a regional security summit on efforts to eradicate the Islamists.

The group, using the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), said in a statement posted on social media that the bomber "was able to detonate his explosive vest in the area of Maiduguri".

It claimed "at least 15 apostates (non-believers)" were killed in the attack, which happened at about 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Borno State Secretariat in the city.

A picture shows the scene of a suicide bomb attack in Maiduguri, Borno State, on May 12, 2016 STRINGER (AFP)

But Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said only two died and said the attacker blew up as security personnel stopped him from trying to get into the government offices.

"Unfortunately in the process of stopping him, he detonated the improvised explosive device on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman...

"Sadly, the injured policeman died later," Usman said in an emailed statement, adding that 18 people were injured and taken for treatment.

Mohammed Kanar, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, and an accident and emergency spokesman for the Borno State Specialist Hospital, also confirmed just two deaths.

Between 19 and 24 people were injured in the blast, they added.

Locals and street vendors earlier told AFP the explosion initially appeared to come from a passing motorised rickshaw, which went up in flames and was gutted in the blast.

Boko Haram suicide bombers have previously used public transport to travel to multiple targets in the northeast and wider north.

- Security summit -

The Islamist group was founded in Maiduguri in 2002 and the city has been repeatedly attacked since the insurgency turned violent in 2009.

But a relative calm has returned there in recent months as a military counter-insurgency makes apparent gains against rebel strongholds across the northeast.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is this weekend hosting leaders of neighbouring countries, plus French President Francois Hollande, and senior British and US government officials.

The meeting is expected to focus on boosting regional and international cooperation in defeating the Islamic State group affiliate, which has also attacked Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Buhari's office said on Tuesday "the successful conclusion of ongoing military operations against Boko Haram" was "at the top of its agenda".

The last successful attack in Maiduguri was a double suicide bombing by two women at a mosque in Molai, on the outskirts of the city, in March in which 22 people were killed and 35 injured.

Boko Haram has previously targeted government buildings and infrastructure in the insurgency, which has claimed at least 20,000 lives and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009.

It has also used suicide bombers to inflict maximum civilian casualties in attacks on "soft" targets such as mosques, crowded market places and bus stations.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian military said troops and civilian vigilantes prevented a suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Maiduguri's Sulaimanti suburb.

Five civilians were injured during the attempt and bomb disposal specialists were called in to make safe the device the bomber was carrying, army spokesman Usman said in a statement.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari arrives to attend the Anti-Corruption Summit London 2016, at Lancaster House in central London on May 12, 2016 Justin Tallis (AFP)
Nephews of Venezuela first lady face November drug trial in US

Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady appeared in a US court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on charges of cocaine smuggling and a trial date was set for November 7.

An unidentified third party is paying the legal fees for Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, and Judge Paul Crotty warned of the "real danger" of conflict of interest.

He repeatedly asked the men, who followed the hearing through an interpreter, if they understood his remarks.

Vincent Southerland (L) and Jonathan Marvinny, lawyers for Francisco Flores de Freitas, leave the US Federal Courthouse in Manhattan December 17, 2015 in New York Don Emmert (AFP/File)

"No one can predict the course of this case," he said, pointing out they could not cite conflict of interest if they wanted to appeal after a conviction.

"Yes, I understand," the defendants, wearing black prison uniforms, answered in Spanish.

The two -- sons of brothers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife Cilia Flores -- were arrested in Haiti in November and flown to New York by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

Then 29 and 30 years old, the pair were accused of plotting to smuggle at least five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine into the United States. They were also accused of taking part in meetings to plan a shipment of cocaine to the United States via Honduras.

If convicted they face up to life in prison. They have pleaded not guilty.
US gives Tunisia military hardware to bolster security

The United States on Thursday delivered military hardware to Tunisia to help the North African country hit by several Islamic State group attacks secure its borders and battle terrorism.

Light aircraft, jeeps and communications systems were part of the equipment handed over at a ceremony attended by US official Amanda Dory and Tunisian Defence Minister Farhat Horchani.

Dory, the US deputy assistant secretary of defence for African affairs, said the equipment was part of a $20-million package to bolster Tunisia's military capabilities.

Reconnaissance aircrafts and military vehicles offered to Tunisia by the United States are seen at a military base in Tunis on May 12, 2016 Fethi Belaid (AFP)

"I'm very pleased that the United States is able to provide Tunisia with surveillance aircrafts that will improve Tunisia's ability to locate terrorists who attempt to infiltrate your borders," she said.

"These aircrafts will be able to provide advanced warning to ground forces employing advanced digital communications technology to coordinate rapid introduction utilising these new jeep vehicles or other existing assets."

Horchani, who took delivery of the equipment at the Aouina air base near Tunis, said the "sophisticated" hardware would "strengthen our capacity to protect our land and maritime borders in the face of regional security challenges".

Tunisia was hit by a series of deadly IS attacks last year on foreign holidaymakers and security forces that killed dozens and dealt a devastating blow to the tourism industry, a mainstay of its economy.

Officials regularly voice concern about the situation in neighbouring Libya, where IS has built a bastion in the coastal city of Sirte which it overran last year and turned into a training camp for militants.

Tunisia has built a 200-kilometre (125-mile) barrier that stretches about half the length of its border with Libya in an attempt to prevent militants from infiltrating.

"The surveillance capability will increase the government of Tunisia's awareness of activity along your borders, it is another example of how the United states and Tunisia cooperate to gather additional information about potential threats," said Dory.

She said Washington was keen on "strengthening and expanding the security cooperation partnership between our two countries as together we confront growing instability in the region and support Tunisia in its sovereign defence against potential threats."

"We commend the ministry of defence for taking an important step in constructing a barrier on your southern border" with Libya, she added.
Air strikes on Syria's Idlib kill 16 jihadists: monitor

A series of air strikes struck a military airport in northwestern Syria on Thursday, killing 16 jihadists including a top fighter from the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 60 air raids targeted the Abu Duhur military airport in Idlib province which Al-Nusra and allied Islamist fighters seized in September.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said however that it was unclear if the strikes were carried out by the Syrian regime, Russian or US-led coalition aircraft.
Shah of Iran's art collection to go on show in Berlin

Works from one of the world's most prestigious collections of modern art, assembled under the former shah of Iran, will go on show in Berlin late this year, German cultural officials announced Thursday.

The collection, reputed to be the greatest lineup of modern masterpieces outside of Europe and the United States, includes major works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Francis Bacon.

The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), which manages Berlin's main museums, said it had agreed a deal with the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art for a major exhibition of the collection in the German capital from December until February next year.

Jackson Pollock's "Mural on Indian Red Ground," pictured on November 20, 2015 at Tehran's Museum of Contemporary Art, may be part of a collection assembled under the former shah of Iran that will be displayed in Berlin Atta Kenare (AFP/File)

The SPK did not specify how many of the works would be shown, or which ones. The whole collection runs to nearly 300 canvases by some of the leading Western artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Since the Islamic revolution of 1979 that overthrew shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the works assembled under the patronage of his wife Farah Pahlavi have not been shown together outside Iran before, according to the SPK.

"A collection unique for its composition and history will be shown for the first time," SPK president Hermann Parzinger said.

Recalling the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, quoted in the SPK statement, hailed the exhibition project as a sign of Iran's "cultural and social opening up".

The show will also include works by contemporary Iranian artists.
Tunisia says dozens of jihadists arrested in latest raids

The Tunisian government said Thursday that 37 suspects, including several jihadists linked to the Islamic State group, had been arrested in the security operations carried out the previous day.

Two "dangerous and wanted terrorists" were killed during the raid Wednesday in Mnihla near the capital, while 16 suspected jihadists were arrested, the interior ministry said Thursday.

Another 21 other suspects were arrested in raids that followed, the ministry added.

A Tunisian gendarme stands guard outside a house where two suspected jihadists were killed during a security operation on May 11, 2016 in the town of Mnihla just outside Tunis Fethi Belaid (AFP/File)

All those arrested were members of "terrorist cells operating across (Tunisian) territory".

"They have been monitored and followed by the national guard for more than four months," the statement said.

In a deadly confrontation that erupted during one of the raids in the Tataouine governorate, four policemen were killed when a militant detonated his explosives belt after a firefight erupted.

The men arrested in the raids had all been trained in the use of firearms, the ministry said.

"They were preparing to gather in Tunis to attack vital, sensitive targets in the capital and the rest of the country, as well as security positions and agents," it said.

The suspects had been planning bomb and "suicide attacks", it added.

Some of those arrested were "implicated in the terrorist acts that hit the Bardo Museum, the Imperial hotel at Sousse, the presidential guard's bus and most recently Ben Guerdane," the statement said.

- 'Links' to IS -

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since its 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the Bardo Museum in Tunis and the beach resort near Sousse that killed a total of 60 people, all but one of them foreign tourists.

A November suicide bombing in the capital, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards and prompted the authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Ben Guerdane, one of the North African nation's poorest towns, was the target of a jihadist assault that killed seven civilians and 13 security personnel in March as well as 55 extremists.

"They were also active elements of the terrorist groups in the Tunisian mountains... and had links with Tunisian members of... Daesh in Libya, Syria and Iraq," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

None of the suspects' identities were revealed.

Thousands of Tunisians have joined jihadist groups in conflict zones such as Iraq, Syria and Libya over the past few years.
Enrollment in state-funded preschool inched up in 2014-15

NEW YORK (AP)  The number of 3- and 4-year-olds in state-funded classrooms rose slightly during the 2014-15 school year to almost 1.4 million, according to a national preschool report released Thursday.

The report from the National Institute for Early Education Research found a wide range in per-pupil spending and quality of programs, with New Jersey spending $12,149 for each child enrolled in pre-K compared with $2,304 in Florida and $1,981 in South Carolina.

Total enrollment in 2014-2015 increased by 37,167 from the previous year.

Enrollment in state-funded preschool dipped in several states, including Texas, Florida and Wisconsin.

"States announce that they're making some initiative and then the next year they take a couple of steps backward," said Steve Barnett, director of the early education institute, which is based at Rutgers University in New Jersey. "If states simply never went backward, the rates of progress would be much, much faster."

The institute, which advocates for early childhood education, is under contract with the National Center for Education Statistics to conduct an annual preschool survey.

The report tracks quality measures such as class sizes and teacher-training requirements. Several states including California, Florida and Texas do not require preschool teachers to have a college degree.

The report found that state funding for pre-K rose by $553 million overall in 2014-05, with New York accounting for two-thirds of the increase.

New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio promotes universal pre-K as his administration's signature achievement, is held up as a model in the report.

The authors say New York "provides an example of a city that successfully worked with its state to move an entire state forward, though it remains to be seen how much and how fast progress is extended to the rest of New York state."

___
Nevada high court ruling keeps judge on Las Vegas Sands case

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A state court judge in Las Vegas will continue to handle a lawsuit headed for trial involving billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson's company and a former Sands China Ltd. chief executive, the Nevada Supreme Court said Wednesday.

The ruling dealt a blow to Adelson and Las Vegas Sands Corp., whose lawyers argued that Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez had a conflict of interest and should be removed.

Jury selection had been scheduled to start June 27 in a wrongful termination case poised to air boardroom decisions about how the publicly traded corporate owner of the Venetian and Palazzo resorts in Las Vegas developed its lucrative interests in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau.

FILE - In this April 28, 2016 pool file photo, District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez listens as Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson testifies at Clark County Justice Center in Las Vegas. The Nevada Supreme Court says Gonzalez will continue to handle a lawsuit headed for trial involving billionaire casino mogul Adelson and a former Sands China Ltd. chief executive. The ruling issued Wednesday, May 11, 2016 is a blow to Sands and Adelson, whose lawyers argued that Gonzalez had a conflict of interest and should be removed.(Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool, File)

But that trial date has been canceled, according to the court docket. A new date wasn't immediately posted.

Attorneys for fired former Sands China executive Steven Jacobs argued the challenge to Gonzalez was an effort to stall or scuttle a case filed in 2010 that Adelson doesn't want a jury to hear.

Attorneys for Jacobs, Adelson and Las Vegas Sands didn't immediately respond Wednesday to messages about the ruling. Attorney Steve Morris, representing Sands China, said he couldn't comment. A Las Vegas Sands company spokesman declined to comment.

The high court ruling upheld a finding by supervising Clark County District Judge David Barker that Gonzalez didn't exhibit bias when she was interviewed for a Time magazine story in January about the Adelson family buying the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper.

Harvard University Professor Alan Dershowitz, representing Sands China, told the state Supreme Court during oral arguments that judges shouldn't make public statements about cases, and Gonzalez "should have known she was inviting trouble."

Gonzalez answered questions about her background, the public nature of the Jacobs-Sands lawsuit, and her observations about Review-Journal reporters in her courtroom, the justices said. She maintained that she didn't talk about the lawsuit itself.

The magazine story emerged amid revelations that Adelson family members were the previously undisclosed buyers of the Review-Journal, and that reporters from the newspaper had been assigned last year to watch Gonzalez's work on the bench.

In court, Gonzalez has clashed numerous times with Adelson and Sands lawyers in the Jacobs case.

She fined Las Vegas Sands and Sands China $25,000 in 2012 for not turning over records as required to Jacobs and his lawyers. Last year, she fined Sands China $250,000 for similar violations.

Gonzalez also admonished Adelson during his testimony in open court last year, telling him that he didn't get to argue with her.

The high court noted that in court filings in response to a Las Vegas Sands Corp. request that Gonzalez recuse herself, the judge stated that she had no bias or prejudice toward Las Vegas Sands or its officers.

The court ruling came the same day the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced in a separate case that Las Vegas Sands faces a $2 million fine for failing to properly account for millions of dollars paid to a Chinese consultant and received from a high roller with a suspicious past. The company admits no wrongdoing under the settlement slated for Nevada Gaming Commission approval May 19.
Man pleads guilty to killing 3, including mother of his son

WINONA, Miss. (AP)  A 12-year-old who narrowly escaped being shot by his father watched in a Mississippi courtroom Wednesday as the man told a judge he killed the boy's mother, grandmother and another man.

Odell Hallmon pleaded guilty in Winona to three counts of first degree murder only two weeks after the April 27 shootings. The 40-year-old also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the shooting of a man who survived and to being felon in possession of a firearm.

Hallmon had already spent more than 15 years in state prison on three felony convictions. Under Mississippi's habitual offender law, Hallmon will never be eligible for parole. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Joey Loper sentenced him to three life terms for the slayings, plus 20 years for the assault and 10 years for the gun charge.

Montgomery County Sheriff Jerry "Bubba" Nix, left, directs Odell Hallmon to his seat in the Montgomery County Courthouse where he pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder before Montgomery County Circuit Judge Joey Loper in Winona, Miss., Wednesday, May 11, 2016. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The ex-convict says he's responsible for the shooting deaths of his son's mother and grandmother and another man in rural Mississippi in April 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

"It's hard for the court to understand the hatred in someone's heart and the darkness and evil in someone's soul that would cause you to do this," Loper said.

Hallmon himself offered no explanation, occasionally answering Loper in a whisper, and his lawyer declined comment.

"He just said he got mad and flipped out," Montgomery County District Attorney Doug Evans said.

Montgomery County Sheriff Jerry "Bubba" Nix said the crimes appeared to be the product of domestic jealousy and drug dealing, and Hallmon told investigators he had planned to shoot others as well.

"He said he was going to kill them all and kill more," Nix said.

The victims included Hallmon's former girlfriend, 32-year-old Marquita Hill, and her mother, 59-year-old Carolyn Ann Sanders. Nix said Hallmon fired a shot into a closet where his and Marquita Hill's 12-year-old son was hiding, but the boy wasn't physically injured. Nix said Marquita Hill had thrown Hallmon out of their Kilmichael home less than a month before the shootings and Hallmon told investigators he believed she was seeing another man.

After that shooting, about 2 a.m. April 27, Nix said Hallmon went to Marcus Brown's Kilmichael home and shot him five times. Brown survived, attending Wednesday's hearing in a wheelchair. Hallmon then drove 11 miles to Winona and shot 32-year-old Kenneth C. Loggins once, killing him, Nix said. The sheriff said that he believed both those crimes were related to drug dealing and that Hallmon told investigators someone had fired a gun into his trailer earlier in April. Hallmon had been released from prison in August after a 10-year term for cocaine possession.

Evans said in court that besides the son and Brown, witnesses included others at the homes of Brown and Loggins. He also said evidence from Hallmon's vehicle was recovered at Loggins' home. Nix said deputies were still looking for the gun, believed to be a Glock 9mm pistol.

Relatives of Marquita Hill said after the sentence that they were still stunned at Hallmon's acts.

"How could you do this, you know, to commit such a horrific crime in front of your son?" asked Ashley Hill, a sister of Marquita Hill. "We don't know what triggered it, what he was thinking, any of that."

They expressed satisfaction at Hallmon's life-without-parole sentence.

"We're glad, so he can't hurt nobody else," said Kristy Hill, another sister. "He's hurt our family enough. I can't call my mama anymore on a Sunday and say 'What are you cooking?'"

Hallmon turned himself in within hours of the shootings, and Nix said that by the next day, he was telling investigators that he wanted to plead guilty.

"He was ready to sign a life sentence and get out of here," Nix said.

In this 11,000-resident county, the next grand jury wasn't supposed to meet until October. But Evans recalled a grand jury that met earlier in April, and it indicted Hallmon hours before he appeared in court. Evans emphasized in court that he'd shared his case file with the defense to make sure the lawyer and Hallmon made an informed decision.

Hallmon faced the judge in the same courthouse where he testified as a jailhouse informant against a suspect in the killing of four people at a Winona furniture store. That case drew wide attention because the suspect stood trial six times.

In the second trial, Hallmon testified for the defense of Curtis Giovanni Flowers, but later flipped, claiming his earlier testimony was a lie. He then testified in the last four trials that Flowers had confessed to the killings while they shared a cell at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. After three convictions were overturned on appeal and two hung juries, Flowers was finally convicted in the killings of four people in a furniture store and now sits on death row.

In at least one of those trials, Hallmon testified that he had AIDS.

Evans, the lead prosecutor in the Flowers trials, said Hallmon hadn't gotten out of prison early because of his testimony.

___

Follow Jeff Amy at: http://twitter.com/jeffamy. Read his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/jeff-amy.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the circuit judge's name is Joey Loper, not Joey Roper.

A cuffed Odell Hallmon looks around the parking lot of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona, Miss., where he pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder before Montgomery County Circuit Judge Joey Loper, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Hallmon was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The ex-convict says he's responsible for the shooting deaths of his son's mother and grandmother and another man in rural Mississippi in April 2016. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Attorney Neal Marlow, center, stands with his client Odell Hallmon, right, as they and Circuit Judge Joey Loper, listen as the criminal charges are read to him in the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona, Miss., Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Hallmon pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder as well as pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The ex-convict says he's responsible for the shooting deaths of his son's mother and grandmother and another man in rural Mississippi in April 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Though he brags his campaign is largely self-funded, Trump has expanded his fundraising team and announced his first campaign fundraiser, in LA

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a rare appearance at party fundraiser on Wednesday, boosting a county GOP group while he is on the brink of dramatically expanding his own fundraising efforts.

But if the Long Island, New York, event was meant to act as a sneak preview of what a newly honed Trump fundraising pitch will look like, it's clear the celebrity businessman does not plan to change his brash, showman-like approach.

He taunted his defeated Republican rivals. He told the crowd that it would grow 'so tired of winning' while he was in the White House they'd beg him to lose once in a while to keep things interesting. He mocked Hillary Clinton's loss in the West Virginia primary, saying 'she got her a** kicked last night.'

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pictured during an interview with The Associated Press in his office at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday. He spoke at a GOP fundraiser in Long Island Wednesday

Trump previously spoke in Bethpage, Long Island, in April ahead of the New York primary election

And he appealed to the Long Island crowd, gathered at a suburban country club just a dozen or so miles from where the celebrity businessman grew up.

'These are my people,' he declared to cheers from the approximately 2,000 people who paid $200 each to attend the Nassau County GOP's annual 'Patriots Reception' dinner. He boldly predicted he would be victorious this November in New York, a Democratic stronghold for generations.

'I think we could win New York State. I really believe we can win this state,' he said. 'And if we win New York State, the election is over.'

Donald Trump speaks on Long Island at fundraiser for Nassau County GOP pic.twitter.com/kxrIWu3hPr  Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) May 12, 2016

Tons of people @ Crest Hollow CC in Woodbury for Donald Trump's speech to #Nassau GOP. pic.twitter.com/bFeDifxSPF  Noah Manskar (@noahmanskar) May 11, 2016

Trump mixed in a few local flourishes  including suggesting a Long Island construction company could win the contract to build his proposed Mexican border wall  but largely delivered the same style of speech he has been giving across the nation, including at a handful of fundraisers, since he launched his unlikely presidential campaign 11 months ago.

It remains to be seen if he'll change his approach when he begins more aggressively asking for money for his general election bid.

Trump had made it a point of pride to note that he has largely self-funded his campaign to this point and has been able to eschew time-consuming fundraising. However, just hours before he spoke on Long Island, his team booked his first campaign fundraiser, set to be held later this month in Los Angeles.
Federal judge rules in favor of Missouri Planned Parenthood

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of a Columbia, Missouri, Planned Parenthood clinic after the state last year tried to revoke its abortion license, a move the judge found likely was due in part to "political pressure."

U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey in a Wednesday ruling said the Department of Health and Senior Services treated the clinic "more harshly" than other ambulatory surgical centers.

The agency's actions "likely were the result of political pressure being exerted by Missouri legislators and the Department's perception that if it did not act in accordance with the legislature's desires, its budget would be cut," Laughrey said in the ruling.

She went on to say that "disparate treatment" of the clinic "cannot be justified by political pressure or public opposition." She ordered that the license cannot be revoked before its expiration in June.

The clinic had already stopped performing abortions because it could not meet a separate state requirement. But it did not want to lose the license because of the expense and hassle to reapply.

Laughrey cited the only other time the department tried to revoke a license for an ambulatory surgical center, during which the clinic had time to submit a plan of action and attempt to come back into compliance before the state finally took action.

The attorney general's office, which represents the state, did not immediately comment Wednesday.

The legal fight over the Columbia clinic came after the department warned it would revoke its license when its only doctor performing medication-induced abortions lost needed privileges with University of Missouri Health Care in December. Without a physician with those privileges, the clinic stopped performing abortions.

DHSS said it would take away the license the same day the doctor lost privileges.

Lawyers for the state had argued that Planned Parenthood knew in advance that employing a physician with certain hospital privileges is necessary to be in compliance with state regulations and that the clinic had time to remedy the situation.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri President and CEO Laura McQuade said in a statement that the judgment confirms that the state "unfairly targeted Planned Parenthood and its staff for providing safe, legal abortion."

Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, who is the Senate Appropriations chairman and oversees how much state money goes to those agencies, led the committee investigating. He's also running for attorney general.
Death penalty arguments begin for convicted killer of 3

CLEVELAND (AP)  Jurors in the Ohio case of a man convicted of killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in garbage bags began hearing arguments Thursday on whether he should receive the death penalty.

The troubled background of Michael Madison, including reports of childhood beatings and malnourishment, was likely to frame arguments by defense attorneys that his life be spared.

Madison, 38, was convicted last week in a Cleveland courtroom of aggravated murder and kidnapping, charges that include death penalty specifications.

FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2013, file photo, Michael Madison looks toward the prosecuting attorney during a pretrial hearing, in Cleveland. A jury is set to begin hearing arguments on whether Madison, convicted of murdering three women in the Cleveland area whose bodies were found wrapped in garbage bags, should receive the death penalty. Attorneys for Madison will make arguments Thursday, May 12, 2016, in a Cleveland courtroom for sparing his life. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

Prosecutors said Madison deserves to die for murdering 38-year-old Angela Deskins, 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley and 18-year-old Shirellda Terry, whose bodies were found in July 2013 wrapped in garbage bags near the East Cleveland apartment building where Madison lived. A medical examiner ruled that Deskins and Sheeley were strangled, but couldn't determine how Terry died.

Authorities said Madison confessed to killing two of the women after his arrest, but couldn't recall having killed the third. His attorneys conceded at trial that he had killed the women.

The same jury that convicted Madison now will decide his fate, with the judge having the final say. In Ohio, a judge can reject a death sentence, but can't impose one if a jury doesn't vote for it.

If appeals court documents are any indication, Madison's attorneys will argue that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from abuse when he was a young child.

Madison was beaten by his mother and stepfather during the early 1980s when he was around 3 or 4 years old, according to a summary of an investigative report prepared by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services.

An investigation found that Madison's mother beat him with a cord, picked him up by his hair and gave him a black eye. He also was malnourished. The report said his stepfather beat him for not picking up his toys, and he was sent to live with his grandmother.

PTSD is a recognized mental disorder with a long list of criteria for a qualified diagnosis, some of which are subjective, according to Cleveland-based forensic psychiatrist Sara West. Jurors must decide the significance of the disorder if PTSD is one of the facts Madison's attorneys present in favor of sparing him.

"It's not a psychotic disorder," West said. "It doesn't alter one's perception of reality."

A doctor in 2010 diagnosed Madison with depression, sleep disturbance and anxiety. His attorneys have said he has drug and alcohol dependence.

Those convicted of crimes punishable by death often face long odds at sentencing, said University of Dayton law professor Lori Shaw. Jurors have already indicated that they're not opposed to the death penalty and, as in the Madison case, have seen and heard grisly testimony about horrific killings, Shaw said.
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff was mocked with shouts of 'Goodbye dear!' after a male-dominated Senate voted to impeach her for allegedly using illegal accounting tricks.

Rousseff, 68, the country's first female president, condemned the move to suspend her as a 'coup' and a 'farce', urging her supporters to mobilise after denying she has committed any crimes.

Within hours thousands had responded to the rallying cry of Brazil's 'Iron Lady', congregating on the streets to back their scandal-hit leader.

Critics say Rousseff's alleged illegal accounting tricks were meant to hide ballooning deficits and bolster an embattled government.

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Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has condemned the move to impeach her as a 'coup' and a 'farce', urging her supporters to mobilise after denying she has committed any crimes. She is pictured after the Senate vote

Rousseff, 68, was impeached for allegedly using illegal accounting tricks that critics said were meant to hide ballooning deficits and bolster an embattled government

She gave what could be her final address from the presidential palace, dressed in white and flanked by her soon-to-be-sacked ministers, before exiting the building to shake hands and wave to a red-clad crowd outside

The Senate's vote, carried with 55 for and 22 against impeachment, could hurl Latin America's largest country into political turmoil just months before it hosts the Summer Olympics.

It was announced Rousseff has been suspended and will face trial following a 20-hour deliberation on Thursday.

Brazil's first female president, who was tortured under the country's dictatorship, has frequently blasted the impeachment push as modern-day coup, arguing she had not been charged with a crime and previous presidents did similar things.

She has also suggested that sexism in the male-dominated Congress played a role in the impeachment.

Defiant to the end, Rousseff denounced a 'coup' aimed at driving her from power, and urged her supporters to mobilise as she braces for an impeachment trial that is set to drag on for months.

'What is at stake is respect for the ballot box, the sovereign will of the Brazilian people and the constitution,' she said in what could be her final address from the presidential palace, dressed in white and flanked by her soon-to-be-sacked ministers.

Speaking just before leaving the presidential palace, Rousseff said she wouldn't give up.

'I am the victim of a great injustice," said the former Marxist guerrilla who rose to power in 2010 on the coattails of her wildly popular predecessor and mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

'I fought my whole life and I'm going to keep fighting,' she said.

Rousseff then exited the building to shake hands and wave to a red-clad crowd gathered outside the modernist capital's seat of power.

There, she gave another fiery speech as her predecessor and mentor, the once wildly popular Lula da Silva, stood by her side, repeatedly wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief in the tropical heat.

She was then whisked away in a convoy of black vehicles.

Rousseff, 68, the country's first female president, condemned the move to suspend her as a 'coup' and a 'farce', urging her supporters to mobilise. Hours later thousands had done so (pictured)

Thousands responded to the rallying cry of Brazil's 'Iron Lady', congregating on the streets to back her. Demonstrators also set fire to banners with pictures of Brazil's acting President Michel Temer

President Dilma Rousseff has been suspended and will face trial after the country's Senate voted to impeach

Rousseff's suspension and likely permanent removal ends 13 years of rule by the left-leaning Workers' Party, which is credited with lifting millions out of abject poverty but vilified for being at the wheel when billions were siphoned from the state oil company Petrobras.

Rousseff's enraged backers called the move a coup d'etat and threatened wide-scale protests and strikes.

Her foes, meanwhile, insisted that she had broken the law, and that the country's deep political, social and economic woes could only be tackled without her.

Rousseff's ally-turned-enemy, Vice President Michel Temer, will take over as acting president Thursday while she is suspended.

He quickly pivoted toward a more business-friendly government, naming a cabinet chosen to calm the markets after the paralysing impeachment battle and steer the country out of its worst recession in decades.

The Senate's vote, carried with 55 for and 22 against impeachment, could hurl Latin America's largest country into political turmoil just months before it hosts the Summer Olympics

Temer tapped a respected former central bank chief, Henrique Meirelles, for the key post of finance minister, an adviser said, confirming a full cabinet overhaul that opponents immediately condemned as a throw-back to an era when Brazilian politics was the exclusive domain of white males.

A 75-year-old career politician, Temer has also promised to cut spending and privatise many sectors controlled by the state. For weeks, he has been quietly putting together a new Cabinet, angering Rousseff supporters. The lower house voted 367-137 last month in favor of impeachment.

Hours earlier, a nearly 22-hour debate in the Senate closed with an overwhelming 55-22 vote against Rousseff, as pro-impeachment senators burst into applause and posed for selfies and congratulatory group photos.

Only a simple majority of the 81-member Senate had been required to suspend Rousseff for six months pending judgment on charges that she broke budget accounting laws.

A two-thirds majority vote will be needed at the end of the impeachment trial to force Rousseff, 68, from office altogether.

Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, said his priority is to reboot the economy and end the paralysis gripping Congress during the battle over Rousseff.

A onetime Marxist guerrilla tortured under the country's military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff was expected to hole up in her official residence, where she will continue to live with her mother during the impeachment trial. She will retain her salary and bodyguards.

The leader of the Workers' Party in the Senate, Humberto Costa, said his side would now work to convince senators to support Rousseff in the trial and turn the tide in her favor.

The Senate has 180 days to conduct a trial and decide whether Rousseff should be permanently removed from office.

'Did anyone think that we would get to 2018 with a recovery under this government? Impossible,' said Jose Serra, the opposition Social Democratic Party's failed presidential candidate in the 2010 race that brought Rousseff into power.

'The impeachment is just the start of the reconstruction.'

Humberto Costa, the Workers' Party leader in the Senate, brandished a photo of Rousseff from her days as a young Marxist guerrilla during the country's 1964-1985 dictatorship at the military proceedings against her.

An anti-government demonstrator celebrates the result of the impeachment process outside Congress in Brasilia on Thursday after the Senate's 20-hour deliberation ended

A pro-government supporter is frisked after clashing with the police when he attempted to advance towards the Congress building on Wednesday night as the Senate deliberated

Demonstrators shout pro-government slogans during a vigil in Support of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Sao Paulo on Wednesday

Costa called Thursday's impeachment the second unjust trial Rousseff had endured, saying it was a bid by Brazil's traditional ruling classes to reassert their power and roll back Workers' Party policies in favor of the poor.

'The Brazilian elite, the ruling class, which keeps treating this county as if it was their hereditary dominion, does not appreciate democracy,' Costa said.

When the impeachment measure was introduced last year in Congress, it was generally viewed as a longshot. As late as February, experts were predicting it wouldn't even make it out of committee in the lower Chamber of Deputies.

But the momentum built as Brazilians seethed over numerous corruption scandals linked to Petrobras and daily announcements of job losses added to a growing desperation. The Brazilian economy is expected to contract nearly 4 percent after an equally dismal 2015 and inflation and unemployment are hovering around 10 percent, underscoring a sharp decline after the South American giant enjoyed stellar growth for more than a decade.

Polls have said a majority of Brazilians supported impeaching Rousseff, though they also suggest the public is wary about those in the line of succession to take her place.

'Dilma is a bad president and waiting until 2018 was a horrible option,' said cab driver Alessandro Novais in Rio de Janeiro, minutes after the vote. 'I don't think Temer will be much better, but at least we can try something different to overcome the crisis.'

Temer has been implicated in the Petrobras corruption scheme as has Renan Calheiros, the Senate head who is now No. 2 in the line of succession. Former House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, who had been second in line, was suspended from office this month over allegations of obstruction of justice and corruption.

Pro-government demonstrators run from a cloud of pepper spray during clashes with the police outside Congress

Anti-government demonstrators set up a large inflatable doll in the likeness of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff wearing a presidential sash with the words in Portuguese 'Goodbye dear' and 'Mother of big oil' written on it, in Sao Paulo

Rousseff has vehemently denied her administration's budget moves constituted a crime and argued that such maneuvers were used by prior presidents without repercussions. She has stressed that  unlike many of those who have pushed for impeachment  she does not face any allegations of personal corruption.

'I think Brazil went backward in institutional maturity,' said Tiago Cordeiro, digital media consultant. 'I am shocked to see how people find it OK to oust a president without reason.'

While the trial is conducted, Rousseff will remain in Alvorada Palace, the presidential residence, Calheiros said. Rousseff will have security guards, health care, and the right to air and ground travel, as well as staff for her personal office and a salary, said Calheiros, who declined to say what it would be.

Temer, of the centrist Democratic Movement Party, insists he would expand the popular social programs, though he has also signaled that fiscal rigor is needed to dig Brazil out of its current financial hole.

The investigation into a multibillion-dollar kickback scheme at Petrobras has ensnared dozens of elite politicians and businessmen across the political spectrum. Although Rousseff herself hasn't been implicated, top officials in her party were and that tarnished her reputation.
Alexie and Danticat host evening of words and music

NEW YORK (AP)  For a reading jointly hosted by award-winning writers Sherman Alexie and Edwidge Danticat, the night began with three microphones and a guitar on stage.

A piano, bass, drums and saxophone soon followed.

Think of it, Alexie told the hundreds gathered Wednesday night at Manhattan's Symphony Space, as a literary version of the old Sid Caesar variety show.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2007, file photo, Sherman Alexie poses for a picture at the 58th National Book Awards in New York. Award-winning writers Sherman Alexie and Edwidge Danticat have presided over a two-hour Selected Shorts program that included readings and musical performances. Commentary and jokes were added by the two featured authors Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at Manhattans Symphony Space. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Alexis and Danticat, who have written fiction and nonfiction, for young people and adults, presided over a two-hour "Selected Shorts" program that included readings and musical performances, with some commentary and jokes added by the two featured authors. "Selected Shorts," a longtime favorite both as a local stage performance and nationwide audio broadcast, pairs literary works with prominent actors and other artists.

Marsha Stephanie Blake of "Orange is the New Black" among other shows gave a spirited reading of Danticat's "Reading Lessons," the story of a Haitian immigrant teaching at an experimental school in Miami. Jeremy Shamos, a Tony nominee for "Clybourne Park," found laughter and tenderness in Alexie's "South by Southwest," a farcical and yearning road tale about a white man and American Indian that begins with a robbery at an International House of Pancakes in Washington state and ends with a robbery at a McDonald's in Arizona.

Music and the spoken word took turns Wednesday. Wesley Stace, sometimes known as John Wesley Harding, set Alexie's picture book "Thunder Boy, Jr." to a folk rock melody while the Pauline Jean Ensemble transformed Danticat's poem "Their Blood, Bondye" into a haunting torch song.

Alexie's works include the young adult novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," for which he received a National Book Award, and the novel "War Dances," a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award. Danticat's novel "Breath, Eyes, Memory" was selected by Oprah Winfrey for her book club and her memoir "Brother, I'm Dying" won a National Book Critics Circle Award.

The authors are both returnees to "Selected Shorts" and shared memories of hearing their works read aloud. Alexie acknowledged that he once resisted any outside narrators, especially after a Shakespearean actor attempted one of his stories about Indian reservation life.

"I'd like to think it was 'King Lear' ensconced in my story, but I didn't want King Lear reading it," said Alexie, who then noted that listening to John Lithgow, B.D. Wong and other actors read his work at Symphony Space changed his mind.

"Not only do I get star struck, I get to hear new things inside the story, based on somebody else's performance," he said.

Danticat said she liked the feeling of sitting in the dark, taking in her words like any other member of the audience.

"It always sounds better than it did in my head," she explained. A previous time Danticat was at Symphony Space, Tony winner Anika Noni Rose read her story "Claire of the Sea Light."

"The audience was not really happy with my ending so I went home and changed it," Danticat confided.

"It might happen again tonight."
Nations make anti-corruption vows, but hard action varies

LONDON (AP)  A handful of countries agreed Thursday to publish lists of who really owns companies in their territories, a move hailed by the British government as a step toward stopping a global plague of tax evasion, money-laundering and bribery.

The "beneficial ownership" registers were announced at a London summit called by Prime Minister David Cameron to fight what he termed the "cancer" of corruption.

Cameron, who has made combating financial wrongdoing one of his flagship policies, said the gathering showed that after years of good intentions, the conference marked the start of "a global movement against corruption."

British Prime Minister Davis Cameron, centre, is joined by US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, as he speaks at the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

"There's nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come," he said.

But many countries didn't sign up to the tough actions Cameron sought, and anti-corruption groups said criminals would still find plenty of places to stash their money  including tax havens linked to Britain.

Susana Ruiz, tax expert at anti-poverty charity Oxfam, said "tax dodgers can still sleep easily tonight."

Heads of state, ministers and diplomats from some 40 countries met Thursday at the elegant London mansion Lancaster House, and made a plethora of promises: to fight bribery in public contracting and the energy sector; to clean up international sports; to step up intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation; and to return stolen assets to their owners. The U.S. and Britain announced they would host a global asset-recovery conference next year.

Firm commitments, however, varied widely. Just six countries  Britain, France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Kenya and Afghanistan  agreed to publish registers of who really benefits from corporate ownership, a key goal of anti-corruption groups. Six more, including Australia, Ireland and Norway, said they would "explore doing so."

The U.S. didn't make that commitment, although Secretary of State John Kerry told the conference that a "pandemic" of corruption "is as much of an enemy" as extremist terrorism  which it helps drive by fueling public anger and helplessness.

In Britain, the law requires companies  including foreign firms that own British property or seek government contracts to disclose who really benefits from their ownership.

Cameron said the register was a move toward "cleaning up our property market right here in London," which is a magnet for wealthy overseas investors.

Corruption, he said, "is the cancer at the heart of so many problems we need to tackle in our world."

Critics of Cameron's efforts say London's financial district, the City, is awash with ill-gotten gains, and many of the world's leading tax havens are British dependencies or overseas territories.

Cameron's own financial credentials were tarnished by last month's revelation  in leaked papers from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca  that he had a stake in an offshore firm established by his late father. Cameron sold his shares in 2010, before he became prime minister.

And the British leader ruffled feathers before the summit when a television microphone caught him saying "leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries" were coming. Speaking at a Buckingham Palace reception with Queen Elizabeth II, he referred to Nigeria and Afghanistan as "possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world."

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have both promised to curb corruption in their countries, and were among the most high-profile attendees at the conference.

Buhari said he wasn't seeking an apology from Cameron over the remarks, but wanted something "tangible"  the return of plundered Nigerian assets held in British banks. He told the meeting that "corruption is one of the greatest enemies of our time."

Ghani said corruption was fueling his country's political violence, and the fight against wrongdoing "should not be a fashion that is discarded with the next set of elections."

There were some notable omissions on the conference guest list. Delegates discussed corruption in sport, but soccer governing body FIFA, wracked by a vast bribery scandal, is not at the meeting.

British-linked tax havens including Bermuda and the Cayman Islands were represented at the summit  but others, such as the British Virgin Islands, were not.

Cameron said Britain's overseas tax havens had agreed to share company-ownership information with U.K. law-enforcement bodies. Jersey, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Anguilla and the Isle of Man agreed to join a group of several dozen nations that share such information with one another.

Cameron said Britain's overseas tax havens were now "ahead of many developed states" in openness.

But charities and opposition politicians said Britain must go farther and insist that the territories' ownership registers are made public.

Allan Bell, chief minister of the Isle of Man  a British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea  said there wouldn't be real progress unless the United States made its own tax havens, such as Delaware, more open.

Robert Palmer of anti-corruption group Global Witness said the results of the meeting were mixed, but positive.

"The tide is definitely moving toward transparency, and the tax havens and the U.S. are being left behind," he said.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is welcomed by Hugo Swire as he arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry waves upon arrival for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. British Prime Minister David Cameron has gathered world leaders in London Thursday to crack down on corruption. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

British Prime Minister David Cameron listens during the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, right, listens as British Prime Minister Cameron at the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

A woman holds a banner showing the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani during a protest outside Lancaster House in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The one day Anti-Corruption summit is taking place at Lancaster house in London.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Latest: Impeachment debate drags on in Brazil's Senate

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  The latest on the debate and vote in Brazil's Senate on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff (all times local):

2 a.m.

Brazilian senators have a long way to go to finish their debate on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.

Employees assemble barricades around the ramp of the Planalto Presidential Palace in preparation for the possible exit ceremony of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

More than 16 hours into a debate that began Wednesday morning, the 50th senator gave his speech at 1:30 a.m., leaving 21 colleagues still scheduled to talk.

The chamber is still crowded, although there are more aides than senators themselves. Older senators have gone off for naps and are having their aides call when their time to speak is about to come.

The Senate president, Renan Claheiros, had hoped the body could vote on impeachment by late Wednesday. He is now predicting that the vote can be held around 6 a.m. (5 a.m. EDT, 1000 GMT).

If a simple majority of the 81 senators vote in favor, Rousseff will be suspended from office and Vice President Michel Temer will take over for up to six months pending a decision on whether to remove her from office permanently.

The impeachment hinges on allegations Rousseff violated fiscal rules in handling the federal budget. But it's also become a referendum on her presidency amid a deep recession and a corruption scandal involving the state oil company Petrobras. Rousseff denies any wrongdoing.

Brazil's Senate during the debate session that's expected to culminate in a vote on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. If a simple majority of the 81 senators vote in favor, Rousseff will be suspended from office and Vice President Michel Temer will take over for up to six months pending a decision on whether to remove her from office permanently. Senate President Renan Calheiros has said he wants the vote to happen Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Honor at last: Former slaves reburied centuries later

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Their exhumed bones point to the hard lives of slaves: arthritic backs, missing teeth, muscular frames. In death, they were wrapped in shrouds, buried in pine boxes and  over centuries  forgotten.

Remains of the 14 presumed slaves will soon be reburied near the Hudson River, 11 years after construction workers uncovered the unmarked gravesite. This time, volunteers are honoring the seven adults, five infants and two children in a way that would have been unthinkable when they died. They will be publicly memorialized and buried in personalized boxes beside prominent families in old Albany.

"It's something we agonize over because it's very rare that you have an opportunity to not just speak about the lives of the enslaved, but to actually do something to honor them," said Cordell Reaves, of the Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project. "We have an obligation to make sure that these people receive a level of dignity and respect that they never received in life."

In this April 27, 2016 photo, Lisa Anderson, curator of bioarchaeology at the New York State Museum, poses in Albany, N.Y., with facial reconstructions of slaves found at an unmarked cemetery. The reconstructions were done by the museum. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

St. Agnes Cemetery donated a prime plot high on a hillside. Kelly Grimaldi, historian for the Roman Catholic cemetery, said they chose granite over marble because it will last forever. The remains will be placed in handcrafted boxes, each decorated with the symbol for Sankofa, which Reaves translates from the language of Ghana as "return and fetch it."

Their headstone is already set. The etching, echoing the style of 18th-century graves, reads: "Here lies the remains of 14 souls known only to God. Enslaved in life, they are slaves no more."

Archeologists found remains in 2005 after a backhoe operator uncovered a skull during sewer construction just north of Albany. Graves were in two rows, heads pointed west.

No personal items were exhumed, though the graves still yielded clues about who they were.

The type of wrought iron nails on the coffins and brass pins on the shrouds indicated burials in the 18th or early 19th centuries. They were buried on the former site of a farm owned by members of the locally prominent Schuyler family, who kept slaves.

DNA tests on five of the women and one man showed maternal ancestry either from Africa and Madagascar. Another woman, identified as of African descent based on the shape of her bones, had Native American roots on her mother's side. Isotope analyses of their remains show they were born locally. Given the time, the place and their race, they were almost certainly slaves.

The thin historical record of slaves is often limited to wills, for sale ads and runaway notices. One rare glimpse from the Schuyler farm comes in the memoir of a woman who spent time there as a girl in the 1760s. Anne Grant writes of slaves cutting wood, threshing wheat, cooking and eating under a big shade tree. In language that can make 21st-century readers wince, Grant described the "gentle treatment" of slaves in the area.

But the bones suggest lives that were anything but.

The adults had muscular hands, arms and legs consistent with hard work. They were plagued by arthritis and missing teeth. One woman had arthritis in her back, shoulder and jaw by her 30s. Her front teeth had small notches in them, possibly from pulling thread across them repeatedly. Another woman, older than 50, had arthritis in all her major joints, fractures on her neck and lower back, and four broken ribs.

Any markers on the graves were long gone by the time the remains were uncovered. Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project manager Evelyn Kamili King said it's her mission to see that they are never forgotten again.

"This is what I need to do for my African ancestors," she said.

Individually decorated boxes with the remains will lie in state on Friday, June 17, at the nearby Schuyler Mansion, a state historic site once inhabited by relatives of the farm operators. They will be buried the next day on a landscaped cemetery hillside within walking distance from where they were first buried.

In this Wednesday, April 27, 2016, an inscription on a gravestone is seen where the remains of 14 slaves will be reburied in Menands, N.Y. St. Agnes Cemetery donated a prime plot high on a hillside. The slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 27, 2016 photo, Lisa Anderson, curator of bioarchaeology at the New York State Museum, poses in Albany, N.Y., with facial reconstructions of slaves found at an unmarked cemetery. The reconstructions were done by the museum. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 27, 2016 photo, Lisa Anderson, curator of bioarchaeology at the New York State Museum, poses in Albany, N.Y., with facial reconstructions of slaves found at an unmarked cemetery. The reconstructions were done by the museum. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 27, 2016 photo, facial reconstructions of slaves found at an unmarked cemetery are shown at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. The reconstructions were done by the museum. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 27, 2016 photo, facial reconstructions of slaves found at an unmarked cemetery are shown at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. The reconstructions were done by the museum. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this Wednesday, April 27, 2016 photo, Kelly Grimaldi, left, historian at St. Agnes Cemetery, and Evelyn Kamili King, project manager for Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project, stand at a plot where 14 slaves will be reburied in Menands, N.Y. The slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this Wednesday, April 27, 2016 photo, Evelyn Kamili King, project manager for Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project, poses with a gravestone at St. Agnes Cemetery where the remains of 14 slaves will be reburied in Menands, N.Y. Archeologists found remains in 2005 after a backhoe operator uncovered a skull during sewer construction just north of Albany St. Agnes Cemetery donated a prime plot high on a hillside. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 28, 2016 photo, artist Danielle Charlestin shows off a burial container she is painting in Troy, N.Y., that will hold the remains of a slave found at an unmarked cemetery. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. Individually decorated boxes with the remains will lie in state on Friday, June 17, at the nearby Schuyler Mansion, a state historic site once inhabited by relatives of the farm operators. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 28, 2016 photo, artist Danielle Charlestin paints a burial container in Troy, N.Y., that will hold the remains of a slave found at an unmarked cemetery. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. Individually decorated boxes with the remains will lie in state on Friday, June 17, at the nearby Schuyler Mansion, a state historic site once inhabited by relatives of the farm operators. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In this April 28, 2016 photo, artist Danielle Charlestin shows paints a burial container in Troy, N.Y., that will hold the remains of a slave found at an unmarked cemetery. Fourteen slaves will be buried a second time, a decade after construction workers accidentally uncovered their remains north of Albany. Individually decorated boxes with the remains will lie in state on Friday, June 17, at the nearby Schuyler Mansion, a state historic site once inhabited by relatives of the farm operators. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New Hampshire's governor called for a full investigation after shocking footage appeared to show police pummeling a suspect who led them on a high-speed car chase from Massachusetts to New Hampshire.

News helicopter video of the police pursuit showed Richard Simone, 50, of Worcester, Massachusetts, stepping slowly out of his truck, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

'The Governor is aware of the situation and we've reached out to the Departments of Safety and Justice,' said Ricki Eshman, a spokeswoman for New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan.

'All New Hampshire public safety officials are held to the highest standards, and the Governor expects this will be fully investigated,' the statement said.

Investigation into excessive force: News helicopter footage shows Richard Simone (blue cap) kneeling on the ground after a high-speed pursuit, as police go in to pummel him

Beating: The video shows the officer in light blue first go in and punch Simone, before the officers join in

This still from the video shows at least five of the police officers involved in the hour-long chase pummeling Simone after he surrendered on the ground

While the driver was taken into custody in New Hampshire, Massachusetts State Police were also involved in the pursuit and plan to review the apprehension of the suspect, 'to determine whether the level of force deployed during the arrest was appropriate,' said David Procopio, a state police spokesman.

The chase began when Simone refused to stop for local police in Holden, Massachusetts.

He was wanted on multiple warrants for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny and failure to stop for police, Procopio said in a statement.

Holden police chased him, and a Massachusetts State Police cruiser followed.

'We saw about 15 out of state cops, state police and some from Holden, Massachusetts, chasing a pickup,' witness Monty Hays told WMUR-TV.

In custody: Police arrested Simone and took him away after the take down. He is yet to be arraigned

The chase went through several towns at speeds exceeding 100 mph, with the pickup truck 'making abrupt lane changes as the (suspect) continued to try to evade capture' and crashing at least once, Procopio said.

But spike strips laid out by police eventually took their toll.

In Nashua, where the chase ended in a residential neighborhood, witnesses said the truck was barely pushing the speed limit.

'Its tires they just were exploded,' Hays told the television station. 'They were on rims. Rubber was flying everywhere.'

The pursuit lasted about an hour, ending about 50 miles northeast of where it began.

Helicopter video showed the pickup truck stopped next to a utility pole on a dead-end street before police officers surrounded it with their weapons drawn.

Full investigation: New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan ordered an investigation into the incident on Thursday. The Massachusetts State Police will conduct a separate investigation

The driver stepped from the truck, got onto the ground and was on all fours and lowering himself when the officers set upon him, throwing punches.

Simone was taken into custody by Nashua police, who haven't returned phone calls seeking comment on the chase and Simone's treatment.

Simone couldn't be reached for comment while in custody Wednesday night.

A phone number listed for him has been disconnected.

Massachusetts State Police said Simone will face new charges related to the chase.

It's unclear where and when he'll be arraigned, but it will likely be in New Hampshire first.

The Massachusetts State Police will conduct two separate reviews of this incident, spokesperson David Procopio said in a statement to CBS News.

'The pursuit, like all pursuits that involve Massachusetts State Police, will be reviewed by the department's pursuit committee. Additionally, MSP will also review the apprehension of the suspect, to determine whether the level of force deployed during the arrest was appropriate,' Procopio said.

'We will conduct a separate departmental review of the actual apprehension, as the video captured by news helicopters shows a use of force against the suspect,' he continued.
Papua New Guinea reportedly allows migrants to leave camp

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia's conservative government said Thursday that tough immigration policies could soften if the opposition wins elections, after candidates from center-left Labor Party called for Australian-run migrant camps on two Pacific islands to be closed.

Australia Broadcasting Corp. reported that asylum seekers were being allowed conditional freedom to leave Manus Island on Papua New Guinea, where the Australian government has a policy of sending migrants who try to reach Australian shores by boat.

Last month, however, Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that Australia's detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island was unconstitutional.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that Nauru had given asylum seekers freedom of movement since October and Papua New Guinea "are heading down that track as well."

Dutton singled out comments by opposition Labor candidates, including Sophie Ismail, that the camps should be closed, and said Australia's policies would soften if the Labor wins July 2 polls.

The aim of sending asylum seekers to Nauru and Papua New Guinea is to deter boat arrivals by refusing to allow them to ever settle in Australia.

Another Labor candidate, Michael Freelander, has likened the Papua New Guinea facility to a Nazi concentration camp.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten condemned the comparison, but Dutton said he could not be trusted to maintain Australia's tough policies because at least 18 Labor candidates opposed them.
Mother of 'Grim Sleeper' victim: 'The pain is still there'

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The mother of one of the "Grim Sleeper's" murder victims slowly made her way to the witness stand Thursday, using a cane to steady herself under the grief she's been carrying for nearly 30 years.

Mary Alexander told a jury that will decide if Lonnie Franklin Jr. lives or dies that her life was never the same after her husband told her "our baby's gone," one day in September 1988.

"The hurt is still there, the pain is still there," she testified, acknowledging that at one point she didn't want to live.

FILE - This May 2, 2016 file photo, Lonnie Franklin Jr., left, appears in Los Angeles Superior Court during closing arguments of his trail in Los Angeles. Prosecutors plans to present evidence of five more killings against Franklin, the man convicted in the "Grim Sleeper" murders, as they begin laying out their case for the death penalty. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool,File)

In a short opening statement for the penalty phase of the trial, the prosecutor promised jurors they would hear the impact that Franklin's serial killings have had on the families of the victims.

Franklin, 63, a former trash collector and onetime garage attendant for Los Angeles police, was convicted last week of murdering nine women and one 15-year-old girl from 1985-1988 and then between 2002-2007.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman also said they would hear evidence of five additional slayings she said Franklin committed, including one during the apparent hiatus that earned him the moniker.

Silverman said she would present evidence of similar killings connected to Franklin that will expand the range of rage to 1984 and include a slaying from 2000, during the serial killer's so-called "sleep," which police originally attributed to him laying low after one victim survived after being shot in 1988.

Silverman said the gun that killed the final victim in 2007 links Franklin "like bookends" to the killing of the first known victim, Sharon Dismuke, who was found naked in an abandoned gas station restroom in 1984.

The gun that fired the bullets in both killings was found in Franklin's garage after his arrest in 2010.

Evidence connecting Dismuke's killing and others to Franklin came to light after he was indicted.

Most of the killings fit a familiar pattern. Bodies of young, black women were found dumped in alleys, most with gunshot wounds to their chest and strangulation marks on their necks  or both.

Silverman said she didn't charge Franklin with the additional killings because it would have delayed the case that took nearly six years to bring to trial.

She also said a German woman is expected to testify about how Franklin and two other men abducted her when she was a teen in 1974 and gang raped her at knifepoint when he was stationed overseas in the U.S. Army. He was sentenced to more than three years in a German prison, according to court papers.

Defense lawyers declined to present an opening statement at the start of the penalty phase but can do so before presenting their case to spare Franklin's life.

Not long after Silverman promised jurors that they would hear from the families of the dead, the brother, mother and father of Alicia Alexander took the stand. They described the hole left in their lives when the naked body of the 18-year-old was found under a foam mattress in an alley on Sept. 11, 1988. She had been shot and choked.

She was the youngest of five children in the tight-knit family that her brother, Donnell Alexander described as the "Brady Bunch." She was a joy, full of life and outgoing. She was always bringing new friends around the house.

Photos of good family times were projected on a screen, showing a young Alicia on Santa's lap at a mall, striking a ballerina's pose in a white dress and posing with the horse her father bought her. She always seemed to be smiling.

"There's no happy times" now, Donnell Alexander said. "It seemed like when she died my parents died with her."

His father, Porter Alexander Jr., described the "devastating blow" of learning his baby was gone, saying his wife collapsed and has never fully recovered.

He still keeps Alicia's belongs because "she's not gone in my heart."

The father, now 75, regularly visits the cemetery crypt where her remains are held. He had her moved there because he didn't like a tractor running over her grave when it was buried.

___

This story was corrected to show that the killings are alleged to have occurred from 1984 to 2007.

FILE - In this Monday Aug. 23, 2010 file photo, Lonnie Franklin Jr. appears for an arraignment on multiple charges as the alleged "Grim Sleeper" killer, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Los Angeles prosecutors plan to present evidence of five more killings against Franklin Jr., who was convicted in the Grim Sleeper murders. Prosecutors will begin laying out their case Thursday, May 12, 2016, for the death penalty for Franklin Jr. after his convictions in the serial killings that spanned more than two decades. (AP Pool/Nick Ut, File)
Trump, Ryan, pledge to work together, see end to rift in GOP

WASHINGTON (AP)  Straining to mend their party after months of chaos, Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan declared themselves "totally committed" to working together after a fence-mending personal meeting on Thursday. Ryan praised Trump as "very warm and genuine," and suggested that after initial hesitance he may well end up endorsing the GOP candidate for president.

"We will have policy disputes. There is no two ways about that. The question is, can we unify on the common core principles that make our party?" Ryan said. "And I'm very encouraged that the answer to that question is yes."

Trump, who used the day to launch a robust charm offensive with members of Congress, broadcast his own enthusiasm, on Twitter and on TV. "I really think we had a great meeting today, and I think we agree on a lot of things and it'll be a little process but it'll come along . I'm pretty sure," he said in an interview recorded for Fox News Channel's "Hannity."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives for a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Trump and Ryan are sitting down face-to-face for the first time, a week after Ryan stunned Republicans by refusing to back the mercurial billionaire for president. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The surprisingly fervent show of unity capped a remarkable week that began with Ryan, the GOP's top elected office-holder and its 2012 vice presidential nominee, turning his back on his party's presumptive presidential nominee just days after Trump had effectively clinched the nomination.

Ryan said at the time he was not yet ready to back Trump, who had succeeded in insulting women, Latinos, disabled people and many conservatives in the course of a brutal primary season. He also has alarmed the Republican establishment with proposals including deporting millions of immigrants and barring Muslims from the country.

Yet in the days since, many GOP lawmakers  and voters themselves  have made peace with the reality that Trump is their candidate and therefore their only hope of defeating likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Although some in the GOP fear Trump could spell election disaster and cost Republicans control of the Senate and seats in the House, recent polls have shown a closer race, helping their comfort level.

Ryan himself insisted from the beginning that his only goal was real party unity. His allies in the House have predicted he will get behind Trump in the end, and on Thursday Ryan sounded like he was well on his way.

"We talked about what it takes to unify, where our differences were and how we can bridge these gaps going forward," Ryan said, praising Trump's "unparalleled" accomplishment in getting more votes already than any Republican presidential candidate in history  10.9 million even before California and New Jersey vote in June.

The two discussed "core principles" including limited government, the Constitution, separation of powers and pro-life philosophy, Ryan said.

Asked whether he would be endorsing Trump a week after his refusal to do so shocked the GOP, Ryan said: "Yeah, I think this is going in a positive direction. And I think this was a first, very encouraging meeting."

The two also issued a joint statement in which they pledged to work together to beat Clinton.

Trump, 69, and Ryan, 46, would make one of the oddest of political odd couples, one a brash and unpredictable billionaire with a malleable political philosophy and tendency to insult all comers, the other a wonky if telegenic Midwestern conservative dedicated to paring back entitlements and with a big-tent view of the GOP. Like many political partnerships this one would be driven by necessity and a common foe, Clinton, whose candidacy is proving a powerful incentive to Republicans of all kinds to bury their differences.

Trump also met with other House GOP leaders, as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his top deputies, and senators were later full of praise and offers of help.

Sen. John Cornyn said he invited Trump to come to Texas and offered to help him with Latino voters.

"I was fortunate enough to win the Hispanic vote in 2014. I said I'd be glad to share with you my experience and observations because that's an important part of the voters in 2016," Cornyn said.

"I've always been impressed but I was really impressed today," said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, adding they discussed the Supreme Court, an important issue for conservatives who've questioned whether they can trust Trump to appoint judges who would ratify their philosophy.

Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has called Trump a "nut job" and a "loser as a person," softened his stance after speaking with the candidate by telephone Wednesday.

Graham, R-S.C., described the billionaire as funny and cordial and said he asked insightful questions about national security.

"He's from New York. He obviously can take a punch," said Graham, who waged his own unsuccessful bid for his party's nomination. He said he still won't endorse Trump but his barrage of "insults will stop."

Trump, in a black SUV, slipped from one GOP power center to another on his fence-mending mission made necessary by his outsider status in a city that embodies insiders.

About a dozen protesters who oppose Trump's immigration positions demonstrated at the front of the Republican National Committee building where the men met. They chanted "Down, down with deportation. Up, up with liberation."

The scene was similar outside Senate Republican campaign offices where Trump gathered later with McConnell and others. "The GOP is dead to our community," said Deyanira Aldana, 21, a protester who is the child of Hispanic immigrants. "And Donald Trump is the final nail in that coffin."

___

Associated Press writers Steve Peoples, Andrew Taylor, Richard Lardner, Alan Fram and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016, following his meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Policy utterances from Philippines' likely next president

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  On the Philippine campaign trail, Rodrigo Duterte was alternatively seen as a looming despot with a hot temper or a hands-on administrator who could eradicate crime and corruption.

A captivating speaker, the longtime mayor of Davao peppered his impromptu speeches with obscene remarks, tales about his sexual adventures and outlandish plans, prompting crowds to laugh but often making it tough to know whether he was joking or dead serious.

Now that an unofficial count has shown that Duterte has won the presidential race by a huge margin, Filipinos and governments around the world wait to see how the 71-year-old will actually steer his Southeast Asian nation that has posted robust growth despite still-widespread poverty. Here's a look at his policy pronouncements, mostly culled from his speeches and campaign staff.

A resident walks past a campaign billboard of leading presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte along a boulevard at his hometown in Davao city in southern Philippines Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Duterte has widened his lead in unofficial tally but still refuses to claim victory.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

___

CRIME AND CORRUPTION

Duterte has repeatedly vowed to wipe out crime and corruption in three to six months, warning lawbreakers they would be shot to death if they try to resist. Philippine police officials doubt this monumental task can be achieved, especially in such a short time. He plans to ask Congress to bring back the death penalty, preferably by public hanging, for drug trafficking and heinous crimes.

___

POLITICAL SYSTEM

The mayor has long complained that the country's south, where his city of Davao is located, and the countryside have long been shortchanged in budget and resource allocations by the central government. He wants to turn the Philippine government into a more decentralized, federal system that will give more power to the provinces and weaken Manila's power.

___

SOUTH CHINA SEA

He says he's open to talks with China on territorial conflicts, but also declares he will travel by jet ski to one of the artificial islands that China has built atop reefs in the South China Sea and plant a Philippine flag there. He says China should abide by an upcoming decision by a U.N. arbitration court in a case filed by the Philippines regarding territorial claims, but he also asks why longtime allies America, Australia and Japan did nothing as Beijing built its artificial islands.

___

UNITED STATES

Duterte describes himself as a "socialist" with a "cold" relationship with America. His spokesman Peter Lavina says that started when U.S. authorities took an American suspected in a 2002 hotel bomb blast out of Davao without Duterte's knowledge. Duterte says he has reservations on the periodic presence of U.S. troops in the country but plans to send an envoy to the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic missions to extend a hand of friendship.

___

MILITARY AND POLICE

Upon assumption to the presidency, Duterte says he will immediately double the salaries of soldiers and police to discourage corruption of the force he will use to wage a bloody war against criminality. He will recruit 3,000 more policemen to enhance law enforcement and has pledged to harness a rarely used constitutional power of the president to pardon officers  and himself  if they face lawsuits as they battle criminals.

___

ECONOMY

A lawyer, former prosecutor and congressman, Duterte acknowledges he has a poor grasp of the economy and will have to assemble a team to advise him and "copy" existing programs that suit his populist stance. He's inclined to oppose new mining contracts and won't allow foreign investors to own land.

___

POVERTY

The macho mayor associates himself with the lower class, and says he would continue a government program that provides cash to the poorest of the poor to encourage parents to ensure their children will attend classes and receive subsidized health care. More than 4.4 million Filipinos are currently benefiting from the monthly handouts. He has vowed to stop a government land redistribution program that he says has failed to ease the plight of peasants.

___

CHURCH

Duterte, who was raised Catholic but now says he doesn't follow any specific faith, started out his campaign on the wrong foot with the church when he cursed Pope Francis for creating a monstrous traffic jam in Manila, trapping him and many other motorists. He later apologized and said he plans to travel to the Vatican to personally say sorry to the pope. His strong support for birth control and contraceptives  he welcomes condom donations and offers cash to residents who agree to undergo ligation or vasectomy  puts him on a collision course with the church.

___

GENDER ISSUES

Acknowledging he has three girlfriends and a partner after an annulment of his first marriage, Duterte caught attention during the campaign with his sex jokes and other offensive comments, including on wanting to be the first to rape an Australian missionary who was abused and killed by inmates in a 1989 jail riot. But his spokesman says Duterte's presidency will be gender-sensitive, citing a Davao city regulation that prohibits discrimination against women and LGBT people and ensures equal opportunities for them. He has assembled lawyers to help women in domestic violence cases and has banned swimsuit competitions in local beauty pageants. He says he supports same sex-marriage because "everyone deserves to be happy."

____

INSURGENCIES

Duterte, who has negotiated with communist rebels for the release of soldiers and policemen kidnapped by the insurgents in the past, says he will open peace talks with the Maoist guerrillas and hammer out an autonomy deal with Muslim rebels.

___

DICTATOR'S BURIAL
Judge rules Colorado clinic shooting mentally incompetent

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)  A man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic said he did not want to be declared incompetent because he feared being forcibly medicated. But that could happen when Robert Dear begins treatment following a judge's ruling that he is mentally incompetent  a decision that will stall the proceedings.

Wednesday's decision by Judge Gilbert Martinez puts the case against Dear, 57, on hold until it's determined that treatment has restored his ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his defense.

Such treatment will likely include a mix of psychotropic drugs and therapy to address the delusion disorder two psychologists say he suffers, as well as education about the case against him.

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2015 file photo, Robert Lewis Dear talks to Judge Gilbert Martinez during a court appearance in Colorado Springs, Colo. The judge is set to rule on the mental state of Dear who acknowledged killing three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. Martinez is expected to announce Wednesday, May 11, 2016, whether criminal proceedings should continue against 57-year-old Dear. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post via AP, Pool, File)

Dear's mental health will be reviewed in August.

The psychologists who conducted the mental exam said Dear's disorder keeps him from trusting almost anyone, including his lawyers. The judge agreed with their findings, writing in his order that Dear's "perceptions and understanding are not rational and are not grounded in reality."

As he was led out of the courtroom Wednesday, Dear yelled at the judge: "That's called prejudiced! Prejudiced! Filthy animal!"

Dear is charged with 179 counts, including murder and attempted murder, stemming from the Nov. 27 shooting at the Colorado Springs clinic that also left nine injured.

During previous courtroom outbursts, he has declared himself a "warrior for the babies" and said he was guilty. He told investigators he attacked the clinic because he was upset with the reproductive health organization for "the selling of baby parts."

Martinez ordered the competency exam in December after Dear announced that he wanted to fire his public defenders and represent himself. Two psychologists who interviewed Dear testified that they agreed he is not competent and that his delusion disorder makes him believe the FBI is persecuting him.

Dear told people in phone calls from jail that he believes his attorneys' attempt to have him declared incompetent is part of a plot to diminish his message opposing abortion. He claims they want him committed to a psychiatric hospital so they can "silence him forever."

Restoring Dear to competency could take months or longer. But the overwhelming majority of defendants initially determined to be incompetent are eventually able to understand the proceedings and stand trial, said Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist who has conducted competency exams but is not involved in Dear's case.

Prosecutors argued that Dear's courtroom disruptions showed he understood the case against him. They have not decided whether to seek the death penalty against the man described by family and acquaintances as a man with a violent temper, anti-government sentiments and longstanding disdain for abortion providers.

Dear has not entered a plea. If and when his court case resumes, the incompetency finding could help the defense during the trial and a potential sentencing phase.

"In a case of this magnitude when a defendant is initially found incompetent to stand trial and is then restored to competency, there is a strong possibility that there will be a mental health defense," Pitt said. "It is an absolute certainty that the defendant's mental health history will be front and center during the penalty phase."

Dear held police at bay for more than five hours during the clinic attack, scattering hundreds of post-Thanksgiving shoppers who scrambled to hide inside surrounding buildings until the standoff ended.

Public defenders Dan King, right, and Rosalie Roy, lawyers for accused Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Dear, leave the courtroom after a hearing for Dear, who acknowledged killing three people at the clinic on Nov. 27, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Dear is mentally incompetent to continue with his criminal case, a judge ruled Wednesday. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP, Pool)
US missile defense site opens in Romania, Russia sees threat

DEVESELU, Romania (AP)  A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, drawing an angry reaction from Russia, which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tried to reassure Russia as he spoke at a ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at the Soviet-built base, located in remote village 180 kilometers (110 miles) southwest of Bucharest. Romania became a NATO member in 2004.

The NATO missile defense site "in no way undermines or weakens Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent. This site in Romania, as well as the one in Poland, are not directed against Russia," Stoltenberg said at the opening ceremony. "The interceptors are too few, and located too far south or too close to Russia, to be able to intercept Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, third right, Romanian Premier Dacian Ciolos, second right, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, right, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe Admiral Mark E. Ferguson, left and Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu, second left, stand while a prayer is read in Deveselu, during an opening ceremony for a missile defense site attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Stoltenberg said the interceptors were designed "instead to tackle the potential threat posed by short and medium- range attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic area."

U.S. officials say the Romanian missile shield, which cost $800 million, is intended to fend off missile threats from Iran and is not aimed at Russia.

Stoltenberg noted that Moscow had unilaterally terminated cooperative dialogue about missile defense in 2013.

Earlier, he said Russia had "changed borders by force and continues to intimidate its neighbors," in reference to the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

He said, however, the alliance would continue to try and engage Russia in dialogue where possible.

"In times of tension, keeping channels of communication open is even more important," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow was already taking measures for "securing the necessary level of security in Russia," and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova raised the tone saying: "We continue to regard the destructive activities of the USA and its allies in the area of missile defense as a direct threat to international and regional security."

Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, chairman of the State Duma's defense committee, called the missile defense site a threat to Russia.

"This is a direct threat to us," Komoyedov, the former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, told the Interfax news agency. "They are moving to the firing line. This is not just 100  it's 200, 300, 1,000 percent aimed against us."

"This is not about Iran, but about Russia with its nuclear capabilities," he said.

President Klaus Iohannis said Romania wanted NATO to have a "permanent naval presence" in the Black Sea that respected international conventions, and called for increased security for alliance members in the south and east, which border Russia and the Middle East.

"It is important that a credible and predictable presence can be assured of the allied forces on the eastern flank, to balance the northern dimension with the southern and eastern flank," Iohannis said after meeting Stoltenberg on Thursday in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

On Friday, Polish and U.S. officials will take shovels in hand to break ground at a planned missile defense site in the Polish village of Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea.

___

Nataliya Vasilyeva and Lynn Berry in Moscow contributed to this report

A helicopter flies by the radar building of a missile defense base, in Deveselu, prior to an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

FILE- In this Tuesday, June 7, 2011 file photo, a US Navy officer, name not available, stands on the weapons control deck of the USS Monterey as screens display the Black Sea region, in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania. A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in the village of Deveselu, Romania becoming operational on Thursday, May 12, 2016, and officials breaking ground at a separate site in Poland a day later.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE- In this Tuesday, June 7, 2011 file photo, US Navy Commanding Officer James Kilby speaks to the media on the deck of the USS Monterey back dropped by interceptor missile silos, in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania. A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in the village of Deveselu, Romania becoming operational on Thursday, May 12, 2016, and officials breaking ground at a separate site in Poland a day later. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE- In this Tuesday, May 3, 2011 file photo, a Romanian officer salutes during while national anthems are played as an employee of the US embassy holds an umbrella at the Deveselu Air Base, southern Romania. A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in the village of Deveselu, Romania becoming operational on Thursday, May 12, 2016, and officials breaking ground at a separate site in Poland a day later.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

A photographer takes pictures of the official tribune, backdropped by the radar building of a missile defense site, in Deveselu, during an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

An elderly woman stands next to a grazing cow in a field near a missile defense site, in Deveselu, after the opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

An elderly woman speaks to a traffic policeman on the road near a missile defense site, in Deveselu, after the opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A member of a US Navy band holds a mobile phone in Deveselu, prior to an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A helicopter flies by the radar building of a missile defense base, in Deveselu, prior to an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A US serviceman, backdropped by the radar building of a missile defense base, carries a mop in Deveselu, prior to an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, third right, Romanian Premier Dacian Ciolos, second right, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, right, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe Admiral Mark E. Ferguson, left and Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu, second left, stand while a prayer is read in Deveselu, during an opening ceremony for a missile defense site attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, Romanian Premier Dacian Ciolos, center right, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, right, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe Admiral Mark E. Ferguson, left and Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu, center left, cut a ribbon in Deveselu, during an opening ceremony for a missile defense site attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

US Navy flag bearers stand in Deveselu, before an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A US serviceman, backdropped by the radar building of a missile defense base, sets up a red carpet in Deveselu, prior to an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base, originally established by the Soviet Union, in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. A U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats became operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In rare move, feds indict former officer in fatal shooting

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  Two things stand out about this week's indictment of a white former South Carolina police officer on federal civil rights charges in the death of unarmed black motorist Walter Scott: Such charges from the feds against an officer are relatively rare, and they send a message.

Michael Slager, 34, already faces state murder charges in Scott's death.

Some, including attorneys for Scott's family, see the new indictment as a message from federal prosecutors that they've got their eye on law officers and are fed up with flagrant violence.

FILE - In a Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 file photo, former North Charleston police office Michael Slager, is lead into court, in Charleston, S.C. A federal judge will decide whether Slager, charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black motorist, can remain free on bond. An indictment unsealed Wednesday, May 11, 2016, shows that Slager is charged with violating Walter Scott's civil rights and two other federal charges. (Grace Beahm/The Post And Courier via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

"I think the Justice Department is tired of sitting on the sidelines and they think this is one they can definitely win and send a message to police departments around the country," attorney Chris Stewart told The Associated Press.

A former federal prosecutor offered a similar take.

"Typically, these cases get tried in state court," said Pete Strom, a former U.S. attorney for South Carolina now in private practice. "The Department of Justice is interested in making this an impact case and sending a message to law enforcement that you can't shoot somebody in the back."

Slager's lawyer, Andy Savage, meanwhile, questioned the timing of the federal charges, called the penalties extreme and suggested the federal case is seeking to make amends for history.

"It really feels as if Officer Slager is carrying the burden of many past cases that were handled differently," Savage said in a release.

Slager was arraigned Wednesday on federal charges that include depriving Scott of his civil rights. The federal indictment also charges Slager with obstruction of justice and unlawful use of a weapon during the commission of a crime in Scott's death.

A bystander's cellphone video captured images of Slager, then a North Charleston police officer, firing eight times as Scott, 50, ran from an April 2015 traffic stop. The case inflamed a national debate about how blacks are treated by white police officers.

The federal indictment says Slager, while acting as a law officer, deprived Scott of his civil rights. A second count says he used a weapon, a Glock Model 21 .45 caliber pistol, while doing so.

The third count, charging obstruction of justice, alleges that Slager intentionally misled state investigators about the encounter, "falsely stating that he fired his weapon at Scott while Scott was coming forward at him with a Taser," the indictment reads. "In truth and in fact, as defendant Michael Slager then well knew, he repeatedly fired his weapon at Scott when Scott was running away from him."

It's uncommon for the Justice Department to bring federal civil rights charges against police officers in deadly shootings. Such cases require them to prove an officer willfully violated the victim's civil rights by knowingly using more force than the law allows.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported this year that federal prosecutors have declined to pursue civil rights allegations against law enforcement officers 96 percent of the time since 1995, with most experts blaming the low prosecution rate on the difficulty of winning such cases.

The 12,703 potential civil rights violations turned down nationwide from 1995-2015 include high-profile incidents in Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri, but also thousands of lesser-known incidents.

In this instance, Strom said the federal prosecution may be sending a powerful message about how police violence is to be handled across the nation, given the public fervor such cases has created.

"If you try him in state court in South Carolina, that's not a national story that will ring loudly in every police department in the country," said Strom, whose father was a longtime chief of South Carolina's state police force. "If he is indicted by the Justice Department and convicted, that's going to send a much louder message nationwide."

There's also a unique complication to Slager's state case. The chief prosecutor in the Charleston area is also heading up the death penalty case against Dylann Roof, the white man charged with gunning down nine people during Bible study at a historic black church last summer. The state's Supreme Court has said Scarlett Wilson can prioritize that case over any other, and it's been delayed until January.

Slager's state case is set to go to trial this fall, although Wilson has asked that it be moved up or delayed until after Roof's is over.

Maximum penalties for Slager in both state and federal cases are the same: life in prison.

Scott's mother Judy Scott said she thanks God for justice.

"I'm happy for that, but I'm sad because my son is gone. I'll never see him again. But I pray that other mothers don't have to go through what I've been going through," she said.

___

Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina.

Judy Scott, the mother of Walter Scott who was shot and killed while fleeing a traffic stop in April of 2015, speaks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed an indictment charging white former police officer Michael Slager with three federal counts in the death of Scott. Slager already faces a murder charge in state court. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith)
Al-Qaida, hard-line rebels seize Alawite village in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Al-Qaida fighters and other ultraconservative Sunni insurgents seized a predominantly Alawite village in central Syria on Thursday, sparking fears of sectarian violence as families from the village were reported missing by activists.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said "terrorists" were killing residents of the village of Zaara, previously controlled by the government. Syrian state media said insurgents had looted and destroyed homes.

Clashes continued into the afternoon as government or allied Russian aircraft pounded rebel positions, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that seven militants were killed. The Local Coordination Committees, an activist-run network, said the insurgents killed over 30 pro-government fighters in the clashes.

Jan Egeland, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, speaks about the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force, at the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Sunni militant group, led the assault on Zaara, along with the Nusra Front, al-Qaida's Syrian franchise, which often fights alongside opposition factions. The Observatory, which covers both sides of the conflict through a network of local activists, said families disappeared from Zaara after the militants took over.

Syria's conflict began with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad but escalated into a civil war after a brutal government crackdown and the rise of an armed insurgency. It became increasingly sectarian with the rise of Sunni insurgent groups and the arrival of Shiite militants from across the region to fight alongside Assad's government.

Assad and his family are Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the majority of Syrians are Sunni Muslims. Both the government and the opposition claim to represent the entire country with its various religious minorities, but armed groups on both sides have carried out sectarian attacks.

The International Committee for the Red Cross had to cancel a 24-truck aid convoy to the town of al-Houla, near Zaara, citing security concerns. The ICRC did not say whether it was related to the clashes in Zaara.

It was to be the first aid delivery to the town since March, when aid reached 70,000 residents in the area for the first time since May 2015.

Another aid convoy by the ICRC, in conjunction with the United Nations and the SARC, was also turned back outside Daraya, a suburb of Damascus besieged by pro-government forces.

ICRC spokesman Pawel Krzysiek, who was traveling with the convoy, said it wasn't allowed through the last government checkpoint.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric later clarified to reporters that "the U.N. and the ICRC aborted the mission to Daraya because the convoy was refused entry, due to the medical and nutritional supplies on board."

"These conditions, imposed by government security personnel, were unacceptable, and contrary to earlier guarantees and approvals obtained from the Syrian government," he said, noting that this happened at the last checkpoint. Earlier, he said the mission was aborted because the nutrition supplies were removed.

It would have been the first aid delivery to the area since November 2012. The U.N. estimates the suburb's current population is between 4,000 and 8,000 people, down from over 70,000 before the war.

After the aid convoy was turned back, government forces shelled the town with mortar rounds, killing a father and his son and wounding at least five civilians, the London-based Amnesty International said in a statement.

The Local Council of Daraya, a Facebook page operated by activists inside the town, posted a video following the shelling showing what appears to be more than two bodies.

In another video posted before the convoy was turned back, women said they needed food. "These women and children and girls have no food. They have no clean water. No milk. God won't allow such a thing," said a woman with a baby on her lap.

The U.N. Security Council expressed "outrage" Thursday "at all recent attacks in Syria directed against civilians and civilian objects including medical facilities, as well as all indiscriminate attacks." It said such acts "may amount to war crimes."

In Geneva, the U.N. humanitarian aid coordinator for Syria expressed dismay about "disappointing" levels of access to besieged and hard-to-reach areas so far this month. Jan Egeland said his office hopes to get aid to about 905,000 people this month.

Elsewhere in Syria, rebels repelled a government offensive north of Aleppo that would have threatened the only supply route to the rebel-held portion of the city, Syria's former commercial capital.

An interim cease-fire over the divided city, which brought a few days of calm after two weeks of shelling and bombardment, expired Wednesday night.

World powers plan to meet on Syria next week in Vienna, with another round of U.N.-led, indirect peace negotiations between Syria's government and the opposition expected to follow some days later.

___

Issa reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report

Jan Egeland, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, speaks about the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force, at the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 12, 2016 (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

Staffan de Mistura, left, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, and Jan Egeland, right, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, speak about the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force, at the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, speaks about the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force, at the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
Islamic State group claims suicide bombing in southern Yemen

SANAA, Yemen (AP)  Yemen's Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing that struck a navy base in the southern port city of Mukalla on Thursday morning, killing at least six troops in a rare IS attack in a city once occupied by its rival militant al-Qaida branch.

Officers from a Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government have been seen recently at the base but it was not immediately clear if any of the coalition troops were present at the time of the attack.

The IS affiliate in Yemen, which has largely been eclipsed by the rival al-Qaida branch, emerged during the country's civil war, seeking to expand its footprint amid the turmoil gripping the country. Since March last year, Yemen has been immersed in a conflict pitting the country's Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies against President Abed Rabbo Mansour's government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 2, 2015 file photo, A tropical Cyclone Chapala batters Mukalla, Yemen. Yemen's Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing that struck a coast guard base in the southern port city of Mukalla at dawn Thursday, May 12, 2016 killing at least six troops in the first major attack in a city once occupied by its rival group, al-Qaida. (AP Photo/Mohammed Bazahier, File)

In Thursday's attack, the bomber rammed his car into a checkpoint manned by Yemeni troops outside the navy base, sending a plume of heavy black smoke into the sky, security officials said. Ambulances were seen rushing to the site and images of the aftermath were posted on social media.

In an online statement by IS supporters on Twitter, the group identified the suicide bomber as Hamza al-Muhajer, saying he detonated his vehicle at the headquarters of "Hadi's apostate militias"  a reference to forces loyal to Hadi's government.

Almost at the same time, two other explosions hit the military headquarters in Mukalla, according to the officials, who said the blasts set off fierce clashes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Hours after the attack, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Ubaid bin Daghir visited Mukalla, his first visit since the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government troops last month routed al-Qaida fighters from the city, the provincial capital of Hadramawt. After the militants withdrew, Saudi and Emirati officers were also seen in the city.

U.S. warplanes and drones have carried several airstrikes targeting al-Qaida training camps and vehicles in the same region over the past months.

Last week, U.S. officials said the Pentagon is providing military support, intelligence, ships and special operations forces to help in the ongoing operations against al-Qaida militants in Yemen. A senior U.S. official said that American special operations forces are advising Yemeni and Emirati forces there but that they are working at the headquarters' level and are not near the front lines.

After its withdrawal from Mukalla, al-Qaida said it pulled out to spare the city of destruction. The coalition claimed it killed 800 militants but al-Qaida supporters and witnesses largely denied those claims.

Throughout its year-long rule of Mukalla, al-Qaida forged an alliance with local forces fighting the Houthis in cities like Taiz and Aden. Those local fighters are backed by the Saudi-led coalition, a reflection of the complexities of Yemen's conflict.

Meanwhile, Yemen's warring parties have been holding U.N.-brokered negotiations in Kuwait to resolve the conflict. A truce, which began April 10, has mostly held despite multiple breaches by both sides.
IS bombings highlight Iraqi capital's vulnerability

BAGHDAD (AP)  A wave of Islamic State bombings in Baghdad has killed nearly 100 people in two days, exposing lingering gaps in the capital's defenses, which are manned by an array of security agencies and militias that don't always cooperate.

The attacks also point to the resilience of the extremist group, which has increasingly resorted to bombings in civilian areas far from the front-lines as it has lost territory to Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes.

Three attacks in Baghdad on Wednesday left more than 90 people dead and 165 wounded. The deadliest struck a crowded market selling food, clothing and household goods in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City. The second deadliest attack in Baghdad this year was also in Sadr City, where bombings in late February killed 73 people.

Protesters chant anti-government slogans during a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs at the site of yesterday's car bomb attack in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

On Thursday, two suicide bombers hit a police station in Baghdad's westernmost suburb of Abu Ghraib, killing five policemen and wounding 12.

Bombings have been a fixture of life in the Iraqi capital since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, with the attacks reaching their peak during the sectarian fighting of 2006 and 2007, when dozens of civilians were killed nearly every day.

Security has improved since then, but at the ubiquitous checkpoints in and around the capital, security forces still use electric wands that have been repeatedly discredited, and security is often handled by armed groups that are allied with the government but also loyal to political parties or militias.

Shortly after the Islamic State group swept across northern and western Iraq in the summer of 2014, top Shiite clerics called on volunteers to mobilize to defend the country. The call-to-arms gave security forces a much-needed influx of thousands of men, but also hastened the rise of powerful militias that often act independently.

The Shiite militias officially operate under the direct command of the prime minister through an umbrella group known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, but command and control remains decentralized. In Baghdad, they operate alongside federal and local police, intelligence agencies and different army divisions.

"There is a multitude of security forces and no higher authority coordinating them," said a senior Iraqi intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the press. He said the failure to share intelligence was largely to blame for the recent attacks.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he "ordered an immediate investigation to find the reasons that led to these security breaches and called for greater accountability for negligence."

The statement said IS was trying to "compensate for defeats on the battlefield and the victories of the country's armed forces."

Security began to improve last year as Iraqi ground forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes started wresting territory back from IS. The Iraqi government estimates that IS only controls around 14 percent of the country, but the extremists still hold Mosul, the country's second-largest city, and Fallujah, a city just west of Baghdad.

Experts say that as the group's territorial losses have mounted it has changed tactics, reverting to an earlier strategy of using large bombs to target security forces and Iraq's Shiite majority, aiming to stoke sectarian strife and undermine faith in the Shiite-led government.

The bombings point to a "weakening ability of the (Iraqi security forces) to adequately and consistently protect the greater Baghdad area," the Institute for the Study of War said in a recent report.

The bombings also show that IS is "a hybrid enemy that can shapeshift from a semi-conventional force into its roots as a terrorist organization," Kimberly Kagan, the president of the Washington-based think tank, told The Associated Press.

In addition to defending the capital from IS, Iraq's security forces have also had to contend with mass protests in recent weeks led by a firebrand Shiite cleric demanding wide-ranging political reforms. Thousands of followers of Muqtada al-Sadr breached Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone last month and ransacked parliament, though they later withdrew from the area peacefully.

Iraq's Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, linked the recent IS attacks to the political turmoil, saying the country faces a "serious challenge" and that the public needs to rise above "grudges and revenge."

Support for al-Sadr runs deep in Sadr City, a vast Shiite working class neighborhood named for his family, which has seen the deadliest bombings this year.

Hundreds gathered at the site of Wednesday's attacks calling for increased security and for the interior and defense ministers to resign.

"The political bickering, the differences and conflicts among politicians are hurting (the country) at all levels," said Baghdad resident Raad al-Quraishi, who blamed the political stalemate for the security failures and a deepening economic crisis.

The anti-government protests first erupted last summer as temperatures soared and millions were left without electricity. With the approach of another sweltering summer, a spike in bombings could stoke even greater unrest.

Protesters returned to the streets of Sadr City on Thursday, with many blaming the attacks the day before on the government.

"We demand also that the prime minister step aside," in addition to the defense and security officials, Sabah Yasen said. "They should pay heed to their people who are killed daily. We hold them responsible."

___

Associated Press writers Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Murtada Faraj contributed to this report.

Municipality workers clean up debris a day after a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Municipality workers clean up debris a day after a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Municipality workers clean up debris a day after a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Victims of bombing attacks are treated at a hospital in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Sattar Jabbar, 15, a victim of bombing attacks receives treatment at a hospital in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Saif Mohammed, 3, looks at his sister Hana Mohammed, 8, a victim of bombing attacks as she receives treatment at a hospital in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Sattar Jabbar, 15, a victim of bombing attacks receives treatment at a hospital in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. In the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year, three car bombs claimed by the Islamic State group killed and wounded dozens of civilians across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, demonstrating the extremists' ability to mount significant attacks despite major battlefield losses. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Iraqi security forces stand near the site of yesterday's car bomb attack as residents of Sadr City gather for a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Iraqi security forces stand near the site of yesterday's car bomb attack as residents of Sadr City gather for a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Residents of Sadr City gather for a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs at the site of yesterday's car bomb attack in Baghdad, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

People chant anti-government slogans as the hold posters of Iraq's Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban, with Arabic sentence reads, "leave, leave you failure" during a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs at the site of yesterday's car bomb attack in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Protesters wave a giant Iraq flag as they chant anti-government slogans during a demonstration against the security forces' failure to protect them from car bombs at the site of yesterday's car bomb attack in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Iran declines to take part in hajj over dispute with Saudis

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual hajj, an Iranian official said Thursday, the latest sign of tensions between the two Mideast powers after a disaster during the pilgrimage last year killed at least 2,426 people.

Saudi Arabia blamed Iranian officials for the decision and suggested it was politically motivated to publicly pressure the kingdom.

Iran says Saudi "incompetence" caused the crush and stampede in the area of Mina on Sept. 24 during the hajj, which all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform once in their life. Iran has said the disaster killed 464 of its pilgrims.

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 file photo, emergency services personnel attend to victims of a stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage. Iran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual hajj pilgrimage, an Iranian official announced Thursday, May 12, 2016 the latest sign of tensions between the two Mideast powers after a disaster during the event last year killed at least 2,426 people. (AP Photo, File)

Ali Jannati, Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, said negotiations that took place over several months between Iran and Saudi Arabia were aimed at trying to "resolve the issue" of security during the hajj, but failed to make any headway.

"We did whatever we could but it was the Saudis who sabotaged" it, Jannati said in comments carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. "Now the time is lost."

A later IRNA report in English on Jannati's comments, which came during a visit to the Iranian holy city of Qom, called the decision "tentatively confirmed," suggesting it may not be final.

In a statement in the official Saudi Press Agency on Thursday evening, Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the row and said the kingdom is honored to serve Muslims of all nationalities as guests at holy sites in Mecca and Medina, where pilgrims carry out religious rites and prayers during the hajj season, as well as year-round.

The statement by Saudi Arabia's Hajj Ministry said the kingdom ensured Iranian officials obtained visas to meet with Saudi officials in April to discuss arrangements for this year's hajj, despite the fact the two countries severed diplomatic ties earlier this year. The ministry said that Iranian officials made demands that all visas for Iranian pilgrims be issued from inside Iran; that the transport of pilgrims be divided between Iranian and Saudi air carriers; and that a clause be included in the record to allow Iranian pilgrims to hold a Shiite ritual during the hajj.

Sunni-led Saudi Arabia said it made clear to the Iranian delegation that Iranians can obtain hajj visas by applying online in the absence of a Saudi Embassy in Tehran; that allowing Iran's national carrier to transport pilgrims runs contrary to "internationally recognized practice;" and that allowing this ritual would "hinder movements" of other pilgrims from around the world.

The ministry added that any decision to bar Iranian pilgrims from the hajj is being "imposed by the Iranian government ... as a means to pressure Saudi Arabia."

Tensions between the longtime rivals soared after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric on Jan. 2. Nimr al-Nimr was convicted on a string of charges, including sowing dissent and stirring violent anti-government protests in the predominantly Shiite east, something denied by his family, who say al-Nimr never advocated violence nor picked up a weapon.

Al-Nimr's execution sparked widespread protests in Shiite-led Iran, which views itself as the protector of Shiites around the world. Demonstrations outside of Saudi diplomatic posts in Tehran and Mashhad turned violent and protesters stormed the buildings. Riyadh responded by cutting diplomatic relations with Tehran.

The two countries also support opposing sides in Syria's civil war and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country.

Since Saudi diplomatic posts remain closed in Iran, Jannati said Saudi officials had said Iranians would need to travel to embassies in other countries to apply for hajj visas. He described that as another sticking point in the failed negotiations.

"Iran's proposals regarding visa application, air transport and security of pilgrims were not accepted by the Saudi officials," Jannati said.

Since February, Switzerland has been representing the interests of Saudi Arabia in Iran and those of Iran in Saudi Arabia, delivering basic consular services, such as issuing visas in cases where the two countries agree to it.

Jannati said Saudi officials had not accepted Iran's request to facilitate visas to the kingdom through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, though he did not specify which types of visas the request was referring to.

The Swiss department of foreign affairs said that as a general rule it "does not comment on activities linked to the protecting power mandate exercised by Switzerland," in reference to its role.

The disaster in Mina was the deadliest in the history of the annual pilgrimage, according to an Associated Press tally of the dead based on state media reports and officials' comments from 36 of the over 180 countries that sent citizens to the hajj. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since Sept. 26, and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.

Last year's hajj, which drew 2 million pilgrims, also saw a crane collapse in Mecca kill 111 worshippers.

Iran called for an independent body to take over planning and administering the five-day hajj, but the kingdom's ruling Al Saud family has refused any suggestion it would share its role in overseeing the holy sites. That, along with Saudi Arabia's oil wealth, provides it major influence in the Muslim world.

Iran has boycotted the hajj before. In 1987, demonstrating Iranian pilgrims battled Saudi riot police in clashes that killed at least 402 people. Iran claimed 600 of its pilgrims were killed and said police fired machine guns at the crowd. Iran did not send pilgrims to the hajj in 1988 and 1989, while Saudi officials severed diplomatic ties over the violence and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

___

Associated Press writers Abdullah al-Shihri in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Aya Batrawy and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Jamey Keaton in Geneva contributed to this report.

___

Follow Amir Vahdat on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AmirhVahdat. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/amir-vahdat.
US court hears appeal in Abu Ghraib torture lawsuit

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  A federal appeals court on Thursday explored the question of who was in charge, the U.S. military or civilian interrogators, when four former Iraqi detainees claim they were tortured at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

An attorney for the former detainees urged a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate their lawsuit against a military contractor, arguing that its employees took advantage of an "absence of command presence" and ordered soldiers to abuse the men to soften them up for questioning.

"The plaintiffs in no way seek to question military judgment," said Baher Azmy, an attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights who represents the detainees.

John F. O'Connor, an attorney for the military contractor, said this is the first injury lawsuit he has seen that does not go after the people who actually inflicted the injuries  in this case, the soldiers, including some who were court-martialed. He said U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee did the right thing when he threw out the lawsuit.

The former detainees sued Arlington-based CACI Premier Technology Inc.in 2008. They claim employees of the company, which was hired to conduct interrogations at the U.S. prison in Iraq, conspired to have soldiers torture them. The plaintiffs say they were subjected to electrical shocks, sexual violence and forced nudity, and were deprived of food, water and oxygen.

Lee dismissed the lawsuit last June, ruling that the military controlled CACI's actions. He said the lawsuit was barred by the "political question doctrine," which prevents federal courts from deciding issues that the Constitution assigns to political branches. The former detainees appealed.

In the appeals court hearing, Judge Barbara Milano Keenan asked O'Connor why the private contractor should get more protection than the military for clear violations of laws against torture. "Isn't there a disconnect there?" she asked.

O'Connor said there was not. Prosecutors could have pursued criminal charges against the civilian interrogators had they found any credible evidence against them, O'Connor said.

Azmy countered that because the lawsuit alleges a conspiracy, the detainees do not have to show that CACI's employees personally inflicted the abuse.

In 2004, photos depicting soldiers abusing Abu Ghraib detainees became public, shocking the national conscience and producing "universal condemnation among U.S. political and military leaders," Azmy's clients say in court papers.
The Latest: Brazil's acting president names all-male Cabinet

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  The latest on the debate on impeachment of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff (all times local):

6:35 p.m.

All 21 members of Brazil's new Cabinet named by acting President Michel Temer look just like him: white men.

Brazil's acting President Michel Temer addresses the nation in Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, May 12, 2016, after the Senate voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff pending an impeachment trial. In his first words to Brazilians as acting president, the former vice president promised to beef up the fight against corruption, and in particular said he will support the sweeping investigation into a mammoth kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras. Temer himself has been implicated by witnesses in the probe, though he has not been

Suspended President Dilma Rousseff began her second term last year with six women among her 39 Cabinet members. One of the women was the only black minister in the government.

Like Temer, some of the new Cabinet members are scandal-tainted dealmakers in Brasilia's political scene. Three of his Cabinet members are implicated in the investigation into corruption t state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Sen. Romero Juca will be one of Temer's main names in economy policy. Businessman Geddel Vieira Lima will work in political relations with Congress.

___

6:25 p.m.

Acting Brazilian President Michel Temer is promising to beef up the fight against corruption, and in particular says he will support the sweeping investigation into a mammoth kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras.

Temer himself has been implicated by witnesses in the probe, though he has not been charged. Many Brazilians worry he will move to weaken an investigation that has ensnared dozens of the country's elite, from top politicians to businessmen.

Many people blamed suspended President Dilma Rousseff for the multibillion-dollar scheme. While she has never implicated herself, much of the alleged graft happened during the 13 years that her Workers' Party was in power, including the last six years while she was president.

___

6 p.m.

In his first words to Brazilians as acting president, Michel Temer says his priority will be reviving Latin America's largest economy.

The vice president took on the duties of Brazil's president Thursday after the Senate voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff pending an impeachment trial. Temer says he is committed to "restoring confidence."

The 75-year-old Temer says he wanted his first public appearance as acting president to be a somber and discrete ceremony to "be in line with the times we are living."

___

1:35 p.m.

Vice President Michel Temer has signed the official notification that he's interim president of Brazil following the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.

Temer's official Twitter account shows him signing the document brought to him by a delegation from the Senate, which voted early Thursday to suspend Rousseff.

Temer will serve during a Senate trial to determine if Rousseff should be permanently removed. That trial can take up to six months.

___

11:45 a.m.

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff is comparing the pain of being impeached to the torture she suffered under the country's past military dictatorship.

She says at a news conference that "it's the most brutal of things that can happen to a human being  to be condemned for a crime you didn't commit."

In her words, "I may have committed errors but I never committed crimes."

___

11:30 a.m.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff remains defiant in the face of impeachment, saying "Never will I stop fighting."

She's appeared publicly for the first time since the Senate voted to impeach and suspend her, calling the process "fraudulent" and "a coup."

She says it's been cooked up by opponents eager to snatch the power and roll back social programs.

___

9:20 a.m.

Just hours after the Senate vote that suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, her entire Cabinet was dismissed.

The G1 internet portal of the Globo television network says notice of the dismissal of the 27 ministers has appeared in Thursday's edition of the government gazette.

Those sacked include former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rousseff's predecessor and mentor, whom she named as her chief of staff in March.

The dismissals appear to open the way for Rousseff's Vice President Michel Temer to swear in his own Cabinet as early as Thursday.

Temer has suggested he'll slash the number of Cabinet posts to 22.

___

9 a.m.

The International Olympic Committee says it is looking forward to working with the new Brazilian government ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro following the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.

IOC President Thomas Bach says "there is strong support for the Olympic Games in Brazil and we look forward to working with the new government to deliver successful Games in Rio this summer."

Bach says preparations for the Aug. 5-21 games "have now entered into a very operational phase and issues such as these have much less influence than at other stages of organizing the Olympic Games."

He adds: "We have seen the great progress being made in Rio de Janeiro and we remain confident about the success of the Olympic Games in August."

___

8:15 a.m.

Senate President Renan Calheiros says that President Dilma Rousseff will remain in the presidential residence despite being impeached and suspended by the Senate. Now that lawmakers have voted to impeach Rousseff, the chamber has up to 180 days to conduct a trial and then vote whether to remove her permanently.

Calheiros says that in the meantime Rousseff will have security guards, health care, and the right to air and ground travel, as well as staff for her personal office. He also says she'll receive a salary, though he didn't specify what it would be.

___

7:15 a.m.

Sen. Romero Juca says the 55-22 vote to impeach Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff suggests it would be very difficult for her to win her mandate back during the impeachment trial.

Juca is from the opposition Democratic Movement Party, the main motor behind the impeachment.

Vice President Michel Temer will now take over while the Senate conducts a trial within the next 180 days.

Juca says: "It was a painful process, a process that has changed Brazil  but it is necessary to change Brazil. People today are having difficulties. Thousands of people are losing their jobs every day, companies are closing. Life is getting worse. It's not possible to continue the way things are."

Sen. Humberto Costa, the Workers' Party leader in the Senate, acknowledged the government's defeat and pledged to be a "strong and hard" opposition to the new Temer government.

___

6:35 a.m.

Brazil's Senate has voted 55-22 to impeach the South American giant's first woman president.

President Dilma Rousseff is accused of using accounting tricks to hide large budget deficits.

Rousseff will be suspended and replaced for up to six months by Vice President Michel Temer pending a trial in the Senate. The trial will determine whether Rousseff can serve out her second term, or whether her ally-turned-enemy, Temer, will remain in the top job through the December 2018 end of the term.

The result represents a victory for the pro-impeachment camp. It was significantly higher than the simple majority of 41 votes needed to suspend her. It sends a signal that Rousseff faces an uphill battle to return to power.

Thursday's vote capped a marathon session in the Senate that lasted more than 20 hours.

1:00 a.m.

A rancorous Senate debate on the fate of President Dilma Rousseff has dragged into a new day Thursday, with her critics arguing that she caused deep damage to Latin America's largest nation while supporters are calling the effort to impeach her a coup d'etat.

The Senate's march toward a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff began Wednesday morning. The debate droned on through the day and into the wee hours of Thursday, with the vote possibly coming sometime around dawn.

Senate President Renan Calheiros said at one point: "I'm asking for everybody's patience because we need to see this through to the end."

An anti-government demonstrator shows off her Brazilian flag motif face paint outside Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching President Dilma Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Pro-government demonstrators shout during clashes with the police outside Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching President Dilma Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Brazil's Senate during the debate session that's expected to culminate in a vote on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. If a simple majority of the 81 senators vote in favor, Rousseff will be suspended from office and Vice President Michel Temer will take over for up to six months pending a decision on whether to remove her from office permanently. Senate President Renan Calheiros has said he wants the vote to happen Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Pro-government demonstrators run from a cloud of pepper spray during clashes with the police outside Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching President Dilma Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A pro-government supporter is frisked after clashing with the police when he attempted to advance towards the Congress building, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching President Dilma Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Demonstrators shout pro-government slogans during a vigil in Support of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. President Rousseff is facing possible impeachment by Congress, with the Senate expected to vote on a measure to suspend her from office. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Supporters of President Dilma Rousseff shout during clashes with the police outside Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Anti-government demonstrators set up a large inflatable doll in the likeness of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff wearing a presidential sash with the words in Portuguese "Goodbye dear" and "Mother of big oil" written on it, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The Latest: French general faces fine in anti-migrant rally

BRUSSELS (AP)  The Latest on the migrant influx in Europe (all times local):

9:15 p.m.

A French prosecutor has asked a northern court to fine a former Foreign Legion commander for taking part in an outlawed anti-migrant protest in Calais.

Migrants and refugees who were camped in Idomeni walk through fields in their attempt to cross the Greek- Macedonian border near the village of Evzoni, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 refugees and other migrants are stuck in Greece, through which more than a million people passed since early 2015. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Four-star general Christian Piquemal went on trial Thursday in Boulogne-sur-Mer after he and some 150 other people defied a ban on a demonstration last February in nearby Calais, a port city hosting a sprawling migrant camp.

Prosecutor requested a 500-euro ($570) fine for the 75-year-old Piquemal, according to Dominique Mattei, the general's lawyer. The court will return its ruling on May 26.

The protest, organized by the anti-Islam movement PEGIDA, took place a few weeks before authorities ordered a mass eviction in part of the slum camp where thousands of migrants have gathered to try to sneak across the English Channel to Britain.

___

6:45 p.m.

The European Union law enforcement agency Europol says it will recruit up to 200 new investigators to bolster security checks at migration hotspots in Greece and other countries in an attempt to identify suspected extremists and criminals.

Europol announced Thursday that up to 50 "guest officers" will be sent in rotations to "key points on the external border of the EU" to check the flow of migrants. The first new officers are expected to be deployed to Greece by the end of June.

The organization says the new recruits will enable Europol to reinforce security and help "identify movements of suspected terrorists." Europol chief Rob Wainwright says they will help European authorities "safeguard our borders."

___

4:45 p.m.

The European Union wants to speed up the supply of funds to Syrian refugees in Turkey and hopes to have 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) available for the effort by the end of July.

The official in charge of EU enlargement, Johannes Hahn, said Thursday that so far "close to 200 million euros of projects have been rolled out, and we have a growing number of further projects in the pipeline."

The EU has pledged to provide 3 billion euros this year and next to help some 2.7 million refugees living in Turkey. It could give 3 billion more from 2018.

The money is an incentive  along with visa-free travel in Europe for Turks and fast-track EU membership talks  for Ankara to stop migrants coming to Europe.

___

11:55 a.m.

A group of 28 refugees from Syria and Iraq have arrived in Slovenia as part of an EU relocation plan to deal with the migrant crisis.

The refugees came Thursday from Greece where thousands have been stuck for months following the closure of the so-called Balkan corridor toward the wealthy EU nations.

Slovenia is slated to take in 567 refugees from Italy and Greece by the end of next year. Authorities say they will look into each of the asylum requests separately.

Slovenia's interior ministry says the group that arrived Thursday will be taken first to an asylum center in the capital of Ljubljana.

More than 500,000 migrants have passed through Slovenia before EU and Balkan nations imposed restrictions earlier this year in a bid to control the flow.

___

11:40 a.m.

The European Union has decided with immediate effect to allow Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway to keep border controls in place for up to six months to deal with the migrant influx.

EU headquarters said in a statement Thursday that the controls should be "targeted and limited in scope, frequency, location and time, to what is strictly necessary to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security."

It said the countries should inform each other of exactly where they plan to carry out the controls.

Germany reintroduced ID checks last year to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants.

Its legal avenues for keeping the controls in place were set to expire on Friday without this EU decision.

___

11:30 a.m.

Germany's foreign minister says "the ball is in Turkey's court" as the Turkish government and the European Union face off over conditions for Turkish citizens to be granted visa-free travel to Europe.

The visa waiver is one of the incentives offered by the EU for Turkey to stop migrants leaving for Europe and take back those who do arrive. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier acknowledged Thursday "we have a strong interest in this agreement on migration not collapsing."

Turkey was given conditions to secure the visa waiver. The main obstacle is Ankara's refusal to narrow its definition of "terrorist" and "terrorist act" amid concerns that journalists and political dissenters could be targeted.

Steinmeier said: "If Turkey fulfills its commitments, then I would be for fulfilling our commitments and allowing visa liberalization."

A man walk among railway tracks at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Refugees and migrants hold placards as they take part in a peaceful protest at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Refugees and migrants take part in a peaceful protest at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Children hold placards as migrants and refugees take part in a peaceful protest at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Refugees and migrants take part in a peaceful protest at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Children hold placards as migrants and refugees take part in a peaceful protest at a makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Thursday, May 12, 2016. About 54,000 people are currently stranded in Greece, after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal designed to stem the flow of refugees into Europes prosperous heartland. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
EU extends border controls in Austria, Germany, Scandinavia

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union has decided with immediate effect to allow Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway to keep border controls in place for up to six months to deal with the migrant influx.

EU headquarters said in a statement Thursday that the controls should be "targeted and limited in scope, frequency, location and time, to what is strictly necessary to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security."

It said the countries should inform each other of exactly where they plan to carry out the controls.

People walk on their way to Idomeni camp, Greece, after trying to cross the Macedonia's border, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Around 9500 stranded refugees and migrants are camped at the makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Germany reintroduced ID checks last year to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants.

Its legal avenues for keeping the controls in place were set to expire on Friday without this EU decision.

A family walk on their way to Idomeni camp, Greece, after a group of migrants and refugees tried to cross the Macedonia's border, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Around 9500 stranded refugees and migrants are camped at the makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this May 2, 2016 photo, a man carries laundry as he walks inside a residential house at the Sumte refugee shelter in Sumte, Amt Neuhaus, northern Germany. The village of only 102 people housed up to 1,000 migrants. Six months after the first arrivals, not only have fears of violence and overtaxed utilities not materialized, but the shelter has brought benefits including dozens of jobs to the sleepy village of 102 people and the isolated rural region of northern Germany where it is located. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Actress Diane Guerrero writes about her fractured family

LOS ANGELES (AP)  One afternoon upon returning from school, Diane Guerrero found her home empty. The TV actress was only 14 when she was left completely alone after her parents were detained and deported to their native Colombia.

The depression, anxiety and emotional instability that followed are some of the personal struggles the 29-year-old actress reveals in her new memoir, "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided." She also discusses her later development as an actress and working on the popular Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black" and The CW's "Jane The Virgin."

In essence, the 257-pages book, just released by Henry Holt and Co., illustrates one of the heartbreaks of today's immigration crisis: U.S.-born children who are left alone when their parents are deported. About 4.1 million American children have at least one parent who lives in the U.S. illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

FILE- IN this June 11, 2015, file photo, actress Diane Guerrero attends Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" ORANGECON Celebration at Skylight Clarkson SQ in New York. The depression, the anxiety and the emotional instability that Guerrero went through due to the separation from her parents are some of the points she writes about in her new memoir "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided," as well as her later professional development and her work in the successful Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black" and The CWs "Jane The Virgin." (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

"We have a lot of comments on the news, we have a lot of rhetoric over what an immigrant is and what a deportee is, but you don't hear any real stories. I don't think we ever had the chance to really tell our side," said Guerrero, responding in a recent interview to why she wrote the book.

"I am here, a citizen of this country and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to this country and here I am sharing my story. What are you going to do now?'" she added.

Guerrero's older brother was also deported, but she decided to stay behind with friends because of her firm belief that America offered many more opportunities than Colombia.

"My parents were clear from the beginning (about the possibility of deportation). That was a topic of every day, so I was very well aware and my father did a good job of preparing me if the inevitable happened," said the actress. "I wanted to follow my dreams and finish what my parents started when they came here for better opportunities. It was a difficult decision and I don't know if, in hindsight, I would have changed it."

At one point, Guerrero was so depressed over the absence of her parents, mounting debt and other problems, that she tried to take her own life.

"Once I got to college, that anxiety and pain and confusion kind of came forth. ... Everything that I did or tried to do was harder than normal because I didn't have my parents and their support," said the actress. "I went through many stages. I went through depression, which is something that we don't often talk about when we look at undocumented communities and deported families."

Her love for the arts started in high school, at the Boston Arts Academy. She later attended Regis College and studied to be a paralegal until she decided to sign up with a Boston casting agency and finally pursue her dream.

"There's light at the end of the tunnel," said Guerrero. "I know that things are scary and we may have a lot of fears, but what we can do now is educate ourselves, we can educate others, we can join this movement, we can understand that our stories are valuable, that we are important and that ... like it or not, we make up the fabric of this country and we have to fight to be part of it because we are part of it, regardless of how many people are telling us that we don't belong."

Guerrero first told her story in November 2014 in an article in the Los Angeles Times. She was inspired by so-called "dreamers," who publicly acknowledge they grew up in the U.S. without documentation but who are fully assimilated and feel very much like Americans.

Reaction to the article was immediate. A few days later, she met President Barack Obama at an event in Las Vegas where he expounded on his just-announced executive order offering dreamers a pathway to documentation.

Guerrero's work in "Orange Is the New Black" and "Jane the Virgin" has yielded success and popularity that she is now using to promote citizenship and voter registration among immigrants, in collaboration with organizations like Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Mi Familia Vota.

The actress says writing "In the Country We Love" has been a cathartic experience for her.

"After coming out with the book and my story, I feel a lot better, a little clearer about who I am and I don't feel like I'm lying to other people and, most important, I don't feel like I'm lying to myself," said Guerrero.

"I want immigration reform to come into fruition and I want it to be comprehensive and I want it to have a path to citizenship and I want to be involved politically every day," she added. "I'm doing that and I'm feeling better because before, I was just kind of floating, you know, I wasn't being a political being and I didn't know where my responsibilities lied in my community and now I've found that."

___
Egyptian activists campaign for release of street performers

CAIRO (AP)  Egyptian activists took to social media Thursday to demand the release of detained members of a satirical street performance group whose selfie-style video clips mocked President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

The activists posted pictures on Facebook of themselves holding mobile phones in front of their faces with the caption: "Does a mobile phone camera rattle you?"

Police on Monday arrested four members of the group Awlad Shawarea, or "Street Children." A fifth member, Ezzedeen Khaled, was arrested over the weekend and freed on bail Thursday, three days after a court ordered his release, their lawyer, Mahmoud Othman, said.

This undated handout image provided by an Egyptian activist shows him posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (UGC via AP)

The other four members in detention are Mohammed Adel, Mohammed Dessouki, Mohammed Yahya and Mohammed Gabr. Othman said their ages range between 19 and 25. A sixth member of the group, Mohammed Zein, has not been detained, he added.

The performers face several charges, including inciting terror attacks and street protests, attempting to overthrow the government and insulting state institutions, Othman said.

Speaking to The Associated Press before Ezzedeen's release, Othman said the five were being held at a police station in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis.

"I last saw them yesterday and they are in good condition," he said. "The prosecution, regrettably, does not see their clips as creative work protected by the constitution."

Street Children is part of a street-based art, music and graffiti movement born out of Egypt's 2011 uprising and fueled by liberal youths opposed to the rule of either Islamists or the military. Authorities in recent months have sought to clamp down on the movement, closing a popular arts center in downtown Cairo and cancelling some street art festivals.

The move against Street Children underlined the government's diminishing tolerance for dissent and signaled that its next target could be social media networks, one of the last remaining platforms for young, pro-democracy activists and artists to air their views and work.

Recent clips by the group were entitled "El-Sissi, my president, made things worse," and "Leave"  a chant that was popular during the 2011 uprising that forced autocrat Hosni Mubarak to step down. Other clips mocked the president's habit of ending speeches with "Long live Egypt!" and his recent reference to advice by his late mother "never to covet what belongs to others."

The famous Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef  once described as the Jon Stewart of Egypt  took part in the online campaign. Youssef's show was taken off the air a few months after then-military chief el-Sissi ousted Egypt's first freely elected leader, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi, in July 2013.

"If you truly are not scared of anyone, let them go free," Youssef said in a brief video, addressing el-Sissi and referring to the five performers and other political detainees. He was alluding to the president's recent assertions that no one scares him.

Egyptian actor Amr Waked, who played the rich Arab chieftain in the widely acclaimed 2011 film "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," also took part in the campaign, as well as Yousry Nasrallah, one of Egypt's most respected film directors, prominent human rights advocate Ghada Shahbander and novelist and rights campaigner Ahdaf Soueif.

El-Sissi assumed office in June 2014, nearly a year after Morsi's ouster. He has overseen the arrest of thousands of Morsi's supporters as well as scores of pro-democracy activists behind the 2011 uprising. The government has defended the crackdown and the erosion of freedoms since the 2011 uprising by saying it is trying to restore stability, revive the economy and defeat an increasingly powerful insurgency based in the Sinai Peninsula.

El-Sissi's announcement last month that his government intended to surrender control over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia sparked a series of protests that were met with one of the biggest rounds of arrests in the last two years.

___

This story has been corrected to show that "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" was produced in 2011, not 2012.

COMBO - This undated handout combo image made of eight photos provided by the subjects, shows Egyptian activists posing for 'selfies' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president. Activists on Thursday posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (UGC via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Sherif Azer, shows him posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Sherif Azer via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Ahdaf Souief, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Ahdaf Souief via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef, shows him posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in The United States of America. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Bassem Youssef via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Mona Seif, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Mona Seif via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Ghada Shahbender, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Ghada Shahbender via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Rasha Abdullah, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Rasha Abdullah via AP)

This undated handout image provided by the subject shows an Egyptian activist posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (UGC via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Nazly Hussein, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Nazly Hussein via AP)

This undated handout image provided by Egyptian activist Sarrah Abdelrahman, shows her posing for a 'selfie' part of an online campaign demanding the release from detention of members of a satirical street group whose selfie-style video clips mocked the country's president, in Egypt. Activists on Thursday, May 12, 2016 posted phone-wielding selfies entitled "does a mobile phone camera scare you?" and directed at President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Police this week arrested four members of the group Awlad el-Shawarea, or "Street children." A fifth member was arrested over the weekend but was later released on bail. They are facing a host of charges including inciting terror attacks and street protests as well as insulting state institutions. (Courtesy of Sarrah Abdelrahman via AP)
The Latest: Activists give anti-corruption vow mixed welcome

LONDON (AP)  The Latest on the international meeting on corruption being held in London (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

Charities and activist groups are giving a mixed welcome to corruption-fighting commitments from an international meeting in London.

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Participants from 40 nations have vowed to root out and punish corruption  but many did not sign up to the toughest measures.

Just six countries, including Britain, have agreed to publish registers of who really owns companies in their territories  a key goal of anti-corruption groups. Six more said they would consider doing so.

Jose Ugaz, chair of Transparency International, said it was "a good day for the fight against corruption, but there is more to do."

Susana Ruiz, tax expert at anti-poverty charity Oxfam, said "tax dodgers can still sleep easily tonight."

She said tax evasion would continue until "all governments, including tax havens, commit to a global public register showing who really profits from shell companies wherever they are based."

___

12:50 p.m.

A global anti-corruption summit is extracting a plethora of promises from nations to open up corporate records, quash money laundering and end bribery in public contracts.

But the results are mixed, with many countries failing to commit to the toughest actions sought by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

In a communique published during Thursday's meeting, participants say tackling corruption is "a top priority, at home and abroad." Attendees promise to "uncover corruption wherever it exists, and to pursue and punish those who perpetrate, facilitate or are complicit in it."

But firm commitments vary widely. Just six countries, including Britain, have agreed to publish registers of who really owns companies in their territories  a key goal of anti-corruption groups. Six more say they will "explore doing so."

___

11:50 a.m.

There's a lot of talk at a London anti-corruption summit about making island tax havens more transparent. British territories including the Cayman Islands and Jersey have agreed to draw up lists of who owns companies registered there.

But Allan Bell, chief minister of the Isle of Man  a British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea  says there won't be real progress "unless the United States joins in this international agreement" and makes its own tax havens, such as Delaware, more open.

This month the Obama administration announced a set of financial regulations that would force companies to disclosure more information about their owners, part of an effort billed as a crackdown on tax evaders and money launderers.

Bell says "we need actions, not fine words."

___

11:00 a.m.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says corruption is a global "pandemic" and as big a threat to nation states as terrorism.

Kerry has told an international anti-corruption summit in London that as the United States' top diplomat, "I've been shocked by the degree to which I have found corruption pandemic in the world today."

He says that "corruption writ large is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we're fighting."

British Prime Minister David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, left, sits beside U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as they listen to a panel at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

British Prime Minister David Cameron listens during the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

British Prime Minister Cameron, right, followed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrive to open the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrives for the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. British Prime Minister David Cameron has gathered world leaders in London Thursday to crack down on corruption. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, speaks during a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the international anti-corruption summit on Thursday May 12, 2016 in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday called corruption a "cancer" at the heart of the world's problems, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the corruption "pandemic" was as great a threat as extremism. (Dan Kitwood/Pool via AP)

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos speaks on the podium during a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Laura Stefan, the anti corruption coordinator for the Romanian Academic Society, from left, Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena and business man Strive Masiyiwa take part in a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Businessman Strive Masiyiwa takes part in a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena speaks on the podium during a panel discussion at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. David Cameron has gathered leaders, civil-society groups and representatives of banks and financial institutions at Thursday's conference with the goal of producing a strong global declaration against financial wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
10 Things to Know for Today - 12 May 2016

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. BRAZIL'S SENATE IMPEACHES PRESIDENT ROUSSEFF

The South American giant's first female president is accused of using accounting tricks to hide large budget deficits.

Supporters of President Dilma Rousseff shout during clashes with the police outside Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate is nearing a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

2. WHAT TRUMP AND RYAN HAVE TO SAY TO ONE ANOTHER

The likely GOP presidential nominee and House speaker sit down face-to-face for the first time, a week after Ryan stunned his party by refusing to back the mercurial billionaire for the White House.

3. MALAYSIA: 2 MORE PIECES 'ALMOST CERTAINLY' FROM FLIGHT 370

The debris, discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island off Mauritius, brings the total number of parts believed to have come from the missing Malaysian jetliner to five.

4. SECOND TRIAL IN FREDDIE GRAY CASE GETS UNDER WAY

The trial for Officer Edward Nero, who faces assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment charges, goes before a judge, giving it a better chance of ending with a verdict.

5. TEXAS PLANT EXPLOSION CALLED 'CRIMINAL ACT'

Federal officials' announcement that arson caused a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in 2013 has residents of West wondering who might have done it and why.

6. HOW NEW HAMPSHIRE IS DEALING WITH POLICE PURSUIT CASE

The governor is calling for an investigation into the use of force by police after video surfaced of officers appearing to pummel a suspect who had led them on a high-speed chase from Massachusetts to New Hampshire.

7. WHY RUSSIA IS INFURIATED BY LATEST MOVE FROM THE WEST

A U.S. missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is set to become operational, angering Moscow which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.

8. WHO IS AUCTIONING GUN USED TO KLLL TRAYVON MARTIN

George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer, tells a Florida TV station that his motivation for selling it was that it was "time to move past the firearm."

9. WHERE GEORGE CARLIN COLLECTION IS HEADED

Items belonging to the late comedian are getting a new home in upstate New York.

10. WHAT WASHINGTON'S $210 MILLION MAN ACCOMPLISHED

Max Scherzer struck out 20 batters to match the major league record for a nine-inning game in the Nationals' 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
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A solar-powered aircraft attempting to fly around the world without using any fuel has safely completed the eleventh leg of its epic journey after landing in Oklahoma.

Solar Impulse 2, piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, landed after an 18 hour and 10 minute flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Tulsa International Airport in Oklahoma.

The aircraft flew 975 miles (1,570km) and reached an altitude of 22,000ft (6,705 metres), taking the team behind the aircraft another step closer to their 21,700 mile (34,922km) record breaking journey around the world using only the power of the sun.

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Solar Impulse 2 landed safely in the dark at Tulsa International Airport after an 18-hour flight from Phoenix. It brings the team another step closer to their 21,700-mile round the world goal. It has now travelled more than 17,000 miles

The aircraft flew 975 miles (1,570km) and reached an altitude of 22,000ft (6,705 metres), taking the team behind the aircraft another step closer to their 21,700 mile (34,922km) record breaking journey around the world using only the power of the sun

The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from Phoenix Goodyear Airport about 3am on Thursday. It landed without incident at Tulsa International Airport around 11.15pm local, meaning the aircraft has now travelled 17,000 miles (27,350km) since setting off on its record attempt last year.

The crew are likely to stay in Tulsa for a few days while they wait for the weather to clear before it makes another flight over the United States ahead of tackling the crossing of the Atlantic from New York.

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.

Andre Borschberg will pilot Solar Impulse 2 on the twelveth leg of the journey as it continues to cross the United States. However, the exact destination is yet to be decided.

A statement released by the Solar Impulse 2 team said: 'Until two days before takeoff, our engineers had not even considered flying to Oklahoma due to its tornado potential.

'They were originally considering a flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Kansas City, Missouri, however due to difficult weather conditions over the plains in the state of Kansas, we had to find a different solution.

'Landing in Tulsa is symbolic, as it lies at the heart of the United States. Route 66, the iconic road that stretches from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona until ending in Santa Monica, California was initiated by entrepreneurs in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

'This flight marks the third Solar Impulse mission flight this year after the Pacific Crossing and the flight from San Francisco to Phoenix, Arizona.

'Our goal now is to reach New York as soon as possible in order to have enough time to find a clear weather window to cross the Atlantic.'

Solar Impulse 2 departed from northern California in the early hours of May 2 and landed at the airport southwest of Phoenix 16 hours later. Last month, it flew from Hawaii to California.

The globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard took 20 minute naps during the 18-hour flight. He was greeted at Tulsa International Airport as he stepped out of the aircraft's cockpit by his fellow pilot Andre Borschberg. The pair is taking turns to fly the aircraft on each leg of the journey

Solar Impulse 2 has a flight speed of about 28 mph, although that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest. The $100 million solar project began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation

The Solar Impulse 2 touched down safely in Tulsa before taxiing (pictured) to a hangar where the team will begin assessing its performance during the flight and preparing it for the next leg of the journey

The aircraft reached a little over 11,400ft (3,475 metres) as the sun began to rise a little under two hours into the 18 hour flight to Oklahoma (view from the cockpit pictured)

After Oklahoma, the plane is expected to make at least one more stop in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey.

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 energy stored in its high density batteries during the night.

Its 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 Solar Impulse 2 is built from a range of lightweight materials and high storage batteries (illustrated) to help keep the experimental aircraft in the air for long periods using just the power from sunlight

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 route is pictured

A world map shows the path of the solar powered-plane so far, as it continues to cross the United States. Today's stage will take Solar Impulse across the mid US, heading towards New York for its next major challenge - crossing the Atlantic Ocean

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.

Solar Impulse 2 was grounded in July last year after 'irreversible damage to certain parts of the batteries' as it flew across the first half of its journey across the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii.

Following its record-breaking, five-day flight across the Pacific last month, battery temperatures surged.

In particular, there was too much insulation which caused the plane's battery temperature to spike on the first day of the flight across the Pacific.

Bertrand Piccard (pictured before taking off in Arizona) piloted the aircraft 975 miles during the 18 hour flight from Phoenix to Tulsa

The crew struggled to find ways of cooling the batteries once the aircraft was in the air.

Upon arriving in Hawaii, following a five day trip from Japan, the team decided to delay the rest of the trip until spring this year when the weather is likely to be more favourable for flying.

The aircraft was flown over the Pacific to Hawaii by Piccard's teammate Andre Borschberg, whose 118-hour journey smashed the previous record of 76 hours and 45 minutes set by US adventurer Steve Fossett in 2006.

The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest part of the plane's global travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites.

Solar Impulse 2 has a flight speed of about 28 mph, although that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest.

In total the aircraft is expected to travel 21,700 miles in its around the world journey from Abu Dhabi.

The $100 million solar project began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation.
Turkey's Erdogan decries execution of Bangladeshi Islamist

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkey's president strongly condemned the execution of an Islamist party leader in Bangladesh.

In a speech in Ankara on Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had recalled his ambassador from Bangladesh in protest.

Motiur Rahman Nizami, the 73-year-old head of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, was executed early Wednesday for his role in acts of genocide and war crimes during the country's independence war against Pakistan in 1971.

Erdogan also lashed out at Europe for not speaking out against the execution.

"Weren't you against executions?" Erdogan said. "There was no noise (from the EU) because the person who was executed was a Muslim."
Retired officer dies from injuries suffered in bike crash

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP)  A retired New Jersey police officer has died following a bicycle crash at an event to raise awareness about law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

Retired Roxbury police Lt. Joseph Franklin had been hospitalized in Morristown after being critically hurt in a bicycle pileup in Far Hills on Monday, the first day of the 320-mile Police Unity Tour bike tour to Washington D.C.

His family issued a statement Wednesday saying Franklin's organs have been donated to those in need.

Roxbury Police Chief Marc Palanchi said he spoke to Franklin shortly before the crash and Franklin said he was enjoying retirement in North Carolina.
Review: Clooney gets a conscience in 'Money Monster'

George Clooney plays a Jim Cramer-like television personality who's forced to grow a conscience when a disgruntled viewer holds him hostage on live TV in "Money Monster," a serviceable, if slight, real time thriller from director Jodie Foster.

Clooney's character Lee Gates is one of those cable news stars who probably hasn't spoken to a non-celebrity in decades. His flashy show opens with him in dancing in costume with two gyrating ladies at his side like he's in his own rap video, and the vulgarity just escalates from there with ridiculous graphics and sound effects that even a shock jock radio host would likely find tasteless.

We see him being dismissive of the pleas from his put-upon producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) to stick to the script, or at least give her a heads up as to where he's planning to go, but Lee Gates is one of those roguish improvisational types who is somehow charismatic enough to get away with it. This is not really a likable guy, and it's not even clear how smart a financial mind he is, but Clooney has that perfect combination of non-threatening smarm and swagger to make Lee not completely reprehensible.

It does, however, make it a little hard to care when Jack O'Connell's character Kyle comes skulking in through the back of the set with a gun and a vest full of explosives made especially for Lee. Kyle, we find out, trusted Lee's advice on an investment that went awry when a stable company's stock plummeted and he lost everything. The company's explanation and the narrative in the press is that it was just a computer glitch, but Kyle's not buying it and wants some answers.

It's an odd pairing, this somewhat daffy television dope against an unhinged blue collar fool with a hunch that $800 million didn't just disappear because of a glitch. Although it doesn't make for the most scintillating conversation, as Kyle wails about the system being rigged tension builds and it seems like perhaps "Money Monster" is heading somewhere significant  an all-out indictment of Wall Street corruption, maybe, that movies as different as "Margin Call" and "The Big Short" have done so well.

Unfortunately, it doesn't.

Instead, "Money Monster" stays rather small and fictional in its aim. It's partially interested in the idea of systemic corruption in the finance world, sure, but it seems to be even more critical of the cable news media types who have grown soft, complacent and careless.

Foster, in the director's chair for the fourth time, proves once again to be assured and malleable in this role, ready to proficiently fulfill the needs of any genre with a steady, straightforward style. "Money Monster" feels like a solid '90s studio thriller in some ways  a movie for adults and made by adults with a crop of charismatic A-listers at the center.

Clooney and Roberts, by the way, are very good together but hardly get any time to just be charming in this tightly woven pic. It also seems like a cruel trick to have those two in a movie and to keep them in separate rooms for a large portion of it, communicating only through a speaker system as Patty attempts to "direct" the hostage situation from the control room. O'Connell, while committed, is playing too much of a working class stereotype to truly make an impact, and a third act turn really doesn't help.

"Money Monster" might not be a great movie, but it is a comforting movie-movie that's still fun to watch even if it whiffed on being something more.

"Money Monster," a Sony Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "language throughout, some sexuality and brief violence." Running time: 90 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

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MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Police: New York college student steals ambulance, crashes

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP)  A 22-year-old college student has been charged with stealing an ambulance while its crew was responding to call on a western New York campus.

Police say a Rural Metro ambulance responded around 2 a.m. Thursday to the University of Rochester to treat an intoxicated man. Officers say a different man got into the ambulance and drove off.

Police say the man drove about a quarter mile before going off the road and getting stuck in a flower bed.

Officers charged the student with grand larceny, criminal mischief, traffic violations and driving while intoxicated.

The ambulance sustained damage and had to be towed away.
Hospital that treated man before stabbing bars contractor

BOSTON (AP)  A hospital that treated a man before he fatally stabbed two people and wounded several others at a home and mall said Thursday that it was barring a state contractor that provides mental health evaluations.

In a letter to state officials, Morton Hospital said the contractor, Norton Emergency Services, was putting patients at risk by not providing "critical and timely services."

The hospital did not reference the case of Arthur DaRosa, the assailant in the stabbings. His family said he had been battling mental illness in recent months and was suicidal and depressed when he checked himself in to Morton Hospital on Monday evening. He was released Tuesday morning and hours later fatally stabbed an 80-year-old woman in her home and a 56-year-old teacher dining out at a mall with his wife before being shot and killed by an off-duty sheriff's deputy.

Taunton, Mass., Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr., right, speaks about Tuesday's stabbings at a Taunton home and shopping mall, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Fall River, Mass. Behind him are Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh, left, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III. Arthur DaRosa, described by his family as mentally disturbed, went on a stabbing rampage hours after leaving a hospital. He killed two people and assaulted and stabbed others before being fatally shot by an off-duty sheriff's deputy at the Silver City Galleria mall. (Jack Foley/The Herald News of Fall River via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

The hospital took the action against Norton Emergency Services unilaterally after it failed to evaluate several patients in its emergency department in a timely way Thursday morning, and the hospital was "rebuffed or ignored" when it offered to perform the evaluations themselves, a spokeswoman said in a statement.

A message left with a spokeswoman for the contactor was not immediately returned.

Norton Emergency Services is run by the state Department of Mental Health and is one of four Emergency Services Program providers operated directly by the state.

The hospital said earlier that state policy governing the way it handles psychiatric patients was "misguided." It said the state should review and revise policies that require outside third-party vendors to evaluate and recommend the treatment provided to Medicaid patients in emergency departments. The hospital said its own psychiatrists and clinicians should be allowed to assess patients.

Morton also said psychiatric beds were available Monday.

"If the state contracted agency responsible for conducting evaluations in the emergency department had requested an admission to a psychiatric bed, there were beds available within the hospital's network," said Julie Masci, a spokeswoman.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker declined Thursday to address specifics of the case or current state policies, but promised the state would investigate procedures.

"This was a horrible, terrible tragedy and emotions are running high and there is a lot of information out there," Baker told reporters. "The thing we need to do is figure out exactly what happened and why and then make adjustments based on that to make sure this doesn't happen again."

DaRosa's aunt Liz DaRosa said the killings could have been prevented had the hospital kept him longer rather than discharging him.

State Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, co-chair of the Legislature's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee, said the fact that a bed was available suggests there were other reasons DaRosa was discharged from the hospital  perhaps because he asked to be released or because the doctors who examined him felt it was safe.

"We walk a very fine line between holding people against their will and allowing them to make their own decisions," said Flanagan, adding that no one could have anticipated the violence in this case.

State policy allows for a psychiatric evaluation to determine if a person can be hospitalized involuntarily for a period of up to three days. The hospitalization can be ordered if the evaluation determines there is a likelihood of "serious harm" because of mental illness.

The state Department of Mental Health operates an emergency services program that responds to the Morton Hospital emergency room upon request, officials said.

Arthur DaRosa left his daughter's soccer practice on Tuesday evening, crashed his car and then entered a home at random and stabbed two women, Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said. Patricia Slaving, 80, later died.

He then drove to the Silver City Galleria mall several miles away and stabbed two people in a Bertucci's restaurant, Quinn said.

George Heath, 56, a high school visual arts teacher, was stabbed trying to defend a waitress, and he died.

DaRosa was shot and killed by off-duty Plymouth County Sheriff's Deputy James Creed.

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Centennial celebrations planned for the late Roald Dahl

NEW YORK (AP)  Lucy Dahl, one of the late Roald Dahl's five children, has special memories of birthdays.

"Birthdays were always a big event when I was a child," Dahl, a screenwriter and daughter of Dahl and actress Patricia Neal, told The Associated Press. "We were one of the few people I knew who were lucky enough to have an indoor swimming pool and we'd have these big parties, great big celebrations actually.

"But my father didn't have a big ego. On the whole he enjoyed celebrating other people's birthdays and he loved giving them presents and things like that."

In a Dec. 10,1968 file photo, actress Patricia Neal and her husband, writer Roald Dahl arrive for the premiere of "The Subject Was Roses," in New York. To mark the September 2016 centennial of Dahl's birth, tributes will range from a "Traveling Trivia Tour" to a re-release of the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder. New editions of "James and the Giant Peach," "The Witches" and other classics are being published, along with the "Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary." Steven Spielberg's adaptation of "The BFG," starring Mark Rylance, will show this month at the Cannes Film Festival and will open in theaters in July. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff, File)

This year, Roald Dahl is the guest of honor. To mark this September's centennial of the British author's birth, tributes will range from a "Traveling Trivia Tour" to a re-release of the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder. New editions of "James and the Giant Peach," ''The Witches" and other classics are being published, along with the "Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary." Steven Spielberg's adaptation of "The BFG," starring Mark Rylance, will show this month at the Cannes Film Festival and will open in theaters in July.

During a recent telephone interview, Lucy Dahl talked about her father's life and legacy.

AP: What would your father have made of all the events this year?

Dahl: He would have loved it. He worked so incredibly hard his whole life and he's become more and more well-known and loved by children and discovered by children as the years go on. That's what he wanted. He wanted to make children happy through his work. He wanted children to know that he understood them.

He used to say, 'Children have a lot to go through. Try walking around on your knees, being half the size of everyone else. And everything you want you have to ask for and 99 percent of the time you're being told "no." See how you feel at the end of the day.'

AP: What do you think of Spielberg's film of "The BFG"?

Dahl: Steven got it right. Steven, too, understands the idea of good triumphing over evil and identifying with being young at heart.

I went to the set for one day and spent a lot of time there. It was one of the most magical days in my whole life. All of the sets were in one massive warehouse. It was really incredible and Steven treated me like I was a queen. 'The BFG' was a bedtime story when I was growing up, and I had this visual image of it, as one does, and walking into that giant warehouse and walking on to those sets ... was like everything I ever imagined.

I wrote to him (Spielberg) and (producer) Frank Marshall and said I felt like I was Charlie Bucket walking into the chocolate factory.

Q: Are there any other adaptations of your father's work that stand out for you?

Dahl: I especially love (the Tony-winning production) 'Matilda the Musical.' It's really, really fantastic. I also like (the movie of) 'Fantastic Mr. Fox.' (Director) Wes Anderson spent a lot of time in our home, in Buckinghamshire, in dad's workhouse, and he got the feeling exactly right.

It's very difficult for many people to adapt dad's work. There's a line between tragedy and tragedy that goes too far. Dad used to say a good example was of children walking down the street and seeing a man slip on a banana skin. They roar with laughter, but if he's broken his back then it's not funny anymore. There's an invisible tightrope dad was able to walk along that makes it a challenge for filmmakers.

Q: Why do you think your father's books are still so popular?

Dahl: They're timeless books. The issues they talk about are timeless. Like the big giant and 'BFG.' It's in the same vein as 'Alice in Wonderland,' children having to deal with authority. Or 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Everybody loves chocolate. That's pretty timeless as well.
Germany: No new EU deal for Britain if it leaves the bloc

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Thursday that Britain will not get an improved membership deal with the European Union if the country votes to leave the bloc.

Schaeuble said in a speech he wanted to end any speculation that a "leave" vote in the June 23 referendum could be used to improve on a deal won by Prime Minister David Cameron to change Britain's membership terms.

Schaeuble said that "this is the only deal on the table. An 'out' vote cannot be used to get a better deal. 'In' means 'in' and 'out' means 'out.'"

CORRECTS SPELLING OF JUNCKER- The President on the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker attends a panel discussion about the future of Europe at the Europe Forum event, hosted by the Germany's WDR television and broadcast service, at the Foreign Ministry, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

He said the decision was for the British people alone to make, and that "we will respect any decision that is reached."

Earlier, a top European Union official warned that a decision to leave the bloc would cause "manifold problems."

The head of the EU's executive Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said in Berlin that Britons aren't being told about the "full extent" of the problems an exit would cause.

He said that if Britain leaves, the EU won't change course but "everything would have to be rearranged."
Bear bites Appalachian Trail hiker in the Smokies

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP)  A hiker says he was bitten by a bear as he slept along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Park spokeswoman Dana Soehn tells local media that the 49-year-old hiker told authorities in Graham County, North Carolina, he was sleeping in a tent Tuesday night near the Spence Field Shelter when a bear bit him on the leg through the tent.

The victim was able to scare the bear away.

Soehn says the bear returned at some point and tore through two vacant tents, including the one belonging to the victim.
Vienna mayor: Austrian state railway head chancellor nominee

VIENNA (AP)  Top officials from Austria's senior government coalition party on Friday agreed to nominate the state railways head as chancellor following the abrupt resignation of the man who led both the party and the country.

The search by the Social Democrats for a new Austrian leader began just days ago, after Werner Faymann stepped down as chancellor, leaving the party smarting from a string of electoral losses to the right and split between proponents and opponents of Faymann's hard-line migrant policies.

Railway head Christian Kern was to be formally put forward Friday by the party's senior officials after an underdog rival bowed out on Thursday.

FILE -In this Feb. 10, 2016 file picture CEO of OeBB holding, the Austrian railway company, Christian Kern speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Vienna, Austria. Kern is a likely candidate to replace Austrian chancellor Werner Faymann who resigned Monday , German and Austrian media reported Thursday May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Relatively untested in politics but nationally recognized for his successful reorganization of the struggling railway, the 50-year old still faces potential hurdles in succeeding Faymann.

The centrist People's Party, the junior coalition partner, has signaled that it will accept only a replacement who backs the tough migrant restrictions agreed to by Faymann an issue Kern has stayed silent on.

And even if he is accepted by the People's Party, with the Social Democrats in disarray and on a prolonged losing streak, he has a tough job ahead.

Kern's party once commanded absolute majorities but has seen its popularity steadily drop since the early 1980s. The latest blow came last month when the Social Democratic candidate was drubbed in the first round of presidential elections by a rival from the right-wing Euroskeptic Freedom Party.

Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer received 35 percent of the vote in the April 24 first round and is the favorite going into the May 22 runoff.

The People's Party  the other dominant post-World War II political force  is also seeing losses, reflecting the eroding support for traditional parties mirrored elsewhere in Europe in favor of populist and Euroskeptic parties.

The Freedom Party's strongest card is strong anti-migrant sentiment within Austria. But it also has benefited from perceptions that the establishment parties are out of touch over other issues, including unemployment and terrorism.

For pro-European politicians, it's a worrying sign of what could happen in the country's next general election, which must be held within two years, and the latest indication of the strength of anti-EU parties in Europe.
Accused Belgian plotter says he was just 'talking bull'

BRUSSELS (AP)  For Belgian authorities, he's "Big Guy," a key actor in an extremist plot foiled just in time that was run remotely by the ringleader of last fall's gun and bomb attacks in Paris.

But former security guard Marouane El Bali told a Brussels court Thursday that if he's guilty of anything, it's of talking big.

According to court proceedings, the 26-year-old was heard on a wiretapped phone announcing in code that he had managed to buy a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle for 1,200 euros (about $1,360).

A man gestures as he talks to judges during a trial of a suspected extremist cell linked to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the now-dead ringleader of last year's lethal attacks in Paris, at the Justice Palace in Brussels on Thursday May 12, 2016. Sixteen defendants, including nine who are still at large, are accused of involvement in what Belgian authorities say was a terrorist plot being mounted in the eastern city of Verviers. Lawyers for some of the accused contend their clients did nothing illegal. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

"I was talking bull more than anything else," El Bali told the judge.

He is on trial with six other men accused of belonging to a cell linked to Islamic militants that police broke up when they stormed a house in the Belgian city of Verviers on Jan. 15, 2015.

Two suspected plotters died in the police assault, and El Bali, who was with them, surrendered. All three men were from the same Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek.

Belgian officials say the operation was being managed at a distance by another Molenbeek man, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was in Greece at the time. Abaaoud, ringleader of the carnage that killed 130 victims in Paris on Nov. 13, died in a police siege soon afterward.

Short and heavyset, El Bali is thought by Belgian law enforcement officials to be the Verviers cell member referred to by others as "Big Guy." Sebastien Courtoy, El Bali's defense lawyer, said his client had been part of the group for less than 24 hours.

Questioned by the judges, El Bali minimized his role.

"I don't know anything about weapons," he said. He said he was talking "nonsense" as police eavesdropped.

Nine other people charged in the case are on the run. The trial, which started Monday, is expected to last three weeks.

A police officer guards the entrance to the court room during a trial of a suspected extremist cell linked to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the now-dead ringleader of last year's lethal attacks in Paris, at the Justice Palace in Brussels on Thursday May 12, 2016. Sixteen defendants, including nine who are still at large, are accused of involvement in what Belgian authorities say was a terrorist plot being mounted in the eastern city of Verviers. Lawyers for some of the accused contend their clients did nothing illegal. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Judges arrive for a trial of a suspected extremist cell linked to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the now-dead ringleader of last year's lethal attacks in Paris, at the Justice Palace in Brussels on Thursday May 12, 2016. Sixteen defendants, including nine who are still at large, are accused of involvement in what Belgian authorities say was a terrorist plot being mounted in the eastern city of Verviers. Lawyers for some of the accused contend their clients did nothing illegal. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Latest: Secret Service eyes former Trump butler

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on developments in the presidential campaign, including Donald Trump's meetings Thursday with House Speaker Paul Ryan and with other congressional leaders (all times EDT):

6:30 p.m.

Donald Trump's former butler has drawn the attention of the Secret Service for threats he's made online against President Barack Obama.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives for a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Trump and Ryan are sitting down face-to-face for the first time, a week after Ryan stunned Republicans by refusing to back the mercurial billionaire for president. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Anthony Senecal, who served the presumptive Republican nominee at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, has a Facebook page filled with incendiary comments, many directed at the president and his family.

Trump's campaign says in an emailed statement that "Tony Senecal has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for years, but nevertheless we totally and completely disavow the horrible statements made by him regarding the President and first family."

The Secret Service said Thursday it is "aware of this matter and will conduct the appropriate investigation."

Senecal declined to accept a reporter's call.

__

4:45 p.m.

Donald Trump supporters and Republican operatives are starting a new super PAC to help him.

The group is headed by Doug Watts, the former communications director for Ben Carson's 2016 bid. It is called Committee for American Sovereignty and expects to collect $20 million by the July convention, Watts says.

Among the advisers are Nicholas Ribis Sr., former chairman of Trump Hotel, Casino and Resorts and longtime GOP donor Kenneth Abramowitz.

Trump has disparaged outside groups, but Watts says his recent comments have led him to believe the candidate is now more open to them. "When facing a $1 billion effort by Hillary Clinton, it's fair for him to look around and ask for help," Watts says.

Watts says he notified Trump campaign official Paul Manafort about the group and that Manafort did not tell him to stand down.

The super PAC will focus on advertising and voter outreach, Watts says.

___

3:47 p.m.

The Republican senator who called Donald Trump a "nut job" and a "loser" is softening his stance as the GOP seeks to unify.

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trump's harshest critics, told reporters that he spoke with Trump by telephone Wednesday. He described the billionaire candidate as funny, cordial and said he asked insightful questions about national security.

"He's got a great sense of humor," Graham said. "He's from New York. He obviously can take a punch."

Graham, who waged an unsuccessful bid for his party's White House nomination, said he doesn't retract anything he said during the heat of the campaign and he still won't endorse Trump.

___

1:23 p.m.

Republican strategist Karl Rove says his super PAC will spend money this year on Senate and House races, and not on pro- Donald Trump commercials.

That's in line with what the presumptive GOP nominee says he wants. Trump has specifically trashed Rove and says he isn't interested in his super PAC's help.

Yet Rove also says American Crossroads and releated groups may run ads attacking likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in states where there is an opportunity to help boost Republican turnout to help Senate candidates. That, of course, would benefit Trump.

Rove is making the comments at a political panel during a finance industry conference in Las Vegas.

___

12:15 p.m.

Former House Speaker John Boehner is getting behind Donald Trump, despite disagreeing with Trump's stands on banning Muslims from entering the United States, tearing up trade deals and other issues.

Boehner (BAY'-nur) says the billionaire businessman is the presumptive Republican nominee for president  "whether people like it or not."

And Boehner is confident that Trump can win in November  over likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

"Anyone who thinks Donald Trump can't win  just watch." That's how Boehner put it during remarks Thursday at a conference of finance industry leaders in Las Vegas.

Boehner spoke not long after House Speaker Paul Ryan met with Trump in Washington.

Boehner thinks Ryan is probably "trying to help shape the direction of Trump's policies."

Boehner  who was speaker before Ryan  says he doesn't "doubt there will be a meeting of the minds."

___

11:50 a.m.

The highest-ranking woman in the House GOP leadership calls the meeting with Donald Trump a "very important first step" toward unifying Republicans.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state says Thursday's meeting was the first chance for her to make clear to the presumptive presidential nominee this core value for the party: "Dreaming big for everyone and turning its back on no one."

___

11:40 a.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says he was "very encouraged by what I heard from Donald Trump" in their much-anticipated meeting.

The Wisconsin lawmaker  who's has yet to say he's ready to back the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  says "it's not a secret" that the two have had "our differences."

Ryan says at a news conference after the meeting that the big question is "what do we need to do to unify the party." He says they're "planting the seeds" to accomplish that goal.

___

11:25 a.m.

The head of the committee to elect Republicans to the House says he may disagree with Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies, but that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee is a better White House option than front-running Democrat Hillary Clinton would be.

Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon says in a statement that he intends to support the GOP nominee. Walden's statement came out shortly after other House Republican leaders met with Trump at Republican Party headquarters on Capitol Hill.

Walden says the last thing he wants is to give Democrats another four years in charge in the White House.

___

11:15 a.m.

Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan say they had a productive meeting and see a great chance to unite the Republican Party and win the presidential election in November.

The presumptive GOP nominee and the party's top elected official said in a statement after their meeting on party headquarters on Capitol Hill that they are "totally committed to working together" to achieve that goal.

They say they were "honest about our few differences" but also recognize "many important areas of common ground."

More discussions are promised, but this first one was described as "a very positive step toward unification."

Ryan has yet to come out in support of Trump. But the two say it's critical for Republicans to united around "our shared principles, advance a conservative agenda and do all we can to win this fall."

___

10:55 a.m.

Donald Trump has wrapped up his meeting with House Republican leaders, including Speaker Paul Ryan, who's expressed reservations about backing the presumptive presidential nominee.

Trump held back-to-back meetings on Thursday at party headquarters on Capitol Hill.

First, Trump met with Ryan and the party chairman, Reince Priebus (ryns PREE'-bus). Then he sat down with other members of the House Republican leadership, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise (skuh-LEES').

Trump plans a separate meeting with Senate GOP leaders later Thursday.

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10:20 a.m.

The head of the Republican Party says the meeting with Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan was "a very positive step toward party unity."

Reince Priebus (ryns PREE'-bus) tweeted that comment after their meeting Thursday morning at GOP headquarters on Capitol Hill.

Priebus tweeted: "The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity."

Ryan said last week that he wasn't ready to endorse Trump, the presumptive presidential nominee.

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10:05 a.m.

The longest serving Republican in the Senate says he'll now support Donald Trump. But Utah's Orrin Hatch says the presumptive GOP presidential nominee needs to tone it down.

Hatch is among the Senate GOP leaders set to meet with Trump later Thursday.

Hatch says Trump needs to soften his rhetoric and "always act in a manner worthy" of a nominee. The senator isn't getting into details, but Trump has made critical comments about women, Hispanics and others.

Hatch says many of his constituents "have serious reservations" about Trump. In March, Utah voters went big for Trump's chief rival at the time, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, in the state's caucuses.

Hatch says Trump could unite Republicans and broaden his appeal by reconsidering his views on trade and overhauling benefit programs.

Hatch initially backed Jeb Bush in the race, and then Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Hatch says he'll "do what I can" to help Trump run a successful campaign.

___

9:40 a.m.

It's a "circus out here."

That's what a Democratic congressman says as he walked by the Capitol Hill building where Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan are meeting  and where boisterous protesters have gathered in the street.

Texas lawmaker Joaquin Castro says Trump  the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  "has been extremely divisive for the country" and is "tearing people apart. You can see the circus out here."

___

9:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has taken strong stands on immigration  and drawn equally strong reactions during his presidential campaign.

And it was no different when the Republican candidate arrived at a Capitol Hill building for his meeting Thursday morning with House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Protesters tried to deliver a cardboard coffin to the Republican National Committee that they said represented the suffering of immigrants under GOP policies  and the death of the party under Trump.

The protesters weren't allowed inside, but they did continue chanting and waving signs.

9:05 a.m.

A smattering of protesters are outside the Republican National Committee offices on Capitol Hill where Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan are meeting.

The presidential candidate entered the building through a side door for his first-ever get-together with the Wisconsin lawmaker  who hasn't yet backed the presumptive nominee.

Outside, fewer than a dozen people are demonstrating  but they're outnumbered by a sizable pack of reporters.

Some demonstrators are carrying signs that say "R.I.P. GOP" and using a megaphone to express their views that Trump's rise means the fall of the Republican Party. One chant is: "Down with deportation, up with liberation"

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016, following his meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Members of CodePink are escorted by law enforcement officer across the street after the arrival of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) building in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Trump is scheduled to meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and other Senate GOP leadership. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Demonstrators, including CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, right, protest against presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump at the entrance of the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016, as Donald Trump meets with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Anti-Trump protesters demonstrate against the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, at the entrance of the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2016, as Donald Trump meets with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Man arrested after girlfriend killed, 4 kids shot in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  Alabama authorities say they've arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting his girlfriend and wounding four of their eight children in Birmingham.

Police Chief A.C. Roper discussed the arrest but didn't give the man's name during a news conference Thursday.

The coroner's office identified the victim as 34-year-old Coral Anita Wilson.

Officers arrested the man after finding him sleeping in a car near the scene of the shooting, which happened Wednesday night.

All four children are hospitalized in stable condition. A 12-year-old child is described as having life-threatening injuries, but the others suffered less-severe wounds.

Four other children at the house weren't injured.
Cheniere Energy names Jack Fusco as CEO

NEW YORK (AP)  Cheniere Energy has named Jack Fusco as CEO after the natural gas company's previous CEO was forced out under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn.

Fusco was most recently executive chairman of Calpine Corp., which generates electricity from natural gas. He was CEO of the Houston company from 2008 to 2014.

Cheniere's CEO and co-founder Charif Souki, left in December months after Icahn boosted his stake in the company. Icahn and others questioned the ambitious growth track pursued under Souki.

Icahn's firm has a 13.9 percent stake in the company, making it Cheniere's largest shareholder, according to FactSet.

Cheniere, also based in Houston, is the first company with government permission to export natural gas from the shores of the continental U.S.

As part of Fusco's employment agreement, he will purchase $10 million worth of Cheniere's common shares by the end of the year.

Before Calpine, Fusco worked at Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Goldman Sachs and Orion Power Holdings.
Across the world, luxury-home sales get a reality check

WASHINGTON (AP)  The global luxury housing market lost some of its sheen last year as financial markets became unsettled and many wealthy buyers began to look for less expensive homes.

"The return of realism," is how Dan Conn, chief executive of Christie's International Real Estate, described the high-end market that stretches from San Francisco to Singapore.

Sales in a sector whose average home prices start at $2.2 million slowed in 2015, increasing by 8 percent, half its 2014 pace. The decline most likely reflects stability rather than weakness, according to a report released Thursday by Christie's.

This photo provided by Hilton & Hyland, exclusive affiliate of Christies International Real Estate, shows The Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. The property, which features 29 rooms, lists for $200,000,000. The global luxury housing market lost some of its sheen in 2015 as financial markets became unsettled and many wealthy buyers began to look for less expensive homes. (Hilton & Hyland/Courtesy of Christies International Real Estate via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Properties in London and Hong Kong are sitting on the market longer. On average, homes sold for prices 19 percent below the original asking price, compared with 14 percent below the asking price in 2014. The number of luxury-home sales in the often sizzling Manhattan market dipped 5 percent last year. Falling oil prices led sales in Dubai to tumble 25 percent.

"You can't have massive double-digit growth year after year after year," Conn said. "In some ways, there is a limit."

But a luxury market that experts say is normalizing still looks otherworldly when compared with conventional real estate. Some homes include cigar rooms with specialized ventilation and wine collections displayed in climate-controlled glass walls, for example, instead of in cellars.

Around the world, a single square foot in a luxury home varies dramatically  from $200 in Monterrey, Mexico, to $4,500 in Monaco. The highest price paid for a home last year was $194 million for the Barker Road Estate in Hong Kong, which, judging by pictures, was still something of a fixer-upper.

Not all luxury markets reflected the consequences of weaker global economic growth. The cheaper euro helped to boost pied-a-terre purchases in Paris.

Yet in an emerging trend, the luxury market last year reached beyond the traditional hubs of global commerce and posh resort towns. Places with humbler reputations enjoyed sharp increases in high-end sales, a pattern likely to continue through 2016, Conn said.

Christie's reported a 40 percent jump in the sales of luxury properties in Portland, Oregon, for example. And Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a 63 percent surge in luxury home-buying.

Atlanta, supported by an expanding film industry, reported a 25 percent increase, while an improving auto industry boosted luxury home sales in the Detroit area by 17 percent.

Baby boomers looking to cash out of the Vancouver housing market, which has attracted Chinese expatriates, moved to nearby Victoria, which enjoyed a 45 percent increase in luxury sales.

Other brokerages see similar phenomena at the top-tier of housing. During the first three months of 2016, Redfin reported that luxury sales prices dropped 1.1 percent from the same period a year ago.

Average luxury home prices in Miami Beach, Florida, plunged 13.7 percent to $5.7 million, according to the Seattle-based brokerage. Homes for Boston-area Brahmins fell 11.8 percent to $3.2 million. San Francisco tech gurus saw the average luxury sales price dip 4.7 percent to $4.4 million, while the Washington, D.C., area slid 4.2 percent to $2 million.

The main culprit appears to be a volatile stock market. The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index plummeted until mid-February, only to undergo a jagged recovery such that the net worth of millionaires and billionaires has been in near constant flux. The turbulence has left luxury buyers wary about spending lavishly on housing, said Nela Richardson, Redfin's chief economist.

"I'm not saying there is a recession among the 1 percent, but if you look across all luxury goods you're seeing softness," Richardson said. "I think that is attributable to the stock market."

This doesn't mean an absolute retreat from luxury housing.

In Florida, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have registered price gains after Miami became overheated. San Francisco's recent excesses have spilled across the bay to the more affordable Oakland, where average luxury home prices climbed nearly 50 percent in the past year to $2.4 million.

"There are only so many tech billionaires who can buy in San Francisco," Richardson said.

__

This story has been corrected to show that the average price per square foot in Monaco is $4,500, not $3,600 as stated in an earlier version of the Christie's report.

This photo provided by Hilton & Hyland, exclusive affiliate of Christies International Real Estate, shows The Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. The property, which features 29 rooms, lists for $200,000,000. The global luxury housing market lost some of its sheen in 2015 as financial markets became unsettled and many wealthy buyers began to look for less expensive homes. (Hilton & Hyland/Courtesy of Christies International Real Estate via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
The Latest: 2 troopers relieved of duty after police pursuit

NASHUA, N.H. (AP)  The Latest on a high-speed police pursuit from Massachusetts to New Hampshire caught on video that showed police pummeling a suspect who appeared to be surrendering (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

Two troopers have been relieved of duty following an arrest caught on video in New Hampshire that showed police pummeling a suspect in a high-speed chase who appeared to be surrendering.

This aerial image made from a helicopter video provided by WHDH shows several officers pummeling Richard Simone, who had exited his vehicle and kneeled on the ground after a high-speed police pursuit, in Nashua, N.H., Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The chase went through several towns before ending in Nashua. (Courtesy WHDH via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT; BOSTON OUT

In New Hampshire, Col. Robert Quinn told reporters Thursday that his New Hampshire state trooper isn't being paid. A statement from Massachusetts Col. Richard McKeon says a Massachusetts state trooper has been relieved of duty pending an internal hearing scheduled for Friday.

The two troopers weren't identified.

News helicopter video of the police pursuit from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on Wednesday showed 50-year-old Richard Simone, of Worcester, Massachusetts, stepping slowly out of his truck, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

Both Quinn and McKeon have called the video disturbing.

___

11:20 a.m.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has called the news helicopter video of police appearing to pummel a suspect who had led them on a high-speed chase into New Hampshire "incredibly disturbing."

Baker said Thursday his administration was anxious to work with New Hampshire authorities to investigate the circumstances.

News helicopter video of the police pursuit Wednesday showed 50-year-old Richard Simone, of Worcester, Massachusetts, stepping slowly out of his truck, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

Baker said he planned to call New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan later Thursday.

Simone was arraigned in Nashua on a fugitive-from-justice violation and Massachusetts authorities are expected to seek his return.

___

11 a.m.

A suspect who appears on a news helicopter videotape to be surrendering to police in New Hampshire before officers use force on him has agreed to be taken back to Massachusetts to face charges there.

Richard Simone Jr., of Worcester (WUS'-tur), Massachusetts, was shackled at the waist and ankles as he faced a fugitive-from-justice violation in a Nashua (NASH'-wuh) court. He was wearing a Red Sox T-shirt and shorts.

He did not appear to show any bruises from the encounter with police, although his mug shot did show he had blood on his left ear. Also, his public defender made a reference to his "medical condition" and got approval for Simone to sit in court.

Simone faces warrants out of Worcester and Millbury, Massachusetts, on larceny and assault with a dangerous weapon.

It wasn't immediately known when Simone would be returned to Massachusetts.

___

10:15 a.m.

A suspect who appears on a news helicopter videotape to be surrendering to police before officers use force on him is facing a fugitive-from-justice violation in New Hampshire and a return to Massachusetts to face charges there.

A complaint filed Thursday by police charges 50-year-old Richard Simone Jr., of Worcester (WUS'-tur), Massachusetts. Simone faces arraignment in Nashua (NASH'-wuh), New Hampshire.

The complaint says Simone had warrants out of Worcester and Millbury, Massachusetts, on larceny and assault with a dangerous weapon. Massachusetts police are expected to seek Simone's return to their state.

After the video surfaced, the New Hampshire attorney general's office began investigating the use of force by police.

___

9:15 a.m.

The New Hampshire attorney general's office is investigating the use of force by police after video surfaced of officers pummeling a man who led them on a chase.

Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin told WCVB-TV on Wednesday night that the video is "disturbing," but authorities aren't jumping to conclusions and need to find out exactly what happened.

Police say the vehicle chase of Worcester, Massachusetts, resident Richard Simone went through several towns at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

News helicopter video of the pursuit Wednesday showed Simone later stepping slowly out of his truck, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

It wasn't immediately known whether local or state police were involved, or a combination.

Simone was scheduled to be arraigned in Nashua on Thursday.

___

8:30 a.m.

The legal director of the ACLU in New Hampshire says the force used by police on a suspect who appeared to be surrendering following a pursuit was "significant."

Gilles Bissonnette says he expects "there will be a thorough independent investigation to determine whether the force used was reasonable and proportional."

News helicopter video of the pursuit Wednesday showed 50-year-old Richard Simone, of Worcester, Massachusetts, stepping slowly out of his truck in Nashua, New Hampshire, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has called for a full investigation.

The chase began when Simone refused to stop for police in Holden, Massachusetts. Simone was scheduled to be arraigned in Nashua on Thursday.

___

1:50 a.m.

New Hampshire's governor is calling for a full investigation into the use of force by police after video surfaced of officers appearing to pummel a suspect who had led them on a high-speed chase from Massachusetts to New Hampshire.

News helicopter video of the police pursuit Wednesday showed Richard Simone, of Worcester, Massachusetts, stepping slowly out of his truck, kneeling and putting his hands on the ground before several officers rushed him.

Massachusetts State Police were also involved in the pursuit and plan to review the apprehension of the 50-year-old Simone.

The pursuit lasted about an hour. It ended in Nashua, New Hampshire, about 50 miles northeast of where it began in Holden, Massachusetts.

Simone was taken into custody by Nashua police, who haven't returned phone calls seeking comment. Simone couldn't be for comment while in custody.
Court orders 'man in hat' suspect held for 1 more month

BRUSSELS (AP)  A Belgian court has ordered Mohamed Abrini, the Brussels attack suspect known as "the man in the hat," held in custody for another month.

Four other suspects also had their detention extended, Belgian prosecutors said Thursday in a statement. They include Swedish national Osama Krayem, who Belgian authorities say was spotted with the suicide bomber who attacked the Brussels subway March 22.

That same morning, Abrini, sporting a hat, was seen with the two suicide bombers who targeted Brussels Airport. A total of 32 victims died in the attacks.

Police stand guard as terror suspect Mohamed Abrini's case begins in court at a justice building in Brussels on Thursday May 12, 2016. Abrini is identified as the mysterious "man in the hat" who escaped the double bombing at Brussels airport. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Abrini, 31, a Belgian national, is also wanted in connection with the Nov. 13 attacks that killed 130 people in Paris. Belgian and French officials say the same network backed by the Islamic State group was responsible for both actions.

Police stand guard as terror suspect Mohamed Abrini's case begins in court at a justice building in Brussels on Thursday May 12, 2016. Abrini is identified as the mysterious "man in the hat" who escaped after the double bombing at Brussels airport. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Google wants new emojis to represent professional women

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP)  Google wants professional women to be better represented in emoji form.

In a proposal to the Unicode Consortium, which controls specifications for emojis, Google says it wants to create a new set "with a goal of highlighting the diversity of women's careers and empowering girls everywhere." The proposal says women  and those under 30 in particular  are the most frequent users of emojis.

Sample emojis provided by Google in the proposal show several female characters in professional clothing, including business suits, lab coats, medical scrubs and construction hats. One sample emoji even has a pitchfork and a farmer's hat. Google has also included sample male versions of the same emojis.

This image provided by Google shows proposed female emojis. Google said it wants to create a new set "with a goal of highlighting the diversity of women's careers and empowering girls everywhere." (Google via AP)

Mountain View, California-based Google wants Unicode to standardize the emojis by the end of the year.
The Latest: French premier survives no-confidence vote

PARIS (AP)  The Latest on the French government facing a no-confidence vote over labor law, and protests against the legislation (all times local):

6:45 p.m.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has survived a no-confidence vote prompted by a hotly contested labor reform.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is surrounded by members of the parliament after his speech during the labor law debate at the national assembly in Paris, France, Thursday, May 12, 2016. France's government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

With only 246 votes, the conservative opposition has failed to gather the minimum of 288 votes needed to bring down the government.

The contested labor reform will now be debated at the Senate.

Street protests and strikes called by workers unions to reject the reform are already scheduled next week.

___

6:30 p.m.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has backed his government's labor reform law, minutes ahead of a no-confidence vote in the lower house of parliament.

Valls says he is proud of the law because it will help "social progress" and it is an "indispensable reform" in a globalized world.

The prime minister says the country is in better economic shape since the Socialists took power in 2012.

He say that "France is raising its head ... If growth returns, if we are creating new jobs ... it's because we have taken action."

___

6:05 p.m.

The head of the opposition conservatives in the lower house of parliament has criticized France's divisive labor reform legislation, saying it doesn't go far enough to open up the country' economy.

Christian Jacob says the bill is "empty" and the decision of the Socialist government to use special measure to pass it without a vote is "appalling."

Jacob spoke to lawmakers as Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls faces a no-confidence vote.

Jacob says "if the no-confidence vote fails, it will only remain for the French people to count the days, to feverishly count the days until the political change," in a reference to the 2017 presidential election.

___

4:50 p.m.

French police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters and quash minor clashes among crowds at demonstrations across the country against labor reforms.

Tensions are particularly high Thursday as the government faces a no-confidence vote over the bill, which extends working hours and makes layoffs easier.

A rain-drenched march through Paris was largely peaceful but police fired tear gas at some rowdy demonstrators. Similar scenes played out in Marseille on the Mediterranean, and Nantes on the Atlantic Coast.

Critics of the reform have held protests for the past two months, which sometimes degenerate into violence between projectile-throwing youths and police.

___

3:55 p.m.

Tens of thousands of protesters are marching through the streets of Paris to denounce a hotly contested labor reform bill the French government is trying to force through parliament.

The head of the FO trade union, Jean-Claude Mailly, says the government "doesn't have a majority in parliament, including on Socialist benches and they say the law is about social progress. It's totally anachronistic."

The crowd, surrounded by a large police presence, has left the Denfert-Rochereau plaza, in southern Paris, to walk toward the parliament's lower house, where the government will face a no-confidence vote later Thursday.

The reform has prompted violent protest across the country in recent weeks.

___

3:40 p.m.

French President Francois Hollande says the government's contested labor reform aims to maintain workers' rights while at the same time gives more flexibility to businesses to adapt to a globalized world.

Hollande said the bill "is designed for employees and for business leaders. I don't want to oppose them." He made the remarks during a visit to a French company specializing in 3-D printing, hours before the government faces a no-confidence vote.

Hollande has especially advocated one of the most contested measures of the bill that would give priority to company deals over industry-wide deals to organize the working hours of employees.

Hollande says "it's better when responsible unionists and a committed management are able to lay down the working rules."

The French president insisted that the reform wouldn't jeopardize workers protection legislation.

___

9:50 a.m.

France's government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs.

Facing legislative gridlock and daily protests around the country, the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote.

The conservative opposition objected, prompting a no-confidence vote Thursday. The legislation is not technically adopted unless the government survives that vote.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls and his government are likely to survive, but labor standoff has torn apart the Socialists and further damaged their chances at keeping the presidency in next year's elections.

More street protests are planned Thursday.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls as he attends a debate on the new labor at the national assembly in Paris, France, Thursday, May 12, 2016. France's government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Demonstrators, left, clash with Unions security men during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016. France's government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

French riot police officers march during a protest against Labor Law as the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote, in Paris, Thursday, May 12, 2016. France's government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Protestors demonstrate in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Frances government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs. Facing legislative gridlock and daily protests around the country, the Socialist government decided to force the bill through Parliament without a vote. The sign reads "you do not negotiate social setbacks, together let's impose social progress. No to scrapping labor law." (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

French President Francois Hollande is welcomed by Prodways CEO Raphael Gorge, right, prior to his visit at Prodways company headquarters in Les Mureaux, outside Paris, France, Thursday, April 12, 2016. Prodways is a design and engineering company dedicated to 3D printers technology. Frances government is facing a major test as lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote, prompted by a deeply divisive labor law allowing longer workdays and easier layoffs.(Christophe Petit-Tesson/Pool Photo via AP)
Japanese tourist returns to Niagara Falls to take on suspect

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP)  After being violently thrown to the ground and robbed of her purse and shoes during her first visit to Niagara Falls, Japanese tourist Koyuki Nakahara thought she would never return.

Yet she was back in New York last week, this time at the request of prosecutors who said her testimony was crucial in making sure her attacker would be punished.

"If I did not come back he would be released. It wasn't fair," Nakahara said by phone Thursday, the day prosecutors in Niagara County announced an indictment in the case.

In this image taken from video, Koyuki Nakahara, of Japan, speaks in Sedona, Ariz., during an interview with The Associated Press over Skype, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The Japanese tourist is being credited with helping build a case against Robert Macleod, suspected of throwing her to the ground and stealing her purse and shoes after she got lost and asked him for directions during a visit to Niagara Falls on Christmas night last year. She was back in New York last week, this time at the request of prosecutors who said her testimony was crucial in making sure her alleged attacker would be punished. (Skype via Associated Press)

Robert Macleod, of Niagara Falls, was indicted on charges of robbery, robbery as a sexually motivated felony, sexual abuse and assault. He was arrested Dec. 31 after police released pictures from surveillance cameras, and he pleaded not guilty to robbery and assault and was released on $25,000 bail.

A phone listing for Macleod wasn't available, and the attorney who represented him when he was arrested didn't respond to phone messages seeking comment. Arraignment on the new charges is expected this month.

Deputy District Attorney Doreen Hoffman said that without Nakahara's return to testify last week "the case likely would have been dismissed with no conviction."

"Under the Constitution, you have the right to confront your accuser, and we can't indict a case based on hearsay," Hoffman said. "We can't just put in written statements given by victims."

It's a right that can embolden criminals who target tourists, Hoffman said.

"Criminals don't anticipate them to be here to prosecute," she said.

Nakahara returned to the place where the man she'd asked for directions on Christmas night responded by pounding her face into the concrete and dragging her into the dark, where she feared she would be raped.

"I don't have to go. Just forget it," Nakahara had told herself at home in Tokyo, convinced she had put the attack, which left her bruised and frightened, behind her.

Then a Skype call with prosecutors who asked her to recount details brought home how deeply she'd been affected. Testifying would make Niagara Falls safer for other women and would prove empowering for her, she decided.

"I decided it's OK to show my feelings and let the criminal know you cannot do that," she said. "You cannot hurt me because I am a woman, I'm not as strong as you or I'm not living here or whatever."

During a news conference Thursday, authorities praised Nakahara's bravery and said they were happy to pay the travel costs to bring her back to the United States.

"To step on a plane and travel for days to come back to an area that certainly, unfortunately, does not have pleasant memories and meet some people that she barely knew and relive the events that she'd rather forget  wow," Assistant District Attorney Robert Zucco said.

Robberies and assaults are relatively rare in Niagara Falls State Park, state statistics show. From 2011 to 2014, state parks police received an average of two reports of robberies involving the use or threat of violence and no more than one report of assault each year. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, a Democrat, called the chances of being victimized "exceedingly low," especially considering the influx of 8 million to 9 million tourists each year.

Nakahara had been traveling with a tour group when she ventured out of her hotel on her own and became lost. The stranger she asked to point her in the right direction at first seemed helpful. Then he pulled her hair and pushed her down to the ground. When he dragged her to a dark and secluded area, she was sure she would be raped and wondered if she would survive. But her attacker eventually fled, and she was taken to a hospital.

The Associated Press generally doesn't identify people who say they're victims of sexual abuse, but Nakahara has said she wanted to discuss her case publicly.

Nakahara later continued on with her trip, which included stops in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, not wanting to be deprived by the attack of her chance to enjoy her travels.

This photo provided by the New York State Park Police shows Robert Macleod, who is charged with attacking a Japanese tourist in Niagara Falls, N.Y. A Japanese tourist is being credited with helping build a case against Macleod, who suspected of throwing her to the ground and stealing her purse and shoes after she got lost and asked him for directions during a visit to Niagara Falls. (New York State Park Police via AP)

Assistant Niagara County District Attorney Robert Zucco, right, announces the indictment of a suspect in the assault and robbery of a Japanese tourist at Niagara Falls State Park, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Koyuki Nakahara, who was violently thrown down then robbed of her purse and shoes in December, returned to Niagara Falls to face her attacker so the changes wouldn't be dismissed. Behind Zucco are from left: Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Niagara County Legislator Owen Steed, Niagara County Legislator Jason Zona, Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour and Lt. Patrick Moriarty of the New York State Park Police. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson)

In this December 2015 photo provided by Koyuki Nakahara, Nakahara poses for a photo in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Nakahara returned to New York from Tokyo during the week of May 2, 2016 to face the man who was arrested for mugging her in December. Without her appearing in court, the defendant Robert MacLeod would have walked free. (Photo provided by Koyuki Nakahara via AP)
The Latest: Hospital bars mental health contractor

BOSTON (AP)  The Latest on the stabbing attacks at a Massachusetts shopping mall and home (all times local):

3:44 p.m.

A hospital that treated a man who fatally stabbed two people at a home and mall and wounded several others says it has barred from the hospital a state contractor that provides mental health evaluations.

Taunton, Mass., Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr., right, speaks about Tuesday's stabbings at a Taunton home and shopping mall, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Fall River, Mass. Behind him are Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh, left, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III. Arthur DaRosa, described by his family as mentally disturbed, went on a stabbing rampage hours after leaving a hospital. He killed two people and assaulted and stabbed others before being fatally shot by an off-duty sheriff's deputy at the Silver City Galleria mall. (Jack Foley/The Herald News of Fall River via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In a letter to state officials Thursday, Morton Hospital said Norton Emergency Services was putting patients at risk by not providing "critical and timely services."

The hospital did not refer directly to the case of Arthur DaRosa, whose family said he had been battling mental illness in recent months and checked himself in to the hospital on Monday evening. He was released Tuesday morning and hours later fatally stabbed an 80-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man in Taunton before being shot dead by an off-duty sheriff's deputy.

A message left with a spokeswoman for Norton Emergency Services was not immediately returned.

State officials are reviewing the case.

___

9:50 a.m.

The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services says it will carefully review the case of a man who fatally stabbed two people and injured several others just hours after he was released from a hospital.

Morton Hospital in Taunton says state policy that governs the way it handles psychiatric patients is "misguided."

The family of Arthur DaRosa says he was depressed and suicidal when he was admitted to the hospital Monday. He was released Tuesday morning and that evening fatally stabbed an 80-year-old woman in her home and a 56-year-old teacher dining at a mall with his wife.

A spokeswoman for the state office of Health and Human Services says the agency was saddened by the tragedy and will cooperate with law enforcement.

___

8 a.m.

The Massachusetts hospital under scrutiny for releasing a man who hours later fatally stabbed two people and injured several others says state policy that governs the way it handles psychiatric patients is "misguided."

The family of Arthur DaRosa says he was depressed and suicidal when he was admitted to Morton Hospital in Taunton on Monday. He was released Tuesday morning and that evening fatally stabbed an 80-year-old woman in her home and a 56-year-old teacher dining out with his wife.

Morton spokeswoman Julie Masci said in a statement the hospital is barred by federal law from acknowledging patient names or disclosing patient information.
State study of race and traffic stops singles out 25 cops

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Twenty-five police officers in Connecticut have been singled out as stopping minority drivers at significantly higher rates than their peers, according to a new report commissioned by the state government and described by its authors as the most comprehensive of its kind.

The analysis, conducted by researchers at Central Connecticut State University and released Thursday, doesn't identify the 25 officers. Local police chiefs would not name the officers, either, saying it would be unfair to do so based on what they called flawed data.

"It is important that these results be viewed as the starting point of a dialogue and not as conclusive evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the officer," the report says.

Eight of the 25 officers were in Hamden, a suburb of New Haven, and four were in Wethersfield, a suburb of Hartford.

Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra and Wethersfield Police Chief James Cetran denied their officers racially profiled drivers and called parts of the report misleading. They said the minority stop rates didn't take into account people who often drive into their towns from the neighboring cities, which have much higher percentages of minority residents.

The analysis examined about 586,000 traffic stops made by officers in 92 municipal departments and state troopers from Oct. 1, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015. It said the data do not prove officers were engaged in racial profiling.

Statewide, 14 percent of all traffic stops by police involved black drivers, when black people of driving age comprise 9 percent of the state's population. Nearly 13 percent of traffic stops involved Hispanic drivers, when Hispanics of driving age comprise 12 percent of Connecticut residents. Those rates were about the same as in the traffic stop report last year, the first time Central Connecticut State University performed an annual analysis under the state's anti-racial profiling law.

But when researchers reviewed stops made during daylight hours, when they said officers could see the race and ethnicity of drivers, Hispanics were nearly 14 percent more likely to be pulled over and blacks were about 7 percent more likely to be stopped than they were at night.

The report also says minorities were more likely to get misdemeanor summons for speeding and other infractions, while whites were more likely to get written warnings.

The analysts said five municipal departments and one state police troop showed a "statistically significant racial or ethnic disparity that may indicate the presence of racial and ethnic bias." Those agencies include Bloomfield, New Milford, Norwalk, West Hartford, Wethersfield and state police Troop H, which covers the Hartford area.

David McGuire, legislative and policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said the report does confirm that "racial biases are still driving some traffic stops in Connecticut."

Michael Lawlor, state undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning, said the report does not show widespread bias, because most police agencies' minority traffic stop rates were within normal parameters.

Statewide, there were fewer than 10 complaints of racial profiling against police officers last year.

The report's authors say it is the most comprehensive statewide examination of police traffic stop data among the more than two dozen states that collect such information.

For the first time, the report also analyzed traffic stops by individual officers.

The 25 officers singled out in the report work for nine municipal departments and two state police troops that were identified in last year's report as having racial disparities in their traffic stop data. Those departments and troops have 935 officers, combined.

In Wethersfield, about 27 percent of town officers' traffic stops involved Hispanics, when only 7 percent of town residents are Hispanic and of driving age. Cetran, the police chief, said the figures do not account for a large number of drivers from Hartford's neighboring South End, which has a much larger percentage of Hispanic residents, who travel to Wethersfield to shop.

Cetran said that when two ZIP code areas in nearby Hartford neighborhoods are added to the Wethersfield data, more than 50 percent of people are Hispanic and of driving age.

"I really feel we're being persecuted unfairly," Cetran said. "Until they get the ... information correct, they're giving out information that is creating problems between the community and the police that aren't there."

Wydra, the Hamden chief, said the eight officers from his town singled out in the report work in the southern part of town, which is visited often by residents of predominantly black neighborhoods in neighboring New Haven. He believes that wasn't factored into the report.
Tell the FDA what you fear more: Zika, or GMO mosquitoes?

MIAMI (AP)  What are you more afraid of, the Zika virus, or genetically engineered bugs being released in the wild?

If you feel strongly about this issue, you have until midnight Friday to make your opinion known as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers whether to approve an effort to kill the disease-carrying mosquitoes by releasing genetically engineered bugs in Florida.

The biotech firm Oxitec plans to release non-biting male mosquitoes that have been modified to produce offspring that don't survive after mating with wild females. Researchers believe that within a few generations, this should sharply reduce the mosquito population.

FILE- In this Sept. 25, 2014 file photo, containers hold genetically modified aedes aegypti mosquitoes before being released in Panama City, Panama. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering whether the biotech firm Oxitec should test its lab-bred mosquitoes near Key West. The public has until midnight Friday, May 13, 2016 to weigh in on a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco, File)

Scientists have weighed in on both sides in the nearly 1,300 comments viewable online so far. Fear is also a common theme, but there's a split over what people find more frightening: genetic engineering, or birth defects linked to Zika.

WHAT SUPPORTERS SAY

Supporters are expressing confidence in the FDA's evaluation, Oxitec's data and reports about similar international trials. They say the risks of mosquito-borne diseases outweigh fears about releasing a genetically modified species into the wild. And some say they distrust GMO foods but still consider Oxitec's plan more environmentally friendly than pesticides.

Supporters include: several mosquito control districts in Florida, an Anguilla resident worried about Zika's effect on Caribbean tourism, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the global pest control company Rentokil, agricultural trade groups, deans of agricultural colleges and a researcher who led Oxitec's trials in Brazil.

While supporting the FDA's preliminary determination that it's safe to release these GMO bugs, the American Biological Safety Association questions whether Oxitec's technology is practical. The American Bird Conservancy also is in favor but wants more details about how the trial near Key West would be monitored.

Alyson Crean, a Keys resident who could be directly affected by the trial, expressed her full support.

"Having contracted dengue here in the Keys, I know how insidious" insect-borne diseases are, she writes. "The Mosquito Control District has provided thorough due diligence as to the safety and efficacy of using the modified mosquitoes."

OPPONENTS' CONCERNS

Critics raise the potential consequences to human health and the environment of releasing GMO mosquitoes without more long-term research, arguing that the risks are too high even amid a global health crisis.

"We are the citizens, as are you, and the last thing we deserve is a rushed process when it is so deeply concerning and non-controversial, more effective alternatives exist," writes Barry Wray of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, which has led protests against Oxitec.

Wray and other opponents favor infecting mosquitoes with bacteria that curb their ability to transmit viruses, arguing that the technique is more effective and less polarizing.

There are plenty of informed, objective comments as well as passionate statements on both sides, but emotional pleas are far more common among opponents, who fear unwilling U.S. citizens will become guinea pigs. Some call the plan "insanity" and cite the "Jurassic Park" film series in warning against genetic tinkering. Others say little more than, "HELL NO GMO!"

Others compare Oxitec's proposal to GMO crops created by Monsanto (which isn't involved) and beg the government to stop approving any genetic engineering in food or insects.

OTHER OPINIONS

A March poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 16 percent of Americans opposed to using genetically modified mosquitoes to control Zika; 26 percent were neutral.

Nearly no comments have been submitted for applications that the University of Kentucky's Department of Entomology has pending with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to extend tests of bacteria-infected mosquitoes to the Florida Keys and Orange County, California, and to register specific bacteria as a pesticide product.

Residents in the Keys neighborhood chosen for Oxitec's trial will be able to vote on whether they want to participate during a county election on August 30. The ballot question's results will be non-binding, but officials at both the FDA and the Keys mosquito control district have repeatedly said they want to take the people's opinions into account.

___
The Latest: Skelos' nephew accused of assault outside court

NEW YORK (AP)  The Latest on the sentencing of former Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son (all times local):

5:05 p.m.

A nephew of former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) is accused of throwing the phone of a Daily News reporter outside a courthouse shortly after his uncle was sentenced to prison.

Former Senate majority leader Dean Skelos arrives to court in New York, Thursday, May 12, 2016. For the second time in less than two weeks, a once-powerful New York politician is facing sentencing in a spate of corruption cases that have roiled Albany. Skelos, 68, and his son, Adam, 33, are scheduled to appear in federal court following convictions last year for extortion, fraud and bribery. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Basil Skelos was arrested Thursday on an assault charge. Police say the 27-year-old Lynbrook resident grabbed the wrist of a reporter and threw her phone across the street. Police say there was no visible bruising to her wrist and no damage to the phone.

The incident occurred after Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison for his conviction last year on charges of extortion, bribery and conspiracy. His 33-year-old son, Adam, was sentenced to 6  years in prison on the same charges.

A call to a phone number in Basil Skelos' name rang unanswered.

___

2:10 p.m.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says "justice prevailed" after the state's former Senate majority leader and his son were sentenced to prison for corruption.

The Democratic governor issued a statement after Manhattan federal Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Long Island Republican Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) to five years in prison Thursday. She also sentenced his son, Adam, to 6  years in prison. Both men were convicted last year of conspiracy, extortion and bribery.

Prosecutors say the men used Dean Skelos' clout to force companies to funnel over $300,000 to Adam Skelos.

The father and son did not comment as they left court.

The judge says the men caused "immeasurable damage" to New Yorkers' confident in the integrity of government.

___

12:45 p.m.

The son of former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for corruption.

Judge Kimba Wood announced the sentence for 33-year-old Adam Skelos on Thursday. Earlier in the day, she sentenced his father, Long Island Republican Dean Skelos, to five years in prison. Both were convicted last year at trial of bribery, extortion and conspiracy.

The prison terms were considerably less than the amount of time recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.

Before the judge announced the sentence for Adam Skelos, she said it sometimes appeared as if he had "no moral compass" as he worked with his father to pressure companies to give him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

___

12:30 p.m.

A federal judge has told former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) that he caused "immeasurable damage" to New Yorkers' confidence in the integrity of government with his crimes.

Manhattan Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Skelos on Thursday to five years in prison. She says she wants to send a message to other politicians that they will suffer physically and financially if they commit crimes. She also imposed a $500,000 fine and ordered him to forfeit over $300,000.

His son, Adam, awaits sentencing later Thursday.

A jury convicted the Long Island Republican and his son last year on extortion and other charges in a scheme to pressure businesses to provide the son with roughly $300,000.

Both father and son apologized Thursday.

___

Noon

Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges he used his office to extort money and a job for his son.

He's the second New York powerbroker to be sentenced for corruption this month.

His son, Adam, also awaits sentencing Thursday. It comes a week after former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver got a 12-year term in another bribery case.

A jury convicted the father and son last year on extortion and other charges. They were accused of using the Long Island Republican's position to pressure businesses to provide the son with roughly $300,000 through consulting work and a no-show job.

Both father and son apologized Thursday. Adam Skelos choked up when saying he loved his father more than anyone.

___

11:45 a.m.

A prosecutor has addressed the judge in the sentencing of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) and his son, calling it a sad day for the state of New York.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Masimore said at the Thursday sentencing that the people of the state deserve better.

He says it doesn't matter that the father and son were blinded by their love for each other when they committed their crimes. He says that would be like robbing a bank and then saying it was done for the benefit of family.

Judge Kimba Wood is preparing to sentence the 68-year-old Long Island Republican and his 33-year-old son, Adam. They were convicted last year of extortion, bribery and conspiracy.

___

11:30 a.m.

Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) and his son, Adam, have apologized while speaking to a judge before sentencing in their corruption case.

Dean Skelos told Judge Kimba Wood on Thursday that the bribery, extortion and conspiracy convictions last year had destroyed his reputation. He asked that she be lenient to his son.

The son said he was deeply embarrassed by his actions and regretted what he had done. He choked up as he said he loved his father more than anyone in the world. As Adam Skelos spoke from a lectern, his father could be seen wiping his eyes from his seat.

Prosecutors say the Long Island Republican pressured companies to provide about $300,000 to his son.

___

11:05 a.m.

The close relationship between ex-New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) and his son, Adam, have become a central point of contention at their sentencing hearing.

Judge Kimba Wood on Thursday interrupted defense attorney G. Robert Gage to ask about it. She asked why the father did not simply ask his many friends to help his son get a job rather than extort companies.

The lawyer says he wishes he had. As he spoke, Dean Skelos and his son sat side by side, both with their hands folded before them.

They were convicted last year of bribery, extortion and conspiracy.

Prosecutors say the Long Island Republican pressured companies to provide about $300,000 to his son. Gage says his client stuck by his son, perhaps to a fault.

___

10:35 a.m.

A sentencing hearing has begun for former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, who were convicted of corruption charges.

Judge Kimba Wood says she plans to sentence the father before the son Thursday.

The sentencing of the 68-year-old Long Island Republican comes little more than a week after the sentencing of his Democratic counterpart, ex-New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver received 12 years in prison in a bribery case.

Dean Skelos and his son were convicted last year of bribery, extortion and conspiracy. Prosecutors say Dean Skelos used his powerful position to pressure companies into providing about $300,000 to his son.

Defense attorneys argued that the evidence simply showed that Dean Skelos was a devoted father looking out for his son.

___

12:20 a.m.

Another disgraced New York powerbroker is facing sentencing in a political corruption case.

Former Senate majority leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, are scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday morning. Their sentencing comes less than two weeks after former Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver got a 12-year prison term in a separate bribery case.

A jury convicted the father and son last year on extortion and other charges accusing them of using the Long Island Republican's position to pressure businesses to provide the son with roughly $300,000 through consulting work, a no-show job and a payment of $20,000.

The government has told a judge each man deserves a stiff sentence. The defendants have asked for probation and community service.

Adam Skelos arrive at Manhattan federal court, Thursday May 12, 2016, in New York. Adam and his father Dean Skelos, former New York state Senate majority leader, face sentencing in a political corruption case. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
The Latest: Inmate asks US Supreme Court for stay

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The Latest on the scheduled execution of Vernon Madison (all times local):

10:15 a.m.

Lawyers for an Alabama inmate have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution scheduled for this evening.

Vernon Madison is scheduled to receive a lethal injection 6 p.m. Thursday for the 1985 murder of Mobile police office Julius Schulte.

Lawyers for the Equal Justice Initiative wrote that there are questions about the constitutionality of his death sentence since a judge rejected the jury's recommendation of life imprisonment.

The high court earlier this year struck down Florida's sentencing method because it gave the final decision to the trial judge instead of a jury. The Alabama attorney general's office has argued there are differences that make Alabama sentencing structure legal.

The appeal came after the Alabama Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Madison's request for a stay.

7:33 a.m.

Alabama is preparing to execute a man convicted in the 1985 killing of a police officer.

Vernon Madison is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at the state prison in Atmore.

Madison was convicted of killing Mobile police Officer Julius Schulte. Schulte had responded to a domestic call involving Madison. Prosecutors said Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car.

A circuit court last month ruled Madison was competent to be executed despite a decline in his cognitive abilities after a stroke.

Madison would be the second inmate executed in Alabama this year.

___
Putin says Russian arms industries meet production targets

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's arms industries have met most production goals for new weapons, but some contracts haven't been fulfilled, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Putin, who spoke at a meeting with military officials and defense industry leaders in Sochi, said the military last year received 96 planes, 81 helicopters, 152 air defense systems and 291 radars among other new weapons.

Despite Russia's economic downturn, the Kremlin has pushed ahead with an ambitious arms modernization program amid tensions with the West over Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting on military issues in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia on Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin said that some of last year's contracts hadn't been honored and urged officials to analyze the reasons behind the failures, but gave no details. He said that that the government will continue to support defense industries, work to create new jobs and raise salaries.

The meeting was part of a series of conferences Putin has held with the top brass and military industries. Earlier this week, he hailed the performance of Russia's new weapons in Syria, but said that the campaign has revealed some problems that need to be fixed. He offered no specifics.

On Thursday, the president inspected a lineup of new military vehicles, but the military had an awkward moment when Putin wanted to get inside one of them, called Patriot, but the door didn't open.

A general then tried to open the door for Putin in front of TV cameras, but he pulled the handle off instead. He then successfully opened a back door.

The vehicle's maker, UAZ, explained the gaffe by saying that the door was locked.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, inspects military vehicles after a meeting with military and defense industries' officials in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, Russia, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The meeting focused on production goals for defense industries. At center, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; at left back, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov; second left back, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The Latest: US court heard appeal in Abu Ghraib torture suit

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  The Latest on a federal appeals court hearing in an Abu Ghraib prison torture case (all times local):

10:45 a.m.

A lawyer for four former Iraqi detainees who say they were tortured at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison urged a federal appeals court to reinstate their lawsuit against a military contractor.

At a hearing Thursday, the attorney told a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that his clients aren't questioning military judgment but are trying to hold civilian interrogators accountable. The court usually takes several weeks to issue a decision.

The former detainees sued Arlington, Virginia-based CACI Premier Technology Inc. in 2008. The contractor was hired to conduct interrogations at the U.S.-run prison in Iraq. The former detainees claim the company's employees conspired to have soldiers shock, beat and sexually assault them to soften them up for questioning.

___

5:25 a.m.

Four former Iraqi detainees who say they were tortured at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison are asking a federal appeals court to revive their lawsuit.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the case Thursday in Richmond, Virginia.

The former detainees sued CACI Premier Technology Inc., an Arlington-based military contractor hired to conduct interrogations at the prison in Iraq. They claim the company's employees conspired to have soldiers torture them to soften them up for questioning. The plaintiffs say they were subjected to electrical shocks, sexual violence and forced nudity.
US proposes to cut methane from oil, gas by nearly half

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Obama administration issued a final rule Thursday to sharply cut methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas production, a key part of a push by President Barack Obama to reduce methane emissions by nearly half over the next decade.

The rule by the Environmental Protection Agency is the major element of an administration goal to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas drilling by up to 45 percent by 2025, compared to 2012 levels. It will require energy producers to find and repair leaks at new or modified oil and gas wells and capture gas that escapes from wells that use the common drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Methane, the key component of natural gas, tends to leak during oil and gas production. Although it makes up just a sliver of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, it is far more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, making it a top target for environmentalists concerned about global warming.

FILE -In this June 12, 2014 file photo, oil pumps and natural gas burn off in Watford City, N.D. Methane emissions will likely be the next big environmental issue to face North Dakota's booming oil industry according to a top official at the state's Department of Health. The Obama administration is finalizing a rule to cut methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas production by nearly half over the next decade. Its part of an ongoing push by the president to curb climate change. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Officials estimate the rule will cost the industry about $530 million in 2025. Those costs would be outweighed by reduced health care costs and other benefits totaling about $690 million, officials estimate.

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said the new rule would "protect public health and reduce pollution linked to cancer and other serious health effects while allowing industry to continue to grow and provide a vital source of energy for Americans across the country."

The mandate, which will take effect this summer, will apply only to new and modified sources, such as wells, pumps, pipes and compressors, but it will set a framework for the EPA to impose similar requirements on nearly 1 million existing wells and other equipment nationwide. Those rules are not expected before Obama leaves office.

With his presidency drawing to a close, Obama has been in a rush to propose and finalize sweeping regulations targeting greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

The methane rule follows a landmark regulation Obama finalized last year to cut carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants by 32 percent. The plan, the centerpiece of Obama's climate change strategy, has drawn legal challenges from power companies and dozens of Republican-led states.

Obama also has proposed regulations targeting carbon pollution from airplanes and set new standards to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide pollution from trucks and vans.

In January, the administration proposed new rules to clamp down on oil companies that burn off or "flare" natural gas on public lands, saying it will reduce waste and harmful methane emissions. Between 2009 and 2014, enough natural gas was lost through venting, flaring and leaks to power more than 5 million homes for a year, officials said.

The president has set a goal to cut overall U.S. emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent over the next decade, as he seeks to leave a legacy of using the full range of his executive power to fight climate change and encouraging other countries to do the same.

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group, called methane "a tremendous threat to our climate" and said cutting methane pollution "is the fastest, cheapest path to slow the warming we will otherwise see in the next 20 years."

The American Petroleum Institute, the largest lobbying group for the oil and gas industry, said the new rule could harm a drilling boom that has lowered costs for American consumers to heat their homes and drive their cars. Fracking and other advanced drilling techniques have made it easier for energy companies to extract oil and gas from hard-to-reach sites.

Even as oil and natural gas production has risen dramatically, methane emissions have fallen, thanks to new technologies that have reduced waste and improved efficiency, industry officials said.

"It doesn't make sense that the administration would add unreasonable and overly burdensome regulations when the industry is already leading the way in reducing emissions," said Kyle Isakower, API vice president of regulatory and economic policy.

Rachel Richardson, director of the Stop Drilling program for Environment America, another advocacy group, called the new rule a step forward, but said it "falls short of what's needed to avert climate disaster."

Richardson and other advocates said better controls on existing fracking and drilling operations are needed, along with a commitment to phase out fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal in favor of renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
Puerto Rico power company teams up with police against theft

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Puerto Rico's heavily indebted power company is teaming up with police to crack down on people who steal electricity in the U.S. territory amid an economic crisis.

The Electric Power Authority said Thursday that it referred several business owners to police and will take more such actions in commercial and residential districts.

Officials say the law calls for as much as three years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines against those found guilty of stealing electricity.
Ukrainian hackers publish info on thousands of journalists

MOSCOW (AP)  A group of Ukrainian hackers has published the names and contact information of thousands of journalists who have reported from rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine, raising concerns about the safety of the journalists, including many from international media organizations.

The hackers said they had gained access to computers used by the Russia-backed separatists to register journalists working in the conflict zone and felt it was necessary to publish the list "because these journalists collaborate with fighters from terrorist organizations."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the publication of the list, which contains 7,000 entries and data on about 4,500 journalists, including their cellphone numbers and email addresses.

"Publishing journalists' private contact details puts them at risk," Nina Ognianova, the CPJ Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in the statement. "At worst this action could be read as a thinly veiled call to target them."

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the publication of the hacked data, which it said had already led to some journalists being threatened.

A letter signed by about 40 Ukrainian and foreign journalists said some of those on the list had received threatening emails and phone calls, while a broader concern was that some Ukrainian politicians were now calling for them to be considered "enemies of Ukraine" and barred from working in the country.

The letter noted that the rebels had detained nearly 80 journalists in eastern Ukraine, subjecting some of them to torture, so journalists abided by the separatists' "accreditation" requirement to give themselves some measure of protection.

The Associated Press was among the many media organizations whose journalists were on the list.

"Providing news coverage is not the same as supporting any one side  quite the opposite," said John Daniszewski, AP vice president for international news. "News gatherers for legitimate news organizations are objective. They cover and share information that the public needs. Ukrainians who believe in freedom should forcefully defend the value of news coverage to tell Ukraine's story. These hackers apparently have misunderstood the role journalism plays in a free society."

The hackers posted the list on a website called Myrotvorets, or Peacekeeper, on Saturday. It attracted attention after a member of Ukraine's parliament, Anton Gerashchenko, praised the hackers in a Facebook posting on Tuesday.

Gerashchenko said the list, which also included the names of 120 people working in the separatists' propaganda department, showed that Ukraine needs to do much more to counter propaganda from Russia and "its puppets."

He called for imposing controls over television content to prevent the distribution of information that could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity and on the accreditation process for foreign journalists, particularly those from Russia.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern about the hacking.
Russia, Kenya track teams may miss Rio after doping rulings

MONTREAL (AP)  Together, Russia and Kenya won 27 medals at the last Olympics in track and field. Their total at the next one could be zero.

The Olympic hopes of the powerhouse teams from both countries took serious blows Thursday after the World Anti-Doping Agency delivered stinging rebukes to attempts to clean up their drug-addled programs.

The WADA foundation board suspended Kenya's anti-doping agency after determining a new law passed there to combat doping was "a complete mess." The agency also released new numbers out of Russia showing that testing by independent authorities has decreased by more than two-thirds in the past year.

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 file photo, junior athletes run past a sign for Athletics Kenya at the Discovery cross country races, an annual race held to identify up-and-coming new young talent, in Eldoret, Kenya. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials declared Kenya's drug-fighting agency out of compliance Thursday, May 12, 2016, a move that places the track powerhouse's participation in this summer's Olympics in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

"Disappointing and disturbing information," said Beckie Scott, the Canadian gold-medal cross country skier who chairs WADA's athlete committee.

At the London Olympics, Russia won 16 medals and Kenya won 11. At world championships last year, the Kenyans tied Jamaica for the most gold medals, with seven.

Among those whose participation in Rio is in jeopardy include 800-meter world-record holder David Rudisha and both the men's and women's winners of last month's London Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Sumgong. Russia has a stable of champion race-walkers and champions in field events, including world-record pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

The final call on whether either country's track team will be eligible for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics is left to the sport's governing body, the IAAF, which is set to decide about Russia at a meeting on June 17. IAAF also has jurisdiction over the Kenyan track team, and while it's not unthinkable a team could compete without its country's anti-doping agency intact, WADA's move certainly raises the bar.

"If it's a sports federation, you wouldn't run your world championships in an unaccredited country, you wouldn't hold conferences there and that kind of thing," said WADA president Craig Reedie. "But the world of sport and the world of government doesn't confer on me the power to decide those kind of questions."

Maybe they should.

There were calls at the meeting, most notably from Scott, for WADA to provide more rock-solid assurances that the countries would not participate in Rio.

"I'm discouraged," Scott said. "I think this is just appalling what's happened. We're at the forefront of it, and it's taken the media to expose it. It's sad but I hope it's going to change."

The problems in Kenya run well outside the country's borders. Since the London Games, 40 Kenyans have been banned, all but five of them caught outside their home country. The Associated Press reported that because of difficulty processing samples, some athletes are given advance notice of their tests, which makes it easier to escape detection.

A law passed last month in Kenya sought to resolve the issues, and legislators thought it had WADA's blessing. But amendments made to the original bill rendered the law unsatisfactory, leading the board to reject Kenya's agency.

"A complete mess," said Olivier Niggli, who will take over as WADA's director general in July.

Could the legislature pass the correct law in time to bring the anti-doping agency in compliance before the Olympics?

"Where there's a will, there's a way," Niggli said.

Reaction in Kenya ranged from outraged to confused.

"We don't know the way forward," said Julius Yego, the world champion in javelin. "Should we continue training or do we stop?"

Kenyan marathoner Wesley Korir, who serves in the country's parliament, said WADA is "killing the sport. Are we making the laws for WADA or for Kenyans?"

Russia's situation appears more dire.

This week has been filled with nonstop revelations, none reflecting well on the country that hosted the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which now look every bit as tainted as the track team.

On Sunday, there were whistleblower Vitaly Stepanov's details about four gold medalists from the Sochi Games who used steroids.

On Thursday, as the WADA meeting was in progress, the New York Times went live with a blow-by-blow breakdown of how Russians switched out urine samples and performed other deceitful acts to ensure 15 drug-using medal winners and many others wouldn't test positive.

And WADA released its own figures about drug testing in Russia since its anti-doping agency was suspended last November:

Only 10 doping-control agents are available to conduct tests throughout the entire country, and private contractors are reluctant to sign deals with Britain's anti-doping agency, which is in charge of the reforms in Russia, because the country's government doesn't pay on time.

Agents are often harassed when trying to enter "closed" cities in Russia with increased military presence, told if they show up again, they'll have their visas revoked.

Of the 247 tests overseen by UK Anti-Doping, there have been 99 failures due to the inability to locate an athlete.

From Nov. 18 through May 5, there had been a total of 2,244 tests conducted on Russian athletes, compared to 6,890 over the same period a year earlier, when the Russian agency was still controlling the tests.

"I don't want to totally discount the quality of the testing that is occurring now," said Joseph de Pencier, the CEO of the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations. "But clearly there's a problem with those numbers."

Throughout the meeting, there were calls for increased funding for WADA and for a beefed-up investigative arm that would allow the agency to pursue evidence of cheating instead of waiting for the media and others to uncover it.

All in the works, Reedie promised.

But the Olympics are less than three months away, and Scott may have best framed the bottom-line concern.

"The anti-doping movement requires athletes to believe it's working," she said. "If we don't lead investigations, and not just follow up on TV programs  if we don't sanction (athletes and countries), then we lose belief not only in the system, but in the idea that winning clean is possible."

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 file photo, an athlete sets the timer on his watch before starting to run with others in Kaptagat Forest in western Kenya. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials declared Kenya's drug-fighting agency out of compliance Thursday, May 12, 2016, a move that places the track powerhouse's participation in this summer's Olympics in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 file photo, Kenyan athletes train just after dawn, in Kaptagat Forest in western Kenya. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials declared Kenya's drug-fighting agency out of compliance Thursday, May 12, 2016, a move that places the track powerhouse's participation in this summer's Olympics in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 file photo, athletes stretch together after their morning training run in Kaptagat Forest in western Kenya. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials declared Kenya's drug-fighting agency out of compliance Thursday, May 12, 2016, a move that places the track powerhouse's participation in this summer's Olympics in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 file photo, Kenyan athletes train together just after dawn, in Kaptagat Forest in western Kenya. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials declared Kenya's drug-fighting agency out of compliance Thursday, May 12, 2016, a move that places the track powerhouse's participation in this summer's Olympics in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie speaks to the media following a WADA meeting in Montreal, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Criminal cases linked to blood-type testing to be reviewed

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Officials will review old Virginia criminal cases that involved the testing of blood types, following the exoneration of a man who spent 33 years in prison for crimes he did not commit.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1TAW8hH ) Virginia Department of Forensic Science Director Linda Jackson told the agency's board members Wednesday that they'll start reviewing 200 cases from 1982, 1986 and 1990 to look for any problems.

The review stems from the case of Keith Allen Harward, who was released from prison last month after the Virginia Supreme Court agreed that DNA evidence proved he was innocent of the 1982 killing of a Newport News man and the rape of his wife.

Harward's lawyers have said blood-type evidence that cleared him decades ago was not revealed by a serologist.

___
Business owners: We need policy specifics from candidates

NEW YORK (AP)  Small business owners say it's time the presidential candidates provide concrete details on how they'll tackle key issues including taxes, health care costs and government regulations.

"They haven't been getting to the meat of issues about how they're going to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in America," says Craig Bloem, owner of FreeLogoServices.com, a website based in Boston that lets companies design advertising logos.

In a Wells Fargo survey of 600 business owners released last week, about three-quarters of the respondents echoed Bloem's sentiments. Most said they planned to vote in November, and that taxes and the economy topped their list of concerns.

In this Monday, May 9, 2016, photo, Craig Bloem, owner of startup FreeLogoServices.com, poses for a photo at his business in Boston. Small business owners say its about time the presidential candidates give them concrete details on how theyll tackle key issues including taxes, health care costs and government regulations. They haven't been getting to the meat of issues about how they're going to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in America, says Bloem. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have talked about cutting taxes, including the personal rates that sole proprietors and members of a partnership pay. On his campaign website, Trump promises to cut the tax rate for companies big and small to 15 percent. Clinton vows to provide "targeted tax relief " to small business, and make it easier to start and grow a business. Bernie Sanders' proposals are aimed at raising taxes on wealthier people; those with income of $250,000 would see their tax rates rise. He also wants to raise taxes on large corporations.

The candidates have also made general promises on other issues that affect small businesses. Trump, for example, says he'd ask Congress to immediately repeal the health care law that requires companies with at least 50 workers to offer them health insurance. He says he'd ask Congress to consider reforms to replace the law. Clinton says she'd build on the law to slow health care costs. Sanders wants to see Medicare expanded to cover all people and free employers of responsibility for providing health insurance.

When asked for more specifics about how he'd help small businesses, Trump's campaign issued a general statement and referred a reporter to the candidate's website. The Clinton and Sanders campaigns did not respond to repeated emails seeking comment.

But the candidates will have to start talking in details to win the support of owners.

"They love being able to say that they're for the small business owner, or at least they pretend to," says Ernesto Miranda, co-owner of Walker-Miranda, an architectural design based firm in Dallas. "A lot of things that I see are a little bit more lip service. I would like to see more concrete plans."

Miranda wants to hear whether candidates are willing to give small businesses the kind of subsidies and tax breaks large corporations can get for job creation.

Bloem, the FreeLogoServices.com owner, hopes to learn candidates' proposals for reducing taxes on the sale of a company, and their plans to encourage small business innovation through more government contracts.

Brett Randle, CEO of Soulman's Bar-B-Que, a chain of 14 restaurants in the Dallas area, is interested in how the candidates would ease the burden of government regulations, including health care. He has 225 employees, and under the health care law is required to offer them health insurance.

"There's been some talk of advocating for the small business owner," Randle says. "At this point, it seems more hyperbole than anything."

Small business was a big issue in the 2012 campaign, but not until the summer, when Republican Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama of being anti-business. In 2016, small business concerns are likely to get more attention when it's certain who the Democratic nominee is, says Marc Meredith, a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania.

But Meredith notes that small business is not necessarily a solid voting bloc  although business people are usually associated with Republicans, many owners are Democrats. And according to a survey by Bank of America, relatively few owners vote solely on the basis of small business issues. Fifteen percent of the survey's participants said they vote from the perspective of a business owner, 34 percent vote from a personal perspective, and 51 percent said both business and personal perspectives determine their vote.

And what constitutes a small business varies widely. Small businesses include companies that have anywhere from zero to several hundred employees, and businesses as varied as dry cleaners, tech startups, doctor's offices and franchise restaurants. The issues that concern owners can vary according to their industry and state and city or town where they're located.

Take the minimum wage, for example, a prominent issue for the Democrats. Clinton wants to raise the minimum to $12 on the federal level and $15 on the state and local level. While many restaurant owners and retailers want to slow the pace at which minimum wages are rising in their cities and states, others say putting more money in workers' paychecks will give them more spending money, something that's good for businesses in general.

Still, talking about small business problems can be a good campaign strategy. There are more than 28 million small businesses in the U.S., and more than 56 million people, about half the nation's workforce, work at a small business.

"They symbolize so much of what many people believe is right and wrong with the economy," says David Primo, a professor of political science and business at the University of Rochester.

_____

Follow Joyce Rosenberg at www.twitter.com/JoyceMRosenberg . Her work can be found here: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joyce-m-rosenberg

In this Monday, May 9, 2016, photo, Craig Bloem, owner of startup FreeLogoServices.com, poses for a photo at his business in Boston. Small business owners say its about time the presidential candidates give them concrete details on how theyll tackle key issues including taxes, health care costs and government regulations. They haven't been getting to the meat of issues about how they're going to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in America, says Bloem. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

In this Monday, May 9, 2016, photo, Craig Bloem, owner of startup FreeLogoServices.com, poses for a photo at his business in Boston. Small business owners say its about time the presidential candidates give them concrete details on how theyll tackle key issues including taxes, health care costs and government regulations. They haven't been getting to the meat of issues about how they're going to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in America, says Bloem. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

In this Tuesday, May 10, 2016, photo, architect Ernesto Miranda poses for a photo during a tour of his firm's most recent home project in the University Park enclave of Dallas. Miranda, the co-owner of an architecture and design firm, is concerned that there are no specifics yet from presidential candidates about how they'd help small businesses. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

In this Tuesday, May 10, 2016, photo, architect Ernesto Miranda poses for a photo during a tour of his firm's most recent home project in the University Park enclave of Dallas. Miranda, the co-owner of an architecture and design firm, is concerned that there are no specifics yet from presidential candidates about how they'd help small businesses. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
No charges planned in Georgia boy's accidental gunshot death

DALLAS, Ga. (AP)  Georgia sheriff's officials say they've decided not to pursue any charges after a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself with his father's pistol.

Paulding County sheriff's Sgt. Ashley Henson said in a statement Thursday that detectives have consulted with the district attorney's office in the county just northwest of Atlanta and decided not to move ahead with any charges.

Authorities say Holston Cole used his father David's semi-automatic pistol to shoot himself April 26.

Henson said Thursday that the child got the gun from inside a backpack in the home in the Dallas, Georgia, area, about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta.
Troopers suspended over pursuit video that shows pummeling

NASHUA, N.H. (AP)  Troopers in two states were suspended Thursday amid an ongoing criminal investigation into police use of force against a suspect who was filmed being beaten by officers after apparently surrendering following a long high-speed chase.

One Massachusetts state trooper and one New Hampshire state trooper were suspended after a 50-mile police pursuit that started in Holden, Massachusetts, and ended in Nashua, New Hampshire. The driver, Richard Simone Jr., was arrested after he stepped slowly from his pickup truck, kneeled and put his hands on the ground. Footage from a news helicopter shows officers then setting upon him, pummeling him with punches.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan expressed concern about the events shown in the video.

This booking photo released Thursday, May 12, 2016, by the Nashua Police Department shows Richard Simone, of Worcester, Mass., who led police on a high-speed chase from Massachusetts into New Hampshire Wednesday. Simone, shown on a news helicopter videotape surrendering to police before officers used force on him, agreed in court Thursday to return to Massachusetts to face charges there. (Nashua Police Department via AP)

"I thought the video was incredibly disturbing and I'm anxious to work with the folks in New Hampshire to get moving on the investigation and to figure out what's what as quickly as possible and take the appropriate action," said Baker, a Republican.

Hassan said she had reached out to authorities about the video.

"I have been in contact with the attorney general and the Commissioner of Safety," said Hassan, a Democrat. "It is important and appropriate that the attorney general's office has opened an investigation into the incident."

In court Thursday, Simone agreed to be taken back to Massachusetts to face outstanding warrants there on assault with a deadly weapon and larceny. His court-appointed lawyer, Tony Sculimbrene, said Simone would seek medical attention but would not elaborate after the hearing.

The focus, however, centered on the officers' actions after the chase that reached speeds of more than 100 mph.

Jeffery A. Strelzin, a senior assistant attorney general in New Hampshire, said his office would be investigating "what force was used, by whom, and whether it was appropriate under the law."

New Hampshire state police Col. Robert Quinn, who also called the video disturbing, said he suspended one of his troopers without pay and stripped him all law enforcement authority. Massachusetts Col. Richard McKeon said he also suspended a trooper, pending an internal hearing scheduled for Friday.

Simone was arraigned on a fugitive-from-justice charge in Nashua District Court and was expected to be turned over to Massachusetts authorities. It wasn't clear when that would happen.

His public defender made a reference to Simone's "medical condition" and got approval for him to sit in court. Simone didn't appear to have any bruises, but his mug shot showed blood on his left ear.

The chase began when Simone refused to stop for police in Holden. He was wanted on multiple warrants for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny and failure to stop for police, according to court documents.

Holden police chased him, and a Massachusetts State Police cruiser followed. The chase went through several towns and ended in a residential neighborhood in Nashua, where police had laid out spike strips.

The pursuit lasted about an hour.

Simone's pickup truck made abrupt lane changes and crashed at least once, said David Procopio, spokesman with the Massachusetts State Police.

Helicopter video showed the pickup truck stopped next to a utility pole on a dead-end street before police officers surrounded it with their weapons drawn. The driver stepped from the truck, got onto the ground and was on all fours and lowering himself when the officers moved in.

Simone is no stranger to law enforcement. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported that he almost rammed a police cruiser in a separate chase three days earlier.

Court records show that Simone eluded police in Millbury, Massachusetts, who had tried to stop him for an outstanding warrant, by trying to collide with the cruiser before driving onto Interstate 290.

___

Associated Press writer Bob Salsberg contributed to this report from Boston.

___

This story has been corrected to show the name of the newspaper reporting Richard Simone Jr.'s previous police chase is The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, not the Worchester Telegram-Gazette.

This aerial image made from a helicopter video provided by WHDH shows Richard Simone kneeling and putting his hands on the ground after a high-speed police pursuit in Nashua, N.H., Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Moments later several officers rushed Simone and pummeled him. (Courtesy WHDH via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT; BOSTON OUT
Jury gets case of mom accused of killing 5-year-old in 1991

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP)  The fate of a Florida woman charged with killing her 5-year-old son in New Jersey in 1991 is now in the hands of a jury.

Jurors began deliberating in Michelle Lodzinski's case Thursday afternoon. The Port St. Lucie resident was charged with murder in 2014 after investigators reopened the case.

Lodzinski first said Timothy Wiltsey disappeared while they were at the Sayreville carnival, then said he had been kidnapped from there.

Prosecutors say the boy was never at the carnival and Lodzinski killed him elsewhere. His remains were found in 1992 in a marshy area a few miles away.
Budget maneuvers led to Brazil impeachment

The impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff is based on accusations that her administration illegally used unauthorized loans from state-owned banks: The banks would disburse money for programs, but the government delayed paying them back. Critics say that was meant to make public finances look better than they were. Rousseff insists the practice is not an impeachable offense and says other Brazilian presidents used similar techniques without facing punishment.

Here is a look at the allegations and how they compare to previous administrations.

___

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff waves to the crowd during the opening of the National Conference of Women, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. The impeachment proceedings against Rousseff took another hairpin turn Tuesday after the acting speaker of Congress' lower house Waldir Maranhao put the impeachment process back on track a day after he sparked chaos and sowed further discord among Brazil's fractious political class by annulling an April 17 vote by the Chamber of Deputies for impeachment. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

MONEY SHUFFLING: The fact-checking website Aos Fatos counted incidents involving funds from state-run bank Caixa Economica Federal. It says Rousseff used the practice vastly more often than did the two previous presidents, Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Allegations against Rousseff also include funds from state-run banks BNDES and Banco do Brasil. The case against her covers only 2015, the first year of her second term, because Brazil's constitution says a president can be impeached only for crimes in the current term.

___

DILMA ROUSSEFF: In 2011-2015, Rousseff's administration delayed payments to Caixa totaling almost $10 billion. The funds were eventually paid, but Brazil's fiscal laws say state banks should not make loans to the federal government without congressional authorization. Rousseff denies those were loans. The funds went for unemployment benefits, bonuses to public workers and subsidies for poor Brazilians. The delays stopped after a government watchdog ruled in October 2015 that the accounting mechanisms used by Rousseff were irregular.

___

VICE PRESIDENT MICHEL TEMER: Rousseff backers say the case against Rousseff could affect Temer, who is temporarily replacing the suspended leader. As acting president when Rousseff was on trips outside Brazil, he authorized such accounting measures. Temer argues he was not responsible for the economic policies and says his signature doesn't mean any involvement in the decision to delay payments.

___

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA: Silva, who was Rousseff's mentor and predecessor, used similar accounting practices in September and November 2003 and in November 2006, shortly after his re-election. The amounts involved totaled $144 million. The funds were for unemployment benefits and subsidies for the poor.

___

FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO: Now an opposition leader, Cardoso issued similar decrees while president to delay payments to Caixa four times involving unemployment benefits. The first was in September 1996 and three more came in 2002, totaling $125 million at current values.

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff speaks during the opening of the National Conference of Women, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. The impeachment proceedings against Rousseff took another hairpin turn Tuesday after the acting speaker of Congress' lower house Waldir Maranhao put the impeachment process back on track a day after he sparked chaos and sowed further discord among Brazil's fractious political class by annulling an April 17 vote by the Chamber of Deputies for impeachment. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Germany summons Egypt's ambassador over foundation's closing

BERLIN (AP)  The German Foreign Office has summoned the Egyptian ambassador to express incomprehension about the closure of a German foundation's office in Cairo.

The foreign office said in a statement State Secretary Markus Ederer told Ambassador Badr Abdelatty Thursday to reopen the office of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation, which is linked to the liberal Free Democrats party.

The statement stressed that the government will continue its support of German political foundations' important work in Egypt with "appropriate measures."

The statement also said the foundations "need to be able to do (their work) in an environment of increasing political pressure on civil society."
Unusual number of whales seen in San Francisco Bay

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Migrating humpback whales have been swimming into San Francisco Bay in unprecedented numbers during the past two weeks  an onslaught that experts say could be caused by an unusual concentration of anchovies near shore.

As many as four humpbacks at a time have been spotted flapping their tails and breaching in bay waters, apparently feeding on the anchovies and other schooling fish during incoming tides, the San Francisco Chronicle reported (http://bit.ly/1TB4C8p) Thursday.

It's normal for gray whales to wander into the bay, but humpbacks generally feed farther offshore and are not accustomed to navigating shallow water and narrow straits such as those in San Francisco Bay, the newspaper reported.

FILE - In this July 11, 2015 file photo, a humpback whale breaches off the Long Beach Coast during a whale watching trip on The Harbor Breeze Cruises Triumphant in Long Beach, Calif. Humpback whales have been swimming into San Francisco Bay in unprecedented numbers during the past two weeks, an onslaught that experts say could be caused by an unusual concentration of anchovies near shore. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

Mary Jane Schramm, a spokeswoman for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, said she and other marine experts worry that the whales could swamp boats while breaching, get hit by a ship or spooked by people who paddle or sail out to see them.

KSBW-TV reports a humpback whale was rescued in Monterey Bay this week after it became tangled in crab gear. On Thursday afternoon, a pair of whales surfaced near Golden Gate Bridge as two kite surfers came dangerously close to them.

Some have expressed excitement at seeing the whales.

"I had never seen humpback whales before, and it was awesome," said Laurie Duke, 54, who volunteers at the Marine Mammal Center and Golden Gate Cetacean Research. "They were mostly coming partially out of the water, showing their tails.'

Schramm said the animals could get into trouble if they head any direction except west because the potential for disease and skin problems is greater in fresh and brackish water.

"The deeper they get into the bay, the more acoustically confusing it becomes," she said of the whale's sense of direction.

The whales are migrating north after likely giving birth in the waters off Mexico and Central America, Schramm said.

Schramm's biggest fear is that the giant visitors will go the way of Humphrey, a famous 40-ton humpback who caused pandemonium in 1985 when he swam through the Carquinez Strait, up the Sacramento River and into a creek.

Large numbers of whales were reported last year near the Golden Gate Bridge due to a concentration of anchovies.

___

Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com
Judge sides with House Republicans against health care law

WASHINGTON (AP)  In a setback for the Obama health care law, a federal judge ruled Thursday that the administration is unconstitutionally subsidizing medical bills for millions of people while ignoring congressional power over government spending.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer was a win for House Republicans who brought the politically charged legal challenge in an effort to undermine the law.

If the decision is upheld, it could roil the health care law's insurance markets, which are still struggling for stability after three years.

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2015, file photo, the HealthCare.gov website, where people can buy health insurance, is displayed on a laptop screen in Washington. A federal judge has ruled that the Obama administration is unconstitutionally spending federal money to fund the president's health care law. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Collyer said her ruling would be put on hold while it is appealed. The White House expressed confidence it would be overturned.

At issue is the $175 billion the government is paying to reimburse health insurers over a decade to reduce deductibles and co-payments for lower-income people.

The House argues that Congress never specifically appropriated that money and has denied an administration request for it. Collyer agreed that the administration is exceeding its constitutional authority by spending the money anyway. She rejected the administration's argument that the law authorizes the money automatically because the program is considered an "entitlement" like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

House Republicans launched the lawsuit in 2014 over Democrats' objections. The GOP-led House had already voted dozens of times to repeal all or parts of "Obamacare," but those efforts went nowhere, failing to overcome opposition from Senate Democrats and the president.

So the House turned its focus to tying up money spent on the law. Republican House leaders asserted that the Obama administration couldn't spend money that lawmakers refused to provide.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the decision "an historic win for the Constitution and the American people."

"The court ruled that the administration overreached by spending taxpayer money without approval from the people's representatives," he said in a statement.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that House Republicans ultimately would lose the case.

"This suit represents the first time in our nation's history that Congress has been permitted to sue the executive branch over a disagreement about how to interpret a statute," Earnest said.

"It's unfortunate that Republicans have resorted to a taxpayer-funded lawsuit to refight a political fight that they keep losing," Earnest added. "They have been losing this fight for six years. And they'll lose it again."

The administration is expected to appeal Thursday's ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where a majority of active judges have been appointed by Democrats.

Collyer was appointed to the district court by President George W. Bush, a Republican.

About 12.7 million people are covered through insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's law. The disputed subsidies help lower-earning customers afford out-of-pocket costs, such as annual insurance deductibles and co-payments when they seek medical care.

These subsidies, called "cost-sharing reductions" are separate from the financial aid provided under the law to help people pay their monthly premiums, which would not be affected.

But that doesn't make the cost-sharing subsidies any less important. Without them, millions of people may not be able to afford to use their health insurance.

Here's why: The most popular policies are skinny plans with low monthly premiums but high deductibles and copayments. The average annual deductible for a silver plan  the kind picked by about 7 in 10 customers  is nearly $2,900, according to the consulting firm Avalere Health.

Under the law, insurers have to provide cost-sharing assistance to consumers picking a silver plan who make up to two-and-a-half times the federal poverty level, which is $60,750 for a family of four.

The government is then required to reimburse insurers for the cost of the subsidies. The administration maintains that's automatically authorized, and it doesn't have to go back to Congress for approval each year.

But Collyer rejected that argument, saying appropriating the money is up to lawmakers. "That is Congress' prerogative," Collyer wrote. "The court cannot override it by rewriting" the law.

If congressional approval is required, Congress' GOP majority can just shut off the spending. And if that happens, the administration says the only option insurers have would be to raise premiums significantly.

However, more insurers might just decide to bail out of the health law markets. Major companies already are struggling to make money on the program.

The White House had earlier argued that the House had no legal authority to pursue its lawsuit, but Collyer rejected that argument and allowed it to proceed.
The Latest: Prosecutor says 'Grim Sleeper' killed 5 more

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Latest on the penalty phase in the "Grim Sleeper" murder trial. (all times local):

10:55 a.m.

A Los Angeles prosecutor seeking the death penalty for the man convicted in 10 "Grim Sleeper" murders says he also killed five other women.

FILE - In this Monday Aug. 23, 2010 file photo, Lonnie Franklin Jr. appears for an arraignment on multiple charges as the alleged "Grim Sleeper" killer, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Los Angeles prosecutors plan to present evidence of five more killings against Franklin Jr., who was convicted in the Grim Sleeper murders. Prosecutors will begin laying out their case Thursday, May 12, 2016, for the death penalty for Franklin Jr. after his convictions in the serial killings that spanned more than two decades. (AP Pool/Nick Ut, File)

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told jurors Thursday that one of those additional killings was committed before the series of murders that Lonnie Franklin Jr. was convicted of and involved the same gun that took the life of the final victim.

Defense lawyers postponed presenting an opening statement in their efforts to spare Franklin from capital punishment. Franklin was previously convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder.

Silverman says Franklin's first victim was found in an abandoned gas station restroom in 1984. Police later connected the killing of Sharon Dismuke to the gun used to kill Janecia Peters in 2007.

Silverman says that gun was found in Franklin's garage.

___

12:08 a.m.

Los Angeles prosecutors plan to present evidence of five more killings against the man convicted in the "Grim Sleeper" murders.

Prosecutors will begin laying out their case Thursday for the death penalty for Lonnie Franklin Jr. after his convictions in the serial killings that spanned more than two decades.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman says she will present testimony from dozens of family members of victims who were affected by the killings. She will also present evidence in slayings of five women that Franklin has not been charged with killing.

Defense lawyers failed to persuade a judge that the evidence should be barred from the penalty phase of trial that could last a month.

Silverman says evidence of five additional killings came to light after Franklin was indicted.
The Latest: Chicago police talked with man before gunfire

CHICAGO (AP)  The Latest on a police standoff with a man suspected of killing three people in Chicago (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Chicago Police say the man who shot himself after an hours-long standoff with authorities spoke with them on the phone before he fired shots at officers.

Ge Ge Gatewood, right, reacts after hearing gunshots at the scene where a possible murder suspect has fired shots at officers surrounding a South Side home where he is barricaded Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Gateway's two teenage children were in the home next door and went to the basement when they heard the shots. Co-worker Alton Kelly, left, comforts Gatwood at the scene. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Deputy Chief Steve Georges says a gun was recovered from the hands of the man, whom they wanted to question in the shooting deaths of three people Wednesday night.

Georges also said police had a short conversation over a telephone with the suspect, who hasn't been identified, after which he appeared in a window and fired 10 to 12 shots at police.

He also said authorities worked with the man's mother to record a message that was played as a means to get the man to surrender.

___

3:45 p.m.

Chicago police say a suspect in the killing of three people who was in a standoff with authorities has apparently killed himself.

Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (goo-lee-EHL'-mee) says members of the department's SWAT team rushed into the house Thursday afternoon after firing gas canisters in the hopes the man would surrender and found his body inside.

The man was being sought for questioning in the shooting deaths of three people Wednesday night in the West Englewood neighborhood on the city's South Side.

Police spent hours outside of the home and exchanged gunfire with the man after he opened fire from a window. The police later brought in relatives of the man who urged him to surrender peacefully.

The man has not been identified.

___

1 p.m.

The family of a man who's a suspect in the killing of three people in Chicago is on the scene of his standoff with police. They are urging the man to surrender peacefully after he exchanged gunfire with SWAT officers.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (goo-lee-EHL'-mee) says officers also used gas canisters Thursday to try to get the man to give himself up.

He's being sought for questioning in the shooting deaths of three people Wednesday night in the West Englewood neighborhood.

The man fired on officers from a window, and SWAT members fired back. Deputy police Superintendent John Escalante says officers then saw the man run upstairs, but it was unclear whether he'd been struck.

Speaking to video cameras outside, Escalante assured the man, if he was watching TV, that police wanted the confrontation to end peacefully.

___

10:15 a.m.

A possible suspect in the killing of three people in Chicago has fired shots at officers surrounding a far South Side home where he is barricaded.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (goo-lee-EHL'-mee) says officers returned fire but it was unclear if the man was hit. No officers were hurt.

Police with loudspeakers are calling on him to surrender.

Police are searching for a man who killed three people Wednesday night in the West Englewood neighborhood.

Police spokeswoman Laura Amezaga says the shooter knew the victims. A 30-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were shot in the head. A 26-year-old woman was shot in the back.

Deputy police Superintendent John Escalante says the victims appear to have been from the same family.

Escalante says there's no threat to the broader community.

___

9:30 a.m.

A possible suspect in the killing of three people has barricaded himself in a home on Chicago's far South Side.

Police spokeswoman Laura Amezaga said Thursday that SWAT team members have surrounded the home in the Fernwood neighborhood.

She says a man inside is a possible suspect in the killings of three people Wednesday night in the West Englewood neighborhood.

Amezaga says the shooter knew the victims, but she did not have information about their relationship.

She says a 30-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were shot in the head, and a 26-year-old woman was shot in the back.

Deputy police Superintendent John Escalante says the victims appear to have been members of the same family.

Escalante says police don't think there is any threat to the broader community.

Police cordon off an area where a possible murder suspect has fired shots at officers surrounding a South Side home where he is barricaded Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says officers returned fire but it was unclear if the man was hit. No officers were hurt. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Members of the Chicago Police Department work the scene where a possible murder suspect barricaded themselves inside a home Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT CHICAGO TRIBUNE; CHICAGO SUN-TIMES OUT; DAILY HERALD OUT; NORTHWEST HERALD OUT; THE HERALD-NEWS OUT; DAILY CHRONICLE OUT; THE TIMES OF NORTHWEST INDIANA OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
Zoo keeper killed by tiger violated safety rules

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A federal report says a Florida zookeeper who was killed by a tiger did not follow established safety procedures.

The Palm Beach Zoo released the one-page U.S. Department of Agriculture report this week. It covers a USDA inspection of the zoo on Tuesday.

The report sheds little light on the April 15 attack that killed Stacey Konwiser, saying simply the 38-year-old lead keeper violated safety procedures when she entered the tiger enclosure. It gave no further details. The 13-year-old male Malayan tiger attacked her, inflicting a fatal neck injury.

The report says the need to shoot the rare tiger with a tranquilizer dart caused it stress and discomfort that could have been avoided if Konwiser had followed protocol.
Jodie Foster: Movie sets are 'healthier' with women on them

CANNES, France (AP)  Jodie Foster, one of only two female directors helming a major studio wide-release this summer, says Hollywood's risk aversion is contributing to its overwhelming male directors.

Foster spoke Thursday at a "Women in Motion" talk at the Cannes Film Festival before the premiere of her hostage thriller "Money Monster." She said the industry is "scared, period" and that fearfulness has led to executives choosing familiar, male faces: "You're going to go with the guy that looks like you."

But the two-time Oscar winner, who began as a child actor, said she's seen "faces change" through the years as more and more women began populating film sets.

Director Jodie Foster poses for photographers during a photo call for the Women In Motion talks at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

When women joined productions, Foster said, "everything changed." ''Suddenly it felt more like a family, and movie sets became healthier."

Director Jodie Foster, second left, poses for photographers with from left, actress Julia Roberts, actor George Clooney and actress Caitriona Balfe, during a photo call for the film Money Monster at the 69th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
US gives directive to schools on transgender bathroom access

WASHINGTON (AP)  Public schools must permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity, according to an Obama administration directive issued amid a court fight between the federal government and North Carolina.

The guidance from leaders at the departments of Education and Justice says public schools are obligated to treat transgender students in a way that matches their gender identity, even if their education records or identity documents indicate a different sex.

"There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement accompanying the directive, which is being sent to school districts Friday.

Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division listens at left as Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Monday, May 9, 2016. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's administration sued the federal government Monday in a fight for a state law that limits protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In issuing the guidance, the Obama administration is wading anew into a socially divisive debate it has bluntly cast in terms of civil rights. The Justice Department on Monday sued North Carolina over a bathroom access law that it said violates the rights of transgender people, a measure that Lynch likened to policies of racial segregation and efforts to deny gay couples the right to marry.

The guidance does not impose any new legal requirements. But officials say it's meant to clarify expectations of school districts that receive funding from the federal government. Educators have been seeking guidance on how to comply with Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding, Education Secretary John B. King said in a statement.

"We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence," King said.

Under the guidance, schools are told that they must treat transgender students according to their chosen gender identity as soon as a parent or guardian notifies the district that that identity "differs from previous representations or records." There is no obligation for a student to present a specific medical diagnosis or identification documents that reflect his or her gender identity, and equal access must be given to transgender students even in instances when it makes others uncomfortable, according to the directive.

"As is consistently recognized in civil rights cases, the desire to accommodate others' discomfort cannot justify a policy that singles out and disadvantages a particular class of students," the guidance says.

The administration is also releasing a separate 25-page document of questions and answers about best practices, including ways schools can make transgender students comfortable in the classroom and protect the privacy rights of all students in restrooms or locker rooms.

The move was cheered by Human Rights Campaign, a gay, lesbian and transgender civil rights organization, which called the guidelines "groundbreaking."

"This is a truly significant moment not only for transgender young people but for all young people, sending a message that every student deserves to be treated fairly and supported by their teachers and schools," HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement.

The guidance comes days after the Justice Department and North Carolina filed dueling lawsuits over a new state law that says transgender people must use public bathrooms, showers and changing rooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. The administration has said the law violates the Civil Rights Act.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has argued that the state law is a "commonsense privacy policy" and that the Justice Department's position is "baseless and blatant overreach." His administration sued the federal government hours before the state itself was sued.

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
The Latest: Soda tax backers say measure will be on ballot

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The Latest on a San Francisco ballot measure to tax sugary sweetened beverages (all times local):

1:15 p.m.

A spokeswoman for a sugary soda tax campaign in San Francisco says the measure will be on the November ballot, despite missing a key deadline by one day.

Supervisor Malia Cohen, top, listens to speakers during a news conference announcing that San Francisco backers of a tax on sugary beverages have enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot outside of City Hall in San Francisco, Thursday, May 12, 2016. This would be San Francisco's second attempt in two years trying to put a tax on the highly caloric drinks that some public health advocates say contributes to obesity. A 2014 attempt failed to garner the two-thirds approval needed for a dedicated tax. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The campaign had collected more than 18,000 signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, but missed the deadline to submit those signatures.

But that's not the only way to get on the ballot. Supervisors can also place a measure on the ballot.

A spokeswoman for Supervisor Malia Cohen's office said she plans to do so. She would need the support of at least three others on the board.

Supporters can also choose to circulate another petition and collect the 9,485 signatures needed by July 11.

___

11:50 a.m.

San Francisco's elections director says he will reject a petition to place a sugary drink tax on the November ballot.

John Arntz said the campaign missed the deadline to submit signatures, by one day.

Backers of a tax on sugary beverages announced Thursday that they had collected more than 18,000 signatures for the petition, well over the 9,485 required.

In a press conference on the steps of city hall, they vowed to take down "Big Soda," two years after a similar effort failed to garner the two-thirds approval required for a dedicated tax. This time, the plan for a general tax would have required a simple majority.

Representatives for the campaign could not be reached immediately for comment.

___

10:45 a.m.

San Francisco backers of a tax on sugary beverages are expected to announce they have enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday morning.

This would be San Francisco's second attempt in two years trying to put a tax on the highly caloric drinks that some public health advocates say contributes to obesity. A 2014 attempt failed to garner the two-thirds approval needed for a dedicated tax.

This time, backers are going for a general 1-cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks. That requires a simple majority vote. Oakland officials this month put a similar tax on the fall ballot as well.

Berkeley approved the first soda tax in the nation in 2014.

Opponents say the tax unfairly singles out soda.
Albania president files defamation suit against Tirana mayor

TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Albania's president has filed a defamation suit against the mayor of the country's capital.

President Bujar Nishani, elected to Parliament in 2012 as a member of the then-governing center-right Democratic Party and now in opposition, sued Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on Thursday. Veliaj has accused him on a talk show of using his powers to change ownership of a Catholic Church property in the central city of Elbasan to his family.

Veliaj, who was elected last year, belongs to the governing left-wing Socialist Party of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Though formally apolitical since getting the post, Nishani has been in a continuous conflict with the governing Socialists since they came to power in 2013.
Kvyat still struggling to fathom departure from Red Bull

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  It was in a 20-minute call that interrupted his viewing of "Game of Thrones" that Daniil Kvyat found out he was being relegated from Red Bull to Toro Rosso only four races into the Formula One season.

Kvyat got the ax, just like many of the popular TV characters in "Thrones."

The young Russian driver said the news didn't keep him from going right back to the television series when he hung up the phone, but he admitted he was surprised to learn of his demotion, and being replaced by 18-year-old Max Verstappen.

Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands attends a press conference at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The Formula One race will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

"The decision in a way was a bit of a shock," Kvyat said on Thursday. "There was no real explanation to be honest. If the bosses want something to happen, they just make it happen. Simple as that."

The 22-year-old Kvyat said he felt he was doing a good job for Red Bull, and didn't think there was any reason for the team to make the switch.

"I feel like I've done everything for the team," said Kvyat, who finished third in China and was eighth in the drivers' standings ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "I feel like I've been bringing the points, I've been bringing all the development work. We've been working well together."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said last week that the move was done to give Verstappen a new opportunity, and allow Kvyat to continue his development at feeder team Toro Rosso, where he will have "a chance to regain his form and show his potential."

The switch came just a few days after the Russian GP, where Kvyat was loudly criticized after twice hitting Sebastian Vettel from behind on the first lap. Vettel complained to Horner, but on Thursday he said he didn't think the accident played a significant role in Red Bull's decision, which he was told had already been made before the race.

Verstappen, sitting next to Kvyat in Thursday's press conference, said he was focused on making the most out of his chance.

"That's not up to me to say who deserved it or not," he said. "I'm happy with the chance they've given to me, and I will try to make the best of it."

The change surprised many in the paddock, including Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who noted that young drivers "need time to progress."

"Ultimately it's a good opportunity for one and for the other very unfortunate," Hamilton said. "Mistakes do happen, there's so much pressure on drivers, particularly at a young age. There's so much to learn. A lot of pressure on the shoulders to take a driver out of a role with a team where he's comfortable and move into another one. Do I agree with it? It doesn't really matter, but it's definitely not something I would particularly do."

Kvyat was looking forward to showing his worth in Barcelona.

"I've always been giving my answers on the track and nothing will change. I will try to give as loud an answer as possible on the track," he said. "I learned quite a lot in the last few days, last few weeks and it's made me very strong."

___

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni
The Latest: State relocating Ohio homes where 8 fatally shot

PIKETON, Ohio (AP)  The Latest on the fatal shooting of eight family members in southern Ohio (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

The state attorney general says homes at crime scenes where eight family members were shot to death in southern Ohio are being relocated to a secure location as the investigation continues.

Attorney General Mike DeWine says work to move the four mobile homes near Piketon began Thursday and will take several days. A Pike County judge approved the moves.

DeWine says the intent is to preserve the crime scenes the way they were found to help with the investigation and any future prosecution.

Seven adults and a 16-year-old boy from the Rhoden family were found dead April 22. Authorities have interviewed dozens of people, processed more than 100 pieces of evidence and received over 500 tips but haven't made an arrest or identified who is responsible for the slayings.

___

12:20 p.m.

The woman who is heard in a frantic 911 call says she is haunted by the memory of discovering some of the bodies in the slayings last month of eight people in southern Ohio.

Thirty-six-year-old Bobby Jo Manley tells The Cincinnati Enquirer (http://cin.ci/1X44hjP ) she took a 3-year-old and an infant out of a trailer where she found the boys' parents  her nephew and his fiancee  dead in their blood-soaked bed on the morning of April 22.

Seven adults and a 16-year-old boy were found slain at four homes near Piketon. Attorney General Mike DeWine has called the Rhoden family killings a "pre-planned execution."
AP Explains: Brazil president impeached, now what?

SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazil's Senate voted Thursday to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, a move that temporarily removes her from office while a trial is conducted. Rousseff is accused of using accounting tricks to hide budget deficits and bolster an embattled government. Rousseff has long argued she did nothing wrong.

While the Senate decision is a major development, it's not the end of the political fight or the economic and corruption problems that fueled the impeachment proceedings.

The Associated Press explains what's next:

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff attends the opening of the National Conference of Women, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. The impeachment proceedings against Rousseff took another hairpin turn Tuesday after the acting speaker of Congress' lower house Waldir Maranhao put the impeachment process back on track a day after he sparked chaos and sowed further discord among Brazil's fractious political class by annulling an April 17 vote by the Chamber of Deputies for impeachment. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

___

NOW WHAT?

The Senate now has up to 180 days to vote whether to permanently remove Rousseff on the misconduct charges. Many analysts say the Senate will arrive at a verdict in less time, though a timeline hasn't been set.

In the interim, Vice President Michel Temer will temporarily assume the presidency. If the Senate votes to remove Rousseff, Temer will serve out her term, ending Dec. 31, 2018.

___

DOES ROUSSEFF HAVE OPTIONS?

Rousseff has repeatedly vowed to fight what she characterizes as a modern-day coup d'etat. Speaking Thursday after the impeachment vote, Rousseff said she would use "all legal means" in that effort.

In reality, however, Rousseff has few options. Appeals to the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the country's highest court, have failed. Last month, she said she might take her case to Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. However, it's highly unlike that members of Mercosur, which depend greatly on Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, would risk alienating the incoming president.

___

WHAT'S EXPECTED OF TEMER?

Temer, of the centrist Democratic Movement Party, has said he would expand popular social welfare programs, though he has also signaled he would reduce government spending and privatize many state-run companies.

He has formed a market-friendly cabinet with pro-business figures in an attempt to restore confidence. He has appointed as finance minister Henrique Meirelles, who headed the central bank during one of Brazil's most stable and prosperous periods: the two administrations of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, when the country's economy grew 4 percent on average.

___

CAN TEMER REALLY TURN THE ECONOMY AROUND?

Economists say one of the biggest problems is high government spending, particularly to maintain a very generous pension system. Trying to make structural reforms has proved impossible for previous administrations, including Rousseff's.

It remains to be seen whether Temer will have the political capital, or desire, to float measures that will be particularly unpopular at a time when the country is already suffering its worst recession since the 1930s.

___

WHAT ABOUT CLEANING UP CORRUPTION?

Graft is so endemic in Brazil that around 60 percent of the 594 lawmakers in Congress are facing allegations of corruption or other forms of wrongdoing.

Anger over a multi-billion dollar kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras damaged Rousseff. While she was never implicated, much of the alleged corruption happened during the 13 years that the Workers' Party was in power.

Temer himself has been implicated  though never charged or arrested  in the Petrobras probe. Many worry that he'll try to weaken the investigation.

___

WHAT'S THE UPSHOT?

For government supporters, the impeachment push amounts to a coup because Rousseff has not been charged with a crime. They say Brazil's traditional ruling class has been unnerved by the social movement under Rousseff's Worker's Party and is seizing the opportunity to take back power.

Opponents say the administration's maneuvering of funds was illegal and an attempt to mask problems that exacerbated the recession, such as huge budget gaps that have surfaced over the last year. They say impeachment can't be considered a coup because it's allowed in the constitution.

Put another way, this conflict is far from over.

____
Texas' attorney general defiant as fraud case back in court

DALLAS (AP)  Texas' attorney general fought Thursday to stop his indictment on securities fraud from ending his political career, first by urging an appeals court to dismiss the charges, then by trying to close party ranks at the state Republican convention just blocks away.

Attorney General Ken Paxton arrived at the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas Thursday with more defiance and outspokenness than in any previous court appearance. Paxton had taken the unusual step of releasing a four-minute video on the eve of his appeal, blaming the felony charges on political enemies and vowing to stay in office.

Paxton has spent most of his 17 months in office under indictment, accused of defrauding wealthy investors before he became the state's top prosecutor by not telling them he was being paid to steer their money toward a high-tech startup called Servergy Inc. The video was the most Paxton has publicly addressed the case. More of the same is expected Saturday, when his speech to Republican powerbrokers at the party convention immediately follows the headliner  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who will be making his first big appearance since ending his presidential run.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, second from left, and his wife Angela Paxton, right, enter the Merrill Hartman Courtroom in the Fifth Court of Appeals at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas, Thursday May 12, 2016. Paxton's legal team is asking an appeals court to toss criminal charges he defrauded investors. Paxton also faces separate civil fraud charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

"I want you to hear directly from me unfiltered by liberal reporters, spin doctors and political opponents. These charges are false, and I will prevail against them in court," Paxton said in the video.

Paxton has pleaded not guilty and faces five to 99 years in prison if convicted.

About a dozen supporters made the short walk from the Republican convention to the courthouse, where Paxton sat in the gallery with his wife while his attorneys argued that the grand jury that indicted him was improperly picked. Paxton's defense team has been newly encouraged since another appeals court in February dismissed a criminal case against former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was charged with abuse of power.

Paxton attorney Bill Mateja said the Perry case shows how appellate judges can deservingly clear charges before costly trials get underway. But the special prosecutors in Paxton's case bristled at the comparison.

"It's not Rick Perry. It's Ken Paxton. We have the law and the facts on our side," special prosecutor Brian Wice said.

Paxton's appeal largely boils down to his claims that a judge in his hometown of McKinney improperly asked for volunteers in a room of about 80 prospective grand jurors, and narrowed down the panel from there. Mateja told the court that prevented the grand jury from truly being randomly selected, but several justices challenged that argument.

Wice also rebutted speculation that the grand jury was itching to indict from the start. "In Collin County, (Paxton's) hometown, they could have volunteered with an eye for deflecting," Wice said.

Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Republicans have been silent on Paxton since his indictment last summer.

___

Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauljweber

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, second from left, and his wife Angela Paxton, right, enter the Merrill Hartman Courtroom in the Fifth Court of Appeals at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas, Thursday May 12, 2016. Paxton's legal team is asking an appeals court to toss criminal charges he defrauded investors. Paxton also faces separate civil fraud charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, shakes hands with his attorney Bill Mateja after entering the Merrill Hartman Courtroom in the Fifth Court of Appeals at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas, Thursday May 12, 2016. Paxton's legal team is asking an appeals court to toss criminal charges he defrauded investors. Paxton also faces separate civil fraud charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
Federal judge: Blind denied absentee voting access in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Blind Ohio residents have been denied "meaningful access" to the swing state's absentee voting system, but implementing changes would require fundamentally altering the entire voting system, a federal judge said.

U.S. District Judge George Smith's made the ruling Wednesday, noting there isn't enough time before the fall election to certify a new voting system, The Columbus Dispatch reported (http://bit.ly/1T97b1O ).

Disability Rights Ohio filed a lawsuit in December alleging blind people and those with certain disabilities are being denied an equal opportunity to independently and privately vote absentee by mail. They also claimed that Secretary of State Jon Husted's (HYOO-steds) website doesn't work with software that would improve the site's accessibility.

Husted, a Republican, contended that county boards of election already offer special accommodations for blind voters.

Smith encouraged the group and Husted to continue to work on the issue. Both sides claimed victory after the ruling.

"Today's ruling reaffirms that our system of elections is fair for all voters," Husted said in a statement. "We have worked in every aspect of Ohio elections to improve voter access, but every change we make must be done the right way."

But Disability Rights Ohio said the ruling found Husted is violating the rights of blind voters. The agency said it plans to appeal.

___
Massive robotic dinosaur destroyed by fire; skeleton remains

LEONIA, N.J. (AP)  A fire has destroyed a 90-foot-long lifelike robotic dinosaur that was set to be part of an exhibit at a New Jersey theme park.

Exhibit creator Guy Gsell tells The Record newspaper (http://bit.ly/1T90hJZ ) the animatronic Argentinosaurus dinosaur was reduced to a charred skeleton Thursday at Overpeck County Park in Leonia.

The Field Station: Dinosaurs exhibit is moving to the park this month after operating in Secaucus (sih-KAW'-kuhs) since 2012. Its creator says a welder was putting finishing touches on the Argentinosaurus when a spark started the blaze.

This photo provided by the Leonia, N.J., Police Department shows a fire that destroyed a 90-foot animatronic dinosaur at Overpeck County Park in Leonia, N.J., Thursday, May 12, 2016. The fire has destroyed the animatronic dinosaur that was set to be part of an exhibit at the theme park. (Leonia Police Department via AP)

The dinosaur was burned to its skeleton. None of the exhibit's 33 other dinosaurs was damaged.

The exhibit's creator says the exhibit is still on track to open Memorial Day weekend and he plans to rebuild the Argentinosaurus robot.

Argentinosaurus fossils were discovered in Argentina in the 1980s.

___

Information from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com

This photo provided by the Leonia, N.J., Police Department shows a fire that destroyed a 90-foot animatronic dinosaur at Overpeck County Park in Leonia, N.J., Thursday, May 12, 2016. The fire has destroyed the animatronic dinosaur that was set to be part of an exhibit at the theme park. (Leonia Police Department via AP)
California Dreaming: Clinton sees big win, Sanders an upset

LOS ANGELES (AP)  With the primary season's biggest prize in play, Hillary Clinton has fashioned a strategy to reprise her 2008 victory in California when she defeated Barack Obama by running up big margins with Hispanics and women. Bernie Sanders is hoping for an upset to sustain his argument to stay in the race.

There is another historical backdrop for Clinton: Her husband locked up his first presidential nomination in the California primary in 1992. This year, the state's June 7 Democratic primary offers the largest trove of delegates in the nation and gives Clinton the opportunity for a turnaround after Sanders embarrassed her with recent wins in West Virginia and Indiana

She's got the party's nomination all but clinched, no matter what happens, but a loss in the Democratic stronghold would be a stinging setback and refresh questions about her electability in November.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton participates in a round table discussion with HIV/AIDS activists, Thursday, May 12, 2016, at he campaign headquarters in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Sanders, with only a wisp of a chance of overtaking her delegate lead, concedes he faces a daunting climb.

One sign: On a recent sunny afternoon in Mariachi Square, a landmark in a Hispanic neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles, campaign organizer Richard Avina was waiting for volunteers to arrive to help him knock on doors.

No one showed up.

Decked out in a Sanders T-shirt, Avina, 24, who left his hospital job to help the campaign, acknowledged the obvious: "It's been a little rough."

Still, the Vermont senator said at a rally in Stockton this week that if he can rack up big wins in California and other endgame primaries, "I think you are looking at the Democratic nominee."

June 7 amounts to a capstone on the primary season  with voting also in New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. Clinton could lose every state and still become the nominee.

Besides winning here before, the former first lady leads in polling and has a deep team of experienced advisers and organizers, some plucked from her 2008 state campaign and from Obama's team. Another Clinton edge is with blacks  she has trounced Sanders among black voters in key states like New York and Florida and wants to duplicate that here.

A rally last week in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles pointed to her emphasis on the Latino vote, and the campaign Wednesday kicked off a statewide battery of women-to-women phone banks. She recently met with a who's-who of black pastors and community leaders in Los Angeles.

Sanders, virtually unknown in California at this time last year, enters the final weeks after an internal disagreement over strategy and an abrupt change in top staff. State director Michael Ceraso exited Wednesday, amid a debate over whether more money should be invested in digital and grass-roots organizing or traditional TV ads, the typical way to reach voters in the vast state. Ceraso's strength is digital organizing. The spot will be filled by Robert Becker, who was the campaign's director in Iowa, Michigan and New York.

"The campaign wanted to go in a different direction with the California strategy, so we mutually parted ways," said Ceraso, who had set a staff goal of knocking on 1 million doors before Election Day.

Meanwhile, Sanders' fundraising has slowed, and the campaign began cutting scores of workers last month. With Clinton eager to save money for the fall, and Sanders' fundraising slowing, it's not yet known if voters will witness a last-minute barrage of TV ads.

An independent Field Poll released last month found Clinton had a 64 percent to 25 percent advantage over Sanders with black voters, a 17-point edge with women and a slim margin with Hispanics. Sanders led with men, independents and younger voters, mirroring voting patterns in other states.

Voter registration numbers compiled by research firm Political Data Inc. are encouraging for Sanders: in the first four months this year, registrations for people 25 to 30 years old climbed 181 percent compared to the same period in 2012, the last presidential election. There's also been a spike with registrations for independents, another group than leans to the senator.

However, a wrinkle in the state's vote-by-mail rules could undercut that support with independents.

More than half of California voters are expected to vote by mail. But independent voters must ask local election officials to send them a presidential ballot with their state ballot.

So far, 2.1 million independents have been sent vote-by-mail ballots. But most were sent to voters without a presidential ballot, according to Paul Mitchell with Political Data.

"It really questions the idea that the Democratic Primary is open," Mitchell said.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses a gathering of medical personnel at Cooper Hospital, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Camden, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she speaks during a campaign rally Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Blackwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Push to start pipeline construction meets firm opposition

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Opponents of a proposed oil pipeline slated to run through four Midwestern states pressed Iowa regulators Thursday to keep a Texas-based petroleum company from starting construction before all federal permits are approved.

Dakota Access planned on beginning construction by now on the 1,150-mile pipeline that's designed to carry a half-million barrels of oil a day from the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota to a tank storage facility in south-central Illinois. The company told the Iowa Utilities Board in a filing last week it must begin laying pipe by Tuesday to finish before winter and avoid disturbing farmland for a second growing season.

It also has notified regulators in North Dakota that construction would start Sunday and on Monday in South Dakota, and a company spokeswoman confirmed Thursday that construction is set to begin next week in Illinois.

But the Iowa board's approval in March required Dakota Access to obtain all other permits before beginning construction in the state. And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for ensuring there's no adverse impact on wildlife and natural resources, hasn't issued any permits and also has been delayed by complaints it hasn't been thorough in its review.

Dakota Access filed a request last week with the Iowa Utilities Board to begin construction on land for which it has landowner approval and for which no federal permits are required. The board has set a Monday deadline for other parties to comment on the request, but hasn't set a date to decide about whether it will allow construction to begin soon.

Environmental group the Sierra Club said in a filing Thursday that the Iowa Utilities Board should stick with its decision to withhold construction approval until all permits are approved because input from other federal agencies may affect the route. And Ed Fallon, director of Bold Iowa, another organization that opposes the pipeline, told The Associated Press that Dakota Access has been very aggressive with landowners and is now "bullying" the Iowa board to give in.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was notified by the federal Interior Department earlier this month that its responsibilities under the federal Endangered Species Act have not been met and further study is required into the project's impact on the endangered Dakota skipper butterfly  an assessment that could take as long as 90 days. The corps also has been threatened with a lawsuit by the North Dakota-based Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which says the agency must closely assess the impact on the tribe's drinking water and historic sites on its ancestral lands.

"These fundamental concerns have never been rectified," attorneys for the tribe wrote in an April 26 letter. "While corps staff came out to visit the site, these actions took place only after fundamental decisions had been made about the pipeline's routing without consulting the tribe."

A Corps spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a message Thursday.
With Hiroshima, Obama goes where predecessors stayed away

WASHINGTON (AP)  When President Barack Obama tours Hiroshima's haunting relics of nuclear warfare, he will be making a trip that past administrations weighed and avoided. For good reason: The hollowed core of the city's A-Bomb Dome and old photos of charred children are sure to rekindle questions of guilt and penitence for World War II's gruesome brutality.

Obama's visit later this month already is stirring debate on both sides of the Pacific about the motivations and justifications for the nuclear attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Anything he says will be sharply scrutinized in the U.S., Japan and beyond. Anything resembling an apology could become a wedge issue in the U.S. presidential campaign and plunge Obama into the complicated politics of victimhood among Japan and its Asian neighbors.

"I don't have any problem with him going, but there is nothing to apologize for," said Lester Tenney, a 95-year-old American survivor of the 1942 Bataan Death March, when the Japanese marched tens of thousands of Filipino and U.S. soldiers to prison camps, and hundreds to their deaths.

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 1945 file photo, an allied correspondent stands in the rubble in front of the shell of a building that once was a movie theater in Hiroshima, Japan, a month after the first atomic bomb ever used in warfare was dropped by the U.S. on Monday, Aug. 6, 1945. In a moment seven decades in the making, President Barack Obama this month will become the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb during World War II, decimating a city and exploding the world into the Atomic Age. (AP Photo/Stanley Troutman, File)

Forty-two years ago, a White House aide suggested President Gerald Ford visit the city where 140,000 people were killed in the inferno on Aug. 6, 1945. A senior adviser, Gen. Brent Scowcroft, vetoed the idea: "It could rekindle old animosities in Japan at a time when we are striving for new relationships."

Asked in 2008 if he might go, President George W. Bush was noncommittal. In the end, it took 65 years for a U.S. ambassador to attend the city's annual memorial service. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled there last month.

Obama won't say sorry, U.S. officials have emphasized repeatedly since announcing the trip. Instead of revisiting the fateful decision to drop the bombs, the president will "shine a spotlight on the tremendous and devastating human toll of war" and "honor the memory of all innocents who were lost," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser.

In some ways, Obama has it easier than his predecessors. Japanese survivors, known as "hibakusha," have long refrained from demanding an apology, seeking to mobilize Hiroshima's revered sites for the causes of pacifism and denuclearization. Even if Obama's effort to reduce America's arsenal has stalled, most Japanese support his much-recited preference for a nuclear-free world and last year's arms-control deal with Iran.

Nevertheless, Ian Buruma, a professor at Bard College and author of "Year Zero: A History of 1945," said visiting Hiroshima is risky because of the lack of consensus in the U.S. or Japan about the bombings.

Many Japanese see the attacks as atrocities; others view them as punishment for Japan's hostile acts, which included conquering much of Asia and launching the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that led the U.S. into the war. And in the U.S., too, the debate rages 71 years after "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" fell from the sky.

A majority of Americans justify the bombings for hastening the war's end. Historians are split. Buruma said camps include those who believe President Harry Truman, barely sworn in, failed to stop "bureaucratic momentum" toward using a weapon that took so long to develop. Others argue U.S. leadership mainly wanted to intimidate the Soviet Union.

"I don't think there will ever be clarity," he said.

Japan's debate often has made it hard for U.S. presidents to visit, Buruma said.

Nationalists put forward the idea that the atomic bombs "evened out" Nazi-allied Japan's wartime atrocities, he said. The war in the Pacific killed millions across Asia, including perhaps 14 million Chinese, and Japan was responsible for chemical weapons attacks, widespread torture, forced labor and sexual slavery. American deaths topped 100,000; a quarter-million were wounded.

Meanwhile, left-wing Japanese groups sought to incorporate Hiroshima into their propaganda of Soviets and communists as forces for peace, and the Americans as warmongering imperialists, Buruma said.

With time, however, these movements largely receded as the U.S.-Japanese alliance matured.

"Think about it: The White House announces a visit to a place where the United States incinerated a city and over 100,000 people, stating clearly that it is not going to apologize," said Jennifer Lind, professor of government at Dartmouth University. "In most relationships, this would trigger outrage not excitement_among the other country. People would be criticizing their leader as selling out."

Still, Lind saw Obama making a "very liberal move" that will open him up to criticism. Disarmament is a partisan issue, she said, because conservatives emphasize the centrality of nuclear arms to U.S. national security policy and most Americans see the atomic bombings of Japan as having ultimately saved lives.

That is not the dominant narrative in Japan, whose reluctance to broach its own wartime record is often compared unfavorably to the "Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung," or responsibility for the past, that is a lynchpin of Germany's post-1945 identity. Japan has offered various apologies for its wartime conduct, but conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approach to issues such as comfort women has angered neighbors anew.

For China, the war started four years before Pearl Harbor when Japanese forces pushed into the country's heartland. No one knows how many died. Many Chinese believe Japan has never shown true contrition, which shapes its view of Obama's trip.

"Japan's right-wing forces have always been trying to whitewash the country's cruel, heartless and reckless role as an invader during World War II," the Global Times, a nationalistic tabloid, said in an editorial this week, criticizing Obama for allowing Japan to play victim.

That view is shared by some in South and North Korea, where resentment lingers from Japan's brutal 35-year colonial rule of the peninsula. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were conscripted to fight for Japan, consigned to slave-labor conditions, and forced or deceived into prostitution.

"Japan invited the nuclear attack," South Korea's mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said.

___
David Cameron and Michael Gove to face TV grilling over EU campaign

Prime Minister David Cameron and Justice Secretary Michael Gove will be among leading political figures quizzed about their campaigns for the EU referendum in a series of live TV programmes.

But the Prime Minister has reportedly refused to take part in head-to-head television debates before the referendum.

He will be questioned in programmes on Sky and ITV in June, but the Daily Telegraph said he would not joust with a Eurosceptic colleague in a televised debate.

David Cameron (right) and Michael Gove are to be grilled on live TV about their EU campaigns.

Fellow Tory Boris Johnson, who is backing the Leave campaign, said he would be happy to debate with the Prime Minister on live TV, telling The Spectator magazine: "Put it this way. I think I'd look a bit of a wimp if I said no. For me to recuse myself from the debates would be wet."

Mr Cameron, who wants Britain to remain in the EU, will face questions from Sky News political editor Faisal Islam during an hour-long programme at 8pm on June 2, three weeks before the vote on June 23.

The studio audience will also have the chance to question the Prime Minister over his stance and why Britain should remain in the EU.

A later programme, also on Sky News, will see questions posed to Mr Gove, who is among those spearheading the Vote Leave campaign.

Mr Cameron and Ukip leader Nigel Farage will also take part in a live EU referendum event on ITV.

To be broadcast at 9pm on June 7, the two party leaders will take questions from a studio audience during the hour-long programme, hosted by Julie Etchingham, with Mr Farage, who has campaigned for Britain to leave the EU for more than 20 years, taking questions first.

ITV will also host a two-hour referendum debate on June 9, airing at 8pm, though political figures from both sides of the Brexit argument have yet to be announced.

John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "We are delighted that the key protagonists on both sides of the debate have chosen Sky News as the first place to face journalistic and public scrutiny of their arguments."

Michael Jermey, ITV's director of news and current affairs, said: "People will be able to hear leading politicians on both sides of the debate put forward their arguments in the same place and in the same programme.

"An equal opportunity will be given for the Leave and Remain cases to be heard. Across the two programmes there'll be an opportunity for different shades of opinion from both camps to express their arguments."

A source from the Vote Leave campaign said: "This is an outrage. ITV admitted to us that the only reason they were asking for Nigel Farage was to secure the Prime Minister.

"They are allowing Number 10 to choose their opposition. This is because Number 10 are refusing to debate leading Vote Leave figures.

"ITV have effectively become part of the 'In' campaign. We will take them to court and we will win."

It is understood that Vote Leave wanted Justice Secretary Michael Gove to face Mr Cameron as their most effective debater.
Corruption threat warning from John Kerry as summit to tackle issue begins in UK

Corruption is a bigger threat to the world than terrorist extremists, US secretary of state John Kerry said at a UK-hosted summit seeking to tackle global graft.

Mr Kerry praised the "courage" of David Cameron in calling the meeting, which has brought together 12 heads of state and government and a total of more than 40 countries in London.

The Prime Minister used his opening speech to warn foreign companies that own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales that they will be required to disclose their ownership.

David Cameron and John Kerry with others at the summit

It is one of a number of measures promised by the UK, with London seen as one of the prime international centres for people wishing to launder illicit assets.

He told delegates that the push - which he has made a theme of his premiership - was already bearing fruit, with more countries signing up to more tax transparency.

But he faced criticism from campaigners for failing to take stronger action against tax havens in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown is among those urging the premier to join other EU states in imposing sanctions against islands that continue to shield wealthy individuals' assets.

Speaking alongside Mr Cameron at the opening of the summit, Mr Kerry said he had been shocked at the extent of corruption in the world since taking on his role in the Obama administration.

"We are fighting a battle, all of us. Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we are fighting or the other challenges we face."

Anger would grow "unless we shut the door and show there is fairness in the system".

"There are sceptics as to whether this is a passing fancy ... or whether this is a beginning, a serious commitment," he said.

He warned that some states would seek to step in and fill the demand for secrecy if others were persuaded to open up - saying it was vital to show a zero-tolerance approach.

Mr Cameron called corruption "the cancer at the heart of so many of the problems we need to tackle in our world" - noting that illicit flows alone cost the world 1.26 trillion US dollars.

Tax-dodging destroys jobs, holds back growth, trap s people in poverty and can undermine security by making citizens more susceptible to the "poisonous ideology of extremists", he said.

The PM - who was embarrassed to be overhead calling Nigeria and Afghanistan "fantastically corrupt" in a conversation with the Queen days before the summit - stressed that it was "a challenge all countries need to address" including the UK and US.

He was sat on stage alongside Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari, who has made tackling corruption a central aim of his rule.

The PM is expected to meet with Mr Buhari and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in the margins of the summit.

Mr Buhari appealed for the conference to agree measures that would see assets "stolen" from the country and hidden in Western capitals and other places to be returned.

Under the new rules, overseas firms will have to sign up to a new public register if they own or buy property or if they want to bid for central government contracts.

Amid a backlash over the Panama Papers, Mr Cameron last month announced that the overseas territories and Crown dependencies - such as the British Virgin Islands and Jersey - had agreed to provide UK tax and law enforcement agencies with full access to company ownership details.

But campaigners say the territories must be forced to adopt public registers, as the UK is and others are pledging to do at the conference.

Britain is also creating an international anti-corruption co-ordination centre in London.

Mr Ghani, who is attending the conference, said he had no issue with what the PM said about his country.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "He was describing the legacy of the past. Many actors, many factors combined to produce one of the most corrupt countries on Earth.
Man held in Italy 'may have scouted potential targets in UK'

An asylum seeker arrested as part of an Italian counter-terror and human trafficking operation may have travelled around the UK scouting potential targets, reports suggest.

Hakim Nasiri, from Afghanistan, was detained with two other men after pictures of potential targets in London, Paris and Rome were found on mobiles.

An airport, port and shopping mall are feared to have been on a possible hit list drawn up by a group "making preparations", according to Italian prosecutors.

Four devices contained images of sensitive sites including at least one in London.

The 23-year-old posted pictures online of himself outside Buckingham Palace and at the Shard, the Daily Mail said, adding that he also claimed to be a student and the manager of a takeaway in Birmingham.

The paper quoted Vincenzo Molinese, a colonel in the Bari military police, saying images found on Nasiri's phone of him apparently holding a machine gun " were probably taken in the back room of a supermarket in England".

Other photos reportedly found on a Facebook profile showed Nasiri posing in the Star City shopping centre, Birmingham, and travelling on a train through south-east London.

Nasiri was arrested at a home for asylum seekers in Bari on Wednesday. He is understood to have been held on suspicion of subversive association with the goal of international terrorism.

Two other men, Afghan Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29, and Pakistani Zulfiqar Amjad, 24, who were arrested in Milan on suspicion of aiding illegal immigration, had obtained international protection status in Italy.

Two more suspects are thought to have returned to Afghanistan.

At a news conference on Tuesday, prosecutor Roberto Rossi said there was no evidence an attack was imminent, but added: "It is clear they were making preparations."

Analysis of phones seized from five men found filming in a shopping centre in Bari in December uncovered photos of sites in London, Paris and Rome, as well as images showing "ideological hatred of the West and support for terrorism in Afghanistan", prosecutors said.

They reportedly included images of disfigured US soldiers and dead British troops being repatriated.
BBC local media partnership plans welcomed by Culture Secretary

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has welcomed plans for a new partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association to support local journalism.

The proposals equate to an overall investment of around 8 million a year.

From 2017, the BBC will fund a new team of 150 reporters employed by qualifying local news organisations to cover local authorities and public services.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale is backing the partnership plans.

Mr Whittingdale said the plans will ensure local media "thrives for years to come."

"Local and regional media plays a vital role in reporting issues that matter to communities and also helps hold local decision-makers to account," he said.

Mr Whittingdale added: "Given the challenges the industry is facing, these plans from the BBC and the News Media Association are welcome.

"They will need to be implemented carefully and in consultation with industry, but will help make sure our local media thrives for years to come."

The agreement with the News Media Association, the voice of national, regional and local news media organisations in the UK, will get under way as part of the new BBC Charter in 2017.

The key initiatives include a video news bank which enables BBC local video and audio news content to be accessed by other local news media websites.

The BBC will also invest in a data journalism unit which will work with partners across the industry to develop expertise and deliver content to all local news providers.

A jointly commissioned independent audit will establish the usage of local press content by the BBC on its media platforms and vice versa.

The results of this review will be published alongside the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts.

James Harding, Director, BBC News and Current Affairs, said: "These plans are not just a milestone in the relationship between the BBC and the local press.

"They will enhance local journalism, ensure greater accountability of people in public life and enable BBC audiences and newspaper readers to get better coverage of what's really happening in their communities."

He added: "These are big steps to strengthen local news."

Ashley Highfield, News Media Association chairman, said: "We believe this will strengthen and enhance local journalism, and the crucial role it has in holding local authorities to account, while maintaining the healthy competition between different news sources which is so important in a democracy.

"More coverage and content from councils will be more widely distributed ensuring greater accountability and transparency in an ever more devolved Britain."

He continued: "As the market leader in local news provision, the local news media industry has long been keen to explore a more positive relationship with the BBC which would be of real benefit to our readers and licence fee payers.

"More work is needed to finalise the details, but we have now all reached an agreement we believe will enable the BBC to benefit from local media's first class local journalism while providing an appropriate framework for use of this content."
'Not a good day' for owner of car swallowed by sinkhole - but no-one hurt

The owner of a car swallowed up by a sinkhole said he is "thankful" his family were not hurt in the incident.

The blue seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira fell into the large crater which opened up in Greenwich, south London, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Ghazi Hassan told the Press Association: "In life you have good days and bad days. This morning wasn't a good day.

Residents in the leafy street said they heard a "sound like thunder" at around 4am on Thursday

"But I'm thankful me or my family wasn't in the car."

He added: "I've told the insurance. They are coming to pick it up and repair it so that's the positive side, and that no-one was injured."

Residents in the leafy street said they heard a "sound like thunder" at around 4am when a large hole opened up in the ground outside.

The family car is wedged in the hole, where it is resting on a utilities pipe which has prevented it from falling all the way in.

Police have warned locals they may have to be evacuated.

Mr Hassan's brother, Abdul Ahmadzai, said: "I woke up very surprised. The police were here about 4am so I came outside and saw the car - they said it was in a hole. I thought 'There's nothing I can do' and went back to sleep.

"I just woke up again now."

His brother had owned the estate car for three or four years, he added.

Cleo O'Kane, 25, who lives opposite the sinkhole - which is around three metres wide and appears to be several metres deep - said police told her some residents might have to be evacuated.

She said: "I thought it was thunder - I heard a loud bang, but it was raining so much I thought it was thunder.

"It must have been around 4am. I woke up and then just went back to sleep - my window was open - then woke up at six this morning, came outside and there was a car in a hole.

"I've been here for eight years and have never seen anything like this happen."

She added: "Police said they don't know what's going on. They said the car is stuck on a gas pipe or a water pipe. They might have to evacuate all the houses.

"All the car is resting on apparently is a pipe, otherwise it would have disappeared."

The car was parked on the road outside Benefice of Charlton St Thomas' Church.

Reverend Erica Wooff, the rector of Charlton, who lives next door to the church, said her initial reaction was "Oh my goodness, there's a hole in the road".

"There was a massive storm last night. It has been raining constantly for the past two days but I didn't hear tarmac rip open," she said.

"I've been here for eight years, I've never seen anything like this."

Rev Wooff confirmed the church was closed and that she was working with the community and authorities.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to the street at 3.23am on Thursday and discovered the car partially in the hole.

A police spokesman said no-one had been injured in the incident.

A Royal Borough of Greenwich spokesman said they are working with Thames Water and Southern Gas Networks (SGN) at the scene.

The road has been cordoned off and buses are being diverted.

The car is resting on a utilities pipe which has prevented it from falling all the way in

A blue people carrier sunk into the hole outside Benefice of Charlton St Thomas' Church

The parked car partially disappeared down the sinkhole

A police spokesman said no one had been injured in the incident

Police officers look at a car which has partially disappeared down a sinkhole in Woodland Terrace in Greenwich, south-east London

A car which has partially disappeared down a sinkhole in Greenwich, south-east London (Metropolitan Police/Twitter/PA)

The seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira was left on the road by Ghazi Hassan
ITV revenues up 14% to 755m but warns Brexit fears impacting advertising market

Broadcaster ITV has said that revenues grew 14% to 755 million in the first quarter, but warned that Brexit fears are impacting the television advertising market.

Sales growth was driven by a strong performance at the company's television production arm, ITV Studios.

Non advertising revenue rose 34% to 428 million, and ITV said it expects to deliver profit growth in the first half of the year.

ITV described the UK television market as "robust"

However, chief executive Adam Crozier warned: "This is against the backdrop of uncertainty in the UK advertising market, which we have experienced since the debate over Brexit began."

Nevertheless, ITV described the UK television market as "robust" and flagged its pipeline of new and returning programmes such as Victoria, Cold Feet and The Voice as prospective drivers of growth over the year and going into 2017.

ITV's main channel share of viewing was up 3% in the first four months of the year and its online viewing consumption grew by 22% year-on-year.
Iraqi civilians have claims for damages blocked by Supreme Court

Hundreds of Iraqi civilians who allege they were detained and mistreated by British forces have had their claims for damages blocked by the Supreme Court.

The claims were launched in England against the Ministry of Defence in what has become known as the ''Iraqi Civilian Litigation'' after they were prevented from proceeding in Iraq itself, where the armed forces enjoy immunity from legal action.

The claims were given the go-ahead by the High Court in London but were blocked by the Court of Appeal - a decision which has now been upheld by Supreme Court justices.

The claims were launched in England against the Ministry of Defence after they were prevented from proceeding in Iraq itself, where the armed forces enjoy immunity from legal action

The appeal court ruled the cases were prevented from going ahead because of a time bar imposed under Iraqi law.

Although launched in England, all the cases are governed by Iraqi law.

The ruling affects over 600 Iraqi citizens who allege they suffered unlawful detention or physical maltreatment at the hands of British armed forces who were part of the Coalition forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009.

Lord Sumption, one of a panel of five Supreme Court justices who considered the latest appeal, said a substantial number of the cases were time-barred in Iraq because they had been brought outside a three-year limitation period imposed by article 232 of the Iraqi Civil Code.

The Iraqi civilians claimed Iraqi law allowed the limitation period to be suspended because they were impeded from taking action in time by a Coalition Provisional Authority order which gave Coalition forces immunity from being sued in Iraq.

But the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the argument and upheld the appeal court's conclusion that the limitation period continued to operate.
'Disruptive passenger' arrested after pilot punched in face

A disruptive female passenger punched a pilot in the face after being ordered to leave his plane.

The woman was arrested at Manchester Airport before the departure of the easyJet flight to Cyprus on Wednesday.

The airline issued a statement which read: "E asyJet can confirm that the police were called to attend flight EZY1973 from Manchester to Paphos prior to its departure on 11 May to assist with a disruptive passenger.

The easyJet flight to Cyprus was delayed while the incident was dealt with by police

"The passenger was subsequently arrested. The safety and well-being of passengers and crew is always easyJet's priority.

"Whilst such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board and always push for prosecution."

It is understood the woman attacked the captain of the plane as she was being led away.

The flight, which was due to depart at 2.10pm, eventually took off shortly before 4pm.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: " At around 2.20pm on Wednesday 11 May police were called to a disturbance on a flight which was due to leave Manchester and fly to Paphos.

"On arrival police discovered a 25-year-old woman had been asked to leave the flight due to her behaviour.

"When being escorted by flight attendants from the aircraft, the woman assaulted the captain of the aircraft.

"The woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and officers also discovered she was wanted for drugs offences.
PM apologies to imam Sulaiman Ghani over Islamic State 'misunderstanding'

David Cameron has admitted to MPs that he was wrong to accuse an imam of being an Islamic State supporter.

Muslim leaders called on the Prime Minister to apologise in the Commons after Sulaiman Ghani faced death threats as a result of his "smears".

But the premier chose a rarely used parliamentary device to set the record straight in writing instead of taking to the despatch box.

David Cameron said he was sorry for "any misunderstanding"

It comes after Downing Street said last night that Mr Cameron was sorry for "any misunderstanding".

In parliament's official record this morning, the PM said: " I was referring to reports that Mr Ghani supports an Islamic state. I am clear that this does not mean Mr Ghani supports the organisation Daesh and I apologise to him for any misunderstanding."

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon apologised on Wednesday for his "inadvertent error" in echoing the comments. Mr Ghani is in discussions with lawyers over possible legal action.

The Muslim Council of Britain called on the Conservatives to launch a probe into Islamophobia in the party.

Secretary general Shuja Shafi said: " As a result of these smears, we understand that Imam Ghani has been subject to abuse and threats on his life."

In the run-up to the local elections, the Prime Minister used question time in the Commons to accuse Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan of repeatedly sharing a platform with Mr Ghani, a former imam at Tooting Islamic Centre.

Mr Cameron told MPs: ''Sulaiman Ghani, Mr Khan has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports IS."

His comments were made under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

Dr Shafi urged the Tory party to learn from the "disreputable" campaigning.

He said: "Imam Ghani became the innocent casualty of a wider Islamophobic attack on the now mayor of London and the Conservative Party needs to apologise for this too.

"Such smear-by-association has become all too common for Muslims and Muslim organisations. It is a cancer blighting sections of our political and media class and has infected the solemn business of government.

"For the real extremists we are all opposed to, such tactics will only provide fresh new examples of a society not willing to accept Muslims for who they are.

"I also call for an urgent review of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. Just as the Labour Party is rightly conducting an inquiry into anti-Semitism, it is important for the Conservative Party to reflect upon the extent of Islamophobia in its own ranks. We should have zero tolerance for both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
William urges men to 'talk about issues' to combat suicide rates

The Duke of Cambridge has said he wants men to stop "feeling so strong" and talk about their issues, in a bid to tackle "staggering" male suicide rates.

William was speaking at a meeting in London with representatives from National Rail, the RNLI, British Transport Police, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and the Samaritans.

They were brought together by the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for their first meeting at Unilever House.

The Duke of Cambridge speaks to RNLI crew during the launch of an emergency services and transport industry coalition on male suicide prevention

The coalition of emergency and transport services aims to pull together the expertise of those who deal, on a daily basis, with male suicide.

William said he became involved because of his interest in the subject as supporter of mental health campaigns, and because of his experiences as an air ambulance pilot.

He said it was "fantastic" they were trying to "bring the issue to the surface" and to "do something" about male suicide rates.

"I want to try and help you guys elevate the issue that you deal with to another level if we can," he said.

"And get, particularly on the male side, more men talking about it."

With suicide as the biggest killer of males under the age of 45, William said he was "staggered" by the statistics.

"In some of my charity work I have come across issues like this before, and coupled with my air ambulance work where my first job was a male suicide, I realised starkly how big a problem we have in this country," he said.

"It was really close to me on that first day and one of the guys told me on average there are five attempted suicides a day."

William said that at that point he had not really heard about the issue, even though he is "fairly tuned in to" his charity work.

"We need to do something about it," he told the meeting.

"Get more men talking about their issues before it is too late and to stop feeling so strong and unable to seek help.

"Because it can destroy families, it can destroy lives."

The coalition aims to develop a resource aimed at equipping all men with an understanding of how to identify and support other men who are down, depressed or suicidal.

Males currently account for 76% of all suicides.

Each year more than 2,500 rail workers deal with the aftermath of suicides, while a further 1,100 actively prevent them.

The fire and rescue services attend 1,500 suicide incidents a year, with a far greater figure for ambulance service members who attend the majority of suspected suicide incidents.

CALM, the Samaritans and frontline services from land, sea and air want to develop a resource which helps men identify and help others and themselves.

After the inaugural meeting, William then visited and toured the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station on London's Victoria Embankment.

In 2014 the RNLI launched more than 1,000 times to suspected self-harm incidents, accounting for 13% of all its activity.

Nearly half of these incidents occurred on the River Thames - with the Tower Lifeboat Station currently the busiest in the UK.

William met representatives from the RNLI, the Metropolitan Police Marine Unit, the London Fire Brigade, British Transport Police and the Coastguard to discuss how they already do and can work together, their strategic responses and associated figures.

After having a cup of tea and admiring the array of cakes and biscuits, the Duke then heard first-hand about the experiences of some service responders.

Stuart Simpson, of the Met Police Marine Unit, told William that in the last 12 hours there had been three suicide attempts along the Thames - all of which involved men.

Full-time RNLI helmsman Craig Burn said: "We have been in situations where you see some faces more than once.

"And that is really troubling."

Asking about incident figures, the Duke was told that last year 221 people went into the water and "53 did not come out".

William asked: "Do you think some young guys don't want talk about this or issues before it is too late?"

"It is a macho world," said Mr Burn. "Social media is probably one thing - people talk about people, everyone has got to be in this macho world.

"It is better to open up and show your feelings but men struggle with that."

Afterwards, William looked round one of the RNLI rescue launches the station uses, called the Hurley Burley.

Helmsman Jai Gudgion said the Duke was "impressed by the speed" of the boat, which can reach up to 42 knots, and that he "might have liked a little spin" in it.
Ex-RBS boss Fred Goodwin avoids criminal charges over bank's near collapse

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin has avoided criminal charges relating to the bank's near collapse in 2008 after an investigation found "insufficient evidence" to charge any individual.

Prosecutors in Scotland have been investigating the bank, which came close to collapse at the height of the financial crisis, for five years.

The Government was forced to bail the bank out by pumping 45 billion of taxpayers' money into the lender in 2008.

Fred Goodwin was eventually stripped of his knighthood in 2012 because of the 'scale and severity of the impact of his actions'

Mr Goodwin came under fire for his part in the crisis and was eventually stripped of his knighthood in 2012 because of the "scale and severity of the impact of his actions".

A statement from the Crown Office said: "The Crown's investigation focused on the rights issue of April to June 2008, and involved detailed consideration of whether there was any evidence of criminal conduct associated with the rights issue.

"Following careful examination of all the evidence seen to date, Crown counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence in law of criminal conduct either in relation to RBS as an institution or any directors or other senior management involved in the rights issue.

"If any further evidence comes to light which is relevant to this inquiry it will be considered by the Crown and we reserve the right to make further inquiry, if considered appropriate."

A spokesman for the Crown Office said it had been an "extremely complex investigation", including examining more than 160,000 documents by a team of specialist forensic accountants and banking experts, supervised by the Serious and Organised Crime Division.

Close co-operation with a range of financial regulators and banking institutions, including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Reporting Council, was also involved in the probe.

He added: "The failure of RBS is an issue of great public concern. The Crown undertook a thorough, independent investigation following publication of the FSA (now FCA) report in December 2011."

Overseen by Mr Goodwin, in April 2008 RBS announced a rights issue, asking existing shareholders to inject 12 billion into the firm to strengthen its reserves after the bank had splurged 49 billion to acquire Dutch bank ABN Amro.

The deal proved toxic and, just months later, the value of RBS shares plunged 90% and the Government had to step in.

RBS is still 73% owned by the taxpayer and some s hareholders are engaged in a multibillion-pound civil action against the bank over the rights issue.
Andy Murray to return to world number two ranking after Roger Federer defeat

Andy Murray will return to world number two next week after Roger Federer was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.

Federer overtook Murray on Monday after the British number one narrowly failed to defend his Madrid Open title, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.

But Federer knew he needed to at least match his final appearance at the Masters tournament 12 months ago to have a chance of preventing Murray taking the place straight back.

Andy Murray will return to the world number two ranking next week

With neither man playing another event before the French Open in 10 days' time, Murray is now guaranteed to be seeded two at Roland Garros.

Federer missed Madrid with a back problem and expressed surprise at winning his opening match against Alexander Zverev in Rome on Wednesday.

But his lack of fitness caught up with him in his third-round encounter with 2016 form man Thiem, who triumphed 7-6 (7/2) 6-4.

Murray took 77 minutes to beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy and reach the last eight of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
Treasury is 'worst thing in Britain', says Iain Duncan Smith

Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has called for the Treasury to be broken up, branding George Osborne's department "the worst thing in Britain".

The former Cabinet minister said that the Treasury dominated Government decision-making but was characterised by a "lack of vision" and a "short-term" obsession with cuts.

Mr Duncan Smith - who walked out in March in a row with the Chancellor over benefit cuts - complained that other ministers have to "fight at all stages" with the Treasury over policy.

Iain Duncan Smith said the Treasury is the 'worst thing in Britain'

He said he gave a "sigh of relief" when he left government because he would "never have to deal with those people again".

His comments, reported on political website Politico, appear to contradict Mr Osborne's oft-repeated claim to be following a "long-term economic plan".

"The worst thing we have in Britain is the Treasury," said Mr Duncan Smith. "I think it has to be broken up, I have reached that conclusion,"

At a round-table discussion with journalists and political figures, the former minister reportedly complained: "The culture of the Treasury is almost unique in the Western world that a country's government is so dominated by one organisation."

"The average age in the Treasury is 27. They spend no more than two years in any single part of the Treasury. They have no collective memory for any agreement or decision that had been taken before they arrived at their desks.

"Everything is up for grabs immediately someone new moves in and they dictate every single policy area across government. It is a fight at all stages."

Mr Duncan Smith said that the Treasury's power over Whitehall was established under Labour chancellor Gordon Brown, leaving it with "enormous" power over other departments.

The kind of decisions made in countries such as Germany and the US to support industry were "very difficult" in the UK because of the Treasury's dominance, he said.
MPs warned about making accusations in Commons after PM's apology to imam

Speaker John Bercow has warned MPs about making accusations in the House of Commons, after the Prime Minister was forced to apologise for claiming an imam was an Islamic State supporter.

David Cameron apologised in writing on Thursday for accusing Sulaiman Ghani of supporting IS during Prime Minister's Questions last month.

Former Tory leadership rival David Davis complained during a point of order in the Commons that the Prime Minister's written apology did not have the "same prominence as the original allegation".

Latest news from the Commons

Speaker John Bercow said: "What a Member says in this place is the responsibility of that Member.

"While parliamentary privilege is an essential protection of free speech, all Members should reflect carefully before criticising individuals."

Referring to the author of a book on parliamentary practice, he added: "As Erskine May notes, it is the duty of each Member to refrain from any course of action prejudicial to the privilege he enjoys.

"It is not for the chair to require a Member to apologise on the floor of the House but it is perfectly open to a Member to do so.

"Good grace and magnanimity in these circumstances I know are always appreciated."
UK will not hand over Falklands, Hammond tells Argentina

Argentina has been told Britain will not hand over control of the Falkland Islands during the first talks in London between the nations' foreign ministers in more than a decade.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Argentine counterpart Susana Malcorra that the UK's position over the remote archipelago has not changed.

Relations with Buenos Aires have appeared to thaw since Cristina Kirchner left office last December.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond met his Argentine counterpart

The former president repeatedly raised the dispute with escalating rhetoric, insisting Argentina would never renounce its claims over the islands that it calls Islas Malvinas.

Mr Hammond underlined the result of the 2013 referendum that saw Falklanders vote overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory during the talks with Ms Malcorra, who is in London to attend the anti-corruption summit.

During a "warm" discussion, the ministers also covered trade, anti-corruption and efforts to tackle the drugs trade.

Mr Hammond said: "I was pleased to meet foreign minister Malcorra and we had a warm, wide-ranging discussion. During their meeting at Davos earlier this year, the Prime Minister and President Macri set out an aspiration to embark on a new phase of relations between our two countries.

"Foreign Minister Malcorra and I discussed how to take this forward by developing a strong relationship based upon areas of mutual interest, such as increased trade links, combating drugs, crime and corruption, and closer co-operation on science and technology."
Stormtroopers gather as Millennium Falcon rumoured to have landed in Malin Head

Close-up images of a set for the next Star Wars movie looks set to spark massive debate among devotees of the sci-fi saga.

A huge structure was built over the last few days on Ireland's most northerly point - the dramatic and windswept Malin Head - with locals quick to predict it is a replica of the famous Millennium Falcon.

But the entire shoot is top secret, with locals and landowners sworn to keep it that way, and access to the beauty spot is closed for the next three days as the arrival of Hollywood actors is eagerly awaited.

A Stormtrooper plays pool in Farrens Bar in Malin Head, Co Donegal

The space age construction - at least 50 feet (15m) across and 10 feet (3m) high - is balanced precariously on cliffs a mile from Bamba's Crown, a headland known for producing dramatic photographs of the Northern Lights.

John Joe McGettigan, from Carrigart, Co Donegal, turned up to the set in full Stormtrooper regalia, introducing himself with his rank in the Emerald Garrison of EG 1826.

"It's absolutely fantastic ... to have Star Wars in Donegal, it's not a galaxy far, far away at all," he said.

"Everybody has their own way of going mad, this is ours."

Not even the father-of-two's fanatical devotion to the films could get him closer than a mile to the supposed set of Han Solo's spaceship.

"The shoot is top secret and I'd say the only way of getting into the set is on the Millennium Falcon itself," he said.

The space ship construction was also shielded by nets, with rescue boats deployed offshore as work intensified in the hours before filming.

Allie Farren, a local campaigner for the tourist centre at Malin Head, said the spin-offs will be huge for the remote area.

"It will help put Malin Head once again on the map," he said.

"This will be bigger than the likes of Game of Thrones like we've seen in the north attracting loads of tourists. Hopefully this will really benefit the area.

"Everybody in this location is tied into the secrecy. It's been a great talking point. Star Wars is one of the biggest movies of all time and for them to be in Malin Head it's top class."

Hugh Farren, owner of Farren's pub in Malin Head, where film crews are being fed and watered, marked the excitement with a mural of Yoda on the gable wall of the bar.

"It's a great occasion to shout from the rooftops how good an this area is," he said.

"It's huge potential. We have got quite a lot of people coming in who have not been here for years, people coming that have never been here before and they are just coming to see and take in the beautiful scenery we have here and loving the area."

The film will shoot on Ireland's most northerly shores before returning to the southern tip, close to where scenes for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was shot on Skellig Michael's monastic hermitage in the Atlantic.

Jedi Temple sets have been constructed on a mountain headland, Ceann Sibeal in Co Kerry, with the filming expected to take place later this month.

Security is tight in Donegal, with only one country road leading to the location and access for eager fans closely guarded by teams of security.

Donegal County Council is overseeing road closures on the Malin Head loop from 8am each morning until 9pm at night from tomorrow until Sunday.

What is thought to be the Millennium Falcon in Malin Head, Co Donegal, Ireland, prior to filming of the next Star Wars movie

JJ McGettigan from the Emerald Garrison, a Star Wars costuming club, in Malin Head, Co Donegal Ireland, as filming for the next Star Wars movie will take place there.

A Stormtrooper near the site of the Star Wars set

A Stormtrooper makes sure the rules in the Farrens Bar in Malin Head are being followed

A Stormtrooper close to where filming is taking place for the next Star Wars film

He will not find the droids he is looking for in that vehicle

When is Rome... A Stormtrooper pours himself a pint of the black stuff.

Filming taking place nearby, there is
RAF jets scrambled after 'act of Russian aggression'

RAF jets were scrambled to intercept three Russian aircraft approaching the Baltic skies, in the first such intervention as part of their latest mission to keep airspace there secure.

The Typhoon fighter jets were launched from Amari air base in Estonia on Thursday afternoon , after the Russian military transport aircraft did not transmit a recognised identification code and appeared to be unresponsive.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon described it as an "act of Russian aggression".

Typhoon jets were scrambled over the Baltic

He said: " This is another example of just how important the UK's contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is. We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to Nato's collective defence."

Four RAF jets were deployed to join the Baltic Air Policing mission - which sees Nato members help others who do not have their own policing capabilities - last month and will remain there until the end of August.

One of the pilots involved in the mission said it went smoothly.

They said: "The scramble went exactly as planned, we launched our Typhoon aircraft quickly and then using our advanced sensors and mission systems, combined with support from our Battlespace Managers on the ground, carried out textbook intercepts of the three aircraft."

Wing Commander Gordon Melville said: "We have once more proven our ability to secure the skies in the vicinity of the Baltic States and have demonstrated the close link between the Royal Air Force, Estonian and Nato units that have planned and enabled this defensive response so successfully. We will continue to standby 24/7 to secure the Baltic skies."
Syrian refugee family's teenage children cannot join them in Sheffield

A Syrian refugee family living in Britain have spoken of the "heartrending" pain of being separated from their two teenage children who cannot currently claim asylum in the UK.

In a plea to Home Secretary Theresa May, the Alwadi family said they were forced to flee their home due to war and want to be able to reunite their family in Sheffield, where they have since settled.

While Muhammed Alwadi, his wife Amal and their two youngest children Lin and Majd have been able to move to the UK, they said their family life has been torn apart because their eldest children cannot join them as they are aged over 18.

One of the Alwadis' teenage children is in a Calais camp

The family fled Syria for Libya in 2012, before Mr Alwadi made the journey to Europe to find safe refuge for his family. He was granted refugee status at the end of 2014.

Although he was reunited with his wife and young children, 19-year-old Kusai is living in a refugee camp in Calais while Athar, 20, is in Turkey.

In a video released by the British Red Cross, their mother said: "I still remember their voices in my ears every day," adding: "Our life is truly heartrending without them."

Mr Alwadi said: "Show me a father who can live far away from his children, in addition to living in a new country. We fled our home country due to war, bombing and destruction. Now I can no longer see them and they cannot see me."

The British Red Cross is appealing for the Government to widen its rules so whole families can be reunited, and urged members of the public to send a message to their local MP calling for a change in policy.

Alex Fraser, director of refugee support and international family tracing at the British Red Cross, said parents do not stop becoming parents when their children turn 18.

He said: "The Alwadi family are just one example of how current Government policy is keeping families separated and alone, at a time when being together as a family is what matters to them most.

"Their situation is heartbreaking - refugee families, who have already been through more pain and trauma than most of us can ever imagine, deserve better than this.
Novak Djokovic survives scare to set up Rome quarter-final with Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic lost the first set to love against Thomaz Bellucci but hit back to win 0-6 6-3 6-2 and set up a clash with Rafael Nadal for a place in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia semi-finals in Rome.

World number one Djokovic held his arms aloft after holding serve in the first game of the second set, having lost the first in 24 minutes to the Brazilian.

Djokovic stepped up his game in the second, breaking Bellucci and serving out to take it 6-3 and and the tide was turned in the decider as the Serb cut out the mistakes to book a place in the last eight of the tournament for the 10th year running.

Novak Djokovic lost the first set in just 24 minutes

Nadal, currently the world number five, also fought back after dropping a first-set tie-break to beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (7/3) 6-2 6-4.

Both players exchanged service breaks in the opening set and Kyrgios saved one set point at 4-5 before going on to win four straight points from 3/3 in the tie-break.

Nadal responded to open up a 5-1 lead in the second set before levelling the match and going on to break Kyrgios in the third match of a tough-fought decider.

Roger Federer's record streak of 65 consecutive grand slam appearances could be at risk as he struggled to overcome a back problem in a third-round defeat to improving Austrian Dominic Thiem.

Federer, clearly not 100 per cent fit in a 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 defeat to Thiem, pulled out of last week's Madrid Open but decided to play in Rome.

The Swiss, who had knee surgery in February before pulling out of his proposed comeback tournament in Miami through illness, is hopeful he will have enough time to recover for this year's second grand slam, which starts in 10 days.

Federer has not missed a grand slam tournament since failing to qualify for the US Open in 1999.

Thiem, up to 15 in the world rankings, will play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-4.

World number three Andy Murray cruised to a 6-0 6-4 win over France's world number 32 Jeremy Chardy to set up a last-eight clash with David Goffin. The Belgian will be full of confidence after routing the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-0 in 49 minutes.

Frenchman Lucas Pouille, granted a place in the main draw despite losing in the final round of qualifying due to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's withdrawal, followed up his second-round win over Ernests Gulbis by upsetting Spanish ninth seed David Ferrer 6-4 6-1.

Pouille, 22, will now face Argentina's Juan Monaco after he upset Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (7/5) 6-3 6-4.
French finance minister admits "inappropriate" gesture towards female journalist

By Ingrid Melander

PARIS, May 11 (Reuters) - France's finance minister admitted on Wednesday to behaving inappropriately towards a woman, the second time this week the issue of sexism in politics has hit the headlines amid signs a veil is lifting on acts that have gone unreported in the past.

In the two days since a sexual harassment scandal forced a top lawmaker to quit, female politicians have denounced abuse in the corridors of power and some have revealed their own experiences of unwanted sexual advances.

The reactions of some men to the headlines also show how deeply entrenched sexist attitudes can be in France, where three in every four lawmakers in the National Assembly are men.

Finance Minister Michel Sapin made his public apology after coming under pressure to tell his side of a story reported a few weeks ago in a book.

"During a trip to Davos in January 2015, in a group of about 20 people, I made a comment to a journalist about her clothing and put my hand on her back," Sapin said in a statement.

He insisted his actions should not be "confused with the seriousness of harassment or sexual assault".

"There was no aggressive or sexual intent in my conduct but the mere fact that the person was shocked shows that those words and this gesture were inappropriate, and I was, and still am, sorry," he wrote.

Sapin, a close ally of President Francois Hollande, did not appear at risk of losing his job. He said that the journalist had immediately asked to talk with him after the incident and he apologised.

Sandrine Rousseau, a spokeswoman for the Greens party, welcomed Sapin's statement as a sign that male politicians increasingly felt they had to explain themselves over allegations of inappropriate gestures.

But Rousseau, one of the women who on Monday accused lawmaker Denis Baupin of harassment, said there must be action and not just words if women were to be treated on equal terms in France's political circles.

Baupin quit his post as vice-president of France's National Assembly but denied any wrongdoing.

CHANGE?

"I hope things will change but I'm not sure that will be the case," Rousseau told Reuters. She pointed to some who reacted to Monday's allegations against Baupin by complaining "one cannot joke or flirt anymore."

Independent, right-wing lawmaker Jacques Myard on Tuesday told journalists in the corridors of parliament: "if we can't make jokes anymore it's the return to moral order."

Center-right lawmaker Pierre Lellouche was quoted by RTL radio as declining to comment on the Baupin case, saying: "I comment on important matters, not girly stuff."

And Aurore Berge, a local Les Republicains politician wrote on social media about her shock when a fellow politician told her after Baupin's resignation: "When I see you I want to do 'a Baupin' to you."

"Instinctively you hide ... as if you were the culprit. And you end up laughing, by reflex. Because, well, we're French and so we're meant to laugh about such things," Berge wrote.

Rousseau said some male politicians behaved with a sense of impunity and called for protection for women who remain silent for fear of damaging their career or political party. A three-year statute of limitations was too short, she said.

Rousseau alleges Baupin pressed her against a wall, held her breasts and tried to kiss her. "From the moment it happened to the moment I could put words on what happened three years had gone by," she said.

It is five years since former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned in another sex scandal, unleashing a soul-searching debate within France about sexual abuse in the upper echelons of power.

Misogynistic attitudes persisted, said Berge, but the difference is that more women are speaking out.
Stay hopeful, ex-North Korea detainee tells two U.S. prisoners there

By Alex Dobuzinskis

May 11 (Reuters) - A Korean-American missionary detained for two years in North Korea, where he served time at a labor camp, said on Wednesday two Americans held in the reclusive country should remain hopeful that U.S. officials will obtain their release.

Kenneth Bae, 47, speaking in Washington at a briefing hosted by U.S. Representative Charles Rangel, a Democrat from New York, also said the rest of the world should remember the suffering of North Korea's citizens.

Bae, the longest held U.S. citizen in North Korea since the Korean War, offered encouragement to Kim Dong Chul and Otto Warmbler, who have been sentenced to hard labor in North Korea. Chul has been accused of subversion and Warmbler of trying to steal a propaganda banner.

"Continue to have hope in the U.S. government that they are doing everything they can to secure your release and also just take one day at a time," Bae said in response to a question from a reporter.

A representative for the North Korean mission to the United Nations could not be reached for comment.

Bae, from Washington state, was arrested in 2012 as he accompanied Christian students on a tour of North Korea and was accused of plotting to bring down the secretive government.

Bae, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, said he was sent to a camp for foreign detainees where about 30 guards kept watch over him as their sole prisoner.

Bae said he had to shovel coal, perform farm chores and dig the earth.

He was released in November 2014 when U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a secret visit to North Korea and came back with Bae and fellow American Matthew Miller.

Bae, who this month released the book "Not Forgotten" about his experience in North Korea, also described what led to his arrest.

Bae said that on his 18th trip leading tours in the country, North Korean authorities discovered his hard-drive had Western media coverage of such topics as the country's 1990s famine, material which he said was loaded by mistake.

Bae said he was accused of trying to overthrow the government through his Christian worship and by spreading Western ideas.

Religion is ruthlessly suppressed in North Korea, where the only acceptable form of devotion is to the country's ruling family and its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un.
Quietly, Vietnam hosts arms gathering attended by U.S. companies

By My Pham and Idrees Ali

HANOI/WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - Vietnam hosts a defence symposium this week attended by top American arms manufacturers, ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama and as Washington weighs whether to lift an arms embargo on its former enemy.

Secrecy has surrounded the event staged by the communist country and attended by firms including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It coincides with the biggest arms buildup in the country since the Vietnam War.

There has been no mention in state-controlled media and defence reporters are not covering the forum. Efforts by Reuters to gain permission to attend have been unsuccessful and Vietnam's defence ministry could not be reached for comment.

Vietnam has accelerated efforts to build a military deterrent and is the world's eighth largest weapons importer, as neighbour China intensifies its push to fortify South China Sea islands it has either occupied or built from scratch.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks defence trade over five-year periods, Vietnam's total arms imports during 2011-2015 represented a 699 percent jump from 2006-2010.

The Hanoi symposium comes amid debate within the U.S. administration over whether to respond to Vietnam's longstanding request to remove an arms embargo that is one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era.

Washington eased the embargo in late 2014, but has said any decision to lift it completely would hinge on the extent to which Vietnam has demonstrated progress in improving its human rights record. Its top envoy in that field, Tom Malinowski, was in Hanoi earlier this week.

Vietnam has been in talks with Western and U.S. arms manufacturers for several years now to boost its fleets of fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, although Russia, its traditional supplier, maintains a dominant position.

Industry sources say Hanoi is keen on U.S. weapons yet wary of the threat of a future embargo even if the current one ends. The countries do have a common concern in China, however, whose assertiveness in the South China Sea has alarmed Washington.

Obama is due to start his Vietnam visit on May 22, the first by a U.S. president in a decade, underlining the rapidly warming relationship between the countries at a time of testy ties and growing mistrust between Hanoi and Beijing, which have competing claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands.

MODERNISATION NEEDS

A spokesman for Lockheed Martin confirmed the company was attending the Hanoi event.

Boeing is also attending, although the firm made it clear it was not in contravention of the embargo.

"I would like to point out that any defence-related sales to Vietnam will follow development of U.S. government policy on Vietnam," a spokesman said.

"We believe Boeing has capabilities in mobility and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance platforms that may meet Vietnam's modernisation needs."

Those needs have included the purchase of six modern Kilo-class submarines from Russia equipped with Klub cruise missiles, Russian-built S-300 surface-to-air missile batteries, and from Israel, Galil assault rifles and AD-STAR 2888 radars.

Its navy is making Tarantul-class corvettes, known as Molniyas, modelled on Russian designs and equipped with 16 missiles with a range of 130 km (80 miles).

Though the communist parties that run China and Vietnam officially have brotherly ties, experts say Beijing's brinkmanship has forced Vietnam to recalibrate its defence strategy.

A report in the defence ministry's People's Army Newspaper Online in March quoted the vice defence minister, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, as saying Vietnam's relationship with the United States lacked defence industry cooperation, and Hanoi wanted Washington "to provide modern, suitable and adaptable technology".

Its outreach so far has been weighted towards Russia, India and Israel in procurements, but analysts say it is unlikely to seek formal military alliances and would stick to its foreign policy of not relying on a single power.

It has, however, mulled joint exercises with another South China Sea claimant at odds with China, the Philippines, and has received recent visits by Singaporean and Japanese warships at its new international port at Cam Ranh Bay, a strategic deepwater base that is home to its submarines.

Tim Huxley, a regional security expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, said Vietnam's interest in getting the arms embargo lifted was not only about access to U.S. technology, but boosting its bargaining power.

"It reflects concern about what's happening in the South China Sea and its need to restructure and re-arm, with a greater emphasis on greater naval and air capability," he said.

"It wants to widen options available and have more choices in the international market place in terms of range of technology and its negotiating position."
No big bang, but quiet reforms reshaping China's oil and gas sector

By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng

BEIJING, May 12 (Reuters) - Expect no radical "big bang" in China's shake-up of its giant state-run energy firms, but a series of experimental and incremental steps that Beijing has quietly embarked on may still bring meaningful change to an economically crucial sector.

Reform of sprawling state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to improve efficiency is a priority for China's leaders as growth slows in the world's second biggest economy, and was a key plank of the country's latest five-year plan agreed in 2015.

For some sectors that means mega-mergers, such as the marriage last year of top train makers China CNR Corp Ltd and China CSR Corp Ltd, to create national champions with the heft to compete on the world stage.

Speculation of a similar tie-up in the oil sector has proved unfounded, and Beijing-based industry executives say the bolder privatisation proposals put forward by some government think-tanks - from opening mining rights to private bidders to breaking up PetroChina's pipeline monopoly - look equally remote.

Instead, Beijing is ushering in moderate pilot-based changes - granting private refiners oil licences, encouraging a first private-led mega-refinery and overhauling the management of state-run assets - steps that seem fragmented but share a common goal of boosting efficiency across the sector.

China's energy sector is dominated by three state giants: China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), China Petrochemical Corp and China National Offshore Oil Corp.

Despite decade-low oil prices, the listed arms of that trio - PetroChina, Sinopec Corp and CNOOC Ltd - booked a combined $600 billion revenue last year and contributed nearly 9 percent of all the profits from China's state-owned enterprises (SOE), official data showed.

"At the end of the day, big SOEs like CNPC and Sinopec are seen as key stabilizing factors to the national economy," said a senior PetroChina official.

"That means the government wants to maintain strong control over the sector and changes will be paced and moderate."

SERVICES FIRMS TO LIST

Spinning off parts of the energy giants' businesses will be one element of the reform package.

Top energy firm CNPC, China's leader in oil and gas exploration and production, will spend the next 2-3 years restructuring its enormous services division, which employs nearly 1 million people, executives said.

CNPC is aiming to set up three or four companies covering oilfield drilling, refinery engineering and financial services, with a target to list them on the stock market by around 2018, according to two senior CNPC officials.

"Timing could be perfect as we expect oil prices to climb back to $70 and above by 2018, which should help CNPC fetch attractive valuations for the oil/gas services engineering IPOs," said Gordon Kwan of Nomura research.

The rise of independent refiners - so-called "teapots" - since Beijing allowed them to start importing crude in July last year is already disrupting the refining business of Sinopec and PetroChina.

Their emergence has also had a huge impact on global oil markets as their crude imports have acted as a core pillar of support in an otherwise oversupplied market.

The next step could be bringing "mixed ownership" - the model Beijing has touted for introducing private investment in its most far-reaching overhaul of the state sector in two decades - to larger-scale operations.

A pilot scheme in Zhoushan, eastern China, demonstrates how that might look in the energy sector - private investors are leading a project for a $15 billion mega-petrochemical complex that could compete head-to-head with Sinopec.

ASSET MANAGEMENT MODEL

A low-profile experiment at a Sinopec overseas unit badly hit by the collapse in the price of oil over the last 18 months offers evidence that changes in how state assets are managed may be the next phase of the reform process.

Orchestrated by the state asset regulator, Sinopec last month tapped China Chengtong Holdings Group Ltd and China Reform Holdings as strategic investors at SIPC, its overseas exploration and production vehicle that operates multi-billion assets that include Canadian oil sands and deep-sea concessions in Brazil.

The two firms, both state-owned investment vehicles, will hold a combined 70 percent stake in SIPC. Sinopec holds the rest and remains as the operator.

"SIPC was picked as a pilot firm ... The model could eventually be the way to reform SOEs, to change companies' management behaviours and capital structures," said a Sinopec executive involved in this pilot scheme.

The aim is to allow specialist firms such as SIPC to focus on running the operational side of their business profitably, while leaving strategic decisions to more market-minded managers such as Chengtong.

Driven in part by Beijing's mandate to pursue "energy security", many of SIPC's assets were bought by Sinopec between 2010 and 2013, when oil averaged more than $100 a barrel, and would not command the same valuations now.
Brazil says Zika-linked microcephaly cases fall to 4,759

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 11 (Reuters) - The number of confirmed and suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil associated with the Zika virus was down to 4,759 in the week through May 7, the Health Ministry said Wednesday, hundreds less than more than 5,200 suspected in late March.

As doctors and Brazilian health officials find that some suspected cases of microcephaly are not the disorder, the total number of confirmed cases in Brazil stands at 1,326. A further 3,433 cases are still being investigated.

Brazil considers most of the cases of babies born with abnormally small heads since the start of a Zika outbreak last year to be related to the virus.

After heated debate among scientists following the initial scare over the outbreak, agencies including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have concluded that the virus can cause microcephaly in infants of mothers infected with Zika.

Most of the cases in Brazil remain focused in the country's northeast, where 1,190 cases have been confirmed. Though Zika infections continue to spread throughout Brazil and beyond, there has not been a concentrated surge in the number of microcephaly cases elsewhere.

In Brazil's southeast, which includes the major cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 68 cases have been confirmed.
Australian PM Turnbull named in Panama Papers - AFR

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been named in the Panama Papers as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company set up to exploit a Siberian gold prospect, the Australian Financial Review reported on Thursday.

Turnbull and former New South Wales Premier Neville Wran joined the board of Australian-listed Star Mining NL in 1993. The company hoped to develop a A$20 billion ($14.8 billion) Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log, the paper said.

Both Turnbull and Wran were subsequently appointed directors of Star Technology Services, a subsidiary of Star Mining in the British Virgin Islands which had been incorporated by Mossack Fonseca, the Panama-based law firm at the centre of the global scandal.

There was no suggestion Turnbull acted improperly and he resigned from both companies in 1995, the AFR said. Turnbull's spokesman had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

The details are included in documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists known as the Panama Paper but are not part of the publicly searchable database, the AFR reported.

Tax havens and transparency have been thrust into the spotlight as governments worldwide launch probes into possible financial wrongdoing after the details of hundreds of thousands of clients' tax affairs were leaked from Mossack Fonseca.

Turnbull, a former investment banker and technology entrepreneur, is campaigning ahead of a general election on July 2, with his ruling Liberal-National coalition in a virtual tie with the main opposition.
Missouri executes man who killed three, including sheriff's deputy

By Fiona Ortiz

May 11 (Reuters) - A man who killed three people, including a sheriff's deputy, in a dispute over drugs was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on Wednesday night.

Earl Forrest, 66, was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m. at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman Mike O'Connell said.

Forrest killed an acquaintance, Harriet Smith, and a visitor at her house, Michael Wells, in a dispute over methamphetamine, on Dec. 9, 2002. He shot both of them in the face, within a range of a few inches, according to court records.

Forrest and his girlfriend then fled Smith's house in the southern Missouri town of Salem, taking with them a lockbox containing an estimated $25,000 of methamphetamine. Later, he got into a shootout with law enforcement and shot and killed sheriff's deputy Sharon Joann Barnes, according to the records.

"Today marks the end of a long, painful, and tragic chapter in our lives and we are relieved that justice has finally been served," Barnes' family said in a statement provided by the state.

Forrest's appeals ran out on Wednesday. The U.S. Supreme court denied his application for a stay of execution, the only appeal that was pending in the courts. Earlier, Missouri's Democratic governor, Jay Nixon, rejected his petition to have his sentence commuted to life in prison.

During Forrest's trial, the defense said he had problems with alcohol and methamphetamine and that long-term substance abuse had impaired his judgment.

The jury unanimously recommended a death sentence for each conviction because of aggravating factors, including that part of his motivation was to obtain drugs and that he killed an on-duty officer.

Missouri has executed 86 people since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, making it one of the most prolific among the 31 states that use capital punishment.

But in recent years, the state has seen few death penalties handed down by juries. There are 28 people on death row in Missouri, according to the Criminal Justice Project of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The rate of executions is falling steeply across the United States and even some conservatives are advocating for abolition of the death penalty.

Forrest did not provide a final statement, O'Connell said. The inmate's requested last meal was steak, pasta, fruit plate, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, chocolate cake and milk.
Colombia to investigate ELN rebel leaders for nearly 16,000 war crimes

BOGOTA, May 11 (Reuters) - Colombia's attorney general's office is investigating five top leaders from the country's ELN guerrilla group for nearly 16,000 war crimes and crimes against humanity, the office said on Wednesday.

The allegations come amid heightened tensions between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the government. The two sides announced in March they would begin formal peace talks to end more than 50 years of war, but continued kidnappings and attacks on oil infrastructure by the rebels have so far stymied the process.

ELN top leader Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, better known by his nom de guerre, Gabino, and four other high-level rebels are the focus of the investigations, the attorney general's office said in a statement.

The 15,896 crimes included in the case cover murders - including those of a senator and a bishop - kidnappings, forced recruitment, displacement, bombings and gender-based violence.

"We are investigating the origin, evolution, expansion, policies and strategies of the ELN, their structures and those chiefly responsible for crimes of war and against humanity committed during the conflict," attorney general Jorge Fernando Perdomo said.
Kenya drawing up timetable to close refugee camp for Somalis

NAIROBI, May 11 (Reuters) - Kenya is drawing up a timetable to close Dadaab refugee camp that hosts about 350,000 Somalis because of security concerns, the interior minister said on Wednesday, after the United Nations urged the East African nation to reconsider such a move.

Kenya, which has suffered from a spate of attacks claimed by the Islamist Somali group al Shabaab, has set up a taskforce to handle the closure plan, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said.

"They will present the timetable based on all the resources required," the minister told a news conference, adding that state funds had been allocated to proceed with the programme.

"The government has commenced the exercise of closing the complex of Dadaab refugee camp," he said, without specifying what new action had been taken beyond a voluntary repatriation programme already in place.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement voicing deep concern about the decision and urging Kenya "to maintain its longstanding leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma ... and not forcibly repatriate refugees."

Kenya's government has long said Dadaab, which lies near the Somali border, has been used by Islamists to launch attacks, such as the Westgate shopping mall assault in Nairobi in 2013.

Hundreds of Kenyans were killed in that attack and other assaults mainly in Nairobi, the northeast and coast.

The Interior Ministry says it hosts 600,000 refugees, many from neighbouring Somalia and South Sudan. Some refugees have lived in Dadaab for decades and some were born there.

Last year, Kenya said it was setting a three-month deadline to close Dadaab, but backtracked on the plan following U.N. criticism of any forced return.

Last week, the Interior Ministry said it would shut Dadaab in the "shortest time possible", prompting the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR to voice "profound concern" and renew its call for Kenya to reconsider.

The UNHCR, Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite agreement in 2013 to repatriate Somali refugees voluntarily. As Somalia has slowly started recovering from war and chaos, Dadaab has shrunk from more than half a million people to about 350,000.

The UNHCR said in January it aimed to repatriate a further 50,000 in 2016 but also said this would be a difficult target to achieve given the Somali government is still battling an al Shabaab insurgency and there are few schools or public services.
Obama, Australia's Turnbull discuss global steel glut

WASHINGTON/SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday discussed by telephone the global glut in steel supply, which many blame on chronic overcapacity at Chinese producers of the construction material.

China's steel production hit a record high earlier this year as rising prices, and profits, encouraged mills that had been shut or suspended to resume output.

"The two leaders ... discussed the need to work together to address the global glut in steel," the White House said in a statement, adding that the conversation covered a wide range of economic and defence issues.

China, the world's top steel producer and exporter, is also the fifth-largest importer of steel, buying an equivalent of 13.57 million tonnes of crude steel last year.

Last month, China and other major steel producers failed to agree on measures to tackle the overcapacity crisis, prompting the United States, European Union and others to call for urgent action.

China plans to shed 100-150 million tonnes of domestic crude steel capacity in the next five years in a bid to help tackle huge capacity overhangs that have saddled domestic firms with losses and debts.

Turnbull said that he had raised the issue with top Chinese officials and that while he welcomed their commitment, more than "strong intentions" were needed.

"Now, the President and I have agreed that Australia and the U.S. will intensify our collaboration to ensure that the overproduction of steel is addressed," Turnbull told reporters in Melbourne.

"We need to address this issue because it is important that the viability of steel makers in our country, and in the U.S. and other nations, is preserved and not undermined by the exporting or the dumping of very cheap steel made in places where it is being produced at way below the real cost."
Oil traders leave Noble Group, three join Glencore -sources

LONDON/SINGAPORE, May 12 (Reuters) - Five oil product traders have resigned from Noble Group, Asia's biggest commodity trader by revenue, some of whom are moving to rival trader Glencore, sources with knowledge of the issue said.

Three of Noble's London-based gasoline traders are joining Glencore, according to the sources. The status of two other traders was not immediately clear.

Noble had also subleased storage tanks in the key Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp area to another competitor, trading house Gunvor, another source said.

Noble, Glencore and Gunvor declined to comment.

The shake up comes ahead of Noble reporting its first-quarter results on Thursday, and as the commodity trader negotiates for around $3 billion of credit with banks, as some existing loans mature in May.

Funding is a life-blood of commodities trading, with Noble's rivals such as Vitol or Trafigura also holding open credit lines worth billions of dollars with banks to perform trading on a large scale.

Noble's refinancing talks have been complicated by credit ratings agencies downgrading the company's ratings to junk in the past five months, making loans more expensive.

The departure of traders is likely to be a setback for the Singapore-based commodity merchant, which has said that its oil and refined products business is one of its most significant trading segments, and a sector it wanted to expand in.

When Noble announced its first annual loss in nearly 20 years in February, it had said the recent ramp up in oil liquids had made that business its single largest profit contributor in 2015.

The company's shares have shed more than two-thirds of their value since Iceberg Research in February 2015 accused Noble of inflating its assets by billions of dollars by inaccurately representing the value of its contracts. Noble has rejected the claims.
Australian PM Turnbull named in Panama Papers, denies wrongdoing

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday denied any wrongdoing after being been named in the Panama Papers as a former director of a British Virgin Islands company set up to exploit a Siberian gold prospect.

Turnbull and former New South Wales Premier Neville Wran joined the board of Australian-listed Star Mining NL in 1993. The company hoped to develop a A$20 billion ($14.67 billion)Siberian gold mine called Sukhoi Log, according to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the story.

Both Turnbull and Wran were subsequently appointed directors of Star Technology Services, a subsidiary of Star Mining in the British Virgin Islands which had been incorporated by Mossack Fonseca, the Panama-based law firm at the centre of the global scandal.

"There is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever. There is nothing new there," Turnbull told reporters.

"The company of which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian listed company and had it made any profits - which it did not, regrettably - it certainly would have paid tax in Australia."

The details are included in documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists known as the Panama Papers but are not part of the publicly searchable database.

Tax havens and transparency have been thrust into the spotlight as governments worldwide launch probes into possible financial wrongdoing after the details of hundreds of thousands of clients' tax affairs were leaked from Mossack Fonseca.
Gingrich doesn't rule out Trump VP role

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - Republican veteran Newt Gingrich did not rule out on Wednesday the possibility that he could be persuaded to serve as presumptive nominee Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, but said Trump has plenty of other talent to consider.

"I would certainly talk about it," Gingrich told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity. "I wouldn't turn it down automatically."

Gingrich has been a persistent subject of speculation as a possible Trump running mate. He is a former speaker of the House of Representatives and, as such, meets one of Trump's main requirements for the job - that his No. 2 be someone who could help steer legislation through Congress.

Gingrich ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and lost to the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney. He has been serving as an informal adviser to Trump, who has said he has narrowed his list of potential picks to five or six.

Gingrich said in the Fox interview that former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Ohio Governor John Kasich would both be strong selections for the position.

Kasich, who ended his own presidential run last week, has emphatically ruled out serving with Trump, while Perry has said he would be willing to be considered and has endorsed Trump.

Speculation has also centered around some of Trump's former rivals like U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who said this week he was not interested, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is a strong backer of Trump.

"I'm not the only person around," Gingrich said.

He suggested that there could be better choices for the position, noting that it would be an advantage for Trump to have a running mate who could help win over voters in a particular region of the country.

A former congressman from Georgia, Gingrich has lived in the Washington, D.C., suburbs for years.

Still, he said, he would be willing to consider it.
Papua New Guinea now releases asylum seekers during day - lawyer

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea has allowed nearly 900 asylum seekers held on a northern island on behalf of Australia to leave the detention centre during the day, a lawyer said on Thursday.

Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court last month ruled detention of refugees on the country's Manus Island was illegal, forcing the government of the tiny Pacific Island nation to announce it would close the camp.

Papua New Guinea has since allowed the 898 men held on Manus Island to leave the camp during the day, Ben Lomai, a lawyer acting for many of the detainees, told Reuters. They sign up for one of three buses to a nearby town and return to the camp in the evening.

But their long-term fate remains uncertain, with Papua New Guinea and Australia arguing that each other is responsible for resettling them.

A decision could take months, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Monday. That timetable could put the politically sensitive decision beyond a federal election on July 2, although Australia's tough immigration policy is expected to be a feature of one of the longest poll campaigns in the country's history.

Under Australian law, anyone intercepted trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to camps on Manus or on Nauru. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia.

A Bangladeshi refugee died of heart failure on Nauru on Wednesday, the second death in as many weeks on the island where detainees have been hurting themselves in protest.
Critics demand improvements at Indonesia's 'zoo of death'

By Prasto Wardoyo and Heru Asprihanto

SURABAYA, Indonesia, May 12 (Reuters) - So many animals have perished at Indonesia's biggest zoo that wildlife activists call it the "zoo of death" and are demanding an overhaul of its management.

Activists say many of the more than 2,200 animals at the zoo in the city of Surabaya are crowded into cages and enclosures far too small for them, and they also face a shortage of proper feed.

One of the latest losses was a rare Sumatran tiger that died unexpectedly last month.

"They need to make an effort to ease the overpopulation of animals," Petrus Riski of the Indonesia Wildlife Communication Forum said at the zoo as keepers carried a crate of fish into a congested pen of pelicans.

"It can be done by sending them to other conservation institutes."

Zoo keepers attribute most of the deaths to natural causes, and said the tiger's death was still unexplained. But activists point to a string of unusual incidents that undermine their confidence in the zoo, which was founded in 1916.

An 18-month African lion was found hanging dead in its cage in 2014 and a dead giraffe was found with about 18 kg (40 lb) of plastic in its stomach - rubbish thrown into its cage by visitors.

About 45 Komodo dragons, a large species of lizards only found in eastern Indonesia, died in battles they fought against each other in their overcrowded cage.

The zoo's director blamed bureaucratic hurdles hampering efforts to improve conditions.

"We've been trying to resolve these issues one by one," said director Aschta Boestani Tajudin.

"I hope in three to four months from now we can finally solve the problem."

But critics are not convinced. They say poor staff training and outdated facilities are to blame for the zoo's woeful record.

"They need more support and funds to really fix things," said Tony Sumampau, secretary general of the Indonesian zoo and aquarium association.
Britons, Mexican first foreigners atop Everest since disasters

KATHMANDU, May 12 (Reuters) - Two Britons and a Mexican have become the first foreigners to climb Mount Everest from the Nepali side, climbing officials said on Thursday, after disasters in 2014 and 2015 killed dozens and forced mountaineers off the world's tallest peak.

Briton Kenton Cool, 42, and David Liano Gonzalez, 36, of Mexico, reached the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) summit at 8.24 a.m. (0239 GMT), said Ang Tshering Sherpa, chief of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

"They reached the top with three Nepali sherpa guides," he told Reuters in Kathmandu after contacting the team on the mountain.

Robert Richard Lucas, a 47-year-old Briton, also climbed with the group, said Ishwari Paudel of the Himalayan Guides hiking group, his local organiser.

"All climbers are on their way down," Paudel said without giving details.

A nine-man sherpa team reached the summit on Wednesday after setting ropes on the final stretch in time for the first clear weather window of this year's campaign to open.
China says has wide support for stance on S.China Sea case

BEIJING, May 12 (Reuters) - China has widespread support in the international community for its decision not to have anything to do with a legal case lodged by the Philippines against Chinese claims in the South China Sea, a senior diplomat said on Thursday.

China has been stepping up its rhetoric ahead of a ruling expected in a few weeks by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the Philippines case.

China says it is fully within its rights not to participate in what it views as forced arbitration, and says the Philippines is using the case to directly undermine Chinese sovereignty.

In February, the United States and the European Union said China should respect the ruling. The court has no powers of enforcement and its rulings have been ignored before.

Xu Hong, head of the Chinese foreign ministry's Department of Treaties and Law, said the issue was being hyped up by people who lack a proper understanding of international law.

"We can see so many countries coming to the fore hyping this issue up, but it doesn't matter how loud their voices are, they still represent a minority of countries in the world," he told a news briefing.

"If you look at who is talking about international law all the time, it is politicians and non-professionals with ulterior motives. It is them who really need to learn something about international law."

The foreign ministry has in recent weeks been claiming support for its South China Sea position from countries as diverse as Cambodia and Yemen.

Xu said no country would accept compulsory arbitration when core interests were at stake.

"Actually there are a number of voices of reason on this issue from genuine international law experts who have had some serious and objective comments, but all those comments have been neglected or ignored by some people," he said.

"Some people are trying to change the concept stealthily to confound right and wrong and black and white. They may be able to mislead public opinion for some time but eventually lies are lies and even repeated a thousand times will not become truth," Xu said.

China had always been a firm defender and practitioner of international law, he said.

"We don't feel isolated at all."
UN rights chief concerned about Austria's tough asylum law

VIENNA, May 12 (Reuters) - The United Nations' Human Rights chief is concerned about Austria's tough new asylum law, which allows a process under which migrants could be turned away at the border within an hour, he said in an interview published on Thursday.

Austria, a country of 8.5 million, has mostly served as a conduit into Germany for refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa but it has also absorbed around 100,000 asylum seekers since last summer.

After initially welcoming refugees, the government capped the number of asylum claims it would accept this year at 37,500 and has made family reunification harder for migrants.

"We are concerned that people could possibly be turned away on a questionable basis," Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein was quoted as saying by newspaper Die Presse about the law which could be applied as soon as June 1.

Zeid added he was also worried about the law allowing for under-age migrants to be held in detention for up to three days, which he said could represent a breach of children's rights.

"Austria was a leading European country for the defence of human rights globally for a long time. There must be conformity between what you say to other countries and what is applied domestically," he said.

Werner Faymann, who had defended the law against critics, stepped down as Chancellor on Monday after his social-democratic party suffered a humiliating electoral defeat to a far right buoyed by Europe's migration crisis.

The social-democrats' conservative junior partners in the ruling coalition have made it a condition for the survival of the coalition that the asylum law be implemented with whoever succeeds Faymann.
U.S. to activate $800 mln missile defence site in Romania

By Robin Emmott

DEVESELU, Romania, May 12 (Reuters) - The United States will switch on a $800 million missile shield in Romania on Thursday, part of an umbrella from Greenland to the Azores against Iranian rockets that Russia aims to knock out its nuclear weapons.

At the remote Deveselu air base in Romania, senior U.S. and NATO officials will declare operational the ballistic missile defence site capable of shooting down rockets from so-called rogue states that Washington says could one day reach major European cities.

"Iran continues to develop, test and deploy a full range of ballistic missile capabilities and those capabilities are increasing in range and accuracy," said Frank Rose, deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control.

"Iran's systems can reach into parts of Europe, including Romania," Rose said, before heading to the site to join U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 0900 GMT.

On Friday, the United States will break ground on a final site in northern Poland that should be ready by the end of 2018, completing the shield first proposed almost a decade ago and that also includes ships and radars across Europe.

It will be handed over to NATO control in July.

Russia is incensed at such of show of force by its Cold War rival in formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe. Moscow says the U.S.-led alliance is trying to encircle it close to the strategically important Black Sea, home to a Russian naval fleet and where NATO is also considering increasing patrols.

The readying of the shield also comes as NATO prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics, following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions.

The Kremlin says the shield's aim is to neutralise Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington denies that.

"We are not meddling in anything that could perceived as potentially destabilising," said Douglas Lute, the United States' envoy to NATO.

However, Lute said NATO would press ahead with NATO's biggest modernisation since the Cold War. "We are deploying at sea, on the ground and in the air across the eastern flanks of the alliance ... to deter any aggressor," he said.

RUSSIAN WARHEADS

At a cost of billions of dollars, the missile defence umbrella relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and destroy it in space before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites.

While U.S. and NATO officials are adamant that the shield is designed to counter threats from the Middle East and not Russia, they remained vague on whether the radars and interceptors could be reconfigured to defend against Russia in a conflict.

The United States says Russia has ballistic missiles, in breach of a treaty that agreed the two powers must not develop and deploy missiles with a range of 500 km (310.69 miles) to 5,500 km. The United States declared Russia in non-compliance of the treaty in July 2014.
Vietnam says would welcome U.S. accelerating lifting of arms ban

HANOI, May 12 (Reuters) - Vietnam would welcome the United States "accelerating" the lifting of a lethal arms embargo, which would reflect trust between the two countries and recognition of its needs to defend itself, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The comment by Vietnam comes just over a week ahead of a visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Barack Obama and amid debate in Washington over whether to remove the weapons embargo, which is one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era.

The United States has not indicated publicly it would remove the embargo and has long said such a move would depend on Vietnam showing progress on human rights.

"We welcome the United States' acceleration to fully lift the lethal arms sales ban on Vietnam," the ministry said in response to Reuters questions.
DIA sees return to Spanish sales growth next quarter

By Emma Pinedo and Angus Berwick

MADRID, May 12 (Reuters) - Discount supermarket group DIA expects to return to sales growth in its main Spanish market next quarter, as revamped stores and more fresh ranges help to win back shoppers prepared to spend a little more in a recovering economy.

Spain's second largest supermarket chain by sales expanded rapidly during a double-dip recession, but has since suffered around three years of falling underlying sales.

Its shares were up 8.6 percent at 5.188 euros by 1045 GMT, topping Spain's blue-chip Ibex index, after CEO Ricardo Curras kept a forecast for sales at stores open more than a year to turn positive in the second quarter.

Like-for-like sales were down 0.3 percent in the first quarter in Spain and Portugal, which provide two thirds of DIA's revenue, but that was a stronger performance than in the previous three months. DIA originally forecast a return to sales growth in both countries for the end of last year.

Revenues were hit in the first quarter by an early Easter, when Spaniards tend to spend more on luxury food, DIA said.

"One quarter does not prove that the DIA business model is fully sustainable," Barclays analysts wrote in a note, though they added it would be surprising if it didn't return to sales growth next quarter. They have an overweight/neutral rating on the stock.

Spain has been without a new government since an inconclusive election last December and is now set for a re-run at the end of June, but this impasse has yet to have a noticeable impact on consumer spending.

Across DIA, first-quarter net sales slipped 5 percent from a year earlier to 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), in line with forecasts, after unfavourable currency swings in markets such as Brazil and Argentina.

Sales would have risen 9 percent year-on-year excluding those swings, DIA said.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization dropped 1.2 percent to 117 million euros, also broadly in line with expectations in a Reuters poll of analysts.
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - May 12

SOFIA, May 12 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said he was ready to form an interim government if there be snap polls in the country after a junior ally withdrew its support for the ruling centre-right coalition, but pointed it would not be of interest to the Balkan country. (24 Chasa, Trud, Standart)

-- A former banker has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in laundering of over $2 million, regional prosecutors in the city of Plovdiv said. (24 Chasa, Monitor, Trud)

24 CHASA - Bulgarian tax authorities have launched tax audits in all Bulgarian citizens, whose names have appeared as owners or directors of offshore companies in the leaked documents of Panama's law firm Mossack Fonseca.

CAPITAL DAILY - Bulgaria's State Consolidation Company has acquired the arms plant Dunarit for 28.9 million levs ($16.88 million), after it was offered for sale due to its loans to insolvent Corporate Commercial Bank.

-- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development sees economic growth in Bulgaria at 2.5 percent this year, lower from the 3 percent growth in 2015, but higher than initial forecasts for a 2 percent growth. (Capital Daily, Duma, Monitor, Sega)
Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 12

BRATISLAVA, May 12 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Thursday. 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: Statistics Office will release industrial output data for March. Related stories: BRATISLAVA: Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Kotzias begins a two-day visit to Slovakia, will meet President Andrej Kiska. Related stories: =========================NEWS=============================== BOND AUCTION: Slovakia sold 651.0 million euros ($741.16 million) worth of 0.00 percent state bonds due in November 2023 at an auction on Wednesday, the finance ministry's Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) said. 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 ($1 = 0.8759 euros)
France's Sapin says Brexit would affect London as finance hub

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - London's status as a global financial centre would probably be affected to some extent if Britain votes to leave the European Union in next month's referendum, French finance minister Michel Sapin said on Thursday.

"The City (of London) is a considerable financial force and I don't think that (Brexit) would transform all the elements that constitute its strength," Sapin said through a translator during a visit to London.

"But I don't think that it would be without effects which would have to be seen."
Vedanta Resources CEO sees capex rising to $1 bln this year

May 12 (Reuters) - Mining and energy group Vedanta Resources Plc Chief Executive Tom Albanese said he expected capital expenditure to rise to $1 billion this year, driven partly by the company's investment at its Gamsberg zinc mine.

Albanese said the company would spend about $200 million at the mine, located in South Africa. Vedanta spent $16 million at the mine last year.

Vedanta, which produces iron ore, copper, aluminium, zinc and oil, has been hit hard by falling commodities prices that have added to the pressure the company is facing due to its immense debt pile.

Zinc prices, however, are expected to recover as mines close and production is cut.

"We are seeing a progressive tightening in zinc fundamentals," Albanese said on a media call.

The company said its full-year core profit fell 37.5 percent to $2.34 billion, and cut its total dividend by more than half to 30 cents. Revenue fell 16.6 percent to $10.74 billion.

Shares in the company were down 1 percent at 376.2 pence at 0801 GMT on the London Stock Exchange, underperforming a flat FTSE 350 Mining index.
Vimpelcom still expects to complete Italy deal at end-2016

MOSCOW, May 12 (Reuters) - Telecoms firm Vimpelcom said on Thursday it still expected to merge its Italian business with that of CK Hutchison Holdings around the end of 2016, a day after European regulators blocked a separate Hutchison deal.

European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday rejected Hutchison's plan to acquire O2 UK from Spain's Telefonica , a decision which cast doubts on prospects for approval of the Vimpelcom-Hutchison deal in Italy.

The proposed Italian transaction, worth 21.8 billion euros ($25 billion), would create the largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers in Italy by combining Hutchison's 3 Italia and Vimpelcom's WIND.

In March, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into the agreed merger, on concerns it could lead to higher prices for consumers.

Vimpelcom said on Thursday a deeper review "does not in any way pre-judge or prejudice the final outcome of the Commission's consideration of the transaction" and confirmed it expected the deal to be completed around the end of 2016.

It made no comment on the Commission's decision on Hutchison's UK deal in a statement announcing first-quarter results.

Vimpelcom's total revenue fell 12 percent to $2.0 billion in January-March due to negative currency effects while "organic" revenue growth, excluding foreign currency movements and other factors, was 4 percent.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined 19 percent to $758 million while net profit rose 3 percent to $189 million, it said.

Vimpelcom said it had paid fines totalling $795 million as part of a previously disclosed settlement with U.S. and Dutch authorities over an investigation into its business in Uzbekistan.
U.S. activates Romanian missile defence site, angering Russia

By Robin Emmott

DEVESELU, Romania, May 12 (Reuters) - The United States switched on an $800 million missile shield in Romania on Thursday that it sees as vital to defend itself and Europe from so-called rogue states but the Kremlin says is aimed at blunting its own nuclear arsenal.

To the music of military bands at the remote Deveselu air base, senior U.S. and NATO officials declared operational the ballistic missile defence site, which is capable of shooting down rockets from countries such as Iran that Washington says could one day reach major European cities.

"As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with its allies to defend NATO," said U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work, standing in front of the shield's massive grey concrete housing that was adorned with a U.S. flag.

Despite Washington's plans to continue to develop the capabilities of its system, Work said the shield would not be used against any future Russian missile threat. "There are no plans at all to do that," he told a news conference.

Before the ceremony, Frank Rose, deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control, warned that Iran's ballistic missiles can hit parts of Europe, including Romania.

When complete, the defensive umbrella will stretch from Greenland to the Azores. On Friday, the United States will break ground on a final site in Poland due to be ready by late 2018, completing the defence line first proposed almost a decade ago.

The full shield also includes ships and radars across Europe. It will be handed over to NATO in July, with command and control run from a U.S. air base in Germany.

Russia is incensed at such of show of force by its Cold War rival in formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe. Moscow says the U.S.-led alliance is trying to encircle it close to the strategically important Black Sea, home to a Russian naval fleet and where NATO is also considering increasing patrols.

"It is part of the military and political containment of Russia," Andrey Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, said on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported.

"These decisions by NATO can only exacerbate an already difficult situation," he added, saying the move would hinder efforts to repair ties between Russia and the alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's office said Moscow also doubted NATO's stated aim of protecting the alliance against Iranian rockets following the historic nuclear deal with Tehran and world powers last year that Russia helped to negotiate.

"The situation with Iran has changed dramatically," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Joe Cirincione, an American nuclear expert who is president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security organisation, told reporters in Geneva that the shield should be scrapped.

"It was designed to protect Europe from a missile from, well, the only country we were afraid of was Iran. The system was designed to protect against an Iranian nuclear missile. There is not going to be an Iranian nuclear missile for at least 20 years. There is no reason to continue with that programme."

RETALIATION

The readying of the shield also comes as NATO prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions.

Poland is concerned Russia may retaliate further by announcing the deployment of nuclear weapons to its enclave of Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania. Russia has stationed anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles there, able to cover huge areas and complicate NATO's ability to move around.

The Kremlin says the shield's aim is to neutralise Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington and NATO deny that.

"Missile defence ... does not undermine or weaken Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the Deveselu base.

However, Douglas Lute, the United States' envoy to NATO, said NATO would press ahead with NATO's biggest modernisation since the Cold War. "We are deploying at sea, on the ground and in the air across the eastern flanks of the alliance ... to deter any aggressor," Lute said.

At a cost of billions of dollars, the missile defence umbrella relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and destroy it in space before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites.

The Romanian shield, which is modelled on the United States' so-called Aegis ships, was first assembled in New Jersey and then transferred to the Deveselu base in containers.

While U.S. and NATO officials are adamant that the shield is designed to counter threats from the Middle East and not Russia, they remained vague on whether the radars and interceptors could be reconfigured to defend against Russia in a conflict.

The United States says Russia has ballistic missiles, in breach of a treaty that agreed the two powers must not develop and deploy missiles with a range of 500 km (310.69 miles) to 5,500 km. The United States declared Russia in non-compliance of the treaty in July 2014.
Denmark backs Lockheed Martin's F-35 for $3 bln fighter jet deal

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard

COPENHAGEN, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin Corp is set to win a $3 billion order from Denmark for 27 F-35A stealth fighters, after a recommendation by the Danish government on Thursday.

While a final decision by the minority government could still be weeks or even months away, the recommendation to buy F-35A jets marks a setback for Boeing Co, another U.S. weapons maker that mounted an expensive last-ditch marketing effort for its older F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the radar-evading F-35A jets, joining the United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

The government expects to spend about 20 billion Danish crowns ($3.1 billion) on the purchase, Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said on Thursday, or about 740 million crowns per plane.

"The fighter jets are central to our participation in international missions in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, in Libya and recently in Iraq in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State)," Rasmussen told a news conference.

Lockheed Martin is expected to deliver the 27 jets between 2021 and 2027, he added. The plane will replace the Denmark's fleet of F-16s delivered by Lockheed Martin almost 40 years ago.

"In recent years we've seen how our existing F-16 jets have been in operation more often, for example when Russian planes have come too close to Danish airspace," Rasmussen said.

The selection by Denmark's minority Liberal government follows intense public debate about the cost of modernizing the country's air force, but it can still be blocked by parliament, where opposition politicians are urging budget restraint.

The government did not specify when the final decision would be made, but said enough time would be given to answer any questions from the parties backing the minority government.

Top Lockheed Martin and Boeing executives had planned to present their planes at a public hearing in Copenhagen on Friday, but were later advised by Washington not to participate.

Airbus Group said it still planned to attend the hearing to present the Eurofighter Typhoon - a third jet under consideration - and called for a "healthy and transparent" public debate. The German government is expected to throw its weight behind that bid by sending defence state secretary Katrin Suder to give evidence.

A Lockheed Martin spokesman welcomed the selection.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Denmark's government would recommend the purchase of at least 27 F-35 fighters.
Turkish artillery, U.S.-led coalition jets pound Islamic State in Syria -sources

By Humeyra Pamuk

KILIS, Turkey, May 12 (Reuters) - Turkish artillery pounded Islamic State targets in northern Syria overnight and the U.S.-led coalition carried out air strikes, killing 28 militants near a Turkish border town repeatedly hit by rocket fire, Turkish military sources said.

The artillery strikes near Kilis, north of the Syrian city of Aleppo, started at about 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) and ended in the morning, the sources said. Intelligence reports had suggested the militants were preparing attacks, they said.

The air strikes destroyed a two-storey building used by the militants as a base, along with 11 fortified defensive positions, they said. The Turkish and coalition operations targeted an area about 10 km (6 miles) south of the border.

Turkey's armed forces have stepped up attacks on Islamic State in Syria in recent weeks after rockets fired by the group repeatedly landed in Kilis, in what appeared to be a sustained and deliberate assault. More than a dozen hit the town last week alone.

Gunfire and occasional blasts from across the border could be heard on Wednesday from a hill in Kilis, which is home to more than 100,000 Syrian refugees.

Abdullah Karasu, a Kilis resident who works in a packaging firm, said he came to the hill every day to watch the action on the other side of the border, partly because it was a safer place to be than in the town centre.

"I am not going to work anymore because the office is closed due to the rockets," he said, standing with his son. Fewer rockets had landed in Turkey over the past three days, perhaps because of the military response, he said.

"But I doubt it's finished ... This silence is ominous. It's almost as unnerving as the rockets landing," he told Reuters.

NATO member Turkey was initially a reluctant partner in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State and faced criticism in the earlier stages of the Syrian war for failing to stop foreign fighters crossing its borders and joining the militant group.

But it has suffered several attacks blamed on the radical militant group, including two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year. Those attacks targeted foreign tourists, killing a total of 16 people, most of them German and Israeli.
Sweden's Kujovic aims to step out of Zlatan's shadow at Euro 2016

By Philip O'Connor

STOCKHOLM, May 12 (Reuters) - Emir Kujovic was perhaps not the best known name in the 23-man Sweden squad announced on Wednesday, but the top scorer in the 2015 Allsvenskan aims to step out of the shadow of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and make a name for himself at Euro 2016.

His electric form for IFK Norrkoping, where he fired 21 goals as they won the Swedish title last year, saw him called up to the squad for the Euro 2016 playoff against Denmark.

The 27-year-old cemented his place in the squad with four goals in five league starts this year, but the single-minded striker is not content to just sit on the bench in France.

"The next goal is of course to play," he told Reuters following the squad announcement. "I'm not happy just by being part of it. I want to play, and I think if I get a chance I will do my very best to do as good as I can."

With Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimoivc all but undroppable, Kujovic is competing with two hard-running forwards in Celta Vigo's John Guidetti and Marcus Berg of Panathanaikos for the second spot up front.

"My way of playing is more in the box," Kujovic explained. "I love to score goals and I can do it in many different ways."

Kujovic has flown under the radar for much of his career, breaking through at Halmstad in Sweden and spending two and a half years with Turkish side Kayserispor before returning home and joining Norrkoping.

A threat from set pieces for his club side, the tall, muscular striker possesses a powerful shot on either foot and is a handful in the air.

He also has excellent vision and a good range of passing, but when asked if these qualities might help improve the performances of Ibrahimovic, Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer, Kujovic laughed.

"I think he's good as he is," he beamed. "I just hope that I can get a chance, then I can show what I can do, but Zlatan? I don't think he needs any help."
Turkish, European leaders stand their ground in impasse over migrants deal

By Ece Toksabay and Paul Carrel

ANKARA/BERLIN, May 12 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ratcheted up the pressure on Europe over a landmark migrants deal on Thursday, accusing the bloc of setting new hurdles for visa-free travel and threatening Ankara may go its own way if they failed to agree.

In Berlin, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also dug in his heels, saying the agreement would collapse unless Ankara fulfilled its commitments, including making agreed changes to its anti-terror law.

The stand-off has cast doubts on the future of the agreement, designed to give Turks visa-free travel to Europe in return for stemming the flow of illegal migrants. Brussels is desperate for it to succeed, but insists Turkey meets 72 criteria, including narrowing its legal definition of terrorism.

The EU and rights groups have accused Turkey of using its broad anti-terrorism laws to stifle dissent while Ankara says it needs the laws to battle Kurdish militants at home and Islamic State in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

"We had finished the issue of visa free travel with EU, we had inked the deal, then they came up with these 72 criteria and included the counter-terror laws in it," Erdogan said.

Telling Turkey to soften its counter-terrorism laws was tantamount to asking it to give up its struggle against terrorism, he said in a speech.

"Either we will improve our relations with the EU, or we will set a new path for ourselves. We prefer to build the new Turkey with our EU friends, but now we will wait for the decision of our EU friends."

But a combative Juncker showed no signs of giving ground.

"We put great value in the conditions being met. Otherwise this deal, the agreement between the EU and Turkey, won't happen. If Mr Erdogan decides to deny Turks the right to free travel to Europe, then he must explain this to the Turkish people. It will not be my problem, it will be his problem."

'IN TURKEY'S COURT'

Other European politicians also piled pressure on Ankara, with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier saying it was up to Turkey to fulfil the criteria if it wants visa-free travel.

"The ball is in Turkey's court," Steinmeier said, adding Turkey must change anti-terrorism statutes that could lead to a crackdown on journalists. "If Turkey fulfils its commitments, then I would be in favour of us fulfilling our commitments and pressing ahead with visa liberalisation."

Turkey's record on press freedom is a growing concern in Europe. Prosecutors have opened more than 1,800 cases against people for insulting Erdogan since he became president in 2014, including journalists, cartoonists and teenagers.

A German satirist is facing prosecution after mocking him on German TV.

Still, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the deal was not "dead", and that Brussels was working towards granting Turkey visa-free travel.

Brussels said on Thursday it would assign 1 billion euros in aid for refugees living in Turkey by the end of July, speeding up the disbursement of funds promised along with visa liberalisation.

Turkey has complained the EU is too slow spending the money.

Ankara's minister for EU affairs said Turkey believed it had fulfilled all the criteria, adding that it was unacceptable if the deal was postponed unfairly.

"We want the process to continue but it would be unacceptable for Turkey if it is postponed in an unfair fashion," Volkan Bozkir told a news conference in Strasbourg broadcast live on Turkish television.
Ukraine appoints Poroshenko ally with no legal experience as top prosecutor

By Pavel Polityuk

KIEV, May 12 (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday appointed a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko with no legal background as general prosecutor, a position seen by the West as crucial for Kiev's plans to tackle entrenched corruption.

To shouts of "shame" from some lawmakers, Poroshenko told parliament that his ally, Yuriy Lutsenko, a former interior minister and head of Poroshenko's parliamentary faction, would build public trust in the prosecution service.

The appointment may disappoint the European Commission, which like the United States and the International Monetary Fund, has tied aid to Ukraine to Kiev's performance on corruption and reforms. Brussels had urged Poroshenko to nominate someone seen as independent who had a legal background.

The vote coincided with the visit of an IMF mission to Kiev for talks on disbursing a tranche of aid worth $1.7 billion.

Poroshenko cancelled a trip to an anti-corruption forum in London this week to focus on appointing a new top prosecutor and passing reforms needed to convince the IMF that Kiev was serious about restarting its stuttering reform programme.

Lawmakers had earlier passed a law removing a requirement that only a person with a legal background can fill the post.

Lutsenko told parliament he was keen to "break the current inefficient and partly criminal system".

Poroshenko squeezed out the previous top prosecutor, Viktor Shokhin. On his watch the general prosecutor's office was widely criticised for hampering anti-corruption reforms.

Leonid Kozachenko, a lawmaker from Poroshenko's faction, told Reuters he expected the EU to show an initial "lack of understanding" over the appointment, adding: "But I hope this conflict will disappear when Lutsenko begins real investigations."

"IMITATION OF WORK"

Lutsenko was prominent in Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" which frustrated pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency, but fell victim to Ukraine's vengeful politics when Yanukovich finally took power in 2010.

He was subsequently jailed for embezzlement and abuse of office, though his defenders said the sentence was politically motivated. He was released in April 2013 on health grounds.

After the "Maidan" street revolt toppled Yanukovich in February 2014 and ushered in a pro-Western leadership under Poroshenko, Lutsenko joined Poroshenko's political bloc.

His career has had its colourful moments. In May 2009 he resigned as interior minister after being detained by police at Frankfurt airport for being drunk and disorderly, although the ministry denied the incident had taken place.

"All his actions will be an imitation of work," said Yegor Sobolev, a lawmaker from the reformist Samopomich party, which quit Ukraine's ruling coalition this year.
Islamic State kills 17 Iraqi soldiers with suicide truck bombs

By Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD, May 12 (Reuters) - Islamic State insurgents killed at least 17 Iraqi soldiers with suicide truck bombs on Thursday in a major attack on government forces that recaptured the western city of Ramadi in December, military officials said.

The jihadist group also killed two policemen and wounded eight others in two suicide bombings in Abu Ghraib outside Baghdad, a day after killing at least 80 people in bombings at an outdoor market and two checkpoints inside the capital.

The attacks near Ramadi dealt one of the heaviest blows to the army since it drove Islamic State out of the western city five months ago.

An army colonel told Reuters that militants killed at least 17 soldiers with suicide truck bombs in Jarayshi, 10 km (6 miles) north of Ramadi. They also surrounded an army regiment, seized a bridge and cut a key supply route linking Ramadi to the Thirthar district further north, army sources said.

Air strikes by a U.S.-led coalition later allowed government forces to regain control of the supply route. But despite army reinforcements, the militants had dug into northern residential areas by nightfall and were lobbing mortars at government positions across the Euphrates river.

An officer said the Islamic State attack appeared designed to delay an expected army offensive that would have completely severed militant supply routes to Falluja on the western approaches to Baghdad, which Iraqi forces have ringed for more than six months.

As Islamic State has been pushed out of key towns and cities it seized in 2014, it has resorted increasingly to guerrilla-style attacks in civilian areas under nominal Iraqi government control.

The toll from Wednesday's three suicide bombings in Baghdad made it the deadliest day in Baghdad so far this year.

Police sources said Thursday's bombers approached a police station in Abu Ghraib from two directions before detonating their explosives. Baghdad Operations Command, one of the security organs charged with protecting the capital, said a third assailant was killed on approach to the police station.

Amaq news agency, which supports Islamic State, said two militants had clashed with police at al-Zeidan station before setting off their explosives-filled vests.

Sunni Muslim militant violence against security forces and Shi'ite Muslim civilians has persisted since Baghdad became the target of almost daily bombings a decade ago following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein.

A recent surge in bombings has heightened criticism of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as he grapples with a political crisis over his attempts to overhaul his cabinet to weed out corruption and mismanagement.

Lawmakers balking at ceding vested interests targeted by Abadi have failed to convene parliament since protesters loyal to powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a vocal advocate of dismantling Iraq's quota-based governing system, breached the heavily-fortified Green Zone district two weeks ago and took over the assembly complex for several hours.
Vladimir Putin has made a sinister hint about 'ending threats' after the US activated a Nato missile shield in Romania, which Moscow considers a threat to itsnational security.

The $800million (554million) Aegis Ashore missile shield was switched on at Deveselu, a former air base in Romania, on Thursday but the US has denied it is aimed at Russia.

Work was due to begin on Friday on a second site at Redzikowo in Poland.

US officers at a ceremony (pictured) to mark the switching on of the Aegis Ashore missile system in Romania. It was originally designed to protect Europe from missiles fired by rogue states such as Iran

President Putin said today: 'This is not a defence system. This is part of US nuclear strategic potential brought onto a periphery. In this case, Eastern Europe is such periphery.

This is not a defence system Vladimir Putin

'Until now, those taking such decisions have lived in calm, fairly well-off and in safety. Now, as these elements of ballistic missile defence are deployed, we are forced to think how to neutralise emerging threats to the Russian Federation.'

But he insisted Russia would not be involved in a new arms race.

Earlier Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: 'Without doubt the deployment of (this) system reallyis a threat to the security of the Russian Federation.

'Measures are being taken to ensure the necessary level ofsecurity for Russia. The president himself, letme remind you, has repeatedly asked who the system will workagainst?'

The technology was first suggested in the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan trumpeted what was known as 'Son of Star Wars' as a way of defending Europe against missiles from the Soviet Union.

But it was later developed by Lockheed Martin as a way of protecting Europe against the possibility of missiles being fired by rogue states, such as Iran, or even groups such as ISIS.

The Aegis Ashore shield at Deveselu in Romania was switched on yesterday and work begins today on the base in Poland but Russia may retaliate by placing missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave

At the opening ceremony US Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work said: 'As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with its allies to defend Nato.'

Asked whether the system could be deployed against Russia, he said: 'There are no plans at all to do that.'

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Frank Rose, warned that Iran's ballistic missiles can hit parts of Europe, including Romania.

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg (pictured, centre) officially opens the missile shield at Deveselu with Romania's prime minister Dacian Ciolos (right) and foreign minister Lazar Comanescu

When complete, the defensive umbrella will stretch from Greenland to the Azores.

Today work begins on another site in Poland, where the missile shield will be deployed in 2018.

The comments by US officials regarding Iran come despite last year's deal with Iran, which was supposed to defuse growing tensions about Tehran's nuclear warfare capabilities.

A US serviceman walks by the radar building of the Aegis Ashore missile defence shield in Deveselu, Romania

Mr Peskov said: 'The situation with Iran has changed dramatically' and suggested he believed Russia, rather than Iran, was Nato's real enemy.

'It is part of the military and political containment of Russia Andrey Kelin

The full Aegis Ashore shield, including ships and radar stations across Europe, will be handed over to Nato but be run from a US air base in Germany.

Russia is furious at what it sees as US empire-building and belligerence in former Warsaw Pact countries.

Russian Foreign Ministry official Andrey Kelin said: 'It is part of the military and political containment of Russia.

'These decisions by Nato can only exacerbate an already difficult situation.'

Russia is in the process of replacing its ageing SS-18 nuclear missiles with a new generation, Sarmat, which would be faster and more sophisticated.

Igor Sutyagin, an expert on Russian nuclear weapons at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told Mail Online that Aegis Ashore was incapable of shooting down SS-18s or the Sarmat missile.

A Romanian honour guard march during the official inauguration ceremony for the Aegis Ashore missile defence shield at Deveselu. Romania was once a close ally of the Soviet Union

He said it was only capable of shooting down less sophisticated missiles fired by countries such as Iran and North Korea.

US nuclear expert Joe Cirincione, from the Ploughshares Fund, told the New York Times: 'It was designed to protect Europe from a missile from, well, the only country we were afraid of was Iran.

'The system was designed to protect against an Iranian nuclear missile. There is not going to be an Iranian nuclear missile for at least 20 years. There is no reason to continue with that programme.'

If Nato goes ahead with the Aegis Ashore base in Poland it is thought that President Putin may retaliate by deploying nuclear weapons in Russia's neighbouring enclave of Kaliningrad
Islamic State attack kills 10 in Yemen's Mukalla before PM visit

ADEN/CAIRO, May 12 (Reuters) - Islamic State in Yemen said it carried out a suicide bombing that killed ten soldiers in the provincial capital Mukalla on Thursday, hours before the prime minister was due to visit the city, which until two weeks ago was a militant stronghold.

Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr is on his first visit to Mukalla, a port city on the Arabian Sea, since it was recaptured by government soldiers in April after a year-long occupation by Al Qaeda.

Islamic State said in an online statement that one of its members had blown himself up in a car near government troops.

Medical sources said ten soldiers had been killed at a naval camp near the port of Khalaf in Mukalla when a car exploded. About 15 soldiers were wounded, they said.

"The explosion is not going to affect the visit or its aims," a government source told Reuters.

Mukalla, the capital of the vast eastern province of Hadramout and important shipping hub, had been the centre of a rich mini-state that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) built up over the past year as it took control of an almost 600-km (370-mile) band of Arabian Sea coastline.

In late April, Yemeni and Emirati soldiers seized Mukalla from al Qaeda, which withdrew its men among little fighting.
China's non-performing loans hit 11-year high - regulator

BEIJING, May 12 (Reuters) - Troubled lending at China's commercial banks reached 4.6 trillion yuan ($706 billion) at end-March, a jump of 428 billion yuan from December, official data showed, as the pace at which loans are souring has risen amid the country's slowdown.

Chinese commercial bank non-performing loans (NPLs) rose to an 11-year-high of 1.4 trillion yuan, or 1.75 percent of total bank lending, the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said in a quarterly report published on its website Thursday.

At the end of 2015, NPLs accounted for 1.67 percent of all loans.

Separate from NPLs, "special mention" loans, or lending potentially at risk of becoming non-performing, rose to 3.2 trillion yuan by end-March, the CBRC said, surpassing 4 percent of total loan volume for commercial banks.

For Chinese lenders, the build-up of bad debts, which have increased for 18 consecutive quarters, followed the state-driven credit boom of 2009 and has shown no sign of slowing. This is making policymakers mull unconventional measures to prevent a potential debt crisis.

Beijing has given six banks a total quota of 50 billion yuan to issue asset-backed securities with NPLs as underlying assets.

Policymakers are also preparing to reintroduce debt-to-equity swaps, a measure that saved banks from mountains of bad loans in the early 2000s by asking them to convert their loans to troubled state-owned enterprises into shareholdings.

Many bank analysts believe the NPL situation in China's banking sector is far more severe than official data suggests, as some banks adopt untimely loan recognition and turn to off-balance sheet lending to hide bad debts.

In a report this month, CLSA said NPLs may account for 15 percent to 19 percent of loans.

The growing volume of troubled debt has pushed Chinese lenders to shrink their loan-loss allowance ratio - a measure of cash set aside as a percentage of reported NPLs - to a six-year-low of 175 percent in the first quarter, CBRC data show.

Two of China's Big Four state-owned lenders saw their Q1 provision ratio drop below a regulatory threshold of 150 percent, as rising bad debt write-offs eroded their capital buffers.
Get your 5-cent natural gas, right here in Canada

By Scott DiSavino

May 12 (Reuters) - For a brief moment this week, Canadian natural gas was basically free.

While oil producers fretted over what production shut-ins, caused by a massive Alberta wildfire, would do to the price of Canadian crude oil, those same producers are big buyers of natural gas, and without them the price dropped to just C$0.05 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) on Monday. A shut-in is when the product is available but not able to reach the market.

"It was essentially free at the lows on Monday," said Martin King, an analyst at Alberta energy advisory FirstEnergy Capital, noting that these were the lowest AECO prices on record going back to at least 1985.

Oil sands companies around the Canadian energy center of Fort McMurray, Alberta, began to restart operations on Tuesday after the wildfire forced a week-long shutdown.

During the wildfire shutdowns, producers were not using gas to fuel cogeneration power plants that generate electricity and the steam used to cook the oil sands to produce crude.

As a result, the Canadian benchmark AECO hub in southeast Alberta averaged less than C$0.50/mcf on Monday, at one point dropping to an intraday low of just 5 cents, King said.

Natural gas prices have rebounded somewhat. With the return to production of one oil sands cogeneration plant at the Syncrude project this week and the expected restart of others in coming days, AECO prices have already climbed to around C$1/mcf.

But the high level of gas in storage after a mild winter means prices are expected to remain relatively cheap for the rest of the year, according to analysts.

AECO prices averaged C$4.47/mcf in 2014 and C$2.78 in 2015, but just C$1.62 so far in 2016, according to FirstEnergy.

To avoid filling Alberta's inventories to their maximum capacity, some drillers will likely have to cut output later this summer if they are not able to sell more gas to the already-oversupplied U.S. markets.

"Some producers will likely be forced to shut in some output because they won't get a decent price for their product, and some of the gas that is produced will probably make its way to the oversupplied U.S. market," said Kent Bayazitoglu, director of market analytics at energy consulting firm Gelber & Associates in Houston.

The biggest gas producers in Alberta include units of Encana Corp, Repsol SA, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy Inc and Husky Energy Inc .

Canadian Natural is planning to shut in an additional 40 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) by the end of 2016 because of low gas prices, a spokeswoman said, adding the decision was made before the wildfire outages. Canadian Natural said last week it already had about 43 mmcfd of gas shut in due to low gas prices.

"We've seen a couple of small producers in Alberta shut-in gas production due to low prices in recent months, but Canadian Natural's planned shut-ins may only be the tip of the iceberg based on how low AECO prices are," said Richard Redash, managing director, natural gas, at energy consultancy PIRA.

LOW PRICES ATTRACT U.S. BUYERS

The low prices attracted U.S. buyers. So far in May, net imports of gas from Canada have averaged 5.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), up from 5.4 bcfd in April. That is an increase of about 15 percent compared with the same period in 2013-2015, according to Thomson Reuters Analytics.

FirstEnergy estimated the loss of oil sands usage due to the fires cut gas demand by as much as 0.6 to 0.9 bcfd. At the high end of this range, this is about 25 percent of all Alberta gas demand for this time of year. Much of the gas not used will go to Canadian storage facilities, they said.

The problem is that storage in Alberta, as in the United States, is already at record levels after a mild winter.

Utilities pulled only 16 bcf out of Alberta storage between Nov. 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. That compares with about 111 bcf withdrawn during the winter of 2014-2015 and 334 bcf during the polar vortex winter of 2013-2014, according to FirstEnergy data.

The amount of gas in inventory in Alberta currently stands at around 428 bcf, putting current storage near the province's maximum capacity of 470 bcf, FirstEnergy said.

To avoid overfilling inventories going forward, FirstEnergy said drillers, especially those that are unhedged and exposed to spot prices, will have to shut in an estimated 0.6 to 0.8 bcfd of gas production during the summer and autumn.

Canadian drillers have already cut the number of rigs drilling new oil and gas wells to just 36, lowest number since at least 2000, according to services company Baker Hughes Inc .
Suicide bombing in Nigeria's Maiduguri kills at least four people -residents

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, May 12 (Reuters) - A suicide bombing at a government compound in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri killed at least four people on Thursday, residents said.

A Reuters reporter saw rescue workers carrying four bodies away.
Rebels seize Alawite village in Syria, abduct civilians -Observatory

BEIRUT, May 12 (Reuters) - Insurgents captured an Alawite village from government control in western Syria on Thursday and abducted civilians living there, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Government forces and their allies were still fighting insurgents nearby after the capture of al-Zara, which lies close to a main highway linking the western cities of Homs and Hama, the British-based monitoring group said.

Several government fighters and a number of the rebels, who included the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, had been killed and government warplanes and helicopters were carrying out air raids in and around al-Zara, it said. The insurgents had also captured government fighters.

The village of al-Zara is about 35 km (22 miles) north of Homs and a similar distance south of Hama.

Government forces and their allies have battled insurgents around the highway between the two cities, and towns in the area were among the first hit when Russia's air force intervened in the Syrian war last September.
Overcoming splits, Tunisia's parliament approves new banking law

TUNIS, May 12 (Reuters) - The Tunisian parliament on Thursday approved a new banking bill to modernize financial services, a second reform called for by the International Monetary Fund after a disputed central bank law passed last month.

Tunisia is under pressure from international lenders to speed up economic reforms to create jobs and growth, especially after two deadly attacks last year on the tourism industry that accounts for 8 percent of its gross domestic product.

Parliament last month approved a law to strengthen central bank autonomy and shield it from political interference, but it passed by just two votes because of political divisions among the ruling coalition parties.

Slim Besets, a lawmaker with the Islamist party Ennahda, and a member of the finance committee in parliament, said ruling parties worked together this time and avoided the dispute that almost blocked the central bank law.

Consequently, the banking law was approved by 115 lawmakers of 135 present in the 217-seat parliament. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the session.

The IMF has reached a preliminary deal to assist Tunisia with a four-year loan program worth about $2.8 billion tied to progress on its economic reforms.

That came after offers of aid from European partners. But IMF Tunisia mission chief Amine Mati urged the government to start work immediately.

The opposition, among them leftist parties, accused the government of violating national sovereignty and bowing to the terms of the IMF. But Finance Minister Slim Chaker said the government was protecting the rights of Tunisians who want to see economic growth.

"This reform is a very important step in our economic reforms to have a solid banking sector in conformity with international standards and to protect the banks in crisis time," the minister said.

The banking law includes chapters to initiate a specific Islamic banking law for the first time. Three Islamic banks operate in Tunisia but no Islamic banking law exists.

It also includes the establishment of a guarantee fund that provides the right for about 95 percent of customers to recover their money if a bank goes bankrupt.
PRESS DIGEST- Canada - May 12

May 12 (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

** Canada is obliged to uphold its reputation for honoring business deals and therefore must sell C$15 billion ($11.69 billion) of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday when asked about video footage that shows the Saudis using similar machines against civilians in the Mideast country. (http://bit.ly/1WrDpfc)

** Frustration is mounting among some displaced Fort McMurray residents who are becoming increasingly anxious to get home after last week's wildfires but still have no idea when - or how - that will take place. (http://bit.ly/1WrDFec)

** British Columbia Premier Christy Clark says the federal government needs to step up efforts to track real estate transactions because British Columbians want to be assured that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes. (http://bit.ly/1WrFg3u)

NATIONAL POST

** Public Safety Canada is taking a lead role in global talks to expand the country's efforts to address concerns over illegal offshore tax schemes. (http://bit.ly/1QZRY0O)
Singapore charges ex-BSI banker with forgery in 1MDB-linked probe

SINGAPORE, May 12 (Reuters) - Singapore charged a former wealth manager at Swiss private bank BSI on Thursday with forgery as part of a money laundering investigation related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The forgery charge is the seventh filed against Yeo Jiawei, a 33-year-old Singaporean, who is also facing accusations of money laundering and cheating.

Singapore authorities are conducting a wide-ranging money-laundering probe into bank accounts linked to 1MDB, whose activities have triggered investigations across three continents.

Yeo, who was handcuffed and appeared before the State Court via a video link, said there was no forgery.

While the charges didn't mention 1MDB by name, they stem from investigations into the fund's money flows, people familiar with the case have said.

The prosecutors charged Yeo with "fraudulently" signing a reference letter to the head of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance of Citigroup Inc in Europe. The letter was written to help facilitate the transfer of $11.95 million from SRC International (Malaysia) Ltd, a British Virgin Islands-registered company, from its BSI account in Switzerland.

The money went to Affinity Equity International Partners Ltd, a company beneficially owned by Tan Kim Loong in an account at DBS Bank using Pacific Harbor Global Growth Fund AA4 as an intermediary, the prosecutors' affidavit said.

Yeo had been previously charged with cheating BSI by concealing from his former employer that he would be receiving $1.6 million a year from Brazen Sky Ltd, a financial vehicle owned by 1MDB, which was holding fund units at an account with BSI Singapore.

CRITICAL STAGE

The new charge is significant as it opens up a new front in the investigations, the prosecutor's affidavit stated. It showed the investigations have reached a critical stage, it said.

The Malaysian government was named as the beneficial owner of SRC International (Malaysia) Ltd, according to investigation documents released by the prosecutors.

But it was unclear whether the BVI-registered company was linked to the similarly-named SRC International, which is owned by Malaysia's finance ministry and has been the subject of investigations by Malaysia's anti-graft agency for transferring money into the bank account of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib founded 1MDB 2009 and until recently was chairman of its advisory board. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

In January, Malaysia's Attorney General cleared Najib of any criminal offences or corruption in the case and dropped a probe into the fund.

But Switzerland's chief prosecutor said a criminal investigation into 1MDB had revealed that about US$4 billion appeared to have gone astray. A Malaysian parliamentary investigation also found that $4 billion could not be properly accounted for, but stopped short of implicating the prime minister.

MOST COMPLEX INVESTIGATION

Yeo has been in custody since the middle of April. The Singapore court extended his remand for another week over the objections of Yeo's lawyer.

Singapore prosecutor, Kwek Mean Luck, earlier this month described this as the most complex cross-border investigation that the white-collar crime police has ever been involved in.

It involves several jurisdictions, numerous corporate entities, multiple transactions spanning several years and a staggering amount of money, court documents showed.

Malaysia said in March 2015 that 1MDB had transferred US$1.1 billion (S$1.53 billion) from the Cayman Islands into BSI Singapore.

Singapore authorities have charged two people so far including Yeo and another individual, whose background has not been revealed.

BSI has declined to comment on Singapore's money laundering probe into its former bankers.
Philippine president-elect aims for economic continuity - aides

By Neil Jerome Morales

DAVAO, Philippines, May 12 (Reuters) - Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will continue his predecessor's macroeconomic policies focusing on higher infrastructure spending and fiscal efficiency, aides said on Thursday in a bid to end uncertainty around his growth agenda.

Duterte ran on a single-issue campaign focused on law and order for a presidential election on Monday, and while an official winner had not been declared, an unofficial count by an election commission-accredited watchdog showed he easily won.

Duterte will accelerate infrastructure spending by speeding up outgoing President Benigno Aquino's flagship public-private partnership programme, Carlos Dominguez, former agriculture minister and a member of Duterte's policy team, told a media briefing.

Dominguez said the 71-year old crime-busting Davao city mayor would maintain a government target to raise infrastructure spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product from 3 percent in 2014.

Under Aquino, average annual economic growth has topped 6 percent, but critics say the improvement has not translated into jobs or better livelihoods for millions of poor.

Duterte's spokesman, Peter Lavina, said high growth would be the main priority but the new government would try to ensure the benefits trickled down to the poor.

"We want to check the bottlenecks, why it is not trickling down. We want these economic benefits to reach the poorest. That's practically the theme of these measures," Lavina said.

Dominguez said the conditional cash transfer programme would be "expanded and improved".

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said annual economic growth of 7-8 percent - which Duterte's spokesman said would be the new president's aim - was "doable" on the back of public spending.

Duterte plans to reform tax revenue collection and streamline bureaucratic processes within main tax agencies to shore up revenues, Dominguez said.

Duterte said on Monday he would seek to ease restrictions on foreign ownership in all industries to help attract foreign investment.

"He's retaining a lot of from the previous administration so this will be great for continuity," said Nicholas Mapa, economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands in Manila.

"If Duterte can implement where the previous administration struggled, this will definitely instil confidence in the economy," Mapa said.
Suicide bombing in Nigeria's Maiduguri kills at least 4 people -residents

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, May 12 (Reuters) - A suicide bombing at a government compound in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri killed at least five people and wounded 19 on Thursday, residents and hospital workers said.

A Reuters reporter saw rescue workers loading five bodies on a truck outside the compound, which is home to several government offices. The bombing happened at its gate.

The attack in the city centre looked like the handiwork of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency in the north for seven years, killing thousands of people and displacing 2.1 million.

Boko Haram has staged suicide bombings inside Maiduguri, capital of Borno state and the heartland of their insurgency to set up a fundamentalist Islamic state.

There had been no attacks in recent months inside the heavily-guarded city centre where the army has set up sand-bagged checkpoints.

Maiduguri has swelled to double its pre-insurgency size over the last few years to around 4 million people as it has become the refuge for most of the displaced population.
Islamic State kills 4 Libyan security personnel near Misrata -medics

TRIPOLI, May 12 (Reuters) - Four members of military forces loyal to Libya's new U.N.-backed unity government have been killed and 30 wounded in clashes with Islamic State (IS) insurgents near the western Libyan city of Misrata, a hospital spokesman said on Thursday.

Aziz Issa said the fighting was going on east of Assdada, around 80 km (50 miles) south of Misrata and the line of defence for brigades from the coastal city since IS militants captured several villages and checkpoints in the area late last week.

Assdada is also more than 150 km (90 miles) west of Sirte, Islamic State's stronghold in the widely lawless North African country since last year.

The largest of the Misrata-based brigades support the unity government that is now gradually trying to stamp its authority on the country beyond its base in the capital Tripoli.

Commanders of an operations room set up by unity government authorities in Misrata say they are preparing an offensive to recapture Sirte. After several days of calm, fighting broke out at Assdada late on Wednesday.

European powers and the United States hope the unity government will be able to unite Libya's rival political and armed factions to take on Islamic State.

But the unity government has struggled to win support from another administration based in eastern Libya and the military forces allied to it.
Brazil's Temer to seek pension reform right away -adviser

BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's incoming interim President Michel Temer will seek to undertake pension reform as one the first measures of his government to reduce the country's mounting debt burden and regain investors' trust, one of his top advisers told Reuters on Thursday.

Centrist Temer was due to take the helm of the country later on Thursday, hours after the Senate voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff to stand trial for breaking budgetary laws.

Eliseu Padilha, a confidant of Temer who is expected to be his chief of staff, said one of the first measures will be to overhaul the pensions system, possibly setting a minimum age of retirement.

"I'm not going to say in how many days we will make the proposal, but this will be one of the first measures because nobody has any doubt it has to be done," Padilha said.

He said that in coming weeks the new government will seek congressional approval to change the budget savings target to a steep deficit, to avoid a government shutdown.

Temer will also seek the approval of an amendment to reduce budget earmarkings.

Temer is considering former central bank directors Ilan Goldfajn, Mario Mesquita and former treasury chief Carlos Kawall to head the central bank, Padilha said.
EU lawmakers reject easing trade defences against China

BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - EU lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected on Thursday any loosening of the bloc's trade defences against China without reforms of its economy, including a reduction on state influence over business.

The European Union is debating whether to grant China "market economy status" (MES) from December, which Beijing says is its right 15 years after joining the World Trade Organization.

While the vote was on a non-binding resolution only, the European Commission will need parliament's approval if it proposes according China MES.

Market economy status would make it harder for Europe to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods sold at knock-down prices because it would change the method for determining a fair price.

Some 546 members of the 751-strong European Parliament voted for the resolution, which said that Europe should continue to treat China as a special case until it met all five criteria the European Union established to define market economies.

One specifies a reduced role for Beijing in business decisions.

The parliament's resolution also referred to China's overcapacity in steel and its cheap exports, part of the reason for Tata Steel's decision to sell its entire British steel operations, threatening 10,000 jobs.

The Commission is expected to come up with a proposal on China's trade status by July. Its options are: do nothing, grant China MES or grant the status with mitigating trade measures.
Estonia returns seized Viking-era sword to Ukraine

TALLINN, May 12 (Reuters) - Estonia handed over on Thursday a Viking-era sword seized by its border guards to Ukrainian officials, after the artefact was discovered during border truck searches last year.

Customs officials confiscated the sword, which was hidden in various fabrics in the driver's cabin, on the Estonian-Russian border, last December. It was then analysed and found to date from the Viking era and is believed to be from western Ukraine.

The sword was presented to Ukrainian culture ministry officials at a ceremony in Tallinn.
Vehicle explodes near Istanbul military base, seven hurt

By Seda Sezer and Ece Toksabay

ISTANBUL, May 12 (Reuters) - Six soldiers and a civilian were wounded when an explosives-laden car blew up near a military base in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul on Thursday, authorities said, the latest in a spate of bombings this year.

The parked car exploded in a road in Istanbul's Sancaktepe neighbourhood as a bus carrying military personnel passed by, the army said in a statement. The civilian driver was among the injured, it said.

The blast sent a large plume of smoke up over Sancaktepe, which is near a military airfield on the Asian side of the city, well removed from Istanbul's historic centre.

"Our citizens are being treated at the hospital. Seven people have light injuries due to shattered glass, six of them soldiers, one civilian," Sancaktepe Mayor Ismail Erdem told CNN Turk.

The car exploded at around 5 p.m. (1400 GMT), a time when military personnel usually leave the nearby base to go home, according to the broadcaster.

Turkey has suffered a series of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group.

A NATO member and a candidate to join the European Union, Turkey is participating in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and also battling a militant insurgency in its largely Kurdish southeast region.

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, has claimed responsibility for two other car bombings this year, both of them in Ankara.

The first, a car bomb that targeted soldiers, killed 29 people in February. The second, at a transport hub a month later, killed at least 37 people.
German SPD leader faces revolt from left keen to end Merkel coalition

By Madeline Chambers

BERLIN, May 12 (Reuters) - A no-nonsense cleaning lady who humiliated the leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on camera by accusing him of selling out to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has galvanised a party rank-and-file desperate for a leftward shift.

Sigmar Gabriel, dogged by ill health and forced to quash rumours he will quit, is under unprecedented pressure but moving left would ratchet up tensions within Germany's ruling coalition where the SPD is junior partner to Merkel's conservatives.

With the conservatives also split on how to respond to a surge in support for right-wing populists, several major policies - ranging from a U.S.-EU trade deal to energy laws and steps to deal with the influx of more than one million migrants over the past year - are at stake.

At a party event this week, union official Susanne Neumann accused Gabriel - who is vice-chancellor and economy minister - of ignoring the problems of ordinary Germans struggling to find secure work and earn a decent wage. She made short shrift of his case that it was the fault of Merkel's conservatives.

"So why do you stay with the conservatives?" asked Neumann to loud cheers and applause from the audience.

Gabriel's argument that he can achieve more in government than in opposition has fallen on deaf ears as his party languishes at historic lows around 20 percent and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) gains from the migrant crisis.

This week's shock resignation by Austrian Social Democrat Chancellor Werner Faymann due to splits in his party and the impact of the migrant crisis has also shaken the Germany's SPD.

"What is tearing apart Austria's Social Democrats also threatens the SPD. For every migrant who arrives in the country, the Social Democrats lose voters," wrote Die Welt daily.

'NO MORE MERKEL'

Neumann's solution, to ditch the grand coalition, has drawn support. It spurred Matthias Miersch, head of leftist lawmakers in the SPD, to warn in Bild daily that the Austrian experience showed the results of a 'grand coalition' becoming the norm.

"We must get out of the grand coalition after the next parliamentary election - that is clear," Miersch told Bild.

There is no sign that Gabriel will walk out of government and experts say he would be foolish to rule out coalition options. Instead, he seems to be stepping up the rhetoric to keep the left on side.

In the last week alone, Gabriel has played to his party base by raising doubts about a U.S.-EU trade deal and by striking a different tone from conservative Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Greek debt relief.

Other policies which could be hit by coalition strife are an integration law which still has to go to cabinet and plans to cut CO2 emissions and possibly exit coal. Ties with Turkey, a key partner in the migrant crisis, are also a flashpoint.

There are also questions about whether Gabriel, 56, is the right man to lead his centre-left party into next year's federal election against Merkel, who remains popular despite waning support for her conservative bloc.

Though a rousing speaker, Gabriel has a reputation for being unreliable and changing his mind. A bout of shingles which forced him to cancel a high-profile trip to Iran seemed to stoke speculation about his future at the weekend.
Guinea-Bissau's President Vaz sacks PM, dissolves government

BISSAU, May 12 (Reuters) - Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz sacked Prime Minister Carlos Correia and dissolved his government on Thursday, in a move that threatened to deepen political turmoil in the tiny West African nation.

Correia was appointed prime minister in October - becoming the third person in the post in the span of three months - in an attempt to end a crisis sparked by a row within the ruling PAIGC party.

His dismissal by Vaz now threatens to bring renewed instability.

"Carlos Correia's government is incapable of managing the crisis and creating better political and institutional conditions for (the government's) full function," Vaz said in an address at the presidency.

He called for consultations among political parties to select a prime minister charged with forming a new government.

There was no immediate comment from Correia or his allies. The streets of the capital Bissau remained calm, but security forces were deployed at buildings housing state institutions.

Guinea-Bissau has not seen a democratically elected leader serve a full term since independence from Portugal in 1974.

It has had nine coups or attempted coups since 1980, and the turbulence has helped it become a major transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe.

As it was slowly emerging from a military takeover in 2012, Guinea-Bissau was once again plunged into an institutional crisis when in August Vaz dismissed his political rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, then serving as prime minister.

The two men, both leading figures in the PAIGC, had been locked in a long-running power struggle exacerbated by their overlapping duties under Bissau's political system.
Austrian far-right party taps mood of unease as targets presidency

By Francois Murphy

NICKELSDORF, Austria, May 12 (Reuters) - Nickelsdorf, a sleepy town set amid fields and wind turbines near Austria's border with Hungary, is not the sort of place where national elections are usually decided.

But for six weeks last autumn, it was swept up in Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War Two. As many as 15,700 people passed through daily, many fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere, almost all heading west to Germany.

"It was a security nightmare because no one knew who was coming," said Mayor Gerhard Zapfl, a Social Democrat, referring to the fact that those pouring across the border from Hungary were not identified, largely due to the sheer numbers involved.

Since then, a strong sense that Austria - and Europe - is losing control of its borders has shaken national politics, culminating in the victory of the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) in the first round of a presidential election on April 24.

The FPO's Norbert Hofer, running on an anti-immigrant, anti-Europe platform, now faces former Greens leader Alexander van der Bellen in a runoff vote on May 22.

Austria's Social Democrat Chancellor Werner Faymann resigned this week, taking responsibility for his party's failure to make the second round.

Though the presidency is a largely ceremonial role, the FPO's success is a blow to the traditional political order.

And few places symbolise the upheaval as much as Nickelsdorf, where Hofer won 44 percent of the vote in the first round, well above the national rate of 35 percent and almost twice the party's support in a 2013 parliamentary election.

"It's simply enough," Michael, a 23-year-old cook who voted for Hofer, said at the bar of a petrol station, adding that the ruling Social Democrats and their centre-right coalition partner the People's Party (OVP) "just can't get anything done anymore".

Like several other supporters of the FPO, Michael declined to give his surname and gave few specific reasons for backing a party that has proven adept at tapping into ordinary people's deep feelings of insecurity in a fast-changing globalised world.

"FEAR OF FALLING"

"It's time for a change. It can't go on like this," said Maria, 55, a supermarket employee in Simmering, a largely working-class district of Vienna.

In a political system dominated for decades by the SPO and OVP, the FPO presents itself as an underdog and a vehicle of protest, despite having served in national government in the early 2000s and in provincial administrations.

"Austria is still better off and safer than almost all other countries, but people are looking down and they are afraid of falling," political analyst Christoph Hofinger said.

"And there is no narrative saying 'This is where we are taking you'. That is one of the government's biggest failings here."

The FPO is already framing the terms of much national debate, forcing the government onto the defensive on issues such as public security and unemployment. When steps are taken to restrict asylum claims, they are seen as FPO-inspired.

Even the Social Democrats, who are in coalition with the FPO in one provincial assembly, are openly debating whether to work more with a party they once saw as beyond the pale.
Brazil's JBS posts large loss, shares jump on reorganization

BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian meat packer JBS posted a much larger-than-expected first-quarter loss on Thursday, but its shares jumped the day after it announced a corporate reorganization to bring together international operations.

JBS, the world's biggest meat packer, lost 2.741 billion reais ($795.32 million) on currency hedging costs and poor results on the company's U.S. cattle operations. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a loss of 1.1 billion reais.

Chief Executive Wesley Batista said the company had reduced its hedging position since late March and that the U.S. cattle cycle is improving, meaning the company should avoid a loss in the second quarter.

On Wednesday, Sao Paulo-based JBS said it will create JBS Foods International, an Ireland-based company whose assets will encompass global operations and those of Brazil-based food processor Seara Alimentos.

JBS shares jumped 17.3 percent, leading gains on the Bovespa index. Analysts at Brokerage Brasil Plural said the change diminished JBS's capital costs, unlocking shareholder value.

JBS is not focused on acquisitions in 2016, but rather on consolidating its recent purchases and reducing leverage closer to 2 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, Batista said.

EBITDA totaled 2.137 billion reais in the quarter, down 22.5 percent from a year earlier.

Batista also said the Senate's decision to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial, removing her from office for up to six months, is positive for the Brazilian market and that the currency, the real, would continue to strengthen.

JBS, once a family-run butcher, grew into a global player during the past decade, catching a wave of Workers Party policies to stimulate home-grown conglomerates.
At least four bids for Lyon airport, three for Nice - sources

PARIS, May 12 (Reuters) - At least four offers have been submitted for France's 60 percent stake in Lyon-Saint-Exupery airport along with three bids for a similar stake in Nice Cote d'Azur airport, sources close to the matter told Reuters.

France kicked off the privatisation of both airports in March as part of plans to raise cash to help meet budget deficit targets. There will be a second round of bids ahead of a July 4 deadline to firm up the indicative offers selected.

Bidders are hoping to get a share of the growing returns from increased air traffic.

A consortium of French investment fund Meridiam and Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial bid for both airports as did a group made up of French construction company Vinci , insurer Predica and state-owned Caisse des Depots, the sources said.

French buyout group Ardian also placed an offer for both airports. It may link up with investment fund Siparex and Caisses d'Epargne regionale for the Lyon airport.

Investment fund Cube Infrastructure together with Geneva airport also made an offer for Lyon, the sources said.

The economy ministry declined to comment on the bidders, who had until midday (1000 GMT) on Thursday to submit their offers.

Indicative offers were also expected from Australian group Macquarie, Changi Airports, which is the operator of Singapore airport, and from Canadian pension funds Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

According to the sources, German insurer Allianz together with Global Infrastructure Partners, may have bid for the Nice airport as could Italy's Atlantia tying up with EDF Invest.
Alabama set to execute cop killer despite U.S. high court concerns

By David Beasley

May 12 (Reuters) - A 65-year-old man convicted of murdering a police officer in 1985 is set to be executed in Alabama on Thursday even as the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a judicial review of whether the state's death penalty sentencing procedures violate the Constitution.

Vernon Madison, one of Alabama's longest-serving death row inmates, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT) at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. His execution would be the 15th in the United States this year and the second in Alabama.

State officials are proceeding with the execution despite a May 2 Supreme Court order directing the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider the state's death sentencing law in light of a Jan. 12 high court ruling striking down a similar statute in Florida.

The Supreme Court found that Florida's law had given judges powers that juries should wield in determining a defendant's eligibility for execution, violating the right to an impartial jury guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's Sixth Amendment.

Madison this week asked the Alabama Supreme Court to delay his execution, citing that ruling, but the court denied his request on Wednesday.

On Thursday, his lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a stay of execution.

"Recent rulings by this court provide a credible basis to believe that Mr. Madison has been sentenced to death in violation of the Constitution," his petition to the high court stated.

Alabama has said in court filings its law is not identical to Florida's.

Madison was convicted in the fatal shooting of police officer Julius Schulte in Mobile, Alabama. He shot the officer, who was responding to a domestic call, in the head with a .32 caliber pistol, court records showed.

He faced three trials. Madison's convictions in the first two were overturned on appeal. In the third trial, he was convicted and the jury, in an 8-4 vote, recommended life in prison. The judge overrode the jurors and sentenced Madison to death.

Courts have since denied other appeals by Madison, with a federal court this week rejecting an argument by his attorneys that Madison has suffered several strokes in the past year and no longer can understand why the state wants to execute him.

The U.S. Supreme Court has taken differing positions on Alabama death row cases since its Florida ruling. It sent back to Alabama courts the case of convicted cop killer Bart Johnson, after previously rejecting his appeal. But it allowed the execution of convicted rapist and murderer Christopher Brooks on Jan. 21.
Libya requests removal of oil tanker from U.N. blacklist

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (Reuters) - Libya's mission to the United Nations has asked the Security Council to remove from a U.N. blacklist an Indian-flagged tanker that was recently prevented from shipping oil for the rival eastern Libyan government, Libya's U.N. envoy said on Thursday.

The tanker Distya Ameya was blacklisted last month after the rival eastern government's parallel oil company attempted to use it to ship a cargo of 650,000 barrels of crude. The U.N. measure requires states to ban the ship from entering any port around the world.

Libyan Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi told Reuters his mission had submitted an official request, though he did not know when the delisting might take effect. It will be up to the 15-nation council's Libya sanctions committee to make a decision.

Dabbashi said the request was made "because of the cooperation of the flag state and the explanation given on the involvement of the ship in the illegal export."

He said the tanker's operators had no intention of getting involved in an improper transaction and had lacked proper information.

Two competing governments, one in Tripoli and one in the east, backed by armed factions, have struggled for control of the North African OPEC state since 2014.

The eastern administration has set up its own National Oil Corporation in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC.

A U.N.-backed unity government, designed to replace the rival administrations, arrived in Tripoli earlier this year and is attempting to assert authority over the whole country.

Western powers fear any attempt by the eastern NOC to export crude independently would undermine the Tripoli government and further fracture the country along regional lines.

The eastern NOC claims legitimacy from the government and parliament based in eastern Libya, which received international recognition after armed opponents took control of Tripoli in 2014 and installed rival institutions there.

The new U.N.-backed unity government, which is an attempt to end the conflict, faces resistance from hardliners in both factions, whose rivalries steadily emerged following the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

The U.N. Security Council recently passed a resolution saying the new unity government has "primary responsibility" for preventing illicit oil sales, urging it to communicate any such attempts to the U.N. committee overseeing Libya-related sanctions.

There will be ministerial talks on providing support for Libya's new unity government in Vienna next week. The meeting will focus on international efforts to bring stability to Libya.
Croatian coalition at risk as confidence vote called over deputy PM

By Igor Ilic

ZAGREB, May 12 (Reuters) - Croatia's main opposition party said on Thursday it would challenge Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko over a conflict of interest dispute through a no-confidence vote that could topple the coalition government.

Social Democrat (SDP) leader Zoran Milanovic, a former prime minister, said the alleged conflict of interest, involving the country's biggest energy firm INA, was politically unacceptable.

"It is important to separate private or business issues from public matters. Since Karamarko hasn't resigned, we will demand a vote on it," Milanovic said.

The State Commission for Conflicts of Interest, an independent body, said on Tuesday it would assess whether Karamarko had a case to answer in relation to a newspaper article alleging his wife had previous business links with a lobbyist for Hungarian energy firm MOL.

MOL is INA's biggest shareholder and the Croatian government its second largest, and the pair are at odds over management rights and INA's investment policy.

Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic defended his deputy, telling a news conference: "I am convinced that Karamarko has done nothing against Croatian interests."

Oreskovic said he would soon appoint a team to restart talks with MOL over INA's future without awaiting the results of an international arbitration in which both MOL and the government have been involved.

Karamarko, who says he has always kept public and business issues separate and has offered to refrain from any decisions involving INA until the issue has been resolved, heads the HDZ party, which leads the ruling centre-right coalition that took office in January.

HDZ and its junior partner Most ("Bridge") have already argued about political appointments and some reform plans, which suggests a no-confidence vote could pose a serious test to the coalition's stability.

"It is possible that some Most members who are not so happy with cooperation with the HDZ may rebel in the vote," said political analyst Ivan Rimac.

"However, six months in the parliament are needed for the deputies to receive benefits to which they are entitled, so that could also tilt the vote (in Karamarko's favour)".

The coalition has 76 seats in the 151-seat parliament. It is not yet clear when the no-confidence vote will take place.

The government has promised to tackle Croatia's key economic problems - low growth, a poor investment climate, high public debt and unemployment - and a snap election would considerably delay the pace of reforms.
Vimpelcom still expects to complete Italy deal at end-2016

MOSCOW, May 12 (Reuters) - Telecoms firm Vimpelcom said it still expects to merge its Italian business with that of CK Hutchison Holdings around the end of 2016, although European regulators turned down a separate Hutchison deal.

European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday rejected Hutchison's plan to acquire O2 UK from Spain's Telefonica , a decision which cast doubts on prospects for approval of the Vimpelcom-Hutchison deal in Italy.

"I think it's a solid merger proposal," Jean-Yves Charlier, Vimpelcom CEO, said on Thursday.

"It's going to be reviewed on its own merits by Europe and this transaction is very different than the other transactions that the market has seen across Europe in the past couple of quarters," he said during a conference call with analysts.

The company still expects to complete the deal, worth 21.8 billion euros ($25 billion), around the end of 2016, it said in a statement on Thursday.

The combination of Hutchison's 3 Italia and Vimpelcom's WIND, agreed last year, would create the largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers in Italy and a stronger rival to Telecom Italia and Vodafone.

In March, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into the agreed merger on concerns it could lead to higher prices for consumers, a move that both Vimpelcom and Hutchison said had been expected.

Charlier said the merger would raise the number of strong players in Italy to three from two, rather than just shrinking the number of players to three from four.

He also said it was too early to speak about possible remedies to secure regulatory approval because the European commission was still reviewing the deal.

The commission plans to decide on the deal by Aug. 18.

Vimpelcom reported on Thursday a 12 percent drop in revenue to $2.0 billion in January-March due to negative currency effects while "organic" revenue growth, excluding foreign currency movements and other factors, was 4 percent.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined 19 percent to $758 million while net profit rose 3 percent to $189 million, it said.

Vimpelcom said it had paid fines totalling $795 million as part of a previously disclosed settlement with U.S. and Dutch authorities over an investigation into its business in Uzbekistan.

The company is 33 percent owned by Norwegian telecoms group Telenor which put its stake up for sale last year. Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman's LetterOne owns 47.9 percent.
Canadian oil workers prepare for air commutes after wildfire

By Liz Hampton and Devika Krishna Kumar

EDMONTON, Alberta/NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - Fort McMurray residents Tony Bussey and Barritt Wilson are among the fortunate of those who live in the Alberta town ravaged by wildfire - both of their homes are fine.

However, they and a number of others are going to see their commutes change, joining an already large group of people who are flown in and out of the region to work on oil installations.

Last week, fire raged unchecked through the Canadian city of Fort McMurray, leading to a full evacuation, with many losing their homes and having to rebuild from scratch.

But Fort McMurray has long been an area that saw oil companies using fly-in-fly-out (FIFO), which lets companies get employees to remote work sites, where they stay in camps, usually for a couple of weeks.

That will help some companies restart operations relatively quickly after the devastating fire that has scorched roughly 229,000 hectares (566,000 acres).

Others, like Suncor Energy, will be moving workers in and out of the region through temporary workforce arrangements from Calgary and Edmonton to help restart operations.

The wildfire knocked out nearly half, or 1.07 million barrels per day (bpd) of Alberta's oil sands capacity and led to the evacuation of about 88,000 residents, many employed by the energy sector. Production is slowly trickling back in.

Bussey and Wilson, both full-time employees of Suncor, were taking things in stride.

"I think it will be interesting (to) fly in and fly out, staying in the camp for the time being," said Bussey, who anticipates living in an Edmonton hotel for several months.

With operations disrupted by the fire, the company is also supporting displaced residents who work at their facilities with advanced compensation.

"Oil companies are releasing retention, which is like a bonus, to us early just to help us through,' said Wilson.

Several major producers that pepper the oil sands, including ConocoPhillips Canada, Canadian Natural Resources , and others, may be able to resume operations faster than many would have thought, though there are logistical challenges.

For others it may take a bit longer, though companies are adjusting. Suncor, Canada's largest oil producer, does some FIFO, including at its Firebag facility, but tended in the past to have employees live in the community they work in.

Suncor spokeswoman Sneh Seetal said the company will use lodges and camps for temporary housing, and employees will return when it is safe to bring people to Fort McMurray.

ConocoPhillips Canada, has about 23 percent of its Canadian workforce listed as FIFO workers. Just 26 employees have Fort McMurray residences, or about 1 percent of Canadian employees.

Still, "the logistics to get everyone back on site will be a challenge and that is being worked in tandem with the operations plan," ConocoPhillips spokesman Rob Evans said in an email.

Having a larger percentage of FIFO workers allows companies to use existing camp sites and other resources to steer themselves to recovery in the fire's aftermath.

About 78 percent of workers at the Horizon site owned by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Canada's largest independent petroleum producer, are fly-in, fly-out, company spokeswoman Julie Woo said.

Companies that have more limited FIFO programs may instead be utilizing beds at workcamps. Suncor CEO Steve Williams said at a press conference Tuesday that the industry has determined there are enough beds to meet everyone's needs.

Shell Canada spokeswoman Tara Lemay said that prior to the fire, the majority of Shell's staff lived in the Fort McMurray area, but the company does have a fly-in program, which it introduced in 2014. The company will be flying staff in and out to help resume operations. (http://bit.ly/1rXoz2H)
Italian coastguard rescues 801 boat migrants, many from Syria

ROME, May 12 (Reuters) - Italy's coastguard said it helped rescue 801 migrants from two boats off western Sicily on Thursday, including many Syrians, amid signs that refugees from the Middle East are increasingly shunning the Greek route into Europe.

More than a million migrants, many from Syria, have entered Europe via Turkey and Greece in the past year but the number has fallen sharply since March, when Ankara agreed with the European Union to take back refugees landing on the Greek islands.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said the two boats aided on Thursday, which were also carrying some Iraqis, represented the largest such attempted mass migration from Syria and Iraq to Italy for at least a year.

An Italian coastguard statement said 515 people had been plucked from one boat and a further 286 people rescued in another operation involving a Finnish naval vessel.

A coastguard spokesman said most of those taken to safety in the first operation were Syrian, while he was unable to give the nationalities of those saved from the second boat.

Another coastguard spokesman had previously said the second operation had rescued around 380 people.

UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said the Syrians and Iraqis had set sail from Egypt rather than Libya, the launchpad for most migrants heading to Italy.

The UNHCR says more migrants looking to reach Europe arrived in Italy in April than in Greece - 9,149 against 3,650 - the first time that had happened since May 2015.

As of May 10, 31,250 migrants had reached Italy by boat this year, a 14 percent decline from the same period last year, according to the Interior Ministry.

The vast majority came from African countries, led by Nigeria, Gambia, Somalia and the African Coast.
Hungary's anti-migrant policies may violate international law -UNHCR

By Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST, May 12 (Reuters) - Hungary's actions to keep out migrants, including fast-track trials to punish those who breach its border fence, may conflict with international refugee and human rights conventions, the United Nations said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken an increasingly anti-foreigner stance since migrants began pouring into Europe last year, building a heavily guarded border fence and rejecting an EU quota system to share out migrants among member states.

Despite strong criticism from EU headquarters in Brussels and some major EU members including Germany, the right-wing Orban's approach has gone down well in Hungary, a country with few immigrants and little experience of multiculturalism.

A new report by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said that legislation recently passed in Budapest has limited and deterred access to Hungary for those seeking refuge from war and persecution.

"UNHCR considers these significant aspects of Hungarian law and practice raise serious concerns regarding compatibility with international and European law, and may be at variance with the country's international and European obligations," it said.

By "obligations", the UNHCR was referring to protection for people fleeing the threat of war or persecution in their home countries, and prompt processing of asylum applications.

The U.N. refugee agency criticised Hungary's fence and a procedure whereby migrants arriving at the frontier must submit their asylum requests in so-called "transit zones".

"The asylum procedure and reception conditions are not in accordance with European Union and international standards, in particular concerning procedural safeguards, judicial review and freedom of movement," the report said.

A Hungarian government spokesman was not immediately reachable for comment on the UNHCR's remarks.

Hungary also introduced legislation in September 2015 that allows courts to order the expulsion of migrants for illegally breaching the border fence.

The UNHCR said prison sentences had been "imposed following fast-tracked trials of questionable fairness, and (the sentences) are not suspended in the event that the concerned individual submits an asylum application".

The report said the UNHCR was also concerned about a number of migrants kept in detention without clear time limits pending expulsion to neighbouring, non-EU Serbia, which had accepted only two people per week on average since January.

Orban's government rejects a plan, agreed by a majority of EU governments last year, to redistribute 160,000 migrants around the 28-nation bloc to ease the burden on Greece and Italy, where most migrants first set foot on EU soil.

Hungary erected a steel fence along its border with Serbia and Croatia to bar migrants, many of whom have fled war in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

After domino-like closures of borders across the Balkans between Greece and Hungary, the heavy northwards flow of migrants - most of them bound ultimately for wealthy western EU countries like Germany and Sweden rather than smaller central EU states like Hungary - seen in 2015 has since subsided.
Aid convoy denied entry to besieged Syrian town

BEIRUT, May 12 (Reuters) - An aid convoy was refused entry to a besieged Syrian town on Thursday, the Red Cross and United Nations said, blocking what would have been the first supplies to its residents for more than three years.

The organisations said their joint delivery was stopped at the last government checkpoint on the way into Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus. The town is held by rebels and besieged by government forces.

The United Nations said this month that Syria's government was refusing U.N. demands to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of people.

"Despite having obtained prior clearance by all parties that it could proceed," the convoy was not allowed through, a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and U.N. said.

"Daraya has been the site of relentless fighting ... and we know the situation there is desperate", said Yacoub El Hillo, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria.

"Civilians trapped here are in need of humanitarian aid. We were hoping that today's delivery of life-saving assistance would have been a first step and lead to more aid being allowed in."

The ICRC's Syria head, Marianne Gasser, said it was "tragic that even the basics we were bringing today are being delayed". The supplies included medical aid, nutrition items for children and hygiene kits.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said government forces shelled parts of Daraya on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the government.

The town borders a military airport used by Russian planes which have been conducting air strikes since September to support President Bashar al-Assad in the five-year-old civil war.

U.N. experts estimate around 4,000 civilians are trapped there, senior U.N. official Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva on Thursday, before news emerged of the blocked convoy.

The United Nations was hoping to send assessment teams into other besieged areas across Syria in coming days, but was struggling to reach people caught up in new crises still emerging in the conflict, he added.

Teams had also so far failed to reach the al Waer suburb of the city of Homs, which Egeland said seemed to meet the criteria for a siege: full military encirclement, no humanitarian access and no movement for the civilian population in or out of the area.

"Al Waer is one of these places where heartbreaking things happen, where we have a convoy fully loaded, standing for days as it did last week, with supplies that we know there is a desperate need for. And then in the end you are told you have to unload," he said.

In total, U.N. aid convoys still did not have government permission to reach around half the 905,000 people they want to help, Egeland said.

In one small step forward, a U.N. de-mining assessment mission had visited the central city of Palmyra, recently re-taken from Islamic State, and de-mining might soon be allowed, Egeland told reporters.
Tunisia gets U.S planes, jeeps to guard Libyan border

By Tarek Amara

TUNIS, May 12 (Reuters) - The United States gave jeeps, communications technology and small aircraft to Tunisia on Thursday to help protect the border with Libya, where Islamic State has gained ground and set up training camps, officials said.

The North African country was also expecting to receive a number of attack aircraft, Defense Minister Farhar Horchani said, though he did not give details on who would supply them.

Tunisia has already built a 200-km (120-mile) barrier along the frontier to guard against militants since gunmen trained in Libya targeted tourists in attacks on a beach hotel and a Tunis museum last year.

Islamic State also launched a major assault on the border town of Ben Guerdane in March.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Defense Amanda Dory said at a ceremony in Tunis that the jeeps, Maule light aircraft and a communication system between them would help Tunisian forces improve their monitoring of the border.

Horchani said the U.S. package was worth around $20 million. The U.S. ambassador said it consisted of 48 jeeps and 12 aircraft.

Western governments are giving Tunisia financial and military aid to support its young democracy, which they are holding up as a model for the region since its 2011 uprising ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

A small group of Islamist militants tied to al Qaeda is fighting in remote mountains near the Algerian border. Other Tunisian militants have split to join Islamic State in Libya.

On Wednesday, four police were killed when a militant detonated his bomb belt during a raid on a house in Tataouine in the south. That and a raid in Tunis were part of an operation that stopped planned attacks on the capital, authorities said.
Transgender rights bill advances in Massachusetts

By Scott Malone

BOSTON, May 12 (Reuters) - Legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people advanced in the Democratic-led legislature in the liberal state of Massachusetts on Thursday at the same time conservative states have put in place laws restricting transgender rights.

The Massachusetts Senate approved the bill protecting transgender rights by a wide margin, sending it to the state House of Representatives, where it has strong support. Governor Charlie Baker, a socially liberal Republican, has not said whether he would sign the bill into law if it secures final legislative approval.

The measure would make Massachusetts the 18th U.S. state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

The issue of transgender rights has become the latest front in America's culture wars. Some supporters of the Massachusetts measure described it as a rebuke to a law put in place in March in North Carolina prohibiting people from using bathrooms that do not correspond to the sex on their birth certificates.

"I am deeply proud of (the state Senate) for reaffirming our commitment to value and celebrate the diversity of humanity," Senate President Stan Rosenberg said following the 33-4 vote.

The Obama administration and North Carolina are battling in court over the legality of that state's law, which the White House contends violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Backers of that law say it will protect women and girls from sexual predators.

State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, the Massachusetts bill's sponsor, said the state has a long history of promoting civil rights, dating back to an 1865 law ensuring that black Americans would have equal access to public spaces and continuing through becoming the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage in 2004.

"In Massachusetts, we are civil rights pioneers by nature," Chang-Diaz said.

Baker has said he will make a decision on whether to sign it when he sees the bill's final language.

"Governor Baker believes no one should be discriminated against based on gender identity," Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said in an email.

Kasey Suffredini, co-chair of Freedom Massachusetts, a group that backed the measure, praised the state Senate and called on Baker to sign the bill.

"They have raised the bar on what being a champion for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) equality looks like," Suffrendi said in a statement.

Opponents of the measure argue that allowing people to use bathrooms or locker rooms that do not correspond with their birth sex raises a risk of sexual assault.

"The 'bathroom bill' will force women to undress or shower in the presence of men," said Andrew Beckwith, president of the conservative Massachusetts Family Institute. "This violates a fundamental right to personal privacy."

Supporters contend the strong negative reaction in the business community to North Carolina's law, with companies including PayPal Holdings and Deutsche Bank halting plans to expand there, would help the Massachusetts bill's prospects.
Slovenia finance minister sees another drawn-out Greek drama

By Marc Jones

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - Haggling over Greece's latest round of debt relief is likely to run down close to the wire again, Slovenia's finance minister said on Thursday, and he called for the cost of the aid to be more evenly shared.

Unusually smooth talks between Greece and its fellow euro zone members on Monday have sparked hopes that a deal might be possible at a meeting on May 24. But Dusan Mramor told Reuters it could end up being a familiarly drawn-out affair.

"There are certain possibilities that we could have a deal (at a May 24 Eurogroup meeting) concerning the package," Mramor said, referring to Greece's promises on previously agreed measures and for 'contingency' plans in case things go off track.

"The bigger question though is debt reprofiling or restructuring, and there I think it will take much more time."

Greece needs to reach a deal so that it can receive more bailout cash to cover debt repayments maturing in June and July.

Slovenia is in one of the most sensitive positions regarding the Greek debt relief talks. As a share of annual economic output it provides more to the Athens bailout pot than any other euro zone member.

It also needs to borrow to fund its share of the money and is paying as much as 4.5 percentage points more on that debt than Greece is paying for the actual bailout loans.

"This for Slovenia of course is a problem," Mramor said. "We want countries of the Eurogroup to have a similar exposure expressed as (a proportion of) GDP."

"We want solidarity (with Greece) but solidarity should be shared equally."

One related concern is that more hard-fought late-night talks over Greece could look like bad PR for Europe just as Britain votes on its membership of the larger European Union.

Like almost all other European policymakers, Mramor said he wanted Britain to stay in the bloc. "The UK belongs to Europe and Europe belongs to the UK," he said.

SCHENGEN SHAKES

Another major European concern he has is the possible breakdown of the EU's borderless travel arrangement, Schengen, as a result of the millions of refugees that have flooded in from Syria and other troubled states.

The European Commission approved a six-month extension of controls in several parts of the Schengen area last week.

He said measures taken recently such as the deal with Turkey to take back refugees had hopefully reduced the threat to Schengen. But he agreed with the Italian economy minister's view that a collapse of Schengen would be more "destructive" than a euro zone crisis.

"There is no question that is would be extremely costly. There are different estimates, but all these estimates are just huge. Austria alone has said $6 billion euros I think," Mramor added.

"So I understand Pier Carlo (Padoan). For Italy which is a big exporter, these hours standing on the border is just a nightmare for the businesses."
Colombian miners seek more government protection from armed groups

BOGOTA, May 12 (Reuters) - Colombia's government needs to offer more protection to mining companies who are being threatened by leftist rebels and criminal gangs in control of illegal mines, the country's mining association said on Thursday.

Illegal mining controlled by armed groups produces at least as much gold each year in the Andean country as licensed miners, who produced 59.2 million tonnes of the precious metal last year, according to industry and government estimates.

"Illegal mining has taken advantage of us," Santiago Angel, the president of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), said in a press conference in Bogota. "We reject the threats against various mining companies and their employees by illegal groups."

The comments mark the first time the ACM has publicly decried threats by armed groups.

Angel said he hoped the government would increase the presence of security forces to prevent environmental damage and tax losses which he said reached $67 million each year.

He declined to name the companies which had received threats. Military sources told Reuters the armed groups hope to scare companies into abandoning projects.

According to recent studies, illegal mining occurs in one-third of Colombia's territory.

ACM's members include the country's largest coal miners Cerrejon - a joint venture between Australia-based BHP Billiton Ltd, London- and Johannesburg-based Anglo American Plc and Swiss-based Glencore Xstrata - Prodeco, a unit of Glencore Xstrata, and Alabama-based Drummond.
Cuba and U.S. officials to meet next week to deepen detente

By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA, May 12 (Reuters) - Cuba and the United States will meet next week for a third round of talks on improving relations, Havana said on Thursday, adding that the two former Cold War foes were not yet negotiating their multibillion-dollar claims against one another.

A bilateral commission will meet next Monday in the Cuban capital to evaluate the progress made in putting their decades-old conflict behind them, and to identify new areas of cooperation, said Gustavo Machin, the deputy director for U.S. affairs in the Cuban foreign ministry.

"We will set the agenda for the rest for the year," Machin told a news conference.

"We are not yet negotiating the topic of claims even if there is a recognition on both sides that these exist."

Cuba and the U.S. reestablished diplomatic relations a year ago and have signed agreements on issues of common concern such as the environment, postal services and direct flights.

Many differences remain however. Machin reiterated Cuba's demands for the return of the Guantanamo naval base and lifting of the U.S. trade embargo.

Cuba complains that some of the policy changes the U.S. has carried out, such as relaxing currency restrictions against the island, have had little real impact given the persistent fear among U.S. institutions of risking government sanctions.

The White House said in March it would allow U.S. banks to process dollar transactions for Cuba as long as neither buyer nor seller were U.S. entities.

"Until now, no bank transactions have been carried out in U.S. currency," Machin said. "There is still a great fear."

Cuba has said it will only lift a 10 percent tax on cash dollars once it is clear U.S. banks are processing dollar transactions for the Communist-ruled island.

The issue of reparations is another sticky point. Late last year, Cuba and the U.S. outlined their respective claims, with the former demanding at least $121 billion in reparations for the U.S. trade embargo and other acts it describes as aggressions against the Caribbean country.

The Americans meanwhile are seeking upwards of $10 billion in compensation for nationalized properties.
Hacker arrested for attempted extortion of Brazil interim president's wife

SAO PAULO, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian police have arrested three people on charges of hacking the Internet account of the wife of Brazil's interim president and attempting to extort money after stealing intimate photographs, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Thursday.

The newspaper said that police had arrested the hacker, his wife and his sister-in-law on Wednesday. A police spokesman declined to comment, saying that the case was ongoing.

Marcela Temer, a 32-year-old former beauty queen, is the wife of Brazil Vice President Michel Temer, 75, who took the helm of Latin America's largest country on Thursday after President Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office for up to six months while the Senate tries her for breaking budgetary laws.

The alleged hacker, who worked as a roofer, gained access to Marcela's cell phone and Internet accounts 30 days ago, the newspaper said.
Brazil's new acting leader mistakes a journalist for Argentina's Macri

BUENOS AIRES, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's interim President Michel Temer, who took over on Thursday after Dilma Rousseff was suspended as the country's leader, mistook a journalist interviewing him for a radio program for Argentina's President Mauricio Macri.

"How are you President? ... I want to visit you soon," Temer told a journalist for Argentine radio station El Mundo shortly before taking up the presidency. During the brief radio interview the journalist never clarified that he was not in fact Macri.

Temer, who was vice president under Rousseff, took over as acting president after the Senate voted to try her for breaking budget laws, meaning she is suspended for the duration of the trial.
After Canada wildfire, a silver lining for businesses

By Susan Taylor and Nicole Mordant

TORONTO/VANCOUVER, May 12 (Reuters) - As the Canadian city of Fort McMurray prepares to rebuild after a wildfire reduced parts of it to ash, businesses from 'man camp' suppliers to pizza parlors are preparing for a spike in demand as clean-up crews, builders and oil sands workers pour into the region.

The fire destroyed more than 2,400 buildings, or around 10 percent of the Alberta city's structures, damaged more than 500 others and forced some 90,000 people to flee.

"As tragic as this situation is, there is a unique opportunity for a market that had gone very slow, to get some return of growth," said Russell Dauk, vice president at Alberta builder Rohit Group.

As oil markets weakened, Rohit's building starts tumbled 80 percent in Fort McMurray over the last three years, forcing it to cut three-quarters of workers there.

Providers of temporary housing, such as Houston-based Civeo Corp, say they are already busy with insurers and bankers who need somewhere to sleep after surveying damage. Its stock is up more than 21 percent since the fire started May 1.

Civeo, the biggest supplier of worker accommodations to Canada's oil sands projects, expects occupancy to rise at its seven lodges and 14,000 rooms in the area, said Chief Executive Bradley Dodson.

These so-called man camps are expected to be the only living quarters in the region for thousands of returning oil sands staff and recovery workers as the city itself remains off-limits to residents for the next several weeks.

Bookings at Civeo's Mariana Lake Lodge have swollen to over 700 from 300 before the fire, said Ian Robb, president of the union representing camp cooks and cleaners.

"Our members are across the country, so they phone in for jobs that I post every day," he said. "The last two days, we've had 30, 40, 50 jobs at a time going on (our hiring board) ... I anticipate that we'll pick up considerably."

Target Logistics expects to fill the 400 beds at its Cheecham Lodge with workers rebuilding the town and is talking with other camp operators about partnerships.

"The business and economic benefit will be significant," said senior vice president Troy Schrenk.

Clean Harbors Inc will need to hire staff for its lodges, but won't know the demands for its environmental services until the government completes its clean up plan, said Kirk Duffee, president of oil and gas services.

Airlines are also gearing up for increased demand as oil companies use more fly-in-fly-out workers, though flight plans cannot be set until oil companies know where their workers will be located, said Darcy Morgan, chief commercial officer with charter operator Enerjet Ltd.

And feeding Fort McMurray will be a big job, said Tyler Warman, mayor of Slave Lake, Alberta, where a 2011 wildfire forced the evacuation of 7,000 and destroyed one-third of the town.

"Restaurants will be very busy for the first couple of weeks, as people will probably have to throw out their fridges and freezers," he said.

Ziad Tarabien said he cooked up food until 5 a.m. at his Taras Pizza restaurant in Lac la Biche, Alberta to supply an evacuation center over four nights, though he provided much of it without immediate payment.
Nigeria's crude output cut further by Exxon pipeline damage -trade

LONDON/NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters) - Damage to a pipeline has reduced supplies of Nigeria's benchmark Qua Iboe crude oil, two traders said on Thursday, the latest setback for Africa's top producer that has pushed output to its lowest in more than two decades.

Operator Exxon Mobil Corp confirmed in an email that a drilling rig, experiencing mechanical difficulties, damaged the pipeline it jointly owns with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and caused a spill on Sunday.

Exxon said Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) continues to assess the situation. It did not give any other details and it was not clear how much output was lost.

The drilling rig is owned by Depthwize Nigeria Limited and Drilling on behalf of Conoil Producing.

The news intensified concerns among traders and refiners about falling supplies of Nigeria's largest grade of crude and helped boost global Brent benchmark futures on Thursday even as the market remains awash with supplies.

A series of recent outages in Nigeria have cut output by more than 400,000 barrels per day, excluding the latest problem with the pipeline, according to FG Energy.

The country was set to export 317,000 bpd of Qua Iboe in June.

The news comes as Nigeria's production slumped to a 22-year low after Royal Dutch Shell PLC declared a force majeure on Bonny Light crude due to sabotage on a pipeline.

Last week, a group known as Niger Delta Avengers attacked a Chevron facility in the Delta after also claiming a strike in February against a Shell pipeline, which shut down the 250,000 bpd Forcados export terminal.

The U.S. East Coast, historically, has been among the world's biggest buyer of Nigerian crude. Refiners there have binged on the country's crude in recent months as economics have shifted in favor of waterborne barrels rather than buying from the U.S. Bakken shale heartland.
Explosion rocks town in southeastern Turkey, wounding several - security source

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 12 (Reuters) - A large explosion on Thursday struck a highway near the town of Hani in Turkey's strife-hit, mainly Kurdish southeast, wounding several people, security sources said.

Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, they said. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion from miles away.
Rousseff's fall in Brazil casts cloud on Cuba

By Marc Frank and Anthony Boadle

HAVANA/BRASILIA, May 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's suspension from office is bad news for newly trendy Cuba, which despite a detente with Washington is feeling the pinch from a downturn ravaging allies' economies and political fortunes in South America and Africa.

Friends such as Venezuela, Brazil and Angola for years used revenue from a commodities boom to pay for Cuban medical and educational services, turning it into the communist-run island's main source of hard currency.

President Raul Castro's detente with the United States has helped drive up tourism to record highs but income from the influx of foreign visitors were only about one-third of the $7 billion from health and education exports in 2014.

Over the last 13 years, Brazil's leftist governments also provided at least $1.75 billion in credit on favorable terms, drawing fire from opponents who are also angered by a program that put 11,400 Cuban doctors to work in Brazil.

Those projects will now be re-examined after Brazil's Senate voted on Thursday to put Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws. She is now suspended from office while the trial takes place in coming months, and a likely conviction would end her presidency.

"There will be a short-term review of our Cuba policy, because the money has run out and because there are some serious governance questions regarding the loans. Everything will be put on hold," said a Brazilian diplomat who served in Havana.

Some of Brazil's loans bankrolled a major expansion project at Cuba's Mariel port with 25-year repayment periods and rates of between 4.4 percent to 6.9 percent, Brazilian data shows. Critics say the terms are too generous given Cuba's poor credit history.

Support from a bloc of leftist governments in Latin America since the turn of the century helped Cuba get back on its feet after the collapse of the Soviet Union caused a massive economic crisis in the 1990s. Improving relations with the United States and Europe hold the promise of new revenue, but for now Cuba's economy will suffer as the tide turns against allies.

Centrist politician Michel Temer took over as interim president in Brazil on Thursday. His government is not expected to send home the Cuban doctors working in Brazil since 2013-14 but it will not hire any more.

"Obviously there will be no more Cuban doctors coming here in the future, because this model of assistance is questionable and there won't be support for it, but I doubt any Cubans doctors will be booted out," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Senator Ronaldo Caiado, a leader of the Democrats party inside Temer's coalition government, said the doctors should stay, but money paid to Cuba, approximately $500 million in 2015, should stay in Brazil and be paid directly to the medics.

Last month, Rousseff extended the medical services contract for another 3 years, but it has to be approved by Congress and might run into trouble with lawmakers critical of the terms first signed in 2013.

The doctors work in some of Brazil's remotest regions, winning support of local mayors. That support, and municipal elections in October, might make Congress think twice about abruptly ending the program.

Cuba's biggest doctors abroad program is with oil exporter Venezuela in exchange for crude and money, where collapsing crude prices have triggered economic chaos. Those shipments are stable at around 90,000 barrels a day.

CASH FLOW

Cuba has already tightened its belt. The government began cutting imports and asking for longer payment terms from foreign suppliers last year and has been late meeting its obligations this year, according to Western diplomats and businessmen.

"They clearly have a cash flow problem. Some of our companies are being paid and others are not," a European ambassador said on Monday.

The government has said it expects economic growth to slow in 2016 from 4 percent last year.

Brazil's government says it paid Cuba more than $500 million for the doctors' services in 2015, and another $100 million went to the doctors themselves.

Rousseff is not the first leftist ally Cuba has lost in the past year. Argentina's leftist Peronists lost power at the last election in November. And there are deep concerns in Cuba over political stability in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro is struggling with a deep recession and a stronger opposition.

"Latin America and the Caribbean are feeling the effects of a strong and well planned counter offensive by the imperialists and oligarchy," Cuban President Raul Castro charged last month at a gathering of Communist Party leaders.

Nevertheless, he has worked in recent years to broaden Cuba's circle of friends by putting behind decades of hostility with Washington and improving its reputation with creditors.
U.S., EU, Canada officials walk out of Ugandan leader's inauguration -State Dept

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - U.S., European and Canadian officials walked out of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's inauguration in protest on Thursday after Sudan's leader showed up despite facing arrest warrants and Museveni mocked the International Criminal Court, the State Department said.

Uganda is a party to the agreement that established the Hague, Netherlands-based court, which issued international arrest warrants in 2009 and 2010 against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir seeking his detention on charges of genocide.

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a news briefing in Washington that Museveni made disparaging remarks about the court to the audience.

"We believe that walking out in protest is an appropriate reaction to a head of state mocking efforts to ensure accountability for victims of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," Trudeau said.

"In response to President Bashir's presence and President Museveni's remarks, the United States delegation, along with representatives of the European Union countries and Canada, departed the inauguration ceremonies to demonstrate our objection."

Museveni, 71, who has governed Uganda for 30 years, was re-elected to a fifth term as president in February, prompting opposition protests, clashes and dozens of arrests.

Uganda blocked social media sites and increased security ahead of the inauguration.

Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since a 1989 Islamist and army-backed coup, rejects the authority of the International Criminal Court and has flouted the warrant before, traveling in the Middle East and Africa as well as to China and Indonesia, which are not members of the court.
Four killed, 17 wounded in blast in southeast Turkey -sources

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 12 (Reuters) - Four suspected bomb makers were killed and 17 people wounded when an explosion ripped through a village in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast, security sources and the Interior Ministry said.

The blast occurred at about 10:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) in the Sarikamis district, about 25 km (15 miles) from the region's biggest city of Diyarbakir, as Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants loaded explosives onto a small truck, according to the Interior Ministry.

A photograph taken from a police helicopter and provided to reporters by the Interior Ministry showed what appeared to be a massive crater in a field caused by the explosion.

Electricity in Sarikamis had been cut and homes near the blast site suffered damaged, CNN Turk reported.

Two of the wounded were in critical condition, security sources said. Witnesses reported hearing the explosion as far away as Diyarbakir.

The blast followed a car bomb attack near a military facility earlier in the day in an Istanbul suburb that wounded seven people, and a car bombing in Diyarbakir on Tuesday that targeted police and killed three people.

Turkey has been hit by a series of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State and two car bombings in the capital Ankara, which killed a total of 66 people and were claimed by a PKK offshoot.

After the blast, security forces set up checkpoints at Sarikamis and searched vehicles entering and leaving the village.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on an election tour in Kerala, comparing the poor conditions of Adivasis in the state to the situation in Somalia, has sparked off a controversy. It was not only inappropriate but factually inaccurate for the PM to make such a statement.

It is an established fact that Kerala tops Indias human and other development indices. That Kerala achieved health indices almost comparable to those of developed countries despite its economic backwardness, has baffled economists and social scientists across the world. This remarkable achievement, the so called "Kerala Model of Development", is a discussion topic among academia.

However, researchers who have studied Keralas development have also pointed at islands of underdevelopment among several social groups in Kerala. Several studies have pointed to the dismal health status of fisherfolks and Adivasis. Recently, the state was shocked by a large number of neonatal deaths from the Attappadi Adivasi colonies.

On May 2014, I headed a team of health experts who published a report on the health status of Keralas Adivasis. We described their situation as a "silent genocide" because their death rate was more than their birth rate. That said, the statistics also tell us that the health status of Adivasis in Kerala is actually better than some of the BJP-ruled states and in no way lower than poor countries like Somalia.

Keralas infant mortality rate or IMR (the number of infant deaths under one year old per 1,000 live births ) is 12 presently. Some districts record single digits while in the Adivasi areas it is as high as 42. However, we must remember that the national IMR average is 40, in Gujarat it is 36 and in another BJP-ruled state, Madhya Pradesh, it is 57 - several counts more than that the figures among Adivasis in Kerala. The IMR in Somalia is 137.

Therefore, obviously the PM grossly exaggerated and unnecessarily invoked Somalia to describe Keralas supposed disparities.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has demanded PM Modi's apology.

It was no small wonder that Keralites from diverse political fronts came together, even in the midst of a fierce election campaign, to condemn Prime Minister Modis statement. Chief minister Oommen Chandy and CPM politburo member Prakash Karat issued strongly worded statements asking the PM to apologise to the people of Kerala.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done it again. Subramanian Swamy has reportedly stated that Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan should be sent packing to Chicago.

The reason is simple: the newly-nominated Rajya Sabha MP does not consider Rajan suitable for the job. That certainly isnt enough of a reason for such a radical suggestion.

Subramanian Swamy said that Raghuram Rajan should be sent packing to Chicago.

In fact BJP leaders seem to be perennially obsessed with the idea of deporting individuals who do not share their views. The run up to the 2014 general elections saw Giriraj Singh asking people opposed to Narendra Modi to move to Pakistan.

"Those opposing Narendra Modi are looking at Pakistan and such people have a place in Pakistan and not in India," said Singh at a public meeting in Bihar.

Instead of being reprimanded and blacklisted, Giriraj Singh was handsomely rewarded by Modi sarkar. In November 2014, he assumed office as the minister of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Almost one year after Giriraj Singhs controversial remarks, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too joined the bandwagon. "Those who are dying to eat beef can go to Pakistan or Arab countries or any other part of the world where it is available" said Naqvi at an event organised by the India Today Group.

Much like Singh, Naqvi didnt face the music either. In fact he continues till date as the minister of state for parliamentary affairs. During the JNU row, Rahul Gandhis visit to the university prompted BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia to suggest that he be sent to Pakistan.

"What Rahul Gandhi has done is anti-national. The country does not need such leaders. He should be sent to Pakistan," said Kalia. Time and again, the central leadership of the BJP has exhibited rare tolerance towards such intolerant remarks.

In the past, Giriraj Singh has asked those opposing Narendra Modi to move to Pakistan.

It goes to suggest that there is broad acceptability for such views within the BJP. The leaders of the saffron outfit dont lose their jobs for uttering such nonsensical remarks but continue as if nothing happened. If one happens to be fortunate enough like Giriraj Singh, he/she may even get promoted.

The very leaders who are hell-bent on deporting others are actually undeserving of a place either in Parliament or government. Let us take the case of Subramanian Swamy who recently took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. While taking oath, Swamy pledged allegiance to the Indian Constitution, which effectively meant upholding the countrys multi-cultural, pluralistic secular democracy.

But Swamys previously stated public positions suggest the opposite. He is an opponent of secular democracy and has scant respect for the ideals laid down in the Constitution. "Declare India a Hindu rashtra in which non-Hindus can vote only if they proudly acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus. Rename India as Hindustan as a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors were Hindus," wrote Swamy in DNA newspaper (July 2011).

The controversial article titled "How to wipe out Islamic terror" led to the booting out of Swamy from Harvard University. A person like Swamy who wasnt even allowed to continue teaching at Harvard University because of his extremist views has been nominated to the upper house of Indian Parliament.

This government certainly has no shame. They are breeding and providing foul-mouthed leaders with a free hand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about "sabka saath, sabka vikaas (Together with all, development for all)" but backs individuals with a proven sectarian mindset.

Otherwise why would his party bring Swamy to the Rajya Sabha who had earlier made known his dream of seeing a Hindu party come to power on the basis of Hindu votes? In the DNA article, Swamy had stated that "even if half the Hindu voters are persuaded to collectively vote as Hindus and for a party sincerely committed to a Hindu agenda, then we can forge an instrument for change."

That very much sets the record straight. If Narendra Modi truly believed that secularism means "India first" and "Constitution is our holy book" then Subramanian Swamy wouldnt have been a member of the Rajya Sabha.

When Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti made the infamous Ramzaade remark by stating that "you must decide whether you want a government of those born of Ram or of those born illegitimately", Modi should have sacked her from the position of minister of state for food processing industries.

Instead he defended her in Lok Sabha by evoking her "social background" and saying that "she is from a village" and "she has apologised" for what she had said.

Hindutva is being mainstreamed. The ruling party approves of Hindutva extremism. Those who spew venom are garlanded. Remember the felicitation of Muzaffarnagar riot accused MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana prior to Modis Agra rally in 2013?

That was only a trailer. Now that the BJP has completed two years in power, worse things are definitely in store.

Officially, Hindutva hate mongers would never have their way as India would never become a Hindu rashtra. But unofficially, this is indeed a reign of Hindutvawaadis who are experimenting new ways in which they could inject communal poison in the national polity.
Ghosts of a 2013 allegation, in which the wife of an Indian Navy officer accused her husband's superior, posted at INS Kochi base, of approaching the former with an offer of "wife-swapping", have returned to haunt the nation.

Supreme Court has now ordered the Kerala Police DIG to form a special investigative team to probe the matter, wherein the woman had accused the senior officer of even threatening her husband with consequences when he had refused to oblige him initially.

Indian Navy has dismissed the allegations of wife-swapping.

Former defence minister AK Antony had taken serious cognition of the case and had even asked for a speedy probe, but the apex court had to stall the investigation after reports surfaced that Kerala Police had been "harassing" the victim in the garb of intimidating and frequent interrogation calls and sessions.

"After inquiry, if anyone is found guilty, we take strong action and exemplary punishment is given. This is our track record and this will continue. In the Kochi case also, three separate investigations are going on," Antony had said in April, 2013.

Now, after over a two-year gap, the top court's bench comprising chief justice TS Thakur and justice R Bhanumathi has asked SIT to conduct a fast-track probe and submit the report.

The martial versus the marital.

It seems the martial and the marital in India have a complicated relationship, with anyone charged with the offence quaintly worded as "stealing the affections of one's brother officer's wife" subject to suspension from duties. The Biblical phraseology notwithstanding, Indian Navy has dismissed the allegations of wife-swapping as baseless.

Though, that's obviously on expected lines.

Not completely satisfied with institutional denial alone, there was also an attempt to fabricate a case against the victim - the estranged wife of the Indian Navy officer who had made the allegations - according to her counsel Kamini Jaiswal.

In September 2013, Delhi Police in Vasant Vihar police station arrested her for allegedly trying to obtain a credit card in her husband's name. The woman was studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University and was a resident of its postgraduate hostel.

We can only hope that the SIT probe remains unhinged from any malfeasant influence from the top. It seems sex and the armed forces have a connection that is, more often than not, brushed under the thick carpet of honour and valour.

But can transgression set sail on these choppy waters?
LONDON - England - Just hours after the ban on 'miaow miaow' mephedrone came into force, officers are on the alert for yet another party drug called 'Jenkem' which is now taking the UK by storm.

Special Drugs Report  JENKEM

Police have been put on alert for another dangerous party drug, just hours after the ban on mephedrone came into force. Officers from around the country have flashed warnings about the rise of a legal high known as Jenkem in recent months, as a series of deaths connected to mephedrone brought the synthetic stimulant to national attention.

Users report that Jenkem, also dubbed butt hash, provokes effects including euphoria and increased brain activity similar to the Class A drug ecstasy. The UKs biggest online Jenk shop, selling paraphernalia, containers and faeces cultivation equipment, reported it had sold out of Jenkem, which sells for 40 a bottle.

The content of the highly hallucinogenic drug is controversial because it is made from human fecal matter and urine, which is left to ferment in a container with a balloon over the opening to collect the hydrogen sulfide gas that is released. Thousands of teens across Britain are said to be huffing the highly addictive gas to get high  and even some police and government experts admit they have come close to addiction after trying it.

You aint lived until you huffed some Jenkem. That shit is the shit, and when I sniff it, I go places that no other drug can go. Its like some kind of spaceship lands in front of me and takes me up to the stars where we party in a huge ballroom with multi-coloured aliens on acid, then I might ask the space creatures if they can fly me around the galaxy for a few years. When I wake up after my hit, I realise that only 3 minutes passed but it felt like twenty years, innit? Billy Batts, 18, a serial Jenkem abuser from Manchester told us.

People high on Jenkem can be left with permanent damage to their eyes as well as severe brain damage.

The Daily Squib has established that legal experts regard Jenkem as a killer drug but are powerless to ban this new drug because it is a natural product from peoples anuses.

We cant stop people shitting. What are we going to do, plug their arses? I guess Jenkem is here to stay, and we will just have to watch the youth go under with the putrid brown haze of Jenkem, a drug counsellor in Bradford said about the problem.

Filthy nose haze

An adviser from the Frank drugs helpline last night admitted they had no official information on Jenkem. We are not fully aware of the full risks because there has been no research into it. There is, however, a large risk of sudden death from the shit haze that comes from the fermented poop and urine, she said.

Some sources say that the Jenkem drug was first introduced into Britain from Africa in the mid 90s but soon went underground. The drug has only recently surfaced after many years in gestation and much like the fecal matter soup, has fermented into a problem that is now gripping the UK with a terrible drug hell stench.
Montanans should speak up about the environmental impact of the last remaining major Pacific Northwest coal export dock proposal during upcoming hearings, a neighbor activist said Wednesday in Billings.

Les Anderson, a Longview, Wash., resident who lives near the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals facility, said the project could affect thousands of people along the rail lines from mines in Montana and Wyoming to the dock site along the Columbia River.

Montanans deserve to be heard, just like everyone else on this port, Anderson said during the last leg of his four-city tour of the Treasure State.

He also stopped in Missoula, Helena and Livingston.

On April 29, the Washington State Department of Ecology released a 3,000-plus-page draft environmental review of the $680 million Millennium proposal. The agency found that the terminal would have a significant effect on climate change, rail safety, Columbia River shipping traffic and other activities.

The Department of Ecology will hold three public hearings on the draft review of the terminal, which coal backers say could provide a lifeline to the flailing industry in Montana and Wyoming.

The closest hearing is May 26 in Spokane, Wash.

In Billings, the Northern Plains Resources Council held a meeting Wednesday night to take comments on the project, and Anderson was the featured guest. Northern Plains organizers say they will submit the comments to Washingtons Department of Ecology, which will decide whether to issue Millennium a building permit.

Millenniums owners hope to export 44 million tons of coal annually from the Powder River Basin to Asian markets. At full build-out, the dock would handle 16 train loads daily from the region into Longview, about 50 miles north of Portland, Ore.

Millennium is controlled by a Denver-based hedge fund, Resource Capital Funds. St. Louis-based Arch Coal, which recently declared bankruptcy to ward off creditors and reorganize, owns a minority share.

Arch owns the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines in Wyoming and recently suspended efforts to develop the Otter Creek mine in Montana.

Cloud Peak Energy also has a contract to export coal through Millennium. The Gillette-based firm owns the Spring Creek mine in Montana and Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines in Wyoming.

Chuck Denowh, a Montana spokesman for industry group Count on Coal, said companies will make a concerted effort to offer written testimony and attend public hearings.

U.S. coal demand has faltered largely because of cheap, abundant natural gas, which has forced down prices. Foreign demand has also been weak, but the industry is banking on long-term growth in Asia, Denowh said.

Right now, thats the best opportunity for Montana to produce more coal. The domestic market for coal has plateaued, he said.

At one point, five coal ports were proposed in Washington and Oregon as developers saw a potential for growth. This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit to the largest, the Gateway Pacific terminal near Bellingham, Wash., citing concerns from the Lummi Nation about coal travel.

That decision was a major blow to the Crow Nation, which had an agreement to export coal on tribal land through that port.

For Anderson, this Montana trip is the latest front in a lengthy battle against coal. He was present during a 2011 meeting in Cowlitz County Washington, when former Gov. Brian Schweitzer stopped by to urge Longview-area leaders to support the development opportunities of coal export.

Many locals were skeptical during that talk, Anderson recalled.

That meeting led to the formation of the Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community in Longview, a neighborhood group that has grown to about 5,000 members, he said.

Theres a transition time for every energy fuel. Were in a position to go to sustainable energy, Anderson said.
LONDON - England - Vote Leave's statement on ITV's decision to allow the Prime Minister to decide his debate opponent in the upcoming live TV debates.

Everything about this EU referendum from the start has been skewed in favour of the Remain campaign.

The biased pro-EU BBC received 2 million from the EU just before the announcement of the referendum. Goldman Sachs, Citi bank, Lloyds and JP Morgan are putting vast sums of money into the campaign. The Project Fear daily announcements spouting fearful false propaganda headlines. The PMs announcement that there were no Brexit plans by the government early in the campaign reveal that the EU referendum was from the start a completely skewed unfair playing field.

The final icing on the cake is David Cameron choosing his live TV debate partner, and shying away from the official Leave Campaign representative who could cause real damage to his flawed fearmongering campaign.

No Level Playing Field

Commenting on ITVs decision to allow the Prime Minister to decide his opponent in the referendum TV debates, a Vote Leave official spokesman said:

The Government has set all the rules for the referendum to give itself every possible advantage. It has also demanded of the broadcasters that the Prime Minister should not have to debate representatives from the official Leave campaign.

ITV has accepted the Prime Ministers demands without even discussing it with the official campaign and has allowed the Prime Minister to dictate his own opponent. Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the IN campaign than to the Leave campaign.

We think that the Prime Minister ought to debate the representative of the official Leave campaign. In a serious democracy, the Government should not be allowed by a free media to pick its own opponents in the official debates on the most important political decision in decades.

We are discussing legal possibilities to increase the chances that the public will hear the issues properly discussed before they make such an important vote on the future of their democratic rights.

The reason for the timing of the announcement is the Governments desire to distract attention from the immigration figures being released today. We hope that ITV covers that story properly.
Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke frankly with The Gazette about a number of Montana issues before taking the stage in Billings on Wednesday.

On the future of coal, Sanders said America needs to stop burning coal and other fossil fuels in order to reverse climate change.

"I believe we have a moral responsibility, and custodial responsibility, to leave the planet in a way that is healthy and habitable for our children and grandchildren," Sanders said. "Having said that, I am sure there are people economically hurt as a result of this transformation. That means we have got to make sure that people who are hurt in this transformation get the support they need."

Sanders has proposed spending $41 billion on education, unemployment and economic development to help coal communities adjust.

In the Senate, hes also pushed for an increase in the royalties companies pay for oil and gas taken from public land. The Department of Interior has suspended new coal leases so it can determine whether the public is receiving its moneys worth from coal sales.

Despite opposing coal, Sanders won coal state West Virginias primary Tuesday.

On the federal government's relationship with American Indians, Sanders said respect of tribal sovereignty is due, but help is also needed.

"On reservations across this country, the poverty rate, the unemployment rate, the rate of youth suicide are often off the charts," Sanders said. "The Indian Health Service is failing to provide the quality health care people need in many cases. The education system is inadequate. Corporations are now coming into land, land that has belonged to the Native American people that is precious to the Native American people, to excavate.

"I think in a fundamental way, we've got to change our relationship with the Native American people and give them the respect they're certainly due."

On military veterans, Sanders has said that veterans in rural areas shouldn't have to drive long distances for medical care are at Veterans' Affairs facilities.

"In a large rural state like Montana, It is absurd that if somebody is sick they have to travel 200 miles or more to a VA facility and come back," Sanders said. "When people are living a distance away from a VA facility, they should be able to get care in a private facility."

As the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee from 2013 to 2015, Sanders said he worked with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., on the challenges facing veterans in rural areas.

On his cornerstone issue of government funded college tuition at public colleges and universities, Sanders extended the need beyond traditional college students and included working adults.

"It's not just for young people. It is also true for people who need to get updated training in order to compete in the job market," he said.

Sanders came out strongly against hydro fracturing or "fracking," the process of cracking the earth and filling it with fluid and sand to free oil and gas trapped in shale. His home state of Vermont, has banned fracking.

"We would ban fracking. We have got to make a decision. One of the crisis that is looming and already happening, but will only get worse in years to come is the question of whether our country, and in fact all countries all over the world, will have the drinking water they need," Sanders said.
Billings had a Berning love for Sen. Sanders on Wednesday night.

A standing room only crowd of 3,008 at MetraPark punctuated Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' every sentence and roared at his call for grassroots political reform.

"What we are doing is shaping America and the Democratic Party. Our agenda is the future of this country!" The Vermont senator said.

The former mayor turned independent senator was in true form with his long stove-piped sleeves displayed in full wingspan and his head somewhat bowed toward the microphone. He displayed full control of a crowd with a tidal roar.

The only time Sanders, 74, drew boos was when he called out the beneficiaries of income inequality. He called out the Walton family, which founded Wal-Mart, for having more wealth than 40 percent of the rest of society.

"A hundred years ago, workers fought for a 40-hour work week and we still haven't achieved a 40-hour work week," Sanders said. "If you work a 40-hour week you should not live in poverty."

His words hit home again and again. More than half the audience raised their hands when he asked who had student loan debt. They cheered at his call for equal pay for women and an increase in the minimum wage, and respect for Native Americans and paid family leave.

As Mimi Lockman, of Red Lodge, observed, what wasn't to like?

"I don't know what he's said you can disagree with," Lockman said, but she still wasn't feeling the Bern.

Lockman wanted to know how Sanders could make the changes he's calling for.

She wanted details. She said she'll vote Democrat in the June 7 primary, but she wasn't sure for whom.

Sanders wanted voters to matter equally, without the large political action committees setting campaign agendas.

"Democracy is you got a vote and you got a vote and you got a vote.

"Democracy is not super PACs buying elections," Sanders said.

He called on voters to stop Republican governors from suppressing the vote.

He called on voters to stay engaged in politics.

"No president, not Bernie Sanders, not Barack Obama, can do it alone," Sanders said.

The presentation was worth the nearly 300 mile roundtrip from Bozeman for Kathleen Byrne. The Montana State University instructor worries about the debt her students are saddled with when they graduate.

"These guys are our future and they have large amounts of student debt to shoulder," Byrne said.

Sanders has proposed the government pay for tuition at public colleges and universities. Byrne credited the senator for not faltering on his message of social reform, for looking at the big picture.

In the back of the Montana Pavilion where the event occured, Samantha Broken Rope sat cradling an infant in one of the few available chairs in the 18,000 square foot venue.

A member of the Crow Tribe, Broken Rope appreciated what Sanders had to say about the United States owing a tremendous debt to Native Americans. The candidate had met with tribal representatives before going on stage.

"We have to give them the respect they're due," Sanders said. "They have contributed so much to our culture, our way of life."

But Broken Rope also liked what Sanders had to say about free college tuition, something American Indians in Montana have, unless they attend school out of state, as her daughter is currently.

The Crow mother was skeptical Sanders could deliver on the education promise, but if he lowered tuition, Broken Rope said she would be happy.

Younger attendees were ecstatic.

"It was freaking awesome," said Addison Wartnow, a 17-year old Billings Senior student.

Wartnow was there with her friend Cairo Morton, a student at Billings Central. "It's nice to see somebody who's trying to change democracy and who tells the truth," said Morton, who is just old enough to vote this year.
A man serving a 25-year sentence has appealed his case to the Montana Supreme Court and has requested immediate release, claiming a conspiracy by officials.

Lionel Scott Ellison, 56, was sentenced in December for two counts of tampering with physical evidence and one count of impersonation of a public servant, all felonies.

The convictions stem from a fire at Ellison's parents' Billings home in March 2013. The doors were roped shut, tied to objects on the porch. Ellison and his parents made it out uninjured.

Investigations showed that Ellison may have started the fire, though a jury found him not found guilty of the arson charge. He was convicted on evidence that he tried to frame a Yellowstone County detective for the fire, a belief Ellison still holds.

No briefs have been filed yet, but chief appellate defender Chad Wright is assigned to his case.

On April 29, Ellison filed a 95-page, handwritten writ of habeas corpus to challenge his conviction and incarceration. As a separate matter at the Supreme Court, Ellison is representing himself in this case.

The brief cited many reasons for his immediate release, including that the dismissal of the arson charge invalidate his convictions of tampering and impersonation.

Ellison wrote at length about what he called a conspiracy against him by judges, prosecutors, law enforcement and his own attorney. He also continued to place blame on Frank Fritz, a detective with the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.

Court documents in the case said that Fritz was far from the Ellisons' home, working on another call with other law enforcement, at the time of the fire.

Ellison's criminal history includes a previous arson conviction, insurance fraud and tampering with evidence. He was investigated twice for staging his own abduction days before court hearings.

In one of the abduction cases in Park County, Ellison was sent to a state-run mental health facility, but he was released and deemed fit for trial months later. That case was later dismissed.

Since reaching the Montana State Prison, Ellison has filed one official grievance about medical treatment, according to a spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Corrections.

Ellison requested immediate release and the dismissal of his charges in his filing.
When Laurel Middle School was built nine years ago, there was room for growth. It wasnt enough.

The school, built for 600 students, surpassed that mark in 2013. Next year, as a large fifth-grade class moves into the building, enrollment is projected to approach 670 students  far more students than the school has lockers for.

If lockers are our biggest concern, were doing pretty good, said new Laurel superintendent Linda Filpula. But lockers are not the biggest issue.

The biggest issue, perhaps, is the financial black cloud hanging over the district. Tax bills protested by the CHS refinery, which makes up more than 50 percent of the K-8 tax base, leave the schools finances in limbo. The protests all but eliminate the districts ability to fund large infrastructure projects.

The district gets some money for maintenance from an active building reserve levy, but youre just putting on band aids, Filpula said.

Patrick Cates has learned to live with them. The Laurel Middle School principal has converted computer labs into classrooms, shuffled teaching positions and is currently working to turn an attic-like storage space near the gym into an extra P.E. classroom.

Hes planning to turn another computer lab into a classroom next year.

This years fifth-grade class also was a big one. The school added a fifth-grade teacher to help manage. Its unclear how staffing will shake out next year, as elementary and middle schools share a general fund budget.

That bubble kind of hit us this year, Cates said. That puts 30 kids in a classroom. We know its not whats best for student learning to take place."

Youre dealing with a real lack of physical space, he said. Were just in kind of survival mode right now.

No one with Laurel schools is counting on getting more space anytime soon.

Tax protest

Usually having a robust commercial tax base is considered a good thing for schools, easing the tax burden on residential property owners.

But CHS has protested tax bills, first in 2009 and again in 2014 and 2015. The 2009 dispute was settled in 2013, cutting about 15 percent from the refinerys taxes from 2009-2012. The underlying dispute over the assessment method wasnt addressed.

The state Department of Revenue says the plants market value for 2014 is $848 million and for 2015 is $820 million. CHS says the value is $345 million for 2014 and $352 million for 2015.

So we are a long way apart, Revenue Department Director Mike Kadas previously told the Gazette.

The dispute isnt expected to be settled until 2019, at earliest. School officials expect 2020 or 2021.

The school district operates its budget as if the state's tax bill will hold up. If it doesn't, the district has to pay back money, which would come through a bond issue or a permissive levy.

With that possibility hanging over the schools head, borrowing money is nearly impossible, even if voters were to approve a bond.

The state Board of Investments  essentially a loan company for public entities  wont look at us, said Laurel business manager Donnie Mcvee. The districts credit rating is crippled.

The Legislature didnt fund the Quality Schools grant program, which offered schools an important if inconsistent option for facilities funding.

The district has decided to do what it can. School trustees voted Monday to hire an architectural firm to develop facilities plans to meet an expanding population.

We need to start planning now, long term. What are we gonna do with our facilities? Filpula said.

Classroom crunch

When the new middle school was built, the district moved fifth-graders into the building to help alleviate crowding in elementary buildings.

The middle school has focused on providing on level-academic support; students are grouped by ability level rather than grade level for more individualized instruction. As students progressed, they could move between groups or get further targeted support.

However, growing enrollment pinches the mobility of those groups. With more students and the same amount of teachers, its tougher to shift students.

If class sizes exceed accreditation standards, it can draw the attention of the Montana Department of Public Instruction.

Billings Public Schools had its accreditation status downgraded in 2012 for having too many classrooms that didn't meet state standards.

Laurel trustees decided not to seek a general fund levy this spring. A 2013 general fund levy in Billings, along with a bond to build two new middle schools, has been cited as instrumental in helping School District 2 reduce class sizes.

Physical space is also tight at elementary schools, Filpula said, where modular units are being used. Teaching assistants have helped schools meet accreditation requirements.

We have had increasing enrollment, and we have not increased our teaching staff, she said.

However, Filpula is hopeful about the future and still confident about the quality of education being offered in Laurel schools. The districts graduation rate skyrocketed above 90 percent two years ago, and remained near that mark last year.

The community certainly has stepped up to the plate before, she said.
Evaluating potential improvements to the intersection of Airport Road and Main Street is the topic for a three-part public open house set for May 18 in the Yellowstone Room at MetraPark, 308 Sixth Ave. N.

According to the Montana Department of Transportation, project officials will meet with members of the public from noon to 2 p.m. to take input. From 3 to 5 p.m., they will meet with business and property owners.

The presentation on possible alternatives begins at 5:15 p.m. The open house will conclude by 7 p.m.

MDT seeks public comments on at least three alternatives for the intersection:

No build  The intersection is unchanged.

Signalized southwest quadrant: Includes a third eastbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane. This alternative reroutes the northbound and southbound left turns at Airport Road and Main Street and includes a new traffic signal at Aronson Avenue and Main Street.

Partial displaced left turn: This alternative includes a third eastbound left-turn lane, a southbound right-turn lane, and a new traffic signal at Aronson Avenue and Main Street to allow northbound left turns to cross over prior to the Airport Road and Main Street intersection. This intersection would be the first of its kind in Montana.

According to the project website, www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/blgairportmain, MDTs study and intersection improvements will last 13 months. The first phase is the transportation study required to identify the proposed project for design and construction. Phase 2 includes the design and construction of the project.

The Airport Road and Main Street intersection is about two miles northeast of downtown Billings, just north of MetraPark. The intersections location is a critical junction for commuter, regional and freight trips along the Airport Road and Main Street corridors.

Designated as principal arterials, the two corridors connect recreation, residential neighborhoods (Heights west and east), low density commercial and light industrial uses with downtown Billings and Interstate 90.

The project calendar includes this schedule:

During May, transportation officials will gather data. They will then work through August analyzing existing and future conditions.

By August, theyll have developed initial alternatives, and by November, theyll have screened those alternatives.

The preferred alternative will be identified early in 2017, with a report due by early summer 2017.

Residents can submit written comments by June 17 in two ways. They can send them to the Montana Department of Transportation Billings Office, P.O. Box 20437, Billings, MT 59104-0437. Or they can email their comments using this form: www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml.

The project number, which should be noted on comments, is UPN 8718000.
Dalhousie has established its first full-time Aboriginal student advisor position and created an affiliated campus centre to boost support for students from Indigenous communities attending the university.



The advisor and centre will offer a range of services and supports aimed at fostering a sense of community among Aboriginal students on campus and enhancing their chances of success both in and out of the classroom.



The new supports are part of a three-year pilot project that emerged out of a memorandum of understanding between Dal and the Confederacy of Mainland Mikmaq (CMM), an organization that advocates for First Nations communities across Nova Scotia.

Culture of diversity and inclusiveness



Anne Forrestall, assistant vice-provost, Student Affairs, says the creation of the advisory role and centre speaks to Dals broader commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusiveness at the university.



These new supports will help improve the experience of our Aboriginal students and ensure they have every chance of being successful, says Forestall.



The creation of a student-support centre and advisor was one of the many recommendations included in a university-led report released last fall on Aboriginal and Black/African Canadian student access and retention at Dal.



In the past, support for Aboriginal students at Dal and other post-secondary institutions nearby was provided by a liaison with the Native Education Counselling Unit (NECU). While it was located on Dals Studley campus, it was funded entirely by CMM with some in-kind contributions from the university, such as office space.



Under the new partnership between Dal and CMM, the advisor becomes a full-time employee of Dal. As part of Student Affairs, the advisor will have opportunities to create a seamless experience for Aboriginal students seeking support, as well as access to additional resources. The centre will remain on the fourth floor of the Student Union Building for now, but Forrestall says the university is hopeful it can expand the space in the near future.

Holistic support



Sara Swasson, who moved uninterrupted into the new advisor role April 1 from her position as a liaison with the NECU, says her goal is to use the extra resources to expand the range of programming and supports she can offer students.



My aim is to support Aboriginal students at Dalhousie holistically, so to support them in their academics, support them culturally, and support them socially, says Swasson, a Mi'gmaq from the Listuguj First Nation in Quebec.



Swasson says that will include everything from in-house visits from math or writing tutors, nutrition and personal finance workshops, and various social gatherings at the centre. She adds that input from students has been and will continue to be a key driver in determining what kinds of workshops and events to offer.



In addition to developing new programming, Swasson will work collaboratively with Student Services on boosting retention and success among Aboriginal students, advise and advocate for students, and liaise with stakeholders both on and off campus.



CMM will remain closely involved in the centre going forward and will have a seat on a new Aboriginal Student Success Advisory Committee set up under the new partnership with Dal.



We are now laying the foundation for more of our youth to have the support that they may need while pursing post-secondary education, says Donald M. Julien, CMMs executive director, of the new position and centre. And there is no better investment than that.
Robyn's Nest Rescue in Miamisburg will be having their 6th annual fundraising yard sale on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held in the lot next to Robyn's Nest Rescue at the corner of 1st and Pearl Streets in Miamisburg, with all proceeds going directly to the care of the stray and neglected animals in their care.

Household items, jewelry, electronics, lawn care items, furniture, baby items, books, animal care accessories and more - all in great condition - will be available for purchase at excellent prices at the yard sale. You can even meet some of their adoptable animals, weather permitting. Get great bargains for yourself and help needy animals find great homes at the same time! Robyn's Nest Rescue is accepting drop off donations now during regular business hours; for large items or carloads, call 937.247.9272 to set up an appointment.

Robyn's Nest Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue in Miamisburg, Ohio. Robyn McGeorge is the registered veterinary technician who created Robyn's Nest in 2005. All animals at Robyn's Nest are kept until adoption, and no animals are euthanized unless there is a serious health or behavioral problem that is unmanageable. Robyn's Nest Rescue takes in dogs, cats, rabbits and pocket pets and is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of animals through rescue, adoption, and education.
Once each year, people who own property in the East Billings Urban Renewal District spend 90 minutes remembering where theyve been and focusing on where theyre going.

Wednesday was that opportunity during the Billings Industrial Revitalization Districts annual membership meeting, held within the district at the First Interstate Bank Operations Center. More than 100 people were in attendance  but not President Marty Connell, who was ailing. Vice President Scott Chesarek, who emceed the meeting, stepped in for Connell.

The look back included the EBURDs 2015 infrastructure project, which included curb and gutter installation, water, stormwater, sewer and streetlights throughout 25 of the districts 485 acres. Montana-Dakota Utilities used the opportunity to upgrade pipes while we had it open, Chesarek said.

After a shout-out to city staff for helping the contractor complete the project on time and under budget, Chesarek said the largely hidden but necessary infrastructure upgrade shows you what were about and what we can do.

The EBURD awarded plaques to Christ Hertz of the citys engineering staff and DJ Clark of Sanderson Stewart for their roles in the project. Noting the 1.1 inches of rain that soaked Billings on Monday and Tuesday, Hertz said he trusts that the new storm drain is taking water in.

Logan Hendricks, an architect with Collaborative Design, discussed a recent competition that had professional architects and students design a new mixed-use building for Red Oxx Manufacturing. The annual competition, he said, helps familiarize architects with the form-based zoning code unique to the district. That zoning approach allows for more mixed-use projects, where retail, manufacturing and residential can occur on the same block.

It allows you to develop the EBURD in a way youd like to, and it promotes mixed use, Hendricks said.

Still to come is a pedestrian crossing that will take people from the east side of the EBURD into the Rimrock Auto Arena. A site for the crossing is yet to be determined, Chesarek said.

We dont know if it will take people over or under and into the arena, he said, but we do think it will spur development.

Patrick Klugman, project manager at Big Sky Economic Development, said that every analysis that property owners have sought to discover brownfields on their property has turned up no impediments to further development.

Brownfields are sites that are complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, such as an underground tank.

A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has paid for 39 brownfields evaluations since 2009, Klugman said.

Brownfield analysis help put to rest another barrier to development in the district, Klugman said.

The idea that development could be delayed or made more expensive because of environmental factors is a perception, and perceptions can be difficult to combat, he said. Without (environmental) impediments or restrictions, projects are able to move forward.
Thirty-nine hours, two flat tires and more than a few bathroom stops later, Laurie McBride arrived in Billings at 11 p.m. Tuesday night from New Jersey.

McBride, 47, was one of the many vendors set up on either side of the serpentine line of Bernie Sanders supporters stretching from the Montana Pavilion down the MetraPark parking lot for a Bernie Sanders rally Wednesday in Billings.

Not everyone bought what McBride was selling, but many said they were feeling the Bern, as they waited in the sun.

Charlie Stark, a 27-year-old physical chemistry grad student from Montana State University traveled to the event from Bozeman with his friend Austine Thiel, 24.

Stark had a Back To The Future-themed sign reading "Bernie For The Future" and depicting Sanders as Doc Brown from the 1985 movie. This might be the closest I ever get to him, Stark said Bernies rallying the people, and Im a person."

Thiel said the two of them had also traveled to a Sanders rally in Seattle, requiring a 3 a.m. departure time from Bozeman. Thiel, a member of Infusion Belly Dance Troupe, said shes had to miss a few rehearsals for Sanders events.

Cutting through the lines murmuring soundtrack of side conversations were The Free Range Reveleers, a self-described vaudeville ragtime blues duo from Bellingham, Wash. Armed with his banjo, Banjo Youngblood said he and Ani Banani Melon had hitchhiked to Billings for the rally. They were hoping to catch a ride south from Billings as they make their way down to Nashville for a wedding theyre schedule to play.

Youngblood, who called himself The Rhinestone Tramp, said they usually travel with a magical unicorn but said the unicorn couldnt make it to Billings.

Taylor Real Bird, attended the event with his wife, Coty Real Bird. Taylor Real Bird, an undecided voter, said he had heard Sanders spoke at events about treaty rights and was hoping to hear more. Education is key, Real Bird said, adding that he likes Sanders desire to help not just Native Americans, but all people.

Billings Central junior Cade Overstreet was there sporting a "Make America Great Again" hat in a nod to his support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"He's a good dude," Overstreet said of Sanders. "I just think his political ideas are off-kilter."

Overstreet was there with several friends from Central, some of whom were also Trump supporters. Overstreet admitted he was someone who enjoyed stirring the pot and said he had been sworn at by some waiting in line but had had no physical confrontations.

"You've gotta instill a work ethic before you can instill hand-outs," Overstreet said of his political beliefs.

Vanessa McNeil, 48, described herself as a struggling single mom with significant debt. McNeil fell down an icy staircase a few years ago and fractured her spine. She tried to work through her numerous injuries at the Bozeman tech business she was an employee of at the time but found herself increasingly dissatisfied with her medical treatment.

Bills piled up, and McNeil eventually lost her home. Bernie is looking out for the little guys, McNeil said of her support for Sanders.

Having recently acquired a graduate degree in psychology research, McNeil said she was impressed when she heard Sanders had discussed the states suicide rate at an earlier rally in Missoula.

We need Bernie. I need Bernie, McNeil said.

Billings resident Terry Zollinger attended the event with his wife, Marietta Zollinger. As they walked into the event, Marietta Zollinger called over her shoulder the reason she was supporting Sanders.

"He's the only honest one."

Signature gatherers were out in force, with many looking to collect names in support of ballot Initiative 178 for the legalization of recreational marijuana for people older than 21.
A few months ago, 15-year-old Sam Hawkins and his older brother ordered signed copies of a book written by former U.S. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell as a birthday gift.

But when the books arrived, they came with something else: a $100 bill and a signed letter from Luttrell and his Team Never Quit company thanking Sam and his brother, 17-year-old Seth Hawkins, for supporting veterans and asking them to use the money to do some good in the world.

At the beginning of May, just such a chance presented itself. When hundreds of West High freshmen, including Sam, began participating in a Walk-A-Thon to raise money for wounded Montana military veterans through Health Enhancement teacher Krista Blomquist's classes, Sam immediately put $50 toward the cause.

"It's just a great way to benefit the community," said the West High freshman.

The students began walking laps, first in the school gymnasium during the rainy first part of the week and then on the outdoor track Wednesday. On Monday he will continue walking laps through Friday.

Through either a per-lap pledge or a flat donation from friends and family, the students are raising money for Montana Wounded Warriors, a Montana-based group that provides fishing and hunting trips for veterans wounded in combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"I really think that the kids want to do good things," said Blomquist, who's been helping to organize the Walk-A-Thon for at least five years. "This helps them do that. And so many of the kids have military in their families or know people who are in the military."

She estimated that as many as 600 students  mostly freshmen  will participate by the end of the week.

On Wednesday, as they lapped the school's outdoor track, some of the students carried hand-painted signs showing support for U.S. veterans. Among them were Peyton Lipp, Olivia Moss and Sara Jensen, all 15-year-old freshmen.

They said it was exciting to be part of a larger cause and were happy to be able to pitch in.

"It's good to help the vets that have done so much to help the rest of us," Olivia said.

Joining students on the track Wednesday were a handful of veterans associated with Montana Wounded Warriors, which is a separate entity from another national group with a similar name. In early May, five veterans who've taken part in the group's trip spoke to students about their experiences.

Chris Grudzinski served in the Montana Army National Guard for 15 years, participated in one of the Montana Wounded Warriors trips and now sits on the group's board of directors.

He said the West fundraiser is some of the largest support he's seen from the Billings area and that the veterans who visited earlier opened up to the students in ways they didn't expect.

"We wanted to talk to the kids," Grudzinski said. "And when we left, they were like, 'That was awesome.' It made them feel that they do mean something. A lot of times, veterans feel like they get back and nobody cares. With this, in a big way, they get to see people show them their service does mean a lot."

Blomquist said they haven't set a fundraising goal, but one recent Walk-A-Thon, for the Big Sky Honor Flight in 2013, raised nearly $12,000. Other years, the effort has raised money for Tumbleweed, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Chase Hawks Memorial Association.

She also said that it's a good way for students to connect with the community and that this year's cause has really caught their attention.

"It seems like the kids are really invested in this," she said. "They've actually been able to inform people outside of school about Montana Wounded Warriors. I mean, why wouldn't you want to support a group like that?"

Sam, the student who pitched in money he'd been instructed to do some good with, walked with Grudzinski and another veteran, Bruce Maybon, around the track for part of the morning while carrying an American flag Grudzinski kept with him while serving in Iraq.

He said that in addition to supporting Montana vets, he also appreciated lessons students could take from the overall effort.

"I like that the schools are teaching students about investing in the community," Sam said.
New Delhi: Iran has ended free shipping of crude oil to India and has asked refiners like Mangalore Refineries (MRPL) and Essar Oil to arrange for freight, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on May 11.

Iran had in November 2013 offered free delivery of crude oil to Indian refiners as tough Western sanctions crippled its exports. With shipping lines refusing to transport Iranian crude for fear of being sanctioned, Iran used its shipping line for the delivery and did not charge for transportation.

"From April 2016, NIOC has informed oil-importing companies like MRPL and Essar Oil that the future delivery would be based on Free on Board (FOB) basis and the freight has to be arranged by the buyer," Pradhan said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha here. FOB is a trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods on board a vessel arranged by the buyer.

During the last two-and-a-half years, Iran sold Indian refiners crude oil on cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis. CIF is a trade term requiring the seller to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of destination. Pradhan said the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), however, has agreed to provide vessels and insurance till such time Indian companies are able to arrange the same.

Iran came out of western sanctions in January and has since then made several changes in the way it trades its vast oil. Besides ending free shipping, it has terminated a three-year-old system of getting paid for half of the oil dues in rupees.

"NIOC has asked for all the payments in euros," he added. Iran wants all bills raised from April to be settled in euros and the nearly USD 6.5 billion that refiners like Essar Oil and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MPRL) owe it in past dues, to also be cleared in euros.

Since February 2013, Indian refiners like Essar Oil and MRPL paid 45 per cent of their import bill in rupees to the UCO Bank account of the Iranian oil company. The remaining has been accumulating, pending finalisation of a payment mechanism. With the lifting of sanctions, the payment channels will reopen and Iran is seeking the pending dues in euros.

MRPL owes close to USD 3 billion to Iran while Essar Oil has an outstanding of about USD 2.5 billion. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) owes over USD 580 million to Iran while smaller payments are due from HPCL-Mittal Energy (HMEL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. Iran has accumulated about Rs 12,000 crore in the UCO bank account which it could use to make payments for imports of steel and other commodities from India.

"In the international market, contracts for supply of crude oil are negotiated on FOB or CIF basis. Hence, the cost of import of crude oil from Iran during 2016-17 will depend on the negotiated terms and conditions between NIOC and Indian oil companies," Pradhan added.
Hyderabad: Dr Reddys Laboratories, Indias second largest drug maker by sales, posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit owing to a write-off caused by the economic crisis in Venezuela.

The Hyderabad-based company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 74.6 crore for Q4FY16, which is an 85.6 per cent decline compared to Rs 518.8 crore in the year ago quarter.

The decline is mainly due to provision, made as a matter of abundant precaution, to write down our outstanding receivables from Venezuela, said DRL co-chairman G.V. Prasad.

The Venezuelan government had barred companies, including DRL, from recovering any money beyond the $4 million it has already received. With oil prices falling to $46 a barrel, Venezuela is facing public unrest over food scarcity and power cuts.

The companys consolidated net income has declined marginally to Rs 3,756 crore for Q4FY16 as against Rs 3,870.4 crore in the year-ago period.
Beijing: Dai Xiang has slept his way to the top. The 40-year-old Beijinger got his start as an engineer, pulling 72-hour shifts at a machinery company while catching naps on the floor.

After a switch to the tech industry and around 15 years of catching naps on desks and other flat surfaces, Dai co-founded his own cloud computing firm, BaishanCloud, last year.One of his first orders of business - installing 12 bunk beds in a secluded corner of the office.

"For technology, it's more of a brain activity. Workers need time to find inspiration," Dai said. "Our rest area isn't just for sleeping at night, the midday is also OK."

Office workers sleeping on the job has long been a common sight in China, where inefficiency and a surplus of cheap labour can give workers plenty of downtime in many industries.

But China's technology sector is different. Business is booming faster than many start-up firms can hire new staff, forcing workers to burn the midnight oil to meet deadlines.

"The pace of Chinese internet company growth is extremely fast. I've been to the US and the competitive environment there isn't as intense as in China," said Cui Meng, general manager and co-founder of start-up data company Goopal.

The company's programmers, in particular, work overtime every day, he said. To get them through, they are allowed to sleep around lunchtime and after 9 p.m., either facedown at their desk or by commandeering the sofa or a beanbag chair.

Living at the office

At its most extreme, some tech company employees even live at the office during the work week. Liu Zhanyu at DouMiYouPin, a recruitment and human resources platform, bunks down in a converted conference room Monday-to-Friday to avoid the daily commute of more than an hour to his home in Beijing's far eastern suburbs.The head of the "large clients" department usually retires to the room shared with one or two others between midnight and 3 a.m.

"We have to get up at 8:30 a.m. because all our co-workers come to work at 9:30 and we wash in the same bathroom everyone uses," said Liu.While workers across companies said the potential pay-off of working at a start-up was worth the long hours, they aren't without a social cost.

"My kid misses me, I get home and he lunges at me like a small wolf," Liu said, speaking about his three-year-old son who he only sees on weekends. "That makes me feel a bit guilty."

Programmer Xiang Shiyang, 28, works until 3 or 4 a.m. at least twice a week at Renren Credit Management, which uses big data to help firms manage financial risk, leaving little room to socialize outside of work.

"I don't have that many opportunities or much time to find a girlfriend," he said.The company provides cots for workers like Xiang to sleep on during late nights.

"Actually working overtime is a very casual thing," he said. "Because I've invested the whole of my being into this company."
New Delhi: Finance Ministry today met representatives of foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and deliberated on their concerns over taxation against the backdrop of India signing revised tax treaty with Mauritius this week.

"Met FPIs with (Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia) for an intense discussion on tax concerns such as GAAR, tax treaties' implications, etc," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha tweeted.

FPIs encompass all foreign institutional investors (FIIs), their sub-accounts and qualified foreign investors. The meeting came amid concerns being expressed by tax experts about the taxation of Participatory Notes (P-Notes) and the impact which the treaty revision can have over investments from other countries, including Singapore, Cyprus, and other low tax jurisdictions.

Tax experts have also flagged the issue of implementation of the General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR), which will come into effect from April 2017. The revision of the Mauritius treaty this week has significant implication for India as bulk of the overseas investment have been routed through the island nation.

The three decade old Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) with Mauritius was revised after prolonged negotiations with a view to prevent tax evasion and round tripping of investments. Under the revised treaty, from April 1, 2017, companies routing funds into India through Mauritius will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at half the rate prevailing during the 24-month transition period. Full rate, currently at 15 per cent, will kick in from April 1, 2019.
The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties under the Commerce ministry, has found that "Methyl Acetoacetate" has been dumped from these countries and due to that domestic players have suffered material injury. (Photo credit: Global Chemical Price)

New Delhi: India is expected to impose anti-dumping duty of up to USD 0.40 per kg on imports of a chemical, used in pharma and agrochemicals industry, from the US and China to protect domestic players.

In its final findings, the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), under the Commerce ministry, has found that "Methyl Acetoacetate" has been dumped from these countries and due to that domestic players have suffered material injury.

"The authority is of the view that imposition of duty is required to offset dumping causing injury," DGAD said in a notification. DGAD has recommended an anti-dumping duty in the range of USD 0.24-0.40 per kg on the imports.

Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd had filed the petition for initiation of the anti-dumping duty investigation concerning imports of the chemical. While DGAD recommends the duty, the Finance Ministry imposes it. Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports.

As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multi-lateral WTO regime. Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.
Hyderabad: Finding fault with the narrative of the Vijay Mallyas case, CII president Naushad Forbes on Thursday said that loan defaulters should be judged by legal perspective and not by their lavish lifestyle.

In a case of a loan default, there is a legal perspective, moral perspective and business perspective. And the only perspective that matters actually is legal perspective, Mr Forbes said, in an apparent reference to the Mallya case.

Moral perspective is very often when we look at particular defaulters, we say he is living such a flamboyant lifestyle. Now flamboyant lifestyle is not against law... But that is his choice how to spend his money, he said.

While supporting banks in their efforts to recover their dues, Mr Forbes said: Business default is not against the law. The word bankrupt is not a crime. It is reflection of taking risk in business. You might go into wrong business or you might chose a wrong field. That is not illegal... Thats why it is important to distinguish between wilful def-aulter and defaulters.
Salman Khan sent tongues wagging when he turned up at the Mumbai airport with rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur and his mother Salma. The couple, fuelded rumours of an impending wedding announcement, when Iulia walked out of the airport hand-in-hand with Salus mother.

The two ladies returned home with Salman, from him Sultan sets. Director Ali Abbas Zafar, held a wrap party for his entire cast and crew on Tuesday night. A new picture that has surfaced online, shows Iulia sticking close to her man as he signed a book, while puffing on a cigarette.

A photo posted by Mr, Mrs Khan  (@salmaniuliakhan) on Apr 23, 2016 at 10:21pm PDT

Iulia has been spotted on several occasions, spending some quality time with Salman on and off the film sets. The two even headed out for a family getaway in Delhi, where they went on a hike together.

Rumours have been running wild that Salman will finally tie settle down with the Romanian beauty later this year. Recent reports also suggested that it was Salmans ailing mother, who is encouraging her son to tie the knot. Going by the pictures from the airport on Wednesday night, it sure looked like Iulia has Salmas stamp of approval.

Salma, who has been battling ill heath, held on tight to Iulia's hand as she lead her to their waiting car.

Iulia walked out of the airport hand-in-hand with Salma.
In the four years of her term, Yellowstone County Clerk of District Court Kristie Boelter said she has made the office friendlier and streamlined some processes.

The Republican said she has learned the basics and wants to make additional improvements so the office can be even more efficient and effective.

I feel at this point in my tenure Im the best candidate to carry that forward. I feel its just important to keep the momentum going, Boelter said.

Boelter identified changes shes made to the office and addressed controversies that have marked her tenure.

The office is responsible for court filings in state District Court and issues marriage licenses. The countys office is the busiest in the state, with about 10,000 new cases filed a year and six judges, and has about 21 deputy clerk positions plus the clerk of court. The job pays a base salary of $66,363. Boelters salary is $79,015 with longevity included.

A former deputy clerk who started with the office in 2009, Boelter announced her candidacy 2011 and resigned to run against former Clerk of Court Carol Muessig, a Democrat. Boelter beat Muessig in the 2012 general election.

Boelter faces two Republican challengers in the June 7 primary election  Terry Halpin, a judicial assistant for District Judge Russell Fagg, and Richard W. Nixon, a former levy officer and currently a financial officer for a mortgage company.

Because no Democrats filed, the race will be decided in the primary.

If elected, Boelter said she wants to improve jury service to provide more education about the process to make it less intimidating. She said shed like to take a more humorous approach in explaining why jury duty is important, she said.

Boelter also said she wants to continue working with the county attorney to clean up old evidence from the 1980s and 1990s.

Changes Boelter said she has made include taking credit cards in addition to cash for payments, putting more information online, like the court calendar, and having the public make appointments online for marriage licenses.

Boelters term has been marked by controversy and contentious relationships, especially with the district judges.

Boelter said she has a very good relationship with most judges and said her office must be autonomous.

In the beginning, Boelter said, the judges tried to exert influence and requested changes she says would have been a logistical nightmare and interfered with efficiency.

During 2013 and 2014, the judges sent Boelter three letters expressing concern with the quality and quantity of the work in the office, including having files that were incomplete or inaccurate and documents not being scanned immediately.

Boelter said she has streamlined the way documents were filed and assigned another deputy clerk to help.

More recently, Boelter deleted a comment from her Facebook re-election page in April in which she referred to half of the judges as being corrupt.

Boelter said she removed the comment because it didnt reflect what she meant.

In another April incident, Boelter apologized and accepted responsibility for a search warrant that had been ordered sealed but was left open for public review because of a clerical mistake. The search warrant had been filed in a homicide investigation.

The error led to the sealing of search warrants going back five years with the approval of County Attorney Scott Twito. Warrants not sealed by court order are open.

Boelter called the sealing of five years of search warrants a knee-jerk reaction to something that happened once by mistake.

Boelter also clashed with the Board of County Commissioners and county attorney over issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

A controversy arose in 2014 after a federal judge in Montana overturned a voter-approved constitutional amendment banning gay marriages as unconstitutional. One of Boelters deputy clerks who occasionally issues marriage licenses as part of her job objected to the task based on religious grounds.

Boelter stated she objected to making accommodations for the clerk but said she would try.

The commissioners and county attorney formally warned Boelter to follow the law and to accommodate the employee or face potential personal legal liability if the county were sued.

Boelter said she stands by her position on the accommodation issue and that she lives her conscious. She has not had to force the deputy clerk to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.

Boelter said she has a strong relationship with the commissioners.

Another conflict involved a former deputy clerk who filed a complaint against Boelter and the county alleging Boelter retaliated against her for supporting Boelters opponent in 2012. The deputy clerk, who resigned, alleged Boelter subjected her to a hostile work environment and played favorites to those who had supported her campaign.

The county settled the case in 2014 for $25,000, admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to training for Boelter and supervisors on discrimination with an emphasis on political belief and retaliation.

Addressing conflicts she's had with others, Boelter said she has done nothing wrong and that news stories cover the negative and not the positive aspects.
Mumbai: A few months back, there were reports of Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif blatantly refusing to co-operate and fly overseas for the shoot of 'Jagga Jasoos'. So much so that Anurag Basu had to suspend the Morocco schedule and design sets in the city itself. However, after several discussions, things did fall into place and the former lovers agreed to shoot the film over there.

Apparently, the two who are keeping a distance from each other, traveled in several flights. Now, in an interesting turn of events, several pictures from their Morocco schedule have surfaced on the internet.

Although Ranbir and Katrina have called it quits on their relationship, the two are being thorough professionals on the film sets.

'Jagga Jasoos' was initially believed to be a musical, that would see Ranbir playing a young lad with a stutter, who could only speak if he sang.

While Katrina has already moved on from 'Jagga Jasoos' to shoot 'Baar Baar Dekho', Ranbir has begun work on the Sanjay Dutt biopic.

Watch the videos here.
From IPL matches to reality shows, Mohammad Azharuddin is seen everywhere these days, promoting the upcoming biopic on him. Apart from the fact that the film is on his life, one wonders whether he is getting any monetary benefits for the promotions of Azhar.

Director Tony DSouza, however, says that Mohammad Azharuddin did not take any money for promoting the film. Says Tony, He has not taken a single penny. We are very happy that he helped us a lot all along, right from the scripting process to shooting to promotions.

Azhar would correct us always with the right stories. I was always a great fan of Azharuddin. I remember when he was at the peak of his career, I had gone to Delhi for some of my work. When I heard that he was in Delhi too, we all went to his house.

I told him that I was a huge fan and wanted an autograph. I was so surprised with his humble gesture I did not have a pen or paper Azhar went into his house and got a paper and pen and wrote memorable words for me, adds Tony.

Since then we started keeping in regular touch. Slowly and gradually we became friends. Then I shared the idea with him about bringing his biography on to the celluloid. It did take some time for me to convince him. But finally here we are.

Tony admits he is getting the Friday jitters. Every filmmaker wants his films to be a hit. I need all the prayers and wishes from one and all. Im sure the film will do well  each one of us, including Azhar, has put in a lot of effort.
Washington: A new study has revealed that men, who evolve in male-dominated populations, become far better at securing females than those who grow up in monogamous populations.

The University of Sheffield research, led by Dr Allan Debelle and Dr Rhonda Snook, looked at the mating patterns of fruit flies after they evolved for 100 generations in either polyandrous populations (where several males have to compete for a single female) and monogamous populations (where each male has access to only one female).

The scientists discovered that males who evolved in polyandrous populations, where sexual competition was fierce, are much more likely to outcompete the other males and successfully mate, regardless of the population the female comes from.

Interestingly, in this study, the scientists also observed that monogamous female fruit flies seem more reluctant to mate with polyandrous male fruit flies - but yet in 80 per cent of the cases this didn't matter because polyandrous males outcompeted monogamous males.

Debelle said, "Our research shows that when males evolve under intense sexual competition, they become more and more competitive and basically turn into 'super males'."

"This suggests sexual competition can have two opposing evolutionary consequences. It can make courtship behaviour change between populations, which could then prevent matings between them, and lead to more diversification and eventually new species. But sexual competition can also produce very competitive individuals, who will mate successfully with everyone, and act against this diversification," noted Debelle

The study appears in journal Evolutionary Biology.
Hyderabad: Malnutrition among children is not only a rural phenomenon, it exists in Hyderabad too. A study conducted by four researchers from Tata Institute of Social Sciences-Mumbai, St. Johns Research Institute-Bengaluru and University of Hyderabad on malnutrition among adolescent students from government schools in Hyderabad has revealed this.

The study sample was small for the research  197 participants comprising 84 males and 113 females aged between 12 and 17 years from 13 government schools in Hyderabad. It threw up shocking results.

The researchers found that 76.1 per cent of the students were malnourished, having Body Mass Indexes (BMI) of less than 18.5. The lowest recorded BMI was a dangerous 12.5.

Read: Mid-day meal is not enough

As per the World Health Organisation, BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight and less than 16 is in the severe thinness category.

Only 22.8 per cent of the participants had normal BMI of between 18.5 and 24.99. Being overweight or obese, a rising concern associated with children in urban areas, was not a problem for most children from the government schools with only 1 per cent of the study sample having BMI above 25.

Read: Check-ups that leave no records

The researchers also tried to understand the socio-economic perspective to malnourishment. During research, the school children were defined the concept of pucca houses indicating higher economic strata and kaccha (temporary) houses, indicating lower economic strata. It was found that malnourishment was higher by 6 per cent among children who lived in kaccha houses.
Most people would find it incredibly hard to tell if someone aces in the bedroom department by simply looking at them. However, relationship experts say that certain signs like if he has a straight body posture to even if he bites his nails can give you an idea of his sexual prowess. If you are confused and really want to know those subtle signs then heres a list that can give you an idea if a person has some serious sex potential.

They like to maintain good eye contact

Several studies show that frequent eye contact is a sign of confidence and engagement. It also helps in giving you a clue about the level of chemistry you two share, according to Bustle. So, look out for that person who loves to stare deep into your eyes.

They love coffee ice cream

You read that right. Actually a study in 2013 by Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and psychiatrist at the Smell and Taste Institute in Chicago, found that those who prefer coffee ice cream make for good sexual partners. Hirsch even goes on to say that, They arent concerned about the future and thrive on the passion of the moment. Isnt that exactly what you look for in a lover?

They take it easy

Dr. Helen Fisher, who is an anthropologist, says that the reason why older women are better in bed than their younger counterparts is because they are more relaxed. Relaxation plays a key role in good sexual performance and also helps you orgasm more easily.

They know how to dance well

Dr. Fisher also explains that the way someone dances can offer a good clue to how they might be in bed, reports Mens Health. Dancing requires stamina and energy and therefore suggests that a person is in good shape. Plus good dancers are also high on self-confidence.

Theyre left-handed

Lefties might get really happy reading this: a 2014 study by LELO revealed that 86 per cent of left-handed people reported being extremely satisfied sexually while only 15 per cent of right-handed people could say the same. Researchers are still trying to find out the possible reasons behind this. Until then, hopping in bed with a leftie can be a cool option.
Hyderabad: Cyberabad police finally arrested Jackie Chan, a notorious burglar, who escaped twice from cops using his acrobatic skills. The burglar, whose real name is Mekala Venkatesh, had been avoiding the police for four years.

Central Crime Station, L.B. Nagar team recovered gold ornaments weighing 500 grams from him after the arrest on Wednesday. Venkatesh, hailing from Kurnool town, started committing thefts in 2005 when he was just 15 years old.

He was arrested by the Kurnool police in 18 robbery cases. He and his relatives were members of a gang which burgled houses in Kurnool. While undergoing imprisonment he gave the police escort the slip during transit at Jadcherla in 2007. He was arrested by cops in 2008, said a senior police official from Cyberabad.

In 2012, while he was taken to Cherlapally in a police vehicle he jumped off from the moving vehicle and escaped from the five escort cops. Due to his daring escapes he earned the name Jackie Chan.

After escaping from the police he took shelter in Bengaluru and formed a gang with eight others and committed thefts in TS, AP, and Karnataka. His gang usually breaks the doors of houses with stones and confine residents using ropes, said Additional DCP (Crimes) B. Srinivasa Reddy.

of Cyberabad.
New Delhi: Launching a fresh attack on the Congress, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar drew a parallel between the Bofors scam and the controversial VVIP chopper deal, claiming that the hierarchical set up in both scandals was the same.

In an interview to NDTV, Parrikar said, "The Bofors scam was 30 years ago but the hierarchical set up is still the same.

"The Congress knows who took the money, that is why they are scared," he further added.

Read: Enforcement Directorate widens AgustaWestland copter deal probe

BJP had repeatedly said that Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Ahmed Patel were the architects of the AgustaWestland scam. The party had claimed there is enough circumstantial evidence to show that Congress bigwigs were involved in the approval of the tainted contract.

Parrikar however said that he did not take anybody's name in particular in Parliament, and therefore, the walkout of the Congress from Parliament only suggested that there was someone very powerful was involved in corruption.

"First of all you should see the situation. I did not take anybody's name and, therefore, there was no reason for the Congress Party to stage a walkout. They staged a walkout because the circumstantial evidences which I produced in Parliament only showed that someone very powerful was involved in corruption. Former defence minister AK Antony himself had accepted about corruption. Staging a walkout from Parliament was a sign of their weakness," Parrikar told ANI.

"I will not take anybody's name but I believe that all angles should be investigated and all documents need proper reading... We did a lot of things in the last two years. We are seriously investigating the case," he added.

Earlier on Saturday, BJP had attacked former Union Minister AK Antony over the AgustaWestland deal, saying since he held the Defence portfolio when the contract was awarded to the foreign firm in 2010, he has to explain who was driving the controversial deal for supplying VVIP choppers to IAF.

Read: BJP targets AK Antony over AgustaWestland deal

"Surely," Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad said when asked whether Antony is also responsible for the agreement with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force.

"S P Tyagi retired as air chief in 2007. The contract was given in 2010. Antony should explain who was driving this contract," the senior BJP leader told reporters.
"In 15 days, the trustees should allow women into the dargah, else we will protest, warned Desai.

Mumbai: Bhumata Brigade rights activist Trupti Desai, who is campaigning against ban on women entering religious places, entered the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai on Thursday and offered prayers amid tight security.

"I went till the point where women were allowed to go. I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011," she said after coming out of dargah.

"The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality. We will try to visit the inner sanctum next time," she said.

Read: Trupti to lead nationwide struggle against temples that ban women entry

Desai also issued a warning to the trustees. We saw till where we are allowed to go, and till where men go. In 15 days, the trustees should allow women into the dargah, else we will protest.

#WATCH Trupti Desai & Bhumata Brigade members entering Haji Ali Dargah (Mumbai) today morning.https://t.co/o0nWIEgR22  ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2016

On April 28, Desai and other activists were stopped from entering the dargah and were detained by the police before they could hold protests. While Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi and Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat Sheikh were allowed inside the dargah.

Read: Trupti Desai detained by police, not allowed to protest at Haji Ali dargah

The Bhumata Brigade has been successful in gaining entry in three major temples in Maharashtra  Shani Shingnapur in Ahmednagar district, Ambadevi Temple in Kolhapur and Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik.

The struggle for entry began when an unidentified woman climbed the platform of Shani Shingnapur on November 29, 2015.

Read: Haji Ali row: AIMIM leader threatens to smear ink on Trupti Desai

The angry trustees and villagers allegedly washed and purified the temple complex. Following this move, the Bhumata Brigade took up the issue on December 20, 2015.

The Maharashtra government had, in February, favoured the entry of women into the Haji Ali dargah. The state government had then said before the Bombay HC that unless the dargah board is able to prove that a ban is part of their religious practice with reference to the Quran, women should be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali.

Desai had also asked Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to lend support to their cause.

Read: Haji Ali row: Trupti Desai asks Salman, SRK, Aamir to lend support
The industrialist also attacked prohibition, which has been imposed in several states including Bihar recently.

Mumbai: Industrialist Adi Godrej, chairman of the $4.1-billion Godrej Group, on Wednesday said that beef ban in several states is hurting Indias economy.

"Some of the things are affecting growth, for example, the ban on beef in some states. This is clearly affecting agriculture, affecting rural growth. Because what do you do with all these extra cows? It is also affecting business, because this was a good source of income for many farmers. So thats a negative, he told The Indian Express.

Godrej also said that Hinduism did not prohibit eating beef. There is nothing against beef in our religion. It is a practice that evolved over years of drought, and the elders said dont slaughter cows, preserve them for milk for children. That has turned into a religious belief. This is ridiculous. Vedic Indians were beef-eaters.

Godrej praised the Bombay High Courts decision that storage and consumption of beef cannot be stopped.

The industrialist also attacked prohibition, which has been imposed in several states, including Bihar. He said that political parties have been implementing prohibition in order to secure votes, especially those of women, but it hurts the country's economy. He further claimed that prohibition only leads to bad liquor, and then mafia and it has never worked around the world, including in America.

Godrej, however, largely lauded the BJP governments policies over the last two years. Ease of doing business really helps. We have also benefited from low commodity prices, he said.

India will remain the fastest growing economy in the world India will gradually emerge as a strong developed country, he added.

Godrej stated that issues like the beef ban and prohibition do distract the government from its development agenda, but this was part of a democratic system.

Clever democratic leaders will make sure that the disadvantages (of democracy) are minimised and the advantages are maximised, he said.
A 25-year-old employee of a theme park in Naduveerapattu village near Tambaram died and 9 others injured when they were conducting a trial run of a new joy ride in the amusement park on Wednesday evening.

Chennai: A 25-year-old employee of a theme park in Naduveerapattu village near Tambaram died and 9 others injured when they were conducting a trial run of a new joy ride in the amusement park on Wednesday evening. The deceased was identified as S Mani, of Nallur near Somangalam.

"As the employees of Kishkinta theme park were test riding a new joy ride, it crashed and 10 employees were stuck under the crashed equipment. All the 10 were taken to a private hospital in Tambaram where Mani died," police sources said.

When they came to know about the mishap, Fire and Rescue teams rushed to the park, operating since 1995. All other employees admitted to hospital are said to be out of danger, sources added.

A team of police personnel from Somangalam police station had also rushed to the spot when they came to know about the fatal accident in the amusement park.
WASHINGTON  Early in his tenure as director of national intelligence, James Clapper could sometimes be heard complaining "I'm too old for this [expletive]!" He has now served almost six years as America's top intelligence official, and when I asked him this week how much longer he would be in harness, he consulted his calendar and answered with relief, "265 days!"

Clapper, 75, has worked in intelligence for 53 years, starting when he joined the Air Force in 1963. He's a crusty, sometimes cranky veteran of the ingrown spy world, and he has a perspective that's probably unmatched in Washington. He offered some surprisingly candid comments, starting with a frank endorsement of President Obama's view that the U.S. can't unilaterally fix the Middle East.

Given Clapper's view that intelligence services must cooperate against terrorism, a small breakthrough seems to have taken place in mid-April when Clapper met with some European intelligence chiefs near Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss better sharing of intelligence. The meeting was requested by the White House but it hasn't been publicized.

"We are on the same page, and we should do everything we can to improve intelligence coordination and information sharing, within the limits of our legal framework," said Peter Wittig, German ambassador to Washington, confirming the meeting.

The terrorist threat has shadowed Clapper's tenure. He admitted in a September 2014 interview that the U.S. had "underestimated" the Islamic State. He isn't making that mistake now. He says the U.S. is slowly "degrading" the extremists, but probably won't capture the Islamic State's key Iraqi stronghold this year, and faces a long-term struggle that will last "decades."

"They've lost a lot of territory," he told me Monday. "We're killing a lot of their fighters. We will retake Mosul, but it will take a long time, and be very messy. I don't see that happening in this administration."

Even after the extremists are defeated in Iraq and Syria, the problem will persist. "We'll be in a perpetual state of suppression for a long time," he warned.

"I don't have an answer," Clapper said frankly. "The U.S. can't fix it. The fundamental issues they have  the large population bulge of disaffected young males, ungoverned spaces, economic challenges, and the availability of weapons  won't go away for a long time." He said at another point: "Somehow the expectation is that we can find the silver needle, and we'll create 'the city on a hill.'" That's not realistic, he cautioned, because the problem is so complex.

I asked Clapper whether he shared Obama's view, as expressed in Jeffrey Goldberg's article in The Atlantic, that America doesn't need the Middle East economically as it once did, that it can't solve the region's problems and that, in trying, the U.S. would harm its interests elsewhere. "I'm there," says Clapper, endorsing Obama's basic pessimism. But he explained: "I don't think the U.S. can just leave town. Things happen around the world when U.S. leadership is absent. We have to be present  to facilitate, broker, and sometimes provide the force."

Clapper said the U.S. still can't be certain how much harm was done to intelligence collection by the revelations of disaffected NSA contractor Edward Snowden. "We've been very conservative in the damage assessment. Overall, there's a lot," Clapper said, noting that the Snowden disclosures made terror groups "very security conscious" and speeded the move to unbreakable encryption of data. And he said the Snowden revelations may not have ended: "The assumption is that there are a lot more documents out there in escrow [to be revealed] at a time of his choosing."

Clapper had just returned from a trip to Asia, where he said he's had "tense exchanges" with Chinese officials about their militarization of the South China Sea. He predicted that China would declare an "air defense identification zone" soon in that area, and said "they're already moving in that direction,"

Asked what he had achieved in his six years as director of national intelligence, Clapper cited his basic mission of coordinating the 17 agencies that work under him. "The reason this position was created was to provide integration in the intelligence community. We're better than we were."
New Delhi: Congress member of Rajya Sabha Praveen Rashtrapal died here on Thursday after suffering a massive heart attack.

Rashtrapal who died at an age of 76 is survived by three daughters and a son.

His wife had passed away a couple of years ago.

His aide Amrut Pandya said that the MP from Gujarat had complained of uneasiness but before he could be provided medical assistance, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.

An AICC Secretary, who was also in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, Rashtrapal was associated with the trade union movement of Income Tax employees in particular and the Central Government employees. He was an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax before he took a plunge into politics.

He was a elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004). He was a member from the Upper House from April 2006 to April 2012 and was re-elected in April 2012.

Rashtrapal was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam in the previous Lok Sabha.

Following his demise, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day today.
Ahmedabad: In a scathing attack, BJP MP Vitthal Radadiya on Wednesday termed Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel as "mentally unstable" and said he was trying to project himself as a "hero" of the Patel community from jail.

The remarks by Radadiya, who once worked as a mediator between Patel quota agitators and Gujarat government, came a day after Hardik virtually termed him a "traitor" of Patel community, saying Patidars did not need the Porbandar MP anymore.

Meanwhile, Hardik's close aide leader Mahesh Savani who met the PAAS convener in Lajpore Central Jail today claimed that his remarks on Radadiya have been "misinterpreted" by the media.

"It seems Hardik has lost his mental balance in jail, that is why he talks such nonsense like a mad person. He was not consistent in his views and keeps changing his statements. I think he only wants to become a hero of the (Patel) community while being in jail," said Radadiya, a prominent Patel leader of Saurashtra region.

"There was a time when he (Hardik) used to say that Vitthalbhai is a very respectable person. And suddenly, I have became a traitor to him. I don't even want to see the face of such a person who has lost his mental balance and calls me a traitor. Otherwise, I am always with the community and will come forward whenever my services are needed," he said.

Radadiya had earlier announced that his role as a mediator has come to an end in the wake of the state government carving out a 10 per cent quota for the poor among unreserved category, including Patels. He added that the quota should be at least 20 per cent.

Against the backdrop of Radadiya's statement, Hardik yesterday told mediapersons outside Surat court that his community "does not want people who betray their own community. We don't want Vitthal Radadiya." Radadiya also took umbrage at Hardik's comments on politicians.

In a letter from Lajpore Central Jail where he is lodged under sedition charges, Hardik recently asked Patidars to stay away from upcoming programmes organised by Shree Khodal Dham Trust if it invites political leaders who want to "break the unity of the community".

Hardik alleged that the Trust, one of the prominent bodies of the community, is conniving with government to create a rift among Patidars.

Radadiya asked Hardik to list the work he has done for the welfare of the community. "Political leaders are not his personal property. We are not elected through his vote. I have been doing many activities for Patel community since many years, such as giving education to thousands of children, but what has he done for the community?," asked Radadiya.

Terming the young leader as "arrogant", Radadiya said, "Hardik only took leadership of an agitation, nothing else. Yet, he is showing so much of arrogance. How can you (Hardik) incite people to boycott political leaders. I want to tell him that only politicians can work as mediators to arrive at a solution."

Meanwhile Savani, who has been named as new mediator for PAAS, told mediapersons outside Lajpore Jail that Hardik's statement has been "misinterpreted" by media.

"Today, I met Hardik at Lajpore Jail in Surat. Hardik told me that he never said anything against Vitthalbhai. He told me that his statement before media has been misinterpreted," said Savani.

During the meeting, Hardik also handed over a letter addressed to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. "Hardik gave this sealed letter to us during the meeting. We will hand it over to the CM in coming days. We are not aware about the content, as the letter is in sealed cover," added Savani.
A battalion of central force conducting a route march at Ponnurunni ahead of the Kerala assembly election in Kochi.

Thiruvananthapuram: In the heaviest pre-poll deployment in recent times, at least 100 companies of Central paramilitary forces, including those trained in anti-Naxal operations, are deployed across the state.

Sources said the maximum deployment of Central forces for elections in the recent past was only around 60 companies and it was only 25 during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

One company comprises of around 75 personnel and hence the total deployment in the state this time is around 7,000.

Single-phase polls, detection of the massive flow of black money for poll purposes, Naxal threats and possibilities of tensions among political parties were the factors that prompted the Election Commission to go for a blanket security cover.

The BJP leadership had also urged the commission to have adequate security to ensure free and fair elections, citing chances of tension.

Already 100 companies of central forces have reached the state and started preparatory works for the polls by instilling a sense of security among the voters.

"Apart from holding route marches, the forces are even visiting tribal and backward areas to build confidence among the electorate to exercise their franchise," a senior police officer said.

ADGP (armed police battalions) Anil Kanth and IG (internal security) Balramkumar Upadhyay are the nodal officer and assistant nodal officer for the poll security arrangements.

CRPF personnel trained in anti-Naxal operations would be deployed in about 60 odd polling stations along the border areas of northern districts that were considered to be prone to Naxal attacks.

As many as 1233 polling booths in 711 locations were already identified as critical or vulnerable. Apart from security forces, video surveillance would also be made at these booths.
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA) on Thursday reiterated that it will continue to pursue Pakistan to handover India's most wanted fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim, after a television channel claimed that it has tracked his location.

"The news reports referred only corroborates the facts that were already available with us. We will continue to pursue this matter and we expect Pakistan to hand over this international terrorist to us," Vikas Swarup told reporters at a media briefing.

Swarup also said that the Government of India has shared details of Dawood including his possible locations in Pakistan with Islamabad. "Dawood Ibrahim is a UN designated global terrorist and a fugitive from Indian law, at several point of time his details have been shared by the Indian Government with the Government of Pakistan," he added.

Television news channel CNN-NEWS18 had Wednesday claimed that it has tracked down India's most wanted fugitive Dawood at his Pakistan-based location.

"CNN-NEWS18 has secured clinching video evidence of Dawood Ibrahim's presence in Pakistan, a claim denied by Islamabad for 23 long years," the news channel said in a statement released here.

The channel reportedly has used two Pakhtun men whose "names were withheld for safety reasons" to identify Dawood's Karachi-based residence with address bungalow No. D-13 Block 4 Clifton.

The location matches with one of the five addresses mentioned by India in its dossier to Pakistan.

The channel claimed to have checked all five addresses of Dawood mentioned in India's dossier to Pakistan, "Only one of the addresses in Karachi, D-13, Block 4, Clifton, was in a high security zone," it said.

"Starting at Clifton Marquee, a banquet hall named after the affluent Karachi locality where Dawood lives, the CNN-News18 team stopped every 100 metres, asking about Dawood Ibrahim's house. All those asked pointed to the same address D-13 Block 4 Clifton," the channel said in the statement.

"They (two Pakhtun men) made four rounds separately from different directions and spotted the house of Dawood Ibrahim. During the third round of recce, they checked about Dawood Ibrahim from a streetside stall," the statement added.

The news channel also claimed to have spoken to police officers in Karachi and the security guard at Dawood's mansion, "all of whom confirmed that Dawood has been living in Clifton".
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin also voiced concern over the "targeted propaganda of hatred" online. (Representational Image)

United Nations: India has said there is a need to monitor social media carefully with due safeguards for freedom of expression as such platforms are being misused "to disastrous effect" by terrorist groups to lure youths to their extremist designs.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin also voiced concern over the "targeted propaganda of hatred" on such platforms which were created to bring people together.

Given the misuse of social media "to disastrous effect by terrorist groups", there is a need to monitor social media carefully with due safeguards for respecting freedom of expression, he said at the UN Security Council open debate on 'Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism'.

"The Hydra-like monster of terrorism continues to spread across continents in developing and developed countries alike, aided by the targeted propaganda of hatred over the ever growing social media networks that were designed to bring people together," added the Indian envoy.

Akbaruddin said the rise of ISIS, which is drawing foreign terrorist fighters, a majority of them being males between mid-teens and mid-twenties from vastly varying ethnicities and economic status, is a sign of the immense complexities of the push and pull factors involved.

"Radicalisation can be prevented only if the youth develop stakes in their mainstream socio-political and economic milieu. Taking long-term care of the de-radicalised is also an important aspect in convincing the possible recruits of alternatives available to them," he said.

The Council, in a presidential statement, noted with concern that terror groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda crafted distorted narratives based on misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religion to justify violence.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Afghan envoy Nazifullah Salarzai blamed the creation of the Taliban in his country in 1994 for opening the current "tragic chapter" of terrorism in the world.

Without naming Pakistan but in a strong criticism of the country, he said the Taliban came before other terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and ISIS, and "their backers" had characterised the kind of terror the world was witnessing today, including stoning women to death, closing girls' schools and introducing suicide attacks that had brutalised Afghanistan's entire population.

Thousands of men had received training and logistical support in terrorist camps, acting as a precursor of current terrorists staging attacks in Asia, Europe, the US, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, he said.
Mumbai/Panjim: In a major setback to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, revenue officials in Goa on Wednesday allowed the lenders to Kingfisher Airlines to take physical possession of `Kingfisher Villa' in Candolim.

"The North Goa Collector has given an order in favour of banks to take physical possession of the Kingfisher Villa," banking sources said.

The Villa, valued at Rs 90 crore, used to be Mallya's base in Goa and also the venue of many of the famous parties hosted by him during the `good times'.

Advocate Parag Rao, who appeared on behalf of United Spirits, siad that the company had withdrawn its claim before the collector. "We told the collector that we will not press for the objection," he said.

Representing the bankers' consortium, SBICAPS had sought physical possession of the property under Section 14 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act in late 2014.

However, three of Mallya's companies -- United Spirits Limited (USL), Kingfisher Airlines and United Breweries  had objected to the move.

Last week, media reports had said that Mallya put up a "villa manager" as a caretaker to thwart the bank's attempt to take it over.

The villa was mortgaged to the lenders while obtaining loans for the now defunct airliner, but the caretaker, who claimed to be an employee of United Breweries, and the subsequent establishment of tenancy rights would have made it difficult for the banks to take over the property.

According to reports, bankers' attempts to take possession of the villa were repeatedly stalled by USL, which claims the first right to buy the property as it is a tenant.

USL had also approached a local court, citing provisions in the Portuguese Civil Code to block auction of the property in the past.

There was a delay on part of the collector in allowing takeover of the property, which made SBICAPS approach the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court. The bench granted three months to the collector to complete the hearing of application filed by the consortium of banks seeking possession of the villa.

So far, the banks have recovered over Rs 1,400 crore by selling shares and collaterals and over Rs 1,200 crore is blocked in escrow accounts at Debt Recovery Tribunal, Bengaluru and the Karnataka High Court. Mallya had told the Supreme Court he was ready to repay up to Rs 6,800 crore of the total dues of over Rs 9,400 crore.

Last month, the consortium of banks had failed in its attempt to sell Kingfisher Airline's erstwhile headquarters Kingfisher House in Mumbai because of the high reserve price of Rs 150 crore.

Attempts to sell the Kingfisher brands and associated trademarks carrying a reserve price of Rs 367 crore had also found no takers.

Mallya left the country on March 2 for London. Earlier this week, the Government asked Britain to deport Mallya, citing the revocation of his passport and a non-bailable warrant against him.
New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar Dam which has been a matter of decades-long legal battle between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, saying its structure is weak.

The petition filed by advocate Russel Joy claimed that the weakness of dam is an infringement of the fundamental right of security for the life and property of people living in the downstream in case of any catastrophe.

"An expert committee with international expertise must be formed to examine the dam and decommission it. We should form a committee as per the American Federal guidelines for dam safety," Joy said in a press conference here.

He also flayed the 2006 SC-appointed empowered committee stating the absence of experts in the panel. The Supreme Court in its May 2, 2014 verdict had held that the dam, which is 120 years old, is safe and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet.

The five-bench constitution bench had struck down a law promulgated by Kerala declaring Mullaperiyar dam as endangered and fixing the water level at 136 feet.

The apex court had earlier dismissed Kerala's plea to review its 2014 verdict saying there was no reason to interfere with the judgement of the Constitution Bench. Mullaperiyar dam was constructed pursuant to the Periyar Lake Lease Agreement of October 29, 1886 across Periyar river.

The dam is situated in Thekkady district in Kerala and is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu government.
Vedaranyam: At historic Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, located about 364 km from Chennai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Rajaji's salt sathyagraha in the summer of 1930 and made an emotional appeal for a regime change in Tamil Nadu.

He called upon the people of Tamil Nadu to draw inspiration from the BJP-ruled states in the country and embrace development by giving a decisive mandate for his BJP for 24-hour power supply and clean drinking water for the people.

I have come to ask you to vote for development. All over India, wherever BJP has formed governments, the focus has been only on one thing and that is development in terms of betterment of education, employment and welfare of poor, Mr Modi said at a mammoth election rally here on Wednesday.

The PM, who appealed to voters to press the button on the Lotus symbol and make BJP victorious, asked if the people of Tamil Nadu got 24-hour power supply at their houses, shops, and school.

He said all the BJP-ruled states provided round the clock electricity and clean drinking water. Dont you deserve clean drinking water supply after so many years of independence? I have come to ask you to vote for development. All over India, wherever BJP has formed governments, the focus has been only on one thing and that is development in terms of betterment of education, employment and welfare of poor, he said taking potshots at the Dravidian majors for not fulfilling these basic needs of the people.

Also taking potshots at the Congress, he said the upcoming Assembly election is about protecting Tamil Nadu from the trap of corruption. The BJP was dedicated to the well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu and wanted the state to prosper and add to Indias growth. So, the people of the state should come up in large numbers and elect a BJP Government for development and employment of youth, he urged.

As India gears up to celebrate 70 years of her Independence, Mr Modi said he is the first PM to visit Vedaranyam. He concluded his half hour speech by chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
New Delhi/Kochi: On the backfoot after Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared Kerala to Somalia at a rally Sunday, the Centre bounced back today by stating it had successfully been able to evacuate over a dozen Keralites from strife-torn Libya.

After 29 Indians, including 16 Keralites, returned from Libya on Thursday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to target Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Read: 29 Indians rescued from Libya return home

She tweeted, We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them?

Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya.'  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

Earlier, Chandy claimed that the state government was bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel. "Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel," Chandy said.

Chandy had started the day on Facebook on Thursday berating the Prime Minister for not withdrawing his Somalia remarks. He said Modi owed an apology to the state.

Read: PM insulted Kerala by likening it to Somalia: Chandy

In his Facebook post, Chandy said Modi had kept mum on the controversy and what Keralites wanted was not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi left the election campaign rally (on Sunday) without answering my questions. It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from the Malayali community the world over," Chandy said.

Read: Modi in Kerala: PM gets trolled for his Somalia simile

In a hard-hitting letter, Chandy also lambasted Modi recently for comparing Kerala to Somalia during his poll campaign rally here, saying he has insulted the state. He had also requested Modi to show some "political decency" by withdrawing the statement as they were "baseless and contrary to ground realities".

Read: BJP backs Modis Somalia remarks, hits out at Oommen Chandy

"The people of Kerala, whose self-pride was wounded by the Prime Minister's statement, expected an unconditional apology from him and not his silence. But it didn't happen," he said adding that Keralites still hoped he would withdraw his 'Somalia' remark.

Read: CPIM in Kerala assails Modi for his Somalia remarks

Social media also witnessed campaigns with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Go Off Modi) mocking the Prime Minister over this comparison.
New Delhi: A rebel Congress MLA on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Uttarakhand High Court judgement upholding the decision of the Speaker to disqualify her in the Assembly.

The plea in this regard was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi which posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.

The disqualified Congress MLA, Shaila Rani Rawat's petition was mentioned by advocate M L Sharma, who had yesterday made an attempt to stop the opening of the result of the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly but did not succeed.

She was disqualified along with eight others, who all have already challenged the High Court decision in the apex court which had refused to grant any relief of stay before the May 10 floor test.

The apex court has clarified that they will remain disqualified unless it allows their petition.
Montana law directs the Public Service Commission to regulate, inspect and audit public utilities providing services for heat, electricity, water, solid waste, transportation, telecommunications and more.

These wide-ranging responsibilities are conferred on a five-member board representing districts of the state. District 2 covers southeast Montana, including these counties: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure and Yellowstone.

Public Service Commissioners are elected for four-year terms and are paid about $101,000 a year.

Yet the PSC is probably the least known office on the June 7 primary ballot, which includes an election for the District 2 seat now held by Kirk Bushman, R-Billings. Bushmans bid for a second term is challenged by another Billings Republican, Tony ODonnell.

No Democrat filed for the District 2 seat, so the June 7 primary contest between Bushman and ODonnell will decide the November election winner.

In three years on the PSC, Bushman has learned how that quasi-judicial panel works. He speaks knowledgeably about the complex regulatory issues that the PSC must decide. Bushman, a Billings Central High graduate who earned a mechanical engineering degree at Montana State University in Bozeman, worked as a field engineer and project manager for local firms before being elected to the commission.

His scientific, analytical background is useful in evaluating the industry proposals that come before the PSC. In his first term, Bushman has been involved in regional regulatory organizations, was appointed to represent Montana on the 15-state association of transmission regulators and subsequently was elected secretary.

It is through these organizations that I can help stop federal regulation from coming to Montana, Bushman said.

Tony ODonnell ran close, but ultimately unsuccessful, races for state Legislature and was planning to run for a legislative seat again this year. ODonnell told us that PSC Commissioners Roger Koopman of Bozeman and Brad Johnson of Helena recruited him to run for the commission.

I finally agreed because I think I can make a difference, ODonnell told us.

However, we question whether ODonnell is up to the task of effective PSC leadership. His resume includes studying philosophy in college before moving from California to Montana where he worked for 16 years stocking shelves at a retail store and then for a short time at a call center.

Bushman and ODonnell both want to save coal-fired electricity generation.

There is no evidence for catastrophic global warming, ODonnell said. Stephen Hawking is an idiot.

Bushman sees opportunity for Colstrip in future energy generation with, perhaps a new generating unit using clean coal technology and pump storage for integrating a wind farm.

If we dont make smart decisions now, our children are going to pay for it, Bushman said.

Bushman and ODonnell are in the middle of an internal PSC power struggle. On multiple issues, Bushman and Commissioner Bob Lake have disagreed with Koopman, Johnson and Commissioner Travis Kavulla. Lake is supporting Bushmans re-election, while the other three commissioners held a Billings fundraiser to benefit ODonnells campaign.

We havent agreed with some of Bushmans decisions, but we recommend him to voters as the candidate with the best ability to make smarter PSC decisions.
New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is maintaining its stand of 2004 taken on the sensitive Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case and wants that both Punjab and Haryana should settle their disputes on the matter by themselves.

"In 2004, the then Attorney General appearing on behalf central government has said that he does not wish to make any statement nor is willing to file any affidavit. We are maintaining the same stand on the reference and want that states should settle their dispute by themselves," Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice A R Dave.

The bench, also comprising Justices P C Ghose, Shiva Kirti Singh, A K Goel and Amitava Roy, which is hearing the Presidential reference on SYL dispute, reserved its verdict on the issue and asked the parties to file the written submissions, if any, in seven days.

The Solicitor General further said that if Punjab has terminated the agreements, then it clearly means it does not want to provide water to other states.

To this, the bench said that the argument of Punjab is that unless it is determined, they would continue with the existing arrangements.

"If status quo is maintained then and what will the Tribunal decide and what Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and other states are getting today and what they were getting earlier were same, then there is no need for adjudication of the matter. If agreements are terminated, then no Tribunal is required to adjudicate the matters," the SG said.

The Centre had in past few hearings had also said that it was not taking sides and was maintaining a neutral stand. During the ongoing hearing when Punjab Assembly had passed a law to return the land acquired on its side for the construction of SYL canal, Haryana government had approached the apex court which had directed status quo.

It had also appointed appointed the Union Home Secretary and Punjab's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) as the 'joint receiver' of land and other property meant for SYL canal.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah filed a defamation petition in a city court on Wednesday against Tamil Nadu State Congress President E.V.K.S Elangovan for making malicious remarks against him in a programme telecast in a private television recently. This is the first ever time that the Governor of the state has been involved in suing for libel.

It was on behalf of the Governor that the City Public Prosecutor, M.L. Jegan filed the petition before Principal Sessions Court. In the petition, Jegan stated that in an exclusive interview to a private television channel, Elangovan made defamatory remarks against the Governor relating to the appointment of vice-chancellors in State universities. Elangovan alleged that irregularities had been committed in the appointments.

The programme was telecast in the channel on April 30. Jegan said the statements were mischievous and intentionally spoken to malign the reputation of the Governor. The statements were false and without any factual basis. They were not made in good faith and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Governor".

"Elangovan is liable to be prosecuted for the offence committed under section 499 of IPC and liable to punished under section 500 of IPC", Jegan said. The matter will come up for hearing in the principal sessions court soon.
Coimbatore: The widow of a slain Dalit youth, who was hacked to death in March this year in a case of honour killing, allegedly attempted suicide on Thursday and has been hospitalised, police said.

19-year-old Kausalya fell unconscious at her in-laws' house near Udumalpet in Tirupur district after consuming poisonous cow dung powder and was rushed to a government hospital in that town.

Police, quoting her relatives, said she was depressed after the death of her husband. Doctors attending on her said that her condition was stable. CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Secretary G Ramakrishnan, who visited the hospital, told reporters that the need of the hour was strong counselling for Kausalya.

He said he would try to convince her not to resort to take such drastic steps. Kausalya had survived the March 13 attack when three persons attacked her and her 22-year-old husband Shankar with sickles in full public view near a bus stand in Udumalpet, allegedly at the behest of her father, a caste Hindu who was opposed to their inter-caste marriage.

Shankar had died on his way to the hospital. Kausalya had blamed her father, who surrendered before a local court in Nilakottai in Dindigal district, for the attack.

Video footage of the attack had gone viral triggering an outrage. Five persons, including the girl's mother, were arrested. Kausalya has been staying with her in-laws ever since she was discharged from hospital on March 28.

Coimbatore: The widow of a slain Dalit youth, who was hacked to death in March this year in a case of honour killing, allegedly attempted suicide on Thursday and has been hospitalised, police said.

19-year-old Kausalya fell unconscious at her in-laws' house near Udumalpet in Tirupur district after consuming poisonous cow dung powder and was rushed to a government hospital in that town.

Police, quoting her relatives, said she was depressed after the death of her husband. Doctors attending on her said that her condition was stable. CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Secretary G Ramakrishnan, who visited the hospital, told reporters that the need of the hour was strong counselling for Kausalya.

He said he would try to convince her not to resort to take such drastic steps. Kausalya had survived the March 13 attack when three persons attacked her and her 22-year-old husband Shankar with sickles in full public view near a bus stand in Udumalpet, allegedly at the behest of her father, a caste Hindu who was opposed to their inter-caste marriage.

Shankar had died on his way to the hospital. Kausalya had blamed her father, who surrendered before a local court in Nilakottai in Dindigal district, for the attack.

Video footage of the attack had gone viral triggering an outrage. Five persons, including the girl's mother, were arrested. Kausalya has been staying with her in-laws ever since she was discharged from hospital on March 28.
Mr Michel confirmed that in 2008 he did describe Mrs Gandhi in a letter as the driving force behind the decision to acquire new helicopters for use by VVIPs when her party was in power.

New Delhi: Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the multi-crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, said on Thursday that he had not personally met either Congress president Sonia Gandhi or her son Rahul Gandhi.

I have to protect the Gandhis to protect myself. I have to prove they are innocent to prove my innocence, said Mr Michel in an interview to a TV news channel in Dubai.

Mr Michel confirmed that in 2008 he did describe Mrs Gandhi in a letter as the driving force behind the decision to acquire new helicopters for use by VVIPs when her party was in power.

He said that he did not personally know either Mrs Gandhi or Mr Rahul Gandhi, and stressed that his written suggestion that diplomats lobby with them did not mean that they had been bribed.

He said that he stood by his earlier claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year had met with his Italian counterpart in New York, and offered to release the two Italian marines imprisoned in India on murder charges in exchange for information on the Agusta deal that could embarrass or implicate Mrs Gandhi.

I shook hands with Tyagi: Christian Michel

Mr Michel in an interview to another channel had said that he had never met Mrs Gandhi or former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to push for the purchase of the VVIP helicopters.

No, never, was the reply of Mr Michel when he was asked whether he had ever met Mrs Gandhi, Mr Singh or former defence minister A.K. Antony for pushing the deal. Mr Michel is one of three alleged middlemen whom the Indian investigating agencies suspect to have brokered the deal in favour of AgustaWestland. Both CBI and ED have notified Mr Michel under the Interpol Red Corner Notice.

I probably met him (former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi) at the Gymkhana Club. But because of his association with Haschke I really avoided him, he claimed. Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday continued his tirade against the Congress president. Addressing election rallies in Kerala, Mr Shah, in an apparent reference to Mrs Gandhis emotional speech during an earlier campaign speech in the state.
New Delhi: The Congress will give privilege motions against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and defence minister Manohar Parrikar in the Rajya Sabha on Friday accusing them of lying blatantly during the AgustaWestland debate. The AICC also announced that the party will file a defamation case against a US-based www.Pguru.Com, whose material was used by Dr Swamy.

Website linked to Parivar: Congress

It alleged that the website is linked to the Sangh Parivar.Friday is the last day of the Upper House during the current session. Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh told reporters that both Dr Swamy and Mr Parrikar have blatantly lied in Parliament by creating a web of deceit in front of the people. Noting that the defence minister authenticated documents in the Lok Sabha, he claimed it was not the judgment of the Italian court. Insisting that the Italian judgment has nothing, he claimed there is no accusation against the Congress leadership in the verdict. It is a lie that the Italian judgment has indicted the Congress leadership. Swamy has made baseless allegations. He said he was reading from the Italian judgment, Mr Ramesh said, adding the BJP leader authenticated a 13-page document in the Rajya Sabha.
Bengaluru: What was once a free and unhindered traffic flow on the Richmond Road has become a chaotic, choc-o-block snarl at the beginning of the Richmond Circle flyover (connecting Double Road) for the last week. Apathetic traffic cops are to blame, for not keeping the public informed about the blocking of the road that branches out towards the Residency Road providing free right of way. Clueless pedestrians and motorists, who werent kept in the loop by authorities, are furious. Upset motorists are raising a hue and cry against the traffic cops and the BBMP for failing to inform them about the blocking of the road and about the alternative routes available.

Commuters feel that the traffic cops could have at least informed the public with signs or placards at least 200 meters ahead, said R. Shashank, a techie. The flyover intersects Richmond road, but since the lane on the right side of the flyover is blocked, the vehicles are diverted to the left instead. The traffic leading towards Residency road now has to wait at the Richmond circle signal before proceeding. Since commuters werent told that the road was being blocked, vehicles kept moving on to the right, leading to a pileup when they attempt to cross over to the left, creating an extremely chaotic situation and traffic log jams, he explained.

A taxi driver, T. Lokanath, said that he was almost in tears as his customer, who wanted to make it to a meeting at an office on Residency Road on Monday morning, was ranting at him for not reaching the venue on time. He also assured that signage will be installed within a day.

The BBMP has taken up TenderSure work on the stretch of road and blocked it completely by stocking construction materials. The work is scheduled to be completed in 20 days -- it has been taken up on May 2 and will be completed on May 22, said the site engineer. The road has been dug up for laying utilities like water, sanitation, rain water harvesting pit, power lines, gas line and OFC networks. Besides, footpath work has also been taken up and the work has been progressing at a satisfactory pace, he concluded.
In a horrific accident, four members of a family, including two children, and an auto driver died on the spot after their rickshaw rammed into a lorry in Rajajinagar traffic police limits. (Representational image)

Bengaluru: In a horrific accident, four members of a family, including two children, and an auto driver died on the spot after their rickshaw rammed into a lorry in Rajajinagar traffic police limits on Thursday afternoon. The auto was carrying seven passengers.

The deceased are Shivappa Pujari, 45, his wife Mahadevi Pujari, 40, son, Lakkamma (9) and daughter Ranjitha (4). The others, who sustained injuries, have been identified as Muniappa (18), Vijaylakshmi (12), and another son who is said to be 17 years-old. The auto driver, identified as Shankrappa (48), died on the spot. The tragedy struck when the family was heading to their house in Ravinagar from Yeshwantpur Railway Station, police said.

Police said the driver lost control when the auto entered 60 ft road and rammed into a lorry that had been parked to unload bricks. The injured were rushed to Nimhans, and the condition of one among them is said to be serious, said the police.

Police said they are yet to ascertain what led to the tragedy, overloading or brake failure. The driver of the truck has been taken into the custody and booked for causing death due to negligence, for parking the vehicle at a busy junction.

Vehicle rams median, 2 dead

Two people were killed and four sustained injuries when a goods carrier vehicle hit a median in Jogupalaya near Cambridge Layout early Thursday. The deceased have been identified as Mohan (32) and Siddu (26). The driver, Lokesh (25), reportedly fell asleep while on the wheel and rammed into a median near a military college, opposite to Command Hospital.
Chaos ensued at the BBMP Council meet on Thursday over the increase in property tax, as BJP corporators refused to enter the Council building.

Bengaluru: Chaos ensued at the BBMP Council meet on Thursday over the increase in property tax, as BJP corporators refused to enter the Council building. When protests against the suspension of corporators intensified, Mayor Manjunath Reddy revoked suspensions of the four corporators, who had been hauled up for disturbing the Council meet.

Later, continuing their protests against the property tax increase, Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy demanded that the increase be cancelled immediately, as the BBMP had failed to collect pending dues from defaulters. Mr Reddy alleged that the online tax system had run into problems and even honest taxpayers were unable to pay on time.

Mayor Manjunath Reddy said that peoples responses had been considered before the enforcement, and nobody had problems with it except the BJP corporators. Dont protest for the sake of it. You are involved in corrupt politics and thats why you are protesting. More than four lakh citizens have paid their taxes without any difficulty, he maintained.
New Delhi: The evacuation of 29 Indians from Libya has sparked a fierce political row between the BJP-led government in the Centre and the Congress-led Kerala government just days before the state goes to polls on May 16.

As Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for the evacuations, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj hit back in a series of tweets, asking who had paid for the evacuation of thousands of Indians from Libya and other countries in West Asia earlier.

She added that the government viewed the evacuation efforts of distressed Indians as our pious duty towards our citizens. Twenty-nine Indians, including 16 people from Kerala, were evacuated from Libya. They reached Kochi on Thursday morning. Detailing the governments efforts, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said the Indian envoy to Libya, who is based in Tunisia, had flown down to the Libyan capital Tripoli after which exit visas had been arranged for the Indians to return. It was also ensured that their employers paid their salaries.

Centre did not pay for travel: Oommen Chandy

Asked about the incident being politicised, the MEA spokesperson said he did not wish to comment on it as it would not serve any purpose.

The Centre, however, did not refute the Kerala governments claim that it had paid for the return of the Indians. Government sources said the 29 Indians did not ask for airfares to be paid and that the Kerala government might have paid for their return.

Government sources also said that about 1,600 Indians were still living and working in Libya despite repeated government advisories asking them to return immediately. This was probably because the Indians were earning very well there and did not think that the dangers of living in Libya outweighed the benefits.

Earlier, Mr Chandy had said that his government was bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended financial assistance for their travel. Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel, Mr Chandy was quoted as saying.

But in a series of angry tweets, Ms Swaraj stated, Mr Chandy, we evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them? She again tweeted: Mr Chandy, you said Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya, and then You started this debate, as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens (sic).

The political fight erupted a day after Mr Modi said in Kerala that his government had evacuated the families from Libya and that the Centre was committed to the welfare of Indians living abroad.
More than 10,000 kg of jasmines used to land at the city markets including Secunderabad Monda Market and Phoolbagh near Moazzamjahi market a decade ago, Of this, more than 70 per cent would be from horticulture fields located on the city outskirts.

Hyderabad: Jasmine and other flowers have turned costlier after a dip in output that is caused by agricultural land being converted to non-farming purposes.

Land where flowers were cultivated even a decade back has been converted for residential, commercial and industrial use.

More than 10,000 kg of jasmines used to land at the city markets including Secunderabad Monda Market and Phoolbagh near Moazzamjahi market a decade ago, Of this, more than 70 per cent would be from horticulture fields located on the city outskirts.

But not any more. There are few flowers from the outskirts coming to the main market at Gudimalkapur and other markets. Most of the flowers are imported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Wholesaler B. Mahipal Reddy at the Gudimalkapur flower market said jasmines were reaching the city from Mylavaram and Vijayawada. Most of the flowers used for decorations, like gerbera and carnations are being supplied by farmers from Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Crossandra, marigold, and rose come from Chikballapur in Karnataka, he said.

He said after the wedding season, the price of jasmine would fall to Rs 10 per dhada, or 300 grams. The price has increased as it is transported from other states. Jasmine is being sold at Rs 40 per dhada, he said.

He said arrival of jasmine stood at 10,000 kgs, imports from Karnataka and AP replacing the locally grown flowers. Imports of other varieties have fallen. Only 200 kg of marigold is being imported against 1,000 kg earlier. Nearly, 1,000 kgs of rose are imported, he said.

Horticulture assistant director K. Venu Gopal said urbanisation and shortage of labour among other reasons had resulted in the fall in flower output. Earlier, nearly 2 lakh pieces of cut flowers were grown in the state. Now, the state is importing 2.5 lakh pieces a day, he said.

He said the department planned to encourage farmers to cultivate cut and loose flowers during the monsoon season.
A message for Texans, Ted Nugent and the New York Times: Montana is The Last Best Place.

A recent sprawling feature exploring the shifting cultural identity of Texas used the popular phrase in passing reference:

Before he was elected in 2014, Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner, traveled the state using an unofficial campaign slogan supplied to him by his campaign treasurer, the rocker and conservative provocateur Ted Nugent: Keep Texas the last best place.

The notion of Texas as the best place, the exceptional place, is an old one. In his 1961 book about Texas, John Bainbridge described the state as a mirror in which Americans see themselves reflected, not life-size but, as in a distorting mirror, bigger than life. He called the book The Super-Americans.

Some Texas readers assumed the line was their own as they shared the story on social media. One realty company wrote, "Texas is the last best place!" Another Texan said, "The last best place. Texas forever."

But Montanans, current resident or not, took notice.

It was only a few years ago that Las Vegas businessman David Lipson sought to trademark the term for use by his various ventures, including the Resort at Paws Up. Our elected leaders -- former Gov. Brian Schweitzer and then-Sens. Max Baucus and Conrad Burns -- stood up to the commercialization effort. For years, our congressmen added a line in each federal appropriations bill to ban the Commerce Department from spending any money to approve such a trademark application. In 2012, Baucus announced that the U.S Patent and Trademark Office had made a permanent ruling to deny any trademark attempt. (The New York Times and The Washington Post also wrote about the dispute.)

Missoula author William Kittredge is widely credited for popularizing the term, which he developed as the title for the 1988 anthology he co-edited with Annick Smith, The Last Best Place. Others have claimed earlier uses of the phrase, including Whitefish author Douglas Chadwick in his 1983 book A Beast the Color of Winter. For a deep dive on the origins, inspirations and iterations -- from presidential speeches, Butte mines and a state political campaign -- read Robert Struckmans story, which includes this synopsis:

Kittredge, Smith and other contributors had been mulling a number of possibilities. The anthology was almost complete, but lacked a title. Kittredge had his mind stuck on an 1862 address by Abraham Lincoln that described the United States as "the last, best hope of earth." A lament from a Richard Hugo poem was also rattling around in his head: "The last good kiss / you had was years ago."

In an offhand moment, while pouring a drink, the phrase came to Kittredge.

We get it. The phrase is catchy and loaded with meaning.

I worked in Texas before moving back to Montana, so I can understand a little of why Nugent and the state might associate with the phrase. (Full disclosure: I grew up in Wyoming, but made Big Sky Country my home years ago.) Like Montanans, Texans are proud of their state and are loathe to forget the heritage they perceive to have been crucial to its exceptionalism. The Last Best Place hints at the history that made us who we are while demanding we still uphold those values.

But we are not Texans. Or corporations. We are Montanans.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking stricter penalty in cases of animal cruelty. As of now, the penalty under the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act is only Rs 50 and no jail term.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh acting on the writ petition filed by Angel Trust, NGO, in the wake of increased number of cases in the country where animals have been cruelly killed or hit, issued notice to ministry of environment, forests and climate change.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the trust, had sought immediate intervention of the court to address the rising instances of barbaric animal cruelty and inhumane exploitation in the pet shop industry. The trust said in the last few years there has been a sudden rise in the cases of instances of barbaric animal cruelty such as: A Delhi man torturing and beating pet dogs. One of the salient reasons for an alarming increase in animal cruelty has to do with the fact that as of now there is vacuum of law with regard to protection of animals.

It said the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, has not been amended since 1960 to keep up with the times and even today the only punishment for such dastardly acts is a mere fine of Rs 50 and no jail term. It is appalling to mention that, despite about one year being passed since the submission of the report by the Law Commission to the Centre recommending stringent punishment, no such rules have been notified, and the egregious violation of animal laws and inhumane exploitation in the pet industry, runs rampant.
Employees who are staging a dharna at Vidyut Soudha said they will intensify their agitation if the AP government does not relieve them by the month-end. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Power sector employees who are natives of TS but working in APGenco and APTransco are not willing to go to AP.

At present, 167 such employees who are working in APGenco and APTransco offices located at Khairatabad have been told by the AP government to be prepared to shift to AP any time after June 2.

Employees who are staging a dharna at Vidyut Soudha said they will intensify their agitation if the AP government does not relieve them by the month-end. One of our colleague has threatened to immolate himself if the AP government does not relieve the TS-native employees by May-end. We counselled him and said taking drastic steps will not resolve the issue, said Amar Singh, who is at the forefront of the agitation.

Telangana Electricity Employees Association (TEEA) president N. Sivaji said that the purpose of achieving statehood for Telangana would be defeated if injustice is meted out to TS-native employees working in AP Power utilities. The AP government should not have any problem in relieving TS-native employees as the TS government is ready to absorb them in TS power utilities, he said.

Following a call given by the TEEA, hundreds of employees from various TS government sector employees associations from 10 districts, including TNGOs and Secretariat Employees Association, have been participating in the massive dharna at Vidyut Soudha from the last five days with the main demand that only natives of Telangana should work in Telangana power sector.

TEEA members said there are another 190 TS-native employees working in AP Power Distribution Companies in AP and they too should be relieved. We have also requested the TS government to ensure that TS-native employees working in AP power sector are absorbed in TS-power sector even if the AP government does not relieve them. We are also taking legal opinion on this, said a TEEA leader.
Mumbai/Nashik: Bhumata Brigade leader Trupti Desai on Thursday managed to enter the Haji Ali dargah with a group of women, but stayed away from the sanctum sanctorum. The group only went till the area where women are allowed. She had threats from Muslim organisations against entering the Haji Ali Durgah.

Accompanied by policemen and security personnel, Ms Desai entered the dargah at around 6 am on Thursday. Speaking to The Asian Age, Ms Desai said, It was a calm and peaceful atmosphere when we offered dua (prayers). I appeal to the dargah management to come one step forward and allow us entry till the dargah, she said.

The 31-year-old is the chief of the Bhumata Brigade and has been leading a campaign demanding gender equality by abolishing the practice of not letting women enter various religious places in the state. Her efforts bore fruit when women were allowed to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple, ending a 400-year-old custom of not letting women near the shrine.

On April 28, Ms Desai had reached Haji Ali with the intention of entering the dargah, but was met with resistance from various political parties and even the dargah trust. The incident led to massive scuffles that spilled onto the road leading to the dargah and ended with Ms Desai being escorted away by police officers. At the time, Ms Desai was not allowed to even enter the pathway to the dargah, but on Thursday she managed to go inside.

She said that the dargah should reconsider their stance on allowing women inside the inner area of the shrine. Entry to women inside the sanctorium was allowed till 2012. The dargah trustees should allow women till the point where men are allowed within 15 days or we will launch an agitation, Ms Desai said.

Some groups fighting for the same cause have openly voiced that they dont agree with the ways of Ms Desai.
Pune: Set to enter Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah to break the gender barrier disallowing women's entry, Bhumata Brigade activist Trupti Desai on Thursday asked Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to lend support to their cause, which is aimed at eradicating differential treatment meted out to women at religious places.

"I think Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan should state their stand on what we are trying to achieve here, on our cause... That way I believe that their fan following will join us and support us in our fight for equality," she said.

After spearheading a successful campaign for women's right to worship in temples, Desai had on Monday said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should allow women to join the organisation. Desai said she would soon write to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the issue as part of her campaign for gender equality.

Desai expressed hope that RSS would respect their stand and consider their demand.

"I think Mohan Bhagwat ji is a progressive thinker and he will respect our stand of entry for women in RSS," she said.

On Saturday, Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat said he would not allow her to touch the mazar-e-sharif at the the Hazi Ali Dargah. Arafat, who joined the Shiv Sena after leaving the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2014, said that the attempt by Desai to enter the Haji Ali Dargah is a conspiracy meant to disturb Mumbai's peaceful environment.

On April 20, 'Haji Ali for All' Forum was launched by Desai along with several activists, NGOs and social groups to fight for entry of women to the shrine.

The Maharashtra Government had in February supported the entry of women to the Haji Ali Dargah.

The government had told the Bombay High Court that the entry of women cannot be prohibited.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that all admissions for undergraduate medical and dental courses for the academic year 2016-17 will have to be made only on the basis of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test to be conducted in July this year.

It refused to allow the states of Tamil Nadu (which has a law to admit students on the basis of higher secondary marks), Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana state, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and others to admit students in government colleges on the basis of common entrance tests either conducted or to be conducted.

A three-judge bench of Justices Anil R. Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and A.K. Goel also turned down the plea of private medical colleges, deemed universities and association of unaided private colleges to permit admission in their colleges on the basis of entrance tests conducted by them for the 50 per cent seats. The bench thereby refused to modify its April 28 order that all admissions should be made strictly on the basis of Neet rankings.

The bench, however, permitted all those who had participated in Neet-I held on May 1 to again write the Neet-II exam to be held in July and said they have to give up their May 1 test.

The bench in its order said, Prima facie, we do not find any infirmity in the Neet regulation on the ground that it affects the rights of the states or the private institutions. Special provisions for reservation of any category are not subject matter of the Neet nor rights of minority are in any manner affected by Neet. Neet only provides for conducting entrance test for eligibility for admission to the MBBS/BDS course.
HSR layout was one of the first areas to have initiated the plastic ban

Bengaluru: With a strict no-no to black plastic bags, how do city residents dispose or store their garbage? Kethan is one of those concerned city dwellers who is quite worried about the plastic ban. People are now looking for other alternatives as the ones at hand are dearer on the pocket.

It is either a jute bag or newspapers but that is so inconvenient, grumbles Keerthi from CV Raman Nagar. We are now thinking about composting as despite this whole plastic ban being good, we are not left with many options. Also the BBMP garbage collectors are hardly around, says Kethan Raj from Murugeshpalya.

According to a recent BBMP circular, those who use plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic flags, plastic buntings, flex, plastic cups, spoons, cling films, sheets used for spreading on dining tables irrespective of thickness, including items made of thermocol and micro beads will be fined Rs 500 for first-time use and Rs 1000 for second and subsequent offences.

City residents feel that civic authorities banned plastic covers without providing any alternative. Paper covers are not alternatives for bulk use. Before implementing the ban there should be a proper alternative plan, says Raju Shastri, a resident of Malleswaram.

Although HSR layout was one of the first areas to have initiated the plastic ban, of late people are facing innumerable issues while dealing with garbage disposal.

The primary issue is that the civic employees come once in three days or in a week to collect the waste. The garbage which keeps getting dumped at respective places gives out a foul smell and produces insects like cockroaches, says Raveena C a resident of HSR Layout sector one.
Fluctuation of power supply was the reason for AC to be damaged.

CHENNAI: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North), has directed an AC manufacturing firm and its authorised service provider to pay a compensation of Rs 82,000 to a consumer for selling a defective air conditioner to him

In the complaint, Sajid P.Jose, Chetput, submitted he purchased an O General one ton window AC along with a 4 KVA stabiliser for Rs 27,000 from Abirami Audios and Videos, Alwarpet, on March 31, 2012. After installation, the AC malfunctioned repeatedly, even after repairs.

He sent a legal notice to Managing Director, ETA General P.Ltd., Manager, Jai Air Systems, Kodambakkam, authorised service provider, and Manager, Abirami Audios and Videos, to refund the unit cost and compensation for causing mental agony. Opposing this, the three replied the problem occurred due to power fluctuation in his house and advised him to get a proper stabilizer.

The bench comprising its president, K. Jayabalan and Member T. Kalaiyarasi said engineers from Jai Air Systems attended the problem eight times. Further, the PCB was replaced twice.

Rejecting the respondents contention that the unit was damaged due to power fluctuation, the Bench said when the stabilizer purchased from the show room was used for the AC unit, due to fluctuation of power supply the unit got damaged cannot be accepted.
The drive will be intensified if the model code is violated. (Representational Image)

CHENNAI: Flying squads have been instructed to arrest those distributing cash for votes. The next three days will be crucial to prevent the menace. The squads will now work round-the-clock in shifts till the counting is over, Chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni told reporters here on Thursday.

The election machinery has started arresting those distributing cash for votes and other poll-related crimes. So far, nearly a dozen such arrests have been made. The drive will be intensified if the model code is violated.

To prevent any malpractice or criminal activities near polling station or inside booths, several initiatives have been taken. Of the total 66,000 booths, 58 per cent will enjoy one form of additional security measure like direct webcast, video recording of booth or presence of a micro observer throughout the polling period.

The public should help polling officers and contact the district control room to register serious complaints like distribution of cash, freebies or any poll violation. The identity of the complainant and the informer will be protected, the CEO said.

Meanwhile, 53 IPS trainees from the police academy in Hyderabad arrived in Chennai to be part of observers team. Of this, 17 IPS officers are to join the Chennai surveillance team. The remaining 36 will take care of other districts.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena on Thursday attacked BJP over the Uttarakhand issue and said the mandate its senior ally had secured was not to indulge in "suspicious" activities and "needless" acts even as it wondered if an emergency-like situation would emerge in the future.

Sena, in an editorial in its mouth piece 'Saamana', hailed the judiciary for "saving" democracy in Uttarakhand and said handling of the situation in the hill state by the Centre had served as a "tonic" for Congress' revival.

"Power is a double-edged sword. Do not chop off your own nose with this sword. It has happened so in Uttarakhand," Sena said. Those who tried to show their "might" by imposing the President's Rule in the state have fallen flat on their face, it said.

"We are sad that this has given a revival tonic to Congress," it added. "BJP has been embarrassed completely. Circumstances in Uttarakhand were not conducive for Congress but they have now turned beneficial for the party due to the grave mistakes of our own," it said.

Referring to the rebellion by nine Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand, Sena said the government there had been reduced to a minority. "Had the trust vote been taken then, Congress government in Uttarakhand would have been defeated. However, the President's Rule was imposed to avoid show of strength," it said.

"The courts had to intervene there due to the mistakes of those in power. The courts saved democracy. People have not elected you (BJP) to power to indulge in suspicious activities and needless acts," Sena said.

"This is not the way to make the country Congress-free. Rebellion and horse trading are a disease. Instead of treating this disease, if it is being spread, we are worried about the future of the country. We wonder if there will be a situation of lawlessness and emergency in the future."

Taking a swipe at BJP for "its policy of favouring creation of smaller states", the Sena said such states are now plagued by the disease of instability. Sena's attack on BJP came a day after the Supreme Court declared that Congress has won the floor test held in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday. The two saffron parties share power in Maharashtra and also at the Centre.
The Kadupatti police caught two party functionaries  Bose and Selvam  red-handed when they tried to distribute money to the voters at Kuruviturai village.

Madurai: Rural police arrested four AIADMK functionaries for attempting to bribe voters in different places and seized Rs 1,14,950 from them in Madurai on Wednesday. Rs 81,000 was seized from Jeevanthan who hid it inside the refrigerator at his relative's house in Periyavagaikulam.

The police also arrested another AIADMK functionary Velpandi from Solampatti village and seized Rs 31,700 from him. The Kadupatti police caught two party functionaries  Bose and Selvam  red-handed when they tried to distribute money to the voters at Kuruviturai village.

The police remanded the four under judicial custody. Meanwhile the SP Vijayendra Bidari also formed additional 133 mobiles teams to keep a close vigil in the villages on poll cash to be distributed to voters.
Any fans of the Netflix series House of Cards are weary of life imitating art. In the show's third season, the fictional president Frank Underwood  facing a hostile Congress leading up to a tight election  chose to unilaterally create a jobs program, spending billions under his authority to direct emergency funding.

This year, the House Armed Services Committee is taking a similar approach with the annual defense authorization bill, the 2017 NDAA, designating billions of dollars budgeted for long-term Pentagon weapons programs as emergency spending and thereby dodging the budget sequester caps designed to force Congress to balance our budget.

Since 9/11, Congress has appropriated funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through special emergency spending accounts that are placed directly on the national credit card. The emergency funding designation is essentially a grand bargain; it gets materiel to the front lines quickly and ensures our troops have everything they need to fight and win on the battlefield, but it also drives up our national debt.

Now the House Committees abuse of the emergency funding designation threatens to unravel the modest steps Congress has taken in recent years to fix the debt. In 2011, against all odds, Congress enacted measures designed to force budget discipline. Partially in response to the then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen testimony that the top threat to national security was Americas growing debt, Congress passed the Budget Control Act establishing a super committee of representatives and senators from both parties tasked with delivering a plan to reduce the debt. I worked for Sen. Max Baucus when he served on the committee. Max worked hard to negotiate a bipartisan solution, but the committee failed to reach a deal, triggering the sequester. Those automatic spending caps remain in place today, serving as one of the few constraints on Congress' ability to spend our country into a deeper financial hole.

The sequester was indisputably a stupid way of doing business because it arbitrarily forced cuts in equal proportion across the entire budget. Since the defense budget accounts for roughly half of the discretionary budget, it bore the brunt of roughly half the sequestration cuts. The sequester did not, however, apply to emergency war spending.

The House Armed Services Committee has now taken the outrageous step of funding long-term Pentagon programs from the emergency account. If this gambit succeeds, it will become routine. It's simply too convenient for Congress to continue reckless levels of spending without a serious debate about priorities, strategy, or budget discipline. Borrowing from China to pay for long term military hardware is counterproductive and dangerous. And it certainly isnt hard to imagine a future Congress exploiting this precedent to designate non-defense domestic spending as emergency to dodge budget caps.

After decades of failed efforts to balance the federal budget state legislatures across the country are considering unprecedented measures to force Congresss hand. Last session, the Montana Legislature considered a bill calling for a convention of the states to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget. The proposed amendment includes an exception for emergency spending. I voted to bring the bill before the full House for debate but ultimately opposed the bill after concluding that a balanced budget amendment would fail if Congress abused the emergency funding loophole. Sadly, the House Armed Services Committee has confirmed my conclusion.

The national debt cannot be blamed on any political party or any politician. The blame falls on we the people who continue to elect members of Congress who continue to play games with our nation's future. We dont need to amend the Constitution  we need to refuse to vote for elected officials who refuse to balance the budget. Stopping this abuse of the "emergency" funding loophole in the 2017 NDAA is the immediate concern. This bad idea was born in the House of Representatives and could be stopped there as well. Please call Rep. Ryan Zinke today and tell him the House needs to fix the 2017 NDAA and get serious about balancing the budget once and for all.
Thiruvananthapuram: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Kerala-Somalia comparison, the CPI-M on Thursday said situation in the state did not become like the African country because BJP never came to power here.



"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.



Referring to Modi's Somalia remarks, Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power".



He said "Gujarat Model" development projected by the BJP was actually a false propaganda.



"It was the first communist government formed in 1957 that laid the foundation for the development path of the state with its policy on land reforms, education, health and also in other sectors," Balakrishnan said.



Taking a swipe at Modi, the CPI-M leader said whichever states that went to polls where Modi led the campaign as Prime Minister, BJP suffered defeat.



"In Kerala also, the same thing is going to happen. BJP is not going to open an account in the state this time also", he said.



Assailing the Congress-led UDF, he said political climate in the state was in favour of LDF and the "Front will come to power with more than 98 seats which it got in 2006 Assembly polls".



He alleged that it was the soft stand taken by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that paved way for the growth of "Hindutva force" in the state.



Balakrishnan said UDF government had withdrawn cases against Hindutva leaders including VHP leader Praveen Togadia.



This government has refused to file any case against the VHP workers when 'ghar wapsi' was organised in the state, he pointed out.



Referring to Modi's remark that CPI-M encouraged violence, Balakrishnan said 221 CPI-M workers had been killed by BJP activists since 1970. After the UDF government came to power in 2011, 28 CPI-M workers were killed.



The LDF would decide on its leader (Chief Minister) after the results are out, he said.
Kochi: Keralites led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy took the social media by storm on Wednesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared Kerala to Somalia in an election meeting in Kasargod on Sunday. #PoMoneModi became a top trending on Twitter throughout the day with more than 5,200 tweets made at the peak hour (data provided by a website). The topic was also the second most discussed item on Twitter.

According to Mr Modi, the unemployment rate in Kerala is at least three times higher than the national average. Infant mortality rate among the Scheduled Tribe community in Kerala is worse than in Somalia. What followed was an array of tweets and Facebook posts criticising Mr Modi for distorting the facts.

The hashtag, a parody of popular Malayalam punch dialogue by Mohanlal 'PoMone Dinesha,' roughly translates to Go home man. Keralites known for their penchant to troll anyone if mocked, criticised Mr Modi for his remarks. Tweets flooded from across the country once Keralites made the issue a trending topic. Many were amused by the hashtag and scratched their heads without knowing the hashtag. Keralites popular on Twitter were seen explaining the tag to their compatriots. Tweets mocking Mr Modi became an instant hit. The people made memes and graphics and made fun of the issue. Some even went on to compare the ministers of Kerala with Somali pirates and V.S. Achuthanandan as King of Sparta.

PM sir, you questioned the DNA of Biharis and you got a resounding answer, now you compare Kerala to Somalia. Awaiting 19th may!! #PoMoneModi, one tweeted. While another conceded, Please make sure you don't demean the people of Somalia or make fun of Somalia while condemning the statement of our PM. #PoMoneModi.
Varanasi: Posters and banners of the Janata Dal United (JDU) party showing Nitish Kumar donning the mantle of Mahabharats war hero Arjun were splashed across Pindra in Uttar Pradesh, which is just 30 kms away from Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi.

The poster declared war on the Modi-led govt, accusing it of misleading people with false promises.

The Bihar Chief Minister will be visiting Varanasi on Thursday and Pindra is the venue for JDUs first workers convention. This would be the first time the party is making a major political dive into Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls next year.

The posters in which Nitish appears as Arjun, depicted former JDU chief and senior leader Sharad Yadav as Lord Krishna. The banners also take on the UP government, promising to fight against corruption and goons in the state.

Earlier this week, Nitish had kick-started an anti-liquor campaign in Jharkhand and is expected to do the same in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP had hit out at the JDU leader for foraying into Jharkhand and advised him to "focus on his state to reduce the crime graph there".
Varanasi: Eyeing upon establishing his party's stronghold in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh prior to the 2019 general elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday gave a call for Rashritya Sawayamsevak Sangh (RSS) free nation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Addressing the Janata Dal (United) first workers convention in Uttar Pradesh, Nitish in an apparent jibe at his bete noire Prime Minister Modi called for a 'Sangh mukt Bharat' and a liquor free society.

The Bihar Chief Minister also used the occasion to highlight the flip-flops of the BJP-led NDA regime, saying the 'jumla' party not been fulfilled the promises made to the nation during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"Whatever they (BJP) say during the elections, later that is declared a 'jumla' by their own national president. They assured the youth of providing employment. But where is employment?" he asked.

Asserting that people of the country voted for the BJP with a lot of aspirations, Nitish said the nation's dream has been shattered. "The people in BJP say something and do something else, there is a stark difference in their words and deeds," he added.

Taking potshots at the BJP for stirring a debate on 'nationalism' in the country, he jocularly said the ideological mentors of the saffron party did not participate in the Indian freedom struggle.

"They are taking name of the tricolor today. I am happy that they are advocating for it because earlier they only supported the saffron flag," he added.

Hailing the victory of the grand alliance in Bihar, Nitish said the people of the state taught the arrogant BJP a lesson in the assembly polls.

"When they (BJP) can be defeated in Bihar, they can be defeated in other states and the country as well. I am here in Uttar Pradesh to tell the people to look at the deeds of the BJP with extreme caution," he added.

Riding high on the recent success in Bihar, the JD (U) considers the workers convention as a catalyst for the formation of a Bihar like anti-BJP alliance before the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections.
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day on Wednesday as a mark of respect towards sitting Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal who passed away, will now have a sitting tomorrow to complete its original schedule.

A decision was taken yesterday to curtail the session of Lok Sabha by two days and Rajya Sabha by one day. Accordingly, the session in Lok Sabha was yesterday brought to an end, two days before its scheduled culmination.

According to the plan, the Rajya Sabha was also to be adjourned sine die today after the customary farewell speech as 58 Rajya Sabha MPs have retired from the House. A number of those retired have been renominated.

The Budget Session of Parliament had begun on February 23 and concluded on March 16. There was the scheduled recess between the first and second part. However, the session was prorogued to allow promulgation of an Ordinance to bring and pass a Vote on Account for Uttarakhand, which was under President's rule.

An Ordinance cannot be promulgated when Parliament is in session. So, the house was prorogued and the second part of the Budget Session began as a new session on April 25. This session was to end on May 13 as per the schedule.

However, it was curtailed in view of the last leg of campaigning for assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, besides the fact that the government had already completed the important legislative business it planned to accomplish in this session.

Ten bills, including the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and the Anti-Hijacking Bill, were passed during the three-week session in Lok Sabha which saw no adjournment unlike in the Rajya Sabha which had to be adjourned several times due to disruptions.

The Eighth Session of the 16th Lok Sabha, which commenced on April 25, had 13 sittings spread over 92 hours and 21 minutes.

"I am happy to inform you that in the recent past this is the first session in which House was not adjourned even for a single minute due to interruptions and I thank the entire House for cooperation extended to the Chair," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had said in her valedictory address yesterday.

It was the 239th session of Rajya Sabha. Congress and Opposition outnumber the government in the Upper House, which saw repeated adjournments on a number of days on issues like the imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh and AgustWestland deal.

After the passage of Finance Bill yesterday, there was, however, virtually no business left for the government. Concluding the session early was being debated for the last few days, Parliament sources said.

Sources said Rajya Sabha would also have been adjourned sine die yesterday itself but since 58 members of the House had retired, it was decided to adjourn the House after the customary farewell speech on Thursday.

However, as the Congress member of Rajya Sabha Praveen Rashtrapal died in New Delhi early Thursday after suffering a massive heart attack, the Upper House was adjourned today after paying respects to the departed soul, immedeately after the House convened.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari announced the news of the demise of Rashtrapal and adjourned the House for the day as a mark of respect.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has been projected as Arjun in this painting from the Mahabharata in posters that were plastered across Varansai, with Sharad Yadav as his saarthi (guide).

Lucknow: JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday set the tone for the Assembly poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh and tried to position himself as a direct challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He fired the first shot in Varanasi, the constituency of Mr Modi. The signal from Mr Kumar was loud and clear  he could be the face of an anti-BJP alternative front in the general elections in 2019.

Mr Kumar was projected as Arjun in the iconic painting from the Mahabharata in posters that were plastered across the city, with Mr Sharad Yadav as his saarthi(guide) in the place of Lord Krishna, making it clear that he would lead the campaign against the BJP in UP.

Yes, he is our Arjun and will demolish the army of Kauravas in the country, said JD(U) state president Suresh Niranjan Bhaiyya.

Mr Kumar, who is looking at the possibility of a grand alliance of anti-BJP and secular outfits for the 2019 elections, avoided any criticism of Samajwadi president Mulayam Singh and said, I respect him and will continue to do so. When we were fighting against the BJP in Bihar, he left us".

Mr Kumar is aware that with JD(U)s minimal presence in the state he would need the support of at least one major player to challenge the BJP in the Assembly polls. The Congress incidentally is already on board.

Mr Kumar chose Varanasi for a workers meeting on Thursday for mainly two reasons  first, it is Prime Ministers turf and, second, has a large Kurmi population  the caste that Mr Kumar belongs to. He intends to play the Kurmi card to dismantle BJPs OBC dream, to an extent.

Playing the Bihar card and his victory over the mighty BJP, Mr Kumar said; Varanasi knows how arrogant the BJP leaders can be. The people of this city are aware of how they have been fooled. The entire country knows this too. Bihar has given an apt reply to the BJP and it is the turn of Uttar Pradesh now, he said.

Hitting out at the BJP for taking Bihar's grand alliance lightly, Mr Kumar slammed the party for turning its back on promises that it had made during the Lok Sabha elections.

They said they would bring back black money stashed abroad within 100 days and each citizen would get around `15 lakhs. BJP president now says that this was just a chunavi jumla(election phrase). They have taken people for a ride, he said.

Focusing on the rural belt, he said that the Modi government had promised that 50 per cent profit would be ensured for farmers while announcing the minimum support price. Has anyone got it? Have the youth got the jobs they were promised, he asked.

Their slogan says Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas but their real story began from UP. First it was love jihad, then ghar wapsi and then beef. Now they are talking of deshbhakti though their ideological ancestors, the RSS, had nothing to do with the freedom struggle, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.
Chennai: BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Thursday asserted that only his party could take the state onto the path of progress and development.

Campaigning for his party candidates in Triplicane in the city he said the BJP has initiated several pro-people initiatives and pursued a policy of all inclusiveness, taking with it all sections in the society. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has launched several developmental projects for the well-being of the people.

The BJP was not against the minorities as being projected by the opposition parties, he said. Mr Hussain, the Muslim face of the BJP visited several areas in Triplicane garnering votes. Several leaders including Union Ministers: Rajnath Singh and Prakash Javadekar campaigned in the city, leaving no stone unturned to make the party's presence felt in TN.

The party has been projecting itself as a viable alternative to both the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK. They stressed the need for change of guard and said only the BJP could ensure overall development in the state.

While the home minister Rajnath Singh addressed a huge rally at Mylapore Mangollai on Thursday night in support of the party candidates, party chief Amit Shah would address a public meeting in T. Nagar in the city on Friday evening.

Already, Modi had campaigned for his candidates and addressed rallies at four places across the state. According to sources, the BJP national leaders and also the Central ministers are likely to wind up their whirlwind election campaign of the state on May 13 leaving the final day for the state leaders and party candidates to campaign.

People should choose development: Rajnath

Accusing both the Dravidian majors of fooling the people with freebies Union home minister Rajnath Singh said both the parties desperate for power.

There were various corrupt forces attempting to do everything within their means to capture power.

The AIADMK, DMK and the Congress are all corrupt parties. But the BJP government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not involved in any scam and has been providing a transparent and corruption-free governance, he said addressing an election rally at Mylapore in the city on Thursday night.

There was not a single instance of corruption involving the BJP in the last two years of its rule at the Centre. No one can point a finger of accusation against the BJP on corruption, he said and appealed to the voters to give a clear mandate to the BJP in the ensuing elections.
TIRUNELVELI: Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J.Jayalalithaa on Thursday said if elected to power again, her government will enact a special and stronger law against Neet , which has been made mandatory for medical admissions. This will benefit medical aspirants from the poor and rural background.

She made it clear that the AIADMK government was against any entrance examination for admission to medical and dental courses. Hence, it issued a GO cancelling the entrance exam.

A legislation was enacted in February 2006 based on which entrance examination was cancelled in 2007. Admissions were made based on students marks in the plus-2 examination.

In the Supreme Court, counsel representing Tamil Nadu gave strong reasons against conducting an all India entrance test. But Neet was made compulsory, she said.

Jayalalithaa wraps up campaign

With the mega rally in Tirunelveli on Thursday, AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa wrapped up her state-wide campaign for the May 16 elections.

Ms Jayalalithaa began her campaign on April 9 from Island Grounds in Chennai and has addressed rallies in 14 cities and towns across TN. As she launched her campaign from Chennai, the Chief Minister had announced that she would implement prohibition in phases if the AIADMK gets a consecutive term.

The CM addressed rallies in Virudachalam, Dharmapuri, Arupukkottai, Kancheepuram, Salem, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Villupuram, Perundurai, Thanjavur, Arakkonam and Tirunelveli. Besides, she also campaigned for candidates of the AIADMK in Puducherry.

In Perundurai in Erode district, the AIADMK supremo released the partys manifesto that promised free phones for every household, 100 units of power to all households and 50 per cent subsidy for women to buy mopeds.

While on May 6, the CM campaigned in her R K Nagar constituency, on May 11, she drove around Chennai city canvassing votes for party candidates. While the tour schedule of Jayalalithaa released by AIADMK says Tirunelveli rally is the last meeting, it is expected that she might out step out either on Friday or Saturday, as the poll battle is getting hotter.
Sexual abuse of women and children by spiritual gurus and swamis is not uncommon in India. Most involve long-term abuse of young women, which started when they were minors. It takes a long time for victims to speak up and press charges. However, when abuse of vulnerable children and women takes place within a well-respected and institutionalised religion such as the Roman Catholic Church, it becomes even more difficult to accept. Since we constantly read about churches getting burnt and priests being attacked, there is a constant anxiety that writing on this issue may be cited out of context for all the wrong reasons. Add to this my own religious affiliations, and the task becomes even more daunting. But the extreme vulnerability of the victims, and the attitude of the Church hierarchy of sweeping it under the carpet, compels me to write.

Within a strictly defined institutional religion, where the power is bestowed upon the priests and the clergy through a well-demarcated hierarchy, the abuse of vulnerable victims cannot be dismissed as the abuse by self-styled godmen as it is entrenched deep within institutional structures. Within the Roman Catholic Church, the priest is regarded as the representative of Jesus Christ and is held in high regard. The unbridled power, both spiritual and material, that priests have is almost unparalleled. The oath of celibacy, which a Catholic priest is mandated to abide by, makes the situation even more complex for the victim.

Usually the victims suffer from multiple levels of vulnerabilities, including poverty, physical ailments, family problems and even depression. Most are deeply entrenched in their religious beliefs and take the concerned priest as their spiritual guide. The gullible victims are lured either by projecting the spiritual benefits of the sexual act by Gods representative on earth will bestow upon them, or with a promise of material comforts and economic help. The pattern, by now, is very familiar.

It takes a long time for the victims to comprehend that what they have been subjected to is sexual abuse, and it is even more difficult for them to report. But worse, even when it is reported, it is usually swept under the carpet. The usual strategy is to keep the issue under wraps, transfer the concerned priest and counsel the victim into believing that it was all her fault and thus secure her silence. I have personally dealt with at least three such cases, where the victims had taken the courage to lodge complaints. The most recent case involves two sisters, who were orphans. After prolonged abuse, they dared to approach the bishop with their complaints. But the bishop, who met the victims along with their guardian, managed to convince them that the girls were partly responsible for the abuse, and it was best that they remain silent as pursuing the case further may mar their chances of marriage.

But as more such cases crawl out of the woodwork, it will embarrass the Church if stringent action is not taken in keeping with its policy of zero tolerance. This must include disrobing the errant priest of his ministerial duties and also lodging a police complaint as per the mandate of the criminal statute. If such strong signals are not sent out, the congregation will not get the message and will not know how to respond when such cases come to light. The sexual abuse by a Roman Catholic priest was recently in the news when Father Joseph Jeyapaul, who pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual abuse of a minor girl, was reinstated after the Vatican (Church of Rome) lifted his suspension.

After serving four years in a prison in Minnesota in the US, he was sent back to his original diocese of Ooty (Tamil Nadu) in 2015. The sexual abuse had occurred during his posting in the US between 2004 and 2005, after which he returned to India. He was extradited to face trial in the United States. When the 26-year-old victim learnt about this, she issued a statement that she was shocked and felt re-victimised by the Catholic Church. She vowed to do everything possible to expose him and to reach out to other survivors in her area. Subsequently, through her attorney, she filed a federal lawsuit in Minnesota against Bishop Amalraj, Bishop of Ooty, for reinstating Jeyapaul. She told reporters in Minnesota that his reinstatement would endanger kids in India.

The zero tolerance policy for abusive priests was formulated in the context of the number of cases of sexual abuse by priests that broke out in various cities of the US, particularly Boston. The Church spent billions of dollars to settle the claims by victims mainly to secure their silence. In Boston, Church properties had to be sold to meet these claims. While Pope John Paul II is blamed for not taking a firm stand on this issue, the subsequent Pope, Benedict XVI, not only offered a formal apology to victims but was also instrumental in bringing the zero tolerance to sexual abuse policy that has been subsequently adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in India. Pope Francis has taken several steps to take the initiative further.

However, this policy only addresses the issue of sexual abuse of children and does not include sexual abuse of women, which is far more prevalent in India. Several cases of abuse of vulnerable victims are now coming to light. A group of Christian women in Mumbai and Pune  after working laboriously for two to three years  drafted a policy. But unfortunately the same is still languishing for the past three years with the concerned officials at the office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the highest body with the power to approve it.

More recently, when approached, Cardinal Ozwald Gracias of the Archdiocese of Bombay has promised that the policy will be implemented at least within the Bombay Archdiocese. In 2013, the Government of India had enacted a statute dealing with sexual harassment of women at the workplace and also in educational institutions. This would also be applicable to Church. Hence, if the Church fails to act with a seriousness that the issue demands, it will be possible for the state authorities to insist on compliance of the state policy to prevent and redress sexual violence within its institutions. So heres hoping that the Church will suo motu enforce the policy at the earliest.
Washington: A 5-year-old girl in Detroit died after she shot herself with gun found under her grandmother's pillow, the latest casualty from shootings by children across the US.



The handgun was under a pillow in her grandmother's bedroom when the girl came upon it, police said.



The girl, who was with two younger children about midnight on Wednesday, was playing with the weapon when it discharged, police said.



She was fatally wounded, they said.



Her grandmother, who was cooking downstairs at the time of the shooting, was questioned by police and released, CNN quoted Detroit Police Officer Jennifer Moreno as saying. The investigation into the tragedy continues and no charges have been filed.

The victim, identified as Mariah Davis, was pronounced dead on arrival at a Detroit hospital. The other children, ages 1 and 3, were unhurt, police said.



At least six children have shot and killed either themselves or a parent in the United States since April 20. The shootings are not accidents, according to gun violence prevention activist Jonathan Hutson.



"These fatalities are unintentional, but they're not accidental," said Hutson, former spokesman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "They're foreseeable and preventable."



At least 14 states and the District of Columbia have laws that make gun owners criminally liable if they fail to prevent unauthorised access to guns by children, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.



But many children are still shot unintentionally, he said.



On average, he said, nine children under age 18 are unintentionally shot in the United States every day. Of those, about seven die each day. Hutson said those numbers have been fairly steady over the past few years.



Twenty-four children under age 4 died from accidental shootings in 2014, the most recent year of data available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



The data does not distinguish whether those children shot themselves by accident or were shot by someone else.
"It's a temporary ban, it hasn't been called for yet, nobody's done it, this is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on," Trump said. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Reiterating that his proposal to ban entry of Muslims in the US is "temporary", Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday said it is "just a suggestion" until the issue is worked out.

"We have a serious problem, it's a temporary ban, it hasn't been called for yet, nobody's done it, this is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on," Trump told Fox Radio in an interview.

"We have radical Islamic terrorism all over the world, you can go to Paris, you can go to San Bernardino, all over the world, if they want to deny it, they can deny it, I don't choose to deny it," he said responding to a question on newly- elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Trump said he would grant exemption to the Pakistani-origin mayor to come to the US under his presidency though he was critical of Khan.

Read: Trump says he will constitute commission to study Muslim ban

"Well I assume he denies there is Islamic terrorism. There is Islamic radical terrorism all over the world right now. It's a disaster what's going on. I assume he is denying that. I assume he is like our President that's denying its taking place," the real estate tycoon said to a question on an interview by Khan to CNN.

"My message to Donald Trump and his team is that your views of Islam are ignorant. It is possible to be a Muslim and live in the West. It is possible to be a Muslim and love America," Khan told CNN.

Read: London mayor slams Trump for 'ignorant views on Islam', rejects his offer

Trump refrained from giving any hint on who his vice presidential nominee would be.

He said he would reveal the name at the Cleveland convention. But he praised two Senators Bob Corker and Jeff Sessions.

"Well Corker is a great guy. I want to keep it as a total surprise. I want to surprise even you. You have such access to me and everything I do, every once in a while I like to surprise even you. But I can tell you, Sessions and Corker are fantastic people, they love the country, they love their party and they love the country," he said.

While Sessions is helping him on immigration policies, Corker is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on foreign policy. It is Corker who has put a hold on the use of US taxpayers' money for sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan.
Dear, who has proclaimed himself guilty and a "warrior for the babies" in previous courtroom outbursts, will be transported back to a state mental hospital in Pueblo, Colorado, for "restorative treatment".

The man accused of killing three people and wounding nine others in a shooting rampage last year at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado was declared incompetent to stand trial at a court hearing on his mental state on Wednesday.

The ruling by El Paso County Judge Gilbert Martinez effectively means a suspension in criminal proceedings against the defendant, Robert Lewis Dear, 58, stemming from the first fatal attack on a US abortion provider since 2009.

The bearded, disheveled Dear, visibly angered at the ruling, called the judge "prejudiced" and a "filthy animal" as he was led out of the courtroom at the end of the 30-minute hearing.

Dear, who has proclaimed himself guilty and a "warrior for the babies" in previous courtroom outbursts, will be transported back to a state mental hospital in Pueblo , Colorado , for "restorative treatment," and his status will be reviewed again in 90 days, on Aug. 11, the judge ordered.



Martinez cited the findings of two court-appointed state psychologists who evaluated Dear and concluded he was suffering from a psychotic delusional disorder that they said rendered him mentally unfit to stand trial.

The judge said he was convinced that while Dear could comprehend the proceedings from a factual standpoint, his delusions and paranoia left him unable to meaningfully assist in his own defense.



Martinez ordered Dear to undergo a psychiatric evaluation in December after the South Carolina native demanded he be permitted to fire his attorney and represent himself. Dear has insisted he is mentally competent.

A police detective who interviewed Dear after his arrest and testified at a competency hearing last month recounted Dear saying after his arrest that he harbored a belief that he was being followed by federal agents before the shooting.

Separately, defense lawyer Dan King mentioned in court on Tuesday that his client had smeared himself with his own excrement and drank his own urine from a toilet because he believed the jail was poisoning his drinking water.

Dear has been held without bond since surrendering at the end of a bloody five-hour siege on Nov. 27 at the Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs . A US Army veteran and a mother of two who happened to be in the waiting area were killed, along with a police officer.

Dear has not formally entered a plea. Prosecutors have yet to say whether they would seek the death penalty.
Catholic leaders in the Philippines condemned Duterte's comments but, like many other controversial remarks, they had little impact on his popularity.

Davao: Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte is planning to visit the Vatican to make a personal apology to the pope for calling him a "son of a whore", the politician's spokesman said on Thursday.

"The mayor repeatedly said he wants to visit the Vatican, win or lose, not only to pay homage to the pope but he really needs to explain to the pope and ask for forgiveness," Peter Lavina told reporters in the southern city of Davao.

Duterte, the longtime mayor of Davao, surged to a landslide election win on Monday following an incendiary campaign in which he gleefully used foul language to disrespect authority figures.

In a rambling speech to announce his presidential run, Duterte lashed out at Pope Francis for causing traffic jams in Manila when he visited the mainly Catholic nation last year.

"It took us five hours to get from the hotel to the airport. I asked who was coming. They said it was the pope. I wanted to call him: 'Pope, son of a whore, go home. Don't visit anymore'," Duterte said.

Catholic leaders in the Philippines condemned Duterte's comments but, like many other controversial remarks, they had little impact on his popularity.

Other campaign firebombs included saying he wanted to rape a "beautiful" Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and murdered in a 1989 prison riot in Davao.

He used "son of a whore" to describe many opponents and critics, including current President Benigno Aquino.

Duterte also vowed repeatedly that he would kill tens of thousands of suspected criminals in an unprecedented law-and-order crackdown, and boasted so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that the fish would grow fat from feeding on them.

Pope prays for Duterte

Duterte had already apologised to the pope in a letter and received a response from the Vatican offering "the assurance of prayers", his aides said on the campaign trail.

Duterte said publicly the pope was the victim of a "stray bullet" resulting from his gutter language and frustration with government incompetence.

Lavina said Thursday no schedule had yet been set for the Vatican trip, although it was a top priority.

Duterte is due to be sworn into office on June 30 for a term of six years.

Lavina has said repeatedly in recent days that Duterte plans to adopt a more moderate and presidential tone when he assumes office, and that his gutter language and insults were part of a performance to attract voters' attention.

"You have to understand the Philippine style of elections. The context is most of our politicians need to communicate to our audience so many of our politicians sing and dance," Lavina said on Wednesday.

"Some make jokes, some make funny faces. Some dress outrageously. So it is all in this context that all these jokes, bantering, happen during the campaign. We don't expect the same attitude of our officials thereafter."

Lavina was explaining a joke Duterte made about burning Singapore's flag, which provoked an angry response from the city-state's embassy.

Duterte also stirred diplomatic anger when he warned that he was prepared to sever ties with the United States and Australia, two of the Philippines' longest and most important allies.

He was reacting to criticism from the US and Australian ambassadors over his rape comments, and told them to "shut their mouths".

Duterte made his controversial rape comments as he recounted at a campaign rally the 1989 riot, in which he said he personally shot dead some of the inmate instigators.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters he had reiterated that support in a phone call with US President Barack Obama early on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

Sydney: Australia backed the United States on Thursday in its so-called freedom of navigation operation close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, a patrol China has denounced as an illegal threat to peace.

US guided missile destroyer the USS William P Lawrence travelled within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of Chinese-occupied Fiery Cross Reef on Tuesday.

The operation was undertaken to challenge what a US Defense Department spokesman described as excessive maritime claims by China , Taiwan and Vietnam , which were seeking to restrict navigation rights in the South China Sea .

Australia has consistently supported US-led freedom of navigation activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been adding land reclamation to islands and reefs in waters claimed by several regional countries.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters he had reiterated that support in a phone call with US President Barack Obama early on Thursday.

"We ... talked about security issues in our region and confirmed our strong commitment to freedom of navigation throughout the region and the importance of any territorial disputes being resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law," Turnbull said.

China and the United States have traded accusations of militarising the South China Sea as China undertakes large-scale land reclamation to create artificial islands and construction on disputed features while the United States has increased its patrols and exercises.

Facilities on Fiery Cross Reef include a 3,000-metre (10,000-foot) runway that the United States worries China will use to press its extensive territorial claims at the expense of weaker rivals.
Experts say the jihadist ideology offers a compelling narrative for dealing with feelings of marginalisation. (Representational Image)

Paris: Experts say the link between mental illness and so-called "lone wolf" terrorists is driven by the fact that unstable individuals are often influenced by events in the news, a fact that is exploited by global jihadist groups.

Tuesday's knife attack by a 27-year-old German shouting "Allahu Akbar" left one dead and three injured in Munich.

But police quickly dismissed any jihadist motive, saying there were "strong reasons" to believe he acted "in a state of insanity".

Numerous similar cases have been reported around the globe.

Man Haron Monis, who died along with two of his hostages at a Sydney coffee shop in December 2014, had a long history of mental illness.

So did Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who killed a Canadian soldier near Ottawa's parliament two months earlier.

Experts say the connection is not unexpected, since the jihadist ideology offers a compelling narrative for dealing with feelings of marginalisation and paranoid fantasies of persecution that can exist among people with severe mental illnesses.

"Each time society evolves, delusional people evolve. Delusional behaviour is always connected to the times," said psychiatrist Daniel Zagury, who has acted as an expert witness at the trials of several alleged jihadists.

"There have always been mystical delusions. They are often the most dangerous. When God is on your side, things become much simpler," he added.

"Today, it's 'Allahu Akbar' that gives a sense of the mystical, of the messianic, to their actions. That's why we have these people driving their cars into crowds or stabbing strangers: the news has fuelled their schizophrenia, their delusional outbursts."

Zagury warned against labelling all jihadists as psychologically unstable -- saying they account for only around 10 percent of cases.

The majority are either "small-time delinquents... who started off as drug addicts, dealers, and try to clean up their lives by turning to radical Islam."

Or they are "the most dangerous kind" -- the clean-living, well-educated youngster who becomes a true believer in violent extremism.

'A vengeful Allah'

But often the line between true believer and mental instability is blurred, and there have been few comprehensive psychological studies on jihadists to unpack the complex mental processes involved.

"We often tend to say that these people are unstable, but we need a proper study. Every case is different," said clinical psychologist Amelie Boukhobza.

"We can easily have someone who is close to the radical Islam movement and also has psychological problems," she told AFP.
Another charge made against Carter is that she sexually touched the boy behind an umbrella just outside the school grounds after she left her position at St Andrews (Photo: Representational Image)

East Sussex: A man has claimed that a junior matron at an East Sussex school in England paid him with Mars chocolate bars for sex 30 years ago.

But the defence argued that he only made the allegations because he wanted 120,000 compensation from the school, a court heard on Thursday.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the alleged victim is set to sue St Andrews Prep School in East Sussex over claims that Tiffany Carter enticed him into her bedroom with chocolate bars and the chance to watch TV, way back in 1986.

Carter allegedly had sex with the then 11-year-old victim, while working as a junior matron at the school aged 17.

However, the defence for Carter alleges that the victim only wants 120,000 compensation and that his claims are contradictory. The defence lawyer told the court that Carter only worked at the school for a month, while the victim claims the abuse went on for months. Then suddenly, the victim changed his testimony and reported that the abuse had gone on for just a month.

"He also said he was enticed up to the matron's room by the promises of TV and his mother said it was a group of boys that went up, but we later found out there was no TV up there and no one was enticed, the defence claimed.

The defence lawyer concluded in his arguments that while the victim may have been sexually abused by a member of staff at the school, it was not Tiffany Carter who did it.

Another charge made against Carter is that she sexually touched the boy behind an umbrella just outside the school grounds after she left her position at St Andrews.

Carter says this was because the victim followed her around and gave her a cuddly toy.

But the prosecution argued that since Tiffany Carter had remembered the victim in spite of the passage of 30 intervening years, she must have an emotional relationship with him and sexually abused him.

The victims mother also claimed that he had confided in her after the sex incident because he feared contracting HIV/AIDS.

The trial proceeding are still on.
In November last year, Crimea was plunged into darkness when unidentified individuals blew up the power lines through which the peninsula received the bulk of its power from the Ukrainian grid.

Sochi: Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the launch of a fourth and final line supplying electricity from Russia to Crimea on Wednesday, saying the project had broken an energy blockage he accused Kiev of imposing on the peninsula.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014. Moscow has since faced international condemnation and the logistical challenges of sustaining a region that depended on Ukraine for much of its supplies and has no land border with Russia .

In November last year, Crimea was plunged into darkness when unidentified individuals blew up the power lines through which the peninsula received the bulk of its power from the Ukrainian grid. Kiev denied responsibility for the sabotage.

I congratulate all of you on the completion of building this energy bridge which has tied Crimea to Russia , Putin said in a video link from his Black Sea residence in Sochi , Russia , addressing workers and engineers on the power line.

We managed to break through the energy blockade of Crimea within a brief period of time, and we will likewise do away with any other blockade against Russia , should someone wish to test us again, said a visibly upbeat Putin, accompanied by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak.

The energy bridge is a series of cables along the seabed across the Kerch Strait that separates Russia from Crimea .

The new line will bring total power supplies from Russia to Crimea to 800 megawatts, which combined with the peninsulas own capacity should be enough to satisfy its demand.

Novak said the peninsula would have enough electricity to see it through the holiday season, when tourists swell the population and provide Crimea with a major source of revenue.

The peninsula will have complete power self-sufficiency after completion of power stations that are under construction in the Crimean cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol .

Russia denies annexing Crimea which it took over after street protests in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev chased a pro-Moscow president from power.

It says residents there voted to become part of Russia , and that Moscow acted to protect their freely-expressed will.
Deveselu: A US missile defence site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats becomes operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is due to speak at a Thursday ceremony attended by US, NATO and Romanian officials to mark the start of operations at a base established by the Soviet Union, 180 kilometers (110 miles) southwest of Bucharest.

President Klaus Iohannis said Romania wanted NATO to have a "permanent naval presence" in the Black Sea that respected international conventions, and called for increased security for NATO members in the south and east, which border Russia and the Middle East.

"It is important that a credible and predictable presence can be assured of the Allied forces on the eastern flank, to balance the northern dimension with the southern and eastern flank," Iohannis said after meeting Stoltenberg early Thursday in the Romanian capital Bucharest.

On Friday, Polish and US officials will take shovels in hand to break ground at a planned site in the Polish village of Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea.

US officials say the Romanian missile shield, which cost $800 million, is intended to fend off missile threats from Iran and is not aimed at Russia.
Honour killings are common in Pakistan and women defying family for love or marriage are often killed. (Representational image)

Islamabad: A Pakistani journalist was brutally shot dead by the relatives of a woman for supporting her in marrying a man of her choice without the family's permission in Punjab province, sparking massive protests.

Ajmal Joyia, who was in his 30s, was going home on a motorbike when he was targeted by at least three gunmen in Lodhran district.

He was killed on Monday while his cousin, who was also riding on the same motorbike, was critically injured, police said.

"Joyia was targeted by the relatives of a woman who married a man of her choice without the permission of the family," a police official said.

He had reportedly extended his support to the beleaguered couple and was said to have approached district authorities to provide the couple with adequate security, reports said.

Police have arrested one of the killers while two others were still at large.

Journalists in various cities of Punjab organised protests against the killing and demanded arrest of the killers and financial compensation for Joyia's family.

Honour killings are common in Pakistan and women defying family for love or marriage are often killed. Sometimes those supporting such couple are also targeted.

Last month, a teenaged girl was killed and her body was burnt in Abbotabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for allegedly helping her friend run away with a boy and marry him.
On a day when the Supreme Court restored Harish Rawat as Uttarakhand chief minister, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned the Centre against any "misadventure" in the city by disqualifying 21 parliamentary secretaries.





On Tuesday, all the parliamentary secretaries had filed replies with the Election Commission denying that they enjoyed any perks or benefits. They also refuted that their post is an office of profit that makes them liable for disqualification from Assembly.



Kejriwal slammed the Centre over the setback it faced in Uttarakhand after imposing the president's rule and tweeted on Wednesday: Modi Govt shud apologise to the nation for acting in unconstitutional and undemocratic manner in Uttarakhand.



Hope Modi ji will learn a lesson from Uttarakhand and not do similar misadventure in Delhi by disqualifying our 21 MLAs, he added.



The parliamentary secretaries have been saying that its an office of loss, not profit. We dont get money from the government rather we spend our own money for carrying out our functions as parliamentary secretaries, said a parliamentary secretary.

Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Alka Lamba, Chandni Chowk legislator, also submitted her reply in the Election Commission.



She also tweeted a letter received from the General Administration Department which gate a clean chit on the issue of getting benefits from government.



I hv received this letter frm Delhi Govt (GAD) in which its clearly mentioned that I didn't avail any facility, said Lamba in her tweet.



After coming to power in February 2015, Kejriwal appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries to ministers for smooth functioning of the government on March 14.



The 21 parliamentary secretaries do not receive remuneration from the Delhi government but they are provided transport for official purposes and space in the minister's office to facilitate their work, if needed.



Ploitical rivals, the BJP and the Congress, have been slamming Kejriwal for offering sops to his legislators.



The Chief Minister is maintaining an expanded cabinet through the back door by having six ministers and 21 parliamentary secretaries, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken had said.


Bismarck will briefly be on the map for the Democratic presidential nomination fight with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders making a campaign stop Friday evening with the North Dakota caucus quickly approaching.

The Sanders campaign confirmed Wednesday evening that Sanders will be in town Friday at the Bismarck Depot, 401 E. Main Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. and those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP through www.berniesanders.com.

Sanders will also be holding a rally at 11 a.m. Friday in Fargo.

The Sanders two-stop visit comes a week ahead of a Fargo stop by former President Bill Clinton, who will be in Fargo May 20 to stump for his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Vinod Seth, a member of the Bismarck for Bernie Facebook group, was elated at the news.

We are so excited that the candidate weve been waiting for all of our lives is finally here, Seth said in a phone interview. We finally have a candidate we can get 1,000 percent behind.

Seth said he has no idea what the turnout will be like for Sanders visit but expects an extremely fired up response from those who do show up.

Dem-NPL Party Executive Director Robert Haider said in a statement both campaigns interest in North Dakota highlights the tight presidential nomination fight and the importance the state may have in determining the partys nominee.

North Dakota Democrats are energized about this election and the excitement surrounding the Democratic campaigns coming to North Dakota reinforces that. The momentum and messages of the Democratic candidates contrast with those of Donald Trump, the expected Republican presidential nominee, Haider said. We need a presidential candidate who stands up and fights for all North Dakotans as both Democratic candidates do, not someone marginalizing women, minorities, and many others with hate-filled, misleading statements like Donald Trump.

Trump is the presumptive Republican Party nominee and will be delivering a keynote speech at 1 p.m. on May 26 at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. The event is being held at the Bismarck Event Center and more than 2,000 tickets have already sold for those interested in seeing his speech within a few days time this week.

The North Dakota Democratic caucus begins at 7 p.m. on June 7, the purpose of which is to elect delegates in each legislative district to attend the partys State Delegate Selection Committee meeting June 18 in Bismarck. At the June 18 meeting a total of 23 delegates and two alternates will be selected to represent the state at the partys national convention July 25-28 in Philadelphia. Caucus details can be found at www.demnpl.com.

As of this week Clinton is leading Sanders in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The earlier space-starved DCW is going to get a new branch located in Moolchand as the commission plans to expand its manpower.





The Delhi Commission for Women is in the process of hiring lawyers, researchers, and staff for setting up various cells to strengthen its core team to handle a variety of cases and give continuous recommendations to the government. However, due to paucity of space at its office in Vikash Bhawan in Indarprastha, the plan of expansion of resources has not been achieved completely.



Currently, even the 181 womens helpline, recently handed over to the commission by the Delhi government, is being run from Delhi Secretariat. The commission wants to bring the staff under its ambit soon.



We have been already allotted the space. The 181 helpline will be shifted either to Moolchand office or here. We want to bring this department at par with any other functional department, said DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal Jaihind.



We want to expand so that the work we have taken up is done in a sustained manner. We have to set up different cells which will carry out specialised research on issues and a change in both infrastructure and human resources is possible after we have more space. Whatever we have done till now is the result and overwork of a small team, she added.



The DCW had recently increased the number of mobile vans to 22  two in each of the 11 districts  from five which respond to rescue calls. The helpline has seen a huge traffic since it was integrated with the 181 helpline and the number of vans to be stationed for rescuing purposes was increased to 22 in February.



According to data available with the DCW, where the mobile helpline used to get 5-10 calls per day before Feb 2016, after the increase in resources, the helpline is receiving 50-60 calls per day on an average.



In a recent success story, when 29-year-old Anju, working as a domestic help, was denied permission to leave her employer's house in Civil Lines to go to her village, she called the DCW's mobile helpline and was rescued.



Anju wanted to leave work to attend to her ailing father in the village but her employers denied it. They even held her salary and restrained her from stepping out of the house. When the mobile helpline received the complaint, they rescued her with the help of ASI and SI of Civil lines Police Station and filed a complaint against her employers.



The helpline was launched in August 2010 with only five mobile vans which the officials say were inadequate to respond to rescue calls from all the 11 districts in the capital. The number was increased to 22 by introducing 17 new vans to be driven by women driversin February.



Earlier, the rescue calls or those needing immediate assistance by the commission on the 181 womens helpline were transferred to a coordinator in the commission. Now, such calls are transferred to the NGOs attached with the DCW who decide on further action along with the police and counselors of the commission.
The Arvind Kejriwal government has again shown its commitment for green issues and discontinued use of paper from May 1 for publishing state gazette notifications.





The introduction of digital publication of gazette notifications sets apart the Aam Aadmi Party government for its commitment towards paperless operations, an initiative which has not been attempted by many state governments.



According to the new system in place, the administration wing does not send hard copies of notifications, received from different departments, to the Mayapuri-based government press for printing the gazette.



The documents related to notifications are now signed and scanned as image files by the department heads before being forwarded to the General Administration Department (GAD) and the IT wing for the e-gazette.



The GAD has also informed all department heads, Assembly secretariat, Delhi High Courts joint registrar, the power regulator and election department officials about the paperless initiative.



GAD Deputy Secretary Amitabh Kundoo issued an advisory to all departments, saying hard copy of gazette notification will not be accepted by the GAD from May 1.

In an earlier initiative, the city government had allotted digital signatures to all administrative officers.



The files related to cabinet decisions are also completely paperless to help the Chief Minister monitor their progress online.



The public grievance management system also is based on a strong IT platform with minimal requirement for paperwork from the stage a complaint is filed. The follow up by department officials on each complaint can also be monitored online.



Earlier in the year, the Education Department bought computer tablets for its text books bureau.



Almost a dozen tablets are being procured by Delhi Bureau of Text Books (DBTB) which deals with printing free books for government school students.



The 3G calling tablets were procured for use by officials and content experts to speed up syllabus revision for government school books.



As part of paperless ga-zette notification plan, the GAD has informed all departments that it would not send the printed gazette booklet any more.



The departments have been asked to download the published gazette notifications from the Delhi government portal or an eGazette link.


Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull whose name figured in the 'Panama Papers' as a former director of a company incorporated by tax haven law firm Mossack Fonseca today denied any wrongdoing.





Turnbull's name emerged in the Panama Papers as a former director of Star Technology Services Limited, a company incorporated by Mossack Fonseca.



"There is nothing new there. The company concerned was a wholly owned subsidiary of a publicly listed Australian company," the prime minister said, according to media reports.

"The involvement is very, very well known," he said.



A company register document showed he was the former director of the company in 1990s and also listed Turnbull's business partner, former NSW premier Neville Wran.



Both men resigned their directorship of Star Technology in September 1995.



"The company of which Neville Wran and I were directors was an Australian listed company and had it made any profits  which it did not regrettably  it certainly would have paid tax in Australia, but obviously you haven't studied the accounts of the company concerned," Turnbull said.




School-goers added more cars to the city roads, leading to congestion in up to 6 km area around schools, a Delhi government-appointed six-member panel said in its report on the second phase of odd-even scheme.





According to the report, a very high percentage of students used cars and other private vehicles to reach school during the second phase between April 15 and April 30.



The panel headed by Special Commissioner Transport K K Dahiya was setup on April 23 to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather on the odd-even scheme, banning private vehicles on alternate days.



The committee surveyed six private schools namely DPS RK Puram, DPS East of Kailash, DPS Vasant Vihar, N K Bagrodia School Rohini, K R Mangalam World School GK  II & Modern School Barakhamba Road.



There was an additional volume of 3,88,886 private cars, 134,598 two wheelers and 8,000 buses, which was not there during the first phase, the report said.



The government panel also blamed traffic snarls during odd-even 2.0 on the marriage season and high temperatures. However, it said the road-rationing drive was largely successful since car owners in Delhi voluntarily complied with the odd-even rules.



As per the data obtained from DND flyway, only 12 per cent fewer vehicles entered Delhi from Uttar Pradesh during the odd-even scheme last month.



The data collected from in-coming vehicles from Gurgaon and Noida indicated that the residents of satellite towns did not shift to car pooling or public transport but they made alternative arrangements resulting in marginal decrease in number of vehicles coming from these towns, the committee said.



Traffic jams at Bhairon Marg and Rao Tula Ram Marg was attributed to a major construction activity. Whereas, dismantling of bus rapid transit (BRT) disrupted traffic in a radius of almost 8 to 10 km.



According to the committee, 30,000 more CNG vehicles took the roads, as 30,000 CNG stickers were distributed during the second phase of odd-even scheme. CNG vehicles were exempted from the odd-even rules.


After Britain declined India's request to deport Vijay Mallya, ED has now sought an Interpol arrest warrant against the liquor baron to make him join investigations in connection with a money laundering probe case.



Officials said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to CBI to obtain a Red Corder Notice (RCN) against Mallya from the global police body. CBI acts as the nodal office for execution of Interpol warrants in India.



An RCN is issued "to seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action" in a criminal case probe.



Once the said notice is issued, the Interpol seeks to arrest the person concerned in any part of the world and notifies that country to take his or her custody for further action at their end.



The agency has been wanting to make Mallya join investigations "in person" in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case in which it registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) early this year.



It has virtually exhausted most of the legal options to make Mallya join the probe including issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him from a Mumbai court based on which it made the requests for the revocation of his passport and subsequent deportation bid to bring back the businessman from the UK.



However, Britain has made it clear that Mallya cannot be deported and asked India to seek his extradition instead.



The British government said it acknowledges "the seriousness of allegations" against Mallya and was "keen to assist" the Indian government in this case.



ED is also mulling attaching domestic assets and shares worth about Rs 9,000 crore owned by Mallya in this case.



Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had yesterday said in Parliament that India will now have to initiate extradition process after a charge sheet is filed to bring back the embattled tycoon to face money laundering charges as well as recovery of the Rs 9,400 crore of loans to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.



Cancellation of passport "does not result in automatic deportation, that is the stand taken by UK," Jaitley had said.



Officials, however, had said filing a charge sheet is a time-consuming process and hence some other legal options will surely be mulled to make Mallya join probe in India, not only by the ED but by the CBI too.



Mallya had left India on March 2 using his diplomatic passport.

The ED has registered a money laundering case against Mallya and others based on an FIR registered last year by the CBI.



The agency is also investigating financial structure of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and looking into any payment of kickbacks to secure loans.


Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that they have signed "a basic agreement to form a far-reaching strategic alliance between the two Japanese automakers".





The alliance will extend an existing partnership between the two, under which they have jointly collaborated for the past five years, the companies said in a joint statement.





Nissan Chief Executive and President Carlos Ghosn said: "It creates a dynamic new force in the automotive industry that will cooperate intensively, and generate sizeable synergies. We will be the largest shareholder of MMC, respecting their brand, their history and boosting their growth prospects."





Terming the deal as "a breakthrough transaction and a win-win for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors", he added, "We will support MMC as they address their challenges and welcome them as the newest member of our enlarged alliance family".





Nissan said the decision to acquire a strategic stake in MMC marks the latest expansion of its Alliance model, built around a 17-year cross shareholding arrangement with Renault. Nissan has also acquired stakes or signed partnerships with other automotive groups including Daimler, and AvtoVaz.





On closing of the deal, which is expected by the end of the year, Nissan will become the largest shareholder of MMC, it said, adding that MMC would propose Nissan nominees as board directors in proportion to Nissan's voting rights, including a Nissan nominee to become Chairman of the Board.





Mitsubishi Motors Corp is currently in the midst of a scandal for overstating fuel economy. Last month, the company had admitted that it overstated the mileage of four of its mini-vehicle models affecting 6,25,000 cars.





"This agreement will create long term value needed for our two companies to progress towards the future. We will achieve long term value through deepening our strategic partnership including sharing resources such as development, as well as joint procurement," MMC Chairman and Chief Executive Osamu Masuko said.





Nissan and MMC have agreed to cooperate in areas including purchasing, common vehicle platforms, technology- sharing, joint plant utilisation and growth markets, the statement added.





Under the terms of the transaction, Nissan will purchase 506.6 million newly-issued MMC shares at 468.52 yen per share. The price reflects the volume weighted average price over the period between April 21, 2016 and including May 11, 2016.





MMC and Nissan said they expected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation and The Bank of Tokyo  Mitsubishi UFJ to maintain a significant collective ownership stake in Mitsubishi Motors, and to support the strategic alliance.





The transaction is subject to the signing of a definitive Alliance Agreement, expected by the end of May, 2016, the signing of a shareholders agreement with the current Mitsubishi Group shareholders of MMC and regulatory approvals, the statement added.







Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co today announced plans to acquire 34 per cent stake in beleaguered compatriot Mitsubishi Motors Corporation for 237 billion yen (over USD 2 billion).
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended today to face impeachment, ceding power to her vice-president-turned-enemy Michel Temer in a political earthquake ending 13 years of leftist rule over Latin America's biggest nation.





A nearly 22-hour debate in the Senate closed with an overwhelming 55-22 vote against Brazil's first female president. Pro-impeachment senators broke into applause.



Only a simple majority of the 81-member Senate had been required to suspend Rousseff for six months pending judgement on charges that she broke budget accounting laws. A trial could now take months, with a two-thirds majority vote eventually needed to force Rousseff, 68, from office altogether.



Within hours, Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, was to take over as interim president, drawing the curtain on more than a decade of dominance by Rousseff's leftist Workers' Party.



He was preparing to announce a new government shortly and said his priority is to address Brazil's worst recession in decades and end the paralysis gripping Congress during the battle over Rousseff.



A onetime Marxist guerrilla tortured under the country's military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff has denounced the impeachment drive as a coup and vowed to fight on during her trial.



She would be officially notified of the vote's result at 10:00 am (1830 IST) today and would address the nation soon after, Brazilian media reported. A crowd of supporters was planning to gather outside the presidential palace to salute her as she drove off, a spokesman for her Workers' Party told AFP.



Due to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in less than three months, Brazil is struggling to stem economic disarray and handle the fallout from a corruption scandal reaching deep into the political and business elite.



The latest target of a sprawling probe into the graft was Senator Aecio Neves, who narrowly lost to Rousseff in the 2014 presidential elections and was one of the senators voting to impeach Rousseff. The Supreme Court authorised a probe into his alleged bribe taking and money laundering overnight.



The multiple crises have left the country divided between those blaming Rousseff and those loyal to the Workers' Party, whose transformative social programs have lifted tens of millions of people from poverty.



Senate President Renan Calheiros, who oversaw the proceedings, told reporters that impeachment would be "traumatic."



Divisions were plain to see outside Congress, where police erected a giant metal fence to keep apart small rival groups of demonstrators. Riot police pepper sprayed a group of Rousseff supporters late yesterday and pro- and anti- impeachment protesters also scuffled briefly in Rio.


Going on the counteroffensive, Congress will be giving privilege motions against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Rajya Sabha tomorrow accusing them of "lying blatantly" during the AgustaWestland debate.





AICC also announced that the party will file defamation case against a US-based website, www.pguru.com, whose material was used by Swamy in the RS debate. It alleged that the website is linked to the Sangh Parivar.



Tomorrow is the last day of the Upper House during the current session.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh told reporters that both Swamy and Parrikar have "blatantly lied" in Parliament by creating a "web of deceit" in front of the people.



Noting that the Defence Minister authenticated documents in the Lok Sabha, he claimed it was not the judgement of the Italian court.



Insisting that the Italian judgement has nothing, he claimed there is "no accusation against the Congress leadership" in the verdict.



"It is a lie that the Italian judgement has indicted the Congress leadership.

"Swamy has made baseless allegations. He said he was reading from the Italian judgement," Ramesh said, adding the BJP leader authenticated a 13-page document in the Rajya Sabha, which consists of two pages of an email from "Swamy to Swamy", a news report and nine pages from the website.



"Swamy has spoken big lies in the Rajya Sabha on May 4 and has used false documents. We will not allow him to go scot free. The duo of Swamy and Parrikar have attempted to mislead the nation, for which they will have to pay the price," said Ramesh.



Claiming that the nine pages from the website are "false", he said the party would be filing a defamation case against it.



He claimed that besides Swamy, S Gurumurthy and IIM professor R Vaidyanathan are linked to the website being run by a person named Shri Aiyar from the Silicon valley.



Ramesh also claimed that Swamy wanted Vaidyanathan be made the next RBI Governor in place of Raghuram Rajan.






"A strong protest was lodged at the unfortunate hanging of Mr Motiur Rahman Nizami on the alleged crimes committed before December 1971 through a flawed judicial process," Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.





Bangladeshi envoy Nazmul Huda was today summoned to the Foreign Office a day after Pakistan issued a statement expressing sadness over the "unfortunate hanging" and National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the execution.





The Foreign Office said the attempts by the government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, "despite our keen desire to develop brotherly relations with it, are regrettable."





FO further said that the 1974 Tripartite Agreement is the cornerstone of relations between the two countries.





It needs to be emphasised that, as part of the Agreement, the Government of Bangladesh "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency." Pakistan reiterates its desire for friendly relations with Bangladesh, it added.





Hours later in Dhaka, Pakistan's High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the Foreign Office where he was handed over a strong note verbale.





"Pakistans High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the foreign office where our secretary for bilateral affairs Mizanur Rahman handed him over a strong note verbale," a Bangladesh foreign office spokesman told PTI.





73-year-old Nizami's execution is linked with Pakistan as he was convicted for supporting Pakistan army in 1971 crackdown on dissidents in then East Pakistan.





Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry later in a statement said it conveyed a strong protest against a press release issued by Pakistani foreign office and consequent adoption of a resolution in parliament condemning Nizami's execution.





"Bangladesh has conveyed its strong protest against the (Pakistan foreign office) press release...subsequent passing of a resolution at the National Assembly of Pakistan on the execution," the statement said.





It said that by taking side of "those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the mass atrocity crimes committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971".





"So doing, it is also relentlessly opposing Bangladesh's efforts to ensure justice and break the culture of impunity for the crimes committed 45 years ago," it said.





The Pakistani envoy in Dhaka was summoned for the second time in a week. The statement said Dhaka "strongly repudiated Pakistan's version of Nizami's 'only sin', as mentioned in the Pakistan Foreign Office's press release was to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, whereas it was in abeyance at that time".





"In fact, he (Nizami) was tried for specific crimes he committed during the war of liberation of Bangladesh," the note verbale said.



It said during Nizami's trial, the court took solely into consideration the crimes against humanity and genocide he had committed in 1971 and the trial was "not at all based on his political identity or affiliation" while it was mere a coincidence that he belonged to some opposing political party.



"It was made clear to Pakistan High Commissioner that he (Nizami) not only cooperated with the Pakistani occupation force in committing various crimes against humanity including genocide but also masterminded the formation of Al-Badr Bahini which had gained particular notoriety for executing the prominent progressive Bengali intellectuals," it said.



The statement said Nizami's election to parliament through a "flawed and widely rigged voting, did not exonerate him from prosecution for such crimes".



It, however, acknowledged that "a die-hard anti-liberation person like Nizami became a Minister in Bangladesh" incidentally but added that the incident "would remain as one of the darkest and the most shameful episodes of Bangladesh's history".



The note verbale noted that Pakistan continued to "present a misleading, limited and partial interpretation of the underlying premise of the Tripartite Agreement of April 1974 which is totally unacceptable to Bangladesh".



The essential spirit of the agreement was to create an environment of good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence for ushering in long term stability and shared prosperity in the region, it said.



"(But) the 'clemency' mentioned in the agreement never implied that the masterminds and perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide would continue to enjoy impunity and eschew the course of justice," it said.



It added: "The Tripartite Agreement in no way restricted Bangladesh from prosecuting its own nationals for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity".



The envoy, it said, was also reminded that Pakistan had "systematically failed" in its obligation to bring to justice, "in compliance with relevant international norms and standards, those of its nationals identified and held responsible for committing mass atrocity crimes in 1971".



On May 9, Bangladesh had summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner over Islamabad's reaction to its Supreme Court judgment rejecting Nizami's final appeal.

In a tit-for-tat, Pakistan and Bangladesh both summoned each other's envoys today, as the row over execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for 1971 war crimes escalated.
A woman with good shoes is never ugly, said Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel, a French fashion designer.



However, finding that good piece of footwear which also suits her taste can be a tedious job. But Oceedee, a footwear brand founded by Neha Kumthekar and Anshul Sood, lets you design that perfect and exclusive pair of shoes online at their 3D shoe designing studio.



Oceedee is an apt fit in todays time where most women know what they want but struggle to find the right pair. It provides an easy design experience where customers can customise their shoe style, texture, colour, heel and size, says Kumthekar.



The brand specialises in flats, heels, wedges, sandals, boots, brogues and offers a design on demand service that enables customers to book an appointment for a one-on-one session with their team of experts to discuss the designs and personally customise their footwear down to the last detail.



All their shoes are handmade by craftsmen from Delhi and it takes two to four weeks for the design to take shape of a shoe and get delivered right at your doorstep. Prices range between Rs 3,000 to 7,000, depending on the designs.



It was Kumthekars struggle to get the right pair of shoes that led to the conceptualisation of Oceedee. My real struggle began when I couldnt find the perfect shoe for my graduation ceremony. Either it was the colour or the heel type or the size, something wasnt right. During my search, I met Anshul who had identified the similar market gap in the footwear segment for women in India as a part of his MBA project. It was then we set out to create a unique shoe shopping experience and conceptualised a footwear brand that allows women to customise their own shoes and never compromise on fashion again.



However, Kumthekar notes that getting the right material and skilled craftsmen for her brand has been a difficult job. She notes, Being in a customised footwear business, sourcing leather in smaller quantities becomes a major bottleneck. Most of the leather dealers sell in wholesale quantities, which do not suit our need as we have to stock smaller quantities of every colour and texture in a variety of leather types.



She adds, Getting experienced and skilled craftsmen is also a challenge. People who can work with footwear and understand the entire process of shoe making are not easy to find.



Launched in January this year, they claim to have sold about 45 to 50 pairs in Delhi and Mumbai. They are open to business through their website (www.oceedee.com ).


I always wanted to visit Egypt. As a child, I loved reading National Geographic magazines about the country and learning about pharaohs, pyramids and Egyptian gods.



So visiting Egypt as an adult was like fulfilling a childhood dream. I got to run my fingers over hieroglyphs carved on temple walls. I listened as my guide turned the symbols of an eye, an eagle and a snake into vowels, sentences and stories of the past. I dipped my hand into the waters of the Nile and spoke with Egyptians who told me of their ancient past and turbulent present. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I travelled with a women-only group. On our first evening, we went for a cruise and dinner on the Nile, featuring performances by a belly dancer and a tanoura show. It was mesmerising to watch the dancer in his bright patterned skirt twirl to the quick beat of Sufi music.



We kicked off the next morning with a visit to the Great Pyramids. Its one thing to read about the pyramids and completely another to stand at the base and gaze up at them; the immensity is overwhelming! We also clambered up the huge stone steps into the heart of the pyramid itself to see the tomb of the pharaoh. Then we visited the Sphinx, a testament to a mighty dynasty swept away by the sands of time.



Afterwards, we went to Fagnoon art village, where we tried our hands at carving our names in wood using a mallet, chisel and our strength. We visited a beautiful papyrus shop where we were shown how it was made and then purchased papyrus paintings.



The day ended with us walking around downtown Egypt, past beautiful Coptic churches, mosques, palaces and street sellers, our 5 senses assailed by the colour and movement of the area. We also walked through the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, which, with its beautiful glass lamps, old antiques and colourful trinkets, felt straight out of the Arabian Nights.

Surely, Egypt had more in store for us. We flew to Aswan and drove through the desert to visit Abu Simbel.



Built by arguably the most egomaniacal pharaoh in Egyptian history, Ramses II, the temples features 4 colossal statues of Ramses himself. Even today, you can feel the full might of the pharaoh-god, not only because of the sheer size of these gigantic structures, but also by the intense feeling of power you get as you walk through the temple covered in hieroglyphics. This was one of my favourite memories from the trip.



The next day, we set off on a Nile cruise aboard a luxury cruise ship. Over these 3 days, we relaxed onboard, enjoying watching the countryside roll by. We disembarked to visit ancient temples, including the Temple of Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor along the way  each unique in design, purpose and scandalous stories.



We drove to see the Valley of the Kings. It is very beautiful inside the tombs. Murals tell stories from Egyptian legends of the time, showing men with animal heads, and birds, flowers, and snakes, painted in bright colours of gold, red and blue. How could such beauty be created by people thousands of years ago? It is truly extraordinary.



We also visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the only woman to rule as pharaoh. Flowing back from Luxor to Cairo, we attended a cooking class. We learnt how to make koshari, a delicious dish, out of lentils and chickpeas, layered in a bowl with rice, macaroni and crunchy caramelised onion. On our last day, we visited the Egyptian museum which houses pharaonic antiquities.



The highlight here was getting to gaze at the iconic golden funeral mask of Tutankhamen. Soon after, it was time to leave. Initially I was apprehensive with a new group, but I returned from Egypt with a great tan, a suitcase of souvenirs, a collection of memories and most importantly, a new set of friends.



(The author can be contacted on pavi@byond.travel)


Amid the UK declining India's request to deport Vijay Mallya, Congress today demanded that the government file charge sheet against the liquor baron within 30 days if it was serious about bringing him back.





Party spokesperson Sushmita Dev said it was imperative for the government to file the charge sheet against Mallya after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament that UK government has made it clear that he can't be deported without a charge sheet.



Another spokesman Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of being "wilful accomplice" in allowing Mallya to flee.



Wondering whether the government was not knowing that there were ongoing ED/CBI probes or that Mallya may flee due to the probes, Dev said "Modi government has two standards. One for the Opposition and another for their own leaders and supporters."



Ramesh dismissed government's claim that it was not aware that Mallya was fleeing the country.



He said that only two days ago, Gladson Dungdung, a human rights activist, was offloaded from a flight to London where he was travelling to attend a workshop.



Gladson hails from Jharkhand and is the author of "Whose Country is it Anyway?" and "Mission Saranda: A War for Natural Resources in India". He has been a critic of the model of development that has lead to destruction of fragile ecosystems and tribal heritage.



Ramesh said it does not stand to logic that a government that knows when a tribal activist is going to London, is unaware when Mallya who owes dues to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore to banks, flees the country.



Replying to a query on the GSPC scam, he said that if the government failed to institute a proper inquiry into the matter, the party would demand a probe into the entire KG basin issue. The KG basin has oil wells of Reliance, ONGC as also GSPC.



Congress has been demanding a probe into the lending of Rs 19,700 crore loan to GSPC when gas reserves had come down to one trillion cubic feet in offshore KG-basin gas project from 20 trillion gas discovery announced in 2005 by Narendra Modi who was then Gujarat chief minister.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Centre on a PIL seeking a direction for doubling the number of judges as recommended by the Law Commission.





A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi issued notice to the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Finance on the plea filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay.



The PIL has also sought a direction to implement the resolution of the advisory council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. Notably, the Chief Justice has recently made an emotional appeal to the government for raising the judges strength.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Kerala Police to form a special investigation team (SIT) headed by a deputy inspector general rank officer to probe into allegations of wife-swapping among a group of Indian Navy officers.





A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice T S Thakur declined a plea made by one accused Naval officers estranged wife for a CBI probe into the charges.



The facts and circumstances in which the offence is alleged to have been committed can be better investigated into by the state police, the bench, also comprising Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit, said, after noticing the plea by Kerala Police that as many as 70 witnesses had already been examined by them.



The Navy was rocked in 2013 by the shocking charges of wife-swapping when an officers wife accused her husband as well as five other naval officers  two captain and three lieutenant rank  posted at Kochi, and wife of one of the naval officers of sexual abuse. Subsequently, an FIR was registered by the Kerala Police against her husband and other officers.
The first batch of Indians stranded in Libya returned home on Thursday after a month-and-half-long ordeal in the strife-torn country.





A group of 18 Keralites from six families, including 11 children, arrived in Kochi from Istanbul via Dubai, at about 8.30 am on Thursday. Another group, with 11 people from Tamil Nadu, is on their way to Chennai.



Since shell attacks intensified in Tripoli, killing Keralite nurse Sunu Sathyan and her one-and-a-half-year-old son on March 25, the Indians  most of them nurses  were stranded near conflict zones. They arrived at the Nedumbassery airport to an emotional welcome by families and friends.



Even as the passengers said they had to spend their own money on airfares, officials of the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs department clarified that the state government could not make the international payment due to technical reasons and the fares would be reimbursed.



Later, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters that the state government was paying for the 29 Indians travel. Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj posted questions for Chandy on Twitter, asking the CM who paid for thousands of Indians from Kerala evacuated by the Centre from Iraq, Libya and Yemen.



Mr Chandy  You started this debate  as to who paid? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens, she wrote on Twitter.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Spicejet airlines to pay Rs 10 lakh as damages to a flyer, suffering from cerebral palsy, for forcibly offloading her in 2012.





A bench of Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal noted that despite all the regulations, there were hardly meaningful attempts to assimilate the disabled in the mainstream of the nation's life. It also said the apathy towards their problems is so pervasive that even the number of disabled persons existing in the country is not well documented.



Holding that the mindset of able persons affected adversely the human rights of the differently-abled, the bench said disabled flier Jeeja Ghosh was not given appropriate, fair and caring treatment which she required with due sensitivity as the decision to de-board her was uncalled for and violation of human dignity.



An eminent activist involved in disability rights, Ghosh was deplaned from a SpiceJet flight in February 2012 from Kolkata when she was going to attend a conference in Goa hosted by NGO Able Disable All People Together (ADAPT).



The decision to offload Ghosh was taken by the airlines in a callous manner, without any medical advice or consideration and her condition was not such which required any assistive devices or aids.



No doctor was summoned to examine her condition. Abruptly and without any justification, a decision was taken to de-board her without ascertaining as to whether her condition was such which prevented her from flying, said the bench, adding it was also in violation of the Civil Aviation rules.



The court also underscored that differently-abled persons are unable to lead a full life due to societal barriers and discrimination faced by them in employment, access to public spaces and transportation.



What is to be borne in mind is that they are also human beings and they have to grow as normal persons and are to be extended all facilities in this behalf. Persons with disability are a most neglected lot not only in the society but also in the family. More often, they are an object of pity, it said.



The court said a little care, a little sensitivity and a little positive attitude on the part of the officials of the airlines would not have resulted in the trauma, pain and suffering that she (Ghosh) had to undergo.
After 50 years of teaching history to young adults at Bismarck State College, Mike McCormack is finally ready to read some fiction.

First, he will have to pack up the hundreds of books on historical topics that fill his office shelves.

Hes quick to clarify his literary interests wont change too drastically despite his retirement.

It will be historical fiction, of course, he said.

The 74-year-old is one of 13 BSC employees to retire this year, and he has been at the college the longest.

McCormack started as a student, studying under Army Col. Wesley Wilson, who became a history professor at then-Bismarck Junior College.

Heres the irony, McCormack said. Hes the man who mentored me, and his death gave me his job.

Three years after McCormack left BSC to continue his education, he returned to work alongside his former professors. A young college graduate, he had only a fraternity blazer to wear the first few months he taught.

But his wardrobe adapted as he got into the swing of teaching courses on western civilization and western frontier history.

He came to understand that, while facts may be certain, each historian sees them differently.

McCormack, for one, noticed his views changing the longer he taught.

This happened with the origins of Christianity and the establishment of the Catholic church.

Catechism, he said, teaches one perspective. But those who study the subject at a college thats not religiously affiliated learn another.

Im much more secular than I used to be, he said of himself as a teacher. I see religion as one of the most important elements of human history  not the most important element of human history.

Over the years, he incorporated new technology to enhance his lessons.

History channel documentaries have been particularly helpful. So have online features, including a virtual tour of the Colosseum in Rome that students can access on their phones in class.

What a way to teach, he said. If I were starting over my career, I would be a technology geek.

McCormacks colleagues describe him as a legend. Not only is he active in the community outside BSC, he has shown up to numerous school events with his Nikon camera to document the occasions. That is, when he is not the one serving as emcee.

He has come to all our parties. He has known all our kids growing up, said Perry Hornbacher, who will be the colleges lone history professor next year once McCormack leaves.

Joe Vuolo, an associate professor of accounting who works a few doors down from McCormack, will miss his jokes.

His retirement coincides with several other longtime professors on the same floor. Combined, McCormack; James Wright, business department chair; Henry Riegler, social sciences, humanities and education department chair; and the Rv. Marv Mutzenberger, associate professor of sociology, have dedicated 155 years to teaching at BSC.

Vuolo said McCormack has played a significant role in building a longstanding camaraderie on campus.

We are losing some of the people who built that, he said. We are looking for people to carry that forward.

McCormack has been at BSC so long that the past few years he has taught the grandchildren of some of his first students.

He takes delight when his students get it, demonstrating they understand the significance of history.

So last week when his final group of students walked out of the classroom, he got an idea.

I was going to take a picture with my smartphone, he said.

But he decided the empty room wasnt worth a photo. Whats more important, he said, are the memories that happened there.
A day after the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was passed by Parliament, brokerage firm Nomura on Thursday said it was a big positive for banking sector and Indias ranking in ease of doing business.



But, experts including bankers have raised concerns over lack of infrastructure facility which may hinder its implementation.



The code is a big positive for the banking sector, which is currently burdened with stressed assets. As it gives banks a legal path for recovering their dues in a time-bound manner, Nomura said. It said the law should make lenders more confident in lending and borrowers more accountable. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said that the law will provide institutional machinery for dealing with debt defaulters which India was lacking until now.



Hitherto India was lacking the legal and institutional machinery for dealing with debt defaults as per the global standards. The recovery proceedings by creditors, either through the Contract Act or through special laws such as the recovery of debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, and the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, has not had desired outcomes,



Similarly, action through the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (SICA), and the winding up provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, have neither been able to aid recovery for lenders nor restructuring of firms. Laws dealing with individual insolvency, the Presidency Towns Insolvency Act, 1909, and the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920, were almost a century old, it said.



Experts, including bankers, have voiced concerns that in the absence of adequate number of tribunals and insolvency practitioners, execution may take more time.



Indias largest lender State Bank of India Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya has said that the bankruptcy law was not a magic wand to reduce all banking problems, and that its implementation needed to be taken care of.


NGOs are not finding it easy to garner foreign funds under Narendra Modi government as it is going slow on granting them permission to collect donations from abroad.





The number of organisations that received permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2010 has dwindled by more than 50% last year.



According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), while 757 applications for registration to receive foreign funds were cleared in 2014, the number has come down to 319 in 2015. Similarly, the grant prior permission provision to receive foreign donations came down to 31 last year from 135 the previous year. This year only one application has been cleared by the Ministry.



Since 2013, the Foreigners Division of MHA had received 8,111 applications seeking registration under FCRA 2010 to accept foreign funds. Of this, the government so far rejected 3,051 cases while accepting 2,248 applications. The figures showed 2,812 cases are still pending with the Division.



Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Parliament earlier this month that the applications are processed in consultation with security agencies and other ministries and departments.



The Modi government had taken on NGOs on alleged misuse of foreign funding. It had cancelled the registration of Greenpeace India while Teesta Setalvads NGO is facing trouble. Ford Foundation also found itself in trouble for some time.



A close look at the statistics showed that there is a dip in number in applications over years as well as those getting the clearance. At the same time, the number of rejections also increased.



While the number of rejections in 2013 was 1,169, it rose to 1,296 in 2014. The figure was 586 last year while the pending cases rose to 1,252.



Pending list



This year, till April 28, the government received 757 applications and cleared only one while keeping other cases under pending list.



Similar is the case with prior permission clause. The number of applications cleared is decreasing  175 in 2013, 135 in 2014 and 31 in 2015. This year, only one out of 116 prior permission pleas was allowed so far.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said he was unhappy with the performance of the BBMP Council, in which his party has a coalition with the Congress.





Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy indicated that his party could go for a political realignment and join hands with the BJP ahead of the mayoral polls in September this year.



Last year, the BJP which had a majority in the BBMP Council was outsmarted by the Congress-JD(S) alliance and lost the mayor and deputy mayor post to them.



We did not align with the BJP as its maladministration (during the previous BBMP Council) had resulted in a debt burden on the BBMP to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. The BJP had even offered the mayors post, Kumaraswamy said.



However, Kumaraswamy said he was disappointed with the Congress and the present functioning of the BBMP. It is true that I have held talks with the BJP. However, nothing is final yet. There is time till September, Kumaraswamy said.
Lammuarang Simte (14 years) of Arunachal Pradesh has been battling for life with a rare and acute chronic liver disease.





Doctors at the Tomo Riba State Hospital at Itanagar had asked his family to take him to New Delhi since he needed super specialist treatment if he has to be kept alive.



He was referred to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Science (ILBS) in New Delhi, which has one of the best liver treatment facilities in the country. But his family did not have enough money to take him to New Delhi; neither did they have any contacts in New Delhi for admission in ILBS.



But a surprise visit by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul to the hospital has perhaps been a life saving moment for Simte. Pul got to know about his condition and at once ordered that Simte will be flown to New Delhi for further treatment.



This week Pul had used the chopper chartered by the state government for his official movement to various parts of the state for quick evacuation of critically ill patients from Itanagar to Guwahati, from where they have been taken to different parts of the country for advanced treatment, government sources informed DH.



Apart from Simte, 2 patients  Minyum Potom and Giabu Poda were evacuated in chief ministers chopper till Guwahati on Wednesday. His office is finding out more such patients across the state who can be airlifted when the chief minister travel to those areas on government events.



Given the treacherous terrain that Arunachal Pradesh has, there are some towns from where it takes over 2 to 3 days to reach state capital, thus Pul has decided to airlift patients whenever he flies in and out of Itanagar, sources added. The Arunachal chief minister had announced to pay from his 2 months salary for the journey expenses for Simtes treatment at the ILBS.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigators are mulling a visit to Abu Dhabi to question Christian Michel, a middleman in the AgustaWestland deal, after he gave interviews to Indian TV channels.





Michel has refused to appear before the CBI or ED in connection with the probe into the payment of Rs 360 crore to politicians and bureaucrats in the 12 VVIP chopper sale by AgustaWestland.



A British national, Michel is now staying in Abu Dhabi though Indian investigators were claiming that they could not locate him. However, in the past couple of days, Michel was giving interviews to Indian news channels. Michel was one of the middlemen who tried to swing the deal for AgustaWestland.



One of his letter in which he described Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as the "driving force" behind the deal was produced in the Court of Appeals in Italy's Milan.



This letter was also cited in the judgment in which 2 former top officials of Finmeccanica, the mother company of AgustaWestland, were convicted for corruption.



In an interview to news channel NDTV on Thursday, Michel said he did not personally know either Gandhi or her son Rahul. He said his letter did not mean that bribes were paid.



"I have to protect the Gandhis to protect myself. I have to prove they are innocent to prove my innocence," he said when asked about his comments that the Gandhis played no part in the scandal.
The controversy over AgustaWestland scam has put the focus on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh with an activists group on Thursday questioning the way his government bought a chopper from the company 8 years ago.





The Swaraj Abhiyan led by activists Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan also dragged Singhs son into the controversy, seeking an investigation into whether he has links with 2 companies registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) after the deal was concluded.



The allegations could take the sheen out of the BJPs campaign against the Congress and its chief Sonia Gandhi. The Congress had last month raised the issue of irregularities in the Chhattisgarh deal.



Yadav and Bhushan claimed that the $6.57 million amount paid for the Agusta chopper was way above the market price for choppers of the same specifications of other companies that ranges between $1.3 million and $ 4 million.



Citing documents obtained through RTI, they said $1.57 million out of the $6.57 million was commission to Sharp Oceans that delivered the chopper while Agusta got the rest.



When there is mention of Signora (about Sonia in Italian court judgment), you want an investigation. Rightly so. But this is also a very shady deal. It has to be investigated. There is no investigation as they are from their (BJP) party, Bhushan told reporters.



Demand for probe



Yadav demanded a probe by a former Supreme Court judge appointed by the Chief Justice of India. The CBI and ED were Congress toys earlier. Now they are BJPs. We need an independent probe, he said.



One of the main allegations of the group was that the global tender was called specifying that they were looking for a particular chopper of a particular company.



When the bid was called, the bidders were AgustaWestland, its India service provider OSS Air Management and its dealer Hong Kong-based Sharp Oceans. After AgustaWestland said it could not provide the chopper soon, the bid was given to Sharp Oceans.
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Rs 117 crore penalty imposed on real estate developer Mantri Techzone Pvt Ltd by the National Green Tribunal for encroaching water bodies in Bengaluru.





A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi directed maintenance of status quo and asked all the builders not to raise constructions within 75 metres from the lake and 50 metres from the storm water drain in the city, in keeping with the NGTs May 4 direction.



Nobody will build anything in Bengaluru around the water bodies. You give an undertaking that you would keep yourself away from the territory, the bench asked the counsel representing the private developers.



The NGT had directed Mantri Techzone and Coremind Software and Services to seek fresh environment clearances and imposed a total fine of Rs 130.5 crore, for violating environmental laws and building in the area between Agara and Bellandur lakes in Bengaluru. It had also ordered Mantri Techzone, a subsidiary of Mantri Developers, to restore and rejuvenate 3.10 acres of the lake land to its original condition.



Senior advocates R Venkataramani and Dushyant Dave claimed that all the constructions were undertaken after taking due permission from the authorities. Dave also said that the NGT's order would violate the fundamental right of the petitioners to practise their profession.



The bench, however, told them, Now the findings are that the developers encroached the lake and water bodies. The expert committee formed by the NGT had gone to the spot. So you have to stop all the constructions. You can't keep on building while we are hearing the matter.



Agreeing to examine the plea by the developer, the bench said, We would maintain status quo on whatever has already been built but other structures cannot come up during this period.



The court asked advocate Anita Shenoy, appearing for the Karnataka government, and senior advocate Arvind Datar, to take notice on behalf of NGOs 'Forward Foundation' and 'Namma Bengaluru Foundation'. It asked them to file their response within four weeks and put the matter for further consideration on July 19.



The court asked senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India-Karnataka, to withdraw his petition challenging the NGT order and allowed him to file a fresh petition on behalf of the individual association affected with the direction.



Venugopal claimed the NGT order had affected about 1,000 developers. Coremind Software, which was imposed Rs 13.5 crore penalty for destruction of ecologically-sensitive wetlands, is also likely to challenge the NGT's order.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete three years in office on Friday. He may not have got the thumbs up from the Opposition parties or the people for his performance, but is confident of continuing as chief minister for the next two years.





Not just completing his five-year term, Siddaramaiah is also sure that he would lead the Congress party in the next assembly election in 2018.



In an interaction with the media in Delhi on the eve of completing three years in the hot seat, Siddaramaiah said he supported the demand for a Dalit chief minister in Karnataka but that did not mean that he would be replaced as rumoured.



The chief minister recently got a survey done by a government department on his pet Bhagya schemes targeted at the poor. He has organised an interactive programme with select beneficiaries of these schemes, in Bengaluru on Friday.



Through the survey, he tried to get a pat on his back. But the BJP and the JD(S) are not likely to spare him as they have a long list of corruption and nepotism charges against the Congress.



Asked how he felt about his administration, he said, I am satisfied with my performance as I gave corruption-free administration. My government launched several welfare programmes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and a scheme for farmers."
JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday accused the state government of funding the Congress party in fighting elections in other states.



Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said state funds were being siphoned off to other states for fighting elections. He said funds from the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has been dispatched to the Congress party in Kerala for fighting the Assembly polls. Kumaraswamy, however, did not substantiate his charges by producing supporting documents.



Kumaraswamy said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his ministerial colleagues should introspect what they had done for the past three years. The government has turned a blind eye to corruption. Encroachment of lakes is taking place right under the nose of the government. In some cases, the government itself is supporting encroachment of lakes, he charged.



The BDA and the institution of the Lokayukta have become collection centres, he said and added that there had been irregularities in the awarding of 126 packages for works to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore in the Public Works Department.



Siddaramaiah and Rural Development Minister H K Patil has made careless remarks that the state was not facing drought, he said.



Instead of getting a pat on his back by talking to the beneficiaries of government schemes, Siddaramaiah should meditate and introspect for a day on his contribution to the state, Kumaraswamy said. He was referring to the interaction programme of beneficiaries of the state governments populist schemes with Siddaramaiah on Friday.

Jamadar pulled up?



The JD(S) leader said it had come to his knowledge that recently Patil had telephoned a retired IAS officer (S M Jamadar) and shouted at him for criticising the RDPR department in a write-up published in a Kannada daily.



This is the way the government functions... it cannot even digest constructive criticism, Kumaraswamy said and added that the retired officer had responded by stating that the minister could file a defamation case against him if he had misinterpreted facts.


Officials representing charities say granting North Dakotas five American Indian tribes exclusive rights to host online gambling could effectively end charitable gambling in the state. The tribes want Gov. Doug Burgum to approve the idea under tribal-state agreements known as compacts. The current compacts expire at the end of this year and only Burgum can approve them. The tribes argue that their casinos have been hurt by the explosion of the charities Las Vegas-style pull tab machines. Burgum heard arguments from the charities and tribes on Friday. He says the terms of the compacts are still being negotiated and should be completed next month.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya will become the 16th Indian national New Delhi sought to extradite from the United Kingdom.





The King of Good Times, however, has no reason to worry, at least not immediately. None of the 15, who precede him in the roll of the fugitives New Delhi wants to get extradited from the UK, have been returned to India.



London had turned down New Delhis request for deporting Mallya who is under the Enforcement Directorate scanner in a money laundering case. The government has been forced to take the extradition route. India and the UK have an extradition treaty that dates back to 1993. But the treaty apparently did not help India get its fugitives.



Official documents available with DH revealed that New Delhi could not get anyone extradited from the UK in the past 13 years.



Between February 2002 and December 2015, at least 60 terrorists and other fugitives were extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates, United States, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Oman, Peru, Mauritius, Morocco, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Bulgaria, South Africa, Australia, Tanzania and Portugal. None was extradited from the UK.



Three British citizens were extradited to India in 2004 and 2005, albeit from US, Tanzania and Bulgaria.



Officials said that New Delhi could not get anyone extradited from the UK particularly because the legal system of that country provides the fugitives safeguards that they could resort to resist or, at least, delay their return to India.



New Delhi repeatedly conveyed its concerns to London over excessive delay in extraditing fugitives from the UK to India.
In a decision that could have wide-reaching impact, a federal appeals court in Colorado ruled that a convicted sex offender does not have to take a polygraph test as part of his supervised release from prison.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finding Tuesday overruled a lower courts decision and agrees with Brian Von Behren that the lie detector examination would violate his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Because polygraphs are used post-conviction on sex crime offenders across the nation, especially in Colorado, the appellate ruling could impact the practices implementation in Colorado and beyond, observers say.

David Beller, a criminal defense lawyer with the Denver firm Recht Kornfeld, said that although the ruling does not reflect a change in law, it clarifies a probationers right to remain silent when asked about uncharged criminal behavior unrelated to a conviction.

This decision provides some indication that the legal communitys support for polygraphs as an appropriate and constitutional tool in the treatment of sex offenses is waning, he added.

Von Behren in 2005 was sentenced in Colorados federal court to 121 months in prison and three years of supervised release for receiving and distributing child pornography.

As part of the conditions of his release, Von Behren was ordered to take a sexual history polygraph requiring him to answer four questions about whether he had ever committed illicit sex acts for which he was never charged.

If any crimes were unearthed, they were to be reported to authorities.

Von Behren declined on the basis that the polygraph violated his Fifth Amendment rights, putting him at risk of having his supervised release revoked. The 10th Circuit court agreed.

In the ruling, however, the appellate court wrote a solution to the Fifth Amendment issue would be if the polygraph were used sensibly as part of an offenders probation and not in criminal prosecution.

The court covers a six-state region made up of Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

Polygraphs are used as part of sex offenders probation across the country.

In Colorado, the states Sex Offender Management Board standards and guidelines manual lists polygraph examinations as an important part of a thorough investigation into an offender.

The lie detector results are used in sex offender treatment to improve treatment decisions, deter an offenders problem behavior and access information about an offender that otherwise might remain a mystery.

Jeanne M. Smith, director of Colorados Division of Criminal Justice, which oversees the Sex Offender Management Board, said state legal counsel will review the ruling to determine any possible response.

Polygraph is a big part of how Colorado treats sex offenders, said Michael Miner, a professor in the University of Minnesotas human sexuality program and president of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. I would assume this is going to have some impact on that if someone can in fact refuse to take the polygraph and if doing so doesnt jeopardize their standing on probation or within a treatment program.

It will be interesting to see how the chips fall.

Kurt Gransee, a criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio who handles several sex crime cases each year, said he thinks attorneys across the country will use the opinion.

It wont be binding necessarily in other jurisdictions, he explained. But lawyers will go to the reasoning in this case. I think it will be pretty persuasive.

Court cases challenging lie detector testing for sex offenders have popped up across the nation in recent years.

In January, a New Jersey court upheld the state parole boards use of lie detectors to monitor sex offenders in the wake of a challenge that likened the practice to coerced interrogations, NJ Advance Media reported.

Michael Woyce, the lawyer who brought that case before the court, said Wednesday that the 10th Circuits decision likely will play a part in a similar lie detector challenge hes working on before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Well certainly be looking at it, he said of the Colorado ruling. Its probably something we will be submitting as a supplement.

The U.S. Justice Department can ask for further review on the case from the 10th Circuit or the Supreme Court.

But Eric Wiggam, spokesman for Colorados U.S. attorneys office, which handled the case, said there were no plans to take action on the ruling. Federal prosecutors declined to comment further.

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul

Staff writer Kirk Mitchell contributed to this report.
On the final day of the legislative session, Colorado lawmakers forged what they believe is a grand compromise to modernize the states Prohibition-era liquor laws.

Were changing 83 years of law in the last hours of the session, hoping for the best, said House Speaker Pro Tem Dan Pabon, a Denver Democrat.

The legislation  approved by the House and Senate in overwhelming votes Wednesday  would allow a limited expansion of liquor, wine and full-strength beer sales at more grocery and convenience stores.

The last-minute push is intended to blunt a potential ballot question in November to allow broader beer and wine sales. But even as lawmakers began popping bottles in celebration, its future remained unclear.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat and former brewpub owner, has expressed reservations about the legislation, recently suggesting he would tend to favor the status quo.

And the organization behind the ballot question, Your Choice Colorado, responded to the bills passage with indignation, threatening to continue its efforts or file a lawsuit.

The organization objects to the limits in the legislation, such as the delay of full-strength beer sales to 2019 and restrictions on grocery sales within 1,500 feet of a current liquor store.

Instead of fixing an antiquated law, the legislature failed Colorado consumers, jamming together a last-minute bill that masquerades as a compromise, said Georgie Aguirre-Sacasa, the organizations campaign manager.

Sen. Pat Steadman, a Denver Democrat who helped craft the deal, suggested the opposition is bluffing. Their appetite for going ahead with their ballot initiatives is greatly exaggerated at the moment, he said.

The heavy lift on the 120th day contrasted a session that saw little movement on most top priorities, such as more money for road construction and deeper budget reforms.

Still, lawmakers spent the last hours rushing dozens of bills to the finish line.

Among the legislation to win approval: a measure to allow out-of-state investors to own marijuana shops, another to significantly cut the license fees for distillers and liquor wholesalers, a bill that removes outdated criminal penalties on people with HIV, another to permit the state to invest public school money in higher-yield but riskier investments.

A last-minute dispute on a pair of bills to allow more leniency for juveniles serving life sentences in prison complicated the picture. But lawmakers managed to pass legislation to reduce the sentence mandates and permit a select group to participate in a program aimed at making the case for clemency.

Despite the ticking clock, the House and Senate found time to honor the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

The sessions end regressed to a schools-out-for-summer mood, as lawmakers packed boxes and pulled pranks and the House Republicans roasted the chambers Democratic leaders.

In the Senate, Lakewood Democrat Andy Kerr prefaced his presentation of Senate Bill 183 with this request: Please do not shoot any more rubber bands at me, he said, as colleagues fired a torrent of colorful loops from their bill folders.

Nine senators and 15 representatives said their goodbyes.

The session adjourned just hours before the midnight deadline, marked by the drop of a rubber-band ball in the Capitol rotunda.

John Frank: 303-954-2409, jfrank@denverpost.com or @ByJohnFrank
When you hear the man whose name is synonymous with antivirus software say, The AV paradigm is no longer functional, that should tip you off that John McAfee was in Denver on Wednesday not to promote security software.

He sold his namesake antivirus firm years ago, but his keynote during The Rocky Mountain Information Security Conference wasnt about spilled milk. He was there to encourage security professionals to make some noise and shock their companies into investing in training and security and not just making a profit.

Is there anyone not writing software thats trying to (mess) with us? Its astonishing, he said.

Its hard not to agree with McAfee, who has become better known in recent years for his escapades in Central America and campaigning to be the Libertarian Partys pick for U.S. president. He runs a series of security ventures under the umbrella Future Tense Central, including BlackCert, which started in Denver.

But the barrage of phished e-mail, mobile apps that request unnecessary permissions and other cyberrisks has made some people complacent.

His suggestion to get company higher-ups to do something about it? Tell them, he said, if we dont do this, heres the risk: In 12 months, our competitors are going to have our data and Im going to be looking for a new job. Scare people. Shock people.

McAfee made an impromptu visit before his keynote, joining a security panel to talk about trends in the industry. The theme of getting people and businesses to implement security before something bad happened also prevailed.

Jayson E. Street, who is with Pwnie Express, shared a story about a bike-shop owner who didnt add enough security to his computer because he didnt think anyone would target a bicycle shop. Police raided the store months later because it unknowingly was hosting malware that spread to other machines connected to the internet.

We have this realization that I can trust my neighbors and leave the door unlocked. But on the internet, youre a number, Street said. Your neighbor is in Paraguay and China. Theyre going through a list of numbers. Youve got bandwidth, hard-drive space and processing power. Thats what they want.

Companies are willing to let security slide until they are on the wrong end of a breach, like the adultery site Ashley Madison, which faced a backlash last year after hackers stole customer data and exposed users online.

They were lax, McAfee said. I promise you every one of their competitors have changed their security.

Companies dont change until after something happens, said Eddie Mize, The Pinnacle Groups chief security officer and a close friend of McAfees who got the security celebrity to show up.

My message hasnt changed, Mize said. Until we get every single person in the organization to understand theyre part of the information security team, were going to fail. That includes janitors, people on the assembly line.

McAfee went back to the big problem with security today: humans.

Over half of hacking and malware is (helped by) human engineering. Theres no technology there, McAfee said, with the others piping in about how easy it is to get around anti-malware software.

All you have to say is Your account has changed, and 90 percent of people will click on it. We have become lazy, he said. Our devices are doing the thinking. We dont even know our friends phone numbers anymore. Part of me thinks this is just an evolutionary purge. People who dont think before acting, theyll eventually disappear.

Tamara Chuang: tchuang@denverpost.com or visit dpo.st/tamara
WASHINGTON  A liberal Colorado group is exploring ways to file a complaint against U.S. Senate candidate Jon Keyser in the wake of a TV report that claims the Keyser campaign used forged signatures to qualify for the ballot.

A story by Denver7 posted Tuesday found 10 of the signatures that his campaign collected to make the June 28 primary ballot apparently were forged. The station contacted these 10 voters and each one denied signing Keysers petition.

To qualify for the Colorado ballot by petition, a U.S. Senate candidate needs 1,500 valid signatures from each of the states seven congressional districts.

Keyser, a Republican, cleared the threshold by just 20 signatures in District 1  where the 10 signatures in question were found  and the liberal group ProgressNow Colorado wants authorities to take a closer look.

The extent of the petition fraud uncovered in Jon Keysers campaign is shocking and exceeds our worst fears, said Alan Franklin, the groups political director.

One obstacle for ProgressNow, however, is finding a legal pathway to file a complaint against the Keyser campaign. Because ProgressNow cant easily claim to be a victim in a Republican primary, it likely needs a proxy, such as another GOP candidate, a registered Republican or one of the 10 voters whose signatures were used.

Getting one of Keysers rivals to do so is a longshot, because any Republican candidate who aligns with ProgressNow could face a backlash from GOP voters. The Jack Graham campaign, for example, does not plan to take part in any legal action.

Were moving on to the primary election, said Dick Wadhams, Grahams campaign manager.

ProgressNow may have better luck with a Republican voter, although even a failed attempt to challenge Keyser could help advance the groups political goals.

ProgressNow has been haranguing Keyser for months before the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, the incumbent Democrat, and any time or money spent by Keyser to address this issue are resources hes not using elsewhere.

Clearly Democrats will stop at nothing to focus attention away from Senator Michael Bennets failed record, said Matt Connelly, a Keyser spokesman.

Mark K. Matthews: 202-662-8907


Fewer Colorado students were identified as having a significant reading deficiency in 2015  a statistic that has been dropping steadily since legislation was passed in 2012 to make sure all students were proficient by the end of third grade.

Last year, 13.8 percent (36,420) of kindergarten through third-grade students were identified as having a significant reading deficiency, according to a state Department of Education report. That is down 2.7 percent, or 6,059 students, from 2013.

The department credits the READ Act, intended to identify reading difficulties in children early and intervene quickly to close reading gaps, with this decline.

By decreasing the number of students identified as at-risk and moving more students toward grade-level proficiency, Colorado can increase student achievement here at home, while also serving as a national model for improving literacy and education success for all children, said Rich Crandall, state education commissioner.

The act provides per-pupil funds to help districts with these interventions, giving $33 million  or $905.88 per student with a significant reading deficiency  for distribution to districts in the 2015-16 school year. In addition to intervention services, the funds go toward tutoring, summer literacy programs and full-day kindergarten, the report said.

Students who remained in the same school district from first to third grade were more likely to see improvement in reading proficiency, with a 54 percent reduction rate in students with a significant reading deficiency over the three-year period.

Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223 or ehernandez@ denverpost.com

Between the lines

 Twenty-one percent of all free and reduced-price lunch students were identified as having a severe reading deficiency, compared with 7 percent of students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

 Female students were 3.4 percent less likely than males to be identified as having a severe reading deficiency.

 Non-English students saw a decrease in reading deficiency by 1.4 percent, and limited-English students saw a decrease by .08 percent.
11 May 2016 (Siberian Times)  Dramatic social media messages from villagers  Forests are burning!, Nothing to breathe in Bagdarin village!, Turka village is on fire! Warming weather has unleashed a wave of forest fires, with the Republic of Buryatia, and regions TransBaikal and Amur badly hit. In one day alone 10,000 hectares of forest in the Russian Far East was burned down, with dozens of homes lost. The scale was less than in Canadas dramatic fires, but is a reminder of the grave threat annually facing many Russian regions. Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Valentik blames people for much of the carnage. 99% of all fires in the Amur region, the Trans-Baikal region and Buryatia are caused by people who set fire to grass, he said. He warned that the tradition of burning dried grass ahead of the sowing season  popular since Soviet times  is now against the law. It is now necessary to take all measures to tighten control over compliance with the ban on the burning of dry grass, he said. People need to know that by burning grass they violate the law. Criminal cases will be brought against those who burn grass, he said.
A lot of people were happy last week when the state announced it would replace Common Core. The program to track student progress has become a hot-button issue in North Dakota and across the nation.

Efforts to abolish the program failed in the Legislature but over the last few months even supporters of the program have lost their desire to fight for it. It didnt help that the Smarter Balanced standardized test used to judge student progress turned into a fiasco when implemented. Students had problems accessing the program to take the test and it seemingly took forever to get the results.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said committees will be selected to write new standards and will complete their work early in 2017. Since their work wont be done until then, the test will be used in the spring of 2017.

The decision to develop new standards makes sense. The opposition to Common Core undercut its credibility. It became an issue at the Republican state convention. Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, got some traction from it in his bid for the gubernatorial nomination. Joseph Chiang, a teacher at Fort Totten, mounted a spirited challenge to Baesler at the convention using his opposition to Common Core. Baesler got the GOP letter of support, but Chiang will challenge her in the primary.

Whether due to public pressure or politics, Common Core will end in about a year. What shouldnt end are the goals of Common Core. The program was established to monitor the progress of students as they went through school, with pupils in grades 3-8 and 11 taking the annual Smarter Balanced test. If the program worked as intended, areas where students needed help could be identified and they could get assistance.

Part of the problem was Common Core was created in an attempt to use the same education standards for grades K-12 in all states, a move that became identified as interference by the federal government.

The Tribune Editorial Board believes when the committees rewrite the standards the ultimate goal should be to prepare students for the next step in their lives. To this end the goals should be challenging. Students planning to attend college should, ideally, come out of high school with some college credits. They should have an idea of the rigors theyll face in higher education. Students planning to attend vocational schools or pursue other career paths also need a solid educational foundation.

Good grades are great, but they need to be earned. Its the knowledge and skills that are important. If we are successful in doing that, then good grades will follow. What the committees come up with may not be a lot different than Common Core. What will change will be how its implemented. Its a daunting task that will determine the future of our students.
High school would not have been hard for the young woman Cara Moulton had been tutoring if life hadnt gotten in the way. But she got pregnant young and dropped out.

The first three tests to get her GED high school equivalency diploma had not been a problem, but the final one  math  was her stumbling block.

Moulton heard sobs when she picked up her phone. Her heart dropped. She told the woman they would study more, and shed pass next time. Then Moulton realized what the woman was saying.

I passed.

Moulton knows what a GED diploma can mean, because she, too, has one. And that was the first step on her path to graduating today from Sitting Bull College and preparing to attend law school.

Oh, my God, I cried, she said.

Moulton volunteers with AmeriCorps as a tutor for the colleges GED program, along with completing her own classes and working full time for the college. The GED program at Sitting Bull, a tribal college located on the Standing Rock reservation, has gotten a big leg up from tutors such as Moulton.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provided the program with a grant, called the AmeriCorps Standing Rock GED Project, to provide three tutors each in Fort Yates, McLaughlin, S.D., and Mobridge, S.D. The tutors  called AmeriCorps members  are volunteers, but they get small living allowances and scholarships.

If we didnt have this grant, we wouldnt be able to help the students as we do, said Mary Rousseau, Sitting Bull Colleges GED program director.

The GED test in 2014 changed to a more rigorous computer-based program that requires more critical thinking skills compared to the old multiple-choice test, Rousseau said. She finds the new test holds students to higher standards.

Thats why I like this test so much better than anything that could possibly replace it, she said. Its just good for the students.

Despite the more rigorous examination, the number of people passing the test through Sitting Bull College has remained similar to the number before the change. From 2007 to 2012, 13 people on average completed the program each year. In 2013, 32 people passed the test, getting in before it changed to the harder version.

Since May 2015, 19 people have completed the GED program through Sitting Bull College. Rousseau said those students also will be honored today at a graduation ceremony.

Rousseau credits the grant and the work the AmeriCorps tutors have done for the success.

What weve been focusing on  is getting these members trained to be able to help students with the new test, she said.

The AmeriCorps grant is under the category of economic opportunity, and thats what a GED diploma can provide, said Rousseau, also a GED recipient.

Rousseau explained Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has a rule in place limiting employment to high school graduates or those who have earned GED diplomas. Lacking both handcuffs people on the reservation, she said. According to data from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Standing Rock Community Grant High School in 2015 had a graduation rate of 49.21 percent and a dropout rate of 42.86 percent.

The people who leave school and come back for their GED diplomas usually have had some difficulty or trauma in their lives, Moulton said. A variety of difficult circumstances led her to leave school at 16.

Not having an education makes life even harder. Everything  even applying for a job  is an uphill battle without finishing high school, Moulton said.

You dont think you have a future, said Moulton, who went back to get her GED diploma at 18 and began classes at Sitting Bull College a few years later.

Now, when she sees nervous students, she knows they can succeed.

I dont see any of those students who walk through the door as anything less than potential doctors or potential lawyers, she said.

Moulton said some students walk several miles to take their tests. The young woman Moulton tutored this year would bring her daughter with her when she had no one to babysit.

I know the amazing relief students feel when they pass, Moulton said. For me, it was like I hadnt failed at life after all, that I still had a shot.

Thats why shes worked so hard with students in the program. Its paid off for them, and her own studies have paid off for her. Moulton is the Sitting Bull College valedictorian this year. GED diploma recipients statistically have been more college-ready than high school graduates, Rousseau said.

I have gotten into every law school I have applied to, including prestigious top 50 schools, and so I know how much that means, Moulton said. I am going to law school in the fall, and I would never have gotten to this point without being able to get my GED.

Many of the people who pass the test through Sitting Bull College begin college classes, Rousseau said. The young woman Moulton tutored plans to join their ranks in the fall.

In addition to the GED program, Sitting Bull College offers dual-credit courses for high school students, a variety of associates degree programs, eight bachelors degree programs and one masters degree program. Moulton said the tuition is low and the quality of education is high, and the college is open to anyone, not just tribal members.
Six U.S. companies further investments into connected car technology by joining The Linux Foundations Automotive Grade Linux project

May 12, 2016 -- Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative open source project developing a common, Linux-based software stack for the connected car, today announced that Movimento, Oracle, Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc., Texas Instruments, UIEvolution and VeriSilicon have joined Automotive Grade Linux. Additionally, it was announced that Movimento, UIEvolution and VeriSilicon have also joined The Linux Foundation.



AGL has seen tremendous growth over the past year as demand for connected car technology and infotainment are rapidly increasing, said Dan Cauchy, General Manager of Automotive at The Linux Foundation. Our membership base is not only growing rapidly, but it is also diversifying across various business interests, from semiconductors and in-vehicle software to IoT and connected cloud services. This is a clear indication that the connected car revolution has broad implications across many industry verticals.



Automotive Grade Linux recently hosted its All Member Meeting in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting brought together engineers, developers and business leaders from 39 member companies to share information, collaborate further on AGL open source technology and expand the ecosystem.



Earlier this year at CES 2016, AGL announced a new AGL Unified Code Base (UCB) distribution built specifically for the automotive industry. This new Linux distribution is built from the ground up to address automotive specific applications and is in a unique position to become the de facto standard for the industry. Ideal for deploying navigation, communications, safety, security and infotainment functionality, the AGL UCB distribution is supported by a broad community of participants from the automotive, communications and semiconductor industries, as well as individual developers.



Embracing open source and working with Automotive Grade Linux will help us further expand our solutions for automotive which are widely adopted in production and next generation automotive Instrument Cluster, ADAS and Infotainment platforms, said Wei-Jin Dai, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intellectual Property Division, and Chief Strategy Officer at VeriSilicon Holdings. We applaud the momentum the AGL community has generated by bringing together the leading automotive OEMs and the supply chain to develop automotive solutions that improve functional safety, enhance security, shorten product development cycles and enhance quality across the automotive supply chain.



About Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)

Automotive Grade Linux is a collaborative open source project that aims to accelerate the development and adoption of a fully open software stack for the connected car. Leveraging the power and strength of Linux at its core, AGL is uniting automakers and technology companies to develop a common platform that offers OEMs complete control of the user experience so the industry can rapidly innovate where it counts. The AGL platform is available to all, and anyone can participate in its development. Learn more: https://www.automotivelinux.org/.



Automotive Grade Linux is a Collaborative Project at The Linux Foundation. Linux Foundation Collaborative Projects are independently funded software projects that harness the power of collaborative development to fuel innovation across industries and ecosystems. www.linuxfoundation.org



About The Linux Foundation



The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org.






All currency figures stated in this report are in US Dollars unless stated otherwise.



SHANGHAI, May 12, 2016 -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) ("SMIC" or the "Company"), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world, today announced its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016.



First Quarter 2016 Highlights



Revenue was a record high of $634.3 million in 1Q16, increased by 4.0% QoQ from $610.1 million in 4Q15 and increased by 24.4% YoY from $509.8 million in 1Q15.

Gross margin was 24.2% in 1Q16, compared to 28.5% in 4Q15 and 29.4% in 1Q15.

Profit from operations was $66.1 million in 1Q16, compared to $41.6 million in 4Q15 and $45.5 million in 1Q15.

Net profit for the period attributable to SMIC was $61.4 million in 1Q16, as compared to $38.6 million in 4Q15 and $55.5 million in 1Q15.

Second Quarter 2016 Guidance:



The following statements are forward looking statements which are based on current expectations and which involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are set forth under "Safe Harbor Statements" below. The Company expects:



Revenue to increase by 3% to 7% quarter over quarter.

Gross margin to range from 25% to 27%.

Non-GAAP operating expenses excluding the effect of employee bonus accrual, government funding and gain from the disposal of living quarters to range from $115 million to $120 million.

Non-controlling interests of our majority-owned subsidiaries to range from positive $9 million to positive $11 million (losses to be borne by non-controlling interests).

Dr. Tzu-Yin Chiu, SMIC's Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director commented, "We had another quarter with record-high revenue, continued demand strength and continued high utilizations. Purchase orders from our customers continue to be robust and are being driven by our diversified product and customer exposure, which continues to drive our utilizations high. Our customers are expanding their market share and we now target to grow revenue more than 20% this year given the great demand.



The first quarter of 2016 was another great quarter for SMIC; we surpassed the industry's revenue growth and grew more than 24% YoY. Overall utilization was 98.8% in the first quarter, in which even our newly ramping fabs experienced strong customer demand. Last quarter marks our 16th consecutive profitable quarter and we continue to target sustained profitability.



Overall, we believe SMIC is strategically building competitiveness globally and further optimizing our position as the preferred foundry provider in mainland China. We expect growth again in the second quarter, but remain constrained by the pace of our capacity growth. SMIC is optimistic in the long-term given our strategy, strong customer partnerships, and execution track record."



Conference Call / Webcast Announcement



Date: May 13, 2016

Time: 8:30 a.m. Shanghai time

Dial-in numbers and pass code:



China: +86 400-620-8038 (Pass code: SMIC)



Hong Kong: +852 3018-6771 (Pass code: SMIC)



Taiwan: +886 2-2650-7825 (Pass code: SMIC)



United States, New York: +1 845-675-0437 (Pass code: SMIC)



The call will be webcast live with audio at http://www.smics.com/eng/investors/ir_presentations.php or http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/ivhxouhj.



An archived version of the webcast, along with an electronic copy of this news release will be available on the SMIC website for a period of 12 months following the webcast.



About SMIC



Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 28-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai; a 300mm mega-fab and a second majority owned 300mm fab for advance nodes in Beijing; and 200mm fabs in Tianjin and Shenzhen. SMIC also has marketing and customer service offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong.



For more information, please visit www.smics.com .






Jr. NTRs Film With Puri Jagannadh To Go On Floors After August
A new partnership between BSO and IXcellerate is set to improve fibre access to Russias MOEX Exchange in Moscow.

Ethernet network, cloud and hosting provider BSO will provide four diverse and non-overlapping fibre paths out of IXcellerates Moscow One Data Centre and into markets across the world, including London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Shanghai. Additionally, the data centre provides access to BSOs advanced global backbone across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

BSOs latencies in/out of IXcellerate include:

London (LD4)  37.5ms

Frankfurt (FR2 and FR5)  35ms (currently being optimised to sub 33ms)

Stockholm (Telecity Bromma)  16.5ms

We are seeing increased demand for our services in and out of Russia, says Michael Ourabah, CEO at BSO. Were thrilled to be able to offer our customers fully redundant, diverse access to IXcellerates Moscow One Datacentre across Europe and beyond.

BSOs ultra low latency network connects 27 exchanges globally and has been engineered for the finance community and emerging markets.
North Dakota Democratic legislators again called for a special session Thursday to deal with state budget cuts, citing recent public forums in Grand Forks and West Fargo addressing drug abuse.

But a spokesman for Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple said his decision against a special session before the Legislature convenes next year still stands.

Citing lower oil and farm commodity prices, Dalrymple ordered a 4.05 percent budget cut in February to help cover a nearly $1.1 billion shortfall. In early April, he rejected a request from Democrats to hold a special session to restore about $50 million to agency budgets.

"We have a plan that will carry us through this year I think just fine, and everyone is telling me that the real decisions to be made are about the ongoing budget going on into 2017-19," Dalrymple said at the time. He later called for 2017-19 biennium general fund budgets at 90 percent of spending levels approved for this two-year period, but said the Department of Human Services and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation wouldn't be strictly held to that.

In a press release issued Thursday, Democratic legislators pointed to a forum held Tuesday night at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks, where a locally produced documentary on fentanyl abuse was screened.

"A young woman spoke up at the recent community forum in Grand Forks, where she shared that she is a recovering addict and requested that more treatment services be made available in Grand Forks," Grand Forks State Rep. Kylie Oversen, who is also the Democratic-NPL party chairwoman, said in a statement. "By refusing to call a special session to address such requests, the governor and all Republican legislators are ignoring these pleas, leaving many people desperate and without many options."

Oversen added that there were 226 patients admitted to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks for overdoses in 2015, doubling 2010's rate.

Jeff Zent, a spokesman for Dalrymple, said many of the budget cuts "are a reduction from an enhancement."

"During the last session, the Legislature enhanced programs, and in many of those cases, those enhancements have not even taken effect yet," he added.

Oversen provided a bill draft that would restore almost $39 million to the DHS during a special session, including almost $5.4 million for behavioral health-related services.
Yahsat and Tele10 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving internet connectivity in Rwanda, Burundi and East Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UAE-based satellite operator is due to launch its third satellite, Al Yah 3, which in turn will see the roll out of its cost-effective satellite broadband service YahClick to 19 new markets in Africa during the first half of 2017.

YahClick, delivered through a modem and small satellite dish, is currently the number one satellite broadband service in Africa, providing subscribers access to uninterrupted, high-speed internet anywhere in the coverage area with in-country technical, operational, and customer care services. As Yahsat works towards expanding its coverage area across the African continent, the company is in talks with local service providers to reinforce the presence of YahClick and strengthen its customer care.



Commenting on the MoU, David Murphy, Yahsats Chief Commercial Officer, said, Our satellite technology connects individuals and businesses across Africa, regardless of the level of telecommunications infrastructure present in each country. We are dedicated to serving underserved and remote areas by providing better connectivity to new and existing internet users.

Tele10 has been serving the East African region for 20 years, by providing diverse solutions including pay-TV, radio broadcasting, and ICT services. In 2017, the company will grow its portfolio to offer the YahClick broadband products, services and value-added solutions to its existing customer base as well as new customers. New markets will be served using the latest Ka-band technology, which is highly reliable in all weather conditions.
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by Kathleen Gilbert BEIJING, September 7, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com)  Escaped Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is leading international opponents of forced abortion in calling upon the worlds largest company to end compliance with the Chinas one-child policy. Family planning police have targeted employees (569)

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Church Militant, we need to band together to protect our religious liberties and win the culture war!
Where there is a will, there is a way. This cliche stands proven in Lalit Kumars story. Lalit, a resident of Yamuna Vihar in East Delhi, had a dream of making it big. After securing an engineering degree from Krishna Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghaziabad, Lalit went on to work with Bharat Electronics Limited for a year, post which he was employed at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Noida, for a decade long stretch as a research scientist. A professional pedigree, a coveted job and a loyal patronage at C-DAC, all this seemed like a fairytale for Lalit, but sadly, it was not to be.

An embittered Lalit recalls, After 10 years of working at C-DAC, they conducted a review for 3 minutes and thereafter declared me unfit for employment. This is very unfortunate and I didnt expect that after 10 years of service and my dedication, they give me unfit! My story begins from that point.



Lalit Kumar, Founder, Pixy: Standing next to Pixy at the Second Smart City Summit, New Delhi

After getting the boot from C-DAC (the reasons for which we are trying to verify), Lalit found a new sense of inspiration thanks to the current Governments Make in India initiative. With determination and vigour, Lalit resolved to make a name for himself, in a country where startups and innovation finally found their rightful place. Thats when he had the idea to build an Android based Hybrid car, and that is how Pixy was born in a low key garage, in East Delhis Yamuna Vihar.

Lalit chose the Tata Nano as the vehicle to build upon, customised it with a homemade 150cc engine, and sourced all the other parts from local markets of Delhi. He tells us, There was no readymade components available in the market which can be fitted in the car. So, I made a visit to the local markets such as Jama Masjid, scrap markets and Lajpat Nagar Market, which is the electronic hub of India. I bought many components, I cannot even name them because I didnt know their names, I just bought it if I thought it could be fitted in my car.

After sourcing the required parts, Lalit created what is now the first hybrid Tata Nano. The aptly named Pixy, can run on electricity as well as petrol. One can switch between both modes with the tap of a button on the Pixy prototype app for Android smartphones. The smart car has an in-built battery charger, along with the ability to charge with solar energy. Pixy can easily travel for 4 hours on a single charge. The cars gullwing doors (yes, he actually fitted gullwing doors on a Nano) can also be opened and closed with a simple app command. Lalit says that he is also working toward giving the Pixy an autopilot mode, which is essentially a step towards making it a driverless car. To me, Pixy looked like a Nano on steroids, complete with flashing LED door lights and neon interiors. To Lalit, it is his prized possession and his lifes work poured into a smart car, which took him all of 8 months to design and finish.



Pixy Android App

When asked about how he funded his project, given that he does not hail from a financially strong family, Lalit said, My daddy supported me financially and my sister who was having some funds, I borrowed some money from them. 

Although his hard-work payed off in the form of a working hybrid car, commercial success is still far from Lalits grasp.

I approached every government agency, even the PMO. But, I did not get any help from there.

I approached every government agency, even the PMO, when you can think of Government agencies, I approached every one of them, but I did not get any help from there. I got a response from PMO office, when I wrote to them that I have designed a car which can be a good initiative for Make in India. But, I got totally disappointed when I got a letter back which told me to contact SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers). I contacted Mr Saurabh Rohilla (now Associate Director, SIAM), who was also surprised that why the PMO directed you to contact me!

"As I came to know from Govt agencies, they support nothing. They do not support.

A dejected Lalit still holds hope in his heart that someone, in some Government body, will give him the time of day and help him commercialise his ideas. He is determined that he wants his initiative to help the common man of India, rather than a private conglomerate. I did not start my work for business, says Lalit. He adds, My work was to motivate the Indian youth, to show them what we can do in our country, to make our country strong. But, as I came to know from Govt agencies, they support nothing. They do not support.

In Lalits case, another cliche stands corrected - When life gives you Lemons, make lemonade! Lalit will continue his efforts towards getting a Govt agency to support him, meanwhile, one cant help but notice the lack of Govt support to such entrepreneurs emerging from the streets and gullies of India.

If you appreciate Lalits work and want to send him a word of encouragement, write to us in our comments section below and well make sure he gets your message.


Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on May 20 in Fargo, her campaign announced Wednesday.

A campaign statement said the nations 42nd president also will attend public events that day in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Billings, Mont., and will discuss why Hillary Clinton is the best candidate to break down all the barriers holding families back.

Additional details about the trip will be released soon, the campaign said. North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Executive Director Robert Haider also confirmed the Fargo visit but said he didnt have details about the time and location.

The news came one day after Hillary Clintons rival for the Democratic nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, announced he will speak Friday in Fargo at the Ramada Plaza & Suites, 1635 42nd St. S., with doors opening at 11 a.m. for the early afternoon speech.

Dem-NPL chair Kylie Oversen said the party is thrilled to welcome both.

Theres a lot of energy behind both of those visits, said Oversen, a state representative from Grand Forks. We strongly believe that either of the Democratic candidates would be a much better option and offer much better messages than likely (Republican) candidate Donald Trump.

Bill Clinton last spoke publicly in North Dakota on March 17, 2012, when he delivered the keynote address at the Dem-NPL state convention in Grand Forks. That came nearly 15 years after his April 22, 1997, speech at the Grand Forks Air Force Base during the historic flood that inundated much of the community of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn.

He draws a good crowd, because I know he has a lot of supporters and fans in North Dakota, so its exciting that we can welcome him back, Oversen said.

Haider said state Democrats are energized about the election, and the excitement surrounding the Democratic campaigns coming to North Dakota reinforces that. He said the momentum and messages of the partys candidates contrast with those of the Republican Partys presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, who will speak May 26 at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck.

We need a presidential candidate who stands up and fights for all North Dakotans as both Democratic candidates do, not someone marginalizing women, minorities, and many others with hate-filled, misleading statements like Donald Trump, he said in an emailed statement.

North Dakota Democrats will hold district caucuses June 7 to select delegates and alternates to the State Delegate Selection Meeting in Bismarck on June 18. There, delegates will elect 23 delegates and two alternates to the Democratic National Convention July 25-28 in Philadelphia.

Five of the national delegates will be unpledged superdelegates: U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is backing Hillary Clinton, while national committeeman Chad Nodland is supporting Sanders. Oversen, vice chair Warren Larson and national committeewoman Renee Pfenning remain uncommitted.
Beverage bottler Coca-Cola HBC is expected to report a drop in first quarter sales on Friday, on tough comparators in the previous year and weakness in emerging markets.

Numis has forecast sales of 1.30bn in the first quarter of 2016, down from 1.35bn the same time a year ago.

The broker noted that the first quarter of 2015 had enjoyed an extra four selling days and an early Easter which supported a 7.2% increase in sales volumes.

Easter was even earlier in 2016 but the four extra days were not repeated, Numis said.

Numis also highlighted that Coca-Cola HBC has disclosed a "high single-digit volume" decline for Russia, Ukraine and Belarus operations and "mid-single-digit" growth for West Africa.

On the upside, the company has said that trading conditions in Europe are slowing improving as lower oil prices aided the consumer.

We assume around 20.4% of our full year sales estimate arises in the first quarter to give a -3.6% result, said Numis analyst Charles Pick.

Friday 13 May



INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Oxford Technology 3 VCT



QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Marsh & Mclennan Cos Inc.



INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (13:30)

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

GDP (Flash Estimate) (EU) (10:00)

GDP (Flash Estimate) (GER) (07:00)

Producer Price Index (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales Less Autos (US) (13:30)



GMS

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AGMS

Brady, Brammer, Irish Continental Group Units, Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd., Tyman



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FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

4Imprint Group, Arbuthnot Banking Group, ARM Holdings, British Polythene Industries, Capital & Regional, Clarke (T.), Devro, Drax Group, Integrated Diagnostics

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(Guernsey) 'B' Limited, Smurfit Kappa Group, St James's Place



Q1

New Europe Property Investments
Store staff in more than 70 of Tesco 's Irish stores have threatened to go on strike next Monday in a dispute over pay and changed conditions.

The Mandate union said workers in Republic of Ireland were unhappy with pay cuts of between 15% and 35%, together with reductions to overtime and to employees' annual bonus, but said Tesco would be able to prevent the strike if it eased off on the changes or came to the Labour Court to discuss the matter.

Tesco said it would look to find a resolution to the dispute and that its stores and online service will open for business on Monday as usual.

"We remain committed to reaching agreement on this issue and earlier this week we formally tabled a generous proposal for compensation for colleagues in scope," a Tesco spokesperson said in a statement overnight.

Tesco has previously indicated that 70 per cent of staff employed before 1996 had agreed to accept a recent offer of voluntary redundancy.

Gerry Light, Mandate assistant general secretary, said: Tesco is an extremely profitable employer making more than 200 million in profits in the Republic of Ireland, and now theyre attacking the very people who built the company to what it is today.

Broker Shore Capital said that sales and market share performance would be affected if reports in the Irish press that up to half of the group's shops in Ireland may be closed on that day.

"We shall watch with interest to see whether this strike goes through and the duration of any industrial action," analyst Clive Black said.

He also noted reports that Tesco and Spain's El Corte Ingles had engaged in a tie-up that may see product exchanged was "another indication of Tesco positioning itself on the front foot and perhaps starting to focus more on product over price and basic store standards".
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Winbond W25N01JW

Winbond Electronics' W25N01JW is a high-performance, 1.8V serial NAND flash memory IC delivering a data-transfer rate of 83MB/s via a quad serial peripheral interface (QSPI). The new high-performance serial NAND technology also supports a two-chip dual quad interface which gives a maximum data transfer rate of 166MB/s. The Winbond 1.8V W25N01JW chip can replace SPI NOR flash memory in automotive applications, such as data storage for instrument clusters or the center information displays (CIDs), the company indicated. This is important for automotive OEMs because the adoption of more sophisticated graphics displays in the instrument cluster, and larger display sizes of seven inches and above in the CID, is increasing system memory requirements to capacities of 1Gbit and higher, the company continued. At these capacities, serial NAND flash has a markedly lower unit cost than that of SPI NOR flash, and occupies a smaller board area per megabit of storage capacity. The W25N01JW also meets strict automotive requirements for quality and reliability, Winbond noted. Built with single-level sell (SLC) memory technology, and implementing 1-bit error correction code (ECC) on all read and write operations, it complies with the endurance, retention and quality requirements of the AEC-Q100 standard and relevant JEDEC specs. The W25N01JW is available for sampling today in a capacity of 1Gbit. A two-chip implementation in dual-quad I/O mode provides 2Gbits of memory capacity and a maximum data transfer rate of 166MB/s. The chip is available in industrial grade and in an extended-temperature automotive grade version operating at up to 105-degrees C.
Jake Wagner says he 'had no other choice' but to kill Hanna Rhoden
GRAND FORKS -- Like any morning, Wayne Poitra woke up July 16, 2014, and made sandwiches for himself and his 19-year-old son, Evan, before they went off to work.

Before Wayne left the house, he went downstairs to wake up Evan. The lights were still on in Evan's room.

"Get up for work," Wayne said to Evan.

But Evan didn't move.

As Wayne and his wife, Jackie, recount that day in a locally produced documentary, tears fill their eyes. Evan died from a fentanyl overdose.

"No parent should have to go and find their son when you go to wake them up like I have," Wayne said.

The documentary, "Faded," was screened at a public forum Tuesday evening at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks. The screening, which was part of a larger event to discuss the issue of fentanyl and other addictions in the area, was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from health services, schools, Altru Health System and the North Dakota courts.

Fentanyl has been prominent recently in the Fargo area, but the drug first made headlines last year in North Dakota after two people from Grand Forks overdosed and died from using fentanyl citrate, a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

The two were Bailey Evan Henke, 18, who died Jan. 3, 2015, at a Grand Forks apartment and Evan Poitra, Jackie and Wayne's son.

The fentanyl deaths ultimately prompted local law enforcement to launch "Operation Denial," an investigation into fentanyl trafficking in the area. The local investigation eventually became a federal case and crossed state lines and international borders, leading investigators to other drug dealers and overdose victims.

The documentary, free to watch on YouTube, takes people beyond the court cases and into the worlds of five local people that these deaths and drugs directly impacted.

"We know now that kids have died, or that people have died in our community from fentanyl, and people are continuing to use it," Jackie said.

'Faded'

Altru emergency room employees are seeing the impact of drugs in the Grand Forks area firsthand, as well. In 2015, 226 overdose patients were admitted to Altru, doubling since 2010.

Dr. Christopher Boe specifically recalls having two young people die in the past year.

"It's just awful to have to go into the room and look in the mom's eyes and say your daughter or your son is dead, and I'm suspecting that it's from a drug overdose," Boe said. "That's an awful thing to tell someone."

"The hospital staff currently is seeing overdoses at record amounts right here in Grand Forks that no one ever hears about," said a Grand Forks police drug force officer whose identity was protected in the documentary. "Those incidents are occurring daily. And it's scary when you know the numbers."

According to the Grand Forks County Coroner, there were 51 overdose deaths in 2014, surpassing fatal motor vehicle accidents. In this region, the number of drug overdose deaths doubled from 2013 to 2014.

In the documentary, Kain said he witnessed two of his friends overdose in the same night. One of those was Henke.

"I panicked,' Kain said. "I knew I was there for two people the same night."

Kain left, and 15 minutes later, he got the call that his friend, Henke, had died.

Nate told documentary producers he struggled with his addiction in El Paso, Texas. He thought if he moved across the country to North Dakota, "there won't be any drugs there."

"It's everywhere," Nate said. "It's just as actively used."

There are other unintended consequences, as Lynsey knows.

She said in the documentary that she can't always remember what her friend B.J. looked like or sounded like, so she used to watch "Lion King" because the teenage Simba laughed like B.J.

"I'd just sit there and cry when I was missing him a lot," Lynsey said as tears filled her eyes.

One night, Lynsey met a man in River Cinema in East Grand Forks who gave her money to buy him drugs after B.J. asked her to.

Instead of buying the drugs for the guy she met up with, Lynsey took the money to purchase drugs for herself.

B.J. called a few times night, telling her to call him back because it was important. But she never called him back. Later that night, she got a call that B.J. was shot by the man who wanted her to pick up drugs.

"If it wasn't for B.J., I wouldn't be here," Lynsey said. "The exact reason he died is because of my addiction."

Community's responsibility

Grand Forks native MeiLi Smith said she knew she had a daunting task when she was asked by Laurie Betting of UND Health and Wellness to create the documentary featuring these local people.

"I spent a lot of the time during our interviews crying with them," Smith said. "I feel so grateful that they were able to open up to me in the way that they did and that they trusted me enough to share."

The point of the documentary is to get people talking, members of the panel said. That includes local youth, and it's going to be shown at Grand Forks area schools.

"No one talks about this kind of thing the way that they should be," Smith said.

And it's the community's responsibility to address it, the panel said.

"This isn't a law enforcement issue," the officer said. "This isn't a courts issue. This isn't a prison issue. This is a community issue."

"What we need in our communities is a culture change where we don't have a permissive culture of drug abuse," Boe said at the panel.

While there's much more work to be done to help people with addictions in the area, Smith said she is amazed by the impact she's already seen her documentary have.

She said she talked with her neighbor Geoff Gaukler, a Red River High School counselor featured in "Faded," about the documentary the other day.

"He told me there have been more people coming in talking about drug-related issues in the past couple of weeks than there have in the past five years," Smith said.

Panel members said they hoped by opening up discussion in the area that there will be more efforts to find solutions to the region's drug problems.

"Everybody has to pitch in for us to find a solution," U.S. Attorney Christopher Myers said. "We have to come together as one community, one state to fight this battle together."
Marsy's Law supporters have spent nearly $1.6 million of California tech billionaire Henry Nicholas' money so far on ballot measures in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana as part of his self-funded effort to put expanded rights for crime victims into state constitutions, officials said Wednesday.

Still, the high-profile political consultant serving as spokeswoman for the national Marsys Law for All effort, said the North Dakota measure is coming from the state itself. Sponsors submitted more than 44,000 signatures Tuesday with hopes of getting the measure on the Nov. 8 ballot.

You cant have one person come into the state and say, I want to change the constitution. It has to come from the people of the state, said Boston-based Gail Gitcho of McKay-Gitcho Strategies.

In North Dakota, it began with Kathleen Wrigley, wife of Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley and now chair of the measures 29-member sponsoring committee. Gitcho said national organizers did assessments in spring 2015 on the 18 states without constitutional protections for victims rights and quickly heard that Wrigley had a personal connection: her brother, a Philadelphia police officer, was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1991.

Gitcho, who served as press secretary for Mitt Romneys presidential campaign in 2012, said she also visited the state to find a local consulting firm to assist the effort, asking for proposals and interviewing half a dozen firms before narrowing it down to Bismarck-based Odney.

To date, supporters have spent $404,569 on the North Dakota effort, $625,568 in Montana and $567,548 in South Dakota, according to figures from Odney.

More than half of the money spent by North Dakota organizers, $218,750, went to paid petition circulators Advanced Micro Targeting.

Odney has received more than $43,000 for its services so far, according to sponsors year-end campaign finance report and figures provided by the company that will be listed on the next report due Friday. Consulting firms in California and Las Vegas are among the other major recipients so far.

Besides Odney, the only paid staffer in North Dakota for Marsys Law is state director Marsha Lembke of Bismarck, who has received $16,900. Kathleen Wrigley is strictly a volunteer and is not being paid, said Amanda Godfread, Odneys director of strategic engagement.

Marsys Law initiated measures already have spots reserved on the November ballots in Montana and South Dakota. Secretary of State Al Jaeger has until June 14 to verify at least 26,904 signatures for the North Dakota measure to get on the ballot.

Gitcho said national organizers are mulling their next moves in Georgia, Kentucky and Hawaii after lawmakers in those states opted not to put the measure on the ballot this year. Nevadas biennial Legislature gave initial approval last year and will consider final approval for the ballot next year.

The sole funder in all of the states is Nicholas, who co-founded the semiconductor business Broadcom Corp., which announced last year it was being acquired by Avago Technologies for $37 billion in cash and stock. Marsys Law is named for his sister, Marsy Nicholas, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983.

Nicholas has donated more than $1 million to the North Dakota effort, according to Odney. Gitcho said she wasnt ready to disclose how much hes contributed in other states but said its a multimillion-dollar effort.

She downplayed criticism from detractors that Nicholas alone is driving the issue.

Its such a no-brainer issue that crime victims deserve equal rights, its really hard to find people who say otherwise, she said.

But Bismarck attorney Justin Vinje, the immediate past president of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, which along with the States Attorneys Association is opposing the measure as unnecessary and burdensome, likened it to the sale of a used car.

It looks really nice on the outside, but once you open the hood and look at it, you see that youre not getting what youre paying for, he said, adding the Legislature is the appropriate place to address the issue.
Despite not serving overseas when drafted during the Korean War, Bismarck veteran Vernon Rieger said doing his small part stateside helping keep the wars machinery running was fulfilling work.

Rieger, 86, said hes always been good with his hands, which were put to good use as a mechanic for the North Dakota Army National Guards 188th Field Artillery Battalion.

I did about five years of service. I lucked out, Rieger said of his not being sent overseas. But I had a few friends that had to go. They didnt like it that much and went through a lot of things that I didnt have to go through. So Ive felt a little guilty.

The Wishek native was a natural at working on engines while growing up on the family farm, which led him to work as a mechanic in the units motor pool.

Hed enlisted in the Guard in 1947, where he continued until January 1950 when he was drafted into the regular Army. After being drafted, he was sent to Fort Rucker in Alabama.

Rieger said his daily routine included upkeep and repairs on the fleet of Jeeps, trucks and other vehicles on the base.

It was mostly like a steady job, with some guard duty, Rieger said.

Rieger said he was even more in luck in that he worked regular hours and had weekends off, which were sometimes spent in the nearby city with other soldiers.

I received the papers to go over to Korea, and then just a couple weeks before I was going to go they told me I didnt have to go because I didnt have enough service time left, Rieger said.

Hed only had a couple of months left before his May 1952 discharge when the papers for deployment came in and he was passed over for deployment. Lucky again, he said.

After being discharged, Rieger decided he wanted to see more of the world. He moved to San Francisco to work for a couple of months, changed his mind and moved back to the family farm.

Rieger and his wife lived and ran the farm through the 1970s. During that time, they raised two sons and he operated a repair shop on the farm, helping with engine repairs for neighbors and friends.

That didnt pan out the way wed hoped so we sold out (the farm) and moved to Bismarck, Rieger said.

Relocating to Bismarck in 1984, he worked as a maintenance worker for the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center until retiring in 2006. His wife died five years ago.

His two sons joined the military as well. One son is stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C. His other son served in the U.S. Marines for four years before joining the National Guard; he lives in Bismarck.

My boys, they wanted to follow their fathers footsteps, Rieger said.
Another looming industry shortage: leaders

Company leaders are retiring and to ensure future success, new leaders need to be trained.



By JAMIE CREEK

Synergy Construction

Creek

The construction industry has gotten a lot of attention for its focus on training the craft workers necessary to replace the more than 17 percent of the workforce that will retire over the next five years. Equally important is the need to train the industrys future leaders.

Company leaders are also retiring and to ensure future success, new leaders need to be trained to take the reins.

Many company founders and leaders started as carpenters, electricians, painters or plumbers and worked their way up. With that as a model, it makes sense for current leadership to look within their companies for people with both the innate ability as leaders and the willingness to learn new skills to prepare for leadership roles.

I have the opportunity to work with many foremen, superintendents, project engineers, project managers and design professionals who all have different personalities and somewhat different work styles. Relating to each of them can be difficult unless I take the time to understand their needs and abilities. Being supportive and communicating effectively can be challenging if I try to work the same way with every person.

I recently attended a workforce conference sponsored by Associated Builders & Contractors that offered several seminars on improving leadership styles. Some of the take-a-ways of particular interest were:

 Our leadership style mirrors our personality style.

 We need to build leaders at every level in our organization.

 We must understand the ground rules of our working relationships.

 Its important to know ourselves and be accountable for our work.

 To be an effective leader we must listen, be consistent, have transparency, courage, integrity, make the tough decisions and have a positive outlook.

 We must take ownership of our circumstances.

 Good leaders strive to be respected, rather than liked.

 Relationships must be built over time.

 Leaders must be responsive, timely in follow up and honest.

Leadership is about influencing people, not forcing them to do things. In observing leaders that inspire me, I learn how I can improve my skills.

A leader I greatly admire is a person who often said that she led from behind. What she meant was that she carefully assessed what people wanted and needed then helped them find it through guidance rather than pulling them along. She successfully led an organization for more than 25 years and gained wide respect within the construction industry from people who both agreed and disagreed with her philosophically. She could always be counted on to tell the truth and whether she agreed with them or not, treated people with respect. I aspire to be more like this in my own leadership roles.

Motivating and inspiring people helps everyone rise to their highest potential. Keeping people well informed about overall goals and the steps needed to achieve them encourages them to stay focused and dedicated. If people are unaware or feel left out of the loop they can lose enthusiasm and not fully participate in achieving goals.

History is a great teacher of effective leadership style. Henry Ford developed the assembly line to build a car that people could afford. To make that happen he developed the assembly line that was a series of small, easily achievable tasks that led to a common goal. He identified the strengths of many people, trained them to do what they could do best and by delegating was able to not only successfully lead his company but also to revolutionize manufacturing.

Take time to read about inspirational leaders and incorporate their traits into your own tool box.

Leadership roles often necessitate dealing with people who are underperforming or doing something more egregious, which can be tricky. Most of us dont like confrontation. However, it is best to discuss difficult situations quickly and always with respect for the other person. When offered correction or discipline in a respectful manner, most people will take it well and work to change to meet expectations.

Our industry associations offer numerous programs for all levels of leadership, from project supervision training to management training. There are also many opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills. From joining Toastmasters to improving communication skills to enrolling in executive programs and everything in between, we can and should work on becoming better leaders in every aspect of our lives.

I believe the worst thing that can be said about someone in a leadership role is that they have risen to the level of their incompetency. The best is that a leader is truly an inspiration, bringing out the best in all. I work every day to become the latter.

Jamie Creek is senior project manager at Synergy Construction and board chair of the ABC of Western Washington. His leadership positions have included construction company owner, vice president of construction at The Fortune Group and president of the Sno-Valley North Little League Association.













Other Stories:
3 keys to managing on-the-job injuries

By accomplishing these simple tasks, you can regain control of your workers compensation claims.



By GREG KABACY

Aspire Consulting LLC

Kabacy

Do you know what to do if one of your employees gets injured on the job? Does it feel like the decisions from Labor & Industries always work in the favor of the injured employee?

The workers compensation process in Washington can be confusing and difficult. Having an employee injure them self at work and potentially miss time creates a stressful situation for all parties.

Rather than allow the state insurance system (Labor & Industries) run the claim, take back control with three simple keys.

1. Incident reporting

Prompt incident reporting in workers compensation claims can be one of the most effective tools to manage a claim, as well as prevent future claims. Many employees do not want to report an incident for fear that theyll be disciplined for not following proper safety procedures. The truth is employees should be encouraged to complete incident reports if something happens, as the process and information can benefit everyone. Below are a few reasons reporting incidents is critical in workers compensation.

 Incident reporting can act as a heads-up to management that helps identify potential problem areas that need to be fixed.

 Prompt reporting provides management with a record of the facts when the incident occurs. As time passes facts become clouded and recollection of details fades.

 Key evidence in a workers compensation claim is documented right away, allowing for a plan of action to be enacted immediately that will help all parties manage the claim, as well as prevent future claims.

 By quickly reporting incidents, time-loss payments can be avoided. Light-duty can be provided right away, allowing the injured employee to return to work in a capacity that meets their restrictions.

Employers can see a huge cost savings by requiring prompt incident reporting as well. Studies across the nation have shown that claims reported within two weeks were 18 percent more expensive than claims reported within a week. Furthermore, claims reported more than five weeks from the date of injury were 45 percent more expensive, showing that prompt incident reporting actually saves money.

2. Communication

Employees who have been injured often dont know what to do. Even the prospect of finding a doctor that treats occupational injuries can be confusing. Employers can help make the process smoother by communicating with the injured employee right away.

Rather than ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away, employers can actively engage and maintain contact with an injured worker which will accomplish the following:

 Be a part of the decisions in the workers compensation process with the injured worker.

 Create a team atmosphere with the injured workers, keeping them on your side.

 Maintain control of the claim. The worker is now keeping you up to date on their progress.

 When its time to offer return-to-work, expectations are clear because of continued communication.

 Keeping in contact can prevent the injured worker from obtaining legal counsel.

 Shows the entire staff that you care about their well-being.

Nothing is worse than getting injured and then being ignored by your employer. After an injury, an employee may not know where they stand in the company, or if they even have a job to return to. Communicating with injured workers can pay big dividends, not only with the employee, but with the rest of the staff. Taking time to be involved in a claim can help you stay in control of the claim.

3. Return to work

Often employers offer light duty haphazardly, however this can cause a lot of headaches and bad feelings on both sides. Done correctly, an employer should have light-duty job descriptions ready to send to the doctor when a worker is injured. These job descriptions should explain the type of work being performed as well as the physical abilities necessary to complete the work.

Once the injured employees physician has reviewed and approved a job description, a job offer letter must be either given or sent (via certified mail) to the employee with some very specific information.

The job offer must include:

 Job title

 The supervisor the employee reports to

 Location where the work is being performed

 The start date (allow seven to 10 days if mailed)

 Wages, hours and schedule

 A copy of the doctor-approved job description

All of these elements must be in the letter for it to be valid.

National statistics show that once an injured employee is out due to a workers compensation injury for more than six months, he or she has only a 50 percent probability of ever returning to work. If that individual is off work for a year due to a workplace injury that number drops to 2 percent.

Keeping people in their normal routine is key. Its easy for a disability conviction to settle in with an individual who is resting at home, until suddenly being at home becomes their routine.

Once the employee returns to work in a light-duty capacity, he or she must abide by all the same policies and rules that have been set forth for all other employees. If your employee violates any of these policies, you as the employer should apply your disciplinary measures just the same as you would with any other staff member. A workers compensation claim does not give your employee any special rights at the workplace.

Workplace injuries can cause turmoil for both the employer and the employee. Relying on Labor & Industries to help can easily result in the claim being lost within the system. By taking the time to complete incident reports, communicate with your injured employees, and offer return-to-work options, you can take back control of your workers compensation claims.

Greg Kabacy is president of Aspire Consulting, and has been providing employers with expertise in the workers compensation field in Washington for over 21 years. He holds an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University and is a Certified Disability Management Specialist.













Other Stories:
WSDOT finishing The Rest of the West on SR 520

The remaining work will improve the highway from the floating bridge to I-5 in Seattle.



By JULIE MEREDITH and LARRY KYLE

Special to the Journal

Meredith

Kyle

A few weeks ago approximately 50,000 people helped the Washington State Department of Transportation celebrate the grand opening of the new state Route 520 bridge on Lake Washington.

Undoubtedly, most participants knew they were walking, jogging or biking across the worlds longest floating bridge. What they probably werent aware of was the long journey it took to reach that historic milestone, or the many steps that lie ahead to finish the highways reconstruction.

With SR 520s enhanced Eastside segment completed in 2015 and the new floating bridge now open to traffic, our focus at WSDOT is fixed squarely on finishing the highway corridors improvements all the way to Interstate 5 in Seattle  a stretch of the construction program we call The Rest of the West.

Much work remains. But fortunately, the 2015 Legislature authorized the $1.6 billion in funding we need to rebuild the west side segment. And WSDOT already has in place an integrated team of in-house staff and experienced consultants  led by HDR  to manage the job ahead.

The long road to construction

Rebuilding a major highway within a densely populated, highly developed urban area  all while keeping the corridors heavy traffic flowing, day after day  is a highly complex effort, especially when it involves replacement of several long, over-water bridges. The work is somewhat akin to remodeling a kitchen while the homes residents continue cooking, eating and washing their dishes in that room. The logistics are challenging.

Perhaps even more challenging for the SR 520 program, however, was achieving public consensus on the scope and design of the improvements we would make. A regional discussion of SR 520s future, called the Trans-Lake Study, began back in 1997. The study looked at a variety of transportation options, including a cross-lake tunnel, commuter ferries, a new bridge between Sand Point and Kirkland, and four-, six- and eight-lane rebuilds of SR 520 (with or without high-capacity transit). A status quo, no-build alternative also was explored.

Nine years of community engagement and dialogue elapsed before a draft environmental impact statement was developed in 2006.

The draft EIS  and the supplemental and final EISs that followed  prompted study of several more slimmed-down options for SR 520. Meanwhile, state legislation directed a mediation process to limit the impacts of our project in Seattle, and to study other west side options. One, for example, involved moving the highways Montlake interchange to the Washington Park Arboretum, where a below-water-level interchange would connect, either by tunnel under Union Bay or by bridge, to Northeast Pacific Street near the University of Washington.

The many corridor design options analyzed for SR 520 have required close coordination between WSDOT and our expert consultants  126 firms to date, including eight DBE firms representing nearly 15 percent of the programs architecture and engineering budget. Our consultants span a wide range of specialized fields, including civil, structural and electrical engineering, air and water quality, geology, acoustics, chemistry, biology, anthropology, environmental science, and urban design, to name a few.

To enhance coordination and communications on a complex $4.5 billion program, WSDOT and HDR, our general engineering consultant manager, are closely integrated within a collocated office with many of our subcontractors. Together, we manage all key aspects of the program: engineering, planning, environmental, construction management, finance, communications, interagency coordination, risk management, cost estimating and claims management.

[enlarge] Crews from Flatiron West are working on the West Approach Bridge North project.

We are fortunate to have a world-class team for a world-class project.

Preferred alternative

After more than a dozen years of extensive community engagement, studies and analysis, WSDOT ultimately recommended a six-lane preferred alternative for SR 520 from I-5 to the Eastside. Our plan, which the Federal Highway Administration approved as the blueprint for SR 520s reconstruction, included:

 New, safer bridges over Portage Bay, Union Bay and Lake Washington

 Corridor-long HOV lanes in both directions

 Full shoulders for disabled vehicles

 A regional bicycle and pedestrian path running the corridors length

 Landscaped highway lids with improved connections to local streets and non-motorized shared-use paths

 A second bascule bridge over the Montlake Cut

In 2011, with partial funding authorized at that time by the Legislature, we began rebuilding the highways Eastside segment (where local communities had reached early agreement on the planned improvements in their area). We also started building pontoons that year for the new floating bridge. And in 2014, following receipt of a $300 million federal loan, we began constructing one of two parallel approach bridges that will link Montlake with the new floating bridge.

Our corridor improvements for the Rest of the West remained on hold, however, pending the funding needed to complete that final segment.

We undertook a community design process in 2011-12 with our Seattle stakeholders and reached agreement on the conceptual designs for several corridor improvements within the city, such as an improved I-5 crossing for bicyclists and pedestrians, and the main features of a highway lid between 10th Avenue East and Delmar Drive.

[enlarge] The first giant girders for the West Approach Bridge North arrived earlier this year.

In early 2015, WSDOT and the city of Seattle forged consensus on most of the remaining west side elements, including a box girder design for a new Portage Bay Bridge. A few months after we agreed on the latter design elements, the Legislature fully funded SR 520s remaining west side improvements.

The road ahead in Seattle

From early planning sessions in the late 1990s to the myriad public forums of the 2000s to the latest design refinements of 2015, WSDOT and our consultants worked closely with the community to craft a practical vision for reconstructing SR 520s west side corridor. Together, we produced a design plan that meets key public needs while limiting construction costs and stretching transportation dollars. Below are a few examples.

Narrower lanes and shoulders. Through practical design, the general-purpose lanes and inside shoulders of the new floating bridge, Portage Bay Bridge and west approach bridges were narrowed while still providing room for disabled vehicles, improving traffic safety and enhancing mobility. This not only saves millions of dollars in costs for concrete, steel and other bridge materials, but reduces the bridges environmental footprint.

Fewer bridge columns. The refined design for the two side-by-side, 1.1-mile-long west approach bridges reduces the number of in-water columns the bridges need. This refinement cuts by 40 percent the amount of concrete needed for the bridges  a cost savings as well as an aesthetic and environmental benefit.

Leaner Portage Bay Bridge. We worked with the community and Seattle Design Commission to select a lower-cost box girder design rather than a higher-cost cable-stay design. The adopted design involves two narrower bridge structures for eastbound and westbound traffic, with cleaner lines more appropriate for the surrounding area, and a managed-lane shoulder that can convert to a fourth westbound traffic lane during peak periods.

Smarter Montlake lid. We redesigned this multimodal lid to work better for its users, which also eliminated costly ventilation and maintenance systems, and reduced construction, materials and long-term maintenance costs. The design modification also retained the lids desired public space and improved its transit, bicycle and pedestrian accessibility. This smarter lid better integrates with the Washington Park Arboretum and University of Washington, optimizing sight lines, safety and user comfort.

Next for Rest of the West

[enlarge] All girders for the West Approach Bridge North are expected to be placed by year end.

WSDOT will be holding open houses, both in person and online, later this spring to share the latest information and receive public comment on design and construction plans for the Rest of the West.

We anticipate beginning construction in 2018, first on a Montlake lid and the West Approach Bridge South (carrying eastbound traffic to the floating bridge). Next, well construct a new Portage Bay Bridge, Roanoke lid and revised I-5/SR 520 interchange. Construction of a second bascule bridge across the Montlake Cut will complete the west side project.

We expect to wrap up all work in the corridor by 2029.

Julie Meredith is program administrator for WSDOTs SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program. Larry Kyle, senior vice president and senior program manager in HDRs Seattle office, manages the general engineering consulting team supporting the SR 520 program.













Other Stories:
Historic Preservation/Restoration

Photo from Rafn Co. The existing chancel was lowered at Plymouth Church to make room for a $2 million pipe organ.







Plymouth Church sanctuary

Rafn Co.

Architect: LMN Architects

Engineer: Swenson Say Faget

Owner: Plymouth Church

ABC members: Crystal Soda Blast; Clark Nuber; Propel Insurance

The historic Plymouth Church sanctuary renovation included the complex task of installing a $2 million pipe organ.

To prepare the sanctuary for the new organ, Rafn lowered the existing chancel, requiring demolishing the existing structural concrete slab and replacing it with a new one. To improve the acoustics, Rafn raised the height of the ambulatory ceilings and installed curved glass fiber-reinforced gypsum panels.

Halfway through the project, Rafn noticed cracks in the existing glulam beams that supported the sanctuary roof. Review by structural engineer Swenson Say Faget concluded that the beams were under-designed by nearly a factor of 10 and that the roof structure was gradually failing.

The engineers recommended the addition of steel king posts and tension rods and that the roof beams be converted into a truss system, adding visual interest as well as strength. Costs and impacts to the schedule were kept to a minimum by carefully refining the methods for installing the tensioning.

The project also involved installing CMU mass walls on three sides of the sanctuary along with ductwork for the organ blower and de-stratification ductwork below, new oak flooring on the chancel and new Italian floor tile in the sanctuary. Existing walls were painted, the stained glass was cleaned, lighting was replaced with custom ornamental wall sconces, and a halo-shaped fixture that was assembled on the ground was hoisted into place.

The organ, handmade by renowned organ maker C.B. Fisk in Gloucester, Massachusetts, is called the Opus 140. It has 3,398 metal and wood pipes and is the focal point of the sanctuary. Rafn worked with C.B. Fisk and On Sight Access to build the three-story case with tall swinging maple panel reflector screens that double as mass walls and doors to storage rooms surrounding the organ.

The project budget and schedule were affected by the need to redo the roof, but the client is pleased with the finished structure. There were no time-loss or medical injuries during the 6,168 hours worked.













Other Stories:
Survey: Skanska

Image courtesy of Olson Kundig/Stephanie Bower Architectural Illustration [enlarge] Skanska is building the new Burke Museum, which is 60 percent larger than the existing adjacent museum.

Specialty: Construction and commercial development

Management: Chris Toher, executive vice president and general manager, USA Building; Lisa Picard, executive vice president and regional manager, Commercial Development; Tony Taddeo, senior vice president, USA Civil

Founded: 1946

Headquarters: New York City (U.S.); Stockholm (global)

2015 revenues: $455.5 million (Puget Sound); $7.1 billion (company-wide)

Projected 2016 revenues: N/A

Projects: $121 million Tahoma High School and Regional Learning Center in Maple Valley; Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle; Life Sciences Building at University of Washington

Chris Toher, Skanska executive vice president and general manager, answered questions from the DJC about trends and issues in the industry.

Q: In which sectors are you seeing growth or a slowdown?

A: The Seattle construction market continues to be robust. There has been a lot of activity  both in new construction and, more recently, renovation work  in the K-12, higher education, office, residential and healthcare sectors as people continue to move to the Puget Sound. Manufacturing is the only sector where we are seeing a slight slowdown.

Q: Are rising costs and the skilled labor shortage affecting Skanska?

A: Rising construction costs are impacting all of us in the industry. With any booming market comes labor and material shortages, which are currently concentrated in the glass and glazing, casework, vertical transportation, and mechanical and electrical trades. Theres a huge demand for labor, and all of the trades are over-extended to meet the demand.

Q: Is more prefab construction being used?

A: Over the last several years, weve seen a notable increase in the use of prefabrication to construct repetitive elements such as multi-trade racking systems (overhead racks that carry mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment), entire bathroom pods, medical headwalls, and even structural elements.

Everyone is trying to find smarter ways to work and to deliver projects to customers. On one of our projects for the University of Washington, we are constructing a precast superstructure off-site, trucking it in, and erecting it like a kit of parts. This method allows us to complete work more quickly while better controlling jobsite safety, quality and cost.

We are always seeking opportunities to use prefabrication because its a great way to remove typical jobsite risks such as inclement weather or the site constraints that come with working in and around occupied buildings.

Q: Whats something unusual youve done recently?

A: For one of our manufacturing clients, we regularly complete work next to active assembly lines. This requires coordination between the Skanska team and the owner, but also requires creativity to find ways to complete the work without disrupting ongoing operations. For instance, we created a snorkel system for our excavation equipment to maintain air quality, and a traveling tent that minimizes the dust and noise generated by saw cutting. Finding the best solutions is a day-by-day process that happens in the facilities where we work. Its never business as usual.

Q: How are rising land costs in Seattle affecting what gets built?

A: To make projects financially feasible for customers, developers are under more pressure to control overall costs. Rising land costs translate into higher rents, so tenants are paying a premium for new buildings and expect an ever-higher level of design and material quality. For a building to succeed in this environment, craftsmanship and creativity are more important than ever.













Other Stories:
Solar farm slated for central Oregon

BEND, Ore. (AP)  A Canadian energy developer is closer to putting a solar farm in central Oregon.

The Bulletin reports Saturn Power Corp. is planning a 10-megawatt facility that could power 1,500 homes each year.

Deschutes County's permit and plan approval for the project was finalized last week after the appeal period ended without opposition.

A company consultant said last year that the electricity will be sold to Pacific Power.

Bend-based Sunlight Solar Energy operates 1,566 solar panels at the Central Electric Cooperative in Bend. Founder and president Paul Israel says there has been plenty of interest in putting commercial solar facilities in Oregon, but that the process is slow.

Developers behind a planned 20-megawatt facility have asked the county to approve revised construction plans.




Diesel banned in Delhi, BMW reintroduces petrol models

Luxury car maker BMW, which had withdrawn its petrol powered 3 and 5 Series cars almost a year ago from the Indian market, has re-introduced the petrol models of its 3 Series.

BMW has launched the 320i model in the Prestige and Luxury line variants starting at Rs36.9 lakh and Rs42.70 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi) respectively.

With the diesel vehicle ban in the Delhi National Capital Region affecting sales of many car manufacturers, BMW suffered losses in the all-important NCR. This could be a major propelling factor for the carmaker to reintroduce the petrol models in India.

Both these variants will be powered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol mill that churns out 181.5bhp of power and 270Nm of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard on the transmission front, whereas the Luxury Line gets a paddle shift as well.

These petrol models will get features similar to its diesel-burner sibling already available in the Indian market. This is the facelifted model that gets some changes to the exterior differentiating it from the earlier model.

The cabin is packed with features like new electrically-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, BMW iDrive system, 6.5-inch screen, BMW apps, ambient lighting etc.

The luxury line gets bigger 17-inch alloy wheels instead of the 16-inchers, an electric sunroof and different upholstery. There is also a larger 8.8-inch iDrive touch infotainment system that supports handwriting recognition and navigation in this trim.

The BMW 3 Series 320i will be brought in as a CBU unit, unlike the diesel sibling that is assembled here. The carmaker has already imported a few cars and is yet to dispatch these to dealers across the country. We can expect deliveries to begin by mid-June.

According to import/export data website Zauba, BMW India has imported the petrol powered 320i and 520i into India. However, there is no official announcement from the car maker about the petrol powered 320i and 520i India launch till now.


Major oil and gas firms abandoned most of their leases in the Arctic this week, even as President Barak Obama and other leaders are coming under increased pressure to avert dangerous warming in the region. Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips, Eni and Iona Energy have relinquished all but one lease in the Chukchi Sea, company officials confirmed Tuesday, as well as some in the Beaufort Sea. The move to give back roughly $2.5 billion worth of oil and gas leases spanning 2.2 million acres of the Arctic Ocean comes in the same week that the leaders of five Arctic nations are coming to Washington for a White House summit over how best to protect an area that is showing new signs of vulnerability to climate change. ''Today we are an important step closer to a sustainable future for the Arctic Ocean,'' said Michael Levine, Pacific senior counsel for the advocacy group Oceana. ''Hopefully, today marks the end of the ecologically and economically risky push to drill in the Arctic Ocean.'' In a statement on Tuesday, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith said, ''After extensive consideration and evaluation, Shell will relinquish all but one of its federal offshore leases in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.'' He further said, ''Separate evaluations are underway for our federal offshore leases in the Beaufort Sea,'' adding that the company plans to remove its remaining drilling equipment from the Arctic in the summer. ''This action is consistent with our earlier decision not to explore offshore Alaska for the foreseeable future.'' Many Democratic lawmakers and environmental activists, however, are pushing for the administration to ban Arctic drilling altogether as part of the next five-year leasing plan, which runs from 2017 to 2022. Representative Jared Huffman, joined by Robert Dold and 66 House Democrats, sent a letter last week to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell calling for the administration to revise the leasing plan before it becomes final. ''As this administration laid out in the US-Canada Joint Agreement, our nation should be focusing on achieving strong conservation goals for the Arctic and making decisions to develop oil and gas resources only when the highest safety and environmental standards are met, including national and global climate and environmental goals,'' they wrote. ''To meet these goals, the Arctic Ocean should be permanently protected from oil drilling, not used to drill for more fossil fuels that we will not need - and must not burn - if we are serious about powering our future with clean energy.'' Cindy Shogan, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League, said on Tuesday that there was no longer a way to reconcile oil and gas extraction in the Arctic with the administration's climate goals. ''The president has made a commitment to address climate change and protecting the Arctic must be part of that equation,'' she said. Some advocacy groups, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, are lobbying Obama to ban leasing in the Arctic altogether, under a provision in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The president has invoked that authority twice, once to protect Alaska's Bristol Bay in 2014, and again in 2015 to safeguard part of Alaska's Arctic coast. Climate talks

The new push comes as the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway will meet with Obama at the White House Friday, to discuss issues including global security, trade and climate change. The precarious state of the Arctic will come under discussion, according to both US and foreign officials, and the group is still negotiating the final communique they will issue on the topic. Rafe Pomerance, who heads a coalition of nongovernmental organisations researching Arctic climate science and policy known as Arctic 21, said that when it comes to the summit, ''the real elephant in the room is climate change''. In March, the maximum winter sea ice extent hit an all-time recorded low, as it shrunk below the 2014-15 record low. That same month, parts of the Arctic were more than 4 degrees Celsius, or more than 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit, higher than the historic average. April marked the lowest Northern Hemisphere snow cover on record. And further south, in Alberta, raging wildfires have decimated a major oil-producing area for Canada, Fort McMurray. The fires have prompted the evacuation of more than 80,000 people from the north-western Canadian city and destroyed at least 1,600 buildings there.










European regulator blocks CK Hutchison Holdings' $15.3-bn acquisition of O2 UK

The European antitrust regulator yesterday blocked CK Hutchison Holdings' $15.3-billion acquisition of O2 UK from Spain's Telefonica saying that the takeover would have removed an important competitor, leaving only two mobile network operators.

In March 2015, Spanish telecom giant Telefonica agreed to sell its British mobile unit O2 to Hong Kong billionaire Li-Ka Shing's Hutchison Whampoa for 10.25 billion ($15.3 billion) in a deal that would create Britain's biggest mobile operator. (See: Telefonica seals deal to sell British mobile unit O2 to Hutchison for $15.3 bn)

The deal would have seen the merger of Britain's second-largest wireless provider O2 with Hutchison's existing British carrier, Three UK, and become the largest mobile operator in the country with nearly 33 million customers.

The merged company would have held a 41-per cent market share and dethroned current leader EE, which holds a 29 per cent of the 83 million mobile customers in the UK.

Since there are currently four mobile network operators in the UK  BT's mobile business EE, Telefonica's O2, Vodafone and Hutchison's Three, the EC had strong concerns that the combination of Three and O2 would have led to a reduction in terms of choice and to higher prices and lower quality services for UK consumers than without the deal.

The European Commission (EC) said allowing the merger would have led to higher British mobile prices, as it left just two rival network operators - BT Group's newly acquired EE, and Vodafone.

The EC had strong concerns that UK mobile customers would have had less choice and paid higher prices as a result of the takeover, which would have harmed innovation in the mobile sector.

It said that the takeover could eliminate competition between Three and O2. The merged company would have been the market leader with a share of more than 40 per cent and have had much less incentive to compete with Vodafone and EE.

''The transaction would have fundamentally changed the competitive dynamics regarding the UK's mobile network infrastructure. Today, one network is shared between Three and EE, and another between Vodafone and O2.

The merged entity would have held a stake in both. It would have given a full overview of the network plans of its two biggest competitors. This is not a healthy state of competition - not for the competitors and not for consumers, the EC said in a statement.

The blocking of the merger has come as a big blow to Telefonica, which was keen on selling O2 to cut its debt of 50 billion from its expansion across Europe and Latin America.

Anticipating the rejection, Telefonica had said last month that it would look at other options for O2 UK, including finding another buyer for all or part of the business, a stock market listing, or investing further in the subsidiary.

US cable giant Liberty Global and France's Iliad, the owner of Free Mobile, have already shown interest in buying O2 UK.

Hutchison is now waiting for the EC to rule on the $24.8-billion merger of its Italian subsidiary 3 Italia with Vimpelcom's Wind.


S&R Motors Donegal town recently hosted the launch of the new Volkswagen Tiguan at their showroom at Drumlonagher, Donegal Town.

As well as introducing the new Tiguan SUV to the large crowd who attended, there was extra cause for celebration as they were awarded the title of Volkswagen Retailer of the Year for 2016.

It is the second time in four years that S&R Motors have received the award, having initially received this prestigious award in 2013. The award is presented to the dealership which has achieved the best results in Ireland in terms of sales, service & particularly customer satisfaction. They are one of only 4 Volkswagen dealerships to have received the award, and the only dealership to have received it on two separate occasions.

Dealer Principal Kerrill ODonnell said, It is a fantastic achievement to have received this award for a second time. It is a reflection of the high standards we have set for ourselves. Customer feedback is a huge aspect in the receiving of this award, so it is gratifying to know that our customers rate the service we provide so highly.

It is also a huge reflection of the hard work and dedication of the staff of S&R Motors, who through their professionalism and efforts ensure that our client receive the highest standard of customer service possible.

As well as receiving the Dealer of the Year award and launching the new Volkswagen Tiguan, Dealer Principal Kerrill ODonnell received the Volkswagen Gold Pin award, which is in recognition of contribution to the success of the Volkswagen brand in Ireland.

So remember if you are looking to purchase a new or used Volkswagen, S&R Motors Donegal town are the most decorated Volkswagen dealer in Ireland and welcome you to our showroom to experience our award winning customer service.

Our photograph shows:

Kerill O'Donnell pictured with his daughter Laura with the new VW Tiguan at S&R Motors, Donegal Town.
Leading experts on inclusion in education are to speak at a major two-day conference, All Children in the Circle, at the Radisson Hotel in Letterkenny next week.

The conference is being held on Friday (20th) and Saturday by the Donegal Down Syndrome Association and the Donegal Education and Training Board.

The speakers include Professor Sue Buckley, a world authority in the area of education and development for young people with Down Syndrome.

Also on the programme are Teresa Griffin, chief executive of the National Council for Special Education, and Ann Heelan, whos executive director of the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability.

Gina Grant of the Donegal Down Syndrome Association said the conference, like the association, will be about encouraging people to see the person and not the disability.

This is a wonderful chance to look at what is best practice not just in Ireland but around the world, and see how we can do the best for all our young people, she said. Its about making sure that all children are in the circle in education, and not left out in any way.

Those attending the conference on Friday will include educators, teachers, Special Needs Assistants, guidance staff and Special Educational Needs staff. Saturdays conference is geared particularly towards parents and carers.

Registration for the conference closes at 5pm next Wednesday (18th). If youre interested in going, check out the registration form on the Facebook page of the Donegal Down Syndrome Association. Or go to www.donegaletb.ie and search for inclusion conference.

Martin Gormley of Donegal ETB said theres a lot of interest so far.

This is an important conference for anyone involved in the education of our children, as well as their families and carers, he said. Theres a lot of research and other work going on in this field, and this is an opportunity to hear all about it.

Our photographs show:

Having fun in the kitchen are a busy group of chefs, including, from front left, Niamh Sheridan, Shaun McCosker and Claire Doherty.

Professor Sue Buckley, OBE, Emeritus Professor of Developmental Disability.
The National Lottery is still engaging with the holder of an 8.2 million-winning Lotto ticket that was purchased in Sligo in March, according to national reports.

However, lottery sources have confirmed to The Irish Times that the unclaimed jackpot will be paid.

Unsurprisingly, there has been widespread speculation regarding the winner of the jackpot, with reports suggesting it could be a stag party from Donegal, and others suggesting the ticket was purchased by a well-known family.

Matt Lyons, former Sligo mayor, who sold the winning ticket at his Stop & Shop on March 5th, also told The Irish Times at the time that there was a big crowd in town that weekend for the Sligo Rovers match at the Showgrounds.

In a recent statement to the Times, the National Lottery said, The National Lottery never comments on the specifics of the claims procedure to protect both the privacy of the claimant and the security of the National Lotterys claims process.

Any claimant has 90 days in which to claim their prize. In the case of the March 5th ticket, that 90-day period ends on June 3rd.

In line with our normal policy, we will not be issuing further comment until the prize has been collected, the National Lottery said in its statement.
A vigil and a drama workshop will be held on Saturday, as part of events to be held around the world to mark the global day of solidarity with refugees.

There will be a vigil at 1pm in Letterkennys Market Square. At 2pm, in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, Bread and Roses Theatre and the Art of Resistance collective are hosting an intergenerational drama workshop about the dilemmas facing asylum seekers and refugees, and the countries that may offer them sanctuary.

The events are part of a day of solidarity with refugees organised by the Irish Refugee Council.

The drama workshop, called, What would you do? is free and children and their parents, and unaccompanied adults are welcome. Minimum age for participation is 10, and children must be accompanied by a parent or adult carer.

The workshop is facilitated by Kathleen McCreery of Bread and Roses Theatre and Art of Resistance Collective, with the assistance of Caroline Kuyper, Joseph Gallagher, Natalia Colmenarejo, Ciara OReilly, Anne Gallagher and Rik Walton.

No previous drama experience is required.

Caroline said, The people of the world are saying its just not good enough the way the governments are acting.

The drama workshop, originally devised by Kathleen in conjunction with her play, Flight Paths, was commissioned by Sunderland Education and toured schools and community venues for two years in the north east of England, reaching an estimated 10,000 people.

The drama workshop is expected to finish at 3.30pm.
Tonight in The Playhouse, Derry theres a National Theatre Live screening of A View From The Bridge from The Young Vic in London.

Tomorrow night The Swing Cats deliver a musical timeline of Swing classics from the birth of Swing in the 1920s to the Big Band era of the 30s & 40s to the Golden Age of Swing 50s & 60s and right up to the modern era of Buble and Nutini. Thats at The Balor in Ballybofey. Elsewhere, Neil Delamere brings his stand up show ctrl + alt + Delamere back to An Grianan, Letterkenny. He sold out there in February. The David Oliver penned musical Gutz opens for a two might run in The Millennium Forum, Derry, also tomorrow night.

Theres more stand up comedy on Saturday with Rich Hall in The Alley in Strabane while An Grianan, Letterkenny plays host to the Donegal Master Fiddlers concert.

Letterkenny Youth Theatre intermediate students present a free double bill, Zombie Baby and Kohl, in An Grianan on Tuesday night, May 17. And An Grianan hosts more locally produced work on Wednesday with their in-house production I Would Walk These Fields Again.

Conal Gallen to play Charlie Haughey

The cast for the Balors upcoming production of The State Of The Nation has been revealed. The premise of the show is a poker game in the afterlife between Thomas Davis, Jim Larkin, Michael Collins and Charlie Haughey during which they discuss The State Of The Nation, holding court on everything from 1916, the civil war split, the two tier health system to the water charges.

The toughest character to cast was always going to be Haughey, primarily due to the fact that hes the most recent and freshest in peoples minds. Im delighted to say that weve found an answer that will work really well with the casting of Conal Gallen.

Its a bit of a departure from his normal stand up act but Conal is a truly gifted mimic and that, allied with his natural feel for timing and delivery, means that hes going to be a great fit for the role. Of course the clincher was that he has a wardrobe full of very expensive shirts  a must for anyone wanting to play Charlie! Joining Conal in the cast are Cillian O Gairmhi as Michael Collins, Peter Byrne as James Larkin and James Lawne as Thomas Davis.

The State Of The Nation will be premiered at The Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey on Saturday June 4.
Halloween creatures  owls, crows and bats  all live at Crossroads, and that makes us very happy, for these scary animals make a positive contribution to the habitats of the preserve. We don't even mind black cats, IF they are kept indoors. Feral and outdoor cats are exceedingly harmful to wildlife ... and that's not a superstition! But to tamp down superstitions, we at Crossroads will spend the week demystifying Halloween creatures.

On October 28, 2022, at 6 p.m. will be our Evening with Owls. The Open Door Bird Sanctuary will be at Crossroads, offering a one-hour presentation followed by the opportunity to meet and greet live birds. Learn all about owls and the other incredible birds in the care of the Sanctuary!

Down through the centuries, in many cultures throughout the world, owls have been associated with evil and death. Truth is, owls probably are not smart enough to be evil. But researchers agree that owls are about as dim as the nighttime forests in which they hunt.

Owls don't need to be smart. They have everything else going for them. They are muscular. They fly silently. Their huge eyes enable them to see in the dark. Their beaks and talons are strong and wickedly sharp. But their sensitive ears are what make owls extraordinary hunters.

Most people assume that the plumicorns (a.k.a. "horns) of an owl are its ears. Not so.

The actual ears lie under feathers on the sides of the head, and they aren't symmetrical. Because one ear is higher than the other and the ears are unequal in size, sound is different from different directions, helping owls locate prey, which they do almost unfailingly, even in total darkness.

Owls do not smell their prey. As with most birds, the sense of smell is insignificant, if it exists are all. Great Horned Owls frequently prey on skunks. Enough said.

But well-developed intelligence? Researchers have observed owls beating their wings on bushes to try to flush out little birds. Is this learned behavior? Is it problem-solving?

Maybe.

For the most part, owls do not have a lot of problems to solve. They appropriate abandoned nests of other birds, so they don't need building skills. They are stealthy by nature, and they pounce on and usually catch anything they hear, so they don't need hunting techniques.

In spite of ghost stories, legends of American First People, and superstitions from Europe and India, hooting owls do not foretell impending death, although their nocturnal calls are spooky. We hear them now and then this time of year, but we will regularly hear those eerie calls at Crossroads in January or February.

In contrast to owls, crows are noisy all year round and they are amazingly intelligent. They can learn. They can remember. They can solve problems. They can even identify individual humans. And they detest owls, though whether this is innate or learned behavior is not clear.

Those curious about crows will want to attend the Crossroads Book Club on Wednesday, October 26, at 10:00 a.m. This month, the book Crow Planet, Essential Wisdom for the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt will explore the fascinating world of these remarkable birds. The program is free and open to all, whether or not they have read the book.

So bring the family to our program on owls, learn about crows at the Crossroads Book Club, or learn about bats at our pre-school Junior Nature Club on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. or our Family Science Saturday program at 2:00 p.m. Costumes are encouraged but not required at Junior Nature Club and Science Saturday, and adult visitors are welcome.
Jerome Baxley said the ability to have products speak for themselves has been a strength of Baxley Blowpipe since 1946.

He believes thats why, without much advertising, the Dothan-based companys products are built and used throughout the world by companies such as Hershey, Mars, Lance, and other branded food and woodworking companies that have relied on over the years. The company will celebrate its 70th anniversary this month.

Baxley Blowpipe performs work and provides products relating to industrial ventilation; pneumatic conveying systems; structural steel; process tank fabrication; powder coating; laser cutting; motorcycle trailers; and design, engineering and installation.

The company, which is named for its industrial ventilation work, was started in 1946 by Jerome Baxleys father, Curtis Lee. Curtis Lee was a Barbour County native who returned to Dothan and did sheet metal work after working in the shipyards in North Carolina during World War II.

Jerome Baxley said his father first rented a building on Railroad Avenue to perform roofing, heating and air conditioning ductwork and later moved to a building on First Avenue. He then purchased five acres in 1964 on Cottonwood Road, where the company now sits on 15 acres.

Jerome Baxley, who came on to work with his father full-time in 1979, said Baxley Blowpipe had grown then to provide dust pollution control solutions primarily to the peanut industry. He said a need to diversify in the 1980s led to the beginning of many of the services Baxley Blowpipe offers today, which cut down the companys service to the peanut industry from about 90 percent to about 30 percent.

Baxley said a majority of the companies Baxley Blowpipe provides products for now are in the woodworking and food industries.

One thing we did when I first came on was get new equipment that allows us to work faster and opened the door for us to do machine shop work, Baxley said.

Over time we started building industrial process tanks, motorcycle trailers, stainless tanks, a line of conveyors  most of the time air pollution control products. We got people here that can build anything out of metal. God has just really blessed us in a lot of different things.

Baxley said Baxley Blowpipe currently builds a hood for a multi-million-dollar piece of equipment that makes bottle s for bottled water. He said the hoods and fans move the heat, smoke and fumes used to make the bottles away from the actual product. That work has taken Baxley Blowpipe workers all over the country, while Baxley said the companys workers have also completed jobs throughout Canada and in Mexico.

He said Baxley Blowpipes motorcycle trailers did well in Japan and China.

For companies like Hershey, Baxley Blowpipe built the companys signature Spiral Easy Down gravity feed conveyor which allows nuts to move into processing bins through an easier process that doesnt break the nut.

Baxley believes most of his companys work comes through word of mouth, as he said the company does little advertising.

We did a job for a company in Blakely (Georgia) and when one of those guys moved to Oklahoma we built a big shelling and blanching plant for them, and people from Vancouver, British Columbia came down and saw it and wanted one in Vancouver, he said.

I actually had the chance to do that job.

Baxley said cheap prices are not part of the companys business plan. He said some products might actually cost more at Baxley Blowpipe than elsewhere.

You cant do good quality stuff at the same price somebody is doing cheap stuff, he said.

One thing you can count on is were not going to do it wrong. When we do it, its gotta be right or were going to make it right.

Baxley said the company employs about 38 workers, five of whom are family. He said the company pays 100 percent of its workers health insurance in spite of rising costs.

Its probably the biggest check we write each month, but if we didnt pay the insurance it would cost them more to buy it as an individual, plus theyd have to pay tax, he said.

Were a family here, not just by blood but by the time weve been together. We have someone retiring in the end of December who has been here 42 years, and a number of them have been here 35, 30 and 25 years.

Baxley said the knowledge of his workers is a reason the company thrives.

One of our workers designed the shutters over the windows in the International Space Station, he said.

In 1997 we hired Alan Merritt from Blakely, who had done a lot of work in the peanut industry, to help us. That has really been a blessing to this company.
A Barbour County man received an 84-month federal prison sentence for the receipt of child pornography.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Alabama, William Ray George, 46, of Clayton, pleaded guilty to felony receiving child pornography in August of 2015.

The statement revealed the following about the case: the conviction stemmed from Georges collection of child pornography that contained images and videos of child sexual abuse. George received the child pornography through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. When interviewed by law enforcement, George admitted to viewing child pornography for the past 13 years.

Chief U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins sentenced George to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by a life term of supervised release. George remains out on bond and will turn himself in to the Bureau of Prisons in June 2016.

The case was investigated by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation.
An additional charge has been filed in connection with the recent murder that occurred at a nightclub called Jazzy Bones in Eufaula.

Sandarius Tremain Lewis, 20, of Phenix City, was arrested and charged with murder on Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of Devanta Deon Davis of Georgetown, Georgia.

Agents with the U.S. Marshalls Service, Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County Sheriffs Department took Lewis into custody shortly after lunch in Phenix City without incident on Monday, according to a press release issued Monday afternoon from the Eufaula Police Department.

Devanta Davis was shot Sunday around 12:40 a.m. at the Jazzy Bones Club in Eufaula. He was pronounced dead by Barbour County Coroner Chip Chapman at 1:22 a.m. after being taken to Medical Center Barbour with gunshot wounds.

According to a statement from Eufaula Police Chief Steve Watkins, Lewis has also been charged with attempted murder for a related incident that occurred at the nightclub.

Bail on the murder charge was set at $500,000.
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.
The U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico is struggling under a massive $72 billion debt and a decade-long economic recession. Here is what you should know about the ongoing financial crisis:

How did the debt crisis happen?

During the Spanish-American War in the late 1890s the U.S. military invaded the Spanish-owned island of Puerto Rico. After the war ended, the U.S. retained control, making the islands an unincorporated territory and the residents U.S. citizens.

In 1917, Congress passed the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act of 1917 which, among other features, gave the territory triple tax exemption (i.e., local, state, and federal) on most Puerto Rican bonds. Because the bonds were exempt regardless of where the bond holder resides, this exemption made Puerto Rican bonds attractive to investors both on the island and the mainland of the U.S. The local and territorial governments of Puerto Rico were able to sell bonds as a way to balance the territorys budget and fund municipal services.

Additionally, the island benefited from tax breaks for corporations that moved to the island. From the 1970s to the 1990s, numerous industries  from clothing to pharmaceuticals  moved operations to Puerto Rico. But Congress allowed those tax incentives to expire in 1996, which lead to an exodus of companies (and people) back to the mainland. This decline, combined with an economic depression that has lasted 11 years, reduced Puerto Ricos tax base, leading government officials to issue even more debt to cover the shortfall.

In 2014, the debt-to-GDP ratio reached 68 percent, which drove concerns the island would default on the bonds it had issued. In February 2014, three American credit rating agencies downgraded the governments debt to non-investment grade (i.e., junk) which made borrowing by the government even more difficult.

About half of Puerto Ricos budget was going to service the debt, so the territory passed a law suspending through January 2017 payments to investors holding general-obligation bonds, sales-tax securities and debt from the islands Government Development Bank, and other public agencies.

If this has been going on for years, why it is now in the news?



Early this month Puerto Rico defaulted on a principal payment of $399 million  the islands largest default to date. That action prompted Congress to expedite a plan to oversee the problem. House Speaker Paul Ryan has said hell make the Puerto Rico rescue package a priority, though the lead has been taken up in the Senate by Democrats.

If Congress doesnt act quickly enough the Supreme Court may intervene. According to Reuters, the Court is scheduled to rule by the end of June on the validity of a Puerto Rico law that would allow the U.S. territory to restructure the chunk of its debt issued by public agencies, more than $20 billion, in a bankruptcy-like process.

Cant the municipalities in Puerto Rico that issued the bonds just declare bankruptcy?

No, at least not yet. Unlike municipalities in states (think: Detroit), cities in Puerto Rico are not allowed to declare bankruptcy. But Democrats in Congress have proposed legislation to to treat Puerto Rico as a State for purposes of chapter 9 of such title relating to the adjustment of debts of municipalities. However, Republicans in Congress say that they want to see the undisclosed economic data from the island and to address the problems root causes.

Is Puerto Ricos problem similar to the crisis in Greece?

Yes and no. Some of the underlying problems (e.g., a weak tax base) are similar, but a major difference is that most of Greeces debt is held by foreign countries while Puerto Ricos debt is owned by individual investors, pension funds, etc. That makes it more difficult for the default to be absorbed.

Additionally, if Congress allows a default by a U.S. territory it could have an effect on state and municipal bonds, causing bondholders to seek higher yields to offset the risk. This would mean that state and city taxpayers would have to pay more to finance local projects.

Other than citizens of Puerto Rico, who will be most affected by a defaults on the bonds?

American investors, particular older people and retirees. The bonds were considered a safe investment so they are held by a large number of mutual funds. Over 20 percent (377 out of 1,884) of bond mutual funds own Puerto Rican bonds, according to data from Morningstar.

Because older people and retirees tend to hold more of their money in bonds, a default could affect their savings or retirement income.
Renault enters a new era in Australia this year, launching two critically important models the Megane small car and Koleos SUV.

The long-overdue Koleos will compete against the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, the SUV it shares its underpinnings with. In 2015 the eight-year old Koleos accounted for just over one per cent of the booming mid-size SUV market; selling just 1419 units compared to 17,971 Nissans and the segment leading 25,136 of the Mazda.

Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar is hopeful that the new model will give the brand a significant sales boost, potentially out-selling the new Megane, when it arrives about September.

"SUV is the big growth segment I would suggest the Koleos has got a volume leg up on the Megane from that point-of-view," Hocevar said. "I think also we've had, not by comparison to the major players in SUV have we had year-on-year volume growth, but relative to the size of our brand we've had good consistent sales of Koleos over the last eight years."

Hocevar concedes the Koleos won't challenge the likes of the Mazda, Toyota and Nissan in outright sales but believes a major advertising push behind the new model should help attract new customers to the French marque.

"Well to start with we'll have to have a substantial campaign to announce the arrival of the vehicle in the market. That will feature heavily in the second half of the year," he said.

That decision to invest in making the Koleos succeed has come at the expense of the Kadjar, the French version of the Nissan Qashqai, which Hocevar reaffirmed is not coming to Australia in order to focus on making the slightly larger SUV "a winner."

The new Koleos was revealed at the 2016 Beijing motor show in April but technical details of the car, including its engine line-up, remain under wraps. A selection of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines borrowed from the new Megane are expected, along with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and the choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

However, Hocevar confirmed that the new model will be at the upper end of the mid-size SUV segment in terms of overall size. Back seat space was a particular focus of the designers with a claimed 289mm of rear knee room.

The new model not only benefits from updated exterior styling that features the same prominent Renault badge at the front as the new Clio, Captur and Megane but an overhauled interior too. In selected models a large tablet-style screen dominates the centre of the dash and controls all the infotainment systems.

Click here for all the latest Renault news and reviews.
Toyota has called time on its throwback-styled FJ Cruiser four-wheel drive.

Launched back in 2011 and came out of the blocks quickly in the sales department, but it has experienced a steady decline in sales in the past years, giving up ground to newer more mainstream rivals.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser was a throwback to the brand's LandCruiser FJ40 and was a capable off-roader with stylish looks aimed at younger, city-dwelling buyers.

It was available in just one trim level and was powered by a 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine that was good for 200kW and 380Nm. It was a thirsty beast, but considering it weighed in about two tonnes that was to be expected.

Its styling was highlighted with a wide variety of colours in bright hues.

There were rumours back in 2014 that it would be jettisoned from the local line-up after its was axed in the US, but Toyota Australia was committed to the FJ Cruiser at the time.

However, time stands for no car and the FJ Cruiser, which shares the same underpinnings as the Toyota Prado, will end its production run in August with more than 11,000 examples sold locally.

Click here to view all the latest Toyota news and reviews
Vitals: $140,500 (plus on-road and dealer costs); 5.7-litre V8 petrol; 270kW/530Nm; 8-speed auto; 14.4L/100km; four-wheel drive

Why we're driving it

The Lexus LX was recently updated with a styling refresh that includes a new bonnet, new front guards, new tailgate and revised bumpers. As well as some new active safety features, the LX picks up a new eight-speed automatic mated to an unchanged V8 engine.

What is it?

The biggest Lexus produced and a car with Range Rover in its sights. But underneath it shares more with the Toyota LandCruiser than anything from the Japanese luxury brand. The underpinnings and basic body is pure LandCruiser, with lights, bumpers, bonnet, grille and other details separating it visually from the Toyota it's based on. It also gets an engine unique to the Lexus in Australia.

What it isn't?

A nippy city runabout. The LX570 weighs about 2.7 tonnes and can seat seven people in leather-laced luxury. It's all about getting there in style, and not letting anything stop you along the way.

What does it say about me?

You want a LandCruiser but you don't want to drive a Toyota. And you're not too worried about using your fair share of premium unleaded.

What colours does it come in?

There are seven relatively subdued hues; think whites, blacks and a beige, grey and dark blue. Classic Black is the only standard colour, with all others adding $1575 to the price.

One area the LX570 dips out to competitors is with colour and trim choices inside. The dark wood trim is the only choice, then you can select between black and tan leather.

If it were a celebrity, who would it be?

Hulk Hogan. Big, strong, powerful and brash - and with plenty of longevity.

Why would I buy it?

Because you appreciate the off-road ability of a LandCruiser but you also appreciate the polish and attention to detail that comes with the Lexus badge.

Best bits?

The LX570 is every bit as capable as a LandCruiser in rough road driving, plus it brings some extra smarts, such as adjustable height air suspension. It can also tow up to 3500kg, although expect to use plenty of fuel while doing it.

The interior is also nicely presented with a huge 12.3-inch screen sprawling across the dash. As a five-seater it's supremely comfortable, and well suited to kids thanks to a broad back seat with plenty of leg room. The twin 11.6-inch TV screens also help with longer drives.

The LX570 also has eight seats thanks to a third row that can fit three (slim) people across it. That's a bonus for those with plenty of bodies to carry.

The latest update also brings some decent active safety systems, including blind spot warning and auto emergency braking, the latter potentially avoiding a rear-end crash or, at least, reducing its severity.

Worst bits?

The Lexus Remote Touch system is inferior to the main control systems of luxury rivals. A fiddly mouse makes it tricky to land on the virtual button on the screen you're aiming at.

The big wheels (20-inch standard, or 21-inch if you opt for the enhancement pack) are also a weak point in an otherwise excellent off-road package. Because they are relatively low profile tyres they're more susceptible to sidewall damage, which is an issue in the bush or outback.

Oh, and the engine. Not that it's bad in the way it goes about its business, just that it's thirsty. More on that later

Will it let me down?

Highly unlikely. Lexus is the quality benchmark and there's no reason to think the LX will be any different.

Plus it comes with a four-year warranty, a year more than most. And you can choose between a loan car and pick up/delivery come servicing time.

Does it cost too much?

That's a tricky one. In isolation, $140k for a well-specified big luxury off-roader with loads of bush-bashing nous isn't bad. The problem is when you compare it with the LandCruiser that uses lots of the same hardware and gets most of the equipment of the LX570.

Speaking of which, standard gear includes great leather trim, electric front seats, LED headlights, rear DVD screens (with three sets of headphones), a small fridge in the centre console, four-zone climate control air-conditioning, cameras on every side, tyre pressure warning system and head-up display. There's even a wireless charging pad for Qi-compatible phones (sorry iPhone users, that's not you). There's also a $16,500 "enhancement pack" that brings those 21-inch wheels, heated steering wheel, and cooled and heated front seats and middle row seats.

One thing separating the LX from the LandCruiser is its unique dash layout, which is impressively upmarket and functional (save for the Remote Touch system).

Will I get a deal?

Not likely, although you could negotiate hard on a demo.

Will it get me noticed?

Should do, but mainly because of its size. The LX570 is an enormous machine and few will miss its distinctive high-riding shape rolling down the freeway.

Its bold snout  with a distinctive "spindle" grille and LED headlights - also helps it stand out from the off-road crowd.

To some extent it will depend where you drive it. Throughout the eastern suburbs of Sydney it would barely turn a head, but in the middle of the Simpson Desert it's more likely to garner some attention.

Does it go?

Surprisingly well. The 5.7-litre V8 is loaded with oomph. There's 270kW of power, if you dare to rev it hard (the engine won't complain, but it will try to drain the fuel tank at every attempt).

The 530Nm of torque also ensures plenty of mid-rev muscle.

Combined with the smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic it makes for a car that's rarely left wanting for performance.

That said, there's plenty of weight to shift  think 2.7 tonnes  so you'll sometimes have to be generous with your right foot to elicit the desired response. That's especially important up hills or when overtaking.

Does it like corners?

Not really, although the bigger wheels and tyres certainly bring more grip and steering accuracy than you'll get in a LandCruiser. The standard hoops are 20 inches in diameter, and ours came with the optional 21s.

Keep in mind we're speaking relatively here, though, and the LX570 is not a fan of swift direction changes.

That said, its active air suspension does a reasonable job of controlling body movements, so it is pretty well behaved. The steering is light, too, making for easy around-town manoeuvring (it's helped by the four cameras that can give a virtual overhead view).

What about bumps?

The LX570 is big and cumbersome in some situations, but it's surprisingly comfortable  and impressively quiet, making for super relaxed long distance touring. Few cars shield out unwanted noises like the LX.

Sometimes you'll feel a mild shudder over smaller bumps, but, again, it's generally relaxed. There's also an impressive solidity to it, so there are few speed humps you actually need to slow down for.

How's the sound system?

Lexus has an exclusive deal with top end audio brand Mark Levinson, and as a result has some of the best sound systems in the business. Crisp, clear and punchy.

The LX570's 19-speaker system  there are even speakers in the tailgate, for a quasi-surround sound experience when camping  is good and loud but doesn't have the crispness in the bass reproduction of other Lexuses. That said, the mid-range and treble notes have impressive clarity.

What about service stations?

The good news is you won't be visiting servos too often because the LX gets a 138-litre fuel tank. The bad news is you'll be paying plenty every time you roll on to the forecourt  even more considering you need to use premium unleaded.

There's no way to sugar coat it; the 5.7-litre V8 is a thirsty beast. Its official fuel figure is 14.4 litres per 100km, and it's easy to get into the high teens when trundling around town. You have been warned

Would you buy one?

The problem the LX has is the LandCruiser Sahara sitting 20-odd grand below it on the price scale. The Sahara gets 95 per cent of the gear of the LX but with a V8 diesel engine that's much better suited to the car. If Lexus offered the LX450d (sold in Russia from late 2015) in Australia  complete with the LandCruiser's diesel  then I'd be tempted. But not with the thirsty V8 it comes with.

What else should I consider?

A Range Rover Vogue is a more convincing car, although you miss out on the third row of seats and will be shelling out 40 grand more.

The Nissan Patrol Ti-L brings loads of space and an even thirstier petrol V8, although it misses out on some of the luxury of the Lexus.

The most logical competitor to the LX570 is Toyota's LandCruiser Sahara.

The spin

"For those who dare to step forward."

The translation

Go on, the fuel bills won't hurt that much. Really.
Netherlands to be the new route for FIIs in India ?

With capital gain tax now being applicable even on investments coming from Mauritius and Singapore , Netherlands could be the next favoured investment stop for the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) wanting to save on taxes while exiting India investments.

Netherlands seems promising as there are provisions in the treaty that give certain advantages to investors. The partial protection will be lucrative for the foreign investors and they may prefer the Netherlands route to invest in India. The provision states that if the investors sell the shares to foreign companies there will be no tax liability in India. However if the shares are sold to an Indian company it has to pay tax in India.

While analysts are divided on their views on the effect of amendments in the Double Tax Avoidance Treaty (DTAC) regarding the money flow in Indian markets , government remains confident that the foreign investment coming into India will not get impacted due to the amendments alone.

There is a belief that the investors in US and UK who have been investing in India via Mauritius or Singapore will now invest directly. Singapore and Mauritius routes together have contributed to more than 50 percent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and since the amendments have been put in place this lucrative route will cease to be advantageous. The amendments will also impact the private equity and venture capital investments flow in India .
Is the bald eagle really bald?

This was the question that a recent history of science undergraduate class at Harvard University had to answer with the help of BHL. Specifically, students were required to locate Mark Catesbys 1731 plate of the bald eagle in BHL and use the accompanying text to determine the accuracy of the birds moniker.

The White-Headed Eagle. Catesby, Mark. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. vol. 1, 1731. pl. 1. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40753120. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries.

Mary Sears, Head of Public Services at the Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, instructed the class on how to use BHL to satisfy the assignment. Instructing students on the use of BHL is something Mary has done for some time now.

Mary Sears.

We present the BHL to groups of students, when their class visits the library, and also use BHL as a reference tool when students are working on individual projects, explains Mary. Typically, a class visit involves an exhibit of historical volumes in Special Collections, and a tour and orientation on electronic resources. Faculty and students receive a bibliography of their Special Collections exhibit, with links to those works that are in BHL. The quality, immediacy and scope of the BHL make it an important tool when working with individual students, who are usually working on short-term projects. I regularly direct students to BHL who need taxonomic and anatomical works (and walk them through how to use it). Especially for students who are not science majors, the BHL is a dependable central source of scholarly articles and books in zoology and natural history. Our print journals and older monographs do not circulate, so the BHLs high quality scans fill the students needs for accessible sources. Warrens monograph on Mastodon giganteus (image below) is a great example. I have the volume downloaded at the reference desk and send it to a student at least once a year. They can see the original in Special Collections during library hours but use the BHL version from anywhere, 24/7.

Skeleton of Mastodon giganteus. Warren, John C. The Mastodon Giganteus of North America. 1852. pl. XXVII. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40681510. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries.

Mary has been at the MCZ Ernst Mayr Library for twenty-five years. Her specialty is reference and research, but she also collaborates on circulation and other areas where the library intersects with the public. She is most active in the subject areas of marine biology, bryozoology, and scientific biography.

As the Ernst Mayr Library is a founding Member of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, Mary has been aware of BHLs existence since its launch in 2006. It has had an increasingly significant impact on her work over the past ten years.

I have a very high opinion of BHL, affirms Mary. It has impacted my work by making natural history journals and books easier to find and use. I am very fortunate to be in a library that contributes to the BHL: we have a solid collection of 19th century journals and many pre-1850 titles. As the repository has grown, I have experienced the shift from wondering whether a classic text will be in BHL to assuming that it will be. Now that so many important titles are there, I almost always use BHL scans instead of consulting a print volume in our Special Collections. Before BHL, I regularly went to Special Collections to confirm citations, make copies, etc. Being able to do those ordinary tasks remotely saves a lot of wear and tear on the collection. For works we do not own, I can have immediate access through the BHL to volumes that would have taken weeks and delicate negotiations (or microfilm!) [to obtain access to] twenty years ago.

Marys favorite feature of BHL is the quality of the scans. As she describes, BHLs scan quality, especially the plates, more especially the foldout plates, is vastly better than other online repositories. She also appreciates that downloading content from BHL keeps getting better and easier. Thinking about future improvements, Mary hopes to see the runs of journal titles in BHL be extended to include more recent volumes. It is difficult to negotiate copyrights, but it is a big win to have a whole run of a journal in the BHL, explains Mary.

Marys favorite title in BHL demonstrates the value of having full journal runs in BHL.

The Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (1863-current) is the primary publication of my institution and covers a vast array of zoological topics over a 150 year time span, says Mary. I get a lot of questions about the works published by the MCZ and authors/historical figures associated with the Museum. Having the Bulletin available through BHL makes works easier to find, download and send, as well as taking pressure off of our print volumes.

New species Cassiopeia ndrosia. Agassiz, A. and A.G. Mayer. Acalephs from the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, vol. 32 (9), 1899. pl. 14. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30426482. Digitized by the Gerstein  University of Toronto.

BHL has an active permissions program, which is working to secure licenses for more and more in-copyright titles. Recent work by the Institute of Museum and Library Services-funded Expanding Access to Biodiversity Literature project has resulted in a significant boost to the number of permissions agreements that BHL has secured over the past few months. See our recent blog post to explore the most recent in-copyright titles for which weve secured permission and to learn more about EABL.

So, is the bald eagle really bald? Nope, as you should be able to tell from Catesbys illustration. According to the National Park Service, The term bald comes from the word piebald, meaning markings that are two colors, usually black and white. As Catesby writes, This bird is called the Bald Eagle, both in Virginia and Carolina, though his head is as much featherd as the other parts of his body.

BHL to the rescue for students, librarians, scientists, and readers everywhere!

_____________________

This post may contain the personal opinions of BHL users or affiliated staff and does not necessarily represent the official Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) position on these matters.
Local language school, The Language Place, based in Francis Street, recently played host to a group of 20 adults from Gran Canaria, none of whom had ever visited Ireland before.

The group spent one week from April 16 to April 23, in the Dundalk school learning English while also taking part in a full programme of activities and excursions which showcased some of the best of what our local area has to offer.

Managing Director of The Language Place, and organiser of the trip, Richard Keogh, said that the trip gave a nice boost to the local economy as, apart from day trips to Dublin and Belfast, all the money generated from the trip was spent locally. Horseriding in Oak Tree Stables, Bellurgan, Newgrange followed by canoeing on the Boyne with Celtic Adventures, an Irish cooking lesson in Ghan house, Carlingford, as well as historical visits to Mellifont, Monasterboice and Trim Castle kept the students busy when their classes finished.

We always use local organizations to entertain our students, says Richard. During our summer programmes, when we host up to 60, we also take them to Ravensdale Equestrian Centre, Carlingford Adventure Centre, Irish Country Quads in Iniskeen and Whiteriver Karting in Collon.

New to their summer programme this year are trips to Air Bound Trampoline Park and the new Omniplex cinema.

As always, the students were housed in local families, which also contributed to the local economy. Our host families are probably our greatest selling point, added Richard. Without them we would not be able to offer these courses.

The families we have worked with for the last five years have given us a great reputation for excellence in this service and we are extremely grateful to them.

The 20 adults from the Canary Islands are all students of the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) in Gran Canaria. The EOI is Spains government supported language learning school and there are branches throughout Spain.

Being asked to organise this course was a great endorsement of The Language Place, said Richards wife and Academic Director, Annemarie. We hope to bring more EOI groups to Dundalk between July and October.

It proved to be a very busy week for the Canarian students. With such a great programme on offer, they certainly left Dundalk with some great memories. Best of all, they promised to bring the sunshine back with them when they return!

If you would like to host adults or teenagers for The Language Place in July 2016: 042 9320729 087 2297473 info@thelanguageplace.ie or fill in our online form www.thelanguageplace.ie
New Louth TD Declan Breathnach addressed the Dail this week on the topic of crime.

The Knockbridge based TD pointed out that the people of Louth wanted more Gardai 'on the beat' and called for greater Garda resources.

The vast majority of people in this country are law abiding. Unfortunately those responsible for gang land and serious crime against this state and its people just dont care about our legislation never mind the legislature and have scant regard for our citizens.

It is a fact that when certain criminals are behind bars that the rate of crime drops by in many cases excess of 50%.

The issues currently evident in the North Inner City, are the same in North Louth, its also the same for Clondalkin as in Dundalk. Crime knows no bounds, nor do the Criminals. All crimes of violence are despicable and to be condemned. It is our responsibility in this House to work with our communities and Garda to try minimise the impact of crime.

The Constituency of Louth that I represent has had enough of this crime against our people and state. The loss of Garda Sargent Morrisey in Tallanstown, slaying of Garda Adrian Donohoe at Lordship or the murder of Garda Tony Golden in Omeath is testament to the bravery of our Garda Siochana who day and daily try to uphold the law in our Communities. All that said, those who perpetrate these crimes clearly care less about life or limb.

The people I represent want to see and have greater beat on the street. I wish to welcome what appears to be a commitment from all sides to an increase Garda Numbers to 15,000, and the doubling of Garda Reserve to 2500. But Garda presence is only one part of the solution. The Community Organisations such as Community Alert, Neighbour Hood Watch, Joint Policing Committees together with enhanced Community Safety Strategies need to be resourced to be the eyes and ears of the law abiding communities.

I especially would like to a see a county wide/country wide text alert system supported by the Garda rolled out with Community Safety Strategies like those adopted in Ballymun and Louth better resourced.

Put all my words or the words of this house without an action plan will not bring one sigh of relief to the many families, the vulnerable, the isolated, the business community who continue to fear in the homes their business or farmstead they are the next easy target for these crime vultures.

Having canvassed in many elections at Local Authority and especially having traversed the County in the 2011 and most recent elections I witnessed most especially that sense of insecurity in the increased number of what are commonly referred to asFeck off Security gates on singular homes, the frequent chained and locked farm yards not to mention the many I met who reluctantly peered behind closed curtains to check before venturing to open their door to me. Surely this is not the Welcome Ireland these people wished to portray or want?

The recent provision of 27 extra Garda to Louth and the Emergency Response Unit Checkpoints in the border region are to be welcomed but this was against a backdrop of a reduction in the number of Gardai in the Louth Division of 12 %.

It is worth noting that the CSO figures in Dundalk Garda District show that just 27.5% of all robberies, burglaries and thefts were solved in 2015. In Ardee only 22% of these robberies were solved while in Drogheda the figure was 24%. Nationally the figures were 30%.
They came from Rome, and from Paris, and from all over Europe, for the official opening of the new St Marys College school building in Dundalk on Friday last.

Fr John Hannan Superior General of the Marist Fathers, and a former pupil, came from Rome and Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard, European Provincial who came from Paris.

Chair of Louth County Council, Cllr Peter Savage, Chair of Dundalk Municipal District Committee, Cllr Maria Doyle, many past pupils, and people representing much of the community, attended the Mass in the new school gym celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All-Ireland and Parish Priest of Dundalk.

In his blessing Archbishop Martin thanked the business community, the Government and the Department of Education, voluntary organisers, private donors, and the Marist Fathers, for their combined contribution towards the building project.

In his address, Fr John Hannan said that when the French Marist Fathers founded St Marys College in 1861 it was to provide a Catholic school. He was aware that now not everyone at the school is of a Catholic or Christian persuasion, but said it is incumbent on all of us to understand each other's heritage and the different meanings that are central to our lives.

And that message - the fundamental Christian message of love and tolerance - was reflected in the Gospel which he described as a wonderful summary of the Christian vision.

In was of course Matthews poetic account of the Sermon on the Mount.

Many of us who went to St Marys discovered poetry and its power, and the magic of words, thanks to the kindly educators, the Marist Fathers, and this, of course, is the most poetic of Gospel passages.

Fr Hannan said he first came to St Marys in 1953, when the then new wing was blessed by Cardinal DAlton.

He left in 1961 but returned for the college centenary in that year. And now he was back for this historic opening of a state-of-the-art building which he described as a great achievement.

The school was originally a house, Church Hill House, opposite the Green Church, and it was from here that a procession, led by the Marist Marian icon, made its way to the new building.

Archbishop Martin, chatted on the way to pupils who formed a guard of honour, and local people and later said that he had a sense of the significance of the short journey.

It was indeed. Another historic moment in the history of St Marys College Dundalk.

The site for the school building was provided by the Marist Fathers. The eco-friendly building is expected to reduce energy costs and the classrooms and teaching spaces include specialised rooms for the teaching of a broad curriculum.

This new building is an exciting renewal of St Marys College, a part of Dundalk for over 150 years, Mr Con McGinley, Principal, St Marys College said. We will continue to provide excellence in education for all our students.
 Washington Post Editorial Notes Iranian Moderates Mendacity on Holocaust | Main | The Money Trail Behind Jewish Voice for Peace 

May 12, 2016

A Shell Game: Washington Post Report on Anxious French Jews

France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, and its most troubled. A wave of anti-Semitic violence in recent years has shaken Jews to the point where growing numbers no longer see a future here.?

So begins Jews anxious about future in France,? by Washington Post correspondent James McAuley (May 10, 2016 print edition, May 9 online). Who is responsible for the wave of anti-Semitic violence? and sense of anxiety? pervading a [Jewish] community that accounts for just 1 percent of the total French population?? The Post does not exactly say.

The newspaper does tell readers that community accounts for nearly half of all victims of what French authorities call Xenophobic violence.? Which xenophobes?? In the 10th paragraph The Post finally says Jews are struggling to consolidate safety and security in a France where radical Islamist violence has been rising.?

So, radical Muslims threaten French Jews with violence? The newspaper implies that, but stops short of saying so explicitly. Instead, it recalls:

In 2006, there was the abduction and murder of a Jewish cell phone salesman by a gang of anti-Semitic youths. In 2012, a shooting at a Jewish school in Toulouse. In 2015, a shooting at a kosher supermarket the day after the Charlie Hebdo attack. And In January of this year, the machete attack on a Jewish teacher as he walked on the street in Marseille.?

That gang of anti-Semitic youths? who tortured Ilan Halimi to death over a period of days while taunting his family in telephone calls was Muslims. The terrorist who murdered a teacher and three children in Toulouse in 2012 was a Muslim. The shooter who killed four Jews at Paris Hyper-Cacher market in 2015 was a Muslim who claimed to have coordinated with the Charlie Hebdo murderers.

But The Post quickly moves on to other matters in the last 22 of the articles 34 paragraphs. These are the argument among French Jews over whether they should abandon France for Israel or elsewhere, or stay. And, if they stay, should they work with the anti-immigrantessentially anti-Muslim and originally antisemitic but now ostensibly pro-Jewish National Front Partyor against it?

Early in the dispatch, a man identified as an Israeli human rights lawyer living in Paris,? is quoted as saying in terms of security, I dont believe Israel is a safe place for Jews. Or for anyone else.? The Post transmits that stenographically, without context.

In context, in terms of individual security, a U.N. office reports that the murder rate per 100,000 population in Israel in 2012 was 1.8; in France (2013) 1.2; Tunisiawhere some French vacation3.1 (2012); and in the United States, where more than five million Jews live and many French visit, 3.8 (2013). (Data from most recent years posted.)

Another article by McAuley (World Views: France plans to set up anti-jihadist centers to curb youth radicalization,? May 10 online, not yet in print) crept a little closer to causeIslamic extremism or Islamist supremacismin addition to effectrising violence against French Jews and others. The short dispatch used the words anti-jihadist? and jihadism? in direct quotes from the French prime minister. It also referred to militant? and militants? and once to the Islamic State. It also noted that many Muslims? find state secularism alienating.?

But those whose radicalization government officials hoped to prevent turned out to be young men,? young people? or French youths.? Young Catholics? Secular youths? Young French Jews?

Unlikely.

When predominately Muslim suburbs of Paris and other French cities erupted in riots and arsons four years ago, reporting by the Tribune Newspapers (including The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun) suffered from descriptions of acts by disaffected youths,? rioting youths? and gangs of youths.? Tribune Co. journalists, professionally expected to report who, what, when, where, why and how, erased the Muslim and/or North African-Arab identity of most of these youths.? Washington Post coverage of violent threats to French Jews from radicalized Muslims suffers a similar erasure now.







Posted by ER at May 12, 2016 05:43 PM

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What is your favorite coffee flavor and how many times do you drink coffee, was the question I asked to the latest brand endorsers of Great Taste coffee at the #GTChooseGreatness event held at the Crown Plaza Ortigas recently.

John Lloyd Cruz , the latest brand endorser of Great Taste coffee gamely answered and said that he the Great Taste White 3-in-1 Coffee flavor a lot. Being in the industry that he is in he said he usually takes his coffee more than twice a day especially when busy at a taping and he needs to stay awake.

In a survey they showed for a short ice breaker game of Family Fued, it revealed that people like to take their coffee during breakfast, at meetings, a date or when catching up with friends or an overtime at work.

The Choose to Be Great event launched John Lloyd as the latest endorser plus a preview of the latest TVC where the campaig captures the respect and admiration that he and the brand have for Pinoys greatness.

Universal Robina Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Gokongwei said, they pick John Lloyed as the lates addition to the Great Taste family as they believe he will reinforce the brands values and philosophy which he exepmplifies in his life.

Everyone was also asked what do they do to achieve greatness and everyone gave out amazing answers that you can also find by searching through #GTChooseGreatness hashtag. Everyone felt great after the event as there were lots of prizes that were given away for raffle.

Heres the Manila bloggers winning moment with John Lloyd:

I think everyone was so perky at the event because there was an overflowing coffee at the event venue, where they served different flavors of Great Taste coffee served hot, cold , over ice or iced blended. I super loved the Chocolate Mocha Iced Blended coffee!

Here are other flavors of the Great Taste White 3-in-1

And the Coffee lovers

Great Taste Coffee is available at all supermarkets in the country.

How about you whats your favorite coffee flavor? How often do you drink coffee?

Stay gorgeous everyone!
 Where's the Coverage? Antisemitism Rampant in the PA | Main | A Shell Game: Washington Post Report on Anxious French Jews 

May 12, 2016

Washington Post Editorial Notes Iranian Moderates Mendacity on Holocaust



A Washington Post editorial Irans moderates and the Holocaust,? (May 10, 2016) noted that Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, offered an unconvincing disavowal of the regimes hate speech,? including Tehrans sponsoring of a Holocaust cartoon festival.?

Post editorialists pointed out that at the heart of the Obama administrations diplomatic engagement with Iran is the notion that the regime is divided among hard-liners who foment its terrorism and regional aggression and more moderate forces who are open to cooperation with the West.?



CAMERA has noted (see, for example The Media and the Myth of the Moderate Mullahs,? March 2, 2016) the tendency of major U.S. print news outlets, including The Washington Post, to refer to moderates? in the theocratic, authoritarian regime that rules the Islamic Republic of Iranoften overlooking evidence that contradicts that idea.

Zarif is frequently labeled a moderate? and is, The Post editorial said, an English-speaking favorite of many Western journalists and even more so, Secretary of State John Kerry.?

Yet, this label doesnt match Zarifs actions or those of the regime he serves.

The Post pointed out that during the 18-month imprisonment of their Tehran bureau chief, Jason Rezain, by Iran, Zarif suggested that the journalist had been taken advantage? of by an overzealous low-level operative? of the U.S. government.

The foreign ministers mendacity also was on display when he was asked to explain why Iran is sponsoring an international cartoon contest with a Holocaust denial theme. A previous Holocaust cartoon contest was held in 2006 under Irans then-President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) and a second in 2015. Ahmadinejad favored blunt anti-Western, anti-Israel rhetoric, unlike Zarif, was often referred to by press and policymakers as a hard-liner.? But both men served Irans Supreme Leader,? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is rarely if ever characterized by the press as moderate.?

The Post editorial noted that when Zarif was asked about the upcoming Holocaust cartoon contest by Robin Wright of The New Yorker magazine, his reaction was a form of denialism: He claimed the Rouhani administration [Hassan Rouhani, Irans current President who is also frequently called a moderate? by Western journalists] had nothing to do with the exhibition. The sponsor is a nongovernmental organization that is not controlled by the Iranian government.?

In his interview with Wright, Zarif tried to blur the lines, claiming that the event was comparable to the activity of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan, in the United States. Zarif obfuscated, asking Wright: Is the government of the United States responsible for the fact that there are racially hateful organizations in the United States??

Wright, a former correspondent for The Post and Los Angeles Times, among other outlets, also works for the United States Institute of Peace and frequently argues for greater U.S. engagement with Tehran. She did not challenge Zarifs Klan-Holocaust cartoon contest comparison although she did question his claims that the Iranian government was not involved in the event. However, as The Post editorial noted, a spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance confirmed that the ministry supports the [Holocaust cartoon] exhibition.A festival official also reported that it was cooperating with the ministry.?

Additionally, The Post pointed out, one of the organizations staging the festival, the Owj Media and Cultural Institute, is funded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps; another, the Sarcheshmeh Cultural Complex, is backed by the Islamic Development Organization, whose budget is approved by the Iranian Parliament.? That is, the Holocaust cartoon festival is absolutely supported by the Iranian regime, of which Zarif is a loyal servant. If there really is a gulf between Mr. Zarif and the supposed hard-liners,? the editorial said, he often does a good job of disguising it.? Other news media outlets would do well to note that its a rather thin disguise and think twice before separating members of Irans largely self-selecting theocratic dictatorship, including Zarif and Rouhani, as well as Ayatollah Khamenei, into moderate? and hard-line? camps. When it comes to Iran coverage, The Posts declared sharp separation of the news and editorial departments may be real. National and foreign desk references to Iranian moderates? and reformers? versus hard-liners? abounded in reporting the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the United States, France, Great Britain, Germany, Russia and China. In this years Iranian parliamentary elections, moderates? made big gains, according to The Post.



Posted by SD at May 12, 2016 10:48 AM

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380 million will be provided to local partner banks

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are stepping up their support for businesses in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. A new joint programme will help local entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between each country and the EU.

The EBRD will provide 380 million in loans and trade guarantees to local partner banks and other financial institutions for on-lending to businesses, while the EU will make available 19 million for technical assistance, investment incentives and risk-sharing. At the same time, the Bank and the EU are supporting further improvements to the investment climate through various policy dialogue activities.

The establishment of a free trade area is part of the EUs Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine signed in 2014. It will offer local businesses access to the EUs single market, the worlds largest, and help boost economic development and growth in the three countries.

The signing marks the first phase of a planned 1.2 billion EBRD/EU programme to which the EU is expected to provide 56.5 million in funding to help businesses invest in improvements of product quality and service standards. This, in turn, will prepare them for the DCFTA and create an environment conducive to cross-border trade, job creation and economic growth in the three countries.

This is truly a game-changing initiative to everyones benefit: it will make local businesses more competitive while consumers will be offered more advanced, better quality products and services, said Alain Pilloux, EBRDs Acting Vice-President Policy and Partnerships. It will also help to unleash the full export potential of businesses in these three countries, as it will provide them with access to the European market.

Small and medium size companies are the engine of the local economy. This facility will help them take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the establishment of a free trade area with the EU, thus contributing to overall economic growth in the partner countries, added Katarina Mathernova, the European Commissions Deputy Director General, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

The EU has also provided 42 million to the EBRDs Advice for Small Business to boost entrepreneurs know-how to grow their business in the Eastern Neighbourhood region since 2011. Both programmes are part of the EU4Business initiative, which supports the EUs projects to back small and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Partnership countries.

With its local presence and 25 years of experience of working to develop the private sector in the three countries, the EBRD is strongly positioned to successfully promote this project. The Bank is the largest institutional investor in the three countries and has invested 2.6 billion in Georgia, 1 billion in Moldova and 11.6 billion in Ukraine.


Photo by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog

In 2008, former Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz jumped party lines and endorsed Democrat Mark Schauer in the 7th Congressional District race (which Schauer eventually won.) It was a strong statement about Walbergs far-right tea party obstructionist positions to have a well-known Michigan Republican endorse his Democratic opponent. Schwartz later went on to say, I think Mark Schauer has made a legitimate effort at trying to represent the whole district and is far more aware of what the real issues that the voters in the 7th district care about might be than Tim Walberg. I think Schauer in his year has proven himself to be a more effective Congressman for the 7th district that Walberg was in his two years.

This week, history is repeating itself. This time it is legendary Republican and former Michigan Governor William Milliken doing the endorsing:

Former Gov. William Milliken crossed party lines today to endorse congressional hopeful Gretchen Driskell, a Saline Democrat, in her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton. The Traverse City Republican, who served as Michigans governor from 1969-1983, said voters in the 7th Congressional District have the opportunity to choose a representative who will work in a constructive way to fashion solutions to the challenges we face as a state and a nation. [] She recognizes that we are one state and one nation and that in the end we all go up or down together, Milliken said in a statement released today. We need people in Washington who work to find common ground and common solutions to our problems.

William Milliken has long been known as a moderate and wise Republican, something that is rare to find these days. His endorsement of Driskell proves hes remained wise over the years and cares more about good government than partisan politics.

Meanwhile, Walberg has jumped on the Donald Trump bandwagon saying that hell support the [Republican] nominee for president. It will be fun to watch him defend Trumps misogyny, racism, and hateful rhetoric over the next few months.

If youd like to support Gretchen Driskells campaign, click HERE.
Yahoo on Wednesday announced that it has reached a deal with Starboard Value to add four independent directors, thus avoiding a proxy fight with a key investor that has been seeking radical changes at the company.

Under the agreement, Starboard CEO Jeff Smith will join Yahoo as an independent director and will be a member of the companys Strategic Review Committee, which has been in negotiations with several suitors for Yahoos core Web business.

Eddy Hartenstein, former DirecTV and Tribune CEO; Richard Hill, chairman of Tessera Technologies; and Tor Braham, former global head of technology mergers at Deutsche Bank, also will join as independent directors, Yahoo said.

As part of the agreement, Starboard has withdrawn its slate of nominees to the Yahoo board.

Get Down to Business

The constructive resolution will allow management and the board to keep our focus on our extremely important objectives, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said, adding that management is looking forward to working with the entire board, including the new directors, to increase shareholder value.

The board and management remain focused and dedicated to the exploration of strategic alternatives and the execution of strategy for the operating business, Yahoo spokesperson Rebecca Neufeld told the E-Commerce Times.

The new board members were looking forward to working closely with existing board members and management right away to maximize shareholder value, Smith said.

Starboard, which owns about 1.7 percent of Yahoo, has been one of its chief critics, calling out the company for its failure to produce acceptable results, its poor acquisitions and its compensation practices.

Pressure Point

The announcement of a new board structure is the first step toward necessary changes among the top management, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

One of Yahoos problems is a board that really didnt understand Yahoos business or could execute well on any of the options they had. This change should address that problem, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The announcement comes at a critical time for the company, as it received bids from numerous suitors for its core Web assets. Among the companies making a bid for Yahoo is Verizon, which reportedly wants to integrate Yahoo with AOL and turn itself into a major provider of online content.

Other companies that have expressed an interest in Yahoo include Microsoft, IAC and Time Warner; however, it was not immediately known which companies had submitted official bids.

Two incumbent directors, Lee Scott and Sue James, will not stand for re-election at the companys annual meeting, bringing the total number of board members to 11, Yahoo said. Scott and James have agreed to relinquish their respective committee responsibilities immediately to board members who will be up for re-election.

The board committee responsibilities have been restructured with Maynard Webb continuing as chairman.

Eric Brandt will chair the Audit and Finance Committee, joined by Braham and Tom McInerney. Cathy Friedman will chair the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, joined by Jane Shaw and Richard Hill. McInerney will head the Strategic Review Committee, joined by Smith and Brandt. Shaw will lead the Compensation and Leadership Development committee and will be joined by Webb, Friedman, Smith and Hartenstein.

The full agreement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the companys 8-K report.
COPENHAGEN  Honduras has launched an ambitious US$3.4 billion project, which aims to turn the country into the destination of choice for brands and retailers who want to source sustainable clothing and textiles in the Western Hemisphere.

The newly launched 'Honduras 2020' project for the textile industry is one of four key industries the government of Honduras aims to change into a more sustainable sector. John Mowbray speaks to Juan Orlando Hernandez, President of Honduras.
(Photo: LWF)Dadaab is the world's largest cluster of refugee camps, with a population of more than 350,000 people. At its Kambioos camp, the Lutheran World Federation provides dedicated areas for girls that offer activities and protection.

Jesuit Refugee Service, the Lutheran World Federation and World Vision are among groups urging the Kenyan government to reconsider its intention to close the world's biggest refugee camp.

The Kenyan government on May 6 said it was closing down the Dadaab camp in the northeast and Kakuma in the northwest and that it will disband its Department for Refugee Affairs.

"Shutting down the refugee camps will mean increased protection risks for thousands of refugees and asylum seekers  the majority of who are women, children and unaccompanied minors," 11 NGOs said in a joint statement on May 10.

They called on Kenya to continue to uphold the protection and rights of refugees, many of who would be prone to human rights violations.

Kenya's Interior Ministry cited "immense security challenges" and the slow pace of Somali refugee repatriation as factors for the decision that "hosting of refugees has to come to an end."

DADAAB AND KAKUMA

It said Dadaab and Kakuma camps would be closed "within the shortest time possible."

The NGOs assert that an abrupt closure of the two camps could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for East Africa as other countries in the region are already shouldering huge refugee populations.

The NGOs signing th statement include Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and Save the Children.

They encouraged the government to continue with its sustainable approaches, such as increased policing in the camps and host communities to facilitate timely information sharing, mitigation and response to security threats.

"We acknowledge the concerns raised by the Government of Kenya and do share in the need to reinforce security in the country as security is an integral part of any nation and for providing a conducive asylum environment," said the NGOs.

Kenya hosts nearly 600,000 refugees mainly in the camps at Dadaab, which houses mainly Somalis and Kakuma with mostly South Sudanese, Sudanese and Somalis.

The camps were set up in the early 1990s and now have the population of cities.

The figure includes over 400,000 Somalis, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), mainly in Dadaab. Kakuma has around 185,000 refugees, mostly South Sudanese, Sudanese and Somalis.

Dadaab is the world's largest cluster of refugee camps, with a population of more than 350,000 people. At its Kambioos camp, the Lutheran World Federation provides dedicated areas for girls that offer activities and protection.

Disbanding the Department for Refugee Affairs would create a critical coordination gap in terms of providing services to refugees including voluntary repatriation, the NGOs stated.

"Refugee laws and asylum regimes are under attack and especially in Europe," said the NGOs. "Kenya should not follow that path but instead continue to host refugees while getting much more support to do so from the international community."

LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge in a statement expressed concern over the deteriorating commitment of the international community of States to uphold their duty to protect refugees, as enshrined in the Geneva Refugee Convention.

"Signatories to this Convention shouldn't act as if they had never done so, nor as if this Convention didn't exist," he said.
(Photo: LWF / Stephane Gallay.)Signing of a memorandum of understaning by Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of IRW and DWS Director Eberhard Hitzler (front, from left), witnessed by LWF assistant general Secretary for Human Rights Affairs Ralston Deffenbaugh, Mehdi ben M'rad, IRW director of National Programs, UNHCR deputy high commissioner Alexander Aleinikoff, LWF general secretary Rev. Martin Junge, LWF global program coordinator Maria Immonen and LWF program assistant for Interfaith Cooperation Elizabeth Gano (from right).

The Lutheran World Federation and Islamic Relief Worldwide have signed an historic agreement to cooperate in humanitarian work forging inter-faith relations in a field where humanity is often under siege.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding is the first official cooperation between a global Christian and a global Islamic humanitarian organization.

"We are proud to formalize our partnership with Islamic Relief Worldwide today," Eberhard Hitzler, director of the LWF Department for World Service said.

The LWF released a statement Monday from its Geneva based where it represents more than 72 million Christians worldwide.

"At the heart of our collaboration are the many core values we share such as dignity, justice, compassion and commitment," said Hitzler.

"And our common vision to empower and support vulnerable communities and people affected by disaster, which unite us across our religious differences."

Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, noted, "We live in a time when our fragile world appears more disrupted by human suffering; religion is often construed as the dividing line between peoples in conflict.

"We believe that in these fragile times, faith-based humanitarian organizations are best prepared to provide a uniquely powerful model for mutual respect, service and cooperation for the betterment of all of humankind."

Ashmawey emphasized the religious roots of humanitarian work.

"We have been here first," he said. "Where would people go when they were sick and hungry? They would come to the churches and mosques."

The UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, Alexander Aleinikoff, praised the cooperation. "The secular humanitarian world has not taken enough notice of the faith-based needs of refugees,"

"This working together is a dream coming true. You can do marvellous things together. I hope this will become a model for others to replicate."

He also asked the two organizations to give feedback on their cooperation to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugess.

The LWF and IRW have already carried out an assessment in Dadaab said to be one of the world's biggest refugee camps in Kenya, on how best to jointly assist disabled persons who are often overlooked in refugee situations.

"This is a time when we as faith-based organizations have to say very clearly that religion is not about violence," the LWF General Secretary Rev Martin Junge said.

"This memorandum is not only about technicalities, it also touches questions of self-understanding. I am looking forward to grow in that relationship, and to bring the theological challenges of that relationship back to our member churches."
While some universities have opened the application window, others will do so soon. So, mark your calendar as the countdown begins. Heres a look at the timelines:

University of Delhi ( DU ): For undergraduate courses, you may register online from May 28 to June 15. The university plans to release five cut-off lists this year. The first list is scheduled for June 22. The lists will be available at www.du.ac.in and college websites. This year, the college admission fee, too, will be received online only. With a centralised e-enrolment system, selected candidates will have to visit colleges only to submit their class X and XII certificates and fee receipts. The original documents will then be verified.



Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD): Applications for undergraduate as well postgraduate courses are invited online till mid-June. The enrolment process started in mid-April and will end in mid-July. Applications to the MBA and MA in Social Entrepreneurship have closed.



Jamia Millia Islamia: You are required to register at the university website http://jmi.ac.in/onlineadmissionform and fill the online application form for undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma/certificate programmes. The university has extended the last date to submit e-applications to April 25.



Jawaharlal Nehru University is no longer accepting applications this year. Its entrance test is due to take place from May 16-19. The results of the written tests are expected on June 27. The tentative date for the viva voce is July 14. Selected candidates may enrol July 18 onwards.
Leer en espanol (read in Spanish)

At a time when the value of play is a raging debate in early education, Liliane Vanoy has an almost singular focus for the prekindergarten students enrolled in her school.

Vanoy says the word three times for emphasis: vocabulary, vocabulary, and vocabulary.

I dont care if your student comes here with two words. At the end of the year, he needs to know 5,002, Principal Vanoy tells her teachers at the citys Dual Language Academy.

Vanoy understands the expectation may seem intense and stressful for 4- and 5-year-olds, especially those learning English as a second language.

Parents often question her about how much playtime their children are getting at the school, where at least two hours per day are dedicated to teaching literacy. Vanoy agrees that children should play, but she also explains to parents that their children are tested early and often in kindergarten.

In Oklahoma, student literacy is assessed during the second week of kindergarten classes, and children are tabbed as above- or below-grade-level before some of them have even adjusted to classroom routines.

Early childhood is not what it used to be, Vanoy said.

For nearly two decades, Oklahoma has provided universal access to free prekindergarten classes for every 4-year-old in the state, and Tulsas programs are considered the crown jewels.

The laserlike focus on literacy has produced notable early results here, especially for English-language learnersthose students who come from non-English speaking homes.

Despite the programs early success, questions remain about the long-term benefits.

Overall, the Hispanic children who pass through Tulsas pre-K classrooms come to kindergarten more academically prepared for school than those who dont, according to a long-term study from Georgetown University.

The Georgetown researchers have found that they are, on average, months ahead of their peers who dont enroll in pre-K in reading and four months ahead in writing.

The team has spent 15 years studying Tulsas efforts, and the data indicates that English-learners are among the student groups who have benefited most from the access to free pre-K classes.

But Tulsas state test scores in elementary reading have remained stagnant for the past decade and have even slightly declined for English-learners.

Dual Language Learning

Seeking out solutions, Tulsa has undertaken a small-scale experiment at the Dual Language Academy, where the classrooms are an almost-even split of native English speakers and Spanish speakers.

The dual-language approach makes it possible for an English-learner to help a native English-speaking child sitting next to him learn Spanish and vice versa.

Like Tulsa, more states and school districts are aiming to reach English-language learners in the earliest stages of the education pipeline.

Research indicates that early exposure to a language boosts a childs odds of better academic performance later on.

Thats crucial for Tulsa, a district of nearly 40,000 students that has undergone a dramatic demographic shift in recent years.

Hispanic students are now 31 percent of the student population, outnumbering all other races and ethnicities in the public schools here.

In the past decade, the number of Hispanic students in Tulsa has more than doubled, and many of them are native Spanish speakers. Overall, nearly 1 in every 3 students in the district speaks Spanish at home.

The urgency of getting this right is even more pressing, said William Gormley, one of the lead Georgetown University researchers and a co-director of the universitys Center for Research on Children in the United States.

At the Dual Language Academy, a pre-K through 5th grade school, science and social studies lessons are taught in Spanish, while math instruction is in English.

The schools 40 pre-K students bounce from teacher-led dance- and sing-a-longs to science and art stations every four minutes, with native Spanish- and native English-speakers often paired together to increase their exposure to the languages.

Recent research has found that there are benefits of dual-language learning over English-only classes for English-learners.

A joint study published in 2015 by the Houston schools and Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that native Spanish-speaking students in the district have more success learning English when theyre enrolled in two-way dual-language programs that include native English-speakers in the classroom.

Its among a growing body of research that points to the benefits of teaching students in two languages.

In several North Carolina districts with two-way, dual-language instruction, students score statistically significantly higher in reading in 4th grade than their nondual-language peers, a pattern that continues through 8th grade, researchers from George Mason University found.

Thus far, the Dual Language Academy is the only school in Tulsa that provides dual-language instruction for pre-K students. That means less than 5 percent of the districts 500-plus pre-K English-learners are experiencing the model.

Hopeful that the schools approach will yield results for the districts burgeoning English-learner population, administrators are closely monitoring assessment scores for students who have come up through the dual-language program.

Anecdotal evidence shows that the dual-language approach is working, said Laura Grisso, who oversees the districts ELL programs.

Kindergarten students who participated in dual-language pre-K are working on writing half-page stories that they can explain in English and Spanish; and English-learner kindergarten students in English-only classrooms are working on recognizing and reciting the alphabet, she said.

Learning English Takes Time

The stakes for achieving student literacy are high in Oklahoma.

State law requires that students who arent proficient on a 3rd-grade reading test repeat the grade. Its one of at least 16 states that requires a do-over for 8- and 9-year-olds who do not meet grade-level reading expectations by the end of that year.

More than 90 percent of children in the Tulsa schools whove been affected by the law have been special education students and ELLs, said Andy Mackenzie, the assistant to the superintendent for early-childhood services.

Exemptions are granted for students with a limited grasp of English, namely those who have had less than two years of academic English instruction.

When youre learning a second language, its all a matter of time, said Vanoy, the principal. And sometimes our time does not match up with what our state requires. The law doesnt even take into consideration how much a child has grown, in literacy skills.

Third grade is considered key for student literacy, as its the year that students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. In other words, theyre expected to focus less on reading and more on the information theyre reading.

An early focus on literacy is key if children, especially English-learners, are to make that crucial transition, said Maria Adeliada Restrepo, the director of the bilingual language and literacy laboratory at Arizona State University.

We need rich conversations, exposure to vocabulary, complex language, Restrepo said.

English-learners who enter kindergarten with a basic grasp of academic language, either in their primary language or in English, are more likely over time to be reclassified as former ELLs, an analysis from Oregon State University researcher Karen Thompson found.

Thompson, an assistant professor of cultural and linguistic diversity in the universitys college of education, reviewed nine years of student data from the Los Angeles Unified School District to gauge how long it takes students to develop proficiency in English.

Thompsons analysis shows that students who dont reach proficiency by the time they reach the end of elementary school are less likely to do so at all.

Those students share a common characteristic: They enter kindergarten with a limited command of academic language, the skills that allow children to retell stories or solve word-based math problems. Students in this category are 24 percent less likely to be reclassified than their peers. They are also more likely to score lower on academic tests. The also graduate from high school at lower rates than their peers, Thompsons analysis found.

Does Pre-K Help ELLs in the Long Run?

Even with universal pre-K, Oklahoma has been treading water as it tries to keep up with the average national gains in 4th grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Gormley, the Georgetown researcher, said the reliance on state and national exam results to measure the programs effectiveness is shortsighted.

Fadeout occurs whether its an early-childhood program or piano lessons or anything else that kids are exposed to, Gormley said.

The larger question, Gormley said, should be whether there are any long-term benefits, such as increased enrollment in honors courses, better grades, and improved discipline and attendance records, for the students who participated in pre-K.

Quality preschool programs can play a role in helping establish that strong start, and its that much better if students are able to learn in their native language, too, said Restrepo.

There is a clear difference between early-childhood and pre-K programs that focus on language development and literacy and those with environments that more closely resemble a day-care setting, Restrepo said.

They need to play, but there should be people talking with them, Restrepo said.

What I see is kids banging blocks in the corner and fighting with each other for the naked baby [doll] in the preschool classroom and nobodys building the language.

English-learners enrolled in English-only courses often face two challenges: Their English instruction is often oversimplified, and theres no reinforcement in their primary language, she said.

The pre-K classes at Tulsas Dual Language Academy could help address those issues, but finding bilingual teachers to staff classrooms has been a struggle in Tulsa, just as it is in many school districts.

Latino Families Least Likely to Access Pre-K

Oklahoma has put a premium on increasing access to prekindergarten, and Tulsa has one of the highest participation rates in the country, with 3 out of 4 4-year-olds enrolled in a pre-K program.

But participation among Hispanics, and English-learners in particular, lags behind other groups here and elsewhere.

Historically, Hispanic parents have been less likely to enroll their children in early-childhood-education programs and Head Start, the federal education program designed to support the needs of low-income children and get them ready for elementary school.

Though Oklahoma offers pre-K that is open to all age-eligible children, the ability for families to access it isnt universal.

Gina Adams, a senior fellow with the Urban Institute in Washington, has studied the barriers to preschool participation for immigrant children and English-language learners in Silicon Valley and Chicago.

In cities around the country, transportation, cost, and lackluster outreach efforts are among the issues that emerge as obstacles for those families who want to enroll children in pre-K but dont have the resources or time to do so.

The language barrier between schools and families with a limited command of English is often the primary hurdle, said Adams, who worked as a child-care teacher for infants and as a home visitor for low-income Latino families in Austin, Texas, before coming to the Urban Institute.

If theres nobody there who can connect, it makes sense that parents would be hesitant to take their children, Adams said.

To attract more parents, pre-K providers have to actively recruit families, Adams said.

If you dont, the school readiness gap is not going to be addressed, because the kids who need [pre-K] most are not going to be there and theyll still be coming to school unprepared, Adams said.

One of the citys early-childhood-program providers, Community Action Project-Tulsa has started opening Head Start sites in the citys most heavily Hispanic neighborhoods in its push to get more families through the door.

Paving the way for families to enroll can make all the difference for the English-learners, said Restrepo, the Arizona State University professor.

Were trying to make up for lost ground, she said.
More than a decade after Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast, and the state of Louisiana took control of most of New Orleans public K-12 system, the citys schools will return to local oversight in the next two years.

Lawmakers approved legislation to relinquish authority over most of the citys schools from the state, which has been supervising them since 2005. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signed the measure Thursday afternoon.

However, the reunified system of schools that the locally elected Orleans Parish school board will preside over is radically different from the one it ran pre-Katrinaor any other district in the country. Nearly every school in the city now is a charter.

While proponents of returning the charters to the oversight of the citys elected school board say its an important milestone in the revival of public education in New Orleansand strengthens the argument that New Orleans could be a model for other citiescritics contend that the newly reconstituted system hardly qualifies as locally controlled.

And concerns remain that the Orleans Parish school board may not be ready to assume this new role, though the superintendent insists the district will be.

The list goes on and on, how this school system has prepped itself for this moment, said Henderson Lewis Jr., the Orleans Parish schools chief, who has been on the job just over a year. I believe we will be able to make this merger happen by 2018.

A Difficult History

In the wake of the hurricane and massive levee failures in August 2005, lawmakers swept most of New Orleans schools into the state-run Recovery School District, which manages school turnaround efforts across Louisiana. Many of the schools had been struggling with very low student performance for years, while the local board had lost public confidence amid a string of corruption scandals. Over the course of the next several years, the Recovery School District either closed schools or turned their operations over to charter groups.

Today, between Orleans Parish and the RSD, more than 90 percent of New Orleans public school students attend a charter. The RSD has oversight of 52 charter schools, while the Orleans Parish board directly manages six regular schools and oversees 18 charters.

Under the new law, the Recovery School Districts New Orleans-based charters will be transferred to the oversight of the local board by July 1, 2018.

The RSD will continue to provide oversight to other charter schools in the state.

If the switchover hits any snags, the deadline can be extended to 2019, but no later. All the schools will remain charters run directly by their own individual boards.

The bill thoroughly preserves charter school autonomy, said Patrick Dobard, the superintendent of the Recovery School District. Instruction, curriculum, school calendars, the hiring, firing, and performance evaluations of employees the board is prohibited from limiting [schools] autonomy in those critical areas.

Authority Over Renewals

Under the measure, the Orleans Parish board will take over operations of the citywide school enrollment system and the centralized expulsion process, which are currently managed by the Recovery School District.

But most significantly, the Orleans Parish superintendent and board will have authority to decide whether charter contracts are renewed and if schools must be shut down. Having those decisions debated and made locally was a crucial missing component of including the community, supporters say.

Currently, with most of the schools being overseen by the [RSD], its highly difficult for our parents to attend a board meetingmost of the families are low income, and traveling to Baton Rouge is not feasible for most parents, said Ben Kleban, the founder of New Orleans College Prep, a small, local network of schools overseen by the RSD.

To be present, to interact and give public testimony is really the true nature of local school systems in this country and is the way it should be.

Local oversight is important for reasons that extend well beyond New Orleans, Kleban said.

It cant be a model for local education without local control and local representation, he said.

However, with a significant amount of authority over day-to-day operations remaining with the individual boards that oversee charter schoolswhich are appointedsome New Orleans residents bristle at labeling the new setup as one thats locally controlled.

I call it the fake-return-of-schools bill, said Karran Harper Royal, a local education advocate and a staunch critic of charter schools in the city. It cements these schools, the governance of charters, in our district into perpetuity.

Among New Orleans residents, feelings are mixed about whether nowor anytimeis good for returning the schools to the Orleans Parish board, according to a recent poll by Tulane University. It found that 38 percent of registered voters supported shifting oversight of the schools to the local board by 2018, while 13 percent indicated the switch should happen even later. Thirty-two percent said they preferred the status quo.

White residents were more likely to indicate they wanted to keep the current system. Forty percent of white respondents said they preferred the status quo compared to 32 percent of black respondents.

Hurdles Ahead?

But initiating the transfer is likely only one in a series of hurdles to come. Not only will the district more than double in size, the charters it will absorb are generally lower performing and have more poor students and students with special needs than the charter schools it currently oversees.

Raising the specter of past corruption scandals, a board member was sentenced in September to one year in prison for accepting a bribe in awarding a contract to a janitorial company.

And all seven of the school board members are up for re-election this November.

That has people like Robin Lake, the director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington, worried.

Worst-case scenario, theres a hostile board making life difficult for the district and the charters, and at the end of two years, the district just isnt in the position to take back the schools, but theres no contingency for that possibility, said Lake. The schools go back no matter what, dysfunction or function.

The transition will be closely tracked by charter advocates across the country.

Although New Orleans nearly all-charter model has produced significant gains in academic performance, according to research from the Education Research Alliance at Tulane University, many have questioned whether the city is more of an outlier than a blueprint for others to follow.

But if a locally elected board can successfully curate and supervise a suite of charter schools, that perception could change.

It is significant in the sense that if the system can go back under an elected school board and still prosper and still continue to improve, it will be irrefutable evidence that locally elected boards can oversee a system like this, said Lake. The stakes are high. And of course this is highly politicalwhatever happens, both sides will stick to their stories.
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.
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- After the decision to table a Request for Proposal for county ambulance service at its May 2 meeting, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors will take another look Monday at calling for bids, a move that could potentially bring another service to the county.

Acadian Ambulance has provided service to Jackson County since 2000 and many officials say they are satisfied with its service, but some feel the county has fallen short on oversight and accountability. For example, an advisory board is supposed to provide reports pertaining to the quality of service customers receive, but because there is no such board, citizens could have legitimate concerns that are not being heard. Ward 6 Alderman Mike Impey of Ocean Springs said he feels that regardless of not receiving any complaints about the service Acadian provides, it is good business to go out for an RFP.

"Every now and then, it is good to go out for an RFP regardless of the nature of the service," Impey said. "I believe this because it is good to make sure you are getting the best services for the taxpayers' dollars. Since I have been on the Board of Aldermen, we have went out to bid on virtually every service we provide in Ocean Springs and pretty much every case, we end up coming back to the same company. Through the process, we end up saving money or getting more services for our dollar and I think it is necessary to do when you are spending tax payers' dollars."

Jackson County Emergency Management Director Earl Etheridge will present the RFP on behalf of the county. He said he wasn't familiar with the last time an RFP was done, but said, "If I had to guess, I would say the last one was done in 2000." The RFP was tabled at the previous Board of Supervisors meeting because Etheridge said he had come across an interlocal agreement from 2000. The supervisors decided it would be wise to allow their lawyers to look over the agreement before deciding to move forward with with a call for bids on the county ambulance service contract.

The duration of such contracts depends on the way they are written, according to Etheridge.

"Contracts are composed up of four years and typically depend on how they are optioned," he said. "Usually, you have four years with a four-year option and that is usually followed by two one-year options, just depends on how the contract is written."

Also on May 2, Gautier Mayor Gordon Gollott released a 13-page document prepared by Gautier Fire Chief Robert Jones to give an account to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors detailing Gautier's experiences with Acadian. One of the concerns raised within the document is that there should be a countywide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board that helps evaluate the quality of ambulance service, but no such board exists.

According to Etheridge, the board once functioned, but was eventually disbanded.

"That board once existed and sometime around 2003, people just quit coming to the meetings," Etheridge said. "The board ceased functioning and that is nothing on Acadian, but that is the county and the cities' responsibilities and for whatever reason, people just quit coming to the meetings and the board ceased its functions."

According to information in the Gautier report, there should be someone from every municipality on the board, plus an emergency physician or registered nurse from Singing River Hospital System, plus two members representing the Jackson County Fire District, plus a representative of the 911 Commission, plus two members of the Board of Supervisors. None should be affiliated with Acadian.

The Mississippi Press reached out to Singing River Health System for its viewpoint on the need for the advisory board, but did not receive a response. Etheridge says he consults with the four fire chiefs from the different municipalities and has heard no complaints about the service Acadian provides in the five years he has held his position.

The Gautier report, however, includes a letter from Deputy Fire Chief Derek McCoy, in which he raises several points of concern. Among other things, McCoy says his department has had difficulty getting information on the time of arrival on ambulance calls, and that the reports it does get "are not sufficient information to review Acadian's compliance with response times as dictated within the contract."

"The issues Gautier had is more to do with their representation with the contract, which goes back to the point that the four cities and the county let this board die because no one was coming to the meetings," Etheridge said. "That board was supposed to oversee the response times of Acadian and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and if that board is not meeting, there is no one other than myself to follow up on these complaints."

Impey said that a call for bids on a service doesn't necessarily indicate problems with the work of the current service provider. It's just a prudent way to do business.

"Times are tough," Impey said. "Acadian supports our downtown events and we appreciate it, but I don't represent Acadian, I represent the people of Ocean Springs and every now and then, I think these things need to be scrutinized."
 To be defined

The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide a GBP 700 million loan for the GBP 4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel, the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the UK water industry. Often dubbed the super sewer, the project is urgently needed to help tackle overflows of untreated sewage into the river through the centre of the British capital.

The European Investment Bank is the worlds largest lender for water-related investment and the backing for the Thames Tideway Tunnel represents the largest-ever loan for water investment worldwide. The 35-year long-term loan from Europes long-term lending institution has been agreed with Tideway, the new regulated company set up to design, build, commission and maintain the 25 km tunnel, which will directly control or intercept discharges from more than 30 combined sewer overflow points, stretching from Acton in the west to Stratford in the east.

The new GBP 700 million loan for Tideway represents the European Investment Banks largest-ever water loan and the most significant support for UK infrastructure since Crossrail. This demonstrates the EIBs strong commitment as the largest source of financing for long-term investment in UK water infrastructure since before privatisation and builds on more than GBP 2 billion of support for investment to improve Londons water and waste water infrastructure since 1989. We are pleased to support the construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a world-class engineering scheme, delivering infrastructure vital to clean up the Thames, said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice President.

The EIBs backing for Tideway is an important vote of confidence in us as a company, as we move into the construction phase. This loan covers a significant proportion of the financing we need to raise. The innovative, index-linked structure enables us to lock-in financing costs, whilst also matching our funding requirements and profiling debt service, in line with the expected growth in our asset base, said Mark Corben, Tideway Chief Financial Officer.

The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a really impressive project. It will improve the quality of the water in the Thames - benefitting fish and wildlife - and all the people along its banks. It will prevent millions of tonnes of sewage flowing into the water. It is also an excellent example of investment in the UKs water sector, supported by financing from institutions such as the European Investment Bank: good value for customers, creating jobs and making the long term infrastructure decisions necessary to protect this great city and our natural environment in the century ahead, said Rory Stewart MP, Environment Minister.

The European Investment Bank is the worlds largest international public bank and is 16% owned by the UK government. The European Investment Bank has provided more than GBP 12.6 billion for investment in water and waste water infrastructure across the UK including expanding reservoirs, reducing leaks and protecting against flooding.

Lending by the EIB in the UK last year totalled GBP 5.6 billion and supported long-term investment in 40 projects across the country. This represented the largest annual engagement since the start of EIB lending in the UK in 1973, which has supported nearly GBP 16 billion of overall investment.

In the last 10 years the European Investment Bank has provided nearly GBP 8 billion for direct investment in London, with additional investment from UK wide programmes.
I will be live-blogging all about the latest dark web happenings from the show starting tomorrow. Gordon G. Chang, the author of Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World as well as other works is about to take the stage here at the Inside Dark Web Conference.

The most dangerous criminals on the Dark Web are states. Hackers sponsored by Russia attacked Ukraine in the past. It is also a matter of time before a rogue state or bad actor takes out critical infrastructure in the US. In addition, he says some believe the Chinese are behind the great blackouts in the US last decade.

He then discuss the Bowman Avenue Damn in Rye Brook and how the Iranian National Guard was responsible. He also mentioned how Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase were also attacked.

Hackers he said will go after American businesses as well as governments.

He said the attacker who went after OPM and took over 21M government worker names and their details also went after Anthem, United and almost ten other companies.

He said the FBI does now issue warning against Chinese hacking (one, earlier this May)  when they did not do this before. He said that multiple agencies have sounded the alarm about APT6  an allegedly Chinese Nation-state sponsored hacking group.

Some believe this group has been operating since 2008 or 2011. He also said President Obama met with Chinese leaders and agreed neither country would hack for commercial purposes.

He went on to say FireEye noted that numerous Chinese hacking groups have ceased hacking as a result.

He says experts say that the attacks are still coming but China is using better trade craft.

He said in past days, the Chinese would show the data they stole.

In addition, Silicon Valley is working more closely with the government to identify attacks and attackers.

He said there is no cost on China for taking hundreds of billions of dollars per year of American Intellectual property  in the form of US exports to Asia.

Others say hacking costs us companies $400B per year and China is responsible for 90% of this number or $360 billion.

Others say this will continue until we demand that it stop.

At the moment There is very little reason for Beijing to stop what it is doing.

He went on to say that some time back five Chinese hackers were indicted but it is unlikely we will never find them and bring them to justice.

At this point, companies are not allowed to fight back.

Some are suggesting US companies be given the right to do this.

Others say, until hacking stops, we need across the board tariffs on Chinese products. Obviously Donald Trump believes this and Senator John McCain agrees.

In addition, other countries see China is not being held liable and other countries could copy the same path to economic prosperity.

China wants to move up the value chain in manufacturing and they cant do this unless they protect it. Thats the good thing. The idea here is China will need to worry about cyber-theft as well.

Also, since the Chinese economy is in distress, they are less likely to be a good global citizen.

Chinas distress is good for the US  because they need access to the American market.

From there he went on to discuss the North Korea hacking of Sony Pictures because of the movie The Interview.

The hackers though were using Chinese IP addresses (Unit 121). He said this shows the Chinese government was complicit in this attack. Especially since all the data from Sony had to pass through the Great Chinese Firewall.

We know in 2012 North Korea and Iran signed an agreement to cooperate in cyberspace.

Washington can not let others  especially Russia, North Korea, China and Iran decide what we read and have access to. referring to the plot to stop us from seeing the movie. From there we went on to say this will continue until Washington stops if from happening.

Paul Syverson, the creator of Tor takes the stage.

He thinks the Dark Web will be a common way we access the internet for security reasons. He gave an example of his experience in the Navy  where they routinely tell people not to walk around with identifying clothing that connects you with the Pentagon, etc.

In other words, conceal your identity for safety reasons.

He then explained how a person in the hotel room  connecting to their home websites can be identified as working for the Navy, Apple, etc.

This is even worse from a security standpoint as they know where the person is sleeping.

He said a VPN would also be an issue  it is trackable as well. He said this is why the architecture is the way it is  using crypto and a circuit through the network allowing data to be passed between the server and user.

He said users and law enforcement benefit from Tor but criminals can still operate without Tor  they have many other tools.

He says the current web isnt secure  routes can be hijacked allowing others to see where traffic is coming from and going to. DNSSEC protects only .15% of .com sites. Routes can be observed by BGP hijack and observation. TLS certificates are also subject to hijack and man in the middle attacks.

The ordinary web is dark

.onion addresses are self-authenticating so there is no chance for man in the middle attacks via certificates.

There is music and literary works as well as IM clients than live only as .Onion sites or Dark Web.

People can use .Onion sites to administer systems behind a firewall.

Ahmia is the search engine for the Dark Web  onion sites comprise about 5% of total Tor traffic.

He referred to Facebook having over a million Dark Web users.

He refereed once again to the .Onion way of accessing websites as being secure  as opposed to traditional web surfing.

Medical identity theft is a growing problem  medical sites are launching .Onion sites to prevent this. Likewise for government sites.

Onion sites are for stronger authentication  not just location hiding.

Brian Kontos of Securonix launches Inside the Insider presentation  he gave an elongated version of this presentation at the Pentagon last week.

There are numerous insider threat types. Yonggang Min at Dupont was able to steal 22,000 document from the company to share with a competitor. The breach cost the company $400 million!

He gave the example of American Superconductor  where China was able to get access to their source code thanks to a worker who shared secrets in China. The Chinese company then started to export products to the US. Check out the Great Brain Robbery for more (subscription required).

Millennials are hacking for ideological reasons  as opposed to money which was the traditional driver.

Jonathan Levin of Chainalysis takes the stage to discuss the Golden Strings of the Dark Web.

The Dark Web is an economy like no other

Bitcoin is censorship-resistant and no one shuts it down.

Discussion of ransomware (see related stories about Congress getting hit and the FBI warning).

He sees ransomware as the first thing being priced in bitcoin  not US dollars converted to bitcoins. This is the emergence of the bitcoin economy. There are call centers that let you negotiate and instruct you how to get bitcoin.

Ransomware hackers are now launching affiliate programs  allowing others to resell or reinfect computers to share in the profits.

A CNN Money reporter who wrote a book on Bitcoin asked if he could use his bitcoin tracking tool to track someone like Dread Pirate Roberts the founder of Silk Road. The answer was yes.

Alex Urbelis from Blackstone Law Group and an Information Security company Black Chambers started off discussing the debate between Apple and law enforcement  specifically, if the government can force manufacturers to defeat the security of their own devices.

There are state bills that say by 2017 companies can be fined $2,500 per device they cannot decrypt without the necessity of obtaining the user passcode. Examples were produced from Louisiana, New York and California.

The federal government is supporting this reach into devices and software as can be seen above.

Similar rules are being proposed in the UK.

Tech companies have complained saying this harms companies designing or developing products in the US and furthermore that these backdoors will b discovered.

Cloud data woul

d also be affected by government regulations  especially if data is cached or stored locally on devices in particular states.

There is no obligation by cloud vendors to tell customers that they have given data to the government.

In other words, your privacy rights are given up when they are stored in the cloud.

The was a question about the Rule 41 change that lets government get access to equipment that they might not otherwise have access to. He says it is good that senators are pushing back on this issue.

Lance James Chief Scientist at Flashpoint  former head of cyber intelligence at Deloitte & Touche takes the stage.

His company does research in the dark web space and has information to share.

Tor is growing when it comes to onion sites.There has been 24% growth in onions between 2014-2015.

Running your own hidden request directory gives you a good understanding of the dark web. They classify sites  he gave examples of different types of sites  age of site  newer ones with lots of traffic are suspicious.

One way of differentiating sites is to determine if it is a static page  if it is and gets a lot of traffic and has words like decrypt and files on it, it is likely ransomware.

Basically, his company is working on a solution to classify dark web sites into ransomware, commerce, etc.





Cybercriminals work in a chain of command structure like a company or the military. hackers share information and quite often hackers for hire will not go after targets in their own countries but instead go after targets beyond their borders so as not to raise scrutiny in their home areas. Forums allow criminals to share information and add on to services from one another.

China is two years behind Russia in cybercrime but they are using the techniques which have been successful in Russia and they are catching up. To get around censors, they use terms on forums which refer to hacking but are disguised as words which ore in the common language.

Hopefully that gives you a great taste of this unique educational experience. There was a great deal of amazing content above and beyond what has been shared here. To find out the events future dates, register and sponsor  please check out the website or reach out!
Ely, Cambridgeshire is best known for its majestic cathedral dubbed the 'Ship of the Fens' because it dominates the flat landscape. The city, which is the second smallest in England, is about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles by road from London.

12:27, 24 OCT 2022
February 24, 2022, the day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, will go down as a tragic date not only for the Ukrainian people, but also for the whole civilised world.
Our first stop is Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia. First leg of the flight took us to Los Angeles, then from there its around 18 hours to Melbourne (with a stopover in Sydney). Adding up the time to and from the airport, its almost 30 hours. So we left on the 14th and finally arrived on the morning of September 16th.

Bored at LAX

We claimed our bags without hassle. The pair of REI duffle bags worked like a charm. They held our large backpacks, tent, hiking poles, tripod and other equipment with space to spare, and most importantly protected the dozens of straps on the backpacks from getting caught in the conveyer belt.

We reserved a B&B based on good Internet reviews. Its a bit out of the way, but close to bus routes. However its location seems to be a bit obscure. With some trouble, our shuttle bus driver was finally able to get us there.

Tracy sitting in our room. Does this room look Chinese to you?

Stan, the owner, is a well traveled man. He was in China in the 90s as an English teacher. He now works part time at a language school in Melbourne, and still host foreign students in his house from time to time. Its hard to find a more amicable and helpful host. I think well stick with B&Bs in the future, if just for the more personal experience.

With our host Stan in the Foyer

Its not yet noon, Stans friend Tony recommended Queen Victoria market for lunch and a stroll. This market is one of the major historical landmarks of Melbourne. It started in the 1850s as a few small stalls, and gradually grew to a huge market covering 17 acres of land.

Grocery Stand in Queen Victoria Market

We had a delicious hotdog with Melbourne characteristics. See Tracys Melbourne post for a picture. She wont let me use it here because of Trademark issues. We see quite a few vendors here from China, selling anything from clothing to fresh veggies. In fact, Melbourne appears to be more Asian than many of the other large American or European cities, with the exception of maybe San Francisco. Given the geographical proximity, I guess its not surprising. We found a Malaysia place (for an early dinner. The food is so so, but it is filling.

The next morning we picked up our rental car from Thrifty and was on our way to the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of scenic highway along the Indian Ocean overlooking the Great Australian Bight. The highway was built after the First World War by returning soldiers in a span of 13 years, as both a war memorial and a way to provide employment.

Airey's Inlet Lighthouse

We went to Lorne, a small seaside town, for some Fish and Chips. The portion is HUGE. If you think America is the land of big portions, think again. Dont know if this only applies to Fish and Chips. Well see. We were ravenous by the time the food is ready, so only remembered to take a picture after we are almost done. The condiments are not free, you have to buy your tomato source here for $2. Plastic utensils cost money too, so use your hands like the Australians.

Fish and Chips

At Kenneth River, we drove on a side road in a Eucalyptus forest trying to spot Koalas on the trees. It appears our luck is good. We saw maybe four of them. This is one.

Another one of the cute guys

All the koalas we saw were sleeping. The Eucalyptus leaves are mildly toxic and of poor nutrition. Koalas developed very slow metabolic rate to adapt to this food. As a result they will need to sleep 16-18 hours a day.

Interesting Cloud Formation

We booked the night with Port Campbell Hostel. By the time we get to Port Campbell it was already dark. We took a hot shower and went to bed early. Shower is timer operated. Timer is 10min, and the button is outside of the shower stall. If you take longer than this, be prepared to shower in darkness or run out naked to press the button again. You need to bring your own towel.

The next morning we got up at dawn and drove to the Twelve Apostles, a collection of rocky pillars alone the coast. There were much less than twelve of these pillars. A few collapsed recently, and they are not all huddled together. According to a guidebook, there were never 12. Never the less, they were quite beautiful. If we got here earlier we could have gotten some really good pictures. It was cold in the morning. The chill wind from the ocean kept us from staying there too long.

The Twelve Apostles

About 5 minutes drive from the Twelve Apostles is Loch Ard Gorge. This is a site where the clipper Loch Ard ran aground in bad weather in June 1878. Only two people survived from the crash. We found some stalagmites toward the base of the rocky cliff. By this time Tracy is cold and hungry, and not so keen on mine using her as foreground for the picture.

Unwilling Subject

Loch Ard Gorge

After beating a hasty retreat, we went back to the hostel and packed up. We ate breakfast in a local cafe then headed back to Melbourne.

The next day we drove to Phillip Island. This is a small island about 100km southeast of Melbourne. Upon crossing the bridge connecting the island and the mainland, we spotted a chocolate factory. Needless to say, Tracy wanted to have a look.

This is made from Chocolate

On the left is a chocolate statue of David, complete with a green fig leaf, true to the Renaissance style. On the right is a smaller Tracy, craving it.

Tracy and David

Here you can squirt chocolate from a nozzle to create any shape you like on a smooth conveyer belt. It will then be cooled as the belt moves. You can collect it at the end of the belt. Tracy wanted to create a perfect heart-shaped chocolate and managed beautifully.

Well, close enough.

Close to the Penguin Parade visitor center, theres a beautiful stretch of shoreline. The weather is nice. Although the wind is strong, sun warms us up.

Phillip Island Shoreline

We refueled in Cowes, a small town on the island, with more fish and chips. After this we had enough of the greasy stuff and vowed not to eat this again in Australia.

At 5pm we returned to the visitor center for the Penguin Parade, which is the main attraction of Phillip Island. The Little Penguins (yes that really is the name for their species) go into the ocean to feed everyday and return to their nests in the grass and shrubs near the shore at dusk. There were about 30-40 visitors that day. We patiently waited on the wooden benches for these little guys.

They eventually came back at 6:30pm or so, together with a thunder shower. Once in a while, after a particularly big wave, several of them will emerge on the beach. They huddle together, mill around a bit, and once they feel safe, head toward the shrubs. It was a lot of fun watching them walk in a line, overcoming occasional obstacles with difficulty, and put their heads down for the final sprint into the bushes. Too bad no camera of any kind is allowed for the parade. We had a picture of a Little Penguin earlier in the day, see Tracys post for a look.

It was completely dark when this is all over. We got back to Melbourne close to 10PM. Next day we will fly to Tasmania.
Our main destination in Tasmania is the famed Overland Track. Its one of the best hiking tracks in the world. Flight from Melbourne to Launceston is just over 1 hour. We arrived at Launceston airport after dusk. This is the second largest city in Tas, and home to about 100,000 people. Taxi is $30 to CBD (central business district). We checked into the Batman Fawkner Inn at 7pm and headed to our room on the 2nd floor.

We booked an ensuite double room, meaning a double with private bath and shower. It costs $60 a night so its no Ritz, and no Best Western either. The room is about 69 (feet) with a bunk bed, a small shelf and just enough space to walk around the furniture. Fortunately the bed is clean and comfortable, the shower works and water is hot. We cant ask for more than that.

Launceston Post Office Building

After putting down our bags, we set out to the local Coles supermarket to do some grocery shopping for the trip. Since this is our very first multi-day backpacking trip, neither of us had any idea how much food to buy, so we err on the safe side and bought a lot. Turned out that would have been enough for 4 people, and we had to carry the extra pounds all through the 5-day trip. Here is a rough list of food stuff we bought:

12 bags of instant noodle

mixed nuts, M&M, dry fruits

a bag of milk power

oats meal

2 large bars of chocolate

assortment of cookies

a bottle of peanut butter

energy bars

We had TassieLink, the local bus company transport a bag of stuff that we would not need on the trail directly to our destination. This was a life saver as it shaved 20lbs from our packs.

Day 1:

We woke up to a beautiful morning well rested. The bus leaves town at 8:45 and its not yet 7, so we have some time to explore. The city is very peaceful, even at supposedly rush hour on a Tuesday. There are few people or cars on the street. It felt more like a Sunday morning.

A traditional iron-face building

Our bus is much smaller than the one shown here. Its the size of a large van with a luggage trailer. Because there arent that many bushwalkers (Australian term for hikers) this time of the year. This is early Spring in the southern hemisphere, and it could snow in the mountains at any time.

Launceston Bus Station

The bus stopped at a few places on the way to pick up additional hikers. One of these stops is Devonport. If you take the ferry to Tasmania, you would end up here. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry runs on a regular basis from Melbourne and Sydney. A group of 9 hikers were picked up here. From what little Spanish Tracy and I learned in preparation for our South America trip, we were able to pick out a few Spanish words in their conversations.

Devonport

The bus stopped at a few other towns before heading for Cradle Mountain. The ride took just under 4 hours.

Yup, these are actual place names in Tasmania

We were dropped off at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center in light drizzle. We didnt expect this as it was sunny in the morning, and the elevation isnt that high where we were. Never the less, we came prepared, so we donned our brand new hard shell jacket and rain pants, and got on the shuttle bus that would take us to the trail start.

By the time the shuttle bus finished the 15-minute trip to Ronny Creek, the drizzle has turned into a steady rain, and the wind started to pick up. When we put rain covers on our backpacks, it turns out that since we tied our mattress pad on the outside of the packs, the rain covers dont fit very well. Oh well, how bad can it be. We put on our packs and started on the trail.

We saw a Wallaby less than 100m into the trail. It didnt appear to be afraid of people. As long as we kept our distance (maybe 2m) it happily ignored us. It was raining hard so we didnt get a picture of it. You could just imagine a smaller, fuzzier kangaroo.

The trail went uphill for much of the first stretch to Marions lookout. Both wind and rain grew stronger as we ascend the mountain. On some of the mountain ridges, the wind is so strong that from time to time we had to stop and brace ourselves so as not to be blown off balance.

A section of the trail is very steep. You clime up rocks here with the help of iron chains. Its treacherous under the weather condition with icy rain making the rocks slippery, and strong wind making balancing difficult. We lost a rain cover to the wind here (lesson #1, buy rain covers that cover more than just your pack).

By the time we got to Kitchen Hut it was close to 4pm. This hut is just a emergency shelter and did not have the facilities of a standard hut. We tried to push on to the next hut but had to turn back because the trail is flooded and its getting darker. We were also worried that our gears will get wet in the rain. It turned out to be a good decision. The rain and wind picked up even more. We didnt sleep much that night huddled in our damp sleeping bags and listening to the howling wind outside. At times it feels that the wind was going to uproot this old hut, but it held.

Two young Australians were already in the hut and made the same decision to stay for the night. We would become hut-mates for the rest of the trip.

Kitchen Hut, our humble shelter for the first night on the track

Day 2:

The sky cleared up by dawn. We got up around 6:30 and decided to get an early start. The track was a bit muddy from the rain, but was not flooded like the previous day. We reached the Waterfall Valley Hut, our intended destination for Day 1 by noon. The Spanish group spent last night here because they couldnt fit into the Kitchen Hut (capacity 5). I showed off my Spanish with El Humbre bebe leche (The man drinks milk). They laughed and seemed happy. I take it that they were duly impressed.

After having a quick lunch and refilling our water, we pressed on to the Windermere Hut about 8km away. We were exhausted when we got there. But seeing this little fella kept our spirits up. This is a Pademelon, a small marsupial like a miniature kangaroo. We saw several that ranged from less than 10 lbs to maybe 20 lbs. They were not afraid of people, but would hop away if you got within a meter. The Australians ignored them, but we foreigners got a kick out of watching them.

Every hut has one or more of these guys

We had a brief discussion with the two young Aussies we met in the kitchen hut. They are brother and sister both studying in University of Melbourne. Sarah majored in Immunology. Tom is still a first year student, but seems interested in following his sisters footsteps and choose the same major.

Sleep came easily after a long day of hiking. I was completely oblivious to all the snoring in the hut. Tracy used earmuffs and slept well also.

Day 3:

We woke up to snow on the ground. Fortunately its pretty light. We had some oats meal and headed out. Today we are going to hike 16.5km to New Pelion Hut.

In front of Windermere Hut where we spent the second night

The weather alternated between sleet, cloudy sky and rain. This section of hike involved lots of slippery tree roots and ankle deep mud. We were too busy finding our footings to take any photos. Other than discovering two leeches on our pants on arrival, the days journey was long, tiring, and uneventful.

Lesson #2: Bring more salty food and less sweet stuff. I would gladly trade all my chocolate and chocolate cookies for a can of spam.

Night was interesting though. The cacophony of snoring started to get to me (TM guys will remember Montauk). At any one time theres at least 3 people snoring at different pitch and frequency. I may have contributed as well :). I used earmuffs also that night.

Day 4:

Finally a dry day!! I got my camera out for the first time. Before this we were using Tracys little point-and-shoot. We have just now started to really enjoy this track.

Tasmania wilderness

We reached Pelion Gap at noon. The view was incredible. Several people and one lone currawong were resting here. Currawongs looked like ravens, but with larger curved beaks and yellow eyes. They are very smart and are know to open zippers on backpacks to steal food. Later on at the visitor center, we saw on swoop down and snatch a piece of bread from a girls plate when she turned on her seat to get some butter.

Currawong watching us closely

Yup, we are heading south

A section of trail covered with planks. Majority of the trail are mud, tree root, rocks and creek bed.

The trails all downhill from Pelion Gap. It didnt take too long for us to reach Kia Ora Hut.

Tracy negotiating around a fallen tree

Theres still plenty of daylight. We were taking pictures of the huts resident pademelon when we spotted this bird pecking on the back of the animal. First we thought it was looking for pests, it soon turned out that it was plucking hair from the poor pademelon, probably for building a nest. If you looked carefully you can see the strand of hair its holding in its beak.

The evil "Hair Collector"

Cold, hungry, and tired, Tracy plays the role of 

Back in the hut, the Spanish group was jovial as usual. They got the fires going and are roasting sausages in the stove. They shared some with us. It tasted heavenly after 4 days of trail food.

We have decided to skip a hut tomorrow and go all the way out so we can have one day to wash up and rest before flying to Sydney. So the bunch of us who shared huts for the past few days got together and took a few pictures.

Our hut-mates

Sarah and Tom are on the right. In the middle are the group from Spain. Somehow one of them is missing. 3rd from the left are their intrepid leader, who speaks the loudest and snores the loudest.

Day 5:

Today we are walking 19km all the way to the end of the track  Lake St. Clair. After a few miles of uphill, the trail is mostly downhill and flat terrain. Only regret is that the hut (Windy Ridge Hut) we passed up was the newest and best hut on this track. We did have lunch there though.

Looks tempting

Tracy crossing the suspension bridge

We reached Narcissus Hut at 4:30pm. At night we caught this possum scavenging around the hut. Like most animals we encountered here, its not alarmed by people.

A possum in the night

Day 6:

Yeah! We are taking the ferry out today. Ferry comes at 9:45, we are on the jetty waiting at 8. The prospect of a hot shower and real food is driving us. I believe a fair percentage of the enjoyment of multi-day backpacking comes AFTER the trip, when satisfaction from food, hot shower, and clean cloths are greatly enhanced.

In front of Narcissus Hut

Waiting for ferry on the jetty

Ferry comes on time and we are out of here. 25 minutes later, we are at the other side of Lake St Clair.

Fast and furious

Lake St Clair Visitor Center

Yes! Back to civilization

After spending some time in the camps coin operated shower (6 min for $1), we were reborn. We did laundry and ate at the centers cafeteria. The owners also a good chef, but at this point anything tastes good.

Day 7:

In the morning we met up with our hut-mates, who took different routes out. The TassieLink bus took us to Hobart, capital of Tasmania with population of 200,000. We bid farewell to our friends, quickly wolfed down a sandwich, and took a shuttle to Hobart Airport. Its on to Sydney from here.
For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.

Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.

Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron William Trump, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005. Trump has five children from three marriages.

Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron William Trump, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005. Trump has five children from three marriages.

A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.

A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.

An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Towers in New York in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."

An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Towers in New York in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."

Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999.

Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999.

Trump signs his second book, "Trump: Surviving at the Top," in 1990. Trump has published at least 16 other books, including "The Art of the Deal" and "The America We Deserve."

Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977-1990, when they divorced. They had three children together.

Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977-1990, when they divorced. They had three children together.

Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.

Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.

Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for President, has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate to producing and starring in TV shows, see how he's shaped his empire.

Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for President, has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate to producing and starring in TV shows, see how he's shaped his empire.

Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.

Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.

Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.

Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.

Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was just before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.

Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was just before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.

In 2012, Trump announces his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In May 2012, on CNN's "The Situation Room," Trump said that President Barack Obama's birthplace is a matter of opinion. In regards to the President's Hawaiian birth certificate , Trump said "a lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate."

Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump has been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.

Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump has been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.

Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump -- in 2009.

Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump -- in 2009.

For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.

Trump wrestles with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania in 2007. Trump has close ties with the WWE and its CEO, Vince McMahon.

Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron William Trump, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005. Trump has five children from three marriages.

Trump attends the U.S. Open tennis tournament with his third wife, Melania Knauss-Trump, and their son, Barron William Trump, in 2006. Trump and Knauss married in 2005. Trump has five children from three marriages.

A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.

A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.

An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Towers in New York in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."

An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Towers in New York in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."

Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999.

Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999.

Trump signs his second book, "Trump: Surviving at the Top," in 1990. Trump has published at least 16 other books, including "The Art of the Deal" and "The America We Deserve."

Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977-1990, when they divorced. They had three children together.

Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977-1990, when they divorced. They had three children together.

Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.

Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.

Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for President, has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate to producing and starring in TV shows, see how he's shaped his empire.

Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for President, has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate to producing and starring in TV shows, see how he's shaped his empire.

Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.

Trump speaks during a campaign event in Evansville, Indiana, on April 28. After Trump won the Indiana primary, his last two competitors dropped out of the GOP race.

Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.

Trump -- flanked by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, left, and Ted Cruz -- speaks during a CNN debate in Miami on March 10. Trump dominated the GOP primaries and emerged as the presumptive nominee in May.

Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was just before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.

Trump speaks in Sarasota, Florida, after accepting the Statesman of the Year Award at the Sarasota GOP dinner in August 2012. It was just before the Republican National Convention in nearby Tampa.

In 2012, Trump announces his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In May 2012, on CNN's "The Situation Room," Trump said that President Barack Obama's birthplace is a matter of opinion. In regards to the President's Hawaiian birth certificate , Trump said "a lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate."

Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump has been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.

Trump poses with Miss Universe contestants in 2011. Trump has been executive producer of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants since 1996.

Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump -- in 2009.

Trump appears on the set of "The Celebrity Apprentice" with two of his children -- Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump -- in 2009.

For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

For "The Apprentice," Trump was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2007.

But a week into his dramatic transition from leading a revolt against the Republican hierarchy to becoming the presumptive Republican nominee , Trump seems caught between two versions of himself.

He's the political bulldozer familiar from the primary season, remorselessly probing the weaknesses of his rivals -- both Republicans and Democrats -- in a constant cycle of confrontation. But he is also becoming a more conventional candidate as he staffs up a vice presidential search and moves from a self-funding financing model for his campaign toward traditional fundraising.

Many Republicans in Washington are still coming to grips with the reality that Trump, who picked up fresh wins Tuesday in Nebraska and West Virginia , will be their standard-bearer in the fall. But as the shock of his sudden dominance of the party wears off, Trump seems to be showing the type of nominee he'll be: someone who maintains the often-outrageous persona that resonated with primary voters while also recognizing the requirements and tests of a general election are different

"He is only going to be Donald Trump," said Bill Miller, a veteran Texas Republican political consultant. But "can he conditionally change for circumstance? The answer to that is absolutely yes."

Confounding expectations

Trump has spent much of the past week confounding expectations that with the GOP nomination locked up, he will suddenly become more presidential. At times he has behaved much like the unconventional candidate he has always been.

With party unity in tatters, Trump will meet with Ryan Thursday in Washington amid intense pressure for Republicans to avoid a schism that could ease Clinton's path to the White House. The meeting will reflect the reality that Trump is not alone in undergoing a period of transition -- the party he is about to lead is facing a reckoning as well.

Phillip Stutts, a Republican political consultant, said he doesn't think Trump will change his persona but "the lights get even brighter going into the general election. There are 100 million people that will be voting in the general election that did not vote in the primary."

<img alt="Paul Ryan: I will skip convention if Trump asks" class="media__image" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160301115427-paul-ryan-donald-trump-composite-large-169.jpg"> JUST WATCHED Paul Ryan: I will skip convention if Trump asks Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Paul Ryan: I will skip convention if Trump asks 00:54

Indeed, there are some warning signs that Trump may not yet be up to the scrutiny of a general election. He's stumbled through a series of policy discussions in recent days by offering conflicting stands on issues like honoring government debt, raising the minimum wage and tax cuts for the rich.

He was talking specifically about his tax plan, but his comments appeared to reflect his approach to policy as a whole since becoming the presumptive nominee last week.

As he embarks on his quest against Clinton, Trump is also deploying another tactic familiar from his primary run -- the visceral personal attack that belittles or highlights an aspect of his opponent's character or political history that he expands into a fatal flaw.

That approach to branding helped him dispatch "low energy" Jeb Bush , "little" Marco Rubio and other enemies on the Republican debate stage.

<img alt="Trump: Bill Clinton &#39;worst abuser&#39; in political history" class="media__image" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160427073201-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-composite-large-169.jpg"> JUST WATCHED Trump: Bill Clinton 'worst abuser' in political history Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Trump: Bill Clinton 'worst abuser' in political history 04:00

Over the last week, Trump has targeted Clinton, trying to eviscerate her with personal attacks that bring up 1990s sex scandals surrounding former president Bill Clinton and tweeting video of the Benghazi attacks to make a case that the likely Democratic nominee has "bad judgment."

But the tactics have the potential to backfire -- given Trump's already troubled standing among women voters -- 73% of whom said in a CNN/ORC poll in March that they had a negative opinion of him.

In the same way, Trump's failure so far to change his positions on building a wall on the southern border and making Mexico pay for it along with plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants will do little endear him to Latino voters, which complicates the already tough road he has through the electoral map toward the White House.

Trump has so far shrugged off such obvious challenges to his candidacy by arguing he has done well with Latinos and women in the GOP primary -- without acknowledging the work he faces in the next phase of the campaign.

"Donald Trump often speaks about the general as if it will be the same as the primary," said Mary Katharine Ham, a conservative author and CNN commentator on Monday.

'Not the same electorate'

"It is not the same electorate -- it does not respond to the same things," she said on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "Donald Trump has changed a lot of rules -- but I don't think he can make the primary and the general the same."

Still, Trump has also adopted a more conventional posture as a candidate, putting in place building blocks for an administration by naming Christie to his new role and announcing on Tuesday that campaign manager Corey Lewandowski would oversee the search for a vice presidential running mate.

And at the risk of alienating supporters who embraced his vows to self-fund his primary campaign, Trump has started the process of courting big GOP donors . This is simply a recognition by the billionaire that he needs hundreds of millions of dollars to meet the challenge from Clinton -- a sum that is beyond even his deep pockets.

Some Republicans appear to have accepted what would once have been unthinkable -- that the former reality star will lead them into the general election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has endorsed of Trump as the GOP nominee -- though it was hardly ringing. And some GOP lawmakers facing re-election who are loath to alienate Trump supporters have also offered tepid endorsements: Arizona Sen. John McCain, for instance, told CNN the GOP would be foolish to ignore the will of Trump's primary voters.

But Trump's comments on a series of economic issues this week left other Republicans horrified. When he suggested that he would be able to renegotiate U.S. debt, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former director of the Congressional Budget Office, warned on CNN's "The Lead" that he could create economic contagion or "Puerto Rico on global steroids."

Such controversies are one reason why Trump has struggled to coalesce the party into uniting around him.

So far, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and former GOP nominees McCain and Mitt Romney have said they will not show up to the Cleveland convention to watch Trump being enshrined as nominee.

Others including former candidates Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham have said they will not vote for Trump . And some, such as Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, are following Ryan's line -- that they cannot take the plunge just yet.

"This is not a man who has thought through the issues," Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who recently met with Romney and is involved in a search for a third party candidate, told CNN's "At This Hour" Monday. "For me, it comes down fundamentally to character and judgment, I just don't think (Trump) has shown the character to be president."

It's that kind of verdict shared fairly widely across the conservative spectrum that has left Trump struggling to consolidate his position in his first week as presumptive Republican nominee. If Trump hadn't rewritten almost every rule in the primary  many more Republicans might be writing him off for the general election.

But there is also a sense that something about Trump might just be different.

"I studied history and history was completely wrong in forecasting anything in this election," said Stutts. "Maybe the cult of Trump can bring people together. But this looks to be an increasingly fractured party right now."
Qian Xuesen was twenty-four years old in 1935, a fresh graduate of Shanghai Jiaotong University, when he used a scholarship to get to M.I.T. A year later, he moved to Caltech to earn his doctorate, and Theodore von Karman, a legendary Caltech professor, pronounced Qian an undisputed genius. When the U.S. went to war, he joined American scientists in the study of jet propulsion, and helped produce technology to counter German rockets. Then he joined the Manhattan Project.

In 1949, just as he was being named the first director of Caltechs jet propulsion lab, the Chinese Communist Party rose to power in his homeland, and Qian was accused of being a Communist sympathizer; he acknowledged attending social gatherings with others who had been accused, but he firmly denied any political involvement. When he applied for U.S. citizenship, his application was denied. He lost his security clearance. When he applied to leave America, he was detained, because he was said to know too much about the American weapons system. Finally, in 1955, Qian was allowed to return to China.

I do not plan to come back, Qian told reporters at the time. I have no reason to come back. I plan to do my best to help the Chinese people build up the nation to where they can live with dignity and happiness.

He never returned.

It was the stupidest thing this country ever did, former Navy Secretary Dan Kimball said later. He was no more a Communist than I was, and we forced him to go.

Qian was greeted in China as a hero. He became director of Chinas rocket research and was named to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. In 1964, China tested its first nuclear weapon, an extraordinary measure of its development, and a moment that gave a symbolic jumpstart to a rapid modernization of science and technology.

Qian died last week, at the age of ninety-eight. The late Iris Chang, who wrote a book about Qian, concluded that the Immigration and Naturalization Service had no concrete evidence to back up its charge that Qian was a Communist. The L.A. Times writes, Few can agree on the question of whether Qian was a spy. An examination of the papers Qian packed away failed to turn up any classified documents. Caltech has long stood behind him; in 1979, the university gave him its distinguished alumni award in recognition of his pioneering work in rocket science, and this week it said, No evidence was produced to substantiate the allegations, and [Qian] and his colleagues in academia, government, and industry protested that they were nonsense.

These days, China is moving ahead on its plan to put a man on the moon in the next decade. Qian is being widely credited for his leadership of the space and missile program. There are few people who ever made such a lasting impression on these two countrieswhether Qian ever intended to be one of them or not.
Considering the past 6 years, environmental economists win it about 50% of the time:

Dr. Leah Greden Mathews of the University of North Carolina Asheville

The winner was announced at the 2015 meeting of the Southern Economic Association in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, November 22, and was awarded a plaque and a cash award.

Professor Mathews has spent her career at UNC Asheville, where she currently is a professor of economics and the Interdisciplinary Distinguished Professor of the Mountain South. Professor Mathews received the UNC Asheville Distinguished Teaching Award in Social Sciences in 2005-2006 and earlier this year was awarded the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. During her time on the UNC Asheville faculty, Professor Mathews has received exceptional evaluations from her students. Students praise her for her ability to explain complex economic concepts in clear and meaningful ways. Professor Mathews is not only popular with economics majors at UNC Asheville, but her courses are arguably even more popular with undergraduates outside the major. But an equally impressive contribution to teaching is in her role as a member of an interdisciplinary team of faculty members in biology, chemistry, health and wellness, sociology and economics that has developed a cluster of courses on a common theme: food! Called the Food for Thought Cluster, this collection of courses encourages students to integrate their economic reasoning with other disciplinary approaches to become informed consumers in what they eat and how it affects their health and well-being, using the Asheville area as a laboratory for these investigations. This curriculum is not only held in great esteem by students at UNC Asheville, it also was recognized, in 2008, by the National Science Foundation as a Science Education for New Civic Engagements Model.
Dalit political parties in North and Central India have overwhelmingly pursued an agenda of recognition, calling for equal respect, rather than one of redistribution. While this has improved the social and economic standing of Dalits better situated in terms of class, it has failed to substantively improve the lives of the majority of Dalits. Ultimately, Dalits' quest for equal treatment will be limited so long as it lacks a redistributive politics that addresses exploitative economic relations.

How should we understand the rise of caste-based politics among Indias Dalits since the 1990s? Should we celebrate it as the empowerment of a historically oppressed community and a major success of Indian democracy, as some scholars have (Jaffrelot 2003; Kohli 2001; Varshney 2000)? Or should we be more sceptical in examining the gains and limitations?

We argue that caste-based politics cannot achieve social justice for Dalits unless it takes class into account, which it has largely failed to. The politics of recognition employed by Dalit parties has brought only limited gains for Dalits on the whole as the benefits associated with it have been reaped by Dalits better situated in terms of class. Ultimately, Dalits quest for equal treatment will be limited so long as it lacks a redistributive politics to address exploitative economic relations. We use the case of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh (UP)one of the largest and most electorally successful of caste-based partiesand its project for Dalit equality to illustrate our arguments.
UPDATED

A report from the Congressional Research Service states that spending regulations proposed earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Education appear to be outside what the statutory language of the Every Student Succeeds Act allows .

The report from the Congressional Research Service, published May 5, deals with regulatory language governing supplement-not-supplant, or SNS, a provision of ESSA that says federal Title I funds targeted at low-income students must be in addition to, and not take the place of, state and local spending on K-12. It concludes that a legal argument could be raised that the Education Departments proposal is beyond the bounds of the law.

The fight over this spending provision has been perhaps the most high-profile dispute about the law since it was signed by President Barack Obama last December. A team of negotiators tasked with crafting regulatory language to govern supplement-not-supplant failed to agree on that language, leaving it to the Education Department to come up with regulations of its own.

So whats the CRS report talking about? Under language proposed by the Education Department to the negotiators last month for consideration, districts would be required to show that per-pupil spending in Title I schools (those with large shares of low-income students) is at least equal to average per-pupil spending levels in non-Title I schools.

State and district representatives vigorously objected, saying that this would create an unfair burden on schools, and that the department was trying a backdoor method to change another portion of the law, called comparability, that requires spending between the two types of schools to be comparable. Those supporting the language, however, including representatives from civil rights groups, said it represented a strong test of whether districts were violating supplement-not-supplant.

The report ultimately seemed to take the side of states and district negotiators on the issue of more-equalized per-pupil spending.

On its face, however, the plain language of the SNS provisions does not appear to require such a result, the report states. Notably, the statutory language does not establish any type of standard or requirement regarding how to demonstrate that a Title I-A school receives all of the state and local funds it would have received in the absence of Title I-A funds.

The CRS report also appears to side with state and local K-12 leaders who argued that a variety of school budgeting methods would be unfairly barred from use, and that the forced use of teacher salaries in per-pupil spending calculations for supplement-not-supplant does not appear in ESSA.

These proposed regulations do not provide an exception related to consideration of staff salary differentials for years of employment. Thus, the proposed SNS regulations appear to effectively require [districts] to use actual teacher salaries for SNS purposes despite the fact that the ESSA did not address this matter.

The department has not released a new set of proposed regulations for supplement-not-supplant for public comment. But Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee, has warned Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. that if the regulations look anything like the departments previous proposal, hell try to overturn them through the federal budget process, and will encourage others to sue the department to stop them.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, Alexander took to the Senate floor and, citing the CRS report, blasted the department for ignoring the law.

The committee chairman said the regulations fly in the face of the language of the law, as well as the will of diverse groups that have backed ESSA. He said that if staffers at the department want to write the kind of rules theyve proposed, they should resign and run for Congress instead. And he reiterated that he would seek to overturn the proposed regulations, through either federal appropriations process or the Congressional Review Act, if the department adopts them.

This is an intolerable situation, Alexander said.

Theres a May 18 Senate education committee hearing scheduled, in which supplement-not-supplant is on the agenda.

King, however, has defended the proposed regulations , saying theyre a key part of the effort to ensure that federal funds for poor students are used as intended and create educational equityand many Democratic senators have his back , as do several civil rights advocates .

We have asked the Education Department for comment about the CRS report, and well update this post if we hear back.

UPDATE: The Education Department responded to the CRS report with the following statement, The law is clear - Title I funds must be used to supplement state and local funds, and the Department is working to help states and districts meet this requirement. As the Department has been reminded by over 30 civil rights groups, 600 teachers, and 9 U.S. Senators, the entire purpose of Title I funds is to truly provide the additional resources necessary to ensure that students in high poverty schools have access to equitable educational opportunity. If schools are being shortchanged before the federal dollars arrive, then those dollars are not supplemental.

Read the full CRS report below:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Short, low-cost interventions can help communities to recover from a civil war, a new study evaluating the efficacy of a postwar reconciliation strategy in Sierra Leone shows. However, while the strategy created positive effects, it also had negative ones, suggesting policymakers need to restructure such processes. In a Perspective related to this study, Katherine Casey and Rachel Glennerster highlight the frequency of civil wars globally. "How can individuals and groups recover from such violent conflicts?" they ask. Efforts aimed at recovery are particularly daunting in developing nations, where resources are limited. While community-driven reconstruction efforts have shown some promise (namely related to improving infrastructure in such communities), they've been costly, and they've done little to promote trust among individuals. Meanwhile, truth and reconciliation process (whereby victims can air war-time grievances) continue to be promoted as methods for restoring social ties in war-torn communities, but researchers have little knowledge of whether and how such strategies - particularly those that induce person-to-person forgiveness - help societies heal.

Here, Jacobus Cilliers and colleagues evaluated such a process conducted by a nongovernmental organization in Sierra Leone called Fambul Tok. The Fambul Tok events included 2-day reconciliation ceremonies, at a cost of just about 200$ each, where victims spoke about atrocities endured and perpetrators asked for forgiveness. Cilliers et al. studied the impact of Fambul Tok-led ceremonies across 200 villages in Sierra Leone, which had been ravaged by civil war a decade earlier, collecting data from more than 2,300 participants. The researchers observed both positive effects (i.e., increased trust among victims for ex-combatants and increased contribution of village members to public goods), and negative effects (i.e., worsened anxiety and depression for individuals asked to revisit war atrocities). Both types of effect persisted for more than two years, the researchers say. Overall, their results indicate that gains in societal healing associated with reconciliation come at a substantial cost in individual psychological healing. As such, they suggest that policymakers find ways to conduct reconciliation processes that reduce these psychological costs while retaining the societal benefits; for example, by coupling these programs with sustained counseling.

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Post-conflict reconciliation led to greater forgiveness of perpetrators and strengthened social capital, but at the cost of reduced psychological health, new study finds

(NEW HAVEN) [May 13, 2016] -- Civil wars divide nations along social, economic and political lines, often pitting neighbors against each other. In the aftermath of civil wars, many countries undertake truth and reconciliation efforts to restore social cohesion, but little has been known about whether these programs reach their intended goals. A new study published in Science today suggests reconciliation programs promote societal healing, but that these gains come at the cost of reduced psychological health, worsening depression, anxiety, and trauma.

"Our research suggests that talking about war atrocities can prove psychologically traumatic for people affected by war. Invoking war memories appears to re-open old war wounds," said Oeindrila Dube, Assistant Professor of Politics and Economics at New York University and one of the authors of the study. "At the same time, the reconciliation program we examined was also shown to improve social relations in communities divided by the war," Prof. Dube said.

The program, which was designed and implemented by Fambul Tok ("Family Talk" in Krio), a Sierra Leonean NGO, brought victims face to face with perpetrators in community forums. Victims detailed war atrocities; perpetrators admitted to crimes and sought forgiveness for their actions; and no one was compensated financially or punished for participating. The forums in the study took place 2011-2012, a decade after the civil war ended.

Researchers Jacobus Cilliers, of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, Oeindrila Dube of New York University, and Bilal Siddiqi, an Economist at the World Bank's Development Research Group, worked with the research and policy nonprofit Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) to conduct an independent, randomized evaluation of the program. The study took place across 200 villages, 100 of which were randomly chosen to be offered the reconciliation program. The research team tracked 2,383 people in both sets of villages, recording their attitudes towards former combatants, their mental health, and the strength of their social ties 9 and 31 months after the program.

Results, published today, revealed that reconciliation had both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, it promoted societal healing: forgiveness of former perpetrators increased substantially in program villages relative to control villages, as measured by an index of questions which gauged emotional and behavioral responses toward this group. Trust of former combatants also increased by 22.2 percent while trust of migrants (many of whom are perceived to be former combatants) increased by 6.7 percent. In addition, social network strength increased by 11 percent, as individuals formed more friendships and relied more on one another for advice and help.

Additionally, those living in program villages participated more in community groups such as Parent Teacher Associations and religious organizations, and contributed more resources toward public goods, including those used to build schools and health clinics.

On the other hand, these gains came at the cost of reduced psychological health: the program worsened depression, anxiety and trauma. For example, the prevalence of clinical PTSD, or severe trauma, was 36 percent higher in program villages than in comparison villages, where the prevalence of clinical PTSD was 8 percent. Both positive and negative effects persisted for up to 31 months after the program ended.

Our results in no way undermine the need for reconciliation, but suggest that policymakers need to find ways to mitigate the negative effects of confronting war memories when designing these programs, said Prof. Cilliers. "This is a fruitful avenue for future research."

"This study is the first of its kind, and provides valuable evidence about an approach used to heal war afflicted communities across the world," said Annie Duflo, Executive Director of Innovations for Poverty Action. "While more research should be conducted on this topic, this study suggests that policymakers may need to restructure reconciliation processes in ways that reduce their negative psychological costs, while retaining their positive societal benefits," Duflo said.

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Additional Information:

Sierra Leone experienced a devastating civil war from 1991 to 2002. More than 50,000 people were killed, thousands more were amputated, and over half the population was displaced. Much of the violence took place within communities, with members from the same villages taking up arms against each other.

Following the conflict, the Sierra Leonean government and international community set up a national Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but the commission only had the capacity to cover a small fraction of the atrocities that happened during the war.

Fambul Tok ("Family Talk" in Krio) was founded in 2007 to address the gap and facilitate local-level reconciliation in rural communities. It currently operates in five of 13 districts in Sierra Leone.

Fambul Tok's reconciliation program has several features in common with truth and reconciliation processes around the world. It holds forums in which victims describe the violence they experienced and perpetrators seek forgiveness for their crimes. No one receives monetary compensation or is punished for participating. However, unlike national truth and reconciliation program, Fambul Tok's hold fits forums at the community level, in groups that include 10 villages on average.

A plain language description of the study can be found at: http://www.poverty-action.org/study/reconciliation-conflict-and-development-field-experiment-sierra-leone

A policy brief about the study can be found at: http://www.poverty-action.org/publication/sierra-leone-does-reconciliation-heal-wounds-war

Contacts: Jeff Mosenkis, Innovations for Poverty Action, 203-974-2976, jmosenkis@poverty-action.org

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA designs, rigorously evaluates, and refines these solutions and their applications together with decision-makers to ensure that the evidence created is used to improve opportunities for the world's poor. In the 10 years since its founding IPA has worked with over 250 leading academics to conduct over 600 evaluations in 51 countries.

About NYU

Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world's foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai, and has 11 other global academic sites around the world. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU conducts research and provides education in the arts and sciences, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, engineering, social work, cities, global public health, big data, and continuing and professional studies, among other areas.

About the McCourt School of Public Policy

Founded in 1996 as the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University is a top-ranked graduate school located at the center of the policy world in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to give our students the rigorous quantitative and analytic skills needed to design, implement and evaluate smart policies and to conduct policy research and recommend effective solutions on today's most critical topics.
Many cancers could be successfully treated if the patient consulted the doctor sufficiently early. But how can a developing cancer be detected if it doesn't give rise to any symptoms? In the near future, suitably early diagnosis could be provided by simple and cheap chemical sensors - thanks to special recognizing polymer films developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.

These days, cancer is no longer a death sentence for the patient. However, the best chances of recovery are when the correct treatment is undertaken at an early stage of the disease. This is where the trouble starts, because many tumours develop over a long period without any symptoms. One solution to this problem could be diagnostic tests available to everyone that could be performed by people themselves and on a relatively regular basis. A step bringing us closer to this sort of personalized medical diagnosis and cancer prophylaxis is the chemical sensor devised and fabricated by Prof. Wlodzimierz Kutner's group from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw using a grant from the National Science Centre, in collaboration with the team of Prof. Francis D'Souza of the University of North Texas in Denton TX, USA.

The most important element of the chemosensor devised at the IPC PAS is a thin film of the polymer that detects molecules of neopterin. Neopterin - in chemical terminology known as 2-amino-6-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)-1H-pteridin-4-one) - is an aromatic compound present in human body fluids, such as serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Produced by the immune system, it is regarded as a universal marker in medical diagnosis. The concentration of this biomarker rises significantly particularly in the case of certain neoplastic diseases, e.g., malignant lymphoma, although elevated levels of neopterin are also seen in some viral and bacterial infections, as well as in diseases of parasitic aetiology. In turn, in transplant patients, increased levels of neopterin signal probable rejection.

"How can we detect the presence of neopterin? A reasonable approach is to use special recognizing materials for this purpose, prepared by molecular imprinting. This technique involves 'stamping out' molecules of the desired compound - their shape, but also at least some of the chemical characteristics - in a carefully designed polymer," explains Dr. Piyush Sindhu Sharma (IPC PAS), the lead author of an article published in the Biosensors and Bioelectronics journal.

During the preparation of the polymer film, molecules of the substance being detected - in this case neopterin - are in a working solution in which their binding sites have to link with recognizing sites of so-called functional monomers. In turn, these monomers should be able to form connections with another monomer, a cross-linking agent which together, after polymerization, form a rigid support structure of the polymer. Next, the molecules of the compound used as a template are washed out from the structure. The result is a durable polymer with molecular cavities of a shape and chemical properties ensuring the capture of molecules of the desired compound from its surroundings.

The basic difficulty in molecular imprinting is the selection of the appropriate functional and cross-linking monomers as well as solvents, their proportions and reaction conditions. PhD student Agnieszka Wojnarowicz (IPC PAS) explains: "With the aid of quantum-chemical calculations, we first check whether there is bonding between our template molecule and selected functional monomers, and whether they will be stable in the solvent used. We also check whether the molecular cavities formed are sufficiently selective, i.e., whether they will primarily capture the molecules we are detecting, and not any that are similar to them. When the calculation results confirm our expectations, that is when we proceed to their experimental confirmation."

At the IPC PAS a recognizing polymer film with molecular cavities from neopterin has been produced on the surface of an electrode. After immersion in artificial blood serum spiked with neopterin, the film on the electrode captured molecules of the latter, thus leading to a decrease in electrical potential in the connected measuring system. The tests showed that the molecular cavities of the polymer were almost entirely filled with molecules of neopterin despite the presence of molecules of similar structure and properties. This result means that the probability of false positive detection (detecting the presence of neopterin in body fluids not containing it) is negligibly small. The new chemical sensor therefore mainly reacts to what it should react to - and nothing else.

"At present, our chemosensor is a piece of laboratory equipment. However, the production of its key element, that is, the recognizing polymer film, does not pose major problems, and the electronics responsible for electrical measurements can easily be miniaturized. There is nothing standing in the way of building simple and reliable diagnostic equipment, based on our development, in just a few years' time, which would be affordable not only for medical institutions and doctors' surgeries, but also for the public in general," predicts Prof. Kutner (IPC PAS).

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The Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences was established in 1955 as one of the first chemical institutes of the PAS. The Institute's scientific profile is strongly related to the newest global trends in the development of physical chemistry and chemical physics. Scientific research is conducted in nine scientific departments. CHEMIPAN R&D Laboratories, operating as part of the Institute, implement, produce and commercialise specialist chemicals to be used, in particular, in agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. The Institute publishes approximately 200 original research papers annually.
Longer, hotter, more regular heat waves could have a damaging effect on life expectancy and crop production in Africa warn climate scientists in a study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Examining temperature data from 1979 to 2015, the researchers caution that heat waves classified as unusual today could become a normal occurrence within 20 years. This scenario could be triggered by an increase in average global temperature of 2 degrees.

Risk all year round

Located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, Africa experiences high levels of solar radiation all year round and heat waves can occur in any season, not just during summer months. Running climate models through to 2075, the scientists found that so-called unusual heat waves could occur as frequently as four times per year towards the end of the century. In other words, one dangerously hot spell for every season of the year.

"Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and even a modest rise in average global temperature could have severe consequences for the people living there," said Jana Sillmann of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), one of the institutions taking part in the study. "We need to put considerable effort into climate change adaptation to reduce the risk of extreme events such as heat waves, which are likely to occur much more frequently in the future."

Analytical approach

To crunch the numbers, the team--which also includes researchers from the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the University of Catania, both in Italy--uses a metric dubbed the Heat Wave Magnitude Index daily (HWMId). The data format takes into account the severity of the temperature extremes as well as the number of consecutive days of hot weather. Using this approach, the group can compare heat waves occurring in different places and at different times of the year, but there are other details to factor in.

"The severity of the impact on human mortality and crop production depends on the vulnerability of the communities affected and the environmental systems," added Sillmann. "For example, the heat wave in Finland during 1972--which we have studied previously--was comparable to the period of hot weather occurring in Central Europe during 2003. However, the latter event was responsible for more deaths than the Finnish heat wave."

Full details of the team's analysis quantifying the magnitude and the spatial extent of the most extreme heat waves experienced in Africa between 1979 and October 2015 across different seasons can be found in the IOP journal Environmental Research Letters.

###

Notes to Editors

Contact

For further information please contact IOP Publishing's Senior PR Officer:

Alison Hadley

Tel 0117 930 1032

Email alison.hadley@iop.org

For more information on how to use the embargoed material above, please refer to our embargo policy.

Paper

The published version of the paper "When will unusual heat waves become normal in a warming Africa?" (Russo et al 2016 Environ. Res. Lett. 11 054016) will be freely available online 12 May. It will be available at http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/5/054016. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/11/5/054016.

The research team comprises:

Simone Russo (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)

Andrea F. Marchese (University of Catania)

J. Sillmann (Center for International Climate and Environmental Research)

Giuseppina Imme (University of Catania)

Image

Figure 1 from the paper. Caption: Hot spots: spatial distribution and magnitudes of heat waves in Africa 1979-2015. (Russo et al 2016 Environ. Res. Lett. 11 054016)

About Environmental Research Letters

Environmental Research Letters covers all of environmental science, providing a coherent and integrated approach including research articles, perspectives and editorials. Go to iopscience.org/erl.

About IOP Publishing

IOP Publishing provides publications through which leading-edge scientific research is distributed worldwide. IOP Publishing is central to the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society. Any financial surplus earned by IOP Publishing goes to support science through the activities of the Institute. Go to ioppublishing.org or follow us @IOPPublishing.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signed a bill Thursday afternoon to return all of New Orleans schools to the oversight of the local Orleans Parish School Board.

The state has been overseeing the majority of New Orleans schoolsmost of which are now charter schoolsfor over a decade.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, lawmakers put most of citys schools into the state-run Recovery School District, which manages school turnaround efforts across Louisiana.

The state currently supervises 52 charter schools, while the Orleans Parish School Board oversees 18 charters and six district schools.

Many state legislators representing New Orleans supported the bill.

Its a remarkable feat to have that many members, especially of the New Orleans delegation, to come together to sponsor a bill, Edwards said during the signing ceremony. I am very pleased to sign the bill.

However, the Orleans Parish School Board will be overseeing a system vastly different from the one it ran pre-Katrina, and there are concerns that the district may not be ready to assume this new role. For more on why, and other reaction from New Orleans educators and activists, read the full story I wrote on the plan to reunify the citys schools, here .

Related stories:
Professor Dmitry Budker has been granted EUR 2.5 million in funding by the European Research Council (ERC) for his new project involving the hunt for dark matter and dark energy. Budker came to Mainz from the University of California, Berkeley in early 2014. He holds a professorship at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Experimental Atomic Physics and is section head at the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM). Using a new approach, Budker is embarking on a systematic search for the particles that make up dark matter and the components that make up dark energy. Dark matter and dark energy are still among the great puzzles of physics. Jointly referred to as the "dark sector," they make up about 95 percent of the universe.

The ERC Advanced Grant is the most valuable endowment of the European Union awarded to outstanding researchers. In this case, the European Research Council decided to confer the grant on the submitted project "Experimental Searches for Oscillating and Transient Effects from the Dark Sector". The funding commences in 2016 and is guaranteed for five years. The objective of the project is to identify dark sector signatures with the help of new kind of techniques that involve the use of magnetic resonance and magnetometry. "Up to now there have been no unequivocal observations of dark sector particles or fields," explained Budker, referring to the starting point of the project. "We are planning experiments that will provide a direct connection to the dark sector and which in turn will allow us to carry out a systematic search for involved particles or fields," he added. Budker further hopes that the experiments will reveal new insights that will benefit a number of research fields, including particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. Indeed, the results could lay the foundations for a fundamentally new type of physics that goes beyond the Standard Model.

Scientists around the world are already conducting research into dark matter and dark energy using a range of different methods. Although evidence of the existence of dark matter first came to light in the early 1930s, its makeup is still a complete mystery. Roughly one quarter of the universe consists of dark matter while normal, visible material makes up only five percent. About 70 percent of the Universe's mass-energy is dark energy, which is responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe. However, we know even less about dark energy than we do about dark matter. Budker and his team now intend to start their search with techniques that have not previously been employed and that involve the use of networks of highly precise magnetometers and magnetic resonance techniques. According to Budker, the equipment and techniques to be developed as part of the project represent the decisive elements required to identify the actual culprits among a wide variety of possible candidates.

Dmitry Budker, born in the former USSR, has been Professor of Experimental Atomic Physics at Mainz University since January 2014. The professorship was established at the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM), a collaborative project involving JGU and the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt. Budker and his work group are conducting research into fundamental symmetries and interactions. Before coming to Mainz, Budker was a faculty member at the Physics Department of the University of California, Berkeley, where he is still a professor of the Graduate School.

ERC Advanced Grants are awarded to outstanding researchers to enable them to undertake projects considered to be highly speculative due to their innovative approach, but which have the potential to open up access to new approaches in the corresponding research field. Only researchers who have already made significant breakthroughs and have been successfully working for at least ten years at the highest levels of international research are eligible for the grant. The only criteria considered when it comes to the award of ERC funding are the researcher's academic excellence and the nature of their research project. An ERC grant thus also represents acknowledgement of the individual achievements of the recipient.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (May 12, 2016) - Dr. Nita J. Maihle, a tumor virologist/biologist and educator, is leading the U.S. Department of Defense's national initiative to enable early career ovarian cancer investigators to stay focused and successful in their fight against the fifth-leading cause of cancer death in women.

Maihle, who has led the PhD training program in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical College of Georgia and is associate center director for education in the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, is the new dean of the DOD's Ovarian Cancer Academy. She is principal investigator on a $2 million grant to fund the academy.

Dr. Douglas Levine, a surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who heads the center's Gynecology Research Laboratory, is the academy's new assistant dean.

"This is an opportunity to give young investigators the tools they need to be successful and to stay focused on ovarian cancer," Maihle said. There is a dearth of investigators, research activity and funding in ovarian cancer, which accounts for about 3 percent of cancer in women but causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 22,280 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 14,240 will die from it, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Maihle and Levine are serving a five-year term leading the Ovarian Cancer Academy, established in 2009 to provide a wide range of support to funded, published investigators in the first three years of their career. Currently, 14 trainees scattered at institutions across the nation are coming together for monthly webinars and at an upcoming annual retreat to learn from each other, from established investigators and even from women battling the disease.

Their goals with this next generation of ovarian cancer researchers also include fostering team science that better identifies disease causes and treatment targets and learning how to better communicate about their work.

"We need to understand the biology of the disease better. We only just discovered the target cell type in the last few years," Maihle said of ovarian-cancer-causing cells. In fact, over most of her 30-year career in studying ovarian as well as breast cancer, the single-cell layer ovarian surface epithelium that covers the ovary has been considered the target cell for ovarian cancer. Researchers now have evidence that if, in fact, this is even a target cell, it's one of several in this cancer. Today, their focus is the secretory cells that line the fallopian tubes, producing fluids that help transport the egg and sperm. Mounting evidence suggests these cells have a significant role. For example, women who have their ovaries - but not their fallopian tubes - removed to avoid ovarian cancer, can still get the disease, Maihle said.

Their unique insight and experience make women who get the disease important members of the teams Maihle and Levine are building, not just "donors of samples. We can read a paper on chemoresistance and it's all cells in a tube. But these women are living with it," Maihle said.

Women with ovarian cancer already are involved in the monthly webinars that pull the like-minded scientists together and also will attend the upcoming fall retreat. Their input already has been an "eye opener" for even the physician-scientists who also treat patients, Maihle said. Ultimately, they will help young investigators focus on the most urgent problems, including the huge need for the kind of targeted therapies that have helped turn around survival rates in breast cancer, she said.

Part of that team building includes a likely tough departure from the individualism inbred in many researchers. "We want to get away from this hero-driven science stuff - that's what they call it in science essays - and toward a more cooperative, collaborative mindset," she said. She notes that is a "big battleship" to turn around in a field where people are selected for their "rugged individualism" and must be super competitive to secure external funding from groups like the National Cancer Institute and DOD. Still, teamwork is a prerequisite for successful science today, she said.

Last year, Maihle chaired the Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics Review Panel for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program of the U.S. Army Medical Department Medical Research and Materiel Command, which has oversight of the Army's medical research activity including the Ovarian Cancer Academy. She chaired the program's Investigator-Initiated Research Review Panel in 2014. She has held similar leadership roles in the Command's Breast Cancer Research Program, including chairing the Pathobiology Scientific Review Panel in 2015. Maihle has led numerous National Cancer Institute initiatives and review panels as well, including chairing the review panel for Feasibility Studies to Build Collaborative Partnerships in Cancer Research and Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity, both in 2015. She is a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Subcommittee of the Gynecologic Oncology Group Committee on Experimental Medicine. She served on the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Medical Advisory Board from 2003-07.

Maihle was inspired to fight cancer as a teenager when she lost her father to cancer. He had survived World War II but contracted malaria while stationed in North Africa. Malaria compromised his immune system enabling infection with Epstein-Barr, a cancer-causing virus indigenous to that part of the world. President Richard Nixon declared the war on cancer in December 1971, two months before her father died. "He got a cold, two weeks later he had a lump on his face and 18 months later he died," Maihle said. She noted that worldwide about 20 percent of all cancers come from viruses. "I went to school and I was going to cure cancer. That idea did not go away from me," said Maihle. She received her undergraduate degree in botany from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and earned a PhD in biomedical sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the National Cancer Institute in molecular biology/retrovirology, and in tumor virology/tumor biology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.

She came to MCG and the Georgia Cancer Center in 2013 from Yale University School of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center where she was founding director of the Susan G. Komen-funded Racial Disparities of Cancer Postbaccalaureate Training Program, which she brought to Augusta University last summer. She previously founded the Tumor Biology Program at the Mayo Clinic.

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Ana Sofia Silva, MIT Portugal alumna, was distinguished with the Best Thesis Award for her PhD thesis, entitled "Multifunctional nano-in-micro formulations for lung cancer theragnosis", during the 16th European Meeting of Supercritical Fluids in Essen, Germany, on May 11th. This award is attributed every two years by the International Society for the Advancement of Supercritical Fluids to distinguish the best works developed by recent graduates.

Ana Sofia Silva's PhD was carried out at FCT-NOVA at the Polymer Synthesis and Processing group, from LAQV-REQUIMTE, under the supervision of Ana Aguiar-Ricardo, Full Professor at the Chemistry Department of FCT-NOVA. The research work was done in collaboration with the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering group from Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI), under the supervision of Ilidio Correia, Assistant Professor at UBI.

Ana Sofia Silva's thesis proposes a new therapeutic approach to lung cancer, the most common and leading cause of cancer death in both men and women worldwide. Despite the clinical and technological advances, the majority of patients are lately diagnosed with either locally advanced or metastatic disease. In fact, 86% of the patients with lung cancer die within two years, while only 14% survive for five years.

Ana Sofia Silva explains that the results presented in her thesis "reveal the extraordinary advantages of combining nanotechnology, molecular biology, polymer science, chemical engineering and supercritical fluid technologies, to develop robust and reliable pulmonary delivery systems for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer".

For this purpose, "nanoparticulated systems with therapeutic and/or diagnosis capabilities were embedded into respirable microparticles to be delivered to the lungs. In order to minimize costs, environmental impact, and eventual toxicity, the particles for pulmonary inhalation engineered during my PhD, were produced using sustainable methodologies like supercritical assisted spray drying (SASD), a process based on supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) technology, an emerging technology exploited at Professor Ana Aguiar Ricardo's lab", says Ana Sofia Silva.

After preliminary works for the optimization of such micronized powders, Ana Sofia Silva spent 5 months at MIT, at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research in Paula Hammond's lab developing a new approach to lung cancer therapy that combines the newly pulmonary administration mechanism with gene therapy. She developed layer-by-layer nanocarriers comprising a nanolayer of small interference RNA, which is able to knockdown mutated oncogenes by interfering directly with them. The novel powder developed by Ana Sofia Silva was tested in healthy mice in order to assess the biodistribution of the particles. The successful outcomes are truly exciting and provide a potential strategy opening new insights to effective gene therapy in lung adenocarcinoma situations.

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Red knots migrate between their breeding grounds in the Arctic and their wintering grounds in West Africa. Chicks currently born under rapidly warming conditions attain smaller sizes before migration starts, because they miss the insect peak. If they reach their wintering grounds in the tropics, they are faced with a second disadvantage: their shorter bills cannot reach their favourite shellfish food. This results in an evolutionary force towards smaller-sized birds with large bills.

These findings will be published Friday 13 May 2016 in Science by an international team of researchers from the Netherlands (NIOZ and Univ. Groningen), Australia (Deakin Univ.), France (CNRS), Poland (Univ. Gdansk), and Russia (Moscow Univ.).

Climate change makes animals smaller

Shrinkage of animal body size has just recently been discovered, but is already considered a universal response to climate change as it is observed across a broad range of animal taxa. Up to now, two competing hypotheses explain the reduction in animal body size. On the one hand, there is the hypothesis that a smaller body is better able to dissipate body heat because of the larger surface to volume ratio. On the other hand, there is the hypothesis that bodies are shrinking because climate change disrupts the ability of a consumer to find enough of the right food at the right time, leading to malnutrition during the juvenile life stage.

Arctic animals shrinking fastest?

As the High Arctic is warming up most rapidly, body shrinkage is expected to be most extreme in this region. However, many organisms breeding in the High Arctic are long-distance migrants, spending the nonbreeding season at much lower latitudes, often as far as the tropics, where the impacts of climate change are less obvious.

First author Jan van Gils from NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research explains: "The red knot (Calidris canutus canutus) is one of the world's most northerly breeding birds and a well-known long-distance migrant. It is nesting in northern Taimyr (Russia) and is wintering in tropical coastal ecosystems, notably the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania (West Africa). Analysis of satellite images has shown that over the past 33 years, snow at the red knot's breeding grounds has progressively melted earlier, at a rate of half a day per year, so that's now more than two weeks. The retreat of the snow marks the start of the insect peak in the Arctic (Fig. 1); the main food source of the chicks before they leave the Arctic. Juvenile red knots that we caught along the Baltic coast while on their way to West Africa were smaller and had shorter bills after warm Arctic summers".

Shrinking migrants pay the bill in the tropics

Once they have arrived in West Africa, the smallest young birds pay the price of having a short bill: their survival was only half of that of the larger juveniles. Van Gils: "The reason for this bill-length dependent mortality is quite straightforward. Only larger birds with long bill were able to reach the relatively deeply burrowed bivalves at Banc d'Arguin (Fig. 2). Shorter-billed birds were forced to live on seagrass, which is a poor food source for these birds. The poor survival of shrunken first-year birds clearly contributes to the current population decline seen in red knots nowadays".

Not only body size, but also body shape changes

The high premium on having a long bill, causes red knots also to change body shape (Fig. 3). Nowadays red knots are smaller, but since the short-billed small birds are selected against, the ones with the highest survival chances are relatively long-billed.

Van Gils concludes: "Since smaller birds do worse than larger ones, we reject the hypothesis that body shrinkage is evolutionarily beneficial. Instead, we suggest that a so-called 'trophic mismatch' during chick stage underlies the smaller knot body: due to the rapidly advancing Arctic summer, juvenile knots are now simply born after the rapidly advancing insect peak. We therefore propose that changes in body size and shape, and the negative population dynamical consequences, will be widespread among other High-Arctic breeding species in the future. This is a very serious ecological effect that requires our immediate attention".

The pictures referred to can be obtained from Jan van Gils or Jan Boon

###
This sequence of images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows Comet 252P/LINEAR as it passed by Earth. The visit was one of the closest encounters between a comet and our planet.

The images were taken on April 4, 2016, roughly two weeks after the icy visitor made its closest approach to Earth on March 21. The comet traveled within 3.3 million miles of Earth, or about 14 times the distance between our planet and the moon. These observations also represent the closest celestial object Hubble has observed, other than the moon.

The images reveal a narrow, well-defined jet of dust ejected by the comet's icy, fragile nucleus. The nucleus is too small for Hubble to resolve. Astronomers estimate that it is less than one mile across. A comet produces jets of material as it travels close to the sun in its orbit. Sunlight warms ices in a comet's nucleus, resulting in large amounts of dust and gas being ejected, sometimes in the form of jets. The jet in the Hubble images is illuminated by sunlight.

The jet also appears to change direction in the images, which is evidence that the comet's nucleus is spinning. The spinning nucleus makes the jet appear to rotate like the water jet from a rotating lawn sprinkler. The images underscore the dynamics and volatility of a comet's fragile nucleus.

Comet 252P/LINEAR is traveling away from Earth and the sun; its orbit will bring it back to the inner solar system in 2021, but not anywhere close to the Earth.

These visible-light images were taken with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.

###

For images, video, and more information about Comet 252P/LINEAR and Hubble, visit:

http://hubblesite.org/news/2016/14 http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

Donna Weaver / Ray Villard

Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland

410-338-4493 / 410-338-4514

dweaver@stsci.edu / villard@stsci.edu

Jian-Yang Li

Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona

571-488-9999

jyli@psi.edu
ARLINGTON, Va.--For achievements in fields ranging from robotic learning to photovoltaics (converting solar energy into electricity), six researchers sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) last week were honored with Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)--the nation's highest honor for young scientists and engineers.

The White House's selection of these six individuals underscores ONR's fundamental objective: bringing about new capabilities for warfighters by leveraging the ideas of America's best and brightest minds.

"ONR has always had an excellent ability to identify and foster young talent by keeping current with the most innovative research being done in various fields," said Dr. Larry Schuette, ONR director of research. "Working with cutting-edge scientists and engineers ensures that we get the most advanced capabilities to our Sailors and Marines."

PECASE honorees funded by ONR included:

Dr. Pieter Abbeel, University of California, Berkeley (machine learning and robotic perception and manipulation of objects)

Dr. Dino Di Carlo, University of California, Los Angeles (fluid inertia for precision control of cells and particles)

Dr. Patrick E. Hopkins, University of Virginia (nanoscale heat transfer and interfacial thermal processes)

Dr. Colin D. Joye, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (microfabrication techniques and pioneering work in imaging and communications)

Dr. Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds, University of New Hampshire (marine mammal and fish bio-acoustics and animal behavior and communication)

Dr. Bozhi Tian, University of Chicago (semiconductor materials synthesis, device applications in photovoltaics, intracellular electrophysiology and tissue engineering)

Abbeel, Di Carlo, Hopkins, Miksis-Olds and Tian are also are past winners of ONR's Young Investigator Program (YIP), a prestigious grant awarded to scientists and engineers with exceptional promise for producing creative and state-of-the-art research. Each YIP recipient receives approximately $170,000 annually over three years for research efforts that appear likely to advance naval technology. ONR's YIP is one of the oldest such programs in the nation.

This year, a total of 105 researchers earned PECASE awards through their work for various government agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA and the National Science Foundation. Agencies annually nominate the best and brightest scientists and engineers whose early achievements appear beneficial to keeping the nation on the leading edge of scientific discovery.

The PECASE awards were established in 1996 and are managed by the Executive Office of the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy. According to the White House website, recipients are chosen based on their pursuit of innovative research as well as their commitment to community service--whether through scientific leadership, public education or community outreach.

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The search for planets orbiting other stars in our galaxy has revealed an extraordinary family of planets whose orbits are so carefully timed that they provide long-term stability for their planetary system. A paper describing the formation of this planetary system by a research team that includes a Penn State University astrophysicist will be published in the journal Nature on May 11, 2016.

"The Kepler-223 planetary system has unusually long-term stability because its four planets interact gravitationally to keep the beat of a carefully choreographed dance as they orbit their host star," said Eric Ford, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State and a member of the research team. Each time the innermost planet (Kepler-223b) orbits the system's star 3 times, the second-closest planet (Kepler-223c) orbits precisely 4 times. Thus, these two planets return to the same positions relative to each other and their host star.

Throughout the Kepler-233 system, the dance is much more elaborate. "The orbital periods of the four planets of the Kepler-233 system have ratios of exactly 3 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 8," Ford said. The ratio of the orbits of the four planets is so precise that they provide a stabilizing influence for the planetary system. "The precisely timed orbits of these planets places strong constraints on how they could have formed," Ford said.

"Our analysis shows that a slow, smooth, migration of the system during its formation and evolution would be able to place these planets into the delicately balanced configuration that we observe today." An example closer to home on Earth is the synchronization that a side-by-side group of undisturbed mechanical metronomes achieve over time, even though they each begin ticking at a different frequency <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlYIyKic3w8>. "The Kepler-223 system is one of the best examples of a system that provides such strong clues about how its planets could have formed," Ford said.

Studying systems like Kepler-223 is important because they provide a rare opportunity to test models of planet formation. Ford said that the research team's results have implications for many other planetary systems. The team performed numerical simulations of planetary migration that generated the Kepler-223 system's current architecture, which is similar to the migration suspected for planets of our outer solar system, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. "Kepler found lots of systems with multiple super-Earth and/or sub-Neptune-size planets orbiting close to their host star, but the vast majority of these systems are not in a special resonant configuration like that of Kepler-223, Ford said. "Many of these systems may have formed similarly to Kepler-223, but then later became destabilized, perhaps by a more distant massive planet or perhaps by the cumulative effect of the scattering of many smaller planetesimals left over from the planet-building process."

The scientists used data from NASA's Kepler telescope to measure how much starlight each of the four planets block as they pass in front of their star, and to detect slight changes in each of the planets' orbits. Combining observations from Kepler and the Keck Observatory, the team was able to infer the planets' sizes and masses.

Ford's contributions to the research included improving the computational efficiency and quality of the statistical analysis, which enabled the team to provide statistically rigorous constraints on the planets' masses and orbits. "Often, advanced statistical and dynamical modeling is required to account for the rich array of astrophysical effects detected by the Kepler observatory. For systems with strongly interacting planets, like Kepler-223, such analyses require a combination of efficient statistical algorithms and significant computing resources," Ford said.

"Several faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students at Penn State's Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds are actively engaged in performing detailed analyses of the rich treasure trove of data from Kepler's most exciting discoveries, such as Kepler-223," Ford said. At Penn State, researchers associated with the Center for Astrostatistics and the Institute for Cyberscience are leaders in developing and applying advanced statistical and computational methods that are important for this and other data resulting from science research. Penn State's new interdisciplinary Statistical Modeling Data Science program is beginning to train undergraduates to apply the theoretical machinery of modern statistics to the search for answers to questions involving very complex or massive amounts of data -- known as "big data."

###

In addition to Ford, members of the research team include Sean M. Mills and Daniel C. Fabrycky, of the University of Chicago; Cezary Migaszewski of the University of Szczecin and Nicolaus Copernicus University; Erik Petigura of the University of California at Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology; and Howard Isaacson of the University of California at Berkeley.

This research was funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Polish National Science Centre.

CONTACTS

Eric Ford: ebf11@psu.edu, (+1) 814-863-5558

Barbara Kennedy (PIO): science@psu.edu, (+1) 814-863-4682

ANIMATION

An animation is online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2016-news/Ford5-2016

CAPTION and CREDIT for ANIMATION

This animation illustrates the Kepler-223 planetary system, which has long-term stability because its four planets interact gravitationally to keep the beat of a carefully choreographed dance as they orbit their host star. For example, each time the innermost planet (Kepler-223b) orbits the system's star 3 times, the second-closest planet (Kepler-223c) orbits precisely 4 times, and these two planets return to the same positions relative to each other and their host star. The orbital periods of the four planets of the Kepler-233 system have ratios of exactly 3 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 8. The ratio of these orbits is so precise that they provide a stabilizing influence for the planetary system.

ANIMATION CREDIT: W. Rebel (license granted for free worldwide public-domain use)

VIDEO

A video is online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2016-news/Ford5-2016

CAPTION and CREDIT for VIDEO

This video illustrates how the mutual gravitational interaction of planets can be used to measure the masses of planets. This technique of measuring the planets' transit timing variations was used by the team that performed the research described in this press release. In a planetary system with one planet and one star, the planet passes in front of the star (i.e., transits) on a strict schedule. In a planetary system with two planets, the gravitational interaction between the two planets cause the planets to speed up and slow down along their orbits. As a result the time between transits of a given planet is not strictly periodic. Scientists are able to characterize the planet masses based on the size and pattern of the deviations from a perfect schedule.

VIDEO CREDIT: NASA Ames Research Center/Kepler Mission

CITATION for the Nature PAPER

"A Resonant Chain of Four Transiting, Sub-Neptune Planets," by Sean M. Mills, Daniel C. Fabrycky, Cezary Migaszewski, Eric B. Ford, Erik Petigura, and Howard Isaacson, Nature, May 11, 2016. (After the journal's news embargo lifts: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature17445> )

MORE INFORMATION

More information about the:

Kepler mission

Penn State Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds

Penn State Institute for Cyberscience

Penn State's Data Sciences Intercollege Undergraduate Major

Planet Hunter website for citizen scientists

ARCHIVE

This press release will be archived online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2016-news/Ford5-2016
As the world grows more social and connects more online, privacy management is becoming more collaborative, according to Penn State researchers.

"This is a paradigm shift, in a lot of ways, because most people think of privacy as being individualistic, but privacy is no longer just about the individual, it's also a collaborative and coordinated process," said Haiyan Jia, a postdoctoral scholar in information sciences and technology.

In a study, the researchers found that social media users act autonomously on some privacy issues, but are interdependent when information is co-owned by multiple users. As soon as individuals share information with their online social networks, they no longer have sole control over the information, but must rely on others for privacy protection, said Jia.

They add that participants in the study relied on several strategies to deal with privacy rights for group content, such as group discussions and sensitive photos. Among other strategies, participants collectively specify who can access certain content, share information only within a specific group and carefully add only the people they trust to private groups, according to Jia.

"They're recognizing that some content, which could include articles that are shared in a group or a picture with multiple people tagged in it, is co-constructed," said Jia. "So, in other words, this private information can also be co-owned."

Despite the growing importance of shared data, current social media sites lack tools for collaborative privacy management, according to Jia, who worked with Heng Xu, associate professor of information sciences and technology.

"The tools that manage privacy that we reviewed were very individualistic," Jia said. "There didn't seem to be tools that were managing privacy collaboratively."

The researchers, who present their findings at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems today (May 11), suggested that social media developers may want to explore new ways to make content ownership more effective and transparent, as well as consider current collaborative privacy management models and tools.

"Given users' need for collaborative privacy management, next-generation social networking platforms should consider built-in mechanisms to support group effort," said Jia. "A technological solution could include offering smart suggestions for privacy settings, which balance the preferences of individual members and the cohesion of the group."

The researchers also found that people who shared more were more concerned with group management.

"If you are in a group, but don't share much, chances are you're not too concerned with these issues, but, the more you share, the more you think about co-ownership," said Jia.

The researchers recruited 304 people with an average age of 36 from Amazon Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourced online work site. The participants were asked to take a survey that lasted about 20 minutes.

To make sure the first sample was representative across different populations, researchers also recruited a second group of 427 undergraduate students to take the same survey. The undergraduate participants appeared less likely to limit who can access their shared content, which the researchers said might be a generational difference.

The researchers are planning laboratory experiments to see how people collaborate on privacy issues behaviorally.

"We're also hoping these findings raise awareness on this issue, so that other researchers begin to explore it, as well," said Xu. "Collaborative privacy management will be an even more pressing issue as the web becomes increasingly social and as big data technology becomes more prevalent."

###

The National Science Foundation supported this work.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham working with clinical teams at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have successfully shown for the first time that breast cancer patients can be trained to achieve single prolonged breath holds of over five minutes, opening the door for targeted radiotherapy to be administered with just one dose in each daily session.

A typical radiotherapy beam in each daily session takes two minutes to deliver, with shaped radiation beams directed from several angles to intersect at the cancerous tumour. Because patients are not able to hold their breath for this long, most radiotherapy treatment is delivered while still breathing, and the ventilatory motion of the chest increases the risk of damage to nearby healthy tissue.

Clinical practice for some breast cancer patients is due to change with the introduction of repeated breath holds of around 20 seconds, to provide a stable target for the treatment, given over a number of doses in each session. But the Birmingham team have demonstrated that the treatment in each session could now be delivered to patients in a single breath-hold.

The research "Safely prolonging single breath-holds to >5 minutes in cancer patients; feasibility and applications for radiotherapy" published today in the British Journal of Radiology, builds on previous studies of healthy volunteers who were able to reach mean breath holds of seven minutes.

Dr Mike Parkes, from the University of Birmingham, explained, "The physiology of breath holding is well understood on the whole, but has been somewhat overlooked in medical research because until now it hadn't any obvious clinical application."

"Following on from our preliminary work on healthy subjects, we wanted to see if we could help patients with breast cancer to achieve a breath hold of over two minutes to allow a radiotherapy treatment to be delivered in a single breath-hold."

15 patients who were undergoing radiotherapy were recruited to the trial and trained to extend their breath holds safely. Patients are trained on how to maintain a relaxed posture, to practice inhaling and exhaling to maximum effect and then to assist them naturally to raise their blood oxygen levels and reduce their blood carbon dioxide levels, by preoxygenation and mechanically induced hypocapnia.

The average breath hold of patients after the training was 5.3 minutes, significantly more than the required target of 2 minutes.

Dr Parkes continued, "Being able to hit the cancerous tumour accurately is essential to avoid damage to other areas, including the heart muscle. Having a stable chest that we can target in one dose could be invaluable in protecting the surrounding tissue."

"Although 5 minute breath-holds may seem astonishing to people, it is perfectly natural and safe for patients. Actually, anyone can do it. Patients are carefully monitored throughout the process and if their oxygen levels drop or their blood pressure rises above a certain level we would step in. The safety levels we use are very conservative so there is no risk attached."

Of all 15 patients undergoing radiotherapy, 13 also had chemotherapy and 2 were taking Herceptin.

The Birmingham team believe that being able to assist patients in achieving a single breath-hold could greatly improve the long term survival and quality of life of breast cancer patients.

###
Nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane are the most important greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide also participates in the destruction of stratospheric ozone. To mitigate global warming, we have to control nitrous oxide emissions. A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Helsinki and the Natural Resources Institute Finland provides new knowledge on nitrous oxide emissions and shows that there can be significant inaccuracies in the traditional emission measurements.

A major part of the carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere originates from the use of fossil fuels but microbial activities in our environment, especially in soils, are largely responsible for nitrous oxide emissions. Microbes are able to transform soil nitrogen to nitrous oxide. Microbial nitrous oxide production is enhanced by an increase in the availability of nitrogen in soil. Therefore, nitrogen fertilized agricultural soils are the most important sources of nitrous oxide.

Measuring nitrous oxide emissions from soils is demanding because the emissions have large spatial and temporal variation. Traditionally various chamber techniques have been used to measure these emissions. For the purpose, chambers with a diameter of about 50 cm are set on the soil surface and emissions are estimated from the gas accumulated in the chambers within a short measurement period (30 -60 min). Computer controlled chambers can also be used to measure emissions, e.g., for every hour. However, it is possible to use only a limited number of chambers at a site, such as an agricultural field. This implies that the spatial variation in nitrous oxide emissions can not be accurately determined causing inaccuracies in the emission calculations. Chambers can also cause bias in emissions because environmental conditions within chambers differ from those of natural conditions. New technologies are now available to the scientists to overcome the problems associated with chambers. The eddy covariance method uses accurate laser spectrometry for estimating nitrous oxide emissions and allows continuous measurements within an area of several hundred metres. With this method, temporal and spatial variations in emissions are averaged over the entire area. Because no chambers are needed, the measurement system does not change the environmental conditions and associated bias in the emissions is avoided.

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Helsinki and the Natural Resources Institute Finland applied the eddy covariance technique combined with the most-modern laser technology in the market to measure nitrous oxide emissions from a field where a bioenergy crop was cultivated (Maaninka, Eastern Finland). In the early summer, the nitrogen availability in the soil was high after the nitrogen fertilization. Nitrous oxide emissions were high during this time. The emissions, however, had significant diurnal variation. The emissions were higher during daytime than during night time. The researchers explained these results by the variation in soil temperature and moisture. Later in the growing season when the effect of nitrogen fertilization diminished, the diurnal variation in the emissions changed surprisingly. Then the emissions were higher during night time. Excluding the diurnal variation in nitrous oxide emissions causes inaccuracies in the annual emission estimates.

These results published in a highly ranked scientific journal, Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), have international significance. The results support the development of reliable measuring methods for nitrous oxide emissions and improve our understanding of the nitrous oxide emission mechanisms and their controlling factors. Competition for soil nitrogen between plants and microbes has a crucial role for the nitrous production in the soil. When soil nitrogen availability is low, nitrous oxide emissions are higher during night- time than during daytime because plants do not consume soil nitrogen at night and more nitrogen is available for microbes and their nitrous oxide production. Stable isotope experiments with labelled nitrogen fertilizer additions confirmed the higher night time emissions observed by the eddy covariance technique.

The research shows how advances in measuring technology support the generation of new knowledge needed to obtain reliable emission estimates and to better understand the mechanisms behind greenhouse gas production in the soil. The understanding of the controlling factors behind the emissions allows the use of cultivation methods with low greenhouse gas emissions. The developing bioeconomy requires such cultivation practices for biomass production. This research was made possible by combining the knowhow and technological facilities of three leading Finnish organisations in greenhouse emission studies.

###

Further information is available from the following persons:

University of Eastern Finland: Docent, Dr. Narasinha Shurpali, tel: +358 50 573 9538, narasinha.shurpali@uef.fi

Research director, Dr. Christina Biasi, tel: +358 40 355 3810, christina.biasi@uef.fi

Emeritus Professor, Dr. Pertti Martikainen, tel: +358 50 357 0545, mailto:pertti.martikainen@uef.fi

University of Helsinki: Docent, Dr. Ivan Mammarella, ivan.mammarella@helsinki.fi

Docent, Dr. Mari Pihlatie, mailto:mari.pihlatie@helsinki.fi

Natural Resources Institute Finland: Prof. Perttu Virkajarvi, perttu.virkajarvi@luke.fi

Research article: Shurpali N.J. et al. Neglecting diurnal variations leads to uncertainties in terrestrial nitrous oxide emissions. Sci. Rep. 6, 25739: doi 10.1038/25739 (2016)

Link to the article: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep25739
UPDATED Since 2004, students in New York City have been allowed to choose where to attend high school. But that freedom to leave their neighborhood schools hasnt translated into higher graduation rates for students from low-income families, according to a study released Wednesday.

A new analysis of graduation rates by Measure of America , a project of the Social Science Research Council, shows that while New York Citys overall four-year graduation rate reached 70 percent in January, the graduation rates for students who live in low-income neighborhoods lag behind those of their wealthier peers by as much as 34 percentage points.

Only 60.9 percent of the high school students who live in the beleaguered Morris Heights, Fordham South, and Mount Hope neighborhoods of the Bronx are graduating from high school in four years, even though many chose to attend schools in other neighborhoods. For students who live in the wealthy Manhattan neighborhoods of Battery Park City, Greenwich Village, and SoHo, on the other hand, the high school graduation rate is 95.1 percent, the study found.

After more than a decade of universal school choice, a childs community district is still highly associated with his or her likelihood of graduating high school in four years, the study said.

The data-mapping project by researchers Kristen Lewis and Sarah Burd-Sharps provides the first look at New York City high school graduation rates based on where students live, rather than where they attend school. It poses layers of questions about how much a high school choice system can improve outcomes for low-income students by freeing them from their neighborhood high schools.

Its likely that a number of students have indeed enrolled in far better schools than the ones their home neighborhoods offered, and have benefited from those choices, Lewis and Burd-Sharps say in the report. But overall, the persistent low graduation rates in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods means that school choice has not fixed the problem it was designed in part to solve, they write.

A cluster of factors likely account for the persistent low graduation rates among students who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods, the study says, including the possibility that there are simply too few good high schools in the city.

Another is the tremendous complexity of the high school choice process. Investigating and visiting schools, and guiding students through the portfolio submissions and other admissions requirements, takes time, resources, and savvy that give educated, wealthy, socially connected parents an edge.

Competition in this arena is a blood sport, and successful admission to the best selective high schools requires focus, contacts, money, time,

flexibility, transportation, extreme attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize the school admissions process over work or family obligations, the study says.

Families get much of their information about high school through word of mouth, and New York Citys socioeconomically segregated neighborhoods could mean that a low-income familys information is more likely to be limited to others with fewer resources.

Distance can play a factor in limiting students high school choices, too. Even though students are theoretically free to choose their top schools anywhere in the citys five boroughs, enrollment patterns suggest that most attend schools they can reach by traveling no less than 30 minutes from home. Schools that are closer to the homes of low-income high schoolers are more likely to be struggling than those in affluent (but often far away) neighborhoods, the study says.

The elementary and middle schools that students attend can also play a role in their high school graduation pathways. Many of the high schools that produce the best outcomes are tough to get into, and if students had weak academic preparation in their neighborhood elementary and middle schools, that puts them at an admissions disadvantage, the study says.

Lewis and Burd-Sharps call on the city to invest more heavily in supporting low-income families and neighborhoods, and addressing residential segregation.

Devora Kaye, a spokeswoman for the New York City Department of Education told the Wall Street Journal that 60 percent of students attend high school outside their neighborhoods. The city has worked to provide better supports for the high school choice process in low-income areas, she said, including admissions support, translation services, and guidance for students in temporary housing.

Shael Polakow-Suransky, who was the senior deputy chancellor of the city schools, said the department never intended high school choice, in and of itself, to be the force for improvement. Its key aim was to create many more school options for students that offered more engaging, personalized and rigorous learning experiences. And studies have shown that those options did boost graduation rates significantly in high-poverty neighborhoods, he said.

But its also true that the new schools didnt close the achievement gap, said Polakow-Suransky, who is now the president of Bank Street College. Thats because the skills gaps are so profound by the time students enter kindergarten, he said. The city has made an important investment by extending prekindergarten to all 4-year-olds, he said, but deeper investments need to be made in infants, toddlers, their caregivers and their families in the zero-to-four years.
US Domestic Data Sees USD Exchange Rates Flop Elsewhere against Foreign Exchange Peers

The US Dollar to yen exchange rate could be in store for an advance next week, given the incoming Federal Reserve data.

This will consist of Wednesday evenings minutes for the Feds end of April meeting. The current week has brought positive comments from the Fed, therefore it is not out of the question that rumblings of an interest rate hike could be in store.

Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda failed to keep the Japanese Yen exchange rates (JPY) on a downtrend, as his reiteration of a willingness to ease policy further was generally dismissed by markets.

Consequently the US Dollar to Japanese Yen (USD/JPY) exchange rate retreated on Friday morning, in spite of hawkish Fed commentary and expectations of a stronger Advance Retail Sales figure.

The appeal of the US Dollar has been decidedly mixed of late, although USD/JPY exchange rate has managed to record notable gains.

The otherwise uncertain status of the US Dollar is a symptom of the latest domestic data out of the country, part of which included falling inventories of crude oil, gasoline and distillates in May.

Additionally, the value of the US currency was dealt a blow when the monthly budget statement for April fell from a previous $156.7bn to $106.5bn.

Latest Dollar/Yen Exchange Rates

On Tuesday the Japanese Yen to British Pound exchange rate (JPY/GBP) converts at 0.006

Today finds the pound to japanese yen spot exchange rate priced at 168.45.

FX markets see the pound vs pound exchange rate converting at 1.

The live inter-bank GBP-CHF spot rate is quoted as 1.13 today.

Please note: the FX rates above, updated 25th Oct 2022, will have a commission applied by your typical high street bank. Currency brokers specialise in these type of foreign currency transactions and can save you up to 5% on international payments compared to the banks.

Other Foreign Exchange News

Range of Fed Speeches due in Near Future along with Retail and Confidence Stats Tomorrow

The next ecostats to watch out for from the US before the weekend will be todays Federal Reserve speeches and tomorrows expected announcement of the USs retail sales and confidence results.

In the former case, deliveries are expected from Fed officials Loretta Mester, Eric Rosengren and Esther George. Incidentally, there is also a Fed speech due tomorrow from John Williams.

Tomorrows notable US data will consist of the April advance retail sales result, as well as the preliminary University of Michigan confidence score for May. In the latter case, a rise from 89 to 89.5 is expected.

Japanese Yen Tanks as BoJ Speech and Eco Watchers Results Disappoint

The Yen has been universally poor against its competitors recently, with domestic data proving a thorn in the side of the Japanese economy.

While Japans trade balance for March has shown a surplus increase, the Eco Watchers surveys for the current situation and outlook in April have both fallen on previous results.

A speech from Bank of Japan (BoJ) Deputy Governor Hiroshi Nakoso has done little to reassure investors, with the closing boilerplate on policy measures from his most recent comments having no discernible impact on the value of the Yen.

Additional BoJ Speech and Tertiary Index Results due Tomorrow

The next economic event out of Japan to watch out for will be a speech from BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda early tomorrow. Kuroda is expected to be speaking in Tokyo at a meeting with the Research Institute of Japan.

Additionally, shortly after this speech will be the announcement of the tertiary industry index result for March; this figure previously printed at -0.1%.

The biggest Japanese news to look forward to in the coming week will be Wednesdays GDP growth rate result for the first quarter, which is expected to show an improvement on previous printings.

Hard Times could Mean Increased Consolidation in Japanese Automobile Sector

The future of Japanese automobile manufacturing, itself a lucrative industry, has been called into question recently due to the action of Nissan buying out part of Mitsubishi.

This came about due to the immense profit loss seen by the latter company, in the wake of a Volkswagen-esque emissions data scandal.

According to Kelly Blue Book Senior Director Karl Brauer, this kind of action could become increasingly commonplace:

Consolidation will be more efficient because the industry is really competitive right now and if you're not a large player, you're having trouble keeping up on the research and development spending.
The tally of federal lawsuits filed over North Carolinas bathroom bill is now 2-2, with a tie between complaints in support of the measure and complaints in opposition.

A group of North Carolina parents and unidentified students of the states K-12 schools and universities filed a suit in support of the states new law Tuesday, arguing that a portion of the law that requires public buildings, including schools, to restrict restroom access by sex at birth does not violate Title IX.

The group, calling itself North Carolinians for Privacy, filed suit Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education, the News & Observer reports. The group is represented by attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative Christian nonprofit.

Federal officials have said the state restrictions, the first of their kind, violate the federal civil rights law by requiring transgender students and employees to use facilities that may not align with their gender identity. The U.S. Department of Justice made that assertion in a lawsuit Monday , which followed a suit by the state arguing against that interpretation of law. A federal appeals court with jurisdiction over North Carolina recently the federal agencies interpretation of Title IX is valid in a decision appealed by the Virginia school district at the heart of that case.

The three suits this week follow a complaint filed by the ACLU of North Carolina in March, shortly after the law was passed in a one-day special session.

Potentially at stake is billions of dollars of federal funding to North Carolinas schools, colleges, and universities. A group of state Republican lawmakers this week wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. seeking assurances that that funding wouldnt be cut as a result of the dispute. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education did not respond to questions about the letter this week.

Related reading:

Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox.
It really really depends on the company's relocation policies. Some companies offer a solid package up front and others nickle and dime the candidate to whatever extent they can.



First of all, you need to decide how bad you want the job. Are you willing to hold out for an all-inclusive relocation? (Which means, would you be willing to take a pass on the job if they won't or can't offer you all you want?)



A couple things to look for in the relocation:



Some sort of tax assistance - at least for the first couple of years. The US tax system is complex and complicated and for a newcomer, it makes sense to have the company pay for tax preparation. Tax equalization (so that you wind up with an equivalent salary to what you had back home) is nice, but may be limited to non-permanent positions. Note that just about all the "extras" in a relo package wind up being taxable to you in the US. (However, you get to deduct many, if not most of the relocation costs you incur.)



Does the position require the use of a car? If so, is a car part of the package? (Not as common as it used to be.)



Temporary housing on arrival - usually for a month or two or three - to allow you some time to find your own place and get familiar with the area.



Things like vacation time are not usually negotiable in the US - what you get is what's in the company employee handbook. Also, note that medical insurance does not cover as much in the US as in many other countries, so you'll be out of pocket for "co-pays" which can add up quickly.



Other folks will come through with other considerations, I'm sure.

Cheers,

Bev
Thanks to a social media campaign, the Deaf Leopards got to meet their famous cousin, in name at least: Def Leppard.

The Leopards are the mascot for the Arkansas School for the Deaf, a public school in Little Rock that serves deaf and hard of hearing children from preschool through high school. Def Leppard is, of course, the British rock band with hits like Pour Some Sugar on Me  and Photograph .

When Cary Tyson, a program officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, found out that the rock band was playing in Little Rock, he immediately saw an opportunity to bring attention to a school that deserves it and does great work, he wrote on a change.org petition . The petition called for Def Leppard to come to the school and take a picture in front of the scoreboard. Tyson and his supporters also tweeted at the band.

The petition had gathered just shy of 1,500 signatures by Monday, when Tyson posted an update that while the band members didnt have time in their schedule to go to the school, they would take a picture with a selection of students and a large replica of the schools scoreboard at the concert venue.

So, on Wednesday, the Deaf Leopards got to meet Def Leppard.

Arkansas Deaf Leopards - Thanks for coming out to the show! #DefLeppard pic.twitter.com/0LzZZvXAqI -- Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) May 12, 2016

The Arkansas School for the Deaf has used the Leopards as a mascot since at least 1941, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported, well before Def Leppard formed in 1977. Still, the similarity in the names has been a running joke for years.

Were so proud for anyone to shine a light on our school, on deaf education and on the work we do here, Stacey Tatera, spokeswoman for the school, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . She called the meet and greet a tribute to the power of social media.

As Tyson wrote in a petition update, this isnt the first time a famous musician made headlines for his involvement with deaf students. In 1984, Prince played a free concert at Gallaudet University in Washington , one of the largest deaf universities in the country. The concert had been kept under wraps until the last minute.

More on the power of social media in education:

Follow @madeline_will and @EdWeekTeacher on Twitter.
Penn Virginia Corp., an oil and gas driller with assets in South Texas Eagle Ford, filed for creditor protection Thursday, the latest casualty of the energy slump.

The plunge in oil and gas prices that began in 2014 led to the bankruptcy, even after the company cut staff in 2015 and suspended drilling in February, Chief Restructuring Officer R. Seth Bullock said in court papers. A highly leveraged capital structure also made it tough to survive the downturn, he said.

Penn Virginias main assets are in the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, and it also has some oil- and gas-producing properties in the Granite Wash in Oklahoma and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. In 2015, its production was 80 percent crude oil and natural gas liquids and 20 percent natural gas.

The Radnor, Pennsylvania-based company has overwhelming support from its lenders and a plan to exit bankruptcy by the end of this summer by shaving $1 billion in debt, according to court papers. The agreement calls for it to speed through bankruptcy  if transactions it calls for arent completed in less than 120 days, the company could lose its financing, it said in court filings.

A restructuring support agreement signed onto by 86 percent of its senior noteholders and all of its bank lenders provides for a $25 million operating loan, a $50 million rights offering and a $128 million exit loan, the company said in court filings. The accord also resolves disputes with lenders to its $113 million revolving loan to avoid protracted, value-destructive litigation, Penn Virginia said.

Penn Virginia has plenty of company in Chapter 11. More than four dozen firms in the energy business, including drillers and oil field service providers, have sought creditor protection since prices began their slide in mid-2014. In the past month, seven oil and gas companies have filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. listing liabilities of more than $500 million each, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Three of those came in this week alone, including Wednesdays filing by Linn Energy LLC in Texas.

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.

Like many other exploration and production companies, Penn Virginia has been significantly affected by the recent and continued dramatic decline in oil and natural gas prices, Chairman and interim CEO Edward B. Cloues said in a statement.

Penn Virginia listed assets of $518 million and liabilities of $1.4 billion in Chapter 11 papers filed in Richmond, Virginia.
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The Justice Department confirmed Wednesday it wont bring criminal charges against former executives of the Scooter Store, concluding a five-year investigation.

The Justice Department does not believe it has sufficient evidence to prove criminal liability beyond a reasonable doubt as to senior managers at the Scooter Store, agency spokesman Peter Carr said in an email.

He had no additional information.

Thus ends the saga of the Scooter Store, New Braunfels largest employer before some 150 federal agents raided the companys headquarters in 2013  presumably as part of an investigation into Medicare and Medicaid fraud  and touched off a chain of events that ultimately led to its demise.

Scooter Store founder and former CEO Doug Harrison, who learned of the Justice Departments decision from a San Antonio Express-News reporter, grappled with mixed emotions on the news.

Im extremely pleased that the witch hunt is over, Harrison said. As excited as I am that this horrible ordeal is over, it makes me that much more angry that this is the way it went down anyway. I guess, maybe, theres going to be no criminal charges is as close to an  apology as well ever get from the Justice Department. Its nice to hear, but its bittersweet.

Harrison resigned from the Scooter Store in 2012. He founded the company with his wife, Susanna, in 1991.

The Justice Department destroyed the reputations of me and my senior managers, Harrison said. They destroyed thousands of jobs. They completely wiped out the enterprise value of a company that my family and my employees had spent over 20 years building.

At its peak, the Scooter Store had about 3,500 employees.

Calls to other former Scooter Store executives were not returned.

The raid by agents, including from the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and and Human Services (HHS), and the Texas attorney generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, sparked a series of events that led to the Scooter Store filing for Chapter 11 and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ceasing to do business with the company. The company announced its closure in September 2013.

The Scooter Store once was an industry behemoth that filled midday and late-night TV with pitches to viewers to find if they qualify for one of its scooters at little to no cost to you.

The ads, some featuring Harrison, told viewers that Medicare and secondary insurance insurance may cover the ENTIRE COST.

That prompted Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., during a 2012 hearing by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, to say that the television commercials gave the impression that power-mobility device companies would figure out some way for the government to foot the bill if customers only would inquire.

The Scooter Store long had been dogged by allegations that some of its customers were prescribed a power-mobility device even though they didnt have a medical need for one. Plus, it operated in an industry that government officials said was rampant with fraud and improper payments.

An independent auditor concluded in 2012 that the Scooter Store received between $46.8 million and $87.7 million in overpayments from Medicare.

The company agreed to repay $19.5 million  the amount it determined it overpaid  but only after the inspector generals office of HHS threatened to cut the company out of federal health care programs.

The OIG found the failure to immediately return the overpayments breached a five-year corporate integrity agreement from 2007. The company entered into the agreement to settle charges that it made false Medicare claims and defrauded the government.

The deathblow for the Scooter Store, however, occurred on Sept. 11, 2013, when the company was notified it no longer would be permitted to do business with Medicare. The national insurance program accounted for about 75 percent of the companys business.

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.

A new executive team was furiously trying to save the company up until then. Some parties, primarily private-equity firms, were lining up to bid, then-CEO Martin Marty Landon told the Express-News at the time. Executives had even chosen a new name for the company  Salus, which means good health and well-being in Latin.

But without Medicare reimbursements, the Scooter Stores board made the decision on Sept 12, 2013, to liquidate rather reorganize and sell the company as a going concern.

pdanner@express-news.net

Twitter: @AlamoPD

Staff Writer Scott Huddl eston contributed to this report.
Former billionaire Sam Wyly may have been hoping for a better outcome on his home turf as a Texas judge weighed tax-evasion claims related to the fraud trial he lost in New York two years ago.

He didnt get it.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Barbara Houser in Dallas roundly rejected the 81-year-old entrepreneurs argument that he was simply following orders from his own employees when set up a web of offshore funds that hid his assets, allowing him to make hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal profits.

The court does not believe that the law permits Sam to hide behind others and claim not to have known what was going on around him, Houser said in her 459-page ruling.

The decision is the latest blow to Wyly, once a fixture in Texas high society, in a string of legal battles with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the IRS that threatens to wipe out the fortune he amassed over a lifetime building companies, including the arts-and-craft chain Michaels Stores Inc. and Sterling Software Inc.

The IRS was seeking $1.4 billion from Sam Wyly and $834 million from his sister-in-law, with penalties and interest accounting for 80 percent of the totals, the government said in court papers filed Jan. 25. But instead of deciding on those claims as requested, Houser on Tuesday gave the parties 30 days to confer and submit agreed amounts on the claims to the court. Failing an agreement, each side is to submit its own proposal, Houser said.

Faced with Housers ruling, the Wylys will probably have to strike a deal with the IRS and pay a significant amount of tax to resolve the case, according to Laura Zwicker, who chairs the private-client services group at the law firm Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP in Los Angeles.

For the tax planning community generally, its really a wake-up call and a further indication that the U.S. courts are not gong to allow abusive tax planning to take place, said Zwicker, who isnt involved in the case.

The IRS argued it was the victim of a vast fraud revealed in a 2010 SEC suit against Sam and Charles Wyly, brothers and longtime business partners. Charles died in a car crash in 2011, leaving his widow, Caroline Dee Wyly, caught in the fallout of the litigation.

In 2014, a federal jury in Manhattan found the brothers had used a web of offshore trusts for 13 years to hide stock holdings and evade trading limits, allowing them to rake in $550 million in illegal profit. The verdict quickly triggered bankruptcy filings by Sam Wyly and his sister-in-law. And then the IRS fight began.

Houser held a two-week trial in January in Dallas to determine whether the Wylys defrauded the IRS. The proceeding shed light on the assets and lifestyles of the extended Wyly family, including their Dallas mansions, expansive ranch properties in the mountains of Colorado and rare artwork.

The IRS argued many of the luxuries were purchased by offshore trusts and loaned to the family to avoid taxes, and that property was gifted to children for the same purpose.

Sam Wyly said he had relied on lawyers and accountants to set up the offshore trusts and knew few details about how they operated. During the trial, his lawyers called the arrangement aggressive but not illegal. Dee Wyly testified that she entrusted financial matters to her husband and signed tax returns and other documents without reading them, an argument that Houser largely accepted in her ruling.

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.

But the judge had little patience for Sam Wylys defense.

To accept the Wylys explanation requires the court to be satisfied that it is appropriate for extraordinarily wealthy individuals to hire middlemen to do their bidding in order to insulate themselves from wrongdoing so that, when the fraud is ultimately exposed, they have plausible deniability, Houser said in the ruling.

The judge, however, found that Dee Wyly hadnt participated in any fraud.

There is simply no persuasive evidence in the record that Dee understood how these very complicated estate planning transactions worked, Houser said. Dee did not have the educational background or sophistication in business and tax matters to know if her tax returns contained any understatements of income.

Stewart Thomas, general counsel for the Wylys, said they were pleased with the ruling on Dee Wyly, as well as the courts rejection of an IRS gift-tax claim, but they are surprised and disagree with the courts fraud finding as to Sam and his brother Charles.
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CHICAGO  United Airlines ranked worst among traditional carriers in customer satisfaction in a new J.D. Power survey, but the carrier improved its scores from last year.

Alaska Airlines made its passengers the happiest among the five traditional carriers in the study for the ninth straight year. It scored 751 on a 1,000-point scale.

Delta Air Lines ranked second among traditional carriers, with a score of 725, and improved in all of the qualities that J.D. Power measures.

In order of importance, J.D. Power considers: cost and fees; in-flight services; boarding, deplaning and baggage; flight crew; aircraft; check-in; and reservations.

The scores of American Airlines and United were 693 and 675, respectively.

United also ranked last in the prior study, although its score has improved by 10 points.

Satisfaction with airlines costs and fees continued to improve. J.D Power said that, while lower fares are a factor in improved customer satisfaction, travelers seem to have also become resigned to paying baggage fees or for ancillary features, such as extra legroom.

In-flight services remained the lowest-scoring factor, although those marks have improved.

We see satisfaction rising across all touch points of the passenger experience, Rick Garlick, head of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power, said in the report. Airlines are making positive strides by adding value to products and services with newer and cleaner planes, better in-flight services, improving on-time arrivals and bumping fewer passengers from their flights.

Among the four discount carriers assessed, JetBlue Airways had the highest ranking for the 11th straight year. Its score was 790, down 11 points.

Frontier Airlines had the worst score, 662, among low-cost carriers.

J.D. Powers North America airline satisfaction study measures contentment of both business and leisure passengers.

For the first time in the studys history, satisfaction among business travelers exceeded that of leisure travelers.

The study is based on responses from 10,348 passengers who flew on a major North American airline between March 2015 and March 2016.

A separate study released last month also showed that Uniteds passengers are increasingly satisfied with its service, though several major rivals are still more highly regarded.

Among nine airlines in that study, United ranked sixth, with a score of 68 out of a possible 100, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Travel Report. Uniteds score last year was 60.

Other legacy carriers, American and Delta, edged it out with scores of 72 and 71, respectively.

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.

Scores overall for the airline industry improved, according to the report, whose issuance coincided with Transportation Department figures showing a drop in domestic airfares.

JetBlue and Southwest Airlines had the highest scores, at 80. Lowest-scoring was Spirit Airlines, at 62.

Scores overall for the airline industry were up 4.3 percent to 72, the report said.

A third study, released in April, ranked Virgin America tops among 13 airlines in a review that looks at such criteria as on-time performance, rate of involuntary denied boardings, and mishandled bags.

The Airline Quality Rating is a joint project of researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Industry performance improved slightly after a down year in 2014, the rating said.

United ranked eighth, a one-place improvement. Spirit ranked last.
Nearly 20 years ago, when Scott Cohen was working as the executive chef at La Mansion del Rio, the hotels executive committee stayed at Tapatio Springs for an executive staff retreat.

I remember looking around and saying to myself, Man, Id love to work here. he said. And now, here I am. Its funny how things work out.

From 1997 until 2008, Cohen became one of the citys highest-profile chefs, known for his French technique and clever use of Southwestern inspiration at Las Canarias restaurant. During his tenure at La Mansion, he helped open the Watermark Hotel (now Mokara Hotel & Spa) and its signature restaurant, Pesca (now Ostra). In 2007, he released the Texas Hill Country Cookbook.

Cohen left the hotel to help owner Patrick J. Kennedy open Brasserie Pavil and the Watermark Grill. When Pavil closed in 2010, he left San Antonio for Austin to teach at Le Cordon Bleu. Five months ago, the schools parent company announced it was closing all of its campuses in the United States by September 2017.

So now, hes back in the San Antonio area as the newly hired executive chef at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort.

He discusses his years teaching, returning to the ranks of executive chef and how his previous fans remember him from his days at La Mansion.

Welcome back to San Antonio. Walk us through what you were doing after you left.

I was a chef-instructor. They wanted me to teach that first block, of sanitation, knife skills, basic sauces, soups. They wanted to have an industry person get the students ready. I also became a certified executive chef through the American Culinary Federation. Its a 3 hour cooking practical where you cook for four to five judges and then you have a 350-question test and you have to get at least a 75 on it. I got an 89, which I was really proud of. I also got teacher of the year for all of the career schools in the state of Texas. I found the other chefs to be wonderful and heartfelt. The whole operation from the president to the lead instructor  amazing.

So I had until 2017 to find what I wanted to do next. I really thought about it extensively. And I said, I would love to work at a private club, because Im very customer driven, I understand what the guests want, I love working with the associates. This could be a good opportunity, because I have never done that before.

My whole career has been about wanting to challenge myself and not stay in the same realm. I thought this could be a great opportunity. I sort of put the word out. A young chef I used to mentor, he called me up and said Chef, I think theres a place that would love to have you.

What changes do you plan to bring?

I plan on working with a lot of products that are authentic to Texas. I loved doing that at La Mansion. I have an even stronger opportunity because I dont have to drive out the Hill Country. Im already here.

Were going to change lunch and dinner, then do a buffet brunch. We were very successful with that at La Mansion. I think that would go really well out here.

Theres an opportunity for a really great bar menu. Breakfast. I think we have some opportunity to work more with local ingredients, bring more things from from Mexico  cajeta, all the different cheeses.

I did a big crawfish cookout. We went through 90 pounds and they loved it. Were going to do wine, beer and liquor dinners.

At lunch, theres plenty of opportunity on the menu. Theres a dish that I want to do. Dont tell anybody because its a secret. Its a tortilla with roasted beets, Texas goat cheese, frisee salad with a light vinaigrette on it.

Like a wrap?

Yeah, almost like a wrap. The beets and the goat cheese and the vinegar and the frisee is a great combination. Something lighter, but interesting. New sandwiches. I have fried oysters going on the menu. Did that with a guajillo hollandaise sauce, it was nice. I did fried calamari dish with a jalapeno red pepper sushi vinegar sauce.

Tonight I have an angry mussels dish. Theyre not really angry, though. Theyre just mad. Not too hot, but a little hot. With a Louisiana trinity and a spicy tomato sauce, with croutons that are rubbed with Black Gold Garlic.

I walk into the dining room and people want to say hello. Theyre really liking it!

Do you see customers who remember you from your previous time in San Antonio?

Absolutely. I get compliments about Watermark Grill, Las Canarias, Brasserie Pavil, Pesca  all of them. They were all successes in their own right. Sometimes restaurants are like Broadway shows. They have their start and they finish. Some of them start, finish and go on, like Las Canarias, and then someone else comes in and they get to drive the boat.

But you come to a place like this  Tapatio has been here for so many years. They have loyal people who just love to come out here. Just like when I was at Las Canarias. Put a little love in, and people will appreciate it. And thats what I think were going to do here. Were going to show our passion and excitement for what we do and everybody will be receptive.

So what kind of adjustment has it been getting back into cooking?

I was an executive chef 20 years. Thats a long time. What teaching did was made me an even better cook. A lot of people underestimate what it takes to teach. Teaching isnt something you do because its easy. You do it because you have a passion for it.

If you want to be a great teacher, you have to inspire.

I looked at the back of my cookbook. When I saw all the guys who worked with me, I started getting a little weepy. Theyre all executive chefs now. One of the reasons why I do what I do is to inspire people to be great culinarians. This is what I do.

etijerina@express-news.net

@etij
'Beyond the Box': U.S. Wants Colleges to Delay Conviction Questions

We're always worried about what can end up on our permanent record, and criminal conviction once doomed college and job applicants. But that could be slowly changing. Some states are encouraging employers who hire felons, and some schools are no longer including criminal conviction questions on their applications.

Now the Obama administration is asking colleges to put off asking applicants about their criminal records until schools have made their admissions decisions. So does this mean it will be easier to get into college with a criminal conviction on your record?

"Dear Colleague"

Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. sent a set of recommendations to universities and colleges in what's known as a "Dear Colleague" letter. Included was a guide, entitled "Beyond the Box: Increasing Access to Higher Education for Justice Involved Individuals," that urged colleges to delay questions about criminal records until after they make the decision on whether to admit the applicant.

But that decision may not always be up to individual schools. Over 500 colleges and universities use the Common Application, which allows applicants to fill out one form to be used for all of their applications. The Common Application still asks students whether they've been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor, but the company is considering revising or removing the question.

On the Record

King's letter noted that around 70 million Americans have some form of criminal record, and that "[y]oung people and adults that have been involved with the criminal justice system -- whether they have been arrested but not convicted, convicted but never incarcerated, or are formerly incarcerated -- continue to face significant hurdles in obtaining access to higher education or career training."

As such, the "Beyond the Box" guide urges schools to rethink their approach to criminal histories and give justice-involved students a second chance. Colleges may not disregard criminal records now, but hopefully they won't be make-or-break admissions decisions in the future.

Related Resources:
DALLAS  On the day before Texas Republicans were poised to open their biennial convention, where delegates will pick the hottest issues they believe their Red State government should address, longtime party member Bert Keller quickly ticked off his top five.

He would empower conservative, Christian principles in government; abolish firearms licenses; secure the border; cut taxes; and limit access to public restrooms for transgender people.

Talk is cheap. Its time for action, said the Dallas family business owner and tea party activist, who said he plans to vote his conscience as an alternate delegate at the statewide meeting. This party represents the real grass roots, and thats what the grass roots want: action.

A few steps away, Houstonian Jeanette Porter, wearing a red jacket and GOP scarf, shook her head.

Standing up for conservative values is one thing. Crazy issues are another, she said, arguing briefly with Keller on the gun-license and restroom issues. I vote to get away from the people who have been sniffing paint.

Even as delegates still are wallowing in disappointment from the withdrawal of conservative hero Sen. Ted Cruz from the presidential race, more than 7,000 Republicans will convene for three days in Big D to determine just what they want  and what they want their party to be in the years ahead.

They also are expected to approve conservative delegates to send to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer with the aim of adopting a platform that represents their values and to send a message to Donald Trump to restrain himself from any liberal pronouncements and positions.

To some, the states Grand Old Party appears a bit fractured in its focus, as the ultraconservative tea party influence becomes the mainstream and as party leaders seek to retain their hold on Texas politics, even as shifting national trends suggest that some of the GOPs hard-line issues on immigration, same-sex marriage and voter ID may not be playing as well as they once did.

Examples abound.

While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton have blasted transgender restroom mandates in recent days to the applause of many Republicans, others see little urgency in the issue.

While Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing a national campaign for a Convention of States to reframe the U.S. Constitution to give states more power over the federal government, tea party factions argue Abbotts plan would needlessly risk a disastrous liberal rewrite.

Even though it stands no chance of approval, the issue of whether Texas should secede from the United States, a plank that some activists want in the state partys platform, appears set to get a hearing before the full convention.

While a likely majority of delegates still prefer Cruz to Trump as the presidential nominee, party leaders are gently pressing for Republicans to vote for Trump in November, lest Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, win the White House because too many GOP voters decide to stay home.

This is where everyone can express their opinion, and then we decide which positions to adopt, said Reyna Gonzales of Houston, a convention hall vendor who is a member of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, a group that carries tremendous clout in party affairs.

And just as the convention promises to be the big show in Texas politics, owing to Republican control of statewide leadership posts for two decades, so, too, will the recently ended campaign battle between Cruz and Trump be a key subplot for the party faithful.

Cruz is expected to get a heros welcome when he addresses the convention Saturday. So far, he has not endorsed Trump, even though other officials including former Gov. Rick Perry and Abbott have done so.

While state party officials quietly press for Trump support, begrudging delegates acknowledge they likely will go along rather than sit out the November election and hand the presidency to Clinton.

Abbott is slated to open the convention with a keynote speech on Thursday, followed quickly by Patrick and by Paxton, whose attorneys will be in court a few blocks away arguing that a pending criminal charges of securities fraud against him should be dismissed.

Amid the colorful pomp, GOP faithful view any disagreements aired in Dallas as passing issues and insist that Texas Republicans will leave town on Saturday united  unlike the national convention this summer in Cleveland, which many conventioneers agree could turn into a public fight over control of the party.

What a lot of people dont understand, when they think the Republicans are talking about crazy things, is that were the party of inclusion, the party of transparent discussion, that listens to all views, said Dick Palmer, a Dallas Republican.

mike.ward@chron.com

twitter.com/ChronicleMike
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WASHINGTON  Donald Trump declared Wednesday he doesnt need support from House Speaker Paul Ryan or other leery Republican leaders, brushing off his Capitol Hill critics even as he prepared to sit down with them.

His defiant message came amid new signs that he might be right, with GOP voters becoming more willing to embrace the New York billionaire.

If we make a deal, that will be great, Trump told the Fox News Channel when asked about todays meeting with Ryan, who has so far refused to endorse him. And if we dont, we will trudge forward like Ive been doing and winning all the time.

Trumps allies echoed his contention that he can claim the White House with or without leading congressional Republicans, who continue to express reservations about his tone and inconsistent policy prescriptions. Their public differences are overshadowing prospective voters movement toward Trump and his own efforts to broaden his appeal as the general election campaign takes shape.

His likely November opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, still has Sen. Bernie Sanders opposing her for her partys nomination. But she all but ignored him Wednesday as she campaigned in Blackwood, New Jersey.

She focused instead on Trumps statement this week that he doesnt plan to release his tax returns until an ongoing audit is completed. Should Trump not release his returns before the November election, it would mark a break from precedent for presidential nominees.

So youve got to ask yourself why doesnt he want to release it? Yeah, well, were going to find out, Clinton told supporters.

Meanwhile, more Republican voters appear to be moving behind Trump, despite big-name holdouts such as Ryan, both former president Bushes and the partys 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney.

Almost two in three Republican-leaning voters now view Trump favorably, compared with 31 percent who view him unfavorably, according to a national Gallup Poll taken last week. The numbers represent a near reversal from Gallups survey in early March.

Despite the contentious primary process, the party is healing itself and scabbing over, Republican pollster Greg Strimple said.

Ryan insisted Wednesday that Republican Party unity is paramount, even if hes not yet willing to endorse the GOPs presumptive presidential nominee.

What were trying to do is be as constructive as possible and have a real unification, Ryan said at a Capitol Hill news conference. We have to be at full strength to win this election.

Trump is to meet with Republican leaders this morning at the Republican National Committee headquarters. The private meetings represent his first tangible steps toward repairing his strained relationships with the nations most powerful elected Republicans.

While todays meetings may highlight party divisions, Trumps team sees them as a win-win.

Theyd like to secure Ryans support but believe that signs of continued opposition from congressional Republicans would simply reinforce his outsider appeal. Additionally, Trumps team doesnt believe Ryan or the GOPs other congressional leaders have any significant influence on the majority of general election voters.

Donald Trump is unifying the party already, said Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trumps chief Washington ally. The party is the people who vote.
FORT WORTH  Ethan Couch, Tarrant Countys most notorious teenager, was officially sentenced Wednesday to 720 days in Tarrant County Jail for violating his juvenile probation for a fatal 2013 drunken-driving crash.

State District Judge Wayne Salvant signed the order, technically dismissing an appeal from Couch and effectively ending this phase of the judicial process.

Couch, 19, was ordered to serve four consecutive 180-day jail sentences for each of the four people killed in the crash.

On April 13, Salvant ordered a preliminary sentence of 720 days, the most time allowable under state law. Salvant said then that he might reconsider the punishment, but his order Wednesday reaffirmed it and he canceled further hearings, according to court documents.

Couch, who gained notoriety as the affluenza teen  because of his defense that he had been coddled by affluent parents  had been scheduled to appear in Salvants court Monday.

As a juvenile, Couch had been sentenced to 10 years probation with certain requirements, including substance abuse rehabilitation. He spent more than a year in rehab and treatment with the state picking up most of the $200,000 tab, according to court documents.

In December, while on juvenile probation, Couch skipped a probation appointment after a video surfaced of him with people playing beer pong.

He and his mother, Tonya Couch, fled to Mexico for nearly a month and were captured in Puerto Vallarta. Tonya Couch, who has not been indicted, faces a felony charge of hindering apprehension.

On April 11, when he turned 19, Couchs case was transferred to the adult court system and into Salvants court.

Earlier Wednesday, the president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving posted an open letter on MADDs website, urging Salvant to stick to his initial decision on jail time. After Salvant ruled, MADD put out another statement.

After years of heartbreak, this is a small victory. But we can never say that we won. No one ever wins in drunk driving crashes. No one can win when someone kills or injuries innocent people, MADD national President Colleen Sheehey-Church wrote.
Federal Regulators Block Staples and Office Depot Merger

A federal judge this week granted a request from trade regulators, halting a merger between office supply giants Staples and Office Depot to prevent a monopoly. This is the second time that the Federal Trade Commission has blocked consolidation of these two companies and the office suppliers announced that they will not appeal the ruling.

The blocked merger is likely to save hundreds of jobs for Staples workers in Boca Raton, Florida, reports the Florida Sun Sentinel. But not everyone responded positively to the government intervention, and stocks for both Staples and Office Depot reportedly dropped after the announcement that they are scrapping the $6 billion merger.

Regulating the Markets

Wall Street trader types like to say that the free market has a logic of its own, which ensures that supply and demand are met, that prices are fair, and that no single entity controls any industry. In order to ensure that the market's logic does not lead to monopolies, however, federal regulators review proposed mergers of industry influencers to ensure that consolidation of power will not impede competition.

In fact, the free market is highly regulated and the logic of the government is often imposed on it to protect consumers. The ruling this week explains why competition matters to regulators. The short version is that it keeps prices down. "The Court finds that ... the proposed merger will substantially impair competition in the sale and distribution of consumable office supplies to large business-to-business customers," says the ruling.

The Parties Respond

Debbie Feinstein, the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition director, reacted enthusiastically to the ruling, which she called "great news for business customers in the office-supply market." Feinstein said, "The deal would eliminate head-to-head competition between Staples and Office Depot and likely lead to higher prices and lower quality of service for large businesses that buy office supplies."

Office Depot CEO Roland Smith disagreed with Feinstein's assessment and defended the merger while admitting that he would not pursue an appeal. Smith said the company is "disappointed by this outcome and strongly believes that a merger would have benefited all of our customers in the long term."

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(Read last months Letting Off Some Steam here.)

I finally got some new material in the mail that has informed and inspired me.

I mentioned before that Im a member of the British Traction Engine Trust. They have a considerable list of publications in each issue of Steaming Magazine.

After I rejoined last fall, I went hog wild and ordered some $75 worth of publications. One of those is called The European Traction Engine Register 4th edition. We could argue with the name a bit since a great majority of the steam engines listed are portables, rollers and steam fire enginesBut why quibble?

It was compiled by David Afitt, Derek Rayner and John Toy and inspired by the Traction Engine Register that covers British collections. In their introduction, they summarize there are some 2,900 entries covering 280 makes, 570 museums and 37 countries.

The authors took license in their layout with an expanded list of abbreviations and symbols that make the reader look up details rather often, even if we are familiar with steam power.

If you have read any of the American catalogs which are widely reprinted, you may have noticed that many of the companies talk at length about exports.

I was rather surprised, though, to see many American traction engines listed and at least 25 Stanley Steam Cars, plus some American Steam Cars that I did not recognize. Also, there were about eight Locomobile Steam Cars which, as you may know, were only built for some three years from 1899-1901. As one might in such an endeavor, some data is incomplete, especially dates.

Many domestic makes consume most pages, especially French and Swedish. Munktells lists 142 portables and five traction engines in the section on Sweden.

Ill go country by country below and highlight especially the American listings. As we also would expect, many British engines have found their way to the continent and several Canadian engines.

I would not say the book is lavishly illustrated but there are quite a few pictures and the quality is high. One eye-catcher is a full page shot of a 1910 Aultman Taylor traction engine at the Museum in Istanbul.

Overleaf from that is a picture of a French Gardner  Serpollet steam race car which has the operator sitting quite high and in the open on top of a streamlined body.

Several of the Garener-Serpollet cars are listed also.

Austria

The first country is Austria, where we find a 1909 Case 18 HP traction engine, three Fowler Rollers from England, three Lanz portables out of Germany, a 1900 Locomobile car and a 1922 Stanley model 73.

Belgium is next with two Buffalo-Pitts traction engines of 1882 and 1893, a Buffalo-Springfield Roller of an unknown date, a 1922 Frick portable, a 1917 Garr-Scott Traction, 1903 Geiser traction, a Huber traction no date, a 1900 Locomobile and 1900 Milwaukee steam car, 1926 Port Huron traction, 1903 Reeves Traction of 13 HP, an 1899 Skene steam car, six Stanleys from 1908-1921 and a Toledo steam car.

Bulgaria shows a 13 HP Garr Scott traction engine of unknown date. For Czech Republic is a 1913 Case 60 HP traction engine, one of the Garnder-Serpollet cars, a Locomobile car from 1902, a Stanley of unknown date and a 1904 White steam car.

Next is a list of 22 Smekal Czech-built steam fire engines, 1892 to 1912. Denmark lists a 1902 Conrad Steam car, three Stanleys, 1919, 1919 and 1921, and a Canadian Waterloo traction of 1903. Four Museums are in Denmark.

Alphabetically next is Estonia. No American engines listed, but a number of portable engines from Britain and Germany and four museums.

Finland

Finland has a 1915 Geiser/EB traction Type TT. Next page made me stop and wind my watch where it lists two Phoenix traction engines from the U.S.A.

Aultman Phoenix engines are very scarce but these are both listed as 100 brake horsepower. The index in the back of the book shows them as coming from Eau Clare, Wisconsin, so, they are Phoenix log tractors.

I wonder how much we used them in the Finnish Forests and what shape they are in.

Next page lists 42 portables made in Finland and 18 museums in Finland. France was one country that had industry of its own, so the first page of their section lists some 24 Rollers by Aillot and Albaret.

Page two shows, among others, a Canadian Robert Bell traction with no date, and finishes with five Case listed as 40 HP, 50 HP, 30 HP and a 20 HP portable with a note that the second unit was converted to diesel. Only the first has a date and it is 1914.

Part way down the next page is listed Cugnots Steam Dray of 1770, the second steam vehicle ever built in the world, held by a museum in Paris.

The next page starts with nine of The Gardner-Serpollet domestic Steam Cars. Further is a Harrison Machine Works portable from the USA  no data  and on the next page another Locomobile car  no date.

Page 23 shows a Milwaukee steam car from 1900, a 20 HP Minneapolis traction and two Nichols and Shepard, a traction showing as 16-60 HP and a portable with no data.

Page 28 shows a 1918 Port Huron traction of 19-65 size then a list of domestics followed by four Stanleys, 1906 model H, 1910 Model 60, 1921 and 1922  both Model 735.

The last page lists a Waterloo Canadian traction engine with no other data and a 1909 White car model O. France lists some 43 Museums.

Germany

The Germany section starts with 36 semi-portables and one portable by domestic firm Assmann & Stockder. Page 33 shows a Buffalo-Pitts traction and a 1922 Case Traction 65 HP size and a portable with no data.

On page 36, among mostly domestic and some British engines, is a 1924 Keck Gonnerman traction, no size listed. Page 37 lists a full half page of Lanz domestic portables and semi-portables, followed by another page and a half of the same with a couple tractions thrown into the mix.

Page 31 shows a 1901 Locomobile listed as a four horse. Page 40 shows two steam cars that are new to me  a 1900 Mobile and a Reading Steamer of 1903. Further on is a Rumley traction engine with no data.

The next page shows seven Stanleys from 1902-1924, various models followed down the page by a Waltham steam car and then a White Model OO of 1910.

Following those is a page and a half of domestic Wolf engines of portable and semi-portable configuration. Lastly, we find some 64 museums listed.

Greece and Hungary

Greece comes next with a mix of British and German engines but nothing American.

In the Hungary listings, we find a 50 Case with no other data, then on page 47 three traction engines, a Minneapolis and a Port Huron with no data, and a Russell of 1920.

Then a list of seven museums, three of which are shown in Budapest. Icelands lone entry is a 1912 Aveling and Porter Roller which is, of course, British.

Italy

Italy has a very widely mixed presentation starting with two advance traction engines out of Michigan but no data. Two advance Rumleys are next, a 20 and a 25 HP, but no dates, and a 22 HP American Abell from Canada.

Various domestic and British engines fill the next couple pages, then on page 50 are four Case engines, a 1904 twenty horse traction, a 1912 40 horse and another traction with no numbers and a portable of 30 HP.

Ten or so lines down are two Farquhar Portables with no data, then, at mid-page a 1923 Frick Portable listed as 48 HP and a Garr-Scott traction with no numbers.

Next page includes a 16 HP Huber from 1906 and a 1934 Keck Gonnerman at 19 HP. Page 52 shows two 1900 Locomobile steam cars then a list of Marshalls from Britain, starting at 1887.

Page 53 shows a Nichols and Shepard 20-70 HP and another 19-65Port Huron traction, and an assortment of other engines. Then an odd one  a 1902 Reeves shown as being converted to a crawler using part of the boiler from a Breda RR engine. I wonder what that looks like?

Page 54 is topped by a 25 horse Rumley and 1916 Russell of 12 HP. Half way down on pg 55 my eye stopped on a Tozer Portable built in Columbia, South Carolina at 12 HP.

I saw a very similar engine at the museum in Wetaskewin, Alberta, Canada when they hosted the summer show of HCEA a few years ago.

Further down are a George White Canadian traction of 1907 and another White Steam car, model OO of 1910. A list of 18 museums closes out the Italian material.

Other countries

On page 56, Kosovo lists five portables, nothing American. Latvia finishes page 56 with a mixture of equipment and finishes on page 58 with three portables and a fire engine, then a list of four museums.

Liechtenstein is also on page 58, with a 1911 Stanley Steamer, Model 62. Lithuania has 11 entries, one of which includes a 1921 Port Huron Portable, and three museums.

Luxembourg shows eight entries, one of which is a 1915 Cae 65 HP. Three museums finish the listing. Malta is next with three Marshall portables.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands material starts with an Advance Rumley Traction  no data  and a 1908 American LaFrance steam Fire engine. Page 61 lists four tractions from Case, 1910, 1914, and two 1909s, and two portables with no data.

Page 62 includes a 1911 Kelly-Springfield tandem roller and a 1903 Locomobile. The next page has a 1911 Minneapolis traction of 18 HP and a very nice photo of a British Merryweather vertical-boilered fire engine.

Page 65 shows four Canadian Sawyer-Massey traction engines, 1905-1919 at 13 HP and two at 20-60 HP, and further down no less than eight Stanley cars from 1906 1923 in various models.

The last page includes a 1912 Waterous roller from Canada and a 1904 Canadian George White traction, followed by three identical 1904 White cars, all model D 10 HP, then a list of seven Netherlands museums.

Norway

Norways listing is a bit short and contains but one American machine, a Buffalo-Springfield roller with no data, but noted as a convertible to traction engine form. Most of the rest are portables followed by eight museums.

Poland

The listings for Poland cover several pages and include a 1913 Frick traction, a Goodison Canadian traction with no data, and another Stanley Car, then a George White traction from 1910.

The Portugal listing has nothing American on two full pages but finishes with five Museums.

The only interesting item for Romania is another Gardner-Serpollet car from 1895 and four museums.

Russia

Russia shows a Canadian Rober Bell portable noted as being converted from a Traction engine, then an American Clapp and Jones Steam Fire engine, and about a dozen miscellaneous engines and five museums.

Serbia items cover about a page with no American machines and three Museums. Slovakias entries include a 1922 Stanley model 740 and again three Museums. Slovenia has but half a page, nothing American and two Museums.

Spain and Sweden

Spains listings are a bit more extensive and include an American-Abell with no data, a 1910 Case 60 HP traction, an Iroquois tandem roller, an 1899 Locomobile car, two Russell traction engines with no details, two Stanleys  a 1910 model 60 and 1911 model 63  and nine museums.

Sweden is a much more extensive section, some six pages and listing 21 museums. American machinery includes a 1919 Advance-Rumley traction of 20 HP, a 1909 Avery traction of 30 HP.

Next, we see three Case traction engines: 1903 six HP, 1904 nine HP, and 1914 40 HP. Then Farquhar of 1900, a forty horse portable.

Next American unit is a Clark portable with no data. Where is this one from? The index of engines says Mexico, New York, and my atlas shows that east of the Lake, north of Syracuse.

Next are two Huber tractions, an eight HP of 1893 and a 16 HP of 1917. Then three more Locomobile cars, 1899, 1900 and 1902

Page 87 lists some 37 Ludwigsberg Swedish built Steam Fire engines with the note that many of them are in the custody of the local fire brigades.

Next we have a Mobile steam car from the USA. The index shows an origin in Tarrytown, New York.

The next three pages are filled with Swedish-built Munktells Engines. 142 Portables and five Traction.

Next American entry is a Nichols Steam Fire engine that the index shows is from Burlington, Vermont. Then a 1918 Nichols and Shepard traction of 20-70 HP.

Middle of the next page (91) lists four more Stanleys, a 1903, 1907 Model ET, 1924 Model 740 and one more with no data.

Lastly, for Sweden, we find two Westinghouse traction engines, both 1913, a 15 HP and a 12 HP  both in Gotene, probably in a museum.

Switzerland

Switzerland starts off with 21 Aveling and Porter British rollers then a 1900 Locomobile steam car Style 2.

Two Stanleys, 1902 Model A and 1905 model E, and a Whitney Car, Style B. Finishing with 26 German built Zettelmeyer Rollers and 7 museums.

The only domestic built machines are an 1891 Sulzer semi-portable and an 1877 Steam car called Thury-Nussberger and three rollers, a steam tricycle and a semi-portabe engine by Schweizerische Locomotive and Maschinenfabrik.

Turkey

Turkey shows the 1910 Aultman-Taylor traction with a beautiful picture of a fine restoration mentioned above, 20 HP and a Nichols and Shepard traction with no data, and an 1898 Malden car. All these are listed in Istanbul, so we presume they are held at the museum called Rahmi. M. Koc.

The final country listed is Ukraine with a Kemna (German) ploughing engine and three portables with no data and one museum.
BURTON, Ohio  The Flockmasters 4-H Club made pillowcases for 10 travel-size pillows which were donated to the Geauga County Job and Family Services foster care program. The pillows will be used for children who are entering foster care. Children are also provided bags containing personal hygiene items, activities, and a blanket to help make them a little more comfortable.

  

BROWNSVILLE, Pa.  Washington County 4-H Clubs collected 9,567 pounds of food and supplies from 19 clubs, April 9, for the Washington County Food Bank. They collected canned goods, cleaning products and other food items. Don Carter from the Washington Farm Bureau and Heidi Hoffman, donor relations coordinator of the Greater Washington County Food Bank volunteered that day to oversee the donations and weigh in food and supplies.

For more information about the Washington County 4-H program, contact Pamela L. Paletta at plp3@psu.edu or call 724-228-6881.

  

CANFIELD, Ohio  The Mahoning County Capriculturists met April 25 to discuss upcoming events. Goat day is May 15, at 1 p.m., and will feature a handling clinic followed by educational exhibits that will be open to the public. There will be a Fun Show and Kinder Show June 11 at the Junior Fair Complex. Safety demonstrations and a group activtiy on goat health concluded the meeting. The next Capriculturists meeting will be May 23.

  

CHARDON, Ohio  The Geauga Dairymen club met April 10 at a club members house were they discussed upcoming events and members presented their demonstrations. The club participated in Dairy Palooza April 30. Members who participated in the event do not need to attend quality insurance. All other members must take the quality insurance May 14.

Interviews for Geauga County Fair King and Queen will take place July 9. Resumes should be sent into the fair board prior to this date to be considered.

For a fundraiser, the club will be selling Malleys candy bars for a $1 and a car wash will be held May 14 from 1-4 p.m.

The next meeting will be May 22. For more information about the Geauga Dairymen 4-H group, call Emma Niehus at 440-221-3812.

  

NORTH LIMA, Ohio  The Pinelakers 4-H Club, Mahoning County, met April 28.

The meeting included signing up for Streetscape, a community service project in Youngstown June 4. The club also ordered project books and club T-shirts. The annual family camping trip will be in August, and the club will sell Handels Ice Cream pint cards for a fundraiser. The Pinelakers will be putting together a booth for the Canfield Fair and volunteers are needed to work Friday morning of the fair in the Pop Shop. Members discussed a possible scholarship for students that volunteer in the Pop Shop for three years and complete a set number of hours.

The Pinelakers did a service project for nursing home residents by making cupcake liner carnations in a small flower pot.

The officer team includes: Mike Robeson, president; Natalie Delsignore, vice president; Katelyn Ryan, treasurer; Nick Perry, secretary; Hannah Smith Murphy, news reporter; Zoie McCartney, recreation leader; and Bailey Ryan, health and safety reporter. For more information contact Justin Perry at 330-831-4934 or jperrypt@yahoo.com.
Discrimination in the Workplace: Veteran AP Editor Sues Newswire

The Associated Press is used to making headlines, but not with its own name. But last week a bunch of other news organizations reported that the wire made news with a lawsuit filed against it by a longtime AP staff member alleging race, gender, and age discrimination. Ironically, Sonya Ross, the plaintiff, is a Race and Ethnicity Editor.

Ross has been at the AP for three decades and she is a veteran reporter with impressive credentials. She argues in her suit, however, that since 2008 she has been discriminated against, denied promotions, and worked in a hostile environment. Ross says that the hostility has worsened since she cooperated with federal authorities on an investigation of racial discrimination at the DC bureau.

Keeping Quiet

Ross joined the AP as an intern in 1986 and was the first black woman named to the White House Correspondents Pool in 1999. She states in her suit that troubles at work began with the hiring of a new DC Bureau Chief in 2008, at which point she was pulled from assignments and generally mistreated, including being berated in front of her reporters.

Although this editor left in 2010, in the lawsuit Ross alleges discrimination continued after his departure and was exacerbated when she spoke to federal labor authorities openly during an audit of the AP's Washington DC office. It seems, based on the wording of her filing, that Ross triggered this audit with her complaints, and won no new friends at work as a result.

"Ms. Ross has continued to work at AP under conditions that have been extremely stressful and humiliating," the suit reads. "She senses antipathy toward her on AP's part, and believes AP wants to destroy her credibility in the media industry in retaliation for her complaints about her former boss, and for triggering the investigation that led to this finding of discrimination by the federal Department of Labor."

The Auditors Conclude

The Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance earlier this year concluded that AP had "allowed, and tolerated, a climate of hostility toward African American employees." Ross's suit likely relies on this finding.

The AP has not responded, which is another ironic aspect of this case. The organization that seeks comment from everyone on everything has declined to speak to reporters about this matter. Meanwhile, the longtime journalist, Ross, has referred the media to her lawyers.

She seeks compensation for the money she alleges she lost as a result of the discrimination and a new job "consistent with her experience and training." Ross does seem to have a point there. What is a Race and Ethnicity Editor anyway, and is there any way for that not to seem like a strange role and title? She did not get her chops covering people's origins and identities but covering the US President, one of the most prestigious positions in American journalism, and her career does appear to have taken an unusual turn.

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If you're in business and concerned about employee lawsuits, speak to a lawyer about preventive measures. Get guidance in all aspects of business operations and stop trouble before it starts. For businesses, unlike for celebrities, not all news is good news, and you don't want to find yourself in the headlines for discriminatory policies.

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The CLA has warned that work to offset the environmental impact of HS2 Phase 2 will waste taxpayers money and harm small rural businesses.

The organisation broadcasts the warnings only if HS2 doesn't deliver the anticipated environmental benefits.

HS2 Ltd must work with rural landowners to identify the right plots of land to compulsorily purchase for environmental mitigation.

The CLA represents 33,000 landowners, farmers and rural businesses, including many of the individual rural landowners affected by HS2.

It is calling on HS2 Ltd to recognise that environmental mitigation work will have greater benefits on sites with supportive features  such as connections with existing wildlife corridors  rather than on land that is arbitrarily allocated because it is right next to the railway line, regardless of its features or agricultural productivity.

The message was set out in the CLAs response to a Government consultation on assessing the environmental impact of HS2 Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe), ahead of the intended introduction of a hybrid Bill to Parliament in 2017.

Most suitable environmental mitigation sites

CLA President Ross Murray said: "Rather than arbitrarily allocating land right next to the railway line, regardless of its features or agricultural productivity, creating new habitats for wildlife is more likely to be successful on land that is well connected with existing wildlife corridors.

"Similarly the benefits of planting trees can be greater when the trees add to an established woodland.

"We are calling on HS2 Ltd to work with landowners at an early stage of the process to identify the most suitable environmental mitigation sites so that taxpayers money can be better spent and a lot of additional stress and heartache can be avoided for the landowners.

"Government and HS2 Ltd have an opportunity here to learn from mistakes made during Phase 1, not least when it comes to the compulsory purchase of land to offset environmental impact.

"It should be common sense for HS2 Ltd to work with those that know the local land the best  those that own and manage it  to identify which parcels of land will allow the greatest benefits for the environment and wildlife while minimising the disruption to the business that is losing it."
Concerns about the sale of county farms has prompted Defra Minister George Eustice to call for discussions about how new entrants to the industry can be better served.

"There has been concern about those, particularly in Herefordshire, which prompted me to set up some discussions," said Eustice.

"We cannot block them from selling those assetsthey have a statutory right to do thatbut we have a role to play in working with them on any plans for reorganisation of their county farms.

"That is why I am keen to have discussions with them about how we can try to refresh the model and make it a real option for new entrants to the industry."

Eustice said there were some interesting models that enable new entrants, who perhaps do not have capital behind them, to get access and set up a new business.

The Defra Minister cited an example of a large pig producing company which uses franchise farmers, who run the unit for a fee.

"That is a great way to give young people who want to farm, but have no capital behind them, the first stepping stone into the industry.

"It is also a model that can lead to better knowledge transfer and access to technology."

"We think about the future of farming in this country, we perhaps need to move beyond the traditional notion of tenancies and land ownership and look at some of those other, more creative models, which may actually have far more promise for new people trying to get into the industry."

'Availability of land'

The availability of land for purchase or rent is the most difficult challenge young farmers face.

The report, published by the European Commission this week, identified issues such as land ownership laws, inheritance rules and land prices as some of the main hurdles young farmers face.

Following extensive interviews with more than 2,200 young farmers across the EU in order to identify the main challenges faced in each Member State, the report shows that access to credits and subsidies are also perceived as difficult by more than one third of young farmers.

There is relatively little difference on these issues between young farmers in the EU-15 and those in the EU-13, but for questions such as access to qualified labour, seasonal workers and machinery, there is clearly a stronger problem perceived by young farmers in the new Member States.

This study also indicates that young farmers do not consider knowledge acquisition as a crucial element for successful farming.

In their opinion, knowledge and lessons can easily be available and therefore the respective need is perceived in a less prominent way than other needs.
The EU and the Mercosur alliance on Wednesday (11 May) exchanged offers on access to their respective markets of goods, services and establishment and government procurement.

However this first exchange excluded 'sensitive' items such as beef and ethanol, according to EU sources. The details of the documents exchanged were not made public.

This is the first exchange of offers since 2004, and a necessary step to move the negotiating process forward. Both sides will now examine in more detail the offers.

Both sides remain fully committed to this negotiation, in view of the important economic and political gains expected for both sides from a comprehensive, ambitious and balanced EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, said a joint release.

Trade blocs in Latin America

Farming co-operative Copa & Cogeca have opposed the EUs offer on agriculture in free trade talks with Latin American Trade bloc Mercosur, warning it will open up the EUs markets to imports without getting much in return.

Speaking after the offers were exchanged, Copa & Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said: "Despite warnings from 20 EU Ministers against making an offer on agriculture which includes sensitive agriculture products in the free trade talks, the Commission has gone ahead with the move.

"Some changes were made to the EUs initial offer but its not enough for us".

"In particular, I am extremely disappointed that the offer still includes sensitive agriculture products which could destroy our agriculture sector before any clarification was done in terms of removing red tape and other unnecessary non-tariff barriers to trade which stop our exports from entering these countries.

"Also the Commission failed to carry out an impact assessment which it promised to do", Pesonen said.

He went on to explain that the EU agriculture sector is already in a serious state of crisis and studies show that the EU agri-sector risks losing another 7 billion euros from such a deal.

"Moreover, Mercosur is already a major exporter of agri-commodities to the EU, with 86% of our beef imports and 70% of our poultry meat imports coming from these countries.

"They therefore do not need extra quotas tariff free to increase their trade to the EU, also as little of our beef is let into their countries.

"Furthermore, these imports do not meet the EUs high environmental and quality standards and there are still concerns about safety aspects of meat production in these countries such as traceability and the use of antibiotic growth promoters.

"We need to ensure that our production standards are respected and there has been no talk on this yet," added Pesonen.

Beef is 'off the menu'

A trade deal with the Mercosur bloc would have seen 78,000 tonnes of non-tariff beef imported into the EU, from countries such as Argentina and Brazil.

At a meeting with NFU Cymru, Commissioner Hogan said that South American beef would be off the menu and would be withdrawn from negotiations with the Mercosur trading bloc.

In recent months, farming unions across the UK have been lobbying the Commission directly on this issue with the NFU team in Brussels, highlighting the potential damaging impact that this deal could have on specialist beef production in Wales.

NFU Cymru President, Stephen James said: "The announcement from Commissioner Hogan is reassuring for the Welsh beef sector.

"NFU Cymru has had major concerns with regard to the impact that nearly 80,000 tonnes of additional non-tariff beef would have on beef prices across the EU.

"In Wales we pride ourselves on the production of high quality beef produced to world leading standards and we were concerned that this was going to be undermined by a flood of imports that may not have been produced to the same standards."
Organisations from the farming industry have this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding to adopt good practice in communications.

NFU Scotland has created a Best Practice in Communications Guide, which sets out the measures it has taken to improve its communications for members on the back of its successful Farming with Dyslexia campaign.

Now others within the industry are being encouraged to get on board and review their practices to make their communications as accessible as possible.

At the first meeting of 2016 of the Farming With Dyslexia Working Group, seven stakeholders signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commit to review documents and other communications such as websites, telephone calls and meetings to ensure they are dyslexia-friendly.

This includes: NFU Scotland, Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division, Forestry Commission, Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, Crofting Commission, Scotlands Rural College and RSABI.

Over the last 18 months NFU Scotland has reviewed its communications and house style following liaison with Dyslexia Scotland, and has delivered training for staff to make documents dyslexia-friendly and more accessible for all its members.

Need to simplify written and verbal communications

Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotlands Vice President commented: "With agriculture and other land-based industries being characterised by form-filling and increasing amounts of paperwork, it was identified that there was a need to simplify written and verbal communications.

"It is important that documents and other aspects of working life, such as meetings, are made more accessible for dyslexic farmers, crofters, and rural workers.

"The Best Practice Guide in Communications fulfils two of the campaigns three core aims, which are to ensure measures to recognise dyslexia among the farming community are in place, and to ensure systems of communication are more accessible for dyslexic farmers and crofters with a choice of delivery options.

"It is hoped that the Best Practice Guide in Communications will encourage wider stakeholder groups working in the agricultural and rural industries to adopt similar principles of good practice in communications with their respective members and associates. The Memorandum of Understanding reflects this aspiration."

More dyslexia-friendly

David Barnes, Chief Agricultural Officer, Scottish Government said: "We welcome the opportunity to formally sign NFU Scotlands Memorandum of Understanding which demonstrates our continued commitment to making our communications accessible to all, including those with dyslexia.

"We have already made good progress in developing our communications and identifying ways in which we can be more dyslexia-friendly, for example developing a style guide for written communications. We want to make our Rural Payments and Services website accessible to all.

"We will provide dyslexia awareness training to our Rural Payments and Inspections Division staff later this year, and are working with Dyslexia Scotland and NFUS to improve our written documents and publications. We have already produced information videos and visuals for staff and customers.

"We have also enhanced the customer support available in our local area offices. Our customers can schedule an appointment with a member of our staff and receive one-to-one help with using our online services.
A group of Innovative Farmers in Herefordshire have found that Shropshire sheep did not damage apple trees when grazed in an orchard.

Sheep would normally devastate the apple trees but this breed has been found instead to bring many benefits.

Through the field lab at Broome Farm, Peterstow in Hereford, a group of farmers found that sheep can help with tree management, weed control and soil health.

Sheep Field Lab - Orchard Broome Farm

Mike Johnson of Broome Farm, who grows apples for cider production, said: "Through the field lab I wanted to find out what sheep can do to keep lower branches pruned without causing major damage to the trees.

"We struggle to prune the suckers growing at the base of trees (and its expensive!), but it seems that the sheep nibble these shoots down, meaning our workload is reduced and we save money!"

Innovative Farmers is a national network run by farmers for farmers, to investigate solutions to every day practical farming problems.

Through the network, orchard owner Mike Johnson linked up with other farmers in the Hereford area.

Sheep grazing in the orchard

The Soil Association, a partner in Innovative Farmers, helped find experts and advisors to lead the group, including researcher Emily Durrant from the Bulmer Foundation and Liz Bowles from the Soil Association, enabling Mike and the other local farmers conduct a more structured observation as part of the field lab in his orchard.

Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association is co-ordinating the field lab. She said: "Sheep are excellent natural lawnmowers, keeping grass and weeds down and providing fertiliser at the same time.

"Using sheep to reduce competition from grass instead of spraying or mowing helps orchard owners reduce the work required in the orchard, improve the soil health and reduce soil compaction."

As well as showing that the Shropshire sheep did not harm the trees, the group were able to monitor other benefits of grazing sheep in the orchard.

The importance of minimising soil compaction due to reduced passing of machinery in the orchard and building soil fertility by grazing sheep in the area was noted.

Beneficial soil organisms, such as mycorrhiza which are important to plant health and growth, should also be present where soil is not disturbed for significant periods  such as in the apple orchard.

The field lab will continue and these effects will be further investigated. The group have applied for additional funding from the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) to explore the long term effects of grazing in orchards.

Innovative Farmers is a not-for-profit network giving farmers research support and funding on their own terms.

Many of the best ideas in farming come from farmers. But most research happens off-farm. Innovative Farmers changes that.

It helps farmers find lasting solutions to practical problems, from managing weeds and pests with fewer chemicals to testing more sustainable animal feeds through on-farm field labs.

Together farmers are finding new ways to grow better food, cut waste and pollution, and protect their farm from volatility.
Momentum builds towards the EU referendum vote on 23 June as farming unions, leaders and ministers continue to put the nation's agricultural and food sectors at the heart of the debate.

The NFU Scotland's Vice President Andrew McCornick gave evidence at a meeting of Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee in Glasgow today (9 May) to discuss the forthcoming EU Referendum and its impact on Scotland.

Speaking after the evidence session, Mr McCornick said: "With debate on the referendum gathering pace, it is important that farming has a voice in any scrutiny given to the issue ahead of the vote on 23 June.

"Not only is it important to discuss the likely scenarios for agricultural sector should we leave the EU, but it is also relevant to consider what we can hope to achieve from the reform agenda for Europe.

"What might that reform agenda mean for the Common Agricultural Policy, if voters opt to stay in?

"NFU Scotland has said throughout the debate that, to date, the current balance remains in favour of staying in the EU and I made that point again today to the MPs.

"However, it is not for the Union to tell its members in any way how they should use their vote.

"It therefore becomes all the more important that key issues such as the future of agricultural support, access for Scottish produce to European markets, and the movement of labour are given prominence in the debate so that farmers and crofters can make an informed decision come referendum day.

"There will be a further opportunity for members to engage in the discussion on 19 May when NFU Scotland will be hosting the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan for a debate on the referendum.

"A speaker from the Brexit side has yet to be confirmed but this event at the Highland Showground will be a useful platform to further tease out the pros and cons of EU membership."

'Long term prosperity of farming in the UK'

Last month, the NFU's ruling body backed a resolution concluding farmers interests are best served remaining in the EU, after a gruelling four hour debate.

Peter Kendall, former President of the NFU, said: "Britain's membership of the EU is essential for the farming and food industry so it is hugely significant that the NFU has today confirmed that it believes UK agriculture will have a more secure future within the EU.

"Being part of the single market - our home market of 500 million consumers - is crucial to the long term prosperity of farming in this country.

"We saw from the NFU's own report earlier this month that leaving the EU could hit our industry hard and their support today demonstrates that walking away puts too much at risk.

"Leaving the EU would make trading farm products significantly harder, financial support uncertain and leave farmers facing years of uncertainty.

"That is too much of a gamble and one our industry cannot afford to take.

"That is why I fully welcome the decision from the NFU who have made it clear that Britain's farmers are stronger, safer and better off in the EU."

Britain Stronger in Europe campaign

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has thrown its weight behind the 'Britain Stronger in Europe' campaign as the first farming union in the UK to do so.

FUW says it will "continue to work with the campaign Board in Wales to ensure that Britain remains a member of the European Union."

"The Union sees this as the optimal way to protect our rural economies, especially when it comes to support from the Common Agricultural Policy, which flows to farms and then inevitably to many local businesses," said Union Managing Director Alan Davies.

"We are pleased to be an official partner of this campaign and will increase our efforts to make the argument to remain in the EU over the coming weeks.

"We are holding a number of EU debates over the coming weeks, details of which will be provided soon," added Mr Davies.

'UK government will give more to farmers' in the event of Brexit'

On the other side of the debate, Defra minister George Eustice has been a vocal supporter of a Brexit scenario. He said the UK government will give more to farmers than they do now in the event of Britain leaving the EU.

Eustice has drawn attention to non-EU nations like Switzerland and Norway and how their governments give more to farmers than the UK does.

"Where power has been ceded to the EU, we see inertia, inconsistency and indecision," the Farm minister said.

"The achievements we cherish most of all are those where we have secured opt-outs from EU initiatives."

Eustice said the UK gives money to the EU, which they convert into foreign currency creating unnecessary exchange rate risks.

"The system has been through various changes over the years but remains a centralised and bureaucratic policy.

"In its current form, it attempts to codify and regulate almost every conceivable feature of our landscape and almost every conceivable thing a farmer might want to do with their land."

He said some 80% of legislation affecting DEFRA comes directly from the EU.

"It is all pervasive: how many farm inspections there must be in a given year; what proportion of those inspections must be random; how much a farmer must be fined if they make a mistake; how much they should be fined if they make the same mistake twice; the precise dimensions of EU billboards and plaques that farmers are forced to put up by law; the maximum width of a gateway; how we define a hedge; whether a cabbage and a cauliflower are different crops or should be deemed the same crop. The list goes on forever and it's stifling."
Food and drink exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland worth 850m would face an uncertain future if the UK voted to leave the European Union, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss warned today.

Ahead of Lisburns 148th Balmoral Show, Elizabeth Truss will highlight the vital trade relationship Northern Irelands farmers have with the European Unionin particular cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland, which alone accounts for 65% of all the food and drink exports from Northern Ireland.

As part of the EU single market, Northern Irelands farmers and food producers can easily sell their goods to consumers across the border, benefitting from tariff-free access and common standards on labelling, safety and welfare.

It is far from certain what trading relationship the UK would have with the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, should the UK leavefarmers could face crippling tariffs to sell their goods to Europe and a red tape double whammy of different rules around inspections and labelling to sell abroad and at home  two sets of regulations, rather than one.

The single market is particularly important to Northern Irelands food and drink industry as it sells a much higher proportion of its food and drink exports to the EU83% compared to the UK average of 60%.

Northern Irelands food and drink export trade with the EU brings in over 1bn to the economy. Meat exports account for over a quarter of this export value, at 280m, with dairy and eggs a close second at 240m.

'No certainty on cross trade arrangements'

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss will say today: "Family-run farms and innovative food and drink producers across Northern Ireland enjoy huge success in the EU, with over 1bn of produce exported there in 2015.

"Northern Ireland particularly benefits from easy, hassle-free trade with the Republic of Irelanda vital source of income for farmers and food producers.

"If we were to leave the EU, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would not be able to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the Republic of Ireland. Northern Irelands farmers would have no certainty on cross trade arrangements.

"Leaving the EU is a leap in the dark and a risk not worth taking, with no guarantees that such a good deal could be struck outside the EU. Northern Irelands world-class farmers and food producers are stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union.

Food and drink exports account for over a fifth of Northern Irelands total exports, with food and livestock exports to the EU more than doubling in real terms since 1998.

Exports of food and drink from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland alone are more than ten times the value of those to its biggest non-EU market, the USA, which accounts for 80m of food and drink exports.

During her visit to Northern Ireland the Environment Secretary met with Moy Park, the UKs biggest poultry producer, based in Craigavon, to talk about the benefits of tariff-free access and common standards for food and farming businesses.

2016 is Northern Irelands Year of Food and Drink, and its rich food and drink scene boasts three foods with protected EU statusLoch Neagh Eels, Armagh Bramley Apples and New Season Comber Potatoes.
Scottish beef sector stakeholders are looking to increase uptake of the new Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES) before the 31 May deadline.

Representatives of the NFU Scotland, Scottish Beef Association and others met in Edinburgh and agreed to build on the growing support for the scheme, worth as estimated 45 million over three years.

By getting involved in the scheme, which looks to improve the efficiency, sustainability and quality of the Scottish beef herd, producers will be eligible for funding equivalent to 32 per calf for three years.

'It does give farmers money based on the size of their herd'

NFU Scotland Livestock committee chairman Charlie Adam said: "The Union has worked hard to gain clarity on some of the outstanding concerns.

"The European Commission have been quite clear that BES cannot be a coupled scheme and there is no option to bolster beef production by pushing further funds into our current beef calf scheme.

"Whilst this scheme, delivered through rural development funds, is not coupled to production it does give farmers money based on the size of their herd in 2015 and can assist those beef producers seeing a significant reduction in their direct payments.

"There are many merits to the aims of the scheme and much of what farmers are asked to do will benefit their business.

"In these difficult times, most producers are looking very hard at the bottom line and through BES, a typical herd of 75 cows will get access to an estimated 7,000 thanks to the scheme.

"In these cash strapped times, very few businesses can afford to let the opportunity of an additional funding stream pass.

"Although payment is proposed for the first three years of the scheme, the Union will keep pushing for farmers to be paid for the full 5-year term.

"It is worth reminding those who are swithering that for those who sign up to BES and ultimately decide it is not for them, we have assurance from Scottish Government that they can withdraw without penalty up until payment by Scottish Government in 2017.

"However, if you dont sign up by 31 May, then the opportunity for established beef herd is lost.

"That said, the Union will keep pushing for the scheme to be adapted to allow new entrants to join and for developing business to be taken better into account.

"They are the future of the Scottish industry and the ones who will deliver the benefits and efficiencies of the Scheme in the long term."

Additional subsidy support

Scott Henderson of the Scottish Beef Association added: "The SBA is 100% behind the aims of the BES.

"It firstly gives additional subsidy support equivalent to 32 per calf per year for at least the next 3 years. The information that farmers need to provide is no more than most producers record anyway.

"Applicants also get the services of a specialist consultant, free of charge, to help identify your own weaknesses.

"Although a five-year scheme, and funding is only guaranteed for the first three, the efficiency gains generated by management changes throughout its course should deliver benefits back to the bottom line of the business long before the money runs out.

"For every extra calf that you sell, it will add directly to your profit with, in many cases, no extra costs and the same can be said for every kilo extra of liveweight gain your cattle achieve."
Stealing Food Is Not a Crime, If You're in a 'State of Need' in Italy

One of the first principles of law most of us learn, even if we never go to law school, is that stealing is wrong, even if you're hungry. The concept goes so far to prohibit cannibalism, even if you're lost at sea for 14 months, and prohibit giving out free school lunch, even to starving students.

But Italy's highest court might be pushing back against that idea. The country's Supreme Court of Cassation recently overturned the conviction of a man who didn't pay for $4.60 worth of cheese and sausages from a market, ruling instead that he was sufficiently hungry and "acting therefore in a state of need." So how hungry do you have to be to justify stealing food?

A Roman in Genoa

In making its ruling, the Italian court noted the "condition of the defendant and the circumstances in which the merchandise theft took place prove that he took possession of that small amount of food in the face of the immediate and essential need for nourishment." Such action, the court said, "does not constitute a crime."

A lower court had sentenced the defendant, a Ukrainian homeless man named Roman Ostriakov, to six months in jail as well as a fine. Ostriakov had paid for bread from the Genoa market, but not the meat and cheese.

Although the final ruling has yet to be released, a former justice on the Court of Cassation told The New York Times,

"Under the Italian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has a legal right to dignity. If you can't eat because you have absolutely no money, and cannot sustain yourself without taking something you don't own, in this case, the Italian criminal law justifies this theft."

Does Not Constitute Legal Advice

Before you go snagging a frozen pizza from your local supermarket because you've got a late-night pepperoni craving, the ruling doesn't apply to American courts. And it may not even apply to other Italian courts -- unlike those from the U.S. Supreme Court, rulings from the Supreme Court of Cassation aren't binding on lower courts.

So while the ruling may be a welcome bit of good news for Mr. Ostriakov, the general rule that hunger is no excuse for theft probably still applies where you live.

Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer).

Related Resources:
Ground has been broken on the Harper Adams University farm, signalling the start of building work to create a new high-tech dairy unit.

The 750,000 facility, which will operate alongside Harper Adams existing dairy unit, will serve the Agricultural Engineering Precision Innovation (Agri-EPI) Centre, which received 17.7 million investment under the Governments Agri-tech Strategy to help the UKs agri-food sector develop advanced technologies that will increase productivity and sustainability in UK agriculture.

The Centre will have hubs in Edinburgh, Harper Adams University (the Agri-Innovation Hub, already under construction) and Cranfield University, but will also be served by a series of farms and processing facilities equipped with the latest sensing and imaging equipment  including the new precision dairy unit at Harper Adams.

The new dairy will be one of three such units within Agri-EPI, with Kingshay Farming in Somerset and SRUC in Dumfries involved in establishing the others.

Professor of Applied Animal Behaviour, Mark Rutter, explained: "The new dairy facilities within Agri-EPI will enable scientists, the dairy industry and agri-engineering companies to work together to develop the next generation of dairy housing and management.

"A key concept will be developing technology that facilitates cow choice, as research has shown that this can improve milk production efficiency as well as improving animal welfare.

The Agri-EPI Centre is a consortium of key organisations in the field of precision agriculture and engineering.

It brings together expertise in research and industry, as well as data gathering capacity in all areas of farming, to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the land-based industries.

By uniting organisations in all sections of the supply chain  76 companies and institutions in all  it will become a world-leading centre for excellence in engineering and precision agriculture for the livestock, arable, aquaculture and horticulture sectors.

The new building is costing nearly 520,000 to construct, with the project total reaching 750,000 once equipment and other associated works are taken into account.
EU biggest customer of Scottish red meat as trade rebounds to 80m
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is partnering with the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to offer free Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) programs for Iowa hog farmers.

Special quality assurance training sessions will be hosted at the 2016 World Pork Expo on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9. All sessions will be hosted in room A-2 of the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Interested individuals should pre-register by contacting IPPA at (515) 225-7675 or bmeyer@iowapork.org. Session details are as follows:

Wednesday, June 8

PQA Plus  1 p.m.  5 p.m.

TQA  9:30 a.m.  Noon

Thursday, June 9

PQA Plus  9 a.m.  1 p.m.

Additionally, Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) training sessions will be offered in each of the eight IPPA districts throughout the summer.

District 1

Thursday, July 21

Sioux County Extension & Outreach

400 Central Ave. NW Ste. 700

Orange City

District 2

Tuesday, August 23

Humboldt County Extension & Outreach

727 Sumner Ave.

Humboldt

District 3

Thursday, August 25

North Iowa Area Community College

203 Brantingham St, Room 108

Charles City

District 4

Tuesday, August 9

Delaware County Extension & Outreach

1417 N. Franklin St.

Manchester

District 5

Monday, June 27

Cass County Extension & Outreach

805 West 10th St.

Atlantic

District 6

See World Pork Expo special sessions

District 7

Tuesday, August 9

Mahaska County Extension & Outreach

212 N. I St.

Oskaloosa

District 8

Thursday, August 11

Johnson County Extension & Outreach

3109 Old Hwy. 218 S.

Iowa City

All district locations offer TQA from 9:30 a.m. to noon and PQA Plus from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All sessions are sponsored by IPPA and the Pork Checkoff. Producers are encouraged to pre-register to allow adequate space and materials. To pre-register or for more information, contact IPPA at (515) 225-7675 or e-mail bmeyer@iowapork.org.

PQA Plus and TQA are part of the industry-aligned We Care responsible pork initiative, which establishes ethical principles for pork producers to produce safe food, protect and promote animal well-being, protect public health, safeguard natural resources, provide a safe work environment and contribute to a better quality of life in their communities.

Pork producers, their employees and pig transporters continue to show their dedication to continuous industry improvement through certification in PQA Plus and TQA, said IPPA President Al Wulfekuhle. These programs, along with the We Care initiative, continue to show our customers the strong commitment we have to food safety and animal care.



Source: IOWA Pork
In this State Budget through Royalties for Regions, we will invest a further $22.1 million over four years in marine and national parks in the Kimberley, including the creation of the Great Kimberley Marine Park, the Kimberley National Park and a new national park at Horizontal Falls.
See a total lunar eclipse on Election Day in Cumberland County

On Nov. 8, see the sunrise framed within the arches of the Market House in downtown Fayetteville.
Remember those funny atheist protest ads mocking a Noah's Ark-themed amusement park being built in Williamstown, Kentucky? Two billboard companies with no sense of humor have refused to run the atheist group's funny ads ridiculing The Ark Encounter.

"Somehow it is legal to use tax dollars for this," our Jason Weisberger blogged earlier about the Christian theme park.

Answers in Genesis is the group that operates Ark Encounter theme park. They require the park's employees to sign a document swearing that they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, which isn't discriminatory towards non-Christians at all, what is wrong with you, how could you even think that.

Answers in Genesis also runs another religious funtime destination in Petersburg, Kentucky, called the Creation Museum. This site promises to "bring the pages of the bible to life."

Anyway, the billboard companies don't seem to have any problem taking ad dollars from taking Answers in Genesis. Here's one of their signs, promoting a science-free, fantasy-based version of the history of life on earth.

From ABC News:

The atheist group Tri-State Freethinkers, which commissioned the advertisement, says it has been turned down by billboard companies Lamar and Event Advertising and Promotions LLC, despite $10,000 having been raised to fund the project. The proposed billboard would have critiqued the park by branding it, "Genocide and Incest Park: Celebrating 2,000 years of myths." "We tried with everyone we could think of, and these were [billboard] companies that originally were in agreement to do business with us," Jim Helton, the president of Tri-State Freethinkers, told ABC News today, speculating that fear of a scandal pushed the companies to drop the ads. "We're just looking for someone to take our money." Tri-State Freethinkers has been in existence for three years, according to Helton, and now has 1,500 members.

Ken Ham is the president of Answers in Genesis. His anti-science beliefs and alleged prejudicial hiring practices are part of what the protesting atheists object to. Back in 2014, Mr. Ham paid for his very own personal billboard to defend plans to construct Ark Encounter.

"To all of our intolerant liberal friends, thank God you can't sink this ship," the billboard read.

He tweeted a dumb tweet about it below, earlier today.
The new mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says his election in a divisive campaign that drew attention to his faith should send a message to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump that Islam and Western values get along just fine.

The practicing Muslim son of Pakistani immigrants to Britain was elected mayor of London just last week. The Labour Party politician's win is seen as a major political milestone. He grew up in London's housing projects, and his dad was a bus driver. His leading opponent in the race was a billionaire who shares some of Trump's least likable qualities.

From the New York Times today:
Peter Chapman, the former manager in Africa of polymer banknote manufacturer Securency PTY Ltd, was sentenced in London today to two and a half years in prison for paying bribes in Nigeria.

Judge Michael Grieve sentenced Chapman to 30 months on each of four counts of violating the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, to be served concurrently.

Due to time already served, Chapman, 54, is serving the remainder of his sentence on license.

UK prison inmates often finish half their sentences on license  or supervised probation.

Chapman was convicted yesterday at the Southwark Crown Court after a five week trial.

He paid about $205,000 in bribes to an agent of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC to win orders for reams of polymer substrate from Securency. Polymer substrate is used to make plastic banknotes.

A prisoner released on license is given a sheet of paper known as the license. A copy also goes to the local police where the offender will live.

The licence includes seven standard conditions:

(a) Be of good behaviour and dont behave in a way which undermines the purpose of the licence period

(b) Dont commit any offense

(c) Keep in touch with the supervising officer

(d) Receive visits from the supervising officer

(e) Reside permanently at an address approved by the supervising officer and obtain his prior permission for any stay of one or more nights at a different address

(f) Dont undertake any work thats not approved by the supervising officer, and

(g) Dont travel outside the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man except with the prior permission of the supervising officer.

The license can also show special conditions, such as curfews.

When he sentenced Chapman, Judge Michael Grieve said: Corruption is a very serious global problem, that the Anti-Corruption summit this week highlights. Offenses so serious only justify an immediate custodial sentence.

Chapman was arrested at Heathrow Airport in April 2015 after his extradition from Brazil.

He managed Securencys Africa office. Securency was then jointly owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia and UK manufacturing firm Innovia Films Ltd.

In March 2013, Innovia acquired all of Securency International and renamed the merged company Innovia Security Pty Ltd.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Martin Kenney appears on CBC NewsIn the wake of the Panama Papers revelations, the U.S. has (belatedly) announced that it will tighten checks on anonymous companies. The rules, which include requiring financial institutions to find out and keep records on the real owners behind the companies that use their services, aim to help U.S. law enforcement pierce the layers of anonymous shell companies that people can use to disguise their financial dealings around the world.

Yet it is shameful that it has taken the Panama Papers scandal for the United States to finally grasp and acknowledge the shortcomings of its own offshore industry (domiciled inside several of its own states). As a lawyer who specializes in the investigation of complex fraud and grand corruption cases, its amazing how many of our investigative trails lead to the United States, the self-appointed world leader in combatting money laundering.

Why the overt anger and hostility towards Uncle Sams offshore industry? Because as a lawyer whose law firm operates out of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), I am exasperated with having to defend the BVI against those who constantly snipe and accuse our territory of running a secretive, clandestine offshore industry. Listening to the worlds media, you would think that the BVI flaunts all and every international law designed to prevent tax evasion, money laundering  and any other criminal act you could imagine.

When the Panama Papers revelations broke, I was inundated with requests for media interviews from outlets across the globe. Many had one thing in common: a barely-concealed desire that I confirm their perceptions that the BVI was a series of little islands, cloaked in secrecy and bedevilled with acts of skullduggery. I lost count of how many interviews I did; we ended up in close to 100 outlets, including internationally-recognized radio, TV, and print titles.

Many journalists and TV anchors got a shock when I explained that the BVI was among the best regulated locations on the planet. There is  with limited exceptions due to non-compliance by a minority of rogue incorporators like Mossack Fonseca  access to information about an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) when a competent authority requested it, or where a lawyer could show wrongdoing and obtain the requisite court order. On 90 percent of the occasions when I have sought this data by court order in the BVI, it has been promptly disclosed.

And in all of these interviews, I pointed out the hypocrisy of the USA with its onshore tax havens  something only belatedly picked up by the media  in territories such as Nevada and Delaware. These are true black holes for fraud and asset recovery lawyers such as myself And I explained in detail how the Americans operated offshore entities, devoid of scruples, and in absolute privacy, with no legislative requirement to even know who the UBOs were.

Once Id finished with the States, I moved on to the UK. Prime Minister David Cameron came under pressure after revelations that his late father had opened an offshore company in the BVI to conduct his business in a tax efficient manner (perfectly legal). Unlike the Prime Minister of Iceland, who was also targeted by the revelations from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Cameron (correctly) kept his job.

Yet in the UK the newly-emboldened activists inside Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party were demanding that the BVI, the Cayman Islands and other former colonies be returned to direct rule by the UK, bypassing their democratically elected governments. You simply couldnt imagine the hysteria back in the UK. It seemed everyone was baying for blood, and woe to anybody in London with more than a few hundred pounds in the bank, as they appeared to be in danger of being lynched!

And yet, a few hundred miles north of the UK capital sits another offshore service provider, that has found itself in danger of being blacklisted by Russia due to its nationals taking advantage of their offer to provide confidentiality (secrecy) to hide their assets. Where am I talking about? Bonny Scotland, where (it has been reported) they have been less than organized in maintaining UBO records so that they are readily accessible to competent authorities.

So two of the nations most horrified and affronted by the revelations of the Panama Papers revelations, have in fact, even worse and less-regulated offshore facilities under their own jurisdictions than the very Caribbean island that their media and politicians have been seeking to hang out to dry. The cynicism and hypocritical stances taken by these two behemoths of the capitalist world was not lost on those of us who have to practice and operate in this difficult environment.

My one concern in reading the U.S. plan is the wording: The Obama Administration Thursday announced a series of actions to end the use of anonymous corporations in the United States and require disclosure of beneficial owners when foreigners deposit money or buy assets in this country.

Its unclear whether these new proposals will only close the loopholes to foreigners, or if they will apply to U.S. citizens too. I cannot believe that the administration would attack one group without the other, unless of course there is a vested interest within the U.S. for her own citizens to carry on enjoying the secrecy its own offshore facilities affords them?

____

Martin Kenney is Managing Partner of Martin Kenney & Co., Solicitors, a specialist investigative and asset recovery practice focused on multi-jurisdictional fraud and grand corruption cases www.martinkenney.com |@MKSolicitors.
Prime Minister David Cameron hosted an international anti-corruption summit in London Thursday and used the event to announce steps to end the secret ownership of property in the UK by foreigners.

For the first time, Cameron said in a statement, foreign companies that already hold or want to buy property in the UK will be forced to reveal who really owns them.

Foreign companies own around 100,000 properties in England and Wales. Over 44,000 of them are in London, the UK government said.

Any foreign company that wants to buy UK property or bid for central government contracts will have to join a new public register of beneficial ownership information.

This will be the first register of its kind anywhere in the world, the PM said.

Forty jurisdictions with major financial centers will automatically share the beneficial ownership information.

The disclosure rules will apply to companies who already own property in the UK and to new buyers.

The new register for foreign companies will mean corrupt individuals and countries will no longer be able to move, launder, and hide illicit funds through Londons property market, and will not benefit from our public funds, the PMs statement said.

According to Cameron, France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Afghanistan have agreed to launch their own public registers of true company ownership.

Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, Indonesia, Ireland, and Georgia agreed to take the initial steps towards making similar arrangements.

The UK beneficial ownership register will launch next month, the statement said.

Cameron Thursday called corruption an evil that reaches into every corner of the world.

It lies at the heart of the most urgent problems we face  from economic uncertainty, to endemic poverty, to the ever-present threat of radicalization and extremism, he said.

He said graft is a global problem that needs a global solution.

It needs an unprecedented, courageous commitment from world leaders to stand united, to speak into the silence, and to demand change, he said.

The UK will create the worlds first International Anti-Corruption Coordination Center in London, in partnership with the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Interpol, the PMs statement said.

The new center will provide international co-ordination and support to help law enforcement agencies and prosecutors work together across borders to investigate and punish corrupt elites and recover stolen assets.

On Monday, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists launched a searchable database that used the Panama Papers to index 320,000 offshore companies and the people behind them.

The Obama Administration last week announced a series of actions to end the use of anonymous corporations in the United States and require disclosure of beneficial owners when foreigners deposit money or buy assets in this country.

Transparency International-USA said the Obama Administrations actions dont go far enough.

_____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.


Sovereign immunity prevents one government from using its courts to attack another, but Chinese state-backed industries are taking it to new places, arguing that sovereign immunity means that the US courts have no jurisdiction over Chinese companies whose products are harmful or whose conduct is negligent  and US courts are buying that argument.



For example, China National Building Materials Group Corporation used the argument to escape a suit that alleged that its drywall caused health problems for its US customers.





Yves at Naked Captalism raises an important point about this: "Imagine the toxicity such legal stratagems could cause if coupled with the the Trans Pacific Partnership's Investor-State Dispute Settlement provision. 'We can devastate your environment and abuse your workers, enjoy sovereign legal immunity for doing so, and sue you for lost profits if you try to say otherwise.'"

In the drywall case, China's Foreign Ministry called SASAC's inclusion in the lawsuit "extremely ridiculous". "The U.S. court's acceptance of the lawsuit and the attempt to serve on SASAC through various channels has seriously infringed on the national sovereignty and interests of China," its diplomatic note said. In March, the judge in the case dismissed CNBM from the suit, reasoning that plaintiffs had not proven the company conducted any commercial activity related to drywall in the United States. James Stengel, a partner of the New York office of law firm Orrick  which represented CNBM in the suit, said the sovereignty doctrine "is highly relevant" for Chinese state-owned companies. "You can make the argument that a different economic and political system gives Chinese companies an advantage in some ways. But that's U.S. law, and the U.S. government has made a clear decision that we will recognize the sovereign immunity of appropriately structured enterprises," Stengel said.



Chinese state entities argue they have 'sovereign immunity' in U.S. courts

[Matthew Miller and Michael Martina/Reuters]





(via Naked Capitalism)
Johnny Depp will be joined by Marion Cotillard in 'The Libertine' reboot.

Johnny Depp

Depp is to star in the new movie - which shares a title with a 2004 film he starred in as 17th century poet John Wilmot, but is unrelated - opposite the 40-year-old French actress.

The project will be helmed by 'X-Men: The Last Stand' director Brett Ratner and the script has been penned by Ben Kopit.

In the movie, Depp will play a French diplomat who is accused of sexual assault and is subsequently put under house arrest.

Deadline reports the plot is based on the 2011 allegations made against French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who had to resign from his position as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund after a New York hotel maid accused him of sexual abuse.

He was also placed under house arrest but the criminal case ultimately fell apart due to a lack of evidence. Kahn settled a civil suit out of court.

Now Depp is on board the title of the film - which is being touted to foreign buyers at the Cannes Film Festival - is likely to be changed.
Britain's Duchess of Cambridge is set to visit Portsmouth later this month.

Duchess Catherine

The 34-year-old royal will take a trip to Hampshire, south England on May 20 to call in to the headquarters of 1851 Trust, of which she is Royal Patron, to learn about current and upcoming projects inspiring young people to sail.

The brunette beauty - who was known as Kate Middleton before she married Prince William in 2011 - will launch the 1851 Trust's two flagship sailing projects in partnership with UKSA and the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, before meeting people involved in the encouraging schemes.

Catherine will then officially declare the new Tech Deck Education Centre, which will allow visitors to witness the construction and ongoing operation of America's Cup boats, open and will learn about the technology involved in sailing.

She will then meet a group of schoolchildren taking part in the #STEMCREW digital workshops, which focus on the science and engineering of the America's Cup challenge.

Meanwhile, the duchess is no stranger to the Trust as she and her husband William were scheduled to attend the America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth in July 2015 but the tournament was called off due to poor weather.
Britain's Prince Charles downed a shot of whiskey at Fortnum & Mason in London on Wednesday (11.05.16).

Prince Charles

The 67-year-old royal - the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth - proved he doesn't mind letting his hair down when he's on royal engagements as he swigged Dunville's Old Irish Whiskey with James Nesbitt during his visit to the department store in Piccadilly yesterday afternoon.

Charles sniffed the strong-smelling booze before toasting the Northern Irish actor and knocking it back in one go.

He said: "It's very good, it goes straight up the nose."

The prince was also given a tour of the upmarket store, was given a brief on some of the Northern Irish produce on sale from food retailers and staff and tasted some delicious grub.

Charles sampled some blue cheese and Northern Irish butter on crackers, but wasn't so keen to try some smoked salmon as he nattered away to some producers.

Charles' visit was in celebration of Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016 festival, which is held for two weeks and honours the landscapes, traditions and people that make the country's food heritage so unique and successful.

James, 51, said: "This is two weeks celebrating ordinary craftsman doing extraordinary things. To have the endorsement of Prince Charles is very important.

"As Northern Ireland continues to emerge we are trying to spread the goodness of the place.

"It's a perfect fit because of the knowledge he has about the process of farming organic produce. He seemed to be a big fan of the butter and the whiskey."
An American swimmer who won four gold medals at the Invictus Games asked Prince Harry to give one of her trophies to the British medical team who saved her life.

Prince Harry

Sgt Elizabeth Marks was nursed back to health by staff from Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire two years ago after she collapsed with a serious lung condition just as she was about to compete in the sporting event in London in 2014.

The 25-year-old combat medic - who suffered a hip injury in 2010 and was left with no sensation in her left leg - doesn't think she'll ever be able to thank the NHS for ultimately saving her life but has asked the 31-year-old royal to pass on one of the medals she won at the sporting event in Florida earlier this week as a way of showing her gratitude.

According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, she said: "I landed in London and became very ill, very rapidly, I was in hospital in London and went into respiratory distress syndrome. They shipped a team down from Papworth who put me on to ECMO [Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation] life support and that ultimately saved my life. I was on it for 10 days and ended up waking in an army hospital in Germany having no idea what had happened.

"But they absolutely saved my life and I can't thank the UK enough for having that kind of medical support and taking such good care of me.

"So I gave Prince Harry one of my medals and hope it will find its way back to Papworth. Thank you, I'll never be able to repay you, but what you're doing is wonderful."

The Invictus Games - a four-day sporting contest for injured service personnel from 14 countries - is currently taking place in Orlando following its debut in the UK in 2014.
Trupti Desai has been the top Twitter trend for a few days now. The Bhumata Brigade leader visited the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai today and left after offering prayers. In an exclusive interview to Femina, she had revealed that the next time she enters the dargah, she will not let anyone know and that is exactly what she did when she offered her prayers at 6 am today. After her campaign for entry of women in Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples in Maharashtra, Trupti had taken her movement for gender equality to Haji Ali in Mumbai. She was stopped short of going into the shrine on April 28 by protestors.



Here are the excerpts from the interview:

You had earlier said that the people who are protesting against you are Hindus. However, at Haji Ali, a number of Muslim leaders have also opposed you. What do you have to say about this?

Before 2011, women were allowed to enter the inner sanctorum of Haji Ali. I want this to be reinstated. We are doing peaceful protests for this. If the Indian democracy allows me to raise my voice against this, it also allows the political leaders to oppose me. However, the reaction of the leaders to this is not 'democratic' at all. They overstepped their boundaries--Shiv Sena's Haji Arafat Sheikh said he will welcome me with sandals and shoes (chappal). MIM leaders said they will blacken my face (munh kaala kar denge). Samajwadi party's Abu Azmi said if I try to enter inside, he will forcefully throw me out. If we are raising an issue peacefully, such an opposition just goes on to show how much they respect women.



Why do you think women were asked to not enter the inner sanctorum after 2011?

Well, when I asked the trustees there, I was told that some women's dupattas fall off their head sometimes while they are inside and that is not good according to the Shariah law. Also, I had even heard that their spiritual leader who is buried at the dargah used to get uneasy if women approached him, and that he apparently imagined them naked and that is why women were stopped from entering the inner sanctorum. These reasons are rather funny and have no basis to them. These are just tactics that are being employed to keep women from coming to the forefront. I am not against religion. It is the people who believe they are the custodians of that faith or religion who are the problem. They use it to relegate women to the background. They feel threatened if women show that they are equal. If God doesn't discriminate, who are they?

Even women have protested against you.

I feel the women who protest against me do so under pressure from their husbands or the male members in their families. They do not do this whole heartedly because they know this fight is for their rights, 95 per cent of the women are with us.

Do you not feel scared?

I said goodbye to fear when I started doing social work. When I entered Haji Ali last time, there were 500-odd people who protested against us, some of them were armed too. But, they were scared of us and that is why they shut down the dargah two hours before the designated time. In the fight for justice, even if I die, I will feel honoured.

All views expressed are of the person interviewed. Femina does not in any way endorse the point of view of the interviewee.
Australian artist Van Thanh Rudd, nephew of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, spent 15 years stealing forks that had been used by the rich and powerful, vacuum sealing them to preserve leftover morsels, saliva and DNA, and now he tours them as a gallery show called "Rich Forks."

A political activist and visual artist, he has been at the centre of a number of recent political controversies: three months before Julia Gillard ousted his uncle from government in 2010, Van had announced he would be running against her in the Melbourne seat of Lalor, for the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Later that year, when the ABC program Australian Story featured him in an episode, "Uncle Kevin" declined an invitation to appear; and in 2011 Van was fined and removed from the Australian Open after staging an anti-racism protest dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

But The Rich Forks has been Van's most longstanding project and next week a small amount of them will be exhibited at a community arts centre in Melbourne before the collection travels the world. (Van would not confirm whether this collection includes a fork from his relative.)

Van says the idea behind the project is two-pronged: on the one hand it "takes back a tiny bit" of the wealth of the 1% and on the other it exposes and infiltrates exclusive corporate dinners "where billionaires and conservative politicians decide the future of our world while devouring premium food and wine".
Union Minister for MSME Kalraj Mishra has said that there is a huge job creation potential in the sector.It can create an upsurge in the employment opportunities in the country . Poised for rapid growth and integration with major global value chains, MSEs will make considerable impact in realizing 'Make in India' vision. The sector has the potential to market its 'Made in India' brand globally, Mishra said while inaugurating Cluster Development Programme and Launch of a compendium Parcham with brief collection of success stories of clusters development.

Union Minister for MSME Kalraj Mishra has said that there is a huge job creation potential in the sector. It can create an upsurge in the employment opportunities in the country. Poised for rapid growth and integration with major global value chains, MSEs will make considerable impact in realizing 'Make in India' vision. The sector has the potential#

Most of textile /apparel businesses come under MSME sector.The Minister said that the Micro and Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) is being implemented by MSME Ministry for holistic and integrated development of micro and small enterprises in clusters through Soft Interventions such as capacity building, marketing development, export promotion, skill development, technology upgradation.Hard Interventions like setting up of Common Facility Centres and Infrastructure up gradation in the new/existing industrial areas/ clusters of MSEs is being also taken up, Mishra said.A total of 1018 interventions (i.e. diagnostic study, soft interventions and setting up common facility centre) in various clusters spread over 29 States in the country have so far been taken under the MSE-CDP Programme. Out of 1018 interventions, 677 interventions have been completed. Under Infrastructure Development, 178 interventions have been carried out under MSE-CDP for new/upgradation of existing infrastructure facilities, out of which 126 interventions have been completed.The MSE-CDP scheme has proved to be a key strategy for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of MSEs in India. MSME through this scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship, generate employment and augment productivity.The scheme has touched different sectors of the economy and eminently benefitted large number of enterprises, facilitating economies of scale in terms of deployment of resources. It has brought significant change in flourishing the MSE clusters in India and is expected to facilitate in their endeavour to become globally competitive and enable MSEs to move towards high growth trajectory. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The US Senate passed the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (H.R. 4923), by unanimous consent on Tuesday. Because the House of Representatives passed an identical bill by a vote of 415-2 on April 27, H.R. 4923 will be sent to President Barack Obama for his expected signature into law.Once it comes into force, the law will benefit textile producers and apparel brands by eliminating tariffs on imported goods that are not commercially available in the US. The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016, will eliminate or reduce hundreds of import duties on raw materials and intermediate products that are not produced or available domestically. Specifically, it establishes a process for the submission and consideration of petitions for temporary duty suspensions and reductions.

The US Senate passed the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (H.R. 4923), by unanimous consent on Tuesday. Because the House of Representatives passed an identical bill by a vote of 415-2 on April 27, H.R. 4923 will be sent to President Barack Obama for his expected signature into law. Once it comes into force, the law will benefit#

The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act has been hailed by American retailers and manufacturers.The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has also endorsed H.R. 4923 which reforms the process by which Congress will consider future Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) legislation.Through the MTB, Congress temporarily suspends or reduces tariffs on certain imported products not made in the US to help American manufacturers reduce costs, create jobs, and compete in the global marketplace.This is a big win for US manufacturing, said NCTO President and CEO Augustine Tantillo. We thank the Senate for moving the House bill quickly.The MTB is essential to American competitiveness because US textile manufacturers reinvest the duty savings to boost jobs and innovation, Tantillo concluded. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Import cargo volume at America's major retail container ports is expected to be at some of its highest levels ever during the next few months despite a fall from last year's record-setting numbers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates on Tuesday.Retailers are importing less merchandise than last year but these are still some of the highest numbers we've ever seen, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. Carefully managing imports will balance out high inventory levels but consumers can still expect to see a deep and broad selection of products.

Import cargo volume at America's major retail container ports is expected to be at some of its highest levels ever during the next few months despite a fall from last year's record-setting numbers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates on Tuesday. Retailers are importing#

Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.32 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in March, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 14.2 per cent from February, partly because of a carryover from Chinese New Year factory closings. It was also down a dramatic 23.7 per cent from the all-time record high set in March 2015 after a new contract with dockworkers ended a near-shutdown at West Coast ports and brought a flood of backlogged cargo through the ports. One TEU is one 20-foot-long cargo container or its equivalent.April was estimated at 1.5 million TEU, down 0.8 per cent from the same month last year, when 2015's unusual pattern of cargo volumes started to stabilize. May is forecast at 1.57 million TEU, down 2.7 per cent from last year; June at 1.56 million TEU, down 0.8 per cent; July at 1.61 million TEU, down 0.6 per cent; August at 1.62 million TEU, down 3.7 per cent, and September at 1.56 million TEU, down 3.9 per cent.The 1.73 million TEU seen in March 2015 broke a previous record of 1.59 million TEU set in September 2014, and was followed by numbers as high as 1.68 million TEU before last year's unusually patterns settled down. But this year's forecast peak of 1.62 million TEU in August would still be among the six highest months on record.The first half of 2016 is expected to total 9 million TEU, up 1.4 per cent from the same period in 2015. Total volume for 2015 was 18.2 million TEU, up 5.4 per cent from 2014.Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said the decreased imports reflect both high inventory levels and slow growth in consumer spending in recent months.Consumer spending is still growing but not as fast as in the past, Hackett said. A more cautious approach is being taken.Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the US ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
American print-on-demand fabric and home furnishing company WeaveUp makes decorating easier and more satisfying by enabling consumers to create and print their own designs on fabric or home decor products, or customize one of over 10,000 designs to suit them.The company has claimed in a press release that its groundbreaking Customization Tool automates the colour separation process of uploaded designs and allows for customization of colors, scale and pattern repeat without special software or training.

American print-on-demand fabric and home furnishing company WeaveUp makes decorating easier and more satisfying by enabling consumers to create and print their own designs on fabric or home decor products, or customize one of over 10,000 designs to suit them. The company has claimed in a press release that its groundbreaking Customization Tool automates#

Until now, consumers struggled to get their homes to look exactly the way they envisioned them. Colours didn't match, patterns were unavailable and the fabrics weren't quite right. Even the most determined and passionate decorator ended up settling due to the limited fabric and product options available. WeaveUp claims it eliminates all these obstacles by giving customers complete control over the colour, pattern, repeat on their choice of fabric with a few simple clicks.WeaveUp's Design Library is growing every day, in part because of derivative designs. Derivative designs are created when a user customizes, or riffs, on an artist's design and changes the colours, scale or repeat. This collaborative aspect of WeaveUp can produce dozens of derivatives of a single design to accommodate the customer's needs.WeaveUp is launching with a curated collection of 19 exceptional fabrics and plan to introduce wall coverings and finished products (pillows, shower curtains, etc.) in Q2. Other home decor products will follow throughout the year  any surface that can help our customer customize" their home. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The comments attributed to the relevant committee members in the Fiji Times article, Civil Service jobs to be readvertised: intake on merit on 12 May 2016 do not reflect Governments policy position towards Civil Service reform.



The Ministry of Civil Service has never planned to readvertise any existing positions or have civil servants reapply for their jobs. While there will be new open merit based selection criteria, these will apply only to vacant positions in the Civil Service.



The article went on to state that three options would be offered to civil servants, including, phasing out or retirement, replacement of those appointments without merit and transfer within ministries. This also does not reflect Governments Civil Service reform policy.



Civil servants and any potential applicants for Civil Service positions are encouraged to read the Open Merit Recruitment and Selection guidelines.


SPEECH LAUNCHING CLEAN UP FIJI AND FIGHT THE BITE CAMPAIGN





The Honourable Ministers for Health; Industry, Trade and Tourism; and Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management,Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.Today we are officially launching a concerted national clean-up campaign in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston. It involves all ministries of government pooling their resources and cooperating across a broad front to clean up Fiji.Of course, an intense clean-up has been going on in all the cyclone affected areas over the past three months. But we want to take that clean-up to another level and extend it across the entire country.The civil servants across the various ministries are being assigned particular tasks as part of this initiative. But today I want to appeal to every Fijian to join us in cleaning up our nation once and for all. To remove not only cyclone-related debris but all rubbish, all litter, that has accumulated over the years. And is despoiling our pristine surroundings and having a negative impact on our international image.Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot sell ourselves to the world as the place where happiness finds you with any credibility if we dont take pride in it and look after it. I am personally ashamed when I see litter strewn by the side of the road and I know that many of my fellow Fijians feel the same. Because I know that if I can see it, our international visitors can also see it. And are perhaps going home and saying: Fijians are great people but in far too many places, theyve turned their country into a rubbish dump. And as sad as it is to say, theyd be right.Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to change. High time to crack down on the litterers. Those who strew rubbish around. Those who don't care for their surroundings. Those who give us all a bad name. It is high time for us all to band together and Clean Up Fiji.We must use Cyclone Winston to create a fresh slate. We must use the Help for Homes program to convince the Fijian people to take better care of their immediate surroundings. To take more pride, not just in their new homes but where they live. To restore the pride we should all have in the appearance of our communities.We must use our Adopt a School program to instil the same level of pride among our young people in their surroundings. I have spoken a lot recently about young Fijians taking a lead in the fight against litter. Well now I want them to also be in the vanguard of a new campaign to really make Fiji the way the world should be. Clean, litter free and an example to the region and the rest of the world of how people can live in harmony with their environment. Not abuse and despoil it.There is another vital imperative. A clean Fiji is a healthy Fiji. Rubbish harbours disease. And today as part of that wider clean-up campaign, I am declaring a new war on one of our principal threats to public health - the mosquito.It is a war that as a nation, we intend to win. And I am here today as Prime Minister to fire the opening salvo. And to issue a call to arms to every Fijian of every age to join me.From the smallest child to our most venerable elder, we need everyone to fight this battle against the mosquito. To destroy this pernicious, blood-sucking, disease-carrying pest by destroying its breeding sites  anywhere where water accumulates.Ladies and Gentlemen, this is obviously not the first time we have targeted the mosquito in Fiji. We have always had an on-going campaign, interspersed with concentrated bursts of action such as during the major Dengue outbreak of 2014. But never before have the stakes been so high. Because on top of Dengue and Chickungunya, we have a new threat, a new mosquito-borne disease - Zika.It is of the highest national importance that we minimise the risk of the Zika virus spreading. It is an infection that has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains. And we need to eradicate any mosquitos that may be carrying it with a concerted national effort to eradicate their breeding grounds. And to encourage every Fijian to do everything they possibly can to avoid being bitten by mosquitos in the first place.Were calling this aspect of the campaign Fight the Bite. Weve borrowed the slogan from our Hawaiian friends whove mounted the same type of initiative. And heres what it entails:You need to avoid being bitten by wearing long, loose and light clothing, to sleep with the windows shut or use mosquito nets. And you need to use an insect repellent that contains the chemicals DEET, IR3535 or icaridin.I ask the parents of Fiji to take particular responsibility for making sure that their children are protected at all times. But everyone is at risk. Everyone. I repeat: these mosquitos are much more than a pesky nuisance. They are dangerous disease carriers. And you must do everything you can to protect yourselves and your families. To remove every possible place where mosquito larvae or eggs can be laid and help do everything we can to nip this crisis in the bud.My message to every Fijian is to take charge of your own surroundings, your own property. Make sure your grass is cut. Make sure your drains and roof gutters are clear and water doesnt accumulate there. Empty the water from every container around your compound. Put a cover over any stored water. Bury any tin cans or bottles and keep unused tyres dry.This is a war that we have to win and I have a special message for the children and young people of Fiji. As well as asking you to be guardians of the environment and lead the anti-litter campaign, I asked you all two years ago to join our battle against Dengue Fever. Many children responded to that call. And I am now asking you all again to join our grown-ups and become warriors against the mosquito.First of all, you need to Fight the Bite - to protect yourselves against mozzie bites. Put on some kind of mosquito repellent so you dont get bitten when you go out. Ask your parents to get you some if you dont already have it. Sleep under a mosquito net if you can. Get your parents or an older brother or sister to light a coil. Its very important that you take responsibility to keep yourself and those around you safe.In the daylight hours, with your repellent on, thats when you can go to war as well. To join the hunt for those places where mozzies are breeding and hiding. Go into your backyard and make sure theres no water in anything  a bucket, a plastic container, anything that can hold water for any length of time. Tip them over or throw them out. Dispose of them properly.Get together with your friends and track down these places where the mosquitos are coming from, carrying these terrible diseases. Clean up around your houses. Remove containers or rubbish that hold water. Empty your pot plant trays, empty the water out of old tyres, household rubbish or tarpaulins. Make sure your parents keep the gutter clear and the grass cut.Children, as in the case of our anti-litter campaign, I am giving you all permission as Prime Minister to pester your parents about this. To be as pesky as any mosquito if need be. Because we are all facing a very serious threat of catching disease, a threat to the health of every Fijian. And only by working together as one nation, one people, young and old, can we win this war.Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to warmly thank every Fijian who has already been part of the cleanup after Cyclone Winston and especially our health and vector service teams.Since last month, major clean-ups have commenced in the Western and Northern divisions. In the Western Division, 261 loads of rubbish have so far been collected from more than 60 communities stretched over the four subdivisions. In the Northern Division, 30 loads have been collected so far from the three subdivisions.Our teams have also been spraying affected areas, were already carrying out community awareness programs and weve started to enforce the law, launching four prosecutions so far for accumulated rubbish.As I said, civil servants across the ministries are to be engaged in a general clean up. But we are especially targeting areas that have been identified as mosquito-borne disease hot spots. These include the Nausori and Lami town council areas, and I appeal to the residents of both places to be especially vigilant, along with those living in other parts of Fiji who have also been designated more at risk. The priority areas are being publicised as part of this campaign and I ask the media to do all it can to make people aware of them.But, my fellow Fijians, we need a more concerted effort from everyone. So whether you are an individual or a group of friends, a school, community, sporting or religious group, we need your urgent assistance to join the clean-up.And, of course, when we clean up Fiji, we will not only be minimizing the risk of disease, we will all have cause to be a lot more proud of our beloved homeland.My fellow Fijians, this campaign begins now and I ask you all to join it. To Clean-up Fiji and in doing so, to Fight the Bite of those pesky mosquitos and destroy their breeding places.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have worked together in many films and their first film together was Dhai Akshar Prem Ke. Recently Aishwarya took a dig at herself and Abhishek when asked about the film. The Sarbjit actress, met up with the students of Mithibai college in Mumbai recently.

According to Pinkvilla, during a fun quiz session, Aish talked about the movie and said, "That Film was a riot. OMG Abhishek and me have hammed through that movie. We keep saying what are we doing here? Some of the scenes were so way out. Today, well forget today, down the years also whenever we saw the movie we used to be like, really????"

Click On VIEW PHOTOS To See Aishwarya & Abhishek's Adorable Pics



Aishwarya Rai Bachchan further added, "I mean my character's brief - now you can watch it as a comedy if you do - but my brief was that the thought first occurs to you and then you say the line. So, I've got to do (makes a twitch) 'mat jaayiye'. I am like, 'Whats with the twitch'?''

Why So Beautiful Gauri Khan! Hot Pictures Of Shahrukh Khan's Wife Will Make B'Wood Actresses Jealous

''Abhishek and me till date we joke about it. There is this one bit before some storm breaks out in the jeep and he said, 'Ye Khudrat ka Kya..something something'..and our eyebrows and eyes are like...(makes funny faces) we are like what are we doing, it is so way out there," the beautiful actress revealed.

On the work front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will soon be seen in Omung Kumar's film Sarbjit. Aishwarya is playing the role of Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur, in the film.

The movie is all set to hot the screens on May 20th.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will complete 15 years at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. In the past Aishwarya Rai was criticised a lot for her fashion choices at the festival. But still the lady just does not give it a damn! And that's what we love about her; she knows her priorities.

In a conversation on a live video social platform, Aishwarya revealed that she has not yet decided what she will wear at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Aishwarya said, "Cannes Film Festival is two days away and I still don't know what I am wearing. You guys can troll me as much as you want but the fact is I have just been too busy.''

Click On VIEW PHOTOS To See Aishwarya's Stunning Pics From Cannes



As we all know Aishwarya Rai Bachchan represents the cosmetics giant L'Oreal at Cannes Film Festival every year. The stunning actress will walk the red carpet this year on May 13 and 14.



Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Makes Fun Of Abhishek Bachchan & Their First Film Together

The Cannes Film Festival began on May 11 and ends on May 22. Apart from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mallika Sherawat and Sonam Kapoor will also grace the event.

On the professional front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is busy with the promotions of her second film after her comeback film last year, Jazbaa.

Sarbjit is based on the life of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who wasconvicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and died in prison. Aishwarya is playing the role of Dalbir Kaur in the movie, who tried for decades to get her brother released from the Pakistan jail.

When asked how her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan responded to the trailer, she said: "She realised I looked very different, so I tried to make a joke about it and told her it's like playing dress up."
In Germany, media that can make or store copies (drives, copiers, blank optical discs) is subject to a "private copying levy" that is meant to compensate rightsholders for the works that will be copied to it (in return, the levy confers a limited right to make those copies to the purchaser).

The society that collects and distributes this money, Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort, has been remitting 30-50% of the royalty to publishers. Now, Germany's Supreme Court, the Bundesgerichtshof, has ruled that this was unlawful, and affirmed that the law requires 100% of the levy to be given to authors alone.

German publishers are claiming that this is their death-knell, without acknowledging the hardship they imposed on authors by misappropriating their funds. As Stefan Niggemeier points out, if publishers can't survive without these funds, that means the industry was only viable in the first place because it was stealing from writers.

If now really began the great publishing dying, that would be a remarkable irony: It would mean that the whole beautiful business for many years only worked because publishers unlawful Conceded money that should have been granted to authors. It's about more than hundred million euros royalties, mainly from royalties on equipment. The prices of copiers, USB sticks, smartphones, etc. compensation for the right to private copies of copyright protected works to customize. This money is to German and European law to the authors: In return for that they have to accept that their works are reproduced for personal use.

Schoner Verlegen  mit dem Geld anderer Leute

[Stefan Niggemeier/Uebermedien] [Google Translate translation]

(Thanks, Ewan McGee)

(Image: Letters Letters of my old Typewriter, Andreas, CC-BY-SA)
The very beautiful Katrina Kaif is in Morocco these days for the shooting of her upcoming film Jagga Jasoos. The actress recently posed for a picture with her fitness trainer Reza Katani.

And holy cow! She is looking breathtaking in her no make-up avatar and after seeing this picture even her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor will regret losing her.



Click On VIEW PHOTOS To See The Stunning Pics Of Katrina



Katrina Kaif is very particular about her fitness and despite her busy life, she always takes time off for workout. Talking about the same, a leading daily reported a source as saying, "Katrina wants to stay in shape. She has been utilising her spare time after the shoot finishes to work out with her trainer, Reza Katani, who has travelled with her to Morocco.

Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Awesome Reply To Cannes 2016 Fashion Police

''He stays with Katrina on the sets all the time. She trained with him for Dhoom:3 (2013) as well. She mostly does Pilates," he said.

The source further added, "There's speculation that Katrina is shaping up for her upcoming film. But her look has been kept under wraps, so no one knows."

Now let's talk about Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor, their break-up was certainly not a great one. Unlike Deepika Padukone, Ranbir doesn't want to be friends with Katrina anymore.

According to the recent reports, the actor has said 'no' to kiss Katrina Kaif on-screen for the movie Jagga Jasoos. But it's not only Ranbir, even Katrina Kaif is throwing major fits on the sets of Jagga Jasoos.

Also, Ranbir Kapoor clearly told his producers that he will not travel to Morocco with Katrina Kaif for their film Jagga Jasoos.

Strange, isn't it?
China International Capital Corp (CICC), the countrys first joint-venture investment bank, sold its debut offshore bond on Wednesday, raising $500 million.

The Reg S deal has been a long time in coming given the bank was founded in 1995 as a joint venture between Morgan Stanley and China Construction Bank.

But the long track record it has established since then, executing the overseas listings of Chinas major state-owned entities, means CICC is a well-known brand with international investors and has a strong following domestically.

This, plus the bonds three-year tenor, which strongly appealed to Chinese banks, also meant CICC was able to build up a sizeable peak order book of $6 billion.

However, an aggressive 32.5bp price revision led some yield-sensitive private banking demand to drop out according to syndicate bankers who said the final order book closed at $4.5 billion.

One banker described the outcome was "satisfactory," noting that CICCs BBB+/BBB+ rated 2019 deal priced almost 10bp tighter than Citic Securities outstanding 2019 issue, which has a one notch lower rating from Standard & Poors.

The deal was initially marketed at 225bp over three-year Treasuries, before pricing was tightened to 2.5bp either side of 195bp over.

Final pricing in the name of CICC Hong Kong Finance was fixed at 99.826% on a coupon of 2.75% to yield 2.811%, or 192.5bp over Treasuries, according to a term sheet seen by FinanceAsia. The deal incorporates a keepwell structure and has been issued off a newly established $2 billion MTN programme.

A total of 196 accounts participated, with a split of 92% Asia, 8% Europe. By investor type, fund managers took 43%, banks 29%, sovereign wealth funds and insurers 17% and private banks 11%.

Syndicate bankers placed fair value around 190bp over Treasuries. They said this reflected the company's stronger government support relative to rivals such as Citic and Haitong Securities.

Central Huijin Investment, the domestic investment arm of China's sovereign-wealth fund, is CICCs largest shareholder, with a 28.45% stake. Standard & Poors said it was this support, which lifts CICC two notches above its underlying stand-alone BBB- credit profile.

By contrast, Citic enjoys a one-notch uplift from its stand-alone rating.

Its 3.5% October 2019 deal was trading on a G-spread of 200bp according to the final sales note distributed by the syndicate.

Another comparable is BBB rated Haitong Securities, which has a 3.5% April 2020 bond outstanding. This was trading on a G-spread of 207bp on Wednesday.

Creating its own debt platform

CICC plans to use the proceeds from the debt sale to fund its offshore business and investments. The company has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and London.

Ironically the bond deal may presage a more active role in DCM for CICC, as the brokerage firm plans to expand its bond and structured financing units in a bid to diversify its revenue mix.

According to one source familiar with the company, CICC hired a team of 10 fixed income bankers from Standard Chartered last year, as a first step towards strengthening its offshore bond business.

To date, Beijing-based CICC is best known for winning lucrative IPO mandates and recently listed itself, raising $811 million from a Hong Kong flotation.

Prior to this, CICC led the $22 billion listing of Agricultural Bank of China back in 2010 - the worlds largest IPO until Alibaba went public. Its first major IPO was the $4.2 billion privatization of China Telecom, now China Mobile, back in 1997.

More recently, the company was one of the lead advisers on a $4.5 billion private funding round for Ant Financial, Alibaba's financial affiliate.

Last year, CICCs gross revenues jumped 54.4% year-on-year to Rmb9.5 billion ($1.5 billion). Net profit soared 74.6% to Rmb1.9 billion over the same period, thanks to strong growth in fee and commission income from its M&A and brokerage businesses.

Joint global coordinators for the bond deal were: CICC Hong Kong Securities, Citi and Standard Chartered, while ABC International, Bocom Hong Kong Branch, China Construction Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, ICBC, OCBC Bank, Wing Lung Bank were joint bookrunners.

This article has been updated with final deal stats.
TORONTO, 2016-05-12 01:11 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX:MND) today announced revenue of $50.4 million, adjusted EBITDA of $17.3 million and consolidated net income before special items of $1.1 million or $0.00 per share for the first quarter of 2016. The Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016, together with its Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the corresponding period can be accessed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.mandalayresources.com. All currency references in this press release are in U.S. dollars except as otherwise indicated.In accordance with the Company's dividend policy, Mandalay's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $3.0 million (6% of the trailing quarter's gross revenue), or $0.0073 per share (CDN$0.0094 per share), payable on June 3, 2016, to shareholders of record as of May 24, 2016.The Company's consolidated net income for the quarter of $1.1 million ($0.00 per share) has been adjusted for special items to an adjusted net income of $1.0 million ($0.00 per share). Special items excluded from adjusted net income are: tax expense adjustment at Costerfield of $1.4 million; write-off of $3.4 million of residual mining interest at Fabiola and Yasna veins at Cerro Bayo and the associated tax savings of $0.8 million; and tax savings of $1.4 million upon cancellation of the royalty rights at Cerro Bayo purchased from Coeur Mining during the quarter. For a full reconciliation of the adjustments, please refer to the Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation to Net Income table found on page 14 of the Company's MD&A for the first quarter of 2016.Commenting on first quarter 2016 financial results, Dr. Mark Sander, President and CEO of Mandalay, noted, "Mandalay generated strong revenue and EBITDA in the first quarter of 2016, on an annualized pace exceeding last year's revenue and EBITDA, despite lower metal prices relative to the first quarter of 2015. As a result of our continuing low average cash production cost per saleable gold equivalent ounce ("oz Au Eq.") of $751, we generated 34% EBITDA margins in the quarter. We ended the quarter with $40.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $49.2 million at the beginning of the quarter, due to the $4.0 million cash portion of the Cerro Bayo royalty acquisition and increases in accounts receivables of $6.0 million mainly due to unsettled shipments sold late in the quarter. Having repurchased the Cerro Bayo royalty from Coeur Mining, the Company has no remaining private royalties on any of its current operations and our shareholders can expect to realize the full benefit of increasing production and metal prices going forward."Dr. Sander continued, "During the first quarter of 2016, Costerfield continued its excellent operational and financial performance, producing its second highest ever quarterly total of 16,966 oz Au Eq., at a record low cash cost of $512/oz Au Eq. and all-in cost of $724/oz Au Eq. Since achieving its maximum daily design throughput rate of 450 tonnes ("t") per day in 2014, the Costerfield team has consistently delivered continuous operational improvements, which in the current quarter include mining record tonnes at record low cost/t and processing record tonnes at record low cost/t. Having completed all major capital items for the current life of mine plan at Costerfield, we receive substantial free cash flow each quarter from the operation. We are working to extend the mine life through drilling lodes below the King Cobra fault, approximately 100 metres deeper than the current Cuffley workings, and by applying recent, sustainably lower operating costs to evaluation of resources already drilled in the Brunswick lode adjacent to the plant."Dr. Sander added, "Our underground grade control program at Bjorkdal started to demonstrate success in the first quarter for the first time since our acquisition of the project. We were able to deliver on-vein development grades in excess of 2.5 grams of gold per tonne ("g/t Au") and stoping grades in excess of 1.75 g/t Au for the last two months of the quarter. As a result, the mine produced its second highest amount of gold (12,185 oz) at its second lowest cash cost ($821/oz Au) under Mandalay ownership. Key to further improvement is accelerating the rate of underground development so that we can consistently deliver 2 g/t Au reserve grade to the plant. This acceleration process is well underway. The Company also initiated a grab sample program for grade control in the open pit with the aim of better delineating the mineralization within blasts and improving the overall production grade from the open pit. The grade improvement from this procedural change is expected to be seen for the remainder of the year. We also expect to start our large scale (60,000 t) optical ore sorting test in the second quarter to assess our ability to upgrade lower-grade development ore that is currently being transported to the low-grade stockpile."Cerro Bayo continued its transition from the depleted Yasna and Fabiola veins to the new Delia SE and Coyita mines during the first quarter of 2016. At Delia SE, we commenced stoping, a few months delayed due to slower on-vein and capital development than planned arising from poorer ground conditions than anticipated. The Company received governmental permission during the first quarter to begin extracting and processing ore from Coyita and on-vein development of ore blocks has now started. We plan to mobilize a contractor late in the second quarter to accelerate capital and on-vein development, increasing the developed state of the mines and allowing a return to mining and processing average reserve grades at our plant design rate of 1,400 t/day. Despite the development bottleneck, the mine and plant have been producing and processing high rates of ore at the lowest unit costs to date over the last few quarters. We anticipate a return to our historical strong financial performance at Cerro Bayo when the mine reaches its target state of development and head grades return to historical averages."We continued advancing our Challacollo development project during the quarter, applying for new water rights to support our preferred processing alternative. We also expect to recommence exploration on the property later in the year."Dr. Sander concluded, "Given our strong overall performance in the quarter, we are maintaining our guidance for corporate consolidated 2016 production, average cash production costs, and capital spending as set out in our January 13, 2016 press release."First Quarter 2016 Financial HighlightsThe following table summarizes the Company's financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:Particulars Three Three months months Ended March Ended March 31, 2016 31, 2015 $'000 $'000 Revenue 50,442 56,779 Adjusted EBITDA 17,262 24,267 Income from mine operations before depreciation and 19,016 25,785 depletion Adjusted net income before special items 1,020 12,484 Consolidated net income 1,149 11,762 Cash capex 9,057 13,001 Total assets 357,117 357,202 Total liabilities 142,190 138,603 Adjusted net income per share 0.00 0.03 Consolidated net income per share 0.00 0.03The declines in revenue and adjusted EBITDA during the first quarter of 2016 relative to the first quarter of 2015 were principally due to lower realized metal prices. (2.3% lower for Au, 10.8% lower for silver ("Ag"), and 35.0% lower for antimony ("Sb"). Factors affecting sales volumes include lower Ag and Au production at Cerro Bayo. Year-on-year operational country exchange rates declines of 8% for the Australian dollar, 12% for the Chilean peso and 1% for the Swedish krona as well as 29% lower petroleum prices partly helped offset the impact of lower metal prices.During the first quarter of 2016, cash capex was approximately $4.0 million lower than in the same quarter of 2015. Virtually all of this decrease was due to completion of the life of mine capital program at Costerfield, where spending was $1.3 million in 2016 versus $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2015.During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company paid out a total of $2.7 million in dividends and $4.0 million for the cancellation of the Coeur Mining royalty at Cerro Bayo.First Quarter 2016 Operational HighlightsThe table below summarizes the Company's capital expenditures and operational unit costs for the first quarter of 2016.Three Three months months ended March ended March 31, 2016 31, 2015 $'000 $'000 Capital development 9,896 6,891 Capital purchases 2,790 4,259 Capital exploration 2,565 2,000 Cerro Bayo: Cash cost per oz Ag produced net of Au $ 9.76 $ 10.09 byproduct credit Cerro Bayo: Site all-in cost per oz Ag produced net of Au $ 18.78 $ 17.61 byproduct credit Costerfield: Cash cost per oz Au Eq. produced $ 512 $ 566 Costerfield: Site all-in cost per oz Au Eq. produced $ 724 $ 774 Bjorkdal: Cash cost per oz Au produced $ 821 $ 797 Bjorkdal: Site all-in cost per oz Au produced $ 1,059 $ 1,016 Company average Cash Cost per oz Au Eq. $ 751 $ 742 Company average All-in Cost per oz Au Eq. $ 1,042 $ 1,010Capital development includes the value of the Cerro Bayo royalty purchase of $5.7 million.Costerfield gold-antimony mine, Victoria, AustraliaCosterfield mined and processed record amounts of ore (44,192 t and 39,635 t, respectively) at record low costs ($125/t and $33.36/t respectively). This excellent performance led to another good quarter in terms of quantities of Au and Sb produced and sold at low cash ($512/oz Au Eq.) and all-in ($724/oz Au Eq.) operating cost. Sustaining capital continued at a low rate, as all major capital programs necessary for the current life of mine plan were completed in the third quarter of 2015.Bjorkdal gold mine, SwedenThe full-scale implementation of the Company's underground on-vein grade control process was a success during the quarter. The Company is now focused on accelerating the mining rate using this process to improve the average grade milled in a sustained fashion. Despite this success, during the first quarter of 2016, the average milled grade of 1.35 g/t Au, was slightly less than the 1.37 g/t Au for the first quarter of 2015. This is because the grade control process results in discarding 30-40% of low-grade on-vein development material, which in the first quarter was replaced in the mill by stockpile material averaging only 0.73 g/t Au. Over the coming months, the Company expects that accelerating the rate of underground development will allow it to increase the feed rate of selected high-grade underground material to the mill, displacing lower-grade stockpile material to raise the overall gold grade and production.Average mining costs rose from $19.94/t in the first quarter of 2015 to $24.57/t in 2016. Mining costs increased in the first quarter of 2016 as additional spending for grade control mapping, sampling and assaying, and selective mining were incurred and total mining costs were spread over fewer tonnes due to low-grade on-vein development material being discarded in accordance with the Company's grade improvement plan. These mining costs were offset by higher gold production to produce gold at similar cash costs. Processing costs declined slightly from $6.79/t in 2015 to $6.48/t in 2016 while the plant recovered slightly over 88% of contained Au.Cerro Bayo silver-gold mine, Patagonia, ChileIn the first quarter, the mines at Cerro Bayo delivered lower grades to the mill than in the previous year, resulting in lower silver and gold production. Excellent control of operating costs and favorable exchange rate movement resulted in lower per unit mining costs (declining to $47.56/t from $54.00/t in 2015) and processing costs (declining to $20.89/t from $23.85/t in 2015). The net result was production of fewer ounces of Ag (515,216) at higher cash cost net of gold credits ($9.76/oz) than in the first quarter of 2015. All-in cost per Ag oz net of Au credits is $18.78.Challacollo, ChileAt the Challacollo silver-gold project in northern Chile, claims and applications for water exploration permits were filed. The Company expects to commence drilling for water upon receipt of permits.La Quebrada and LupinThe La Quebrada copper-silver project in central Chile and the Lupin gold mine in Nunavut, Canada, both currently held for sale, remained on care and maintenance through the period.Conference CallMandalay's management will be hosting a conference call for investors and analysts on May 12, 2016 at 8:00 am (Toronto time).Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers:Participant Number: (201) 689-8341 Participant Number (Toll free): (877) 407-8289 Conference ID: 13635838A replay of the conference call will be available until 23:59 pm (Toronto time), May 26, 2016 and can be accessed using the following dial-in number:Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: (877) 660-6853 Encore ID: 13635838For further information:Mark Sander President and Chief Executive OfficerGreg DiTomaso Director of Investor RelationsContact: 1.647.260.1566About Mandalay Resources Corporation:Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia, Chile and Sweden, and a development project in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in-production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas, and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including guidance as to anticipated gold, silver, and antimony production and production costs in the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in actual results and developments differing from those contemplated by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mandalay's annual information form dated March 30, 2016 a copy of which is available under Mandalay's profile at www.sedar.com. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.Non-IFRS MeasuresThis news release may contain references to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, cash cost per saleable ounce of gold equivalent produced, cash cost per saleable ounce of silver produced net of gold credits, site all-in cost per saleable ounce of gold equivalent produced, site all-in cost per saleable ounce of silver produced net of gold credits and all-in costs, which are all non-IFRS measures and do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. Therefore, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.Management uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to assist in assessing the Company's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs and to fund future capital expenditures, as well as to assist in comparing financial performance from period to period on a consistent basis. Management uses adjusted net income in order to facilitate an understanding of the Company's financial performance prior to the impact of non-recurring or special items. The Company believes that these measures are used by and are useful to investors and other users of the Company's financial statements in evaluating the Company's operating and cash performance because they allow for analysis of our financial results without regard to special, non-cash and other non-core items, which can vary substantially from company to company and over different periods.The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, non-cash charges and finance costs. For a detailed reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA, please refer to page 13 of management's discussion and analysis of the Company's financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.The Company defines cash capex as cash spent on mining interests, property, plant and equipment, and exploration as per the cash flow statement of the financial statements.For Costerfield, saleable equivalent gold ounces produced is calculated by adding to saleable gold ounces produced, the saleable antimony tonnes produced times the average antimony price in the period divided by the average gold price in the period. The total cash operating cost associated with the production of these saleable equivalent ounces produced in the period is then divided by the saleable equivalent gold ounces produced to yield the cash cost per saleable equivalent ounce produced. The cash cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in costs include total cash operating costs, royalty expense, accretion, depletion, depreciation and amortization. The site all-in cost is then divided by the saleable equivalent gold ounces produced to yield the site all-in cost per saleable equivalent ounce produced.For Cerro Bayo, the cash cost per saleable silver ounce produced net of gold byproduct credit is calculated by deducting the gold credit (which equals saleable ounces gold produced times the realized gold price in the period) from the cash operating costs in the period and dividing the resultant number by the saleable silver ounces produced in the period. The cash cost excludes royalty expenses. The site all-in cost per saleable silver ounce produced net of gold byproduct credit is calculated by adding royalty expenses, accretion, depletion, depreciation, and amortization to the cash cost net of gold byproduct credit, dividing the resultant number by the saleable silver ounces produced in the period.For Bjorkdal, the total cash operating cost associated with the production of saleable gold ounces produced in the period is then divided by the saleable gold ounces produced to yield the cash cost per saleable gold ounce produced. The cash cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in costs include total cash operating costs, royalty expense, accretion, depletion, depreciation and amortization. The site all-in cost is then divided by the saleable gold ounces produced to yield the site all-in cost per saleable gold ounce producedFor the Company as a whole, saleable gold equivalent ounces is calculated by multiplying the saleable quantities of Au, Ag and Sb in the period by the respective average market price of the commodities in the period, adding the three amounts to get "total contained value based on market price", and then dividing that total contained value by the average market price of Au in the period. Average Au price in the period is calculated as the average of the daily LME PM fixes in the period, with price on weekend days and holidays taken from the last business day; average Sb price in the period is calculated as the average of the high and low Rotterdam warehouse prices for all days in the period, with price on weekend days and holidays taken from the last business day; average Ag price in the period is calculated as the average of the daily London Broker's silver spot price for all days in the period, with price on weekend days and holidays taken from the last business day. The source for all prices is www.metalbulletin.com.The corporate average cash cost per saleable Au Eq. oz is calculated by summing the cash operating costs for producing the corporate total saleable oz Au Eq. in the period and dividing by the saleable Au Eq. oz.The corporate average all-in sustaining cost per Au Eq. oz is calculated by summing across the Company the cash operating costs, royalty costs, accretion, depletion, depreciation and amortization. The total is then divided by the corporate total saleable Au Eq. oz to arrive at an average all-in sustaining cost/ oz Au Eq.
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/11/16 -- Artesyn Embedded Technologies launched the MaxCore HA platform, a high availability version of its microserver platform for NFV/SDN and carrier cloud networks, including new network components such as the cloud/virtualized radio access network (C-RAN/vRAN). It is designed for next generation constrained-space installations, such as the LTE rollout in China, while still retrofitting into existing LTE deployments and meeting telecom central office high availability requirements.

The versatile MaxCore architecture enables operators to create either massively dense single-function appliances or to deploy multiple independent virtual network functions (VNFs), such as voice or video transcoding, on a single platform. Carriers can reduce the capital and operating expense of deploying cloud infrastructure, while allowing it to scale as needed. For example, a single MaxCore HA system can support significantly more cells per RAN, in a compressed footprint and with a fraction of the power and cooling costs compared with a traditional rack mount server (RMS) approach using today's L1 technology.

Todd Wynia, vice president of communications platforms marketing, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, said: "We estimate that carriers can build their C-RAN/vRAN infrastructure with the MaxCore HA platform at one quarter the cost per cell compared to RMS-based solutions but with higher density and lower power consumption. The high availability features built into this new platform, such as hot swap and clocking, enables carriers to bring virtualization to the network edge and support mobile edge computing on the path to 5G. What's more, Artesyn's accelerator products can work with existing server infrastructure and customer-designed or third-party PCI Express cards so carriers are not locked in and have the most flexibility in deployment."

Capable of accommodating up to 384 Intel Xeon D processor cores, the MaxCore HA platform is one of the highest density high availability platforms available today.

"The promise of 5G requires powerful network edge devices with local caching capabilities," said Dan Rodriguez, general manager, Communications Infrastructure Division, Intel. "Artesyn's MaxCore platform will help deliver on that promise with NFV and SDN technologies that are flexible and configurable on Intel architecture and achieve lower operating costs."

The Artesyn MaxCore HA platform is housed in a 5U high, 19-inch rack-mountable enclosure with redundant switch cards featuring optional 100G Ethernet interfaces and 12 hot swap PCI Express fabric slots. Customers can flexibly configure it with Artesyn microserver or SharpStreamer acceleration cards or third party off-the-shelf PCI Express cards, connected through a high speed backplane without cables for high-performance and simple configuration. Front access I/O interfaces and front-to-rear cooling are preferred for many telecom central office environments. It features system management software and Artesyn's Silver Lining NFV enabling software, which leverages open source projects such as OpenFlow, OpenStack, Linux, OVS and DPDK.

Artesyn has recently published two solution briefs on lowering the CapEx and OpEx associated with building C-RAN and vRAN infrastructure.

Image

MaxCore HA platform

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About Artesyn Embedded Technologies

Artesyn Embedded Technologies is a global leader in the design and manufacture of highly reliable power conversion and embedded computing solutions for a wide range of industries including communications, computing, medical, military, aerospace and industrial. For more than 40 years, customers have trusted Artesyn to help them accelerate time-to-market and reduce risk with cost-effective advanced network computing and power conversion solutions. Artesyn has over 20,000 employees worldwide across ten engineering centers of excellence, four world-class manufacturing facilities, and global sales and support offices.

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Alice Hui

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Email Contact








The PanoVu Panoramic Camera is recognized by a panel of renowned industry experts, praising the camera's simple design, compact structure and easy installation

HANGZHOU, China, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision, the world's leading supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions, is proud to announce that it has received a prestigious iF Design Award for its PanoVu series camera DS-2DP1636-D 16MP 360-degree panoramic camera. The annual iF Design Award is recognized as a symbol of design excellence around the world, attracting more than 5,000 submissions from 70 different countries, and is judged by a panel of over 60 design experts.

The PanoVu camera provides 360-degree distortion-free Ultra HD images with 8 x 1/1.9" Progressive Scan CMOS sensors in one camera. This allows users to replace multiple cameras with one multi-sensor unit-- curtailing costs and reducing technical complexity. Its all-in-one design further provides user-friendly installation and configuration by only one Ethernet cable and one power supply cable. Minimum illumination at 0.002 Lux in color mode means around-the-clock, 360-degree monitoring is available.

Hikvision International Marketing Director Keen Yao says the iF Design Award is a great honor and recognition of the work done by Hikvision's dedicated designers. "We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award from such an esteemed and influential organization," he says. "The PanoVu series features a simple, clean design and compact structure that provides ultra-high-definition panoramic images, seamlessly integrating video from multiple sensors in one unit. We believe it is the best equipped high-end panoramic solution on the market."

Hikvision PanoVu Series is designed for large-scale security monitoring applications such as stadiums, city centers, airports and parking lots. The product family is available in 8 MP, 180-degree and 16 MP, 360-degree variants, allowing users to select the ideal model for their specific surveillance application.

The iF Design Awards have been conferred annually since 1954. Each year, the iF International Forum Design invites submissions from around the globe in seven disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication, Interior Architecture, Professional Concept, Service Design, and Architecture. Hikvision's award is for Surveillance Cameras in the Product discipline.

About Hikvision

Hikvision is the world's leading supplier of video surveillance solutions. Featuring the industry's strongest R&D workforce, Hikvision uses its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to design and develop innovative CCTV and video surveillance products for any security need.For more information, please visit Hikvision's website at www.hikvision.com.
Supermarket supports government campaign to address labour shortages through the implementation of convenient new Hybrid Payment Kiosk.

Sheng Siong Supermarket, Singapore's third largest retailer, has introduced Glory's CashInfinity secure closed cash management solution, making shopping faster and more convenient for their customers. The solution from Glory Global Solutions, a global leader in cash technology solutions, complements Sheng Siong's latest move in addressing manpower challenges in the industry. First piloted in December 2014, the Glory CashInfinity solution is being rolled out in stores island-wide.

The cash payment kiosk accepts, authenticates and dispenses cash for customers; speeding up transactions, improving overall security and increasing cashiers' productivity. The Glory solution reduces time spent on performing cash reconciliation tasks by up to 50%.

The solution automatically collects the customer's payment and dispenses change accurately, removing the need for manual payment to a cashier. This ensures greater accuracy in cash payments, and frees cashiers to spend more time with customers to serve them better. The system also affords more flexibility and versatility as more time can be spent performing other duties such as stock management and merchandising.

Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive Officer, Sheng Siong Group, said, "We are the first supermarket to implement full self-payment kiosks in Singapore. 70% of Sheng Siong customers still prefer to use cash and 30% prefer card, therefore the unique ability of the system to accept both forms of payment and act as an ATM for cash withdrawal fits perfectly. The CashInfinity system is a crucial investment in our efforts to enable customers to enjoy smoother checkouts with accurate payment handling and better service."

Speaking alongside Mr Lim Ben Thorpe, Managing Director for Glory Global Solutions Asia Pacific region, said, "Amid the growing labour crunch and increasingly competitive business environment, Sheng Siong Group identified that through the adoption of self-service technologies they could go much of the way to addressing these challenges. We look forward to working with Sheng Siong Group over the course of the roll out and further assisting them in their continued quest to best serve the needs of their customers."

-ENDS-

About Glory Global Solutions

Glory Global Solutions is the global leader in secure cash management solutions. Operating across the financial, retail, cash centre and gaming industries, businesses in more than 100 countries rely on our solutions to enhance staff efficiency, reduce operating costs and enable a better customer experience.

Headquartered in the UK, Glory Global Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of GLORY Ltd. Employing over 3,000 professionals worldwide with dedicated R&D and manufacturing facilities across Europe, Asia and North America, Glory Global Solutions is GLORY's international sales and service organisation. Built on a rich customer-focused, technology-driven heritage spanning almost a hundred years, GLORY is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of cash management, vending and automatic service equipment.

For further information please visit www.gloryglobalsolutions.com or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/glory_global

About Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd

Home-grown Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd ("Sheng Siong Supermarket" in short) was established in 1985 by Mr Lim Hock Eng, Mr Lim Hock Chee and Mr Lim Hock Leng, who are brothers. Back then, it was only a small supermart below a block of HDB flats, selling groceries and food at reasonable prices and providing the heartlanders with good service. As time passes by, Sheng Siong Supermarket progresses steadily, unaffected by the economic downturn or recession. Today, it has already become a household name and a grocery retail chain with 40 stores island-wide and more than 2000 employees. Sheng Siong Supermarket is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sheng Siong Group Ltd which was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange in August 2011. The annual sales turnover of Sheng Siong Group Ltd as at 31 December 2015 was S$764.4 million.

www.shengsiong.com.sg

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511005016/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Glory Global Solutions

Paul Race

Director of Global Marketing Operations

M: +44 (0) 7887 052366

paul.race@uk.glory-global.com
NEW YORK, NY and BERLIN, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Auctionata and Paddle8 announced today that they are joining forces to create the global leader in online art, collectibles and vintage luxury. The joint company will immediately become one of the top 10 auction houses worldwide outside of China and the fastest growing company in the sector. Paddle8 and Auctionata share a vision of being the destination of choice for the 21st century collector as well as art dealers. Auctionata has already established a presence in Europe as the leading German auction platform. In the U.S., Paddle8 is the largest online auction platform and has strong brand recognition as a marketplace for art and luxury collectibles. With joint sales above $150M and nearly 800,000 registered users, the united company will be a dominant player for art and luxury collectibles in the most important markets globally.

"Auctionata and Paddle8 combine complementary business models which will mutually benefit each other in their respective markets. Our ability to innovate at a faster pace and develop new technologies and services is a great opportunity to further increase growth. The reciprocal nature of our business, coupled with our shared desire to grow the culture of collecting in a transparent and efficient manner made this partnership a very easy decision," said Alexander Zacke, CEO of Auctionata.

Together, Paddle8 and Auctionata will grow the underserved global mid-market in this space. While legacy brick-and-mortar auction houses dominate the high-end of the collectibles market, online secondary marketplaces at the opposite end of the spectrum cannot provide transparency and authentication. This leaves a gap where the middle market, for objects up to $500K, is vastly underserved. Both Paddle8 and Auctionata have independently pursued this market, and together they are poised to win and grow the sector.

"This merger allows us to allocate greater resources toward innovating at every step of the collecting process, from online valuation services to post-sale fulfillment, and to expand our current offerings in terms of both categories and sales channels," said Aditya Julka, co-founder of Paddle8. "As a result, we'll be able to provide the best customer experience and the most efficient and comprehensive platform in the middle market for buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe."

The joint company will offer a more extensive and diversified inventory as Paddle8's sales are oriented mostly toward contemporary art and design, while Auctionata specializes in vintage luxury. Paddle8's strong presence in timed auctions, private and charitable sales coupled with Auctionata's industry-first livestream auction format plus online shop means that the two companies can now provide customers with an unrivalled multitude of categories and sales formats. In addition, the united company's strong presence and operational hubs in Europe and the U.S. will enable it to consolidate the market not only in terms of categories, but also across geographies.

"Auctionata and Paddle8 uniting forces strengthens this growing segment of the market," said David Zwirner, one of the world's most influential art dealers and a member of Paddle8's board. "Globally, we are seeing a new era of collecting online. There is a desire and confidence to purchase from anywhere in the world at a moment's notice, which benefits both individual buyers and sellers alike."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The merger brings together an established leadership team with all co-founders remaining in strategic and operational roles integral to the company's future growth. Alexander Zacke, previously CEO of Auctionata, will lead the global management team of the newly formed group. Both the Paddle8 and Auctionata brand names will continue on as the two companies fuse together.

Additionally, all investors from both Paddle8 and Auctionata will remain involved. To date, Auctionata has raised $88M in equity capital with notable investors including Earlybird, Kite Ventures, MCI Management, Hearst Ventures and Groupe Arnault. Paddle8, meanwhile, has raised a total of $44M with an array of investors from across the business, tech and art sectors including Founder Collective, Mousse Partners and Skate Capital, as well as art-world insiders like David Zwirner, Damien Hirst and Jay Jopling.

Founded in 2012, Auctionata has been one of Europe's fastest growing online companies. In 2015, the company recorded $90M in gross merchandise volume, an increase of 165 percent from the prior year. The majority of sales resulted from livestreamed auctions from continental Europe. Auctionata's most successful category in 2015 was vintage luxury (cars, wine, watches and jewelry), and in all, the company held a staggering 249 auctions last year. A highlight from 2015 included the record set for an Asian work of art sold online, with an 18th century Chinese clock grossing $3.83M last June.

Paddle8 was launched in 2010 by co-founders Aditya Julka, Alexander Gilkes and Osman Khan, and has quickly grown to be an innovative force in the U.S. and U.K. art, design and collectibles market, through its timed auctions, private sales and charitable sales. In 2015, the majority of Paddle8's revenues stemmed from the contemporary art and design categories, highlighted by an emphasis on curation from global tastemakers, including Grace Coddington, Damien Hirst and Tory Burch and presenting rare collectibles such as Kurt Cobain's credit card. The company posted sales of nearly $50M in 2015, a 26 percent increase from the prior year and saw substantial growth from its for-profit business, with a 100 percent year-over-year increase.

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NB Private Equity Partners Announces Investor Call Scheduled for 17 May 2016



12 May 2016



NB Private Equity Partners Limited ('NBPE' or the 'Company') today announced that an investor conference call will be held on Tuesday 17 May 2016 in order to discuss the Company's recent financial performance and Company developments.



The conference call will take place at 14.00 BST / 15.00 CEST / 9.00 EDT and can be accessed by dialing +1-866-919-8155 (U.S.) or +1-706-634-9866 (International) with the access code 12162219. Please ask for 'the NBPE investor call.'



A playback facility will be available two hours after the conference call concludes. This facility can be accessed for the following two weeks by dialing +1-855-859-2056 (U.S.) or +1-404-537-3406 (International). The code to access the playback facility is 12162219. A recording of the investor call will also be available on NBPE's website within several days after the call.



An updated investor presentation will be available prior to the call on NBPE's website at http://www.nbprivateequitypartners.com/.



For further information, please contact: NBPE Investor Relations +1 214 647 9593



Neustria Partners +44 (0)20 3021 2583 Nick Henderson Nick.Henderson@neustriapartners.com Robert Bailhache Robert.Bailhache@neustriapartners.com Charles Gorman Charles.Gorman@neustriapartners.com



ABOUT NB PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS LIMITED NBPE is a closed-end private equity investment company with class A ordinary shares admitted to trading on Euronext Amsterdam and the Specialist Fund Market of the London Stock Exchange. NBPE has ZDP shares admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Market of the London Stock Exchange and the Daily Official List of The Channel Islands Securities Exchange Authority Limited. NBPE holds a diversified portfolio of income investments, equity co-investments and fund investments selected by the NB Alternatives group of Neuberger Berman, diversified across private equity asset class, geography, industry, vintage year, and sponsor.



ABOUT NEUBERGER BERMAN Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages equities, fixed income, private equity and hedge fund portfolios for institutions and advisors worldwide. With offices in 18 countries, Neuberger Berman's team is more than 2,100 professionals and the company was named by Pensions & Investments as a 2013 and 2014 Best Place to Work in Money Management. Tenured, stable and long-term in focus, the firm fosters an investment culture of fundamental research and independent thinking. It manages $243 billion in client assets as of 31 March 2016. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.



This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security.



NBPE is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in Guernsey. NBPE has received the necessary consent of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the States of Guernsey Policy Council. NBPE is registered with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme which may offer participations in The Netherlands pursuant to article 2:66 of the Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financial toezicht). All investments are subject to risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of NBPE's investment manager. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this document contains 'forward-looking statements.' Actual events or results or the actual performance of NBPE may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such targets or forward-looking statements.



THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES, OR TO ANY NATIONAL OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS.



Investor Call Scheduled for 17 May 2016: http://hugin.info/137843/R/2011959/745051.pdf



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: NB Private Equity Partners Limited via GlobeNewswire [HUG#2011959]



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AIM: MARL Suite 102, 3 Eden Street 12 May 2016 North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia



THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.



Issue of Equity- Warrant Exercise



Mariana Resources Ltd ('Mariana' or the 'Company'), the AIM listed exploration and development company with projects in Turkey and South America, announces that 1,410,106 broker warrants, relating to the February 2015 private placement, exercisable into ordinary shares at 1.6p each have been exercised and funds have been received.



The Company will issue and allot 1,410,106 new ordinary shares.



Admission to AIM



Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Dealings are expected to commence on or about 17 May 2016 ('Admission').



Following Admission, there will be a total of 1,189,518,272 ordinary shares on issue.



**ENDS**



For further information please visit website at www.marianaresources.com or contact the following.



In Australia:



Glen Parsons (CEO) Mariana Resources Ltd +61 2 9437 4588



Eric Roth (COO) Mariana Resources Ltd +56 9 8818 1243



Rob Adamson RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad) +61 2 9250 0041



Will Souter RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad) +61 2 9250 0050



In U.K.



Oliver Stansfield Brandon Hill Capital (UK Broker) +44 20 3463 5061



Jonathan Evans Brandon Hill Capital (UK Broker) +44 20 3463 5016



Camilla Horsfall Blytheweigh (Financial PR) +44 20 7138 3224



Megan Ray Blytheweigh (Financial PR) +44 20 7138 3203



About Mariana Resources Mariana Resources Ltd is an AIM quoted exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of gold, silver and copper projects in South America and Turkey. Mariana's most advanced asset is the Hot Maden gold-copper project in north east Turkey, which is a joint venture with its Turkish JV partner Lidya (30% Mariana and 70% Lidya). A maiden mineral resource estimate of 2.03 Moz gold Equivalent (Indicated Category) and 0.97 Moz gold Equivalent (Inferred Category) (100% basis) was reported for Hot Maden on August 18, 2015. Elsewhere in Turkey, Mariana holds a 100% interest in the Ergama gold-copper project. In Suriname, Mariana has a direct holding of 10.2% of the Nassau Gold project.) The Nassau Gold Project is a 28,000 Ha exploration concession located approximately 125 km south east of the capital Paramaribo and immediately adjacent to Newmont Mining's 4.2Moz gold Merian project. In southern Argentina, the Company's core gold-silver projects are Las Calandrias (100%), Sierra Blanca (100%), Los Cisnes (100%), Bozal (100%). These projects are part of a 160,000+ Ha land package in the Deseado Massif epithermal gold-silver district in mining-friendly Santa Cruz Province. Mariana acquired 100% interests in the Dona Ines gold-silver and Exploradora East copper prospects in northern Chile through the Aegean Metals Group transaction which closed in January, 2015, with Mariana exploration now being funded by Asset Chile through the provision of $1.65m for a total 50% interest. In Peru, Mariana is focusing on acquiring new opportunities which complement its current portfolio.



Safe Harbour This press release contains certain statements which may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this press release and include, without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, the realization, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource estimates, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, and requirements for additional capital. The words 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimate', 'forecasts', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'may', 'will', or similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the effects of general economic conditions; the price of gold, silver and copper; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; risks associated with international operations; the need for additional financing; risks inherent in exploration results; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters; currency and commodity price fluctuations; title matters; environmental liability claims; unanticipated operational risks; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; political risk; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual financial statements for the most recently completed financial year which is available on the Company's website at www.marianaresources.com . Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: Mariana Resources Ltd via GlobeNewswire [HUG#2011964]



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Opening of a new facility in Woburn, near Boston, Massachusetts

Increased operational capacity for MEDIAN Technologies Inc.

Ambitious US recruitment plan for the US

Regulatory News:

MEDIAN Technologies (ALMDT.PA) (Paris:ALMDT), a leading medical imaging solutions and service provider for image interpretation and management in oncology, today announced its US expansion plans with the opening of a major facility for its US subsidiary MEDIAN Technologies Inc. The new site in Woburn, Massachusetts will bring together all of the teams located around the Boston area and has the capacity to handle the ambitious US recruitment plan over the coming months. With this new space and expected employee growth, MEDIAN Technologies Inc. demonstrates a major increase in its operational capacity for the management of imaging projects in clinical trials.

"By strengthening our presence in the US through MEDIAN Technologies Inc., we will be able to provide the best possible service to our US customer base. In 2015, 43.5% of our revenue was produced in North America. A more permanent, stronger establishment in the US market was an essential step for us. We had also made this commitment to our investors and customers. It's now a done deal," said Fredrik Brag, CEO of MEDIAN Technologies "The Boston area is an extraordinary breeding ground for all the biopharmaceutical industry players, particularly in the field of oncology. Large pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies, which are either already our customers or potential customers, are very present in the region. This will provide us with great momentum and help fuel our on-going growth."

The facility, Trade Center 128, located at 300 Trade Center, Suite 5610, 01801 Woburn, MA, USA will be operational as of May 16, 2016.

About MEDIAN Technologies: MEDIAN Technologies develops medical imaging software and services dedicated to oncology clinical trials, cancer screening, and clinical practice. MEDIAN Technologies standardizes and automates the interpretation of medical images in oncology to optimize the diagnosis of cancer patients and the assessment of their response to therapy. MEDIAN serves two primary markets: drug development and patient care. MEDIAN has a strategic partnership with the world's largest CRO (Contract Research Organization) to offer integrated imaging services for clinical trials to biopharma sponsors worldwide, and a strategic partnership with Canon to develop new imaging technologies, and to address the patient care market.

Founded in 2002, MEDIAN Technologies is based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, and has a US subsidiary in Boston. MEDIAN has a global reach and actively works with clinical sites located in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. MEDIAN has received the label "Innovative company" by the BPI and is listed on Euronext Paris' Alternext market. (ISIN: FR0011049824, ticker: ALMDT). The company is eligible for the PEA PME SME equity savings plan setup. For more information on MEDIAN, please visit: www.mediantechnologies.com

"We are committed to the improvement of cancer patient outcomes through innovation in medical imaging and quality execution for better screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of patients."

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511006702/en/

Contacts:

MEDIAN Technologies

Fredrik Brag, CEO

+33 4 92 90 65 82

fredrik.brag@mediantechnologies.com

or

Press

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol

Wendy Rigal

+ 33 1 44 54 36 66

median@alizerp.com

or

Investors

ACTIFIN

Ghislaine Gasparetto, +33 1 56 88 11 11

ggasparetto@actifin.fr
Security researcher Matt Blaze noticed this vehicle in Philadelphia. It had a large Google Streetview sticker on the window, but Matt noticed a Philadelphia Office of Fleet Management placard on the windshield. He took a photo of the vehicle and tweeted it, along with the comment, "WTF? Pennsylvania State Police license plate reader SUV camouflaged as Google Street View vehicle."

The PA State Police read Matt's tweet and replied via Twitter, "Matt, this is not a PSP vehicle. If this is LPR [license plate reader] technology, other agencies and companies might make use of it."

So, who is driving around in a vehicle disguised as both a Google Streetview car and is equipped with a license plate reader? Motherboard asked the office of Fleet Management, and got some more information:

A placard on the dashboard indicates that the SUV is registered with the Philadelphia Office of Fleet Management, which maintains city government's 6,316 vehicles, indicating that the vehicle is being used by a local agency. Christopher Cocci, who serves as the city's fleet manager, and whose signature is on the document, says that the vehicle does not belong to the Pennsylvania State Police, which is known to use automated license plate recognition (ALPR), or the Philadelphia Parking Authority, a local agency that also utilizes ALPR. So whose surveillance truck is it? "All city vehicles such as police, fire, streets etc.are registered to the city. Quasi [public] agencies like PPA, Housing Authority, PGW and School District are registered to their respective agencies," fleet manager Christopher Cocci wrote in an email to Motherboard after reviewing photos of the vehicle. He also believes it to be connected to law enforcement activity.

Motherboard concludes that it is probably the city's police department, not the state's. They've reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department but have not heard back from them.
Announcement no. 232 The Board of Directors of SSBV-Rovsing A/S (Rovsing) today approved the Interim Report for Q3 (1 January 2016 - 31 March 2016) of the financial year 2015/16. The Interim Report is not audited.In Q3 2015/16, the revenue was DKK 6.4 mio. (Q3 2014/15: DKK 5.6 mio.) and the EBITDA was DKK 0.6 mio. (Q3 2014/15: DKK minus 0.4 mio.).The revenue year to date (1 July 2015 - 31 March 2016) was DKK 18.6 mio. (YTD 2014/15: DKK 14.3 mio.) and EBITDA year to date was DKK minus 1.1 mio. (YTD 2014/15: DKK minus 1.3 mio.).The Revenue and EBITDA YTD are, as described in the Interim Report for H1 2015/16, impacted negatively by recovery costs induced by the bankruptcy of the major DSTE technology partner SSBV Space & Ground BV (the Netherlands) and change of the CEO.Market developmentIn January 2016, Rovsing signed the development and delivery agreement with our US partner RT Logic to provide Boeing Aerospace, Los Angeles (USA) with a set of electric power test and simulation systems. (See announcement no. 225). While Rovsing provides the major part of the system engineering and equipment, RT Logic will add own products, local installation, training, and maintenance services.Rovsing's share in the contract has a value of 1.58 M$ (1.37 M) and contains a significant number of Solar Array Simulator (SAS) and Second Level Protection (SLP) products.The contract holds the option to procure some 15 more systems over the next 2 financial years to deliver functional testing systems for Boeing's commercial telecom satellite's final assembly line and the offered options could yield a turnover of up to 8 M$ (6.94 M). The contract is considered to be a breakthrough in Rovsing's endeavor to open the U.S. market for the company's products. The activities on the US market will complement the existing business in Europe and pave Rovsing's way into the largest satellite market in the world.Products - development and maintenanceAs described in the Interim Report for H1 2015/16, the development of the Solar Array Simulator (SAS) is to be finalized and testing documentation to be approved by ESA in spring 2016. The actual status is that the last of three qualification phases is agreed with ESA to be finished in June 2016 with documented proof that all findings of the previous functional tests have been implemented as agreed.Integration and testing of several Power SCOE systems is well underway for planned deliveries in Q4 2015/16. No major Power SCOE contracts are expected in Q4 2015/16.The company has finalized an agreement with a new Dutch partner, Celestia STS, having taken over the business and know-how of SSBV Space & Ground, regarding the continuation of ongoing and future DSTE projects. The agreement will mean a major ramp-up of manufacturing activities of DSTE systems in Q4 2015/16Also the kickoff of a significant SAS upgrade activity under contract with ESA is expected in Q4 2015/16.Outlook for 2015/16For the financial year 2015/16, the Company maintains the previously announced expectations to the turnover in the range of DKK 24-28 mio. and an EBITDA in the range of DKK 0 to minus 3 mio.Further informationSSBV-Rovsing A/S, Christian Bank, CEO: Phone +45 44 200 802 or Dan Bang, CFO: Phone +45 20 305 320Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=571428
LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Alaco, a prominent London-based business intelligence consultancy, has launched a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to international sanctions, designed to help businesses navigate the growing number of trade and investment restrictions affecting different jurisdictions around the world.

Updated quarterly, the Alaco Guide to Sanctions provides an overview of all the sanctions programmes operated by the EU, the US, the UN and Switzerland, including detail on restrictions in place, implementation timelines and links to the underlying official documentation.

The guide distils the raft of often dense sanctions-related trade regulations and legal documents into concise notes that enable readers quickly to assess the risks of doing business in developing world markets. "Our guide is a time-saving tool for companies who want to know how sanctions work and how to avoid being ensnared," said James Birkett, Alaco Senior Associate.

As businesses look to invest in emerging economies, they become vulnerable to sanctions programmes spanning large parts of Africa and Asia. "While many restrictions are no longer in the news, they continue to be maintained, presenting regulatory and reputational risks long after the issue that led to the imposition of sanctions has dropped out of the headlines," added Birkett.

For busy executives, navigating the sanctions landscape can be both onerous and time consuming. "Sanctions lists are a moving target. Very few have sunset clauses. Some are constantly amended. Others contract over time. Consequently, entities and individuals are frequently coming on or off sanctions lists. Keeping abreast of these changes is something international companies need to do. But doing so is challenging," said Adrian Stones, Alaco's Director of Operations.

Even the most vigilant business can be easily caught out unless they track developments in sanctions programmes. "Companies may find themselves inadvertently dealing with sanctioned entities, leaving them vulnerable to potentially huge fines and reputational damage. Or having invested heavily in an emerging market, they might discover down the line that a key counterparty is subject to an embargo, potentially jeopardising their investment," added Stones.

To find out more about the Alaco Guide to Sanctions, or to enquire about subscription, please contact James Birkett (jbirkett@alaco.com)

About Alaco

Alaco is a business intelligence consultancy specialising in due diligence investigations, litigation support and country risk. Established in 2002, the company works for a range of clients, including leading corporates and financial institutions, on assignments in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

Contact:

James Birkett

jbirkett@alaco.com

+44(0)207-087-8660


SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Danal Inc., a privately-held US company and global leader in mobile identity and authentication solutions, today announced that it has launched a groundbreaking "wireless carrier centric" Telephone Customer Protection Act (TCPA) compliance service. This new offering is an extension of Danal's Mobile Identity (MID) suite of services and targets FORTUNE 500 companies with outbound call centers, some of which have been assessed fines exceeding $50 million.

Unlike other TCPA compliance solutions available today, Danal verifies enterprise consumer data with real-time Wireless Carrier data, in combination with other authoritative sources, to establish ownership of phone numbers. This state-of-the-industry approach to TCPA compliance yields the least TCPA auto dialer risk exposure.

Mobile identity, authentication and compliance services powered by wireless carriers are impactful and far more effective than current offerings in the market due to the trusted relationship these carriers enjoy with consumers and the real-time nature of the underlying data. "Carriers are the most definitive data source to reliably match a subscriber's name, address and phone number," stated Paris Leung, Chief Strategy Officer & GM Mobile Commerce, "Robodialing a phone number without first checking what the wireless carriers have on file is a risky and an expensive behavior. We've seen TCPA fines assessed against companies ranging from $5 million to well over $50 million. Fortunately, with Danal, this is easily avoidable."

"Danal's unique ability to aggregate wireless carrier data, enhance that information with other authoritative data sources, and then apply Danal's powerful platform and algorithms, reduced fraud for one of our customers to zero," said Danal CEO Jim Greenwell. "Now we have enhanced our MID solution suite with the new 'gold standard' of compliance certainty for the US TCPA market."

Danal is partnered and trusted by all 4 Top Tier US wireless carriers (as well as carriers in the EU and rest of world) to directly connect to their identity APIs, accessing wireless carrier data which is used to prevent fraud and mitigate risk for financial institutions and major mCommerce brands. Danal is contracted and live with major financial institutions and brands for its MID services, with new, Fortune 500 customers boarding in the coming months.

Danal recently announced that it spun out certain assets associated with its BilltoMobile business to Bango. Jim Greenwell commented, "Danal's full focus now is to solidify its leadership in Mobile Identity and Authentication." In February this year at the Mobile World Congress, Danal also announced it is partnering with the GSMA Mobile Connect Programme to comply with and support Mobile Connect authentication everywhere it is being adopted by Danal's wireless carrier customers.

About Danal

Danal, Inc. is the premier provider of mobile identity and authentication solutions driven by unique real-time connections to mobile operator networks and data. Danal's Mobile Identity platform offers financial institutions and major retailers groundbreaking mobile transaction risk management services, and streamlined, customer conversion solutions that lower customer abandon rates during registration and checkout. Danal, Inc. is a privately held US company whose investors include Discover Financial Services, Morgenthaler Ventures and majority shareholder Danal Co, Ltd., a publicly traded company (KOSDAQ 064260) based in South Korea with offices worldwide.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: FRX)(OTCQB: FENCF), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients, today reported its corporate update and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Corporate Update

As previously reported, interim results from ""SIOPEL 6: A multi-centre open label randomised phase III trial of the efficacy of sodium thiosulfate (STS) in reducing ototoxicity in patients receiving cisplatin (Cis) monotherapy for standard risk hepatoblastoma (SR-HB)" has been accepted for an oral presentation at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Penelope Brock, MD, PhD, FRCPCH, International Chair of SIOPEL will present "Two year results of clinical efficacy of cisplatin in combination with sodium thiosulfate (STS) vs cisplatin alone in a randomized phase III trial for standard risk hepatoblastoma (SR-HB): SIOPEL 6," in an oral presentation on June 5, 2016 at ASCO.

"The recently announced financing by Sigma Tau Finanziaria provides Fennec with the necessary funds to support the development of STS through 2017 and we look forward to the presentation of updated data from the Siopel 6 study at ASCO and ultimately inclusion of the final results in to our forthcoming regulatory submissions" said Rosty Raykov, Fennec's CEO.

Fennec also announces that it has entered into an agreement with Elion Oncology, LLC involving the transfer by Fennec of certain intellectual property, data and other assets relating to Eniluracil and Adh-1 technologies and development programs to Elion. .

Eniluracil (EU) is an oral irreversible dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) inhibitor, the enzyme responsible for rapidly breaking down 5-FU. Eniluracil was previously under development by GlaxoSmithKline ("GSK"), and we licensed the compound from GSK in July 2005. Adh -1 is an anti-cancer drug that selectively targets N-cadherin present on certain tumor cells and the established blood vessels that supply tumors. Fennec is focused on the development of STS and does not currently have the resources to also pursue the Eniluracil and ADH-1 programs. Accordingly, as previously disclosed, we have concluded that it would be in the best interests of our shareholders and the cancer community to focus on seeking a partnership for Eniluracil and Adh -1.

If the transaction is completed, Fennec will receive US$40,000 on closing and continuing revenue share payments of 5% of the gross revenues derived from the sold assets until the last to expire patents forming part of such assets. The value for such assets has been determined by negotiations between Elion and Fennec. In addition to shareholder approval at the Company's annual and special shareholder meeting to be held on June 8, 2016, completion of the sale is subject to a number of closing conditions. Some of such conditions, including a satisfactory review by Elion of the assets proposed to be transferred, are outside of our control. Accordingly, the transaction may not close even if approved by our shareholders at our upcoming shareholder meeting.

Financial Update

The selected financial data presented below is derived from our audited condensed consolidated financial statements which were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The complete interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2016 and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations will be available via www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. All values are presented in thousands unless otherwise noted.

Three Months Ended ---------------------------------- Interim Unaudited Statement of Operations March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 (U.S. Dollars in thousands except per share amounts) Revenue $ - $ - ---------------------------------- Operating expenses Research and development 47 43 General and administrative 407 409 ---------------------------------- (Loss) from operations (454) (452) ---------------------------------- Unrealized gain/(loss) 43 625 Other income/(expense) (9) 4 ---------------------------------- Net income/(loss) $ (420) $ 177 ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Basic and diluted net (loss)/income per common share $ (0.04) $ 0.02/0.01 ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were in line with the same period in 2015 as the Company's focus continued to be solely on STS development and the wind down of the Phase III SIOPEL 6 trial occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Research and development costs are impacted by the clinical support costs associated with the amount of patients enrolled and participating in the trial during the financial period.

General and administrative expenses were in line with the same period in 2015.

The Company recorded an unrealized gain on derivatives of $43 in the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the same three months ended in 2015 where there was an unrealized gain of $625. This large change is a result of the expiration of all derivative liabilities associated with the Company's warrants denominated in Canadian dollars. In the past, the derivative warrant liability was significant and had the ability to produce large swings in non-cash gains and losses in any given period, depending upon market conditions. The remaining derivative liability on the balance sheet is associated with a small amount of Canadian denominated options. These option derivatives have been recorded at their fair value as a liability at issuance and will continue to be re-measured at fair value as a liability at each subsequent balance sheet date. Any change in value between reporting periods will be recorded as an unrealized gain/(loss). These options will continue to be reported as a liability until such time as they are exercised or expire. The fair value of these options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. Balance Sheets (U.S. Dollars in thousands) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 545 $ 942 Other current assets 43 77 ------------------------------------ Total Assets $ 588 $ 1,019 ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities $ 306 $ 389 Derivative liabilities 39 82 Total stockholders' equity 243 548 ------------------------------------ Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 588 $ 1,019 ----------------------------------------====================================

Cash and cash equivalents were $545 at March 31, 2016 and $942 at December 31, 2015. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents between March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was due to research and development expenses of STS and our general and administrative expenses offset by the exercise of warrants resulting in the issuance of 67 new common shares and an inflow of gross proceeds of $102 during the quarter.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working Capital Three Months Ended ---------------------------------------- Selected Asset and Liability Data: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (U.S. Dollars in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 545 $ 942 Other current assets 43 77 Current liabilities excluding derivative liability (306) (389) ---------------------------------------- Working capital $ 282 $ 630 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Selected Equity: Common stock $ 69,255 $ 69,153 Accumulated deficit (111,953) (111,533) Stockholders' equity 243 548 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

At March 31, 2016, the Company had working capital balance totaling approximately $0.3 million compared to $0.6 million as of December 31, 2015.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollar and shares in thousands Three Months Ended March 31, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selected cash flow data: 2016 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in operating activities (499) (418) Net cash provided by investing activities - - Net cash provided by financing activities 102 27 Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (397) (391) -------------------------------- Number of common shares outstanding 11,007 10,620 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $499, as compared to $418 during the same period in 2015. This increase is due to increased cash outlays incurred from ongoing STS product development and general and administrative costs associated with the Company's strategic initiatives designed to further develop new markets and partnering opportunities. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended both March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $102 and $27 respectively. The $102 and $27 of net financing cash represented the aggregate exercise price paid in connection with the exercise of various options and warrants to purchase common shares. Total decrease in cash and cash equivalents was $397 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 which is a net increase of $6 over the same period in 2015.

Forward looking statements

Except for historical information described in this press release, all other statements are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business that could cause actual results to vary, including such risks that regulatory and guideline developments may change, scientific data may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, protection offered by the Company's patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the Company's products will not be as large as expected, the Company's products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, the Company may not meet its future capital requirements in different countries and municipalities, the proposed sale to Elion may not be completed and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.

About Sodium Thiosulfate (STS)

Cisplatin and other platinum compounds are essential chemotherapeutic components for many pediatric malignancies. Unfortunately, platinum-based therapies cause ototoxicity in many patients, and are particularly harmful to the survivors of pediatric cancer.

In the U.S. and Europe there is estimated that over 10,000 children are diagnosed with local cancers that may receive platinum based chemotherapy. Localized cancers that receive platinum agents may have overall survival rates of greater than 80% further emphasizing the quality of life after treatment. The incidence of hearing loss in these children depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require lifelong hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically difficult and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been shown to provide some benefit. Infants and young children at critical stages of development lack speech language development and literacy, and older children and adolescents lack social-emotional development and educational achievement.

STS has been studied by cooperative groups in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, The Clinical Oncology Group Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies are closed to recruitment. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled one of five childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and medulloblastoma. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.

About Fennec Pharmaceuticals

Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients. STS has received Orphan Drug Designation in the US in this setting. For more information, please visit www.fennecpharma.com.

Contacts:

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Rosty Raykov

Chief Executive Officer

(919) 636-5144




MIDDLESBROUGH, England, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The future of steel-making in the UK is a burning issue for thousands of workers - but in the North East the fire has already been put out at Redcar.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366863 )

In a reaction to this situation, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) has developed a world exposition of art and technology to challenge and provoke a future vision for the region.

Opening on 25 June, the exhibition captures the industrial character of Teesside and shows how it has formed, from the extraction of raw materials to production, as well as the import/export of goods.

Teesside has always been defined by its industry and has history of making. The eminent past and economic future of the area is explored through historical documents and artifacts, contrasted with a showcase of new industrial technology and works by artists who have portrayed Teesside's steelworks.

Against the background noise of the Northern powerhouse agenda and a time in which heavy industry is considered obsolete, this project explores the current issues of global change that have affected the local economy so dramatically and provides an opportunity to look ahead at the new industries and technologies that can evolve out of Teesside's heritage and landscape.

mima director, Alistair Hudson, said: "This exhibition has been put together extremely quickly but it was essential that we should attempt something like this now rather than later. It's vital that an institute like us starts to take part in and tackles the issues that matter. The loss of large scale steel production is as much a cultural crisis as an economic one and we need to play our part in finding new industries, skills and solutions to keep the region economically healthy.

"That's why the project profiles new local industrial processes and opportunities, as well as art, to understand that creativity and business are not separate but work together to shape our society. This is more than an exhibition; it's an active project to make a real contribution to changing the situation. In doing this we revisit the history of the Institute movement, the organisations that were established in Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution, where learning through making, art, engineering and technology were all made accessible to many."
12 May 2016

GB00BYSCB796

CARDUUS HOUSING PLC

("Carduus Housing" or the "Company")

Update regarding Financial Position

Director resignations

Change of Adviser

Update on suspension and financial position

On 14 March 2016, trading on the ISDX Growth Market in Carduus Housing's 6.5% and 6.25% unsecured bonds due 2020 was suspended, pending clarification of the Company's financial position. The suspension was requested following the discovery of certain discrepancies during the preparation of the Company's interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2015.

Following the suspension, the Directors of the Company formed a Committee of the Board (the "Committee"), comprising Luke Cairns and Drew Oswald, to investigate the discrepancies.

The Committee's investigation revealed that between October and March 2016 a series of payments were made by Carduus Housing to its parent company, Carduus Finance Limited ("Carduus Finance"), totalling in the region of 1.429 million. The investigation also revealed that, in the same period, Carduus Housing made payments to an unrelated third party totalling in the region of 0.875 million.

Of the sums mentioned above, the Committee estimates that payments totalling in the region of 1.675million (the "Payments") were not in accordance with the Company's budgeted administration costs or the Company's Investment Strategy; the Payments were made without the knowledge of the Committee or the Company's Corporate Adviser, Peterhouse Corporate Finance

Carduus Housing currently owns 37 properties, acquired in pursuit of its Investment Strategy, and has available cash of approximately 1.9 million. As such, the Company is not expected to breach any of the terms of the Bonds in the immediate future. However, if the Company is unable to recover substantially all of the Payments or cannot otherwise address the deficit resulting from the Payments, the Company may not be able to redeem the Bonds in full at the end of their term in 2020.

With this in mind, in parallel to the work of the Committee, Carduus Finance has been seeking appropriate partners to engage upon enhancements to the current strategy with a view to maximizing the returns for the Company. Specifically Carduus Finance entered into detailed negotiations with the team headed up by Chartered Accountant Mr Pankaj Rajani resulting in it agreeing to sell its entire interest in Carduus Housing plc.

As a result of this transaction, 100% of the issued ordinary share capital of Carduus Housing has been acquired for the value of 1 and the shareholdings are split between Mr Rajani 75% and Beaufort Securities 25%.

In light of the above events, Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited has resigned as Corporate Adviser to the Company, with immediate effect

Additionally, Brian Gilmour, Drew Oswald and Luke Cairns have resigned as directors of the Company again with immediate effect.

Pankaj Rajani and Darren Edmonston have been appointed as Directors of the Company (the "New Board") with immediate effect.

The New Board believes that certain amendments to the current strategy will be required to ensure the Company is in a position to redeem the bonds in full at the end of their term in 2020 and further details in respect of any change of strategy shall be announced in due course.

A more detailed update of the Company's financial position is expected to be provided when the Company announces its Interim Results. In the meantime, trading in the Bonds will remain suspended.

Directorate changes

Details of the new directors referenced above are as follows:

Pankaj Rajani

Pankaj is a Chartered Accountant with more than 29 years of professional experience in accountancy and corporate finance. Pankaj qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1987 and was a founding partner of Macilvin Moore in 1990. Pankaj has been instrumental in the organic growth of the firm and the recent merger that saw the creation of Macalvins, where he remains a partner.

Current directorships Past directorships (five years) PSH Grosvenor Consultants LLP MMR Financial Consultants Limited Plutus Estates Limited Elysian Fuels 7 LLP Lomas Kington Limited The Invicta Film Partnership no.43 LLP Macilvin Moore Revers LLP Silverbrook Estates Limited Crowngain Limited Macalvins Limited Eightways Estates Limited

Darren Edmonston

Darren is a founding partner of an accountancy [Bushwood] created more than 14 years ago. He is also a director of several firms.

Current directorships Past directorships (five years) Explore Pharma Limited Toners Reunited Limited PCG Clinical Limited Sulvus Inspections Limited Globe Capital Administration Limited Bushwood Accountants Limited Welney Administration Limited Sud Italia Limited Toddbrook Leisure Limited Aquarius Employment Bureau (London) Limited Maw Melford Limited Toddbrook Investments Limited EDS Solutions Limited Cleanbrite (UK) Limited Cleanbrite FM Limited IGF7 Ltd Christopher Benn Limited Nominee Secretaries Limited Katharina Limited Cleanbrite Facilitation Limited Asset Movement Limited 1st Nominees Limited

Change of Corporate Adviser

Carduus Housing Plc is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alexander David Securities Limited as the Company's Corporate Adviser with immediate effect.

The Directors of Carduus Housing accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

--ENDS--

For further information please contact:

Darren Edmonston; Pankaj Rajani

Tel: + 07976 664813; +44 7815 880 593
To be released 12 May 2016

Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Limited (the 'Company')

DISPOSAL OF NON-CORE ASSETS

Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Limited, the actively managed UK-focussed REIT, announces the completion of four disposals for a combined price of 12.86 million reflecting an average net initial yield of 3.4%. The combined price was in line with the last reported valuation as at 31 December 2015 but reflected an uplift of 2 million or 18.5% compared with the previous year end valuation as at 31 March 2015. The disposals are summarised as follows:

3 - 6 Abbeygate Street, Bath

The secondary retail parade located in Bath city centre was sold for 4.7 million on 10 May 2016. The price reflected a net initial yield of 4.6%, increasing to 5.6% on expiry of rent free periods. The property was let to retailers including C.E.X Limited and Cotswold Outdoor Limited with an average lease term of 7.4 years.

Clumber Street, Nottingham

The retail unit was sold for 2 million on 1 April 2016 with the price reflecting a net initial yield of 5.2% on expiry of a rent free period. This disposal follows the completion of a letting to Tortilla Mexican Grill Limited at a rent of 110,000 per annum.

St. Georges Court, New Malden

Following exchange of contracts in April 2015, the disposal of the mixed use office and leisure property completed as planned on 4 April 2016 at 4 million. The price reflected a net initial yield of 5.6%.

Technology House, Ancells Business Park, Fleet

Following exchange of contracts in December 2015, the disposal completed on 25 February 2016 at 2.2 million. The secondary office property was 77% vacant and the price reflected a net initial yield, before non-recoverable expenditure, of 3.1%.

Further details on these initiatives will be provided with the forthcoming year end accounts to be released on the 13 June 2016.

Commenting, Nick Montgomery, Head of UK Real Estate Investment at Schroder Real Estate Investment Management Limited said:

"These disposals are consistent with our strategy to sell smaller, lower yielding properties where asset management initiatives have been completed. The proceeds will be reinvested in a pipeline of on-going capital expenditure initiatives where higher income and total returns are expected."

- ENDS-

For further information:
EDMONTON, ALBERTA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- (TSX: STN)(NYSE: STN) -

With contributions from strategic acquisitions, strong organic performance in its Buildings and Infrastructure business operating units, and improving performance in its US operations, Stantec achieved good overall revenue growth in the first quarter of 2016. Results were negatively impacted by a decrease in gross margin and an increase in administrative and marketing expenses due to acquisition-related costs.

"Our growing presence in the United States and recent public support of infrastructure development benefited our Buildings and Infrastructure business operating units, which led our Company in revenue growth," says Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. "And with the addition of recently acquired companies -- including the significant MWH Global acquisition announcement -- we look forward to expanding the breadth of our experience and delivering a broader range of services around the world."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the period ended March 31 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except 2016 2015 % Change for share amounts and %) Q1 Q1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross revenue 755.4 705.7 7.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 30.6 38.0 (19.5%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted diluted earnings per share (1) 0.40 0.46 (13.0%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash dividends declared per common share 0.1125 0.1050 7.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-IFRS measure as defined in the Cautionary Statements section.

During the quarter, Stantec continued to execute its acquisition strategy by welcoming Austin, Texas-based Bury Inc. and by signing a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago, Illinois-based VOA Associates Inc. The companies will further strengthen Stantec's presence in the United States regional operating unit, which achieved a 26.3% increase in gross revenue in Q1 16 over Q1 15. Subsequent to the quarter, Stantec acquired MWH Global, the 6,800-person Broomfield, Colorado-based world leader in water and infrastructure. This acquisition is the largest in Stantec's history and will result in the Company's water practice becoming one of the largest in the world. The addition of MWH Global expands Stantec's presence into new geographies around the world and adds new top-tier global capabilities in dams and hydropower to the Company's overall portfolio of services.

The MWH Global acquisition and recent federal government infrastructure spending announcements bode well for Stantec's Infrastructure business operating unit, which achieved strong organic gross revenue growth of 8.6% when comparing Q1 16 to Q1 15. Growth was primarily due to opportunities in the Transportation sector. The rebounding US economy and Stantec's strategic North American market position led to increased opportunities in major light rail transit, roadway, and bridge projects. For example, as part of the development of a new rail trail, Stantec was recently awarded the design services for the rehabilitation of two historic stone-arch bridges. The structures, each more than 150 years old, are part of the Twin Cities Rail Project, which will transform an abandoned rail corridor into a recreational trail connecting the cities of Leominster and Fitchburg in Massachusetts.

The Buildings business operating unit achieved organic revenue growth of 5.1% when compared to the same quarter last year. The majority of revenue was generated in the Education, Healthcare, and Commercial sectors. Stantec also created a Civic sector in response to the growing urbanization trend in cities across North America. Stantec has already secured work in this sector. The Company recently secured a master service agreement as architect of record for all of Cadillac Fairview Corporation's major retail and office buildings throughout British Columbia and in other locations in western Canada.

By contrast, low commodity prices continue to impact the Energy & Resources and Environmental Services business operating units, which retracted quarter over quarter by 35.2% and 6.4% respectively. Throughout the decline in the oil and gas sector, Stantec effectively managed cost margins and maintained strong client relationships. The Company's strong presence in the energy sector continued to result in project wins. Stantec was recently awarded civil, structural, and electrical engineering design services for the transmission infrastructure, substations, and underground collector systems associated with two 50-megawatt ground-mount solar farms in Ontario. The Company also recently won a project for the proposed Aurora liquefied natural gas export terminal off Digby Island, southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. This project involves completing the marine geotechnical investigation to evaluate the soil and rock conditions for the marine offload facility and main ship-loading jetty.

Additional Company Activity

On May 11, 2016, Stantec declared a cash dividend of $0.1125 per share, payable on July 14, 2016, to shareholders of record on June 30, 2016.

Stantec recently published its 2015 Sustainability Report. Prepared in accordance with the internationally recognized Global Reporting Initiative's G4 framework, the report shares Stantec's ongoing commitment to social, environmental, and economic sustainability; addresses the Company's sustainability performance for fiscal year 2015; and outlines its forward-looking plans for 2016. It also fulfills Stantec's commitment to reporting on the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles of sustainability and corporate citizenship. The report is available at www.stantec.com/about-us/sustainability.html.

Conference Call and Company Information

Stantec's first quarter conference call -- to be held Thursday, May 12, at 2:00 PM MDT (4:00 PM EDT) -- will be broadcast live and archived in the Investors section of www.stantec.com. Financial analysts wanting to participate in the earnings conference call are invited to call 1-800-499-4035 and provide the operator with confirmation code 1458024.

Stantec's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 10:30 AM MDT (12:30 PM EDT) at Stantec Centre, 10160 - 112 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta.

Stantec's Investor Day will be held on June 2, 2016, in Boston, Massachusetts. Stantec executives will share their insight about the Company's performance, strategy, and outlook with the financial community. The presentation will be recorded and archived in its entirety in the Investors section of www.stantec.com.

About Stantec

We're active members of the communities we serve. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The Stantec community unites approximately 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations across six continents. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, environmental, and infrastructure projects to life. Our work -- engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning -- begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.

Our local strength, knowledge, and relationships, coupled with our world-class expertise, have allowed us to go anywhere to meet our clients' needs in more creative and personalized ways. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at www.stantec.com or find us on social media.

Cautionary Statements

Stantec's adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-IFRS measure. For a definition and explanation of non-IFRS measures, refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates, Developments, and Measures section of the Company's 2015 Annual Report and the Company's 2016 First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. Any such statements represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting the Company's shareholders in understanding Stantec's operations, objectives, priorities, and anticipated financial performance as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.

We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements since a number of factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk of an economic downturn, changing market conditions for Stantec's services, disruptions in government funding, the risk that Stantec will not meet its growth or revenue targets, and the risk that the projects contemplated in this news release will not be completed when expected or at all. Investors and the public should carefully consider these factors, other uncertainties, and potential events, as well as the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements, when relying on these statements to make decisions with respect to our Company.

For more information about how other material risk factors could affect results, refer to the Risk Factors section and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in our 2015 Annual Report and the 2016 First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis. Stantec's 40-F has been filed with the SEC, and you may obtain this document by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain our complete audited annual consolidated financial statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (which form our 2015 Annual Report) by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, on the CSA website at www.sedar.com, or at www.stantec.com. Alternatively, you may obtain a hard copy of the 2015 Annual Report free of charge from our Investor Contact noted below.

Design with community in mind

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) March 31 December 31 2016 2015 (In thousands of Canadian dollars) $ $ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current Cash and deposits 45,423 67,342 Cash in escrow 12,221 8,646 Trade and other receivables 501,233 570,577 Unbilled revenue 255,887 228,970 Income taxes recoverable 23,563 19,727 Prepaid expenses 29,275 29,022 Other financial assets 32,861 27,108 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current assets 900,463 951,392 Non-current Property and equipment 161,688 158,085 Goodwill 986,798 966,480 Intangible assets 158,028 138,079 Investments in joint ventures and associates 4,343 4,467 Deferred tax assets 10,876 11,254 Other financial assets 112,084 112,122 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 2,334,280 2,341,879 ============================================================================ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Bank indebtedness 7,048 - Trade and other payables 257,527 352,199 Billings in excess of costs 105,109 109,159 Long-term debt 142,145 133,055 Provisions 21,971 22,878 Other financial liabilities 15,745 2,601 Other liabilities 15,630 12,162 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current liabilities 565,175 632,054 Non-current Long-term debt 356,421 232,301 Provisions 61,380 62,572 Deferred tax liabilities 18,792 21,256 Other financial liabilities 2,605 2,748 Other liabilities 60,855 67,688 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 1,065,228 1,018,619 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders' equity Share capital 288,060 289,118 Contributed surplus 16,593 15,788 Retained earnings 856,422 852,725 Accumulated other comprehensive income 107,977 165,629 ============================================================================ Total shareholders' equity 1,269,052 1,323,260 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,334,280 2,341,879 ============================================================================ Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) For the quarter ended March 31 ------------------------------- 2016 2015 (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) $ $ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross revenue 755,383 705,723 Less subconsultant and other direct expenses 126,735 113,439 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net revenue 628,648 592,284 Direct payroll costs 289,509 265,133 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross margin 339,139 327,151 Administrative and marketing expenses 271,677 251,458 Depreciation of property and equipment 10,057 10,842 Amortization of intangible assets 10,803 10,227 Net interest expense 3,088 2,666 Other net finance expense 1,128 838 Share of income from joint ventures and associates (372) (639) Foreign exchange loss (gain) 104 (128) Other expense (income) 125 (468) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 42,529 52,355 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income taxes Current 14,041 14,101 Deferred (2,133) 297 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total income taxes 11,908 14,398 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income for the period 30,621 37,957 ============================================================================ Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic 93,957,468 93,864,528 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted 94,358,094 94,503,760 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares outstanding, end of period 93,890,761 93,932,307 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per share Basic 0.33 0.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted 0.32 0.40 ============================================================================

Contacts:

Media Contact

Stephanie Smith

Stantec Media Relations

780-917-7230

stephanie.smith2@stantec.com



Investor Contact

Sonia Kirby

Stantec Investor Relations

780-616-2785

sonia.kirby@stantec.com

www.stantec.com




Regulatory News:

Euronext (Paris:ENX) (Amsterdam:ENX) (Brussels:ENX) today announced that, in its Annual General Meeting (AGM) that took place today, all the items on the agenda were approved.

These items were as follows:

Proposal to adopt the 2015 financial statements Proposal to adopt a dividend of EUR 1.24 per ordinary share Proposal to discharge the members of the Managing Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2015 Proposal to discharge the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2015 Appointment of Kerstin Gunther as a member of the Supervisory Board Appointment of Dick Sluimers as a member of the Supervisory Board Appointment of Maria Joao Borges Carioca Rodrigues as a member of the Managing Board Authorisation of the granting of rights to French beneficiaries to receive shares under the French law n2015-990 of 6 August 2015 Proposal to appoint the external auditor Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body to issue ordinary shares Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights of shareholders Proposal to authorise the Managing Board to acquire ordinary shares in the share capital of the company on behalf of the company

As a reminder, the payment of the annual dividend will occur on 20 May 2016, with ex-dividend on 18 May and record date on 19 May.

About Euronext

Euronext is the primary exchange in the Euro zone with more than 1 300 listed issuers worth more than 3.0 trillion in market capitalization as of end December 2015, an unmatched blue chip franchise consisting of 25 issuers in the EURO STOXX 50 benchmark and a strong diverse domestic and international client base.

Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets. Its total product offering includes Equities, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. Euronext operates regulated markets, Alternext and the Free Market; in addition it offers EnterNext, which facilitates SMEs' access to capital markets.

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities. This press release is provided "as is" without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext's subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext.

This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is located at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

 2016, Euronext N.V. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005619/en/

Contacts:

Euronext

MEDIA

Pauline Bucaille(Europe): +33 1 70 48 24 41

pbucaille@euronext.com

or

Alice Jentink (Amsterdam): +31 20 721 4488

ajentink@euronext.com

or

Pascal Brabant (Brussels): +32 2 620 15 50

pbrabant@euronext.com

or

Sandra Machado (Lisbon): +351 210 600 614

smachado@euronext.com

or

Aichata Tandjigora (Paris): +33 1 70 48 24 43

atandjigora@euronext.com

or

ANALYSTS & INVESTORS

Stephanie Bia +33 1 70 48 24 17

sbia@euronext.com
IRVING, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- (OTCQB: DYNR) -- DynaResource, Inc. ("DynaUSA", and "the Company") is pleased to announce that Mineras de DynaResource S.A. de C.V. ("DynaMineras"), the 100% owned subsidiary of DynaUSA and the exclusive operator of the San Jose de Gracia Property in northern Sinaloa, Mexico ("SJG"), is reporting the delivery for sale, on May 12, 2016, of an approximate 850 Oz gold contained in concentrates (exact weights in gold and silver oz. to be determined at final settlement).

DynaMineras further reports additional improvements were made to the pilot mill facility during April, including equipment changes which have resulted in an increase in the rate of the mill to approximately 150 tons per 24 hours. DynaMineras further reports April, 2016 production, over a period of 10 days, of an approximate total of 550 Oz gold contained in concentrates (exact weights in gold and silver oz. to be determined at final settlement). DynaMineras further reports the below summary of the 10-day pilot mill operations during April at SJG, with assays reported according to internal lab reports:

1) 1,546 Tons: Feed material processed;

2) 12.93 g/t Au: Average grade of mill feed;

3) 550 Oz Gold: Gold concentrates produced (exact weights in gold and silver Oz to be determined at final settlement of sale);

DynaMineras further reports contract mining at San Pablo mine, and test mill runs of the pilot mill facility at SJG are continuing, with an average volume output from the pilot mill facility in May of approximately 180 tonnes per 24 hours.

DynaMineras - Mine Plan and Mill Operations (Pilot Operations)

DynaMineras is conducting operations at SJG according to internally developed mine plans for San Pablo Mine (compiled by Company VP- Director of Exploration and Resource Development, Pedro I. Teran Cruz, using Surpac software), and through the internally designed SJG Pilot Mill facility (consisting of a basic gravity-flotation circuit) which was previously operated by DynaUSA during the 2003-2006 period. There is no preliminary economic assessment report completed for SJG so the precise cutoff grade for underground mining has not yet been determined. The operations are being funded internally by DynaMineras and DynaUSA, and from revenues generated from the test mining and pilot mill operations. The mine plan was developed from the block model of resources as defined in the DynaMexico NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate which was included in the DynaMexico NI 43-101 Technical Report and filed by the Company with SEDAR; and from the analysis of underground mining works conducted in 2003-2006.

SJG Ownership DynaResource de Mexico SA de CV ("DynaMexico") owns 100% of the SJG Project. DynaUSA currently holds 80% of the total outstanding Capital of DynaMexico, and, DynaUSA currently holds 100% of DynaMineras.

General Manager appointed at San Jose de Gracia Project

On February 4, 2016 DynaUSA announced the appointment of Mr. Rene L.F. Mladosich as General Manager of the San Jose de Gracia Project, effective February 1, 2016. (See DynaResource, Inc. news release dated February 4, 2016).

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

K.D. DIEPHOLZ;

DynaResource, Inc.; Chairman and CEO

IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING CANADIAN DISCLOSURE STANDARDS

The Company is an "OTC Reporting Issuer" as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 51-509, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets, promulgated by various Canadian Provincial Securities Commissions.

Accordingly, certain disclosure in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, information contained in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC and not subject to Canadian securities legislation. This news release or other disclosure provided by the Company may use the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". While these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, although they may form, in certain circumstances, the basis of a "preliminary economic assessment" as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This News release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance may be deemed "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that DynaResource expects to occur, are "forward-looking information". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the future growth, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of DynaResource. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to DynaResource. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the San Jose de Gracia property. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of DynaResource and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such factors include, without limitation: capital requirements, fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of the United States and Mexico; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local governments in any country which DynaResource currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls; regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which DynaResource does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labor disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks) as well as those risks referenced in the Annual Report for DynaResource available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results and future events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although DynaResource believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. DynaResource expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

For further information on DynaUSA, DynaMineras, and DynaMexico, please visit www.dynaresource.com or contact:

CONTACT:



For further information on DynaResource, Inc. please contact:

Brad J. Saulter

V.P.

Investor Relations

US Telephone: 972-868-9066



K.D. Diepholz

DynaResource de Mexico-Presidente




The Guardian reports that a Republican member of the 9/11 commission is "breaking dramatically" with leaders of the commission by claiming that there is Saudi government employees supported the 9/11 hijackers. John F Lehman, who served as Navy secretary under Reagan, is calling for the declassification of a secret congressional report about the Saudis' role in the 2001 terrorist attack.

"There was an awful lot of participation by Saudi individuals in supporting the hijackers, and some of those people worked in the Saudi government," Lehman said in an interview, suggesting that the commission may have made a mistake by not stating that explicitly in its final report. "Our report should never have been read as an exoneration of Saudi Arabia."

He was critical of a statement released late last month by the former chairman and vice-chairman of the commission, who urged the Obama administration to be cautious about releasing the full congressional report on the Saudis and 9/11  "the 28 pages", as they are widely known in Washington  because they contained "raw, unvetted" material that might smear innocent people.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Oban Mining Corporation (TSX: OBM) ("Oban" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce new results from the ongoing drill program at its 100% owned Windfall Lake gold project located in Urban - Barry Townships, Quebec. The 55,000 metre drill program combines definition drilling above the Red Dog intrusion ("Red Dog") and expansion drilling above and below Red Dog.

Highlights from 16 new drill holes include: 17.22 g/t Au over 3.9 metres in DDH OBM-16-642; 25.2 g/t Au over 2.3 metres in DDH OBM-16-643; 9.94 g/t Au over 5.3 metres in DDH OBM-16-651; and 9.55 g/t Au over 2.4 metres in DDH OBM-16-649. The new results continue to demonstrate lateral and vertical continuity of high grade gold mineralization in Zone 27 and the Caribou Zone, and also highlights new zones continuing to develop between these two major mineralized corridors. The table below outlines significant new results(1)(2):

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From To Interval Au Hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t) Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-642 318.40 321.00 2.60 10.0 New zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 510.00 521.00 11.0 3.46 Caribou North-2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 934.00 937.90 3.90 17.22(3) FW3 ---------------------------------------------------------- including 934.00 934.30 0.30 264 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-643 35.00 38.00 3.00 4.95 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 245.60 247.90 2.30 25.2(3) Zone 27 ---------------------------------------------------------- including 245.60 246.10 0.50 254 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 261.70 264.00 2.30 5.03 Zone 27 footwall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-645 219.90 222.00 2.10 5.67 Zone 27 footwall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-647 100.80 103.00 2.20 5.00 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-649 37.00 39.10 2.10 4.37 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48.60 51.00 2.40 9.55 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81.00 83.50 2.50 3.33 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 95.50 98.00 2.50 3.93 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-651 157.50 163.80 5.30 9.94 Zone 27 footwall ---------------------------------------------------------- including 163.30 163.80 0.50 53.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: (1) For complete drilling results please see www.obanmining.com. (2) True widths are estimated at 65-80% of the reported core length interval. See "Quality Control" below. (3) High grade values cut to 100 g/t Au.

Drill Hole Collar Coordinates and Information:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Azimuth Dip Length Hole Number ( degrees ) ( degrees ) (m) UTM E UTM N Section ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-639 330.0 60.0 267.5 452718 5434727 2825 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-640 330.0 50.0 400.5 452212 5434605 2325 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-642 330.0 60.0 1091.3 452718 5434727 2825 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-643 330.0 50.0 301.5 452217 5434581 2325 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-645 330.0 50.0 397.5 452204 5434629 2325 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-647 330.0 46.0 121.5 452387 5434654 2500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-648 330.0 65.0 88.5 452327 5434651 2450 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-649 150.0 77.0 127.5 452267 5434644 2400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-650 330.0 45.0 139.5 452750 5434829 2900 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-651 320.0 44.0 187.5 452213 5434676 2350 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-653 330.0 51.0 112.5 452728 5434963 2950 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBM-16-654 330.0 52.0 268.5 452135 5434592 2253 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OBM-16-642 (section 2825) tested the up-plunge extension of high grade intercept in EAG-13-493 along Zone 27-3 and the FW3 below Red Dog. The targeted FW3 lens returned 17.22 g/t Au over 3.90 metres and expands the high grade gold zone immediately below Red Dog. OBM-16-642 intersected a new zone assaying 10.0 g/t Au over 2.60 metres in a strongly pyritic and silicified rhyolitic host rock. The Caribou North 2 Zone, which returned 3.46 g/t Au over 11.0 metres, including 5.51 g/t Au over 4.00 metres and 4.59 g/t Au over 2.60 metres respectively, has been expanded by 90 metres down-plunge to the ENE. Zone 27-3 returned 2.45 g/t Au over 2.0 metres.

OBM-16-643 (section 2325) targeted the upper portion of the Caribou Zone and Zone 27 in the western part of the deposit. The Caribou Zone returned 4.95 g/t Au over 3.00 metres, confirming the continuity of mineralization. This intercept is located 26 metres northeast of EAG-10-232 (11.6 g/t Au over 2.3 metres) and shows the continuity of mineralization. This hole also intersected 25.2 g/t Au over 2.30 meters in Zone 27 and 5.03 g/t Au over 2.30 metres in the Zone 27 footwall.

OBM-16-645 (section 2325) tested Zone 27 at 170 metres below surface and intersected 5.67 g/t Au over 2.10 metres in a pyritic stockwork typical of this zone.

OBM-16-647 (section 2500) was designed to infill the Caribou Zone and returned 5.00 g/t Au over 2.20 meters in a moderately faulted and altered gabbroic rock.

OBM-16-649 (section 2400) is a definition drill hole that targeted the upper portion of the Caribou Zone. This drill hole intersected several gold bearing zones including 9.55 g/t Au over 2.40 metres confirming the presence of shallow high grade mineralization.

OBM-16-651 (section 2350) tested the shallow portion of Zone 27 and confirmed the extension of high grade gold mineralization with an intersection assaying 9.94 g/t Au over 5.3 metres, hosted in a vertical porphyry dyke. This intersection, combined with the result in DDH OBM-16-645, increases Zone 27 higher grade mineralization by 50 metres in an area previously interpreted as lower grade.

OBM-16-639 (section 2825), OBM-16-640 (section 2325), OBM-16-648 (section 2450), OBM-16-650 (section 2900), OBM-16-653 (section 2950) and OBM-16-654 (section 2250) returned no significant intersections.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed by Mr. Jean-Philippe Desrochers, PhD, P.Geo. Senior Project Manager for the Windfall Lake gold project, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Quality Control

True widths are estimated at 65-80% of the reported core length intervals. Assays are uncut except where indicated. Intercepts occur within geological confines of major zones but have not been correlated to individual vein domains at this time. Reported intervals include minimum individual assays of 3.0 g/t Au and minimum weighted averages of 3.0 g/t Au averaged over core lengths of a minimum of 2 metres. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by either 1 kg whole rock metallic screen/fire assay or standard 50 gram fire-assaying with AA or gravimetric finish at ALS Laboratories in Val d'Or, Quebec or Sudbury, Ontario. The 1 kg metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or present a higher percentage of pyrite than surrounding intervals. All samples are also analysed for multi-elements, including silver, using an Aqua Regia-ICP-AES method at ALS laboratories. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for QA/QC purposes by the Corporation as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays.

About the Windfall Lake Gold Deposit

The Windfall Lake gold deposit is located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada. The current mineral resource comprises 2,762,000 tonnes at 8.42 g/t Au (748,000 ounces) in the indicated category and 3,512,000 tonnes at 7.62 g/t Au (860,000 ounces) in the inferred category (sourced from a technical report dated June 10, 2015 entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Windfall Lake Gold Property, Quebec, Canada" with an effective date of April 28, 2015, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101). The Windfall Lake gold deposit is currently one of the highest grade resource-stage gold projects in Canada. The bulk of the mineralization occurs in the Main Zone, a southwest/northeast trending zone of stacked mineralized lenses, measuring approximately 600 metres wide and at least 1,400 metres long. The deposit is well defined from surface to a depth of 500 metres, and remains open along strike and at depth. Mineralization has been identified only 30 metres from surface in some areas and as deep as 870 metres in others, with significant potential to extend mineralization up and down-plunge and at depth.

About Oban Mining Corporation

Oban is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Oban holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area (82,400 hectares), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Quebec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Company also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Ontario. Oban is well financed with approximately $74 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about pending drilling, ongoing drill program, potential mineralization, the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic, the ability to complete any proposed exploration activities and the results of such activities; the continuity or extension of any mineralization; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Oban, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Oban to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to property interests; ability of Oban to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Oban cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Oban nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Oban does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

Contacts:

John Burzynski

President and Chief Executive Officer

(416) 363-8653




DUBLIN, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market, By Value and Volume Analysis and Forecast, 2015-2020" report to their offering.

The global UAV market volume is anticipated to reach 4.7 million units by the end of 2020.

The global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market has witnessed a meteoric growth over the past decade. Military UAVs are considered a key component and an integral part of a country's defense system. The commercial UAVs have witnessed a huge transformation after the exemptions from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Major companies in the UAV market are targeting customers by introducing new and improved applications.

Major technological as well as financial advantages of UAVs over their counterparts are driving the UAV market globally. Despite the number of regulations laid down by governmental institutions and FAA over using UAVs in commercial spaces, the UAV manufacturers were successful in launching the UAVs in various applications such as agriculture, mining, photography, filming, product delivery, wildlife research and monitoring, and oil & gas pipeline inspection among others.

Penetration of UAVs in commercial Application

The report also provides a detailed analysis of UAV market in different segments such as market by class, by application, by payload, and by geography. A summary of the complete report is briefed in this chapter, giving a detailed insight on different segments of the UAV market.

The key drivers that will augment the demand for UAVs includes factors such as ongoing conflicts and terrorist attacks, increasing demand for actionable intelligence, need for precision farming and hyper spectral imagery, and the penetration of UAVs in various civil applications. Despite to these, the high accident rates of UAVs, and government regulations on the use of UAVs and their export has restraint the growth of the market to some extent.

An in-depth analysis of UAV applications for all regions has been covered in this report. The geographic segmentation covers major regions including North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific which are major hubs for UAV manufacturers and payload integrators. The country analysis for this market is covered in the report which included major countries such as the U.S., Canada, Italy, the U.K., Israel, France, Germany, China, India, Japan, and Brazil, among others.

At the end of the report, a thorough analysis of the key players in the UAV market is provided which focuses on a detailed study based on financials, product portfolio, key developments, competitors, as well as a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis. Some of the emerging players (which consist of startups) are also discussed under this section.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Report Scope & Research Methodology

3 Industry Analysis

4 Market Dynamics

5 Competitive Insights

6 UAV Market Size By Class

7 UAV Market Size By Payload

8 Industry Insights On Components Of UAVs

9 UAV Market Size By Application

10 UAV Market Size, By Geography

11 Company Profiles

- 3D Robotics - Aerovironment Inc. - Airbus Group (Eads) - Bae Systems - Cybaero Ab - DJI Innovations - Dassault Aviation - Elbit Systems Ltd. - General Atomics - IAI - Lockheed Martin Corporation - Northrop Grumman - Parrot - Saab Ab - Thales Group - The Boeing Company

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gtzrrx/unmanned_aerial

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716




Farmers must combat water crisis to ensure an environmentally sustainable future

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 LOCATION: Online, with free registration at http://frost.ly/bx EXPERT PANELIST: Frost & Sullivan Global Program Manager - Visionary Science

Christopher Shanahan

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366584

The western United States is currently in the fourth year of one of the worst droughts in recent history; the situation is taking a major toll on farmers. This has led to a significant need for new enabling technologies that not only understand the constraints faced by today's framers, but also aids in ensuring an environmentally and economically sustainable future.

Join Frost & Sullivan in this upcoming GIL Webcast, highlighting key technological developments in the field of agriculture and associated technologies that will transform the future of the industry. Participants will also receive the opportunity to discuss the main challenges facing farmers, such as depleting water supplies, with a focus on California agriculture.

Reasons to attend this webinar:

To learn about disruptive technologies in agriculture water management

To receive an update on the current state of agriculture in California and the world

and the world To engage in an interactive Q&A session with leading technology and market experts from Frost & Sullivan

Thought leader insights:

"In 2015 farms used 40 percent of California's water supply and only 3 out of 10 acres of irrigated farmland received no surface water supply. Clearly, this drought has led to a significant unmet need for new enabling technologies that not only understand the constraints faced by today's California farmers, but also ensures future sustainability," said Frost & Sullivan Global Program Manager Christopher Shanahan. "California has gone through drought cycles before, but the toll taken by the current multi-year phenomenon has been devastating."

Register:

To attend the briefing, email Jaylon Brinkley, Corporate Communications - jaylon.brinkley@frost.com -- your full name, job title, company name, company telephone number, and company email address, website, city, state and country or click here: http://frost.ly/bx

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.

The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact Us: Start the discussion

Join Us: Join our community

Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing"

Register: Gain access to visionary innovation

Contact:

Jaylon Brinkley

Corporate Communications - North America

+1.210.247.2481

jaylon.brinkley@frost.com




Commenting on the markets, Evy Hambro and Olivia Markham, representing the Investment Manager noted:

Performance

The mining sector continued to outperform global equity markets in April, as displayed by a +1.6% increase in the MSCI World Index in comparison to a +21.1% increase in the Euromoney Global Mining Index. Improving data from China, combined with US dollar weakness, provided commodity price support and buoyed the sector. Positive data from China included a pick-up in the official manufacturing PMI bringing it into expansionary territory for the first time since August 2015 and better than expected property data. US dollar weakness appeared to be driven by the Federal Reserve highlighting concerns over world growth and the market's lessening confidence in the possibility of a meaningful US rate rise in the near term.

The reporting season got underway during the month as Vale reported better than expected first quarter results to which the market responded positively. It is our view that this increase in earnings was likely a short-term phenomenon driven by the ~52% rally in the iron ore price year to date. Elsewhere, First Quantum, the global copper miner, also reported better than expected results during the period. Management's reiteration of its strategy to transition its debt from corporate financing to project financing gave the market confidence in its ability to further strengthen the balance sheet and the stock was rewarded as a result. In other news, Anglo American pleased the market by announcing the sale of its niobium/phosphate asset for $1.5bn, bringing the company closer to achieving its goal of raising $4bn from asset sales this year.

In the portfolio we initiated a position in Teck, a global diversified miner with a large base of coking coal assets. The company announced robust results during the month and we are increasingly positive on the near term outlook for coking coal. To fund this we exited our position in Potash Corporation.

Strategy and Outlook

The key focus for the mining sector is currently whether underlying commodity demand (principally in China) is maintained and if it will continue to improve during the second quarter of 2016. We have seen some early signs of a pick-up in demand with improvements in the property markets, steel prices and liquidity, but we need to see further evidence to feel comfortable that the positive share price performance this year has been driven by improved fundamentals, as opposed, to short covering / investor positioning.

Today, many mined commodities' prices sit well below marginal costs, which should mean that downside for prices is limited. However, commodity cost curves have been compressed, as the sector has been able to meaningfully cut costs and weakening commodity currencies (such as the Australian and Canadian dollar) and lower oil prices have provided additional cost benefits. Fundamentally, whilst supply can be sticky for a number of reasons, a cash negative operation cannot persist indefinitely. We have just begun to see the first of the long-awaited supply cuts announced but mined commodity prices will need to remain at current levels for a few months or move lower before we see real momentum in cuts. In light of this, we expect to see companies further reduce capital spending and operating costs this year in order to bolster their balance sheets.

All data points are in US dollar terms unless stated otherwise.

12 May 2016

ENDS
SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Laguna Blends, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC: LAGBF), a network marketing company focused on generating sales of its hemp-based functional beverages through independent affiliates, today announces that it has engaged the Corporate Communications Services of QualityStocks. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, QualityStocks has assisted more than 300 public companies with their efforts to broaden influence, attract growth capital and improve shareholder value over the past 10 years.

"With the commercialization of our unique, hemp-based beverage products, Laguna Blends is strategically positioned to capture market share in two high-demand markets," says Laguna Blends CEO Stuart Gray. "As we expand this product line and grow our team of independent sales affiliates, it's vitally important that we keep shareholders in the loop of our achievements. Working with QualityStocks enables us to continue this growth pattern while fine-tuning our communications strategies."

QualityStocks will strategically leverage its network of partners, daily and weekly newsletters, social media channels, blog and other outreach tools to enhance Laguna Blends' transparency and brand visibility with the investment community.

"Our objective is to enable Laguna Blends to strengthen its communication initiatives without slowing its pace in terms of growing its sales network, expanding its product line, and building corporate value," says QualityStocks Managing Director Michael McCarthy. "The QualityStocks team will work closely with Laguna Blends to make sure its corporate message is strong, consistent and visible to both existing and potential shareholders."

About Laguna Blends Inc.

Laguna is a network marketing company that generates retail sales through independent affiliates. Affiliates utilize tools and technology that enable them to build an international business from their own home or anywhere else in the world. This technology replaces the need for expensive travel and hotel meetings. The Company sells its products through its independent affiliates in the USA and Canada.

The Company is currently focused on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Laguna's first product category as an entry to market are functional beverage products that contain hemp and other efficacious ingredients. Laguna's initial products to market are the following:

"Caffe" is an instant, "just add water" hot coffee beverage that is infused with both whey and hemp protein. With 2 grams of protein in every serving, our proprietary product packs a powerful protein punch. Caffe, contains Instant coffee, whey protein hydrolysate, hemp protein, natural flavors.

"Pro369" is a single serving, "on-the-go," plant based, instant, hemp protein that is served cold and comes in 4 delicious flavors. Pro369 is water soluble and can be directly mixed in water, added to milk, almond milk or coconut milk. Pro369 can also be blended in a shake or smoothie. Pro369 is also a source of Omegas, 3, 6 and 9 and contains ginseng.

Laguna Blends has been granted approval from Health Canada for four powdered flavours: Pro369 Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry and Vanilla Caramel and Tropical Powder. Pro369 contains Hemp protein, natural flavors, stevia, and American ginseng.

The Minister of Health from Health Canada has granted Laguna a product license along with a Natural Product Number ("NPN") for all four of the Pro369 Flavours. They are all listed under the same NPN.

i. A source of protein that helps build and repair body tissues.

ii. Source of amino acids involved in muscle protein synthesis.

iii. Assists in the building of lean muscle.

iv. An adaptogen to help maintain a healthy immune system.

v. Supportive therapy for the promotion of healthy glucose levels.

Hemp has long been recognized by the health and nutrition industry as a super food, cited in many publications as a balanced source of all ingredients required to achieve health and wellness.

HempOmega

HempOmega is an environmentally sustainable, vegetarian source of Omegas 3 and 6 that boasts a superior nutrient profile. A water soluble, homogenous, powdered ingredient, it can be easily integrated and/or manipulated, with no unpleasant taste or chemical contamination -- opening up entirely new product formulation opportunities. Hemp Omega's greater ability to endure the digestive process delivers unmatched bioavailability, thereby maximizing its potential health benefits.

HempOmega is a Trademark owned by Naturally Splendid Enterprises, Ltd. and is used under license by Laguna Blends Inc. For more information visit www.lagunablendsinc.com and www.lagunablends.com

About QualityStocks

QualityStocks is committed to connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future. It is part of our mission statement to help the investment community discover emerging companies that offer excellent growth potential. We offer several ways for investors to learn more about investing in these companies as well as find and evaluate them.

To receive the latest updates on our clients and stocks we're watching, sign up for the QualityStocks Newsletter at http://Signup.QualityStocks.net

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains 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. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Contact:

QualityStocks

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.QualityStocks.com

480.374.1336

Email Contact




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- International Frontier Resources Corporation ("IFR" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: IFR) on May 12, 2016, is pleased to announce that Tonalli Energia, has been notified by the Mexico Comision Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH) that it has been awarded the Onshore Oil and Gas Development Block 24 (Tecolutla Block). Tonalli Energia is a Mexican company with the ownership split equally between IFR and Mexican Petrochemical Leader Grupo Idesa.

The Tecolutla Block was awarded to Tonalli as part of the first round and third call of Mexico's oil and natural gas "mature fields" bid round ("Round 1.3"), the first in almost 80 years. Each of the blocks offered in Round 1.3 attracted multiple bids.

The first place bidder was originally awarded the Tecolutla Block in December 2015, but did not meet the conditions and terms as required by CNH within the specified time frame. As second place bidder, Tonalli has now been awarded the Tecolutla Block by CNH and will work towards the signing of the license agreement. The incremental royalty that will be applicable to the license agreement to be entered into by Tonalli will be 31.22% which is significantly lower than the original first place bid of 68.40%. The average incremental royalty for the 25 blocks on which license agreements will be signed for in Round 1.3 is 47.22%.

The Tecolutla Block is a 7.2 km2 block in the Tampico-Misantla Basin located within the state of Veracruz. The producing carbonate oil reservoir in the Tecolutla Block is the El Abra formation at a depth of 2,340 meters. 3D seismic has been acquired over the entire Tecolutla Block and 7 wells have been drilled into the producing reservoir. Peak production of over 900 bbl/d occurred from the Tecolutla Block in 1972 from 3 wells, with 1 producing well remaining as of Dec 2014. Tonalli's experienced operating team intends to deploy advanced carbonate drilling, completion and recompletion techniques in the Tecolutla Block.

Steve Hanson IFR's President and Director of Tonalli Energia, said, "After months of preparation and planning, we are excited and pleased to announce the awarding of Block 24 Tecolutla to Tonalli. Tecolutla provides Tonalli with a strategic operating presence in the Tampico-Misantla Basin and a solid foothold into Mexico's Energy Reform."

"The assignment of Tecolutla's block is an important achievement for Tonalli Energia and for Idesa, we are sure that Tonalli will by very successful in this new era in the Oil and Gas Industry in Mexico," stated Tonalli Director and Grupo IDESA Delegate Member of the Board Patricio Gutierrez Fernandez. "We are proud to be an active participant in Mexico's Energy Reform, which we believe will bring important benefits into Mexico's energy sector and to Idesa."

The license agreement that will be applicable to the Tecolutla Block will require Tonalli to execute a minimum work program expressed in work units during a one to two year appraisal period. The work units represent the performance of exploration studies, seismic, work-over, recompletion and drilling activities. The term of the license agreement will be 35 years, subject to certain extensions.

The Secretaria de Energia (SENER) has issued a five year, four round tender plan (2015-2019) for the denationalization of 914 oil and gas blocks. IFR believes that there are a significant number of under exploited oil & gas fields in Mexico that will be issued in these future bidding rounds. IFR and Idesa have agreed to jointly fund Tonalli costs for Tecolutla and the technical evaluation of the next onshore bidding round which is expected to be issued in Q3, 2016.

About Grupo Idesa

Grupo Idesa is one of the largest Petrochemical groups in Mexico, for over 55 years Grupo Idesa has produced and distributed different goods and services that provide products which are part of our daily lives. Grupo Idesa is integrated by four business segments - Petrochemicals, Distribution, Logistics and Construction Systems - with national presence and international reach. The company employs around 1,500 people. In 2010, Grupo Idesa and the Brazilian petrochemical Braskem started a JV "Braskem Idesa," in order to construct the "Ethylene XXI" project and signed with Pemex an important ethane supply agreement. The project began operations in December 2015. Also Grupo Idesa is part of a JV with Evonik Industries to build and operate a 40K ton Sodium Cyanide facility that should start operations in August 2016. Grupo Idesa was founded in 1956 and has its headquarters in Mexico City. For additional information please visit www.grupoidesa.com.

About IFR

International Frontier Resources is a publicly traded company with interests in oil and gas resource projects in Canada and the United States. IFR through its Mexican subsidiary, Petro Frontera S.A.P.I de CV (Frontera) and strategic joint ventures, is advancing the development of petroleum and natural gas assets in Mexico.

The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V trading under the symbol IFR. For additional information please visit www.internationalfrontier.com.

"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 or accuracy of this release." The Company seeks Safe Harbor.

Contacts:

Grupo Idesa

Diana Perez

Investor Relations

irel@idesa.com.mx

www.grupoidesa.com



International Frontier Resources Corporation

Steve Hanson

President

(604) 671-6982

shanson@internationalfrontier.com



International Frontier Resources Corporation

Tony Kinnon

VP Corporate Development

(403) 215-2781

tkinnon@internationalfrontier.com

www.internationalfrontier.com




NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- On May 11, 2016, Gabriel Resources Ltd. (the "issuer") completed a private placement (the "2016 Private Placement") of 20,000 units (the "2016 Units"), each 2016 Unit consisting of (i) $1,000 principal amount of 0.025% convertible subordinated unsecured notes, which notes mature on June 30, 2021 and are convertible into 3,220 common shares ("Common Shares") in the capital of the issuer (the "2016 Notes"), (ii) 1,610 common share purchase warrants each entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of CAD$0.46 until June 30, 2021 (the "2016 Warrants") and (iii) one arbitration value right entitling the holder to its pro rata share of 7.5% of any proceeds arising from the arbitration claim which the Company has commenced against Romania (the "2016 AVRs").

In addition, the notes (the "2014 Notes" and together with the 2016 Notes, the "Notes"), warrants (the "2014 Warrants" and together with the 2016 Warrants, the "Warrants") and arbitration value rights (the "2014 AVRs" and together with the 2016 AVRs, the "AVRs") issued in connection with a private placement completed by the issuer in 2014 were restructured (the "Restructuring"). These transactions and the securities issued in these transactions are more fully described in the issuer's press releases, dated May 11, 2016 and May 3, 2016.

Pursuant to the 2016 Private Placement, Electrum Global Holdings L.P. (the "Offeror") acquired 3,371 2016 Units at an aggregate price of $3,371,000 or $1000 per 2016 Unit, which 2016 Units consist of (i) $3,371,000 principal amount of 2016 Notes, (ii) 5,427,310 2016 Warrants and (iii) 3,371 2016 AVRs. In connection with the Restructuring, the 5,900 2014 Notes owned by the Offeror became convertible into 18,998,000 Common Shares (compared to 4,702,300 Common Shares prior to the Restructuring) and the terms of the 2014 Notes, 2014 Warrants and 2014 AVRs were amended to be substantially similar to the securities issued in connection with the 2016 Units.

As a result of the closing of the 2016 Private Placement and the Restructuring, the Offeror acquired the right to acquire 10,854,620 Common Shares upon conversion of the 2016 Notes, the right to acquire an additional 14,295,700 Common Shares upon conversion of the 2014 Notes, and 5,427,310 2016 Warrants, representing an increase in the Offeror's securityholding percentage from 16.25% to 22.32% (assuming the conversion or exercise of all of the Notes and Warrants beneficially owned by the Offeror and that no other securities, including those convertible into or exercisable for the issuer's securities, are issued, converted or exercised).

Immediately before the 2016 Private Placement and Restructuring, the Offeror held: (i) 56,410,739 Common Shares; (ii) $5,900,000 principal amount of 2014 Notes convertible into approximately 4,702,300 Common Shares; and (iii) 2,348,200 2014 Warrants, representing approximately 16.25% of the outstanding Common Shares (assuming the conversion of all of the 2014 Notes and exercise of all of the 2014 Warrants beneficially owned by the Offeror and that no other securities, including those convertible into or exercisable for the issuer's securities, were issued, converted or exercised), as well as 5,900 2014 AVRs.

Following the closing of the 2016 Private Placement and Restructuring, the Offeror holds: (i) 56,410,739 Common Shares; (ii) $9,271,000 principal amount of Notes convertible into 29,852,620 Common Shares; and (iii) an aggregate of 7,775,510 Warrants, representing approximately 22.32% of the outstanding Common Shares (assuming the exercise of all of the Notes and Warrants beneficially owned by the Offeror and that no other securities, including those convertible into or exercisable for the issuer's securities, are issued, converted or exercised), as well as 9,271 AVRs.

The 2016 Units referred to above were acquired for investment purposes and the Offeror and/or one or more of its affiliates may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease its beneficial ownership of Common Shares or other securities of the issuer whether in the open market, by privately negotiated agreement or otherwise.

The Offeror is an "accredited investor" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 45-106")) because the Offeror is a "person" (as such term is defined in NI 45-106) in respect of which all of the owners of interests, direct, indirect or beneficial, except the voting securities required by law to be owned by directors, are persons that are "accredited investors".

The issuer is located at c/o RM Gold (Services) Ltd., 25 Southampton Buildings, London, England, WC2A 1AL. The Offeror is located at 700 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10065, USA. A copy of the early warning report to which this news release relates can be obtained from Michael Williams (646-365-1600) or on the SEDAR profile of the issuer at www.sedar.com.

Contacts:

Michael Williams

646-365-1600




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Aberdeen International Inc. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") (TSX: AAB) is pleased to announce that its 50% owned investee company, Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA ("PLASA"), which owns 100% of the Sal de los Angeles lithium brine project ("Sal de los Angeles Project", or the "Project") in Argentina, has entered into a joint venture agreement ("JV Agreement") with Salta Exploraciones SA ("SESA") for the development of a pilot lithium production facility at the Project. SESA is a consortium of Argentina-based engineering and construction firms with extensive experience in the design, construction and operation of lithium brine facilities in Argentina's Puna region, where Sal de los Angeles is located.

The JV Agreement establishes a joint venture for the construction and operation of a pilot facility, which will be initially designed to produce approximately 2,500 tonnes per annum ("tpa") of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE"). The Project has not been the subject of a feasibility study and there is no guarantee the pilot plant will successfully produce a commercial product on a profitable basis or at all.

Under the terms of the JV Agreement, in order to earn a 50% stake in the joint venture, SESA must contribute an estimated US$6 million or the required amount for the construction and operation of an initial 2,500 tpa LCE ponding facility by incurring all construction and overrun costs, including the costs associated with one full year of post-construction operation. PLASA must contribute US$3.3 million over the next twelve months, with an initial contribution of US$200,000 to be made within 30 days of receiving all necessary permits, in consideration for a 30% contributing participation in the joint venture and the right to sell any lithium products. PLASA will also be fully carried for the remaining 20% of the joint venture in consideration for contributing brine from existing wells on the Project. The agreement has a 25-year term.

SESA will be the operator of the joint venture and will report to an operating committee, which will be comprised of four members, two of whom will be appointed by PLASA and two will represent SESA. SESA shall submit detailed engineering plans within 60 days of signing for review and approval by the operating committee. The JV Company shall have the option to increase its operating facilities to 5,000 tpa LCE if certain financial and operational conditions are met.

PLASA's US$3.3 million contribution will be made by Lithium X Energy Corp. ("Lithium X") on behalf of PLASA. This contribution falls outside of the required minimum expenditure commitment on the project previously disclosed, however Aberdeen will be required to contribute its proportional share of the costs after the expenditure commitment has been made and Lithium X has made the decision whether or not to exercise its option on PLASA, or be diluted in the joint venture.

David Stein, Aberdeen's President and CEO stated, "We have been pleased to work with Lithium X on taking this initial step to construct a pilot plant at the Project, partnering with local firms with experience operating in Salta Province and the Puna Region of Northwestern Argentina. To meet rapidly growing lithium demand, we now have the opportunity to de-risk some of the technical aspects of the Project, while developing the Project at a pilot scale."

The Sal de los Angeles Project covers more than 95% of the Salar de Diablillos property located in Salta province at an average elevation of approximately 4,050 metres above sea level. The Project includes 32 mining claims covering approximately 8,156 hectares and is located near FMC Corp.'s Salar de Hombre Muerto lithium deposit, one of the world's largest lithium operations. The JV Company ponding facility is restricted to 100 hectares (1%) of the 8,156 hectares that comprise the Sal de los Angeles property.

The ponding facility shall be designed to operate using conventional evaporation-based processing with the objective of producing, initially, a greater than 30 percent lithium chloride concentrate.

PLASA must obtain the necessary permits to construct and operate the pilot facility, including the Environmental Impact Assessment, which is in the final stages of preparation. Construction of the ponds will commence once permits have been received. Current works will focus on well construction, pumping and piping facilities.

Lithium X has the option to acquire up to 80% of PLASA exercisable after making a minimum expenditure of CDN$3 million on the Project and completing a feasibility study, the "expenditure commitment". The option can be exercised by paying Aberdeen CDN$5 million in Lithium X stock at a 10% discount to the 20-day volume weighted average share price.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by William Randall, P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL

Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the mining and metals sector. African Thunder Platinum, Aberdeen's premiere investment, is a lower-cost platinum group metals project in South Africa's well-known Bushveld Complex. Aberdeen has further enhanced its investment holdings with its holding of 50% of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA, which holds the Sal de los Angeles lithium project in Argentina.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and check out Aberdeen's YouTube Channel.

Cautionary Notes

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding, the construction and operation of the pilot facility, the budget and timetable for construction; partners' obligation and their ability to meet those obligations; the possible commercial nature of any products; joint venture and operating committee operations and decisions; the ability of the Company to generate additional value for shareholders as a result of such transactions, past success as an indicator of future success; net asset value of the Company; industry opportunities, lithium pricing and dynamics and anticipated returns. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are beyond the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

Aberdeen International Inc.

Rob Hopkins

Manager, Investor Relations

+1 416-861-5899

info@aberdeeninternational.ca



Aberdeen International Inc.

David Stein

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1 416-861-5812

dstein@aberdeeninternational.ca

www.aberdeeninternational.ca




WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international advocacy organization representing the gene and cellular therapies and broader regenerative medicine sector, announced the speaker line up for its seventh Annual Dinner and Legislative Fly-In, to be held May 24 and 25 in Washington, D.C. This event honors recent accomplishments in the sector and enables ARM members to advocate on Capitol Hill for legislative support of gene and cellular therapies and other regenerative medicines.

To be held May 24, ARM's Annual Dinner is an intimate gathering to recognize key corporate, scientific and policy leaders in this sector, including members of Congress, patients and patient advocates, disease-foundation executives and other industry champions. More than 150 guests are expected to attend.

This year's lead sponsor is Sangamo BioSciences, with supporting sponsors Lonza; PCT, a Caladrius Company; and ThermoFisher Scientific. Table hosts include Akron Biotech; Audentes Therapeutics; Celgene Cellular Therapeutics; Cognate BioServices, Inc.; Janssen R&D; MaxCyte; Millipore Sigma; and Precision Biosciences.

ARM Chairman and President and CEO of Sangamo BioSciences Edward Lanphier will kick off the evening with welcome remarks. Featured speakers include:

Ivan Borrello, M.D., Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Julie Venners Christensen, Head of Global Patient Advocacy -- Gene Therapy, R&D, Rare Disease Unit, GlaxoSmithKline

Tom Whitehead, Co-Founder, Emily Whitehead Foundation

ARM will also present its annual "Legislator of the Year" award to a key lawmaker who has demonstrated recent and substantial leadership in advancing this sector. This year, ARM will present the award to U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL). The only Ph.D. scientist currently serving in the U.S. Congress, Congressman Foster has been a longtime supporter of the life science industry.

In March 2016, Congressman Foster introduced the Advanced Standards in Regenerative Medicine Act, the House companion bill to S.2443, introduced by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in January. The legislation directs the U.S. FDA to facilitate the establishment of a Standards Coordinating Body in Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapies, as well to support the efforts of the coordinating body in the development and implementation of material and process standards essential to the timely advancement and approval of new regenerative therapies to treat major unmet medical needs.

The following day, on May 25, ARM members will participate in the organization's annual Legislative Fly-In, building off of last year's record participation levels to maximize legislative impact. Members will form state delegations to meet with key members of Congress, detailing the immense near-term potential of gene and cellular therapies and the need for supportive legislation.

The Annual Dinner will be held at the St. Regis in Washington, D.C. and is open to the public, however registration is required. ARM's Legislative Fly-In is limited to members of the organization and registration is also required. To register and for more information about this event, please visit http://alliancerm.org/event/annual-dinner-legislative-fly.

Please contact Chelsey Hathaway (chathaway@alliancerm.org) for additional information or any questions about this event.

About The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is an international multi-stakeholder advocacy organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine worldwide. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, providing business development and investor outreach services to support the growth of its member companies and research organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, D.C. to specifically represent the interests of the companies, research institutions, investors and patient groups that comprise the entire regenerative medicine community. Today, ARM has more than 240 members and is the leading global advocacy organization in this field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit http://www.alliancerm.org.

Media Contact:

Michelle Linn

774-696-3803

linnmich@comcast.net




DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- The Chron Organization, Inc. (OTC PINK: CHRO), announced today that it has entered into a multi-year license agreement with i10 Innovations, an ERP software provider and boutique consulting group. The i10velocity ERP platform provides all manner of required operability that a full solutions provider such as Chron Home Services would desire. The platform includes all CRM and channel management functions, CIS and billing functions, AR detailed functionality, logistics and project management functions and readily integrates into the Company's various third party service providers.

"The most impressive aspect of the i10velocity ERP platform is the ease with which we can add customized and proprietary features," stated Chron President, Alex Rodriguez.

In addition to the ERP license agreement, the two companies have also entered into discussions to discover other potential synergies. The Company is hopeful to announce a strategic relationship with i10 Innovations very soon that would accommodate joint product and strategy development.

Chron Chairman, Byron Young, remarked, "i10's Founder and President of Innovation, Adam Miller, is by all means a wunderkind when it comes to the home services industry. We are excited at the possibility of forging a long term relationship with them."

Adam Miller, Founder of i10 Innovation, said, "It's exciting to partner with a client like Chron Home Services; a team of forward thinkers who understand the future of the industry and are intent on taking the charge."

Rodriguez concluded, "Chron expects the ERP implementation to be completed within the next thirty days."

ABOUT THE CHRON ORGANIZATION

The Chron Organization, Inc. (OTC PINK: CHRO) is a 21st century services company providing state-of-the-art Smart Home technologies and the next generation in energy utility services. The Company provides homeowners and businesses with the latest in security, monitoring and automation controls enabling homeowners and businesses to have a Smart Home and a Smart Business at an affordable price. CHRON combines that with its cloud-based, green energy services, reducing both their carbon footprint and their monthly energy expense. The Company's plan is to capture 5% of homeowners, while dramatically reducing the nation's peak electricity demand. To learn more about Chron Home Services, please visit the website at www.chronhomeservices.com.

ABOUT i10 INNOVATIONS

Embracing the core values of integrity, innovation and growth, i10 Innovations stands at the forefront of the fastest moving security and technology trends. The company's founders have expansive industry experience and have built reputations for developing business strategies, incubating new business models, and building channel programs. By leveraging diverse business relationships, i10 sets the foundation for partners to accelerate growth and expand their market penetration by utilizing the i10 economic engine. To learn more, visit http://www.i10innovations.com/i/

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's filings, which are on file at www.OTCMarkets.com.

INVESTORS & MEDIA CONTACT:



Email: Email Contact

Phone: (469) 626-5275



Investor Relations:

The Eversull Group, Inc.

Jack Eversull, President

972-571-1624

214-469-2361 fax

Email Contact




GILLETTE, WY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 --NuTech Energy Resources, Inc. (OTC: NERG) has received information directly from TechnoInvest Oil and Gas giving clarification regarding the proposed buyout of NuTech's common shares. According to NuTech, TechnoInvest has advised CEO Kevin Trizna that a detailed proposal with agreed upon terms will be transmitted to the company early next week. The Company expects to receive the proposal in electronic format as well as a hard copy to follow via courier service early next week.

As stated before, both corporations are actively consulting with their management teams and advisory boards to map out the next steps to proceed with the acquisition process. The Company has no definitive time frame for a formal response to the TechnoInvest's closing package, but intends on turning it around as soon as possible with the intention of closing the earliest possible date.

About NuTech Energy Resources, Inc.: Nutech Energy Resources, Inc. (OTC: NERG) is a natural gas and oil technology and development company that has developed a patented technology for the production of coalbed methane (CBM) without the need to pump water. Nutech currently operates wells in the Powder River Basin area of northern Wyoming (through sister company Emerald Operating Company) and has commitments to acquire thousands of additional wells. Nutech Energy Resources, Inc.'s development of proprietary equipment uniquely positions the Company to be able to acquire and profitably operate wells that were previously cost prohibitive. For more information, visit: http://www.nutechenr.com/ or for TechnoInvestment visit: http://tehnoinvest.h1.ru/

Safe Harbor: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Investor and Media

Steffan Dalsgaard

CEO

Everest Corporate Advisors, Inc.

702-902-2361

702-982-1339




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.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Cancana Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: CNY) (the "Company" or "Cancana") and its joint venture partner Ferrometals BV, together Brazil Manganese Corporation ("BMC"), provided an update on exploration activities. Highlights include:

-- 188 drill holes have been completed to date, totalling over 10,000m. Results during the quarter included: -- 4.6m @ 22% Mn from 28.8m (Vitalino Prospect) -- 9.65m @ 19.3% Mn from 46.55m, including: -- 1.1m @ 53.5% Mn from 49.05m (Ademir-Vitoria Prospect) -- 7.15m @ 19.3% Mn from 48.4m (Eduardo Mendes Prospect) -- A third drill rig arrived on site in May and a fourth is being negotiated. Drilling will focus on an infill and extensional programs. -- A multi-commodity team has been formed to assess and explore for other metals on the license package.

Anthony Julien, President & CEO of Cancana stated, "Significant progress continues to be made and with a fourth drill rig being negotiated the project continues to accelerate. The current exploration team has been expanded to focus on multiple activities from quarter two, with infill drilling, reconnaissance drilling and multi-commodity exploration all planned."

EXPLORATION OVERVIEW

Exploration mapping, trenching and drilling programs continued through wet season over the first quarter of 2016 following a short post-Christmas closure in January. Targets are being progressively evaluated and activities are being supported by a community relations (CSR) team, established to facilitate exploration agreements and maintain close relationships and with local landholders. Support for BMC's activities has generally been positive, and the team is continuing to gain access to various areas.

The mapping and trenching activities have expanded the database of known manganese occurrences in the district. New areas are being scheduled for both pre-production activities (for short-term colluvial mining), and for deeper primary vein exploration. Over 5,000m of exploration trenching and 10,000m of drilling have been completed to date. Valuable information has also been gathered where mining activities have exposed profiles through some of the newly identified vein systems.

The exploration program has continued with broad reconnaissance traverses to confirm the position of vein systems associated with the dispersed colluvial manganese fields. BMC is currently engaged in discussions with its drilling contractors to increase the number of drill rigs so a greater emphasis can be placed on infill programs in the second and third Quarter.

MAPPING AND TRENCHING ACTIVITIES

The map below illustrates the distribution of mapping manganese occurrences compared to the original database at the commencement of activities. The distribution of new occurrences highlights the importance of E- to ENE-trending structural controls on the mineralization. NW and NE trending mineralised structures have also recently been identified, and an ongoing objective of the program will be to assess the potential for increased vein concentrations at the intersections of different mineralised trends.

Trenching activities are of prime importance in parallel with the mapping as the vein systems can often be concealed by the soil and laterite profile. Three trenching crews are currently engaged with the mapping and pre-production teams to delineate the distribution of manganese colluvium in the cover sequence and the position of underlying veins.

To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny1.jpg

To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny1a.jpg

In addition to regional mapping, more detailed surveys are being conducted where extraction activities have provided exposure of the vein profiles. In some areas, such as Dnei-Zenilda, the individual veins form more tabular bodies which have been extracted over a strike length of approx. 180m to date. In other areas such as Jaburi 2, multiple veins are present, not all of which project to the surface due to their tapering geometry. This indicates some areas will require tailored drilling programs to ensure the full package of veins is located and characterised.

Cuttings into the vein profile have been made at the Adesvaldo and Lucas prospects. The current plants are restricted in having no effective crushing facilities to liberate manganese minerals from the hard breccia material of these areas. The planned pilot plant will provide greater flexibility in processing such material (see September 15, 2015 news release). The vein positions in these areas are being surveyed with a differential GPS survey instrument. Mapped positions will be integrated with drilling information to assist with structural modelling.

To view Figure 3, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny2a.jpg

To view Figure 4, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny2b.jpg

To view Figure 5, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny2c.jpg

DRILLING PROGRAM

188 drill holes have now been completed around the project area, with key corridors having undergone reconnaissance testing illustrated below. Drilling has generally continued at broad spacings of 300-500 meters along the strike of structural corridors as they are defined. Some local infill has been conducted and BMC will shortly be commencing more detailed testing in several prospects, including the Eduardo Mendes-Ademir-Vitalino corridor, the Antonio Gomes area, and on the Lavra corridor (Adesvaldo and the Dnei-Zenilda-Laudir area). Other prospects will be progressively added.

To view Figure 6, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny3.jpg

Commentary on some of the prospects tested since the last report period are outlined below:

Eduardo Mendes -- Ademir -- Vitalino Corridor

This corridor forms a prominent ENE trending structure in the NE of the licence block. The structure has been prospected over a strike length of 14km to date. Several new zones of manganese colluvium and associated veining have now been detected on which drilling and pre-production activities are focussing. Historically approx. 20000t of manganese colluvium were recovered from the Eduardo Mendes prospect to the east and approx. 10000t from Vitalino to the west. Colluvial preproduction programs are currently testing the central Ademir area as a source of material for the 2016 production year. An application has been lodged for an extraction permit (Guia de Utilizacao) over this target. Preproduction activities will continue along extensions of the corridor where new domains of colluvial manganese dispersion have been located.

The broad trenching and drilling activities indicate that a number of sub-parallel structures are present. The infill drilling program will involve closer-spaced drilling initially on spacing of 100m to test the resource potential of the area. The ultimate drill spacing will be reviewed based on continuity observed in the drilling and supplementary trenching.

Drill results are tabulated in the diagrams below (with new results appended in the Intersection Table). Results of interest in the program to date from the various prospects along the trend include:

-- DDH_VT_005: 4.6m @ 22% Mn from 28.8m (Vitalino Prospect) -- DDH_ADV_002: 9.65m @ 19.3% Mn from 46.55m, including -- 1.1m @ 53.5% Mn from 49.05m (Ademir-Vitoria Prospect) -- DDH_ADE_002: 4.45m @ 23.85% Mn from 17.5m, including -- 1.4m @ 45.5% Mn from 17.5m (Ademir-California Prospect) -- DDH_EM_0012: 7.15m @ 19.3% Mn from 48.4m (Eduardo Mendes Prospect)

As previously observed, the grade of the vein intersections correlates closely to the degree of silicate breccia associated with the mineralization. These breccia zones are an expected component of the hydrothermal systems. BMC will be conducting metallurgical testwork programs to study optimal processing scenarios for the breccia material, particularly using bulk samples from vein profiles exposed in mining operations.

To view Figure 7, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny4a.jpg

To view Figure 8, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny5.jpg

To view Figure 9, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny6.jpg

Antonio Gomes Corridor

Field evaluation in the Antonio Gomes areas has identified a series of NE-trending structures associated with dispersed colluvium. These structures converge towards the main E-W structure outlined by the initial phase of drilling. An infill and extensional drill program is scheduled to commence in this area in the second quarter centered initially around the central section where multiple veins were encountered. The drill program will also test the resource potential of the NE-trending vein sets, for areas of vein thickening where the structures converge.

To view Figure 10, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160511-800cny7.jpg

Next Steps

BMC currently has two Geotechreserves do Brasil drill rigs on site, with one drill rig dedicated to infill work. BMC also has smaller drill rig from Energold Perfuracoes Ltda on site. BMC is in discussions with Energold to extend the current contract and to add a fourth drill rig. The smaller drill rigs allow access to steeper terrain and densely forested areas.

The infill program in nominated prospects has commenced in parallel with regional exploration continuing on new vein trends. All belts tested to date have shown the presence of manganese oxide mineralisation, and further drilling and trenching will continue to test for the potential for thickened vein zones at structurally favourable sites.

In addition to the manganese program, the newly formed multi-commodity team will assess the potential for other metals on the licence package - initial geochemical programs have commenced and updates on activities will be released shortly.

Intersection Tables ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole_Id East North Dip Azimuth Depth Intersection ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_001 744283 8727924 -50 340 31.60 5.2m @ 15.4% Mn from 9m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_002 744292 8727906 -50 340 46.00 1.8m @ 24.2% Mn from 30.4m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_003 743813 8727854 -50 160 50.15 2.5m @ 21.3% Mn from 19m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_004 743805 8727878 -50 160 70.25 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_005 744178 8728073 -50 160 44.00 4.6m @ 22% Mn from 28.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_006 744176 8728082 -50 160 68.10 0.9m @ 16.2% Mn from 53.6m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_VT_007 744297 8727882 -50 340 77.00 7.7m @ 12.2% Mn from 55.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_001 745150 8728303 -50 160 29.00 4.15m @ 23.2% Mn from 11.15m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_002 745141 8728322 -50 160 65.40 1.67m @ 20.8% Mn from 10.1m 9.65m @ 19.3% Mn 46.55m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_003 745133 8728339 -50 160 101.20 3.3m @ 23% Mn from 85.4m 0.25m @ 52.5% Mn from 89.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_004 745532 8728356 -50 340 25.40 0.1m @ 30.1% Mn from 12.1m 0.45m @ 24.9% Mn from 14.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_005 745544 8728338 -50 340 69.90 0.2m @ 22.8% Mn from 0.6m 0.4m @ 27.3% Mn from 12.5m 0.4m @ 14% Mn from 37.4m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_006 746165 8728512 -50 350 16.40 2.09m @ 14.6% Mn from 4.41m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_007 746161 8728529 -50 360 48.10 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_008 746159 8728526 -50 180 33.50 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADV_009 744751 8728385 -50 180 25.20 4.5m @ 10.5% Mn from 8.9m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_006 755076 8731971 -60 150 91.6 12.45m @ 9.8% Mn from 7.3m 2.45m @ 18.72%Mn from 68.05m 3.35m @ 8.2% Mn from 75.55m 6.55m @ 8.04% Mn from 81.35m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_007 754631 8731621 -50 330 60.00 0.45m @ 15.7% Mn from 19.9m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_008 754360 8731733 -50 300 55.10 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_009 754209 8731417 -50 170 50.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_010 755387 8732158 -50 140 64.80 0.95m @ 11.7% Mn from 19.75m 0.1m @ 58% Mn from 24.3m 0.4m @ 43.5% Mn from 26.5m 0.6m @ 51.7% Mn from 27.65m 0.1m @ 49.7% Mn from 30.4m 0.1m @ 41.8% Mn from 34.45m 0.7m @ 14.2% Mn from 38.4m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_011 755370 8732177 -50 140 92.00 1.85m @ 33.9% Mn from 68.3m 0.2m @ 24% Mn from 72.55m 0.1m @ 24.3% Mn from 75.35m 0.15m @ 34.6% Mn from 77.45m 1.3m @ 27.2% Mn from 81.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_012 755374 8732079 -50 150 80.00 7.15m @ 19.3% Mn from 48.4m 0.2m @ 15.7% Mn from 57m 0.55m @ 15.3% Mn from 59m 1.15m @ 15.2% Mn from 61.6m 2.15m @ 23.9% Mn from 65m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_013 755517 8732217 -50 300 56.00 0.45m @ 37.6% Mn from 19.7m 2.5m @ 14.2% Mn from 22.1m 0.2m @ 20.8% Mn from 28m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_014 755604 8732153 -50 160 77.00 0.35m @ 18.2% Mn from 2.2m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_015 755471 8732243 -50 120 68.00 Barren ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_016 755836 8732315 -50 160 40.5 0.25m @ 24.7% Mn from 15.75m 0.4m @ 22.4% Mn from 25.05m 0.1m @ 40.2% Mn from 26.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EM_017 755832 8732320 -50 160 60 0.3m @ 45.6% Mn from 40.2m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_001 753139 8728292 -50 360 82.20 0.45m @ 22.8% Mn from 16.45m 0.25m @ 19.3% Mn from 27.15m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_002 752814 8728309 -50 360 80.70 0.2m @ 13.6% Mn from 31.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_003 752781 8728348 -60 360 50.00 0.1m @ 58% Mn from 3.65m 0.35m @ 16.3% Mn from 19.4m 1m @ 14.5% Mn from 27.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_004 754238 8728396 -50 360 65.20 0.7m @ 34.3% Mn from 9m 0.95m @ 20% Mn from 34.7m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_005 753950 8728342 -45 360 82.50 Trace Mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_006 754238 8728383 -50 360 73.90 0.1m @ 30.8% Mn from 23.6m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_007 753142 8728273 -50 330 77.80 Trace Mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_CF_008 752779 8728353 -50 360 32.00 0.35m @ 42% Mn from 10.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_003 749323 8714174 -50 210 40.90 1.15m @ 18.1% Mn from 12.1m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_004 749336 8714197 -50 210 54.80 0.65m @ 32% Mn from 41.45m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_005 749438 8714137 -56 215 59.00 0.1m @ 16.3% Mn from 31.75m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_006 749420 8714117 -50 215 25.20 0.33m @ 10.7% Mn from 13.67m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_007 749651 8713969 -60 210 41.00 0.3m @ 11.1% Mn from 17.7m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_LC_008 749659 8713978 -60 210 12.30 Abandoned ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AV_001 740140 8721807 -50 360 67.10 0.2m @ 14.6% Mn from 47.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AV_002 740140 8721819 -50 360 56.00 4.43m @ 16.2% Mn from 30.74m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AV_003 740141 8721832 -50 360 44.00 2.5m @ 9.2% Mn from 21.9m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_JM_001 742966 8721773 -50 360 41.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_JM_002 742913 8721779 -50 360 39.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ED_001 749001 8720345 -50 140 42.75 2.75m @ 13.5% Mn from 29.25m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ED_002 749001 8720357 -50 140 95.35 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ZN_001 748624 8720243 -50 360 55.30 1.8m @ 17.4% Mn from 15.2m 0.25m @ 18.9% Mn from 23.85m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ZN_002 748626 8720223 -5 360 68.10 1.82m @ 14.6% Mn from 26.36m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADM_001 749632 8720419 -50 150 35.50 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EDS_001 749979 8720533 -50 150 44.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AMA_001 748290 8720247 -50 360 38.10 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AMA_002 748141 8720256 -50 350 33.00 0.5m @ 10.40% Mn from 9.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AMA_003 748146 8720246 -50 350 35.00 0.2m @ 10.7% Mn from 14.65m 0.45m @ 11.0% Mn from 16.75m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_SC_001 745661 8718234 -50 320 37.27 1.4m @ 22.1% Mn from 18.85m 0.2m @ 16.1% Mn from 24.65m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_FP_001 748217 8724228 -50 360 30.30 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_FP_002 748217 8724215 -55 360 62.00 0.8m @ 15.6% Mn from 61.35m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_NZ_001 740804 8721835 -50 10 36.20 0.52m @ 29.8% Mn from 14.55m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_NZ_002 740804 8721817 -50 10 60.40 0.3m @ 20.3% Mn from 44.35m 0.6m @ 15.3% Mn from 45.35m 0.2m @ 19.2% Mn from 47.25m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_NZ_003 741125 8721880 -50 180 54.35 1.9m @ 19.3% Mn from 19.35m 0.3m @ 20.2% Mn from 48.55m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_NZ_004 741117 8721891 -50 180 68.00 0.15m @ 14.9% Mn from 60.6m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_001 775163 8722628 -50 160 30.00 0.27m @ 41.3% Mn from 0.83m 0.2m @ 15.2% Mn from 27.9m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_002 775157 8722649 -55 160 51.70 1m @ 27.6% Mn from 0m 0.8m @ 28% Mn from 12.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_003 775682 8722692 -50 160 33.30 Trace Mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_004 775682 8722692 -70 160 45.00 Trace Mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_005 769653 8721617 -50 310 46.9 1.1m @ 19.1% Mn from 21.2m 0.3m @ 17.2% Mn from 42.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_006 769661 8721611 -50 310 69.20 2.6m @ 23.4% Mn from 35.45m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_007 769609 8721652 -55 130 90.4 1.35m @ 18.6% Mn from 57.45m 1.85m @ 16.5% Mn from 61.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_008A 776925 8722743 -55 180 23.60 0.2m @ 31.9% Mn from 9.3m 0.55m @ 32.7% Mn from 15.75 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_MR_009 776018 8722750 -60 180 45.15 1m @ 20.8% Mn from 25.2m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ARO_001 747686 8720299 -50 260 48.00 1.75m @ 20.3% Mn from 0.45m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ARO_002A 747686 8720272 -50 350 63.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_NB_001 767981 8720246 -50 120 35.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_FT_001 762316 8722599 -50 10 46.70 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_FT_002 762318 8722582 -50 10 70.00 0.55m @ 26.2% Mn from 27.75m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADR_001 747168 8720335 -50 350 21.00 0.35m @ 38.4% Mn from 9.95m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_ADR_002 747171 8720319 -50 350 45.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_GL_001 749233 8719592 -50 180 28.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_GL_002 749235 8719601 -55 180 55.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_IN_001 748234 8719433 -50 360 32.00 0.4m @ 15.8% Mn from 4.8m 0.4m @ 19.2% Mn from 15.15m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_IN_002 748233 8719426 -55 360 52.6 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_SO_001 746834 8719489 -50 360 22.00 0.3m @ 22.5% Mn from 12.05m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_SO_002 746835 8719474 -50 360 42.20 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_DP_001 746593 8720351 -50 180 43.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_DP_002 746591 8720357 -50 180 59.00 1.3m @ 17% Mn from 5.3m 3.6m @ 15.9% Mn from 11m 1.7m @ 16.9% Mn from 18.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EVE_001 746260 8720204 -50 180 25.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EVE_002 746251 8720231 -50 180 65.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EDE_001 744753 8722041 -50 180 45.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_EDE_002 744753 8722054 -50 180 65.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_004 747316 8725248 -45 120 24.00 0.12m @ 30.3% Mn from 0.88m 0.1m @ 37.9% Mn from 5.15m 0.1m @ 36.3% Mn from 13.1m 0.1m @ 16.9% Mn from 14.3m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_005 747310 8725269 -50 120 51.00 0.1m @ 19% Mn from 11.8m 1m @ 14.2% Mn from 23.3 m 0.2m @ 17.2% Mn from 28.4m 0.5m @ 12.1% Mn from 29.8m 0.3m @ 32.4% Mn from 30.9m 0.5m @ 16.2% Mn from 32m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_006 745070 8723497 -50 360 38.30 0.1m @ 14% Mn from 15.75m 0.25m @ 12.6% Mn from 21.0m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_007 745070 8723487 -55 360 45.30 0.08m @ 58% Mn from 8.68m 0.7m @ 19.5% Mn from 37.1m 0.45m @ 16.5% Mn from 38.15m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_008 747836 8725398 -50 180 27.00 Trace mineralization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_009 747827 8725408 -50 180 55.50 0.8m @ 16.7% Mn from 34.8m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_010 746210 8723613 -50 340 40.50 0.6m @ 22.4% Mn from 15.47m 0.5m @ 27.3% Mn from 18.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_011 746223 8723618 -50 340 45.00 2.6m @ 19.4% Mn from 27m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_012 746216 8723580 -50 340 64.50 0.95m @ 41.9% Mn from 16.5m 2.65m @ 23.5% Mn from 41m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_013 746989 8724983 -50 360 57.00 0.85m @ 10.4% Mn from 49.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_014 745493 8723533 -50 350 35.00 0.85m @ 23.9% Mn from 7.6m 0.2m @ 28.5% Mn from 10.5m ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH_AG_015 745486 8723515 -50 350 60.00 0.2m @ 48.8% Mn from 29.4m ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intersections are quoted with down-hole widths, intersections are not true width.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

CANCANA RESOURCES CORP.

Anthony Julien, President, CEO and Director

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical information about the Company's mining activities has been prepared under the supervision of and verified by Dr. Adrian McArthur (B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM), a consultant to Brazil Manganese Corporation, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

ABOUT CANCANA

Cancana Resources Corp is focused on exploring and developing the BMC manganese project in Brazil with its joint venture partner Ferrometals BV. The JV is employing a two-pronged strategy at BMC, where the primary objective is to advance the project to an initial resource and onward to feasibility, while also expanding current small-scale production to support those exploration activities. Further information can be found at cancanacorp.com, and bmcorporation.com.br.

ABOUT FERROMETALS

Ferrometals BV is part of a privately held metals group, focusing on acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities. Further information can be found at ferrometals.net.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration and development of BMC's properties and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims 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 otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of BMC's mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate has been established. Because the Company production decision, related to BMC, is not based upon a feasibility study of mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the property has not been established.

Notes

HQ-diameter drill core has been obtained from surface to end-of hole using a track-mounted Boartlongyear LF90D drill rig operated by drilling contractor Geotechreserves do Brasil and a man-portable EGD SII rig operated by Energold.

Collar positions are recorded by hand-held GPS (accuracy typically +/- 5m). The reported grid system is South America 1969, Zone 20S. Collar positions are marked with a cement plug for later survey pick up for any areas that progress to resource drilling. Down hole-deviation is measured by a Refelx Gyro survey tool.

Recovery is recorded against individual core runs whilst drilling, and any areas of core loss that can be specifically identified are recorded. Recovery is generally good to excellent. Some core loss may be incurred where the mineralized intervals are softer and friable. Overall recovery averages greater than 90% for the reported intersections. Holes undergo geological and basic geotechnical logging, and are photographed prior to sampling. Samples are collected as half-HQ core where the core is competent. When occasionally broken, half the sample is hand-picked in the most representative way possible. Sampling is conducted to geological boundaries.

Samples are submitted to an accredited SGS Laboratory in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Samples are dried, crushed to 3 mm, homogenised, then a split is pulverised to produce a pulp of 250 - 300 g with 95% passing 150 mesh. Submissions include certified references to monitor laboratory performance, which have returned results within the expected laboratory analytical error margins. Laboratory protocols include blanks, duplicates and repeats. Major oxides in mineralised zones are analysed by lithium-borate fusion - XRF techniques, with minor elements monitored via a multi-acid digest and ICP-OES analysis. Zones of wall rock alteration with trace mineralization are monitored analysed by multi-acid digest and ICP-OES analysis.

Until dispatch, samples are stored in BMC's supervised stockpile yard or exploration office. Individual bags are fitted with a tamper-proof bar-coded seal. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor (Eucatur). Samples are weighed prior to dispatch and material received by the laboratory is reconciled with dispatch records. Pulps and rejects are returned to BMC. A subset is selected for periodic round-robin test work.

Contacts:

Cancana Resources Corp.

Anthony Julien

info@cancanacorp.com

+1-604-681-0405




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 18, 2016) - Barisan Gold Corporation (TSXV: BG) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Agreement (the "Agreement") with DG Resource Management ("DGRM") to acquire 100% interest in the Railroad Valley Lithium Property located in Nevada, and the Black Canyon Lithium Property located in Arizona.

The Railroad Valley Lithium Property is located in south-central Nevada, and consists of 199 placer claims totalling 9,835 acres (3,980 hectares). The property fits the current geological model and understanding of lithium brine deposit occurrences (as defined by USGS Open File 2013-1006), and is considered analogous to the nearby Clayton Valley, which hosts the operating Silver Peak lithium mine owned by Albemarle Corp (NYSE-ALB). The Railroad Valley Property is situated within an enclosed, fault-bounded basin valley, centred by a dry lakebed (playa) with significant amounts of evapotranspiration. Documented soil samples collected on the surface of the playa, by the United Stated Geological Survey (USGS), contain elevated concentrations of over 500 ppm Li2O.

The Black Canyon Lithium Property is located in central Arizona, and consists of two exploration permit applications totalling 360 hectares. The property covers a lithium clay exploration target that is adjacent to the Lyles Hectorite Deposit which is currently being mined for its clay by a local private company. The Lyles Hectorite Deposit is reported to have very high lithium content of 5,300 ppm Li2O, with anomalous lithium values documented to the north and south. Regional geological mapping and satellite photo analysis indicate that there is a high probability of the same lithium bearing clay unit on the Black Canyon Property.

Management cautions that past results or discoveries on adjacent properties may not necessarily be indicative to the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

The Company has retained Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. ("Dahrouge") to manage the exploration of the Railroad Valley and Black Canyon properties. Dahrouge is a mineral exploration, consulting, and project management group based out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with considerable experience in numerous jurisdictions and over a wide array of commodities (including lithium), and are credited with the discovery of several notable deposits (Upper Fir, Ashram, Parsons Creek, J-Zone, etc.).

Alex Granger, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Barisan Gold stated, "I am extremely excited to have had the opportunity to acquire the Railroad Valley and Black Canyon lithium properties, and enter into a strategic partnership with Dahrouge. Dahrouge has a strong track record of identifying and acquiring high-quality mineral exploration properties that have resulted in significant capital returns for shareholders of its listed companies. The current transaction represents a golden opportunity for Barisan Gold shareholders to profit from the strengthening lithium sector, and potentially from other technology-related minerals."

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay $100,000 in cash and issue 20,668,617 (pre-consolidation) common shares to DGRM in exchange for a 100% equity interest in both the Railroad Valley and Black Canyon properties. DGRM will retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty on each property.

In association with this transaction, Barisan Gold will undertake a number of organizational changes to best align the Company going forward. These are anticipated to include a change of Company name, a change of Officers and Directors, a consolidation of shares of the Company, and the placement of all Indonesian assets to an independent trust which will seek to maximize the value of such assets to the benefit of Company and its other stakeholders. An Annual & Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be organized, in short order, to approve this transaction and other motions.

In addition, the Company announces that it will issue 2,214,380 (pre-consolidation) common shares to certain directors & officers at $0.05 per share (pre-consolidation) for the settlement of C$110,719 of Company expenses and debt incurred over the past 2 years and 10,331,990 (pre-consolidation) common shares to Indonesia Exploration Ltd. at $0.05 per share (pre-consolidation) for the settlement of C$516,600 of payables.

A separate press release with further details on the new company name, new officers and directors, and additional technical information about the Railroad Valley and Black Canyon properties, will follow in the next few days/weeks ahead of the Annual & Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geol., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To receive or stop receiving BG news via email, please email info@barisangold.com and state your preference in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, visit the Company's website at www.barisangold.com, or contact:

Investor Relations Vancouver T: +1 604 684 8676 E: info@barisangold.com
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Decision Diagnostics Corp. (OTC PINK: DECN), the manufacturer, quality plan administrator and the exclusive worldwide sales, service and regulatory processes agent for GenStrip 50 and the GenUltimate! glucose test strips, both designed to work with the market leading Johnson & Johnson's ("J&J") LifeScan OneTouch Ultra family of glucose testing meters, and the in-development GenSure! and GenChoice! glucose test strips targeted to the U.S. and/or developing world markets, today reports two consequential updates in its nearly five year legal battle with two divisions of pharmaceutical industry giant Johnson + Johnson, who in September 2011 began a series of lawsuits based on false, and as ultimately demonstrated, frivolous legal allegations of patent and trademark infringement.

On January 6, 2016 the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed with the three Appeals Court justices upholding the USPTO court's rejection of the foundational J&J patent that formed the basis for allegations of infringement filed and prosecuted against Pharma Tech. The Federal Circuit's ruling was issued via a Rule 36 decision. That ruling effectively and finally terminated the validity of any J&J patentability claims to their U.S. Patent Number 7,250,105 ('105). In an obvious attempt to insincerely extend the now porous umbrella of protection for the '105 patent, J&J petitioned the court for a judicial rehearing or en banc review of the court's decision. The Federal Circuit Court announced on May 10, 2016 that the polling of its entire panel of judges resulted in a unanimous rejection of the J&J petition. The impact of this rejection renders any J&J claims of patentability to the '105 patent null and void.

Secondly, in early March 2016 the district court judge in the three cases still active in the San Francisco Federal court, ordered J&J and Pharma Tech to participate in mandatory mediation to resolve all patent and trademark infringement litigation filed by J&J against Pharm Tech Solutions. Those mediation sessions were held on April 26, 2016 and conducted by the Chief Magistrate of the Federal District Court. The mediation concluded with the parties agreeing in principle to terms that would dismiss all litigation by J&J against the company. J&J also agreed to pay a cash sum to Pharma Tech in consideration for Pharma Tech's agreement to vacate all claims made in its Anti-trust litigation. The company continues to discuss the content and tenets of a formal settlement agreement. This proposed settlement is entirely independent of Pharma Tech's claims of patent infringement filed recently against J&J that will be adjudicated in the Nevada Federal District court. Additional information related to this prospective settlement will be shared in upcoming communications.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains the Company's forward-looking statements which are based on management's current expectations and assumptions as of April 14, 2016, regarding the Company's business and performance, its prospects, current factors, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Decision Diagnostics Corp.

Keith Berman

(805) 446-2973

info@decisiondiagnostics.com

www.decisiondiagnostics.com

www.pharmatechdirect.com




Featured on Channel 4's What Britain Buys, Escape Plan is a WWII immersion experience Mary Portas calls "absolutely total escapism!"

Escape Plan, an ingenious live escape game set against the fascinating backdrop of World War II, was featured earlier this week on What Britain Buys, Channel 4's 2016 trend show. Queen of the high street Mary Portas traded fashion boutiques for army barracks as she and three enthusiasts joined a high-intensity escape adventure set in WWII London. The programme follows Portas and her "comrades" as they gather intelligence and solve clues in a bid for freedom from enemy capture.

As live-adventure experiences grow in popularity, Portas took a crack at Escape Plan's historic take on the trend, offering viewers an eye-opening look at fun new ways Brits are unplugging from technology and embracing the growing market of quirky, live social experiences.

Recent estimates show that over a quarter of a million Brits have immersed themselves in a live adventure experience since they first arrived in the British Isles in 2012.

"It's like your very own video game with no screen involved," Portas said. "I think people are craving experiences that feed their souls and actually make them feel human again. I love the innovation and creativity behind these games they're a great boost to a thriving leisure industry."

Escape Plan is London's only historic WWII immersion experience based in Kennington, which dares participants to follow in the footsteps of Bob Hails, the only prisoner to have successfully escaped the barracks. Throughout the one-hour live challenge, Portas's critical thinking, teamwork, and sleuthing skills were put to the test in a fun romp around one of South London's most unique experiences.

Brendan and Kerry Mills, Co-Founders and Directors of Escape Plan, said, "Mary Portas was definitely the chicest, savviest POW we've encountered in the 12 months since offering Londoners the unique chance to step back into history and make a thrilling dash for freedom. History buffs like Mary, millennials looking for a fun distraction, and families looking for a cross-generational activity all agree Escape Plan is a fantastic live-immersion adventure for a thrilling, one-of-a-kind day out."

"We started Escape Plan as an experiment to see if we could marry history with the live escape adventure trend," Kerry Mills continued. "We wanted to excite thrill-seeking consumers with an experience that celebrates our past and guarantees face-to-face fun with friends and loved ones in the present. The response has been tremendous. We are now in the process of expanding Escape Plan to offer adventure-seeking Brits exciting new experiences to relive history and create great memories."

Escape Plan is giving the first ten members of the media a complimentary chance to experience the most talked-about live adventure experience the country has to offer. Contact kerry@escapeplanltd.com to book a place.

For more information: http://escapeplanltd.com/what-britain-buys-mary-portas-escape-room/ or follow @escapeplanltd on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005846/en/

Contacts:

Escape Plan

Kerry Mills

kerry@escapeplanltd.com
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - UBM plc (UBM.L) noted that Innodata Inc has agreed to acquire the assets and rights to PR Newswire's Agility business from PWW Acquisition, the Cision entity which is to acquire PR Newswire. Completion of the Agility disposal is contingent on completion of the sale of the overall PR Newswire business by UBM to Cision, a business controlled by GTCR Canyon Holdings. Completion of the Transaction remains subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance in the US and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. 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.
DUBLIN, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the " Analysis of the National Broadband Plans of Latin America " report to their offering.

This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the national broadband plans of Latin America and the key topics all market participants should be aware of. It considers current and future drivers, challenges and opportunities, providing readers with an unrivalled understanding of the market and where it's heading.



This market insight presents an analysis of the current status of governments' national broadband plans in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and provides strategic recommendations for stakeholders. The goals and achievements of the national broadband plans in all three countries are reviewed. A detailed analysis and insights from the national broadband plans in these countries are presented, as well as key takeaways. This study also provides lines in service (LIS) and revenue forecasts for these countries for 2014 to 2020. The revenue forecasts are segmented by technology, including wireless, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), cable modem, and ADSL.

Key Findings:



The Mexican, Brazilian, and Colombian governments implemented national broadband plans between 2010 and 2014. In Colombia , the government was able to achieve most of its goals; however, in Brazil and Mexico , the governments were unable to achieve all of the outlined objectives.

, the government was able to achieve most of its goals; however, in and , the governments were unable to achieve all of the outlined objectives. Considering this, the Brazilian government proposed a revision of the National Broadband Plan, which was made public by candidate Dilma Rouseff during the presidential election in October 2014 . However, political instability, the difficulty of legal and economic arrangements, and the fiscal deficit which does not allow the government to subsidize users in non-profitable areas have delayed the roll-out of this revision.

during the presidential election in . However, political instability, the difficulty of legal and economic arrangements, and the fiscal deficit which does not allow the government to subsidize users in non-profitable areas have delayed the roll-out of this revision. Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is still better in these two aspects and will be the long-term solution to deal with the increasing demand for high-speed Internet and advanced applications in the cloud. Although the cost of deployment has been decreasing, it is still too expensive to be used for a universal service policy.

Companies Mentioned:



AgendaDigital.mx

Mexico Conectado

Vive Digital



Report Structure:

1.Executive Summary

2.Market Overview

3.Market Trends and Analysis

4.The Last Word

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fhr7pm/_analysis_of_the

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716








WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A report released by Oxfam America has exposed the dangerous and harsh working conditions inside U.S. poultry processing plants, including the lack of adequate bathroom breaks.



In addition to low wages, worries about job security, and standing for long hours in cold, wet noisy plants, about 250,000 poultry workers in the U.S. are denied adequate bathroom breaks, according to the report.



This comes even as the poultry industry is enjoying record profits. The poultry industry sells 8.5 billion chickens annually, at a wholesale value of $50 billion.



Oxfam America launched its campaign for poultry worker justice in October 2015 with an extensive expose on conditions inside poultry processing plants.



Its report, Lives on the Line, is based on three years of research and interviews with dozens of current and former poultry workers and experts. The latest report uncovered the cruel realities inside these cold, noisy and dangerous plants.



To cope with the denial of adequate bathroom breaks, poultry workers wear diapers to work as well as restrict intake of liquids and fluids to dangerous degrees. The workers are thus compelled to urinate on themselves or purposefully dehydrate themselves. They are also in danger of serious health problems.



The situation is particularly hard for women, who face biological realities such as menstruation, pregnancy, and higher vulnerability to infections, even as they struggle to maintain their dignity and privacy when requesting breaks, Oxfam said in its report.



Almost all workers interviewed by Oxfam reported being denied bathroom breaks outright or having to wait an unreasonably long time to use the bathroom - up to an hour or more. Workers also reported being fined if they are late returning from the bathroom.



The top four chicken companies control roughly 60 percent of the domestic market in the U.S. - Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Perdue, and Sanderson Farms. Oxfam urged these companies to ensure that workers have bathroom breaks necessary to stay healthy, safe, and dignified at work.



It called upon the companies to develop specific commitments that workers have access to bathroom breaks whenever they are needed, make these policies public, and ensure that staffing levels at each stage of the processing process are sufficient to provide workers the opportunity for replacement when they need a bathroom break.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

The Government of Canada is taking another step to make government more open, transparent and accountable.

Today, President of the Treasury Board Scott Brison announced that the Government of Canada is making good on its commitment to modernize its Communications Policy and put an end to the partisan use of Government advertising.

Effective immediately, Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) - the national not-for-profit organization committed to ensuring the integrity of advertising - will conduct independent and public reviews of government ads against the definition of "non-partisan communications" now outlined for the first time in the communications policy of the Government of Canada.

Furthermore, the Policy now prohibits the advertising of government programs that have yet to approved by Parliament, and no advertising can take place in the 90 days before a fixed general election date.

The Government has asked the Office of the Auditor General to conduct an audit of this interim non-partisan review mechanism to evaluate its effectiveness. His office will determine the scope and timing of the audit.

To make sure that government advertising cannot be used for partisan purposes in the future, the Government will work with parliamentarians, the Auditor General and stakeholders to entrench third-party oversight of government advertising in legislation.

Quotes:

"The Government is moving forward on its commitment to ban partisan government ads and communications. We now have safeguards in place so that Canadians know the information they receive from their government is non-partisan and represents a legitimate public service announcement."

- The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board.

Quick Facts

-- Budget 2016 announced a reduction for advertising in 2016-2017. -- ASC is a national not-for-profit organization that administers the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. -- ASC has been providing advertising pre-clearance for the Canadian advertising industry for over 50 years and administers a consumer complaints process about ads currently running in Canada. -- Except for a few modifications in 2006, the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada has not been substantially renewed since it was introduced in 2002. The Federal Identity Program has not undergone a significant review since its implementation in 1998.

Associated Links

- Policy on Communications and Federal Identity

- Directive on the Management of Communications

- Government of Canada Communications page

- Advertising Standards Canada website

Follow us on Twitter: @TBS_Canada.

Contacts:

Jean-Luc Ferland

Press Secretary

Office of the President of the Treasury Board

613-369-3163



Media Relations

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

613-369-9400

media@tbs-sct.gc.ca

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired)

613-369-9371




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.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ABI Research, the leader in transformative technology innovation market intelligence, forecasts 2016 macrocell basestation spending will decline for the second year in a row, reaching US$48 billion, as operators shift CAPEX to network densification. Worldwide basestation spending will decline by two percent in 2016 and then by double digits each year thereafter.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO

"The basestation spending decline means that CAPEX is shifting to less capital intensive solutions, including small cells, DAS, and Wi-Fi for densification," says Nick Marshall, Research Director at ABI Research. "While India will dominate spending in Asia-Pacific over the next few years, North America's 4G coverage is virtually complete as the region prepares for 5G along with Japan and South Korea."

The Asia-Pacific region is still the largest basestation market in 2016, but down from its 2015 peak as China completes its LTE rollout. North America will see the biggest declines as deployments for LTE coverage diminish. In 2015, Ericsson led the overall basestation market, followed by Huawei, Nokia Networks, Alcatel-Lucent, and ZTE. But those same companies will face challenges in the months ahead.

"As the 5G technology cycle gets underway, basestation vendors including Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia will face the challenge of replacing lost revenue in the short term," concludes Marshall. "While the early commercialization of 5G will certainly help to replace this lost revenue, it is not until well after 2020 that this contribution becomes meaningful. Basestation vendors must diversity to make up for this shortfall."

These findings are part of ABI Research's Network Market Tracker Service (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/service/network-market-tracker/), which includes research reports, market data, insights, and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.
ALAMEDA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Verific Design Automation, the recognized leader of SystemVerilog, VHDL and UPF parsers, today announced that two of its longtime customers joined a growing list of other customers who have achieved successful exits through acquisitions.

Yogitech, a leading provider of services and solutions for functional safety, was acquired by Intel Corporation, while Rocketick Technologies Ltd., a leading provider of simulation acceleration solutions for chip verification, is now part of Cadence Design Systems. They follow other highly successful Verific licensees including, Denali, Forte and Jasper Design Automation who were acquired by Cadence. Synopsys purchased Atrenta and EVE, while Mentor Graphics bought Calypto and Oasys.

"We've had remarkably strong relationships with both Rocketick and Yogitech and take a measure of pride in their accomplishments," remarks Michiel Ligthart, Verific's president and chief operating officer. "We wish them well as they move into larger, more established companies, and look forward to the same type of relationships with Intel and Cadence."

Both companies integrated Verific's parsers into their respective software that are in production and development flows. Rocketick, a Verific customer since 2009, adopted Verific's SystemVerilog parser as the front end to RocketSim, a multi-core processor-based accelerator used on a wide range of Verilog simulations to solve functional verification bottlenecks.

Yogitech selected Verific's Verilog and VHDL parsers to work with faultRobust Technology, its functional safety analysis and safety-oriented design exploration software.

Verific invites attendees to view demonstrations of its parsers in Booth #538 during the Design Automation Conference (DAC) and to pick up this year's giraffe giveaway. DAC will be held June 5-9 between10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Contact Rick Carlson, Verific's vice president of sales, to schedule a demonstration. He can be reached at (970) 948-9650 or via email at rick@verific.com or visit Verific's website located at: http://www.verific.com

About Verific Design Automation

Verific Design Automation, with offices in Alameda, Calif., and Kolkata, India, provides parsers and elaborators for SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHDL and UPF. Verific's software is used worldwide by the EDA and semiconductor community in synthesis, simulation, formal verification, emulation, debugging, virtual prototyping, and design-for-test applications, which combined have shipped more than 60,000 copies. Corporate headquarters is located at: 1516 Oak Street, Suite 115, Alameda, Calif. 94501. Telephone: (510) 522-1555. Email: info@verific.com Website: www.verific.com.

Verific Design Automation and Tortuga Logic acknowledge trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products and services.

For more information, contact:

Nanette Collins

Public Relations for Verific

(617) 437-1822

Email Contact




FOLSOM, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- AgreeYa Solutions, a leading global software, solutions and services company, is pleased to announce it has been presented with a Bronze Stevie Award in the Company of the Year category at the 14th Annual American Business Awards. This is AgreeYa's second year in a row winning a bronze in this category.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning "crowned," the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 20.

"AgreeYa is honored to receive a second Stevie Award recognizing our performance and achievements," said AgreeYa Solutions managing partner, Ajay Kaul. "Our team is focused on delivering the highest quality solutions and support, and is committed to providing top-notch services to help our clients succeed. In our quest for being a trusted partner to our customers, we continue to enhance our solutions and software through strategic acquisitions and the development of new offerings. Thus far, 2016 has been a very successful year and we look forward to what is to come."

As the world's premier business awards program, the American Business Awards annually honor achievement in every aspect of work life, from customer service and management to technology and product development. More than 3,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration this year, and they were reviewed in the judging process by more than 250 professionals.

"The judges were extremely impressed with the quality of entries we received this year. The competition was intense and every organization that has won should be proud," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.

Details about The American Business Awards and the full list of winners are available here.

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.

Contact is:

Leslie Licano

(949) 733-8679 ext. 101

leslie@beyondfifteen.com




CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - (TSX: ECA) (NYSE: ECA)

Encana Corporation is hosting a presentation for investors focused on the Montney on May 17, 2016 at the JW Marriott Essex House in New York City.

The event will provide participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of this premier resource play and its significant liquids potential. The presentation will include discussion of the evolution of the play, market dynamics, how Encana continues to increase well productivity and lower costs, and the company's future development plans.

A live audio webcast of the presentation, which begins at 6 a.m. MT (8 a.m. ET), will be available at http://media.rampard.com/encana/20160517/reg.jsp.

Encana Corporation

Encana is a leading North American energy producer that is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). By partnering with employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.

SOURCE: Encana Corporation

Further information on Encana Corporation is available on the company's website, www.encana.com, or by contacting:



Investor contact:

Brendan McCracken

Vice-President, Investor Relations

(403) 645-2978



Patti Posadowski

Sr. Advisor, Investor Relations

(403) 645-2252



Media contact:

Simon Scott

Vice-President, Communications

(403) 645-2526



Jay Averill

Director, Media Relations

(403) 645-4747
BURLINGTON, VT -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Fuse monthly insights cover sports, music, fashion and other relevant cultural interests as it relates to teen & Millennial brand marketing.

Strategy: College Marketing is a Bigger Opportunity Than Most Brands Realize

It's time to stop visualizing three 19 year olds sitting under a tree in the campus quad every time you hear "college marketing." In truth, less than a third of U.S. undergraduates are "traditional" full-time, degree-seeking students at residential four-year colleges. Most brands are missing out on reaching the nearly half of all college students that attend community colleges, the 25% that attend part time, and the quarter that are 25 years old or older.

And while it might seem easy enough to develop an additional strategy to reach these students where they are, the greater challenge for many brands is in creating relevancy with them. Unlike traditional students -- especially students at elite colleges -- non-traditional students are mostly concerned with their cost of education, alcohol abuse, and stress. For more on the ill-advised focus of the media on elite college students, check out Ben Casselman's "Shut Up About Harvard."

Social Media: It's Time to Adopt a Snapchat Strategy

For the first time in a large-scale study (Piper Jaffray's "Taking Stock with Teens"), teens cited Snapchat as the most important social media platform. For the many brands that have taken a wait-and-see approach to Snapchat, that time is over. Snapchat boasts 100 million daily active users, 8 billion views per day, and reaches over 40% of 18-34 year olds in the U.S. Developing a Snapchat strategy should start with these three elements -- straight from Nick Bell, Snapchat's VP of Content:

Use On-Demand Geofilters to create and distribute a custom filter in a specific area for a set time

Consumers love Snapchat because it's fun, so keep it that way

Not knowing the (Snapchat) product is the biggest killer to most ventures

Read more from Snapchat's Nick Bell in Forbes.

Experiential: Wearable Tech is Event Marketing's Next Opportunity

2015 was an important year in fitness technology with companies like Apple and Fitbit dominating the fitness tracking space. But those technologies are just the beginning.

The next few years will see major advances in wearables and holographic headsets - technologies that will be utilized by experiential marketers.

Wearables allow consumers to learn about their body's response to stimuli. Experiential marketers will devise ways to use wearables to measure a consumer's reaction to their product or event experience. A central part of this evolution will be smartwatches, which will progress from a sensor device to a central hub for all wearable tech. Thus, Apple, Google, and Samsung smartwatches are likely to be part of an experiential marketer's toolkit.

Holographic headsets provide consumers the opportunity to explore, interact, and learn by experiencing outside environments. Events and sponsors will provide consumers with holographic headsets, not to separate them from the live event they are attending, but to provide another immersive way to sample and discover a brand. To read more about the wearable tech market, see The Motley Fool.

Digital: Why Consumers Disengage from a Brand's Digital Media

Marketers have improved greatly at engaging teens and young adults -- mainly using quality content. But we don't often concentrate on why consumers unfollow brands on social media or unsubscribe to other content. Repetitive content, receiving content too frequently, and content that doesn't fit a need are among the reasons consumers disengage.

The most intriguing insight in a recent Social Times piece was about consumers unfollowing based on brands posting content unrelated to their brand. In trying to strike a balance between content that is brand-centric versus lifestyle, it seems as though some brands have gone too far in trying to be culturally relevant, and as a result they are being unfollowed on the basis of not understanding their role in their consumers' digital lives. To read more about consumer disengagement, see Social Times.

Creative: Learn What Kind of Music Will Move You and Your Customers

Are you targeting consumers that like rules or are they guided by emotion? According to some fascinating research conducted at University of Cambridge, a person's thinking style says a lot about their music preferences. You can take the quiz the researchers created at MusicalUniverse.org.

We believe the Cambridge research has marketing implications: if a consumer's thinking style can be linked to their music preference, brands can include musical taste in their consumer profiling and make creative decisions informed by this. Brands targeting emotional thinkers might use music that creates an emotional rush (think Adele). Brands targeting logical thinkers might use intense, even manic music (think classical or punk). Read more about this research at The Telegraph.

For more teen and Millennial insights or information about Fuse, visit: http://www2.fusemarketing.com/l/72842/2016-02-09/3sdp92

About Fuse

Fuse is a marketing agency founded in 1995 that connects brands with teens and young adults through sports, music, fashion, video gaming and other relevant cultural interests. Fuse's services include consumer insights, brand strategy, public relations, experiential marketing, creative services, and social media. The Fuse staff, led by Partners Bill Carter, Issa Sawabini and Brett Smith, is comprised of marketing professionals and cultural experts who have worked for some of the most prominent brands and agencies in the country. For more about Fuse, check out our website or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Erin Blaisdell

PR Manager

eblaisdell@fusemarketing.com

802-383-1419




DUBAI, UAE, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) recently welcomed a delegation from Yinchuan City, the provincial capital of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to discuss potential avenues of collaboration and the prevailing business and investment environments of China and Dubai. Vice Mayor Mr. Guo Bai Chun, Deputy Mayor of Yinchuan City, led a high-level group of international affairs, financial, administrative and health officials committed to forging strong ties in various social and economic areas.

The visiting delegates were received by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) and also included Mr. Zhao Bo, Commissioner of Foreign Affairs; Ms. TianYong Hua, Director of Health Commission; Mr. Yong Hui, Commissioner of Treasury; Mr. Yang Zhao Hua, Commissioner of Administration and Audit; and Mr. Yu De Wai, Director of Secretarial Office.

Over the past years DAFZA has witnessed a significant rise in the number of Chinese companies interested in doing business with us due to our strategic location, advanced infrastructure and services, and the success of the Chinese enterprises we have been hosting. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni had very productive discussions with Deputy Mayor Mr. Guo Bai Chun and his group about how DAFZA can similarly meet Yinchuan's business and investment needs and what we should to do to ensure mutually beneficial growth moving forward. All parties agreed that Yinchuan and DAFZA share the same visions and that our partnership will definitely help us meet and even exceed our respective objectives.

The UAE is China's largest export market in the Gulf. DAFZA has conducted informative seminars in China to outline the benefits of partnering with Dubai and specifically DAFZA and using the Freezone as an entry point to the thriving Gulf and broader MENA markets. China is currently among DAFZA's primary target markets under its ongoing global expansion plan.

Eyad Zeidan - Senior PR Account Manager

Tel: +971-456-2888

Mobile: +971-55-190-8590

Email: eyad@orientplanet.com
According to the latest research study released by Technavio, the global industrial automation in life sciences industry is expected reach USD 5.13 billion by 2020.

This research report titled 'Global Industrial Automation Market in Life Sciences Industry 2016-2020', provides an in-depth analysis of market growth in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. To calculate the market size, Technavio researchers have considered revenues generated from the sales and aftermarket services of programmable logic controllers (PLCs), manufacturing execution systems (MES), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and distributed control system (DCS).

Request sample report: http://bit.ly/24BcPkx

"The life sciences industry is using cloud technologies to improve genomic research, open innovation, and collaboration. Cloud adoption is achieved through the adoption of MMS, CMS, ERP, DCS, SCADA, and PLC systems. Cloud-based software-as-a-service is likely to become the next logical step in the evolution of automation technology in the life sciences industry," said Bharath Kanniappan, one of Technavio's lead analysts for automation research.

"Life sciences companies are becoming more comfortable with the concept of service-based technology architecture. Thanks to the shift towards a more cloud-based environment, they are expected to incur immense benefits such as reduced costs, greater flexibility, and enhanced functionalities," added Bharath.

Global industrial automation market in life sciences industry by product 2015

DCS 35.59%

SCADA 31.78%

MES 13.46%

PLC 19.17%

Source: Technavio research

Global industrial automation market in life sciences industry by DCS

The global industrial automation market in the life sciences industry by DCS was valued at USD 1.4 billion in 2015. The pharmaceutical industry worldwide is expanding rapidly to meet the needs of the global population.

Endemic tropical infections and chronic lifestyle disorders, such as diabetes and hypertension, have spiked mortality rates, especially in the urban population. Chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths each year in the US and therefore occupies close to 84% of the country's healthcare costs. Therefore, many companies are predicted to invest heavily in medical R&D in this region.

Also, with governments in emerging countries enforcing many new legislations and health for providing essential treatment and medicines at affordable prices, the life sciences industry is anticipating further modernization to meet these requirements over the next four years.

Technavio researchers predict a significant rise in the demand for automation solutions such as DCS from the pharmaceutical industry, in emerging countries, such as India, China, Brazil, Malaysia, and Indonesia, during the forecast period. This demand is expected to stem from high domestic and foreign demand for pharmaceutical products.

Global industrial automation market in life sciences industry by MES

The global industrial automation market in the life sciences industry by MES was valued at USD 529.2 million in 2015. MES is an electronic interface between orders, equipment and processing instructions (batch records), personnel, and logistics. MES in the life sciences industry mediates between business administration functions (planning, control, production, and sales) and automation of production processes. MES controls, optimizes, and documents processes executed at the shop floor in compliance with pharmaceutical requirements. It is likely to find increased suitability in chemical manufacturing of APIs and processing of APIs that are in solid and pharmaceutical forms. It is also anticipated to help companies improve batch processing and packaging operations.

Global industrial automation market in life sciences industry by PLC

The global industrial automation market in the life sciences industry by PLC was valued at USD 753.86 million in 2015. PLC controls drug manufacturing equipment and is connected to the central processing system. Control software packages use ladder logic, functional block diagrams, and sequential function charts for embedding these programs into PLCs. These programs are documented and updated in order to improve the plant's productivity. The market comprises multiple large, regional, and local vendors who are expected to offer standard as well as customized products to satisfy unique customer needs.

Browse related reports:

Global Industrial Automation Services Market 2015-2019

Global Building Automation and Control Systems Market 2015-2019

Global Industrial Automation Market in Food and Beverage Industry 2015-2019

Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform.

About Technavio

Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005021/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com

media@technavio.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Mitt Romney has suggested that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's refusal to release his tax returns disqualifies him from being president. Romney, the GOP's presidential nominee in 2012, warned that Trump is reluctant to release his tax returns because they contain a 'bombshell.' 'It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service,' Romney said in a post on Facebook on Wednesday. He added, 'Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate's representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest.' Romney argued that the risk the returns could reveal hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is too great to ignore. Trump has repeatedly cited an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service as the reason for his refusal to release his returns. However, Romney noted there is nothing that prevents Trump from releasing returns that are being audited and said the real estate tycoon could release returns for prior years. 'There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump's refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them,' Romney said. 'Given Mr. Trump's equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume it's a bombshell of unusual size.' The former Massachusetts Governor came under similar scrutiny when he released only two years of tax returns while running for president in 2012. In an interview with Fox News host Greta Van Susteren on Wednesday, Trump claimed he would like to release his returns but reiterated that he would not do so until the audit is completed. Trump said he hopes to release the returns before the election in November but argued that there is nothing to learn from them. (Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - On Saturday, June 4, the Larkspur Library will host a forum for seniors entitled Empty Nest, What's Next? The event will be at 11 a.m. at the Library, located at 400 Magnolia Avenue. The forum will be held in the City Council Chambers, and it is free and open to the public

Sue Dwight, Senior Living Specialist at Zephyr Real Estate in Marin, is one of the featured speakers. She will discuss housing options for empty nesters: staying at home, moving to a smaller home, condo or apartment, or possibility moving to a senior community. She is well versed in the many types of senior options, their costs and their qualifications. She has over 10 years' experience with independent living communities that offer a continuum of care (CCRCs).

David Hellman, attorney and certified public accountant, will address the often-asked question, "Can I afford to move?" He will focus on estate planning and taxation laws, with emphasis on capital gains issues. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and in Tax Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

In the Bay Area State of the Region Report from the Association of Bay Area Governments, the average age of the population here and across the country is rising as more and more Baby Boomers retire or semi-retire. Marin County has the highest median age in the Bay Area, and population growth since 2000 has been largely in the age groups 50 and over. Real estate decisions and quality of life planning consequently becomes more and more important.

"We are grateful to the Larkspur Library for offering this informative event for our community," commented Erinn Millar, Sales Manager at the Marin office. "Sue has a wealth of information and network contacts in her repertoire."

About Zephyr Real Estate

Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco's largest independent real estate firm with nearly $2.3 billion in gross sales and a current roster of more than 300 full-time agents. Zephyr's highly-visited website has earned two web design awards, including the prestigious Interactive Media Award. Zephyr Real Estate is a member of the international relocation network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World; the luxury real estate network, Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate; global luxury affiliate, Mayfair International; and local luxury marketing association, the Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco. Zephyr has six offices in San Francisco, a brand new office in Greenbrae, and two brokerage affiliates in Sonoma County, all strategically positioned to serve a large customer base throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit www.ZephyrRE.com.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/5/12/11G097961/Images/Sue_dwight-7cf7f43a3d91b11eab0e7f979bd8a28b.jpg

Contact:

Melody Foster

Zephyr Real Estate

San Francisco, CA

415.426.3203

Email contact




NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands and ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EndoStim, Inc., a medical device company that has developed neurostimulation therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), today announced it has completed a Series D financing round of $25 million. Endeavour Vision, an internationally recognized investor in healthcare and technology companies, led the round, with participation from existing investors, led by Sante Ventures. New investors Wellington Partners and Gimv completed the syndicate.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366899

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366898LOGO

"Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide suffer from GERD, and many are not optimally treated with long-term proton pump inhibitor medication," said Doug French, managing director of Sante Ventures and chairman of EndoStim's Board of Directors. "We believe EndoStim is perfectly positioned to address the therapy gap that exists for patients with severe reflux, which is why we are very excited to welcome such an experienced group of new investors to the EndoStim team."

EndoStim has developed a unique, minimally-invasive implantable device designed to provide long-term reflux control by restoring normal esophageal function through low-energy personalized neurostimulation. The therapy directly targets the patient's weak or dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, often the underlying cause of reflux. Two long-term clinical trials and an ongoing international patient registry continue to demonstrate successful control of abnormal acid in the esophagus and significant improvement in patient quality of life through up to four years of follow-up with an excellent safety profile.

The Series D financing will support expanded commercialization efforts for EndoStim's minimally-invasive GERD therapy outside the United States; a randomized sham-controlled pivotal trial in the United States; and the development of next generation devices.

"Endeavour Vision is proud to partner with EndoStim, which has created a truly revolutionary, minimally-invasive therapy that provides long-term control of esophageal acid exposure, while avoiding the risk of side effects that is common with traditional anti-reflux surgery," said Alexander Schmitz, who recently joined the EndoStim board representing Endeavour Vision. "We are confident that EndoStim will ultimately become a standard of care in GERD treatment in the U.S. and worldwide."

About EndoStim

EndoStim is a medical device company based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Nijmegen, The Netherlands, developing and commercializing a revolutionary treatment for GERD. The EndoStim system is CE Marked for patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease with symptom duration of six months or longer, and is available in a number of countries throughout Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. The EndoStim system is not approved for sale in the US and is limited by US federal law to investigational use only. For more information, visit www.endostim.com.

About Endeavour Vision

Endeavour Vision is an internationally recognized investor in healthcare and technology companies. The team, which partners successful investment professionals with world-class industry veterans, has executed more than 65 investments within its focus verticals. With the recent closing of the Endeavour Medtech Growth Fund, Endeavour Vision is advising one of the largest funds dedicated to helping medical technology companies in Europe and the US to accelerate their global growth and market leadership. For more information, visit www.endeavourvision.com.

About Sante Ventures

Sante Ventures is a life sciences venture capital firm that invests exclusively in early-stage companies developing innovative new medical technologies or healthcare delivery models. The firm was founded in 2006 and has $280 million in capital under management in two funds. For more information, visit www.santeventures.com.

About Gimv

Gimv is a European investment company with over three decades experience in private equity and venture capital. The company is listed on Euronext Brussels. Gimv currently manages around 1.8 billion EUR (including co-investment partnerships) of investments in about 50 portfolio companies.

As a recognized market leader in selected investment platforms, Gimv identifies entrepreneurial and innovative companies with high-growth potential and supports them in their transformation into market leaders. Gimv's four investment platforms are: Connected Consumer, Health & Care, Smart Industries and Sustainable Cities. Each of these platforms works with a skilled and dedicated team across Gimv's home markets of the Benelux, France and Germany and can count on an extended international network of experts. More information on Gimv can be found on www.gimv.com.

About Wellington Partners

Wellington Partners is among the most successful pan-European Venture Capital firms. With more than  800 million under management and offices in Munich, London and Zurich, Wellington Partners invests in start-up companies throughout Europe that have the potential to become global leaders in the areas of digital media, resource efficiency and life sciences. Since 1998, Wellington Partners has invested in more than 100 companies, including publicly listed firms like Actelion, Evolva, Genticel,Oxford Immunotec, Supersonic Imagine, Wavelight (acquired by Alcon) and Xing as well as privately held companies like AyoxxA, Definiens (acquired by Medimmune), Grandis (acquired by Novartis), G-Therapeutics, ImevaXx, immatics, Immobilienscout24 (acquired by Deutsche Telekom), invendo medical, MPM Medical, MTM Laboratories (acquired by Roche), NEUWAY Pharma, Oxagen/Atopix, Quanta, Rigontec, Sapiens (acquired by Medtronic), Sensimed, Symetis, Spotify and Themis. For further information, please visit www.wellington-partners.com.

For more information, please contact:

Eileen Ke

info@endostim.com
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- The Government of Canada respects the role of science in society and is committed to engaging all citizens with the wonders of science and technology by supporting groups that promote research in new and novel ways. Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach, Canada's largest science outreach program, focuses on First Nations and Inuit peoples by offering science education activities that touch as many as 100 communities per year. For these communities, Elephant Thoughts provides a source of educational programs for young students and acts as a force for self-sustaining change.

Today, Elephant Thoughts was presented with the annual award for Science Promotion (Group) by Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. The award, provided through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), is valued at $25,000 and honours organizations that make outstanding contributions to the promotion of science and engineering to the general public.

Jeremy Rhodes, Executive Director of Elephant Thoughts, accepted the award at a ceremony on Parliament Hill, as part of the Science Odyssey Appreciation exhibition attended by students, researchers, and science promoters. Science Odyssey, from May 6 to 15, is 10 days of discovery and innovation that brings together hundreds of events where Canadians can experience the country's richness in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Quotes

"Strong communities are fundamental to the success of Indigenous peoples. Elephant Thoughts' science outreach, in partnership with First Nations and Inuit peoples, is exactly what this government seeks as we engage Indigenous partners to break down the barriers that have for too long held back individuals and communities from reaching their full potential in science and society."

- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

"By bringing together traditional knowledge and Western science, this organization is creating opportunities for young learners to expand their perspectives, pursue their studies, and realize their future ambitions."

- Dr. B. Mario Pinto, President, NSERC

"This award will allow us to find additional support and form new partnerships so we can bring our programs to many thousands more children. NSERC has been a strong partner for Elephant Thoughts over the past 10 years, enabling us to expand and evolve our programs and methods. They are a big part of our success story and we sincerely thank them for all they do to support science education."

- Jeremy Rhodes, Executive Director, Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach

"Elephant Thoughts won our appreciation by their tireless efforts in the community, braving severe weather and even forest fires to provide hands-on science activities and programming to children at the nine schools of the Cree School Board. Their tutoring program also made a real difference in student confidence and graduation rates for science and math as well other courses. Additionally, they involved the community, and their evening and weekend science workshops were enthusiastically attended by the students and their families."

- Olivia Spencer, cooperative education resource teacher (retired), James Bay Eeyou School, Chisasibi, Quebec

Quick Facts

-- With its unique use of science as a tool to foster success in First Nations and Inuit schools, Elephant Thoughts promotes involvement by the entire community in its programs, not only to help students, but also to build bridges between communities and educators. -- The student-centred programming developed by Elephant Thoughts engages students so they can see the value of education through real life applications of science and math that are meaningful in their local environments. -- The emphasis on curriculum-oriented learning has led to high graduation rates among students, sometimes by a factor of nearly 10. -- Elephant Thoughts also responds to major humanitarian issues internationally, including rebuilding efforts after natural disasters and sponsoring children and refugee families. Since its foundation in 2002, the group has positively affected the lives of more than 20,000 children at hundreds of schools worldwide.

Associated Links

About the Award

About Elephant Thoughts

About Science Odyssey

Where NSERC Invests and Why

A Vision of NSERC in 2020

Follow Minister Duncan on social media:

Twitter: @ScienceMin

Instagram: sciencemin

Follow NSERC on social media:

Twitter: @nserc_crsng

About NSERC

NSERC invests over $1 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries - valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships established by NSERC help inform R&D, solve scale-up challenges, and reduce the risks of developing high-potential technology.

NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada.

About Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach

Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach is a Canadian educational charity founded in 2002. Originally working on international development in India, its primary focus now is science education outreach to First Nations and Inuit communities. With this new direction, Elephant Thoughts has worked in collaboration with teachers from these communities to develop innovative programs that aim to:

-- engage First Nations and Inuit youth in science, technology, and math by making these topics relevant both culturally and practically; -- break down economic and geographic barriers to learning; -- increase First Nations and Inuit graduation rates in the North; and -- facilitate the transition to sustainable change in communities both in Canada and abroad.

These initiatives help to foster the development of important scientific, technical, and life skills among youth. These skills can improve students' willingness and preparedness for careers in the North, including those in the mining, government, and environmental sciences sectors.

Support for First Nations and Inuit.

In First Nations and Inuit communities, there is a clear need for engaging, interactive, and sustainable programs to combat the low school graduation rates that result from a lack of adequate, fulfilling, and inspiring education. Many children are two to three years behind their non-Indigenous peers and fall behind on standardized tests, such as Quebec's provincial math and science exam. However, with support from Elephant Thoughts' unique science and math programs, graduation rates for students at the Cree School Board in Northern Quebec have increased by a factor of almost 10, from 1.7 percent to 15.6 percent over a three-year period.

Elephant Thoughts also engages community Elders to participate in learning programs and to share their traditional knowledge. This bringing together of the rich resources of traditional Indigenous knowledge with Western science helps build bridges between First Nations and Inuit peoples and other Canadians to foster diversity and discovery for the benefit of all.

Science as a Teaching Tool

Elephant Thoughts practices the philosophy of "teaching a man to fish instead of giving a man a fish." In all their programs they strive to develop the local community's capacity to be self-sustaining and to deliver their own effective science programming. They operate as a facilitator and partner, supporting communities and often collaborating with other organizations and charities that already work in the communities. The organization sees science as a catalyst to teach self-reliance and to connect communities through education.

About the Award

The NSERC Awards for Science Promotion honour individuals and groups that are inspirational in the way they promote science to the general public. The Awards give an opportunity for Canada's science community to recognize, support, and encourage outstanding science promoters.

NSERC invites all Canadians with an interest in science, including teachers and university researchers, to contribute to the success of this annual award by nominating the science promoters they admire most.

Contacts:

Veronique Perron

Press Secretary, Minister of Science

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

343-291-2858

veronique.perron@canada.ca



Martin Leroux

Media and Public Affairs Officer

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

613-943-7618

media@nserc-crsng.gc.ca




HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Willbanks & Associates, one of Texas' premier manufacturer's representatives for commercial heating and hot water equipment, would like to inform contractors and building operators of a new boiler startup regulation announced by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Effective February 15th, 2016, boiler owners/operators must submit a Boiler Installation Form and Manufacturer's Data Report to the Chief Boiler Inspector's office upon completion of an installation.

According to the update, a Temporary Operating Permit may now be requested prior to the Boiler Installation form. If the owner/operator of a boiler system needs to fire their boiler before the state, or an authorized inspection agency, can perform the inspection, they may submit a Temporary Operating Permit application (along with a $50 fee) to the TDLR. Once approved the boiler may be fired and run for up to 30 days prior to the required initial inspection. Once the boiler has been inspected, it is then legal to fire it.

"We understand the difficulties this new update can pose on our customers, therefore we're working to make the transition as easy as possible. We will now include the Boiler Installation Report and Temporary Operating Permit forms along with all boiler sales, installations, and repairs. For your convenience, we also provide a detailed boiler startup checklist," says Trey Willbanks, President, Willbanks & Associates.

For more information on these and other updates to the Boiler Code, check out the TDLR page outlining all relevant changes.

Please visit Willbanks & Associates at www.willbanksinc.com for more information.

About Willbanks & Associates

Willbanks & Associates has provided advanced solutions and support for thousands of commercial heating systems and equipment since 1977. Willbanks & Associates offers a wide range of expertise including MEP applications and design collaboration, equipment sales, service and preventative maintenance, turnkey mechanical piping solutions, managed hot water systems, and equipment and parts inventory. They offer custom solutions to fit specific needs and work closely with trusted manufacturers to offer top quality boilers and related equipment.

Press Contact:

Karen Franco

832-350-4161

Email Contact




FRISCO, TX--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) -West Texas Resources, Inc.(OTCQX: WTXR), a Texas-based independent oil and gas company, today announced its acquisition of a 25% working interest (19.5% net revenue interest) in an East Texas oil and gas property. The property is known as the T.A. Greer lease and includes two tracts of land totaling approximately 407 acres in Panola County, Texas. The property is held by production by two operating wells that the operator plans to re-work commencing in the third quarter. The Company acquired the property from Two Eagles Resources in consideration of the Company's payment of $10,000 and issuance of 60,000 shares of its common stock.

"We welcome mutually-beneficial agreements like those between Two Eagles Resources and West Texas Resources where both parties are committed to working together to develop strategic acquisition opportunities in the oil and gas sector," said J.D. Kerr, CEO of West Texas Resources. "Like others we've made, this acquisition is exciting for us. It builds upon the Company's existing commitment to explore the best use of the Company's skills and resources and serves as a model for future transactions."

About West Texas Resources, Inc.

West Texas Resources, Inc. is engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and development in North America. The Company's objective is to become an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploitation of oil and gas properties in North America in partnership with oil and gas producers. The Company's strategy is to pursue strategic acquisitions of interests in oil and gas properties, including prospects with proven and unproven reserves, which it believes to have development potential. The Company targets both new and existing fields and producing wells to be revitalized.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning West Texas Resources, Inc. 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. Those forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations for the ability to acquire the working interests in operating leases and the profitability of those leases. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, the risk that we may not be able to acquire operating leases, the risks that the leases, if acquired, may not be commercially productive, the risk that we may not be able to acquire the additional working capital with which to exploit the acquired leases on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and those other risks set forth in West Texas Resources' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on December 30, 2015 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. West Texas Resources, Inc. cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. West Texas Resources, Inc. does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

For more information about West Texas Resources, Inc., please visit: www.westtexasresources.com

Contact information:



J.D. Kerr

CEO

West Texas Resources, Inc.

972-832-1831
New anchor stations will link Denmark's armed forces with backbone of the U.S. military's global satellite communications WGS

SES S.A. (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) today announced it will provide two anchor stations for the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO).

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006263/en/

From L-R Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director, SES Techcom Services; Norbert Willems, VP Commercial, SES Techcom Services; Kim B. Meier, Captain (Navy) Director Air Force Systems; Ming Yun Shan, Chief Communications Branch, Air Force Systems Division (Photo: Business Wire)

Under the agreement, SES Techcom Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, will provision and maintain two Wideband Global Satcom system (WGS) anchor stations one in X-band and one in Ka-band. This will enable the Danish armed forces to communicate through the system, which provides flexible, high-capacity communications for defence operations through the associated satellite constellation and control systems.

SES was awarded the contracts on the basis of its experience in providing satellite communication anchor stations, the associated WGS certification process and overall life-cycle cost criteria. The Danish forces will join other nations partnering with the US in the WGS program and thus offer the US State Department satellite-based communication services to users, including marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and the White House Communications Agency.

"Our satellite communication solutions have a proud history of providing high-quality, accurate, real-time information for military applications," said Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director at SES Techcom Services. "It is this proven expertise and competence which led to us being awarded the two contracts, which will enable the Danish military to achieve high data rates and long-haul communications across the globe."

Captain (Navy) Kim B. Meier, Director Air Force Systems at DALO added, "We are pleased to partner with SES Techcom Services. The new WGS anchor stations will greatly enhance our military's global satellite communications."

Follow us on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSatelliteCompany

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel

Blog: http://www.ses.com/blog

SES Pictures are available under http://www.ses.com/21472913/Our_Pictures

SES White papers are available under http://www.ses.com/18681915/white-papers

About SES

SES (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES holds a participation in O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre.

Further information available at: www.ses.com

About SES Techcom Services

SES Techcom Services is a 100% owned affiliate of SES, the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of over 50 geostationary satellites, providing integrated end-to-end satellite solutions and operational services tailored to customers' needs worldwide. Services offered by SES Techcom Services, which is ISO 9001 certified, include the design and delivery of ground infrastructure and operational services, VSAT networks, broadband connectivity and turnkey teleport solutions. It also develops innovative solutions for e-government, e-health and e-education, as well as applications for worldwide emergency satellite communications.

Further information available at: www.ses.com/techcom

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006263/en/

Contacts:

SES

Markus Payer

Corporate Communications

Tel. +352 710 725 500

Markus.Payer@ses.com
A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of "aa" of Caisse Centrale de Reassurance (CCR) (France). The outlook for each rating remains stable.

The ratings reflect CCR's strong risk-adjusted capitalisation, good operating performance and excellent business profile in France and abroad. The ratings also factor in the explicit unlimited guarantee provided by the Republic of France to CCR's state-backed business.

CCR's risk-adjusted capitalisation remains strong, supported by a conservative earnings retention policy and the backing of the Republic of France. CCR offers reinsurance coverage for natural catastrophe, terrorism and other exceptional risks with the explicit support of the French state, its sole shareholder, in the form of unlimited stop-loss reinsurance. Additionally, the company writes some traditional reinsurance business not covered by the French state's stop-loss guarantee (i.e., open market business). In line with the guidelines provided by the French state, the traditional open market reinsurance business accounted for about one-third of the company's total gross written premiums in 2015.

CCR recorded a net profit of EUR 216 million in 2015, stemming from a good technical performance and an investment return of 2%. The state-backed reinsurance business contributed a net profit of EUR 204 million, benefiting from a relatively benign year of catastrophe experience in France. The open market book of business contributed a net profit of EUR 12 million, chiefly driven by an absence of large losses and strong returns from the company's life portfolio. Overall, CCR published a strong net combined ratio of 68% in 2015, compared with 69% in 2014.

CCR maintains a unique position as the main reinsurer of natural catastrophe risks underwritten in France with an estimated market share of approximately 90%. A.M. Best expects the company to retain its strategic importance for the French state as a provider of reinsurance for risks typically considered uninsurable. CCR should also maintain a good profile in the open market, although this portfolio of business is expected to remain incidental to its main strategic mission.

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best's Recent Rating Activity web page.

A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright 2016 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006273/en/

Contacts:

A.M. Best

Salman Siddiqui, ACA, +44 20 7397 0311

Senior Financial Analyst

salman.siddiqui@ambest.com

or

Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, +44 20 7397 0268

Associate Director, Analytics

ghislain.lecam@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey, +1 908-439-2200, ext. 5159

Manager, Public Relations

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy, +1 908-439-2200, ext. 5644

Assistant Vice President, Public Relations

james.peavy@ambest.com
According to the latest market research report by Technavio, the global secure logistics marketis likely to reach over USD 72 billion by 2020.

In this report, Technavio covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global secure logistics market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report takes into account the total revenue generated from the leading geographies, including EMEA, Latin America, North America, and APAC.

"Growing preference for outsourcing is a major driver contributing to the growth of the global secure logistics market. The major factor contributing to outsourcing of cash management and security is the rise in the number ATMs worldwide, which is projected to reach a staggering four million machines by 2019. The global demand for cash is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8%, and the amount of cash handled by ATMs is expected to overtake cash handled by banking staff in many emerging markets during the forecast period," said Sharan Raj, one of Technavio's lead industry analysts for transportation

Emerging markets such as Brazil, China, and India have grown significantly since the global economic recession of 2008-2009. With the rise in spending power and per capita income, there has been an increase in the flow of money in global markets. The market trend also predicts many financial institutions in the US to shift their business operations to Mexico to avail logistics and cost advantages until the next four years. These developments are likely to buoy this market growth until 2020.

Global secure logistics market by geography 2015

EMEA 50.50%

Latin America 33.91%

North America 20.99%

APAC 6.21%

Source: Technavio research

Request sample report: http://bit.ly/1WHxb95

Secure logistics market in EMEA: largest region

The secure logistics market in EMEA was valued at USD 2.18 billion in 2015. In 2015. With cash transactions accounting for nearly 70%-80% of commercial transactions in Europe and the number of ATMs expected to reach 3.5 million by 2017, the secure logistics market in EMEA is expected to register growth in the near future. Though the debt crisis in Europe during 2010-2012 did impact the market, the market is expected to bounce back with Germany, Portugal, and Spain being its key contributors. Africa is another emerging market, with major customers from sectors such as telecommunications, aviation, mining, oil and gas, embassies, and ports.

Secure logistics market in Latin America: second largest region

The secure logistics market in Latin America was valued at USD 990 million in 2015. The secure logistics market in Latin America is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina are the major contributors to the market. Security services are in huge demand from the commercial, industrial, and financial sectors in this region.

Secure logistics market in North America: third largest region

The secure logistics market in North America was valued at USD 1.96 billion in 2015. The secure logistics market in North America is expected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period. The US is the major revenue contributor and represents the largest market for secure logistics services in North America. A well-developed transport infrastructure and willingness of customers to outsource cash management and security services to third-party logistics firms will help the market grow during the forecast period.

Browse related reports:

Safe and Vault Market Global Market Analysis and Forecast until 2019

Global Military Infrastructure and Logistics Market 2015-2019

Logistics Market in the APAC Region 2015-2019

Global Furniture Logistics Market 2016-2020

Purchase any three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005029/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com

media@technavio.com
Regulatory News:

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI):

Press release Paris, 12 May 2016

"Winning in the USA is a top priority for Pernod Ricard. We must win in this battleground to deliver our Group mid-term topline 4 to 5% growth objective

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman CEO, Pernod Ricard

In line with this ambition, the Group launched DART 18 months ago, a business transformation project aiming at accelerating the current momentum in the U.S. It has a simple objective: grow value market share in a sustainable way.

Some significant changes have already been made: implementation of a new route-to-market and more focus on premiumisation and innovation. As a result, Pernod Ricard USA has already started to accelerate its growth in 2015/16. Following the organizational changes communicated in the last weeks*, Pernod Ricard USA is now announcing further details on their ongoing business transformation. The new organization has been designed based on the following principles:

1/ continue to create a consumer-centric company that will drive a sustained consumer pull by reorganizing the marketing team into brand units structured around five key moments of conviviality;

2/ focus Pernod Ricard USA resources in the field, where it makes a difference, to accelerate decision-making and improve execution in the on- and off-premise. This will happen through the reorganization of the commercial team with a clear State focus, creating four single-state Market Entities, three multi-State Divisions, a dedicated Chains Division and supported by a Route to Market center of excellence;

3/ stimulate the development of future growth relays by creating a dedicated 'incubation' division, the New Brand Ventures department;

In addition, the company will improve Operational Efficiency by leveraging Hiram Walker's manufacturing expertise operations, creating a common reporting line of both the US (Fort Smith) and Canadian (Windsor) operations into Hiram Walker.

creation of Pernod Ricard North America (US Canada) as a direct Pernod Ricard affiliate and of the new position of Chief Commercial Office, entrusted to Julien HEMARD

1. New Pernod Ricard USA Executive Team

The following appointments have been decided at Executive Committee level, all reporting to Paul Duffy, Chairman CEO of Pernod Ricard North America and CEO of Pernod Ricard USA.

With effect from July 1st, Jeff AGDERN, currently SVP, Wines Champagnes, is appointed SVP, New Brand Ventures, Pernod Ricard USA's soon-to-be-established 'incubation' division that will redefine how future growth brands are built.

James SLACK, currently VP Marketing, Pernod Ricard China, is appointed SVP, Wines Champagnes, effective September 1st. His replacement will be subject to a further announcement.

On July 1st, Jonas TAHLIN, CEO of Absolut Elyx, will become a member of the Pernod Ricard USA Executive Committee, keeping his current title and responsibilities.

A new position of SVP, Corporate Communications CSR will be created and a search is currently underway. Jack Shea, VP, Corporate Communications Pernod Ricard USA, will report to this new position.

Furthermore, Dan Denisoff, SVP Operations, Pernod Ricard USA, will leave the company on June 30th, 2016. Effective July 1st,Jim STANSKI, VP Operations, Hiram Walker Sons Ltd Jim will take responsibility for the US and Canadian Operations. Jim will continue to report to Patrick O'Driscoll, CEO, Corby, who reports to Paul Duffy, CEO Pernod Ricard North America. Over his long career with Pernod Ricard, Dan has actively contributed to optimize production costs and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the organization, notably via the successful 'Shark Tank' program.

The Supply Chain, Forecasting Planning and Procurement teams will report into Guillaume Thomas, CFO, Pernod Ricard USA.

Below are the organization chart of the new Executive Committee and bios of new appointments.

Paul Duffy Chairman CEO of PR North America and CEO of PR USA Guillaume Thomas Julien Hemard Patrick O'Driscoll CFO PR USA Chief Commercial Officer Spirits PR USA CEO Corby Massimiliano Maffioli James Slack SVP HR PR USA SVP Wines Champagnes PR USA Brian Chevlin Jeff Agdern SVP Legal Counsel PR USA SVP New Brand Ventures PR USA TBA Pierre Berard SVP Communications CSR PR USA SVP Marketing PR USA Jonas Tahlin CEO ELYX PR USA

Jeff Agdern graduated in International Politics (BA) from the Penn State University. After a few years as National Sales Representative at Sidney Franck Importing, he joined the Group at Pernod Ricard USA in 1999 as Senior Brand Manager, became Group Director in 2002 and later VP Marketing Imported Whiskies and Cognac. He then moved to Corby as VP Marketing in July 2010 and came back to the US in his current role in November 2013.

James Slack, Diploma in Business Finance from Basford Hall College. He started his career in Reckitt Benckiser as National Account Manager before joining Pernod Ricard UK, in 1999, where he held several senior sales marketing roles. In 2003 he joined Diageo as Marketing Manager and came back to the Group in 2006 as General Manager Spirits at Pernod Ricard Australia, later Marketing Director. In July 2010, he was appointed Global Brand Director Chivas at CBL. He has been in his current role since July 2013.

Jonas Tahlin, MSc in Marketing from the Stockholm School of Economics, started his career at the Procter Gamble where he held various marketing positions until he joined Absolut Vodka in 2006 as the Head of Western Europe. In 2008, after Absolut became part of Pernod Ricard, he served as Regional VP Americas, and subsequently Vice President, Marketing, Vodkas at Pernod Ricard USA. In July 2010 he became VP, Brand Development and then VP, Global Marketing at The Absolut Company, before being appointed in his current role in July, 2014.

Jim Stanski holds Bachelor Degrees of Applied Science (BA Sc.) in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Windsor (Canada). Starting his career in various Engineer positions at Complax Corp and GM, he joined Hiram Walker in 1994 and held different operational roles before being named Site Manager of the Walkerville, Ontario, Canada plant in 2004. He is holding his current position since 2009.

2. New Pernod Ricard USA Commercial organization:

The following appointments will take effect from July 1st, 2016, in the new Spirits Sales organization, reporting to Julien Hemard:

Pat Magee, GM, Florida

Pat joined Irish Distillers in July 2007 as Business Unit Director Retail. He previously held senior commercial roles with Reckitt Colman Ireland and the Eason Group and has a Masters in Business Administration from Graduate School of Business UCD. In July 2009 Pat was appointed Sales Director (Retail) and has been on the IDL Leadership Team as Managing Director Ireland since September 2011.

Brian Mequet, GM, California

Brian joined Pernod Ricard USA in October 2008 as a Division Marketing Director. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, he served as a Regional Marketing Manager with Miller Brewing Co. Brian received his MBA in Finance/Operations from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He was promoted to Vice President, Marketing, Rum and Liqueurs in March 2014.

Jim Green, GM, New York

Jim Green joined Pernod Ricard USA in November 2011 as Vice President, National Customer Solutions Activation. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, he served as VP Customer Marketing, Shopper Marketing, Channel Planning Activation with Diageo North America. Jim received his MBA in Marketing and Strategy from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Jim was promoted to General Manager, Venture Division in July 2014.

Mike Fuller, GM, Texas

Mike Fuller joined Pernod Ricard USA in March 2003 as an Area Manager. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, he served as an On-Premise State Manager with Republic National Distributing Company. Mike received his MBA in Marketing from Troy University. He was promoted to Vice President, Sales, Liberty Division in July 2014.

Melissa Linehan, GM, Continental Division

Melissa joined Pernod Ricard USA in July 2012 as a Division Wines Champagnes Director. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, she served as a Regional Vice President, Northeast with Rodney Strong Vineyards. Melissa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services from the University of Rhode Island.

Steve Crites, GM, American Division

Steve joined Pernod Ricard USA in August 2010 as a Region Manager. Previously, he had served as a Portfolio Director for Major Brands Distributing. Steve received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing/Management from the University of MO St. Louis. In July 2014, Steve was promoted to VP, Sales, American Division.

BJ Vorderer, GM, Liberty Division

BJ joined Pernod Ricard USA in May 2006 as a District Manager, On-Premise. He held several progressively responsible sales roles before joining Southern Wine Spirits in February 2013 as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the Pernod Ricard portfolio. BJ holds a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications from Loyola University Chicago. In July 2014, BJ returned to Pernod Ricard USA as General Manager, Liberty Division.

Scott Moore, GM, Chains Division

Scott joined Pernod Ricard USA in July 2004 as Director, National Accounts. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, he was employed as a Regional Manager with Constellation Brands. Scott holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance/Economics/Accounting from Baylor University. Scott was promoted to General Manager, National Accounts in July 2014.

Shawn Higgins, VP GM, RTM Excellence

Shawn joined Pernod Ricard USA in May 2010 as General Manager, West Division. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard USA, he served as VP Retail Sales with Anheuser-Busch InBev. Shawn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Notre Dame. He was promoted to General Manager, American Division in July 2014.

3. New Pernod Ricard USA Marketing organization:

The new roles in the Spirits Marketing team, organized in brand units around moments of conviviality, will be assigned as follows, effective July 1st, 2016 and reporting to Pierre Berard:

Joao Rozario, VP Marketing in charge of the moment of conviviality 'Let Loose' (Absolut, Beefeater)

Joao joined Pernod Ricard in 2008 as Group Director, Premium Brands, Pernod Ricard Brazil. He subsequently was promoted to Global Communications Director for Absolut, based at the Absolut Company in London. Before joining Pernod Ricard, Joao spent 11 years with Unilever in various marketing roles. Joao earned a Master's Degree in Marketing from the University of Westminster. He was named Vice President, Category Marketing, Vodkas at Pernod Ricard USA in 2014.

Sona Bajaria, VP Marketing in charge of the moment of conviviality 'High-end Drinks' (The Glenlivet, Redbreast, Midleton and Powers

Sona joined Pernod Ricard USA in January 2012 as Sr. Marketing Manager, Jameson. She previously gained extensive CPG experience from Unilever, Avon, and American Express. She holds an MBA in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management, and a Bachelor's degree in Neuropsychology from the University of Michigan. She was named Marketing Director, Irish Whiskeys for PR USA in 2013.

Kate Pomeroy, VP Marketing in charge of the moment of conviviality 'Hanging out' (Malibu, Kahlua and Seagram's)

Kate joined Pernod Ricard in 2008 as Vice President, Consumer Insights, after three years establishing the Consumer Insights practice at The Absolut Spirits Company in New York. In 2012, she was appointed to be the first Diversity Officer at PR USA and in 2013, was promoted to Vice President, Innovation and Consumer Insights. Previously, Kate held senior strategy and research roles at several agencies, including Y&R. Kate holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geography with German from the University of Southampton.

Martin De Dreuille, VP Marketing in charge of the moment of conviviality 'Out to Impress' (Avion, Martell, Chivas, Royal Salute)

Martin joined Pernod Ricard USA in March 2011 as Brand Director Champagnes. Previously, he held multiple roles with Moet Hennessy in marketing and sales. Martin earned a Master's degree in Strategic Management from HEC School of Management, and was named Vice President, Prestige Brands in 2013.

Jeffrey Moran, VP, Influencer Engagement and Marketing Activation Services

Jeffrey joined Pernod Ricard in 2008 as Vice President, Spirits Public Relations, Events and Sponsorships, after holding a similar role for four years at The Absolut Spirits Company in New York. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard, Jeffrey held marketing and public relations roles in various global CPG and public relations firms, such as M&M/Mars and Porter Novelli. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.

Melvina El Grably, VP, Consumer Planning and Innovation

Melvina joins Pernod Ricard from McKinsey Company, a global management consulting firm where she served as a Partner. Previously, she garnered years of marketing experience at Procter and Gamble. Melvina earned an MBA from HEC Paris and a second MBA from UC Berkley, Haas School of Business.

To be announced at a later date will be a VP, Marketing 'Sharing a Drink' (Jameson and Altos), and a VP, Marketing for the Prestige/Multicultural Team.

The following appointments will take effect from July 1st, 2016, in the New Brand Ventures team, reporting to Jeff Agdern:

Steve Walkerwicz, VP, Sales, New Brand Ventures

After working in Field Sales for Seagram, Steve joined Pernod Ricard USA in 2004, as the National Accounts Division Marketing Director. Since then he has held multiple leadership roles in Sales and Trade Marketing, including his current role as Vice President, Commercial Solutions. Steve earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the University of Florida.

Nick Papanicolaou, VP, Sourcing and Governance

Prior to joining Pernod Ricard in November 2015 as Director, Business Development, Nick worked in finance and then launched two start-ups, including one in the alcohol beverage industry. Nick holds an MBA in Value Investing Entrepreneurship from Columbia Business School, and a Bachelor's in Sociology from Harvard University.

4. Irish Distillers:

Louise Ryan, currently Strategy Insights Director in Irish Distillers, is appointed Managing Director Ireland with effect from 1st July. Louise will report to Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman CEO of Irish Distillers and will be a member of the Irish Distillers Leadership Team.

Louise will replace Pat MAGEE, who is appointed General Manager Florida at Pernod Ricard USA at the same date, andas announced in a separate communication.

Louise RYAN

Graduated from the Trinity College and the Graduate School of Business UCD. Prior to joining the Group she used to work for Mars (Ireland) where she held a number of senior marketing and sales roles, including that of Commercial Director. In 2011 she joined Irish Distillers as Head of Business Development and most recently has worked as Strategy Insights Director with dual reporting to the CEO and Marketing Director

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world's n2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of 8,558 million in 2014/15. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlua and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier- Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 "Brand Companies" and 85 "Market Companies" established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard's strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006326/en/

Contacts:

Pernod Ricard

Sylvie MACHENAUD, +33 (0)1 41 00 42 74

Director External Communications

or

Emmanuel VOUIN, +33 (0)1 41 00 44 04

Press Relations Manager

or

Apolline Celeyron, +33 (0)1 41 00 40 97

Press Relations Officer
According to the latest research report released by Technavio, the global ulcerative colitis market is likely to reach over USD 6 billion by 2020.

This report titled 'Global Ulcerative Colitis Market 2016-2020', provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging trends. To calculate the market size, it considers the revenue generated from the sales of prescription, generic, and off-label drugs used to treat ulcerative colitis.

This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects for three regions.

Americas: The US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil

Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA): The UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Israel, South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE

Asia-Pacific (APAC): Japan, China, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and India

Request sample report: http://bit.ly/1VHRbti

"The World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day is observed every year on May 19 with the aim of creating awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Some major organizations involved in spreading awareness about the disease are CCFA, Crohn's Colitis UK, Crohn's Colitis Australia, Crohn's Colitis Canada, Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society, and The Great Bowel Movement. These organizations rely mostly on word-of-mouth propagation and social media such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to spread awareness," said Barath Palada, one of Technavio's lead industry analysts for healthcare

"The Americas accounted for 60.04% of the global ulcerative colitis drugs market in 2015, with the US being the largest revenue contributor in the region. The growing prevalence of the disease and an increase in the number of patient assistance programs propel market growth in the US, and the launch of new products is expected to boost market growth during the forecast period," added Barath.

Some of the other driving forces behind the growth of the global ulcerative colitis market are as follows:

Increase in patient assistance programs

High unmet needs

Tentative approval of candidates in pipeline

Increase in patient assistance programs

Patient assistance programs by governmental and non-governmental organizations and vendors, propels the growth of this market. Patients who cannot afford costly treatments are provided financial assistance by state and federal agencies such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in the US. People can also apply for free medications or financial co-pay assistance for the drug Humira through AbbVie's patient assistance program. According to the Humira Complete Savings Card, the drug can be obtained for as low as USD 5 per month. Similarly, Janssen Pharmaceuticals has initiated programs such as JanssenAccessOne and RemiStart. According to the RemiStart program, eligible patients can obtain the drug for an out-of-pocket charge of USD 5 per infusion. Also, the company issues the SimponiOne Cost Support Instant Savings Card to patients who have been prescribed Simponi, which requires them to pay as low as USD 5 for each injection. Since such programs are also provided by vendors, patients show an inclination toward buying branded therapies, thereby augmenting market growth.

High unmet needs

As the etiology of ulcerative colitis is unknown, it is difficult to develop a drug that targets the root cause of the disease. The available drugs for the disease such as approved biologics and small molecule drugs do not completely stop its progression. Patients either fail to respond to the treatment or become tolerant to the drugs. Also, biologics and small molecule drugs used for the treatment are associated with severe adverse effects, resulting in discontinuation of drugs among patients due to safety and tolerance issues. In such cases, surgical removal of the colon is the only option available. Also, there is a rising need to develop preventive medicines that lower the risk of ulcerative colitis.

Tentative approval of candidates in pipeline

The growing incidence of ulcerative colitis and the presence of unmet needs have presented significant growth opportunities for vendors. Investments in R&D are being made to develop effective drugs. Z-206/Asacol (mesalazine) by Zeria, in collaboration with Kyowa Hakko Kirin, completed new drug application (NDA) filing in China, and it is in the Phase III stage of development in Europe and Canada. Similarly, Stelara by Janssen, etrolizumab by Genentech, Xeljanz by Pfizer, and Kappaproct by InDex Pharmaceuticals are some Phase III molecules that are expected to enter the market during the forecast period.

Browse related reports

Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market 2015-2019

Global Crohn's Disease (CD) Market 2015-2019

Autoimmune Diseases Market in the US 2015-2019

Global Capsule Endoscopes Market 2015-2019

Purchase any three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512005031/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com

media@technavio.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., described his meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday as 'encouraging,' he stopped short of endorsing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Ryan said he talked with Trump about their differences but also about how to unify the Republican Party. 'It's very important that we don't fake unifying, we don't pretend unification, that we truly and actually unify so we are full strength in the fall,' Ryan said. 'I don't want us to have a fake unification process here,' he added. 'I want to make sure that we really and truly understand each other.' Ryan stressed that unification of the GOP would take more than a 45-minute meeting and noted he plans to have additional discussions with Trump. The House Speaker said the meeting allowed him to begin to get to know Trump, who he described as a 'very warm and genuine person.' A joint statement from Ryan and Trump said it is critical for Republicans to unite around their shared principles, advance a conservative agenda and do everything possible to stop Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Clinton would represent another four years of President Barack Obama, Ryan and Trump argued in what is likely to be a recurring theme even though Obama has recently seen a notable improvement in his approval rating. 'We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal,' Ryan and Trump said. 'We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Party's history,' he added. 'This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification.' The meeting came after Ryan recently said he was 'not ready' to back Trump and suggested the billionaire needs to do more to unify the GOP before earning his support. Trump's trip to Capitol Hill also included meetings with other House and Senate Republican leaders as well as Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. 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.
YORBA LINDA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Brandywine Homes will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 14, at Provence, a 3.24-acre community offering 28 single-family homes located at 5050 Richfield Road in Yorba Linda.

"We are already seeing high demand for this new community in one of the most highly desirable areas in Orange County," said Dave Barisic, vice president of sales and marketing at Brandywine Homes, a pioneer of infill development in Southern California. "With its family-friendly amenities and convenient location, Provence provides wonderful options for homebuyers in this vibrant community."

Located near the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Provence was built on a site that once held older single-family homes in the affluent Orange County suburb that has seen population increase by 13 percent since 2000. The new community includes a tot lot, a community park and ample parking, with 3.5 parking spaces per home. The fully appointed three- and four-bedroom homes with generous outdoor spaces range in size from approximately 1,800 to 2,000 square feet.

Yorba Linda, an affluent suburb in Orange County, is the birthplace of former President Richard Nixon. Yorba Linda High School opened in 2009, and several of the district's schools have received the California Distinguished School award.

About Brandywine Homes

Brandywine Homes is a residential homebuilder based in Irvine, Calif., that specializes in challenging infill development. Founded in 1994, the family-owned and operated company has built or developed almost 1,500 homes in 45 small- and mid-sized infill communities, revitalizing some of Southern California's oldest and most established neighborhoods. Brandywine builds homes that respect and complement the heritage, values and architectural integrity of existing neighborhoods and the people who live there -- making a positive contribution to the community. www.brandywine-homes.com. Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Brandywine Blog.

Media Contacts:

Anton Communications

Vanessa Showalter

vshowalter@antonpr.com

Genevieve Anton

ganton@antonpr.com




BOSTON, MA and JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Saudi Arabia's Fakieh Group has commissioned J/Brice Design International, Inc., to renovate the Movenpick Resort Al Nawras on the Jeddah Corniche in Saudi Arabia. J/Brice Design will recast and rebrand the property as an international seven-star resort.

The Movenpick Resort Al Nawras is superbly located on a private island of reclaimed land just off North Corniche Road. Overlooking the Red Sea, the property feels private and secluded, yet it is no farther than 15 minutes from the Tahlia shopping district, city center, and King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

The Fakieh Group (www.fakiehgroup.com) is the 34 th largest company in Saudi Arabia and is renowned in hospitality and leisure as well as agriculture, and education. The Movenpick engagement is the latest of several contracts the Fakeih Group has awarded to J/Brice Design International. These include the Planetarium at the Al Shallal Theme Park, the design of the Miami-inspired art-deco Ocean Drive Restaurant at the state-of-the art Sea Wonders Aquarium and the soon to open uber-chic Spanish Tapas Bistro, all in Jeddah, KSA.

Jeffrey Ornstein, CEO and founder of J/Brice Design (www.jbricedesign.com) which just celebrated its 28 th year in business, said, "The past decade has been marked with expansion of our firm's footprint in the Middle East. We recognize our relationship with the Fakeih Group as having been a key contributor to that expansion, and for cementing our position as the dominant design firm on the Arabian Peninsula."

The Al Wadaa restaurant takes up several interior and exterior levels and terraces of a unique Jeddah landmark building, whose architecture is based on a concentric circular theme inspired by the geometry of a conch shell. It is located on a reclaimed island extending into the Red Sea to accentuate the relationship of the dining experience to the sea. Al Wadaa, literally means the shell in Arabic.

Other notable J/Brice projects in Saudi Arabia include the first Vienna-based Kempinski Hotel in Al Khobar, KSA and a new luxury Dusit Hotel, also in Jeddah. These projects are in addition to hotels, villas and private residences for members of royal families and elites throughout the Arabian Peninsula. J/Brice Design International has been engaged in numerous projects in the Middle East for nearly 20 years, helping to establish and reinforce the MENA brand as an international, trendy destination for leisure, business and education.

With projects in excess of $5 billion to its credit, J/Brice Design is recognized globally among hotel and resort investors, owners, developers and design professionals for shaping the vision of 21 st Century hospitality with innovative, fashion-forward, tech-savvy designs. The firm is well known for an approach to hospitality design based on a fashionfirst perspective that focuses keenly on the guest experience and relationship to the space rather than the architecture.

The Jeddah Corniche is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. Located along the Red Sea, the Corniche features a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions and large-scale civic sculptures -- as well as King Fahd's Fountain, the highest in the world. Also located on the Corniche is the Al-Rahmah Mosque, which is a popular attraction for visitors from around the world.

J/Brice Design International, Inc. (www.jbricedesign.com) was founded in 1989 and, over the past 25 years, has become a global design firm, having directed hotel and resort projects in excess of $5 Billion USD. The firm's most recent signature engagements worldwide include the fabled HMS Queen Mary, TheHelmsley Hotel, The Royal Tulip in Alexandria, Egypt, and the Jeddah Dusit, scheduled to open later in 2016.

J/Brice has been identified as one of the Top Ten Fastest Growing Design Firmsnationwide by Interior Design Magazine in both 2000 and 2008. Its award winning staff has over 220 hotel and restaurant projects to its credit. J/Brice Design has also been recognized for its work with distinctions such as Top Interior Design Firm of The Year, awarded by NEWH, the hospitality fields largest professional organization, Best Upscale Hotel Design of the Year (The Westminster),Hotelof The Year(Wyndham) Intercontinental Hotel Group Renovation of the Year (The Holiday Inn Mart Plaza Chicago) Best Luxury Suite (Hilton Boston Back Bay), Most Ambient Hotel Lobby (Westin Nova Scotian) and Best Guestroom (The Muse).

J/Brice Design International, Inc. is a globally preferred design group for all products for the Hilton Hotel Corp., Marriott International, Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Group, and Hyatt Hotels. International credentials include work for TAJ Hotels, Kempinski, Royal Tulip, and boutique properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Jeffrey Ornstein has been a contributing editor to Hotel Executive Magazine, and featured in Boutique Design, Hospitality Design, Lodging and Hospitality, Gulf Interiors, Hotel Business, The Commercial Observer, Young Hotelier, The Improper Bostonian, The Boston Sunday Globe, and Scene Magazine, which named him one of Boston's 12 Most Influential People in 2005. In 2009 he was called upon by his colleagues to be a judge for the annual Hotel World Platinum Circle Awards in Las Vegas, and in 2011, he was a judge for Boutique Design Global Hotel Design Awards.

J/Brice Design Studios and Offices are located in Boston, MA and Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/5/12/11G098074/Images/Movenpick_Corniche_Jeddah_jbrice_design_3-f5c54dd7fa9ebdb4b7ed985a25f240df.jpg

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/5/12/11G098074/Images/Movenpick_corniche_Jeddah_jbrice_design_2-5c61d3a1e62bb04d92ed7a7bb6594f31.jpg

Contact:

Dick Pirozzolo

dick@pirozzolo.com

+ 1-617-959-4613
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (the Company) (TSX: ENF) announced that the nominees listed in the management proxy circular dated March 11, 2016 were elected as directors of the Company at the Annual Meeting held earlier today in Calgary, Alberta. Detailed results of the vote are set out below.

Election of Directors

On a vote by ballot, the following six nominees were elected as directors of the Company to hold office until the end of the next annual meeting or until his or her successor is elected or appointed:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Richard Bird 57,198,403 99.46 309,618 0.54 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles W. Fischer 57,429,360 99.86 78,661 0.14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian E. Frank 57,429,021 99.86 79,000 0.14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- E.F.H. (Harry) Roberts 57,389,035 99.79 118,986 0.21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce G. Waterman 57,429,987 99.86 78,034 0.14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catherine L. Williams 57,411,326 99.83 96,695 0.17 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT ENBRIDGE INCOME FUND HOLDINGS INC.

Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. is a publicly traded corporation. The Company, through its investment in Enbridge Income Fund indirectly holds high quality, low risk energy infrastructure assets. The Fund's assets consist of a portfolio of Canadian liquids transportation and storage businesses, including the Canadian Mainline, the Regional Oil Sands System, the Canadian segment of the Southern Lights Pipeline, Class A units entitling the holder to receive defined cash flows from the US segment of the Southern Lights Pipeline, a 50 percent interest in the Alliance Pipeline, which transports natural gas from Canada to the U.S., and interests in more than 1,400 MW of renewable and alternative power generation assets. Information about Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. is available on the Company's website at www.enbridgeincomefund.com.

Contacts:

Media

Graham White

(403) 508-6563 or Toll Free: (888) 992-0997

graham.white@enbridge.com



Investment Community

Allison Morley

(587) 955-2837

allison.morley@enbridge.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Ahead of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's, R-Ken., meeting with likely Republican presidential Donald Trump on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., took to the Senate floor to offer harsh criticism of his GOP counterpart. Reid argued that McConnell's pledge to support Trump is a sign that the Republican leader agrees with the real estate tycoon's controversial statements about women, Latinos, and Muslims. 'Since Senator McConnell is so enthusiastically embracing Trump, you can only assume he agrees with Trump's view that women are dogs and pigs,' Reid said. He added, 'You can only assume that the Republicans Leader is not repulsed by Trump's behavior towards women.' Reid also suggested McConnell approves of Trump calling immigrants racists and murderers as well as his 'insane' plan to build a wall on the southern border and make Mexico pay for it. Despite continued signs of division within the GOP, the Democratic leader also claimed Trump is everything that McConnell and his party could ever want in a nominee. 'At some point in their conversation Donald Trump should thank the senior senator from Kentucky,' Reid said. 'Trump owes his candidacy to the Republican leader and to the policies that he's led.' 'It was an obstructionist, anti-woman, anti-Latino, anti-Muslim, anti-middle class, anti-environment and anti-Obama and anti-everything Republican Party of the last eight years that made Donald Trump a reality,' he added. McConnell and other members of his leadership team met with Trump later on Thursday and subsequently described the meeting as 'constructive.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - While Big Data and advanced analytics have begun to yield big payoffs for a few insurance companies, most insurers have barely scratched the surface despite some early industry successes. A new brief from Bain & Company, How Insurers Can Invest in Big Data Analytics to Improve Decision Making, which is based on a benchmarking survey of nearly 90 global insurers, finds that roughly one in three life insurers and one in five property/casualty (P&C) do not apply Big Data advanced analytics for any business function -- e.g., sales, marketing, underwriting, claims, etc. These laggards lack the ability to generate proprietary consumer insights that can build a competitive advantage.

Insurers have the best intentions when it comes to utilizing Big Data. According to Bain, they plan to spend more on advanced analytics over the next three to five years, with annual spending growth reaching on average 24 percent in life and 27 percent in P&C. However, most insurers currently only apply Big Data to approximately two business functions -- sales and marketing have the greatest usage, followed by fraud -- and many companies do not have a solid plan to wring value out of the data they are collecting.

"In our work with insurers around the world, discussions tend to center on data management issues and technology investment decisions," said Henrik Naujoks, head of Bain's Financial Services Practice for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and co-author of the brief. "Very few are focused on the more important question of how to derive real, valuable insights from the data in order to inform better, more strategic decisions about their business, their processes and, most importantly, their customers."

According to Bain, Big Data can improve decisions in three areas:

A better customer experience: Insurers can put analytics to work to make customer interactions easier, faster and less expensive. One life insurer identified the right external health data to combine with prospective customers' applications to build an algorithm that would predict which prospects would qualify for coverage without an expensive blood test. The model allowed the company to eliminate the test for 30% of applicants.

Innovation: Some insurance companies are using analytics to create innovative new products or expand underinsured markets. Automakers, for instance, have a parts warranty exposure of more than $60 billion per year, but they lack the capability to aggregate and analyze their claims data. Using an analytics engine to predict parts failure, the industry has been able to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce dealer fraud, and raise customer advocacy by anticipating problems before they occur.

Underwriting and claims: At one P&C insurer, underwriting due diligence took up to nine months. Using its own database of clients and U.S. federal data on safety violations as a way to screen potential clients, the carrier cut down on expensive, time consuming site inspections by engineers. Even more important, the carrier can avoid signing on a client with high probability of a $100 million accident down the road. Turning to claims, a South African insurer worked with IBM to reduce the fraud rate of its medical claims by combining claims data, pathology results and customer questionnaires. The initiative has helped the insurer forecast and prevent further health risks, while saving the company $2.4 million in the first four months.

"It's not enough to just invest in analytic talent," said Lori Sherer, who leads Bain's Advanced Analytics Practice and co-authored the brief. "The most successful insurers break out of the silo and involve business stakeholders across the organization to inform the analytic development process. The result is insights that are more likely to be adopted by the front line, thereby giving them a competitive leg up in the industry."

To get more familiar with Big Data analytics, Bain advises insurers to start with small steps. They should choose a case, hypothesize what data will correlate with the behavior in question, obtain easily accessed data sets and begin modeling to see what develops. They can then build their capabilities so as to use analytics to their full potential.

Editor's Note: For a copy of the report or to schedule an interview with Mr. Naujoks and Ms. Sherer, contact: Dan Pinkney at dan.pinkney@bain.com or +1 646 562 8102

About Bain & Company

Bain & Company is the management consulting firm that the world's business leaders come to when they want results. Bain advises clients on strategy, operations, technology, organization, private equity and mergers and acquisition, developing practical insights that clients act on and transferring skills that make change stick. The firm aligns its incentives with clients by linking its fees to their results. Bain clients have outperformed the stock market 4 to 1. Founded in 1973, Bain has 53 offices in 34 countries, and its deep expertise and client roster cross every industry and economic sector. For more information visit: www.bain.com. Follow us on Twitter @BainAlerts.

Media Contact:

Dan Pinkney

Bain & Company

Tel: +1 646 562 8102

dan.pinkney@bain.com
MISSION, KS -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- (Family Features) It's one of the great ironies of life: Your reward for surviving the tumultuous teen years, establishing a career and nurturing a family culminates in dry skin, a thickening waist and too many moments peppered with "Now, where did I leave those car keys?" You know ... that time of your life that seemed so far away when viewed from a distance.

As the calendar pages keep turning, you may find yourself greeting this new phase of life with mixed feelings: a sense of accomplishment, sure, but perhaps also apprehension for the unknown and even surprise from unanticipated changes.

"With age comes wisdom and experience, but it can also include new and unexpected signs of growing older that can impact your body and life," said Barbara Hannah Grufferman, positive aging expert and author of the best-selling book "The Best of Everything After 50."

Fortunately, in many regards, age is but a state of mind. With these practical tips, you can glide into the future with vitality, grace and confidence.

Stay true to your style

There is no written rule that once you achieve a certain age, your hair must be cropped close, your wardrobe frozen in time or your favorite vibrant lipstick shade cast aside. True, with age you may make a few modifications, such as a new hairstyle that accommodates thinner strands or one that shows off your gorgeous grays. But your personal style is an important aspect of your identity, and simply tweaking or slightly evolving your look lets you remain true to your familiar self as you enter this new phase of life.

Resist the urge to rest

Filling your time with low-demand pursuits is a perfectly natural response to the liberation of an empty nest or the newfound freedom of retirement. You've earned a break, for sure. However, be wary of letting your brain languish to extremes. Find ways to stimulate your mind to help keep you sharp and ward off those "senior moments."

Make your physical wellness a priority

For decades, you've heard admonishments about taking proper care of your body: eating right, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and excess drinking, and getting plenty of rest. If you ignored that advice, remember this: It's never too late to introduce healthier habits. Taking care of your body will help ensure you have the physical stamina to continue enjoying your favorite activities, and will give you the best shot at keeping your health condition optimal.

Not only does keeping in shape provide overall health benefits, targeted exercises can help with other concerns, as well. For example, after 4-6 weeks of working out your pelvic floor muscles regularly, you may start to notice an improvement in your sensitive bladder.

Embrace confidence boosters

Change is at the very heart of midlife, and most of us can come to acknowledge, even appreciate, how life has a way of evolving. But changes can sometimes cause confidence to lag, especially when it's your body that's changing.

"The loss of a job, upheavals in a long-term relationship, financial hardships and empty nests are just a few of the big challenges we frequently confront -- not to mention the new health issues that we might face," Grufferman said.

One common confidence breaker: a sensitive bladder. A recent survey by Always Discreet found that women with sensitive bladders feel less confident than those who don't experience leaks, in certain situations like traveling long distances or being in an unknown or unfamiliar area.(1)

However, you don't have to let your sensitive bladder stand in the way of living your life. In fact, the same survey showed that most women with sensitive bladders (72 percent) who use bladder protection, such as Always Discreet liners, pads and underwear, say they feel more confident because of these products. The full line of bladder leak protection products provides women incredible comfort, protection, discretion and odor control so you can get back to enjoying life, no matter your age.

To learn more about managing a sensitive bladder, including advice for how to talk with your doctor, visit AlwaysDiscreet.com.

(1)The Always Discreet U.S. Survey was conducted using the IPSOS Panel that surveyed a total of 400 American women (aged 35 to 65 years old). Of the 400 women, 200 have experienced urine loss/bladder weakness in the past three months and 200 had not experienced urine loss/bladder weakness. Significance testing between the two groups was done at a 90 percent confidence level. The survey was implemented between September 15, 2015 and September 25, 2015. In the study were 65 women with sensitive bladders who use products specifically designed for bladder leaks.

Age Gauge

Ever looked at your driver's license and thought, "Is that really my age?" It's time to find out how old you really feel.

1. Are you confident enough to wear the clothes and styles you love?

a. Absolutely, I don't let anything stand in the way of fashion.

b. Sometimes -- I've definitely outgrown some styles.

c. Not really ... I tend to go for safe, sensible outfits.

2. Long-distance adventures or local delights: What's your travel preference?

a. The further the better -- the best adventures begin with a long-distance flight.

b. I love the idea of long-distance travel, but I'd have to be well prepared.

c. Close to home -- I don't like veering too far.

3. What's your first thought when someone mentions bladder sensitivity?

a. It's an old age issue -- it only affects older women over 65.

b. Many moms like me experience it after childbirth.

c. I have it and I know it can happen to anyone, regardless of age.

4. What's your fitness regime like?

a. Intense -- exercise is the highlight of my day.

b. Average -- I do my best to keep fit but there are challenges.

c. Non-existent -- I don't feel confident enough to work out.

Results:

Mostly As: You feel younger inside than your real age.

Mostly Bs: You feel exactly your age.

Mostly Cs: You feel older inside than your real age. Empower yourself to live the age you want to be.

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

This and other food and lifestyle content can be found at http://editors.familyfeatures.com. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3007286



Michael French

mfrench@familyfeatures.com

1-888-824-3337

http://editors.familyfeatures.com




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Northern Frontier Corp. (TSX VENTURE: FFF) ("Northern Frontier" or the "Corporation") announces that it intends to release its first quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, after the close of regular market trading. Northern Frontier's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2016 will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com once the first quarter 2016 financial results are released.

Conference Call

The Corporation will hold a conference call on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. Calgary / 11:30 a.m. Toronto time. The call will feature remarks by Chris Yellowega, President and CEO and Monty Balderston, Executive Vice President and CFO regarding the financial results.

Conference dial-in instructions are as follows:

International: 617.826.1698

Operator Assisted Toll-Free: 1.877.648.7976

A replay of the call will be available 24 hours after the event until 11:59 p.m. EST on May 25, 2016. To access the archived conference call, please dial 1-855-859-2056.

About Northern Frontier Corp.

Northern Frontier's strategic objective is to create a viable business of scale in the industrial and environmental services sectors through a buy and build growth strategy. Currently, the Corporation provides: civil construction, excavation, fabrication and maintenance services to the industrial industry, bulk water transfer logistic services, and dismantles remote workforce lodging and modular offices in western Canada.

The Corporation's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "FFF".

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Northern Frontier Corp.

Chris Yellowega

President and Chief Executive Officer

587.293.7230

cyellowega@nfcorp.ca



Northern Frontier Corp.

Monty Balderston

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

587.293.7230

mbalderston@nfcorp.ca



Northern Frontier Corp.

400, 435 - 4th Avenue SW

Calgary, AB T2P 3A8

www.nfcorp.ca




NORTH VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- In response to the BC Government's new rules to end shadow flipping, BlueShore Financial's President and CEO, Chris Catliff welcomes BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong's May 10th announcement.

Blueshore Financial believes the BC Government is on the right track with its plan to tighten rules on 'shadow flipping', or contract assignment within the real estate sector. With its 42,000 members in the Lower Mainland, many of whom rely on the equity in their homes as part of their retirement plan, BlueShore Financial believes it is critical to protect home owners.

"The announcement on Tuesday and the regulations that will follow are important steps toward protecting British Columbia property owners from this potentially predatory conduct that is recently becoming more common in the real estate market," said Catliff. "Further scrutiny by the BC Government in the coming months will help raise awareness of this practice and enable consumers to be more confident when entering into real estate transactions."

Catliff added, "The BC Government's focus on contract assignment is a positive step in addressing the lack of transparency that can occur in these transactions. Consumers most often do, and should continue to be able to rely on real estate agents to act in their best interest and in adherence to legal and ethical standards. It is important that the regulator has sufficient powers, including the ability to levy penalties relative to misconduct, when it is discovered."

BlueShore Financial believes that cracking down on shadow flipping is a good first step. In addition to rules regarding contract assignment, in the spirit of increased transparency, the rules on limited dual agency agreements, where an agent is able to act for both the buyer and the seller, should also be examined. This will help ensure that in situations where a conflict of interest arises, the rules are clear as to how to proceed.

About BlueShore Financial

BlueShore Financial is a boutique financial institution providing a full range of personal and business banking, wealth management, insurance and commercial lending solutions. With 12 branches across the Lower Mainland and Sea-to-Sky Corridor, BlueShore Financial helps clients achieve financial wellness through personalized solutions and expert advice, delivered in a unique Financial Spa branch environment. BlueShore Financial manages over $4 billion in assets under administration, is consistently ranked among the top financial planning firms in Metro Vancouver, and has been named one of Canada's Best Small and Medium Employers five years in a row. As an Imagine Canada Caring Company, BlueShore Financial donates at least 1% of pre-tax profits annually to charities and not-for-profit organizations within the communities it serves. BlueShore Financial is the operating name of BlueShore Financial Credit Union.

For more information, please visit blueshorefinancial.com. Follow us on Twitter @blueshorenews or connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Contacts:

Media contact:

Armita Seyedalikhani

BlueShore Financial

604.983.4584

media@blueshorefinancial.com




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Serinus Energy Inc. ("Serinus", "SEN" or the "Company") (TSX: SEN)(WARSAW: SEN), is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Note: with the sale of its 70% ownership interest in Ukraine, the financial results from those assets have been reclassified as discontinued operations for the three months ending March 31, 2016. The comparative financial statements have been restated to show the discontinued operations separate from continuing operations. In accordance with IFRS standards, results of operations in Ukraine are included up to the date of close in Serinus' consolidated financial results

First Quarter Highlights

-- In early February, Serinus closed the sale of all its interests in Ukraine. Total final consideration was $33.2 million including the previously disclosed $32.9 million plus subsequent working capital and inter-company adjustments. The Company purchased its position in Ukraine in 2010 for $45 million, and received aggregate dividends and other payments in the amount of $41.5 million which, when combined with the sales proceeds, resulted in a 12.5% annual rate of return over the life of the project. -- From the proceeds of the Ukraine sale, the Company repaid a total of $19.2 million of debt and accrued interest to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD"). Subsequent to quarter end, a further repayment of $3.4 million was made, reducing corporate debt plus accrued interest to $31.0 million. -- Production for Q1 2016 averaged 2,213 boe/d, down 44% and 50% vs. Q4 2015 and Q1 2015 respectively. The major causes of the drop were the sale of the Ukraine assets, lost time to workovers and testing and natural declines manifesting themselves in Tunisia. -- Tunisian netbacks rose from $4.55/boe in Q4 2015 to $11.44/boe in Q1 2016, with the Company's ongoing cost reduction efforts more than offsetting lower commodity prices. -- Funds from Operations in the first quarter were down 35% to $2.7 million vs. $4.3 million in Q1 2015, and down 24% compared to Q4 2015, due primarily to the sale of the Ukraine assets and lower production rates. The amount allocable to SEN shareholders was $1.8 million. -- The net loss for the quarter, before currency charges, was $34.8 million ($35.5 million attributable to SEN shareholders), as compared to a $4.1 million loss in Q1 2015 ($4.3 million attributable to SEN shareholders). The Company realized a non-cash loss on disposition on the Ukraine assets of $33.0 million on closing, primarily relating to cumulative foreign exchange translation adjustments of $34.2 million being removed from the balance sheet. -- Capital expenditures for the quarter were $1.0 million vs. $11.2 million for the same period in 2015 and $1.9 million in Q4 2015 and consisted of workovers in Tunisia and preparatory work and licencing in Romania. Low commodity prices made drilling in Tunisia uneconomic, and significant expenditures in Romania cannot be made until the final ratification of the Phase 3 extension of the Satu Mare concession. Summary Financial Results (US$ 000's unless otherwise noted) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ending March 31 ----------------------------------- 2016 2015 Change ------------ ------------ --------- Oil and Gas Revenue 3,779 8,128 (54%) Net Income (as reported) (34,794) (4,123) 744% per share, basic and diluted ($0.44) ($0.05) Net Income (allocable to SEN) (35,515) (4,268) 732% per share, basic and diluted ($0.45) ($0.05) Comprehensive Net Income (as reported) (37,084) (14,990) 147% per share, basic and diluted ($0.47) ($0.19) Funds from Operations(i) (as reported) 2,732 4,344 (37%) per share, basic and diluted $0.03 $0.06 Funds from Operations(i) (allocable to SEN) $1,828 $3,167 (42%) per share, basic and diluted 0.02 $0.04 Capital Expenditures $999 $11,246 (91%) Average Production (net to Serinus, including discontinued operations) Oil (Bbl/d) 901 1,240 (27%) Gas (Mcf/d) 7,716 18,581 (58%) Liquids (Bbl/d) 26 69 (62%) ------------ ------------ BOE (boe/d) 2,213 4,406 (50%) Average Sales Price Oil ($/Bbl) $37.12 $53.85 (31%) Gas ($Mcf) $6.44 $8.13 (21%) Liquids ($Bbl) $29.34 $39.83 (26%) ------------ ------------ BOE ($/boe) $37.98 $49.75 (24%) March 31 ------------------------- 2016 2015 ------------ ------------ Cash & Equivalents 13,442 22,819 Working Capital (2,184) (7,685) Long Term Debt 27,236 44,533 Shares Outstanding 78,629,941 78,629,941 Average for period 78,629,941 78,629,941 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Funds from Operations is not a recognized measure under IFRS. See Management's Discussion and Analysis for further information on non-IFRS measures.

Operational Highlights & Update

First quarter production and prices are broken down as follows:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q1 2016 Production(1) Q1 2016 Commodity Prices -------------------------- ------------------------- Ukraine(2) Tunisia Total Ukraine Tunisia Total ---------- -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- ---------- -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- Oil (bbl/d) - 901 901 ($/bbl) - $37.12 $37.12 Gas (Mcf/d) 6,198 1,518 7,716 ($/Mcf) $6.63 $5.31 $6.44 Liquids (bbl/d) 26 - 26 ($/bbl) $29.34 - $29.34 ---------- -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- Boe (boe/d) 1,059 1,154 2,213 ($/boe) $39.52 $35.97 $49.75 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Numbers may not add due to rounding 2. Ukraine volumes are Serinus 70% interest -- Production in Tunisia for the first quarter was 1,154 boe/d, consisting of 901 bbl/d of oil and 1.5 MMcf/d of natural gas. This was 10% lower than in the prior quarter (Q4 2015) and was due substantially to downtime incurred changing out bottomhole pumps and wells shut in for pressure build ups. Production was down 27% vs. Q1 2015, as the WIN- 12bis well continues to produce at restricted rates due to scaling issues, two more wells in Sabria require workovers, and natural declines have manifested themselves in the absence of new drilling. -- Ukraine production was 1,059 boe/d (6.2 MMcf/d of gas and 26 bbl/d of condensate, both volumes are SEN's 70% WI) averaged over the entire quarter. The actual rates from January 1 until the closing of the sale in early February were 15.6 MMcf/d and 66 bbl/d, marginally lower than the 15.8 MMcf/d and 56 bbl/d in the prior quarter. -- During the quarter, the Company worked over two wells in the Chouech Es Saida permit to replace the electric submersible pumps ("ESP"s). The ESP in CS-3 failed in early January and was replaced in early February, restoring the well to its previous rate of approximately 275 boe/d. The ESP in CS-1 well failed in late February, and the well was returned to production in mid-March and is currently producing approximately 185 boe/d. -- The Company continued work on the program to bring the Moftinu gas discovery in Romania on to experimental production status. This included pre-permitting and licencing work for wellsites and flowline routes, land rentals and engineering studies for the requisite surface facilities.

Outlook

Average daily production for the second quarter to date was approximately 1,225 boe/d (902 bbl/d of oil, 1.9 MMcf/d of gas).

In light of the current low commodity price environment, the Company's focus will be on reducing costs wherever possible while maintaining existing production in Tunisia. The Company estimates that new drilling will become economically viable at sustained prices in the mid - forties per barrel, although existing production in Tunisia remains cash flow positive at prices as low as $30/bbl. The 2016 budget will be re-examined on an ongoing basis in the event of that management becomes confident that such a price can be sustained, and that funding is available to recommence drilling.

In Romania, Serinus will concentrate on moving the Moftinu-1001 discovery into the experimental production phase. Management is currently refining the drilling program and has commenced preliminary design of the required surface facilities. Pending ratification by several government ministries of the Phase 3 extension of the Satu Mare Concession, and receipt of typical permits and approvals, drilling and construction could commence in the second half of 2016. The Company is considering taking on a joint venture partner to assist in financing the Moftinu project.

Supporting Documents

The full Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") and Financial Statements have been filed in English on www.sedar.com and in Polish and English via the ESPI system, and will also be available on www.serinusenergy.com.

Abbreviations

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- bbl Barrel(s) bbl/d Barrels per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- boe Barrels of Oil Equivalent boe/d Barrels of Oil Equivalent per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mcf Thousand Cubic Feet Mcf/d Thousand Cubic Feet per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MMcf Million Cubic Feet MMcf/d Million Cubic Feet per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mcfe Thousand Cubic Feet Equivalent Mcfe/d Thousand Cubic Feet Equivalent per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MMcfe Million Cubic Feet Equivalent MMcfe/d Million Cubic Feet Equivalent per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mboe Thousand boe Bcf Billion Cubic Feet ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MMboe Million boe Mcm Thousand Cubic Metres ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia USD U.S. Dollar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAD Canadian Dollar $M Thousands of Dollars ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- $MM Millions of Dollars ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cautionary Statement:

BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

Test results are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. Test data contained herein is considered preliminary until full pressure transient analysis is complete.

About Serinus

Serinus is an international upstream oil and gas exploration and production company that owns and operates projects in Tunisia, and Romania.

For further information, please refer to the Serinus website (www.serinusenergy.com).

Translation: This news release has been translated into Polish from the English original.

Forward-looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements made as of the date of this announcement with respect to future activities that either are not or may not be historical facts. Although the Company believes that its expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, any potential results suggested by such statements involve risk and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Various factors that could impair or prevent the Company from completing the expected activities on its projects include that the Company's projects experience technical and mechanical problems, there are changes in product prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, the state of the national or international monetary, oil and gas, financial, political and economic markets in the jurisdictions where the Company operates and other risks not anticipated by the Company or disclosed in the Company's published material. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in this announcement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement, unless required by law.

Notes: Serinus prepares its financial results on a consolidated basis, which includes 100% of its indirectly 70% owned subsidiary, KUB-Gas LLC ("KUB-Gas"). Unless otherwise noted by the phrases "allocable to Serinus", "net to Serinus", "attributable to SEN shareholders" or "net to SEN WI", all values and volumes refer to the consolidated figures. Serinus reports in US dollars; all dollar values referred to herein, whether in dollars or per share values are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Contacts:

Serinus Energy Inc. - Canada

Norman W. Holton

Vice Chairman

+1-403-264-8877

nholton@serinusenergy.com



Serinus Energy Inc. - Canada

Gregory M. Chornoboy

Director - Capital Markets & Corporate Development

+1-403-264-8877

gchornoboy@serinusenergy.com



Serinus Energy Inc. - Poland

Jakub J. Korczak

Vice President Investor Relations & Managing Director CEE

+48 22 414 21 00

jkorczak@serinusenergy.com

www.serinusenergy.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- Altus Group Limited ("Altus Group" or "the Company") (TSX: AIF) a leading provider of independent advisory services, software, and data solutions to the global commercial real estate industry, today released final voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders ("the Meeting") held on May 12, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario. A total of 26,307,620 common shares, representing 71.18% of the 36,961,229 issued and outstanding common shares, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

Each of the nominees proposed for election as listed in the Company's Management Information Circular dated March 21, 2016, was elected as a director by a majority of votes to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Nominee Votes For % Votes Withheld % ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raymond C. Mikulich 25,187,925 97.39% 674,614 2.61% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert G. Courteau 25,073,649 96.95% 788,890 3.05% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl Farrell 25,856,720 99.98% 5,819 0.02% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony Gaffney 25,186,925 97.39% 675,614 2.61% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diane MacDiarmid 25,164,216 97.30% 698,323 2.70% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A.B. (Sandy) McArthur 25,093,253 97.03% 769,286 2.97% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric W. Slavens 25,844,284 99.93% 18,255 0.07% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janet Woodruff 25,841,136 99.92% 21,403 0.08% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- All votes are by proxies tabulated

The motion with respect to the appointment of the Company's auditor, Ernst & Young LLP was also approved by a majority of votes. A total of 25,958,491 (99.84%) of votes were in favour, with 42,256 votes (0.16%) withheld.

About Altus Group Limited

Altus Group Limited is a leading provider of independent advisory services, software, and data solutions to the global commercial real estate industry. Our businesses, Altus Analytics and Expert Services, reflect decades of experience, a range of expertise, and technology-enabled capabilities. Our solutions empower clients to analyze, gain market insight and recognize value on their real estate investments. Headquartered in Canada, we have approximately 2,300 employees around the world, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Our clients include some of the world's largest real estate industry participants across a variety of sectors. Altus Group pays a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and our securities are traded on the TSX under the symbols AIF and AIF.DB.A.

For more information on Altus Group, please visit: www.altusgroup.com.

Contacts:

Altus Group Limited

Ali Mahdavi

Investor Relations

(416) 234-3660

ali.mahdavi@altusgroup.com

www.altusgroup.com




etouches, a Norwalk, Connecticut-based provider of cloud event management software, closed $20m growth funding round.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate global growth in consolidating market and further boost development of end-to-end event management solutions for the enterprise market.

Led by Chief Executive Officer Oni Chukwu, etouches provides corporations, associations, educational institutions and third party planners with event management software featuring tools for venue sourcing, registration, logistics, engagement, ROI, data to give planners a complete solution for managing the entire processes.

Most recently, the company acquired mobile event app TapCrowd and venue sourcing platform inevention, expanding their reach in the growing global market. Both products are already fully integrated into the etouches platform, with the software expanding to both hospitality and event management.

Currently, etouches has 150 employees in Norwalk and additional global offices in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Dubai and Singapore with plans to grow to 200 globally by the end of 2017.

FinSMEs

12/05/2016
Why would a rich person like Subrata Roy not pay up his dues and instead languish in a Tihar cell for two years?

If, like the Supreme Court of India, you too are seized with this profound mystery, here is a clue: Read Saharasri's musings from the jail.

''Jail is painful, but I am stress free," he ruminates in Life Mantras, part one of the promised trilogy on his life and times in jail.

"I lead a completely tension-free life," the jailed owner of the Sahara Group writes in the first helping of his Thoughts from Tihar, released earlier this year.

You don't need a long stint in Tihar to understand this: If jail can rid you of tension and stress, why bother stepping out in a world that gives you loads of them!

It is a shame its wardens have still not thought of Kuch Din To Guzaro Tihar Main as a punchline for those seeking peace and inner-calm.

There must be really something compelling about Tihar for Saharasri. Otherwise, simple math suggests it is better bargain to get out of it and face the world.

According to rough estimates, Saharasri's empire is worth about Rs 1,85,000 crore. And he owes about Rs 40,000 crore to investors in his chit fund schemes. A back of the hand calculation suggests that even if he pays a fifth of his wealth to settle his dues, the remaining amount would be enough for several generations of Saharasris. To use a corny pun, they won't need any financial Sahara.

Yet, Roy is in jail for over two years now.

"One thing which is troublesome is that the person (Roy) says there is an asset of Rs 1,85,000 crore. He tells the court that he has so much of money but when it comes to paying one-fifth of that he is unable to pay.

You have to pay only the one-fifth of your amount. The person who is blessed with so much money is sacrificing his liberty in jail and not parting away with his property. You are in jail by choice," a bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur observed in August while hearing his petition for bail.

On Wednesday (12 May), the apex court still did not have an answer. While hearing a petition for extension of his bail, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and justices AR Dave and AK Sikri noted that the fresh list of properties provided in the sealed cover speaks that "value of your properties was far more than your liability".

When the court saw the list of Roy's assets it expressed surprise why "such a rich person didn't pay a fraction of wealth and stayed in jail for two years."

"Why person with this kind of fortune shall be hesitant to make payment," the bench asked.

So far Roy has steadfastly objected to the appointment of a receiver who can solve the problem by the simple expedient of auctioning some of his assets to raise money. He has consistently made fresh promises, given new deadlines, argued that the money is safe and he is not running away.

But for some mystifying reason, he has preferred confinement over repayment; humiliationif incarceration is indeed one for Saharasriover an honourable exit. Unlike his bosom pal Amitabh Bachchan who repaid his debt, some allege with generous help from Saharasri, after almost becoming bankrupt, Roy has brazened it out so far.

Unless a life in jail is really good for his spiritual health, nobody knows why Uncle Scrooge just can't part with money. Is it because in his absence there is nobody capable of liquidating assets and raising cash? Is it because the titles of his assets are not clear? Is it because the value of his assets is grossly exaggerated? Or is this a case of greed? As they say in India, chamri jaye par damri na jaye (Can lose life but not money)?

There is some anecdotal evidence though. In Jaipur, for instance, his group launched a Sahara City almost a decade ago on the outskirts of the city. With the help of a clever marketing campaign, flats in the residential scheme for sold even before the launch of the project, helping the group raise several times more than the original investment. The excess money, as per the prevailing market practice, must have been invested in some other project, initiating a cycle of debt-funded acquisitions. If, for argument's sake, the original land in Jaipur were to be sold, the money raised may not be enough to repay a handful of investors. Is this why Roy is not keen to get a receiver appointed?

There is also speculation that most of the investments are bogus. The chit fund entries have been created only to launder black money and the names of the investors are fake. It is intriguing that though he is lodged in the jail allegedly after pocketing money invested by thousands of people across India, there is no clamour from his clients for repayment. Surely something is amiss. As argued by Firstpost earlier, this is a fit case for a special investigations team.

Or, maybe we are just needlessly banging our heads for answers. Each one of us yearns for a life free of stress and tension. Now that he has found one, Saharasri might just be loving it!
NEW DELHI New Delhi urged South Korean steelmaker POSCO last month to buy local raw material for its automotive steel plant in western India, two government sources said, trying to cut imports and boost domestic production of high-value steel.

The steel ministry's request to POSCO came amid other efforts to safeguard local mills, including import taxes on steel products and a floor price on overseas purchases. New Delhi also initiated probes into the possible dumping of cheap steel into India by China, Japan and South Korea.

POSCO primarily produces high-tensile auto grade steel from its facility in Maharashtra state and has been importing most of the raw material - hot-rolled (HR) coils - from Korea, helped by a free trade agreement between New Delhi and Seoul.

But POSCO's costs rose after India imposed a "safeguard" import duty of up to 20 percent starting September last year.

POSCO told the steel ministry, according to a government draft agenda for a meeting on the issue that was seen by Reuters, that the raw material for their plant was not available in India and needed to be given an exemption from the taxes.

The steel ministry in an April meeting requested POSCO to use HR coils produced by Indian steel companies JSW Steel, Essar Steel and Tata Steel, two steel ministry officials said. The meeting was attended by executives of all of the companies.

Buying the raw material locally would keep POSCO out of the anti-dumping net and also help them secure raw material faster, one of the government sources said.

POSCO India could not be reached for immediate comment and a spokesman in Seoul said the company was already using Indian HR coils as part of efforts to diversify sourcing. He also denied that India's steel ministry had made any such request.

Indian steelmakers say their mills have the technology to produce the raw material POSCO needs and that they are willing to work with the Korean company to meet their requirements.

"It makes tremendous sense for a cold-roller or a downstream processing unit to have [raw] material close to domestic [mills] so that they can service the orders better, because of the better lead time," said Jayant Acharya, commercial and marketing director at JSW Steel.

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in SEOUL; Editing by Tom Hogue)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: The JNU administration has sent letters to parents of the students who are on an indefinite hunger strike against punishment imposed in connection with the 9 February event, asking them to instruct their wards to call off the fast.

Meanwhile, members of 40 women's rights and human welfare organisations have written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking revocation of punishment to students in connection with the controversial event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Reacting to the letter sent to parents, fasting student Shweta Raj, who was admitted to AIIMS on Wednesday after her health deteriorated, said, "If the administration has courage it should talk to us and not scare our parents by sending them intimidating letters. We are adults and conscious activists".

The strike by students entered the 15th day on Thursday. So far, 13 students, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, have withdrawn from the fast while 7 others are still continuing with the strike.

While Umar and Anirban Bhattacharya had earlier this week moved Delhi High Court challenging the punishment, eight more students approached the court on Thursday over the issue.

The administration had on Wednesday appealed the students to call off the strike as the matter is now sub-judice.

The varsity had earlier this week formed a four-member committee to look into demands of agitating students, however, the panel may take a back seat after the students moving court.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested in February in a sedition case over the event and are out on bail now.

While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000, Umar, Anirban and a 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.
The storm over the Teesta Setalvad files does not seem to ebb anytime soon. After the CBI recovered the stolen files from Home Ministry official Anand Joshi, the concerned official has apparently gone missing, just before he was to be investigated on Wednesday.

The Hindu reported that the official under the scanner has left a letter addressed to his wife, Minakshi Sharma, in which he has claimed "mental harrassment", and as having made too many "enemies".

A Times of India report claims that his superior, Additional Secretary BK Prasad, pressurised him to give clean chits to some NGOs, including Ford Foundation, which were served notices for alleged foreign exchange violations.

"When I woke up around 7.30 am on Wednesday, the main door was ajar and he wasn't there. I later found the note," The Times of India report quoted his wife as saying.

Interestingly, The Hindu further states that Joshi took to Facebook on 3 May to implicitly suggest his troubles, with a quote attributed to Chandra Shekhar Azad, Who has the courage to besiege the brave, at times of crises even a lion may be cornered by dogs.

Joshi has repeatedly claimed innocence on allegations of corruption. The embattled official was quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying, Some insignificant files may have recovered from house but they were irrelevant. I can explain recovery of money from house as well. I am an honest person who is being victimised for not toeing the line of my superior, He has also denied taking any bribe or favouring or blackmailing any NGO.

According to earlier media reports, Undersecretary Anand Joshi, who was posted in the foreigners division of the home ministry, was accused of stealing files related to several NGOs that were under the radar for violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA). Prominent among them were the files relating to the Sabrang Trust, founded by noted activist and PM Modi bete noire Teesta Setalvad. The CBI later recovered the files from his home in Ghaziabad along with cash and some other sensitive documents.
If you had to jot the cliches that an advertisement for Tinder would use for its Indian audience, you would probably be recreating the recent Tinder ad that has been doing the rounds.

Girl wears a salwar-kameez (with dupatta, ofcourse)? Check.

Mother lovingly observes daughter while she dresses for Tinder date (aka 'beti kitni badi ho gayi hai')? Check.

Overall Jab ladki jawan hoti hai toh maa saheli bann jati hai undercurrent? Check.

Daughter promises to be back home by evening? Check.

Presenting to you, the advertisement for Tinder India, where morality, sanskaar and maa ki dua has a 50 % stake. Your next question is probably, what is the difference between Tinder in India and Shaadi.com? If this ad is anything to go by, there is no difference. But that couldn't be further from reality.

In reality, Tinder in India works just like Tinder anywhere. Hook ups galore, heartbreak, weddings, pretending to be a socially acceptable prospect (in India's case it's marriageable material) but using truly only using it on Saturday night for a blink-and-you-miss drunken date.

It is for these reasons that the Tinder ad has not been received well. (Apart from being really badly scripted, and horribly acted.) The most common question, and the most obvious one, being asked is on the lines of why Tinder is afraid of being just a casual hook up app in India? I mean, do the makers not know that we are dying to do anything the Americans do?

Amitabh in Piku accepts that his grown up daughter has relationships though breaks because of him. Then why is Tinder advt not acceptable?  AD (@anaggh) May 12, 2016

That Tinder ad is so cringe. Shows how out of sync Indian business managers are with India.  Galavant (@RageMonk) May 11, 2016

I want the next Tinder India ad to be of the mom reading the messages.  Shilpa Rathnam (@shilparathnam) May 9, 2016

Where are the real stories? Of the boy from Pune who had to reject his date because she had bad breath? Of the girl who ran into another Tinder date when she was already on one? Of the girl who realised that her Tinder date, who had gone incommunicado, actually died in an accident?

No, I am not making these stories up. These are real stories of people who are on Tinder in India, and if you read carefully you will notice that none of them have been sprinkled with any dose of sanskaar. Thanks to Mumbai-based writer and illustrator Indu Harikumar, Indians are coming out and writing about their colourful Tinder dates.

In a project titled #100IndianTinderTales, Harikumar graphs Tinder stories told to her by people on her social media profiles. It all started when she decided to take up a 100 day creative project, and Tinder was something of a personal favourite.

"I wasn't on Tinder, but a friend who suggested the project to me was, and she shared her tales with me which got me thinking. I had some stories of my own, as well as some from other friends who Tindered. That's how it all started. The project was to curate various experiences that people were seeking online without any judgement," says Harikumar to Firstpost.

What followed were several entries from Facebook and Instagram, with deeply personal, some humorous and mostly intriguing stories of people on Tinder. "Since we are so closed when it comes to sex and being on Tinder comes with some amount of fear and shame, I wasn't very hopeful about hearing from people. However, the response has been overwhelming. And as a person who enjoys hearing and telling stories it is great to have so many people open up and share intimate details of their lives," says Harikumar.

Take for example the story of 'How to sell yourself like a tampon on Tinder'. In it, a Tinder novice shares how he went from having no matches to realising that there is a formula to getting matched. The key words, our dear entrant realised, were MBA, Investment banker, pose-y pictures with women and dogs.

Compare this to the Indian Tinder ad and we can guarantee you will cringe. Harikumar's stories, on the other hand, are quirky, personal and give a fun yet explore-able insight into dating in an urban, Indian city. They're the kind of stories we deserve, and the kind of stories that portray Indians and people living in India, just as the way we are: universal individuals with fun experiences and stories to share.

Harikumar's Facebook bio reads, "Will recycle anything, especially love". And that is exactly what #100IndianTinderTales is. If you're interested in telling your Tinder story (we know you have a few!) do reach out to her on her Facebook or Instagram profile.
Kolkata: The CPI(M) leadership in Kerala is confident that the alliance between the Left and the Congress in West Bengal will not have any impact on the party's prospects in Kerala, simply because the state's political equations are different.

The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, which is engaged in a head to head fight against the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala, feels that the electoral alliance in Bengal was occasioned by the state's prevailing unique ground level situation.

"It was the Congress which had forged an alliance with the TMC and helped them remove the Left Front regime during the 2011 Assembly elections. Now the Congress had realised its mistake and there is an understanding based on the prevailing ground-level situation in the state," CPI-M politburo member MA Baby told PTI.

"It will not have any impact on our party's prospects in Kerala because we are here fighting against the atrocities of the Congress government," Baby said.

However, a section of Kerala CPI(M) leaders felt that party comrades in Bengal, campaigning together with Congress workers had given the BJP ammunition for poll campaign in Kerala.

"We very well understand that democracy needs to be restored in Bengal since hundreds of our party's cadres have been killed in the five years of TMC rule, which is why an electoral understanding was chalked out with the Congress," a CPI-M leader from Kerala, who did not wish to be named, said.

"But neither an alliance with the Congress nor sharing of platform with the Congress was the mandate of the central committee," he said.

Another Left leader from Kerala pointed out that it was a contradiction of the official party line adopted in the last party congress which called for keeping both the Congress party and the BJP at bay.

"The CPI(M) is a national and not a regional party and it has to stick to the line adopted at the party congress," he said on condition of anonymity.

CPI(M) state secretariat member in Bengal Nepaldeb Bhattacharya said that "the alliance was a demand of the people of Bengal in order to fight against the autocratic rule of TMC".

"In 2004, when the Left Front had supported the UPA at the centre, it did not have any impact," he said.

The BJP, which too is hoping to emerge as an alternative to UDF and LDF in Kerala, is going all out to make the alliance between the parties in Bengal an issue.

"We are constantly saying this. Both the people of Kerala and Bengal will give them a befitting reply," BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said.
Vatican City: Pope Francis said Thursday he is willing to create a commission to study whether women can be deacons in the Catholic Church, signaling openness to letting women serve in ordained ministry currently reserved to men.

Francis agreed to a proposal to create an official study commission during a closed-door meeting with some 900 superiors of women's religious orders in Rome for their triennial assembly.

Deacons are ordained ministers but are not priests, though they can perform many of the same functions as priests: preside at weddings, baptisms and funerals, and preach. They cannot, however, celebrate Mass.

Currently, married men  who are also mostly excluded from the Roman Catholic priesthood  can serve as deacons. Women cannot, though historians say women served as deacons in the early Church.

The pope in no way signaled during a 75-minute conversation with the sisters that the church's longstanding prohibition on women priests will change. But asked if he would be willing to create a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons, Francis said he was open to the idea, according to the National Catholic Reporter and Catholic News Service, which had reporters in the audience hall.

The publications quoted Francis as saying: "I accept. It would be useful for the church to clarify this question. I agree."

Vatican Radio also reported on the pope's comments.

Francis noted that the deaconesses of the early church weren't ordained as they are today. But he said he would ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to report back on studies that have been done on the issue, Catholic News Service said.

Francis also said he would ask another Vatican office that is in charge of the liturgy to explain more fully why women aren't allowed to give a homily at Mass. Women can only preach at services where people do not receive communion.

The Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women priests, praised Francis' willingness to create a study commission as a "great step for the Vatican in recognizing its own history."

"Biblical evidence names several women deacons, working alongside men in the early Church including: Phoebe, St. Olympias, Dionysia, St. Radegund and St. Macrina," the group said in a statement.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author, said reviving women deacons would benefit the whole church.

"The female diaconate is not only an idea whose time has come, but a reality recovered from history," he said in an email. "This is news of immense joy for the church."

From the start of his pontificate, Francis has insisted that women must have a greater decision-making role in the life of the church, while reaffirming that they cannot be priests. He has said repeatedly that he values the "feminine genius," that there's no reason why a woman couldn't head certain Vatican offices and that the church hierarchy would do well to hear more from women because they simply see things differently to men.

But history's first Latin American pope has also hit a few sour notes with women, calling Europe an infertile "grandmother," urging nuns not to be "old maids" and once terming new female members of the world's leading theological commission as "strawberries on the cake."

On Thursday, he drew round after round of applause as he spoke freely with the sisters, asking them to challenge him and lamenting how so often nuns find themselves working as "servants" for priests, bishops and cardinals in ways that "undervalue their dignity."

The sisters cheered when he suggested that priests should instead pay local women to do the housework so that the sisters could teach, care for the poor and heal the sick, Catholic News Service said.

"I like hearing your questions because they make me think," CNS quoted Francis as saying. "I feel like a goalie, who is standing there waiting for the ball and not knowing where it's going to come from."
Rome: Italy on 11 May joined the rest of the Western world in extending legal recognition to same-sex relationships with parliament overwhelmingly backing gay civil unions after a long battle to overcome opposition led by the Catholic church.

Lawmakers in the lower-house Chamber of Deputies voted 372-51 in favour of the legislation with 99 abstentions after an earlier vote of confidence in the government on the issue had been equally comfortably carried, making approval of the bill itself automatic.

The long-awaited and much-disputed legislation was hailed as a landmark but also criticised as falling short of full equality for gay couples, particularly in relation to adoption and marriage rights.

Gay rights activist Federica Frasconi, 26, was in a small crowd outside parliament for the votes.

"We hope the next law, which we will all fight for ... will be for marriage and adoption. And I hope there will be also a law against homophobia," she told AFP.

Monica Cirinna, the senator who was the main author of the bill, said she expected the first civil union ceremonies "no later than September" and dismissed opponents who vowed to seek a referendum aimed at overturning the law.

"We will welcome that with open arms. It will allow us to push on to equal marriage even sooner," she said. "Italy will reject medieval bigotry and conservativism."

Marilena Grassadonia, president of the Rainbow Families campaign group, said it was a "historic day" for Italy but that celebrations would be muted because of the failure to secure adoption rights.

"What mother or father would attend a party their children are not invited to?" she said.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who had backed the bill but largely stayed out of the debate, called the confidence vote to short-circuit potential last-minute blocking or delaying amendments by opponents of the legislation, who include rebels in his own party as well as the Catholic right.

"Today is a day of celebration for so many people," the centre-left leader wrote on his Facebook page, framing the vote as another victory for his reform programme.

"We are writing another important page of the Italy we want," he said.
Two more pieces of debris were all but confirmed Thursday to be from flight MH370, adding fresh clues to the mystery of the Malaysia Airlines plane which is presumed to have crashed at sea.

The fragments washed up on beaches in South Africa and Mauritius in March and brought to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's laboratories for testing.

After an expert examination they were found to have "almost certainly" come from the fated Boeing 777 aircraft, which vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board.

Five pieces of debris have now been identified as either definitely or probably from the jet, all discovered thousands of kilometres from the ongoing search zone, likely swept there by currents.

The latest breakthrough follows a wing part recovered last year from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, which neighbours Mauritius, and confirmed by Malaysian authorities as from MH370.

Since then two more items found about 220 kilometres (140 miles) apart from each other in Mozambique in December 2015 and February 2016 have been examined.

The ATSB has said these too were "almost certainly" from the Malaysian plane.

One of the new parts, washed up at Mossel Bay in South Africa, was an aircraft engine cowling, identified from a partial Rolls-Royce stencil.

While there was no direct link on the cowling unique to MH370, the ATSB said the stencil was consistent with those developed and used by Malaysian Airlines.

Mossel Bay is more than 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from Vilankulo, the Mozambican resort where one of the earlier pieces of debris was found.

The other part, which came ashore on Rodrigues island in Mauritius, was a decorative laminate from a "work table" in the main cabin, used by no other Boeing 777 customer than Malaysia Airlines.

Given this, the ATSB concluded that "part no.3 was a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 engine cowling segment, almost certainly from the aircraft registered 9M-MRO", which operated as MH370.

"Part no.4 was a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 panel segment from the main cabin, associated with the Door R1 closet, almost certainly from the aircraft registered 9M-MRO."

Still hopeful

One of the pieces found in Mozambique, which had a number stencilled on it, was identified as a segment from a Boeing 777 flap track from the right wing, with the stencilling conforming to that used by Malaysia Airlines.

The other, which had the words "No Step" on it, was part of a Boeing 777 horizontal stabiliser panel with stencilling also consistent with that used by the carrier.

Australia is leading the painstaking search for the plane in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be its final resting place, and has so far scoured 105,000 square kilometres of deep ocean floor without finding any trace.

Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester remained optimistic that more evidence could be found, offering hope to devastated next-of-kin still grasping for answers.

"The Australian government will continue to work closely with the Malaysian government and the Peoples Republic of China in our efforts to locate the missing aircraft," he said.

"We remain hopeful the aircraft will be found."

Despite this, if nothing turns up once the designated 120,000 square kilometre zone is fully searched, it is likely to be abandoned, Australia, Malaysia and China have jointly said.

In an operational update this week, Australia said three ships continued to hunt for the plane but winter weather had set in, with waves up to 12 metres (39 feet) and high winds hampering them.
Cevisama 2016: Spain's tile show brings new decoration techniques and trends - Mar 2016

Home News Cevisama 2016: Spain's tile show brings new decoration techniques and trends - Mar 2016

By Calista Sprague

Cevisama, the International Exhibition of Ceramics, ran from February 1 through 5 in Valencia, Spain. More than 78,000 professionals attended, and the expo at the Feria Valencia broke records by attracting just shy of 15,000 foreign visitors, the most ever in the shows 34 years, including a significantly higher number of Americans.



Ceramic tile is big business in Spain, centered in the Castellon province on the Mediterranean coast. Total ceramics sales rose 6% last year to $3.38 billion.



According to ASCER, the non-profit Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers association, exports slowed overall last year, based on numbers through November. But exports to the U.S. grew more than 40% in 2015, jumping from the sixth to the fourth largest destination for Spanish tile, following France, Saudi Arabia and the U.K.



During a press conference, ASCER unveiled a new Tile of Spain advertising campaign, titled Tile Style, part of ongoing efforts to expand the position of Spanish ceramics in the international community.



In the center pathway of the exhibition center, large displays were set up to showcase Trans-Hitos, the Ceramics for Architecture Exhibition, which has been running for 12 years. This years theme, Harmonies, refers to the idea of differing companies and professionals coming together to work on a common project related to ceramics, and the innovative work of competition winners as well as architecture students was highlighted.



Extruded ceramic 3-D walls developed by researchers and students at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design were an eye-catching part of the display. A complex extrusion die produces interlocking ornamental modules that can be assembled for straight or curved partitions, providing light control and privacy screening. The walls can be customized to any space for a low cost, and can be dry-stacked for easy disassembly or bonded with cement for a permanent installation.



CERAMICS HIGHLIGHTS

Innovation was also on display in the Torrecid booth in the exhibition hall. The company develops new decorative materials and technologies for manufacturers, and many design trends evolve from capabilities made possible by the firm. Torrecid was the first to produce white digital ink to allow white decoration on top of dark colors, such as white veining on a black stone look, and it was the first to develop metallic inkincluding precious metalsfor tiles.



The booth was filled with tiles utilizing the latest in decorative techniques, including Torrecids innovative reactive and sublimating inks that puff up or sink into the glaze in the kiln, applied with inkjets for intricate surface textures. A few manufacturers are just beginning to experiment with this brand new technology, so it was exciting to see so many examples of possible uses.



Gloss levels were also on display at the show. The mixture of high gloss and matte effects can now be achieved with precision on a single tile. Glossy glazes can be dropped with precision by an inkjet printer onto an otherwise matte decoration for interesting textures and styles. Also, glazed tile can be ornamented with a dry glaze adhered with organic glue that burns off in the kiln for a completely different texture.



Brand new at the show was the development of metallic inks that are chemically resistant and can be used on the floor. Up until now, metallic inks were recommended only for walls.



Spain has a long tradition of producing earthenware, and a common trend at the show was to create looks that speak to historical artisan tiles. Rocas Memory collection imitates the trowel marks and other imperfections associated with historical cottos. The warm, earthy colors project the traditional look most closely, while the light grey and even white looks offer a more modern take.



Peronda dedicated a large portion of its booth to The Garage, an inventive display replete with a vintage delivery truck, highlighting FS, an extensive collection devised by interior designer and vintage furniture designer Francisco Segarra. The aged and distressed tiles emulate worn terracotta pavers, wood planks and painted wall tile.



Rug designs go back for centuries as well, and in the Carpet collection Aparici manipulated aged rug patterns to fade in and out of aged concrete visuals for a compelling combination that speaks to both the fusion of materials trend as well as the references to history trend. Textile designs on tiles are commonplace, but the creative aged effect that makes the fabric patterns seem to fade in and out offers a new dimension. Aparici also showed an incredibly authentic looking aged terracotta design in porcelain called Terre, offered in an unexpected 10x39 elongated plank.



Tau also fused textiles with concrete, expertly layering faint textile patterns over mottled cement in soft tone-on-tone color combinations for its Beton collection. In the Habana series, hints of wood character blend with concrete for more rustic visuals.



Aged and distressed wood looks were common at the show, and Azulev highlighted Evoque on the floor. The matte porcelain comes in white painted and pickled wood options, but most impressive was the burned look, with depth and realism enhanced by the rectified edges for minimal grout lines.



Natucer had one of the most impressive booths, filled from front to back with an array of unique new looks, including Retro, a two-color rustic wood look in hexagons and parallelograms, in addition to planks, with white, grey and black options that allow for interesting design combinations, including a tromp loeil cube pattern and the extremely popular chevron. A stained concrete look called Chevron Concret also comes in the parallelogram shape for a sleeker version of the same patterns.



Known for its extruded tile, Natucer has developed Life Arq, an architectural collection of tubed porcelain that can be used as slats for benches or fencing. It never needs to be painted and wont rot. The new Cube series offers a squared option that was used prominently in the booth for dividers and seating.



Alttoglass specializes in mosaics for walls and floors made of crushed glass that is fired into small tiles through a smalti process, where the glass is mixed with metal oxides for color. Almost 100% of the glass comes from recycled car windshields, making the product extremely sustainable. Unlike cut glass tiles, smalti tiles are opaque and can receive digital printing, and many collections can be used on the floor. The AntiSlip collection offers many options for outdoor use and swimming pools. And Night Glass glows in the dark for unique design options.



Perhaps playing on the industrial chic look, Vives introduced Strand, from the Fusion collection, appropriately named since it mimics oriented strand board, better known by its acronym, OSB. Vives elevated the lowly building material, adding bright semi-transparent color in various sized stripes, lines and shapes that can be combined for large scale patterns.



Several interesting shapes cropped up at the show. The parallelogram, most likely brought in to support the chevron fad, triangles, diamonds, fish scales, elongated bricks and the picket, or elongated hexagon, have been added to the already common hexagon and arabesque.



Equipe introduced Kite, a collection of picket shaped tiles in seven solid colors and a black and white patchwork. Black and white along with black, white and grey were very popular color combinations at the show, as were patchwork tile options. Kite is also available in two tones of aqua, one of the most prolific colors at Cevisama.



Stone looks at the show were plentiful, both in the white and grey marble visuals that are so popular in the U.S. and in darker, more heavily patterned stones like slate. Saloni introduced Menhir, a series that realistically mimics slate in both a combination of traditional greys with ruddy brown and a more modern option with beiges and cream.



Ceracasas Dolmen collection beautifully reproduced the look of sandstone in five natural colors. The ultra realistic tiles are available in both a matte and polished finish, a growing trend especially for stone looks, and the tiles look completely different with and without the sheen. The collection comes in both rectified and non-rectified options to accommodate different price points, and coordinating mosaics are also available.
Microsoft has announced that it is shutting down the Sunrise Calendar app it had acquired last February. The popular calendar app will be shut down on August 31.

Microsoft said that Sunrise will be taken down from Google Play Store and Apple App Store in next few days. The Sunrise team will focus entirely on building up similar features for Outlook. As the app will be shut down, it will not get any new features and bug fixes.

Sunrise allows users to import their calendar from iCloud, Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar. It also integrates with apps like Evernote, Foursquare, LinkedIn, Facebook and Github to fill out events with more information.

Sunrise wrote in a blog post,

As heartbreaking as this sounds, were hard at work bringing the magic of Sunrise to the Outlook apps, with all your most loved features  interesting calendars, event icons and calendar apps. Were confident youll be able to find our special touch there too.

source
On Wednesday, department store giant Macy's (M 2.26%) reported terrible sales results for its first fiscal quarter. The company also slashed its already-weak sales and earnings guidance for the full year.

Macy's poor results are a testament to the upheaval occurring in today's retail industry. Predictably, investors dumped Macy's stock on Wednesday, sending it down 15% to a new multi-year low.

However, Macy's bad earnings report is even worse news for some of its fellow department stores. Chief among them is Southern department store chain Dillard's (DDS 2.90%).

Macy's slashes targets again

In 2015, Macy's comparable store sales fell 2.5% year over year, including licensed departments within its stores. As a result, operating income plunged by more than half a billion dollars.

Theoretically, this weak performance should have set up easy comparisons, allowing Macy's to report a rebound in sales and earnings this year. However, Macy's didn't have high hopes -- its initial 2016 guidance called for another 1% comp sales drop and roughly flat adjusted EPS.

Even that wasn't attainable. In the middle of Q1, Macy's sales declines accelerated. For the full quarter, comp sales fell 5.6% year over year (including licensed departments), and adjusted EPS plunged nearly 30%.

As a result, Macy's further reduced its full-year targets. The company now expects a comp sales decline of 3%-4%, and it reduced its 2016 EPS guidance by 15% at the midpoint.

Dillard's faces similar pressures

Dillard's 2015 performance more or less mirrored the trends at Macy's. Comparable store sales declined about 2% for the full year. Dillard's saw a big erosion in gross margin during Q4 in particular as it slashed prices to sell excess inventory. As a result, pre-tax income declined nearly 20% for the full year, while EPS fell more than 10% despite big share buybacks.

Dillard's placed part of the blame for its poor Q4 2015 results on weak demand in energy-producing regions. This makes sense, given that energy firms have slashed jobs to cope with low oil and gas prices.

Unfortunately, this could continue to be a problem in 2016. Macy's CFO Karen Hoguet stated that Texas was a particular weak spot during Q1. Dillard's is far more exposed to that market, with 20% of its store base in Texas.

Macy's has a parachute

From an investment perspective, the key thing that differentiates Macy's from Dillard's right now is real estate. In the past year or so, Macy's has gotten serious about extracting value from its vast property portfolio -- particularly for space that is under-utilized.

Macy's is currently working with several different investment banking and real estate companies to identify potential sale or joint venture transactions for the company's prime real estate assets. Last month, it hired a new top real estate executive to oversee these efforts.

Starboard Value -- a hedge fund that has invested in Macy's -- has estimated the value of Macy's real estate at $21 billion. That's about 20% more than the whole company's enterprise value.

Obviously, Macy's isn't planning to sell all of its real estate and go out of business. However, over the next couple of years, it has an opportunity to generate billions of dollars in real estate proceeds -- which can be used for debt reduction or share buybacks -- without compromising its earnings potential.

The massive value of Macy's real estate -- starting with its flagship stores in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Francisco -- provides very real downside protection for Macy's investors, despite the company's unsatisfactory sales and earnings trends.

By contrast, Dillard's faces all the same negative trends as Macy's with a much less valuable real estate portfolio. The company will report its Q1 earnings on Thursday afternoon. Investors have to hope that it somehow managed to stabilize its sales last quarter. Unfortunately, it's hard to be very confident in light of Macy's dreadful earnings report.
Pfizer (PFE 1.31%) and Merck & Co. (MRK 1.78%) are two of the biggest drugmakers on the planet, and both of these companies reward investors with a healthy dividend yield. But I believe it's Pfizer, not Merck, that ought to be in an investor's portfolio. Here's why.

Better product portfolio

The PD-1 targeting cancer drug Keytruda is arguably Merck's best drug, and ongoing clinical trials suggest it has the makings of a blockbuster. But Pfizer has nearly a dozen drugs on the market right now that have posted double-digit sales growth in the past year. That's got me thinking Pfizer's product portfolio is better.

Keytruda sales surged from $83 million in Q1 2015 to $249 million last quarter, but Merck's overall revenue fell 1% year over year in Q1 despite that tailwind.

Meanwhile, Pfizer's breast-cancer drug, Ibrance, saw its sales soar more than 1,000% in the past year to $429 million in the first quarter, and that helped Pfizer deliver top-line sales growth of 20%. Pfizer's results were also supported by 24% year-over-year growth for the lung cancer drug Xalkori, 39% growth for the smoking-cessation drug Chantix, and a more than doubling in sales of rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz. Pfizer also reported that alliance revenue jumped 80% in the past year to $354 million last quarter thanks to rising prescription volume for Eliquis, an anticoagulant that it co-markets with Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Better pipeline

Both Pfizer and Merck pour billions of dollars into research and development, but a lot of Merck's late-stage pipeline potential rests with expanding demand for Keytruda. That may not be a bad bet, but Keytruda already faces stiff competition from Bristol-Myers Squibb's competing PD-1 drug, Opdivo, and more competition may be coming. Last quarter, Opdivo's sales were a pace-setting $704 million, and there's no guarantee that Keytruda can catch up.

Outside of Keytruda, the biggest needle-moving drugs in Merck's pipeline are anacetrapib, a CETP inhibitor that may lower cholesterol, and verubecestat, a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Undeniably, these drugs target big-market opportunities, but I'm not convinced these trials will succeed. Historically, 99% of Alzheimer's drugs that have made it into clinical trials have ended up in laboratory dustbins rather than on pharmacy shelves. Also, the bar may be set similarly high for anacetrapib, given that competitors, including Pfizer, have previously attempted and failed to develop a CETP inhibitor.

Pfizer's late-stage pipeline may have fewer question marks. It has over a half-dozen biosimilars in development that could soon begin carving away billions of dollars in sales from widely used biologics, such as Merck's Remicade. Pfizer secured an EU go-ahead for its Remicade biosimilar, Inflectra, last year, and Merck reports that Remicade's sales fell 30% year over year in Q1. Inflectra got an FDA green light last month, and Pfizer's developing a slate of other biosimilars that could ultimately position it as the leader in a market it estimates could be worth $20 billion annually in 2020.

In addition to biosimilars, Pfizer's developing a PD-1 drug that could challenge Merck's Keytruda someday. Pfizer recently began enrolling patients in a phase 3 kidney-cancer trial of its PD-1 therapy, and other PD-1 studies are also under way, including one in lung cancer. Since Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck have already shown that PD-1 drugs can pass muster, there's a good chance Pfizer's drug pans out, too.

Similarly, Pfizer's completed enrolling patients in a phase 3 study of its cholesterol buster, bococizumab. Unlike anacetrapib, Pfizer's drug is a PCSK9 inhibitor. Since the FDA approved two PCSK9 inhibitors last summer, the odds may favor the odds that this drug will get the regulatory OK, too. Importantly, if Pfizer's bococizumab trial shows that it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, then Pfizer could end up with the best-in-class drug in a multibillion-dollar market.

Tying it together

Both Pfizer and Merck deserve consideration, but Pfizer's potential for growth makes it my favorite of the two. Pfizer's revenue is expected to grow 7.2% this year and 3.4% next year, while Merck's sales are expected to remain mostly unchanged over the next two years. Similarly, Pfizer's earnings per share is forecast to climb 6.5% in 2017, while Merck's are forecast to grow by only 1%. Given that Pfizer's shares are trading at 12.8 times next year's EPS and Merck's forward P/E ratio is 14.5, Pfizer may be worth buying, especially since its dividend yield of 3.57% is slightly better than Merck's.
FA: Soon! We are getting better and stronger, but are still missing a bit of power. My guess - and hope - is that at tracks like Barcelona and Monaco where power is not so essential, we have a chance to deliver an extra good performance. So the next two races are really important for us - and that finally Q3 is coming our way, for the first time with this project. Yes, weve been pretty close at times, so I hope that here and in Monaco it will happen. And from now on points should be our normal target - not the surprise. Out of the points should now be the surprise. (laughs)

Fernando Alonso: Ha, both. It is my home race, my family and friends are here, and yes I want to have a good result - and Sochi gives hope. A home race is always something special, so you want to deliver, of course. Q: It seems that Honda are now closer to the top teams - but how close can you get? And how soon?

Q: Fernando, you look very happy. Is it the first points in Sochi, or simply that this is your home Grand Prix?

Q: There are some updates on the car here - can you say what they are?

FA: All aerodynamics - on the front and rear wing and on the floor. We need to test all of them to see what will be implemented. Hopefully we will see a good surprise tomorrow and on Saturday morning.



Q: McLarens 50th anniversary is coming up soon, with big celebrations planned. Can you say what is so special about the team, and why you have been drawn to them - twice?

FA: Lets have a look at the last time. I joined that McLaren-Honda project because there was a romantic side attached to it: when I started my go-kart career it was with a replica of Sennas McLaren-Honda car. Back then I had the dream of becoming a Formula One driver one day, so when it was announced that this iconic partnership would come together again it was the perfect opportunity for me to join. McLaren is a leader in technology and one of the best teams in the world - and we drivers want to drive for the best!



Q: When you left McLaren in 2009, did you ever imagine coming back?

FA: Back then probably not. But McLaren-Honda - thats a different thing.



Q: Going back to your beginnings in karts: is that the reason youve founded a karting academy?

FA: Yes. We had 25 kids last year when we started and now we have 130. That is amazing. And the most surprising thing: we have only three Spanish kids and 127 from all over the world. That shows that the passion for Formula One is still strong in many youngsters around the world. There is a saying in Spain - give what you would have wanted at the start of your career to others if you can. I would have wanted such an academy - to learn from someone and have the right facilities. Now I am giving that opportunity to some kids - and I really enjoy it.

Q: You have been around F1 racing a long time and seen all kinds of things. What do you make of the Verstappen/Kvyat situation?

FA: It is impossible from the outside to make any judgement. These things happen. Red Bull - you might like it or not - have done many good things for the sport and have discovered many young talents and given them a chance. What happened now is a decision among their teams and I can only hope that they give both Daniil (Kvyat) and Max (Verstappen) enough time to grow, as both belong in F1. They are both super talented drivers.



Q: You were part of the FIA press conference today where three Red Bull drivers were sitting in front of you, so you had a special view of how harsh F1 racing can be

FA: Well, it indeed is not a situation that you enjoy, but thats the way it is. Tomorrow we are all back in the car again and should enjoy driving and not talking over spilled milk.
Daniil Kvyat: Well, the warning signs were in the air for a year and a half. But when you have brought your first podium to the team two weeks before, yes, then that comes as a surprise - and you cant really be happy with the decision they are making. But out of the respect that I have for my bosses I cannot express any anger. I am going back to the team that was home for me in 2014 and it looks as though the team has developed a lot. Toro Rosso has huge potential and I will do my absolute best to open up that potential, and also look to brighten my future.

Q: Daniil, the swap came as a huge surprise. Had you received any warning signs that something like this might happen?

Q: When you say there had been warning signs for a year and a half

DK: not really warning signs - but also never a comfort zone.

Q: So insecurity regarding your F1 future was a daily companion?

DK: Yes, it was always there. It wasnt a great thing. But lately I felt that everything was more or less fine - especially with the Shanghai podium - so I didnt really expect that to happen. But there you go. It was a very shocking thing for me.

Q: Who was the bearer of the bad news?

DK: [Red Bull motorsport consultant] Dr Helmut Marko called me in the middle of last week after the Russian Grand Prix - and I thanked him for calling me and not just sending an sms! We had a long and productive conversation where I learned some quite new and interesting things.

Q: How did that go?

DK: He said, Hello, we have same news for you. And as I wanted to have an explanation, I kept him on the phone for a while.

Q: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that you shall refocus on your career at Toro Rosso. What does that mean? What are you supposed to do?

DK: I have no idea. I dont know what they expect. I know what brought me here and what brought me two podiums in not so competitive cars - so I will be doing the same things to be honest. So lets see what it brings me with Toro Rosso. Maybe Toro Rosso will be able to provide me with even better things. Who knows?

Q: There are rumours that Red Bulls fear of losing Max Verstappen to a rival team is the reason for all this

DK: I dont have an explanation. I know that in Formula One sometimes is not only about what you do on track that defines your future. There are many things behind the curtain, as I have learned last week. Ive had an extremely steep learning curve in the last week about Formula One and life in general - and its made me stronger. I have a very long memory and I will remember this decision that has been taken.

Q: You have no doubt gone over and over in your mind your last few weeks at Red Bull to see if you have done something wrong. Have you?

DK: Off the track, yes. As I said before, there are many things going on behind the curtain and unfortunately I had to learn it the hard way - but now I have learned. And should I lay my hands on a good car again, I will also use that outside the car much more.

Q: Does off the track imply a slight naivety or lack of political nous on your part?

DK: Perhaps, yes. Perhaps I really only started to understand that very recently - that no matter how good you are and how well you do your job, there is always something going on behind the curtain. I have always been very loyal to Red Bull - and I think that should also be an asset for them. So now lets see how things develop.

Q: We have never seen a driver switched from Red Bull Racing to Toro Rosso before - only the other way. Surely that must mean they still regard you as a valuable asset. Will that save your F1 career?

DK: All I can say is lets see what the future holds. There are 17 races remaining this year and if I do everything right my future can be very interesting.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
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Many tech investors dream about buying the next "multibagger" stock which grows from a small cap to a mega cap stock. But investors rarely notice these growing companies when they're still small or mid cap plays, and sometimes only buy them after they've become household names.

So today, we'll take a closer look at two lesser-known tech stocks with high growth potential -- Energous (NASDAQ: WATT) and Twilio (NYSE: TWLO).

Energous

If you've ever wished that wireless charging technology could make all the cables behind your TV or computer disappear, then you should pay close attention to Energous. Energous' WattUp technology powers stationary charging pads which can charge devices from up to 15 feet away. The FCC approved the miniature version of the tech for Internet of Things devices lastMay.

Image source: Energous.

Energous hasn't launched any commercial products yet, but it will start integrating its WattUp transmitter designs into its partners' consumer products this year. It believes that those orders can lift its free cash flow to break even levels by the third quarter. For now, Energous' only source of revenue is "engineering revenue" from potential customers and partners. That total came in atjust $1 million last quarter.

On the bright side, Energous has secured deals with some major players so far. Last year, Dialog Semiconductor signed a deal with Energous, which includes $10 million investment and co-marketing deals. Thetwo companies launched a small wireless charging RF circuit in early February, which some industry watchers believe might be used in the next iPhone. Numerous partners also showcased WattUp-enabled prototypes atCES this year.

Until Energous actually generates revenue, it's impossible to tell if it can justify its enterprise value of nearly $300 million. But if its partners deliver working products this year -- and it reveals some even bigger partnerships -- the stock could skyrocket.

Twilio

Anyone who has used Facebook's WhatsApp, Messenger, Uber, and Airbnb has likely already used Twilio's cloud-based technology -- which integrates voice call, SMS, video, and other features directly into apps for developers. It's the platform that lets you look up WhatsApp users by their phone numbers, send SMS messages to Uber drivers, or contact your Airbnb host from within the app.

In the past, developers developed those services from scratch, which was a costly and buggy process. Twilio's platform allows developers to add those pre-packaged services from its cloud, which were cheaper, easier to integrate, and more scalable. Skyrocketing demand for Twilio's services boosted its revenue by 60% annually last quarter, and it expects its full-year revenue to rise 31%-34% -- beating expectations for 27% growth.

The problem with Twilio is that it still isn't profitable, and it expects to remain in the red for the foreseeable future. That pressure is attributed to the low margins of its cloud services, the cost of securing new customers, and the costs of developing or acquiring new services (like voice analytics, voice recording, and programmable video tools) to widen its competitive moat.

The stock's price-to-sales ratio of 11 also remains lofty relative to the industry average of 5 for software companies, and indicates that the stock could stumble if it misses its revenue growth targets. However, investors who believe that more app developers will integrate Twilio's features in the future could be richly rewarded as its customer base -- which already grew 44% annually last quarter -- continues expanding.

But should you buy Energous and Twilio?

Investors certainly shouldn't buy Energous or Twilio as core holdings for their portfolios, since they're pretty risky stocks. But both stocks are interesting speculative plays which could rise much more over the next few years.

Energous' tech could be a game-changer if it's used in future iPhones and its pads start replacing unsightly wires and power strips. Twilio's first-mover dominance of its field also means that its business could keep growing and evolving as apps become increasingly dependent on third-party cloud services.

10 stocks we like better than EnergousWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Energous wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click here to learn about these picks!

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017

Leo Sun owns shares of Twilio. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. The Motley Fool recommends Twilio. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
SWIFT has told its bank customers that they are responsible for securing computers used to send messages over its global network, which was used to steal some $81 million from a Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Fed in February.

The theft marked one of the biggest-ever cyber heists.

SWIFT is not, and cannot, be responsible for your decision to select, implement (and maintain) firewalls, nor the proper segregation of your internal networks," the bank-owned cooperative said in a letter to users dated May 3 that advised them to review security protocols.

"As a SWIFT user you are responsible for the security of your own systems interfacing with the SWIFT network and your related environments," the letter said. "We urge you to take all precautions."

Reuters reviewed the contents of the letter on Wednesday. A person familiar with its contents said it was the first time SWIFT had sent such a letter since the Brussels-based group was founded in 1973.

The letter's details first were reported this week by financial news sites The Banker and Payments Cards and Mobile.

Former SWIFT staffers say the group has always told clients they are responsible for securing their points of access to the SWIFT system. They added that SWIFT does not guarantee that criminals will not gain access to clients SWIFT keys, encryption devices that are used to identify legitimate users.

A SWIFT spokeswoman told Reuters on Wednesday that SWIFT registers and authenticates its customers, issuing them encryption tools including digital signatures, and provides them with public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates that identify authorized users of the network.

Customers are responsible for all messages signed with their certificates and, of course, for protecting their certificates and ensuring only duly authorized operators can use them to sign messages," she said. "SWIFT is not, and cannot be, responsible for messages that are created fraudulently within customer firms.

The funds stolen in the February attack had been held for Bangladesh Bank at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before fraudulent orders arrived requesting a transfer to Bangladesh. A New York Fed official said each central bank that holds an account at the U.S. central bank has agreed that the New York Fed can rely on the SWIFT messaging protocols to verify the account owner has sent requests for payments.

This agreement, the official said, is binding under U.S. payments law for authorized and verified payment orders.

The rapid fulfillment of payment instructions received via SWIFT messages with valid credentials, is the central purpose of the system, former SWIFT employees and payments industry experts said.

This appears to be Feds legal basis for its claim that it did nothing wrong, and it could figure into any lawsuit brought by Bangladesh Bank to reclaim funds.

The New York Fed official told Reuters there were legal incentives for banks to use authentication protocols like SWIFT, and for customers "to safeguard confidential information pertaining to authentication procedures and access to transmitting facilities.

SWIFT representatives met on Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, with Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley and Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir to discuss the heist.

The three groups issued a joint statement promising to cooperate to cooperate to recover the stolen funds, following weeks of accusations over who is to blame.

It was their first face-to-face encounter since the cyber attack left the three blaming each other over the incident.

(Reporting by Jim Finkle in New York. Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in New York, Tom Bergin in London; Editing by Tom Brown)
What happened?

Western Digital's looming acquisition of solid-state drive-maker SanDisk is about to be completed following a key approval. Both companies announced that China's Ministry of Commerce, that country's competition regulator, has granted its approval of the merger.

SOURCE: WESTERN DIGITAL

This was the final regulatory nod necessary for the deal to go through. It had previously been given the green light in the U.S., the European Union, and other large markets such as Japan and Turkey.

As a result, the acquisition should close on Thursday, according to both Western Digital and SanDisk. The deal was overwhelmingly approved by both companies' investors this past March, and it will see SanDisk stockholders receive $67.50 in cash, and just less than 0.24 of a share of Western Digital per each SanDisk share they possess.

Does this matter to shareholders?

Although the deal itself will have a major impact on Western Digital and SanDisk, this latest development is only the culmination of a long process. Given that the acquisition won regulatory approval fairly easily in other markets, it wasn't a great surprise that the Chinese authorities waved it through, as well. As such, it shouldn't have much impact on the investing thesis of Western Digital.

The company is about to vault headlong into its new future. The hard disk drives that it still specializes in are rapidly becoming yesterday's technology; it badly needed a major asset in the solid-state segment. Although the SanDisk buy doesn't come cheaply -- Western Digital will have to issue fresh stock, and take on substantial debt in order to raise the necessary funds -- it's a necessary step if it wants to remain a top storage-solutions company on the market.

The article Instant Analysis: Western Digital Acquisition of SanDisk Clears Final Regulatory Hurdle originally appeared on Fool.com.

Eric Volkman owns shares of SanDisk. The Motley Fool owns shares of Western Digital.. 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.
Wynn Palace, which is currently under construction in Macau. Image source: Wynn Resorts.

Steve Wynn doesn't give a lot of interviews, so when he talks on conference calls with analysts each quarter, investors should pay attention. There are a lot of changes taking place at Wynn Resorts ; here are my five biggest takeaways from the conference call with management after the first quarter (transcript from Seeking Alpha).

Will Wynn Palace in Macau be able to stand out?

The $4.1 billion Wynn Palace in the Cotai region of Macau will open this summer, and it should be a transformational property for the company. But analysts were wondering how it will stand out versus the competition. Steve Wynn doesn't think that will be a problem, saying:

The larger point was that Wynn is selling to customers looking for exclusivity, and are willing to pay for it. He isn't after the mass-market players whoMelco Crown or Las Vegas Sands have targeted with their new resorts, including thousands of hotel rooms. Like Las Vegas, he wants high rollers and premium mass-market players who are willing and able to pay for the experience Wynn provides.

Will there be table games?

After Melco Crown's Studio City was only given 200 table games when it opened -- less than the 500 or so it expected -- there was concern that Wynn Palace would get the same treatment. Complicating matters is Las Vegas Sands' The Parisian, which will open later this year. If the government wants to limit table-game growth, the resorts may have to split the year's allocation. When asked about table-game allocation, Wynn had this to say:

I'm not sure if that's reassuring, but it's the closest we're going to get to an answer to the table-game question until probably shortly before the casino opens.

Early renderings of Wynn Paradise Park, the next addition in Las Vegas. Image source: Wynn Resorts.

Paradise Park is getting more audacious

Wynn recently started talking about the next stage of development in Las Vegas, known as Paradise Park. Early renderings (above) show a lake with a beach, and a hotel addition with about 1,000 rooms. But since then, the plans have gotten bigger:

Steve Wynn hasn't even gotten to the planning point where he's taking the project to the Board of Directors, but it sounds like it'll be wild, no matter what ends up being built.

How to pay for a $1.5 billion project in Las Vegas

The next question is about paying for this planned $1.5 billion addition. And that's where Steve Wynn was very upfront about his plans.

To put that into perspective, $300,000 per day would be about $110 million in new revenue for Wynn Las Vegas. That alone doesn't make the addition a great investment, but when added to hotel rooms, convention spaces, bars, restaurants, shops, and anything else that's added, you can see how it could make a lot of money very quickly.

Wynn Resorts and the massive buyback program

In April, Wynn Resorts authorized up to $1 billion in a buyback program, which could be a large percentage of shares given the current $9.5 billion market cap, and the stock's recent volatility. Here's how Steve Wynn explained the move:

Wynn went on to talk about how crazy the market is, but the broader point is that the company will buy back shares aggressively if it feels they're undervalued. If you're bullish on Wynn Resorts, that's great news.

The article 5 Things Wynn Resorts' Management Wants You to Know originally appeared on Fool.com.

Travis Hoium has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 qualities of a top-notch bank stock dividend aren't all that complicated. Investors just need a decent yield, a bank with a strong capital base, good earnings, and a realistic payout ratio. And for large banks, the strong hand of the regulators largely takes care of the capital base and payout ratio concerns.

Yet despite such a simple formula, many banks fall short, among them Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). Bank of America's dividend yield today is just 1.32%. On a trailing-12-month basis, the bank's return on equity is just 6.65%, well below the industry average and its national peers. Its capital position is strong today, but it's hard to forget that today's capital was built via massive shareholder dilution during the financial crisis.

All is not lost, however. There are plenty of suitable bank stocks with excellent dividends to round out your portfolio, each that meet all of our requirements. TD Bank (NYSE: TD) and its 3.52% dividend yield is one, for example. So is JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and it's 2.78% yield. There are even large regional banks that could be the good fit for you, like the 3.17% and 2.32% yields available from BB&T (NYSE: BBT) and PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), respectively.

Four banks with a better dividend profile than Bank of America To start, each of these bank stock dividends are supported by better earnings than Bank of America with healthy payout ratios. Here's a chart of the trailing-12-month return on equity for each bank, including laggard Bank of America.

BAC Return on Equity (TTM) data by YCharts

Higher returns on equity are important for these dividends because it indicates strong earnings relative to the bank's capital. If a bank has weak earnings, it won't have as much capital available to distribute as dividends. That reality is enforced with heavy hands by regulators who must approve the capital plans of large banks thanks to post-financial crisis regulations. We'll take a deeper dive into the role regulators play in just a moment, but for now, understand that with a higher return on equity, a bank can afford to pay shareholders a strong dividend while still building a fortress balance sheet. That's a scenario even the most prudent regulator can support.

With a rock-solid capital base on the balance sheet, banks can then start ratcheting up dividend payout ratios to shareholders. Because banks must navigate the multiple stress tests, regulatory examinations, and audits, a higher dividend payout ratio is only possible if those third parties agree that the bank's foundation is strong enough to handle distributing earnings instead of keeping them in the company.

It makes sense then that TD Bank would have the highest payout ratio among these banks given its strong return on equity. BB&T and PNC's payout ratios are within acceptable ranges based on the rest of the industry -- as are their returns on equity. JPMorgan's payout ratio is more likely to stay toward the bottom end of the industry range because it is subject to increased regulatory scrutiny and capital requirements as a global systemically important financial institution.

Bank Payout Ratio (TTM) Bank of America 23.4% TD Bank 45.3% JPMorgan Chase 33.5% BB&T 45.9% PNC 30.6%

Data source: YCharts

The significance of regulators can't be overlookedThe regulatory role in bank dividends is driven by the annual CCAR and DFAST stress tests. These tests gauge how well regulators project big banks will manage through a potential future financial crisis. The objective of the stress tests is to ensure that banks have adequate liquidity, capital, and risk controls in place to avoid a tax payer bailout and repeat of the financial crisis. The implications for bank dividends are huge.

If regulators crunch the numbers and think that a bank's capital or liquidity foundation is too weak, then the bank could be required to reduce or even eliminate its dividend. In 2014, for example, B of A was required to suspend its dividend and share buyback plans while it resubmitted its capital plan after incorrectly calculating one capital ratio.

In other words, one miscalculation of just a few basis points forced the bank to suspend plans to distribute billions to shareholders. Banks simply have no room for error.

The 2016 stress test results won't be released until June, and until then investors won't know with certainty how each bank will be affected. Predicting the results is impossible, but based improved capital bases, liquidity positions, and past performance in the stress tests, it's not unrealistic to expect our four dividend options moving through the process without a major hiccup. But again, no one will know for sure until June.

One final consideration before you buy -- consistency is key Being consistent is critical in the risk business. In banking, that starts with the discipline to make high-quality loans in any economic environment. Bad loans are fastest way to losses, dividend cuts, and potentially even worse. One proxy for measuring consistency is watching the bank's stock price move over time. A more consistent stock performance is indicative of strong fundamental performance over time without major setbacks -- like unexpected or large loan losses -- hindering the trend higher.

All these four bank stocks have put up better stock market returns than B of A since the turn of the century, with all but BB&T beating the S&P 500 over the same period.

BAC data by YCharts

To include the impact of dividends over time, we can use the total return price metric, which includes each stock's reinvested dividends along with stock price appreciation through the years. Again, all of these stocks handily outperform Bank of America, which is actually down over 10% over this 16-plus-year period.

BAC Total Return Price data by YCharts

The best dividend's in the banking sector If you're considering a bank stock option to round out your dividend portfolio, then you have many very good options at your fingertips. Bank of America, unfortunately, is not one of these. Instead, I recommend you take a closer look at any of the other options here for their combination of better returns, consistency, and higher yields.

The article Forget Bank of America Corporation: Here Are 4 Better Dividend Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jay Jenkins has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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.
With their collective $7 billion annual payday, Procter & Gamble shareholders enjoy one of the most generous dividends in the entire stock market. It's also one of the oldest: Investors haven't missed a yearly raise since 1956.

However, P&G's sales growth has been in a stubborn slump that's going on two years now. At the same time, its management team is navigating a risky portfolio transformation that's soaking up resources. As a result, while the dividend isn't in danger of ending its awesome 60-year growth run, the outlook for payout hikes akin to ones of the past is weak right now.

Sales growth struggles

After all, recent sales trends have been sharply negative. Revenue fell 7% last quarter, following 9%, 12%, and 9% drops in the prior three quarters, respectively. Sales for the full fiscal year that ends in June are projected to decline by nearly 10% after falling 5% in fiscal 2015.

Much of that brutal dip can be tied to two temporary factors. Foreign currency swings, for one, were responsible for 5 percentage points out of last quarter's 7-percentage-point slump. P&G competes in many markets, including Venezuela, Russia, and Brazil, where local currencies have devalued against the U.S. dollar, which results in lower reported revenue.

Image source: P&G investor presentation.

Second, the company is in the process of divesting more than half of its brands (mostly smaller ones) so that management can focus on the profitable categories with the best potential for future growth. That cleaving process removed 3 percentage points from growth last quarter.

Still, the 1% growth that's left after adjusting for both of these factors isn't especially encouraging. Rival Kimberly-Clark grew at a sturdier 2% pace while Unilever managed 5% organic gains. Both of these competitors beat P&G on the key metric of organic sales volume, as well. In other words, P&G has market share struggles in addition to the industrywide challenges it's facing.

Earnings coverage

The good news for investors is that P&G has managed to offset much of that weakness with aggressive cost cuts. Executives have cleaved billions of dollars of expenses from its operations, which has resulted in surging cash flow and productivity.

Unfortunately, reported earnings are still under intense pressure from the growth, currency, and divestment issues detailed above. That's why the dividend payout ratio is only projected to improve to around 70% of earnings in fiscal 2016 from over 100% last year.

Most dividend giants aim for a cushion of around half of profits, or less, so that a surprise downturn doesn't threaten to force a dividend cut. In that context, it's no wonder why P&G's latest dividend hike was its smallest in decades. Management is trying to get its payout ratio back down to a more conservative level before considering raising the dividend at the same pace as profits again.

P&G's latest divided raise was just 1%. Source: Company financial filings.

With cash flow rising, and with billions of dollars flowing into the business from big brand divestments like the Duracell battery business and the Coty beauty product line, P&G isn't in anything even resembling a cash crunch. In fact, executives are planning to deliver more money to shareholders over the next few years -- up to an $18 billion annual pace from $12 billion before.

Income investors just shouldn't bank on that capital return plan including significant boosts to the dividend, at least not until earnings catch up to the payout and P&G finds a way back to consistent, market-beating sales growth.

The article How Safe Is Procter & Gamble Co.'s Dividend? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Demitrios Kalogeropoulos has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever. 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.
On Wednesday, department store giant Macy's reported terrible sales results for its first fiscal quarter. The company also slashed its already-weak sales and earnings guidance for the full year.

Macy's poor results are a testament to the upheaval occurring in today's retail industry. Predictably, investors dumped Macy's stock on Wednesday, sending it down 15% to a new multi-year low.

Macy's Stock Performance, data by YCharts

However, Macy's bad earnings report is even worse news for some of its fellow department stores. Chief among them is Southern department store chain Dillard's .

Macy's slashes targets again

In 2015, Macy's comparable store sales fell 2.5% year over year, including licensed departments within its stores. As a result, operating income plunged by more than half a billion dollars.

Theoretically, this weak performance should have set up easy comparisons, allowing Macy's to report a rebound in sales and earnings this year. However, Macy's didn't have high hopes -- its initial 2016 guidance called for another 1% comp sales drop and roughly flat adjusted EPS.

Even that wasn't attainable. In the middle of Q1, Macy's sales declines accelerated. For the full quarter, comp sales fell 5.6% year over year (including licensed departments), and adjusted EPS plunged nearly 30%.

Macy's sales trajectory took a turn for the worse last quarter. Image source: The Motley Fool.

As a result, Macy's further reduced its full-year targets. The company now expects a comp sales decline of 3%-4%, and it reduced its 2016 EPS guidance by 15% at the midpoint.

Dillard's faces similar pressures

Dillard's 2015 performance more or less mirrored the trends at Macy's. Comparable store sales declined about 2% for the full year. Dillard's saw a big erosion in gross margin during Q4 in particular as it slashed prices to sell excess inventory. As a result, pre-tax income declined nearly 20% for the full year, while EPS fell more than 10% despite big share buybacks.

Dillard's placed part of the blame for its poor Q4 2015 results on weak demand in energy-producing regions. This makes sense, given that energy firms have slashed jobs to cope with low oil and gas prices.

Unfortunately, this could continue to be a problem in 2016. Macy's CFO Karen Hoguet stated that Texas was a particular weak spot during Q1. Dillard's is far more exposed to that market, with 20% of its store base in Texas.

Macy's has a parachute

From an investment perspective, the key thing that differentiates Macy's from Dillard's right now is real estate. In the past year or so, Macy's has gotten serious about extracting value from its vast property portfolio -- particularly for space that is under-utilized.

Macy's is currently working with several different investment banking and real estate companies to identify potential sale or joint venture transactions for the company's prime real estate assets. Last month, it hired a new top real estate executive to oversee these efforts.

Starboard Value -- a hedge fund that has invested in Macy's -- has estimated the value of Macy's real estate at $21 billion. That's about 20% more than the whole company's enterprise value.

Macy's has valuable real estate: highlighted by its Manhattan flagship. Image source: The Motley Fool.

Obviously, Macy's isn't planning to sell all of its real estate and go out of business. However, over the next couple of years, it has an opportunity to generate billions of dollars in real estate proceeds -- which can be used for debt reduction or share buybacks -- without compromising its earnings potential.

The massive value of Macy's real estate -- starting with its flagship stores in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Francisco -- provides very real downside protection for Macy's investors, despite the company's unsatisfactory sales and earnings trends.

By contrast, Dillard's faces all the same negative trends as Macy's with a much less valuable real estate portfolio. The company will report its Q1 earnings on Thursday afternoon. Investors have to hope that it somehow managed to stabilize its sales last quarter. Unfortunately, it's hard to be very confident in light of Macy's dreadful earnings report.

The article Macy's Earnings Wipeout Is a Terrible Sign for Dillard's originally appeared on Fool.com.

Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Macy's, The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. Nissan has struck a deal to take a controlling stake in scandal-plagued rival Mitsubishi Motors. Image source: Nissan.

Nissan announced on Thursday that it will spend 237 billion yen ($2.2 billion) to acquire a controlling stake in rival Mitsubishi Motors , which is reeling from a fuel-economy scandal.

What the companies said

The companies characterized the move as a "far-reaching strategic alliance." According to their joint statement:

The context: Mitsubishi is reeling from a scandal

Mitsubishi Motors' share price and reputation have both been badly hit in recent weeks. The company admitted in April that it had falsely inflated fuel-economy results on many of the vehicles it sold in Japan for years. Mitsubishi's stock was hammered by the admission, losing over 40% of its value before news of the Nissan deal broke on Wednesday.

MMTOF data by YCharts.

That left the company open to an acquisition, and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was quick to strike a friendly deal. In a press conference on Thursday after the deal was formalized, Ghosn said that Nissan would benefit from Mitsubishi's strong sales network in Southeast Asia as well as from increased economies of scale generally.

Another step in the slow consolidation of Japan's auto industry

It's the latest move in the slow consolidation of Japan's auto industry, following rival Toyota's friendly $3 billion acquisition of longtime partner Daihatsu last year.

For its part, Nissan is already effectively merged with French automaker Renault . Ghosn, who is CEO of both Renault and Nissan, said that the lessons learned from the Renault-Nissan "alliance" would inform his approach to integrating Mitsubishi into Nissan's operations.

It helps that the two companies have a history of cooperation. Nissan and Mitsubishi have partnered on mini-cars for the Japanese market, and Nissan has in the past built Mitsubishi-badged versions of some Infiniti models. And Mitsubishi once manufactured a Nissan-badged pickup that was sold in some global markets.

But once fully realized, this deal will likely vault the Renault-Nissan alliance into the top ranks of the world's automakers. The combined companies sold 8.5 million vehicles in 2015, while Mitsubishi Motors sold another 1.2 million. Added together, the group would have been the fourth-largest automaker last year, trailing third-place General Motors by only a small margin.

In time, this will look like a good move for Nissan

In the near term, there's a mess to clean up. Nissan will have to help Mitsubishi recover from its scandal. On top of the public-relations challenge in its home market, Mitsubishi may be required to pay nearly $1 billion in compensation to Japanese customers who bought mini-cars with falsely inflated fuel-economy claims.

But in the longer term, as Mitsubishi is integrated into its acquirer's operations, Nissan (and Renault) will benefit by adding the beleaguered company's distribution networks and incremental scale.

The article Nissan Joins the Ranks of the Global Auto Giants originally appeared on Fool.com.

John Rosevear owns shares of General Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General 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: Canadian Solar.

Canadian Solar wowed investors with better-than-expected results across the board in the first quarter, and that's the biggest reason the company's stock shot higher on Wednesday. But digging deeper into the numbers, you get a better picture of where the company stands and where it makes money, which will impact its prospects long-term.

Modules drive Canadian Solar

In the first quarter of 2016, Canadian Solar sold 1,172 MW of solar panels for $721.4 million, or 61.6 cents per watt. The quarter didn't include a large impact from its system development business, so this gives us an idea of how much module manufacturing contributes to Canadian Solar's business.

From those sales, the company generated a gross profit of $112.5 million. After accounting for operating expenses of $74.1 million the company made $38.4 million from operations.

That's not a lot considering Canadian Solar has $2.2 billion in debt, $1.4 billion of which is not associated with utility scale projects on the balance sheet. Even a small change in solar module prices or cost structure, and the company could wind up underwater, just like Suntech Power, LDK Solar, and now Yingli Green Energy.

Image source: Canadian Solar.

Projects deliver almost all of Canadian Solar's value

What's saved Canadian Solar lately has been its systems business, where it builds entire utility-scale solar projects. Management estimates that it has about $950 million of value in 437.5 MW of solar projects on the balance sheet that will generate a 20% gross margin when sold. That's much higher than the 15.6% gross margin generated in the first quarter, and would be added almost directly to the bottom line. That shows just how important the system development business is for Canadian Solar.

Building solar energy systems not only generates strong margins for the company on higher per watt cost, it's also creating captive demand for about a quarter of its solar panels this year. But next year, that may not be the case.

What happens in 2017?

For the rest of 2016, the systems business should be busy building 1,227 MW of projects in the U.S. and Japan, but after that, contracts fall off sharply. For 2017,Canadian Solar only has 361 MW of projects contracted in those countries, and for 2018, the number stands at just 92 MW. Of course, Canadian Solar could win more projects, but there has to be concern that its systems business will shrink.

Most of the U.S. projects that are being completed were acquired when it bought Recurrent Energy, but Canadian Solar hasn't shown the ability to win a lot of business since the purchase. Remember that Canada was a big market for Canadian Solar as recently as 2015, but now there's almost no solar development happening there; the company's markets can go from boom to bust rather quickly.

Canadian Solar needs its system development business to win fresh projects and continue to generate strong margins, because it's the real value driver for shares. Without success here, the module sales business isn't nearly as profitable, and even a small dislocation in the market could leave the company with massive losses. So investors should keep an eye on projects wins going forward, because Canadian Solar's ability to to land those contracts is arguably more important long-term than any advancement it can make in the manufacturing business.

The article The Real Key to Canadian Solar Inc.'s Future originally appeared on Fool.com.

Travis Hoium has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.
Electric-car maker Tesla Motors' most recent quarterly earnings release was arguably its most interesting in history. Committing to double down on its production goals, there was a lot of information and commentary to digest. Tesla's earnings call, in particular, provided a useful window into management's ambitious plans.

Here are the most interesting quotes by Tesla CEO Elon Musk from the earnings call last week.

Elon Musk. Image source: Tesla Motors.

Don't liken Model 3 production to Model X

The main reason Tesla decided to double down on its production goal was because of the enormous demand for its Model 3, or Tesla's most affordable electric car yet, scheduled for first deliveries to begin in late 2017. But it's tough for investors to take Tesla seriously in light of the company's product development and production issues with its Model X SUV -- issues which have persisted even into the first quarter.

Musk, however, says this is the wrong way to think about the Model 3 development and production ramp up.

The Model 3, Tesla management explained during the call, was designed from the ground up for ease of manufacturing. Musk believes this emphasis on simplicity with the Model 3 will help the company ramp-up production at an unprecedented pace.

Model 3. Image source: Tesla Motors.

Suppliers are highly motivated

Tesla says suppliers are bending over backward to be a part of the Model 3 production program.

"Every supplier wants to be in this program," Musk said.

Suppliers' motivation to work with Tesla is illustrated in the level of oversight they are giving Musk personally.

Tesla's Gigafactory advantage

Tesla continues to view its Gigafactory, along with its growing sales of batteries for its vehicles and its energy storage products, as a competitive advantage.

Rendering of a complete version of Tesla's Gigafactory, which is currently under construction. Image source: Tesla Motors.

The entire earnings call was packed with useful information. Other topics in the call include a look at how Musk relocates his desk to whatever area he deems to be a bottleneck for business, Model X production progress, a teaser on Model 3's battery, and much more. Investors can find a copy of the earnings call at the Investor Relations portion of Tesla's website.

The article Tesla Motors, Inc. CEO Elon Musk Talks Model 3 and Gigafactory 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.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will hold an unusual tete-a-tete on Thursday with Paul Ryan, the country's top elected Republican, to see if they can begin healing fissures in the party created by Trump's insurgent candidacy.

Party leaders are normally eager to rally around the presidential nominee in order to unite forces for the general election battle. But Ryan, the U.S. House of Representatives speaker, has withheld his endorsement out of concern over Trump's incendiary tone and policy ideas that run counter to deeply held Republican doctrine.

Both Trump and Ryan struck a conciliatory tone before their 9 a.m. (1300 GMT) meeting at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee, a session that will include RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, a Ryan friend who wants unity for the party.

"I have a lot of respect for Paul Ryan," Trump said on Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends. "We'll see what happens. If we make a deal, that will be great. And if we don't, we will trudge forward like I've been doing and winning, you know, all the time."

Trump last week became the party's presumptive nominee for the Nov. 8 election after his last remaining rivals, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, dropped out. His likely general election rival is Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Ryan told reporters on Wednesday he just wanted to get to know Trump.

"There is plenty of room for different policy disputes in this party. We come from different wings of the party. The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles so we can go forward unified," Ryan said.

Ryan was the running mate to 2012 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, a harsh Trump critic.

The meeting was not expected to lead to an immediate endorsement by Ryan, who opposes Trump's proposals to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States, deport 11 million illegal immigrants and impose protectionist trade policies. Trump has also sent mixed signals on whether he would raise taxes if elected.

The billionaire New York businessman and former reality TV star has shown little inclination to change tactics and policy positions that have carried him to the cusp of the presidential nomination.

Trump will also meet Senate Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and other House Republican leaders. A chief concern among congressional Republicans is whether Trump will be a strong enough candidate in the November election to ensure the party maintains control of Congress.

HIGH BAR

U.S. Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, a Republican moderate, told reporters that Ryan had struck the right tone so far in reflecting the sentiment of those Republicans who carry lingering concerns about Trump.

"A number of us are concerned about the lack of policy positions that he (Trump) has presented. The few that he has are often conflicting or contradictory. Combine that with the incendiary statements on POWs, the disabled, Muslims, Hispanics, women, it's a cause for concern," Dent said.

Republican strategist Doug Heye said Trump had a high bar to convince skeptical party loyalists about his candidacy.

"It's not so much about trade or what his tax plan will be," Heye said. "It's the broader messaging that for the past eight months has told women and minority communities throughout the country that the Republican front-runner doesn't want them, doesn't need them and doesn't care about them."

Republican U.S. Representative John Fleming of Louisiana, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement who says he will support Trump, said the Ryan-Trump meeting would begin the process of unifying the party, which may last until the July 18-21 Republican nominating convention in Cleveland.

"I really think everything has to be resolved by the end of the convention," he said.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Emily Stephenson; Editing by Peter Cooney)
The first time you try to checkout at a store with your chip and PIN bank card can be a bit traumatic. Gone is the familiar swipe, which is now replaced by inserting and leaving your card in the terminal. The machine may make a horrible screeching noise if you remove your card too soon, so follow the onscreen instructions carefully. Next, enter your PIN and wait. After what feels like an eternity, you can remove your card, take your receipt, and leave the store.

That customer experience has caused major problems for retailers, prompting Visa and MasterCard to roll out software upgrades last month that aim to improve the checkout experience. The response from retailers has been lukewarm at best.

Why the sudden schism between retailers and these two payment processing behemoths? To me, it looks like neither Visa nor MasterCard has prioritized the chip and PIN checkout experience, and to be honest, I don't blame them.

This software upgrade will improve the chip and PIN experience The goal of the software upgrade is to reduce transaction times, make the process more familiar to consumers, and still maintain the security and fraud prevention benefits of the technology.

Visa and MasterCard each claim that the new software will reduce the transaction time required to process a chip and PIN card to a level comparable to a transaction with the older magnetic strip process. The first version of the chip and PIN software increased transaction times by 10-12 seconds. That seems like an insignificant increase, but during peak hours at busy retailers it led to ballooning lines, angry customers, and, ultimately, lower sales.

Second, the new software will allow consumers to quickly insert and remove their cards at the terminal, rather than requiring the card to remain inside the machine while the transaction processes. The dip and remove process is comparable to the familiar swipe, requiring only a subtle change in consumer behavior.

The chip and PIN rollout highlights a disconnect between the payment processors and retailersRetailers, while happy that Visa and MasterCard have at least made this effort, were quick to point out the many shortcomings of the effort from the onset of the chip and PIN rollout.

Some questioned why the software wasn't originally written to be faster and mimic the swipe motion last fall when the transition to chip and PIN started. Others complained that the upgrade process is too complex; it will require two separate software packages to fully upgrade a terminal -- one upgrade from Visa and one from MasterCard.

Without a single industry standard, retailers are concerned that the rollout of the upgrades could be inconsistent across stores and result in a low adoption rate. That would force consumers to check out one way at some retailers and a different way at others, all with the same card.

Worse yet, if a terminal is upgraded for one of the brands but not the other, it would require different checkout processes for each brand in the same store at the exact same terminal. This would almost guarantee increased confusion at the register and even longer wait times.

Despite the way it looks, Visa and MasterCard are not asleep at the wheel In announcing the software upgrades, Visa and MasterCard each patted themselves on the back for working closely with retailers to understand their issues and to resolve them. While that's true, it is odd that the companies did not anticipate and solve many of these problems ahead of time. The lack of a single industry standard is also vexing.

To me, the choppy rollout did come as a surprise, but I don't view it as a significant problem for either company.

First, Visa and MasterCard rightly prioritized the security and fraud prevention technology ahead of a short increase in transaction times. The entire purpose of transitioning to chip and PIN is to improve security; it would have been a true disaster had the technology failed on that, its primary purpose.

Second, Visa and MasterCard's business model is not dependent on a fast and fluid retail experience. It's about increasing the number and volume of transactions on their respective payment networks, regardless of the source of that transaction.

Visa and MasterCard don't care if you shop online, in-store, or on your smartphone. They don't care if you use your physical card, a mobile wallet, or smartphone tech like Apple Pay or Android Pay. Visa and MasterCard make their money by facilitating any and all of these transactions on their payment networks. If you use your Visa account to buy with "one-click" online, Visa gets a cut. If you use it at the grocery store, Visa gets a cut. If you use your Visa account whenever you use Apple Pay, Visa gets a cut. If you swipe, Visa gets a cut. If you dip at a chip and PIN terminal, Visa gets a cut.

Is it important for Visa and MasterCard to maintain strong relationships with terminal manufacturers, retailers, and the general public? Would it have been a better outcome all around had the transaction time and checkout process been better thought out and developed prior to last fall's roll out? On both accounts, the answer is an unequivocal "yes."

However, will the problems during this transition cause either company lasting harm, financially, reputational, or otherwise? I doubt it very seriously.

The chip and PIN process will eventually become ubiquitous, consumers will adapt, and the controversy will subside. In the meantime, consumers will continue using their Visa and MasterCard branded accounts unabated, whether they're required to swipe, dip, or otherwise.

The article Visa and MasterCard Don't Care How Long It Takes You To Checkout, And I Don't Blame Them originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jay Jenkins has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends MasterCard and Visa. 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: CalAmp Corp.

What:Shares ofCalAmp Corp fell 16.5% in the month of April,according to data provided byS&PGlobal Market Intelligence, after the machine-to-machine communications company released in-line fiscal fourth-quarter 2016 results, but surprised investors by announcing the impending discontinuation of its Satellite business segment.

So what:CalAmp saw revenue climb 1.3% year over year, to $70.8 million, while adjusted earnings climbed 1.6%, to $11.74 million, or $0.32 per share. For perspective, both figures were consistent with preliminary guidanceissued by CalAmp a month earlier.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, however, CalAmp was informed by broadcast satellite customer EchoStar that it will discontinue purchases of CalAmp's satellite products due to reduced demand as it consolidates suppliers. And because EchoStar was responsible for essentially all revenue under this segment, CalAmp anticipates discontinuing its satellite business in fiscal year 2017.

Now what:To be fair, CalAmp also insisted the loss of EchoStar as a customerwon'thave a material adverse effect on the overall company. And that makes sense considering CalAmp's primary growth opportunity lies with its core Wireless Datacom business, which represented around 86% of CalAmp's total revenue last fiscal year.

But CalAmp also can't deny it has enjoyed the supplemental cash flow and bottom-line contributions that have come from its relatively steady Satellite business over the years, especially as those resources helped lay the foundation for the massive Internet of Things growth opportunity the company is poised to capture going forward.

To that end, excluding any final contributions from the Satellite segment this year, CalAmp anticipates revenue from continuing operations in fiscal year 2017 in the range of $375 million to $400 million, and adjusted net income per share of $1.15 to $1.35. By comparison, if you were to exclude Satellite last fiscal year, the midpoint of CalAmp's new guidance ranges represent year-over-year revenue and earnings growth of 60.8% and 30.2%, respectively, driven by a healthy combination of organic growth and its recent acquisition of vehicle recovery specialist LoJack.

In the end, though our near-term oriented market may still be lamenting the loss of a steady revenue stream, I think now is a great time for patient, long-term investors to consider opening or adding to their positions in CalAmp.

The article Why CalAmp Corp. Stock Plunged 16.5% in April originally appeared on Fool.com.

Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends CalAmp. 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.
Much of the gun-buying public has doubts that smart-gun technology such as that found in the ArmatixSmart System IP1 could be an improvement in personal safety. Image source: Armatix GmbH.

President Obama'sexecutive order on guns issued in January directed the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense to compile a report on how to jump-start the development of so-called "smart-gun" technology, supposed innovations that could reduce the incidence of unintended death from firearms.

Last month those agencies issued their reportand came up with a road map for smart-gun technology to become a reality. The primary recommendation was essentially for law enforcement to determine the direction that enhancements would take.

Laying down the law

By using the power of the purse (e.g., firearms purchases by police departments across the country), government could steer manufacturers in a certain direction. By recommendingproduct improvements that would meet the rigorous needs of protecting both officers and the communities they serve, technologies might emerge thatwould make guns smarter and safer.

Local police agencies buy a lot of guns every year.Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. , for example, realizedalmost $16 million in such sales in the third quarter offiscal year 2016, and over $64 million in fiscal 2015, or 8% and 12% of its total revenues, respectively.

The Smith & WessonM&P40. Image source: Smith & Wesson.

While figures for law enforcement sales by privately held Glock aren't available, the Austrian gun manufacturer estimates almost two-thirds of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. deploy its firearms.SIG Sauer is another privately held gunmaker that enjoys a large measure of popularity among police departments.

Conversely,Sturm, Ruger has a negligible presence in police departments, though many individual officers will likely have purchased Rugers for personal use.

Vox populi

Although proponents have long agitated for the development of such technological advances, thus far they've been thwarted by two powerful forces. Neither one is the National Rifle Association, which is publicly agnostic about smart-gun technology, but in private is probably heavily opposed.

No, the reasons why smart-gun technology isn't a reality are that the gun-buying public doesn't want it, and the technology is flawed (which drives buyer opposition to it).

The problems with smart-gun enhancements are legion. User-authentication technology, for example, is especially problematic. Obama touted the potential for biometric recognition in his January remarks when he said, "if you can't unlock your phone unless you've got the right fingerprint, why can't we do the same thing for our guns?"But biometric recognition also eliminates a primary reason people purchase a gun today: to protect self, family, and home. If a gun would be rendered useless to a spouse in time of need, a buyer would reject purchasing that gun.

Armatix is a German gunmaker that makes a .22 LR caliber handgun equipped with an RFID chip synced with a wristband. The gun becomes disabled if the chip is too far away from the wristband, a useful feature if the gun was stolen -- not so helpful if the owner needs to shoot but doesn't have time to first get the wristband. Moreover, wristbands need to be charged, and having a dead battery, or one without a sufficient charge in a time of crisis, means your gun is useless. There's also the potential for countertechnology to thwart your ability to fire a gun even if you meet all the conditions.

The technology all sounds good in theory, but in practical, real-world scenarios where someone needs to fire a gun, the technology might just thwart his or her efforts to do so.

A tricked-out brick

Although we increasingly rely upon technology in our lives, we also know it's inherently unreliable. It may work in the vast majority of circumstances as intended, but when it comes down to a life-or-death situation, not many people want to put their faith in the "iPhone of guns." If a computer chip failed at that moment, it could render your sole means of protection a brick.

Gun buyers have said they don't want smart-gun technology, and have punished manufacturers that pursue it. Smith & Wesson faced a furious backlash from gun owners who boycotted its guns when, in 2000,it signed an agreement with the Clinton Administration to explore smart-gun technology. Colt Industries faced a similar boycott when it developed the Z-40, which contained an RFID chip and a wrist transponder.

The people most not wanting to be lab rats in this test are the police. The Fraternal Order of Police told Politico, "Police officers in general, federal officers in particular, shouldn't be asked to be the guinea pigs in evaluating a firearm that nobody's even seen yet."Certainly when confronted with an armed suspect, it's not the time to worry about whether your department's smart-gun purchase was a really dumb decision.

The marketplace has spoken on the issue and has largely rejected the technology. Gun buyers don't want it, most manufacturers see no future (or profit) in it, and the police don't want to be test dummies for it. Mostly the people pushing for smart-gun technology are those who ultimately want to ban guns, and that creates a chasm of distrust so wide that no amount of money thrown into research will narrow it.

The article Will There Ever Be a Market for Smart Gun Technology? Should There Be One? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.
Despite Donald Trump being the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2016 presidential race, there are some in the GOP establishment who seem skeptical and hesitant to embrace his candidacy.

You mean like Paul Ryan? I dont think its skepticism at all, I think its self-indulgent, how can this benefit me? play. I think hes trying to be a power player. And for me, it tells me everything thats sort of wrong with the Republican Party. Im sort of done with them, they shoot themselves in the foot every other minute, Trump is the nominee, period, actor Scott Baio told the FOX Business Networks Neil Cavuto.

It was the way [Trump] was talking that attracted me to him, because when I hear politicians talking it sounds like the parents in Charlie Brown, whah, whah, whah, whah., and then when I heard Trump speaking, I actually heard words and sentences and phrases that I understood, said Baio.

On how Trump would hold up in the general election, Baio said, I knew that he would take Hillary Clinton, or whomever their nominee is to task and beat them pillar to post. I think he can win huge because he will go at them the way theyve gone at the Republican side forever -- and weve never ever had a guy go on the attack like this and thats what you need nowadays, Baio said.

On Mitt Romneys criticisms of Donald Trump, Baio said, I dont get it, Im so disappointed in it. I think part of it is [because] he is a businessman and Trump is a businessman, he is a little jealous that a businessman is going to beat him to the presidency. [Trump] is the nominee, suck it up, be a man and lets go.

Baio then made an offer to his colleagues in Hollywood who have threatened to go to Canada if Trump is elected.

Ive already worked this out, my friend Bob Shapiro and I, were going to charter a plane for them and they can go wherever theyd like. I will put drinks on the plane, Ill put some nice lobster, see ya later, Baio said.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
Eugena Washington, the 2016 Playmate of the Year, is still in shock over her newest feat.

I am so excited; I literally dont have the words right now. Im kind of just taking it all in, the bubbly model told FOX411 at the Playboy Mansion.

For the June 2016 cover, Washington is floating on a raft in the pool sipping a chilled drink. She said she was shocked to be named Playmate of the Year.

The people at Playboy called me in for 'an audition,' she said. I get there and no one is there and I go into a room where the audition is supposed to be and they say 'we really need to talk to you Eugena.' I was like oh my God am I in trouble? What happened? They said congratulations you are Playmate of the Year!

And working with Hugh Hefner is a dream come true for the 31-year-old model.

I think that Hugh was able to show women in a beautiful natural state, she said. You know sometimes when people think nudes they think trash, porn or slutty; but he was able to capture us in our essence and be elegant and beautiful and respectful and just classy. I think that definitely changed the way that people view nude shoots and things in America -- because sometimes we are very prude about that... Thank you Mr. Hefner for having that vision and bringing that to us.

Washington is the 57th Playmate of the Year and third African-American to be awarded the title. As part of her prize she is receiving $100,000 and a two-year lease on a 2017 Fiat Spider.



Washington's honor comes shortly after Playboy revamped their image earlier this year. The magazine no longer includes fully nude shots, and Washington, for one, approves of the big change.

I love it. I have seen all the non-nude issues and I absolutely love it, she said. Its absolutely necessary for the brand to continue right now when people are so exposed. Its fun to leave something to the imagination, and right now we are in 1,200 more newsstands because we are more accessible because it is non-nude. I think its a great step in the right direction.

The playmate said she does little to prepare for her shoots.

I just roll up. I dont like to put too much pressure on myself or else I will stress out... I go in and trust myself to know what Im doing and do my best and call it a day.

She shared some words of wisdom for young girls.

I am a walking PSA for young girls, she said with a laugh. A lot of times right now there is a standard about what beauty is in social media and everyone is trying to follow that one standard and its not real. I feel like we are born perfect and we have to embrace that and if there is something you dont like you can work on it but play up your great qualities and you are made like that for a reason and believe in your own magic.
Many doctors don't have a good way of knowing whether patients are skipping medication doses, new research suggests.

The physicians in the study agreed it's important to talk about medication adherence with their patients - but still, the topic rarely came up during office visits.

Doctors may need to explicitly ask patients if they ever skipped medications over the past month in order to get an accurate picture of their adherence, the researchers say.

Most of the doctors admitted they didn't know how often their patients missed doses of their medications, according to a report in JAMA Cardiology.

Dr. Neil Stone of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and his co-author Rosemary Hines surveyed 21 doctors and 66 patients at four cardiology practices in Chicago during the summer of 2015.

Overall, 61 percent of the patients said they rarely or never talked with their doctors about how often they took their medications. Eight patients had poor adherence - but in only one of those cases did the doctor realize it. Thirty-six patients had only moderate adherence.

About 67 percent of doctors admitted they didn't how often their patients missed medication doses. Yet, they all agreed that medication adherence is an important topic of discussion between doctors and patients.

Research shows that consistently taking heart medications matters. In a study led by Dr. Niteesh Choudhry of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, people who regularly took their medicines after a heart attack were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital for other heart problems.

"What we know in general terms is that people need to take at least 80 percent of their medications," said Choudhry, who was not involved with the new study.

Stone told Reuters Health he hopes the study raises a red flag and that doctors start explicitly asking patients about their medication adherence.

"'Do you take them regularly?' is number one," he said. "Then, 'how many have you missed in the last 30 days?' That tells you what's really going on."

Choudhry said the results are not surprising, and he likes the idea of asking a simple question.

"We can't guess if our patients our adherent or not," he said. "We really need to ask them."

Choudrhy said people who don't take their medications may end up having uncontrolled blood pressure or other problems. Doctors who don't realize their patients aren't taking medications as prescribed may prescribe additional medication, which would complicate the problem.

"This idea that we have to emphasize adherence when we want our patient to have good outcomes makes sense," he said.
UPDATE: FoxNews.com first covered Carter Brischler's medical battle in 2016, eight months after he was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). His family shared the tragic news of his Feb. 6, 2017 death with supporters on their GoFundMe page.

"2/6/17 @ 5:45pm...when time really stood still...," the post read. "Carter's fight with ALD ended with friends and family surrounding him. 1/2 of my world is now in heaven watching down on all of us. Forever, for always... my baby he'll be."

Original article appears below:

Last summer, Carter Brischler was doing flips off his grandfathers boat and looking forward to starting school in the fall. But just eight months later, the 5-year-old daredevil spends his days in and out of the hospital, unable to see, hear, eat, speak or even move on his own his little body ravaged by a rare disease that is rapidly attacking his brain.

His family has been on a mission to give him as many memorable experiences as they can before he loses more.

It's not like he's living, you know? He's here, and we love him, and we're doing everything we can. But, you know, this isn't life, his mother, Stacie, told FoxNews.com.

Carter is one of an estimated 13,600 people in United States believed to be suffering from adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in the brain. The accumulation of these VLCFAs causes the myelin sheath the insulating membrane that surrounds nerve cells in the brain to deteriorate. Without that sheath, messages from the brain to the rest of the body, and vice-versa, cant be delivered.

Everything's been taken away from him that he can use to enjoy life, added Carters father, George. He can't move around or go where he wants to go, or play with what he wants to play with. He can't see; he doesn't know if it's day or night. It's an awful thing to have to watch him go through.

ALD is an X-linked metabolic disorder, making the most devastating form of the disease more prevalent in males. Symptoms of the disease usually appear between the ages of 3 and 8, and leads to either death or permanent disability within two to five years after diagnosis, according to StopALD.org.

It can be a picture of [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] ADHD in a child or difficulty walking, difficulty with vision, difficulty with hearing, Carters physician Dr. David Kronn, director of medical genetics at Boston Childrens Health Physicians New York Campus, in Valhalla, New York, told FoxNews.com. Sometimes they have the adrenal manifestations of the disease, in which they may have skin color changes, and they may have difficulty fighting infections [or] they may come in with a sepsis at some point.

Subtle signs

For Carter, it all started in October 2015 with what his parents thought was a lazy left eye.

[The eye] was just venturing out to the outside and then coming quickly back, and I'm like, What is that? Stacie said. But he never complained. He never said he couldn't see or he was seeing blurry.

Stacie took Carter to the eye doctor where they fitted him for glasses and said that the prescription should help correct his eye. But the glasses only seemed to make the problem worse, and when he started becoming disoriented around Halloween, his parents knew something was wrong.

He would be running and then stop, Stacie said. We'd be like, Buddy, go get your brother, and he'd be like Where? And we're like, Right there, and he'd go, Oh and then just run anyway.

It was taking him longer to realize what was going on, where things were, where he was, George said.

After several doctor appointments failed to yield any clues, Stacie took Carter to a local hospital near their home in Port Jervis, New York.

I finally got tired of talking to different doctors and getting the same results, so I took him to Bon Secours [Charity Health System] and I was like, You need to scan his head, something's wrong, Stacie said. So they finally did it, and then that same doctor at 1 oclock in the morning had to come to me and say, There's an abnormality in your son's brain.

Carter was transferred to Westchester Medical Center, where he stayed for a week and underwent testing. But the Brischlers said while doctors suspected Carter was suffering the effects of ALD, the lab tested for long-chain fatty acids instead of the standard testing method, which looks at very long chain fatty acids. So Carter did not receive a firm diagnosis of ALD until he went to see Dr. Kronn in January.

Doctors use what's called a Loes score to assess the progression of white matter changes on an MRI in a child with X-linked ALD (X-ALD). Generally, if the Loes score is above 8, the disease has progressed too far to be treated successfully, Kronn said.

Carters was a 13.

Over the years, weve become aware that a bone marrow transplant early in the disease can be life-saving for these patients, but we now know that it's only effective in the early stages of the disease, Kronn told FoxNews.com. When patients are symptomatic, it's generally a little bit too late to do anything which is really effective.

An impossible decision

Kronn explained treatment options to the Brischlers, but because of the advanced stage of his disease, the outlook was not promising.

He says, It's risky, there'd be a 50 percent chance that he would even survive the surgery, let alone the whole process, that it requires chemotherapy and long stays in the hospital, isolated, Stacie recalled.

Even after the transplant, your body still needs a few months to use the new bone marrow to fix the problem, and all throughout that time of prepping for the transplant, going through it, and your body acclimating to it, the degradation would still be going on, George added. And there's no way to stop that or slow that down or know how much would have been taken away by the time the bone marrow would be successful if it was successful.

The Brischlers knew they had an impossible decision to make. They ultimately decided to forgo the transplant to try to make as many memories as they possibly could with Carter and his brother Peyton, 8, as a family of four.

Of course the day after, we're like, Did we make the right decision? Stacie said. Fast-forward four months, we absolutely did because he lost his vision since then, and his hearing and his ability to speak all of those would have been lost in a hospital.

The Brischlers rushed to try to give Carter as many memorable experiences as they could before he completely lost his eyesight. In February, Carter was granted a Disney Cruise trip through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And although he had lost his eyesight a few weeks prior, the magic of the moment was not lost on Carter.

He swam all day, he ate all day, he really it was magical, Stacie said. He smiled the whole time, ear to ear.

Early detection

While Carter was not a good candidate for a bone marrow transplant because of the advanced stage of his disease, the procedure has shown promising results in other patients, Kronn said.

But catching the disease early remains a challenge.

In 2013, New York became the first state to add ALD to newborn screening after Elisa Seeger, a mother from Brooklyn who lost her son Aidan to the disease, lobbied for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign NY State Senate Bill S2386 into law.

Newborn screening varies by state, and test for diseases like sickle cell anemia, genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis, infectious diseases and potentially deadly metabolism disorders.

Aidans Law, as its called, has already helped doctors identify more than 40 cases of ALD, not only in boys who may become affected but also females who, like Stacie, could pass it on to their child.

How is there something inside you, and you're unaware that you could have it, and it could be passed down to boys who could have symptoms from it or [to] girls who could give it to their child? Stacie said. How do you not know that's there? That's pretty important. It affects your life.

On Feb. 16, 2016, ALD was added to the Recommended Universal Screening Panel (RUSP) a list of conditions the federal government recommends every baby be screened for. From there, it is up to the states to decide and implement their newborn screening programs.

For now, the Brischlers are focused on making as many good memories as they can cram in between doctors appointments and hospital stays a mission they said has only been possible with the support of family, friends and their community.

You know, you hear about people rallying around things and supporting people, but you don't realize that it's an ongoing thing, George said. To realize that people do things ongoing day in and day out for you, and they're always there for you it's, it's amazing and it's needed.

For more information, or to donate, visit the familys GoFundMe page.

Cards and donations can also be sent to:

Carter Brischler

c/o Stacie & George Brischler

PO Box 754

Sparrowbush, NY 12780
Almost everyone in large cities in poor and middle-income countries faces excessively high air pollution, a growing problem that is killing more than 3 million people prematurely each year and "wreaking havoc on human health," the World Health Organization said Thursday.

The U.N. health agency says more than four out of five city dwellers worldwide live in cities that don't meet WHO air quality guidelines  98 percent in poorer countries and 56 percent even in high-income countries.

"Ambient air pollution, made of high concentrations of small and fine particulate matter, is the greatest environmental risk to health, causing more than 3 million premature deaths worldwide ever year," WHO said.

The findings are part of WHO's third Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, which examines outdoor air in 3,000 cities, towns and villages  but mostly cities  across 103 countries. It's based on country reports and other sources for the period from 2008 to 2013, although some nations, including many in Africa, don't contribute data.

An accompanying U.N. news release said global urban air pollution levels rose 8 percent over that time span "despite improvements in some regions," and noted that people face a higher risk of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases as air quality worsens.

"Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on human health," said Dr. Maria Neira, a WHO director for environment and public health. "At the same time, awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality. When air quality improves, global respiratory and cardiovascular-related illnesses decrease."

The agency's database named Zabol, Iran, as the city with the highest annual mean concentration of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns in diameter  a key measure of air pollution that could damage health. By that measure, India stood out as home to more than half of the 21 most polluted cities on the WHO list.

New Delhi, which had previously topped the list, dropped to No. 11. The Indian capital has managed to decrease its annual average concentration of particulate matter by about 20 percent from 2013 to 2015. The change coincides with a series of air-clearing measures including banning older cars and cargo trucks from the city, introducing steep fines for construction pollution or garbage burning, and shutting down an old coal-fired power plant.

"New Delhi has succeeded in arresting the trend, which shows that if you take action, you will see results," said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment.

But India overall is still struggling. The WHO data showed four other Indian cities  Gwalior, Allahabad, Patna and Raipur  surpassing New Delhi to rank within the world's top ten polluted cities  coming in second, third, sixth and seventh, respectively.

In Europe, the Bosnian city of Tuzla had the worst air on the continent, although its pollution level was far less than in much larger cities in India, Pakistan and China. The worst air pollution in a U.S. city was in California's Visalia-Porterville area, but it too ranked far lower  1,080th  than many developing-world cities.

Paris came in at 1116th most polluted, London at 1,389th and the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region at 2,369th.

The database's cleanest town was Sinclair, Wyoming, ranking 2,973th with a particulate matter (PM 2.5) of 3, compared to 217 for the most polluted city, Zabol.

WHO guidelines urge a PM 2.5 rating of 10 or less. But WHO technical officer Sophie Gumy cautioned against drawing too many comparisons between cities from different continents, saying the data from various sources doesn't always line up exactly.

Some countries publish official air pollution statistics, but others don't. Some of WHO's data comes from academia. Some monitoring stations could be near highways, which could skew the results. Some data includes night air pollution, which tends to be less than during rush hour, but other national reports do not. And rainy seasons can rinse away air pollution, while drier climates can let the pollution linger.

The agency praised efforts by policymakers to promote cleaner transportation, more efficient energy sources and better waste management.

"More than half of the monitored cities in high-income countries and more than one-third in low- and middle-income countries reduced their air pollution levels by more than 5 percent in five years," the agency said.
The bad legal news for Hillary Clinton continued to cascade upon her presidential hopes during the past week in what has amounted to a perfect storm of legal misery. Here is what happened.

Last week, Mrs. Clintons five closest advisers when she was Secretary of State, four of whom remain close to her and have significant positions in her presidential campaign, were interrogated by the FBI. These interrogations were voluntary, not under oath, and done in the presence of the same legal team which represented all five aides.

The atmosphere was confrontational, as the purpose of the interrogations is to enable federal prosecutors and investigators to determine whether these five are targets or witnesses. Stated differently, the feds need to decide if they should charge any of these folks as part of a plan to commit espionage, or if they will be witnesses on behalf of the government should there be such a prosecution; or witnesses for Mrs. Clinton.

In the same week, a federal judge ordered the same five persons to give videotaped testimony in a civil lawsuit against the State Department which once employed them in order to determine if there was a conspiracy -- thats the word used by the judge -- in Mrs. Clintons office to evade federal transparency laws. Stated differently, the purpose of these interrogations is to seek evidence of an agreement to avoid the Freedom of Information Act requirements of storage and transparency of records, and whether such an agreement, if it existed, was also an agreement to commit espionage -- the removal of state secrets from a secure place to a non-secure place.

Also earlier this week, the State Department revealed that it cannot find the emails of Bryan Pagliano for the four years that he was employed there. Who is Bryan Pagliano? He is the former information technology expert, employed by the State Department to problem shoot Mrs. Clintons entail issues.

Pagliano was also personally employed by Mrs. Clinton. She paid him $5,000 to migrate her regular State Department email account and her secret State Department email account from their secure State Department servers to her personal, secret, non-secure server in her home in Chappaqua, New York. That was undoubtedly a criminal act. Pagliano either received a promise of non-prosecution or an actual order of immunity from a federal judge. He is now the governments chief witness against Mrs. Clinton.

It is almost inconceivable that all of his emails have been lost. Surely this will intrigue the FBI, which has reportedly been able to retrieve the emails Mrs. Clinton attempted to wipe from her server.

While all of this has been going on, intelligence community sources have reported about a below the radar screen, yet largely known debate in the Kremlin between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Intelligence Services. They are trying to come to a meeting of the minds to determine whether the Russian government should release some 20,000 of Mrs. Clintons emails that it obtained either by hacking her directly or by hacking into the email of her confidante, Sid Blumenthal.

As if all this wasnt enough bad news for Mrs. Clinton in one week, the FBI learned last week from the convicted international hacker, who calls himself Guccifer, that he knows how the Russians came to possess Mrs. Clintons emails; and it is because she stored, received and sent them from her personal, secret, non-secure server.

Mrs. Clinton has not been confronted publicly and asked for an explanation of her thoughts about the confluence of these events, but she has been asked if the FBI has reached out to her. It may seem counter-intuitive, but in white collar criminal cases, the FBI gives the targets of its investigations an opportunity to come in and explain why the target should not be indicted.

This is treacherous ground for any target, even a smart lawyer like Mrs. Clinton. She does not know what the feds know about her. She faces a damned-if-she-does and damned-if-she-doesnt choice here.

Any lie and any materially misleading statement -- and she is prone to both -- made to the FBI can form the basis for an independent criminal charge against her. This is the environment that trapped Martha Stewart. Hence the standard practice among experienced counsel is to decline interviews by the folks investigating their clients.

But Mrs. Clinton is no ordinary client. She is running for president. She lies frequently. We know this because, when asked if the FBI has reached out to her for an interview, she told reporters that neither she nor her campaign had heard from the FBI; but she couldnt wait to talk to the agents.

That is a mouthful, and the FBI knows it. First, the FBI does not come calling upon her campaign or even upon her. The Department of Justice prosecutors will call upon her lawyers -- and that has already been done, and Mrs. Clinton knows it. So her statements about the FBI not calling her or the campaign were profoundly misleading, and the FBI knows that.

Mrs. Clintons folks are preparing for the worst. They have leaked nonsense from U.S. officials that the feds have found no intent to commit espionage on the part of Mrs. Clinton. Too bad these officials -- political appointees, no doubt -- skipped or failed Criminal Law 101. The government need not prove intent for either espionage or for lying to federal agents.

And it prosecutes both crimes very vigorously.
People of good faith everywhere should welcome the joint visit to Hiroshimas ground zero by President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Abe.

Such an event could serve as a powerful symbolic moment of silence and reflection in a world cluttered with mind-numbing and mostly meaningless media and social networking chatter.

Todays Japan has worked hard to earn our respect and trust as a reliable democratic ally. This visit, in addition to strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance should serve to remind all nations of the world, whether friend or foe, the very real consequences of using nuclear weapons.

The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a singular event in the history of humankind and a turning point for our civilization.

It is precisely for these reasons that we should all reflect on the words uttered by President Harry Truman, upon whom rested the ultimate decision to deploy the ultimate weapon of destruction:

I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.

In 2016, some might want to brush past Trumans perspective. But that would do a terrible disservice to the past and to future generations. The presidents words help explain why Hiroshima happened. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the terrible loss of life and suffering of innocents they unleashed can only be made sense of if Imperial Japans culpability in unleashing the prolonged barbarism that characterized WWII in Asia, is made plain.

Further, as our president, Mr. Obama also has a final opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and sufferings of American and allied civilians, soldiers, and POWS.

It was their sacrifice that made possible the defeat of Imperial Japan and set the stage for a democratic Japan to emerge.

Perhaps the president might invite the few remaining living former American POWs to join him and Prime Minister Abe at the Hiroshima ceremony. Their presence combined with the horrific images of the terrible fate suffered by Japanese victims of the atomic bombs, could give citizens on both sides of the Pacific reason to reflect on the causes and horrors of World War II and serve as a powerful reminder to the world that unleashing nuclear weapons after Hiroshima would lead humankind to destruction.

In the Judeo-Christian traditions, memory of past deeds, good and bad, serve as our guideposts for the future.

Let Hiroshima serve as one of those guideposts. Ultimately President Obamas visit to Hiroshima does not need to seek closure -- only to awaken a world from its moral slumber. When the Peace Bell rings, let it promote historic truth and reconciliation, serve to inspire young Americans and Japanese to remember the victims on both sides and to commit that it ever happens again.

Jan Thompson is president of American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor Memorial Society. Kinue Tokudome, founder and director of the US-Japan Dialogue on POWs and advisor to the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
For many Christians  Donald Trump is like a bucket of store-bought chicken at a Wednesday night church supper. It may be a culinary heresy  but folks will still eat it.

Thats the best case scenario for the Trump campaign as they try to woo wary Evangelical Christians. Many are still not convinced that the man who has had more wives than there are letters to the Corinthians shares their view from the pew.

Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives!

Its not just the #NeverTrump crowd that is causing the campaign to worry. Its the unknown number of Evangelicals who may stay home on Election Day.

A popular quote by the renowned pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been trending on social networking websites.

Of two evils choose none, Spurgeon once said.

But is that really our best and only option  to throw in the towel? Do Christians get to claim the moral high ground by electing President Hillary Clinton?

The idea of not voting  youre sacrificing your Christian worldview on the altar of political expediency, said Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. It is silly to talk about not voting for either candidate. Every single Christian should vote.

Franklin Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said Christians need to take a stand in 2016.

You dont just stay home and not vote  you vote, Graham told me. Vote for the candidates that best support Biblical truth and Biblical values.

But what if your candidate is not exactly an altar boy in good standing?

In some races, it may not always be clear, Graham said. You may have to hold your nose and choose of the two.

So what are Lutheran church ladies and Baptist deacons and Church of God Sunday school teachers supposed to do? Should Christians vote for Donald Trump?

I decided to assemble an all-star panel to address that question. I reached out to Franklin Graham, Samuel Rodriguez, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Can a Christian vote for Donald Trump running against Hillary Clinton? I would say yes, Dr. Land told me. Is it okay for Christians to vote for Donald Trump? Thats a decision for each individual Christian to make for himself or herself.

Land told me he plans to vote against Hillary Clinton and I dont believe in third party candidates.

Im perturbed  deeply perturbed that Im presented with such a lousy choice but thats who the American people have selected, he told me. I suspect I am not alone among my fellow Americans in saying that I will cast my vote with no joy.

But thats the key  actually voting on Election Day.

I will vote my Christian values, Rodriguez said. Its life, the family ethos, its religious liberty, its limited government. Thats the person Im going to vote for.

Rodriquez conceded that the 2016 candidates are not his dream team  but hes only concerned about one issue  the Supreme Court.

Im going to vote for protecting the Supreme Court from judges that are activists  that run counter to our Judeo-Christian value system.

Huckabee, who was a preacher before he was a politician, has been a supporter of Trump. And hes also been mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate.

He told me Christians can and should vote for Trump.

Im not going to try and suggest that Donald Trump is in any way the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul, Huckabee said. But hes been very open to not only dialogue with  but listen to and understand where many people in the faith community are coming from.

He predicted Trump, if elected, would have a very strong relationship with Evangelicals.

Donald Trump could well be a great president for those of us who are Evangelicals, Huckabee told me.

Besides, Huckabee pointed out, the Republicans have nominated people who are far more contemptuous of the Evangelical community.

Anybody remember Sen. John McCains infamous agents of intolerance rhetoric? In 2000, McCain said parts of the religious right were divisive and even un-American  in reporting by The New York Times.

So whats a good Christian to do?

Pray, Graham said.

Hes been leading prayer gatherings outside capitol buildings in all 50 states. Tens of thousands of Americans have attended the Decision America events.

We arent supporting political candidates, he said. Im encouraging Christians to vote. The problem in our country today is that we have allowed the progressive to take God out of our government. We have allowed godless secularism to take control of Washington.

Land suggested Trump could win over Evangelicals by offering a few olive branches  like naming Sen. Ted Cruz as his pick to the Supreme Court.

That would help pro-lifers a lot, Land told me. Ted would be easy to confirm, too. A lot of senators would vote for him just to get him out of the Senate. Mitch McConnell might lead the fight.

Thats true.

If he picked an Evangelical as his running mate  that would help, too, he added.

To be honest, though, Donald Trump could walk the aisle at a Billy Graham Crusade, while waving a King James Bible and singing Amazing Grace and it still wouldnt be enough to convince the holier-than-thou club.

And for all you folks quoting Spurgeon  I would offer this rebuttal: not to vote is to vote.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrongly sold hundreds of federally protected wild horses to a Colorado rancher who in turn sold most the animals to be slaughtered for horse meat, according to a new watchdog report.

The U.S. Interior Department's Office of the Inspector General, which released the report Friday, concluded that the BLM did not follow the law in selling 1,794 horses to rancher Tom Davis, who reportedly has claimed to have connections to former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The deals were conducted through the agencys Wild Horse and Burro Program  the program established to protect, manage and control the wild horse population.

The BLM sold horses to Davis between 2008 and 2012 for roughly $10 a horse, transactions that led the agency to lose money since they spent tens of thousands of dollars on transport. With the purchase of the animals, Davis became the largest buyer of wild horses in the United States.

Davis told investigators he then was able to sell a "load" of 35 horses for as much as $4,000, making $2,500-$3,000 profit on each sale. Despite signing a contract with the BLM agreeing not to send the horses to slaughter, he admitted to the inspector general that he sold probably close to all of them to Mexico to be slaughtered.

During our investigation, Davis admitted that most of the horses that he purchased through WH&B ultimately went to slaughter. We determined that BLM did not follow current law while managing WH&B, the report said, noting that the BLM did not follow its own policy of limiting horse sales and ensuring horses sold were not slaughtered.

The slaughter of horses for meat violated a congressional ban on the practice as well as BLM policy.

The IG office also noted that Davis had allegedly told a reporter that his family farmed land belonging to the family of former Interior Secretary Salazar and that he did quite a bit of trucking for Ken. A 2012 NBC News article reported the BLM began sending Davis horses just two weeks after Salazar was selected as secretary. However, Salazar denied any relationship, and the office determined that this matter did not warrant further investigation.

The inspector general referred the matter on the transactions with Davis to both the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado as well as the State of Colorado Conejos County District Attorneys Office. Both offices chose not to proceed with either civil or criminal charges.

The report also found that the WH&B marketing specialist who approved the sales to Davis received exceptional or superior reviews, complete with bonuses between 2008 and 2012.

'The report paints a picture of government incompetence and a deliberate attempt to skirt the law.'  Suzanne Roy, director of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

Advocates for the animals reacted furiously to the report.

The report paints a picture of government incompetence and a deliberate attempt to skirt the law, Suzanne Roy, director of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, told FoxNews.com. "There's no justice for these horses who went to horrible brutal deaths at Mexican slaughter plants."

Roy also expressed disappointment that the agency didn't investigate the Salazar connection more thoroughly.

"This seems to have become status quo for BLM. They fervently declare and defend that they have a policy or protocol. When you bring things to the public that prove they do not follow said policy protocol they simply say 'oops, it did occur but we have done nothing wrong,'" Laura Leigh, of the Wild Horse Education blog, told FoxNews.com in an email.

Then the agency gets offended that the public has no trust in any action they take. Until there is actual consequence, there will be no trust," Leigh said.

The BLM told FoxNews.com in a statement that the bureau takes the findings "very seriously" and has taken steps to make sure such a situation doesn't occur again.

In response to these events, the Bureau of Land Management immediately implemented a policy to ensure that horses were sold only to good homes, including limits of four horses over a six-month period to a single buyer. This policy has helped the Bureau of Land Management avoid situations similar to those involving Mr. Davis by ensuring that purchasers provide appropriate care and facilities for the animals. the statement read.
His squadron got the alert: a real world mission was going down.

The team  at Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy  raced to the field and was briefed, as planes were armed and prepared to launch. Hundreds of miles away, fellow Americans were under attack in Benghazi.

"There were people everywhere, said the witness, who was on the ground that night but wished to remain anonymous. That flight line was full of people, and we were all ready to go to Benghazi.

Only they were waiting for the order. It never came.

The whole night we were told that we are waiting on a call, he told Fox News.

This account is from a squadron member at Aviano the night of the Sept. 11, 2012, terror attack in Benghazi. The source, the first in his squadron to speak out publicly since that attack, is going public to explain  in his view  that more could have been done to save Americans under attack that night.

He asked that his identity be protected for fear of retribution. He says others in his squadron also have wanted to talk about Benghazi from the beginning, but no others have been interviewed and all are afraid of the potential backlash from speaking out.

I'm not trying to give away any type of [information] that could ever harm the military, the source told Fox News. That is never my plan. I feel that some things need to come to light.

Namely, he said, that a team was ready to go that night to help protect Americans under fire in Benghazi  an account that runs counter to multiple official reports, including from a House committee, a timeline provided by the military and the controversial State Department Accountability Review Board investigation, which concluded the interagency response to Benghazi was timely and appropriate.

The source said: "I definitely believe that our aircraft could have taken off and gotten there in a timely manner, maybe three hours at the most, in order to at least stop that second mortar attack  and basically save lives that day."

Former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in that second wave. Ambassador Chris Stevens and information officer Sean Smith were killed in the initial attack on the main compound.

We could have been there. That's the worst part, the source said.

The source who spoke with Fox News challenged the military claim that a re-fueling tanker wasnt available. He said American jets routinely refuel by using whats called a hot pit maneuver, which allows the jets to land and then get fuel without shutting off the engines.

Multiple sources say there were multiple locations available the night of the attack.

He said they were waiting on the call, though, through the night. The men say they didnt truly learn about the mission they had missed until they returned home the next day from the airfield and saw the reports about the Benghazi attack on the news.

Many still dont talk about the subject and some insist it has hurt morale within the squadron because people know we were stationed there and didnt respond.

The same frustrations have compelled Mike, a former team sergeant for a military anti-terror quick reaction force, once known as the CIF, to talk.

For some reason they were all shut down, and I think it leads back to a policymaker somewhere because nobody in the military is going to shut down an operation, he said. On the night of the attack, Mike was at Delta Force headquarters in the U.S. monitoring the events as they happened.

We had hours and hours and hours to do something ... and we did nothing," he said.

Despite the claim by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the State Department that nothing more could have been done, a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit recently revealed that Department of Defense Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash immediately offered assistance to the State Department on the night of Sept. 11, saying forces could move to Benghazi and they are spinning up as we speak.

Mike echoed that: I know everything was spun up and nothing was done.

He added: "At our level, we were doing everything we were supposed to be doing. At everybody else's level above us, it was political."

In June 2014, Delta Forces captured Abu Khattala, a man now charged in the attack.

Mike, though, said Khattala is a low-level operative and not one of the terror cell leaders. He said the U.S. could have collected intelligence leading to bigger fish had the U.S. acted sooner following the attack.

Meanwhile, while Democrats have called the House investigation into the Benghazi attacks a waste of time and money, committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., says his committee has uncovered new facts  but does admit they still are having issues finding witnesses.

Its been very frustrating, Gowdy told Fox News.

In response to Fox News reporting, he also issued a statement saying it is deeply troubling there are individuals who would like to share their stories, but have not because they are afraid of retaliation from their superiors.

The two men who spoke with Fox News have not spoken with the committee.
House Republicans have invited a top White House adviser to testify on Capitol Hill after comments he made in a magazine interview about the Obama administration's efforts to promote the Iran nuclear deal sparked a firestorm in Washington.

Republican leaders of the House Oversight Committee want Ben Rhodes, one of President Obama's closest aides, to testify during a hearing next Tuesday named White House narratives on the Iran nuclear deal, committee spokeswoman M.J. Henshaw confirmed to Fox News Wednesday.

Henshaw added that Rhodes, who serves as deputy national security adviser, has not yet gotten back to the committee, and that no one else has been asked yet to appear.

Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has threatened to use a subpoena, one aide told The Hill newspaper, which first reported the hearing.

The hearing comes nearly a week after Rhodes' comments to The New York Times Magazine ripped the Washington press corps, boasted of creating an "echo chamber" of supporters to sell the Iran nuclear deal and appeared to dismiss long-time foreign policy hands, including Hillary Clinton, as the Blob.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz on Wednesday accused Republicans of "seeking to relitigate that old political fight."

"With all the serious issues stuck in Congress right now - like preparing for Zika's arrival, helping Puerto Rico through their financial crisis, providing assistance to the people of Flint, or combatting the opioid epidemic - it is a shame that Chairman Chaffetz is choosing to take a page out of Darrell Issa's playbook to distract from all the work they should be doing," he said.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., top Democrat on the committee, also dismissed the move.

It seems fairly clear what this really isa partisan rush to attack Ben Rhodes just to chase cheap headlines rather than a substantive review of foreign policy objectives, he said in a statement. There is absolutely no reason in this case for Republicans to break from normal notice rules and then threaten the White House with subpoenas. Reducing our work to reactionary grandstanding like this makes our Committee look terrible.
When Republicans held their 2008 national convention in Minneapolis, demonstrators ran through the streets smashing windows and dumping trash cans.

Similarly rowdy protests already are following presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump wherever he goes  but will Cleveland, the site of this years convention and a city already reeling from racially charged police-shooting cases, be ready?

Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association, says theyre not yet.

I dont think that were anywhere we need to be for it, Loomis said.

He warned that 2,000 riot suits were ordered late. And cops were not measured until after the order was placed. Meanwhile, bikes for mounted patrols have not arrived -- and Loomis says there is not adequate time to train with the gear.

You have to be proficient in being able to use this stuff and right now, we're not, he said. We don't even have gas masks at this point."

But City Councilman Matt Zone, chairman of the citys public safety committee, pushed back  saying Loomis is just complaining because the job of police union boss is to demand more resources, pay and training.

"We've been practicing and exercising since the fall of last year, Zone said.

He said they have had extensive preparation and coordination with the many law enforcement agencies that will converge in Cleveland in July. Much of that preparation has not yet filtered down to the rank-and-file officers.

I believe at the end of the day, people are going to look back at this convention and say, job well done, Cleveland," he said.

Meanwhile, the local business community is watching and waiting.

Mike Rubin, who owns Prospect Music in downtown Cleveland, said hed have more confidence with police preparations if there were better communication.

They have not told us enough. I dont know enough to be confident, he said.

Dan Bir, the owner of Otto Mosers restaurant in downtown, said city police protected businesses through demonstrations following the Michael Brelo and Tamir Rice police-shooting cases and their aftermath.

Theyll do all right. Well be fine, he said.

Rodney Monroe, former chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who handled security for the Democratic convention in 2012, said the timing of the arrival of the gear is not terribly important. The training is.

Its important to have begun the training and started the training and hopefully, the equipment once it arrives, it can be deployed accordingly, Monroe said.

There already are strong indications police will have their hands full during the convention.

An organization calling itself Dump Trump has already applied for permits to march in Cleveland during the convention. A spokesman promises: if the permit is denied, theyll march anyway.
A federal judge ruled Thursday for House Republicans in a challenge brought against the Obama administration over the legality of payments to insurers under ObamaCare.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer ruled the spending unconstitutional -- while putting the decision on hold pending appeal.

The ruling Thursday marks a win for House Republicans who brought the politically charged legal challenge, and a legal setback for the administration.

Todays ruling by the DC federal court is an important step toward restoring the separation of powers and stopping President Obamas power grab. The Constitution is very clear: it is Congress job to write our laws and it is the Presidents duty to enforce them, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said in a statement.

At issue was a $175 million program authorizing payments to insurers that Republicans claimed were not appropriated by Congress. On the question of whether the money could be distributed anyway under another program, Collyer wrote in her opinion: It cannot.

None of the Secretaries extra-textual arguments  whether based on economics, 'unintended' results, or legislative history  is persuasive, she wrote. The Court will enter judgment in favor of the House of Representatives and enjoin the use of unappropriated monies to fund reimbursements due to insurers under that section.

Collyer said the law is "clear," and money was not allocated for that program.

She then said she would stay the injunction, giving the administration a chance to appeal. Collyer, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is a George W. Bush appointee nominated in 2002.

The controversial payments to insurers were meant to reimburse them over a decade to reduce co-payments for lower-income people.

The House argued that Congress never specifically appropriated that money and denied an administration request for it, but that the administration is spending the money anyway.

The White House previously described the case as a "partisan attack" and predicted it would be dismissed.

Asked Thursday about the latest decision, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said this isnt Republicans first legal fight over ObamaCare but warned theyll lose it again.

He reiterated that the administration is confident in its legal arguments here.

The administration is expected to appeal Thursday's ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs could soon be required to undergo consistent regulatory health inspections of its hospital kitchens and report the findings to Congress, according to a Senate bill introduced today.

The RAID Act  Requiring Accountability and Inspections for Dining Service  would subject the VA to the same health standards as private hospital kitchens, which includes shutting down the facility until problems are corrected. The bill was introduced by Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., after a Conservative Review investigation revealed allegations of a cockroach infestation so massive that bugs were reportedly being served in food at a Chicago area VA hospital.

The senate is living up to its responsibility by telling the VA that veterans facilities are not cockroach colonies, Kirk said. We wouldnt have a country without our veterans and their hospitals should be the gold standard. Instead, we have everyone pointing fingers in different directions as to who is responsible.

Kirks office has been trying for weeks to determine which health agencies  if any  regularly inspect VA hospital kitchens and what punishments are imposed. He said he was unable to determine any.

VA spokesperson James Hutton provided a list of agencies that included three names of internal VA entities, one safety inspection company, one agency that looks only at long-term care facilities, and the Joint Commission  a non-profit that provides accreditations.

The VA did not provide logs, reports, or any data outlining inspection schedules and any remediation efforts. Past Joint Commission logs show inspections pertaining to medical issues. Kirk doesnt believe that they have focused on food safety up to this point.

Union officers at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill., say they have never seen any inspectors at the facility and point to the kitchen roach problem that has steadily worsened during the past two years. At 3 a.m. Wednesday investigators from the VAs Office of Inspector General descended on Hines two kitchens in a surprise inspection, an internal email showed.

Click here for more from Conservative Review
Donald Trump and Paul Ryan might not have built the bridge but they at least may have established the framework toward presenting a unified front against Democrats in November, after their sit-down Thursday morning on Capitol Hill.

Following a bruising primary season where Trump and House Speaker Ryan were publicly cool toward one another, the two met at Republican Party headquarters in downtown Washington, and later described it as a great conversation.

Much was at stake for the presumptive nominee, for Ryan and for the party itself. The meeting was called after Ryan last week declined to endorse Trump  at a press conference following the meeting, Ryan still would not publicly do so.

Reprising comments from a day earlier, Ryan said: This is a process. It takes a little time. You dont put it together in 45 minutes.  I dont want us to have a fake unification process here.

At the same time, Ryan said he was very encouraged and they are planting the seeds to get unified.

Trump on Thursday had lined up three meetings with members of the Republican establishment hes spent much of his campaign railing against. He met first with Ryan and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, who also tweeted that the meeting was a very positive step toward party unity. He then sat down with House GOP leaders, followed by a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other top Senate Republicans.

While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground, Trump and Ryan said in a joint statement. We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident theres a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal.  This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification.

Trump tweeted afterward:

Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/hfHY9MdAc7  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2016

A source inside the first meeting also described it as very positive and a good step toward achieving party unity. According to the source, Trump and Ryan discussed a range of policy issues. The source would not characterize, though, whether Ryan was there yet on Trump himself.

But the source provided an unvarnished assessment to Fox News: No B.S. Very helpful.

On the sidelines, lawmakers had conflicting views over how to handle Trump as their party nominee.

Pro-Trump Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., told Fox News hes baffled by colleagues who wont get behind Trump.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., though, said hes among those who would love to see [Trump] tone it down.

On Wednesday, explaining his hesitation about outright endorsing Trump, Ryan said he wanted to pursue "real unification" among Republicans after a hotly contested primary campaign.

"We cannot afford to lose this election to Hillary Clinton, Ryan said at a news conference Wednesday.

In a closed-door GOP meeting Wednesday, a number of Republicans stood up and argued in support of Trump, with one saying that anyone who cares about "unborn babies" should get behind him because of the likelihood the next president will make Supreme Court appointments, and Trump's would be better than Clinton's, lawmakers who were present told the Associated Press.

Others expressed reservations, and asked Ryan to raise concerns with Trump about where he really stands on social issues and budgetary policies, including changes to Social Security and Medicare. Trump has said in the past that he doesn't want to touch Social Security or Medicare, whereas Medicare cuts have been a centerpiece of GOP budgets Ryan has shepherded over the years.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump sought to downplay the stakes of his visit with Ryan, telling "Fox and Friends", "If we make a deal, that will be great. And if we don't, we will trudge forward like I've been doing and winning all the time."

Trump's allies and advisers have repeatedly insisted that he can claim the White House with or without leading congressional Republicans. Additionally, Trump's team doesn't believe Ryan or the GOP's other congressional leaders have any significant influence on the majority of general election voters.

Some congressional Republicans have made clear that they would like to see Ryan come around to supporting Trump sooner rather than later.

"Donald Trump is unifying the party already," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Trump's chief Washington ally. "The party is the people who vote."

Another Trump supporter, Rep. John Fleming, R-La., predicted it was "very unlikely" that Ryan would not ultimately back the Republican nominee.

Wednesday night, Trump's campaign released an endorsement signed by the chairs of seven House committees. "It is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee, Mr. Donald J. Trump," the GOP lawmakers wrote.

While Trump's team is prepared to shrug off much of the party's establishment, that does not include the RNC.

The political novice plans to rely heavily on the committee's expansive political operation to supplement his bare-bones campaign, which has so far ignored seemingly vital functions such as voter data collection, swing-state staffing and fundraising infrastructure.

"As we turn our focus toward the general election, we want to make sure there's the strongest partnership," said Sean Spicer, the RNC's chief strategist.

Absent a viable Republican alternative, there were new signs on Capitol Hill that Trump's conservative critics were beginning to fall in line.

"As a conservative, I cannot trust Donald Trump to do the right thing, but I can deeply trust Hillary Clinton to do the wrong thing every time," said Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., adding that he would vote for Trump if that's the choice he has.

Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho., said he will support Trump, although "I'm not enthusiastic about it."

"He can get us enthusiastic if he comes to talk to us," continued Labrador.

Meanwhile, more Republican voters appear to be moving behind Trump, despite big-name holdouts such as Ryan, both former president Bushes and the party's 2012 nominee Mitt Romney.

Almost two in three Republican-leaning voters now view Trump favorably, compared to 31 percent who view him unfavorably, according to a national Gallup Poll taken last week. The numbers represent a near reversal from Gallup's survey in early March.

Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he had a cordial, pleasant phone call about national security issues with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump Wednesday  an apparent contrast with previous well-publicized spats between the former 2016 rivals.

I had a cordial, pleasant phone conversation with Mr. Trump. I congratulated him on winning the Republican nomination for President, Graham said in the statement released Thursday. I know Mr. Trump is reaching out to many people, throughout the party and the country, to solicit their advice and opinions. I believe this is a wise move on his part.

Graham said the pair had a fifteen-minute discussion centered on the national security threats facing the United States. Graham said he offered his view on the fight against ISIS and the Iranian nuclear deal.

Graham did not endorse Trump but said I will do what I can in the Senate to help the next president. The next president will inherit a mess.

Trump has been reaching out to top members of the so-called Republican establishment, meeting Thursday with House Speaker Paul Ryan and a number of other GOP leaders as part of an effort to unite the party after a divisive and nasty primary process.

Graham, who ran for the Republican nomination but dropped out in December, has been an especially strong critic of Trump.

The South Carolina senator once said choosing between Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was like choosing to be poisoned or shot. In January he told Fox News that Trump is the most-unprepared person Ive ever met to be commander-in-chief.

As recently as last week, Graham said he could not support Trump. Trump shot back Friday, saying Graham had zero credibility.

As a candidate who did not receive 1 percent in his own state -- compared to my victory at nearly 40 percent with many others in the race -- he has zero credibility, Trump said in a statement. He was a poor representative and an embarrassment to the great people of South Carolina.

Fox News Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
A Washington Post pundit who vowed in October to eat his column if Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination for president proved Thursday his word is good, even if it tastes bad.

Dana Milbank feasted on all 18 inches of his October column predicting Trumps downfall in a lunchtime event livestreamed and posted on the newspapers Facebook page.

Ive got a little newspaper in my molar, Milbank quipped, following the humbling helping of newsprint crow plated by Del Campo Chef Victor Albisu.

Milbank, who was joined by famed Post food critic Tom Sietsema, had reached out to his readers in search of recipes as it became clear Trump had the GOP nod sewn up.

Through the magic of crowdsourcing, I have discovered that eating newspaper can be downright mouth-watering, Milbank wrote in a column ahead of Thursdays event. This is going to be huge! We are going to build a big, beautiful meal  and Mexico is going to pay for it.

Though it lacks nutritional value, taste and mouth feel, newsprint isnt particularly harmful to eat, according to an investigation by Statnews.com.

Still, Milbank said he wasnt taking any chances and pre-gamed with a Pepcid AC and had a bottle of Pepto-Bismol on hand which was placed on the table next to two bottles of Trump wine.
West Virginia AFL-CIO officials, furious about a new law stopping unions from collecting mandatory fees, announced last week their plan to fight back with a lawsuit.

Earlier this year West Virginia became the 26th state to enact right-to-work, which permits West Virginians in unionized workplaces to opt out of union membership without being required to pay union fair share fees.

The West Virginia AFL-CIO intends to argue in court that ending fair share fees violates the state constitution by forcing unions to represent workers who do not pay  a situation resulting from union-negotiated contracts giving unions exclusive representation rights.

Unions have used the same argument against right-to-work laws in Indiana and Wisconsin. The Indiana Supreme Court overruled a lower court decision against right-to-work in 2014.

The Unions federal obligation to represent all employees in a bargaining unit is optional; it occurs only when the union elects to be the exclusive bargaining agent, for which it is justly compensated by the right to bargain exclusively with the employer, Indiana Supreme Court justices wrote in their decision.

A recent lower court victory for Wisconsin unions is expected to be overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Even if West Virginias unions win a ruling against right-to-work from a sympathetic judge, the same is likely to happen in West Virginia.

Click for more from Watchdog.org
More than 3,000 years ago, an ancient Egyptian woman tattooed her body with dozens of symbols  including lotus blossoms, cows and divine eyes  that may have been linked to her religious status or her ritual practice.

Preserved in amazing detail on her mummified torso, the surviving images represent the only known examples of tattoos found on Egyptian mummies showing recognizable pictures, rather than abstract designs.

The mummy was found at a site on the west bank of the Nile River known as Deir el-Medina, a village dating to between 1550 B.C. and 1080 B.C. that housed artisans and workers who built the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Stanford University bioarchaeologist Anne Austin was examining human remains at Deir el-Medina for the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology when she first glimpsed unusual markings on a mummy's neck.

Austin initially thought the markings on the neck had been painted there, she told Live Science in an email. According to Austin, it was a common practice in Egypt at that time to place amulets around the neck before a burial. She suggested that amulets could have been drawn on the skin for the burial as well, which could have been the case for this torso.

But further investigation of the mummy revealed that these ancient illustrations  and others on the body  were unusual, hinting that they might be a more permanent skin adornment than a painted design, she said.

"As we started to analyze the markings on the arms, we realized that these markings were shrunken and distorted," Austin said. "Therefore, they must have been made prior to mummification."

Together with archaeologist Cedric Gobeil, director of the French Archaeological Mission of Deir el-Medina, Austin cataloged dozens of tattoos, many of which have yet to be identified. But a number of them were recognizable and had religious significance.

"Several are associated with the goddess Hathor, such as cows with special necklaces," Austin told Live Science. "Others  such as snakes placed on the upper arms  are also associated with female deities in ancient Egypt."

The mummy's neck, back and shoulders were decorated with images of Wadjet eyes  divine eyes associated with protection.

The Wadjet eyes on the neck may have carried yet another layer of meaning: Additional images known as nefer symbols, "the sign of beauty or goodness," appeared between them, Austin said.

"At the nearby site of Deir el-Bahri, the combination of the Wadjet and nefer have been interpreted as a formula for the phrase 'to do good,'" Austin said.

Austin explained that the symbols' position on the woman's throat  directly over her voice box  may have signaled that whenever the woman spoke or sang, she invoked a ritual power to do good.

These figural tattooed images  the first of their kind found on an Egyptian mummy  provide important clues about the significance and symbolic nature of tattooing within ancient Egyptian culture, Austin said.

"Interestingly, all of the tattoos found so far have been exclusively on women, though we are curious to see if that trend continues as more tattoos are identified," she added.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A small water jet on Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, spews its fiercest eruptions when the moon is farthest from the planet, a new study suggests, but the overall gas output doesn't increase much during that time. The study points to a mystery in Enceladus' plumbing.

The surprise observation came after looking at the moon using the Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft in March. Enceladus is considered a prime potential location for life because under its icy surface is a global, salty water-ocean that could have the right ingredients for microbes.

Cassini has seen Enceladus erupt many times since arriving in 2004. More than 90 percent of the material in the observed plumes contains water vapor, which researchers said they believe is vented from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. [See Cassini's Amazing Photos of Enceladus]

Previous Cassini observations showed there is three times as much dust sprayed into space when Enceladus is furthest away from Saturn than when it's close by. The new work focused on how much gas erupted along with that dust, propelling it outward. Cassini observed the plume from Enceladus as it blasted in front of Epsilon Orionis, the central star in Orion's belt, and measured the light that passed through that plume using the ultraviolet imaging spectrometer, UVIS. The researchers expected quite a lot more gas expelled at the far part of Enceladus's orbit, to help explain the outpouring of dust, but they found the gas output had bumped up by just 20 percent, far less than expected.

"We went after the most obvious explanation first, but the data told us we needed to look deeper," Cassini UVIS scientist Candy Hansen said in a statement. Hansen, who is based at the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona, led the study's observational planning.

Hansen's team zeroed in on an individual jet nicknamed "Baghdad I." The researchers discovered that this particular jet was four times more active when Enceladus is furthest from Saturn, compared with other times in the moon's orbit.

When Enceladus is furthest from Saturn, Baghdad I's water output alone makes up 8 percent of the observed water plume, which consists of several jets located along "tiger stripes" or cracks in the ice of the moon. At other points in the orbit, Baghdad I's water represents only 2 percent.

"We had thought the amount of water vapor in the overall plume, across the whole south polar area, was being strongly affected by tidal forces from Saturn. Instead, we find that the small-scale jets are what's changing," said Larry Esposito, UVIS team lead at the University of Colorado, in the same statement.

Esposito added, however, that exactly what is happening beneath the surface still puzzles the team. He said he hopes a future set of scientists can model Enceladus' plumbing to come up with some explanations.

Original article on Space.com.
A computerized tomography scan of a small decorated Egyptian coffin has revealed the remains of a fetus that was just 16 to 18 weeks along, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England, has announced. The museum said that this makes it the youngest buried and embalmed Egyptian fetus that has been academically verified.

The fetus was probably miscarried, the museum said, and its unclear whether it was male or female.

Related: Egyptian mummy's symbolic tattoos are 1st of their kind

The cedar coffin, which is just about a foot and a half long, was first found in 1907 in Giza, Egypt, and is thought to date to between 664 and 525 B.C. But the museum only discovered what was in the coffin when working on an exhibition called Death on the Nile: Uncovering the afterlife of ancient Egypt, which runs until May 22.

Since the contents of the coffin were wrapped in bandages and resin, and an x-ray was inconclusive, the museum decided to have the piece CT scanned at Cambridge University.

Related: Nefertiti still missing: King Tut's tomb shows no hidden chambers

The museum reports that the leg and arm bones, and digits on the hands and feet, were noticeable in the scan. The fetal arms were crossed over the chest.

Using noninvasive modern technology to investigate this extraordinary archaeological find has provided us with striking evidence of how an unborn child might be viewed in ancient Egyptian society, Julie Dawson, the head of conservation at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said in a statement. The care taken in the preparation of this burial clearly demonstrates the value placed on life even in the first weeks of its inception.
A U.S. court of appeals in Chicago has upheld the conviction and sentencing of a man in a case that involves a traffic stop, counterfeit credit cards, iPads, a dispute about translations, and an app on a police officers smartphone.

The story begins on June 26, 2013, when an Illinois state trooper pulled over a white Hyundai rental car driven by a Florida man named Pavel Leiva, who spoke Spanish but no English. Leiva was accompanied by two women, Amberly Martin and Paola Gallego.

After the state trooper, Dustin Weiss, decided to let Leiva off with just a warning, he turned to an app called iTranslate on his iPhone, as he didnt speak Spanish. He entered the words you are free to go in English into the app, and then read the Spanish translation, according to a court document from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Related: French teen live-streams her suicide on Periscope

But then Weiss decided to keep Leiva for a moment longer.

He asked him: Puedo buscar su coche? Thats what Weiss thought was the proper way to ask Leiva if he could search his car. Leiva said yes, in Spanish. The problem is, the Spanish sentence Weiss uttered literally means: Can I look for your car?

Weiss did not use the iPhone app to arrive at the Spanish sentence in which he asked Leiva if he could search his car, according to the court document. However, a footnote in the court document points out that if he had used the app, it would have provided the same sentence Weiss used.

Related: WhatsApp 'disappointed' by order in Brazil to block app second time

After Weiss and other officers searched the car, they discovered purses, Walmart gift cards, iPad Minis and 65 fraudulent credit cards, according to the court document. They even found a list of the names of the real credit card owners.

Eventually, at his 2015 trial, Leiva was sentenced to prison time.

Leiva appealed the decision partly on the grounds that he didnt actually consent to his car being searched, as well as a dispute about the translation during the trial. However, in an April 29 decision, the court of appeals rejected Leivas arguments, and stood by the lower courts decision.
The suicide of a teenager in France that was allegedly live-streamed via the popular app Periscope this week has shone a spotlight on the harsh realities of real-time video technologies.

French authorities have opened an investigation into the suicide. The local prosecutor said Wednesday the young woman threw herself under a commuter train in the suburban Egly station, south of Paris, after claiming she had been raped by her former boyfriend. The prosecutor's statement said the woman was born in 1997, so she was 18 or 19.

On Tuesday, the woman spent more than two hours overall on Periscope, a smartphone live video-streaming app particularly popular among young people, divided in five live sessions. The last one lasted 29 minutes and seemed to have been recorded moments before she killed herself, prosecutor Eric Lallement said.

The video has been removed from Periscope.

Related: Social media giants clamp down on sickening Virginia shooting footage



As great as social media is today, this is the downside, social media expert and President of JRM Comms Jason Mollica, told Fox News.com. There are always going to be people out there that use social media for what we dont perceive as normal.

Live-streaming technologies enable people to simply live and communicate simultaneously; it brings privacy into the physical world, added Thomas Husson, a Paris-based analyst at tech research firm Forrester Research, in an email to FoxNews.com. With mobile, anyone can broadcast oneself with no limit.

The teenager, whose name was not released, sent a text message to a friend of her former boyfriend a few hours before she killed herself Tuesday, Lallement said.

"In the text message, she mentions violence and a rape that her companion inflicted on her and claims she is ending her days because of the harm that the young man had done to her," he added.

Related: Ohio woman accused of live-streaming rape of 17-year-old friend

The teen's video messages and cellphone have been seized by the police. An autopsy and toxicology and drug tests will be conducted over the next few days.

In her own messages, the woman spoke a lot about her life and her difficult relationship with her former boyfriend, Lallement said.

While the video has been removed from Periscope, YouTube users posted what they said were excerpts. The suicide scene itself is not visible on YouTube.

Mollica told FoxNews.com that preventing someone from live-streaming their suicide is essentially impossible. Theres no way to control it  theres no technology that says youre about to commit suicide, your phone is locked, he told FoxNews.com. Were going to see more things like this as social media grows.

Related: ISIS taps tech for Web radio

Periscope, owned by Twitter, has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story from FoxNews.com.

The French case is only the latest one linked to Periscope. Last month an 18-year-old Ohio woman was accused of live-streaming the alleged rape of her 17-year-old friend, authorities said.

Social media giants certainly face a tough task clamping down on horrific footage. Last year Facebook and Twitter, along with video sharing site YouTube, rushed to remove shocking video footage that showed the shooting of two television news journalists in Virginia.

Islamic State militants have also harnessed social media to chilling effect, as evidenced by the gruesome killings posted on YouTube by the jihadist group.

Controlling how people use these tools seems very difficult as we have seen with ISIS or this tragic event in Paris, Husson told FoxNews.com. Moving forward, progress in image-recognition technologies will help identifying these scenes but preventing them from happening is obviously another story.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Dirty beaches have become nationwide scourges. From storms to sewage overflows and overall water pollution, some beaches have a hard time maintaining their cleanliness and reputation.

Americans are fortunate to have a country full of swimmable beaches. The best ones call for water sports, sun bathing, and bonding with family and friends. The last thing anyone wants to worry about is exposure to contaminated water.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) pressures the federal government to protect all U.S. waters under the Clean Water Act. The organization also fights for policies and practices that ensure a safe and sufficient water supply through efficiency, pollution controls, better management, and infrastructure improvements (NRDC).

However, safe and sufficient water is not accessible everywhere. Water pollution has become a health hazard in the U.S. and waterborne bacterial illnesses have become a constant danger.

There are many factors that contribute to water pollution. Animals, humans, illegal dumping off the coast, people leaving their garbage on the beach, and cigarettes littering the sand are just a few.

CBS News explains, as many as 3.5 million Americans are sickened from contact with raw sewage overflows each year, according to the EPA. That being said, the risk is higher for young children because they tend to spend more time in the ocean dunking their heads underwater.

The dirtiest beaches in the country have water samples that have exceeded the national standards. Some of them are actually repeat offenders.

No one wants to leave the beach feeling sick, so think twice before visiting these dirty beaches.

1) Avalon Beach, California

According to the Los Angeles Times, for most of the last decade, Avalon Harbor Beach has ranked among the most polluted in the state, tainted with human sewage that puts swimmers at risk, and a report last month by the [NRDC] listed Avalon as one of the 10 most chronically polluted beaches in the nation for failing state health tests as much as 73% of the time. Researchers explain the pollution is due to the citys sewer system, which is made of metal pipes and extremely old clay.

2) North Point Marina North Beach, Illinois

Although it is said to be making improvements, North Point Marina is still the largest marina on the Great Lakes and a marina this size ultimately results in a large amount of pollution.

3) Ropes Park, Texas

The caller Times explains, Texas was ranked 18th in beach water quality nationally with 6 percent of its water samples exceeding state daily bacteria standards, according to a report by the [NRDC]. Ropes Park is among the six beaches in the area with the worst water quality. Others include Cole Park and Emerald Beach.

4) Malibu Pier, California

Malibu Pier is a Grade C beach in Los Angeles County. It has been reported that the beach quality has been inconsistent, the water has encountered persistent contamination problems, and pollution has become a great concern.

5) Beachwood Beach West, New Jersey

New Jersey has become a repeat offender when it comes to their water quality. In 2005 only 1 percent of their water exceeded national standards. Since then, the number has risen. Beachwood Beach West is a small beach that sits on the Jersey shore, and reports have shown it is one of the dirtiest in the country.

6) Villa Angela State Park, Ohio

Villa Angela State Park is a publicly owned, publicly accessed beach. This could be one of the major reasons why for the past six years it has been reported under advisory due to its high bacteria levels (ohio.gov). Since 2011, it has been monitored in regular intervals, 7 times per week by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

7) Ontario Beach, New York

Ontario Beach is located in Rochester, New York. According to City Newspaper, 40 percent of 248 samples from the Ontario Beach didnt meet the federal beach water safety guidelines in 2014. Reports have said that one of the biggest contributors to water pollution have been storm water runoff.

Check out the rest of The Dirtiest Beaches in the U.S.


In The Business of Good, serial and social entrepreneur Jason Haber intertwines case studies and anecdotes that show how social entrepreneurship is creating jobs, growing the economy, and ultimately changing the world. In this edited excerpt, Haber explains three ways charities are failing donors -- three things your social business can do differently to really make an impact.

There are three basic characteristics of the Charity Industrial Complex. First, it holds that charities should be meek in overhead but mighty in intentions. Second, it presupposes that guilt is the most effective tool to build donor support. Third, charities reward the act of giving without tying directly to impact.

Its a common refrain: How much of my money will go into the field and how much to overhead? Overhead is the bane of charities existence. They must keep it as low as possible or face public shaming. Charities have been hampered by their own approach and by societal expectations.

The things weve been taught to think about giving and about charity and the nonprofit sector are actually undermining the causes we love and our profound yearning to change the world, Dan Pallotta said in his powerful 2013 TED Talk. He was referencing our aversion to overhead.

Charities are praised for frugality. Theyre admired for low overhead and limited marketing. At the same time, theyre criticized if they spend too many resources on staff or on any item that doesnt deliver resources to the field. With little money for marketing, and no focus on branding, its little wonder New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof once commented, Any brand of toothpaste is peddled with far more sophistication than the life-saving work of aid groups.

So charities cant spend money on building their brand, marketing, advertising, or raising public awareness about their cause. If they did, theyd become pariahs. Despite the fact that these tools are considered essential parts of the business toolbox, theyre off limits to charities. Why? Isnt it valuable to create brands that can be leveraged for causes important to society? Shouldnt the organizations that are trying to save the world market themselves with the same tenacity as Crest? Of course we should.

Being meek in overhead creates another unintended problem. Charities arent able to focus on what many see as their biggest shortcoming: transparency. Scott Harrison was well aware of this obstacle when he founded charity: water. By setting up two separate bank accounts -- one for field work and one for operations costs -- and being transparent, Harrison solved this problem. People always told him that charities were black holes. The transparency stops the minute the donor gives, Harrison says. I assume charities are always trying to have an impact, but they did a bad job connecting donors to that impact. With its separate but equal (in importance if not size) bank accounts, charity: water could spend money, energy, and time building a platform to connect donors to their impact. As Harrison says, How simple. How clear. How definitive.

The second tenet of the Charity Industrial Complex is the method by which charities encourage donations. They use guilt. Youve probably gotten pieces of mail with sad images of people in despair. You may have seen infomercials with slow, dark-sounding music, filled with images of melancholy kids. The charities message to the donor is twofold. First, they hope to make you feel so bad about the situation that youll donate. Second, they want to play off the puritan belief that charity is a form of penance. So if the suffering is foreign to you and youre living a comfortable life, you should give something back.

Harrison didnt believe in donations by guilt. He tried it another way. He made it cool. It should be cool to give. It should be cool to be generous. It should be cool to say yes to helping out, he said. Instead of making people feel guilty, Harrison wanted them to feel excited and hopeful. That meant an entirely new way to brand. Look at the images that charity: water displays on its site or in its marketing materials. They are powerful. They are poignant. They are positive. Its subjects are smiling; they look hopeful for a better future. A future thats delivered to them by the help of donors.

I think so many charities have operated in shame and guilt: Let me make you feel as bad as possible about yourself so youll reach into your wallet and give. For us, its much more invitational. Its a great opportunity not based in guilt or shame, Harrison says. No one is going to wear a T-shirt about an organization that makes you feel lousy about yourself. But we do wear T-shirts from Nike because Nike makes us feel great about ourselves. Nike believes that within us is greatness.

That feeling of hopeful inspiration doesnt extend only to the donor base of charity: water. It extends to the office environs and staff. In 2015, charity: water moved into a new office in Lower Manhattan. It may be the coolest office Ive ever seen (and I work in real estate, so Ive seen a lot). The office feels more like a tech startup than a nonprofit. There are creative spaces for meetings, whiteboard walls, Millennials buzzing everywhere, oversized displays with inspirational messages (including one huge yellow wall that reads #nothingiscrazy). Theres a maternity room, a coffee bar, a think tank, and shuffle board and ping pong tables. There are two water wells with pumps. Theres a state of the art sound room, video editing room, dashboards that highlight the nonprofits metrics in real time, and modular desks by Steelcase. Most of the items that make up the 22,000-square-foot space were donated or purchased at heavily discounted prices. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, the commercial real estate conglomerate, graciously leased the space to charity: water at an enormous discount to its market value.

Working in an organization with your vocation doesnt need to be a bummer, Harrison says. I dont think you need to walk around with a sad face all day because youre working in conditions of extreme poverty.

The third principle behind the Charity Industrial Complex is that charities need not focus on impact and results but instead on the act of giving.

Instead of adopting a laser focus on giving, Harrison went one step further. He wanted to connect donors to their impact. Ive donated to many charities, including charity: water. But no other charity has connected me to my donations like it has. I have GPS coordinates on all the water projects Ive funded and can view them on Google Earth. A clean-water rig that I helped fund has its own Twitter account (@cwyellowthunder) and sends out regular updates on its progress.

Whereas charity: water embraces impact, many older charities have left that in the background. Because the norms of charity permeate this sector, organizations have only needed to show charitable intent and tell good stories to motivate caritas in board members, donors, and staff, so that they survive and even thrive, regardless of their impact, J. Gregory Dees noted in his remarkable paper A Tale of Two Cultures: Charity, Problem Solving, and the Future of Social Entrepreneurship.

Since charity: waters emergence, a new generation of charities has followed in its trailblazing path. Together theyre remaking how we give, what we give, and why we give. Theyre working to break the Charity Industrial Complex.
Looking to start lining up your summer reads? I've compiled a book list I've found has helped with my company but also contains entertaining reads. So, go grab some lemonade, find a hammock and relax with a book (or Kindle) that will make you think differently about your business:

Related: 9 Brilliant Business Books You Can Read in an Afternoon

The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change, by Adam Braun: I'm going to guess that your initial reaction when searching for books on business is not going to be picking up a book about a non-profit.

However, through his story Braun shows how he created his organization with the mind of a business (even firing volunteers at times). If you think only for-profit entrepreneurs can show best business practices, read this book and think again.

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose,. by Tony Hseih: If you want to be inspired to create an infectious company culture and have top of the line customer service, look no further. The CEO of Zappos walks you through his entrepreneurship journey, starting off with how he sold his first company to Microsoft for a casual $265 million before he built the empire that is Zappos.

Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands, by Marty Neumeier: This book inspired me to write about striving for different instead of more. Neumeier writes about finding the "white space" to fill instead of building off something that's already been done.

Related: Must Reads for Leaders: 10 Invaluable Books for Moving Hearts and Minds

Rework, by Jason Fried: This was the first business book I ever read, but it's one that I reference the most. Rework is direct, and to the point with a new lesson in every chapter. From hiring, to firing, to ignoring competition: This isn't a book you'll read and pass to a friend. You'll keep it in your office for reference later.

Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Leaders, Professionals, and Human Beings, by James Robilotta: Being a leader isn't about doing everything right or "perfect." It's about the connections we build with others. As a business owner, you need to inspire a team of followers. Ribilotta shows how to have meaningful conversations and forces you to look inward as a leader. Plus, he's hilarious, so you'll also be entertained.

Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek: Even though this is technically a "leadership" book, it also heavily influenced our marketing. We don't show customers just what we sell, we show them why we sell it.

Related: 6 Business Books That Will Revolutionize Your Business and Change Your Life

Once in a while, you come across a book that makes you see almost everything differently after you read it. This was that book for me.
Increasingly, American businesses are moving overseas. Their motivations vary, as some companies make the move simply to change their environment, while others are looking to recruit specialized talent.

Related: Taco Bell Is Hungry for Global Expansion

Then there are those select firms that move overseas to skirt America's high corporate tax rate. And, of course, some entrepreneurs make this choice to maintain their U.S. headquarters while opening up satellite offices overseas to tap new markets.

Whether you plan to start a new company entirely, move your entire operations or open a new office, here are seven destinations every entrepreneur must consider.

1. Bali, Indonesia

When entrepreneur Liza Jansen wanted to break from her normal routine and take a vacation without completely checking out of the office, she went to Bali for a month and took her work with her. There, she joined Hubud, the islands first coworking space, where she realized she could build her business alongside other ambitious and creative professionals while reaping the benefits of a tropical paradise.

Best of all? She could save a ton of money. Writing for Quartz, Jansen noted that, The average monthly living and working costs for digital nomads in Ubud [Bali] amount to $1,066, a stark contrast to San Francisco, where this currently stands at $4,854, or New York City, with average costs of $5,332 per month.

2. Hong Kong

One of the main reasons businesses move to Hong Kong is its favorable corporate tax rate. Another is its strategic location close to Mainland China.

For consumer packaged goods businesses, a Hong Kong headquarters or office affords easy access to Shenzhen and Guangzhou, two of Mainland Chinas most prosperous and sophisticated manufacturing hubs. Hong Kong-based companies can also leverage that location to enter the massive Chinese market.

Related: Africa: A New Business Frontier

3. Bangalore, India

Bangalore, according to the BBC, is Indias IT hub. For technology-first businesses, the city offers an abundance of talented engineers.

Companies like Microsoft, Sony and Amazon all have offices there. Popular tech startups find themselves the target of acquisition talks, too. In recent years, Yahoo acquired Bangalore-based Bookpad. Facebook bought Little Eye Labs. Brillio struck a deal with Marketelligent. Although it may seem intimidating to move halfway around the world to grow your business, doing so may well increase your chances of success.

4. Santiago, Chile

Since 2010, the Chilean government has continued to pour money into promising startups through its Startup Chile program. Each year, Startup Chile invites 240 to 320 companies to relocate to Santiago for a minimum of three to six months, with the hopes of building Latin Americas biggest innovation and entrepreneurship hub. So far, the experiment has paid off, as more than 1,000 startups have graduated from the program, with many remaining in Santiago and many more going on to raise additional capitalfor growth.

In the city, new businesses can find themselves immersed in a vibrant startup culture, where the national government continues to create incentives for fresh talent and visionaries to come and stay.

5. Toronto, Canada

For a place a little closer to home, Toronto is perfect. Just across the border, two hours from Buffalo, NY, and four hours from Detroit, Toronto can make you feel like you never left home, yet enjoy a much better cost of living and plenty of talented workers available for hire.

To make your transition easy, spaces like The Professional Centre offer fully furnished and maintained offices that enable you to move today and start working in your new office abroad tomorrow.

6. Berlin, Germany

In 2014, Berlin startups raised $2.2 billion from investors, reports The Guardian. That same year, London startups raised $1.5 billion. Indeed, Berlin is the go-to European hotspot for new businesses.

For founders, Berlin is a fully developed hub for creativity and entrepreneurship. There, companies can easily employ international workers, as local visas arent as difficult to acquire as the coveted H-1B in the United States.

Related: 6 Secrets to Navigating Cross-Cultural Differences

7. Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv is home to a disproportionate amount of startup unicorns. For instance, Houzz, an interior design community, is valued at $2.3 billion. Gett, a ride-sharing startup rivaling Lyft and Uber, is worth $2 billion. Content recommendation platforms Outbrain and Taboola have each hit the prized $1 billion mark. More than 6,000 other startups call the city home, and for budding businesses, accelerators like 8200 EISP and The Junction are also there to welcome you.
A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the execution of an Alabama inmate so a lower court can review claims that strokes and dementia have rendered him incompetent to understand his looming death sentence.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals halted the execution just seven hours before Vernon Madison, 65, was scheduled to die at 6 p.m. by lethal injection at a state prison in Atmore.

The Alabama attorney general's office responded with an emergency motion to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to let the execution proceed before the death warrant expired at midnight, but a divided 4-4 court on Thursday evening maintained the stay ordered by an appellate court.

Madison was convicted in the 1985 killing of Mobile police Officer Julius Schulte. Schulte had responded to a domestic call involving Madison. Prosecutors said Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car.

Attorneys for the Equal Justice Initiative say that multiple strokes and dementia have left Madison frequently confused and disoriented and unable to understand his pending execution. They said he has an IQ of 72, can no longer walk independently and at one point talked of moving to Florida because he believed he was going to be released from prison.

"Mr. Madison suffers from dementia, has no independent recollection of the offense he was convicted of and consequently does not have a rational understanding of why the State of Alabama is attempting to execute him," attorneys with EJI wrote in the stay request.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled, in cases involving inmates with mental illness, that condemned inmates must possess a "rational understanding" that they are about to be executed and why, but left it to lower courts to sort out what that looks like in individual cases.

The court's decision to keep the stay in place split between liberal and conservative justices. The late Justice Antonin Scalia could have been the deciding vote to let the execution proceed.

Lawyers for Alabama argued that a lower court found Madison competent and noted that a federal judge found no reason to overturn that decision.

"The Eleventh Circuit appears to have bought into Madison's incorrect representation of the State court's order as having refused to consider evidence of his stroke-related dementia in finding that Madison had a rational understanding of his impending execution," lawyers for the state wrote.

U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose agreed with a lower court that Madison could be executed. DuBose cited testimony from a court-appointed expert that Madison could answer questions about his case, despite a decline in his health. She also noted Madison's reported response that, "my lawyers are supposed to be handling that," when the warden came to read him the death warrant.

Madison's attorneys argued to the high court that the execution should be stayed because the competency claim has not yet been reviewed on appeal. They said a "quirk of Alabama law" prohibited them from appealing the lower court's finding.

The appellate court said it will hear oral arguments in Madison's competency in June.

Madison's attorneys on Thursday had also sought a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing Alabama's sentencing method is similar to one struck down in Florida. The jury in Madison's third trial made an 8-4 recommendation of life in prison, but the trial judge sentenced him to the death penalty. Madison's first two convictions were overturned.

One other inmate in Alabama has been put to death this year after a lull of more than two years because of difficulty obtaining lethal injection drugs and litigation over the death penalty.

Christopher Eugene Brooks was executed in January for the 1992 rape and beating death of 23-year-old Jo Deann Campbell.


A man in Colorado told police a woman stabbed him early Wednesday morning after he refused to have sex with her.

The unidentified male called police at 1:37 a.m. to report that he had been stabbed in the shoulder and was bleeding, according to a Colorado Springs Police report.

He was transported to Memorial Hospital and was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The woman has not been identified and no arrests have been reported.
Michigan police located the abandoned car of a missing Hamburg mom and her 7-year-old daughter Wednesday evening and are now searching for the pair in the company of a 64-year-old male acquaintance believed to be driving a red 2001 Ford Escape, authorities said in a Facebook post.

Amanda Hayward, 30, and her daughter, Sapphire Elizabeth Palmer, were last seen leaving their home around 3 a.m. on Tuesday. Haywards purse  with credit cards and cash still inside  was found several hours on the side of the road a few miles away.

I know Sapphire has no idea whats going on, Amandas dad, Darrell Hayward told FOX2. I wonder whats going through her little mind.

Darrell said his daughter was behaving erratically shortly before she left with Sapphire.

My daughter was putting electronics in the tub thinking the cameras were watching them, Darrell said. She thinks somebody is watching her or something. She thinks the Internet is hacked or something.

The red Escape that Amanda and Sapphire are thought to be travelling in has Michigan license plate 2HVA18. Its unclear how the unidentified male acquaintance knows Hayward or her daughter.

The FBI has offered its assistance and officers are working with the Hamburg Township Police Department.

Click for more from FOX2.
Weve all heard it by now: Data scientists have the centurys sexiest job and theyre here to save your business with their big data expertise. Everyone wants to hire one. But what are the chances youll stumble across an actual data scientist unicorn who just happens to be a perfect fit for your business? Well, practically nonexistent.

The thing about data science is that it draws from dozens of fields, including machine learning, data mining, analytics and artificial intelligence. Most data scientists hold graduate degrees in computer science, but many of them come from backgrounds ranging from electrical engineering to biology. In other words: No one data scientist possesses the breadth of skills needed for every data science position. Believe it or not: there are no unicorns.

Related: Want big data to help your marketing team? Hire a data scientist.

And, of course, competition for data scientists is fierce. You may know that McKinsey & Company has predicted that the U.S. faces a shortage of between 140,000 and 190,000 analytics experts by 2018. Meanwhile, the number of open jobs is on the upswing -- interest in data analytics talent increased by 15 percent from 2013 to 2014 alone, according to Indeed.

So how can you hope to make a hire that fulfills your requirements from such a small pool of qualified talent? It starts with actually knowing what those requirements are.

It seems simplistic, but data scientists rarely have equally strong backgrounds in areas like statistics, time-series analysis and database know-how. The secret is finding a candidate with the right mix of skills that match your business goals. For instance, if you run a retail business, a time-series analysis is a great way to understand patterns in product sales over time. On the technology side, you want candidates who have experience using the tools that are central to data science, such as Python, Spark, or R.

Related: What hiring managers don't understand about hiring for data science.

As with any job, its pretty easy for a candidate to list the right bullet points on their resume. Luckily, in data science, its also pretty easy to find out if a candidate isnt as savvy in certain techniques as he or she claims to be. An initial phone interview with a hiring manager who has a technical background should serve as a quick check. Beyond that, there are several ways to test the depth of a candidates knowledge.

First, a real data scientist is most likely going to have a collection of data-related passion projects or academic work that will tell you way more about his or her skills than any take-home problem you might assign during the interview process. Ask for a link to a project on the candidates GitHub profile or a copy of a published paper. But dont stop there -- during the interview, ask hypothetical questions based on scenarios a data scientist might actually encounter at your business. How your candidate approaches the problems will tell you a lot about his or her critical thinking process and what tools he or she is most comfortable with. You might even want to hand over some sample data and ask for a quick analysis.

Related: Four things a data scientist can do for entrepreneurs.

But now, a word of warning: dont get completely bogged down in testing for technical skill. Data scientists have unique roles because they straddle the line between analytics and business strategy. If they lack communication skills or curiosity, they wont make the effort required to uncover business-changing insights and communicate them in a clear, concise way to your decision makers. And if thats the case, youre paying out a six-figure salary -- averaging around $120,000 for non-managers -- for little to no return on your investment.

There are some ways you can ensure this kind of scenario doesnt play out. Ask candidates to explain technical concepts such as the difference between logistic and linear regression, to a hiring manager with a non-technical background to see if they take their audience into account. Employ behavioral interviewing techniques, where you ask questions about a candidates past performance in particular situations. Involve multiple parties across all departments to ensure that your candidate is a good fit for your culture.

What sets hiring a data scientist apart from any other employee is that so much rests on a data scientists shoulders: The promise of profit has 75 percent of companies planning to invest in big data by 2017, and the range of industries now employing data scientists is staggering. Unless you want to be left behind, now is the time to make a data scientist hire. Just make sure its the right one.
Startup company Hyperloop One began with a question asked by Elon Musk in 2012: Can people travel in supersonic vacuum tubes? Yesterday, it came back with an answer: yes.

In the Nevada desert, Hyperloop One successfully demonstrated rocketing a sled down a short section of track using magnetic levitation technology. The aluminum sled reached 120 mph in 1.5 seconds and hit 300 mph before in came to a halt in a sand berm, according to a report filed by Wired.

Related: The Heavy Metal Tribute to Elon Musk You've Been Waiting For

Rob Lloyd, the CEO of Hyperloop One, said of the test, This was a major technology milestone." The Hyperloop One engineers believe this is proof of concept that they can eventually build a pipeline that would propel pods at speeds of 750 mph (nearly the speed of sound). With speeds like that, travelers could make the usual six-hour trip from L.A. to San Francisco in just 30 minutes. That's not nearly enough time for an in-tube movie, but we're hoping they will at least pass out snacks.
Blame Canada.

A U.S.-based company that accused the Canadian government of using phony environmental concerns to keep wind turbines off the Great Lakes could be close to a ruling in its $568 million suit.

A panel of international law experts could rule any day now on whether Ontario's open-ended "temporary ban" violated the North American Free Trade Agreement, as alleged by Windstream Energy.

In creating the moratorium, Ontario said it needed more time to study the environmental impact of the turbines, but documents obtained by Windstream seem to show the real reason was aesthetic, not environmental.

Indiana-based Windstream's 100-turbine offshore windfarm near Kingston on Lake Ontario was key to a deal the company had struck with Ontario's power authority. The company claims a $6 million security deposit was illegally seized and all its investments in the project rendered a loss.

Windstream's attorneys argue that under NAFTA, investments by U.S. companies in Canada cannot be arbitrarily scuttled. A decision is due imminently from a three-member panel convened by the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration and consisting of international law experts from Finland, Spain and the United States.

The suit is in addition to another $500 million claim brought by a Canadian wind energy company, Trillium, that also had its deals nixed due to the ban that was put in place five years ago.

But Windstream might have a stronger case, as it has obtained evidence including excerpts from hundreds of emails sent between government officials.

One example is from spring 2010, a year before the moratorium, when the Canadian government considered establishing an exclusion zone that would have forced all windmills to be built five kilometers inland, making them unable to harness wind coming off the lake, according to Canada.com.

We are to work backwards from the number to provide a rationale for it, reads one email the Ministry of Natural Resources Director Eric Boysen sent to a staffer. This cant be about aesthetics, or there will be a similar cry for exclusion zones on land.

In a separate message, Boysen admits that the exclusion zone might not really be up to snuff.

The real challenge now begins, he wrote. Although we have messaged to (the Ministry of the Environment) that there is nothing in our data to support an exclusion zone, they continue to want to base this on ecological reasons.

Although it long predates his election, a large judgement for blocking a sustainable energy project could be embarrassing for the new Canadian administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a committed environmentalist.
The father of a missing 9-year-old Tennessee girl said Tuesday that her alleged abductor was obsessed with her and wanted her all to himself.

James Trent, the father of Carlie Marie Trent, told WVLT-TV that Gary Simpson, 57, was jealous over the girl. James Trent told the station that Simpson knew Carlie all her life and had married Trent's sister. James Trent also said that Simpson and his wife often took care of his daughter.

"He had access to her every day, he was obsessed with her, he wanted her, and he wanted her all to himself," Trent said. "That's a scary thing to think about."

James Trent said that he doesnt think Simpson will hurt Carlie, but is worried what will happen if she returns home.

NEW PICTURES: We're continuing to search for Carlie Trent, the subject of our ongoing #AMBERAlert. 1-800-TBI-FIND! pic.twitter.com/sCWalXDboO  TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 6, 2016

It would be a great moment, but then again it'll be a scary moment because I'm just wondering how she's going to be. Is she going to be as happy as she was? [Is] she going to be scared to death of everyone?" he explained. "That's what I worry about. She just won't be the same."

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said Wednesday that the case is not a simple custody dispute and stressed that Carlie could be in grave danger.

We realize Gary Simpson is Carlie Trents uncle by marriage, but we have specific  we have credible  information that Carlie Trent is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death, TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine said during an afternoon press conference. When we say this child is in danger we absolutely mean it.

DeVine said the custody battle narrative had developed in the week since Trent was picked up from her school by Simpson, her former guardian. Simpson had recently lost custody of Trent, who was in her fathers care before her disappearance. But DeVine was emphatic that Trents kidnapping was not merely the product of a guardianship battle.

An Amber Alert remained in effect Wednesday, but authorities had yet to receive a tip of any concrete sightings of Trent or Simpson. Officials believe the two may be in a campground or secluded area.

Police said they believe Simpson is driving a 2002 white Dodge conversion van with a Tennessee license plate 173GPS. The van is described as having a dark stripe down the middle with a light gold running board on either side.

Carlie Trent is described as being 4-foot, 8-inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. Simpson is described as 5-feet, 10-inches tall and balding with brown hair and eyes.

On Tuesday, The TBI retracted an earlier report that Simpson was seen at a store buying camping supplies. Investigators told the Knoxville News Sentinel that Simpson actually purchased a pink and purple plush throw blanket, a green mens short-sleeve shirt, mens black pants, girls khaki pants, two shades of lipstick, two shades of nail polish, a pink folding lounge chair, a purple childs nightgown, a bikini and girls underwear on May 4.

Here are items Gary Simpson purchased, before taking Carlie from her school May 4th. #BringCarlieHome pic.twitter.com/fGuVw7LSsZ  TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 10, 2016

Investigators also said the two stopped at a Save-A-Lot grocery store on the same day to pick up nonperishable items.

There is a $15,000 reward for Carlie's safe return -- $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service and $10,000 from her pediatrician.

Anyone with information about Trent and Simpsons whereabouts is urged to call the Rogersville Police Department at 423-272-7555 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Click for more from WLVT-TV.

Click for more from Fox 5 Atlanta.
FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday the power of the Islamic States brand is dwindling in the U.S. as fewer Americans are traveling to fight alongside the extremist group in the Middle East.

Comey said the FBI encountered between 6 and 10 Americans a month in 2014 and the first half of 2015 who traveled to the Middle East or tried to go there to join ISIS. However, that number has dwindled down to one per month since last summer in a sustaining downward trend, he said.

"There's no doubt that something has happened that is lasting, in terms of the attractiveness of the nightmare which is the Islamic State to people from the United States," he told reporters during a wide-ranging round-table discussion Wednesday.

Comey didnt specify why there was a downturn, but federal authorities have worked aggressively in the last year to identify and intercept Americans who wanted to reach Syria. Another possibility is that ISIS has encouraged more of its followers to carry out attacks at home.

The FBI chief did acknowledge Wednesday that the groups ability to inspire troubled souls remains a persistent concern. The FBI still has "north of 1,000" cases in which agents are trying to evaluate a subject's level of radicalization and potential for violence.

"There's still a presence online, and troubled people are still turning to this and at least being interested in it," Comey said. "But they've lost their ability to attract people to their caliphate from the United States in a material way."

Comey said that encrypted messaging apps like Facebooks WhatsApp and Telegram have hindered some of their efforts to catch radicalized individuals. The FBI director called the technology a huge feature of terrorist tradecraft.

Facebook announced last month that WhatsApp will have end-to-end encryption in which the sender and receiver can only read messages.

WhatsApp has over a billion customersoverwhelmingly good people but in that billion customers are terrorists and criminals, Mr. Comey said.

Federal authorities are also having increased difficulty in unlocking phones used by criminals, including terrorists. Comey said investigators have been able to unlock around 500 of the 4,000 devices the FBI has examined in the first six months of the fiscal year  which started on Oct. 1.

I expect that number just to grow as the prevalence of the technology grows with newer models, he added.

After a review of the evidence, the FBI has concluded that the San Bernardino, California attack that killed 14 people in December was inspired by the Islamic State, he said.

The FBI went to court to force Apple Inc. to help it open a locked iPhone used by one of the attackers, Syed Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, died in a gun battle with police.

A federal magistrate granted that request in February, but the court fight ended weeks later when a still unidentified third-party came forward with a solution to access the device. Though Comey would not reveal what if any evidence was gleaned from Farook's phone, he said he was glad the FBI had gotten into the phone and that the effort was important.

The FBI last month said it did not have enough technical information about the tool that was used to get into the device to be able share the details with Apple  an assertion some outside technology specialists found curious given that Comey has hinted that the FBI paid more than $1 million for it.

But Comey said Wednesday that the FBI acquired only what was necessary to get into the one particular phone  and nothing more.

"Sometimes you can buy a tool that helps you accomplish something. Sometimes you can buy the guts of a tool, the software behind it, the code behind it  and there's a difference between those two things," he said. "The goal in San Bernardino was to investigate that case and to get into that phone, so we bought what was necessary to get into that phone  and we tried not to spend more money than we needed to spend."

He said he was not aware of another case in which the FBI had used the same workaround, but that the agency was trying to figure out a way in which it could be shared with other law enforcement agencies with valid court orders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.
A feud between Virginia Beach neighbors over how to properly display an American flag escalated into a criminal case, with one man due in court Monday on charges including intentional damage to a monument, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Retired Navy veteran John Parmele Jr., 73, told the newspaper he sent an anonymous note to his neighbor, Michael Anderson, complaining about the appearance of the flag attached to Anderson's mailbox.

"Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if its illuminated during darkness," Parmele said. He told the newspaper that he asked Anderson to comply, either by removing the flag at night or by installing a light.

Last month, Anderson arrived home to see that somebody had cut down the flag, court documents showed. He claimed a replacement flag disappeared soon afterwards.

Anderson ultimately pursued criminal charges, and a judge agreed there was probable cause to charge Parmele with intentional damage to a monument, along with petty larceny and trespassing, all misdemeanors. Each charge could carry up to a year in jail.

One neighbor, speaking anonymously to The Virginian-Pilot, said Parmele had a history of calling out people on their cul-de-sac for minor infractions. Parmele said he and Anderson had engaged in "run-ins," but did not elaborate.

Anderson claimed he'd flown a flag at his home every day for 15 years, replacing it annually, according to court papers.

Parmele said he planned to plead not guilty, and that he was genuinely concerned about the street where he's lived for more than four decades. "I try to look out for our property values."

Click for more from The Virginian-Pilot.
John Lennon once said, No one, I think, is in my tree. Its doubtful he was talking about this.

Key West, Fla. police officers rescued a woman who somehow managed to get stuck inside a banyan tree on Tuesday morning, Local 10 reported.

They popped her out like a cork, a police spokesperson told Local 10.

The unidentified woman said she was trying to climb the tree when she became trapped.

Protect and serve! the department wrote in a Facebook post on the incident.
An online gun auction website yanked George Zimmerman's ad to sell the pistol he used to kill unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, saying it wanted no part in the deal, but a second site offered to post it.

A listing for the weapon was removed from the GunBroker.com site Thursday morning, minutes after the auction was to begin, as negative traffic about the sale exploded online. In a statement posted on its website, GunBroker.com said listings are user generated, and that the company reserved the right to reject listings at its discretion.

Zimmerman never contacted anyone at the site and no one there "has any relationship with Zimmerman," the company wrote in its statement.

It added, "We want no part in the listing on our web site or in any of the publicity it is receiving."

Hours later, United Gun Group tweeted that it would post Zimmerman's ad. The new link was posted, along with a statement from Zimmerman. However, the site apparently went down a few minutes later. The site calls itself a "social market place for the firearms community."

Critics called the planned auction an insensitive move to profit from the slaying.

Zimmerman had told Orlando, Florida, TV station WOFL that the pistol was returned to him by the U.S. Justice Department, which took it after he was acquitted in Martin's 2012 shooting death.

The auction for the 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol was to begin at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday and end 24 hours later.

Zimmerman's listing said a portion of the proceeds would go toward fighting what Zimmerman calls violence by the Black Lives Matter movement against law enforcement officers, combatting anti-gun rhetoric of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ending the career of state attorney Angela Corey, who led Zimmerman's prosecution.

The listing ended with a Latin phrase that translates as "if you want peace, prepare for war."

Zimmerman, now 32, has said he was defending himself when he killed Martin, 17, in a gated community near Orlando. Martin, who lived in Miami with his mother, was visiting his father at the time.

Zimmerman, who identifies as Hispanic, was acquitted in Martin's February 2012 shooting death. The case sparked protests and a national debate about race relations. The Justice Department later decided not to prosecute Zimmerman on civil rights charges

Lucy McBath, the mother of another black teenager shot by a white man during an argument at a Jacksonville convenience store in 2012, said the auction reflected a "deplorable lack of value for human life."

"I am deeply disappointed that the man who killed Trayvon Martin is trying to sell the very gun he used to cut that precious life short to raise money," McBath said in a written statement.

The slaying of her son, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, by Michael Dunn drew parallels at the time to the Zimmerman-Martin case. Dunn told police he had felt threatened by Davis. Unlike Zimmerman, Dunn was convicted of murder.

Since Zimmerman was acquitted, he has been charged with assault based on complaints from two girlfriends. Both women later refused to press charges and Zimmerman wasn't prosecuted. His estranged wife, ShellieZimmerman, also accused him of smashing her iPad during an argument days after she filed divorce papers. No charges were filed because of lack of evidence. They were divorced in January.

Orlando-based attorney Mark O'Mara has previously represented Zimmerman. A receptionist in O'Mara's office said Thursday that he no longer represents Zimmerman and had no comment.

Martin's parents declined to address Zimmerman's actions in statements made through representatives.

Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said through an attorney that she would rather focus on her work with the Trayvon Martin Foundation than respond to "Zimmerman's actions."

Daryl Parks, whose firm represented the Martin family during the trial, is now chairman of Fulton's foundation. He says Fulton is pushing for policies that protect youth and address gun violence.

Fulton also founded the Circle of Mothers conference, a three-day event to help mothers who have "lost children or family members" to gun violence. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be keynote speaker at the event in Fort Lauderdale starting May 20.

In the auction listing, Zimmerman cited strong interest from collectors including "The Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC."

Smithsonian spokesman John Gibbons denied any interest.

"The Smithsonian has never expressed an interest in collecting this firearm and has no intention of collecting or displaying this firearm," Gibbons said.
A Massachusetts man accused of locking a Verizon worker inside an unventilated underground vault because he was upset the worker parked on his grass has pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

Westborough resident Howard Cook Jr. entered the plea Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court.



The 73-year-old Cook was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to complete an anger management program.



Authorities said the retired utility official locked Michael Hathaway in the vault in August 2013 by pulling out the extension ladder, locking the hatch and placing large rocks on top. The ventilation system automatically shuts off when the door is closed.



Police said Cook was upset that Hathaway parked on the grass at his business.

Hathaway used his cellphone to call police.
Particle physics and string theory pose plenty of interesting questions, but educators at Massachusetts Institute of Technology this week wrestled with yet another vexing dilemma: "Is Islamophobia Accelerating Global Warming?"

That was the topic at a Monday panel at the venerable Boston school whose alums include Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Michael Bloomberg and Charles and David Koch. The presentation, sponsored by the school's Global Studies and Languages Department, looked at an entanglement of two crises, metaphorically related with one being a source of imagery for the other and both originating in colonial forms of capitalist accumulation, according to an online advertisement for the event.

The descriptions air of uber-academic applesauce has been the topic of much online mockery  and confusion. Mediaite said it couldnt make heads or tails of it. Tablet, meanwhile, turned to deriding the subject matter itself, and satirically proposed examining whether anti-Semitism is responsible for the rapid disappearance of the pygmy hippo. Several commenters on Twitter made sure to note they were not linking to spoof newspaper The Onion. Then there were those who said neither global warming nor Islamophobia were real phenomenons.



The topic was presented by Ghassan Hage, a future generation professor at the University of Melbourne. Hage, who is authoring an upcoming book on the proposed Islamophobia/global warming relationship, has a history of courting controversy and promoting far-left and anti-Israel ideals.

Hage, born in Lebanon before moving to Australia, is the author of several books exploring race in Australia, including, White Nation and Against Paranoid Nationalism. In online essays, he has called airport security an example in which Westerners require from those they racialize an exact obedience to the letter of the law.

A supporter of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, he has likened Israelis to slave owners in a tweet and has called Palestinian militants freedom fighters in an essay. He ended that particular essay, A Massacre Is Not A Massacre, sarcastically: I have such a limited brain and my ignorance is unlimited. And theyre so f------ intelligent. Really.

Leslie Eastman, an environmental health and safety professional and writer for Legal Insurrection, pulled no punches assessing Hage and his presentation.

The Association for the defense of Israeli slave owners is accusing anti-slavery activists of reverse racism#Israel #Palestine #BDS  Ghassan Hage (@ghahagea) October 31, 2013

"I assess that the only way Islamophobia contributed to global warming is from the hot air Hage emitted while presenting this lecture," she wrote.

Its unclear who invited Hage or approved the lecture, or if Hage was paid or how many people attended.

Attempts to elicit information about the presentation from Hage, Prof. Bettina Stoetzer, who introduced Hage, and department Administrative Officer Elouise Evee-Jones were not immediately successful.
Jamaican authorities probing the murders of two American missionaries last month have no suspects and few clues, leaving church leaders in the U.S. frustrated and seeking biblical justice.

The bodies of Randy Hentzel, who was sent to the island by his Ankeny, Iowa, Southern Baptist church, and Harold Nichols, from a United Methodist church in East Randolph, N.Y., were found apparently beaten to death on April 30 in a remote and rural area where they had gone to ride motorcycles. The men worked for TEAMS for Medical Missions, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that provides free health care in government clinics and local churches throughout the Caribbean nation.

"We are praying for right, biblical justice," the Rev. Todd Stiles, of First Family Church, where Hentzel worshipped, told the Baptist Press. But we're also praying for Gospel expansion.

Last week, officials from the Jamaica Constabulary Force announced that the FBI has joined the investigation.

"The investigators from the United States met with local investigators today to discuss the case and have since committed to supporting the local investigators in their probe," the statement said.

"We are analyzing the information that we have collected and reviewing all we have had so far, but we are confident that we will make a breakthrough soon," Glenmore Hinds, deputy commissioner of police, told the Jamaica Gleaner.

TEAMS medical coordinator Anne Clay said Hentzel, 48, who established a Bible college on the island, was 6-foot, 5-inches and said authorities doubt that whomever killed the men acted alone. Clay, who is leaving for Jamaica on Saturday to check on the TEAMS clinics and attend a May 21 memorial service for the men, said the group is mostly concerned for the killers right now.

We are praying that the police catch them before the people do, Clay told FoxNews.com. Retribution is common in Jamaica, and we just hope people dont find out who did this and take matters into their own hands.

TEAMS Executive Director John Heater is already on the island helping to hold the charitys operation together after the loss of two key members.

We do not know who would do this or what their motivation was, Heater said in a statement. These men greatly loved the people of Jamaica and were greatly loved in return.

Nichols wife is still there, and Heater is there now. Randy led a Bible college there, Heater is now working with that leadership team.

Were more concerned about the Jamaicans finding out who did this and taking matters into their own hands.

The murders of Hentzel and Nichols, 53, occurred in St. Mary parish, an area known for violence, according to reports.

Stiles told the Baptist Press his congregation sent Hentzel and his wife Sara to Jamaica in 2011 to serve as full-time missionaries. Sara Hentzel was in Iowa at the time of her husband's murder, after the pair had been on furlough since November. But Randy Hentzel returned to Jamaica for three weeks to prepare for the short-term trip of a U.S. team.

The Hentzels have five children, the youngest of whom is in 9th grade, Stiles said.

The pastor said he hopes "appropriate and righteous pressure on the Jamaican government" will encourage officials "to work at this in a God-given manner to bring those who do evil to justice."

"We extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones, The U.S. State Department said in a statement. The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is providing consular assistance, and Ambassador [Luis] Moreno has contacted the highest levels of the Jamaican security establishment regarding the case."

Last October, American missionary Roberta Edwards, who had been working in Haiti for several years, was gunned down in Port-au-Prince as she sat behind the wheel of her car on a residential street. Edwards, who was sponsored by the Estes Church of Christ, in Henderson, Tenn., dedicated her life to helping the island nation's poor orphans.
Criminal charges cannot be brought against four Wilmington police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man in a wheelchair, although one officer exhibited "extraordinarily poor" police work and should not be allowed to carry a gun in public, the Delaware attorney general's office concluded in a report released Thursday.

State officials also said their investigation into the September shooting of Jeremy McDole revealed serious deficiencies in the Wilmington police department's use-of-force policies and training, and in preparing officers to deal with people with mental illness and other disabilities.

"Most significantly, we find that the "continuum of force" provisions of the Wilmington Police Department's use of force policy are effectively meaningless for police officers as currently written," officials noted in the 31-page report.

Police confronted McDole on Sept. 23 after receiving a 911 call about a man with a gun.

A bystander's cellphone footage shows officers repeatedly telling McDole to drop his weapon and raise his hands and McDole reaching for his waist area before shots erupt.

In court records that predate last year's shooting, law enforcement officials have stated that McDole, who was shot in the back by an associate in 2005, used his wheelchair to hide things.

Authorities said their investigation into the shooting included interviewing witnesses, officers and McDole's family members, analysis of ballistics and autopsy results, video evidence, and consultation with experts, including two nationally recognized police use-of-force experts who had recommended criminal charges against a Cleveland, Ohio, police officer who fatally shot a 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun.

The attorney general's office, which investigates all incidents involving police use of deadly force, concluded that Senior Corporal Thomas Silva, Corporal Thomas Lynch, and Corporal James MacColl were justified in shooting McDole because they believed that deadly force was necessary to protect themselves or others.

But authorities said they considered charging Senior Corporal Joseph Dellose with felony assault, based upon his decision to immediately confront McDole and fire his shotgun at him instead of communicating with officers who Dellose knew were already on the scene.

State officials hired a former federal prosecutor from Pennsylvania to prepare a possible criminal case against Dellose, and also consulted with two experts who reviewed the shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland. But those experts, Jeffrey Noble, a former deputy police chief in Irvine, California, and Roger Clark, a former lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, concluded that Dellose's actions did not amount to criminal conduct under Delaware law.

Dellose, who was also involved in a fatal shooting in January 2010, told an investigator that McDole did not respond to his repeated commands to show his hands, and that he caught a glimpse of the handle of a gun.

"I couldn't see his hands, he kept moving around his waist," Dellose told the investigator. "At that point, I felt I was in danger, my life was in danger if he picked up that gun and started shooting.... That's when I decided I had to fire one round."

Investigators said the cellphone video shows that Dellose gave McDole two commands within the space of about two seconds before firing his shotgun, which further alarmed other officers on the scene about what dangers they were facing.

Thomas Neuberger, an attorney representing the McDole family in a federal lawsuit, said in a prepared statement that the attorney general's report would not affect the court case.

"While the Attorney General has never criminally prosecuted a Delaware police officer for a killing, we will continue to seek justice for Jeremy's family in federal civil court and pursue the truth," Neuberger said, adding that the officers' tactical response reflected "deliberate indifference" for McDole's life.

"Before using deadly force, Jeremy could have been talked down by a properly trained professional using historic police methods," Neuberger said.

Attorneys for the city have asked a judge to dismiss the family's lawsuit, arguing that McDole was armed with a gun and that the officers acted properly. According to the city's court filing, and reiterated in the attorney general's report, McDole was armed with a revolver and had evidence of gunshot residue on his hand, contradicting claims by McDole's family that he was unarmed and implied that police planted a gun on him after the shooting. The attorney general's investigation found that six officers at the scene all reported seeing a gun in McDole's pants after he was shot. Investigators determined that the gun had been legally purchased in South Carolina in 2009 and later reported stolen from the glove compartment of the owner's truck.

A police detective said in a court affidavit that officers found a .38 caliber revolver with four spent casings and two live rounds in McDole's underwear after they went to render first aid.

Officials also have said toxicology tests found evidence of marijuana and PCP, or "angel dust," in McDole's bloodstream.

In its report, the attorney general's office said an individual who identified himself as McDole's godfather told investigators that on the morning of the shooting, he had wheeled McDole to the "Browntown" section of Wilmington so McDole could get a gun and PCP-laced cigarettes known as "dippers."
Workers at one Arkansas poultry plant were denied restroom breaks to the point some "had to wear Pampers," according to an explosive new report on working conditions in the chicken processing industry.

"I had to wear Pampers," a worker identified as Dolores stated in a damning report called "No Relief" released Wenesday by watchdog group Oxfam America. "I and many, many others had to wear Pampers."

Industry employees also have been forced to cut down on drinking fluids "to a dangerous degree," and some reported having urinated or defecated on themselves while working because they can't hold it in any longer, according to the report.

"Supervisors mock [the workers'] needs and ignore their requests; they threaten punishment or firing," the report's executive summary states. "Workers wait inordinately long times (an hour or more), then race to accomplish the task within a certain timeframe (e.g., ten minutes) or risk discipline."

One worker said supervisors at an Alabama plant regularly threatened people by saying, "Go to the bathroom, and from there, go to Human Resources." Another worker at a plant in the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia) region claimed it took between 20 and 60 minutes to get permission to leave her position and use the bathroom.

When workers do get permission to take a break, they aren't given much time to use the facilities. In another section of the report, poultry plant employees say they are given as many as 5 minutes to leave their post, use the restroom and get back.

The report quoted workers at four food companies  Tyson Foods, Pilgrims Pride, Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms  that control 60 percent of America's poultry market.

Representatives for Tyson, Pilgrim's Pride and Perdue responded to the report via email to Bloomberg News. Tyson said the company does "not tolerate the refusal of requests to use the restroom."

Perdue said the actions described in the report were "not consistent" with company policy. Pilgrim's Pride said any allegations would be clear violations of company policy and would result in disciplinary action," if proven.

Click for the full report from Oxfam America.
The Minnesota women arriving at OHare International Airport in Chicago on a flight from Southeast Asia Tuesday were arrested after customs officials seized nearly 70 pounds of opium from them.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said the women arrived at about 4:20 p.m. on a flight from Laos, via Japan. Officers found 470 pounds of opium concealed in bags of tea leaves and packed inside the womens luggage.

Chicago police said the drugs are worth more than $3 million.

Police arrested the women, identified as 57-year-old Pa Yang and 58-year-old Mai Vue Vang of St. Paul, Minnesota, and 52-year-old True Thao of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. They're each charged with manufacturing or delivery of narcotics.

All three are being held in Cook County Jail on $50,000 bonds, according to the Cook County Sheriffs Office. They are scheduled to appear in court on June 2.

Today is a great example of how the officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection work daily to stop the illegal drug flow into the United States, Matthew Davies, Chicago Area Port Director for CBP, said in the statement.

Even though these would-be smugglers are trying new concealment methods each and every day, I just want to remind them that if they try to get through Chicago, we will catch them!

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Fox 32 Chicago.
Authorities in Kansas said that a woman was kidnapped and beaten several days after a Tinder date turned violent last month.

Fox 4 Now reported Tuesday Shane Allen, 30, picked up the 20-year-old University of Kansas student at her sorority house on April 12.

Allen allegedly held the woman hostage for six days in his trailer. Court documents say that he abused her, bruising much of her body and breaking blood vessels in both her eyes.

The Lawrence Journal-World, citing an affidavit, reported Monday that the woman was working on a homework assignment at the mans trailer. Allen invited two friends over to smoke marijuana, while she worked on her assignment.

According to the affidavit, the friends later left the trailer. At some point during the night, the woman got up to get a glass of water and Allen followed her into the kitchen area and accused the woman of flirting with his friends. The woman denied the accusations, saying her cellphone wasnt working and Allen was with the three of them the entire time

The affidavit said that Allen continued to insist the woman flirted and thats when Allen punched her in the eye and continued to beat her. The woman asked Allen to take her home but refused until the swelling around her eyes went down.

The next day, Allen refused to take the woman home again and beat her some more. Over the course of the six days, Allen never left her alone in the trailer and drove her to several places, including a McDonalds and a relatives house.

The affidavit said that the woman repeatedly requested Allen to take her home, but he denied. The World-Journal reported that Allen forced the woman to message her friends on Facebook to tell them she was fine and would be home in a few days.

The woman returned to the sorority house on April 18 only after agreeing that she wouldnt contact police about Allen. According to the paper, the woman was immediately checked into a hospital and investigators noted that she had multiple bruises around her head and neck and had two black eyes.

According to Fox 4 Now, Allen is facing five felony charges and is being held in Douglas County Jail.

University of Kansas students told Fox 4 Now they were shaken up by the recent incident, mostly because a lot of students on campus use the dating app.

(Tinder) is very popular, a lot of people use it, especially on campus because thats how you meet people and see whats going around, Allison Moore, a freshman at the university, told the station.

Moore said shes had several safe experiences using the app and even flew out to meet one of her suitors who lives in Texas.

Another student, Kike Lomoojo, said she wasnt sure about using Tinder.

"I would say I am shocked but I am honestly not. Just because Tinder is not a place where you know where the person is living or what they are into," Lomoojo said.

If Allen is convicted of his felony charges, he could face nearly 32 years in prison.

Click for more from The Lawrence Journal-World.

Click for more from Fox 4 Now.
A former Alabama assistant police chief convicted in the beating of a man who later pleaded guilty to sexually abusing infants and a mentally-challenged person was captured by U.S. Marshals on Thursday several days after he failed to report to federal prison, FOX8 reported.

Chris Miles was set to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Friday but didnt show up. He had been sentenced to 41 months in prison for deprivation of rights, making false statements and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Prosecutors said Miles beat a suspect during a child sex abuse interrogation in April 2013.

He beat him with a phone book, reams of paper, slapped him and hit him just to punch out a confession, U.S. Attorney George Beck said.

Miles was also accused of stealing 16 pounds of marijuana from evidence lockup and selling it to a drug dealer.

He also pleaded guilty in April to second degree armed burglary and second degree theft of property and was sentenced to 24 months, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence, WSFA reported. The case stemmed from a firearm Miles was said to have stolen from a Tallassee property.

Miles was caught at a home in Notasulga, east of Tallassee.

The sex abuse confession Miles elicited led the suspect, Stephen Conrad, to falsely admit to other crimes he did not commit, AL.com reported. About 100 charges were eventually dropped.

Conrad, however, did plead guilty to four charges in October 2015, including three of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, AL.com added.

Two of those abused were infants. Another was mentally challenged.

Conrad, 32, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Click for more from FOX8.
Several veterans in the Cincinnati area said Wednesday they could not understand why a grocery store suddenly stopped allowing them to set up a simple stand collecting donations on Memorial Day.

American Legion Post 199 in Harrison previously would raise $1,500 to $2,000 each Memorial Day, WLWT reported. But this year, the Kroger store refused to let the group hand out poppies in exchange for donations.

"Our stores receive an overwhelming number of requests from charitable organizations to raise money on Kroger properties, and unfortunately, we cannot accommodate all of these requests," company executives said. Kroger reportedly instituted a policy last year refusing all solicitors except those representing the Salvation Army, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

"The way we looked at it, if it wasn't for our veterans and what they've sacrificed in their lives, we wouldn't have Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Salvation Army," Post Cmdr. Jerry Wilson told WLWT.

Kroger reportedly offered to make a $250 donation to the American Legion instead.

Harrison is a 25-minute drive northwest of Cincinnati.
Birmingham police are investigating a shooting in which four children younger than 13 were shot and a woman was killed.

Lt. Sean Edwards tells local news outlets the shooting occurred Wednesday evening at a North Birmingham house. Police have confirmed that a woman in her mid-30s was killed.

Four children were also shot. They were taken to a hospital and were still alive. One of the children, a 12-year-old, has life-threatening injuries.

Edwards says investigators believe the shooting may have stemmed from a domestic disturbance.

Police have been searching for a suspect believed to be the woman's boyfriend.
It was a catastrophic sight.

A viral video shows a cat in Algeria tightrope-walking across a power line as Civil Defense crews desperately try to bring it down to safety.

The crews in the province of Oran can be seen climbing a ladder to try to rescue the cat, which was initially stranded on top of a street light pole. But when the cat sees help nearing, it bolts from the pole and runs across a power line.

Witnesses in the video, which was posted on Tuesday by the cats owner Salah Oran, can be heard gasping as the cat nearly falls midway through the acrobatic stunt.

The a-paw-ling scene eventually came to a close after crew members used long poles to pry the cat from the line, allowing it to safely fall into a tarp before fleeing the attention once again, UPI reported.
Two British and a Mexican climber on Thursday became the first foreigners to scale Mount Everest in two years together with three Nepalese guides, officials said.

The six climbers reached the 29,035-foot peak early Thursday and were heading to lower camps, said Ang Tshering of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

The Brits are Kenton Cool and Robert Richard Lucas, and the Mexican is David Liano Gonzalez.

For Cool, 42, it was his 12th successful climb of Everest. Gonzalez, 36, is the record holder with six successful ascents of Everest from both northern side in China and southern side in Nepal in the same season.

The Nepalese government has issued permits to 289 climbers to attempt to scale Everest. They have to do it in the next few weeks before the monsoon rains bring in bad weather.

A group of nine Nepalese guides fixing ropes for their foreign clients reached the summit on Wednesday.

The successful climbs this week come after two years of back-to-back disasters.

An avalanche triggered by a powerful earthquake killed 19 climbers and injured 61 others at base camp last year. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche above the base camp.

Last year's climbing season was scrubbed, and nearly all of the climbers in 2014 abandoned their attempts after the avalanche. The only team who reached the summit that year from the Nepal side was a Chinese woman and her five Sherpa guides.

Earlier this week, two Nepalese Sherpa guides died of complications due to high altitude sickness at a lower camp on Mount Makalu, the world's fifth highest.
A car bomb targeting the Turkish military exploded Thursday in Istanbul, wounded eight people, officials said.

The explosion occurred inside a parked car near the entrance to a military garrison in Istanbul's Sancaktepe neighborhood as the evening rush hour began, the area's mayor, Ismail Erdem, said.

Five military personnel and three civilians were injured in the explosion, one seriously, said Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin.

Picture of what seems to be a car bomb attack in #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/GYoTTVQN2z  Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) May 12, 2016

The private Dogan news agency showed video of the wrecked car, which was still on fire. The windows of nearby buildings were blown out by the force of the blast.

The explosion comes just two days after Kurdish rebels detonated a car bomb close to a police vehicle in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, killing three people and wounding dozens.

The rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have been targeting police and military targets since July, when a fragile peace process collapsed. The Islamic State group has also been blamed for a series of deadly bombings in Turkey.

The PKK is fighting for autonomy for Turkey's Kurds in the southeast of the country. It has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state in a conflict that has claimed 40,000 lives. The group is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies.

PKK-linked rebels have staged multiple bomb attacks against Turkish police and troops, which in turn have carried out tank-backed security operations in flashpoint areas.
Russia on Wednesday called the Georgian armys military exercises with the U.S. and Britain a provocative step.

About 500 Georgian soldiers joined nearly 650 U.S. and 150 British soldiers for war games at the Vaziani military base near the Georgia capital of Tbilisi, Reuters reported. The U.S. used its entire mechanized unit in the drills, including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and eight M1A2 Abrams battle tanks.

Despite Russias Defense Ministry warning Georgia the drills could destabilize the region, Georgia Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli told Reuters the exercises were an important event.

This is one of the biggest exercises that our country has ever hosted, this is the biggest number of troops on the ground, and the largest concentration of military equipment," she said.

Georgia Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili reassured Russia in a statement that the exercises werent meant to be directed at anyone nor was there any trace of provocation.

The U.S. has backed Georgia and hopes that it might decide one day to join NATO  a move that Russia opposes.

Russia and Georgia went to battle in a short war in 2008 over the South Ossetia region. Moscow continues to fortify the region and support Abkhazia, another area looking to break away from Georgia.

Click for more from Reuters.
The U.S. and other countries at the United Nations Wednesday blocked Russias bid to blacklist two rebel groups in Syria saying it would undermine the war-torn countrys halt in fighting.

Reuters reported that Britain, the U.S., France and Ukraine blocked the bid to blacklist Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham. Moscow claimed the groups should have been excluded because of their ties to militant groups including ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Jaish al-Islam was set up in Saudi Arabia and Ahrar al-Sham denied sharing Al Qaedas ideology and ties to the group, the report said.

Pravda reported that Russia provided all the necessary data which proves connection of these groups with the Islamic State.

The newspaper reported that a British representative said the move would be counterproductive for the political process there.
A U.S. airstrike in Somalia this morning killed five Al-Shabaab fighters after a team of Ugandan soldiers partnered with a small number of U.S. troops came under fire from more than a dozen Al-Shabaab militants, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

The strike unfolded in a rural area west of the capital city of Mogadishu, U.S. officials said.

U.S. forces were "very close" to the firefight between Ugandan soldiers and Al-Shabaab fighters, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said. He declined to be more specific.

Davis said there were 50 U.S. troops on the ground in Somalia helping combat Al-Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-linked militant group that has waged a decade-long civil war in the country.

The terror group claimed responsibility for killing 148 people, mostly Christian students, at Kenya's Garissa University College in April 2015, as well as a slaughter at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead in 2013.

No Americans were wounded in the brief firefight, according to Davis. He would not say whether manned warplanes or drones carried out the strike. Typically, airstrikes in Somalia are carried out by drones, according to Davis.

Davis said the U.S. troops were supporting Ugandan troops in a raid to eliminate an illegal Al-Shabaab checkpoint on a road in the rural area west of Mogadishu.
New At TacoTime: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Burrito

The Cheesy Goodness is Available for a Limited Time Only

April 26, 2016 // Franchising.com // SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  Attention cheese lovers; TacoTime (www.TacoTime.com) is introducing its Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Burrito, available for a limited time beginning April 27, through June 28.

The Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Burrito is filled with grilled chicken, pepper jack cheese, salsa fresca, freshly diced jalapenos, creamy cheese sauce and stuffed Mexi-Fries that are filled with even more jalapenos and cheese, all wrapped up in a warm home style tortilla and grilled to cheesy perfection.

The Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Burrito is so good, it melts in your mouth, said Julie Hoefling, director of marketing for TacoTime. Combine all these fresh ingredients and then throw in some jalapeno and cheese Stuffed Mexi-Fries and youve got yourself a cheese lovers dream come true.

The gooey Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Burritos second stand-out ingredient behind the creamy cheese is TacoTimes very popular Stuffed Mexi-Fries. These seasoned, crispy golden potatoes stuffed with melted cheddar cheese and jalapenos amplify the flavor profile of this delicious burrito.

Visit your nearest TacoTime today to try the Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Burrito!

About TacoTime

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., TacoTime has been an industry leader in quality quick-service Mexican food for over 50 years. Founded in 1960, TacoTime has grown to nearly 400 franchised restaurants across the U.S. and Canada. In

2003, TacoTime became part of Kahala Brands, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 16 quick-service restaurant brands.

About Kahala Brands

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kahala Brands is one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 18 quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3000 locations in over 34 countries including Cold Stone Creamery , Blimpie , TacoTime , Pinkberry , Samurai Sams Teriyaki Grill , Maui Wowi , NrGize Lifestyle Cafe, Surf City Squeeze , Planet Smoothie , tasti D-lite, Johnnies New York Pizzeria, Cereality , Kahala Coffee Traders , Frullati Cafe & Bakery, Rollerz, Ranch One , Americas Taco Shop and The Great Steak & Potato Company.

For more information about TacoTime, visit www.TacoTime.com.

For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.KahalaBrands.com.

SOURCE TacoTime

Contact:

Jessica Benedick

TacoTime

480.622.3349

jbenedick@kahalamgmt.com

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CNBC.com Names NPI Franchise Owner Eldon Holliday Tennessees Star Franchisee

Nearly 30,000 franchisees were considered; only one per state was selected.

May 12, 2016 // Franchising.com // Omaha, Neb. - National Property Inspections, Inc., parent company of National Property Inspections in the United States and Global Property Inspections in Canada, is pleased to congratulate NPI franchise owner Eldon Holliday for being named one of Americas Star Franchisees 2016. The list, compiled by CNBC.com in conjunction with research partner Franchise Business Review, evaluated nearly 30,000 franchise owners across the United States seeking one star franchisee in each state. Although Holliday lives in Olive Branch, Mississippi, his territory crosses the border into Memphis, and he was selected as the Tennessee star franchisee.

I am honored to be recognized by CNBC.com, Holliday said. Ive worked hard to build my NPI franchise, and Im grateful that Ive had a strong company behind me. That support has made all the difference. I feel like NPI is dedicated to my success.

Holliday, whose background is in automotive repair, started his franchise nine years ago. Although he has a mind for mechanical things, he didnt have a background in construction. He credits NPIs top-notch training program and ongoing training to helping him achieve great success with his business.

Eldon is a fantastic franchisee, said Roland Bates, president and founder of National Property Inspections, Inc. He is one of our award-winning franchise owners because he consistently pushes himself and takes his business to the next level. He has proven that our franchise system works well, and helps entrepreneurs succeed.

CNBC.com chose Americas Star Franchisees based on franchisee satisfaction and high regard for management, as well as the following franchisor criteria:

Strong proof of concept in multiple markets

Clean review of the franchise disclosure document

Solid financial performance and a good opportunity for franchisee return on investment

In addition to the news about Hollidays selection, National Property Inspections, Inc., was named yesterday on CNBC.coms list of 9 Low-cost Franchises That Can Make You Rich.

We have worked very hard for many years to make our franchise one of the best, Bates said. Because we are dedicated to our franchisees and to helping them succeed, we have high franchisee satisfaction, and that has opened doors for us. We are well-known and respected in our industry, and I am convinced thats because we live up to our motto and operate with honesty, integrity and professionalism in everything we do.

To read the full article about Americas Star Franchisees 2016 and learn more about Hollidays experience with NPI, please visit http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/11/50-big-franchise-success-stories-americas-star-franchisees-2016.html.

About National Property Inspections, Inc.

Founded in 1987, National Property Inspections, Inc., is one of the oldest and most respected names in the home and commercial inspection business. We operate as National Property Inspections in the United States and as Global Property Inspections in Canada.

NPI provides services to a wide variety of clients, including home buyers and sellers; commercial property investors, owners and tenants; real estate agents and attorneys; employee relocation companies; banks; and field service companies. No matter what type of inspection a client is looking for, NPI offers the services our clients need through our highly trained and experienced home inspectors and commercial building inspectors.

NPI also offers franchise opportunities throughout the United States and Canada to become a home and commercial building inspector.

For more information about NPI, visit www.npiweb.com. For franchising information, please visit www.npifranchise.com in the United States and www.gpifranchise.com in Canada.

SOURCE National Property Inspections, Inc.

Contact:

Bill Erickson

402.333.9807, Ext. 19

Bill.Erickson@npiweb.com

###

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Jacksonville Beach Couple Opens First Bach to Rock Music School in Florida

Community Invited to Free Grand Opening on June 4 in Jacksonville Beach

May 12, 2016 // Franchising.com // Bach to Rock (B2R), Americas music school for students of all ages, announced today that its first Florida location is opening in Jacksonville Beach. To celebrate B2Rs grand opening, the school will host an open house on Saturday, June 4 from 11 a.m.  2 p.m. at 2280 3rd St S, Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250. The community is invited to tour the school, enjoy a free music lesson, learn about individual lessons and group classes, try out free toddler Mommy and Me classes, enter into prize drawings and giveaways, check out the recording studio, meet the teachers, and more.

I am confident that our new Bach to Rock franchisees, Wayne and Sue Chattaway, will make a meaningful local impact with their Jacksonville Beach school, said Brian Gross, president of Bach to Rock. Theyve got it all: enthusiasm, community commitment and a dedication to quality music education. Gross continued, Families in Jacksonville Beach will be assured of a fun, progressive music curriculum that has proven to be successful with thousands of students of all ages.

Husband and wife team Wayne and Sue Chattaway are embarking on their venture as first-time entrepreneurs by tapping into their extensive backgrounds in the software and healthcare industries respectively. They were motivated to get into the music school business by tuning into a need expressed by Waynes 11-year-old son, Noah. Noah loves to play guitar and he became passionate about the notion of attending a cool music school after watching a movie. Investing in a Bach to Rock franchise was a wise business decision and at the same time, we could help Noah and other budding musicians in Jacksonville Beach, said Wayne Chattaway. Its exciting as business owners. We are delivering a unique music education curriculum that is personalized for each students distinct interests. It will be a joy to help kindle music inspiration and creativity in kids and adults. The couple plans to open a second Bach to Rock in Florida in the next year.

Bach to Rock Jacksonville Beach will offer a variety of programs for both students of all ages, including individual lessons, group classes such as Rock Band, early childhood programs for children as young as two years old, summer camps and birthday parties. Studies have shown that learning to play music in a group helps students learn teamwork, develop social skills and build self-esteem, among other benefits. The school will also feature Bach to Rocks new Touch Screen Tablet Technology, which allows teachers to customize lessons; gives parents the ability to view their childrens progress and homework; and provides administrators with the necessary tools to ensure students are receiving a well-balanced music education.

Bach to Rock is expanding at a robust and steady pace. The franchise has repeatedly been named to EntrepreneursFranchise 500 and was listed in the Top Ten Trending Categories for 2016. Most recently, Bach to Rock won Best ofBethesda Magazine 2016 with first place in the Best Kids' Art or Music Classes category as the readers' pick. In 2014, Inc.Magazine named Bach to Rock one of the fastest-growing private companies in America for the third consecutive year. Franchise Times has ranked it as one of the 500 Powerhouse Brands and on its Next 300 Franchise System list. In addition, Washington Family Magazine named Bach to Rock to its Best Music Instruction list and readers of Northern Virginia Magazine voted the company as Best Piano Instruction. Bach to Rock also was named the number one company to watch by the Washington Business Journal.

Bach to Rock is currently seeking qualified candidates to open franchise locations in major metropolitan markets throughout the country. Bach to Rock is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to build a business that is dedicated to helping children and adults learn to play the music they love. While music experience or ability is not necessary, candidates should bring strong business acumen and the ability to build teams to ensure the schools success.

To learn more about music school franchise ownership opportunities with Bach to Rock, as well as its veteran and franchise referral programs, contact Ralph Rillon, vice president of franchise development, at 1-855-227-7570 orfranchise@bachtorock.com, or visit www.bachtorockfranchise.com.

For more information or to register for classes at B2R Jacksonville Beach:

Visit: 2280 3rd St S., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Call: 904-372-7766 or Toll Free: 877-B2R-8558

Email: jacksonvillebeach@bachtorock.com

Web: https://jacksonvillebeach.b2rmusic.com/

About Bach to Rock

Bach to Rock (B2R) is a music education school for students of all ages from early childhood through high school and beyond. B2R knows learning music should be fun and students learn best when they play music they enjoy. Weekly ensemble instruction and band formations lead to public concerts, Battle of the Bands and recording sessions in B2Rs professional recording studios. B2R builds technique, fosters teamwork and enhances self-esteem through private lessons, band instruction, and public performances. Bach to Rock opened its first corporate-owned location in 2007 in Bethesda, MD., and with the latest opening in Jacksonville Beach Houston, has now grown to 14 with schools in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas. Eight franchised schools are in development in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, with an additional 30 schools in development nationwide. Follow B2R on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BachtoRock and on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/BachtoRock. For more information, visit www.bachtorock.com or call 1-877-227-8558.

SOURCE Bach to Rock

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Kinderdance Awards New Territory In South Carolina

US Franchise Organization Brings Movement Education To Young Children Worldwide

May 12, 2016 // Franchising.com // Melbourne, FL - Kinderdance International Inc, a leader in developmental dance, gymnastics and fitness programs for young children, continues to prove that movement programs standout as a highly popular childrens franchise. Kinderdance International keeps growing announcing a Bronze level franchise to Brianna and William Black. Kinderdance of Upstate South Carolina will be serving the children in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties of South Carolina.

William graduated from Brigham Young UniversityIdaho where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Business Management with an emphasis in finance. Brianna attends school through Brigham Young University-Idaho. She is majoring in Marriage and Family studies and plans to graduate within the next two years. Brianna enjoys working with children and has a passion for dance since early childhood, taking ballet and jazz classes.

Brianna and William both had dreams of owning a business that allowed flexibility with great growth potential. Kinderdance was the perfect fit. We were excited to find a franchise that so closely fit our goals and interests, said Brianna. After doing my research on different childrens franchise organizations, my desire to be part of a leader in childrens developmental dance and movement led me to Kinderdance. The solid corporate support, increasing demand for quality dance and movement programs really stood out to me. With Williamss business experience and Briannas passion for dance and working with children, the Blacks are ready to turn their passion into a rewarding career with Kinderdance.

We are excited about Brianna and William joining our franchise family and look forward to seeing their business grow in the Upstate area of South Carolina. says Kinderdance Vice President, Karen Maltese.

Kinderdance, established in 1979 is a worldwide recognized dance, gymnastics and fitness program for children ages two to twelve. Their 134 Franchisees currently teach over 12,000 children weekly at over 800 various locations in 30 states including DC and 11 countries.

About Kinderdance

Kinderdance places emphasis on building self-confidence and self-esteem in children through learning to share, lead, interact and respond to others needs as well as their own. The programs incorporate the arts, movement, education, music, fitness and the fun of learning into a young childs life while helping in the worldwide fight against childhood obesity.

The company offers their educational movement programs on site to child-care centers, recreational centers, churches, fitness centers, corporate child care, community centers, military bases, public and private schools and many other viable locations.

For more information on Kinderdance please contact Richard Maltese at 1-800-554-2334 or visit their website at www.kinderdance.com.

SOURCE Kinderdance

Contact:

Richard Maltese

President / CEO

Kinderdance International

1-800-554-2334

kindercorp@kinderdance.com.

###

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Kinderdance New Territory Expansion In Delaware

US Franchise Organization Brings Movement Education To Young Children Worldwide

May 12, 2016 // Franchising.com // Melbourne, FL - Kinderdance International Inc, a leader in developmental dance, gymnastics and fitness programs for young children, continues to prove that movement programs standout as a highly popular childrens franchise. Kinderdance International keeps growing announcing a Bronze level franchise to April D Amico. April D Amicos Kinderdance will be serving the children in Delaware County PA and New Castle County in Delaware.

April graduated with her B.A. in Intercultural Ministries. However she started studying ballet while a high school junior at The Portland Ballet School, which has now become Oregon Ballet Theatre. While loving the demands and beauty of ballet, she thrived when she started taking modern dance at the end of her senior year in high school. She continued studying modern dance at college and danced briefly with the Portland State University Repertory Company. For the past eleven years, April has been an assistant in a special needs classroom.

Just recently April was between a couple of career path choices but, in the end, decided to combine her passions for movement, teaching, and children as a Kinderdance franchisee.

We are excited about April joining our franchise family and look forward to seeing her business grow in the Delaware County PA and New Castle County in Delaware says Kinderdance Vice President, Karen Maltese.

About Kinderdance

Kinderdance, established in 1979 is a worldwide recognized dance, gymnastics and fitness program for children ages two to twelve. Their 134 Franchisees currently teach over 12,000 children weekly at over 800 various locations in 30 states including DC and 11 countries.

Kinderdance places emphasis on building self-confidence and self-esteem in children through learning to share, lead, interact and respond to others needs as well as their own. The programs incorporate the arts, movement, education, music, fitness and the fun of learning into a young childs life while helping in the worldwide fight against childhood obesity.

The company offers their educational movement programs on site to child-care centers, recreational centers, churches, fitness centers, corporate child care, community centers, military bases, public and private schools and many other viable locations.

For more information on Kinderdance please contact Richard Maltese at 1-800-554-2334 or visit their website at www.kinderdance.com.

SOURCE Kinderdance

Contact:

Richard Maltese

President / CEO

Kinderdance International

1-800-554-2334

kindercorp@kinderdance.com.

###

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Celebrates Bangladesh Opening

Dhaka marks the first of 20 shops opened over the next five years.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - May 11, 2016 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. announced the first Krispy Kreme shop opened in Bangladesh on May 7. With this opening inDhaka, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts now has a presence in 26 countries.

We are thrilled to share the joy that is Krispy Kreme with our strong fan-base in Dhaka and all of Bangladesh, said Dan Beem, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Senior Vice President and President  International. As our partner continues to open shops over the next several years, we expect to build upon that robust foundation by making our sweet treats and premium coffee the new favorite throughout the country.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts signed a franchise agreement with Orion Group in 2014 to open 20 shops throughout Bangladesh over the next five years.

The two-story shop is approximately 5,000 square feet and features Krispy Kremes classic welcoming atmosphere. It features more than a dozen one-of-a-kind Krispy Kremedoughnuts, including the signature Original Glazed doughnut loved by fans across the globe.

The first guest in line at the grand opening received a voucher for a free dozen of Original Glazed doughnuts each week for a year.

About Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., is a global retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. The Company has more than 1,000 retail shops in 26 countries. Connect withKrispy Kreme Doughnuts at www.KrispyKreme.com, or on one its many social media channels, including www.Facebook.com/KrispyKreme, andwww.Twitter.com/KrispyKreme.

SOURCE Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

Contact:

Sarah Roof

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

Corporate Communications Coordinator

336-726-8878

sroof@krispykreme.com

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The Joint Chiropractic Opens In Boynton Beach, FL

Revolutionary Concept Makes Chiropractic Care More Convenient And Affordable

May 12, 2016 // Franchising.com // Boynton Beach, Fla. - The Joint Chiropractic is now open in Boynton Beach at 520 E. Woolbright Road located in the Sunshine Square Plaza off of US 1, next to the Zoo Fitness and Pure Barre. The clinic officially opened on May 9.

The Joint offers an innovative, patient-friendly approach that allows people to get affordable, quality chiropractic care on their terms. Appointments are not necessary, the clinic has extended hours, and insurance is not needed as The Joints membership plans and packages mean visits are often less costly than most insurance co-pays.

Regular chiropractic adjustments can help treat and prevent the aches and pains which result from the repetitive activities of everyday life. These symptoms include back pain, headaches, and text neck resulting from mobile device use. Consumers who take 15 minutes out of their week for a regular adjustment are able to more fully participate in the activities they enjoy and lead an active, healthier life.

Dr. Kenneth Rosenblatt, D.C. is the full-time doctor and Dr. Anjan Patel, MD, is the owner of The Joint in Boynton Beach.

The Joint Chiropractic - Boynton is open six days a week: Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please call (561) 777-7376 or visit the new clinic at 520 E. Woolbright Rd., Boynton Beach, FL 33426. [Directions].

About The Joint Corp. (NASDAQ: JYNT)

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Joint is reinventing chiropractic by making quality care convenient and affordable for patients seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness. Our no-appointment policy and convenient hours and locations make care more accessible, and our affordable membership plans and packages eliminate the need for insurance. With 330+ clinics nationwide and more than 3 million patient visits annually, The Joint is an emerging growth company and key leader in the chiropractic profession. For more information, visit www.thejoint.com, follow us on Twitter@thejointchiro and find us on Facebook, You Tube and LinkedIn.

Business Structure

The Joint Corp. is a franchisor of clinics and an operator of clinics in certain states. In California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee, The Joint and its franchisees provide management services to affiliated professional chiropractic practices.

SOURCE The Joint Corp. (NASDAQ: JYNT)

Media Contact:

Marcia Rhodes

Amendola Communications

mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com

(480) 664-8412 ext. 15

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Togo's Sandwiches is Now Open in Chatsworth

"West Coast Original" Kicks Off with Giveaways

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - May 11, 2016 // PRNewswire // - Togo's Eateries, Inc., a "West Coast Original" since 1971 known for its big, fresh and meaty sandwiches, is celebrating its first location in Chatsworth. Togo's (pronounced Toe'-Goes) is now located at 20790 Nordhoff St. Unit 4, Chatsworth, CA 91311, in the Chatsworth Commerce Center.

The first 250 guests to join the Togo's Tribe will receive a Reward for a free 6" regular classic sandwich. Togo's will continue giveaways for the Chatsworthcommunity through October 2016. Guests can register athttp://www.togostribechatsworth.com and will need to choose "Chatsworth" as their Favorite Location to become a Chatsworth Tribe Member. As a Tribe Member, guests will receive Rewards and Special Offers.

"Togo's is excited to announce our newest restaurant in Chatsworth," said Tony Gioia, CEO at Togo's. "We're looking forward to sharing with the local community what other locations have been serving up for years: big, fresh and meaty sandwiches made with a smile."

Togo's Chatsworth will be open from 10am-9pm Monday through Saturday and11am-8pm on Sunday. Guests can visit www.togos.com or call 747-202-9257 to place an order and skip the line. Delivery will be available throughout the local community. In addition, Togo's caters meetings and parties of any size with sandwich platters, box lunches, wraps and large salads.

Forty-five years ago, a young college student opened the first Togo's in a small shack near San Jose State University. With meaty portions and only the freshest ingredients, Togo's won a cult-like following and spread throughout California. Soon enough, Togo's became the "West Coast Original," for sandwich fanatics who crave fresh artisan breads, premium, hand-sliced meats, and freshly-scooped Hass avocados. The company stands behind its world-famous #9 Hot Pastrami Sandwich with a money back guarantee. The top selling #9 is made with premium Rose & Shore Pastrami made especially for Togo's and hand sliced in the restaurants every day.

For the latest Togo's news, coupons and special offers, join the Togo's Tribe atwww.togos.com or download the Togo's Tribe app. Also, be sure to follow Togo'son Twitter and Like them on Facebook to stay up to date on the latest promotions and restaurant openings.

About Togo's Eateries, Inc.

Togo's was founded in 1971 by a young college student with a large appetite and little money looking to make sandwiches the way he liked them - big, fresh and meaty. Keeping in the spirit of the original, Togo's products are still made with only the highest quality ingredients; including fresh-baked Artisan breads, hand sliced premium pastrami, turkey and roast beef, as well as California avocados and cheeses. Togo's proprietary brand of old-fashioned Pastrami, 98 percent fat-free slow-roasted turkey, and Togo's homemade chicken and tuna salad set the brand apart from other sandwich shops. With more than 325 locations open and under development throughout the West, Togo's is a franchise-based business that offers online ordering and catering services.

For more information, call 877.718.6467 or visit www.togosfranchise.com. For general information on Togo's Eateries, Inc., please visit www.togos.com.

SOURCE Togo's Eateries, Inc.

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The teacher crisis is real, and were not going to work our way out of it simply by making it easier to hire teachers.
Robert Wilson Gives Idaho Premiere of Nationally Co-Commissioned Violin Sonata

Robert Wilson, a senior at Idaho State University, gave the Idaho premiere of composer Stephanie Ann Boyd's new work for violin and piano at Idaho State University on April 22nd as part of the 50 State Sonata Project.

--

50 State Sonata Project dedicated to Suzuki Violin Pedagogue John Kendall will have performances in every US state in 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pocatello, Idaho, May 8, 2016 -- Robert Wilson, a senior at Idaho State University, gave the Idaho premiere of composer Stephanie Ann Boyd's new work for violin and piano at Idaho State University on April 22nd as part of the 50 State Sonata Project. This project is a co-commission involving one violinist in every state, and is Part I of a two year project celebrating the life and work of John Kendall, a pedagogue who helped to bring the Suzuki teaching method to America.

Boyd, a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, studied violin with Kendall while in high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan and wanted to embark on a project that would showcase her love of the violin while paying adequate tribute to Kendall's world-wide musical influence. Robert spoke fondly of working with Boyd, saying "I consider her to be an ambassador for contemporary classical music...in her compositions both the trained musician and the complete newcomer to classical concerts can find something to enjoy." Of the new work for violin and piano, Wilson noted that "Her Amerigo Sonata reaches out to the audience in an essentially human, relatable, and beautiful way."

Wilson currently serves as the concertmaster of the Idaho State University Chamber Orchestra, and the Assistant Concertmaster of the Idaho State University Civic Symphony. He has been involved in multiple outreach programs and currently teaches several group classes for the Caribou Highland After School Strings Program, a nonprofit afterschool program which serves grade school to high school age students. Through his efforts, and with support from the community, his program was recently awarded a federal grant designed to help rural artistic programs. "I've so enjoyed working with Robert on this project", Boyd said. "His thoughts and ideas on music are as beautiful and intricate as his playing." More information on Idaho violinist Robert Wilson can be found at http://www.stephanieannboyd.com/idaho More about the 50 State Sonata Project can be found at http://www.stephanieannboyd.com/50-state-sonata-pr...

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Global Particle Size Analysis Market to See a Growth of 4.7% CAGR to 2021

The global particle size analysis market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2016 to 2021. A region such as North America and Europe is to hold larger shares. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to register the highest CAGR of 5.9%.

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Mojo Global's Remarkable B2B Lead Generation Training Unveils Secrets to Rapid Lead Growth

Business owner Nikesha Rhoden of Custom Apps Plus says that Mojo Global's Expert B2B Lead Generation Training, Customer Service and Support is paramount to Custom App's Growth, and Mojo rolls out the red carpet when dealing with clients.

--

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Adam's Warrior Buddy Announces 5k Run, Dog Jog and Memorial Day Weekend Event

Saturday, May 28th, 2016 8 am-3 pm. Adam's Warrior Buddy and May Farms will host an annual fundraising event in Byers, CO (just East of Denver on I-70) - 5k Dog Jog, food, music, vendors, children's activities, exhibits, demos, and more

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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 8 am-3 pm. Adam's Warrior Buddy has teamed up with May Farms to create an annual fundraising event. This 5k Run and Dog Jog and family day (to include 4 legged family members) will be hosted at May Farms in Byers, CO (just East of Denver on I-70). The day will include the 5k Run, Dog Jog, food, music, vendors, children's activities, exhibits, demos, and much more

Sponsors, Vendors and participants are need to help round out the day. Plan now to attend! For more information about this event, visit www.mayfarms.com/dog-jog/

Adam's Warrior Buddy is a fairly new non-profit started April 2014.IT is a 501 (c) (3) organization which provides fully trained PTSD service dogs and companion dogs free of charge to veterans. It was begun after the founders youngest son was injured in Afghanistan in 2011 and required a service dog. Adam's Warrior Buddy is 100% volunteer-based foundation with 100% of its proceeds going to provide fully-trained service dogs for veterans with PTSD and TBI.

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After many hours of research, it was discovered that almost all of the service dog companies had a long waiting list. To purchase a PTSD service dog was $10,000.00-$30,000.00. As with many Americans, this presented a great barrier. The VA currently does not provide PTSD service dogs or funding for them. A fundraisers was held in Adam's honor and funds were raised to help with the cost.

As word spread, requests began to pour in asking to help other veterans. After many months of deliberation, the decision was made to make Adam's Warrior Buddy a registered non-profit.

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Adam's Warrior Buddy's Board of Directors are veterans. Everyone on their staff including the founder, are volunteer. Currently, 90-100% of donations are applied to a PTSD service dog.

100% of the services Adam's Warrior Buddy provides are free to the veterans and their families

PTSD service dogs provide a sense of security for the veteran, both at home and in public. The dogs are trained to "watch" the veteran's back in public areas. They create space between the veteran and people. They wake the veteran from night terrors. They can alert the veteran to an anxiety attack. They pull veterans out of crowds or uncomfortable situations. They help reduce the intake of medications.

Some statistics:

22 veterans per day are lost to suicide.*

There are 2.3 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (compared to 2.6 who fought in Vietnam)*

At least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or depression.*

50% of those with PTSD do not seek treatment.*

Out of the half that seek treatment, only half of them get "minimally adequate" treatment.* (*) indicates RAND study statistics

Maria Mittelstadt went on to say, "We at Adam's Warrior Buddy believe we owe our veterans. We cannot leave another generation behind who so selflessly defended our nation. Adam's Warrior Buddy takes pride in "Helping One Veteran at a Time"."

This fund raiser will support Adam's Warrior Buddy and includes a 5K Run, Dog Jog and Family Memorial Weekend Event Near Denver, CO. Help support the veterans.

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Businesses and Home Owners are constantly looking for ways to save money on electricity. In the past, there was essentially a single option to deliver the needed power, and those who utilized that electricity were at the mercy of the provider. Today, solar power delivers an excellent new option for businesses and homes that promises lower costs and a host of benefits. The benefits of solar power begin with cost savings, after installation and maintenance, solar energy is free! In addition, solar energy produces no pollution and is a renewable resource. Now, Australian businesses and home owners can experience the solar energy difference with Massive Solar's Expert Installation and Maintenance which delivers all these benefits and more!

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Probiotics For Dogs Achieve New Milestone

Wagglies' Probiotics for Dogs reach new product order milestone - 250 orders since product launched in April.

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Since launching their Probiotics for Dogs onto Amazon U.S. in the latter half of April 2016, Wagglies have seen an impressive amount of interest in their brand new product.

The brand's latest achievement is to reach 250 orders, a significant milestone for a product that was launched less than a month ago.

The dog probiotics released by the popular pet supplies brand contain 25 billion CFUs, 74 trace minerals, 5 strains of probiotic and 1 prebiotic. The added prebiotic is what makes Wagglies' dog supplements different to that of competitors.

"Whilst many companies wouldn't include a prebiotic for cost reasons, we know how important it is as an ingredient so we were determined to put it inside our powder probiotics." said Dan Clayton, Founder of Wagglies, "Our supplements are made from a custom formula, so we've chosen each and every ingredient for their safety and effectiveness, allowing us to have a superior level of quality control over our product."

The brand are keen to discuss the safety of their probiotics, after questions were raised about the safety of the entire online supplement market in 2015.

"As we've only just launched in 2016, we knew that questions had been raised about the safety of online probiotics and we were keen to put our customers' safety concerns to rest." continued Dan, "Each batch of our Probiotics for Dogs is made in the USA in a GMP and FDA approved lab."

Alongside their Probiotics for Dogs, Wagglies also have their Dog Nail Clippers on Amazon U.S. - a product that has proven popular amongst old and new customers alike. The brand previously released their Puppy Training Pads onto Amazon U.S. and UK in 2015.

Wagglies Probiotics for Dogs are now available in a 6oz bag (~ 2+ months supply) from Amazon U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/Wagglies-Probiotics-Dogs-Pre...

For more information about us, please visit https://www.wagglies.com/us/

Contact Info:

Name: Dan Clayton

Organization: Wagglies



Release ID: 114566

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Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria Expand Range To Include All Tigi Products On The Market

Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria has expanded to include the full range of Tigi products on its website to help men, tweens and those with special hair types to benefit from these great products.

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Tigi is one of the world's most popular range of haircare products, and is used by haircare professionals and consumers alike for the outstanding results it providers. The product is sold in major markets like the UK and USA, but getting hold of the products in Europe can be more difficult. Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria is a website that helps people in Spain get hold of these great products, and has just expanded its catalogue to include the full suite of products Tigi create.

The site (https://tigi.tiendaproductospeluqueria.com) now also offers Bed Head for Men, specifically formulated for male hair and scalp, (the specific line for the men), Urban Antidotes, which can help tired hair repair after damage by heat, pollution and more, S Factor, the classic line including Serious Conditioner and Diamond, and Tweens, shampoo and conditioner formulated for younger heads.

This allows them to create full coverage of the entire product range. The extension also allows them to offer the products at the very best prices available. Every product is listed with high quality imagery, detailed descriptions and can be bought with easy and secure payment options, and expedited delivery.

A spokesperson for Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria explained, "We are thrilled to be able to cover the whole range of Tigi products, making them available at the very best prices to consumers in Spain. The products we offer create wonderful opportunities for people to get the best haircare available for less. Our stock room is now bursting at the seams with these premium products, and we look forward to delivering them to Spanish customers throughout the coming year. The Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria online store will go from strength to strength as a result of this expansion."

About Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria: Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria is a unique specialist store offering Tigi hair products to the Spanish market. Their entire suite of hair care products is available on the site, including their bed head range including manipulator, after party, queen for a day, small talk, headrush, ego boost, and more, as well as their best-selling catwalk curls rock amplifier and more.

For more information about us, please visit https://tigi.tiendaproductospeluqueria.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Victoria

Email: tigi@tiendaproductospeluqueria.com

Organization: Tigi Tienda Productos Peluqueria

Phone: 0034902009261

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/tigi-tienda-productos-peluqueria-expand-range-to-include-all-tigi-products-on-the-market/114764

Release ID: 114764

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LUSO Federal Credit Union Awarded Designation of Savings Excellence from America Saves

LUSO Federal Credit Union has been selection to receive the Designation of Savings Excellence for Credit Unions due to its success during America Saves Week.

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LUSO Federal Credit Union (www.LusoFederal.com), a member-owned not-for-profit financial cooperative, will be receiving the America Saves Designation of Savings Excellence for Credit Unions on May 18, 2016. The recognition will be given to the credit unions that went above and beyond during the most recent America Saves Week.

"The designation is a point of pride for LUSO since it shows how everyone put their best foot forward to help Members," remarks Jennifer Calheno, CEO and president of LUSO Federal Credit Union. "This achievement is for LUSO as a whole and is not given to any individual branch. That means this was truly an all-hands triumph."

The Designation of Savings Excellence is given to credit unions based on the number of new accounts acquired and how much savings grew during America Saves Week. Candidates are then reviewed by a selection committee for the final awards.

LUSO Federal Credit Union, along with the other recipients of the Designation, will receive recognition at the America Saves National Savings Forum and will also be given a Designation of Savings Excellence seal for their web site.

"We really tried to get our community involved during America Saves Week, especially through our 'saving selfies' campaign, which was run in the lead up to America Saves Week," says Calheno. "By encouraging Members to take pictures of themselves and their savings goal, the idea was to help get people thinking about their finances and starting conversation in advance."

America Saves Week is a research-based campaign run by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America and seeks to motivate, encourage, and support low-to-moderate income households in efforts to save, reduce debt, and otherwise build up personal wealth. The Designation of Savings Excellence is a recent addition to the campaign and was added in 2015.

The designation will be given out on May 18th at the annual America Saves National Savings Forum.

LUSO Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to providing its members with quality financial services and products. LUSO prides itself on serving the financial needs of those who live, work, worship, do business, or attend school throughout Hampden County, Massachusetts, regardless of economic status. More information about LUSO Federal Credit Union and its services can be found on the credit union's web site at www.LusoFederal.com.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.lusofederal.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Jennifer M.G. Calheno

Organization: LUSO Federal Credit Union

Address: 599 East Street Ludlow, MA 01056

Phone: 413-589-9966

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/luso-federal-credit-union-awarded-designation-of-savings-excellence-from-america-saves/114709

Release ID: 114709

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Tim Harford, the undercover economist, is running a series on Radio 4 called More or less about the use of statistics. I find it fascinating.

Last month he looked at the EU cabbage myth, especially in the light of the forthcoming Brexit referendum.

The story goes, as most of us know, that the Pythagorean theorem has 24 words; The Lords Prayer, 66 words; Archimedes Principle, 67 words; The Ten Commandments, 179 words; The Gettysburg Address, 286 words, The Declaration of Independence 1,300 words and the EU government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words.

Its a great story, but about the regulations on cabbage, (have a look at the BBC website and www.snopes.com/language/document/cabbage.asp) its not true.

But it is true there are approximately 5,500 pages of FCA rules  and growing. Just tap into the FCA website and be amazed at the length and quantity of rules, consultations and regulations issued on one day alone. A start could be made by requiring regulators to pass a diploma before they can practice on the rest of us

This incredible regulatory incontinence has been noticed not just by the usual suspects, such as aggrieved IFAs, but by specialist government departments both in the EU and the UK, and a dedicated Cabinet sub-committee.

The chief economist of the Bank of England for example has ridiculed the explosion of financial services regulation (see The Dog and the Frisbee on the Bank of England website).

The problem is that despite occasional reforms (the Deregulation Act 2015 helpfully cancelled the Trading with the Enemy (Japan) Regulations 1942, which was counted as a win) in real life the position just gets worse.

Sir Brian Leveson, the High Court judge complained last year in relation to criminal law that all the law from 1130 to 1988 (around 650 years) was able to be printed in one volume; the additional laws made between 1989 to 2013 needed four more volumes.

So what might be done? It is clear making rules to reduce rules doesnt work. The Canadians last year passed a one in one out law, but we have had government policy, which has supported one in two out since 2010, and it has been profoundly ineffective.

What might be better would be to change the mindset of legislators and regulators so they thought less of regulation and more of common sense, rather like the Lord Chancellors of the Middle Ages who, distressed by the excessive legalisms of acts of parliament, invented the concept of equity.

Changing the mindset would take longer than having a rule about a rule. But a start could be made by requiring regulators such as officials at the FCA for example to pass a diploma before they can practice on the rest of us (rather like solicitors, doctors, bus drivers and IFAs have to pass a test before they have an opportunity to do harm).
Aegon UK has reported first quarter profits of 23m euros (18.2m), reversing losses in the previous three months, which was led, the company stated, by strong protection sales.

Pre-tax profits for the UK arm of the Dutch business took a hit in the last quarter of 2015, reporting a 9m euro (7.1m) loss.

The bounce back in the start of 2016 betters the same period last year for the company, which then reported pre-tax profits of 5m euros (3.9m)

In a statement, Aegon attributed the increase in earnings primarily to a higher contribution from its protection business, which saw sales increase 18 per cent.

However the provider added as of the second quarter of 2016, quarterly earnings from its life business will lose about 7m euros (5.5m) of earnings due to the sale of two thirds of Aegon UKs annuity business.

Aegon announced in April it will sell two thirds of its annuities portfolio to Rothesay Life.

Earnings from pensions improved to 2m euros (1.58m).

The statement added Aegon aims to speed up the transfer of its customers from its back book to its platform, consolidating customer assets.

Aegon upgraded about 18,000 customers and 0.8bn euros (0.63m) of assets in the first quarter, according to the statement.

This contributed to the 1.2bn euros (0.95bn) of net inflows the company saw in the first quarter, with total assets reaching 9.3bn euros (7.3bn).

On average, the size of new advised individual policies on the platform, including customers that chose to upgrade, was about 80,000 euros (63,000), according to Aegon, which it stated was more than double the amount for the traditional book of pensions and investment bonds.

The recently announced acquisition of BlackRocks DC pension platform business fits this strategy and is intended to further improve the scale and competitive position of Aegons pension business, the statement added.

Adrian Grace, UK chief executive of Aegon, said 2016 will be a big year for Aegon as it focuses on its strategy of becoming the UKs leading platform business.

Commenting on the outlook for the market and the forthcoming Lifetime Isa, Mr Grace said: Historically insurers have had similar business models but after a period of seismic changes in technology, regulation and consumer attitudes, provider strategies and their diversity are becoming apparent.

Theres a clear distinction emerging between those pursuing growth based on modern platform propositions with adviser support versus those opting to maintain legacy books.

He said pointed to future change in the life comany sector, insurers that were forced to channel their efforts into adapting to regulatory change in the form of auto-enrolment, the charge cap and pension freedoms, are now able to invest in their businesses.

The government initiatives have increased savings and customer engagement but at the expense of industry and customer driven innovation, he said, and criticised the Lifetime Isa for muddying the waters.

I see 2016 as the year this will change with providers beginning to show their strategic hand as technology increasingly redefines business models in every sector. For pensions and savings, a clear digital strategy is essential to enable advisers and employers to offer simple, straightforward and holistic services.
Fears an overhaul of Australias superannuation pension system will harm wealthy British expats could be unfounded, as the rules may be scrapped in the July general election, an expert has told FTAdviser.

If the opposition  which is currently leading in the polls and has criticised the policy  wins the election, the move will likely be overturned,

The new rules introduce a $500,000 (255,000) lifetime cap on superannuation contributions, prompting fears wealthy British expats would be unable to transfer the full value of their pensions down under.

But Andrew Hains, senior client adviser of IFA Montfort International, who specialises in advising British expats moving to Australia, said fears were premature.

Mr Hains said while the regulation is currently in place, it has not yet been put on the statute books.

No draft legislation has been released yet and with an election coming up, it may not go ahead, he said.

This week Australias parliament was dissolved ahead of a double dissolution election, meaning no laws can be made before the election.

The Labour party opposes the governments policy, and polls currently give it a slight edge over the incumbent Liberal party.

There is also widespread opposition to the new cap among Liberals.

Current prime minister Malcolm Turnbulls deposed predecessor Tony Abbott and his allies were vehemently against making any changes to superannuation tax concessions.

But if the changes do go ahead, Mr Hains said British expats with more than 255,000 in their pension pots have two good options: leave the remainder in the UK, or move it into a qualified overseas pension scheme (Qrops) in a third jurisdiction.

One positive side to the new rules, he said, is that they would prevent people transferring money to Australia when it is not beneficial to do so.

Weve seen so many transfers from the UK to Australia that should really never have happened, particularly of final salary pensions, he told FTAdviser.

While Mr Hains said the rules will only affect a fraction of the tens of thousands of British citizens who move to Australia every year, he said they will affect about 30 to 40 per cent of his clients.

This, he said, might put people off moving to Australia.

However, he said he hoped the changes, should they come about, will encourage more people to get advice before transferring all their funds overseas, as it is often not in their interest to do so.

This article has been amended since first publication.
Milk producers are being offered levy-funded workshops to help them ask and answer fundamental questions about their businesses.

Under the banner Decisions4Dairy, AHDB Dairy aims to help farmers make the right decisions about the future.

The events include support and advice from consultancy firms, farming charities and banks.

There are two types of workshop:

Decisions4Dairy  regionally focused on broad subjects such as A and B pricing, constituents and cost structure

What if  individually tailored advice stemming from actual individual farm costs of production.

Advice so far under the programme has included consultancy from Savills, Andersons and The Dairy Group. Farmers are encouraged to assess cost of production prior to meetings in order to get full value from the sessions.

The AHDB-led programme follows the March Dairy Allied Industries Forum which heard about half of British dairy farms were financially vulnerable in December.

The What if workshops will be take producers through five areas of business planning:

Greater cost understanding and management

Better returns from inputs

Effects of reducing inputs, litres or cows

Improved feed use

Producing the right milk for your contract

12 questions The level of business scrutiny will be loosely based on the 12 questions business consultant William Neville from Savills came up with for dairy farmers to ask about the future of their businesses. Do you have the mindset to take control of your own destiny? Or are you a hopeless victim of circumstance?

Is dairy farming right for you and your family? Inheritance plans? Non-farming family members?

What will you need to invest in your facilities in the next 10 years? How will you fund it and justify it?

Do you really know your cost of production?

What is the realistic future milk price? Evidence v hope?

Have you worked out whether you are producing what your milk purchaser really wants  for example, are you maximising your return under your milk contract?

What are you really paying yourself an hour? What can you afford to pay yourself and remain competitive? Would you be better off paying someone else and trying to add value to other parts of the business? What are your other skills? How much could you earn off farm part-time or full-time?

Might there be a day when you will find yourself stranded without a milk purchaser at all?

Are you buying all your inputs at the best prices and when did you last check alternatives?

Are you ruthlessly and honestly benchmarking your performance and constantly trying to identify ways to incrementally improve performance?

Do you have your eyes open for niche opportunities, even if they start small?

Do you have the right skills for the technologically and market-driven global dairy industry of the future?

Rachael Chamberlayne, technical manager at AHDB Dairy, said the What if discussions would explore short and mid-term business changes, such as selling stock or testing the potential of cereal or beef enterprises.

Early meetings have already been successful, she told Farmers Weekly.

One farmer went home and sold some beef stock that were not performing for the business.

Its about this type of immediate and short-term impact but also getting the right message for those producers who will see better times round the corner.

Specialist consultants work with farmers on the day to explore their businesses using actual cost of production collated by the farmer prior to the workshop as a base point.

An online business decision tree is being developed to steer dairy units through increasingly volatile times by informing short- and longer-term fundamental decisions.

Scottish farmers can visit the Scottish Dairy Hub website, an AHDB- and Scottish government-funded service connecting sources of advice to strengthen technical and structural elements of businesses.
Dairy farmers looking to expand their herds need to comply with a range of legal and financial hurdles, including environmental regulations if they live in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs).

Ged Davies, natural resource management team leader for Natural Resources Wales in Pembrokeshire, guides farmers through some of the environmental considerations to observe when expanding.

See also: Two dairy farmers on meeting NVZ regs to expand herds

I am expanding my herd with smaller cows than the average UK dairy cow. Is there an allowance in the calculation for smaller cows or cows producing lower yields?

The total nitrogen produced by livestock on the holding is calculated by the number of litres of milk each cow produces.

For example, a cow with a milk yield of less than 6,000 litres is calculated to produce 77kg of organic N/ha a year. Based on this figure the farm can be stocked at 2.21 cows a hectare.

Only some of my land is in an NVZ. How does this affect the calculations?

Most of the NVZ rules apply to individual fields. So stocking levels on a holding with fields subject to NVZ regulations can be increased only if the off-lying land is used, thereby ensuring that during the year the whole farm limit of 170kg N/ha is maintained.

How is summer grazing allowed for in the calculations?

The calculation for nitrogen produced on a holding in the NVZ only applies to the period the livestock are on the NVZ land.

Therefore, if a farmer grazes youngstock on off-lying land for five months of the year, the whole farm limit of 170kg/ha can be adjusted accordingly.

If I separate my parlour washings and dirty water, can that be applied in the closed period?

The closed period only applies to organic manures with readily available nitrogen of more than 30%.

What criteria must I meet to apply for an individual farm derogation to increase the nitrogen loading limit to a maximum of 250kg?

Any farm with grazing livestock and more than 80% of their area under grass can apply to work to the higher limit, but not all applications are successful. The derogation must be renewed annually.

If the farm is locked up with TB and it forces me to exceed the nitrogen loading limit, is there an allowance for that?

Current regulations do not allow for this. However, if the land is eligible for the grassland derogation, then this may resolve this issue.

In principle, force majeure may apply because of unavoidable circumstances, which renders the regulation irrelevant.

Farmers are nevertheless expected to make every effort to comply with the rules. Such situations are resolved on a case-by-case basis and farmers are advised to speak to their local contact.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia was among the right people enshrined on the memorial wall on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The Corvallis Sister Cities Association is hosting its annual Walk for Water on May 21.

The 5-kilometer event starts at 9:30 a.m. and finishes at the Benton County Fairgrounds and benefits water projects in Gondar, Ethiopia. Corvallis has had a sister city relationship with Gondar since 2005.

Proceeds from the event will help residents of Gondar construct wells in local neighborhoods and villages around Gondar and provide a source of clean water they previously lacked.

I have learned during my visits to Gondar that the wells we construct can provide much more than water, said Richard Raymond of the Sister Cities Association. They provide significant employment for the local contractors and workers who actually build the well. One village was able to open a recently completed high school that had been closed because there was no water for the students.

At another village where we built a water source by developing a local spring the increased and constant flow of water encouraged local farmers to build a small diversion and aqueduct to develop and irrigate a nearby field to grow potatoes.

The race will be followed by a market village, which includes exhibits and displays, childrens activities, Ethiopian food, music and T-shirts for sale.
When Albany architect Bill Ryals thinks of the Oregon State University campus, Waldo Hall and Weatherford Hall immediately come to mind.

But Waldo Hall, designed by Albany-based architect Charles Burggraf and built in 1907, is Ryals' personal favorite for its wild mix of styles, the use of color, and the way the building straddles two different eras of architecture.

"It's just fascinating. It's almost like the 'Moby Dick' of architecture for this area," Ryals said.

And the structure isn't just a critical favorite. "That building is near and dear to a lot of people that have been on the OSU campus going back a long ways," Ryals said.

Ryals gave a presentation on Burggraf at the Albany Regional Museum on Wednesday.

Burggraf, who practiced for 55 years, until 1933, was a regional architect of extreme importance, Ryals said.

He specialized in public buildings and designed and supervised the construction of 40 schools, at least nine hospitals and seven courthouses in Oregon and southwest Washington. Most of them are in Italianate and neoclassical styles, influenced by ancient Greek and Roman buildings and later Renaissance structures.

They are incredibly beautiful and elegant in proportion and scale, Ryals said.

Furman Hall on the OSU campus also is another of Burggraf's buildings, though it's very simple compared to many of his structures. "It's really fairly simple, but the details are spot-on. If you look at the detailed brickwork around the entryway, around the doors and windows, it's staggering," Ryals said.

Like the OSU structures, most of Burggrafs buildings are topped with some sort of towers. That was partly by necessity, as they served to ventilate the buildings.

Ryals became familiar with Burggraf  and amazed with his genius  when he renovated and remodeled the century-old J.C. Penney building in downtown Albany at 317 First Ave. W.

This is an incredibly solid, structurally sound building to this day, Ryals told the crowd at the Albany Regional Museum on Wednesday afternoon.

Another old J.C. Penney building in McMinnville that Ryals repaired, and which was designed by a Burggraf contemporary, was, by contrast, a rickety, creaking mess.

Many of his structures, unfortunately, no longer exist, such as the old Linn County Courthouse or the Hotel Albany.

For his period, a remarkable number have survived. Two of his courthouses are still in operation. Its actually fairly amazing, Ryals said.

In Albany, theres Central Elementary School, 336 Ninth Ave. S.W., which will celebrate its 100th anniversary school year next week, and the old Albany High School building, 420 Third Ave. S.E., which now houses Albany Christian School.

The downtown Carnegie library and the St. Francis Hotel building also are examples of Burggraf structures that are still in use.

Theres no reason why we cant hold onto our buildings, Ryals said.

Burggraf was born in 1866 in Illinois, started at his fathers architectural firm in 1888, and moved to Salem in 1891.

He ended up with so many clients in Albany that in 1899, he moved to Albany, Ryals said.

His wife, Mattie Burggraf, did drawings for the business and was very active with the practice, Ryals added.

In some ways, Burggraf was among the first modern architects and, despite his relative isolation in the Pacific Northwest, was on the cutting edge of using steel, tension rods, brackets and other techniques.

In his early days, When they were building a building, a bunch of men with shovels showed up and they dug the foundation, Ryals said.

Materials also came from nearby.

By the end of his career, they were starting to automate things, and they had steam shovels that were replacing horses. He really was on that cusp, Ryals said.

During his career, Burggraf became such an expert on building schools that he would underbid other firms, even in small towns such as Tillamook and Arlington.
May is sister cities month, and representatives of Corvallis sister city in Ukraine arrive today for a 13-day tour of the city, Oregon State University and the mid-valley.

Uzhhorod Mayor Bohdan Andriyiv will lead the four-person delegation, which also includes community volunteer Maria Trunova; Yaroslava Hasynets, dean of the biology faculty at Uzhhorod National University; and interpreter Kate Brenzovych, associate dean in the international relations faculty at Uzhhorod National University.

Trunova specializes in animal control issues, Hasynets with preservation and Brenzovych will focus on relations between the Uzhhorod university and OSU.

A public welcome for the delegation is set for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. The group will tour city departments Monday and be honored at that nights City Council meeting, tour historical and cultural preservation sites Tuesday, visit Heartland Humane Society on Wednesday, tour parks and natural areas on May 19 and Oregon State on May 20.

The group also will spend an afternoon at Silver Falls State Park and a day at the Oregon coast.

The Ukrainian visitors will be staying with host families in Corvallis.

Home stays are really an outstanding opportunity for both delegates and host families to learn about each others culture and lives, said Pete Bober, local coordinator for the Corvallis Uzhorrod Sister Cities Association. Long-lasting friendships have been known to develop as a result, with Corvallis host families visiting Uzhhorod to spend time with their newfound friends.

Corvallis and Uzhorrod, which has a population of 115,000 and is located in the extreme western part of Ukraine near Slovakia and Hungary, have been sister cities since 1989. Corvallis also entered into a sister city relationship with Gondar, Ethiopia, in 2005.
Palestinian children in the West Bank, like adults, are subject to arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment under an Israeli military detention system that denies them basic rights. Israeli Jews, on the other hand,

living in illegal settlements on Palestinian land, are subject to Israeli civilian laws, complete with all the protections one would expect in a democracy. This constitutes separate and un-equal policies.

The U.S. State Department's human rights report (2013) states that these military courts have a 99 percent conviction rate for Palestinians. UNICEF reports that for Palestinian children, ill-treatment within the Israeli military detention system is widespread, systematic, and institutionalized. Five hundred to 700 Palestinian children are processed in Israeli military courts each year. A Defense for Children International  Palestine inquiry found that during and after an arrest, 75 percent of Palestinian children were subjected to physical violence, with 97 percent denied access to legal council and had no parent with them during interrogation. This treatment is in defiance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel ratified in 1991.

For these reasons and others, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota is calling on President Obama to appoint a special envoy for Palestinian youth. She's written to all members of Congress asking them to co-sign her letter and she's asking all of us to urge them to do it. It's easy to do at the website, No Way to Treat a Child" (Palestine), a project of American Friends Service Committee and Defense for Children International  Palestine.

Gretchen Newlin

Corvallis (May 9)
House occupied : Hundreds of demonstrators

Bonn Activists create chaos for investor Signa Holding. They are against plans for new commercial development.

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Members of a group called Campaign for a libertarian center (LIZ) protested in Bonn city center on Wednesday. Some LIZ protestors have been occupying an empty apartment on Rathausgasse 16 since Tuesday. It all has to do with the area called the Viktoriakarree. Signa Holding, the firm which owns the house they are occupying, is an investor which wants to tear down the current buildings in the Viktoriakarree and build a shopping center and library. In order to do so, it needs to purchase the land from the city. Citizens stopped the selling of the land with their grass roots effort called Viva Viktoria, which collected enough signatures to prevent the city from selling.

The hundreds of demonstrators were also protesting against the threatened closing of a music and night club called Blow Up. Its contract with Signa will run out on June 30 and Signa does not plan to renew the rental agreement for the location. Daniel Christel, who runs the club, had not been aware of the plans for a demonstration. Spokesperson for Signa, Robert Leingruber said the end of the lease was nothing new. They have had limited rental agreements with the club since 2012, and the operator had said publicly that he was looking for a new location.

A 24-year student who was demonstrating said they were protesting against the politics of Signa, which has left apartments empty for three years when they could be used for students, families and refugees. Deputy spokesperson for the City, Marc Hoffman said that ten apartments are currently being prepared to house 60 refugees. Meanwhile, Signa has filed charges against those occupying its empty apartment.
Brutal attack : Police hand out flyers in several languages

Bad Godesberg New details are released as police hand out flyers in languages including Turkish and Arabic.

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Homicide investigators are working at full speed to try and find the young men who are responsible for the life threatening injuries suffered by 17-year-old Niklas P. of Bad Breisig. They handed out 500 flyers yesterday morning before school in the area where the attack occurred and at schools and businesses. They are hoping that spreading the description of the assailants will lead to some more information from the public.

Meanwhile, investigators released new information about the injuries to Niklas P. He sustained massive punches and kicks to his head and remains in critical condition. Police say they have already begun researching persons who are known to them for various other violent crimes such as assault and robbery, but so far they have come up with nothing concrete.

As reported, the 17-year-old was walking with friends to the Bad Godesberg train station at around 12:20 a.m. early Saturday morning when they came upon a group of young men near the Rheinallee bus stop. The men said something to the youth and then attacked the 17-year-old brutally and his friends who tried to help him. In police circles and in the public, there is talk of a new dimension of violence. The City Attorney has put out a reward of 3,000 euro for anyone who can give police information that will lead to the arrest of the attackers.

According to police spokesperson, Robert Scholten, they have vague information that the young men who carried out the attack had already been underway in Rheinallee. It can be that they hang out around that area often and thats why police said it made sense to hand out the flyers in that area. One woman said she was horrified by the crime and was worried about safety in Bad Godesberg. 16-year-old Tobias said he is often underway in Bad Godesberg and he feels less safe than before. He was very affected by the incident as the victim wasnt much older than us.
Yu Yunicorn May 19 Launch Confirmed: 4 Best Things To Know About The Pure Android Phone Features oi -Abhinaya

Next week, Micromax's subsidiary, Yu Yunicorn will unveil a new smartphone called Yunicorn. The company will host a media event on May 19 in New Delhi to launch the device. The invite to the event states "redefine flagship".

The name of the smartphone suggests that the device emphasizes on the design and the overall user experience, unlike the previous launch Yutopia that focused more on hardware.

Right now, the details about the Yunicorn smartphone are scarce, but there are a few speculations that were leaked by the listing on GeekBench database.

Also Read: YU Yutopia: 10 Pros and Cons of the 'World's Most Powerful Smartphone

Lately, Micromax confirmed that the upcoming flagship will be based on Android with an in-depth integration of Around Yu, which is a service aggregator platform introduced alongside the Yutopia last year. The Yunicorn smartphone will be exclusive to the online channels.

Yunicorn to have fingerprint scanner and metal body

Though not much is known about the device, it is believed to arrive with a fingerprint scanner and boast a metallic body.

Yu Yunicorn benchmark leak revealed impressive specs

The Yu Yunicorn was spotted on GeekBench lately with the model number YU5530. IT seemed to be packed with good hardware aspects and capable of rendering a polished experience.

The leak showed that the device might arrive with a MediaTek Helio P10 octa-core processor running at 1.83 GHz teamed up with 4 GB of RAM. It appears to have a Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

No more Cyanogen OS!

The Yunicorn will not be launched with the Cyanogen OS as the deal between Yu and Cyanogen is over. Micromax will use its own software in its devices.

The software of Micromax will be a slightly tweaked Android platform. The software of Yunicorn will be based on Android Lollipop and it will be updated on a regular basis.

Yunicorn will be based on Project Highway

Though the software of Micromax will not give a pure Android feel as in the Nexus devices, the features and user interface will have a closer look to stock Android instead of being highly modified as in the case of Cyanogen OS.

Also Read: Yu Yutopia: 10 Useful Tips And Tricks To Get Most Out Of The Device

The software will be the result of Project Highway that the Yu developers are prepping since the past several months.

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5 Features We definitely want to see in Samsung Gear Fit 2 Features oi -Sachin

Samsung Electronics has been known to produce products that may seem insignificant when put on a spec sheet. But what the company does is always create a new trend and a new segment altogether.

One such product is was the Gear Fit. The fitness band combined the use of hands-free communication as well as healthy living habits that people could get involved in. The soon to launch Gear Fit 2, however, seems to change its motive when it comes to consumers this year. This time around the device includes features that would put other wearables to shame.

New tech that delivers more:

The Gear Fit 2 has what Samsung calls a bio-processor included in the device. The new chipset is 80% smaller than all of the standard components combined, enabling it to measure body fat, skeletal muscle mass, heart rate, heart rhythm, skin temperature and stress level. Considering the lineup of these features, it may not be so important to visit your nearest diagnostic centers.

Improved location tracking:

The Gear Fit 2 is expected to have a better GPS-tracking system that monitors both indoor and outdoor activities. This improves the ability to collect better data and with more accuracy.

Read also: Fitness devices can transform orthopaedic care: Study

One Chip to rule in All:

The bio-processor chip being manufactured by Samsung is being included in all its future products that follow from mid of this year. Samsung's Galaxy smartphones too will enter the market with similar chipsets embedded, thus giving higher features than the competition.

Read also: 10 Beautiful Pictures of Samsung Gear S2 Classic 18K Rose Gold Variant, It's Now Available in India

Better wrist factors:

When the wearable is launched finally to the public, it can be rest assured that the device will be more ergonomic than the first generation. Perfectly fitting the curves of the wrist, they will provide comfort to the users all day long.

Health stats: Anywhere and everywhere

All of your health data point captured from the Gear Fit 2 is always synced to the cloud. And Samsung aims to collate the data collected to further provide more information to the user about their body. These are features that are sure to help Samsung more buyers to get active in their lifestyle.

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Centcom Spokesman: Successes Against Terrorists Result From Partnerships

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2016  Today's hostage rescue by U.S. and Afghan special operations forces and recent airstrikes that have killed terrorist operatives highlight the cooperation and partnership U.S. Central Command has with its regional partners for security and stability, a Centcom spokesman said today.

Speaking by teleconference to Pentagon reporters, Air Force Col. Pat Ryder emphasized how the strong relationship and bolstered interoperability between the United States and its regional allies are the result of many years of working together on the battlefield and through robust bilateral and multilateral exercises.

"We continue to work hard to strengthen those relationships and partnerships as we work together to address common challenges such as defeating terrorist groups [including] the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-Qaida," he added

Two recent successful operations highlight how the allies work together toward a common goal.

U.S., Afghan Forces Rescue Hostage

Ali Haider Gilani, son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was rescued today by U.S. special operations personnel and Afghan commandos in a partnered raid conducted in the Giyan district of Afghanistan's Paktika province. He had been held hostage for three years.

Four al-Qaida operatives were killed in the raid, Ryder said, adding that under Operation Freedom's Sentinel authority, the counterterrorism mission was planned and launched after terrorist activity there was confirmed.

"The U.S. partnership with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is highly effective and critical to the fight against terrorism and ensuring peace and stability in the region," he said. "This rescue is very good news, and we commend the U. S. and Afghan forces [that] conducted this mission."

Airstrikes in Yemen Kill Terrorist Operatives

The U.S. military conducted four counterterrorism airstrikes May 6 against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a terrorist organization in Yemen, which killed 10 al-Qaida operatives and injured one, Ryder said, adding that the Defense Department last week announced Centcom also has provided limited support to the Arab coalition and Yemeni operations in and around the port city of Mukalla.

"While the U.S. airstrikes were not directly linked to or in support of the Arab coalition operations in Yemen, it's important to note the common purpose," Ryder said.

That purpose relates to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula remaining a significant threat to the region, the United States and beyond, Ryder said. "Al-Qaida's presence has had a destabilizing effect on Yemen and the terror group has exploited the unrest there to provide a haven from which to plan future attacks," he added.

In concert with U.S. regional partners, "we remain committed to defeating [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula], denying it safe haven regardless of its location, and the strikes conducted by the [United States] in Yemen are intended to diminish [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula's] presence in the region," Ryder said.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

No. NR-168-16 May 10, 2016

Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Hostage Rescue in Afghanistan

I want to commend the U.S. Special Operations personnel and the Afghan special operations forces for the professionalism and skill they demonstrated in the raid this morning in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. In the counterterrorism operation targeting Al Qaeda operatives, the partnered team freed Ali Haider Gilani, the son of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who had been held hostage since he was kidnapped three years ago in Pakistan. We will work with the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to return him home safely after he receives a medical evaluation.

This raid demonstrates the growing capabilities and effectiveness of the Afghan security forces and is an excellent example of the strong security and intelligence partnership between Afghan and U.S. forces under Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Working alongside our Afghan partners, we will continue to make it clear that there is no safe haven for terrorists in Afghanistan.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/756104/

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Bangladesh executes opposition leader over war crime charges

Iran Press TV

Tue May 10, 2016 11:57PM

Bangladesh has executed the leader of the South Asian country's Jamaat-e-Islami Party for crimes committed during the country's war of independence with Pakistan in 1971.

According to Bangladesh's Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq, 73-year-old Motiur Rahman Nizami was hanged at a jail in the capital Dhaka "between 11:50 p.m. and 12:00 a.m." local time on Tuesday, a week after he lost a final appeal to overturn the death sentence.

On May 5, the country's Supreme Court rejected Nizami's last appeal against the death sentence, which was endorsed by the court on January 6. In October 2014, he was found guilty by the International Crimes Tribunal over charges of murder, rape and orchestrating the killing of top intellectuals during Bangladesh's war of independence from what was then East Pakistan in 1971.

Nizami refused to seek clemency from the country's President Abdul Hamid, Huq added. Amnesty International had also previously called for an immediate halt to Nizami's execution.

Nizami is the fourth high-profile party member to have been executed since Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up a war crimes tribunal in 2009.

According to prosecutors, Nizami was responsible for establishing the pro-Pakistani al-Badr militia back in 1971, which allegedly claimed the lives of top writers, physicians and journalists in a war that, according to the government figures, killed up to three million people.

The Jamaat-e-Islami Party, however, strongly rejected the charges, calling them as false and aimed at removing the leadership of the party.

"Nizami has been deprived of justice. He's a victim of political vengeance," said Maqbul Ahmad, the party's acting leader.

Meanwhile, security forces remain on high alert across Bangladesh amid fears of violent protests over Nizami's execution.

Nizami took over the leadership of the party in 2000. He also served as the agriculture minister from 2001 to 2003, and as the industries minister from 2003 to 2006.

In August 2013, the Supreme Court issued a verdict banning the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami and preventing it from contesting in national elections. The leaders of the party are accused by the Bangladeshi government of backing Pakistan in the independence war.

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AF defenders, S Korea soldiers train to fend off opposing forces

By Senior Airman Dillian Bamman, 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published May 11, 2016

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Defending the men and women of Osan Air Base is one challenge to the 51st Security Forces Squadron, but defending an entire country is quite another.

To bring a force multiplier to the table, the 51st SFS defenders trained with South Korean army special operations forces during a training scenario May 11 as part of the Beverly Herd 16-01 exercise.

"We test our defenders by teaching them different ways attacks can happen, as well as strengthening our bonds with our (South Korean) counterparts," said Tech. Sgt. Swen Swearingen, the 51st SFS NCO in charge of armistice plans.

The South Korean special operators were transported to Osan AB via HH-60P Pave Hawks earlier in the day. While at the base, their goal was to increase interoperability with the security forces for combat operation readiness.

"In a real situation, we need as much support to defend the base as possible," Swearingen said. "They come down to help us out and give us a unique toolset to aide in our defense.

"While there is a sizeable language barrier between the two forces, they still get it done," he added. "But when shots start getting fired, that language barrier doesn't matter; it's all about taking care of each other and completing the mission."

The joint forces simulated live fire, and the shoot, move and communicate actions to thwart opposing forces, which consisted of Airmen new to the base.

"Participating in OPFOR, you get a small taste of what you'll be dealing with during your year stay here at Osan," Swearingen said. "They see how our on-duty defenders respond to incidents, and hopefully bring an outside perspective to the fight."

Airman 1st Class Samantha Flores, a 51st SFS fire team member, participated in the OPFOR program and caught her first glimpse of the base's readiness.

"This exercise is a lot more interactive than what I've experienced in the past," she said. "It was fun as well as informative. I got to see what to look forward to in the year ahead."

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Counter-ISIL Strikes Target Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 11, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Ground-attack, attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted five strikes in Syria:

-- Near Shadaddi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Manbij, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Waleed, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

Fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Baghdadi, two strikes struck an ISIL beddown location and destroyed an ISIL mortar position.

-- Near Rutbah, a strike produced inconclusive results.

-- Near Fallujah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb, two ISIL tunnel systems and an ISIL weapons cache.

-- Near Kisik, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Mosul, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed an ISIL bulldozer.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

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, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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Inherent Resolve Official Extends Condolences to Baghdad Attack Victims

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2016  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters resort to desperate acts as the terrorist organization loses ground in Iraq, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve's Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command said, as he extended condolences to the people affected by today's bombing in Baghdad.

Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky told Pentagon reporters in a teleconferenced briefing from Baghdad that Iraq security forces "have the situation under control." DoD officials said about 90 people were killed in the blast.

The Iraqis have not asked for assistance, he said, adding the attacks have not changed the Operation Inherent Resolve's posture.

Making Progress Against ISIL

Volesky, who also commands the 101st Airborne Division, said conditions on the ground have changed in the last 60 days -- from clearing Ramadi and protecting the forward line of troops in the northern portion of Iraq.

"The Iraqi security forces have made great progress in the Euphrates River Valley, putting constant pressure on ISIL," he said. "They've started operations at  Makhmur, just to the east of Qayyarah. That's the farthest north that Iraqi security forces have been since the fall of Mosul."

As the Iraqi forces have made gains, Volesky said, officials have seen changes in ISIL operations, as the terrorist group faces increasing Iraqi pressure.

"The enemy was originally able to use the Tigris River Valley and the Euphrates River Valley  as one operation [to] move men, weapons and equipment," the general said. But increased Iraqi pressure shows ISIL must conduct two separate operations in the river valleys, he added.

Iraqi Forces Increase Pressure

"As we saw previously, their ability to conduct large-scale offensive operations has primarily stopped. They're more  every day on the defensive, trying to delay Iraqi security forces just to buy time," he said.

Officials recently looked at ISIL's targeting methodology to continue applying pressure across all of Iraq, the general said. He credited the U.S.-led coalition with assisting Iraqi forces as it counters ISIL fighters.

"This coalition is unlike any other one that I have ever served in," he said. "I have been associated with coalitions,  [and nations] that are parts of this coalition are making a huge contribution."

Speaking from a 101st perspective, Volesky also noted, "Our saying is, 'When you want it done, call in the 101.' And we can't do what we do without our military families and the great communities that support our Army every single day."

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Taiwan eyeing U.S. Navy passage in disputed waters

ROC Central News Agency

2016/05/11 15:55:30

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) The government is concerned about the recent passage of a U.S. naval vessel through waters surrounding a disputed islet in the South China Sea, and said Wednesday that it is following the matter closely.

"The government is paying close attention" to the USS William P. Lawrence's passage through the territorial waters of Fiery Cross Reef, part of the Spratly Islands, without having notified Taiwan in advance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry reiterated that whether from the perspectives of history, geography, or international law, the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, Shisha (Paracel) Islands, Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank), and Tungsha (Pratas) Islands, as well as their surrounding waters, are inherent parts of Republic of China territory and waters.

"It is indisputable that the ROC enjoys all rights to these island groups and their surrounding waters, in accordance with international law," it said.

The ROC has consistently adhered to the principles of peaceful settlement of international disputes and freedom of navigation and overflight, as stipulated in the United Nations Charter and other relevant international laws and regulations, the ministry said.

Therefore, it hopes that all countries take the principles and spirit of the "South China Sea peace initiative" proposed by Taiwan as reference, preventing provocation and stand-offs, and resolving disputes through peaceful means, the ministry said.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau confirmed in a press briefing in Washington, D.C. Tuesday that a U.S. Navy surface ship exercised the right of innocent passage while transiting inside 12 nautical miles of Fiery Cross Reef, a high-tide feature that is occupied by China but is also claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

"No claimants were notified prior to the transit, which is also consistent with our normal process and international law," she said.

Trudeau stated that the U.S. Department of Defense conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, specifically in the region of Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands, "to uphold the rights and freedoms of all states under international law and to challenge excessive maritime claims of some claimants in the South China Sea."

A CNN report that same day cited a Pentagon statement as saying that "the USS William P. Lawrence exercised the right of innocent passage while transiting inside 12 nautical miles of Fiery Cross Reef, a high-tide feature that is occupied by China, but also claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam."

"This operation challenged attempts by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam to restrict navigation rights around the features they claim ... contrary to international law," the statement added.

The USS William P. Lawrence is a guide missile destroyer.

(By Tang Pei-chun and Elizabeth Hsu)

ENDITEM/J

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Major General Gary J. Volesky, commander, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve May 11, 2016

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Gen. Volesky via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

CAPTAIN JEFF DAVIS: So good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We're pleased to be joined today by Major General Gary Volesky. He's the commander of Combined Joint Forces' Land Component Command for Operation Inherent Resolve. And is also the commander of the famed 101st Airborne Division, joining us live today from Baghdad.

General, I know your time is somewhat limited and you have to leave us at 11:30, so we'll turn it right over to you, sir.

MAJOR GENERAL GARY VOLESKY: Yes, thanks. And I appreciate you all coming today.

First, our condolences go out to the families that were affected by the bombings in Baghdad today. As we've seen, as the enemy loses more and more terrain, they resort to some of these desperate acts. The security forces in Baghdad have the situation under control, but our -- our condolences go out to those families.

As you've heard, I'm Major General Gary Volesky, the commander of the Joint Force Land Component Command here. And we've been on the ground for about -- just over two months, and some of you know our mission. It really is -- really threefold.

The first is to enable Iraqi security force maneuver through kinetic strikes. We provide those by air and ground. The second task that we have is to train Iraqi security force brigades that are really focused on the counter-attack of Mosul at the five build partner capacity sites that we have. And then the third mission that we've been given is to really advise and assist those brigades as they prepare to go into the fight.

You know, we've been here, as I said, about two months. When we got here, the focus was strictly on clearing Ramadi and protecting the northern portion of Iraq, that forward line of troops up there. Over the last 60 days, the situation has changed here.

As you've seen, I reported over the last few months the Iraqi security forces have made great progress in the Euphrates River Valley, putting constant pressure on ISIL, or Daesh as we call them here, throughout the Euphrates. And they've started operations at a place called Makhmur, just to the east of Qayyarah. That's the farthest north that Iraqi security forces have been since the fall of Mosul.

And so what we've seen from the enemy is the enemy was originally able to, you know, use the Tigris River Valley and the Euphrates River Valley, tied them as really one operation. So they could move men, weapons and equipment really without much problems from the Tigris to the Euphrates River Valley. But based on these operations that we've seen, they -- they're no longer able to do that. So they have to fight the Euphrates River Valley and the Tigris River Valley really as two separate operations.

And the pressure that the Iraqi security forces have put on them have changed how Daesh is able to operate. As we saw previously, their ability to conduct large-scale offensive operations has primarily stopped. They're more -- more every day on the defensive, delaying -- trying to delay Iraqi security forces just to buy time.

And we at the CJFLCC have really looked at our targeting methodology to continue to apply pressure across all of Iraq. So not just originally in Ramadi or along a forward line of troops up in the north, but all through the Euphrates River Valley, all through the Tigris to continue to maintain pressure on -- on Daesh.

And so again, that's kind of a quick summary and I'm ready to take your questions.

CAPT. DAVIS: Sure. We'll start with Courtney Kube from NBC News.

Q: Hi, General Volesky. Can I ask you first about these bombings in Baghdad that you've already mentioned? There's reports of more than 150 people killed and hundreds wounded. What is -- has anyone claimed responsibility? And has that changed the U.S. military posture -- security posture at all there in the green zone? What can you tell us about the attacks?

GEN. VOLESKY: (inaudible) -- still being developed and we have not, to answer your question -- you know, it's not changed our posture here. We -- we -- force protection is our first priority, and so we -- we are fine here.

The other piece is, as you know, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. In Baghdad in February, there was an attack just as we were getting here.

The -- the Iraqi Security Forces have not asked us for any assistance, frankly. They've got that well in hand.

And we have not seen a call to move forces that are currently conducting operations against Daesh in both the Euphrates River Valley and the Tigris River Valley back to Baghdad.

So, our assessment is that they are able to handle the issue as they see it.

Q: Something you said in your opening statement, you said that the coalition continues to maintain pressure throughout the Euphrates and Tigris River Valleys.

When you -- do you anticipate that that pressure will include more -- forward bases or fire bases, like we saw formed up in Makhmur? Do you see some of those being place in the Euphrates and Tigris River Valley?

GEN. VOLESKY: Well, as you know, Courtney, the capabilities that we provide are really based on the supporting the Iraqi Security Force plan.

And so, any of these capabilities that we bring in -- you know, we work with the government of Iraq. As we're going through the training and the advise and assist piece, to identify capability gaps they may have. And then we recommend a few that we could potentially provide.

And all of those are approved by the government of Iraq. And so, how they're integrated into the Iraqi operations really is based on that operation. And I would say that, as you mentioned, our -- our Karasour base, where our artillery is, that was an example of a capability that was brought in.

We determined with the Iraqis what the best location was to support that. And then that -- you know, that capability has been very, very well used and supporting the Iraqi forces up in Qayyarah.

So, we take every -- every operation independently, and we look at how we best can support it. And then we work with our Iraqi counterparts, because as you know, we aren't on the tactical edge of this fight.

The Iraqis are leading this fight. Unlike 2008, when I was here, when we were shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight, the Iraqis are leading this. And we're really enabling them to get after and defeat Daesh.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Thomas Gibbons-Neff from the Washington Post.

Q: Hi, sir. Thanks for doing this.

Kind of going back to -- what you were talking about, the tactical edge. I have a question about how the Apaches that have been authorized for future operations kind of fit into the picture.

From what I understand, the way that they're kind of controlled in combat is they're controlled by a very forward element to ensure that they're hitting the proper targets, you know, no collateral damage.

And wondering how that's going to look going into future campaigns, if they're going to be used, how they're going to be controlled, if they'll be controlled from the rear, or there will be some kind of forward element ensuring that they're on-target?

GEN. VOLESKY: Yeah, thanks for the question.

I would just tell you, we won't talk about the tactics or procedures we're going to use. I mean, you know that I'm not the only one that reads your newspaper. I expect they've got a readership here, as well. So, we don't want to talk about tactics.

But what I will tell you is, you know, that's just one tool of the many that we have available to us, and we ensure that we plan those operations very deliberately, that the force protection for those assets that go in are -- are -- (inaudible).

The -- the overarching targeting process we use -- that is, determine our proportionality, you know, military necessity. And then the systems that we use to ensure that we mitigate collateral damage or that -- things that could come out of that.

And so, you know, Apaches, you've heard -- we've talked about artillery. Those are -- those are two capabilities that we have, as well as some of the others that we enable the Iraqis on a daily basis.

Q: Thanks, general.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Andrew Tilghman, of Military Times.

Q: Hi, general. Just wanted to ask you to kind of follow up on the announcement from a few weeks ago about the additional authorizations.

Have you actually used Apache helicopters to provide close-air support for these operations in Makhmour? And are there any advisers at this point working at the battalion level?

GEN. VOLESKY: Thanks for the question.

These enablers, as you've talked about, we -- we are using enablers every day. One of those enablers are our advise and assist teams. And right now, we are advising and assisting at the division and operational command level. As we go look at the Iraqi operations, we look to determine what echelon that we can better advise and assist, to enable the Iraqis, one, to maintain good situational awareness, as well as give us our own feedback on how our -- our support is going into that.

As we start to look at these other enablers, you know, these are tied to the fight in Mosul. And so, you know, as we're working with the Iraqi counterparts, we look at when the best to employ those are, based on their operations. So again, it's not, you know, U.S. forces just unilaterally flying across Iraq conducting operations or moving across Iraq.

You know, there aren't U.S. forces in their own patrols like there were in 2004 when I was here before. This is an Iraqi-led operation and we support them. And so any of those enablers you talk about, they're deliberately planned as an operation, not just carte blanche "We're going to fly Apaches," you know, all throughout Iraq.

Again, it's tied to a specific operation and planned just that way.

Q: Just to follow up, is it fair to say that you haven't used the Apaches? You don't have advisers at the brigade or battalion level? And is that basically because the Iraqis have not identified a need for that yet at this point?

GEN. VOLESKY: I didn't say we hadn't used Apaches, and I won't say when or if or have we. And we do have advisers right now at the brigade level. As I said, as these brigade -- or building partner capacity training sites go in, we are focused on training those counter-attack units that are going to go to Mosul, as well as some of those critical hold forces that will enable the Iraqis to ensure that when they pull a force out, to train it, to get it ready to go to Mosul, that that area doesn't become weak that allows the enemy to exploit it.

And as they -- that brigade comes out of training, we put advise and assist elements before they leave training to enable them to -- and help them plan and coordinate those operations.

How we advise and assist, again, is a very deliberate decision. And where we put those advisers, we make sure that we've mitigated the risk to the force. As I said, force protection is job one.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Next, David Martin from CBS News.

Q: Two things. One, could you elaborate on the operations of the artillery fire support base since it got there? I mean, how frequently does it fire? How many rounds per day, for instance? And as I remember, they were going to be swapped out in the near future with another -- an Army artillery unit. Has that happened yet?

And then Secretary Carter said that by June 6th, I think it was, all the forces for the envelopment of Mosul would be in position. What does -- what's that going to look like when all the forces for the envelopment of Mosul are in position?

GEN. VOLESKY: It's great to hear your voice again. It's been a while.

The artillery unit, the one that's coming behind it, wears Apache -- see on my shoulder. It's part of the Screaming Eagles, so we're excited to get them back in, coming in from Fort Campbell.

The impact that you talk about that the Marines have had has been -- has been a phenomenal impact. And I will just share with you, you know, a few days ago, the 72nd Brigade went and took another village away from Daesh over in the Makhmur area and artillery enabled that movement, provided some fires for them, as well as close air support in that movement.

And they were able to get into that town and seize it, you know, within one day. And they provide counter-fire, as you might image, to indirect fire threats that come on. So it's a really -- a full range of missions that artillery typically does.

As far as your second question, what it looks like, the -- again, the Iraqis are driving the planning, here. We are just enabling it. And so as they identify these units that are going to go up to go, you know, defeat Daesh in Mosul, you know, we'll support their plan. And you know, the plan is the one that they -- that they're developing and that's the one we'll support.

Q: Give us a ballpark number, I mean, for rounds fired in a day. Is it dozens of rounds? Scores of rounds? Hundreds of rounds?

GEN. VOLESKY: We'll give you that number. I'll have our folks call you and give you an assessment of that. It really depends on frankly if the Iraqi security forces are moving to do an operation. Clearly, there's more rounds fired if the Iraqis are in the defensive position and that's more (inaudible). So I'll get our team to call you, Dave, and give you -- give you an assessment of that -- our numbers.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Next to Kim Dozier from The Daily Beast.

Q: Hi, General Volesky. Picking up Dave's question on Mosul, you've been working for a while not to cut off the supply routes between Mosul and ISIS in Syria. So how is that going? How are they still getting supplies in? And are you hearing of any shortages or seeing increased signs of fighters leaving the city, trying to leave the city because of these prepping the ground efforts?

And then a second question. Could you give us an average of ISIS targets taken off the battlefield per day by coalition ops, whether it's a task force or a plane in the sky?

GEN. VOLESKY: To get to your second question first, Kim, the -- I think the last time I saw you you were riding in the back of one of my Bradleys here back in 2004 or '05, so it's great to hear you again.

The -- the -- what I would tell you is that as we get closer to Mosul, the harder the fight's going to get, and so when you talk about the numbers of things that we've taken, you know, we can just talk about, you know, the Euphrates River Valley. When I got here, Ramadi was just being cleared. Well, now you look, they're all the way through Hit and -- and Dulab is north of  and clearly you get up farther north into that towards, you know, Rabla and Al-Qaim.

And so you know, what we're working is with the Iraqi plan. I mean, they have a campaign plan. They've been pretty consistent about it, and so that's the one that we support. If you look up in, you know, Makhmur and that pressure on Mosul, what we have seen is the enemy is -- is really fixed on that force that's up there, and so that has -- every -- every step they take towards the -- the -- the river -- the Tigris River Valley up there, every step they get closer to the river, that just continues to put more and more pressure on Daesh.

And so again, we're -- we're using their campaign plan as our -- our enabling piece and they've been fairly consistent and what they want to do.

And repeat your -- your other question for me, please?

Q: Well, I was curious as to the number of ISIS fighters taken off the battlefield per day, by your estimates, by coalition efforts.

And then the second one was, are you seeing results inside Mosul from the actions to cut them off from supplies?

GEN. VOLESKY: Yeah, the numbers of them taken off the field. What I will tell you is they're losing terrain every single day. And the -- the -- versus the numbers, we saw them able -- being able to generate, you know, combat power outside of their -- their areas that they -- they currently occupy on a more frequent basis.

You know, right now, we're not seeing them generate these -- these large operations. We expect it's about a two- to three-week cycle after they do an operation to be able just to try to generate enough combat power to maintain relevance, frankly.

When we used to see, you know, 50, 60, 70 fighters, now what we're seeing is five to eight, maybe 15, with a VBIED associated. But even that generation is based on the local area they're at. If they're in an area near Mosul, where they have had two years to build up and they've got a larger force there, then they can project it in the local area much quicker than they can at other areas like Qayyarah, you know, like down in Sharkat, specifically in the ERB.

In mean, as the Iraqi security forces were going through the ERB, you know, they got done with Hit --- correction, Ramadi; started to move to a place called Mohandas -- or Mohammedi, rather. We expect it was going to take three to four days to clear that. They did it in one. And the enemy was running off.

So what we have seen is a clear degradation in their ability to reinforce and conduct offensive operations. So I think that's probably more telling than talking about numbers of enemy fighters.

As far as Mosul and the interdiction of those, clearly we're -- the Iraqis are putting pressure on them; kinetic strikes from our close-air support have had a significant impact on the enemy. I mean, we get indications of their challenge to resupply their forces, move in men, weapons and equipment throughout Iraq. We get indications that every time they hear an aircraft or one of our platforms, they go to ground. They don't want to move because they know they're about to get struck.

So I think those are pretty good indications of the impact that is being made on the enemy.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Next, Lucas Tomlinson from Fox News.

Q: General, do you or the Iraqis think that Mosul will fall this year?

GEN. VOLESKY: What I'm doing is supporting their plan to get to Mosul and defeat Daesh. I will tell you, you know, there's a lot of discussion. You've heard it, as I have: What are we going to do for Ramadan? You know, how will we get to -- what condition -- how are we going to start to shape by Ramadan?

I will tell you in my dialogue with my counterparts here, they are focused, and they understand the timeliness and the advantages that they have right now, based on the impact that their operations and our enabling have had on Daesh.

And so what I would tell you is they are as focused on accelerating and getting to Mosul as quickly as possible. I will tell you some of the -- the challenges they have, frankly, are force generation. You know, unlike at Fort Campbell when, you know, I've got brigades there that we can call and say, "Hey, send them forward." Every unit here in Iraq is engaged against the enemy.

And so generating a force to get through training, get ready to go up to Mosul, it requires them to move that piece out of another location that's been cleared. And so they want to make sure that they're doing that very deliberately. And, you know, this -- this confrontation is going to have a pace that it will get harder the closer we get to Mosul.

I mean, as you -- as you saw Ramadi, it took about six months to get that city cleared. And they had only been there for a few months. They've been in Mosul for two years. And, you know, as you know, Mosul is about three times larger than Ramadi. And so, you know, as we talk -- talk to them, we just need to be prepared to ensure we're going the right enabling and we've got the right conditions up.

Q: And general, you said that ISIS is losing terrain every single day.

The Pentagon has assessed that more than -- about 40 percent of territory has been retaken from ISIS. Is that still your assessment today, that 40 percent figure?

And also, this area that has been retaken from ISIS, are there local forces protecting that area, and when would that turnover occur?

GEN. VOLESKY: Yeah, the -- the percentage of, you know, is it 40, is it 45, is it 50? All I can tell you is, you know, three or four weeks ago, they had four or five villages that they were sticking a flag in, in a place called -- just out of Qayyarah.

They've lost all those -- they lost another one two days ago. So, you know, I'm not looking at percentages, I'm just looking at the number of places they currently are and where they soon won't be.

So, that -- that's the perspective that I have. What was your other question?

Q: When this area -- these -- like these villages you just described, do those now have -- are those villages protected by local forces when ISIS is cleared?

And if not, when will that turnover occur?

GEN. VOLESKY: Yeah, I -- that's a good question. I think it really depends on where you're at. And it's based on where the enemy -- what the enemy's situation is.

I mean, clearly, if you look at the Euphrates River Valley, and the hold forces that are there, you may see some army, you may see some other forces, some police, some other forces. This is really going to be based on what the enemy's situation is there and the level of security that's required to do that.

You know, up in those villages in Qayyarah, the enemy is still there. And you know, so, they have the capacity to -- to, you know, do some small attacks.

And so, you'll see the army and some other forces come back behind to fill that -- to relieve them as they continue to move forward.

But it's really based on what the enemy's situation is in that area.

Q: Do the Iraqi forces want U.S. forces to do more? Like, you mentioned going shoulder-to-shoulder with the Iraqis years ago. Is that something they have requested?

GEN. VOLESKY: No, they have not. They clearly understand this is their fight. And you know, frankly, we've told them we're going to enable them.

But I -- you know, I've not gotten anyone that says, hey, we want you to take that Screaming Eagle unit and bring it over here. That's -- they are clearly in the lead, and they -- they are executing operations based on the ones that they plan, not the ones that we plan.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Jim Michaels from USA Today.

Q: General, just to get a little clearer sense of geography here around Makhmur, could you give a sense of how much progress -- how far Iraqi Security Forces have advanced since kicking off that offensive?

And also just how that fits into the overall shaping operations in advance of an eventual offensive into Mosul?

GEN. VOLESKY: Well, that -- if I could just give you a perspective. Qayyarah and that area that they are in is about 35, 40 kilometers south of Mosul. And so, when say that there is the farthest north since, you know, Daesh came over and took -- you know, came in and occupied Mosul.

That's the farthest north that they've had Iraqi Security Forces for a while.

I would tell you that, as you know, the centrality to Baghdad and the ability to ensure that that is secure has -- you know, that's why the Euphrates River Valley and their campaign plan was the most critical.

You know, you've got places at Ramadi, Fallujah. You know, as they start to -- as they took Ramadi, as they get after Fallujah, that starts to free up some other forces to put other locations -- other places.

And so, you know, the Euphrates River Valley clearly a priority for them; they've made great progress through it, as we have discussed earlier.

They're focused on continuing up the Tigris River Valley. So, you know, our assessment is they're on track with their plan, and they're -- we're getting those forces trained that become available to get them into the fight.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. Next to Kasim from Anadolu News Agency in Turkey.

Q: Hi, General. Thanks for doing this. My question would be back on fire bases. We have heard that these fire bases were established in order to protect the U.S. enablers in Makhmur camp who are training the Iraqi forces. And now you -- we have heard from you that you're saying that these guys have also provided counter-fire for -- in support of the 72nd brigade, who were taking on freeing some villages from Daesh in Makhmur.

Could you just clarify the mission of these fire bases and artillery over there?

GEN. VOLESKY: Well, for -- for our bases -- build partner capacity bases -- those are the facilities that we have that we train these units that are tied to going to the Mosul counter-attack. The Karasour base that you're talking has been established for a little bit, and that was primarily -- that was put there specifically to provide some force protection for the Karasour base complex. And that -- as the Iraqi security forces continued their assault down towards the Tigris River, it was there -- there to enable their maneuver.

So that's -- that's what their role is.

Q: How many -- how many fire bases do you have now in -- around that area? Just one or more than one?

GEN. VOLESKY: We -- we have exactly what we need to accomplish the task that the Iraqis are able and asking us to support them with.

CAPT. DAVIS: Luis Martinez from ABC News.

Q: Hey, general. Thank you for doing this briefing. You spoke about the different fights in the Euphrates River Valley and the Tigris River Valley. What kind of different enemies are you facing there? In terms of what -- what -- is one the larger ISIS force than the other? Do they use different tactics because of the fighting that's going on in each of those separate fights?

And also, now that Ramadi is over, are you seeing large numbers of civilian population returning to the city?

GEN. VOLESKY: Hey, it's great to hear you again. As far as composition of the enemy, you know, it's primarily what we've seen. There's no, you know, Euphrates River sect and Tigris River sect that are different. You know, as -- as they try to reinforce and put their -- their -- I'm not seeing different -- many different flavors. It's -- they're just ISIL fighters. So that -- that dynamic hasn't been there.

Ask me your second question again?

Q: Now that the fight for Ramadi is over, are you seeing a flow back of civilian population in large numbers or smaller numbers?

GEN. VOLESKY: The -- you know, as you know, Ramadi is -- that's really a government of Iraqi entity, and they're -- they're managing those that have come back. There have, as you know -- you saw reports previously of thousands that have returned, and that's what -- the government of Iraq is really tight and they're managing that there. So you know, that's under their auspices. So once we -- once the Iraqi security forces have cleared that, you know, they've transitioned that and that's under the government of Iraq's, you know, purview.

CAPT. DAVIS: General I know your time is tight. Do you have time for one or two more or do we need to cut -- cut it off?

GEN. VOLESKY: No, go head. One or two is fine.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next is Richard Sisk from military.com.

Q: Sir, could I ask you about the basic tactic that ISIS uses on -- on offense, sending truck bombs and then follow-on forces, such as happened in  Tal Asqaf last week? There was an effort last year to get some AT-4s to the -- to the ISF. I believe the Germans got some (unintelligible) -- shoulder fire to the -- to the Pesh.

Is there an effort now to get some more AT-4s to both the ISF and the Pesh?

GEN. VOLESKY: As far as the tactics the enemy uses, as I said a little earlier, you know, before I got here, they were trying to project forces to go and do these big attacks with a lot larger population. But as we've seen now, it's much smaller groups, really attempting to, in my mind, stay relevant, and to put pressure, really, to try to fix the Iraqi security forces from continuing to move and -- and take away the terrain that they have.

As far as what the equipping strategy, weapons strategies are, you know, we -- we work -- we have a training and equipping program. It's -- we -- we look at a full scale of the capabilities that they have. And as a requirement comes in -- you mentioned AT-4s -- they've got AT-4s. We clearly supply them with that.

But it's, you know, we look at what the requirements are and then we work those to make sure that whatever their requirements are, you know, if the capacity is available and it meets their needs and it's acceptable, then -- then we look at resourcing that.

Q: Just one point of clarification. You won't say whether the Apaches have been used or whether they've not been used. Is that -- is that where it stands?

GEN. VOLESKY: That's pretty much where it stands.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next, Laurent Barthelemy with Agence France-Presse.

Q: Hello, general. Thanks for doing this.

In your introductory statement, you mentioned airstrikes -- the airstrikes of the coalition against ISIL. And you mentioned also I believe ground strikes. What -- what are the ground strikes? Is it only the -- the artillery that was near Makhmour and Karasour? Or is there any other artillery that is playing?

GEN. VOLESKY: As you know, we've -- we've been pretty clear. We've had artillery in the Euphrates River Valley that has supported operations for the Iraqi security forces during that clearance. And we have artillery up in, you know, the Karasour base. So those are -- those are, when I talk about ground fire, that's an example of one of those.

And just to go back to clarify, you know, I want to just make sure that people -- that you understand that these things that we're talking about, when you talk about Apaches, that's really tied to the Mosul counter-attack. And so I want to -- I want to be clear again when you try to pin me down where they're being used, these are not assets that are flying all over independently all over Iraq. These are focused specifically for enabling Iraqi security force operations towards Mosul.

Q: I believe some HIMARS batteries were to be deployed in Iraq. Have they been deployed?

GEN. VOLESKY: I'm sorry. I didn't hear your question.

Q: I believe some HIMARS -- I'm sorry. I think I'm not pronouncing it correctly -- the rocket batteries. Have they been deployed?

GEN. VOLESKY: Yeah, we've had HIMARS since I've been here.

CAPT. DAVIS: One quick follow up from Courtney Kube with NBC News.

Q: General, you mentioned some force generation problems ahead of the Mosul campaign. How many Iraqi security forces need to be trained before the Mosul clearing operations can actually begin? Not the envelopment, the encircling, but the actual clearing operations need. How many need to be trained?

GEN. VOLESKY: Well, I think that, you know, we've got to look at what the enemy is doing at that time. As we've said, the enemy is -- is getting weaker and weaker. And so, you know, as we look and we assess this with our Iraqi partners, I mean, they're the ones that are going to do that mission. And so as we start to define that requirement, we'll work with them and determine exactly what that number is, and then we'll enable them and train them to go accomplish that mission.

That's all the time I've got. What I do want to say is, you know, I want to thank you all again for, you know, sitting with me today and asking your questions. I appreciate it.

The thing I'd leave you with is, this coalition is unlike any other one that I have ever served in. I have been associated with coalition -- we're one of 18 countries that are a part of this coalition, all of them making a huge contribution.

And the other piece I'd say is, you know, from 101st perspective, you know, our saying is, "When you want it done, call in the 101." You know the division deployed to Liberia to do counter-Ebola just about a year -- just short of a year before we came here.

And so, we can't do what we do without our military families and the great communities that support our army every single day.

And I want to thank you again for taking the time to talk with me today.

CAPT. DAVIS: Thank you, general. We appreciate your time.

Thanks, everybody.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/757140/

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Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 begins exercise Thunder Horse 16.2

US Marine Corps News

By Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson | May 11, 2016

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 arrived at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, for exercise Thunder Horse 16.2, May 8, 2016.

The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness.

"The focus of Thunder Horse 16.2 is to train in weapons employment for Marines that have not shot table three and for Motor Transport Company to conduct convoy operations," said Staff Sgt. Jorge Ortizescobar, company gunnery sergeant for Motor Transport Company with MWSS-171. "We need to know how to properly operate our trucks, how each truck maneuvers and how to properly load cargo, and this teaches the Marines how to drive on the Japanese highway and terrain such as here in Haramura."

The squadron plans to conduct various drills pertaining to aviation ground support forces, aircraft salvage and recovery, convoys, direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations, establishing a tactical motor pool, providing air operations and planning expeditionary fire rescue services.

"I am looking forward to the convoys," said Capt. Anthony Bertoglio, motor transport company commander with MWSS-171. "We are in the training area on the unimproved roads, conducting combat patrols, including security, and taking into account possible activity because we have a simulated enemy cell. We have to worry about more than administrative patrols from one location to the other."

To assist in accomplishing the mission, field radio operators, combat engineers, water purification specialists and heavy equipment operators accompanied MWSS-171 on the exercise.

"The engineers support us in our training mainly by conducting road clearance, but they are also training to their needs such as digging fighting holes and setting up a forward operating base," said Ortizescobar. "Being in Haramura is a good experience for every single one of us, and we want to get all the training that we can out of this so we are better prepared for Eagle Wrath 2016 in Fuji, Japan."

Field radio operators established radio communications for the squadron and helped conduct convoy patrols, while water purification specialists participated in the convoys, foot patrols and other exercises due to the squadron bringing their own water.

Heavy equipment operator Marines dug fighting holes for defensive positions, provided mechanical clearance with a bulldozer, conducted vehicle recovery and also participated in patrols.

"Training out here provides us an opportunity to train our combat skills," said Bertoglio. "By coming out here we can put together the teams we need with the right personnel and equipment in order to accomplish specific tasks we don't get to train for often but would be responsible for in a real-world situation."

Ortizescobar said he is excited to see how each Marine acts and reacts to different scenarios they encounter during the training and seeing how much they develop toward the end.

MWSS-171 conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability.

"This training benefits me by improving my leadership qualities and skills," said Sgt. Jesus Alvarado, motor transport operator with MWSS-171. "I know I'm not perfect and that's what I'm working toward in order to become a good convoy commander. I'm looking forward to working with my Marines and seeing what Thunder Horse 16.2 has in store for us."

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NATO and Partners determined to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan Security Forces

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

11 May. 2016

NATO Allies and Partners together with representatives of the donors' community reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan security forces, at the plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army Trust Fund Board, today (Wednesday 11 May 2016). Participants also discussed the ongoing coordination in Afghanistan between the Afghan authorities and the various funding streams, including the Afghan National Army Trust Fund itself, the Law and Order Trust Fund for the Afghan Police, the budgetary contributions of the Afghan Government, and the bilateral contributions, especially the bilateral Afghan Security Forces Fund of the United States.

The adapted Afghan National Army Trust Fund is NATO's response to the International Community's commitment in the framework of the 2012 Chicago Summit to continue to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in its efforts to sustain sufficient and capable National Defence and Security Forces. "The Afghan National Army Trust Fund has been an important part of NATO's contribution to this endeavour," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. Today's meeting was "an important stepping stone towards the NATO Warsaw Summit in July, as well as the EU Development Conference in October. Both meetings are connected as security and development are two sides of the same coin," Mr. Stoltenberg said.

During the meeting announcements were made of continued financial support for the sustainment of the Afghan security forces up to 2020. "I am confident that we will be in a position to announce at the Warsaw Summit, that we have firm commitments to support the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces for the period up to 2020," NATO Secretary General highlighted. In December last year, NATO and Resolute Support Partner Foreign Ministers agreed to work towards national decisions to be announced at, or prior to, the Warsaw Summit confirming financial commitments to support the Afghan security forces until 2020.

The Afghan National Army Trust Fund board is composed of national representatives of donor nations and the Trust Fund manager (represented by the United States). NATO Secretary General and a donor nation representative co-chair the Board. Plenary meeting of the Board were held on 1 September 2014 and 26 June 2015. Mr. Zia Haleemi, Director General of Budget of the Afghan Ministry of Finance took part in today's meeting.

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US patrols in South China Sea warrant defensive measures: China

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 10:24AM

China says frequent US Navy patrols in the South China Sea are forcing Beijing to boost its defense capabilities in the area amid rising tensions in the disputed waters.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said in a Wednesday statement that it deployed two navy fighter jets, one early warning aircraft, and three ships to warn off the destroyer USS William P. Lawrence.

"The provocative actions by American military ships and planes lay bare the US designs to seek gain by creating chaos in the region and again testify to the total correctness and utter necessity of China's construction of defensive facilities on relevant islands," the statement said.

"China will increase the scope of sea and air patrols based on need, boost all categories of military capacity building, resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea," it added.

The American warship was traveling within 12 nautical miles of Fiery Cross Reef on the South China Sea's Spratly Islands on Tuesday.

It was the third time in less than a year that Washington had sent its warships to the sea in a move repeatedly condemned by China as "the real militarization" of the region.

US Defense Department spokesman Bill Urban said the voyage was made to "challenge excessive maritime claims of some claimants in the South China Sea," in a less-than-tacit reference to China.

The South China Sea has become a source of tension between China, the US, and some other regional countries, who are seeking control of trade routes and mineral deposits there.

China has on different occasions asserted its sovereignty over the sea, parts of which are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Washington has accused Beijing of attempting to take advantage of the situation and gradually asserting control over the region.

China, however, rejects the allegations and says the US is interfering in regional affairs, deliberately stirring tensions in the South China Sea.

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Local Official: Somali Commandos Kill 15 in Raid on al-Shabab Base

by VOA News May 11, 2016

A Somali commando unit killed at least 15 suspected Islamist fighters Wednesday in a raid on an al-Shabab base in Galgudud region, central Somalia, the second such raid in two days.

Local government official Qadar Mohamed Ali told VOA's Somali service that the aim of the raid was to destroy the base and neutralize the militants' capacity to organize and carry out regional attacks.

Ali said Somali troops seized rocket-propelled grenades and mortars in the raid. He said no Somali troops were killed or injured.

The raid came a day after an attack on an al-Shabab base in the village of Toratorow, about 100 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, in which an unknown number of militants were captured or killed.

There have been conflicting reports on how much involvement U.S. forces had in the Toratorow raid.

Somali security official Mohamed Nur Gabow told VOA Somali that U.S. forces played a "lead role" in the operation targeting al-Shabab officials. He said U.S. personnel flew helicopters in the raid. Residents of Toratorow said the helicopters dropped Somali fighters on the outskirts of Toratorow to hunt for the militants on foot.

But AFRICOM, the U.S. military command center in Africa, said U.S. fighters were not involved in any "kinetic operations" in the raid  meaning nothing that involved the use of lethal force. In a statement, AFRICOM said, "This was not a U.S.-led, nor was it a U.S.-unilateral operation."

The United States has trained a Somali government commando unit known as "Danab" or "Lightning" of about 500 soldiers who conduct special operations.

A similar joint U.S.-Somali operation took place in the nearby town of Awdhegle in March. The Pentagon said the U.S. played only a support role in that operation.

The Somali government has battled al-Shabab since the al-Qaida-linked militant group formed in 2006. The U.S. designated al-Shabab as a terrorist group in 2008 and has given the Somali government financial and military support to combat the group.

VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report.

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Officials Provide Details of Latest Counter-ISIL Strikes in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 12, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes in Syria:

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Mara, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL staging facility and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and 12 ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Manbij, a strike denied ISIL access to terrain.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 13 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Baghdadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL boat, an ISIL fighting position and three ISIL staging areas.

-- Near Bashir, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Beiji, a strike destroyed an ISIL tunnel entrance.

-- Near Fallujah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL rocket rails.

-- Near Kisik, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Mosul, two strikes destroyed nine ISIL rocket rails, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike destroyed an ISIL rocket system and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

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, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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U.S., U.K., Georgian Forces Hone Capabilities in Exercise Noble Partner 16

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016  Exercise Noble Partner 16 got underway yesterday between the U.S., U.K. and Georgian militaries at Georgia's Vaziani Training Area, Pentagon Press Operations Director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.

Davis said the exercise will continue through May 26, and involves 650 U.S. troops, 500 Georgian service members and another 150 troops from the United Kingdom.

The focus of Exercise Noble Partner 16 is twofold: to enhance Georgia's self-defense capabilities, and provide a critical opportunity to train the light infantry company Georgia has contributed to the NATO Response Force, he said.

Enhances Capability, Rapid Response

"This [NATO force] provides a rapid military response force to deploy quickly wherever needed," Davis said, "and in addition to its operations role, it uses opportunities like Exercise Noble Partner to increase cooperation, education and training for all participants."

The U.S. component also incorporates a full range of equipment that includes Abrams battle tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M-119 light towed howitzers and several wheeled-support vehicles, he said.

Alongside U.S. forces, Georgian forces will operate its T-72 main battle tanks, BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles and several wheeled-support vehicles, Davis said.

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Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System-Romania Operationally Certified

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS160512-11

Release Date: 5/12/2016 1:01:00 PM

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

DEVESELU, Romania (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th (CNE-CNA/C6F), recognized a key milestone to complete Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach by deeming the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania as operationally certified in a ceremony held in Deveselu, May 12.

This ballistic missile defense system represents a significant increase in the capability to defend NATO European territory from attacks originating outside the Euro-Atlantic area, and is a key milestone in the development of NATO ballistic missile defense.

Quotes:

"Today, this site joins the four U.S. guided missile destroyers in Rota, Spain in reaching Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach. As we cut the ribbon, the watchteams are trained and ready, the system has been tested, and we are now in the progress of integrating this site into the NATO integrated Air and Missile Defense Architecture." - Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa

Quick Facts

On Sept. 17, 2009, President Obama announced the concept of EPAA, which calls for using Aegis-based BMD capabilities, both afloat and ashore, to defend Europe against ballistic missile threats originating from outside the Euro-Atlantic Area.

The site first broke ground Oct. 28, 2013. At a ceremony hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 18, 2015, U.S. and Romanian government officials announced the major military components of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania were complete and had been transferred to the Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet.

Since that time the AAMDS-Romania site and U.S. Navy crew achieved operational certification through a series of unit-level and theater-level tests and exercises conducted over the past five months, which validated the system's capability to integrate into the U.S. and NATO BMD architecture.

Construction of a second Aegis Ashore site in Poland is part of the final phase of EPAA. The ground breaking is scheduled for May 13.

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China opposes U.S. distortion of navigation freedom: spokesman

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:56, May 12, 2016

BEIJING, May 11 -- China on Wednesday suggested the United States, when talking about "freedom of navigation," make a distinction between commercial ships and warships.

Freedom of navigation for commercial vessels has never been obstructed in the South China Sea, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a daily press briefing.

U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said on Tuesday in Vietnam that freedom of navigation operations were important to smaller nations.

"If the world's most powerful navy can not sail where international law permits, then what happens to the ships of navy of smaller countries?" Russel told reporters.

The United States appears to advocate freedom of navigation for military vessels in the South China Sea, which is against international law, said Lu, noting that no other country in the world would even suggest such a thing.

According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign vessels enjoy the right of innocent passage through territorial seas, but military vessels are not endowed with the same right, said Lu.

The United States refused to ratify the UNCLOS and introduced "freedom of navigation" operations in 1979. These operations have met with opposition from the very beginning, especially from smaller nations, he said.

"We hope the U.S. will respect basic facts when talking about the feelings of smaller nations," he said, suggesting the United States sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible to give its words on international law more force.

China on Tuesday expressed "resolute opposition" to a U.S. warship patrol in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.

The warship, USS William P. Lawrence, illegally entered Chinese waters near the islands on Tuesday without the permission of the Chinese government.

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Saudi warplanes kill 2, wound several in Yemen's Amran

Iran Press TV

Thu May 12, 2016 1:37AM

Saudi warplanes have carried out fresh airstrikes on the northwestern province of Amran, killing and wounding more Yemeni people despite international warnings about deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the war-hit country.

In their latest aerial aggression on Wednesday, Saudi jets killed at least two civilians and injured nine others in Jebel al-Aswad area in the Harf Sufyan district of the province, Yemen's official Saba Net news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Saudi troops targeted different areas in the west-central Ma'rib province with rockets and artillery shells. No information on possible fatalities and the scope of damage has been reported yet.

Yemen's warring parties, the Houthi Ansarullah movement and delegates loyal to Saudi-backed former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, resumed face-to-face talks on Monday following a two-day interruption after an appeal by the UN envoy.

The peace talks on Yemen, which began on April 21 in Kuwait City, have failed to establish a comprehensive peace deal as delegations trade accusations of violation of the ceasefire that took effect on April 11. Houthi Ansarullah movement has accused Saudi Arabia and its mercenaries of constantly violating the truce agreement.

Yemen has been under airstrikes by Saudi Arabia since the regime in Riyadh launched its fatal campaign against the impoverished country on March 26, 2015, in a bid to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement and restore power to Hadi. More than 9,400 people have been killed in the Saudi airstrike ever since.

Yemen's warring parties, the Houthi Ansarullah movement and delegates loyal to Saudi-backed former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, resumed face-to-face talks on Monday following a two-day interruption after an appeal by the UN envoy.

The peace talks on Yemen, which began on April 21 in Kuwait City, have failed to establish a comprehensive peace deal as delegations trade accusations of violation of the ceasefire that took effect on April 11. Houthi Ansarullah movement has accused Saudi Arabia and its mercenaries of constantly violating the truce agreement.

Yemen has been under airstrikes by Saudi Arabia since the regime in Riyadh launched its fatal campaign against the impoverished country on March 26, 2015, in a bid to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement and restore power to Hadi. More than 9,400 people have been killed in the Saudi airstrike ever since.

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Bangladesh in tight security following opposition leader's hanging

Iran Press TV

Thu May 12, 2016 11:51AM

Bangladeshi authorities deploy thousands of police officers across the capital, Dhaka, to stave off potential violence in the aftermath of the execution of an opposition leader.

Motiur Rahman Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a Dhaka jail late Tuesday for genocide and other crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

The heavy police deployment came after the outlawed political party demanded a nationwide strike in a show of protest against Nizami's hanging.

On Wednesday, violent clashes broke out between supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and security personnel in the northwestern city of Rajshahi.

Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies have beefed up security measures in Nizami's ancestral northwestern district of Pabna, where his body was taken for burial in his family's grave.

Nizami is the fifth high-profile Jamaat party member to have been executed since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's secular government set up a tribunal in 2010 to investigate war crimes.

In October 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal found him guilty on charges of murder, rape and orchestrating the killing of top intellectuals during Bangladesh's bloody and scarring war of independence from what was then East Pakistan in 1971.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Party strongly dismissed the charges, calling them false and aimed at removing the leadership of the party.

"Nizami has been deprived of justice. He's a victim of political vengeance," Maqbul Ahmad, the party's acting leader, said.

Nizami took over the leadership of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Party in 2000. He also served as the agriculture minister from 2001 to 2003, and as the industries minister from 2003 to 2006.

In August 2013, the Supreme Court issued a verdict banning the registration of the party to contest national polls.

Government officials accuse leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Party of siding with Pakistan in the independence war.

On Thursday, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had withdrawn its ambassador to Bangladesh following the execution.

There have been a handful of protests against the execution in recent days in Turkey.

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Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer began his new administration 13 May 2016. Temers approval rating floats between one and two percent, which is statistically indistinguishable from zero. Temer's Cabinet in ethnically diverse Brazil did not include any Afro-Brazilians and women, the first time that had happened since 1979. Most of Temer's Cabinet choices were old, white men. Though not under investigation himself, he remains exposed to the swirling scandal at state oil company Petrobras, which has snared top members of his party, as well as Rousseff's.

Brazilian senators voted 12 May 2016 to suspend President Dilma Rousseff from office for breaking budgetary laws. She faced an impeachment trial, and her vice president, Michel Temer, took over her post in the interim A simple majority was all that was needed to open a trial, and the 5522 vote was one vote more than the 54 votes needed to convict her and remove her from office. It was not immediately clear how many of the senators who voted to put her on trial would also vote to convict her.

Rousseff used money borrowed from state banks to cover budget deficits and pay for social programs. She engaged in some creative accounting to try and make the situation look better, though it was questionable whether or not her actions were illegal. The push for impeachment was largely fueled by other lawmakers desires to deflect attention from themselves.

Michel Temer was elected in 2010 as the vice president of the Republic of Brazil, along with President Dilma Rousseff. Michel Temer, who has joined the pro-impeachment camp, is facing the same corruption charges as Rousseff. In addition, Temer was embroiled in the Petrobras state oil corruption scandal, and accused of receiving millions of dollars in bribes. Construction executives worked together to overcharge state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, for work and used the excess funds to bribe politicians.

The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party [PMDB] support for Rousseffs government splintered in early 2016, with house speaker Eduardo Cunha breaking ties in 2015 to spearhead impeachment efforts, while Vice President Michel Temer maintained his alliance with the president despite hinting at an impending rupture. The Party voted to leave the ruling coalition government with the PT party on 29 March 2016.

Temer, took over from Rousseff after a Senate vote in favor of impeachment, promised to, among other measures, set a fixed retirement age of 65, introduce bonuses for teachers, uncouple social assistance increases from the minimum wage, and loosen the labor code to give companies power to negotiate on more issues. In response to criticisms of his proposals, coming from groups including the left-wing MST landless worker movement, Temer said order comes before progress [Brazil's national motto is "Order and Progress"].

According to a poll by Datafolha, conducted at pro-democracy and anti-government demonstrations on 17 April 2016, both camps reported high disapproval of Temer. At the pro-impeachment rallies on Sao Paulos Paulista Avenue, 54 percent of respondents said they are in favor of Temers impeachment and over two thirds of people, 68 percent, said they expect Temers rule to be very poor, poor or just fair. A survey of pro-democracy rallies against the impeachment process at downtown Sao Paulos Anhangabau Valley found even higher distrust of Temer. According to Datafolha, 79 percent of protesters want to see Temer impeached and 88 percent believe his government would perform poorly or very poorly.

The main duties of the vice presidency is the defense of the national interest in forums, meetings and international negotiations. Temer, a Federal deputy from Sao Paulo, served as president of the Chamber of Deputies from 1997 through 2000. Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia served as federal deputy from Sao Paulo since 1987, except for a two-year period (1993-94) when he was Secretary for Public Security in the Sao Paulo state government. He studied at the University of Sao Paulo and earned a Doctorate in Law from the Catholic University of Sao Paulo. From 1984 through 1986 he was the state's Prosecutor General. He served as the PMDB's leader in the Camara de Deputados 1995-97 and as President of the Camara 1997-2000. He was national president of the PMDB 2001-03 and 2004- present.

Michel Temer is national president of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). The PMDB grew out of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) under the military dictatorship, which operated as an umbrella group for legitimate opposition to the military dictatorship. After the restoration of democracy, some members left the PMDB to form new parties (such as the PT and PSDB), but many of those who remained now act as power brokers at the local and regional level. Thus the PMDB has no real unifying national identity but rather an umbrella organization for regional "caciques" or bosses. The PMDB is not the only divided party. Although there are 28 political parties in Brazil, most of them do not represent an ideology or a particular line of political thinking that would support a national vision.

Vice President Michel Temer would take over Brazil's top office if the Senate moved to suspend President Dilma Rousseff on route to impeachment. Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer put forward a number of policy proposals including teacher bonuses and relaxed labor laws, making headlines in what resembled a presidential campaign ahead of the possible impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, while he also said that early elections would constitute a coup detat in the crisis-gripped country.

Temer promised to, among other measures, set a fixed retirement age of 65, introduce bonuses for teachers, uncouple social assistance increases from the minimum wage, and loosen the labor code to give companies power to negotiate on more issues. In response to criticisms of his proposals, coming from groups including the left-wing MST landless worker movement, Temer said order comes before progress, Brazils O Globo reported. The statement was a reference the national motto on the Brazilian flag which reads Order and Progress.

Temer argued that early elections in the event of Rousseffs impeachment would amount to a coup, resorting to the same language that Rousseff and her allies have used to describe the impeachment process due to its lack of legal basis. Temer argued that while impeachment is allowed in the constitution, early elections this year would be a fallacy.

The statements gave weight to accusations from Rousseff and supporters that the impeachment effort was an attempt at indirect elections and a bid to seize power that cannot be won at the ballot box. Temers opinion is also at odds with the desires of Brazilian voters, six out of 10 of whom dont want Temer as president and would prefer to see snap elections this year. Only 8 percent believe Temer can resolve Brazil's political crisis, according to a recent poll. Despite being next in line for Brazils top office with the impending impeachment, the corruption-embroiled lawmaker faced dismal approval ratings for the next election.

Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia was born in Tiete (SP) on September 23, 1940. The youngest of eight children, Temer is Catholic. The family, always faithful to Christian precepts, immigrated to Betabura region of El Koura in northern Lebanon in 1925.

Once arrived in Brazil, his father, Miguel Temer, bought a farm in Tiete and installed a rice and coffee processing machine. Over the years, Miguel activity was gaining importance. The eldest son, Tamer, came to help in the family business. Michel and the other brothers were studying in Sao Paulo.

At 16, Michel Temer started the classic (current high school). Years later, he entered the traditional and renowned Faculty of Law, University of Sao Paulo (USP), the Largo do Sao Francisco.

A graduate in law from the University of Sao Paulo (1963), has the title of Doctor of Law from the Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) of Sao Paulo. Michel Temer is considered one of the greatest constitutionalists of the country, author of the Constitution and policy books, Federal Territories in the Brazilian Constitutions and Your Rights in Constitutional and elements of constitutional law, the latter in the 20th edition, with 200,000 copies sold. In 2012, he received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Public Law Institute (IDP) and the University Foundation Teaching Institute for Osasco (UNIFIEO), for his work in the legal field and Brazilian politician.

He began his political career as officer Ataliba Nogueira office, Secretary of Education in the government of Sao Paulo. In 1983, Michel Temer was appointed Attorney General of the State of Sao Paulo. The following year, he became Secretary of Public Security of Sao Paulo, a position he returned to occupy the early 90s.

In charge of the Secretariat of Public Security, Michel Temer adopted modern ideas, later used as a model throughout the country. In 1985, he created the Security Community Councils (CONSEG). In the same year, after receiving a commission denounced the beating of women and the authorities of neglect before the crimes, Fear created the first Police Station for Women in Brazil. Also in this period, he established the Bureau of Protection of Copyright, an important tool for combating piracy, and the Bureau of Verification of Racial Crimes.

In the first administration in front of the Public Security Bureau, received great encouragement to contest elective office. He confided to the then governor Franco Montoro a big dream: to participate in the National Constituent Assembly in 1986. Montoro encouraged him to move on.

Deputy was elected constituent by the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (PMDB) and actively participated in the National Constituent Assembly, when it highlighted the moderate position, sober and the great knowledge of constitutional law.

After the Constituent Assembly, he was elected federal deputy and served six terms - all the PMDB. He graduated from office only to resume the Secretariat of Public Security of Sao Paulo and then the Government.

Michel Temer was elected three times to the Presidency of the House of Representatives (1997, 1999 and 2009). In the first management, innovated to open the house to the society by creating important communication system, responsible for reporting the work of parliamentarians and major debates in plenary and committee.

During this period, the Board discussed and voted several projects that altered the structure of the Brazilian state, with major repercussions of changes for the modernization of national institutions.

In the House chairman of condition, assumed the presidency, interim twice: from 27 to 31 January 1998 and 15 June 1999.

In the third term as mayor, he prevented locking the agenda for provisional measures issued by the Executive. Temer offered new constitutional interpretation. According to him, an MP only locks the voting materials that can be the object of Provisional Measure.

Thus, the vote of Amendment Proposals to the Constitution, resolutions and Complementary Law Project, among other matters listed in paragraph 1 of article. 62, could not be barred. With this decision, widely accepted in the legal environment and the legislative framework, the House resumed voting on matters relevant to society. In Democracy and Citizenship work, Michel Temer meets pronouncements and articles written in the performance of parliamentary duties.

From 2001 to the end of 2010, he chaired the National PMDB directory. In 2011, he graduated from the post to assume the Vice Presidency. He has five children, including three with his first wife Maria, one resulting from a relationship with a journalist, and one more with current wife Marcela, who is 42 years younger than him and started to date him when she was 17, and he was 60. He is the second Vice President of Brazil of Lebanese origin, after Jose Maria Alkmin. His family originates from Btaaboura in Koura District, near the city Tripoli in Northern Lebanon.

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Jedediah Smith, famous mountain man, trapper, explorer and map maker, may not have been the first white man to enter the Nevada area  some Spanish conquistadors most likely had crossed the same deserts and mountains before him  but Smith certainly was the first to spend any significant time exploring the region. He made two trips across Southern Nevada and one across sections of the central part of the state when all of it was just a blank area on any maps of the day.
Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte was elected the Philippine president in May 2016 elections. His six-year term ends in June 2022. The constitution limits Philippine presidents to a single six-year term. Rodrigo Duterte said he will not run for vice president in the country's upcoming presidential election and retire from politics. Duterte had earlier said he would seek to become vice president, as the country's constitution bans presidents from running for reelection after the end of their term. However, on 02 October 2021 he went back on the decision, saying the overwhelming sentiment of the public is that he is not qualified, and that standing for the vice-presidency would be a violation of the spirit of the constitution.

President Duterte compared himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler 29 September 2016. Duterte made the inflammatory remarks in a speech while visiting Davao, one of the biggest cities in the Philippines. He had just returned from Vietnam. "Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there is three million, what is it, three million drug addicts, there are. I'd be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have (me). You know my victims, I would like (them) to be all criminals, to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition."

Duterte's comments followed criticism from the European Union and the United States over suspected extra-judicial killings in his crackdown on drug pushers and users. The former mayor had only been president for three months but so far he has presided over a campaign of seemingly indiscriminate violence against suspected drug dealers and addicts. Over 3,100 alleged drug users, addicts and dealers had been killed. Only a third of those killings happened as a result of police operations. The rest were carried out by vigilante groups which were actively encouraged by Duterte. He repeatedly encouraged members of the public to act on their own against drug dealers and promised not to prosecute those who do so.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's stsff expressed regret concerning a comment he made using vulgar language that appeared as a personal attack against US President Barack Obama and the honor of his mother. "Our primary intention is to chart an independent foreign policy while promoting closer ties with all nations, especially the U.S., with which we have a long standing partnership," his staff said in a statement.

Duterte warned Obama not to lecture him about his use of death squads against suspected drug traffickers that had resulted in more than 2,000 murdres since he took office in June. "You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions," Duterte said: "Putang ina ["son of a whore"], I will swear at you in the forum", using a Tagalog phrase.

Rodrigo Duterte, whose foul-mouthed, populist campaign earned him both praise and ridicule, was the winner of the 2016 Philippines presidential election. Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, has said he will be the country's first Left president. Despite his 'radicalisms', Duterte in fact had yet to espouse any fundamental shift from the general run of neoliberal economic policy of the past 30 or so years. On the contrary, he promised to expand privatization and deregulation and declared plans for liberalization of trade by allowing the dumping of surplus steel from China.

Rodrigo Duterte, mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, embodied the hope of change to many Filipinos. The populist mayors single-issue campaign focused on law and order tapped into anxiety about graft, crime and drug abuse, but for many his incendiary rhetoric and talk of extrajudicial killings smack worryingly of the countrys authoritarian past. Duterte's pledge to carry out his agenda even if that required shutting down the legislature also brought back memories of the country's late dictatorial President Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972.

Mr. Dutertes campaign symbol is a fist  intended for lawbreakers, but seemingly also aimed at the oligarchy, Miguel Syjuco, a respected Philippine writer, said in an opinion column. He earned notoriety for his crude boasts of sexual escapades, drawing comparisons to US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Duterte vowed on 06 May 2016 evening to clean the government, rid it of criminality, suppress drugs, corruption and dared to close Congress and government agencies if they make life difficult for the Filipinos. I can guarantee you it will be a clean government getting rid of corruption, not asking for years, not asking for a term, not asking you to give me months, but you will feel it when I am given my post... in worst situation, I will close Congress if they cannot deliver to the people the services, serve their interests and welfare they are sworn to serve as the peoples representatives...

He advocated multilateral negotiations to resolve territorial claims in the South China Sea. Duterte had declared that as president he would ride a jet ski to the contested Scarborough Shoal, plant a Philippine flag and expect to die a hero at the hands of the Chinese.

In a nation where 80 percent of people are Roman Catholic, Duterte called Pope Francis a "son of a bitch" after the pontiff's visit in January caused traffic problems. He also drew criticism from the U.S. and Australian ambassadors to the Philippines after saying he wished he had been first in line in the gang rape of an Australian missionary killed during a Davao jail riot in 1989.

The 71-year-old mayor had been leading most of the opinion polls since April. Some 33 percent of the voters said they would vote for Duterte in the final pre-election survey conducted by Social Weather Station. The country's renowned polling body carried out the survey from May 1 to May 3 through face-to-face interviews with 4,500 validated voters nationwide with a sampling error margin of 1 point. The foul-mouthed candidate is known to have made Davao one of the safest cities in the Philippines through tough regulations and iron-fist approach in crime fighting. During the presidential campaign period, he vowed to wipe out corruption, drugs and criminality in three to six months if he wins the election.

Duterte has been a vocal proponent of the use of violence to rid areas of common crime. The Davao Death Squad, which boosted the popularity of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, has motivated other municipal officials to adopt extrajudicial killings as a crime control method. The arming of civilian left a devastating legacy of vigilantism that for decades, particularly the city of Davao, has not been able to recover from. It was in the urban village of Agdao in Davao City where the vicious vigilante group, Alsa Masa, first took root.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expressed concern in August 2008 that "... despite the fact that there is no longer the threat of communism, vigilante killings take place in Davao City daily on the pretext of the war against criminals. The psyche of the people living there has reached a point where they themselves give ready acquiescence to these death squads to decide on who deserves to die or not effectively leaving the policing, prosecution and the court meaningless. Thus, while Alsa Masa may have ceased to exist the notion and residue of its brutal past remains an insidious disease." The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

His name was often floated as a potential presidential candidate for his seeming ability to solve challenges that stymied other politicians. In February 2014, Duterte told a Senate hearing on rice smuggling in the Philippines that he would gladly kill an alleged smuggler who tried to smuggle rice into his city. Instead of criticizing Duterte for suggesting the use of extrajudicial killings, the committee chairperson appeared to express support for Dutertes tough anti-crime measures in Davao City.

Duterte's aggressive behavior and offensive language won him a lot of supporters, but aroused concerns and controversy as well. The outgoing president Aquino has warned repeatedly the risk for the country to fall under a dictatorship if citizens voted Duterte. Analysts warned possible political instability if Duterte became the president as his "revolutionary government" would be most unlikely to get support from the congress.

Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte (born March 28, 1945), nicknamed Digong, was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Leyte in the Philippine Commonwealth to Cebuano lawyer Vicente G. Duterte and Soledad Roa. His father served as the Governor of Davao while his mother was a school teacher. He studied at Sta. Ana Elementary School in Davao and then spent his high school at Holy Cross of Digos.

He was such a problem child that his father exiled him to Digos, Davao del Sur, where he finished high school in Holy Cross of Digos in 1966. Duterte took pride in having been a student of the CPP founding Chairman in Political Thought, Prof. Jose Maria Sison, at the Lyceum of the Philippines in the late 1960s, in becoming an activist of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal youth organization, Kabataang Makabayan, and in being a long time adherent of the New Patriotic Alliance known as BAYAN. Both Kabataang Makabayan and BAYAN were fierce opponents of the Marcos fascist dictatorship and the continuing domination of the Philippines by foreign monopoly capitalism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.

Duterte graduated law at San Beda College in Manila under Class 1972, and passed the bar examination in the same year. He then had a short stint as lecturer on Criminal Law, Criminal Evidence and Criminal Procedure at the Philippine National Police Academy Regional Training Center XI before joining the government as prosecutor at the Davao City Prosecution Office from 1977 to 1986.

The vicious "vigilante" group, Alsa Masa, first took root in Davao City at this time. In reality, Alsa Masa was a semi-official death squad. The precise relationship between the rise of Alsa Masa and the rise of Duterte is unclear, but they coincided in time, and the one surely was related to the other. In the two years 1986-1988 of the greatest visibility of the Alsa Masa death squad, Duterte rose from a mid-level government lawyer to the mayor of the country's third largest city.

Duterte was then appointed officer-in-charge (OIC) vice mayor and had served as special counsel where he prosecuted cases involving police and military personnel, including subversion and rebellion cases filed against alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA), until he became assistant fiscal after the 1986 EDSA Revolution in Manila - the popular non-violent uprising known as "People Power Revolution" (February 22-25, 1986) that overthrew the 20-year dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos and installed Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino as President. After the People Power Revolution, Duterte was appointed officer-in-charge vice mayor.

In 1988, he ran for mayor and won, serving until 1998. He set a precedent by designating deputy mayors that represented the Lumad and Moro in the city government, which was later copied in other parts of the country. In 1998, because he was term-limited to run again for mayor, he ran for the House of Representatives and won as Congressman of the 1st District of Davao City. In 2001, he ran again for mayor in Davao and was again elected for his fourth term. He was reelected in 2004 and in 2007. In 2010, he was elected vice mayor, succeeding his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was elected as mayor. He was never out of politics.

Davao is the Philippines' third largest city. As a mayor, he won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for being a 3-time 1st place winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) Highly Urbanized City category.

The City Council amended the City Ordinance No. 1627, Series of 1994, which imposed a probihition on selling, serving, drinking, and consuming liquors and alcoholic beverages from 1:00 a.m. until 8:00 am. Speed limits for all kinds of motor vehicles within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City for public safety and order under Executive Order No. 39 was signed by Duterte. Duterte fight against crime made him more known and earned him more respect as public servant. However, his style in reducing crime in Davao City was criticized by human right groups in spite of significant decrease in crime rate in the city.

There is documented evidence of hundreds of vigilante-style killings of civilians in Davao city since 1998; victims are usually petty criminals and street children; killings are perpetrated in exchange for payment; police fail to investigate these crimes and protect witnesses; and the killings have broad public support.

Key public officials steadfastly denied that vigilante killings occur in Davao city. Vice Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of the outspoken anti-crime Mayor, said the 2009 Human Rights Watch Report on vigilante killings was "exaggerated" and that most murders in Davao were "love triangle" and "revenge killings." She noted the police were doing their job by sifting through records from as long as 10 years ago to reexamine some of these incidents to try to obtain leads. While she stated the issue was being handled appropriately, Sara Duterte has kept her distance from any involvement in the issue.

Rodrigo Duterte is clearly behind a group called the "Davao Death Squad," which has been implicated in hundreds of vigilante-style killings. Duterte's visible rage against criminality and drugs stemmed from family history: one of Duterte's two sons previously abused drugs, and the Mayor channeled his anger over his son's drug use not just against drug pushers, but also drug users, eventually leading him to embrace vigilante killings as a means to reduce crime. The Mayor's tough anti-crime rhetoric became the hallmark of his governance style, and Davao residents perceived a marked improvement in public safety under his tenure, which many thought contributed to improved prospects for economic growth.

The city's government is known to be relatively advanced among large Philippine cities with regard to its economic development policies and public services like housing, drug rehabilitation, and programs for the poor.

Support for the Mayor's overall policies comes from a dynamic cross-section of influential Davao citizens whom the Mayor has recruited as advisors, including the Regional Chair of the Ulamas League and the leader of a prominent and wealthy Protestant sect, among many others. The Mayor's broad base of support ensured his enduring popularity among different constituencies, but he remained ready to counter those who criticize him and opposition to the Mayor among City Councilors, suffering from their own scandals, remains minimal.

While international attention on the killings was elevated as a result of the Human Rights Watch Report, noticeably absent was public outrage among Davao residents. Combined with Mayor Duterte's tight control, this public apathy prevented civil society groups from being more aggressive in tackling the issue. With the police failing to make any progress on investigations, the CHR and civil society groups have become the primary advocates on the issue. The CHR's effectiveness was determined by its ability to cobble together enough witnesses to make strong cases. The CHR, in order to withstand Duterte's anticipated attacks, must also successfully marshal support at the national level from the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police in order to push cases forward to prosecution.

Duterte openly spoke about his desire to change the system of the government to a federal form. Apart from that, he categorically said that if he will become the president and sit in the Malacanang for 6 years, did my best and would not corrupt or steal money fro the people and leave after six years with the same system of government? Im not that ambitious nor do I love to boast but if I will be president, after my term is over I will have federalism as the new form of government.

After a controversial presidential campaign, the 71-year-old saw quick success after vowing to end crime within six months of his ascendance to the presidency by "killing criminals." He repeated his vows at his final rally as runner-up, calling on the electorate to "forget the laws on human rights [...] if I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because as the mayor, I'd kill you." Departing President Benigno Aquino repeatedly warned the country was at risk of becoming a dictator state if Duterte had succeeded.

The revolutionary movement of the people led by the Communist Party of the Philippines or CPP supported the determination of Duterte to fight corruption and criminality and welcomes his vow to declare a ceasefire with the armed revolutionary movement and be the first left president in the history of the Philippines. In this regard, the CPP has urged him to free the hundreds of political prisoners, accelerate the peace negotiations and address the roots of the civil war by adopting basic economic, social and political reforms.

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Scale of cyber attacks on Taiwan reaches 'quasi war' level: MOTC

ROC Central News Agency

2016/05/11 16:00:30

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) Taiwan is encountering frequent cyber attacks, with the scale reaching the level of a "quasi war," the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said Wednesday, although other Cabinet officials said that the situation is under control.

The frequent attacks on Taiwan are some of the most serious in the world, mainly because "most of the cyber attacks come from the other side of the Taiwan Strait," the ministry said in a report to a legislative committee.

A lot of hackers have infiltrated Taiwan's key systems of national defense, diplomacy, utilities, air traffic control and telecommunications, with the scale and depth of the attacks reaching "the level of quasi war," it said. It provided no evidence or details.

The ministry made the report to the Foreign and National Defense Committee, which had invited the ministry, as well as other related government agencies, to report on the necessity of forming a fourth military branch and the challenges posed by cyber attackers to the information security of the government and private sectors.

The fourth military branch as advocated by the Democratic Progressive Party in its blueprint for national defense last year refers to a unit beyond the air, navy and army services, and will comprise personnel versed in information and telecommunications expertise.

The report said that to gain access to the development of Taiwan's national defense, politics and diplomacy, as well as cross-Taiwan Strait relations, the hackers have shifted from targeting government agencies and offices overseas to private think tanks and telecommunications operators.

It predicted that cyber attacks will later expand to Taiwan's infrastructure and individuals.

As such, it is necessary to from a fourth military branch to deter cyber attacks, it said.

However, Deputy Minister of National Defense Cheng De-mei () said that "quasi war status" has to meet several conditions, and the ministry usually will not use such a term.

Hsiao Hsiu-chin (), chief of the Information and Communication Security Center under the Executive Yuan, said that Taiwan is indeed attacked frequently by hackers, and claimed that it is "one of the most frequently attacked countries."

The situation is serious, but it is under control, Hsiao said.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J

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US activating missiles in Europe despite Russia warning

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 2:28PM

The United States is about to activate its missile systems across Europe, despite Russia's warnings against a systematically increasing US-led arms deployment near its borders.

Almost after a decade of pledging to protect members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Washington will on Thursday activate a web of missile systems it has deployed across Europe over the years.

American and NATO officials are slated to declare operational the so-called shield at a remote air base in Deveselu, Romania.

"We now have the capability to protect NATO in Europe," said Robert Bell, a NATO-based envoy of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

He claimed that the shield is supposed to protect Europe from an Iranian missile threat, a claim Moscow has repeatedly rejected, saying the missiles are aimed at Russia instead.

"The Iranians are increasing their capabilities and we have to be ahead of that. The system is not aimed against Russia," Bell told reporters, adding that the system will soon be handed over to NATO command.

He echoed US State Department spokesman John Kirby who had said the system "is defensive in nature" and therefore can't be targeted "at anybody."

Despite American assurances, Moscow accuses Washington of trying to neutralize its nuclear arsenal and buy enough time to make a first strike on Russia in the event of war.

Russia's response

General Sergey Karakayev, commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), downplayed the system's impact, saying that the Russian military was paying "special attention" to enhance their weapons and overcome US missile defense systems.

"Threats from the European segment of the missile defense system for the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) are limited and don't critically reduce the combat capabilities of the SMF," Karakayev said on Tuesday.

The general added that Russian ballistic missiles can carry new warheads and deliver them through energy-optimal trajectories in multiple directions, making their path difficult to predict for missile defense systems.

During a Senate hearing in April, US Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Brian McKeon, requested a budget boost for the Missile Defense Agency, saying the funding was crucial for upgrading US missile systems to counter Russian and Chinese missiles.

Russia does not look favorably upon the North Atlantic Organization Treaty (NATO)'s growing deployment of missiles and nuclear weapons near its borders, with the Russian President Vladimir Putin saying in June last year that if threatened by NATO, Moscow will respond to the threat accordingly.

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U.S. Missile-Defense System In Romania To Go Operational As Russia Fumes

May 11, 2016

by Mike Eckel

The ambitious U.S. plan to protect Europe from ballistic missiles goes online this week, and Russia is already making clear that a stern, if not outright belligerent, response may be forthcoming.

With Russian jets buzzing U.S. naval vessels with increasing frequency, and major NATO war games scheduled in Poland next month, the formal inauguration of the Aegis Ashore system, based near a village in rural Romania, is likely to further vex already tense relations between Moscow and the West.

A day before the May 12 ceremony, to be attended by U.S. and NATO officials, a Russian Foreign Ministry official called the decision to install the system in Romania a mistake, and said it was a violation of a key Cold War treaty that barred intermediate-range missiles from Europe.

"This move is harmful and wrong, since it may impair strategic stability," Mikhail Ulyanov, who heads the ministry's nonproliferation and arms-control department, was quoted by Interfax as saying on May 11.

"In this sense, our interests, security interests are affected immediately," he added.

The system in Romania, which consists of an Aegis radar and two dozen SM-3 missiles, is the first onshore installation of a larger system that has been deployed on U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean for several years now.

U.S. officials have said the entire project -- known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach -- is aimed at intercepting ballistic missiles launched from Iran at European targets. Construction on a similar system in Poland, slated for completion in 2018, will be launched on May 13.

Moscow, however, vehemently opposes the efforts, rejecting U.S. assurances that the system is far too limited to threaten Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Adding to Russia's suspicions is the fact that tensions between the West and Iran have been markedly reduced following the recent deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program.

"The Russians have been saying all along, 'This isn't about Iran, it's about us,'" says Tom Collina, director of policy at the Ploughshares Fund, a Washington-based research group. "This seems to be feeding their concerns."

The start-up of the Romanian battery comes as ties between NATO and Russia continue to fray in the wake of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula two years ago. Russian jets have flown extremely close to U.S. planes and naval ships in the Baltic Sea and elsewhere in recent weeks, prompting warnings from Washington.

In an effort to calm NATO allies like Poland, Hungary, and the Baltic states, U.S. defense leaders also announced earlier this year that three combat brigades would be rotating into Europe on a regular basis. The incoming chief of U.S. forces in Europe has also called for a brigade to be permanently based there.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced last week the creation of three new military divisions along Russia's western and southwestern borders in response to what he called "the buildup of NATO forces in close proximity to Russia's borders."

U.S. and NATO forces are also slated to hold major military exercises in Poland beginning on June 7, with up to 25,000 troops expected to participate.

The Romanian system has also prompted a specific threat from Moscow, namely the deployment of Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. With a range of 500 kilometers and the ability to be fitted with either nuclear or conventional warheads, Iskanders would be able threaten much of Poland from Kaliningrad

Some European defense officials have suggested the Iskanders may already be in the territory.

Washington and Moscow have also been at loggerheads over the status of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the 1987 agreement that removed an entire class of cruise and ballistic missiles from Europe.

For the third consecutive year, the United States last month accused Russia of violating the treaty by allegedly developing a ground-launched cruise-missile system. Russia denies the accusation and has asserted the United States itself is in violating the treaty by moving forward with the ballistic-missile-defense system in Romania.

Collina says the Romania radar system feeds into the message that the Kremlin has long sought to convey to the Russian populace -- that NATO and the West are threatening Russia and seeking to encircle it.

"This is a game about posturing. The U.S. deploys the system in Romania, Russia has to say something to assure its people that they've neutralized the system," he says.

"The U.S. is giving Russia a ready excuse to be more belligerent," he adds.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-russia-missile- defense-system-operational/27729013.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US missile system in Romania poses threat to Russia: Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Thu May 12, 2016 1:42PM

A senior Russian official has said the activation of a US missile system in Romania would constitute a threat to Russia's national security.

"Without doubt, the deployment of the PRO system really is a threat to the security of the Russian Federation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday of the US missile system in Deveselu in southern Romania:

He added: "Measures are being taken to ensure the necessary level of security for Russia. The president himself (Vladimir Putin), let me remind you, has repeatedly asked who the system will work against?"

The remarks came as the United States switched on an $800 million missile system in Romania earlier in the day.

The US commander in Europe and Africa, Mark Ferguson, at an inauguration ceremony alongside NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, said that the missile system will help defend NATO members against the threat of short and medium-range ballistic missiles.

Russia has strongly criticized the US installation of a missile system in Romania, describing the decision as a mistake. The Russian Foreign Ministry says the measure flouts the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed between Moscow and Washington in 1987.

Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the Russian foreign Ministry's department for non-proliferation and arms control, said on Wednesday that the deployment of US missile systems at military bases in Romania and Poland would undermine strategic stability in Europe.

However senior US officials are describing it as an important step that will help defend NATO states.

The United States insists it is not aimed against Russia, but Moscow views it as a security threat on its doorstep.

Robert Bell, a NATO-based envoy of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter earlier claimed that the system is supposed to protect Europe from an Iranian missile threat, a claim Moscow has repeatedly rejected, saying the missiles are aimed at Russia instead.

"The Iranians are increasing their capabilities and we have to be ahead of that. The system is not aimed against Russia," Bell told reporters on Wednesday.

Russia says Iran's missile program does not pose a threat to Europe at all, dismissing allegations of perceived threats as unfounded

Despite American assurances, Moscow accuses Washington of trying to neutralize its nuclear arsenal and buy enough time to make a first strike on Russia in the event of war.

During a Senate hearing in April, US Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Brian McKeon, requested a budget boost for the Missile Defense Agency, saying the funding was crucial for upgrading US missile systems to counter Russian and Chinese missiles.

Russia does not look favorably upon the North Atlantic Organization Treaty (NATO)'s growing deployment of missiles and nuclear weapons near its borders. Last June Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his country would respond to any potential threat by NATO.

Russia, infuriated by NATO's eastward expansion, has boosted its defense capabilities along its western border.

In recent months, NATO has accelerated its biggest military build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War.

Relations between Russia and NATO specially soured after Crimea rejoined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March 2014.

The United States and its European allies accuse Moscow of destabilizing Ukraine and have imposed sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures. Moscow, however, rejects having a hand in the Ukrainian crisis.

Russia will not leave US missile systems in Europe unanswered

Viktor Ozerov, the head of the Russian Federation Council defense and security committee, on Thursday said that Russia will not leave the deployment of US missile systems in Romania and Poland unanswered.

"We have said repeatedly that this will not improve relations between Russia and the US and between Russia and NATO. Unfortunately, they haven't listened to us. Russia will have to take military-technical countermeasures."

"This all is very unpleasant to us. Specialists believe that not only can these systems [US missile sites in Romania and Poland] enhance protection but can be very quickly transformed into systems carrying nuclear weapons," Ozerov added, noting, "We believe this is a set of measures aimed at deterring our strategic nuclear forces."

Experts say Russia could deploy Iskander-M missile systems capable of intercepting targets within a 500-kilometer range in the Kaliningrad region.

In an interview with Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had said that Russia would also take appropriate military-technical measures at its northern borders if Sweden decides to join NATO.

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U.S. Activates Missile-Defense Site In Romania, Despite Russian Protests

May 12, 2016

by Eugen Tomiuc

The United States has activated a missile-defense site in Romania, prompting an angry reaction from Moscow.

Senior U.S., NATO, and Romanian officials on May 12 attended the opening ceremony of the $800 million system in Deveselu, a village in southern Romania that used to host a Soviet air base.

U.S. and NATO officials have said the Romanian site -- along with a second one due to become operational in 2018 in Poland -- is intended to protect Europe from possible ballistic-missile threats from Iran, and is not aimed at Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg underscored the latter point during the inauguration ceremony, saying that missile defense "does not undermine or weaken Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent."

The office of Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has cast doubts on the true intentions of the program, questioning the need for protection against Iran following the deal negotiated in 2015 that curbs Iran's nuclear program. Various Russian officials have argued that the missile base poses a threat to Russia, see it is a Cold War-style show of force, and say it will further complicate Moscow's relationship with NATO.

The activation of the site comes amid troubled ties between NATO and Russia in the wake of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula two years ago, and despite Moscow's long-standing objections to NATO and U.S. missile-defense plans.

The system in Deveselu -- technically known as Aegis Ashore -- is tasked with shooting down rockets as part of a larger defense shield. The site covers 170 hectares and is equipped with Aegis radar and 44 land-to-air SM-3 missiles that have a 500-kilometer range. It is the first onshore installation of the larger system, parts of which have been deployed on U.S. naval ships in the Mediterranean and which will ultimately extend across Europe.

When asked at the ceremony whether the sites in Romania and Poland could develop technology that could counter Russian missiles, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said: "No, there are no plans at all to do that. This is for the broader defense against a threat that is outside the Euro-Atlantic area of operations."

Nevertheless, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 12 that Moscow was already taking measures for "securing the necessary level of security in Russia."

The comments added to speculation that Russia might deploy Iskander missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave, which is wedged between Poland and Lithuania.

Stoltenberg, who earlier on May 12 met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, noted that Moscow had unilaterally terminated cooperative dialogue about missile defense in 2013.

On May 13, Polish and U.S. officials will break ground at the second planned missile-defense site, in the Polish village of Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea. The site, which is expected to become operational by 2018, is located near Kaliningrad.

The NATO missile shield has been partly operational for several years, thanks to a radar site in Turkey, a missile-defense command center in Germany, and four U.S. warships with interceptor missiles on board that are based in southern Spain.

The Deveselu facility is expected to be placed under NATO control in July, at the alliance's summit in Warsaw.

With additional reporting by RFE/RL's Mike Eckel and material from news agencies

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia- romania-us-activiates-missile- defense-site/27730524.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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New US Missile Defense Systems in Europe 'Not Directed Against Russia'

Sputnik News

17:04 12.05.2016(updated 17:05 12.05.2016)

The new US missile defense systems planned for deployment in Europe are not directed against Russia, US Department of State spokesman Noel Clay told Sputnik on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, the head of Russia's Arms Committee in the upper house of parliament, Viktor Ozerov, said that Moscow could withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in response to new missile defense systems being deployed in Eastern Europe.

"The US Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, including Aegis BMD and other systems deployed as part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA), is not designed or directed against Russia," Clay said when asked if Washington is concerned about Russia's possible exit from the START. "We have made it clear to Russian authorities many times and at the highest levels."

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considers the deployment of the US missile defense systems in Europe a direct threat to regional security and stability.

The US Aegis Ashore air defense system is to be officially deployed in Romania on Thurdsay and on Friday the construction of a similar complex is to begin in Poland.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the creation of the ballistic missile defense system in Europe, approved in 2010 during a NATO summit in Lisbon. A group of European countries, including Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey, agreed to deploy elements of the system on their territories.

The United States and NATO continue to claim that the ballistic missile defense system is aimed primarily at countering threats from Iran and North Korea.

 Sputnik

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Pentagon Pledges to Protect NATO From Iran's Ballistic Missiles

Sputnik News

16:51 12.05.2016(updated 17:08 12.05.2016)

The United States promises to protect its NATO allies from the threat of Iranian ballistic missile as long as Tehran continues to develop such capabilities, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work said on Thursday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  Earlier this week, Iran successfully conducted its latest medium-range ballistic missile test. In March, Iran held nationwide missile exercises, during which the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Forces test-fired two types of ballistic missiles, both of which successfully hit their targets. Iran's recent progress in developing its missile capability has raised concerns in Washington.

"As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with its allies to defend NATO," Work said in a press statement at the opening of NATO's ballistic missile defense site in Romania.

Iran's target of boosting its national defense program has sparked concerns among the international community, despite reassurances from Tehran that it would never threaten the national security of another state.

On July 14, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries comprising Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Following the adoption of the JCPOA, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2231, which prohibits Iran from engaging in activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

 Sputnik

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US Inaugurates Aegis Missile Defense Outpost in Romania

Sputnik News

16:45 12.05.2016(updated 16:46 12.05.2016)

A ground-based Aegis battle management system in Romania has been integrated into a planned missile defense network for Europe, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Adm. Mark Ferguson said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States and its NATO allies integrated a ground-based Aegis battle management system into a planned missile defense network for Europe, a key step toward deploying interceptors capable of blocking nuclear capable rockets aimed at the continent, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Adm. Mark Ferguson told guests at a ceremony in Romania on Thursday.

"We have been working towards this day since President Obama's commitment in September, 2009 to the European Phased Adaptive Approach," Ferguson said. "From the selection of this site in 2011 and initial groundbreaking in 2013, both of our nations have moved rapidly to make this project a reality."

Construction is expected to begin on Friday on a similar base in Poland, scheduled to be completed in 2018.

On Wednesday, US defense envoy to NATO Robert Bell stressed that the missile shield is not aimed at Russia, but is intended to protect NATO in Europe from Iran's increasing ballistic missile capabilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that NATO's increasing presence along its borders is provocative and can result in regional and global destabilization.

 Sputnik

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Missile Defense Program in Romania to Increase NATO 'Defensive' Coverage

Sputnik News

11:04 12.05.2016(updated 11:24 12.05.2016)

Activation of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system in Romania will enhance NATO defense capabilities against medium and short-range missile attacks, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Thursday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to be held in Romanian Deveselu to mark the operational certification of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system.

"With the activation of the Aegis Ashore missile defence site at Deveselu in Romania on Thursday, our capability is being boosted further  significantly increasing the defensive coverage of NATO territory against medium and short-range missile attacks," Stoltenberg said, as quoted by the Alliance's website.

Stoltenberg added that he was grateful to the Romanian government and nation for the contribution made to the alliance's collective defense.

NATO approved the creation of an US-designed ballistic missile defense system in Europe during the alliance's summit in 2010, held in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

Under NATO's planned missile defense system, radars and interceptors will be placed in several NATO states, including Romania and Poland. The shield will be strengthened by naval forces.

NATO Planting Missile Defense Systems to Counter Other States' Ballistic Programs  Stoltenberg

On May 12-13, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Verification and Compliance Frank Rose will visit Romania and Poland to participate in the launching ceremonies related to the NATO Aegis Ashore missile defense system in the two countries.

"The fact is that many countries are developing ballistic missile programmes. And we, as a defensive alliance, cannot ignore that threat. Missile defence is an important tool for NATO's core task of collective defence Our goal is to achieve full coverage and protection for NATO's European Allies against ballistic missile attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic area," Stoltenberg said, as quoted by the Alliance's website.

He added that the Alliance's missile defense system was defensive and did not pose threat to Russia.

According to Stoltenberg, NATO has repeatedly proposed Moscow to cooperate on the issue, but Russia has declined all such offers.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the establishment of an US-designed missile defense system in Europe, approved in 2010, during a NATO summit in Lisbon.

 Sputnik

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US, NATO Activate Missile Defense Site in Romania

by VOA News May 12, 2016

The U.S. has switched on an $800 million (700 million euro) missile defense site in southern Romania Thursday, a move that has infuriated Moscow.

"Both the U.S. and NATO have made it clear the system is not designed for or capable of undermining Russia's strategic deterrence capability," U.S. assistant secretary of state Frank Rose told a news conference in Bucharest Wednesday.

"Russia has repeatedly raised concerns that the U.S. and NATO defense are directed against Russia and represent a threat to its strategic nuclear deterrent. Nothing could be further from the truth," he said.

Rose instead cited Iran as the targeted threat.

"Iran continues to develop, test and deploy a full range of ballistic missile capabilities and those capabilities are increasing in range and accuracy," he said.

Russia's reaction

Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, chairman of the State Duma's defense committee, called the missile defense site a threat to Russia.

"This is a direct threat to us,'' Komoyedov, the former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, told the Interfax news agency. "They are moving to the firing line. This is not just 100; it's 200, 300, 1,000 percent aimed against us. This is not about Iran, but about Russia with its nuclear capabilities,'' he said.

Work on the Deveselu site began in October 2013, after an initial decision by NATO in 2010 to create a missile shield based on U.S. technology. The project, which includes building sites in Poland as well as Romania, is expected to be completed in 2020.

NATO insists the role of the planned shield is a "purely defensive" response to external threats.

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Rousseff Accuses Brazil's Senate Vote of Sabotaging Government

by Ken Bredemeier May 12, 2016

Brazilian senators have voted to suspend President Dilma Rousseff from office. The lawmakers are preparing to try her on charges of manipulating the national budget to boost her 2014 re-election campaign.

The 68-year-old leftist accused her opponents of sabotaging her government, saying "respect for democracy" and the country's constitution were at stake.

Rousseff's vice president, Michel Temer, who has turned against her, will take over the presidency in the interim, less than three months before the 2016 Summer Olympics open in Rio de Janeiro. He faces the country's worst recession in decades, even as Brazil battles a deadly outbreak of the zika mosquito virus.

Following a nearly 22-hour debate in the Senate, a simple majority was all that was needed to open a trial for Rousseff. The vote against her was 55-22.

She is accused of using borrowed money from state banks to cover budget deficits and pay for social programs, to make Brazil's flagging economy look better than it was.

It is not clear how many of the senators who voted to put her on trial would also vote to convict her in what could be a six-month proceeding. A two-thirds majority would be needed to permanently remove Rousseff from office.

"As she approached the election in 2014, it was pretty clear that the economy was not doing as well as she hoped, and so she engaged in some creative accounting to try and make the situation look better," Latin American specialist Sean Burgess of the Australian National University told VOA.

It is still questionable, Burgess said, whether or not her actions were illegal, and the push for impeachment may be fueled by other lawmakers' desires to deflect attention from themselves.

"When you look at the number of individuals in congress who are facing trial or conviction for serious crimes ... one way to read this whole process is an attempt by these individuals to create so much mud and so much storm that the prosecutors never get the time to get around to dealing with them," he said. "It's a diversionary tactic by a lot of these people to try and protect themselves."

Brazilian police and supporters of the embattled president faced off Wednesday in front of the Senate prior to the vote on whether to proceed with a trial after the lower chamber of the Brazilian Congress impeached her last month.

Police needed to use pepper spray to hold back Rousseff supporters who had been throwing flares at them. A metal fence was erected to separate the pro-Rousseff crowd from about 6,000 impeachment backers.

Several protesters needed to be carted away by rescue workers after inhaling pepper spray fumes. One person was arrested for inciting violence.

Brazil's supreme court rejected a last-minute appeal by Rousseff to stop the Senate impeachment process against her, clearing the way for debate.

Rousseff, a one-time Marxist guerrilla tortured under the country's military dictatorship in the 1970's, said her political opponents, including Temer, who also is also under investigation for corruption, are attempting a coup.

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DPRK Turns into Youth Power under Kim Jong Un's Guidance

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Under the deep trust and loving care of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, the young people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are displaying the dignity of the DPRK as a youth power, sharing the idea and will with him.

Some months ago, they finished the construction of Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station No. 3 in less than half a year in the wake of building power station Nos. 1 and 2 as a monumental edifice representing the youth.

Kim Jong Un has pursued the policy of giving importance to youth, with his insight into the distant future of the Korean revolution.

In August Juche 101 (2012) when a touch-and-go situation was prevailing in the Korean Peninsula, he saw to it that the Youth Day was splendidly celebrated as a great auspicious event to be specially recorded in the history of the nation. And he, on his way to inspection of the front, extended a congratulatory message to the participants in the Youth Day celebrations and all other young people of the country.

In April 2015 he visited the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station under construction, appreciating that its young builders had done a lot of work in the frigid area of Mt. Paektu. Then he called on them to complete the project before the 70th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea and thus show the whole world that 70 years of the WPK is a history of attaching importance to the youth in which a youth power has been built.

Later, he named the power station and attended its inaugural ceremony to praise its young builders' feats, have a photo session with them and watch a grand young soldier-civilian chorus performed by them.

He made sure that the 2nd National Meeting of Young Frontrunners in Noble Traits was held in Pyongyang and had a photo session with its participants. And he sent a message of thanks to the party and youth league organizations which have trained the young people to be forerunners of the era.

Today the youth Koreans are filled with a strong will to remain true to the idea and leadership of Kim Jong Un, chairman of the WPK, and thus demonstrate the prestige and might of the youth power. -0-

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Press Review

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- The following are major news items and articles in the DPRK's leading newspapers Wednesday:

Articles illustrated with photos say that the Pyongyang mass rally and public procession for celebrating the Seventh Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) took place with splendor in the presence of supreme leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory message from the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and floral baskets from the president of Palestine and foreign organizations and personages.

A meeting of officials of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) listening to the news that Kim Jong Un was elected chairman of the WPK took place in Tokyo.

Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, made a speech at the above-said mass rally and public procession.

There took place an evening gala of youths and students and torchlight procession of the young vanguard and banquets for celebrating the Seventh Congress of the WPK.

Foreign crewmen held a meeting at Nampho Port to celebrate the Seventh Congress of the WPK.

Rodong Sinmun

A home-visiting group of Koreans in Osaka under the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill and paid tribute to them.

Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon.

The Central Committee of the WPK sent a congratulatory message to the Supreme Council of the United Malays National Organization of Malaysia.

Kim Yong Nam met a delegation of the International Institute of the Juche Idea.

The newspaper echoes what people from all walks of life said upon hearing the news of the successful holding of the Seventh Congress of the WPK.

Personages of various countries visited the DPRK missions to congratulate the WPK on its successful Seventh Congress.

Staff members of the Russian embassy here laid wreaths before the Liberation Tower and the cemetery of the fallen fighters of the Soviet Army on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War. -0-

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Pyongyang holds mass parade to celebrate ruling party congress

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:09, May 11, 2016

PYONGYANG, May 10 -- A mass rally and parade took place in central Pyongyang Tuesday to celebrate the end of the four-day Workers' Party Congress, which ended Monday in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, delivered a speech before the parade, in which he reiterated that the DPRK has become a nuclear state and congratulated top leader Kim Jong Un for being elected as chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The parade mobilized hundreds of thousands of Pyongyang citizens and took months of practice. They walked past the podium, chanting in tears "Long live Comrade Kim Jong Un" and "Long live the WPK." Kim Jong Un waved to them from time to time.

Kim Jong Un was elected chairman of the WPK during the 7th party congress. He had been the first secretary of the party since April 2012.

Meanwhile, two more individuals were elected to the WPK's Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, raising the number of committee members from three to five.

Previously, the members of the committee included Kim Jong Un, Kim Yong Nam and Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army.

The ruling party's 7th congress opened last Friday for the first time in 36 years. It was the first party congress since Kim Jong Un took power in late 2011.

The party congress not only mapped out a course for future development and mulled state and economic policies, but also became a chance to consolidate Kim Jong Un's grip on power and strengthen the people's loyalty to the core leadership.

On Tuesday evening, a dancing show and a torch march involving more than 100,000 young students were held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un did not show up at the torch march.

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KCNA Commentary Slams U.S. Absurd Accusations against DPRK's Just Measures for Self-defence

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, May 12 (KCNA) -- The U.S. keeps making absurd accusations against the DPRK's just measures for self-defence.

Of late mandarins of the White House and the U.S. State Department spouted out the gibberish that the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons and their delivery system were a provocation causing regional instability and it should honor its commitments and duties.

This is just like a thief shouting "Stop the thief!"

No matter how noisily the U.S. may trumpet about "north Korea's threat and provocation," the U.S. can never deny the justice of the DPRK's measure of bolstering up the nuclear force as it is a just measure to protect the sovereign right of the country and nation from the U.S. moves to stifle it.

The U.S. singled out "toppling the social system" in the DPRK" as one of the major phases for carrying out the strategy for world domination already several decades ago and has since worked hard to implement it.

In 2000 the U.S. drew up a timetable for virtual "collapse," predicting the Korean peninsula would be unified by south Korea in 2015 and has since extremely escalated the nuclear threat to the DPRK.

Last year Obama made the provocative remarks that it was necessary to bring down north Korea as soon as possible and pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of a war. This was a direct product of the U.S. hostile policy to enslave the DPRK.

The U.S. moves to stifle the DPRK have reached such a dangerous phase as openly disclosing the scenarios for aggression and preemptive attack on the latter by staging the largest-ever joint military drills Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16.

As seen above, the U.S. is the chieftain of aggression and disturber of peace and security as it has gravely violated the sovereignty and vital right of the DPRK and the Korean nation for the past several decades.

It is quite natural for the DPRK to cope with the U.S. nuclear war moves by bolstering up its nuclear force both in quality and quantity as the U.S. is focusing all its forces on bringing down the DPRK by physical means.

It is none other than the U.S. which should be brought to justice for reneging on its commitments and duties.

The DPRK has made every possible effort to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, pursuant to the September 19 joint statement adopted at the 4th round of the six-party talks.

On Oct. 15, 2008 the U.S. magazine News Week, referring to the DPRK's efforts for denuclearization, said that one may say that the sincerity on the part of north Korea was proven for sure.

The U.S., however, resorted to undisguised hostile military acts and threats to the DPRK, totally breaching the basic idea of the September 19 joint statement in which the former promised to respect the sovereignty of the DPRK and peacefully co-exist with it and it declared it has no intention to attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons.

Moreover, the U.S. categorically refused to fulfill all its commitments such as provision of light water reactors and energy to the DPRK and promise to opt for building lasting peace-keeping mechanism on the peninsula.

The September 19 joint statement much touted by the hostile forces was thus finally scrapped by the U.S.

Even at this moment the U.S. is busy massively introducing all types of modern military hardware into south Korea and its vicinity to stifle the dignified DPRK at any cost and getting frantic with the "human rights" and "sanctions" rackets.

The DPRK will react to the U.S. hostile moves with tougher countermeasures.

The hostile forces' desperate moves against the DPRK would only cause it to remarkably bolster up its nuclear attack capability. -0-

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IRGC commander: Iranians never ceased defending Islamic revolution

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Anzali, May 11, IRNA -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy lauded the Iranian nation's resistance and support for the revolution.

'The people of Iran have proved their standing up and defending the revolution,' Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said, addressing a ceremony here on Wednesday.

He reiterated that today Iran owes its security to the martyrs, and said, 'The US and the global arrogance have come to the conclusion that they cannot achieve their goals in Syria and Iraq, because Iran is standing beside these two countries.'

Admiral Fadavi said that the enemies have tested all means for confronting the Islamic Iran and they never become disappointed and they are always looking for a new way to confront Iran so 'we have to close all ways of penetration.

He underlined the importance of safeguarding the Islamic Revolution in today's world, and said, 'The path of the Islamic Revolution is quite clear and combat should be explicit and clear because the revolution and arrogance do not come beside each other.'

2050**2050

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President: Government supports armed forces to get stronger

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, May 11, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the government is duty-bound to support the armed forces to boost national defense.

The president said that the incumbent government helped boost the defense capability of Iranian armed forces more than the former government. He said that if necessary, he would offer statistics in this regard.

'We are not pessimistic about the future of the country, the region and the entire world. However, we are not naive to say that no one plays tricks for us and therefore we have to remain ready and strong,' Rouhani said.

'If we want peace, we have to get stronger and if we got weak, it means that we would embrace war,' the president added.

9341**1416

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Iran's SWIFT problems settled: Senior banking official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Qom, May 11, IRNA -- A senior banking official said in this holy city in central Iran that SWIFT problems have been settled between the Iranian and foreign banks, it was announced on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Coordination Council of state-owned banks Abdolnaser Hemmati made the remarks in a press conference after his meeting with senior Iranian clerics in Qom.

Hemmati said the banking communication and interactions are on the rise day-by-day.

'The infrastructures have been prepared for creating relations between the domestic and foreign banks,' he added.

'Thanks to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the relations with the foreign banks are being corrected and there is no basic problem in interaction with the global banks,' Hemmati said.

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) banking system is the global provider of secure financial messaging services.

Last month, international affairs' director at Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Hossein Yaqoubi said Iran has established 300 banking relations with foreign banks since anti-Iran sanctions were lifted in January.

Under sanctions, Iran's banking relations were so limited and had not been counted up even to ten, he said.

The text of JCPOA between Iran and the six world powers has focused on use of some tools like SWIFT when all international banking activities had been done, he added.

9060**1771

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S-300 delivery to Iran not contradicting N. deal, says Washington

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed 11 May 2016 - 10:37

TEHRAN (ISNA)- A spokesman for US State Department Elizabeth Trudeau acknowledged that the delivery of S-300 missile system did not violate the nuclear deal.

"While Washington is against the delivery of S-300 to Iran, it does not think that the order contradicts the nuclear deal between Iran and Group 5 + 1", said the Spokesman of the US State Department, Elizabeth Trudeau.

"Washington had opposed the delivery of this system in Tehran but did not think this decision of Moscow is against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," she reiterated.

End Item

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Kerry To Meet With London Bankers On Doing Business With Iran

May 11, 2016

by RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with top bankers in London on May 12 to reassure them that the United States will not stand in the way if they want to do business with Iran.

He contended that some banks have used remaining U.S. sanctions on Tehran as an "excuse" to not venture into Iran, despite their ability to do so now that most global sanctions have been removed under Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

"We sometimes get used as an excuse in this process," Kerry said shortly after arriving in London on May 10. "Businesses should not use the United States as an excuse if they don't want to do business, or if they don't see a good business deal...That's just not fair, that's not accurate."

Major British banks are expected to attend the meeting, including Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, along with other European banks.

Kerry stressed that banks should only avoid doing business with Iranian businesses and individuals who the United States continues to target with sanctions, such as companies associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

"It's important to have clarity and the clarity is that European banks, as long as it's not a designated entity, are absolutely free to open accounts for Iran, trade, exchange money, facilitate a legitimate business agreement, bankroll it, lend money -- all those things are absolutely open," he said.

Despite repeated assurances from Kerry and other top U.S. officials, Reuters reported that none of the big European banks with extensive ties to U.S. banks and markets has been willing to get involved with Iran for fear of running afoul of sanctions.

They worry that because of the many interconnections their European branches have with U.S. branches, it would be difficult to avoid at least technical violations of a U.S. ban on processing U.S. dollar transactions with Iran through the U.S. financial system.

One major European bank, BNP Paribas, got hit with a huge fine of $9 billion in 2014 for processing such transactions for clients in Iran -- a steep penalty that has left a big impression on European banks.

Moreover, while the Obama administration is adamant that banks outside the United States can do business with Iran, banks fear that the next president who takes office in January may not take the same stance.

The leading Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, and Republican congressional leaders all opposed the nuclear deal with Iran and have warned that the United States must strictly enforce all remaining sanctions.

With European banks reluctant to take chances, the Iranian government has complained that it is not reaping the full economic benefit that had been expected from the nuclear deal.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the most powerful figure in Iran, has blamed delays squarely on the United States.

"The U.S. Treasury...acts in such a way that big corporations, big institutions, and big banks do not dare to come and deal with Iran," Khamenei said in March.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry -meet-with-london-bankers-doing business-iran-us-sanctions/27727420.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran missile program poses no threat to Europe, says Russia

Iran Press TV

Thu May 12, 2016 6:54AM

Russia says Iran's missile program does not pose a threat to Europe at all, dismissing allegations of perceived threats as unfounded.

Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's department for non-proliferation and arms control, Mikhail Ulyanov, made the remarks as the US prepared to activate its missile system in Europe on Thursday.

US officials said the activation of the Aegis missile systems is aimed at countering what they described as Iranian missile threat.

"It is unclear on what basis allegations are being made about the threat of the Iranian missile program. For whom?" Ulyanov said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"If it is the United States, it is not serious then because the range of Iranian missiles does not exceed two thousand kilometers. Even American forces deployed in Europe are at a greater distance from Iran."

The Russian diplomat said the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue following a July agreement has obviated the need for deployment of US missile systems in Europe.

US and NATO officials will declare the missile system at a remote air base in Deveselu, Romania, operational on Thursday after years of planning and billions of dollars in investment.

The US will also start construction on a second site in Poland on Friday that is due to be ready in 2018, giving NATO a permanent, round-the-clock readiness in addition to radars and ships already in the Mediterranean.

For years, Washington has futilely attempted to assuage Russian concerns that the systems could be used against Moscow.

On Wednesday, Robert Bell, a NATO-based envoy of US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, repeated those claims, saying "the system is not aimed against Russia."

"The Iranians are increasing their capabilities and we have to be ahead of that," he told reporters in Bucharest.

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow dismissed those allegations, calling the US move a mistake and a treaty violation that directly affected Russia's national security.

Ulyanov said the activation of US missile systems in Romania and Poland are in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed in 1987.

"This decision is harmful and mistaken, because it is capable of upsetting strategic stability," he stated.

He said Russia's interests "are being affected in a direct way by this," adding that the MK-41 launch system of the Americans could also be used to fire cruise missiles, not just air missiles.

The Kremlin says the missile system's real aim is to neutralize Moscow's nuclear arsenal long enough for the US to make a first strike on Russia in the event of war.

The system relies on radars to detect a ballistic missile launch into space. Tracking sensors then measure the rocket's trajectory and intercept and destroy it in space, before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere.

The interceptors can be fired from ships or ground sites.

The Russian ambassador to Denmark warned a year ago that Danish warships would become targets for Russian nuclear missiles if Denmark joined the missile system project by installing radars on its vessels.

Denmark is upgrading at least one frigate to house a ballistic missile sensor.

Turkey already hosts a US radar and the Netherlands has equipped ships with radars. The US also has four ships in Spain as part of the defenses, while all NATO nations are contributing funding.

"Ballistic missile defense sites could pose threats to the stability and strategic assets of the Russian Federation," Russia's ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, told Reuters last month.

Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions in response to the readying of the systems in Romania, Poland and the Baltics.

On Tuesday, a report said Russia is preparing to start test-firing a highly powerful nuclear missile, which is said to be capable of destroying an entire country in seconds.

The RS-28 Sarmat missile, dubbed Satan 2, will replace Soviet-era R-36M missiles, Russia's Zvezda TV channel reported.

The report said the missile has been designed with stealth technology, which enables it to be fired at a target without being detected by radar systems.

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Daesh-controlled areas shrink to 14 percent: Iraq

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 5:20PM

Iraq says the areas under the grip of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the Arab country have significantly decreased to only 14 percent, compared to almost triple that number recorded two years ago.

Iraq's government spokesman, Saad al-Hadithi, said in a televised statement on Wednesday that the Iraqi army had retaken around two-thirds of the territory captured by Daesh in their sweep across Iraq in 2014.

"Daesh's presence in Iraqi cities and provinces has declined. After occupying 40 percent of Iraqi territory, now only 14 percent remains [under their control]," Hadithi added.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have seen violence by Daesh since the group began an offensive in the Iraqi territory in June 2014.The Takfiri elements frequently launch deadly attacks in the areas under the government's control.

On Wednesday, three separate bombings claimed by Daesh in and around the Iraqi capital left at least 93 people dead and 165 others wounded in the deadliest attacks in Baghdad this year.

Fresh gains by the Iraqi army against terrorists

In another development on Wednesday, the Iraqi security forces liberated two villages from Daesh in the city of Khan al-Baghdadi in western Anbar Province, Iraq's al-Forat news agency reported.

The advance was the latest in a string of gains by the Iraqi military and allied volunteer fighters against Daesh in the conflict-ridden country.

Meanwhile, airstrikes also killed 20 Daesh terrorists in the Anbar city of Hit, according to Iraq's al-Sumaria News.

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US General: Islamic State in Iraq 'Getting Weaker'

by Ken Bredemeier May 11, 2016

Islamic State insurgents are "getting weaker and weaker" in Iraq, a top U.S. military commander says, despite the jihadists claiming responsibility for three suicide bombings in Baghdad that killed at least 88 people.

Major General Gary Volesky expressed condolences for the latest carnage in the Iraqi capital while discussing the Iraqi campaign to reclaim territory held by Islamic State and the impending Iraqi effort to retake the northern city of Mosul.

Volesky, speaking from Iraq to reporters at the Defense Department outside Washington, said Iraqi forces are making "great progress" in reclaiming land lost to the insurgents.

In recent weeks, the United States has said Iraqi forces and others fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have reclaimed 40 percent of the lands once held by the jihadists.

But Volesky said he is not concerned whether the figure might even be higher, 45 or 50 percent. "I'm not looking at percentages," he said. "I'm just looking where they are and soon won't be."

No timetable for Mosul yet

He offered no timetable for an Iraqi attack on Mosul, which Islamic State fighters have held for two years. But he said Iraqi forces, supported by U.S. trainers and advisers, are now positioned 35 to 40 kilometers south of the city.

He said Iraqi forces are retaking villages one by one. "They're losing terrain every single day," Volesky said of the Islamic State fighters. "What we have seen is a clear degradation in their ability to mobilize forces."

Volesky said Iraqis "clearly understand this is their fight. They are clearly in the lead."

He said American troops "are on the tactical edge of this fight. We're there to support their fight."

He said that unlike during the U.S. war in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 that toppled one-time Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, U.S. forces now are not "working on their own," but rather are "tied to a specific operation" planned by the Iraqis.

Wednesday's car bombs in Baghdad targeted a police station, the Jamiya neighborhood and an outdoor market in Sadr City.

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Why Pakistan Won't Go After Afghan Taliban

by Ayesha Tanzeem May 12, 2016

Pakistan is hesitant to take action against the Afghan Taliban on its soil because of concerns the group will re-direct its violence against Pakistan and Afghan intelligence will support it, a senior Pakistani official said.

"We have to think twice before taking action. Anybody we take action against is immediately supported from the other side," the official told VOA on the condition of anonymity.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently demanded that Pakistan either take military action against Taliban commanders on its soil or arrest them and hand them over to Kabul.

Hiding in Afghanistan

Pakistan has often complained that when it launched military operations in Swat and South Waziristan in 2009, militants belonging to Pakistani Taliban took shelter in Afghanistan and started using it as a base, with the help of Afghan intelligence, to carry out operations against Pakistan.

As recently as the start of the current operation in North Waziristan in 2014, the Pakistani official said, the Afghan government issued refugee cards to militants who escaped to the other side.

Senior journalist and regional expert Rahimullah Yousufzai said the leadership of several Pakistani Taliban groups, including Mullah Fazlullah, the head of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, was hiding in Afghanistan.

He added that one of the militant leaders, Omar Khalid Khorasani, whose group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for an Easter bombing in Lahore in March that killed more than 70 people, was supposed to be getting support from the Afghan intelligence agencies.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, however, rejected the assessment of the Pakistani official.

"It's easy to avoid responsibility and blame someone else for it," he said, adding that militants like Fazlullah and Khorasani were part of the Pakistani Taliban, who were an "outcome of policies that are still the status quo."

Enabling the Taliban

Pakistan, he said, had created an environment that enabled the presence of both the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban.

In addition, he said, Pakistan scuttled opportunities presented by Afghanistan for mutual cooperation in order to change this situation.

"Didn't the Afghan intelligence help with the capture of the Army Public School in Peshawar attackers?" he asked, mentioning a devastating attack in December of 2014 in which more than 130 school children were killed.

In return, he said, Pakistan did not take any steps against the Haqqani Network, an Afghan Taliban group that officials at NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan have described as one of the "most lethal" groups in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan and the United States allege the network has ties to Pakistan's intelligence agencies and its leadership operates out of Pakistan.

Afghan officials recently said the group has effectively taken battlefield control of the Afghan Taliban. They also blame the group for a deadly attack in Kabul in April that killed nearly 70 people.

Zakhilwal said the network remains a "core irritant" between the two countries and the lack of action against them contributes to the trust deficit.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated over the last year, after a burst of warmth in early 2015. Officials on both sides acknowledge that they do not trust each other.

Improving relations

Zakhilwal said President Ashraf Ghani, after his election, took the first step towards improving relations with Pakistan but did not get anything in return. He expected Pakistan to help bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

The first official contact between the Taliban and the Afghan government occurred in Murree, near Pakistan's capital Islamabad, in July of 2015. By that time, Zakhilwal said, the trust "had already been broken."

A second round, scheduled for the end of July, was cancelled when news broke that the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who was supposed to have blessed the talks, had been dead for a few year.

Efforts to rejuvenate the talks resulted in a four nation Quadrilateral Coordination Group, with representatives from the United States and China joining Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group adopted a roadmap with steps leading to a reconciliation process for peace in Afghanistan. That effort, Zakhilwal said, will also fail if Pakistan continues with its inaction.

"The QCG will die down if the road map is not followed," he said.

The road map, he added, included pressure tactics to be used if Taliban refused to negotiate with the Afghan governmentmeasures like "closing down their facilities, arresting them if they are wandering around freely, disrupting them."

Pakistan, he indicated, was not doing any of that.

Pakistan's foreign policy adviser, Sartaj Aziz, on the other hand, has said that according to the road map, if peace talks do not materialize, action against the Taliban would require consensus among all QCG members. He has also said that Kabul is frustrated because of the delay in the start of the process but acknowledges such things take time.

Pakistan insists it is continuing its efforts to facilitate talks. A delegation of the Afghan Taliban visited Islamabad from Qatar late last month as part of those efforts.

That visit seemed to have left the Afghans more unhappy. Zakhilwal complained that Afghans found out about the delegation from their own intelligence sources.

"Why weren't we informed?" he asked, adding that Pakistan has still not told Afghanistan why the delegation was in Islamabad.

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S.Korea to put sanctions, pressure ahead of dialogue with DPRK: minister

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 18:49, May 11, 2016

SEOUL, May 11 -- South Korea will put sanctions and pressure ahead of dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said on Wednesday.

For now, sanctions and pressures are needed more against DPRK, Hong told a forum organized by the Korea Future Foundation.

"Now is not the right time for talks," he said.

Hong made the remarks two days after DPRK closed its four-day 7th congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in 36 years on Monday.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, who was appointed as the party's chairman in the congress, proposed inter-Korean military dialogue between the two sides to resolve bilateral issues.

"I don't mean we rule out talks. There's a time for talks," the minister said, adding that inter-Korean dialogue at a time like now will only allow DPRK to gain time.

"South Korea will go for dialogue if it thinks that's necessary, but (for now) it will concentrate on applying pressure to denuclearize North Korea," he said.

Earlier in the day, Unification Ministry's Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee also dismissed the possibility of any dialogue with DPRK.

"It does not constitute a proposal toward South Korea," said Jeong during a press briefing.

He said South Korea noticed Kim's military talk offers, but they were only an expression of DPRK's perception of the current reality and its position on it.

Jeong said if DPRK makes an official proposal for talks, Seoul will make a decision to accept or reject it based on thorough examination.

He said for now, Seoul views any talk offers as a propaganda ploy without sincerity.

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Russia to test-fire massive nuclear missile: Report

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 7:2AM

Russia is preparing to start test-firing a highly powerful nuclear missile, which is said to be capable of destroying an entire country in seconds, a report says.

Russia's Zvezda TV channel reported on Tuesday that the RS-28 Sarmat missile, dubbed Satan 2, will replace Soviet-era R-36M missiles, which NATO military experts had nicknamed "Satan."

The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), thought to weigh at least 100 tons, is considered to be the largest atomic weapon-carrying rocket ever produced and is capable of carrying as many as a dozen warheads inside its shell.

With an estimated range of 10,000 kilometers (6,213 miles), the Sarmat missile is "capable of wiping out parts of the earth the size of Texas or France," Zvezda said.

"In this sense, the Sarmat missile will not only become the R-36M's successor, but also to some extent it will determine in which direction nuclear deterrence in the world will develop," it added.

The report also said that the missile has been designed with stealth technology, which enables it to be fired at a target without being detected by radar systems.

Moscow is planning to test-fire the missile this summer at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia's largest operational missile testing and space launch facility, the report said.

The missile has reportedly been in development since 2009 and will be in active service at some point by 2020.

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Russian Defense Ministry Considers Purchase of Multirole Ka-60 Helicopters

Sputnik News

17:47 12.05.2016(updated 17:48 12.05.2016)

The Ka-60 is designed for cargo transportation to the combat areas, search and rescue operations, as well as for the landing missions and patrol activities.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian Defense Ministry considers the possibility of purchasing military transport modification of the Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale) multirole helicopter, the deputy CEO for Production and Innovations at the Russian Helicopters company said Thursday.

"The vehicle has been created, it has already conducted the first hover flight. The project has been protracted a bit, we have had minor difficulties, but nevertheless, the defense ministry sees progress in the civil version [of the helicopter] and is ready to consider the helicopter for military transport purposes," Andrei Shibitov told reporters.

The first flight of military transport modification of Ka-60 helicopter is expected to take place in summer, he added.

The Ka-60 is designed for cargo transportation to the combat areas, search and rescue operations, as well as for the landing missions and patrol activities.

Russian Helicopters, part of the Rostec state corporation, is the sole helicopter design and production firm in Russia.

 Sputnik

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Russian trooper killed in Syria's Homs

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 10:3PM

A Russian soldier has succumbed to his injuries two days after he came under fire from Takfiri terrorists in the Syria's central Homs province, Russian military officials say.

The trooper, identified as Anton Yerygin, "received serious wounds" and was immediately taken to a hospital where Russian doctors tried their best to save his life, the TASS news agency quoted an unnamed Russian military official at the Hmeimim air base in the Syrian province of Latakia as saying on Wednesday.

The official further said that the soldier would be decorated with a state posthumous medal, without mentioning the exact location of the assault and the date of his death.

Russia launched an air campaign against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and other terror groups in Syria last September upon a request from the Damascus government and managed to deal heavy blows to Takfiri terrorists wreaking havoc in the country.

However, on March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military pull-out from Syria. Putin's order came hours after the resumption of peace talks over the crisis in the country. But some forces remain at the Hmeimim airbase and at the Tartus naval base to help maintain and monitor the ceasefire.

Syrian soldiers executed

A video posted on the internet on Wednesday purportedly shows that terrorists from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front first beat two Syrian soldiers, captured near Aleppo several days earlier, and then shot them dead.

Al-Nusrah front, along with Daesh, has conducted numerous atrocities against Syrian troops and civilians in areas under their control. They are notorious for the summary execution of the people they capture after brutally torturing them.

New terror assault on Aleppo

Meanwhile, two people lost their lives in Seif el-Dowleh district in Syria's northern Aleppo province when militants launched a mortar attack despite a ceasefire in place between the warring sides in the province.

Many people have been killed in the embattled city in the past weeks as the government forces and militants pounded each other's positions with artillery and mortar shells. Guns, however, have gone largely silent in the area with the temporary truce in place.

The truce is still officially in place in many parts of Syria despite the surging violence in the flashpoint city of Aleppo.

Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, has been divided between government forces in the west and militants in the east since 2012, a year after the conflict broke out in the country.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. According to estimations by the United Nations' special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has also displaced over half of the Arab country's pre-war population of about 23 million.

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Syrian troops further advance against militants near Damascus

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 4:28PM

The Syrian army has managed to retake control of several areas in Eastern Ghouta near the capital, Damascus, from Takfiri militants.

According to the so-called Syrian observatory for human rights, the Syrian forces purged several areas in Housh al-Admal and Zabdin in Eastern Ghouta of militants on Wednesday.

The report also said that the army clashed with foreign-backed militants in the town of Darayya in western Ghouta, and inflicted losses on them.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based observatory also said that the Syrian troops have launched operations against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the eastern countryside of Homs.

The battles between Daesh and the Syrian army are still ongoing near al-Mohr oil field and the al-Taifour military airport, according to the report.

The Syrian air force also bombed Daesh positions in the Shaer oil field and al- Sukhnah town in the eastern countryside of Homs.

There were no immediate reports of casualties among the ranks of militants.

Syrian sources also said an unspecified number of terrorists from al-Nusra Front terrorist group were killed and injured by the army's snipers in the vicinity of al-Waer neighborhood in Homs city.

Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes bombed militants' positions in Hamidiyah neighborhood in Dayr al-Zawr city as well as the villages of Ayash and al-Kharitah in the western countryside of Dayr al-Zawr.

The report added that dozens of terrorists were also injured in the clashes.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The United Nations special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has also displaced over half of the Arab country's pre-war population of about 23 million.

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UK, US, France block Russia's bid to blacklist Syria militant groups

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 10:26AM

Britain, France, the United States and Ukraine have reportedly blocked Russia's request to add two Syrian militant groups to a UN terror blacklist and sideline them from the Syrian peace process.

The four members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday blocked Russia's request that the so-called Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) and Ahrar al-Sham terrorist groups be added to the sanctions list for their ties to al-Qaeda and Daesh militant groups.

Adding names to the UN sanctions list requires a consensus decision from the 15-member council.

"Russia publicly attempting to designate groups that are parties to the cessation of hostilities could have damaging consequences to the cessation just as we are trying to de-escalate the situation on the ground," said a spokesperson for the US mission to the United Nations.

"Now is not the time to shift course, but rather double-down on our efforts toward a reduction in violence," the US official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Security Council diplomat said blacklisting the two groups would be "seriously counter-productive, damaging both efforts to maintain the cessation of hostilities and resume peace negotiations in Geneva."

The UN official said that isolating the militants groups from the mainstream opposition would result in a more hard-line stance and drive them away from the search for a political settlement.

"It would provide a pretext for yet more moderate areas to come under target," he said.

Jaish al-Islam is a member of the so-called opposition group High Negotiations Committee (HNC) which is in peace talks with the Damascus government.

Moscow did not comment directly on the rejection of its bid at the UN, but it warned that Russia still considers any opposition group that collaborates with the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front to be a fair target for Russian and Syrian forces.

"Those forces of the Syrian opposition that demonstrate a sober approach, that stand for Syria's territorial integrity, and are ready to take part in the political process in the interests of the nation must completely dissociate themselves from Jabhat al-Nusra," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

The development comes as Moscow said on Tuesday that the 17-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) would meet in Vienna, Austria, on May 17 to try to get peace efforts back on track.

Lavrov, Zarif discuss Syria truce

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed the implementation of a cease-fire in Syria during a phone conversation on Tuesday.

"It was stressed that during the planned meeting of the International Syria Support Group, the primary focus should be ... the fight against Islamic State (Daesh) and al-Nusra and stopping their supply channels from abroad," the statement said.

Iran has time and again stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis, noting the fate of the Syrian government must be determined by Syrians only.

The truce, brokered by Russia and the United States, went into effect late February in a bid to facilitate negotiations between warring sides to the conflict.

The latest round of the indirect UN-brokered negotiations on the Syrian crisis began in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 13.

However, top negotiators from Saudi-linked opposition group HNC quit the talks, citing what they claimed to be the Syrian government's violation of the truce.

Jordan to buy US-made TOW missiles

Meanwhile, the US firm Raytheon said in a statement on Tuesday that Jordan has signed a contract to buy TOW anti-tank missiles, which has been used by Syrian militants since 2014.

The Arizona-based arms giant said the contract was signed between the Jordanian army and the US defense department, without specifying the contract's amount or the number of missiles, but said it would begin deliveries "this year."

Raytheon has already delivered "more than 690,000 TOW missiles to US and allied warfighters," the statement said.

The so-called Free Syrian Army has recently released video footage showing a laser-guided BGM-71 TOWs missile being fired at a rooftop where unidentified military personnel had gathered, according to the Daily Beast.

The video identified the targets as Russian officers but did not disclose the exact location of the attack apart from noting that it was somewhere near Syria's coast.

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Russia strikes turned tide in Syria's anti- terror fight: Putin

Iran Press TV

Tue May 10, 2016 5:39PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday underlined the effectiveness of Moscow's campaign in Syria, saying the operation helped turn the tide of the Damascus government's fight against terrorists.

Speaking at a meeting with military officials in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin described as "precise and powerful" the Russian strikes from the air and the sea on Daesh and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups in Syria.

"They (the raids) have allowed us to achieve a turning point in the fight against the militants, although we realize that the situation there is difficult and there is still a lot for the Syrian army to do," Putin said.

Since last September, Russian fighter jets have made over 10,000 combat sorties and hit more than 30,000 targets, including 200 oil facilities, allowing the Syrian army to push militants out of 500 towns and villages, Putin stated.

On September 30, 2015, Russia launched its air campaign against Daesh and other terrorist groups upon a request by Damascus. Later in mid-March, the bulk of Russian military forces were withdrawn from Syria.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Russian president said the operation in Syria proved the efficiency and high quality of new Russian weapons. During the campaign, the Russian military performed 115 launches of the long-range cruise missiles, he added.

Putin, however, said the situation is Syria is "complicated and there is still a lot left to do for the Syrian army."

He expressed hope that the talks between Russia and the United States on Syria will help achieve positive results. "The most important thing is to create conditions for a political settlement in the country."

On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington and Moscow have agreed to work to restore a nationwide ceasefire in Syria.

The truce, which began on February 27, has helped reduce violence, but fierce fighting has raged on over the past few weeks in some parts of Syria, especially the northwestern city of Aleppo. Recently, local regimes of silence have been enforced in several areas of the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

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Russian Bid To Blacklist Syrian Rebel Groups Nixed At UN

May 11, 2016

by RFE/RL

A Russian request to add two Syrian rebel groups to a United Nations terror blacklist was rejected by Britain, France, the United States, and Ukraine, diplomats said on May 10.

Russia had requested that Jaish Al-Islam (Army of Islam) and Ahrar Al-Sham be added to the sanctions list because of their ties to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, terrorist groups that already have been blacklisted.

Adding names to the UN sanctions list requires a consensus decision by the 15-member UN Security Council, however, and objections were raised by the United States and three other current council members.

A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the UN told AFP that the designation would have had "damaging consequences" for the cessation of hostilities that the United States and Russia are trying to piece together in Syria, since Jaish Al-Islam had agreed to participate in the cease-fire.

"Now is not the time to shift course, but rather double-down on our efforts toward a reduction in violence," the U.S. spokesperson said.

A Security Council diplomat told AFP that blacklisting the two groups would be "seriously counterproductive, damaging both efforts to maintain the cessation of hostilities and resume peace negotiations in Geneva."

He argued that isolating the groups from the mainstream opposition would result in a more hard-line stance and drive them away from the search for a political settlement of Syria's five-year civil war.

Jaish Al-Islam is a member of the coalition of opposition groups known as the Higher Negotiations Committee that is participating in Syrian peace negotiations in Geneva.

Ahrar Al-Sham is among the most powerful Islamist rebel groups in Syria, but it did not join the opposition coalition and it has known ties to the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's blacklisted Syrian affiliate.

Moscow did not comment directly on the rejection of its bid at the UN on May 10, but it warned that Russia still considers any opposition group that collaborates with the Al-Nusra Front to be a fair target for Russian and Syrian forces.

"Those forces of the Syrian opposition that demonstrate a sober approach, that stand for Syria's territorial integrity, and are ready to take part in the political process in the interests of the nation must completely dissociate themselves from Jabhat al-Nusra," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She added that the United States should "exert pressure" on such opposition groups to ensure they do not associate with terrorist organizations that have been excluded from the cease-fire and peace negotiations, otherwise they are in danger of being fired upon.

With reporting by AFP and TASS

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russian- bid-blacklist-syrian-rebel-groups-jaish-al-islam-ahrar- al-sham-united-nations-nixed-/27727461.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Putin Is Selling A Narrative On Syria And Some Media Organizations Are Buying It

May 12, 2016

It's been a banner week for the Kremlin's propaganda machine. At home, and across the border in the parts of Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists, Russian military hardware was out on display for the May 9 Victory Day parade marking the defeat of the Nazis in World War II.

But the biggest propaganda victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin may not have been broadcast by his state-run propaganda outlets like RT, but by Western news outlets which accepted Russia's offer to report exactly what the Kremlin wanted them to in Syria.

Earlier this year, the Russian military and Russian private mercenaries played a key role in helping the Syrian government recapture the central Syrian city of Palmyra, a fabled and ancient city known for its historic ruins, from the hands of Islamic State (IS) extremists.

In the first few days of May, the Russian military escorted teams of international journalists across the war zone to observe a concert in Palmyra's ancient amphitheater. The reporters were treated to a magnificent performance of famed musicians conducted by Valery Gergiev, the conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and a fierce supporter of Putin.

The Washington Post's Andrew Roth detailed the entire trip, focusing on the steps that the Russian government took to ensure that the journalists who participated in this guided tour only wrote positively and on the subject that their Russian minders desired. Other news agencies seemed more than happy to toe the Russian line.

Glowing Reports

CNN's article on the event nearly glows, highlighting the significant military operation needed to get the journalists to a concert near the front lines of the battle against IS fighters. It notes that just this past July, IS militants filmed themselves executing 25 prisoners in the same theater. There is only one line in the article that even resembles criticism -- that famed cellist Sergei Roldugin, "who was recently named in the Panama Papers as having moved hundreds of millions to offshore companies, a claim he denies," played in the concert.

Euronews posted a similar story, though the French news outlet did note a caveat: its media facility in Syria is "provided by the Russian Ministry of Defence and our reporting is not subject to any military control." That article carried a quote from the head of St Petersburg's State Hermitage museum who told the audience that the UNESCO heritage site could have been saved.

Without naming names he appeared to criticize the US-led coalition.

"Look at its geographical situation. The battle for Palmyra went on for so long and many of the exhibits were able to be smuggled out. [The militants] approaching Palmyra could have been bombed into the ground in an instant, but they weren't. Well our guys weren't there back then!" said Mikhail Piotrovsky, the museum's director.

Curiously that quote was published without noting that Palmyra's "geographical situation" is at the center of the country on a key road between the Syrian government's capital city, Damascus, and Iraq -- far from the U.S.-led coalition's campaigns against IS strongholds in northeastern Syria and western Iraq.

Neither CNN nor Euronews note that, according to new documents obtained by Sky News, the Russian-led offensive to retake Palmyra culminated in a deal between the Syrian government and IS forces that allowed the terrorists to remove their heavy weaponry in exchange for the retaking of the city.

Neither report notes that the main target of both Russian and Syrian air strikes are groups that have fought IS, not IS itself. And neither article mentions the fact that, according to the detailed database maintained by the Violations Documentation Center in Syria, at least 100 civilians were killed by the Assad regime in Palmyra prior to IS's arrival, most of whom were killed while in detention.

No Wider Context

Instead, both articles read exactly how the Russian government would like them to read -- Russia helped Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad liberate this ancient city from the most brutal terrorists.

Worse yet, the wider context of events in Syria is completely missing from both the CNN and Euronews reports. While Russian cellos were playing mournful tunes for those killed by Islamic State terrorists, at least 30 refugees were killed as bombs tore through a camp for internally displaced persons near the border with Turkey. Activists said air strikes -- possibly Russian -- were to blame. Euronews, however, ran a special report on how Russian soldiers are demining the ruins. That report does not ask the question that Reuters asks -- if IS planted the mines so that they would explode when the Syrian and Russian soldiers captured the city, why didn't any of them go off?

CNN also reported that the Russian mission in Syria is much larger than media reports had previously suggested. The CNN correspondent noted that he was impressed by the "professionalism of the troops and the pristine state of the equipment they were using," and concluded that "while the exact size of Russia's military presence in Syria is still unclear, the things we saw while embedded with them indicate that it is bigger and more sophisticated than most believe."

That the Russian government is brazenly showing off its forces in Syria should come as no surprise. Independent analysis conducted by our team at The Interpreter, an RFE/RL partner, advanced the argument months ago that, when Putin was claiming that he was withdrawing from Syria, large numbers of Russian forces were staying to fight.

When Putin announced his withdrawal from Syria, he wanted the world to think he was serious. He wasn't. Now Putin wants to send a different message: he's not going anywhere. And uncritical reports from the front lines only help him to underscore this message.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ islamic-state-russia-syria-narrative- western-news-agencies/27731160.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Self-Defense Forces: Militants Continue to Shell Aleppo in Syria

Sputnik News

15:42 12.05.2016(updated 15:45 12.05.2016)

Militants are continuing to shell residential and central districts of the Syrian city of Aleppo, popular defense forces told RIA Novosti Thursday.

BEIRUT (Sputnik)  According to the central hospital in Aleppo, 136 civilians were killed by shells in the city between April 24 and May 11.

"Militants opened fire on the Christian district of Midan. Early [on Thursday] several shells fell in the Saif Dawla district, four more fell in the Azamiah district," a source from the defense forces said.

On Tuesday Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, who heads the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, stated that the so-called regime of silence in Aleppo had been extended for another 48 hours, beginning at midnight on May 10.

The Syrian government signed a US-Russian brokered ceasefire with opposition forces on February 27. Terrorist organizations such as Daesh and Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia, are excluded from the truce.

 Sputnik

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18 PKK militants killed in Ankara air raids in Turkey, Iraq

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 2:38PM

Turkish fighter jets have carried out fresh aerial assaults on positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), killing at least 18 militants in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.

In a statement published on Wednesday, the Turkish army said the airstrikes left 11 PKK militants dead in Turkey's Hakkari Province and northern Iraq on Tuesday.

Tuesday air raids also claimed the lives of three PKK members in the Turkish city of Nusaybin and four others in the town of Sirnak, the statement added.

Some 700 Kurdish militants have been killed in Nusaybin and Sirnak in Turkey's military campaign against PKK in recent months.

Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale anti-PKK campaign in its southern border region over the past few months. The Turkish military has also been pounding the group's positions in northern Iraq as well in breach of the Arab country's sovereignty.

Turkey's operations began in the wake of a deadly July 2015 bombing in the southern town of Suruc, which the Turkish government blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

After the bombing, the PKK militants, who accuse Ankara of supporting Daesh, engaged in a series of reprisal attacks against Turkish police and security forces, prompting Turkey's military operations.

A shaky ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK that had stood since 2013 was declared null and void by the militants following the Turkish strikes against the group.

The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey since 1984. The conflict has left more than 40,000 people dead.

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Turkey refuses EU call to amend terrorism law

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 12:37PM

Turkey says it will not make changes to its terrorism laws required under a controversial deal with the European Union (EU) aimed at stemming the flow of refugees to Europe.

"It is not possible for us to accept any changes to the counter-terrorism law," Volkan Bozkir, Turkey's minister for EU affairs, told the Turkish NTV broadcaster on Wednesday.

Turkey's current terrorism law already meets the EU's standards and there had been no agreement to reform the legislation in exchange for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in Europe's passport-free Schengen area, Bozkir added.

Turkey and the European Union sealed a contentious deal in March, under which the 28-nation bloc will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from the country and in return will reward Ankara with money, visa exemption and progress in its EU membership negotiations.

Turkey is required to meet 72 conditions, one of them narrowing its legal definition of terrorism, to gain visa liberalization for its 79 million Turkish nationals to the Schengen zone.

The minister's remarks echoed those last week by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who told the EU, "We're going our way, you go yours."

The European Parliament has begun debates on a proposal by the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, to grant Turkey the visa waiver.

Burhan Kuzu, a lawmaker and an adviser to Erdogan, warned on Tuesday that if the European Parliament makes the "wrong decision," Ankara "will send the refugees" back to Europe.

In another relevant development on Wednesday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo described the EU deal with Turkey as a "botched job," criticizing Europe's "inadequate" response to the refugee crisis.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere also threatened that Turkey won't get the visa liberalization if it fails to comply with the 72 criteria EU has set for it.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees who are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war in the violence-hit regions, forcing more people out of their homes.

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Turkey begins operation in Syria to establish buffer zone: Report

Iran Press TV

Wed May 11, 2016 8:14AM

Turkey has reportedly launched a military operation on the Syrian side of the border as part of a plan to establish a buffer zone in Syria.

According to a Tuesday report by the Turkish Yeni Safak newspaper, the operation allegedly aims to push back the Takfiri Daesh terrorists from an area that is 18 kilometers long and 8 kilometers deep in Syria's Jarablus region.

Under the plan, the Turkish military will use artillery shells, guided missiles and mortars to target the militants who have repeatedly fired rockets at the southern Turkish border town of Kilis.

The newspaper said the operation will be supported by the international coalition, particularly the United States and Germany.

Earlier in April, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara will deploy a US-made rocket launcher system on the border with Syria to allegedly combat the Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

Cavusoglu said the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) would be "deployed on the Turkish border in May as part of an agreement" with Washington.

HIMARS would allow Turkey to hit Daesh positions within a 90-kilometer (56-mile) range, while Turkish artillery has a limited range of only 40 kilometers (24 miles), the minister stated.

Ankara is seeking to establish a safe zone in the 98-kilometer (60-mile) stretch between Manbij in Aleppo Province, northern Syria, and the border to shelter Syrian refugees, the Turkish foreign minister said.

Citing unnamed US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Turkey's special military force carried out an unusual weekend operation against Daesh in Syria.

A small group of elite Turkish troops entered Syria on Saturday to help more effectively target Daesh who have been launching rocket attacks into Turkey for weeks, US officials claimed.

According to the US officials, the operation was part of a deepening campaign by the Turkish army to push Daesh away from a vital 60-mile stretch of the Turkey-Syria border that serves as the group's main lifeline.

Over the past few weeks, Kilis has come under frequent rocket attacks by Daesh militants, prompting the Turkish army to respond with howitzer fire.

Turkey has frequently used such rocket attacks as a pretext to shell the Syrian territory or send troops into the Arab country.

Kilis is a town located just north of the Syrian border, some 10 kilometers from the Syrian town of Azaz. According to Turkish officials, it is the only town in Turkey with a majority of Syrians.

In late July 2015, reports said that Washington and Ankara have agreed to establish a buffer zone along the Turkey-Syria border in an alleged attempt to flush Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of the demarcated region and facilitate the return of the Syrian refugees to their homeland.

The United Nations has voiced concerns over the plan, saying Turkey should first guarantee the safety of the refugees in the area.

Iran has also expressed their opposition to the plan, saying it encroaches upon the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Arab country.

Moreover, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov censured the proposal, which he said, contradicts the international law and will heighten tensions in the region.

Many blame Ankara for supporting militant groups that have been fighting to topple the Syrian government. The Turkish government also stands accused of being involved in illegal oil trade with Daesh, but it strongly rejects the allegations.

In late May 2015, Turkish-language Cumhuriyet newspaper posted on its website footage purportedly showing trucks belonging to Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, also known as the MIT, carrying weapons for militant groups in Syria.

Since late September 2014, the United States, along with some of its allies, has been conducting airstrikes against purported positions of Daesh inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or the United Nations. Turkey permits US warplanes to use its air base in the south for the airstrikes.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. 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.

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To the editor:

I would like to express my utmost respect and appreciation for the men and women of the Danville Police Department on the streets as they perform their dangerous and complex duties.

With that being said, I want address the problem of crime in the city. Although I have tried to refrain from commenting, there are several things that have brought me to this point. First is the fact we have the 2nd highest crime rate in Virginia. There are articles that try to minimize this fact by saying the crime rate is based on 100,000 population, but that is the way the crime rate has always been rated. So if the crime rate several years ago was lower and it is now the 2nd highest, it is bad!

I cannot go anywhere without people asking me about the crime problem, so they are not really concerned with these figures as they are with what is actually going on within the city.

The editorial, Someone should be voted out of office (May 2, page A6), singled out Mayor Sherman Saunders as one of those persons. Why would Mayor Saunders be more responsible than any other council member when the editorial properly pointed out that he has no more political power than the other eight members of council? It is my opinion they are looking at the wrong person to place blame on for the crime that is occurring.

The police chief has the sworn responsibility to assign, deploy, plan and implement strategies that provide effective law enforcement measures to protect and serve the citizens. If there is any criticism of council members, it is failing to ensure these functions are being met by the chief. The recent announcement by the police chief of the full-scale re-activation of the focused effort of the Street Crimes Unit is welcomed news, but the efforts should not have been scaled back. I also wonder why this action is so late in being implemented. Fear of fairly and impartially enforcing the law is not a reason to prevent officers from doing their duty, and I hope and pray the Street Crime Unit will be successful in its mission.

The practice of moving officers about before they can become effective investigators and crime scene personnel, the past practice of not allowing the street crime unit to perform its duties and enforce the law, all but elimination of the community oriented policing (if it has not been totally eliminated) and the failure to have effective undercover drug investigations are factors that I think have contributed to the rise in crime. Undercover drug operations could have removed some of the people that are committing shootings, robberies and burglaries from the streets.

Councilman Larry Campbell stated he had talked with Attorney General Mark Herring about ways crime can be reduced and initiating programs that will help. He further said the attorney general had made dealing with crime in Danville a top priority. I commend Councilman Campbell for looking for ways to reduce crime, but the attorney general is not involved in the enforcement of the law so why has not Councilman Campbell been looking to his police chief all along to develop these initiatives and programs?

I submit four additional police officers will not do one thing to reduce crime. In the announcement concerning the re-activation of the Street Crimes Unit, the police chief also said the department was working with the attorney generals office on training and programs for the re-launching of the unit. As a member of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police that have outstanding training programs, I wonder why these agencies were not contacted if further training is necessary instead of the attorney general who does not have any experience in law enforcement.

Crime will not be eliminated, but there are methods that could be employed that would reduce crime by removing some of the criminals from the streets, but if fear of some sort of confrontation with drug dealers and criminals is preventing the police chief from making some decisions and letting unsafe situations exist, things will continue to get worse.

T. NEAL MORRIS

Danville
The Notes will mature on June 30, 2021 and will be convertible at any time prior to maturity, at the option of the holder, into common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) at a price of $0.3105 per Common Share. The 0.025% coupon will be payable annually with effect from January 1, 2016. At maturity, the Company will have the ability to repay the Notes through issuing Common Shares.



Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.46 at any time prior to June 30, 2021.



Each AVR will entitle the holder thereof to its pro rata share of 7.5% of any proceeds arising from the arbitration claim which the Company has commenced against Romania before the World Banks International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID Arbitration), subject to the terms of the AVR and a maximum aggregate entitlement of $175 million among all holders AVRs in issue.

the duration, required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania;

changes in the Gabriel Groups liquidity and capital resources;

access to funding to support the Gabriel Groups continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;

equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares;

the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities;

the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: unforeseen historic acts of corruption, uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Gabriel Group and political and social instability;

regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes;

volatility of currency exchange rates, metal prices and metal production;

the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Gabriel Group of certain key employees and consultants; and

risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties.

London, England - Further to the news release of May 3, 2016, Gabriel Resources Ltd. (Gabriel or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement with a number of existing shareholders. A total of 20,000 units (the Units) were issued at a price of $1,000 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $20 million (the Private Placement). Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for the ICSID Arbitration (defined below) and for general working capital requirementsIn addition, the Company has entered into arrangements with certain existing securityholders to amend certain terms of the securities held by such holders (the Restructuring). Following completion of the Private Placement and the Restructuring (together referred to in this announcement as the Transactions) the Company has in issue 55,000 Units, each Unit consisting of (i) $1,000 principal amount of 0.025% convertible subordinated unsecured notes (Notes); (ii) 1,610 common share purchase warrants (Warrants); and (iii) one arbitration value right (AVR") with, inter alia, the following terms:The aggregate number of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transactions (assuming conversion or exercise (as applicable) of the relevant securities noted above) is 223,230,000, representing approximately 58.1% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding (on a non-diluted basis) prior to giving effect to the Transactions.Further detail regarding the Transactions and the impact thereof can be found in the news release issued by the Company on May 3, 2016 which is available on the Companys website at www.gabrielresources.com and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.Jonathan Henry, President & Chief Executive OfficerMobile: +44 7798 801783jh@gabrielresources.comMax Vaughan, Chief Financial OfficerMobile: +44 7823 885503max.vaughan@gabrielresources.comRichard Brown, Chief Commercial OfficerMobile: +44 7748 760276richard.brown@gabrielresources.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - IDM Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:IDM) announces the grant of stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants to purchase an aggregate of 10,500,000 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.19 per share for a five year term expiring May 11, 2021.

IDM approved and adopted a new "rolling 10%" Stock Option (the "New Plan") in December 2015 as a result of its transition to the TSX Venture Exchange. The New Plan replaces and supercedes the Company`s previous "rolling 10%" Stock Option and Bonus Share Plan that was originally adopted in April 2010. The New Plan must be approved and re-approved on an annual basis by the shareholders at each annual general meeting of the Company as required by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The next annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company will be held on June 14, 2016.

The granting of the above options to purchase a total of 10,500,000 common shares were granted under the New Plan and are subject to the Company receiving the necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals of the New Plan and the option grants. If such approvals are not obtained, the options granted under the New Plan will terminate. Subject to such approvals, the options shall vest immediately as of the date of the grant.

ABOUT IDM MINING LTD.

IDM Mining Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development company (TSX-V: IDM) based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The Company's current exploration and development activities are focused on precious metals in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, with a primary focus on the high grade underground Red Mountain gold project. Further information can be found on the Company's website at www.IDMmining.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of IDM Mining Ltd.

Robert McLeod, President, CEO and Director

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
THUNDER BAY, ON, May 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Wolfden Resources Corp. (WLF-TSX-V) ("Wolfden" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated May 10, 2016, it is increasing the size of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") to up to 3,250,000 flow-through units (the "Flow-Through Units") at a price of $0.11 per Flow-Through Unit for gross proceeds of up to $357,500. Each Flow-Through Unit will consist of one common share of the Company that is a "flow-through share" within the meaning in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each such Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 per common share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay finders' fees to certain arm's length parties in accordance with the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") in consideration for their efforts in introducing subscribers to the Company.

The securities to be issued under this Offering will be offered by way of private placement in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and such other provinces or territories of Canada as may be determined by the Company, in each case, pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. Securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period which will expire four months and one day from the date of closing of the Offering.

Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or before May 31, 2016. The Offering is subject to acceptance by the TSXV and other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature.

The proceeds for the offering will be used for exploration on the Company's Clarence Stream gold project in New Brunswick and/or on Wolfden's other Canadian mineral exploration projects.

ABOUT WOLFDEN RESOURCES:

Wolfden is a mineral exploration company that recently acquired the Rice Island and Nickel Island properties in Manitoba. Manitoba is ranked #6 in Canada and #19 in the world as the most favourable jurisdiction to conduct mining and exploration (Fraser Institute (2015-2016). The Company also holds a dominant, 24,000 hectare, land position in the heart of the Bathurst Mining Camp in New Brunswick and a 100% interest in the Clarence Stream gold-antimony property in southern New Brunswick that hosts a significant 43-101 mineral resource.

This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes the anticipated completion of the Offering, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, and include, without limitation, statements relating to plans and results of exploration and the magnitude and quality of the property. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, the following risks and uncertainties; (i) risks inherent in the mining industry; (ii) regulatory and environmental risks; (iii) results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; (iv) risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; (v) stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations; and (vi) general market and industry conditions. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law.

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 Wolfden Resources Corp.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / TheNewswire / May 12, 2016 -- Anfield Resources Inc. (TSX.V: ARY) (FRANKFURT: 0AD)("Anfield" or "the Company") is pleased to provide an update on its uranium assets. On September 1, 2015 Anfield announced the acquisition of the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill, one of only three licensed, permitted and constructed conventional uranium mills in the United States, and a portfolio of conventional mining assets from Uranium One.

Since the closing of the Uranium One transaction, Anfield has made significant progress in advancing the project. The Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control ("UDWMRC"), following its extensive review and a public hearing, formally transferred the Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill's Radioactive Materials License ("RML") and the Groundwater Quality Discharge Permit from Uranium One Americas Inc. to Anfield, and Anfield is now preparing an RML renewal application to extend its term. The Company also continues to work with BRS Inc., an engineering firm, to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Velvet-Wood Mine. In addition, the Company has increased its focus on the acquired Henry Mountains property, an area which includes Anfield's Frank M mine. Finally, the Company has also initiated a review of a sampling and survey program related to the surface stockpiles acquired in the Uranium One transaction.

Corey Dias, Anfield's CEO stated, "We continue to make progress with advancing our uranium assets. We believe the steps we have taken are providing Anfield with a solid base from which to incorporate the development of the Shootaring Canyon Mill. Overall, we remain positive with regard to the uranium market. Primary production cannot meet present-day consumption. Moreover, only 35% of the uranium consumed over the past three years has been replaced with long-term contracting, which means that uncovered demand is likely to be a significant concern moving forward. We feel that Anfield is well positioned to play a role in addressing the future uranium supply and demand imbalance."

About Anfield's Properties

Anfield is an energy metals exploration, development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its energy metals assets. Anfield is a publicly-traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (ARY-V) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on the development of projects, as summarized below:

Key Assets

Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill

The Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill is one of only three licensed, permitted and constructed conventional uranium mills in existence in the U.S., with the other two held by BHP Billiton (Sweetwater) and Energy Fuels Inc. (White Mesa). Located approximately 48 miles (77 kilometers) south of Hanksville, Utah, the Shootaring Canyon Mill is a conventional acid-leach facility that is permitted to process up to 750 tonnes of ore per day, with a capacity to process up to 1,000 tonnes per day. The mill was built in 1980 and during its period of operation it processed and sold 27,825 pounds of U3O8. It ceased operation with the collapse of the uranium price in the early 1980s.

Velvet-Wood Project

The Velvet-Wood Project is one of the most advanced conventional uranium projects in the U.S. Between 1979 and 1984, approximately 400,000 tons of ore were mined from the Velvet Deposit at grades of 0.46% U3O8 and 0.64% VO5 (recovering approximately 4 million pounds of U3O8 and 5 million pounds of V2O5).

Some underground infrastructure is already in place at the Velvet mine including a 3,500-foot long, 12' x 9' decline to the resource. The remaining mineral resources of the combined Velvet and Wood mines have been estimated to comprise 4.6 million pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 0.29% U3O8 (measured and indicated resource) and 552,000 pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 0.32% U3O8 (inferred resource).

Area/Classification Tons Average Grade % eU3O8 Pounds U3O8 Velvet Measured Mineral Resource 362,600 0.27 1,966,000 Velvet Indicated Mineral Resource 71,200 0.38 548,000 Wood Indicated Mineral Resource 377,000 0.28 2,113,000 TOTAL MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCE 810,800 0.29 4,627,000 TOTAL INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE 87,000 0.32 552,000

(Source: Velvet-Wood Mine Uranium Project, San Juan County, Utah USA 43-101 Mineral Reserve and Resource Report, Author: BRS Inc.; Date: 11/14/2014)

Frank M Deposit

The Frank M deposit, located approximately 12 km north of the Shootaring Canyon Mill, has an historic indicated mineral resource estimate of 2.2 million pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 0.101% U3O8 .

Classification Tons Average Grade % U3O8 Pounds U3O8 Historic indicated 1,095,000 0.101 2,210,000

(Source: Frank M Uranium Project, 43-101 Mineral Resource Report, Garfield County, Utah USA; Author: BRS, Inc.; Date: 8/10/2008).

Anfield is not treating the Frank M historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. A qualified person has not yet done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

This historical resource estimate was developed based on analysis of radiometric data from 838 historic holes and chemical assay from 17 historic core holes. The historical estimate also utilizes nine additional core holes that were drilled in 2007 to provide data verification and equilibrium evaluation. The grade thickness contour method was used to develop the resource estimates, evaluating grade thicknesses ranging from 0.10 to 1.00. The results disclosed in the table above are based on a grade thickness of 0.25.

The Frank M historical estimate was prepared by BRS, Inc., a well-known mineral exploration and mining consulting firm using the standards of CIM Indicated Mineral Resources. Thus, the Company considers the historical estimate to be reliable.

Anfield intends to work with the same group to complete sufficient verification drilling at Frank M to bring the historical estimate to a current Indicated Mineral Resource.

Royalty Portfolio

The Transaction also contains a number of royalty arrangements on projects held by publicly-traded companies that have the potential to be an additional source of income for Anfield. The royalty projects are not currently in production, and no royalty would be due to Anfield until commencement of production. The royalty arrangements are summarized as follows:

-2% to 4% sliding scale production royalty on Azarga Uranium Corp.'s (formerly Powertech (USA) Inc.) Dewey Burdock project in Custer and Fall River Counties, South Dakota.

-2% net smelter returns royalty on Western Uranium Corporation's San Rafael project in Emery County, Utah.

-2% to 4% sliding scale gross value royalty on Energy Fuels Inc.'s Whirlwind project in Grand County, Utah.?

-1% royalty on Energy Fuels Inc.'s Energy Queen project in San Juan County, Utah.

Surface Stockpiles

Anfield currently holds two surface stockpiles. One of the stockpiles is located at the Shootaring Canyon Mill, with a historical estimate of 250,000 pounds of U3O8 at an average grade of 0.13% U3O8. (Source: Definitive Cost Estimate for the Restart of Shootaring Canyon Mill, Ticaboo, Utah, Lyntek Incorporated, 7/28/2008.) The other surface stockpile is located in the Lisbon Valley, having a historical mineral resource estimate of approximately 165,000 pounds of U3O8 at an average grade of 0.09% U3O8. (Source: Technical Report on the Lisbon Valley Uranium Properties Utah, Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., 9/12/2005.)

These surface stockpiles are significant, in that they represent potential mill feed sources with no mining costs and very low removal costs.

Anfield is not treating the historical estimates of the surface stockpiles as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. A qualified person has not yet done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

Anfield cannot guarantee the reliability of these historical estimates, as the parameters, assumptions and methods used to estimate the historical resource are not known.

Anfield intends to conduct a sampling program and survey, in accordance with CIM standards and terminology, to determine the grade and tonnage of material present in the stockpiles, and to upgrade the historical estimates to a current resource.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Anfield Resources Inc.

Corey Dias, Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact:

Anfield Resources Inc.

Clive Mostert

Corporate Communications

780-920-5044

info@anfieldresources.com

www.anfieldresources.com



Safe Harbor Statement

THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS". STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE THAT ARE NOT PURELY HISTORICAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INCLUDE ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE.

EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN, MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS THAT ARE PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY, OR THAT INCLUDE SUCH WORDS AS "ESTIMATE," "ANTICIPATE," "BELIEVE," "PLAN" OR "EXPECT" OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE COMPANY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL EXPLORATION AND FUNDING AS WELL AS THE RISKS SHOWN IN THE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS AND FROM TIME-TO-TIME IN OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY. OTHER RISKS INCLUDE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, THE REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS, COMPETITIVE COMPANIES, FUTURE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY AND LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ITS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, THAT THE COMPANY'S EXPLORATION EFFORTS WILL SUCCEED OR THE COMPANY WILL ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, OR TO UPDATE THE REASONS WHY ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE ARE REASONABLE, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THOSE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER ALL OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN AND SHOULD ALSO REFER TO THE RISK FACTORS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPANY'S PERIODIC REPORTS FILED FROM TIME-TO-TIME.

THIS NEWS RELEASE HAS BEEN PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY WHO TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Secova Metals Corp. ("Secova" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SEK) is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (TSX: GMX) (FRANKFURT: G1M) (OTCQX: GLBXF) to acquire a 100% interest in 69 claims of property know as "The Chenier Claims," which are adjacent to the Company's current Duvay property holdings (the "Transaction"). The acquisition will result in Secova having one contiguous parcel of land comprising over 7,065 hectares (17,458 acres) in the prolific gold region of the Abitibi belt in Quebec. Once completed, the land acquisition will increase the size of Secova's project by two-thirds. More importantly, it ties together all of Secova's claims into one complete package.

"This acquisition clearly demonstrates Secova's plans to become one of the premier junior gold companies in the Abitibi gold belt of Quebec," stated Brad Kitchen, CEO of Secova. "Work on our Duvay claims is progressing well and the acquisition of this new ground gives us a significant footprint and the opportunity to develop all the gold resources in the area without concern for extending deposits onto neighbouring claim owners."

Secova has entered into an agreement to acquire the 69 claims covering 2,793 hectares (6,901 acres) for a total contiguous land package of 174 claims over 7,065 hectares (17,458 acres). The 69 acquired claims include the Grenadier West gold showing, which could be geologically related to Duvay's gold structures. Grenadier West is located approximately one kilometre (0.62 miles) southeast of the original Duvay discovery. The Chenier Claims also include two claims just north of the original Duvay discovery where some of Duvay's gold-bearing structures continue.

The Duvay property is accessible by paved highway (Route 395) and located 17 kilometres (10.5 miles) from the centre of the town of Amos, Quebec, and less than a one-hour hour drive from Val d'Or. The property is serviced with both power and telephone line for internet coverage and has a large, all-season building that serves as both a core shack and houses a small gravity mill.

The new claims were acquired from Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. in exchange for a $100,000 payment in cash or cash equivalent and 1.0 million shares of the Company, subject to a regulatory hold of four months and one day upon TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") approval of the Transaction. The claims also have a 1.8% net smelter return (NSR), which can be purchased at any time for $350,000, and a 1.5% gross metal royalty (GMR), for which Secova has the right of first refusal to purchase.

The Transaction is subject to the approval of the Exchange.

About Secova Metals Corp.

Secova Metals Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on building a strong asset base through exploration of undervalued gold projects in Canada. Management has demonstrated expertise in advancing gold exploration projects into acquisition targets, most notably in the province of Quebec. Secova has entered into an agreement to acquire up to 90% of the original 105 claims at the advanced-stage Duvay gold project in Amos, Quebec. The Company has also acquired a 100% interest in 69 additional adjacent claims, for a total contiguous land package of 174 claims covering over 7,065 hectares (17,458 acres) of land. Duvay is located in the Abitibi gold belt, one of Quebec's premier mining jurisdictions. The Company has plans to advance the development of Duvay as well as seek other avenues of growth through acquisition and mergers. Secova Metals trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol SEK.

Additional information about Secova, as well as media interviews featuring and opinion-editorial pieces by CEO Brad Kitchen, may be accessed via the Company's web site at www.secovametals.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to the Company's exploration and development plans. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
May 12, 2016 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, British Columbia- Nevada Energy Metals Inc. "the Company" (TSX-V: BFF; Pink: SSMLF) (Frankfurt: A2AFBV) is pleased to announce that it has commenced the process to upgrade the Company to the OTCQB(R) Venture Market. The Company currently trades on the Pink(R) Open Market.

CEO Rick Wilson commented, "We are excited about submitting the application to upgrade to OTC Markets Group's OTCQB Venture Market. We expect that, if granted, this designation will facilitate an increased following of shareholders and brokers who are more comfortable with OTCQB market standards."

About OTCQB:

The OTCQB Venture Market, operated by OTC Markets Group Inc., is designed for entrepreneurial and development stage U.S. and international companies. To be eligible, companies must meet a minimum $0.01 bid price test, be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. OTCQB companies cannot be in bankruptcy. These standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors. OTCQB criteria include:

-Companies are current in their reporting to a U.S. regulator or are listed on a qualified international stock exchange

-Minimum bid price test of $0.01 removes companies that are most likely to be the subject of dilutive stock fraud schemes and promotion

-A verified Company Profile displayed on www.otcmarkets.com that is current and complete

-Annual management certification process to verify officers, directors, controlling shareholders, and shares outstanding

About Nevada Energy Metals: http://nevadaenergymetals.com/

Nevada Energy Metals Inc. is a well-funded Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's main exploration focus is directed at lithium brine targets located in the mining friendly state of Nevada. The Company has 100% ownership in 87 claims in Clayton Valley, only 250m from Rockwood Lithium, the only brine based lithium producer in North America. Nevada Energy Metals has also acquired, 100 claims (Teels Marsh West) covering 2000 acres (809 hectares) at Teels Marsh, Mineral County, Nevada, a highly prospective lithium exploration project, 100% owned without any royalties, located on the western part of a large evaporation lake where a phase one, 27 hole shallow auger exploration program has been completed and results are pending. Recently, the Company announced the addition of the San Emidio Desert lithium project, consisting of 155 claims (approximately 3,100 acres/1255 hectares) in Washoe County, Nevada. The Company's first lithium project, Alkali Lake, in Esmeralda county, is a 60% earn in option agreement from Dajin Resources Corp, where near surface lithium has been confirmed.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Rick Wilson

President & CEO

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.



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



The information discussed in this press release may include "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein concerning, among other things, planned capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings, pursuit of potential acquisition opportunities, our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, are forward looking statements. These forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "may," "expect," "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "intend," "achievable," "anticipate," "will," "continue," "potential," "should," "could," and similar terms and phrases. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. It is important that each person reviewing this release understand the significant risks attendant to the operations of the Company. Nevada Energy Metals Inc. disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made herein.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
'Keep calm and grill on': Inside Dainty Fish & Grill Co in Clayton. Photo: Darrian Traynor

Address 338 Clayton Rd Clayton, VIC 3168 View map Opening hours Mon-Thu & Sun 11.30am-3pm & 5pm-9pm; Fri-Sat 11.30am-3pm & 5pm-10pm Features Licensed, Cheap Eats Prices Moderate (mains $20-$40) Payments eftpos, Cash, Visa, Mastercard Phone 03 9544 9520

"There's an hour wait," is a likely greeting at some social-savvy hotspots around town. But this would have to be a first for Clayton, 20 clicks from the CBD, and from a business that doesn't have a website and only takes to Facebook to announce it has opened another new venue.

This latest one from husband and wife Ye Shao and chef Tina Li is another instant hit, the 10th in the Dainty empire to transpose what's trending in China's Sichuan Province to here in Melbourne.

Let's join the dots. In the past year, it's been noodle-soup bars (four Tina's Noodle Kitchens). A few years ago it was individual hotpot speciality restaurants, rather than the traditional larger hotpot for the table-type restaurant. And more than 10 years ago it was the regional speciality of Sichuan food that caught the attention of monolingual Melbourne  then dominated by Cantonese.

Barramundi with chilli, Sichuan pepper and cumin. Photo: Darrian Traynor

Like any barbecue joint, from American to Korean, this Chongqing one embraces both meanings of barbecue: a way to cook and to party. The tunes are pumping, red neon signs urge you on to "Keep Calm and Grill On", and there are big glasses of beer.

The grill is massive, a 1.4-tonne dome (that's a small hippo) looming at the end of the room fuelled by bamboo and wood charcoal.

Ordering requires a little DIY. Along with the lavish colour photo menu there's a loose-leaf tick-the-box menu and a pen.

Sides include seaweed, lotus root (front) and enoki mushrooms (right). Photo: Darrian Traynor

First, tick a fish: Murray cod (which the Marine Conservation Society advises to eat less of), barramundi (OK) or orange roughy (no). They are sold by weight, so the dinner bill can be a surprise ($75 for our 1.2 kilogram barra).

Next, choose one of eight flavours, from oyster mushroom, pickled vegetables or one of the most popular: chilli, Sichuan pepper and cumin.

Finally, sides from a possible 20, including springy enoki mushrooms and braised lotus root.

The grill is the size of a small hippo. Photo: Darrian Traynor

The fish, living in a tank just inside the kitchen moments before, is sandwiched in a wire holder and slotted into the grill-oven sideways. Once grilled it goes back to the kitchen where the flavour is added.

It arrives simmering in a deep tray with coals underneath. The chilli, Sichuan pepper and cumin broth is a murky red-brown bobbing with whole dried chillies. The fish, a large mass, lurks just below the surface that's lightly scattered with fresh coriander leaves.

The grilling browns the surface and seals in the flavour of the fish. The simmer adds a complex flavour that's high on chilli, fizzing with pepper and earthed with ginger and cumin.

Sword-like lamb skewers. Photo: Darrian Traynor

Eating it, I felt the same tingly, pumped, slight euphoria you get after a run. Unlike running, I wasn't happy to find I was finished: fruitlessly fishing through the trough-like pan for more fish  pulling out the head, stabbing for its cheek  even desperately munching on ginger cubes in the hope it was a piece of fish that had strayed from the skeleton.

I'm betting there will be a second Dainty Fish & Grill restaurant before the year's out. Let's wait and see.

Do  Come for lunch when there is no wait time (yet).

Don't  Stop at the fish, have a stab at the sword-like skewers.

Vibe ... Beer hall barbecue.
Daimon Downey, co-owner of French Henri, blames building work for the restaurant's closure. Photo: Christopher Pearce

Sneaky Sound System musician-turned restaurateur Daimon Downey and businessman Tim Holmes a Court's CBD restaurant French Henri has closed, with administrators appointed. The Sydney restaurant, which had some good reviews, popped up in the place of their former restaurant, The Lemon Tree.

Downey blames building work; trade has dived 50 per cent over the past 10 weeks. "It's really, really hard. At this stage my plan is to go back to art," Downey says.
SHARE Slatton Lupe Chappa III

By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times

Police are looking for a second San Angelo suspect who may be involved in a double homicide from the city of Temple.

Members of the Temple Police Department, the San Angelo Police Department, the Texas Rangers and the Department of Public Safety are searching for Justin Lane Slatton Jr., 20, in San Angelo, according to a news release from the San Angelo Police Department.

Police arrested the other suspect, Lupe Martinez Chappa III, around 3:31 p.m. Monday at a residence in the 2400 block of Culver Avenue in San Angelo, according to the release.

Chappa, 17, is currently in the Tom Green County Jail, held in lieu of $2 million bail.

Chappa and Slatton are suspected in a fatal shooting incident April 13 that resulted in the death of two men, Johnathan Hess, 26, of Temple, and Vicente Hernandez, 36, of Killeen, according to the Temple Police Department.

Police responded to a shots-fired call around 7:38 p.m. on April 13 at a home in the 400 block of North Seventh Street in Temple, according to a news release from Temple PD.

Police found two Hispanic men with apparent gunshot wounds when they arrived, stated the release.

Chappa allegedly shot and killed Hernandez, who died at the scene, according to an affidavit.

Slatton is suspected of shooting Hernandez, who was taken to Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple and later died from his injuries, according to the affidavit.

Chappa and Slatton were identified after a witness described them to a sketch artist, according to the affidavit.

The witness later identified Chappa and Slatton in a photo lineup, the affidavit stated.

Slatton has two arrest warrants on murder charges from Bell County and an additional warrant on a burglary of a building charge from Tom Green County.

Slatton is considered armed and dangerous, according to police, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Temple PD is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Slatton's arrest. Call 254-298-5500.

San Angelo Crime Stoppers is also offering a $250 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Contact the San Angelo Crime Stoppers Anonymous Tip Hotline (3325) 658-4357 or 800-756-3434, online at www.sanangelocrimestoppers.com, or download the free mobile app, P3 Tips.

Deborah McKeon of the Temple Daily Telegram contributed to this report.
SHARE Bargar

By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times

A San Angelo man recently was charged with murder in Odessa after he reportedly punched a man, causing him to fall and injure his head. The man later died as a result of the injury.

Christopher Anson Barger, 41, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of Robert Eugene Hanes, 43.

Barger was released Monday from the Ector County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.

The Ector County Sheriff's Office responded to an assault call at Jaguar's Gold Club, 6824 Cargo Rd. in Odessa, on March 17, according to an affidavit.

Barger had an argument with Hanes, which led to the assault, but the affidavit did not specify why the two men had an argument.

The affidavit said Barger then punched Hanes in the face with his fist, causing Hanes "to fall backwards onto the asphalt ground, striking the back of his head."

Deputies later found Hanes lying unconscious on the ground next to his car with injuries consistent with an assault, stated the affidavit.

Hanes was taken to the Medical Center Hospital where he was sedated and admitted to the ICU, according to the affidavit, which went on to report he had suffered trauma to the right side of this head that included a fractured skull and eye socket, as well as bleeding from his brain.

Hanes was put in a self-induced coma because of the severity of his injuries and died April 20, as a result of the injuries he sustained from the assault, the document stated.

An autopsy was performed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, at the request of the Ector County Medical Examiner's Office, which concluded Hanes died "due to complications of severe head trauma, and the cause of death was ruled a homicide" according to the report.

After police identified Barger as a suspect, he voluntarily gave police a statement referring to his involvement in the assault, according to the affidavit.

Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison and a fines up to $10,000. The case remains under investigation.
SHARE Deric Walpole has resumed as counsel for Jeffs, who faces up to 119 years in prison.

Jeffs leaves court during testimony

By Matthew Waller

Warren Jeffs didn't want to be in the courtroom when the state presented evidence against him for the sentencing phase of his trial.

His former lead attorney returned to represent him while Jeffs was voluntarily absent.

So Jeffs, the leader and "prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, didn't see the pictures of the temple beds.

Friday afternoon the state revealed pictures of beds in the temple building at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, the 1,700-acre property in Schleicher County raided in April 2008 amid allegations that sexual abuse of children was taking place.

A former FLDS member, Rebecca Musser, testified for the prosecution Friday that she had received training before the temple was built about how beds in it would be used for sexual matters. She said what she had been taught about the presence of witnesses and someone to record the events matched what she saw at the temple outside San Angelo.

"We would learn the best ways to conceive children," Musser said about what she was taught was to happen at the temple.

She was the second witness called by the state in the penalty phase in the trial of Jeffs, the 55-year-old leader and prophet of the FLDS who was convicted Thursday by a Tom Green County jury of sexual assault of a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Friday was the 10th day of the trial, and the jury heard testimony, evidence and arguments in its task to determine sentencing.

Musser, under questioning by special prosecutor Eric Nichols, said the settings inside the YFZ Ranch were what she had expected, and it included the beds, seats for witnesses and a seat for someone to record events.

She said she was a spiritual wife of Jeffs' father, Rulon Jeffs, and when he died in 2002, Jeffs wanted to marry her along with other women who had been "married" to Jeff's father.

The FLDS practices polygamy as a religious tenet, using "spiritual" or "celestial" marriage for multiple wives.

"I will break you and I will train you to be a good wife," Musser said Jeffs had told her, and then said he would marry her in a week.

She left the FLDS before that happened.

Carolyn Jessop ? who had been a plural wife of Frederick Merril Jessop, an FLDS member scheduled to go to trial for performing an illegal ceremony ? testified that she saw changes Jeffs made to the FLDS community she was a part of, such as not allowing Bibles in the household, making children at his school with heavy religious training attend from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., destroying children's books, and marrying girls that looked as young as 14 to her.

"I witnessed some ages that were alarming to me," Jessop said.

She said she worked as an FLDS member at a motel that would shut down whenever FLDS weddings were to be performed.

Her testimony could continue today.

Larry Beall, a Utah psychologist who has treated FLDS members, also took the stand. He said sexual assault can cause physical illnesses such as heart disease and stroke, and can bring about post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Beall said the social conditioning in the closed ranks of the FLDS that restricted free choices also inhibit natural brain development. In many cases, he said, "the girl has no frame of reference to understand what is happening to her as a victim."

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Deric Walpole, Beall said he had not examined or treated either of Jeffs' victims.

Jeffs was not in the courtroom to witness any of the testimony. The day began with Jeffs delivering another proclamation he said was from God.

He read a statement for the court before the jury came in.

"This judging of the servant of my sending is an unjust attack," he said. The nation will "go down with the fall of Babylon, and there will be a whirlwind of judgment over North and South America."

Jeffs said he did not want to be present through the sentencing phase but neither did he want standby counsel to represent him.

State District Judge Barbara Walther said Jeffs must have representation if he is not in the courtroom, and she appointed Walpole, the lawyer he fired at the start of the trial last week, to represent him.

"I know that this is difficult for you to understand," she told Jeffs, "but you don't have control over these proceedings."

In his opening statement, Nichols said the jury would see evidence that Jeffs had hundreds of victims in addition to the 12-year-old and 15-year-old girls Jeffs was found guilty of sexually assaulting.

"The evidence you will hear will show the horrible and horrific crimes ... are but two examples of the defendant's criminal conduct that spans decades," Nichols said. He said the amount of evidence will be "breathtaking."

Nichols said Thursday night the state planed to present evidence of Jeffs having 78 illegal wives, 24 underage; had participated in more than 500 bigamous marriages; and had broken up about 300 families with his rule over the polygamous sect.

In opening remarks for the defense, Walpole ? who has remained in court throughout the trial ? said evidence will show that Jeffs was only following his religion, having been born into it. "What the evidence will show is that the stronger (Nichols) makes his case, the stronger it makes mine," Walpole said.

"We're all products of our environment," Walpole told the jury."You've shown you can be tough. Now we'll see if you can be fair."

The eager attorney compared himself to the apostle Peter drawing his sword to defend Jesus, who told Peter to put away his sword.

He said he at first took it personally when Jeffs fired him after jurors were selected but before they were sworn in.

"It occurred to me when he chose to represent himself that, unfortunately, my thoughts turned to myself and how it would affect me," Walpole had told reporters after the guilty verdict Thursday, but before he was reappointed lead counsel the next day. "And it took a while to come to the realization that this isn't about me, it's about him, it's about his case, it's about his defense and it's about him doing what he sees fit to represent himself."

Walther at first rejected Walpole's request to have the jury consider whether evidence from the raid on the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in 2008 should be admitted, but later said she would review some case law he presented.
In major metropolitan areas, using tax incentives to lure businesses from one part of the region to another can sometimes seem like a big family fight. In the Washington, D.C., area, for instance, several jurisdictions are vying to become the new headquarters of the FBI, which is currently located in the district. If the FBI moves outside of D.C., Maryland or Virginia can claim "new" jobs. But the net gain to the metro area is negligible, save the temporary work created by new construction.In nowhere does this chess match seem more futile than in Kansas City, which sits in both Kansas and Missouri. The two states have long competed with each other to woo businesses across the state line. AMC Theaters, Applebee's and JP Morgan Retirement are just a few businesses that have crossed the border in recent times. So much money is involved that the tax incentives battle has been dubbed the Kansas City Border War.But recently there's been a concerted effort to call a cease fire. In 2014, the Missouri General Assembly passed a bill that effectively ended the state's tax incentive program in Kansas City after a group of 17 businesses in the two-state region lobbied both governors for it. For the law to go into effect, though, Kansas has to approve a similar bill. The state has until Aug. 28 to do so; otherwise, the "deal" is dead.If Kansas were to match the proposal, it would "definitely [set] a precedent in other states" where job piracy across state lines has been an issue, said Greg LeRoy, head of Good Jobs First, which tracks tax incentives. LeRoy not only cites the Washington, D.C., metro area but also the New York City metro area, the Chicago and Northwest Indiana area, and the Boston metro area.But so far, things aren't looking good for the deal. Kansas sent back an offer to Missouri last month that was seen by many as a half-hearted effort. Rather than agree to end incentives in Kansas City, Kansas said it would withhold offering incentives in cases where jobs were simply being transferred across the state border. And the state wouldn't offer incentives for business moves that amounted to less than $10 million in new construction and moving costs."That means that any sort of substantial construction project in Kansas would still get [tax] incentives," said LeRoy. "So that's not much of a counteroffer at all."The proposal has been openly rebuffed by Missouri legislators and the 17-member business coalition that started calling for a truce back in 2011. Hallmark Cards has been leading the charge on the effort, and a spokeswoman for its charitable arm told the online news organization Next City this month that the group is now concerned Missouri will give up and simply double down on border war tax incentives."It could be a giant step backward," Angela Smart said. "We've heard that for every dollar Kansas spends on incentives in the region, Missouri is going to spend $1.50."If that were to happen, it could lead to unprecedented competition in a city where many find it hard to believe things could actually get worse. Since 2009, about 5,700 jobs in the Kansas City area -- thanks to tax incentives -- have moved from Missouri to Kansas, and nearly 4,000 jobs have moved from Kansas to Missouri.Much like Kansas City's cease fire, some metropolitan areas have tried to tackle the incentives problem head-on. A 2014 Good Jobs First report highlights programs in Dayton, Ohio, and Denver that mandated transparency and cooperation between neighboring counties when it came to incentives. They also called for their state economic development programs to ban offering state incentives in situations where a company relocates within the metro area at the protest of the home community.
A special session to enact the 2016-17 state budget will begin next week, despite a lack of consensus in the Legislature on how to close a $270 million budget shortfall, the governor's office announced Monday."The governor will call a special session to begin on May 16," said Chris Stadelman, spokesman for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "The governor will introduce a budget plan as he did in the regular session."That will include tax increase proposals to help close the budget deficit -- proposals that were defeated by the Legislature during the regular session."I think it will be similar to what was proposed in January," Stadelman said.The session will begin just 45 days before a potential shutdown of state services if there is no budget approved when the new budget year begins July 1. Stadelman said it is critical to get the 2016-17 budget passed well before that deadline, so agencies will have time to implement any budget cuts.In a rare move, the Legislature adjourned the 2016 regular session on March 15 without passing the state budget bill, as the House and Senate could not agree on ways to close shortfalls in the current budget and 2016-17 budget, which begins July 1.In the regular session, Tomblin had proposed raising $130 million in new revenue with an increase in the state tobacco tax and the introduction of sales taxes on telecommunications services.Neither house advanced the sales tax proposal, while the Senate passed a tobacco tax increase bill, a bill that was soundly defeated in the House Finance Committee.Stadelman said Tomblin will again propose a tobacco tax increase, and hopes legislators will give more thorough consideration to the telecommunications tax, currently collected in 41 states.Also on the table will be a general sales tax increase, either on a temporary or permanent basis, Stadelman said."We're ready to go, and hopefully, we will continue to seek common ground," he said.As for reaching consensus on a budget plan by the start of the special session, Stadelman said, "Obviously, lots of discussions are continuing. We still have a week before then.""We have worked for weeks with the legislative leadership and the governor's office on the budget, and we continue to discuss the best solutions to address the $271 million shortfall," Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer, said in a statement. "We are looking forward to getting back into session to hash out the remaining differences and get a responsible, sound budget passed."Senate Finance Chairman Mike Hall, R-Putnam, said, "The governor probably feels like he's got to get people into town and try to hammer something out."Hall that while there's no consensus at the moment on the budget, discussions have been ongoing, and most legislators have a good idea of the parameters of the budget issues."In most years, for most legislators, the budget happens someplace else, and they come in and vote on it," he said. "This year, everybody's got to be a Finance chairman."Hall said he's optimistic the budget will be resolved within the first week of the special session, although he said it's unlikely the full $270 million budget deficit will be made up through taxes."It's not like we're coming in from a vacuum with no conversation going on for two months," he said, adding, "I think we're highly motivated to get it done."While $270 million of tax increases aren't likely to be approved, Hall said it also would be very difficult to make up the entire $270 million through spending cuts, particularly when only about $1 billion of the $4.3 billion general revenue budget is subject to cuts, with most public education and Health and Human Resources accounts off limits."The anti-tax people are convinced there are millions and millions and millions of dollars of government waste that could be squeezed out if there's political will to do so," said Hall.However, he said, the difficulty arises when the discussion moves from cutting spending in general to determining which specific programs are to be cut.House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the governor's special session call.
Forty-four states and the District of Columbia have laws on the books requiring health insurers to cover autism treatments. But new research evaluating the so-called insurance mandates suggests these efforts are failing in key ways to help people  especially children  get needed therapy.These findings, which were to be presented Wednesday at a major conference on autism spectrum disorder and will appear this summer in JAMA Pediatrics, highlight the consequences of this shortfall.Theres been a push for health insurers to better cover often-pricey autism treatments, especially applied behavioral analysis, a type of behavioral modification therapy.Those efforts come as autism rates have ballooned. In 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1 in 45 children is on the autism spectrum, with symptoms ranging from communication difficulties to repetitive or obsessive behaviors. In 2000, the rate was 1 in 150.Researchers found that the state mandates  which apply to coverage available on the individual market and some group and employer plans  led to about 12 percent more children getting some kind of treatment for autism. But when compared with the number believed to have the condition, its not nearly enough, they say.These numbers are orders of magnitude below the CDCs autism estimates, said David Mandell, one of the researchers and the director of the University of Pennsylvanias Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research. It suggests that a lot of commercially insured kids with autism are not being treated through their insurance.The shortfall may have significant health consequences, said Daniele Fallin, who chairs the Johns Hopkins University department of mental health and directs Hopkins Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. For children, its important to get treatment as soon as possible. If that doesnt happen, the condition will become more complicated  and more costly  to treat in the long run.Its a big concern any time you see this kind of treatment gap, said Fallin, who wasnt affiliated with the study.The researchers used insurance claims data from 2008 to 2012 compiled by the Health Care Cost Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on price transparency. They divided the case files of 154,000 children into four groups. First, they took states with insurance mandates and split the files between children whose coverage was affected and those whose was exempt. Then, in states without insurance mandates, they divided children with commercial insurance  that is, insurance that would have been hit by a mandate if one existed  and those whose policies still wouldnt have been affected. The study did not include Medicaid plans, and the claims data was pulled from three large insurance companies in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.The researchers then analyzed how many autism-related treatments those patients billed to their insurance, controlling for factors like age, sex, health plan type and calendar month. They found that having a mandate in place increased the level of treatments billed by an average of about 12.2 percent  9.9 percent during the mandates first year, 16.6 percent the second year and 17.2 percent in subsequent years.But questions persist beyond whether patients got some form of care. The researchers are still teasing out what kinds of treatments children who used their insurance actually received. And, Mandell said, it leaves open how good that care actually was.The takeaway is that insurance mandates are necessary but not sufficient for helping people get needed therapies, he said.That makes sense, said Alycia Halladay, chief science officer at the Autism Science Foundation, which helps fund research. Requiring health plans to cover autism therapies was important as a first step, she argued. But more needs to be done.You cant rely on these mandates alone. You cant say, OK now, everythings hunky dory, and everyones being served the right way, she said.There are a few possible reasons the coverage requirements arent always translating to people getting treatment.Even if insurers have to cover care, theres wide variation in how generous the coverage is. Plans can argue that certain services  like speech and occupational therapy as well as applied behavioral therapy  arent necessary, or they can require higher cost-sharing from beneficiaries, or reimburse at a low enough rate that doctors dont participate. Also, not all mandates are equal  some states cap how much spending a plan has to guarantee, allow ceilings to the number of doctors visits or limit the age range of beneficiaries.Even when a mandate is in place, its often unclear what insurance plans are actually required to pay for, said Halladay. Plus, parents of autistic children may not realize what services are covered, she added.Then theres also the fact that, compared to the need, not enough doctors are familiar with autism treatments, noted Mandell, who coauthored a qualitative study published last November in the journal Autism.There are long waiting lists for people to get medical referrals for their autism-related problems. There are wait-lists all over the place. And thats because there arent enough people trained, Halladay said. Its not an easy problem to solve.That could have cost implications, too. Insurance plans have argued that mandates could drive up premiums. So far, theyve resulted in increases of about 1 percent, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, but those could grow if plans cover more services or autism rates keep climbing. That could also color whether other companies not covered by the mandates choose to cover these services. For instance, the laws dont affect large companies that are self-insured, though some, like Home Depot and Microsoft, provide autism treatment coverage.
While Nashville has now seen a second group cancel its planned national convention next year over Tennessee's new law letting therapists reject LGBT patients, Chattanooga officials say they have yet to see any impact."We haven't received any blowback at all at this point in time for the groups we currently have on the books," said Mike Shuford, executive director of the Chattanooga Convention Center, on Wednesday.Shuford said he thinks Chattanooga is in a "little bit different situation" from Nashville, focusing on regional business from surrounding states, whereas Nashville draws national groups' conventioneers with its mammoth 1.2 million-square-foot Music City Center.Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he's heard of "no notifications, inquiries or cancellations from any groups coming into town."In Nashville, it was a different picture.On Tuesday, the American Counseling Association, which along with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups unsuccessfully fought the therapists' bill, announced it was dropping its planned 2017 national convention in Nashville.Earlier in the week, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney imposed a ban on taxpayer-funded travel except for pressing safety or health business anywhere in Tennessee because of the law. His move extended a ban previously applied to North Carolina and Mississippi over their recently passed laws that members of the LGBT community say discriminate against them.The Tennessean reported Wednesday the Golden, Colo.-based Centers for Spiritual Living had dropped plans to hold its 550-people-plus, three-day convention in Nashville. It's considered on the small end of conventions Nashville attracts.The group is now looking for a new city because of the law, signed last month by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, which allows therapists to turn away LGBT clients based on their "sincerely held principles.""When the legislation was sent over to the governor's desk, we actually had great hopes that it would be vetoed and canceled," Dr. Kenn Gordon, spiritual leader for Centers for Spiritual Living, told The Tennessean. "But it wasn't, and so when he signed it into law that was the decision-point we made to pull out."There are a lot of LGBTQ people that are involved in the world, period, but [also] in our organization," Gordon added. "We did not think in the practice of openness and inclusivity that that law would serve them very well. They felt violated in the action of that, so we chose to take a principled stand."Haslam, who had previously raised concerns about another bill restricting transgender students to bathrooms and locker facilities matching the sex listed on their birth certificates, said the legislation provided proper safeguards. The new law says a therapist can't reject would-be patients in a crisis situation. And they have to make appropriate recommendations to other mental health professionals.Earlier Wednesday, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, accused Tennessee's legislative "Republican supermajority" and Haslam, whom he charged "enables them," of causing "irreparable harm" to the state's economy and reputation because of the state's new counseling law.He said losing the American Counseling Association convention with nearly 3,000 expected attendees would result in a $2.5 million revenue loss. He also warned that Tennesseans and local businesses "are left waiting for the other shoe to drop."Clemmons also declared the notion that Republicans are pro-business a "farce" and accused GOP lawmakers of "kowtowing to zealots" in order to pass "unnecessary and blatantly discriminatory legislation."Republican sponsors of the bill, as well as David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, say the law was necessary because of 2014 changes to the American Counseling Association's ethics standards.Prior to that, they say, therapists and counselors could refer clients whose goals they profoundly disagreed with to other professionals better able to help them. But LGBT advocates say the rejection can be harmful, especially to young people seeking to find their way.
J.D. Mesnard has heard all the complaints. Mesnard, the speaker pro tempore of the Arizona House, sponsored a bill to expand the size of the state Supreme Court from five justices to seven. It was immediately lambasted by liberals as a "court-packing" scheme, a partisan ploy to ensure GOP control of the already conservative court.The Arizona bill, which got Republican Gov. Doug Ducey's signature , comes on the heels of a similar court expansion in Georgia. Last week, GOP Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation to increase the number of justices on that state's Supreme Court from seven to nine. Between those new seats and expected retirements, Deal will likely be able to appoint a majority of justices by the time his term runs out in 2018.When supreme courts were expanded in the past, it was typically the result of a larger revision of the state constitution, said Bill Raftery, an analyst with the National Center for State Courts. Over the past decade, however, legislators in several states have sought to expand or reduce the size of their supreme courts -- in some cases admitting their intent to sway the ideological balance."In several of these instances, the legislators have been very clear that they want certain decisions by their state courts of last resorts to be changed, or they want future decisions decided a different way," said Raftery.Mesnard insists that wasn't his desire. A bigger court, he argues, could handle a bigger workload and perhaps better reflect the diversity of the state. Since Arizona's Supreme Court was last expanded in 1960, the state has grown considerably -- from a population of just over 1 million to nearly 7 million. Similar arguments about growth were made in Georgia. But Mesnard says his main motivation was diffusing power -- not expanding the GOP's reach into the judiciary."More legal minds is better than fewer legal minds," he said. "When it comes to power, that power should be disseminated to many people -- or at least more people."Mesnard concedes that there's no separating policy from politics when you're talking about the highest court in the state. If Democrats were in charge in Arizona, he knows his fellow Republicans would question a proposed expansion.Any time legislators try to tinker with the size of their states' supreme courts, they're accused of eroding the independence of the judiciary and seeking partisan gain. In part, that's because of the lingering memory of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "court-packing" scheme in the 1930s. He wanted to add as many as six new justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, which had disapproved of much of his New Deal legislation.But wariness also stems from the fact that the judiciary has become increasingly caught up in partisan politics, with millions spent on some state supreme court races. In West Virginia, for example, GOP and pro-business groups spent more than $3 million on a campaign against Justice Brent Benjamin. Voters ousted him on Tuesday.In Kansas, the state Senate this year passed a bill that would have allowed the impeachment of justices who were seen as having usurped the authority of other branches. That bill died in the House.Last year, North Carolina passed a law to let Supreme Court justices face retention elections, meaning people would vote yes or no to a justice staying on the court as opposed to picking between them and actual opponents. It was seen as an effort to preserve the court's conservative majority.In February, a judicial panel ruled that such a change requires a constitutional amendment. That ruling was upheld last week by the North Carolina Supreme Court on a tie vote. (A justice who now faces a political opponent this year recused himself.)Several of the debates about court sizes have taken place in southern states such as Alabama and Florida, where the apparent ideological leanings of the courts have been slower to reflect the changing partisan culture."The judicial branch has lagged behind the other two branches in the Republican wave that's taken over state government in the South," said Billy Corriher, director of legal research at the left-leaning Center for American Progress.Even though Mesnard's bill became law in Arizona, it's not certain the court will become much more conservative as it grows. But it might. Gov. Ducey selected Clint Bolick , a libertarian legal activist, to sit on the state Supreme Court in January.The new law not only expands the court, it also increases funding for the judicial branch and gives raises to judges. The 1960 expansion included similar enticements.
Michael Slager, the former North Charleston white police officer charged with the fatal shooting of an unarmed African-American man, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday.Slager, 35, was indicted on three charges: obstruction of justice, use of a weapon during the commission of a crime of violence and the civil rights violation of deprivation of rights under color of law. The indictment does not accuse Slager of a hate crime.All charges stem from the April 2015 shooting death of Walter Scott, whom Slager stopped for a minor traffic violation. Scott jumped out of his car and ran, with Slager in pursuit.The shooting helped spark a national conversation on excessive police force, especially in cases involving white officers shooting black people.The shooting in a vacant lot was captured on a cell phone video taken by a civilian and was taken as evidence by many that Scott's shooting was a kind of execution rather than a legitimate use of force by a law officer. However, Slager's lawyer has said there was a fight between the two men that was not captured on video and that Slager fired in fear for his life.In its obstruction of justice charge, the U.S. Attorney's office in South Carolina is alleging that Slager, several days after the shooting, took steps to impede State Law Enforcement Division agents in their investigation of the matter.Specifically, the indictment said, Slager "knowingly misled SLED investigators by falsely stating that he (Slager) fired his weapon at Scott while Scott was coming forward at him with a Taser."The indictment continues, "In truth and in fact, as defendant Michael Slager then well knew, he (Slager) repeatedly fired his weapon at Scott when Scott was running away from him."The indictment was made public Wednesday morning.In the civil rights violation, the indictment says that Slager, "while acting under colr of law as an officer with the North Charleston police department, shot Walter Scott without legal justicification, willfully depriving him of the right ... to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer."The indictment adds, "The offense involved the use of a dangerous weapon, and an attempt to kill, and resulted in body injury to, and the death of, Walter Scott."If convicted, Slager faces a maximum sentence of 1ife in prison for the civil rights violation, as well as a potential $250,000 fine.Slager is to appear at a hearing Wednesday afternoon in Charleston on the federal charges.The federal government's weighing in on the matter sets up a separate prosecutorial track from a state prosecution already well under way.In state court, Slager is scheduled to go on trial on Oct. 31 on murder charges in Scott's death.The video has been cited around the country as a vivid illustration of what African-Americans are talking about when they say white police officers use excessive force against members of their race.Slager is now free on a $500,000 surety bond.He has been living at an undisclosed location in South Carolina and must have no contact with the victim's family. He had been held in solitary confinement at the Charleston County Detention Center since his arrest last April.The city of North Charleston has approved a $6.5 million settlement with Scott's family for his death.If convicted of murder in the state trial, Slager faces 30 years in prison to life without parole.Although news accounts of Slager's shooting of Walker invariably mention race, no mention of race was made in the federal indictment.Slager used a Glock Model 21 .45 caliber pistol in the shooting, the indictment said.The case is being investigated by the FBI's Columbia Division and SLED. The case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Eric Klumb of the District of South Carolina and trial attorney Jared Fishman of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section.This is not the first federal prosecution of an excessive force case by a South Carolina law officerIn 2011, a federal jury in Columbia convicted former Kershaw County deputy Oddie Tribble on a civil rights charge of beating a handcuffed inmate and breaking his leg with a metal police baton. The incident was captured on video. Both Tribble and the inmate were black.Federal Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Tribble to five years. He was released from prison last January.
On Tuesday, in the morning, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey departed Brisbane for an official visit to Mitchell.

Following, at the Mitchell Showgrounds, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the 100th Mitchell Agricultural Show, where the Governor addressed guests and officially opened the Show, before returning to Brisbane.
What's next

(TNS) -- Winnebago County must pay a $283,000 settlement to Microsoft Corp. for downloading licensed software without paying for it.Microsoft recently conducted a routine compliance check to review how the county has used its software. Company officials discovered that Winnebago County had activated software it didn't have authority to use under its licensing agreement with the firm. The settlement amount reflects a cost the county should have paid all along, county officials said.I wasnt aware this was happening, said August Gentner, a contract employee who serves as the county's chief information officer. It was pure human error. For example, we paid for Microsoft Office Standard and human error meant my staff accidentally (activated the more expensive) Microsoft Office Professional.Microsoft Office Professional costs about $100 more than the standard Microsoft Office software package and the costlier software has been installed on hundreds of county computers, Gentner told the County Board Finance Committee last week. The committee has recommended approval of a budget amendment to pay the settlement, and the County Board will meet Thursday to consider it.Most of the software installations took place before Gentners tenure or from departments not under his supervision, County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen said. About $113,000 of the settlement amount has been recovered so far through savings in other areas of the IT budget, Christiansen said.The county has since put new procedures in place to make sure this doesn't happen again with other software vendors. A second county employee was added to the software installation procedure to double check all computer setups for proper compliance.The county doesnt use Microsoft's compliance assurance plan  an insurance policy of sorts that would cost the county more than $250,000 a year and would cover the cost of such an error. More concerning to board members, however, is that Gentners contract stipulates that he is not liable for any damages or mistakes caused by his work. The County Board most recently approved a contract renewal with Gentner in April 2013. The one-year agreement contains four consecutive one-year renewal options.The county guarantees Gentner at least 100 hours of work a month  not to exceed 120 hours a month without approval of county management  at an hourly rate of $107.50 as of Jan. 1, 2015, according to the agreement approved in 2013. His pay rate will increase to $115 an hour beginning Jan. 1. The county also provides Gentner a $120 monthly allowance for communications expenses such as a cell phone or broadband service. The county paid Gentner $139,400 in fiscal 2015.- Gentner supervises roughly a dozen technicians who work in the county Information Technology Department, though Gentner himself is not a county employee and, as such, receives no health insurance or retirement benefits from the county for his contract work. Gentner's contract stipulates that he reports to Christiansen.Christiansen said that Gentner is extremely well qualified for the job and pointed out that some of the errors occurred before Gentner began working with the county as the chief information officer in 2006."The issue is that Mr. Gentner didn't set up the software," he said. "Were there some people under his position as chief that did? Yes. But not intentionally. ...Mr. Gentner has been a tremendous partner here."Under Gentner's supervision, Christiansen said, the county has made money by providing IT services to numerous other small local governments that wouldn't otherwise be able to afford or find it feasible to establish their own IT department. The county brings in more than $200,000 per year providing IT support for Loves Park, Rockton, Chicago Rockford International Airport, South Beloit, Boone County courts and the village of Winnebago, among others.Several years ago, Gentner supervised a $6.7 million software upgrade of the county's court case management system, which was done on time and on budget, Christiansen said.Liability wasnt a big topic of conversation among County Board members in 2013 when they considered renewing Gentner's contract, recalls board member Steve Schultz, R-3. Moreover, the board didn't explicitly approve Gentner's contract. Rather, the board approved a resolution, by a voice vote, that authorized the contract renewal. The resolution made no mention of the "hold harmless" clause in Gentner's contract that frees him of liability for "special, incidental or consequential damages" that might arise as it relates to his services.Mr. Christiansen as the chair and whoever else he discussed it with directly would have been aware of that information, Schultz said. Im frequently not comfortable with voting because I know there is a lot of information that I dont have and historically that has been the case.Board member John Guevara, R-19, said that he was concerned about the liability issue. He ultimately supported the resolution, he said, because it simply authorized renewal of Gentner's contract, which hadn't been a problem before.At the time, we had to work really hard to build a solid relationship with the chairman, he said. I know some other entities that utilize services spoke to different board members saying everything was on the up and up. The feeling of the board was that this has existed, a number of folks use the service and this is something we should trust.- Some County Board members are not yet ready to approve the Microsoft payment. The consensus among those who attended a County Board Republican caucus meeting on Monday was to postpone a final vote on the budget amendment. More time is needed, some board members say, to review Gentner's contract and examine other outstanding contracts that may expose the county to liability.This gives us a chance to make more sweeping changes, Guevara said. There was a disconnect somewhere and it's proof that we need a systemic change to be able to avoid this kind of thing in the future. Restructuring the county IT Department is one idea that's been floated. It might make more sense to hire an information technology supervisor rather than hiring an outside firm, said Eli Nicolosi, R-8. Nicolosi wasnt on the board in 2013.Im not exactly going against Mr. Gentner, Nicolosi said. But he makes (about) $130,000 a year for not full-time work. Im trying to understand both sides of the situation. ...It just seems very odd to me.I feel like moving forward we have to look at everyone's contract," he said. "Who else doesnt have insurance? Its too sweet of a deal.The County Board meets at 6 p.m. Thursday on the eighth floor of the Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 W. State St., in downtown Rockford. On the agenda: approval of a budget amendment to satisfy the $283,000 Microsoft payment. However, the board could decide to postpone a decision on the amendment.
(TNS) -- It's a question that grows in importance with each new report of a data breach: How much responsibility should companies take for protecting people's privacy?The most common response when a corporate database gets hacked is for the business to offer a year of free credit monitoring -- a better-than-nothing measure that will alert people to suspicious activity involving their credit files but will do nothing to prevent fraud, identity theft or other mischief.West Los Angeles resident Jairo Angulo and his wife were among nearly 80 million current and former Anthem health insurance policyholders whose personal information was reported hacked last February.Names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, email addresses and employment information, including income data, were accessed by digital thieves in what the company described as a "highly sophisticated cyberattack."Anthem responded by offering two years of free credit monitoring by AllClear ID, a Texas company formerly known as Debix that crops up frequently as the go-to cleanup crew after large-scale security breaches. Its service was offered after hacks at Home Depot, Sony and the UPS Store.Anthem has patted itself on the back for offering two years of monitoring rather than the customary one. To Angulo, 66, that was nowhere near enough."If your Social Security number and other information is out in the world, it's out there forever," he told me. "Anthem should be paying for my credit monitoring for the rest of my life."He said as much to the insurer. He received his answer recently: No.While I get that Anthem doesn't want to be on the hook for covering people's credit monitoring for the rest of their lives, Angulo raises an interesting point -- and I completely understand his concern.About a decade ago, my Social Security number was used by an identity thief to run up bills on credit cards and at Indian casinos. After I managed to track the guy down in Connecticut and handed him over to law enforcement, he was found guilty of Social Security fraud and deported to his native Jamaica.But here's the thing: This guy still knows my Social Security number. He'll know it until the day he dies. I could change my number, but that would create a cascade of hassles and confusion because it's my de facto ID number, the core component of every important file in my life, from marriage to mortgage.Paul Stephens said it's right to be worried. He's director of policy and advocacy for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego and, like Angulo, had his personal information jeopardized by the Anthem hack."There are so many Social Security numbers involved here," Stephens said, "it would be wise for a criminal to just hold on to them for a few years and wait until people are less vigilant. It absolutely makes sense to maintain credit monitoring beyond a couple of years."Darrel Ng, an Anthem spokesman, said that "securing our member, provider and client data is a top priority," but he declined to comment on the question of offering credit monitoring for life.He did say, though, that many policyholders now can opt in to maintaining their AllClear credit monitoring for as long as they remain Anthem members. If they change insurers, their credit monitoring goes bye-bye.That's a step in the right direction, so let's take a closer look at what people are getting. It's not as comprehensive as Anthem might want them to think.The AllClear monitoring offered by the company only tracks your TransUnion credit file. It pays no attention to your files at rival credit reporting agencies Experian and Equifax. This is significant because not all creditors report information to all agencies.If you're not simultaneously monitoring all three, it's possible you'll miss incidents of fraud or ID theft."This wasn't well publicized," Stephens said. "It was buried in the fine print. When I called AllClear, they told me I didn't have to have my credit monitored at all three agencies, which is simply untrue."Also, a deep dive into AllClear's terms and conditions reveals that users of the service must agree to give up their right to sue the company and accept arbitration to settle any disputes. Plus, that arbitration must take place in Austin, Texas.On top of that, the company's privacy policy says that even after your credit monitoring ends, "AllClear ID may retain your personal information indefinitely ... to resolve disputes, to comply with official investigations or proceedings, and/or to enforce AllClear IDs agreements."I pointed out to an AllClear spokeswoman, Ellie Fanning, that indefinitely is a long time. She said most people's data will be deleted after six years "except in the case of an ongoing dispute or investigation."The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse estimates that nearly 900 million consumer records potentially have been accessed by hackers in almost 5,000 known data breaches since 2005. Many other data breaches, of course, may have been undetected or went unreported.The upshot here is that the business world has shown itself to be an untrustworthy minder of people's personal info, either due to negligence or to a lackluster approach to database and network security.My answer to that: Lawmakers should require that all customer data maintained by companies for any reason be encrypted -- that is, safeguarded by powerful software that renders the data unintelligible to outsiders.Moreover, companies should be required to go a step beyond credit monitoring for any customer affected by a data breach. Businesses also should provide free credit freezes through all three credit agencies. This would block access to your credit file by anyone lacking a PIN code and is the most effective way of preventing hackers and fraudsters from receiving credit in your name.Both these moves -- encryption and credit freezes -- would be more expensive for companies and thus would immediately prompt them to step up their game in protecting customers' information. As it stands, they clearly lack sufficient incentive to impose adequate security.In March, Chatsworth-based Lamps Plus discovered that a hacker had accessed the unencrypted W-2 forms of every employee at the company, which included their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, earnings and withholding information.The hacker subsequently submitted bogus tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service, seeking refunds in other people's names.Clark Linstone, Lamps Plus' chief financial officer, said the company "regrets this incident" and is "doing everything possible" to assist workers.That includes a year of free credit monitoring.
(TNS) -- The FBI paid six figures for a hacking tool to get into San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks iPhone 5c after Apple refused to unlock it.Thats one down, more than 1,000 lawfully seized phones to go.As recently as 18 months ago, Apple and Google  whose operating systems run 96.7 percent of the worlds smartphones  would comply with judicial orders to extract evidence from mobile devices and send the data to prosecutors. In 2014, however, the companies reengineered their operating systems to make their devices encrypted by default. They could no longer unlock their own products.Since then, 230 inaccessible Apple devices have come into the Cyber Lab of the Manhattan district attorneys office pursuant to judges warrants. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is sitting on 150 warrant-proof devices, and the Los Angeles Police Department now has more than 300. San Diego and Riverside Counties have 11 connected to murder cases.Hundreds more smartphones line the shelves of police and prosecutors offices across the country. Each is believed to contain evidence crucial to the investigation and prosecution of serious state offenses including homicide and child sex abuse. Each corresponds to a real crime against a real victim who may never receive justice. Others conceal evidence, without which prosecutors cannot hold defendants accountable for their wrongdoing, or can charge them only with lower-level crimes. Some hold information that would exonerate the wrongfully accused.Hundreds of criminal investigations will remain stalled until Congress intervenes. The lawful exploit employed by the FBI to open Farooks iPhone works only on that model and operating system, and Apple could patch the flaw exploited at any time. Moreover, tools of the kind used to open that phone cost far more than most local agencies can afford.Data encryption is leading to a rare level of internecine conflict between American law enforcement and American industry. A technological arms race between the government and Silicon Valley is in no ones interest. Technology companies dont want their products used to protect criminals. Judges dont want their search warrants rendered meaningless. And victims of crime dont want evidence-free zones.Centuries of jurisprudence hold that no item is beyond the reach of a court-ordered search warrant. In the past, criminals stored evidence of their crimes in safes, file cabinets and closets. Today, that evidence is found on smartphones. Our laws havent kept pace with this evolution in technology, and in the void, large technology companies have rendered themselves  not judges  gatekeepers of the data necessary to solve crimes.Last month, Sens. Richard M. Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed a way forward. They released a draft bill that would require technology companies to provide law enforcement with decrypted data, or the technical assistance to get it, when ordered by a court to do so. The bill restores the authority of judges, requires firms to be compensated for their assistance, and leaves tech companies free to decide how to design their operating systems  so long as the company can comply with court orders. No draft bill is perfect, which is why the senators have requested that stakeholders  including technology companies  simply discuss it.State and local prosecutors stand ready to advance that discussion with data, real-life case examples, legal briefs and testimony that document the effect mobile device encryption is having on public safety and victims of crime. At the same time, we continue to ask tech companies to provide their own metrics to quantify the purported trade-offs in personal data security if the Burr-Feinstein proposal were enacted. To start: Did Apples routine compliance with court orders until 2014 ever lead to anyone getting hacked?While government agents and Silicon Valley engineers engage in a cat-and-mouse game over encryption, unapprehended criminals remain out there, free to reoffend. While Apple and Google work to stay ahead of the budding cottage industry of lawful hacking consultants, statutory time limits for prosecutions tick away.Congress, not Silicon Valley, must determine the balance in our society between personal privacy and public safety. It should start by considering the Burr-Feinstein proposal without delay.
Traditional government procurement is esoteric and the results are bad for everyone. Fewer vendors in the selection pool leads to higher costs for government, inferior project results and fewer opportunities for startups that dont have the knowledge and experience to participate. But one startup seeks to remedy this problem.Philadelphia contracted with the Department of Better Technology to develop an open source procurement tool for projects under $32,000. The tool, called Dispatch , will give vendors a cleaner interface, clear instructions on how the process works and new functionality that could solve many of governments procurement woes.Dispatch is being created to replace an existing portal with similar functionality  located at BigIdeasPHL.com  that was developed in-house by the citys open source team several years ago. While Big Ideas PHL allows vendors to browse small contracts offered by the city, the new Dispatch tool also will include such features as notifying users when new contracts become available and letting users submit proposals online using the same portal.The tool will be run under the citys recently created Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, led by Rebecca Rhynhart. The new office coincided with a reorganization that dismantled the Philadelphia Mayors Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM). Andrew Buss, Philadelphias director of innovation and management, explained that the city is still committed to pushing new ideas forward, and this procurement tool is an example of that.The goal is to really make city government more efficient, whether its doing something around city processes that makes the city more efficient or perhaps it's making better use of technology so its more accessible and usable for the general public, Buss said. So the goal of this really rests within the mission of that organization now.Dispatch will help the city generate more competition for small contracts, Buss said, adding that he expects the new portal will be popular simply because the old one was.Traditionally, the way we in the city have done these under-$32,000 opportunities is just to go out and get three quotes, he said. [Dispatch] is a way of making the process more transparent, while at the same time increasing the number of vendors that would see the opportunity and hopefully reply.Getting government agencies to adopt new tools and processes is frequently a challenge, but Buss said he hopes the benefit of attracting a wider pool of vendors will be enough to gain buy-in. And under the direction of the more highly integrated Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the tool should gain more reach than it would have through MONUM, Buss added.Dispatch is now in beta, but the code is "solid," said Adam Becker, project lead at the Department of Better Technology, adding that its almost ready for launch in Philly.The project, Becker explained, is the spiritual child of three existing procurement tools: the citys existing portal, Big Ideas PHL; RFP-EZ, a tool his company developed for the federal government during the 2012 Presidential Innovation Fellowship; and a notification tool Code For America developed for the Pittsburgh Procurement Suite called Beacon All three sites had this thing in common where theyre taking these existing RFP listings that traditionally are housed in enterprise systems and really inaccessible unless you know exactly where they are, Becker said. The sites that exist today to house RFPs are not at all built around user needs; theyre built around enterprise systems that the city has. And the ERPs that the city stores all their contracting data in  and making that public and publishing that to vendors who may be interested in working with the city  is just an afterthought. As a result of that, its a very small pool of vendors that ends up finding out about these opportunities.Reduced vendor pools create all kinds of problems for government, Becker explained. It creates an artificial market where the prices are inflated. It can leave out local technology companies that the government may be interested in supporting. And it can cause agencies to miss demographic targets for procurement mandated by law.Like most of the Department of Better Technologys projects, Dispatch is open source. Becker said the company makes its code available because it believes in the fundamental value of letting people see what its doing  but for government its doubly important.The big thing there is that if taxpayer dollars are going toward building software for government, that software should be in the government domain, Becker said. We shouldnt be paying taxpayer dollars in order to help companies develop proprietary software that then has to be paid for again and again by other government agencies.Dispatch can be easily modified, rebranded and integrated into other cities systems, Becker said, and thats what the company hopes will happen once Philadelphias tool launches in the near future.
Romain Grosjean was surprised on Thursday amid reports the FIA would ban the discarding of helmet tear-offs on track from Monaco.

"It's funny," the Haas driver is quoted by Speed Week in Barcelona. "I thought the ban had applied since Australia."

Grosjean explained that he had been storing the plastic strips in his cockpit "until I heard in Russia that I don't have to".

Asked what will happen in Monaco, then, the smiled again: "I guess we will need a glove compartment!"

The bigger talking point ahead of the Spanish grand prix was Daniil Kvyat's demotion to Toro Rosso, and the rise to Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

Asked if he might now be hoping for a similar promotion to Ferrari, perhaps with Kimi Raikkonen being relegated to Haas, Grosjean said: "That is something completely different.

"Toro Rosso and Red Bull have the same owner, but we are not the B-team of Ferrari," he insisted.

"Put it this way: if Red Bull brings Max to the main team, then they will make sure he stays there for a while. But at the moment I'm not thinking of Ferrari.

"I want to continue the success story of Haas."

Part of that story might be a cross-over Nascar race for Grosjean, as team owner Gene Haas also owns a team in the premier American series.

"I have not spoken with my wife about it," Grosjean laughed.

"But I definitely want to do it and I've spoken with Gene about it from day one. I just don't know when it happens -- there are 21 rae weekends in formula one so it's not easy to find a gap."

(GMM)
Are all NRIs really Non-Responsive Indians?

Summer is here in the U.S. The festive season begins for all Indian organizations, after a dormant winter. Telugu/Telangana organizations are especially big into these celebrations.

There are at least seven nation-wide organizations (including an organization recently launched) that celebrate their conventions. And, of course, there are tens of local organizations in each city/state where the community is bigger and these local organizations do celebrate their festivities without a miss!

Here is a little background. All national Telugu organizations in the U.S. celebrate their biennial three-day conventions on a grand scale and they spend at least 2  2.5 Million dollars each, excluding their pre-convention kick-offs and competitions they organize in each big city for fundraising.

In addition to the organizations spending, guests also spend on their travel and stay as they have to travel from different places to the location where the convention is held. Almost all of us know how these conventions are held. Two of the Telangana organizations announced two First conventions this year, have to see if they will continue the tradition of others and celebrate annual/biennial conventions.

Coming to the point why I am writing this is when I was visiting India and discussing with friends, I often heard that NRIs are Non-responsive Indians. I felt bad being one of the thousands of NRIs. Also felt sad because many of the NRIs do respond to the crises, they donate, they do fundraisers, and they discuss and debate in social media on the most burning issues. Some of them even travel to places and help the ground situations. But, after looking at this years drought and the way people are dying, looking the unresponsiveness from the most influential, affluent and highly educated Organizations, it feels like it is true that NRIs are Non-responsive Indians.

All these organizations should think what is being achieved in these conventions. Taking the example of this year alone, there are 5 such conferences happening in the US, a small conference costing $ 500K and big ones spending around $ 2.5 Million each, altogether, they altogether would be spending anywhere between 10 Million to 12 Million dollars. One can imagine what all can be done with that kind of money. Each organization has service (seva) in their tagline. They really have to introspect how much percentage of their spending is on real service compared to the spending they do for these conventions.

These conventions became the symbol of their existence for these organizations. Of course, celebrations are part of life, but why so many of them? Cant all organizations come together and celebrate one big convention? All organizations invite the same political leaders (whoever is in power) and all of them invite almost the same film stars and there are several instances where these guests from India shuttle between these conferences, as all these happen at around the same time.

These politicians became leaders and came to power, because our brothers and sisters back home voted for them, not NRIs. Those film stars became famous, because our brothers and sisters back home watched their movies. But, the same brothers and sisters back home are suffering, they are dying with drought and negligence, they are looking for help. It may not be the duty of these organizations to provide help, but at the same time, we dont have any right to claim those leaders as ours and those stars as ours.

Most of the NRIs are educated and saw a world bigger than people back home did. NRIs have to think out-of-the-box and provide necessary help to our own people. Sacrificing a mere three days of fun (normally, each convention is for three days), is not a big deal. Those film stars and politicians dont lose anything if these organizations dont bring them to U.S., but a family can live for 1 year just with the price for one business class ticket you provide for those stars and politicians. At least, 510 students can pursue their education for whole year, just with the price one ticket you buy for those guests.

By the way, what do those film stars and politicians do by attending these conventions? They come to these conventions, appear on the stage for a maximum of 5 -10 minutes, thats all. But, these organizations publicize them for almost 6 months. They enjoy their vacation with your money, they are treated with red carpet, and I dont think they have this kind of treatment even in India. What is the return on investment for these organization? Answer is, leaders of these organizations get selfies with stars and politicians to post them on social media!!

True, it is very true. These conventions are a big hoax. Out of the three days, day 1 starts as a banquet, which is a trumpet blowing event for their leadership and big donors. Day-2 is all about having each one a session of their interest, you hardly find people attending these sessions, unless a celebrity is in there. Day 3 is all about a Prime-time show, where all stars are on stage for a few minutes. There were instances where fights broke-out at food stalls, because the supply is less. What do the attendees of these conventions do? Half of them come and meet their friends and relatives at one place, they drink, eat and play within their hotel rooms, the other half come and go through the vendor booths to buy clothes and jewelry. It is time, even the people attending these conventions to re-think and find out where they want to spend the money they are spending.

All NRIs speak foul about politics and how divided we are as a country. But, why do we need these many organizations in the name of Telugus. Fine, since the state is divided back home, having one for each state is justified, but why so many? If one agrees or not, these organizations are divided by caste, looking at the names of their leadership will tell you the facts. Within the caste, if somebody is not elected into the leadership, they start a new organization. How long will it go on?

Every organization has Culture and Service in its tagline. We really have to introspect what contributions these organizations are making to promote culture here in the U.S? How many next generation kids even understand what a Telugu Festival is? I am sure, these organizations will extinct with the First generation immigrants, there are no takers from the second generation, they very well know how divided these people are and what actually these organizations do. Some of the organizations have more leaders than members in them, if you see any of their press releases, you will realize that the content of the press release is buried somewhere inside a huge list of same names in every press release.

Coming back to the situation back home, it is really heart wrenching to see the news of people dying due to lack of water. Not everything can be done by government alone, there is also so much that all of us can do. One phone call to a person outside of Hyderabad will explain you the ground situation in our villages and towns. Isnt it our responsibility to react? If not doing anything, at least, can we standby them instead of celebrating when our brothers and sisters are in a pathetic situation? Why cant we show an example by canceling a celebration (convention) and try to show some solidarity by asking all your members to donate that convention amount to a charity back home?

Even though, all NRIs are not part of these organizations, fortunately or unfortunately, they represent all NRIs because they are the ones going to the media and claiming to be the representatives of all NRIs. So, having these organizations non-responsive, all NRIs are becoming Non-Responsive Indians. Also, on the positive side of having one or two of these organizations is, they are doing extremely good work, even in the case of unfortunate events such as somebody dying here in the U.S. A couple of organizations do a brilliant job in sending bodies of the deceased and helping out the families with any medical problems.

But it is time these service motives and spirit are extended to the whole range of activities that the organizations do. Time for the charity and culture of solidarity with Telugus extended to the less privileged sections of our own people back home. Time the dubious label of Non-Responsive Indians is peeled off and we become one with the last man in need back home.

All opinions expressed in this article are individual opinions of the author, Narra Gopi Krishna
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Kamma Vs Kapu For Guntur Mayor Post

Guntur: Ever since they burnt down two bogies of the Ratnachal Express, every political party is trying to play to the Kapu gallery now and this might actually work out to the communitys advantage.

Elections for the Guntur Municipal Corporation are scheduled to be held after the Krishna Pushkarams.

The YSRCP has already decided that it will field a Kapu candidate for the post of Mayor and is scouting for an appropriate person. This has put the TDP in a spot of bother as the Party has several contenders from the Kamma community, prominent among them being former TDP floor leader Yaganti Durga Rao who has already made his intention clear of vying for the top post.

If the TDP decides to counter the YSRCP by opting for a Kapu candidate too, it could leave several of its party men disgruntled. Maddali Giridhar of the TDP also has already declared his intention of contesting for the Mayor post. Its clearly not going to be an easy decision for the TDP.
Naidu Is Well-Groomed Minister

Union Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu is on a roll these days addressing meetings in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

His speeches, filled with alliteration, frequent shifting to Telugu and his pace of delivery, have struck a chord with the audience.

What amused his audience was how he quickly moved the comb over his head minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came on the stage.
'Special' Effect: Naidu Pulls Up Desam MP!

Surprising as it might sound, more than anybody else, it was Telugu Desam Party MP Avanti Srinivas who had to bear the brunt of the NDA governments announcement that there is no question of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.

According to sources, TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called up Srinivas and took him to task strongly. Reason: the MP has raised the question of special category status to Andhra Pradesh in Lok Sabha and Union Minister Jayant Sinha had given a written answer saying there was no way AP would be given special status and that the centre was already giving enough funds to the State.

It is an open secret that Naidu is already aware that the Centre would not grant special status to AP. So does Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu. But both the Naidus have been hoodwinking the people of the state saying the special status issue is still under the consideration of the Centre. But with Avanti Srinivas seeking a written answer from the Centre on the issue, both the Naidus stand exposed.

This is precisely why Chandrababu Naidu was so angry with Avanti Srinivas.

Why the hell you raised the issue in Lok Sabha and pushed us into an embarrassing situation? Now, I am in soup and has to get into confrontation with the Centre. You have created a situation wherein the TDP has to come out of the NDA. Does it do good for the State? he reportedly questioned Avanti Srinivas.

Poor MP, he does not have the kind of diplomatic behaviour Naidu has. He should learn the art of diverting the peoples attention.
This Gentleman Withdraws Fast Twice!

Andhra Intellectuals' Forum convenor Chalasani Srinivas often poses himself to be an intellectual par excellence. He gives lectures for hours on how injustice is being out to Andhra to showcase his talent to the viewers of television channels.

This white collar gentleman from Krishna district, who could not stop bifurcation of the erstwhile State despite running from one channel to another to participate in debates, has recently taken up fast unto death at Anantapur in protest against the Centres refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

The fast could not last even for a day, as the police thwarted his attempt and shifted him to hospital. All the media showed how he concluded fast with TDP legislator Prabhakar Chowdary offering him lemon juice. He returned to Hyderabad the next day.

Surprisingly, there was another report in the media, saying Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao offered lemon juice to Chalasani in Hyderabad and made him withdraw his fast. This makes one wonder how Chalasani can withdraw his fast twice.

Well, Chalasani did not get enough media coverage for his fasting at Anantapur. So, he came to Hyderabad and withdraw his fast for the second time so that he can get state-wide coverage. That is the matter!
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton called for making the nation's capital the country's 51st state on Wednesday, promising to be a "vocal champion" for District of Columbia statehood.

She blasted presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for failing to say whether D.C. residents should have the same voting rights as other Americans.

"In the case of our nation's capital, we have an entire populace that is routinely denied a voice in its own democracy. . . . Washingtonians serve in the military, serve on juries, and pay taxes just like everyone else. And yet, they don't even have a vote in Congress," Clinton wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Informer, an African American weekly newspaper.

Clinton's piece comes about four weeks before D.C. residents go to the polls in the city's presidential primary.

The former secretary of state has voiced support for D.C. statehood in the past, and so has Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont), who last year signed on as co-sponsor of a bill to make the District a state.

But Clinton on Wednesday for the first time framed it as a presidential election-year issue and one that could fuel partisan debate into November.

Despite deep support for local autonomy, Republicans in Congress have said statehood for the District is a nonstarter because it would give the city's Democratic majority two seats in the Senate, potentially tipping the balance of power in the closely divided chamber for years to come.

The District plans to hold a constitutional convention next month and put the question of statehood before Congress next year, which can approve it with an up-or-down vote.

The District has more residents than Vermont or Wyoming, and its residents pay more in federal taxes than those in 22 states but have no vote in Congress. Conservative members of Congress often use their authority to dictate social policy in the city by blocking locally elected officials from using local tax revenue to enact policies relating to abortion, guns and drugs.

Clinton wrote that "solidarity" with disenfranchised Democratic voters in the District was no longer enough. "We need a solution," she wrote. "That's why, as president, I will be a vocal champion for D.C. statehood."

Clinton also used the issue to knock Trump, who told The Washington Post in March that he had "no position" on the issue of D.C. statehood.

"Of course, it comes as little surprise that Donald Trump hasn't given this issue much thought," she wrote, quoting the interview, in which Trump told The Post's editorial board that "statehood is a tough thing for D.C."

"Well, I think what's been tough for the District is having virtually no say in its own affairs for decades," Clinton wrote.

The forceful op-ed could easily allow Clinton to eclipse President Obama in support for D.C. statehood.

Despite promising to fight for D.C. voting rights during his 2008 presidential campaign, Obama never took on the issue in a meaningful way, to the dismay of many African American leaders in the city.

Obama alienated some D.C. residents when in 2011 he effectively traded away the city's right to fund abortions for low-income women in a budget deal with House Republicans.

The statement from Clinton also appeared sure to embolden D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and other longtime advocates for statehood on the eve of a showdown with Congress over the District's power to make more independent spending decisions.

For the first time this year, the city has warned it will not ask Congress for permission to spend billions of its own local tax money but instead go ahead and do so unless Congress acts to stop it.

The insurrection marks the first serious effort to win more autonomy since the 1960s, when D.C. residents demanded home rule as part of the civil rights movement .

Some influential House Republicans have indicated they will seek to block the District's power grab and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has scheduled a hearing on the issue Thursday.
SANFORD, Fla.  Former Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman is auctioning off the pistol he used in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager.

In an interview with Orlando, Florida, TV station WOFL, Zimmerman said he had just gotten the pistol back from the U.S. Justice Department, which took it after he was acquitted in Martin's 2012 shooting death.

"And I thought it's time to move past the firearm," Zimmerman told the station. "And if I sell it and it sells, I move past it. Otherwise, it's going in a safe for my grandkids and never to be used or seen again."

The auction listing on GunBroker.com lists the gun as a 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol. The auction begins at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday and ends at the same time Friday. The bidding starts at $5,000.

The auction listing also says a portion of the proceeds will go toward fighting what Zimmerman calls violence by the Black Lives Matter movement against law enforcement officers, combatting anti-gun rhetoric of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ending the career of Angela Corey, the attorney who led the prosecution against Zimmerman.

The listing ends with a Latin phrase that translates as "if you want peace, prepare for war."

When asked what he thought of people who would be opposed to auctioning the gun, Zimmerman said, "They're not going to be bidding on it, so I couldn't care less about them."

Zimmerman, now 32, has said he was defending himself when he shot and killed Martin, 17, in a gated community near Orlando. Martin, who lived in Miami with his mother, was visiting his father at the time.

Zimmerman, who identifies as Hispanic, was acquitted in the February 2012 shooting death of Martin in a case that sparked protests and a national debate about race relations. The Justice Department later decided not to bring a civil rights case against Zimmerman.

Since then, Zimmerman has been charged with assault based on complaints from two girlfriends. In both cases, the girlfriends refused to cooperate and charges were dropped. His estranged wife, Shellie Zimmerman, also accused him of smashing her iPad during an argument days after she filed divorce papers. No charges were filed because of lack of evidence. They were officially divorced in January.

"The Trayvon Martin Foundation is committed to its mission of ending senseless gun violence in the United States," read a statement provided by the office of attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Martin family. The statement was attributed to Tracy Martin, the teenager's father. "This election season, we are laser focused on furthering that mission. As such, the foundation has no comment on the actions of that person."

Zimmerman said he has received death threats but has decided not to cower.

"I'm a free American," he said. "I can do what I want with my possessions."
GREENSBORO  The family of a woman killed by a former Greensboro police officer in 2014 is demanding more training for officers and more access to interpreters.

The family of Chieu Di Thi Vo said through an attorney Thursday that footage of her shooting death, which the public now can see, proves the department should review its procedures and better train its officers.

They want changes to GPDs policies and guidelines that will prevent another fatal police shooting, said Tin Nguyen, an attorney for the family and a member of the Charlotte-based Southeast Asian Coalition.

There are ways that (Greensboro police) officers can de-escalate situations without using lethal force on people who do not speak or understand English and especially on people who have mental disabilities.

The Vietnamese woman, whose family said she had bipolar disorder, died two days after being shot by then-Officer Tim Bloch.

He had responded to a report of a fight, and found Vo waving a knife while speaking in a language he didnt understand. He shot Vo when she didnt respond to his repeated commands to stop.

The Guilford County District Attorneys office cleared Bloch of wrongdoing. He has since left the police department.

On Wednesday, the city made footage of the shooting available to the public. The City Council and the family, privately and separately, watched the footage May 3.

In a statement sent Thursday by the Southeast Asian Coalition, the family and the coalition said officers are sworn to protect and serve everyone, not just the individuals they can more readily understand and relate to.

The statement specifically called for more training on contact with the mentally ill and more interpreters to reflect Greensboros diverse community.

To truly protect and serve our community, police officers cannot be flustered, unnerved or unable to communicate when they come across citizens and residents speaking a foreign language, it said.

Speaking a foreign language should not result in deadly confrontation.

Susan Danielsen, a spokeswoman for the police department, said the language barrier didnt diminish the fact that Vo was a threat.

Its important to note that whether or not (Vo) spoke English, understood English or was mentally ill did not diminish the fact that she was a threat to the officer and other people in the area, she said.

Danielsen also said Greensboro officers get more training on dealing with mentally disabled people than the state-mandated eight hours. Officers receive another eight hours of training on defusing potentially dangerous situations, known as de-escalation training, she said.

Vos family and the coalition raised other issues on Thursday, including how City Council members treated the family at the May 3 meeting. The statement said council members never acknowledged Vos 77-year-old mother, something it said showed a chilling lack of humanity.

The council convened its regular bimonthly meeting immediately after watching the footage. Vos family members came into the councils chamber shortly after, after seeing the footage themselves.

A variety of speakers then addressed the council  some on the Vo shooting, some on lighter matters, including a proposal for free two-hour parking downtown.

The statement said council members joked about parking and called the behavior inhumane, unconscionable and immoral.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan told the News & Record Thursday that she apologizes, and that the council never intended for the family to feel disrespected.

She said the family left the meeting before the council could address the agenda item on footage from police cameras. That would have been the appropriate time for council members to share their feelings with the family.

When they left early, it didnt give us the opportunity to express sympathy for the loss, Vaughan said.
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Ah, wholesale shopping. You go to Costco or Sam's Club and you don't need to shop for paper towels again for a year.

(Wait, where do we put all these now?)

We in the Northwest are partial to Issaquah-based Costco, but Sam's Club, owned by mega-retailer Wal-Mart, is a formidable opponent, with one location on Aurora Avenue North in North Seattle.

Both offer oversized everything to the bargain shopper's delight.

But which is cheaper?

Let's think about a few things before we compare. Costco has its popular store brand, Kirkland Signature, offering up discounted prices all over the place. While Sam's Club also gives steep high-volume discounts, most of its products appear to be popular name brands, which may give it a disadvantage on the price front.

Furthermore, you have no idea how many differently sized packages exist of dog food, hummus and pasta sauce. And, often, Costco and Sam's Club will offer completely different volumes. But we broke out the calculator to work out those differences.

So what are we waiting for? Let's compare prices.

We visited the Mountlake Terrace Costco and the Aurora Sam's Club on Wednesday.

Which is your favorite wholesale store? Or would you rather buy normal-sized stuff? Are the comparisons fair? Let us know in the comments.

Previously in grocery showdowns:
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A prominent name has been added to the list of disillusioned snowbirds switching their residency from Connecticut to Florida: former Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

The Brookfield Republican recently notified town party members that she could no longer serve as a justice of the peace because of an impending change in her residency to the Sunshine State, where Rell owns a second home in New Smyrna Beach.

Rell, 69, who served as governor from 2004 to 2011, was also conspicuously absent from a list of superdelegates at the state GOP convention Monday night in Hartford.

The last Republican to win a statewide election, Rell cited a combination of reasons for her Florida move, from her late husband Lou Rells love of their vacation home to the direction of Connecticut.

It is in a downward spiral, Rell told Hearst Connecticut Media from Florida. She said taxes werent a big factor for her, but that Connecticut is becoming inhospitable, especially for businesses.

It's tough, Rell said. There's no predictability. There's no stability. Whats next?

Rell said she knew of a host of Connecticut snowbirds who have decided to make Florida their home.

I think thats a sad commentary on Connecticut, she said.

Widowed in 2014, the popular former governor is still listed as an active voter on Brookfields election rolls, according to Thomas Dunkerton, the towns GOP registrar of voters.

Rells decision to join the migration of Connecticut residents and corporations out of state is expected to fuel GOP criticism of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that the cost of living and doing businesses here is too onerous. It comes four months after General Electric announced it was moving its headquarters from its longtime home in Fairfield to Boston.

Malloys spokesman Devon Puglia declined to comment Wednesday.

Florida has no individual income tax, while Connecticut's top marginal rate is 6.7 percent. For corporate taxes, Florida charges a rate of 5.5 percent on all income compared to 9 percent in Connecticut, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation. In 2012, the Sunshine State poached the $9 billion hedge fund of Edward Lampert, ESL Investments, from Greenwich.

I dont think Jodi Rells changing her residency is any different from the rest of our residents and businesses who are forced to move out because of our bad tax climate, said state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. But it emphasizes the point that someone who has loved this state and given much of her life to helping it has even been forced to give up.

Most states require individuals to spend a majority of nights there to establish residency, according to tax experts, who say that there are pros and cons to Florida.

Property taxes have been a bone of contention for the past decade in Florida, said Matthew Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington, D.C., think tank. Everyone seems to agree that their property taxes are too high.

The state and local sales tax in Florida can reach as high as 7.5 percent, compared to 6.35 percent in Connecticut.

Gardner said services  education, health care and roads  can play just as big as factor as taxes in deciding which state to call home.

Certainly, there can be individuals like Jodi Rell who either want to make a point or dont have the need for services who have the luxury of shifting their allegiances, Gardner said. Theres nothing Connecticut can do policy-wise thats going to make it Florida in terms of weather and tourism.

Since leaving office, the popular former governor has mostly avoided publicly criticizing her successor, Malloy. But at a 2014 GOP dinner honoring her in Waterbury, Rell called Malloys claim that he inherited a $3.6 billion deficit from her lies.

Dating back to her time as a state legislator and then lieutenant governor, fellow Republicans say, Rell has served as a justice of the peace and officiated wedding ceremonies in Brookfield.

I know her hearts no less dear to Brookfield than its always been, said Matt Grimes, Brookfields former Republican Town Committee chairman.

Rell said her late husband had always wanted the couple to spend their golden years in Florida. She said she still plans to spend the summers in Connecticut in her Brookfield condominium.

I love (Florida), she said. I love the weather. Connecticut will always be my home.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
On May 16, 2016 the long awaited (four years, five months and six days after the law was signed by the president, but whos counting) JOBS Act equity crowdfunding law goes into effect allowing startups and small businesses to raise new capital up to $1,000,000 online through an equity crowdfunding portal. Entrepreneurs can now legally raise money from the crowd by giving everyday people a chance to own a part of their business. For the crowd, the chance to invest a small amount of money online in a new or growing young company, opens a new world of opportunity that was never available before.

I am frequently asked in my law practice: Is my company a good fit for crowdfunding? While nearly any U.S. or Canadian based company can use this groundbreaking law, there are businesses that are a near-perfect fit. Before we get to those, there are a few basics and statistics to ponder.

For the past several years, rewards-based crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have prospered allowing an entrepreneur to raise money by giving away a reward, but no equity or ownership in their company. This is a great way to raise some money for new products that can be pre-sold and for art, music and film projects. If you can raise money without giving away part of your company -- do it.

But rewards-based crowdfunding has severe limitations that equity crowdfunding does not have. The number of people who are willing to donate money to a company in exchange for a reward (but no equity and a subsequent share of the companys profits) is limited. The latest statistics available on Kickstarter reveal that 84 percent of the successful campaigns on their site raise less then $20,000. A staggering 97 percent of successful campaigns on Kickstarter raise less then $100,000.

Good luck opening a new business with $19,999.99.

The number of people willing to invest in a company, and possibly own a small part of a profitable business, is much larger. In 2015, 48 percent of Americans have invested money in stocks already. Thats a pool of more than 150,000,000 potential investors, far outnumbering the 10.8 million who have donated to a Kickstarter campaign since their launch in 2009.

Related: Only 1 in 3 Americans Have Heard of Equity Crowdfunding

The most important factor to consider in successful crowdfunding campaigns, both rewards and equity-based, is the ability to market the campaign and reach the crowd of potential supporters or investors. Small businesses such as these below have a unique opportunity to reach a local crowd through geo-targeted marketing in an economic manner, and also have the ability to get local media coverage to assist in their equity crowdfunding campaign. This combination of factors makes these small businesses a great fit for the new equity crowdfunding laws.

1. Restaurants.

Millions of people dream of opening a restaurant, but very few can afford to do it. According to a recent survey, the median cost to open a restaurant is $275,000, and if owning the building is figured into the amount, the median cost rises to $425,000. The ability to raise up to $1 million with the new equity crowdfunding law allows a restaurateur to satisfy the cravings of local foodies by giving them the opportunity to invest a small amount and fulfill their dream of restaurant ownership. Better yet, these hundreds of small investors will become brand ambassadors who bring their friends and family to eat at their restaurant.

Related: Why Kickstarter and Indiegogo Won't Go Into Equity Crowdfunding

2. Small office or retail buildings.

While not as sexy as owning a restaurant, owning part of a local office or retail building is an easy sell to a small investor. Who doesnt drive by a building or strip center, see all the cars parked outside, and think that someone is making a good living owning that property and renting it out to others? A great example of this recently closed using the equity crowdfunding laws bigger and better looking cousin: the Regulation A+ the Mini IPO, which works very similarly but allows a company to raise up to $50 million for a local business. Using this similar law, a Portland, Oregon company raised $750,000 from the local crowd to build a funky office building. How did they market this? Their website proudly offered investors the chance to own a piece of your neighborhood and get an 8 percent return on the investment.

3. Franchises.

If you own a successful franchise, and need the funds to expand to a second or third location, why not sell a part of your expansion to the customers who already patronize your business, and those in the community who know your name and recognize your success? Equity crowdfunding creates an opportunity to expand and scale your business (and, like with the restaurant above, have hundreds of investors advertising your business to everyone they know -- for free) that cash flow concerns may otherwise prevent.

Related: What the New Equity Crowdfunding Rules Mean for Entrepreneurs

4. Local investment real estate.

Real estate crowdfunding is a huge industry already. In 2015, a reported $483 million was invested (mostly by rich accredited investors) through real estate crowdfunding. Now, this investment opportunity is available to everyone. People inherently understand the value in buying a house, or investing in land. In addition to office buildings, investments like owning a vacation rental property or purchasing a house to renovate and flip for a profit, are now within the reach of everyone thanks to the new equity crowdfunding laws.

Related:

4 Local Businesses Perfect for the New Equity Crowdfunding Law

Next Generation Crowdfunding Starts May 16. Expect Opportunity and Growing Pains.

Which Entrepreneurs Will Benefit Most From the New Era of Crowdfunding?



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Recently, my partner, who once lived in a meditation-focused intentional community (read: hippie house), urged me to go on a 10-day silent retreat to learn insight meditation. Being a skeptic, but wanting to move our relationship forward, I reluctantly drove to the Sierra Nevadas for just such a retreat, leaving my company in the hands of my brother/CFO.

Related: Russell Simmons: 3 Simple Ways Meditation Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur

I expected to become calmer and more mentally balanced as a result, but what surprised me was the way the retreat helped me make the decisions that shape the fast-growing snack company I founded four years ago. Decision-making can be overwhelming, but its the single biggest responsibility a CEO faces, since it ultimately determines a company's failure or success.

The program

Insight meditation, also known as vipassana, is a method handed down by Gautama Buddha himself to his followers. Insight meditation focuses on maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations, without judgment. Students first take a vow of silence. They then enter into a daily routine of sitting for as many as 11 hours per day, renouncing all other religious or ritualistic practices, eating only vegetarian fare and not speaking except during a short Q&A session with the teacher.

For the first three days of the program I was in, the goal was to observe physical sensations when breathing through the nose. Thats it. Initially, it felt like a pointless exercise since my mind constantly wandered. But by the fourth day, my mind, isolated and left to its own devices, was occupied with negative thoughts that had been simmering in my subconscious for years. I hated those thoughts -- it was tortuous to confront the unending memory queue of grudges, wrongdoings and betrayals. My practice seemed like a terrible way to achieve a calmer mind.

So, I brought up my struggles to the teacher. And he simply told me that my response was normal. Unlocking those memories and allowing them to pass is a step toward mental clarity. Hearing this made me feel better; I learned that observing feelings is the first step to avoiding any reaction to them.

With that realization, my mind settled down, and I was able to identify sankaras or cravings and aversions before they led to reactions. Later, I would realize that this skill is pretty handy for running a business.

Throughout the retreat, I learned other new things about myself. Food-wise, I didnt miss meat. A lifelong athlete and meat eater, I found that minimizing movements and exercise also minimizes the need for animal protein. I discovered the wonder that is nutritional yeast. It tastes a lot better than it sounds. At dinner, the only items served were tea and fruit, which is a practice I may adopt in the future to lose a few holiday pounds.

Related: Meditation Isn't Just For Hippies: Here is How it Can Help Entrepreneurs

I did miss email. The daily reminder that people need you and want your input is addicting. The first thing I did when leaving the retreat was to check emails and feel needed once again. I was surprised at how little things had changed in my absence. Knowing my brother was running the ship allowed me to meditate peacefully instead of worry about our company.

When I left the retreat, returning to talking for the first time after 10 days, my surroundings seemed louder, brighter and more vivid. After the retreat, I was better at identifying gut feelings and other bodily signals, which serve as a real-time emotional litmus test. Also, upon returning to my CEO duties, I found my intuition had become sharper, and I was able to make decisions with more clarity than ever before.

Previously, I would delay tough decisions that caused conflict. But meditation, I found, helps ground me in making these decisions more authoritatively -- particularly those involving negotiations.

Going into the retreat, I was negotiating with a broker-partner of ours who wanted higher commission rates. Instead of avoiding that conflict, as I had done in the past, I stood my ground and didnt give into this partner's demands without answering with demands of our own. Eventually we settled, and our business has more than doubled since then.

The upshot? If youre looking for a relaxing vacation, head to Hawaii. If you want to increase discipline and sharpen concentration, head to a meditation center.

Be prepared to feel some pain (I recommend sitting still for an hour at a time beforehand as practice), and to subject yourself to loud inner voices. You'll also find that negative thoughts that normally whisper inside your mind will be amplified to shouting.

And you'll unlock emotions that havent been expressed, which may make you laugh or cry. While not for everybody, insight meditation allows you to take a step back and pay attention to those things that get pushed under the rug due to day-to-day responsibilities.

Related: 4 Ways Yoga And Meditation Will Make You a Better Leader

A meditation retreat is an enriching life experience, and one Id recommend to anyone seeking to adopt a calmer, more deliberate mind.

Related:

Want to Improve Your Decision-Making? Shut up for 10 days.

What to Do When You Need Inspiration But It Just Won't Come

8 Ways to Slow Down and De-Stress Your Busy Life



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Thirsty? Photo: Courtesy of Billion Oyster Project

Brewing beer with oysters is today a somewhat lesser known way of adding flavor to suds, but its been done in oyster-loving, beer-drinking places like Ireland for almost a century. Typically, the beers have been stouts  the minerality of the bivalves complements the styles natural richness  and as the method has received renewed attention, thats the direction craft brewers like Harpoon, Upright Brewing, and Flying Dog have gone in. Now, Brooklyn Brewery has collaborated with the Billion Oyster Project on something a little different: the Billion Oyster Saison.

Brewed with whole bivalves from New Yorks Fishers Island Oyster Farm, its a beer you should feel better drinking. The Project is dedicated to restoring oysters to New York Harbor, which biologists estimate once contained half the worlds oysters, and is an organization definitely worth supporting. The beer will debut on May 19 at this years Billion Oyster Party at Pioneer Works in Red Hook. (New York Magazine is a media partner in the event this year.) Along with Brooklyn Brewery, there will be other beverage makers including New York Distilling Co. and Plymouth Gin, bivalves from 45 different oyster farms, and restaurants including Untitled, Bar Sardine, and Grand Army. Following the event, Brooklyn Brewery will make the beer available in a limited number of restaurants. So if you cant make the party, keep your eyes peeled.
Chang has surely had better weeks. Photo: Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Peter Chang restaurant fires master chefs daughter after diners insulted https://t.co/22khVMA9mK pic.twitter.com/GCiJwxPpiG  Hamilton Spectator (@TheSpec) May 11, 2016

The offending comments (which were inadvertently printed on the check) came after an awkward, if not tense exchange involving Changs family-style rice bowl. One of the diners who lived in Beijing for much of the 2000s tried casually schooling the server on how rice is traditionally served in individual bowls in China. (Chang was born in Chinas Hubei province, used to be the Chinese embassy chef, and has cooked for President Hu Jintao.) The server apparently explained that family-style is Peter Changs style for large groups, then, when the table asked to split the check four ways, scoffed: Thats totally how they do it in China (referring to the fact that, over there, one person typically pays the bill).

When the group saw the comments, they asked to speak with a manager, who, in their minds, didnt go far enough to apologize for the insults. I would say they seemed slightly embarrassed, one of them tells the Washington Post. It wasnt like, Were so sorry. This is unprofessional. We mean to treat our customers better. It was more like, sorry-this-is-embarrassing-it-was-a-joke sorry. The managers apology struck Chang and his business partner Gen Lee as inadequate as well, and theyve spared no one involved in the plad-gate incident.

The Post asked if Chang was really planning to fire his daughter, and Lee responded: Business is business. Changs daughter had very little management experience before taking up her post, and Lee says he tried to warn Chang that inexperience up top can mean trouble below. He realizes it now, Lee adds. Unfortunately its too late  but I hope not too late.

Chang issued a statement as well that said: I am sorry, my respected guests. I also apologize to all my friends who have had trust in Peter Chang. We made a mistake and let you down. Lee says he will now personally manage the location.

[WaPo]
Bells and whistles. Photo: Whole Foods

The first of Whole Foods hip spinoff stores with lower-priced products opens out in L.A. on May 25, and what shoppers will find inside is finally becoming a little clearer. Reports originally said to expect in-store tattoo parlors, but the company has offered media tours of the 365 store, and it looks like people will have to settle for the techno buzz they were promised instead.

Mostly, this will take the form of robots, the New York Times reports: Theres the teaBot, for starters, a kiosk from a Canadian start-up that simplifies the tea-ordering experience by building a robot that blends tea. Or theres also Banquet, a wine app that replaces the need for a real human sommelier.

It sounds like the stores wont be going all-out on much else. A lot of the products will be under Whole Foods private label, also called 365. The Times says 365 stores are like Old Navy, and Whole Foods is the Gap, with the equivalent of $12 cargo shorts being things like not-so-round apples: At Whole Foods, we love big, round apples, 365 president Jeff Turnas told the paper. At 365, we love apples too, and get them from the same suppliers, but they may be smaller, less beautiful. Nor will 365 stores pay workers to stack the apples into nice, neat pyramids; fruit is sold straight out of the boxes and crates in which it is delivered. And theres no butcher or baker on site either, allowing stores to recoup that cost, and meaning all meat will come prepackaged and bread will be sourced from local bakeries. In all, the stores will stock about 7,000 items, a good deal fewer than the 35,000 to 52,000 at a traditional Whole Foods. But this first location will have the first West Coast location of By Chloe. So no, we dont have a tattoo parlor, Turnas said. But we do have a lot of other cool stuff.

Its of course all in an attempt to lure younger shoppers back to the brand, and if it doesnt work out, it sounds like the company is already working on a backup plan. Its also going to try opening larger Whole Foods stores that will allow it to expand higher-margin businesses, in what sounds like the Walmart Supercenterification of pricey organics.

[NYT]
The towering breakfast sandwich at Sunday in Brooklyn. Photo: Bobby Doherty

In thousands of years, historians may regard modern brunch as the terminal stage of a soft civilization in decline. Now, however, there is no more important social meal, which is less about sustenance and more about making a declaration of leisure. Within brunch, of course, are many subgenres: the boozy brunch, the lox brunch, the really boozy brunch, bottomless brunch, singles brunch, Scandinavian brunch, solo brunch, guys brunch, girls brunch, all-day brunch. In the end, the ideal brunch is one that balances culinary ambition with comforting pleasure, technical dexterity with a spirit of leisure, waits that are relatively reasonable, booze that isnt boring, and eggs in astonishing array. These are the New York City spots that do it better than anyone else.



The Absolute Best 1. Sunday in Brooklyn

348 Wythe Ave., nr. S. 2nd St., Williamsburg; 347-222-6722 Naming a brunch spot Sunday in Brooklyn is like naming an album Greatest Hits. Its ballsy and maybe even a little too on the nose. Thankfully, the brunch pleasure dome on Wythe Avenue delivers. Spanning three stories and serving 400 people on Sundays, chef Jamie Young slings cleverly fantastic brunch classics that you cant make at home. The sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich is a wonder of both architecture and gastronomy. Its the sausage, which is made from hog shoulder that is broken down in-house and scattered across the menu, that makes it superlative. Laced with sage (fresh and dried) and maple syrup, the meat is on just the right side of sweetness. But there are other treasures here, too. Malted pancakes, too often brunchs great sham, are here worth the $16, if only for the hazelnut-studded maple praline syrup that tops them. Nearly everything on the menu has a touch of ambition: hot-sauce hollandaise in the steak and eggs, pastrami-spiced black cod with rye sour cream, sambal in the Bloody Mary. All of it is good. You will wait, but that wait will be rewarded.

2. Upland

345 Park Ave. S., at E. 26th St.; 212-686-1006

Chef Justin Smillie has turned Upland into an embassy of opulent-yet-chill California. Though the Roman and Williamsdesigned space sparkles at night, it exists in a perpetual golden state during the day. Smillie isnt a flashy chef and his menu might make you think you could cook this stuff at home. Maybe you could, but it wouldnt be nearly so perfect: Could you shave some bitter chocolate onto glistening grapefruit and orange slices, shimmering with olive oil? Probs. Would you? Nah. Would the eggs you poach be as perfectly yielding, quivering under a layer of Meyer-lemon hollandaise? No. Smillies omelettes, fortified with Bulgarian feta and spinach, are good-natured. He places smoked salmon on a pizza with tangy soft Cloumage cheese, caper berries, and sunflower seeds, and it all seems effortless. Meanwhile, one is surrounded with New Yorkers intensely and intently cultivating weekend-chill vibes while the staff, professional as ever, conduct themselves with the firm friendliness of airline stewards.

3. Prune

54 E. 1st St., nr. First Ave.; 212-677-6221

Prune is famously crowded, and has fewer than two dozen tables. Its made bearable, though, by the staff, which can cross over from being professional into next-level hospitable (after being married at City Hall, my wife and I showed up with a small party of nine, unannounced; the GM pushed together a few tables, a manager actually ran to get us a cake at a nearby bakery, and we were eating the restaurants fluffy Dutch pancake with blueberries an hour after we arrived). The Bloody Mary list is famously exhaustive. There is Champagne. Opened in 1999, Prune is still a plum spot for that pancake, plates of smoked fish, slab-like Monte Cristo sandwiches and enough eggs (scrambled, coddled, rancherod) to last a lifetime.

4. Two Hands Restaurant & Bar

251 Church St., nr. Leonard St.; no phone

In 2014, Australian cafes invaded New York City. No blood was shed nor coffee spilled. Indeed, New Yorkers became, on the whole, perkier, friendlier, and even more caffeinated. Brunch also got better. No place better balances a laid-back vibe, airy disposition, Instagram friendliness, and serious cooking as Two Hands Restaurant & Bar, the Tribeca restaurant that is the larger, younger sibling to a Nolita cafe. The feel-good brunch is largely about virtue: a breakfast bowl with acai, granola, and blueberries; a bowl of Brassicas including charred broccolini, kale, and brussels sprouts, a top-heavy avo toast on sourdough with pickled shallots. Bright-green juices in Mason jars add to the air of healthfulness. But hot damn, the scrambled eggs with a tiara of watercress leaves on a slice of bread is just plain good. And the burger is, too. The ricotta pancakes, meanwhile, are topped with dollops of cashew ricotta and blackberries.

5. Paowalla

195 Spring St., at Sullivan St.; 212-235-1098

One reason the brunch canon remains so steadfastly conservative is one does not associate adventurous eating with leisure. But for those souls who awake with a taste for the unfamiliar, Floyd Cardozs Paowalla extrudes brunch through the Indian (specifically Goan) pantry in ways that are as enlightening and as unexpected as they are satisfying. So it is with bacon naan and bacon-cheddar kulcha. There are also traditional Indian breakfast items that are all-too-rare here, like the egg-and-cheese toast known as Egg Kejirwal. Cardozs own genius results in the dosa waffle  looks like a waffle, tastes like a dosa!  with sweet jaggery syrup.

Honorable Mentions

The spread at Barney Greengrass. Photo: Bobby Doherty

Barney Greengrass

541 Amsterdam Ave., nr. 86th St.; 212-724-4707

This venerable establishment doesnt serve a Bloody Mary, and on weekend mornings it can feel like youre marooned inside a tiny, desperately crowded train terminal. But the location (the brunch-mad Upper West Side), the selection of iconic breakfast-nosh classics (the bursting bagel bins, the shimmering slabs of lox, the legions of omelettes and egg scrambles), and the timeless gestalt (we once enjoyed our sturgeon-and-lox scramble sitting next to a stone-faced Philip Roth) make everything worthwhile.  Adam Platt

Cosme

35 E. 21st St., nr. Broadway; 212-913-9659

Go for the wet, purist bowl of huevos rancheros, the buttery, crumbly fried johnnycakes, and Enrique Olveras superb lamb barbacoa tacos, which we like to wash down with the intoxicating house Bloody Marias, made with tequila, instead of the usual cheap vodka, and real muddled tomatoes.  A.P.

Dimes

49 Canal St., nr. Orchard St.; 212-925-1300

This little taste of L.A. down on eastern Canal Street is perpetually jammed during the brunch-time hours, but the purist West Coast breakfast specialties  the power bowls, the egg tacos, the excellent scrambled-egg-and-avocado sandwich  are worth the wait.  A.P.

Estela

47 E. Houston St., nr. Mulberry St.; 212-219-7693

In our humble opinion, Ignacio Mattoss buzzy Nolita bar and restaurant is a much more peaceful, pleasant place to dine on weekend mornings than during the raucous evening hours. Even more important, the spare, carefully edited breakfast menu is a thing of beauty.  A.P.

Estelas breakfast sandwich is a classic. Photo: Melissa Hom

Joe Jr. Restaurant

167 Third Ave., at 16th St.; 212-473-5150

You cant guzzle Bloody Marys at this classic dining counter, but the wizard cooks will whip up a serviceable eggs Benedict in about five seconds, if you ask politely. No less an authority than Wylie Dufresne himself told us once that he likes to visit on weekend mornings, to listen to the vanishing short-order patois of the staff, and enjoy what he considers to be the finest glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice in New York.  A.P.

Okonomi

150 Ainslie St., nr. Lorimer St., Williamsburg; no phone

This is not your traditional Brooklyn brunch. Theres no hollandaise, the main attraction is a Japanese omelette called tamagoyaki, and theres no bacon in sight. The Williamsburg restaurants set multicourse meal includes roasted local seafood like bluefish, a duo of mild pickles, and the tamagoyaki, a soothing miso soup, and austere brown rice.  Chris Crowley

Reynard

80 Wythe Avenue, at N. 11th St., Williamsburg; 718-460-8004

In the early afternoon, theres no more agreeable place in Brooklyn than Andrew Tarlows dressed-down restaurant in the Wythe Hotel. The charm of the handsome room is obvious, and the food is brunchy in the right way, tweaked just enough to be interesting, and changing all the time. It doesnt hurt that the coffee is so good, or that the brunch cocktails go well beyond the basics.  C.C.

Russ & Daughters Cafe

127 Orchard St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-475-4880

The faux-deli setup is a little twee by downtown fresser standards, its true. But if you dont feel like gobbling your Russ & Daughters bounty (the lox, the sable, the endless delicious varieties of herring) outside on the sidewalk, or in the comfort of your own home, you could do an awful lot worse.  A.P.

Shopsins

Essex Street Market, 120 Essex St., nr. Rivington St.; no phone

Kenny Shopsin and his eclectic, voluble crew are avowed brunch haters, its true. But theres no more sprawling, creative, generally delicious short-order breakfast menu in the city (or possibly the world), and as long as the great man keeps this Essex Market operation open on weekday mornings, he makes the list.  A.P.

Toms Restaurant

782 Washington Ave., at Sterling Pl., Prospect Heights; 718-636-9738

The home-style diner Toms is, really, much better than it has to be. The endearing and long-tenured Prospect Heights institution draws long lines of eager customers no matter what, and could easily coast on its reputation. Instead, the egg creams are solid, the beef sausage is crisp and juicy, and the lemon-ricotta pancakes are even fluffier than you might hope. The coffee is diner-style, and infinite, and the service is friendly, efficient, and fast but never frantic.  C.C.

Vinegar Hill House

72 Hudson Ave., nr. Water St., Vinegar Hill; 718-522-1018

This seasonally focused secluded restaurant on a quiet street near Dumbo hits all of the farm-to-table must-haves  buttery grits, an egg sandwich, Bentons bacon  and offers an uncommonly secluded space in which to work off your hangover.  C.C.

This post has been updated throughout.
LG G5, meet your new best friend - the LG Action Cam LTE. This camera has its own LTE/3G connection so that it can livestream your adventures, complete with location tracking thanks to the built-in GPS.

The camera uses a 12.3MP sensor with 1.55m pixels (sounds a lot like the new Nexus camera). The lens is very wide - 150, wider than the 135 of the LG G5. It can shoot 4K @ 30fps video, 1080p @ 60fps and 720p @ 120fps (note that live streaming is limited to 720p @ 30fps).

The camera is IP67 rated - it can go under a meter of water for half an hour - and its 1,400mAh battery promises 4 hours of continuous shooting. A microSD slot is available for storage.

The LG Action Cam LTE also has Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity for additional features. LG suggests you can use it as a CCTV cam in its off time. It will work with any Android or iOS phone.

By the way, the camera packs some serious hardware - a Snapdragon 650 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 4GB ROM (reserved for the camera's OS).

The LG Action Cam will launch in Korea this June, LG is in talks with American and European carriers and will expand availability soon. The price is yet to be announced.

Source
Marshmallow rollout for AT&T One M8 and One M9 will begin today

The Marshmallow update for HTC One M8 and One M9 units on AT&T's network will start rolling out today. This was announced by the Taiwanese company's VP of Product Management Mo Versi on Twitter.

HTC One (M8 & M9) AT&T owners! Thank you for your patience. Marshmallow OS is approved, OTA to start tomorrow!!  Mo Versi (@moversi) May 11, 2016

If you recall, back in April, Versi had revealed a "slight delay" in the roll-out, saying that they expect to receive the approval for the update within a couple of weeks. So, in that context, the update roll out is bang on time.

However, given that fact that three of the Big Four carriers in the US have already rolled out the update to both devices, AT&T is no-doubt late to the party.

Via




Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





Hearings suspended at BCEN

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) informs that on May 6, the Office of the National Electoral Disputes (BCEN) has heard 69 appeals, of the 93 cases listed in the general role. Download the general role : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/elections2015/25octobre/municipales-definitif/greffe-du-bcen-municipales.pdf



In addition, the CEP announced that the Electoral judges decided on Wednesday to observe a suspension of hearings. The sessions will be resumed normally Tuesday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m. Following the previously established schedule, the cases to be heard at the resumption concern municipal cartels of departments of North, Northwest and Grand'Anse.



PM postpones a convocation to the Senate



The Prime Minister, Enex Jean Charles, convened Wednesday by the Commission "Health" of Senate around the strike by resident doctors in government hospitals, requested the postponement of the meeting to Monday, May 16. The Head of Government evokes the unavailability of Ministers of Health, Economy and Planning, which should accompany him to this convocation.



Unsatisfied of judgments can see the Commission

In a note dated May 10, 2016, and signed by Francois Benoit, Chairman of the Independent Commission for Electoral Evaluation and Verification (CIEVE) "informs candidates to the recent legislative and municipal elections who have exercised an appeal before the contentious instances of the CEP (BCED and BCEN) whose final decisions were taken, in their opinion, in violation of the law and/or of the Electoral Decree, that they can submit their cases (properly documented) to the Commission for evaluation; that, in accordance with prescribed in Article 2 (para 2) of the Presidential Decree of 28 April 2016.



These files can be filed at the Commission's headquarters, located at the Kinam Hotel, Petion-Ville, St. Pierre Square, at the latest Friday, May 13, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. while recalling that the CIEVE is not an instance of retrial, but it has the mandate to evaluate and propose, if necessary the revision of these decisions."



26th promotion of the PNH, of police officers interns for one year

At the ceremony of the 26th promotion of the National Police of Haiti, Michel-Ange Gedeon pointed out to the new officers "I remind you that the staff manual of the PNH in its Article 7 provides that 'the contract of engagement not become final until the expiry of a probationary period not exceeding twelve months.' Also, during the next twelve months, you will be police trainees. The institution, while mentoring you, will follow you closely and even very closely before making of you police officers in itself. We must be sure of our members, investigations will continue. Word to the wise, hello! "



On the Agenda

Earlier this week, President a.i. Jocelerme Privert, attended an evening organized by the European Union, at the Hotel Montana as part of the Week of Europe;



As part of the World Day of AIDS orphans, the First Lady Ginette Privert, visited the house Arc-en-ciel in Thomassin, a shelter that provides necessary assistance to children whose parents have died of AIDS .



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/05/11 | Source

Cotton Day 2016 took place at Coffee Smith on Garosugil in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul in the afternoon on May 11th.

Choi Ji-woo is striking a pose for reporters.

Advertisement

Choi Ji-woo attended the Cotton Day 2016 as an ambassador.
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

15:16, 24 OCT 2022
The human resources boss at the department of Human Services has allegedly been threatened with a knife through his heart by an embittered employee.



The Australian Public Service is in the grips of a bitter and protracted enterprise bargaining process, and the alleged death threat was one female employees response to an email from HR boss Adrian Hudson.



Hudson had sent the email, outlining the latest in the organisations enterprise bargaining process, to all staff, however some 60 departmental public servants, including the accused, forwarded the email to external recipients.



The accused female public sector worker sent Hudsons email to her husband, allegedly adding her own written message: "If I had a knife I would like to put it through his heart," referring to Hudson.



Hudson told a senate estimates committee last week that all 60 public servants were investigated, with no action taken against 40 of the workers, 13 issued with reminders of the departments email policy and five slapped with official warnings.



Hudson told senators that he was responsible for deciding which of his employees were disciplined over the email saga, but denied that those who bad-mouthed him were specifically targeted.



It was not an issue about having bad words, he said in response to questions from Labors human services spokesman Doug Cameron.



It was an issue about whether or not the contents included from the individual employees met the requirements of the APS Code of Conduct or not, he said.



The Senate committee was told the department of Human Services took the "threat" against Hudson, "enormously seriously" yet stopped short of calling in the Australian Federal Police.



"I find that extremely offensive and a threat to our staff that we take enormously seriously," Barry Jackson, Human Service's manager of shared services told senators last Friday.



Departmental bosses told senators they had processes in place to monitor email activity, but stopped short of providing specifics in case corrupt public servants discovered DHSs investigative powers.



Hudson said a code-of-conduct investigation was being carried out against the female public servant involved.



"The comments ... were very serious in nature and I took the view that they had the potential to be contrary to the APS code of conduct and as a result that matter was referred for investigation," he said.



"I took that message to be inappropriate and I believe that, following an investigation, it could be deemed to be a threat."



However, Cameron said Hudson was in no fear of his life and was simply making an example of one employee.



"The reason you didn't go to the federal police is because never for one minute did you think that your life was being threatened and what you're doing is setting about making an example of one individual," Senator Cameron told Hudson.



The APS is experiencing long-running discontent with enterprise bargaining negotiations remaining painfully deadlocked after more than two years.





Photo: Australian Senate Hansard screen






(Bloomberg) A fiery exchange between money managers Emanuel Friedman, Milton Berg and Don Brownstein broke with the polite decorum of the SkyBridge Alternatives Conference, one of the biggest annual events for the hedge fund world. Thats because the topic was China.

Friedman, co-founder of hedge fund EJF Capital, said he was reminded of overblown reactions to the late 1990s Asian financial crisis: People said, Well Korea, its finished, its collapsed. People are in the streets.

To read this article:
A question about the possibility of introducing a statutory obligation to personnel of the Finnish Defence Forces to participate in the provision of military assistance abroad was posed by Paavo Arhinmaki (Left Alliance), Timo Heinonen (NCP), Emma Kari (Greens) and Jari Myllykoski (Left Alliance) during a parliamentary plenary session on Tuesday.

Finnish troops could be deployed abroad to provide military assistance under extraordinary circumstances according to a proposal presented by the Government, confirms Jussi Niinisto (PS), the Minister of Defence.

The starting point for the preparatory work is that duties that are part of international assistance fall within the scope of official duties. We intend to provide the best possible assistance upon request, replied Niinisto.

He stressed that the priority will be to only deploy military personnel who have expressed their willingness to participate and are part of the recruitment pool for crisis management operations.

However, it would be unwise to rule out the possibility that under certain circumstances  extraordinary ones  we may have to evoke the right to direct, he added.

The Government proposes that the legislation on providing and requesting international assistance be applied to decisions made based on the solidarity and mutual assistance clauses set forth in the Lisbon Treaty of the European Union. The legislation would also apply to decisions made by the public administration on the use of military resources and assistance operations that could entail the use of forcible military measures.

The Defence Administration has called for the introduction of a separate commitment procedure and resource pool for such operations.

The establishment of a separate recruitment pool would necessitate a considerable increase in the defence budget, reminded Niinisto. A separate recruitment pool would take away from national defence duties. I doubt we can afford to do so, he said.

If we want assistance, we also have to be prepared to provide it. The answer is yes, ultimately by force, but hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Timo Soini (PS), the Minister for Foreign Affairs, also reminded that the country would be able to freely decide on the operations it participates in.

We can avoid such situations by fostering our foreign relations and security situation, and by investing in international co-operation. That is our objective, but if we can't avoid those situations, we would have a path and would always be able to make the decision, he said.

He also cited the terror attacks in Paris in November as an example of a situation in which such assistance could be provided. France turned to the European Union for military assistance in the wake of the attacks.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Markku Ulander  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
The planned closure of an emergency hostel in the capital has been halted following a protest by service users at the premises.

A group of around 16 residents held demonstrations at the Bru Aimsir hostel on Thomas Street over the last two days.

The homeless service users were demanding talks with those responsible for sanctioning the planned closure of the hostel.

However, the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council (DCC) has now agreed to put the proposed closure on hold until alternative accommodation can be provided for more than 40 residents.

In a statement last night, a DCC spokesperson said the decision was made following the annual meeting of the council's Cold Weather Initiative.

"The planned closure of Bru Aimsir Emergency Homeless Hostel was the subject of emergency motions at the City Council's meeting on Monday night," the spokesperson said.

"The facility was opened in October 2015 as part of the annual Cold Weather Initiative and it was due to shut in spring 2016.

"In light of the concerns expressed by members of the City Council at its meeting on Monday, given the serious deterioration in the homeless position over recent months, and following the direct intervention of an tArdmheara, the Chief Executive has agreed that the planned closure will be put on hold until satisfactory alternative accommodation is secured for the remaining 42 residents.

"In the meantime, efforts are being made to source additional emergency homeless accommodation.

"The question of reopening the full capacity of Bru Aimsir will be reviewed over the coming days."

The premises was due to close on April 19, but that date was extended to June 30 to allow for a proper wind-down.

No new residents are being accepted into the 101-bed facility, which hosts a variety of services including health clinics.

Closure

Sinn Fein councillor and Chairperson of Dublin City Council Housing Committee Daithi Doolan has welcomed the decision.

"I am happy to announce that the remaining 42 people in the Bru can remain there until new accommodation is provided," he said.

"The planned closure has been put on hold. This will come as a relief to those people who have stayed in the Bru and made use of the excellent services being provided by Dublin City Council and Crosscare."
A 23-year-old Girl Guide captain died after she was hit by a car driven by a Chinese national who had bought a fake insurance disc for his BMW, an inquest heard.

Blathnaid Cadwell, of Beech Lawn, Dundrum, suffered fatal head injuries in the incident on February 23, 2002. She was taken to St James's Hospital where she later died.

Ms Cadwell, a communications graduate who followed her father, former RTE cameraman Bill Cadwell, into television media, was described as a successful, outgoing young woman "with so much to give".

"In her 23 years she had a wonderful life. She had achieved so much - a good degree, the job she wanted. It is only when she is gone that you realise what an impact she had," said her mother, Mary Cadwell.

Driver Liu Yang was 24 at the time and was working and studying in Ireland.

He was driving a 5 Series two-litre BMW he had bought two weeks before.

Arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death, he fled the country on a fake passport the day before he was due to appear in court.

Ms Cadwell had attended a Girl Guides event at her local parish hall the night before she died. She stayed with a friend and was on her way home when the incident happened.

Witness Michael Mooney saw the BMW travelling at up to 60mph in a 30mph zone.

"I saw the back of the car sliding out, and I thought, 'He's going to be in trouble', and turned back," he said.

When he saw Ms Cadwell lying on the footpath, he called an ambulance.

Yang told gardai he had a Chinese driving licence but had failed the theory test here.

Control

"As I was driving up Beaumont Avenue I could not control the car, the road was wet," he said.

Due to appear in court on October 25, 2002, he left Ireland the day before. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, but he had returned to China on a fake passport.

There is no extradition treaty between Ireland and China, but the case remains open, and if Yang sets foot in any European country he can be sent back here for trial.

First opened in 2002, the inquest concluded with a narra- tive verdict, due to the outstanding charge, from a jury at Dublin Coroner's Court.
A senior member of the Kinahan cartel has been taunting gang rivals in the 'New IRA'.

The arrogant thug has been "mouthing off" that the dissident mob are not capable of avenging the murder of republican Michael Barr.

The 34-year-old was shot dead in the Sunset House pub, Summerhill in Dublin's north inner city as part of the bloody Hutch/Kinahan feud last month.

The Herald has learned that the Crumlin thug, who was a close associate of feud murder victim David Byrne, has been telling pals that he is confident that Barr's murder will not be avenged.

Cash

"He is even claiming that he could buy-off any potential IRA hitman and that the only loyalty that the IRA have is for cash," a source said.

The Sunset House pub has remained closed since the gruesome murder and has had its name painted over.

Gardai believe father-of-five Barr was murdered because of his possible role in the Regency Hotel gun attack and his close links to the gunman nicknamed 'Flat Cap', who was photographed fleeing the hotel in the aftermath of the murder of David Byrne on February 5.

However, while the Kinahan gangster seems to believe he is untouchable, senior gardai have been maintaining armed checkpoints near his home ever since Barr was shot dead.

Gardai believe there is a "very strong possibility" that Barr's associates in the 'New IRA' will strike back against the cartel, and this has been one of the main reasons for the increase in armed checkpoints.

"They have the means, they have the manpower and they have the weapons. The murdered man was a senior IRA figure, and gardai remain concerned about IRA involvement in the feud," a senior source explained.

Meanwhile, yesterday, at the High Court in Belfast, three Dublin men who are accused of wearing paramilitary-style clothing at last Thursday's funeral of the murdered republican, were granted bail.

Custody

Conor Metcalfe, John Christie and Patrick Lavin are to be released from custody on condition they keep out of Strabane in Co Tyrone.

Metcalfe (25) of Monasteoy Park, Dublin, Christie (52) from Ratoath, Co Meath, and Lavin (52) of Deansrath, Clondalkin, are jointly charged with wearing clothing in a way to arouse suspicions they were members or supporters of a proscribed organisation.

Fifteen men were arrested following the service and questioned about alleged membership of a dissident republican grouping known as the New IRA.

Police released 12 of them, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

At a previous hearing, bail was opposed due to tensions in areas of the North, as well as fears the trio would fail to appear in future.
A feared 36-year-old criminal who was questioned for two days by gardai investigating the feud murder of taxi driver Eddie Hutch Snr has been released from custody.

The Finglas- based thug, who is classified as one of the country's most dangerous gangland criminals, was released without charge from Mountjoy Garda Station shortly after midday yesterday.

A second suspect, a 28-year-old criminal from Cabra, remained in custody last night at the Bridewell Garda Station, where he was being questioned about the savage gun attack which happened at Poplar Row in Dublin's north inner city on February 8.

Links

The Cabra man has links to slain gang boss Martin 'Marlo' Hyland, and is a suspect for the shocking murder of Baiba Saulite in 2006.

The released north Dublin-based criminal has been linked to a number of gangland murder attempts.

Eddie Hutch Snr (57), a brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, was shot dead in a retaliation attack for the murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel four days earlier.

After the Poplar Row murder, the four-man murder team escaped from Mr Hutch's home in a BMW car, which was later found abandoned at St Patrick's Parade in Drumcondra.
A treasure trove of police arrest records from one of the most pivotal times in Irish history has been returned to gardai after sitting in a Dublin attic for almost a century.

The four missing volumes of Prisoner Books listing the arrests of more than 30,000 people between 1905 and 1918 include the "crimes" of labour leaders Jim Larkin (seditious conspiracy), James Connolly (incitement to crime), revolutionary Maud Gonne MacBride (defence of the realm), and suffragette Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (glass-breaking with other suffragettes).

The arrest records of the Dublin Metropolitan Police are "arguably the most important documents to come to light in recent history", UCD librarian Dr John B Howard said at a ceremony at Liberty Hall yesterday in which the library's recently digitised arrest records were made public.

The records - which went missing in 1924 - cover one of the most turbulent times in Irish history, including World War One, the 1913 Dublin Lockout, the 1916 Easter Rising and its aftermath, and the Conscription Crisis of 1918.

By sheer fluke, they were found in a skip by an eagle-eyed passer-by who turned them over to a guard who in turn gave them to retired Store Street Det Supt Michael Finn.

He contacted historian and author Padraig Yeates, who has published numerous books on the period.

"As soon as I saw the first volume, I knew this was a major find," Mr Yeates said.

The records were discarded when a house in Clontarf was being renovated in 2013.

Mr Yeates believes the previous occupants were most likely attached to the Bridewell Garda Station and took the books when records were being thrown out following the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Missing

Other volumes covering the period from 1907 to 1911 are still missing, and Mr Yeates has appealed to anyone who may have them to hand them over.

The found volumes will now be returned to the Garda Museum to accompany the only previously existing one from October-December 1915.

The collection gives a fascinating insight into life in Dublin at the turbulent time which is "remarkably close to James Joyce's dirty Dublin", Mr Yeates said.
Halloween is coming! Here's when to trick or treat in your town
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The enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 marked a historic commitment to the children of India with regard to their education, development and future. With its guarantee of an elementary education, the Act provides the opportunity to all children, irrespective of their background, to develop to their fullest potential.

Six years since the Act came into force, it is important to reflect on how far we have come towards meeting this commitment.

Data show that India has made significant progress in ensuring childrens access to school with near-universal enrolment in primary education. The number of out-of-school children has reduced from approximately eight million children in 2009 to just over six million in 2014 (SRI-IMRB surveys, 2009 and 2014). The Act spurred progress in recruiting teachers and approximately 80% of teachers are trained (U-DISE Flash Statistics 2014-2015). Furthermore, the RTE Act and the Swachh Vidyalaya campaign have led to the construction of over 400,000 new toilets.

Read | HTLS 2015: We need to take our childrens first steps seriously

Despite these achievements, challenges remain in moving beyond ensuring access to education to promoting learning. Over one-third (36%) of children drop out before completing elementary education (Educational Statistics at a Glance, 2014, MHRD). The majority of children not in school are from vulnerable and marginalised groups. Evidence from the latest National Achievement Survey (2015) indicates that children are not learning what we expect them to know, with less than half of reading comprehension questions and mathematical questions posed as part of the survey answered correctly by class 5 students. Thus, education quality and learning remain critical issues to address.

Read | One-teacher-one-student Kapurthala school to be shut

Ensuring access and improving quality and learning are two sides of the same coin, requiring efforts to address both. This is important not only in fulfilling the RTE Act but also towards achieving Education Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

When children enter primary school without quality preschool education, they are more likely to drop out. West Bengal has established model centres that implement child-friendly early education and promote intersectoral and interagency collaboration. This is critical to ensuring a childs smooth transition to primary school.

Read | Invest in children to meet Sustainable Development Goals



Experience in India has shown the positive impact of child-centred practices on learning. But there is still a long way to go to foster the needed shift in teachers attitudes and practices.

The New Education Policy being formulated in India is timely and opportune towards these aims. Meeting the policys vision of India as a knowledge superpower calls for building on the vision of RTE and moving beyond elementary education to include preschool education and completion of secondary education. This will help in building a skilled workforce and towards long-term impacts on the lives of adolescent boys and girls and their families. This is especially true in the case of girls education, with impacts on combatting child marriage, and on reducing total fertility rates and under-five mortality.

Read | HRD ministry will launch child-tracking system, identify drop-outs

It is imperative to redouble efforts at all levels if these national and global commitments are to be met. This also calls for employing innovative strategies, including using technology and working with the private sector, to achieve the bold targets. There is no time to waste  Indias children and future depend on it.

Read |Coaching class act: They make their rules

Louis Georges Arsenault is UNICEF representative to India

The views expressed are personal
In December 2015, after the deadly Paris and Lebanon terror attacks, Penn Masala  the Pennsylvania, USA-based, Hindi a capella band (the first in the world)  posted a solidarity message in memory of the victims and their families on Facebook.

The band, known for its unique a capella sound, combined two songs with a powerful message of hope: John Lennons Imagine (1971), and Humko Man ki Shakti Dena, from Guddi (1971).

The video got 1 million views overnight. The comments to the video, while all in support of the bands stand against violence, also express surprise: I had never noticed how similar the compositions are. Now I cant listen to either of the songs in isolation, reads a comment.

We get such comments all the time. Our fans also give us recommendations of Hindi and English songs we can mix, says Pranay Sharma, a Penn Masala band member.

Formed in 1996, the band pioneered the concept of merging Hindi songs with complementary English chartbusters. They have now paved the way for a slew of artists  Vidya Vox, Arjun Kanungo, Gaurav Dagaonkar  who make a mark on social media using the same concept.

Also read: Aflatunes on their viral cover of DJ Nucleyas Bass Rani

Ode to the motherland

Apart from Penn Masala, one of the first names that surfaces when you type mash-up artists on YouTube is Mumbai-based Shankar Tucker. His channel, Shruti Box, was one of the first mash-up campaigns (in 2011) that took social media by storm, with more than 1,20,000 subscribers. As part of the project, Tucker has been has been encouraging a number of independent artists who follow the mash-up format.

Case in point, Virginia-based Vidya Iyer (stage name Vidya Vox). Iyer met Tucker in Mumbai, in 2015, during a visit to India and kick-started her solo career in April last year. Interestingly, it was an identity crisis she grappled with during her childhood that inspired her to compose mash-up tracks. Music helped ease some of the confusion.

Growing up in Virginia, I was surrounded by two different cultures. I searched for ways to marry the two worlds together. I have been training in classical Carnatic music since I was five years old, and grew up listening to the likes of Beyonce and Coldplay. With Shankars help, I learnt how to hold on to my roots and culture through music says Iyer.

Iyers vocal prowess is remarkable. So much so that her mash-up of Taylor Swifts Blank Space (2015) and AR Rahmans Mental Manadhil (from Mani Ratnams O Kadhal Kanmani; 2015), has recorded over 28,23,950 views. It is also one of the top six options that appear on YouTube when you search for Swifts original song.

Also read: Meet Penn Masala, the first Hindi a capella band

However, mash-ups dont stop at vocal renditions. Florida-born Aakash Gandhi does instrumental versions. He now produces acoustic mash-up tracks on his eponymous YouTube channel.

Ever since I was young, playing some of Kishore Kumars classics made me feel Indian at heart. I was more than just an NRI, says Gandhi. His latest track, a mash-up of Michael Jacksons Billie Jean and Rahmans Jiya Re has hit over 2,48,201 views since February, 2016.

Not so terrible twos

But how does one select complementary songs from the large bank of existing global music? For Gandhi, the process is instinctive: I work on combinations till they sound like a complete product. Then I finalise the lyrics to include in the final cut.

However, since the tracks often belong to two completely different musical worlds, compositions can get tricky, as both songs need to have similar tempo and rhythm. If they dont match, it ruins the songs. I was once trying to find a song to fit Nicki Minajs Hey Mama. But nothing worked out. Sometimes, you cant help it, says Iyer.

Do they make Money?

Despite their growing fame, the primary platform for showcasing their talent remains YouTube. And since YouTube brings in free-of-cost viewership, these artists have different methods of financing themselves. Gandhi provides online tutorials on his website (88keystoeuphoria.com) for a subscription fee. Penn Masala still follows their original strategy: sales of their songs on iTunes and Spotify.

Iyer, on the other hand, relies entirely on live performances across America. The money I earn from a live show is divided into two parts. One section goes towards producing my music videos, and the other goes into my savings, she says.

Its no wonder then that Iyer has about 20 high quality videos on her channel, with each hitting an average of a million views. Visuals are important, as listeners like to see the song. My friend does the videography, and we do the editing together. Its just a two-person team, she says.

And despite the rather laborious process to put their content out there, and the uncertainty of monetary gains, the fact that they feel closer to the Indian culture means more to them than we can imagine here.

In fact, for Penn Masala, the recognition they have received for inter-cultural exchange is more valuable than the number of likes. We performed at President Obamas first Diwali in office in 2009. It was a celebration of what it means to be Indian-American, said Sharma in a previous interview to HT48Hours.

Coming up

Penn Masala will perform in Mumbai on May 21, at 9pm

Where: Farzi Cafe, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel

Call: 84339 42801

Tickets available on pennmasala.com

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In his last leg of campaigning in Kerala Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday skirted controversial issues exhorting the state to dump both Congress and CPI(M), who are friends in one state and foes in another.

Addressing an election rally in Tripunithura, near Kochi, he accused the Congress of being steeped in corruption and slammed the CPI(M) for resorting to politics of violence.

Full coverage: Assembly elections

Shutdowns are synonym with Communists and in Congress-ruled states corruption is everywhere. In Delhi, it (Congress) indulged corruption in coal, but in Kerala it is from sun, he said referring to the solar scam.

Modi also highlighted the achievements of BJP-ruled states. States where the BJP has got an opportunity to serve people are surging ahead, he said.

The Prime Minister avoided touching upon his controversial comparison of Kerala with Somalia.

Modis comment during a rally on Sunday, when he cited a photograph  in which two tribal boys were seen searching for food in a garbage yard  was criticised by various politicians, including chief minister Oommen Chandy, who demanded an apology.

Modis Somalia reference also triggered a protest on social media.

Read: BJP backs PM comparing Somalia with Kerala, hits out at CM Chandy
The tribals have faced fascism at the hands of the UDF and LDF governments in Kerala for the past 60 years. These fronts do not treat the tribals as humans, CK Janu, a prominent tribal rights activist and NDA candidate from Sultan Bathery, in Wayanad in north Kerala, told Hindustan Times.

The plight of the tribals in Muthanga in Wayanad in north, in Chengara in Pathanamthitta in central Kerala or in Arippa in Kollam in south has been hotly debated and has resonated across the political consciousness of the state. Yet, activists claim, precious little has been done.

For more than six decades the tribals and Dalits of Kerala have not got justice. None of the governments here have been able to meet social justice in land allotment, says Sreeraman Koyyon, Adivasi Dalit Munnetta Samithi president.

It is in this circumstance that the contest in Sultan Bathery gains importance.

This reserved constituency has been a Congress stronghold and the party has fielded its sitting MLA IC Balakrishnan, who won the 2011 poll by a margin of over 7,500 votes. The CPI(M), enthused by the positive response it received in the local body polls last year, has fielded Rugmini Subramanian.

Janus entry makes it a three-cornered contest. Janu came to the front with the 2001 protests at Thiruvananthapuram for the distribution of land for landless tribals and the 2003 land protests in Muthanga, in Wayanad, which culminated in a police firing that claimed two lives.

Janu has contested the 2004 general elections and the 2006 assembly polls, and lost both times. This time she has floated a political outfit, Janathipathya Rashtriya Sabha, and is part of the BJP-led NDA. The UDFs/LDFs loss seems to be the NDAs gain.

To date the LDF and UDF have ignored the needs of the Dalits and tribals, Kummanan Rajasekharan, BJP state president, told HT while campaigning in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. In such a situation, the tribals have turned to us. The BJP is contesting this election with the hope of winning seats in the assembly for the first time.

However, the Left and fellow tribal leaders do not view the alliance with the BJP favourably. CK Janus decision to go with the NDA is suicidal. It is her vested interests that have made her join the NDA....The LDF government has done a lot for the people, especially women and children, in tribal areas, Panniyan Ravindran, national secretariat member of the CPI said.

I dont think that the NDA will address the problems the tribals face because the BJP will not shed its fascists leanings, said Koyyon, who played a prominent role in the 2003 Muthanga protests, among many other protests for tribal rights.

Irrespective of whether Janu wins or not, her decision to contest elections as the part of the BJP-led alliance is noteworthy. It is a statement to the Left and the Congress who seem to have gone slow on addressing tribal issues. Many hope that the next time the tribals raise a concern, the political fronts in Kerala will address it with more urgency. The positive to take from people like Janu contesting is that tomorrow when there is an anti-Tribal move in the assembly they will oppose it, Koyyon says.

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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats praise for Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for organising the international `Living Right Way convention on the sidelines of Simhastha is being seen as a signal that Chouhan will continue as the CM.

The RSS, the partys parent ideologue, holds the key in deciding the CM candidate in BJP-rules states.

I express my gratitude to CM and welcome him for organising the event, which will have a bearing in the future, Bhagwat said on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the international Living Right Way convention which began on Thursday.

Faced with corruption charges in Vyapam scam, many in the BJP circle have begun to count Chouhans days for two more reasons. First, as religious belief, a person has to quit the CMs post due to some or other reason after Simhastha. Former chief ministers Sunderlal Patwa and Uma Bharti are examples.

Second, seven people died after tents in Simhastha mela area collapsed due to gusty winds and rains that lashed Ujjain on May 5. Chouhan, who oversaw the arrangement, was blamed for the tragedy, which prompted BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya to say that Lord Mahakal will not spare those who commit corruption.

I never saw this (deaths) happening in earlier Simhastha fairs, Vijayavragiya, who was in-charge of the 2004 Simhastha, told a section of the media.

The fact that Bhagwat praised the CM thrice in his 25-minute speech is considered a rare gesture as the RSS chief avoids praising chief ministers repeatedly at public functions.

In his welcome speech, Chouhan announced to implement policies in Madhya Pradesh that will churn out eight parallel sessions to be held on science, spirituality, environment and woman empowerment during the convention. Bhagwat complimented the CM for the announcement in his speech.

Responding to speculation about his removal, Chouhan told newspersons last week that his only aim was to work for people. State BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan dismissed the speculation as baseless.

Science and religion are not contradictory: Bhagwat

Bhagwat expressed the need to trace scientific thinking ingrained in ancient scriptures of Hindu dharma, which comprises religion, philosophy and throws light on cosmic evolution.

Science and religion are not contradictory. The more one goes deep in science, the more one gets closer to spirituality, he said in his key note address at the convention in Ninora village.

Taking aim at the Indian polity and bureaucracy, Bhagwat said effective implementation of welfare policies is as important as framing them. He further said that India needs role models of good conduct at all places for youngsters to emulate.

At the convention, Juna Akahada head Swami Avadheshanand, Gayatri Parivar head Dr Panav Pandya highlighted the scientific and philosophical findings of ancient Indian scriptures, which show the right way of living.

Sri Lanka Buddhist Council head Dr Thero referred to Lord Buddhas Panchsheel principles and asked the state government to improve facilities at the stupa of emperor Ashokas daughter, Sanghmitra and son, Mahendra located in Ujjain district.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who will be completing 15 years of going to the Cannes Film Festival this year, has not picked out a dress for the outing and is not bothered about fashion police as well. She challengingly says, You guys can troll me as much as you want but I have been busy.

In a candid conversation on #fame - live video social platform, the actress shared that she was busy with the work of her forthcoming film Sarbjit, and hence could not pick out a dress. She said: Cannes Festival is two days away and I still dont know what I am wearing. You guys can troll me as much as you want but the fact is I have just been too busy.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has had both hits and misses on the Cannes red carpet.

The actress, who is the brand ambassador of LOreal Paris, will represent the cosmetic giant at Cannes. The Cannes Film Festival commenced on Thursday and will go on till May 21. The actress will walk the red carpet on May 13 and 14.

The Cannes Film Festival is not all about cinema, but fashion and beauty trends as well. The actress has had her share of failures on the fashion front but in recent times she has been earning plaudits for her style.

Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is so pretty, gushes Fawad Khan

When asked about her daughter Aaradhyas reaction to the Sarbjit trailer, she said: She realised I looked very different, so I tried to make a joke about it and told her its like playing dress up.

Sarbjit is based on the life of Indian farmer Sarabjit Singh, who strayed into Pakistan, was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and sentenced to death.

During another interview, the actor also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said that what Modi has been doing for the country is not an easy job. She also said that whatever he is doing is for the well being of the nation and its people.

Asked if she would like to start her political career from Uttar Pradesh, she made it clear that her platter is full - she is a good mom, a good daughter, a good wife as well as a responsible citizen of the country. The actress, who is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan, is very content with her job.

Although she didnt make it clear that she wouldnt enter politics, she did not affirm it either. She also said that the question is just an estimate of possibilities.

With regard to a question about the new destiny of her life, she gave quite a philosophical answer. She said that she is not living her life with the purpose of achieving a destiny. The Devdas actress added that life is just a journey and there are ups and downs.
Aditya Birla Groups telecom arm Idea Cellular is learned to be in talks for a likely buyout of Norwegian telecom giant Telenors fully-owned India business.

Sources said the CEOs of the two companies have met.

Telenor recently wrote off Rs 1,879 crore as impairment  meaning that some of the investments it made in India will never see return-on-investment.

We are in India to make money... If we cannot see that return through either an auction, participation in an auction, or through a spectrum trading deal, we need to look at alternatives, Sigve Brekke, CEO of Telenor Group, said on an analyst call.

Early this year, Idea Cellular CEO Himanshu Kapania went to Oslo to meet Brekke. Sources said Brekke had suggested that Idea split the company in two verticals  premium and mass market.

E-mails to two Idea officials remained unanswered. Kapania did not answer calls.

As the India head, Brekke steered the company through many ups and down, including the downsizing of operations, problem with its joint venture partner Unitech Wireless, and turned it cash flow positive in 2013, with just six circles in hand.

Telenors write-off and recent comments comes as a surprise as Brekke always maintained that the India operation were healthy, it was enough to be a regional player and 2G-only play has a lot of opportunities. But, Telenor is up against pan-India players like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, and the money making is slowly moving from voice to data.

With the current spectrum portfolio we have, able to compete in the growing data market and we need to find a solution and pay a price that we can justify, said Morten Karlsen Srby, Telenors CFO on the call.

Things is said to have changed after former banker Gunn Wrsted joined as the new chairperson of Telenor. She wanted RoI. India was far from that. With 50 million subscribers and an average-revenue-per-user of nearly Rs 100, it was still half of Airtels ARPU, and a user base thats a fifth of it.

But, Idea sees an opportunity. Telenor offers voice services on the 1800 Mega-hertz band. Thats a band which operators globally, and in India, too, are using to offer fourth-generation data service. Also, Telenor, valued at Rs 11-12,000 crore according to industry sources, is investing Rs 1,240 crore to upgrade its existing network.

Earlier, in 2015, sources said that Telenor was in talking to Airtel, but that deal fell through. If the Idea deal falls through, Telenor will be left with only two options  either buy spectrum through an auction, or exit India.

Read: Telenor posts huge operating loss, hints at India exit

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Gold demand in India in the January-March quarter declined 39% year-on-year to 116.5 tonnes versus 191.7 tonnes on the back of a jewellers strike that lasted almost 45 days and hit sales, data from World Gold Council showed.

In value terms, gold demand in India fell 36% to Rs 29,900 crore versus Rs 46,730 crore a year ago.

The jewellers strike following the re-introduction of an excise duty, which left even wedding Shoppers affected, was one major reason impacting the demand,  said Somasundaram PR, MD, India, World Gold Council.

The sharp rise in gold price, since the beginning of the Year and an expectations of a cut in customs duty on gold also led to customers holding back purchases, he added.

Overall, jewellery demand in the first quarter in India was down 41% to 88.4 tonnes, while investment demand fell 31% to 28 tonnes.

For the full calendar year 2016, World Gold Council expects demand for the yellow metal to be in the 850-950 tonnes range in India.

The promised rural thrust in budget spends, favourable monsoons and the jewellery trade back to work, adapting to the new regulations, are all favourable factors, which will lead to demand returning to normal levels,  said Somasundaram.

Globally, gold demand in the first quarter of 2016 rose 21% to 1,290 tonnes, driven by huge inflows in gold exchange traded funds, fuelled by investor concern over the global economic uncertainties.

Global investment demand for gold surged 122% to 618 tonnes, while jewellery demand was still down 19% to 482 tonnes.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, a vital reform that will make it much easier to do business in India. The Code is aimed to enable failed businesses to wind up faster, aid quicker dispute resolution, and hasten debt recovery by banks that have been snowed under bad loans worth over Rs 4 lakh crore.

This code will give a legal framework to deal with sick companies, which become insolvent due to genuine reasons. The move, first announced by finance minister Arun Jaitley in Budget 2014, is aimed at modernising the countrys century-old bankruptcy rules.

The code will bolster banks efforts to recover bad loans from wilful defaultersborrowers who default despite having the capacity to repay. A consortium of 17 banks are currently locked in a legal battle to recover loans worth more than `9,000 crore for funds given to Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines.

Here are the main aspects of the Code:

Code to help deal with insolvency:

The new code will replace existing bankruptcy laws and cover individuals, companies, limited liability partnerships and partnership firms. It will amend laws including the Companies Act to become the overarching legislation to deal with corporate insolvency. It will also help creditors recover loans faster.

Code to help wind up sick businesses

On the parameter of resolving insolvency, India is ranked 136 among 189 countries. At present, it takes more than four years to resolve a case of bankruptcy in India, according to the World Bank. The code seeks to reduce this time to less than a year.

Track serial defaulters

The bill proposes the creation of a new class of insolvency professionals that will specialize in helping sick companies. It also provides for creation of information utilities that will collate all information about debtors to prevent serial defaulters from misusing the system. The bill proposes to set up the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India to act as a regulator of these utilities and professionals.

Punishing a defaulter

A debtor could face a jail term of up to five years if found to have hidden property or defrauding lenders. Besides, bankrupt individuals could be barred from contesting elections or hold public office.

Cross-border insolvency

The bankruptcy code has provisions to address cross-border insolvency through bilateral agreements with other countries. It also proposes shorter, aggressive time frames for every step in the insolvency processright from filing a bankruptcy application to the time available for filing claims and appeals in the debt recovery tribunals, National Company Law Tribunals and courts.

Protect workers of a bankrupt company

To protect workers interests, the code has provisions to ensure that the money due to workers and employees from the provident fund, the pension fund and gratuity fund shouldnt be included in the estate of the bankrupt company or individual. Further, workers salaries for up to 24 months will get first priority in case of liquidation of assets of a company, ahead of secured creditors.

Revival plan

The code stipulates a 180-day deadline for an ailing or defaulting company to decide on a revival plan. If 75% of creditors agree on a revival plan, that term can be extended by 90 days. Otherwise, a firm would be automatically liquidated.
The income-tax (I-T) department has started search and seizures in cases named in the recently-leaked Panama Papers, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia told HT.

Already some search and seizures have started in some cases based on the details that we have collated and sourced from media reports. The Panama Papers case has just begun; we are trying to verify each and every detail of the people who were named, Adhia said. Details such as past income tax returns, PAN numbers, disclosures made in the black money window last year, remittances received under the liberalised remittances scheme are under surveillance.

Names of about 500 Indians, including top industrialists and Bollywood actors, featured in the millions of documents leaked from Mossack Fonseca, the Panama-based law firm. The leak led to a massive global controversy for allegedly helping wealthy and powerful people in making shady and secret investments.

Adhia refused to give the names of the people who were raided .

Search and seizure is a raid at both residential and office premises of the person or the company concerned to find out sources of income, investments, assets etc.

Adhia added that government sent a first  notice to these people seeking their clarification on the allegations of holding such investments before analysing data on these people.

We know quite a few details of many of them and notices have been sent to all of them. Most of them have replied. And we have started the process of analysing their replies too, beyond which we will take follow up actions, Adhia further said.

However, the revenue secretary said that the island nation has refused to exchange information of companies and bank accounts of these people. Panama has not agreed as of now, but we are in talks with them. If they do not share information with us then we cannot pressurise them as India does not have any such agreement with them. But under the global framework of automatic exchange of information, if not by 2017, then by 2018, Panama will have to start giving information to all the countries, Adhia said.

For a detailed investigation, the government requires documents such as bank statements and books of accounts that can substantiate the wrongdoing.

Read: Panama Papers: New data shows about 2,000 Indian links
Gold demand in India in the January-March quarter declined 39%, year-on-year to 116.5 tonnes versus 191.7 tonnes on the back of a jewellers strike that lasted almost 45 days and hit sales, data from World Gold Council showed.

"The jewellers strike following the re-introduction of an excise duty, which left even wedding Shoppers affected, was one major reason impacting the demand, " said Somasundaram PR, MD, India, World Gold Council.

The sharp rise in gold price, since the beginning of the Year and an expectations of a cut in customs duty on gold also led to customers holding back purchases, he added.

In value terms, gold demand in India fell 36% to Rs 29,900 crore versus Rs 46,730 crore a year ago.

Overall, jewellery demand in the first quarter in India was down 41% to 88.4 tonnes, while investment demand fell 31% to 28 tonnes.

For the full calendar year 2016, World Gold Council expects demand for the yellow metal to be in the 850-950 tonnes range in India.

"The promised rural thrust in budget spends, favourable monsoons and the jewellery trade back to work, adapting to the new regulations, are all favourable factors, which will lead to demand returning to normal levels, " said Somasundaram.

Globally, gold demand in the first quarter of 2016 rose 21% to 1,290 tonnes, driven by huge inflows in gold exchange traded funds, fuelled by investor concern over the global economic uncertainties.

Global investment demand for gold surged 122% to 618 tonnes, while jewellery demand was still down 19% to 482 tonnes.
Nestle India missed street expectations on Thursday, with the multi-national food giant reporting a 19% drop in the January-March quarter net profit to Rs 259 crore as it struggles to regain lost market share of Maggi noodles, which was temporarily banned last year over safety concerns.

Analysts on an average had expected the company to report a net profit of Rs 287 crore, as per a Thomson Reuters poll.

The company, which follows January-December as its financial year, saw net sales drop 8% from a year ago to Rs 2,296 crore.

Results for the quarter have been impacted by the Maggi noodles issue in 2015, it said.

The popular Maggi noodles were off the shelves for over six months. The Bombay High Court lifted the ban on Maggi noodles in August 2015, and after more tests, it was relaunched in November.

Compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2015, the companys net profit was up 41%, while net sales rose 18%, helped by the relaunch.

Since its re-launch, Maggi has regained 50% market share in noodles, the company said.
Customers will be allowed part payment of health insurance premium, the sector regulator said on Thursday, in a move aimed at helping more people avail the benefits of medical security cover.

At present, customers have to make a single annual payment for any health insurance scheme unlike life insurance products which allow equated monthly instalments (EMIs).

However, for health insurance products, customers will only be allowed part payments and not EMIs, sources said. The facility is also likely to be extended to customers paying premium for their cars.

The absence of the part payment option is seen as the main reason for Indias poor medical insurance penetration. According to government data tabled in Parliament last week, only 18 per cent of the urban population is covered by any medical insurance. In rural areas, the figure is even lower at eight per cent.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), however, said insurance companies will have to apply for approval of schemes allowing the customers to pay premium in parts.

The companies will have to file for the products with us and we will look into it, IRDAI chairman TS Vijayan told Hindustan Times.

Private insurance companies have already warmed up to the IRDAI move.

We have just got an approval from the IRDAI to do socustomers can pay their premium in installmentsand they can choose the payment schedule, said Shreeraj Deshpande, head of health insurance, Future Generali India Insurance.

M Ravichandran, president of insurance at Tata AIG General Insurance, said the company was looking at different options but added that at present it does not allow customers to pay their premium in parts.

The government has underlined the need to expand the reach of insurance  both in life and non life segments.

In a move to encourage more people to buy health insurance products, finance minister Arun Jaitley raised the tax deduction limit under Section 80D from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. For senior citizens, it was raised from Rs 30,000 from Rs 20,000.

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As critics claimed that Thursdays anti-corruption and tax evasion summit here did not go far enough, the event was shadowed by British Virgin Islands (BVI)  a tax haven that figured in the Panama Papers  refusing to join Britains beneficial ownership plans.

The summit, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, was called a year ago, but acquired new significance in the wake of the Panama Papers that details how the global rich store their wealth in tax havens such as BVI.

Notable absentees at the summit included BVI, Panama and FIFA, which have been at the centre of corruption or tax avoidance controversies. Activists of Oxfam held a demonstration outside Lancaster House, where the summit was held.

India was represented by chief vigilance commissioner K V Chowdary.

BVIs premier and minster of finance D Orlando Smith said his country needed more guarantees that there would be appropriate levels of privacy before it could sign up to implementing a standard on beneficial ownership information exchange.

Smith said BVI had not been invited to the summit. He supported a new globally applied information exchange regime on beneficial ownership, as long as it was equal and even in its application across the board.

As some countries announced joining efforts on beneficial ownership, Barry Johnston, head of advocacy at ActionAid, said the summit will be remembered for what it will not achieve: Its good news that Nigeria, South Africa, France, Afghanistan and the Netherlands have used the summit to take action to publicly reveal the owners of secretive shell companies. David Cameron still hasnt managed to get British overseas tax havens to meet the same standards.

Protesters against tax avoidance pose with fake money at a "tropical 'tax' haven", in central London on May 5 ahead of the Anti-Corruption Summit London 2016. (AFP file photo)

Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan president, said corruption in his country was enabler of political violence: We have to have the courage to name the problemWe are asking you and all of Europe to go after drug money, we need very credible action because as long as the criminal economy persists, the networks, the actions we do (will not work).

Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring said: If corruption is a cancer (as Cameron called it), then this summit has delivered some pain relief but not the major surgery needed to heal the global economy.

Until tax havens are required to publish public registers showing who really profits from shell companies, the corruption and tax dodging revealed by the Panama Papers will continue undisturbed and millions of people in both the UK and the worlds poorest countries will pay the price, he said.

Read: Anti-corruption summit, UK commits to act on tax havens

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No sooner the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its report dislodging Delhi from the dubious title of being the most polluted city in the world, there was a rush to claim credit.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders took credit for the decrease in pollution levels, not realising the data that took Delhi from number 1 to number 11 dates to 2013.

BJP/Congress made Delhi Most polluted city in the world. AAP govt brought pollution down. See new WHO report. Modi speaks, AK works, (sic) tweeted party leader Ashutosh.

The report is based on data collected in 2013. The AAP formed its first government that year but on December 28.

There was a hue and cry after the WHO report released in 2014 ranked Delhi as the most polluted city in the world. The issue entered public discourse after 2014.

The Delhi government said air quality had improved over the past year because of its efforts.

Also read: Half of worlds 20 most polluted cities in India, Delhi in 11th position

According to information provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee scientists, important factors behind the reduction in air pollution measurements for Delhi during the last one year are increased awareness about pollutant availability of the pollution related data in public domain and concrete action to control emissions from construction activities and control on industrial emissions, the statement read.

According to the WHO report, Delhi ranked 11th out of 3,000 cities/towns for PM 2.5 concentration levels and 25th for PM 10. The city ranked 1st and 8th on the two parameters in 2014.

Twitter was abuzz with the new rankings with a number of people congratulating the AAP government.

The Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to twitter to congratulate Delhiites. Latest WHO report- Delhi no more most polluted city. Congrats Delhiites, (sic) he tweeted.
HT Correspondent

In a move that will go a long way in decongesting traffic in the Capital, the union cabinet on Thursday approved the third stretch of the Delhi-Meerut expressway project.

The project will help reduce the travel time between Delhi and Meerut to 45 minutes from the present three hours.

The third stretch of the project will involve widening of the crucial stretch from UP Gate to Dasna.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the development of the second phase of Delhi-Meerut expressway between the Uttar Pradesh border to Dasna,a statement issued by the road transport ministry said.

The other two stretches - Akshardham temple to UP Gate and Dasna to Hapur -- have already been approved by the cabinet

The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 1,983.51 crore. This includes cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities, a road ministry official said. The total length of the road will be approximately 19 kilometres.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31 2015 had unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to be built at a cost of Rs 7,566 crore. This includes construction of the 28 km, 14-lane Delhi-Dasna section.

The Delhi-Meerut Expressway will be an access controlled highway. 31 traffic signals have been removed from the stretch.

While the Delhi-Dasna section would cost Rs 2,869 crore, the 46-km, six-lane Dasna-Meerut section of the expressway will cost Rs 3,575 crore.

Six-laning of the 22 km long Dasna-Hapur section of NH 24 will cost of Rs 1,122 crore.
An hour before meeting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on Wednesday, Delhi University (DU) vice chancellor Yogesh Tyagi had convened another meeting.

It was an emergency meet of principals of 28 Delhi government-funded colleges, sources said. Out of the 28 colleges, 12 are 100% funded and 16 get 5% funds from the Delhi government.

The agenda was to ask the principals about problems they were facing with the governing bodies of their colleges, members of which are mostly AAP nominees.

In most of these colleges, the chairman of the governing body had been nominated by AAP. A total of 15 members make up the governing body of a college.

The meeting with the principals was held in the presence of the dean of colleges and few other university representatives. According to an official, who was present at the meeting, the V-C noted down all problems shared by the principals about the governing bodies of their colleges.

Read: Upload PM Modis BA degree on DU website: Kejriwal to V-C

A source later said the V-C wanted to discuss the problems shared by the principals with the AAP leaders, which they refused.

We were called for a meeting and we told the V-C all the problems we had been facing with our governing body. I was actually surprised by the sudden interest the vice chancellor showed in discussing the problems we faced because of our governing body, said a principal of a college in outer Delhi. He did not want to be identified.

Teachers and university officials said V-C Tyagi held Wednesdays meeting only to up the ante against the AAP leaders.

He knew the AAP leaders were going to question him about Prime Minister Narendra Modis degree. The V-C wanted to then counter it by raising the issues of governance in Delhi government-run colleges, said a senior university official on condition of anonymity.

Vice chancellor Tyagi, however, said that there was nothing unusual about the meeting.

The university consults its principals whenever there is an opportunity. It is important to meet with the principals from time to time to discuss issues and come up with constructive ideas for academic purposes, said Tyagi.

He, however, remained mum when asked about the need to call an emergency meeting just to consult college principals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had on Monday released the BA and MA degrees of PM Narendra Modi, after AAP questioned the PMs educational qualifications.

On Tuesday, AAP leaders had sought a meeting with the V-C but they were given an appointment for 3pm on Wednesday instead.

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A former Delhi University student who graduated from Ramjas and did his postgraduation from Hindu College has been arrested in connection with a MBBS admission racket.

The accused, Naresh Kumar alias Doctor  previously arrested in 28 cases of Delhi University admission fraud  had refused to mend his ways and continued cheating people by promising seats.

Kumar, out on bail and facing trial in 28 cases, continued to cheat more victims, even increasing the value for each admission. Police said Kumar had recently been on a holiday to Malaysia and had even bought a flat in Dwarka.

Joint commissioner of police (crime) RS Yadav said police received a complaint from a Delhi-based businessman Ripan Wadhwa, at the Moti Nagar police station, alleging he was duped of R51 lakh by some men, who had promised admission at the Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.

Wadhwa told police that he had paid the money after being assured that admission to CMC would be done through Church-sponsored seats. He was given false receipts and admission letters. When the businessman found out that he had been duped, he asked for his money but they refused to return. He had filed a case at the local police station, said Yadav.

The joint commissioner said a crime branch team on Wednesday received information about some men who were involved in admission racket. The officer said that acting on the information, inspector Atul Tyagis team arrested Narsh Kumar, 30. Kumars interrogation led to the arrest of his associate and co-accused Shubham Jindal, 28.

Also read: 100 students held in MP for MBBS admission fraud

During interrogation, Kumar said he did his graduation from Ramjas College and then completed his MA in Philosophy from Hindu College.

While in Delhi University, he had started indulging in Delhi University admissions after meeting students.

The bid for each MBBS seat goes upto R50-60 lakh so it was easy money. He wanted a posh lifestyle. He convinced victims of admission in reputed colleges and was addressed as a Doctor by his associates. This convinced victims to think of him as a qualified doctor, said Yadav.

Kumar, over the last few years, started his own restaurant in Kamla Nagar and has in the past managed to get some students admitted to Delhi University using fake documents.

In a charge sheet police filed against Kumar in 2012, his confession statement read that he paid more than R80,000 to a college principal for helping him with a fake admission. The principal denied the allegations.
A 17-year-old girl hanged herself at her home in north Delhis Maurice Nagar on Tuesday after she failed twice in her chemistry exams. She left behind a suicide note urging her parents to donate her organs.

I cannot live without any destination Sorry Papa I failed to be your good daughter Dont blame anybody for my extreme step Papa my last wish is to donate my organs to needy persons(sic), were the last few words written by Reema Sood, a Class 11 student of a government school.

But only her eyes could be donated, as her two-page suicide note was recovered by the police in her school bag almost a day after she died. Her other organs were rendered useless due to the delay, said the girls family.

Sood hung herself from a water pipe in the bathroom using her dupatta (stole). Police said she went into depression after seeing her annual exam results on Tuesday afternoon.

Her mother Mamta Rani was busy in household work when Sood locked herself in the bathroom and hung herself.

Reemas father Rajesh Kumar, who works with Delhi University (DU), said he was unaware of his daughters note till the police officers informed him about it on Wednesday.

It was my brother who read the note and informed me about her last wish. The moment I learnt about my daughters noble wish, my priority was to honour her last wish at any cost. We requested the police officers to hold back their probe till the necessary consent for the donation was granted, Kumar told HT.

We dont know who will be the beneficiaries of my daughters eyes. But whosoever gets the eyes, we will track him or her for sure and remain in touch for life, said Reemas father. He said his daughter wanted to be a doctor and she knew the importance of organ donation.

Sood wanted her answer sheet be re-checked as she was confident of clearing the exam.
Indias apex food regulatory authority trained more than 23,000 food vendors how to handle hygienic food for over two months but nothing has changed on the ground.

Food vendors continue their old practices as they wait for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to give them free promotional kits as part of the Clean Street Food  Project Delhi training project.

The kits, containing two aprons, one t-shirt, one cap, 50 disposable plastic gloves and a hand sanitiser, will be a one-time hand-out to promote hygienic practices.

The training was organised between March 13 and May 7.

The kits will be given to introduce them to hygienic practices. The gloves will last for five to 10 days, the aprons for a few months, after which the vendors will have to start buying their own supplies, said Sangeeta Singh, manager of street food programmes National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), one of the partner organisations in the project.

The four-hour training session held by the Delhi Food Safety Department was of little help, say vendors. We were told to wash hands and cut our nails, which we do anyway. The rest of the things were just not feasible. I cannot boil and pour tea with plastic gloves, said Surinder Shah, a tea stall owner.

Only five of the 12 street vendors visited by the reporter had gone for the training session and only two completed it. None made changes to their processes.

Also read: Police arrest fast food vendor after 100 kids fall ill in Bihar

Over 23,000 of the estimated 30,000-35,000 vendors in the city have participated in the project, according to the Delhi Food Safety Department. The project was termed as successful and may soon be rolled out in 40 big cities.

Some had already adopted practices that are good for business. Jeevan Kumar, who runs a fruit salad stall in Connaught Place said, I have been using an apron and gloves because it is a necessity. Our hands and clothes get sticky and dirty cutting fruit. The free caps may be useful, but some other suggestions, such as using closed bin, are not feasible as we have to constantly keep throwing the peels.

Sanjay Gupta, who sells sweets in the same area, kept his wares covered with muslin cloth and foil but that is because it drives up his sales. When people see that the sweets are kept in hygienic conditions they come to us. I am planning to get a uniform stitched for us. And, maybe we will start wearing the caps once the kit comes in, he said.

We were told that we would receive certificates which will allow us to continue selling food here. That is why I rushed to the Delhi food safety office and submitted my documents. They were giving some talk, but I really did not have the time to listen to it. They said that they would be sending the certificate over to the shop, so, I left, said Ram Bharose, who sells bread and omelette near Barakhamba Metro station.

Toxic bite

Some diseases caused by contaminated food and water

Hepatitis A and E (jaundice)

Dysentery

Diarrhoea, cramps

Typhoid

Cholera

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Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has suggested running higher and technical and educational facilities in rented buildings, including schools and malls, to accommodate over 1.5 lakh students annually.

Sisodia was speaking at the third Foundation Day of the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women.

Sisodia said Delhi governments target is to arrange educational facilities for 1.5 lakh students for which out of the box measures will be needed.

I am ready to extend the facilities. I am ready to offer government schools in the second shift for opening new faculties (of higher and technical courses)...all over Delhi there are private schools, vacant government school buildings that could be taken on rent. Take entire floors of malls which are lying vacant, the deputy CM said.

He assured educational institutions that the government will not let them face problems of funds and procedures.

You fear of thinking big because that will require opening new courses, new buildings and recruitment. But think big in terms of expanding educational facilities and leave the questions of funds and procedures to the government, he said.

Sisodia also inaugurated a techno-business incubation centre at the university.

Also read: Remedial classes: This summer break, its back to school for some

He also unveiled a prototype of fuel efficient car, saw and took part in test drive of an all terrain vehicle and hybrid e-rickshaw, all designed and fabricated by girl students of the university.

The university is planning to increase 60 seats in the Computer Science & Engineering Department and start a new M. Tech program in ICT this year due to excellent placements and job opportunities in IT sector.

Vehicle competition

A team of students from the university is all set to participate in an international competition to be held in June in USA. The team is the only all-women team out of the 24 teams participating in the competition.

The deputy chief minister unveiled a vehicle made by the team for the competition.

Ours is the only all woman team to participate in the Super Mileage Competition. We have designed a highly fuel efficient vehicle which has a mileage of 177km/litre, said a team member.

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The Delhi Metro will connect the existing Dhaula Kuan station on the airport express line with the upcoming one with walkalators for the convienence of passengers.

The Mukundpur (Majlis Park)Shiv Vihar line 7 of Delhi metro, the longest of its network, is under construction and will have a station at Dhaula Kuan.

Since there was not much space near the existing station, the upcoming station is almost at a distance of one km.

The upcoming station is 800 metres away so it cannot be called an interchange station. But considering people would want to take airport line, both stations will be connected with walkaltors or travelators so that passengers carrying heavy luggage wont have to walk, said a senior official of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Walkalators were introduced at Terminal 3 of the Delhi airport as passengers had to walk a lot.

DMRC has proposed a similar facility in form of a skywalk to connect the New Delhi Railway Station to the metro station of airport line.

Also read: Delhi Metro phase 4 approval stuck, delay may raise cost by crores

Currently passengers have to come out of the railway station and walk all the way to metro station. The skywalk will reduce the time and hassle.

The FOB or skywalk will have up and down escalators but according to sources, there is no plan to install walkalators though the distance is around one km. But it will help the passengers to interchange without hassle. The move will help to increase the ridership of the airport express line.

The DMRC has been taking number of steps to increase the ridership of airport line and had previously adjusted the departure timings of metro train as per the arrival of Shatabdi Express trains. Through these measures, DMRC has finally managed to double the ridership.

In July 2013, when DMRC took over, about 10,000 passengers used to travel on this 22.7 km corridor from New Delhi to Dwarka sector 21 but the ridership crossed 30,000 earlier this year.

According to DMRC, reduction in fares by up to 40 percent and introduction of Interoperable Metro Smart Card has played a crucial role in increasing the ridership.

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Allahabad University will conduct all its entrance tests for admission to session 2016-17 in both online and offline modes. A decision in this regard was taken at an emergency meeting of universitys admission committee held on Wednesday.

The meeting was convened following a missive from union ministry of human resource development dated May 9 virtually stating that it had received a letter from AU noting that the university had no objection to the offline option also along with applications received online for admissions in the 2016-17 session and that the process would be online only from session 2017-18.

Confirming the decision, director of AU admission cell BN Singh said that all entrance tests for the undergraduate courses (UGAT) would be held as per the earlier announced schedule on May 25 and 26, while new dates for post-graduate admission test (PGAT) would be announced later.

Earlier, university vice-chancellor threatened to leave with his associates alleging that political interference has brought the administrative machinery of Allahabad University to a standstill. He said MPs or MLAs can be made V-Cs instead of academics to toe the government line.

Vice-chancellor RL Hangloo called it an interference in an autonomous institution and a setback for the university, offering to resign. The Centre is free to either close down the university or appoint an MP or an MLA as Allahabad University VC if this is what it wants, he said, maintaining that the ministrys stand on the issue had disappointed the university.

The V-C termed politics as the main hurdle and said he would be happy to return to his parent institution (University of Hyderabad) and teach there if the Centre so desired.

SP threatened him, says Irani

A confrontation between the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani and Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs rocked the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after the minister accused the party of meddling with administrative affairs of the Allahabad University and threatening its vice-chancellor.

While the HRD minister displayed a letter that her ministry had received from the university, the SP referred to the VCs fresh comments accusing the ministry of interference. The university told (us) that on the morning of 9th (May), nearly 30 vehicles associated with a political party came to declare their support to the students union and threatened the VC. Irani said. She was responding SPs Arvind Kumar Singhs statement about the ongoing hunger strike by the students union members, protesting against the decision to conduct admission tests online.
Pass percentage of MP Board of Secondary Educations class 12 students saw an increase after a gap of 4 years. The results were declared on Thursday by school education minister Paras Jain and state education minister Deepak Joshi.

A total 7,70,884 students took MP boards higher secondary school (HSS) examination. This year 69.33% students cleared the exam, registering an increase of 3.93% compared to last year. Since year 2011, pass percentage never went above 65.

Madhya Pradesh registered the decades best pass percentage of 81 in 2008. But since 2009, it has been recording a pass percentage of about 65 (or a little more than that) and experts feel this has been mainly due to the deteriorating academic standards in the states schools.

Unlike the previous few years, this time, a boy has topped the class 12 results. Samyak Jain from Saraswati High School, Mandla, is the board exam topper securing 488 marks out of 500 (97.60%). He had Maths Science as his stream and aims to become a mechanical engineer.

The pass percentage of the girls is better than boys. The pass percentage of girls is 73.78% which saw an increase of 4.63% and the same of the boys is 65.81 % which is 2.51 % higher than that of previous year. Maximum candidates (46) in the merit list are from the Maths science stream. Following Maths Science, the second highest list of toppers is from Biology Science stream (40).

The maximum number of students passed in Mandsaur (86.63%) and the lowest pass percentage came from Bhind (13.45%) in the state. State capital Bhopal registered a pass percentage of 76.56% this year.

Another surprising factor in the result this year is the decline of number of students who have passed with first division. In 2015 about 2.07 lakh students passed with first division. However, this year 2.05 lakh students secured first division.

PASS PERCENTAGE OVER THE YEARS

2012: 69.23

2013: 65.49

2014: 65.88

2015: 65.94

2016: 69.33

LIST OF TOPPERS

Humanities stream

Ankit Verma, Shahdol: 470

Swatantra Kumar, Panna: 460

Priyanka Soni, Rewa: 459

Rachna Singh, Ujjain: 459

Maths Science stream

Samyak Jain, Mandla: 488

Ashutosh Gaur, Mandla: 487

Shubhi Jain, Chhatarpur: 485

Bharat Jadwani, Katni: 485

Commerce stream

Chirayu Vijaywargiya, Bhopal: 484

Shubham Gupta, Bhopal: 476

Simran Mordani, Bhopal: 476

Harshit Agarwal: 475

Agriculture stream

Pradyuman Singh Yadav, Shivpuri: 473

Sandeep Rajput, Sehore: 468

Naeem Miohammed, Chhatarpur: 467

Fine Art and Home Science stream

Gauri Sharma, Morena: 453

Shivani Garg, Morena: 445

Nikita, Bhind: 442

Science Biology stream

Arpit Agarwal, Morena: 478

Bhikam Kurmi, Vidisha: 478

Rozneen Bano, Tikamgarh: 473

Neha Paswan, Bhopal: 473

Kavita Yadav, Sehore: 473
British actor Ian McKellen will inaugurate the seventh edition of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. Over 182 films from 53 countries will be screened at the festival, which will be held here from May 25 to May 29.

McKellen will be the chief guest at the festivals opening ceremony, to be held on May 25 at Liberty Cinema. The ceremony is open to all registered delegates of the festival. For too many years, gay characters appeared in films only as comic relief, as often as not meeting a sticky end, as if thats all they deserved. Increasingly, in India too, the film industry has matured, treating gay people with the same seriousness as straight characters, McKellen said in a statement.

Read: Aamir Khan to share stage with Sir Ian McKellen

McKellen is an English actor, who has taken many Shakespearean roles. He is globally known for his parts in Hollywood movies like Gandalf in The Lord of The Rings trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy and Magneto in the X-Men movies.

The actor says he is looking forward to discover more about Bollywoods filmmakers. I look forward at Kashish to discovering more about Bollywood filmmakers who reject fantasy for the truth about gay people, McKellen added.

McKellen is scheduled to visit India as part of Shakespeare Lives on Film, on the occasion of the Bards 400th death anniversary. The visit is organised by British Council and GREAT Britain Campaign. Sir Ian McKellen is an institution by himself, he is a big inspiration for the LGBTQ community throughout the world - through his films, through his theatre work and through his very own life, said the festival director Sridhar Rangayan.
There was one question on every reporters mind at the press conference for Woody Allens new film, the Cannes opener Cafe Society, and none of them asked it.

Read: Woody Allens adopted daughter accuses him of sexually abusing her at 7

Mere hours before Allen, multiple Oscar winner, took the stage with stars Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively and Jesse Eisenberg, his estranged son Ronan Farrow published an emotionally charged piece slamming the media for ignoring the fact that his father was, in his and many others opinion, a sexual predator.

Read: Ronan Farrows piece

Of the 8 questions asked of Allen, none were about Farrows column, published in The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, ironically proving the point Farrow was trying to make.

Director Woody Allen at a news conference before the opening of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 11, 2016. (REUTERS)

Farrow, a journalist at NBC News, called out numerous international publications, including THR, for being too cowardly to carry his sister Dylan Farrows open letter detailing Allens sexual assault of her at age 7, presumably afraid of Allens immense PR machine. When The New York Times finally carried it, it did so with several caveats and only as part of a blog. Soon afterwards, it published a much larger piece on Allen without mentioning the allegations even once.

Dylan, in a detailed account, alleged in an open letter published on February 1 by The New York Times that Allen sexually assaulted her when she was seven years old at the Farrows Connecticut home, renewing a charge against the movie director that was first leveled in 1992.

Woody Allen poses with actor Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively as they arrive on May 11, 2016 for the screening of the film Cafe Society during the opening ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. (AFP)

Allen responded in a letter posted online Friday night by the Times that insisted of course I did not molest Dylan. He instead claimed the young Dylan had been coerced and misled by her mother, Mia Farrow. The two acrimoniously separated after Farrow discovered Allen was having an affair with her adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, who was 19 or 21 at the time. (Her date of birth is uncertain.)

Read: Dylan Farrows open letter

Ron Farrow wrote in his letter, That kind of silence isnt just wrong. Its dangerous. It sends a message to victims that its not worth the anguish of coming forward. It sends a message about who we are as a society, what well overlook, who well ignore, who matters and who doesnt.

But now, more than 60 women have spoken out against comedian Bill Cosby, alleging similar behaviour. Farrow believes the times have changed.

We are witnessing a sea change in how we talk about sexual assault and abuse. But there is more work to do to build a culture where women like my sister are no longer treated as if they are invisible. Its time to ask some hard questions, he finished.

Read: 10 facts about Woody Allens sexual abuse allegations

But it seems unlikely that he is done.

Follow @htshowbiz for more.
A 38-year-old woman from Delhi has gone missing from Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh while visiting her ancestral town in April, police have said.

The Hoshangabad superintendent of police AP Singh confirmed about Leena Sharmas disappearance since last week of April from Sohagpur in Hoshangabad district.

Her elder sister Hema Sharma, who is presently in Karnataka, came along with her maternal uncle Pramod Sharma to Sohagpur police station on May 5 and reported that Leena was missing since April last week, Singh said.

Leenas uncle is a local Congress leader.

Investigations have revealed Indian Institute of Foreign Trade graduate Leena came to Bhopal in the last week of April and stayed there for a few days at a close friends house before leaving for Sohagpur.

Our probe till now has revealed that both the cell phones of Leena are switched off since April 29, the Hoshangabad SP added.

According to police sources, Leena told her friends that her maternal uncle is eyeing her ancestral land, which is worth several crores, in Sohagpur. She is believed to have come to Hoshangabad recently for demarcation of the ancestral land.

While Hoshangabad Police are clueless in the matter, Leenas friends have started a Save Leena campaign on Facebook.

Yash Arya, one of Leenas close friends in Delhi, said she called him and his wife on April 10 and told them she was getting married to a Vasant Kunj-Delhi based man Manish soon.

Leena, who quit a job with the US Embassy in October 2015, was very excited about marrying again and promised to meet us soon at our house warming party, Arya said.

It was my wife who informed me on Wednesday that Leena is missing and about the Save Leena campaign being run by friends on Facebook. We rang on both her phones, which were switched off, he added.

He also claimed that he called senior administrative officials in Bhopal as well as senior police officials in Hoshangabad and alleged they were not helpful in searching Leena.
President Pranab Mukherjees schedule programme to attend Ganga Saptami puja and offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple was suddenly cancelled. Now, he will attend the function at BHU on Thursday and return to Delhi thereafter.

The cause of the cancellation of the programme is not clear.

According to protocol department, President will arrive at 3.45 pm at Babatpur airport where governor Ram Naik and UP chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will welcome the president. He would reach BHU guest house by road. At 6pm, he would reach Swatantrata Bhavan where he would deliver speech at BHUs centennial years celebration.

President will attend a dinner to be hosted BHU vice chancellor Prof Girish Chandra Tripathi from 7.45 pm to 8.30 pm on Thursday. Later he would reach airport by road at 9 pm. He would fly to Delhi in a special Indian Air Force plane.

Protocol department said that president house informed about cancellation of Mukherjees plan to attend the special puja and later offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple through a revised protocol.

As per previous protocol, president had to make a night stay at BHU and attend Ganga Arti in the morning on Friday. He had to offer prayers at Lord Kashi Vishwanath Temple also.
The main challenge before Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who emerged victorious after 55 days of political turmoil, will be to accommodate legislators who supported him in the trust vote and to not alienate them seven months before the state goes to polls.

The notification to revoke Presidents Rule in the state was issued on Wednesday night. With this, all the ministers have also been restored. But the focus has now shifted to two ministerial berths that were vacated after the death of Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Surendra Rakesh and the sacking of Congress leader Harak Singh, who rebelled.

It is a tricky situation to handle. Harish Rawat will have to make perfect equilibrium. He cannot risk ignoring MLAs irrespective of their affiliations, said Jay Singh Singh, a political observer on filling two ministerial berths.

Four of the six members of Progressive Democratic Front  three independents and an Uttarakhand Kranti Dal MLA  have cabinet berths. Sources said the BSP with two MLAs  which supported Rawat -- wants a ministerial berth.

BSP legislator Haridas formally made the demand during his meeting with Rawat recently. The BSP state president and another MLA Sarvat Karim Ansari were in Delhi on Wednesday for a meeting with party president Mayawati.

Behenji (Mayawati) wants at least one ministerial berth in Uttarakhand a BSP leader told HT.

Earlier, to accommodate legislators, Rawat appointed 12 parliamentary secretaries including Jeetram, Madan Bisht, Vikarm Negi, Ganesh Godiyal, Vijay Pal Sajwan. At least four of them are reportedly eyeing at ministerial berths.

Different factions in the state Congress complicate Rawats decisions. Senior legislators Rajendra Bhandari and Jeetram are considered close to Satpal Maharaj, who joined the BJP from the Congress in2014.

Former minister Navprabhat enjoys proximity with Congress veteran ND Tiwari whereas Sajwan, Negi and Rajkumar are considered close to rebel leader Vijay Bahuguna.

Selection of minister is a chief ministers prerogative. But I believe CM consults party high command before taking a final call, Navprabhat told HT. The former minister was a legal adviser for the Congress during the crisis.

Two of the 12 parliamentary secretaries turned rebel. Two of Rawats supporters could be accommodated in positions.

After sacking Harak Singh Rawat, many of his supporters were removed from the Mandi Parishad (agro body). A few faces could be accommodated here too.

Our priority is to serve people. Party and Rawatji will look into other matters too said Surender Kumar, media advisor to Harish Rawat.

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Twenty nine Indians, rescued from strife-torn Libya, landed in the Kochi international airport on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised their safe return on Wednesday in a Kerala BJP rally at Tripunithura, a suburb in Kochi.

I have some good news for you. Six families from Kerala and three Tamil Nadu residents, who were stranded in Libya, will return home safely tomorrow or day after. In total 29 persons have been rescued, he said.

Several of those evacuated were working in Zawiya Hospital in Libyas Sabratha city.

After the death of a Kerala nurse and her son in shelling at their house in Sabratha in March, relatives of Keralites working in Libya had been demanding their quick evacuation.

IS wrecks havoc in Libya

Islamic State controls a strip of more than 250 km (155 miles) of Libyas central coastline, from which it launches regular attacks to the east, west and south.

IS took advantage of the political turmoil and security vacuum after the uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi five years ago to build a power base in Libya.

Over the last week it has made gains, carrying out suicide attacks in the sparsely populated area between Sirte and Misrata, including at a major checkpoint at Abu Grain.

Brigadier General Mohamed al-Gasri, spokesman for a newly formed military operations room in Misrata, confirmed that Islamic State took several villages in the area and that the line of defence was now at Assdada, about 80 km south of Misrata. The militants have dug trenches and planted mines around the Abu Grain checkpoint, he said.

Clashes erupted again late on Wednesday at Assdada, with one member of the security forces killed and 10 wounded, Misrata hospital spokesman Aziz Issa said. Thirteen members of the security forces were killed and 110 wounded in last weeks fighting, said Gasri.

The eastern military has made some advances against its armed opponents, including fighters loyal to Islamic State, in Benghazi, Libyas second city.

Late on Monday Islamic State said it had executed three men captured during fighting in Benghazi last month.

A hospital spokesman in Benghazi said two of those killed - including one who was beheaded - were volunteer nurses who had been helping treat wounded troops.

(with inputs from PTI, IANS, Reuters)
The second half of Parliaments budget session passed off relatively peacefully and could be considered as the least disturbed in the past two years since the BJP-led NDA government came to power in May 2014. And the Congress has already started taking credit for that.

Responsible opposition

Congress leaders say the party acted as a responsible opposition despite repeated provocation by the treasury benches. They cite Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajans remarks while adjourning the House sine die on Wednesday, two days ahead of schedule.

I am happy that in the recent past this is the first session in which (the) House was not adjourned even for a single minute due to interruptions. I thank the entire House for cooperation, she said.

Read More | LS budget session ends, Upper House to adjourn tomorrow

In a novel way of protest, Congress members staged a peaceful sit-in in the well of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after they were disallowed from raising the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modis attack on party chief Sonia Gandhi for which senior leader M Veerappa Moily had also given a notice for privilege motion. During the demonstration, Congress members did not stall proceedings of the House when a discussion on drought, drinking water and inter-linking of rivers was on.

We have always epitomised the role of a constructive opposition party be it in the passing of bills or raising of issues and debating them in both houses of Parliament despite uncalled for provocation from the BJPs new gift to the Rajya Sabha, Congress spokesman Tom Vadakkan said in a veiled reference to Subramanian Swamy, nominated to the upper House recently and known for his single-point agenda of targeting the principal opposition party.

AgustaWestland debate

In the debate on the AgustaWestland chopper scam, the BJPs claim of big revelations in Parliament proved to be a damp squib as Congress leaders put up a spirited defence of the party and the leadership.

The Congress repeated demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the deal appears to have helped the party in fighting the perception battle to some extent.

In its bid to put the Congress on a mat, the BJP drew parallels between the helicopter scandal and the Bofors gun scam in 1987 when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament that the AgustaWestland scam will not go the Bofors way.

Read More | Ruckus in Rajya Sabha as Congress attacks PM over his Agusta remarks

Again the move did not cut much ice as many governments have come since then but nothing has been established so far. In an interview to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter last year, President Pranab Mukherjee stated that the Bofors wasnt a scandal but rather a media trial.

Swamys efforts to drag Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other top leadership into the controversy was effectively countered by a combined opposition which sought answers from the NDA government over the status of the ongoing probes into the scam and the progress made in identifying and bringing bribe-takers to book in the past two years. The objective of the BJP was to use this new pawn (Swamy) and keep the House on boil. The Congress while giving a fitting reply to this maverick kept its cool and let the House function, Vadakkan said.

Similarly, the government failed to score any political point on the Uttarakhand issue as some of its allies and friendly parties also opposed the move to invoke Article 356 in the hill state.

Read More | PM Modi should tender an apology: Congress on Uttarakhand victory

Stuck to its guns on GST

Though the Congress allowed some legislative business in both Houses, it stuck to its stand on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, a key reform agenda of the Narendra Modi government. The opposition party maintained that it was willing to come on board provided the government accepts its three key recommendations. The Congress is demanding doing away with the 1% additional tax for manufacturing states, create a dispute redressal mechanism headed by a Supreme Court judge and capping the GST at 18%.

Read More | Will support GST Bill if recommendations are accepted: Congress

For its part, the government urged the opposition to reconsider its stance, particularly with regard to its insistence on a judge-headed dispute resolution panel, saying it will be a misadventure of handing over taxation powers to judiciary which step by step, brick by brick is encroaching upon the legislature.

In a last-ditch attempt to reach out to the Congress, finance minister Arun Jaitley conceded that the GST constitutional amendment bill was originally conceived by the UPA and assured that he will hold talks with the Congress leaders again so that the bill could be taken up in the monsoon session of Parliament.

Read More | Tables turn on BJP in AgustaWestland scam: What went wrong in RS

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A top bureaucrat under whose watch key decisions were taken in the Rs 3,727-crore VVIP chopper contract said there was no pressure from any quarter to push the deal and the AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopter was a proven platform that met the air forces requirements fully.

Breaking his silence on the chopper scam that has turned into a political hot potato, former defence secretary Vijay Singh said all decisions were taken in a professional manner following the advice of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and there were no signs of any wrongdoing.

The BJP-led NDA government has targeted the Congress in Parliament and outside, accusing the partys top leaders of receiving kickbacks from middlemen to award the deal to UK-based AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence conglomerate Finmeccanica.

Read: In 5 points: All you need to know about AgustaWestland deal

There was no question of any pressure (to award the deal). It was above board and cleared purely on merit, said Singh, who served as defence secretary during 2007-09 and was one of the key decision-makers who authorised the chopper trials to be held in the UK.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has panned the erstwhile UPA government for allowing chopper trials to be held abroad.

Singh said there was nothing extraordinary about trials being conducted abroad and in the case of VVIP choppers, the decision was taken on the basis of specific recommendations from the IAF. He said then defence minister AK Antony noted that it would be a deviation from procedure after which the matter was put up before the defence procurement board (DPB) for approval.

The DPB, headed by the defence secretary, also consists of secretary (defence production) and vice-chiefs of the three services.

Bringing the choppers to India would have added to the delay and involved additional costs. Then IAF chief Fali Major, who was a distinguished chopper pilot himself, said trials could be held abroad. We gave weightage to his words, said Singh. Antony later endorsed the decision. Singh said trials were held abroad for Embraer and P-8I planes, too.

Read: AgustaWestland deal: Top 5 points made by govt and Congress

The NDA government has cast doubts on the capabilities of the chopper. Singh said, It wasnt a machine out of nowhere. It was a proven platform and more suited to our requirements than its US rival Sikorsky.

India signed a contract for 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters in February 2010. The UPA government terminated it in January 2014 following allegations that middlemen were paid more than Rs 375 crore to secure the deal.

The deal came back in focus in early April after an Italian court reversed the verdict of a lower court that held corruption could not be proved. But the higher court in Milan found two top Italian executives guilty of corruption.

Meanwhile, an alleged middleman told a news channel that he did describe Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in 2008 as the driving force behind the decision to import the choppers. But Christian Michel James clarified that his suggestion that Gandhi and her son be lobbied by diplomats did not mean bribes were paid to them.

Read: Tables turn on BJP in AgustaWestland scam: What went wrong in RS
Bihar deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav hit out at BJP for its return of jungle raj in Bihar remark saying if the killing of a youth in a road rage incident symbolised that, then even the national capital was no different.

If one road rage incident takes place in Bihar and it is called jungle raj, then the maximum number of road rage incidents take place in Delhi. So is there jungle raj in Delhi? Pakistani flag is unfurled on the countrys soil, isnt it jungle raj?

Terrorists enter the most secure airbase, isnt it jungle raj? If there is a Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, where one after the other, murders take place, IPS officer is killed, nobody says there is jungle raj. In Haryana, there was such a big riot and such unfortunate incidents of rape took place but it is not called jungle raj, Yadav told reporters during an official visit to the national capital on Wednesday.

Rocky Yadav, son of a ruling JD(U) MLC, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly killing a 20-year-old youth Aditya Sachdeva in an incident of road rage in Bihars Gaya district.

Tejaswi, the younger son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, said several political leaders and engineers have been killed in BJP-ruled states but nobody raked up the issue and said law of the jungle prevailed there.

Read | There wont be any laxity: Nitish vows action in Gaya road rage death

He said the way people of Bihar voted the grand alliance of JD(U)-RJD-Congress to power will continue to echo in BJPs ears for the next five years and it is their main cause of worry.

In BJP ruled states, if their leaders rape somebody, they are made ministers at the Centre by Modiji, he said.

Expressing sadness over the road rage incident he said there is a need for social grooming and spreading awareness among the people about such incidents.

We condemn the incident. We assure that strict action will be taken against the culprit. We will fight the case properly. Within two days, arrests have been made, he said.

Read | Jungle raj returns: Protests erupt in Gaya over road rage

Tejaswi said the rule of law prevails in Bihar and justice with development will take place in the state.

People of Bihar have made up their mind that they will teach BJP a lesson in 2019 (Lok Sabha polls). There will be a non-BJP government after 2019. Bihar should not be defamed, the deputy chief minister said.

Since the imposition of prohibition, the crime graph in Bihar has gone down but media never shows that, he said.

After the Gaya road rage incident, leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Prem Kumar, who is also the local MLA, had said the incident marked the return of jungle raj in the state. The RJD supremos rivals had coined to term to refer to alleged lawlessness during the Lalu-Rabri regime.

Also read | Learning legislative business, priority is to deliver: Tejashwi Yadav
In another salvo against the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand Congress on Wednesday alleged that the rivals spent Rs 700 crore to stage the unsuccessful political coup against the Harish Rawat government.

We have confirmed reports that the BJP and its managers deployed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took the state politics to hostage for nearly 55 days spent Rs 700 crore to usher in an era of instability in Uttarakhand, alleged PCC president Kishor Upadhyay. He was speaking to the reporters after the news reached here from Delhi that centre was going to lift the Presidents rule soon.

Upadhyay alleged the BJP leaders were trying to allure Congress legislators till the last moments of the trust vote. However, the saffron party could influence only one MLA in Rekha Arya, he added.

As this was not enough, Upadhyay further alleged, the BJP leader deployed here to manage the show tried to allure three Congress MLAs offering them chief ministerial post, but Congress legislators turned down the offers. He added, Modi was in such a great haste to impose the Presidents rule in the state that he left the election engagement in Assam to chair the cabinet meeting in Delhi.

Upadhyay said, Now that Congress is set to revive its government, we (the party leaders) will request the chief minister to constitute a two-member judicial inquiry commission to investigate into the matter and bring the truth to the fore.

BJP, however, denied the charges and said the Congress allegations were baseless and frivolous. Harish Rawat may have got an opportunity to revive his government on the basis of numbers in the House, but Congress cannot deny the fact on-camera evidences against its leaders and himself. Sting CDs are there for everyone to see. Congress party cannot blame us for its own follies at a time when its neck-deep involved in the corruption cases and records are in camera, alleged Munna Singh Chauhan, spokesperson for the state BJP.
Amidst the fierce electoral battle in Kerala, a war of words on Thursday broke out between chief minister Oommen Chandy and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for taking credit for evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.

The political fight erupted a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has evacuated the families from Libya and that the Centre was committed to work for welfare of Indians living abroad. Kerala goes to polls on May 16.

Modi is already under mounting attack from the Opposition parties for his controversial comment in an election rally comparing Kerala and Somalia while talking about the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state.

A total of 29 Indians have been evacuated from Libya out of which 16 are from Kerala and they reached Kochi this morning.

Read: 29 Indians rescued from Libya, arrive at Kochi airport

Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?

Mr.Chandy - You said Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya, Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

The external affairs minister, who is recuperating in AIIMS where she was admitted on April 25, blamed Chandy for triggering the debate.

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens, she said in another tweet.

Earlier, Chandy had said that the state government is bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel.

Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel, Chandy said.

In an election rally on Wednesday, Modi had said, Our government has saved six families and evacuated 29 people. The Indian government is committed to working for people who go abroad to work, we have always tried to help them. It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to tell you that they are coming back and will be united with their families soon.
China and Pakistan are closely coordinating moves to block Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Beijing is using Pakistans Non Starter position with the NSG to block Indias application in the name of parity, stating that it would either support NSG entry for both India and Pakistan, or none of them.

Talking about the China-Pakistan grand strategy to stall Indias admission into the NSG, US sources who work with the NSG said from all counts it does appear that China and Pakistan are coordinating to stop the Indian entry.

Sources pointed to the fact that when India sought an information session with the NSG Participating Governments (PGs) at the recent NSG Consultative Group meeting on April 25 and 26, where it would have made a formal presentation to the NSG Group in support of its membership, Pakistan requested for a similar discussion slot with the NSG PGs.

Sources said that even though Pakistan was fully aware that its request would be rejected, it made its application at the cue of China, in order for Beijing to look even-handed when it sought the rejection of both requests on grounds of parity. Providing an insight into the China-Pakistan plan to stall India, sources say that Pakistan is now going to write to all the NSG PGs about its wish to join the NSG. The Pakistani application, added sources, is just a decoy for China to reject both applications on grounds of parity. China knows that Pakistan does not stand a chance at the NSG, and most of the NSG states will reject Islamabads application.

By taking the lead in rejecting the Pakistani application along with that of India, China would like to project its position as neutral when in reality it is working in tandem with Pakistan to stall Indias application.

US sources are disappointed with the Chinese tactics of using Pakistans non credentials with the NSG to settle scores with India. Sources say that this strategy is not a secret and during Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussains visit to China in November 2015, China revealed its hand when it told President Hussain that if India is allowed to get NSG membership, China would ensure that Pakistan also joins the group.

The Chinese government told President Hussain that if India is allowed to join the NSG and Pakistan is deprived of NSG membership, Beijing will veto the move and block the Indian entry.

US sources have seen through Chinas game of either both or none in the NSG. They say that Indias non-proliferation credentials can never be compared with Pakistans, as Pakistan has a history of selling nuclear technology to rogue states such as Libya. They point to the father of Pakistans nuclear bomb, Dr AQ Khan, and his global nuclear trade.

Also the West fears that Pakistans nuclear weapons, especially the tactical version that it is now in the process of developing, can easily find their way into the hands of terrorists, as Pakistans nuclear command is extremely vulnerable to penetration by Islamic hardliners.

Sources say that China is aware of this situation, and is mindful of the fact that Pakistan can never be considered for membership in any global nuclear club, but that wont stop China from using Pakistan as a parity token to stop India which is fast emerging as Chinas competitor.

US sources added, China would be naive to expect that there wont be an Indian reaction, and especially a commercial one, as China is mindful that India is fully qualified to join the NSG, and by playing the parity card, China is only hurting its own interests with India.
The Delhi high court on Thursday refused to stay the oath-taking ceremony of four new judges of the Supreme Court on a plea made against their elevation to the apex court.

The four new judges, whose names have been recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and approved by President Pranab Mukherjee, are likely to be sworn in on Friday.

Justice Manmohan turned down an oral plea made by advocate RP Luthra on his petition challenging the elevation.

You have not filed any application. How can I hear it? Something must come before me. What should I allow? There must be an early hearing application as the matter is already fixed for tomorrow. There is no such application. Neither is there any application for oath ceremony (likely to be held tomorrow).

I will allow in air or what? This is not that Im hearing any matter at my residence. I am hearing in the court of law. There is some procedure, I cannot change that. You will have to file a proper application and get it listed before hearing the matter, the judge said.

The judge also said, I cannot allow any of your requests made orally.

The court however said, Still there is vacancy in Supreme Court. The lot has not yet been filled up. So you can try next time.

The court is already hearing pleas filed by Delhi-based lawyer Luthra and Mumbai-based lawyer, Mathews J Nedumpara, who have also sought directions restraining the collegium from recommending appointments to the higher judiciary and the government from acting on the recommendations till the system is defect-free and fool-proof.

Meanwhile, another petition by advocate VP Tripathi on same grounds was today mentioned before a bench of justices BD Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva who refused to list the matter for today saying there is no urgency and there are already petitions challenging the recommendations. So your petitions too will come in the due course.

The high court had on Wednesday refrained from passing any interim stay order on their pleas challenging the collegiums recommendation and after a brief hearing of arguments it had adjourned the matter for Friday.

The four judges to be sworn in are justice A M Khanwilkar of Madhya Pradesh high court, justice D Y Chandrachud of Allahabad high court, justice Ashok Bhushanof Kerala high court and senior lawyer and former additional solicitor general L Nageshwar Rao to the Supreme Court. The names were cleared by the President yesterday.
India on Thursday asked global policing authority Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant against Vijay Mallya in an attempt to close all escape doors for the heavily indebted liquor baron once hailed as the king of good times.

Indias move came a day after the government revealed that Britain has turned down a request to deport the former Rajya Sabha member who left the country in March owing more than Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid loans to several banks. However, Britain said it will consider a request for extradition.

A CBI source said the agency has forwarded a request from the Enforcement Directorate seeking an Interpol red corner notice (RCN), which is meant to seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.

The ED, which probes financial crimes, wants to question Mallya, 60, in a money-laundering case related to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The agency says Mallya diverted nearly half of a Rs 950-crore bank loan to acquire properties abroad.

Money-laundering is a crime in both India and the UK.

A special court earlier issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Mallya, who ignored three ED summons to appear for questioning. The government also suspended the diplomatic passport of the flamboyant businessman, known for his flashy parties attended by fashion models and Bollywood celebrities.

The CBI, which is Interpols nodal agency in India, is also probing Mallyas loan defaults since July last year and grilled him thrice before he left India.

Mallya said in a recent interview that he was in forced exile and called the charges against him preposterous.

The request for the RCN is among a set of measures the ED is set to take up to bring back Mallya. The agency is likely to make a fresh request to the external affairs ministry seeking his extradition and attachment of his property in India, said an ED source.

Read: How the Bankruptcy Bill will help tackle Mallya-like defaulters
Political strategist Prashant Kishor has warned state Congress members that he will prevail upon the party leadership to ensure that tickets for the 2017 assembly elections are not given to leaders who fail to list out dedicated workers for various assembly constituencies.

In a day or two, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee will send letters seeking the list of 20 dedicated workers (from each constituency). I will ensure that those who fail to comply with the directive  issued on March 10  do not get a party ticket. I will also ensure that tickets are denied to leaders of frontal organisations who fail to give a list of workers for every booth in such assembly constituencies, said Kishor at a meeting with partymen in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kishor, who has been hired by the Congress to revive its fortunes in Uttar Pradesh, had said on Tuesday that he will create a conducive environment for the party in the state  just as he had worked to the NDAs advantage in the last parliamentary elections. This, however, requires the complete cooperation of Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders, he added.

How will you get a ticket if you dont give me the list? If you go to Rahulji, he will also agree that the party needs dedicated workers at every booth, he said, adding that partymen from Varanasis Ajgara and Sevapuri assembly segments had not sent a single name from these seats.

Read: Team Kishor at work, Rahul too gets an image makeover

The political strategist said party leaders hold rallies only at places where the Congress is in a strong position. No seat is strong or weak, he said, citing the Gujarat assembly elections as a case in point. Kishor said though the Congress won four seats more than the BJP in the states rural zone, the party lagged behind in the overall count because it did not focus on urban areas. (Why do) we want to open the doors that are already open for us? he asked.

He also hauled up the Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress for failing to submit a list of workers for each constituency. If you give us the list now, you will have a dedicated team of workers from the very first day. If each and every one of you gives a list, we will have thousands of dedicated party workers in every assembly constituency, the poll strategist said.

Kishor sought to dispel the perception that the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was better placed than the Congress due to its Dalit vote bank. Why did the BSP, with its 20% vote bank, not win a single seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections while the Congress won two? he asked, reminding his audience that the Congress bagged about 10% votes back then.

He said all political parties have differences, and so does the Congress. The challenge, however, lies in surmounting these differences to emerge victorious. I dont have any mantra to win the polls. Even if 100 Prashant Kishors join hands, they cant win an election for you. You will have to do it on your own, with all your shortcomings, he said.

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A man, who claimed to be among the injured in the 2002 Salman Khan hit-and-run incident, has moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Courts decision to acquit the actor.

Niyamat Shaikh wanted the apex court to direct the 50-year-old actor and the Maharashtra government to compensate him and his family for the injuries he sustained during the accident.

The State government has already challenged Salmans acquittal before the SC, which will hear the case on Friday. Shaikhs petition could too come up for hearing on the same day.

According to the victim, the HC ignored his statement made before the police and the trial court that had sentenced Salman to five years of rigorous imprisonment. Seven months later the HC set him free after the star appealed against his conviction.

Shaikh called the HCs verdict unjustified and claimed that the judicial body did not consider the prosecutions claim that actor was under the influence of alcohol when he ran his SUV over the people that were sleeping on a pavement.
With chances of finding any conspiracy behind missing documents in connection with preparation of two affidavits in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case extremely remote, the one-man inquiry panel probing the matter has been asked to expedite the proceedings and give report by May 31.

I dont think anyone deliberately mishandled the Ishrat case documents in the ministry. It is quite possible they may have been attached with some other file and that makes the task of finding them more difficult, said a senior home ministry official requesting anonymity.

Sources said, therefore, Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has told the one-man inquiry panel headed by additional secretary BK Prasad to speed up the probe and submit his report by the end of this month. Prasad is retiring on May 31.

The inquiry panel has already spoken to former Union home secretary GK Pillai for his version of events. The panel may speak to him again as well.

During Pillais tenure, the ministry filed two affidavits in the Ishrat case in 2009. First affidavit had detail about alleged terror links of Ishrat, the 19-year-old Mumbai killed in an encounter in Ahmedabad in 2004. But in the second affidavit filed more than a month later, her terror links were omitted.

Pillai had stated that the affidavit was changed at the political level, indicating towards his minister P Chidambaram. But Chidambaram has said since a magisterial inquiry in Gujarat has termed the encounter fake, therefore an additional affidavit was filed stating that it is the responsibility of state police to act on intelligence inputs provided by the centre.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh had told the Parliament that some of the documents with regard to preparation of affidavits were missing and the Prasad panel was asked to probe about it.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar launched on Thursday a campaign to free India of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), kicking off what is expected to be a high-octane battle for politically crucial Uttar Pradesh that goes to the polls next year.

The JD-U leader is widely seen as the face of a combined opposition in the electoral battle against the BJP, which is bidding to grab power in the countrys most populous state.

The choice of Kumars first campaign meeting dubbed a workers rally by the JD-U  was high on symbolism: his war cry came from Prime Minister Narendra Modis parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

We take (the) resolution to make Sangh mukt Bharat, sharab mukt samaj (RSS-free India and liquor-free society), Kumar said to thunderous applause of party workers at the rally held at a college playground.

Prohibition is one of Kumars pet issues which brought him rich dividends in last years assembly polls in Bihar. He returned the favour to lakhs of women who voted him to power by introducing total prohibition in Bihar recently.

We have ensured complete ban on liquor across Bihar and everyone, including women and their family members are very happy. Now even those who were habitual drinkers (peenewale) are happy, he said.

He asked what the BJP has done in states ruled by the party to enforce prohibition and help families brought to economic ruin by addiction to liquor.

He was very harsh on the BJP  his ally in Bihar till just before the 2014 parliamentary elections  saying the partys government at the Centre has failed to fulfill any of its promises in the two years in power.

They promised that everyone would get Rs 15 lakh, so far no one got even a single penny, he said referring to Modis pre-poll promise of bringing back black money stashed in overseas tax havens. Kumar, however, did not name Modi even once.

Calling the RSS the ideological ancestors of the BJP, Kumar said the organisation which had no role in the freedom struggle was preaching nationalism.

The recent incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi and the suicide by Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula also cropped up during Kumars speech as he pointed out the lesson taught by the people of Bihar to the BJP in the assembly polls.

Read | Give list of workers for tickets: Prashant Kishor to UP Cong leaders

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Upset with Prime Minister Narendra Modis remark comparing Kerala with east African country Somalia the state government is planning to petition the Chief Election Commission and explore legal recourse.

The PM has insulted Kerala and millions of Malayalees. We thought he would withdraw his remark while addressing a rally near Kochi on Wednesday. His silence has shocked people of Kerala, said Chief Minister Ooomen Chandy in Kochi adding the state would explore legal action against what he called irresponsible and outrageous remark.

The PM while addressing a rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday had compared the state with Somalia citing a photo appeared in a leading Malayalam daily in which two tribal boys of north Kerala were seen rummaging for food in a garbage yard. He drew the comparison when referring to poor living condition of tribal children in Kerala.

During election several PMs had visited the state for campaigning. But we never had such an experience. We thought he would admit his slip and withdraw the remark. In failing to do so he heaped enough insult on the state, the CM said adding while the Kerala stood first in human development index Gujarat was in 12th position. Earlier the CM had shot off a letter to the PM deploring his remark. Got a good opportunity to corner the BJP both CPI(M) and Congress are in a race to exploit it.

His reference has also triggered a big protest in social media_ he was trolled badly and some responded with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Go Off Modi). Similarly the PM had questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhis Italian connections while referring to AgustaWestland copper deal inviting sharp criticism from the Congress.

However the BJP has defended his speech. If the PM cites ground reality how can it be an insult to the state? The CM is shedding tears eying some votes. But people of the state will realize his design well, said BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan.
Delhi Universitys image is taking a hit due to the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modis degree, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday, and suggested a joint inspection of documents with the varsitys Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi, would be best solution.

In a letter to Tyagi, Sisodia accused the DU authorities of hiding facts and said the Delhi government wants to see an end to the controversy, which is sending a wrong message and sowing seeds of doubt among students and teachers.

Sisodia urged Tyagi to write to Modi and seek his permission for making his BA degree public, which I believe the PM will not object to.

Take out time next week. Being the education minister of Delhi, I will come to you. You get documents related to the PMs degree to your chamber and we will inspect them. We will share the conclusions in a joint press conference and upload the documents on the website, Sisodias letter reads.

The letter came on a day DU Registrar Tarun Das said the varsity has not been influenced by any political pressure in authenticating the degree shared by BJP and asserted that it is acting in accordance with the law.

Universities across the world take pride in having heads of state in the list of their former students, Sisodia said, wondering why the DU authorities were keen on suppressing that Modis name figures among its prominent alumni.

DU is refusing to keep all the facts in the public domain. This is deepening the suspicion in the minds of people. If the PM has received his degree from DU, then it is a matter of pride for the DU.

But the way the DU authorities are hiding facts related to PMs degree, a wrong message is being sent out. Naturally, people are asking if PM has indeed graduated from DU, then why is the varsity hiding this fact? Sisodia asked.
Countering the allegations levelled against him by Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav on Thursday, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh said his name has been needlessly dragged into a chopper deal, dubbing the charges as politically motivated.

Addressing a joint press conference in Delhi, the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders claimed irregularities in the purchase of an A-109 chopper in 2007 by the Chhattisgarh government and demanded a probe against Raman Singh.

It was fraudulent tender and the ruling BJP paid hefty commission for the purchase of one chopper in 2007. The tender rules were seriously bypassed, the duo charged as they also linked Abhishek, son of Raman Singh, to the Panama Papers leak.

Bhushan also tweeted with the documents and challenged the chief minister to sue him if he was wrong.

Singh rejected the charges. The allegations are baseless and politically motivated. There was no irregularity in the deal and was accomplished through the global tendering process where complete transparency was maintained during the procurement process, the chief minister told a press conference called late Thursday evening at his official residence.

The allegations are based on the CAG report submitted for the year 2011. The report didnt cite any scam or irregularity but pointed out the delay in procurement of the chopper that led to the additional expenditure of Rs 65 lakh to the state exchequer, the CM added.

The issue will come up in the state assembly, he said.

Meanwhile Abhishek Singh too denied any link with the chopper deal and also rejected the charge that he had offshore bank accounts.

The opposition Congress sought explanation from the state government as to why the same chopper that was bought by the Jharkhand government for $ 55 lakh, was purchased by the Raman Singh government for $ 65 lakh.

The opposition Congress demanded resignation from the chief minister and a high level independent probe into Abhisheks offshore accounts.
A rebel Congress MLA on Thursday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Uttarakhand High Courts judgement upholding the Speakers decision to disqualify her in the Assembly.

The plea in this regard was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi, which posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

The disqualified Congress MLA, Shaila Rani Rawats petition was mentioned by advocate M L Sharma, who had on Wednesday made an attempt to stop the opening of the result of the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly but did not succeed.

She was disqualified along with eight others, who all have already challenged the High Court decision in the apex court which had refused to grant any relief of stay before the May 10 floor test.

The apex court has clarified that they will remain disqualified unless it allows their petition.
The saffron brigade chose to use the ongoing Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain as a political tool in its quest to broaden and strengthen its base across the country by bringing in Dalits, a crucial part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) scheme of things.

During the Simhastha in 2004, the Madhya Pradesh governments focus was on crowd regulation and to ensure that the fair passes off peacefully. The BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani also hardly thought of drawing any political mileage from the fair.

Also Read | Ram Temple debate gains momentum at Ujjain Simhastha

However, 12 years down the line the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah has a different perspective on the Simhastha. It planned a samrasta snan or a holy dip in river Kshipra with Dalit seers and a samrasta bhoj to partake food with them. Of course, the phrases were coined by BJP leaders to send out a message that the party provides equal space to Dalits.

Also, the state government has organised a three-day Ideological Mahakumbh which will be attended by Prime Minister Modi among others. The two programmes have been organised back to back.

That the BJPs bath and lunch programme organised on Wednesday was a flawed one politically has been admitted by party leaders indirectly. BJP president Amit Shah did visit the Valmiki Dham where the Dalit seers live but avoided using the word Dalit during his visit.

Also Read | Drop ostentatious festivities, focus on charity: RSS to temples

After facing criticism on Ideological Mahakumbh, the state government has given a clarification saying that the Ideological Mahakumbh is being held 15 kilometres away from Ujjain. Critics questioned the need to organise the Mahakumbh during Simhastha asking whether it could be held earlier or later.

BJP chief Amit Shah with dalit sadhus during Simhastha Mahakumbh in Ujjain. (PTI)

The tragedy during the Allahabad Kumbh in 1954, the first after Independence in which hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured, was seen as a message to political leaders to stay away from the important religious affair and not use the huge gathering as a means to strengthen their base in the society. But the politicians dont seem to have learnt any lesson in the course of time.

The state government itself projected a gathering of five crore people during Simhastha. The sheer number could have been reason enough for the ruling party and the government to refrain from organising any political event and instead concentrate on making better arrangements for the pilgrims and ensure that there were no loopholes.

Also Read | Simhastha: Muslim makes headgear offered to Lord Mahakal

The administrative lapses caused due to the authorities diverted attention to the BJPs programme and the Ideological Mahakumbh were said to be one of the reasons behind the extent of casualty witnessed during the recent storm which hit the mela and left at least seven people dead.

The 1954 tragedy occurred due to information that the then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru would visit the mela and Naga sadhus processions leading to the administration trying to keep the huge gathering of people at bay from them.

Senior journalist and astrologer from Allahabad Ram Naresh Tripathi says after the tragedy the Justice Kamal Kant Verma Committee came with several recommendations which suggested that VVIPs should keep away from the mela on peak days and no event other than religious ones should be organised during the mela.

Also Read | With ads, free samples, brand building begins at Kumbh

Tripathi says Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh melas should never become an occasion for political events. Earlier when politicians attended them, they did so with a selfless cause of helping the pilgrims. But the politicisation of these melas started when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister and the Congress Seva Dal made an entry into it. Later, Vishwa Hindu Parishad politicised the fair by holding meetings of sadhus and sants during the mela on Ram Janm Bhoomi issue.

Mahamandaleshwar of transgenders Akhara Laxmi Narayan Tripathi taking 'Royal bath' at Ramghat in Kshipra river during Simhastha Mahakumbh mela in Ujjain on May 11. (PTI)

He said the reason why politicians should not hold any political programme was simple. It helps the administration to concentrate on mela affairs and do their job more efficiently. If a senior politicians visit the mela, the administration has to divide its attention which can give rise to chances of lapses in the way mela affairs are run and the huge crowd is regulated.

But unfortunately, he said, the Simhastha 2016 again saw political events being organised.

Also Read | Attend Simhastha, get 2 days attendance: Varsity to students

Pandit Anand Shankar Vyas of Ujjain said he is witnessing Simhastha since 1945 but there were no attempts earlier on the part of political parties to draw a political mileage from the religious programme as they were doing it now.

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The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Thursday to respond to a PIL seeking a direction to the government to double the number of judges as per the Law Commissions recommendations.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur issued the notice to the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Finance on the petition filed by advocate Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay who said the government must implement the resolution of the advisory council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.

Upadhyay has cited the abysmal judge-population ratio in the country to highlight the stress on judiciary that is struggling to clear more than 300 million cases. The caseload was abnormal and unrealistic for the courts to deal with it, he said.

India has about 17,000 judges against a sanctioned strength of 21,000. The law commission had in 1987 recommended increasing the number to 40,000 from 10.5 judges to 50 judges for one million people. Countries such as the US, England, Canada and Australia had judge-population ratios of 107, 50.9, 75.2 and 41.5 way back in the 1980s.

Last week, the CJI had said that India needed 70,000 judges to clear judicial backlog. Blaming successive governments for not increasing the number of judges to handle litigation explosion, the CJI broke down last month at a conference attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Not only in the name of litigants and people languishing in jails but also in the name of the development of the country and its progress, I beseech you to rise to the occasion and realise that it is not sufficient to criticise, the CJI said.

The Prime Minister had quickly intervened and promised to find a solution.

Every accused is entitled to fair trail and speedy justice. Unexplained and inordinate delay of the trial for no fault of the accused is clearly a violation of the Article 21 (guarantees life and liberty). Expeditious trial is a basic right of every accused, which cannot be trampled upon unless it can be shown that the accused itself is responsible for the delay, the petition read.

Fair trial and speedy justice is a component of personal liberty and it is taken away if the procedure is void. Less number of judges leads to inordinate delay in trial and this violates a persons right to life and liberty, Upadhyay said in his petition.

Increase in the number of judges will prevent undue and oppressive incarceration prior to the trial. Peoples faith in judicial system could not be maintained without providing fair trial and speedy justice uniformly to all the Indian citizens, the PIL said.

Referring to various Law Commission reports, Upadhyay said the Centre must implement the resolution passed in the 2013 chief ministers and chief justices conference to increase the number of judges.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Kerala Police to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the wife-swapping scandal that had rocked the Navy in 2013.

A bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, however, declined the plea of an estranged wife of a naval officer in which she sought a CBI probe to inquire into the sexual assault case the woman lodged in Kochi.

The SIT team will be headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank officer and the court ordered the probe to be complete within three months.

After the petitioner made the allegations three years ago, the then Union defence minister AK Anthony promised a probe.

The 26-year-old woman accused her husbands colleagues and senior officer of gang-raping her. She also accused her husband of harassing her physically when she refused to take part in wife-swapping.

The complainant claimed that no action was taken against the accused despite her filing formal complaints with the Harbour Police Station, Kochi and the chief of Naval staff.

The petitioner complained that the Kerala police was shielding the accused and demanded a CBI probe. But the apex court felt the allegations against the state police were baseless. It said the central agency should not be burdened with cases and its intervention should only be called for when there is lack of confidence in the local police.

The Supreme Court also directed the Kerala Legal Services Authority to provide the petitioner assistance of a senior lawyer to represent her in the Kerala High Court.
Trupti Desai, an activist for womens equality at places of worship, entered the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai amid tight security and offered her prayers early on Thursday.

Desai, founder of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, prayed at the dargah before leaving under strong security cover, reports said. This event was the latest in Desais agitations against instances of patriarchy at places of worship and regulations prohibiting women from entering the core praying areas of certain temples.

Today I entered Haji Ali dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers, Desai told ANI. ...I prayed that women must be allowed to enter the inner sanctum like they did before 2011.

Before leaving, Desai asked the shrine authorities to allow women till the point where their male counterparts have access. We saw till where we are allowed and till where men go inside the dargah. The trustees should allow women inside in 15 days, or else we will protest, Desai was quoted as saying by ANI.

Activist Trupti Desai leaves after praying at Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/Verg3dQJqU  ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2016

Read | Haji Ali row: AIMIM leader threatens to smear ink on Trupti Desai

In April, Desai had launched the campaign Haji Ali For All to allow women inside the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer chadar. She also sought the support of Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan for her movement.

That way, I believe their fan following will join and support us in our fight for equality, she said.

It was Desais agitation that opened the gates of the inner sanctum of Maharashtras famous Shani Shingnapur temple to women worshippers, who were  until then  allowed to take the idols darshan only from a distance.

Last month, the activist also tried to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur, which reportedly disallows access to women.

Read | Haji Ali row: Desai asks Salman, SRK, Aamir to lend support

On Wednesday, Desai declared that she would meet Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and request him to allow women into the all-male organisation.
Police arrested two people on Thursday on charges of negligence after a 20-year-old man was killed in an accident at an amusement park in Chennai.

Around 20 workers at Chennais Kishkinta park were part of a trial ride on a new giant wheel  the Disco Dancer  when it swung out of control on Wednesday night.

WATCH: Giant wheel that collapsed in Chennai's Kishkinta Amusement Park claiming 1 life and injuring 9. 2 arrestedhttps://t.co/QgipERPREv  ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2016

Manikandan, a native of Somangalamnallur a village near the Tamil Nadu capital, suffered head injuries and was declared dead at a hospital. Another worker is in a critical condition.

Josh Punnish, the owner of the park, and a manager were arrested. According to police reports, the workers  from nearby villages  said they were forced to undergo the trial ride.

A nine-year-old NRI girl died after falling into an automated swimming pool at the same park in 2013.

In 2012, a flight attendant with now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines died after she was thrown off a ride at another amusement park on the outskirts of Chennai.
Union water resources minister Uma Bharti has expressed her inability in attending ideological conclave (Vaicharik Mahakumbh) beginning on Thursday near Ujjain.

In a letter to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan written on Thursday morning she says she couldnt get down (from the plane) in Kanpur on Wednesday evening on her way from Dhanbad to Delhi due to high temperature, where she was to board the plane sent by Chouhan for Ujjain.

In a bid to explain her position she has said, You may have been aware that I had to stay for 2 days at Deoghar after a programme at Sahibganj in Jharkhand as I was running a high temperature and felt giddy.

Though Uma Bharti is quick to make clear her position on her inability in attending the 3-day Vaicharik Mahakumbh, her absence is bound to trigger off speculations in the ruling party circles given the fact Chouhan and Bharti have had a bitter political war for many years in the past. Uma Bharti was not invited to attend party programmes for a long time even after her rejoining the BJP.

Uma Bharti was the chief minister at the time of Simhastha in the year 2004 after which she had to quit her post when a Hubali (Karnataka) court issued an arrest warrant against her in connection with a Tricolour dishonour case. Her choice for the post Babulal Gaur replaced her but she indulged in a rebellion and was expelled from the BJP when the partys national leadership decided to replace Gaur with Shivraj Singh Chouhan in November 2005.

A section of people strongly believe that none of the chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh can retain his post after Simhastha. This is the reason, a section of BJP leaders and others are waiting for the political developments post-Simhastha. The fair organised at every 12th year is going to be over on May 21.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is to take part in Vaicharik Mahakumbh on its concluding day on Saturday.
The sudden resignation of Raj Kumar Sahu, general secretary of University of Hyderabad Students Union from the Students Federation of India, the student wing of the CPI (M), blaming it on the opportunistic policies of the party for the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula on January 17, triggered a commotion among the university students.

In his seven-page resignation letter, Sahu accused the SFI and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice of putting the future of the university students at stake in the name of continuing the agitation seeking justice for Rohith.

When contacted, Sahu told HT that he had posted the contents of his letter on his Facebook page and he was not in a position to speak further. The letter speaks for itself as to why I had to quit the organisation and how the agitation in the name of justice for Rohith was going on. I am at a place, where I cannot speak more, he said.

With the resignation of Sahu and his serious comments against the ongoing agitation creating ripples in the student groups, the UoH Students Union and JAC called for a press conference on Friday to clarify their stand and announce their future course of action.

JAC leader Venkatesh Chowhan told HT that Sahu was under pressure to come out of the movement ever since he was booked in the case for attacking on the office of UoH Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao, when the latter returned to the campus to resume duties in March. Sahu is pursuing his second year Masters in Computer Applications course in the university. He was elected the general secretary of the students union because he was very active and moreover, the MCA students wanted their representative in the union. But, he turned out to be timid and it appears, he is under pressure from the University officials and the ABVP, Venkatesh said.

Adithya Harish, president of SFI, UoH wing, strongly condemned the statement made by Sahu, maligning the organisation and the movement Justice for Rohith. He has betrayed the entire students community by disrespecting the mandate of the students in the recently held University General Body Meeting organised by Students Union. We suspect that the administration and ABVP, not being able to democratically face the students has lured him to stoop to such level of betraying the students community which elected him, he said.

In his letter, Sahu said his loneliness and alienation were affecting his studies and also apparently driving him towards the unfortunate path undertaken by Rohith Vemula. I think coming into the open and getting distanced from the wrong way would save me from the doom, he said.

Castigating the opportunistic politics of SFI and false propaganda being carried out against certain people, Sahu said students were losing out on opportunities due to the agitations and the irrelevance of the movement.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday fired a salvo at the Communist parties from the shoulders of a SFI leader of Hyderabad Universitys students union who resigned from the outfit accusing it of double standards.

Sahus resignation is not important but the serious questions he has raised over the Left parties are and his comments that how for political reasons they exploited sentiments of students. He said Vemula felt isolated due to working style of SFI and he was being treated similarly, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

Partys national secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed that Congress had joined the Left in targeting the Centre and BJP over the issue but both of them have been exposed. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should answer why Rahul Gandhi went to the Hyderabad University twice. Congress and the Left have played with sentiments of students and have been exposed, he said, questioning the silence of those who have been attacking BJP over the issue.
A marine engineer, who was abducted by pirates near Nigeria in March, reached Varanasi late on Wednesday night after being released on Monday.

Pirates abducted Santosh Kumar Bhardwaj, a third engineer with Singapore-based shipping company Transocean Limited, along with four of his colleagues - two Ukrainians, a Dane, and a Pakistani man - when their ship Sampatiki was at sea, around 30 nautical miles off Nigerian capital Lagos.

During wee hours on March 26, when our ship was at sea, the pirates surrounded it and opened fire. The pirates jumped on the ship... They directed us to put on life jackets and asked us to climb on a boat. Then they drove the boat to a village on an island surrounded by dense forests, Bhardwaj told Hindustan Times at the familys Raj Tilak Nagar residence.

He said the pirates, who were equipped with satellite phones, offered food and mosquito nets and allowed them to interact with each other during the 45 days they were held.

They didnt harm us and assured that they wanted money and would free us soon after they get it, Bhardwaj said.

The pirates contacted his employers to put forth their demand and Transocean sought three days time to get back, he said. It sought the help of a British expert and a person, who was abducted few years back, to secure his release.

After several rounds of dialogue, the pirates released Bhardwaj and his colleagues near Port Harcourt in Nigeria when their demand was fulfilled.

I am extremely happy to inform that Santosh Bhardwaj has been rescued from pirates in Nigeria, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Wednesday.

Bhardwaj thanked Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping his family secure his release. His wife, Kanchan, had written to the PM with an appeal to accelerate efforts to rescue him.

I am quite thankful to Sushma Ji because she made serious efforts to get me released and also consoled my family members. Certainly, the government acted promptly in this case because I belong to the PMs constituency, he said.

His daughter Charu and father Virendra Prasad Thakur plan to celebrate his marriage anniversary in a grand way.

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If it aint broke, dont fix it.

A week ago, Delhi Daredevils were second on the points table thanks to a run of five wins in six matches. Perhaps the position was a little too uncomfortable for the team which had earned the reputation of bottom dwellers over the last three seasons.

Instead of keeping the run going, the Delhi think tank decided to change things around. The resulting back-to-back losses to Rising Pune Supergiants and Kings XI Punjab mean Delhi have slipped to the precarious fourth position and opened up the league.

JP Duminy, a daredevil indeed for being with the outfit for two of the aforementioned three years, responded with an uneasy grin when quizzed on the constant tinkering.

Well, at least being inconsistent has been our one consistency, said the South African, ahead of Thursdays important clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The abundance of local talent in the Delhi camp this year has made selection a headache. The team has tried five different opening combinations  a bewildering four in the last four matches. Youngsters Mayank Aggarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant have been engaged in a game of musical chairs along with Quinton de Kock.

But Duminy believes its just horses for courses.

A lot of planning goes before every game, added Duminy. We look to change the team according to the opposition and conditions.

Rotation policy

The rotation policy could well be attributed to the Rahul Dravid-Paddy Upton regime. The pairing, responsible for harnessing young Indian talent during their years with the Rajasthan Royals, believes in handing out opportunities. However, it also makes putting together a string of wins a tough task for the vulnerable Delhi team.

To make matters worse, both Zaheer Khan and Chris Morris were unavailable for selection for the match against Pune due to niggles. Duminy believes their absence affected the balance of the team.

We know weve had a few bumps along the way. Every game weve had to sit back and assess the situation. Thankfully, these four days off have given us some much-needed rest and time to plan.

They would need all that in order to face the in-form Sunrisers. Having won seven of their last eight matches, the hosts are riding high on the back of contributions from openers David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan, and the enviable pace battery comprising Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman and Barinder Sran.

A win will seal a play-off berth for the current table toppers.

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That Sunrisers Hyderabads batting line-up is as top-heavy as the wealth distribution in a capitalistic society is no news to anyone. The familiar story wasnt any different against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday.

The result was an impressive seven-wicket victory by Daredevils with 11 balls to spare.

Being sent in to bat on a lively track, Sunrisers got off to another flier courtesy captain David Warner. After a slight look-in, the Australian let loose, hitting consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Shami and Jayant Yadav.

Sound start

Before he was castled for 46, Warner combined with Shikhar Dhawan to put on an opening stand of 67. The groundwork had been laid by the time Amit Mishra dismissed Dhawan, with the hosts at 98 off 13 overs. The rearguard, however, gave in as the hosts could only muster 48 runs off the remaining 42 balls to finish at 146.

Delhis performance was polar opposite. Led by Quinton de Kocks 44, the team saw contributions from everyone, with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson notching up confidence-boosting thirties. The youngsters were unbeaten and took on the home teams pace attack in the final stages to seal the win..

Hyderabads admirable pace battery -- Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman and Barinder Sran  which has time and again bailed out the table-toppers couldnt repeat their heroics against the composed Daredevils. Save for Nehra, the quartet couldnt pick up a wicket or contain the runflow.

Middle muddle

The underwhelming middle-order means Hyderabad rely almost solely on the openers. Three out of every five runs scored by the team have been by Warner (515) and Dhawan (377). Their next top-scorer is Kiwi Kane Williamson (117 runs), who for his part, trudged to 27 off 24 but failed to provide the required impetus to the innings towards the end.

Absence of a power-hitter has long been the Sunrisers bane, one they thought they had warded off after roping in Yuvraj Singh for R7 crore. The 34-year-old has however blown hot and cold since returning from an injury lay-off, the duel with Amit Mishra in the 14th over summing up his form.

After hitting the second ball for a Yuvi-special over long on, the southpaw couldnt score off the next three and holed out to Rishabh Pant at fineleg off a rank bad delivery.

The hit-wicket

A golden duck for Moises Henriques meant additional pressure on Deepak Hooda and Naman Ojha who couldnt bring the goods  the former becoming the second Hyderabad batsman to get out hit-wicket this season after Yuvraj dislodged his bails against Mumbai Indians.

Mishras tight overs in the middle and effective death bowling from Nathan Coulter-Nile and Chris Morris ensured no late haemorrhages for Delhi, who are now third on the points table.

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Former Swedish House Mafia DJ Steve Angello is returning to perform in India  this time as a solo artist. He talks family, his kids using Instagram, and being critical of EDM

A lot has changed since the last time Swedish House Mafia performed in Mumbai as part of their global One Last Tour in 2013. Post the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) super-groups split, Steve Angello, one of the three members, has gone on to cut a debut album, Wild Youth.

Angello also went on record to criticise EDM as we know it today. In an interview with Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Angello said he felt artists are being less creative than they can be, and are choosing to use sounds that are easy to craft. Well, that would explain why critics say all EDM sounds the same. Roughly translated to English, he said: You see 40-year-old artists with incredible talent release music as if they were 15. In any other profession, this would be considered absurd. Its like Tom Ford migrated to making Pokemon clothes.

(Angello has been vocal in his criticism of EDM )

In an industry that runs on the projected image of happy vibes, love and peace, criticism from within the artist community is rare and refreshing. But does being critical and politically incorrect bring with it a backlash? I have never shied away from speaking my mind on things that affect me, and I stand by my statements. I have always been vocal and I have fans that support me for this quality, he tells us over e-mail.

Also read: Mark Ronson on what went into the making of party anthem Uptown Funk

And so, in order to make music that speaks more to him, and has a thought behind it, he released Wild Youth. Although Angello has been categorical in not calling it an EDM album, dance music is a way of living for him: I take it very seriously.

Launched early this year, Wild Youth reflects his teenage years. Growing up in an immigrant-heavy neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden, he got involved in unlawful activities after his father passed away when Angello was 13.  doing things I wasnt supposed to do. burning cars, blowing up s**t, he admitted to Spin magazine.

However, Angello was already DJing by then. He tells us, I used to DJ at local clubs. I spent whatever money I used to make in buying vinyl records. Its global news now that I had collected almost 15,000 vinyls back then. Thats what I was: a crazy vinyl man. Growing up, my inspirations were Nas, Gang Starr, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson and Daft Punk.

Family first

Steve Angello will perform in Mumbai on May 27 as the headlining act of Dont Let Daddy Know  a global one-night dance property thats coming to India for the first time. Angello has lived the crazy life of a DJ and enjoyed the fame that comes with it. Hes toured the world, filled stadiums, travelled in helicopters and partied endlessly. But his focus is a little different now. I used to travel like a maniac before but now I have reduced it considerably because I have two babies and a wife. Time with them is important to me.

Angellos daughters have their own Instagram accounts (instagram.com/winterroseaa)

Angello is married to Isabel Adrian, a television personality, fashion designer and entrepreneur with a book to her credit. A celebrity in her own right. So, does being a high profile couple pose problems? Angello says, My relationship with Isabel is stronger than ever. Being in the limelight, we both understand the baggage that comes with it. At the end of the day, its about understanding, and I am blessed to be married to the most understanding woman on the planet.

A sceenshot from Monday Lilys Instagram account (Photo courtesy: instagram.com/mondaylily)

The couple has two daughters, Monday Lily (6) and Winter Rose (4). Bearing the true hallmark of a new-age family, both the children have their own Instagram accounts. Social media is so addictive. Monday talked Isabel into getting her own account. Isabel was hesitant at first but gave in later. She helps Monday with her account and theyve also gotten my younger one on Instagram, he says.

Also read: DJ Fatboy Slim is worried about the tattoos kids get of his name

A regular day in Angellos life involves working in the studio, going through emails (lots and lots of them), and some more music. When Im not touring, I spend time with my girls. Weekends at home are spent with my girls and their mama having fun. My favourite activity to do together is singing along to my records with my daughters.

Quick QnA

Q) If not a musician, you would be...

Producer or nothing at all.

Q) An instrument you would like to learn someday.

Perhaps the flute.

Q) The last time you were in the audience area of a gig.

I couldnt find my way back to my vanity!

Q) Cant live without.

My iPod.

Dancy Away:

What: Dont Let Daddy Know will take place on May 27, 4pm onward.

Where: Dome @ NSCI, SVP Stadium, Lala Lajpatrai Marg, Worli

Tickets: Rs 2,500 onward on bookmyshow.com

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In death, as in life, the drought and water scarcity in central Maharashtra have been unsparing in their harshness on the people of Marathwada region. With the Godavari river drying up, grieving Hindu families have been forced to buy a water tanker for the rituals, adding at least 30% to their expenses.

Families have to buy water  costing Rs 1,600-Rs 2,000  to perform last rites on the 10th day after the death, along the banks of the Godavari at the Shani Temple in Gevrai, Beed district.

The banks of Godavari here are considered holy. The 10th day rituals, in parts of Marathwada, need the entire family to bathe to mark the end of abstinence after the death of a family member. Priests believe that people accompanying the family on the day of rituals also need to bathe. The family thus needs to buy an entire tanker of water to meet its needs.

Read more Sugarcane still finds favour among farmers

The banks of Godavari here are considered holy. The 10th day rituals, in parts of Marathwada, need the entire family to bathe to mark the end of abstinence after the death of a family member. Priests believe that people accompanying the family on the day of rituals also need to bathe. The family thus needs to buy an entire tanker of water to meet its needs.

Each tanker costs at least Rs 1,600. Such is the demand that suppliers have put up boards advertising their numbers on trees around the temple. Hindu religion requires the family and people accompanying them to bathe on the banks of Godavari. Truckloads of people come with the family as part of tradition. This needs a lot of water, said Dheeraj Annadate, manager of Shani Maharaj temple.

Read | Not a drop to drink in 500 villages in Maharashtra

The sudden and sharp increase in expenditure, however, has led to a decline in the number of people turning up here. Not a single ritual was performed today at this holy place; this is a first. People now prefer to visit the banks of Shahagad, the adjacent village, said Vithal Kalekar, a puja-material shop owner.

Senior priest Popat Shastri Chawthaiwale, however, said the temple trust has made sufficient arrangement for water through a borewell. It is true that the Godavari has dried up for the first time. But we have made sufficient arrangements, he said.

The trust also blames the devastation on the illegal dredging of sand from the riverbed. An office bearer said sand mining by contractors has worsened the situation.

Read | In drought-hit Latur, woman dies while standing in queue for water
A Punjab-native turbaned Sikh, retired IAS officer (66) is fighting the May 16 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol, in a rare instance of a north Indian testing electoral fortunes in Dravidian south.

Ujagar Singh of Khiali, about 21 km from Barnala in Punjab, is a candidate of the Akila Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (AIMKMK), an ally of the BJP, from Sozhinganallur in Chennais outskirts. The 1977-batch former Indian Administrative Service officer of Tamil Nadu cadre held various positions in the state government and retired as special commissioner, Government Data Centre, here in 2010. He belongs to the AIMKMK but is contesting on the BJP symbol in tune with the arrangement between the allies.

It is not usual to find a north Indian contesting election down south, in Tamil Nadu especially, where political leaders often cry foul over the imposition of Sanskrit or Hindi by parties in power at the Centre. Asked what prompted him to jump into Tamil Nadu politics, though he happens to be from Punjab, Ujagar Singh said: I was convinced about the welfare partys welfare programmes such as free education. Moreover, AIMKMK chief Devanathan requested me to fight the polls and I know him to be a good leader.

When most IAS officers go back to their native states after retirement, what prompted him to stay back? He says: Tamil people are very kind, nice, and large-hearted. They have no jealousy and no chauvinism like you find in some other places in our country. Also, I promised late chief minister (AIADMK founder) MG Ramachandran, who wanted good officers to stay back post retirement to continue working for the people.

His entire family is settled in Chennai, though he has several relatives in Punjab. His spoken Tamil cannot be termed very good (in terms of pronunciation) but he manages to communicate well. He says: I can read, write, and speak Tamil. I learnt it from Pandit Srinivasan in Thanjavur.

Recalling his efforts to study the language, he says: I used to give it at least two to three hours a day. Now I read all Tamil newspapers and magazines. On peoples response to his campaign, he says: They welcome me. Asked why he seeks votes after working almost 40 years as a bureaucrat, he said: I am not a politician (yet) but I understand peoples problems better than other candidates by the virtue of my long stint in the administration.

Leaders like Ujagar Singh appear on Tamil Nadus political horizon rarely. Rajasthans SD Ugam Chand, a businessman settled in Chengelpet near here, won the assembly election in 1980 and 1989 as a candidate of the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) from Madurantakam constituency.
Girls outshone boys in the Class-10 examinations conducted by the Himachal Board of School Education (HPBoSE) by bagging top positions in the merit list.

The results for the examinations were declared on Thursday with an overall pass percentage of 66.88%. Results are available on HPBoSEs website www.hpbose.org.

A total 1,22,614 students appeared in the examination of which 81,304 passed and 16,616 got compartment, HPBoSE secretary Vishal Sharma said.

Akshima Thakur of S Vidya Mandir School Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district, topped the merit list by scoring 98.57% marks, followed by Lakita Khidtta of Aradhna Public School, Rohru, Shimla and Ira Sharma of Holy Himalayan School, Chamba, scoring 98.29% each to bag the second position jointly.

Vishali of Little Flower Public School in Kangra district, Rakshita Verma from Trisungam Public School Rewalsar, Mandi, and Anchal Sharma of Vision Convent School Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, scored 98.14% to remain joint third.

The fourth position was bagged by Muskan Sehgal of Bharti Vidyapeeth Public School, Baijnath Kangra, and Shailza Sharma of Gurkul Public School, with 98% marks each.

Kamal Preet Singh of SVM School, Bilaspur, and Devesh Verma of Gurkul Public School, Amb Una, remained joint 5th by scoring 97.86%.

A total 40 students have made it to the top 10 list of which 30 are girls and 10 boys.

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LUDHIANA

COST: Rs 25 crore

LAND: 127 acres

REDUCED TO STRIP FOR CHARTERED PLANES

What was once envisaged to be an international airport in Ludhianas Sahnewal has been reduced to a mere airstrip for chartered flights at a considerable cost to the exchequer. It saw its last regular flight, Air India-Delhi, on May 16, 2014. Spread over 127.5 acres, the airport has a 4,800-footlong runway, which is too short for high-capacity aircraft, much to the discouragement of private airlines. The opening of an international terminal in Mohali, two hours by road from Ludhiana, has also dampened hopes here.

A private plane parked at the airport near Sahnewal in Ludhiana on Wednesday. The strip exists since the 1980s for a flying club, and there were some flights in the 90s, but it was only about six years ago that it got going for a longer time. Now, opening of an international terminal in Mohali, two hours away by road, has also dampened hopes of any push. (JS Grewal/HT Photo)

The strip exists since the 1980s for a flying club, and there were some flights in the 90s, but it was only about six years ago that it got going for a longer time. Since May 13, 2010, the year the runway was re-carpeted at a cost of Rs 10 crore, till May 16, 2014, Air India operated flights between Delhi and Ludhiana. But the timings were erratic and frequency confined to thrice a week. The absence of night landing facility was a deterrent too. Air India operated only one ATR aircraft (small plane that can land here) from Delhi and used to fly it to three destinations in a day  first to Allahabad, then Kullu and then Ludhiana. Many times owing to delays and cancellations, passengers were compelled to take a taxi to Chandigarh to catch a flight, recalled VP Jain, airport director. Private airlines have limitations as most of them operate jet-engine B737 and Airbus 320 planes, which require a runway of minimum 6,000 feet.

In the 2013 budget speech, the SAD-BJP government announced plans to expand the airport. Soon after Air India withdrew its flights the state government issued a notification for acquiring 1,827 acres. However, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), entrusted with acquiring the land, was unable to, owing to paucity of funds.

At present, the road to the airport has a railway crossing, from where trains to Delhi and other places pass throughout the day. Security personnel are underemployed since there are no passengers; only the occasional curious visitors. The 13 employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) here are active only when there is a chartered flight, usually twice a week.

Vinod Thapar, chairman, Knitwear Club, Ludhiana, said, Industrial produce in the city accounts for more than 40% of all in Punjab. We have buyers overseas who are unable to reach us directly in the absence of any international airport here. We have to do our business through merchant exporters who charge us for the service.

Pathankot

COST: Rs 37 crore

LAND: 75 acres

FAULTY PLANNING IS TO BLAME

Despite the infrastructure, the Pathankot domestic airport has not seen a regular flight since 2011. Flights on the lone route, Delhi-Pathankot Kullu, that started after it came up in 2006 were discontinued as it made little financial sense for the airlines. The airport building was built next to the air force station and it airstrip with the efforts of Gurdaspur MP and actor Vinod Khanna, who declared plans to make Pathankot a tourist spot and an industrial hub. It was reduced to an occasional landing facility for Khanna and other VIPs chartered flights instead.

The Pathankot airport came up in 2006 but has seen no regular flight in the last five years. Now, after an attack on the Pathankot airbase, roads to the domestic airport have been blocked. (HT Photo)

At the inauguration on November 21, 2006, the then Union civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, promised more flights than the Delhi-Pathankot Kullu one that operated then. Later, BJPs former state unit head Ashwani Sharma made a failed attempt to revive flights after he met chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2013. The very idea of flights for Kullu from Delhi via Pathankot was wrong as this was not the preferred route for tourists, said Ashok Jahaj, a trip organiser. But, even today if they start flights from Delhi to Srinagar taking a halt here, 100% occupancy is guaranteed. We have to give our customers to Jammu-based travel agencies, as these customers go first to Jammu by road and then take flights for Srinagar, he added. MP Khanna, who had later promised to restart flights if Narendra Modiled BJP came to power, said he has been persuading airlines and will try my best to revive this airport. The airport shares its boundaries with the IAF station and has a strip of about 9000 ft which is good for domestic flights.

Bathinda

COST: Rs 25 crore

LAND: 40 acres

WHERE IS THE FINANCIAL SENSE?

Its been over three years since the construction of the civilian airport, a dream project of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, at Virk Kalan village near here. But theres no sign of a flight yet. Reason: No financial viability.

During UPA regime, SAD-BJP blamed the Centre, and claimed that flights would start after formation of NDA govt. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT Photo)

During the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the Centre for it, and claimed that flights would start soon after formation of Union government. The National Democratic (NDA) government took power two years ago.

This has led to Sukhbir and his wife, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, giving contradictory statements. While Harsimrat last year said that, after the Delhi-Bathinda-Jammu route was found financially unviable, airlines were assessing the viability of a Bathinda Bikaner route. This was later denied by Sukhbir, who wondered how the Bathinda-Bikaner route could be viable if the other was not.

After that, Harsimrat told reporters that surveys on both routes found these unviable. Adding to it, Harsimrat also wondered last year that, if the Bathinda Delhi Shatabdi Express was not getting adequate passengers, how could passengers be expected for flights on that route.

The airport building has been constructed and managed by the Airports Authority of India while the Indian

and occasional air traffic chartered planes. Here, the 9,000-ft runway is according to standards required for big planes; but the apron can accommodate only two 50-seater planes at a time.

RK Kohli, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Punjab here, said the non-functional civilian airport was a reason why the university was not able to bring in international faculty: Scholars hesitate visiting the place even for guest lectures. We even have to conduct interviews for recruitment at Chandigarh. We have raised the matter with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Satish Arora, president of Punjab Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association, here said, In meetings conducted by the administration with airlines, we had presented data of inflow of tourists to support requirement of flights from Bathinda. It would have attracted more national and international tourists especially for Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo.

Read: Intl flights from Chd: Air India, Indigo ready; others non-committal
Two policemen have been charged with murder after a man died in their custody at Handiaya town nearby on Wednesday evening.

Assistant sub-inspector Charanjit Singh, in charge of the Handiaya police post, and munshi Sudgar Singh are accused under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention to hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Victim Baldev Singh (36) of Handiaya, initially, was reported to have consumed Celphos (a common pesticide), maybe in an attempt to show it as suicide. The murder case was registered after the victims family held on to the body, saying police had tortured him in custody after verbal argument at a checkpoint. Also, police couldnt explain how Baldev Singh could get access to Celphos inside lockup.

Just before the death, police had searched his pockets, from which Rs 19,000 cash and a mobile phone are reported to be missing. He had been brought to the police post without any FIR (first-information report). The district police already are in controversy over the double suicide in Jodhpur village in their presence.

Baldevs brother, Labh Singh, described how it came to this. Returning from work on Wednesday evening, my sibling was near Gaddakhana Chowk in Handiaya when he got into an argument with police, who dragged him to the nearby police post, where they tortured him. When I got there, I found Baldev vomiting, with foul odour from his mouth. He died on way to a Ludhiana hospital, he said.

Eyewitness Sukhjinder Singh says: I saw the cops remove the money and mobile phone from the victims pocket. When we got back again after gathering more people, the cell was open and Baldev lying on the floor, he said.

The victims relatives and farm union activists protested at the civil hospital here on Thursday to contest the police theory of suicide. Balour Singh Chhanna of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said: Well not allow autopsy and cremation until the accused are arrested.

Superintendent of police (detective) Swarn Singh Khanna said: The accused have not been suspended, since there is a procedure for that.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) PS Cheema confirmed that the two cops were accused of custodial death. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Toor said the accused were on the run.
His much-hyped tour of North America made news for all the wrong reasons. Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh had to cancel his public programmes at Vancouver and Toronto after the Canadian government read him the rule book on no campaigning allowed on its soil following petition by US-based activist group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which later stalled his visit by filing an alleged torture case during his stint as CM. Later, SFJ ensured all his rallies in the seven US cities faced protests by slogan-shouting radicals. Back home, there were murmurs within senior Congress leaders at the timing of the tour and the negative publicity on social media. But in an interview to HT, Amarinder shrugs off the naysayers and dubs his visit as one that has turned the tide of Punjabi diaspora towards the Congress.

You had to cancel the Canada tour and faced protests in the US. Why is your North America visit being seen as a flop show?

I toured seven US cities, addressed seven rallies and held 28 smaller meetings with 200-300 people over lunch, dinner, tea or coffee. Each of my public meetings had over 1,000 people. I spoke to a large number of NRIs in Toronto and Vancouver on Skype. Lakhs of Punjabis spread across seven countries, including the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the UAE, saw my interview on the news channel, Jus Punjabi. Are 80-odd people shouting anti-national slogans more important than thousands who met me and lakhs who heard me on the news channel? These protesters do not wear western but traditional clothes to distinguish themselves from others, live in gurdwaras and are paid by SFJ to fan anti-India sentiments. The common belief among the Punjabi diaspora is that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the SFJs legal adviser, is funded by Pakistan spy agency, ISI. So it is his dal-roti to protest or his funding would stop.

Read: Amarinder Singh cancels Canada visit following torture case against him

Read: ISI-link remark: Sikh group to file defamation suit against Capt in US

But dont you think you emboldened SFJ by cancelling your Canada trip?

The judge who was hearing the torture case filed by SFJ did not entertain the plea on the grounds that the petitioner was not on Canadian soil. But had I landed in Canada, I would not have been able to leave if the judge took time for the hearing. I could not have afforded to get stuck there as I had programmes planned in US cities. Pannun is making a killing out of asylum-seekers and uses young boys seeking asylum to shout slogans. In fact, some of these young men who seek asylum after not getting jobs in Punjab, get green cards and jobs in the US and Canada but are not able to return to India. I am going to take this up with the external affairs ministry as they should get Indian visas to come back to their country.

Read: Capt retracts ISI-link remark, but SFJ says damage done

Read: Video: Amarinder faces pro-Khalistan slogans by protesters in California

There were also murmurs within your own party on the timing of the visit and publicity on social media. Even poll strategist Prashant Kishor believes NRIs do not impact poll outcome.

You know these people who are calling the visit a flop show. Some of the state Congress leaders even went about showing videos and pictures on social media in Parliament. I am not bothered by what they think. As for Prashant, he understands strategy, not the intricacies of Punjab politics. NRIs are biggest supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party. A majority of Punjabi NRIs are from Doaba, where they have one or less than one acre of land. They help their families and relatives back home by sending money working as truckers and taxi drivers. They play a big role in forming the opinion of their relatives and villages during elections. We lost the 2012 state elections and 2014 Lok Sabha elections as we were not able to reach out to them.

So you were mainly reaching out to AAP supporters?

Elite Punjabi NRIs were never with the AAP. It had support base among strong force of taxi drivers and truckers in the US. In New York alone, out of one lakh taxi drivers, 25,000 are from Punjab. In areas around San Jose, there are nearly 2,500 Punjabi truckers carrying fresh fruits and vegetables over hundreds of miles. I have reached out to them and told them the AAP could not deliver governance. We have been able to convert them into Congress supporters. The general secretary of the taxi union in New York has posted his counter to one of the adverse comments on a picture I have posted on my Facebook account with the New York taxi drivers. He even came to see us off at the airport.

Read: AAP factor: Capt to visit US, Canada for wooing diaspora

Read: Visit stalled, Amarinder goes to Canada via Skype from US!

So you agree the AAP had influence among Punjabi NRIs? What were the questions they asked you?

It is like it is in Punjab. The NRIs, too, share the feeling that lets give someone new a chance. But the performance of the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi has disillusioned many of them. Which is why in my meetings and rallies, I told them Punjab could not afford experimenting with the AAP. The questions they ask are the same as in Punjab. They read newspapers and see news channels from Punjab and wanted to know our agenda on drug menace, unemployment, farmer crisis, states poor financial health and the deteriorating law and order.

Will you plan a tour to Canada before elections? You found support against SFJ.

I have hired a good team of lawyers in Toronto and we will ensure that a higher court settles the matter so that I can visit the country before elections. It should be a blanket order that does not allow SFJ to again go to court to stall my visit. I have received a letter from the Canadian High Commission in response to the letter I had written to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau expressing my displeasure at the way my programmes were scuttled while AAP leaders such as HS Phoolka, Bhagwant Mann and Sukhpal Khaira have been holding their public programmes in Canada. I am not interested in doing any diplomatic nicety with them and will speak straight from the shoulder. It is such a disgrace that I was not allowed to meet people and address their concerns despite having a constitutional post as deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha. You cannot have a constitution that allows freedom of speech and assembly and a law that contradicts it.

Read: After Captains US outing, Congress braces for May 19 verdict on states

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Journalist Surendra Nihal Singhs lecture on Indian Politics: The Tipping Point received sharp reactions on Wednesday on campus and even university vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover confronted him.

Speaking on the occasion, Nihal Singh described the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)s victory in 2014 general elections as the tipping point. The BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has made it clear that they would demolish the concept of idea of India, which took shape during freedom struggle and during the last 60 years of independence, he said.

He said tribals, Christians, Sikhs and Muslims would not be able to deal with BJPs idea of yoga, herbal medicines, Hindu ceremonies and crowd chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Nihal Singh described the last two years of the BJP rule at the centre as one-man show as compared to dual leadership at top during the UPAs rule. He also talked about Modis inability to control outlandish statements of his supporters like Baba Ramdev, who had recently made a statement that had there been no law, he would have beheaded lakhs for refusing to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

The speaker also referred to BJP leader and union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvis statement on sending beef eaters to Pakistan. He said Modi was able to govern Gujarat by sidelining the RSS, but he couldnt do it at the Centre. The BJP wants its pound of flesh, he added. BJPs nationalism is causing harm to Indias prosperity, he added.

PU V-C CONFRONTS NIHAL SINGH

Confronting him for using harsh language like BJP and RSS are destroying India, PU V-C said, We had so many chief ministers in the last 60 years. Some even reached national politics, but can you list even five CMs who can be cited as model CMs, said Grover.

Nihal Singh replied, You said destroying is quite a strong word. I would suggest that composite consensus evolved by the Congress over the decades is the only model that can succeed. But if you emphasise differences between communities, then how can you succeed?

At this stage, Prof Rupinder Tewari told Nihal Singh that he was sounding like Congress spokesperson. You didnt say anything against the Congress and so many scams they are involved in.

Nihal Singh said, I am not pro-Congress, but I have been trying to point out that BJP model is not suitable for the country. Nehruvian model has worked. The Congress has committed blunders and is not an ideal party, particularly in the recent decade. I do not have a cure for India. What do we do? You have Modi on one side and Rahul on other.

Prof AK Grover and Prof Archana R Singh presided over the lecture.

Nihal started his career in journalism in 1954. He had worked with Indias major newspapers, The Statesman, The Indian Express and Dubais Khaleej Times. He was the chief editor in Kolkata during the 1975 emergency. He was also a southeast Asian correspondent for five years during the 1960s Vietnam war. He also holds the prestige of being the first Indian newspaper correspondent to be posted in Pakistan after the 1965 war.
The Jalandhar railway station staff has a new task at hand: curbing the rodent menace. As the number of rats at the station is increasing on a daily basis, the railway authorities are looking for ways to deal with the problem. Now, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has offered to help.

Ferozepur divisional railway manager (DRM) Anuj Parkash said he has been receiving regular complaints from the Jalandhar staff as well as passengers about the rodent menace. Rats burrow holes under railway tracks, weakening their strength. Since the tracks are usually littered, rats find sufficient food to sustain for a long time.

Only two railway tracks (number 1 and 2) of the city railway station are cleaned on a daily basis and receive maximum load of trains. The remaining tracks are left unattended, providing a safe haven to rodents.

The problem is prevalent for quite some time, and now we are coming up with various measures to deal with it, said Anuj Parkash. He said the Ferozepur division is tying up with Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, to find a solution.

Railway officials said the PAU department of zoology had approached the division a few months ago with a proposal to curb the rodent menace.

A PAU team, which has already started the work in Ludhiana circle, is expected to visit the Jalandhar railway station in the coming week.

SP Singh Bhatia, divisional traffic manager (DTM) of the Ludhiana railway station, said the pilot project in Ludhiana has already started giving good results and the division will now cover other railway stations under the project.

No funds allocated for work

Though the Ferozepur division has claimed to be taking preventive measures against the rising rat population at the Jalandhar railway station, it has not allocated any funds for it.

Officials said the work does not require any extra allocations and can be carried out with existing funds.
Power supply was hit across Haryana on Wednesday with over 20,000 technical and secretarial employees of both power distribution companies (discoms) - the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) - going on one-day mass casual leave in protest against hiring of private contractors for the maintenance and operations of 11-KV and low-tension (LT) transmission lines in all the 23 sub-divisions in the state.

The employees, including assistant linemen to junior engineers on the technical side, ministerial and secretarial staff, also staged protest in all the circle offices throughout Haryana against privatisation policy of the Haryana government as they maintained that power utilities would pay about `22 lakh per sub-division per month to each private contractor for the maintenance and operation of lines. The authorities should instead spend money on recruiting staff to meet the grave staff shortage problem, power employees leader Subhash Lamba told HT and added that this was the governments first step before handing over the power sector of Haryana to private sector and all the employees were opposed to this policy.

Demanding a high-level probe into the irregularities in the functioning of the power sector, he also alleged that it was because of the mismanagement that there were losses to the tune of `34,000 crore.

The power employees union would also hold a meeting in Jind on Thursday (May 12) and announce its future action plan, Lamba said.

Meanwhile, senior officials said that though power services were hit because of the mass leave of the employees as well as the bad weather on Tuesday night, the services were restored during the day time on Wednesday with the help of private contractors labour.

POWER SUPPLY HIT FOR OVER 20 HOURS

Electricity supply was hit for over 20 hours in several rural and urban areas of the region due to the day-long protest leave of employees of the power distribution companies (discoms) - the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) .

Several feeders, especially in the rural areas, were closed due to breakdown, following rainfall and heavy wind which disrupted power supply around 9pm on Tuesday. As the technical staff was on leave, the supply of several feeders could not be restored.

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars Karnal and adjoining Yamunanagar district remained the worst-affected with breakdown of several feeders for the past 20 hours, but there was nobody to restore the supply, as heavy winds uprooted electric poles.

Several senior officials of the electricity department of Karnal district, including the superintending engineer DVS Dhankar, could not be contacted after repeated attempts as about 30% area of the chief ministers home constituency of Karnal was without electricity. However, power supply was resumed in the VIP area.

Agitated Karnal residents held a protest outside the mini-secretariat and submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Mandeep Singh Barar against the public harassment due to protest by the government employees.

There was no electricity for the past 18 hours in our locality, but the there is nobody to listen the problems of the people, said Sandeep Lathar of Karnal. Similarly problems were faced by the people in the rural areas as several feeders broke down since last night.

We are without electricity for the past 20 hours, even as the government had taken 30 acres of fertile land free of cost for setting up a powerhouse. Now there is nobody to restore our electricity supply, said Parveen Kumar of Yunishpur village of Karnal district.

When contacted, UHBVNs Yamunanagar superintending engineer (SE) Hari Prakash Sharma said, We are making efforts to restore supply to all 190 feeders of the district. Though, we had restored about 90% supply in the city last night, but the supply to 42 rural feeders is yet to be restored.

In Kurukshetra district, about 10 feeders were closed since Tuesday night and officials claimed that the efforts were being made to restore these feeders.

In Panipat, uses supply to three major power houses at Gohana road, Kutani and minisecretariat area was stopped due to breakdown night. We are taking help of senior officers who are on duty and employees of private companies to restore supply in the entire district and it will restored soon, said Panipat SE AK Raheja.

Meanwhile, the administration has cancelled the mass leave applications of the employees, who were protesting under the banner of All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union.

CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES JOIN PROTEST IN HISAR

Hisar: Workers of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) went on one-day protest leave on in Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts Wednesday.

During a demonstration here, protesters raised slogans against the government for alleged privatisation of the electricity department. The contractual employees also joined the protest.

(Neeraj Mohan)
Despite having clear evidence about the identity of protesters who climbed up the mobile tower located at the office of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) near Kali Mata temple in Patiala, demanding the release of Dhian Singh Mand  the interim jathedar of Akal Takht appointed by the radical Sarbat Khalsa and his associates Mohkam Singh and Paramjit Singh Jejeani the police who were guarding them for the whole day are yet to identify them, as they have booked five unidentified persons for trespassing, threatening to suicide and for some other offences on the complaint of a BSNL employee.

Meanwhile, Mand, Mohkam and Jejeani, who were arrested from Shambu border on Sunday, were later released on bail from the Nabha jail on Tuesday.

It must be mentioned that various newspapers and channels covered the incident and also published their names with photographs, but police were yet to identify the protesters. A police officer, when asked about the case, said, Yes we were there at the spot for the whole day, but the protesters escaped easily by climbing down the tower when they moved to the other side.

Read: Radical Sikh leaders released after supporters climb towers

The drama started around 7 am on Tuesday and continued till 7 pm. The higher officials were also involved in negotiating with the protesters. It was also learnt that the police also rounded up two supporters who were chanting anti-government slogans.

Meanwhile, despite several attempts, Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) could not be contacted.

Earlier, BSNL SDO Sarabjit Singh complained to the police that on Tuesday morning, two persons barged into the office premises by jumping the boundary wall and climbed to the top of the tower, while three others were supporting from the ground by chanting anti-government slogans. He said the office caretaker spotted them while they were trespassing and also tried to stop them but failed to do so. He added that caretaker informed him after locating them. After reaching the spot, he called the police.

A case was registered under Sections 447 (criminal trespass), 309 (attempt to commit suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of Property Damage of Public Authority Act at Lahori gate police station in Patiala.

Station House Officer (SHO) Dalbir Singh Grewal said they were trying to identify the culprits and soon the police would nab them. Identity of protesters Though the police are yet to identify the protesters, it must be brought to their notice that the two persons who climbed the tower included Amarjit Singh and Karamjit Singh, both residents of Marori village in this district.
The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is maintaining its 2004 stand on the sensitive Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case and wants that both Punjab and Haryana should settle their disputes on the matter by themselves.

In 2004, the then attorney general appearing on behalf of the central government had said that he does not wish to make any statement nor is willing to file any affidavit. We are maintaining the same stand on the reference and want that states should settle their dispute by themselves, solicitor general Ranjit Kumar told a five-judge constitution bench headed by justice AR Dave.

Read: Kejriwal against SYL canal: Punjab has no spare water

Read: Affidavit favouring SYL: Sukhbir accuses Kejriwal of double standards

The bench, also comprising justices PC Ghose, Shiva Kirti Singh, AK Goel and Amitava Roy, which is hearing the presidential reference on SYL dispute, reserved its verdict on the issue and asked the parties to file the written submissions, if any, in seven days.

The solicitor general further said that if Punjab has terminated the agreements, then it clearly means it does not want to provide water to other states. To this, the bench said that the argument of Punjab is that unless it is determined, they would continue with the existing arrangements. If status quo is maintained then and what will the tribunal decide and what Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and other states are getting today and what they were getting earlier were same, then there is no need for adjudication of the matter. If agreements are terminated, then no tribunal is required to adjudicate the matters, the SG said.

The Centre had in past few hearings also said that it was not taking sides and was maintaining a neutral stand.

Read: AAP sacks lawyer for siding with Haryana against Punjab in SC

During the ongoing hearing when the Punjab assembly had passed a law to return the land acquired on its side for the construction of SYL canal, the Haryana government had approached the apex court which had directed status quo.

Read: End of SYL canal? Punjab govt to return project land to farmers

Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, appearing for the Delhi government, told the bench they want to withdraw the earlier affidavit filed in the court. Our stand is that Delhis right of its share of water be protected under the law. All existing rights be protected. For us, the matter of concern is that the allocation of water should be protected. We are not going into the controversy of Punjab and Haryana over the canal, she said.
Youth Congress leader from Amritsar Vikas Soni, along with 10 other Indian political leaders from different states, will attend the 76 edition of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the USA.

Soni is the only leader from Punjab who has been selected to attend the program in the USA.

In the nominating justification in the IVLP nomination, Soni has been mentioned as a dynamic and the first elected (as opposed to directly appointed) president of the Amritsar district of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), a great political organiser, leading campaign coordinator for Congress party in the assembly and national parliamentary elections.

Giving details, Soni informed that the selection process for the program was undertaken by the USA government and the USA Embassy officials. The USA visit under the IVLP will include a visit to Washington DC, Portland, Oregon, Little Rock, Arkansas and Chicago, Illinois. The expenses for the entire program are borne by the USA government, he said.

He added that the USA government had outlined the project goals that include introducing the structures and functions of the USA federalist system of the government, with emphasis on the division of authority and responsibility between federal, state and local governments, demonstration of successful models of cooperation among the state and local governments, NGOs, community organisations and the business sector to provide responsive governance.
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) bench in Chandigarh has asked the Punjab home secretary and director general of police (DGP) to reply what action is being taken to arrest Pakistani spy Kuldeep Singh, who is on the run for more than two years.

The bench headed by justice Surinder Singh Thakur observed that even on February 3, the DGP had been asked to assign an officer not below the rank of an SP (superintendent of police) to monitor the arrest of Kuldeep Singh but nothing, so far, has been heard from his side. The AFT had then also sent non-bailable warrants for execution to the Batala senior superintendent of police but neither a compliance report nor any intimation was sent to the bench.

The AFT now has ordered: We require the Batala SSP or the executing officer concerned to whom the warrants may have been assigned for execution to show cause and be present before this tribunal to explain the reasons on the next date of hearing, failing which, we may be compelled to take appropriate action for contempt. The bench also observed that even the chief judicial magistrate concerned of Gurdaspur had not dispatched the spys bail bonds that the AFT had asked for. The next hearing is on July 1.

The spy

Kuldeep Singh was dismissed from the army for spying and stealing army property in 2006. He had crossed over to Pakistan along with his service weapon and absented himself for almost five years from 196 Field Regiment until the troops of 25 Punjab caught him. Between December 1999 and August 2004, he had passed on secrets to a Pakistani army officer. In 2010, the Punjab and Haryana high court granted him bail till the pendency of his appeal. After the AFT was formed and the case transferred to it, the appeal was dismissed in January 2014, and Kuldeep Singh (then out on bail) ordered to surrender to the military. But he absconded. Several non-bailable warrants against him have been issued.

Read: Arrest absconding Pak spy: AFT to Punjab DGP
Superstar Rajinikanths upcoming Tamil gangster drama Kabali will now release on July 1, a source said. The release date of the much-talked about thriller has been shifted as the post production of the film is not complete. The film was earlier slated to release in June. It has been now pushed to July 1. The makers had also planned to release on July 7 but have advanced the release to avoid a clash with Salman Khans Sultan, said a source from the films unit.

The makers are currently busy with the post-production work and dubbing. Taiwanese actor Winston Chao joined the team on Wednesday in the city to dub his lines.

Read: Kabali trailer | Superstar Rajinikanth is a fiery don

Read: Kabali would bring back Rajinikanth the actor, says Ranjith

Read: CineGalaxy Inc to distribute Kabali in the US

Directed by Pa Ranjith, Kabali is the story of the rise of a gangster from rags-to-riches. The films first teaser was unveiled on May 1 on the occasion of the International Labour Day. The 67-second teaser introduces viewers to Rajinikanths character Kabali, who goes on to say that he is no stereotypical gangster, in a whistle-worthy dialogue.

Also starring Radhika Apte, Dinesh, Kalaiarasan, Dhansikaa and Ritwika, the film is produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu.

Watch the trailer of Kabali here:

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Filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally, fresh out of the success of his Telugu/Tamil film Oopiri/Thozha starring Karthi and Nagarjuna, has back out of the yet-untitled Akhil Akkineni-starring Telugu film.

Vamshi was set to team up with Akhil, and he was initially interested. The Akkineni family wanted him to work on the Telugu remake of Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani. However, he wasnt too keen on the idea because he had recently worked on the remake of a French film, said a source.

Vamshis Oopiri, which had released in Tamil as Thozha, was the official remake of French film The Intouchables.

Read: Thozha review | Love stories intrude into this male bonding

Vamshi didnt want to work on another remake immediately. He was more interested to work on his own script which didnt go down well with actor Nagarjuna, who had planned to produce the remake under his home banner, the source said. Since an amicable agreement couldnt be reached, Vamshi had no other option but to exit the project.

Read: Thozha in Tamil is that fascinating French film, The Intouchables

Vamshi plans to work with a bigger star next. He has a script ready to work with a leading Telugu star. He doesnt want to work on remakes for quite some time, the source added.

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Gene Gutowski, the Polish-American Holocaust survivor and a close associate of celebrated director Roman Polanski who produced three of his films in the 1960s, has died. The producer, who reunited with Polanski decades later for the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama The Pianist, was 90. Gutowskis son, Adam Bardach, told The Associated Press that his father died of pneumonia on Tuesday at a hospital in Warsaw.

The Gutowski-Polanski collaboration in the 1960s resulted in the 1965 psychological horror film Repulsion, starring French actor Catherine Deneuve, followed by Cul-de-Sac (1966) and The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), films that brought Polanski to Hollywood.

Watch the trailer of The Pianist here:

Years later Polanski credited Gutowski with launching his international career, calling him one of the most important figures in my existence. Gutowski was the son of a cultured and assimilated Jewish family in eastern Poland but saw his youth shattered by World War II and the loss of his family in the Holocaust.

Read: How The Pianist changed Adrien Brody

This 1967 photo shows film producer Gene Gutowski (Left) and director Roman Polanski. Gutowski, a Polish-American Holocaust survivor collaborated with Polanski in the 1960s to produce three of the directors earliest classic films in English and reunited with him decades later for the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama The Pianist. (AP)

Immediately after the war he worked for US military intelligence hunting Nazis in postwar Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1947. A talented artist and sculptor, Gutowski worked as a fashion illustrator in New York before he took up film production. He led a jet-setting playboy lifestyle for many years that took him across Europe, to Hollywood and the Virgin Islands, with six wives and many lovers along the way, a life story he tells in a memoir, With Balls and Chutzpah: A Story of Survival.

For several years he was also was a consultant to Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Following the fall of communism in eastern Europe he returned to Poland, spending his latter years in Warsaw.

Read: Roman Polanski relieved after Poland refuses to extradite him

In this May 2002 photo, producer Gene Gutowski chats with film director Roman Polanski in Cannes, France. (AP)

Gutowski and Polanski met in 1963, shortly after Polanski had made his breakthrough film, Knife in the Water, a Polish-language production that gained him acclaim and an Oscar nomination but still no eager supporters for his next film.

Read: Roman Polanskis Carnage is sheer delight

In this 2000 photo, film producer Gene Gutowski poses with actor Adrien Brody during the production of the Oscar-winning Holocaust film The Pianist. (AP)

At the time Polanski was 30 and lived in France, speaking no English. Gutowski, who was living in London, was hugely impressed by the talent of his fellow Pole and persuaded him to go to London and make a film in English, pushing for something shocking that would test the limits of the censors. The result was Repulsion.

Gutowski was born Witold Bardach on July 26, 1925 in Lwow, Poland (today Lviv in Ukraine). He came from a family of lawyers, doctors, concert pianists and army officers, a family so assimilated that they celebrated Easter and Christmas and never attended synagogue.

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Security officials in Bangladeshs capital have arrested four suspected members of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB), an official said on Thursday.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, a spokesman for the Rapid Action Battalion, said they had arrested Abdul Baten, head of JMBs Dhaka district unit, and his associate Monir Mollah from a bus station in Khilgaon area of the city.

Based on information from them, security officials raided a railway station and arrested two others - Golam Kibria and Mollah Roman - who were travelling to Dhaka from the northeastern city of Chittagong, Khan said.

They came to Dhaka to commit sabotage. We arrested them as soon as they reached the Kamlapur railway station, he told a news briefing. The arrested men were produced before journalists.

Authorities in Bangladesh recently blamed the JMB for several attacks on minorities.

Khan said security agencies had arrested more than 600 cadres of the group in recent years and broken its network but its members are still out to regroup to commit sabotage.

The group was founded in 1998 but it came to prominence in 2001, when it started acting against a communist group in northern Bangladesh.

The group carried out near simultaneous attacks across the country with about 500 home-made bombs on August 17, 2005, demanding the introduction of Shariah or Islamic law.

It created a major network of supporters with thousands of activists or sympathisers. Authorities then launched a major crackdown on the group and six of its leaders, including its founder Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were arrested. The six were executed in 2007 after being convicted of the murders of two judges.
Bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan soured anew as the two countries summoned each others top diplomats over Islamabads condemnation of the hanging of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Bangladesh has strongly reacted to a resolution unanimously passed by Pakistan Parliament condemning the execution of Nizami on Wednesday. Hours before the Parliament resolution, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement also condemning the execution, which Bangladesh considers an interference into its internal affairs.

On Thursday, Pakistan summoned Bangladeshs acting High Commissioner Nazmul Huda and handed over its resolution expressing serious concerns over the execution. Officials said Huda was summoned by Director General (South Asia) and acting additional secretary of Pakistan Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal.

In retaliation, Mizanur Rahman, secretary (bilateral) at Bangladeshs Foreign Ministry, summoned Pakistans local envoy Shuja Alam at his office to express Dhakas concerns.

In the note verbale handed over to Alam, Bangladesh said that by siding with those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the crimes of mass atrocities committed during the War of Liberation in 1971, for which Nizami was hanged.

It is a matter of great regret that Pakistan continues to comment in the misguided defence of this convicted criminal, the note reads.

These uncalled for reactions amount to direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, which is totally unacceptable, it says.

Bangladesh also said that Pakistan should in no way make biased, flawed and unfounded comments about the independent judiciary of a sovereign country.

The malicious campaign by Pakistan against the trials of the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh is on, which is an impediment to bilateral relations, it added.

Alam was told to take serious note of the points raised by Bangladesh and bring those to the attention of the competent authorities in Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Pakistan Foreign Ministry in its statement said His (Nizamis) only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan."
As speculation rages on about how Nepals PM K P Oli-led government survived a political scare last week, the countrys foreign minister, Kamal Thapa, admitted that circumstantial evidence possibly suggests a Chinese role. He did not however comment on whether India had any role in trying to topple the government - a charge earlier levelled by Olis aides.

In an interview with BBC Nepali service, Thapa was asked about reports that China played a role in saving the K P Oli government and about meetings Chinese officials reportedly had with Maoist leaders. Thapa first made light of the speculation, It is said that leaves dont turn if there is no wind. But Nepal is a country where leaves turn on their own even when there is no wind. I am seeing that tendency here.

But he then added, There is no authoritative basis. There is a lot of noise about this outside. I spoke to concerned leaders about this. They dont share the proof which would substantiate this, but circumstantial evidence provides room for some suspicion that this may have happened.

On Tuesday, HT had first reported how Chinese advice, according to Nepali leaders, was a factor in tilting the balance. Maoist chairman Prachanda first declared he would withdraw from the government and then changed his mind overnight. Multiple sources confirmed to HT that Chinese wanted Olis left alliance to stay on in power. Prachanda, however, denied to HT that Chinese influence had any role in his decision - though he did not deny that China wanted the current government to stay.

When Thapa was asked whether India was involved in efforts to topple the government, he said, There is a lot of discussion about this outside. But as the foreign minister of the country, it will not be appropriate for me to comment on the noise outside. I have no information about this.
Democratic presidential front- runner Hillary Clinton took a jibe at Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump for not releasing his tax returns, which would be a break from the decades-long precedent in the race to the White House.

Here is what Donald Trump wants to do. He has released just one detailed proposal in this whole campaign, Clinton said, referring to the real estate tycoons tax plan.

What about his taxes? So well get around to that, too, because when you run for president, especially when you become the nominee that is kind of expected, she said at an election rally in Blackwood, New Jersey.

My husband and I have released 33 years of tax returns. We got eight years on our website right now. So you got to ask yourself, why doesnt he want to release them? Yeah, well, were going to find out, said the former secretary of state, joining many others including the 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in asking Trump to release his tax returns.

In a post on his Facebook page, Romney said that not releasing ones tax returns is disqualifying for a presidential candidate.

It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service, Romney said.

He said there is only one logical explanation for Trumps refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them.

Given Mr. Trumps equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume its a bombshell of unusual size, he said.

Trump quickly hit back, defending his decision not to release his tax returns unless the ongoing audit is completed.

My taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election, he tweeted.

In February, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in a statement said there is nothing in law that prevents an individual from sharing their tax information.

The IRS stresses that audits of tax returns are based on the information contained on the taxpayers return and the underlying tax law, nothing else. Politics and religion do not factor into this. The audit process is handled by career, non-partisan civil servants, and we have processes in place to safeguard the exam process, said the agency.

Making tax returns public is not required of presidential candidates, but there is a long tradition of major party nominees doing so.
The International Monetary Fund has reviewed Pakistans economic performance and will make available a further $510 million to the country as part of a three-year, $6.7 billion financial assistance programme, it said on Thursday.

The money will be provided when the review is approved by the IMFs management and executive board, the Fund said in a statement, describing its discussions with Pakistan as productive and adding that performance criteria in the programme had been met.

Pakistans gross domestic product is projected to grow 4.5% in the 2015/16 fiscal year ending this June, and 4.7 percent in the following year, the IMF said.

Growth remains robust despite a weak cotton harvest and declining exports amid a more challenging global environment, it said, citing benign oil prices, rising investment including projects linked to trade with China, improvements in energy supply, strong construction activity and faster credit growth.

Discussions with Pakistan on the twelfth and last review under the IMF programme are tentatively planned for August, the fund said.

Pakistan has not requested further funds from the IMF, mission chief Harald Finger told Reuters on the sidelines of a news conference in Dubai.

His organisation had earlier expressed its frustration at the slow progress of a privatisation programme that was slated to lead to the sell-off of 68 state-run companies and be a major element of the IMF package.

Pakistan this year shelved plans to privatise its power supply companies and opted to convert cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a limited company instead.

But finance minister Ishaq Dar defended Pakistans record, citing the sale of state stakes in some banks including United Bank Limited (UBL) and Habib Bank (HBL) and certain other divestments

There has been a little hiccup in items like PIA, but now we have reformed and that whole process is going to be different, said Dar, adding the government would fast-track the sale of other state assets including Kot Addu Power Co (Kapco) and Mari Petroleum.

It was a selective menu, some items on the menu have been replaced. We have to reduce the losses that are bleeding the economy and we have been able to do that.

He said Pakistans economic growth would be 5 percent this year.

Next year we are estimating even more ambitious targets of about 6.0 percent growth, he added. This country has the potential to hit 7.0% GDP growth.
Pakistan summoned on Thursday Bangladeshi envoy over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, who was hanged on Tuesday over war crimes during the 1971 separation movement.

Nizami was sent to gallows after the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected his plea to review the death penalty. Jamaat opposed the separation movement.

The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a strong protest was lodged at the unfortunate hanging of Motiur Rahman Nizami on the alleged crimes committed before December 1971 through a flawed judicial process, a foreign ministry statement reads.

The attempts by the Government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, despite our keen desire to develop brotherly relations with it, are regrettable, the statement said.

Pakistan recalled to the envoy that the 1974 Tripartite Agreement was the cornerstone of relations between the two countries and that, as part of the Agreement, Bangladeshi government decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency.

In an earlier statement the Foreign Ministry stated that Pakistan was following the reaction of the international community and human rights organisations to the controversial trials in Bangladesh related to events of 1971.

The Bangladesh Jamaat said last week that Nizami was innocent as he had no links with war crimes in 1971. The party also said Nizami was deprived of justice.

In Pakistan, Jammat-e-Islami staged rallies in major cities to condemn Niazmis execution.

Pakistani parliament also criticized the execution in a resolution on Wednesday.
Italys parliament approved same-sex civil unions and gave some rights to unmarried heterosexual couples on Wednesday after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called a confidence vote to force the bill into law.

Italy is the last major Western country to legally recognise gay couples and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzis ruling majority.

The bill had faced stiff opposition from Catholic groups who said it went too far, while gay activists said it was too timid.

While parliament was voting, gay rights groups gathered outside with a banner reading: This is just the beginning.

Today is a day of celebration in which Italy has taken a step forwards, Renzi said in a radio interview after the legislation was approved.

The 41-year-old premier promised to prioritise legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014, but the bill has proven to be one of the most contested of a raft of initiatives he has pushed through parliament.

The bill, originally presented in 2013, cleared its final real hurdle earlier on Wednesday with the confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies, which passed it by 369 votes to 193. The chamber then rubber-stamped the bill with a final ballot.

There is still a long way to go for full equality but this is an excellent starting point, said Gabriele Piazzoni, president of gay rights group Arcigay.

The bill gives gay couples the right to share a surname, draw on their partners pension when they die and inherit each others assets in the same way as married people.

Still work to do

There is still work to do on adoptions ... There is still work to do on lots of areas that still exclude a section of Italian citizens, Monica Cirinna, a senator from Renzis centre-left Democratic Party who gave her name to the original bill, told state TV RAI outside parliament.

Co-habiting unmarried couples get the right to be treated as each others next of kin if one partner is taken ill, dies or is imprisoned. They also get some rights to a shared home.

Both homosexual and heterosexual couples may also have the right to try to claim alimony at the end of a relationship.

It was the second time the bill was put to a confidence vote, which is called to curtail debate, having been approved in the upper house Senate in the same way three months ago.

The stepchild adoption clause was arguably the most disputed aspect of the bill. It stoked outrage among social conservatives and Catholics who saw it as a step towards legalising surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy.

The new legislation allows courts to grant homosexuals parental rights regarding each others children in certain circumstances, a practice which has led to a handful of recent rulings in favour of homosexual parents.

A survey conducted shortly after the bill passed the Senate suggested it reflected the views of most Italians.

Shortly after the vote, deputies from conservative opposition parties said they would call for a referendum to cancel the new legislation.
The largest-ever contingent of members of Canadas Parliament have signed on to be part of the Canada-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, the latest iteration of which was constituted in Ottawa on Wednesday.

The group will be chaired by Chandra Arya, an Indo-Canadian MP in the House of Commons from the Liberal Party and a native of Bengaluru. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Arya said it was quite a privilege to chair the group that has almost 80 members.

I think this is the biggest ever, he said.

The meeting for the new group was convened by the senior-most Conservative in the House of Commons, Deepak Obhrai. The members cut across party lines, drawing from the three major Canadian parties  the ruling Liberals, the Conservatives and the NDP.

Members from both chambers of Canadas Parliament, the Senate and the House of Commons, have joined the group. Among them is Canadas infrastructure and communities minister Amarjeet Sohi.

This group is the equivalent of the India Caucus in Washington.

Arya said it will act as a facilitator to strengthen relations between Canada and India and strive to shape the socio-economic and political dynamic between the two nations. He identified as a priority working on the free trade agreement between the countries.

He also said the group will work on several fronts ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus forthcoming visit to India.

Wednesdays meeting was later also attended by Indian High Commissioner Vishnu Prakash, who told Hindustan Times: I am delighted at the overwhelming support for even closer India-Canada ties among the distinguished parliamentarians, which reflects the dynamism, depth and potential of our bilateral relationship.

The group has five vice-presidents. Among them are Liberal members of the House of Commons Salma Zaid and Ruby Sahota, as well as Conservative Bob Saroya. The two vice-presidents from the Senate are Conservative Daniel Lang and Liberal Pana Merchant.

Arya said he will initiate the process of converting the group into an association so it can formally establish parliament-to-parliament relations with India.

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Troubled relations between Nepal and India nosedived after a leading daily on Thursday carried a report about a meeting between Binaya Kumar, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, with several Madhesi leaders outside Kathmandu.

The media report in Thursdays edition of The Kantipur stated that Kumar reportedly asked Madhesi leaders about their upcoming protest in Kathmandu and urged them to increase participation of Madhesi people to press their demands over the constitution.

Kumar reportedly held meetings with Madhesi leaders in Rajbiraj, in Saptari district and one of the major hubs of the Madhesi agitation, on the pretext of a social programme and held meetings with agitating Madhes-based leaders at a local hotel on Tuesday evening.

Refuting the media report, the Indian Embassy said in a statement: Kantipur report on DCMs visit to Saptari is a piece of Yellow Journalism. No political issues were discussed during his visit.

The news report has triggered a huge debate on social media and the opinions are divided.

Some say the move is natural given the ties between Nepal and India, while others have criticised the meeting saying that Madhes-based leaders have access to the Indian embassy officials.

The Madhes parties are preparing to launch a Kathmandu centric protest from next week over the constitution, which they say discriminates against them.

Madhesis, who live in the Terai region bordering India, comprise half the population of Nepal.

The report is a mischievous effort to create controversies, the Indian Embassy said in its statement.

However, the newspaper stood by its report and published photos of Kumars meeting with Madhesi leaders in Rajbiraj, the headquarters of Saptari district.

Holding agitation is your fundamental rights, Kumar reportedly told the Madhes-based leaders according to the report. You have to increase your participation in Kathmandu-centric agitation so that the state can hear and will initiate to fulfill your demands, he is reported to have said.

The Indian official was in Saptari to discuss the progress of the India-financed projects in the area.

Some of the Madhesi leaders who had met Kumar gave their statement on record to The Kantipur journalist and shared the content of the meeting.

Besides leaders, local Nepal government officials also went to meet Kumar in the hotel where he was staying where they forgot the protocol too, the report said.

However, the Indian Embassy has warned that such reports would harm Nepal-India ties.

Kantipurs report may harm India-Nepal relations. Readers deserve better from the mass media, the statement said.

In Nepal, leaders from across the spectrum and political fraternity do meet the Indian ambassador and Indian Embassy officials and India and Nepal also share several cultural, historical, political and other ties.
A year after two devastating earthquakes struck the country, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli unveiled a plan on Thursday to complete all reconstruction work within five years.

Presenting the plan in Parliament, Oli said the country will need around $8 billion to rebuild houses and infrastructure. The amount is higher than the previous estimate of $6 billion.

The increased estimate follows a fresh assessment of destroyed and damaged houses, office buildings, schools, hospitals and heritage structures.

This plan would give a clear roadmap to government, non-government and donor agencies on issues related to reconstruction and rehabilitation, Oli said.

The government has been criticised by international agencies for failing to prepare a plan to use the $4.1 billion assured by donors and friendly countries in June last year.

The quakes on April 25 and May 12 claimed nearly 9,000 lives and destroyed more than 800,000 houses. More than 700,000 affected families are still living in makeshift tents and shelters in the 14 worst affected districts.

The first instalments of compensation of $1,900 for each damaged house, which the government had announced a year ago, were distributed just last month.

Oli survived a bid to topple his government earlier this month after the Maoists, a key coalition partner, accused him of failing to do anything for earthquake reconstruction and implementing the countrys new Constitution.

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The India-UK extradition treaty came into effect on December 30, 1993, but so far no high-profile individual wanted by India has been extradited from here, making it unlikely that controversial businessman Vijay Mallya would be extradited after an arduous process.

India is included in Type B of Category 2 list of countries in Britains Extradition Act of 2003. A treaty between the two countries was signed in 1992 when SB Chavan was the Union home minister, and it came into effect from 1993.

The process to extradite Mallya is long, with several options for appeal. Article 5 of the treaty specifically mentions that extradition may be refused if the offence is of a political character. British courts also consider whether the individuals human rights may be violated in case she/he is returned to the requesting country.

A senior leader in the British Indian community told HT that in Mallyas case too, India is unlikely to be successful: In a different context, Tiger Hanif has been sought by India since 2010 for his role in the 1993 Gujarat blasts, he has exhausted all legal options to avoid extradition, but he has still not been extradited.

It depends on the many boxes in the extradition process and whether they are ticked; very few manage to pass all the hoops. The Mallya case is also a test for both Narendra Modi and David Cameron after the bonhomie of his November visit, he added.

Indians who could not be brought home to face justice include Ravi Sankaran in the navy war room leak case, former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, and music director Nadeem Saifi, wanted in the Gulshan Kumar murder case. India has also been demanding the extradition of Briton Raymond Varley to face child abuse charges in Goa.

The Home Office said it did not publish figures of individuals extradited to India since the treaty was signed. In 2007, India extradited Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who was convicted of killing teenager Hannah Foster in Southampton in 2003 and had fled to India.

Besides various appeal options, Mallya, reported to be a UK resident since 1992, also has the option of applying for a UK passport or applying for the Tier 1 Investors visa that enables stay by investing 5 million pounds in the British economy.

An extradition request from India needs decisions by both the Home secretary as well as the courts. The process follows these steps: extradition request is made to the Home secretary; the secretary decides whether to certify the request; judge decides whether to issue a warrant for arrest; the person wanted is arrested and brought before the court; preliminary hearing; extradition hearing; and finally the Home secretary decides whether to order extradition.

Tiger Hanifs final appeal to avoid extradition is awaiting a decision by Home secretary Theresa May for the last several years. Such individuals have also used the last recourse of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights to avoid extradition.

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Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif confirmed on Thursday the death penalty given by the military courts to five hardcore al-Qaeda terrorists involved in the killing of 45 Shia Ismaili Muslims, murder of social activist Sabeen Mehmood and attacks on law enforcing agencies.

In a statement, the army said the five were tried and found guilty by the military courts which were set up soon after Peshawar school attack of December 16, 2014 for speedy trial of terrorists.

Today Chief of Army Staff (Gen Sharif) confirmed death sentences awarded to five hardcore terrorists, the army said.

It said that they were involved in Safoora Chowrangi bus attack, IED blast near Saleh Masjid, killing of social worker Sabeen and attacks on law enforcing agencies in Karachi.

Kalashnikov-wielding militants donning police uniforms had killed 45 Shia Ismaili Muslims - 26 men and 17 women, shooting them in the head inside their bus on May 13 last year in the Safoora Chowrangi attack in Karachi.

The attack was claimed by the dreaded terror outfit ISIS, their first strike in the region.

The convicts include Tahir Hussain Minhas, Saad Aziz, Asad ur Rehman, Hafiz Nasir and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat.

These convicts were tried by military courts, the statement added.

According to the militarys wing, these five convicts were active members of al-Qaeda.

After endorsement of their deaths by the army chief, the last legal hurdle in the way of hanging has been crossed.

Among convicts is Saad Aziz - a BBA graduate from the Pakistans prestigious Institute of Business Administration.

Saad has confessed to masterminding the murder of Sabeen, a prominent rights activist and co-founder and director of The Second Floor, who was shot dead in Karachi in April last year.
Among the dozens of offshore companies that figure in the Panama Papers leaks is one incorporated in the Bahamas in the name of four relatives of disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan at a time when his proliferation activities were at their peak.

Wahdat Limited was registered in the Bahamas on January 21, 1998 and its owners are listed as Abdul Quiyum Khan of Karachi, and Hendrina Khan, Dina Khan and Ayesha Khan of Islamabad.

Abdul Quiyum Khan is the elder brother of 80-year-old Khan. He died in Karachi after a prolonged illness in February 2010.

Hendrina is the South Africa-born Dutch woman who married Khan in 1964. Dina and Ayesha are their two daughters who were born when the couple lived in the Netherlands.

According to the database of papers from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, Wahdat Limited became inactive nearly two years after its incorporation. Its address is listed as ILS Fiduciaries, Milennium House, Victoria Road, Douglas, Isle of Man.

There has been speculation for long that Khan used a string of front companies and offshore firms to handle the millions of dollars he allegedly received as payment from countries such as Libya, Iran and North Korea for clandestine transfers of nuclear equipment and know-how.

Reports have also suggested that these front companies were used by Khan to move around the money that was given to him by the Pakistan government to procure components to be used in centrifuges and other gear that propelled the countrys nuclear weapons programme.

Wahdat Limited was incorporated at a time when Khan was allegedly involved in proliferating nuclear technology to Iran and Libya. A lengthy expose by Time magazine in 2005 said a key member of Khans network had told investigators that Iranian contacts had once dropped off two suitcases containing $3 million in cash in the scientists apartment as a payment.

Khan also used Dubai gold dealers in the late 1990s to launder the profits from his network. According to the Pakistan governments admission, Khan travelled to Dubai 41 times from 1999.

According to reports, Khan never made much effort to hide his wealth. He reportedly acquired dozens of properties in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, and once invested in a hotel in Timbuktu that was named after his wife.

Hendrina, also known as Henny, reportedly played a key role in Khans initial efforts to acquire nuclear know-how for Pakistan while he was studying metallurgical engineering in the Netherlands and Belgium in the early 1970s.

According to testimony in a Dutch court that gave Khan a four-year prison term in absentia in 1983 after convicting him for espionage, the scientist hastily left the Netherlands in 1975 when he realised officials had found out he was stealing centrifuge designs and technical literature from Urenco, the nuclear company he was working for.

Khan had Hendrina collect blueprints of the Dutch centrifuge technology and bring them back to Pakistan, according to the court testimony.

Since Khan confessed on Pakistans state-run television about his clandestine proliferation ring in 2004, the government has refused to allow investigators from the US or the International Atomic Energy Agency to question him. Khan was placed under house arrest after confession.

The restrictions imposed on Khan by the government were eased from 2008 onwards and the scientist subsequently retracted his confession, saying he had acted on the orders of the military.

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Pakistan acknowledged on Thursday that its relations with the US has seen a downward slide, including the move by Congress to block a subsidy for the sale of eight F-16 combat jets.

Making a statement during a debate in the Senate or upper house of parliament on the F-16 sale, foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said the problems in bilateral ties might have been caused by the concerns raised by the US on the nuclear issue that were categorically rejected by Pakistan.

Aziz gave an account of Pakistan-US ties in recent years and said relations had come to a near complete standstill during 2011-2012 because of incidents such as the leak of secret US diplomatic cables and the US raid in Abbottabad that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. However, the relations witnessed an upward trajectory since 2013.

In the past three months, however, this upward trajectory in the relationship has witnessed a downward slide, as reflected in the decision of the US Congress to block partial funding for 8 F-16 aircraft through the use of FMF (Foreign Military Financing), he said.

The US had recently said Pakistan would have to pay in full if it wanted to go through with the nearly $700 million deal for the F-16s. Pakistan was to get a $429 million subsidy for the jets.

An angry Pakistan has said it will consider other options if it cannot buy the F-16s.

A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takes off on a combat sortie from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, on September 6, 2015. (AFP)

Read: Need modern F-16 jets, but without conditions from US, says Pakistan

We have also rejected the frequent demand, specially from the US Congress, for release of Mr Shakil Afridi, Aziz said, referring to the Pakistani doctor who was arrested on charges of helping the CIA in the hunt for bin Laden.

The US officials, Congress, think tanks and media, in tandem with our adversaries, have also been blaming Pakistan for supporting the Haqqani Network without providing any concrete evidence to enable us take additional action against the HQN or other terrorist organisations, he added.

The latest spring offensive by the Afghan Taliban, including the massive attack in Kabul on April 19, further aggravated the already bleak security situation in Afghanistan, he said.

The Afghan Government and the US media have started casting shadows on the Quadrilateral Coordination Group process. Pakistan has been impressing upon the US and Afghan side that the reconciliation process needs to be given a fair chance and more time. Irreconcilable elements can be targeted after concerted efforts of negotiations have failed, Aziz added.

Aziz also blamed the US election fever and ongoing debates during the presidential campaign for putting considerable pressure on the tricky situation in our region. He claimed the Indian lobby in the US was highly pro-active in adding fuel to the fire, especially after the attack on Pathankot airbase.

We have forcefully rejected Indian objections to the sale of 8 F-16s to Pakistan and drawn attention to the wide-ranging defence deals concluded between India and the US during US defence secretarys recent visit to India. We have also emphasised the importance of maintaining strategic stability in South Asia, he said.

Aziz said Pakistan is engaged in a dialogue with American stakeholders to assuage US concerns and is hopeful of maintaining the positive trend in bilateral relations.
More than 40 tourists, many of them elderly Chinese, were recovering on Thursday after jumping into life rafts when the catamaran they were aboard caught fire in Australia.

The Spirit of 1770 got into trouble 10 nautical miles off the coastal town of 1770 following a day-trip to Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef, apparently when a fire started in the engine room.

The local Gladstone Observer newspaper said the 42 passengers and four crew abandoned ship and jumped into the water before swimming to life rafts late Wednesday.

They drifted for several hours before three rescue boats arrived and ferried them ashore, where pictures showed them huddled under blankets as they were treated by paramedics.

Of the 46 people on board, 19 received treatment for non-life threatening injuries at hospitals in Bundaberg and Gladstone, Queensland police said in a statement.

The vessel caught fire around 4pm (on Wednesday) and was subsequently abandoned around 4.30pm prompting a search and rescue operation. Investigations into the incident are continuing.

The Observer said many of the tourists were elderly Chinese, with others from Canada, New Zealand and Britain.

English traveller Gemma Sargent said she was woken by people shouting about the fire.

All of a sudden the captain goes Get off the boat! and Im looking at him thinking How?, she told Seven News.

Everyone literally got shoved off whether you could swim or not.

Lady Musgrave Island, a coral cay, is a popular tourist destination some 500 kilometres (310 miles) north of Brisbane and is only reachable by boat.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrived in Washington for an unusual tete-a-tete on Thursday with Paul Ryan, the countrys top elected Republican, to see if they can begin healing fissures in the party created by Trumps insurgent candidacy.

Party leaders are normally eager to rally around a presidential nominee in order to unite forces for the general election battle. But Ryan, the U.S. House of Representatives speaker, has withheld his endorsement of Trump out of concern over his incendiary tone and policy ideas that run counter to deeply held Republican doctrine.

Both Trump, the presumptive nominee, and Ryan struck a conciliatory tone before their 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) meeting at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee, a session that will include RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, a Ryan friend who wants unity for the party.

I have a lot of respect for Paul Ryan, Trump said on Wednesday on Fox News Channels Fox and Friends. Well see what happens. If we make a deal, that will be great. And if we dont, we will trudge forward like Ive been doing and winning, you know, all the time.

Trump last week became the presumptive nominee for the Nov. 8 election after his remaining rivals, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, dropped out. His likely general election rival is Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Ryan told reporters on Wednesday he just wanted to get to know Trump.

There is plenty of room for different policy disputes in this party. We come from different wings of the party. The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles so we can go forward unified, Ryan said.

Ryan was the running mate with 2012 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, a harsh Trump critic.

The meeting was not expected to lead to an immediate endorsement by Ryan, who opposes Trumps proposals to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States, deport 11 million illegal immigrants and impose protectionist trade policies. Trump has also sent mixed signals on whether he would raise taxes if elected.

The billionaire New York businessman and former reality television star has shown little inclination to change tactics and policy positions that have carried him to the cusp of the presidential nomination.

Trump will also meet with Senate Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and other House Republican leaders. A chief concern among congressional Republicans is whether Trump will be a strong enough candidate in the November election to ensure the party maintains control of Congress.

While a number of elected Republicans say they would not be willing to serve as Trumps running mate, Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and presidential hopeful, did not rule it out. I would certainly talk about it, Gingrich told Fox News late Wednesday.

U.S. Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, a Republican moderate, told reporters that Ryan had struck the right tone so far in reflecting the sentiment of those Republicans who carry lingering concerns about Trump.

A number of us are concerned about the lack of policy positions that he (Trump) has presented. The few that he has are often conflicting or contradictory. Combine that with the incendiary statements on POWs, the disabled, Muslims, Hispanics, women, its a cause for concern, Dent said.

U.S. Representative Steve King, an Iowa Republican who backed Cruz in the primary race, said Trump needed to acknowledge the conservative bent of the Republican Party. Im saying again to Donald Trump: Reach out to the conservatives, start that process, recognize youre not going to be elected president without it, King said on MSNBC.

Republican strategist Doug Heye said Trump has a high bar to convince skeptical party loyalists about his candidacy.

Its not so much about trade or what his tax plan will be, Heye said. Its the broader messaging that for the past eight months has told women and minority communities throughout the country that the Republican front-runner doesnt want them, doesnt need them and doesnt care about them.

U.S. Representative John Fleming of Louisiana, a Republican favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement who supports Trump, said the Ryan-Trump meeting would begin the process of unifying the party, which may last until the July 18-21 nominating convention in Cleveland.

I really think everything has to be resolved by the end of the convention, he said.
A twin suicide bombing hit a police station on Thursday in Baghdads westernmost suburb, killing at least five policemen, said Iraqi officials.

The attack comes a day after the deadliest violence in Baghdad this year killed 93 people across the Iraqi capital and wounded 165 in a wave of bombings that was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Read: 94 killed in Baghdad triple car bombings, IS claims responsibility

A police officer said that two suicide bombers hit the station in the western suburb of Abu Ghraib at dawn. The first bomber blew himself up at the stations gate, followed by the second who detonated his explosives inside the building, he added.

The explosion also left 12 policemen wounded.

A medical official confirmed causality figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to release information.
Why deliver a pizza to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

Because its there, and, for Pizza Hut, also to celebrate its new store in Tanzania, the African nation where Mt. Kilimanjaro rises more than 19,340 feet.

With a multi-day ascent that ended May 8, a team of employees and Randall Blackford, general Manager of Pizza Hut Africa, landed the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude pizza delivery.

The team was led by professional guides to the top, where slices of pepperoni pizza were passed around.

Pizza Hut, with its entry into Tanzania, is now in the triple digits as far as the countries that have access to the chains bacon spinach alfredo pizza with a bacon-stuffed crust, and other sumptuous concoctions.
He was perhaps the most celebrated naval historian of his era, an influential promoter of United States naval and commercial expansion during Americas rise to world power in the late nineteenth century. As the author of numerous articles and books, including the landmark The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, Alfred Thayer Mahan was widely regarded as a brilliant naval theorist. From his writings, readers would never have guessed, however, that the renowned champion of the United States Navy hated the sea, and while an active-duty naval officer, lived in constant fear of ocean storms and colliding ships.

Mahans fear of accidents at sea was not unfounded. During a forty-year naval career that began as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1856, he was involved in numerous maritime mishaps. As a young first lieutenant in 1861, Mahan was named the executive officer of Captain Percival Draytons 11-gun USS Pocahontas, and immediately set a dubious standard for his budding career. Captain Drayton was familiar with his new junior officer and noted in his diary that Mahan was young enough not to have too fixed ways and is quite clever. Drayton, however, had never seen Mahan handle a ship.

On November 7, 1861, a small Union fleet assaulted Fort Walker at Port Royal, South Carolina, a Confederate stronghold on the edge of Draytons hometown that was commanded, as chance would have it, by his brother Thomas. Delayed by a storm and mechanical problems, the Pocahontas arrived on the scene after the other ships had pounded the fort into submission. As his vessel moved through the water to join the rest of the flotilla in Port Royal Sound, Lieutenant Mahan became engrossed in observing his superior officer, who was deep in thought over the fate of his defeated brother inside the pulverized fort. Mahan enjoyed studying human emotions and expressions, but as the Pocahontass deck officer that day, he should have been watching the direction in which his ship was drifting. Suddenly, the Pocahontas slammed into the anchored Union sloop Seminole. The vain executive officer deflected any blame for his slip-up by suggesting that the fault lay with his superior, Captain Drayton, who, he sarcastically noted, had done a good deal of staff duty; had less than the usual deck habit of his period.

Following this incident, Mahan served ten months on blockade duty before the Navy Department assigned him to teach seamanship at the Naval Academy, which had been transferred from Annapolis, Maryland, to Newport, Rhode Island, as a wartime precaution. Mahans effectiveness as a teacher of seamanship proved to be as questionable as his own ability to handle a ship; he later recalled the humiliation and bad luck of having to teach subjects such as knotting, which he considered unworthy of his time. Mahan, who rated himself intellectually superior to almost everyone, was not well liked by his students, and during his 13 months in Newport, he rapidly began to dislike his chosen profession.

Mahan reluctantly returned to sea duty and soon built upon the shaky record he had established while serving on the Pocahontas. His lack of confidence in handling ships was apparent from his reaction to a successful, routine maneuver in 1869. Returning from target practice in the Pacific Ocean aboard the USS Iroquois, Mahan managed to bring his ship back into Japans Yokohama Harbor without hitting another vessel. Vanity excited, he wrote of the experience on the Iroquois, which was, however, an exception, not the rule.

In 1874, Mahan ran the USS Wasp into a barge at the ships anchorage in Montevideo, Uruguay. He also was responsible for doing slight damage to an Argentinean warship during a storm off Buenos Aires on November 3, 1874. More embarrassing than these accidents, however, was the time that Mahan clumsily wedged the Wasp into a dry dock caisson at Montevideo, where it remained stuck for ten days. This absurd episode prompted Mahan-biographer Robert Seager II to comment that Alfred Thayer Mahan may be the only commanding officer in the history of the U.S. Navy rendered hors de combat by a dry dock.

Only his family and his few friends ever knew about the emotional and physical turmoil that enveloped Mahan each time he took command of a ship. On one occasion he confessed to his wife Ellen that he sometimes feared breaking down under the uncongenial load of the captains labor. You have no idea, he said, how hard it is to keep these ships straight. Mahan well knew, and often admitted later in life, that he had chosen the wrong career. Nonetheless, he persevered.

Soon after Mahan took command of the USS Wachusett in 1883, he added to his unfortunate record, according to a young officer aboard named Hugh Rodman, by colliding with a bark under sail, which without question had the right of way. It was our duty to keep clear. The astonishing accident, Rodman later remembered, occurred on a smooth sea in broad daylight. The greatest naval strategist the world has ever known, he wrote, was not a good seaman. The other vessel was sighted broad off our starboard bow, distant several miles. Yet we collided with her and were badly damaged . . . . Rodman also recalled that when another of the Wachusetts officers was questioned about the unnecessary collision, he sarcastically replied, Why, the Pacific Ocean wasnt big enough for us to keep out of the other fellows way.

Commander Mahan remained with the Wachusett until the old warship was mercifully decommissioned in September 1885, after which he began a stint lecturing on naval tactics and history at the newly-established Naval War College in Newport. By the time Mahan took charge of his last command, the USS Chicago, in 1893, he had been regularly shifted back and forth between sea duty and classroom assignments. Although he much preferred life on land, this situation helped neither his self-confidence nor his skills in navigating a ship.

With each mishap at sea, Mahan felt greater stress. He often asked his wife to pray for him that he may be upheld through the remnant of the cruise. Aboard the Chicago, Captain Mahan seldom left the bridge when in the vicinity of other vessels, and his self-induced anxiety caused him constant stomach irritation. His powerful fear of the sea and possible collisions with other ships left him close to a nervous breakdown and caused him to begin to consider seriously an early retirement.

On May 27, 1893, Mahans fears were once again realized. In a minor accident, the Chicago, with Mahan on the bridge, had a brush with the USS Bancroft, a Naval Academy training ship, at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn. Neither vessel was seriously damaged, but this latest mishap unnerved Mahan and kept intact his record of having grounded, collided, or otherwise embarrassed every ship (save the Iroquois) he ever commanded.

Shortly after the Chicago-Bancroft collision, Mahan injured his knee and lower leg, causing him to be placed on the restricted-duty list. It was a welcome respite for the commander, who had grown weary of the active pursuit of the sea and its new naval monsters. His recuperation also kept him out of trouble. He reported with some relief to his daughter, Ellen, on July 9, 1893: The doctor says I must go on the sick list for a fortnight and keep my leg perfectly quiet, so if the Chicago does anything amiss in that time I shall not be the culprit.

While the injured captain was on leave, the Chicago was involved in another collision. The captain of the British tanker Azov crashed his ship into the Chicago as it was anchored in the Scheldt Estuary in the Netherlands. Mahans crewobviously well drilled in emergency proceduresprevented major damage to their unlucky ship by quickly plugging the gashes left by the tanker.

By early December 1894, Mahan had had enough. For several years he had been writing with much success, when time permitted. He knew that his greatest accomplishments would come not as a naval officer, but as a writer and historian. Few of the men who had actively served with him could argue with the logic of this conclusion. By the time of his death in 1914, Mahans reputation had long transcended the limited circles of the U.S. Navy. His true talents as a naval strategist and historian were borne out in the 137 scholarly articles and 20 books he had written, and his The Influence of Sea Power had altered modern naval planning.

It is ironic that one so knowledgeable about naval warfare could at the same time serve for forty accident-prone years on the vast seas that he feared and detested. But his long-forgotten legacy of reckless and almost comical seamanship has rightly been dwarfed by the tremendous positive effect he had on the U.S. Navy.

This article was written by Donald Lankiewicz and originally published in the February 1997 issue of American History Magazine. For more great articles, subscribe to American History magazine today!
Of all the fallen heroes of the epic, three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, this Union soldier was unique. He had not led a charge, nor captured an enemy flag, nor rescued a comrade under fire. Instead, his fame rested on his dying act of devotion and love; his death pose made his story special.

Found after the battle, in a secluded spot in the town near the intersection of Stratton and York Streets, the soldier bore nothing on his person to identify him. But clutched in his hand was an ambrotype photograph of three young children. In his final moments, he had fixed his gaze on the image of his beloved little ones, and carried the sight with him into death. The picture was freed from his frozen grip, and he was buried in an unknowns grave.

The girl who found the dead soldierthe daughter of a local tavern keeper named Benjamin Schrivergave the small glass-plate photograph to her father. Before long, the touching picture became a conversation piece at his tavern in Graeffenburg, a village about a dozen miles west of Gettysburg. There the ambrotype likely would have passed into obscurity, a forgotten barroom curiosity, had it not been for a fortuitous accident.

Four men on their way to Gettysburg to care for the wounded in the aftermath of the battle were forced to stop at Graeffenburg when their wagon broke down. On a visit to Schrivers tavern, they heard the tale of the fallen soldier and saw the ambrotype of the children. One of the men, a Philadelphia physician named John Francis Bourns, immediately realized that the photograph was the single, sad clue to the soldiers identity. Intrigued, Bourns convinced Schriver to give him the photograph so that he might attempt to locate the dead mans family.

After seeing to it during his stay in Gettysburg that the soldiers grave was well marked, Dr. Bourns returned to his Philadelphia home, where he put his plan into action. First, he had the ambrotype copied by several photographers, producing hundreds of inexpensive duplicates in the carte de visite format. (Such paper photographic prints, mounted on Bristol board about the size of a calling card, had become popular during the early 1860s, and albums filled with the small pictures were a common sight in American parlors.) Having a ready supply of copies of the image was an important part of the doctors plan because photographs could not be reproduced in newspapers of the day, and it was through newspapers that he planned to spread the story of the dead soldier and his ambrotype.

The Philadelphia Inquirer carried such an account on October 19, 1863, under the headline, Whose Father Was He? The article began by describing the final act of the unknown soldier. How touching! how solemn! the anonymous writer declared. What pen can describe the emotions of this patriot-father as he gazed upon these children, so soon to be made orphans! The column continued with a detailed description of the childrens appearance, Dr. Bournss address, and a request for newspapers throughout the country to spread the story.

Many papers across the North reprinted the Inquirer article verbatim; others published their own versions. A Philadelphia religious journal, the American Presbyterian, ran the story on October 29. Several days later, a single copy of that paper made its way to a subscriber in Portville, New York, a small town on the Allegheny River in the western part of the state. The issues owner passed the paper on for others in the community to read, and eventually it reached Mrs. Philinda Humiston, the mother of eight-year-old Franklin, six-year-old Alice, and four-year-old Frederick.

In early November, Dr. Bourns received a letter from Portvilles postmaster, written on behalf of Mrs. Humiston. Several months earlier, the letter said, she had sent her husband a photograph of their three children, just like the one described in the American Presbyterian, and she had heard nothing from him since the Battle of Gettysburg.

In response, the doctor rushed a carte de visite to Philinda Humiston in Portville. When the picture arrived, she stared at the three familiar faces and realized that she was now a widow, and that little Frank, Alice, and Fred were fatherless. And so Gettysburgs mysterious, unknown soldier could now be identified as Sergeant Amos Humiston of the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The American Presbyterian broke the news on November 19, 1863the same day that President Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg.

Soon after news of Sergeant Humistons identification passed from newspaper to newspaper across the North, it was announced that Dr. Bourns would travel to Portville to return the ambrotype to the Humiston family and to present them with the proceeds from the sale of hundreds of copies of the carte de visite.

On January 2, 1864, Bourns, accompanied by the Reverend Isaac G. Ogden of the Portville Presbyterian Church and a small group from the town, visited the Humiston home. When the doctor handed the bloodstained ambrotype to Philinda, Ogden noted, her hands shook like an aspen leaf, but by a strong effort she retained her composure. After giving the children some presents and visiting with their mother for a while, the visitors knelt with the family in prayer, little Fred next to his new friend, the doctor. Before leaving, Bourns presented Philinda with the profits from the sale of copies of the picture.

The following day, at a meeting held at the Portville Presbyterian Church, Reverend Ogden and Dr. Bourns were among those who addressed a packed house. The doctor read a poem titled, The Unknown Soldier! Who Is He? by William H. Hayward, the first of many versions of the story that would be told in verse. Before the meeting closed, Dr. Bourns sold additional copies of the famous photograph and presented the resulting purse to Mrs. Humiston.

The Portville events received a great deal of coverage in the press. Yet, despite all the newspaper and magazine publicity, the late Amos Humiston remained somewhat of an unknown. Reverend Ogden recorded a few biographical detailsno doubt provided by Philinda Humistonwhich were published in the American Presbyterian and reprinted elsewhere. A brief sketch of Amoss life, published in the New York State Bureau of Military Statistics Annual Report, also found its way into the newspapers. But most accounts ignored Amoss earlier life, choosing instead to present him only as a corpse on the Gettysburg battlefield. In its January 2, 1864, edition, for example, the popular Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper ran a fanciful woodcut, complete with dead horses and circling vultures, which was entitled, The Last Thought of a Dying Father. The brief, accompanying article described what the paper called one of the most touching scenes of the battlefield of Gettysburg, but it neglected to name the devoted father, referring to him simply as a volunteer from New York.

Throughout the subsequent decades, as his touching tale was told and retold, Humiston remained only a dead soldier, locked by time and rigor mortis on a Pennsylvania battlefield, an ambrotype of his children in his hand. Only in recent years have details of his life emerged. While Amos Humiston will always be remembered for the way he died, today we can also remember the life of the man who was destined to personify familial love and devotion.

Born in Owego, Tioga County, New York, on April 26, 1830, Amos spent his boyhood in that Susquehanna River town. Like his own children, he and his older brother and sisters lost their father while very young, Ambrose Humiston having died in 1837. Their mother Mary rewed, and the children grew up in the home of Philander Boice. Tragedy struck Amos again when his sister Maria drowned in a mill pond.

After attending the local school, Amos followed his brother Morris into an apprenticeship as a harness maker. For years, the Humiston boys studied the craft of cutting, finishing, and stitching leather to fashion harnesses. When Morris completed his apprenticeship in 1848, he opened a shop in the nearby town of Candor. Amos apparently finished his apprenticeship two years later, at age twenty. But when the younger Humiston pondered the prospect of spending the rest of his life as a harness maker, he had second thoughts. Instead of joining Morriss business or opening his own shop, Amos left Tioga County and embarked on his first great adventure.

In November 1850, he signed a whalemans shipping paper in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and committed himself to sail as a green handa man who had never been to seaaboard Captain John Keen Hatheways ship, Harrison. Amos and the ships thirty other crewmen were among the approximately 19,000 seamen manning American whalers that year.

It was the golden age of whaling in the United States, and New Bedford was the trades capital. Whaling ships sailed from the bustling port to all points of the compass, returning with the oil of sperm and right whales to light the countrys lamps and lubricate its machines, and whalebone to shape its hoops, umbrellas, and corsets. During two weeks in port before the Harrison sailed, Amos observed a town filled with the whaling industrys colorful characters, including the notorious landsharks, who often impressed reluctant recruits into signing on to a ship.

The Harrison weighed anchor on December 12, 1850, and almost three-and-a-half years passed before she returned to her home port. Amos and his fellow crewmen endured month after month of bad food, raging storms, backbreaking labor, and the dangers associated with hunting whales. Days and weeks sometimes passed with nothing in sight but the boundless blue. Then came flurries of activityencounters with other ships, sightings of whales, the lowering of whaleboats, and the chase: often successful, but sometimes resulting in smashed boats and injured men.

Following the typical pattern of New England whalers, the Harrison spent the summers cruising the whaling grounds of the North Pacific, and the winter months along the equator and in the South Pacific. Captain Hatheway and his crew had only moderate success until the summer of 1853, when the Harrison, passing through the Kuril Islands off Russias eastern coast into the frigid Sea of Okhotsk, found a bountiful supply of bowhead and right whales. Amos and the rest of the crew took 18 whales between late May and early September. It was a summer of ice and fog and blood and oil, and the ship left the Okhotsk waters with a full load. After a final stop in the Sandwich Islands, as the Hawaiian Archipelago was then called, the Harrison and her crew sailed for home in November. They reached New Bedford five months later.

The Harrisons cargo of oil and whalebone was worth approximately $65,000, of which three-quarters went to the ships owners. Captain Hatheway and his men divided the remainder, with lower ranks receiving lesser amounts and green hands getting the smallest shares. After various deductions, Amos Humistons lay probably amounted to about $200, or only 17 cents per day, for forty months of hard and often dangerous work.

One voyage aboard a whaler was enough for Amos: harness making no longer looked so bad. He pocketed his meager earnings and headed home to Tioga County. And soon after his return, he fell in love.

Philinda Smith was a year younger than Amos, and the two met when she was visiting with relatives in Morris Humistons adopted town of Candor. Following a whirlwind courtship, Amos and Philinda were married on July 4, 1854, at Morriss house. Their three children arrived at regular intervals and seem to have marked the Humistons movement westward. Franklin was born at Candor in 1855; Alice, about 60 miles to the west, at Adrian, New York, in 1857; and Frederick, in Portville, about 45 miles farther west, in 1859. Finally ready to settle down, Amos opened a harness shop in Portville with George W. Lillie, a boyhood neighbor from Owego.

When the rebellion first took the form of open war upon the country, [Amos] was anxious to enlist, Reverend Ogden later wrote, but his duty to his family seemed then to be paramount to his duty to his country. However, in July 1862, President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 three-year volunteers. Assured by townsmen that his family would be cared for in his absence, Amos set out on his second adventure when he became one of the first Portville men to respond to the presidents summons, enlisting on July 26.

Amos Humiston was mustered in as a corporal in Company C of the 154th New York on September 24, 1862, and a few days later, he left with the regiment for the Virginia front, where it was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division of the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac. The 154th spent its first seven months with that command, making inconsequential movements in northern Virginia. Amos related his experiences to Philinda in letters that expressed both longing for his family and a willingness to meet the enemy in battle.

During an expedition to Thoroughfare Gap in the Bull Run Mountains that fall, Amos was one of many members of the 154th who fell ill. For weeks he languished with a fever, lying in a tent that he described as poorer than an old birds nest. But with the support of his comrades of Company C, who have stuck to me like brothers, he pulled through. I can die in battle like a man, Amos declared, but I hate the idea of dieing here like a hog.

By New Years Day of 1863, Amos was encamped near the Rappahannock River at Falmouth, Virginia, in a log hut that rivles all modern architecture, he boasted. Later that month, his regiment slogged along on the notorious Mud March, when a planned offensive by the army became bogged down during heavy rains. Virginia mud was a formidable enemy, Amos noted: It is like glue. A few days after returning to camp, on January 25, Humiston was promoted to sergeant.

The 154th New York moved its winter camp to the vicinity of Stafford Court House, Virginia, and by March 1863, Amos was sick again, suffering from chronic diarrhea, or the Virginia quick step, as he called it. Although his friends cared for him, he could not shake the condition, and at the end of the month, he was admitted to the division hospital. There he recovered sufficiently to take part in the campaign that led the 154th New York across the Rappahannock River into an area known as the Wilderness, where the regiment fought its first battle.

On the evening of May 2, 1863, the Eleventh Corps was shattered by Confederate General Thomas J. Stonewall Jacksons famous flank attack at the Battle of Chancellorsville. The 154th, in a forlorn and rather foolhardy attempt to cover the retreat of the corps, lost forty percent of its men as casualties. By a lucky accident of velocity and trajectory, Amos survived. During the fighting, he was struck in the ribs above his heart by a spent bullet. The close call made me think of home, he confessed to Philinda.

Back in the dilapidated old camp near Stafford Court House after the failure of the campaign, Amos was delighted to get a special present from his wife. I got the likeness of the children and it pleased me more than eney thing that you could have sent to me, Amos wrote to Philinda on receiving the soon-to-be-famous ambrotype. How I want to se them and their mother is more than I can tell I hope that we may all live to see each other again if this war dose not last to long.

Weeks later, the 154th broke camp and embarked on a series of grueling marches in choking dust and blazing heat northward through Virginia, then across the Potomac River into Maryland. On July 1, 1863, they crossed into Pennsylvania. That afternoon the tired troops arrived at Evergreen Cemetery, on a hill overlooking the town of Gettysburg. There they paused to eat lunch, clean and load their rifles, and enjoy a brief rest.

On the other side of town, a battle was raging. Amos and his comrades anxiously watched the billowing smoke and listened to the roar of musketry and artillery, wondering if they would be sent into the fight. Soon the suspense ended. The 154th was rushed to the northeastern outskirts of Gettysburg, where it was to help cover the retreat of the Eleventh Corpsthe same dangerous role it had played at Chancellorsville.

The results were equally disastrous. The Federal brigade had barely been posted behind a fence in a brickyard when two large Confederate brigades attacked the position. Outnumbered three to one, the Union troops were sent reeling. Retreating from the center of the besieged blue line, almost all of the members of the 154th New York were surrounded and captured by the enemy. With the Southerners in close pursuit, the few Federals who escaped made a mad dash for the safety of Cemetery Hill. Among them was Sergeant Humiston. He ran less than a quarter-mile before he met his fate.

The emotional response throughout the North to the Humiston story quickly inspired a grand idea. In its article announcing Amoss identity, the American Presbyterian suggested that the interest occasioned by this beautiful event might be turned to the account of soldiers orphans generally, and that an effort be made to found an asylum for the orphans of soldiers. During his visit to Portville, Dr. Bourns voiced a similar proposal. But as the war continued to rage, the ideas were not developed.

Proceeds from the sale of the childrens photograph and other objects were earmarked for Philinda Humiston, who was trying to support her three youngsters by working as a seamstress, but was also relying on the generosity of her Portville neighbors.

The American Presbyterian sponsored a contest for the best poem about the incident. The winner, popular poet and balladeer James Gowdy Clark, set his verses to music and added The Children of the Battle Field to his repertoire. Profits from sales of the sheet music were reserved for the support and education of the Orphan Children. Amoss only known portrait from life, an ambrotype made during his prewar days, was copied and touched up with a beard and uniform, and sold in the carte-de-visite format. In June 1866, Philinda Humiston was granted a widows pension of eight dollars per month.

With Dr. Bourns playing a leading role, committees had established the National Orphans Homestead Association and conducted a fund-raising drive to which Sunday schools and individual donors contributed liberally. The Association purchased and renovated a brick building on Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg, and in October 1866, about thirty soldiers orphans arrived to take up residence. Among them were the Humiston youngsters and their mother, who had left Portville to join the institutions staff, in charge of the childrens wardrobe.

On the day they arrived in Gettysburg, Frank, Alice, and Fred decorated their fathers grave with flowers. Amos Humiston had been reinterred in Grave 14, Row B of the New York section of the Soldiers National Cemeterydirectly adjacent to the Baltimore Street orphanage inspired by his story. At the formal dedication of the National Orphans Homestead, on November 20, the Reverend John W. Mears, editor of the American Presbyterian, held the audience spellbound with an account of the Humiston story.

The Homestead Orphanage prospered for several years. Incorporated in 1867 with a distinguished slate of officers and board of directors, it had, by 1870, come to include a second building and could now house a hundred children. More than seven hundred Sunday schools had donated $25 apiece to become shareholders. The institution enjoyed the support of the local community, and Gettysburg newspapers routinely carried accounts of the orphans participation in observances of Memorial Day and the anniversary of the battle that had made the town famous.

After a decade of commendable service, however, the Homestead met a sorry end. The matron, Rosa J. Carmichael, was convicted in 1876 of aggravated assault on one of the orphans. And succeeding months brought forth other shocking allegations. Rumors spread that the children were cruelly treated and that little or no teaching was going on.

When Mrs. Carmichael, who continued at the school despite her conviction, snubbed the local Grand Army of the Republic post by not allowing the orphans to participate in Memorial Day exercises in 1877, the veterans assumed the offensive. After investigating activities at the Homestead, the post leveled charges at both the matron and Dr. Bourns, who was attacked for his distant and autocratic authority over the institution.

Following an investigation of Bourns by the Homesteads board of directors, he and Mrs. Carmichael were sued for mismanagement, waste of property, violation of trust, and other charges. With the situation deteriorating, the Gettysburg Star and Sentinel editorialized in June 1877 that The general conviction in this community is that the Homestead has outlived its usefulness and that the sooner it is closed the better. By the end of the year, courts placed the institution in receivership, homes were found for the remaining nine orphans, and the Homestead closed its doors.

The Humistons three years at the orphanage had come before serious problems arose, but according to family lore, it had not been a happy place for them. When, in October 1869, Philinda Humiston married a Massachusetts minister named Asa Barnes, their descendants recalled, she and the children gladly left Gettysburg.

All three of Amoss children attended Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. Frank continued his education at Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He hung his doctors shingle in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where he raised a family and practiced until his death in 1912, a popular and successful physician. Alice never married and was somewhat of a nomad, working at a variety of jobs in New England and New York. She was living with one of Franks daughters in California in 1933 when she met a tragic death, burned fatally when her dress caught fire from an open flame. Fred raised a family and became a prosperous grain merchant in West Somerville, Massachusetts; he died in 1918. After Asa Barnes died in 1881, Philinda seems to have divided her time between Franks and Freds families. She died at Franks home in Jaffrey in 1913.

The Humistons spent their later lives shunning the spotlight of celebrity, which had shined so brightly on them during the Civil War years. All three grown children and their mother were familiar to the townfolk of Jaffrey, but their storied past was generally unknown until one winter night, when, during the presentation of an illustrated lecture on the Battle of Gettysburg, a lantern slide of the Children of the Battlefield was projected. The stunned audience recognized the children in the photograph to be their beloved doctor and his sister and brother.

In the years since the Civil War, the Humiston story has become a staple of Gettysburg guidebooks and accounts of the battle, and a frequently-told tale in newspapers and magazines. Inspired by the touching sagamuch as their ancestors had been more than a century earliera group of Gettysburg residents, supported by people from Portville and descendants of members of the 154th New York, dedicated a new monument to Amos Humiston in 1993. Located on North Stratton Street, near the spot where Amos was found, it is the only monument to an individual enlisted man standing today on the battlefield of Gettysburg.
In the wars biggest operation, Westmoreland won his big unit campaign but lost confidence that the war could be won

U.S. General William Westmoreland and North Vietnamese Senior General Nguyen Chi Thanh had a lot in common in early 1967. Both born in 1914, they were in their professional prime at age 53. Three years earlier, each had come into command of large armies and were now standing boldly at the center stage of the unfolding drama that was the Vietnam Warand each of them was intent on killing or capturing as many of the others forces as possible in big-unit, toe-to-toe battle.

Thanh and Westmoreland also had stark differences. Westmoreland had worked his way up the chain, commanding ground forces in World War II and the Korean War. He had a reputation as an energetic, can-do, motivational commander with an uncanny knack for remembering faces and names. Thanh was a peasant farmer turned revolutionary, first arrested for anti-French activities in the 1930s and elevated to the Vietnam Communist Party Politburo in 1951. He was the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) political czar and answered to the party rather than the military, led by North Vietnams legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap. Thanh was a potent, contentious critic of Giap, who in 1966 was pushing for a reversion to guerrilla warfare and the abandonment of Thanhs big-unit war strategyor what Giap saw as suicidal stand-up battle with the Americans. Supported by top party leaders Le Duan and Le Duc Tho, Thanhs argument prevailed.

Westmoreland and Thanh both welcomed a war of big-unit battles, but for different reasons. Thanh, a fiery, pro-Chinese ideologue, believed head-on fights with the Americans wouldlike those against the French a decade earliergreatly boost his soldiers morale. He also believed Westmorelands high-casualty attrition strategy would ultimately cause the United States to quit the war. Westmoreland, on the other hand, after having seen the South Vietnamese village pacification program almost wiped out in battles with main force Viet Cong (VC) units in 1964-1965, firmly held that U.S. victory hinged on destroying those main forces, or at a minimum keeping them away from the population.

Now, in the late winter of 1967, these two generals were preparing to direct their subordinate commanders to go head- to-head near the Cambodian border in northern Tay Ninh and Binh Long provinces, where they would further ratchet up the intensity of a war that was already costing serious losses, especially among Communist forces.

During 1966, the Communists battle deaths throughout the country had risen to some 5,000 a month. General Thanh, who as the chief of the Central Office of South Vietnam (COSVN) commanded both PAVN and Viet Cong units, had a significant part of his forces still recovering from earlier battles in the southern half of South Vietnam. Regiments of one of his divisions, the VC 9th, were widely separated and pulling in replacements to restore heavy losses they had suffered in November 1966, during Operation Attleboro. Thanhs 5th VC Division was inactive, still being constituted. His 7th North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Division had two regiments in Phouc Long Province and one other, the 101st Regiment, was in Cambodia, just north of Tay Ninh Province, also recovering from recent combat.

From Westmorelands perspective, the time was right for a major push. He had far more resources than Thanh to put into a large battle and he intended to use them. Westmoreland directed the Second Field Force Vietnam (IIFFV) commander, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Seaman, to plan an operation in War Zone C and told him to think big. The objectives of the operation were to engage the 9th Viet Cong Division and the 101st North Vietnamese Army Regiment; to destroy COSVN headquarters; and to destroy enemy base camps and installations in the area of operation. The plans included a first in Vietnaman American battalion-size parachute assault, that had been lobbied for by Airborne officers to a sympathetic Westmoreland, who had himself been a parachutist.

Although the exact locations of the targeted Communist units and Thanhs headquarters were not known, Seaman believed the optimal area to attack was an approximately 300-square-mile patch of flat, semiforested terrain just south of the Cambodian border between two north-south highways, Routes 22 and 4.

The operation was to be massive, involving nine battalions in three brigades swooping in by air to create an east-west blocking position on the northern boundary along Route 246. At the same time, two more brigades would move north, either on land or by helicopter, along Routes 22 and 4 to form blocking positions to the west and east. Then, the opening to the south along Route 247 would be sealed by an infantry brigade side by side with an armored cavalry regiment, which on the next day would both sweep north, searching for General Thanhs COSVN headquarters. All told, there would be 22 ground-combat battalions participating in Operation Junction City, named for a town just outside the 1st Infantry home base at Fort Riley, Kan. Seamans Second Field Force headquarters subordinated the northern and northeastern units to the 1st Infantry Division; the northwestern and western units would be under the operational direction of the 25th Infantry Division. Both divisions would report to IIFFV headquarters. Fire support for the operation was to be provided by 17 field artillery battalions and some 4,000 Air Force sorties.

Near dawn on Feb. 22, 1967, a surprise B-52 airstrike pounded suspected Communist positions in the objective area, and a battalion of 1st Division troops began climbing aboard 70 helicopters for a 7:20 a.m. air assault near Katum. After delivering the first flight of troops, the helicopters turned around and sped off to pick up more. At about the same time, to the west, a battalion of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade was being landed by another large fleet of helicopters near the intersection of Routes 22 and 246, while infantrymen in trucks and armored personnel carriers began coming north on Routes 22 and 4 to link up with the air assault troops.

To the north, at 9 a.m., 845 men of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and paratroopers of an attached artillery battery began jumping from C-130s. The descending paratroopers took sporadic enemy fire from the ground, but the shooters were quickly silenced or driven away by helicopter gunships. At 9:15, more C-130s appeared and the first cargo parachutes blossomed and drifted down with ammunition, artillery pieces and trucks, all under the watchful eyes of Chief Warrant Officer Howard Melvin, who had just added Vietnam to his four other combat jumps in Sicily, Italy, France and Holland. Melvin was responsible for rigging all the cargo for air delivery, which turned out to be nearly perfect. Within an hour, the paratroopers were in their assigned blocking positions; only one of them had been wounded by ground fire. By late afternoon, all units had established a horseshoe-shaped blocking formation of about 40 miles. And from the south, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and a brigade of the 25th Infantry Division were beginning to barrel their way north to begin their attack inside the horseshoe.

Operation Junction City had been launched without a hitch, and expectations for success were high. But for the next five days, disappointment reigned among the Americans as well as in the ranks of a two-battalion South Vietnamese Marine task force that had joined the operation. General Thanh and the COSVN headquarters were simply nowhere to be found. There had been some fighting, which had left 54 Communists and 28 U.S. soldiers dead, and a number of recently occupied base camps, bunkers and supply dumps had been discovered, including a hastily abandoned COSVN photo lab. The facility yielded hundreds of picturessome identified southerners working for North Vietnam. But the allies main quarry had simply gotten away. Nearly four decades later, in a book published in Hanoi in 2006 by Dinh Thi Van, it was suggested that a North Vietnamese spy working in Saigon had compromised the operation.

After about a week, on February 28, the first substantial contact, about seven miles south of Katum, jarred the allies and signaled that Thanhs forces were ready to fight. A 1st Division infantry company was ambushed by elements of the 101st NVA Regiment. The Americans repulsed several assaults during the four-hour attack, but U.S. casualties were heavy, with 25 dead. Even so, the battle proved costlier for the northerners, who left behind 167 killed and 40 weapons. Days later, on March 3, a similar contact was made when a company of paratroopers encountered a contingent from the 70th Guard Regiment, COSVNs security force. In an intense 30 minutes, the Americans lost 20 men killed, and the 70th left behind 39 bodies. A week later, on the night of March 10, U.S. forces near Prek Klok detected a sizable enemy movement. At 10 p.m., 150 mortar rounds and a flurry of 120mm rocket warheads hit the base as a prelude to a battalion-size attack of the 272nd VC Regiment. American artillery from several U.S. firebases poured high-explosive munitions on the attackers. Within an hour, the Viet Cong withdrew, leaving behind 200 dead and 5 wounded. Three U.S. soldiers were killed. The next day, about six miles east of Prek Klok, the 173rd Airborne was attacked by 101st NVA troops. Although the NVA quickly broke contact, the paratroopers pursued them for three days, killing more than 50 at the cost of 14 wounded.

Though the action had picked up, Seaman was still disappointed with the results thus far, so he moved most of his forces east to an area loosely bordered by Route 4 in the west, Route 246 to the north and Highway 13 in the east. On March 20, the 25th Infantry Division established Firebase Gold, near Suoi Tre, about nine miles southeast of Katum. An infantry and an artillery battalion totaling about 450 U.S. soldiers manned Gold. That night, their listening posts reported hearing troop movement around the perimeter.

At 6:30 a.m. the next morning, Gold was hit by a mortar attack, followed five minutes later by a two-battalion assault by the Viet Cong 272nd Regiment, which penetrated the firebase perimeter. Artillery at two nearby U.S. firebases began firing a protective barrage around Gold. At 7 a.m., an airstrike by F-5 fighters initially gave the defenders some breathing roombefore the Viet Cong managed to shoot down the forward air controllers plane. Without the air support, the VC were able to break through the perimeter and race for the artillery battalion. Facing the overwhelming onslaught, the 25th Division artillerymen loaded beehive rounds, each round containing several thousand nail-like flechettes that were ejected from the shell in flight by a time fuze, and lowered their barrelsshredding the attackers at point-blank range. While this halted the initial penetration in its tracks, another enemy assault immediately followed, forcing the defenders to begin giving ground. After another air controller entered the area, a flight of USAF F-100s was directed in. An Air Force coordinator who was inside Gold later described what happened next: There must have been 500 of them [VC] coming at me, and this guy laid napalm right on the top of em. The second Viet Cong penetration was incinerated. But immediately, a serious third threat developed at another part of the perimeter as Viet Cong soldiers reached a quad .50-caliber mount and turned it on the Americans. This peril was ended when a howitzer crew fired a 105mm high-explosive round and destroyed the mount.

After two hours of intense violence, at 8:40, the restored perimeter was still holding, but the defenders were running low on ammunition. Just then, a battalion of the U.S. 12th Infantry reached Gold after a difficult trek through a patch of thick bamboo. Under fire, the infantrymen fought their way into the firebase and took up a portion of the perimeter defense.

Shortly after 9 a.m., a tank-supported column from the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Mechanized Infantry, broke out of the jungle and into the flank of the surviving Viet Cong troops, who were now beginning to withdraw. They were decimated by a fusillade of 90mm canister munitions from the tanks. Many of the fleeing Communist soldiers were crushed beneath the tracks of the tanks and armored personnel carriers. The Battle of Firebase Gold, also known as the Battle of Suoi Tre, was over.

Sweeps of the terrain around Gold found 647 VC bodies, 159 weapons, 600 RPG rounds and 1,900 grenades and took seven prisoners. It was one of the largest one-day body counts of the entire war. U.S. casualties included 31 killed and 109 wounded.

Firebase Gold wasnt the only bloody venue in War Zone C on March 20. Just after midnight, the VC 273rd Regiment attacked a U.S. 9th Infantry Division firebase at Bau Bang, 35 miles southeast of Gold on Route 13. A battery of 105mm howitzers and a cavalry troop with 20 armored personnel carriers, three mortar carriers and six tanks was engaged in securing that vital artery when the VC launched a battalion-size attack in the dark. With the scene illuminated by flares and vehicle headlights, U.S. artillery, tank canister fire and machine guns turned back the initial attackers. At 5 a.m., the VC threw in another battalion, which was pummeled with more of the same, plus a dose of napalm and cluster bombs delivered by F-100s and F-4s. As daylight came, a sweep of the battlefield turned up 227 bodies and three captives. U.S. losses totaled 3 killed and 63 wounded.

The next significant clash in Junction City was an April 1 action with some of the only VC forces still in War Zone C that were close to full strength. The 271st VC Regiment and a battalion of the 70th Guard Regiment were ordered to attack two 1st Infantry Division battalions at Landing Zone George, about 12 miles southeast of Katum near Route 246. The main VC effort began at 5 a.m. with a strong mortar preparation followed by a full-throated ground assault at dawn. Despite heavy artillery support from several firebases, the Americans initially gave ground in close combat, but they reestablished a defense about the time a devastating and accurate Air Force close-air support flight arrived, firing rockets and dropping bombs and napalm. This action from above broke the back of the Viet Cong attack. When a sweep of the deserted battlefield was made that same day, about 600 enemy dead and five wounded were found. The American losses were 17 killed and 102 wounded. Within two weeks of the battle at LZ George, the Viet Cong had stopped their costly and unsuccessful attempts to destroy allied forces by overrunning their firebases. They even avoided defending their own bases against battalion-size attacks. They had gone to ground, only resorting to stand-off actions by rocket, mortar and sniper fire and planting mines and booby traps. American and ARVN forces now found themselves on seemingly endless and uneventful jungle treks. Thanhs COSVN headquarters and some of its badly depleted units had moved into Cambodia.

On April 15, largely because of the abrupt disappearance of company-size or larger Communist forces, Junction Citythe biggest operation of the war thus farwas brought to an end. Allied forces departed War Zone C, leaving behind five Special Forces bases that would monitor the area.

Operation Junction City should have been proof positive of the futility of General Thanhs theory of big-unit battle against American forces, which possessed an enormous advantage in firepower. The toll on the Communist forces was reckoned at 2,728 dead, not counting losses from other causes. Later, a COSVN document was captured that claimed that from February 21 until April 15, its forces had killed 13,500 Americansa number that may have actually been reported to Hanoi. The real tally of U.S. killed during the operation was 282. A better indication of General Thanhs true impression of his forces plight was revealed in his directive that there be no regiment-size attacks for six months. As much as he still might favor the big-unit battle, he simply could not afford such actions until he replenished his losses. Through captured documents and defectors, the allied leadership learned that within COSVN, the operation was considered a major setback.

If American estimates were reasonably accurate, some of Hanois leaders may have concluded that General Thanhs tactics were playing into General Westmorelands overall plans. In Hanoi, many believed Westmoreland favored a strategy of attritionkilling more VC and NVA soldiers than could be replaced. Based on Junction City results, it appeared to be so. During the first six months of 1967, Communist losses from all causesdefections, disease, wounded, desertion, plus battle deathswere believed to exceed 15,000 a month. That was considerably more than they could replace, an estimated 10,500 a month.

The large number of Communist losses during Operation Junction City, together with combat operations in the highlands and the northern part of South Vietnam, had a serious effect on the course of the war. A stalemate had been achieved. That fact, in turn, contributed to a change in strategic thinking in Hanoi where, in mid-1967, the dramatic decision was made to seize the cities of the Republic of Vietnam and stage a general uprising of the South Vietnamese people against their own government. Thus, the North Vietnamese plans for the Tet Offensive of January 1968 were undoubtedly influenced by the American actions in early 1967. On the allied side, after the battles in War Zone C, large-unit operations in the southern half of South Vietnam were de-emphasized in favor of rural security actions; battalion-size or larger operations there in 1967 were reduced 40 percent from the previous year and small-unit operations aimed at securing the countryside increased by 25 percent, based on the assumption that the VC was a spent force and perhaps government control of the once-disputed areas could be restored through the pacification program.

On its face, it would seem that Westmorelands big-unit warfare had succeeded. But Westmoreland didnt think so. In Operation Junction City, almost all of the large clashes of battalions, brigades and regiments had been enemy-initiated, as had often happened in countless other operations. And, as before, almost all of the large-scale American and South Vietnamese sweeps of forested terrain were fruitless. With such a poor record of finding the enemy, Westmoreland knew any time his opponent wanted to rest its forces, avoid combat or replenish supplies, he could do so either in Laos or Cambodia, or even in some of the heavily wooded terrain of South Vietnam itself. Although Hanoi could and did use Laos and Cambodia to shelter some of its major units, headquarters and most of its logistical lifeline, the United States limited its ground presence in those countries to small, brief Special Forces reconnaissance patrols and an air interdiction campaign, which was only partially successful. The North Vietnamese were still able to move essential supplies and replacements through to the south. Westmoreland also realized that the American publics patience with the growing U.S. casualty numbers was limited, while his opponents toleration of losses appeared almost limitless. Even while Junction City successes mounted, Westmoreland was not optimistic about achieving U.S. goals in Southeast Asia.

On the very day of the massive bloodlettings at Firebase Gold and Bau Bang, March 20, Westmoreland spoke directly and frankly to the highest authorities about his view of the course of the war. The occasion was a meeting on Guam, primarily about the pacification program and rural development. Attending were President Lyndon B. Johnson and his national security team, and South Vietnams President Nguyen Van Thieu with his advisers. When Westmoreland rose to report on the military situation in South Vietnam, he sensed the audience was clearly anticipating an upbeat report about the recent Junction City successes.

But the bottom line of Westmorlands presentation ended with a starkly grim assessment. He said he did not believe the VC organization could be completely destroyed, and that if the allies were unable to halt North Vietnamese infiltration of manpower and supplies the war could go on indefinitely. He recalled later that when he sat down, his audience was painfully silent.

Those in the room knew that Johnson had nixed a 1965 plan supported by the Joint Chiefs to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos by ground intervention. And now Westmoreland was urging it yet again. By choosing this venue he was, in effect, saying the allies might suppress the Viet Cong in South Vietnam through an enhanced pacification and rural development program, but if they did not attack Hanois forces in Laos and Cambodia and destroy its line of communications through those countries, the North Vietnamese leadership would simply wait it out and then use its main forces to conquer the south. President Johnson would not agree to a ground operation in Laos, but he did approve an expanded rural pacification program.

In the early weeks of Junction City, Westmoreland had likely realized that letting the enemy forces use sanctuaries would probably destroy American hopes to win the war. Believing that the present course must be changed, he concluded that only by removing the tether on allied ground forces could they deprive the NVA of sanctuaries and supplies and force them to defend their line of communications. That would open an opportunity to destroy Hanois main forces and bring the war to a satisfactory end.

On April 28, Westmoreland addressed a joint session of Congress and cited an encouraging list of allied accomplishments in Vietnam. He did not, of course, reveal the somber advice he had given to his commander in chief a month earlier.

Although Generals Thanh and Westmoreland were destined to pass from the scene of the war before its conclusion, they will forever be regarded as key figures in the story. Thanh was reckless in throwing his forces in the teeth of allied firepower, and the heavy losses contributed to the subsequent stalemate and Hanois change in strategy. In some uncertain measure, his ideas and clout in Hanois power circles was probably diminished, but that will never be known for certain, because he died about three months after Operation Junction City ended, on July 6, 1967.

Thanh was clearly proven to be right in one of his beliefs, however. His conclusion that the American public would eventually grow intolerant of the loss of its youths lives in Vietnam was validated. Westmoreland was well aware of Thanhs belief and clearly referenced it in his April speech to lawmakers, saying that the enemy believes our Achilles heel is our resolve.

A year later, in June 1968, following the shock of the Tet Offensive, Westmoreland too left the stage and returned to the United States. Unlike Thanh, who by dying young, never had to endure criticism for his decisions, Westmoreland lived to a ripe old age of 91 and, for the rest of his days and beyond, provided a convenient target for those who seek someone to blame for the wars outcome. H

An editor-at-large for MHQ, Rod Paschall was a company commander and staff officer in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. A Special Forces detachment commander in Vietnam in 1962-63, he also served in Laos in 1964 and in Cambodia in 1974-75.
Based on the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation airliner, the EC-121 Warning Star carried the long-range and height-finding radars required to provide coverage and warning to U.S. aircraft operating over North Vietnam. The EC-121s initiated operations out of Tan Son Nhut Airport on April 16, 1965. Their value became apparent less than three months later, when an EC-121D vectored a USAF F-4 into position against a MiG-21 on July 10. Staging out of Da Nang, U.S. Navy EC-121Ks operated in the northern South China Sea, supplementing Seventh Fleets positive identification radar advisory zone ship and carrier-based AEW radar coverage, and providing electronic and communications intelligence support.

The Warning Star entered production as Navy WV-2 Willie Victors in March 1954, and as Air Force RC-121s shortly thereafter. Both services had operational squadrons by May 1955. All the Warning Stars were re-designated EC-121s in 1962. Other versions employed in Vietnam included the EC-121R Bat Cats that briefly monitored sensor fields on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and operated as communications relay aircraft.

The last EC-121 models were delivered in 1958, and the majority to serve in Indochina were former Navy aircraft that had been turned over to the Air Force. Previously used to conduct radar barrier patrols to warn against Soviet strategic bombers flying across the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the planes were being retired when their services suddenly were required in Indochina. Spare parts were always a problem, and the air conditioning often proved insufficient. However, the EC-121 saw almost constant improvement during the war as microminiaturization, computer and communications technologies evolved.

Early EC-121s had difficulty tracking low-flying enemy aircraft, but the EC-121K Rivet Top that entered service in June 1967 solved that problem with equipment that could interrogate North Vietnams Soviet-made IFF transponders.

The latest EC-121 variants with communications monitoring stations, digital data link equipment and automated tracking support systems began to enter the theater in 1971. Some even carried jamming equipment. Many historians consider this final Warning Star model to be the immediate precursor to todays Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. It could conduct air space management and air intercept control, warn of SAM activity and provide direct SIGINT support to strike packages as well as airborne early warning. The last USAF EC-121s were withdrawn from Indochina on August 15, 1973.

EC-121 Warning Star Wingspan: 126 ft. 2 in. Length: 116 Ft. 2 in. Height: 26 ft. 11.6 in. Weight: 145,000 lbs Crew: 26-33 Power: 4 Wright 3350-42 Top speed/cruising: 121 mph/212 mph Max range: 4,046 nautical miles

Originally published in the April 2011 issue of Vietnam magazine. Subscribe here!
We were just out of college with a thirst for adventure and a desire to do something real Holley Watts (1966-67)

The air popping whop-whop of an inbound slick was ordinarily no reason to catch infantryman Vergel Maples attention. Just another resupply on another day digging another hole in the boonies, until he caught a glimpse of powder blue in the doorway. The excited cries of his fellow grunts rang through the dusty air: Its the Donut Dollies! The Donut Dollies are here! Maples had heard about the young Red Cross girls, but today was his first chance to see them, and it was a day he would never forget.

It was as if the war was

in black and white, but when the Dollies came,

it suddenly turned to color

Billy Dabel, U.S. Army (196970)

The Supplemental Recreation Overseas Program started in World War II, as the American Red Cross close military support directive took women to bases in Europe to deliver coffee and donuts to servicemen. Revived in Vietnam, the program become an airmobile morale boost to troops at landing zones, base camps and forward operating positions.

Vietnams Donut Dollies may have inherited the WWII nickname, but their work was very different, as the women paired up in Hueys and airplanes, sometimes visiting as many as 10 locations in a day. Their mission was to take the mens minds off the war. Through diversionary games, delivering mail or serving up hot chow, astonished combat troops suddenly found themselves looking up from the war and into the smiling face of the girl next door.

The Donut Dollies went to Da Nang with the Marines in 1965. By the time the program ended in 1972, 627 had served in all operational areas, logging 2,125,000 air miles. Their airmobile capability allowed the relatively small number of Dollies to interact with literally hundreds of thousands of combat troops. Despite the inherent dangers and the ever-present horrors that they encountered, the Red Cross girls always had a ready smile for battle-weary troops.

John F. Kennedys call to their innate patriotism inspired many Donut Dollies, while others wanted to break with the expected roles of women to experience the war. For some, like Joyce Rice Denke, the motivation was more personal. After her fiancee was killed in action, Denke jumped at the chance to go to Vietnam. You didnt know, when you saw that guy, if hed gotten the letter that day from his girlfriend before he went out on patrol, says Denke, but at least you knew hed gotten a smile from a Red Cross girl.

As one of the Dollies walked down the line at infantryman Maples camp in 1967, mortars began falling around them. Maples grabbed the wide-eyed girl and threw her into his hole. I was worried about her, he said. She was so clean and so sweet. But I couldnt help but thinkthis might be a good way to die. Maples has always wished he could find that girl. I was so awestruck by her that Im not sure I ever thanked her for coming out there, for putting her life on the line for us.

Forget about the war.

Lets take your mind off

it for a few minutes

Joyce Rice Denke (196970)

The donut dollies developed the morale-boosting programs they took to the field. Elaborate, competitive trivia games engaged even reticent soldiers. Theres nothing like a little competition to get a 19-year-old going, recalls Emily Strange. The women also created Short-Timer Calendars to help the guys count down the days until they returned to The World. But often they just sat with the battle-worn troopers and talked. You were his sister, his girlfriend, his mother, his friend, says Barbara Dorr Lilly. Our job was to make him forget that tomorrow might not come for him.

Helicopter pilot Bob Lunde loved it when his crew drew Donut Dolly duty. We always took the long way home, Lunde says, remembering the laughterand perfumethat would suffuse his Huey. It was a lot better than the smells we usually had in the aircraft.

You might visit a unit youd seen the week

before and half the guys were missing.

But you still had to smile

Penni Evans (197071)

Though their encounters may have been fleeting, no Vietnam veteran will ever forget when, even in the darkest of places, a Donut Dolly brightened up their day.

Smile, smile, smile. Sometimes you had to smile even when it was gruesome, Patty Wooldridge remembers. Most of the women say that even though they left the war, the war never fully left them. They were not eligible for counseling or other veteran benefits. Yet they are quick to point out that compared to the troops and the nursing corps, their experiences were easy. We were visitors to the war, Holly Watts said. They were its residents.

It was the best thing

I ever did and Id do it all over again

Kathy Ormond (196869)

The Donut Dollies who went to Vietnam were the most forward-positioned American women to serve in a military support role to date. Several years later, they were cited as proof that women could indeed handle the emotional effects of the dangers experienced in frontline positions. Today, as many Donut Dollies are proud to point out, women are flying the helicopters, not just riding in them.

For more images of the Donut Dollies click here to visit our photo gallery.

Cheryl Fries is the producer and director of the documentary film A Touch of Home: The Vietnam Wars Red Cross Girls. The DVD is available now at www.HistoryNetShop.com.
My paint had light, warmth. My colors got warmer. I released a lot from my mourning

Rain-in-the-Facewith or without three hyphens in his namewas a fearless Hunkpapa Lakota warrior. Some accounts trace his evocative moniker to the time an enemys blood splattered like rain on his face during a fight. Others suggest his war paint streaked as he fought in a heavy storm. In any case, he is perhaps the third-best-known Sioux warriorbehind Crazy Horse and Sitting Bullpresent at the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Some claim Rain-in-the-Face killed George Custer and mutilated Tom Custers remains; he denied such accusations. Regardless, that grim business inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellows poem The Revenge of Rain in the Face:

Revenge! cried Rain-in-the-Face,

Revenge upon all the race

Of the White Chief with yellow hair!

And the mountains dark and high

From their crags re-echoed the cry

Of his anger and despair.



Crow Indian artist Kevin Red Star took a different approach in his acrylic-on-canvas portrait of the Lakota leader (detail above). Rain in the FaceRed Stars hyphenless depictionis strikingly powerful, a fierce, strong, passionate portrait of a fierce, strong and passionate warrior. Then again, you would expect nothing less from a fierce, strong and passionate Indian artist.

The Crows didnt side with the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Sioux battling the government, Red Star says. We, the Crows, say they came to annihilate the Crows because we are so small. The Sioux and Cheyenne banded together to wipe us out because we have nice pastures for our horses and plenty of game in the foothills and mountains.There are always sides. Some are peaceful, some belligerent. Its just basically territorial rights, fishing and hunting rights, grazing rights. Which is what it is now, too.

Born in 1943, Red Star grew up in a household of art and music on the Crow Agency reservation in Lodge Grass, Mont., near the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Im on the reservation, he says. We didnt know about paintbrushes. We drew with crayons. He sketched all the time but never thought about painting until he transferred to the Institute of American Indian Arts, a school established in Santa Fe, N.M., in 1962.

Red Stars exposure in Santa Fe to different types of art, different Indians, different cultures put him on the path to becoming an artist. A person has to have passion, he says. I guess I acquired thatwanting to keep up the history of Montana and the Crow Indians. Thats one of the things that kept me goinginterpreting it in my own way.

Red Stars Montana home provided much inspiration. His father picked up prints of artists like longtime Montana resident Charlie Russell and vintage photographs from secondhand shops. But Red Star also learned much by observing his surroundings.

I was able to see, when I was very young, old people with braids and reservation hats coming in on horseback to our little town to go to the store and buy tobacco or something, he recalls. It was so good to see that. It was natural. You always saw tepees. Youd have regular log homes, but tepees were kind of like a guesthouse. And I think just about every home had a sweat lodge. Those memories I try to keep fresh and translate into the ideas I produce.

For more than 30 years, Red Stars workcontemporary but with a deep appreciation of the pasthas earned the respect of collectors and critics, resulting in more than 100 large-scale exhibitions, including some 40 one-man shows. His paintings have found their way into galleries at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Heard Museum, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art and even the U.S. State Department.

His career and life were on an upward trajectory until tragedy struck on May 14, 2008, when a car accident in Montana took the life of his daughter. She was also Red Stars business manager.

I couldnt paint forever, he says. I loved her so much. I still do. Thats what kept me goingher love.

Eventually, he picked up his paintbrushes again, knowing thats what she would want. And when he started painting again, he noticed something remarkable.

My paint had light, warmth, he says. My colors got warmer. I released a lot from my mourning.

Red Star is producing again, dividing his time between Montana and New Mexico, recreating the past and envisioning the future with his fierce, strong, passionate images.

My palette is warm, he says, and I like that.

Browse Kevin Red Stars work at Legends Santa Fe and on his Web site.
Stolen Treasures

A hallmark of American democracy we tend to take for granted is that records kept by the government belong to the people. At the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and its satellite locations, the general public has access to millions of documents, maps, charts, photographs, reels of film and video or sound recordings. If you are a student researching a paper or an amateur genealogist sleuthing family roots, you are just as welcome at the archives as filmmaker Ken Burns, who made the chance discovery while digging through boxes of Civil War records that his great-great-grandfather Anthony Burns was a Confederate soldier.

But the fact that these records are available for each of us to see and touch has also attracted crooks. Items pilfered from the archives include the Wright brothers airplane patent, maps for the bombing attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, telegrams sent by Abraham Lincoln to his battlefield generals and numerous presidential pardons. National Archives investigator Mitchell Yockelson says the helpful vigilance of history lovers is the best hope of recovering the missing treasures. If you see a document for sale on eBay or at an antiques mall that looks like it belongs in a public archive or museum, please let us know, Yockelson says. Tips for spotting stolen documents are at www.archives.gov/research/recover and investigators can be reached at MissingDocuments@nara.gov or 800-786-2551.
Charles R. Carr

Sergeant, 2-47 Infantry, 9th Infantry Division

May 1969-April 1970

We were drifting in and out of conversations about a world now 24 hours behind us, when the last part of the pilots announcement riveted our attention: Due to vectors of artillery fire, we will be altering course for arrival in Saigon. Any remaining hope that something would somehow rescue me was fading away. No sudden peace treaty. No last-minute assignment elsewhere.

From the division base camp at Dong Tam, I was bound for 2-47 Inf. (Mech.), 9th ID, at Binh Phuoc. Youll be riding ponies, the driver had said matter of factly. I made sure everyone knew about my secondary MOS, clerk-typist; my primary specialty was infantry. Assigned to 2nd Platoon, I would be riding 1st Squads armored personnel carrier, Two One Pony.

At the motor pool, I had my first look at Two One Pony. Outside, mud and dust caked everything. Inside, rations, Coke and beer shared space with ammunition. Its home, the track driver said. We have no barracks, no hooch, no bunker. Until I was able to obtain a cot, it was best, I was told, to sleep on top of the track. I would be off the ground and away from the rats.

The guys in the squad began asking me polite questions. I gave them the limited information they wanted: I grew up in Colorado. I was drafted out of grad school. Id had two years of ROTC and genuinely hated every minute of it. Reluctantly, I told them I had been a philosophy major. Then the guys began to fill me in: number of days outovernights back at base to let feet dry outhumping the paddiesand finally, how nobody had been killed in the squad since February, when a brand-new guy was killed on patrol. They couldnt remember his name.

We moved out in the morning and our platoon leader, Two Six, spoke to me over the roar of the engine and clacking of treads. The object, Carr, is to leave this place the same way you came. Nothing more than that. I nodded and thought to myself I had found the right platoon.

I adjusted to the physical rhythms of war. In June, I had my first helicopter assault into a hot LZ somewhere in the Plain of Reeds, a swampy area to our west. Nearing the battle, I repeated the mantra, Jump, run, form a perimeter, praying it would keep me from screwing up. I jumped, but my pack propelled me forward and my face slammed into the dirt. I got up, sprinted 15 feet, hit the ground and stared into the distance in front of me.

Then I heard, Back here! I looked behind me. I had run the wrong way; the rest of our company was 30 or 40 feet away, facing the other direction.

Come on, the sergeant motioned. I crouched and ran to a worn-out dike that protected us from the enemy in a wood line 50 feet away. When airstrikes were ordered in, we moved back and opened fire into the bunkered positions. Bombs and napalm exploded against the enemy.

Then came the command: We were going back into the wood line, and 2nd Platoon would lead. We moved into the destroyed landscape, and I was straining to interpret it when suddenly we were pulled out. Wed never find out why, but six weeks earlier, Sen. Edward Kennedy had gone after the Army for sending the 101st Airborne Division against bunkered positions at Hamburger Hill. Seventy Americans were killed, 372 were woundedand soon after taking the hill, they left it.

Back in the company area, the first sergeant and others from the rear shook our hands. We killed 24 enemy soldiers, we were told. We lost five. The next day, they grilled steaks for us.

In September I got a clerk job in battalion HQ and wrote narratives for medal awards, before being assigned to casualties and morning reports. I was promoted to sergeant in April, when we learned that everyone in the battalion whose DEROS was April or May would be going home early. I was glad, but clearly something was up. A communications specialist walked by one day and whispered, Its Cambodia. The Army did not want extra complications from soldiers departing during what was going to be one large operation.

My last day, I threw my duffel bag in the back of the same mail truck that first brought me to Binh Phuoc. With 200 others at the Binh Hoa airport awaiting our ride home on April 22, 1970, I settled into some bleachers in the shade just off the flight lines. A plane taxied toward us, and soon applause and cheers moved across the bleachers as weary soldiers stood to acknowledge the moment. We were here and we had survived.

Charles Carr, a philosophy professor, is the author of Two One Pony: An American Soldiers Year in Vietnam.
In Country: Remembering the Vietnam War, edited by John Prados, Ivan R. Dee, Publisher, The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2011

If Consumer Reports published a guide to authors of Vietnam War books, in the column rating Sentimentality, John Prados would likely get a below averagejust what youd expect (and want) from one of the foremost Vietnam War historians and clear-eyed national security analysts. A senior fellow at the National Security Archive, Prados output has included two books that were nominated for Pulitzer PrizesVietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975 and Combined Fleet Decoded: The Secret History of U.S. Intelligence and the Japanese Navy in World War II.

So, when at the urging of editor Ivan R. Dee, Prados began to consider a project to tell the story of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the men on the jungle floor rather than those in the halls of the Pentagon, Langley or the White House, youd expect a measured, thorough analysis of how best to do it. And youd get it. Prados, who is, in his spare time, a leading (OK, rock star) designer of military strategy board games, concisely lays out for his In Country readers the alternatives he could have taken and the thought process involved in developing his strategy for the book, which he says: Is the ground truththe reality of the strategies playing out, not being made. The voices are those of people facing agonizing necessity, often choices to be made in a split second.

There is, as the author outlines, a very well-ordered rationale for the organization of the anthology of observations, which have been carefully culled from dozens of previously published works ranging from biographies, memoirs, oral histories, poetry, magazine articles (including a number from Vietnam) and official cables and documents. As the author notes, when two Vietnam vets meet, their first queries to each other are who were you with, where and when. With that in mind, the book is generally arranged to correspond along regional lines familiar to those who were in Vietnam.

Prados explains that he kept to a very minimum the number of accounts by historians, journalists, civilians and senior military leaders so that the grunts-eye view stays in focus. Most of the individual excerpts in the anthology are very short. A brief introduction to each by the author sets them up and, in some cases, a brief postscript follows. Each entry is fully cited in the books appendix.

Regardless of any intricate organizing principles, readers can just let the book fall open anywhere and start reading. One after another, indelible images or revealing insights emerge. For example, Lieutenant Wynn Goldsmiths April 6, 1968, unforgettable account of how the news of Martin Luther Kings assassination affected the sailors on his river patrol boat speaks volumes about the collision of racism and comradeship that was born in the crucible of combat.

A 1966 entry from Lt. Col. David Hackworth explains the origins and dangers of the base camp mentality in a frontless war: When wed originally gone to Phan Rang, the position was almost Charlie-free. But the longer we stayed, the more interest the enemy took in the place. By the time I left, they were regularly blowing up vehicles, lobbing an occasional mortar shell, and doing selective sniping. So, almost by design, the base camp invited enemy activity, and then drained the fighting strength of a unit in the effort to counter it.

And none other than Colin Powell, in 1963 a young adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) at Camp A Shau, paints an almost pungent picture of slogging in the muggy triple-canopy jungle on an endless obstacle course, as we tried to make contact with the Viet Cong.We moved through a cloud of insects. Worse were the leeches. I never understood how they managed to get through our clothing, under our web belts and onto our chests, through our bloused pants and onto our legs, biting the flesh and bloating themselves with our blood.

Long a master at telling the big story, and the story behind the big story, of Vietnam, Prados has brought together in this anthology more than a hundred disparate voices of men and womenAmerican and Vietnamesedistilling from their individual stories essential bits of the warriors reality to compose a stunningly vivid portrait of the Vietnam War.

Roger L. Vance
IN THE SPRING OF 1857, the renegade Wahpekute Dakota Chief Inkpaduta and his band of warriors descended on the homesteads near Spirit Lake in northwestern Iowa and committed murder and mayhem. The causes of the massacre are still debated. One reason can be traced to an 1854 episode when a whiskey trader and horse thief, Henry Lott, and his son killed, among others, Inkpadutas blood brother Sintomniduta and Sintomnidutas wife and five children. Inkpaduta (meaning Scarlet Point or Red Cap) appealed to the military to punish Henry Lott, but the killer fled and was indicted in absentia. The prosecuting attorney, Granville Berkley, took Sintomnidutas head and skewered it on a pole over his house in a gross act of contempt. Lott was never found, and justice was never served.

During an elk hunt in Woodbury County in the winter of 1856, a Wahpekute hunter shot a dog that bit him, and the enraged owner, a white man, beat the Indian senseless. This Indian, whose name is apparently lost to history, then claimed to have conversed with the Great Spirit and been told that the white people who were responsible for all the Indians suffering must be destroyed. When other Wahpekutes stole the cattle, hay and corn of nearby settlers, 20 armed whites led by Captain Seth Smith rode into Inkpadutas camp and demanded the Indians surrender all their firearms. Inkpaduta stated that his people could not survive the winter without guns for hunting. Unmoved by Inkpadutas plea, Smith confiscated the weapons. The whites planned to come back the next day to escort Inkpaduta and his band from the area and give them back their guns, but the plan failed. When they returned the next day, the Indians were gone.

Seeking revenge, Inkpaduta took to raiding in northern Iowa in February 1857. At Lost Island Lake, one of Inkpadutas warriors approached the Gillett cabin, trying to steal food, weapons and livestock. The settler shot and decapitated the raider. On the Little Sioux River in Clay County, Inkpadutas band attacked Ambrose S. Meads home, killed his cattle, knocked down his wife and attempted to capture his 10-year-old daughter, Emma. When she resisted, the chief beat her with a stick and carried off 17-year-old Hattie instead. Inkpaduta knocked down Mr. E. Taylor, threw his son into the fireplace, badly burning his leg, and carried off his wife. Hattie Mead and Mrs. Taylor were released after one night in the Indian camp.

On March 7, the Indians arrived at Okoboji and Spirit lakes. The Dakotas considered Spirit Lake a sacred dwelling place for the gods. The Indians were not permitted to fish from those lakes or even place a canoe in the waters. The sight of the log cabins and fences incensed them, according to one account, to bloodlust and butchery, for this was viewed as an invasion of their sacred shores.

A number of white settlers were unluckily caught in this proverbial powder keg at the wrong place and time. They had arrived at the lakes pristine shores in July 1856 and had selected them as the ideal place to live. The region, beautiful and teeming with fish and wildlife, was previously unknown to the civilized world. Roland Gardner built his home on the south side of West Okoboji Lake. He and his wife, Frances, shared the house with their three youngest childrenEliza Matilda (16), Abigail (13), Roland Jr. (6)and their married eldest daughter, Mary, and her family. Mary and Harvey Luce had two children, Albert (4) and Amanda (1). Six other families and several single men were also drawn to this area, which became known as the Spirit Lake settlement. Residents Lydia Noble (21), Elizabeth Thatcher (19) and Margaret Marble (20) were all soon to share a common fate. Alvin and Lydia Noble, with their 2-year-old child, and Joseph and Elizabeth Thatcher with their 7-month-old child, lived in one cabin on the east side of East Okoboji Lake. Lydia and Elizabeth were cousins. William and Margaret Marble lived in Marble Grove on the west shore of Spirit Lake.

On Sunday morning, March 8, 1857, Inkpaduta and his warriors barged into the Gardner cabin and demanded breakfast. While Frances Gardner fed them, a warrior grabbed Rolands gun and removed the firing mechanism. Roaring Cloud, one of Inkpadutas twin sons, demanded more food, but none remained. He pointed his gun at Harvey Luce, who grabbed the barrel and prevented the Indian from firing. After a few tense moments, the Indians left the cabin. About 9 a.m., bachelors Dr. Isaac H. Harriott and Bertell A. Snyder came by, knowing that Roland was about to leave for Fort Dodge for provisions. They wanted him to mail their letters, but Roland was worried about the Indians and refused to leave. Harriott and Snyder departed with their letters.

About midday the Indians took Gardners cattle, killed them and headed for the Mattock cabin. James Mattock, his wife and five children had built their home south of the strait between East Okoboji Lake and West Okoboji Lake. Living with Mattock was Mr. Madison and his 18-year-old son, Robert. Dr. Harriott, Bert Snyder and the Granger brothers, William and Carl, lived together in one cabin, between the two Okoboji lakes. The Indians attacked the cabins, killing everyone and burning the dwellings. They found Carl Granger near his cabin, shot him and chopped off the top of his head with a broad-ax. Only William Granger survived, because he was visiting relatives in Red Wing, Minnesota Territory.

Back at the Gardner cabin, the settlers were discussing their options. At 2 in the afternoon, Harvey Luce and a visitor, Robert Clark, went to warn their neighbors about possible Indian trouble. Two hours later, when Roland Gardner stepped out of the cabin, he saw nine Indians fast approaching. He called out, We are all doomed to die! Although he did not want to give up without a fight, his wife took an opposing view. If we have to die, let us die innocent of shedding blood, Frances Gardner said.

Honoring his wifes wish, Roland did not resist as the Indians entered his home and demanded flour. As he went to the flour barrel they shot him in the heart. The Indians then grabbed Frances Gardner and Mary Luce and held their arms tight, while others took rifles and bashed in their heads. They were dragged outside and finished off. Abigail Gardner sat in a chair in a state of shock. The Indians tore her sisters baby from her arms, dragged Roland Jr. and Marys toddler outside, beat them with stove wood and left them for dead. Seeing her family dead or dying around her, Abbie begged the Indians to kill her, too. They grabbed the 13-year-old by the arm and indicated she would not be killed, but would be taken prisoner. All the terrible tortures and indignities I had ever read or heard of being inflicted upon their captives now arose in horrid vividness before me, she recalled in an 1885 narrative, History of the Spirit Lake Massacre and the Captivity of Miss Abbie Gardner.

The Dakotas scalped the dead, plundered the house and took Abbie to their camp about a mile away, near the Mattock place. She saw the cabin in flames and heard the screams of two people as they burned to death. Around the house were the bodies of five men, two women and four children. Robert Clark and Harvey Luce were shot on the southern shore of East Okoboji, bringing the days death total to 20 whites.

Abbie Gardner spent her first night of captivity at the Indians camp near the ruins of the Mattock cabin, while the Indians celebrated by singing, dancing and drumming until early morning. Having whetted their appetites for murder, Inkpadutas cohorts searched for more prey. They found Joel Howe on the trail, shot him down and hacked off his head. A Mr. Ring discovered the skull two years later on the south beach of East Okoboji. Warriors entered Howes home, killed his wife, Rheumilla Ashley Howe, sons Jonathan (25), Alphred (16), Jacob M. (14), William P. (12), Levi (9), daughter Sardis (18), a young woman and old Mrs. Noble.

Next stop was the Noble and Thatcher cabin. Lydia Howe Noble was the daughter of Joel and Rheumilla Howe. She was born in Ohio in 1836. When she married Alvin Noble, they moved to the east shore of East Okoboji Lake. The Indians burst into the cabin and shot Alvin and visitor Enoch Ryan. They then took a 2-year-old child from Lydia Noble and a 7-month-old infant from Elizabeth Thatcher, and bashed their brains out on a nearby oak tree. The raiders killed all the livestock, plundered the house and took Lydia Noble and Elizabeth Thatcher prisoner. Retracing their path to Howes cabin, they stopped to gather more treasures. Lydia discovered her mother, Rheumilla, under the bed with her skull crushed by a flat iron and her red eyes peering out of their sockets like balls of fire. The Indians found Jacob Howe sitting in the yard, still alive; they quickly killed him, and then continued on to their camp. They placed the three female captives in one tepee for a short time, allowing them to compare experiences. Abbie, Lydia and Elizabeth were then put in separate tepees and ordered to braid their hair and grease their faces so they took on an Indian appearance.

On March 9, Morris Markham, who was living at the Noble-Thatcher household for the winter, passed by the Gardner home after having been gone two days rounding up livestock. After discovering the bodies, he continued to Howes home and found more corpses; the same ghastly scene greeted him at the Noble-Thatcher home. Realizing this had been the work of marauding Indians, Markham thought it best to alert the settlement of Springfield (now Jackson, Minn.), about 18 miles north. There, he found Eliza Gardner, who had been visiting in Springfield with Dr. and Mrs. Strong, and reported that her entire family had been murdered except possibly for Abbie, whose body he did not find.

The next day, Inkpaduta moved the encampment three miles west. Abbie was enlisted to drive one of the sleds pulled by a team of stolen horses. On March 11, they moved to Marbles Grove on the west side of Spirit Lake. On the 13th, the Indians stumbled upon the Marble homestead. William Marble was unaware that marauding Indians had been in the area for several days. The Marbles welcomed the braves into their home and fed them. Then the native visitors traded for Mr. Marbles rifle and challenged him to a target shoot. After several shots, the target fell over. As William Marble turned to replace it, warriors shot him in the back and stole his money belt containing $1,000 in gold. Margaret Ann Marble viewed the contest from the cabin. She saw her husband murdered and attempted to escape, but the Indians nabbed her and had her join the other captivesLydia Noble, Elizabeth Thatcher and Abbie Gardner. The warriors concluded another bloody day with a festive war dance.

On March 26, 1857, Inkpadutas band was camped at Heron Lake, about 15 miles from Springfield. Abbie Gardner noted that the warriors were all regaled for battle, with scalping knives in their belts and rifles loaded; they told the captives they were headed for Springfield. Abbie was in agony over what might happen to her sister. She figured Eliza would either be killed, or share with me what I felt to be a worse fatethat of a captive. Had it not been for Morris Markhams warning, the entire town might have been destroyed. As it was, the warriors still achieved a partial surprise. They stole 12 horses, various dry goods, food, powder, lead, clothing and quilts; then they killed Willie Thomas (8), William Wood, George Wood, Mr. Stewart, his wife and two small children.

The Indians packed up their camp the next morning and headed northwest. Abbie Gardner and Lydia Noble carried packs that weighed about 70 pounds. Margaret Marble toted a pack and a pudgy Indian baby about 2 years old. The child was cumbersome, so at every opportunity Marble would reach around, poke him in the face and make him cry. The Indian women decided that the child disliked the white woman for some unknown reason, so they took him away from her. The Indians had snowshoes to make their trek easier, but the captives had none. Elizabeth Thatcher was in great physical distress, suffering from phlebitis, what Abbie called a broken breast, and a combination of other maladies. She had to trudge through deep snow, cross frigid rivers, chop and carry firewood, cut poles for tents and perform other drudgery, yet she displayed great perseverance throughout her suffering. The medicine man did find a way to relieve her pain for a short time.

The provisions the warriors stole from the whites lasted about a month. The Indians have no equal as gormandizers, Abbie Gardner said. They are perfectly devoid of anything like delicacy of appetite, or taste, or decency in that matter. They ate rotting animals, she said, and picked vermin off their babies heads and chewed them with great relish. They stuffed themselves at every chance and then, according to Abbie, lie down and grunt and puff, like cattle gorged with grass in the springtime; or like overfed swine. The captives got the leftovers.

Two days after the Springfield encounter, there was a great commotion when soldiers were seen approaching the raiders camp. The Indian women were sent away while the warriors placed a guard over the captives and readied for battle. The soldiers, a 24-man detachment under Lieutenant Alexander Murray sent from Fort Ridgely, searched the area for more than an hour, but apparently could not find the Indian camp and turned back. Their retreat saved the captives lives, for they were going to be killed had the soldiers attacked. Inkpaduta then had his group clear out of the area. After a two-day march, Abbie Gardner could no longer walk and refused to move. A female Indian swung a hoe over her head, but Abbie just bowed her head and was ready to die. Instead, the woman dropped her pack, grabbed Abbies arm, hauled her up and pushed her forward. Finally, they stopped to camp for the night.

The Indians crossed icy rivers, and the captives nearly froze at night. Two or three days passed between meals and the captives were glad to eat the camp offal. When the horses died, the Indians feasted on their remains. As a result, the captives got a little more food but were then required to carry larger packs. They camped at the red pipestone quarries (where natives have quarried the red stone, catlinite, for centuries to make ceremonial pipes) in Minnesota Territory, and then moved into land that would become Dakota Territory in 1861. They had been on the go for six weeks.

On the Big Sioux River in the vicinity of Flandreau (a town that sprouted in 1857 in what would become South Dakota), a 16-year-old Indian removed Elizabeth Thatchers pack from her back as she approached a fallen tree bridge. Elizabeth had a premonition of death. If you are so fortunate as to escape, she called to Abbie, tell my dear husband and parents that I desired to live and escape for their sakes.

When Thatcher reached mid-stream, the teenage warrior shoved her into the frigid water. Elizabeth swam to the shore and grabbed a tree root. More Indians took clubs and poles and beat her back into the river. Desperately she swam to the other shore, and once again the warriors clubbed her back in. As she floated downstream, the Indians followed along as if it was a grand game, clubbing and stoning her whenever she neared shore. When they tired of the sport, they shot and killed the 19-year-old. Abbie Gardner called Elizabeths death an act of wanton barbarity. Lydia Noble was so devastated by the murder of her cousin that she gave up hope of rescue or escape, and implored Abbie to go to the river with her and drown ourselves. Abbie drew deep within her Christian upbringing, found the will to survive, and declined the suggestion. Lydia did not have the strength to act alone.

On May 6, 30 miles west of the Big Sioux River near Skunk Lake, two Sioux brothers, Ma-kpe-ya-ha-ho-ton and Se-ha-ho-ta, from Minnesota Territorys Yellow Medicine Reservation paid a visit to Inkpaduta. They spent the night listening to Inkpadutas exploits and offered to trade for Abbie Gardner, but she was not for sale. Instead, they traded for Margaret Marble. Before they took her, Margaret spoke to Abbie and said she thought the Indians might trade her to the whites, and as soon as she could she would send someone to rescue her and Lydia. They left in a hurry, before Inkpaduta changed his mind. Two of his warriors accompanied them to collect the rest of the ransom. They traveled east to the Big Sioux River, where they came to an Indian camp. A Frenchman approached them and greeted the brothers. They went to his tent, and his Indian wife prepared potatoes, pumpkin and hot tea.

Surely, I thought this a feast fit for the gods! Margaret said. A great contrast from my former experience with Inkpaduta, where we subsisted mostly on digging roots, and roasting bones and feathers, to keep soul and body together. Inkpadutas men were paid off and left. Margaret was taken to Yellow Medicine Reservation, where the parents of the brothers who rescued her became her caregivers. In a few weeks, Stephen R. Riggs and Dr. Thomas S. Williamson, missionaries from Hazelwood, came to claim her. Minnesota (which became a state in 1858) paid $500 to each of the brothers who rescued her. Major Charles E. Flandrau, Indian agent for the Upper and Lower Minnesota Sioux, took Margaret to St. Paul.

About one month after Marbles rescue, Inkpaduta joined forces with a Yankton band. One of the Yanktons, End of the Snake, hoped to get a reward by returning the remaining captives, so he purchased them from Inkpaduta. He continued to work the women as before. A few nights later, Roaring Cloud burst into End of the Snakes tepee and demanded Lydia Noble go with him. She was the only captive to be consistently disobedient to her captors. Lydia refused to leave with Roaring Cloud, but the enraged warrior forced her out of the tepee. He picked up a piece of firewood that Lydia had just cut and beat her with it, then left to wash his bloodstained hands. Abbie was not allowed to go to her. She heard Lydia moaning for a half hour before she died.

The next morning, the Indians forced Abbie to watch as they abused Lydias corpse by using her as a target, scalping her and tying her hair to the end of a stick. They then broke camp. While they marched, a young Indian walked next to Abbie, repeatedly whipping her in the face with the bloody scalp. Such was the sympathy a lonely, broken-hearted girl got at the hands of the noble red man, she said later.

While Abbie Gardner was wondering if she would ever be rescued, Margaret Marble was in St. Paul meeting William Granger, whose brother had been killed on the first day of the massacre. He offered her a home with his family in Michigan. Three months after Marble moved to Michigan, she filed for damages with the commissioner of Indian Affairs. According to the Sioux City Eagle of August 22, 1857, she claimed the Indians destroyed or stole property worth $2,229, plus $200 for her husbands preemption rights under the 1834 law. She was finally granted $1,994, but it did her little goodshe gave power of attorney to Granger, and he collected the claim. When he was asked if he was going to pay her, he said that he learned from the investigation that Margarets husband was alive and had another wife and therefore she was due no payment.

Margaret might never have learned of Grangers duplicity, for she made no mention of it in a letter she later wrote to Abbie Gardner. She continued to stay with his family.

Granger later moved them all to Sioux City, Iowa. There, Margaret met and married a Mr. Oldham, who was working for Granger. Oldham was suspicious of Grangers story and inquired to the Department of Indian Affairs about any payoffs made to him. He discovered that Granger had totally misrepresented the amount the government allowed her. An official confronted Granger with demands for restitution, but he disappeared into Dakota Territory.

Little is known about the rest of Margarets life. Mr. Oldham disappeared from the scene sometime after 1857. In 1868, Margaret was living in Napa County, Calif. At some time she married a man named Silbaugh, for in 1885, she corresponded with Abigail Gardner Sharp and signed the letter M.A. Silbaugh. She lived in California for 43 years, dying on October 20, 1911, at age 74. She is buried in the St. Helena Cemetery.

Abbie Gardner finally was rescued. Inkpaduta and his band moved northwest to a large village on the James River in present-day Spink County, S.D. On May 30, 1857, three Wahpetons appeared in the encampment and began a three-day bargaining session for Abbie. An expensive deal was struck: For two horses, 12 blankets, two powder kegs, 20 pounds of tobacco, 32 yards of blue cloth and 37 yards of calico, the captive had new owners. Mazakutemani (Man Who Shoots Metal As He Walks, or John Other Day), Hotonhowashta (Beautiful Voice) and Chetanmaza (Iron Hawk) were from Yellow Medicine Reservation and acting under orders of Major Flandrau, who aided in Margaret Marbles rescue and supplied the goods for Abbies purchase. About 10 days travel in early April brought them to the Yellow Medicine Agency and to the mission of Dr. Thomas S. Williamson.

At the agency, Abbie was presented, in the name of Dakota Chief Matowaken, with a beautiful Indian war cap that had been secretly transported from the village on the James River.

Each feather represented an enemy that the chief had killed in battle, and it symbolized Abbies bravery during her captivity. While she retained the cap, it was supposed to place her under the protection of the Dakotas.

Abbie was escorted by a wagon driver, an interpreter and her three Indian rescuers down the Minnesota River to Fort Ridgely, where Captain Barnard Elliot Bee Jr. and his wife prepared dinner for them. Mrs. Bee gave Abbie several gold dollars, and Lieutenant Alexander Murray bought her a shawl and material for a dress. At the head of navigation at Traverse, they boarded a steamboat for the trip to St. Paul, where they docked on June 22, 1857. The following morning, the Indians officially delivered her to Governor Samuel Medary with much pomp and circumstance. The people of St. Paul presented her with $500, which she deposited in a St. Paul bank.

From St. Paul, Abbie, Governor Medary and his entourage took a steamboat for Dubuque, Iowa, where she debarked and traveled overland to Fort Dodge. There she waited to be picked up by her newlywed sister Elizas husband, William Wilson, of Hampton, Iowa. She reached her sisters home on July 5. In Hampton, Abbie delivered to Elizabeth Thatchers parents the final message Elizabeth had entrusted to Abbie just moments before her death. Things happened quickly for Abbie, mature beyond her actual 13 years. On August 16, 1857, she married 19-year-old Casville Sharp, a cousin of Elizabeth Thatcher.

About a year and a half later, Abbie returned to the house where her family was massacred and discovered that J.S. Prescott occupied the cabin. He reimbursed her only a small percentage of what the property was worth. In 1859, Abbie and Casville had a baby boy, Albert, and in 1862, a second son, Allen. In 1871 daughter Minnie was born, but she died at age 19 months. The Sharps moved to several locations in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Twice, house fires destroyed the familys possessions, and one of them consumed an early version of Abbies Spirit Lake manuscript. In the late 1870s, the Sharps marriage failed. In 1883 Abbie returned to the area of the Okoboji lakes and made money by soliciting speaking engagements, telling about her captivity. She finished her narrative of the Spirit Lake Massacre in 1885, and in 1891 she used the profits to purchase her familys cabin. She restored it as a historical site and opened it to the public, charging admission25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. During the winter of 1893-94, Abbie lobbied the Iowa Legislature for money to construct a monument to the victims (about 40 people were killed) of the Spirit Lake Massacre. On July 26, 1895, about 5,000 people attended the dedication of a 55-foot granite obelisk that was erected near the Gardner cabin. Abbies scars ran deep. Never have I recovered from the injuries inflicted upon me while captive among the Indians, she said. Instead of outgrowing them, as I hoped to, they have grown upon me as the years went by, and utterly undermined my health. Abigail Gardner Sharp died at Colfax, Iowa, on January 26, 1921.

After 1857 Inkpaduta was reportedly seen still lurking about the Spirit Lake area. His depredations led to the withholding of Dakota annuities until the guilty parties were turned over to authorities. Scarce supplies led to unrest among the innocent bands, which contributed to the start of the Sioux Uprising (also called the Minnesota Uprising) in August 1862; more than 600 white settlers were killed at New Ulm and elsewhere in southern Minnesota, and about 300 were captured. Inkpaduta again was involved in some of the atrocities. Once more, he escaped punishment and fled. He, according to Lakota holy man Black Elk, was present at the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he reportedly led the Santees (another name for the Wahpekute and Mdewakanton Dakotas) against the 7th Cavalry. In 1877 he took refuge in Canada with Sitting Bulls band. Inkpaduta never returned to U.S. territory; he evaded capture and died in 1881 in Manitoba. Today, some New Western historians and others view Inkpaduta in a kinder, gentler light. He has been described as trustworthy, a very humble man who tried to avoid trouble, a figure of heroic caliber and one of the greatest resistance fighters that the Dakota Nation ever produced. But Abbie Gardner expressed the views of most Americans who survived those earlier days. By the whites, she said, Inkpaduta will ever be remembered as a savage monster in human shape, fitted only for the darkest corner of Hades.

This article was written by Susan J. Michno and originally appeared in the February 2006 issue of Wild West magazine.

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On November 1, 1872, Susan B. Anthony entered a barbershop in Rochester, N.Y., that doubled as a voter registration office and insisted she had as much right to vote as any man. Startled officials allowed her to register after she threatened to sue them. Four days later she cast a ballot for Ulysses S. Grant for president. She was arrested and charged with voting illegally. Before the case went to trial in June 1873, she gave the speech below in 29 nearby towns. A federal judge was unmoved and ordered the jury to find her guilty.

Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizens rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.

The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessing s of liber ty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole peoplewomen as well as men. And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liber ty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican governmentthe ballot.

For any state to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement of one entire half of the people, is to pass a bill of attainder, or, an ex post facto law, and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. By it the blessings of liberty are forever withheld from women and their female posterity.

To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed. To them this government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious aristocracy; a hateful oligarchy of sex; the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of wealth, where the rich govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon rules the African, might be endured; but this oligarchy of sex, which makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters, of every household which ordains all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension, discord, and rebellion into every home of the nation.

Webster, Worcester, and Bouvier all define a citizen to be a person in the United States, entitled to vote and hold office.

The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens; and no state has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities. Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void, precisely as is every one against Negroes.

Not until when?

Years in which major nations gave women equal voting rights:

New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1893

Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1906

Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1913

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1918

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1918

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1920

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . 1928

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1944

Japan (with limitations) . . . . . . . . . 1945

China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1947

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1953

Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1971
We received a media release from MyHeritage.com about 10 notable women of the First World War whose contributions have been largely forgotten today, and we felt we had to share this list with our readers. We would also add to the list the names of Maria Bochkareva, a soldier in the Russian Army who recruited some 2,000 women, about 250 of whom saw action on the Austrian Front, and the Cossack Maria Yurlova, who served in Armenia against the Turks. Many other names could be added as well. Photos provided by MyHeritage.com unless otherwise noted.

* * *

Julia Hunt Catlin Taufflieb (1864-1947). Socialite and philanthropist born in Maine, she was the first American woman to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Legion dhonneur, for converting the Chateau dAnnel into a 300-bed hospital near the front line. She offered use of the chateau to Britains Lord Kitchner, though her friend Rudyand Kipling, in August 1914, but the area was soon overrun by the initial German offensive. The hospital was established in 1917 when the area was retaken by the Allied Powers; her actions prompted other Americans in France to offer their residences to the war effort. She married Emile Adolphe Taufflieb, who had commanded Frances 37th Army Corps.

Mary Borden (1886-1968). A Chicago-born heiress, novelist and poet living in England in 1914, she too was awarded Frances Croix de Guerre for using her own money to establish a mobile hospital unit on the Western Front. She served as a nurse until the end of war, and her experiences are vividly recalled in her writings.

Helen Fairchild (1885-1918). A nurse from Pennsylvania who staffed a unit on the Western Front at Passchendaele in Belgium, she died after undergoing surgery for a gastric ulcer. She is remembered because of her many letters home that preserved the details of a nurses life in the war.

Dr. Elsie Inglis (1864-1917). This Scottish doctor and suffragist was the driving force in founding the Scottish Womens Hospital Unit in 1914, which eventually operated over a dozen hospitals from France to the Balkans. She served in the first one, established in Serbia, and became a prisoner of war for a time. She then organized and headed the SWH in Russia. Already seriously ill when she was evacuated to England in November 1917, she died at Newcastle very shortly after her return.

Flora Sandes (1876-1956). She was a British nurse in Serbia who enlisted as a Serbian Army soldier during the Serbs arduous retreat from the Central Powers offensive of 1915. First a St. John Ambulance volunteer, Sandes became the only British woman officially to serve as a soldier. In 1916, she was seriously wounded by a grenade in hand-to-hand combat. She received the highest decoration of the Serbian Military, the Order of the Karaores Star, was promoted to the rank of sergeant major, and, after the war, to captain.

Evelina Haverfield (1867-1920). A British suffragette and aid worker, she was co-founder (with Decima Moore) of the Womens Emergency Corps. In 1915, she volunteered to join the Scottish Womens Hospitals in Serbia as a nurse. After the war, she worked in a Serbian children orphanage, where she died of pneumonia in 1920.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937). An American living in self-imposed exile in France when the war broke out, the renowned novelist was one of the few foreigners allowed to travel to the French front lines during the WWI, thanks to her influential connections to the French government. She toured military hospitals and battlefields. In 1916 France named her a Chevalier of the Legion dhonneur in recognition of energetic fund-raising for refugees, and Belgium made her a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold. Upon her death in August 1937, representatives of the French War Veterans Association of Saint Brice accompanied the coffin to her burial service.

Mildred Aldrich (1853-1928). A journalist, editor and writer from Providence, Rhode Island, she moved to France in 1898, where she worked as a foreign correspondent and translator. In 1914, her house overlooked the Marne river valley. Her wartime journal and letters to her American friends about the First Battle of the Marne constitute her book A Hilltop on the Marne (1915), the first of four books comprised of her wartime letters. She presciently wrote to Gertrude Stein before the war began, It will be the bloodiest affair the world has ever seen  a war in the air, under the sea as well as on it, and carried out with the most effective man-slaughtering machines ever used in battle. France believed her books influenced America to enter the war and awarded her the Legion dhonneur in 1922.

Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan (1879  1967). A prominent English botanist and mycologist, in 1917 she was appointed Controller of the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in France, an organization she helped create. She became the first woman to receive a military Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1918. She served as Commandant of the Womens Royal Air Force (WRAF) from September 1918 until December 1919. For her wartime achievements she was made a Dame of the British Empire (DBE).

Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was a British nurse who joined the Red Cross at the outbreak of the war. She saved the lives of soldiers from both sides, treating all without prejudice. Arrested by the Germans for having helped 200 Allied soldiers escape from Belgium to the Netherlands, she was sentenced to death and executed in October 1915. A statue commemorating her near Londons Trafalgar Square is only one of the memorials erected to her memory.

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New research from University of Montana scientists suggests that the wildfire that ravaged Fort McMurray and continues to makes its way through the boreal forests of Alberta, Canada, isn't a one-time affair. The data suggests that such events will continue to become more common due to the effects of climate change.

The recent Canadian fire led to the evacuation of 88,000 people and a decrease in the nation's oil production by one-third. The new study indicates that northern boreal forests in the U.S. state of Alaska and other high altitude locations will continue to be vulnerable to such fires due to global warming.

Although the new study focused on Alaska, the findings - which have been accepted for publication in the journal Ecography: Pattern And Diversity in Ecology - suggest that climate change will continue to increase the risks of such fires in all high altitude regions around the world. Specifically, they found that the risk of a fire in northern regions will likely increase up to four times in comparison to recent decades.

"We looked at the location of wildfires across Alaska during the past 60 years and, not surprisingly, found that they were most common in regions with warm, dry summers," said Adam Young, a University of Montana scientist and co-author of the research.

Young claims that as regions get warmer due to climate change, there will be "a sharp increase in the likelihood that a fire will occur in a region."

Despite the fact that forest fires are a part of the history of the boreal forest and occur naturally, the data from recent decades points to a surge that might be reaching an unnatural level of frequency and intensity, suggesting a link to global warming and climate change.

"The Alberta wildfires are an excellent example of what we're seeing more and more of: warming means snow melts earlier, soils and vegetation dries out earlier, and the fire season starts earlier," said Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist from the University of Arizona. "It's a train wreck."

Boreal forests and Tundra in the northern areas of the world contain a huge amount of carbon, storing around 50 percent of the total soil carbon on Earth. A higher frequency of fires will lead to more carbon in the atmosphere, increasing the concentration of climate changing gases and creating a dangerous negative feedback loop.

"Globally we are seeing more fires, bigger fires, more severe fires," said Kevin Ryan, a retired U.S. Forest Service scientist who now works as a fire consultant.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Three Philadelphia doctors have been accused of illegally selling over $5 million worth of commonly abused painkillers and other prescription drugs out of their now-defunct clinic.

The doctors charged in the alleged conspiracy include alleged ringleader Dr. Alan Summers, 78, of Ambler, and accomplices Dr. Azad Khan, 63, of Villanova, and Dr. Keyhosrow Parsia, 79, of Ridley Park, according to a federal indictment released on Wednesday.

"These are doctors who, rather than helping people, are contributing to this absolute crisis in our society," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lou Lappen said.

Federal prosecutors say that Summers ran a "medical clinic" on South Broad Street called the National Association for Substance Abuse-Prevention & Treatment (NASAPT), where he and other doctors - including Khan and Parsia - sold prescriptions for drugs like Suboxone and the anti-seizure medication Klonopin in exchange for cash while performing little to no treatment as required by law.

"Rather than helping people who needed help because they were addicted to drugs, these doctors turned into nothing but drug dealers," Lappen said.

Prosecutors say that the doctors had a 10-year financial plan to corner the local drug market, which included spending over $100,000 to develop their venture, along with a satellite office in Upper Darby and a team to attend Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to hand out business cards and videos.

"This to them was nothing but a business, an illegal business," Lappen said. "But it was a money-making business, not designed in any way, shape, or form to help some of the neediest people in our society."

The trio's misdeeds were uncovered after undercover agents, who were perfectly healthy, posed as customers. They attended the clinic, and despite being perfectly healthy, were diagnosed with opioid dependency and other anxiety disorders. In addition, they received "massive" doses of Suboxone and Klonopin.

The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, health care fraud and money laundering. If convicted on all charges, each doctor faces a possible prison term, fines, restitution, special assessments and a term of supervised release.

Check out a video where Summers gives medical "advice" below:

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Culling - a word for selective, legal hunting - has been the focus of wildlife authorities for years in their mission to reduce the wild animal population too close to people or livestock. Advocates view the practice as a way of reducing poaching and controlling hunters who would otherwise conduct illegal hunting activities.

"The harvesting of wildlife on refuges is carefully regulated to ensure an equilibrium between population levels and wildlife habitat," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

However, a new study has revealed that using legal hunting practices such as culling might not always be an effective strategy.

"For about 100 years, the status quo wildlife management assumption is that hunting, trapping, and angling are good conservations strategies," said Adrian Treves of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and senior author of the study. "There is no evidence to suggest that poachers are going to refrain just because there is a legal recourse."

The study, titled "Blood does not buy goodwill: allowing culling increases poaching of a large carnivore," reveals that culling can increase poaching in regions where carnivores are prey.

The team studied wolves in Michigan and Wisconsin between the years 1995 and 2012. During this period, the animals were not on the U.S. Endangered Species list in both states and culling was periodically allowed.

The data revealed that although there was overall growth in the wolf populations, this growth curbed by approximately four percent during the years when culling occurred. Furthermore, wolf populations grew by 12 percent in the years when hunting was permitted, compared to the 16 percent growth observed when wolves were left alone.

"When the government kills a protected species, the perceived value of each individual of that species may decline; so liberalizing wolf culling may have sent a negative message about the value of wolves or acceptability of poaching," the researchers wrote.

"Culling sort of makes it somewhat permissible to shoot a wolf," said Matt Bishop, an attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. "So it's not that much more of a step to shoot one illegally. It makes it more taboo to shoot it if you can't shoot it at all."

The findings were published in the May 11 issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new study has revealed that the migratory red knot bird is getting smaller in size due to the increasing pressures of climate change, making it harder for them to find the best food.

The data reveals that chicks born under rapidly warming conditions miss the insect peak, which causes smaller beak sizes before migration starts. Furthermore, if they manage to reach their wintering grounds, shorter beak sizes makes it harder to find their favorite foods.

Although the shrinkage of animal body size is a phenomenon that has only recently been discovered, evidence thus far suggests that it is a universal response to climate change. This shrinkage occurs across a variety of animal taxa, and the current red knot study is more evidence that backs current theories.

"The red knot (Calidris canutus canutus) is one of the world's most northerly breeding birds and a well-known long-distance migrant," said Jan van Gils from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and lead author of the study. "Analysis of satellite images has shown that over the past 33 years, snow at the red knot's breeding grounds has progressively melted earlier, at a rate of half a day per year, so that's now more than two weeks."

"The retreat of the snow marks the start of the insect peak in the Arctic; the main food source of the chicks before they leave the Arctic," he added. "Juvenile red knots that we caught along the Baltic coast while on their way to West Africa were smaller and had shorter bills after warm Arctic summers."

Once the birds arrive in West Africa, the survival of the smallest of the birds is just half that of the larger young birds due to the detrimental effects of a short bill. The study revealed that only larger birds with long bills were able to reach their food, with shorter-billed birds forced to eat seagrass, a comparatively poor food source.

"The poor survival of shrunken first-year birds clearly contributes to the current population decline seen in red knots nowadays," van Gils said.

In addition to the changes in body size pushed by climate change, red knot body shapes are also changing. Long bills cause changes in body shape, and since natural selection favors against short-billed birds, survival rates of long-billed red knots are higher, and thus, their body type is more common.

"Changes in body size and shape, and the negative population dynamical consequences, will be widespread among other High-Arctic breeding species in the future," van Gills said. "This is a very serious ecological effect that requires our immediate attention."

The findings will be published in the May 13 issue of the journal Science.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Las Vegas, NEVADA -- Sleep Inn, an all new construction brand and leader in the midscale lodging segment has revealed the latest evolution of its successful prototype. The concept builds upon the current prototype, which has demonstrated great appeal for its simply stylish aesthetic as well as its cost effectiveness to build and operate. The enhanced look and feel has evolved to meet the changing tastes and behaviors of travelers while still remaining cost neutral to today's already efficient prototype. Leaders of the brand, which is franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, made the announcement during the Choice Hotels Annual Convention in Las Vegas attended by nearly 6,000 Choice Hotels franchisees and hospitality professionals.

DESIGNED TO DELIVER

Since first rolling out its Designed to Dream prototype and system-wide renovation initiative in 2010, the Sleep Inn brand has delivered a consistency of quality which reassures both guests and developers. Travelers consistently rank the Sleep Inn brand at the top of its segment in guest surveys, indicating that they are not only likely to return, but also likely to recommend the Sleep Inn brand to others. As a result, Sleep Inn continues to steal share from competitor brands, generating RevPAR growth that has outpaced the midscale lodging segment every year for the last five years, driven by increases in both average daily rate and occupancy. In terms of development growth, there are currently 75 Sleep Inn projects in the pipeline which means the Sleep Inn brand now accounts for more than 20-percent of the midscale segment pipeline.

STILL SIMPLY STYLISH

The Sleep Inn brand strives to be highly selective and purposeful about which design trends to pursue and to what degree. Decisions ensure the direction reflects the Sleep Inn brand's upbeat personality and brand promise to 'Dream Better Here' while keeping cost efficiencies top of mind.

"The simplicity of the Sleep Inn brand's prototype is attractive to both guests and owners in a marketplace where other brands are pursuing polarizing and fast-to-fade designs that are more impractical than simple," said Anne Smith, vice president of brand strategy for Choice Hotels. "In our research, travelers consistently tell us that they love what we've done with Sleep Inn. This prototype evolution equips us even more to appeal to customers who are making snap decisions based on first impressions."

AHEAD OF TRENDS

Prototype changes will introduce simply stylish exterior updates to help signal to travelers what awaits them inside. The brand's signature Sleep Inn tower has evolved to become more sleek and modernized to heighten guest interest. Additional drivers of cost effectiveness include a slimmed down porte cochere, a warm gray exterior, LED accent lighting in the signature Sleep Inn brand color, and nature-inspired door appliques to make an immediate impression upon a guest's arrival.

Based on consumer insights that guests are seeking places to work and gather outside the guestroom, the interior evolution features a stylish open public area with versatile seating, including a communal table with built in charging capabilities along with semi-private banquettes, to support additional use throughout the day. Customized artwork highlighting the local area complements the Sleep Inn brand's signature accent wall and nature-inspired black and white photography. The guestroom remains a serene sanctuary now offering slimmed down furnishings, a smartly designed partially open closet that balances style and function, and beds with decorative white triple-sheeting. These and other new decor elements combine for an overall aesthetic rooted in elegant simplicitytimeless, not trendy.

Further, the introduction of more energy-efficient LED lighting and materials such as luxury vinyl tile and carpet tile options will reduce ongoing maintenance. These features underscore the Sleep Inn brand's unwavering commitment for hotels to be smartly designed and cost efficient to build, operate and update.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,000 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in 35 countries and territories as of March 31, 2022, the Choice family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.

 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.

Addendum

This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, [email protected].

 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Sarah Lee

301-628-4397

Choice
For MGallery by Sofitel, spring 2016 has been a strategic season filled with key regional expansion and important 'firsts'. Following MGallery by Sofitel's recent development in Southeast Asia, the brand has set its sights on growth in Israel. David Tower Hotel Netanya MGallery by Sofitel, opening in May 2016, will be its first address in Israel.

The brand also continues its development in South America with the recent opening of Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel. It is the brand's first hotel in Brazil, and second hotel on the continent.

Today, MGallery by Sofitel has more than 80 hotels in 23 countries worldwide.

These two unique hotels have been chosen for their memorable character and charming luxury,. Throughout MGallery by Sofitel's expansion to new destinations, the brand remains dedicated to creating a collection of hotels for engaged explorers who are fueled by passion, curiosity and an interest in the world around them.

David Tower Hotel Netanya MGallery by Sofitel, a lofty seaside fairytale

Opening in May 2016, David Tower Hotel Netanya MGallery by Sofitel is an elegant and modern tower located in the fast-developing seaside town. Just steps away from the beach promenade, the hotel overlooks Netanya's blue and golden coast on the Israeli Riviera.

David Tower Hotel Netanya MGallery by Sofitel, the first address of the brand in Israel

The name David Tower Hotel Netanya refers both to the hotel's address on King David Street and the story which inspired its designers. The hotel tells the tale of Sultan David, an Ottoman conqueror who fell in love with the Mediterranean Sea, and with a lady whose identity was to be kept secret. The Sultan chose its shores to get the best architects to build a golden retreat for himself and his secret fiancee. Today, the hotel lobby features a modern interpretation of the romantic tale. Guests are greeted by a grand portrait of a woman who could have been the Sultan's elusive mistress. The hotel is also scattered with decorative reminders of the Sultan's penchant for the Mediterranean Sea and the mysterious lady.

David Tower Hotel Netanya is a modern and opulent mansion that mixes European classicism and oriental features. The bright front lobby is a grand white and gold space with high ceilings and windows. The lobby features pockets of indigo and turquoise blues with warm lighting, cozy velvet chairs and vertical rugs. Behind deep blue and gold doors are lavish, comfortable nests that harmoniously combine classical features and modern technology. The hotel features 70 standard rooms, three junior suites and two suites.

Guests can feel the power of serenity at the Via Maris luxury seaside spa. This indigo and gold sanctuary features a pool, a Turkish bath, a sauna and several treatment and massage rooms. The hotel's restaurant features the alchemy of freshly cooked quality local ingredients combined with the magic touch of an inspired chef. The cozy library corner is an invitation to travel with beautifully illustrated Mediterranean tales and books about Sultan treasures and palaces, all while tasting delightful patisseries and tea. Finally, the bar features changing ambiances and themes and is host to musical events, for example around the lobby's grand piano.

Bohemian-chic Brazilian style at Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel

Opened in March 2016, the new Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel is the brand's first address in Brazil, and its second address in South America (the first being the Brick Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery Collection in 2013). Located near extraordinary attractions such as the statue Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach and the Ipanema coast, Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel is conveniently located to explore the city and the neighborhood.

The brand's first address in Brazil in the heart of the trendy bohemian district of Rio de Janeiro

The trendy, bohemian Santa Teresa district has contributed a lot to the marvelous city's artistic and musical heritage. It is perched on a hill overlooking the metropolis, and packed with breathtaking vistas, walls clad in graffiti bursting with colors, intact Art Deco buildings, mosaic-bedecked parks and countless other attractions.

Bohemian-chic is all about enjoying a slow-paced and roving life, and most importantly keeping an open mind and enthusiastically embracing new experiences. The brand new Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel does just that. This atmosphere, which Cariocas cherish, steeps every detail in this amazing hotel where Brazilian artists and designers added the final touches. The lighting, color contrasts and warm natural materials intertwine into cozy moods. Everything about this place is exotic and soothing  starting with the super-king-size beds in the 43 rooms, spa, swimming pool with a panoramic view, and jacuzzi.

The Hotel Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro MGallery by Sofitel also thrills guests' taste buds at Tereze restaurant. Argentine chef Pablo Ferreyra treats his patrons to up-to-the-minute flavors mingled with Brazilian mainstays which can be enjoyed with a panoramic view of the unbelievable Guanabara Bay in the background!

The momentum continues this summer with the openings of Palazzo Livorno MGallery by Sofitel in Tuscany (June 2016), and Leicester Square MGallery by Sofitel in London (September 2016).

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry's most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor's unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality  one of the fastest growing categories in the industry  is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 230,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company's comprehensive loyalty program  ALL  Accor Live Limitless  a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its global sustainability commitments (such as achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050, global elimination of single use plastics in its hotels' guest experience, etc.), Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticket: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Marine Sabat

Media relations - AccorHotels Luxury & Upscale brands

01 45 38 18 79

Accor
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Sheraton Grand Krakow

Joining 25 other Sheraton Grand properties worldwide, Sheraton Grand Krakow is the first Sheraton Grand property in Poland, located on the bank of Vistula River and a foot away from the famous Wawel Castle.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced today the designation of Sheraton Krakow Hotel as Sheraton Grand Krakow adding it to the brands new premier tier of hotels recognized for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences. Joining 25 other Sheraton Grand properties worldwide, Sheraton Grand Krakow is the first Sheraton Grand property in Poland, located on the bank of Vistula River and a foot away from the famous Wawel Castle. The hotel is undergoing a major restoration which will be completed at the beginning of 2017.

Sheraton Grand is one of many initiatives currently underway for Sheraton 2020, a comprehensive plan designed to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere.

We are thrilled to build on the brands proud heritage in East and Central Europe by launching our first Sheraton Grand in Poland said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. The Sheraton Grand Krakow highlights our commitment to the Polish market where we already have six successful hotels and plan to further grow our portfolio.

Boasting spectacular views over the Vistula River and Wawel Castle, Sheraton Grand Krakow offers 232 rooms and suites fully renovated. All premium rooms have been beautifully restored featuring residential design flexible for work and play. London based designer Alex Kravetz, has created elegant spaces with the use of high quality materials and custom designed furniture. Various textures and furnishings were composed to create a sophisticated layered detailing in all elements of the design. The sense of heritage is expressed through patterns and uniquely commissioned art pieces by a local artist. Lighting was also key to the design creating several atmosphere setting possibilities including making the room brighter or moodier depending on the time of day. The Sheraton Grand Krakow also features refreshed meeting facilities ideal for social gatherings and galas and offers four restaurants and bars including the famous Roof Top Terrace Bar & Lounge.

The entire management team and hotel associates have been gearing up for this special designation which is a great recognition of the memorable service experiences that we provide to our guests. We are all very proud to become a true flagship property for the brand in East and Central Europe. The renovated rooms look amazing and we are happy to further elevate the guest experience in our hotel said Angela Saliba, general manager of Sheraton Grand Krakow.

Having launched in August 2015, Sheraton Grand celebrates the brands best-in-class hotels, each hand-selected based on a specific list of criteria ranging from sophisticated design and sought-after destinations, to unrivaled standards of service and impressive hotel amenities. The brand will continue to announce new Sheraton Grand properties across the globe, with the expectation of having 100 newly-designated Sheraton Grand hotels by early 2017.
In year-over-year comparisons, the country's occupancy increased 0.4% to 64.6%. Average daily rate for the week was up 1.3% to CAD141.92. Revenue per available room grew 1.6% to CAD91.70.

The Canadian hotel industry reported positive results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 1-7 May 2016, according to data from STR.

In year-over-year comparisons, the country's occupancy increased 0.4% to 64.6%. Average daily rate for the week was up 1.3% to CAD141.92. Revenue per available room grew 1.6% to CAD91.70.

Among the provinces, British Columbia reported the largest increases across the three key performance measurements. Occupancy in the province rose 8.1% to 69.5%; ADR was up 8.0% to CAD160.36; and RevPAR increased 16.8% to CAD111.51.

Nova Scotia was the only other province to post a double-digit increase for any of the three key metrics. RevPAR in the province increased 11.6% to CAD79.93.

Manitoba experienced the steepest declines in occupancy (-15.6% to 56.6%) and RevPAR (-16.6% to CAD67.39).

Alberta reported the only double-digit drop in ADR (-10.6% to CAD131.58) as well as a double-digit decrease in RevPAR (-16.1% to CAD74.41).

About STR

STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com.
Earlier today, French Montana had a very special guest in the studio, and he had to share a couple of highlight moments via social media. For the first time since 2013s Pop That, it seems that French and Drake are working on a collab. After sharing an Instagram video of Drake explaining his love for Frenchs storied Cocaine City DVDs, French played a short snippet of his and Drakes new collab on Snapchat. After hearing the 10-second clip, some have taken a particular Drake line to be a sly shot at Joe Budden. Unsurprisingly, Budden has heard the lyric in question, and for now, he isnt taking the bait, though he has painful memories of the last time French and Drake got on a diss record together.

Frenchs 10-second Snapchat clip includes a few back and forth bars from him and Drake, though the final line heard in the preview is the one that has received the most attention  Drake rapping, Pump, pump it up.

Those same lyrics appear on the hook of Buddens biggest hit  2003s Pump It Up. Some rap fans think that Drake might now be taking shots at the New Jersey veteran because Budden recently offered some harsh criticism of Drizzys new album, VIEWS, on his podcast.

I think that that kid on that album that I heard sounds real fucking uninspired, said Budden with conviction. He also praised 40s production work on the album but maintained that Drakes efforts on VIEWS sounded like recycled ideas from past projects like Take Care.

Drake likely found Buddens words to be inflammatory, though the OVO boss is careful with whom he chooses to spar, and he makes sure to only respond to controversy when his brand can be helped by the situation. As of now, people who think Drake is dissing Budden based on three coincidental words might be jumping to conclusions. At least thats how Joe Budden felt when he responded to a fan who asked him about the potential beef.

However, one of Buddens good friends feels like those who suspect a diss might be onto something. Earlier this evening, Budden was discussing the possibility of a Drake diss with his crew, and he decided to film parts of the conversation and share them to his Instagram. In the first video, his friend Mal can be heard saying, Its 2016. Theres no reason for any artist to start a verse with Pump, pump it up, other than  I got somethin to say to you know who.' Thx A Lot Mal Pt. 1, Budden captioned the post.

The other Instagram video he shared starts with Mal speaking about the podcast on which Budden had mentioned VIEWS, implying that the timing of Drakes Pump It Up lyric is too suspicious to ignore. Budden played the cameraman, but his voice can be heard throughout the clip. While Mal was talking about the new Drake record, Budden interrupted to say that the song in question is more likely to be a French Montana record. He then remembered that, in 2012, Drake and French had both appeared on Rick Ross Stay Schemin, a song on which Drake (unquestionably) took shots at a certain veteran.

Last time we heard Drake and French on a song where they was dissin somebody, that n*gga died, said Budden, as the whole room broke into laughter, Common ran back to the fuckin Selma so fast!

Mal then remarked how he prefers it when Budden isnt beefing with anyone. Budden himself seemed to agree, though ultimately, he suggested that hell take it as a victory if Drake does end up dissing him: If a verse do come, all that mean is I inspired him like my goal was anyway.
When Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced the new cabinet, there was shock in the arts with the news that music, film, literature, dance and all the rest would now be dealt with under the same umbrella as regional development and rural affairs.

The National Campaign for the Arts has issued a statement denouncing the decision by the Government to lump the Arts together with regional development and 'rural affairs' in a new Department.

It has also launched a petition calling for the creation of an Arts, Culture and Heritage department  which has already been signed by over 7,000 people. The petition is supported by a social media campaign with the hashtag #ArtsDeptNow.

The new set-up, announced by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny (pictured), has been described as a Frankenstein Department, by a spokesperson. And the organisation insists that the arts inevitably will lose out as a result.

"The National Campaign for the Arts is dismayed at the creation of what can only be described as a Frankenstein Department covering Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, the statement says. "Given the central role of the Arts in our society and the key role they have played in the 1916 Centenary, we are perplexed and angered by this decision. The National Campaign for the Arts calls on the government to rethink this ill-advised approach and commit to the establishment of a dedicated Arts, Culture and Heritage Department."

The department was originally established in 1993, as the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, when Michael D. Higgins was appointed. The word culture was dropped under a Fianna Fail administration, and Sport and Tourism were swept in under the overall umbrella. All of which has signalled a lack of genuine commitment to what is in truth one of the mist important aspects of what distinguishes Ireland, as a location for Foreign Direct Investment, as well as tourism.

"This is a signal from the Arts community and the wider public that we are tired of being side-lined, the statement continued. "The National Campaign for the Arts believes that at the very least, the government must reconsider the mismatch being proposed, so that Arts, Culture and Heritage are allied with more closely related sectors.

"The leaders of 1916 were poets and artists. They understood the importance of the Arts in national life. It is an irony that seems completely lost on this government that they have chosen the Centenary of the Rising to push the Arts further into a corner, and ditched the Heritage portfolio altogether. The Arts need a strong voice at the cabinet table. At the moment, all the Arts gets is lip service and hollow praise when an Irish artist succeeds abroad.

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"A dedicated Arts, Culture and Heritage Department would offer some hope of adequate funding for a sector that has seen years of cutbacks. Ireland remains at the bottom of the European League for Government Investment in Culture and the Arts. Council of Europe data shows that in 2012 Ireland spent just 0.11% of GDP on the Arts and Culture, compared to a European average of 0.6% of GDP."

Commenting on the push for an Arts, Culture and Heritage Department, Chairperson of the National Campaign for the Arts Jo Mangan said: This is a year when the arts have once again made Irish people proud, not only at home with the many cultural events exploring our national heritage, but also abroad with our film and music talents once again featuring in the worlds biggest award ceremonies like the Oscars, Grammys and Oliviers. All of the sectors within the new department are important but we believe none of them  and particularly the arts  is served by being shoe-horned together in this way.

THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS  IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Established in 2009 as a response to the McCarthy Report, The National Campaign for the Arts is a nationwide, volunteer-led, grass roots movement that makes the case for the Arts in Ireland. It seeks to ensure that the Arts are on local and national government agendas and are recognised as a vital part of contemporary Irish life.

The NCFAs proposition is to work with the government and the sector to recognise the centrality of the Arts to the future, as well as the history, of our nation, and to achieve an appropriate and functional level of state investment in the Arts and Culture.
A series of compilations handpicked by artists such as Kid Loco and Groove Armada, the Late Night Tales collections share the same essential idea as the Back To Mine series, giving artists the opportunity to put together a collection of their favourite tunes worth staying up for.

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Shooting on the film will commence in Norway later this year

While we'll be seeing Robert Sheehan taking on the snow in the second season of Fortitude later this year, he should keep the thermals and woollies at hand having just signed on for a new feature film.

Mortal is a fantasy adventure that takes its lead from Norse mythology, and the Irish actor has scored the lead role. Directed by Trollhunter Andre vredal, the film starts shooting in Norway this summer.
Icelandic post-rockers open up about new music, hanging out with porn stars and appearing on Game Of Thrones in an exclusive interview with Hot Press.

Sigur Ros promise their new music will be different to anything their fans have heard before.

The group are currently organising their upcoming show at The Royal Kilmainham Hospital next month which promises state-of-the-art-sound and mesmerising visuals throughout. There is also talk of some new singles making an appearance.

"We're working on a hundred different things at the same time...But we're really happy with how it's turning out,"says bassist Georg.

Kveikur, their most recent release was noted for it's darker direction with more industrial sounds creeping into the tracks. This movement towards a darker sound was seen as an interesting step and the new material promises to be another intriguing progression for the band, "it's sounding quite unique and very different to what we've done before," revealed Georg.

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For the full interview with the band - including the suss with their new music and recent appearance on Game Of Thrones - check out the new issue of Hot Press, available in stores now!

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Linn Energy, which employed aggressive financial strategies to fuel its growth, on Wednesday filed for one of the biggest bankruptcies by an oil and gas company since the bust of the 1980s, succumbing to the same combination of high debt and low crude prices that have claimed scores of other firms.

Linn sought Chapter 11 protection owing creditors more than $8 billion, comparable to the amount of debt that Texaco carried into bankruptcy court in 1987.

The Houston-based company, which employs about 1,650, has already reached an agreement with creditors that will write down most of the debt, convert some of it stock and allow Linn to keep operating.

"We believe that these steps will provide us the financial flexibility to successfully manage in the current commodity price environment," Linn chief executive Mark Ellis said in a statement.

Linn Energy's bankruptcy follows a string of 21 oil and gas bankruptcies since the beginning of March, joining several other Houston companies in bankruptcy court, including Energy XXI, Ultra Petroleum and Goodrich Petroleum. All told, 72 North American drillers have been forced into bankruptcy -and tens of thousands of workers have lost jobs - since crude prices began their slide in the summer of 2014.

Other bankruptcies likely

Legal experts say it is unlikely Linn Energy will be the last or the largest oil company to end up in bankruptcy before the downturn ends.

"There's more to come," said Buddy Clark, a partner at Dallas law firm Haynes & Boone. "Prices haven't turned around high enough or fast enough to rescue a number of companies heading directly to bankruptcy courts."

Linn Energy was once a darling of the financial community, going on a long spending spree during the nation's energy boom. The company adopted an unusual corporate structure for the oil industry, operating as a partnership to gain tax advantages that made it cheaper to raise money and easier to buy oil-producing properties.

Linn Energy sold shares and borrowed to finance its growth, and offered a steady dividend to its investors. Between 2006 and 2012, the company's stock nearly tripled to about $30 a share. Its market value soared from $130 million to more than $10 billion.

That money poured into land and wells in California, Oklahoma, Texas and other states. But the company's fortunes declined along with crude prices, which peaked at more than $100 a barrel in June 2014, fell below $30 in February, and closed Wednesday in New York at $46.23.

Couldn't afford debt

"They were widely regarded as successful and shrewd, buying up good assets," said Randy Williams, partner at the law firm Thompson & Knight in Houston. "All of the sudden the price went through the floor."

By early 2016, Linn's share price plummeted, and it was facing punishing interest payments on debt it could no longer afford. Even though the company still held a sizable cash balance, its executives told investors in March that bankruptcy may be unavoidable.

The company said Wednesday that the restructuring agreement includes a $2.2 billion line of credit that it will use to continue operating.

Among Linn Energy's biggest unsecured creditors are financial services firm Wilmington Trust Co., which is owed $3.1 billion, Bank of New York Mellon Trust, owed $868 million, and Baker Hughes Business Support, owed nearly $1 million.
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Public art is looking up, way up - and down, way down - in Houston right now.

A handful of major new installations are livening up the urban landscape in ways that encourage us to consider structures - and our relationship to them - from new perspectives.

Amanda Parer's "Intrude" took form this week on the lawn at 1600 Smith. It leaves Saturday, but four other downtown installations will be up longer - at least through next year. And Donald Lipski's high-tech "Down Periscope" is permanent, offering 360-degree views into the subterranean wonders of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, which isn't technically art, but is a must-see.

Interest in public art has blossomed in the past decade or so as civic leaders across the U.S. have adopted the concept of placemaking. To make a place a people magnet, it's not enough just to create nice parks and plazas. People yearn to be engaged and amused. They want something to do, to listen to or to look at. They also want to share the experience.

And nothing makes better selfie bait than a big, fascinating piece of art.

More Information "Intrude," 1600 Smith, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; free; artsbrookfield.com. Art Blocks at Main Street Square, 900-111 Main; open daily; free; artblockshouston.org "Down Periscope," 105 Sabine, open daily; free; houstonperiscope.com Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, 105 Sabine; 3-7 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays; $2 for 30-minute docent-led tour, free on Thursdays; no children under age 9; reserve at buffalobayou.org See More Collapse

This has not escaped the attention of artists, said Sara Kellner, the Houston Arts Alliance's director of civic art and design. She said it's not uncommon to receive proposals for public art projects that mention "the selfie spot."

Art consultant Lea Weingarten, who curated the Art Blocks at Main Street Square, said if a client's goal is to engage and attract people to a site, she, too, considers how a work will resonate on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

When you want to gauge how people are responding, Weingarten said, "there's almost immediate gratification with social media."

The Tuesday lunch crowd outside 1600 Smith wasn't sure what to think of the six huge inflated rabbits of "Intrude," which have taken over the patch of urban green space where people escape from their computers and air conditioning. But the smartphones were out, recording the view.

The largest bunny, who was perched like the sphinx in the middle of the grass (and showing his back end to people relaxing in Adirondack chairs), measures more than 40 feet long.

Tiffany Pinkston, a senior IT business analyst with Chevron, thought the sculptures were cute but wondered what they meant.

"White rabbits? 'Alice in Wonderland'? Should we be running?" she said.

Parer, the artist, would have been happy to hear that last idea. Rabbits are considered invasive in Australia, where she's from. They are still just kind of cute in the U.S., but by reversing the scale of man to animal, Parer hopes her soft sculptures make people think twice about the environment and what the world might feel like if we were the rabbits.

"Intrude" is inflated daily and best viewed at dusk, when the sculptures glow, lit from inside.

The Houston stop is part of a four-city national tour presented by Arts Brookfield, the cultural arm of the global real-estate corporation that owns 1600 Smith. While Arts Brookfield maintains an active, rotating series of exhibitions inside the company's marquee buildings downtown, "Intrude" represents something bolder.

Vice president Ted Zwieg was there Tuesday, watching the response.

"The main thing was, number one, we have the room. But it creates energy and a lot of wow as people drive or walk by," Zwieg said. "These days, we always talk about work, home and, what's that other place, where you can have a cup of coffee or lunch with friends?"

With the Art Blocks at Main Street Square, the Downtown District hopes to bring positive energy back to a stretch of properties that are ripe for a rebirth. Envisioned as a "civic outdoor room" 13 years ago, the area has remained a kind of no-man's land in spite of its pedestrian promenade and a dramatic water feature that arcs over the MetroRail line.

Art was only part of the most recent $700,000 initiative, which included capital improvements, but it's certainly an attention-getter.

At the corner of Main and McKinney, Chicago artist Jessica Stockholder's "Color Jam Houston" washes the street, sidewalk, light posts and the corners of buildings with coral, turquoise and bright green. You can't walk by it without walking "through" it.

Stockholder said she's interested in boundaries - "between personal and public, between fiction and reality, between inside and out." And an intersection presents all kinds of them.

"The intersection is such a weird kind of place - always very dynamic with the threat of a car coming through at every moment. To have this static piece occupy the dynamic intersection allows for recognition of this dynamism," she said. "I care about how the work provides shifting experience to a single viewer on the street and also asks for thinking about how many share that space."

Halfway down the block, Houston artist Patrick Renner's gargantuan "Trumpet Flower" sculpture descends from a rooftop to form a loopy canopy over a plaza of brightly colored tables and chairs. Made of woven wood scraps on a metal armature, it was a highly collaborative effort - Houstonians pitched in to paint the wood; Nick Moser handled logistics, and Kelly O'Brian helped with the engineering.

A step up from the popular "Funnel Tunnel" Renner created two years ago outside the Art League Houston building on Montrose Boulevard, "Trumpet Flower" looks like it really, really wants to be permanent. And Weingarten would like to see it activated even beyond lunchtime. The canopy creates an inviting event space.

The international collaborative YesYesNo draws viewers to a window of 1111 Main, the shell of the old Sakowitz building, to interact with "mas que la cara," or "more than the face." Just try not pulling out your smartphone as the motion-capture technology "reads" your face and comes back at you with whizzy color and patterns that turn into wild-looking masks.

At the north end of the Art Blocks, high above the Main Street Market, Jamal Cyrus' "Lightnin' Field" is the first of four marquee projects that defy expectations. "Lightnin' Field," which re-creates a historic poster, pays tribute to Houston bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins and the long-gone venue Liberty Hall. It's up until July, to be followed by a rotation that includes paintings by Armando Castelan, M. Giovanni Valderas and Nataliya Scheib.

Over at Buffalo Bayou Park, Lipski's "Down Periscope" could attract lines of viewers this weekend eager to peer into the massive, meditative Cistern - an eery, magical-looking structure built in 1927 as Houston's first underground drinking-water reservoir and rediscovered in 2010.

Lipski collaborated with the Houston tech firms Fuel FX and Wildcat to engineer the computer interfaces for the periscope, which also can be accessed online at houstonperiscope.com. Press a button - there's audio, too - and a searchlight goes on below, allowing you to manipulate the scope to see whatever's happening below. This weekend, you're likely to view a steady line of tourists.

Lipski could have created a more conventional sculpture for the park, but fell in love with the Cistern - like every other artist who has seen it. "It's grandeur, utilitarian structure, symmetry and majesty astounded me," he said. He thinks of "Down Periscope" as "merely a tool" for seeing.

It's a fun tool. And it's a much bigger lens than you'll find on any smartphone. But ultimately, it can't beat a live art experience.

Buffalo Bayou Park art committee leaders Judy Nyquist and Geraldina Wise can't wait for the day when there's more art inside the Cistern. They envision environmental sound and light art that will help "activate" the 221 concrete columns that stretch dramatically from the ceiling to the watery floor. (Echoes resonate for as long as 17 seconds.)

To keep people coming back, and finding new ways to appreciate it, even a site that's a masterpiece in itself could benefit from a little placemaking.
At age 75, Captain America has always wielded a certain political symbolism, whether making his serum-powered debut during World War II by socking Hitler in the jaw, or going rogue in his new film "Civil War." But his political life is, of course, markedly different on the page from how it is on screen.

For the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the filmmakers decided to freeze Steve Rogers from World War II until present day, like some Rip Van Popsicle. "Once he goes to sleep for 70 years and wakes up," "Captain America: Civil War" co-director Joe Russo told The Washington Post last week, Cap "escapes sort of the deflowering of America." Steve Rogers, in other words, "missed Watergate, Vietnam, he missed everything."

Captain America has a much richer political story, however, in comics, which had Rogers reawaken and not miss Vietnam and Watergate.

As the nation changed during that tumultuous time, Marvel Comics had to respond to stay relevant. And so the publisher turned to its then-straightest arrow that was Timely/Marvel's first Avenger.

"During that period, sales and interest in Captain America started to lag, for obvious reasons," Tom Brevoort, Marvel's senior vice president for publishing, tells The Post. "Given that the nation was embroiled in an unpopular war -- especially unpopular with the young people who were being drafted to fight -- characters such as Cap or a Iron Man, who had the seeming (image) of being pro-Establishment, were out of step with the audience."

And the writer who changed this course was Steve Englehart.

"Steve himself was a young guy at this point, in his early 20s, and he was plugged into the counterculture," Brevoort says. "And so he set about trying to make Captain America relevant to the times, and the world around him in the 1970s. This all led to that Secret Empire storyline, which was an allegory on the Watergate scandal and the way it played out in the press."

Englehart asked himself, "Who is Captain America?" The answer was: This star-spangled, Army-juiced crimefighter believed in the American presidency, right up until he tracked a criminal conspiracy to the White House -- a superhero tracking down all the president's men.

Cap defeats the evil Committee to Regain America's Principles and unmasks its leader, who is presumed to be Richard Nixon. ("The metaphor is strong and direct," Brevoort says.) The leader kills himself rather than be arrested; a Watergate-style scandal is cooked up so that the leader's posthumous body-double can resign.

"Like most of his generation, I don't think Steve liked or trusted Richard Nixon, so for him it was a small leap to turn him into the head of the Secret Empire," says Brevoort, who has edited such Marvel runs as Civil War.

Once Captain America uncovers the conspiracy, however, his sense of patriotic trust is broken.

Just as important as the Secret Empire arc, Brevoort says, was "the immediate aftermath of that story, in which Steve Rogers went through some '70s-style soul-searching and search for self, adopting the identity of Nomad -- the man without a country -- along the way, before finally returning as a Captain America, who was loyal to and motivated by the America dream rather than any particular party or government office."

"This mirrored the sort of soul-searching that much of the audience was going through at the time," says Brevoort, who joined Marvel in 1989, "and caused Captain America to once again become one of Marvel's most popular titles."

Which raises the question: Now that the on-screen Captain America himself distrusts government and institutional authority, too, could a Nomad be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's future?
After nine years of character plotting, world-building and over a dozen movies, Marvel has unleashed "Captain America: Civil War," which will forever be remembered as the undoing of the Avengers. Given the themes of personal apocalypses and broken family bonds, the studio knew it had to inject this bloody battle with the signature Marvel charm. "Civil War" needed Spider-Man.

In a move few could have seen coming back when "Iron Man" kicked off in 2008 (only a year after Tobey Maguire ended his reign in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" film series), Marvel Studios swayed Sony Pictures into rebooting its crown jewel superhero in "Civil War." It wasn't easy getting Peter Parker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe fold, but, according to the crew behind Marvel's new feature, it was very necessary.

In February 2015, it was officially announced Spider-Man would be joining the Marvel movie world, but the negotiations to get Spidey back had long been underway.

"It was a very difficult process," "Civil War" co-director Joe Russo said. "Certainly trying to get two studios to collaborate on a very high-profile piece of (intellectual property), where there's a lot of money involved, is not easy. It is probably unprecedented. Only a guy like Kevin Feige could pull it off, and he did pull it off. Credit goes to him and Amy Pascal, who was running Sony at the time; the two of them collaborated and figured out how to share the character."

However, Marvel wasn't interested in acquiring Spider-Man as some sort of ornamental superhero dressing the films could vaguely reference to, like so many comic book Easter eggs we've seen before. The new iteration of the character would launch a whole new Spidey franchise back at Sony and bridge the gap between the previously split Marvel worlds. (Similarly, the "X-Men" franchise, also based on Marvel comics, is currently isolated at Fox.)

But more importantly, Spider-Man would also be saving the Avengers from their own predictable premise. "The reason that we wanted the character in the movie is that we felt as we were working on the storytelling of 'Civil War' it was becoming binary, it was bifurcated, two opposing sides and it was becoming very linear and predictable," Joe Russo said. "So we wanted to introduce free radical characters into the storytelling."

Yes, a 15-year-old kid from Queens would be responsible for shaking up the whole of the MCU, right in the middle of a superhero war.

"We were all in lockstep pretty early on to make him as naturalistic as possible," said "Civil War" co-screenwriter Stephen McFeely. "In addition to being as young as possible. So what is it really like for a 15-year-old kid? Where does he live in Queens? That's partly why his aunt isn't 80 years old; if she's the sister of his dead mother, why does she have to be two generations ahead?"

And with that youth comes the awe-inspired fun that may have been drowned out over the sound of Captain America repeatedly smashing his fist into Iron Man's face. "The very point of the movie is the heroes, they're having real problems with being superheroes now," said co-screenwriter Christopher Markus. "They're jaded and it's encroaching on their lives and it's not easy. And if you only have those people in the movie, then you've got a movie that is saying the thing the audience enjoys isn't any fun. It's like slapping their hands when they reach for the candy. It's great to have a character, like Spider-Man, who's brand new. Who's still having a blast, he's super-excited to be meeting Captain America for the first time, because it injects that kind of wonder back into the situation. You need an outside voice to shine a light on the things the people in the scene already know. (Black Widow is) not going to look at anybody with wide-eyed wonder."

This fresh perspective couldn't be captured just on paper; it would need to be cast as well. As opposed to signing on yet another late twentysomething to play Peter Parker (as Sony had done with Maguire and recently with Andrew Garfield), the studio would look to 19-year-old Tom Holland.

Best known for his role on stage as the title character in "Billy Elliot the Musical," Holland just happened to be working on a film with Jon Bernthal during the audition process with Marvel. (Somewhere, out in the great wide ether of cool things we'll probably never get to see, is an audition tape of Bernthal - who would later be cast as the Punisher for Marvel's "Daredevil" Netflix series - running lines with Holland for his Spider-Man audition. And vice versa.)

"I was doing a movie in Ireland ('Pilgrimage') and the guy, Tom Holland who's going to be the new Spider-Man, he was in the movie with me and we had been making mini tapes for Marvel to try to get him the Spider-Man job," Bernthal told The Times. "He and I made a tape for the Punisher (as well). We worked on it together. We're really good friends."

Clearly the pairing worked because Holland is signed on for the next Spider-Man movie, officially titled "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Whether that's a nod toward Parker's high school dance, or a return to the fresher-faced teen pop days of the Spider-Man comics, we'll have to wait and see. But so far Holland has already proved himself invaluable to Marvel Cinematic Universe by saving the wonder.

Because no matter how serious these movies get, they're still human adults in tight clothes pulling off incredible feats of heroism for cash.
Last month, two colleagues and I swiped our way through Tinder, Hinge and Bumble looking for daters who made clear mention of politics or the 2016 presidential campaign. While we found some #NeverTrumps and photos with father-son Bush statues, the overall tone was apolitical.

Perhaps that's because those dating apps have wide, general audiences. After all, as Match reported in its latest Singles in America survey, 79 percent of singles don't have a problem dating someone of another political party. Only 6 percent of those in the 5,000-person survey said it was essential that their partner held the same political beliefs.

So here come two sites for liberals or anti-Trump Republicans in that 6 percent: Maple Match and Bernie Singles. Maple Match (motto: "Make dating great again") is designed to find Canadian partners for Americans looking to flee a prospective President Trump. (The site hasn't launched yet, but the Guardian reports that about 5,000 people have signed up to become members.)

"When this election came about and I started seeing Donald Trump and the rise of his candidacy, I started getting concerned, just like anybody else," Joe Goldman, Maple Match's founder, told the Guardian. "I thought it might be interesting to try something like this out."

The early enthusiasm for Maple Match might not be all about politics. "This site shows that a lot of people are frustrated with the current dating options," Goldman said. "A lot of Americans really want to meet Canadians. They're looking for something new and something better."

If you're looking to stay a little closer to home and you're feeling the Bern, there's Bernie Singles, which aims to bring progressives together - and assures you that "yes, Bernie supporters exist outside of Facebook."

Bernie bros and gals will need someone who understands them during a Clinton-Trump general election, right? Enter Bernie Singles. Unlike Maple Match, it's already up and running.

In the gender, sexuality and relationship options, there are plenty of progressive choices. You can register as male, female, genderqueer or transgender - and as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer or asexual. Let's not leave anyone out! You need not be single to join - you can register as married, too, or "prefer not to say" if you want to be really coy. Under hobbies, activism, appropriately, is the first option.

Bernie Singles looks like a cross between a bare-bones social network and a dating site. There are public groups you can join - for Sanders supporters who are atheists, environmentalists, "geeks" or identify as LGBT.

"We help connect progressives beyond social media to inspire chemistry among folks who share similar visions of the future," Bernie Singles says on its homepage. "The 1% are not the only ones getting screwed this election season."
LEFT: DAMON WINTER, RIGHT: ZACH /STF

Members of the U.S. armed forces would rather have a New York real estate mogul as their next Commander-in-Chief than a former First Lady turned senator turned Secretary of State, according to a survey by Military Times.

A poll of 951 active-duty and reserve military personnel found strong support for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.
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Barry Spencer chokes up every time he thinks about his fun-loving, outdoorsy son losing his life this week in a park where he loved to play in with his young daughter.

When talking about the girl, his 5-year-old granddaughter, witnessing a sand tunnel collapse on her own father, Spencer breaks down and can hardly speak.

"She became the love of his life. He was just, really, a doting parent. He was the 'fun' parent, and we all knew it," he said.

A daddy-daughter outing took a tragic turn late Tuesday when a flood-built sand dune along Spring Creek gave way on Lonnie Paul Spencer, who had been digging with his little girl.

The 31-year-old man's foot was still protruding from the sand with the girl nearby when a man and woman walking along the trails in Pundt Park responded to her cries.

"It took EMS with shovels 10 minutes to get him out," Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said Wednesday morning. "We don't know how long he was actually buried."

It's a tragic reminder of how quickly a life can be extinguished.

Lonnie Spencer had been doing what he always did for little Leighton: Create an adventure. This time, he chose to craft a cave in the natural landscape by tunneling through the high mounds of sand left behind after recent heavy flooding.

He dug five to eight feet into a sand bank when the clearing became unstable, fell and trapped him, authorities concluded.

He was pronounced dead about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the park. An autopsy was performed Wednesday at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, agency spokeswoman Tricia Bentley said. The cause and manner of death could be released as early as Thursday.

Lonnie Spencer had visitation with Leighton, officially, on Mondays and Tuesdays and was known to have outings with the child at Pundt Park, which is a few miles from where the girl's maternal grandparents live.

Leighton's mother, Teddi Knight, met Lonnie Spencer when they were students at Texas State and started dating when both were servers at Brio, a Woodlands restaurant.

"He always wanted a boy when we first got pregnant, but when she came, she just turned his world upside down," Knight said. "He just loved her. As soon as she came, he couldn't stop staring at her."

They never married and split as a couple, but remained close co-parents with a personal custody arrangement.

The father and daughter were kindred spirits, relatives said, with sunny dispositions and a love for the outdoors.

They went camping, to the rock-climbing gym, to playgrounds and to Pundt, which was her "nature park."

"She got to experience those things with her dad. He just always did exactly whatever she wanted to do," said Knight, 28. "I just feel like, in this modern world of parenting, so often parents focus on the wrong things - but he always focused on Leighton and made her the priority."

Even in her grief, a mother's concern now turns to her young daughter.

"She is trying to cope, not only with seeing what happened, but also with the fear of being down there alone for however long and losing her best friend," Knight said.

Leighton will be starting kindergarten in a few months.

"We were excited for her to start school," Knight said through sobs. "We had a lot of things planned for her that he's going to miss out on."

Lonnie Spencer lived with his parents in their Conroe home. On Wednesday, his father went to the park where his son died.

"Why he decided to tunnel into what is nothing more than a sand dune? I don't know. He wasn't thinking," Barry Spencer said. "All of my grandkids have been there with Lonnie. They'd go in the sand and swim some and just have a good time. I don't know why he decided to dig in that sand dune."

Lonnie Spencer was on the verge of so many new things.

Leighton was headed to school.

He had been building a catering business with his mother that they planned to launch as a prepared-meals business. And his identical twin, Lance, just bought a home in the neighborhood.

"We were all excited about everybody being back together," Barry Spencer said.

Pundt Park, a few miles north of Houston Intercontinental Airport at 4129 Spring Creek Drive, is patrolled by deputy constables who monitor all the parks in the county. Law enforcement park oversight has increased following the tunnel collapse.

But barriers will not be erected to prevent people from playing in the sand.

"We'd be putting orange tape and barriers everywhere. The dunes themselves are part of the natural landscape," the constable said. "If we see people digging in the sand, we will alert people to the dangers of it. Sand is not like dirt. It's granules. It will give way."

Besides his daughter, parents and twin, Lonnie Spencer is survived by two sisters as well as six nieces and nephews.

Mike Glenn, Carol Christian, Michael Ciaglo and Dale Lezon contributed to this report.
A former seventh grade teacher at a Houston alternative school was ordered to remain in custody pending trial on federal child pornography charges Wednesday after a magistrate judge determined he posed a flight risk.

But the federal charges against Jason Dion Johnson, 50, who was fired Wednesday after 16 years at Beechnut Academy, triggered questions about why he was allowed to remain in the classroom nearly 20 years after a previous arrest for indecent exposure.

Officials with the Houston Independent School District - which has a contract with a private company, Camelot Schools, to operate the academy - raised concerns Wednesday in a written statement that the teacher was working at the academy despite the prior arrest.

Camelot Schools took over operations of the academy in 2012 from another company, Community Education Partners, or CEP, which was operating the school when Johnson was hired.

HISD asked Camelot Wednesday to provide confirmation of background checks

"HISD has asked Camelot to provide the results of criminal background checks on all service providers having contact with HISD students," the statement said. "Ensuring the safety and security of students and staff is the district's top priority."

Johnson's paperwork looked fine when Camelot took over in 2012, said company spokesman Kirk Dorn.

"Everything was good. The credentials were in place, the background check was done. There was no reason to suspect there was a problem," Dorn said Wednesday. "If we did a background check and found this, we would not have hired this gentleman."

Beechnut Academy is a special school for middle and high school students who have been removed from their home schools due to behavioral problems.

Arrested at school

Johnson was arrested by federal agents Friday morning at the school on charges of distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography. He appeared in federal court Wednesday, where he waived his right to a hearing on whether he should be released on bond. The allegations against him are expected to be presented to a federal grand jury within the next month.

Johnson's attorney, Warren Fitzgerald Jr., told a throng of reporters outside the courthouse that "all citizens arrested on criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty."

State records indicate that Johnson has been certified to teach in Texas since 1992, when he received a one-year emergency permit to teach music in grades 6-12. In 1994, he received a lifetime certification to teach music at all grade levels.

In 2000, however, his Texas teaching certificate was suspended for four years but was not revoked. The Texas Education Agency was not able to provide details Wednesday about the reason for the suspension or whether it was connected to the 1998 arrest. The agency's online record, available to the public, shows only the dates of his suspension.

He received additional certification in Texas in 2007, three years after his suspension was lifted, when he was authorized to teach middle school social studies, state records show. That certification was renewed by the state in 2012 and is set to remain valid until 2018.

Johnson was a social studies teacher at the academy at the time of his arrest, school officials said. Camelot officials said they believed he had been a teacher for the entire 16 years he was at the school.

In 1998, Johnson was arrested by Houston police and charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure. He pleaded guilty and received one year of deferred adjudication, a form of probation that means charges would be dismissed if he completed the probationary terms. The charges were dismissed in 1999.

Wasn't fingerprinted

TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said a teacher at a contract school such as Beechnut Academy should have been fingerprinted for a background check.

A 2007 state law mandated that all teachers be fingerprinted if they had not already been checked. HISD officials were not able to say Wednesday whether the district's contract regarding Beechnut required teachers at the school to be certified by the state during the four years Johnson's credentials were suspended.

Brian Rogers contributed to this report.
A Houston psychologist and her husband pleaded guilty Wednesday to tampering with mental health evaluations for peace officer candidates in a scandal that left more than a dozen police agencies in the Houston area scrambling to retest officers to ensure they are fit for duty.

Psychologist Carole Busick and her husband, Don Busick, a licensed professional counselor, were sentenced to 10 years probation with deferred adjudication, meaning the charges against them will be dropped if they complete the probationary term without incident.

They were accused of cutting corners on the exams of job candidates for peace officer or jailer positions by not performing face-to-face interviews with the candidates and using outdated tests, throwing the validity of thousands of previous certifications into question.

A Houston Chronicle investigation found that thousands of Houston-area peace officers do not have proper certification that they are mentally fit for the job.

The Busicks have maintained state regulators never informed them that face-to-face exams were required but performed them when asked by local agencies.

Officials from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which initiated the investigation into the Busicks in 2014, did not respond to a request for comment regarding the plea deal.

A Harris County grand jury charged the couple in August 2015.

The Busicks, both 67, will voluntarily relinquish their professional licenses and retire from practice, according to the terms of the plea deal.

"They're out of the psychology business entirely," said their attorney, Michael Hinton, complimenting state District Judge Ryan Patrick and the Harris County District Attorney's Office for their professionalism.

The Busicks also were ordered to each repay $8,762.50 to four agencies that had paid for their services and are now retesting officers the couple had screened.

The four agencies are the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Metro Police, the Katy Police Department and the Spring ISD Police Department.

"We're glad Donald and Carole Busick had to give up their licenses to practice, so this will never happen again with these individuals," said Claire Morneau, the assistant district attorney handling the case, after the brief court hearing.

Commission officials said issues raised by the scandal had prompted them to review their rules and practices regarding the psychological screening process.

The sheriff's office has so far retested fewer than 100 of the more than 1,800 current employees screened by Busick and her husband.

The couple had been charged with three counts of tampering with a government document, a felony that carried a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in jail and $10,000 in fines. The two pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with a governmental record each.

"It's a sad ending to a 30-year-plus career," Hinton said. "It is sad, but they've chosen to take this path."
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The mother of Sandra Bland is raising new questions in court about the 28-year-old's arrest and hanging death in the Waller County Jail, saying she needs access to key witnesses who may have important information about the case.

In a recent court filing in her wrongful death suit in Houston federal court, Bland's mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, is seeking the judge's permission to begin interviewing under oath 10 or more eyewitnesses, many of whom have already been debriefed by the county and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"This case has been shrouded in mystery and suspicion since the uniquely unusual and controversial circumstances surrounding Sandra Bland's death," noted the mother's attorney, Cannon Lambert, in the court filing.

Agency officials have fought the request, saying the interviews are unnecessary and costly and would duplicate interviews already conducted by the Texas Rangers.

The witnesses - including police officers who witnessed the traffic stop that led to her arrest, jail personnel who found Bland's body and the medical examiner who ruled her death a suicide - may have conflicting accounts of what happened after she was pulled over by DPS Trooper Brian Encinia and during her time at the jail, according to the court filing.

Rather than allowing the family to ask questions of witnesses, however, the defendants want them "to simply accept that Sandra Bland's death is the result of a suicide," the motion says.

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages against Encinia, Waller County and a number of jail employees in Bland's arrest on July 10, 2015, and her death in the jail three days later. The case is set for trial in January.

Burden of proof

U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who is overseeing the case, ruled previously that Encinia would not have to give a statement to the family until the conclusion of his trial on a criminal perjury charge stemming from the case. Encinia was fired in 2016 by the DPS.

But Encinia's lawyer, Seth Dennis, filed a joint brief with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that Bland's mother had not met the burden of proving 35 or more additional depositions are necessary.

Larry Simmons, who represents Waller County and the jail employees being sued, said 35 or more depositions before trial would cost the county as much as $75,000. Many of the requests involve individuals who did not play a critical role in Bland's arrest or death, Simmons said.

"This case doesn't involve Apple and Google suing each other, or Exxon and Chevron suing each other," Simmons said in the May 2 brief. The case is not "unique or factually or legally novel" to the extent that it requires special attention from the court, he said in the brief.

Simmons suggested the judge limit the family to 15 depositions.

Among the unanswered questions outlined in the 76-page brief filed by Bland's mother is if Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis followed through on plans to investigate whether Bland's death may have been a homicide. The family has not been able to find evidence that such an investigation occurred, according to Lambert.

Bland's mother also wants witnesses to answer questions about discrepancies in accounts of the altercation between the trooper and Bland and about contradictions between the jail log and a surveillance video from the facility.

The family also is seeking firsthand accounts of three witnesses to the traffic stop, three police officers who were present and two police dispatchers and a supervisor who interacted remotely with Encinia from his squad car.

Lambert suggested some civilian witnesses to the traffic stop and the altercation between Bland and the trooper may provide differing accounts about Bland's conduct. One witness was reportedly ordered by Encinia to stop filming on a cellphone and leave the area.

Another witness told investigators that the trooper had slammed Bland to the ground, according to the court filing, but Lambert hasn't been able to interview that person.

Radio transmissions

Bland's family is asking for access to the radio transmissions between Encinia and his supervisor, saying the evidence is vital to their claim that Encinia acted unreasonably.

In addition, Bland's mother wants her lawyer to interview two emergency medical technicians who responded to Bland's jail cell and provided details about her in-custody death that differed in "medically important ways" from the account of the jail nurse.

The family also is seeking to interview the four women held in the cell nearest to Bland, two of whom spoke to reporters and three of whom were interviewed by a Texas Ranger.
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Mayor Sylvester Turner called Wednesday for the city to conduct more regular building inspections, including those that store hazardous materials, saying that eight years had elapsed since the fire department last examined the Spring Branch warehouse that erupted in flames last week, spewing chemicals more than 2 miles downstream in a nearby creek.

Turner added that the city should implement more stringent reporting requirements for companies that store potentially dangerous materials and impose harsher penalties on those who fail to report accurately.

Officials have yet to determine whether Custom Packaging and Filling Company, home to last Thursday's fire, violated any city ordinances by not obtaining a hazardous material certificate of occupancy. So far officials have compiled only a partial list of chemicals stored at the facility.

Permit required

Houston's fire code requires companies that store certain quantities of hazardous materials to apply for a permit. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and federal law also require facilities to self-report chemicals above a certain threshold.

"We do need more inspections, because in the absence of zoning, you really don't know what's next door," Turner said. "At the very minimum, we should know what hazardous materials and the quantity that people are operating with when they're next door to you."

Texas has recently made information about hazardous material facilities more difficult to come by. Following a deadly explosion in West in 2013, then-Attorney General Greg Abbott's office ruled Texas could withhold chemical inventories, citing a state anti-terrorism law. Last year, the city appealed to the Attorney General's office after a request by the Chronicle for the names and addresses of companies filing chemical inventories. The Attorney General's office ruled that the information could be withheld from the public, citing the same law.

Ultimately, the Chronicle acquired more than 2,500 chemical inventories in greater Houston from local emergency planning committees. Using those inventories, a Chronicle investigation published May 8 identified and ranked each facility for its potential for harm.

Custom Packaging was not included because it had no inventory on file with anyone. Efforts to reach officials with the company have been unsuccessful.

Wednesday's council meeting was the first time officials released the names of at least some of the chemicals at Custom Packaging. The chemicals were a combination of pesticides and petroleum-based products. None of them was rated highly for toxicity or flammability, according to ratings by the National Fire Protection Association.

Meanwhile, audits and inspectors have revealed glaring problems in the Houston Fire Department's Life Safety Bureau - tasked with enforcing the fire code - dating back more than a decade.

The Chronicle reported last year on the bureau's archaic record system and found fire inspectors respond almost exclusively to public complaints and to applications for city permits. The team tasked with seeking out buildings with code violations or those that lack the proper permits was cut in 2011 to help close the city's budget gap.

Scant inspections

Aside from inspections triggered by public complaints or a permit renewal, Interim Fire Chief Rodney West said the department has only inspected each building with a hazardous certificate of occupancy once since the city began issuing the permits two decades ago.

Turner spokeswoman Janice Evans said she did not know how often the city is required to inspect buildings, and the fire department did not respond to questions about its inspection schedule for facilities that store hazardous materials.

"We cannot determine if there has been any routine or systematic inspection of these facilities," Turner said. "Efforts have been hampered by inadequate record maintenance and information retrieval ability, decades of incorrect code enforcement and inappropriate historical awarding of hazardous occupancy certificates."

Turner also questioned the efficacy of self-reporting requirements.

"If we're going to call for self-reporting, then there should be some stiff penalties if you don't self-report," Turner said.

The maximum citation for violating the city's fire code is $2,000, City Attorney Ronald Lewis said.

Turner said he would assemble a task force to work out details such as how often the city should inspect hazardous material facilities and called for improved coordination between the city and the TCEQ. He cautioned that the state Supreme Court recently struck down Houston's air quality ordinances, saying the city overstepped its regulatory authority.
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WARSAW, Poland - A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in Romania becoming operational on Thursday and officials breaking ground at another site in Poland a day later.

The system has been under development for years and is, NATO and U.S. officials say, aimed against potential long-range threats from the Middle East, mainly with Iran in mind. Yet Russia is adamantly opposed to having the military system on its doorstep and the development is certain to further exacerbate tensions between Russia and the West that are more strained than at any time since the Cold War.

'A growing threat'

The U.S. and NATO say the missile shield - which is able to track and shoot down missiles - is purely defensive and is, in any case, powerless against Russia's large stockpile of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"We have had very, very difficult challenges," dealing with Russia, said Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in Bucharest, Romania on Wednesday. "Russia has been building an advanced system for a long time, and they do it very well. We don't have the technical capability to deal with that threat."

While the Kremlin doesn't view the NATO missile defense system as a threat to its nuclear forces in its current limited shape, it fears that the missile shield may eventually erode the deterrent potential of Russian nuclear forces when it grows more powerful in the future.

Russian officials have shrugged off the claim that the shield is intended to fend off threats from Iran, and President Vladimir Putin has pointed at the determination of the U.S. and NATO to pursue the project even after a nuclear deal with Iran as a proof that it's aimed against Russia.

Western officials deny that.

"Ballistic missile proliferation is a growing threat," said NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero. "More and more countries are trying to develop or acquire ballistic missiles. Moreover, missile technology is becoming more sophisticated, lethal and accurate, and increasing in range."

"For us to discount or ignore that very real missile threat would be irresponsible," Romero said.

Russia's stockpile

Russia has threatened to react to the planned site in Poland by deploying Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, the Russian territory wedged between Poland and Lithuania that is the most militarized zone in Europe.

The Iskanders, which can be fitted with either nuclear or conventional warheads, have a range of up to about 300 miles, putting much of Poland in reach. They were temporarily deployed to Kaliningrad during military maneuvers last year to demonstrate Russia's quick deployment capabilities. Polish defense officials are convinced some are still there.

"What the Russians are protesting against are forces that are unable to threaten them," said Michal Baranowski, the Warsaw office director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, an institute devoted to trans-Atlantic affairs.

Baranowski said even with that expected build-up, NATO will still only have about one-tenth of the forces that Russia has deployed along its front.

"That's peanuts compared to what Russia already has there," he said.
BRASILIA, Brazil - After months of tirades, secret maneuvering and legal appeals, Brazil's Senate began debating Wednesday whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, suspend her from office and put her on trial.

The debate, followed by a vote as late as Thursday morning, is a watershed in the power struggle consuming Brazil, a country that experienced a rare stretch of stability over the last two decades as it strengthened its economy and achieved greater prominence on the world stage.

Now, those gains are unraveling. Brazil is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, huge corruption cases across the political spectrum and a bitter feud among its scandal-plagued leaders - just months before the world heads to Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics.

Rousseff, who is accused of manipulating the budget to hide the depths of Brazil's economic woes, is widely expected to be ousted by the Senate, ending 13 years of political dominance by her leftist Workers' Party.

If she is suspended and put on trial, she would become the second of Brazil's four elected presidents to be removed from office since democracy was re-established in the mid-1980s after a long dictatorship.

She already lost a vote last month in the lower house of Congress, which advanced the impeachment proceedings to the Senate. Powerful lawmakers fending off their own graft charges led the effort against her.

Even many who want Rousseff ousted are bracing for what comes next. Vice President Michel Temer, the former ally who is poised to take over the government if Rousseff is suspended, is an unpopular figure as well, with one recent poll finding that only 2 percent of Brazilians would vote for him.

He also faces his own legal problems. An electoral court ordered him this month to pay a fine for violating campaign financing limits. The ruling could make him ineligible to run for elected office for eight years, creating an unusual situation in which a politician barred from campaigning ends up running the country.

"Temer is what we've got," Fausto said. "I hope he'll be up to the difficult and often highly unpopular tasks ahead of him."

Fixing the economy, which may require adopting unpopular austerity measures, is just one of the challenges facing Temer, 75, a lawyer and career politician who kept a low profile as vice president.

Brazil is grappling simultaneously with the Zika epidemic, one of its worst health crises in decades; the crash of its oil industry as Petrobras, the national oil company, faces low energy prices and an enormous graft scandal; and doubts over the nation's preparations for the Olympics in August.

Fears are growing at the prospect of a government assembled by Temer. If Rousseff and the Workers' Party shift into the opposition, they most likely will claim her ouster was illegal, and Temer's top allies remain mired in corruption scandals as well.

Several of his top advisers are under investigation, including Romero Juca, a senator from Roraima state, and Geddel Vieira Lima, a former bank executive. Temer has insisted that those inquiries would not prevent him from naming the advisers to his Cabinet.
As Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and their armies of anti-establishment supporters denounce the U.S. political system as "rigged," centrist independents who've long tried to disrupt the two-party duopoly see their best opening in years.

"Welcome to our world," said Greg Orman, a Kansas businessman who made an unsuccessful independent Senate bid in 2014. The fact "that the primary process is biased has opened the eyes of voters."

Orman is now working with a group called the Centrist Project that wants to tackle Washington gridlock by electing more independents to the Senate this year. The organization, which helps raise money for Capitol Hill hopefuls, supported a handful of independent Senate campaigns during the 2014 midterm elections, including Orman in Kansas and Larry Pressler, a former U.S. Senator, in South Dakota. Orman and Pressler did better than expected, but ultimately lost to Republicans.

On Thursday, the Centrist Project will announce the group's first endorsement of the 2016 cycle: Margaret Stock, an immigration attorney in Anchorage, Alaska, who renounced the Republican Party and embarked on an independent Senate run earlier this year. Stock is a Harvard Law graduate, a retired officer of the military reserves, and a 2013 winner of the MacArthur Foundation's so-called "genius" grant for, among other work, designing a program at the Pentagon to help enlist more immigrants with language and medical skills into the armed services.

The idea that dysfunction in Washington and disunity in the two parties will allow moderate independents their own lane in the center is a longtime dream of a certain breed of American politician-and almost always a pipe dream. With few exceptions, efforts to run centrist candidates as independents have failed to catch on with voters. Independents have usually been spoilers for one party or the other. But this year, Trump and Sanders have exposed the deep schisms and lack of establishment control in their respective parties, and the hope of people like Orman is this will weaken their hold on voters.

"This presidential race is so historical that something different is going to happen," said Charlie Wheelan, a public policy professor at Dartmouth University and founder of the Centrist Project. "We don't know what that is yet, but it's hard to believe that things will go back to normal."

If there were ever a place to make inroads for independents, Alaska, far outside the political mainstream to start with, seems as good a place as any to start. More than 50 percent of voters in the state are not registered with either major party, according to data from the State of Alaska Division on Elections. Two years ago, the state elected an independent governor, Bill Walker, booting incumbent Republican Sean Parnell after only one full term.

"What you see with the presidential campaigns, there's a big disconnect between the parties and the people," said Stock, who left the Republican Party earlier this year because of its position on immigration and other policies. "I've been a Republican my whole entire life, but the Republican Party left me," she said. "There's been a whole host of issues they've drifted away on-the way they fund the federal government, campaign finance, I'm very uncomfortable with Citizens United." Stock has pledged not to take contributions from corporate political action committees.

Stock needs to collect roughly 3,000 signatures before mid-August to get her name on the ballot and run against Republican incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who eked out a reelection victory six years ago as a write-in candidate after she lost the GOP primary. There is currently no declared Democrat in the race, which political analysts categorize, at this moment, as likely to stay in the Republican column in November.

"Anything's possible, but you bet on the incumbent almost anywhere unless there's a scandal or something," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, dismissing reports that there are a growing number of voters around the country who are unaffiliated with either of the two major parties. "They're hidden partisans. All the studies in my field show they vote their hidden party at basically the same rate" as self-identified Republicans or Democrats.

But state-level efforts to recruit more independents to run for elected office are growing-a farm team of sorts for future races-and attempting to tap into the same anti-party energy that has swamped the presidential race.

In Oregon, a record 17 independent candidates will be running for public office this year, marking the first time since 1912 that a third party will be allowed to participate in the state's primary election. The Independent Party of Oregon was recognized as a major organization only last year when its members exceeded 5 percent of registered voters in the state.

"I think people are really starting to wake up and become very disenchanted with politics," said Phil Fuehrer, state chairman of the Independence Party of Minnesota, which was formed in 1992 to help Ross Perot's presidential bid and is running candidates in congressional and state legislative races this cycle.

In Massachusetts, the United Independent Party has seen a spike in new membership in recent weeks-it's currently signing up between two and three thousand new members a month, said James Conway, a field director for the party. While the group is still finalizing its slate of candidates for the general election, Conway said he's been reaching out aggressively to local chapters of Sanders' campaign to recruit new supporters.

An expected general-election match-up this year between Trump and Hillary Clinton has led to growing speculation that there may even be room for a third-party candidate in the White House race.

Meanwhile, some name-brand conservatives-including William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse-refused to back Trump and called for a third-party alternative in the presidential race. The lack of GOP unity has added to Republican concerns that Trump's unpopularity may have a negative effect on House, Senate, and state-level GOP candidates.

While still unlikely, a potential third-party presidential bid could cause voters to look closer at down-ballot independents, said Orman, author of a newly published book titled A Declaration of Independents. Or, at least, that's the hope. While Orman hasn't made any final decisions about running for elected office again this year, he has been involved in recent efforts to recruit third-party presidential candidates to run against Trump and Clinton.

In most states, independent candidates have until late summer or early fall to decide whether to run for office, so the number of this cycle's credible independent candidates will not be known for several months.

"I think the rhetoric of this presidential race will stretch people to the breaking point," said Wheelan. "This is as fertile ground as we can possibly ask for."
AUSTIN - A state appellate court hinted Wednesday that it had little interest in expanding government secrecy in a case involving the public's right to know who supplies the lethal drugs Texas uses to execute convicted criminals.

A decision in favor of openness by the state's 3rd Court of Appeals could a have limited effect because the Texas Legislature passed a law last year requiring state prison officials to keep the identities of the drug makers secret.

The appellate judges, however, appeared more concerned about the broader question of when potential safety concerns should trump the public's right to know how the state is spending taxpayer money.

"Where do we draw the line  without blowing a hole in the (Public Information Act) big enough to drive a truck through anytime the government says, 'Well, gee, this can cause harm?' " said Chief Justice Jeff Rose during a hearing in a case that dates to 2014, when the identities of lethal-drug suppliers still were public.

The case, now on appeal after an Austin state district judge ordered state officials to make information about the state's drug supplier public, was filed by attorneys representing two condemned convicts challenging their impending executions.

At a time when executions in other states had been botched amid questions about the quality of execution drugs, they wanted the names and other information to validate the quality of pentobarbital that Texas was using to execute condemned killers.

Texas at the time confirmed it was using a compounding pharmacy in The Woodlands as its source, and the convicts' attorneys had argued that pharmacies that custom-make drugs are not as tightly regulated for purity as other drug makers.

Both convicts were executed while the case was pending.

Deputy Solicitor General Matthew Frederick told the court that state officials need to keep the names and details about the suppliers secret to prevent them from being threatened or harmed by death-penalty opponents.

"The Department of Public Safety and the attorney general's office determined that disclosing the identity of the pharmacy  creates a substantial threat of physical harm," Frederick said.

Austin attorney Phillip Durst, representing the convicts' attorneys - Maurie Levin, Hillary Sheard and Naomi Terr - argued that the threats were vague and should not preempt public disclosure of the information.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials, he said, could not keep secret a supplier's identity without showing "a substantial probability of physical harm," which he said the state had not shown.

Frederick countered that a 2011 decision by the Texas Supreme Court created an exemption to the release of some information under the Public Information Act when that information would compromise "physical safety."

That decision allowed DPS to keep secret some details about the governor's security detail, including data showing how many plainclothes officers travel with the governor and details of their travel.

"Pharmacies don't have security details. They are uniquely vulnerable," he told the justices "Their only protection is anonymity. Once you take that away  there's nothing they can do to protect themselves."

Rose and other justices questioned whether that exemption could render the Texas Public Information Act toothless, as state agencies would claim safety concerns as a way to avoid disclosing information that should be public.

"It seems a potentially boundless exemption," Justice Bob Pemberton said.

Justice Cindy Bourland agreed and questioned whether such a broad exemption could "swallow the PIA."

"It is not as if there's a known assailant out there who says any compounding pharmacy will be attacked. It's not that specific," she said.

Frederick insisted that execution-drug suppliers should be given the same protection of secrecy provided to executioners, prison doctors and other officials involved in the death penalty process, to protect them from public notoriety and judgment.

"The public-safety exemption does not require us to wait until somebody gets hurt," he said. "There's an identifiable group of people who think lethal injection is wrong - morally, politically and socially - and they are determined to oppose it."

The justices gave no hint as to when they may decide the case that is being watched nationally for its impact as part of a recent move by states to thwart death-penalty opponents and accountability by imposing secrecy on their execution processes.

In recent years, death penalty opponents successfully have pressured drug manufacturers to stop producing or selling lethal drugs to Texas and other states to be used in executions.

That has resulted in increasing shortages of approved drugs, leading some states to delay or stop executions.

Texas has been able to continue its executions as the nation's busiest death chamber, but officials recently indicated they are facing a shortage after supplies are exhausted.

One thing is sure: A decision by the Austin-based appeals court almost certainly will be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, putting a final decision in the case off for months, if not years.
Term limits is answer

Regarding "Grand Old Party has dug its own grave" (Page A13, Tuesday), in Kathleen Parker's diatribe about the demise of the GOP, I think she has missed the point. It is the end of both political parties, Democrats and Republicans, as we know it.

The American people are tired of the "good old boy" political system and career politicians, both local and national. I truly believe the only way to cure the ills of the political system is through term limits for Congress - senators and U.S. representatives.

No matter how good a person is when elected, after years of being in Congress, they change. I don't think I will ever see term limits in my lifetime, but I think it is the answer to end career politicians.

Jude Wiggins, Houston

Sickening feeling

Regarding "Perry hops on the Trump train" (Page A1, Saturday), why do politicians nauseate people? Well, let's take Rick Perry for example. Two months ago he declared that "The Donald" was a "cancer on conservatism."

Now that "The Donald" is the presumptive nominee of his party, Perry claims Donald Trump is a wonderful leader and the governor goes further in praising "The Donald" as he lobbies for a place on the ticket.

In asking to explain his prior inconsistent statement, Perry says it is just politics, i.e. folks don't expect politicians to tell the truth. Thus, that's why people are nauseated by politicians.

Ronald Krist, Clear Lake City

Cloud over pain meds

Regarding "Warrant: Minnesota doctor saw Prince, prescribed drugs" (HoustonChronicle.com, Tuesday), doctors are becoming very paranoid about treating chronic pain with opiate drugs. States are cracking down on controlled substance prescribing. When something like this happens, they become part of a criminal investigation. Who wants to be a part of that?

Stick with Tylenol, Motrin or Aleve. If you need more than that, see a pain specialist.

John Fraser, posted on HoustonChronicle.com

Inside the Loop

Regarding "New houses climb out of reach for many local first-time buyers" (Page D1, Sunday), there are plenty of houses within a reasonable commute (less than an hour) in the Houston area; they're just not inside the Loop. Only certain buyers can afford inside the Loop. Those are the very wealthy and those willing to mortgage their future retirement savings for the sake of living inside the Loop.

The affordable options inside the Loop are basically slums that you're gambling on whether or not they gentrify soon enough for you and become decent places to live.

Ed Evans, posted on HoustonChronicle.com
The current leaders of the U.S. Senate have refused to allow that body to consider the qualifications of Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. They thereby refuse to give either advice or consent in the appointment process. These senators - among them, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate majority whip - evidently presume, as does much of the public, that this default should freeze the appointment process and potentially kill Garland's nomination.

Nice try.

Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers of the executive, does give the appointment power to the president "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate." But this language implies active participation by the Senate in an appointment process. If the Senate eschews its role, then the appointment should stick.

When the framers of the Constitution intended to confer an absolute power, they did so in clear terms. They gave the Senate the "sole Power" to try impeachments and the House of Representatives the "sole Power" to vote for articles of impeachment.

In contrast, conferring the power of "Advice and Consent" is an extraordinarily clumsy way of saying the Senate has an absolute power to block nominations by ignoring them - that is, by not giving advice or consent. The framers may have followed unusual rules of capitalization, but they were far from clumsy and inarticulate.

Instead of an absolute power, the Constitution gives the Senate a check on nominees in order to protect the people's interests in having competent and fair federal officers. No one would contend that has been the only motivation in the Senate's evaluation of nominees.

Nevertheless, the framers clearly hoped the Senate would act as a principled brake on the appointment of unqualified persons. In order to perform this function, however, the Senate must, at a minimum, actually consider a nominee's qualifications.

Throughout our history, senators have given a hearing to presidential nominees in order to determine their competence. After this consideration, the Senate may advise the president to withdraw a nominee, or it may refuse to give its consent. Of course, some of those decisions have drawn sharp criticism from the voting public and interest groups, and that criticism may trouble senators seeking re-election.

But suppose that, for example, instead of confronting the controversy surrounding President Ronald Reagan's 1987 nomination of Judge Robert Bork, the Senate's Democratic leaders had refused even to consider the nomination.

They would have thus protected their party colleagues from the political heat of that controversy and denied Bork and his ideas a hearing. Instead, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings and, after debate, the full Senate voted down his nomination 58 to 42.

One assumes that many voters reacted negatively to their senator's vote on Bork, but that is as it should be. The Constitution lacks standards to guide the evaluation of nominees by the Senate. Therefore, the only way to prevent an abuse of this power is to hold an open debate so voters know how to use their political check.

A refusal to hold hearings or debates both frustrates these public values and gives Senate leaders a greater freedom to abuse their power.

The current leaders of the Senate have wagered that they will not be called to task for avoiding this openness and for shirking their duty. And if the upcoming election leaves them in control of the Senate, their precedent will have created a useful, if devious, political tool.

If allowed to continue down this path, these unchastened leaders of the Senate will be sorely tempted to use that tool again. We will have created a self-destructive system in which a single house of Congress can thoroughly undermine a constitutional power of the executive branch. With this dark prospect in mind, we must reject any interpretation of the Senate's checking role as including the power to reject presidential nominees by default.

The Senate's refusal to consider Garland's nomination must absolve the president of any need for its advice or consent. We should assume that the Senate's lack of action effectively appoints the president's nominee after a reasonable period. That interpretation protects the people's electoral rights and follows from the Constitution's foundational purpose, which was to create a federal government that works and can last for the ages.

Dittfurth is a professor of law at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio.
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Talent has always been an important driver for success, dating all the way back to the planets earliest hunters and gatherers  the tribes with the best hunters survived. Today, the companies that generate the best ideas and have the highest level of productivity get ahead in the marketplace.One could even argue that the workforce is the prime determinant of business success. But building the best workforce doesnt mean just packing offices with smart people from 9:00-5:00 p.m.The most successful companies find ways to create a top-notch blend of full-time employees and external workers  including temps, contractors and other project-based workers  drawing on the strengths of each to balance the organizations needs. The external worker plays a big role in todays workplace and will play a bigger role in tomorrows. Right now, over a third of the total workforce is considered contingent, contract or independent, and Ardent Partners predicts that this pool will make up nearly half of the workforce in the next few years. These non-traditional workers offer top-tier, specialized skill sets  and are capable of driving mission-critical projects that directly impact an organizations bottom line. The contingent workforce is made up of individuals with niche expertise across all industry verticals  whether it be in the ER, the science lab, at a law firm or a public relations agency. It has ...
As a talent development leader, you know all of the reasons a strategic focus on employee training and development is critical for organization productivity and sustainability. But trying to convince your CEO of the plethora of perks a high investment in talent reaps may be akin to speaking to a brick wall. Lets face it  talent development is merely another cost center to him. To get your top leaders support, start learning and speaking their language. Below are three big-picture reasons talent development is worth your  and your organizations  investment. The pace of change in todays workplace demands highly trained employees Todays global workplace is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). This environment breeds constant change, fast-paced working conditions, and the need for speed and agility in all organization decisions. Innovation is no longer a buzz word; its a means for survival. "If organizations want to thrive, they need to focus on attracting, hiring, training, and developing employees with the competencies necessary to sustain a competitive edge. " In Impact and Alignment, a Winter2015 CTDO magazine feature article, Comcast Cables Chief Operating Officer Dave Watson explains his logic behind championing Comcast University, the training school central to talent development at Comcast. We are indeed in a fast-paced, ever-ch...
Authorities in California have launched an investigation after images of a decapitated shark surfaced on social media, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The images, which are available on Instagram, quickly went viral and sparked outrage online.

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The photos' captions said the great white shark's head was found in Newport Beach, but officials say that's not the case.

"Our investigating officers determined it was not photographed at Newport pier," Chris Stoots, of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the paper. The image might have not even been taken in the state, he added.

We are in the beginning stages of any type of investigation, he said. We are in the 'how, when, where and what' stage.

Someone killed a baby white shark and left its head on display at #Newport pier... I'm speechless A photo posted by Drew (@savage.xdrew) on May 8, 2016 at 8:56am PDT

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A teenager told CBS Los Angeles he saw a group of men "biting" the shark's head and "throwing it around, sticking it on their head."

"It was brutal to see that theyd treat an animal that beautiful that way, Clay Kirksey said. All these men were intoxicated.

The 16-year-old said the men put the shark on the back of their boat, according to ABC 7.

In California, it's illegal to capture or kill a great white shark. The men Kirksey mentioned, however, told the fish and wildlife department that it was a mako shark, which would mean they were not breaking any laws.

Investigators told CBS they can't determine what kind of shark it is just from the pictures.

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Putting a number on foreign ownership of Canadian housing is a tricky business. But real estate firm Royal LePage has taken a crack at it anyway.

In a report released Thursday, it surveyed 250 real estate advisors who specialize in luxury home sales across the Great White North.

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The result? A hefty majority (66 per cent) believe that foreign buying had risen in Canada between 2005 and 2015  and in some places, it's only likely to keep growing.

Royal LePage defined "foreign buyers" as anyone who lived outside of Canada "all, or most of the time." Luxury properties, meanwhile, were defined as homes that were worth more than four times the average price in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

With that definition in mind, about a quarter (24 per cent) of the advisors that the firm spoke to said that 25 per cent or more of the luxury homes in their cities were snapped up by foreign buyers.

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More than half of the advisors said that foreign buyers came largely from China, and 60 per cent expected to see more interest in Canadian real estate from elsewhere in 2016.

Almost every advisor (97 per cent) said that foreign buyers are couples, while 66 per cent of them said they have kids living at home.

Most (84 per cent) also believed that these buyers were using luxury homes as principal residences.

Almost three-quarters said foreign buyers preferred detached properties, but added they were more likely to consider a neighbourhood (53 per cent) than a home's size (42 per cent).

While the impact of foreign buying on Canadas overall residential real estate market is small, we see it growing in importance in the luxury market, Royal LePage president and CEO Phil Soper said in a news release.

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"Canada's stable political and financial systems, along with a tradition of cultural tolerance and openness to immigration and diversity, make our country an ideal destination for wealthy international purchasers looking to invest in real property."'

It will surprise few to see 83 per cent of advisors saying that luxury property sales had increased in British Columbia since January 2015; 79 per cent said foreign buying there had jumped in the same period.

Fully one-third of surveyed advisors said that at least 30 per cent of B.C.'s luxury properties are being bought by foreign purchasers. Nearly 90 per cent of them expect foreign buyer activity to grow even more in 2016, according to the report.

"The typical luxury property buyers in Vancouver are affluent, business-oriented and well-educated couples," Vancouver-based Royal LePage Sussex realtor Jason Soprovich said.

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Prices grew fastest in two Vancouver neighbourhoods mentioned in the report  Point Grey and West Vancouver. Average values jumped 135 per cent in both areas in the decade between 2005 and 2015.

Advisors have also seen an increase in foreign buying among luxury properties in Ontario.

Most of them, the report said, are drawn to the province due to a stable housing market, and strong political and financial systems.

Royal LePage singled out two Toronto-area neighbourhoods where prices have increased noticeably. The Lawrence West area saw home values grow by 76 per cent, while the Rosedale neighbourhood saw values jump by 65 per cent in the period covered by the report.

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The firm's research may show a clear consensus among real estate professionals who believe foreign buying is happening in Canadian cities.

But that doesn't provide actual data on how much of the real estate market is driven by buyers from elsewhere.

Gathering data on foreign ownership is difficult, because it isn't really tracked across Canada. The Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) issued a report last month showing that the share of foreign ownership is higher in newer buildings than older ones in Toronto and Vancouver.

But even it admitted that "no existing tool can provide a definitive measure of the level of foreign investment in Canada's housing markets."

Last year, Vancouver planner Andy Yan released a study showing that 66 per cent of homes on the city's affluent west side were owned by people with non-anglicized Chinese names.

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It suggested, to him, that they were recent arrivals to Canada.

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Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber  they're all famous offspring of Hollywood's elite. And as you know, they're taking over the fashion industry one genetically-perfect smile at a time.

So which famous Hollywood kid is next in line to make a splash in the modelling world? None other than Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's son, Dylan Jagger Lee.

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Go check out @nylonmag 's may issue. You can check out my interview! Link is in @nylonmag 's bio! A photo posted by Dylan Lee (@dylanjaggerlee) on May 11, 2016 at 9:19am PDT

Lee, 18, stars in his very first editorial shoot for Nylon's May issue and looks oh-so-cool while doing so. Already a muse to Hedi Slimane during his Saint Laurent days, the up-and-coming model takes to Venice Beach with the mag, smouldering in the spread.

Shot by Daria Kobayashia Ritch, the handsome teen with tousled locks dons an array of baggy shirts and trousers from Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane, giving off that natural, surfer vibe that he knows all too well.

"Surfing has played one of the biggest roles in my life," the NEXT Los Angeles model explained to Nylon. "I use it as a way to get away from everything and just be on my own. Out there, theres nothing to worry about and no ones up in your face."

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Dylan goes on to talk about his mother in the interview and praised her for sending him to a boarding school in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia that looked "like Hogwarts" because it was crucial for him to get out of L.A., a place where you can "get lost."

But the most shocking part of the interview was when Lee admitted he had never seen an episode of "Baywatch."

"Honestly, the show 'Baywatch'? Ive never even seen one episode," Dylan said. "One time we were in Europe somewhere, and they were still running the show. My mom was like, 'What? I didnt even know that they still did this.' And I was like, 'You know what? Ive never watched it, and Im going to keep it that way.'"

The way I'd look at you A photo posted by Dylan Lee (@dylanjaggerlee) on Apr 29, 2016 at 12:32pm PDT

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Wait. For someone who considers himself a beach bum, you've never seen your mother run down the beach in her iconic red one-piece?! I mean, we get it. It's weird. But c'mon, Dylan, it's legendary!

Mama and I... Kinda looks like a painting A photo posted by Dylan Lee (@dylanjaggerlee) on May 6, 2016 at 11:39am PDT

Perhaps we'll see Dylan in film version of the '90s television show next summer when it's released in theaters? Wishful-thinking...

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An Australian couple who lost three kids when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in 2014 has some happy news: they have welcomed a baby girl.

Perth parents Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris kids  Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, 8  were flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when their plane was shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. The three kids were killed, along with their maternal grandfather Nick Norris.

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A week after the crash, the couple said: We live in a hell beyond hell. Our babies are not here with us  we need to live with this act of horror, every day and every moment for the rest of our lives.

Two years later, the couple is still recovering, but the birth of their daughter Violet May Maslin on May 10 is helping them heal.

Our family was torn apart when MH17 was blown out of the sky by the violent anger of a nationalist missile, the couple said in a statement to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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We still live with pain, but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us always, brings light to our darkness. As Martin Luther King said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

What a gorgeous little girl! Violet Maslin, a little blessing born to Perth couple who lost 3 children in MH17 pic.twitter.com/rwJcewX0lv  Jessica Dietrich (@jessdietrich7) May 12, 2016

The couple believes their newborn is an amazing gift from the loved ones they lost, however, We will continue to love all four of our children equally, they said.

Violet brings some hope and joy for us. We hope she brings hope and joy for you too.

According to BBC, 298 people were killed on Flight MH17. Of that number, 80 were children.

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OTTAWA  The Liberal government came under fire Thursday for stacking a parliamentary committee studying electoral reform and for refusing to hold a referendum  with the Conservatives judging their "excuses for trying to rig the system" more and more ridiculous.

Leading off question period, Calgary MP Jason Kenney asked why the government would not commit to a referendum  something three provinces, British Columbia, Ontario and P.E.I., had done when proposing a change to the way elected representatives are chosen. Each time a referendum was tried, it failed to pass the needed threshold.

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Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef didn't mention that in her answer. Instead, she said she appreciated Kenney's desire to hear from Canadians, but had "yet to hear from him or his colleagues on how a referendum could help us hear from those who don't traditionally engage in the democratic process." The remark sparked groans on the Conservative side.

She pointed to young people, indigenous persons, those with disabilities and exceptionalities, those living in the remote and rural regions of this country.

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"We need to ensure that the tools that we use to hear from Canadians are in line with the 21st century needs, and the possibilities to make sure that all Canadians across this great nation are included in this important conversation," Monsef said.

Referendum the 'ultimate consultation': Kenney

"Mr. Speaker, their excuses for trying to rig the system are getting more and more ridiculous," Kenney said in response. "She's talking about a fake consultation process that interest groups will be involved in, maybe a few thousand people. We want the ultimate consultation that allows tens of millions of Canadians to decide how they elect their representatives.

"Why is this Liberal government so determined to be the first government of any major democracy to change the electoral system without a direct popular mandate expressed in a referendum?"

Conservative MP Jason Kenney asks a question in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Thursday, May 12, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

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Monsef said the premise of his question was wrong. On the first day that the government had announced it was moving forward on electoral reform by appointing a 10-person committee  with six Liberals, three Conservatives and one NDP MP, along with non-voting members from the Bloc Quebecois and the Green party  she said the hashtag #electoralreform on Twitter had 12 million impressions in one day, proudly holding one finger in the air.

"Apparently, she wants decisions to be made by Twitter," Kenney quipped.

1/ Liberal rational for refusing a referendum on electoral reform becoming increasingly ridiculous. Now say referendum excludes people.What?  Jason Kenney (@jkenney) May 12, 2016

2/ In opposing a referendum on electoral reform, Liberal Minister now citing Twitter hashtags as an argument. #Embarrassing#twitterocracy  Jason Kenney (@jkenney) May 12, 2016

Quebec Conservative MP Steven Blaney said the Liberals had gone "from sunny ways to a total eclipse of democracy." The Grits have given themselves absolute control of the committee, he said, and would next change the rules of democracy unilaterally.

Monsef told reporters Wednesday the Liberal-dominated committee's recommendation would not be binding in the government. She ruled out engaging the public through citizens' assemblies, as B.C. and Ontario had done. And she did not say, when asked, whether she wanted buy-in from at least one other political party in the Commons in order to add legitimacy to the Liberals' final proposal.

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Monsef, however, insisted the government would consult extensively  especially with minority groups. It would also take an "evidence-based" approach by encouraging MPs to hold town halls in each of their 338 ridings and report back.

"Listening to Canadians is at the heart of democracy," she said, without any hint of irony.

New Democrats blast plan, too

The Conservatives weren't the only party after Monsef's reform plans.

NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet said the Liberals' policy made "no sense."

"This reform is off to a very bad start," she said.

"How can they claim they want to end first-past-the-post and then stack a committee that models themselves on first-past-the-post?"

The Liberals hold 54.4 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. They won 39.5 per cent of the popular vote. The makeup of the committee that will help determine what electoral system Canada gets reflects the distortion of the current first-past-the-post system in the Commons.

Liberals have used their false majority to stack the deck on #electoralreform. Does this committee look fair to you? pic.twitter.com/FdLejhplHb  NDP_HQ (@NDP_HQ) May 12, 2016

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May doesn't get one voting seat despite her party obtaining 3.4 per cent of the votes. Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc said reflecting the popular vote would have meant a committee with more than 20 members.

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During the 2015 election, Justin Trudeau's Liberals announced the 2019 election would be run under a new system  but he didn't say what exactly that new system would be. The Liberals promised to make every vote count and pledged to bring forward legislation 18 months after taking office.

The committee has until Dec. 1, 2016 to table their recommendation, giving the government five months to come up with a bill.

Elections Canada chief says he'd need 6 months notice

Elections Canada says it needs at least 24 months to plan for a new electoral system. It also needs at least six months notice to plan for a referendum.

Marc Mayrand, the head of the agency, told a parliamentary committee last month that the Referendum Act is outdated, that it hasn't been changed since 1992, and that many Canadians might be surprised to learn there are few limits on financing.

"For example, unions and corporations could contribute to referendum committees. I think that may come as a shock. There is no limit on contributions by any entities. Again, that may come as a shock," he said.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is known for his rolled up sleeves and willingness to take a selfie, but not every Canadian realizes he is the geekiest guy to lead our nation.

Trudeau made a "May the fourth be with you" joke last week (which the Conservatives took issue with).

Here are 10 more moments that prove geeks inherit the earth  or Canada, at least.

1. He loves "Stars Wars." A lot.

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This is Trudeau dressed up as Han Solo last Halloween.

And as any good, geeky parent will do, Trudeau passed down his "Star Wars" obsession to his kids Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien. Check them out as they waited for poll results on election night.





2. The Force was strong with this one from the start.

Trudeau was already flaunting sci-fi pride when he was eight years old.





CBC unearthed a clip from their archives of 11-year-old Trudeau declaring "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" the best of the series.

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Justin Trudeau, fan de Star Wars a 11 ans :) https://t.co/o00jRRPT4f  La Popoteuse (@LaPopoteuse) December 17, 2015





He's since changed his mind and tweeted that "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" is his favourite.

3. He wore a Superman shirt to a comic convention.

It's seriously impressive that our nation's leader not only braved the crowds at Ottawa's Comiccon  he also wore a Superman shirt. With his hair bearing a striking resemblance to Superman's curls, it's hard to tell if Trudeau was intentionally going for a casual cosplay look.

You do you, Tru.





The similarities were enough to draw the attention of artist Mike Rooth, who drew Trudeau as Superman on a DC Comics cover.

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Trudeau even gave a shout-out to Superman's Canadian connection: the co-creator is fellow Canuck Joe Shuster, who based Metropolis' Daily Planet on the Toronto Star.

4. He may or may not know his quantum computing.

Trudeau made headlines in April for his apparent technology know-how, when he explained quantum computing to a media scrum.

Was he accurate? An actual quantum physicist gave him an A+ for effort.

5. He's a Trekkie.

When actor Leonard Nimoy died, at age 83, Trudeau paid tribute to Nimoy's "Star Trek" role with the actor's famous Vulcan salute.

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Live long and prosper, indeed.

6. He's a wannabe time traveller, too.

October 21, 2015, was the day Marty and Doc travelled to our era in "Back To The Future II." Trudeau wasted no time celebrating the occasion by posing in a DeLorean with his kids.

Do we spy a familiar Superman shirt?

7. This nerd went to Montreal Comiccon, too.

Bien fier davoir pu dechainer mon cote geek en me faisant arreter par des stormtroopers a #comicon#montreal. pic.twitter.com/O8zModMv  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 16, 2012

Went to the Montreal #ComicCon (for my kids, really!) and totally groupied out on Dark Helmet! Embarrassed, yet proud. pic.twitter.com/T9RfpWOe  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 16, 2012

Right. For the kids. Suuuuuure.

8. He's into cosplay.

Canada has collectively tried to forget our prime minister's goatee phase, but we'll never rid ourselves of Trudeau's D'Artagnan cosplay at Montreal Movember Gala Parte in 2010.

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#TBT to when our Prime Minister co-hosted our 2010 Montreal Movember Gala Parte. @JustinTrudeaupic.twitter.com/UaQoO2lxVT  Movember Canada (@MovemberCA) October 29, 2015





9. Even his guards are nerdy.

In a tweet, Bioware writer Sam Maggs wrote that Trudeau's security guards used a cheeky video game reference as their ringtone.

PM Trudeau came to @mylifeasrach's restaurant tonight & his guards use the Metal Gear "Guard Alerted!" noise on their cellphones   Sam (@SamMaggs) December 15, 2015

The sound effect is from the popular game franchise "Metal Gear"  iconic for allowing players to sneak around enemies. However, when they're detected, the player will hear this:

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Here's hoping our PM is in on the joke.

10. Trudeau's former students can vouch for his nerdiness.

Gotta find my middle school yearbook: who knew our slightly-nerdy student teacher Mr. Trudeau would go on to become the Prime Minister?  Dr. Lucia Lorenzi (@empathywarrior) October 21, 2015

Before he was elected to office, Trudeau taught French, drama, humanities and math. In a Reddit thread, his former students wanted to give the Internet a masterclass in Mr. Trudeau's geeky background.

"I had him as a sub for grade eight at Kwayhquitlum Middle in 1998. I remember him singing the words to 'Pretty Fly.' The guys all thought he was awesome and us girls all had a mad crush on him."

Just in case you forgot how cringe-worthy/incredible The Offspring's "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" was:

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Canadas only clinic for gender reassignment surgery was set on fire last week, causing at least $700,000 worth of damage.

Police in Montreal are investigating the arson, at Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie (CMC), as a possible hate crime, the Montreal Gazette reported.

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A man allegedly set fire to the operating room around 8:45 p.m. on May 2, according to Rabble. He reportedly also had a gas can, machete, and axe with him.

As soon as there is the slightest suspicion that it could be a hate crime, we treat it as a hate crime, Constable Abdullah Emran of the Montreal police told the Gazette.

Emran said though the investigation is being treated as a possible hate crime, police have not found confirmation to confirm the link.

As soon as there is the slightest suspicion that it could be a hate crime, we treat it as a hate crime.

Surgeries were cancelled for four days, and are now being transferred elsewhere while repairs are done.

Additional security measures have been put in place after the incident, the hospital said in a press release. No one was hurt in the fire.

Transgender Canadians make up 0.5 per cent of the population, according to the Trans PULSE project. There are 1,500 transgender people waiting to be referred for the procedure  also known as gender confirmation surgery  in Ontario alone, CBC News reported.

Some members of the trans community told CBC News there are worries the damage at the clinic will add to the already-long wait times for surgery.

According to the Globe and Mail, one man was told hed have to wait up to two years to for an initial assessment. And the delays may pose an additional risk.

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People who have decided to transition but havent begun the process are at an increase risk for suicide, the Globe reported.

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British Prime Minister David Cameron gestures during a panel discussion at the international anti-corruption summit on May 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo: Frank Augstein - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Dear Prime Minister David Cameron,

We are writing on behalf of parliamentarians from around the world and from across Britain's political parties, to make a common appeal to you, as we prepare for the International Anti-Corruption Summit, which you will convene in London later today.

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The legislators we represent come from different cultures, speak different languages, profess different faiths and have been on opposite sides of warfare. But we are united by a common conviction: that corruption is now one of the single greatest threats to the development of societies, the security of nations and human rights.

To give but one example, an estimated $1 trillion is siphoned out of developing countries each year through money laundering and other corrupt practices. By contrast, the total cost of achieving all eight UN Millennium Development Goals would have been $0.5 trillion.

By its nature, corruption breeds in the dark and withers under the glare of public scrutiny.

There is a better world within our grasp: a world without hunger, without thirst, without needless disease; but corruption is stealing that world from us.

By its nature, corruption breeds in the dark and withers under the glare of public scrutiny. As a result, we believe that the most powerful tools to combat corruption are publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership of corporations. These registers ensure that the true owners of corporations are known to public institutions, media and citizens. They thwart the ability of the corrupt to hide their illicit wealth and the evidence of their crimes behind a veil of corporate anonymity.

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We applaud your leadership in creating precisely such a national register for the United Kingdom. We can not overstate the importance of your decision, especially given London's central role in global finance, nor do we underestimate the political capital you expended to take this stand. It has the potential to make the world a better place.

But we are deeply concerned that this potential will be left unrealized because of one catastrophic gap: Britain's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

The Panama Papers have starkly revealed that many of these jurisdictions have become the venues of choice for the anonymous corporations that facilitate tax evasion, organized crime and terrorist financing. Indeed, more than half the companies exposed by the Panama Papers were based in the British Virgin Islands alone.

The recent agreement with the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies gestures in the right direction, by committing them to create their own beneficial ownership registries. However, we are alarmed that these jurisdictions have retained the option to keep their registers closed to inspection by the public and the free press.

We respectfully submit that if territories under British authority are left free to give safe harbour to publicly anonymous corporations, then Britain's achievements and credibility in the global anti-corruption movement will be undermined.

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The parliamentarians, heads of government and heads of state who will gather at the International Anti-Corruption Summit in London will be there at your call, and will therefore look to you as they judge whether this will be an exercise in words or in deeds. We urge you to seize the moment and challenge the nations of the world to follow where you lead.

We urge you to announce that you will ensure that there will be public registers of beneficial ownership across the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Yours sincerely,

CEO, Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC)

Co-Chair, GOPAC UK

UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption

Co-Chair, GOPAC UK

UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption

Chair, UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax

Vice-Chair, UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax

Chair, GOPAC Oceania

Mary King

Chair, GOPAC Caribbean

Chair, GOPAC Africa

African Parliamentarians' Network Against Corruption

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Chris Wattie / Reuters Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a statement about the Brussels attacks, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, March 22, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

This weekend, hundreds of people will take to the water and march on the land surrounding the Kinder Morgan pipeline terminal in Burnaby, B.C. as part of a global wave of actions to "break free from fossil fuels." The action comes just over a week ahead of the National Energy Board's deadline to make a recommendation on the whether or not the Kinder Morgan pipeline should be built.

Given the embattled pipeline regulator's record, many people think an approval is a pre foregone conclusion, but whatever happens the federal government has made it clear that the ultimate fate of the proposed 890,000 barrel per day pipeline project lies in their hands. Where Prime Minister Trudeau lands on this pipeline is a crucial decision, and one that not only may have a catastrophic effect on communities around the world, but could also make or break three of this government's biggest promises during and since the election.

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Promise #1 - Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Earlier this week, Canada's Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, received a standing ovation at the United Nations in New York City when she announced Canada's plan to do "nothing less than to adopt and implement" the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Adopted by the UN in 2007, the declaration proclaims that governments "shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the Indigenous Peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them." Put another way, implementing UNDRIP means that projects like Kinder Morgan can only proceed with the consent of indigenous peoples.

The T'sleil Waututh nation has already taken taken the government to court over the NEB review of the this pipeline, and more than a dozen Indigenous communities have come out in opposition to the project. Given Trudeau's campaign promise that a no from First Nations would mean a no on projects like Kinder Morgan, his government giving the green light to this pipeline would require breaking this promise, and could cast doubt on the legitimacy of their commitment to implement UNDRIP.

During the election campaign, Justin Trudeau often repeated the phrase "governments can grant permits, but only communities grant permission."

Promise #2 - Real Climate Action

On Earth Day, Prime Minister Trudeau was one of the most emphatic signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement. Signing the document in New York City last month, the Prime Minister once again affirmed Canada's renewed commitment to real climate action and our pledge to the Paris agreements goal of striving to limit warming to 1.5C.

Globally, we have already burned through most of the carbon budget left to have a chance and meeting a 2C warming limit, let alone a 1.5C one. So, for Canada to keep the promise we made in Paris and affirmed in New York, we need to stop building new fossil fuel projects and make a rapid shift to 100 per cent renewable energy, and we need to do it fast. Facing this reality, one thing is crystal clear, you can't approve Kinder Morgan -- or any new pipeline for that matter -- and meet our climate obligations.

Promise #3 - "Communities grant permission"

During the election campaign, Justin Trudeau often repeated the phrase "governments can grant permits, but only communities grant permission." He started saying it back in 2013 at a speech at the Calgary Petroleum Club, and would repeat it anytime that pipelines came up on the campaign trail. He even put it in the Liberal election platform.

For many, the line crystallized their hopes for an end to Stephen Harper's relentless push to shove pipelines down the throats of unwilling communities. Now, the government has changed and community opposition to pipelines is as strong as ever.

During the National Energy Board hearings in January, municipalities all around the Burrard Inlet raised questions, concerns and outright objections to the pipeline project. Cities like Vancouver and Burnaby are well documented in their opposition to the project, with the City of Vancouver recently railing against the potential climate impacts of the project. Beneath this political opposition are communities that aren't giving Kinder Morgan permission, and so now the prime minister faces a choice -- reject the pipeline, or eat his words.

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Anadolu Agency via Getty Images FORT MCMURRAY, CANADA - MAY 11 : Fire support crew extinguish a wildfire that erupted outside Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada on May 11, 2016. Wildfire erupted on 3 May consuming 200 thousand hectares and destroying 90% of houses in Fort McMurray city. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Connecting extreme weather events with climate change isn't exactly a new thing.

After Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of New York and New Jersey in 2012, Bloomberg published a front page spread proclaiming, "It's Global Warming, Stupid."

For years, major storms, droughts, floods and fires have been connected to climate change. The climate angle was even fair game during last summer's wildfires in western Canada.

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So how did the climate conversation around the still-raging Fort McMurray wildfire that destroyed thousands of homes become so befuddling-ly messed up?

Conversations about climate change as a factor in the wildfires has garnered about as much attention as the wildfires themselves. For a recap of the "middle-finger salutes," schadenfreude and #tinyviolins mock-sympathy for the people of Fort McMurray, check out this article on Slate.

Cara Pike, climate communications expert with Climate Access, says the urge to link what's happening in Fort McMurray to climate change should be tempered by a keen sensitivity to the very real human suffering on the ground.

"We need to lead with our humanity," Pike told DeSmog Canada. "This is a good time to listen very, very hard to what people are dealing with, what they care about, what they want for their futures and try to find those common places."

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The rush to draw the connection between the Fort Mac fires and climate change could come across as blaming, Pike said, adding "I really personally question the timing and how best to have that conversation."

Canada is still behind the U.S. when it comes to understanding that climate impacts are happening here and now, Pike says. In the U.S., major hurricanes such as Katrina, Irene and Sandy, massive wildfires and long-term drought brought the climate change message to the forefront.

Pike was vice president of communications at Earth Justice during Hurricane Katrina and notes many local environmental groups were criticized for using the disaster to advance their campaigns.

"What happened there with Katrina is a parallel of what we're seeing now with Fort McMurray," she said.

In the case of Fort McMurray, the conversation is made "more visceral" by the tragedy occurring in an oil-producing region, Pike said.

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"It creates so much more discomfort when trying to have that conversation because it inherently brings us to a place where people feel judged and blamed," she said.

"The truth is that everyone is tied to oil and unfortunately in environmental communications there is often this dominant tone of self-righteousness. And in these crisis moments, when people put on their professional hats and go talk about these issues, it's like they lose their humanity."

Part of the problem lies in the polarization that infiltrates nearly every energy and environment debate in Canada -- and which has emotions roiling at the surface, unleashed at the slightest provocation.

"There's no formula for when it's appropriate to talk about climate change," Simon Donner, associate professor of Climatology at the University of British Columbia, told DeSmog Canada. "I think it just really depends on the circumstances of any extreme event."

"It's not a good idea to use people's suffering to push an agenda, even if that agenda is scientifically defensible," Donner said.

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Underlining the current debate is the fact the fires are happening in the heart of Canada's oilsands.

"Everyone knows what the industry is in Fort McMurray. Everyone knows that's a source of opposition to climate policy in Canada and underneath a lot of people's good intentions is a sense of 'I told you so.' What I'm saying is, let's be nice to folks, you don't have to be self-righteous about it."

As a climate communicator, Donner said it's always crucial to consider your audience.

"If your goal for talking about climate change after an extreme event is to engage people in that community, but the community that was affected by the event is suspicious about the science of climate change, pivoting in the media to climate change while their homes are burning is just going to alienate people," Donner said.

"It doesn't seem like a smart way to engage the part of Canada that is resistant to action to combat climate change," Donner added. "We need to ask: what's effective?"

Renee Lertzman, an expert in the psychology of environmental education, said it really isn't a question of whether we make the connection between the fires and climate change but how.

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"This conversation needs to happen, but it doesn't need to be polarizing," Lertzman told DeSmog Canada. "The question is how can we communicate and engage with people in the most constructive and productive and effective ways?"

"We're designed to resist challenging, threatening news and information that can potentially challenge our worldview," Lertzman noted.

She said it can be frustrating to see climate communications that seem to "miss entirely how humans process information, particularly distressing and stressful information."

"Climate change is really complicated in what it brings up for us. It really is, in a way, in its own category."

That doesn't mean it's always inappropriate to discuss climate change in the context of disaster or tragedy.

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By focusing on how all affected parties can work together to avoid tragedy, you generate feelings of inclusion and sensitivity, Lertzman said -- opening the space for compassionate communications.

"It's not about whether we make those connections, it's about thinking through how humans deal with the trauma and acknowledging profound horror and devastation."

By Carol Linnitt, DeSmog Canada
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This just in: Jerks make better business leaders. That, of course, is an assumption that has been around for a long time, not to mention one that has been somewhat difficult to counter, especially in Silicon Valley.

Indeed, as Business Insider pointed out in a 2014 article entitled "Why 'Arrogant Jerks' Become Rich and Successful in Silicon Valley," there is a persistent notion that the so-called right "DNA" for an entrepreneurial business leader is comprised of characteristics such as "resilience" and "ability to accept risk," along with "arrogance" and the ability to be "a huge jerk." Inside Silicon Valley, the article notes, people tend to accept CEOs behaving boorishly because "arrogance runs rampant and investors seem to reward ruthless behavior with piles of cash."

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But what if all those billionaire jerks that everyone uses as an example of why it pays to be an ass when launching a company had actually reined in their inner boor when bringing ideas to market? According to "Beware the A-hole Tax," an Ivey Business Journal article based on negotiations research being conducted by Ivey Business School Professor Ann Frost, there is a good chance that many of the world's so-called successful A-holes would be richer today if they had played nice, or at least nicer.

Keep in mind that even visionary company founders need lots of help navigating the road to success. And that help includes everyone from the suppliers who influence product profitability to the financial backers who dictate a start-up's ownership distribution. And it is no secret that these critical partners dislike doing business with jerks -- even visionary jerks.

As Business Insider noted, when venture capitalists invest in start-ups, they end up spending a lot of time with the management team that they are betting on. And it can be a real pain in the ass working with an ass. VCs also typically add founders of their new portfolio companies to their CEO networks, which tend to function much better when members comfortably bat around ideas instead of aggressively butt heads over egos. For these reasons (and others), some VCs actually have what they call no A-holes policies.

However, as Business Insider also pointed out, taking a pass on a visionary idea just because the person behind it acts like God's gift to capitalism is not easy. "I want not to invest in jerks," VC Eileen Burbidge explained, noting life is too short. But she still can't help wondering if avoiding asses is a bad investment philosophy. "I'd like to think not," she said, "but I'm supposed to back founders for the best ROI, not personality."

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The flip side of feeling bad about avoiding doing business with jerks, of course, is feeling bad about agreeing to work with them -- and that's where nice guys and gals have an advantage.

"Business is all about deal making," says Frost, who teaches executives the art of deal making in the Ivey Negotiations Program. "And nobody likes to negotiate with an ass, so they make them pay an A-hole tax, often without even realizing it. This isn't a trivial matter. Being a jerk can be seriously costly, especially for an entrepreneur negotiating ownership stakes with early-stage investors. Think about any one of the business world's high-profile billionaires known to have made it despite being a total jerk, and then think about what a difference that an extra one or two per cent ownership in their own companies would make to their net worth."

Nobody knows exactly how much being an ass costs you in negotiation outcomes. But Frost is working on it. In partnership with University of Regina Professor Chris Street, the Ivey negotiations expert is designing a study to assess how much a person's reputation for being a jerk costs them in deal making. "We hope to put together some hard data on the A-hole tax in order to help better convince people that character matters in negotiation, just like it matters in the corner office."

Frost isn't saying that you don't need to be tough when you negotiate. Her message is a warning about the risk of limiting your ability to strike a favourable deal by coming to negotiations with a reputation that makes people across the table regret working with you before talks start. "Too many people think negotiations is about beating the other side," she says. "But as we drive home in the Ivey Negotiations Program, the goal is really finding common ground. And nobody wants to share ground with a jerk, so they are inclined to make them pay."

Now, if you already have a reputation for being an ass, don't fret. Whether you earned your bad rep or not, you can repair the damage. According to Frost, A-holes generally inflict damage by looking down on people, so anyone trying to strike the best deal possible needs to check their ego at the door. But that does not mean softening legitimate demands. After all, when it comes to seeking mutually beneficial outcomes, conflict itself is not a problem. In fact, conflict over ideas generally leads to superior outcomes. Interpersonal conflict, on the other hand, leads to the A-hole tax.

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"So if you are perceived as an elitist ass," Frost says, "you need to address that issue before talks start, which can be done by simply showing respect for the other side before sitting down to negotiate. Giving the other side respect is free and it leads to mutual respect because it is actually hard for someone else to perceive you as a total jerk if you treat them like an equal."

AUTHOR BIO: Thomas Watson is the editor of Ivey Business Journal published by the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ont.
Bambu Productions via Getty Images Natural Light, Nursing Home

Nurses across the country act as the primary caregivers for many seniors -- in fact, with more than 40,000 regulated nurses in Canada, they represent the country's largest group of health care providers. Oftentimes nurses are the most central person in the lives of seniors who require consistent daily care.

This National Nursing Week is a time to acknowledge the caregivers who are dedicated to keeping Canadians healthy, happy and active all the way into their later years. Just like nurses, there are many other people out there who act as the primary caregivers for the seniors in their lives.

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Perhaps you've taken on the role of "nurse" for a loved one. Although rewarding, caregiving can be difficult and comes with many ups and downs. The caregiver/patient relationship is unique, sensitive and hugely important.

In order to provide quality care, it's important to nourish the relationship between yourself and your patient or loved one. This National Nursing Week, here are some tips and tricks on how to build and maintain a strong caregiver/patient relationship from our amazing team of hardworking nurses who do it best.

Seek support

The key to being an effective caregiver is taking the time to care for yourself. Providing consistent care for a senior often involves emotionally, physically and mentally challenging situations. In order to properly face these situations, caregivers have to know when and how to seek support when they need it.

This support can come by simply asking for help from those around you or you can tap into community resources that provide tips for caregivers and health care professionals alike. Community support resources for caregivers range from self-help sessions to recreational programs and panel discussions. Refer to government websites, health care hubs and online databases to access programs of this nature in your area.

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Listen and communicate

A lot of changes happen in your senior years and these changes can be difficult to process. Sometimes the best way for seniors to work through the changes they're experiencing is to talk about them.

Listening and communicating openly with the seniors in your life allows you not only to build a strong bond with them, but it also allows you to notice any potential shifts in behaviour that could indicate deeper health issues.

Open communication and active listening mean asking questions to ensure you're understanding your loved one's needs as they grow and evolve. When people feel heard and cared for, they're more willing to open up in times of need.

Do your research

There are a variety of excellent written resources online and in stores that deal with the challenges of caregiving as well as more specific issues relating to seniors' care. Each caregiver/patient relationship is unique and requires a completely different skill set depending on the situation.

If you're finding there are gaps in your knowledge when it comes to providing care, take a little time to do some research. Whether you'd like to brush up on simple communication techniques or you need to know how to care for seniors with mental health issues, seeking external knowledge is always beneficial.

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Have fun together

Last but not least, in order to build a strong caregiver/patient relationship, you should make sure to have fun together. Take the time to find out what it is your loved one wants to spend their time doing. Whether it's reading, writing, playing games or going for a walk, you can partake in these activities together. Not only will activities like these strengthen your bond, but they're also great ways to keep the body and mind active.

Just like the nurses responsible for caring for their senior patients everyday, there are many unofficial caregivers across the country who are working hard to keep their loved ones healthy and happy. The caregiver/patient relationship can be a challenging one, but with a little support and inspiration, it's all worth it. Happy National Nursing Week!

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Brendan McDermid / Reuters Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Paris Agreement on climate change held at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

I'm just going to come right out and say it: Justin Trudeau isn't a nano-computing specialist, and he most certainly isn't a firefighter or wildfire specialist. When it comes to a major disaster like the wildfire facing Fort McMurray, he just doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

And yet, in this, he is showing his ability to provide leadership.

There is a process that is entrenched in our society when it comes to disaster management. In times of crisis, good well-practiced processes lead to successful outcomes. So far in Fort McMurray, in a fire significantly larger than the 2011 Slave Lake fire where 30 per cent of the town was destroyed, only 10 per cent of the structures were lost in the city.

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An unprecedented evacuation was carried out with as many as 90,000 evacuees fleeing the town with 2 casualties so far, in an MVA. While that loss of life is tragic, the scale of the evacuation is a raging success.

I looked at the Public Safety Canada website and found this regarding disaster management:

Emergencies are managed first at the local level -- for example, by first responders such as medical professionals and hospitals, fire departments, the police and municipalities. Local authorities who need assistance request it from provincial or territorial governments. If an emergency escalates beyond their capabilities, the province or territory may seek assistance from the federal government. Public Safety Canada led the development of the National Emergency Response System (NERS) with provincial and territorial officials, which was approved by Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers in January 2011. The NERS enables coordinated efforts in responding to emergencies. The Government Operations Centre (GOC) is the principal means by which the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness' leadership role in establishing an integrated approach to emergency response is exercised. Housed at Public Safety Canada, the GOC, on behalf of the Government of Canada, supports response coordination of events affecting the national interest. It brings all partners into a common environment to harmonize and synchronize collective actions of those partners. The GOC operates 24/7 to provide watch, warning, analysis, planning, logistics support and coordination across the federal government and with its partners, including provincial and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and international partners.

Sounds like a pretty well-thought-out process. Every level of government signed onto it. And this is how the Fort McMurray fires have been managed, with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo taking lead until the fire had expanded beyond their capabilities.

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"And so in a situation where Trudeau isn't qualified or trained to make decisions, he is listening to the guidance of the people who are educated and do this for a living."

So now today, my social media is flooded with complaints about Justin Trudeau not accepting help from Australia, Thailand and Russia to help extinguish the fire.

What an incompetent fool.

All of these countries lining up to help with the biggest fire in our nation's history, basically, and he's turning it away. Clearly he's demonstrating that he is not fit to lead.

The thing about this fire is that it is so big and so hot that it is unique, almost unheard of in Canadian history. And as a result of that it is difficult to fight. In fact, nearly impossible. And as it has grown to cover more than 2000 sq. km, the approach to fighting this fire has evolved from one of fighting the fire, to containing and directing it away from critical infrastructure and populated areas.

The Alberta Wildfire department has said that this is too big to be extinguished by humans, and the only way it's going to be put out is burning itself out, or significant periods of heavy rain. When bombers are attempting to drop water on the burning areas, it is evaporating before hitting the fires. Reports have said the fire is burning between 700 and 1000 degrees.

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And so in a situation where Trudeau isn't qualified or trained to make decisions, he is listening to the guidance of the people who are educated and do this for a living. The experts. He's in his offices, working on the logistics of what they need, not out getting in the way in Fort McMurray, or pulling resources away from where they're needed for the sake of a photo op. And he's letting the heroes that have prevented a devastating situation from becoming the end of Fort McMurray do their jobs.

The Alberta department has stated that the airspace cannot safely support more air traffic than it already has. Bringing in more would create a risk, with potential for collisions.

Additionally, I don't think there's a person in their right mind that wants to open the door for Russian planes to be flying in our airspace, no matter the reason.

So yes, Trudeau has no clue what he's doing.

But he's relying on the advice and guidance of the people who do to make sure he makes good, informed decisions, doesn't overstep his bounds and Alberta gets what it needs in it's time of need.

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I'm becoming impassive to the inconsistent and selective mantra chanting of Western liberals calling for human rights, rule of law and democracy. They seem to be quick to condemn human rights abuse in certain situations but in others, especially those involving Muslims, they remain curiously silent.

Let me give you a very recent example. Yesterday, on the 10th of May, the fourth member and the leader of Jamate Islami Bangladesh, Motiur Rahman Nizami, was hanged at the age of 73 for alleged war crimes during the Independence war in 1971. He was accused of genocide, rape and massacre of intellectuals during the Bangladesh-Pakistan war.

Mr Nizami served as a cabinet minister in a coalition government led by Ms. Hasina's bitter rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist party a few years ago. He played a prominent and frontline role in Bangladeshi politics for over 40 years. Yet his execution by hanging has hardly raised an eyebrow in the Western World's liberal and intellectual circles.

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Despite many respected political analysts accusing Prime Minister Hasina of carrying out politically expedient executions motivated by revenge, the silence from the West is deafening.

After being returned to power in 2009, Prime Minister Hasina vowed to bring war criminals to justice, and many quite rightly hoped that this afforded the opportunity to "right a historical wrong" but instead it has become a tool, fueled purely by political retribution, to silence the opposition by execution.

Bangladesh's tribunals process has fallen far short of anything resembling justice, and has clearly served as a method of railroading the politically inconvenient to the gallows. It has failed to meet basic international standards. The process has never been independent of political interference from its inception. Several leaked documents and videos evidences have foiled the government's attempts to hide its political influence over the judiciary and have even highlighted the conflicting affiliations of the judges themselves.

The tribunal has restricted the number of defense witnesses who could testify during the war crimes trial. Mr. Nizami was allowed just four and disallowed any defense challenge to inconsistent prosecution testimony.

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"We have no complaints about these guys being prosecuted, but you have to find all the evidence," says Meenakshi Ganguly, a South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "What's happening is there is not enough of an attempt to build the prosecution case and there is very little attempt at the right to the defense."

The prosecution has miserably failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt and yet has executed many people so far. The state murder of Nizami will not bring an end to the "historic wrong" of 1971. In fact it will create further resentment amongst the masses of innocent people who have suffered at the hands of this tyrannical government. It will fuel an environment of instability in Bangladesh when the ruling political party is using the security apparatus to terrorise people and strengthen its grip on power. But the World's leaders remain silent!

The governing party has run a state of terror while the international community has stayed deaf, dumb and blind to these terrible developments in Bangladesh. The world leaders have not held Hasina to account; in fact they have welcomed her with red carpets whenever she has visited other countries including the UK. She has been provided a cover and patronage by India. She has got away with murder, mayhem and corruption. Where is the international outcry? Where is the international media's reporting of this government's terrible crimes? Where is the international arrest warrant?

Western liberals and intellectuals have made a lot of noise when extremists murdered the secularist bloggers in Bangladesh. They have demanded a full investigation to bring the murderers to justice and have, quite rightly, brought these murders to the attention of the international community. Of course those who have murdered these bloggers should be brought to justice and punished. But can we circumvent the rule of law and the judicial process? No, we must always consistently follow a legal process that serves justice and does not compromise international standards.

Contrast this to how the same liberals and intellectuals of the world are deadly silent when a number of Islamic party leaders have been executed without due process in Bangladesh, when members of the Muslim brotherhood leadership are unfairly languishing in the rotten hell holes of Egyptian jails, when Israel has committed war crimes against Palestinians for decades, when the Syrians have been mass murdered by Assad and Putin and when the Rohingya Muslims have been dehumanized and displaced by Burmese government - why such hypocrisy? Why such deafening silence?

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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a disaffected people in possession of a dysfunctional government must be in want of an alternative. A lame government is a dead government. Not in Northern Ireland.

Naomi Long said ahead of the election, "The public will not forget the time squandered in delay, deadlock and division."

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But on April 5 2016 the public emphatically did forget. Voting for the delayers, deadlockers and dividers of the DUP-Sinn Fein-led executive - the sauciest tribal beauty contestants. The Alliance Party, of whom Naomi Long is a vocal member, gained no seats and dropped 0.7% of its vote from 2011; the same percentage point drop as the largest party, the DUP.

There was no penalty for the big parties, no dividend for the smaller (lesser-implicated) parties.

The peculiarities of Northern Ireland politics mean that its politicians are not held to the normal standards of democratic accountability. In Northern Ireland there is a permanent suspension of the normal laws of the political order.

The DUP - most heavily associated with flag/street politics, blocking social reform, fielding reactionary politicians, and siding with unfashionable causes - performed the best of the establishment parties, retaining its 38 Assembly seats.

Sinn Fein - who alienated working class protestants and flipped-flopped disastrously on welfare reform - lost only one seat and dropped only 2.9% of its vote share (but of course received a bloody nose in West Belfast).

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And it definitely was five years of bad government, headed by Sinn Fein-DUP. As the Detail.tv explained, Stormont's last Programme for Government was stuffed with empty rhetoric. Nearly half its pledges were not met, and question-marks stand over many of its 'achievements'.

Yet Sinn Fein-DUP are rewarded with a strong mandate of approval.

This election underlines a few things.

Firstly, the social media gap. It tells us that social media sanctimony is irrelevant to voter sentiment and behaviour.

As Newton Emerson said, going by the Twitter community ahead of polling, Stormont was about to welcome a Green-Alliance-led executive.

Social media castigates the DUP, but the people mandate the party.

Lesson: like the condescension of posterity, we live with the hubris of social media. As Sadiq Khan said to Labour activist, Northern Ireland social media need to talk to and convince others, not argue amongst themselves. As W.D. Allen wrote in 1925, 'You overeducated, you supercilious, you townbred froth of things.'

Secondly, the hegemony of tribal Orange-Green gap. Outwardly, Northern Ireland is quite normal. For ordinary crime, its numbers are strong. Walk through Belfast city centre and you will see bars and pavements awash with cultured, cosmopolitan people. But, as Stephen McCaffery reminded us, Northern Ireland is still deeply divided between the two tribal camps.

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The legacy of the Reformation and the Elizabethan plantation endures, the religious question still reigns over us. The smart-Alec will be outraged at the suggestion of religion being a live issue.

But, for as long as 95% of schools fall along religious lines, I will not hear that the Ulster Question is nothing to do with religion.

I am not talking about a Catholic-Protestant argument over the presence of Christ during the Eucharist. The argument is between a Protestant and Catholic worldview, as taught by their respective schools. The former sees in Britain gallantry, the latter sees unrestrained brutality. The religious terms are a shorthand for two communities with deep ancestral ties and loyalties.

People talk about getting rid of Northern Ireland's "dinosaur" politicians. But these reptilian* representatives have a strong mandate from the voting people. Therefore, if there's anything we need rid of it's the electorate.

The every day man and woman in Northern Ireland may posture as modern and post-religious, but they vote for the politicians of the past.

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Terence O'Neill articulated this curate's egg in the House of Lords in 1977:

"How do opinion polls work in Northern Ireland? Usually, in my experience, the very opposite to the way they work in England. About two months before I was forced out of Office, in early 1969, an opinion poll was held by the Belfast Telegraph which showed that an overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland of both religions wanted me to stay on and carry out my policies. Within two months I was out, and another two months later the whole of Northern Ireland went up in smoke. The British Army became involved and have been involved ever since. That is only one of my experiences of opinion polls. What the Northern Ireland people do when they are polled is that they give what they think is a respectable answer, the kind of answer which would be appreciated by middle class moderates. It is not the true answer. What they really feel, they keep to themselves and use at election time. This is one of the tragedies of the situation."

To conclude. Republicans routinely denigrate the Northern Ireland of 1921-1998 as the "Orange State", a British province in Ireland that allowed only one world view. Today we live in a "Orange and Green" state with two acceptable, but incompatible world views.

This has been endorsed by the electorate. So where do we go from here? Perhaps from a platform of peace and stability (with violence and the extreme passions contained) we can begin to bring the Orange and Green together.

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President Arlene has been crowned, the presumptive Commander-in-Chief is now that.

Martin McGuinness comes away diminished, but he is part of something bigger - the island-wide insurgent Sinn Fein project.

The insurgent left has made gains at Sinn Fein's expense in the form of the old street fighter Eamonn McCann and Gerry Carroll, and they will stand as ruthless opponents to the incoming Stormont administration.

The people clearly voted for partisan politicians who do partnership politics, albeit begrudgingly and badly. This is part of the contradiction of Northern Ireland politics; part British, part Irish.

In the years after the 1998 peace agreement when the UUP and SDLP held the plurality of the tribal vote, Stormont never held. Under these perceived "moderate" parties it was a time of stalemate and suspension and collapse.

The term of 2011-2016 under the "extreme" parties DUP-Sinn Fein was poor in general terms, but strong compared to the UUP-SDLP precedent.

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The people of Northern Ireland, like elsewhere in the world, want stability and predictability. These are the preconditions of a functioning economy.

The notoriously bearish Alex Kane sounded bullish on the wake of the 2016 count. "There is something happening in the undergrowth", he said.

With the Fresh Start Agreement we got a stale election and the prospect of stable partnership government.

Christopher Hitchens, who worked in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, decried the "barbaric, sectarian party leaders".

If we have seen anything in the last few years and in the recent election, the grip of the barbaric old guard remains, but their dead hand is weakening.

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As Alex Kane said, change is afoot. The smell of cordite is fading, as is its memory, as politicians retire and young people enter the ranks.

Watch the young DUP politician Chistopher Stalford debate with Claire Hannah and Nichola Mallon of the SDLP. The rhetoric is firm, but the tone is composed, it is nowhere near the venomous clashes of a generation ago.
Today, the Prime Minister will be hosting a gathering of world leaders aimed at tackling corruption.

Corruption and tax dodging eat away at societies and hurt the poorest, especially women and girls. When poorer countries are unable to collect a fair share of tax, vital public services like schools and hospitals can be left to crumble.

Today's Anti-Corruption Summit in London is a golden opportunity to deliver on promises the Prime Minister made in 2013, and open up a new era of transparency and openness, with the UK at the forefront.

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Unfortunately, it looks as though what we will see instead is business as usual, with developing countries continuing to lose out as money that could build schools and staff hospitals for the world's poorest people is stashed in secret offshore accounts.

Poor countries miss out on billions every year in tax revenue - money that is urgently needed to fund the fight against poverty. The Mossack Fonseca leak has shone a spotlight on secrecy jurisdictions such as Panama, but the problem exists much closer to home: nearly half of all the shell companies listed in the Panama Papers were registered in the British Virgin Islands. Places such as this and the Cayman Islands or Bermuda - whose citizens hold British passports - are currently havens of secrecy, where shell companies can be used to hide money from law enforcement or tax authorities.

Allowing this situation to continue is not in line with this Government's record of working to tackle global poverty and promote tax transparency - through meeting the target of 0.7% of GNI on international aid, putting tax and transparency on the international agenda at the 2013 Lough Erne G8 meeting, and most recently creating a public register of beneficial ownership for the mainland UK. When this is launched in June the media, investors, law enforcement, and civil society will all be able to see who really owns and controls companies registered here, making tax dodging and corruption much easier to root out.

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The Prime Minister has said in the past that he would like the UK's overseas territories to follow suit and introduce public registers of their own. In a letter sent to the heads of these territories in 2014 he said that he was "of the view that making company beneficial ownership information open to the public is by far the best approach". The Nigerian government agrees, and have called for public registers to be one of the key outcomes from the Anti-Corruption Summit that they will attend this week. Even if the UK's tax havens resist, the UK has unlimited power to legislate for these territories, as it has done in the past on issues such as capital punishment. So it is all the more surprising that the British Virgin Islands have not even been invited to the Summit this week.

Without further action, the UK will continue to be a central part of the broken global tax system. The announcement last month that the overseas territories will make ownership information available to UK law enforcement, rather than making the information public, will not help developing countries to track the money leaving their borders. Nor will it enable journalists and civil society campaigners to find out who ultimately owns hidden companies and act as a check on tax fraud and corruption.

The tax and anti-corruption summit today presents the Government with a unique chance to turn its promises into concrete action. Anything less than fully public registers of beneficial ownership in all UK territories will constitute a failure. It will mean that money which could be used to provide healthcare, education and other basic services to women and girls in the world's poorest countries will continue to be siphoned off and hidden out of view.
When it comes to the housing market, London has long been seen as a market within a market. After the credit crunch hit, and house prices across the country headed south, desire to buy within the capital remained robust. In seemingly no time at all, house prices within London had not only recovered but surpassed its previous peaks.

According to Land Registry figures, house prices in the capital have rocketed 51% since November 2007. In comparison house prices across England and Wales have grown just 4.84% during that same period.

The desire to live in London makes it an attractive place for property investors too. It is the nation's economic hub, with millions of workers heading into the capital every day for work, while its status as one of the world's most exciting and interesting cities serves only to boost its appeal. There will rarely be any shortage of prospective tenants.

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But the strength of the London housing market may actually dent its appeal to property investors in future. Back in April the Government introduced an additional 3% Stamp Duty charge on second and additional properties, which makes investing in a buy-to-let property far more expensive.

Buying a one-bed property in West London will set investors back 475,000 on average. Thanks to that increased Stamp Duty rate, it will cost a massive 28,000 in Stamp Duty, compared to 13,750 before 1 April.

We believe that investors will increasingly look beyond the confines of the M25, where they can find prosperous housing markets offering a small portfolio for the same price, where they will pay the same or less tax than buying in London, and enjoy a better return to boot. The latest LendInvest Buy-to-Let Index shines a light on just what opportunities are open to investors who look outside the capital.

For example, the average three-bedroom property in Bath costs just shy of 230,000. Rather than buying that one-bedroom property in West London, you could buy two of these properties in Bath, and save more than 10,000 on Stamp Duty, with a bill of 17,996.

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Of course, landlords also need to worry about the rental yield when picking up a buy-to-let property, and again they end up better off outside the capital. The typical rental yield of a one-bedroom property in West London is 2.8%, while for those three-bedroom properties in Bath they will enjoy a far healthier yield of 4.3%.

As the budgets get bigger, the comparisons become even more extraordinary. For 750,000 an investor could pick up a three-bedroom property in North West London, with a rental yield of nearly 5%. That same budget is enough for 10 two-bedroom properties in Sunderland, with a higher rental yield of 6.36%, and a total Stamp Duty bill less than half that of the London purchase (22,490 compared to 50,000 in the capital).

There are hurdles for 'cross-country landlords' to consider though. Buying ten properties in Sunderland means finding ten lots of tenants, and dealing with ten times the number of burst boilers. Finding quality letting agents to manage the properties and remove some of that burden will become essential. Dealing with a midnight call about a burst boiler at the other end of the country simply won't be possible otherwise.

What's more, if you aren't buying with cash, that means ten lots of mortgages. Again, finding a great broker to manage the mortgage minefield for you will be an integral part of the process.

But if you can stomach the additional admin, it's clear that the cross-country approach could prove incredibly lucrative, particularly if you turn to areas which will appeal to commuters or which are set to benefit from transport developments like HS2.

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'Our Kind of Traitor', Susanna White's adaptation of the John Le Carre novel is an accomplished but predictable thriller - 'Mustang,' Deniz Camze Erguvan's impressive and powerful debut feature is a gripping and haunting tale of family honour and the desire for individual freedom - Jeremy Saulnier's 'Green Room' has touches of black humour and a mounting body count - 'The Seventh Fire' documents the lives of two native Americans with fading dreams of a future with hope.

Director: Susanna White. Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris, Alicia von Rittberg. Drama, Thriller. UK 2016 107 mins. (15) ***

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Marrakech's charm doesn't work wonders for Perry (Ewan McGregor) and his lawyer wife Gail's (Naomie Harris) lack lustre marriage but it offers a web of intrigue to this sombre, out of his depth university lecturer, a role that sits uneasily with Ewan McGregor.

An invite from the flamboyant and charismatic Russian, Dima (Stellan Skarsgard gives a powerhouse performance) to a party offers more than an OTT bash that's never been on Perry's weekend list but there's a catch. Dima launders money for the Russian Vory mafia and a Russian mobster known as The Prince (Grigoriy Dobrygin) is cleaning out the old guard. Diva wants out and the key's an information trade on a USB stick that'll tempt London - Kremlin links, dirty money traded through the City of London and Russian mafia links to an influential British MP. Diva wants Perry to deliver to MI6 in London and cautious, out of his depth, Perry's tempted. London's interest is reserved and MI6 agent Hector (Damian Lewis), with his own personal agenda, goes out on a limb to expose Aubrey Longrigg (Jeremy Northam), an influential British MP and the enemy within.

Adapted from John Le Carre's novel by Hossein Amini, beautifully shot by Antony Dod Mantle and sharply edited ,'Our Kind of Traitor' is an accomplished but predictable thriller and a long way from the world of George Smiley. Turn the blind eye, sup at the Devil's table - money, power, politics, the enemy within, that's the story and it's all too real.

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Released 13th May

Director: Deniz Camze Erguvan. Gunes Nezihe Sensoy, Doca Zeynee Doguslu, Eut Iscan. Drama. Turkish with English subtitles. France, Germany, Quatar, Turkey 2015 94 mins. 2016 Golden Globes Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film (15) ****

Deniz Camze Erguvan impressive and powerful feature debut, screened at Director's Fortnight Cannes 2015 is a gripping and haunting tale of family honour, tradition, sexual paranoia and a desire for freedom.

In a small village on the Black Sea in northern Turkey, 5 adolescent sisters on their way home from school, innocently play with some local boys but prying eyes view their celebration of the start of the summer holidays with suspicion. Their over protective uncle Erol (Ayberk Pekcan) and grandmother (Nihal Koldas) must ensure that family honour and tradition prevail. The girls refuse to repent and become prisoners in their own home with sombre dress enforced, cookery lessons replace school work and arranged marriages beckon.

When 'everything turns to shit,' it becomes 10-year-old Lale's (Gunes Sensoy) story as she observes and maps out her own path to independence as with a collective strength and courage Lale and her sisters fight tradition and repression in a traditional culture that sees young girls married off with little, if any say in their own future.

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Beautifully shot with a superb script co-written with Alice Winocour and terrific natural performances, 'Mustang' is a gripping and haunting tale of the desire for freedom. All that the sisters want is to be themselves.

Released 13th May

Director: Jeremy Saulnier. Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alicia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart. Crime, Horror, Thriller. USA 2015 94 mins. (18) ***

Blood, gore, a dash of black humour and edge of the seat suspense mark out Jeremy Saulnier's 'Green Room' as a cut above the average siege thriller.

When punk band 'The Ain't Rights' play a gig at a neo-Nazi bar in rural Oregon, they expect a bit of flack but a bad choice song and finding a dead body means that time in the venue's green room isn't for drinks, nibbles and polite chat but a refuge from Darcy (Patrick Stewart) and his gang of thugs hell bent on eliminating any witnesses.

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Gripping and well played with a dark comedic touch, carnage in rural Oregan, a mounting body count and edge of the seat thrills makes for compelling viewing but it doesn't match Saulnier's critically acclaimed and distinctive 2013 revenge thriller, 'Blue Ruin. Where 'Green Room' will slot itself remains to be seen - an art house seat or a late night spot?

Released 13th May

Director: Jack Pittibone Riccobono. Documentary. USA 2015 76 mins. (15) ***

Filmed in the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota over several years, Jack Pittibone Riccobono's powerful and haunting documentary traces the lives of Rob Brown, a native American in his 30s linked to the Native gangster Disciples gang who's awaiting his 5th prison sentence and Kevin Fineday, his 18-year-old protege who faces his first spell in prison. Life in the reservation community of Pine Point is a daily cycle of drug dealing, shooting up, alcohol abuse, violence and the inevitability of prison with fading dreams of a future with hope.

Ironically the title refers to the Seven Fires Prophecy which suggests that after a period of cultural destruction the younger generation of the Ojibwe tribe emerge to lead the rebirth of their nation with traditional ways.

Released 13th May
David Cameron will today be smarting from the faux pas of making an acutely embarrassing indiscretion under the glance of cameras. Just days before the 2016 anti-corruption summit, the UK Prime Minister will be hosting, he was caught on camera in discussion with the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury, describing two of the countries sending delegates to London as "fantastically corrupt countries".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO_EekNnfjI

The statement had drown reactions across the world - not least in Afghanistan and Nigeria, the two countries Cameron cited in his now infamous gaffe - with the British Prime Minister trending on Twitter.

The incident should however, not overshadow or distract us from the merits and objectives of the summit. Ahead of Thursday's meeting, Cameron stated that the main goal of the summit is to 'galvanise a global response to tackle corruption as well as agreeing a package of actions to tackle corruption across the board'.

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Deemed as a 'first summit of its kind', the summit will see the convergence of world leaders, captains of industry and civil society leaders gather in an attempt to develop practical steps to: 'expose corruption so there is nowhere to hide, punish the perpetrators and support those affected by corruption, and drive out the culture of corruption wherever it exists'. While commendable and ambitious, these efforts are likely to be futile in effectively fighting corruption if they don't account for the stark realities of the contexts in which the changes will be effected. Cameron mentioned Afghanistan and Nigeria - two countries whose challenges with graft are well documented - but there are many more countries that present grim contexts for ordinary citizens and civil society organisations to fully and freely function.

We have seen that in most of such countries, governments there have introduced legislative and constitutional curbs to various fundamental rights and freedoms. Such restrictive measures include limitations to civil society organisations' fundraising activities and mobilisation abilities. Other forms of the restrictions include press censorship and muzzling of media, blocking of social media and threats to the activities and lives of civilians.

In its most recent State of Civil Society Report, CIVICUS - the world alliance for citizen participation - documented significant attacks on the fundamental civil society rights of free association, free assembly and free expression in 96 countries. CIVICUS reports that these have been particularly acute in the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, post Communist states in Central Asia and Eastern Europe and South East Asia. According to the organisation, in the most affected countries, the obstruction of civil liberties and freedom of speech on corruption matters is becoming worse. Simply put, today the media and civil society are struggling more than ever to speak out on corruption.

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On a brighter note, despite these limitations, we have seen some really encouraging and successful citizen and civil society efforts at holding governments accountable in recent years. Examples include the Examples include the Open Government Partnership (OGP) - a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.

Aid agencies and charities have similarly put the anti-corruption agenda at the top of their priorities. At World Vision UK for example, we have been supporting social accountability initiatives in 11 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America over the past 10 years - making some tangible changes and drawing out vital lessons. We believe that in future, technological innovation and social media will increasingly become essential tools in the fight against corruption given their proven potential to reduce opportunities for wrongdoing, empower citizens to highlight illegal practices, and enhance government transparency and accountability. While media and technology will not be the ultimate panacea by themselves, when fortified with well -intentioned complimentary policy reforms, they can make a significant contribution to the fight for good governance.

Collectively, some of these citizen and civil society-led initiatives have culminated in positive development outcomes such as more responsive local and national governments. The efforts have also become the spotlights exposing governments' challenges and corrupt activities, thereby stimulating the empowerment of marginalised groups - especially women and girls. The positive outcome from such exertions have ensured that national and local governments respond to the concerns of the most poor in some of the most difficult and fragile states in the world. From this perspective, such initiatives hold great potential as a means to reduce corruption but also as a great contribution to the growth, and consolidation of democratic institutions and practices.
For some years, CND has been using the figure of 100billion for the procurement and lifetime cost of a Trident replacement. From time to time, pro-Trident politicians have told me that's just absurd, as if we have plucked a wild figure out of the air. However, it has become clear over the past few months that even that 100billion figure is a massive underestimate. Recent information released by the government makes it clear that a new nuclear weapons system will actually end up costing at least 205billion.

For the sceptical reader, here's a breakdown of that new figure, taking into account the three elements of the system - submarines, missiles and warheads - together with related costs. Again I stress: these are figures from government sources not something that CND has made up.

The cost of replacing the four submarines now comes in at an estimated 31billion, with a contingency fund of 10billion. That information comes from the government's National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review published last November.

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The missiles are leased from the United States and Britain will participate in their missile life extension programme making them usable until the 2040s. This is set out in the government's 2006 White Paper on The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent, listed as costing 250million, which is 350million in today's prices.

The current warhead will last into the 2020s and that same White Paper also provided for up to 3billion for the possible future refurbishment or replacement of the warhead. This is 4billion in today's prices.

Infrastructure at Faslane and Coulport bases over the lives of the submarines was allocated another 3billion (or 4billion in today's prices).

Day to day running costs are the biggest expense. The government confirms this is around 6% of the total defence budget. Conservative MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt worked with Reuters to estimate that over the lifetime of the system, this would add up to 142billion.

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Conventional military forces assigned to support Trident are also part of the price tag. In 2007, the government said it believed around 30million was spent on this function annually. Over the lifetime of Trident's replacement, this will add up to just over 1billion in total.

Decommissioning costs also have to be factored in. Using the government's estimate for decommissioning its previous nuclear weapons system, Polaris, it seems this will be at least 13 billion in today's prices.
How the circular economy can boost the bottom line

Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice-President at Veolia UK & Ireland, explains how a circular revolution would propel the UK's economic growth

By 2050 the world's population will have risen by a third, from 7.2 billion to over 9.6 billion, and over 70% of those people will live in cities . Looking at this projection in pure business terms, it's clear to see that we need to address the affect this is going to have on our supply chains, to which I mean the volatility and scarcity of natural resources, and what we can do to minimalise the effects.

This circular economy was recgonised during the World Economic Forum COP 21 discussions in Davos as one such provision. Since, not only can its adoption reduce the environmental impacts from CO2 emissions, but it also enables companies to save resources, become more resilient and more profitable.

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The circular economy is a business model that enables the economy to grow, while minimising the amount of raw materials that are extracted. Put simply, it means ensuring our resources are kept in use for as long as possible, whether it's as a raw material, new product, green energy or clean water, so the maximum value is extracted. Then, after complete use, the circular economy ensures the resource is recycled which is where businesses can make money from these 'waste' materials. As a result, we're not just talking about saving the environment but about saving money too.

To a resourcing or sustainability manager the circular economy makes perfect sense. However, to truly adopt this and make the change happen we need to change our entire business mindset. This starts with boardroom recognition that the earth's resources are not infinite and moves onto how the circular economy could play a significant role in spearheading the UK's economic growth.

The positive impact adopting the circular economy could have on our economy is not a theory. The facts show us how changes in the global economy offer enormous opportunities for us here in the UK. In our report: The Circular Revolution, the Imperial College London research demonstrates the growth impact the UK would experience if it fully adopted the circular economy. For example, by using resources in a closed loop system we have the potential to contribute 29 billion or 1.8% to UK GDP and create 175,000 jobs.

Furthermore, on the global stage the World Economic Forum has forecast the circular economy will contribute $1 trillion per annum globally by 2025, which truly highlights the importance of adopting the circular economy.

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Still, even in light of this, companies still just want their 'waste' to be taken away, and don't fully realise they can make money from these materials, while building their corporate reputation with sustainability reporting.

From reducing the environmental impacts of CO2 emissions to enabling businesses to become more resilient and more profitable, the circular economy is a powerful lever. And the fact of the matter is every business can be more resource-efficient from the supply chain right through to reducing overheads.
Sadly, the only thing trendy about the collapsed retailer BHS is the fashionably weak state of its pension provisions, highlighting a growing problem the Government must now address.

Staff in the BHS final salary scheme have had to be bailed out by the Pension Protection Fund, which is financed by everyone in a pension, leaving the rest of us with the vague sense of being played for chumps.

How, we wonder, can the owners of firms ever be allowed to apparently milk millions of pounds in fees and other interesting financial baubles over years whilst allowing a 571 million black hole to emerge in the pension fund which the rest of us must fill? Hopefully, politicians and regulators will get some answers quickly.

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Meanwhile, if it remains business as usual, BHS is unlikely to be the last collapse of a well-known brand with the taxpayer left picking up the pieces. A study has estimated that one in six final salary schemes are in danger of failing and will need rescuing over the next 10 years.

There are no particular surprises about what got us into this state. Successive governments have raided pensions and reduced their values, whilst the economic crisis of 2008 accelerated problems. The only thing going up much is life expectancy; and that is hardly a help.

It was always wrong to allow companies to take 'holidays' from making contributions into pension schemes, a change introduced by a Conservative government. But it was also wrong for Gordon Brown, as Labour chancellor, to withdraw dividend tax credits, crucial to providing decent growth, during the 1990s. It was one of his first acts in office and profoundly undermined pubic trust in the sanctity of their savings.

Another major issue in this particular case is the changing shape of shopping. We simply do more of it online. Stores seem to be thriving only as part of an 'omnichannel' world, with click-and-collect a typical nod to where the future lies. The bricks and mortar presence is often no more than a showcase for items eventually bought later over the internet.

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But in acknowledging that, it is important not to be distracted by the loss of a tired brand or the changing shape of retail. The more worrying issue is what the ballooning UK pensions deficit means for the health of the wider UK economy, not to mention the prospects for even well-funded pensions invested in vulnerable firms.

Although we have been poorly served by politicians (final salary pensions underwritten by the taxpayer, naturally), they can't be blamed for the internet and our choices about how we shop.

What we need is retailers of vision (at least, looking at a horizon somewhere beyond how the next yacht is to be paid for) to justify their rewards.

Instead, we seem to have a director class that sees only a problem to be deferred or transferred to someone else (the taxpayer) to sort out; and all, of course, whilst leaving their own remuneration intact.

From a practical point of view we also rely on external accountants for warnings. Yet something seems to have gone horribly wrong at BHS, which leaves a troubling question over whether the right information is known - or assessed - about the financial health of businesses. And where were the company's directors whilst the pensions hole was being dug?

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Full Fact is an independent, non-partisan factchecking organisation. We provide free information so that anyone can check the claims we hear from politicians and the media. This blog first appeared here

Housebuilding

"The fact is we are building more houses right across England, we're building more affordable homes."--David Cameron

It's correct that 2015 saw the highest level of house building in a number of years. Around 143,000 homes were completed in total across England. The last time the figures were that high was in 2008.

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This is still low by historical standards, though.

Looking just at 'affordable housing', it's also correct that more are being built. Taken at face value, the figures show that the number of new affordable homes increased by around 10% over the past five years. But once the figures are broken down, a more varied picture emerges.

Affordable housing includes a number of different housing types. Some are available under a Social Rent (a relatively low rent available to people on low incomes) and Affordable Rent (80% of the market rate).

There are also those which fall under Intermediate Rent (above social rent levels, but still below market value) and Affordable Home Ownership (in which properties are offered for sale at a level below the market rate).

While the number of new Social Rent homes has decreased over the period while Mr Cameron has been office, a lot more Affordable Rent homes have been built.

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National Living Wage

"I really think [Jeremy Corbyn] ought to get up and say he supports the National Living Wage and he thanks the Government for introducing it."-- David Cameron

"I support a wage rise obviously, but the point I am making is it is not a living wage as is generally understood."--Jeremy Corbyn

The new "National Living Wage" took effect on 1 April 2016. It's the new legally enforceable minimum rate of pay for workers aged 25 and over, set at 7.20 an hour.

It's different to the amount campaigners have been describing as the "Living Wage" since the 2000s.

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The government's target is for the National Living Wage to climb to 60% of median earnings by 2020. That's expected to amount to a rate of a little over 9.

A lower minimum wage still applies to workers younger than 25.

Refugee children

"Last year 3,000 unaccompanied children arrived and claimed asylum in the UK even before the scheme that's being introduced. Under [EU rules on asylum], children with a connection to the UK can already claim asylum in France or Italy and then come to the UK. We've accepted 30 such transfers since February." - David Cameron

It's correct that around 3,000 unaccompanied children applied for asylum in the UK over the course of 2015. But not all of those will necessarily be granted asylum. Of the 1,900 decisions made on asylum for unaccompanied children that year, around 650 were rejected.

These children are in addition to any that the UK proactively takes in from around Syria or from other EU countries.

The difference is that the government hasn't gone out of its way to seek out the 3,000, and while under international law it has to consider their application to be accepted as a refugee, some will be rejected and deported.

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Mr Cameron is also correct that an EU law called the Dublin Regulation says that unaccompanied children can apply for asylum in another country and then ask to have their request processed in the UK, if they have family living here.

Campaigners say that "in practice this rarely happens", and cite delays in the EU process. A British judge recently decided in the case of several Syrian children in Calais that because it took so long, human rights law demanded that they be allowed into the UK without having to apply for asylum first.

We've asked the government for more information about the figure of 30 transfers cited by Mr Cameron.

Housing Bill

"Last April the PM launched his manifesto promising to replace sold council houses with affordable homes in the same area. So why is the PM opposing the amendment to the Housing Bill this afternoon which effectively implements last year's [Conservative] manifesto commitment."--Karen Buck MP

"Our Housing Bill means that every high-value property sold will mean two new affordable homes in London. So why is it that the Labour Party and the other place are opposing what will mean more houses, more affordable homes and more home-ownership?"--David Cameron

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Both sides can defend their description of the Bill. You can read the debate on the amendment for their arguments in full.

The government says the Housing and Planning Bill implements its manifesto promise to sell off and then replace expensive local authority homes. Labour says it doesn't live up to this promise because it doesn't guarantee the necessary funding.

The Conservatives' 2015 manifesto stated:

"We will fund the replacement of properties sold under the extended Right to Buy by requiring local authorities to manage their housing assets more efficiently, with the most expensive properties sold off and replaced as they fall vacant."

Clause 67 of the bill will require certain local authorities to make payments to the government based on how many vacant houses of 'high value' they have. It's expected this will mean those authorities will sell that housing in order to pay.

The Bill currently says that if a local authority has to pay the government money because of its high value houses, that amount can be reduced, provided it is spent on housing. In London, the requirement is that the local authority has to ensure that at least two new homes are provided for each one sold.

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The amendment mentioned by Karen Buck, was made by the House of Lords.

Its proposer says that it: "seeks to put it beyond doubt that sufficient funding will be available to local authorities to deliver at least one new affordable home for each higher-value property sold; in London this will be at least two for one".

The Lords amendment would require that the local authorities' payments are reduced by enough to fund at least one affordable home, or two in London. Without the amendment, the size of the reduction will be up to the government.
As Brit who lives in Paris, where I own a business and have a child in school, I watch anxiously as the UK debates its future ahead of the 23 June referendum. You could be forgiven for thinking my interest in the outcome is mostly self-interest, and of course much has been made of what Brexit might mean for the two million British expats living in the EU in terms of health care, residency rights, schooling, research projects and cross-border contracts. EU membership allows us to live, work and own a business in France and beyond. But my interest, and that of many other British expats in the EU, is much broader than that.

It is possible that living on the Continent naturally makes us feel more European. We are less hung up about the role that Brussels plays, and more interested in the exchange of ideas, culture and business opportunities that that Europe offers. The EU might not be perfect, but for us it is the right place for the UK to be, co-operating and pioneering with European partners. There may be two million Brits on the Continent but there are 400,000 French people living in the UK. This exchange of people, talent and resources seems natural and dynamic.

There is nothing like being away from home to hone your perceptions of what it means to be British. I resent the misguided portrayal of Britishness that is being transmitted from the 'Leave' camp. Their idea seems to be that in a troubled and globalised world, the Brits should revert to plucky, independent type and go it alone, away from an interfering Brussels. Except that is not at all what the 'plucky Brit' is about. Yes we are an island nation, but we are not inward-looking or isolationist in our character. Historically, we have explored and traded, viewing the seas around us as a gateway rather than a barrier. For me, the definition of the plucky Brit is the spirit that showed up in Dunkirk or the Blitz, to stand with and fight for European values. In the modern day, the equivalent is to stay within the European Union and strive to make it better. It has never been our style to hide from the world or disengage and we shouldn't start now.

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Old-fashioned as it might sound, this is a moral issue. It is about friendship, solidarity and a shared future. Our grandparents sacrificed so much in World War II and so much has been achieved in the decades that followed to create a peaceful and prosperous Europe. Our generation does not have the right to throw that away carelessly.

What do the French think about a possible Brexit? A poll in April suggested that 59% of French people want Britain to stay. And it is true that my French friends speak of wanting Britain to stay, of Britain being an essential part of the EU, a real loss if we leave. But they also tease me that should Britain leave, all the talented, young international people working in London will be more than welcome in Paris and Berlin. Professional contacts tell me that their large, international clients have contingency plans to move their headquarters from London to Paris if the UK leaves. I can't help but bristle at this. I feel indignant at the idea of London losing status, influence and talent.

The recent terrorist attacks on Brussels and Paris only enhance our feelings of inter-connectedness and solidarity. When London's Wembley stadium sang the Marseillaise after the November Paris attacks, it wasn't just an empty gesture. It represented a real feeling of sisterhood between two neighbouring cities and shared values of tolerance and liberty. We feel those values are under threat and surely the answer is unity and co-operation. This is not the time to bail.

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Paolo Friere, a twentieth century Brazilian educator and leader theorist of critical pedagogy is best known for his work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed wherein he necessitates that conscientizacao (critical consciousness) be incorporated into the educational system, thus creating a liberating education. Friere's concept of critical consciousness is a liberating cultural action which links pedagogical theory with revolutionary praxis allowing that the individual repel what Friere terms the "banking concept" of education, "in which the scope of action allowed to the students extends only as far as receiving, filing, and storing the deposits" (72). Friere contends that forcing students to memorise and regurgitate information is a form of education where there is no space for dialogue and which creates a society where the citizens digest and somnambulantly act in accordance with the messages perpetuated by the State:

It is not surprising that the banking concept of education regards men as adaptable, manageable beings. The more students work at storing the deposits entrusted to them, the less they develop the critical consciousness which would result from their intervention in the world as transformers of that world. The more completely they accept the passive role imposed on them, the more they tend simply to adapt to the world as it is and to the fragmented view of reality deposited in them. (73)

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Friere's description of the "banking" method best describes the Latin American tradition of positivism against which he reacts embodied by texts such as Jose Enrique Rodo'sAriel(1900) which influenced Latin American political and social control well beyond Uruguay over one hundred years ago. In his manifesto Rodo portrays an educational atmosphere which mythicises reality and bars the student's ability to critique the formulas being fed, advocating an eclectic doctrine of higher learning which is inaccessible and unconcerned with material existence or the struggles of the poor and oppressed. Through this educational process, the masses are left in ignorance while only the elite, descendants of Europe, can attain any possession of knowledge and power.

Friere's alternative to the "banking" method is what he terms a "problem-posing" education which entails a type of learning that necessitates dialogue, disposes with the authoritarian role of the teacher, and leans heavily on critical reflection in order for "men [sic] to overcome their false perception of reality" (p. 86) and maintain a critical awareness of the world. Friere views "problem-posing" education as a "humanist and liberating praxis"-- an education which necessitates both the consolidated action of the oppressed against the structures which oppress, and the transformation of teachers and students from objects of the educational institution to its subjects, thus empowering the masses with a transformative praxis of reality "in favor of the liberation of people" (102).

Friere suggests that the first step in executing a "problem-posing" education is to undertake a "thematic investigation," a process towards understanding the "significant dimensions of an individual's contextual reality" (104) through a dialectical interrelation of the concrete and the abstract. Thus, the "thematic investigation" becomes a cultural action -- a dialogical process of critical reflection, knowledge, and ultimately a means of creation. In carrying out a "problem-posing" education, investigators go into a community and, with the natives, formulate a curriculum based on the community's specific problems, needs, desires, and socio-political orientation, creating an educational agenda where dialogue and criticism compound the process towards establishing a practical forum of individual's contextual reality whereby the pueblo actively takes part in ideological formation. In this way, ideology is the necessary moment through which the individual must pass in order to achieve critical consciousness. Through Friere's "problem-posing" education, individuals gain an understanding of history and through this knowledge they can emerge from their submission with a critical awareness, thus enabling the subject to intervene in the world: "Intervention in reality--historical awareness itself--thus represents a step forward from emergence, and results from the concientizacion of the situation" (109).

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Skip to the twenty-first century when one must wonder if Freire's words ever had any impact within various UK universities as copious articles on the Internet abound regarding the reasons for which the British classroom has largely become a place of stagnancy and silence while the university is left as a for-profit business. Lecturers often read out to students from neatly presented words projected on the screen in the front of the classrooms, as students aim their mobile phones at this screen --"click click click" go the mobile phone, snapping away, collecting photos of each progressive PowerPoint frame. And these clicks are not the sound effects from their Twitter feed, but rather from their mobile device-as-camera, taking frame for frame shot of each and every PowerPoint slide present. Welcome to the contemporary form of "note taking." And then in between each of these shots, the student returns to tweeting since such pedagogical methods force the classroom into a stultifying, unidirectional forum whereby the professor speaks, the students click, remain silent, and die a quiet intellectual death.
Three teenage girls camp, cramped on the steps of the Mondrian hotel, awaiting their prize: a glimpse of Harry, or Zayn, or someone I'm not cool enough to have heard of. They've been there for days.

In the office next door, a grown man weeps the loss of his idol, one of the recent celebrity deaths that made millions mourn: whenever they left, they would have gone too soon.

A friend is so obsessed with the band Queen that she owns their entire back catalogue, visits far-flung hotels on the proviso Freddie Mercury stayed there once, and recently made the ultimate commitment: a tattoo. She's 33.

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Teenagers teeter on the edge of sanity, admittedly - but what about the rest of us? Why don't we drop the act at 13? What emotional bonds are formed in those precious years that survive overtime, shopping lists, mortgage repayment plans?

And how do our relationships with celebrities affect our 'real life' relationships?

Celebrities are constructed, not born. Seen through a screen, they take on an irresistible hue. Cameras flash, a flicker of filtered photos; their lensed gaze locks onto yours and before you know it, you're smitten.

Being a fan is a form of parasocial interaction - a one-sided relationship, where we act as if it were reciprocal (much like my relationship with Tom Hardy). This is only exascerbated by the apparent accessibility of social media stars - being able to tweet them, or comment on their videos (and, occasionally, get a response) conjures the illusion of connection.

Research by the American Psychological Association shows that people engage in parasocial relationships because they 'negate the chance of rejection' - a risk in any real world relationship. The lack of interaction is a relief: fans are free to imagine... well, anything, really.

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A win win, right? According to Dr Drew Ramsey, Columbia professor of psychiatry:

"Fandom is reasonably unsatisfying. It doesn't return something specific to the individual."

In other words, a one-sided relationship can only get you so far. Except for some people, it goes too far. This becomes especially apparent when fans endure the loss of their idol. Leading psychologist Alan Hilfer told the New York Times Magazine:

"There are some people whose reactions to celebrity deaths are so obsessional and extreme that it can literally make them sick."

Whatever onlookers might think - the grief is real.

Given this, it is perhaps surprising that the reason we become fans is often nothing to do with the celebrity in question. It's a 'tag' - part of our identity, something we can use to build (real) relationships: a conversation starter, a passport to a new community. These tightly-bound groups (just witness the 'army' of One Direction superfans) can provide an invaluable support network.

In fact, being a fan does not always require a celebrity at all. Our own social networks are dominated by parasocial relationships: intimacy, but at a distance. We see our friends' lives through the same filters that were once the preserve of the famous. With the rise of online dating, we even view potential partners through this lens.

When we form relationships with images, reality can only pale in comparison. Ok, we know these images aren't 'real'. We understand, rationally, the transiency and artificiality of celebrity. But that doesn't make us immune.

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Celebrities need fans: they're essential to their survival. If Zoella takes a selfie in the middle of a forest and there's no WiFi connection, does she still exist?
As a relatively newly qualified and rather earnest Art Therapist, my first Consultant role was in a child sexual abuse clinic. It was there I experienced one of the most valuable lessons of my career. Surprisingly, my teacher was not a learned Professor or University lecturer but rather a little 5-year-old boy living in residential care who had experienced more in his short life than most of us will confront in a life time.

The clinic was very proud to have its own "Therapy Suite": 3 adjoining age appropriate art and play rooms where children could come to recover from their traumatic experiences. As my 5-year-old client and I entered the suite he looked at me eyes wide with wonderment and asked sincerely "why did you choose me as your therapy sweet?". It still astounds me that I had not conceived that a 5-year-old child might have another association to the word 'suite' and that ostensibly sensitive and caring adults had not realised that the other kind of sweet might be a more natural association for children. The lesson: a sharp wake up call to the potentially catastrophic pitfalls of making assumptions, and the woeful short comings of verbal language in guaranteeing that we have arrived at a shared meaning.

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The second example is not as palatable but arguably even more enlightening. I went on to explain gently to Daniel how he could use his therapy space, part of the description was about him being able to show me his feelings and that we would be able to play together. Daniel looked at me with the same wonderment and said "Can we have sex?". My immediate thought was to say something like "adults and children don't do that" but was forced to adjust my thinking to the grim reality that in his world they did. This was his normal.

Yes, at first glance we appeared to be on the same page and speak the same language. However, as I learned - same page, entirely different story. He taught me a valuable lesson - that I had to interrogate my every assumption in order to enter into his world, a world where 'normality' had been turned on its head. I still wonder had I not been fortunate enough to meet this little teacher, whether my curiosity with regard to children's communication would have been sufficiently ignited .

Today, as an Art Therapist with considerably more experience of working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, it was gratifying to read a recent report claiming: "Art based therapy is the most successful therapeutic treatment for children who have experienced sexual abuse": - however, there soon followed a shocking caveat "but children who have been sexually abused will not necessarily get the help they need to recover from their experiences"

How can we accept a society that does not provide the support needed when traumatised children have been brave enough to come forward - as we encourage them to do. Surely it is our moral duty to offer a safety net of support and recovery services at the other side. If we study the increasing amount of sobering data being gathered we learn that perpetrators reside in families, schools, churches, charities, in well-known and well-loved institutions; child friendly places. Whilst none of us want to believe that these things happen to our children the curtain has been well and truly lifted and we can no longer blame the "bogey man".

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For years we have lived with the myth that children do not want to talk about their abuse; unconsciously putting barriers in the way of disclosure. We applied a daunting court system to traumatised and vulnerable children that was designed for adults. We also dictated that children should deliver gold plated, verbal and timely disclosures, fully formed in the Queen's English with no contradictions or baby words. Several recent NSPCC reports have now confirmed that contrary to popular belief children DO talk about sexual abuse and WANT to talk about it -not always in words but they always desperately want to be heard.

This is why it is imperative that we provide more Art Therapy for these children who as a result of their experiences find intimacy and trust difficult. Art making provides a space between the child and therapist where an object can be jointly contemplated and through which shared meaning can be arrived at. Furthermore, a significant number of sexually abused children present with symptoms of PTSD; a possible feature of which is that the part of the brain responsible for forming and processing language is "switched off" as a result of the trauma. Once again this is where art can step in to enable children to give form to and "evacuate" their often nameless, messy, wordless experiences. The fluidity of the art materials works so beautifully for children; allowing them externalise, examine, discard, retrieve, repair and transform their thoughts, increase their emotional literacy and consequently start to recover themselves during the Art Therapy process.
The Russian propaganda concert of classical music by world renowned Russian musicians at the amphitheatre in Palmyra, previously the site of mass executions of the enemies of ISIS, from whom Russian backed troops captured it from in March 2015 was held up in the West as a success. "Russia Fearless of ISIS" stated Morning News USA, whereas Spiked Online said that "Russia's Palmyra concert reveals what the West lacks". The ironic thing about the Western media's relationship with Russian propaganda is as much as it decries it when aimed against the West, it's a sucker for it, when it comes in relation to Syria.

The Arab media focused on another news story a few days after the concert, which the Western media seemed strangely disinterested in. Despite heavy Russian air support, ISIS had cut the main supply route for the pro-Assad forces based in Palmyra possibly with Russian troops inside, and had nearly encircled the city from all sides but the south west and were 10 kilometres from the venue of the classical concert itself.

The reason the Western Media aren't interested in the near encirclement of Palmyra is that it contradicts the prevailing narrative of a decisive Russian intervention deciding the war. This is also why other stories such as the capture by ISIS of the Shaer gas field near Palmyra from regime forces, the ongoing food crisis in regime held Damascus, and the heavy losses of both men and territory by Iranian forces south of the city of Aleppo weren't even mentioned in passing compared with performances of Bach and Prokofiev for Russian troops.

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Assad and Russia doing well is more of a story than the opposite. It wasn't always so as in early 2014, with the capture of the regional capital of Idlib by the rebels, the media narrative was of Assad's certain demise and the rebels soon to be had victory. Thus in early 2014, news of rebel setbacks and regime advances were of less interest whereas the reverse is true now. Russian intervention changed the narrative then, and a defeat in Palmyra if it were to occur, would change how the war was reported in the West again with a change in emphasis from Russian strength to Russian weakness.

The truth is, wars are complicated and the Syrian war is more complicated than most. Most audiences prefer easily digestible simple narratives to more accurate but complex reporting. The most common reaction by someone who isn't invested in the conflict is to switch off as all the complexity and misery is too boring and troubling to watch. Indeed, we are possibly seeing a lack of interest from audiences in Syria in the same way interest in Iraq dipped among the public towards the end of that war in the 2000s. There's only so much repetitive suffering and distress, the average person can take before they develop an all-encompassing fatigue to stories that don't directly affect them.
Take That were firmly put on my radar as an eight-year-old kid, when my older sister Fay began her obsession with them. Fay would like nothing more than to annoy me by playing the 1992 Take That and Party album at full blast, over and over... and over again! Her wall was plastered from top to bottom in Take That pictures, with Mark Owen closest to her bed. I was fairly indifferent to their music at that age and didn't know what all the fuss was about, but a year later they announced they were coming to Hylands Park to play 'Chelmsford Spectacular' and this was BIG Essex news! It was just down the road from our family home, and thousands of tickets sold out in minutes. I started paying more attention now, as Take That had been catapulted to massive fame, and they were coming to entertain almost every teenage girl in Essex! Little did I know I was to play that very same site many years later myself.

My sister was lucky enough to get tickets after a very tense morning of queuing and was allowed to go accompanied by my Uncle John. She was beside herself at the concert, spending the whole evening on my Uncle's shoulders, screaming at the top of her lungs to every word of every song. She bought all the merchandise home she could get her hands on, including her teenage pride and joy - a full size Take That flag that she managed to find a space for amongst all the other band paraphernalia in her bedroom. I have many memories of Fay sitting for hours listening to Pray in her CD Walkman over and over again dreaming of marrying Mark Owen. It was hard not to be impressed by my sister's dedication to this band and I MAY have even learnt and performed the 'Pray' dance routine from the video to impress her mates!

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Fast forward 15 years and I had decided that working in a call centre couldn't be all that life had to offer me. I had decided to audition for the X Factor (again, this time hopefully with more luck)! I rehearsed two songs; Take That's Up All Night and Stevie Wonder's Superstition. It was the latter that managed to get me through the first round in front of the XF judges.

When I came to release my debut album in November 2010, I was up against Take That's massive Progress album that had come out a few weeks earlier. This was the biggest album of the year, and it was hard to believe I was even in a chart battle with the biggest band of the moment. They pipped me to the No.1 post. It's my only album not to go to No.1 - so cheers guys!!

Take That's Progress Live tour at Wembley Arena is still one of the best shows I have ever seen. The production was incredible, and the atmosphere was electric. It made a huge impression on me as an entertainer, as I was in the infancy of my own music career, and I watched on in awe of them entertaining the packed stadium of screaming fans.

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It's been a real career highlight to get to know all the guys.

I was to work professionally with Gary several times. Firstly when he was a judge on XF and I was co-presenting Xtra Factor in 2011 and 2012. I also had a the pleasure of performing Shine with Gary at the Royal Albert Hall for his Prince's Trust gig. And then finally as his guest judge for XF judge's houses in New York, 2013. I also toured the UK as special guest to Robbie in 2013 which was great fun.

Take That have been a band for nearly three decades. What they have achieved over those years is an inspiration to me. So to be asked to support Take That at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park in July this year was a dream come true. Not only could I not refuse to perform in front of 60,000 people but I genuinely love the guys. I am incredibly proud to warm up the crowd with my live band and guarantee it's going to be a great night! Bring it on!!

Olly plays British Summer Time on Saturday 9 July in Hyde Park supporting Take That, together with Ella Eyre, Jamie Lawson, Nathan Sykes, plus more to be announced.
"Is it for The Jungle Book?" one tourist asked as men in tuxedos and women in expensive frocks descended on Leicester Square in Central London.

The Odeon cinema has played host to many film premieres in its time, but Brexit: The Movie must be one of its most, shall we say, niche.

Instead of Hollywood stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Ryan Gosling, there was Nigel Farage and Kate Hoey and the 1,700 seat venue was not filled with lovers of the silver screen, but Brexit believers.

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Some of the bigger Leave campaigners stayed away - Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Douglas Carswell - but for the train-spotters amongst us there were plenty of Brexit big hitters.

Former Tory leadership contender David Davis, oft-sacked Ukipper Suzanne Evans and even the MP for the 1950s Jacob Rees-Mogg were all in attendance - enjoying for him what must have been a rare trip to the talkies.

After free champagne, and an introduction from filmmaker Martin Durkin, Brexit: The Movie began.

The film itself focused on regulations, trade and EU waste - and stereotypes.

An Italian umbrella factory was portrayed as shoddy with workers more concerned with snogging a curvaceous woman than making quality brollies.

A Frenchman was, yep you guessed it, wearing a beret, a striped top and had a string of onions round his neck.

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The growing economic powerhouse of Asia was portrayed by two men of Asian ethnicity being good at maths.

The documentary format meant that many of the faces associated with Brexit - some of whom were in the audience - got their moment on the silver screen.

Cheers went up when Nigel Farage, Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell appeared in all their cinematic glory.

Conversely, there were boos and hisses when footage of Tony Blair, David Cameron and Ted Heath were shown - one audience member even shouted out 'nonce' when Heath was on the screen.

The central thrust of the film was the EU has too many regulations, and too many regulations stifles growth.

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Many of the talking heads talked fondly of the Industrial Revolution - a time when British entrepreneurship and a lack of state intervention made the UK the workshop of the world.

Strangely, no one mentioned the huge exploitation of workers, including children, which that entailed. Perhaps the Sadlers Committee Report of 1832, which revealed the dire treatment of children in textiles mills and factories, was a piece of fiction and it was all peace, love and money during the Industrial Revolution.

Nor in the film was there any talk of workers' rights, common security goals or countries coming together to combat issues such as climate change - all things EU remainers point to as reasons to stay in.

But hey, this was Brexit: The Movie. You wouldn't get annoyed with a Star Wars film for not giving an equal hearing to the Dark Side after all.

Also not mentioned throughout the 70-odd minute running time was immigration. The entire film focused on the economic and democratic reasons for leaving. Perhaps that's why there were more clips of the Institute of Economic Affairs Mark Littlewood than Nigel Farage.

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When it comes down to it, could this film convince people to vote leave on June 23? Yes, I do believe it could. It put forward a strong case as to why, in terms of trade and taking away regulations, the UK could do well when freed from Brussels.

It will play well with a certain section of the electorate: small business owners, the entrepreneurs, the people Margaret Thatcher so successfully targeted in the 1980s.

But, conversely, could this film convince people to actually vote Remain? Yes, I think it could do that too. The vision of the UK painted in Brexit: The Movie is of a country where business rules the roost and any regulation is something to be resisted.
Paul Ryan keeps finding new ways to dodge questions about his inevitable Trump endorsement, and by June hell probably be resorting to hunching over, meekly lifting up an ear trumpet and squawking WHAT?!? Twitter ravaged the news networks for obsessing over Donald Trumps plane, though to be fair, after MH370, its CNN policy to have cameras on all planes at all times. And Donald Trumps butler called for President Obamas murder, necessitating both a Secret Service investigation and a remake of Clue (Colonel Mustard in the Situation Room with a copy of "Art of the Deal"). This is HUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, May 12th, 2016:

AMERICA WITNESSES REALLY BIZARRE COUPLES THERAPY SESSION - But at no point did America have to gesture at the box of Kleenex sitting atop the knock-off Ruhlmann coffee table. Igor Bobic and Matt Fuller: "The meeting between Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday seemed to have everything: protestors, a full media circus, a joint statement, even a post-meeting press conference with Ryan. But there was one glaring omission: the speakers endorsement of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. In .a joint statement, Ryan and Trump characterized the discussion as a 'positive step toward unification' and said they were 'totally committed to working together' to win back the White House in November...Ryan also mentioned that he and Trump discussed issues like abortion, the Supreme Court and 'self-government.' (According to Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong, they also discussed the tone of Trumps campaign.)" [HuffPost]

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TRUMP'S CONGRESSIONAL ALLIES SHOCKED TO LEARN CANDIDATE IS FLAKEY - Rachael Bade: "One of Donald Trump's top allies in Congress slammed the presumptive GOP nominee after he failed to meet with rank-and-file lawmakers backing his campaign during his ballyhooed trip to Capitol Hill on Thursday. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) told POLITICO that Trump refused multiple requests to meet with members of Congress working to round up support for him in Washington. 'I think it would have been good of him' to meet with 'the first endorsers,' Hunter said, as well as those who've gotten on board more recently, Hunter said. 'There is no reason not to have as many people on your side as you can and he missed a real opportunity here.'...His most ardent congressional backers, however, asked his campaign several times for a few minutes with the candidate, too. They thought it would energize the team running traps to whip support for him in D.C.. They also wanted Trump to meet with a core group of committee chairmen they thought would make for powerful future allies." [Politico]

Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill

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TRUMP AND GRAHAM: STILL FRENEMIES, BUT NOT ARCH FRENEMIES - If President Trump's first WHCD doesn't feature a video of him and Lindsey Graham riding a tandem bicycle in matching seersucker suits and beanies, we'll be sorely disappointed. Paul Kane: "Donald Trump must not be giving up on any Republican. On a day filled with tension over his meeting with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), Sen. Lindsey Graham let slip a fascinating piece of news: The presumptive nominee reached out to the South Carolina Republican late Wednesday for what became a 15-minute phone conversation. It didnt result in any endorsement, but Trumps sharpest Republican critic on Capitol Hill said that the two men agreed to stop insulting one another. 'He won,' Graham said, calling Trump 'very funny' in their conversation. 'He obviously can take a punch.'" [WaPo]

BEN CARSON TO MAKE MOUTH NOISES IN DIRECTION OF FORMER COMPETITORS - This is just the thing Lindsey Graham needs to be won over. Jonathan Easley: "Ben Carson will personally reach out to all of the former Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump has vanquished to ask them to rally behind the presumptive GOP nominee. In an interview on Thursday, Carson said hed lobby all of Trumps defeated foes  even those who fought bitterly with Trump, such as Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham, and have said they wont endorse or vote for him in the general election...Carson, who has become a jack-of-all-trades for Trump and a prominent member of his inner circle, spoke with Ryan days before that meeting in an attempt to lay the groundwork ahead of Thursday. A source with knowledge of the conversation said Trump was impressed by Carsons outreach, and the two agreed hed continue in that vein by reaching out to the former GOP presidential candidates." [The Hill]

A MURDER MOST FOUL - How was the "bombastic American real estate mogul and his conniving butler" storyline omitted from "Downton Abbey?" David Corn: "Anthony Senecal, who worked as Donald Trump's butler for 17 years before being named the in-house historian at the tycoon's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, has repeatedly published posts on his Facebook page that express profound hatred for President Barack Obama and that declare he should be killed...Though Senecal's Facebook page is public, this message could only be read by his Facebook friends. In an interview with Mother Jones, Senecal confirms that those were his words: 'I wrote that. I believe that.'" [Mother Jones]

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Baby on board: "Sen. Ted Cruz's return to the Senate was spoiled by a photo showing his ride to work parked at an angle that took up two spots. Some took to Twitter to show how that scene reinforces the idea of the Texas Republican not being a likable person...Similarly, Cruz's fellow Texan, GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert set off a row after he was ticketed for parking his SUV in a spot reserved for National Park Service vehicles." [Roll Call]

NOT ABOUT TRUMP BUT STILL HORRIBLE: There have now been almost as many anti-Obamacare lawsuits as there have been Avengers movies, which is to say there have been too many. With Cristian Farias: "The ruling in House v. Burwell, which wont go into immediate effect pending appeal, would have a devastating effect on the poorest Obamacare enrollees who receive financial assistance to limit their out-of-pocket health care costs. The key argument in the lawsuit then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) brought in 2014 is that the Obama administration unconstitutionally spent money on these so-called cost-sharing reductions because Congress didnt appropriate the funds." [HuffPost]

GAS NEWS - Kate Sheppard: "The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday final rules that will crack down on methane emissions from the booming natural gas industry. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has much greater planet-warming potential in the short term than carbon dioxide. It is also a primary component of natural gas, and its release during the oil and gas extraction and transportation process hasemerged as a major concern as the U.S. has vastly increased its gas production. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking  a process that uses a high-pressure blast of water, sand and chemicals to tap into gas contained in shale rock  has allowed the U.S. to unlock a lot more gas in recent years." [HuffPost]

THIS WILL BE THE SOURCE OF A THOUSAND BENGHAZI MEMES - Who can forget the time Susan Rice blamed Benghazi on a Running Man video. Ryan Reilly: "FBI Director James Comey once again suggested this week that the 'viral video effect' on police may be to blame for the rise in murders in some cities, tripling down on a theory that has put him in conflict with the Obama administration as well as criminal justice experts who dont see any evidence of a connection between murder spikes and scrutiny of police. Citing conversations with law enforcement leaders, Comey contended that marginal pullbacks by lots and lots of police officers, as well as changes in the way police may be acting and in the way communities may be acting in terms of how much information they share with police, could be having an effect on homicide spikes." [HuffPost]

BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR - Here are some baby otters

METRO STILL BONED - "Every day thousands of commuters run late to work because of single tracking ghost trains. NBC Washington: "Metro is planning a 16-day closure of a stretch of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines after the Federal Transit Administration demanded immediate fixes from the transit system. Last week, Metro released a draft of its SafeTrack plan to focus on repairing certain parts of the system, which will lead to single-tracking and shutdowns in some areas over the next year. But the FTA told Metro in a letter Wednesday that it's going to need to shuffle its priorities and make immediate repairs to certain sections of track before beginning the SafeTrack plan." [NBC Washington]



COMFORT FOOD

- Tracing Steph Curry's career in GIFs.

- A Pluto-sized planet has been hiding in our solar system

- "This Is What Happened When I Ate a Mega-Dosed $500 Weed Sundae."

TWITTERAMA

@JoePerticone: Covering an airplane? That's not newsworthy. It's not a taco bowl or something

@NickRiccardi: Congrats if you had Secret Service Investigating Trump Butler on your 2016 bingo card today

@jonward11: "There's Donald Trump's plane at Reagan National Airport and we'll continue to monitor the takeoff of that plane."  Wolf Blitzer just now
On May 11, Moroccan King Mohammed VI visited Beijing and signed a new "strategic partnership" with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping. It calls for heightened political and economic cooperation in the realms of renewable energy, telecoms, and industry -- among other forms of potential exchange, including the realms of education, cultural, and tourism.

From Beijing's standpoint, the heightened relationship may be viewed in the context of a new strategic push for a greater economic and security role in Africa on both sides of the Sahara. Earlier this year, the Chinese armed forces established their first military base outside of the country's "Near Abroad" -- in the strategically significant country of Djibouti. Over the past decade, it has eclipsed the U.S. and E.U. as the continent's major trading partner, and become a significant investor in industry. These efforts have been buttressed by a push to build personal, emotional, and even linguistic bridges to African populations: The continent today is dotted by "Confucius Institutes" that offer Chinese language lessons free, and hold out the opportunity to use the language as a staffer in local Chinese business ventures. Egyptian national television has broadcast a 30-part Chinese dramatic miniseries, overdubbed into Arabic, which highlights the cultural and historical parallels between the two traditional societies and the rural roots of so much of their respective urban populations. The beginnings of a similar effort have been developing in my native Morocco as well: A "Friends of Chinese International Radio Club" -- the broadcast, reaching our country in Arabic -- has been established in Khouribga, a small working-class town in central Morocco that happens to be a hub of the country's phosphate industry, a major source of imports for China. Members have been flown to China to learn more about the country. There is a feeling that a deep emotional bond between the two societies is growing.

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Morocco welcomes these bridges -- as well as China's broader efforts to become a player in Africa -- as they have the potential to advance the Kingdom's own interests as well. As I have previously noted, the Kingdom views the African continent, particularly south of the Sahara, as its strategic and economic depth. It is committed to supporting security and political stabilization efforts in countries, ranging from Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Guinea to Senegal, Mali, and Cote D'Ivoire. as well as human development through health and human services, education, and civil society. In terms of economic development, Moroccan investment and trade on the continent is growing, facilitated by an extensive human network of Moroccan entrepreneurs across the continent and with structural support from the King himself. China has long been an important importer of Moroccan phosphates, and welcomes greater Chinese investment in its own industries. The possible role of the Chinese security sector as a component of regional security and counterterrorism strategies is also one that the kingdom is keen to encourage. From a political standpoint, moreover, a tradition of nonintervention between the two countries bodes well for the relationship: China has never supported the separatist Polisario militia in its violent campaign against the kingdom. Morocco does not intervene in China's "Near Abroad" rivalries.

There is another way in which heightened ties between China and Africa generally and China and Morocco in particular are welcomed by the Kingdom -- and which the United States should recognize and consider in terms of its own Africa policies: The Kingdom has signaled to all great powers with an interest in Africa that it wishes to engage in tripartite economic partnerships, whereby a country relatively new to the continent works through Morocco as a geographic, entrepreneurial, and human "hub" to forge business deals far and wide. The foreign power gains from the arrangement by gaining Moroccan assistance in bridging logistical and cultural gaps. Local parties benefit from the Moroccan tradition of fusing hard-nosed business development with investment in human infrastructure on the ground. Morocco has urged the United States to take advantage of this opportunity, but so far, American ventures along these lines are still at a junior stage. China has been manifesting greater enthusiasm to establish these "tripartite" partnerships.

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This Sunday is graduation day at Hofstra University. Graduation days are times to celebrate and think about the things you have learned. In this post I share thoughts about teaching from graduates completing the teacher education program.

New York State student teachers are saddled with a series of questionable tests that they must pass in order to become certified. Probably the most difficult is the edTPA, a sixty page commentary that includes video segments that is submitted electronically to Pearson (Mis)Education for evaluation, but no feedback for improvement. The project is so complex and stressful that it essentially swallows up the entire student teaching experience, interfering with the ability of prospective teachers to really learn how to teach.

Despite testing, edTPA, and Pearson, New York State's newest group of teachers are determined to learn the skills they will need to make a difference in the lives of students. Under the circumstances they should be roundly applauded. I do not expect Governor Andrew Cuomo or the state Board of Regents to, so I will. We also need a shout-out to thank their cooperating teachers and field supervisors who made their student teaching experience possible.

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In our final weekly seminar for student teachers we put edTPA behind us and discussed their answers to three questions. As a student teacher, what did you learn about teaching? What did you learn about your students? What did you learn about yourself? I thought their comments were insightful, worth jotting down, and with their permission, worth sharing with a wider audience. Hopefully it will contribute to a broader understanding of what it means to learn how to be a teacher.

Jen (Science): The key lesson for me during student teaching is that less is more. You have to teach within time constraints. I always over-planned materials for my lessons and did not leave enough time to recap and reinforce learning. I think I finally realized the importance of engagement. Lessons cannot just be about information. I had to find a way to connect what I was teaching to things they already knew. When we were studying rocks I made a lot of food analogies. Cream-filled cupcakes covered with chocolate look a little bit like the crust, magna, and core of the Earth. Students always wanted to know what was going to be on the test. That can't be the most important thing about learning.



Joe (Social Studies): I had a few big epiphanies. First, you must be systematic in planning and instruction. Second, you need to relax; lessons will never be perfect. Third, make your lessons into a story; they will make more sense to you and your students. Fourth, talk to students, learn about them, and include their interests in your lessons. Last, remember that students have much more going on in their lives than your class.

Diane (English): Some of the material we were reading can be upsetting to teens so we must make sure they experience school as a safe place. I tried to do this by finding ways to connect to them on a personal level. My students wanted a chance to speak about what they were thinking. An important part of teaching is stepping back to make space for the students. A big part of what I did was helping them to reflect on what they said and thought.

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Kris (Art): The #1 lesson I learned is that you have to tailor your lessons to the individual children in your class. One size does not fit all. One thing I stress with students is that while some people are born with talent, everyone can learn skills. Don't tell me you can't do something because you don't have talent. We can figure how to do it together. But you have to earn the skills. This is an important idea that children can learn in art and take with them to their other subjects.

Courtney (Science): Kris is right. There are skills students need to learn. But I soon realized that there are also skills teachers need to learn as well. I am still learning how to be organized. In teacher education classes we say students learn differently but when we get to classrooms we act like they are all the same and learn the same way which makes it so many do not learn at all. Our students learn from what we do, not from what we claim to believe. When teachers treat students one-way and expect them to learn as if they are all identical, we lose them.

Kan (Science): Teaching was much harder than I thought it would be. It takes commitment. You can't just skate by. I started out with lessons that were too teacher centered and didn't make sure to take the students with me. It helps when lessons are multi-dimensional. I also realized that being in the classroom as a teacher is very different from hypothetical discussions in teacher education seminars. I had to shift my mind-set.

Stephanie (English): I had no idea what teaching is really like until I actually began to teach. I discovered it is the most rewarding feeling when students understand something, make a connection, or are engaged because of something I said or did. The look on a student's face when they just got something, or earned a good grade after grappling with a difficult text or assignment, is priceless. As a student teacher I learned how important it is to relationships with students, taking the time to know who they are, what they stand for, and what they like, makes a world of a difference. Treating students like people and not like little kids helped create in them a sense of responsibility to meet expectations. But the key to teaching for me is preparation. Planning kept me organized and focused. It's hard to plan ahead when you're doing so many other things, but it's absolutely necessary. I tend to be a perfectionist. But teaching helped me realize I can't take the weight of the entire world on my shoulders. You must do the best you can, but that is all you can do.

Kimber (Social Studies): Some of the theories we learned in the teacher education program actually are relevant to the classroom. I know you can't reach every student, but I think we have a responsibility to give ever student a chance to succeed. I was surprised to discover that heterogeneous grouping actually worked. Stronger students helped weaker students and they learned better at the same time as they tutored and explained. Groups also freed me to move around the room more and work with students individually. I used groups a lot in my classes. I stopped just presenting content and concentrated more on interactive learning.

Scott (Social Studies): I taught in college for many years, but my high school students helped me to quickly realized I never learned how to teach. The key to a successful lesson was student activities and discussions, not what I said or did, although I did play a role. I always had to discovery what were the topics or issues in their lives that interest them and I had to figure out ways to connect what they were interested in to the lessons I was trying to teach.

Jess (Science): I agree with what Jen said about less being more. I was teaching inclusion classes and realized that I could not just move onto the next part of a lesson; there is never too much reinforcement. I also realized how much students like to talk about themselves. We need to connect their interests to the lessons, but we always must make space for their voices. Also, for me, learning new stuff as I prepared lessons is fun.

Chris (Social Studies): Teaching is much more difficult than I anticipated because I was often learning along with the class. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. But I discovered I could have fun with students. For me, management and preparation were the keys. I agree with Jess that student want to be heard and that lessons are most successful when they get to express their voice.

Nick (Social Studies): I always believed that we need to know history because the past influences the world we live in today. But just because I believe it doesn't mean my students automatically will or will be interested in what I planned for the lesson. They need to be engaged, to be convinced. I also realized that I would not be able to reach every student every day. They are individual human beings with a lot of other concerns, just like we are. Two other things. It is possible to be friendly without being a friend. They need me to be their teacher, not their friend. I also realized that a lesson is not a race to the end.

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Jeff (Social Studies): Lesson planning is annoying, but as Alan says, "Planning and structure give us the freedom to teach." I liked high school better than middle school because I had a greater ability to be flexible while teaching. Rigid is not my style. You have to prepare and also be flexible. One thing I constantly struggled with was figuring out what level of material was appropriate for the students in my classes.

Dwayne (Social Studies): Teaching five classes a day, five days a week, for an extended period of time, was more demanding than I ever anticipated or what most non-teachers realize. The job of the teacher extends far beyond the classroom. Successful teaching requires extensive planning. It is the advanced preparation that gives us the space and time in the classroom to be flexible and attentive while working with the students.

Michael (Social Studies): This semester was my second chance to student teacher because of medical issues the first time. I admit I was afraid at the start. I think my biggest lesson was that as a teacher you have to walk into the classroom prepared and with a positive attitude because our attitude rubs off on the students. I also learned the importance of staying with something even when it is difficult. I hope I can bring this lesson to my students.

Clarissa (Science): I learned that I can't assume my Blackness will automatically convince students to relate to me. I wasn't a positive role model just by showing up. I had to work hard, pay attention to them, and earn their respect. The students in my classes have a lot going on in their lives. I had to pay attention to them if I wanted them to pay attention to me. I also had to learn to treat them as individuals. Everybody is not the same. There is no magic sprinkle dust that turns you into a teacher. I had to focus on being consistent, on being structured, and on following through on the things I said. But most important, you can never give up on yourself or your students. I don't give up.
The forced resignation of Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu suggests only one thing--President Erdogan, who is totally absorbed by his lust for power, will tolerate no one in his government to deviate from any of his political positions. Prime Minister Davutoglu was no exception. Although the Turkish constitution grants the Prime Minister executive powers while leaving the role of the president largely ceremonial, this is not what Erdogan had in mind when he asked then-Foreign Minister Davutoglu to form a new government following the last election.

Erdogan's ambition and aggressive drive to spread his Islamic agenda are what has determined every political move he made. Seeking to constitutionally transfer the executive authority of the country to the Presidency is the final step to legally consolidate his power, albeit he was already exercising such power throughout his tenure as Prime Minister for eleven years.

For more than 15 years, Davutoglu served Erdogan with the utmost loyalty--first as his top foreign policy adviser, then his Foreign Minister, and for the past two years as his hand-picked Prime Minister.

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Erdogan chose Davutoglu for this post precisely because he expected him to continue to be his 'Yes man.' Being that as Prime Minister, Davutoglu would assume leadership of the AK Party, Erdogan expected him to push for the transformation of the largely ceremonial Presidency into the most powerful executive position in Turkey, which Davutoglu pursued in a lukewarm manner as this would constitutionally diminish his own powers considerably.

Not surprisingly, once Erdogan assumed the Presidency, he continued to chair cabinet meetings and even established a shadow cabinet with a handful of trusted advisors. He pointedly sidelined Davutoglu, who quietly resented Erdogan's usurpation of the role and responsibility of the prime minister as if nothing had changed.

The premiership became a ceremonial post and the ceremonial presidency became the all-powerful office without a formal constitutional amendment to legally grant him the absolute authority he is now exercising.

I have known Davutoglu from the time he was the chief advisor to Erdogan and I found him to be a man of integrity and vision, always a moderating force, and committed to making Turkey a stabilizing regional power and a significant player on the international scene.

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I had many opportunities to talk to Davutoglu face-to-face about Israeli-Turkish relations, as I was actively involved behind the scenes to mitigate their conflict in the wake of the Mavi Marmara incident.

On another occasion, I arranged for Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations to take place with Turkish mediation, not only because of its proximity and (at that time) good relations with both Syria and Israel, but also because I felt that Davutoglu would be the ideal interlocutor.

Moreover, by playing such a role, Davutoglu was also very consistent with his commitment to realize his political philosophy of having 'zero problems with neighbors', which initially led to Turkey's friendly and cooperative relations with most of its neighbors.

Erdogan's ambition to become the kingpin of the region through his brazen political approach, however, did nothing but create problems with every neighboring country. A former top Turkish official told me that had Davutoglu been given the flexibility to carry out his foreign policy vision, Turkey's regional standing would be completely different today.

During the past two years, however, several conflicts between the two began to surface. Whereas Davutoglu sought to renew the peace negotiations with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the search for a solution, Erdogan not only refused but vowed to wage war until the last PKK rebel is killed.

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In addition, although Davutoglu said nothing publicly about Erdogan's systematic attack on the free press, the jailing of journalists, and human rights violations, he disagreed with these unlawful measures and failed in his efforts to quietly persuade his boss to ease the pressure on the press.

Erdogan's insistence on silencing any criticism and the constant chipping away of what is left of Turkey's democracy has basically sealed off (contrary to what is being said publicly) any prospect for Turkey to become an EU member, which Davutoglu sought to realize with zeal.

On top of all that, Erdogan is now seeking to strip Kurdish lawmakers of their political immunity to make it possible to charge them with being aligned with the PKK who are fighting for semi-autonomous rule, to which Davutoglu surreptitiously objected. It is now being left to the next prime minister to engineer this unlawful scheme to meet Erdogan's draconian will.

Finally, while Davutoglu was busy in his effort to achieve an agreement with the EU to take back illegal migrants in exchange for visa-free entry for Turkish nationals to the Schengen region, Erdogan publicly belittled Davutoglu's efforts to deprive him of any political gains that he could derive from his success.

The leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, condemned the way Davutoglu was forced out, stating that "Davutoglu's resignation should not be perceived as an integral party issue. All democracy supporters must resist this palace coup."

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Interestingly enough, in what was seen as a farewell speech to the parliament, Davutoglu stated that "No one has ever heard a word against our president from my mouth, my tongue, my mind--and no one will."

To me and many other observers, Davutoglu's words expressed the precise opposite of what he appeared to be saying: that Erdogan is beyond criticism. There was no better diplomatic way of putting it lest he be accused by Erdogan of treason, as customarily befalls anyone who opposes his political positions on any issue.

Due to the turmoil throughout the Middle East, the influx of millions of Syrian refugees and the battle against ISIS, Turkey's role has become increasingly important.

Although the United States and the EU have grown weary of Erdogan's absurd conduct, they feel compelled to deal with him, however distasteful that might be. Leave it, of course, to Erdogan to drain every ounce of blood from Western powers to serve his personal agenda.

When the constitution is used as a tool for power grabbing, when conspiracy theories justify a cruel witch-hunt, when people are terrified to speak publicly about politics, when journalists are detained without trial, when the academic community is regularly attacked, when human rights are grossly violated, and when democratic principles are trampled upon, this is not a mere travesty for Turkey, it is a tragedy.

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With the departure of Davutoglu, and a rubber stamp AK Party, Turkey has become a de facto dictatorship, and there is now no one to stand in Erdogan's way.

It is a sad day for the Turkish people, as the country is now governed by a ruthless dictator with no checks and balances, no accountability, and with no prospect of any change for the better as long as Erdogan remains in power.

The Turkish people should once again take to the streets but this time around they should remain persistent until Erdogan relents or resigns.
Are American national interests in the Middle East better off today than they were over seven years ago when Mr. Obama became President? It depends whether you ask Benjamin Rhodes, President Obama's Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications (a.k.a. Obama's "Tonto" on all things Middle East). According to Rhodes, the world of the Sunni Arabs has collapsed and it's time to move on and disengage from the Middle East. Add Israel to that list. Check.

Mr. Rhodes' simpleton view is an opinion shared by an extremely small cadre of White House staff and those who intentionally or inadvertently drank from Mr. Rhodes firehose. The rest of the world, according to Mr. Rhodes, is just too dumb to know any better.

Mr. Rhodes had plenty of practice writing Middle East fiction to prepare for his career as a budding novelist. After all, he boasts single-handed credit in an extraordinarily revealing New York Times Magazine article on May 8th for intentionally deceiving our allies, members of Congress, journalists, and, ultimately the American people, whom he brags were duped by a White House campaign to market the Iran nuclear agreement under false pretenses. In the process his swaggering revelations have unfairly tarnished the reputations of several highly respected and totally credible journalists.

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It is a remarkable amount of unbridled chutzpah. Mr. Rhodes seems to not care one iota about those he harmed in his selfish flights of braggadocio.

One also must wonder, if Mr. Rhodes cared so much for his handiwork and Mr. Obama's legacy, why spill his embarrassing beans now? What could the President gain by having his closest Middle East advisor try to make everyone outside the West Wing out to look like a bunch of fools misled down the primrose path orchestrated by spinmeister Rhodes? Did Mr. Obama really need more ammunition to feed to his Middle East foreign policy critics? It was a disservice to the nation and to Mr. Obama's need to focus on the real world challenges in the region.

Not surprisingly, the NY Times article has kicked up quite the kerfuffle inside the Beltway. After all, even the author of the piece, David Samuels, is in wonderment how a 31 year old speechwriter with zero foreign policy schooling who latched on to the 2008 campaign as a junior speechwriter became Mr. Obama's Secretary of State for the Middle East?

"His (Rhodes') lack of conventional-real world experience of the kind that

normally precedes responsibility for the fate of nations - like military or

Diplomatic service, or even a master's degree in international relations, rather than

creative writing - is still startling!"

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That finding is Exhibit A or perhaps B for the average American who puzzles what lies behind the missteps and faltering Middle East policies that Mr. Obama seems constantly having to bail out what he himself created. We now know more why.

Effective foreign policy always/always starts by consulting with a wide range of credible experts attuned to national interests, not speechwriters channeling unbridled pie-in-the-sky prose masquerading as strategic policy, no matter the consequence to national security.

Mr. Obama elected to freeze out the "Blob" (Rhodes' derogatory moniker for the Democratic or Republican foreign policy establishment) time and again and surround himself with "Obama legacy first"; national interest second" national security advisers. They have earned the reputation they deserve, and Mr. Rhodes did little to make his colleagues look good in the bargain.

I, for one, want to thank Mr. Rhodes for partaking with abandon in this expose. He has performed a national service.



So, my quarrel has less to do with his delight resorting to fiction to spin the sale of the Iran nuclear deal. Rather, it has to do with his (and his boss') singular determination to hand the keys to the Middle East to the Ayatollah and "disengage" from the ties that have "tied down" the U.S. in the region -- U.S. interests be damned.

The policy narrative Mr. Rhodes spun in the speeches for Mr. Obama exposes how the missteps-by-missteps to follow that disengagement yellow brick road contributed mightily to the erosion of U.S. national interests.

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Step 1, withdraw troops from Iraq and give the good housekeeping seal to then PM Nuri al-Maliki - never mind that Mr. Maliki - an Iranian pawn single-handedly stoked the flames of sectarian war engulfing Iraq.



Step 2, toss overboard Hosni Mubarak of Egypt as the Arab Spring washed across the Nile. Never mind that it would lead to a takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood - Mubarak was seen as a burden in the grand design and Ms. Rice loves democracy -- even if it produces an American and israeli adversary.



Step 3, open up a secret negotiating channel while the notorious Iranian Ahmadinejad was still in power. Never mind that we did not inform our closest allies who were misled to believe that the channel only opened following the election of Mr. Rouhani. Chalk up another hit on American credibility.

Step 4, declare Bashar-al Assad has to go. Never mind when it came to back that declaration up, oops! What red line? After all goes the spin, Assad was prevented from using his chemical weapons. See how that helped the Syrian people?

Step 5. Belittle the threat of ISIS. How inconvenient ISIS became to Mr. Rhodes. ISIS suddenly emerges as an unexpected diversion from the White House master disengagement plan. Mr. Rhodes serves up to Mr. Obama a tidy refrain that ISIS is just a jayvee squad. Dollop up bite-sized anti-ISIS efforts to keep the critics at bay. Four years after ISIS seized Raqqa and Mosul and slaughtered hundreds of thousands, the American people are vesting their fear in a Donald Trump to do the job Mr. Obama pledged to lead from the front - but that would run up against the master plan.

Step 6, "lead from behind" in Libya (Mr. Rhodes' own words), and after his Qadaffi's demise, bellow a hearty "salaam aleikum" to the Libyan people. After all, ensuring Libya would not become a failed state rampant with ISIS operatives was not part of the White House master Middle East disengagement game plan.

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Step 7, the piece de resistance, an Iran nuclear agreement that greased the skids for that U.S. -Iran transition away from Sunnis states. Never mind that it was not accompanied by a regional strategy to prevent Iran and Russia from running roughshod over our vital interests in the region and unleash a torrent of Iranian chicanery in Yemen, missile testing, and a surge of support for Hamas and Hezbollah.

Step 8, dispatch the all-essential U.S. - Israeli alliance into a death spiral fueled by personal vendettas. It is not lost that Mr. Rhodes that was the likely source of most of the insults against Mr. Netanyahu from "senior White House officials (yes, Mr. Netanyahu instigated much of this). So much for thoughtful, mature national security policy. As the New York Times article asserted, Mr. Rhodes considered U.S. ties to Israel an impediment to his grand disengagement designs.

When all of this chicanery is measured against current Administration policy toward Sunni Arab states and Israel, White House policy amounts to leaving behind torrents of weapons for Israel and Arab states to defend themselves against ISIS and Iran, with the U.S. exiting stage left. It smacks of leaving the leftover pot roast hoping it's is enough to keep the beggars at bay.

Admittedly, it is unfair to lay at Mr. Rhodes' doorstep all that Mr. Obama has wrought upon himself. The buck ultimately stops at the Oval Office.

I, too, share President Obama's and Mr. Rhodes' desire to avoid trapping the U.S. in yet another ground war in the Middle East. I have been against more U.S. ground forces anywhere in the region. But fundamentally, we have really one major strategic interest compelling active U.S. engagement - defeating ISIS. Yet neither gentleman has been willing to entertain even one credible idea from the "Blob" to enable the development of a strategic vision and accompanying policy to prevent Middle East events from stealing the dream. In Mr. Rhodes' opinion, we are all just morons and it is only he and his cadre of true believers who are smart enough to see over the horizon.

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How ironic then that on Mr. Rhodes' watch the U.S. is now deeply enmeshed in Yemen for no good strategic reason other than placating the Saudis in their proxy war against Iran. That there are over 5,000 American military "boots on the ground" in Iraq and Syria, and the number inevitably is going to shoot up even though White House policy is to toss the hot potato to the next president. Or that the White House is being dragged into an ISIS-stoked Libyan civil war - which the President acknowledged to Jeffrey Goldberg in the April 2016 edition of The Atlantic was his foremost foreign policy failure. Why? Because aiding Libya after Qadaffi's fall did not fit into the Obama-Rhodes master Middle East disengagement plan. And I have not even referenced the dangerous situation in Afghanistan.

All of this amounts, as Kori Shake wrote in Defense One on March 14, 2015, to "strategic incoherence" - a disconnect between the actual threat and the means Mr. Obama was willing to commit, in the cause of Rhodes' vision - to counter it.

The American people deserve a Middle East policy that is transparent, understood, and under-girded by an over-arching policy to contain the threat to our homeland from terrorism. America's valiant sons and daughters have been lost and injured in wars that defy the purpose for which they volunteered to serve and those sacrifices deserve a better response and a better policy.

We have very limited national security interests in the Middle East and it is time they be spelled out. The convulsions ripping artificial colonial borders apart, stoking a once in a millennium Sunni-Shiite theological war, and destroying the fabric of Arab societies are titanic challenges that are not ours to resolve. But we simply cannot turn our back on the limited vital interests we have there merely to appease a naive dream which leaves behind a greater burden for subsequent Administrations to shoulder.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Eagle Academy Foundationas annual fundraising breakfast in New York City, April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Hillary Clinton's "woman's card" campaign strategy is demeaning to women. She exploits grievance and group-think identity politics to serve her personal and political agendas and sometimes to shield herself from appropriate scrutiny. Not even Nancy Pelosi or Dianne Feinstein focuses on "gender" as cynically as she does.

She seems to assume she speaks for all women. But women, like men, hold diverse opinions. In fact, the views of many of us are completely at odds with hers.

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For example, most women yearn for peace and stability. They are not enamored of costly wars that put loved ones at risk while doing nothing to enhance security. For all of our recent military involvements abroad, we do not regard ourselves as more secure.

Hillary thinks women care only about "women's issues" and are not particularly interested in tax rates, the national debt, fair trade, foreign policy- and accountability from public figures--but she is wrong.

Many women--as well as men-- consider Hillary's leading role in the Benghazi debacle evidence of her poor judgment. According to Obama's ex-secretary of defense, Robert Gates, Hillary, as secretary of state, pushed a reluctant Obama to bomb Libya. She seemed to take pleasure in the death of Libyan head of state, Muammar Gadaffi, boasting, "We came, we saw, he died," a quip I find somewhat unseemly in a US Secretary of State.

NATO, at Hillary's instigation, bombed Libya to rubble. Thousands were forced to flee for their lives across the Mediterranean to Italy. Meanwhile, Libya has become ISIS's most important stronghold outside of Syria and Iraq.

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In addition to the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have already entered Europe, French defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian recently estimated there are 800,000 more people waiting to cross over from Libya to Europe right now.

Did Hillary not foresee these disasters when she insisted that Obama approve the bombing of Libya? Did she not understand that jihadi ideology would find fertile ground where people are desperate and have no place to go because their homes and infrastructure have been destroyed?

Although she was responsible for the security of US diplomatic installations and personnel abroad, she allowed our consulate in Benghazi to remain open in an environment so lethal that the British and even the International Committee of the Red Cross pulled out. Her bad judgment resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the US ambassador. Her "what difference, at this point, does it make" testimony at the ensuing congressional hearings into Benghazi showed a shocking disregard of her responsibilities to the deceased and misreading of the gravity of what had taken place.

Carly Fiorina was crucified by the media earlier this year for her performance as CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Where are their questions about Hillary's role in a larger calamity, which, in addition to causing thousands of deaths and waves of desperate refugees, has imperiled the peace, prosperity, domestic tranquility and cultural cohesion of our European allies?

The media have given Hillary a free ride. Whereas she had the good grace to apologize for her misguided vote in favor of the Iraq War, she has yet to apologize for her gross personal failings in Libya.

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Hillary, who makes much of her experience as America's former top diplomat, has likened Russian president Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler. Apart from the merits of the statement, it does raise questions about her diplomatic temperament (or lack thereof).

She advocated the enforcement of a "no fly zone" over Syria - an almost certain way to provoke a confrontation with the Russian air force that could spiral into a nuclear World War III. Has she considered the potentially catastrophic consequences of such a policy? Even Maureen Dowd of The New York Times labels her a "hawk." Sometimes hawkishness is called for, but in view of our nation's war weariness, our stagnant economy, unsustainable debt, and, as Obama says, "systemic neglect" of infrastructure in places like Flint, Michigan, further risky American interventions should be avoided using all tools of statecraft.

In a major foreign policy address delivered recently, Donald Trump called for peace through strength, i.e., strong military preparedness. He said the US should quit engaging in nation-building exercises and focus on "creating stability" instead. He called for shoring up relations with old friends (Europe and Israel, for example), while seeking "common ground based on shared interests" with Russia and China, which are not "bound to be adversaries." This is an approach many Americans and many American women will respond to.

What is needed is a serious examination of Hillary's aggressively interventionist foreign policy record without the distraction of endless gender advocacy.

Citing Hillary's very clear demonstration of significant ineptitude in her diplomatic role, Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton is "not qualified to be president." Based on her record, I believe he is right.

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We seem to have become a bit unclear about how we want politics to shape the pressing social concerns of our time. We are convinced that our way of life, going back to Rome and Greece before Christ, to the very cradles of Western civilisation, is what has brought humanity to the astonishing heights it can dare to gaze down from today. Our values of freedom and egalitarianism have ensured that as a species, humans could make regular, meaningful progress over the centuries; after all, there's a reason why they're called progressive values.

In the bleak, wretched societies of the Islamic State, we recognise the aimlessly wandering European of the Dark Ages, fraught with hopeless superstition, driven by fear and ignorance, and consumed by power and authority. We see the women buried up to their necks in sand and pelted with rocks for "offences" such as talking to men who weren't blood relatives, and recall how, a little over 200 years ago, women in Western Europe, that bastion of enlightenment today, were burned at the stake for crimes such as witchcraft and sorcery. We moved away from those cheerless times, realising we must never, ever look back. And we didn't, right up till now.

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The cornerstone of our movement towards civilisation is our recognition of the disgraceful way women have been treated throughout history, and our attempts to remedy that has been arguably the biggest success story in the history of civilisation. However, now that women can work, vote, choose their partners and have a say in their reproductive cycles, complacency seems to have set in. There's a belief that we've reached our destination, simply because we're on the right track.

And yet, those on the political spectrum most vociferously and vocally opposed to the barbarities of societies who treat women like livestock, and most convinced of Western superiority, also appear to be the ones least willing to remove all roadblocks to let women achieve true equality. They effectively deprive their societies the plentiful benefits full female participation can help bring.

It is at work that the gender divide is most keenly felt. According to the World Development Report, female employees, even in high-income OECD countries, are more likely to work in temporary and part-time jobs, less likely to be promoted, and concentrated in occupations and sectors with low barriers to entry. They are not as well remunerated for the same amount of work, and because of gender-specific societal constraints, far less likely to be seen in leadership positions than would be representative. (Only 22 of Fortune 500 CEOs are female, which comes up to about 4.4%.) In addition, women and girls do the overwhelming majority of housework such as cooking and cleaning, all of which is usually unpaid, and not recorded in any GDP statistics.

It isn't simply enough to congratulate ourselves on our progress while at the same time stymying efforts to take it to its logical conclusion. It isn't gallant to pull out a chair or hold open a door for a woman, if at the workplace, the woman would never be allowed to occupy that chair - particularly if it were a prestigious one - and would instead have the door slammed in her face because it 'wasn't the sort of work' a woman was fit to do.

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Source: The Huffington Post

Leaving women in the cold deprives them of their right to be given the same opportunities as their male counterparts in many walks of life, most noticeably on the career ladder. This doesn't, of course, mean we should ensure half of the engineers in the world are women, or half the doctors, or indeed half the CEO's, because that would artificially peg a number to a profession in a superficial nod to equality. Equality has to happen right across the board, in all walks of life, from bottom to top. This is why Hilary Clinton becoming president doesn't mean the goal of perfect equality has been achieved any more than Obama's presidency heralded the end of racial discrimination in America. After all, Pakistan elected its first female Prime Minister 28 years ago (the first Muslim country to do so) and yet few point to that country as an example of progress on women's rights.

Part of it has to come from women themselves. The feminist movement would never have been achieved solely by theoretical, academic discussions at universities, important as they surely are. It came about due to the thousands of courageous women who were beaten, humiliated, thrown in jail, killed, and yet refused to settle for the raw deal they had been offered for time immemorial. Women must place a higher value on what they have to offer, not accept seven tenths, or whatever the fraction is, for the same work, or self-censor because it's easier than standing up for their rights and dignity. If that sounds scary, they are fortunate to be able to choose from a litany of powerful stories about their fellows across history, and more pertinently, across the globe today, for whom no amount of oppression and abuse is as frightening as the idea of a world where their counterparts are deemed inferior. In the West, we are fortunate that the struggle for equality doesn't often bring with it the possibility of such stark consequences, and thus there really is no excuse to stop now the goal is so tantalisingly close. Why should the ones demanding equality, with logic and morality on their side, be the ones called strident, instead of those who wish to deny them that right?

The human race would be a shadow of what it is today without the contributions of women. If we are to continue moving forward, we must ensure that equality for half the human race is not an issue that is in any way negotiable. The absence of women from high-profile jobs in any workplace is most certainly their loss, but if we come to consider it acceptable and normal, it becomes ours too. The injustice is so brazen we can see it from our windows. We must walk over to our doors and hold them ajar.

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Journalist Danyal Rasool contributed to the writing, editing, and publishing of this piece.
Some of the worst-performing schools in America have been turned around by an arts program mobilizing stars like Elton John, Yo Yo Ma and Cameron Diaz to help failing pupils.

What makes the program unusual, rather than just an exercise in celebrity, is that it has used the arts throughout the curriculum as not just a pleasant add-on, but as a means of driving achievement in the core subjects. An independent study of the schools' results showed a 23% increase in maths scores and a 13% improvement in reading in only three years.

The arts are not just a flower, they're a wrench

A huge leap in themselves, those results also far outpace those for schools spending comparable amounts of money, but not using it for the arts. Rachel Goslins, the public servant who set it up, says: 'Our motto is that the arts are not just a flower, they're a wrench.'

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This arts-centred approach presents a stark contrast to the widespread teaching philosophy known as 'drill and kill', which tries to scrape out a minimum result for the worst-performing pupils with highly regimented, repetitive rote learning.



Turnaround pupils parade through their neighbourhood in New Orleans

The program, called Turnaround: Arts, was set up by Barack Obama's Presidential Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2012. It is 70% funded by private business and philanthropic foundations, with a budget of only around $2.5million. It works in 49 schools drawn from the lowest 5% in the US.

In these chronically floundering institutions, where waves of reform have come and gone in vain, the megawattage of stardom is used to try and shock pupils, teachers and parents into believing that, this time, something really is about to change.

The actors and musicians help direct school plays, give acting classes, talk to carers about their problems and pre-record phone calls inviting parents to parent-teacher evenings. Adopting a particular school, many of the stars have built up deep relationships with them since the program began.

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We don't have metrics for joy

Ms Goslins emphasises that turning around a failing school is as much about reinvigorating demoralised teachers and remaking institutional culture as it is about directly academic intervention. She says, 'There are some things we can't measure. We don't have metrics for creativity, we don't have metrics for joy.'

That capacity for creating joy can be harnessed for demonstrable academic improvement. In a school play, for example, the parents who tend not to participate in their children's education are targeted for costume committees; children with behavioral problems are cast in the lead parts and the whole performance is used as a means of bringing the wider community inside the school. The results show that engagement leads to better attendance and better grades.



Megan Beyer, Executive Director of the President's Committee, dances with school pupils

But it's not all greasepaint and stardust. This is the high-profile end of a thoroughgoing integration of the arts - such as music, dance or storytelling - into the teaching of other subjects. The furthest extreme might be a hip-hop-physics dance class where the teacher leads a call-and-response set of questions about the scientific principles underlying the dance: 'What do we use to get into the turn?' - 'Momentum!'

At a more sedate level, it means using movement, the senses and the arts' communicative power to get through to the hardest-to-reach pupils. Those could be children with special needs, with English as a second language, or simply those who have been turned in on themselves by an environment of poverty and low expectation.

Without the arts, you can't complete an education

To make this possible, the program trains teachers in these techniques, while bringing in partner organisations to provide materials. Crayola gives each school art supplies worth $10,000; the NAMM foundation supplies musical instruments; the rights agency Music Theatre International has turned over free licences to its musicals in perpetuity.

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But despite the impressive academic results, the scheme's proponents argue that its real value is far more profound. "We've got the data for the people with the purse strings, but without the arts you can't complete an education, you can't complete a person. We aren't making artists, we're making neighbours, citizens," says Alfre Woodard, the Oscar-nominated 12 Years A Slave actress, who has been involved with the program since the beginning.



Alfre Woodard with pupils at a Turnaround school in New Orleans



At the schools she has adopted, Ms. Woodard teaches drama classes for children closed off by trauma, poverty and violence. "It's not teaching acting, it's unlearning, unravelling the armour we all start to put on from childhood. It's stripping that away to get to the natural person who expresses who they are already, as human beings unencumbered."

The programme, however, will have to adapt to survive. Because it was set up by appointees of outgoing president Barack Obama, there is a danger that it would fall victim to the change of administration. Its supporters are presently trying to institutionalise it and so allow to it carry on.

And although the programme's many partisans are careful always to frame their work in the indisputable terms of maths, reading and attendance, Ms. Woodard perhaps expresses best why they are so determined to see it continue: 'We do it because all of us artists know that the arts change lives. Not that they made us rich and famous, but that they gave us a place in a world, somewhere we felt we had a value and could give something, they gave us a language. The artists, too, walk away deeper. It changes us too.'
Voter Registration Application for presidential election 2016

Sunday was a special day. Not only did we have the opportunity to celebrate the incredible, hardworking mothers and women in our lives, but, in a small town in South Carolina, a community gathered in an open field to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Fifty years ago on May 8, 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. visited the small, rural town of Kingstree, SC to deliver an extremely important message. It was his "March on Ballot Boxes" speech and it was one of only a few speeches he would ever give in the Palmetto State.

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In his speech, he called on all citizens to exercise their right to vote -- and to use that power as a way to bring about positive change in the community. His words of encouragement gave African Americans the confidence they needed to claim their birthright and make their voices heard.

To commemorate this historical event, the town of Kingstree, SC and Williamsburg County came together to host a 50th Anniversary celebration this past weekend at the same location that the original speech was given so many years ago.

The event included a viewing of the original speech as well as a historical marker unveiling. This special gesture allows for his transformative message to stand tall in Kingstree for generations to come.

Hundreds came out to celebrate Dr. King's legacy and reflect on his message and the current state of unrest that is happening in our country. His empowering speech hits close to home for me especially, as I continue to fight for equality for all, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status.

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During this critical political election, where every vote is worth more than it has ever been worth before, it is extremely crucial for us to take his words to heart.

Now is our opportunity to rise up against those who are fueled by hatred and bigotry. We must rise up in defense of minorities. We must rise up in defense of those less fortunate. We must rise up and show that our collective voice is stronger and more powerful than any one hate-filled individual.

So today, I encourage you to vote. Let us come together this election year to prove that our country believes in protecting the rights and freedoms of all of our citizens. Let us show Dr. King that when he visited Kingstree 50 years ago to empower citizens to vote, that he did not do so in vain.

In the words of Dr. King, "let us march on ballot boxes...so men and women will no longer walk the streets in search for jobs that do not exist...Let us march on ballot boxes until brotherhood is more than a meaningless word at the end of a prayer, but the first order of business on every legislative agenda...Let us march on ballot boxes until we are able to send to the statehouses of the South men who will do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God. Let us march on ballot boxes."

If Dr. King's "March on Ballot Boxes" speech has taught us anything, it is that we cannot afford to be complacent. We must do everything within our power to push for progress in our community. We must ensure that our voices are heard -- and that our voices will drown out those who strive to reverse the social advancements we have fought so hard to achieve.
Jointly written by: David Jacobson, Democratic Strategist and Campaign Consultant at the firm Shallman Communication, Huffington Post Blogger and Television Political Analyst and Areva Martin, Esq.

* * * * *

It's roll-your-eyes, pie-in-the sky fantasy talk, but that doesn't stop the Republican presumptive nominee, billionaire Donald Trump, from prophesies about it.

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We're talking about how Trump dubs himself "a unifier," when such preposterous claims stand in stark contrast with the divisive campaign he's built throughout the primary process.

As it's been laboriously chronicled, Trump's reality show antics, bellicosity, and penchant for racist and misogynistic remarks have not only alienated key voting blocks, including women, African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, and America's allies, but has cast serious doubt on whether even a traditional move to the center could reverse a fraction of the damage he exacted over the last 12 months.

Now as he attempts to reinvigorate his campaign for the upcoming fall election, Trump has changed his tune. He knows he can't win the presidency without consolidating the GOP base, but also because the reality of the general election map for any GOP nominee, let alone someone like Trump, is bleak.

If every one of the 18 states plus Washington, D.C. that went blue in six of the last six presidential elections continues its trend into 2016, Trump's likely Democratic competitor, Hillary Clinton, will start off with around 242 electoral college votes--just 28 shy of what she'll need to become America's 45th President.

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Short of Trump revolutionizing the electoral map, he's bound for failure.

That's why Trump is now striving to foreshadow an alternate universe where he metamorphoses the electoral map. He's forewarning of a fall election where new voters, Reagan Democrats, Independents, stalwart Republicans, Tea Partiers, conservatives, evangelicals, young people, Bernie Sanders' supporters, and others join forces to build an unprecedented coalition that propels him to the White House.

Part of Trump's argument is that his populist narrative of castigating free-trade agreements, his pursuit of an isolationist 'America First' foreign policy agenda and his anti-establishment tirades will resonate in non-traditional Republican states. Such messaging has raised questions among the GOP elite about whether, ideologically, Trump is even a "true" Republican. Trump's campaign, however, freely bucks the elitists in the Republican Party and boldly attests that this messaging creates an opportunity for him to win traditionally safe blue rust-belt states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in the general election.

Trump's challenge is that the math and current polling data paint quite a different picture than his delusionary universe where pigs fly and unicorns grace the Earth with their presence.

First of all, women, who made up a sizable 53 percent majority of the 2012 electorate, overwhelmingly have a negative opinion of Donald Trump. In fact, 75 percent of women have an unfavorable view of him. Trump's numbers among minorities are even worse, and if current polling trends hold, it's plausible that he could fare far worse than Mitt Romney did against President Barack Obama in 2012 with African Americans and Latino voters.

In the 2012 election, Obama crushed Romney in electoral college votes, 332 to 206. Obama bested Romney among women voters by a jaw-dropping 12 points. African Americans sided with Obama by 93 percent and Latinos did by 71 percent.

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And in the rust-belt states primaries of Pennsylvania and Michigan, Clinton got more votes than Trump in both states, even in Michigan where she lost to Sanders.

Beyond Clinton starting with a considerable advantage among states that went blue in six of the last six general elections, Trump's awful poll numbers among women, African Americans, Latinos and even Independents and some Republicans have for sure revolutionized the electoral college map--but not in his favor.

States that historically have gone red more often than not are now all of a sudden in play for Clinton.

In the South, red states like Georgia where Romney beat Obama by nearly eight points, Trump is only ahead by one, putting Clinton in clear striking distance. North Carolina, which Obama won in 2008 and lost in 2012 and which was a red state since after the 1976 election, has Clinton leading Trump by a substantial nine points. In Virginia, which besides for Obama's elections has gone red since 1968, Clinton is leading by double digits.

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In the West, according to Real Clear Politics, Clinton is ahead of Trump by two points in Utah, a state that's voted red since 1968. She's also leading Trump in Arizona, which besides 1996, has gone red since 1952. And in the Midwestern state of Missouri, which besides 1992 and 1996, has gone red dating back to 1968, Clinton is also besting Trump.

Altogether these demographics, latest polling and the historical electoral map point to the reality that Donald Trump is right about one thing-- he has truly woken up the 'silent majority.' His problem isn't whether or not he's right about that, but rather that he woke it up against his own self-interest.
This week at The Pollination Project, we recognize six individuals from across the globe who are working towards shedding light on worldly troubles and tribulations that have existed for years. In East Africa, youth unemployment is addressed through sustainable methods. In Mexico, the voices of the unheard are highlighted through art. United together with seed grants, these grantees are committed to change.

We wish our six newest recipients big congratulations!

Nicholas Kithinji Gitari and Patricia Wambui Njogu, Vijana na Kazi Project (Youth Job Creation Project), Kirinyaga, Kenya. Youth receive training in ceramic tiles to make wall plaques for income while addressing sustainable material options.

Sofie De Wulf, More Than 43, Mexico City, Mexico. An art exhibit and tour will provide viewers with insight to the over 22,000 uninvestigated disappearances of missing people.

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Sonya Passi, FreeFrom, Los Angeles, California, USA. Domestic violence survivors are supported through entrepreneurial opportunities and upholding their abusers financially accountable.

Barbara E. Auerbach and Cyndy Wuoltee, Growing Pains, Fort Bragg, California, USA. Individuals with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities are exposed to horse riding for therapeutic purposes.

Brenda Yancor, Los Angeles Rooted: Queer, Trans, People of Color Bicycle Tour, Baja, California, USA. Transformative summer programs give youth, women, queer, trans and people of color to create a bicycle-touring library.

Elizabeth Peacock and Patricia Shafer, NewGen Peacebuilders, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Young people are equipped with the knowledge and reasoning behind conflict and inspired to imagine innovative solutions.

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Co-authored by Dr. Mario Raviglione, DirectorWorld Health Organization Global TB Program

Photo Credit: Two MDR TB patients in Nigeria, Courtesy of FHI for USAIDImagine an airborne disease that can be fatal if not treated, and curable only with a treatment of more than 14,000 pills and painful injections. Imagine having to stay on this treatment for two years or longer, with debilitating side effects of nausea, vomiting, hearing or visual loss and possible depression with suicidal thoughts. All this, while putting your loved ones, co-workers, friends, and others at risk of contracting the same deadly disease if you interrupt and do not finish your treatment.

Unfathomable? This is the current plight of almost half a million men, women and children who develop multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) each year. And yet, those MDR-TB patients detected and put on treatment are the "lucky" ones who have a chance of being cured. Globally, three out of four patients with MDR-TB do not even reach the starting point of this arduous journey, based on recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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It should not be a surprise that the long treatment journey for MDR-TB makes it difficult for patients to continue to successful completion. One in five patients currently interrupts their treatment or are lost to follow up in health services, while for one in ten patients treatment fails. The high cost of MDR-TB medicines also means that resources are stretched, and too little investment goes to patient support systems and care givers. On average, only 50 percent of those who start on MDR-TB medicines successfully complete their treatment, and 16 percent lose their lives to a disease that is preventable by curing TB patients without drug resistance the first time around. Yet, this bleak journey does not have to be the future for people ill with MDR-TB. Today, two new recommendations from WHO offer hope. The first, on a shorter treatment regimen for MDR-TB patients, and the second, on a rapid diagnostic to guide its use. These recommendations can be lifesaving to the majority of MDR-TB patients globally.

The new recommendations on the shorter regimen are possible thanks to results from operational research studies conducted by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and by Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Results demonstrated that treatment duration and medicine costs can be cut in half without compromising survival of the patient. For many patients, this makes the difference between life and death and the avoidance of financial hardship. This also implies more resources will be globally available for the prevention and care of MDR-TB. However, prescribing the regimen to MDR-TB patients who have additional resistance to fluororquinolones or injectables carries grave risks, and may lead to the development of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB).

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To address this concern, and quickly determine which MDR-TB patients are eligible for the shorter regimen, a novel and rapid commercial molecular diagnostic test (MTBDRsl) is now being recommended by WHO for use in national TB reference laboratories. This test will be able to detect resistance to fluoroquinolones and injectable drugs. Results will be available in 24-48 hours down from the three months, or longer currently required.

An additional benefit of implementing the MTBDRsl test is that newer drugs such as delamanid or bedaquiline can potentially be prescribed at the start of conventional longer regimens and thus lead to higher cure rates. Nevertheless, no data are available on the use of these new drugs in shorter MDR-TB regimens and WHO does not recommend this or their use together at this point. The positive implications of these two innovations are manifold. First, they will greatly benefit patients with MDR-TB, who often face high costs related to diagnosis and treatment. Many such patients lose their jobs, which mean a loss of income for themselves and their families. The economic repercussions are catastrophic, especially when the patient is the breadwinner of the family. However, the implementation of these new recommendations may take time and present some challenges at country level. WHO and USAID are working closely with technical and funding partners to ensure adequate resources and support for the uptake of the rapid test and shorter, cheaper regimen in countries.

Prevention of MDR-TB through proper care and treatment of drug-susceptible TB is the first priority; quick identification of those with MDR-TB (using a rapid test for rifampicin resistance as a reliable proxy) is a next critical step. Expansion of rapid rifampicin resistance testing would greatly reduce delays in MDR-TB diagnosis and access to treatment. Second, cost-savings from the shorter MDR-TB regimen would enable many more patients to be tested and treated, while lowering the burden for monitoring of MDR-TB treatment on health systems and health workers.

Where to next? USAID is currently supporting a randomized controlled trial by the International Union against TB and Lung Disease in five sites to assess the utility of shorter MDR-TB regimens and evaluating the efficacy, safety and benefits of including the two new drugs, bedaquiline and delamanid, in such regimens. Results are expected in 2020.

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In addition, USAID is supporting the implementation of the White House National Action Plan for Combating MDR-TB (NAP), released late 2015. The plan identifies a set of targeted interventions that address the core domestic and global challenges posed by X/MDR-TB. These interventions represent the U.S. Government's contributions to reversing the worldwide spread of MDR-TB and can help inform policy development processes around the world. The NAP is an effort to articulate a comprehensive strategy, and to mobilize political will and additional financial and in-kind commitments from bilateral and multilateral donor partners, private-sector partners, and governments of all affected countries to increase their support to prevent the spread of more expensive and dangerous forms of XDR-TB.

With the breakthroughs of a rapid test for second-line drug resistance and a shorter, more effective, regimen, we may be at a turning point in our efforts to tackle drug-resistant forms of TB. Yet, MDR-TB remains a public health crisis, and we still have a long way to go. Most pressing is the need for rapid diagnostics closer to the point of care, shorter regimens and new drugs to treat the disease. While countries implement these new recommendations, research towards ultra-short regimens, such as those under trial by the TB Alliance and those supported by UNITAID, need to continue without distraction.

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill,

This is not the end of the war, it is not even the beginning of the end, it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
Officially, the killing of Osama bin Laden went down like this:

In the early morning of May 2, 2011, a team of US Navy SEALS flew from Afghanistan to Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. One of their Black Hawk helicopters crashed on the grounds of the compound during landing. The SEALS scaled three outer walls to reach the main building, where they found bin Laden and his wife on the second floor. The team shot bin Laden twice, killing him. Three other men and a woman at the compound were also killed during the operation. It was all over within minutes.

Following the shooting, the SEAL team left with bin Laden's body, which was buried at sea with the proper Muslim ritual. Hard drives and other evidence were taken from the compound.

The successful mission was the result of a decade-long effort by the CIA and U.S. military, who secretly tracked bin Laden's couriers to find his compound. Much of this was depicted in the film Zero Dark Thirty.

So case closed right? Not so fast.

One year ago, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh turned almost everything we know about the bin Laden killing on its head.

Hersh claimed bin Laden wasn't hiding in Pakistan, but was being kept under house arrest by the Pakistani military. They were even taking care of him with funds from Saudi Arabia.

A tipster trying to collect the $25 million bounty for bin Laden informed US officials in Pakistan of the terrorist's location. Pakistan confirmed it and allowed the U.S. to go in and kill him. What's more, bin Laden did not receive a Muslim burial at sea -- parts of his dismembered body were tossed from the Navy SEAL helicopter.

So if Hersh's claims are true, bin Laden wasn't brought down by the work of America's crack intelligence forces. He was ratted out by an informer looking to get paid ($25 million is worth even more in Pakistan). The operation wasn't a daring high-risk mission. The SEALS were shooting a sitting duck at extremely close range.

Fellow journalists and government officials were quick to reject Hersh's alternative account. The New Yorker magazine refused to publish his story, despite their long history with Hersh. Mark Bowden, who wrote about a book about the operation called The Finish, defended the "official" version of events. He interviewed dozens of sources involved in the mission, including CIA analysts, military officers, and elected officials. Bowden argues that if the story were fabricated, all of his sources would had to have been part of a wide-ranging conspiracy.

Yet Seymour Hersh usually turns out to be right. His record of exposing wrongdoing goes back decades. In 1969, he uncovered the My Lai massacre, in which American soldiers killed hundreds of civilians in a village in Vietnam. In 2004, he exposed the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The list goes on and on. And every time, the government has denied everything.

I'm not saying we should believe Seymour Hersh's version of the bin Laden killing based on his journalistic track record. But another journalist, Carlotta Gall, supports Hersh's claims that the ISI, Pakistan's intelligence service, had been hiding bin Laden. According to Gall's high-level source, a Pakistani Army brigadier told the CIA where bin Laden was hiding. She believes Hersh "...is following up on a story many of us assembled parts of."

Let's suppose Hersh's version is true. Why would our government have chosen to distort the facts to such an extent? Would the American people really care if they knew bin Laden was found based on an anonymous tip, as opposed to the intelligence work depicted in Zero Dark Thirty?

One possible explanation is President Obama wanted to exploit the killing of bin Laden to increase his reelection chances in 2012.

He already had bin Laden right where he wanted him. There were different options he could have pursued for his capture or killing. Why not stage a ready-for-Hollywood action story, starring the President as the heroic, cool-as-ice Commander in Chief?

This theory may have some legs, but also borders on paranoia. I have difficulty believing it myself. However, I won't argue that the government did manipulate certain elements of the story from the beginning.

At first, it was reported bin Laden was armed during the raid, and used his wife as a human shield. We were also told the President and his advisers watched the mission live, via helmet cams worn by the Navy SEALS. Neither of these initial reports turned out to be true.

Obviously, there are some details we won't know for years. After all, the mission was a covert operation including multiple intelligence agencies. But even Seymour Hersh admits the basic facts are true.

A Navy SEAL team, under President Obama's orders, killed the world's most wanted terrorist: a man behind the deaths of 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001.

If President Obama and his team really did manipulate the facts to suit their agenda, that's just how governments roll. We should all know that by now, right?
Earlier this year, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held its extraordinary summit in Jakarta with the theme "Independence is the right of all nations". The Government of the Republic of Indonesia reaffirmed its support for the independence and sovereignty of Palestine. In fact, through a bilateral meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, Indonesia stated it had already opened an Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah. The commitment of the Indonesian Government to support Palestine is in full accordance with its own Constitution of 1945 which stipulates that all colonialism must be abolished in this world.

At the same time, the Indonesian Government is hiding from the West Papuan political conflict, which involves a territory which was taken over forcefully in 1962, annexed illegally in 1969 and which has been occupied and subjugated up until today through militaristic and colonialist practices, causing acute humanitarian crises, devastation to the environment, considerable appropriation of natural resources, as well as the massive migration of Indonesians to West Papua.

Since 1961, the Papuan people have pledged to stand alone as a nation and as a State. And since then, the people of West Papua have waged a struggle filled with sacrifices in their quest for independence and sovereignty for nearly half a century, with no amicable solution between West Papua and Indonesia in sight. If the Indonesian Government is committed to help achieving the independence and the sovereignty of Palestine, the question is what about West Papua, which lost its right to independence and sovereignty?

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We, as organizations which have come together under the umbrella of the national struggle of the people of West Papua, that is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULWMP), which is also a member observer in the sub-regional organization known as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), are of the opinion that in reality, if one is passionate about liberating Palestine from Israeli occupation, one should also be passionate about decolonizing West Papua. How can Indonesia supports Palestine's independence and sovereignty, while the Papuan People are still colonized by Indonesia? How can Indonesia actively be involved in the peaceful settlement of the Palestine question at the UN, while it is rejecting any form of peaceful settlement of the political status of West Papua?

If Indonesia joins the efforts of the OIC to support Palestinian independence, Indonesia should also, as an associate Member of the MSG, promote the right to self-determination of the People of West Papua, in accordance with the 2013 MSG final communique. If Indonesia is also pushing the OIC for various fact-finding teams in Palestine, why does Indonesia, as a "dialogue partner" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), not want to open access to West Papua for the fact-finding team from South Pacific nations, as agreed in the communique at the Forum's last Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, in September 2015? And what more, why does the Indonesian Government persist in rejecting the call of H.E. Mr. Manasseh Sogavare, Chairman of the MSG, for a dialogue with the ULMWP.

Therefore, on behalf of the People of West Papua, we convey to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, and all members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that:

We support the OIC's efforts for a peaceful settlement of the political conflict between Palestine and Israel.

We are hopeful that the Government of President Joko Widodo will join to seek a peaceful solution to the independence and sovereignty of the nation of West Papua.

We also sincerely hope that member countries of the OIC will actively urge Indonesia to stop their illegal occupation of West Papua, and, together with the ULMWP, to resolve the political status of West Papua peacefully.

-
new york march 28 donald...

Donald Trump's signature issue is immigration. When asked by the New York Times what he would accomplish during his first 100 days as President, Trump responded: "rescind Obama's executive orders on immigration," design the wall with Mexico, and ensure "the immigration ban on Muslims would be in place." Trump's immigration policy has five pillars.

Immigrants are dangerous: A January NBC News poll found that 34 percent of Republicans thought "terrorism" was the biggest issue facing the US; another 13 percent said it was "immigration." Trump has linked these two issues and staked out a position so extreme it outflanked the other GOP contenders, making him the presumptive Republican nominee.

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In his June 15th announcement speech Trump said:

The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems... When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best... They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.

On July 5th, Trump asserted that Mexicans were responsible for "tremendous infectious disease... pouring across the border." Trump's first TV ad implied that ISIS fighters were also "pouring across the border."

The non-partisan website Politifact judged Trump's claims to be false. (Politfact reported, "there is no evidence of a massive influx of infections across the border.")

Immigrants take away jobs: In a July 11th speech, Trump made further claims about immigrants: "They're taking our jobs. They're taking our manufacturing jobs. They're taking our money."

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According to an August Rasmussen poll 51 percent of Americans "believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens."

However, an August Forbes magazine article said this belief is incorrect: "illegal immigrants actually raise wages for documented/native workers."

Immigration can be stopped by building a wall along the Mexican border:: Trump promises to build a wall along the open border with Mexico. When pressed, Trump said the wall would be 1000 miles long, rise 35-40 feet, and cost $8 billion.

The Washington Post studied Trump's wall design and estimated that it would cost $25 billion for design and material; in addition, the construction would require "40,000 workers per year for at least four years."

Trump insists Mexico must pay for this wall. If they do not, he promises Mexican citizens will be subject to penalties on remittance payments, tariffs on temporary visas, and increased fees on border-crossing cards and at ports-of-entry. Legal experts believe that Trump's reimbursement scheme is illegal.

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However, the bigger concern is whether such a wall, if built, would accomplish its objectives. Politifact noted that, in recent years, there has been zero net immigration across the Mexican border - that is, the number of folks going north is matched by the number of people going south. (This was confirmed in a November Pew Research report.)

Pew Research says there are actually 11.3 million illegal immigrants (that comprise about 5.1 percent of the US labor force). The Atlantic estimates it would cost $140 billion to deport them - with additional billions in economic consequences.

Trump blames the existence of illegal immigrants on President Obama's unwillingness to enforce immigration law. Politifact says this is an incorrect statement.

Ban Muslims from entering the US: On December 7th, Trump called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Separate from enforcement expenses, it's estimated this ban would cost the US $18.4 billion in annual lost tourism.

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There are many other problems with banning Muslims. In his recent foreign policy speech Trump promised, "We're going to be working very closely with our allies in the Muslim world." He didn't reconcile with this with his plan to bar Muslims. The countries with the largest Muslim populations are Indonesia, Pakistan, and India; all US allies. All these countries import weapons from the US, as do other Muslim countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

In September, Pew Research observed: "Republicans more likely to say Immigrants have a negative impact on U.S. society, crime and economy." (53 percent of Republicans say immigrants make U.S. society worse versus 55 percent of Democrats who say immigrants make it better.)

For several years differences between the brains of liberals and conservatives has been a hotly debated topic. A 2013 Mother Jones article observed: "fearful people are more conservative."
Enacted in 2008 in response to concerns about potential abuses of the human genome full sequence (completed in 2003), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) may the least generally known federal civil rights legislation. This comment provides a brief and incomplete educational overview of GINA. Always contact an experienced attorney in all specific discrimination situations.

GINA (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000ff) was entitled "An Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment." However, the legislation prohibits acquiring genetic information as well as utilizing it to discriminate. A 1998 Ninth Circuit federal court decision had found employment discrimination, and a potential privacy violation, when an employer engaged in non-consensual genetic testing based upon the employees' gender and race (Bloodsaw v. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) first sued and reached a settlement in 2002 when an employer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, without employee consent, engaged in genetic testing for a rare genetic condition that produces carpal tunnel syndrome as well as screening for diabetes and alcoholism. What was legally uncertain after these cases was whether or not employee consent would validate genetic testing.

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GINA became effective in November 2009. The EEOC, in general overview, issued implementing regulations applicable in 2011 and amended record keeping standards in 2012. In the neighborhood of 1,200 GINA claims have been administratively resolved by the EEOC, the majority favorably for the employer. The EEOC has a significant amount of guidance information on its Website.

The overall GINA coverage and exclusions reads much like that related to the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964: 15 or more employees, etc. Health care employers who treat their employees internally must prevent the employee's medical information from being viewed by employment supervisors. Additionally, an employer designating outside providers for physicals or employee medical matters is responsible for their GINA violations. However, a number of court decisions indicate that liability for GINA violations does not extend to individual employees since the statute references employers.

GINA specifically defines what constitutes "genetic" information and a "genetic test." Broadly, GINA protections extend beyond the individual employee to her or his family members, up to a fourth-degree relative according to EEOC regulations. Rather technical distinctions are made between genetic and non-genetic information. Litigation is beginning to occur with somewhat conflicting court decisions concerning what information is or is not covered by GINA.

Typically to the extent that an employer has been appropriately complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) record-keeping and confidentiality provisions, the employer will also be in GINA compliance. Allowable HIPPA actions are still lawful, even with the GINA regulations. Of course, consult an experienced attorney concerning all GINA issues. Require a written request, even from the employee, prior to releasing GINA information. It is noteworthy that the ADA considers manifested (currently operative) disabling conditions while GINA considers genetic information that may not have resulted in any manifest conditions.



Much like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, GINA addresses adverse treatment in hiring, discharging, or otherwise discriminating in employment matters based upon genetic information. However, disparate impact claims, seemingly neutral practices that have a disproportionate impact on a protected group, are not included in GINA. Retaliation against an employee who asserts GINA rights is prohibited. Consequently, it is possible that even an ultimately dismissed employee GINA claim could nevertheless give rise to a retaliation action. As is true in all retaliation situations, one must undertake a cautious response to the initial employee assertion.



GINA states that an employer cannot "request, require, or purchase genetic information with respect to an employee or a family member of the employee." A "willful" state of mind to acquire the information is not required under EEOC regulations. Note that family medical history is "genetic information" and the request by an outsourced provider may trigger an employer's liability. Specified "inadvertent" acquisitions of information are not penalized. Nevertheless, even this information cannot be used as the basis of an adverse employment action.



An employee asserting a GINA violation must timely notify the EEOC with a specific reference to GINA, apart from an ADA notice. The time limit to file a charge is 180 days after the discriminatory event; however, state law may allow a longer time. Potential monetary damages for GINA violations are those established by Section 1981a of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000ff-6). These are compensatory damages and punitive damages on a sliding scale based upon the size of the employer. Other relief, such as reinstatement that may be with or without back pay, is available. Costs and fees of the legal action are recoverable but not if a lawsuit is unreasonable or frivolous.



A controversial and unsettled GINA issue involves employers' wellness programs that offer a financial incentive or penalty. Is the wellness program essentially mandatory, given the financial considerations associated with participation? If the program is mandatory, requesting assessment information triggers ADA and GINA protections. The EEOC in late 2015 proposed some regulations concerning this issue. Congressional action to clarify the question is possible. Another developing issue involves forensic testing in the workplace to determine the identity of employee wrongdoers. Likewise, Congress should clarify what investigative behaviors are permissible.

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GINA does not apply to several important insurance activities: disability, extended care, or life insurance. There is a mixture of state statutes concerning the use of genetic information in these situations. California includes genetic information as a protected category (like race) in its state civil rights act. Federal action in the foreseeable future seems unlikely. Open legal questions involve the potential for fraud by an applicant for insurance who fails to disclose known material (significant) genetic information and the ability of an insurance carrier to cancel a policy based upon after-acquired genetic information.

While a recent LexisNexis search listed approximately 150 judicial decisions containing the phrase "Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act," the specific situational applications of GINA are still unfolding. Consequently, an employer might appropriately error on the side of caution.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey recently released an urgent consumer warning to all Mountain State residents about impostor phone scams. Criminals have been using numbers from the West Virginia phone book to call residents throughout the state. Posing as representatives from the Attorney General's office, the scammers demand immediate payment of unpaid taxes. Consumers are threatened with arrest as a consequence of not paying, making many off-guard consumers react quickly and send money via wire transfers and pre-paid debit and gift cards.

Impostor scams can be incredibly convincing, thanks to clever con artists and caller ID spoofing, and they take on many shapes and forms. These are the most common types of impostor phone scams:

IRS Phone Scam: The caller claims to be an officer with the Internal Revenue Service. They may give you credentials, such as badge number, but do not believe them. The IRS will never call you and demand payment, they always send you a certified letter via snail mail and give you the opportunity to dispute the amount you owe. The caller may pretend not to be calling from the IRS, but calling from your state's Attorney General or the police department and requesting payment on taxes. These are all the same scam and should be hung up on, blocked, and reported.

Charity Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from a charity and asking for donations. The type of charity could range from a breast cancer foundation to a natural disaster relief fund. Another common charity phone scam is callers asking for donations to your local police or fireman's fund, the caller will conveniently leave out the city that they are calling from. It's best to tell these callers that you will call back if you'd like to make a donation, hang up, and do some research. Phony charities will use these boiler room telemarketing techniques to steal from kind-hearted individuals.

Utility Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from your local utility company and states that they never received your last payment and your lights or heat will be turned off immediately if payment is not received. These types of scams seem to be most common during the winter months.

Tech Support Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from Windows, Dell, Google or some other tech giant. They tell you that your computer has been infected with a virus and that they can help you solve this problem. In reality, these scammers will either have you download a malicious malware on your PC, will charge you for a service that did nothing, or will steal your personal information. In many cases, it's all three. Another variation of this scam involves you receiving a pop-up on your computer that states that it's infected and you must call a certain number to fix the issue.

These are just a few of the most common impostor phone scams that are out there. There are so many variations that it's important to always be on the defense when you receive an unsolicited, unknown call.

How to protect yourself

The majority of scam calls will all have distinctive characteristics:

They will ask for personal information, including home address, bank account or credit card information.

They say the situation is urgent.

They will demand immediate payment via a wire transfer service, like MoneyGram, or prepaid debit or gift cards. The caller will often state that you cannot hang up the phone until payment is received or they will send police.

They instruct you not to tell anyone what is happening to you.
Alan Watts taught that the desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are one in the same -- that "to hold your breath is to lose your breath." Traditional Zen Buddhism would agree: to desire fulfillment is to not have fulfillment, happiness is not something you seek, but that which you become.

These ideas are nice (albeit likely just platitudes for most people) but they illustrate the madness behind the common wisdom of "chasing happiness." As Andrew Weil has said: the idea that human beings should be constantly happy is "a uniquely modern, uniquely American, uniquely destructive idea."

It is our desire for perpetual happiness that drives consumerism, eases the fact that we're all barreling toward uncertain death, and keeps us hungering for more. In many ways, it -- alongside our existential fear of death and suffering -- accounts for why we've innovated and developed the society we live in. Our lack of fulfillment has driven us because the quest for happiness does not and will not cease.

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This is largely due to Hedonic Adaptation, which is really just the fact that human beings get used to what happens to them. We change, we adjust, we adapt, we crave more. Psychologists also call it the "baseline," the way in which we regulate ourselves to come back to "neutral" after different life events occur.

Chasing happiness is trying to keep ourselves sustained by "positive" life events, rather than adjusting the baseline as a whole. Motivating ourselves with the hope of achieving a sustained feeling of "good" is not only unhealthy, it's impossible.

If you want to be happy, you need to stop chasing happiness. Happiness is a byproduct of doing things that are challenging, meaningful, beautiful and worthwhile.

It is wiser to spend a life chasing knowledge, or the ability to think clearly and with more dimension, than it is to just chase what "feels good." It is wiser to chase the kind of discomfort that only comes with doing something so profound and life-altering that you are knocked off your orbit. It is wiser to tip the scales over rather than balance things you don't like only because you believe balance will make you "happy." It is wiser to do things that are hard and make you feel vulnerable and raw than it is to avoid them because comfort makes you feel temporarily, fleetingly good.



At the end of the day, to avoid pain is to avoid happiness (they are opposite forces within the same function). To numb ourselves to one side of our feeling capacity is to shut down everything. It leaves us chasing the kind of empty happiness that never really fills us, and leaves us shells of the people we are really destined to be.

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The other day my six-year-old daughter came home from school and said that they were doing a new unit in her classroom on inventors. She told me that the book that they were using was called "Great men inventors." Then she made me proud. She told me that she had asked the teacher why they weren't studying any women inventors.

It's no accident that my daughter feels empowered to question sexist pedagogy. As a feminist artist and as a woman leader in the male-dominated tech industry, gender inequality is something I discuss openly at home with my daughter. Whether it's statistics on female speaking parts in Disney movies or abysmal treatment of women in STEM careers, I try to help my daughter understand and challenge inequality in the world around her. My approach is pretty simple: I engage her in open, honest, developmentally appropriate conversations about issues--including everything from the real names of body parts and what transgender means, to unequal pay and unfair treatment in the work place.

Our open dialog has made my daughter an activist. She wants the world to be fair. She's told me she wants to be President, that First Ladies should get paid, and that she wants to be a director so she can change Hollywood from within. I am so proud of her. But I don't have the market cornered on feminist parenting. Sometimes I wonder if I'm pushing this too hard, or not enough! What is the right way to teach about gender inequality? And why are we all just figuring it out on our own?

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So I turned to two of my tribe to see what they do with their daughters: BeyondCurious Managing Director Sheila Darcey and BeyondCurious Director of Experience Strategy Chelsea Shields. A Filipina-American who grew up in Australia and Memphis, Sheila Darcey is an impassioned advocate for parent's rights and women's leadership, who has a global perspective on raising her daughter. Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and religious gender equality activist Chelsea Shields' context is deeply rooted in trying to change homogeneous patriarchy through direct action.

I had two questions: 1) Do you talk to your daughter about gender inequality and 2) What impact has your decision had on you and your daughter? Their answers reveal the complex, deeply contextual project that is feminist parenting.

Chelsea Shields

I have gone from covertly to overtly pointing out and discussing gender inequality with my daughter throughout her development in three main stage: 1. Lead by example, 2. Point it out, and 3. Involve her!

1. Lead By Example

For example, when she was a toddler and we were living in Baltimore, I tacitly enacted gender equality through the gender-neutral clothes that she wore, the feminist children's books that she read, and our conscious decision to follow the Equally Shared Parenting model.



2. Point it out

However, as she aged a couple of things happened. First, we moved into a less diverse, highly patriarchal culture in Salt Lake City, Utah where she was surrounded by very traditional families. Second, she began to desire very gender-typical media, toys, and books. Third, we were in the midst of a nationwide discussion about marriage equality and I wanted to make sure she was hearing the types of messages and empathy that I hope she acquired. Because of this, I stepped up my efforts. I found moments to talk about the types of gender discrimination she was seeing in her community. If I didn't, she might become encultured into thinking it was normal. Because you can't change what you can't see, one of the biggest perpetuators of inequality is our own familiarity with it! One revelation that came from this approach was that my daughter followed in kind--she began to be more vocal too! A few months ago, she was attending church with her grandfather and she asked, "Why are there no girl priests?" It started a wonderful conversation about religious gender inequality and I was thrilled that to her equality is "normal," inequality is "strange" and "noticeable" (and I was glad she had the confidence to speak up)!

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3. Involve her

As a women's rights activist, I often take my daughter to planning meetings or rallies. She hears me speak to large crowds and walks beside me during demonstrations. These events not only provide opportunities to talk about gender and inequality, but they also provide a blueprint for how to facilitate change.

As a single mom, I think I will always primarily lead by example. My daughter will always see me providing all of the care, maintenance, and finances of our family without regard to gender. But pointing out instances of gender equality has given her the confidence to speak out and involving her has given her the knowledge she needs to do something about it!

Sheila Darcey

I talk about gender inequality with my daughter, but in a much broader way. Inequality exists at every turn. Any opportunity to share a global world-view is an opportunity to talk about inequality. My daughter must understand that she lives in a world where being a woman is considered less in some cultures or aspects of our lives. But what's key is how I frame our discussion. I don't paint a grim picture of overcoming a challenging world she didn't create. Instead, I focus on building her confidence, character, and self-worth, so she lives her life in a way that inspires change in the world and others in it. It's about balancing optimism with realism.



The ramifications of this decision have been nothing but positive. My daughter has a healthy sense of self, a growing global perspective, deep empathy and compassion, and a challenger mindset that isn't going to settle for the status quo. It comes down to feeding her curiosity and giving her the tools to combat the ever-present judgment and pressure she will feel from others.



One example of how this topic surfaces is when my daughter comes to visit me at the office. She sees the diversity in our workplace, but more importantly, she sees the strong women leaders in senior positions. At this point, she doesn't know how unique this is for most companies. She's fortunate in that way.

However, I share with her the importance of looking at women in powerful positions and understanding how society can have certain expectations of them versus their male peers. Especially when it comes to being a working mom. While times have evolved, the pressures and moms choosing career over family still exist. This is why I value her time at BeyondCurious. She sees the passion and energy I put into my work and the other family I am surrounded by. Leila understands this is a choice, but is also learning that there are no limits to what she can do. She also sees the men at BeyondCurious supporting female leaders, who don't see gender as an issue. The ideal scenario for me is her understanding the limitless potential she possesses rather accepting the limits imposed on her by others.
First I want to do it for my community. I want to claim my little part of being transgender and the struggle with it. I'm a mature lady; I'm an older woman; I'm a senior citizen and I struggled with this at a time when we didn't even have the word. In fact, there wasn't any word until Christine Jorgensen and then it was sex change, you had a sex change and nobody knew that. In later years I read that she did not claim being transgender. She did not change her sex she changed her gender and there was nothing to call it. We didn't know there was anyone else. There's a great song by Barry Manilow called 'All The Time' and it says 'All the time I thought there's only me crazy in a way that I only could be...' and I wish I had written that and maybe I will but that's exactly how I felt in that time that there wasn't anyone else. But I want people my age to know that I was there too girl. We just didn't know about each other.
FILE - In this March 23, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Wisconsin's "Cheesehead Revolution" was ushered in by a trio of Republicans, Walker, Reince Priebus and Scott Walker, looking to inject the party with their own youthful, aggressive brand of conservatism while positioning the party for success in the 2016 presidential election. Then came Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Tomorrow, all eyes in Washington will be on the meeting between Donald Trump and Paul Ryan. Some Republicans hope this "summit" between two of the leaders of the Republican Party will signify how the party as a whole will move forward with Trump as the presidential nominee. Ryan surprised some last week by his refusal to endorse Trump -- yet. The big question is whether the two will exit the meeting with their arms around each other (figuratively if not literally), step to the microphones and announce that Trump will support Ryan's congressional agenda while Ryan will support Trump's candidacy. Anything short of full-throated enthusiasm for each other will be big news, to put this slightly differently.

Putting aside the question of what they'll do for the cameras after the big meeting, it's pretty easy to see what each of them wants from the other. Neither would fully admit to these positions in public, of course, but anyone who has watched the two men's political careers for the past year can tell what they're both hoping for.

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Trump's goals are the easiest to understand. He wants congressional Republicans to support his candidacy. He wants a big, beautiful convention, unmarred by any tinge of intraparty feuding. He wants, essentially, to be left alone to campaign how he sees fit, but he also (if he's as smart as he thinks he is) wants the built-in Republican Party "ground game" to eagerly work for his candidacy to turn the voters out in November. Beyond that, he's probably pretty flexible on a wide range of hot-button political issues. Trump hasn't exactly been a paragon of consistency so far, so you'd have to assume he'd be open to at least softening some of his stated positions (outside of the ones he's never going to revisit, like building a wall on the Mexican border).

Ryan, on the other hand, has more complex and nuanced goals. His main concern, of course, is preserving and protecting his House majority in the upcoming election. Presiding over a historic loss of the House majority wouldn't exactly further his career much, to be blunt. So he's most concerned with getting Republicans elected (and re-elected) to House seats.

Ever since he reluctantly took the job, Speaker Ryan has had a vision of how the Republican Party can re-invent itself as "the party of ideas." He (quite rightly, in my opinion) saw that Republicans had descended into being nothing more than the "party of NO" pretty much ever since the Tea Partiers came to town. Republicans (especially in the House) define themselves nowadays by what they are against, so Ryan took it as his mission to flip that so the party could be for an agenda that (hopefully) the American people would agree with. A lofty goal, to be sure.

Ryan's problem, so far, has been that this has proven to be tougher than it sounds (and it sounds mighty tough, to begin with). He's already backed down from his initial stated goal of passing this agenda as a handful of bills, and sending it all to the Senate for action. Recently, he was backpedaling furiously and setting the bar quite a bit lower -- he will now only be putting out "white papers" rather than actual legislation, which will be vague on "areas that could be politically treacherous," and (the real admission of defeat) "it is unlikely that major parts of the agenda will actually be brought up for a vote before November." Got all that? The shining, positive agenda for Republicans to march into the twenty-first century is now going to be a couple of short position papers without details, which won't be voted on. The reason is patently obvious: the Republican agenda simply is not going to be popular, when people read the details.

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Ryan was already desperately trying to achieve at least a partial victory by getting his fellow Republicans on board with any sort of agenda, no matter how vague. Then came the problem of Trump. Ryan's goal at this point was to somehow co-opt the meat of Trump's campaign platform. Ryan would offer Trump a prepared ready-to-go platform, which Trump could at least publicly say some nice things about, before he started ignoring large parts of it. This way, congressional Republicans could actually drive the Republican agenda. Ryan's dream would be of personally writing the platform document that is agreed to at the convention.

This is one of those things that wonky political types care deeply about, but that the rest of the public simply does not pay the slightest attention to. The party platform is a time-honored tradition reaching back in the annals of American history, but what is obvious to just about everybody is that it has become a completely meaningless exercise. Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- ever reads party platforms nowadays. Trump likely knows this, so what does he care what the party bigwigs throw into it? He can pick and choose which parts he will personally support, and it likely won't cost him any votes in the end.

Ryan is playing a much longer game than just getting through November, though. His ultimate goal is clearly to run for president himself at some point (2020, if Trump loses). His more immediate goal is to somehow survive the whirlwind of Donald Trump's candidacy, and pick up the pieces afterwards. By showing that he can get his House Republicans on board with a solid agenda, he was going to be the obvious savior of the party, after Trump loses to Clinton. That's been Ryan's plan for a while, now.

But Ryan's playing from a weak hand at this point, which is why it'll be interesting what happens at (and after) the big Trump meeting tomorrow. Ryan hasn't managed to put together six or seven bills that triumphantly show the voters what the Republican Party stands for. Just because John Boehner's gone doesn't mean the House Republicans have gotten any less contentious among themselves. Being balked by the Tea Party, Ryan dialed back expectations for his big agenda project, but it still does not actually exist on paper yet (indeed, not a single agenda item has appeared, as a draft bill or white paper or in any other form). So Ryan can't exactly pull a Newt Gingrich "Contract With America" out of the hat, at this point. The best he can manage is to say on television that he's not yet ready to back Trump, and force Trump to come to Washington on bended knee.

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Trump is likely pretty bemused by all of this. He has a real instinct for sensing weakness in others, which is what he's likely sensing now in Ryan. Trump will likely offer to toss Ryan a few bones (such as influencing the official party platform at the convention), but he's certainly not going to be tied down by Ryan's agenda. Trump will likely tell Ryan to his face that he'll only be supporting whichever pieces of Ryan's agenda that he deems acceptable. In fact, since the agenda is by no means complete, Trump may even demand he be allowed some input of what will be on that agenda. Perhaps Ryan will have to add "build a big wall and make Mexico pay for it" to his own agenda.

Trump, as the presidential nominee, now outranks Ryan in the party's hierarchy. Unless the meeting blows up in everyone's face (Ryan storms out, refuses to endorse Trump, and steps down as the chair of the convention, perhaps), Trump will probably allow Ryan some face-saving over his precious agenda. Ryan will be allowed to complete his work, while Trump will not be constrained by it in any way (no matter what he says to the cameras immediately after the meeting). Both men will, in their own ways, claim to have gotten the upper hand in the big summit meeting. Trump will win in the short term, and run his campaign any damn way he feels like. Ryan will likely win in the long term, because if Trump crashes and burns in November, he'll be the sole Republican leader left who has any idea of what to do next.

While the summit is high drama in D.C., it's likely to be quickly forgotten by the electorate. Ryan and Trump will hash out some way to live with each other for the next six months, but normal people won't be paying that much attention. Ryan's going to pretend to be a strong voice after the summit meeting is over, but the real test of that isn't going to be whether he can save face with Trump or not. It's not going to be his leadership of the convention, either. The real thing to watch over the summer is whether Ryan can get anything down on paper at all that House Republicans can agree to. His lofty agenda project has already shrunk considerably, and it might shrink even further -- instead of many white papers on individual issues, we might just end up only seeing Republicans put out a couple of pages of bullet points.

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There are many reasons why Donald Trump has been so successful, so far. But the big reason he's been able to get away with making up a policy platform on the fly (often taking stances wildly out of sync with traditional Republican positions) is that Republicans just don't currently have a policy platform they can all agree upon. House Republicans, by their intransigence and refusal to agree on just about anything, have created the very vacuum that Trump is filling. Trump can take any position he wants on just about anything, and there is no strong response from a unified Republican Party dictating the official position -- because they don't have one. So watch for Ryan to tout some meaningless concession Trump has made tomorrow (such as the official party platform document), only to be contradicted within days by Trump's insistence that he's going to chart his own policy course, no matter what Ryan thinks. Whether Ryan wants to admit it or not, because nobody's currently steering the Republican ship, Trump is going to easily be able to grab the helm. And once he does, he'll be steering that GOP ship himself, at least until Election Day.

Chris Weigant blogs at:
In a move that appeared inevitable for months, commercial-scale solar pioneer SunEdison filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 21. The news grabbed clean-tech industry and general business headlines for sure, but I've been struck by how little splash it's made in the broader realm of national attention, particularly politics.

The contrast with the partisan uproar that immediately arose after the 2011 bankruptcy of solar startup Solyndra could not be more striking. In 2016, an even more contentious presidential election is underway, and the nation's partisan divide has only increased in the past five years. SunEdison isn't a fledgling newcomer making a bet on an unconventional application of thin-film solar PV technology; including its many subsidiaries, it was the largest independent developer of renewable energy in the world, with nearly $3 billion in revenue and more than 7,000 employees (the equivalent of about seven Solyndras). If the opponents of clean energy wanted a political cudgel, SunEdison's a big one.

The big (and way overblown) political flap about Solyndra centered on its role as a recipient of a U.S. Department of Energy's loan guarantee. SunEdison, however, actually received more dollars in federal grants, tax credits, and loan guarantees ($650 million, compared to $535 million), according to the Subsidy Tracker web site of watchdog Good Jobs First.

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Yet SunEdison's Chapter 11 filing hasn't cast a significant pall over the solar sector, let alone the political and public opinion arena. Most investors and analysts attribute the company's downfall to its own failed strategy, an acquisition binge fueled by some $12 billion in debt. Not only did this leverage SunEdison beyond the breaking point, it took the company away from its solar PPA/development roots (where it was a true pioneer) into wind power, residential solar, yieldcos, and many other directions. (Sun Edison's two yieldcos, TerraForm Power and TerraForm Global, were not part of the bankruptcy filing and have said they will continue to operate as before).

Plenty of SunEdison autopsy reports have already been written; my point here is to highlight just how much strength the clean-tech industry in general, and solar in particular, has gained in the five years since the Solyndra debacle. Financial and market strength, to be sure, but also strength of mainstream mindshare - to the point where not even no-holds-barred presidential hopefuls are trying to make an issue of a high-profile clean-tech bankruptcy. Another reason, perhaps, is there have been several other big energy bankruptcies in the past few months - but they have all been fossil fuels companies. The Chapter 11 filing on April 13 by Peabody Energy, the largest coal company in the U.S., followed those of fellow coal providers Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, and others; Seventy Seven Energy, the fracking spinoff of once high-flying natural gas firm Chesapeake Energy, plans to file for bankruptcy later this month.

As 2016 has rolled out, the statistical and anecdotal evidence of clean-energy momentum keeps pouring in. In 2015, global investments in renewable energy projects ($330 billion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance) surpassed those in fossil fuels for the first time. An increasing number of global corporations, including mainstream icons like Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart, have committed to be 100% powered by renewable energy. The global solar market will grow 21% (adding 66 GW of new capacity) this year, predicts GTM Research in data released this week. In the most populous energy market in the U.S., California, utility-scale solar is now the largest power producer among renewable sources, with its 7.6% share of all generation in the state in 2015 surpassing that of the respective shares of hydropower, geothermal, wind, and biomass. According to California grid operator CAISO, the amount of utility-scale solar feeding the grid has soared fifteenfold in the past five years.

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As the industry well knows, however, solar power can ignite opposition from entrenched interests. The (mostly state-level) battles raging about solar are less about whether harnessing electrons from the sun is a good, cost-effective idea, but whether the main delivery method should be centralized or distributed. That's what the industry's arguably largest setback in recent months - the Nevada Public Utilities Commission's December vote to end net metering credits for rooftop solar users - was all about. Among U.S. states, Nevada is second to California in percentage of generation from utility-scale solar, but just 12th in distributed PV.

To be sure, "climate politics," a phenomenon generally unique to the U.S., has unfortunately not abated, at least among officeholders and candidates at the federal level. But in poll after poll, including two annual U.S. Homeowners on Clean Energy surveys produced by Clean Edge and SolarCity, the American public across the political spectrum strongly supports clean energy development in general and solar power in particular.

Part of the reason is visibility, with clean-energy projects increasingly part of the mainstream landscape in places far from environmentalist-centric locales like California or Vermont. In addition to Arizona, the nation's top 15 utility-scale solar markets (as a percentage of total generation) include other red or purple states New Mexico, North Carolina, Indiana, and Tennessee. Solar panels help power airport operations in cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Boston, but the nation's largest airport solar plant is in Indianapolis. (Indiana's state capital also boasts a solar array at its most famous attraction, especially this month - the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). Elsewhere in the Rust Belt, the unlikely venue of Buffalo, New York will soon be home to the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere, the SolarCity plant due to open next year.

With wind power, the nexus of clean energy and conservative politics is even more dramatic. The top five wind states, percentage-wise, are nearly as red as it gets: Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota - with Texas as the nation's top overall producer of wind-generated electrons by far.

Next month's Renewable Energy Finance Forum-Wall Street conference in New York chose conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas as its opening keynote speaker. The choice is not without controversy, as Brownback signed the bill last year that changed the state's 20% RPS goal from mandatory to voluntary - showing that the free-market vs. regulatory debate is still alive and well. But unlike some other anti-RPS mandate actions such as Ohio's, the change will likely have little real impact as Kansas's utilities already generate more than 20% of their power from wind.
As I discussed in a previous post, people must change their behavior in order to truly change their reputation - if your bad behavior got you into trouble in the first place.

But there are also instances where someone might require online reputation management when they've done nothing inherently "wrong". These people and businesses might just be victims to Google's negativity bias.

In 2014 a study conducted by two Canadian researchers proved the existence of "negativity bias" - psychologists' term for our collective hunger to hear, and remember bad news. This subconscious bias affects Google search results in a profound way. If negative articles or websites are being widely read, clicked, and shared, those are the articles Google's algorithm identifies as front page worthy.

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Based on the "negativity bias," negative articles and website are the ones that are going to be shared, clicked, and commented on the most - which are all crucial factors in an article's ranking in search results.

Below I've described four scenarios where people may need online reputation management when they've nothing wrong, and their search results are simply being guided by Google's negativity bias:

1) Mistaken Identity



It's unlikely you've met someone with the same exact name as you in person, but they're out there. And just a quick Google search away.

What if you shared a name with someone who has a criminal background, and a Google search for your name returned mugshot photos and links about crimes and arrests? This could be detrimental to finding employment, starting your own business, and countless other opportunities. People who have never met you might not know that you are not the same people.

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There are dozens of ways someone might have already ruined your 'good name' for you. Unless you begin building your own online reputation, your name might be subject to someone else's bad behavior forever.

2) Doxxing



Sometimes a bad online reputation can be life-threatening. Take for instance, the case of Suey Park, an activist who was attacked by an online mob for starting the hashtag '#CancelColbert,' after Stephen Colbert made what she felt was an offensive joke about Asians.

The harassment didn't end on the internet. After someone doxxed Park on Reddit, she began receiving death threats at her home. I'm sure Park never imagined a hashtag could put her personal safety at risk, and if she could go back and change it she would.

Time machines don't exist yet, but the next best thing would be enlisting the help of an online reputation management firm to begin the process of improving the search results that are putting her in danger.

3) Glass Houses

Everyone has done something at least once that we they are not proud of, are sorry for, and have no intention of ever doing again. (We're only human, you know.) If you were lucky, there was no one there to catch it on video and upload it to the internet. However, if fortune was not in your favor, the video went viral and was picked up by local and national media outlets.

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Going back to the "negativity bias," these stories and links will be clicked on and shared thousands of times, and remain glued to the front page of your Google search results. Would you want a mistake you made in your 20's before your brain was fully developed to define you forever? Thanks to the power of social media, someone's 15 minutes of infamy can last a lifetime without a little help.

4) Revenge



With dating sites for just about every niche you can think of, and the growing usage of apps like Tinder and Bumble, more relationships than ever are beginning online. This also means more relationships are ending online as well.

Sites like LiarsCheatersRUs and Cheater Report, where anyone can write whatever they want, completely unmonitored, about someone they may or may not have been in a relationship with, are gaining popularity and influence.

If someone doesn't have a strong online presence, these websites can rank very high in search results for their name. This can be catastrophic for people whose business is their name like doctors and lawyers. I think we can all agree that someone's love life, factual or fictional, shouldn't have an impact on their livelihood.
It's roll-your-eyes, pie-in-the sky fantasy talk, but that doesn't stop the Republican presumptive nominee, billionaire Donald Trump, from prophesies about it.

We're talking about how Trump dubs himself "a unifier," when such preposterous claims stand in stark contrast with the divisive campaign he's built throughout the primary process.

As it's been laboriously chronicled, Trump's reality show antics, bellicosity, and penchant for racist and misogynistic remarks have not only alienated key voting blocks, including women, African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, and America's allies, but has cast serious doubt on whether even a traditional move to the center could reverse a fraction of the damage he exacted over the last 12 months.

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Now as he attempts to reinvigorate his campaign for the upcoming Fall election, Trump has changed his tune. He knows he can't win the Presidency without consolidating the GOP base, but also because the reality of the general election map for any GOP nominee, let alone someone like Trump, is bleak.

If every one of the 18 states plus Washington, D.C. that went blue in six of the last six Presidential elections continues its trend into 2016, Trump's likely Democratic competitor, Hillary Clinton, will start off with around 242 electoral college votes-- just 28 shy of what she'll need to become America's 45th President.

Short of Trump revolutionizing the electoral map, he's bound for failure.

That's why Trump is now striving to foreshadow an alternate universe where he metamorphoses the electoral map. He's forewarning of a Fall election where new voters, Reagan Democrats, Independents, stalwart Republicans, Tea Partiers, conservatives, evangelicals, young people, Bernie Sanders' supporters, and others join forces to build an unprecedented coalition that propels him to the White House.

Part of Trump's argument is that his populist narrative of castigating free trade agreements, his pursuit of an isolationist 'America First' foreign policy agenda and his anti-establishment tirades will resonate in non-traditional Republican states. Such messaging has raised questions among the GOP elite about whether, ideologically, Trump is even a "true" Republican. Trump's campaign, however, freely bucks the elitists in the Republican Party and boldly attests that this messaging creates an opportunity for him to win traditionally safe blue rust-belt states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in the general election.

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Trump's challenge is that the math and current polling data paint quite a different picture than his delusionary universe where pigs fly and unicorns grace the Earth with their presence.

First of all, women, who made up a sizable 53% majority of the 2012 electorate, overwhelmingly have a negative opinion of Donald Trump. In fact, 75% of women have an unfavorable view of him. Trump's numbers among minorities are even worse, and if current polling trends hold, it's plausible that he could fare far worse than Mitt Romney did against President Barack Obama in 2012 with African Americans and Latino voters.

In the 2012 election, Obama crushed Romney in electoral college votes, 332 to 206. Obama bested Romney among women voters by a jaw-dropping 12-points. African Americans sided with Obama by 93% and Latinos did by 71%.

The latest public opinion data shows that Trump's abysmal numbers with these crucial demographics make his pathway of reaching the 270 electoral college vote even more grim.

And in the rust-belt state primaries of Pennsylvania and Michigan, Clinton got more votes than Trump in both states, even in Michigan where she lost to Sanders.

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Beyond Clinton starting with a considerable advantage among states that went blue in six of the last six general elections, Trump's awful poll numbers among women, African Americans, Latinos and even Independents and some Republicans have for sure revolutionized the electoral college map-- but not in his favor.

States that historically have gone red more often than not are now all of a sudden in play for Clinton.

In the South, red states like Georgia where Romney beat Obama by nearly 8-points, Trump is only ahead by 1-point, putting Clinton in clear striking distance. North Carolina, which Obama won in 2008, lost in 2012, and which was a red state since after the 1976 election, has Clinton leading Trump by a substantial 9-points. In Virginia, which besides for Obama's elections has gone red since 1968, Clinton is leading by double-digits.

In the West, according to Real Clear Politics, Clinton is ahead of Trump by 2-points in Utah, a state that's voted red since 1968. She's also leading Trump in Arizona, which besides 1996, has gone red since 1952. And in the Midwestern state of Missouri, which besides 1992 and 1996, has gone red dating back to 1968, Clinton is also besting Trump.

Altogether these demographics, latest polling and the historical electoral map point to the reality that Donald Trump is right about one thing-- he has truly woken up the 'silent majority.' His problem isn't whether or not he's right about that, but rather that he woke it up against his own self-interest.

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, May 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

It's like that horror film sequel. Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) slowly awakens from a deep slumber. Something is wrong. Then, with a rising sense of terror she looks down at her abdomen, something is moving inside. The fear grows. She knows what it is. Something terrible from her past; an alien life form has taken up residence inside her. This time, the alien life form she has struggled against has won. It has invaded and destroyed the host from the inside. The climactic moment comes as the alien bursts forth, its terrifying face telling her that her worst fears have been realized, just as she wakes up to realize that it was all a dream.

But this is not a dream. Donald Trump actually is going to be the Republican Party nominee. After all the hateful rhetoric, the childish taunts, the abject self-aggrandizement, the New York billionaire won the nomination far earlier than anyone expected, and the Republican establishment was powerless to stop him.

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It has been a long week for the Party of Lincoln. It was just last Tuesday that Trump trounced Ted Cruz in the Indiana primary and accepted the mantle of presumptive GOP nominee for the presidency. And it was just a week ago that Ted Cruz ended his campaign with a parting shot that summed up what many have come to believe about Trump.

"This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies... The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissist. A narcissist at a level I don't think this country has ever seen... Everything in Donald's world is about Donald. And he combines being a pathological liar, and I say pathological because I actually think Donald, if you hooked him up to a lie detector test, he could say one thing in the morning, one thing at noon and one thing in the evening, all contradictory and he'd pass the lie detector test each time. Whatever lie he's telling, at that minute he believes it."

This is the Donald Trump that leaders across the GOP leaders have come to know. In the first few days, the pushback against the reality that Trump would stand at the top of their ticket was fierce. Who will follow Trump off the cliff? asked George Will. (A major loser, responded Trump). I Will Not Vote For Donald Trump. Ever. Wrote Erick Erickson, the influential managing editor of the conservative Redstate blog, going so far as to demand that Republicans owe an apology for impeaching Bill Clinton.

"Republicans owe Bill Clinton an apology for impeaching him over lies and affairs while now embracing a pathological liar and womanizer. That apology will not be forthcoming. In fact, for years Republicans have accused the Democrats of gutter politics and shamelessness. Now the Republicans themselves have lost their sense of shame."



The first family of the Republican Party were unanimous in their shunning of Donald Trump, as George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush each announced that they would neither support Trump nor attend the Republican National Convention in July. For his part, Jeb Bush excoriated the man whom he had pledged to support during the primary debates as lacking the temperament or strength of character to serve as president.

The days that followed were a negotiation of sorts, as one conservative after another raised questions about whether Trump was one of them, and whether they could support a man whose conduct has been so far beneath what they purported to expect of their nominee. House Speaker Paul Ryan led the charge not of those who rejected him outright, but those who believed that they could bring him to heel. Ryan pointed out the range of policy matters on which they disagreed, suggesting that he needed to see Trump meet him part way on issues like Medicare and Social Security, which Trump has pledged to protect, and other conservative issues.

Whether Ryan and others recognized it or not, they were in a negotiation. Trump knows that he won, and has proven to be loath to capitulate on the issues that Ryan cares about, particularly entitlements, and the more odious matters like the Muslim immigration ban and the Mexican wall. He knows that the base of the party that brought him this far would turn on him if he backed down in the face of the GOP elders. He alternately threatened that he neither needed nor wanted Paul Ryan's support and then suggested that he wanted to work with the Speaker and the GOP leadership. He gave them a ray of hope, and then he hunkered down.

Then came the trump card, so to speak. Early this week, a new Quinnipiac University poll suggested that the presidential races between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the three most crucial states, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, are too close to call. The same day that the Q-poll was released, an analysis of tracking poll data released by Gallup suggested that Republicans and voters leaning Republican support Donald Trump by a 64-31 margin.

In the wake of the release of this new data, you could feel the wind going out of the anti-Trump forces in the GOP. The House GOP caucus pushed back against their leader, undermining whatever leverage the Speaker thought he might have in future negotiations with the man who will be his party's candidate.

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The great Republican crackup predicted by the influential evangelical and former George W. speechwriter Michael Gerson is looking less and less likely. What changed is the sudden realization across the Republican Party that all is not lost. Two weeks ago, the prospect of Donald Trump winning the nomination was cause for glee among Democrats. One week ago, the chasm that Trump appeared to face in the fall seemed unbridgeable, and Republican leaders turned their sight on efforts to salvage the Senate, if they could, and protect their stronghold in the House of Representatives.

Then this week, the skies parted and new polling data emerged suggesting that Donald Trump has a chance to win in the fall. Indeed, the Gallop data paints a very similar picture between the two parties. Trump's 2-to-1 favorable-to-unfavorable ratio among their target Republican and Republican leaning voters is comparable to Hillary Clinton's 70% favorable to 26% unfavorable support among Democrats and Democrat leaners. Gallup tracking data painted a similar picture in other areas, with polling results indicating that 71% Republicans say that they are likely to vote for Trump, compared with 21% who say they will not, while 73% of Democrats say that they are likely to vote for Hillary, as compared with 21% who say they will not.

Last week's revolt of older party leaders -- the Bushes, Mitt Romney, Lindsay Graham -- who said they would never endorse Trump was all about demeanor and temperament. He is a pathological liar and narcissist, as Ted Cruz put it. Then there were those for whom it was the lack of fealty to conservative principles. Together, they looked at the alien creature that had taken over their private club with revulsion. They thought that, perhaps, if they shunned him, he might just go away. They thought it was their party, that somehow he might be shamed into line.

But it was not to be. Just like he crushed sixteen contestants getting to Indiana last week, Donald Trump has won his showdown with the GOP establishment this week, and the party has capitulated. It is Donald Trump's party now, and he can do with it what he will, on his terms. The electorate, it seems, is way ahead of the leadership. They have moved beyond temperament and principles. And probably for good reason. Our political culture has thrown temperament to the wind for several decades now. It is a nasty business, and to suggest that calling people names is grounds for disqualification to serve seems to have been rendered quaint in light of the unrelenting nastiness that we have come to expect.

As for principles, well, the most important principle that the Republican electorate has focused on for years now is defeating Democrats, defeating Barack Obama in whatever he stands for, and now, above all, in defeating Hillary Clinton. That is the core principle on which the GOP stands today, and all else is beside the point.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton smiles as she listens to her introduction at a campaign event in Athens, West Virginia, United States, May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young

Within the past few weeks, the 2016 presidential election has taken clearer shape. Donald Trump's rivals have all cowered and bowed out, making him the likely nominee for the Republicans. Hillary Clinton is the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, although Bernie Sanders has not yet begun to give up.

I supported Sanders and voted for him in the Illinois primary. I think that on the issues, he has proven himself to be bold, sincere and forward-thinking. I think that his campaign has molded Clinton's in a positive way. But a nomination is not realistic. And I will vote for Clinton and the Democrats.

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Clinton has been in politics for a long time, and while she doesn't have the consistency of Sanders's record, she was a very liberal senator during her time in Congress. She was a senator during the dark ages of George W. Bush's presidency, when it was often hard to speak one's mind. The entire country was deranged, so any missteps then should be understood as a product of the time. As a secretary of state, she performed valiantly. She does her homework, is a strategic thinker, has the savvy to strengthen relationships with our allies and would break ground as the first female president.

It's important that the Dems win this presidency and retake the Senate. As the physicist Niels Bohr noted, "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Right now, the electoral map favors Hillary Clinton. But polling has been notoriously unreliable this election cycle. So let me toss whatever influence I have into imploring you the reader to vote against Trump and everything he represents. (Including, by the way, a foreign policy advisor who is a Knight of Malta, which influenced the George W. Bush administration, as I previously reported.)

What does Donald Trump represent? As Huffington Post states, "Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims -- 1.6 billion members of an entire religion -- from entering the U.S."

He represents our worst urges when we should be voting for someone who represents our best aspirations. He lies and doubles back, then lies again. We must unite to prevent such a person from holding power. My fellow Bernie supporters, keep the vision Bernie has inspired in us. Keep reminding yourself that Hillary Clinton can dream big too and vote for her in the general election. And with this, we can keep Donald Trump out of the White House.
With Europe wracked by a variety of challenges - Russian aggression in Ukraine, terrorism, waves of immigrants from the Middle East, sluggish economies, and populist movements questioning the very democratic foundations of their societies.- it is wise to recall the spirit of Lennart Meri, the Estonian president in whose memory a major international conference is being held this weekend in Tallinn. Since its inception a decade ago, the conference has been attended by prominent European and US scholars, politicians and policy makers, who have often praised the open and intellectual rigor of the proceedings. Meri, who was president of his country from 1992-2001, was widely admired for his erudition and fluency in several languages. He wrote books and made films on ethnic and historical subjects, creative endeavors unusual for a political leader save for that other artist-turned-statesman, Vaclav Havel. In 1976 Meri published his most treasured and inspiring book, Silver White, which blended history and poetry in a world view which provided a basis for Estonians' aspirations towards independence and self-confidence. His liveliness, sense of humor and irreverence made him seem much younger than his age. Meri's insights and diplomatic skills later impressed the world leaders he met. In Europe he was a living paradigm of firmness when standing up to Russia. Meri's vigorous leadership also spawned many colorful anecdotes about him. The legend that he accused the first President Bush of having no Russia policy was untrue, Meri once stated, though it was useful for him to have people think so. Meri also made the most of his opportunities. In 1994, after two years of difficult talks with mixed public support and Russian soldiers stationed only a kilometer from the parliament, Meri got a drunken Boris Yeltsin to agree to withdraw Russian troops from Estonia.

The prospect of the nomination of businessman Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for US president, which became almost certain only after the conference was organized, will hang heavily over the proceedings. Trump's foreign policy proposals - pulling the US out of NATO if its members do not pay their fair share, suggesting the US may remove the nuclear umbrella over Japan and North Korea, and putting huge trade tariffs on China, are regarded with a mix of "alarm and confusion" in Europe, according to the New York Times. Even if Trump loses the general election, global leaders are wrestling with the possibility that his ascent reflects a strain of US public opinion that could profoundly change America's role in the world. Indeed, it would be a mistake to think that even in defeat the Trump movement will fade away completely. There are echoes of Trump's views in President Obama's comments in his recent Atlantic interview that America's European and Gulf allies are foreign policy "free riders." Even Hillary Clinton, long a committed internationalist, has recently been more protectionist trade issues.Especially troubling are Trump's comments about Russia, another topic certainly to be at the center of the conference discussions. Trump has often spoken positively of Vladimir Putin, saying he respects his strength. Alarmingly, Trump says he hopes to make deals with Putin, an indicator he may be willing to withdraw US forces form Europe or backtrack from the Western alliance's relatively hard line over Russian aggression in Ukraine. In the past Trump has sought to expand his business links to Russia and a key campaign strategist, lobbyist Paul Manafort, has grown wealthy in Washington trying to rehabilitate the reputations of unsavory dictators.Anne Applebaum recent argued in the Washington Post that even if Hillary Clinton -- who has hardly a spotless record herself -- wins in November, Trump already has done enormous damage not only to the reputation of the American political system but to the reputation of democracy (a responsibility, I would add, he shares with populist leaders in France, Hungary and elsewhere in Europe). In the Kremlin, the argument against democracy has long been based on cynicism: with no attractive ideology, Putin has been telling his people that democracy is no different than dictatorship. Both systems, he says, have their oligarchs (a comparison in which the Kremlin has also cited Hillary Clinton, as well as Trump). Only money matters. America's talk of its ideals, therefore, is fake.
Authored by Durwood Zaelke, Nigel Purvis, & Paul Bledsoe



There'll be a couple of bears in the room when the leaders of the five Nordic nations meet President Obama at the White House tomorrow. One, as many commentators have noted, is Russian aggression, and how to curb it. The other menace is less well publicized, but even more formidable --climate change.

The summit brings together the leaders of six of the eight nations with territory beyond the Arctic Circle. They know firsthand that the region is warming much faster than the global average.

But besides getting hotter, the Arctic is also getting darker. The combination is resulting in three self-reinforcing feedback loops, which are further accelerating the temperature rise that harms us all.

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The white ice that used to cover the Arctic Ocean - reflecting much of the incoming sunlight back into space - is shrinking, uncovering dark water, which absorbs the heat instead. Since 1979, loss of sea ice has warmed the planet a quarter as much as carbon dioxide emissions from all the vehicles, power plants, deforestation, manufacturing, and other sources worldwide.

Wildfires - as the Fort McMurray catastrophe in Alberta underlines - are more frequent because the world is getting hotter and drier. They set off another dangerous feedback loop by emitting both carbon dioxide and black carbon soot.

Black carbon - which also comes from dirty diesels, brick kilns, and primitive cookstoves - is the second biggest climate pollutant after carbon dioxide. It absorbs heat while in the atmosphere and darkens snow and ice when it falls out on them, causing them to absorb more heat and melt faster. The Arctic's largest emitters are Russia and Canada, mainly from wildfires and agricultural burning, and the US where - as in the Nordic countries - diesel transport is the biggest culprit.

Finally, a warmer planet is pushing the permafrost line further and further north, releasing methane, a climate pollutant more than twenty times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Even a partial sudden release of methane from melting permafrost could cause damage worth $60 trillion over the next ten years, crippling economies.

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Fortunately, leaders at the summit can draw on their shared experience in the Arctic to implement fast mitigation measures themselves and persuade other countries to follow suit. They can start by committing themselves to cutting the super pollutants - black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone (a principle component of urban smog), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), used primarily as refrigerants. Reducing them can slow warming faster than any other single strategy, and thus do the most to counter the feedbacks. It could quickly cut the rate of climate change by up to two-thirds in the Arctic - and by up to half globally.

That would represent an enormous victory, not just for the Arctic but for the world. And it would have other massive benefits besides slowing climate change. Cutting black carbon could prevent up to 80 million premature deaths from air pollution over the next twenty years, and even more illness. Cutting methane and tropospheric ozone would increase agricultural productivity by hundreds of millions of tons, helping to reduce food prices and avoid hunger.

The US and Nordic countries have the technology and knowhow to do this fast and effectively: California, for example, has already cut black carbon by 90 percent in recent decades. And they can share their experiences with the developing countries that only now are starting to address their air pollution. As Chair of the Arctic Council, the United States has an opportunity to set a target for reducing black carbon in the region and encourage observer nations--including India and China--to increase their ambition in curbing this pollution.

The US and Nordic countries can also minimize methane leaks from oil and gas development. In a major step, the US today announced measures on the pollutant for the oil and gas industry, and for new and heavily modified equipment.

The leaders also should redouble their commitment to reducing tropical deforestation, responsible for more than a tenth of climate pollution: saving and restoring forests is one of the biggest and most cost-effective strategies for controlling carbon dioxide. Over the past decade, Brazil has reduced deforestation in the Amazon by 70% while simultaneously increasing rural incomes and agricultural production. Norway is leading global efforts to replicate this success in Indonesia and other tropical forest nations.

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Last but far from least, the US and Nordic leaders have an opportunity to finalize a global agreement this year to phase down HFCs through the Montreal Protocol, the world's most successful environmental agreement.

They should agree at the summit to significantly increase funding to help developing nations phase down HFCs quickly. The US and Norway have already announced further financial support for the HFC phasedown, and other leaders at the summit could add their own fast-start contributions. These should include a fund that would immediately start helping developing countries prepare for the phasedown, and to capture the significant energy efficiency gains available from better air conditioners using less polluting refrigerants.

Such efficiency gains could double the climate benefits of the phasedown, saving the equivalent of 200 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The efficiency gains could save as much energy in India by 2030 as would be provided by up to 140 medium size peak power plants - up to 500 by 2050. The effect could be even bigger in China, where the savings could avoid the need for up to 600 such plants by 2030, and more than 700 two decades later.

Such strong measures on the super pollutants may be the best, perhaps the only way, to slow warming in the Arctic fast enough to slow the self-reinforcing feedbacks pushing the climate problem out of control. Nordic leaders should join President Obama and work with the major economies to cut the rate of Arctic warming by two-thirds. That would be the best way to tame the climate beast in the room - before it attacks us all.

Durwood Zaelke is founder and President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development and co-directs a related program at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara.

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Nigel Purvis is the founding CEO of Climate Advisers and a former senior U.S. climate negotiator at the State Department.
It takes under thirty steps to get from my car to my office building door - fifteen seconds from one place to the other. Even so, during this morning's "walk," I couldn't avoid being confronted with the kind of behavior that inadvertently screws up workplace cultures and renders managers and their groups ineffective.

No, I wasn't mugged or physically threatened. (Seriously, if that was your first thought about bad behavior at work, you may want to change jobs.) I was, however, presented with what should have been a mundane request for information - but one that was structured so badly it could have started a fight as easily as a conversation.

Does it sound like I'm overstating? Decide for yourself...

As I reached the building door, a pickup truck pulled up to the curb, and a good-sized gentleman jumped out of the passenger side and began running toward me yelling "sir! SIR!"

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Ok, fine. He did call me "sir." And in retrospect, I now know he was being polite. Sort of.

At the time it was difficult to tell, because he used the intonation and volume for the word "sir" that one might use in a sentence like, "sir, put out your cigarette while you're pumping gas for my mother," or, "sir, put down your carry-on and evacuate the aircraft RIGHT NOW!" Did I mention he was simultaneously running toward me?

Add to that, he was visibly upset - upset enough to make me wonder for a split second if I'd stumbled into an unanticipated conflict. Had I driven over this man's toes in the parking lot? Somehow offended his honor? Probably not. I quickly estimated that his assertiveness looked more like annoyance than aggression - and that, whatever it was, it probably wasn't aimed at me. So I turned to face him, hoping I'd guessed correctly.

At this point, I don't think anyone would have faulted me for a response along the lines of "what's the freakin' problem?" or maybe even some stronger language. But why escalate? I opted for silent eye contact. Surely more information was forthcoming.

And it was. Sort of.

"Where's the passport office?" he boomed, reaching me and grinding to a halt.

I first considered the question at face value. I couldn't recall ever going to a US passport office in person, but I'd heard of them being located at various cities. I remembered talking with a colleague about the one in San Francisco, but decided that was unlikely to have been this man's destination since we were in a parking lot in Austin, Texas. So I pondered: Is there a passport office somewhere in Austin? Elsewhere in Texas? Could that really be what this guy is asking? Why me? Why here? I was at a loss.

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Don't tell the people in my classes, but when you need more time to come up with an answer, you can buy it by repeating the question.

"The passport office?"

"Yeah, the passport office. Which building is it in?" The tone of our conversation had morphed. I don't think I'd use the word "gracious," but no longer did he offer any nonverbal cues that might hint at aggression. Rather, at this point, a passer-by might have concluded that I was an administrative employee of his - and an unsatisfactory one at that. Bad enough to merit a raised eyebrow, anyway, though maybe not so incompetent that my job was at risk.

What a relief. Sort of.

More importantly, though, I had new information: The correct answer would not only involve passports, but would also be located in my office complex.

Minimally informative though it was, my new insight proved helpful. In the last year, I've made a few international trips that required visas, using a third party to help secure them. This travel assistance firm happens to be located in my building. I suddenly realized that they could offer support for certain passport transactions as well.

Progress!

"There's a company that helps get visas here. They may work on passports too, I'm not sure."

"Great," came the reply; still with the unsatisfactory-employee vibe. "And does this building even have a main entrance?"

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Setting aside my apparent responsibility for the shoddy design of the office complex, I now understood his problem. Our campus consists of multiple buildings; from certain points in the parking lot it's difficult to figure out which is which, and where to enter. This man had likely been driving in circles, unable to locate what he needed. Add in the pressure of running late for an appointment - or maybe the pressure of impending travel - and his frustration-masquerading-as-animosity started to make sense: He couldn't find the front door.

Still, blame triggers defensiveness, even when bizarrely misplaced. I must admit, at this point, the option of sarcasm crossed my mind: "No entrances. We climb in and out through windows. I really hate being on the top floor." But I thought better of it, and instead considered trying to talk him around to the front of the building. "Go that way, then turn, then turn again..." The outcome there didn't promise to be much better.

So I went with option C, and threw in a smile for good measure. "You can come in here." I motioned him in the back door just behind us, and pointed down the hall. "What you're looking for is that way."

Almost instantly, he disappeared around a corner, leaving an audible trail of "thank you, thanks so much."

See? I told you he was being polite. This person had no animosity toward me, no agenda for me, and needed only simple information that I could easily provide. He called me "sir" and thanked me profusely. I should have been pleased to help.

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And I was. Sort of.

I also left the interaction with the blend of relief and leftover adrenaline usually reserved for a near miss with a tractor-trailer on the highway. Why did it feel like such a close call?

I mean, really. Think about this for a second. I was nobody to him, some guy in a parking lot on my way to work. But this was no quick, easy conversation - it takes the better part of 900 words just to describe it! I had to engage my critical thinking, problem solving, and interactive skills fully, just to coax and cajole our interaction to a useful conclusion - that is, a useful conclusion for him!

What if I'd been a little more tired, or he'd been a little more assertive? What if I'd had a real reason to feel defensive about the design of the complex, or he'd used even a single swear word? A bit more difficulty - just one more tiny bump in the road - and we would have ended up in a metaphorical wreck, crashed somewhere between "I don't know what you're talking about" and "don't make me call security."

This is the kind of near-miss interactive victory that should go along with mediating divorce proceedings or holding peace talks, not pointing someone to suite 106.

The thing is, I see this all too frequently in workplace situations. You probably do too. One person needs routine information from another, but the situation quickly and inappropriately escalates. Issues get confused. People get defensive. Professionals treat each other with disdain, as if they're owed whatever they're requesting. Then, egos get bruised. Too often, information exchange gets hung up by accidental conflict.

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Not to get all academic, but organizations exist in large part to resolve legitimate conflicts between incompatible alternatives. Do we fund more development, or more marketing? Do we stretch a current product, or create a new one? Do we ramp up, or ramp down? Answering questions like these requires real conflict between ideas, agendas, goals, and plans. And in order to have those useful conflicts, we need to get rid of the useless ones born of defensiveness, annoyance, and egoism.

Luckily, you already know how to do this. I know you do, and I'll prove it. With no help from me, you can come up with a new script, a briefly stated question that my passport-seeking friend could have asked - should have asked - to get all of the information he needed with little risk of failure.

Try it! Think up your own before you read on.

Really. Do it now.

How about this one - it's just 30 words instead of 900: "Excuse me, I'm late for an appointment with TravelStuff Incorporated, a company that's helping me to renew my passport. I can't find their office. Do you know where it is?"

I'll bet yours was even better. In about ten seconds, you designed a conversation that would resolve itself faster, use fewer words, consume less energy, and produce more benefit.

That's my challenge to you: If you can do this for Mr. Passport in my parking lot, you can do it for yourself at work. Stop going into information-seeking interactions so lost in your own side of the situation that you all but forget the existence of the other person and the interaction that's about to happen. Instead, consider how to get your questions answered, and how to disagree without getting into an argument. Take the few seconds you need to design your interactions, so that they help you by helping the other person to help you.

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You'll be glad you did. You'll get what you need faster, your workplace will function better, and - as an added bonus - people will be more willing to help you again next time.

Plus, best of all, if everyone starts doing this, my walk across the parking lot will be peaceful again, and my blog posts will get a whole lot shorter.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters show their skills during a graduation ceremony on May 5, 2016 at the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTTC) of Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.The KTTC is a joint effort of the Dutch, Italian, British and German governments which aims to unify the military assistance of these countries. / AFP / SAFIN HAMED (Photo credit should read SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)

What's all this buzz about Sykes-Picot, and why are we hearing about it now - 100 years after the fact?

The Sykes-Picot agreement was a secret document signed by Britain and France - with a wink and a nod from czarist Russia - that basically carved up the Ottoman Empire and placed most of the Middle East under British and French administration.

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Brokered during World War I, Sykes-Picot was a backroom deal, not a publicly debated diplomatic treaty. When its terms were leaked to the media in 1917 by Russia's new Bolshevik government, a major international scandal erupted.

Fast forward to June 10, 2014. As ISIS terrorists breached the international border between Iraq and Syria, they broadcast photos and video under the Twitter hashtag #SykesPicotOver. From that moment, noted The Guardian, references to the Sykes-Picot agreement became "a kind of convenient shorthand for western double-dealing and perfidy."

What's in a name? Or in this case, two names?

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was named after two diplomats who served as its primary negotiators: Sir Mark Sykes, a British Conservative Party politician; and Francois Georges-Picot, a French attorney.

Although it would be a stretch to describe Sir Sykes as a Kurdologist by today's academic standards, it's worth noting that he traveled through Kurdistan and even published an ethnographic study of the Kurds in 1908. The rather puzzling map that he created during his travels can be seen here.

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What was the U.S. position on the Sykes-Picot agreement?

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson objected not only to the agreement's imperialist tone, but also to the underhanded manner in which it had been negotiated. In 1918, he began his famous Fourteen Points speech with these words: "The day of conquest and aggrandizement is gone by; so is also the day of secret covenants entered into in the interest of particular governments and likely at some unlooked-for moment to upset the peace of the world."

Despite Wilson's many statements about the virtue of national self-determination, in 1919 he dispatched an American team to analyze how the post-war Middle East should be structured and governed. The Americans drew a new map of the region and proposed arbitrary national boundaries, concluding--similarly to Sykes and Picot--that foreign administration was necessary to manage local ethnic and tribal tensions.

What bearing does the Sykes-Picot agreement have on The Kurdish Question and the geopolitics of the modern Middle East?

Although the national boundaries that were negotiated by Sykes and Picot differ from what we see on modern maps today, many policy experts attribute the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the Syrian Civil War and the rise of ISIS, to the artificial national borders that the Sykes-Picot agreement blueprinted.

The fact that the Sykes-Picot agreement effectively created new countries - including the modern states of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria - without the consent or participation of anyone living in the region, is both morally problematic and completely contrary to today's international relations norms, which are governed - or at least should be governed - by international law.

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100 years later, what's next for the Kurds?

Right now, conditions on the ground in Iraq and Syria bear a striking resemblance to those that pre-dated the break-ups of India, Yugoslavia and Sudan. "We don't know the fate of the people in this region," former KRG Prime Minister Barham Ahmed Salih explained in a recent interview, "But, for sure, this time - unlike a hundred years ago, when Mr. Sykes and Mr. Picot drew the lines in the sand - the people of the region will have much to do with shaping the new order."

Now that central governance from Baghdad has become a fiction, the territorial integrity of Iraq is in play. One paradigm is a federalized nation, which would give greater autonomy to Kurds in the far north, Sunni Arabs in the west and Shia Arabs in the south. A second option is a fully independent Kurdistan.

In one of his most explicit statements about Kurdish independence to date, on January 22, 2016, KRG President Barzani said, "[world leaders] have come to this conclusion that the era of Sykes-Picot is over... It's illogical to continue or insist on repeating a wrong experiment that was repeated for 100 years and is leading nowhere...I think it [independence] is now much closer than at any other time."
In a year of unconstitutional "bathroom bills" aimed at terrorizing trans women and Antioch Review's publication (and defense of) one of the most transphobic "articles" many of us have seen in recent years (a petition opposed to its publication garnered thousands of signatures in a day) it's become apparent that an ever-increasing national discussion of "trans issues" is eclipsing the work and lives of actual trans people.

A note of positivity in all this mess is Vetch: A Magazine of Trans Poetry and Poetics. The second issue of the magazine just launched and I sat down (virtually) with the editors of Vetch (Kay Gabriel, Liam O'Brien, Rylee Lyman, and Stephen Ira) to discuss the future of poetry, the usefulness of genre, and what advice they have for young trans writers.

What space is Vetch filling? Do you see Vetch as a way to make space, take space, open up space, or something else entirely?

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Liam: The acknowledgment of space is interesting, since Vetch is so far filling only a digital role. We definitely see Vetch as a way to make, take, and open up space. Trans poets are mostly not published in a literary world that considers our work essentially identitarian and therefore not authentically literary. We would like to see trans poetry in general take up more space, and we're hoping that Vetch will provide one venue among many to do that.

One of the most striking things about Vetch is the range of forms and poetry styles within it. While shaping the magazine, do you think about a cohesive collection of poems or does the form rise organically from the poems you love and accept for publication?

Kay: It's a bit of both. In our editing process we're looking for poems that surprise and challenge us, that strike us as particularly effective and, for this last issue, engage with our theme in complicated ways. We make a point of not setting an agenda on the kind of poetry someone needs to be writing in order to engage us--so we end up with, as you say, a vast range of voices, forms, and modes of expression.

But we also pay a lot of attention to what the issue will look like as a collection. Part of that question is a social one: we don't want, for instance, to be in the business of curating majority-white trans art under the disingenuous banner of "trans art." We think a lot about whose work we're putting forward and how that matches with the political commitments that subtend the journal. And we put a lot of thought into arranging the journal, selecting which pieces will contrast against or elaborate each other. To a certain extent, for instance, the first few poems in this issue--from Joss Barton's "Eulogy" to Wo Chan's "what do I make of my face"--might be read as a series that engages variously with loss. One of Trish Salah's poems within this sequence, "Tiresias as Cuir (from a first run)" is written in a less personal register. As I read it, this poem attempts in a more explicit way to represent the social processes of queer historiography and its impulse to translate words, phrases, myths, and history into its own, usually anglophone, idiom. But Salah's lines "On the couch. At the urinal. A race with a use value / For the revolution. For the dead. For women like me" also link these abstract processes to their brutal material consequences in licensing sites of violence and exploitative acts. Salah's poems within this series thus attempt representation of (some of) the conditions that undergird the kinds of losses keenly felt elsewhere in the issue.



This is the second issue of Vetch. Was the process of creating this volume different? How so?

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Stephen: Definitely--Vetch No. 1 felt almost experimental to me. We were seeing if we could do it, and what would happen if we curated trans poetry based on what gave us pleasure as readers and writers of poems. Working on Vetch No. 2 I felt both more confident in my own enactment of a curatorial role and more suspicious of the implications of curation itself. Doing anything in trans lit seems like it necessitates a kind of disoriented groping around for position, and with this issue I began to feel excited about that disoriented state rather than anxious to settle.

What advice do you have for all the young trans poets out there?

Stephen: Read a lot of poems and don't orient your trans poetics around the correctness of your own gender.

What kinds of questions do you wish you were being asked?

Stephen: "What is the relationship of trans poetry as a vexed and emergent 'genre' to the vexed and established 'genre' of gay poetry?" All the editors of Vetch are gay, as are a lot of the poets we've published. Obviously, there's an absurdity to the idea that "gay" or "trans" is a matter of genre, but at the same time, there are certain tropes in gay and trans lit that I would call generic. I wish in general that we were engaged with more as a part of an extent tradition of queer people writing, rather than having our transness overwhelm us and throw us from the ludicrous but necessary category of gay lit into the equally ludicrous but necessary category of trans lit.

Also--joking but not joking: "Here is a lot of money so that everyone involved in Vetch can be paid for their work; can I give it to you?"

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What do you think poetry can do? What do you think it should do?

Stephen: I'm confused and inclined to be careful about the terms of this question--what can whose poetry do for whom, and when? Things I know that poetry can do: raise political consciousness, bring pleasure, relieve emotional pain, communicate love--but I don't know how discrete those things are, and I don't know how much good they are without bread and beans. Not to subtweet Brecht, but food is first; everything else follows afterward. I also know poetry can reaffirm selfish and evil beliefs in such an aestheticized way that they no longer even seem ideological, just like wallpaper.

Kay: One contradiction we confront in editing Vetch is that we posit a political basis for the work we do but don't take art as an intervention into politics. In an ideal world, without the political conditions that place trans people variously at risk, there would be no need for a trans literary magazine. (These conditions, needless to say, are hardly transphobia alone.) So trans art is conditioned by and often responds to politics, but is not itself a form of political activity. Poetry is not the same thing as praxis. In a more general frame, cultural production cannot negate the exploitative material conditions that license its own existence; at most it can attempt to represent them. Many people, probably including some of our own contributors, would dispute these claims. But they inform the work we do, in particular the stress we place on aesthetics: since we don't take art to constitute a political intervention, we appreciate poetry that doubles down on its aesthetic strategies--even its entanglement in cultural production. Aristilde Kirby's roundel series in Vetch No. 2, "Intermediate Starved Aster Egretta SAE," is a great example of this. So is an. cinquepalmi's "Apricot."

Vetch is also a journal of poetics. What are the poetics of Vetch?

Kay: There are two ways to answer this. One is that we accept critical prose essays on trans poetry that engage with poetics. We've received very few submissions of this kind, but it's something we'd really like to expand in future. Trans poetry is challenging and complex, enough so to deserve critical close-reading and sophisticated theorization, but the analysis of trans literature is more often than not reductive and often offensively so. Vetch can be a space for more sensitive and insightful critical work--that, furthermore, grapples with trans literature that falls outside of a remarkably narrow canon.

The second is the poetics that guide our work as editors and publishers. This is easier to discuss in a negative vein. Vetch is motivated against the contemporary trend in journal publishing to have trans issues of literary magazines. This is not to say that the poetry that has appeared in such issues is all bad: some of us have been or are going to be published in such issues, and the guest editors in charge of such issues frequently do sensitive and interesting curatorial work. But this form of publishing is opportunistic at best--yet another iteration of the justification for brief instances of trans-focused cultural production in light of, say, Caitlyn Jenner's media spotlight. This situation takes the form of a commodification of identity; it certainly doesn't constitute a commitment to trans literature as such. It has ramifications for trans aesthetics as well: in a world of cis publishing where poetry by trans authors is published rather more rarely and is moreover understood as a genre, this poetry will be judged by whether or not it fits the predetermined standards of that genre. This situation thus operates through a version of what Viviane Namaste has called the autobiographical imperative: in this case, that we make our social identities transparent in the poetry we write, and that our writing therefore should take the form of attempting to establish authenticity as trans authors. The reverse side of this imperative is that we write without disclosing or thematizing dynamics of our social being or community at all, which is a more obvious form of silencing.

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Vetch is an attempt to intervene in this situation. One of our goals is that by doing so we offer a space for a much broader range of aesthetics from trans poets, and for poetry whose relationship to gender is articulated in more complicated ways than dominant narratives around trans identities license.

How did y'all meet one another?

Liam: The real answer is The Internet. Stephen and I, as boyfriends, were talking about the possibility of starting a trans poetry journal. Stephen posted about that on his blog, and Kay said she'd be interested in working with us--which was amazing, since we'd both been kind of intimidated by her poetic intelligence already. And then her girlfriend Rylee agreed to be our design editor. Thank goodness. But seriously, I am really glad that trans poets (and queer poets in general) have the internet as a resource for connecting and forming collective projects. It's not the only way to connect, certainly, but it has done great work for us.

In the current landscape, how do you as poets and artists think about the world of litmags and journals? How do you know if a place is friendly to work about trans experience, especially work that isn't written for a cis audience/cis gaze? Are there things you look for or do you rely on word-of-mouth stuff from friends? What would you like to see calls for submissions say?

Liam: Personally, I don't read a lot of litmags or journals. The fact is that trans poets aren't widely published right now--with a few exceptions--and what I am mostly interested in reading is poems by trans and gay people. There are a few venues that publish these poems; I hope for more. I think poems that aren't written for a cis audience have a thorny road ahead, but I have hope for them. Word-of-mouth, especially in this communication-heavy age, is what trans poets rely on for publication. What I would like to see is a renaissance of trans publishing: more journals, more books, more blogs than we can handle. I want calls for submissions to specify that they welcome work on trans themes; I think that needs to be said out loud, and I think it cannot be confined to "trans-themed" issues of magazines that will ignore trans writing the rest of the time. More broadly, I want journals to seek poetry outside the realm of the "publishable." If litmags pushed their boundaries more, I think they would have more readers.

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Do you believe in the idea of the future? Where do you see Vetch in five years? Will there ever be print copies, or is Vetch digital-native, digital-forever? How important is it that Vetch be free and downloadable and accessible for anyone with a link? What about AWP/other literary conferences and table-ing and selling something? What about getting paid for your labor that you put into Vetch, how do y'all feel about that?

Kay: To take a line from Ernst Bloch, we believe in "reality plus the future within it."

Rylee: In five years, we hope to have just published our twelfth issue! While we're web-only at the moment, Vetch is designed with print in mind, and we would love to have a print run of each issue. Unfortunately, printing is much more expensive than posting to Dropbox, so it might be a while before this happens. We love that anyone can download and read Vetch for free, wherever they are! It's a shame that this doesn't mean that everyone who might enjoy Vetch will be able to reach it, but it's a nice fantasy to have.

Vetch currently is a volunteer project edited by four people with other jobs. We'd love at some point to be compensated for our work here. However, while we have a lot of exciting plans to expand the journal--including making appearances at literary conferences--we're realistic when it comes to profit: it's likely Vetch will never make us much money, and we're not torn up about this. More important to us is that, when we are able to, we start paying our contributors for their work

You can find the second issue of Vetch here.



Kay Gabriel is a student in the PHD program in Classics, Princeton University. Her poetry has appeared in TINGE and Industrial Lunch and is forthcoming from Matrix Magazine; a critical essay on trans poetics is forthcoming in Transgender Studies Quarterly in a special issue on translation. With David W. Pritchard she is a co-author of the poetry chapbook Impropria Persona, due out from Damask Press in winter 2017.

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Stephen Ira's poetry and short fiction have appeared in The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard, Spot Literary Magazine, the St. Sebastian Review, and Specter Magazine, among others. In 2013, he was selected as one of Lambda Literary's summer fellows in poetry. In 2014, he was featured as a guest star in La Mama's SQUIRTS: New Voices in Queer Performance. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2014.

Rylee Lyman is a PhD student and graphic designer in Boston. Her forays into writing poetry, as opposed to typesetting it, have appeared in Industrial Lunch.
This post was written jointly by Emma Saloranta and Julia Wiklander. Julia is at the Nordic Midwifery Congress, representing Girls' Globe and The Mom Pod.

The Nordic Midwifery Congress (NJF) is taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, 12-14 May 2016. The Congress brings together hundreds of midwives mainly from the Nordic region - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland and The Faroe Islands - to share experiences, lessons learned, innovations and stories about midwives, birth, maternal and newborn health, sexual and reproductive health, breastfeeding, and more. The Congress is a great opportunity for people in the field of midwifery and maternal and newborn health to learn from each other, network and make new connections that enable them to become even better and more efficient in ensuring that mothers and babies not only survive, but thrive through pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.

The theme of this year's Congress is #Midwives4All. In the Nordic countries, pretty much every pregnant woman has access to a skilled and trained midwife - and most uncomplicated, low risk pregnancies and births are routinely handled by midwives, from prenatal care through labor and during postpartum. Nordic countries therefore have a great deal of experience to share, that can be useful not only between the Nordic nations but also for other countries who aim to reach a similar level of midwifery and maternal and newborn health coverage for their mothers and babies. There is a long history of partnerships and sharing lessons learned between health practitioners in these countries, which has enabled them to develop healthcare systems that, while not perfect, are able to reach almost every single mother and baby, despite their socio-economic status, location, ethnicity or other such factor.

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Yet, midwifery and sexual and reproductive health and rights is under pressure in the Nordic countries. Hildur Kristjansdottir, President of the Nordic Federation of Midwives spoke at the opening ceremony about the important role that midwives have to influence politics and make their voices heard. Kristjansdottir mentioned that midwives need to be in leading governmental positions to be able to fight medicalization of childbirth.

Kristina Ljungros, President of RFSU, spoke passionately about the challenges that Europe and other parts of the world is facing to access of sexual education and safe and legal abortion. She encouraged Nordic midwives to unite and stand up for the human rights of women and adolescents.

"There is no place for complacency!" says Frances Day-Stirk, President of the International Confederation of Midwives, who showed that even some of the Nordic countries are seeing an increase in maternal deaths. She also spoke about the challenges that midwives face in their work in the three major cities in Sweden, where midwives are overworked and leaving their jobs, and she encouraged midwives to lead for change.

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Day-Stirk mentioned the importance of capitalizing on the opportunities with the Sustainable Development Goals and that midwives have a very important role to be able to reach these goals. "2016 is a pivotal year for midwives. We must be informed, we must use our knowledge and we must raise our voices to lobby for change."

There is substantial evidence indicating that a midwifery-led care model towards pregnancy and birth yields benefits for both mothers and babies. Findings from multiple studies (see here and here, for example) indicate that mothers whose pregnancies and births were attended to by midwives experience less preterm births, less need for an epidural, and less medical interventions, instrumental births and episiotomies than births handled by obstetricians.
I am so grateful to be alive. Yet, recently, my contemplations about enjoying the present have been influenced by a newfound interest in learning more about others' views on death and dying. I was inspired by an article on The Guardian about Pieter Hintjiens and his blog, Protocol For Dying. Hintjiens, a Belgian software developer based in Brussels and father of two, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer last month. He has since been preparing for his death.

In its radical earnestness, Protocol is heart-wrenching and conciliatory. Hintjiens details the sudden diagnosis as if his reader was a close friend: A cough in February, his father's death in March, an E.R. visit and cancer diagnosis by mid-April. He considers euthanasia. He makes himself dispensable at work. Most of all, he reveals how he's processing his impending death: "Be honest and transparent with others," he tells himself. "It takes time to grieve and it is far easier to process [a] death when you can talk about it with [the dying]. There is no shame in dying, it is not a failure." He encourages friends and readers to add comments and farewells, referring to the blog as a living archive for his children to peruse long after he is gone. "I'd really like a single place where my kids can come and read what other people say about their dad," he writes.

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Hintjiens illuminates the benefits of educating ourselves about death, especially when we are healthy. "I know we're supposed to be super afraid of death. But [death's] good, isn't it?" says Professor Laura King, of the University of Missouri. "[Isn't immortality the plot of] every vampire story or sci-fi movie? [After a while], life no longer has any meaning, because it's commonplace." We could all benefit from learning the many dimensions of death and dying. Educational resources could include medical descriptions of what it is like to die and how to manage the psychological impact of knowing we are dying. We would gain a sense of the social implications of death: how to talk to the dying, how to talk about the dead, and how to process the deaths of everyone from family members to lovers to coworkers to passersby.

Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts, houses the National Center for Death Education, with online courses and certificates on Thanatology (described as the 'field of death, dying, and grief') that are open to the public. Other proponents of death education recommend starting with children in elementary school. Scholastic, the children's publishing house, recommends that, "To fully grieve, and come to terms with a death," children must know four basic truths: that death is irreversible, that all parts of a human die at once, that everything dies, and that death is "caused by physical reasons." They especially encourage parents to accompany comforting conversations about heaven or the afterlife with reminders of the finality of death as these may confuse or frighten children, preoccupying them with "the physical suffering of the deceased."

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Supplementing secular knowledge with an understanding of the cultural and theological interpretations of death may provide a sense of ownership to the experience. From the acceptance of death in Zen Buddhism to notions of Heaven in Christianity, learning how each culture grapples with death helps us come to terms with living.
CHRIST IS RISEN!

With the journey to Pascha having reached its ultimate destination at the glorious Resurrection of the Lord, the Orthodox Church has now embarked on the Pentecostarion period.

Pentecost (the descent of God the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem - Acts 2:1-11) will be celebrated on June 19th. This year's feast will have added significance because it will mark the commencement of the Holy and Great Council on the island of Crete in Greece.

Shepherded by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Council will bring together Primates from the fourteen autocephalous Orthodox sister churches to deliberate on various matters under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Following January's confirmation of the Council's convocation, many articles in multiple languages have been published about the Council, its agenda and supporting pre-conciliar documents.

There have been thoughtful essays (e.g., on Hesychasm and Theology by Professor George Mantzaridis) written by clergy and lay, men and women, Orthodox and not. As Pentecost Sunday approaches, additional articles will focus on this historic event. This is a good thing. Well-intentioned proposals (including a number by His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou) to improve the pre-conciliar documents should be welcomed.

Contributions should be consistent with Orthodox patristic theology, developed with discernment, prayer and an ecclesiastical phronema (mindset). But the Holy and Great Council is also an opportunity for individuals and/or groups to promulgate certain innovative agendas. One such issue is Orthodox - Catholic unity.

A recent essay, for example, argued that the April meeting between Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis (as well as Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece) on the island of Lesbos was an attempt to move the "churches in the direction of unity ... [and] towards reconciliation." Using a few hour meeting meant to bring attention and help refugees as a way to advance a certain Orthodox - Catholic narrative is telling.

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Moreover, some leftist scholars are pushing particular perspectives on subjects related to this issue, including using "Church" to classify other Christian confessions (most notably Roman Catholicism), and baptism as it relates to the reception of non-Orthodox.

These are serious theological issues. They invoke zeal among believers. Interpretations - and the intentions behind them - matter. As do words. Reading various commentaries on the pre-conciliar documents brings to mind Mark Twain's quote that, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."

Some of these scholars, though, simply label and dismiss out of hand those who disagree with them as traditionalists, fringe, and sectarians. They use alarmist rhetoric to warn that unless bishops adopt a certain approach (theirs, obviously) the Church will be "hijacked by extremists".

In attempting to repudiate Orthodox extremists (as they identify them), some risk becoming extremists themselves. While the Church is certainly not anti-intellectual, endeavouring to understand Orthodox dogma and the writings of the Holy Fathers with the mind is markedly different than grasping it with the spirit. There is a danger in wrapping oneself in his own intellectual prowess that he may reject the warm embrace of an Orthodox phronema.

Closely connected to Orthodox - Catholic unity is the issue of "Church unity" which is instructive to illustrate the difference between academic knowledge and spiritual wisdom.

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His Eminence Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia writes in his prominent book The Orthodox Church, "There are divisions among Christians, but the Church itself is not divided nor can it ever be" (my emphasis).

Do Orthodox Christians not confess in the never-changing Creed belief in 'One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church'? Is Christ not the Bridegroom of the Church? Did Orthodox Christians on Holy Thursday not hear the priest intone, as he carried Christ Crucified: The Bridegroom of the Church is fixed with nails to the cross? Is not the Church His Body?

Official recognition of another "Church" at the Holy and Great Council will steepen the slippery slope and encourage the misguided - and potentially dangerous - case for "Church unity".

The indispensable building block for Christian unity is in matters of faith. Do Orthodox Christians not pray, in every Divine Liturgy, for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit? Unity of the faith gives birth to communion in the sacraments - including baptism, and at the Lord's Table above all.

Quoting Metropolitan Kallistos Ware again: "It is unity in faith that matters, not organizational unity; and to secure unity of organization at the price of a compromise in dogma is like throwing away the kernel of a nut and keeping the shell."

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It is the sacred task of Orthodox bishops, as overseers of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church to overlook extremists - on both ends of the theological spectrum - in order to separate the wheat from the chaff and ensure that decisions taken in Crete, and beyond, seem good to the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 15:28).

Pentecost is a fitting feast to affirm the uniqueness of Orthodoxy: that the Orthodox Church is a saint-producing factory, that the Orthodox Church invites the faithful to experience their own personal Pentecost, that the Orthodox Church is the vehicle which drives man to holiness.

The production of saints has never ceased in the Orthodox Church, even in the present age: from The Saint of our Century, St. Nektarios the Wonderworker (+1920) to St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (+1991) and St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994), to the countless men and women who have reached theosis.

The Holy and Great Council is an opportunity for Orthodoxy to preserve - and proclaim - this Truth. Orthodox should not be reticent to engage other Christians but instead welcome the opportunity to speak the truth in love (cf. Eph 4:15), shining a spotlight on the rich teachings, holy traditions and sanctifying faith of the Orthodox Church.

---



Feedback can be sent to esotiropoulos [at] gmail.com
So far--in several posts and in my book Say Yes to No--I've emphasized the negative sides of technology--how it makes us distracted, nervous, less empathic, less spiritual, and in some ways, less human. This, in fact, is the direction of Sherry Turkle's research and her book I'm currently reading, Reclaiming Conversation. I also just re-watched the film Ex Machina, about Nathan, a computer genius and owner of a web-search company--think Google. Nathan creates Ava (whose name is obviously a play on that of the first woman of the Bible, Eve). Ava is a beautiful and alluring strong artificial intelligence (AI) robot who can also pass the Turing Test. In the course of the film, Nathan declares something significant to Caleb (one of his employees who has been recruited by Nathan to assess Ava):

"The arrival of strong artificial intelligence has been inevitable for decades. The variable was when, not if." Nathan in Ex Machina

About half way through the film, the movie pivots and begins to emphasize the dark side of technology. Ultimately, Ava turns out to be dangerous, self-serving, manipulative, and even murderous. This seems to be a parable for our fears about tech--we create something that overwhelms us. (I remember first watching this as a kid seeing Fantasia and the famous "Sorcerer's Apprentice" scene.)

Why do we fear technology--its presence in our lives and what skulks on the horizon? This question brings me back to the film.

The title, "Ex Machina" obviously plays on the old Greek tragedy's trope of Deus Ex Machina, or "god of the machine," " where a machine is used to bring actors playing gods onto the stage. The machine could be either a crane (mechane) used to lower actors from above or a riser that brought actors up through a trapdoor. Preparation to pick up the actors was done behind the skene. The idea was introduced by Aeschylus and was used often to resolve the conflict and conclude the drama." It now denotes an unrealistically resolved plot.

But here, in Ex Machina, the direction is reversed--the plot isn't resolved, but descends into anarchy. It is not a comedy--where the initial values of the film's world are restored, but a tragedy, where suddenly there is an anonymous AI robot released into the world creating chaos. The "god" of the machine--the creator of Ava--is destroyed. Here I think immediately of The Matrix or of The Terminator's Skynet.

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But why do we fear technology? I mean, my smart phone is almost always at my side. Google Maps does help me find directions really easily. I enjoy music on my iPhone. More substantially, cell phones help poor African farmers find the best price for their crop and thus make enough money to live. Pico projectors offered training to stem the tide of Ebola--ask my friend Matt York at OMPT.

Nonetheless, I realize there is power over me that is sometimes seemingly impossible to resist. Sherry Turkle reminds us that, on the average, Americans check their cell phone every 6  minutes. That seems a little scary because I'll bet that time interval is decreasing, and despite all the good things tech has brought, the creation seems to be overwhelming the creators. Maybe it's even an intimation of "original sin," this notion that there is something lurking in us that cannot resist the temptation to misuse what is powerful and even, at some level, good. I sense this concern, even hints of fear, running as an undercurrent throughout Turkle's recent work.

So why do we fear the future of the presence of technology? I'm not sure we're convinced we have sufficiently robust wills to properly use its powers. Maybe we need to move beyond fear. Perhaps, however the first step is to affirm the good that tech brings.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark speaks during a series of meetings with candidates vying for the position of United Nations (UN) secretary-general on April 14, 2016 in New York City. At least eight candidates are running for the office - four men and four women. A woman selection would be the first for the UN. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

As one who has seen the work of the United Nations from near and far over many years, I strongly believe the world is a better place because of its work. Over the past 70 years, it has helped end conflicts, fostered development, set standards for human rights, contained the proliferation of nuclear weapons and established international legal frameworks where none had existed. Just last year, it was the forum for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and for the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

The challenges of today's globalised world are ever more complex and interconnected. The United Nations remains our only genuinely global gathering place with the convening power to bring together nations, civil society and the private sector to share ideas and seek solutions. But the problems we are trying to solve today are not the problems of 1945.

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Member States are looking to the United Nations to be adaptable so as to move with the times. They are making unprecedented demands on our only fully multilateral Organisation across all its spheres of action, from peacekeeping to humanitarian relief. This means we need the United Nations to be modern in its working methods, responsive, respected and well resourced. It means our global citizens, and in particular our young people, need to have confidence in its capacity to deliver results.

At a time when the relevance of the United Nations is being questioned and its effectiveness criticised, it will be critically important for the next Secretary-General to be the best person for this unique role, a proven leader who is chosen for competence, experience and knowledge of world affairs rather than their birth place.

I have presented myself as a candidate because I am confident I have the wide range of skills and experience necessary for leadership at this level. I have served three consecutive terms as New Zealand's Prime Minister. In my current role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, I have gained a deep insight into what makes for successful development. I have understood how inseparable are all three pillars of the United Nations Charter -- peace and security, development and human rights.

My vision of a fully effective and dynamic United Nations is one that can deliver results to future generations; an organisation that is flexible, practical and effective and can anticipate and respond to the world's problems.

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The position of United Nations Secretary-General is doubtless one of the world's most challenging leadership roles. It must be exercised in seamless cooperation with Member States, regional organisations, other agencies and the private sector. It is about convening and persuading, about catalysing the ideas and energy of others. It is not about status or ego but about being pragmatic and getting things done. I have demonstrated my ability to work in this way in my past leadership roles.

If selected, it would be the greatest privilege to build on the good work of previous Secretaries-General of the United Nations, and to make my contribution to modernising and strengthening the Organisation. What the United Nations does or does not do affects the lives of millions of people every day.

The United Nations needs a proven leader who is action focused and can communicate the Charter's message of hope and solidarity. I believe I am that person.
The gender pay gap has been stalled at approximately 20% for more than a decade. Based on the progress we have made to-date, it is projected that it would take until the year 2058 to achieve pay equity.

This issue requires immediate action, and in Massachusetts, we are taking it. In January, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed S.2119 An Act to Establish Equal Pay. This key piece of legislation can and should be replicated in state legislatures all over America.

The statistics are clear. Women who work full time earn approximately 80.8% of what men who work full time earn. The wage gap is much worse for women of color. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, African American women earn 66 cents for every dollar earned by men, and Latina women earn 54 cents for every dollar earned by men.

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S. 2119 seeks to achieve pay equity by closing the wage gap in three critical ways:

1. Clarifying terminology in the state's existing Equal Pay Act of 1945 by including a more comprehensive definition of comparable work, enabling employees to negotiate their compensation in accordance with industry standards. 2. Promoting pay transparency by adding provisions that allow companies to resolve unwarranted disparities in compensation without employees filing complaints or lawsuits. 3. Protecting employees from termination for discussing their compensation with their coworkers and colleagues.

For more than a century, Simmons College has been preparing women to lead change that impacts families, communities and the world. Our focus on women's empowerment began over 100 years ago with our founder John Simmons's revolutionary idea - that women should be able to earn independent livelihoods and lead meaningful lives. Key to achieving this goal is passing legislation like S.2119 that will allow employers to achieve wage parity and build on diversity and pay equity efforts already underway at many companies and organizations.
Venice Beach is home to a plethora of artists and creative people. Noted artists such as Ray Bradbury, Judy Baca, Philomene Long, Manazar Gamboa and Eva Cockcroft have all been part of the legendary art community by the sea. Numerous art groups have also arisen from the local community. One such group attracting notoriety is Venice ARTBLOCK, created in 2013. Endorsed by cultural and civic organizations, ARTBLOCK is a grantee of the Arts Activation Fund, created by Mayor Eric Garcetti. The artist run organization encourages Venice artists to open their studios and participate in the free event presented twice a year. An inclusive event, it spotlights artists of all disciplines who contribute to the quality and character of Venice.





Flyer photo by Meryl Lebowitz, Venice 6 AM, 20" x 16" oil on canvas, 2016



Longtime resident and founding member Francisco Letelier has curated a group show entitled "A Place Called Venice." The new realism exhibition showcases the work of artists who depict Venice in their work. The selected works accentuate the importance of recognizing Venice as a place of historic cultural landmarks. Letelier said he organized the exhibit with the hopes of capturing the elusive spirit of Venice through realist works. "A Place Called Venice" includes works by: Ruth Chase Boudreaux, Marybeth Fama, Jason Hill and Meryl Lebowitz. According to Letelier, "The grouping of artists recaptures the sense of place and creativity that have been a guiding principle in Venice since founder Abbott Kinney first imagined it."



Ruth Chase Boudreaux is an artist, born, raised and educated in Venice. "ArtBlock is a crucial part of keeping the spirit of Venice alive," said Chase Boudreaux, who is participating in the event for the first time. "Without events like this, the Venice community that we know and love would disappear."





Ruth Chase Boudreaux, Not Just Me Anymore, acrylic on canvas, 3 x 3', 2016, Inspired by the life of Fernando Manzanilla



Her West of Lincoln painting series, awarded a grant from The Carl Jacobs Foundation pays tribute to a population of people who shaped the history of an untamed community, while preserving their historic significance. "The West of Lincoln Project began after painting a self-portrait, then realizing the challenges of my own childhood provided me with a brave and resilient spirit. Now, I am on a mission to tell the history of Venice through it's people." http://www.ruthchase.com/



Marybeth Fama creates intimate paintings of everyday life. Imbuing a magical quality to the commonplace, the artist has recorded iconic places and people for decades. With faultless craft, Fama captures scenes that are often overlooked, pushing viewers to recognize timeless characteristics of Venice life.
While the recent pushback against ISIS is welcome, it is only small victory in the war against terrorism and with disturbing fallouts--the headlines and sound bites that convey a sense of complacency, leading us to believe that with the shipment of more arms and a few more victories, terrorism will be defeated and all will be well. Such takeaways are not only off the mark but are downright dangerous. This war will not be won on one, two or even on a thousand battlefields. It is a war that must be won in the hearts and minds of Muslims with their active participation and with understanding and support from the non-Muslim World.

It is an undeniable fact that today what most people consider to be terrorism seems to emanate with individuals or groups who claim Islam as their faith. Whether fair or unfair, this being a perceived fact we have to look at Islam, Muslims, Muslim countries, and the human condition of Muslims in Muslim countries and elsewhere to assess the origin of Jihadist anger and the reasons for its appeal to disenfranchised Muslims.

Simply said, the vast majority of Muslims are frustrated with their lives. They live in countries that are autocratic with little or no freedom, that are unjust and corrupt at the core, economically unsuccessful and where the individual's relationship to the Almighty has been swept aside by rulers; religion is used as an instrument to control and rule, with rulers and their cronies living in unimaginable luxury while the average person cannot even make ends meet; the average Muslim has limited productive opportunities to make a decent living; and most frustrating of all, there is little hope of a better future.

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It is not only in Muslim countries that Muslims feel disenfranchised. Many Muslim immigrants are confronted by hopelessness in their adopted lands; live under ghetto-like conditions, with sub-par access to good education and healthcare; and are not integrated into the mainstream--while their host countries could do more, Muslims are also in part responsible for their condition because they fail to make efforts to embrace the cultural and social norms of their adopted homes. They move further and further away from the mainstream, become more isolated and fail to advance, all of which may be followed by frustration, resentment and anger. Anyone, be they Christian, Jew or Muslim, living in Muslim countries or in ghettos as immigrants could easily become angry and radicalized. While nothing could ever justify terrorism, the absence of any hope for a brighter future encourages some to join terrorist groups that promise a path, albeit a false and divisive path, to a better world where their false version of Islam rules supreme.

While these facts need careful examination, they must not be misunderstood and defined as a Muslim-Christian conflict. It is precisely in this framework that terrorists have found an opening to preach their message of hatred, killing innocent people, ironically mainly Muslims, in the name of God! If we allow the spread of terrorism to be framed as an inter-faith struggle, we will only inflame what we see today and usher in an era of global conflict as never before. Christians and Muslims make up about half the population of the planet. The two faiths share much in common, yet Christians and Muslims misunderstand each other and allow opportunists to divide them and to frame terrorism as an epic Christian-Muslim struggle.

The drift toward a Christian-Muslim or a West-East struggle can be reversed by reforms in the Muslim World, by Muslims taking back their religion through a reformation and the great powers looking beyond their narrow short-run interests.

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Reforms in the Muslim World:

The popular belief that Islam obstructs political, social and economic progress is a myth. The teachings of the Quran and the life of the Prophet Mohammad stress the love of God for His creation, the unity of creation, justice, freedom and effective institutions for a thriving society. Today, most Muslim societies do not reflect the important benchmarks of Islam and in fact the non-Muslim countries of Northern Europe do a much better job. Rulers in most Muslim countries are not selected freely. They are autocratic. There is little freedom in Muslim countries. Rulers allow little discussion of the philosophy of Islam. Most rulers are corrupt. Their economic management does not reflect Islamic teachings, which include sound institutions (especially the rule of law), efficiency in economic management, preserving God's bounty for all generations (the environment and the benefits of depletable natural resources such as oil), equality and sharing, absence of extravagance, poverty and corruption, equal opportunities for all, and taking care of those who cannot care for themselves. The dismal conditions of most Muslim countries provide the breeding ground for anger, frustration, bitterness, desperation and violence.

Just take a glance at a few Muslim countries, from the very rich (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE), to the middle (Turkey, Malaysia, Iran) to the poor (Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen). While some are doing better than others, not a single Muslim country would even come close to countries such as Norway, Sweden or Denmark.

A Muslim Reformation:

A Muslim reformation must begin with Muslims. Muslims have little choice but to peacefully demand change in their countries. They must take back the lock and key of their religion from rulers and clerics; they must denounce and confront the false message of Jihadists who are murdering innocent people around the world, damaging the peaceful religion that is Islam and sowing the seeds for East-West confrontation.

While Muslims believe that the Quran represents the word of God, this does not mean that they should live, as did Muslims at the time of the Prophet Mohammad. Islam preaches the importance of progress, education, healthcare, technological change, sound economic management, effective governance and economic prosperity. The religion emphasizes justice, freedom, freedom to chose, love, peace, peaceful co-existence and an open mind and tolerance toward the religion and social practice of others. As we have said above and in earlier postings, Western countries, especially those in Northern Europe, reflect many of these recommendations for a successful Muslim society better than do Muslim countries. Muslims should turn their attention away from clerics and rulers who preach a self-serving interpretation of Islam to control and rule. They should study the Quran on their own, discuss and debate its meaning and consult unaffiliated and learned teachers as needed. Again, and as we have said before, Islamicity Indices afford a concise and summary benchmark to serve as a guide. Such a benchmark can be used in a peaceful approach to challenge rulers and clerics to demand change.

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What are the essential elements of a Muslim Reformation?

First, Muslims around the world must come together and wrestle away the helm of Islam from all self-appointed clerics, guides, messengers, leaders and rulers. Islam does not need anyone at its helm. They should make their demands known internationally to unite all Muslims in the reformation and garner support from non-Muslims in countries of North America and Europe. Such initiatives would more likely succeed if they were peaceful, with the goals of freedom and respect for human rights well articulated. While this process may start in one Muslim country, it would advance more rapidly if Muslims coordinated their demands and activities simultaneously in a number of countries. The Quran is the word of God and Muslims do not need intermediaries to interpret it. Instead, Muslims have an obligation to read, discuss and understand the philosophy of Islam. How they observe the teachings of their religion is between them and Allah.

Second, Muslims should demand a modern-day constitution that serves as the bedrock for a flourishing society where justice, human rights, human dignity, freedom and equality of opportunity are held sacred; a constitution that they vote to accept and one that is subject to amendment as needed; and a constitution that incorporates Islam's institutional recommendations that fit modern societies and are very much in line with Adam Smith's vision as well; and governments must be elected by the people and must remain answerable to the electorate. Third, the derived Sharia law (or Islamic Jurisprudence) should be set aside as the legal system in all Muslim countries. It was a body of law that was derived and put together by men (no female participation) many centuries ago. The agendas of rulers were always on the radar. Originally, the Sharia Law might have been helpful for its inclusiveness and tolerance but today Muslim clerics and autocratic rulers use Sharia law as an instrument of control that propagates injustice and deprivation. Moreover, it is a system that divides rather than unifies humanity. Non-Muslims fear it and assume that Muslims want to impose it on non-Muslims as well. Muslim countries need a sound modern legal system; the rule of law is the most important institution for any society; it provides the underpinning of political, social and economic progress for all societies, as it must also do so for Muslim countries.

Fourth, Muslims living in influential non-Muslim majority countries, such as Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, France and Germany should see themselves as the ambassadors of Islam. They should educate their non-Muslim neighbors about the peaceful, compassionate and sharing nature of Islam in order to bring Muslims and non-Muslims closer together. They should assimilate into the society of their adopted land. Muslims must condemn the hateful message of terrorists and replace it with the message of unity and love that is Islam. The support of non-Muslims will be essential in cutting off the support of Western governments for illegitimate Muslim rulers and in starting the slow process of reform.

Summary:
Painful though it is to say, our continent is being needlessly held back. According to UN figures, the share of intra-continental trade in Africa's over the past decade was only about 11%. Sadly, many of the regional integration plans we envisaged for a host of reasons never effectively took off. Neither the 1980  Lagos Plan of Action  - which imagined the division of Africa into five regional economies - nor the 1991 Abuja Treaty, which proposed to implement a single currency across Africa by 2028, can be honestly qualified as "successes".

In 2012 a decision was made to establish a Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. To get there, African leaders have first agreed to create the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), the continent's largest free-trade zone, covering 26 countries in an area from Cape Town to Cairo. To make sure that these latest ambitious agreements don't fall into oblivion, we need to muster a collective political will. Our institutions are not strong enough to implement plans from a purely technical approach. A country's strategy has to be grounded on a social contract and political reality, so that people feel they have a stake in it.

Because a continent that does not trade with itself risks being stuck for the decades to come. Africa won't be able to take off economically. The lost benefits and actual losses created by this situation are putting our future in peril. Why? Because besides the usual advantages to trade - such as the better allocation of resources that comes with the free movement of goods and people, the specialization of countries around their competitive advantages and the creation of single markets so firms can have unimpeded access to hundreds of millions of consumers - Africa could experiment free trade with itself before being exposed to international competition.

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The continent is plagued by poor and under-developed transportation infrastructure, limiting accessibility to consumers, hampering intra-regional trade and driving up import and export costs. And as long as Africa is stationary, you can just as well forget industrialisation or economic diversification. The competitiveness of our industries is directly affected by Africa's transport and logistics infrastructure challenges. One car manufacturer for instance informed they charter Airbus aircraft to move vehicles from Johannesburg to Nairobi. Another manufacturer in the soda industry says it is easier and cheaper to buy passion fruit from China, move it to Kenya, bottle it and sell it in Kenya, than it is to buy directly from next-door Uganda.

Needless barriers to trade and the free movement of people are the plague of Africa. Intra-African trade remains too low, accounting for only 10 to 12% of total trade on the continent, compared with 40% for North America and 60% for Western Europe. Even though progress has been made, it is staggering that an African entrepreneur cannot move freely across the continent. A few countries are setting the way forward such as Rwanda, a country anyone from an African country can enter without needing a visa. And before we set up functioning regional economic communities, one-stop border posts could do unprecedented good to the facilitation of movement inside Africa.

To reap the economic benefit from international trade, it is critical that we facilitate intra-regional trade with comprehensive corridor development. Current estimates indicate that trade volumes in sub-Saharan Africa will more than triple from 102.6 million tons in 2009 to 384.0 million tons in 2030, but only if trade corridors are completed.

Indeed, regional integration remains key to narrowing the gap between the continent's promises and its reality. According to the World Economic Forum, the potential gains from increased regional integration in Africa are substantial: almost half of Africa's 54 countries have a population of less than 10 million, and more than a third are landlocked, making it the most fragmented continent in the world. Thus policymakers need to understand that in many development sectors, the optimal solutions are regional.

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Indeed, African governments and regional economic communities will need to pursue a deeper engagement with the private sector on developing transport and logistics-related projects. Which is why I have championed MoveAfrica, an initiative whose mission is to bring both private and public sector representatives together and work towards driving down transport costs across Africa. Under the banner of the NEPAD Agency of the African Union, MoveAfrica is launching in May on the margins of the World Economic Forum taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

MoveAfrica aims to completely overhaul the way trans-boundary transports and logistics work in Africa, building on the commitments outlined during the last African Union Summit. We can't start imagining just how much good this would do to our continent. For instance, the World Bank agrees that we could easily end hunger if only farmers were able to get produce across borders instead of seeing them rot where they cannot be sold. We could also tackle youth unemployment by easing the mobility of the young. Not to mention the many entrepreneurs waiting in the wings that would start businesses if only they had a large enough market to cater to.
Pablo Atchugarry cuts through the beauty of marble and metal to make his exquisite masterpieces of sculpture. Born in Uruguay to parents who encouraged Atchugarry's unusual talent for art, he has spent a lifetime carving some of the most sensuous, elegant pieces of large scale (many feet tall, as large as Roman columns) to small foot high pieces from natures own materials. They are blend of the ethereal and the resilient; impressive in their very distinctive manifestation, never feeling dense, they have spiritual impact. On view now at the Hollis Taggart Gallery through June 11th in New York City, "Invocations of the Soul" will find you working hard to resist touching these sumptuous monolithic pieces of art, their smooth, fine surfaces are that compelling.

Talking with the artist I saw why. Though he does not speak much English, I heard him clearly through his warm smile and his expression of love for nature through his artwork, upon the emergence of form from huge slabs of marble. As Michelangelo said "I saw the angel in the marble and set him free." Atchugarry possesses a special calm humility, one that is not confounded by presumption, totally gracious, and ignorant of pride. He has earned his place at the table and we are fortunate to see his inescapable spiritual revelations through his creations. According to his son Piero, "He was never formerly taught and he comes by his gift like breathing." He dedicated himself to his work despite any financial set-backs as a young man, and somewhere in the 1990s he began to get the public recognition he undeniably earned.

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The key word here is to "create" not to "invent" or "copy," as so many artists are in the habit to do in the current conceptual arena. As water will carve arcs and crevices into mountains, this artist seems to have the capacity of water and the indelible habit of sand blown in the wind to pumice exquisite Portugal and Carrara marble into physical form. Into the marble quarries Atchgarry goes to seek out pure whites, fleshy blushes and soft warm pinks, membraned with the veins of millions of years and cultivated by the elements.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out one of the loveliest sleek sculptures in the Hollis Taggart show. The only one of its kind...His 2016, 29 inch high, black marble piece is a dazzler. An accordion like sculpture 10 inches wide; masterfully hollowed and carved to perfection. Then there are the bronzes which are molded to flawlessness and painted in glossy reds, crisp navy blues, mellow yellows, and rich, bright greens...They feel reminiscent of 1920s modernism. They have the sharp edges and allure but none of the devices.

This past summer Atchuggary had an outstanding show in Rome. According to Artnet news, "Across the street from the Forum, visitors to Rome were treated to an unexpected sight, Pablo Atchugarry's "Eternal City, Eternal Marbles," was on view at Trajan's Market, a building complex dating back to the second-century." Considered to be the first shopping mall without brand name recognition. A sight I regret not seeing.

"Translucent marble next to the crumbling red brick (recalling the emperor Augustus's famous boast that he "had found a city of brick but left one of marble"), and the unexpected presence of contemporary art set against a backdrop of ancient ruins."

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"For more than 2,000 years, architects and artists have mined the marble quarries of Carrara, Italy. The stone has been used to create the Pantheon, the Duomo of Siena, and Michelangelo's David." According to Architectural Digest, noting that "he is using classical material and transforming it to modern form."

Coming up in July is his show in Belguim "Exclusive Sculptures" at the Boon gallery from Friday 8 July - Sunday 24 July at Knokke-Zoute.

I suspect as Pablo Atchguarry gains transaction in the United States, you will see his work more often, but for now, go see this wonderful work while you can at Hollis Taggart on 26th street.
I'm lying on an ice pack early this morning, doing my back exercises and listening to Pray as You Go, a tool for meditation, with monastery bells, music, and a Bible reading. It warms up my cranky body--and cold morning soul. The reading today is from Acts 2--the story of Pentecost, which goes like this.

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force--no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

If you are interested, Pentecost is this Sunday, which raises the question:

How can I prep for Pentecost?

We know how to prep for the other big Christian holidays.

Christmas is preceded by Advent, a time to anticipate the birth of Jesus. There's shopping, carols, maybe an Advent calendar. Advent gets us prepped for Christmas, so it's hard to miss the holiday.

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Easter is preceded by Lent, a time for introspection, culminating in Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when we recall Jesus' gruesome death. Lent gets us prepped for Easter, so it's hard to miss the holiday.

Pentecost isn't preceded. I know that doesn't sound right grammatically. ("Preceded by what?" you may wonder.) It doesn't sit right theologically, either. It's like all the air goes out of us after Easter. So we don't have energy left to prep for Pentecost. Nothing precedes it. No Advent. No Lent. Most of us, then, don't know how to prep for Pentecost.

That's not entirely true.

Some churches have us wear red shirts, sweaters, and scarves--to remember fiery tongues on that first Pentecost. That takes about thirty seconds of rummaging in our closets. This hardly counts for preparation.

Some churches change their banners and vestments to red to mark the new season of Pentecost. That's not our business, though, until the moment we step into the church. This, too, hardly counts for preparation.



Some people even bake Tongues of Fire cupcakes apparently.

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It's a shame, really, how little we prep for Pentecost, since this is the third huge feast of the Christian year, when we celebrate the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

We celebrate a cosmic shift--rushing wind filling whole houses.

We celebrate a communal shift--the whole group of Jesus' followers "were all together in one place" when the wind blew and the fire came.

We celebrate a mission shift--all of them, women and men, "started speaking in a number of different languages."

How do we prep for something as important as Pentecost?

First, we take care of business that might get between us and the work of the Holy Spirit. That's what Jesus' earliest followers did. When Jesus left, an angel barked, "Why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky?" "So they left the mountain," the story says, "and returned to Jerusalem," to "the upper room they had been using as a meeting place." When they got there, they figured out a way to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and committed suicide.

We can prepare for Pentecost by doing work that needs to be done. Preparation is practical.

Second, we pray--with other people, if we can. That's what Jesus' earliest followers did. When they got to that upper room in Jerusalem, they prayed. Not happenstance prayers. Not occasional requests. The Greek is forceful here: "They devoted themselves all together in prayer." That's why Eugene Peterson, in The Message, translates the Greek like this: "they agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer."

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We can prepare for Pentecost by praying hard and, when we can, together. Preparation is spiritual.

Third, we get over our petty hangups about who can do what in the church. There was a state of emergency in the early church. Jesus was gone! It was no time for propriety, no time to decide whether women could pray or not, whether women could preach. Of course they could. They did! So the line about prayer continues: "they agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included." Men and women, praying women and men, went on to receive the Spirit and preach in different languages on the day of Pentecost.

We can prepare for Pentecost by realizing there is a state of emergency in our world--our churches, too--so we can't stall over the usual issues that dog us. Preparation is urgent.

So how do we prep for Pentecost?

We take care of business. That's practical.

We pray. That's spiritual.

We set our priorities straight. That's urgent.

Do this, and on Sunday morning, you'll be ready. Maybe even ready for a flash of wildfire, the Holy Spirit, to spread through your ranks.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Photo from Catholic Cuisine: https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1290&bih=673&q=Pentecost+cupcake&oq=Pentecost+cupcake&gs_l=img.3..0.1543.3984.0.4305.17.10.0.7.7.0.78.498.10.10.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.17.507...0i24j0i10i24.EaGGQIaN3Ic#imgrc=uN3t4l8SzfXG2M%3A.
This article first appeared on Jadaliyya on May 6, 2016.

US foreign policy is a danger to the United States and to the world, and it has been for some time. As President Dwight Eisenhower famously foretold in his farewell address of January 1961, the Military-Industrial Complex (MIC) now transcends political parties and administrations, keeping the country embroiled in perpetual wars. These military adventures, especially the covert operations led by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), undermine political stability in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. They incite what they claim to be fighting and preventing: terrorism. As a result, US citizens are left poorer and less secure, to say nothing of the effect on citizens of other countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen, to name but a few. Yet this is not the only way to deal with current challenges, as those in power so often claim.

Every president since Eisenhower has grappled with the MIC, and the relative roles of the military and diplomacy in foreign affairs. President Barack Obama has displayed unaccustomed ambivalence about the power of the MIC. He is an unhappy warrior, engaging in many overt and covert operations in the Middle East and Africa but also resisting many calls for expanded military operations, especially for more "boots on the ground" in Syria and elsewhere. Notably, Obama dramatically expanded covert operations in general and drone warfare in particular, and also prosecuted more whistle blowers than all other administrations combined. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has been a life-long advocate of the MIC. As senator and secretary of state, she enthusiastically backed every CIA misadventure that came along, from Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s to the recent debacles in Libya and Syria. As senator, she enthusiastically and provocatively campaigned for NATO enlargement to the borders of Russia in Ukraine and Georgia. It is hard to recall a proposed military action that Clinton has opposed.

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Safety, security, and democracy in the United States call for nothing less than ending the CIA's secret wars. There is no institution in modern US history that has a deeper and more chronic record of failure. The CIA's history of mayhem and the ensuing "blowback" of terrorism and criminality should lead US citizens to reverse the fateful decision of the 1947 National Security Act to create not only an intelligence agency (which was needed) but a secret army as well, which has been a recipe for continued disaster. The CIA dangerously combines the United States' massive firepower with a preternatural self-righteousness that dates back to the founding of the first English settlements in America. As a result, the United States is seen not simply as a nation-state, but also as a sacred cause. This explains US leaders' self-delusion about US wars, wherein they understand the country's causes as the world's causes, and the United States as the savior of liberty and freedom around the world. One can say fairly, if unconventionally, that the CIA wars are a kind of "American jihad," where the fundamentalism is the belief in US exceptionalism.

The early English Protestant settlers viewed their settlements as the "new Israel," one that would conquer the North American continent through God's grace. It was the same zealous spirit, in essence a civil religion, which also led English armies elsewhere to conquer large parts of the world for the British Empire. As English fighters took India, Africa, and much of the Middle East, their English cousins in North America fought their way across the continent to create an empire built on the subjugation of Native Americans and the enslavement of Africans. On their way to continental conquest, the English Americans would of course claim the right to their own empire distinct from the motherland.

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Even when the United States was still a newborn country hugging the Eastern seaboard of North America, the expansionist appetite was large. Americans fought wars off the Barbary Coast of North Africa in the 1790s, and by the 1820s claimed all of the Americas as a kind of protectorate under the Monroe Doctrine. The wars with the native populations; the rise of the King Cotton slave society; the Civil War; and the construction of continental-scale infrastructure, absorbed the phenomenal energies of the English-Americans in the nineteenth century. Yet as soon as the continental conquest was finally complete, the United States quickly turned its attention abroad, beginning with the Spanish-American War of 1898, the opening of Asian markets under US gunboats, and the beginnings of empire in the Americas and Asia. Theodore Roosevelt issued his corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, declaring the US right to intervene "as an international police power" across the Americas.

As US economic and military power soared in the early twentieth century, Britain's imperial reach also continued to expand, seemingly inexorably. World War I brought about the collapse of four empires (the Prussian, Russian, Hapsburg, and Ottoman empires). Britain, and to a lesser extent France, moved in to claim the spoils, most notably in the Middle East. Today's Middle East conflicts involving Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen, are shaped by the cynical power plays by Britain and France a century ago. As has been rightly noted, the Versailles Peace Treaty ending World War I was a "peace to end all peace."

After World War II, the United States replaced Britain as the world's dominant imperial power. America's post-war rise to global preeminence fully fit the country's two-century-long self-image as the world's exceptional nation whose success reflects God's special grace. US exceptionalism was further underscored by the country's new self-defined role as the world's redeemer of freedom, the leader of the so-called free world, and the only hope against Soviet expansionism. As Eisenhower declared in his 1953 inaugural address, "destiny had laid upon our country the responsibility of the free world's leadership."

Consistent with the 1904 Roosevelt Corollary applying to the Western Hemisphere, and the many US military interventions in the Americas that followed, post-World War II US foreign policy leaders acted as if they had the prerogative--even the responsibility--to intervene anywhere in the world to overthrow governments deemed to be hostile to US interests. To carry out this writ, they turned frequently to the CIA, which had been established by the 1947 National Security Act. The very name of the agency was a misnomer. While the agency does collect intelligence, it has had a much larger role in practice: to enforce American hegemony through covert operations, using assassinations, coups, false-flag attacks, social destabilization, rigged elections, kidnappings, gun-running, drug trafficking, torture, and other extraordinary means, brazenly brushing aside US and international law. There are many histories of the CIA that document these various modes of operation, including Kinzer (Overthrow and The Brothers), Talbot, Blum, and Weiner, among others.

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A country with a self-appointed global mission has a special problem: every place on the planet becomes a test of the global mission, a measuring rod of god's grace, and a mirror to judge whether the nation is up to its appointed role in history. From the late 1940s onward, there was no place on the planet too remote, too small, too insignificant to risk America's indifference, to risk a failure of will. Any place could become a beachhead of subversion and Soviet expansion, a threat to the American purpose. US strategists were of course most attracted to places with special strategic or commercial importance (such as oil-rich states), but even places utterly insignificant from an economic or military perspective (such as Granada or Guyana) would also attract US attention and CIA interventions.

With every place a threat, the United States would have to fight endless wars, mostly covertly, to fulfill its mission in history, in the belief that just one falling domino, one victory by a US foe, could spell the reversal of US might. The popular board game Risk provides some insight. In that game, the winner is the country that places its armies on every country on the board. Even when a player has the overwhelming advantage, an opponent's piece on just one territory is a threat. That single place can be the launching pad for recapturing the neighboring countries and ultimately the whole world. For a self-appointed leader of the world, there is no victory except a total victory. The CIA's covert efforts have therefore never ceased. CIA-led coups, assassinations, and destabilization stretch over nearly seventy years, including: Syria (1949), Iran (1953), Guatemala (1954), Congo (1960), Cuba (1961), Vietnam (1963), Brazil (1964), Saudi Arabia (1964), Ghana (1966), Bolivia (1968), Chile (1971), Afghanistan (1979), Iran (1980-87), Nicaragua (1985), Bosnia (1995), Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003), Haiti (2004), Libya (2011-present), and Syria (2011-present), to name just a few of dozens or hundreds of secret (yet documented) wars. A careful look reveals the overarching truth about these CIA operations: they have typically produced chaos rather than a compliant regime. Even when the CIA is successful in "installing" a regime, such as Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran in 1953, the blowback decades later (in the Iranian Revolution of 1979) can be enormous.

One common self-justifying claim is that the United States adopted its global mantle reluctantly, against a long-standing isolationist preference, and only as necessary to defend freedom during the Cold War. This view is wide of the mark, as events since 1991 have made vividly clear. The US quest for global preeminence did not start with the Cold War, nor did it end there. In fact, the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union was the occasion for an unprecedented expansion of US power into a purported "vacuum" left by the end of the Soviet Union. Yet the US government misjudged badly, as did Britain a century earlier. The collapse of an empire, whether the Ottoman Empire during World War I or the Soviet Empire in 1991 (irrespective of the differences), does not create a vacuum to be filled by another outside empire. It creates a demand for legitimate governance. Just as Britain denied the Middle East its self-governance after World War I, the United States continued to deny the Middle East its self-governance after 1945 and beyond the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The US expansion of power after the Soviet collapse has been manifested in two main ways. First, rather than dismantling NATO once the Soviet threat was over, the US government expanded it into the former Soviet satellite countries, thereby placing NATO ever closer to the Russian border. NATO expansion included the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland in 1999; Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 2004; and Albania in 2009. In 2008, the US invited Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO, as the US security state was eager to push NATO right up against Russia's western and southern borders and to flip Russia's warm-water Crimean naval base at Sevastopol into a NATO facility. Second, the US government has moved to overthrow Soviet-allied governments in the Middle East and replace them with regimes friendly to the United States. This game plan was adopted in the immediate aftermath of the first Gulf War (1990). General Wesley Clark had recounted a conversation he had in 1991 with Paul Wolfowitz, then the Deputy Secretary of Defense under Defense Secretary Richard Cheney. Wolfowitz explained to Clark: "But one thing we did learn [from the first Gulf War] is that we can use our military in the region - in the Middle East - and the Soviets won't stop us. And we've got about 5 or 10 years to clean up those old Soviet regimes - Syria, Iran [sic], Iraq-- before the next great superpower [viz. China] comes on to challenge us."

Contrary to Wolfowitz's naive assertion, Russia did not simply roll over and play dead. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia to cut short that country's move to join NATO. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and destabilized Eastern Ukraine to prevent Ukraine from falling into NATO hands. In the Middle East, Russia has backed and armed Iran against US attempts to destabilize the Iranian regime, and it has strongly defended its ally Bashar al-Asad against the efforts by the CIA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey since early 2011 to overthrow Asad.

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Both the British and the Americans have shown no scruples in backing despots and terrorists to pursue their efforts. One part of that effort, both by the British and the Americans, has been the penchant to support Sunni fundamentalists (aka jihadists) as mercenary forces. During World War I, the British Empire backed the local ruler Ibn Saud in wars of conquest in the Arabian Peninsula, believing that Ibn Saud would be loyal to British suzerainty. Yet Ibn Saud, and the new state of Saudi Arabia, championed a fundamentalist Islamic creed, Wahhabism, that has fueled the Sunni jihadists of recent decades, including al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State. It is worth emphasizing that the British supported Ibn Saud to defeat the much more moderate Hashemite rulers of western Arabia (the Hejaz), in no small part because the Hashemite ruler Sharif Hussein objected to Britain's growing intrusion into the Arab region, and notably, to the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was designed by Britain to be a reliable ally of Britain on the Eastern approaches to the Suez Canal.



After World War II, the US government picked up where Britain had left off. It embraced Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism and all. It repeatedly teamed up with Saudi rulers to deploy jihadist forces to fight US foes. Most notoriously, the CIA and Saudi Arabia joined forces in Afghanistan in 1979 after the Soviet invasion to field an army of Sunni jihadists known as the Mujahideen. The CIA's lead partner on the ground was one Osama bin Laden, who would go on to form al-Qa'ida ("the base") from the core of the Mujahideen. Not for the first time, a CIA-supported organization went on to become America's bitter enemy, the classic blowback that occurs after siding with hyper-violent groups with their own interests. The United States' own purposes are of course neither clean nor pure. The first and most direct is to project US power. There are now around eight hundred US military bases in eighty countries, the most extensive projection of military power in history. The second is economic: to secure trade routes, pipeline routes, oil fields, and other resources, or to forestall taxation or expropriation, at the behest of US commercial interests. The third is to gin up business for US arms sales; every arms client of Russia is a lost client of the United States.

The US government has also continued its semi-secret alliance between Saudi Arabia and the CIA for all of the reasons just mentioned: military bases, oil, arms sales, jihadist forces when and where needed, and opposing Russia. The alliance survived the September 11, 2001 attacks, in which the terrorists were Saudi nationals largely backed by Saudi funds. Americans literally did not know what hit them when it comes to al-Qa'ida, the Islamic State, or other Sunni jihadist groups. These groups are supposedly America's greatest foe, yet such groups have at one point or another been supported by the United States and its purported ally, Saudi Arabia, and have been deployed as part of CIA-Saudi operations--even if only initially.

The costs of the US global strategy continue to mount. The United States is engaged in perpetual war in a growing number of countries. Sunni terrorist blowback has become entrenched, and is now almost a daily experience in some places in the world. The US government budgets a fortune on its military, roughly seven hundred billion dollars per year in FY17, or around two billion dollars per day, adding in the Pentagon ($590B), the intelligence agencies ($54B), homeland security ($47B), and other programs ($60B), and not even including the vast outlays for veterans, ($179B). Tensions rise with Russia, and Russia and NATO-member Turkey came dangerously close to outright conflict in Syria.

Obama deserves credit for acknowledging some of the hard truths concerning America's failed foreign policy. In the recent Atlantic Monthly interview, he describes how Washington unthinkingly drifts toward war; how the Pentagon repeatedly "jammed" him to escalate military force; how the "playbook" responses of the foreign policy establishment "tend to be militarized responses"; how US allies in the Middle East, notably Saudi Arabia and Turkey, tend to "exploit American 'muscle' for their own narrow and sectarian ends"; how some military leaders "believed they could fix any problem if the commander in chief would simply give them what they wanted; how foreign-policy think tanks in Washington "are doing the bidding of their Arab and pro-Israel funders; how America's Sunni Arab allies foment anti-American terrorism; how it "became obvious to Obama [in 2014, three years after the start of the CIA-backed Syrian War] that defeating [ISIS] was of more immediate urgency than overthrowing Bashar al-Assad; how "Putin acted in Ukraine in response to a client state that was about to slip out of his grasp, and [did] exactly the same in Syria; and how "the competition between the Saudis and Iranians ... helped to feed proxy wars and chaos in Syria and Iraq and Yemen."

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Yet, there is also much to bemoan as well in Obama's reflections and actions. Most obviously, despite his misgivings, he went along with the CIA, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in the Syrian war. He exceeded the UN Security Council mandate in Libya by using NATO forces to topple Muammar Qaddafi. He expanded covert operations, in particular drone warfare. And he displays the typical US arrogance that the United States must lead because without it, nothing good happens in the world. "The fact is," says Obama, "there is not a summit I've attended since I've been President where we [the US] are not setting the agenda, where we are not responsible for the key results. That's true whether you're talking about nuclear security, whether you're talking about saving the world financial system, whether you're talking about climate." What makes this statement utterly misguided is that the United States was the main cause of the financial crisis, and the major laggard, not leader, on climate change during the past twenty years.

The path back to safety for the United States is actually not that hard to envision. The US government needs to stop playing Risk, with a base in every country, and start playing diplomacy, forestalling wars by finding strategies of mutual accommodation with the other powers. The United States and Russia's security and economic interests in fact generally coincide in both Europe and in the Middle East. Both benefit from peace and open markets. Both are highly vulnerable to jihadi terrorism. It is mainly the US-provoked expansion of NATO eastward and the US-led wars in the Middle East that provoked the return of the Cold War with Russia. More generally, the US government should start playing by the international rules it did so much to establish seventy years ago with the birth of the United Nations. Several times in the past fifteen years, the United States pursued unilateral military actions without the backing of the UN Security Council. When the government proposed the Iraq War to a Security Council vote in 2003, it was soundly rejected by the other states but the United States did not listen, to horrendous results. The same occurred in the cases of Syria and Libya, when Russia and other Security Council members warned the US government of the dangers of its unilateral actions. How much better off the country would have been to listen to the counsel and objections of the other great powers!
President Barack Obama will be the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima this month. However, his administration is refusing to apologize for the dropping of the two atomic bombs and has embarked on a trillion-dollar program to revitalize America's nuclear arsenal which threatens to provoke a new global nuclear weapons race.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said he thought that Obama "appreciates that President Truman made the decision [to drop the bomb on Hiroshima] for the right reasons. Those reasons included a focus on the security of the United States and ending a terrible war. I think given the way that President Truman approached this dilemma and given the outcome, I think it's hard to look back and second guess him too much."

Considerable historical evidence however refutes this viewpoint. We now know that the Truman administration deliberately inflated casualty estimates for a planned invasion of Kyushu after the war. Declassified files reveal that US military planners projected 20,000-46,000 American lives as the cost of landing, and not one hundred thousand or a million as some later officials claimed.

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We also know that given the destruction of Japan's air and naval power, and Soviet plans to enter the war, Japan's surrender could have likely been secured before this invasion took place. There is even the possibility the government deliberately prolonged the war so as to test its new super-weapon on the Japanese in order to justify the billion dollar taxpayer investment in the Manhattan project.

Historian Gar Alperovitz details in his classic study, Atomic Diplomacy, that the decision to drop the bomb was initiated largely to circumvent a Russian invasion of Japan and to ensure an American sphere of influence in the Asia-Pacific after the war. Japan was never even given the chance to respond after the first atomic bomb before the second was dropped on Nagasaki killing another 80,000 people and scarring countless more.

Time military analyst Hanson Baldwin concluded shortly after the war that, "The enemy, in a military sense, was in a hopeless strategic position by the time the Potsdam demand for surrender was made on July 26. Such then was the situation when we wiped out Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Need we have done it? No one can of course be positive, but the answer is certainly in the negative."

The New York Times in its coverage of Obama's planned visit to Hiroshima had a relatively balanced discussion of the debate surrounding the dropping of the atomic bomb.

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Its main article by David E. Sanger went on to criticize the Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima, saying that while presenting a victim's narrative, it provides "few of the historical reasons for the bombing such as descriptions of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the savagery of Japan's occupation of China or the extraordinary death toll of soldiers and civilians in the invasion of Okinawa." An inscription on the park's memorial reads that "we shall not repeat the evil" leaving out "who the evil was - the bombing or the conflict itself - and who is to blame."



There is some validity to these points as the Japanese militarists of the 1930s committed heinous atrocities that led up to the Pacific War and against U.S. soldiers and bear an important share of blame for the conflict.



However, the United States was not innocent either.



Japanese expansion in Asia was actually modeled after U.S. colonial practice in the Caribbean and the United States held little regard for Japanese lives, as epitomized by the Tokyo firebombing which killed over 80,000 in one single night. The U.S. played a role in provoking the conflict too.



The late historian William L. Neumann wrote an essay in the book Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace, edited by Harry Elmer Barnes, entitled "How American Policy Towards Japan Contributed to War in the Pacific." It discusses the U.S. Open Door policy, whose aim was to open investment opportunities and access Southeast Asian raw materials.

Neumann goes on to detail how President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an admirer of Admiral Alfred T. Mahan, initiated a vast naval buildup in the Asia Pacific which sent a powerful signal to the Japanese. The U.S. feared the growth of Japanese regional power and its establishment of an independent yen bloc and opposed the Japanese invasion of Manchuria as a threat to the Open Door policy in China.

To punish the Japanese, the United States and its European allies imposed high tariffs on Japanese products and cut off its access to vital raw materials. This led the Japanese to adopt more aggressive and belligerent policies culminating in the Pearl Harbor attacks.



The FDR administration was actually relieved after Pearl Harbor, as it gave the government a pretext for going to war and securing the U.S. position in Southeast Asia at a time when most of the public was isolationist.



The moral of the story is that the Pacific War was not necessarily a contest between good and evil as it is presented in U.S. nationalist mythology. If the Times is going to criticize Hiroshima's peace park, it should push for acknowledgment of the complexity of the war's origins and mutual blame all around, which should be featured in U.S. museum sites like Pearl Harbor too.

Since Obama won't do it, his successor at the same time should apologize once and for all for the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This would give some weight to any genuine push in the direction of a nuclear free world, which is something we should all be striving for.
One of the signs of good leadership is identifying and developing future leaders. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union's Student-Operated Financial Literacy Centers serve as incubators for such leaders.

Erika Roberts, for example, joined the Credit Union as a sophomore when she began working at the Strath Haven High School branch in suburban Philadelphia. The job enabled Erika to exercise and develop her innate leadership skills, propelling her to the top. By senior year, she was the president of her branch and president of FMFCU's Youth Advisory Board.

Erika parlayed her leadership skills in other areas, too. On behalf of her school's student body, she lobbied for the addition of business courses to the curriculum. Her effort led to a one-on-one meeting with the School District Superintendent and plans to add several business courses in the fall, even though she will be an alumnus by that point.

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With such determination and focus on the greater good, Erika is poised for success in whatever career she chooses, which is fortunate given her varied interests. She is pursuing an acting and modeling career and plans to study biochemistry in preparation for a medical license.

Erika serves as an ideal ambassador for the Credit Union. She is the first to volunteer for FMFCU-sponsored events during and after school. She was instrumental in the Youth Advisory Board's Banking on the Go brochure, which targeted high school and college students with user-friendly information on FMFCU products and the many benefits of Membership for Life.

Her efforts earned her the prestigious 2016 Outstanding Student Leader title, accompanied by a $500 award and special recognition at the FMFCU Partners in Education Celebration. The latter is the Philadelphia region's annual premier academic recognition banquet, a program for the community developed and supported by Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and FMFCU Partners in Education Foundation.


Marketed as an island paradise, Maui is not the first place one would think of as ground zero in the battle for the future of agriculture. The golden beaches of Lahaina were recently ranked as the second most popular honeymoon destination in the world (after Las Vegas), and its surfing is legendary. The billions of dollars spent by tourists each year are at least 20 times greater than the value of the island's agriculture. But amidst complex discussions about the effects of chemical farming practices on public health, whether to choose an industrial or regenerative farming model, and the profitability of future crops, Maui stands at the crossroads between America's farming past and its green future.

This crossroads is located on 32,400 acres of what is Hawaii's last sugar plantation. The sun swept farmland is largely owned by Alexander & Baldwin, a 145 year old company whose land holdings and controversial water "rights" grew from the colonization and gunboat diplomacy that uprooted the once independent kingdom of Hawaii. At the start of this year, with world prices for sugar down and agribusiness losses of about $30 million, A&B announced that it would close the plantation before the end of 2016, and lay off most of its 675 workers.

There is great interest across Maui in creating an agricultural future that is more economically viable than the past chemically dependent, water hungry plantation model. This, and a desire to help save agricultural jobs, have inspired Maui Tomorrow, a 26-year old environmental advocacy organization, to facilitate a discussion across the entire community. The organization recently released Malama 'Aina: A Conversation About Maui's Farming Future, a detailed 50 page report (viewable here) that analyzes opportunities to grow profitable crops and market Maui-branded value-added products, using farming methods which offset climate change, end chemical spraying and crop burning, use less water, and restore soil quality. The goal is to transform the industrially farmed A&B lands into a sustainable source of food and energy crops, and diversify an island economy that now imports 90 percent of what its people consume. Maui Tomorrow is asking business leaders, farmers, activists and political candidates to present their own comments, ideas and proposals about economically beneficial and environmentally restorative alternatives to monocrop agriculture. The organization has started this process by hosting a community dialogue on its new website, at www.FutureofMaui.org.

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"We believe that this unique opportunity to expand the vision of what's possible for agriculture on Maui can result in positive outcomes for all concerned," said Albert Perez, Executive Director of Maui Tomorrow. "Working together, the people of Maui can end the era of toxic chemical agriculture and instead embrace regenerative agriculture, which creates multiple income streams from the same land area, and improves profitability by eliminating the cost of external inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides. This type of agriculture can improve the health of our soil, water, and coastal ecosystems, and increase agricultural jobs, thus maintaining important economic diversification."

Perez and the Board members of Maui Tomorrow support the views of many community leaders that the island of Maui can go beyond its current role as a tourist industry version of "paradise" by serving as a respected model, and premier teaching destination, for greener agricultural practices. "Regenerative agriculture," Perez recently wrote, "can also help to capture atmospheric carbon, thus offsetting climate change instead of contributing to it."

Erik Frost is the CEO of Hoku Nui Maui ("shooting star"), a cutting edge 200-acre regenerative ranch that raises grass fed cattle, lamb, chickens, and honey, with the approach of using animals -- and their nutrient rich manure -- to help rehabilitate the land. "Herbicides and pesticides kill almost everything in the soil, and degrade microbiology," he explains. 'Microbiology is the tool that transfers nutrients from the soil to our plants. We cannot live without it. That's why commercial agribusiness is producing nutrient poor food, which contributes to the epidemic of diabetes and obesity."

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Frost, like many Maui business leaders and environmentally concerned citizens, agrees with Maui Tomorrow that the future of the island's agriculture needs to reduce toxicity and be mindful of its ecological impact. "The design of agribusiness is to lock you into using herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers," Frost says. "So just because the sugar plantation is going away does not mean the herbicides and pesticides are going away. Consumers need to drive the change and demand that their food be healthy. And for the food to be healthy, the farm has to be healthy."

Maui's Tiare Lawrence, a mother of two, is running for state legislature this summer as part of a new generation of environmentally attuned young native Hawaiians. She hopes that A&B will work with the community. "Alexander & Baldwin has the perfect opportunity now to make things right," Lawrence observes. "The sugar industry devastated thousands of Hawaiians, who were 100 percent self-sufficient, by stealing water from their communities, leaving their streams dry and lifeless for over 100 years. With the closure of sugar operations, they have the opportunity to sow healthy seeds for a better future on Maui -- one that will require far less pesticides and less water, leaving plenty of water for homeowners and farmers, while returning water to the streams and farmers of East Maui."

"This report is just a beginning," wrote Maui Tomorrow's Albert Perez. "The next steps will include documenting existing regenerative agricultural operations, developing business plans for new ones, implementing real projects on the ground, and scaling them up significantly. In addition to many supplemental industries related to regenerative agriculture, we have an opportunity to develop a new educational industry, teaching people from around the world how to implement these methods."

Alika Atay, a Hawaiian farmer who combines permaculture with traditional farming practices and who was consulted for the report, sees the plantation closing as the end of one era, and the beginning of a new one. "Malama Aina means care for the land that feeds you," he explained. "It's what our elders have told us is our true direction. This report marks the beginning of a return to those values."

"I want to thank A&B for the important role they have played in our local economy," Atay said. "And for having created opportunity for generations of their employees. Although the closure of the sugar plantation is a painful episode for many, we must embrace the future and open ourselves to this important opportunity to move with aloha for each other toward a sustainable, self-reliant, chemical-free agricultural future that will prosper our people and our land."

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The four words above are causing me to book a one-way ticket to space. (Have you been to 30,000 feet? It's a lovely place.)

Don't take me wrong, I love living in Alabama. Where else can you smile at complete strangers and watch them smile back? Where else can you drink cold sugar water with a little tea in it? Where else can you say things like, "y'all", "fixin' to" and "bless your heart"? And where else can you get away with being too big for your britches and call a Pepsi a Coke?

Lately with the corruption, sex scandals, and drama in local and national politics, I have no choice but to desert the planet I love.

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If I understand it correctly, the top three leaders in Alabama are embroiled in controversy. The House Speaker is facing 20 years in prison for ethics charges. The Chief Justice was suspended for defying a Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. And the governor is mangled in a highly publicized sex scandal involving a married aid. His campaign pitch was to return morality to the office. Ahhhmmm, here is quote from a story on www.al.com, about his phone conversations with the aid: "You know what?" he goes on. "When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too. " (From our moral governor Robert Bentley.)

Mind blowing? Wait, there is more.

Donald Trump is the presumed nominee for the Republican Party -- the poor party that is trying to figure out how to disassociate itself from this maniac. Now that he might actually be the president, several stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel Jackson and George Lopez have said they would move to Canada.

I don't think that is far enough. Canada is within reach. Trump is building a wall on the Mexican border so there's no telling what he'll do to Canada. He may invade the country with three soldiers for an army. Then what?

No no no. I have to move far, really far.

I used to metaphorically go to the comfortable altitude of 30,000 feet, any time I wanted to escape the strife and discord of this planet. But I actually read recently about private space flights.

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Tomorrow, I'm calling my travel agent and booking a one-way ticket to my cloud, where I go every so often. It's a lovely place, puffy and white, soft and comfy. I'll take some food. It might be a bit cold, but I'll bundle up. (I have one of those 40 below sleeping bags.)

You see, up there, I don't have to look at Trump, or watch a program about what he's doing, eating, saying, wearing, and putting on his head; or who he's insulting, demeaning, or cursing.

Up there, everyone is nice. (I'm the only person up there -- so far.)

Up there, it's very quite. I'm taking a solar-powered I-Phone for music. (It may get interrupted by Trump, Bama Drama, or governor sexual updates. I'll turn it off when it does.)

Up there, I get to live in true peace. Something this planet, and this state, has had trouble with lately.

I used to appreciate the peace we had in this country, especially when you compare it with my homeland, the Middle East. But if Trump becomes president, that troubled region of the world will be remembered as the peaceful place, until he decides to "bomb the *&^%$ out of 'em" (Actual quote.)

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For the past two weeks, I have been writing about a high-poverty high school that has improved tremendously over the last 12 years. Today, I report on one aspect of that improvement: the quality of instruction.

When Sergio Garcia became principal of Artesia High School in Los Angeles County, the fact that it was summer gave him the opportunity to take advantage of one of the biggest levers of change available to a principal: creating the master schedule.

"We had very few students taking algebra," he said. Most students, he said, were taking pre-algebra or consumer math. "And they were failing."

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So the first thing he did was put 1,300 students who had been scheduled for "basic math" into Algebra I. When returning math teachers found out, they assumed that Algebra I would be spread out over two years. No, Garcia told them. One year. He wanted his students to be able to go on to higher math. If they were to have any chance at all of going to college, they had to take the math classes that would get them there.

"I can't be at a school that perpetuates the idea that these kids will be poor the rest of their lives," Garcia said, basically agreeing with the argument that unless students succeed in algebra their opportunities would be foreshortened.

He put some of the students - those with lower math scores - into a second math support class, thus "double-blocking" them. But they were all in Algebra 1. "And they were mostly successful," Garcia said. That is to say, test scores went up and failure rates went down.

Stephanie Palutzke, a special education math teacher who arrived a couple of years into Garcia's tenure and said she was shocked to find that she would be teaching Algebra I to students with disabilities. "I can't teach a pre-algebra class?" she remembers asking Garcia. "Algebra is too hard for my students." At other schools, she said, she had taught consumer math. Garcia told her no.

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Despite her misgivings, Palutzke, who is now one of the school's union representatives, said, "We found a way to teach algebra and [the students] passed the high school test."

Indeed, in 2015, 58 percent of the students with disabilities passed the math part of the high school graduation exam (CAHSEE) as 10th-graders. Students have multiple opportunities to repeat the exam, and 91 percent of Artesia's students with disabilities graduated in 2014 -- the latest year for which data is available. In California, only 62 percent of students with disabilities graduated that year.

That first schedule change was only the beginning of a series of instructional changes, all of which were aimed at expanding opportunities for students.

"We have a formula, said Carlos Guzman, the chair of the foreign language department: "High expectations + opportunities = success."

Artesia's "secret weapon" in improving instruction, Garcia said, is Dennis Parker, who was once an official with the California Department of Education and now consults with schools around the state. He had consulted at each of Garcia's previous schools, and Garcia also brought him to Artesia. Parker observes classrooms and leads workshops for teachers to help them improve instruction, always urging them to ensure that they are providing the "maximum number of interactions per minute with complex knowledge" in order to create the "aha" moments that lead to new learning.

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Parker's basic improvement strategy is that at the classroom and school levels, clear targets need to be set, clear feedback mechanisms need to be in place, and teacher know-how needs to be developed. When those things are all working together in ways that take into account the individual classroom and school context, they spiral together to keep improvement going, Parker says.

"Educators are less likely to oppose this kind of change, as it is helping them learn to be more effective with their students, not mandating them to follow a new regimen," is Parker's view.

He helps teachers set ambitious academic targets for their students and develop careful feedback mechanisms. Every classroom at Artesia has a data wall where students chart their progress on quizzes, tests, and assignments, and a space on that wall for students to add their names to those of others who are either scoring high or who have improved their performance. By having those two criteria, the school is providing "safety in numbers," Parker says, and building success into the culture.

"There are a lot of visuals that celebrate success," is the way Carlos Guzman put it. "I've been here 10 years -- I was hired by Sergio. The only thing I know is data walls and collaborative learning."

Guzman is referring to the fact that the post-Garcia master schedule builds in common planning times for teachers in departments to plan and learn together -- another change that helped build the kind of culture that many teachers call "like a family."

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But Garcia no longer builds the master schedule by himself. At the end of his first year, he brought together his leadership team -- administrators and department chairs -- and they created the next year's master schedule together. "It took us a week to build it," said Will Napier, the chair of the special education department and the second union representative. "Everyone had their own program that they wanted to push. Now, we're able to do it in a couple of days, because if it doesn't work for the greater good, we know not to argue for it."

Added Garcia, "I have 13 people to defend the master schedule."

Questions do arise, especially because the school has added many Advanced Placement classes and has enrolled many students who would not necessarily be considered prepared. "We're putting kids in there who are not 'AP kids,'" said Cecilia Hawn, chair of the mathematics department.

"We believe our kids can do whatever other kids can do," added Felicia Godinez, chair of the social studies department.

That doesn't mean they don't recognize the needs of their students. "We have a two-week AP camp in the summer to get them ready for the higher expectations; kids know they're at a huge disadvantage if they don't attend," Hawn said.

Scheduling, new courses, and data walls are hardly the sum and total of the improvements in instruction at Artesia, but they were integral to building the systems that allowed teachers to work together.

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Garcia said that even when he arrived in what was then a low-performing school, he could see there was good teaching; it was a matter of ensuring that teachers worked together rather than in isolation to make sure that students experienced success.
Two Reasons You Can't Afford Not To Retire Overseas

Your retirement nest egg has been marginalized, and you're thinking there's no way you could afford to retire overseas.

This is probably the most-often-given reason for why someone who's interested in the idea of launching a new life in a new country hesitates or even abandons the idea altogether. And it's the least valid. Here's the truth: You can't afford not to retire overseas.

I'm speaking both literally and figuratively.

Let's begin with my literal point. You could retire to Cuenca, Ecuador, for example, and enjoy a comfortable life in a safe, pleasant colonial city on a budget of as little as US$710 per month if you own your own home. If you don't, you could rent a "local-style" apartment for as little as US$300 a month, making your total monthly nut as little as US$1,010 per month.

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This is a very scaled-back budget. You wouldn't be living the high life, but you'd be enjoying an interesting one in a pretty city where the weather is perennially pleasant.

I give you many other options for living affordably many other places around the world ... from Nicaragua to France, from the interior of Panama to Malaysia.

The real point to be made with regard to your cost of living anywhere in the world is that you can control it. Not completely, but more than you might realize. You choose, for example, whether to import your previous lifestyle with you or to go local. I mentioned above that you could rent a "local-style" apartment in Cuenca for as little as US$300 a month. You could also rent an apartment in that city for many times that amount, depending on the kind of building, the level of services and amenities (a doorman, for example, or a swimming pool), and the location within the city you opt for.

In Panama City, to take another example, you can shop for fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat at the local markets. The variety is tremendous, and the selections are fresh and organic.

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Or you can choose to shop at the big American-style grocery store called Riba Smith, where you can stock up on things like Aunt Jemima pancake mix, Texas steaks, prosciutto ham, Italian cheese, and French wine. Two overstuffed bags from the market might cost you US$20. Two bags of Riba Smith specialties could cost you US$100 or more.

Wherever in the world you're calling home, you choose not only where you live and where you shop, but also which cable and Internet plans you sign on for, how you make international phone calls, how often you eat out in restaurants, whether or not you employ a maid, whether you invest in owning a car, and how often you run your air-conditioning units.

I say again, you control your cost of living, at least within broad ranges. And, bottom line, it is possible to live for very little many places around this planet.

Now for my metaphorical point.

You owe it to yourself to go find out for yourself just how affordable and, more important, just how fun spending time overseas can be. A new life in a new place isn't for everyone, and there can be, in fact, practical reasons why you couldn't or shouldn't reinvent your life in a foreign country. However, frankly, the only legitimate ones I can think of have to do with health issues. Otherwise, any obstacle you can imagine could be overcome.

Maybe it won't be easy. The truth is, any move to another country is a lot of hassle and a lot of work. It's easier to stay put and to do nothing. But where would that leave you at the end of the day? What stories would you have to tell? What adventures to remember?

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Years ago, at a conference in the Dominican Republic, I met an American from Tennessee who explained that he had been researching opportunities in that country for two years.

"I'm convinced the DR is a place I want to be," he told me, "but I'm just not sure the timing is right."

"Have you considered other options?" I asked.

"Well, before I started looking closely at the Dominican Republic, I researched Costa Rica for four years."

"What did you end up doing there?"

"Oh, I never did anything. After four years of looking, prices had risen so high that I figured it no longer made sense."

"Ah, well, that happens," I offered.

The truth is, it happens a lot. I have business associates who follow a strategy they refer to as "Ready, fire, aim." I think it works for life, too. That is to say, as my friend Paul Terhorst puts it, "You can plan to retire overseas... or you can retire overseas and then make some plans."

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Carry out your due diligence. But realize that, all the while you're researching, your life is passing. That gentleman from Tennessee I met in the Dominican Republic was so worried that another, better option might come along that he could never bring himself to carry through with any one particular choice. He was a smart guy, but he continually second-guessed himself, his thinking, the timing, and the options. He kept researching, investigating, and scouting, trying to identify the right time to move and the best place to go.

There is no "right" time, and there is no "best" place.

But there is a place that's best for you right now. You just need to get off your derriere and go find it.

You can't afford not to.

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Earlier on Huff/Post50:
The only president ever to win as a third-party candidate: George Washington. (Wikimedia Commons)

This election season, with its angry comments sections and nasty memes, is getting seriously heated. A Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton battle is in the cards for this fall, to the dismay of many Republicans and Democrats--just think about all those #NeverTrump and #NeverHillary hashtags.

Trump shows how one man's confident stupidity is helping to splinter a nation into a vat of vast ignorance. #NeverTrump  Js W. T (@JWadeTaylor) May 11, 2016

For the 1st time in 26 years I'm inspired to vote b/c crazy Bernie is leading the fight to reclaim our democracy #NeverHillary #NotMeUs  Suzie Beth (@Suziebeth22) May 11, 2016

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Last night, Bernie Sanders won big in the West Virginia primary. In spite of some huge victories in recent primaries, Sanders has almost no chance of winning the Democratic nomination at this point (because, well, math).

So there are increasing calls for him to run as a third-party candidate. If he does, that could mean big trouble for Hillary.

Or create a third party now if @HillaryClinton steals this. Or @BernieSanders joins the green party. #NeverHillary! https://t.co/8L5opkPqPy  Riley Blue (@SandersFan71) May 3, 2016

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Meanwhile, anti-Trump Republicans continue to dream about potential third-party candidates who might throw a wrench in their "presumptive" nominee's campaign. On Tuesday, Ted Cruz announced that he "no interest" in running as a third-party candidate, although many #NeverTrump Republicans see him as a potentially effective option to defeat their nominee.

So ... what exactly is a third party candidate, and why do they matter?

Third Parties and Independents, Explained

Two major parties dominate our democracy--Republicans and Democrats. There are currently only two high-ranking politicians who aren't in one of the mainstream parties: Senator Angus King from Maine and Vermont's Bernie Sanders. King and Sanders are independents, which means that they aren't affiliated with any political party. Sanders chose to enter the presidential race as a Democrat so he could have a real shot at the White House.

A third party solution for those who won't vote for Trump or Clinton has been found. pic.twitter.com/ommZRQruML  Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) May 7, 2016

In addition to independents, there are a few notable third parties--like the super-liberal Green Party, the conservative, Bible-based Constitution Party, and the Libertarian Party, who believe that the best government is no government (or the least government possible).

These parties are relatively small--for example, the largest of the three is the Libertarian Party. Their candidate Gary Johnson won 1% of the national vote in the 2012 election. Despite their small size, third parties can have a surprisingly BIG effect on an election.

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The Spoiler Effect

The only independent candidate ever to win a presidential election was George Washington - in 1789!

So if third-party candidates don't win, why are they such a big deal in elections?

There is something called "the spoiler effect," which basically means that a third-party candidate takes away votes from the mainstream nominee on their end of the political spectrum.

Think Ralph Nader, the Green Party nominee in the 2000 Bush v. Gore election.

Consumer advocate and activist Ralph Nader in 2007. (ragesoss/Flickr)

Some people believe that if Nader had dropped out, many of his 97,488 votes in Florida would have gone to the Democratic candidate, Al Gore, and if so, Gore could have won the swing state of Florida, and therefore the election (it was a nailbiter)! Talk about changing history.

Our Two-Party System Makes It Tough for Third-Party Candidates

"Spoilers" aside, most votes for third-party candidates can function as protest votes. These votes hardly ever make a noticeable dent in general elections.

The government has made it pretty hard for third-party candidates to become a part of presidential elections, anyway. It is difficult for alternative parties to simply get on the ballot in many states because of strict ballot access laws.

Also, third-party candidates generally don't get a large stage to showcase their views--they are often banned from presidential debates. Ross Perot, an independent who gained a whopping 19% of the vote in the 1992 election, was allowed to debate with Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Those debates helped his exposure and popularity immensely. Four years later, in 1996, the powers-that-be made sure he wasn't allowed back in the debates.

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These Are the High-Profile Third-Party Candidates (and Potential Candidates) This Year

If there's any moment for a third-party candidate to shine, it might be this year's hostile election, which is filled with bitter divisions in both parties.



A majority of Cruz voters would vote for a third party if Trump was the nominee and vice versa pic.twitter.com/dcPlSOhJYv  Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) April 6, 2016

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is the Libertarian candidate.

Gary Johnson. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

He is pro-civil liberties, and against the US government meddling in citizens' affairs and international affairs. He also believes in keeping open borders and in legalizing weed nationwide. He presents himself as a candidate outside of the standard "left" vs. "right" notion of politics, and believes he could win over the hearts of young Bernie Sanders supporters.

Dr. Jill Stein is the Green Party candidate.

Dr. Jill Stein. (PaulSteinJC/Flickr)



Stein is progressive and focused on social justice. Her platform overlaps with Bernie Sanders--she is anti-Big Banks, and fights against income inequality and for the 99%. Sanders' supporters name Stein as a "Plan B" candidate, and Stein has gone as far as to openly support Sanders. The two candidates' biggest difference is Stein's strict anti-war stance (Sanders supports the war on ISIS). Stein was once arrested for protesting her exclusion from a 2012 presidential debate.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who gave up running against Trump for the Republican nomination, has been named as a potential third-party candidate who could seriously derail the Trump campaign, although as of right now he claims that he has no interest in becoming an alternative candidate.

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And of course, there are the many calls for Bernie Sanders to run as an independent--even from Donald Trump.

Bernie Sanders has been treated terribly by the Democratsboth with delegates & otherwise. He should show them, & run as an Independent.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2016

Interestingly, right now Sanders polls much better against Trump than Clinton, and could have an easier time beating the Republican nominee in the general election.

This dog would make a better POTUS than Trump.#UniteBluepic.twitter.com/2KLsTtrMde  Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) May 8, 2016

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But left-leaning Bernie supporters who like the idea of changing the system also know that a Bernie independent run could mean serious trouble for the Democratic party--and their pet issues--and could lead to a potential Trump victory. But still, Sanders supporters who might otherwise have unified behind the remaining Democratic candidate could instead vote for a third-party Sanders.

Do Bernie supporters realize that if he runs as an independent, Donald Trump will win the election? Like. Do y'all realize that?  sammi. (@sammwichh) April 30, 2016

Yet a third-party Republican candidate would also steal votes from Donald Trump, taking away any chance for a Trump presidency. Even Trump knows it:

I hear @JoeNBC of rapidly fading @Morning_Joe is pushing hard for a third party candidate to run. This will guarantee a Crooked Hillary win.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2016

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But even though chances are low, a third-party candidate win could happen--the Obama administration is even preparing for the possibility.

One thing is clear--all of this in-house fighting demonstrates the crazy climate of this year's election, and the huge divisions currently between, and within, the Democratic and Republican parties. Even the first, and only, independent president George Washington warned us of the "continual mischiefs of the spirit of party."
Gyanendra Shah, Ex-king of Nepal. Photo: Ekantipur

A look at the former Nepal monarch's next move.

Nepal is a federal democratic republic. As an irony, with major agenda of the re-establishment of the monarchy in Nepal, Rastriya Prajantra Party- Nepal is in the government and parliament of Nepal. Chairman of this party is Deputy Prime Minister and another leader is Deputy Speaker of the House. The RPP-N is the fourth largest party in the parliament winning 24 out of 575 seats. A constitutional monarchy, Hindu state, and people's sovereignty are the main objectives of RPP-Nepal, the only party in Nepal with such objectives. However, Nepal is already secular country.

Citizen-Monarch-Citizen

Ex-king Gyanendra Shah was the billionaire owner of Surya Nepal, Soltee and some other hereditary and personal property. He had all of a sudden become the king after the bloody massacre in the Narayanhity Royal Palace in 2001 in which his elder brother and the then King Birendra Shah and all his family members were killed mysteriously.

The king who was a veteran businessman could not be as successful in politics as he was in business. Therefore, he was swept away by people's power with the declaration of Nepal as a republic by overthrowing the 240 years monarchy.

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Not in Party Politics

Curiosities prevail everywhere about next steps of the former king. Though he had not cleared his plan for future, the dethroned monarch, in the statement that he read during the press conference had clearly stated that he would like to live in Nepal and contribute in whatever way possible to the greater good of the country and peace in this land. However, he was not clear about whether he will actively be involved in party politics or wait for the restoration of the monarchy.

There were rumors about Gyanendra to come to active politics. However, he is unlikely to be involved in party politics. Ex-monarch in his press statement had made a commitment that he would not leave the country, but would rather work for the promotion of nationalism, peace and prosperity. His commitment to live within the country and contribute in whatever way possible to the greater good of the country and peace had hinted that he might come to active politics. However, this rumor didn't come true.

Restoration of Monarchy!

The RPP-N is still fighting for the restoration of the monarchy in Nepal. If the ex-king joins party politics it will be difficult to restore the monarchy. Therefore, this political party had suggested ex-king not to join party politics. And, he is not in party politics yet. If ex-king does so the principle of monarchy will be dismissed. The RPP-N still shows the importance of monarchy and has expressed his commitment to restoring the monarchy.

In this context of his close people advising him not to be involved in active politics, the ex-king is unlikely to take part in politics. However, he is likely to help those groups who are struggling for restoration of the monarchy. But there is not any seen and direct involvement for the restoration of the monarchy. According to the monarchists, ex-king will not form away new political groups or parties, rather he will continue to support the earlier political parties which are pro-monarchist. Pro-monarchist party RPP-N has still been trying to convince that a favorable condition to restore monarchy can be created.

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Active Ex-King

Ex-king is not taking part in party politics. However, he reminds times and again that he had not left the nation, hinting that he still had political interests. Few months back, he issued a press note and expressed his dissatisfaction over latest political developments. Last month he issued another press statement and accused the present political leadership of misusing the state mechanisms for personal benefit and weakening the state.
Sandy Saputo is chief marketing officer for Bare Esecentuals, and is a member of the company's executive management team. In this role, she is responsible for the company's worldwide marketing and business strategies for bareMinerals and Buxom brands.

In the three years since Sandy joined Bare Esecentuals, she implemented her business philosophy to be visionary and be vulnerable that has delivered back-to-back successful launches for bareMinerals and regained its position in top 5 beauty brands. Sandy's leadership approach infuses humor and fun with hard work to galvanize her teams and partners to produce exceptional results. It is a cross-functional collaborative business structure that has led to the brands' double-digit sales growth within her first 24 months.

Prior to joining Bare Escentuals, Sandy served as Vice President at Procter & Gamble in Global Brand and North American Region, Hair Care and Global Brand and European Region, Professional Beauty in Ohio and Switzerland. Under these two global franchises, she led the strategic vision for eight regional brands building reputation, product concept and marketing communications.

In her other roles, Sandy merged her talent for brand marketing with a background in makeup artistry to execute a dual career path as Vice President Global Marketing and Global Creative Director of Cosmetics at Wella A.G. on brands Sebastian Professional and Trucco Cosmetics in Los Angeles, California.

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Sandy was recently named to San Francisco Business Times' Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business 2014. She is a graduate of University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, holds a degree from the Institute of Studio Makeup in Hollywood, California. Sandy resides in Marin County with her husband and two children.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I started my career as a professional makeup artist in Los Angeles. After a few years practicing, I combined my passion for makeup artistry with strategic thinking to build and grow global beauty brands. Learning the science of the products that I am marketing has helped me develop a leadership style that informs and inspires creativity within my teams.

How has your previous employment experience aided your position at Bare Escentuals?

I've seen that in order to create and execute a successful marketing campaign, you either need to fulfill a need or create one. Additionally, my international experience has given me a global perspective because as the world continues to flatten, influence will come from other markets, and we must understand them to be successful.

What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at Bare Escentuals?

I have had mostly positive experiences since working at Bare Escentuals in 2012. The bareMinerals brand was loved by many but not growing when I first started. In the first 24 months, I developed and implemented an aggressive brand turnaround strategy that delivered the company's first double-digit sales and profit growth. In 2014 and 2015, we launched back-to-back number one launches in the prestige beauty industry.

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What advice can you offer women who are seeking a career in your industry?

Don't be afraid to take risks, but also be ready to take responsibility and have a solution when those risks don't go as planned.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I have the amazing support of my husband who helps me balance home and work life. Every day I carve out time to spend with my two children and husband that is just our family time. We also take two vacations a year that are times when work is not the priority, and I get to spend 24/7 laughing and spending time with my family.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Ironically, in the beauty industry, most of the top CEOs are all male. I think there is a great opportunity for more women to step into that role.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I believe it's critical to have a mentor. For the past 20 years, I have sought out the simple and insightful advice of Carsten Fischer, former corporate senior executive officer, COO of Shiseido.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Oprah Winfrey has inspired a number of women to take control of their lives and do great things. When I started watching her OWN series "Super Soul Sunday," I can honestly say watching others overcome and achieve success helped me realize I wanted to take the next step in my career and that's when I joined Bare Escentuals. I'm also motivated by Marissa Mayer with the commitment she makes to her career while still growing her family, and Gloria Steinem will always be a role model for me.

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Private Chelsea Manning is a transgender woman serving a 35 year sentence at Leavenworth Prison for making public 250,000 classified military documents to WikiLeaks in 2010 when she was then army tech specialist Bradley Manning serving in the Iraq War. In the eyes of the military, she is a condemned traitor, but for others who champion whistle blowers, including Sweden's 2014 nominating Nobel Peace Prize Committee, she is a hero.

The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning, a bold 2013 play by Welsh playwright Tim Price is in its US premiere by Inis Nua Theater Company in Philadelphia. Inis director Tom Reing orchestrating a visually compelling production at the Drake Theater and directing a uniformly fine ensemble cast. Price's visceral, sometimes surreal theatrical account of the key events leading up to Manning's imprisonment, is more impressive as an incisive character study to investigate what made Manning a born rebel with a cause.

Price intriguingly depicts the psychological journey of Manning, without coming to any quick answers and this device proves powerfully eloquent with this cast, all playing multiple roles, including each portraying Manning at different times. The cast -- Trevor Fayle, David Glover, Campbell O'Hare, David Pica, Isa St. Clair and Johnny Smith -- each bringing out different aspects of Manning's character. There is a lot of stage business and physical demands as the actors play soldiers, officers, lovers, family members and a formidable theatrical boot camp. David Glover, for instance, is a nail-hard drill sergeant and minutes later equally believable a scene later as Manning going through a humiliating interrogation.

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It opens with Bradley being dressed and undressed, literally and figuratively, by her platoon mates while they hurl a torrent of accusations and slurs about Manning exposed the realities of atrocities and raw war footage; data that was data is cited by some as being a catalyst for anti-American sentiments in the Mideast.

The play bounces back and forth in time, jarringly at times, to the year Manning spent in a Welsh high school. Johnny Smith conveys so much of Manning's inner turmoil in these scenes and Isa St. Clair is great as the outwardly sympathetic Welsh schoolteacher who nonetheless tries to force Manning to rat out other students for their classroom antics.

In her early 20s, Manning is now stateside trying to get into MIT, while working dead-end jobs. She begs her disdainful father to pay her tuition and her father orders her to join the army to get a free education. Manning signs up and is targeted as the weakest link in boot camp and is continually singled out for rough treatment as a perceived gay soldier under the military's DADT policies. She even joins protests of Prop 8 in California where she meets a grad student and they fall in love.

Manning was targeted and harassed under the military's draconian DADT policies, except when her expertise in the field was needed. She was forced to pretend her boyfriend in the states was a woman to her officers and comrades. Trevor Fayle and David Pica has instant chemistry in Price's economic scenes that establish their relationship and how its emotional reality inspires Manning's convictions.

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But the pressures of military life and her delayed career plans continue to weigh on her. She starts rebelling in the military and protest being bullied by fellow soldiers and has a reputation for being difficult and acting out inappropriately, including charges of striking a female officer.

Expected to be dishonorably discharged, her programming skills are deemed too valuable as the wars in the Iraq spirals out of control. She works in intelligence gathering and has clearance in the repository of raw Intel, electronic and video of massive atrocities and questionable missions and cover-ups. Manning turns whistle-blower and releases thousands of pages of documents on the internet, is incarcerated, put on suicide watch and, in Price's narrative, subject to psychological torture by the military.

Some of Price's jarring narrative structure, especially the high school scenes border on redundant. Meanwhile, Reing's physical theater elements, with fight direction by Glover, are consistently inventive. A droning scene of mental torture that keeps hitting the same blunt note is contrasted with an inspired breakout dance denouement to GaGa's LGBTQ anthem "Born This Way."

Gritty set designs by Meghan Jones in tandem with precision video projections by Janelle Kaufmann, sound by Zack McKenna and lighting design by Shon Causer -- all well orchestrated elements -- the disturbing sights and sounds of war, admirably, more thought -- provoking than a device facilitating flashy effects or glorified violence..
Yes, generation buzzwords like "millennial" and "Gen Z" are constantly being thrown around. And it's right to question the feasibility of defining an entire generation with a single keyword.

However, the truth is that generations are changing. Two siblings, one millennial and one Gen Z (I'm talking from experience here), are likely drawn to different goals, priorities, and even social media networks.

Now it's time to start thinking about Gen Z. Consisting of young people born late 1990s to 2010s, this generation will soon start setting off on their adventures -- and it's likely they're going to be very different adventures from our own. Here are some predictions for how Gen Z will force the travel industry to catch up and keep up.

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1. They are conservative spenders with big ambitions

Gen Z will be more conservative with their money, though not fearful of splurging on trips that enhance their views of the world, says Skift in their report "Megatrends Defining Travel in 2016".

We're talking one-off opportunities that are remembered for a lifetime, be it diving the Great Barrier Reef, living with the Maasai people in Kenya, or kayaking amongst icebergs in Greenland. Here at TrekkSoft we're coming into contact with an increasing number of tour and activity providers that offer once-in-a-lifetime-experiences at accessible prices.

2. They are inspired by the world

Gen Zs have global aspirations and draw inspiration from all over the world, says Upfront Analytics. Travel has always been a fundamental drive of our creativity and understanding, but it will be particularly interesting to see how this generation responds to their global adventures in creative, business, and social terms. As 55 percent of Gen Z want to start their own business (says a poll by Universum), the Gen Z global outlook could lead to some pretty fascinating startups and social enterprises.

3. Catching their attention is the ultimate challenge

8 seconds is the time it takes for a Gen Z to process information, consider what it means, and move on to the next thing that catches their eye (Source: Skift). In 2000, the average for this age group was 12 seconds. This is going to revolutionize marketing. To convince a Gen Z traveller to book a tour or travel experience, visual marketing, personalized recommendations, and a speedy online booking system will be basic requirements.

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4. They're won over by video

Gen Zs watch two times as many videos on mobile than other generations, and 70 percent spend a hefty 2-plus hours on YouTube per day, says Upfront Analytics. It's not surprising that streaming video will account for more than two-thirds of all consumer Internet traffic by 2017 (Source: Cisco). As travel companies respond to this trend, we'll have a lot of inspiring videos of exotic destinations to look forward to, folks.

5. They want a good story

To appeal to Gen Z, it's not just about and mobile-optimization and being on the right social networks. It goes deeper than that. For one, a major trend accompanying the surge of video is a story well-told, and particularly effective is a blend of storytelling and visual content marketing. Visual storytelling is already a crucial focus for destination marketing organizations, but it is likely to only be emphasized further.

6. They're going to change the world
Chucking it all and finding yourself while relocating to an exotic locale is living the dream, right? Or is it? Consider these insights from someone who has actually done it--more than once.

This post originally appeared on Map Happy.

France probably neglected to mention in the brochure filled with images of baguettes resting jauntily in that bike basket and endless kouign amanns that French residents often are charged by the minute for slow customer service and even the washing machine sometimes takes a cigarette break. It might be enough to toss your beret in La Seine.

Real life is, uh, real life, and therefore boring at times, complete with daily challenges in an imperfect system. That's also life abroad, but usually in a different language. Don't be fooled.

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Everything is a vacation!

Because, I am, like, off to Thailand EVERY WEEKEND.

Guess what? In order to live abroad, most expats are also forced to work. I know that must come as a surprise.

The truth is I'm most likely stuck in an office cubicle being a pencil pusher for a company. Perhaps, yes, I may get more vacation time than you, but in choosing where to spend my time, a flight to Thailand costs $100 round-trip while a flight to the United States prices around $1,500. The choice at the end of the day is often a fiscal decision. Plus, Bangkok is noticeably cheaper than Los Angeles.

On the weekend, it's time to go find a light bulb because the one in the apartment has burnt out. But instead of running into Target to grab one, I'm scouring the aisles in a Chinese knickknack store in asking for help in broken Cantonese trying to find the right size.

It is hard to get a working visa.

Certainly, if you have your heart set and living in France, expect the citizenship process to take years, if not decades. Relocating to Europe permanently is hard so let's burst that bubble right here and now.

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In countries where the barrier to immigration is much lower and that have a large expat population, like Singapore and Australia, getting a working visa can take far less time than going to the DMV. And it's approved in weeks, if not instantly.

For example, Australia and New Zealand only require an online application that takes half an hour and a few clicks of the mouse to complete. Picking the right country can be half the battle of moving abroad.

The working visa needs to come before the job offer.

There are companies that will sponsor qualified candidates, but finding a job abroad is like finding a job anywhere else. Have the right skill set for the position and if you're lucky, or in a country where it's common to hire foreign workers, hopefully the company will stick out their neck for you. (Some companies will also not hire candidates that they can't meet locally, just like most companies in the U.S.)

Keep in mind smaller companies often don't have the resources to campaign to the immigration office for a candidate, since a company will often have to prove that they cannot fill the position with a local candidate. But it's not impossible to get a job abroad, even if you're a fresh grad with only a year or two of work experience.

Some medium-sized companies may also be able to do it. But don't expect the local Starbucks to sponsor you as a barista in Chiang Mai.

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TL;DR: Sometimes the work visa comes first and vice versa.

Expats all have money.

There are often two routes to becoming an expat: Getting transferred to an international office with a company--usually with a schmancy relocation package--or ditching a job to find a new one abroad.

The first option is by far the most risk-free and lucrative option. It is also the most rare, besides being the option that everyone wants. Did I mention that relocation packages are pretty much dead outside of finance and banking?

The second option is generally more prevalent. These jobs usually aren't as lucrative and sometimes only earn a local wage, not an expat wage. There are just as many expats banking a six-figure income as there are expats barely making it above the poverty level. The only thing difference is the location.

Interestingly enough, I knew enough English teachers in Asia that made more money than expat white-collar workers. Don't judge a book by its cover.

You NEED to speak (local language) to survive.

It's great to understand everything, but it's actually surprising how little of the local knowledge most people need to know to survive or to even work in a country where they aren't native to the culture. (Hint: Almost nothing sometimes.)

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Don't underestimate the power of being immersed totally into a country and what can be accomplished through body language. Most people inevitably are forced to pick up a survival level of understanding.

I moved to Beijing and Hong Kong with no existing knowledge of Mandarin or Cantonese. My understanding of Chinese is still pretty much limited to key activities, like ordering in restaurants--no intestine please!--or expressing displeasure when someone has pissed me off.

Explaining to HR the office printer is broken? Not so much.

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Staff photo - Activists rally on the North Carolina coast against Atlantic drilling

For more than a year we spoke up together for the Atlantic Coast, and President Obama finally listened--foreclosing offshore drilling along the East Coast for at least the next six years. This Sunday, May 15th, we're joining together again with thousands of citizens, environmental allies, and frontline communities for a day of action to urge the president to protect the Arctic and Gulf, as well.

Opening up the coast from Virginia to Georgia to offshore drilling, as the Obama administration proposed 18 months ago, would have spelled disaster for the Atlantic region's environment, economy, and way of life.

Visitors have long flocked to the southern Atlantic's beaches for wild ponies; baby sea turtles lurching to the sea; warm water and long, smooth stretches of sand. Indeed, tourism, fishing, and other ocean-related businesses in the four south Atlantic states contributed $14.6 billion to their economies in a single year.

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Oil exploration and drilling would threaten the right whale and other Atlantic marine life with dangerous seismic air guns, chronic pollution, and frequent blowouts. It would threaten prized beaches with oil-soaked birds and tar balls. And a BP Deepwater Horizon-scale disaster would threaten coastal economies from the southern tip of Florida to northern tip of Maine.

That's why Atlantic Coast communities didn't accept the proposal to put their shores in harm's way. More than 100 coastal governments and 1,000 coastal businesses spoke out against it. Up and down the coast, public meetings on the plan drew standing-room only crowds, the vast majority against drilling and dangerous seismic testing.

In March the Obama administration yielded at last, removing the Atlantic Ocean entirely from its 2017 to 2022 drilling plan. It was a huge win for the Chesapeake Bay, for the Outer Banks and St. Simons Island - and a testament to the power of citizens and community leaders speaking with one voice.

Unfortunately, the administration left new proposed leases for the Arctic and the Gulf in its five-year drilling plan, and left the Atlantic open to seismic testing. So now, we're keeping up the pressure to fully protect the Atlantic, and rallying forces to safeguard our other coasts, too.

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The Arctic Ocean is one of the most unique marine ecosystems in the world, and its remote location and extreme conditions would make a spill - which the administration concedes is likely -- nearly impossible to clean up. A disaster in the Arctic would threaten whales, walruses and one fifth of the world's polar bear population.

More Gulf Coast drilling, meanwhile, would further damage a region still recovering from the BP disaster, where hundreds of thousands of miles of coastal marshes have already been lost to oil and gas development.

What's more, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, from devastating floods to rising seas to wildfires, we must keep the vast majority of the world's fossil fuel reserves in the ground. There's no better place to start than with the fragile Arctic, and with a just transition off fossil fuels that begins with no new drilling in the Gulf.
I'm an avid supporter of charter schools. I work at one. I send my kids to one. I donate to one. I'm making this disclaimer early, lest what's to come is misconstrued as anything other than a healthy dose of tough love.

Charter schools were established to be innovators, trailblazers of educational best practices and new models of education that traditional schools could emulate.

So when The New York Times reported on a study showing that in 2011-12, charter schools suspended black students four times as often as they did white kids, I was disheartened. I wasn't one of those die-hard fans who asked, "Why pick on charters, traditional schools are just as bad?"

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The charter movement is and has never been a battle for the lesser of two evils. Early education reformers opened charters because they wanted to bring high-quality educational options to the poorest of children. Therefore, for charters to continue to make a case for their existence or growth, they need to be better than or at least just as good (not bad) as district schools. Charters cannot boast of providing school choice to parents if choosing them is as equally unattractive as the non-charter alternative.

In addition to the vast racial disparity in discipline practices, the study purported that charters (as well as traditional schools) suspended students with disabilities two to three times more often than students without disabilities. That's a double whammy for me as a mother of an African-American child with an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Obviously all public schools--district and charter--need to ask themselves this hard question: Are our discipline policies reproducing the same racial injustice rampant in the criminal justice system (i.e., higher black arrest rates and prisons jam-packed with nonviolent offenders of color, many who suffer from mental illnesses)?

If the answer is "yes," then the next question these schools need to ask themselves is, "How are we going to fix it?"

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It's Not About Being the Same

Charters are uniquely positioned to attack the last question with a vengeance. They have the autonomy to dream up all sorts of behavioral interventions for students and to form partnerships with community organizations that can offer support. They can creatively use their public and philanthropic dollars to invest in a disciplinary code revolution.

Some smaller, more independent charters are already doing it. For example, Perspectives Charter Schools, which has five campuses in African-American communities in Chicago, launched a student-led peace initiative in 2014 that brought thousands of teens from across the city together, drawing national media attention. They have also made social-emotional learning an integral part of their college-prep educational model.

Some of the nation's larger "big-box" charter networks have super-strict discipline policies that falsely define how the public sees all charter schools. If the largest charter management organization in a school district has a "zero-tolerance" or "no-excuses" one-size-fits-all style discipline code, then that philosophy tends to dominate the charter debate, even when smaller charters fervently oppose those practices.

The beauty about charter schools is that they are not supposed to be the same. Sameness is the antithesis of the innovation they are supposed to produce.

Here's the Problem

The problem, as I see it, is that the fundamental mission of innovation has drifted into an obsession with a "college-readiness" stance that asks students to play follow-the-leader rather than empowering them to actually be leaders. This approach also elevates achieving high ACT scores over building students' sense of self-worth through cultural awareness, critical thinking and student-driven knowledge acquisition. Academic rigor is god, and a kid's socio-emotional learning is whatever lesson he internalizes after he's been punished.

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This discipline strategy manages high school student behavior by dictating what kids can wear; what colors they can dye their hair; how straight they sit at their desks; how closely they track their teacher; and even how silently they walk in the hallways during passing periods. Breaking these arbitrary rules can rack up demerits, which can lead to a detention, which can lead to a suspension, which can lead to grade retention.

I was shocked by the resemblance to jail mentality when my 12-year-old nephew and my 13-year-old brother, both of whom attend a zero-tolerance charter school, discussed amongst themselves how they had "served their time" and how their "records were expunged."

Their school discipline is built on fear and compliance, not on ethics and community. It's not restorative, just punitive. "Educators should not be teaching kids discipline," an African-American leader of a national network of charter schools recently told me. "Discipline is just the tactic; keeping kids safe is the goal."

I'm under no delusion that it's easy to educate children from America's most ravaged communities. I've taught such kids, and while they embody so much hope and potential, their lives are also often filled with anxiety and pain. Much like the streets, zero-tolerance schools leave no room for mercy when these kids make inevitable mistakes.

To do our jobs well, charter and district schools have to prioritize social-emotional learning and value it as an essential component of a true "college-prep" curriculum. Teaching kids how to process and learn from their mistakes will give them tools for better intrinsic decision-making in college.

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Yes, restorative justice strategies are laborious, messy, and sometimes frustrating for adults, but studies show that the easy way out--suspension--actually does students harm, ushering otherwise non-violent kids onto streets that eventually lure them into criminal behavior.
In July 2015, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or Daesh) released a video of 25 Syrian soldiers being executed by children at Palmyra's amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its black flag - now synonymous with death and destruction - was visibly prominent in the macabre scene. Daesh then turned their sites to the person who had done the most to honor Palmyra - Khaled al-Asaad - its leading archaeologist. After torturing him for a month, reportedly so he might divulge the location of hidden cultural treasures, he was decapitated and strung upside down as a warning to others. And last week, the world's cameras returned to Palmyra, for yet another show. Now secured by armed men from a different military force, the same ancient stage was the scene of a majestic performance by some of Russia's finest musicians. World-renowned music conductor Valery Gergiev said that the artists were protesting against Daesh's barbarism and violence. Syrian archaeologist al-Asaad's picture was prominently featured in the background. The same site that - until a few months ago - was whirling in screams, blood and horror, was filled with exquisite notes and kaleidoscopic colours of Palmyra's beautiful grounds. The music shared was heard by children dressed in traditional costumes, military servicemen/women, religious representatives of different faiths, and locals. For anyone listening to the concert, it was hard not to feel sadness at the great suffering of the Syrian people and pride for the service of the men and women battling Daesh. Yet Russia is a stanch ally of the Assad regime; that same regime that has used historical sites for military purposes, damaging or completely destroying them in the course of the conflict. The Syrian military has repeatedly use barrel bombs in Syria, causing untold damage to civilians and our collective cultural heritage, including the ancient city of Aleppo. But the Assad regime is not just destroying cultural heritage. Like Daesh, the Al-Nusrah Front and others, it is reportedly involved in the trafficking and/or looting of antiquities from Syria. So while Daesh may be the most notorious actor in destroying and looting antiquities, it is not alone.

The damage done to Syria's historical heritage is staggering. The US government assesses that Daesh alone has "probably earned several million dollars from antiquities sales since mid-2014." More recently, the Russian Ambassador to the UN stated that "[t]he profit derived by the Islamists from the illicit trade in antiquities and archaeological treasures is estimated at US $150-200 million per year." And while Russia orchestrated an elegant exhibition of its military and artistic might, it is hard not to think of the propaganda value at home and abroad. Ironically, the Mariinsky symphony orchestra performed music from one of Russia's most renowned composers, Sergei Prokofiev, who died the same day as Stalin. Prokofiev's death went almost unnoticed, due to the attention given to Stalin's passing. Yet Prokofiev's art is still highly revered and played in the world's most prestigious music halls, while many of Stalin's statues have been left to the "dustbin of history." Art is a tribute to humanity's power to create wonders, which transcend time, gender, race, religion, nationality, and age. Art and beauty are also private and powerful, under the most macabre circumstances. Russia's Tolstoy highlighted this in his masterpiece, War and Peace. Describing a gory battle scene against the French, Tolstoy contrasts it with the observation of a young handsome Russian prince who falls wounded on the ground and says: "Where is it, that lofty sky that I did not know till now, but saw today?" The power of art is invisible and held even under the most oppressive circumstances. It is for this reason that extremists so often seek to destroy it. Those collectors and dealers who are buying looted antiquities from Syria and Iraq - and the middlemen who aid and abet the illicit trade (via transportation, insurance, freeports, etc.) - should think of the irreparable damage they are doing to history and to humanity at large. These purchases are not victimless crimes, but help finance the bloodbath in this war zone and beyond. Law enforcement alone cannot stop the antiquities trafficking, as it is a complex/multifaceted process. Applying due diligence to recent acquisitions is not as simple as checking off an item on a list, but there needs to be scrutiny and critical observation of the likelihood that an object is associated with doubtful provenance. The private sector - in support of the Sustainable Development Goals - is in a unique position to adhere to improved international standards and codes of ethics when trading antiquities. Perhaps a global stakeholder engagement group should come together, at Davos, or via the OECD, to agree to a voluntary common sourcing and sales standard, which would facilitate transparency and avoid the unknowing (or knowing) trade in "blood antiquities" from conflict zones. In a world facing such evil - and the black flags of Daesh - industry actors should overcome evil with good.
UNITED STATES - MAY 12: Groups of protesters, including United We Dream, demonstrate outside of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during a meeting between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate republican leaders, May 12, 2016. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Last week's victory in the Indiana primary for Donald Trump and the subsequent suspended campaigns of Senator Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich hearken back to the time of Thomas Paine's Common Sense: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country."

"Now is the time" is, admittedly, a played-out cliche in election language. Just once, it would be fascinating to hear a politician running for office not argue that 'the most important election of our time' and 'the election in which they are running' don't happen to coincidentally overlap.

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But watching the brutal culling of the Republican field inevitably lends to the conclusion that something is indeed different this cycle. This is not 2012, when President Obama and Governor Romney had a polite--if terse--conversation about the size of the U.S. Navy. And it is certainly not 2008, when Sen. Obama praised Sen. McCain as a "genuine American hero," and Sen. McCain insisted to his own crowds that Sen. Obama was a "decent person...you do not have to be scared of" and not, in fact, an Arab.

Instead, thanks to the interjections of Donald J. Trump, this cycle has become a contest of fundamental ideas about our country and what it means to the world.

Are pluralism and respect for human rights the greatest strengths of our society or fundamental weaknesses? Will we stand with other free people and just societies to lead the world toward a better future or insult and demand tribute from them? Do we approach the challenges and opportunities of our generation with every piece in a meticulously maintained toolbox or with only a circus clown's inflatable mallet?

We should have no illusions: the most fundamental values that bring us together as a nation are under direct and immediate threat. This is not hyperbole, but a simple fact. Pluralism, leadership, and a continuously proven American exceptionalism are the foundations of a safe and secure world that our Greatest Generation built on the ashes of World War II, and now the Republican Party's standard bearer has whipped his electorate against them. Our allies abroad are concerned; our military and national security leaders at home are, too. As well they should be--as well as we all should be.

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Any politician who does not understand what makes America great--or indeed that America is already great--is not fit to lead. Empowering leaders from all walks of life is what makes our country and its leadership in the world strong. Building our allies up rather than tearing them down, belittling them, or making demands of them is more than good diplomacy; it is also how you prevent wars. And having the intellectual curiosity and humility to see the world through a lens other than your own ego is a basic requirement for the position of leader of the indispensable nation.

The Truman National Security Project, a nationwide organization of policy leaders, political professionals, veterans, and frontline civilians, embraces this vision of American leadership in the world. United by our shared experiences in the post-9/11 era, we believe that backing away from our commitments abroad and spouting simple solutions at home are equally ineffective visions for a foreign policy that keeps the world safe and prosperous. It takes leadership from all kinds of Americans to achieve these kinds of goals--the egotism of suggesting that one man "alone can solve" our woes is as astounding as it is wrongheaded.

In a time when so many are abdicating their values for the sake of political expediency, all others have the opportunity to be the collective voice that refuses to forget who we are, where we come from, and the values that unite us in service. The #NeverTrump forces within the Republican Party must fight on--for the sake of their integrity, if no other reason--and the rest of us must get ready.
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, takes questions during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Ryan emerged from a closely watched meeting with Donald Trump Thursday pledging to work together to defeat Hillary Clinton, but said he's not ready to fully back Trump without a clearer commitment to conservative principles. Photographer: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty Images

How appropriate in this campaign season, finally, that it was the Speaker of the U.S. House that commandeered Donald Trump's attention span and focused it on the separation of powers in our constitutional system. And that other branch of government on Capitol Hill.

Ryan, and his Republican conference, must shudder more than most Trump skeptics when they hear him explain what he's going to do as president. Not just because they disagree with many of his most controversial proposals, to put it mildly. But because he hardly ever mentions the legislative process - Congress - that he'll need to work with to get the big things done. Beyond Trump's ideas and indecent style and language, it's his strong strain of authoritarianism that is especially repellent to many conservatives in the House and Senate.

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Today's meeting between Ryan and Trump, aside from Ryan's sincere objections, was much about political theater. And soon enough, the Speaker and most of the big shot Republican will close ranks behind their nominee, save a couple of former presidents. But when Ryan was peppered with questions about the meeting shortly afterwards, he was very quick to convey to the press what he conveyed to Trump:

"It was also important that we discussed the core principles that tie us all together. Principles like the Constitution, the separation of powers. The fact that we have an executive that is going way beyond the boundaries of the Constitution and how it's important to us that we restore Article I of the Constitution. Y'know, the principle of self-government."

Ah, that prickly Article I. Congress. What James Madison referred to as the "First Branch." It hasn't gone anywhere. And no matter who ends up in the White House, that person will have to negotiate with Ryan and his likely majority on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Of course, you could make the assumption that because there was an unwritten agreement that the two men would not get into the big policy differences - that left "core principles" on the agenda. But Ryan came back to it once again before his 11-minute presser concluded: "We believe in the proper role in the differences in the separation of powers." The Speaker wants to make it clear to Trump: if you win, you will need to deal with me. With us. And we want LESS authoritarianism-like behavior in our federal government, not more.

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Whether we have too much of that style of presidential leadership right now is a matter of interpretation. But Trump's voters like his "my way or the highway" attitude. They seem to be tired of all of this feckless ping-pong between the branches of government in D.C.

Two months ago, Matthew Macwilliams at the University of Massachusetts conducted a national poll of 1,800 registered voters, and here's what he discovered:

"Running a standard statistical analysis, I found that education, income, gender, age, ideology and religiosity had no significant bearing on a Republican voter's preferred candidate. Only two of the variables I looked at were statistically significant: authoritarianism, followed by fear of terrorism, though the former was far more significant than the latter."
As the Obama administration closes out its last year, it has sought to spin its role in the now obvious Syrian chaos and human catastrophe as an attempt to stay out of a civil war, that perhaps, it should not have stayed out of. It is an admirable narrative of a President and his foreign policy team that sought to do good, by refusing to involve itself in another war in the Middle East, only to discover the tragedy that the region was nastier than it had imagined. It is a sad tale of good men who did nothing, or certainly not enough, and it has only the singular problem of being altogether false.

The White House has been deeply involved in the Syrian uprising from the beginning, while simultaneously attempting to hide its own involvement, but you wouldn't know it from the recent press.

The collective memory of the media on this issue has been, as to be expected, amnesiac. A recent New York Times Magazine feature story on Ben Rhodes, the White House foreign policy speechwriter and "Aspiring Novelist Who Became Obama's Foreign Policy Guru," glowingly portrays Rhodes as one of the strongest proponents and most powerful voices inside the "Oval Office debate over Syria policy in 2012 -- resulting in a decision not to support the uprising against Assad in any meaningful way." The Magazine goes on to explain how Obama "kept the United States out of a civil war in Syria..." due to "Obama's particular revulsion against a certain kind of global power politics." When asked about the 450,000 deaths in Syria, Ben Rhodes, Obama's "guru" replies. ""Yeah, I admit very much to that reality," he says. "There's a numbing element to Syria in particular. But I will tell you this," he continues. "I profoundly do not believe that the United States could make things better in Syria by being there. And we have an evidentiary record of what happens when we're there -- nearly a decade in Iraq."

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"Ben Rhodes wanted to do right," writes the NY Times Magazine, "and maybe, when the arc of history lands, it will turn out that he did. At least, he tried. Something scared him, and made him feel as if the grown-ups in Washington didn't know what they were talking about, and it's hard to argue that he was wrong."

The narrative is as straightforward as it is compelling - the White House and its young idealists are now becoming more aware of, but still struggling with, the tragedy of the world, and under attack for having been too hands-off in Syria: perhaps the perfect set up for Hillary's "more muscular" foreign policy outlook to take shape in. Too bad it's all a lie.

In 2011, The Washington Post itself reported the Obama administrations covert and influential instigation of the Syrian uprising. "The State Department has secretly financed Syrian political opposition groups and related projects, including a satellite TV channel that beams anti-government programming into the country, according to previously undisclosed diplomatic cables" explained The Post. "Classified U.S. diplomatic cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million...since 2006 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria...The U.S. money for Syrian opposition figures began flowing under President George W. Bush in 2005," wrote the Post, and that "The financial backing has continued under President Obama."

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The Post report was based on cables released by Wikileaks. "the cables... show that U.S. Embassy officials in Damascus became worried in 2009 when they learned that Syrian intelligence agents were raising questions about U.S. programs," wrote the Post. "Syrian authorities "would undoubtedly view any U.S. funds going to illegal political groups as tantamount to supporting regime change," read an April 2009 cable signed by the top-ranking U.S. diplomat in Damascus at the time."

The money was originally intended to go to anti-Assad forces within Syria, but none could be found who would take foreign money for such a project. So instead, it went to a group of openly-anti Assad Syrian ex-patriots in London, under the name "the Movement for Justice and Development. The group, which is banned in Syria, openly advocates for Assad's removal. U.S. cables describe its leaders as "liberal, moderate Islamists" who are former members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Several U.S. diplomatic cables from the embassy in Damascus reveal that the Syrian exiles received money from a State Department program called the Middle East Partnership Initiative. "According to the cables, the State Department funneled money to the exile group via the Democracy Council, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit." Even the conservative mainstream Post couldn't help but comment on the irony of the effort. "According to its Web site," wrote the Post "the council sponsors projects in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America to promote the "fundamental elements of stable societies."

When forced to comment, the State Department at the time pinned the number at $6.3 million, but at least one Wikileaks cable has the amount of State Department funding at $12 million, and that is just between 2005 and 2010.

The raison d'etre of the cables was indeed that the White House considered this support to be top secret and feared any press over the matter, both because it would prove false the administration's claims of non-involvement and it would of course delegitimize the armed opposition movement in local eyes if it were outed to be a foreign-backed insurrection. "A June 2009 cable" wrote The Post, "listed the concerns under the heading "MJD: A Leaky Boat?" It reported that the group was "seeking to expand its base in Syria" but had been "initially lax in its security, often speaking about highly sensitive material on open lines." The cable cited evidence that the Syrian intelligence service was aware of the connection between the London exile group and the Democracy Council in Los Angeles. As a result, embassy officials fretted that the entire Syria assistance program had been compromised."

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Of course, the White House instigation of the Syrian civil war, and assistance to the Syrian rebels did not end with these programs. We need not even begin to peel away at the many layers of financial, military and organizational support that the US has lent to the Syrian civil war rebels through its allies Israel, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who had been arming the rebels from the very beginning. The figure of $6 or $12 million dollars from the State Department was only the very tip of the iceberg. By 2015, in classified debates inside the House Intelligence Committee, The Washington Post later reported that lawmakers were debating how much to continue funding "a secret CIA operation to train and arm rebels in Syria... that U.S. officials said has become one the agency's largest covert operations, with a budget approaching $1 billion a year."

Was this money going towards a television station? Of course not. The Post makes clear that "much of the CIA's money goes toward running secret training camps in Jordan, gathering intelligence to help guide the operations of agency-backed militias and managing a sprawling logistics network used to move fighters, ammunition and weapons into the country."

In fact, from the very first moment of the war, this was no popular uprising that failed to generate Western support, but a foreign-backed assault on a stabile society. Much was done to weaken Assad in the years leading up to it, but the war can be said to have begun, in earnest, in March of 2011, when clashes in the street turned violent (and eerily took the exact same form as that the 1983 CIA backed unsuccessful Homs rebellion in Syria) in which rebel snipers on rooftops shot police and then cried massacre when the police shot back.

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Here is the version according to "CNN Fast Facts" on the history of the conflict. "March 2011: Violence flares in Daraa after a group of teens and children are arrested for writing political graffiti. Dozens of people are killed when security forces crack down on demonstrations." Much of the rest of the mainstream media portrays the situation in the same tone - a popular demonstration against Assad was met with brutal force from a maniacal dictator.

Yet here is the version from onlookers themselves. ""I have seen from the beginning armed protesters in those demonstrations ... they were the first to fire on the police. Very often the violence of the security forces comes in response to the brutal violence of the armed insurgents." - Jesuit priest Father Frans Van der Lugt, January 2012, Homs Syria

As Professor Tim Anderson, author of the new book "The Dirty War on Syria" writes: "A double story began on the Syrian conflict, at the very beginning of the armed violence in 2011, in the southern border town of Daraa. The first story comes from independent witnesses in Syria, such as the late Father Frans Van der Lugt in Homs. They say that armed men infiltrated the early political reform demonstrations to shoot at both police and civilians. This violence came from sectarian Islamists. The second comes from the Islamist groups ('rebels') and their western backers, including the Washington-based Human Rights Watch. They claim there was 'indiscriminate' violence from Syrian security forces to repress political rallies and that the 'rebels' grew out of a secular political reform movement."

"In 2011, we saw armed Islamists using rooftop sniping against police and government officials, drawing in the armed forces, only to cry 'civilian massacre' when they and their collaborators came under attack from the Army," writes Anderson. "Careful study of the independent evidence, however, shows that the Washington-backed 'rebel' story, while widespread, was part of a strategy to delegitimize the Syrian Government, with the aim of fomenting 'regime change'."

Indeed, the "sectarian Islamists" who instigated the violence whom Anderson refers to are the Muslim Brotherhood, former members of whom the many secret millions of dollars in US Government funding had been going to.

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According to Anderson, "In February 2011 there was popular agitation in Syria, to some extent influenced by the events in Egypt and Tunisia. There were anti-government and pro-government demonstrations, and a genuine political reform movement that for several years had agitated against corruption and the Ba'ath Party monopoly. However only one section of that opposition was linked to the violence that erupted in Daraa. Large anti-government demonstrations began, to be met with huge pro-government demonstrations. In early March, some teenagers in Daraa were arrested for graffiti that had been copied from North Africa 'the people want to overthrow the regime'. It was reported that they were abused by local police, President Bashar al Assad intervened, the local governor was sacked and the teenagers were released."

"Yet the Islamist insurrection was underway, taking cover under the street demonstrations. On 11 March, several days before the violence broke out in Daraa, there were reports that Syrian forces had seized 'a large shipment of weapons and explosives and night-vision goggles ... in a truck coming from Iraq'."

A truck of arms coming to Syrian rebels from Iraq? Who would be sending these? Certainly not the Iranians, not the Russians and certainly not the Iraqi government. Who does that leave left? The US and it's allies, of course.

"The western media consensus was that protestors burned and trashed government offices, and then 'provincial security forces opened fire on marchers, killing several' (Abouzeid 2011). Yet a close study of the media turns this on its head. "While its headline blamed security forces for killing 'protesters'," writes Anderson, "the British Daily Mail (2011) showed pictures of guns, AK47 rifles and hand grenades that security forces had recovered after storming the al-Omari mosque. The paper noted reports that 'an armed gang' had opened fire on an ambulance, killing 'a doctor, a paramedic and a policeman'. Media channels in neighbouring countries did report on the killing of Syrian police, on 17-18 March. On 21 March a Lebanese news report observed that 'Seven policemen were killed during clashes between the security forces and protesters in Syria' (YaLibnan 2011), while an Israel National News report said 'Seven police officers and at least four demonstrators in Syria have been killed ... and the Baath party headquarters and courthouse were torched' (Queenan 2011). These police had been targeted by rooftop snipers."

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From there the war was taken North, in an assassination campaign that killed Syrian soldiers and commanders and led to the eventual battles and balkanization of Syria into tinier and more fractured pieces that were either were successfully still under Syrian government control or had been seized by the rebels as "free."

Much of the news on this issue, aside from cables discovered by Wikileaks, has come from the US backed Qatari news channel Al Jazeera, of course - an operation financed by the US, and owned by its close ally, the Royal family of Qatar, who are avowedly anti-Assad. Indeed, as Anderson points out, Al Jazeera "blacked out these attacks, as also the reinforcement provided by armed foreigners. Former Al Jazeera journalist Ali Hashem was one of many who resigned from the Qatar-owned station (RT 2012), complaining of deep bias over their presentation of the violence in Syria. Hashem had footage of armed men arriving from Lebanon, but this was censored by his Qatari managers. 'In a resignation letter I was telling the executive ... it was like nothing was happening in Syria.'"

Anderson goes on, "After months of media manipulations, disguising the Islamist insurrection, Syrians such as Samer al Akhras, a young man from a Sunni family, who used to watch Al Jazeera because he preferred it to state TV, became convinced to back the Syrian government. He saw first-hand the fabrication of reports on Al Jazeera and wrote, in late June 2011:

'I am a Syrian citizen and I am a human. After 4 months of your fake freedom ... You say peaceful demonstration and you shoot our citizen. From today ... I am [now] a Sergeant in the Reserve Army. If I catch anyone ... in any terrorist organization working on the field in Syria I am gonna shoot you as you are shooting us. This is our land not yours, the slaves of American fake freedom' (al Akhras 2011)."

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Of course, such laments aren't too commonly portrayed in the American press. Rhodes does do us the service of at least partly explaining why. "All these newspapers used to have foreign bureaus," he said. "Now they don't. They call us to explain to them what's happening in Moscow and Cairo. Most of the outlets are reporting on world events from Washington. The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. That's a sea change. They literally know nothing."

Oh the beauty of the circular logic of the media reporting on the administration today, where even the past doesn't exist, except as explained by the White House. How strange must it be at the center of it, where everybody seeks "to do right," through "his own sense of the urgency of radically reorienting American policy in the Middle East in order to make the prospect of American involvement in the region's future wars a lot less likely" and in which the "tragedy" of the deaths of 450,000 Syrians is to be grappled with, but nothing more, and certainly not accepted with any moral, intellectual or political responsibility.

Now that the 450,000 deaths and millions of global refugees that have resulted from the instigation and backing of our Syrian rebels has resulted politically for the US in not much more than a stronger hand by Assad, and deeper, successful involvement in the region by Iran, Hezbollah and the Russians (though the Israelis have successfully used the war as cover and pretext to physically seize the remainder of the Golan Heights), the foreign policy establishment appears quite set that to displace Assad or at the least minimize his control, they they will have to further increase US involvement in the war. Perhaps that is why the administration is attempting to portray the devastation and chaos of the Syrian situation as a popular uprising it needed to have backed more forcefully against the evils of Assad. To do so, it has to wipe clean the nation's memory of the White House's recent past with this new fiction and inspire the country to believe in itself "as a moral actor" (NYT Magazine) again.

It's a good thing there is a novelist in the White House. And, thankfully too, the media will assuredly remind us again soon, Hillary Clinton has a plan.

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Over the last 30 years, the U. S. prison system has become home to more than 350,000 individuals living with a severe mental illness -- that is 10 times the number of patients that receive treatment in state psychiatric hospitals. Our under-resourced, and overcrowded jails and prisons are not equipped to support these individuals, and many who enter the system leave sicker than when they were detained. It is time to decriminalize mental illness and invest in well-informed policies, intervention programs, and treatment clinics.

Let me first offer some historical perspective to understand where we are today. Psychiatric hospitals were built in the 1800s to treat mental illness. At their height in 1959, state mental hospitals held approximately 559,000 patients. Although established on moral principles, these institutions fell out of favor during the 1950s through the 70s following accusations of patient neglect and were replaced by community care facilities and services. After a few years, the cost and logistics of community-based care became unsustainable. Thousands of people lost access to care, and without meaningful alternatives, were funneled into the prison system. In short, our prisons have become the new asylums.

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According to a 2014 state survey in Arlington, VA, inmates with chronic and serious mental health problems have been reported to experience increased stress while those with chronic and serious mental health problems add to the already stressful environment of jails and prisons. Prisoners with mental illness are also more likely to spend time in solitary confinement, further adding to the stress they experience.

Another study found that one in 12 inmates with a mental illness reported sexual victimization while imprisoned compared to one in 33 inmates without a mental illness. Female inmates with a mental illness are three times more likely to be sexually victimized than their male counterparts. Furthermore, prisoners with a mental illness lose their lives to suicide at a significantly higher rate than other prisoners.

The good news is that there are effective ways to decrease the number of individuals with mental illness who end up in correctional facilities and ensure that they receive proper care. While community-based early intervention programs have been proven to reduce an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system, the need for services far outweighs their capacity. To help fill the gap, some organizations have opened community clinics to provide low- or no-cost services.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has operated two community Counseling Centers in Southern California for several years and with great success. Under the supervision of licensed clinical staff, students in practicum provide psychotherapy to individuals who struggle with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, chronic mental illness, sexual abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.



Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) policing also works. CIT provides law enforcement officers with specialized crisis intervention and mental illness training that helps them more appropriately respond to persons in crisis and those who exhibit extreme behavior. These interventions result in individuals being calmed and referred to mental health services before criminal charges are addressed. In addition to reducing the number of incarcerations, this training helps decrease the number of repeated calls for police and increases the likelihood that people living with a mental illness will receive treatment.

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Some communities have admirably created special courts to help decrease the frequency of contacts between individuals with a mental illness and the criminal justice system. These courts provide treatment plans developed by mental health professionals and resources to improve a person's social functioning. They also link individuals to employment, housing, treatment, and other support services. Participants of such court-monitored programs are significantly less likely to be re-arrested or re-convicted.

I oftentimes wonder how things might change if more policies and resources such as these were in place to support the most vulnerable among us. I doubt that the criminal justice system intends for the incarceration of so many thousands of people with mental illnesses, and from my conversations with those who work in the system, I know they are deeply troubled by the statistics.
As of May 12 Uganda has two claimants to the country's presidency.

One is already detained in a secret location while the other still displays the trappings of power minus the legitimacy.

First on Wednesday May 11, Uganda's opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye announced on a video and statement posted on his political party's Facebook page and later on Youtube that he'd been sworn in as president, one day before the May 12 swearing in of the country's dictator of 30 years Gen. Yoweri Museveni.

How did Uganda arrive at this moment?

It has been building up for years. But the shorter answer picks up the story from the February 18, 2016 election which was widely dismissed by Ugandan election observers as well as by international observers from the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth as having not been free, fair, or credible.

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The United States also concluded the election didn't truly reflect the will of Ugandans, saying "Delays in the delivery of voting materials, reports of pre-checked ballots and vote buying, ongoing blockage of social media sites, and excessive use of force by the police, collectively undermine the integrity of the electoral process."

In a subsequent speech on April 6, in Uganda, U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac went even further. Not only did she reiterate the U.S. criticism of the election's conduct, she also attacked the Museveni regime for corruption, complaining that donor funds meant to fight HIV/aids had been embezzled.

While Gen. Museveni has been accused by the opposition of stealing the country's previous three elections, the daylight robbery was most blatant this time around, with: no attempt to conceal the state-sponsored election violence against opposition candidate supporters; the blocking of Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to conceal abuses; delays of up to 6 hours in delivering voting materials to polling stations in opposition strongholds to suppress the vote; the rigging by counting pre-ticked ballots; blocking opposition candidates from radio stations by threatening to cancel the owners' licenses; the abuse of state resources, by dipping into the treasury to the tune of $8 million to finance Gen. Museveni's campaign; and, outright buying of votes.

The two main opposition leaders Dr. Besigye and former prime minister Amama Mbabazi between them spent less than $800,000; their resources came from fund-raising.

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Even after the regime blocked access to social media, Ugandans were able to download Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and tweet tally sheets from polling stations where they voted; the figures differed with the numbers later released as official totals. In some precincts Museveni's wins exceeded the number of total registered voters.

The harassment was "in your face." Dr. Besigye was arrested before the voting started, during the voting, and then detained in his home for more than a month afterwards. Journalists who camped outside his house were arrested and some reported being beaten in custody.

While Ugandan and international election monitors dismissed the election, Gen. Museveni's hand-picked Electoral Commission under Badru Kiggundu awarded him "victory." Dr. Besigye was unable to file a petition challenging the result within 30 days as required by law to the Ugandan Supreme Court since he was detained beyond that period.

The Supreme Court, whose judges are also all appointed by Gen. Museveni did dismiss a challenge filed by the other candidate, Mbabazi.

Dr. Besigye instead called for an international audit similar to the one carried out under the auspices of the United Nations in Afghanistan that helped break the stalemate in 2014 between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, both of whom claimed victory in that country's election.

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Gen. Museveni ignored Besigye's demand for an audit and focused on his May 12 swearing date. It was as if merely by holding up a bible and promising to uphold and protect a constitution he has so far evicerated, his stolen "victory" would somehow be legitimized.

Dr. Besigye and his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party then launched a campaign of mass peaceful "defiance" that included protests and every-Tuesday prayer services led by pastors around the country.

Gen. Museveni's reaction was to unleash a state-of-terror.

There were mass arrests of opposition leaders.

Then a partisan judge, Steven Kavuma, from the same Supreme Court, issued an ex-parte order from the bench banning Ugandans from participating in any defiance-related activities called for by the FDC, including the every-Tuesday prayers. In subsequent days people all over the country, including a pastor, were actually arrested for praying in groups.

Museveni has turned Uganda into the old pre-reform China and Soviet Union.

Judge Kavuma even scandalously banned Uganda's media from covering any events related to the "defiance" campaign; as if "banning" reporting is something still possible to accomplish in the 21st century when Smart phones are now the new media platforms.

While ordinary people have been able to feed the world with information, major Ugandan private newspapers, such as The Daily Monitor, which is ironically edited by an American named Malcolm Gibson have been under tremendous pressure to tow the line.

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The draconian orders by the regime were denounced by the U.S. as well as Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Amnesty International.

Gen. Museveni was probably calculating that he could clamp down as viciously as he wanted to so long as the opposition didn't mobilize enough people to come out on the streets to disrupt his swearing in. He deployed thousands of heavily armed troops all over Kampala, the capital, and around the country.

The opposition had announced that it would conduct its own parallel swearing-in on May 12 in a stadium.

Perhaps sensing that the regime would arrest Besigye before then, the event was held May 11 according to the FDC. During the ceremony Dr. Besigye announced that he would be forming a transitional government of national unity which would create an independent election commission to oversee free and fair elections.

He also justified his swearing in by saying his party had evidence from tallying that he had actually won by 52 % and that he had been willing to submit to a binding independent audit to confirm who really won the election. Besigye said his transitional government would end nepotism and corruption and create an independent court and professionalize Uganda's institutions.

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Gen. Museveni's reaction was predictable.

Dr. Besigye was arrested after his announced swearing-in and whisked off to an undisclosed location in a remote part of Uganda and once again access to social media platforms were blocked.

Apart from Besigye swearing in before him, Gen. Museveni should be more worried by the Obama administration's response. It's no secret that when Obama addressed the African Union in Ethiopia last year and denounced African presidents who alter their country's constitutions and prolong their regime he had dictators like Museveni in mind.

When contacted for a reaction to Dr. Besigye's announced swearing-in, the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs spokesman Jeffrey Loree

said: "As we have said before, the United States does not support or endorse any one party or candidate in Uganda. We remain deeply concerned that government security forces continue to detain members of the political opposition and restrict their freedom of movement. We reiterate our call to the Ugandan government to immediately release Dr. Kizza Besigye from house arrest as well to release all other detained opposition members."

This isn't good news for Museveni since for all practical consideration the U.S. now sees Besigye's claim to (or lack of) to the presidency as just as equal to Museveni's. The Ugandan dictator has been able to survive for so long always with American backing -- in recent years he enjoyed U.S. exception because Uganda has deployed thousands of troops in Somalia to help fight al-Shabab militants.

But Somalia is now considerably more stable, the U.S. also uses more drone strikes there, and other countries like Kenya have also sent thousands of troops. Unlike in the past Museveni is in a weaker spot to blackmail the U.S. by threatening to withdraw troops as he's done in the past.

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So, which of the two men actually have the stronger claim?

Dr. Besigye, who claims an audit will confirm his victory and who is undeniably very popular and draws huge crowds?

Or the dictator of 30 years who commands the generals --at least for now-- and who controls the national purse strings and pays the salaries of the Electoral Commissioners and the Supreme Court judges who awarded him the "victory."
In an unprecedented move, the Islamic State launched an extensive coordinated campaign in which 14 of its "provinces" (regional divisions) released propaganda videos promoting Egyptian affiliate Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province). The 14 synchronized videos elaborate on specific, local grievances and contentious political affairs in Egypt in an effort to bolster recruitment to Wilayat Sinai. Released over the course of three days from May 5-7, the videos reflect a high degree of message adaptiveness and coordination not before seen from the group. IS's messaging appears to be tailored toward a target audience of potential recruits from both Sinai and mainland Egypt. The common theme, same narrator, and similar set suggest that the videos were centrally produced and disseminated.

The significance of this unprecedented campaign is not in the level of coordination and mass video production (a similar campaign in January accused the Saudi royal family of corruption). It is instead the timing, the choice of Wilayat Sinai, and the decision to highlight political issues as a cause for its support. The messages reflect a sign of desperation and dire need for support to a struggling sister province of Sinai. In this series, IS calls for support for Sinai Province while portraying very contentious issues in Egypt, including the two Egyptian islands handed to Saudi Arabia by President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi and the proposed bridge connecting the two countries. The propaganda series played to popular anger over the transfer and framed it as due to the devious role of Saudi Arabia and Israel in support of the unjust military regime in Egypt. More importantly, however, they focus on the injustices suffered by the Egyptian people in recent years. With images of the mass protests in Tahrir Square and images of the victims of the violent dispersal of Rabaa al-Adaweya Square, IS claims that peaceful means have led only to imprisonment and mass killings by Sisi's government. The videos refer to democracy as the "apostates' religion," claiming that such peaceful methods go against Islam and are ineffective in defending the faith. They strongly condemn the Muslim Brotherhood as traitors to the faith for participating in a political process for which they deserved their fate of being killed or thrown in jail. Indeed the message focuses entirely on internal grievances in Egypt, yet the group also draws upon the greater strategic importance of Sinai as the western gate to liberating Jerusalem.

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Each of the fourteen videos represents a particular theme of resilience during war, such as sacrifice, persistence, steadiness, perseverance, integrity, and empowerment, but the overarching message is that of patience and endurance in difficult times, citing the Qur'anic verse "With every difficulty there is relief" (94:5). IS' emphasis on these themes, especially taken alongside its plea for fighters to join its ranks, is a sign of growing desperation. The call to tribal chiefs in Sinai and the Egyptian population overall has worrisome implications. As the predecessor to Wilayat Sinai, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis issued formal claims of 31 attacks since 2013, and since pledging allegiance to ISIS in November 2014, the group claimed to have conducted over 400 attacks in northern Sinai as of March 2016. Nevertheless, the impetus behind the video is a shortage of fighters and a heightened siege by military forces. One of the main messages of the videos is the importance of suicide attacks and that this is the ultimate honor, in what can be read as an encouragement to WS to limit their engagement hit-and-run attacks due to its inability to sustain that given its shortage in numbers. They are obviously managing to sustain attacks despite such struggle, while operations were quiet during the videos' release, they quickly resumed regular activity, with 13 attacks in the five days afterward.

This IS propaganda campaign shows that any counterterrorism support for Egypt cannot be given in isolation from domestic affairs, local grievances, and continuous political issues--terror groups know very well how to play on these to attract recruits. Over the last three years, Egypt has received nearly $4 billion from the U.S. in military aid and has finalized arms deals with France for $5.9 billion, with plans to sign another agreement this year worth $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, Italy maintains $2.6 billion worth of assets in Egypt and sells it weapons, ammunition, and armored police vehicles. Despite all this support, the increased terror attacks over the past three years, the evolution of terror groups inside Egypt, and the advancement of tactics with obvious regional support from ISIS central show that security alone is not the solution. Overall policy toward countering violent extremism (CVE) has been narrowly focused on moderate religious messaging, but ISIS's messaging and strategy are highly politically oriented and only packaged in a religious rhetoric. Terror groups are demonstrating the ability to construct their propaganda and attract potential recruits based on domestic political developments, and any successful foreign policy should take into account this high degree of adaptiveness, instead of narrowly focusing on moderate religious counter messaging.
Since Ted Cruz and John Kasich suspended their presidential campaigns, we as a country have been dealing with the collective outrage of the media, political pundits, conservative commentators, social media and politicians caused by Donald Trump becoming the presumptive nominee of the Republication Party. These reactions have clearly shown that there is a profound disconnect between the voters, media and the leadership of both parties.

The separation of the Trump Voter from traditional establishment Republicans who say that they will never support Donald Trump, and either won't vote at all or will support Hillary Clinton, illustrate that the current Republican platform does not reflect the social and economic reality of many working class and middle class Americans.

While many of the Republicans unwilling to support Trump are people of good conscience who genuinely disagree with his platform, values, style, or language (all of which are valid concerns), the disdain shown by many politicians not supporting Trump feels more like a power play and sour grapes. I would primarily attribute this to his not being part of their elite club and his unwillingness to play by Washington rules.

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The calls to not support Donald Trump because he fails to show the proper respect for the underlying conservative values ring hollow when the last two Republican candidates for president, John McCain and Mitt Romney, were considered Moderates. In fact, so many voters were unhappy with Romney it's been estimated that as many as four million Republicans stayed home in 2012.

Not to be outdone by the political class, many people in the media are attempting to place blame for Donald Trump getting the GOP Nomination on the news coverage of Trump's campaign and their perceived failure of not showing him in a negative enough light. The problem with this narrative is that it mistakes the role that the media should play in the election process. The media's job is not to tell us who to support, but to give us information so we may make our own informed decisions. You would have to be asleep at the wheel to think it was not clear that many in the media loathe Donald Trump and made no effort to hide their preference for other candidates that they considered to be "serious" politicians. In spite of negative coverage, Donald Trump was able to capture voters' imaginations, and their votes, too.

The celebrity that Donald Trump has built by being in the public eye for decades allowed people to have previously formed their own opinions about who and what he is regardless of any media bias. Donald Trump was able to define his brand in a way that didn't require conservative think-tanks and Super PAC endorsements. He did not steal primary elections or pretend to be anything other than who he is (like him or not), and that did nothing but further the support of voters in overwhelming numbers. He's expanded the "Big Tent" of the Republican Party beyond the traditional Republican demographics. In a place like in my home state of Pennsylvania, there were 60,000 Democrats who switched parties, many just to vote for Donald Trump.

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Donald Trump's winning formula was in talking about the true issues affecting working and middle-class America, primarily jobs and the economy. The fact that many people are still losing their jobs due to outsourcing or that the jobs that they have are not enough to provide a decent quality of life for them and their families is an issue that drove many to the polls to pull the lever for Trump. Many people don't think that they can go on another four years without things turning around and would rather take a chance on someone that they believe will make a fundamental change, regardless of his lack of political experience or clear policy details, in order to turn back the tide of financial despair that they are experiencing. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." It seems Americans all over the country are looking for different results in 2016.

Many people frustrated that voters would support someone like Trump are unwilling to have a real conversation about how we get Americans back to work at decent paying jobs. They shrug their shoulders and say globalization is here to stay. But those are real people's jobs and the people who's factory jobs are being relocated to Mexico, or elsewhere, have a right to be concerned. Those politicians telling downsized workers to go back to school and learn new technology is only proof of how tone-deaf they are towards a large number of voters. It's no wonder the establishment candidates were spurned at every turn.

The America that many of us used to know, where if you were willing to work hard you could build a life for yourself, is no longer true for more and more Americans. Trump talked about winning for people who have been losing for years. Regardless of how many pundits call these people "stupid", the opposite is actually true. This large swath of voters is actually, for a change, voting FOR their own economic interests rather than carrying the water for a party establishment that continually sells them out for special interests. The same can be said for a larger than expected percentage of the Democrats supporting Bernie Sanders, who are tired of liberal elites with hollow promises who eventually bow to the same special interests as the Republicans once they are in office.

Donald Trump has not endeared himself to many people, with his brashness and lack of political correctness. For this I can understand some of the outrage pointed in his direction. He is not the traditional politician. The man is some shade of orange, his hair is an easy target for late-night comedians and the way he speaks about opponents is sometimes shocking. But this Billionaire seems to be able to understand what is driving poor and working class Americans and to articulate their anger and frustration in a way that we may have not seen in decades. They believe he is going to fix things and "Make America Great Again" but what they really hope is that he can awaken a time when a path to opportunity was available for those willing to do the right things. Trump's message resonates while the establishment lectures voters about how they need to adjust to the new economy. That they should feel bad to complain because we owe it to those in the developing world to let them earn $.30 per hour to make our t-shirts. Who doesn't like cheap prices anyway? The reality is that charity begins at home and although Americans are incredibly charitable you can't expect that they would put the needs of other people in front of the needs of their own families. The staggering population relying on food stamps and other social programs is a testament to the work we have to do within our own backyard.

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The media pundits who are so outraged at the rise of Trump failed to realize that poverty and the closing of economic opportunities wasn't just happening in urban communities but also in the rural and suburban communities. Many Republican politicians have been pushing the narrative that poor people were only the black and brown among us, who didn't have intact families and were poorly educated, while missing the fact that working class white households are falling behind with stagnant wages, outsourcing and the exorbitant cost of higher education.

Many people want more education but feel precluded from going to college because of the concern of incurring huge amounts of debt without any guarantee that they would have a good paying job at graduation, thus giving them the ability to pay off the debt. Where was the outcry from Republican leadership when their Republican voter base started having shortened life spans because of increasing suicide rates and drug abuse. Some of what we are seeing today in struggling white communities is what has ravaged urban communities since the eighties. Fewer opportunities and hopelessness can and will create a toxic mix within any community it takes hold. You will see increasing crime rates, less stable families and the creation of a permanent underclass.

People are fighting for their lives financially and literally in some circumstances. They don't give a damn about tax cuts for businesses and small government promises when they can barely pay the bills and put food on the table. We talk about saving for a rainy day but for many voters it feels like a hurricane has been brewing for the last thirty-years and they are tired of the party establishment that gives them an umbrella when the water is already above their necks. If you want to blame someone, look to the party elites that look down from their ivory towers and proclaim, "Let them eat cake." The new found self-interest of these voters is what has altered the Republican Party to a populist movement making it unrecognizable from just a few short years ago. The Democratic Party isn't far behind, with a historical female candidate in Hillary Clinton that even her supporters acknowledge will keep the status quo, writing off the same ties to Wall Street and entrenched interests that they use to demonize Republican candidates as an example of her "experience."

Conservative elites have been peddling the image that the downtrodden just needed to take personal responsibility and stop being "takers." Well, the people they have been deriding with divisive language and devastating policies just turned out to be the party voting base. They found a candidate in Donald Trump that pointed out that you were the problem all along, rather than them and their neighbors. Instead of listening to the cries for help with policies that would benefit the little guy, the elites listened to the rich donors.

Here's some advice to the establishment and power-brokers: After turning your back on these voters for years, stop being surprised that they refuse to hear your pleas for rationality to re-think Donald Trump. So, instead of decrying media outlets or uninformed voters, take a look in the mirror. It's the actions of your very own political parties, including the hallowed GOP, that elected Donald Trump to be the presumptive nominee.
For years and years, I labored under the assumption that comic books were only read by nerdy guys with a childish penchant for superheroes. But after seeing Marjane Satrapi's harrowing and exuberant film, Persepolis, I was shocked to find that it was adapted from a graphic memoir. I had to read it -- and I've been hooked on the genre ever since. Heart wrenching and intimate, vivacious and funny, these graphic memoirs will turn anyone into a true believer.





Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast

In her first memoir, beloved New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast addresses what it's like being the only child of aging parents--and coping the best she can. Filled with her signature wit, this National Book Award Winner showcases the full range of Chast's talent as a cartoonist and storyteller.





The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Marjane Satrapi's memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution is intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original. The child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Satrapi bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.



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Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Inspired by her blog of the same name, this touching, absurd, and darkly comic graphic memoir showcases Allie Brosh's unique voice, leaping wit, and ability to explore complex emotions with simple illustrations. She takes on everything from dogs to depression, as only Brosh can.

Read the review here



Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman

The story of a Jewish Holocaust survivor and his son--a cartoonist trying to come to terms with his father's story and history itself--Maus has been hailed as "the first masterpiece in comic book history" by The New Yorker. It was the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize and established the genre as a force to be reckoned with.





Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle

North Korea remains one of the most secretive nations on Earth, and in early 2001, Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to this fortresslike state. His two months in North Korea's capital resulted in this remarkably informative and personal look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.





Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 by Joe Sacco

Joe Sacco spent five months in Bosnia in 1996, immersing himself in the human side of life during wartime, researching stories that are rarely found in conventional news coverage. He emerged with this magnum opus, an astonishing first-person account of a besieged town in war-torn Yugoslavia.



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Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

In this groundbreaking graphic memoir and inspiration for the recent Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father, the director of a small town funeral home, until she came out as a lesbian in college and discovered that he was also gay.





Blankets by Craig Thompson

Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, this profound and utterly beautiful memoir explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers.





Vietnamerica: A Family's Journey by GB Tran

Born and raised in South Carolina as a son of Vietnamese immigrants who fled during the fall of Saigon, GB Tran grew up distant from (and largely indifferent to) his family's history. It was only in late twenties that he visited Vietnam for the first time and began to learn the tragic history of his family, and of the homeland they left behind.





March by John Lewis

Congressman John Lewis is an American icon. His commitment to justice and nonviolence took him from an Alabama sharecropper's farm to the halls of Congress, from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president. Rooted in his personal story, this vivid firsthand account also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.


Face it. No body part wears the mark of time like our face. Hiding this record of our vintage is a thriving industry generating more than 2 billion dollars annually in the US alone. A Google search for "skin cream for aging" delivers over 14 million hits.

For all the promises, no cream or surgery has returned aged skin to its youthful tight elastic innocence. That is about to change. A topically applied polymer that mimics the properties of young skin has recently been synthesized.

I know. Sounds like many of the existing products that disappoint after a king's ransom has been squandered. But the findings come from some of the most reliable research institutions and were reported in one of the most prestigious science journals. Investigators at Harvard and MIT published their game-changing results in Nature Materials, a periodical alien to the beauty parlor.

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The report is filled with terms like tunable polysiloxane-based, contractility, tensile strength and occlusivity. Clearly not user-friendly language for targeting the public. So here's the translation.

The product contains common chemicals considered safe by the FDA and thus far no allergic reactions have been reported. The pilot study involved only 170 subjects. Testing in a variety of conditions including loose skin under the eyes, eczema, psoriasis and use as a vehicle for topical medication delivery, showed promising results.

The procedure involves two steps. An initial polymer base is applied followed by a solution that adjusts the binding of the polymers. This allows fine-tuning of the material depending upon the clinical target.

A caveat emptor is required. The research was funded by Living Proof, a privately owned biotech company in Cambridge, Mass. The authors of the study all acknowledged having an equity interest in Living Proof.

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Confirmation of their findings with larger populations is necessary for FDA approval. But one way or another newly minted materials will soon transform what it means to put your face on.
Across America, parents are demanding more and better educational options for their children while teachers unions and bureaucrats desperately fight to retain their monopoly over public school students.

The latest front in the war against charter schools is in Los Angeles, where a study funded by the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) tallied up the financial impact of the district's 221 charter schools.

The union's analysis concluded that charter schools cost the district more than half a billion dollars--but nearly all of it was the per-pupil money that followed 100,000 students to their chosen independent charter school.

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Notably, the analysis did not include the 53 unionized charter schools in Los Angeles, suggesting that the real motivation behind the study is to protect unionized jobs, at the expense of the education of the children of Los Angeles. The UTLA has embraced the findings of the study and is urging the school board to consider the financial impact on the district before granting any more non-union charters.

The essential problem with the UTLA study is that it is designed to bolster a false argument--that charter schools are siphoning money from traditional public schools. Charter schools are public schools, serving the same students with the same tax dollars and they are held accountable to the same--and often tougher--performance standards. Arguing that public charter schools take money from traditional public schools is like arguing that a younger child deprives an older child of parental attention.

In Los Angeles, parents aren't interested in protecting a bloated bureaucracy or preserving a steady flow of union dues. They want schools that prepare their children for success, and they are voting with their feet. L.A. Unified has more charter students than any other district in the country, making up 16 percent of the district enrollment. Over the last decade, the number of L.A. charter schools has more than tripled.

The same holds true for parents nationwide. A 2015 poll of 1,000 public school parents conducted by Education Post found that 65 percent agreed that, "Public charter schools offer parents in low-income communities options for quality schools that would otherwise be inaccessible to them."

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Only 35 percent of parents agreed with the union's argument that, "Public charter schools take resources and high achieving students away from traditional public schools." The pro-charter numbers were even higher among African-American and Latino families, who overwhelmingly make up the Los Angeles student population.

Meanwhile, the parents of nearly 10 million school children across America have opted out of the traditional public school system in favor of private schools, charter schools or homeschooling.

The fact is, after decades of monopoly control of public schools, teachers unions and their enabling bureaucracies are facing an existential crisis. As kids leave the system so does the money, along with the union dues. Today, charter schools enroll more than 30 percent of the kids in 14 cities in America and more than 10 percent in more than 160 districts.

The best of them are getting eye-popping results and closing achievement gaps as well as the highest-performing suburban schools. They are also graduating students from high school and enrolling them in college at much higher rates than traditional urban public schools.

At the same time, more than 30 states have passed laws authorizing the use of public dollars in private schools either through vouchers or education savings accounts, so the days of monopoly are coming to an end.

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There's a reason why every single Democratic and Republican candidate for president in the last 25 years supports public charter schools. Strong charter schools dispel the myth that poor kids can't achieve at high levels.

Parents are fed up with divisive arguments like the ones advanced by this study. They want results and they want their kids to be prepared to compete in the new economy.

Apparently teachers do as well. A 2014 Education Next poll found that 34 percent of teachers chose charters, private schools or home-schooling for their own children--a higher percentage than the general public as a whole.

When even teachers are rejecting the schools that their own unions seek to protect from choice, you have to wonder what is going on. One can only imagine how many inner-city teachers choose to live outside the communities where they teach to access better public schools for their own kids.

If teachers unions really want to protect their unionized jobs, their best strategy is to help do a better job educating kids and trust that parents will find their way back to the traditional public schools they are roundly rejecting.
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Northern Ghana region is well known for its rural and remote environment. Schools are far apart and access becomes an issue, especially in the rainy season. Despite many attempts from the District Education Officials, teachers don't prefer to reside in the area. They commute by public transport from nearby cities like Bolgatanga which stretches their daily routine to many hours. Various stakeholders came together to construct housing facility for teachers with the community providing for their meals at nights. Over the years, roads were constructed which made access to schools easier. School buildings were rehabilitated to make them safer for the students. This easy part was done in a couple of years.

However, the district officials and various stakeholders realized that due to the universal/automatic promotion policy the children were getting promoted to the next grade of primary school but without learning much. The graph below shows the gravity of the issue. Ministry of Education Ghana figures suggest that by the end of P2 (primary grade 2), the majority of public school pupils could neither read nor make sense of text --either in a Ghanaian language or in English. In every language, at least half, and often more, of the pupils assessed could not read a single word correctly.

Figure 1: Letter-sound knowledge-Percentage of pupils scoring zero, by language and region.



Source: Ministry of Education Ghana (2014)

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In fact, listening comprehension was quite low.

Figure 2: Listening comprehension-Percentage of pupils scoring zero, by language and region.



Source: Ministry of Education Ghana (2014)

In Bolgatanga, a multi-stakeholder committee was set-up to investigate the reasons for children not learning. As of 2009, the language policy is to teach up to primary P3 in local language, and then fully transition to English by P4. English is taught as a subject since P1, but clearly students do not learn enough language to learn information through it (USAID, 2014). Recently, the Minister of Education has suggested removing English as the medium of instruction in primary schools, but this policy has yet not been implemented in all part of Ghana.

What is considered as a "local language" recognized by the school system is also a complex issue in Ghana. There are currently 11 regional languages that are approved as the medium of instruction in Ghanaian school system (Bodomo, 1996). These regional languages were decided based on the population census and the number of people speaking these languages. Each of these eleven languages has their own dialects and/or sub-languages spoken by specific tribes and specific geographic regions.

Buli and Mampruli are the majority languages spoken in the West Mamprusi, Bulsa South district Mamprugu Maoduri district of Northern Ghana. Unfortunately they don't make the cut-off into the eleven regional languages approved for the school system. Dagbani is the regional language of Northern Ghan and all the textbooks are written in Dagbani. However not all teachers are fluent in any of the three languages (2 local and 1 regional) since they are appointed from various parts of Ghana. Children speak a different language at home and are taught in a different language at school. With the limited hours of actual instruction time that the student receive at school coupled with the local-regional-foreign language complications, many generations of students have "passed" to the next grade illiterate. The two local languages, Buli and Mampruli, are spoken widely in the region, but they are rarely written. Ghana Institute of Linguistics Literacy and Bible Translation http://www.gillbt.org are probably the only organizations that work on the scripts, mainly for religious texts.

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Multiple stakeholders including community led organizations, research institutions and local Government bodies met to create supplemental materials for early graders in language spoken at home-Buli and Mampruli. Gillbt shared their materials and the stakeholders sat together to create easy text starting with letters to words and simple sentences. It was a fun and a doable task. The stakeholders participated in a workshop and created easy to read materials using existing scripts for the language of comfort for children at home. The methodology behind it was borrowed from cognitive neuroscience (Abadzi, 2011), a model that is tried and tested previously in other places like Gambia and Malawi. The workshop was also a great way of salvaging two local languages from slowly becoming extinct. Buli text includes characters like "" and "", fonts for which are difficult to find. The workshop produced two thick books of about 150 pages in Buli and created plans to extend to Mampruli. The stakeholders decided to use this text as supplemental materials in early grades to gain proficiency in their "comfort" language first and use the language acquisition skills the learn other languages including English a couple of years down the lane.

The two supplemental books were ultimately not used in the schools for early graders. Many factors played a role here, first, the school examinations will be in the regional language and not in the local dialect. Therefore, early familiarity with the language of examination was preferred. Second, all approved textbooks will still remain in the regional language, however it was not the majority language of the districts. Third, teachers were not well versed with the two local languages as they traveled to the district to teach and lived in the cities. Fourth, using Buli and Mampruli in the school system would mean creating stories, more text and essentially creating all reading materials in a dialect that does not have any pre-existing ready material. Fifth, the government mandates only using "approved" languages from the 11 regional languages had to be adhered to. So the supplemental materials were to remain "supplemental" and not become "textbooks".

Meanwhile months had gone by with another batch of illiterates ready to move on to the next grade. The stakeholders ultimately decided again to get on with English for early grades. Besides being unknown to the children, English has a complex spelling system, whereas local languages are spelled consistently. A U.K. based technique to learn English- Jolly Phonics (http://jollylearning.co.uk/regions/ghana/) was deemed fit. English material was available, teachers were trained in a month and a phonics-based method was adopted to make P1-P3 (Primary grades 1 to 3) learn English. Results are awaited.

References

Abadzi, Helen. (2013). Literacy for all in 100 days? A research-based strategy for fast progress in low-income countries (English). Accessed from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/docsearch/author/m93113

Bodomo, Adams (1996). On the language and development in Africa: The Case of Ghana. Nordic Journal of African Studies 5(2): 31-51. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. Retrieved from http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol5num2/bodomo.pdf April 22nd 2016.

Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, National Education Assessment Unit (2014). Ghana 2013 EGRA/EGMA Findings Report. (https://www.eddataglobal.org/documents/index.cfm/Ghana%20EGRA%20EGMA%20report_wRecs_17May2014_forweb.pdf?fuseaction=throwpub&ID=569)
Business concept illustration of two businessmen in fencing stance holding sabers.

These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness. - Anthony de Mello

A man can never be good of anything unless he gives us all the selfishness and begins to think about serving the God that sent him and the humanity. We must purify ourselves from the bottom of our heart before we begin exercising our power. Otherwise, it will destroy ourselves and hurt others.

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Today Nepalese are all over the world like Jews after the World War II. Nepalese lead major industries in many countries. Only time will tell whether that is good or bad, but this is a time when Nepal is looking for a strong leader. Many of the citizens inside and outside are looking up to America, India or China as a role model for future Nepal. Even many Nepalese politicians are trying their best to imitate Indian or American politicians. Besides, several Nepalese journalists outside America are trying to spread the language of federalism in Nepal.

Whatever be the future political system in Nepal, the duty of statesmanship is the welfare and protection of its citizens. Major problem of Nepalese politics is that politicians have forgotten this mission. Politics is not meant for the fulfillment of selfish aims and greed, but its sole purpose is selfless service. Unless we have at least one person who can stand beyond his personal motives and act for the sake of humanity, none of the political systems are going to work in Nepal.

Rather than trying to copy the political system of Washington, Gandhi or Lenin, Nepalese political might consider their own history. Our recent history had greatest politician of all times, Thomas Jefferson, who played a very important role in the contemporary geopolitics. Thomas Jefferson is one of the most underrated presidents ever. Thomas Jefferson was a hero, visionary, revolutionary thinker, as well as architect and all around genius. Jefferson also invented the moldboard plow, which was a great improvement on the already standard farming plow; the wheel cipher, and developed his own design on the concept of the spherical sundial.

An ancient examples of democracy, Lord Krishna, who played a very important role in the contemporary geopolitics and orchestrated Mahabharata war. Krishna's politics was one of absolute performance of duty without expecting anything. Krishna was not of this world and he didn't want anything on Earth, neither Kingdom nor power or pleasure. He fought thousands of battles, dethroned/killed one King and installed another, but he never wanted to be a King himself. Even after Mahabharata war, he installed Yudhistira as the King of the world who was the epitome of piety and virtue.

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Such leadership is the need of current Nepal and the whole world. Today, leaders in Nepal and elsewhere are busy in increasing their power and securing more of wealth/pleasure. That's what Civil war killed thousands of people for. Such politics, never last long. It is a game that is defeated from the start, but people still keep playing it.

We must understand that we do not remain on earth forever and whatever we have with us is given only for a short duration. We are supposed to make use of what we have to serve God and for the benefit of humanity. Politics is a weapon where huge changes can be brought about not only in a country but in the entire world.

On the other hand, it is very stupid on the part of Nepalese citizens to hand the power and treasury to untested leaders full of lust, anger and greed. Persons full of hypocrisy and egotism can never serve the humanity. They are busy trying to fulfill their own bellies, however much they talk about the welfare of people. If Nepalese citizens make the same mistakes again, they deserve to be cheated, used and dumped again.

Politicians need to understand that selfishness on their part is against their own self-interest. They need to find out how they can eliminate their own agendas and devote themselves in serving in all possible ways. Only true service will cleanse and purify us from all our karmas. There is no other way for those involved in politics. Pursuit of power and pleasure is the path of destruction. It destroys life and peace of mind. Only that prospers that is gotten by honesty and service. Great American actor Groucho Marx says, Politics is the art of looking for trouble,

Finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies. While it has been predicted since antiquities in the scriptures that the situation of the world will be worse in the coming days.

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The Walker Family, The Justice Project, Trans-Parenting and Trans.Report call for action and healing in response to the murder of Reese Walker, a transgender Black woman in Wichita, Kansas.

The Walker Family mourns the death of Reese Walker, a 32-year-old Black transgender woman who was murdered last week. Reese's body was found covered in cuts with multiple stab wounds in the late evening of Sunday, May 1st in her Windridge apartment in the Southwest Meridian neighborhood of Wichita, Kansas.

The LGBTQ community is calling for action and a thorough investigation of her murder by law enforcement; for more accurate, sensitive coverage of her murder by mainstream media; and for others to understand the impact her murder has on members of the Black LGBTQ and transgender communities' sense of safety in Wichita.

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While details of the murder are still under investigation, her biological and chosen family, some of whom are members of Wichita's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, believe that this killing may be hate-motivated violence based on Reese's gender expression and identity. Reese was a pioneer for transgender visibility and school policy reformation in Wichita and was pursuing a path to social work to be a strong activist for other young transgender people.

Reese's mom, Shari, craved Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cups so much during her pregnancy that she named Reese after the candy. Her family remembers her as vibrant, loving, nurturing, generous and kind. She was accepting of everyone around her and hilarious -- always the life of the party. Her sister Shampayne remarked, "You got fresh air when you got Reese. She had an essence that pulled people in."

Family meant everything to Reese. She was close to her mother, her brother Louis, her sister Shampayne and her three young children. Reese loved kids. Shampayne said that her kids were practically Reese's kids. "We took care of each other, even when we got into fights. And we don't say 'bye.' We only say 'later.' Goodbyes are forever; because you never know when you're going to see someone again, we say 'love you' and 'later' as a family rule, just in case,' Shampayne said.

Reese's mother always knew she was different. Reese came out as transgender and started living as a female in the 9th grade. She was a trailblazer for trans youth, appearing in the newspaper The Wichita Eagle when her school, South High of USD 259, changed the anti-bullying policy to cover LGBTQ kids. This had such an impact on the students that a framed copy of the story hung at the front of the school for several years.

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During her time at South High, Reese was very involved in drama, art and music. She was in Madrigals and her musical team won competitions several years in a row. That love continued throughout Reese's life as she had music playing 24/7, everything from country, rock, R&B and rap.

In addition to attending beautician's school, Reese was pursuing a path in the field of social work. She dreamed of being a social worker to help other transgender people. Reese was used to having people talk about her and spread rumors. She regularly had to defend herself, but she relied on humor and her sense of generosity to rise above adversity.

When the family hosted a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, May 4th in front of her Windridge apartment in the Southwest Meridian neighborhood, they were overwhelmed by the stories from strangers who said that Reese had helped them, fed them, listened to them, encouraged them, gave them a place to sleep for the night, or made them laugh when they were sad. They continued to hear similar stories at the Celebration of Life at a family's house near Murdock and Poplar, their childhood neighborhood, on Friday, May 6th.

Shari remembers her daughter as a gentle soul who would never intentionally hurt anyone. She said that she raised her children to know right from wrong, and her only worry was that Reese always gave people a second chance, even when they may not have deserved one. She does not believe Reese was capable of the things alleged of her. "It's not in her character. It's not in her soul. It's just not her," Shari said.

The family is frustrated with the way the investigation is being handled. Detectives only first spoke with the family five days after the murder on Thursday, May 5th. They are concerned that the narrative in the media doesn't fit the way they have ever known or understood Reese to live and that the crime could be hate-motivated. Reese's family finds the arrested suspect's "trans panic" defense concerning.

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The "trans panic" defense is a discredited legal strategy which suggests the defendant is overcome by temporary violent fits of rage and loss of control due to the discovery of their victim's transgender identity. California remains the only state to have banned "trans panic" as a permissible defense.

The Walker family is working with The Justice Project, Trans-Parenting, trans.report, and still has need to connect with local advocacy and therapy services, including an immediate need to speak with supportive trans-affirming Black clergy members of the Christian faith.

The Walker family, The Justice Project, Trans-Parenting and trans.report recognize that Reese's murder, the 10th reported homicide of a transgender person in 2016, is only the most recent death in an epidemic of violence facing transgender women of color in this country, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Together, the Walker family and supporting agencies are committed to hosting an upcoming community healing event for Wichita to discuss this violence and institutional racism that jeopardized Reese and other transgender community members' safety.



COMMUNITY ACTION STEPS:

DONATE directly to the GoFundMe page to support Reece Walker's funeral, as well as the storage and moving costs for which her family is now responsible.

ENCOURAGE the Wichita Police Department (Twitter: @WichitaPolice, Facebook) to treat Reece's homicide investigation as a possible hate crime and urge more accurate, sensitive coverage on Reece Walker's murder.

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VOLUNTEER to help support the Wichita Community Healing event should contact Randall Jenson (advocacy@randalljenson.com) with The Justice Project.

Directly SUPPORT the work of both advocacy agencies: The Justice Project, working directly with transgender women impacted by violence and in-survival, and Trans-Parenting, providing support and educational resources to parents and care-givers of transgender children.

SHARE this community alert and other stories of anti-trans violence with trans.report. Correcting transphobic violence in our communities starts with always having a safe place to have your voice heard without prejudice. Contact Trans.Report \to share your story.

THE WALKER FAMILY ENCOURAGES ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT REESE'S MURDER TO CONTACT THE WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (316) 268-4181.

We also encourage anyone who has experienced anti-LGBTQ violence to contact the police or NCAVP at www.ncavp.org or (212) 714-1184.

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY OR ARE A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA:



The Walker family asks for privacy to grieve and heal with this tragic loss. While they will consider media interviews, they ask that any respectful media requests be directed to them through Trans-Parenting at this time by calling (800) 513-1715.
North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory reached a new low this week by bringing a lawsuit against the Federal government on his right, and his state's right, to discriminate. Governor McCrory's attachment to bathroom politics, in a southern state, which once sported his, hers, and "colored" bathrooms, pulls back the curtain on conservative politics as a thin veil for race and gender bigotry.

As we see by the eight years of unremitting attack, block, and disrespect for the first African American President of the United States, racism did not go away with the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, it just went into more coded language. The recent HB2 passed in North Carolina weaves a vicious network based on race, gender, economics and any identity that is vulnerable to discrimination.

Bathroom politics are not a joke. When women first went into the workforce in industrial America, women's bathrooms were a win for working class women and families who were already vulnerable to sexual and economic violence.

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When women started taking their rightful place in mainline seminaries in the 1970s, in places like Yale Divinity School, there was one public bathroom with one toilet for all the women, who then represented close to 40 percent of the student body. To say that women were not expected in the theological task is an understatement. It said to women to get out, stay home, and go away.

This is what bathroom politics communicate: Get out, stay home, and go away.

As the global leader of Metropolitan Community Churches, this denomination has been at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements by addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and global human rights. I am proud of my transgender siblings, who could be passing as their true gender, but are bravely coming out and telling their stories so that everyone will be safe. Not everyone can pass easily. Transitioning is expensive and job discrimination against transgender people is rampant--and there is no legal recourse. We might be able to get married, but our jobs are not yet protected.

Today, it is transgender women of color who are most vulnerable, The lethal combination of race-based and gender-based discrimination and hatred is clearly demonstrated as they find themselves more vulnerable to attack and murder than any other group in the USA. Even police become victimizers instead of protectors. The Anti-Violence Project research shows that transgender women of color are six times more likely to experience violence at the hands of police than other people are.

While there is not one documented or even anecdotal case of a transgender woman assaulting another woman in a bathroom anywhere in this country, politicians intent on exploiting the unfounded fears and hatred of their populace lie and say they are protecting women and children from bathroom assaults.

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What are McCrory and the right wing legislative body of North Carolina foisting on their state? Sex discrimination: Title IX says that there can be no discrimination in facilities based on sex. Discrimination in general: Banning all protections at the city level in North Carolina, they have breached the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protects minorities from discrimination.
" Whatever Happened To Courage ? "

Rev. Peter E. Bauer



Like most people, I am amazed and inspired when I see individuals perform actions that are not only the right thing to do but also challenge those who are committed to maintaining power no matter what the consequences are for other people.

This year, there has been a lot of discussion and concern regarding the plight of refugees in Europe ( See previous article " Set The Captives Free !" ). The sight of seeing individuals and families stranded on the beaches of Lesbos and also seeing pictures of those who have perished at sea have been heart wrenching. Pope Francis was correct in making his pilgrimage to Lesbos to point out to the world the dreadful conditions that these people are enduring in their quest to escape from the tyranny of terrorism. He also committed himself financially when he adopted a group of Syrian refugees who have been resettled now in Vatican City.

There have been other leaders, however, who have chosen not to be generous, let alone compassionate to these victims of terror. According to a recent article:

Texas will not participate in the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris terrorist attack, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday.

The governor wrote to President Barack Obama to express concerns about the vetting process to resettle refugees in the U.S. Citing the possibility that one of the terrorists in Paris was a Syrian refugee, Abbott said that "American humanitarian compassion could be exploited."

"Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity," Abbott, a Republican, wrote. "As such, opening our door to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril."

Abbott followed Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, both Republicans, in announcing such a policy. The governors -- nearly all Republicans -- in more than 10 other states did the same on Monday.

Though Abbott said that Texas now "will not accept any refugees from Syria," the actual implications of his stand remain to be seen.

He said he directed the Texas Health & Human Services Commission's Refugee Resettlement Program to not partake in the resettlement of any Syrian refugees. But he can't - and that action wouldn't - bar a Syrian refugee accepted by the U.S. from settling in Texas, experts said. Gov. Greg Abbott: Texas will not accept any Syrian refugees | | Dallas ...trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/.../gov-greg-a...

The actions taken by Governors Abbott, Snyder, Bentley and others point to a mean-spirited callous regard for those who are in need. Ignoring the fact that the vetting process through the Department Of State for refugees takes two full years, these Governors are attempting to use these people in order to score big points on the board regarding displaying their " tough on terrorism " stance. One wonders if this also isn't a not so clever ploy and distraction away from other gubernatorial accomplishments like never refusing an opportunity to file a lawsuit against the federal government or totally giving lip service to an environmental water disaster in a city within the state you govern.

Thus, it was refreshing to see political leaders who are recognized for doing the right thing and for taking a risk against those who chose to look the other way. According to a recent news release:
During the past few days, I have been fortunate to commemorate Memorial Day and Independence Day in new ways which have been inspiring and uplifting.

Since 1963 the state of Israel has set the 4th of the Hebrew month of Iyar (which is usually in May) as Memorial Day and the next day, the 5th of Iyar, as Independence Day. This year they took place on May 11th and 12th. They are back-to-back days of commemoration during which we who live here experience radically different emotions -- from extreme sadness to supreme joy.

On Tuesday night, May 10th, on the eve of Memorial Day, I attended, for the first time, the 11th annual Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day in Tel Aviv, together with my wife, a friend from New York, and a visiting professor from Vienna. We attended along with about 3000 other Jews and Palestinians from all over the country (some of the Palestinians came in from the West Bank). In addition, the ceremony was podcast so that people from Palestine and from many other places in the world (Boston, San Francisco, Berlin and more) were in solidarity with this commemoration.

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This somber and emotional event was co-sponsored by two courageous and committed Israeli-Palestinian NGO's-- Combatants for Peace and The Bereaved Families Forum. Both organizations support reconciliation and tolerance between Israelis and Palestinians, and both engage in non-violent dialogue as a way to achieve peaceful coexistence, as I have done for the past 25 years with the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, now a department of Rabbis for Human Rights.

The commemoration - which was sensitively moderated by a Jewish woman from a kibbutz in Israel and a Palestinian man from Jericho -- was a moving and memorable experience, combining songs, music, dance and reflections. Bereaved parents and siblings from both sides of the conflict spoke painfully and poignantly about their tragic losses of family members over many years of our protracted conflict. The highlight of the ceremony were two serious presentations by two young men -- a Palestinian and an Israeli -- about the loss of their sisters -Smadar and Amir --at young ages, one in a suicide bombing and the other in a raid by the Israeli army on a Palestinian village. As one of the speakers said:

In most memorial ceremonies in Israel one doesn't mention both Amir and Smadar in the same breath

.As another speaker said, everyone else is in denial. They do not acknowledge the suffering on both sides of the conflict, only on one side.

The ceremony ended with the singing by a mixed Palestinian and Israeli women's choir of an alternative version to the traditional Passover "Chad Gadya" song, adapted by Hava Alberstein in 1989 during the first Intifada. This haunting and powerful song asks important questions:

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Why are you singing this traditional song?

It's not yet spring and Passover's not here.

And what has changed for you? What has changed?

I have changed this year.

On all other nights I ask the four questions, but tonight I have one more:

How long will the cycle last?

How long will the cycle of violence last? The chased and the chaser

The beaten and the beater

When will all this madness end?

The moderators of the ceremony--which was secular-cultural in its tone and ambiance-- announced that singing this song at the end of the evening has become a "tradition". Indeed, all 3000 people joined with the Palestinian-Israeli choir in singing with the fervent hope that the cycle of violence can somehow be brought to an end.

On the way back to Jerusalem in the car, my Catholic friend from Vienna told us that she felt a yearning for peace on the part of all the people who attended this ceremony. I couldn't agree with her more. I just wished that more people in Israel and Palestine shared this yearning, with a greater sense of urgency.

On the next night, on the eve of Israeli Independence Day, I attended--with members of my family -- a transitional religiously inspired ceremony, to help navigate us from the depths of Memorial Day to the heights of Independence Day. It was beautifully led by Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum, the rabbi of a new three-year-old Masorti (Conservative) congregation in Jerusalem known as Kehillat Zion. It helped me be mindful of the miracle that is the modern state of Israel and at the same time I was constantly reminded of the challenges we still face to achieve peace and to make this country live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence (which was part of the liturgy for this ceremony) which, among other things, states:

THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
By the Society for Women's Health Research

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and impacts how we think, what we feel, and how we act. It affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. The concept of "mental health" certainly isn't new, but it's only just beginning to be discussed. Unfortunately, such is not the case in minority communities - where mental health issues, while especially prevalent, are rarely discussed.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health (OMH), African Americans are a whopping 20 percent more likely to report having "serious psychological distress" than Non-Hispanic Whites [1].

But it's certainly just not affecting African American populations: the National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI) cites American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN) as the population with the highest mental health issue prevalence, with 28.3 percent of AI/AN adults reporting living with a mental health condition [2]. Non-Hispanic White adults have a 19.3 percent prevalence; African American adults, 18.6 percent; Hispanic adults, 16.3 percent; and Asian adults have 13.9 percent prevalence [2]. As NAMI notes, mental health affects everyone, regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

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OMH reports that poverty level also has an impact on mental health. African Americans living below the poverty line, as compared to those over twice the poverty level, are three times more likely to report mental health issues [1]. Poverty can prevent individuals from accessing the care they need. NAMI compiled the following as hindrances to quality mental health care in minority populations [2]:

Less access to treatment

Less likely to receive treatment

Poorer quality of care

Higher levels of stigma

Culturally insensitive health care system

Racism, bias, homophobia, or discrimination in treatment settings

Language barriers

Lower rates of health insurance

Further, people living with chronic illness - diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, many of which are highly prevalent in minority communities - are more likely to experience mental health issues like depression [3].

It's also important to note that women already experience higher rates of mental health issues than men - two-thirds of all individuals with depression are women and eating disorders, panic disorders, phobias, and borderline personality disorders disproportionately or predominantly affect women [4].

The Society for Women's Health Research is the thought-leader in promoting research on biological differences in disease and is dedicated to transforming women's and minority health through science, advocacy, and education. To learn more about our work on mental health, visit our website: www.swhr.org.

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Summer travel is about to begin. I am deep in the throes of planning our Sicily trip in May. In doing so, however, I miss not having access to an app that could make life dramatically easier and cut hours from my workflow.

Let me describe what my travel planning workflow looks like.

Step 1: We decide on the general area and the dates.

Step 2: We assess how much time we need to budget to do justice to each place we visit.

Step 3: We book the long haul flights.

Step 4: We figure out the short haul transportation - flights, car rentals, drivers, trains, etc.

Step 5: We research the hotels - our style - boutique hotels with plenty of character, usually not very large. I use a few different sites to triangulate and determine which ones we select. Kiwi Collection, Trip Advisor, NY Times 36 Hours in XXX, Guide du Routard, Top 10 Guides, Wallpaper City Guides, etc. are some of our sources for this research. Then we book the hotels.

Step 6: Once the basic structure of the trip is in place, we need to determine the sights, how to get around, the restaurants, the cafes, the performing arts options like concerts, plays, etc. Google Maps is handy to assess distances and cluster the activities so that we're not bouncing around from one side of the city to another unnecessarily.

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All of the above is incredibly time consuming. I do the research because if I don't, then the experience is dramatically less interesting. We use guides selectively. We don't really enjoy being too scheduled and without the flexibility to be able to soak in a place that we find particularly appealing.

But the more I do it, the more it seems to me a great opportunity for building a terrific app that I don't believe exists out there. Or if it does, I haven't seen it yet.

Right now, I have our Sicily trip mapped out till step 5. Step 6 is yet to be configured. I'd like to key in the cities, the hotels, and the dates into the app, and in a few minutes, have it configure a reasonable itinerary of the sites, restaurants, theaters, etc. For each city - Palermo, Erice, Agrigento, Noto, Siracusa, Taormina - I want a set of choices of things to see, including guidance about what they are, how special they are (Top 10?), etc. I will select which ones I want to see. The app needs to then fit those into a schedule by clustering the ones in close proximity, and propose something workable. It should propose the restaurants in the vicinity from a master list that I will review and approve. Then, I want Google maps for each mini itinerary in each part of the city. When we're driving from city to city, I want the precise driving directions and maps, as well as where t o stop on the way, ensuring we do not miss the special side attractions if we wish to see them. We also need some tickets booked for a performance at the Greek theater in Siracusa, and a Sicilian folk puppet show in Palermo.

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So, dear entrepreneurs, is there anyone amongst you who can build me an app to cut down the 30-40 hours that it takes me to plan these intricately researched trips?

I know, you are wondering, how big is the TAM? How many people plan trips like this?

Well, every traveler has to plan trips somehow. Most do NOT do the level of research I do. And most do not have the level of experience we do as a result. If you make it possible, and if you show them how to vastly enhance their level of experience, I think they would like to have more sophisticated experiences.

I know, you are wondering, how do I monetize? This is a bigger question. For me, I would pay to develop each travel plan, so you could charge per travel plan. Or, you could charge for the app. I am happy to pay either way, IF it works the way I want it to.
We just held our sixth week of the Hacking for Defense class. Now with over 660 interviews of beneficiaries (users, program managers, stakeholders, etc.) the teams are getting deep into problem understanding and their minimal viable products are getting sophisticated enough to generate detailed customer feedback; we gave them advice on how to "stand and deliver" in class; and our advanced lecture explained how to find and measure mission achievement.

(This post is a continuation of the series. See all the H4D posts here. Because of the embedded presentations this post is best viewed on the website.)

Stand and Deliver: Preparing for Presentations

In other classes I'd normally check-in with students in the middle of the quarter / semester to hear any concerns. But in this class I don't. Not because I don't care, but because I know what response I'll get in the middle of the quarter having insisted on an impossible pace while beating them with a stick. (In week 9 we'll get the teams off the customer discovery treadmill and use that session for "reflection". They'll look back in awe at their own accomplishments.) This week, instead of a mid-class check-in, I give the Stand and Deliver presentation. In it I remind them what to do to prepare before each class session, tips on what to do when presenting in the class, and thoughts about opportunities after the class.

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If you can't see the presentation click here.

BTW, when I first starting teaching I noticed that teams picked the most articulate team members to give the weekly Lessons Learned presentation. And while that makes sense for a fund raising pitch, it's the wrong model for a classroom - I want everyone to learn how to present. So each week we select a different team member to lead their team presentation. This means that even students whose first language isn't English are up in front of the class presenting at least twice during the quarter.

Filling in the Gap: Advanced Lectures

Our advanced in-class lectures are designed to fill the knowledge gap between the on-line lectures and reading assigned for homework and the new realities of the Mission Model canvas and the DOD/IC as beneficiaries.

The goals of the weekly advanced lectures are:

Define what specifically the teams need to accomplish outside of the building in the coming week to test their hypothesis for that specific part of the canvas Describe why the next part of the mission model canvas is important (to the user, organization, country, etc.) Offer specific examples of the deliverables we expect to see in their next week's presentation as a result of their discovery

We can gauge how effective the lecture was when we see the team's slides the next week. If the team presentations are all over the map, then our lectures were not effective. If the presentations across the teams are consistent then our lectures were on-target. This is a pretty quick way for us to tune our content.

This week some of the teams failed to present anything about last week's buy-in lecture so it was a wakeup call that we needed to be more prescriptive in the lectures.

Pivots

A pivot is defined as a substantive change in one or more components of the mission model canvas (any of the 9 boxes). A pivot occurs after learning that your hypotheses about a specific part of the canvas are wrong. Often it's a change in who's the beneficiary / stakeholder / customer. Or it may be a change in the value proposition you're delivering to those beneficiaries or it can be a substantive change in any of the 9 boxes of the canvas.

The two most important parts of a mission model canvas are the beneficiaries and the value proposition. The combination of these two is called "product/market fit." If you're not getting beneficiaries grabbing your value proposition out of your hands, you don't have product/market fit.

While this sounds simple, as the teams are discovering this week, you don't get a memo that says your hypotheses are wrong. At first you just get ambiguous data. You think hmm, perhaps I just need to talk to more people or the "right" people or just tweak the feature set. After a while you begin to realize your assumptions are incorrect, (or in this class, it's even possible that the sponsor's assumptions were incorrect.) It feels depressing and confusing. Finally, it dawns on you that it's time to consider a pivot. A pivot is the lean methodology's way to fire the plan without firing people. Pivots are what allow startups to be agile, and to move with speed and urgency.

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In an actual startup, trying to complete the rest of the mission model canvas if you don't have product/market fit is just going through the motions. Yet for the purpose of the class (versus an incubator) we do just that - we keep marching the teams through each canvas component because we want to teach them about all nine parts of the canvas. This creates cognitive dissonance for the teams - on purpose. Even though they are focused on learning about the next part of the canvas, every team continues to tenaciously search for that fit. (If we would insist they do it, it would feel like extra assigned work. When they do it on their own, it's because it's an obsession to solve the problem.)

This week we are seeing the typical class distribution. Several teams are in the despair, depressed and confused stage, a few are coming to the realization that it's time to pivot, and others think they have product/market fit. It's all part of the class. They and you will be surprised where the teams end up by the end of the class.

Team Presentations: Week 6

This week the teams' assignment was to understand how to get "buy-in" inside their sponsors' agency: specifically, how do they "get, keep and grow" their product inside their sponsors' agency/command from initial interest all the way through expansion.

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. Now they understand that the problem the divers want solved is underwater 3-D geolocation.

Slides 3-11 are a good example of what is required to go from initial buy-in to scale in the sponsor's organization.

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If you can't see the presentation click here

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.

Slide 11 is the team's first pass at understanding what a get-keep-grow pipeline would look like. Note the details of the "get" stage - awareness, interest, consideration and purchase.

If you can't see the presentation click here

Capella Space started class believing that launching a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites into space to provide real-time radar imaging was their business. Now they've realized that the SAR data and analytics is the business.

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On slide 3 Capella gave me a reminder why Customer Discovery in this class is hard. In most other classes we insist in face-to-face interviews and if those aren't possible high resolution video conference. This way you can read their body language and see their reactions to minimal viable products. But for some in the DOD/IC that's not possible. The team realized that sending their MVP before the interview got them very different reactions then just conversations.

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.

The team is discovering that the value proposition for the problem they are solving may not be a hardware or software solution, but perhaps could be solved by different information flows across the beneficiaries.

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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 ARCYBER and others to efficiently respond and mitigate threats posed by enemy messaging.

This week the team further refined the rapid funding of R&D and prototypes through a funding mechanism called Other Transactional Authority in Slides 2-5. They further refined the org chart of who owned the problem within the DOD/IC in slide 6. They further refined their Minimal Viable Product to product/market fit in Slides 8-10.

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.

Slides 3-4 are the team's first pass at understanding what a get-keep-grow pipeline would look like. Note the details of the "get" stage - awareness, interest, consideration and purchase. In slide 5 the team had a first demo of their MVP auto tracking of drones.

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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 what a get-keep-grow pipeline would look like in slides 5-7. Their sponsor invited them to attend the drone conference at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. The team will be flying there and back in between classes.

If you can't see the presentation click here

Advanced Lecture - Mission Achievement

Joe Felter presented the advanced lecture on Mission Achievement.

In a business the aim is to earn more money than you spend and you measure achievement/success by the revenue you bring in. In a mission-driven organization such as the defense and intelligence community, there is no revenue to measure. Instead you mobilize resources and a budget to solve a particular problem and create value for a set of beneficiaries (customers, support organizations, warfighters, Congress, the country, etc.) So we ask the teams: how do you measure mission success/achievement for both the sum of the beneficiaries and for each individual beneficiary.

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If you can't see the presentation click here

Lessons Learned

--

The deeper teams dig into the problems some are discovering their initial hypotheses about product/market fit are wrong

Some are also discovering that they are adding to their sponsors understanding of the problem

--

This creates uncertainty and confusion

Some teams are in the "ditch of despair"

--

They all come out of it

with a deeper understanding of the problem and the product/market fit between the beneficiaries/value proposition

--

Many of them will pivot

This is what enables Lean teams to move with speed and urgency
Michelle Gagliano and Kari Bare have collaborated on bringing Gagliano's art to the fashion world--Bare transforms the art onto fabric and makes clothes from them. At 3:00 pm, on May 15th, at Victory Hall in Scottsville, Virginia, they will present a fashion show called Reimagined Kaleidoscopes, highlighting these new collaborations.



Fabric collaborations by Michelle Gagliano and Kari Bare Couture

How did the idea of converting Michelle's art to fabric reveal itself?

Kari: Michelle came to me with a Wall Street Journal article that mentioned art on fabric and said "I've always wanted to do this with my work!" I don't think she expected me to say, "Ok, let's do it!" We immediately started playing with designs and planning our collaboration.

Michelle: I have been approached in the past by collectors about doing this, but the timing was never right. I think seeing articles in the WSJ made me realize that it is perfectly respectable for an artist to showcase their work across mediums.

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Besides art on t-shirts, is turning art into clothing a common practice?

Kari: I've seen it on shoes and accessories frequently, but in a much different style. Michelle and I really focus on the pieces being handmade and showcasing the fabric and fit, while larger scale companies seem to slap the art on a pre-made piece of clothing and move along. It is important to us that the painting and the clothing design fit together seamlessly.

Michelle: What I appreciate about Kari's designs is how she fits the clothes to the designs. She is able to work from all the intricacies of the painting and she transposes it beautifully into fabric. This customization is gaining in popularity.

How would you compare what you do to other creative processes...like cooking? I'm a big fan of David Chang--he likes to push the boundaries of fine dining--and it seems to me like you like to push the boundaries of fashion and art. Please comment...

Kari: I think cooking is a great analogy for my work because I use technical details and measurement constantly while trusting my intuition to tweak designs. Sizing and pattern construction are very important but I use them as I would a recipe- a mere guideline for what I am creating.

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Michelle: I am relentless in experimenting in the studio, with many mistakes to prove it. It helps move past facing a blank canvas day after day. I really enjoy the collaborative process in the studio, working with another creative helps to push those boundaries as well. (Dante- Ron Smith! That was awesome!)

Who inspires you--in the art world, in the fashion world, in general?

Kari: I look to designers who broke ground in some way, especially for women. Elsa Schiaparelli created the first women's structured jacket or "blazer" at a time when women's rights were nonexistent. Creating custom suits for women allowed us to be taken more seriously as business professionals and has truly changed the world's view of women.

Michelle: I am continually inspired by El Anatsui's tapestry-like transformation of found objects and trash into beauty, and such a calm elegance to the work, mesmerizing. My children constantly inspire me. They are creatives as well, and we constantly bounce ideas off each other.

Are you familiar with Billy Reid? I think he would dig what you do and find some interesting connection.

Kari: I am not familiar but can't wait to do some research. I am always looking for new designers of influence.

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Michelle: I just know his designs, they really convey that he is true to self, has a strong aesthetic, has great clarity and vision. Of course, I would love to have a conversation with him!

Are there people in the fashion and art worlds who are noticing what you are doing?

Both: We have received very positive feedback with minimal advertising. Both of us have received additional sales because of this collaboration and are looking forward to our next projects!

When you are not creating art and fashion, what do you like to do?

Kari: I play softball two times a week which really helps me get the personal interactions that I miss when I am behind a sewing machine all day. I also love being around children, which has led me to teach sewing lessons.

Michelle: I like to be inspired by taking long walks, it helps me filter the day. I have a vineyard, and I enjoy learning about all that is involved in the process of turning grapes into wine. Plus, I love the peace of museums, the chaos of live music, and the visual immersion of movies.

How does your life translate into your art? And how does your art translate into your life?

Kari: My art is a representation of what I strive for my life to be: simple, high quality, and empowering.

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Michelle: My life has always circled around art, painting, drawing, sculpting, and it is simply how I make a living, so it literally does sustain me. I was in an artist residency a few years ago, and I met this elegant and amazing painter, poet, and musician, who lost all her family in the Second World War, was raised in an orphanage, had seen and experienced so many devastating things in her life, yet lived this positive creative life. She simply said, "Life is Poetry. Life is Art. Just look for it." Wow, that stuck with me.

How do you transfer the art to the fabric? Let's get technical for a minute...

Both: It begins with collaborating to decide what style and colors are inspiring to us. After Michelle completes a painting, we take high resolution photographs of the work. Kari then tiles, mirrors, and stretches the image to translate it into a design that is sent to a fabric manufacturing company.

What can people expect from the fashion show on May 15th?

Both: The show will resemble a pop-up art gallery. We wanted to showcase each of our work individually while still presenting our collaboration. The set up is not like a typical "fashion show" at all and we think that guests will really be excited by the unique presentation.

If you had only one sentence to tell a budding artist...like "The most important thing to remember about being an artist is..." or "Create art because..." or "If you want to be an artist, you have to..." what would you say?

Kari: If you want to be an artist, you have to take calculated risks. I think most artists will agree that this path is not easy but every challenge is worth it to express yourself. Also, if you want to be an artist, you have to market and sell your product. Take some business classes, it is the single most overlooked part of a successful arts career.

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Michelle: I think it is important to define what being a successful artist means to you, and to follow that path.


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What if your city had an agency where a high percentage of workers suffered such severe job stress that their health and even their lives were threatened? And what if there was a known, cost-effective fix for that stress? The great majority of cities and counties today do have such an agency, but most of them are not even aware of the problem, much less the fix. The agency is the animal shelter. The fix is No Kill.

As many as 10% of cities and counties today are saving all of the healthy and treatable animals who come into their shelters. Workers in those shelters have the satisfaction of actually being able to help the animals they care for, rather than killing them. Workers at the other 90% of shelters are not so lucky.

Arnold Arluke, a professor of sociology at Northeastern University in Boston, published a ground-breaking study in 1994 on the emotional problems faced by animal shelter workers. Since then, several other researchers have confirmed and extended his findings. Arluke and the other researchers found that workers in high-kill shelters suffer from an intensified version of the well-known phenomenon of "compassion fatigue" that affects workers in helping professions.

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Compassion fatigue occurs when a doctor, nurse, social worker, or other caring professional suffers stress because they are not able to help everyone who needs their help. For workers in high-kill shelters, that stress is magnified by the fact that when shelter workers fail to help an animal by finding a home for it, the animal is killed. And shelter workers do not get the kind of social support that people in other caring professions receive. Workers at high-kill shelters report increased rates of sadness, sleep disturbance, conflicts with their families, and alcohol and drug abuse. We do not have good data on the rate of suicide for workers in high-kill shelters, but one would suspect it is higher than average.

For the last 25 years the No Kill movement has been urging city and county governments to adopt shelter reforms that will allow their communities to save all healthy and treatable animals. The movement has based its arguments on what is good for the animals, and has largely ignored the human cost to shelter workers. That is a tactical mistake, for two reasons.

First, a proposal that benefits both people and animals will have a broader base of support than one that benefits just animals. The broader-based argument that includes employee welfare is especially likely to appeal to government officials, since they feel a strong sense of responsibility for the health and safety of their workers.

Second, government officials will have a much easier time justifying spending tax dollars on protecting shelter workers than on protecting shelter animals. In our legal system animals are property. No responsible government would spend more money to fix a government vehicle than it would cost to replace it with a new vehicle. Since dogs and cats in the animal shelter have much the same legal status as a vehicle, local governments have a hard time justifying spending tax dollars for the purpose of increasing live releases of animals when it is cheaper to kill them. Spending to protect the health and safety of city and county employees, however, is a perfectly legitimate use of tax dollars.

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Given that the health and welfare of shelter workers is such a strong argument for No Kill, why has the No Kill movement largely failed to push that argument in the past? It might be because there has been a tendency in the No Kill ranks to regard workers in high-kill shelters as enemies, not as victims. The documentation of stress-related health effects among workers in high-kill shelters would seem to indicate that most shelter workers are not indifferent or uncaring. But regardless of what No Kill advocates might think of shelter workers, the No Kill cause can benefit by recognizing the importance of arguments based on shelter worker health and safety.
Gov. Snyder has lost the people of Flint, and there's no getting them back.

He's pointedly avoided public events in the city since acknowledging the water crisis roughly eight months ago, choosing instead to hold tightly controlled news conferences.

If Snyder was hoping Flint residents' anger would dissipate with time, he was proved dead wrong last week during President Obama's visit.

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The governor did what he should have done back in September 2015. He apologized to the people of Flint -- in Flint.

"You didn't create this problem --" Snyder started to tell the crowd of 1,000 at Northwestern High School.

But students cut him off, shouting, "You did!"

No one in the gym heard the second part of Snyder's sentence: "Government failed you."

It was all too little, too late. Snyder didn't bother speaking much longer. No one was listening.

When Obama took the stage to cheers and applause, he acknowledged the governor, as he should have. But the crowd booed again and the president threw him a lifeline, asking people not to.

Obama then announced Democratic officials in attendance: U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and U.S. Reps. Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak), John Conyers (D-Detroit), Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield). None of them were jeered.

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And there you have it -- the credibility gap on the Flint water crisis in action.

Republicans, led by Michigan GOP Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel, have valiantly tried to pin the issue on the Environmental Protection Agency, and thus Obama.

Of course, the facts say otherwise. The EPA failed, for sure, but the Flint water crisis was a state-created problem. Even the governor's special task force found in its 116-page report that state-appointed emergency managers made the crucial decision to switch to the corrosive Flint River. The move was made to save money, which led to lead and legionella poisoning.

While Snyder and Republicans have been spinning and obfuscating about what they knew, Democrats like Kildee and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) have kept their doors open to Flint residents. And they've pushed for answers and aid.

Even Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders came to Flint, which prompted a round of "Democrats are politicizing the crisis" stories fed by Republicans.

But while that criticism had cachet with a cynical press corps, few people in Flint cared. They just wanted help. They just wanted people to listen. And if politicians had their own agenda, well, that's what politicians do.

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It beat the response from the governor, who's still blaming "career bureaucrats" and hasn't met with Flint families clamoring for his attention.

It's not hard to see why Obama is more trusted, even though he certainly could have come to Flint sooner. From the early days of his presidency, he was mercilessly mocked by conservatives for stressing the value of empathy and its role in public service.

But people in that gym believed that the president cares. They clearly don't think that of our CPA governor, who's chosen balance sheets over people, time and time again.

Snyder's allies fervently believe he's gotten a raw deal and is being scapegoated. And partisans will always think that.

But consider how Snyder handled the president's visit. It was a public relations disaster for the governor, from start to finish. And he's had eight months to come up with a decent strategy. Although Snyder has cycled through key staff and high-priced PR firms, he's still blowing it.

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Last month, Snyder pledged to drink Flint water for 30 days to prove it was safe. A few days into the stunt, he announced he was heading to Europe on a trade mission and suspending his water pledge. What a fantastic PR move: The governor ditches Flint water for Perrier.

Then Obama announced he would be coming to Flint, crediting a heartfelt letter from 8-year-old Mari Copley, known as "Little Miss Flint" (because that's how you do a PR stunt right).

Snyder was overseas and was like, "Oh, man, I'm really busy right now. Don't think I can make it."

When that went over like a lead balloon, the governor arrogantly demanded a meeting with the president in Flint -- as if the protocol is that governors get to call the shots with presidents. And Snyder went even further, challenging Obama to drink Flint water to deflect from his failures.

Of course, Obama has had seven years of dealing with petulant Republicans, like U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouting, "You lie!" in the middle of his first State of the Union. So the president indulged Snyder on both counts and the governor said he'd come to the public event.

Perhaps Snyder's media consultants were high-fiving one another over their apparent PR coup.

But when Snyder walked on stage, nothing could save him from the raw anger of the people of Flint. The president showed an incredible amount of empathy that he would even try after Snyder's crass one-upmanship.

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And therein lies the difference between the two men.
Europeans also are realizing the limits of our current democratic institutions. David van Reybrouck, the Belgian author of Against Elections, said, "There is a huge dislike of political parties and politicians....Small countries, like Belgium and the Netherlands and Denmark are starting to think about innovation."

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The most frequently mentioned innovation is to select public officials randomly by lottery from among the citizens -- called lottocracy or sortition. Athens, the original democracy, selected 90 percent of its public officials by sortition, not election, thereby assuring a true representation of its citizens in legislative roles and on juries.

American and British courts have carried on the Athenian tradition for hundreds of years, selecting jury members randomly from the tax rolls. No less important than legislation, we trust juries with our most momentous decisions -- whether to take freedom or even life itself from our fellow human beings.

Ironically, by deliberately excluding rational choice, the mathematical probability of a lottery guarantees true representation. Elections do not.

Large donations from the wealthy distort the election process. For example, in the current U.S. presidential election merely 158 families and the companies they control have contributed almost half the donations in all the presidential campaigns -- $176 million dollars. Their money dominates legislative campaigns as well.

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So, what would it look like if we did something different? With 50 states in the U.S., perhaps one state legislature might try an experiment with sortition, rather than election.

Or perhaps we might create a one-time lottocratic legislature of 435 representatives, one from each Congressional district, as a demonstration project, with funding and staff all dedicated to creating legislation on a single controversial issue -- like gun control.

The commission process used in 2005 to deal with a controversial list of U.S. military base closings only allowed Congress the option of a "yes" or "no" vote on the commission's proposed list. So, an experimental one-time single-issue single-house lottocratic body could be created with a similar mandate. Congress would have to accept or reject the proposed legislation without amendment.

Most significantly, the single-issue legislature could do what never happens now. Instead of attacking the opposition in the usual adversarial brawl, legislators would:

hear presentations from lobbyists and other interested parties.

confer with knowledgeable experts and staff.

have a real conversation with one another

and make thoughtful decisions.

What a radical idea: a deliberative body that actually deliberates. And legislators whose main concern is legislation, not fund-raising for the next election. Let's give it a try.

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Universities are a "thousand-year-old industry on the cusp of profound change". That's according to a study that explored Australia's higher education landscape four years ago. One warning from the report rings true far beyond Australia and all the way around the world:

Over the next ten-15 years, the current public university model ... will prove unviable in all but a few cases.

Warning shots are ringing out across the world. But how many academics are actually paying attention? In my experience as a lecturer at a South African university, we continue to placate the two denizens of academia - teaching and research - in the same way we always have. Teaching remains focused on instruction and content reproduction, while most research never makes it beyond journals.

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If we continue to teach in outdated ways, we will increasingly lose touch with our students. Equally, if we continue to closet our findings in traditional journals, we may find our hard work increasingly eclipsed by research organisations that use new media to effectively share their findings.

Lots of attention is being given to new ways of teaching. The great news is that there are also exciting new publishing opportunities springing up.

The right to write

On May 12 2015 I published my first article with The Conversation Africa. One year and ten articles later, I've started to view my "right to write" in a totally different way. For more than 20 years as an academic, writing has been more of a duty than a need - let alone a right. Productivity units must be met. Papers must be written and published in approved journals. Even the joy of writing for conferences, which can generate spirited discussion, has been removed. Conference presentations don't contribute much to one's chance of promotion.

Of course there is great merit in writing for journals. These have been one of the primary stores of human knowledge, and their peer review process foregrounds credible research - most of the time. They teach academics how to write carefully argued pieces, and the best ones hold us to high standards of quality.

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Pragmatically, they also pay. Individual academics and their institutions earn money for each article that's published in certain accredited journals.

However, the money associated with such journals has created an entire industry that flies counter to a world where sharing knowledge is seen as the right thing to do. Journals are being accused of using the free services of academics to write and the free services of reviewers to edit. They then charge exorbitant prices so that the very same academics can't even access their own content.

But traditional journals are no longer the be-all and end-all. At least, they shouldn't be. Open-access journals, blogs, wikis, professional Facebook pages and YouTube channels offer academics a range of exciting, different ways to share their research. These spaces come with a range of benefits.

New media means new benefits

The first of these is the far quicker turnaround time. One of academics' abiding frustrations with the current publishing process is how long it takes for articles to see the light of day. Research shows that it takes, on average, between nine and 18 months (and sometimes longer) from submission to publication. Writing for new media spaces means that research can be shared within hours or days, opening up the opportunity for discussion, debate and dissent far more quickly.

Your reach is far greater in new media spaces. Some studies estimate that the average journal article is read entirely by only ten people. Tools like Google Analytics can help academics to track their readership in new media spaces. Some sites, like The Conversation, have their own metrics systems - from this, I know that each of my articles is read on average 4,000 times.

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Greater reach leads to far greater exposure. This can take the form of comments from academics around the world, invitations to collaborate, and TV and radio interviews. This takes academic research far beyond conferences and journals. I've discussed my work on different platforms, including international newspapers, and have been drawn into several local and international research collaborations. Isn't that sort of work the point of publishing?

New media spaces can also be less intimidating for young, inexperienced academics than established journals are. Getting used to writing, finding your own voice and presenting your work on a public platform is all good practice for journal writing. Universities often offer programmes designed to help young academics develop and strengthen their writing, and these are useful tools as well.

Finally, new media spaces offer a valuable opportunity for feedback, conversation and even correction. They're not about getting it perfect upfront - they're about learning, arguing and altering. This encourages the kind of dialogue and idea sharing that any academic should value.

Stepping out of our academic closet

Change isn't coming to academia - it's here. And the one thing you don't do in the path of an avalanche is stand still. The privilege of just talking about new teaching approaches and new publishing opportunities has passed. If academics don't make bold moves to change how we use new platforms and technologies, we ourselves are at risk of becoming irrelevant.
Image of african american businessman working on his laptop. Handsome young man at his desk.

News stories about Blacks and health are often disheartening. Along with the usual health disparities in HIV+ rates, obesity, diabetes, and life expectancy, research has also shown that some medical students think black patients feel less pain than white patients, that black patients are less likely to receive vital medicine for their mental health diagnosis, and other disturbing findings that further perpetuate the inequality in health outcomes for black Americans.

Student protests at various colleges and universities across the country have also been in the news for the past several months. Institutional diversity offices and funding for diversity initiatives have been eliminated. Students at University of Missouri, Clemson University and University of Tennessee have openly expressed their disappointment in lack of racial sensitivity and diversity at their schools.

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While these two topics may not seem related, they do have something in common. The lack of representation of black and other minorities in academia is problematic and has far reaching implications on the type of research that is conducted, especially intervention research pertaining to the health of black people.

At universities all across the country, black academics are doing work to improve the health outcomes of black Americans. From applying a strengths based approach to discovering positive health outcomes in minority communities, or tackling the causes of obesity in inner city black girls, researchers are dedicated to uncovering the barriers that make optimal health harder to achieve for African-Americans.

What makes black and other minority health researchers so valuable is that most often, they study health issues that affect their communities. Being members of the communities they are studying gives them a nuanced understanding of the barriers and strengths a community faces when looking to achieve positive health outcomes. However, barriers at our nation's colleges and institutions often make a challenge for them to become life-long successful researchers.

Black professors account for about 5 percent of full time faculty in higher education, though Blacks are 12 percent of the nation's population. Latino and Native Americans are also woefully underrepresented in academia. Low representation could very well mean that there are not enough researchers of color to study the social, cultural, and political reasons that health disparities continue to exist.

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Combined with low representation are the competing demands on the time of academics of color. They are often called to be on committees and other acts of service that can take away from valuable research time. Also, academics of color are more likely to formally and informally mentor students of color. While this is a good thing, because research shows students do better on campuses that have higher representation of minority professors, this demand still takes time away from research. This makes it even more important to increase the number of minority professors in academia, as more professors can share the duties of service and mentorship to students of color.

Another barrier for black academics is the decreased value of their research in the eyes of the majority group. Academics of color have reported that their research unsupported by their peers, who sometimes question the value of it. This leads to another problem in academia - the struggle for academics of color to gain tenure. Since tenure committees usually consist of other professors within the department, the chances of gaining tenure are less when the department doesn't value the scholar's research.

These barriers make it hard for researchers of color to justify staying in academia, especially when their skills are marketable and often more profitable in the private sector. Unfortunately, when these researchers leave academia, they often abandon the ideas and curiosity that would have driven research projects that could improve the health of the communities they so desperately wanted to help.

Though these barriers seem daunting, there are steps that universities can take to increase the number or black and other minority professors at their institutions. First, universities need to take into consideration the unique viewpoints and contributions that academics of color bring to their campuses and reward them for it. In light of the fact that our country is moving towards a minority - majority racial composition, the work of researchers of color grows increasing important for analysis health and health interventions in minority communities. Also, as the numbers of young minorities increase, they will need the support and encouragement of minority professors as they begin their college careers. The content of work and mentoring these professors provide should be taken into consideration during the tenure process.
Cross-posted from UN Women

It is early morning in the outskirts of Gorkha Bajar, headquarters of Gorkha district and the epicentre of the April 2015 earthquake. Laxmi Biswokarma, 39, is walking towards her house with a small load of firewood on her back. This load is not heavy; I just cant carry that much, she says, as she climbs a small slope towards her house.

It has been an extremely challenging year for Laxmi. She returned to Nepal a year ago from Dubai, where she worked as a domestic worker. I returned because I had excruciating pain in my back. I couldnt work; I couldnt sit, she says as she sets the firewood down.

Laxmi took a leave of absence for a few months in January last year, and was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Kathmandu. On 25 April 2015, when the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit central Nepal, Laxmi was still in hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with diabetes and tuberculosis and said she needed physiotherapy if she wanted to walk again, but her savings had run out by then. I didnt even have enough money for food, how could I afford medicine and therapy? she says.

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Six years earlier, when Laxmi left Nepal for the first time, she went to Oman as a migrant worker. When she returned, she used her savings to build a house near the village of Uiya, over 200 kilometres from the capital of Kathmandu, and just above the epicentre of the devastating earthquake. She lived there for a few years before leaving for Dubai. Now that home is gone, turned into a pile of dust, she says.

Laxmi hasnt been able to muster the courage to go to her village. Her house was built with mortar and bricks so it wouldnt have withstood the earthquake.

After leaving the hospital, she came to Gorkha instead, where Suk Maya Gurung, social mobilizer of UN Womens partner organization, Women for Human Rights (WHR), heard about her situation. She was renting a cheap room on the outskirts of town; she didnt have food, or medicine she didnt even have anyone to give her water when she was thirsty, says Suk Maya.

Fortunately for Laxmi, with support from UN Women and Women and Children Office, a local womens group in Gorkha, WHR had set up a multipurpose womens centre as part of the humanitarian response to the earthquake. The multipurpose womens centre provides trauma counseling, dignity kits, solar lamps, information, referrals, carry out womens safety audits and facilitate early recovery and livelihood activities.

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Laxmi was advised to come to the multipurpose centre, where she could get help, spend some time with other women, receive psychosocial counselling, and make sure that she could take her medicine. I would go there every other daythey would give me nutritious food; I could get help taking a bath; they took me to the hospital, says Laxmi. I probably would have died had it not been for the help I received at the multipurpose centre.

Eight months into her treatment and therapy, Laxmi is a different person today. WHRs psychosocial counsellor Bimala Amgai says When I started to talk to her in July, she was mentally broken and talked about wanting to die all the time, she says, adding: Laxmi couldnt even lift herself properly, now she can walk and take care of herself and is thinking ahead.

Today, as she gets her strength back, Laxmi is planning for the future. She wants to start working so she can pay back the loan she took to complete her treatment. She wants to learn a new skill such as the English-language. I have no education, but if I can at least learn English, I will be more attractive when I apply for jobs abroad, she says.
It's really no news now that Canada is one of the most preferred countries to move to. At first it was the dream of mostly Africans but as it is, Americans are beginning to pen that down in their lists. It won't surprise the world though, seeing as they may elect Donald Trump into the presidency, come November. It was discovered that the Canadian government's immigration website crashed the day after Donald Trump swept the Super Tuesday Primaries. Google showed that thousands of Americans searched out details on 'moving to Canada'.

It's safe to believe the reason Canada remains a juicy option for migrants is that it looks a lot like America but is more polite, more cosmopolitan and less religious. It also has its health care run by the government which is a pleasant song to many ears. However, it's not all rosy and pretty in the sails.

Owning a home in Canada could be a slightly tall order. Many cities in the U.S. are notorious for their high costs of living, but many Canadians feel the same way about their cities. Nearly half the people living in urban areas say the cost of buying a home in their neighborhood is either "high" or "unreasonably high". In addition, employment rates aren't as attractive as they used to be. Canadian employment fell slightly by 2100 for April following a substantial 40,600 gain for March, as reported by Tim Clayton for EconomicCalendar.com. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.1% last April, in line with expectations but fell to 7.2% even as the market expected a small decrease in that figure.

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The oil industry downturn hasn't helped matters as the impact is significantly felt on the Canadian dollar and in the employment decline. The Fort McMurray wildfire hasn't made matters any easier. The low prices of commodities have hurt jobs in Canada, where many areas are reliant on natural resources. For instance, employment rates declined in Alberta while Ontario witnessed a slight increase in unemployment. No doubt, Canada seems to have a lot of work in generating sufficient gains in employment so as to offset further stresses in the energy sector.

Despite the report, Canadian Prime Minister remains unfazed as he welcomes thousands of refugees from Syria. As a skilled worker, you'd also be welcomed through the Express Entry window. It could be a lucrative means to reduce the country's dependence on oil and better improve the nation's economy.
Transformations within the Trump candidacy are ongoing. Unfortunately, the one that is the most worrisome is how the national press is treating him. With respect, that is. This first turned up with the photograph MSNBC uses of Trump on primary nights, the headshot that goes up beside his many state victories. It's the most complimentary picture of Trump that I have seen, even if he doesn't currently look like the photo. In it, he has darkish hair, brown, brunette, thicker on the sides with a touch of gray, neatly combed, a winning smile. It is Mitt Romney hair.

There are a lot of photos of Trump, but why this one? So friendly and, I hate to say the word, presidential.

The same photo continued to be used the night Trump won the Indiana primary. And this week's West Virginia and Nebraska primary triumphs, more or less uncontested. Of course, the audience could see Trump himself after the Indiana win in the lobby of the Trump Tower, giving his victory speech. That night his remarks were subdued, full of love. His hair was the usual blend of orange and copper and brass, yellow, and, from the back, a color favored on birthday cakes, lemony, pound cake-like. Or bad teeth, old piano keys.

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My contention is that there is no upside for the network/cable conglomerate, any of them, for not treating Trump with deference. If not immediately The Donald himself, his new staff is praised. See, they are serious guys! The media now seems to understand Trump might actually win. At least, he has a shot, even if one very long, much longer than his fingers.

The same thing occurred in 1980. Until the summer of 1980, the time of the Mariel boatlift, a lot of the establishment press treated Ronald Reagan as a clown, his candidacy as an amusing sideshow. But that all stopped in the summer. By then it was clear that Reagan might actually win, become president. Carter's administration was falling apart. Castro was sending over all those Trump-like rapists and criminals from Cuban prisons, the mentally disturbed, and, by far, the largest and darkest group of refugees Americans had ever seen coming across the 90 miles to Key West. The proportion of criminals and the disturbed has been estimated at between 2-3 percent, doubtless the same figure for Trump's marauding Mexicans.

By 1980 the Iran hostage crisis was in its second year, lines had formed at gas stations, we had boycotted the summer Olympics, given away the Panama Canal, and, in April, had helicopters burn in the desert during a botched rescue attempt, etc. So, Ronald Reagan went from being a light-weight Hollywood figure with odd ideas to a remarkable statesman. I was in Key West in the summer of 1980 watching dilapidated school buses being filled with Cubans heading to the underpasses of Miami highways, Arkansas, wherever. But what I read in the daily papers was more shocking, this bestowing of new seriousness on candidate Reagan.

The national press needed to elevate the eventual winner, because Carter had loser written all over him. The titans of the press diminish their own importance if they have to cover a buffoon. Their impulse is to raise him up in their estimation. The Carter-Reagan race is not unlike the current one - Hillary Clinton, of course, being Jimmy Carter and The Donald being Ronald Reagan. Carter was president, but Hillary has been Senator and Secretary of State. Trump, of course, has some fractured Hollywood allure, but has never been governor of anywhere, so we've actually, as a country, lowered basic requirements for eligibility to run for the highest office in the land.

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President Obama may well be Hillary's last bulwark, if no crisis beyond the usual turns up pre-November. Carter was beset by Biblical plagues his last year in office and, in contrast, Obama is having what can pass for a good year.

But, you now see it everywhere, the nascent elevation of Trump, the begrudging self-censorship of the pedantry (or punditry), though one can still read demurrals here and there. The press corps, too, along with the flummoxed Republican establishment, is trying to come to grips with the new nominee of the Grand Old Party. I've been saying "President Trump" to friends for months, much to their expected horror.
I've never been a political artist. When I first heard there was the possibility the U.S. could free itself from its dependence on foreign oil with its own natural gas, I was thrilled. I played SimCity 2000 as a kid, and this seemed on the level of that Fusion Power Plant that gets invented in the year 2050. Once we saw hydro-fracturing in practice, however, it was clear corners were being cut to protect companies' bottom lines. Leaving the chemical water to sit at well sites, the breaking of pipes due to shifting of the earth's tectonic plates, and the sheer amount of water needed to excavate the gas, all place a very real threat on the environment.
This is the sixth post in my series, Millennials Paving The Way, highlighting today's brightest Millennials who are empowering future generations to become change makers.



Image courtesy of Saleme Fayad Photography

I spoke with Najwa Zebian, a Lebanese-Canadian educator and author about her book Mind Platter, the surge of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the media, and how to move from struggle to grace.

Zebian's passion for creative expression was evident from a young age as she delved into Arabic poetry and novels. She arrived to Canada at sixteen years of age and pursued higher education. In 2011, she became a teacher and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership as she works with the Thames Valley District School Board. She published her first book, Mind Platter, in January of 2016.

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Congratulations on the release of your stunning book, Mind Platter. What can readers expect?

Thank you for your kind words. Mind Platter was written from my soul, from my struggle to find a voice and my struggle to define myself. It is written from my struggle to forgive myself for doubting myself when I was kind and got hurt. It is written from my struggle with power used wrongly, and from my struggle with not allowing all of the negative things out there that are tainting our humaneness to change who I am as a human. Mind Platter was my attempt at putting the broken pieces of my soul that I did not know were broken back together. It was my way to create a voice for myself.

Throughout Mind Platter, I encourage my readers to let go of the fear of feeling, expressing and speaking up. It contains about 200 one-page entries as reflections on different topics that we encounter in our everyday lives; love, friendship, hurt, inspiration, respect, wholeheartedness, motivation, integrity, honesty and more. Mind Platter is by no means confined to the words within it, but leaves the freedom of understanding to the reader's interpretation. I always say that I am not the sole owner of this book, but I share it with every person whose path crossed mine. Had my journey not have been what it was, with every story and every detail, I would not be the same person today. May this book give a voice to those who need one, be a crying shoulder for those who need someone to listen, and inspire those who need a reminder of the power that they have over their lives.

Your generation is passionate about giving back and understands that giving and selflessness are hallmarks of great leaders. Tell me about the volunteer or charity work you do.

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I continue to be impressed and inspired by all of our youth who are taking initiative to effect change in the world. The work that I do does not compare to so much that is happening out there. When I first published Mind Platter three months ago, 100% of the proceeds over the first month went towards the Syrian Refugee Fund here in London. It raised $2300, thanks to the support of everyone who purchased it. Very soon, I intend to allocate a certain percentage of the profits towards subsidies for high school students to be involved in summer activities run by the City.

In addition to that, I continue to be involved in my community and provide support wherever needed. I have taken part in many initiatives aiming for the inclusion and integration of all members of society such as parent engagement educational symposiums and student voice events.

As I complete my Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, I work with the public board of education as well as sit on a private school board to contribute towards a better education for all. My doctoral work aims at ensuring cultural relevance in our educational organizations from a leadership perspective. On my blog, I combine the theoretical knowldedge that I gain with classroom experiences and reflections that aim at building bridges amongst us all, and at re-conceptualizing education as more holistic than it is now.

Feedback is a powerful management tool. Between texts and tweets and posts, it is no giant leap to say Millennials are hungry for interaction and thirsty for acknowledgment. How important is receiving constant feedback to you? Does it make a strong impact on your performance?

Being a teacher, I know that the most effective feedback is specific and timely. I really enjoy reading the feedback that I receive when my readers tell me exactly how my words impacted them, for example, "you are helping me get back up after a breakup," "the last poem you wrote is making me change the way I see what trust truly means." One of the most powerful things to me about feedback is that it makes me realize that there is a community of people out there who have gone through the exact same feelings and struggles. That in itself motivates me to write more and to continue to openly express myself. It gives me a sense of what struggles are out there and what I need to address through my words. Nothing is more powerful than someone saying: "thank you for putting into words what I have been struggling for years to say." Once you realize the power of your words, there is no going back. You feel a sense of responsibility to continue offering the support and validation that you've already begun to offer.

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I aim to reach as many people as possible. That way, more and more people can be part of this community of expression. I never aim to impress anyone, nor to gain a certain number of likes or comments. That purpose really could be detrimental to my work and my allegiance to be as raw and as authentic in my expression as I can possibly be.

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, as of March, 76 percent of Millennials say immigrants strengthen the economy, up from 59 percent in early 2013. As an immigrant from Lebanon and given the current state of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media, how does this message resonate with you?

My parents met and started their family here in Canada, and after having five children, they decided to move to Lebanon so they could teach them Arabic. That's where I was born. I frequently visited Canada but never with the intention of fully residing here. Contrary to what many may believe, I was not happy to move here at all. I arrived here on my sixteenth birthday, and being visibly Muslim, I did face a few struggles. My experience was a little different from a any other newcomer's experience as I had was fully bilingual in English and Arabic. I was dealing with a culture that assumed that I had been here my whole life simply because I spoke the language with no accent. Reflecting on the change that I have been noticing in the public's perception of newcomers over the last ten years that I have been here, I can easily say that I have witnessed an increase in awareness and thirst to learn, especially in our new generation. As a teacher, I have had the pleasure to speak in many classrooms about the experience of being a newcomer, and students always meet those conversations with glaring eyes and increased appreciation of the similarities that hold us all together.

It makes me happy that the perception of the public towards newcomers has become more positive, assuming that being better for the economy implies proper integration and collaboration among all members of society. Regardless of anyone's impact on the economy, I hope that all human beings become more open to understanding of one another with compassion and focus on what unites us rather than what makes us different. I hope that we could all reach a point where we listen to understand, instead of listening to criticize or judge.

After reading your book, a key takeaway for me is that we all have within us the ability to move from struggle to grace. What advice would you give to your readers about bouncing back?

Where do I begin? My dear reader, you are the owner of your path. You are the master of your journey. You cannot control what life brings your way, but you have the power to control how you react to it. And if you react in the moment in the wrong way, that's okay. The best of us make mistakes. We fall. We learn. We get back up stronger. And we learn for the next time. Making mistakes makes you human. Feeling pain makes you human. Being heartbroken makes you human. And all of those pains are what make you color the masterpiece of who you are into a beautiful and unique piece of wonder. So, yes, I tell you to allow yourself to feel your pain so that it may leave you, and it will leave you. It will allow you to realize the strength that you, and no one else, can create from your own self. It is the most shattering, yet amazing experience that your soul can go through. Go ahead and allow life to throw what it may at you, and break if you must. You're only human, Keep in mind, however, that you are the one who will put the pieces of yourself back together into a beautiful soul that you can say "I own every part of who I am."

To learn more about Najwa Zebian's book Mind Platter and upcoming projects she is working on, please visit www.misszebian.edublogs.org and connect with her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

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Author's Note: This series will cover the online habits of Millennials, their spending power, impact on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, role in achieving gender parity and much more.
"The Nakba didn't end. It is continuous. It's not finished yet." These were the words of Issa Amro, coordinator of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), an organization based in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Mr. Amro and members of YAS experience daily the brutality of the Israeli military occupation and settlement enterprise. The dispossession of Palestinians of their land, the ever-present abrogation of Palestinian human rights and freedom, and the intended erasure of their identity started during the time of the Nakba, but these fundamental violations clearly did not end 68 years ago. They persist to this day in many forms such as institutionalized discrimination, land and water confiscation, house demolitions, administrative detention and imprisonment, military assaults, checkpoints, illegal settlements on Palestinian land, and rampant settler violence against a captive and predominantly unarmed population.

Nakba is the Arabic word for "catastrophe," signifying the immense dislocation that unfolded during 1947-49 after the United Nations' decision to partition Palestine into two states--Jewish and Arab--and the subsequent expulsion of between 750,000 and one million Palestinians from historic Palestine by Zionist paramilitary forces (about a third of them were expelled before the war started with neighboring Arab states). It was only through ethnic cleansing at the hands of these militias--massacres, destruction of villages and homes, expulsion of the Palestinian population--that a Jewish state could be built. Israel expropriated over four million acres of Palestinian land during and immediately following its establishment in 1948, and Zionist and Israeli forces perpetrated at least two dozen massacres of Palestinian civilians, designed to terrify villages sufficiently to leave their land and homes. They also demolished and erased more than 400 Palestinian cities and towns between 1948 and 1950. Many of the Palestinians who remained inside Israel's new borders in 1948--approximately 150,000--became internally displaced; some of them, who had fled or were expelled but managed to return, were given the paradoxical label of "present absentees" and prevented from recovering their properties or going back to their homes. Today, the Palestinian citizens of Israel number about 1.6 million and live as second-class citizens in a society that has promulgated over 50 laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against them in all areas of life.

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Rashid Khalidi suggests that the seeds of the Nakba were planted by Britain's mandatory government in Palestine, which constructed an "iron cage" that constricted any of the Palestinian leadership's efforts toward independence. This policy was undergirded by the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which promised a homeland in Palestine to the Jewish people, thus facilitating Zionist plans to stake claims to Palestinian land. The British also punished or killed suspected Palestinian rebels and exiled their leaders. Khalidi notes that by the end of the Palestinian revolt of 1936-39, the Palestinian leadership was either expelled, assassinated, or rendered powerless. Moreover, the well-armed Zionist underground forces played a decisive role in terrorizing the population through massacres, murder, rape, and expulsions. Palestinians point to these events of the late forties as pivotal in the eventual dismemberment of the Palestinian nation, when over three-quarters of a million of them became refugees.

The day to commemorate the Nakba was inaugurated in 1998 by the late president of the Palestinian National Authority and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat. It is a day of remembrance for the Palestinian generations whose parents and grandparents experienced the catastrophic events of 1947-49. And it is also a living memory that punctuates the continuing efforts to reclaim justice and national rights in Palestine.

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For Palestinians living in Israel, marking Nakba Day brings serious legal consequences. An Israeli law (the "Nakba Law") bars public funding of organizations that refer to Israel's Independence Day (the same day as the Palestinian Nakba) as a day of mourning. A petition to overturn this discriminatory law was presented to Israel's High Court, which refused to make a judicial ruling. Criminalizing the commemoration of the Nakba is not only a blow to freedom of expression and right to equality, it also constitutes a denial of this horrific event in Palestinian history and suggests Israel's abdication of any responsibility for the Nakba.

The world's population of Palestinians is now close to 12 million, with over 5.3 million living in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. The remaining millions live in Arab countries (the majority in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria) as well as throughout the world. For all of them, the Nakba is alive as a profoundly significant and painful family story as well as a lived experience, one that will never be forgotten. New generations in the Palestinian diaspora hold onto these memories and live, every day, the consequences of the Nakba--in refugee camps and experiencing continuing wars, in exile with lifelong scars. Palestinians living in historic Palestine--the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and inside Israel--face huge challenges, such as military occupation, wars, loss of land, and institutionalized prejudice. Indeed, the Nakba did not end and continues to this day.
ASSOCIATED PRESS In this Sunday, July 29, 2012 photo, hard-core porn actress Sunny Leone, who stars in Bollywood film aJism 2a speaks to the media in Mumbai, India. The film, which will be released across India on Friday, is pushing the ever-widening sexual boundaries enjoyed by many in urban India. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

Sunny Leone often finds herself in films which feature her as a seductress, which more often than not entail performing intimate scenes with co-stars.

However, on Wednesday, multiple online news outlets went into a tizzy declaring that the Bollywood actress, who stars in the recently released One Night Stand, has decided to add a 'no-kissing' policy in her contract. What made the story fishy was the fact that it mentioned that she would get intimate with her co-stars as long as it didn't involve kissing them.

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Most news outlets lost their mind over this. After all, how could a former adult star get fussy about a kiss, right?

Just in case the message wasn't clear enough, India Today sent out a cautionary warning to any filmmaker still thinking about shooting kissing scenes with Leone.

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The basis of this was, no, not a comment from Sunny or her husband Daniel Weber (who manages her career), but a comprehensively researched guesstimate derived from Sunny's kiss-free history in Bollywood, as noted by this entirely speculative Business Of Cinema piece.

HuffPost India reached out to Daniel Weber, who was bewildered that this news was doing the rounds.

When we asked him if such a clause has indeed been added, he responded via text message, saying, "There is no truth to this all."

Furthermore, he stated, "She is an actor and as far as kissing scenes are concerned, she decides with the director whether to do it or not  like is the case with the rest of the creative process involving her. This is the standard."

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Danish Siddiqui / Reuters Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej Industries Ltd., arrives to attend an interview with Reuters in Mumbai July 13, 2010. In a Bain & Co survey on corporate governance in Indian firms, more than 75 percent of respondents said their board did not discuss CEO succession planning at all; fewer than a fifth had any formal or informal role in planning CEO succession. The Godrej Group has drawn up succession plans to avoid such a spectacle. Picture taken July 13, 2010. To match Feature INDIA-BUSINESS/FAMILIES REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/Files (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS)

The beef ban in India, the world's largest exporter of buffalo meat, is stunting rural growth and affecting agriculture, Adi Godrej, the chairman of Godrej Group, has said in an interview with the Indian Express. He is one of the few industrialists to openly voice his concern as many states seek to strictly impose the ban on beef.

Godrej also said that there was nothing wrong with Hindus eating beef as it was not considered a religious practice.

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"Some of the things are affecting growth, for example, the ban on beef in some states. (This) is clearly affecting agriculture, affecting rural growth. Because what do you do with all these extra cows? It is also affecting business, because this was a good source of income for many farmers. So thats a negative," Godrej said.

The beef trade in India, home to 300 million cattle, is mainly controlled by minority Muslims, and tougher anti-beef laws have hurt Muslims, Christians and lower-caste Hindus who rely on the cheap meat for protein, Reuters reported, quoting critics of the ban.

"There is nothing against beef in our religion. It is a practice that evolved over years of drought, and the elders said dont slaughter cows, preserve them for milk for children. That has turned into a religious belief. This is ridiculous. Vedic Indians were beef-eaters, said Godrej, in comments that add to the ongoing controversy over the issue.

The Bombay High Court recently upheld the decision of the Maharashtra government to ban slaughter of bullocks in the state but decriminalized possession of beef brought from outside the state.

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Last year, President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Bill, which had been pending for 20 years, extending a ban on the killing of cows, considered sacred by Hindus, to bulls and bullocks. The law calls for up to five-years jail for anyone found in possession of beef.

There is nothing against beef in our religion. It is a practice that evolved over years of drought, and the elders said dont slaughter cows, preserve them for milk for children. That has turned into a religious belief.

Violent clashes have broken out over the consumption and possession of beef. Beef exports are banned, but suppliers of buffalo meat have also been roughed up in the past by by Hindu mobs, according to Reuters. Cows are revered in Hindu culture and their killing is banned in some states.

Godrej also raised another contentious election issue, being raised in some of the states going to polls -- the debate around prohibition.

"In order to win elections and get womens votes, some states are doing that. Bihar has brought prohibition. Kerala has brought prohibition. Prohibition is bad for the economy," he said.

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images NADIA, INDIA - APRIL 17: BJP supports with party flags and symbol cutouts during election campaign rally of Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi before third phase of Assembly Election at Krishnanagar Govt. College ground, on April 17, 2016 in Nadia, India. (Photo by Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

How NOT to win friends and influence people. That seems to be the modus operandi of the BJP in West Bengal.

The BJPs greatest liability in Bengal is that its been a non-player. It has little clout. Its regarded as a north Indian party without deep enough Bengali roots. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to most modern Bengalis is just the name of a busy street in Kolkata.

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But that is also its greatest asset. It has nowhere to go but up. It might have just one MLA in the Bengal Assembly but if it manages to get five in the current election cycle, that will get national attention. Its status as a long-time also-ran also means as a party it escapes a lot of the mud thrown at the other players.

When syndicate politics became an electoral issue, BJP was pretty much the only party that could claim to be untouched by it. The hoodlums and local toughs who have become the indispensable electoral muscle and sinews of Bengal and whose influence the combined might of central forces and the Election Commission tried to circumscribe this election are more often than not toughs once patronized by the CPM who have switched over to the Trinamool camp.

When the Congress and the Left tied up in an electoral understanding, it required them to pretend that decades of bloodshed between the old foes had not happened, something Trinamool repeatedly reminded them about. The BJP is somewhat exempt from all of this tu tu main main, not because it is intrinsically more morally upright but because it has been a relative nonentity in Bengal and thus not a player. But whatever the reason, it could claim to be a party with a difference as it tried to ride Narendra Modis popularity to ramp up its footprint in Bengal.

A local BJP official summed it up perfectly-- Every time Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP, its enrollment numbers would go through the roof.

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But the local leadership seems hell-bent on destroying that image.

Take the recent fracas at Jadavpur University over the screening of Vivek Agnihotris film 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam'. Theres an entire freedom of expression debate thats already been raging about what happened there and much has been written about it. Is the Left intolerant of other viewpoints in its strongholds even as it preaches freedom of expression elsewhere? Is this just part of a national strategy by ABVP to stir up trouble in Left-dominated universities? Why was permission given to screen 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam' and then withdrawn?

However it did offer an opportunity for ABVP and by extension the local BJP to be freedom-of-expression victim for a change. But what did it to do with the opportunity? It unleashed local leaders like Subir Haldar and Suman Dutta. Haldar, the West Bengal secretary of the ABVP, threatened to cut off the legs of anti-national Left-aligned JU students if they dared to step off campus thereby unintentionally reinforcing his own unions image as troublemakers from outside. Dutta told Indian Express that some claims that ABVP activists molested JU students were false because someone should tell them that only girls who have shame can be molested. These girls kiss men openly. That is what they do all day.

Haldar and Dutta in one fell swoop turned themselves from freedom-of-expression victims into just another set of misogynistic hot-headed dadas threatening violence. The state president Dilip Ghosh tried to distance himself from Haldar by saying if Halder has made such comments, we definitely do not endorse it the issue is that freedom of speech and expression was for all and not for a particular group and also the need to instill a felling of nationalism among students who have gone astray.

But it is a little too late for that. The BJPs own stormtroopers have changed the conversation with their actions and incendiary remarks.

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At a time when the anger over meddling in educational institutions had been directed mostly at Trinamool and the CPM, the BJP has recklessly decided its just as keen to show voters it has the muscle to do the same.

The Times of India reports internet trolls are attacking Jadavpur university with morphed pictures showing the Pakistan flag flying atop its gate. Another picture shows a kissing couple except thats actually from South America. The BJP and ABVP are denying that they are involved in the trolling but if Dutta had not made the kissing jibe, it would not have provoked the morphed kissing pictures.

Voters remember the visuals of Jadavpur Universitys professors forming a human chain against ABVP and BJP activists from outside shouting Bharat Mata ki jai and trying to march up to the university in February. The BJP seems not to understand that if there is anger in Bengal its about political parties heavy-handed interference in institutions of public learning. At a time when the anger over meddling in educational institutions had been directed mostly at Trinamool and the CPM, the BJP has recklessly decided its just as keen to show voters it has the muscle to do the same.

Its a tried-and-tested Sangh Parivar formula writes JU professor (and alumnus) Samantak Das in Scroll.in. He lists the steps accuse students of a nationally- or internationally-recognised institution of higher education of anti-national activities; let loose ABVP activists on such students; get an MP or MLA to protest such anti-national activities; influence the university authorities to take appropriate action against the accused students and so on.

Now BJP general secretary Subhas Sarkar tells the media Those who went to the JU campus did so in their own personal capacity. The party has no connection with it.

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That makes the BJP look even more weak that it cannot control its own footsoldiers and student union leaders.

Ghosh himself is under EC scrutiny for threatening Trinamool workers with beheading and burial during rallies. Again, this is exactly the kind of violent language Trinamool leaders from Tapas Pal to Anubrata Mondal to even Mamata Banerjee are routinely accused of and criticized for by the BJP.

Ghosh is also coming under fire for not preventing the JU confrontation or asking its new faces like Roopa Ganguly not to go the campus. Ganguly who has good name recognition in Bengal had been carefully trying to project an image of herself as an independent-minded celebrity who has not followed many of her industry colleagues in kowtowing to Trinamool. Now she too looks like someone who wants to fish in troubled waters, the firebrand who is happy to be a firestarter as well.

Bengal was a place where the BJP had a window of opportunity, not to win the election but to establish itself as a different kind of party, a party with a cleaner slate.

Alas, its leadership seems determined to prove otherwise.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS A participant wears a mask as he runs past the India Gate memorial during Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.The tens of thousands of people who participated in Sundayas half marathon in Indiaas capital had more than just running 21 kilometers (13 miles) through New Delhias streets on a misty, chilly morning to deal with. They also had to overcome the cityas unparalleled air pollution. (AP Photo /Tsering Topgyal)

In a somewhat good news for Delhi, the World Health Organisation in its report has said that it is no longer the most polluted city in the world.

The WHO's urban air quality database released on Thursday now ranks Delhi 11th among 3,000 cities in 103 countries in terms of PM 2.5 (fine, particulate pollution) and 25th in terms of PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) levels.

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In 2014, Delhi was ranked the most polluted city.

Based on readings of fine particulate matter in the air or PM 2.5, Zabol in Iran is now the most polluted city in the world, reports Times Of India.

Out of 20 most polluted cities, 10 are in India. Gwalior, Allahabad, Patna and Raipur are more polluted than Delhi, shows the report.

Delhis annual average of PM 2.5 readings are 12 times the WHO safe standard, and more than three times Indias standard.

"We have seen that Delhi has managed to arrest the declining air quality trend in 2015," Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) told Times Of India.

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"Air policy action has started kicking in - with an environment compensation charge on on trucks, action against other sources. We are responding to action but the levels are still very high in the city, it only shows that action has to be sustained to meet clean targets," she said.

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Kommersant Photo via Getty Images MOSCOW, RUSSIA - APRIL 18: Foreign Minister of India Sushma Swaraj during the 14th Russia-India-China (RIC) meeting of foreign ministers on April, 18, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Pyotr Kassin/Kommersant Photo via Getty Images)

Amidst the fierce electoral battle in Kerala, a war of words broke out between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday for taking credit for the evacuation of 29 Indians from war-torn Libya.

The political fight errupted a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government has evacuated the families from Libya and that the Centre was committed to work for welfare of Indians living abroad. Kerala goes to polls on May 16.

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Modi is already under mounting attack from the Opposition parties for his controversial comment in an election rally comparing Kerala and Somalia while talking about the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state.

A total of 29 Indians have been evacuated from Libya out of which 16 are from Kerala and they reached Kochi this morning.

"Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them?

Mr.Chandy - We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them ?  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

"Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya,'" Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

Mr.Chandy - You said 'Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya.'  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

The External Affairs Minister, who is recuperating in AIIMS where she was admitted on April 25, blamed Chandy for triggering the debate.

In a seething response, Swaraj tried putting the controversy to rest by saying Chandy started the whole debate and the union government was just doing its duty of evacuating its citizens in trouble.

Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 12, 2016

"Mr.Chandy - You started this debate - as to Who paid ? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens," the tweet said.

Earlier, Chandy said the State government is bearing the travel expense of the families, indicating that the Centre had not extended the financial assistance for their travel.

"Sushma Swaraj paid for the earlier evacuations. This time we are paying for their travel," Chandy said.

In an election rally, Modi had yesterday said "Our government has saved six families and evacuated 29 people. The Indian government is committed to working for people who go abroad to work, we have always tried to help them. It gives me immense pleasure and happiness to tell you that they are coming back and will be united with their families soon," Modi said.

When asked about the controversy, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the Indian Mission there was in constant touch with the authorities and it was because of the embassy's intervention that the Indians got their salaries and were issued exit visas.

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"Our embassy has constantly followed up the matter with the hospital as well as with the Ministry of Health of Libya...Our ambassador personally flew down to Tripoli on April 28 and met with the Chief of Protocol on May 2 to resolve the matter.

"Thanks to the embassy's intervention that their salaries were paid and their exit visas were issued and they were able to safely return to India today," he said.

The Indian Embassy in Libya has been relocated to Djerba in Tunisia because of escalation in violence in Libya.

(With PTI inputs)

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Mathrubhumi

Wednesday wasn't a good day for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At least, not on Twitter.

#PoMoneModi was one of the top trends on Twitter all day. The phrase "Po Mone" is a popular movie reference that literally means "Son, you're dismissed, better head home".

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Perhaps, Modi realised it wasn't the best way to try to attract voters. On Sunday, he had addressed a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Kasargod, when he compared God's Own Country to Somalia.

This is what Modi had said in his rally speech:

Yahan Kerala ki janjaati, janta, ST Scheduled Tribe, usmey jo child death ratio hai, Somalia se bhi sthiti khatarnaak hai Abhi kuchh din pehle media mein dardnaak chitra dekhney ko milaJo Communist party ka qila maana jaata hai, jahaan voh hamesha jeet-ti hai, us Peravoor mein Scheduled Tribe ke baalak koode ke dher mein bhojan talaash kar rahe hain, yeh media mein prakaashit hua hai, Modi said.

(The situation with the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia. Recently, one came across a tragic picture in the media. In Peravoor, which is seen as a stronghold of the Communist party, where it has always won, there, Scheduled Tribe children were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump it has appeared in the media.)

The picture that Modi based his statement on first appeared in Mathrubhumi on November 4, 2015,reports Indian Express.

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The report was about four children, who lived in a tribal colony about 500 m from the garbage ground run by the village panchayat. "At a time when crores of rupees are spent on Adivasi welfare, Adivasi children forage for food at the waste dumping yard at Kunithala in Peravoor," said the Mathrubhumi report.

The caption for the picture read: "Two children, aged eight and 10, climb over the walls of the yard and scavenge for food among the piles of waste and salvage food from the waste from hotels, bakeries and other places and eat the stale food, rotten vegetables and fruits."

The journalist who had reported the story for Mathrubhumi said that the photographs forced the government to order a probe.

The comparison to Somalia has created a political row, with various parties asking him to withdraw his remark.

Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has written a strongly-worded letter asking him to have some political decency while making such remarks. The PM reacted without verifying the veracity of reports that tribal children consumed waste at Peravoor. After conducting an enquiry, the Director of the department concerned had submitted a report stating the information is wrong, he said.

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In his letter to Modi, Chandy mentioned the photograph that Modi was referring to:

"As per the report of the Director of Scheduled Tribe Development Department submitted to the government on 18-11-2015, these children studying in the 5th and 6th standards at Vekkalam U.P. School are facing complaints of skipping classes and trespassing farmlands and residential properties. They rarely go to school. Every day, these children after having food would leave their homes at their convenience. They are in the habit of jumping the walls of the waste treatment plant and pick the scrap, which they sell to buy food of their liking from hotels."

"I can assure you that no child in Kerala takes stale food," he added.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, waves as he arrives at an election rally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Kolkata, India, Sunday, April 17, 2016. Modi is on a campaigning tour of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal for the state assembly elections. (AP Photo/ Bikas Das)

The controversy around Prime Minister Narendra Modis comparison of Kerala with Somalia does not seem to be dying down with the offended state government planning to approach the Chief Election Commission to seek legal action against him.

The PM has insulted Kerala and millions of Malayalees. We thought he would withdraw his remark while addressing a rally near Kochi on Wednesday. His silence has shocked people of Kerala, Hindustan Times quoted Chief Minister Ooomen Chandy as saying.

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The CPI-M said the situation in the state did not become like it is in the African country because BJP never came to power in Kerala.

The comparison made by Modi at a poll rally in the state early this week when he said the "infant mortality rate among the scheduled tribe community in Kerala is worse than Somalia" has set off a political storm and triggered criticism in the social media.

Twitter users have responded with hashtag #PoMoneModi (Get lost Modi), a take off from the Mohanlal starrer, which features the famous punch line "Po Mone Dinesha" to ridicule some of the characters of his hit film 'Narasimham'.

"He is the Prime Minister of the country...He humiliated the people of Kerala by comparing the state with Somalia. We see it very seriously. The Prime Minister made statement based on certain media reports...It is wrong..," Chandy told a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Ernakulam press club in Kochi.

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"Since he is the Prime Minister, he should have checked official records before making such statements. We are planning to take legal action (against the Prime Minister).

Moving the Election Commission on this issue is also in our consideration," Chandy said.

Earlier in the day, in his Facebook post, Chandy, who had shot off a protest letter to PM on the issue, accused Modi of keeping mum on the controversy during his rally at Thrippunithura near Kochi late evening yesterday.

Stating that Kerala is far ahead than BJP-ruled Gujarat in addressing infant mortality rate and issue of malnutrition, the chief minister said what Keralites want is not his silence, but an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister.

"We are No 1 in Human Development Index while Gujarat is placed at 11th position. The Prime Minister should give us an explanation," he said.

Chandy said Modi left the election campaign rally yesterday without answering his questions.

"It could be due to the wide criticism he had received not only from the state, but also from the Malayali community world over," Chandy said.

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Attacking Modi for his Somalia remarks, CPI(M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said "one thing the Prime Minister should understand is that the state has no such situation as in Somalia because, BJP has never come to power."

"Modi's statement would result in a setback to BJP in the ensuing polls as it has insulted the people of the state," he told reporters at Thiruvananthapuram.

(With PTI Inputs)

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FuhSePhantom/YouTube

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, like most people, likes to take a break and travel after working on a movie. The character actor, known for his chameleon-like performances in films as poles-apart as Miss Lovely (2014) and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), needs a few weeks, sometimes a month to let the last role he played leave his system.

Were at his office in Versova, Mumbai, and Siddiqui, 42, is eased up on a lounge chair, dressed stylishly in a shirt and jeans, and smoking a rolled cigarette. I mistakenly assume he likes to travel abroad to get away from it all. No, I usually go to my village, Budhana [in Uttar Pradesh], or some remote part of India, he says. Khuri, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, is a place he holds fond memories for. Here, in the cities, people know who I am, toh ek tareeka hota hai baat karne ka (so they speak to me a certain way]. There, no one knows me. I can unwind and just let my thought process go on. Wahaan aapke talent ka mazaa hai (that is where your talent comes into play). How many people you can talk to, just at a tea-stall, and befriend, and get them to share their life-stories. And they have such rich, deep philosophy in everything they say.

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He has definitely earned his break after shooting for Anurag Kashyaps upcoming crime thriller Raman Raghav 2.0, in which he plays a sociopathic serial killer who models himself upon the dreaded, real-life Psycho Raman, who committed a spate of murders in Mumbai during the 60s. The film, also starring Vicky Kaushal and Sobhita Dhulipala, will be having its world premiere at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival, which began on Wednesday, under the parallel section Directors Fortnight.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a screen-grab from the 'Raman Raghav 2.0' trailer

By his own admission, it is the most mentally draining role hes ever taken up. Four months ago, the film was shot over 20 continuous days with a sparse crew, often guerrilla-style, in various locations across Mumbai, including the slums of Dharavi. During the shoot, as a result of the unhygienic surroundings, he fell seriously ill and was hospitalised for five days. Doctors at Andheris Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital suspected dengue fever, but they were proven wrong when he recovered soon enough and returned immediately to complete the schedule.

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While in the hospital, his wife Anjali was horrified at one time to see him lying in bed in a semi-conscious state, repeating his lines from the movie. She called up Anurag and say Yeh kya kar rahe ho? he says, laughing almost gleefully. But issi mein toh mazaa hai! To be able to work with Salman-Shah Rukh and also do films like these.

After a well-documented, decade-long struggle to find a foothold in the industry, Siddiqui, who trained at Delhis National School of Drama (NSD) in the 90s, is now at an enviable position in his career: an in-demand actor who jumps from blockbusters to Versova indies with consummate ease, and commands his own loyal, discerning fan-base

He made the most of a meaty role in last years mega-successful, Salman Khan-starring Bajrangi Bhaijaan. This made shooting for Raman Raghav 2.0 a little complicated, since he is now much more recognisable on the streets than he was, say, two years ago. He recalls a scene that was shot in Dharavi without taking official permissions. We went with a four-member crew, he says. They had planted two hidden cameras in shops on that street, after talking to the shopkeepers. I got out of the car, did the scene, and just as I heard people shouting out Nawaz!, I got into the car and we were out of there.

The trailer for Raman Raghav 2.0, which was released earlier this week, shows glimpses of Siddiquis preparation for the role, depicting him as a calm, methodical killer who seems to prefer his own twisted worldview to norms laid down by society.

For Kashyap, the director who gave him his breakout role as Faizal Khan in the Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012) films, he is willing to do anything. He is my favourite director, he says. When hes behind the camera, I feel like theres some sort of supporting hand thats pushing me to break my own boundaries. It goes beyond normal chemistry.

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Its no surprise, then, that Siddiqui dove headfirst into his role in Raman Raghav 2.0, reading up as much as he could about the man as well as other notorious serial killers. Sometimes, when you delve into the minds of these characters, you realise that even though their thoughts and actions are definitely socially unacceptable, there is some truth to what they think, he says. They have their own logic, their own worldview.

He instinctively understands this perspective, having spent a number of years in Mumbai struggling to make ends meet, and hanging out with people with the same problems. In this industry, youll hear of one or two NSD graduates who make it, he says. What happens to the rest? How do they live their lives?

He relates stories about a batch-mate from NSD, whom he saw changing slowly over the years in ways, cracking under the strain of trying to make it in the industry. Once, when he lived with one of them and four others in Andheris Four Bungalows MHADA area, a startled Siddiqui woke up in the middle of the night to find that young man sitting at his bedside, staring silently at him. Over the years, I saw him change, he says. He went from being upset that kaam nahi mil raha hai (he isnt getting work) to a strange, calm state of mind. He retreated inside his head. People would say [about him] ki uska patta hil gaya (hes lost his mind).

Once in a while, the batch-mate would lose his cool and quarrel with all sorts of people, ranging from doctors to housewives at the kirana store near their house. On another occasion, reminiscent of an actual scene from Sriram Raghavans 1991 docu-fiction drama Raman Raghav (starring Raghubir Yadav as the dreaded killer), Siddiqui remembers him berating a waiter at a restaurant for dipping his fingers into glasses of drinking water. He kept screaming, Im a paying customer and you cant do that. He would create a scene and it would be very embarrassing, but once in a while, you couldnt help but agree and say, Haan bhai, baat toh sahi hai (yes, this makes sense).

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The trailer for Raman Raghav 2.0, which was released earlier this week, shows glimpses of Siddiquis preparation for the role, depicting him as a calm, methodical killer who seems to prefer his own twisted worldview to norms laid down by society. It may seem like the role of a psychopath, he says, but I approached it as the role of a normal person who has been changed by his circumstances.

This will be his third visit to Cannes, but the actor is unfazed by all the hoopla around it. Straddling two different worlds within the realm of Indian cinema has made him more pragmatic. My fear is that these kind of films go to festivals, win awards, get appreciated, and then release to empty theatres here, he says. This, I feel, is very wrong. Its not enough just to have a thousand people on Facebook and Twitter saying oh, what a great film  people need to actually go to theatres and watch them. These films need to run and make money, otherwise people will stop making them.

'Raman Raghav 2.0' is slated to release in India on June 24

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MUMBAI -- Rights activist Trupti Desai today entered Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah to offer prayers amid tight security, saying her struggle was for gender equality.

"At the Dargah, I prayed that women be allowed to enter the inner sanctum, as was the case till 2011," Bhumata Ranragini Brigade chief Desai said, after coming out of the Dargah.

At Haji Ali Dargah I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before '11: Trupti Desai pic.twitter.com/DtYASmBtDu  ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2016

"Police co-operated with us this time. This is a fight for gender equality. We will try to visit the inner sanctum next time," she said.

Desai and other women activists were earlier denied entry to the Dargah last month.

After campaign for entry of women in Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples in Maharashtra, Desai had taken her movement for gender equality to the famous Dargah in Mumbai.

She was stopped short of going into the shrine on 28 April by protestors.

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$300 Million  $600 Million US IPO Planned For China Based Streaming Music Service

You think that the Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Tidal battles are interesting? They are nothing compared to the music streaming competition heating up in the rest of the world.



__________________________________

A music-streaming services that you've probably never heard of is planning a $300 million to $600 million U.S. IPO

China Music Corp, which is backed by Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings and operates Chinese digital music services Kugou and Kuwo has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to prep a US IPO that could take place later this year, sources are telling the Wall Street Journal.

China is a huge market, with internet giants Alibaba and Baidu both already operating streaming music services there, as well.

Why A US IPO?

"Listing in the U.S. could become more attractive than other venues because Chinas securities regulator has discussed potentially clamping down on backdoor listings at home," according to the WSJ. "A logjam of 700-plus businesses aiming for China IPOs has deterred some looking to relist domestically, as has the delay in plans to launch a Shanghai board for fast-growing and sometimes unprofitable tech companies."

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Insurance industry analysts are buzzing as two new members of the American International Group board of directors  who have ties to activist investor Carl Icahn  take their seats.Samuel Merksamer, a lieutenant to Icahn, and John Paulson of hedge fund Paulson & Co. took their seats Wednesday as AIG holds its annual shareholder meeting and expands its board to 16 members. The move comes as part of a truce between Icahn and AIG in February, in which Icahn advocated splitting the firm into three companies to limit losses.AIG leadership did not agree with the plan, but made concessions by appointing two of the activist investors to the board.Now, industry observers are expecting a range of potential outcomes for the new board members and for AIG.Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Leslie Scism and Joann S. Lublin suggest Paulson and Merksamer may push for a new AIG chief executive to replace Peter Hancock, who has been hostile to activist plans. If the new board members choose to go this route, however, they will likely be unsuccessful; sources suggest that the vast majority of the AIG board is behind Icahn, and other directors will resist if the two newcomers attempt to fire Hancock.The answer will be no, an undisclosed source told the paper. That will be a short conversation.In that case, Paulson and Merksamer may wait out Hancock, whose performance is scheduled to be evaluated over the next year to 18 months.Hancock, who has been criticized by activists and others for not having enough of a background in property/casualty insurance, must demonstrate the company is making demonstrable progress in order to retain his position.According to the Journal, directors will likely be concerned if Hancock has failed within the next 15 months to cut costs or improve insurance margins.We believe management must successfully execute their objectives in less than two years, said Todd Bault of Citi Research. At some point in 2017, the success of their current plan will be determined and confidence in management will follow.Bault added that lack of confidence in management is one of the biggest reasons AIG shares currently trade at less than book value.Aside from pushing out leadership, analysts speculate the two new members may push for greater changes to the company  possibly including greater plans to sell and break up businesses.With the activists soon to be seated on the board, we believe managements baseline plan is only a starting point for the discussions about unlocking value through divestitures that we believe will soon come, said Josh Stirling, an analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein.Finally, interacting on the board may lead the activists to conclude that AIG is on the right track and agree to a ceasefire.In that case, AIG will continue with steps outlined by Hancock to increase shareholder returns. Already, the company has returned nearly $5 billion in buybacks and dividends this year.
Growing a brokerage from $300,000 in annual revenue to more than $40 million requires many things. For the Graham Company, a Philadelphia-based firm specializing in construction, such growth has come partly as a result of simply living and breathing the construction business.



We consider ourselves to be a construction business that does insurance, not an insurance company that serves construction businesses, said Jim Marquet, vice president and co-leader of the construction team.



in order for us to identify and help our customers project their future needs and help them in a way that is beyond the transaction of buying insurance, it is critical that we understand the trends in the business and that we can help them anticipate them, said Marquet. The way we think of it is that you can run your business and well take care of all this stuff, take care of the insurance and risk management for them and providing this additional level of support entails more than binding policies and collecting premiums.



To that end, Marquet and other Graham executives frequently contribute articles to construction industry trade magazines and websites, and the articles often have nothing to do with insurance but instead focus on leading edge construction trends.



Its not enough to know insurance, youve got to understand the everyday work environment those policies are insuring. The Graham Companys brand has long been synonymous with construction, said Kevin Smith, vice president at Graham. Our expertise in construction runs decades deep and that success is largely attributed to our position that we must walk in the same steel toed boots as our clients if we want to effectively keep their business safe and their employees safer.



Smith continued, The insurance brokerage industry can be passive and typically reactionary, but we see it differently  we see the opportunity to be proactive advocates for our clients. Thats why our marketing approach goes beyond insurance; we know its not just policies and premiums that keep our clients awake at night, but a whole host of risks and challenges that we can help solve if we are truly rooted in our clients business. Our content marketing strategy reflects that belief with each industry practice group, whether its construction, healthcare, real estate or manufacturing, owning its own editorial and content marketing campaign to demonstrate the depth of industry knowledge  and we see that resonating with clients and prospects, alike. The old adage, its not just talking the talk, but walking the walk, is still relevant and marketing is tasked with walking the walk in the digital sphere and thats what you see on our website.
Barbara Malkas signs a three-year contract with the city. Malkas said she was eager to begin. She will use the summer to develop a plan for the school district. Malkas greeted each School Committee member after the vote. She is here with Mark Moulton. With Mayor and School Committee Chairman Richard Alcombright. PreviousNext

North Adams School Officials Ratify Contract With New Superintendent

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The city's new superintendent of schools was made official on Wednesday night with the ratification and signing of a three-year contract.



Barbara Malkas of Clarksburg is expected to begin her new duties July 1.



She is currently under contract with the Webster Public Schools, which she said is looking into hiring an interim.



Mayor Richard Alcombright, chairman of the School Committee, did not anticipate Malkas being unable to start by July 1, nearly seven weeks away.



"I have no concerns about that. We'll figure out the next step if we have to," he said.



Retired Superintendent James Montepare is currently filling in the post but said he was very happy to turn the reins over to someone like Malkas.



The School Committee met in executive session to discuss the contract and then voted unanimously to offer Malkas $135,000 in the first year of the contract, with years two and three to be negotiated later.



The contract is the same as the one Montepare has had with some minor changes. She will receive 25 days annual vacation, and can accumulate up to 35 (five less than Montepare had in his contract); 15 sick days per year, and three personal days.



Since she will not be able to reach the minimum years necessary under the annuity plan for retirement severance, the district will invest $1,500 in pre-tax dollars each year. She will also receive minimum annual reimbursement of $1,500 for intradistrict mileage.


Letter carriers will be picking up donations of nonperishable food on Saturday.

Letter Carrier Food Drive Set for Saturday

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Letter carriers across Berkshire County this Saturday will pick up nonperishable food on their routes to donate to the Friendship Center Food Pantry, among other charities.

North Adams letter carrier and president of the Berkshire County Letter Carriers Union Branch 286 Gary Ghidotti said any resident can donate a bag or box of non-perishable food by leaving it under his or her mailbox. The letter carriers in Adams, Becket, Dalton, Great Barrington, Hinsdale, Housatonic, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield, parts of Richmond, Sheffield and Williamstown will be collecting the donations and bringing them to their respective loading docks for sorting and packing.

"Many of our neighbors out there aren't eating as well as some of us because, unfortunately, there aren't enough quality jobs in America where people can make a living wage to feed themselves and their families," he said.

Ghidotti said the letter carriers will only collect nonperishable food that has not expired. He asked that people do not leave anything in a glass container.

Food donations in North Adams can also be dropped off at the former Sears location in the Steeple City Plaza on Rear Main Street from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The local food pantry will collect the food periodically throughout the day.

"People can drop it off right there," Ghidotti said. "It would probably make it a lot easier ... it doesn't have to get handled two or three times."

Ghidotti said the Friendship Center is looking for volunteers to help box, weigh, and store the food at Sears. There will be refreshments for those who want to help.

At the Pittsfield Post Office, volunteers from Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Community Action Council, and Taconic High School students from the Berkshire Youth United (BYU) program will distribute the food to the more than 10 food banks.

The letter carrier drive has collected more than 8,000 pounds of food in the past. Also benefiting in North Adams will be the Berkshire Food Project. Letter carriers in other towns will be donating to their local food pantries, such as St. Patrick's in Williamstown.

Ghidotti said every second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the nation have collected food for this fundraiser. He said some 70 million pounds annually has been collected over the last decade or so.

Last year, North Adams collected between 12,000 to 15,000 pounds of food.
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
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Georgina tries something new as she shoots in the dark with just a smartphone.

The resurgence of point-and-shoot trend in photography has become more exciting because of the high quality photos a smartphone can take. This phenomenon is so true that youre probably using your smartphone as your primary camera now, arent you? Its fast, easy, and something that you always have with you.

Low-quality smartphone cameras can easily spoil your precious memories with its blurred and off-focus shots, which is why having a superior smartphone camera is extremely crucial. This is especially true for social media savvy millennials such as you, me, and Manilas favorite besties, Solenn Heussaff and Georgina Wilson. They are individuals who share so much of their lives on social media, from IG posts of their meals to snaps from their shoots, which makes a stellar smartphone camera an absolute necessity.

Just recently, if youve been following them on Instagram, the girls posted videos wherein they dared each other to go beyond what a regular smartphone camera can do and see how far their smartphones can take them.

Georgina initially posted a video of herself on the set of what seemed to be a low-light, neon photoshoot. Lets put it into context. A full photoshoot with just a smartphone camera Wow.

As a response, Solenn took it even further, posting a video of her in a pool, with tripods and a crew in the background. One can only assume that she is hinting towards an underwater photoshoot with just a smartphone. Sounds insane, right?

Solenn dares to do an underwater shoot with just a smartphone!

If thats not enough to get you excited, theres a glimpse of topnotch photographers BJ Pascual and Mark Nicdao in said videos! Two shoots, one in the dark and the other underwater, done by the countrys best photographers and featuring the most beautiful faces in the Philippines. How can you not go nuts?

Photos shot using a DSLR are sometimes far from perfect but photos from a smartphone? Sure, they can be good, but you wouldnt really expect DSLR quality. So when you hear about this pro photoshoot using just a smartphone, arent you just skeptical about how the photos are going to turn out?

Everybodys curious and everybodys got questions, but Solenn, Georgina, BJ, and Mark seem pretty confident and excited about this stunt  confident and excited enough to put up teasers on IG!

Seriously, how could you go wrong with faces like Solenns and Georginas? No shoot could go wrong with these two no matter what camera you use. The fact that they agreed to do this shoot with a smartphone must have been a guaranteed success for them to agree. And if were to go about things logically, its more than safe to say that this smartphone is just slaying it by pulling this off really well. Really, you might have seen a phone take a dip, but with Solenns video, I just took the plunge; and in Georginas video, have you ever seen a phone take that good quality in the dark? We dont think so. That phone must be something amazing to do it all.

Well, well just have to wait for a few more weeks to see the results. For now, we wish them all good luck!

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Imperial Valley News Center

NIST RAMPS Up Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development With New Grants

Washington, DC - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering up to $1 million in grants to establish up to eight Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) cybersecurity education and workforce development. As part of the Department of Commerces Skills for Business initiative that has made job-driven training a priority, RAMPS will support the NIST-led National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).

NICE works with government, academia and the private sector to bring leadership and vision to increase the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals helping to keep the nation secure from computer-based attacks.

Frost & Sullivans 2015 (ISC)2 Global Information Security Workforce Study estimates an international information security workforce shortfall of 1.5 million people during the next five years due to a lack of trained professionals. NICE is taking a regional approach to solve this challenge in the United States.

We are encouraging more employer engagement in local communities to influence education and training providers to develop job-driven training that provides the skills that businesses need, said NICE director Rodney Petersen. We expect the pilot RAMPS communities to share their effective practices and solutions, and that they will become role models for regional partnerships in other workforce sectors.

Effective partnerships will focus on organizing employers with cybersecurity skill shortages to join with educators to focus on developing the skilled workforce to meet industry needs within the local or regional economy. The programs goals are to align the workforce needs of local business and nonprofit organizations with the learning objectives for education and training provided in NICEs National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and to increase the pipeline of students pursuing cybersecurity careers. NIST anticipates funding five to eight awards of up to $200,000 during 15 months as cooperative agreements.

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, including institutions of higher education, located in the United States or its territories. Applicants must also demonstrate through letters of interest that at least one of each of the following types of organizations is interested in being part of the proposed regional alliance: K-12 school or Local Education Agency (LEA), institution of higher education or college/university system, and a local employer.

The deadline to apply is July 12, 2016, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. NIST will hold a webinar for interested applicants to provide general information regarding this grant, offer general guidance on preparing applications and answer questions.
Vice President Joe Biden's Call with President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico

Washington, DC - The Vice President spoke by phone with President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico earlier today. The Vice President underscored the importance of Mexico to the United States as a bilateral partner and as a regional leader in Latin America.

The two leaders discussed the prospect for deeper energy integration in the lead up to the North American Leaders Summit next month. They also discussed the progress of Mexico's judicial reforms. The two leaders pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation on issues such as counter-narcotics, security, and trade to the benefit of the citizens of Mexico and the United States.
Administration Announces New Actions and Progress Made to Make American Buildings More Efficient and Save Businesses and Households on their Energy Bills

Washington, DC - President Obama is committed to taking commonsense actions to reduce carbon pollution and save taxpayers money on their energy bills. Cutting energy and water waste not only drives carbon reductions, but creates a stronger building infrastructure, improves community resilience, and spurs American job growth.

Through President Obamas Better Buildings Initiative, the Department of Energy is partnering with leading organizations in every state across the country to drive increased investment in energy efficiency and overcome the barriers that prevent many organizations and consumers from capturing these benefits. Over the last five years, Better Buildings partners and energy savings have more than tripled.

Today there are more than 750 organizations engaged in the Better Buildings Initiative, which brings together leaders across the residential, education and business sectors to engage in ambitious energy goal setting and solution-sharing programs. Through their commitments to efficiency, all of these partners are helping better position the U.S. to combat climate change, make our businesses most competitive, and ensure efficiency provides a lasting strategy for enhancing resilience of our nations building infrastructure and communities. But the Administration continues to look for new opportunities reduce carbon pollution and save consumers money on their energy bills.

That is why, today, the U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and the U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro are announcing new commitments and progress updates on innovation-driven solutions shared by Better Buildings partners at the third Better Buildings Summit. Todays announcements include:

Launching three new programs in collaboration with 50 states, communities, and organizations to improve the resilience of our buildings, increase energy efficiency in low income communities, and make our wastewater systems more efficient.

Announcing 17 businesses, states, and cities achieved Better Buildings challenge goals four years early by improving the efficiency of their buildings or water systems by 20 percent or more.

Announcing 32 new cities, universities, K-12 school districts, multifamily housing organizations, and manufacturers committed to achieve 20 percent in energy savings by 2020  altogether representing 300 million square feet.

In 2011, 60 organizations representing almost two billion square feet of commercial and industrial building space took the Better Buildings Challenge to improve the efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more, and the financial community committed to almost $2 billion in energy efficiency financing. As Better Buildings Challenge partners continue to increase in reach and numbers, the program grows stronger, with more energy efficiency commitments and influence than ever before. Since the Better Buildings Challenge was launched, the program has:

Catalyzed more than $10 billion in public and private sector financing commitments to improve energy efficiency.

Expanded the partners working to improve the energy efficiency of buildings from 60 to 750 organizations, including 310 organizations representing 4.2 billion square feet  which is equivalent to 73,000 football fields  that have stepped up to the Better Buildings Challenge to improve their energy efficiency at least 20 percent in five years.

Saved businesses and communities $1.3 billion dollars total savings on their energy bills.

Avoided 10 million tons of avoided carbon emissions and 160 trillion BTUs of energy.

Saved 2.1 billion gallons of water in 2015 alone.

Contributed proven approaches with over 400 solutions shared online in the Better Buildings Solutions Center.

NEW ACTIONS TO SAVE HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES ON THEIR ENERGY BILLS

Launching Three New Better Buildings Accelerators to Create New Opportunities and Overcome Barriers to Improving Efficiency: Already, more than 150 organizations in ten Better Buildings Accelerators have focused on distinct market challenges from outdoor lighting, energy performance savings contracting, and data centers. Today, the Administration is launching three new Better Buildings Accelerators to help the nation seize opportunities to improve critical infrastructure in our communities with a set of 50 founding partners.

The Clean Energy in Low Income Communities Accelerator will work with local, state, and national partners to lower energy costs in low to moderate income communities by deploying clean energy through expanded installation of energy efficiency and distributed renewables. Todays founding partners include:

1. Atlanta, GA

2. Chattanooga, TN & EPB Electric Power

3. Chicago, IL

4. Cleveland, OH

5. State of Colorado

6. State of Connecticut, Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource Energy & Illuminating Holdings Corporation

7. Duluth, MN

8. Elevate Energy

9. Energy Efficiency for All

10. Enterprise Community Partners

11. State of Florida

12. Gary, IN

13. GRID Alternatives

14. Groundswell

15. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

16. State of Michigan

17. Mercy Housing

18. Newark, NJ

19. Oakland, CA

20. Philadelphia, PA & Philadelphia Energy Authority

21. PG&E Corporation

22. Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

23. San Antonio Public Housing

24. State of Tennessee



The Combined Heat and Power for Resiliency Accelerator will work with states, communities, utilities, and other stakeholders to support and expand the utilization of combined heat and power technologies for improved efficiency and enhanced resiliency. Todays founding partners include:

1. Bath Electric Gas and Water

2. Boston, MA

3. Health Care Without Harm

4. Hoboken, NJ

5. Long Island Power Authority

6. Maryland Department of Commerce

7. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

8. Miami-Dade County, FL

9. State of Missouri

10. Montgomery County, MD

11. National Grid

12. New York, NY

13. NYSERDA

14. Pennsylvania PUC

15. Pittsburgh, PA

16. PSEG Long Island

17. Thermal Energy Corporation

18. Tennessee Valley Authority

19. United Illuminating

20. State of Utah

21. Woodbridge, CT Partnership (United Illuminating and Amity School District)



The Wastewater Infrastructure Accelerator will work with state, regional, and local agencies to strive toward a 30 percent reduction in their participating energy efficiency water resource recovery facilities and integrate at least one water resource recovery measure into their practices. The founding partners will work with DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Water Environment Federation, and include:

1. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

2. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

3. State of Alabama

4. State of Connecticut

5. State of Michigan

6. State of Tennessee

7. State of Utah



Announcing eighteen leading organizations achieve Better Buildings Challenge goals of 20 percent or greater this year: Since 2014, 35 partners have achieved their goals ahead of schedule, whether they were energy or water savings goals or financing goals. Today, we are announcing that this year 18 new leading organization achieved their Better Buildings goals many years ahead of schedule.



Energy Goal Early Achievers: Improve energy efficiency at least 20 percent in five years.

Arbys, 24% energy reduction: Arbys portfolio consists of more than 940 buildings and 2.7 million square feet. Since 2011, Arbys has improved energy performance by 24%. Energy savings have been achieved through the implementation of various lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, refrigeration and hot water efficiency measures, and an energy awareness program focused on helping sites implement low-cost opportunities for savings.

State of Delaware, 23% energy reduction: The State of Delawares portfolio consists of over 200 buildings and 8 million square feet. Delaware is committed to benchmarking and tracking facility energy consumption of all state buildings, and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and state employee behavior change campaigns. Energy savings resulted from lighting and plumbing retrofits across many facilities, HVAC and building automation system upgrades in several others, and an energy awareness program focused on no-cost opportunities to reduce excess consumption.

eBay, Inc., 25% energy reduction: eBays commitment consists of six data centers located in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Denver totaling 36MW of IT capacity. Since 2012, eBay has improved the energy intensity of their data center portfolio by 25%. Improvements to achieve these savings include installation of new high-efficiency motors and variable speed drives in their computer room air handler units, and implementing control changes in their chilled water and air supply systems.

Intuit, 21% energy reduction: Intuits commitment consists of a 240,000 square foot stand-alone data center located in Quincy, Washington. Since 2012, Intuit has improved the energy intensity at the 4 MW facility by 21%. Energy savings have been achieved by installing a hot-aisle chimney containment system to improve ventilation, optimizing the temperature set points to reduce cooling load while maintaining performance, and implementing a secondary chilled water reset to reduce the chiller runtime.

Havertys, 22% energy reduction: Havertys portfolio consists of more than 110 buildings and over 5 million square feet. With sustainability as a core corporate value, Havertys implemented its Bright Inspirations program, which includes comprehensive store energy upgrades and store manager engagement in ongoing energy reductions. These efforts have resulted in portfolio-wide energy savings of over 22% from a 2011 baseline.

City of Hillsboro, OR, 22% energy reduction: Hillsboros portfolio consists of more than 20 properties and 450,000 square feet. Since 2009, Hillsboro has improved energy performance by 21%. Energy savings have been achieved by implementing a new energy management plan that includes lighting retrofits, HVAC and controls upgrades at its three largest properties, and an energy management policies awareness program focused on low-cost opportunities for savings. Hillsboro has also achieved a 15% reduction in water usage since 2012.

Nissan North America, 30% energy reduction: Nissan North Americas portfolio consists of three manufacturing plants. Their energy management activities are a part of the companys corporate social responsibility initiative. Nissan uses extensive sub-metering and monitoring equipment to benchmark and identify energy improvement opportunities. In addition, Nissan has achieved a 12.6% reduction in water usage since 2013, driven by new efforts to reuse water, new filtration efforts in its paint shops, and through improved employee engagement.

Poudre School District (PSD), 25% energy reduction: PSD, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, serves approximately 25,000 students and includes 50 schools totaling nearly four million square feet. PSD capitalized on a community-supported, $120 million bond issued in 2010 for infrastructure improvements, including deep retrofits of HVAC, lighting, building envelope and water systems. PSD exceeded the programs goal, achieving 25% energy savings within five years, through its firm commitment to principles of sustainability in all of its operations.

River Trails School District, 23% energy reduction: River Trails School District, located in Mt. Prospect, IL, is comprised of three school buildings serving approximately 1,500 students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Their leadership in energy efficiency is demonstrated by ENERGY STAR certifications and a U.S. Department of Education 2015 Green Ribbon School Award. The district joined the Challenge in 2015 and exceeded its goal early due to recent improvements in equipment, lighting, and energy management systems. Greater savings are expected through upgrades to the building automation systems, retro-commissioning, and outdoor lighting improvements.

The Hartford Financial Services, 21% energy reduction: The Hartford Financial Services Groups portfolio consists of more than 2.4 million square feet of office space. Since 2013, The Hartford has improved its energy performance by 21% in only 2 years, exceeding its goal of 20% by 2023. Energy savings have been achieved by installing high efficiency cooling and lighting equipment, utilizing advanced building automation, upgrading elevator motor and control systems, and optimizing building occupant density.

Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA), 27% energy reduction: VVWRAs portfolio consists of a regional wastewater treatment plant that processes approximately 13 million gallons of sewage per day. VVWRA has an aggressive approach to energy management that focuses on continuous improvement and optimal performance of energy-using applications. The company implements discrete projects like upgrading aeration blowers with variable speed control and generating biogas for cogeneration, and also participates in the water/wastewater treatment pilot for DOEs Superior Energy Performance program.

Water Goal Early Achievers: Increase water efficiency 20 percent in five years.

City of Atlanta, GA, 20% water reduction: Atlanta improved water performance by an average of nearly 5% from its baseline, making exceptional progress through implementation of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, cooling tower upgrades, water reuse, leak detection, efficient irrigation and landscape design practices.

Cummins, Inc., 45% water reduction: Cummins has improved its water intensity by developing water balances to better understand water use and identify improvement opportunities, and by taking a broader view of water costs when making the business case for water-saving projects.

Poudre School District, 29% water reduction: PSD has established a culture of conservation to include academic programs, extracurricular activities and custodial services. Water conservation related to irrigation is particularly important due to a climate where periods of drought are common.

United Technologies Corporation, 43% water reduction: UTCs water saving progress has been driven by an internal water guidance document, which details the companys global water scarcity assessment, best practices in managing water at individual sites, and water saving case studies.

Financial Ally Early Achievers:

Enterprise Community Partners, $130 million: Enterprise Community Partners has reached their goal of providing $130 million in expertise to developers and grants to help them strengthen their operations. The Enterprise family of companies shares a single mission: increasing access to affordable homes in thriving communities.

Ygrene Energy, $100 million: Ygrene Energy Fund achieved their goal of providing $100 million in financing for PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program design, administration, and funding for commercial and residential properties throughout the United States.

Community Investment Corporation (CIC), $25 million: The CIC Energy Savers Program reached their goal of providing $25 million in financing for multifamily residential retrofitsincluding energy assessments, technical assistance, and fixed-rate financinglocated in the greater Chicago metro area.

Connecticut Green Bank, $25 million: Connecticut Green Bank, the nations first green bank, achieved their goal of providing $25 million to accelerate green energy adoption in Connecticut by making green energy financing accessible and affordable for homeowners, businesses, and institutions.

Announcing 32 new cities, universities, K-12 school districts, multifamily housing, & manufacturers committed to achieve 20 percent energy savings  altogether representing 300 million square feet: In 2016 alone, the Better Buildings Challenge has welcomed 32 new partners. The multifamily sector was the largest contributor of this growth with 16 new partners, and the partner with the biggest commitment in the past year was the New York City Housing Authority, which at 175 million square feet is the largest public housing authority in the United States.
President Obamas Call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia

Washington, DC - This afternoon, the President spoke by phone with Australian Prime Minister Turnbull to review a number of bilateral and regional issues. The President thanked Prime Minister Turnbull for Australia's important contributions to the fight against ISIL.

The two leaders reaffirmed their common commitment to key principles in addressing maritime disputes, in particular ensuring freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes, including through arbitration, in accordance with international law. The President underscored his commitment to securing Congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership this year, and thanked Australia for its cooperation on the Paris agreement on climate change. The two leaders also discussed the need to work together to address the global glut in steel.
Young Guns: Up-and-Coming ONR Talent Honored by White House

Arlington, Virginia - For achievements in fields ranging from robotic learning to photovoltaics (converting solar energy into electricity), six researchers sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) were honored with Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)-the nation's highest honor for young scientists and engineers, officials announced today.

The White House's selection of these six individuals underscores ONR's fundamental objective: bringing about new capabilities for warfighters by leveraging the ideas of America's best and brightest minds.



"ONR has always had an excellent ability to identify and foster young talent by keeping current with the most innovative research being done in various fields," said Dr. Larry Schuette, ONR director of research. "Working with cutting-edge scientists and engineers ensures that we get the most advanced capabilities to our Sailors and Marines."



PECASE honorees funded by ONR included:



-Dr. Pieter Abbeel, University of California, Berkeley (machine learning and robotic perception and manipulation of objects)



-Dr. Dino Di Carlo, University of California, Los Angeles (fluid inertia for precision control of cells and particles)



-Dr. Patrick E. Hopkins, University of Virginia (nanoscale heat transfer and interfacial thermal processes)



-Dr. Colin D. Joye, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (microfabrication techniques and pioneering work in imaging and communications)



-Dr. Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds, University of New Hampshire (marine mammal and fish bio-acoustics and animal behavior and communication)



-Dr. Bozhi Tian, University of Chicago (semiconductor materials synthesis, device applications in photovoltaics, intracellular electrophysiology and tissue engineering)



Abbeel, Di Carlo, Hopkins, Miksis-Olds and Tian are also are past winners of ONR's Young Investigator Program (YIP), a prestigious grant awarded to scientists and engineers with exceptional promise for producing creative and state-of-the-art research. Each YIP recipient receives approximately $170,000 annually over three years for research efforts that appear likely to advance naval technology. ONR's YIP is one of the oldest such programs in the nation.



This year, a total of 105 researchers earned PECASE awards through their work for various government agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA and the National Science Foundation. Agencies annually nominate the best and brightest scientists and engineers whose early achievements appear beneficial to keeping the nation on the leading edge of scientific discovery.



The PECASE awards were established in 1996 and are managed by the Executive Office of the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy. According to the White House website, recipients are chosen based on their pursuit of innovative research as well as their commitment to community service-whether through scientific leadership, public education or community outreach.



Warren Duffie is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications.
Secretary of State John Kerry's Meeting With Federal Republic of Nigeria President Buhari

Washington, DC - Secretary Kerry met today in London with Federal Republic of Nigeria President Buhari. They met on the sidelines of the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Secretary thanked President Buhari for his efforts to address corruption issues and for his decision to join the Open Government Partnership. He urged Nigeria to continue to make necessary reforms that further improve government transparency and accountability.



The Secretary also expressed a firm commitment to continue working closely with Nigeria on a range of issues, including the shared threat of extremism and the struggle against Boko Haram.



The President and the Secretary discussed the challenges facing Nigeria's economy and U.S. interest in encouraging private sector investment, which will be enhanced by the success of economic reforms being pursued by President Buhari.



Finally, Secretary Kerry offered continued U.S. support to help locate, track and investigate the whereabouts of looted funds, as we have done for Nigeria in the past. He also expressed appreciation that Nigeria will work with the United States on the Global Forum on Asset Recovery.
Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System-Romania Operationally Certified

Deveselu, Romania - U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th (CNE-CNA/C6F), recognized a key milestone to complete Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach by deeming the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania as operationally certified in a ceremony held in Deveselu, today.

This ballistic missile defense system represents a significant increase in the capability to defend NATO European territory from attacks originating outside the Euro-Atlantic area, and is a key milestone in the development of NATO ballistic missile defense.



Quotes:



"Today, this site joins the four U.S. guided missile destroyers in Rota, Spain in reaching Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach. As we cut the ribbon, the watchteams are trained and ready, the system has been tested, and we are now in the progress of integrating this site into the NATO integrated Air and Missile Defense Architecture." - Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa



Quick Facts



On Sept. 17, 2009, President Obama announced the concept of EPAA, which calls for using Aegis-based BMD capabilities, both afloat and ashore, to defend Europe against ballistic missile threats originating from outside the Euro-Atlantic Area.



The site first broke ground Oct. 28, 2013. At a ceremony hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 18, 2015, U.S. and Romanian government officials announced the major military components of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania were complete and had been transferred to the Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet.



Since that time the AAMDS-Romania site and U.S. Navy crew achieved operational certification through a series of unit-level and theater-level tests and exercises conducted over the past five months, which validated the system's capability to integrate into the U.S. and NATO BMD architecture.



Construction of a second Aegis Ashore site in Poland is part of the final phase of EPAA. The ground breaking is scheduled for May 13.
Notice Asking Women Advocates Not to 'Arrange' Hair in Open Court in Pune Sparks Outrage
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Horror director Adam Wingard is back with a new horror film fans of the genre should be excited about.

The Woods is the latest from the American actor-director who, alongside Ti West (The Innkeepers, House of the Devil), forms one-half of an emerging horror fraternity.

Wingard's list of credits includes the memorable segment in found-footage anthology horror V/H/S and black comedy slasher film You're Next.

His most recent film, The Guest, somehow turned former Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens into an unnerving veteran returning home from Afghanistan.

Keeping with the rationale that simple titles are better, The Woods is a return to the found-footage formula. Judging by the reaction of those who have already seen the film, it seems horror fans are in for one hell of a treat.

The director has been tasked with adapting popular Japanese supernatural detective film Death Note for Netflix with The Leftovers' Margaret Qualley in talks to star as the lead.

Wingard has himself described The Woods as his first 'full on "shit your pants" horror film". You can find out whether or not that's the case when it's released in the UK on 16 September.
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In a touching social media post, Dwayne The Rock Johnson paid tribute to Robin Williams, stating that his remake of Jumanji would honour the late, great actor.

At the end of the post, the Baywatch star mentioned that a casting announcement would be made within the week. Two days later, Jack Black has been revealed to have a leading role in the film.

An ol' friend is ready to play in the world of Jumanji... JACK (mf'n) BLACK, an excited Rock posted to Instagram.

Been a big fan of his work over the years. A brilliant actor who I'm confident will turn in a performance of a lifetime for Jumanji. (When we reveal his character you'll understand.)

In our reimagining of the story of Jumanji, Jack brings that rare balance of cool with funny and edge with childlike joy.

Alongside the message, Johnson posted a shot of himself holding the film's original, source material - the picture book of the same name, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg - with a photo of Black sliced on.

Live action remakes of animated films Show all 9 1 /9 Live action remakes of animated films Live action remakes of animated films Beauty and the Beast Dan Stevens will play the Beast to Emma Watson's Beauty in a re-make of the 1991 animation Getty Images/Disney Live action remakes of animated films The Jungle Book Bill Murray appeared in Disneys remake of The Jungle Book as Baloo the bear Getty Images/Disney Live action remakes of animated films Dumbo Tim Burton will direct a live-action remake of the 1941 classic animation Dumbo Live action remakes of animated films Cinderella Lily James walking down the stairs into the ballroom as Ella in Disney's live-action Cinderella, released in the UK in April 2015 Live action remakes of animated films 101 Dalmatians The 1996 live action film starred Glenn Close, who is magnificent as Disneys Cruella De Ville, and Joely Richardson. Live action remakes of animated films Mulan This 1998 film about a Chinese girl who disguises herself as a boy to join the army in place for her ailing father, and eventually saves China, will be made into live action Live action remakes of animated films Alice in Wonderland Tim Burton's previous Disney re-make in 2010 got mixed reviews but was a huge hit at the box office Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved Live action remakes of animated films Maleficent Starring Angelina Jolie as the Disney villain, the 2014 film was a live-action re-imagining of 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty  Disney Enterprises, Inc. Live action remakes of animated films Winnie the Pooh AA Milne's popular children's character will be getting the Disney live-action remake treatment with further details unknown at this stage Disney

Black recently starred in the film adaptation of Goosebumps and voiced the titular character in the third Kung Fu Panda.

Johnson will produce and star in the Jumanji remake alongside Black. Kevin Hart is also rumoured to be starring in the film.
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531 years after his death, Richard III still divides opinion. Even today, he has plenty of passionate supporters. They feel that William Shakespeares history play has very much traduced the monarch.

Some of them are particularly up in arms about BBC2s new adaptation of the play, which goes out as the final part of the acclaimed Hollow Crown cycle on Saturday 21 May. They claim that this interpretation starring Benedict Cumberbatch as an intense, embittered Richard III misrepresents the King.

Cumberbatch, who, it was revealed last year, is a second cousin 16 times removed of Richard IIIs, tells me he has some sympathy with the supporters of the King, whose remains were discovered three years ago in a car park in Leicester. "I understand very much that for those people hes a much loved King who they feel has been maligned. I get it. After all, Im a very close relative of his! Although now his body has been found, I might suddenly discover they made a bit of a DNA mistake with me!"

Relaxing in an upscale central London bar and sipping a cocktail, the actor exudes a wit and easy-going charm that might surprise people who mistake him for his most famous alter ego, the wired, uptight Sherlock.

Cumberbatch is equally amusing when he comes to discussing the end of Richard III. "I feel very lucky to be almost the last one standing in this play. And no, thats not a spoiler. The play has been out more than 400 years. You can definitely print that - Richard doesnt make it. Or maybe he comes back at the end and says, Did you miss me? Or perhaps he could reappear in a car park!"

The 39-year-old son of actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, Cumberbatch studied at the University of Manchester before gaining a Master of Arts in Classical Acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Thanks to strong performances in work such as Hawking and Atonement, Cumberbatch quickly built up a very good reputation as an actor. But his career was transformed in 2010 when he landed the title role in Sherlock, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss modern-day reworking of the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. The show was an overnight worldwide success, and for Cumberbatch, it proved a global game-changer.

He went on to deliver memorable performances in The Hobbit, Tinker, Tailor, Solider Spy, Star Trek Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave and The Imitation Game, for which he won a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

No doubt, the global success of Sherlock has helped Cumberbatch land roles such as Richard III. But he is still rather appealingly taken aback by Sherlocks worldwide profile. According to Cumberbatch, The gob-smacking thing about it is that people who have been icons to me forever have been coming up to me to say much they adore it. When Meryl Streep told me, I love Sherlock, I thought, Thats so wrong!.



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The actor goes on to consider whether there are any similarities between himself and Sherlock. Youd best ask the people who know me, like my mother! There probably are a few similarities. When Im playing him, I find myself looking at peoples shoes and body language and trying to deduce things from them. I do that because I have a professional interest. But Im afraid Im rubbish at it!

Dressed in a blue and white stripy French matelot shirt and dark trousers, Cumberbatch is in very relaxed form today. He seems to be enjoying the downtime after the all-consuming experience of playing Richard III. Cumberbatchs King is a fiercely driven man bent on avenging himself for the many slights he suffered growing up.

But, the actor argues, Richard III is not necessarily the unremittingly evil villain he is often portrayed as; Shakespeare is more nuanced than that. Theres all this mythology surrounding Richard. He provokes a polarity of opinion. Is he a bad guy who killed the Princes in the Tower or a good guy who has been much maligned by the play? We dont really know. A lot of what we have left is still PR."

"We could have had a disclaimer at the beginning of the play saying, Written by William Shakespeare, who was a playwright in the Elizabethan era, about the last Plantagenet King. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII, a Tudor, hence its slant."

Richard spends much of the play, which also stars Dame Judi Dench as Richards mother Cecily, Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret and Keely Hawes as Queen Elizabeth, getting his minions to do his dirty work and wipe out his rivals for The Hollow Crown. Some of his brutal actions make Game of Thrones look like Play School.

But Cumberbatch, who is married to the director Sophie Hunter and is the father of a young son, insists that the violence in Richard III is never gratuitous. Its not just trying to shock people. Its saying, Look at what were capable of. Its always in context, and its always a morality test.

So what is it that makes Richard III so hungry for power? Cumberbatch, who read a poem by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy at Richards burial ceremony in Leicester Cathedral last year, traces the disabled monarchs burning ambition back to his deeply unhappy childhood. The important thing is that from the very beginning, Richard is born into this family of Adonises, of athletes of Kennedy proportions. He is the black sheep of the family. He is ostracised and left at home looking after the kids  which is no place for a man in the medieval world, where it is your duty to go out to fight."

So, Cumberbatch adds, There is a real trajectory to Richards journey. He is not just the medieval trope of a villain that a lot of critics have said he is. There is great subtlety and lots of back story to this character."

"Our vision was to humanise him and see his whole story. He loses himself in order to come back in a final moment of stark, cold realisation. Hes lost everything and all he has got left is anger and rage. So to play that whole journey is an absolute treat. And to be able to do it with a camera investigating it when you break the fourth wall  what a gift for any actor!"

Like Frank Underwood in House of Cards, a character very much modelled on Shakespeares King, Richard III is initially a very seductive figure. Even though we know the disastrous deeds of which he is capable, we cant help but be drawn into his devious world.

Cumberbatch comments that, He is a compelling because he seduces us to be complicit with his direct addresses to the audience. That tarnishes us because were fascinated by the car crash. Its so seductive because he shows us the fallibility of human nature around the magnetism of power.

One of the feats accomplished by the last series of The Hollow Crown - which consisted of Richard II, Henry IV Parts One and Two and Henry V and was screened in 2012  was to broaden the constituency for Shakespeare.



 Thousands honour Shakespeare

Cumberbatch expresses the hope that this series of films, which form the centrepiece of the BBCs season commemorating the 400th anniversary of the playwrights death, will also bring a new audience to the playwright. The actor likens it to his hugely popular appearance as Hamlet at the Barbican in London last year. To play Hamlet live to a rapt audience at the Barbican every night was amazing."

I was very keen to see how many could be fitted into the theatre  that was really important when choosing a venue. I felt it would be unfair to the people who might want to see it if we did it in a small venue. I thought we should be a bit more generous than that and perform it in a big theatre. If you can broaden the audience and show them how brilliant Shakespeare is, thats fantastic.

The other achievement of The Hollow Crown is to remind us just how universal Shakespeares plays are. Cumberbatch reflects that, "Id hate to piggyback off whats currently going on in politics, but of course this play is relevant  anyone can see that. But whats magical about these plays is that you could do them in five or 10 years time and theyd still have the same effect because theyre timeless studies of the very human condition of power."



Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Show all 37 1 /37 Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Anthony and Cleopatra Colin Blakely as Anthony BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry VIII Timothy West as Wolsey Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV The Two Gentlemen of Verona Tessa Peake Jones as Julia disguised as Sebastian Tyler Butterworth as Proteus BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Romeo and Juliet Patrick Ryecart as Romeo Rebecca Saire as Juliet BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Othello Anthony Hopkins as Othello Bob Hoskins as Iago BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Titus Andronicus Hugh Quarshie as Aaron BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV The Comedy of Errors Roger Daltrey as Dromio BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Twelfth Night Felicity Kendall as Viola BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Measure for Measure Adrienne Corri as Mistress Overdone BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV As You Like It Brian Stirner as Orlando, Helen Mirren as Rosalind BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry VI Part Three Brian Protheroe as King Edward BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry IV Part One Jack Galloway as Poins Anthony Quayle as Falstaff BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Cymbeline Claire Bloom as Queen BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV King Lear Brenda Blethyn as Cordelia BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Hamlet Derek Jacobi BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Timon of Athens Jonathan Pryce as Timon BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Julius Caesar Charles Gray as Caesar Keith Michell as Marc Antony BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry VI Part Two Anthony Quayle as Falstaff and Robert Eddistone as Justice Robert Shallow BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV All's Well That Ends Well Donald Sinden as the King of France BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Richard II Ian McKellen as Richard II with Timothy West as Bollingbroke BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Love's Labour's Lost Maureen Lipman as the Princess of France Jenny Agutter as Rosaline BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV MacBeth Nicol Williamson as Macbeth Jane Lapotaire as Lady Macbeth BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry IV Part Two David Gwillim as Henry Prince of Wales BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV King John Leonard Rossiter as King John BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry V Robert Harris as Duke of Burgundy BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Much Ado About Nothing Robert Lindsay as Benedick Cherie Lunghi as Beatrice BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Midsummer Nights Dream Phil Daniels as Puck, Peter McEnery as Oberon and Helen Mirren as Titania. BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Troilus and Cressida Anton Lesser as Troilus BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV The Tragedy of Richard The Third Zoe Wannamaker as Lady Anne BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV The Tempest Andrew Sachs as Trinculo, Nigel Hawthorne as Stephano BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Merchant of Venice Gemma Jones as Portia and John Nettles as Bassanio. BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Taming of the Shrew John Cleese BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Richard III Ron Cook as Richard III BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV A Winters Tale Jeremy Kemp as Leontes BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Henry VI Part One Peter Benson as Henry VI BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV Pericles Amanda Redman as Marina BBC Shakespeare plays adapted by the BBC for TV The Merry Wives of Windsor Prunella Scales as Mistress Page BBC



"Macbeth works in Swahili or German or any culture because its about tribalism and power and desperate, overarching, corrupting ambition. These plays show the frailties, the ego, the susceptibility and all the machinations of what power does to people. Thats why Shakespeare is still so potent 400 years on."

Cumberbatch has barely had a moment to pause for breath in recent times. Later this year he will be his starring as the title character in the latest Marvel movie, Dr Strange. Currently he is busy shooting the fourth series of BBC1s Sherlock, which is scheduled to go out next year.

So what is the actor able to reveal about the next season of Sherlock? Its great, great fun to be back. There are a lot of things happening on the new series. He pauses and then laughs long and hard: but I can say nothing about them!

You could tell me, I reply, but then youd have to kill me.

No, Cumberbatch ripostes, gesturing towards the publicist who has just come into the room, Id get him to kill you. Like Richard III, Id farm it out!

Cumberbatch appears in The Hollow Crown Parts Two and Three on BBC2 on 14 and 21 May.
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Dozens of British cities are breaching air pollution limits leading to thousands of premature deaths of the youngest, oldest and poorest in society, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

In a major study, the WHO found more than 80 per cent of people in urban areas around the world were exposed to harmful levels of pollution that can trigger fatal asthma attacks and increase the risks of heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke.

The pollutants include sulfate, nitrates and black carbon which penetrate deep into the lungs and into the cardiovascular system, posing the greatest risks to human health, the WHO said in a statement.

Health campaigners said it was clear that Britain was facing an air pollution crisis.

It has been estimated that the lives of 40,000 to 50,000 people in the UK are ended prematurely every year because of the air we breathe. Worldwide, the WHO said the problem was causing more than three million premature deaths a year.

Ten towns and cities in the UK, including London, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton and Oxford, were found to have breached what are regarded as safe levels of tiny particles known as PM10. And 39 urban areas also breached the safe levels for another measure known as PM2.5.

Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHOs assistant-director general for family, women and childrens health, spelled out the situation in no uncertain terms.

Air pollution is a major cause of disease and death, she said.

When dirty air blankets our cities the most vulnerable urban populations  the youngest, oldest and poorest  are the most impacted.

However she added it was good news that more cities were monitoring air quality, so when they take actions to improve it they would know how successful they have been.

Air pollution has been estimated to shorten the lives of up to 50,000 people a year in Britain (Getty)

Dr Maria Neira, WHOs director of public health, stressed air pollution was wreaking havoc on human health.

However she also said there were signs of hope.

Awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality, she said.

When air quality improves, global respiratory and cardiovascular-related illnesses decrease.

Environmental and health campaigners called for urgent action to clean up the atmosphere.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, added: It is deeply concerning that 40 UK towns and cities are failing to meet WHO standards for the smallest, most harmful pollution particles.

These particles are able to reach deep into our lungs and even into our bloodstream, and can have a serious impact on our breathing and wider health.

It is clear from this report that the UK is facing an air pollution crisis. Unfortunately, the Government's response so far has been inadequate.

Swift action must be taken to reduce pollution levels in the UK and protect our lung health.

High air pollution levels across the UK Show all 7 1 /7 High air pollution levels across the UK High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-5.jpg High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-3.jpg High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-2.png High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-1.jpg High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-4.jpg High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-7.jpg The Shard and St Paul's Cathedral from Hampstead Heath in London High air pollution levels across the UK pollution-6.jpg

And Jenny Bates, an air pollution campaigner with Friends of the Earth, said: This is yet another report which shows the air we breathe is unsafe.

With 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK from air pollution, what more will it take for our political leaders to act?

This is a public health crisis. Its time it was treated that way. We need fewer and cleaner vehicles with a Clean Air Zone in every city and large town  and politicians must urgently introduce a diesel scrappage scheme to get the worst polluting vehicles off our roads, as well as more investment in alternatives to driving.

She said the figures for Europe appeared to have improved slightly but added were still talking about dangerous levels of pollution.

The WHO looked at levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter in 795 cities in 67 countries during the five years to 2013.

The full list of cities that breached the PM10 levels is: Port Talbot, Stanford-le-Hope, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Scunthorpe, Eastbourne, Nottingham, Oxford and Southampton.

The full list for PM2.5 is: Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Eastbourne, Salford, London, Southampton, Port Talbort, Birmingham, Stanford-le-Hope, Chepstow, Portsmouth, Stoke-on-Trent, Oxford, Thurrock, Warrington, Armagh, Cardiff, Norwich, Leamington Spa, Newport, Bristol, Wigan, Manchester, York, Hull, Nottingham, Plymouth, Swansea, Carlisle, Prestonpans, Liverpool, Belfast, Londonderry, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Birkenhead, Saltash and Southend.

The Press Association contributed to this report.
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No one will be able to legally watch the BBC on iPlayer without buying a television licence, the Government has announced, as part of a new Royal Charter for the Corporation unveiled in Parliament.

The move is designed to help the BBC recover the millions of pounds it has lost in revenue by viewers using a legal loophole to watch programmes for free.

However, announcing the change, the Culture Secretary said that in the long run the licence is "likely to become less sustainable" and would have to be overhauled entirely.

Among other changes to the way in which the BBC will be run over the next eleven years announced today:

The BBC will be under a new obligation to provide "distinctive content" rather than just chase ratings. This could affect the Corporations ability to buy in hit shows from abroad like The Voice.

The Corporation will have a new obligation to promote diversity with 15 per cent of lead roles going to black and ethnic minority actors by 2020 and 50 per cent of lead roles going to women.

Outside production companies will be able to bid to produce all BBC content for the first time - outside the protected areas of news and current affairs programmes.

The salaries of all stars paid over 450,000 will have to be published  while the BBCs finances will for the first time be audited by the National Audit Office.

The Corporation will now be regulated by Ofcom rather than the BBC Trust. A new board made up of BBC executives and non executive directors appointed by both the Government and the BBC will run the organisation on a day to day basis.

Under the deal with the Government the BBC will also fund 150 local journalists to cover local courts and council meetings and providing content to local newspapers and websites.

Unveiling details of the new Charter the Culture Secretary John Whittingdale told MPs that the BBC is and must always remain at the very heart of British life.

We want the BBC to thrive, to make fantastic programmes for audiences and to act as an engine for growth and creativity, he said.

"Our reforms give the BBC much greater independence from Government in editorial matters, in its governance, in setting budgets and through a longer charter period.

"They secure the funding of the BBC and will help it develop new funding models for the future.

"At the same time, these reforms will assist the BBC to fulfil its own stated desire to become more distinctive and to better reflect the diverse nature of its audience. BBC Director-General Tony Hall, said: "This White Paper delivers a mandate for the strong, creative BBC the public believe in.

"There has been a big debate about the future of the BBC. Searching questions have been asked about its role and its place in the UK.

"At the end, we have an 11-year Charter, a licence fee guaranteed for 11 years, and an endorsement of the scale and scope of what the BBC does today. The White Paper reaffirms our mission to inform, educate and entertain all audiences on television, on radio and online."

Lord Waheed Alli, founder of the Great BBC campaign, said it was clear that Mr Whittingdale had been forced to back down on some of his wilder proposals but had showed himself to be ideologically committed to undermining the BBC.

While this (Charter) may not destroy public service broadcasting immediately, it is only right to warn how this can do real and lasting damage the long term, he said.

This is a ticking time bomb under the BBC.
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Azealia Banks has been suspended from Twitter following her vitriolic attack on Zayn Malik and a 14-year-old Disney actress.

The 24-year-old Harlem-born musician targeted Malik with a series of homophobic and racist insults in a lengthy tirade on Twitter.

Banks remarks were met with an unprecedented backlash on social media and she chose to delete all of her posts.

In a protracted Twitter rage which lasted the length of Tuesday night, Banks claimed the One Direction star had copied her work for his new video.

Damn Zayn be mood boarding the f**k of out me, she wrote, followed by, Ok little wyt [sic] kids I def like Zayn and def think he's a cutie pie.

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.

Malik posted two tweets but did not name who they were directed at.

Banks assumed they were aimed at her and called him a curry scented b***h and f****t in a lengthy series of tweets. Imma start calling you punjab you dirty b**h, she wrote in one.

After being told to simmer down by Disney actress Skai Jackson, Banks insults became directed at her, calling her a black little b***h. She then prompted criticism for advising Skai to have plastic surgery and grow some hips and start your menses.

Banks came under fire on social media for her derogatory remarks, with users asking Twitter to suspend her account and accusing her of homophobia and racism.

Banks has since apologised for those offended by her comments but not those she directed the insults at. In a series of now deleted tweets, Banks said, Big apologies to anyone who was offended by any of the things I said. Not sorry I said it. But sorry for the way I made people feel.

Everyone except the targets of my tirades, she added.

Banks has frequently been in the limelight for her controversial comments and public tirades against prominent individuals.

A representative for Banks did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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Blake Lively has criticised the inclusion of a joke about rape at Cannes Film Festival which has been perceived as a jab at Woody Allen and the director Roman Polanski.

At the opening night, Comedian Laurent Lafitte drew gasps from the crowd when he joked: Its very nice that youve been shooting so many movies in Europe, even if you are not being convicted for rape in the US.

Lively stars alongside Kristen Stewart in Allens latest offering, Cafe Society, which opened the film festival this week.

Recommended Read more French comedian directs rape joke at Woody Allen at Cannes

I think any jokes about rape, homophobia or Hitler is not a joke, she told Variety after being asked about the joke.

I think that was a hard thing swallow in 30 seconds. Film festivals are such beautiful, respectful festivals of film and artists and to have that, it felt like it wouldnt have happened if it was in the 1940s. I cant imagine Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby going out and doing that. It was more disappointing for the artists in the room that someone was going up there making jokes about something that wasnt funny.

The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Show all 14 1 /14 The films to know about at Cannes 2016 The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Julieta Director: Pedro Almodovar

Starring: Adriana Ugarte, Emma Suarez

What's it about? The Spanish filmmaker's 20th film is based on three short stories from Alice Munro's 2004 book, Runaway which tracks a woman's search for her missing daughter. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 American Honey Director: Andrea Arnold

Starring: Sasha Lane, Kate Mara, Shia LaBeouf

What's it about? In British filmmaker Andrea Arnold's (Red Road) American road movie - her first film set and filmed outside the UK - a teenage girl who gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying as she crosses the Midwest with a band of misfits. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Personal Shopper Director: Olivier Assayas

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Lars Eidinger, Nora von Waldstatten

What's it about? Stewart reteams with French filmmaker Assayas following Clouds of Sils Maria for this ghost story set in the fashion underworld of Paris. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 It's Only the End of the World Director: Xavier Dolan

Starring: Lea Seydoux, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel

What's it about? Xavier Dolan (Mommy) returns with this film based on the play Juste la fin du monde which tells the story of a terminally ill writer who returns home after 12 years to announce his impending death. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Paterson Director: Jim Jarmusch,

Starring: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani

What's it about? An original film from Amazon Studios that follows Paterson, a bus driver in the city of Paterson, New Jersey who lives an inhibited life compared to that of his wife, Laura. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 I, Daniel Blake Director: Ken Loach

Starring: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Micky McGregor

What's it about? Written by Paul Laverty (the man behind Loach's Palme d'Or winner The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the film follows the titular protagonist, a joiner who seeks financial felp from the state following an illness. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Loving Director: Jeff Nichols

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Michael Shannon, Marton Csokas

What's it about? Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special follow-up tracks an interracial couple based in Virginia sentenced to prison in 1958 for getting married. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 The Handmaid Director: Park Chan-wook

Starring: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Tae-ri

What's it about? The Oldboy director's latest South Korean film follows an heiress who falls in love with a petty thief. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 The Neon Demon Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Starring: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks

What's it about? Winding Refn's third consecutive film to compete for the Palme d'Or, this horror thriller follows an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles where 'her vitality and youth are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means to get what she has.' The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Cafe Society Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively

What's it about? Woody Allen's latest will open the Festival. It is a New York romantic comedy set in the 1930s with a cast including Steve Carell, Parker Posey, Corey Stoll and Judy Davis. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 The BFG Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Mark Rylance, Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader

What's it about? Based on the Roald Dahl classic, the story follows a young girl named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who befriends a friendly giant. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Money Monster Director: Jodie Foster

Starring: George Clooney, Jack O'Connell, Julia Roberts

What's it about? A money-oriented live TV show is interrupted when the presenter is taken hostage by a blue-collar worker compelled to turn to violence following his recent financial losses. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 The Nice Guys Director: Shane Black

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe

Reason to see: Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) and his razor sharp wit return in a comedy set in 70s LA. The films to know about at Cannes 2016 Captain Fantastic Director: Matt Ross

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn

What's it about? In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father who devoted his life to raising his six kids with an irreverent education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the 'real' world.

Allens arrival at the festival came as The Hollywood Reporter published an impassioned essay by his son Ronan Farrow, in which Farrow supported his sisters claims that Allen abused her as a child. Allen has always vehemently denied the sex abuse allegation and has never been charged with any criminal offence.

Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to having sex with a child aged 13 and then fled to France after serving 42 days in prison.
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Emma Watson was one of the latest high-profile figures to be linked to the Panama Papers after her name was included in a database earlier this week.

The Harry Potter actresss name was found by The Spectator in a searchable database containing more details about the Panama Papers. In the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' database, Watson, 26, was listed as a beneficiary of a company in the British Virgin Islands.

Watson, who has had trouble with stalkers in the past, is understood to have used the company to purchase a property.

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Watson's representatives said the company was set up for privacy purposes and stressed that she does not receive any tax or monetary advantages from owning the property via an off-shore company.

Emma (like many high profile individuals) set up an offshore company for the sole purpose of protecting her anonymity and safety, her spokesperson said in a statement.

UK companies are required to publicly publish details of their shareholders and therefore do not give her the necessary anonymity required to protect her personal safety, which has been jeopardised in the past owing to such information being publicly available.

 What are The Panama Papers?

Offshore companies do not publish these shareholder details. Emma receives absolutely no tax or monetary advantages from this offshore company whatsoever  only privacy.

The Independent spoke to Gavin Cunningham, Forensic Services Partner at accountancy firm Menzies LLP and formerly a principal investigator at the Serious Fraud Office, about Watsons appearance in the database.

When her spokesperson says she set it up for privacy reasons, what does that mean?

It is likely that Emma Watson was aiming to avoid the very financial scrutiny that this discovery has prompted, and its worth reiterating that her actions are completely legal.

As a well-known figure, it is not surprising that she does not want her personal financial affairs to be in the public domain.

Could she have anonymity in the UK?

Recommended Read more The occupations of people in the Panama Papers

While individuals have no obligation to publish their earnings or tax return, it is now extremely difficult to keep the ownership of a UK company private. Legislation introduced in April 2016, known as the PSC (People with Significant Control) regulations, requires all private businesses incorporated in the UK to publish a register of anyone with a significant shareholding or operating interest in a firm, which can be accessed via Companies House.

If a celebrity carries out their professional services through a UK limited company or say, holds assets such as a house through a UK limited company, their connection to the company is now likely to be revealed. Any earnings gained or the value of any assets would be available to view at Companies House.

How common is it for celebrities to use offshore companies like this?

In light of the new PSC registration legislation introduced in April, its quite possible that more individuals, as well as celebrities, examine the merits of setting up an offshore company. If so, this might be considered ironic given that the legislation was designed to provide greater transparency.
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The boyfriend of missing childrens author Helen Bailey, who reportedly disappeared after saying she needed a little time to herself, has appealed for any information on her whereabouts one month after she vanished.

Ian Stewart, Ms Bailey's partner, directly addressed her in a statement on Thursday: "Whatever has happened, wherever you are I will come and get you.

Ms Bailey wrote the Electra Brown series and a number of childrens books. She also blogged about coping with the death of her husband of 22 years in a drowning accident on her website, Planet Grief.

Ms Bailey went missing after leaving her home in Royston, Hertfordshire at 2.45pm on 11 April. She is believed to have her dog Boris, a miniature Dachshund, with her when she left.

Chief Inspector for North Herts Julie Wheatley said the case is highly unusual" in the fact that "Helen seems to have simply disappeared.

We literally have no trace of her despite extensive searches and inquiries which have been on-going since she was reported missing.

Helen wherever you might be I hope you hear this message and listen carefully, said Mr Stewart in his statement.

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.

We miss you and Boris so much. We are shattered in so many ways. You not only mended my heart five years ago but made it bigger, stronger and kinder.

Together we learnt to live with our grief and move forward with our lives but never forgetting. Now it feels like my heart doesn't even exist. Our plans are nowhere near complete and without you there is no point.

We promised each other 30 years. Please keep that promise and come home. Whatever has happened, wherever you are I will come and get you and Boris and give you whatever you need.

Love you more.

Ms Bailey is described as slim and with long black hair. It is not known what she was wearing when she disappeared. She has connections in Kent, Northumbria and London.

Inspector Wheatley issued a separate appeal for information from the public, as well as an appeal to Ms Bailey. I would like to directly appeal to Helen. Helen, your family are worried about you and Boris and want to know you are safe. We know you regularly called your mum and dad and it is totally out of character for you not to speak with them.

I fully appreciate you may find it difficult to contact police but we just need to know that you are ok. If you cant call us directly, please let someone you know and trust know where you are and that youre safe. Any wishes you have will be totally respected.

Anyone who sees Ms Bailey, or knows of her whereabouts, is asked to contact the police non-emergency number 101.
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Ryan Gosling, the feminist hero of Hey Girl memes, is now a father of two girls, and very happy about it.

You may remember the Feminist Ryan Gosling blog showing The Nice Guys actor looking intensely at the camera alongside captions such as, Hey Girl, we can be supportive of gender variance even while we get our bounce on.

Appearing on Good Morning America, Gosling was asked about living in a household with a female to male ratio of three to one.

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.

Like the memes that made him a feminist icon without actually saying much himself about gender equality, Gosling was equally poetic when it came to defining his living situation with an extra girl in the house.

Its heaven. Its like walking through a field of flowers every day," he said. "I live with angelsIts a ray of sunshine in a dark time, honestly, because with [The Nice Guys co-star] Russell [Crowe], its sad that weve turned out this way.

Gosling also admitted that he too was perplexed at the Hey Girl phenomenon.

I wish I could [explain it], he said. I was hoping you would able to give me a bit of clarity on that. I think were all confused. Its unearned anyway, I didnt deserve it.
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The journalist and agony aunt Sally Brampton has died aged 60.

Sussex police confirmed Bramptons body was pulled from the sea by a member of the public on Tuesday afternoon. An air ambulance arrived on the beach, close to where she lived in east Sussex, but she was declared dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson said: A woman whose body was found on the beach at Galley Hill, Bexhill on Tuesday afternoon has been identified as Sally Brampton.

[] She has been reported in the media as being seen walking into the sea, but there are no witnesses who have come forward to confirm this fact. Anyone with information is ask to mail 101sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images

Brampton had a well-documented history of depression. Her 2008 memoir Shoot the Damn Dog recounted her experiences of the illness and attempted suicide.

At 30, Brampton became the editor of the launch of the UK edition of Elle magazine in 1985.

The current editor-in-chief of the magazine, Lorraine Candy, paid tribute to Brampton as a free-thinking, ground-breaking woman whose legacy is a spirited brand that is as relevant today as it was 31-years-ago because there are so many Sallys' out there.

Brampton also had a stint as the editor of Red magazine and worked as an agony aunt columnist for The Sunday Times Style magazine and the Daily Mail.

The former editor of the Independent on Sunday, Lisa Markwell, who worked with Brampton at Elle said she will be remembered as the editor who transformed the womens magazine market and trained a generation of confident, accomplished female journalists. She should also be remembered as the woman whose ferocious honesty about depression saved lives.

Brampton is survived by her daughter.

The Samaritans confidential helpline is available free 24 hours a day on 116 123 or at www.samaritans.org.
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Internationally acclaimed Japanese director, Yukio Ninagawa, has died at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 80.

Ninagawa died of complications caused by pneumonia, an official at the theatre he led told AFP.

Known for his interpretations of plays by William Shakespeare and Greek tragedies, Ninagawa first debuted as a director in 1969. He went on to gain international recognition at the 1985 Edinburgh festival with a samurai version of Macbeth - his first production to travel overseas.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images

Ninagawa has directed Hamlet differently a grand total of eight times. Speaking to The Independent ahead of his May 2015 production of the Shakespeare classic, he explained, Eight times is not enough. A play that means different things to me, depending on my age.

The world-renowned director became a member of the Shakespeare Globe Council at Londons Globe Theatre and in 2002 was granted the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He has also won myriad awards in Japan, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon given for contributions to the arts and academia in 2001 and then Japans highest cultural award, the Order of Culture, in 2010.

Tributes to Ninagawa have poured in on social media.

"Very sad to hear of the passing of master Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa - many inspiring visits to Barbican Centre in my time there ," wrote one Twitter user.

While another added, "So sad to hear about #YukioNinagawa. Seeing the chorus of his Medea changed my whole outlook on Greek drama".

In international terms, he is most famous for his European classics but he has also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima and several others. Ninagawa also produced experimental productions with young group members in his theatrical company Ninagawa Studio.
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If your job, or simply your state of mind, depends on feeling empathy for others, you might want to reconsider reaching for the Tylenol the next time you have a headache.

In research published online in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, scientists from the National Institutes of Health and Ohio State University describe the results of two experiments they conducted involving more than 200 college students.

Their conclusion: Acetaminophen, the most common drug ingredient in the United States, can reduce a person's capacity to empathise with another person's pain, whether that pain is physical or emotional.

"We don't know why acetaminophen is having these effects, but it is concerning," senior author Baldwin Way, an Ohio State psychologist, said in a statement. "Empathy is important. If you are having an argument with your spouse and you just took acetaminophen, this research suggests you might be less understanding of what you did to hurt your spouse's feelings."

In the first experiment, 80 participants were asked to drink a liquid. Half the subjects received something containing 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. The other half got something without the drug. After an hour, all subjects were asked to rate the pain experienced by characters in eight different fictional scenarios. In some of the stories, the character went through a physical trauma, in others an emotional trauma. In general, those subjects who had taken the acetaminophen rated the pain of the characters as less severe than those who had taken the placebo.

A second experiment exposed participants to brief blasts of white noise. They were then asked to rate the pain of another (anonymous) study participant who'd also been subjected to the unpleasant sounds. Again, those who had received the acetaminophen rated the other person's pain as being less severe compared to students who'd drunk the placebo liquid.

As a further test, in which participants had to judge online skits involving social rejection, they split along the same lines as in the noise experiment.

"In this case, the participants had the chance to empathise with the suffering of someone who they thought was going through a socially painful experience," Way said. "Still, those who took acetaminophen showed a reduction in empathy. They weren't as concerned about the rejected person's hurt feelings."

The two experiments build on previous studies identifying a brain region that appears to be key to a person's empathetic response. The anterior insula, located deep in the folds between the front and side of the brain, is where mind and body are integrated. It also plays a key role in human awareness, including emotional awareness. The less pain a person feels, the less able he or she is to empathise with someone else's.

"Because empathy regulates prosocial and antisocial behavior," the authors note, "these drug-induced reductions in empathy raise concerns about the broader social side effects of acetaminophen."

Acetaminophen is an ingredient in more than 600 different medicines, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. About a quarter of all Americans take acetaminophen every week.

Copyright: Washington Post
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RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept three Russian aircraft spotted approaching Baltic airspace in their latest intervention to keep Britain's skies secure.

The Typhoon fighter jets were launched from Amari air base in Estonia after the Russian military transport aircrafts did not transmit a recognised identification code and appeared to be unresponsive.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon called it an "act of Russian aggression".

He said: "This is another example of just how important the UK's contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is. We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to Nato's collective defence."

The Baltic Air Policing Mission is a Nato scheme where members help each other police their air space - especially if a member country does not have the resources to do it themselves.

Four RAF jets were deployed to help with the mission last month and are scheduled to remain there until the end of August.

UK jets have been stationed alongside Portugese F16s from an airbase in Siauliai, Lithuania.

RAF Typhoons intercepted the Russian aircraft over Estonia (Crown Copyright)

One of the pilots involved in the mission said: "The scramble went exactly as planned, we launched our Typhoon aircraft quickly and then using our advanced sensors and mission systems, combined with support from our Battlespace Managers on the ground, carried out textbook intercepts of the three aircraft."

Wing Commander Gordon Melville said: "We have once more proven our ability to secure the skies in the vicinity of the Baltic States and have demonstrated the close link between the Royal Air Force, Estonian and Nato units that have planned and enabled this defensive response so successfully. We will continue to standby 24/7 to secure the Baltic skies."

The incident is the latest in a series of provocations by Moscow after months of tensions over the war in Syria.

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Russia began a military campaign against the enemies of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which has reportedly killed hundreds of civilians.

It was already subject to economic sanctions by Western nations following its invasion of the Crimea in 2014.

In February 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "trying to make some sort of a point" after Bear bombers were intercepted off the Cornish coast.

It is unclear whether they were attempting to fly to UK airspace.
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The company who sent a woman home from work for refusing to wear high heels says it has updated its uniform policy.

Temp worker Nicola Thorp was told to change into high heels when she arrived for her first day at the London offices of accountary firm PwC wearing flat shoes.

The 27-year-old was sent home without pay after being told she had to wear high heels with a height of two to four inches.

Outsourcing firm Portico said Ms Thorp had "signed the appearance guidelines" but would now review them, while PwC said the dress code was "not a PwC policy".

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 New Conservative Party leader and incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak waves as he leaves from Conservative Party Headquarters in central London having been announced as the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA 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

Ms Thorp has also launched a petition calling for the law to be changed and to stop employers from being able to insist a woman wear high heels as part of their work.

It now has over 66,000 signatures. The Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures.

Ms Thorp told BBC Radio London she was shocked when she arrived at work for her first day and was told about the policy: I said If you can give me a reason as to why wearing flats would impair me to do my job today, then fair enough, but they couldnt.

"I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms. I said I just wont be able to do that in heels.

Since then, PwC released a statement to say it was "pleased that Portico had responded to our concerns" over the uniform guidelines.

The statement said: "We are pleased that Portico has responded to our concerns and is updating its uniform policy with immediate effect.

"PwC places a great deal of emphasis on providing a progressive working environment for all of our people and we feel strongly that this must include third party employees working in our offices.

"We are now reviewing our supplier uniform codes to ensure they are aligned with our own values."
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The anti EU campaign group run by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove today accused David Cameron of trying to dodge a public debate with them  and threatened to sue Britains biggest commercial broadcaster.

In an extraordinary statement Vote Leave expressed fury that ITV had announced that they would be holding a televised debate involving Mr Cameron and the Ukip leader Nigel Farage  but not Mr Gove or Mr Johnson.

They accused Downing Street of trying to dictate the terms of the debate to give itself every possible advantage and said ITV had caved into the Number 10s demands without even discussing it with the official leave campaign.

ITV has allowed the Prime Minister to dictate his own opponent, said an official spokesman.

Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the IN campaign than to the Leave campaign.

"We think that the Prime Minister ought to debate the representative of the official Leave campaign. In a serious democracy, the Government should not be allowed by a free media to pick its own opponents in the official debates on the most important political decision in decades.

"We are discussing legal possibilities to increase the chances that the public will hear the issues properly discussed before they make such an important vote on the future of their democratic rights.

The statement then went on to claim that the timing of the announcement was due to the Government's desire to distract attention from the immigration figures that are being released today.

Recommended ITV warns EU referendum uncertainty is hurting advertising sales

Earlier a Vote Leave source warned that ITV would face consequences for its future over the deal.

ITV has effectively joined the official IN campaign, said a Vote Leave statement to journalists.

There will be consequences for its future - the people in No10 won't be there for long.

ITV's former chairman, Lord Grade, said Vote Leave appeared to be threatening the broadcaster with political repercussions.

"As a former chairman of both the BBC and ITV, I hold the political independence of all broadcasters to be of paramount importance to our democracy, he said.

"Today's attempt by the referendum Leave campaign to threaten ITV with political repercussions over their TV debate plans is unacceptable, if not shocking.

"I know the public can rely on broadcasters to resist all bullying tactics in the run up to the referendum. If the Leave campaign has any complaint about a breach of statutory obligations to be impartial, they should take their complaint up with the regulator Ofcom."

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

An ITV spokeswoman said: "ITV has not lied to anyone, nor has there been any kind of 'stitch up'.

"Senior figures from the Vote Leave campaign have been invited to our debate on June 9 and have every opportunity to air their views and opinions on the issues in a two-hour long peak time programme on ITV.

"It was our editorial decision as to who would take part in the June 7 programme; the PM called the referendum, and the country wants to hear from him, and Nigel Farage has been a leading proponent of an exit from the EU for more than 20 years and his party received 3.8 million votes at the election. We invited them both and they accepted.

"We think our viewers will find both programmes useful in providing information ahead of polling day. Our programming will, as always, be fair, balanced and duly impartial."


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Sadiq Khan has accused Jeremy Corbyn of failing to call out antisemitism within the partys ranks, in what appears to be the third attack on the Labour leader in his first week as mayor of London.

Mr Khan, who started at City Hall on Monday, made his comments just weeks after a row over antisemitism in the party dominated headlines before the local elections. Several councillors were suspended alongside Labour MP Naz Shah and Mr Corbyns long-time ally and former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

Ive been the victim of hate crime because of my ethnicity and my faith, Mr Khan said in an interview with The New York Times.

He added: If somebody is saying views that are appalling, disgusting and clearly anti-Semitic, Ive got to call it out. The fact that that person happens to be from my party, the fact that the leader of my party is failing to call it out, thats irrelevant. I have to call it out."

Later in the interview, he echoed his earlier criticisms, saying the party must reach out to non-Labour voters in order to win the next general election. He said: I do not believe in glorious failure, heroic defeat, he said. You can only improve peoples lives by winning elections.

On Sunday the newly-elected mayor used his first major television interview to attack Mr Corbyn, claiming he was not doing enough to address the concerns of ordinary voters.

In an article for The Observer, Mr Khan had already criticised Mr Corbyns electoral strategy, writing: It should never be about picking sides, [or] a them-or-us attitude,

Our aim should be to unite people from all backgrounds as a broad and welcoming tent  not to divide and rule.

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

Mr Corbyn announced at the end of April that Labour would launch an independent inquiry, tasked with probing and tackling antisemitism. It is being led by Shami Chakrabarti  the former head of the rights group Liberty.

A code of conduct will also "make explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including antisemitism, in the party" and provide guidance on acceptable language.
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Iain Duncan Smith has branded the Treasury, run by George Osborne, as the worst thing in Britain and has called for it to be broken up.

Launching a scathing attack on the Chancellor's department Mr Duncan Smith, the former Work and Pensions Secretary who is campaigning for Brexit, said the Treasury dominated government decision-making and has a short-term obsession with cuts.

He also said it is run by 27-year-old civil servants with no collective memory and characterised by a lack of vision  contradicting Mr Osborne's oft-repeated claim to be following a long-term economic plan.

Recommended Read more Iain Duncan Smith says the EU helps rich at the expense of poor

In a frank interview with Politico the former Tory leader, who dramatically resigned from his post at the DWP in March citing benefit cuts, said he gave a sigh of relief when he left government because he would never have to deal with those people again.

"The worst thing we have in Britain is the Treasury," said Mr Duncan Smith. "I think it has to be broken up, I have reached that conclusion,"

At a round-table discussion with journalists and political figures, the former minister reportedly complained: "The culture of the Treasury is almost unique in the Western world that a country's government is so dominated by one organisation."

"The average age in the Treasury is 27. They spend no more than two years in any single part of the Treasury. They have no collective memory for any agreement or decision that had been taken before they arrived at their desks.

7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Show all 7 1 /7 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Closing Remploy factories The Work and Pensions Secretary called time on Britains system of Remploy factories, which provided subsidised and sheltered employment to disabled people. People employed at the factories protested against their closure and said they provided gainful work. Is it a kindness to stick people in some factory where they are not doing any work at all? Just making cups of coffee? Mr Duncan Smith said at the time, defending the decision. I promise you this is better. The Remploy organisation was privatised and sold to American workfare provider Maximus, with the majority of the organisations factories closed. The future of the remaining sites is unclear 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Scrapping the Independent Living Fund The 320m Independent Living Fund was established in 1988 to give financial support to people with disabilities. It was scrapped on July 1 2015, with 18,000 often severely disabled people losing out by an average of 300 a week. The money was generally used to help pay for carers so people could live in communities rather than institutions. Councils will get a boost in funding to compensate but it will not cover the whole cost of the fund. This new cash also doesnt have to be spent on the disabled 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut payments for the disabled Access To Work scheme Iain Duncan Smith is bringing forward a policy that will reduce payments to some disabled people from a scheme designed to help them into work. The 108m scheme, which helps 35,540 people, will be capped on a per-used basis, potentially hitting those with the more serious disabilities who currently receive the most help. The single biggest users of the fund are people who have difficulty seeing and hearing. The cut will come in from October 2015. The charity Disability UK says the scheme actually makes the Government money because the people who gain access to work tend pay tax that more than covers its cost. The DWP does not describe the reduction as a cut and says it will be able to spread the money more thinly and cover more people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut Employment and Support Allowance The latest Budget included a 30 a week cut in disability benefits for some new claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Government says it is equalising the rate of disability benefits with Jobseekers Allowance because giving disabled people more help is a perverse incentive. The people affected by this cut are those assessed as having a limited capability for work but as being capable of some work-related activity. A group of prominent Catholics wrote to Mr Duncan Smith to say there was no justification for this cut. Mental health charity Mind, said the cut was insulting and misguided 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Risk homelessness with a sharp increase disability benefit sanctions Official figures in the first quarter of 2014 found a huge increase in sanctions against people reliant on ESA sickness benefit. The 15,955 sanctions were handed out in that period compared to 3,574 in the same period the year before, 2013  a 4.5 times increase. The homelessness charity Crisis warned at the time that the sharp rise in temporary benefit cuts was cruel and can leave people utterly destitute  without money even for food and at severe risk of homelessness. It is difficult to see how they are meant to help people prepare for work, Matt Downie, director of policy at the charity added 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Sending sick people to work because of broken fitness to work tests In 2012 a government advisor appointed to review the Governments Work Capability Assessment said the tests causing suffering by sending sick people back to work inappropriately. There are certainly areas where it's still not working and I am sorry there are people going through a system which I think still needs improvement, Professor Malcolm Harrington concluded. The tests are said to have improved since then, but as recently as this summer they are still coming in for criticism. In June the British Psychological Society said there was now significant body of evidence that the WCA is failing to assess peoples fitness for work accurately and appropriately. It called for a full overhaul of the way the tests are carried out. The WCA appeals system has also been fraught with controversy with a very high rate of overturns and delays lasting months and blamed for hardship 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people The bedroom tax The Governments benefit cut for people who it says are under-occupying their homes disproportionately affects disabled people. Statistics released last year show that around two-thirds of those affected by the under-occupancy penalty, widely known as the bedroom tax, are disabled. There have been a number of high profile cases of disabled people being moved out of specially adapted homes by the policy. In one case publicised by the Sunday People last week, a 48 year old man with cerebral palsy was forced to bathe in a paddling pool after the tax moved him out of his home with a walk-in shower. The Government says it has provided councils with a discretionary fund to help reduce the policys impact on disabled people, but cases continue to arise

"Everything is up for grabs immediately someone new moves in and they dictate every single policy area across government. It is a fight at all stages."

Mr Duncan Smith said that the Treasury's power over Whitehall was established under Labour chancellor Gordon Brown, leaving it with "enormous" power over other departments.

The kind of decisions made in countries such as Germany and the US to support industry were "very difficult" in the UK because of the Treasury's dominance, he said. "It's not a department that is characterised by the concept of vision," he said. "This is a department that is characterised solely by a lack of vision."
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The Conservative Party withheld key documents from an investigation into possible electoral fraud by the party, the elections watchdog has revealed.

The Electoral Commission on Thursday applied for a High Court order to force the Tories to hand over the missing papers  which it says would help shed light on whether the party broke spending rules in key marginal seats at the general election.

Police across the country have announced criminal investigations into the Conservative Partys conduct at the general election after a Channel 4 News investigation alleged it might have broken spending rules.

Recommended Read more David Cameron confronted over Tory election fraud claims

According to the broadcaster, the party allegedly failed to locally declare the costs of bussing activists around to marginal seats  activity which could potentially have swung hotly contested marginals in their favour.

Between 20 and 30 marginal seats were reportedly visited by the bussed-in activists; the Tories ultimately only won a majority of 12, allowing them to form a majority government.

If electoral law is found to have been broken then punishments could include fines and prison sentences.

David Cameron was at PMQs yesterday asked to account for his partys actions at the election. He replied: The whole point in this country is the Electoral Commission is independent and when it comes to operational decisions by a police force, they are independent too. Thats the hallmark of an uncorrupt country!

The Electoral Commission said it had already issued a statutory notice demanding the Tories hand over the documents using powers granted to it under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000.

The claims of a spending rule breach relate to bussing activists around the country (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (Getty)

However, after the party failed to comply with part of the notice, the Commission said it had launched a court bid for a disclosure order which if granted would be the court compelling the Respondent to release the required documents and information to the Commission.

Bob Posner, director of party and election finance and legal counsel at the Electoral Commission, said the withheld documents were necessary to proceed with the investigation.

If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts, he said.

General election 2015: Polling day Show all 16 1 /16 General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Nuns arrive to vote at a polling station at St John's Church in Paddington, London General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 A voter leaves the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, also known as the 'Pub with no name', which is part of the East Hampshire constituency and acts as a local polling station on the day of the election General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 General view of inside the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 People cast their votes as a man uses a punch bag in the East Hull Boxing Academy, which is being used as a polling station in Hull General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Penny Higbee waits to greet voters at her home in Routh, East Yorkshire, which is being used as a rural polling station General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Voters in Ironbridge, Shropshire, arrive to cast their vote at The Iron Bridge Tollhouse General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 A voter arrives at the North West Ambulance Service Station at Milton Green, Cheshire, which is being used as a polling station as Britain goes to the ballot box General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 A polling station has been installed in a launderette in Oxford General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 SNP candidate for the Gordon constituency and Former First Minister Alex Salmond with first time voter Nicki Falconer, and her family, (L-R) Mackenzie, Nicki, Skye, Alex Salmond and Keiran at their local polling station in the Gordon constituency in Ellon, Scotland General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha after casting their votes at Spelsbury Memorial Hall, Witney General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez arrive at Hall Park Hill Community Centre to cast their votes, in Sheffield General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine Thornton leave the polling station at Sutton Village Hall in Sutton after casting their votes in the 2015 general election in Doncaster General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon, votes with her husband Peter Murrell in Glasgow, Scotland General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Ukip leader Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote for the South Thanet constituency in Ramsgate General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood arrives at a polling station in Penygraig, Rhondda, Wales General election 2015: Polling day General election 2015 Green Party leader Natalie Bennett after casting her vote at Ossulston Tenants' Hall, London

We are today asking the court to require the party to fully disclose the documents and information we regard as necessary to effectively progress our investigation into the partys campaign spending returns.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said in a statement issued to the Independent at 2.30pm: We advised the Electoral Commission on 29 April that we would comply with their notices by 1pm today  and we will do so. There was no need for them to make this application to the High Court.

The Conservative spokesperson later said it had now complied with the Electoral Commissions order. The Electoral Commission said it had received some additional documentation from the party but that it was still checking whether this documentation complied with that requested in the order.

However, a spokesperson for the watchdog disputed the Conservative spoksperson's claims about deadlines.

The Commission granted the Conservative Party an additional period of time with a deadline of 9 May by when it was required to comply with the Commissions notices for provision of documents and information, the spokesperson told Channel 4 News.

The Party did not comply and did not state that it intended to submit any documents at 1pm today (12 May).
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The Conservative party must conduct an urgent inquiry into alleged Islamophobia in its ranks, Britains largest Muslim representative organisation has said.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the partys recent campaign for Mayor of London was punctuated by Islamophobic smears against both the now Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and other Muslims.

David Cameron last night apologised for having falsely claimed that south London imam Sulaiman Ghani supported the terrorist group Isis  a claim he used to attack Labours candidate, who had appeared on platforms with him.

The Tories were also accused of dog whilstle racism after describing Mr Khan as radical, that London would not be safe under his watch, and suggesting he had associated with extremists.

Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the MCB, welcomed the PMs apology, but said the Tories needed to conduct a full inquiry into the extent of Islamophobia in its own ranks.

Such a probe would run parallel to an inquiry conducted in the Labour party, which has appointed campaigner Shami Chakrabati to examine the extent of alleged antisemitism in the party.

I welcome the Prime Ministers long overdue apology to Imam Sulaiman Ghani, a London imam who has thus far been unable to challenge claims made in Parliament that he supports Daesh or terrorism. As a result of these smears, we understand that Imam Ghani has been subject to abuse and threats on his life, Mr Shafi said.

Zac Goldsmith (far left) was criticised for his campaign against Sadiq Khan (right) (AFP)

I call on both the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary to make that apology in Parliament as well. Imam Ghani became the innocent casualty of a wider Islamophobic attack on the now Mayor of London and the Conservative Party needs to apologise for this too.

Such smear-by-association has become all too common for Muslims and Muslim organisations. It is a cancer blighting sections of our political and media class and has infected the solemn business of government.

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

For the real extremists we are all opposed to, such tactics will only provide fresh new examples of a society not willing to accept Muslims for who they are.

I also call for an urgent review of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. Just as the Labour Party is rightly conducting an inquiry into antisemitism, it is important for the Conservative Party to reflect upon the extent of Islamophobia in its own ranks. We should have zero tolerance for both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

 Corbyn reminds Cameron that "racism was endemic" in his Conservative party

We urge the Conservative Party to reflect and learn from this disreputable period of campaigning so that we can all draw a line and move on.

The call comes days after former Tory cabinet minister Baroness Warsi herself warned that her party had lost in London because it had run an appalling dog-whistle campaign in the capital.

She said it had "lost us the election, our reputation and credibility on issues of race and religion".

A Downing Street spokesperson last night said Mr Cameron apologises to him for any misunderstanding with regards to Mr Ghani, who in fact previously supported the Conservatives.

But at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday he dodged answering a question about whether he would apologise for the nature of his party's campaign against Mr Khan.

The Independent has contacted the Conservative party for comment on this developing story.
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Around double the number of private tenants are been being evicted from their homes now compared to when David Cameron first came to power, new figures show.

A total of 22,376 private renting households in England were evicted in the last 12 months  twice as many as in the same period five years ago.

The numbers, which are drawn from Ministry of Justice statistics on repossessions by county court bailiffs, as well as landlords using the accelerated procedure, come as the House of Lords tries to block the Governments new Housing Bill, which some peers say will lead to an even bigger shortage of affordable homes in Britain.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the housing charity Shelter, said the Governments forthcoming Bill  which contains measures to sell off more social housing  would likely make the problem of evictions worse.

Todays figures are a painful reminder of the catastrophic impact welfare cuts and our drought of affordable homes are having on thousands of people in England, he said.

With so many trapped in expensive and unstable private renting, every day at Shelter we hear from families facing the devastating reality of losing their home. Our advisers are already struggling to keep up with demand, and were extremely worried that short-sighted plans in the governments Housing Bill will further shrink the numbers of genuinely affordable homes and make things even worse.

David Cameron came to power in May 2010 (AP)

The government cant continue to ignore the root cause of this crisis and the ordinary families most affected by it  they must act now to build homes that people on lower incomes can actually afford to rent or buy.

Though the overall number of people renting privately has increase significantly since five years ago, the UK was also exiting the tail-end of a recession at that time and the rate of evictions were then thought to be unusually high.

The world's least affordable cities for housing Show all 10 1 /10 The world's least affordable cities for housing The world's least affordable cities for housing Hong Kong The world's least affordable cities for housing Sydney The world's least affordable cities for housing Vancouver The world's least affordable cities for housing Auckland The world's least affordable cities for housing Melbourne The world's least affordable cities for housing San Jose The world's least affordable cities for housing San Francisco The world's least affordable cities for housing London The world's least affordable cities for housing San Diego The world's least affordable cities for housing Los Angeles

Figures released this year show that being evicted by a private landlord is now the most common cause of homelessness

The Housing Bill has been defeated around two-dozen times in the Lords but ministers are keen to push on with the new laws, which include plans to raise council rents for higher earning families and force councils to sell off the most valuable council properties.

what can solve the housing crisis?

The Government said it had protected tenants from retaliatory evictions with new rules.

A DCLG spokesperson said: Weve introduced measures to ensure tenants get a fair deal, are aware of their rights and are protected from retaliatory evictions.

Weve also doubled the housing budget and are investing 8 billion to build 400,000 affordable homes, including quality homes for rent.

Todays figures show that all stages of landlord repossessions have gone down compared to the same quarter last year.
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The world's ten most corrupt countries have received 2.7 billion in British aid during David Cameron's time as Prime Minister, according to official figures.

Since Mr Cameron became Prime Minister in 2010, the amount spent by the Department for International Development (DFID) on aid for the nations ranked worst for corruption has increased by 14 per cent, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister was caught on camera describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as "fantastically corrupt countries" on the eve of a major corruption conference in London.

He singled out the two states as "possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world" in comments to the Queen recorded by ITV News.

David Cameron's biggest controversies Show all 8 1 /8 David Cameron's biggest controversies David Cameron's biggest controversies Pig-gate A book released by Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft alleged that an MP and Oxford contemporary of David Cameron had allegedly seen a photograph of Mr Cameron performing a sex act on a pig while at university. Downing Street did not comment on the allegations and the peer said they could have been a case of mistaken identity David Hartley/REX Shutterstock David Cameron's biggest controversies Swarm of migrants In July 2015 David Cameron referred to refugees coming into Europe from the Middle East and North Africa as a swarm. He was criticised for using the language, which critics said was dehumanising Getty David Cameron's biggest controversies Child tax credits In April 2015 David Cameron was asked whether hed cut child tax credits. No, I dont want to do that, he said, saying that he rejected reports that he would. Shortly after the election the Government unveiled cuts to child tax credits EPA David Cameron's biggest controversies Cycling to work As leader of the opposition David Cameron was regularly photographed cycling to work. In early 2006 he was photographed cycling but with a driver in a car carrying his belongings. It was suggested at the time the cycling was just for show and that having two vehicles on the road instead of one was wasteful Rex David Cameron's biggest controversies Andy Coulson David Cameron employed former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as government communications director from 2010. After stepping down from the post due to coverage of the phone hacking affairs, Mr Coulson was later found guilty of conspiracy to intercept voicemails. He served a short prison sentence AFP David Cameron's biggest controversies His personal windmill Early in his leadership of the Conservative David Cameron made an effort to change the partys image by making eco-friendly gesures. As one of these gestures, the future PM put a wind turbine on his house. However, the turbine later had to be removed after neighbours condemned it as an eyesore and the councils planning committee said it had been put in the wrong place Getty David Cameron's biggest controversies Funeral selfie David Cameron was pictured posing for a selfie with Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Barack Obama at Nelson Mandelas funeral. Some in the press criticised the prime minister for showing in an inappropriately low level of respect for the gravity of the occasion AFP/Getty Images David Cameron's biggest controversies Eating a hotdog with a knife and fork The Prime Minister was pictured eating a hotdog with a knife and fork in the run up to the 2015 general election. He was accused of being posh. I had a very privileged upbringing... I've never tried to hide that, he said Reuters

Transparency International ranked Afghanistan as the third most corrupt country in the world in 2015.

This year, Britain will spend 145 million on aid in Afghanistan and 242 million in Nigeria.

The top ten most corrupt nations according to Transparency International will receive 421 million in aid this year, taking the total since David Cameron became Prime Minister to 2.7 billion.

 PM caught on mic and the Queen is involved again

Somalia, ranked the most corrupt country in the world, will receive 82.7 million from DFID.

Sudan and South Sudan, ranked 4th and 5th, will receive 41.6 million and 45.5 million respectively.

Libya will receive 1.3 million while Iraq will get 4.8 million.

The UK does not give aid to North Korea, Angola, Venezuela or Guinea-Bissau - four countries ranked among the most corrupt.

British aid is typically gifted to aid agencies or spent on projects to benefit the poorest people in a country.
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A Baltimore man has been exonerated after more than fifteen years in prison for murder after new DNA testing established that the blood on the victims T-shirt did not match his.

Lawyers for Malcolm Jabbar Bryant, 42, requested a new trial for their client in the light of the new evidence findings. A Baltimore Circuit Court judge granted the motion on Wednesday and prosecutors then dropped all charges against him.

Mr Bryant was convicted in the November 1998 stabbing death of Toni Bullock. He was arrested a few weeks after Ms Bullock, 16, was grabbed by a knife-wielding assailant while walking with her best friend and pulled into a vacant lot before being fatally stabbed. The motive was murder, prosecutors said at the time.

Police had moved to arrest Mr Bryant, 42, after he apparently matched a drawing of the assailant done for them by the other girl who escaped. After his conviction he was sentenced by a judge to life behind bars plus ten years.

Hallelujah, Mr Bryant's mother exclaimed as the court hearing confirmed the dropping of all charges. He is expected to be released from prison before the end of the week.

Officials voiced their concern for the family of the victim, but also sought to say sorry to Mr Bryant for the years of his life that have been lost.

My heart also breaks for Malcolm Bryant, who was only 25 years old when he was sentenced, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said at a press conference. So on behalf of the criminal justice system, I would like to apologise to Malcolm Bryant and his family.

After Mr Bryants tried in vain to insist on his innocence from behind bars and exhausted all avenues to appeal his conviction, his case was taken up by the Baltimore Innocence Project which then brought it to the attention of the prosecutors office.

The new testing of evidence had been ordered by Ms Mosbys. Results obtained late last year failed to match Mr Bryant to the victim.

The only plausible explanation...is that the DNA is in fact that of the killer and the DNA does not match that of Mr. Malcolm Bryant, which means he is not the killer, Ms Mosby said.
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A British man suspected of slitting his wife and mother-in-law's throats has been found hiding 150 miles away from the scene in a coastal homeless camp in California.

After a four-day manhunt, a tip from a homeless person led investigators to Dave Thomas McCann, 49, a British man living in California.

He was taken into custody suspected of killing his wife, Tierney Cooper McCann, 36, and her mother, Judith Cooper, 68, at their home in Clovis on Saturday.

Tierney McCann's sister, Cortney Rider, said she was at the home when Dave McCann kicked down the door and attacked her family.

She told KFSN-TV that she watched him cut her sister's throat.

Dave Thomas McCann is accused of killing his wife and mother-in-law (AP)

"He looked at me and said, 'You're next,' and I immediately ran out the front door and ran to the next door neighbours," Ms Rider told the TV station.

She said her mother was hiding in a bedroom, but he knocked down the door and slit her throat.

McCann's failing marriage and folding business may be what caused him to snap, Ms Rider added.

A day before the murders, McCann had gone to the Clovis Police Department and asked an officer to accompany him to the home to collect some of his personal belongings, which happened without incident, a police spokeswoman said.

After the slayings, he drove a truck towards the coast, abandoning it two hours away in the city of Paso Robles, investigators say.

From there, he may have ridden a bicycle and hitched rides north, to the coastal town of Seaside.

McCann did not use a cellphone and did not withdraw money from an ATM, which could have pinpointed his location, Clovis Police Chief Matt Basgall said at a news conference in Seaside after the arrest.

A break in the search came when a homeless person tipped off investigators to McCann's whereabouts. Officers found McCann asleep at the homeless camp, Mr Basgall said.

Police said McCann is a British citizen living in the US on a green card.
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Brazil has been plunged into renewed political turnoil after the Senate voted to impeach president Dilma Rousseff.

The Senate voted in favour of putting Ms Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws by 55 votes to 22.

The was significantly higher than the simple majority of 41 votes needed to suspend her, suggesting she will face a struggle to return to power.

Michel Temer, her vice-president, will become acting president during the trial.

 Brazil president to face proceedings following impeachment vote

Ms Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, has been accused of violating fiscal laws while closing gaps in the budget using money from state banks.

However, she denies allegations of wrongdoing, and insists that the impeachment is politically motivated.

The trial will determine whether she can serve out her second term and could last up to six months.

For her to be ousted for good, she would have to be convicted by at least a two-thirds majority of the 81-seat Senate.

The extraordinary drama has come at a time when Brazil is enduring its worst economic recession since the 1930s, thanks in part to crashing oil prices, and has been treated to a long torrent of revelations of corruption and graft connected to Petrobras, the national oil giant, that has seen numerous Worker Party figures put in prison or put under investigation.

People gather to demonstrate in favor of impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Getty)

No allegations of corruption have been leveled at Ms Rousseff, but as a former chairman of Petrobras at a time when the corruption within it was already rife, the scandal has tainted her.

Plainly said, this is the worst crisis in our history, with its combination of economic calamity, discredited politics and the violation of the lowest ethical standards, Boris Fausto, a Brazilian political scientist and historian, commented to reporters earlier this month.

In a statement on the Vaticans radio website, Pope Francis voiced his concern for the situation in Latin Americas largest country and a neighbour of his own Argentina. He called for prayer and dialogue and said he hoped that Brazil proceeds on the path of harmony and peace.

Adding to the national malaise is the medical emergency created by the fast-spreading Zika virus. In the meantime, the country is trying to galvanise itself to welcome the world to the Summer Olympic Games in August, plans for which have encountered problems of their own, not least worries about heavily polluted water threatening events like rowing.

There has been a rise recently in Brazilian markets amidst first tiny glimmers of economic recovery as well as hope that Mr Temer, whose is seen as being more pro-business than the leftist ruling party, will take steps to attack the deficit and tame public spending.

While he may be looked upon appreciatively by the business community, Mr Temer is politically deeply unpopular with only 2 per cent of voters saying they would actually choose him to lead Brazil. He also faces a monumental task getting the economy back in order, experts agree.

Temer may enjoy a honeymoon with markets for some weeks, maybe months, but when investors come to realize that the fiscal results will not improve fast enough, then we could see some disappointment later this year, said Bruno Lavieri, an economist with consultancy 4E, in Sao Paulo.

Analysts will be scrutinising the Senate vote to see what hope, if any, Ms Rousseff may have of surviving the trial itself. For her to be ousted for good, she would have to be convicted by at least a two-thirds majority in the 81-seat Senate. If that were to happen, Mr Temer would in theory serve out the remainder of her second term which runs until the end of 2018.

Afoot also is a retreat from power of the Workers Party which has governed Brazil, the worlds seventh largest economy, for the last 13 years. Ms Rousseff was the chosen successor of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known simply as Lula, who ushered in a rare streak of economic growth that lifted millions out of poverty.

A rightwards shift in Brazils government would fit a pattern seen recently in other Latin American states, notably with the election last November of President Mauricio Macri, a free-market reformer, in Argentina and the gradual collapse of the far-left regime in Venezuela, even if for now President Nicolas Maduro still clings to power.

Brazils boom times, driven by high commodity prices, had already begun to fizzle by the time of the 2014 re-election campaign. Ms Rousseff is specifically accused of plundering public banks for money that was then used to disguise the national deficit. She has countered that the tactic had been used by previous presidents and that she is in fact the victim of a political coup.

She displayed continuing defiance on Tuesday after it became clear that there would be no more delaying the Senate vote. I will not resign, that never crossed my mind, Rousseff said in a speech to cheering supporters.

Mr Temer appeared to be moving swiftly to assemble this own team. He is known to have picked former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles as Finance Minister and, according to local press report, Itau Unibanco's chief economist Ilan Goldfajn as head of Brazils central bank.
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A mans life was saved by the staff at his local Domino's when they noticed he hadnt ordered any food from them in more than a week.

Staff at Dominos in Salem, Oregon, were worried when they realised they had not made any deliveries to regular customer, Kirk Alexander, in 11 days.

He orders every day, every other day, store manager Sarah Fuller, told local broadcaster KOIN. His order pops up on the screen because he orders online. So we see it come across the screen and were like, Oh, Kirks order.'

Several delivery drivers had commented that they hadn't seen an order come through for Mr Alexander recently. "When we looked it up, we knew instantly it wasn't normal," Ms Fuller told the Statesman Journal.

The staffs calls to Mr Alexander  who they knew suffered from health problems  were left unanswered.

Heartwarming news stories from around the world Show all 30 1 /30 Heartwarming news stories from around the world Heartwarming news stories from around the world A boy who saved the life of a suicidal man by simply asking him "Are you okay? has said he did it because he likes to help people who need help. Jamie Harrington, from Ballymun, Dublin, told the Humans of Dublin project about a meeting with a man in his 30s sitting on the edge of a bridge and about to jump off it. After sitting down and speaking to the stranger for 45 minutes, 16-year-old Jamie persuaded the man to go to hospital and seek treatment Heartwarming news stories from around the world This little boy loves books so much that he cries when his mother stops reading to him A good book can keep a child entertained for hours, but there aren't many that can actually make babies cry when they end. That's exactly what happened to one little boy, who looks completely engrossed while his mother reads him the book 'I Am a Bunny', a classic children's book about the pattern of the seasons. However, when the story ends and his mother closes the book, he immediately begins crying. The only thing that seems to placate him is opening the book at the beginning and reading the story again. It's heartening to see such a little child so completely in love with a book, but it must get a little wearing for his parents after a while Leesedanielle/YouTube Heartwarming news stories from around the world Tattoo with a hidden message highlights the invisible battle faced by people with depression A young woman has brought attention to the invisibility of depression - by getting a tattoo which sends out two opposing messages depending on how you look at it. The tattoo on her leg appears to say "I'm fine" when read by someone looking at her, but reveals its true secret to its wearer when she looks down at it, reading "Save me" instead. Bekah Miles, a 21-year-old US student who has struggled with depression for some years, got the inking on her leg to start a conversation about mental health and give voice to her experience Facebook/Bekah Miles Heartwarming news stories from around the world Teen goes to extraordinary lengths to give autistic twin the high school graduation to remember A teenager has earned herself an army of fans after she finally reached her goal to help her severely autistic twin brother across the stage at their high school graduation. Anders Bonville, 18, from Birmingham, Alabama, was diagnosed with autism when he was two, which left him non-verbal but  along with his sister, Aly  the pair developed their own unique language and set out to alter perceptions of the condition. Aly was called first on-stage to receive her diploma. With her brother being walked quietly behind a curtained area in his wheelchair to keep him calm, she quickly exited to get him before his name was called out. Aly zoomed down the hallway with her brother in his wheelchair so that he would be happy when the big moment came. Although the principal had ordered the audience to hold all applause until the end  the moment Aly took her brothers hand and led him across the stage  the entire hall rose to its feet and erupted into applause  including the principal herself Benida Pillitary Bonville via Facebook Heartwarming news stories from around the world 'Forrest Gump' completes 42 back-to-back marathons A man has completed 42 back-to-back marathons  while dressed as Forrest Gump. Ewan Gordon, 42, from Oxfordshire, copied the popular film character by growing out his hair and beard to complete the 1,050-mile challenge in memory of nine-year-old Thomas Laurie who died last year. Thomas suffered from Cockayne Syndrome  a rare premature ageing disease  which is known to affect just 100 youngsters in the UK. Mr Gordon, a civil servant, ran about 26 miles each day (42km)  the equivalent of a marathon a day  for 42 days, from John OGroats to Lands End. He said he was inspired to adopt the quirky persona following a bet when a friend said he would sponsor Mr Gordon more money for his charity run if he did @OxLightBlues/Twitter Heartwarming news stories from around the world Charity shop thanks 'true gent' who donated late wife's wedding dress with heartfelt message A charity shop in Leeds has tracked down the elderly man who donated his late wifes stunning 1950s wedding dress with a heartfelt note. St Gemmas Hospice, which runs a speciality bridal shop in Garforth, described the man as a true gent while appealing for help finding him on social media. The stunning vintage gown has a lace bodice and sleeves and full embroidered skirt. A note attached to it read: I wish any lady who takes this dress to have a life with her loved one 56 years like I did. Happy years. I was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine" St Gemma's Hospice Heartwarming news stories from around the world Blood donors in Sweden get a text message whenever their blood saves someone's life With blood donation rates in decline all over the developed world, Swedens blood service is enlisting new technology to help push back against shortages. One new initiative, where donors are sent automatic text messages telling them when their blood has actually been used, has caught the public eye. People who donate initially receive a 'thank you' text when they give blood, but they get another message when their blood makes it into somebody elses veins Getty Heartwarming news stories from around the world Guide dog jumps in front of oncoming bus to save blind owner When Figo the service dog saw an oncoming mini school bus heading for Audrey Stone, the blind woman he was trained to guide, the golden retriever's protective instincts kicked in: He threw himself at the closest part of the vehicle he could. Police photos show the result: fur stuck to the front driver's side wheel and in the middle of Michael Neuner Avenue in New York, where the bus came to a stop after striking the pair. The driver of the Brewster school bus, carrying two kindergartners to St. Lawrence O'Toole Childhood Learning Center, told police he didn't see the pair crossing the road as they made their way home at about 8:15 Monday morning. But Figo saw the bus coming and leapt into action AP Heartwarming news stories from around the world Florida boy grew his hair for two years and endured bullying to donate it to charity After more than two years growing his hair, a boy from Florida has donated his locks to charity, despite being bullied along the way. Christian McPhilamy, an eight-year-old from Florida, began growing his hair after seeing an advert about paediatric cancer and has now donated four locks, each measuring over 10 inches, to charity Facebook Heartwarming news stories from around the world A police officer who told a student his parents were killed surprised him at his graduation ceremony Kazzie Porties parents, Riley and Emily, were killed by a drunk driver. Eric Ellison, an officer at the Orange Police Department in Texas, broke the news to the couples five children and told the youngest hed be by his side during graduation Heartwarming news stories from around the world Cafe asks customer to leave after he tells breastfeeding mother to cover up An Australian cafe has been praised for sticking up for a breastfeeding mother after a customer told her to cover up. Jessica-Anne Allen, owner of Cheese and Biscuits Cafe in Queensland, Australia, has described how she was approached by a male customer in the cafe on Thursday to complain that he was upset by a woman in the coffee shop breastfeeding her child nearby. The customer asked the cafe owner, 29, to tell the mother to cover up. When Mrs Allen refused to do so, he took matters into his own hands and challenged the woman himself. Staff at the cafe then asked the man to leave Heartwarming news stories from around the world Dog with cancer completes bucket list When their dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Cocos owners put together a bucket list and made sure their hound experienced an exciting few weeks before she died. Before she was put down on 5 May, Coco: visited a beach; took a ride in a helicopter; went in a fire engine; ate a steak at the pub; and also had a Big Mac from a McDonalds Drive Thru, amongst other activities https://www.facebook.com/symon.spencer.9 Heartwarming news stories from around the world Elderly cancer patient who rang 911 because he had no food is inundated with donations from well-wishers An elderly cancer patient who called 911 because he was hungry and had no food is receiving donations from hundreds of people across America who were moved by his story. Clarence Blackmon was discharged from a private hospital in Fayetteville, in North Carolina, on Tuesday after spending months there for cancer treatment. The 81-year-old returned to his house without any supplies and anyone close by to call for help, leading him to call 911 in desperation and ask for food. An hour-and-a-half later, Marilyn Hinson, the operator who answered that call, arrived at his front door with police carrying bags full of food and made him some ham sandwiches Heartwarming news stories from around the world Son receives touching 30th birthday card from father who died in 1999 A son has revealed how he only just received a birthday card from his dad who died from cancer over a decade ago, with the father having the foresight to mark his children's milestone birthdays before passing away. It was inscribed with a simple 'Love ya - Dad', and was written such a long time ago that even the corny joke on the inside feels quite charmingly dated ChrisBenRoy Heartwarming news stories from around the world Chinese student carries disabled friend to school every day for three years so he doesn't miss class A teenager has been hailed as the most beautiful student in China after spending three years giving piggy-backs to his disabled friend so that he doesnt have to miss a class. The story of 18-year-old Xie Xu, who volunteered to look after his 19-year-old classmate Zhang Chi, has been shared widely on Chinese social media and received widespread local media coverage Heartwarming news stories from around the world Teenage Aldi worker Christian Trouesdale walkes an old man home A young man from Horwich in Greater Manchester has become an unexpected internet sensation after he was photographed walking a frail old man home from the supermarket. Aldi worker Christian Trouesdale, 18, said he had received a crazy reaction with messages of support flooding in from as far afield as Dubai, Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. The image of Mr Trouesdale hand-in-hand with a 96-year-old customer on the street outside the shop was first shared by nearby worker and Horwich resident Samantha-Jayne Brady, 23, who said it was a lovely thing to witness Samantha-Jayne Brady Heartwarming news stories from around the world 8-year-old survivor of abuse writes inspirational 'thank you' letter to social workers An eight-year-old girl who was abused as an infant has written a thank-you letter to social workers and detectives who helped to rescue her from a home where she had been left paralysed as a result of beatings. Marie Suprenant is not able to walk as a result of the injuries that she sustained before she was taken under the care of a foster parent. I want to thank you for making me happy by giving me a new warm and safe environment, she writes. Now I have a home that is nice and I have three nice meals a day Heartwarming news stories from around the world Woman praised for defending Muslim woman 'harassed on train for wearing a hijab' An Australian woman has been described as a hero for challenging a train passenger who was allegedly being abusive towards a Muslim woman sat in the same carriage. Stacey Eden claimed an older woman was accusing the unidentified Muslim woman and the man sat next to her of being an Isis supporter because she was wearing a hijab. Ms Eden, from Sydney, said the alleged tirade began "a good ten minutes" before she started filming the woman, later uploading the video on to her Facebook page. Footage from the alleged incident began as the unnamed passenger asked the woman, who was also sat with a pram on the opposite side of the train, "why do you wear it [a hijab] for a man that marries a six year-old girl?" The woman and the man remained silent, but Ms Eden responded: "She wears it for herself, OK? She wears it because she wants to be modest with her body, not because of people like you who are going to sit there and disrespect her" Heartwarming news stories from around the world Loving parents have got matching tattoos of their daughters huge red birthmark Honey-Rae Phillips was born with the large strawberry mark covering half her body. The Daily Mirror reports that Mum Tanya Phillips and dad Adam Philips, who are both from Grimsby, got the tattoos after people starting making comments about it in public. We wanted Honey-Rae to feel special, that her birthmark was something to feel proud of and not embarrassed by, Ms Phillips told the newspaper Heartwarming news stories from around the world James Robertson who walked 20 miles to work every day for nine years is gifted new car James Robertson  who was unable to afford a new car after his last one broke down nine years ago  was recently awarded more than $310,000 in donations by kind strangers who learned of his daily difficulties. Even though the money raised was meant for a new vehicle, a car dealership decided to give him a new one worth around $37,000 (around 24,000) for free in his preferred colour, red Reuters Heartwarming news stories from around the world Stranger gives Kindle to homeless man An anonymous do-gooder has shunned praise after he gave a homeless man his Kindle. The man from San Diego, California, was visiting Las Vegas last month, when he met a homeless man named Paul, who had read the same, worn book, each time he passed. The man said he had also been down on his luck in the past, and decided to give Paul his Kindle e-reader. A moving photo showing Paul with his Kindle has been viewed over 2 million times on Imgur Mjuad/Reddit Heartwarming news stories from around the world Attacked pensioner Alan Barnes crowdfund passes 200,000 in donations Pensioner Alan Barnes was mugged outside his home in Gateshead last week in an attack that left him with a broken collarbone and too scared to return to his own house. Katie Cutler, who lives nearby to Barnes, set up a crowdfunding page intending to raise 500 to help the disabled pensioner find a new home. Her efforts have led to more than 200,000 in donations being made Heartwarming news stories from around the world Man reunited with stolen dog during search for new pet Richard Brower was heartbroken after his dog, a German shepherd called Dozer, was stolen from the Yard of his Alberta home, and his endless searching proved fruitless. But he had no idea that when he started searching for a new German shepherd, he would experience the closest thing to a miracle in his life  the Claresholm Animal Rescue Society, unbeknownst to its organisers, had Dozer safe and well, and now hes back at home Global News Heartwarming news stories from around the world Bart the 'zombie cat' set to make full recovery following his unlikely return from the grave Bart, the Florida cat who was buried after his owner found him lifeless in a pool of blood after being hit by a car, is set to make a full recovery when he returned from the grave five days later. Upon his return owner Ellis Hutson took the cat for surgery to remove his eye and have his jaw re-wired, and Bart is expected to return home soon Reuters/Humane Society of Tampa Bay Heartwarming news stories from around the world Friendship Nine's civil rights-era convictions overturned by South Carolina court It is 54 years since the Friendship Nine walked into McCrorys in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and sat down at the whites-only lunch counter in a sit-in that inspired non-violent protests across the South that were an integral part to the civil rights movement. The nine were arrested and convicted of ignoring a segregation order and sent to jail for 30 days, but this week their convictions were finally overturned Reuters Heartwarming news stories from around the world 'Humans of New York' blog raises over $1 million for Brooklyn school Humans of New York, the photo blog that aims to capture daily glimpses into the lives of New York inhabitants, has raised over $1 million dollars for a school in one of the most-crime ridden parts of the city this week, all because of the story of 13-year-old Vidal. The money is for Vidals school to be able to make contributions towards its pupils college tuition and to fund trips for sixth-graders to tour Harvard University IndiGoGo/Humans of New York Heartwarming news stories from around the world Mystery man who gave heart-warming note to young mum on train to 'put a smile on her face' has been identified The stranger who handed a small piece of paper and a 5 note to a 23-year-old mother just to tell her what a great mum she is has been identified, after recipient Sammie Welch was so overwhelmed by his kindness she started a Facebook search just to be able to thank him. Ken Saunders, 50, said he just wanted to put a smile on Welchs face PA Heartwarming news stories from around the world Father calls out his daughters racist bullies in emotional video A father has taken to YouTube to shame bullies who bombarded his daughter with racist abuse on social media. Mr Knudsons daughter, from Prior Lake in the US state of Minnesota, was adopted and is of African American descent. He recounted how he approached the parents of the twin bullies only to be told that there was nothing wrong with the abuse. I have a beautiful African American daughter who I love more than life itself and would do anything for, he said in the video Heartwarming news stories from around the world This kid thought the postman should get post too It must be kind of lonely being a mailman, all this correspondence running through your hands every day but none of it addressed to you. It must be kind of lonely being a mailman, all this correspondence running through your hands every day but none of it addressed to you absofaluminium Heartwarming news stories from around the world Student raises thousands of pounds for homeless man who offered her 3 for a taxi Christmas is a traditionally a time for giving, particularly to the less fortunate members of society, but one homeless man was prepared to hand over everything he had. The man, named Robbie, offered a 22-year-old student 3 to help her get home safely after a night out - and now she is hoping to raise enough money to help him off the streets Rex

"It was about 1am Sunday morning, and we weren't terribly busy," Ms Fuller said. "So I asked one of our regular drivers who knew Kirk to stop by the customer's home and check it out. We all know Kirk and he only lives about 6 minutes from our store, so the whole team was concerned."

Delivery driver Tracey Hamblen was sent to Mr Alexanders house and on arrival, he saw lights and the TV on, but there was no response at the door. Mr Hamblen then contacted the emergency services, who found Mr Alexander on the floor of his house calling for help, having apparently suffered a stroke.

The authorities said he was in immediate need of medical attention and the actions of the pizza store staff had made all the difference.

Its crazy. It wasnt what I was really expecting would happen at all, Ms Fuller said. He was just an important customer thats part of our family here at Dominos. He orders all the time, so we know him. I think we were just doing our job checking in on someone we know who orders a lot. We felt like we needed to do something.

Mr Alexander is reported to be in a stable condition in hospital.
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Donald Trump has softened his stance on the most controversial proposal of the 2016 election campaign, saying that his call to ban Muslims from entering the US was just a suggestion.

Speaking to Fox News radio, the real estate mogul who won more than 60 per cent of the Republican vote in New York in March, said: It hasnt been called for yet. Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out whats going on.

The ban was only supposed to be temporary, he said in a separate television interview with Fox News.

Id like to back off as soon as possible because, frankly, Id like to see something happen, he said. We have to be vigilant. There is a radical Islamic terrorism problem that our president doesnt even want to talk about.

He pointed to examples of terrorism in Paris, San Bernardino in California, the 9/11 attacks, and the the other night in Germany, look what happened on the train, referring to a German citizen called Paul H who ran amok near Munich, stabbing four people. Authorities said the man had no terrorist links.

Mr Trump called for the ban on Muslims in November last year, shortly after the terrorist attacks in Paris which killed 130 people.

Despite international outrage, he refused to apologise or retract his comments  until this week, following a response from the new London mayor Sadiq Khan, a practising Muslim, who told reporters he will not be Mr Trumps Muslim exception.

Mr Trumps softer tone against Muslims was adopted during an interview to discuss the immigration committee he was forming with the controversial and right-wing former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, who Mr Trump described as smart and tough.

Instead of banning Muslims, Mr Trump said he wanted to make the Gulf States pay for numerous safe zones within Syria and other countries for Muslim refugees to live in, instead of emigrating  and he said the US would not pay for it due to a $19 trillion "hole".

The businessman made the U-turn the same day he was expected to meet with house speaker Paul Ryan for Republican peace talks in Washington, two months before the party convention.

People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit!  Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone'

On the path to becoming more presidential, Mr Trump has also softened his rhetoric on transgender people, Planned Parenthood, tax and on the minimum wage.

He is the first candidate in 40 years, however, who has refused to release his tax returns, but he claimed he is being audited as far back long enough so that it would matter.

I have friends who are very wealthy people  I say, how often do you get audited? They didnt even know what I meant, he said. Theyre never audited. I am audited every single year and I think its very unfair.

Hillary Clinton has published her last eight tax returns on her website.
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Update12 May 2016: Minutes after it started, the online auction of the gun George Zimmerman used to kill Trayvon Martin in 2012 was halted.

Recommended Read more Trayvon Martin would have celebrated his 21st birthday today

GunBroker.com issued a statement in the hours following the removal of the listing and distanced themselves from Zimmerman's publicity.



"Mr Zimmerman never contacted anyone at GunBroker.com prior to or after the listing was created and no one at GunBroker.com has any relationship with Zimmerman," the statement said. "Our site rules state that we reserve the right to reject listings at our sole discretion, and have done so with the Zimmerman listing."



"We want no part in the listing on our web site or in any of the publicity it is receiving."

Zimmerman listed the gun - a Kel-Tec PF-9 nine millimeter handgun - on the site GunBroker.com with a starting bid of $5,000 (3,462). He claimed to have received offers to have the gun displayed in the Smithsonian Museum, as it is a piece of American history, he said. The Smithsonian denied this claim the Thursday morning.

The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin, his wrote.

Fox 35 reports that the Department of Justice had just returned the gun to Zimmerman after investigating his case to determine whether or not to pursue federal hate crime charges.

I recently received it back from the Department of Justice. They took it after my trial after I was exonerated, he said, adding that the gun is fully functional despite attempts [by DOJ] on behalf of B Hussein Obama to render the firearm inoperable.

Shortly after Zimmerman listed the gun on the auction site, he claims to have received death threats and is in hiding.



What Ive decided to do is not cower, he said. Im a free American. I can do what I want with my possessions.

GunBroker.com

Representatives for the family of Trayvon Martin declined to comment on the auction, and instead issued a statement about their mission moving forward.

The Trayvon Martin Foundation is committed to its mission of ending senseless gun violence in the United States, the statement said. This election season, we are laser focused on furthering that mission. As such, the foundation has no comment on the actions of that person.

Zimmerman said he is using the proceeds of the gun auction to fight [Black Lives Matter] violence against Law Enforcement officers, ensure the demise of [Florida state attorney] Angela Correy's persecution career, and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric.

In pictures: Millions March Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Millions March In pictures: Millions March Millions March A man raises his arms at a rally during the National Action Network National March Against Police Violence in Washington Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March A man wearing symbolic chains on his body marches in New York Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March Al Sharpton (C) leads a march with family members of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin to Capitol Hill Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March People take part in a march against police violence, in New York, as part of the Millions march Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March A woman shouts slogans against police brutality while marching on the streets of Manhattan, New York Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March A demonstrator protests against police violence in Oakland, California Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March A woman takes part in a march against police violence, in Midtown Manhattan, New York Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March People shout slogans as they take part in a march against police violence, in New York Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington on Saturday for a march to protest the killings of unarmed black men by law enforcement officers Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March Protesters urged Congress to do more to protect African-Americans from unjustified police violence Reuters In pictures: Millions March Millions March People shout slogans against police as they take part in a march against police violence, in New York Reuters

In July 2013, a Florida jury found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of the unarmed Martin, who was 17-years-old. The defense invoked the states controversial Stand Your Ground law, which does not require a someone to attempt retreat before using force in self-defense.

Zimmermans acquittal is often cited as the moment that launched the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Attorney General Eric Holder announcedthat the DOJ would not pursue charges against Zimmerman in February 2015, because the high standard for federal hate crime prosecution could not be met.

President Barack Obama spoke candidly about the case following Zimmermans 2013 acquittal.

When Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago, Mr Obama said.

And when you think about why, in the African American community at least, theres a lot of pain around what happened here, I think its important to recognise that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesnt go away.
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The hedge fund business of Hillary Clinton's son in law has taken a hit with one of its funds closing its doors just two years after it failed to add value for investors.

The Eaglevale Hellenic Opportunity Offshore Fund, a pooled investment fund domiciled in the Cayman Islands, lost 90 per cent of its value after its main investment  Greek banking stocks and government debt  failed to recover.

It would have been a blow for executive Marc Mezvinsky, who married Chelsea Clinton in 2010, as he had pitched the idea for the portfolio, as reported by the New York Times.

Brought to market in July 2014, the fund aimed to be a way to bet on the recovery of the Greek economy and raised $25 million from investors.

Greece is a risky investment, with 10-year Greek government bonds yielding around 7.5 per cent - UK 10-year government bonds yield around 1.4 per cent in comparison - and bank stocks are inherently volatile.

Overall Greek stocks failed to bounce back as hoped, with the Athens Stock Exchange plummeting around 90 per cent since launch of the fund.

World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Show all 15 1 /15 World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Petro Poroshenko President of Ukraine World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Ayad Allawi Allawi Iraqs Vice-President between 2014 and 2015, and the countrys interim prime minister from 2004 to 2005 World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud King of Saudi Arabia World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates, Emir of Abu Dhabi World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Sigmundur Davi Gunnlaugsson Prime Minister of Iceland World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Sergey Roldugin Close friend of Vladimir Putin World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Emir of Qatar 1995-2013 World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Li Xiaolin Daughter of Li Peng, the former Premier of China (The current vice-president of state-owned power company China Datang Gorporation and former CEO of China Power International Development, she has been nicknamed Chinas Power Queen World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Rami Makhlouf Cousin of Bashar Assad, the President of Syria World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Hafez Makhlouf Cousin of Bashar Assad, the President of Syria World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Clive Khulubuse Zuma Nephew of Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Maryam Nawaz Sharif Safdar Daughter of Nawaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Hasan Nawaz Sharif Son of Nawaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Hussain Nawaz Sharif Son of Nawaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan World leaders linked to 'Panama Papers' Alaa Mubarak The eldest son of ousted former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Read more here

Having a hedge fund manager  with a failed hedge fund  in the family will do little to convince Hillary Clintons critics that she is not bound to Wall Street or its lobbyists. Tens of millions raised for the fund came from Clinton supporters.

Hedge funds require millions of dollars to invest in, often using a so-called 2 and 20 fee structure, where investors pay high annual fees to the manager and a 20 per cent performance fee if the manager performs well.

They are also highly opaque structures which do not always reveal what exactly they are invested in.

In 2014, Ms Clintons husband and his partners said they were confident that Greece would soon be on the path to a sustainable recovery. By the end of that year, the partners acknowledged they may have been mistaken.

Mr Mezvinksy spoke at conferences to promote the idea of investing for growth in Greece.

Yet the Greek banking crisis, which saw a political revolution in the country in reaction to being forced into austerity in return for a bailout from the EU, as well as a shutdown of its stock exchange to prevent massive falls in its stocks last year, has kept the fund from prospering.

The rather small size of assets in the hedge fund would have also hindered its liquidity, with its underlying investments more difficult to buy and sell.

Eaglevale Partners was founded in Manhattan by Mr Mezvinsky and two former Goldman Sachs colleagues, Bennett Grau and Mark Mallon.

The loss in value for hedge fund managers may not fare well for investors but does not hurt the firm's partners too badly  they will have a larger tax loss on investments to claim against any gains in 2017.
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A nine-year-old girl is believed to be in imminent danger after her uncle bought a bikini, lipstick and underwear and then took her from school.

Investigators say Carlie Trent has been missing since 4 May, when her uncle, Gary Simpson, drove her away in his van from her class in Rogersville, Tennessee.

An extensive search operation has been enacted and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has received more than 1,200 tips but the whereabouts of the child and her uncle remain unknown.

The TBI is especially worried by the products Mr Simpson bought in a store he visited around the time of the alleged abduction. In particular, the purchase of child-sized khaki pants, a nightgown, a bikini, underwear, lipstick, nail polish and a child-sized camp chair, are of particular concern according to TBI spokesman Josh DeVine. He also bought a T-shirt and black trousers for himself.

"There's every indication that he intended to go out of sight," Mr DeVine said.

A TBI statement said: During the course of the investigation, authorities have developed specific and credible information which leads law enforcement to believe the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death.

An amber alert - reserved for the most serious cases - has been issued by the authorities over the incident.

Carlies father, James Trent, claimed Mr Simpson was fixated with Carlie.

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

He had access to her every day, Mr Trent told local media. He was obsessed with her, he wanted her and he wanted her all to himself, that's a scary thing to think about.

Mr Trent said he did not think Mr Simpson would harm Carlie.

He said to the broadcaster: "It would be a great moment but then again it be a scary moment -- because I'm just wondering how she's going to be.

Is she going to be as happy as she was? Is she going to be scared to death of everyone? Is she even going to want to come back to this place where Gary was? That's what I worry about, that she just won't be the same."

Mr Simpsons wife, Linda Simpson, told the broadcaster: Im just worrying and worrying and worrying. Im trying to take care of my son by myself but Im trying to get it into my head what hes thinking or where hed be or what hes doing.

The search continued on Thursday.
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A former member of the independent commission that investigated the September 11 terror attacks has claimed that Saudi government officials supported the hijackers.

John F Lehman, who sat on the 9/11 Commission from 2003 to 2004, said there was an awful lot of circumstantial evidence implicating several employees in the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

There was an awful lot of participation by Saudi individuals in supporting the hijackers, and some of those people worked in the Saudi government, he told the Guardian.

Our report should never have been read as an exoneration of Saudi Arabia.

 Saudi Minister discusses 9/11 rumors

Alleged links between the countrys leadership and the worlds deadliest terror attacks have long been scrutinised, with 15 of the 18 hijackers being Saudi Arabian, along with al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

The 9/11 Commissions 2004 report found no evidence of collusion between Riyadh and the terrorist group, concluding: Saudi Arabia has long been considered the primary source of al-Qaeda funding but we have found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organisation.

But controversy continues over an unreleased excerpt from a congressional inquiry on the issue, known as the 28 pages, which have remained classified.

Former President George W Bush claimed publication would damage Americas national security by revealing sources and methods that would make it harder for us to win the War on Terror, while the former chairman of the 9/11 Commission raised concerns that raw, unvetted material could damage innocent people.

In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 President Bush was visiting Emma E Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida as news of the attack on the World Trade Center broke In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 The president and his staff, including Press Secretary Ari Fleischer (L) were then brought to a holding room at the school, where he prepared to address the nation In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 President Bush was then rushed onto Air Force One and was flown to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. He watched television coverage of the attacks from his office on the plane In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 President Bush talks on the telephone at the General Dougherty Conference Center at Barksdale Air Force Base In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 President Bush is seen with his senior adviser Karl Rove at Barksdale Air Force Base In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 The president with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card at Barksdale Air Force Base. Before leaving the base, the president held a press conference at which he said, Make no mistake: The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 The president was consoled by Lt Col Cindy Wright of the White House Military Office aboard Air Force One. After leaving Louisiana, the president was flown to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska before he headed back to Washington In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 President Bush arrived at the White House Presidential Emergency Operations Center around 7 pm. Here he is shown with his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 At 8:30 pm, the president addressed the nation from the White House. In his speech, he set the tone for the wars to come in Afghanistan and Iraq In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 Ive directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice, the president said. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 The presidents speech on the teleprompter In pictures: President Bushs immediate response to 9/11 11 September 2001 Immediately following the speech, the president had a national security meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and others

But families of the 2,977 victims of the attacks have been demanding the documents release, with support from high-profile figures including the former mayor of New York, Rudi Giuliani.

Mr Lehman, an investment banker who served as Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, also called for the 28 pages to be made public but said he did not believe that the Saudi royal family or the countrys senior leadership had any role in supporting al-Qaeda or the 9/11 plot.

9/11 helicopter footage released

A report by the CIA inspector-general in June last year said there had been no reliable information confirming Saudi involvement with and financial support for terrorism prior to 9/11 but added that agents believed dissident sympathisers within the government may have aided al-Qaeda.

The White House said the issue was not brought up during Barack Obamas visit to Saudi Arabia last month.

The Saudi government has said it was wrongfully and morbidly accused of complicity" in the attacks and outlined its work fighting extremists and clamping down on their funding streams.
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It was private meeting. No cameras were allowed.

And so anyone interested in the wound that has eaten away at the Republican Party, and the talks between Paul Ryan and Donald Trump aimed at healing it, was forced to settle for the claim that the meeting was great and that everyone was suddenly the best of friends. Except, of course, that they are not.

A week after the most powerful elected Republican politician said he was not yet ready to endorse the partys presumptive candidate for the White House, Mr Ryan and Mr Trump met face to face for the first time to try and repair the breach. Yet when that 30-minute meeting was over, Mr Ryan was still not ready to offer his backing to the real estate tycoon.

The two men were joined at Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters in Washington DC by its chairman, Reince Priebus. Mr Trump later met senior Republicans from both the House and Senate and Mr Priebus took to Twitter to declare: The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity.

The pair also later issued a joint statement that stressed their common ground. "This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step towards unification," it said.

Yet in remarks to reporters after the meeting, Mr Ryan still stopped short of endorsing the 69-year-old New Yorker.

"There's no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences. We talked about those differences today, Mr Ryan said "I do believe we are planting the seeds in getting ourselves unified."

Mr Trump tweeted: "Great day in DC with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well!"

Mr Ryan still failed to endorse Mr Trump (AP)

The meeting between the two men who will be most responsible for overseeing the partys summer convention and its campaigns this autumn, came after Mr Trump became the de facto nominee after he secured a huge victory in last weeks Indiana primary, a win that forced his sole surviving rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, to drop out of the race.

His victory and his emergence as the presumptive nominee was a final blow to the Republican establishment that had sought to do all it could to block him. A number of leading conservatives said they could not bring themselves to support a nominee whose views and policies were at such variance with Republican traditions.

A number of elected Republican officials, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, offered their support to Mr Trump. However, Mr Ryan, who has to balance his control of an anxious, conservative House and his relationship with the partys nominee, sought to put some space between himself and Mr Trump.

Im just not ready to do that at this point, Mr Ryan told CNN last week, when asked if he was supporting Mr Trump. I'm not there right now.

 US House Speaker Paul Ryan not ready to back Trump

He added: I think what is required is that we unify this party. And I think the bulk of the burden of unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee.

Mr Trump, whose campaign has been marked by his brashness and willingness to denounce the partys hierarchy, hit back by saying he was not ready to adopt Mr Ryans agenda.

The Associated Press said that the meeting between the two men came as polls suggested Republican voters were getting behind Mr Trump. Senior Republicans have been increasingly calling for the party to end its embarrassing bout of infighting and unite to beat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in November.

Mr Trump entered the RNC building, the venue a few blocks from the Capitol, through a side door as about a dozen protesters who oppose his immigration positions demonstrated at the front, chanting Down, down with deportation. Up, up with liberation.

They tried to deliver a cardboard coffin to the RNC representing the suffering of immigrants under GOP policies and what they say will be the death of the party under Trump. They were not allowed inside.

Before the meeting, Mr Ryan insisted party unity was his goal.

"We come from different wings of the party, Mr Ryan said on Wednesday. The goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles, so that we can go forward to unify it.

Mr Trump suggested he was less concerned about the support of Washington politicians.

If we make a deal, that will be great, he told Fox News. And if we don't, we will trudge forward like I've been doing and winning all the time.
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A photo on social media of a womans bleeding feet after working a full shift as a waitress has been shared over 11,500 times in a week as the subject of compulsory high heels at work has become an international talking point.

In a post on Facebook, Nicola Gavins criticised Joey Restaurants in Edmonton, Canada for forcing its female staff to wear shoes with at least a one inch heel.

She said her friend lost a toenail after the shift, during which she was told by her supervisor that heels would be required the next day.

The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws

Ms Gavins also pointed out that female employees were required to pay $30 to buy a black dress uniform while male employees can choose their own black clothing.

I have many friends in the service industry and know loads of ladies who still earn great tips without having to sacrifice their comfort while serving, she wrote. I'll choose to continue supporting those establishments.

Ms Gavins, a freelance makeup artist, later updated her post to complain about unpaid training shifts.

One person commented on the post: Absolutely disgusting and sexist to force women to wear high heels. They are bad for your feet, bad for your back, bad for your tendons and calf muscles.

US and Canada-based chain Joey Restaurants said in a statement that the company was upset to see the post and talked to the employee in question.

There is no minimum height when it comes to our shoe policy. Shoes range from black dress flats, wedges and heels. For those employees wearing heels, we require the heel height to be no higher than 2.5.

 Forced to wear heels

The post went viral the same month that London-based temp worker Nicola Thorp was sent home from her first day at accountancy firm PwC because she was not wearing high heels.

I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms. I said I just wont be able to do that in heels, she told The BBC.

Her petition to make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work has gathered more than 83,000 signatures.

Footwear became a subject of controversy last year when women questioned why they were turned away from a red-carpet screening at the Cannes Film Festival for not wearing high heels  including film producer Valeria Richter, who has part of her left foot amputated.
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Two teenage brothers died after having just a sip of alcohol due to a rare genetic mutation that has baffled scientists for decades.

The condition suffered by the siblings from Canterbury, New Zealand is now the subject of an international scientific investigation to determine the cause of their deaths.

Their parents, John and Margaret, who have withheld their surname to protect their childrens identities, say their sons consumed a tiny volume of alcohol shortly before they were found dead.

The eldest son died in his sleep in April 1991 aged 15 after having a few sips of wine at dinner with neighbours, less than 10ml of drink in all.

Eight years later, his brother fell victim to the condition aged 19 after having a drink to celebrate his flatmates birthday, despite warnings that the family should avoid alcohol.

Margaret told stuff.co.nz: It was so [traumatising]. I was very concerned how we would cope with dealing with the whole death process again.

The couple told doctors of their childrens extreme sensitivity to alcohol including developing chest pains when they had cough medicine with mild alcoholic content.

However medical professionals were at a loss to explain why the deaths occurred and the reason has remained unclear for over two decades.

The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 10. Poland Results from an OECD report The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 9. Germany The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 8. Luxembourg Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 7. France The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 6. Hungary Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 5. Russia AFP/Getty Images The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 4. Czech Republic The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 3. Estonia Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 2. Austria Getty Images The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 1. Lithuania AFP/Getty Images

Twenty-five years on from the first death, a PhD student from the University of Otago believes she has discovered the key to the mutations the brothers had.

Hannah Kennedy studies genetics at the institute in Christchurch and claims it was a combination of bad luck and a unique gene strain relating to heart disorders that killed the teens.

Her findings were passed onto a leading laboratory in Munich, where a further four families were found to have members with a similar genetic make-up.

The Independent has contacted Hannah Kennedy for further details of her discovery.
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A couple who lost their three young children when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine have a new daughter.

Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris lost Mo, Evie and Otis - aged 12, 10 and eight - along with Ms Norris's father Nick Morris, 68, when the flight came down on 17 July, 2014.

Mr and Ms Maslin were staying in Amsterdam while their children flew back to Australia with their grandfather.

All 298 people aboard the plane died when it was hit by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile.

In pictures: MH17 final report Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: MH17 final report In pictures: MH17 final report Getty Images In pictures: MH17 final report Getty Images In pictures: MH17 final report Almaz-Antei director Yan Novikov, center, looks at the screen during a news conference in Moscow. Almaz-Antei air defense consortium, the builder of Buk missiles, presented its vision of the MH-17 air crash based on a new modeling of the disaster they recently conducted AP In pictures: MH17 final report A graphic and a skin element of a passenger airplane which was used in a full-scale experiment by Almaz-Antey simulating shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine is displayed during a Russian missile manufacturer Almaz-Antey news conference dedicated to the MH17 crash in Moscow EPA In pictures: MH17 final report Almaz-Antei director Yan Novikov, seated center, attends a news conference in Moscow AP In pictures: MH17 final report Projectiles with thecharacteristic "double tee" formation of components of the warhead of a Buk missile 9?38?1, are displayed during a news conference in Moscow AP In pictures: MH17 final report Almaz-Antei director Yan Novikov, attends a news conference in Moscow AP

The couple, from Perth, described the birth of Violet May Maslin as "testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate".

In a statement, distributed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, they said: "We believe that Mo, whose 14th birthday was Saturday, Evie, 12 next week, Otis, 10 next month, and grandad Nick have sent us an amazing gift.

"Violet's birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate.

"We still live with pain, but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us always, brings light to our darkness."

Russia: Dutch MH17 report slammed by Russias aviation agency

They added: "Violet will become part of the family, loved as much as the children and their grandfather who are no longer with them.

"We will continue to love all four of our children equally. Violet brings some hope and joy for us. We hope she brings hope and joy for you too."
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A man who kept his daughter as a sex slave for 23 years has been released from prison despite fears he may reoffend.

Ronald Van der Plaat was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2001 for repeatedly hanging his daughter, Tanjas Darke, up by her ankles and placing her head in a box with a padlock on as he raped her.

He was originally released in 2010 but was ordered back to jail in 2012 after being seen holding hands with a young girl at a museum in Auckland.

Under the terms of his parole the is not allowed to have any contact with any person under the age of 16 unless supervised by an adult who knows about his history and has been approved by his probation officer.

Van der Plaat is scheduled for release from prison on Wednesday and will return to his home in Te Atatu, the Auckland suburb where he abused his daughter.

The 82-year-old began abusing his daughter from when she was just nine years old until she was 32, first on the island of Vanuatu - where they lived until it declared independence in 1980 - and then in Auckland.

Ms Darke, who waived her right to anonymity, wrote a book about her experiences where she described the abuse which included becoming pregnant at 12 and subsequently having a miscarriage.

Local MP, Phil Twyford, said he had been contacted by several concerned members of the community after news of Van der Plaats release was made public.

Van der Plaats will return to his home in Auckland (pictured) under GPS supervision for six months (Getty Images)

He said: There are real and just concerns in the community about the risk this man poses to the safety of vulnerable people given his appalling behaviour and the circumstances when he was last released.

His home is just 400m walking distance from a primary school and one local resident told NewsHub she may stop her sons from riding their bikes down to that end of the street.

She said: "It is remarkably close... they'll probably be taking another route."

Another neighbour, Teresa Thomson, said the neighbourhood would keep an eye on him.

She told NewsHub: "From a parent's point of view I want him strung up by the goolies and never let go.

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

We have got our eyes on him and he needs to know he's not going to get away with it again.

Dutch-born Van der Plaat will also be subject to a series of special conditions including being banned from anywhere children are likely to frequent, such as schools and parks, being banned from possessing any recording equipment and being subjected to 24-hour GPS monitoring for six months.

The Department of Corrections has applied to the High Court to have the GPS monitoring extended for 10 years.

Recommended Read more Judge offers to pay court fine of abuse victim who stabbed her abuser

Neighbour, Leslie Ashwood, said: "If he's only got GPS tracking for six months, that's pretty unacceptable.

What's six months? You don't learn anything in six months. So that needs to be very long-term.

Operations Director Northern Region Lynette Cave told the Mail Online: It is the view of the psychologist that Mr Van der Plaat's progressive ageing, possible cognitive decline, consistent denial of sexual deviancy and lack of insight regarding his risk, combined with collusive social supports, hinders relapse prevention planning,

The psychologist can only conclude that Mr Van der Plaat's increasing physical frailty, within external controls, is likely to mitigate his risk of sexual recidivism 'over time'.
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The first Muslim woman has been elected as the speaker of a state parliament in Germany in what she hailed as a historic step for the country.

Muhterem Aras, a Green Party politician, took the post in Baden-Wurttemberg from a member of a populist anti-immigration party on Wednesday.

We wrote history today, she said after sweeping in with a significant majority.

Muhterem Aras is congratulated on being elected president of the Baden-Wuerttemberg state parliament on 11 May 2016. (EPA)

Ms Aras, 50, said her victory sent a message of openness, tolerance and successful integration, The Local reported.

Born in Turkey, she moved to a town near Stuttgart with her parents as a child and studied economics before founding her own tax advice firm.

Her political career started in 1992, standing for the Greens on the local council and rising through the local party to become its local leader and enter the Baden-Wurttemberg state parliament.

She was elected as Landtagsprasident by 96 local MPs, becoming the first Muslim woman to take the office.

The election came amid continuing tensions over religion, immigration and extremism in Germany, where a man reportedly shouting Allahu Akbar stabbed four people at a railway station on Tuesday.

In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Forensic investigators at the scene of a stabbing attack on a train at Grafing railway station near Munich, Germany, 10 May 2016. AP In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Forensic investigators at the scene of a stabbing attack on a train at Grafing railway station near Munich, Germany, 10 May 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack A policeman walks past flowers, placed at the stairs of a train station, following a knife attack in Grafing train station Reuters In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Forensic investigators at the scene of a stabbing attack on a train at Grafing railway station near Munich, Germany, 10 May 2016. AP In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Forensic investigators at the scene of a stabbing attack on a train at Grafing railway station near Munich, Germany, 10 May 2016. EPA In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Forensic investigators at the scene of a stabbing attack on a train at Grafing railway station near Munich, Germany, 10 May 2016. AP In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Two bicycles at the scene of a deadly knife attack at a railway station in Grafing, Bavaria, on 10 May 2016 EPA In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack Secured by forensic specialists of the German police a bicycle lays on the floor at the crime scene after a deadly knife attack in Grafing Getty Images In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack A forensic expert of the police is seen working in front of a bistro near the train station in Grafing Getty Images In pictures: Knife attack at German railway station Grafing attack A police officer takes pictures at the train station after an attack in Munich. One person has been killed and several injured after suspected Islamist stabbed passers-by at a railway station in Grafing Reuters

Members of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) refused to join the applause during Ms Aras first session as speaker, the Suddeutsche Zeitung reported.

Earlier this month, the party enjoyed record success in local elections on a manifesto that claimed Islam was not compatible with the countrys constitution and called for a ban on minarets and the burqa.

A poll released on Thursday indicated that almost two-thirds of Germans think Islam does not belong to their country.

The survey results indicated changing attitudes following the Paris and Brussels attacks and the arrival of more than a 1.1 million refugees in the country.

Around 60 per cent of the 1,003 respondents said the religion had no place in Germany, while 34 per cent said it did.



Additional reporting by Reuters
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Violent protests have erupted across France after the Socialist-led government steam-rollered parliamentary and public opposition and imposed market-friendly reforms to the country's labour laws.

Molotov cocktails and smoke-bombs were hurled at police in Paris, a dozen Socialist Party offices were vandalised and there were scuffles and arrests in Caen, Toulouse, Rennes Lille and Le Havre.

Despite a deep schism within the Socialist parliamentary party, Prime Minister Manuel Valls comfortably survived an opposition vote of censure in the National Assembly. Only 246 deputies voted for the no confidence motion  42 fewer than the number needed to bring the government down.

President Francois Hollande and Mr Valls decided earlier this week to use their constitutional powers to impose the labour law reforms by decree. Protest marches in Paris and most other larger French cities this afternoon attracted tens of thousands of supporters  including a fringe of hooded youths who fought running battles with riot police.

Hooded youths had running battles with police in Paris (EPA)

The hard left and anarchist youths also attacked television journalists and scuffled with the stewards deployed by trade unions.

President Hollande, facing disastrous poll ratings less than a year before presidential elections, insists that simplification of Frances complex labour laws will create tens of thousands of jobs. In a speech, he said that the reforms would bring a new suppleness to labour relations which would be good for workers and employers and bring progress to France.

Hardline trade unions and a bloc of traditionalist Socialist politicians  including several former ministers and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo  oppose the changes. So do 70 per cent of French people.

Moderate trade union federations agreed the reforms after the government softened the more radical original proposals. Militant unions detest the fact that the changes would allow factory-by-factory or office-by-office deals between workers and bosses to override national agreements and some aspects of labour law.

With elections looming next April and May, the reforms have become a symbol of President Hollandes switch two years ago towards market-friendly policies which have angered the hard left and traditionalist members of his own Socialist Party.

Riot police marched against protesters in the French capital (AP)

The reforms, though scarcely radical compared to labour laws in other European countries, have provoked a sometimes violent street protest movement in recent weeks. They have been rejected as an empty shell by the centre-right opposition  even though they go beyond anything attempted by successive centre-right governments in France.

When it became clear earlier this week that 50 Socialist deputies would try to block the reforms in the National Assembly, Mr Hollande and Mr Valls resorted to the powers of decree granted by article 49-3 of the constitution of the Fifth Republic. Under this article, opponents can only block the reforms if they win a confidence vote against the government.

A censure motion tabled by the centre-right opposition was defeated  allowing the law to pass through the lower house of parliament. A bloc of 56 Socialist, Communist and Green deputies fell just short of gaining enough support to table their own rival, censure motion last night.

Such a deep schism in government ranks is unprecedented in recent French political history. Ministers accused the frondeurs or rebels of a cynically calculated act of disloyalty  posturing to their hard-left sympathisers while avoiding bringing down the government and risking an early election.

The reforms are the first serious attempt by any recent administration to lighten the regulatory obstacles to job creation in France. They will make it easier for employers to terminate long-term contracts if their businesses are struggling. They will permit local agreements between employers and workers to modify the 35-hour working week and other labour regulations.

The new law also offers new workers rights. Office workers will have periods at the weekend and in the evening when they can switch off from work emails and phone calls.
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Stockholm is introducing a series of rainbow-coloured postboxes as the city prepares to host the Eurovision song contest.

Organised by postal company PostNord, the traditional blue and yellow boxes will be replaced by the colours of the gay pride flag in six key locations across the city.

One of the locations will be on Regeringsgatan, the road leading up to the Swedish parliament near the Eurovision arena.

PostNord, which is jointly owned by the Swedish and Danish governments, is also launching a series of commemorative stamps in rainbow colours.

A spokeswoman for PostNord told The Local: "At the launch we got a lot of positive reactions, many people thought it was a fun and good thing, but I haven't actually heard a lot since then.

"We think the purpose of the flag  including everyone and supporting equality - is something that suits our values as a company."

PostNord's commemorative gay pride stamp (PostNord)

The LGBT-friendly postboxes will remain until 14 May when the Eurovision song contest ends.

During last year's Eurovision contest in Vienna, the Austrian capital installed special traffic lights at pedestrian crossings showing dancing gay and lesbian couples holding hands.
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Switzerland is preparing to vote on proposals to introduce a universal basic income, which campaigners say would erase poverty and remove dependence on welfare.

The initiative's founders have suggested each adult should receive 2,500 francs (1784) a month with children receiving 625 francs (446) a month until they reach 18.

The electorate will be deciding whether to support the principle of the new measure, rather than its immediate implementation, in a non-binding referendum. The vote will take place on 5 June.

Gabriel Barta of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) told The Local it could take up to ten years to debate, finance and implement the measure.

Mr Barta said universal basic income (UBI) would remove people from the demanding process of having to prove their lack of income to receive benefits.

He said: "These people are not actually being guaranteed a life of dignity in the way the constitution says.

"We need a basic income to allow each person to be his or her own entrepreneur, to choose what work he or she does.

The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned Show all 16 1 /16 The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "One case where the claimants wife went into premature labour and had to go to hospital. This caused the claimant to miss an appointment. No leeway given" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Its Christmas Day and you dont fill in your job search evidence form to show that youve looked for all the new jobs that are advertised on Christmas Day. You are sanctioned. Merry Christmas" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You apply for three jobs one week and three jobs the following Sunday and Monday. Because the job centre week starts on a Tuesday it treats this as applying for six jobs in one week and none the following week. You are sanctioned for 13 weeks for failing to apply for three jobs each week" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A London man missed his Jobcentre appointments for two weeks because he was in hospital after being hit by a car. He was sanctioned" 2011 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Youve been unemployed for seven months and are forced onto a workfare scheme in a shop miles away, but cant afford to travel. You offer to work in a nearer branch but are refused and get sanctioned for not attending your placement" 2013 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You are a mum of two, and are five minutes late for your job centre appointment. You show the advisor the clock on your phone, which is running late. You are sanctioned for a month" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man with heart problems who was on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had a heart attack during a work capability assessment. He was then sanctioned for failing to complete the assessment" Rex The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man who had gotten a job that was scheduled to begin in two weeks time was sanctioned for not looking for work as he waited for the role to start" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Army veteran Stephen Taylor, 60, whose Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) was stopped after he sold poppies in memory of fallen soldiers" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man had to miss his regular appointment at the job centre to attend his fathers funeral. He was sanctioned even though he told DWP staff in advance" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Ceri Padley, 26, had her benefits sanctioned after she missed an appointment at the jobcentre - because she was at a job interview" Jason Doiy Photography The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man got sanctioned for missing his slot to sign on - as he was attending a work programme interview. He was then sanctioned as he could not afford to travel for his job search" 2012 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Mother-of-three Angie Godwin, 27, said her benefits were sanctioned after she applied for a role job centre staff said was beyond her" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Sofya Harrison was sanctioned for attending a job interview and moving her signing-on to another day" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Michael, 54, had his benefits sanctioned for four months for failing to undertake a weeks work experience at a charity shop. The charity shop had told him they didnt want him there" Getty The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Terry Eaton, 58, was sanctioned because he didnt have the bus fare he needed to attend an appointment with the job centre" Getty Images

Those opposing the motion have claimed UBI might reinforce the old-fashioned tradition of women staying at home.

Michael Gerfin, an economist at the University of Bern, said: "For those people who are not earning 2,500 francs and they maybe even dont want to earn more because they are mothers and want to work part time, its an incentive to stay at home.

"The question is, is that something our modern society wants or not?"

Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said in February the party will not rule out unconditional pay for all members of society.

The Finnish government are currently considering a two-year pilot programme beginning in 2017 for 10,000 people to receive 550 Euros (443) each month.
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For many refugees, the smartphone is the most precious possession they own.

It can provide a link to an old life or help make sense of a new one. But some have criticised the widespread use of smartphones among refugees, ignoring the very practical uses the devices have.

See why this phone is so dear? Hala, a refugee from Aleppo, Syria, told a Channel 4 film crew for the documentary Children on the Frontline.

It has everything. All my family, all my world is here.

Hala left her home after her husband was kidnapped by Isis. With her daughters, she travelled through Turkey to Europe. She is now settled in Germany, though she lives in fear of never being able to see her home again. Now, the only way she can see her husband is through the screen of her phone.

Thats why Im always holding it. Im holding on to it like Im holding on to an address of my own, my family. This metal device has become my whole world.

Smartphones can provide solace to migrants who have lost loved ones and been forced from their homes.

Recommended Read more Stop acting surprised that refugees have smartphones

However, they also serve numerous practical purposes, leading them to be one of the most important objects in the possession of a displaced person. Such is their significance in refugee camps across the Middle East, NGOs now give out chargers for people to use as standard.

Our phones and power banks are more important for our journey than anything, even more important than food, a refugee from Syria, Wael, told AFP news agency.

The devices have a variety of important uses for refugees, including on the perilous journey from Turkey to Greece.

We were sailing for 20 minutes when we could hear the engine was having problems, said Firas, another Syrian refugee. After around half an hour the engine completely died. We were exactly between Turkey and Greece. I know because I checked the GPS on my phone.

As the weather worsened, the boat began to sink, and Firas contacted the coastguard on his smartphone and also sent them his location through GPS. He swam for seven hours, using his GPS to guide him to Lesbos. Many refugees taking the dangerous journey by boat through the Aegean will activate the GPS on their phones to update relatives and the authorities on the course and progress of their journey.

Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images

The map function on phones is vital on land too, being used for anything from making the long journey across Europe to simply finding a place to sleep.

Every time I go to a new country, I buy a SIM card and activate the internet and download the map to locate myself, Syrian refugee Osama Aljasem told the New York Times. I would never have been able to arrive at my destination without my smartphone.

 Video shows what life would be like if British refugees were fleeing a UK civil war

The social media and messaging enabled by smartphones also play critical roles in connecting and re-connecting people. This is vital to stay in touch with worried relatives and for fellow travellers to pass on advice, giving them greater autonomy over their journeys.

In some cases, using a smartphone decreases the reliance on traffickers. However, these criminal groups also take advantage of smartphones. Many advertise their services on Facebook, creating pages such as Smuggling into the EU to find customers and even promote special offers.
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A young woman reportedly stopped an attempted rapist by biting off his tongue - and secured the man's conviction in the process.

The attack happened in the Purpan area of Toulouse in southern France, after the 19-year-old woman was followed home.

Prosecutors said the perpetrator, a 24-year-old man, followed his victim into her apartment building before attacking her in the lift.

According to the La Depeche du Midi newspaper, the man demanded to have sex with the woman, before violently pulling her blouse and other clothing in a sustained sex attack.

The woman then allowed the man to kiss her, and as he did so, she bit his tongue in two, prompting him to run away.

The victim then raised the alarm and emergency services arrived at the apartment building soon after, where they found a lot of blood and the end of the attackers tongue.

It wasn't long before the suspect was tracked down, after police informed nearby hospitals to be alert for a patient missing part of his tongue. He was later arrested and taken into police custody.

Investigators reportedly matched his DNA to blood at the crime scene, and the man was charged with rape.

Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Show all 19 1 /19 Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Afghanistan Recommendation: I urge the Government of Afghanistan to adopt legislative reforms to ensure that sexual violence offences are not conflated with adultery or morality crimes and to establish infrastructure for the delivery of protection, health and le gal services to survivors. I call on the Ministry of the Interior to accelerate efforts to integrate women into the Afghan National Police, thereby enhancing its outreach and its capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Central African Republic Recommendation: I urge the authorities of the Central African Republic to ensure that efforts to restore security and the rule of law take into account the prevention of sexual violence and that monitoring of the ceasefire and peace agreement explicitly reflects this consideration, in line with the joint communique of the Government and the United Nations on the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence signed in December 2012. I further encourage the authorities to make the rapid response unit to combat sexual violence operational and to establish a special criminal court Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Colombia Recommendation: I commend the Government of Colombia for the progress made to date and its collaboration with the United Nations, including through the visit of my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict in March 2015. I encourage the authorities to implement Law 1719 and continue to prosecute cases of sexual violence committed during the conflict to ensure that survivors receive justice and receive reparations. Conflict-related sexual violence should continue to be addressed in the Havana peace talks, as well as in the resulting accords and transitional justice mechanisms. Particular attention should be paid to groups that face additional barriers to justice such as ethnic minorities, women in rural areas, children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and women abused within the ranks of armed groups. I encourage the Government to scale up its protection measures and share its good practices with other conflict-affected countries Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Congo Recommendation: I urge the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure full implementation of the armed forces action plan against sexual violence, to systematically bring perpetrators to justice and to deliver reparations to victims, including payment of outstanding compensation awards. I call on donors and the United Nations system to support the Government in its efforts and to pay increased attention to neglected areas, including unregulated mining regions Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Iraq Recommendation: I commend the Government of Iraq for its national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and urge its swift implementation, including by training its security forces to ensur e respect for womens rights. Programmes to support the social reintegration of women and girls released from captivity by ISIL are urgently needed, as is community-based medical and psychological care. The capacity of the United Nations system should be enhanced through the deployment of Womens Protection Advisers or equivalent specialists Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Libya Recommendation: I urge the national authorities in Libya to implement Decree No. 119 and Resolution 904 of 2014 to ensure redress for all victims, including those affected by the current conflict, through the establishment of multisectoral services and the adoption of legislation to categorically prohibit sexual violence Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Mali Recommendation: I urge the Government of Mali, with support from United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, to develop a comprehensive national strategy to combat sexual and gender-based violence and to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers so that services can reach remote areas. I further call on all parties to ensure that conflict-related sexual violence is addressed in the inter-Malian dialogue and that perpetrators of sexual violence do not benefit from amnesty or early release Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Myanmar Recommendation: I urge the Government of Myanmar to continue with its reform agenda and, in the process, take practical and timely actions to protect and support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and to ensure that security personnel accused of such crimes are prosecuted. Sexual violence should be an element in all ceasefire and peace negotiations, excluded from the scope of amnesty provisions and addressed in transitional justice processes. It is critical that women be able to participate consistently in and influence these processes Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Somalia Recommendation: I reiterate my call to the Federal Government of Somalia to implement the commitments made under the joint communique of 7 May 2013 and its national action plan to combat sexual violence in conflict, including specific plans for the army and the police. I encourage the adoption of a sexual offences bill as a matter of priority Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life South Sudan Recommendation: I urge the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to adopt action plans to implement the commitments made under their respective communiques. I call upon the Government of South Sudan to address the negative impact of customary law on womens rights and to reflect international human rights standards in national law. I also encourage the African Union to make public and act upon the report of its Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Sudan (Darfur) Recommendation: I call upon the Government of the Sudan to grant the United Nations and its humanitarian partners unfettered access for monitoring and the provision of assistance to people in need in Darfur. Given that there has been grave concern over sexual violence in Darfur for more than a decade, I encourage the Government to engage with my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to develop a framework of cooperation to address the issue comprehensively Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Syria Recommendation: I acknowledge the Governments invitation to my Special Representative to visit the Syrian Arab Republic and call upon the authorities, in the context of such a visit, to agree on specific measures to prevent sexual violence, including by members of the security forces. I condemn the use of sexual violence by ISIL and all other parties listed in the annex to the present report and call on them to cease such violations immediately and allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Yemen Recommendation: I urge the authorities in Yemen to undertake legislative reform as a basis for addressing impunity for sexual violence, ensuring the provision of services for survivors and aligning the minimum legal age of marriage with international standards. I further call on the authorities to engage with local community and faithbased leaders to address sexual and gender-based violence and discriminatory social norms Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Bosnia and Herzegovina Recommendation: I urge the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to harmonize legislation and policies so that the rights of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to reparations are consistently recognized and to allocate a specific budget for this purpose. I further call upon the authorities to protect and support survivors participating in judicial proceedings through, inter alia, referrals to free legal aid, psychosocial and health services, as well as economic empowerment programmes Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Ivory Coast Recommendation: I urge the Government of Cote dIvoire to ensure the effective implementation of its national strategy to combat gender-based violence and the action plan for FRCI, and call on the international community to support these efforts. It is critical to accelerate disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and strengthen law enforcement to ensure that ex-combatants who have been reintegrated into the transport sector do not pose a risk to women and girls who are reliant on those services. The Government and the international community must provide monitoring and awareness-raising to mitigate the possibility of a recurrence of sexual violence in the context of the presidential elections to be held in October 2015 Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Liberia Recommendation: I call on the Government of Liberia to continue its critical efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence including through the United Nations-Government of Liberia Joint Programme, and in the context of recovery from the Ebola virus epidemic Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Nepal Recommendation: I encourage the Government to ensure that survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are recognized under the law as conflict victims, which will enable them to access services, judicial remedies and reparations. I further call on all parties involved in the transitional justice process to ensure that the rights and needs o f survivors of sexual violence are addressed in institutional reforms and that these crimes are excluded from amnesties and statutes of limitations Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Sri Lanka Recommendation: I call upon the newly elected Government of Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of sexual violence, including against national armed and security forces, and to provide multisectoral services for survivors, including reparations and economic empowerment programmes for women at risk, including war widows and female heads of household Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Nigeria Recommendation: I encourage the Government to implement its national action plan on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) to ensure that womens protection concerns are mainstreamed throughout its security operations. I also call upon the authorities to guarantee security in and around internally displaced persons camps and to extend medical and psychosocial services to high-risk areas

The mans version of events, in which he claimed the woman led him on, were dismissed and he was convicted and sent to prison on Wednesday.
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Iran will not send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual hajj, an Iranian official has said. The move is the latest sign of tensions between the two Middle Eastern powers after a disaster during the event last year killed at least 2,426 people.

Iran said Saudi incompetence caused the crush and stampede last September in the area of Mina during the hajj, which all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform once in their life. Iran has said the disaster killed 464 of its pilgrims.

Ali Jannati, Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, said negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia were aimed at trying to resolve the issue of security during the hajj, but failed to make any headway.

 Iran: Thousands mourn victims of Hajj stampede

We did whatever we could but it was the Saudis who sabotaged it, Mr Jannati said in comments carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. Now the time is lost.

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A later IRNA report in English on Mr Jannati's comments, which came during a visit to the Iranian holy city of Qom, called the decision tentatively confirmed, suggesting it may not be final.

Tensions between the two longtime rivals soared after Sunni-led Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric on 2 January. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was convicted on a string of charges, including sowing dissent and stirring violent anti-government protests in the predominantly Shiite east, something denied by his family, who say Sheikh al-Nimr never advocated violence nor picked up a weapon.

Sheikh al-Nimr's execution sparked widespread protests in Shiite-led Iran, which views itself as the protector of Shiites around the world. Demonstrations outside of Saudi diplomatic posts in Tehran and Mashhad turned violent and protesters stormed the buildings. Riyadh responded by cutting diplomatic relations with Tehran.

The two countries also support opposing sides in Syria's civil war and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country.

Since Saudi diplomatic posts remain closed in Iran, Saudi officials had said Iranians would need to travel to embassies in other countries to apply for hajj visas, Jannati said. He described that as another sticking point in the failed negotiations.

In the absence of an Iranian consular office in Saudi Arabia following the severance of ties between Tehran and Riyadh, Iran's proposals regarding visa application, air transport and security of pilgrims were not accepted by the Saudi officials, Mr Jannati said.

Since February, Switzerland has been representing the interests of Saudi Arabia in Iran and those of Iran in Saudi Arabia, delivering basic consular services, such as issuing visas in cases where the two countries agree to it.

Mr Jannati said Saudi officials had not accepted Iran's request to facilitate visas to the kingdom through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, though he did not specify which types of visas the request was referring to.

The Swiss department of foreign affairs said that as a general rule it does not comment on activities linked to the protecting power mandate exercised by Switzerland, in reference to its role.

The disaster in Mina was the deadliest in the history of the annual pilgrimage, according to an Associated Press tally of the dead based on state media reports and officials' comments from 36 of the over 180 countries that sent citizens to the hajj. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since 26 September, and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.

The pilgrims killed during last year's hajj had been on their way to perform the Stoning of the Devil ritual in Mina (AFP/Getty Images)

Last year's hajj, which drew two million pilgrims, also saw a crane collapse in Mecca kill 111 worshippers.

Iran called for an independent body to take over planning and administering the five-day hajj, but the kingdom's ruling Al Saud family is unlikely to give up its role in administering the holy sites. That, along with Saudi Arabia's oil wealth, provides it major influence in the Muslim world.

Iran has boycotted the hajj before. In 1987, demonstrating Iranian pilgrims battled Saudi riot police in clashes that killed at least 402 people. Iran claimed 600 of its pilgrims were killed and said police fired machine guns at the crowd. Iran did not send pilgrims to the hajj in 1988 and 1989, while Saudi officials severed diplomatic ties over the violence and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

AP
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An Iranian judicial body has ruled that a woman elected to parliament cannot be sworn into office after photos emerged claiming to show her in public without a headscarf.

Minoo Khaleghi, who won a seat in the city of Isfahan in February, said the images circulated online were fake and said those sharing them were driven by political greed.

But the Dispute Settlement Committee of Branches claimed evidence against her meant she could not take office in a hearing on Wednesday, the New York Times reported.

The photos claim to show Ms Khaleghi in Europe and China without a head covering, which is compulsory in public in Iran, where thousands of undercover agents and morality police patrol the streets to check for violations.

 Iranians go to the polls

A man has been arrested on suspicion of publishing the images using the Telegram app after the Iranian interior minister ordered an investigation into the furore.

Irans Guardian Council, a body of Islamic clerics and jurists, previously nullified Ms Khaleghis 193,399 votes for unspecified reasons.

Defending its decision, the councils conservative leader Ahmad Jannati said it was qualified to supervise elections at every stage.

It also vets prospective candidates before they can stand for election. Ms Khaleghi was approved in that round of scrutiny, when around half of the 12,000 hopefuls registered were disqualified, including many moderates.

Ms Khaleghi ran for the reformist List of Hope coalition, winning the third-largest share of votes in Isfahan, and has dismissed the headscarf scandal as motivated by political greed.

I am a Muslim woman, adhering to the principles of Islam, she said in a statement condemning anonymous and self-interested individuals.

Thousands of secret and 'morality' police enforce dress codes for women in Iran (Getty Images)

The politician previously said she had not violated campaign rules or done anything that would bar her from taking office

Recommended Read more Iranian women call on Western tourists to violate hijab law

There has been every kind of rumour and immoral talk surrounding me, Ms Khaleghi said. These actions are all aimed at questioning my reputation as a Muslim and as such are punishable according to Sharia law.

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, showed his support for her election in a tweet praising the success of a record 18 female candidates.

Speaking after Ms Khaleghis disqualification, Majid Ansari, the Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs, said: For the president 18 female MPs are not 18 minus oneaccording to the constitution candidates approved by the Guardian Council are authorised to take part in elections and the people can vote them into parliament.

Campaigners with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the scandal was part of alleged moves by hardliners to quell growing numbers of reformist MPs.

The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws

What hardliners couldnt achieve through the ballot box, theyre trying to achieve through post-election manoeuvring, said Hadi Ghaemi, the groups executive director.

The Guardian Council abused their power to vet candidates by disqualifying the vast majority of reformist candidates.

And when reformists still scored impressive gains, they abuse it again by negating those gains after the fact.

Irans restrictive dress codes for women have come under growing scrutiny as tourism increases following the countrys nuclear deal.

Campaigners have been urging foreign women to show solidarity with Iranians by taking photos of themselves without a hijab in public as part of the My Stealthy Freedom campaign.

Its founder, Masih Alinejad, said: Iran is a beautiful country but let's not kid ourselves, it's not heaven for women.


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Isis has reportedly created an app to help children learn Arabic  using jihadist songs and pictures of tanks, guns and rockets.

Promoted by the terrorist groups Library of Zeal department, it promises to teach the cubs the letters of the alphabet.

The so-called Islamic State refers to its fighters as lions and to the children in its territories as cubs of the caliphate, releasing photos showing them being trained as child soldiers and being indoctrinated with its ideology.

The Huroof app takes a softer tone, presented in bright colours with cartoons of flowers, balloons and stars  with the black flag of jihad fluttering in the background.

Writing in the Long War Journal, analyst Caleb Weiss said the app includes a jihadist nasheed (Islamic song) to learn the alphabet and games using militaristic vocabulary.

The Arabic letter ba is shown with a picture of a gun, dal with a tank, ta with a bullet, sad with a rocket and sin with a sword, among other weapons.

The app was publicised on Isis messaging channels and file-sharing websites on Tuesday and appeared to be available only on Android devices.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

Families fleeing Isis territory in Iraq and Syria have described militants attempting to brainwash their children with their violent ideology.

Isis is known to use young boys as fighters and suicide bombers, as well as featuring children including a four-year-old British boy as executioners in its gory propaganda videos.

It has released footage of training camps for what it calls the Cubs of the Caliphate and parents have parents have previously reported their children being sent home with Caucasian dolls dressed in orange jumpsuits to behead as homework.


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Isis has reportedly set up an immigrants office to manage relations with foreign fighters after a dispute with Dutch militants culminated in gun battles, revenge killings and the execution of eight men.

A network of activists exposing the groups atrocities in Syria said leaders were attempting to heal a major fault line between European and Arab jihadists.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) reported that the newly-created office will be charged with tracking immigrants problems and trying to solve them quickly in order to preventdissent or perhaps clashes between the members.

 Isis' radicalisation of foreign fighters

The situation came to a head in February, when Isis security forces arrested several Dutch members accused of planning to defect and beat one of the detainees to death.

The mans friends then attacked officers headquarters starting a lengthy gun battle, RBSS said, and when an Iraqi delegate was sent to negotiate he was murdered in a revenge killing.

Isis leaders reportedly informed their superiors in Iraq, where the group originated as an al-Qaeda offshoot, and were ordered to arrest more than 70 Dutch militants and their allies, later executing eight on charges of incitement against the group.

RBSS said defections and dissent are growing in Raqqa amid fears of infiltration by foreign intelligence agencies, drone strikes, frustration and recent losses of territory and fighters in battle.

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

Some foreign fighters reportedly feel they are being discriminated against with pay, living conditions, rewards and treatment, as well as being sent to deadly front lines in Deir ez-Zor and elsewhere disproportionately over Iraqi Isis members.

Harry Sarfo, a German-born former jihadist who fled the groups territories last year, said he was one of many foreign fighters attempting to escape.

In an interview with The Independent, he said: Many have tried but they are either dead or in jail waiting for executions.

Some of them have been abandoned by their own governments - among them is a handful of British citizens.

I spoke to some of them who wanted to leave, many say it is impossible.

Harry Sarfo appeared in a propaganda video encouraging Germans to fight for Isis

Sarfo, a 27-year-old former postman who grew up in London, said he met fellow Isis recruits from Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Scandinavia, Spain and other countries during his time in Raqqa.

The number of foreign extremists joining the group is believed to be falling but tens of thousands are thought to remain in Syria and Iraq, including a large contingent of jihadists from Europe.



According to a count by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Isis executed at least 400 of its own members in under two years, including many foreign fighters murdered after being arrested by the organisation when they were trying to return to their countries.
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David Cameron called on critics to stop picking on the UKs overseas territories after it was claimed his failure to crack down on the UK-linked tax havens had overshadowed his international anti-corruption conference.

The London summit closed with a number of agreements from countries to increase transparency and crackdown on money-laundering networks.

Five countries confirmed they would be joining the UK in setting up fully public registers of company owners  a measure considered to be the gold standard for exposing tax avoiders.

However, the Government has failed to secure agreements from all of its overseas territories and Crown Dependencies to adopt equally transparent measures.

The Oxfam charity, which campaigns for tax justice, welcomed the summit commitments, but said that Mr Camerons failure to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the UKs own tax havens undermined its goals.

Quoting Mr Camerons description of corruption as a cancer, chief executive Mark Goldring said: If corruption is a cancer, then this summit has delivered some pain relief but not the major surgery needed to heal the global economy.

Until tax havens are required to publish public registers showing who really profits from shell companies, the corruption and tax dodging revealed by the Panama Papers will continue undisturbed and millions of people in both the UK and the worlds poorest countries will pay the price.

Responding to questions over UK-linked tax havens, Mr Cameron said they had become an easy target for critics and had already moved a huge amount of distance, with agreements to hold central registers of beneficial ownership, and to share information with law enforcement agencies.

Mr Cameron said after the summit: "The gold standard - which I will push for so long as there is breath in my body - is for everybody to [introduce public registers] - not just picking on small islands but I'd like to see the United States of America, China, India, everyone.

The summit also saw commitments from 11 new jurisdictions to join group of 29 countries, including the UK, that share information on companies true owners with one another.

Mr Cameron said the summit had broken the taboo on talking about corruption.

Today we have seen the world unite against a shared enemy. Countries have gone further than ever before in condemning corruption and pledging to drive it out, he said. This battle will not be won overnight, but if we continue to show the courage and political will to stand against corruption that we have seen today, we can and will defeat it.
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Q We are going to the Eurovision song contest in Sweden this weeked, but are worried as the media have said ISIS is threatening an attack in Stockholm. Any advice?

John Foley-Doherty

A The Foreign Office, which takes responsibility for warning British travellers about the prevailing risks abroad, is not especially concerned. It rates Sweden as grade two (out of four) for the seriousness of the threat of terrorism, calling it general; the rating high is given to key holiday destinations, including France and Spain.

The FCO says Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners, and refers to an attack in 2010 in a shopping area of Stockholm which injured two passers-by but killed only the suicide bomber.

The US Embassy in Stockholm, though, has told American citizens in the country: Swedish Police are actively investigating a potential terror threat against Sweden. It goes on to warn: Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants, and transportation, and urges people to avoid crowded places - particularly during large festivals or events.

The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest event of the year in Sweden, and naturally there will be a very high security presence. You need to decide whether you will tolerate a very small risk in return for the rewards of attending the annual celebration. I would certainly go, and I urge you to do the same. To help you get the most out of your trip, see our most recent 48 Hours in Stockholm.

Every day, our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a readers question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
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Wherever you are in the British Isles youre never more than about 75 miles from the sea. But with around 5,000 islands scattered around the coastline and beyond, reaching some of the more remote outposts can be an adventure in itself.

St Kilda, Scotland

The most isolated isles are St Kilda, around 100 miles off Scotland, which became a Unesco World Heritage Site for nature 30 years ago this summer and are now recognised for its cultural heritage too. Dubbed the islands on the edge of the world, the archipelago was inhabited for thousands of years until 1930, when the dwindling community was finally evacuated.

Towering sea stacs, where islanders hunted seabirds, and archaeological remains provide a fascinating glimpse into what life here was like. There are globally important colonies of gannets and unique wildlife including the St Kildan mouse.

St Kilda (National Trust for Scotland)

The National Trust for Scotland, which owns the islands, runs a tiny, basic campsite - the only accommodation - costing 12pp per night (kilda.org.uk). GotoStKilda (gotostkilda.co.uk) offers boat trips from Skye costing 225 one way or 248 for a (long) day trip, plus 5 for a guided walk.

Bryher, England

Only 1.2 miles long and half a mile wide, Bryher lies about 30 miles off the Cornish coast, whacked by Atlantic waves on one side, and with calm, sandy beaches on the other. Hikers will find great views at the top of its (admittedly small) granite hills, while foodies can pick up local produce from track-side stalls, including eggs, fresh seafood and island fudge. Despite its population of only 80, it has plenty of places to stay and explore; try the Fraggle Rock bar and restaurant, popular with walkers, kayakers and Jamie Oliver.

Look out for dolphins on the sailing from Penzance to St Marys, which takes about 2 hrs 40 minutes and costs from around 45 each way. Connecting boats from St Marys to Bryher take another half hour, costing around 5.50 each way (visitislesofscilly.com).

Fresh seafood on Bryher (Anthony Greenwood)

Tory island, Ireland

Nowhere offers the royal treatment quite like Tory Island, whose monarch greets visitors stepping off the ferry from Donegal, nine miles away.

Patsy Dan Rodgers, the latest King of Tory appointed by fellow islanders for his cultural contributions, is one of the tiny islands talented Gaelic-speaking musicians and artists, whose work attracts international tourists.

Monastic ruins from St Columbas time are another draw and there are several B&Bs.

A return boat trip from Magheroarty (toryislandferry.com) costs 26, taking 40 minutes each way.

Bardsey, Wales

Bardsey is home to what has been dubbed the worlds rarest apple tree, thought to be the last from an orchard tended by monks centuries ago.

The island also remains a place of pilgrimage for Christians keen to see religious ruins, while nature lovers enjoy the flora and fauna in this key conservation site off the Lleyn Peninsula.

Bardsey (Visit Wales)

Enlli Charters (enllicharter.co.uk) offers day trips from Pwllheli for 40 return, plus wreck fishing. Self-catering cottages can be booked through Bardsey Island Trust (bardseytrust.org), which owns the island.

Fair Isle, Scotland

Famous for its knitted jumpers, Fair Isle is the UKs most remote inhabited island, mid-way between Orkney and the rest of Shetland. Flying in offers incredible views of stunning scenery while staying at the islands bird observatory brings visitors close to comedic puffins and other seabirds. Other accommodation includes a historic lighthouse.

An overnight ferry from Aberdeen costs from 27 one way (northlinkferries.co.uk). Flights to Fair Isle from Shetlands main island with Direct Flight (directflight.co.uk) cost from 41.95 one way.
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Being a Merseyide Anglican, my Dad used to refer to the rites of the Catholic Church as Roman mumbo jumbo. He once gave a Catholic friend a lift to work, forgot the friend was a Catholic and  cursing another driver who cut in front of his car  shouted: Who does that damn fool think he is, the Pope? His friend declined all future lifts.

I thought my father was a bit extreme, but I didnt like Popes very much either. Pope Pius XII, it seemed to me, failed in his duty to denounce the Nazis for their persecution of the Jews. I forgave Pope John Paul II his conservatism only because he infuriated George W. Bush by denouncing the 2003 Iraq war.

But I made peace with the Vatican when Pope Francis came along. I decided he was definitely a good guy when he went to Lampedusa in 2013  long before the rest of our leaders started their lachrymosae for the refugees of the Middle East who were drowning in the Mediterranean  and asked if anyone had wept for the thousands who were dying in the coffin ships making for Italy. We are a society which has forgotten how to weep, how to experience compassion, he said. Good on yer, Pope, I thought.

Then up he popped again on Lesbos last month and took three Muslim refugee families back home to the Vatican. As Martin Schultz, President of the European Parliament, was to say, Pope Francis showed all of us what it means to be human.

If you thought all this was a bit of Roman mumbo-jumbo dressed up as Christian charity, just listen to what the Pope had to say when he was awarded the European Charlemagne Prize this month. What has happened to you, the Europe of humanism, the champion of human rights, democracy and freedom? he asked. What has happened to you, Europe, the mother of peoples and nations, the mother of great men and women who upheld, and even sacrificed their lives for, the dignity of their brothers and sisters?

A big ouch. Especially from the regressive old men of eastern Europe who believe that they, and they alone, safeguard the blue-eyed, golden-haired birth right of Christian Europe.

First we had the odious Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary telling us that his country was defending the frontiers of Christendom when it was corralling the Muslim refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan because Islam was never part of Europe.

In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing for food at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees' tents at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Oxy transit camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos The graves of drowned refugees in Mytilene, Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos A building used to house unaccompanied children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing to register at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees arriving on smugglers' boats from Turkey in Lesbos

Then we had the Czech President, Milos Zeman  a left-wing politician  telling us that it was probably impossible to integrate the Muslim community into European society, claiming earlier that the Muslim Brotherhood wanted to control Europe.

Given Hungarys grotesque fascist history and its pro-Nazi governments dispatch of its Jews to Auschwitz, youd have thought Orban (born in a Hungarian city which was the seat of its most anti-Semitic Catholic prelate, Bishop Ottaker the Jews are eating us up Probaszka) might have spared us his lecture on European culture.

Far worse, Orban was followed only a few days ago by no less than the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Dominik Jaruslav Duka, who decided not only to demean Muslims, but pissed mightily on Pope Francis himself.

The sensitivity of Pope Francis on social issues is different from ours in Europe, said this paragon of Christian virtue. Pope Francis is popular and there are different sources of his popularity. He also comes from Latin America, where the gap between rich and poor is much bigger. As for Francis Lesbos trip, it was just a gesture.

Recommended Read more The world turns a blind eye to refugees by calling them terrorists

I suppose time was when a Pope would have sent a flagon of poison off to his errant cardinal, or at least a Vatican assassin with a rusty knife, especially when the meddlesome priest compared him unfavourably to John Paul, who was able to attract the attention of crowds but... he knew the history of Nazism and Communism and he knew how difficult was the fight for freedom.

Cardinal Duka even had a good word for the retired ex-Pope Benedict  the former Hitler Youth anti-aircraft gunner, who was also anti-abortion and claimed that Auschwitz was the product of a Nazi ring of criminals in Berlin.

When youd compare the language of these Popes [John Paul and Benedict] and their most frequent words, youd see a big difference, quoth Duka. However, you have to take societys mood into account.

Ah yes, Pope Francis had to bend to societys mood, didnt he? And after all he came from a country, poor man, with a big gap between rich and poor  as if this very social crisis was not endemic in every east European nation between the First and Second World Wars.

Even Angela Merkel did not escape the cardinals scorn. She and European federalists had demanded a welcoming culture of accepting refugees from the Middle East, which was now dividing European societies and endangering their safety.

Not for the cardinal any comment on Pope Francis concern that the Mediterranean risked becoming a graveyard. Not a word from the Archbishop of Prague for Francis dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime but a summons to greater commitment on behalf of the dignity of every human being.

To be fair, as they say, Cardinal Duka is also a brave man. He was persecuted by the Communists, imprisoned, and yet kept the faith. No-one should lecture Duka on suffering. Yet his words suggest that he cannot understand the suffering of those who are not of his religion.

That is his problem or, as those of the faith might say, his sin. After all, its not as if the Catholic Church has an unblemished record in old Czechoslovakia.

When Hitler broke the country in two, Father Jozef Tiso, a viciously anti-Semitic priest, became president of the Nazi Slovak Republic  and enthusiastically supported the deportation of his countrys Jews to Auschwitz, an exodus only temporarily halted when the Vatican intervened. Would that Duka could re-read the biography of this wretched son of the church; Tiso wouldnt have indulged in gestures, nor cared very much about societys mood.

But even Dukas current prime minister might reflect that Tiso must have thought it 'practically impossible to integrate the Jewish community into European society. I know what my Dad would have said.
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Its been a very long time since the celebration of a Labour victory has brought with it such a sense of hope and encouragement for the future. Sadiq Khan was sworn in as Mayor of London in Southwark Cathedral surrounded by people of all faiths and of none. It was a joy to behold.

The absence of Jeremy Corbyn was telling. Sadiq has rightly said he doesnt want City Hall to become an alternative power base within the Labour Party. But the Khan campaign showed how Labour can win when it unites behind a clear vision, practical policies, and inclusive politics.

Three crucial things the national leadership has demonstrably failed to deliver.

Nobody can accuse Sadiq Khan of being a closet Tory. His victory was all the sweeter because it helped expose and defeat the ugly side of modern Conservatism. The Zac Goldsmith campaign attempted shamelessly to divide communities from one another, play politics with the security of the capital and plant in peoples minds the ridiculous notion that being a Muslim equates with being an extremist. David Siesage, who worked for Zac, exposed these deliberate tactics brilliantly in The Independent.

 Sadiq Khan's First Day

Yes, Sadiq Khan is Muslim. He is devout and hes proud of that fact. He never hid it. Just as I am Hindu and I, too, am very proud of my faith, my culture and my community. Sadiq, like me and millions of children of immigrants, loves the UK and the great world city that is London.

I am proud to call Sadiq Khan a friend. And yet while working to support him I saw a side of the Labour Party, too, that is the exact opposite of the kind of politics he represents.

Unfortunately the Conservatives are not the only party to have given the impression of wanting to divide us into communities and favour one group over the other. Somewhat belatedly, Jeremy Corbyn has admitted Labour isnt doing enough to win the next General Election. One essential first step is to recognise that the party has been inflicting huge damage on itself by alienating large parts of not just the Jewish community but Hindus and Sikhs as well.

Like Sadiq, I was brought up in an inner city council house, in my case in Birmingham. Ive been Labour all my life, despite huge pressure from many within the British Indian community to follow them in abandoning my party and embracing the Tories instead.

At the last general election, for the first time in history, more Indians voted Conservative than Labour. Ten years ago we had a lead of around 30%.

There are more young people of Indian descent coming up through the ranks of the Tory Party, as office holders and councilors. Younger generation Indians are feeling more and more alienated and sidelined by our party. At its most stark, the perception has become embedded that Labour is for the Pakistanis and Muslims while the Tories are for Indians and Hindus.

Here is the hard and uncomfortable truth. Too many people in the Labour Party stereotype us in exactly the same way the Tories do. It saddens me to remember how many times I have heard Labour people say, well Indians are getting richer so of course they will vote Tory.

What a shallow, defeatist mentality.

Very few Indians live in two million pound mansions. I certainly dont. It may be true that we dont regard the pursuit of wealth as something evil, and nor do we treat those who have become successful with animosity. But is Labour really saying we dont want to represent those with high hopes and aspirations for themselves and their families? If the answer is yes then we may as well kiss goodbye to the next general election now.

Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Show all 5 1 /5 Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Tackle the housing crisis Khans key policy is an ambitious target to make 50 per cent of all new homes being genuinely affordable, and improving conditions for people renting Getty Images Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Freeze transport fares Khan says he will freeze London transport fares for four years and introduce a one-hour bus Hopper ticket, paid for by making TfL more efficient and exploring new revenue-raising opportunities. He claims Londoners wont pay a penny more for their travel in 2020 than they do today Getty Images Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Make London safer Resore neighbourhood policing, tackle gangs and knife crime, and a new plan to tackle the spread of extremism, and a review of the resourcing of our fire service Getty Images Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Restore London's air quality Pedestrianise Oxford Street and prioritise measures to improve Londons air quality Getty Images Sadiq Khan's 5 most significant policies Make cycling and walking safer More segregated cycle routes with a promise to spend money improving dangerous junctions Getty Images

We can and must fight these false perceptions. I know they dont truly reflect the party I have worked so hard for all my political life.

Sadiq Kahn is already showing us the way. One of his last campaign visits was to a Hindu Temple in north London. Pictures of him taking part in its rituals went viral on the internet. His grandparents were Indian and hes proud of the fact. He says he looks forward to engaging directly with the government in New Delhi and leading a trade delegation to India as soon as possible. Contrast that with the failure of Jeremy Corbyn even to show up when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to members of both houses in Westminster at the end of last year.

I was honoured when Sadiq asked me to join his campaign for the partys mayoral nomination as a senior advisor. What happened next was deeply troubling. Supporters of Mr Corbyn took to social media to warn that my appointment would upset Muslims (the language used was much coarser) and might damage Sadiq. My crime, in the eyes of some of them, was to have worked hard to make Mr Modis visit to the UK a success.

Here was a fantastic opportunity for the party to demonstrate unity of purpose between different communities. And yet members of the radical left tried to use my involvement to do exactly the opposite and, in the process, to warn Sadiq off fighting a more centrist campaign.

Such divisive, hate-filled politics will destroy our party if we dont exclude it completely and utterly from our ranks. That is what we mean when we say Jeremy Corbyn hasnt acted quickly or decisively enough. The Zac Goldsmith campaign in London was rightly condemned, even by decent Tories, for its racial stereotyping and a conscious attempt to spread division and mistrust for political ends. There is an element within our own party that is intent on doing exactly the same thing.

So this is not special pleading on behalf of Indians, Hindus or anybody else. Labour can and will succeed when it can show that at all levels it respects and values our diversity as a nation. Most Labour people do. Only a small minority are letting the rest of us down.

Labour must root out the genuine extremists and condemn their allies among the left. That alone will not be enough. At all levels the party must stop thinking it has to put communities on a see-saw  constantly seeking to balance one groups interests against the other. As Sadiq Khan said, we will never be trusted to govern unless we reach out and engage with all voters  regardless of their background, where they live or where they work.

Those are wise words from a man who stood up bravely against the Corbynistas and showed that inclusive politics is not only good politics  it is winning politics.

Manoj Ladwa chairs Indians for Labour and is a former President of the National Hindu Students Forum.
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After all the speechifying, all the lobbying - overt and covert - and all the scare-mongering, the BBC has emerged from its trial by Whittingdale with its immediate future assured - and barely less feather-bedded than it was before. The Corporation and its unquestioning supporters treated the White Paper, published yesterday, as tantamount to victory - as well they might. Given the speed of transformation in the overall media landscape, however, any rejoicing is likely to be premature.

The Government can be forgiven for not wanting to pick a new fight with a powerful and media-savvy constituency, when it already has quarrels with hospital doctors and teachers (plus their local authorities) on its hands. The threat of a revolt in party ranks, at a time when MPs are already riven by the EU debate, may also have been a consideration. My view, for what it is worth, is that John Whittingdale was anyway far less hostile towards the Corporation than he was portrayed. The solidity of his statement and the conviction with which he delivered it would seem to bear that out.

 John Whittingdale announces BBC reforms

And I would add - just to infuriate still further those now described as the BBCs luvvies - that we have an elected government; it is a Conservative government, and it has a mandate to negotiate a new Charter. The impression has been created by numbers of highly articulate and passionate people that, as with the NHS, a Conservative government is hell-bent on destroying a prized national institution and that any move to enact change or reform is somehow illegitimate. This is sectional arrogance that reaches its logical conclusion in extra-parliamentary action.

The BBC may belong to its licence-payers, but licence-payers take different views of what it does with the money and whether, as an organisation, it should shrink, expand, or maintain the status quo. Anyone who believes that the 82 per cent of those who took part in the consultation and wrote in enthusiastic support of the status quo - reflected a similar proportion of licence-payers would do well to look at the criticisms of the White Paper (for being too generous) that appeared on the BBC website as the details came out.

I am not anti-BBC; far from it. I spent seven years of my early working life at the World Service, and have never dissented from the BBCs ethos and purpose. I do, however, question the extent of its ambition, and the ratio of quantity to quality. In this respect, the institutional changes announced yesterday seemed to get things pretty much right. The role of the BBC Trust was always ambiguous. A board, with a minority - repeat, minority - appointed by the Government is sensible, as is the decision to retain the current chair of the Trust, Rona Fairhead, to head the board until the end of her contract in 2018. That is not so far away, and there is virtue in some stability during the transition. The BBC will not like being subject for its regulation to Ofcom, and there were arguments that its sheer size would make it a cuckoo in Ofcoms nest. But that, too, seems a common sense solution.

Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? Show all 4 1 /4 Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? 49858.bin BBC Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? 49859.bin BBC Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? 49860.bin BBC Making a scene: Is the BBC drama department obsessed with costumes, bonnets and wigs? 49861.bin BBC

So do some of the details and the decisions not taken. Setting the disclosure level for executive salaries at 150k sets it at what has become the standard gauge: what the prime minister earns. Setting the disclosure level for talent so much higher fends off a potential clash. If there was ever a plan to interfere with BBC schedules -which I doubt - there should not have been.

In many other respects, however, an opportunity - or rather a whole series of opportunities - has been missed: an opportunity to streamline the BBC behind its - undoubted - public service remit; an opportunity to consider how much of the BBCs expansion, especially in the digital sphere can be justified; an opportunity to reconfigure spending in the light of the UKs increasing federalism, and the imperative to prepare for a world in which paying an annual licence fee to a broadcaster, even a public service broadcaster with the stature of the BBC, could seem as antiquated as a window tax.

All this has been made worse by the proposal to end the freeze on the licence fee. By all means, include access to the iPlayer within the licence fee (why was it not?) and make the fee harder to evade. But the BBC now has no real need to reconsider the costs of what it is doing.

Less, or at least no more, money would compel what the BBC (and its luvvies) would call hard choices. But they really should not be that hard. The BBC is a public service; it is also a national - and nationally-binding - force. The Governments emphasis on serving many different communities and maintaining local radio runs against this.

Commercial local radio stations have proved viable - they would be even more viable without competition from the BBC. The BBC should concentrate on being a national service, with federal arms (and appropriate shares of the budget) delegated to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for them to administer.

The BBC should not run nearly as many extra digital stations as it does, and it could use the downtime on, say, BBC4, to carry English lessons for the UKs many newcomers. The division of responsibilities of the BBCs national radio stations is much-loved, but obsolete. A dedicated radio news channel (like France-Info), which leaves Radio 5 to sport, is long overdue.

The website should stick to news, background, and previously broadcast material via the iPlayer. Recipes, the magazine should go the way of the BBCs ill-judged excursion into travel publishing. This is work for others to do. The plan for the BBC somehow make it up to print journalism by helping subsidise local newspapers is patronising and misguided. If the Government is worried about the survival of the local press, it should subsidise it directly, as some other EU countries talk of doing, not through the BBC.

In some ways, this highlights the bigger problem with the Corporation. Courtesy of the licence fee, it has something no other branch of the media enjoys at a time when so much in the sector is in flux. This is the huge privilege of security. And the licence fee depends not just on the government that negotiates the Charter, but on public consent. Given the speed of change, it is not impossible that this public consent could run out before the Charter does, which is why something more radical than this White Paper has not been cancelled, just postponed.
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How ironic that David Cameron is chairing the Anti-Corruption Summit while campaigning to remain in the EU.

Only two months ago, a study commissioned by the European Parliament stated that the EU has a corruption problem that could cost it up to 990bn euros annually - including 5bn euros related to public procurement. I wonder if he'll mention that at the summit!

Sarah Pegg

Seaford, East Sussex

In 1991 the UK government, by Order in Council, abolished capital punishment for murder in the Caribbean overseas territories. So what prevents David Cameron's government from removing the secrecy which makes tax havens attractive with an Order in Council requiring UK overseas territories to make public the beneficial owners of all deposits which have been transferred into their banks from abroad?

Leading politicians of every stripe bloviate about the evils of tax havens, but do nothing practical to close them down. Our nation is sovereign over a large number of tax havens, yet politicians behave as if these scraps of territory bleeding income from the public purse were actually owned by some mighty foreign power with which we dare not interfere.

Michael McCarthy

London W13

It was bemusing to see Prime Minister David Camerons latest gaffe, labelling Nigeria and Afghanistan as being fantastically corrupt.

Of course there is corruption in both these countries, but it is clearly rather hypocritical given that this is largely at the connivance of the UK, which through its 17 tax havens in Crown Dependencies has for decades harboured funds exported by wealthy individuals. This has come to the fore most recently through the so-called Panama Papers.

These tax havens are governed by the UK Crown, so what we are witnessing is one huge state-sponsored tax avoidance machine.

Indeed, the anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International, has said that the UK is a big part of the problem of corruption in Nigeria where c. 40 per cent of Nigerian GDP is effectively stolen.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh, Scotland

Don't victim-blame Corbyn

The article Jeremy Corbyn has a toxic relationship with the media  but hes the one to blame (Andrew Grice, 11 May), is breathtaking in its ability to blame the victim for bullying, and make no mistake: the "toxic relationship" is of the media's making.

Jeremy Corbyn's hammering by the press and broadcast media began in the form of belittlement, then incredulity and finally fear, well before " Jeremy Corbyns operation" came into being. For him to readily cooperate with his bullies would follow a pattern which never works in other situations  such as the school playground.

The persistent and unjustified attacks he has undergone were never likely to be halted by appeasement, nor do I believe that anyone to the left of David Miliband could ever find favour with those in the party who were shocked by his brother Ed's victory over David. Since then for the right wing or 'moderates' of the party, attempting to undermine and oust both Ed and Jeremy has been the only game in town - regardless of the harm to Labour's election prospects.

Jeremy Corbyn's team should clearly improve its issue of information, but should be wary of the 'helpful' advice offered by Grice. Greeks bearing gifts?

Eddie Dougall

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Why Salmond's previous silence?

Alex Salmond's contention that the Holyrood voting system should be amended is breath-taking.

He maintains on his London radio show that how our votes are counted must be changed. He's concerned Nicola Sturgeon achieved somewhat fewer seats - in fact, six - than he did in 2011 with a fractionally highly percentage - 47 per cent against 45 per cent - of votes cast, and consequently lost her majority - which doesn't make Salmond a happy chappie.

But did we hear the ex-nationalist leader moan when he won outright in 2011 or whine about the unfairness of the 2015 general election voting system when the SNP achieved just under 50 per cent of the votes and were gifted 95 per cent of the seats, including his own?

If anyone didn't realise from the SNP's refusal to accept the referendum result that they're more than a tad selective when supporting democracy, they should now.

Martin Redfern

Edinburgh, Scotland

Crabb's own benefits

Stephen Crabb MP, who took over from Duncan Smith, has indicated that there will be further disability benefit cuts. He was one of those MPs outed on social media for huge expenses claims in the past. Some of their names are attached. These claims by Crabb included 500+ for rugs, 8,000 to refurbish a home he then sold and 600+ for a chair.

Richard Kimble

Hawksworth, Leeds

Truth about Europe

The EU is not undemocratic and unelected: our elected government has a direct input into the process of legislation, and we elect MEPs who do the same. It may be different from the UK; but it includes the power of our people rather than excluding it.

Steve Hills

No address supplied

Watson's private matters?

The public respond negatively to public figures when they act without integrity in hidden aspects of their lives, but present a different public persona.

Integrity is measured by what we do when people aren't watching . By this standard Emma Watson has failed her public.

Jane Alliston

Edinburgh, Scotland
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There are four big names in the EU referendum campaign, two on each side, which as any KS2 mathematician could tell you means six possible different head-to-head combinations, four of which pit an Inner against an Outer.

So far, the only pairing that has been confirmed is David Cameron versus Nigel Farage on ITV on 7 June, and that is not actually a face-to-face confrontation: Cameron will go first, followed by Farage.* Several other events, including the BBCs at Wembley Arena on 21 June, two days before the referendum, have yet to confirm speakers.

Here is what might happen in the four possible two-way debates.

David Cameron vs Nigel Farage

How the debate might go: if the two were to face each other (as opposed to the interviews-in-sequence format planned by ITV), Farage might be over-confident, after he trounced Nick Clegg in two Europe debates in 2014. Cameron, still bruised by having his own over-confidence knocked out of him in the 2010 leader debates that seemed to cost him a majority in that election, would be humble and well-prepared.

Best Cameron line: I know I said your party was a bunch of fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, but I wouldnt apply any of those to you. Not at all.

Best Farage line: Youre just making stuff up: 4,300 worse off per family, plague of boils, water turned into blood, thunder storms of hail and fire.

Boris Johnson vs David Cameron

How the debate might go: this would be the big one, the real Prime Ministers Questions, the incumbent against the alternative prime minister. Johnson is the man who would probably take over from Cameron if we voted to Leave. He would be responsible for negotiating the terms of our exit and the terms of our trade with a somewhat-diminished EU.

Best Cameron line: The Queen told me she thought you were talking rubbish.

Best Johnson line: There you go again, reducing it all to the microcosmographia of light bulb sizes.

Jeremy Corbyn vs Nigel Farage

How the debate might go: two years ago this would have been an unexpected novelty debate put on by a student union and televised by Channel 4 to fill a gap in its schedule. No doubt the two would engage in a prolier-than-thou competition to try to be more blue-collar than the other, as Corbyn tried to paint Ukip as a right-wing fringe group and Farage tried to push Ukips claim to appeal to Labours traditional supporters.

Best Corbyn line: If we left the EU, you could be in government trying to sell off our schools.

Best Farage line: Europes TTIP free-trade deal is a conspiracy against trade unions and the NHS, everything the Labour Party used to stand for.

Boris Johnson vs Jeremy Corbyn

How the debate might go: the most dramatic confrontation in the Shakespearean sense, as the two antagonists argue for the position that the other secretly holds. Corbyn, a lifelong Eurosceptic, has conveniently come round to the EU as defender of British workers from the scourge of a Tory government, while Johnson, who told friends he had never been an Outer, decided for Brexit, which conveniently happened to be his most promising route to the Tory leadership.

Best Corbyn line: Im not interested in which school you went to  I just want to know how you learned to change your mind so easily.

Best Johnson line: I dont think the British people are going to take advice from a clog-wearing Marxist-Leninist with a Che Guevara cap.

Montage of Corbyn and Farage via The Right Dishonourable; photo of Johnson and Corbyn: Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty.

*David Cameron and Michael Gove are booked to appear on Sky on consecutive days, 2 June and 3 June. Gove vies with Farage for second place on the Leave side, but Cameron is reluctant to debate fellow Conservatives.
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It would have been amazing had it been otherwise. Donald Trumps crucial meetings with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill  most importantly the House Speaker Paul Ryan  were variously hailed by the participants as very encouraging, great, and planting the seeds of unity. What political party goes into an election openly acknowledging disunity?

But it was no less clear the meetings were but the start of a process that could take some weeks, and that differences remain between Mr Ryan and the billionaire businessman which may never be dispelled. The Speaker admitted as much  hardly a surprise after his stunning declaration last week that he was not there yet when it came to supporting Mr Trump.

And, if words have meaning, he still isnt quite there. Yes, the post-meeting joint statement by the two men, spoke of only a few differences between them, and stressed that the highest Republican elected official and the partys standard-bearer this autumn against Hillary Clinton were totally committed to working together.

Mr Ryan still failed to endorse Mr Trump (AP)

But a specific endorsement? That will have to wait. Those differences may be few, but they are huge. They range from the Speakers determination to scale back costly government programmes like Medicaire and Medicaid, which Mr Trump refuses to touch, in the interests of a balanced budget, to Mr Ryans dismay at the latters positions on immigration, his tirades against Muslims and Mexicans, and his unease with Mr Trumps often vulgar tone and constantly changing positions.

In reality of course both men are being propelled towards accommodation. Mr Ryan, who may be mulling a White House run of his own in 2020, doesnt want to go down as the man who wrecked partys chances in 2016. He also wants to preserve his partys majority in the House  which might end up its sole bulwark in Washington if Mr Trump is defeated and costs the Republicans control of the Senate.

As for Mr Trump, it may the year of the outsider, of a voters backlash against a discredited Washington establishment. I have a mandate, he correctly proclaims.

But even someone whos brought millions of new voters into the Republican fold during the primaries cant lightly forego the support of the man who ex officio is still scheduled to wield the gavel at the Cleveland convention.

A formal split in the Republican party  that would seal its fate in November - is unlikely. But if it happens it will be because conservative purists break away. Mr Ryan is a certified conservative, and his explicit support will help persuade ideological Republicans to hold their noses and back a candidate who they believe has hardly a conservative bone in his body.

But rapprochement won't happen overnight, or in 45 minutes as Mr Ryan put it later. Rather, its a process that will continue at further meetings over the next few weeks, that get down into policy specifics. The outcome, though, is hardly in doubt. The Republicans will have their unity. Sometimes even a figleaf will do.
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The Vote Leave campaign may come to regret its fit of pique over the ITV referendum debate.

Its threat of consequences for the broadcaster, and dark warnings that the occupants of 10 Downing Street wont be there long smacks of a very low, recriminatory approach to politics.

A group of people with pretensions to govern should think very hard about whether they want to send a message that theirs will be a government that makes policy with revenge as a motive.

That is not to say there isnt also a whiff of low politics about Downing Streets approach to the TV debates. Mr Cameron understandably wants to avoid a public clash with a Cabinet colleague that would inflame divisions in his party.

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

But given his avoidance of a one-on-one TV debate with Ed Miliband during the General Election campaign, one can also presume a strategic decision has again been made that a TV debate with a worthy opponent is too big a risk.

The calculation will have been that, whereas Nigel Farage is an opponent who appeals very greatly to a relatively small section of the population, he lacks the ability to sway the broader swathe of people who are still on the fence.

The intellectual and frequently charming Michael Gove would be a different proposition. The political blunderbuss that is Boris Johnson, with his Trumpian ability to make people pay attention to him no matter how loose his argument, would be an even greater risk.

We do not know the details of the conversations that were held between ITV, Downing Street, and the rival campaigns, nor how the current arrangement was reached.

But Downing Street demonstrated its ability to get its way by avoiding a one-on-one with Miliband last year  and went on to win the election. Did Vote Leave really think they would play a different game this time, when Mr Cameron is facing probably the biggest political fight of his career?

 Vote Leave campaign underway

It doesnt make it right, but it does make the Leave campaigns sudden burst of anger appear naive.

The response also risks becoming a story about civil war within the Leave campaign itself.

Nigel Farage, a man who for many years has been the most prominent voice for Britain to leave the EU and  whatever one thinks of him  has worked tire tirelessly to achieve his goal, will be feeling justifiably furious that the people in Vote Leave who should be his allies are willing to so publicly indicate that they think hes not up to the job of taking on David Cameron.

The row yet again exposes the key fault-line in the Brexit camp  between the soft Leave campaign, that wants to argue about sovereignty and present a positive vision of a grand future for Britain looking beyond Europe to India, China and America for its trade partnerships; and the hard Leave campaign, that wants to talk about immigration and dangers of the refugee crisis for Europes security.

Boris Johnson, Michael Gove et all need to accept that in backing Brexit they made an informal alliance with UKIP and the harder elements of the Leave campaign. If they are so uncomfortable with it that they dont want its main cheerleader to represent them, perhaps they should publicly explain why.
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Remember when UNILAD told us they didnt condone rape "without shouting surprise"? Unsurprisingly, the article was pulled after its founders were accused of trivialising rape. But when a mens magazine whose website boasts almost two million monthly users suggests surprise sex, apparently its a different matter.

Yesterday, British GQ published an article by sex expert and Play Experience sex party host, Sarah Jane Banahan, entitled How to ask for anal sex. Banahan opens by explaining that she recently read that it is more respectful to initiate to your partner beforehand about wanting to try anal sex. Unimpressed with this idea, she suggests it is more erotic to offer a slight whisper in the ear while you penetrate your woman.

The piece goes on to justify this with the statement that women love a bit of Friday night kink, bondage and debauchery. No arguments there. But since when was it kinky to shut your partner out from your sexual desires, or erotic not to bother with consent until youre already trying to penetrate someone's anus for the first time? And, on a practical note, what about lube? If making even the smallest mention to your partner of your desire for anal sex is so tedious, then perhaps you should question why youre so keen to do it in the first place.

Love and sex news: in pictures Show all 31 1 /31 Love and sex news: in pictures Love and sex news: in pictures What makes a perfect penis? Scientists have now answered one of these great unknowns. According to a new study, general cosmetic appearance is the most important penile aspect when it comes to what women value down there. This is swiftly followed by the appearance of pubic hair, penile skin, and girth. Length comes in at number six, with the look of the scrotum trailing closely behind. The least important facet of the phallus, say the scientists, is the position and shape of meatus, the vertical slit at the opening of the urethra. Getty Love and sex news: in pictures Half of divorcees had doubts on their wedding day Over half of divorcees considered abandoning their husband or wife-to-be at the altar on their wedding day, a new study has revealed. On top of likely worrying about wedding favours and making sure guests behave on their big day, 49 per cent of divorcees admitted they were unsure before the ceremony that their marriage would last. Some 15 per cent of divorcees polled said they were so wracked with doubt that they felt physically sick in the run up to their wedding. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Students who marry after studying the same subject Picking a university subject is already difficult enough for young people. But heres an extra piece of data to weigh on your decision: you may be picking a life partner as well. Dan Kopf of the blog, Priceonomics, analysed US Census data and found that the percentage of Americans who marry someone within their own major is actually fairly high. About half of Americans are married, according to the 2012 American Community Survey (part of the Census). And about 28 per cent of married couples over the age of 22 both graduated from college. (The survey didnt recognise same-sex marriages for the 2012 data, but it will for 2013 onwards, says Kopf). Sean Gallup/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures How much sex we have (and how much we'd like) As a nation, we dont have as much sex as we would like, a survey has (somewhat unsurprisingly) confirmed. In a poll of 1523 people by YouGov, 64 per cent of Britons said they would wish to have sex at least a few times a month. The same sample said that only 38 per cent had sex at least a few times a month. In addition, 10 per cent said they wished to have sex every day, a goal which only 1 per cent admitted reaching. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The new female condom Picture an internal condom. The chances are youre thinking of something which resembles a carrier bag. However, this could all be about to change with the new VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine. Not only is it a wireless, Bluetooth enabled, vibrating interactive device, which comes available in the shape of a heart, but the manufacturers think youll love it more than not using a condom at all. Love and sex news: in pictures One in five Brits admit to having had an affair One in five British adults admits they have had an affair, according to a new poll. 20 per cent of male respondents and 19 per cent of female respondents admitted to having had an affair in a new poll of 1660 respondents by YouGov. Orlando /Three Lions/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures The UK's favourite sex position Casting aside the myth that Brits are a prudish bunch, a new survey has revealed that doggy style is the nations favourite sex position. As many as a quarter of UK adults surveyed said doggy style was their favourite way to indulge with a partner. Missionary, which is sometimes scoffed at the most boring position, was favoured by a fifth of the 1,000 people surveyed by high street sex shop Ann Summers, seeing it come in as third under "woman on top". Caiaimage/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Who's most likely to cheat? Men and women who are economically dependent on their spouses are more likely to cheat, a new study has revealed. Researchers have found that men who are solely financially dependent are more like to cheat than women, at 15 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Men who are rely on their wives may cheat because they are undergoing a masculinity threat by not being the primary breadwinner as is culturally expected, said study author Christin L. Munsch, a UConn assistant professor of sociology. Eye Candy/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Jailed for loud sex noises A woman who breached a court order barring her from causing nuisance by making "loud sex noises" was sent to jail. Gemma Wale, of Small Heath, Birmingham, was given a two-week prison sentence after a civil court judge concluded that she had breached the order by "screaming and shouting whilst having sex" at a "level of noise" which annoyed a neighbour. Rex Features Love and sex news: in pictures Photo of wedding guest proposing to girlfriend in front of bride and groom goes viral When the staggering amount time, money, and effort that goes into to planning a wedding is considered, it seems pretty obvious that all guests have is to do is turn up with some gifts, and not upstage the couple. But this fact seems to have escaped one man, whose grinning face has gone viral after he decided to propose to his girlfriend in front of the bride and grooms top table. The photo, which has been viewed over 1.4 million times on Reddit, shows a boyfriend perched on one knee in front of his crying girlfriend. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sexual fantasies The results of a sex survey are busting the myth that Britons are sexually repressed, by revealing how the majority of women have lived out their sexual fantasies. As many as 81 per cent of women and 77 per cent of men have shared and acted out fantasies with a partner  with having sex in public topping the list of turn-ons. The study also laid bare the influence of TV and film on our desires, with three-quarters of couples saying they had inspired them. Meanwhile, a further three quarters of women and over half of men have played out a fantasy theyd found in a book. LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures The world's sexiest nationalities Irish men are the worlds sexiest, according to a survey of thousands of jet-setting women. In a poll of 66,000 of single American women who use MissTravel.com, as many as 8,000 said that Irish men are the sexiest. Around half of the females who took said they were turned on by Irish men said their accent influenced their choice, according to the Irish Times. ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = happiness? Couples were asked to double the amount of sex they had each week over a three month period by researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University, who compared them to couples who had their normal amount of sex. Their findings, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior, went against advice given by the average self-help book  having more sex doesnt automatically make a person happier. Instead, couples who were instructed to have more sex reported a decrease in happiness levels. Mood Board/Rex Love and sex news: in pictures Most sexually satisfied countries It is often considered the most amorous nation on the planet, but France doesn't even feature in a new list of the most sexually satisfied countries. According to a Durex global survey of 26,000 people, aged 16 and older, across 26 countries, only 44 per cent of people are fully satisfied with their sex lives. In the wake of these results, AlterNet has compiled a list of the 12 most sexually satisfied countries, with Switzerland, Spain and Italy topping the list. INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sex o'clock They say women are from Venus and men are from Mars  but a new sex survey suggests that members of the opposite sex seem to operate in different time zones too. While women like to get steamy between 11:21pm on average, men are more likely to be turned on at the rather inconvenient time of 7:54am. These times fall into the broader timeslots of 11pm and 2am for women, and 6am and 9am for men. PIERRE ANDRIEU/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = more money People who have more sex are likely to earn more, new research claims. The research, partly conducted from the responses of 7,500 people, found employees who have sex two or three times a week earn 4.5 per cent more than colleagues who do not. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The effects of watching porn Contrary to suggestion that porn desensitises viewers to sex, a study has found that it doesn't "negatively impact sexual functioning" and in fact boosts couples' sexual attraction to one another. In research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, scientists at the University of California tested the effects of visual sexual stimuli on men in relationships, finding that it "is unlikely to negatively impact sexual functioning, given that responses actually were stronger in those who viewed more VSS." Rex Love and sex news: in pictures 'I have herpes' A woman diagnosed with herpes at the age of 20 has written an emotional essay about living with the common condition to fight the stigma surrounding it. Ella Dawson, now 22, said she had never had unprotected sex and thought she wasn't the sort of person STDs happened to when the symptoms first appeared during her time at university in the US. She wrote that the diagnosis initially felt like a punishment for her values and relationships and worried her that telling boyfriends would ruin her love life. Ella Dawson Love and sex news: in pictures More sleep, better sex A new study could have a simple answer to enhancing your sex life  just get a good nights sleep (if you are a woman at least). A study conducted by a team at the University of Michigan Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory found women who get an extra hour of sleep at night reported higher levels of sexual desire and were more likely to have sex with their partners. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Swipe right A woman has detailed her experiences of a week of always swiping right on Tinder. By opening the floodgates, as Ms Caster describes it, she receives scores of messages from different men  and not all are terrible. Love and sex news: in pictures The most adulterous town in the UK Ever wondered what the neighbours are up to? Well if you live in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, then the answer is probably... having an affair. The bustling East Midlands town has been granted the dubious honour of being the UK's top spot for infidelity  with a total of 941 affairs reportedly taking place right now. According to The Official Infidelity Index 2015, which was released this week, 2.54 per cent of the towns population are currently seeing someone they shouldn't. REX FEATURES Love and sex news: in pictures Average penis size revealed Scientists have measured more than 15,000 mens penises in an effort to find out what size is normal. Researchers at Kings College London and a London NHS trust said they hoped the review would help address the concern that some men have about their penis size and aid people suffering from anxiety and distress. They revealed that the average flaccid penis is 3.6ins (9.16cm) long, or 5.2ins (13.24cm) when stretched, and 3.7ins (9.31cm) in circumference. Erect penises are 5.1ins (13.12cm) long on average and 4.5ins (11.66cm) in girth. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures One true love Men fall in love more times in their life than women, according to a new survey. 2,000 adults were asked about relationships, and discovered that more than half of men say they've loved more than one person their lifetime. For women, it's markedly fewer, with only 45 per cent saying they've had multiple loves. Love and sex news: in pictures Dating site for 'beautiful people only' A self-proclaimed elite dating website has removed around 3,000 members because they were "letting themselves go". BeautifulPeople.com describes itself as the largest internet dating community exclusively for the beautiful and puts peoples photographs to a members vote to decide if they are allowed in. But administrators have now shown that the rigorous 48-hour selection period is not a permanent pass by taking thousands of profiles down, mainly because of weight gain and graceless ageing. Love and sex news: in pictures Sex is a 'miracle cure' Regular exercise  including sex, walking and dancing  are miracle cures staring us in the face and could dramatically cut our risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease and diabetes, leading doctors have said. In a new review of existing evidence which reveals the full extent of benefits that can be accrued from exercise, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said the improvement in health and savings to the NHS could be incalculable. Susannah Ireland Love and sex news: in pictures Pornhub searches by age of user Pornhubs prolific Insights blog fires out many reports of sociological interest, none more so than its latest on age, which lays bare different age groups' sexual proclivities. Looking at the most popular searches among 18-24s, there are several familial terms including 'step mom', 'milf', 'mom' and 'step sister', a trend that seems to die out somewhat in users' 30s. By 65, 'massage' becomes the top term, while 'granny' perhaps unsurprisingly also hits the top ten. PlaceIt/Just Another IKEA Catalog Love and sex news: in pictures Mature sex Research into the sexual lives of more than 7,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 90 in England reveals that half of men and almost a third of women aged 70 and over were still sexually active, with around a third of these sexually active older people having sexual intercourse twice a month or more. Around two-thirds of men and over half of women thought good sexual relations were essential to the maintenance of a long-term relationship or being sexually active was physically and psychologically beneficial to older people. Getty Creative Love and sex news: in pictures The secret to an eighty year marriage Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 42 per cent of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce, and the average British marriage which ends in divorce lasts 11 years and six months. Helen and Maurice Kaye, now aged 101 and 102, have been married for 80 years, and say the secret is: I think its important to have patience and tolerance. You're two entirely different people who suddenly live together, which can't be easy. But if you love each other, you get over the difficulties. Love and sex news: in pictures Valentine's Day porn Pornhub saw a (slight) drop in traffic on Valentine's Day as people focused on pleasuring their partners rather than themselves. Everywhere, it is, except for London. Overall UK traffic dipped 3 per cent across the UK, with Plymouth and Oxford seeing the biggest drops of 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. In fact every major city spent less time watching porn bar London, the Pornhub audience for which grew by 2 per cent. Getty Love and sex news: in pictures 1 in 10 men paying for sex A tenth of British men have admitted to paying for sex, according to a new study. Professionals aged 25 to 34 who binge drink and take drugs were found to be the most likely to have used the services of prostitutes, based on findings from a study of 6,108 men. Around 11 per cent of subjects, in the study published in the Sexually Transmitted Infections journal, have ever paid for sex in their lifetime and four per cent admitted to doing so in the last five years. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Questions that determine if you're in love The existence of love and its nature is something that has troubled philosophers for centuries, but a pair of scientists believe they have a set of questions that yield "clear empirical evidence" of it, or at least whether your relationship will end in divorce. They are: 'How happy are you in your marriage relative to how happy you would be if you weren't in the marriage?' and 'How do you think your spouse answered that question?' Columbia

Women can and do enjoy anal sex. According to CDC data the number of US women aged 15-44 who admitted to having tried it rose from 34 per cent in 2002 to 38.9 per cent in 2011-2013. Statistics about sexual pleasure are scarce, but the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour found that of the women interviewed whose last sexual encounter involved anal sex, 94% achieved orgasm, giving it the highest success rate of any sexual act recorded. However, it was also the least prevalent act, and this group did comprise just 31 women.

But when researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine interviewed 130 heterosexual teenagers aged 16-18 about anal, they found a concerning trend of normalised coercion. The study mentions instances of a non-consensual try it and see approach and notes that those interviewed rarely spoke of anal sex in terms of mutual exploration of sexual pleasure.

Framing anal penetration as something women might tolerate if their long-suffering partners play their cards right or, as Banahan puts it, if they make them feel like the sexiest woman alive, reinforces the idea that any sexual act is something that we have done to us.

Banahans one reference to the issue of consent comes after her suggestion that men tell their partners that theyre going to penetrate them and then rub the tip of their penis around the anus before pushing inside. In brackets, she adds: if she's into it, of course. No means no, gentlemen, an aside that reads like a conspiratorial wink to the male reader, or an alternative to dont push your luck though, lads!

This may have been a light-hearted piece, but creating ambiguity around consent has damaging repercussions. Last year, a survey by the Washington Post found that 18% of college students believed that someone consented to sex simply by not saying no. A 2014 study published in Violence and Gender reported that 32% of male college students said that they would have sexual intercourse with a woman against her will if there were no consequences, while only 18% admitted the same intention when the word rape was actually used (suggesting people are more likely to rape when they do not believe that is what they are doing).

Making consent sound dull, obstructive and unsexy will feed these attitudes and, ultimately, feed rape culture.
The run on office blocks in suburban Dublin looks set to continue, with Colliers International seeking 22m for Block 2 in South County Business Park.

The block, which is let to Microsoft, has been put on the market by Green Property. The move comes barely a week after the European arm of US giant Kennedy Wilson paid 62m for the Chase Building in nearby Sandyford and said it believed the suburban office market was due for significant growth. The business park is located close to Leopardstown racecourse and the Central Park office development.

The property is currently let to Microsoft on what Colliers describe as "flexible lease terms" up to January 2020. Microsoft is paying a rent of 1.97m per annum for the block, and there are said to be earlier break options in the lease terms.

In its current form, Block 2 offers accommodation of 8,111 sq m (87,306 sq ft) along with 283 car parking spaces. Importantly, and perhaps reflecting the era in which it was built, the property sits on a site of 2.4 hectares. That gives any buyer huge scope for redevelopment if they so desire.

According to Colliers, future development will be determined by the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Development Plan 2016 to 2022 and the Sandyford Urban Framework Plan (SUFP). The SUFP Zone 3 provides for office based employment uses and a plot ratio of 1:1.5 which indicates that a further office floor area of over 20,000 sq m could be added to the current building.

Colliers' Nick Coveney believes that "with the benefit of short term income showing a strong initial yield this represents a great opportunity to acquire quality office space with significant potential for increased density in a prime business location which is further developing as a hub of activity, with great corporate occupiers, easy motorway access and excellent public transport networks".

Green Property has been selling heavily in recent months, including the 950m Blanchardstown Centre.
More than 164m worth of multi home portfolios have been sold in Dublin in the first four months of the year. In all 877 units, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms, have been sold in the capital. That works out at an average price of 187,000 per unit.

However some of these units are valued at more than three times that on the Property Price Register.

Many of them have been sold while occupied by tenants and this is proving popular with investors as it enables them to start generating rent as soon as the deal has gone through.

This contradicts the perception that portfolio sales require evictions. Allsop reports that over the past two years it has sold 900 tenanted dwellings and these accounted for about 41pc of its 2,200 residential property sales. Of the 900, more than one-third or 342 were apartments; 558 were houses.

IRES which has bought about 2,100 homes is quite happy to buy tenanted property. For example when it bought 442 apartments in Tallaght Cross West, Dublin 24, in the biggest deal so far this year, 88pc of the units were occupied.

The PPR shows that the 442 units were in fact valued at just below 64.1m. or an average of 145,000 per apartment.

IRES said it expects to increase the yield to 8.5pc by attracting tenants to the vacant 53 units. According to the latest Daft rental survey one and two bedroom properties in Dublin 24 are now generating gross yields of between 9pc and 10pc.

Nearby the sale of a portfolio of 50 apartments at Abberley Square, Tallaght, is expected to close shortly. Knight Frank had been asking 6m or an average of 120,000 for each unit. It has the potential for a 720,000 rent roll which, at the guide price, suggests an 11pc gross yield.

The second biggest residential property portfolio to sell this year was Nama's sale of Elm Park on The Merrion Road. It included 218 out of the 332 apartments in the campus as well as a terrace of eight luxury town houses, in addition to office and other facilities. The Property Price Register (PPR) shows that 118 of these apartments were in The Links section of the campus and these were valued at more than 39.95m. The register also shows that the units ranged in valuation from 111,000 to more than 1m each.

A further 71 units in The Bay, Elm Park, were valued at 12.02m. Most of these were valued at between 130,000 and 145,000 each.

Starwood and Chartered Land were reported to have paid a total of 183.47m for all of the properties including the commercial office blocks. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and Savills acted for Nama while Colliers acted for Starwood.

Strong prices were also seen for a portfolio of 15 apartments at Cannon Place, Sandymount, Dublin 4, which sold for 7.1m in February and six of these were valued at 425,000 each with the most valuable ones valued at 625,000 each.

In 2014 Hibernia REIT acquired 12 two and three-bed apartments in a 22 unit apartment block at Cannon Place, as part of its acquisition of a Dorville-related portfolio from Ulster Bank. Hibernia's 12 were valued at the time at 6m or an average of 500,000 each.

Another strong price was seen this year when a private investor bought Abbeyglen, Cabinteely, in south Dublin for 10.5m. It comprises 44 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms and including duplex penthouses. At the time of the sale 36 units were generating rents of 442,000. Agents Knight Frank had been quoting 8.5m. prior to the sale and Damien McCaffrey said that the rent roll could increase to 700,000 when eight units were finished and rents brought up to current market levels.

Its strong price reflected the fact that the purchaser would have complete control of the development and would also have the option of selling off either one of the blocks or individual apartments to get some of their money back.

Meanwhile on the north side of the city a development of 41 units at Xavier Court on Sherrard Street Upper, close to its junction with the North Circular Road in Dublin 1, has gone sale agreed recently for more than the 7.8m being quoted by Knight Frank. It was fully let.

Arranged in three blocks around a courtyard, the flats comprise eight one-bedroom, 21 two-bedroom and two units with three bedrooms as well as 41 basement car parking spaces. PPR shows it sold in 2013 for more than 4.74m.

PPR also shows that 22 apartments at City Square, Gloucester Street, off Pearse St, Dublin 2, were valued at 4.72m in a deal that closed in last month. The one beds were valued at 193,516 each and the two beds at 260,000 each. IRES announced in February that it had acquired 23 apartments, and a 57 sq m office suite at City Square, Gloucester Street, and 22 of the apartments were occupied.

In February IRES REIT also bought eight apartments at The Forum in Sandyford. The PPR shows that they came with a number of parking spaces and were valued at 259,200 each. Subsequent to that the PPR shows three other units in the Forum sold at prices ranging from 290,000 in March to 258,000 in April.

Also in February 11 flats at Russell Court, Feltrim Road, Dublin 24, sold for around 1.3m or almost 118,500 each.

In March this year 11 flats at Castlegrange Park, Castaheany, Dublin 15, sold for 1.81m. Most of these were valued at 160,000 each but one of them, No 42, was valued at 210,000.

Two deals were done at Rossan Court, Waterville Blanchardstown. In February 12 of these homes sold for almost 3.1m or an average of 258,333 each. Then in March eight more units sold for more than 2.17m or an average of 271,500 each.
The IDA has some of Britain's biggest banks in its sights, hoping to sign them up for major Irish expansion if the UK votes to leave the European Union in June.

Lenders including Standard Chartered and Ulster Bank's owner Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are being targeted in the IDA effort to lure finance jobs to this country, people familiar with the discussions said.

IDA Ireland has already pitched to UK and international lenders about relocating hundreds of traders and support staff, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions were private.

The agency is pushing towns like Shannon as ideal destinations for administrative employees because they offer low costs and ample office space, one of the people said.

The UK will vote on June 23 on whether to remain part of the European Union.

London's financiers have warned a so-called Brexit vote will prompt overseas banks to move jobs elsewhere, because some financial products can't be traded outside the EU without specific agreements.

In the event of a Brexit UK-owned banks could opt to set up subsidiaries inside the EU to get around those rules, as Swiss and US banks have long done.

"Brexit could initially challenge the current operational structures of some UK and international banks which do cross-border business" and require "re-engineering to ensure access to the single market," Carlos Suarez Duarte, an analyst at Moody's Investors Service, said in a report this month.

IDA chief executive officer Martin Shanahan told the Irish Independent in March that he had met with "some financial services companies" and discussed Brexit, without providing specifics.

"Encouraging investment into regional locations outside of Dublin is a key part of the IDA Ireland's strategy," the agency said in an statement, declining to comment further.

Standard Chartered and RBS declined to comment.

Banks that have moved some operations to Ireland include Swiss-headquartered Credit Suisse, which said in December that it will make Dublin its primary hub for servicing hedge funds in Europe and move staff from London.

The company, which considered London before settling on Ireland, will employ about 100 people in connection with the trading floor.

HSBC said in February that it would probably need to move about 1,000 investment bankers to Paris, in the event of a Brexit. (Bloomberg)
Restructuring at Bulmers owner C&C resulted in the group incurring 38.4m in exceptional costs during its last financial year.

The company reported results yesterday that were in line with analyst expectations, and insisted it's positioned for growth after a tough two years.

Its revenue in the 2016 financial year fell 3.1pc to 662.6m, while operating profits were 10.3pc lower at 103.2m.

C&C chief financial officer Kenny Neison confirmed that virtually all the exceptional items - which amounted to 33.4m net of tax - were linked to its rationalisation programme that was revealed earlier this year. The figure included exceptional costs already incurred as well as provisions.

Severance costs totalled 14.5m.

The company announced earlier this year that it's closing two plants, one at Borrisoleigh in Co Tipperary, and another at Shepton Mallet in England.

That has resulted in the loss of about 270 jobs. But C&C is investing 10m at its plant in Clonmel, where cider production has now been centralised.

A new production line at the Clonmel plant will be operational next month.

C&C has raised its final dividend by more than 27pc and gearing remains low at just 1.3 times net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation). Net debt rose slightly during the financial year to 163m. It also recorded strong cash generation.

C&C chief executive Stephen Glancey told the Irish Independent that the company remains a strong investment proposition.

He said Bulmers in Ireland remains a "great brand", outselling its nearest rival by a factor of seven. But sales of the cider were hit last year, including by the poor weather and the launch of Heineken's cider brand, Orchard Thieves.

The group has also been pushing its brands into export markets. Tennent's performed well in the five months since it was launched in South Africa, as well as in Italy, said Mr Glancey.
COMMUNITIES will be offered the opportunity to invest in renewable energy projects under proposals being developed by an energy cooperative.

Energy Co-operatives Ireland (ECI) said that options were being explored in relation to solar farms generating up to 5MW of power, which would produce electricity for the equivalent of 4,000 homes.

The move comes amid growing concern from rural communities about large-scale renewable energy projects, particularly wind, being imposed upon them with no community gain.

Under the model proposed by ECI, developers would meet the full costs of development including design, environmental assessment, planning and grid access. Once the project is given the green light, the community would be offered the opportunity to invest.

ECI said a possible return on investment would be 6pc per annum. "The exact percentage ownership by a community will vary depending on the size of the project," ECI chief executive Cormac Walsh said.

"There will also be a free gratis percentage figure of the project diverted to the local energy co-operative at the very centre of the development. This regular payment will last for the lifetime of the project and should be used specifically to benefit those local people in fuel poverty and who would not be in any financial position to participate directly in this initiative."

The move comes after the Government's White Paper on Energy said there was a need to explore community ownership of renewable energy projects.

The chief executive of solar energy company Amarenco, John Mullins, has also said he planned to develop 40 solar farms across the country by 2017 if a tariff is in place, and the company was open to developing community farms where a stake of up to 30pc could be held by local people.

ECI said it was in negotiations with two developers and two communities, and that the lack of community ownership was a "huge issue".

"We're actively talking with a number of co-ops we already have. Behind the scenes, it is being actively discussed," he said.

Mr Walsh added it hoped that credit unions would create a fund to help drive investment, which would allow communities to invest,
Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport soared almost 18pc in the first quarter of the year, easily putting it on track to boost the figure to more than 27 million this year.

New figures from industry group Airports Council International (ACI) show that Dublin was also the fastest-growing airport in its category in Europe during March.

Dublin Airport is now the 17th biggest airport in Europe, having handled 5.5 million passengers in the first quarter of 2016. That's 17.5pc more than in the first three months of 2015.

It handled just over 25 million passengers in 2015, which was a 15pc increase on the previous year. And with a big increase in capacity and routes scheduled for this summer, it puts the airport on target for another bumper year.

"The magnitude of the traffic increase at many airports has defied economic gravity," according to ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec. "To some extent, it has also flown in the face of an increasingly adverse geopolitical and security environment."

The figures from ACI came as the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said yesterday that air traffic at our three main airports grew by a combined 9pc in April compared to April 2015. In Dublin, aircraft movements were 9.4pc higher last month, with an average of 568 a day.

At Cork, aircraft movements were up 11.3pc, with an average of 55 daily. At Shannon, there was a 2.3pc increase, with an average of 50 a day.

IAA chief executive Eamonn Brennan welcomed the growth in April's traffic, and also said the choice for Irish consumers will be expanded when Ireland-based Norwegian Air International (NAI) receives its approval to operate flights to the United States.

Mr Brennan said that opposition to the carrier is based on restricting consumer choice and competition. The Irish Independent reported this week that US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has objected to NAI being able to fly between Ireland and the United States.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that there appears to have been a "robust overall start" to 2016 for the global airline industry.

"We estimate that airfares fell by around 4pc in constant exchange rate terms in early-2016," it noted.

"However, with oil prices up 65pc since their January low, the biggest stimulus to demand from lower airfares now appears to be behind us," it added in its latest report.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary is among a number of leading Irish aviation and tourism figures who have called for Norwegian Airlines International to be granted a permit that will allow it to fly between Cork and the United States.

In a joint letter sent to over 50 senior US politicians who are members of the Friends of Ireland caucus, Mr OLeary and other supporters of Norwegian, including Failte Ireland chairman Michael Cawley, have urged them to back the airlines permit request.

We ask that you support NAIs (Norwegian Air Internationals) request on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Americans and Irish consumers and business people who will benefit from new, accessible, and affordable flights between our two countries and Europe, the letter states.

The Irish Independent revealed this week that US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has voiced his opposition to NAI being allowed fly from Cork to America.

A rally is to be held today in Washington DC to show support for NAIs plans.

The letter to the US politicians has also been signed by MEP Deirdre Clune; the chief executive of the DAA, Kevin Toland; the CEO of the Irish Aviation Authority, Eamonn Brennan; Michael Murphy, the president of UCC; and Ian Talbot, the CEO of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. There are 21 signatories in total.

They add: To our dismay, opponents of NAI have repeatedly and maliciously impugned Irelands aviation safety oversight, regulatory structures and labour protections, and labelled Ireland as a mere flag of convenience. This is deeply inaccurate, misleading and simply not true.

NAI, which is a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, already has an Irish air operators certificate, but has waited two years to secure its permit to fly to America. The US Department of Transportation has delayed the permit in the face of strong opposition from aviation unions to NAI.

The unions claim that Norwegian will use its Irish unit to circumvent stringent labour laws, and using cheap employees, including staff from Asia, to the detriment of US airlines.

Norwegian has consistently denied the claims.

Ryanair has already showed its support in a separate letter to the US Department of Transportation.

NAI will deliver a fresh competitive dynamic on the transatlantic routes by offering choice, service improvements and lower fares to US and European consumers, creating jobs and delivering increased passenger volumes, Ryanair claimed.
SVB said it now expects to deploy an extra $100m of new lending to Irish tech and life sciences firms over the next five years, from its operations in the US and UK. Photo: Bloomberg

Silicon Valley Bank - the Californian tech sector lender - is doubling the amount of money it is lending to fast-growing Irish technology companies.

The bank committed $100m (96m) in 2012, and is now committing a further $100m through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

The bank's customers in Ireland are across the technology and life sciences sectors, and they include Accuris, Boxever, Clavis Insight, Movidius and Profitero.

The Irish Independent reported last month that SVB has now placed a permanent representative in Ireland for the first time.

SVB said it now expects to deploy an extra $100m of new lending to Irish tech and life sciences firms over the next five years, from its operations in the US and UK.

Phil Cox, president of EMEA and the head of Silicon Valley Bank's UK Branch, praised the level of entrepreneurs in Ireland.

"We're pleased to have met so many fantastic entrepreneurs in Ireland over the last four years, and are looking forward to expanding our relationships with Irish innovators with this new financial commitment," Mr Cox said.

"We'd like to thank the Irish Government and particularly the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund for their support, collaboration and proactive approach to building the innovation economy locally."

Silicon Valley Bank lends to Irish technology companies and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund helps it to identify potential lending clients in these niche sectors and also invests in funds managed by SVB Capital.

Silicon Valley Bank's parent company, SVB Financial Group, has established a presence in Ireland with the appointment of Clive Lennox, who has moved from London to Dublin as director of Irish business development.

Eugene O'Callaghan, ISIF director, said Ireland's emerging and high-growth technology and life sciences companies have enormous potential.

"Silicon Valley Bank has shown it can apply its specialist lending expertise and relationships to a critical gap in the Irish market and we look forward to seeing more Irish companies benefit from their dedication to the Irish market over the next five years," Mr O'Callaghan said.

Last month, Gerald Brady, head of UK relationship banking with SVB, told the Irish Independent that the lender is well over halfway towards its initial target to lend $100m into Irish firms, but declined to give a specific figure.

He also heaped particular praise on Collison brothers, John and Patrick, who founded online payments company Stripe.

They launched Stripe Atlas earlier this year, which lets budding entrepreneurs in developing countries begin trading online through a connection to a US bank account, online payment system (Stripe) and US incorporated company registration.

To further this, Stripe has teamed up with a number of financial, legal and professional services firms, including SVB.
The retailers in the UK, for example, have been controlling the e-commerce channel, but now you have other parties beginning to enter into it that are avoiding the traditional retail infrastructure completely, says Stan McCarthy

When most of us think of Kerry Group the first thing that comes to mind is probably milk. That's certainly true of the farmers, many rooted in the rich dairy country close to Kerry's Tralee headquarters, who dominate the share register of the 14bn food giant through the original Kerry co-op.

Whether it's true of chief executive Stan McCarthy is another question altogether.

When the 59-year-old Kerry boss surveys the global business, milk, and the green fields of the Kingdom, are among of a whole clatter of businesses and issues he needs to juggle.

The task of managing that dynamic spilled into the open this week, after the Irish Independent revealed the depth of tensions between management of Kerry group, led by McCarthy, and some of its oldest shareholders. Kerry Co-op owns 13.7pc of the plc, worth 1.9bn, and farmers are estimated to hold a further 30pc of shares, having benefited from a series of spin-outs making them a powerful body to be reckoned with.

McCarthy joined Kerry in 1976 as a trainee accountant. He's a Kerry lifer. Forty years later the reserved Kerryman leads a vastly transformed organisation where annual revenue topped 6bn last year.

He's speaking to me from Chicago, where the company has had a presence since the early 1980s.

In his ninth year as chief executive, McCarthy sees his role, and his challenge, as positioning Kerry to take advantage of rapidly changing consumption habits.

Many farmer-shareholders back home, reeling from this year's collapse in milk prices since the lifting of European quotas, might feel there are more pressing issues to contend with - like lifting farm gate prices.

It's a tension that was probably always inherent in the hybrid corporate structure not just at Kerry but Glanbia and other big agri-food players that emerged out of the cooperative movement. The liberalisation of the dairy sector, and the globalisation of groups like Kerry, may well make it harder, not easier, to manage that tension into the future.

For one thing, the popular view may associate Kerry with milk and butter, but most of the group's revenue comes from its 'Taste & Nutrition' business.

It throws up much of the dividend income that shareholders, including farmers, have come to expect from Kerry. That business is built around cutting-edge science and technology, used to provide foodtech services to other businesses bent on making end products healthier and tastier, and more "functional" in the industry jargon.

Raw materials matter, but it's clear from the conversation that much of McCarthy's focus is on consumers, whose changing habits and requirements are being studied to shape Kerry's future.

"The millennial generation think very differently to when I was growing up. When I was growing up, you didn't pay attention to the food that you consumed the way people pay attention to it today," McCarthy said. "Lifestyle is impacting that as well. People have less time, they make decisions quickly.

"People decide what they want to eat and what they consume at four o'clock in the evening and they want it readily available, they want it to meet the standards that they expect. So you have all these factors impacting change in consumption.

"That has to be reflected in how we engage with our customers, that we ensure we're helping them deliver products that meet that consumer expectation."

Responding to that can be massively expensive, and management intensive.

Kerry is an "acquisitive business", McCarthy said. Last year it spent almost 900m on buying other companies.

"We're extremely busy integrating those acquisitions. There are a number of phases, one is to integrate them and secondly is to take what we've acquired and market it through our global infrastructure, like the developing markets. That's certainly part of the plan for 2016 and 2017.

"That being said, we will not stop acquiring in 2016 and 2017. We have a very busy internal M&A team... [the amount of money Kerry spends this year] could be from 100m to 500m." Developing markets, including Central and South America and Malaysia, account for about 25pc of Kerry's taste and nutrition business and McCarthy wants to make that 30pc by 2020.

The other side of Kerry's business is the consumer foods division. The company owns brands including Denny, Dairygold, and Cheestrings.

Snacking and convenience underpins McCarthy's strategy there, trends again driven by millennials' habits. The shift towards e-commerce in retail is an important part of the mix too.

"We have invested pretty heavily in the last number of years around the whole digital and e-commerce strategy and we continue to do that, it's a very fast-growing part of our business.

"Our foods business is very much a brand-centric business and for it to continue to grow it needs to be connected with the smartphone community.

"Certainly that has been quite successful for us over the past number of years and it has started to drive significant growth after what was a difficult period in Ireland and the UK after the economic meltdown where the consumer patterns were completely disrupted. But now they're being reincarnated if you will under a different format, primarily driven by digital and ecommerce. The future of our foods business, it's focused on brands, and those brands have to be available for consumers given the infrastructural changes that are taking place in retail. We're also expanding internationally into mainland Europe as well."

The shift online could well benefit farmers, if it helps Kerry break the dominance of big supermarkets in setting food prices, especially in the UK.

"Certainly the retailers in the UK, for example, have been controlling the e-commerce channel, but now you have other parties beginning to enter into it that are avoiding the traditional retail infrastructure completely.

"You have companies like Amazon entering into the UK market. We're engaged with many different companies that are exploring channels outside of the traditional retail channels... Amazon are looking at delivering fresh food within I believe 40 minutes in the South East of the UK."

Social media has dramatically changed the marketing landscape and Kerry has invested heavily to try and reap the benefits.

"It's about being able to connect and communicate with our consumers and the whole digital platform allows us to do that.

"Social media is a way of messaging to the consumers in terms of what's new and exciting about our products, and certainly can become more effective in terms of being able to connect with the appropriate consumer when it comes to messaging, promotions, what have you. This is changing at a phenomenal pace and it is only escalating," McCarthy said.

McCarthy's brand awareness isn't lost on industry peers.

He will be named 'All-Ireland marketing champion' at this year's industry awards run by the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

The awards, with Independent Newspapers as media sponsor, recognises 'an exceptional contribution to business performance over time, and who has also had a positive impact on the broad marketing profession in Ireland'. It's not a question of embracing novelty for its own sake, McCarthy's attitude is pragmatic. "All we can say is that it will be hugely important to our business in the future.

"The extent, it just continues to escalate every year, and it's something that you can't afford to not invest in. We continue to pour large amounts of money into it. The technology is changing rapidly, the ability to be able to take data and convert it into information to take meaningful decisions is improving all the time.

"It's a reflection of the way millennials are keeping up to date, making decisions about what they consume, it's that new way of doing business that's changing all our lives."

Kerry's focus on the future, and on consumers, dominates our conversation, which takes place just days before it emerged that McCarthy has stepped down from his role as ceo of Kerry Co-Op, Kerry Group's biggest shareholder, in part the result of row over the milk price being paid to farmers by the group many still see as "their" dairy.

The milk price issue is set to go to mediation. The gulf between the co-op and the plc may take longer to bridge.
KBC Bank Ireland has more than doubled its profit in the first quarter of its financial year, rising to 34.2 from 16.2m when compared with the same period last year.

In the three month period to the end of March, the bank added 16,800 with current accounts continuing to drive new customer acquisitions.

The firm said it has strong momentum in reducing the number of mortgage arrears cases, while groupwide KBC posted a profit of 392m.

KBC's groupwide profits were hit significantly after it filed a net profit of 862m in the last quarter of 2015 and 510m in the first quarter of last year. KBC Bank Ireland reported a 16.2m profit in the first quarter of 2015.

KBC Bank Ireland chief executive Wim Verbraeken said the company is pleased to start the financial year on a strong footing.

Looking ahead, our focus remains firmly on growing our retail business by offering customers a quality banking experience that is intuitive to their needs. KBC will do so while working closely with customers in financial difficulties to try and reach suitable, sustainable resolutions.

Earlier in the week KBC announced several new variable lending rates for new mortgage customers, as well as reduced fixed rates for new and existing customers on two, three, and five year products.

KBC said its deposit base in both its retail and corporate businesses grew to 5.4bn from 5.1bn at the end of 2015.

Mr Verbraeken went on to explain the company's 100m investment in digital avenues and other areas.

"We are investing over 100 million in our digital channels, banking systems and physical channels and our priority now is to further progress our vision for modern banking and to deliver on our ambition to become the bank of choice for customers in Ireland.

"That means continued investment in our digital channels, ensuring that our physical locations connect with customers and communities, and that our product range leads the way in competitiveness and innovation."
Advertising agency MediaCom Ireland has appointed Peter McPartlin to the newly appointed role of chief executive.

Mr McPartlin has been tasked with strengthening the MediaCom brand and offering in Ireland.

The new chief executive inherits the role with over 30 years of experience in Irish media, having spent time at Aegis Media, UTV, The Irish Times, and Independent News and Media (the parent company of this newspaper).

Prior to joining MediaCom Mr McPartlin was chief executive of Communicorp's Today FM for the last four years.

Speaking about his new role Mr McPartlin said MediaCom has a unique approach for brand communications.

"The opportunity to take on the new CEO role in Ireland is one that was hard to resist. What is even more exciting is the opportunity to work with the team in Dublin on some iconic brands, as well as the potential to further grow the business in Ireland," he said.

MediaCom UK and Ireland chairwoman Karen Blackett described Mr McPartlin as a "stellar marketing and media expert".

"Peter will be tasked with continuing the growth of the agency by fully embracing our Contents and Connections planning approach in the Irish market. Peter is also the very best there is in the market at developing, attracting and retaining talent, which is core to our People First philosophy.
I often get approached by folks looking to start a career in venture capital. They've read all the investor blogs, can quote the latest high-profile fundraisings and acquisitions, and have concluded that venture is a game of playing Midas.

Early on in these conversations, I try to set the picture straight by telling them this: venture is a career of rejection followed by failure.

Unless you feel comfortable with experiencing large quantities of both, you should consider other careers.

Describing the industry as such usually prompts other VCs to laugh - not because they don't agree, but because it so accurately describes our day-to-day. Yet, it feels so different to what you would believe from reading blogs about venture investing.

Some explanation behind what I mean: every fund cycle begins with raising a fund.

This typically involves 100-plus meetings with fund investors (Limited Partners or LPs). As a VC fund manager, you are probably hoping to get five believers from this group - so you're expecting at least 95 rejections. You will need all five believers to raise a large enough fund to start investing.

If you are lucky enough to find the believers before you run out of personal cash (this fundraising will likely take two years for a first-time fund), then congrats - you're in business! You announce the fund, open the doors, and the investment proposals start flowing in.

At Frontline, we now have over 1,000 companies a year approaching us looking for funding. We expect to invest in 10 of them which - you guessed it - means 990 rejections a year. Split across our three current investment partners, this means 330 rejections a year per partner.

To be successful in venture, you have to have real empathy and respect for the entrepreneur.

As your career progresses, you may get better at evaluating markets and giving constructive feedback - but it never gets easier turning down an entrepreneur who is pouring their life, soul, and bank account into a company. A little bit of you dies 330 times a year.

And we're hardly done yet - after the rejection comes failure. Of the 10 or so companies Frontline invests in a year, we know that (based on VC history) at least half of these will fail to realise their vision.

Some will result in planned company shutdowns, others will be acquihires, and some will grow into small niche companies - but very few will get to truly achieve their dreams of reinventing an industry.

Some folks can handle this rejection and subsequent failure better than others. However, I would urge anyone entertaining venture as a career to understand that, if they are going to be successful in the long-term, they need to be driven by this dynamic - rather than expect that it won't happen to them.

Be candid with yourself and ask if you have the resilience to handle the unique challenges of working in this industry. If you can, this is the best job in the world.

The energy that comes from working with smart, driven entrepreneurs every day of the week (whether they succeed or fail) is incredible and makes it all worthwhile, for me at least.

Will Prendergast is a partner at Frontline Ventures
Irish startups and high tech firms are attracting almost 20m per week in venture capital funding as investment sums into the sector continue to surge. According to new industry figures, venture capital funding in Ireland doubled in the first three months of 2016, with 237m raised here.

The haul represents a two-fold rise in Irish startup funding over the same three months last year and comes as international tech funding sees a dip in activity.

The figures, recorded by the Irish Venture Capital Association's Venture Pulse survey, are based on 42 separate fundraising deals disclosed from Irish and international venture capital firms so far this year.

On an annual run rate, the latest figures indicate that Ireland may see more than 1bn in venture capital invested for the first time in a single year.

Biotech firms lead the investment table so far this year, with 45.4m raised between five different companies. However, business software (17.3m) continues to attract the highest number of individual investments in Ireland, representing a quarter of all VC fundraising rounds completed.

Health tech firms raised 40.1m in the first three months of 2016. Financial tech firms attracted 36.6m, bolstered by companies such as CurrencyFair, which closed an 8m funding round in March.

Irish firms specialising in medical devices (17.1m) and electronic components (10.2m) were the next biggest recipients of venture capital in the first quarter.

These were followed by startups in environmental tech (4.3m), marketing tech (3.6m) and consumer tech (3.3m).

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However, Ireland is still dominated by early stage funding rounds, with over two-thirds of investments valued at under 3m. Just one in ten Irish funding rounds exceeded 10m here in the first quarter, according to the IVCA figures.

The IVCA figures indicate that first round seed funding has doubled from the same period last year.

"Early stage companies have benefited from support from Irish VCs and private investors such as angels," said Regina Breheny, director general of the IVCA. "While seed funds supported by Enterprise Ireland are being renewed, it will take some months yet to get these up and running."

Compared to other parts of the country, Dublin continues to dominate the venture cash available, attracting two thirds of all the funding on offer so far this year.

However, Ireland is continuing to attract more attention from international backers.

"About half the funds came through international syndicates which shows an encouraging global appetite for the Irish tech sector," said Brian Caulfield, a partner at VC firm Draper Esprit and acting chairman of the Irish Venture Capital Association.

Caulfield said that Oneview Healthcare's 40m IPO in Australia reflected the increasing globalisation of Irish businesses. "The importance of close international relationships is emphasised by continued strong support from global players, who invested 116m or 49pc of total funds raised in the first quarter," said Breheny.

"The increase in this quarter to 237m from 119.8m last year is a positive result considering that the industry in Ireland is in fundraising mode."

She said that over 2.8bn in venture capital has been raised by Irish firms since 2008, including over 1.25bn of foreign venture capital into the country.

Breheny claimed that this activity supported the creation of up to 20,000 jobs.

The funding figures come as international venture capital activity in the tech sector continues to show signs of cooling.

According to a quarterly report on VC trends from KPMG International and CB Insights, the first three months of 2016 saw a decline in deal volumes across all major markets.

Asia, said the report, fell 34pc in the quarter and was the main driver of the global funding decline.

Europe and North America both saw funding levels climb minimally.

Overall, Europe saw 3.1bn in financing during the first three months of 2016 compared to 2.9bn in the last three months of 2015. Europe also continues to have a higher share (35pc) of deals at seed stage than other global regions.

According to the CB Insights report, the two largest markets within Europe - Britain and Germany - saw funding declines.

"VC investors are becoming more cautious and more sCeptical," said Arik Speier, head of technology at KPMG Somekh Chaikin in Israel.

"In order for companies to attract funding - especially at the seed stage - they will need to have a stronger business plans, positive margins and a way to prove the validity of any bullish projections." Others have cautioned against previously unsustainable levels of funding for ambitious tech firms.

At the World Economic Forum at Davos in January, Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff warned that the number of billion-dollar startups was likely to decline..

"There are going to be a lot of dead unicorns," he said, adding that companies valued at "lofty valuations" of over $1bn and which skipped the chance to go public when financial conditions were more optimistic were in a "very difficult position". "Those startups will have to raise money at the new reality," he said.

Globally, so-called 'down rounds' have become common in the tech sector.

Dropbox, which has an office in Dublin, and Snapchat are among a growing list of tech companies now considered to be less valuable than they seemed a year ago.

CB Insights' 'Downround Tracker', a site that reveals the major tech companies that have seen their valuations fall, currently lists 59 companies.

However, Irish technology startups have seen an upturn in funding rounds, in scale and volume over the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months, the top eight Irish tech fundraising rounds have brought in 220m of investment, more than twice the 99m figure recorded by the top tech firms in the previous year. Last month, the Dublin software firm Intercom closed a 44m fundraising round.

Combined with two other firms - Limerick's waste management firm AMCS, and Dublin chip design company Movidius - the round tops off 127m for just three companies in the last year, the highest concentrated Irish investment tech haul in recent history.

In a sign that Irish tech companies are starting to compete more seriously with international rivals, the majority of the new funding is coming from US and European venture capital firms looking for alternatives to overheated US tech stocks.

The fillip in funding comes as international indices show an acceleration in Irish commercial technology activity that is outpacing other countries.

A global analysis by UK-based Mooreland Partners shows that Ireland had the second highest number of tech company 'exits', or sales, per capita in 2015.

By population, Ireland was second only to Singapore and came ahead of Israel and the United States, which were third and fourth.

The index was based on the number of exits rather than the cumulative value of those exits.

In the last 12 months, the the top Irish private indigenous tech companies have seen an average investment of 27.5m per fundraising round, up on the previous year's average of 12.4m.
Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp thanked the London policemen who once arrested him as he arrived in the capital at the premiere of his latest film.

Depp, 52, prompted screams from the crowd as he walked on to the red carpet for the screening of Alice Through the Looking Glass at the Odeon in Leicester Square.

He appeared without his wife Amber Heard, 30, but said he was grateful to her for "putting up with him".

He said: "I think everybody has a sense of themselves, we are all living our lives together and living closely with someone.

"I know I wouldn't be considered normal, I suppose, so I thank her for that. I thank my mum for that, I thank my father for that, for putting up with me.

"I also thank the London policemen when I was arrested here, they were very nice and gave me a cup of tea."

Depp was arrested in London in 1999 after a scuffle with photographers outside a restaurant and was later cautioned.

His wife Heard recently avoided jail in Australia after pleading guilty to providing a false immigration document amid allegations she smuggled the couple's dogs Pistol and Boo into the country.

The pair went on to record a bizarre video in which they apologised and spoke about how important it is to protect Australia's biodiversity.

In his new film, Depp returns to the role of the Mad Hatter after the huge success of Alice In Wonderland, which was directed by Tim Burton in 2010. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and Sherlock star Andrew Scott join the all-star cast for the second outing, which was directed by James Bobin.

Depp said: "It was a lot of fun to come back to the Mad Hatter, it was a gas to get back together with the cast and the addition of Sacha upped the stakes quite a lot. This particular film has a bit more of the Hatter's layers and things going on."

He added: "The first film was something very special in terms of Tim and I working together again. Bringing in James was brilliant because he has such a profound respect for the language that Tim created and stretched it into his own vision."

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Cohen was joined by his wife Isla Fisher for his red carpet outing and joked about working with Depp saying: "We would do a few hours on the acting and then an hour of plotting how to get dogs in and out of countries so it became exhausting and really the film was secondary. In the end he was shipping about 300 dogs a day in and out of England."

Australian actress Mia Wasikowska resumes her role as Alice, who explores her feeling about the passage of time in the film.

Dressed in a blue custom Prada gown, she said: "The message in the film is really nice, that the best way to deal with time is to accept what happened in the past and not try and change it and move on freely into the future."

Alice Through The Looking Glass is released in UK cinemas on May 27.
IRELAND has crashed out of the Eurovision for the third year in a row at the Semi final stage.

Despite Nicky Byrne turning in a strong performance of his song 'Sunlight', it wasn't enough to win over the voters around Europe.

Nicky Byrne tweeted his disappointment this evening. "Amazing Time. Amazing Support. I gave it my all, I'm sorry I didn't get us there.

I pass on the torch to someone else now next year."

Speaking about his elimination, he said: "Obviously I'm disappointed - I really would have loved to represent Ireland at the final on Saturday, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you want them to. I went out there and gave it my absolute best shot.

"I've had such an amazing time in Stockholm and I'm so glad I had the honour of representing Ireland at Eurovision. I've had some brilliant experiences and met fantastic people so I'll take those special memories with me. I have no regrets - life is short and it was an incredible opportunity to represent my country in front of a global audience. I would recommend it to any music act to take on the challenge next year - there is no bigger platform."

Byrne's effort was up against hot favourites Ukraine and Australia who delivered strong performances in front of the expected TV audience of 100m.

Russia is favourite to take the crown on Saturday, Sergey Lazerev's song 'You are the only one' is expected to land the country their second Eurovision crown.

However Sweden are also in the running for victory - should they prove victorious on home soil on Saturday they would tie Ireland's historic winning record at seven victories each.

Last night's elimination means the last three years have been Ireland's poorest performing since joining the competition in 1965.

Kasey Smith failed to qualify for the final in Copenhagen in 2014, while last year in Vienna Molly Sterling also failed to make the cut.

Pressure is now mounting on RTE bosses to explain why Byrne and his song were selected without any public vote.

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On the two previous occasions in 2006 and 2007 when internal selection was used by RTE, the public still voted on the final song choice.

Comments flooded in on social media in the aftermath of the result, with many accusing RTE of being stuck in the 1990s with their approach to the competition.

The song's failue will no doubt come as a disappointment to Nicky's wife Georgina and father-in-law Bertie Ahern who flew out to Stockholm for the event.
IRELAND'S Nicky Byrne is one of 18 acts competing in the second semi final of this year's Eurovision - but will he make the cut tonight?

The definite qualifiers

They say there's no such thing as the sure thing in Eurovision, however it would be a massive shock if Ukraine didn't qualify. To me they're the only absolutely safe country, so that's one slot gone.

The pretty-much done deals

Next are the countries that while not guaranteed a place, all signs would point to them getting over the line. Australia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Norway and Belgium. That's another five slots gone, meaning there's four slots left.

In the zone

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Lithuania and Israel are probably next over the line; meaning we've two slots left, meaning we've just two slots left and ten countries vying for them, including Ireland.

No hopers?

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This comes with a major health warning, as Eurovision tends to throw up 'WTF' qualifiers annually. But Switzerland, Slovenia, Georgia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Belarus are probably going to miss out. So that's five countries after two slots.

Down to the wire

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Of those five, I'd imagine Latvia will be first over the line; there's a few friendly voting countries in this semi and countries where there is a large Latvian diaspora population, which should see them safe.

One in four chance?

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So by my very unscientific reckoning, we're in with a one-in-four shot of making the final. The biggest threat here is Denmark - they have a similar genre of song fishing from the same pool of votes as Ireland. If the Danes are revealed early in the results as qualifiers, things won't be looking goof for Nicky.

Poland is also here - however they have a worse qualification record than Ireland, a poorer running order draw and, dare I say it, a weaker song. But there are plenty of former Soviet countries voting in this semi.

Albania, the other country left in the running, also has a mixed qualification record - however has provided the aforementioned 'WTF' qualifiers in the past.

The big unknowns

There are two big unknowns when trying to judge Nicky's performance. The reason the rehearsals come across as static is because the camera work will give the impression of movement in the arena setting. Swedish hosts SVT are excellent at staging live music events, so how it appears on screen will hugely affect its chances. If the camera work flows and is tight, that's half the battle.

His jury performance last night was also reported as strong - meaning Nicky has been able to up his game when it matters.

The other unknown is the Westlife fanbase - will they vote? And will they vote in large enough numbers to sway the result?

In our ten semi final appearances I've only predicted Ireland's result incorrectly once - in 2012.

This was Jedward's second attempt with a dramatically weaker song and performance than their first; however it is widely believed their European fanbase got them over the line to qualify. Can Westlife's do the same for Nicky Byrne?

When British boyband Blue represented the UK in 2011, they finished fifth in the televote (the juries marked them down due to very dodgy live vocals and staging) - so boyband nostalgia has a value with the voting public in Europe.

Westlife were even bigger than Blue - so will that see Nicky finish in the top five in the televote?

It's an incredibly difficult one to call; Based on attitude and har work alone Nicky Byrne deserves to qualify. The song, not without its detractors, is one of the best ten songs in the semi final. But this competition isn't held on radio - the visual is crucial.

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Is the performance, which is largely without any central theme to pull it together, going to prove forgettable for the voting public at large?

I'll put a health warning on this; normally I only predict eight or nine out of ten correctly. So at least two predictions on this list won't come to be.

It's a real head over heart situation, but I think Nicky will miss the cut. There's something there that tells me he might still make it; yet judging purely on what we know I think he's out. We'll know by 10pm tonight.

Join Brian O'Reilly for our live blog of the second Eurovision Semi Final tonight from 7.45pm.
The BBC will be forced to open its books to the UK governments spending watchdog, allow ministers to appoint nearly half the members of its new governing board, and hand over regulatory powers to Ofcom, under a stringent new governance regime.

John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, will today call for far greater transparency over how the BBC uses its 3.7 (4.7) billion of licence fee income, including ordering the corporation to name stars paid more than 450,000 (570,000) as he warns that the broadcaster must never again be allowed to mark its own homework.

Under the strict new regulatory regime, the National Audit Office will become the BBCs financial auditor, with free rein to examine the corporations books, while Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, will become its official regulator, ensuring independent oversight of complaints about impartiality and accuracy for the first time.

The plans will be contained in a white paper on the future size and scope of the BBC.

In proposals that will be bitterly contested by the BBC, Mr Whittingdale will grant ministers the power to appoint six members of the corporations new governing board, which will replace the BBC Trust, which is to be scrapped at the end of the year.

The BBC will have the right to nominate up to eight members of the body, and can therefore ensure it holds the balance of votes, but executives at the corporation believe that doing so would create a board that would become too large and unwieldy.

The BBCs allies will claim that having six government appointees on the board, which will oversee the corporations day-to-day operations, calls into doubt the broadcasters independence from government.

But Mr Whittingdale will insist that the panel will not have hands-on control over the corporations output, and will deal only with high-level editorial priorities, and budgets.

The corporation has won a number of significant concessions in what its director-general, Lord Hall of Birkenhead, last night said had been a hard fought process, yielding some proposals with which he would respectfully disagree.

The BBC will be awarded an eleven-year Royal Charter, guaranteeing licence fee funding until 2028. Although there will be a health check in five years time, the corporation fought off a bid to allow ministers to assess its programmes and services during this mid-term review, which will instead focus solely on setting the level of the licence fee for the second half of the charter period, and on whether the new governance arrangements are working.

BBC white paper - key steps for the corporation

The BBC will get an 11-year charter, with a health check half way

The BBC Trust will be scrapped, with Ofcom taking over regulatory duties

The National Audit Office will become its financial auditor

A powerful new unitary board will govern the BBC, with six government appointees and up to eight members appointed by the BBC

The BBC will have to disclose the names of stars paid more than 450,000, and release salaries in broad bands. This is expected to capture around 10 presenters and performers

Here's why everyone was talking about the BBC at the TV BAFTAS

Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky kicked off the drama, with his fired-up speech, and James Nesbitt, Ian Hislop and Mark Rylance also chipped in when they were on stage.

"This is really scary stuff folks," he said. "Not something I thought I'd see in my lifetime in this country.

Video of the Day

"It is not their BBC, it's your BBC. There will be no more Wolf Hall, no more groundbreaking Dispatches.

"We should stand up and fight," he added. "If we don't, blink and it will be gone."

Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall, said: "We're a nation of storytellers, we're admired around the world for it and long may it live and long may it be a privilege to the people here without having to watch commercials."

Actor James Nesbitt added: "All these films, writers, directors, cast and crew are able to do what they do as well as they do because of the BBC.

"Do not strip it away. Please protect it, let's cherish it."

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Almost 30 fans of the band Swedish House Mafia have launched claims for personal injury damages arising out of the groups infamous concerts in Phoenix Park four years ago, it was learned today.

The concerts ran over three days in July 2012 and, due to a number of attacks on fans, led to a garda investigation into how it was managed and marshalled.

It led to a meeting between event organisers and the Garda Commissioner leading to the establishment of protocols governing the running of any future events in the park.

A solicitor involved in a case yet to be heard by the courts said today he knew of 26 cases pending with others also in the pipeline.

Last week a fan, who was one of a number of people stabbed and beaten up at one of the concerts on July 7, 2012, settled a 60,000 damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court for an undisclosed sum.

Barrister Suzanne Walsh asked Judge Jacqueline Linnane to strike out the claim of Niall Davey with an order for his legal costs.

Davey, of Castleknock Drive, Castleknock, Dublin, had sued MCD Productions, Dunlaoghaire, Co Dublin; Swords Risk Services Limited, Tuam Road, Galway; Eventsec Limited, Queens Way, Belfast; Michael N. Slattery & Associates Limited, Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin, and PBM Productions Limited, trading as Diffusion Events, Dunlaoghaire.

The new claims will be heard by the Circuit Civil Court and, for the more serious cases, the High Court. Prior to the settlement of Mr Daveys case barrister Pat Purcell had told the court he would be seeking to present a Report of the Garda Investigation. It is expected the Report, previously unpublished, will be opened in the forthcoming cases.

Mr Davey had claimed anti-social behaviour by a group of males at the July 7 concert who kicked mud in peoples faces. They had later viciously assaulted, beaten and stabbed him in the back and, as he lay on the ground, punched and kicked him about his head.

The new cases are expected to come for trial before August.
A MAN serving a prison sentence for conspiracy to rob a security van containing 1million in cash has been given permission by the High Court to challenge a refusal to grant him one-third remission.

Alan Bradley (41) would be entitled to be released on June 13 if he got one-third remission, rather than the normal one-quarter, the court heard.

He is also to bring a constitutional challenge over the requirement that a prisoner seeking to bring judicial review proceedings such as these has to pay around 400 in stamp duty before they can lodge the papers.

His counsel Micheal O'Higgins was given leave by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan to bring the remission refusal challenge against the governor of Portlaoise prison.

In 2012, Bradley was jailed for nine years, with two suspended. On appeal it was reduced to eight with the final 18 months suspended.

Bradley, with an address at Churchfields, Kentstown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to conspiring to take the cash from a security van, containing around 1m, from Chubb Ireland on November 2, 2007 at Tesco, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Mr O'Higgins said his client was seeking to challenge the remission refusal because it was based on an unlawful fixed policy of the prison authorities towards certain categories of offences.

He was entitled to one-third remission because he had had fully engaged with offences-focused work activities prior to release, he said.

There was also a failure by the prison authorities to engage with his case and the reasons for refusal were vague, counsel said.

In relation to the constitutional challenge, counsel said they would be arguing that an impecunious person such as his client meant he was being denied access to the courts.

Mr O'Higgins said that while the central office of the High Court had not sought the stamp duty when his solicitor was lodging papers for this case, it may be sought yet. Counsel was aware that requests for a waiver of the stamp duty in other cases have been refused.

Mr Justice Noonan granted leave and said the matter could come back before him later this month.
At least 15 cases are due before the High Court today involving prisoners challenging their detention following the striking down of the law on suspended sentences.

The development comes after Mr Justice Michael Moriarty finalised a judgment originally made last month which found laws governing the activation of suspended sentences were unconstitutional.

His decision has prompted a raft of challenges, but none of these has been able to go ahead until now.

At least nine cases were before the courts last week, but several more are now being brought forward as well.

The prisoners are seeking judicial reviews of their detention or have made applications for inquiries into the lawfulness of their detention under Article 40 of the Constitution.

Although it was well flagged the judge would finalise his ruling yesterday, the Department of Justice said emergency legislation to fix the issue was still not ready.

"The department can confirm that legislation is being drafted urgently and the final orders will be taken into account in finalising the legislative proposal with a view to enacting it as soon as possible," a spokesman said.

Mr Justice Moriarty struck down two parts of Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act as they curtailed the ability of individuals to appeal sentences.

The law meant it was possible someone who received a suspended sentence and later re-offended could end up having the suspended sentence activated before they could appeal against their second conviction.

This meant it was possible that a person could be held in jail before having had the opportunity to exhaust their right of appeal.

As well as the six prisoners who brought the actions challenging the constitutionality of the provisions, at least another 16 cases have been initiated as a result of Judge Moriarty's findings.

Legal sources believe, now the final orders have been made, further cases will be initiated but there is no indication exactly how many prisoners may be affected.

One prisoner has been granted release on bail pending the outcome of his challenge.

Having heard arguments on behalf of the prisoners and the Attorney General yesterday, Mr Justice Moriarty refused the Attorney's application to stop short of actually striking down the relevant subsections of the law.

In addition to the detention challenges being taken in the High Court, there are indications representatives of other prisoners have written to the State seeking that their clients be released.

Solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, who represents Mihai Stancu, one of the six men who successfully challenged the constitutionality of the law, said this method was preferable to making applications to the High Court.

"Practitioners have a responsibility to behave in a reasonable fashion and therefore should approach the State and not just run straight off to the High Court incurring unreasonable and unnecessary costs when a simple letter to the State might well suffice in curing the problem.

"In other words the person would be released," he said.
A retired primary school teacher has been charged with the sexual assault of a student.

Leo Hickey (76) of Realt na Mara, Skevanish, Innishannon, Co Cork appeared before the District Court on eight counts of sexual assault.

The charges involve one individual and all relate to various dates between November 1991 and June 1992.

The charges also all relate to Scoil Eoin Boys National School in Ballincollig, Co Cork.

Det Garda Donal O'Connell of Ballincollig garda station told Judge Olann Kelleher that Mr Hickey, after being arrested, cautioned and charged, replied "not guilty" to each of the eight charges.

Inspector Gary McPolin confirmed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ruled that the matter be dealt with on indictment.

He applied to the court for an adjournment to allow for the preparation of a book of evidence in the case.

Inspector McPolin told defence solicitor Joe Cuddigan that gardai had no objection to a remand on bail once specific conditions were met.

Mr Cuddigan confirmed that all bail conditions set by the court would be met. These include that Mr Hickey continue to reside at his home address, sign on at Bandon garda station three times each week and that he have no contact whatsoever with any of the witnesses in the case or the complainant.

Judge Kelleher also granted Mr Hickey free legal aid after hearing that he was a retired teacher whose wife was not in receipt of any pension.

The court was also told that Mr Hickey has various financial commitments which must be met from his pension.

Mr Hickey was remanded on bail in his own bond of 400 to appear again before Cork District Court on June 8 next.

It is hoped the book of evidence in the case will be ready by that date.

The defendant did not speak during the brief hearing.
Alan Hutch, a son of gangland feud murder victim Eddie Hutch Senior, is among up to 20 prisoners seeking to benefit from the striking down of the laws governing the courts' powers to activate suspended sentences.

The proceedings by Alan Hutch (33), who is detained in the Medical Unit of Mountjoy Prison, were among almost 20 separate cases which came before the High Court today.

All of the cases have been adjourned to various dates in the next law term for reasons including that several are awaiting the outcome of another prisoner's case, on which judgment has been reserved by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.

Alan Hutch's case was among five new cases initiated on Wednesday after Mr Justice Michael Moriarty made formal declarations that Section 99.9 and 99.10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended, are unconstitutional. Those subsections govern the courts' powers to activate suspended sentences.

It is understood emergency laws to deal with the consequences of the court's declarations are in the final stages of drafting and may be ready to be put before the Oireachtas within two weeks.

Read More

The five cases, and another initiated today, bring to almost 20 the cases initiated since Mr Justice Moriarty delivered his judgment on April 19th in which he found the subsections were unconstitutional.

It was indicated to Mr Justice Seamus Noonan today the State disputes that several of the applicants are entitled to any benefit from the Section 99 decisions.

When the case of Alan Hutch was mentioned, his counsel James B. Dwyer BL said it is among those affected by the Section 99 ruling.

Conor Power SC, for the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, said his position was Mr Hutch was not detained on foot of an activated sentence and this case should go back to await Mr Justice McDermott's decision. Counsel added he had a certificate for the prisoner's detention and handed that into court.

The judge said he was adjourning the case to May 25th when the next law term opens. He also adjourned the various other cases to dates in the first and second weeks of the new term.

Hutch's application is for an inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution into the legality of his detention.

It is claimed the court orders which have led to his present detention were made under Section 99.9 and 99.10 and that the striking down of those provisions means the sentences imposed on Hutch on May 16th 2013 were not validly imposed.

Read More

Hutch was jailed for eight years in May 2013 after he threatened to kill three gardai claiming he had a grenade. At the time, he was also serving a suspended sentence of four years for a 2009 robbery and assaulting a Garda.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery on Drumcondra Road, Dublin, on August 27th 2012 and to assaulting a Garda sergeant during the same incident. He attempted to bite the Garda after being arrested for a robbery of another man.

He also pleaded guilty to car theft, dangerous driving and damaging a Garda car during a high speed chase around north Dublin on October 1st 2012. He admitted escaping from lawful custody at the Mater Hospital on the same day.

Hutch, with 48 previous convictions, was arrested a week after escaping from custody in the Mater Hospital and later committed an armed robbery with a knife in Dublin city centre.

During his detention, he has been described as a model prisoner. In court documents, it was stated he has been detained in the medical Unit in Mountjoy for his own protection since about February 2016, when his father was shot dead.
A 16-year-old has received a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting four women and one teenage girl last year

The first sexual assault occurred on January 20 2015, when the teenager attacked a 39-year-old woman who was walking to work. He grabbed her and said, You dont have to do anything, only touch my c**k.

The woman said she would not touch him, but he again tried to grab her. She ran towards a house and he chased her, shouting that he would kill her.

A local garda said the woman was very scared that the teenager was going to stab her. In a later interview, the teenager said that he had touched the womans bottom during the attack.

He was arrested on February 6 2015 and admitted the offenses during interview. He later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of sexual assault in the Balbriggan area of Co Dublin.

The court heard that on January 24 2015, the teenager assaulted a 19-year-old woman, while she was walking with friends. The teenager grabbed her and stuck his hands up between her legs.

The third assault occurred two days later, on January 26, when the teenager attacked a 34-year-old woman, who was walking to the shops with her daughter shortly before tea time.

He grabbed the woman, dragged her to the ground, and pressed her hard between her legs, through her clothes. The teenager then fled and the woman started shouting at him.

On February 1 2015, he sexually assaulted a girl who was 14 at the time. The girl was walking with a friend in the afternoon, when the teenager came up and pulled down her trousers and knickers. He did not try to speak or touch her before running away.

On February 5 2015, the teenager sexually assaulted a 35-year-old woman, who was with her daughter, by pulling down her trousers. She screamed as he ran off.

Counsel for the teenager, Tara Burns SC, said the teenager has made very strong efforts to get to grips with what occurred, and that he has taken steps to address the matter.

Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a sentence of 12 months detention suspended for two years, on condition that he completes the recovery programme in which he is currently participating.
The blacked-out Sunset House where Michael Barr (inset right) was murdered. Inset left: Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan at the funeral of David Byrne

A senior member of the Kinahan cartel has been taunting gang rivals in the 'New IRA'.

The arrogant thug has been "mouthing off" that the dissident mob are not capable of avenging the murder of republican Michael Barr.

Expand Close The blacked-out Sunset House, where Michael Barr was murdered / Facebook

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Whatsapp The blacked-out Sunset House, where Michael Barr was murdered

The 34-year-old was shot dead in the Sunset House pub, Summerhill in Dublin's north inner city as part of the bloody Hutch/Kinahan feud last month.

The Herald has learned that the Crumlin thug, who was a close associate of feud murder victim David Byrne, has been telling pals that he is confident that Barr's murder will not be avenged.

Read More

Cash

"He is even claiming that he could buy-off any potential IRA hitman and that the only loyalty that the IRA have is for cash," a source said.

The Sunset House pub has remained closed since the gruesome murder and has had its name painted over.

Gardai believe father-of-five Barr was murdered because of his possible role in the Regency Hotel gun attack and his close links to the gunman nicknamed 'Flat Cap', who was photographed fleeing the hotel in the aftermath of the murder of David Byrne on February 5.

Expand Close Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan at the funeral of David Byrne / Facebook

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However, while the Kinahan gangster seems to believe he is untouchable, senior gardai have been maintaining armed checkpoints near his home ever since Barr was shot dead.

Gardai believe there is a "very strong possibility" that Barr's associates in the 'New IRA' will strike back against the cartel, and this has been one of the main reasons for the increase in armed checkpoints.

"They have the means, they have the manpower and they have the weapons. The murdered man was a senior IRA figure, and gardai remain concerned about IRA involvement in the feud," a senior source explained.

Meanwhile, yesterday, at the High Court in Belfast, three Dublin men who are accused of wearing paramilitary-style clothing at last Thursday's funeral of the murdered republican, were granted bail.

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Custody

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Conor Metcalfe, John Christie and Patrick Lavin are to be released from custody on condition they keep out of Strabane in Co Tyrone.

Metcalfe (25) of Monasteoy Park, Dublin, Christie (52) from Ratoath, Co Meath, and Lavin (52) of Deansrath, Clondalkin, are jointly charged with wearing clothing in a way to arouse suspicions they were members or supporters of a proscribed organisation.

Fifteen men were arrested following the service and questioned about alleged membership of a dissident republican grouping known as the New IRA.

Police released 12 of them, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

At a previous hearing, bail was opposed due to tensions in areas of the North, as well as fears the trio would fail to appear in future.
Actors on RTE's flagship soap 'Fair City' earn almost 460 a day, but the broadcaster has refused to state how much it pays its leading soap stars annually.

Television executives at the station have confirmed the daily shift rate for performers on the programme has remained at 459 for the past four years.

And the taxi bill for all staff working on 'Fair City', who are needed in the early morning or late in the evening, was nearly 30,000 in 2015, up from 25,376 the previous year.

Additional

A pool of 26 scriptwriters was contracted to the show last year, and of this number, 15 received 3,495 each per episode and nine received 1,837.

RTE said the scriptwriters were given "an additional 35pc of the basic fee per episode in respect of a further broadcast of the episode within seven days. These are rates agreed with the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild".

However, despite disclosing remuneration figures for its most popular radio and TV presenters earlier this year, RTE would not say how much the top 10 best paid actors on 'Fair City' receive.

An RTE response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request stated 'Fair City' actors "are paid fees rather than salaries as they are contracted to RTE. The exact amounts paid are regarded as commercially sensitive".

It added that information regarding other allowances, such as meals for the performers, was also "commercially sensitive".

RTE said 198 episodes were filmed last year at a cost per episode of 54,883. This amounted to an estimated budget of 10.86m.
The scene of the murder on Dublins northside in February

Two gangsters suspected of being involved in three murders linked to the Hutch/Kinahan feud have been arrested over the murder of innocent taxi-driver Eddie Hutch Snr.

Hutch, a brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, was shot dead at his home on Poplar Row last February 8.

One of the men, who is in his 30s, is regarded as one of the country's most dangerous criminals.

He is also a chief suspect in the murders of Noel 'Kingsize' Duggan and Michael Barr, both of whom were aligned to associates of murdered Gary Hutch (28) and his uncle, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch.

Last night, a number of armed garda checkpoints were in operation close to the scene where Michael Barr was killed.

The suspected hitman is believed to have been working alongside a young criminal, who is based in the north inner city. This man, who has close links to slain Dublin gang boss Martin 'Marlo' Hyland, was arrested last night by gardai in the north of the city.
Siptu general president Jack O'Connor and Garda Commisioner Noirin O'Sullivan look at the prisoner books at a ceremony in Liberty Hall in Dublin yesterday (Photos: Gareth Chaney_

A treasure trove of police arrest records from one of the most pivotal times in Irish history has been returned to gardai after sitting in an attic for almost a century.

The four missing volumes of 'Prisoner Books' listing the arrests of more than 30,000 people between 1905 and 1918 include the "crimes" of labour leaders Jim Larkin (seditious conspiracy), James Connolly (incitement to crime), revolutionary Maud Gonne MacBride (defence of the realm) and suffragette Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, (glass-breaking with other suffragettes).

The arrest records of the Dublin Metropolitan Police are "arguably the most important documents to come to light in recent history", UCD Librarian Dr John B. Howard said at a ceremony at Liberty Hall in Dublin yesterday in which the library's recently digitised records were made public.

The records - which went missing in 1924 - cover one of the most turbulent times in Irish history, including World War One, the 1913 Lockout and the 1916 Rising.

They were found in a skip on a street in Clontarf by an eagle-eyed passerby in 2013 who turned them in the gardai. Retired Store Street Det Supt Michael Finn contacted historian Padraig Yeates.

Mr Yeates believes the previous occupants of the house were likely attached to the Bridewell garda station and took the books when records were being thrown out following the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922.
The former head of Special Olympics Ireland and now Global CEO, Mary Davis.

An Irish woman has become the first ever non-American to take the position of Special Olympics CEO in the organisations near-50 year history.

Mary Davis has been announced as the new global CEO of Special Olympics International.

Ms Davis has worked as CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and Managing Director of the Europe Eurasia branch of the organisation.

She brought the Special Olympics to Ireland in 2003 and ran as a candidate in the 2011 Presidential eleciton.

Speaking to RTE News in Washington DC at the announcement last night, Ms Davis described the role as "exciting" and "daunting".

"Its phenomenal to see the growth of it," Ms Davis told RTE Radio One.

"And now in the role of CEO... it's bizarre to see."

She added: "I would love to see another [Special Olympics] in Ireland."

She said she was very proud and honoured and it was "very special" to work for the organisation on a global stage.

Ms Davis first became involved with Special Olympics when she worked as a teacher in Ballymun in Dublin in 1978.
Theresa May told the House of Commons the change "reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity" (PA)

MI5 has raised the terror threat posed to Britain by Northern Ireland-related terrorism from "moderate" to "substantial".

This means a terrorist attack is thought to be a "strong possibility".

UK Home Secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons the change "reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity".

She added: "As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place."

The stark warning from the Home Secretary comes after two men were shot dead in Belfast in the last month.

The Home Office advised members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

The threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism has not changed from "severe".
Two men have been arrested following the seizure of 40,000 worth of drugs as part of an intelligence-led operation.

Gardai made the discovery in the Athy area of Kildare as part of an operation targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs.

A 47-year-old man and a 38-year-old man were arrested for possession of cannabis and heroin.

A number of knifes and drugs paraphernalia were also recovered in a search of the premises.

Gardai from Athy and Newbridge stations were assisted by the Regional Support Unit in the operation.

The two men have been detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Newbridge and Kildare Garda stations.
It spans 156 pages and was thrashed out following hundreds of hours of negotiations between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Independents.

But amid all the noise and fanfare, here are five parts of the Programme for Government that you may have overlooked.

1) Crackdown on bogus asylum seekers

With the issue of migrants dominating the political agenda across the EU, the Programme for Government vows to get tougher on so-called "bogus asylum seekers"

2) Your former local garda station may reopening

A very significant element of the programme is a pledge to examine the reopening of garda stations.

A raft of barracks were closed by the Fine Gael/Labour Government in a move that caused deep anger in the communities affected.

But only six will be revived - and those chosen will be announced following a review by the Garda Inspectorate due to take place over the eight weeks.

Read More

3) Will our hospitals be privatised?

One element of the Programme for Government that has caused surprise rates to our health system.

The document states that the management of "under-performing" hospitals at be taken over by "private companies" on a temporary basis. Opposition TDs fear this could spark a cycle of privatisation in our health system.

4) Citizens' Assembly to consider the Eighth Amendment

It's been one of the most divisive issues for many years - but we may soon to be going to the polls to vote on the issue of abortion.

The Programme for Government commits that the issue will be examined by a Citizens Assembly, which is expected to issue it's first report next year.

The assembly, which will be made up of health experts, legal professionals and ordinary citizens, will be tasked with examining how to approach the issue of the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal status to the rights of the mother and the unborn.

Read More

5) And... We could be going to the polls on four further occasions

There are four different referendums promised in the 156 document - which means we could be back to the polling stations sooner than you think.

We will be voting on:

- a clause in the constitution which refers to a womans life within the home

- The removal of blasphemy as an offence

- The country's role in the Universal Patent Court, which proponents say is important in reducing the cost for businesses and innovators

- Giving the office of the Ceann Comhairle, ie the chairperson in the Dail, a grounding in the constitution
Labour Party TD Willie Penrose has called on the Government to refund customers who have paid their water charges.

The Longford Westmeath TD drafted a bill which promises to pay back customers within six months after Fine Gael and Fianna Fail agreed to suspend the charges.

Mr Penrose, who was a practising barrister, reiterated his pledge to challenge the Government in court if they do not refund customers.

If this is not looked at properly Ive a number of people who I will bring. I already have a plenary summons ready, he said.

Mr Penrose said that people who comply with the law of the land should not feel as if they have been mugged.

He insisted that no-one should be better off or worse off and was up to Social Protection to catch those who had got grants but not paid up.

Theres an old statement in Westmeath, Live horse and get grass. The horse lives today and gets grass today, so he can see tomorrow.
High earners are to lose a tax credit worth 1,650 as part of the new government's plan to phase out the Universal Social Charge.

However, the new Government has yet to specify what salary a "high earner" receives.

Fine Gael significantly altered their tax plan during negotiations with Independent TDs and Fianna Fail, it has emerged.

While their 'Programme for Government' maintains that "high personal tax rates in Ireland discourage work and jobs", they are to remove the PAYE tax credit for the executive level earners they want to attract to the regions. The commitment is among a number of measures which will be used to fund the "phasing out" of USC.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan believes he can pay for the abolition of USC through not indexing personal tax credits and bands, hiking the price of cigarettes, targeting fuel launderers, a new sugar tax and improving tax compliance.

An Oireachtas committee will publish a consultation document for a "medium-term income tax reform plan" by July "to make Ireland's taxation system more competitive".

A number of changes were made to the Programme for Government in the final hours before it was signed off by the Independent TDs who backed Enda Kenny for Taoiseach.

Notably a new section on 'Reforming the Budget Process' commits to "a process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights".

Equality

"We will ensure institutional arrangements are in place to support equality and gender proofing in the independent fiscal and budget office," it says.

The section on rural development has a number of alterations and now commits the new minister Heather Humphries to establishing a broadband and mobile phone taskforce within 100 days to investigate how to provide better services.

And there's a new paragraph on Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) which states: "We recognise the difficulties faced by community and voluntary groups in relation to VRT rates on vehicles."

A new sentence has also been inserted to the section on bogs to commit the Government to reviewing the position in relation to "the planning code as it relates to turf cutters for domestic use".

And the document includes extra assurances for Independent John Halligan on increased cardiac care services at Waterford University Hospital and the provision of a second catheterization lab, subject to a favourable recommendation from a clinical review. The hospital is to review extending the existing lab hours, with "partial revenue funds to be liberated immediately to allow for the recruitment of staff to facilitate the extension of lab hours" if recommended by the review.

The wording on the creation of "Technological Universities" has been changed to remove a requirement that ITs merge before they can be upgraded as this is not always geographically "feasible". It is understood this was inserted at the request of Kevin 'Boxer' Moran to allow a pathway for Athlone Institute of Technology to become as university as it is some distance from other ITs. Mr Kenny described the 156-page document as "extensive" but said its simple objective was "to make people's lives better in every part of Ireland".
Gerry Adams has said he made a mistake dealing with the recurring question of: "Should I stay? Or, should I go?"

On Wednesday he confessed to an error when he suggested he may quit as party leader before the next election.

Mr Adams had been asked on Newstalk Radio on Tuesday if he expected to lead Sinn Fein into the next general election. He replied that it all depended when the next election would be held.

But by yesterday he was telling a different story, when again asked the same question.

"I made a mistake - I will lead the party into the next general election," he told reporters at Leinster House.

Mr Adams, who is aged 67 and has led Sinn Fein since 1983, said he had no idea how long the current minority coalition would last.

"I don't know. Sometimes a government not expected to last can last much longer than expected," he said.

But he insisted that it must not be allowed go a full five-year term. He again accused Fianna Fail of "playing for time" in abstaining to allow the current arrangement to take office.

Mr Adams was announcing his new front bench team who will "mark" the incoming government ministers. He brushed aside suggestions that the new line-up is an effective demotion for senior party members, especially Mary-Lou McDonald and Caoimhghin O Caolain.

Ms McDonald moves from speaking on jobs and enterprise to be spokesperson on mental health and suicide prevention. Mr O Caolain moves from health to disability and older people.

The Sinn Fein president said the party was going for a new approach giving responsibility to all 23 TDs and seven senators with a "cluster" of spokespeople to cover each ministerial department.

Several newcomers are given prominence. These include Louise O'Reilly (health); Carol Nolan (education); and David Cullinane (public spending).

Donegal TD, Pearse Doherty, will remain as finance spokesman, and Cork North Central TD Jonathan O'Brien, will replace Padraig MacLochlainn in justice.

Mr Adams insisted that, more generally, nobody had been demoted and he had chosen the best team to shadow the Government

The Sinn Fein leader takes on the job of shadowing the Taoiseach. Dublin Mid-West's Eoin O Broin will speak on housing, planning and local government. Waterford's David Cullinane takes on public expenditure.
Several garda failings were identified in cases involving Jerry McGrath, the man who murdered young mother Sylvia Roche-Kelly Photo: TV3

Several garda failings were identified in cases involving Jerry McGrath, the man who murdered young mother Sylvia Roche-Kelly while on bail for a savage assault and the attempted abduction of a young girl.

The O'Higgins report found McGrath's first victim, taxi driver Mary Lynch, was denied her right to be present in court when the matter was being dealt with. It also found the investigation of her assault in April 2007 in Virginia, Co Cavan, was "characterised by delay and lack of effective supervision".

While on bail, McGrath was arrested trying to abduct a five-year-old girl in Dundrum, Co Tipperary. Although gardai strenuously objected to bail, he was released.

The report found the Virginia incident had been misclassified as a "minor assault" and there was a "lamentable failure" of gardai to ensure accurate and relevant information was shared within the force.

The O'Higgins commission said it was satisfied the approach of the gardai in Tipperary was a reasoned and considered one, but this did not excuse the failure of officers in different parts of the country to exchange correct information.

While free on bail, McGrath went on to murder Mrs Roche-Kelly at a hotel in Limerick.

Her husband, Lorcan Roche-Kelly, subsequently alleged neglect of duty on the part of gardai in Thurles and Cavan. He also complained that gardai had failed to respond appropriately to requests for specific information in relation to garda submissions to the district courts regarding McGrath's bail status.

The O'Higgins report criticised the treatment of Mr Roche-Kelly, who was "left in the dark for an excessive period in relation to his request for information".

It said: "He deserved better treatment from An Garda Siochana."

He declined to comment last night, but earlier this week said there was "nothing new or surprising" in the report.

"The history is nothing new. The failings are nothing new. It led to the man that murdered Sylvia to be free at the time in December 2007," he said.

Meanwhile, Mary Lynch said she wanted to meet Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to discuss the report.

"I would like them to explain why other people make mistakes but nothing happens to them," said Ms Lynch.

"I am very angry. There is a woman dead and it is all down to human error.

"There are questions to be answered. People must be made accountable for their actions."
That grim and ancient adage - "It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good" - applies to politics more than many other walks of life. Thus, back in autumn 2008, harassed health officials took a grim dividend from the nation's all-round economic crash. For once in two decades they were not first in the firing line simply because something far more awful was happening on a larger stage.

We might be looking at a less obvious and pronounced repeat. The health systems many vicissitudes remain ever with us. But the problems besetting housing and homelessness may be set to eclipse the myriad of other problem areas which confront this new hybrid coalition experiment.

Yesterday, we got the full and final text of what is pedantically called 'A Programme for a Partnership Government'. Over 156 pages it belts out commitments to creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs, pumping billions into public services and reducing hospital waiting times.

Bar the odd detail we have known the overall shape of things since last Saturday morning. Final publication was another small step in government-making.

The programme reiterates that we will have new ministries dealing with rural affairs and housing. And just hours earlier, Simon Coveney, the man who moves from the lush groves of the Agriculture Department to what will be the hectic challenge of trying to resolve the housing and homelessness crisis, was on radio with Sean O'Rourke.

Among the horrors he rehearsed was the reality that we spend 46m a year for hotel rooms as emergency accommodation in Dublin. It says everything about the vicious circle we are in: that sum would refurbish and/or build a heck of a lot of homes in the round of a year.

Making sense of a complex and multi-faceted problem is now a huge challenge for Simon Coveney, still rated as a putative Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

The one thing he does not have is time - this Government may well be on a very short rein, with a shorter lifetime than the lead-in period required to deliver new homes.

When closely questioned on the issue, Mr Coveney talked about drawing on his agriculture and food business experience to further the case. That was a puzzler - but we will hope he can surprise us.
The Aras said there would be no further comment on the matter when asked if Mrs Higgins was looking to roll back on her comments (Picture: Maxwells Dublin)

The Aras has moved to clarify somewhat the First Lady's comments regarding abortion in the case of fatal foetal abnormality, revealed in the Irish Independent.

In a statement to the 'Pat Kenny Show' following an on-air debate on the Eighth Amendment, the President's head of communications asked that Mr Kenny "clarify that Sabina spoke in the context of a general audience discussion at the student midwives debate 2016 organised by NBMI voicing her support for the work of Ireland's midwives and supporting points made by various speakers during the debate and that she referred to fatal foetal abnormality".

The debate between the Iona Institute's Maria Steen and Amnesty Ireland's Colm O'Gorman on the Newstalk show saw both weigh in on whether the remarks of Sabina Higgins were appropriate given her position as the spouse of Uachtaran na hEireann.

For Ms Steen it was a question of judgement and she called for an apology from Mrs Higgins. On the other side Mr O'Gorman viewed her remarks as those made by an individual which were in keeping with a position on the topic that was known before her husband took office.

The Aras said there would be no further comment on the matter when asked if Mrs Higgins was looking to roll back on her comments.

The statement, Hans Zomer their head of communications said, was simply to clarify that Mrs Higgins was referring to fatal foetal abnormality when she spoke about her view that it's an "outrage" against women to be forced to carry a pregnancy to term in the case of "foetal abnormality".

Expand Close President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina with Dr Brian McMahon, Chairman of the Abbey Theatre, on the opening night of Othello, at the Abbey last night (Picture: Chris Bellew/ Fennell Photography) / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina with Dr Brian McMahon, Chairman of the Abbey Theatre, on the opening night of Othello, at the Abbey last night (Picture: Chris Bellew/ Fennell Photography)

Sitting in the audience during the NBMI debate, it was clear, despite her stumbling over the phrase, that it was cases of fatal foetal abnormality which Mrs Higgins was referring to.

It was also clear that, even though she had diplomatically refused to come down on either side of the motion that had been competently debated by the students, she was coming down on one side in the wider debate around abortion in these specific cases.

The issue being debated by students was if Ireland's maternity care matches the vision set out in the 1916 proclamation and honours the commitment made to women and children in the fourth paragraph.

The speakers were well-informed and their arguments well-researched. All had statistics to back them up, but there were human stories drawn upon.

Mrs Higgins was not billed to speak and there were to be no media interviews or soundbites given on the day. She was only in Trinity College's nursing and midwifery school that day to listen to those who had been selected to debate.

When she was handed the microphone during the audience discussion it was quickly apparent that she had no speech or notes prepared, but was well-versed in the topics she chose to mention. These were the importance of midwives in the overall delivery of high quality maternity care; the fact that not all of our maternity hospitals are baby-friendly; the need for Ireland to promote breastfeeding; and, finally, abortion in the cases of fatal foetal abnormality.

"There has to be the choice that you know that [fatal] foetal abnormality that the person or persons should be made carry you know these are really outrages against women and outrages against the world and nature," she said.

She strayed into the topic no doubt - Mrs Higgins certainly didn't appear to be someone who had taken the mic with a plan to voice her opinion on one of the most divisive subjects in Irish society. That could be heard in her voice and her hesitation as she struggled to land on the right words. Nevertheless, she did so and the fallout has remained all week.

The First Lady was welcomed to the debate as a key supporter for the profession of midwifery, and her support for the work of Irish midwives was very apparent. Her jokes about doctors that only showed up briefly were met with laughter, and her rousing reflection that we had "come so far" in our Republic was met with applause.

Towards the end of her speech she said "there is so much to go into" and there was. There was many aspects of Ireland's maternity care that were discussed by various speakers during the debate, such as access to maternity care for rural women; the low staff-to-patient ratios on maternity wards; and the satisfaction rates of women who have had babies in Irish hospitals. Mrs Higgins didn't pick up on those in her four-minute speech, however.

Her choice to refer to abortion - even as briefly as she did - was enough to spur a national conversation. Which, given her position, she must have known it would.
A receptionist has claimed she was sent home for refusing an order to wear high heels in her new job at PwC in London.

Nicola Thorp (27), a temp and part-time actress, has set up a petition campaigning to make it illegal to force women to wear heels at work, which has attracted over 40,000 signatures.

The allegations were described as a "blatant" example of gender discrimination at work by an Irish employment law specialist last night.

Legal experts have said that an Irish company would find themselves in breach of employment law if they tried to force female employees to wear heels.

Ms Thorp has alleged she turned up for her new job last December in flat shoes - but was told the firm's dress code said she had to wear a two- to four-inch heel.

When she refused - and pointed out that her male colleagues were not required to do the same - she was laughed at and told to go home without pay, she said.

PwC in the UK said that it does not have a clause in its dress code about high heels, and that this was applied by an outsourcing company, Portico, which supplies its secretarial staff. PwC in Ireland also said it does not have any such policy in its dress code here.

Outsourcing firm Portico said Ms Thorp had "signed the appearance guidelines" but it would now review guidelines.

"That day I was wearing flat black shoes and they gave me a dress to wear and a jacket, which I put on, and the supervisor said: 'Well, you're not going to wear those. We only have women in heels at reception'.

"I pointed to a male colleague and said, 'Well, he is wearing flat shoes, why can't I?', and of course that is [when I was] laughed at," she said.

"They then said to me: 'You can go out and buy a pair of heels if you like, we will let you work'. I refused and was sent home."

"There are some companies who think that the way a woman should look in a corporate environment is to be two- to four-inches taller and to change the way that I suppose they carry themselves," said Ms Thorp.

Simon Pratt, managing director at Portico, said the shoes worn on the day did not adhere to a number of style requirements, such as the lack of embellishment, and that she was not just asked to change shoes because of the lack of heels.

"We have taken on board the comments regarding footwear and will be reviewing our guidelines," he added.

"That's direct discrimination on the ground of gender. It's not a requirement of the job and it's only applied to women," solicitor Anne O'Connell told the Irish Independent.

"You wouldn't think that it would happen so blatantly at this stage I'd say there were cases years ago when equality was just coming in you'd have cases like that but not so blatant now."
Irish towns across the country have breached the safety levels for air pollution, according to the World Health Organisation.

The global organisation measures levels of air pollution in a unit called particulate matter (PMs).

Longford was the worst area affected as it breached the safe limit set for PM10 at 22 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3). Bray closely followed the midlands town for high levels of air pollution.

Longford, Bray, Galway and Dublin also breached the safe levels for a separate measure with Longford again the worst offender.

In the North, Derry and Belfast were found to have safe levels of air pollution.

The health risks for people of polluted air include the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic and acute respiratory diseases and asthma.

Air pollution is a major cause of disease and death. It is good news that more cities are stepping up to monitor air quality, so when they take actions to improve it they have a benchmark, said Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant-Director General, Family, Women and Childrens Health.

Air pollution causes more than three million premature deaths worldwide every year.

Dr Annette Pruss-Ustun from WHO. told Independent; Many countries started taking action, and a lot has been done already to reduce air pollution. However more is required in almost all countries of the world in order to reduce air pollution levels.

Children and adults alike are vulnerable. The problem of air pollution is relevant for all the world, a relatively small share of the worlds cities has good air quality."
I had a moment of parental pride recently when my 20-month-old managed to count faultlessly from one to 10 unaided. "He's a genius," I declared to anyone I encountered over the next 24 hours, when the episode pretty much dominated all conversation.

Then another mum revealed her baby could identify the different parts of the face in French while another parent, whose child is also under two, mentioned her daughter loved classical music and liked to request oboe solos in the car.

The next day my son had dropped the numbers five, six and seven from his repertoire and my genius hopes faded a little.

Let's be honest though, every parent secretly hopes their off-spring are a little bit special, more advanced, more able than his or her peers, don't they? But just how do you go about building a little genius?

Not the way you might think, if a new book is to be believed. It seems the 'tiger moms' and 'helicopter parents' need to ditch their flashcards and pushy parenting. The best way to encourage your child to excel is to let them take the lead and stop focusing on exam scores and grades.

"Parents need to sit back and learn their children's passions and interests," explains Andrew Fuller, author of Unlocking Your Child's Genius.

"Building on those will get them much, much further than pile driving them with flash cards or more homework."

According to the clinical psychologist and dad of two, every child has a potential genius, we just might need to re-think the narrow terms in which we define it.

"We live in a world that has become seriously confused about the word genius and generally regard people as either being or not being geniuses," explains Fuller.

"In doing this we've overlooked the original concept - that people have a genius. There is within each person an inner creative spark that when discovered and unlocked, leads them towards success in life."

Education, he argues, should not be training. We should be teaching children how to think, not telling them what to think.

Oh God, not another parenting manual, I hear you cry. But fear not, what Fuller has produced is actually more of an anti-parenting guide. Rather than extrapolating one way of doing things, he focuses on the individuality of children and their different learning styles.

The book's cri de coeur is to ditch hot-housing and fast-tracking and look at how we might make learning fun, beneficial and something that children aged from two to 18, want to do. His mission is to help parents encourage children to think for themselves, concentrate, be confident and identify their strengths. And, rather than preaching to parents about 'how to get it right', Fuller is emphatic about the importance of making mistakes.

"Parents getting it wrong is the point of this book," he laughs. "Parents and grandparents teaching kids to be okay making mistakes by making mistakes themselves is essential."

The book starts off with the need to do away with 10 'crazy ideas' we hold, like thinking mistakes are bad, that success at school and success in life are the same thing, and that the child who does something first will be the best at it.

"Complete rubbish!" writes Fuller. "We live in a world where childhood has been made into a race. The child who can read first, run fastest, draw best is deemed to be the one most likely to succeed. Not true. Most child prodigies do not grow up to be adult geniuses. They don't even turn into experts."

Thanks to Google and omnipresent smart phones, there's no problem that can't be addressed within a few taps of the keyboard, but Fuller stresses the need to sit with a problem.

"If we want young people to become creative, innovative problem solvers, we need to give them opportunities to deal with complex issues, wrestle and struggle with them, play with them and have the time and the support to come towards a solution," he explains.

This means no stepping in to solve the problem for them and even saying 'let's leave thinking about that for today', after all, some of the greatest discoveries happened when their creators were out walking or in the bath.

Which sounds good, but the reality is our school system is formatted around hitting certain targets at specific times. Jobs require people who can work to deadlines and within boundaries - is it really helpful to be encouraging children to be creative dreamers?

Fuller argues it's imperative.

"In a world where jobs may be scarce, being creative and innovative is even more important. Ultimately it is teaching kids to be entrepreneurial."

Most millionaires, he says, were only average students, and many Nobel Prize winners had a dreadful time at school. Raising a child who can think effectively, rather than tick the boxes in existing systems, is more likely to bring them success in the long run.

Nor should parents kid themselves that school is their child's main source of learning. Children only spend between 10 and 15pc of their time at school, 33pc asleep and the rest of the time, 5pc, is at home.

"It's what they do with that time that makes the most significant impact on their development," says Fuller. "Don't rely on schools to unlock your child's genius: you are their first and most important teacher."

Particularly fascinating is his use of interesting examples and easy-to-understand neuro-science. For example, he sheds light on the way a child's thinking can self-sabotage creativity by explaining the battle between the basic survival part of the brain (Rex) and the creative, 'genius' part (Albert).

At around eight or nine, the brain has more connections than it needs so starts to get rid of some of them - a process of 'synaptic pruning' affecting curious Albert more than Rex.

"This is why the experiences we give young people between their ninth and 18th years are so important. What parents do with their children in this time has a major influence in shaping and developing Albert," explains Fuller.

"Having parents who are calming, loving and soothing means that Rex does not become too fussed over things. Having parents who guide and inspire, who expose children to new ideas and experiences unlocks Albert."

Throughout the book there are practical examples for what to do to encourage Albert and promote 'genius' thinking, like lists of mind-stretching experiences to try, ways to help children practice planning, decision-making and improving their concentration.

There are activities to try, words to use (and avoid) and places to visit - all divided into different age categories making it a manual worth coming back to time and again.

There are tips on giving praise, modelling positive behaviour and addressing fears of failure.

But perhaps the most powerful chapter is his opening gambit: 'The Most Important Message You Can Give Your Child', which is full of sound advice, encouragement and reassurance too. It's aimed at children, but plenty of adults too would do well to take note.

'Unlocking Your Child's Genius' is available now on Amazon, 13

Andrew fullers 6 steps to unlocking your childs genius

1 Lead by example

Take on new hobbies, discuss ideas and inventions and show children and grandchildren that learning is something adults do too.

2 Have a creativity corner

Find somewhere in your home for projects, art works and collections that children can leave and come back to. Cover the carpet  becoming a genius can, and should, get messy.

3 Look for crazy connections

Stimulate creativity by playing a game of thinking up ways that different things are alike. Asking your child simple questions like: How are an apple and orange alike? How are a dog and giraffe alike? How are both different? Or how are the speed of light and the speed of sound alike? How are they different? encourages same but different thinking. This style of identifying patterns could take a child from performing better than 50pc of their class to performing better than 95pc.

4 Know that mistakes are opportunities

If you cant make a mistake youll never make anything. If children are worrying about failing they cant access their inner creative genius.

5 Help them learn to plan

Bubble maps and star charts help encourage decision-making and understanding of action and consequence. Help kids to become active decision-makers if you want them to have a happy life.

6 Identify strengths

Building on strengths goes further than remedying weaknesses. If you can help a child to feel positive and confident in one specific area this can ricochet positively into other areas of life.
Ryanair has lost little time in pouncing with a sale, following CityJet's decision to cancel its Cork to London City service.

CityJet today announced that it would cancel flights from Cork Airport to London City - a route that commenced just last October - with effect from June 26.

Despite the optimism surrounding the route's launch, Pat Byrne, CityJet's Executive Chairman, said the airline was now faced with the reality that demand for this service has simply not taken hold in terms of sustainable commercial viability."

Shortly after the announcement, Ryanair launched a 16.99 seat sale on its flights from Cork to London Gatwick and Stansted, avaiable for travel in June.

The seats, which it dubs "rescue fares" in a press release, have been made available "to accommodate customers who have had their travel plans disrupted by CityJets sudden cancellation of their Cork  London route," the airline said.

The sale fares are available until midnight this Sunday, May 15, and have been publicised with several tweets, including this dubious dispatch:

Feeling shitty about City? We've launched a 16.99 sale from @CorkAirport to London Stansted & Gatwick. See more: https://t.co/fI2GjGUXs4  Ryanair (@Ryanair) May 12, 2016

Despite today's announcement, CityJet said its planned summer services to Nantes and La Rochelle from Cork Airport will operate as scheduled. It is also operating a charter to Menorca for Stein Travel and Lee Travel which is not affected by today's decision.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, described the decision to discontinue the route as "very disappointing", and one taken because "not enough people were using the service despite intensive and exhaustive marketing campaigns".

Airlines make decisions based on the commercial viability of routes and unfortunately the service to London City was not profitable for CityJet," he added.

CityJet's decision comes as Cork is urging the public to register its support for Norwegian's proposed transatlantic flights, which are opposed by US aviation unions, Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and a bipartisan group of senators.

Despite these events, the airport expects a 7-8pc growth in passengers this year, with new routes including Dusseldorf, Cardiff, Leeds Bradford and Southampton.

CityJet will be in direct contact with all affected passengers on the Cork-London City route. Full refunds will be available (contact 01-5251823 for details).

Note:

Since the publication of this story, we've learned that Aer Lingus is also offering sale fares from Cork to London Heathrow from 35.99 each-way. The fares are available in June, July and August on its four-times daily service.

"Today's announcement of the suspension of the Cork to London City service serves as a reminder of the challenges facing all stakeholders in making new routes successful," said Aer Lingus Chief Commercial Officer, Keith Butler.

"While the suspension is disappointing news for the Cork and Munster region, Aer Lingus is committed to serving the London market," he added.
There is a lot of anger out there. It can be felt on social media and heard on TV and radio talk shows with public participation.

It has been seen in the strength of feeling related to water charge protests, which were all the more phenomenal in a country known for its limited street demonstration tradition.

Anger and frustration at the powers that be is best illustrated by the extraordinary changes in politics.

Fianna Fail won every general election over a 75-year period. In 24 consecutive elections, it was the best supported party, a record matched by only one other party in the democratic world. Despite no little cause for anger during periods of national trial - the 1930s, the 1950s and the 1980s, for instance - the party continued to win close to, and sometimes more than, half of all first preference votes.

All that changed very suddenly in 2011 when its vote collapsed. Though in this year's General Election its support recovered a little, it was not far off half of what it used to win, decade after decade.

The huge and unprecedented decline in Fianna Fail support is not the only manifestation of disillusionment with what is sometimes called the establishment. The combined share of the vote going to the three parties which have so dominated post-independence politics fell to almost half in February's election. In elections since independence, they together often took 90pc or more of first preferences.

That the Fianna Fail-led government was routed at the 2011 election and that the Fine Gael-Labour coalition failed to win re-election is in keeping with developments across Europe, where only a handful of governments have been returned to power since 2008. Just how widespread is the frustration and impatience with politics is well illustrated by the fact that most administrations across the continent's 40-odd democracies have been booted out of office by voters after just one term over the past decade.

And as has happened in Ireland with the rise of Independents and Sinn Fein, the loss of support for mainstream parties has, in part at least, gone to populists and extremists who voice the anger a growing number of people feel.

The extraordinary rise of Donald Trump, in a country where outsiders find it very difficult to break the two-party duopoly, is part of the same phenomenon. His angry rhetoric seems to reflect the feelings of many on the other side of the Atlantic.

Dissatisfaction with long-standing status quos is also to be seen across the Irish Sea. After 300 years of union with Britain, Scots' anger towards London seems to be propelling that nation towards a break-up of their shared state. Anger towards Brussels in England (and it is mostly England, rather than the other nations in the UK) could well result in Britain breaking away from the EU.

Explanations for what has happened in Irish politics and around the reaction to water charges tend to be focused on what has happened in Ireland. But the changes going on elsewhere point to something more. While we may be an island, how we think is very much influenced by the ideas and memes in the Western world of which we are a part - the geographer Jared Diamond describes our way of thinking as WEIRD: Western, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic.

Think, for instance, of the 1960s. Youth movements, women's movements and civil rights movements sprouted across the Western world at more or less the same time. People became less accepting of the constraints of old and more questioning of authority. Many factors triggered the huge social changes of that decade, but the point of relevance here is that they happened almost simultaneously - think of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland.

How we form opinions and how we come to feel about issues is a complicated process that nobody fully understands. While it is influenced by personal experience, local events and the national zeitgeist, the role of a wider collective consciousness is also crucial.

There are many factors which might explain the growing anger in the WEIRD world. As is often the case, economic changes are a very plausible culprit.

Since the crash of 2008, almost every developed country has experienced the worst period of economic performance in living memory. That has surely eroded faith in existing structures of government and bred frustration.

Another phenomenon, which is also largely economic, is globalisation. The erosion of national borders with greater flows of trade and investment has lessened the power of governments to provide economic security. Although, in my view, this argument is exaggerated, the sense that control of one's destiny is being lost could well be contributing to rising anger and frustration across the WEIRD world.

Yet another factor which is also generating a sense of powerlessness is immigration. Even many people who are comfortable living in a multicultural society fear that immigration is or could be getting out of control. As a species, we evolved to fear others arriving in our territory to compete for limited resources. As such, it is unsurprising that increases in migration rates cause uncertainty and some trepidation.

Technology is yet another culprit. Finding evidence to support a prejudice has become much easier with the internet, as has finding like-minded prejudiced people. This may be closing, rather than opening minds, something often blamed for the growing polarisation of US politics. And now that everyone can have their say and communicate with the world via social media, the often aggressive and strident nature of keyboard conversations could be raising the collective blood pressure of we WEIRDos.

The social revolution of the 1960s led to greater personal freedom and tolerance of different ways of doing things, even if it was accompanied by sometimes painful upheavals. It could be that the current dissatisfaction also ends up bringing positive change and renewal.

But it could also bring something darker. The rise of cultural nationalism in the 19th century was as widespread and simultaneous as the social changes of the 1960s. It ended in the two catastrophic world wars.

Where the current shift in collective consciousness will lead, if indeed such a change is happening at all, is impossible to predict, but the omens so far are not good.
Under fire from the UN yesterday over the State's failure to adequately address racism, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said her department was reviewing hate crime legislation. Presumably, this review will be quite short because, alone in the Western world, we don't have any.

Last year, it was reported there was a race hate attack every three hours in Northern Ireland. The staggering statistic was revealed by the PSNI, which assiduously logs the motivation behind crimes reported to it as a result of hate crime legislation introduced in 2004.

In contrast, according to the Central Statistics Office, just 53 crimes which identified a sectarian, anti-Semitic, racist or homophobic motive were recorded by gardai in 2014 - one every week.

Either we're among the most enlightened societies in the world, having managed to virtually eliminate all forms of discrimination, or there is something seriously wrong with the reporting system that is in place. Unsurprisingly, figures compiled by NGOs suggest the Republic is not some egalitarian utopia and that, actually, hate crime is chronically under-reported.

In just the last six months of last year, the European Network Against Racism Ireland logged 182 racist incidents.

Among these figures were a number of serious assaults, including a heavily pregnant black woman being kicked in the stomach; a 10-year-old Muslim girl being assaulted by a group of youths in a playground; a black parent and her two Irish-born children being pelted with eggs and rubbish as they left their house; and a mother and her two children being forced to move out of their home after the words 'blacks out' were daubed across it.

There are some who say these crimes should be dealt with in the same manner as every criminal damage or assault case, with no formal acknowledgment of the motivation of the crime.

However, this only serves to mask the extent of the problem behind unreliable statistics and absolves the Government from responsibility for doing more to tackle racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia.

Kate O'Connell, of Anti Racism Network Ireland, said the refusal to acknowledge the true extent of the problem is pervasive across society, including media reporting of attacks.

"When there is an assault that is obviously racially motivated - with attackers using racist language - the media will invariably report the attack as being 'allegedly' racist in nature.

"Why the reticence in confronting reality and calling racism out without a qualifier?

"In contrast, if an Imam makes a speech in which he praises Isil or calls for Muslims to murder infidels, the media has no qualms about calling him an extremist or terrorist sympathiser.

"It appears we don't want to be confronted about the reality of racism in our own society but are happy to call it out in others," she said.

This sentiment was echoed by Brian Killoran, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, who said figures are low because people are loathe to report hate crime.

In fact, the Irish Integration Centre reported last year that people are 22 times more likely to report racist incidents in England and Wales than in Ireland.

"There are three main reasons people don't report these crimes here - confusion about where to go to do it, the fact that many crimes are perpetrated by neighbours, and victims are afraid to report them in case it makes matter worse, and that people don't think reporting these crimes will be of any use - they don't have any faith in the system," Mr Killoran said.

When under-reporting of hate crime is coupled with the State's haphazard method of recording it - essentially, leaving it up to the discretion of individual gardai - the divergence in numbers between Northern Ireland and the Republic begins to make more sense.

If this new Government really wants to signal it takes racist and homophobic attacks seriously, it should introduce hate crime legislation to properly document its occurrence and punish those who target individuals because of the colour of their skin, their religion or their sexual orientation.

This would compel gardai to think about the motivation of a crime before it is logged on Pulse.

It would also create awareness of hate crime as a problem in society and would also mean that courts would be forced to address the hate element of a crime in sentencing, thus creating a deterrent.
When it comes to controversial reports, the nature of a minister's reaction - or the lack thereof - can become almost as much of an issue as the one which prompted the report in the first place.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald gave her response to the O'Higgins report on allegations of Garda malpractice in the Cavan-Monaghan region yesterday. She said she had sympathy for her predecessor, Alan Shatter, and former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. Did not both men lose their respective positions over justice and policing controversies? It is unlikely therefore that "sympathy" will butter many parsnips for either man.

For the record, the report found Mr Shatter, Mr Callinan and the Department of Justice handled complaints made by whistle-blower Maurice McCabe in a professional and appropriate manner "at all times". If that's the case, one has to ask, why did they have to leave office?

The report also raises serious questions about crime victims who had been badly served by gardai. Ms Fitzgerald said that this was as "unacceptable as it is disheartening and we must take all measures open to us to ensure that these shortcomings are not repeated".

We need to know what precisely these measures are. But unacceptable and even inexcusable it certainly was.

The report found Sgt McCabe to have been a "dedicated and committed" member of the force.

Meanwhile, Mr Shatter has demanded that Taoiseach Enda Kenny correct the Dail record. The report will at the very least draw more attention to the Taoiseach's handling of Mr Shatter and Mr Callinan's departures. Ms Fitzgerald has said that Mr Kenny had her full confidence, but his judgment in what was a febrile political atmosphere of the time will again be under scrutiny.

The report makes some welcome recommendations for the force and the Government. Serious flaws and failures were identified and it rightly recommends that victim impact statements should be "furnished in all courts".

From the rank and file garda to the top of Government, there are lessons to be learned from this report and Sgt McCabe deserves due credit for bringing much of this into the daylight.

Housing Minister faces massive challenge ahead

It is hoped that new Minister for Housing Simon Coveney will be driven by a sense of mission and not just the adrenaline of a man in a hurry as he takes on this vital role. Mr Coveney's massive challenge is best evidenced by the fact he revealed himself yesterday that the State is now spending 46 million per year on hotels for families who do not have a home.

The Government is about to undertake what he described as "the biggest social housing building programme that Ireland has ever seen".

We owe all the citizens of this State something better than a city pavement for a night's sleep. He signalled that he plans to meet charities, voluntary agencies and local authorities this week to hear their views. This is worthwhile. We must be bold in tackling the housing shortage and in fast-tracking supply.

The recession brought house-building to a shuddering stop. As he indicated, Nama will have a role to play and planning laws may also have to change to clear obstacles. Costs must be cut, and builders must once more be enticed to develop sites or else pay the penalties.

Mr Coveney said he believes housing to be the most important policy area of this Government. As always, he will be judged not by what he says, but by what he does.
A Tunisian policeman outside a house where two suspected jihadists were killed yesterday. Photo: Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images

Elite Tunisian police squads killed what authorities described as two "dangerous armed terrorists" and arrested 16 others in raids yesterday outside the capital to abort plans for "synchronised attacks".

The Tunisian Interior Ministry said in a statement that the suspects came from around Tunisia and gathered in the area around Menihla, a working-class area about 10km from the capital Tunis, and in the locality of Ettadhamoun, which adjoins Menihla.

The ministry did not elaborate on the plans it hopes the police have foiled, nor the identity of those killed and arrested.

However, the ministry did say that Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, grenades and ammunition were recovered in the operation.

The area of Menihla is renowned as a gathering place for religious extremists.

The suicide bomber who killed 12 presidential guards in downtown Tunis last November was a 26-year-old street vendor from Menihla.

Tunisia, which is wedged between Algeria and Libya, has been battling extremist violence as it tries to move forward in a fragile economic and political environment.

Two brutal attacks last year, on a luxury beach resort in Sousse and the noted Bardo Museum, together killed some 60 people, mainly foreign tourists.

Three Irish holidaymakers were among those killed in the attack on Sousse.

The Islamic State (Isil) group claimed responsibility for both attacks.

For two weeks in March, security forces battled armed groups, some crossing the border from Libya, who attacked security and military sites in the border town of Ben Guerdane, with the alleged goal of creating an "emirate."

Security forces killed 36 attackers and lost 12 agents while seven civilians were killed.

Authorities say more than 4,000 Tunisians have left to fight for Islamist militant groups in Iraq and Syria and some have returned to training camps run by Isil across the border in neighbouring Libya.

Western partners are helping train Tunisian forces in border protection to help stop jihadists returning from Libya.
Doubts have been cast over a 15-year-old boy's discovery of a lost city of the Maya civilisation, hidden from archaeologists for centuries.

William Gadoury shot to fame this week amid claims he found the ancient ruins buried deep in the Yucatan jungle of south-eastern Mexico.

The Canadian student said he managed to figure out the location after he realised that the ancient cities were built in alignment with the stars.

I was really surprised and excited when I realised that the most brilliant stars of the constellations matched the largest Maya cities, William told the Journal de Montreal.

Expand Close Map indicating where Mayan city would be (Credit: The National) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Map indicating where Mayan city would be (Credit: The National)

However, now experts are expressing their scepticism over the 'discovery', citing 'junk science' and 'internet in free-fall'.

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"The whole thing is a mess - a terrible example of junk science hitting the internet in free-fall. The ancient Maya didn't plot their ancient cities according to constellations," one expert David Stuart said.

Goudery said he 22 constellations for hours in his bedroom and found that they were linked to Mayan cities across Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Expand Close William took to Google Maps and found that there must be another city hidden in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Credit: CSA / Facebook

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Whatsapp William took to Google Maps and found that there must be another city hidden in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Credit: CSA

When looking at a 23rd constellation he found that one star was not matched with any civilisation and used Google maps to predict a hidden city in the dense forest of Mexico.

The Canadian Space Agency began to research the area and returned with striking images of a Mayan pyramid and several smaller structures.

Goudery received some help from Dr. Armand LaRocque, a research associate at the University of New Brunswicks sensing laboratory. in his research.

LaRocque is now reported to have said that much more research is in fact required to confirm whether the location is in fact the site of a lost city.

If the satellite photographs are verified, the city would be among the largest Mayan population centres ever discovered.
This file photo image provided by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office taken on June 2, 2012 shows George Zimmerman as he poses for a mugshot photo following his surrender to authorities at John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF) in Sanford, Florida.

Sanford police officer Timothy Smith holds up the gun that was used to kill Trayvon Martin, while testifying during George Zimmerman's murder trial in Seminole circuit court in Sanford,

The Florida man who shot and killed black teenager Trayvon Martin, triggering nationwide civil rights protests, had offered the gun for sale in an online auction, but the listing vanished from the site moments after bidding was due to begin.

The one-day auction of George Zimmerman's pistol had been scheduled to start at 11 a.m. EST (1500 GMT), with a minimum price of $5,000. Representatives for the website, GunBroker.com, did not respond to questions about why the listing was removed and whether the weapon had been sold.

Expand Close This file photo image provided by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office taken on June 2, 2012 shows George Zimmerman as he poses for a mugshot photo following his surrender to authorities at John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF) in Sanford, Florida. / Facebook

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Whatsapp This file photo image provided by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office taken on June 2, 2012 shows George Zimmerman as he poses for a mugshot photo following his surrender to authorities at John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF) in Sanford, Florida.

In the listing, Zimmerman had described the Kel Tec 9mm pistol as "a piece of American history," and he told a local television station it was his to do with as he pleased, despite receiving death threats over his plan to sell it.

"What I've decided to do is not cower," he told Orlando broadcaster WOFL. "I'm a free American. And I can do what I like with my possessions."

Expand Close Trayvon Martin: killed by neighbourhood watchman / Facebook

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Zimmerman said the U.S. Department of Justice recently returned to him the gun he had used to kill the unarmed Martin on Feb. 26, 2012.

Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the incident, which sparked civil rights rallies and brought scrutiny of Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law.

The law allows a potential crime victim who is "in fear of great bodily injury" to use deadly force in their home or in public places. It also says they have no obligation to retreat.

Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch volunteer at the time, has maintained that the shooting was in self-defense. Martin's family said the teenager was simply passing through the residential area on his way home from a convenience store.

President Barack Obama said after Zimmerman's acquittal that Martin "could have been me, 35 years ago" and urged Americans to understand the pain African Americans felt over the case.

Daryl Parks, a lawyer for Martin's family, said the offer to sell the weapon was offensive, but that the family remained focused on their work advocating against gun violence.

"It shouldn't be a distraction to what we're doing," Parks, who is also chairman of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, said in a phone interview.

Another spokesman for the family's lawyers, Ryan Julison, said they had not reached out to the auction website, and had no idea why the listing was pulled.

'SOCIOPATH'

"George Zimmerman" quickly became the top trending term on Twitter in the United States on Thursday, with many users on the social media site expressing shock and revulsion.

"The only people worse than George Zimmerman are the people who bid on that gun," tweeted journalist and columnist Lyz Lenz.

National Review columnist Charles C. W. Cooke said Zimmerman "may have acted legally, but the man is a sociopath."

On the auction site, Zimmerman said he planned to use part of the proceeds to fight Black Lives Matter, a movement that grew out of the incident, as well as to counter "violence against law enforcement officers."

Proceeds would also go towards fighting Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's "anti-firearm rhetoric," he said.

"I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American firearm icon. The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin," Zimmerman wrote on the site.

The number from the Martin case is written on the pistol in silver permanent marker. The auction listing included a photo of the gun being held up in court by a law enforcement officer during Zimmerman's murder trial.

Zimmerman claimed in the description that many parties had expressed interest "in owning and displaying the firearm, including The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C."

The Smithsonian refuted this in a post on Twitter, saying it had never expressed interest in the gun, and had "no plans to ever collect or display it in any museums."

In a phone interview with Orlando's WOFL on Wednesday, Zimmerman dismissed criticism of the auction.

"They're not going to be bidding on it, so I couldn't care less about them," he said.
'Project for Door (After Gaetano Pesce)' by Anthea Hamilton, one of four artists nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize (PA/Turner Prize 2016)

A 10-metre high sculpture of a man's buttocks is part of an art exhibition that has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize.

Anthea Hamilton is one of four artists nominated, receiving a nod for her solo show Lichen! Libido! Chastity! at SculptureCentre in New York, which features two hands clutching the bare bottom, as well as a brick-printed suit.

The other artists on the shortlist are Michael Dean, Helen Marten and photographer Josephine Pryde, whose installation Thinking By the person i Am at CCA Wattis in San Francisco includes a small working train.

The Turner Prize will return to London's Tate Britain with an exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists ahead of the awards ceremony in December, which will be broadcast live on the BBC.

Mr Dean, who works primarily in sculpture, is nominated for his solo exhibitions Sic Glyphs at South London Gallery and Qualities Of Violence at de Appel arts centre, Amsterdam, and reference the everyday urban environment, such as the corrugated metal of a shop shutter.

Ms Marten is nominated for projects including Lunar Nibs at the 56th Venice Biennale and the solo exhibition Eucalyptus Let Us In at Greene Naftali in New York.

Her work uses found objects and crafted elements in sculptures and painting-like tableaux.

The winner of the Turner Prize will collect 25,000, with the other shortlisted artists receiving 5,000 each.

The award was established in 1984 and is awarded to a British artist under 50 for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

The exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists will be at Tate Britain from September 27 to January 8 2017.
A view of the home of cattle farmer Robert Fidler in Salfords, near Redhill in Surrey, as the process of demolishing the property continues after he lost a ten year court battle

A farmer who lost a 10-year planning battle to keep a mock castle which he built unlawfully on his land has begun demolishing it.

Robert Fidler, 67, was ordered by the High Court to dismantle the mansion, which he originally concealed behind hay bales, or face being sent to prison.

The judgment in November last year was the final stage in a long-running legal fight by the father-of-six to be allowed to keep the building on his land at Honeycrock Farm in Salfords, Surrey.

A spokeswoman for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: "We continue to monitor the situation at Honeycrock Farm. We can confirm there has been some progress in the dismantling of the unlawful building and other unlawful structures. For Mr Fidler to comply with the court orders he must demolish the structures completely before 6 June.

"We have already given Mr Fidler advice about the options available to him for providing alternative accommodation in existing lawful buildings on his site."

At a hearing at the High Court on November 9 last year, Mr Justice Dove found Mr Fidler in contempt of court for failing to comply with court orders to demolish the property and he was given a three-month prison sentence suspended until June 6 with the condition he demolish the house by then.

Following the judgement, the council spokeswoman said: "This is a situation of Mr Fidler's own making. He has had plenty of opportunity to comply with the outstanding enforcement notices.

"He previously admitted that he deliberately set out to circumvent planning rules. Also, he had another house on the site when he began building this new one.

"Local residents expect us to protect their countryside. The pleasant environment is one of the reasons they love living here.

"If we fail to act, it would give others free reign to build dwellings in the Green Belt without fear of recrimination."

The illegal structure first became apparent in 2006 when Mr Fidler removed the hay bales revealing the castle beneath which lead to the local authority issuing a series of enforcement notices which Mr Fidler appealed up to the High Court and the Secretary of State.

No-one was available for comment when the Press Association contacted Honeycrock Farm.
Coming six months after the Paris attacks in November, the 69th Cannes Film Festival has elevated security measures, swarming the French Riviera resort town with an increased police presence.

But particular care has been made to preserving the spirit of the annual cinema celebration.

Bomb sweeps and bag checks have been stepped up. A dramatic, unnerving drill was held last month in which mock gunmen stormed the festival's palace hub. And festival president Pierre Lescure has said that about 500 highly-trained security agents will be on guard around Cannes' red-carpeted headquarters, the Palais des Festivals. That's in addition to around 200 police and extensive surveillance cameras.

But the festival, which opened yesterday, has also sought to counter the heightened state by continuing with business as usual. The party will most definitely go on.

"The atmosphere is good," festival director Thierry Fremaux said in an interview Tuesday. "Cannes is a celebration of life, of cinema."

"These films have a big fighting spirit," he added. "This is also what makes Cannes and we still want to show that."

Perhaps signalling that maintaining such a balance will have its difficulties, moments after Fremaux spoke, alarms rang out inside the Palais, forcing an evacuation.

The most striking change, as many noted, weren't security agents but a wardrobe change for the ubiquitous festival ushers. To glowing reviews from critics, their traditionally beige suits have been replaced with blue ones.

"The French public statement was very clear, is very clear," Fremaux said. "The festival is as usual, the same way as usual, so everything will be fine."

That was consistent with earlier statements made by Lescure, who pledged that "the maximum" has been done to balance security and ensure "that the festival remains a place of freedom."

Others have emphasised that the film festival, must be diligently guarded.

"We must keep in mind as we prepare to open this festival that we are faced with a risk which has never been as high," French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has survived a no-confidence vote prompted by a divisive labour reform as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to protest against the law.

Facing almost daily protests and legislative gridlock, the government decided to use a special measure to push the bill through without a vote in the lower house of parliament.

The conservatives tried to object by setting up a no-confidence vote, but with 246 votes they failed to gather the minimum of 288 needed to bring down the government.

The contested reform - including longer workdays, easier lay-offs and weaker unions - will now be debated in the Senate.

In his speech to lawmakers, Mr Valls said he is proud of the law because it will help social progress and it is an "indispensable reform" in a globalised world.

A rain-drenched march through Paris was largely peaceful but police fired tear gas at some rowdy demonstrators. Similar scenes played out in Marseille on the Mediterranean and Nantes on the Atlantic Coast.

New street protests and strikes called by workers' unions to reject the reform are already scheduled next week.

The labour reform has torn apart the Socialists and further damaged their weak chances of keeping the presidency and legislative control in next year's elections.

Protesters are also angry about the government's decision to pass the law without a vote, using an article of the French Constitution instead.

"The government must listen. Democracy must prevail, within our movement and at the National Assembly," said Philippe Martinez, secretary-general of the CGT union.

The bill is relatively modest, especially after the government softened it to meet union demands.

It will not abolish the 35-hour work week but will allow companies to negotiate deals for up to 48 hours a week or 12-hour shifts.

It will change rules for lay-offs in companies, to create more flexibility during downturns - under conditions depending on the size of the businesses.

It even adds some new protections - a "right to disconnect" from emails and smartphones negotiated with employers - and a new 461-euro (363) allowance for young job-seekers.

The head of the opposition conservatives in the lower house said the law does not go far enough to open up the country's economy - Christian Jacob criticised the bill as "empty".

"France is trying to do the bare minimum," said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. But "politically it seems almost impossible to do this without street protests".

Critics see the bill as a symbol of something much bigger, a surrender to a heartless, globalised world, and a fundamental betrayal of hard-fought worker protections and a way of life that France has long prided itself on.

Labour minister Myriam El Khomri acknowledged the government made mistakes in how it handled the reform and how it explained it to voters.

She insisted in an interview published in Directmatin that it will help France better compete in "the world of today".
Earl Forrest killed a sheriff's deputy and two other people in 2002 (Missouri Department of Corrections/AP)

A man who killed two people in a drug dispute and a police officer in a subsequent shootout has been put to death in what could be Missouri's last execution for some time.

Earl Forrest, 66, died by injection for the December 2002 deaths of Harriett Smith, Michael Wells and Dent County Sheriff's Deputy Joann Barnes.

Forrest's fate was sealed hours before his punishment when the US Supreme Court refused to halt the execution and Missouri governor Jay Nixon turned down a clemency request.

Court documents showed Forrest had been drinking when he went to Ms Smith's home in the southern Missouri town of Salem and demanded that she fulfil her promise to buy a lawnmower and mobile home for him in exchange for introducing her to a source for methamphetamine.

Mr Wells was visiting Ms Smith at the time. An argument ensued and Forrest shot Mr Wells in the face. He then shot Ms Smith six times and took a lockbox full of meth.

When police converged on Forrest's home, he shot Ms Barnes and Dent County Sheriff Bob Wofford, according to court documents. Forrest was shot in the face in the exchange of gunfire. He then put some meth in his mouth, crawled to the door and yelled: "I surrender. We need help. People down."

Forrest's girlfriend, Angela Gamblin, also was shot in the burst of gunfire. She and Mr Wofford survived, along with Forrest.

Missouri has been one of the most prolific states for executions in recent years, second only to Texas. The state has put 19 men to death since November 2013, including six last year. Forrest was the first this year.

Missouri's death row population is dwindling. Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Centre in Washington, said juries today are less likely to opt for capital punishment, in part because of greater awareness of how mental illness sometimes factors in violent crime.

Just 49 people were sentenced to death nationally last year, the fewest since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty as a possible punishment in 1976. No one was sentenced to death in Missouri in 2014 or 2015, Mr Dunham said.

"As these executions take place, fewer and fewer people are being sentenced to death, so the death penalty is withering on the other end," he said.

None of the 25 other men on Missouri's death row face imminent execution.

Sixteen have yet to exhaust court appeals and are not likely to do so any time soon. Execution is on hold for nine others, including two who were declared mentally unfit for execution.

Executions nationally are on the decline. In 1999, 98 people were executed. That fell to 28 in 2015 - a 24-year low - and 13 so far in 2016.
The civil war in Syria was sparked by a crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011

The Syrian al Qaida branch and allied fighters from ultraconservative rebel factions have seized a village of President Bashar Assad's minority Alawite sect in central Syria.

The capture of Zaara, which was reported by activists and Syrian state media, is sparking fears of an outbreak of sectarian violence as activists say many families from the village are missing.

The development came as the International Red Cross was expected to deliver the first aid in almost four years to a cut-off Damascus suburb besieged by government forces.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was to bring humanitarian relief to Daraya in co-operation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the United Nations, said ICRC spokesman Pawel Krzysiek.

It would be the first aid sent to rebellious Daraya since November 2012.

The UN estimates the suburb's current population is between 4,000 and 8,000 people.

The civil war in Syria, whose population is majority Sunni, was sparked by a crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 but it has also developed a distinct sectarian undertone.

The Alawites are an offshoot of Shiite Islam and Mr Assad, an Alawite, has presented his side as defending the country's minorities against a Sunni Islam terror insurgency.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said families disappeared from Zaara after the militants overran the village.

Along with Syria's al Qaida branch, known as the Nusra Front, other hard-line factions that took part in the raid on Zaara included Ahrar al-Sham and Faylaq al-Rahman.

Separately, al Qaida's more powerful rival, Islamic State - also an extremist Sunni group - is in control of about a third of Syria's territory since its blitz in the summer of 2014 when it captured large swaths of Iraq and Syria.

Both al Qaida and IS are designated as terrorist organisations by the United Nations and were not part of a US-Russia-brokered cease-fire that was implemented at the end of February.

Syrian state media said "terrorists" killed a number of townspeople and abducted others, adding that they looted and destroyed many homes in Zaara.

World powers working to promote a resolution to Syria's civil war are planning to resume talks next week in Vienna, with UN-led, indirect peace negotiations between Syria's government and opposition representatives expected to follow some days later.

The Vienna talks aim to build on a US-Russia agreement announced this week to try to restore a nationwide cease-fire.
Civilians help a municipality bulldozer cleans up while citizens inspect the scene after a car bomb explosion at a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Photo: Khalid Mohammed/AP

Scores of people have been killed in Baghdad by three bombings on the same day, as Islamic State increases its campaign of violence directed at civilians.

The first attack came during the morning, when a jeep packed with explosives exploded near a beauty salon facing on to a market in Sadr City, eastern Baghdad's sprawling working class suburb almost entirely occupied by Shia.

The blast set nearby shops on fire and left debris including the charred, twisted remains of a vehicle in the street.

The death toll from that bombing rose to at least 64 during the course of the day. The authorities said all were civilian and more than 20 were women, despite a claim of responsibility by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant which said the targets were Shia militia fighters.

The claim was carried by Amaq, the main Isil-linked news agency, and said it had been carried out by a suicide bomber it named as "Abu Sulaiman al-Ansari".

Analysts believe Isil has upped its attacks on civilian targets - both in Iraq and abroad - in response to the squeeze being applied to its territorial control by the US-led coalition, Iraqi government forces and local militias. A new report said its zone of control was now down to 14pc of Iraq's territory, down from 40pc in the summer of 2014.

Yesterday afternoon, two more bombs went off, one at the entrance to the northern suburb of Khadimiya, which is largely Shia, and one in a shopping street in the central district of Jamea, named after the Baghdad University which is nearby. At least 22 people were killed in those two attacks, with the death toll also rising fast.

The combined death toll makes yesterday the worst day this year for terrorism, particularly Isil terrorism, not only in Iraq but around the world.

The current wave of attacks also coincides with a major political crisis. Moqtada al-Sadr, the fiery nationalist cleric who led Shia fighting against Britain and America after their invasion of Iraq, is now leading protests demanding that Haider al-Abadi, the prime minister, make good his promises to reform government.

He wants to replace ministers appointed by sectarian political parties with "technocrats".

( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Andrei Borodin is wanted in Russia on charges of hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud

A Russian court has called for the seizure of a fugitive banker's lavish British residence.

Russian news reports said the court in Moscow ordered the seizure of Andrei Borodin's Park Place mansion in Henley-on-Thames on Wednesday, which some reports claim is the most expensive residence in Britain outside London.

The residence was purchased for a reported 140 million by Mr Borodin, former head of the Bank of Moscow, who is wanted in Russia on charges of hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud.

Mr Borodin, who claims the charges against him are politically motivated, said he received political asylum in 2013.

It could not be immediately determined if Britain would honour the Moscow court order.
A solar-powered plane which landed in Arizona last week after a day-long flight from California is heading for Oklahoma on the latest leg of its round-the-world journey.

Project officials said the Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 is scheduled to take off from Phoenix Goodyear Airport at 3am PDT on Thursday with a destination of Tulsa International Airport.

The aircraft took off from Mountain View in northern California in the early hours of May 2 and landed at the airport south-west of Phoenix 16 hours later.

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.

It began its globe-circling trip last year and flew from Hawaii to Mountain View last month.

After Oklahoma, the plane is expected to make one more stop in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey.

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.

The plane had a five-day journey from Japan to Hawaii and three-day trip from Hawaii to California's Silicon Valley.

The crew was forced to stay in Oahu, Hawaii, for nine months after the plane's battery system suffered heat damage on its trip from Japan.

Organisers said the stopovers give the two Swiss pilots - Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg - 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 dollars (69.2 million).

Mr Piccard is scheduled to be at the controls for the Arizona-to-Oklahoma leg.

The solar project began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation.
Five men took part in the historic competition

Mr Gay Syria Hussein Sabat said he is not afraid of ISIS

The newly-crowned Mr Gay Syria has said he is determined to show a different side of his countrys LGBT community.

Hussein Sabat (24) said he is dismayed that the most visible members of the Syrian gay community are the dead.

I want to show that Syrian gays are not just bodies thrown off buildings by Isis; we have dreams and ideas and we want to live our lives.

Of course we were nervous but were excited  we all wanted to be Mr Gay Syria to do something empowering, he told the Daily Mail.

In 2013, the terror group beheaded his long-term partner, and Mr Sabat received the horrifying execution video.

I was with Zakaria for four years, but three years ago Isis beheaded him. They sent the execution video to his family  his mother almost went crazy and I couldnt speak for a month, he said.

At the competition, Mr Sabat and four other men had three minutes each to perform for the crowd in Istanbul, before audience members voted for their favourite contestant.

While one showed off his dance skills while wearing high heels, another competitor opted for a strip tease.

Mr Sabat performed a monologue about the painful experiences of gay Arab men.

I played a character speaking to his mother at her grave about the difficulties of being gay, he said.

Husseun left Syria two years ago when ISIS and Syrian regime shells fell close to his home if Afrin, northern Aleppo.

He now lives in Istanbul, but said he still doesnt feel safe there, as nine months ago he was victim to a brutal beating on his way home from work.

I was talking on the phone with my boyfriend and a Syrian guy overheard me. He called me a f****t, and I made the mistake of answering back.

I asked him, do you know me? and he said, youre Syrian and youre putting us all to shame.

The man, accompanied by a number of friends, began to hit him in the face and gut so badly that he couldnt open his eyes fully for a month afterwards.

His family doesnt even know he is gay, despite living with him in Istanbul.

Anybody in my situation would be scared and Im not prepared to lose my family for any reason. But they will find out one day and I hope they find out from a stranger and not from me.

I hope Im far away from here when they find out  it would be much better if Im in Europe.

If they find out I will have to lie to them, they will deny it and take me to a doctor or a sheikh to treat me, but if I insist that I am gay, they will kick me out of the house, he said.

Mr Sabat is campaigning for LGBT rights and for more gay Syrian refugees to be granted asylum in Europe.

He was set to represent Syria at Mr Gay World, but was denied a visa to travel.

We need to be more public about our sexuality so we can demand our rights. I cant give advice because some people just cant leave Syria, he said.

He added: Everyone is scared of Isis but it doesnt stop me from living my life. I wont let them be a barrier, and I hate them more than Im scared.
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By Jake Grove of the Independent Mail

The beer world never sleeps. In fact, it's pretty much gone non-stop for the last five years or so bringing the number of breweries in the United States to more than 4,000 and creating a craft beer culture that involves everything from trades and mules to bottle releases and, well, more brewery openings.

When an industry moves as quickly as the craft beer industry does, there is bound to be a little catch-up involved. That goes for small, local markets as well as the national ones. In the past month or so, some big things have been happening in craft beer and we bring you a round up of what's going on.

Tons of new releases

In just the last couple months, there have been tons of new releases from a variety of coveted, area breweries. It seems like one is cropping up every weekend featuring a new barrel-aged gem or something with a little funk in it. At Wicked Weed, they released a new pub can of S'more Stout along with the big release of Red Angel, a sour brew aged in red wine barrels and infused with raspberries.

At Burial Beer in Asheville, they have come out with a Baltic Porter as well as a big, juicy, hazy pale ale that has been compared to some of the best IPAs out of New England that boast a similar style.

And then there have been the releases at Quest Brewing and Creature Comforts. These guys have been putting out some quality barrel beers as well as some goodness in cans that has plenty of people in the trading world chomping at the bit. On March 21, Creature Comforts out of Athens, Ga. will release their stout, Existence. It's going to be a pretty well-attended party, so get tickets and go early.

New breweries starting and opening

The stories have been around for the last few months of new breweries opening in the area. There are rumors that two breweries are looking to follow the lead of Carolina Bauernhaus Ales to open breweries in the Electric City. Greenville has no fewer than three breweries in planning right now including one that is working on their space, one that is ready to start work and another still looking for that perfect spot. And Asheville, N.C. just keeps bringing the fun with their various breweries cropping up into a market that sees no sign of slowing.

The most exciting one, however, has to be the recent opening of the taproom for New Belgium in Asheville. The beers are flowing and the fun is growing at their downtown facility that features some special one-off beers along with plenty of good times with games and more.

New stores to get the brew

We know that BREWS on the Alley opened in Seneca this past year, but there have also been changes to some popular beer stores along with announcements of cool things happening with old favorites.

The Community Tap in Greenville announced that they will be opening another store closer to the West End of Greenville and very close to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. They join a couple other businesses that will grow the area including Spartanburg's popular Willy Taco. The Tap will also partner with Methodical Coffee for some exciting opportunities to blend beer and coffee.

And The Southern Growl went gastropub while we weren't looking and now features beer and food. Not to mention, Fountain Inn got the third Growler Haus store there following the footsteps of Anderson and Spartanburg.
MIKE ELLIS/INDEPENDENT MAIL Greg Murdock, a security guard for Defender Services, flips through a folder at his desk in the Carolina Academy of the Arts. Murdock said he enjoys working with children at the school and it is like he is a protective grandfather to 600 kids.

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By Michael Ellis, michael.ellis@independentmail.com

Anderson School District 5 is considering dropping most of its school resource officers in favor of private security in an effort to save money. The district spends $1 million a year on officers and private security and it could save up to $450,000 a year if they replaced 12 sworn officers with private security officers, according to figures provided by the district.

At a Thursday meeting, a school board committee will be given three options to consider for how much of the school security team should be law enforcement as opposed to private.

The changes are only being considered for middle and elementary schools, along with a career center and adult learning center. The district's two high schools would keep year-round sworn officers under all the plans, said Anderson School District Superintendent Tom Wilson.

Wilson said the sticking point on negotiations with law enforcement  the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and the Anderson Police Department  have been whether the district should pay for 12 months of the deputies and officers instead of nine or 10 months.

According to figures provided by the district, the current contracts call for the district to pay for 260 days a year while the officers work 180 days.

Wilson said he doesn't believe the district should be paying for the summer months when the schools are typically closed.

Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper, who has nine deputies working for the school district, said the summers are when most of the school resource officers take all their saved-up vacation time for the year and the officers also get training along with fulfilling law enforcement requirements.

Skipper said he is not sure how the nine-month plan would work, because the officers could need to adjust their schedules and be away from the schools at times.

Having sworn officers in a school is a benefit, because officers would need to respond to any criminal activity or make arrests, Skipper said.

Lt. Tony Tilley, from the Anderson Police Department, said the department is ready to provide as much security as the district wants.

In addition to the nine deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, the district currently uses five officers from the Anderson Police Department and seven private security officers from Defender Services.

Greg Murdock, a private security officer with Defender Services who works at Calhoun Academy of the Arts, said he wishes there were more private security officers to free up law enforcement officers for their other jobs.

Amy Heard, the district's chief financial officer, said keeping sworn officers in the high schools year-round is an absolute.

Heard said the district's goal, however, is to make a deal with the city and county to get nine-month contracts for sworn officers at five middle schools along with a single officer to share among the elementary schools, a sworn officer at the career center, plus the two high school officers. In addition to the floating officer at elementary schools, all of the elementary schools would have a private security officer.

Heard said this plan would save about $350,000 a year.

County deputies cost the district $67,228, city officers cost $49,058 and private security costs $27,750, she said.

The negotiations began after the district surveyed others in the state in November and found that Anderson School District 5 was paying more for security, Heard said.

She said her district also pays ancillary costs for the officers, including car allowances, uniforms, bullets for training, fuel and supplies, but the district doesn't get any benefit from most of those costs.

Skipper said he plans to be at the committee meeting Thursday to answer any questions from the board.

The committee of the whole meets at 6:30 p.m. in the district offices at 400 Pearman Dairy Road.

Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM
Mitchell Allan Guigou appeared in court Tuesday and was sentenced to a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter and arson.

SHARE Mitchell Allan Guigou, right, reacts as a judge hands down a 25-year prison sentence. Mitchell Allan Guigou, far right, stood beside his defense attorney, Andrew Potter, as he pleaded guilty Tuesday to manslaughter and arson and was sentenced by Judge Lawton McIntosh, far left.

By Mike Ellis of the Independent Mail

Mitchell Allan Guigou pleaded guilty Tuesday to manslaughter and arson in the 2011 killing of his girlfriend.

A cocaine-fueled binge helped drive Guigou to attempt suicide when he set Allison Pinsley's trailer on fire with her body and his inside, said Andrew Potter, Guigou's defense attorney.

Guigou had only known the New York native for a few months.

"The defendant became tired of arguing with her and hit her on the head with a stick," said Kristin Reeves, an assistant solicitor.

Guigou continued to hit Pinsley, eventually covering her head with a plastic bag and cinching it shut with electrical cord, Reeves said during a Tuesday hearing.

Pinsley had been either killed or was near death when Guigou took her into a bedroom and tied her down, again using electrical cord, prosecutors said. Her body was burned in the subsequent fire.

Judge Lawton McIntosh sentenced Guigou, 49, to serve 25 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and a 15-year concurrent sentence for the arson charge, along with restitution of $70,000 to an insurance company that paid for the burned trailer. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 30 years.

Guigou was originally charged with murder but that was reduced to manslaughter in a plea bargain.

McIntosh said he agreed to the reduction primarily because of statements from Pinsley's brother in New York, who was not at the hearing. The brother had told victim's advocates that Pinsley's family would accept the reduced charge because Guigou's age made 25 years an effective life sentence and because the deal would force Guigou to admit to the crimes rather than face trial.

"Both the victim and my client were heavily into crack," Potter said. "Ultimately it was a cocaine-fueled binge. For lack of a better word, he tweaked out and binged."

Potter said Guigou maintained the fire was set unintentionally but was nonetheless an attempt at suicide.

"He recognized what was going on," Potter said.

The defense attorney said the drug use and suicide attempt were not excuses, but were informative during the sentencing.

Guigou was seriously burned in the fire. He jumped out of the bedroom where Pinsley was tied up, and he was treated at an Atlanta burn center.

Guigou spoke only briefly during the Tuesday hearing, apologizing to Pinsley's family for his actions.

He cocked his head slightly but otherwise did not visibly react when McIntosh read his sentencing.
SHARE Francis Crowder Francis Crowder Lindsey Graham

The Independent Mail has invited 31 candidates running for 11 offices in Anderson County to attend a meet-and-greet with voters on June 6.

Each candidate will be allowed to speak for two to three minutes at the event, which will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the Earle Street Kitchen and Bar at 134 W. Earle St. in downtown Anderson. Candidates will also have an opportunity to meet with voters.

Independent Mail subscribers can attend the event for free. Admission for nonsubscribers is $20 per person. Each person attending will receive a drink ticket and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.

More details will be announced as the event approaches.

Key deadline Saturday

Saturday is the deadline to register to vote in the June 14 primary. Some key races, including the one for Anderson County sheriff, will likely be decided by the primary. In that race, three Republican candidates will compete in the primary, but the winner is not expected to face a Democratic challenger in the Nov. 8 general election.

To register to vote, residents may visit the Anderson County Voter Registration and Elections Office. The office is at 301 N. Main St., Anderson. People who wish to register may also do so online by visiting scvotes.org. To be able to register online, a potential voter must have a South Carolina driver's license or an identification card obtained through the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

In-person, absentee voting for the primary begins Tuesday. Qualified, registered voters can cast ballots in either the Democratic or Republican primary. To cast an absentee ballot, visit the elections office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

S.C. Senate candidates invited to two forums Monday

The Anderson County Republican Party will host a forum Monday night for the GOP candidates running for the state Senate District 3 and 4 seats. The forum is set for 6:30 p.m. at Concord Community Church, 610 Concord Road in Anderson.

Sen. Kevin Bryant is being challenged by former Pendleton Mayor Carol Burdette in the Senate District 3 race. State Rep. Mike Gambrell of Honea Path and Williamston Town Councilman Rockey Burgess are seeking the Republican nomination for a full four-year term in Senate District 4.

The candidates running for Senate District 2 have been invited to another forum Monday night in Easley that is being hosted by the Clemson Area League of Women Voters. The forum will start at 7 p.m. in the Hampton Memorial Library, 304 Biltmore Road.

Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens is being challenged three candidates: former state Rep. Rex Rice of Easley, Pickens resident Don Joslyn and Allan Quinn, also of Pickens.

S.C. Senate District 4 special election is Tuesday

Gambrell will be the only name on the ballot for the South Carolina Senate District 4 special election on Tuesday. The election is being held to fill the final months of Sen. Billy O'Dell's term. O'Dell died in January.

Gambrell won the Republican primary, defeating Burgess in an April 5 runoff.

No Democrats filed to run for the seat, which represents a district that covers eastern and southern Anderson County, a small part of Abbeville County and western Greenwood County.

Voters can visit polling places in the district from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Crowder not done yet

Anderson County Councilman Francis Crowder, who decided not to seek re-election this year, says he plans to be involved with county business until the moment he gives up his seat.

Crowder, 82, spoke about that briefly in an Innovate Anderson meeting he attended this week.

"Some have said I am a lame duck," Crowder said. "I will not be a lame duck until January 1."

Graham donates car

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham donated his 2003 Ford Crown Victoria this week to Miracle Hill Ministries, a rescue mission in the Upstate. The car had 276,744 miles on it.

"It was like saying goodbye to a member of the family," Graham said in social media posts.

"This faith-based organization does great work in helping those in need and I know they will use the proceeds from the sale to help even more people across the Upstate," Graham said. "I hope the next lucky owner will get as much use out of it ... as I have."

Accreditation is an issue in sheriff's race

Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper and his two challengers in the June 14 primary have differing views on the importance of accreditation.

Skipper held a news conference Wednesday in which his office received its fourth award for continued national accreditation.

John Gregory, program manager for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, said the award "represents a commitment to doing the right thing and doing it the right away."

Skipper said he sees value in "having someone outside this agency, outside this county, looking at your procedures to say that you're following within the standards that everyone else is doing."

At a debate last month, sheriff's candidate Jeremy Pickens said the accreditation process is a waste of money.

"You are basically paying for bragging rights," Pickens said.

Sheriff's candidate Chad McBride said he would conduct a cost analysis to determine if accreditation is worthwhile if he is elected.

Written by Independent Mail reporters Nikie Mayo and Kirk Brown. Follow them on Twitter @NikieMayo and @KirkBrown_AIM.

Email them with tips at mayon@independentmail.com or kirk.brown@independentmail.com.
SHARE Vickery

By Independent Mail

An Anderson man has been accused of selling child pornography online.

Larry Ray Vickery Jr., 44, was charged Wednesday by the state attorney general's office with 21 counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor and six counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Vickery was arrested by Lucinda McKellar, an investigator with the attorney general's Internet Crimes Against Children office, with help from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, according to a news release sent out by the attorney general's office Thursday.

The suspect was booked Wednesday into the Anderson County Detention Center, where he remained Thursday without bail.

Each of the charges filed carries up to 10 years in prison in the event of a conviction. No further details have been released in the case, other than it will be prosecuted by the attorney general's office.

Spokespersons for both the attorney general's office and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said they were not aware of any other investigations related to Vickery's case.
The city of Warwick approved a controversial ordinance Monday night clearing the way for the use of license plate readers in the city. The move comes a year after the city of Cranston made a similar move and is touted by officials as a way to improve safety by alerting police officers if a certain license plate is detected. Critics of the ordinance, including the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU, expressed concern over the use of such cameras, expressing concerns over privacy, how data would be used and who they might target. Do you support the use of license plate recognition cameras in your community? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below.

You voted:
By: Siddhartha Thyagarajan

Recent legislative and judicial actions in Indias capital of Delhi have caused significant disruption to the establishment of businesses. In the past few weeks, Delhi has implemented two measures to combat the rising levels of pollution in the mega city. Both have influenced various facets of Delhis economy, were particularly harsh on certain businesses, and inadvertently punished consumers in the city.

The plans were introduced with noble intentions, but affected business operations for numerous companies. Most of these companies were underprepared to cope with changes in Delhis economic landscape. This underlined the importance of preparation and adaptation for businesses that operate in India  companies that keep abreast of changes in the legislative and judicial space can mitigate the risks that their businesses face.

The AAP Gambit

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government started the second trial run of its Odd-Even Plan from April 15 until April 30. The plan only permitted vehicles with odd number plates to ply on odd dates, and vehicles with even number plates to ply on even dates. The first trial run of the Odd-Even plan was implemented from January 1 until January 15 and aimed to reduce the dangerously high levels of pollution in the city. The actual impact of the plan, however, remains unclear.

While the Odd-Even plan went off without a major hitch, another policy announced by the AAP courted significant controversy. This was the ban on surge pricing for the duration of the Odd-Even scheme. Surge pricing is a pricing strategy used by app-based cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber. It implies that fare rates increase automatically as a response to increased demand for cabs.

Supreme Courts Decision

The second policy decision followed the Supreme Courts ban on diesel cabs plying in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on May 1, just as the second trial run of the Odd-Even Plan ended. The court decision aimed to bring down pollution levels in the city. Previously, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline from March 31 to April 30 for diesel cabs to convert to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is known to pollute less.

This decision by the Supreme Court reportedly affected 27,000 taxis, prompting several protests. Delhi was gridlocked as angry and prospectively unemployed cab drivers blocked major thoroughfares in the capital, including routes to Noida and Gurgaon, where several multinational companies are located. The courts decision to ban diesel cabs also affected several consumers in multiple ways.

What is the Impact?

The AAP government introduced the ban on surge pricing as it deemed it as extortionate. The move was a direct intervention that disturbed the market equilibrium by altering the basic economic forces of supply and demand. It follows basic economic logic that higher prices incentivize a higher supply of a good or service. In this case, it would translate into ensuring a higher supply of cabs on Delhi roads.

In addition, surge pricing acts as a means to sort customers not only based on their ability to pay, but also their willingness to pay. Thus, a number of consumers, who may have urgent appointments, would be willing to pay a higher price. However, the ban on surge pricing without much thought resulted in the reduced supply of cabs from operators such as Ola and Uber. Consumers were left without cabs and a large number of them could not use their own cars due to the Odd-Even scheme. Other external factors, such as a poor public transport system, an overburdened subway system, and the absence of affordable, alternative cab services, forced commuters into a cul-de-sac. The move to ban surge pricing  which is Uber and Olas core business model  had a profound impact on their business operations as well.

The most important question thus becomes whether governments owe a responsibility to provide adequate time for businesses to respond to regulatory changes. In this regard, the Delhi government fares quite poorly as most economic policies, including the ban on surge pricing, tended to be reactionary. The government, particularly in this case, did not create a suitable timeline for companies to adapt to the changes. Such a lack of warning and planning often creates a perception that Indias regulatory landscape is too erratic, which may disincentivize foreign companies from entering India at all. Therefore, the AAP gambit seems to have been an ill-conceived move posing a detrimental impact on the overall economy.

The Supreme Courts decision to ban diesel cabs also has significant economic implications. This is why the central government, state government, and the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)  one of Indias primary trade bodies  appealed to the court to revoke its decision. The ban causes direct losses to the cab industry, and once again cuts the supply source for companies such as Uber and Ola that often use cabs running on diesel. Moreover, the ban does not account for the cost of conversion to CNG, which ranges from U.S. $1000-1500. This makes it too expensive for most cab drivers given their monthly salaries, affecting their scope for savings.

The ban affects other industries as well. NASSCOM said that if the ban was not revoked, it would affect Americas $25 billion Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry as well as the software industry, to which Delhi and NCR contribute around U.S. $ 5 billion. A number of BPOs and software companies use diesel cabs to pick and drop employees. The ban on diesel cabs could cause a potential loss of U.S. $ 1 billion if the ban stays in effect for around six to nine months.

In such a scenario, India runs a risk of scaring off potential investors, who might believe that the country is characterized by judicial actions that unnecessarily complicate business operations and interfere in the market.

Latest Developments

The ban on surge pricing was revoked on May 1, with the end of the Odd-Even scheme. Meanwhile, on May 10, the Supreme Court revoked the ban on diesel cabs operating in Delhi and NCR. The reintroduction of surge pricing ensured that Ola and Uber could operate normally and consumers were not adversely affected. Meanwhile, the revocation of the ban on diesel cabs eased the pressure on the cab, BPO and software industries, and ensured a ready supply of cabs for consumers.

Adit Pujari, an advocate in the matter of the ban on diesel cars, notes that that the Supreme Court overturned the decision to ban diesel cabs when it realized that the BPO and software industry could potentially be paralyzed by the decision. Pujari says, The Supreme Courts stance on issues such as diesel has been fairly consistent since 1993. The court has wanted to phase out diesel. In this regard, it is vital to note that the judiciary in India often maintains a predictable trajectory in its decisions.

Lessons for Companies

The key takeaway for companies that are planning to enter India or are already operating in India is simple. Such companies should note that Indias regulatory landscape is not static. The regulations are often an amalgamation of legislative and judicial actions. Companies need to be prepared to adapt to the changing regulatory environment to mitigate the risks faced by their core business operations. Periodic regulatory monitoring, political risk mapping, tracking new legislations and judgments, and compliance checks are tools available to help companies traverse the Indian regulatory landscape. Companies that use such tools can stop legislative and judicial actions from disrupting their business.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email india@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight.





Managing Your Accounting and Bookkeeping in India

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we spotlight three issues that financial management teams for India should monitor. Firstly, we examine the new Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) system, which is expected to be a boon for foreign companies in India. We then highlight common filing dates for most companies with operations in India, and lastly examine procedures and regulations for remitting profits from India

Using Indias Free Trade & Double Tax Agreements

In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we take a look at the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that India currently has in place and highlight the deals that are still in negotiation. We analyze the countrys double tax agreements, and conclude by discussing how foreign businesses can establish a presence in Singapore to access both the Indian and ASEAN markets.

Passage to India: Selling to Indias Consumer Market In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we outline the fundamentals of Indias import policies and procedures, as well as provide an introduction to engaging in direct and indirect export, acquiring an Indian company, selling to the government and establishing a local presence in the form of a liaison office, branch office, or wholly owned subsidiary. We conclude by taking a closer look at the strategic potential of joint ventures and the advantages they can provide companies at all stages of market entry and expansion.
Oracle Financial Services Software, IT solution provider to the banking industry, reported consolidated net profit of Rs.224.36 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, registering decline of 22.5% qoq and 2.61% yoy. The companys revenue stood at Rs. 1,012.99 crore, declining 0.67% qoq but grew by 6.66% yoy.



It's consolidated operating profit of Rs. 363.55 crore for the quarter, declined 9.85% qoq and 1.82% yoy. Operating profit margin for the current quarter at 35.89% contracted by 365 bps qoq and 310 bps yoy.



For the year ended March 31, 2016, the company reported consolidated net profit of Rs. 1,165.78 crore, down by 2.23% yoy. It's consolidated revenue for the current period stood at Rs. 4,092.80 crore, registering growth of 4.81% yoy.



Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd's consolidated core operating profit for the current period stood at Rs. 1,680.69 crore, increasing by 8.38% yoy. Operating margin for the current period at 39.86% expanded by 209 bps yoy.



On standalone basis, the company reported net profit of Rs.183.84 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, registering decline of 21.42% qoq and 8.75% yoy. Its revenue stood at Rs. 865.12 crore, declining 2.87% qoq but grew by 5.72% yoy.



Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd's operating profit of Rs. 298.28 crore for the quarter, declined 14.95% qoq and 2.65% yoy. Operating profit margin for the current quarter at 34.48% contracted by 489 bps qoq and 296 bps yoy.



For the year ended March 31, 2016, the company reported standalone net profit of Rs. 928.85 crore, down by 12.21% yoy. It's standalone revenue for the current period stood at Rs. 3,486.81 crore, registering growth of 4.36% yoy.



Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd's core operating profit for the current period stood at Rs. 1,364.37 crore, increasing by 4.86% yoy. Operating margin for the current period at 38.2% contracted by 74 bps yoy.

Result Highlights: (Rs. in crore)

Reported Results IIFL Estimates Variance (%) Consolidated Revenue 1012.99 1046.5 [3.20] Consolidated Net Profit 224.36 269.68 [16.81]



Bloomberg estimated the companys consolidated net profit at Rs. 320.80 crore.



Management Comments:Corporate Action: Oracle Financial Services Software at its meeting held on May 11, 2016 has recommended a final dividend of Rs. 100/- per equity share of face value of Rs. 5 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2016, subject to the approval of the members of the Company at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.



Stock Commentary:



Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 3481.05, down by 20.3 points or 0.58% from its previous closing of Rs. 3501.35 on the BSE.



The scrip opened at Rs. 3500 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 3501.85 and Rs. 3445.4 respectively. So far 6960(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 29717.59 crore.



The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 5 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 4446.6 on 19-Aug-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 3106 on 25-Feb-2016. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 3588.2 and Rs. 3443.3 respectively.



The promoters holding in the company stood at 74.3 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 17.43 % and 8.27 % respectively.
Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 2958.15, up by Rs. 88.95 or 3.1% from its previous closing of Rs. 2869.2 on the BSE.The companys standalone revenue stood at Rs. 2,356.80 crore, down 12.34% yoy and 2.96% qoq.Tyche Industries hit 20% upper circuit on BSE. The company has received USFDA approval for its API manufacturing facility located in Andhra Pradesh.OBC slipped 1.4% to Rs.84 on BSE. The bank reported standalone net profit of Rs.21.62 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. It's Net Interest Income (NII) for the quarter stood at Rs. 1,353.69 crore, clocking growth of 4.32% yoy and 3.39% qoq.Bharti Infratel Ltd has announced that the Company has fixed June 16, 2016 as the Record Date for the purpose of Buy-back of equity shares. Bharti Infratel Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 374.9, up by Rs. 4.45 or 1.2% from its previous closing of Rs. 370.45 on the BSE.Rajesh Exports Ltd has announced that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on June 13, 2016, to mull an acquisition in the Middle East. Rajesh Exports Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 573.65, up by Rs. 11.65 or 2.07% from its previous closing of Rs. 562 on the BSE.Jubilant Life Sciences stock rallied by 4% at Rs. 393. Jubilant Life Sciences and Cyclopharm mutually agree to terminate term sheet for Technegas licensing agreement.TVS Srichakra Ltd stock was up by 3% at Rs. 2533.The companys revenue stood at Rs. 525.24 crore, up 12.96% yoy and 3.25% qoq.Sutlej Textiles Ltd stock was higher by 9% at Rs. 578. The company reported a 78 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 48.81 crore in the March quarter. The company had registered a net profit of Rs 27.42 crore for the corresponding period a year ago.Monsanto India Ltd stock was higher by 8% at Rs. 2220. The company may pull its biotech soybean seeds out of Argentina, according to reports.Asian Paints Ltd stock was up by 2% at Rs. 926.The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 3,971.28 crore, up 12.34% yoy but down 4.54% qoq.
The scrip opened at Rs. 2105.2 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 2425 and Rs. 2105.2 respectively. So far 959794(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 3536.96 crore.

The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 10 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 3376.55 on 24-Jul-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 1520 on 11-Apr-2016. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 2115 and Rs. 1731.5 respectively.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 72.14 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 7.04 % and 20.82 % respectively.

The stock is currently trading above its 200 DMA.

Monsanto India Ltd stock ended higher by 17% at Rs. 2405. The company may pull its biotech soybean seeds out of Argentina, according to reports.
The Indian equity market ended with handsome gains amid a complete see-saw day of trades ahead of the CPI and IIP data which is scheduled to be released later today.Indices fell sharply in the first half only to promptly recover from days low. The V-shaped recovery was led by IT, realty, banking, oil & gas and metals stocks which took the Nifty to close above the 7900 mark for the first time since April 27, 2016. Even the midcap and smallcap stocks participated in todays smart upswing.Dr Reddys Labs registered 85.62% fall in consolidated net profit figures at Rs 74.60 crore for the quarter under review. It had posted a net profit of Rs 518.80 crore in the same quarter last year. Consolidated net sales slipped 2.95% yoy at Rs 3,756.2 during Jan-March 2016 period. Net sales of the company stood at Rs 3,870.40 crore in the corresponding period last year. Commenting on the pharma majors results, Amar Ambani, Head of Research, IIFL, said, Dr Reddys' reported a large miss across the board in Q4 FY16 with revenue decline of 5.3% qoq driven by 25% qoq decline in emerging market generic sales, probably linked to currency depreciation. Margins declined sharply ~450bps as gross margin fell qoq on lower US (-2.4% qoq), Europe (-9.2% qoq) and India generics revenues (-9.3% qoq).Bosch, ICICI Bank, Dr. Reddy's, Hindalco, Asian Paints, SBI, TCS and Tata Motors were among the gainers on NSE, whereas Aurobindo Pharma, Eicher Motors, M&M, HUL, Axis Bank and L&T were among the losers today.Finally, the BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 193 points at 25,790. The BSE Sensex opened at 25,685 touched an intra-day high of 25,827 and low of 25,620.The NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 52 points at 7,900.40. The NSE Nifty opened at 7,871.45 hitting a high of 7,916 and low of 7,850.Meanwhile, The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a new bankruptcy code to address corporate debts and improve the ease of doing business. Recently, IMF stuck to its guns on India and forecast the country to grow at 7.5% for 2016-17.The India VIX (Volatility) index was up 3.33% at 16.9625. The BSE Midcap index and Smallcap index closed higher.On the global front, China's Shanghai Composite index and Hang Seng closed marginally lower.In Europe, the FTSE 100 is trading higher by 0.14%. DAX and the CAC 40 are trading up 1% each.The Indian Rupee was trading down 3 paise at 66.59 per US dollar.Out of 1,810 stocks traded on the NSE, 527 declined and 995 advanced today.OBC slipped by 1% and closed at Rs.84.30 on BSE. The bank reported standalone net profit of Rs.21.62 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. It's Net Interest Income (NII) for the quarter stood at Rs. 1,353.69 crore, clocking growth of 4.32% yoy and 3.39% qoq.Rajesh Exports zoomed 6.9% to Rs.582.75 after the company announced that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on June 13, 2016, to mull an acquisition in the Middle East.Jubilant Life Sciences rallied 2.3% to Rs. 387.55. Jubilant Life Sciences and Cyclopharm mutually agree to terminate term sheet for Technegas licensing agreement.Sutlej Textiles climbed 12.3% to Rs. 594. The company reported a 78 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 48.81 crore in the March quarter. The company had registered a net profit of Rs 27.42 crore for the corresponding period a year ago.Monsanto India galloped 17.4% to Rs. 2,405. The company may pull its biotech soybean seeds out of Argentina, according to reports.Asian Paints gained 2.1% to Rs. 926.The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 3,971.28 crore, up 12.34% yoy but down 4.54% qoq.A total of 53 stocks registered a fresh 52-week high in trades today, whereas 24 stocks touched a new 52-week low on the NSE.Allsec Technologies Limited, Andhra Sugars Limited, Asian Paints Limited, Atul Limited, Bajaj Finance Limited, Banswara Syntex Limited, Bayer Cropscience Limited, Carborundum Universal Limited, Cineline India Limited, DCM Shriram Limited, Deccan Cements Limited, Diamond Power Infra Ltd, Emmbi Industries Limited, Equitas Holdings Limited, Future Lifestyle Fashions Limited, Greenply Industries Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, Indiabulls Real Estate Limited, Indiabulls Wholesale Services Limited, IndusInd Bank Limited, IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, ITD Cementation India Limited, Jayant Agro Organics Limited, Kakatiya Cement Sugar & Industries Limited, Keynote Corporate Services Limited, Khandwala Securities Limited, KRBL Limited, Maithan Alloys, Manappuram Finance Limited, Mawana Sugars Limited, Meghmani Organics Limited, Mohit Industries Limited, Mold-Tek Packaging Limited, Navin Fluorine International Limited, The Oudh Sugar Mills Limited, Petronet LNG Limited, RattanIndia Infrastructure Limited, Ruchira Papers Limited, Shilpi Cable Technologies Limited, Shirpur Gold Refinery Limited, Shree Cements Limited, Store One Retail India Limited, Supreme Petrochem Limited, Supreme Industries Limited, Suryalakshmi Cotton Mills Limited, TPL Plastech Limited, Triveni Engineering & Industries Limited, Ugar Sugar Works Limited, Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries Limited, Uttam Sugar Mills Limited, V.S.T Tillers Tractors Limited, West Coast Paper Mills Limited, Yes Bank were some of the prominent stocks to log a fresh 52-week high.Austral Coke & Projects Limited, Birla Cotsyn (India) Limited, DB (International) Stock Brokers Limited, Ess Dee Aluminium Limited, First Winner Industries Limited, Future Retail Limited, Future Retail Limited, Impex Ferro Tech Limited, Jindal Photo Limited, Jaypee Infratech Limited, KDDL Limited, Kemrock Industries and Exports Limited, NEPC India Limited, Noesis Industries Limited, Palred Technologies Limited, Prakash Steelage Limited, Rainbow Papers Limited, Raj Rayon Industries Limited, Som Distilleries & Breweries Limited, Shrenuj & Company Limited, Surana Corporation Limited, Visesh Infotecnics Limited, Visagar Polytex Limited, Zicom Electronic Security Systems were some of the notable stocks to record new 52-week low.
PNB Housing Finance Limited the fifth largest housing finance company of the country, today announced financial performance for the year ending March 31, 2016. Continuing its impressive growth run, the company posted a net profit of Rs. 326 crores as against Rs. 196 crores in FY2014-15. PNB Housings loan book stood at Rs. 27,177 crores.Commenting on the performance,Limited, said, The results are encouraging and at par with our expectations. FY2016 has been a year of high significance as we attained the status of one of the leading housing finance companies surpassing AUM of INR 27,000 crores. Customer centricity remains the foundation of our robust growth which has been aptly complemented by one of the lowest NPAs in the industry indicating the quality of our assets. The past fiscal was dedicated to expansion as we ventured into new markets with 9 more branches taking the total tally to 48. With strong fundamentals of the Indian economy and a conducive environment for the mortgage industry, the velocity for the sector seems to be gaining and this shall provide huge impetus for PNB Housing to continue its growth momentum on an upward curve.For the year ended March 31, 2016, profit after tax stood at INR 326 crore as compared to INR 196 crore in the previous year, representing a growth of 66%Profit before tax stood at Rs. 503 crore as compared to INR 296 crore in the previous year, a growth of 70%The company sanctioned loans worth INR 23,011 crores witnessing a surge of 53% and disbursements were INR 14,456 crores representing a growth of 53% during FY2015-16.As at March 31, 2016, Asset under Management stood at INR 27,555 crore as against INR 17,297 crore in the previous year.The company has maintained a well-balance portfolio mix where the exposure to housing loan, non-housing loan and construction finance is 61%, 30% and 9% respectively.PNB Housing has successfully deployed a balanced business sourcing mix where 55% of the total portfolio is being sourced from in-house channels.The total number of customers as on March 31, 2016 was over 1,70,000 including loan asset and deposit customers.As at March 31, 2016, the Loan Portfolio stood at INR 27,177 crore as against INR 16,819 crore in the previous year.Net Interest Margin for the year ended March 31, 2016 was 3.08% as compared to 3.21% in the previous year.The focus has persistently been on profitable and sustainable business framework. Besides low NPAs, another outstanding achievement has been NIL NPAs in the segment dealing with loans to real estate developers for construction finance. Gross NPAs were at 0.22% of gross advances as against 0.20 % as on March 31, 2015. Net NPAs were at 0.14% as on March 31, 2016, as against 0.07% as on March 31, 2015.Cost to Income RatioCost to Income ratio for the year stood at 25.21% as compared to 30.94% in previous yearThe company has exerted higher thrust on south and west regions through strategic expansion in these areas along with continuous extension in north India. The Company has opened new branches in Vishakapatnam, Vijaywada, Hyderabad, Nasik, Surat, Thrissur, Vadodara, Bhiwadi and Faridabad during FY2015-16.Repositioned PNB Housing as a new age contemporary housing finance company through a focused brand campaign citing convenient, hassle free services for its customers.
Rajesh Exports Ltd stock ended 4% higher at Rs. 582. The company has announced that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on June 13, 2016, to mull an acquisition in the Middle East.

The scrip opened at Rs. 564.95 and touched a high and low of Rs. 587.95 and Rs. 562.1 respectively. A total of 458586(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 16595.86 crore.

The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 1 touched a 52 week high of Rs. 745.5 on 18-Feb-2016 and a 52 week low of Rs. 218.1 on 04-Jun-2015. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 579.85 and Rs. 550 respectively.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 53.91 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 20.96 % and 25.13 % respectively.

The stock traded below its 200 DMA.
Rajesh Exports Ltd has announced that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on June 13, 2016, to mull an acquisition in the Middle East.

The scrip opened at Rs. 564.95 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 573 and Rs. 562.1 respectively. So far 42764(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 16595.86 crore.

The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 1 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 745.5 on 18-Feb-2016 and a 52 week low of Rs. 218.1 on 04-Jun-2015. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 579.85 and Rs. 550 respectively.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 53.91 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 20.96 % and 25.13 % respectively.

The stock is currently trading below its 200 DMA.

The acquisition has been proposed to further expand the global footprint of the Company in the same line of business after the successful acquisition of Valcambi, the Switzerland based world's largest gold refinery.
Breastfeeding or bottle feeding? Pick up a crying baby or let them cry it out? Public school or private? Mothers begin making decisions for their children during pregnancy, and they never stop. While womens different parenting positions can be a source of contention among mothers, there is some common ground all can agree on.

Though their motherhood experiences have differed from one another, Indianapolis mothers Tiffany Cooley and TaNisha Lewis have a lot in common, such as how they describe their experiences with motherhood thus far. When asked to describe her motherhood in one word, Cooley said gift; Lewis said blessing.

Becoming mothers

I cant say that I always knew I wanted to be a mother, to be perfectly honest. I thought Id move to New York and have a penthouse and become a jazz dancer, Cooley said. As I got older, I started to wonder what (motherhood) would be like.

Cooleys eventual journey to motherhood was a dangerous one, as she came close to tragedy during both of her pregnancies and deliveries. She calls her 8-year-old daughter and her 2-year-old son her miracle babies.

When she was 31 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Cooley realized something wasnt right.

Something told me to get up and pray, in the middle of the night, she said. I got up and began to feel this really terrible pain.

After arriving at the hospital by ambulance, doctors could barely hear her daughters faint heartbeat. Cooleys 2-pound baby girl was delivered by Caesarian shortly after.

They said she was seconds away from death. Thats how close it was. I had a complete placental abruption, so she wasnt getting any oxygen.

Years later, when Cooley was pregnant with her son, everything was on track. Shed had all of her ultrasounds and was readying herself for birth when her doctors office called to confirm an ultrasound appointment that had been mistakenly left on the books after Cooley previously rescheduled. She decided to go in for the scan.

By chance, Cooley had been reading about an extremely rare complication called placenta accreta. At her ultrasound, Cooley asked the technician about the condition.

They kind of laughed about it, like Why would we be looking for that?

But they saw something abnormal on the films. Cooleys placenta had grown through her uterus and attached itself to her bladder. Instead of proceeding with her planned delivery, she was taken in for a major surgery.

Had I not gone in for that ultrasound, they said I probably wouldve bled to death (while delivering), she said.

Lewis says she always knew she wanted to be a mom, and I always knew I wanted a lot of kids. She is now raising five children. Three of her children are biological daughters ages 10, 18 and 20. She is also the adoptive mother of her sisters two children  a 10-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy.

Though shes completely happy with her family and how they came to be together, Lewis said not everyone understands.

We have a blended family, and people believe and see what they want to see. Its not easy having children who are not biologically yours. Ive been a mother to many, and once I take you in, I dont separate  But people have said, Thats not your daughter, thats your niece. Or things like that.

She also experienced issues with state regulations while she was a foster parent.

What Ive run into as a foster parent and an adoptive parent, from other races, is maybe a misunderstanding of the way we raise our children, she said.

At one point, Lewis said she downsized to a three-bedroom home. Her two oldest daughters shared a bedroom, her nephew had his own room, and the two youngest girls (who were babies at the time) shared a room with Lewis, who was single.

When the caseworker came in, she couldnt understand that. I know there are several rules and regulations, but we were fine with that, Lewis said. In the Black community, we can be very close-knit. If Grandma needs to be taken care of, well make the dining room a bedroom. Thats just how we are.

Lewis ended up having to move to a home with more bedrooms to satisfy the state standards.

Confronting challenges

Even though shes a licensed parent educator, Cooley said she still cant escape the worry that shes not good enough.

Its a daily struggle, and youre always wondering, Could I have done better? Am I getting it right? she said.

Lewis said the wide range of ages among her children gives her a unique opportunity to do what many other parents cant.

I notice a lot of grandparents kind of using the grandchildren to go back and correct things, and Im able to do that with my younger daughters, she said. A lot of the mistakes I made as a young mom  I had two children before I was 21  Im able to look at some of the issues and have those not be issues with my younger daughters.

One of the biggest motherhood challenges both Cooley and Lewis mentioned is finding balance. Cooley has a consulting company, and one of her services is helping women find balance in their personal lives and careers, but its still a struggle.

I make a very delicate decision to spend a certain amount of time with my children, and that means sacrificing some things, Cooley said. I just dont believe God gave me these two miracle children for me not to be in their lives.

Lewis, who is a massage therapist and esthetician at an Indianapolis salon, said shes learned the importance of spending time as a group, but also spending time with each individual child.

Ive had to realize each child is an individual in so many different ways, so I have to divide myself up to fit each child, she said.

Tough topics

Lewis strives to keep the lines of communication open with her children, especially when it comes to discussing tough topics, like how the world can be an unfriendly place for people of color.

Times have changed since I was a little girl. Theres almost no preparation for that, she said. I try to give them information and teach them things without emotion, but sometimes you just have to be honest. Ive told them there are times that, because we are Black people, we will get the shorter end of the stick, or we will be prejudged. But I try to stay away from that.

Cooley takes a similar approach with her daughter, being honest about the world but encouraging confidence.

The truth is, we do live in a society where we have these issues, but I just teach her to do her part in making sure she is confident in who she is and that, whatever stereotypes are there, overcome them and shatter them with knowledge, your ability to communicate, your ability to show your worth, Cooley said.

Before I purchased white dolls, I had to purchase a Black doll on purpose, because I had to show her that what you see on TV and what the media tells you is beautiful, you have to first recognize that you, too, are included in this.

Cooley said shell take a different approach with her son, something Lewis is already doing.

With my nephew, because hes a Black male, I deal with him much more. I tell him he has to be aware of where hes at, he has to be aware of what hes wearing, Lewis said. He has dreads. When he first got those, I had to tell him, You are free to have this hairstyle, but some things may come with that, and you have to really be mindful of where you are and who youre with.

Still, Lewis worries.

Im very afraid, every day. My biggest prayer is for him, as a young Black man, that he is not perceived in the wrong way or prejudged, she said. Some nights, if I watch the news and my older girls are out and things are going on, Ill tell them you need to be at home or in a house, not driving around.

She also tells her nephew to be wary of walking around in groups and wearing a hoodie.

He says hes not (afraid), but I know hes affected by some of the things weve seen, like Trayvon Martin. I know those things have made a difference in who he is, Lewis said.

Cooleys son is only 2 years old, but shes already thinking ahead to some of the issues hell face as a Black male.

It makes me nervous for him to grow up in this society, she said. We just live in a world where he does have to be more cognitive than his white friend about being pulled over and about certain things.

Like Lewis, Cooley mentioned her sons hair as a potential source of trouble.

My son has long curly hair, and I wanted him to have dreads, but I understand theres a stereotype that says youre a criminal or a thug if you wear your hair a certain kind of way  There are limitations on him being creative in himself.

No regrets

Even with the challenges of motherhood, neither Lewis nor Cooley would trade it for the world.

Its unbelievable. I always thought I would love my kid to death, but its a thousand times what you even imagine, Cooley said. It completely changes your life. It defines you in a different aspect than what you probably ever imagined. It changes your decisions. Before, you didnt mind driving faster down the street, but you get more nervous and more protective of your own life, because you know they need you.

Lewis said: I believe God gives us children as our gifts on earth, and when you look at them and can see yourself, they look like you, they laugh like you, they walk like you  thats amazing. Ive been given the honor to not only raise my children, but I was found fit to raise somebody elses children. Thats a blessing.

And theyre both constantly reminded how lucky they are.

No matter how tough your day is, when those little faces come, and the funny things they say and do, nothing is comparable, Cooley said.

Occasionally, Lewis thinks about what her life would be like without children, but she is at peace with the life shes chosen.

Im just grateful. Sometimes I think if I didnt have children, I could probably be in France or Jamaica, but then I see people who dont have children, and Im like, Wow, they dont know what theyre missing.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build   Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NIV)

After months of planning involving dozens of Indianapolis faith leaders, the time has come to build. With a recent luncheon at Marten House, the Believers United in Local Development (BUILD) program officially kicked off, led by BUILD President Pastor Ronald Covington Sr., of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

Were here today to be a blessing to our young people, Covington said at the launch event, met by a round of applause from the crowd. All of us know whats going on in our community  We have a lot of young people who really dont see any hope in life. We know jobs come and go, but if you can learn a trade or a skill, you can make a living. Thats what were about; not just rehabbing houses in our community, but were here to restore and rehab individuals lives.

Covington and his colleagues hope to achieve that goal by offering education and training (with some Biblical wisdom thrown in) for youth as young as 15 to foster an interest in building trades.

In an address at the luncheon, Rev. David Hampton  Indianapolis deputy mayor of neighborhood engagement  praised the program and the people who have worked to make it happen. Hampton said he expects the BUILD program will be a path to economic justice, which ultimately is the path to social justice.

Hampton referred to a story from the third chapter of the book of Daniel in which three boys are thrown into a fiery furnace after refusing to kneel before an idol, believing one should only kneel before God.

(The boys) refused to adapt to an unhealthy environment, Hampton said. What the BUILD program does is help our young people refuse to adapt to an unhealthy environment.

Hampton also turned to science to elaborate on his hopes for the BUILD program, discussing what marine biologists have termed small-tank syndrome.

Fish that have the capacity to grow maybe 6 feet can remain 6 inches if you confine them to a tank that stunts their growth. Theyll only grow to the capacity of their environment, Hampton explained. With our young people, we have to give them bigger tanks. Thats what the BUILD program does.

Devon Doss, executive director of Indiana Plan  a pre-apprenticeship building trades program geared toward getting minorities and women into skilled trade jobs  said he knows personally the benefit of finding a bigger tank.

(BUILD is) a good program, but I wish you guys wouldve thought of it about 15 years ago, Doss said with a laugh. Nevertheless, its here, and Im glad to be a part of it.

The Haughville native and Ben Davis graduate said when he was growing up, he and his friends would go outside to look for something to do.

Id go out to my front porch, and I could go a couple doors down if I wanted to buy a gun. I could walk maybe a block or two the other way if I wanted to learn how to sell drugs. I could go a couple blocks to the south if I wanted to learn how to steal cars, Doss said.

After a brief stint at Vincennes University on a track scholarship, Doss dropped out of college and came home, taking a job at a gas station making $5 per hour. When he heard about Indiana Plan, he decided to take action. Three weeks later, he was working in a construction build making $13.65 an hour.

About a year later, Doss began an electrical apprenticeship and is now a journeyman. He marvels at where he started and where he is now, able to support a family with his more than $75,000 annual income.

Doss hopes the BUILD program will reach those kids who are out looking for something, like he used to be.

This is a great program that will recruit some of our younger people and get them ready for the Indiana Plan, he said. I support this program 100 percent.

Pastor James Anyike from Scott United Methodist Church, who is secretary of BUILD, shared extensive details about the BUILD curriculum, which has been in the works since the fall.

The program will begin May 28 and run through Nov. 19 and will be divided into three modules. BUILD hopes to have 50 students  25 students ages 1517 and 25 students 18 and older.

We talked about putting an upper age limit, but we couldnt come to an agreement, Anyike said. There may be someone whos in their 30s who could use a program like this one.

Each class session will be held on a Saturday morning and last approximately three hours.

The first module will focus on construction of the mind, body and soul, including a bit of genealogical work so they can have a sense of their foundation, where they come from, Anyike said.

Studies have been done that show young people who know their heritage and know their family tree are ones who have a better chance to do well in school and in life, he added.

Basic employability skills, time management and conflict resolution will also be taught.

The second module will introduce students to the basics of building, including using tools, reading blueprints, understanding math and measurements used in building and more. Individual sessions will also be dedicated to exploring individual trades, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, among others.

In the third module, instructors will seek to motivate students on a deeper level through the leadership lessons of Nehemiah and his work rebuilding Jerusalem.

We want to hear young people inspired saying, Im here because I want to build something with my life, something with my community, something with my own two hands. We use that Nehemiah story to do that.

Instructors will then set students loose to design and implement their own plans on a job site.

After an assessment and successful completion of the program, the BUILD students will participate in a graduation ceremony.

Im hoping well have to rent out one of those large rooms (for graduation), because therell be so many people who want to watch the miracle happen, Anyike said.

Regardless of graduation turnout, Anyike has high hopes for the program.

Since we serve an awesome God, we should expect awesome things to happen as a result of what we are doing with BUILD.

If youd like to help the BUILD program, organizers are looking for mentors, contractors and qualified trades instructors. Monetary donations and property donations (or property sold at a reasonable price) are also sought. Get in touch with BUILD organizers at buildinitiative.net or (317) 917-8024, ext. 3.



BUILD curriculum

MODULE 1: Basic construction of building the mind, body and soul of our young people  May 28July 9

Session 1: Know thyself (past, present, future)

Session 2: Physical and mental health

Session 3: Building community, financial literacy

Session 4: Conflict resolution, coping skills, communication, time management, employability skills

Session 5: On-site job shadowing

MODULE 2: Basics about building  July 16Oct. 1

Session 1: Intro to hand tool and power tool use, building material handling

Session 2: Construction math and measurements, blueprints and construction drawing

Session 3: Basics of plumbing

Session 4: Basics of electrical work

Session 5: Basics of cement work

Session 6: Basics of rigging

Session 7: Basics of carpentry

Session 8: Basics of janitorial/construction cleanup

Session 9: Basics of landscaping

Session 10: Basics of bricklaying and siding

Session 11: Basics of roofing

Session 12: Obtaining permits, homeland security, OSHA training, first aid/CPR training, job safety

MODULE 3: Beginning to build an actual project  Oct. 8Nov. 19

Lessons from Nehemiah

Site assignments/plan of action. Students will develop plans for the actual hands-on work.

The builds
1. For months now it's been rumoured that Lulia Vantur has been dating Salman Khan. In fact, the buzz is also that Bhai might eventually settle down and get married this time! Well, we don't know about that. But Lulia was recently seen mixing with Salman's family, especially her mom. In fact, they were recently spotted on a dinner date as well, after Salman Khan wrapped up the shooting for Sultan.

2. Newly wed couple Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover seem to be having a really gala time at their honeymoon in Maldives. And the couple has been posting pictures on their social media accounts from there. Recently Bipasha posted a picture of towel art from her hotel room but got hate comments on it. So she gave it back to her haters, questioning that just because she's married she can't like towel art. We hear you Bipasha.

instagram

3. Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon have been shooting in Budapest for quite a while now for their upcoming flick Raabta. And the buzz is that they have come rather close during the shooting, especially since Sushant has been confiding into her regarding his recent breakup with longtime girlfriend Ankita Lokhande. Both of them have been posting some pretty cute pictures together as well!

Got a severe jab from my punjaban costar during rehearsals ...Way to go Sanon ..#Round2 @kritisanon A photo posted by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on Apr 25, 2016 at 7:40am PDT

When you're doing stunts you need an angel... My fab stunt coordinator's daughter #Tara #angels #stunts #Raabta #filmshoot #maddockfilms #mylifeinbudapest A photo posted by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on May 7, 2016 at 4:56am PDT

My new gym student.. Or is it the other way round @sushantsinghrajput ?  A photo posted by Kriti (@kritisanon) on Apr 20, 2016 at 5:36am PDT

4. Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's Jagga Jasoos has been getting delayed for a while. Especially after the couple's break-up recently, the film's fate looked bleak. But thankfully both of them are back shooting together for the film. And this footage of them while shooting for a song for the flick definitely proves that they're thorough professionals.

Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor shooting songs for jagga jasoos in marrakech Morocco  #jaggajasoos A video posted by  KATRINA KAIF  (@katrinakaifdaily) on May 11, 2016 at 4:35pm PDT

5. We all know that Priyanka Chopra has bagged her first Hollywood film Baywatch, where she is playing a baddie. And while we've earlier seen pictures of her shooting with Dwayne Johnson, another still of her shooting for the movie is out. And this time, she's pictured with her director Seth Gordon.
thehindu

Irrfan Khan is one actor, who can bring audience to the theatres with just his name. Hence, there isn't any actor in the industry who doesn't want to share screen space with him. He is undoubtedly one of the best actors we have today. But very rarely do we hear Irrfan himself expressing his desire to work with a certain someone. And just when you thought Kangana Ranaut is making news for all the wrong reasons, we give you a happy one. Irrfan has said that he wishes to work in a Kangana film, even if it means playing his "heroine". Yes, you heard that right!

huffingtonpost

Earlier there were reports that Irrfan and Kangana would come together for director Sai Kabir's film Divine Lovers. But Kangana had to walk out of the project in December last year, citing date issues. Now, Zareen Khan has replaced the Queen actress. During the trailer launch of his latest film Madaari, Irrfan said he will not mind playing a 'heroine' in a film with the National Award-winning actress Kangana. Divine Lovers revolves round the lower middle-class section of society and is set in the heartland of India. The film is an adventure comedy, whose shoot starts in September.

"I don't know if I would be able to do Divine Lovers or not as it comes and goes. Now, Kangana is out of reach. I am ok playing a heroine in a film, where Kangana would be the hero."

mumbainewsnetwork

Irrfan's upcoming Madaari looks intriguing enough to make our wait difficult. The 49-year-old actor who made a rare appearance with his wife and son at the event added that his better-half Sutapa Sikdar is his biggest critique, and inspiration too. The couple met each other while studying at the National School of Drama, and have been married for more than a two decades now.

"Our working relationship is not that amicable. When we work together, we fight more. But she is the best critique of my work. She has a better understanding of my performance. She has inborn talent. If she says it is a good performance, I blindly accept it. So she has been kind of an inspiration for me to shape me as an actor."

yahoo

Irrfan, who keeps surprising us with each of his new projects is hands full with films of various genres. He is also in talks with a Marathi filmmaker Pramod Gore for a Bollywood biopic on the late Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Bring it on Irrfan. We love you!
indiaexchange.org

Amitabh Bachchan is in for some trouble. The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a plea by the income tax authorities challenging a Bombay high court order that had permitted him tax relief in earnings made from his blockbuster television show "Kaun Banega Crorepati".

In a setback to the actor, the SC allowed the IT department to reopen a tax case against him pertaining to his income for the assessment year 2001-02. A bench of the apex court directed a fresh assessment of tax liability of Big B. Restoring the income tax commissioner's order, the bench set aside two separate appeals of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and of the Bombay high court. It further deliberated on various provisions of the tax law to allow the appeal of the Income Tax department whose plea was dismissed by the High Court.

indianexpress

Amitabh had disclosed Rs. 14.99 crore as his income in his original returns filed on October 13, 2002 for the assessment year 2001-02. He later revised his returns showing his income as Rs 8.11 crore, claiming some expenses as deduction, like security guards and agencies fee. In his re-revised returns, he made another claim of additional expenses of 30% of the gross professional receipts (Rs 3.17 crore). Thought his assessment officer agree with him, senior tax officials had some doubt about these changes, citing loss of revenue. The tax officials will now investigate the discrepancies related to his re-revised tax return as tax assessing officer failed to verify sources of his expenses. The Income Tax department says the actor owes Rs. 1.66 crores in taxes for KBC for the said year.

Knowing how successful KBC was, as it also pulled Big B out from the immense debts his company ABCL was facing, the tax case and the order of the SC might not give him respite any time soon.
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie's philanthropist soul is now shared by her own kids who helped their famous mom adopt a Cambodian family and fund their private education.

Getty

The Cambodian kids had approached Jolie's kids while begging for dollars in their hometown Siem Reap, reports Daily Mail. Jolie's daughters struck up a deep friendship with the Cambodian kids, following which the actress got quite inspired to adopt them and fund their education.

Coleman-Rayner

Jolie's kids struck an immediate chord with Leida Shoun (16) and her siblings after they met in Cambodia where the actress was shooting her directorial, First They Killed My Father.

Coleman-Raynar

The family of 12 brothers and sisters, aged between 19 years and 16 months, live in one of the country's slums. Jolie's adoptive Cambodian kids are now studying in one of the best schools in the area, New York International School Cambodia.
At the 63rd National Awards last year, a young team led by 24-year-old director Varun Tandon won a Special Mention for Direction at the Awards for short film, Syaahi. The jury recognised the film for its conglomeration of sense and sensibilities depicted through the innocence of a young mind.

When asked about the thought behind the film, Varun said he wanted to take on something simple. "I had a script in mind, and found a bunch of passionate people who believed in the idea. There was no target audience, or any such thing. It was a very personal process, and things, eventually, just fell into place. We had no idea it would win a National Award." Consequently, Syaahi is set in the hills, and tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy, his relationships, and the lessons he learns.

facebook.com/syaahi2016

The Syaahi team hopes that the win at the National Awards means that films like Syaahi, that dont follow conventions of duration and subject, will gain popularity among a wider audience. The win could potentially have given Indian cinema its youngest ever director to win the award. "It's been tough since there are not many avenues where one can showcase a short film. But with this win, people actually want to see the film. And that's the biggest validation," says Varun.

Varun Tandon

Before Syaahi, Varun worked on Gulcharrey, a 13-minute film shot guerilla style in the torrential Mumbai monsoons on a budget of Rs. 6,000. In 2014, Gulcharrey gained popularity on YouTube gathering over 1 million views. Subsequently, Varuns first feature film script, Anjaan Gali Gumnam Nagar, got selected for the prestigious NFDC Scriptlab and gave him the opportunity to be mentored by Ritesh Batra, writer, director of The Lunchbox.

Varun Tandon

But making a film of this scale could not have been an inexpensive affair. Varun's sister Krati was pursuing her MBA at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad when Syaahi went into pre-production. "Our previous film Gulcharrey went viral online gaining over 1 million views on YouTube in 2014 and NDTV selected the film for a prime time screening and an interview with Nagesh Kukunoor. I was a student at ISB during this time and organised a screening followed by a talk about our experiences in film making, the art and, given it was a business school talk, its business. The event generated a lot of excitement a lot of buzz on campus. So when the script for Syaahi was finalised later in the year, I reached out to interested students with the opportunity to co-produce it with us."

In the process, Krati gave the film 8 first time co-producers!

Varun Tandon

Syaahi was shot in a remote location in Uttrakhand in the summer of 2015, with a largely local crew and a tight 6-day shooting schedule. Making a short film that is, 30 minutes long, with no obvious avenue of a film release, took a team with unquestioning belief in the films script and vision. The film is currently being screened at festivals around the world and will be up online soon.

Watch this amazing film right here:
Haryana couple Daljinder Kaur, 72, and her husband Mohinder Singh Gill, 79, may be celebrating their bundle of joy in the dusk of their lives, but IVF experts and gynaecologists in Bengaluru are frowning on the process, terming it completely unethical.

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According to the rulebook of the Indian Council of Medical Registry (ICMR), the combined age of a couple aspiring for a child through in vitro fertilization should not exceed 100 years. "The Gill couple has a combined age of 150 years, and it is impossible they could have had the baby through their own gametes, as the mother experienced menopause 20 years ago. There is no chance she could produce her own eggs. A man's sperm at the age of 78-79 cannot be of fertile quality. This sends the wrong message to society, that anyone can give birth to a child at any age. We condemn such a practice," says Dr Bina Vasan, past president of the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), Karnataka chapter.

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After 46 years of marriage, the Haryana couple had almost given up hope of ever having a child. Media reports mention the couple had the child through their own eggs and sperms. The infant was delivered on April 19, 2016.

Doctors point out that it sets unrealistic expectations among couples yearning for kids. "It perhaps makes a great headline, but we are living in the real world. Counselling is a must for couples who aspire for IVF. As a mother grows older, there are chances that she passes on comorbidity to the baby as well. We need to consider the welfare of the unborn child.

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A mother in her 70s can face cardiac and bone-related problems that can affect the baby. While working in the UK, we had a case where a 55-year-old grandmother delivered a child to help her daughter as a surrogate mother. The daughter's eggs were used but injected in the mother's uterus," says Dr Manisha Singh, HoD, reproductive medicine and andrology .

She currently has a 47-year-old patient who married late, and is in the first trimester of her pregnancy ."A woman can still have a baby in her late 40s," she adds.

Dr Devika Gunasheela, infertility specialist and managing director of Gunasheela Hospital, says she would not have taken up the Gill case. "As doctors, we should think about the child as well. In this case, parental interaction with the child becomes very difficult because of their age. As a mother, what is her moral obligation to the child?" she questions.

According to Dr Kamini Rao, founder and medical director of Milann, and pioneer in the field of assisted reproduction, it's mere societal pressure which drove the senior citizen to become a mother.

"It's a holistic statement to say God will look after the baby. We should not bring orphans into this world. How is it possible to get her own fertile eggs at the age of 72? We, the members of ISAR India, have been discussing this on our WhatsApp group to condemn such unrealistic, unethical practices," said Dr Rao.
It's an exciting time to be alive with technology making lives simpler. But the ones who are really benefiting from technological enhancements are those who aren't as lucky as everyone else. Here's how some companies, with their uber cool gadgets, are helping people with hearing problems communicate seamlessly with the rest of the world.



1. Smart gloves

Youtube

Two really smart students, Thomas Pryor and Navid Azodi from the University of Washington, have invented these gloves that translate the American Sign Language into speech. In real time. Taking things a notch above the rest, the glove monitors the person's hand and wrist movements and sends the readings via Bluetooth to a computer program written by Thomas. The program would then translate these into speech. To make things even more interesting than they already are, the students are also planning to get this program as an app for smartphones so you don't have to lug your laptop everywhere.

The project is still in the nascent stages as the duo is still figuring out the logistics of mass production and fine tuning the product. Currently, the students are studying and the gadget only registers 12 words for now, so there is a lot to do. They were recently awarded the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, which means they will have $10,000-$15,000 to enhance their product. "We wanted to create something that would help the deaf and mute better communicate with the rest of the world, without changing how they already interact with each other," said Azodi.

2. Uber's communication service for the deaf.

cloudfront.net

Uber is one of the few companies in the world that provides a window of opportunity for the challenged. The company has hired deaf and mute drivers

to ply their trade. And to make driving easier for them, Uber, in alliance with the Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), has created an online video support guides in American Sign Language (ASL).

"Uber has incorporated accessible technology for Deaf and hard of hearing people directly into their app, providing unprecedented access for the Deaf community to make money by driving with Uber," said Chris Soukup, CEO of CSD. Identifying themselves as deaf or hard of hearing enables the drivers to some features of the app like flashing trip request, text-only communication with the riders, and notifying the rider that their driver is deaf or hard of hearing.



3. Aria bracelet

pinterest

The goal of science and technology touching new highs is to make life easier. For the deaf, it is the freedom to lead independent lives. That's where Mary Wilson's product comes in handy. Aria is a tech bracelet that helps the deaf interact with their surroundings easily. The device notifies the wearer to different things with sensations on the skin, various alert sounds and a distinct light.

Aria has rubber feelers that tickle the wrist of the user as soon as it identifies a sound in and around the house, like the telephone, fire alarm, doorbell, emergency vehicle sirens. It's incredible how this device is not only gorgeous looking and useful, but is also potentially life-saving.



4. Babel Fisk Glasses

yankodesign.com

Now this one, if subsidised and mass produced, has the potential to completely change lives. The Babel Fisk glasses converts speech to text and flashes it on the glasses. Danish designer Mads Hindhede created this incredible gadget that literally spells out what the other person's saying, in real time!

There are microphones placed within the frames which pick up the speech of someone standing in the line of sight. One can even record a said conversation with an inbuilt flash memory card.

5. Vibering

tuvie.com

Yes, it's spelt that way, and before you end up associating anything dirty with this, stop. This is not a Durex product, but a gadget that warns the deaf of possible danger around the wearer. Anything from a fire alarm to an oncoming car, dogs barking, practically anything.

There are three devices that come in the package - a wrist watch and two rings. When the watch senses possible danger, it signals the ring which then starts vibrating to alert the user.
Sub-inspector Mohammad Iqbal Chagatta of the Jammu and Kashmir police force, has been arrested on rape charges at the border belt of Akhnoor, Jammu. According to sources, the rape survivor's parents had complained 15 days ago that a man had kidnapped and raped their daughter.

Cops found the duo in Jammu a week ago and brought them to the station, where she was allegedly raped again.

After the girl lodged a complaint, deputy superintendent of police questioned Iqbal. Another officer, Mamata Kulkarni, who allegedly helped Chagatta, will also be grilled. Chagatta was appointed as the station Station House Officer (SHO). It is alleged that the girl was raped by Chagatta at the police station.

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An FIR was registered against the SHO and he was taken into custody. An investigation has been initiated by the SDPO, Akhnoor, Dr. Sunil Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said to Tribune India. While Jammu police has launched a probe into the matter, locals have protested the incident, demanding Chagatta's rest. Chagatta was assisted by a lady Special Police Officer (SPO) in this vile act. The victim's family members "alleged huge pressure from some quarter to hush up the matter", North Lines reported,

However, a police official speaking to the media about the incident pointed out a small discrepancy that could unravel the case - the timing of the rape complaint: Both the boy and the girl were lodged in police station and later on the girl was handed over to the family, he said and added it was after the lapse of seven month that family members accused police officer of rape."
Tech companies' business won't be harmed, but the likes of Google will have to make sure India's maps show Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir correctly, Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju told ET, while explaining the government's case for the controversial Geospatial Information Regulation Bill.

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The proposed law recommends stiff punishment for what the government calls violations in depicting maps as well as mapping so-called security sensitive areas. Exchange of maps by ordinary end-users, experts have argued, may also fall foul of the proposed legislation. Concerns have been expressed by both tech companies and consumer forums.

In a lengthy interaction with ET, Rijiju, who uses an advanced version of Google Earth in his office, said tech industry's concerns will be addressed before the final version of the bill is drafted. Tech industry has argued that the proposed law will bring back a license raj for companies like Google and Apple and impact other companies like Uber, Ola, Zomato and a range of startups that use geo-location or maps for their business.

The minister was emphatic on assuring industry: "The law should not have any kind of negative impact or creating a negative atmosphere for business growth... definitely all concerns of the industry will be addressed in the final law. I am assuring that the intention of the government is to facilitate business... It is not to create a hurdle."

google map

He also said the draft bill is "at a very preliminary stage and comments and suggestions are being sought from all sectors and stakeholders and citizens..."

He also said India's approach was far less punitive than some other countries'. "We are not in business of unnecessarily troubling any firm...that is not our approach, but the thing is that we need a regulatory mechanism", he said.

Rijiju, however, was equally emphatic on maps by Google and others showing "wrong information". "We as a sovereign nation would like to have our boundary depicted in a correct manner," the minister said.

Asked if India has raised this with Google, he said: "That is our sovereign concern that we will always put that across. They (Google) have their own way of thinking. They have not shown Arunachal as part of China but they show it in red colour as disputed. That is not acceptable to us at all."

Rijiju insisted that the bill was "not one company specific", when asked if Google was the main errant party.

"It is a general concern being raised that India as a responsible country must have provisions to secure its boundary and territory. That is why the bill is necessary. It is not a question of sending a message to any firm or company  but it is a question of addressing our own security concern.

That is the primary objective... if we have to grow as a responsible and big power, we must be able to take into account all our security concerns. China has also come up with its own domestic laws..," Rijiju said.
The Indian Navy bid adieu to its iconic Sea Harrier yesterday as it inducted the MiG 29K/Kub aircraft into the ranks. The British built fighters, which were inducted in 1983, were operated for the last time from INS Viraat on March 6, 2016.

Image Credit: Joseph Dempsey/Twitter

The aircraft was given a farewell in attendance of Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command and many retired Sea Harrier pilots.

Image Credit: savishamim.wordpress.com

Sea Harriers were the first to have vertical take-off and landing capability that let them hover mid-air like a helicopter. They had an operational speed of 640 knots or 1,186 kilometres per hour and were also capable of air-to-air refuelling.

Image Credit: BCCL

The air-crafts flew into Goa for the first time on December 16, 1983. They were welcomed by a Seahawk pilot. The premier carrier based 300 squadron of the Navy that flew the Harriers has received gallantry awards such as Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakras and Nau Sena Medal for its commendable services.

Image Credit: BCCL

They were also spotted in a fighting sequence of Arnold Schwarzeneggers movie True Lies.

It was due to huge maintenance cost and a lack of spares, that the navy decided to phase out the jets. They will now be dispatched as mementos at museums across the country and will be replaced by Russian MiG 29K jets.
The notification of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to all its school to include Compassionate Citizens - a programme designed to teach children to be kind to animals, is a welcome move.

The Compassionate Citizen programme has been designed for students between the age of 8 to 12 by the People For Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The programme has been endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).

dogwithblog.in

At a time when crimes by human beings on animals are making news too frequently, such a course would help in altering the approach to animals. The attack on Shaktimaan which led to the horse's death, despite an amputation, should not be just another forgotten case.

The puppy killer at Green Park Metro Station in New Delhi, 28-year-old Nakul Mishra, was arrested nearly a month after his gruesome attack in March. Mishra had graduated from National Institute of Technology, Delhi, had been on medication for prolonged depression. He was sacked from his job, had a failed love affair and his own pet dog had died sometime before his vicious act.

safetolearn.com

"The programme has to be included in the monthly curriculum as an extra-curricular day activity or a one-day workshop. The course has been divided into four different sections -- The amazing world of animals, Animals and their feelings, Changing time and changing minds and making humane choices," the circular from the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan says.

But at the same time we also need to be sure that kids are given simillar education at home and taught importance of being compassionate.

Here's hoping that the programme will help future generations to be more humane to animals!

ALSO READ: China's fur industry
The Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) has commissioned a solar-powered boat that will soon be seen sailing on Kochi's backwater country. The ferry, which will have a life-cycle of twenty years, has been designed and built by NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats.

Come July, the boats will ferry passengers on the Vaikkom-Thavanakkadavu route that runs for a stretch of 2.5 km.

Sandith Thandasherry

The solar boat - which measures 20-metres in length and 7-metres in width - will run at a maximum cruising speed of 7.5 knots. And unlike the diesel-run ferries, these boats will make zero noise and bring a positive change in the environment.

The idea to opt for this alternative struck the Kerala government in 2013 when it came across a study about ferries that used renewable sources of energy, reports The Better India. After deciding to explore the option, the contract was finally given to Navalt, which is a collaborative effort between Indian firm Navgathi, and French company, AltEn.

Sandith Thandasherry

Sandith Thandasherry, CEO of NavAlt said, "After many experiments, we realised that application of renewable energy in marine passenger transportation would be the best. We also realised that ferries were the way to go."

The boat was entirely assembled in NavAlt's Kochi's yard after the main propulsion package was shipped from France.

"Two years ago, we started with the initial discussions and the designs. We spent about a year fine-tuning it. And then the construction of the boat started a year ago," added Sandith. He is now hopeful that all future boats will be constructed within a span of six months.

Sandith Thandasherry

Hailing its advantages, Sandith elaborated, "From the perspective of the passengers, the vibrations are less, there is no noise, there is no smell of diesel, says Sandith, It is also made of higher technology, so the amenities and facilities provided in the boat are higher."

Sandith Thandasherry

The cost of making the ferry has been negligible compared to the amounts of money generally spent on diesel-run boats. Talking about how pocket-friendly it is for the state government, he said, "The cost of a normal boat comes up to about Rs. 1.5 crore and on this one, they would have spent about Rs. 2.2 crore. There is a Rs. 75 lakhs difference. In two and a half years, you recover the difference with what you save on diesel. Every year, the government can save Rs. 30 lakhs  even taking into account the grids for charging."
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Last week, 7 people, including one sadhu, were killed and several others injured after a pandal (tent) collapsed due to strong winds followed by heavy rain in Ujjain's Simhastha Kumbh on Thursday evening. Hundreds of temporary structures at the Kumbh site caved in with dozens of devotees buried within and hundreds more running for their lives.

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Help came in the form of the mosques of Ujjain, who invited Hindu devotees who were desperate for any refuge from the biting rain and hail, into the mosques of Ujjain city. Over 7 crore are expected to visit the Kumbh, and the masses, without any safe structures and government support, were desperate for food and support.

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The month-long Simhastha Kumbh mela, held after a gap of every 12 years, began in Ujjain on April 22. Over seven crore pilgrims are expected to visit Ujjain and other holy places during the month-long fair, for which huge security and logistical arrangements have been made, including shifting of police forces from all 51 districts to Ujjain.

Pictures of pandal that collapsed due to strong winds & rainfall in #SimhasthKumbh2016 (Ujjain) claiming 5 lives pic.twitter.com/gPVob5Yu14  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2016

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Pictures of pandal that fell down due to strong winds & rainfall in #SimhasthKumbh2016 (Ujjain) claiming 5 lives pic.twitter.com/aMwvd0MAe9  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2016

Heads of local Muslim organisations like Dr Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram, (All India Muslim Tehwar Committee) directed community members to open their mosque doors in this inclement weather.

Local Muslim youth also helped pilgrims taking a sacred dip from slipping into the water, and lakhs have immersed themselves in the waters of the Shipra river before rain lashed the region
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

The almighty ale is the third most popular drink consumed in the world (after water and tea!) and is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage since the advent of time.

Independence Brewing Co

The commercialisation of ale brought it in bottles and kegs throughout the world. But it has also given rise to special Craft or Microbreweries which produce smaller amounts of beer as compared to large scale production plants, and innovate with the use of local flavors and methods. Whether it's a mango ale for the sultry summer, or an apple coriander brew or even a stout, Indias microbrewery sector has seen a massive growth since its inception in 2009, and continues to induct beer lovers into its culture every single day.

Punes beer palate and culture

TJs Brew Works Facebook

Pune played a huge role in kick-starting India's craft culture with the country's first microbrewery Doolally, which now has over 8 brewers in the city and serves hearty flavors of wheat beers, lagers and a whole lot more. India is still a nascent market in terms of realising its full beer potential  but has spread its arms pretty wide in the metros of Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon. Pune has seen a strong rise in the demand for these beers as brewpubs offer a good mix of ambiance, food and innovation in flavors to pull in the crowd.

TJ Venkateshwaran of TJs Brew Works adds, We sell about 150 liters at our Amanora Pub and about 50 liters through our partners everyday. Manu Gulati, the man behind Effingut Brewerkz in Koregaon Park says, On the weekdays, we have a steady stream of patrons enjoying their brew. Weekends and event nights see demand spiking to upwards of 1200 pints a night. These beers start from Rs 200 for a pint of 300 ml and are available in a multitude of flavors and even some seasonal ones. India has only recently been introduced to craft beer and compared to the American breweries and their offshoots, the Indian palate is not yet hop forward for stronger, bitter beers, adds Gulati.

Shailendra Bist, the co-founder of Independence Brewing Co. and creator of a Mango Ale in Mundhwa is also of the same opinion, Unfortunately anything sweet and wheat and also fermented apple juice called Cider works with the public. Cider is not even a beer technically, but is marketed as one! We constantly strive to bring real, flavorful and true beer to the customers - but we know we cant please everyone!

Tresha Guha, Brand Manager Of Doolally, also weighs in saying that there is a strong bunch of dark beer enthusiasts emerging who love their Coffee Porter and Oatmeal Stout.

Is brewing a profitable business?

Independence Brewing Co

The brewery business is one that requires a fat stack of money and loads of love for the ale. Setting up a brewery requires a significant investment and in order to achieve profitability, passion to drive a plan to success and love for the product is paramount says Gulati. Venkateshwaran very rightly says, The craft brew business is in its formative years and it is still in the investment phase. It can be profitable in the medium term with industry consolidation and when price competitiveness through undercutting gets out totally. Social change is equally important on the other hand too and the breweries need to invest in information and education, according to Shailendra Bist. The innovation in technology and flavors will see a continuous evolution, and awareness plays a big role in the brewerys popularity increase.

The road ahead

Doolally

The Indian beer market is estimated at Rs 25,000 cr, with craft beer taking a Rs 280 cr share. The market is expected to reach a whopping Rs 4400 cr by 2020! While the youth may drive the consumption forward, it is only pure continuous innovators that will survive the tide. Tresha Guha points out, Following Maharashtras lead, a number of states reformed their excise policies to accommodate this concept. You realize the amount of product innovation these scrappy little businesses have bought to an industry that has been starved forever. And the consumers have heartily endorsed these efforts.

Without taste, there will be no business. The beer needs to do the talking, which is why we identify ourselves as craft brewers and have moved away from the moniker microbrewers. Your patron is knowledgeable and cannot be fooled  the clients palate always wins! Gulati adds. The real craft brewers will stay ahead of the curve. As Bist puts it, Indians know good taste. You can only fool them for so long!
The Costs of Violence

Masters of Mankind By Noam Chomsky [This piece, the second of two parts, is excerpted from Noam Chomskys new book, Who Rules the World? (Metropolitan Books). Part 1 can be found by clicking here.] May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Tom Dispatch " - In brief, the Global War on Terror sledgehammer strategy has spread jihadi terror from a tiny corner of Afghanistan to much of the world, from Africa through the Levant and South Asia to Southeast Asia. It has also incited attacks in Europe and the United States. The invasion of Iraq made a substantial contribution to this process, much as intelligence agencies had predicted. Terrorism specialists Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank estimate that the Iraq War generated a stunning sevenfold increase in the yearly rate of fatal jihadist attacks, amounting to literally hundreds of additional terrorist attacks and thousands of civilian lives lost; even when terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan is excluded, fatal attacks in the rest of the world have increased by more than one-third. Other exercises have been similarly productive. A group of major human rights organizations -- Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.), Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Germany) -- conducted a study that sought "to provide as realistic an estimate as possible of the total body count in the three main war zones [Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan] during 12 years of war on terrorism,'" including an extensive review of the major studies and data published on the numbers of victims in these countries, along with additional information on military actions. Their "conservative estimate" is that these wars killed about 1.3 million people, a toll that "could also be in excess of 2 million." A database search by independent researcher David Peterson in the days following the publication of the report found virtually no mention of it. Who cares? More generally, studies carried out by the Oslo Peace Research Institute show that two-thirds of the regions conflict fatalities were produced in originally internal disputes where outsiders imposed their solutions. In such conflicts, 98% of fatalities were produced only after outsiders had entered the domestic dispute with their military might. In Syria, the number of direct conflict fatalities more than tripled after the West initiated air strikes against the self-declared Islamic State and the CIA started its indirect military interference in the war -- interference which appears to have drawn the Russians in as advanced US antitank missiles were decimating the forces of their ally Bashar al-Assad. Early indications are that Russian bombing is having the usual consequences. The evidence reviewed by political scientist Timo Kivimaki indicates that the protection wars [fought by coalitions of the willing] have become the main source of violence in the world, occasionally contributing over 50% of total conflict fatalities. Furthermore, in many of these cases, including Syria, as he reviews, there were opportunities for diplomatic settlement that were ignored. That has also been true in other horrific situations, including the Balkans in the early 1990s, the first Gulf War, and of course the Indochina wars, the worst crime since World War II. In the case of Iraq the question does not even arise. There surely are some lessons here. The general consequences of resorting to the sledgehammer against vulnerable societies comes as little surprise. William Polks careful study of insurgencies, Violent Politics, should be essential reading for those who want to understand todays conflicts, and surely for planners, assuming that they care about human consequences and not merely power and domination. Polk reveals a pattern that has been replicated over and over. The invaders -- perhaps professing the most benign motives -- are naturally disliked by the population, who disobey them, at first in small ways, eliciting a forceful response, which increases opposition and support for resistance. The cycle of violence escalates until the invaders withdraw -- or gain their ends by something that may approach genocide. Playing by the Al-Qaeda Game Plan Obamas global drone assassination campaign, a remarkable innovation in global terrorism, exhibits the same patterns. By most accounts, it is generating terrorists more rapidly than it is murdering those suspected of someday intending to harm us -- an impressive contribution by a constitutional lawyer on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, which established the basis for the principle of presumption of innocence that is the foundation of civilized law. Another characteristic feature of such interventions is the belief that the insurgency will be overcome by eliminating its leaders. But when such an effort succeeds, the reviled leader is regularly replaced by someone younger, more determined, more brutal, and more effective. Polk gives many examples. Military historian Andrew Cockburn has reviewed American campaigns to kill drug and then terror kingpins over a long period in his important study Kill Chain and found the same results. And one can expect with fair confidence that the pattern will continue. No doubt right now U.S. strategists are seeking ways to murder the Caliph of the Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is a bitter rival of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The likely result of this achievement is forecast by the prominent terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman, senior fellow at the U.S. Military Academys Combating Terrorism Center. He predicts that al-Baghdadis death would likely pave the way for a rapprochement [with al-Qaeda] producing a combined terrorist force unprecedented in scope, size, ambition and resources. Polk cites a treatise on warfare by Henry Jomini, influenced by Napoleons defeat at the hands of Spanish guerrillas, that became a textbook for generations of cadets at the West Point military academy. Jomini observed that such interventions by major powers typically result in wars of opinion, and nearly always national wars, if not at first then becoming so in the course of the struggle, by the dynamics that Polk describes. Jomini concludes that commanders of regular armies are ill-advised to engage in such wars because they will lose them, and even apparent successes will prove short-lived. Careful studies of al-Qaeda and ISIS have shown that the United States and its allies are following their game plan with some precision. Their goal is to draw the West as deeply and actively as possible into the quagmire and to perpetually engage and enervate the United States and the West in a series of prolonged overseas ventures in which they will undermine their own societies, expend their resources, and increase the level of violence, setting off the dynamic that Polk reviews. Scott Atran, one of the most insightful researchers on jihadi movements, calculates that the 9/11 attacks cost between $400,000 and $500,000 to execute, whereas the military and security response by the U.S. and its allies is in the order of 10 million times that figure. On a strictly cost-benefit basis, this violent movement has been wildly successful, beyond even Bin Ladens original imagination, and is increasingly so. Herein lies the full measure of jujitsu-style asymmetric warfare. After all, who could claim that we are better off than before, or that the overall danger is declining?And if we continue to wield the sledgehammer, tacitly following the jihadi script, the likely effect is even more violent jihadism with broader appeal. The record, Atran advises, should inspire a radical change in our counter-strategies. Al-Qaeda/ISIS are assisted by Americans who follow their directives: for example, Ted carpet-bomb em Cruz, a top Republican presidential candidate. Or, at the other end of the mainstream spectrum, the leading Middle East and international affairs columnist of the New York Times, Thomas Friedman, who in 2003 offered Washington advice on how to fight in Iraq on the Charlie Rose show: There was what I would call the terrorism bubble... And what we needed to do was to go over to that part of the world and burst that bubble. We needed to go over there basically, and, uh, take out a very big stick, right in the heart of that world, and burst that bubble. And there was only one way to do it... What they needed to see was American boys and girls going house to house from Basra to Baghdad, and basically saying, which part of this sentence dont you understand? You dont think we care about our open society, you think this bubble fantasy were going to just let it go? Well, suck on this. Ok. That, Charlie, was what this war was about. Thatll show the ragheads. Looking Forward Atran and other close observers generally agree on the prescriptions. We should begin by recognizing what careful research has convincingly shown: those drawn to jihad are longing for something in their history, in their traditions, with their heroes and their morals; and the Islamic State, however brutal and repugnant to us and even to most in the Arab-Muslim world, is speaking directly to that... What inspires the most lethal assailants today is not so much the Quran but a thrilling cause and a call to action that promises glory and esteem in the eyes of friends. In fact, few of the jihadis have much of a background in Islamic texts or theology, if any. The best strategy, Polk advises, would be a multinational, welfare-oriented and psychologically satisfying program... that would make the hatred ISIS relies upon less virulent. The elements have been identified for us: communal needs, compensation for previous transgressions, and calls for a new beginning. He adds, A carefully phrased apology for past transgressions would cost little and do much. Such a project could be carried out in refugee camps or in the hovels and grim housing projects of the Paris banlieues, where, Atran writes, his research team found fairly wide tolerance or support for ISISs values. And even more could be done by true dedication to diplomacy and negotiations instead of reflexive resort to violence. Not least in significance would be an honorable response to the refugee crisis that was a long time in coming but surged to prominence in Europe in 2015. That would mean, at the very least, sharply increasing humanitarian relief to the camps in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey where miserable refugees from Syria barely survive. But the issues go well beyond, and provide a picture of the self-described enlightened states that is far from attractive and should be an incentive to action. There are countries that generate refugees through massive violence, like the United States, secondarily Britain and France. Then there are countries that admit huge numbers of refugees, including those fleeing from Western violence, like Lebanon (easily the champion, per capita), Jordan, and Syria before it imploded, among others in the region. And partially overlapping, there are countries that both generate refugees and refuse to take them in, not only from the Middle East but also from the U.S. backyard south of the border. A strange picture, painful to contemplate. An honest picture would trace the generation of refugees much further back into history. Veteran Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk reports that one of the first videos produced by ISIS showed a bulldozer pushing down a rampart of sand that had marked the border between Iraq and Syria. As the machine destroyed the dirt revetment, the camera panned down to a handwritten poster lying in the sand. End of Sykes-Picot, it said. For the people of the region, the Sykes-Picot agreement is the very symbol of the cynicism and brutality of Western imperialism. Conspiring in secret during World War I, Britains Mark Sykes and Frances Francois Georges-Picot carved up the region into artificial states to satisfy their own imperial goals, with utter disdain for the interests of the people living there and in violation of the wartime promises issued to induce Arabs to join the Allied war effort. The agreement mirrored the practices of the European states that devastated Africa in a similar manner. It transformed what had been relatively quiet provinces of the Ottoman Empire into some of the least stable and most internationally explosive states in the world. Repeated Western interventions since then in the Middle East and Africa have exacerbated the tensions, conflicts, and disruptions that have shattered the societies. The end result is a refugee crisis that the innocent West can scarcely endure. Germany has emerged as the conscience of Europe, at first (but no longer) admitting almost one million refugees -- in one of the richest countries in the world with a population of 80 million. In contrast, the poor country of Lebanon has absorbed an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, now a quarter of its population, on top of half a million Palestinian refugees registered with the U.N. refugee agency UNRWA, mostly victims of Israeli policies. Europe is also groaning under the burden of refugees from the countries it has devastated in Africa -- not without U.S. aid, as Congolese and Angolans, among others, can testify. Europe is now seeking to bribe Turkey (with over two million Syrian refugees) to distance those fleeing the horrors of Syria from Europes borders, just as Obama is pressuring Mexico to keep U.S. borders free from miserable people seeking to escape the aftermath of Reagans GWOT along with those seeking to escape more recent disasters, including a military coup in Honduras that Obama almost alone legitimized, which created one of the worst horror chambers in the region. Words can hardly capture the U.S. response to the Syrian refugee crisis, at least any words I can think of. Returning to the opening question Who rules the world? we might also want to pose another question: What principles and values rule the world? That question should be foremost in the minds of the citizens of the rich and powerful states, who enjoy an unusual legacy of freedom, privilege, and opportunity thanks to the struggles of those who came before them, and who now face fateful choices as to how to respond to challenges of great human import. Noam Chomsky is institute professor emeritus in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A TomDispatch regular, among his recent books are Hegemony or Survival and Failed States. This essay, the second of two parts, is excerpted from his new book, Who Rules the World? (Metropolitan Books, the American Empire Project, 2016). To read part 1, click here. His website is www.chomsky.info. Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardt's latest book, Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World . Copyright 2016 Valeria Galvao Wasserman-Chomsky
Endless Corruption Is Leaving Iraq A Failed State By Gwynne Dyer May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Japan Times " - Property prices in central Baghdad are as high as Londons, even though Iraqs national income is down by 70 percent since the collapse of oil prices. Islamic State bombings regularly devastate parts of the capital and still the real estate market booms. Why? Because there is so much dirty money in Iraq that needs to be laundered. If you lack the political clout to get your stolen money out of the country, then the safest course is to put it into residential property. But then thats not a very safe bet either when the entire pseudo-democratic system bequeathed to Iraq by the U.S. invasion is on the brink of collapse. Intrusion late last month by thousands of angry Iraqis into the Green Zone, the vast blast-walled government compound in Baghdad, was probably the beginning of the end of the current dispensation in Iraq. They stayed for two days, only leaving after delivering an ultimatum calling for wholesale reform of the government but vowing to return if it does not happen. It will not happen, and they will be back in the streets soon. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, forced from power in 2014 after Islamic State forces conquered the western half of Iraq, has been plotting a comeback with other parties in parliament. He may not succeed, but he and his allies are certainly able to block the passage of most measures they do not like. The cement binding Maliki and the other plotters is their determination to retain the utterly corrupt system that has allowed them to loot the countrys oil wealth for so long. The oil wealth is a great deal less now, but it is still practically Iraqs only source of income and they have no intention of giving it up. The man who replaced Maliki, President Haider al-Abadi, is in relative terms a reformer. He belongs to the same Dawa Party as Maliki and cant afford to get too far out of touch with his power base. Nevertheless, almost a year ago he promised that he would replace many of his Cabinet members, drawn from the various parties in the ruling coalition, with technocrats who would (theoretically) be less likely to steal the governments money. He couldnt deliver on his promise, however, because any Cabinet changes have to be approved by parliament. None of the parties there were willing to give up their own Cabinet ministers, and with it their ability to divert the governments cash flow into their own pockets. Three times Abadis proposed reforms were rejected by parliament. It was after the last time, in April, that Moqtada al-Sadr, a populist cleric with a big following among Baghdads multitudinous Shiite poor, ordered the invasion of the fortified Green Zone. That forced parliament to approve of five of Abadis Cabinet changes, and more will probably follow. But changing the figureheads in the government ministries will not end the looting of public funds, which permeates the system from top to bottom. Indeed, you might say that corruption is the system in Iraq. Like several other oil-rich countries, Iraq distributes some of the cash flow to the citizens by means of paying them to do non-jobs. Most of the rest is stolen by the 25,000 or so people who hold senior administrative, political or military positions, leaving a small amount for public works. There are 7 million government employees in Iraq  a large majority of the adult male population  and most of them do little or no work. Indeed, some of them dont even exist, like the ghost soldiers whose pay is collected by their officers. Collectively they were paid around $4 billion a month, which was all right when monthly oil income was up around $6 billion. The oil revenue is now down to $2 billion a month. The central bank has been making up the difference from its reserves, but those are now running out. The countrys economic crisis is now more urgent and more dangerous than the military confrontation with Islamic State, but that does not seem clear to many of the major players in Iraqs dysfunctional political system. It is so dysfunctional that little is being done even to repair the Mosul Dam, which requires constant work on its foundations if it is not to break and drown Mosul, four hours downstream, under a 24-meter-high wave. The wave would be much lower by the time it would reach Baghdad two days later, but it would still be big enough to wreck property values for a long time to come. All the talk about the Iraqi army driving Islamic State back is just hot air. The only Iraqi military advances have happened under the cover of massive U.S. airstrikes, and the governments own attention is elsewhere. So, increasingly, is that of the population. But Islamic State is still paying attention. Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
Bernie Sanders: Nominating Hillary Clinton Would Be Disaster For Party, Nation

By Ben Wolfgang

May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Washington Times " - Fresh off a big win in the West Virginia primary, Sen. Bernard Sanders campaign said Wednesday the Democratic Party would be courting disaster if it nominates Hillary Clinton as its presidential nominee.

In a fundraising email to supporters, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver cited recent polls showing the Vermont senator performing better against Republican Donald Trump in general election match-ups. Recent surveys have shown Mrs. Clinton virtually tied with Mr. Trump in the key battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Citing those troubling figures, Mr. Weaver said the Democratic Party  and its superdelegates who are free to support either candidate  must reject Mrs. Clinton and embrace Mr. Sanders, or face a crushing defeat in November.

For months, Bernie Sanders has out-polled Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump, and often by extraordinarily large margins. Because we must do everything we can to defeat Trump in November, our mission is to win as many pledged delegates as we can between now and June 14, when the primary season ends, Mr. Weaver said. Then were going to have a contested convention where the Democratic Party must decide if they want the candidate with the momentum who is best positioned to beat Trump, or if they are willing to roll the dice and court disaster simply to protect the status quo for the political and financial establishment of this country.

Mr. Weaver also dismissed the notion that his candidate fares better against Mr. Trump only because he hasnt been under the same white-hot spotlight Mrs. Clinton has faced for years.

Some people say we do better against Trump because we havent faced the Republican attack machine yet. But weve been told our goals for the future are utopian, and that our plans would raise taxes on middle class families. We just never thought those attacks would come in a Democratic primary. Yet somehow we keep winning, he said. We are the best chance to defeat Trump because people united can never be defeated. That is why we must keep fighting.

For her part, Mrs. Clinton still is trying to ignore Mr. Sanders and turn all of her attention to the November battle with Mr. Trump.

But even the Clinton campaign has been forced to concede that it is neck and neck with Mr. Trump in key battleground states, and actually trailing in Ohio, according to recent polling. Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook on Wednesday morning sounded an almost desperate tone in a fundraising email, saying Mrs. Clinton needs more money or she risks falling even further behind against Mr. Trump.

I cant say this enough times: These polls dont predict the future. We can change them by making sure voters know about Hillarys vision for our country. But we need to get started RIGHT NOW, he said before asking supporters to donate to the campaign.

The fundraising pitch cited this weeks Quinnipiac survey of battleground states, which shows Mrs. Clinton leading Mr. Trump by just 1 percentage point in Florida and Pennsylvania and down by 4 percentage points in Ohio.

While those poll numbers surely are alarming for Democrats, its now all but certain Mrs. Clinton will be her partys nominee.

She leads Mr. Sanders among pledged delegates 1,716 to 1,433, according to an Associated Press tally. Among superdelegates, shes ahead 524 to 40.
(Para ler a versao desse artigo em Portugues, clique aqui.)

May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Intercept " - In 2002, Brazils left-of-center Workers Party (PT) ascended to the presidency when Lula da Silva won in a landslide over the candidate of the center-right party PSDB (throughout 2002, markets were indignant at the mere prospect of PTs victory). The PT remained in power when Lula, in 2006, was re-elected in another landslide against a different PSDB candidate. PTs enemies thought they had their chance to get rid of PT in 2010, when Lula was barred by term limits from running again, but their hopes were crushed when Lulas handpicked successor, the previously unknown Dilma Rousseff, won by 12 points over the same PSDB candidate who lost to Lula in 2002. In 2014, PTs enemies poured huge amounts of money and resources into defeating her, believing she was vulnerable and that they had finally found a star PSDB candidate, but they lost again, this time narrowly, as Dilma was re-elected with 54 million votes.

In sum, PT has won four straight national elections  the last one occurring just 18 months ago. Its opponents have vigorously tried  and failed  to defeat them at the ballot box, largely due to PTs support among Brazils poor and working classes.

So if youre a plutocrat with ownership of the nations largest and most influential media outlets, what do you do? You dispense with democracy altogether  after all, it keeps empowering candidates and policies you dislike  by exploiting your media outlets to incite unrest and then install a candidate who could never get elected on his own, yet will faithfully serve your political agenda and ideology.

Thats exactly what Brazil is going to do today. The Brazilian Senate will vote later today to agree to a trial on the lower Houses impeachment charges, which will automatically result in Dilmas suspension from the presidency pending the end of the trial.

Her successor will be Vice President Michel Temer of the PMDB party (pictured, above). So unlike impeachment in most other countries with a presidential system, impeachment here will empower a person from a different party than that of the elected President. In this particular case, the person to be installed is awash in corruption: accused by informants of involvement in an illegal ethanol-purchasing scheme, he was just found guilty of, and fined for, election spending violations and faces an 8-year-ban on running for any office. Hes deeply unpopular: only 2% would support him for President and almost 60% want him impeached (the same number that favors Dilmas impeachment). But he will faithfully serve the interests of Brazils richest: hes planning to appoint Goldman, Sachs and IMF officials to run the economy and otherwise install a totally unrepresentative, neoliberal team (composed in part of the same party  PSDB  that has lost 4 straight elections to the PT).

None of this is a defense of PT. That party  as even Lula acknowledged to me in my interview of him  is filled with serious corruption. Dilma, in many critical ways, has been a failed president, and is deeply unpopular. They have often aligned with and served the countrys elite at the expense of their base of poor supporters. The country is suffering economically and in almost every other way.

But the solution to that is to defeat them at the ballot box, not simply remove them and replace them with someone more suitable to the nations richest. Whatever damage PT is doing to Brazil, the plutocrats and their journalist-propagandists and the band of thieves in Brasilia engineering this travesty are far more dangerous. They are literally dismantling  crushing  democracy in the worlds fifth-largest country. Even The Economist  which is hostile to even the most moderate left-wing parties, hates PT and wants Dilma to resign  has denounced impeachment as a pretext for ousting an unpopular president and just two weeks ago warned that what is alarming is that those who are working for her removal are in many ways worse. Before he became an active plotter in his own empowerment, Temer himself said last year that impeachment is unthinkable, would create an institutional crisis. There is no judicial or political basis for it.

The biggest scam of all is that Brazilian media elites are justifying all of this in the name of corruption and democracy. How can anyone who is minimally rational believe this is about corruption when theyre about to install as President someone far more implicated in corruption than the person theyre removing, and when the factions to be empowered are corrupt beyond what can be described? And if they were really concerned with democracy, why wouldnt they also impeach Temer and hold new elections, letting voters decide who should replace Dilma? The answer is obvious: new elections would almost certainly result in a victory for Lula or other candidates they dislike, so what they fear most is letting the Brazilian population decide who will govern them. That is the very definition of the destruction of democracy.

Beyond its obvious global significance, the reason Ive spent so much time and energy writing about these events is because its been astonishing  and unnerving  to watch it all unfold, particularly given how the countrys dominant media, owned by a tiny handful of rich families, allows almost no plurality of opinion. Instead, as Reporters Without Borders put it earlier this month: In a barely veiled manner, the leading national media have urged the public to help bring down President Dilma Rousseff. The journalists working for these media groups are clearly subject to the influence of private and partisan interests, and these permanent conflicts of interests are clearly very detrimental to the quality of their reporting.

As someone who has lived in Brazil for 11 years, its been inspiring and invigorating to watch a country of 200 million people throw off the shackles of a 21-year-old right-wing (US/UK supported) military dictatorship and mature into a young, vibrant democracy and then thrive under it. To see how quickly and easily that can be reversed  abolished in all but name only  is both sad and frightening to watch. Its also an important lesson for anyone, in countries all over the world, who blithely assume that things will continue as is or that theyre guaranteed stability and ongoing progress.
The Collapse of the European Union



Return to National Sovereignty and to Happy Europeans



By Peter Koenig



May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Imagine  the European Union were to collapse tomorrow  or any day soon for that matter. Europeans would dance in the streets. The EU has become a sheer pothole of fear and terror: Economic sanctions  punishment, mounting militarization, the abolition of civil rights for most Europeans. A group of unelected technocrats, representing 28 countries, many of them unfit to serve in their own countries political system, but connected well enough to get a plum job in Brussels  are deciding the future of Europe. In small groups and often in secret chambers they decide the future of Europe. Take the TTIP  under pressure from their masters in Washington, behind closed doors under utmost secrecy  and most likely against their own personal good  a small group of European Commission (EC) delegates without scruples, without any respect for their co-citizens, without consideration for their children, grand-children and their children, only interested in the instant laurels and pay-back  to be sure  from the colonialist, usurper and warrior number One, the United States of Chaos and Killing, they are ready to put 500 million Europeans and their descendants at peril. It cannot be said enough what horrors the TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) would do to the people of Europe; and that is based on the little we know from the 248 pages leaked by Greenpeace Netherlands of the ultra-clandestine negotiations taking place. Negotiations is the most unfair term imaginable, since all the rules are imposed by Washington, the same as with the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership, involving 11 Pacific countries and the US  but not China and Russia). Though TPP negotiations are finished, none of the 11 Pacific partners, nor the US Congress have approved the treaty. There is hope that even if negotiations by the secret EC traitors and Washington should come to conclusion, at least some of the 28 EU countries may not approve. To be valid, the treaty needs to be approved in unanimity. The new rightwing Austrian frontrunner for Austrians Presidency, Norbert Hofer, has already said he would not sign the TTIP agreement. Similar remarks have been made by the French Minister for Foreign Trade, Matthias Fekl, who said, There cannot be an agreement without France and much less against France. Under the TTIP, the citizens of Europe would lose out on all fronts. Europeans would become literally subjects of a corporate empire, led by the United States of America. EU countries would stop being sovereign nations, even more so than is already the case under the current Brussels dictate. As the secret TTIP documents reveal, the agreement would be the death knell for Europe. Here is what Susan George, philosopher and political analyst and President of the Planning Committee of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam has to say: The food we import would be chemically treated, would be genetically modified, would have no labels. You wouldnt know exactly what is in your food. You could buy chicken that has been rinsed in chlorine, you could have beef that was raised with hormones, you could have biosynthetic food made out of one gene of a plant another of an animal, and this would not be labeled.

In the area of agriculture again, it is very likely that we would lose a great many farmers, because if we lower the tariffs of agriculture we will have a flood of American [highly subsidized, GMO]-corn and basic grains flooding into Spain and that will ruin a lot of farmers, exactly the way the campesinos in Mexico were ruined by the North American Free Trade Agreement, the NAFTA.

ln the area of health, the pharmaceutical companies [want] to get rid of generic drugs. They have already succeeded in forcing the generic drug companies to repeat all of the clinical trials that they have already had to do with the same identical medicine but which has a brand name. To make it a generic drug you have to start all over again: clinical trials, blind tests, and so forth. So medicine would become much more expensive. But most important: [The TTIP] is about giving corporations the freedom to sue governments if they dont like a law that the government has passed.

We have a lot of examples now, because in hundreds of bilateral treaties this private judiciary system exists, and for example, the government of Egypt raised the minimum wage and a company, an important company, Veolia, from France, sued them because they would have to pay their workers more. This case has not been decided yet, but one case that has been decided is for example, Ecuador, which refused that an American petroleum company could drill in a particular region. Well, they said this is a protected area and you cannot drill here. And the company said, ah, we will sue you; and they won. And they have a fine on Ecuador of 1.8 billion dollars which is a lot of money for a small and fairly weak country. This simply means that private corporate courts would be above the laws and courts of sovereign nations. There would be no sovereignty left; not even the little idependence Brussels has not yet destroyed. EU nations would all be under the rules of an Anglo-American led corporate empire. You may read Susan Georges full article here http://www.defenddemocracy.press/suzan-george-%CE%BFn-ttip-new-european-movements/, as well as my recently re-published one http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip-would-abolish-europes-sovereignty-the-eu-would-become-a-us-colony/5417382. And then there is TiSA, the Trade in Services Agreement, of which even fewer people are aware. It is also being negotiated in secrecy, involving 23 WTO members (Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, the EU (28 countries), Hong Kong China, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States). Altogether, we are talking about 50 countries; 49 of them bent to submit to one, the Unites States of Wars, Crimes and Domination. It doesnt take a lot of imagination to realize that, again, Washington is calling the shots. Actually, the TiSA talks, similar to those of the TTIP, are infiltrated by US corporate trolls and lobbyists, making Washington the representative for the US corporate empire and, of course, for Wall Street. According to WTO, TiSA would be opening up the market for trade in services, meaning  expect privatization of all public and social services, like health care, education, social security systems, pensions, transportation, postal services, telecommunication, water supply and sanitation, solid waste disposal  and more would all be subject to buy-outs by transnational corporations. Just look at Greece, trying hard to pay back their ill-begotten debt, selling off her national social capital, or life capital, to the detriment of the poor  by now the majority of Greek  who depend on it. Once a country has signed the trade agreements, there is no way back. It has opened its social and public sectors to rent seeking private corporations. Like with the TTIP, should a government at a later stage realize that privatization of, say water services, did not bring the promised benefits for the people, it cannot go back and re-nationalize, or municipalize this service. Remunicipalization of water services is currently happening in France, of all places, the country with the most privatized public water supply systems. In 2012 the government and municipalities of large cities decided to re-take these vital public services. This is currently ongoing. Under TiSA rules it would not be possible. Worse  once TiSA is signed, a country cannot decide to exempt a particular sector included in the list for potential liberalization, for example, health, education and other vital social services. Corporate arbitration courts, similar to those of the TTIP, would be set up for TiSA.  These negotiations are taking place in Geneva, under the auspices of WTO  in secret  and driven by rules, sticks and carrots, imposed by  you guessed it  Washington. If the EU were to collapse today, both the TTIP and the TiSA talks would come to a standstill. Anyone of the 28 EU countries, or better even of the 19 Eurozone countries, could bring the EU down. A Grexit, a Brexit, a fiasco emerging from the forthcoming rehash of the Spanish elections  or a firm decision by a government to default on its (mostly) troika imposed debt, could bring the house of cards of the dollar pyramid scheme to fall  and erase once and for all the enslaving dollar-euro hegemony. Debt could be renegotiated in newly restored national currencies. Remember, the euro is barely 15 years old. So  returning to national currencies should not be dramatic, but rather a sigh of relief  relief from a debt trap, and relief from Washingtons and Brussels boots of oppression. Imagine what a collapse of the EU and the euro-zone would mean for the Greek people. Though, rumors have it that more than half the Greek are still adamant in hanging on to the destructive euro, I bet, its collapse would have hundreds of thousands dancing in the streets. Syriza could forget the currently negotiated additional 3 billion austerity budget cuts  even less pension and higher taxes for the poor. To be sure, Greek debt relief will not come from the current EU/EC-troika constellation. To the contrary, the German Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has ever harsher words for Greece, as if he was threatening pushing Greece out of the EU. An empty threat, as everybody should know by now. Washington, also the masters of Germany, will not allow a Grexit, or a Brexit or an exit by any EU member. Washington needs the EU intact to eventually serve as a slave partner in TTIP and TiSA. What happened and continues to happen to Greece may serve as a (learning) example for other weak southern EU countries to follow  unless, yes, unless, Greece or another country under EC-troika imposed economic and financial stress and strangulation takes the bull by the horns  taking a drastic decision: Exit the EU and the euro-zone, jump-start the local economy with a local currency, and negotiate the illegal and fraudulently imposed debt at their terms. That may bring about the end of the nefarious euro-zone  and the US-created European Union. Be aware, the EU as it exists today, is not the invention of Europeans; it is a construct thought out immediately after WWII by the US, so as to keep Europe under her control  and to create a buffer zone vis-a-vis communism, the Soviet Union. It worked so far. This idea still prevails, as we see every day how Russia and her leader is being demonized and slandered by the western media. Let us be frank, if it werent for the strategic clear-headedness and foresight of President Putin, we  Europe  would be for the third time in 100 years enmeshed in a world war. And if we let this Washington imposed trend continue, Europe will become an Anglo-American slaveland. Just look at TTIP and TiSA. A true federation of sovereign European countries down the road, perhaps even with a common currency and a real central bank, may be a viable long-term solution for Europe. But  and this is the most important BUT, such a Europe will have to be designed by true and honest Europeans  am I dreaming?  and absolutely without any influence of the United States of America. None. Anyone of the 28 EU countries could return happiness to the people of Europe; could take the pain, frustration, fear and anxiety away; could reinstate national sovereignty, could bring national pride and local  instead of global  economy to the fore  by exiting the EU, by forfeiting the euro, by taking the reign of their people into the hands of a sovereign, democratic government. A simple exit by one country  Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, the UK, France you name it, could bring the ferocious debt machine to a grinding halt, opening the opportunity of joining a new, more just and more equal monetary scheme  the nascent combined eastern economic space of China, Russia, BRICS, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union). To be sure, time is important. Not for nothing Obama is pushing for speedy conclusions and signing of the disgraceful TTIP. The signing of these predatory agreements, TTIP, TiSA, TPP, is a key agenda item of Obamas Presidency; his corporate and military legacy  NATO expansion is part of it  may depend on it. Once these treaties are signed, there is no way back. If the TTIP is ratified despite all logic, and if subsequently the EU fell apart  each country would still be held accountable to the terms of the agreement. Hence, time for an EU collapse before signing of the TTIP and TiSA is of the essence. This radical solution may be too much even for staunch EU / Euro opponents. Many of them still seek, hope and dream of a reformed EU. They still live under the illusion that things could be worked out. Believe me  they cannot. The Machiavellian US-invented venture, called European Union with the equally US-invented common currency  the Eurozone  has run its course. It is about to ram the proverbial iceberg. The EU-Euro vessel is too heavy to veer away from disaster. Europe is better off taking time to regroup; each nation with the objective of regaining political and economic sovereignty  and perhaps with an eye a couple of generations down the road envisaging a new United Europe of sovereign federal states, independent, totally delinked from the diabolical games of the western Anglo-American empire. 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 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 .
Louisiana Number One in Incarceration

By Bill Quigley

May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - In 2014, the US Department of Justice confirmed Louisiana remained number 1, among the 50 states, with 38,030 in prison, a rate of 816 per 100,000 over 100 points ahead of next highest state Oklahoma. Because the US leads the world in incarcerating its people, this means Louisiana is number one in the world. Compare Louisianas rate of 816 people per 100,000 with Russias 492, China with 119, France with 100, and Germany with 78.

Louisiana first became number 1 in the nation in 2005 when it was imprisoning 36,083 people. Louisiana remained number 1, in 2010 with 35,207 in prison, an incarceration rate of 867 per 100,000 people, over 200 points head of the next highest state Mississippi.

It was not always so. In 1965, Louisiana ranked 13th nationally in putting its citizens in jail with a rate of 109 prisoners per 100,000 people. In 1978, Louisiana only held 7,291 people behind bars. By 1986, Louisiana was 5th highest in the nation in putting its own citizens in prison, with 14,580 behind bars, a rate of 322 per 100,000, according to the US Department of Justice. In 1990, Louisiana rose to 3rd highest in the nation, putting 18,599 behind bars, a rate of 427 per 100,000. In 2000, Louisiana moved to 2nd highest in the nation, imprisoning 35,047 behind bars, a rate of 801 per 100,000.

The number of prisoners expanded nation-wide as a result of the war on drugs which was conducted in a racist way to target blacks. But in Louisiana, the prisons also backed up when the practice of releasing prisoners for good behavior after 10 years and 6 months of their life sentences was ended in the 1970s.

Louisiana has been much more severe in sending black people to prison than whites, at least after black people were no longer slaves. In 1860, when the Civil War started, the population of the Louisiana penitentiary was two-thirds white. But by 1868, the population of Louisianas penitentiary was two-thirds black.

Angola Penitentiary remains the largest maximum security prison in the United States. There are over 5000 prisoners at Angola alone. The average sentence for prisoners there is 93 years. About 95 percent of people serving time at Angola will die there under current laws.

It costs taxpayers an average of $23,000 a year for each inmate at Angola. Over 400 people, about 9 percent of those serving life in Louisiana, were convicted of non-violent offenses.

There are an additional 69,000 people in Louisiana on probation and parole.

Louisiana has a long history of running abusive prisons. In 1835, Louisiana was described as having the worst prison in the United States. In 1952, after dozens of Angola inmates slashed their heel tendons in protest of barbaric conditions, Colliers magazine called Angola Americas worst prison. In 1970, the American Bar Association said conditions at Angola were medieval, squalid and horrifying. By 1975, conditions were so terrible, a Federal judge declared Angola a state of emergency.
Zionisms Roots Help Us Interpret Israel Today By Jonathan Cook It was an assessment no one expected from the deputy head of the Israeli military. In his Holocaust Day speech last week, Yair Golan compared current trends in Israel with Germany in the early 1930s. In todays Israel, he said, could be recognised the revolting processes that occurred in Europe  There is nothing easier than hating the stranger, nothing easier than to stir fears and intimidate. The furore over Gen Golans remarks followed a similar outcry in Britain at statements by former London mayor Ken Livingstone. He observed that Hitler had been supporting Zionism in 1933 when the Nazis signed a transfer agreement, allowing some German Jews to emigrate to Palestine. In their different ways both comments refer back to a heated argument among Jews about whether Zionism was a blessing or a blight. Although largely overlooked today, the dispute throws much light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Those differences came to a head in 1917 when the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, a document promising for the first time to realise the Zionist goal of a national home for the Jews in Palestine. Only one minister, Edwin Montagu, dissented. Notably, he was the only Jew in the British cabinet. The two facts were not unconnected. In a memo, he warned that his governments policy would be a rallying ground for anti-Semites in every country. He was far from alone in that view. Of the 4 million Jews who left Europe between 1880 and 1920, only 100,000 went to Palestine in line with Zionist expectations. As the Israeli novelist A B Yehoshua once noted: If the Zionist party had run in an election in the early 20th century, it would have received only 6 or 7 per cent of the Jewish peoples vote. What Montagu feared was that the creation of a Jewish state in a far-flung territory dovetailed a little too neatly with the aspirations of Europes anti-Semites, then much in evidence, including in the British government. According to the dominant assumptions of Europes ethnic nationalisms of the time, the region should be divided into peoples or biological races, and each should control a territory in which it could flourish. The Jews were viewed as a problem because  in addition to lingering Christian anti-Semitism  they were considered subversive of this national model. Jews were seen as a race apart, one that could not  or should not  be allowed to assimilate. Better, on this view, to encourage their emigration from Europe. For British elites, the Balfour Declaration was a means to achieve that end. Theodor Herzl, the father of political Zionism, understood this trenchant anti-Semitism very well. His idea for a Jewish state was inspired in part by the infamous Dreyfus affair, in which a Jewish French army officer was framed by his commanders for treason. Herzl was convinced that anti-Semitism would always exclude Jews from true acceptance in Europe. It is for this reason that Mr Livingstones comments  however clumsily expressed  point to an important truth. Herzl and other early Zionists implicitly accepted the ugly framework of European bigotry. Jews, Herzl concluded, must embrace their otherness and regard themselves as a separate race. Once they found a benefactor to give them a territory  soon Britain would oblige with Palestine  they could emulate the other European peoples from afar. For a while, some Nazi leaders were sympathetic. Adolf Eichmann, one of the later engineers of the Holocaust, visited Palestine in 1937 to promote the Zionist emigration of Jews. Hannah Arendt, the German Jewish scholar of totalitarianism, argued even in 1944  long after the Nazis abandoned ideas of emigration and embraced genocide instead  that the ideology underpinning Zionism was nothing else than the uncritical acceptance of German-inspired nationalism. Israel and its supporters would prefer we forget that, before the rise of the Nazis, most Jews deeply opposed a future in which they were consigned to Palestine. Those who try to remind us of this forgotten history are likely to be denounced, like Livingstone, as anti-Semites. They are accused of making a simplistic comparison between Zionism and Nazism. But there is good reason to examine this uncomfortable period. Modern Israeli politicians, including Benjamin Netanyahu, still regularly declare that Jews have only one home  in Israel. After every terror attack in Europe, they urge Jews to hurry to Israel, telling them they can never be safe where they are. It also alerts us to the fact that even today the Zionist movement cannot help but mirror many of the flaws of those now-discredited European ethnic nationalisms, as Gen Golan appears to appreciate. Such characteristics  all too apparent in Israel  include: an exclusionary definition of peoplehood; a need to foment fear and hatred of the other as a way to keep the nation tightly bound; an obsession with and hunger for territory; and a highly militarised culture. Recognising Zionisms ideological roots, inspired by racial theories of peoplehood that in part fuelled the Second World War, might allow us to understand modern Israel a little better. And why it seems incapable of extending a hand of peace to the Palestinians. - See more at: http://www.jonathan-cook.net/2016-05-09/zionisms-roots-help-us-interpret-israel-today/#sthash.usYgWyh5.dpuf May 12, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - It was an assessment no one expected from the deputy head of the Israeli military. In his Holocaust Day speech last week, Yair Golan compared current trends in Israel with Germany in the early 1930s. In todays Israel, he said, could be recognised the revolting processes that occurred in Europe  There is nothing easier than hating the stranger, nothing easier than to stir fears and intimidate. The furore over Gen Golans remarks followed a similar outcry in Britain at statements by former London mayor Ken Livingstone. He observed that Hitler had been supporting Zionism in 1933 when the Nazis signed a transfer agreement, allowing some German Jews to emigrate to Palestine. In their different ways both comments refer back to a heated argument among Jews about whether Zionism was a blessing or a blight. Although largely overlooked today, the dispute throws much light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Those differences came to a head in 1917 when the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, a document promising for the first time to realise the Zionist goal of a national home for the Jews in Palestine. Only one minister, Edwin Montagu, dissented. Notably, he was the only Jew in the British cabinet. The two facts were not unconnected. In a memo, he warned that his governments policy would be a rallying ground for anti-Semites in every country. He was far from alone in that view. Of the 4 million Jews who left Europe between 1880 and 1920, only 100,000 went to Palestine in line with Zionist expectations. As the Israeli novelist A B Yehoshua once noted: If the Zionist party had run in an election in the early 20th century, it would have received only 6 or 7 per cent of the Jewish peoples vote. What Montagu feared was that the creation of a Jewish state in a far-flung territory dovetailed a little too neatly with the aspirations of Europes anti-Semites, then much in evidence, including in the British government. According to the dominant assumptions of Europes ethnic nationalisms of the time, the region should be divided into peoples or biological races, and each should control a territory in which it could flourish. The Jews were viewed as a problem because  in addition to lingering Christian anti-Semitism  they were considered subversive of this national model. Jews were seen as a race apart, one that could not  or should not  be allowed to assimilate. Better, on this view, to encourage their emigration from Europe. For British elites, the Balfour Declaration was a means to achieve that end. Theodor Herzl, the father of political Zionism, understood this trenchant anti-Semitism very well. His idea for a Jewish state was inspired in part by the infamous Dreyfus affair, in which a Jewish French army officer was framed by his commanders for treason. Herzl was convinced that anti-Semitism would always exclude Jews from true acceptance in Europe. It is for this reason that Mr Livingstones comments  however clumsily expressed  point to an important truth. Herzl and other early Zionists implicitly accepted the ugly framework of European bigotry. Jews, Herzl concluded, must embrace their otherness and regard themselves as a separate race. Once they found a benefactor to give them a territory  soon Britain would oblige with Palestine  they could emulate the other European peoples from afar. For a while, some Nazi leaders were sympathetic. Adolf Eichmann, one of the later engineers of the Holocaust, visited Palestine in 1937 to promote the Zionist emigration of Jews. Hannah Arendt, the German Jewish scholar of totalitarianism, argued even in 1944  long after the Nazis abandoned ideas of emigration and embraced genocide instead  that the ideology underpinning Zionism was nothing else than the uncritical acceptance of German-inspired nationalism. Israel and its supporters would prefer we forget that, before the rise of the Nazis, most Jews deeply opposed a future in which they were consigned to Palestine. Those who try to remind us of this forgotten history are likely to be denounced, like Livingstone, as anti-Semites. They are accused of making a simplistic comparison between Zionism and Nazism. But there is good reason to examine this uncomfortable period. Modern Israeli politicians, including Benjamin Netanyahu, still regularly declare that Jews have only one home  in Israel. After every terror attack in Europe, they urge Jews to hurry to Israel, telling them they can never be safe where they are. It also alerts us to the fact that even today the Zionist movement cannot help but mirror many of the flaws of those now-discredited European ethnic nationalisms, as Gen Golan appears to appreciate. Such characteristics  all too apparent in Israel  include: an exclusionary definition of peoplehood; a need to foment fear and hatred of the other as a way to keep the nation tightly bound; an obsession with and hunger for territory; and a highly militarised culture. Recognising Zionisms ideological roots, inspired by racial theories of peoplehood that in part fuelled the Second World War, might allow us to understand modern Israel a little better. And why it seems incapable of extending a hand of peace to the Palestinians. Jonathan Cook is a Nazareth- based journalist and winner of the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism - http://www.jonathan-cook.net/
Live With What Is Necessary And Fairest: Jose Mujica

Video "Human nature is constructed in such a way that you end up learning much more from suffering than from a life of ease."



Jose Mujica, nicknamed Pepe Mujica, was President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. A former Tupamaros freedom fighter in the 60s and the 70s, he was detained, like a hostage by the dictatorship between 1973 and 1985. He advocates a philosophy of life focused on sobriety: learn to live with what is necessary and fairest. Posted May 12, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GX6a2WEA1Q#t=15
A Perfect Storm By Judge Andrew P. Napolitano May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The bad legal news for Hillary Clinton continued to cascade upon her presidential hopes during the past week in what has amounted to a perfect storm of legal misery. Here is what happened. Last week, Mrs. Clintons five closest advisors when she was Secretary of State, four of whom remain close to her and have significant positions in her presidential campaign, were interrogated by the FBI. These interrogations were voluntary, not under oath, and done in the presence of the same legal team which represented all five aides. The atmosphere was confrontational, as the purpose of the interrogations is to enable federal prosecutors and investigators to determine whether these five are targets or witnesses. Stated differently, the feds need to decide if they should charge any of these folks as part of a plan to commit espionage, or if they will be witnesses on behalf of the government should there be such a prosecution; or witnesses for Mrs. Clinton. In the same week, a federal judge ordered the same five persons to give videotaped testimony in a civil lawsuit against the State Department which once employed them in order to determine if there was a "conspiracy"  thats the word used by the judge  in Mrs. Clintons office to evade federal transparency laws. Stated differently, the purpose of these interrogations is to seek evidence of an agreement to avoid the Freedom of Information Act requirements of storage and transparency of records, and whether such an agreement, if it existed, was also an agreement to commit espionage  the removal of state secrets from a secure place to a non-secure place. Also earlier this week, the State Department revealed that it cannot find the emails of Bryan Pagliano for the four years that he was employed there. Who is Bryan Pagliano? He is the former information technology expert, employed by the State Department to problem shoot Mrs. Clintons entail issues. Pagliano was also personally employed by Mrs. Clinton. She paid him $5,000 to migrate her regular State Department email account and her secret State Department email account from their secure State Department servers to her personal, secret, non-secure server in her home in Chappaqua, New York. That was undoubtedly a criminal act. Pagliano either received a promise of non-prosecution or an actual order of immunity from a federal judge. He is now the governments chief witness against Mrs. Clinton. It is almost inconceivable that all of his emails have been lost. Surely this will intrigue the FBI, which has reportedly been able to retrieve the emails Mrs. Clinton attempted to wipe from her server. While all of this has been going on, intelligence community sources have reported about a below the radar screen, yet largely known debate in the Kremlin between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Intelligence Services. They are trying to come to a meeting of the minds to determine whether the Russian government should release some 20,000 of Mrs. Clintons emails that it obtained either by hacking her directly or by hacking into the email of her confidante, Sid Blumenthal. As if all this wasnt enough bad news for Mrs. Clinton in one week, the FBI learned last week from the convicted international hacker, who calls himself Guccifer, that he knows how the Russians came to possess Mrs. Clintons emails; and it is because she stored, received and sent them from her personal, secret, non-secure server. Mrs. Clinton has not been confronted publicly and asked for an explanation of her thoughts about the confluence of these events, but she has been asked if the FBI has reached out to her. It may seem counter-intuitive, but in white collar criminal cases, the FBI gives the targets of its investigations an opportunity to come in and explain why the target should not be indicted. This is treacherous ground for any target, even a smart lawyer like Mrs. Clinton. She does not know what the feds know about her. She faces a damned-if-she-does and damned-if-she-doesnt choice here. Any lie and any materially misleading statement  and she is prone to both  made to the FBI can form the basis for an independent criminal charge against her. This is the environment that trapped Martha Stewart. Hence the standard practice among experienced counsel is to decline interviews by the folks investigating their clients. But Mrs. Clinton is no ordinary client. She is running for president. She lies frequently. We know this because, when asked if the FBI has reached out to her for an interview, she told reporters that neither she nor her campaign had heard from the FBI; but she couldnt wait to talk to the agents. That is a mouthful, and the FBI knows it. First, the FBI does not come calling upon her campaign or even upon her. The Department of Justice prosecutors will call upon her lawyers  and that has already been done, and Mrs. Clinton knows it. So her statements about the FBI not calling her or the campaign were profoundly misleading, and the FBI knows that. Mrs. Clintons folks are preparing for the worst. They have leaked nonsense from "U.S. officials" that the feds have found no intent to commit espionage on the part of Mrs. Clinton. Too bad these officials  political appointees, no doubt  skipped or failed Criminal Law 101. The government need not prove intent for either espionage or for lying to federal agents. And it prosecutes both crimes very vigorously. Andrew P. Napolitano, a former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, is the senior judicial analyst at Fox News Channel. Judge Napolitano has written seven books on the U.S. Constitution. The most recent is Theodore and Woodrow: How Two American Presidents Destroyed Constitutional Freedom. COPYRIGHT 2014 ANDREW P. NAPOLITANO  DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM Hillary Clinton lying for 13 minutes straight See also Persian Gulf Sheikhs Gave Bill & Hillary $100 Million : These regimes are buying access. Youve got the Saudis. Youve got the Kuwaitis, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. There are massive conflicts of interest. Its beyond comprehension, Poole told TheDCNF in an interview
In Syria, Russia Defends Civilization  the West, Sides with Barbarism



Russia's concert in Palmyra was a blow against the barbarism of Daesh and the cynical indifference of the West.



By The Saker May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Duran " - The recent Russian concert in Palmyra was an event loaded with symbolism. While it was the Syrians who liberated this ancient city and while the Russian only provided support, this support was crucial and, besides, it was not just Palmyra which Russia saved, but the Syrian nation. I would even argue that Russian in Palmyra saved not just Syria, but all of civilization. Imagine you are an extraterrestrial watching our planet from space. Not only would you see the unspeakable atrocities committed by the Daesh liver-eating psychopaths, but you would see that the Empire which runs most of the planet, and the so-called western civilization which shaped our modern world more than any other civilization, have given their full backing to the Daesh. You would see the US TOW missiles used against the only army capable of standing up against Daesh, you would see all the countries making up the so-called concert of nations (about, maybe, 1/3rd of the countries out there) calling for the overthrow of the legal and legitimate President of Syria even if that means that a black Daesh flag over Damascus. You would see the genocide of Christians while the putatively Christian world looks away and the genocide of (all non-Takfiri) Muslims while the putatively Muslim world looks away. You would see the self-described Leader of the Free World condemn the (very limited) Russian military intervention in Syria and you would see a member of the most powerful military alliance on the planet (Turkey) make millions by trading stolen oil with Daesh. This list could go on and on, but I think that we can agree that any extra-terrestrial observing this would be overcome by a total sense of disgust with the human race. But then you would see one country  Russia  not only helping to liberate the ancient Palmyra from the demonic beasts which tried to destroy it, but then also fully clear it from mines and unexploded ordinance it, making it safe to rebuilt. And, finally, you would see Russia bringing her best musicians to render a heartbreaking homage to those who were tortured and murdered not just by Daesh, but primarily by those who created and unleashed Daesh  the Anglo Zionist Empire. I find it most significant that the concert did not begin with a piece by a Russian composer. Instead the Russians chose to begin with a poignant piece by Johann Sebastian Bach: this famous Chaconne, Partita for solo violin N 2 in D minor, BWV 1004. Yehudi Menuhin called the Chaconne the greatest structure for solo violin that exists and Violinist Joshua Bell has said the Chaconne is not just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history. Its a spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect (source). This is no coincidence. The Russian chose mankinds greatest composer and one of his greatest compositions to show, I believe, that mankind is not only about evil, horror, lies and murder, but that the Western civilization also produced some of the most refined, spiritual and beautiful art ever. Only the transcendent music of Bach could represent a worthy voice to bring beauty to the very same place where Daesh had organized mass executions. The message was you want to destroy civilization and even beauty  and we bring you Bach!. Bach as a weapon of civilization is no less important this context than SU-34 aircraft and cruise missiles are to the kinetic war against terrorism. It is ironic that Russia, which never was really part of the Western world, was the one to bring Bach to Palmyra. Had the Americans decided to organize a concert, they would never have bothered with Palmyra or the Syrian people  they would have had Toby Keith sing for US Marines on a US military base (or something like this). The Russians, instead, played Bach in Palmyra. Today Russia stands for all of civilization. Even the western one. 2016 All Rights Reserved. The Duran is a registered trademark of The Duran Group PLC.
The Real Target of the Panama Papers By Pepe Escobar May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " teleSur " - So this is the way the Panama Papers end. Not with a bangas in Putin hiding US$2 billion; you all remember the original headlines. But with a whimper; everyone lining up to duly access a prosaic database and find out the names of nearly 320,000 entities/offshore companies/trusts/foundations engaged in beautifying the finances of the rich and powerful. The Soros-financed International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has not exactly fulfilled its mandate of heaping dirt on selected BRICS nations and the odd enemy of imperial interests/valuesbased on a NSA-style hack of Mossack Fonseca. So whats left is for everyone to freely peruse names and addresses of companies in 21 jurisdictionsincluding Hong Kong and Nevada in the U.S. Yet don't expect to see bank account numbers, phone numbers or compromising emails. Panamawhere no one can flush a toilet without the U.S. government knowing about itis for suckers; the real elite, connected (or profiting) even indirectly from the real Masters of the Universe and the liquid modernity enablers of top of the line turbo-capitalism use hack-proof Luxembourg, Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands connections  not to mention secure, Empire-based Delaware and Nevada loopholes. Fictional scenarios, anyway, will continue to prosper, such as the myth the Panama Papers leak came from one John Doean anonymous whistleblower who allegedly contacted the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and the ICIJ with a mini-manifesto titled The revolution will be digitized. John Doe justified his alleged leak by arguing that tax evasion was one of the great issues of our time, and governments must do more to prevent it. Thus his pledge"I want to make these crimes public"as he unloaded 11.5 million files (2.6 terabytes of data), which took over a year to be perused by ICIJ hacks, in absolute secrecy, with no leaks whatsoever. John Doe is no Daniel Ellsberg or Edward Snowden. Apart from the resignation of Sigmundur Davi Gunnlaugsson, prime minister of Iceland, and the offshore trust set up by David Camerons Dad, the Panama Papers did not yield anything really groundbreaking, as much as the bombastic headlines in the first four days insisted to demonize powerful players in Russia and China, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin. Everyone familiar with the inner mechanisms of turbo-capitalism knows how wealthy tax-evading players across the spectrumin this case helped by Mossack Fonsecago legally offshore. Of course, this carries the possibility of countless open roads for fraud and/or illicit money laundering. The G20 has already agreed that the government of each member nation should know who are the real owners of legally registered offshore companies. But implementation, so far, has been negligible. Turbo-finance always trumps parliamentary politics. Mossack Fonseca insists the whole Panama Papers saga is based on the theft of confidential information." The ICIJ for its part insists the disclosure is in the public interest as a careful release of basic corporate information, and not a data dump. Nonsense. It is a data dump. As for the basic corporate information, in does not prove anything; the ICIJ itselfin the preface to the latest releaseobserves that the appearance of particular names and companies on the list does not imply wrongdoing. ICIJ hacks used Nuixan Australian computer forensics and IT investigation softwareto sift through the data. But, crucially, the decisions by mainstream media organs on what to publish first, and how to edit the information, were purely political. Public opinion in the global South immediately noted the absence of Americans. Of course; Americans in the know use the Caymans and the Virgin Islands, as well as Delaware and Nevada, not Panama. Still, the ICIJ now has to resort to lame excuses, such as Mossack Fonsecas working relationships with dozens of Americans tied to financial misconduct raises questions about how well the firm keeps its commitment to following international standards for preventing money laundering and keeping offshore companies out of the hands of criminal elements. This has absolutely nothing to do with international standards for preventing money laundering." If you know how to itask HSBCor if you have the right connections, you get away with it. What this is all about is one more chapter in an intra-system hardcore financial war. To have the ICIJ remote-controlled by Soros, the Ford Foundation, the CIA itself, is a beauty. And obfuscationas in informative selectivenessworks wonders; remember the initial emphasis on axis of evil characters, oldas in connected to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadand new (Putin, relatives of Xi Jinping). The heart of the matter is that the Panama Papers disclosure didnt disturb the global financial casino one bit, because the (transnational) system badly needs fiscal paradises to evade national laws. What the Panama Papers may succeed in is to eliminate competition. From now on, your fiscal paradise of choice must be in U.S., U.K. and Dutch jurisdictions. We control every global financial flowlegal or otherwise. Defy usor else. See also New Panama Papers Embroil Latin American Elite
Syria, ISIS, and the US-UK Propaganda War By Eric Draitser May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " NEO " - With the war in Syria raging in its fifth year, and the Islamic State wreaking havoc throughout the Middle East and North Africa, its clear that the entire region has been made into one large theater of conflict. But the battlefield must not be understood solely as a physical place located on a map; it is equally a social and cultural space where the forces of the US-UK-NATO Empire employ a variety of tactics to influence the course of events and create an outcome amenable to their agenda. And none to greater effect than propaganda. Indeed, if the ongoing war in Syria, and the conflicts of the post-Arab Spring period generally, have taught us anything, it is the power of propaganda and public relations to shape narratives which in turn impact political events. Given the awesome power of information in the postmodern political landscape, it should come as no surprise that both the US and UK have become world leaders in government-sponsored propaganda masquerading as legitimate, grassroots political and social expression. London, Washington, and the Power of Manipulation The Guardian recently revealed how the UK Governments Research, Information, and Communications Unit (RICU) is involved in surveillance, information dissemination, and promotion of individuals and groups as part of what it describes as an attempt at attitudinal and behavioral change among its Muslim youth population. This sort of counter-messaging is nothing new, and has been much discussed for years. However, the Guardian piece actually exposed the much deeper connections between RICU and various grassroots organizations, online campaigns, and social media penetration. The article outlined the relationship between the UK Governments RICU and a London-based communications company called Breakthrough Media Network which has produced dozens of websites, leaflets, videos, films, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and online radio content, with titles such as The Truth about Isis and Help for Syria. Considering the nature of social media, and the manner in which information (or disinformation) is spread online, it should come as no surprise that a number of the viral videos, popular twitter feeds, and other materials that seemingly align with the anti-Assad line of London and Washington are, in fact, the direct products of a government-sponsored propaganda campaign. In fact, as the authors of the story noted: One Ricu initiative, which advertises itself as a campaign providing advice on how to raise funds for Syrian refugees, has had face-to-face conversations with thousands of students at university freshers fairs without any students realising they were engaging with a government programme. That campaign, called Help for Syria, has distributed leaflets to 760,000 homes without the recipients realising they were government communications. Its not hard to see what the British Government is trying to do with such efforts; they are an attempt to control the messaging of the war on Syria, and to redirect grassroots anti-war activism to channels deemed acceptable to the political establishment. Imagine for a moment the impact on an 18-year-old college freshman just stepping into the political arena, and immediately encountering seasoned veteran activists who influence his/her thinking on the nature of the war, who the good guys and bad guys are, and what should be done. Now multiply that by thousands and thousands of students. The impact of such efforts is profound. But it is much more than simply interactions with prospective activists and the creation of propaganda materials; it is also about surveillance and social media penetration. According to the article, One of Ricus primary tasks is to monitor online conversations among what it describes as vulnerable communities. After products are released, Ricu staff monitor key forums for online conversations to track shifting narratives, one of the documents [obtained by The Guardian] shows. It is clear that such efforts are really about online penetration, especially via social media. By monitoring and manipulating in this way, the British Government is able to influence, in a precise and highly targeted way, the narrative about the war on Syria, ISIS, and a host of issues relevant to both its domestic politics and the geopolitical and strategic interests of the British state. Herein lies the nexus between surveillance, propaganda, and politics. But of course the UK is not alone in this effort, as the US has a similar program with its Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) which describes its mission as being: [to] coordinate, orient, and inform government-wide foreign communications activities targeted against terrorism and violent extremism CSCC is comprised of three interactive components. The integrated analysis component leverages the Intelligence Community and other substantive experts to ensure CSCC communicators benefit from the best information and analysis available. The plans and operations component draws on this input to devise effective ways to counter the terrorist narrative. The Digital Outreach Team actively and openly engages in Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, and Somali. Notice that the CSCC is, in effect, an intelligence hub acting to coordinate propaganda for CIA, DIA, DHS, and NSA, among others. This mission, of course, is shrouded in terminology like integrated analysis and plans and operations  terms used to designate the various components of the overall CSCC mission. Like RICU, the CSCC is focused on shaping narratives online under the pretext of counter-radicalization. It should be noted too that CSCC becomes a propaganda clearinghouse of sorts not just for the US Government, but also for its key foreign allies (think Israel, Saudi Arabia, Britain), as well as perhaps favored NGOs like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, or Doctors Without Borders (MSF). As the New York Times noted: [The CSCC will] harness all the existing attempts at countermessaging by much larger federal departments, including the Pentagon, Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. The center would also coordinate and amplify similar messaging by foreign allies and nongovernment agencies, as well as by prominent Muslim academics, community leaders and religious scholars who oppose the Islamic State. But taking this information one step further, it calls into question yet again the veracity of much of the dominant narrative about Syria, Libya, ISIS, and related topics. With social media and citizen journalism having become so influential in how ordinary people think about these issues, one is yet again forced to consider the degree of manipulation of these phenomena. Manufacturing Social Media Narratives It is by now well documented the myriad ways in which Western governments have been investing heavily in tools for manipulating social media in order to shape narratives. In fact, the US CIA alone has invested millions in literally dozens of social media-related startups via its investment arm known as In-Q-Tel. The CIA is spending the tens of millions of dollars providing seed money to these companies in order to have the ability to do everything from data mining to real-time surveillance. The truth is that weve known about the governments desire to manipulate social media for years. Back in February 2011, just as the wars on Libya and Syria were beginning, an interesting story was published by PC World under the title Army of Fake Social Media Friends to Promote Propaganda which explained in very mundane language that: the U.S. government contracted HBGary Federal for the development of software which could create multiple fake social media profiles to manipulate and sway public opinion on controversial issues by promoting propaganda. It could also be used as surveillance to find public opinions with points of view the powers-that-be didnt like. It could then potentially have their fake people run smear campaigns against those real people. Close observers of the US-NATO war on Libya will recall just how many twitter accounts miraculously surfaced, with tens of thousands of followers each, to report on the atrocities carried out by Muammar Gaddafis armed forces, and call for a No Fly Zone and regime change. Certainly one is left to wonder now, as many of us did at the time, whether those accounts werent simply fakes created by either a Pentagon computer program, or by paid trolls. A recent example of the sort of social media disinformation that has been (and will continue to be) employed in the war on Syria/ISIS came in December 2014 when a prominent ISIS twitter propagandist known as Shami Witness (@ShamiWitness) was exposed as a man named Mehdi, (later confirmed as Mehdi Biswas) described as an advertising executive based in Bangalore, India. @ShamiWitness had been cited as an authoritative source  a veritable wealth of information  about ISIS and Syria by corporate media outfits, as well as ostensibly reliable and independent bloggers such as the ubiquitous Eliot Higgins (aka Brown Moses) who cited Shami repeatedly. This former expert on ISIS has now been charged in India with crimes including supporting a terrorist organisation, waging war against the State, unlawful activities, conspiracy, sedition and promoting enmity. In another example of online media manipulation, in early 2011, as the war on Syria was just beginning, a blogger then known only as the Gay Girl in Damascus rose to prominence as a key source of information and analysis about the situation in Syria. The Guardian, among other media outlets, lauded her as an unlikely hero of revolt who is capturing the imagination of the Syrian opposition with a blog that has shot to prominence as the protest movement struggles in the face of a brutal government crackdown. However, by June of 2011, the brutally honest Gay Girl was exposed as a hoax, a complete fabrication concocted by one Tom MacMaster. Naturally, the same outlets that had been touting the Gay Girl as a legitimate source of information on Syria immediately backtracked and disavowed the blog. However, the one-sided narrative of brutal and criminal repression of peace-loving activists in Syria stuck. While the source was discredited, the narrative remained entrenched. And this last point is perhaps the key: online manipulation is designed to control narratives. While the war may be fought on the battlefield, it is equally fought for the hearts and minds of activists, news consumers, and ordinary citizens in the West. The UK and US both have extensive information war capabilities, and theyre not afraid to use them. And so, we should not be afraid to expose them. Eric Draitser is an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City, he is the founder of StopImperialism.org and OP-ed columnist for RT, exclusively for the online magazine New Eastern Outlook.
Washingtons Military Addiction

And The Ruins Still to Come





By Tom Engelhardt

May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Tom Dispatch " - There are the news stories that genuinely surprise you, and then there are the ones that you could write in your sleep before they happen. Let me concoct an example for you:

Top American and European military leaders are weighing options to step up the fight against the Islamic State in the Mideast, including possibly sending more U.S. forces into Iraq, Syria, and Libya, just as Washington confirmed the second American combat casualty in Iraq in as many months.

Oh wait, that was actually the lead sentence in a May 3rd Washington Times piece by Carlo Munoz. Honestly, though, it could have been written anytime in the last few months by just about anyone paying any attention whatsoever, and it surely will prove reusable in the months to come (with casualty figures altered, of course). The sad truth is that across the Greater Middle East and expanding parts of Africa, a similar set of lines could be written ahead of time about the use of Special Operations forces, drones, advisers, whatever, as could the sorry results of making such moves in [add the name of your country of choice here].

Put another way, in a Washington that seems incapable of doing anything but worshiping at the temple of the U.S. military, global policymaking has become a remarkably mindless military-first process of repetition. Its as if, as problems built up in your life, you looked in the closet marked solutions and the only thing you could ever see was one hulking, over-armed soldier, whom you obsessively let loose, causing yet more damage.

How Much, How Many, How Often, and How Destructively

In Iraq and Syria, its been mission creep all the way. The B-52s barely made it to the battle zone for the first time and were almost instantaneously in the air, attacking Islamic State militants. U.S. firebases are built ever closer to the front lines. The number of special ops forces continues to edge up. American weapons flow in (ending up in god knows whose hands). American trainers and advisers follow in ever increasing numbers, and those numbers are repeatedly fiddled with to deemphasize how many of them are actually there. The private contractors begin to arrive in numbers never to be counted. The local forces being trained or retrained have their usual problems in battle. American troops and advisers who were never, never going to be in combat or boots on the ground themselves now have their boots distinctly on the ground in combat situations. The first American casualties are dribbling in. Meanwhile, conditions in tottering Iraq and the former nation of Syria grow ever murkier, more chaotic, and less amenable by the week to any solution American officials might care for.

And the response to all this in present-day Washington?

You know perfectly well what the sole imaginable response can be: sending in yet more weapons, boots, air power, special ops types, trainers, advisers, private contractors, drones, and funds to increasingly chaotic conflict zones across significant swaths of the planet. Above all, there can be no serious thought, discussion, or debate about how such a militarized approach to our world might have contributed to, and continues to contribute to, the very problems it was meant to solve. Not in our nations capital, anyway.

The only questions to be argued about are how much, how many, how often, and how destructively. In other words, the only antiwar position imaginable in Washington, where accusations of weakness or wimpishness are a dime a dozen and considered lethal to a political career, is how much less of more we can afford, militarily speaking, or how much more of somewhat less we can settle for when it comes to militarized death and destruction. Never, of course, is a genuine version of less or a none-at-all option really on that table where, its said, all policy options are kept.

Think of this as Washingtons military addiction in action. Weve been watching it for almost 15 years without drawing any of the obvious conclusions. And lest you imagine that addiction is just a figure of speech, it isnt. Washingtons attachment -- financial, tactical, and strategic -- to the U.S. military and its supposed solutions to more or less all problems in what used to be called foreign policy should by now be categorized as addictive. Otherwise, how can you explain the last decade and a half in which no military action from Afghanistan to Iraq, Yemen to Libya worked out half-well in the long run (or even, often enough, in the short run), and yet the U.S. military remains the option of first, not last, resort in just about any imaginable situation? All this in a vast region in which failed states are piling up, nations are disintegrating, terror insurgencies are spreading, humongous population upheavals are becoming the norm, and there are refugee flows of a sort not seen since significant parts of the planet were destroyed during World War II.

Either were talking addictive behavior or failure is the new success.

Keep in mind, for instance, that the president who came into office swearing he would end a disastrous war and occupation in Iraq is now overseeing a new war in an even wider region that includes Iraq, a country that is no longer quite a country, and Syria, a country that is now officially kaput. Meanwhile, in the other war he inherited, Barack Obama almost immediately launched a military-backed surge of U.S. forces, the only real argument being over whether 40,000 (or even as many as 80,000) new U.S. troops would be sent into Afghanistan or, as the antiwar president finally decided, a mere 30,000 (which made him an absolute wimp to his opponents). That was 2009. Part of that surge involved an announcement that the withdrawal of American combat forces would begin in 2011. Seven years later, that withdrawal has once again been halted in favor of what the military has taken to privately calling a generational approach -- that is, U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan into at least the 2020s.

The military term withdrawal may, however, still be appropriate even if the troops are staying in place. After all, as with addicts of any sort, the military ones in Washington cant go cold turkey without experiencing painful symptoms of withdrawal. In American political culture, these manifest themselves in charges of weakness when it comes to national security that could prove devastating in the next election. Thats why those running for office compete with one another in over-the-top descriptions of what they will do to enemies and terrorists (from acts of torture to carpet-bombing) and in even more over-the-top promises of rebuilding or strengthening whats already the largest, most expensive military on the planet, a force better funded at present than those of at least the next seven nations combined.

Such promises, the bigger the better, are now a necessity if you happen to be a Republican candidate for president. The Democrats have a lesser but similar set of options available, which is why even Bernie Sanders only calls for holding the Pentagon budget at its present staggering level or for the most modest of cuts, not for reducing it significantly. And even when, for instance, the urge to rein in military expenses did sweep Washington as part of an overall urge to cut back government expenses, it only resulted in a half-secret slush fund or war budget that kept the goodies flowing in.

These should all be taken as symptoms of Washingtons military addiction and of what happens when the slightest signs of withdrawal set in. The U.S. military is visibly the drug of choice in the American political arena and, as is only appropriate for the force that has, since 2002, funded, armed, and propped up the planets largest supplier of opium, once youre hooked, theres no shaking it.

Hawkish Washington

Recently, in the New York Times Magazine, journalist Mark Landler offered a political portrait entitled How Hillary Clinton Became a Hawk. He laid out just how the senator and later secretary of state remade herself as, essentially, a military groupie, fawning over commanders or former commanders ranging from then-General David Petraeus to Fox analyst and retired general Jack Keane; how, that is, she became a figure, even on the present political landscape, notable for her appetite for military engagement abroad (and as a consequence, well-defended against Republican charges of weakness).

Theres no reason, however, to pin the war-lover or last true hawk label on her alone, not in present-day Washington. After all, just about everyone there wants a piece of the action. During their primary season debates, for instance, a number of the Republican candidates spoke repeatedly about building up the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, while making that already growing force sound like a set of decrepit barges.

To offer another example, no presidential candidate these days could afford to reject the White House-run drone assassination program. To be assassin-in-chief is now considered as much a part of the presidential job description as commander-in-chief, even though the drone program, like so many other militarized foreign policy operations these days, shows little sign of reining in terrorism despite the number of bad guys and terror leaders it kills (along with significant numbers of civilian bystanders). To take Bernie Sanders as an example -- because hes as close to an antiwar candidate as youll find in the present election season -- he recently put something like his stamp of approval on the White House drone assassination project and the kill list that goes with it.

Mind you, there is simply no compelling evidence that the usual military solutions have worked or are likely to work in any imaginable sense in the present conflicts across the Greater Middle East and Africa. They have clearly, in fact, played a major role in the creation of the present disaster, and yet there is no place at all in our political system for genuinely antiwar figures (as there was in the Vietnam era, when a massive antiwar movement created space for such politics). Antiwar opinions and activities have now been driven to the peripheries of the political system along with a word like, say, peace, which you will be hard-pressed to find, even rhetorically, in the language of wartime Washington.

The Look of Victory

If a history were to be written of how the U.S. military became Washingtons drug of choice, it would undoubtedly have to begin in the Cold War era. It was, however, in the prolonged moment of triumphalism that followed the Soviet Unions implosion in 1991 that the military gained its present position of unquestioned dominance.

In those days, people were still speculating about whether the country would reap a peace dividend from the end of the Cold War. If there was ever a moment when the diversion of money from the U.S. military and the national security state to domestic concerns might have seemed like a no-brainer, that was it. After all, except for a couple of rickety rogue states like North Korea or Saddam Hussein's Iraq, where exactly were this countrys enemies to be found? And why should such a muscle-bound military continue to gobble up tax dollars at such a staggering rate in a reasonably peaceable world?

In the decade or so that followed, however, Washingtons dreams turned out to run in a very different direction -- toward a war dividend at a moment when the U.S. had, by more or less universal agreement, become the planets sole superpower. The crew who entered the White House with George W. Bush in a deeply contested election in 2000 had already been mainlining the military drug for years. To them, this seemed a planet ripe for the taking. When 9/11 hit, it loosed their dreams of conquest and control, and their faith in a military that they believed to be unstoppable. Of course, given the previous century of successful anti-imperial and national independence movements, anyone should have known that, no matter the armaments at hand, resistance was an inescapable reality on Planet Earth.

Thanks to such predictable resistance, the drug-induced imperial dreamscape of the Busheviks would prove a fantasy of the first order, even if, in that post-9/11 moment, it passed for bedrock (neo)realism. If you remember, the U.S. was to take the gloves off and release a military machine so beyond compare that nothing would be capable of standing in its path. So the dream went, so the drug spoke. Dont forget that the greatest military blunder (and crime) of this century, the invasion of Iraq, wasnt supposed to be the end of something, but merely its beginning. With Iraq in hand and garrisoned, Washington was to take down Iran and sweep up what Russian property from the Cold War era still remained in the Middle East. (Think: Syria.)

A decade and a half later, those dreams have been shattered, and yet the drug still courses through the bloodstream, the military bands play on, and the march to... well, who knows where... continues. In a way, of course, we do know where (to the extent that we humans, with our limited sense of the future, can know anything). In a way, weve already been shown a spectacle of what victory might look like once the Greater Middle East is finally liberated from the Islamic State.

The descriptions of one widely hailed victory over that brutal crew in Iraq -- the liberation of the city of Ramadi by a U.S.-trained elite Iraqi counterterrorismforce backed by artillery and American air power -- are devastating. Aided and abetted by Islamic State militants igniting or demolishing whole neighborhoods of that city, the look of Ramadi retaken should give us a grim sense of where the region is heading. Heres how the Associated Press recently described the scene, four months after the city fell:

This is what victory looks like...: in the once thriving Haji Ziad Square, not a single structure still stands. Turning in every direction yields a picture of devastation. A building that housed a pool hall and ice cream shops -- reduced to rubble. A row of money changers and motorcycle repair garages -- obliterated, a giant bomb crater in its place. The squares Haji Ziad Restaurant, beloved for years by Ramadi residents for its grilled meats -- flattened. The restaurant was so popular its owner built a larger, fancier branch across the street three years ago. That, too, is now a pile of concrete and twisted iron rods. The destruction extends to nearly every part of Ramadi, once home to 1 million people and now virtually empty.

Keep in mind that, with oil prices still deeply depressed, Iraq essentially has no money to rebuild Ramadi or anyplace else. Now imagine, as such victories multiply, versions of similar devastation spreading across the region.

In other words, one likely end result of the thoroughly militarized process that began with the invasion of Iraq (if not of Afghanistan) is already visible: a region shattered and in ruins, filled with uprooted and impoverished people. In such circumstances, it may not even matter if the Islamic State is defeated. Just imagine what Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and still in the Islamic State's hands, will be like if, someday, the long-promised offensive to liberate it is ever truly launched. Now, try to imagine that movement itself destroyed, with its capital, Raqqa, turned into another set of ruins, and remind me: What exactly is likely to emerge from such a future nightmare? Nothing, I suspect, that is likely to cheer up anyone in Washington.

And what should be done about all this? You already know Washingtons solution -- more of the same -- and breaking such a cycle of addiction is difficult even under the best of circumstances. Unfortunately, at the moment there is no force, no movement on the American scene that could open up space for such a possibility. No matter who is elected president, you already know more or less what American policy is going to be.
Neocons and Neolibs: How Dead Ideas Kill



Hillary Clinton wants the American voters to be very afraid of Donald Trump, but there is reason to fear as well what a neoconservative/neoliberal Clinton presidency would mean for the world, writes Robert Parry.



By Robert Parry May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Consortium News " - For centuries hereditary monarchy was the dominant way to select national leaders, evolving into an intricate system that sustained itself through power and propaganda even as its ideological roots shriveled amid the Age of Reason. Yet, as monarchy became a dead idea, it still killed millions in its death throes. Today, the dangerous dead ideas are neoconservatism and its close ally, neoliberalism. These are concepts that have organized American foreign policy and economics, respectively, over the past several decades  and they have failed miserably, at least from the perspective of average Americans and people of the nations on the receiving end of these ideologies. Neither approach has benefited mankind; both have led to untold death and destruction; yet the twin neos have built such a powerful propaganda and political apparatus, especially in Official Washington, that they will surely continue to wreak havoc for years to come. They are zombie ideas and they kill. Yet, the Democratic Party is poised to nominate an adherent to both neos in the person of Hillary Clinton. Rather than move forward from President Barack Obamas unease with what he calls the Washington playbook, the Democrats are retreating into its perceived safety. After all, the Washington Establishment remains enthralled to both neos, favoring the regime change interventionism of neoconservatism and the free trade globalism of neoliberalism. So, Clinton has emerged as the clear favorite of the elites, at least since the field of alternatives has narrowed to populist billionaire Donald Trump and democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. Democratic Party insiders appear to be counting on the mainstream news media and prominent opinion-leaders to marginalize Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, and to finish off Sanders, who faces long odds against Clintons delegate lead for the Democratic nomination, especially among the party regulars known as super-delegates. But the Democratic hierarchy is placing this bet on Clinton in a year when much of the American electorate has risen up against the twin neos, exhausted by the perpetual wars demanded by the neoconservatives and impoverished by the export of decent-paying manufacturing jobs driven by the neoliberals. Though much of the popular resistance to the neos remains poorly defined in the minds of rebellious voters, the common denominator of the contrasting appeals of Trump and Sanders is that millions of Americans are rejecting the neos and repudiating the establishment institutions that insist on sustaining these ideologies. The Pressing Question Thus, the pressing question for Campaign 2016 is whether America will escape from the zombies of the twin neos or spend the next four years surrounded by these undead ideas as the world lurches closer to an existential crisis. The main thing that the zombie neos have going for them is that the vast majority of Very Important People in Official Washington have embraced these concepts and have achieved money and fame as a result. These VIPs are no more likely to renounce their fat salaries and overblown influence than the favored courtiers of a King or Queen would side with the unwashed rabble. The neo adherents are also very skilled at framing issues to their benefit, made easier by the fact that they face almost no opposition or resistance from the mainstream media or the major think tanks. The neoconservatives have become Washingtons foreign policy establishment, driving the old-time realists who favored more judicious use of American power to the sidelines. Meanwhile, the neoliberals dominate economic policy debates, treating the markets as some new-age god and privatization of public assets as scripture. They have pushed aside the old New Dealers who called for a robust government role to protect the people from the excesses of capitalism and to build public infrastructure to benefit the nation as a whole. The absence of any strong resistance to the now dominant neo ideologies is why we saw the catastrophic group think over Iraqs WMD in 2003 and why for many years no one of great significance dared question the benefits of free trade. After all, both strategies benefited the elites. Neoconservative warmongering diverted trillions of dollars into the Military-Industrial Complex and neoliberal job outsourcing has made billions of dollars for individual corporate executives and stock investors on Wall Street. Those interests have, in turn, kicked back a share of the proceeds to fund Washington think tanks, to finance news outlets, and to lavish campaign donations and speaking fees on friendly politicians. So, for the insiders, this game has been a case of win-win. The Losers Not so much for the losers, those average citizens who have seen the Great American Middle Class hollowed out over the past few decades, watched Americas public infrastructure decay, and worried about their sons and daughters being sent off to fight unnecessary, perpetual and futile wars. But inundated with clever propaganda  and scrambling to make ends meet  most Americans see the reality as if through a glass darkly. Many of them, as Barack Obama indelicately said during the 2008 campaign, cling to guns or religion. They have little else  and many are killing themselves with opiates that dull their pain or with those guns that they see as their last link to freedom. What is clear, however, is that large numbers dont trust  and dont want  Hillary Clinton, who had a net 24-point unfavorable rating in one recent poll . It turns out that another indelicate Obama comment from Campaign 2008 may not have been true, when he vouched that youre likable enough, Hillary. For many Americans, thats not the case (although Trump trumped Clinton with a 41-point net negative). If the Democrats do nominate Hillary Clinton, they will be hoping that the neocon/neolib establishment can so demonize Donald Trump that a plurality of Americans will vote for the former Secretary of State out of abject fear over what crazy things the narcissistic billionaire might do in the White House. Trumps policy prescriptions have been all over the place  and it is hard to know what reflects his actual thinking (or his genuine ignorance) as opposed to what constitutes his skillful showmanship that made him the survivor in the real-life reality TV competition for the Republican nomination. Does Trump really believe that global warming is a hoax or is he just pandering to the know-nothing element of the Republican Party? Does he actually consider Obamas Iran nuclear deal to be a disaster or is he just playing to the hate-Obama crowd on the Right? Opposing the Neos But Trump is not a fan of the neos. He forthrightly takes on the neocons over the Iraq War and excoriates ex-Secretary of State Clinton for her key role in another regime change disaster in Libya. Further, Trump calls for cooperation with Russia and China rather than the neocon-preferred escalation of tensions. In his April 27 foreign policy speech, Trump called for a new foreign policy direction for our country  one that replaces randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy, and chaos with peace. Its time to invite new voices and new visions into the fold.  My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people, and American security, above all else. That will be the foundation of every decision that I will make. America First will be the major and overriding theme of my administration. Such comments  suggesting that new voices are needed and that ideology should be cast aside  were fighting words for the neocons, since it is their voices that have drowned out all others and their ideology that has dominated U.S. foreign policy in recent years. To make matters worse, Trump outlined an America First strategy in contrast to neocon demands that the U.S. military be dispatched abroad to advance the interests of Israel and other allies. Trump is not interested in staging regime changes to eliminate leaders who are deemed troublesome to Israel. The real estate tycoon also has made criticism of free trade deals a centerpiece of his campaign, arguing that those agreements have sold out American workers by forcing them to compete with foreign workers receiving a fraction of the pay. Sen. Sanders has struck similar themes in his insurgent Democratic campaign, criticizing Hillary Clintons longtime support for free trade and her enthusiasm for regime change wars, such as those in Iraq and Libya. Examining her long record in public life, there can be little doubt that Clinton is a neocon on foreign policy and a neolib on economic strategies. She stands firmly with the consensus of Official Washingtons establishment, which is why she has enjoyed its warm embrace. She has followed Wall Streets beloved neoliberal attitude toward free trade, which has been very good for multinational corporations as they shipped millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs to low-wage countries. (She has only cooled her ardor for trade deals to stanch the flow of Democratic voters to Bernie Sanders.) Wars and More Wars On foreign policy, Clinton has consistently supported neoconservative wars, although she might shy from the neocon label per se, preferring its less noxious synonym liberal interventionist. But as arch-neocon Robert Kagan, who has recast himself as a liberal interventionist, told The New York Times in 2014, I feel comfortable with her on foreign policy. If she pursues a policy which we think she will pursue its something that might have been called neocon, but clearly her supporters are not going to call it that; they are going to call it something else. Summing up the feeling of thinkers like Kagan, the Times reported that Clinton remains the vessel into which many interventionists are pouring their hopes. In February 2016, distraught over the rise of Trump, Kagan, whose Project for the New American Century wrote the blueprint for George W. Bushs Iraq War, openly threw his support to Clinton, announcing his decision in a Washington Post op-ed . And Kagan is not mistaken when he views Hillary Clinton as a fellow-traveler. She has often marched in lock step with the neocons as they have implemented their aggressive regime change schemes against governments and political movements that dont toe Washingtons line or that deviate from Israels goals in the Middle East. She has backed coups, such as in Honduras (2009) and Ukraine (2014); invasions, such as Iraq (2003) and Libya (2011); and subversions such as Syria (from 2011 to the present) all with various degrees of disastrous results. [For more details, see Consortiumnews.coms  Yes, Hillary Clinton Is a Neocon  and  Would a Clinton Win Mean More Wars? ] Seeking Coercion A glimpse of what a Clinton-45 presidency might do could be seen in a recent Politico commentary by Dennis Ross, a former special adviser to Secretary of State Clinton now working at the staunchly pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In the article, Ross painted a surreal world in which the problems of the Middle East have been caused by President Obamas hesitancy to engage militarily more aggressively across the region, not by the neocon-driven decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and the similar schemes to overthrow secular governments in Libya and Syria in 2011, leaving those two countries in ruin. Channeling the desires of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ross called for the United States to yoke itself to the regional interests of Israel, Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in their rivalry against Shiite-led Iran. Ross wrote: Obama believes in the use of force only in circumstances where our security and homeland might be directly threatened. His mindset justifies pre-emptive action against terrorists and doing more to fight the Islamic State. But it frames U.S. interests and the use of force to support them in very narrow terms.  The Saudis acted in [invading] Yemen in no small part because they feared the United States would impose no limits on Iranian expansion in the area, and they felt the need to draw their own lines. To counter Obamas hesitancy to apply military force, Ross calls for a reassertion of a muscular U.S. policy in the Middle East, much along the lines that the neocon establishment and Hillary Clinton also favor, including: Threatening Iran with blunt, explicit language on employing force, not sanctions if Iran deviates from the Obama-negotiated agreement to constrain its nuclear program (the bomb-bomb-bomb-Iran zombie lives!); Contingency planning with GCC states and Israel  to generate specific options for countering Irans growing use of Shiite militias to undermine regimes in the region; A readiness to arm Sunni tribes in Iraq if Iraqs prime minister doesnt; Establish safe havens with no-fly zones inside Syria if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not force Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Employing the classic tough talk of the neocons, Ross concludes, Putin and Middle Eastern leaders understand the logic of coercion. It is time for us to reapply it. One might note the many logical inconsistencies of Rosss arguments, including his failure to note that much of Irans supposed meddling in the Middle East has involved aiding the Syrian and Iraqi governments in their battle against the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Or that Russias intervention in Syria also has been to support the internationally recognized government in its fight against Sunni extremists and terrorists. But the significance of Rosss prescription to reapply U.S. coercion across the region is that he is outlining what the world can expect from a Clinton-45 presidency. Clinton made many of the same points in her speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and in debates with Bernie Sanders. If she stays on that track as president, there would be at least a partial U.S. military invasion of Syria, a very strong likelihood of war with Iran, and an escalation of tensions (and possible war) with nuclear-armed Russia. The logic of how all that is supposed to improve matters is lost amid the classic neocon growling about showing toughness or reapplying coercion. So, the Democratic Party seems to be betting that Hillary Clintons flood of ugly TV ads against Trump can frighten the American people enough to give the neocons and the neolibs one more lease on the White House  and four more years to wreak their zombie havoc on the world. Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com ).
Poultry Workers Wear Diapers Over Lack Of Breaks



Production-line workers are subject to ridicule or punishment if they request toilet breaks, finds an Oxfam America report. May 13, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sky News " - Workers for some of the largest poultry producers in the US are resorting to wearing nappies while on the processing line because they are being denied bathroom breaks, an Oxfam America report has revealed. The report, which involved interviews with employees at Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms, revealed workers were subjected to ridicule or punishment if they requested toilet breaks while working on the line. It claims some employees were forced to urinate and defecate where they stood, or restrict how much they ate and drank to dangerous levels for fear of losing their jobs. The report, titled No Relief: Denial of Bathroom Breaks in the Poultry Industry, calls on poultry companies to change their practices. It states: "Supervisors mock their needs and ignore their requests; they threaten punishment or firing. Workers wait inordinately long times (an hour or more), then race to accomplish the task within a certain timeframe (eg ten minutes) or risk discipline. "Workers struggled to cope with this denial of a basic human need. They urinate and defecate while standing on the line; they wear diapers to work; they restrict intake of liquids and fluids to dangerous degrees; they endure pain and discomfort while they worry about their health and job security. "Supervisors deny requests to use the bathroom because they are under pressure to maintain the speed of the processing line, and to keep up production." Oxfam America claims the estimated 250,000 poultry workers in the US are subjected to poor compensation, high rates of injury and illness and a climate of fear. The report also states that women are harder hit by the lack of toilet breaks and are at an increased vulnerability to infections as a result. It adds: "Denial of regular access to the bathroom is a clear violation of US workplace safety law, and may also violate US anti-discrimination laws." As part of the campaign it launched in October last year to improve conditions for US poultry workers, Oxfam America calls on major poultry producers to implement changes to working conditions. Two of the four producers - which account for around 60% of the poultry market - responded in the report. In a statement, Tyson Foods said: "We care about our team members, so we find these claims troubling. "We can tell you we're committed to treating each other with respect and this includes giving workers time off the production line when they need it. Restroom breaks are not restricted to scheduled work breaks and can be taken at any time." Perdue Farms said: "The health and welfare of our associates is paramount and we take these types of allegations very seriously. "The anecdotes reported are not consistent with Perdue's policies and practices."
Pregnant Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian were photographed arriving at Miami International Airport yesterday in matching all-black outfits while on their way to have some fun for Chynas birthday. The soon to be mum and her fiancee will kick-off their vacay in the 305, Miami. More photos below.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State says President Muhammadu Buhari only has himself to blame for the recent description of Nigeria as fantastically corrupt by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

According to the governor, President Buharis utterances about the country outside Nigeria has been unwholesome, hence Camerons comment.

What do you expect from the international community when the President of a nation keeps going abroad to say that his people are corrupt? Fayose asked.

He said it was annoying that President Buhari said he was embarrassed and shocked by Camerons comment, adding that instead of saying that he was shocked, the president should apologize to Nigerians for de-marketing the country and his people.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said it was on record that in February this year, President Buhari said in United Kingdom that Nigerians reputation for crime has made them unwelcome in Britain and went on to warn Nigerians to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be accepted abroad.

When a president mounts the podium in foreign lands and gleefully says that his own people are criminals, that they are corrupt and that those abroad should be sent back home, why wont heads of other countries brand all citizens of such a country as fantastically corrupt?

Rather than this grandstanding from the presidency, conceited efforts should be made to redeem the image of Nigeria that the president has destroyed, Fayose said.

However, he noted that he was not against the anti-corruption efforts of the Federal Government, but all he was saying was that it should be done in accordance with the laws of the country and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must stop behaving as if it is above the law.
British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron had described Nigeria, along with Afghanistan as fantastically corrupt, while having a small talk with the Queen of England at a Buckingham Palace reception. Holding a glass of wine, the British PM was caught on camera mocking the two countries. While Nigerians are divided on the above issue as some are totally on Camerons side saying the Englishman had spoken the truth, some other Nigerians seem to think that Cameron insulted Nigeria and her people. However, President Muhammadu has said that he would not be demanding any apology from Cameron but a return of our stolen assets in Britain would suffice. INFORMATION NIGERIA, however brings you 3 very interesting points in the conversation most of us have missed



-While everyone is focusing seriously on the insult from Cameron that Nigeria is one of the two most corrupt nations of the world, did anyone notice someone saying that President Buhari isnt corrupt?. During the conversation, someone in the group had raise the point that this particular president(Buhari) isnt corrupt and the Queen said He is trying and someone said He is trying very hard.

-Therefore, President Buhari does appeal to foreigners as not corrupt and even the queen attests to it.

-He is trying very hard: Could this possibly mean that it is almost impossible for Nigerian leaders to not be corrupt? Or that it is almost totally impossible to be free from corruption based on the Nigerian system??? How else, do we begin to explain the fact that Buhari according to the speaker is trying very hard not to be corrupt as if there is something either in him or in the system pushing him to yield to corruption!

What is your take plus what do you think of Buharis response???
President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke briefly on Wednesday, with Sky News Diplomatic Editor, Dominic Waghorn, after he delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth event. He agreed with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, that Nigeria is a fantastically corrupt country. Was he right? Doesnt it seem like he further smeared Nigerias image internationally? Well, INFORMATION NIGERIA brings you 3 things to note

1.Every day on our local news scene, we hear of one person being arrested, another on house arrest, while some being docked all for corruption. The news are seen not only by Nigerians but by everyone else in the world (interested in Nigeria). That already means that there is grave corruption being practised in Nigeria and that means Buhari was stating the obvious.

2.Buhari accented to the question that Nigeria is fantastically corrupt. Meanwhile he stated that he wants no apology from the British PM but that Britain should return our looted funds in their country, which means we may be fantastically corrupt but you fantastically aide the thieves to keep their loots. Isnt that what aiding means?

3.The question plaguing some Nigerians is, would President Obama or even David Cameron himself have answered the question the way Buhari did? Our best guess is No. In the place and situation, we believe Obama or even Cameron would have found a technical way of answering or dodging the question without further rubbing salt on injury.

What do you think???
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has thrown his weight behind protesting staff members of the Federal Teaching Hospital (FEHTI) Ido-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, who yesterday prevailed on the governor to support them over their agitation and demand for immediate removal of their Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Lawrence Folorunsho Ayodele who they accused of official misconduct and insensitivity to the plight of the hospital staff.

Fayose, who arrived the gate of the hospital at about noon yesterday met a mammoth crowd of the staff and residents of the community. He was prevented from entering into the hospital as the aggrieved staff demanded that he addressed them outside the gate of the hospital despite pleas by the governor and the leaders of the staff unions/ associations.

After waiting at the gate for some time, the governor eventually succumbed to the will of the staff and addressed them.

Im not here for the Medical Director, Dr Ayodele. Im here for you, he said. This is a federal hospital. As much as you dont want him again, I support you.

Yesterday, I was with your leaders and Dr. Ayodele and I told them my mind and I told Dr. Ayodele that he did not do well with these people. I told him that if we were in an advanced democracy, if I were him, I would have resigned. I reminded him about the sayings of the elders, that you cannot be bigger than the institution, the community, whether you are the governor or the President, Fayose said.
President Muhammadu Buhari vowed, yesterday, in his home state of Katsina, to use all resources at his disposal to crush any agitation for the division of Nigeria.

The president said the country fought a civil war which claimed over two million lives in order to be united.

Buhari, who spoke at the palace of Emir of Katsina also urged Nigerians to be patient with his government as, according to him, the current hardship being experienced, may not be unconnected with efforts at laying a solid foundation for sustainable nation building.

Buhari was in Katsina to attend the states economic and investment forum which he will officially declare open this morning.

In a veiled reference to the current separatist agitation for Biafra being promoted by a group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Buhari warned it would be better for the entire country to commit mass suicide than to allow such campaign succeed.

He referred to the promoters of the agitation as kids who were not born during the civil war. According to Buhari, today, Nigeria is a strong and united sovereign entity because some people laid down their lives for the country.

At least two million people died during the civil war but, today, some people who were not born during the civil war are agitating for the division of the country. We will not let that happen.



For Nigeria to divide now, it is better for all of us to jump into the sea and get drowned

Speaking on the economy, Buhari regretted the fall of crude oil price in the international market and further noted that, at the inception of his administration on May 29, 2015, the price per barrel of oil crashed to as low as $30, contrary to what was obtainable during the 16 years of the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

We will not betray the trust Nigerians reposed in us and we will ensure officials of government also act in the national interest, the President said.

In his remarks, the Emir, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman, urged the Federal Government to re-introduce boarding schools as well as teacher training colleges as part of efforts at producing quality teachers.

According to him, teacher training colleges helped to groom quality teachers but these days, half-baked teachers teach in our schools.

Also, in those days, boarding schools helped to maintain discipline among students and mould them into responsible adults.

Source: Sun news
Some of the worlds best known tobacco companies have been accused of turning a blind eye to the exploitation of child labour in Indonesian plantations that serve as their suppliers. The tobacco industry employs about six million Indonesians. The figure includes many children that face hazardous conditions while working on the fields.

Researchers say tobacco companies insist their cigarettes are legal products without appearing to check whether their suppliers are complying with the law. Human-rights groups have long noted the dangers of working in tobacco farms, especially for vulnerable youth children. Exposure to nicotine means the chemical can enter the workers body through skin pores and cause adverse effects.

Al Jazeeras Step Vaessen, reporting from Indonesias East Java province, discovered children as young as 10 working on tobacco plantations despite the country having 15 as the minimum age limit for the job. Ebing, a child labour worker in the province, told Al Jazeera: I do feel tired sometimes and my body hurts. My hands are always black because I fold the leaves and turn them around to dry them.

Prio Adi Nugroho, a researcher on child labour, said the tobacco firms never investigate operations at the plantations despite knowing that using child labour is common there. Researchers are also worried these child workers could start smoking very early in life. According to the World Health Organization, 36.2 percent of Indonesian boys aged 13 to 15 smoke.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to conducting credible elections in Edo State, as the state prepares for its governorship election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Sam Olumekun, made the statement on Monday during a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua.

In preparation for the coming poll in the state, Olumekun promised the residents that INEC would ensure a free and fair election.

He hinted that he was on a tour of the IDPs camp to identify eligible voters, in order to ensure everyone was given equal opportunity to exercise their franchise.

However, the Coordinator of the camp, Solomon Folorunsho, expressed concern over the safety of the IDPs, should INEC site a polling unit on the camp.
Its International Nurses Day, celebrated each year on the anniversary of Florence Nightingales birth on May 12, 1820. Did you know that what we now refer to as nursing today started in the early days was primarily a family affair with mothers caring for their own families or neighbours. But in 1880, the status of Nursing was greatly improved and many women including religious orders were now involved in patient care. There are a lot about nursing locally and internationally you probably didnt know and INFORMATION NIGERIA has put together 9 nursing facts

-Modern Scientific Nursing started with the crusading efforts of Miss Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) during and after the Crimean War (1854-1856). She combined Christian ideals, strict discipline and a sense of mission to open the door for what is known today as the nursing profession.

-Nursing was the first profession in the health industry to form an international organisation  the International Council of Nurses formed in 1899.

-The first known nurse is said to have been Phoebe, a deaconess sent to Rome by St Paul in the first century and mentioned in Romans 16:1.

 The word nurse was originally nourice, one who nourishes.

-Nurse was first used for a woman who nourished a child, later known as a wet-nurse.

 Nursing came to Nigeria through the British Colonial masters. They provided services and medical care for wounded soldiers at the furtherworth Hospital. Later the first nursing home in Nigeria in Jericho, Ibadan by the government of the British Colonial masters.

-Later on missionaries and their wives came to supplement government effort by setting up Mission homes, Dispensaries e.t.c. and commence the training of Nurses in Nigeria, though language barrier there was no formal training but on the Job acquisition skills and practical aspect are been rendered by nursing surger.

-Before 1981, nursing was adjudged a vocation in Nigeria, but by virtue of the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) award of 1981, nursing got the recognition of a full-fledged profession.

-Being International Nurses day, we remember a brave nurse like Justina Obi Ejelonu who contracted and died of ebola, after attending to late Liberian Patrick Sawyer while he was ill at the First Consultant hospital in Lagos

Thank you nurses for your work towards humanity!!!
Four separate car bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have claimed at least 90 lives, police sources tell AlJazeera. Wednesdays deadliest blast, from a 4WD vehicle packed with explosives, occurred near a beauty salon in a market at rush hour in Baghdads Sadr City neighbourhood, killing at least 63 people and wounding more than 100 others.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for all of the apparently sectarian attacks on Wednesday  the years bloodiest day in Baghdad  in a statement on social media. ISIL said the assault in Sadr City was carried out by a suicide bomber, a claim Iraqi officials denied.

The three other car bombings later in the day rocked three separate areas of Baghdad, killing at least 27 people. They occurred at police checkpoints in the predominantly Shia districts Kadhimiyah and Hurriyah and in Jamiyah, police sources told Al Jazeera. Tolls for all attacks are expected to rise. Elsewhere in Iraq, on the outskirts of Al-Baghdadi in Anbar province, at least 15 Iraqi soldiers were killed and more than 40 wounded in another ISIL suicide attack.

The Sunni fighters blew up several cars as Iraqi government forces drew closer to ISIL-held territories. The Iraqi army recently announced a military operation to recapture the town, which fell to ISIL in 2014. In the past two weeks, ISIL has claimed responsibility for two attacks targeting the Shia community in and around Baghdad. First, a car bomb, targeting an open-air market frequented by Shia Iraqis in Nahrawan, near Baghdad, killed at least 23 people and injured 38 others.
Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Wednesday, defended the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel by the federal government from N86:50 to N145, saying that it was the only way out of the exorbitant prices of N150 to N250 Nigerians were subjected to at many filling stations across the country.

Rising from a meeting chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinabjo which also had other various stakeholders including the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Nigerian Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN), at the Aguda House, official residence of the Vice President, Kachikwu noted that the reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.

We have just finished a meeting of various stakeholders presided over by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kachikwu told State House Correspondents on the resolution of the meeting.

The meeting had in attendance the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN).

According to Kachikwu, the meeting reviewed The current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country.

The exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product. These prices range on the average from N150 to N250 per litre currently.

Following a detailed presentation by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:

In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.

All Oil Marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.

We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel. In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.

We share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues. Along with this decision, the federal government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges.

We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices. The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products, Kachikwu said.
A 54 year old man is currently on the run for attacking his wife with acid, resulting in her death. Agya Kwaku alias schoolboy poured acid on his wife,Maame Abena Safoah, 45, at their matrimonial home at Atwima Mim near Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region,Ghana. Safoah suffered serious burns on her entire body due to the quantity of acid poured on her. The corrosive liquid also burned her mattress and floor carpet. The couple had quarreled that day over their inability to have children in the 20-year-old relationship.

An eyewitness, Akua Asantewa, who lives in the same building with the couple said that around 11 pm on Tuesday night, she heard loud screams coming from Safoahs room. On getting there, the door was locked. She had to force the door open due to the loud cries of the deceased. Asantewa says she saw Safoah on the floor writhing in pain, she says as she tried to help her up, she felt a burning sensation coming from Safoahs body.

Safoah then told her that Kwaku poured acid on her. Asantewa then rushed to call other neighbors for help. On returning with a few neighbors, they found Kwakus room in flames and later sighted him running away from the scene. Safoah was rushed to the Afari Community Hospital but was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where she drew her last breath.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has said his ministrys allocation of 1.6 percent of the approved budget was not sufficient to drive the much needed diversification the country needs.

Speaking yesterday at an investors forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ogbeh said: The budget of Agriculture is 1.6 percent of our annual budget. How do we take care of agriculture and rural development at the same time?

The unfortunate thing about agriculture is this country is that it has over the years been the most abandoned, ignored and perhaps ridiculed of all sectors. We confined it to the peasants in the villages. Those nameless individual whose children swear never to do what their father did.

We have to return to reality as oil and gas have served their purposes. That era is gone, and I hope it doesnt return to the good old times because if it does, we have a knack to forget quickly what yesterday was like and what the future can be. So when this state invites us to talk on this topic, we are delighted because when people gather to analyse the problems, ask why they went wrong, decide on what to do and improve on it, it is a sign that they are thinking right, Ogbeh said.

Speaking further, the minister said: We should have invested oil revenues in agriculture like Malaysia did, but we didnt. If you remember, there was a civil war in this country which lasted for three years. I remember that there was no oil and gas because there was war. I remember that the war cost $1million per day for three years and we did not borrow a dime to finance it. What we did then was reckless importation of luxuries which cannot be tolerated when a country was in crisis. No new cars came in for three years, no air conditioners, no television sets champagnes. We financed the war with proceeds from cocoa, cotton, ground nuts, palm produce among others, so Nigeria did not collapse.

Today, that doesnt sound very appealing. There is anger everywhere that we are not importing as we did before. People are insisting that rice must keep flowing from Thailand at the cost of $5 million a day, wheat, palm oil and tomato paste from China some of them with doubtful quality. In this process, the food import bill is a total of nearly $22 billion per annum. The luxury we can no longer be afforded because oil prices have fallen.

We are now emphasising on agriculture development because we have no other choice. Also, the biggest employer of labour, agriculture, has contributed more to GDP, and I hope it rises from 22 to 40 percent in the next three years.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Alhaji Tanko AlMakura are planning a peace meeting to find solution to clashes between herdsmen and farmers in both states, especially with worries growing over the possible fallout of the alleged killings of 83 cows belonging to herdsmen in Nasarawa State.

Governor Ortom who made this known yesterday at the end of a security meeting with Agatu indigenes and heads of military and security agencies in Makurdi said stakeholders from both states would also be part of the peace parley. According to him, the security meeting was convened as part of measures to discuss ways of restoring peace and preventing any act that would bring about hostilities between Agatu indigenes and the herdsmen.

The Governor also dismissed speculations that Agatu indigenes from Benue were responsible for the recent killing of some herdsmen and 83 cows in Nasarawa State.

The information at my disposal shows that it was the Agatu of Nasarawa State that attacked some herdsmen who had displaced them from their villages, the people from Benue state had no hand in the act. We learned that over 10 Agatu communities in Nasarawa state also bear the same name with Agatu communities in Benue state, Ortom said.

However, he said the state government had been working towards creating conducive environment for displaced persons to return to their homes and urged Agatu youths to desist from frustrating the effort.

The governor advised youths from Agatu and other parts of Benue South Senatorial District to surrender their arms in line with the amnesty programme of his administration or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The Presidency yesterday faulted the British Prime Minister, David Cameron over a comment he made that Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, saying the comment is not reflective of President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption disposition.

Mr. Cameron had while briefing the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, on the anti-Corruption Summit he is hosting in London Thursday, described Nigeria and Afghanistan as two of the most corrupt countries in the world.

The British Premier made the comment last month at one of the events marking the 90th birthday of the Queen but for strange reasons, short footage of his conversation was only just aired yesterday by British television station, ITV News.

Reacting to the comment, which a cross-section of Nigerians have condemned in view of existing cordial relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement last night that in making that statement, Cameron must have been looking at an old snapshot of Nigeria.

This is embarrassing to us, to us say the least, given the good work that the President is doing. The eyes of the world are on what is happening here. The Prime Minister must be looking at an old snapshot of Nigeria. Things are changing with corruption and everything else.

That, we believe is the reason they chose him as a keynote speaker at the pre-summit conference, Shehu said.

The presidential aide, however, reserved commendations for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who was present when Cameron made the remark, for admitting that Buhari was not corrupt.

When Cameron said Weve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world, the Archbishop chipped in that Buhari is not corrupt.

But this particular president is actually not corrupt; Oh yes, hes trying very hard this one, he said.

In response, the Presidency said: Thank you to the Archbishop. We very much cherish the good relationship between our two countries and nothing should stand in the way of improving those relations.

President Buhari on Tuesday departed Katsina State, where he had been on working visit since last Friday, for London to attend the anti-Corruption Summit.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday in London, urged the international community to urgently create anti-corruption infrastructure and a strategic action plan to facilitate the speedy recovery and repatriation of stolen funds hidden in secret bank accounts abroad.

When it comes to tackling corruption, the international community has unfortunately looked away for too long. We need to step up and tackle this evil together. That is why we have gathered here today, President Buhari said at the opening on the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

According to him, new measures against corruption that will be adopted by the summit should also include mechanisms that will assist countries like Nigeria to combat illegal activities such as crude oil theft to which, he said, Nigeria loses about $7 Billion annually.

Corruption creates a system where resources are shared by a small elite while the majority wallows in poverty. Corruption also undermines the ability of countries to finance development.

I recall in this regard, the landmark Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the 3rd International Conference on Finance for Development held in January this year.

A prominent feature of that global framework is the recognition that good governance and measures to combat corruption and curb illicit financial flows will be integral to the effort to attain sustainable development globally by the year 2050.

It is for this reason that my Government is determined to address illicit financial outflows which have served as a major impediment to progress in our country.

I wish to reiterate our demand that the global community must come up with mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for stolen funds and facilitate the return of stolen assets to their countries of origin, President Buhari said.

Speaking earlier, Prime Minister Cameron applauded President Buharis vigorous efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria.
Civil society group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the UK authorities to extradite Nigerias former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to face charges of corruption and money laundering.

In its statement signed by its executive director, Mumuni Tokunbo, SERAP argued that the charges preferred against Diezani in UK court do not sufficiently capture the gravity of her alleged crimes and the increasing allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria.

SERAPs request was sequel to the revelation by the Central Bank of Nigeria that it was carrying investigations into the roles played by banks in certain financial transactions, especially the N23 billion reportedly shared to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by officials of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to influence the outcome of the last general elections.

As a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption, the UK government can use the convention as a basis for the extradition of Mrs Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria, a statement by SERAP said.

We believe that effective prosecution in Nigeria is feasible, and this will bring justice closer to Nigerians who are direct victims of corruption. Extraditing Mrs Alison-Madueke back to Nigeria is equally important for allowing easier access to witnesses, evidence, victims of corruption; creating a deep connection between Nigerians and the impact of the trial; and empowering victims of corruption, the statement read.
Three Thai students caught cheating during a medical college entrance exams made headlines this week for their elaborate high-tech cheating equipment. Supervisors discovered wireless cameras embedded in the frames of the students glasses which were connected to smartwatches on their wrists. They used the cameras to send images of questions to an external group, who then replied with the answers via the smartwatches.

Thats quite a clever setup, but sadly, the students were caught when instructors noticed that their glasses had unusually thick frames and decided to have a closer look, which led to the discovery of the hidden cameras. The story went viral on social media after Rangsit University director Arthit Ourairat posted pictures of the cheating equipment on his Facebook page.

They did it in real-time, Arthit wrote, adding that the students had spent a whopping 800,000 baht ($22,700) on the setup. This was the most high-tech exam cheating system Ive ever seen. We want this to be known in public to make people aware that we must be careful, particularly for medical exams where there is high demand among students but not many vacancies.

Most social media users condemned the students for their actions and accused them of putting peoples lives at risk. If they had passed and graduated, we might have had illegal doctors working for us, a Facebook user wrote. But a few actually praised the students for their ingenuity, with comments like Cool, and Like Hollywood or Mission Impossible. Theres no denying that the students plan was clever, but their intelligence actually backfired on them  they were blacklisted by the examination board and disqualified from gaining admission at the university. Their identities have been withheld, but the scandal is likely to have a negative effect on their future careers.

OCentral
Riot police have fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters in Venezuelas capital amid opposition demonstrations to pressure electoral authorities into allowing a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro. Protesters and National Guard members clashed on a highway in Caracas on Wednesday where thousands of demonstrators chanted freedom and waved copies of the constitution.

A video showed an officer appearing to use pepper spray against Henrique Capriles, the two-time presidential candidate, during the protest. Capriles later said on Twitter that he was fine. In the western opposition stronghold of Tachira, protesters brandished signs reading We dont want to do die of hunger, while some masked youths blocked streets with rubbish and prepared Molotov cocktails. The Democratic Unity coalition has stepped up its campaign to topple Maduro amid a worsening economic crisis, but says the government-leaning electoral body is intentionally delaying the verification of signatures in favour of the referendum.

The opposition submitted roughly 1.85 million signatures on May 2 in favour of the referendum. If they are validated, the opposition must then request another petition drive and gather around four million signatures to trigger a referendum. If the opposition succeeds this year in winning a recall referendum to oust Maduro, whose term ends in 2019, new elections would be held.

But if a successful recall referendum is held next year, the presidency would fall to the vice president, a post currently held by Aristobulo Isturiz, a loyalist of the governing United Socialist Party. The opposition says Maduro, elected in 2013, is pushing the oil-producing country towards economic catastrophe. One recent opinion poll showed that almost 70 percent of Venezuelans want Maduro stripped of presidency this year.
Youths in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State, yesterday, set on fire, the residence of a three-time senator from Kano South senatorial district, Senator Kabiru Gaya for allegedly failing to fulfill his campaign promises.

An eyewitness told Thisday that the rampaging youths started the demonstration at about 8.30a.m barricading major strategic locations leading to the town, which created heavy gridlock in the area.

Also hit, was the constituency office, residence and poultry farm of member representing Gaya/Ajingi federal constituency, Hon. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, which were also set ablaze by the irate youths.

Senator Gaya is one of the politicians we have and has not been living up to our expectations. For almost ten years now, nobody can point out a single project he had executed in Gaya town. So I am not surprised at what had happened today, a resident of the town who spoke under anonymity said.

However, Gaya has accused his political opponents of sponsoring the hoodlums that burnt his house. He told Thisday on phone from the United States that he was still at a loss with the action of the youths, noting that he transformed his constituency by providing basic infrastructure and as such dont deserve the harrowing treatment.

Senator Gaya said he built dispensaries, schools and boreholes among others for his constituents over the years, stressing that what happened was simply the handiwork of his political opponents.

Two weeks ago, I was there, I engaged most of them and I have assisted many unemployed youth to secure jobs. I have built hospitals, schools, provided boreholes among others for my people. I dont believe my people can do this to me, Im suspecting political opponents who want to get at me, he stated.

In the mean time, the Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 18 youths suspected to have been involved in the riot that led to the torching of the residence and farm house of Gaya and House of Representatives member, Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya.
Over the past 12 months, Ive been digging in the data trenches. OK, mostly Ive been sitting next to the smarter people digging through the trenches and oversimplifying what they were doing in reports to management.

Very few IT projects are truly unique -- and the ones that sound unique often fall into relatively predictable buckets. Lucky for you, I've decided to come up for air and share the top eight types of projects Ive seen over the past 12 months.

[ Download the InfoWorld quick guide: Learn to crunch big data with R. | Cut to the key news in technology trends and IT breakthroughs with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter, our summary of the top tech happenings. ]

1. Exploring the life of a deal

Companies that do e-commerce take for granted that you can hook up a few tools and know the close rate of users coming to the website, from sales to payment. But many companies deal with a lot more data sets than Web-to-close. Mainly those data sets originate from distributors and resellers.

Each distributor or reseller presents a different data set in a different format. Sure, fundamentally, this is a core ETL/data consolidation project with BI/visualization on the front end. But for many companies, truly understanding the life of the deal (from inception to close and ongoing) is more difficult than you think. You need to combine a lot of CRM, Web analytics, and finance to say, Yes, PPC yielded closings, but 40 percent of those customers defaulted on the first bill, so ...

2. Big Brother is watching and would like to offer you a latte

Companies like to know what you're doing (credit for this headline goes to a co-worker who shall remain anonymous) and sell you an item based on that activity. Your telemetry data, for example, might indicate that you've installed an app and the company knows where you are in the mall. A huge amount of big data horsepower goes into predicting what you might want to buy at any given moment.

3. Measuring the effectiveness of marketing

Marketing people do things, and they want to know what those things were and how they relate to their KPIs. This is again fundamentally a BI project and often involves a fair amount of change data capture (CDC) and ETL or data consolidation. The actual KPIs they measure varies a lot. Sometimes these involve cubes in tools like Kylin or Greenplum. Other times these cross over into the next category: social media.

4. Taking the temperature of social media

People are talking ... a lot. Sometimes they talk about you (or, rather, your company), often in a public or semipublic social network. A lot can be learned from this, such as: How do people feel about your brand? Are your marketing efforts working? If the USGS can detect earthquakes and their magnitude from Twitter, then certainly you can learn whether your new ad campaign caused a stir or fell flat. For some industry verticals, this data capture goes well beyond Twitter and Facebook, thanks to specialized social networks.

5. Slogging through logs

Whether you're intent on detecting intruders or you think the auditors are coming, you need to capture logs and make them searchable. Splunk has made a killing here, but there are other, more flexible options in big data.

6. Because I dont want to buy Teradata

This is not Teradatas year. Big data has eaten at the edges (including the growth frontier), and now Apache Kylin has made cubes available to everyone. MPP as a distributed system is becoming more significant, thanks to Impala and HAWQ/Greenplum. There's less room for a big expensive item that only does that thing and doesnt fit in with other data analytics efforts -- and cant go to the cloud unless it's a single vendors weird, proprietary cloud.

7. Plain old extract, tranform, load

ETL is still probably the most common Hadoop workload today -- and Id venture to say that ETL is the most common nonstreaming workload for Spark. By the way, 100 startups have come out of the woodwork claiming to handle this task.

8. Capture sensor data now, figure out what to do with it later

Whether it's the power grid, manufacturing, water pumps, or people driving around, stuff is telling us things. Those things need to be captured. Some people have even figured out what do with the data, but capturing it in time is the first big step, because many people feel it's technically hard.

Note that I usually push people to start thinking about analytics early in their big data projects. Why? Because sizing and designing a flow is far easier up front than rethinking the whole arrangement when the data is already in a box. But sometimes you need to ingest and hope for the best.

Over the past year, Ive seen a few other project types, but most use cases fit in one of these eight categories. What do you folks see in the wild?
Shootin' the Bull Swift Trading Company - Mon Oct 24, 5:24PM CDT With boxes and cattle higher, the consumer may be in for a shock when these higher prices are passed along. Live cattle futures set new contract highs in some months. Risk management to the fat cattle...

Limit Loss for Dec Cotton Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT Cotton continued to sell off into the new week, with December going home down a limit 3 cents. Dec did stay above the Friday low. The other front months closed 167 to 281 points weaker. USDAs weekly... CTZ22 : 76.13s (-3.79%) CTH23 : 75.74s (-3.58%) CTK23 : 75.55s (-3.33%)

Wheats Weaker Out of Weekend Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT The wheat market closed with Monday losses of +10 cents in the winter wheats. Front month MGE futures were down by 3 to 3 3/4 cents on the day. CBT prices dropped by 10 to 12 cents through the front months.... ZWZ22 : 844-2 (+0.66%) ZWH23 : 863-6 (+0.64%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7336 (-1.52%) KEZ22 : 942-4 (+0.48%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9620 (-1.06%) MWZ22 : 958-6 (+0.10%)

Hogs Close Steady on Monday Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT December lean hog futures dropped triple digits out of the weekend, but the other front months closed mixed and within a dime of UNCH. December hogs are now a $2.52 discount to the Feb contract. The USDA... HEZ22 : 87.925s (-1.35%) HEJ23 : 93.900s (+0.05%) KMZ22 : 97.750s (-0.26%)

Cattle Rally Continued Post CoF Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT The new week of cattle trading did little to stall the rally. December fats printed another new LoC high, now at $154.20, Feb also printed a new high, but the April and June contracts remained under their... LEV22 : 151.600s (+0.75%) LEZ22 : 154.125s (+1.12%) LEG23 : 156.975s (+0.93%) GFV22 : 175.675s (+0.23%) GFX22 : 179.150s (+0.45%)

Corn Futures Ended Red on Monday Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT Mondays corn trade pulled futures 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 cents lower. December had reached $6.77 1/4 on the low of the day, but went home 4 1/4 cents above it. NASS reported 97% of the corn crop was mature... ZCZ22 : 681-6 (unch) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7135 (-0.30%) ZCH23 : 688-0 (unch) ZCK23 : 687-4 (unch)

Soybean Prices Close Double Digits Lower Barchart - Mon Oct 24, 4:52PM CDT The new week of soybean trading starts with double digit losses in the front month contracts. November was down by the most after the options expiration on Friday, having settled 1.68% in the red. Meal... ZSX22 : 1375-6 (+0.27%) ZSPAUS.CM : 13.2708 (-1.72%) ZSF23 : 1385-0 (+0.27%) ZSH23 : 1393-6 (+0.32%)

Livestock Report Walsh Trading - Mon Oct 24, 4:39PM CDT Cattle Markets surge
There are so many moving parts and unknown variables in the humanitarian aid supply chainnot to mention broken linksthat keeping track of deliveries, inventory, and shipments can be a logistical nightmare. We're often talking about supply chains that are being constructed on the fly, in the face of sudden disasters. No wonder aid distribution can be so difficult to manage.

Many humanitarian funders are always looking for ways to improve aid delivery in a manner that is cost-effective and adaptable to different situations. But few are as dialed in to exploring innovative methods to get critical supplies where they need to go, and as quickly as possible, as the UPS Foundationwhich recently launched a new project to further improve humanitarian aid delivery.

Related: More Dollars for Disaster From the UPS Foundation

The UPS Foundation has partnered with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the California-based robotics company Zipline to examine the use of drones as a viable method to deliver lifesaving supplies and medicines to remote regions around the world. The foundation is supporting the initiative, scheduled to launch its first drones in Rwanda later this year, with an $800,000 grant.

For now, the partners are focusing their attentions on delivering blood and blood products to 21 transfusing locations across Rwanda in an effort to decrease maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhaging. Postpartum hemorrhaging is the number one cause of maternal mortality worldwide, with Africa having the highest prevalence rate. The partners intend to expand its medical supply delivery via drone program to include vaccines, essential lifesaving medicines, and treatments for disease such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The UPS Foundation no stranger to deploying cutting-edge technology for humanitarian aid delivery. In 2015, it partnered with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to launch its Relief Link program.

Relief Link combines handheld scanning devices and identification cards to improve the distribution and tracking of critical supplies during disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. The program follows those supplies until they reach their final destinations and provides up-to-date inventory information. Not only does Relief Link improve emergency response and relief, but the program can also be applied to last-mile healthcare, which is widely considered a disaster in and of itself.

Related: In Nepal and Beyond, This Corporate Funder Takes on the World's Biggest Disasters

The UPS Foundations latest joint effort with Gavi and Zipline is just another example of how important humanitarian aid logistics is to the foundation. When speaking of the new partnership, Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo said, With the expertise and vision of UPS, Gavi, and Zipline, instant drone delivery will allow us to save thousands of lives in a way that was never before possible.
Ten foundations launched a major initiative yesterday to help Flint recover from its devastating water crisis. How do funders plan to help, and what's the right role for philanthropy in such a disasterone caused not by nature or warfare, but by a failure of public systems that are supposed to be the responsibility of government?

Since news broke about Flint, Michigans water crisisin which degrading infrastructure and a botched switch to a different water supply caused lead from pipes to leach into household tapsdonors large and small have stepped forward to help with the situation however they can. A quick rush of funds for things like emergency medical care and bottled water first came from the likes of local funders, concerned individual donors, and quite a few celebrities.

While the crisis is far from over, and there are new headlines daily, philanthropy is now tasked with finding the right role it can play in the citys longer-term recovery. Its a challenge given the complex and persistent issues of infrastructure, race, and inequality involved. Beyond the specifics of Flint, there's the larger question of how much philanthropy should clean up the messes left by weak government. That question isn't new, of course, but it's likely to come up far more often in coming years as a fiscally strapped public sector faces recurrent crises or drops the ball at key moments. (Widespread suffering in a bankrupt Puerto Rico could be the next disaster dropped in the laps of foundation leaders.)

Overall, there are some very good reasons to closely watch what a new collaborative of funders is up to in Flint.

Ten local, regional, and national foundations announced today a funding initiative of $125 million to help the community recover in the coming years. The list of funders involved includes major names like Flint-based C.S. Mott (the largest funder committing up to $100 million), Carnegie, Ford, Kresge, Robert Wood Johnson, and W.K. Kellogg foundations. Funds will go to a mix of needs:

Continued independent testing of water supplies, and supporting experts in integrated water management;

Matching funds for donations to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund, which is intended to fund interventions to help children overcome effects of lead exposure;

Funds to support area nonprofits stretched thin as a result of the crisis;

Promoting community engagement in local decision-making;

Funding to locate and prepare space for early education, with the program funding expected to come from the state;

Economic revitalization work such as job training and entrepreneurship.

Experts we spoke with praised the initiative, due to its collaborative nature, the long-term and diverse set of priorities, and its emphasis on backing local organizations and involving residents.

Its very important that this comprehensive approach is being taken, and to have 10 foundations come together  and really target resources in areas where I think the greatest needs are, and to look at this from a long-term standpoint and knowing that there is no quick fix or quick solution, said Robert Bullard, dean of Texas Southern Universitys public affairs school. Bullard is a thought leader in environmental justice and has written several books on sustainability, environmental racism, and emergency response.

Robert Ottenhoff, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy had similarly positive things to say, impressed initially by the level of collaborationsomething that doesnt always happen in disaster responseand the long-term nature of priorities like the health fund.

Exactly how philanthropy should engage during a disaster like the one in Flint is something funders have struggled with, trying to operate in a way that is fast, democratic, and respectful of the communitys wishes. Foundations have not always taken the longer view, or been engaged with the full set of issues. Flint also has its own unique dynamic, being so closely tied to the larger government problems of aging infrastructure and mismanagement.

Motts President Ridgway White wrote an opinion piece in April noting the foundations early work in Flint, but also expressing hesitance to make a major commitment as the disaster unfolded. White made it clear that Mott firmly believes the responsibility for restitution and safe infrastructure falls on the state and federal governments. In the announcement of the new fund, White emphasized, While some funds and services have been provided, were still waiting for the state and federal governments to step up, replace damaged infrastructure and make long-term commitments to the health and education of children.

While Mott ended up making a pretty hefty commitment to this crisis, its clearly being cautious to not let anyone off the hooktrying to play a large role, but not too large.

Similarly, water system and infrastructure problems in general are tricky issues that can scare off philanthropy due to complex laws and governance, and uncertainty about how to get involved. We wrote about these concerns recently, related to the new Water Funder Initiative, which launched to help offer strategic points of entry.

Related: "Extremes Are Becoming the Norm." Why Water is the Next Big Issue For Philanthropy

The WFI doesnt recommend that funders bear the costs of water management or infrastructure (it could never afford it anyway), but one of its main priorities is that funders should work to develop new and stronger funding sources for infrastructure, public and private, and promote better governance that is more transparent and less fragmented.

Out of the $125 million initiative, there is some funding allocated to doing such work, developing whats called integrated management of stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water. This is definitely an area that philanthropy can continue step up and help improve in Flint, and beyond, with only a handful of big funders making it a priority nationally.

One of the things WFI hopes to overcome is the common problem of a large crisis response from funders, but then a lack of big picture follow-up work or institutions built to improve systems, something Ottenhoff of the CDP emphasized as well.

Our research has found that 90 percent or so of all dollars given to disasters is given within 90 days after a disaster occurs. Theres a lack of attention given to the full lifecycle of disastersplanning, preparation, and in this case, long-term recovery. The fact that theyre thinking long term and holistically is something that I think is very good, Ottenhoff said.

Often some of the worst consequences of a disaster dont occur immediately. They happen six months or a year later or two years later when you begin to see mental health issues and education issues and economic issues around employment.

Another major challenge philanthropists face when funding disaster recovery is giving proper deference to people and nonprofits already on the ground.

Ive seen too often where after major disasters, organizations parachute in, scarf up the money, and the locals are left on the sidelines looking at things happening around them, and to them, and not being a part of it, Bullard said. So the new initiatives emphasis on supporting community groups and engaging residents is encouraging.

For example, the Flint Child Health & Development Fund is advised by local health centers, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, and United Way of Genesee County. One of the six priorities mentioned above is to directly prop up community nonprofits whose reserves have been depleted. Theres also the community engagement component, which aims to guarantee that people with the closest ties to the community will have the greatest say in determining its future.

While there are promising elements in the new funding initiative, foundations and the governments and communities in Flint they'll assist have their work cut out for them. That's both in terms of the scope of disaster recovery and the underlying race and inequality problems surrounding disasters like Flint, and hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

Looking at how you unravel and undo inequality is a major theme that has to run throughout all of the six areas that are being targeted, Bullard said, pointing out the neglect, post-industrial decline, disinvestment and redlining that have been happening in places like Flint for decades.

You start looking at all those things, and race and class dynamics have a lot to do with why Flint looks like it looks, and why it looked like it looked before the water crisis. So I think those things have to be factored into solutions and how youre going to measure success.

Ottenhoff at CDP also pointed out that, while foundations are beginning to be aware of the full suite of issues connected to these disasters, and the full lifecycle that needs to be considered, were not there yet in terms of taking the right action.

Funders have traditionally said, isnt that disaster terrible, lets give some money and then well get back to normal, he said. The change that needs to occur is more funders building in resilience, disaster preparation, and recovery, outside of initial events that make headlines. That will be the case in Flint in coming years.

Americans, and by that I mean both individuals as well as foundations, tend to lose interest. And when media loses interest, the public loses interest and therefore you dont see charitable contributions, said Ottenhoff.

So one of the things I have to worry about is how do we keep these issues that have happened in Flint front and center with the philanthropic community?

Unfortunately, as hinted above, our prediction is that the impoverished island of Puerto Ricowhich is close to defaulting on $70 billion in debtwill be the next place where many of these same issues come up again.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), an association representing small and mid-sized businesses, is lobbying on behalf of self-storage and campground operators in Canada that dont have enough employees to qualify for the governments small-business tax rate and are receiving unusually high back-tax bills from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a result. Hundreds of self-storage facilities and campgrounds are affected, according to a letter CFIB sent to the Canadian Department of Finance.

CRA is punishing these hard-working, middle-class, small-business owners by taxing them at triple the rate of other small businessesrates higher than even the largest corporations, said Dan Kelly, president of CFIB, in a press release. With penalties and interest, these back-tax bills are often in the tens of thousands of dollars, crippling otherwise healthy businesses and leading to ruin for others.

Kelly was scheduled to appear today before the Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the issue. CFIB contends that so-called passive income rules are being misapplied to the self-storage and campground industries and has urged government officials to stop the audits until the matter can be resolved, the release stated.

Requiring five staff to qualify for the small-business rate is deeply insulting to the entrepreneurs who are often a part of the daily operations of their businesses, Kelly said. Its called the small-business tax rate. Being too small should not be a reason to exclude anyone.

David Claeys, owner of R-Xtra Storage Centre Ltd. in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, contends he will have to shut down his self-storage business due to the high tax assessment. Ill never forget the day my accountant told me that the CRA ruled my family business was a passive business and didnt qualify for the small-business tax rate, Claeys said in a released statement. We couldnt survive that level of taxation, even with everything we had saved for tough times. The ruling still doesnt make sense to me. I worked 60 to 70 hours per week operating my business, and now its gone. I dont want another family to ever have to go through what this decision has put my family through.

CFIB has 109,000 members and represents small and mid-sized businesses across Canada in every business sector, according to the release.
Australian self-storage operator National Storage REIT (NSR) has agreed to purchase a four-story self-storage facility in South Melbourne, Victoria, for $12.5 million. It will be rebranded as National Storage South Wharf due to its proximity to established retail drivers in the area, according to a company press release.

The property comprises more than 4,800 square meters of rentable space in 720 units and a telecommunications tower. There are also apartments on the upper floor of the building that arent a part of the deal, which is expected to close this month, the release stated.

The acquisition will complement NSR's existing Port Melbourne and South Melbourne portfolio. Inner Melbourne is experiencing high demand for storage, the release stated. The center is a landmark storage asset and will see National Storage expand its Melbourne presence to 26 centers, said Andrew Catsoulis, managing director. Given the asset's size and prominent location, the acquisition will enhance our brand awareness in Melbourne to both local and passing traffic.

The purchase will be funded from NSR's debt facility. The company is actively pursuing opportunities in line with its acquisition and asset-management strategy, the release stated. NSR acquired a facility in Highett, Melbourne, for $17 million in March.

NSR operates more than 90 self-storage facilities in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Its the first independent, internally managed and fully integrated owner and operator of self-storage centers to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
These research salespeople excel at alpha capture in the Japanese market, according to TIM Group of London.

Stronger corporate earnings and a weaker currency helped propel the Tokyo Stock Price Index up 9.9 percent in 2015, a time when the S&P 500 ended the year roughly where it began and global shares were also flat. Even so, some investors managed to beat the Japanese benchmark, thanks to helpful suggestions from equity research salespeople.

To find out where the most lucrative ideas originated, TIM Group, a London-based operator of the worlds largest network connecting investors with institutional brokerages trading ideas, reviewed nearly 31,000 stock recommendations that it distributed last year to hedge funds and traditional asset managers that invest in Japanese equities.

We want to recognize brokers for the value they bring to their clients and celebrate excellence in our network, explains William Herkelrath, New Yorkbased head of business development. An individual doesnt win by having one lucky call, but must meet minimum idea thresholds and show consistent returns adjusted for the number of calls theyve made over the year.

Contributors are evaluated on the basis of idea performance, volume and consistency, among other factors, and rankings are compiled for each of the markets that TIM Group serves: Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Japan and North America.

For Japan we benchmark against the Topix, adds Robert Schuessler, director of analytics. Benchmarking allows us to compare contributor performance across a diverse region without overweighting high or low performance on a specific exchange.

UBS is TIM Groups top bulge-bracket performer in Japan for the first time since 2013. Eligible members of its team produced nearly 740 trade ideas, with an average outperformance of 4.15 percentage points. In second place, with nearly 280 suggestions that beat the benchmark by 3.05 points, on average, is Goldman Sachs International. At No. 3 for a second straight year is Credit Suisse, with 1,340 ideas that generated returns besting the market by 2.79 points.

Among midtier and boutique firms, Japans Ichiyoshi Securities finishes in first place; its team served up 420 ideas, with an average outperformance of 7.05 points.

TIM Group recognizes only the top three among large firms; however, it ranks the ten best performers among the smaller brokerages. Here is the full list, with average outperformance included parenthetically.

 Ichiyoshi Securities (7.05 points)

 SMBC Nikko Securities (4.92 points)

 Nomura (3.59 points)

 Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. (3.38 points)

 Daiwa Securities Group (3.24 points)

 Mizuho Securities Group (3.12 points)

 Haitong International (2.53 points)*

 BGC & Mint Partners (2.48 points)

 Mirabaud Securities (2.79 points)

 BTIG (2.39 points)

Credit Suisse lays claim to five of the ten top-performing individuals among larger firms Japan equity salespeople:

 Akifumi Umetani, UBS (6.35 points)

 Hiroyuki Mori, Credit Suisse (5.00 points)*

 Shinichiro Hirai, UBS (5.66 points)

 Akira Ariyoshi, UBS (4.61 points)*

 Janice Yang, Credit Suisse (4.70 points)

 Arthur Brantley IV, Credit Suisse (4.68 points)*

 Nahoko Wada, Morgan Stanley (4.87 points)*

 Takayasu Ito, Goldman Sachs International (4.97 points)

 Stefan Worrall, Credit Suisse (3.69 points)

 Joji Nakura, Credit Suisse (3.61 points)

And the winners among midtier and boutique brokerages:

 Miho Harada, Ichiyoshi Securities (8.29 points)*

 Keita Imai, SMBC Nikko Securities (8.81 points)

 Rodney Reid, SMBC Nikko Securities (6.82 points)*

 David Turry, SMBC Nikko Securities (7.77 points)*

 Tai Uemura, Nomura (8.70 points)

 Jack Zhuo, Daiwa Securities Group (4.38 points)

 Mayumi Nishikawa, Mitsubishi Morgan Stanley UFJ Securities Co. (4.22 points)

 Takeshi Shima, Haitong International (3.95 points)*

 Tim Morse, BGC & Mint Partners (4.07 points)*

 Ken Kondo, BNP Paribas (4.50 points)

* Outperforms salespeople ranked lower owing to having provided a higher number of profitable calls and/or those of a longer duration.

SMBC Nikkos Keita Imai is the highest ranked of four salespeople from smaller brokerages to be included among the nations best for a second year in a row. (His colleague David Turry is another, as are Tim Morse of BGC & Mint Partners and Jack Zhuo of Daiwa Securities Group.)

The best idea generator for me is our SMBC Nikko research team  our strategists, economists and analysts provide high-quality information directly linking me to capturing alpha, reports Imai, who claims second place this year. I carefully select the ones I pitch to clients and input into my alpha capture. I base my selection on the degree of passion and effort I feel the analysts put in to their ideas.

He pursues a different strategy when it comes to stocks of smaller companies, which he believes have a greater potential to outperform. Due to limited coverage of the sector, I focus more on utilizing my own personal resources, calculate the valuations, find the catalysts and make the investment decisions single-handedly, he says. With an adequate number of ideas and risk control, I am confident I can outperform in the mid- to long term regardless of short-term swings in the market.

In late August, Imai advised clients to buy shares of Nippon Shinyaku Co., making the case that the Kyoto-based pharmaceuticals developer had a winner with Uptravi, a drug used in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. It has the potential to triple earnings in five years, he says. However, the market seemed to have discounted the stock price based on a short-term negative catalyst  the downward pressure on earnings from soon-to-be off-patent drugs.

He pounded the table on the stock and by late November, when he closed the call, it had shot up nearly 28 percent and led the broad market by 23 percentage points.

Imai also had a number of winning short calls, one of which was Bunkyodo Group Holdings Co., a Kawasaki-headquartered seller of books, compact discs, DVDs and related media. I began shorting it on July 17, added to my position on September 29 and took profits on November 9, generating [returns of] 9.6 percent and 56.3 percent, respectively, he says.

He based the call on the fact that a popular Japanese comedian, Naoki Matayoshi, won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for his short novel Hibana. In reaction the stock price doubled under the assumption that this hit maker will help Bunkyodos earnings, Imai explains. However, the earnings contribution of a one-hit title is limited. After the market realized this, the stock price dipped not only once, but twice  and far.

A graduate of Soka University in Tokyo, Imai studied economics, in particular the policies needed to solve the problems of aging populations and the shuttering of factories owing to the impact of foreign exchange rates. He began his career in 1995 at Daiwa Securities, first in retail and then in institutional sales, then spent a brief period in bond sales at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. before joining Citi in 2005. (Citi acquired predecessor firm Nikko Cordial Securities in 2007, then sold it to SMBC in 2009.)

Every day is exciting and fun, Imai maintains. Changes happen on a daily basis with new insights, making me better each day. I feel blessed to be able to work in such environment.

Details on previous years winners can be found online at timgroup.com.
Jack Cohen, chairman of a group representing 230,000 retirees who once worked for companies that emerged from the 1984 breakup of Ma Bell, doesnt want to be de-risked.

In a recent interview Cohen quoted a line from an Institutional Investor story on the post-2008 transformation of Wall Street and how new regulations had succeeded only in pushing risky lending out of banks and into the hands of asset managers. Risk taking cannot be destroyed, it can only be transferred from one spot to another, Cohen said with a gravelly laugh. He frames much of the conversation about the Association of BellTel Retirees lawsuit to stop corporations from transferring their pension responsibilities around this point: Companies such as his former employer Verizon Communications like to talk about eliminating their pension liabilities and may be able to financially engineer deals  known in industry parlance as pension risk transfers  to remove some of the threats that their promises to retirees pose to their current earnings, but the de in de-risking is a lie. Instead, he says, Verizon, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., J.C. Penney Co. and all the other companies that have done these transactions have just shifted the risk to pensioners themselves. Pensions are a vanishing breed, bemoans Cohen, 73, who began his 26-year career with Verizon in 1968 with a sales job at what was then called New York Telephone Co.

Pension risk transfers allow corporations to either move their defined benefit liabilities to an insurance company  along with sufficient assets to back those promises  or directly provide employees with a lump sum of cash that represents what they earned during their tenure. If corporations and insurance companies have come up with dry jargon to describe their efforts to get out from under pensions, it is Cohen who puts the process in more-colorful terms. Corporations want to get rid of their legacy costs, he says. They call them an albatross on their neck, but I call them earned benefits.

Cohens group, the Association of BellTel Retirees, is behind a petition for a writ of certiorari, better known as a cert petition, that urges the U.S. Supreme Court to review its case against Verizon alleging that the company violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The case grew out of a deal that Verizon struck in 2012 to buy a group annuity from Prudential Financial and spin off the liabilities of 41,000 retirees to the insurer. In Pundt v. Verizon Communications Inc., the plaintiffs  pensioners who were left behind in Verizons plan after the annuity purchase  claim that a series of conflicting decisions by lower circuit courts on companies responsibilities under federal pension law undermine ERISA as a national standard. The plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to give the Verizon retirees standing  the right to sue  even though their benefits have not yet been hurt. Waiting for proof of harm, which a lower court said it needed to do, will be too late, they argue. Cohen hopes to stop companies from cutting their ties to retirees in the future.

The case is an important one as U.S. companies increasingly look to get rid of some or all of the risks associated with the expensive retirement promises theyve made to employees since World War II. Although under ERISA employers have always been able to buy annuities from insurers to cover their retirees benefits or to offer lump sums, regulatory changes and longer life spans have pushed companies in recent years to think hard about pension risk. More than 500 companies did risk transfer deals between 2007 and 2013. The market is rewarding the transactions by boosting the share prices of companies that do them, and big insurance companies, including Prudential Insurance Co. of America, owned by Prudential Financial, and MetLife, are eager to take on these obligations, which offer both a rich source of new business and a hedge to the mortality risk embedded in their life insurance policies.

Now retirees and their advocates are raising questions about the potential risk to their benefits in these deals and about the expanded financial services role that insurance companies are taking as populations in both rich countries and the developing world reach retirement age at an unprecedented rate.

The corporate pension has been pronounced dead multiple times during the past few decades, but everybody is still picking at the carcass. The asset management industry, whose growth was initially fueled by the trillions of dollars held in defined benefit pension funds, sees opportunity in helping companies build portfolios that may ultimately appeal to insurance companies. Insurers view the business as fertile ground that requires their core expertise of hedging liabilities, and reinsurers are innovating in areas like longevity risk  the possibility that pensioners will essentially live too long.

The U.S. government also has a stake in the outcome. Although risk transfer deals reduce the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.s potential exposure, they could weaken the agency  which was established more than 40 years ago to insure corporate pensions  because the healthiest plans are moved out and it loses premiums. Nonetheless, the government is cautious, not wanting to weaken pensions and increase older Americans dependence on Social Security and other safety nets. Already, federal, state and local pensions face a $7 trillion shortfall, about 40 percent of U.S. GDP last year.

Pension risk transfer deals change the landscape for everyone: corporations, insurance companies, asset managers, the government and retirees. They distribute pension risks from specific companies to insurers and reinsurers. Advocates for pensioners contend that individuals are also taking on some of these risks. When pensions are replaced by annuities, they are removed from federal oversight and guarantees under the PBGC. Instead, pensioners are subject to insurance regulations and the strength of guaranty associations that vary from state to state; in some states retirement income is vulnerable for the first time to creditors. Others argue that retirees are wasting valuable energy worrying about annuities when lump-sum distributions  also a pension risk transfer strategy  are the bigger threat. In fact, because of quirks in regulations, companies are encouraged to offer one-time lump sums, which require employees to manage the risks of outliving their savings.

W. Thomas Reeder Jr. agrees that pension risk transfers reorder the defined benefit world. As director of the PBGC, he worries that companies may be transferring lower-risk liabilities to insurers while higher risks are kept in plans that continue to be covered by the agency. The PBGC has started analyzing the transactions, but it doesnt yet have enough data to draw any firm conclusions. Companies are trying to shrink the size of their liabilities, says Reeder, who worked as benefits tax counsel in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury Department before joining the PBGC last October. Were concerned about the effect on our rate base and on retirement security.

Although the PBGCs soundness has been questioned over the years  the agency relies on fees, its investments and assets from pension plans that it takes over as trustee, and it is not backed by the full faith of the U.S. government  pensioners worry more about the health of insurance companies. They arent alone: Last year the International Monetary Fund said in a report that the transfer of pension risks to the insurance industry could itself pose a risk as financial institutions become more interconnected. The IMF contended that too big to fail insurance companies are imperiling workers pensions and may need to be better regulated.

In April  the same month that the Communications Workers of America union went on strike against Verizon  the IMF again warned about the systemic risks posed by large insurers. The most recent caution came just days after MetLife, one of the largest insurance companies active in pension transactions, successfully fought its designation by the U.S. government as a systemically important financial institution, which would have required it to hold more capital and submit to more oversight.

Clearly, insurance companies are playing a much larger role in financial services in the U.S. than ever before. Since the 1970s asset managers have profited from investing baby boomers retirement savings, but now this generation of 60-somethings is turning away from fund managers who know how to invest assets and to insurers for retirement income  either directly through defined contribution plans and annuities or indirectly through defined benefit plans.

Still, a strong case can be made that the deals help companies reduce the risk of their pension obligations. A company like Ford is probably better at manufacturing cars than managing longevity risk. Risk transfers can position companies to compete with younger businesses (like Tesla Motors, in this case) whose workers are covered by defined contribution plans in which employees shoulder the risk of creating nest eggs. Arguably, retirees also want healthier corporations that are better positioned to make good on obligations to pensioners that remain even after annuity and lump-sum deals.

When corporate vice president and treasurer Robert OKeef was leading an effort to evaluate the viability of a pension risk transfer for Motorola Solutions, the Schaumburg, Illinoisbased company had $11 billion in global retirement liabilities for 95,000 participants. Created in January 2011 after Motorola spun off its mobile phone business to focus solely on public safety and government communications, Motorola Solutions has just $6 billion in annual revenue and 15,000 employees. Relative to the size of the company, we had one of the largest pension obligations of any company in the U.S., whatever yardstick you used  revenue, market cap or employee base, OKeef says. In 2014, Motorola transferred $3.1 billion in U.S. liabilities for 31,000 retirees.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 pushed companies like Motorola and Verizon to come clean about their obligations and spurred the current risk transfer movement. Though some retirement advocates call it the Pension Destruction Act, the PPA was designed to safeguard beneficiaries by requiring companies to report shortfalls on their balance sheets. The risk that companies have always had on their balance sheets has become more real as the result of regulations, explains Scott Hawkins, who heads insurance research and consulting at Conning & Co., a $103 billion, Hartford, Connecticutbased insurance asset manager.

Like most legislation, the PPA had unintended consequences. Companies started redesigning their portfolios to mitigate risk and prevent volatility in their earnings, freezing existing plans to new participants and starting discussions about transferring liabilities to insurers  organizations whose raison detre is to handle risks that could occur far in the future. The PBGCs Reeder emphasizes that these transactions are designed to shore up company finances. If everybody has smaller plans on their books, we hope they can manage them better, he says.

Pension risk transfer deals are a function of both record-low interest rates and people living longer. Given these two trends, companies have had to face painfully high liabilities. By keeping rates low since the financial crisis, global central banks have punished anyone trying to save for the future. Not surprisingly, pension consulting firm Milliman says the funded status of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit plans dropped by $83 billion during the first quarter of 2016. Companies have just 78 percent of the amount of money they need to make good on their commitments. Low interest rates have been challenging for the most experienced CIOs, says Michael Moran, pension strategist at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). Companies have pension fatigue.

Gary Veerman, a BlackRock Solutions managing director who oversees investments such as liability-driven investment strategies for corporate pension clients, says, If companies dont buy annuities or offer lump sums, they are, in essence, self-insuring  locking down the risks of their own plans.

Pension risk transfer is fairly new to the U.S., even though Prudential did its first such buyout in 1928 with the Cleveland Public Library. The recent trend started in the U.K. after government pension reforms there. Between 2007 and June 2015, U.K. companies transferred $180 billion to insurance companies, according to Prudential. The U.S. saw only $67 billion in transactions during the same time period.

Retirees who earned benefits by working for decades for the same employer, like BellTels Cohen, are lamenting their pensions being off-loaded to third-party insurance companies. The moves are part of a larger conversation in the U.S. and around the world about the role of government, taxpayers, the private sector and individuals in retirement planning  and who takes on the long-dated risk. Longer lives and an aging population have combined to make pension math almost impossible. No matter the politics, some think insurance companies may be able to take on some of the risk that the PBGC and other federal agencies cannot.

The current system of pension protection has its roots in the 1963 bankruptcy of Studebaker. The carmaker fired 4,000 workers at its manufacturing plant in South Bend, Indiana, and terminated its pension plan. With no national safety net or pension law in place, workers found they had little recourse. Concerned about the new threat to pensions, thenNew York senator Jacob Javits championed legislation in 1967 to safeguard retirement benefits and establish a federal insurance program for workers who fell victim to their employers troubles. In 1974, Congress passed ERISA to prevent funds from being mismanaged; the law sets minimum standards for pension plans and gives participants the right to sue if their benefits are compromised or plans breach their fiduciary duty.

As part of ERISA, Congress established the PBGC as the pension provider of last resort. In the four decades since the agencys creation, the U.S. economy has undergone profound changes that have decimated companies once thought impervious. The PBGC now pays 800,000 retirees each month, and 585,000 more will receive benefits from the agency when they stop working.

In 2006, Congress passed the PPA, which was designed to strengthen plans and protect the PBGC, then facing a shortfall. The combination of PPA and new accounting standards required companies to make contributions to troubled plans and to recognize funding gaps, a move that alerted investors to pension plan risk. Two years later companies defined benefit portfolios were hit by the financial crisis and plummeting markets. Funding levels at the 100 largest plans dropped by 30 percent, setting the stage for big changes.

Risk transfers have always been allowed under ERISA. Although Prudential this year celebrates the 88th anniversary of its deal with the Cleveland Public Library  with four pensioners still receiving checks from the insurance company  pension risk transfers went largely unnoticed in the U.S. until some megadeals in 2012.

Two of the deals were in the long-troubled auto industry. Both GM and Ford struggled in the years leading up to the financial crisis, in part because of expensive pensions. GM went into bankruptcy in March 2009 and emerged a few months later after a government-backed company hived off the most-profitable assets. Though Ford made it through the downturn without government help, both car companies needed to reduce the risk of their pensions.

Ford offered a lump sum to 90,000 former salaried employees in the U.S. Although it had been common for companies to offer lump sums to vested employees who no longer worked for the company, Fords offer was the first made to retirees. After Ford contributed $3.4 billion to the plan, the lump-sum offer settled about $18 billion of the companys $49 billion in U.S. pension liabilities. That same year GM transferred $25.1 billion in liabilities to Prudential by buying a group annuity for 110,000 former salaried employees  the biggest deal of its kind in U.S. history. The company also offered 44,000 of its 118,000 white-collar employees lump sums. Those who declined were added to the group annuity. GM paid Prudential a premium of about $3 billion for the transaction. Its easy to see the value of the deal to GM, which at the time had $134 billion in global pension obligations.

To cap off 2012, Verizon announced that October that it was buying a group annuity from Prudential representing $7.5 billion for more than 40,000 employees and would make a $2.5 billion contribution to its pension plan. The $7.5 billion equaled roughly a quarter of the companys then-$30.6 billion in pension liabilities. Verizons deal signaled to the market that pension risk transfer deals were attractive even to healthy companies: Unlike GM, Verizon had an A credit rating.

The 2012 transactions dealt with an all-but-obsolete form of retirement obligation, the defined benefit plan. In recent decades defined contribution plans, which put the onus on employees to save and invest for retirement, have become increasingly popular among workers who change jobs more frequently than the previous generation. Employees have had mixed success with their defined contribution plans, but the plans have been a boon for companies and dont appear on their balance sheets.

Verizon retirees first rang alarm bells shortly before the companys pension risk transfer deal was finalized. In November 2012 two retirees filed a lawsuit to block the transaction on the grounds that as annuitants they would be protected by insurance regulations, which they said were inferior to the ERISA safety net for their pension. Verizon said in a statement at the time that insurance protections were on par with ERISA and that Prudential was irrevocably committed to make all payments. Verizon retirees also said the move was not in compliance with ERISAs standard termination procedures and that the company intends to de-risk or abandon its pension responsibilities to enhance its credit rating. A district court in Texas allowed the annuity transaction to go forward.

The retirees followed up with a class action. One group, Verizon retirees who were included in the annuity, claimed that they didnt get adequate notice and that the fiduciaries should have obtained their consent before the annuity was purchased. The other group in the suit  retirees who were left in Verizons plan and whose benefits were not transferred to Prudential  claimed, among other things, that the company breached its fiduciary duty when it paid a $1 billion fee to Prudential out of plan assets rather than Verizons revenue.

Though the Verizon suit put lawyers on notice, companies were increasingly accumulating evidence for why they should do risk transfers. In the U.S. budget for fiscal year 2017, there is a proposal to raise PBGC premiums. Designed to shore up the agencys financial health, the proposed fee hikes appear to be encouraging more deals, which in turn may require more fee increases as company plans leave the system. At $42 a participant, the 2012 Prudential deal saved Verizon $1.7 million a year in PBGC fees. Agency chief Reeder thinks companies are blowing fee hikes out of proportion, but he says the uncertainty around them is a factor in companies deciding to do a risk transfer.

Companies have had to deal honestly with longer life expectancies, especially for those typically covered by pensions: unionized workers with access to good health care services. Recently updated mortality tables  actuarial expectations buried deep in the paperwork of most pensions  shocked companies with the amount of money needed to fulfill their vows to provide retirement paychecks until death. As it turned out, companies had been underestimating that number by 5 to 8 percentage points.

Many of the largest risk transfer deals have involved companies that were once stalwarts of American business. Last year department store chain J.C. Penney  hard-hit by the rise of online shopping and a falloff in mall traffic  reduced its liabilities by 25 to 30 percent after it offered lump-sum payments to retirees and purchased a group annuity from Prudential for another part of its retired workforce. Penneys stock jumped 7 percent the day it announced the deal. After the restructuring the pension plan that remained with the company was overfunded.

Last year an appellate court affirmed the dismissal of the Verizon class action by a lower court. For the group that represented retirees transferred to Prudential, the court determined that, among other things, ERISA does not require consent for annuity purchases and that Verizon did not violate its duty to make sure fees were reasonable. The other plaintiffs in the suit  retirees who were left in Verizons plan  were dismissed because they had no proof of harm to their pensions and therefore no standing to sue under ERISA. The PBGC says 1.1 million retirees have been de-risked in the past few years.

No one seems to like pensions except pensioners. Admitting a bit of paranoia, BellTels Cohen thinks Congress felt so lucky that the PBGC survived 2008 and the financial crisis that it is now deliberately trying to kill the last corporate defined benefit plans. If GM werent bailed out, there would have been no way PBGC could have covered all those pensions, he says.

Corporate CEOs and capitalism may be the bad guys in this years chaotic presidential election, but many companies  even very profitable ones  are legitimately weighed down by pension obligations. GM was a victim of rich retirement benefits it offered decades before the American car industry found itself competing with foreign automakers.

Like many companies contemplating risk transfers, Motorola grew into a U.S. heavyweight over the course of the 20th century. Founded as Galvin Manufacturing Corp. in 1928, the company later adopted the name of its popular car radio and expanded into two-way radios that became icons in World War II. Motorola, whose radio technology relayed the first words from the moon, reached a peak of 150,000 employees in 2000, after multiple acquisitions. By the middle of that decade, the company was having trouble competing in the mobile phone business and activist investor Carl Icahn had started pressing it to split its complex business in half. Motorola Solutions emerged in January 2011 as one of those two companies.

As Motorola spun off divisions, it retained pension obligations to its former employees  a surprisingly common practice in divestitures. When the company started thinking about a risk transfer, in 2013, its pension plan was about 70 percent funded. Running a DB plan is essentially about providing annuities to people, says treasurer OKeef. Its risky and fundamentally a noncore function to everybody but an insurance company.

The pension liability was a legacy issue: The participants were almost all retirees and terminated employees  people who had vested benefits but were neither retired nor working for the company. Most of them were part of businesses that had been sold years ago, and didnt fully identify with the company, OKeef says.

Motorola Solutions worked with creditors, rating agencies, financial and legal advisers, and GSAM to make the risk transfer happen. As in many of these transactions, the company employed advisers to ensure it wasnt making conflicted decisions, such as choosing the cheapest rather than the best annuity. Motorola Solutions issued $1.4 billion in bonds in August 2014 to make a $1 billion pension contribution. It offered a lump sum to terminated vested employees  20,000 took it  spun off retirees into their own plan and held an auction for the annuity, which Prudential won. The retirees plan was then transferred to the insurer.

That left Motorola Solutions with a $4.5 billion U.S. pension liability. In the old world, retirees were participants in a plan that was 70 percent funded and guaranteed by a sponsor with a triple-B rating, says OKeef. Once it was spun off, these retirees were in a fully funded plan with backing by Prudential, which has a double-A-minus rating.

As OKeef describes it, turning a pension into an annuity is a huge change. Its an extraordinary act in the pension landscape, he says.

George (Phil) Waldeck, head of the pension and structured solutions business at Prudential Retirement, doesnt think its so extraordinary. These are mainstream obligations for us, he says. In the life insurance business, people die unexpectedly early; insurance companies pool the risk and provide a solution. In the pension annuity business, we make long-dated obligation payments to people. We take the risk of people living longer than expected, but remember, large groups of retirees  we pool the risk from different companies  are very predictable when it comes to longevity.

Waldeck built out the pension risk transfer team at Prudential in 2006, when the PPA was passed. A pension geek who watched on C-SPAN as Congress voted on the bill, Waldeck anticipated that the new law would accelerate moves away from defined benefit pensions and that companies would start reducing the risks of their plans by using liability-driven investment strategies, closing and freezing plans, and doing risk transfers. He thought Prudential could help them meet their obligations in a cost-effective way. How do companies keep the promises theyve made to people who used to work for them? he says.

Waldeck points to the experience of U.K. companies, which confronted similar reforms a few years ago, as proof that pension risk transfers are working and that nothing has gone wrong. The key is that pension liabilities are getting funded up  companies are plugging deficits  and conservatively matched on insurers balance sheets, he says.

Pension risk transfers will have a mixed effect on the health of the PBGC. Theoretically, the agency is laying off part of its risk every time a company transfers a liability to an insurance company. The PBGC is exposed to plan sponsors with an average of 80 cents for every dollar of liability and a portfolio that is about half in equities, with some alternative investments and corporate bonds. Although the risk transfer deals could reduce the agencys exposure to corporate Americas pension liabilities, that potential benefit is offset by lost revenue when companies no longer pay premiums.

Even with the PBGCs limitations, including a $60,136 annual cap for a 65-year-old retiree, one of the biggest complaints about annuity deals by pensioners like BellTels Cohen is the loss of the agencys protection.

To assuage retirees fears, the National Organization of Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Associations, an insurance group representing all 50 states, published in April the first study to compare ERISA with state protections. In its report NOLHGA, which hired Willis Towers Watson to conduct the review, points out that in contrast to pension plans and their sponsors, insurers are required to hold capital in excess of liabilities; when they do risk transfer deals, they are obligated to take in assets that represent more than the liabilities they are assuming. ERISA does not require pension plans to be fully funded. NOLHGA also found that no annuity provider went bankrupt during or after the financial crisis, but 931 single-employer pension plans failed between 2007 and 2015. Pension risk transfer critics, however, point to the 1991 failure of Executive Life Insurance Co. and the 2008 American International Group debacle as evidence that the industry needs more regulation.

Former PBGC director Joshua Gotbaum, who is now a guest scholar in the economic studies program at the Brookings Institution, believes annuities are a safe option. To him lump-sum payments are the real risk to retirement security. Corporations are offering them in record numbers because annuities are expensive when interest rates are as low as they are now. Companies can provide lump sums at a big discount to the value of the liability, and they dont have to disclose the discount. In a 2015 PBGC study, almost 400 of the 500-plus risk transfer deals between 2007 and 2013 were lump sums. Its not a great time to buy annuities, but thanks to badly done tax and ERISA regulations, it is a great time for a company to do a lump sum, says Gotbaum.

Robert Rehm, a co-founder of the BellTel association who retired in 1991 after 30 years at NYNEX Corp. and its predecessor companies, says there are many issues he would like to see resolved if the Supreme Court grants the plaintiffs the right to sue Verizon. Among them is the $1 billion fee Verizon paid Prudential for the annuity. Rehm calls it an enticement for the insurer to take the obligations and says it was wrong for Verizon to take it out of the pension plan itself; he thinks it should have come out of corporate operating expenses. Dont charge me a billion dollars because you want to shed your pension, says the Jericho, New York, resident.

Rehm misses Verizons published reports on the health of the pension plan, including how much was paid to retirees and spent on administrative costs, and the ability to call someone in Verizons human resources department when he has a question. The annuity doesnt come with any pension increases. Though Verizon hadnt made any increases for quite some time, the annuity ends any possibility for raises in the future.

For now, the Supreme Court has done nothing with the BellTel retirees cert petition. It hasnt denied it, hasnt granted it, hasnt rescheduled it and hasnt asked the governments views, says Karen Hansdorf, counsel for the petitioner. She says the court may be waiting for a decision on another case  Spokeo Inc. v. Robins, which also involves plaintiffs that havent suffered concrete harm.

As corporate pensions continue their slow death, pension risk transfers are the tombstones. Although the current generation of retirees is likely to get its benefits, everyone else is on their own. De-risking  its a confusing word, a convenient word for corporations, says Rehm. Companies are stripping away the pension from their own responsibility. Its good-bye retiree. 

Visit Julie Segals blog and follow her on Twitter at @julie_segal.
Oil futures and currencies strongly linked to crude prices rose in early trading on Thursday, one day after a fresh report from the International Energy Agency. While in the near-term, the Paris-based body said Iranian production increases had offset fire-related supply disruptions in Canada, the report outlined the case for lower supply levels in the second half of 2016. The projections followed a release by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on the same day that indicated crude inventories in the U.S. declined my nearly 2.5 million barrels last week. For oil bulls, the glass-half-full argument continues to pick up steam,

Dilma impeached. After a 21-hour senate session, a majority of Brazilian senators voted to impeach and suspend President Dilma Rousseff, forcing her to step aside in favor of Vice President Michel Temer. Rouseff will now face a trial on the impeachment charges, mostly centering around accounting practices seemingly designed to mask the deficit; she will be permanently removed from office if convicted. Spokespeople for Temer, who leads a different party than Rousseff, indicated that economic recovery will be the primary focus of his administration. Organized labor groups have pledged to stage strikes in support of Rousseff.

Blackstone pulls back from consumer lending. According to unnamed sources in a story published by Bloomberg Thursday, New Yorks Blackstone Group will be tapering its online consumer-lending activities through its Blackstones B2R Finance division. The announcement comes during the same week that LendingClub announced the departure of its CEO over potential improprieties and, separately, a report by the Treasury Department that recommended stronger regulatory oversight for the industry segment.

Nissan takes Mitsubishi stake. On Thursday Nissan Motor announced that it has agreed to acquire 34 percent in troubled Mitsubishi Motors Corp., as the smaller firm seeks to recover from fallout over falsified performance ratings. The deal, valued at $2.2 billion, comes after Mitsubishi had conducted negotiations with other possible suitors, including Chinese automaker BAIC Motor Corp.

BOE projects lower growth. On Thursday, policymakers at the Bank of England as expected announced no change in benchmark lending rates but reduced growth forecasts as concerns over the effect of a potential departure from the European Union remain high on economists list of concerns. Estimates for second quarter growth in the U.K. were lowered to an annualized 0.3 percent from a prior 0.5 percent by the central banks economists, bringing full-year 2016 predictions down to 2 percent.

Portfolio Perspective: EM Represents Most Appealing Growth Opportunity for Those Who Can Stomach Volatility  Michael Mullaney, Fiduciary Trust Co.

Its too early to say that the worst is over for emerging-markets (EM) stocks, and last yearthanks to a challenging stretch for commodities and currency headwinds triggered by a strong dollar  was certainly no treat for investors. Recently, though, many have started to return to emerging markets, which we believe actually represents one of the most appealing destinations for long-term growth. That being said, it wont be without some heartache along the way, which is why we espouse a Rip Van Winkle approach when it comes to investing in EM employ a long-term strategy, but investors should do their best to sleep through, or at least ignore, the ups and downs that will characterize the frontier markets over the next decade.

We see three primary catalysts that should drive outperformance for emerging markets. First, if history serves as a guide, valuations are appealing. Even with the recent run up in certain key emerging markets, relative valuations havent been this attractive since EM stocks traded at a 20 percent discount to equities in the developed markets during the global financial crisis.

The second catalyst relates back to the investor sentiment, which while improving, remains circumspect given the volatility inherent to the segment. Cumulative flows into emerging market funds are only recently coming off of six-year lows, as money has started to rotate back into this segment given the dearth of growth opportunities available in other areas. A rising rate environment in the U.S. and little room left for cuts in Europe and Japan make EM stocks even more attractive on a relative basis and with cumulative flows near a trough, risk is skewed to the upside.

Finally, as the advantage shifts to developing East Asia and the Pacific, new industries are emerging and the corporate landscape is evolving, buttressing the long-term growth story for EM stocks. And that makes the mismatch between the emerging markets share of the global economy, and the total market capitalization of emerging market stocks all the more glaring. Emerging markets currently account for 39 percent of the worlds aggregate gross domestic product in U.S. dollar terms, according to the International Monetary Fund. Yet EM stocks represent only 12 percent of the total market capitalization of the global stock market.

Thats a statistic, assuming investors adopt the Rip Van Winkle approach, that should change dramatically by the time the rest of the market wakes up to the opportunity.

Michael Mullaney is chief investment officer at Fiduciary Trust Co. in Boston.
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With several of its existing funds solidly in the black this year, the quant giant has raised money for a new macro fund.
Insurer XL Catlin has added active assailant coverage to its crisis management product suite to respond to the threat of terror attacks facing businesses and public service providers.Stephen Ashwell, XL Catlins chief underwriting officer for crisis management, said a number of recent, high profile attacks carried out by terrorist groups, as well as global terror events have created the need for such an insurance solution.Active assailant coverage will initially be underwritten in the UK, US, Germany and Asia Pacific covering clients globally. The solution is designed to help organisations with the financial impacts of active assailant events ranging from business interruption, denial of access through to medical expenses and business rehabilitation costs, he said.He added that the coverage was broad and applied to premeditated events, which was a key differentiator from other options on the market.Ashwell said XL Catlin believed there would be significant demand for the solution and had added additional capacity to support its development.Incidents of this nature are terrible in all cases, thats clear. Without the right insurance cover however, the aftermath can be just as devastating; crippling organisations and their function in society.This is why weve developed this coverage to help address the gaps there are in existing solutions, in a thoughtful and thorough way.Shelley Devane, head of crisis management, Australia, said: As security risk becomes relevant in developed economies as well as emerging countries, Australian businesses also become more susceptible to threats to their people, assets and operations.
Investigators examining the theft of $81 million from Bangladeshs central bank have uncovered evidence of three hacking groups  including two nation states  inside the banks network but say it was the third, unidentified group that pulled off the heist, according to two people briefed on the progress of the banks internal investigation.

FireEye Inc., the company hired by the bank to conduct the forensics investigation, identified digital fingerprints of hacking groups from Pakistan and North Korea, the two people said. It hasnt found enough data to determine whether the third group, the actual culprit, was a criminal network or the agent of another nation.

The twists and turns add to the mystery of who pulled off one of the largest cyber heists in history. The hackers, pairing theft with havoc within the global financial system, used the SWIFT inter-bank messaging system to move cash into fake accounts in the Philippines but were discovered before they could complete an attempted transfer totaling $951 million.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation suspects an insider with access to the computers at the Bangladesh central bank played a role in the caper, according to the people briefed on the investigation. Police in Bangladesh said they have found negligence within the bank but havent determined whether there was any criminal intent.

Spokesmen for Pakistans interior and information technology ministries didnt respond to requests for comments. Telephone and e-mailed requests for comment to North Koreas delegation to the United Nations went unanswered.

Weak Link

A year in the making, the hacking scheme ran through the SWIFT messaging system and the central banks accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, exposing crucial weaknesses in the global financial system. Government officials in the Philippines and Sri Lanka are investigating where the purloined money may have gone. Members of the U.S. Congress have asked for additional information about whether there were lapses in security by institutions duped in the scam.

These guys started to lay the groundwork for their hack or their robbery a year ago. They set up their false accounts, with false IDs, said Leonard Schrank, who was SWIFTs chief executive officer for 15 years through 2007. It was really well thought through, and they found a very weak link, which they exploited.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are moved internationally through the SWIFT system daily. The group warned users last month that it was aware of several similar attacks. It didnt indicate whether it suspected the same hackers or whether more money was taken.

Skilled Perpetrators

The Bangladesh forensic results, provided to the bank in the last few days, highlight the challenges of identifying skilled perpetrators in cyberspace, where hackers can mimic others and route their actions around the world to confuse trackers.

The people briefed on the investigation agreed to provide details for this article only if not identified, citing the small circle of people who have been briefed so far.

On Tuesday, the new head of Bangladeshs central bank met in Basel, Switzerland, to discuss the investigation with officials from the New York Fed and SWIFT. In a brief joint statement, the parties said they were committed to recovering the proceeds of the fraud, bringing the perpetrators to justice and working together to normalize operations.

Representatives for the New York Fed, SWIFT and Bangladesh central bank declined to provide additional details about the progress of the investigation. Vitor De Souza, a spokesman for FireEye, declined to comment on the report.

USB Port

FireEye was unable to determine how the thieves first entered the Bangladesh Banks network, according to one of the people. One possibility is that malware was introduced into the network by someone inside the bank or a technician working with the bank. Malware can be introduced quickly onto a network by someone inside with something as simple as a thumb drive in an open USB port. The forensics investigation hasnt found any evidence of this, the person said.

The potential role of any insider is still being investigated. The FBI has been assisting the inquiry at the request of the Bangladesh central bank. Jillian Stickels, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Washington, declined to comment on the investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Tuesday that the FBI suspected the involvement of an insider.

The Bangladesh Bank hasnt yet been able to determine whether an employee was involved, according to a panel it appointed to review the incident. An official from Bangladeshs police said it hasnt received information from the FBI about a possible insider and that no arrests had been made.

Bangladesh officials have sought to cast SWIFT as bearing some responsibility, this week releasing details about SWIFT technicians who made upgrades to the banks system late last year. Reuters previously reported on the officials findings.

The way that technicians from SWIFT set up the network at Bangladesh Bank was not according to the agreed plan, Shah Alam, a senior official in Bangladeshs Criminal Investigation Department, told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

We have also found that some officials at Bangladesh Bank who were in charge of maintaining the network fell short of their responsibilities, he said, adding that police were still trying to determine if the officials actions went beyond pure negligence.

Such allegations are false, inaccurate and misleading, SWIFT said in a statement on its website.

Moral Responsibility

The Bangladesh central bank has been roiled since the hack was disclosed in March, and several officials have stepped down. Atiur Rahman resigned as Bangladeshs central bank governor, saying he took moral responsibility after failing to immediately inform the Finance Ministry of the theft. Two of his deputies were also removed.

Attribution of a breach is notoriously difficult, even for the U.S. government. In this case, the task was hampered as investigators sifted through the handiwork of multiple hacking groups, attributing the heist at various stages of the investigation first to one group and then the next, according to one of the people briefed.

Hackers used the SWIFT system to make illicit payments to accounts in several countries, creating sophisticated malware designed to operate on the banks SWIFT messaging system. As the hackers navigated through the banks network unseen for weeks, they deployed a smorgasbord of tools that included two pieces of malware dubbed Nestegg and Dyepack, according to one of the people briefed on the report.

Custom Malware

The ease with which the hackers manipulated the interbank system and the significant resources used to create and customize the malware raise the possibility of more attacks against international institutions, people involved in the bank probe said.

North Koreas hacking prowess has been cited by government officials repeatedly in recent years. President Obama accused North Korea of pilfering and publishing a trove of corporate information from Sony more than a year ago  after the production of The Interview, a movie that parodies North Korea  and vowed to take unspecified action against the country. North Korea has also been blamed for a series of financial hacks in South Korea by officials there.

After the White House publicly attributed the Sony breach to North Korea, some security firms publicly cast doubt on the claim. North Korea has denied any involvement.Investigators have spent weeks following the money trail from the Bangladesh central banks account, but the ultimate destination of tens of millions of dollars remains unknown.

Simple Errors

After scouting the computer system, the hackers impersonated bank officials, sending instructions through the SWIFT system to move nearly $1 billion to several bank accounts in several countries.

Most of the transfers were stopped or reversed because of simple errors made by the hackers, including a spelling error. Clues to the missing millions have led from computers in Bangladesh to a colorful cast of characters including a bank manager and casino operators in the Philippines and the head of a non-profit foundation in Sri Lanka.

SWIFT, which stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a cooperative that is a vital component in global interbank transfers. It has said that its systems werent compromised but that messages were sent through its system by attackers who appeared to have good knowledge of the bank systems and their security procedures.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Cyber New York
Eastern Insurance Group LLC, a Natick, Massachusetts-based independent agency, announced that it has acquired BBS Employee Benefits in Newton, Massachusetts. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2002, BBS Employee Benefits provides design, implementation and administration services for employee benefits programs.

Eastern Insurance said the acquisition increases its customer base in the Newton and Greater Boston area.

Boston is at the center of the many markets that we now serve, so this was an attractive opportunity to partner with a successful agency with an excellent reputation in the financial community and group benefits space, said Hope A. Aldrich, president and CEO of Eastern Insurance.

Eastern Insurance is a subsidiary of Boston-based Eastern Bank, the largest independent, mutually owned bank in New England. Eastern Insurance serves more than 70,000 individuals and businesses and provides personal and commercial insurance products, surety, and employee benefits services.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Massachusetts
Manchester Specialty Programs, a national specialty underwriting and insurance program management firm for home care, hospice and other health-related classes, is now offering allied health business insurance coverage on an admitted basis through Great American Insurance Group.

Great Americans suite of products is the most recent addition to Manchester Specialtys national workers compensation and surplus lines professional liability product offerings.

Bill Thompson, president and CEO of Manchester Specialty Programs, said the addition includes access to a broad spectrum of coverages, as well as Great Americans claims management and safety/loss prevention services, including a driver training and monitoring program offered through SafetyFirst and discounted background check rates available from IntelliCorp.

Through Great American Insurance Groups Specialty Human Services and Manchester Specialty Programs, agents and brokers will have access on an admitted basis to a package policy that includes coverages such as general liability; professional liability; abuse or molestation; third-party crime; inland marine; non-owned and hired auto; property; owned auto; umbrella/excess; directors & officers and employment practices liability; and cyber liability. Through Manchester Specialty Programs additional dedicated market, agents and brokers also have access to workers compensation.

Target classes include home health care, companion care, visiting nurse associations (VNAs), hospice and respite care. Manchester Specialty works on an open brokerage basis with licensed agents and brokers nationwide. For Great American agents, Manchester is the dedicated access point to these targeted health-related classes.

In addition to the core target classes, coverage for adult day care; alcohol and drug rehab/detox Facilities; physical/speech/occupational therapy centers; and mental health counseling centers may also be considered.

Manchester Specialty Programs Inc. is a privately held national specialty underwriting and insurance program management firm. Manchester Specialty is licensed to do business as a program administrator in all 50 states and D.C.

Topics Agencies Excess Surplus
Mike Siegel, who oversees about $190 billion at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s asset-management arm, said insurers should stick with hedge funds even after their recent slump, because the industry needs investing strategies beyond low-yielding bonds.

All asset classes have their day in the sun and their day in the shade, and this may be one of those times, a day in the shade, Siegel said of hedge funds Wednesday in a televised interview with Jonathan Ferro and Amanda Lang. I cant say the model is dead, I just dont believe that.

American International Group Inc. and MetLife Inc., two of the largest U.S. insurers, disclosed this month that theyve submitted notices to redeem billions of dollars from hedge funds after declining results squeezed profits.

Warren Buffett said April 30 that investors are paying unbelievable fees for hedge fund strategies that have failed to keep pace with index funds that track the S&P 500.

Bond Yields

The first quarter of this year was the worst for hedge funds since 2008, according to Hedge Fund Research. Siegel said some strategies such as merger arbitrage have been facing pressure as high-value deals have been called off. On Tuesday, a U.S. judge blocked the proposed combination of retailers Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc.

Siegel, who is head of insurance asset management for New York-based Goldman Sachs, said hedge funds should still be part of his clients portfolios because their performance isnt highly correlated with stocks and fixed-income securities. Government bond yields are negative in much of Europe and Japan, and stocks are trading near record highs.

By the way, weve had periods of time when youve bought 30-year U.S. government debt and regretted that, Siegel said, adding that stocks lost about half their value from their 2007 peak to the low of 2008. So, theres a rotation that takes place.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers USA
American International Group Inc., which is shrinking under pressure from activist investors, is committed to retaining operations in both life insurance and property/casualty coverage, Chairman Doug Steenland said.

We remain of the view that that is the right long-term position for AIG, Steenland said Wednesday at the companys annual meeting in New York. Although, the specific components of whats in each of those businesses may change.

Billionaire Carl Icahn said last year that AIG is too big and should split into separate companies. Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock instead is selling smaller units as part of a plan to free up $25 billion in capital to be returned to shareholders over two years. That has helped ease tension with activists including John Paulson, who was elected to the insurers board Wednesday along with a representative of Icahns firm.

Hancock reached a deal in January to sell a broker-dealer operation, and AIGs mortgage insurance unit filed in March for an initial public offering. The CEO has also been cutting jobs.

This is hard and sometimes painful work, he said at the meeting. We have much left to accomplish.

AIG advanced 14 cents to $56.49 at 12:15 p.m. in New York. That compares with the closing price of $60.92 on Oct. 27, the day before Icahn disclosed a stake in the insurer and publicly called on Hancock to break up the company.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Property Casualty
A U.S. judge on Thursday handed a victory to congressional Republicans who challenged President Barack Obamas signature healthcare law, ruling that his administration overstepped its constitutional powers relating to government spending.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, based in Washington, ruled that the administration cannot spend billions of dollars in federal funds to provide subsidies under the law known as Obamacare to private insurers without the approval of Congress.

At issue in the case, brought by the Republican-led House of Representatives, are reimbursements to insurance companies to compensate them for reductions that the law requires them to make to customers out-of-pocket medical payments.

Shares in hospital operators and managed care companies were down after the ruling.

In court papers, the administration had warned that a court victory for the House Republicans would lead to a spike in insurance premiums for Americans and force the government to pay more in tax credits to insurance policyholders.

The administration is expected to appeal the ruling. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the House Republicans ultimately would lose.

This suit represents the first time in our nations history that Congress has been permitted to sue the executive branch over a disagreement about how to interpret a statute, Earnest told a briefing.

Its unfortunate that Republicans have resorted to a taxpayer-funded lawsuit to re-fight a political fight that they keep losing, Earnest added. Theyve been losing this fight for six years, and theyll lose it again.

Conservatives have mounted a series of legal challenges to the law, known as Obamacare, since it was passed by Congress in 2010 over unified Republican opposition. Collyer was appointed to the bench by Republican former President George W. Bush.

The House Republicans argued that the administrations action violated the U.S. Constitution because it is the legislative branch, not the executive branch, that authorizes government spending.

BIG win for the Constitution, House Speaker Paul Ryan wrote on Twitter.

Jonathan Turley, the lawyer who spearheaded the lawsuit, in a blog post called the ruling a resounding victory not just for Congress but for our constitutional system as a whole.

The ruling will not have an immediate effect on the law, considered Obamas top domestic policy achievement, because the judge put the decision on hold pending appeal. As part of its expected appeal, the administration is likely to press its argument that the House does not have legal standing to sue.

New Uncertainty

The ruling brought new uncertainty to the law, which has helped bring insurance coverage to millions of Americans who previously had none.

Shares in hospital operators including Community Health Systems Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corp. and HCA Holdings as well as managed care companies UnitedHealth Group Inc., Anthem Inc., Humana Inc., Cigna Corp. and Aetna Inc. declined after the ruling.

The appeals court in Washington may be more receptive to the administrations arguments, in part because seven of the 11 active judges are Democratic-appointees, including four picked by Obama.

The case focuses on a cost-sharing provision of Obamacare that requires insurers to reduce deductibles and co-pays. Insurers are supposed to be reimbursed for these costs by the federal government. Cost-sharing is determined by the income of the policyholder and is a mechanism for reducing healthcare costs for lower-income households.

The Obama administration has interpreted the provision as a type of federal spending that does not need to be explicitly authorized by Congress. The House Republicans who filed the challenge disagreed.

Collyer ruled that the cost-sharing provisions cannot be funded through the same permanent appropriation that covers tax credits made available under the law.

The judge rejected the administrations contention that the appropriation should be viewed as permanent because the alternative interpretation would lead to absurd economic, fiscal and healthcare policy results.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2015, in a ruling authored by Bush-appointed Chief Justice John Roberts, rejected a conservative challenge that could have gutted Obamacare, upholding nationwide tax subsidies crucial to the law. Roberts also wrote a major 2012 ruling preserving Obamacare.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley. Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Amrutha Penumudi and David Alexander; Editing by Will Dunham)

Topics Carriers USA Legislation Profit Loss
Abuse of assignment of benefits (AOB) from water loss claims has become a full-blown Florida insurance crisis that will mean higher insurance rates next year and for the foreseeable future for every Florida policyholder, according to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. CEO Barry Gilway and Chief Risk Officer John Rollins.

We are going to have a round of rate increases from private carriers, said Rollins. South Florida will definitely have a rate increase. The question is more open in the rest of the state, but the trends are very disturbing.

Private insurer executives have echoed the warning and say hikes of as much as $1 billion will be needed.

The issue now most commonly referred to as just AOB took center stage at the Florida Association for Insurance Reforms conference on April 28. Several industry experts said AOB is no longer just a problem for Citizens, the state-backed property insurer, and maintained the impact will go far beyond rates if the crisis isnt addressed. The overall Florida market will also suffer, especially if the state is hit by a serious catastrophe.

What you've seen is a situation where a flu in South Florida is turning into a pandemic for the rest of the state.

[AOB] is also trickling into the reinsurance pricing, Bruce Lucas, chairman & CEO of Heritage Insurance said at the FAIR event. The number one question asked of us by reinsurers is, What are you doing about AOB? because after a storm, it could be a big issue.

Citizens, which has seen AOB claims skyrocket, was the first to highlight the issue in its rate filing last summer. Now the insurer is re-tooling its efforts to combat the AOB abuse in light of Florida lawmakers failure to enact a legislative solution.

By law, Citizens can only raise rates by up to 10 percent per year. But in parts of the state where AOB abuse has been rampant  namely the tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties  Citizens said actuarially sound rate increases should be as high as 189 percent. In other parts of the state Citizens had expected to decrease rates by about 10 percent, but that is no longer the case.

Gilway said private carriers that are also experiencing a significant rise in AOB claims have more options than Citizens has. Private insurers options include raising rates by as much as 15 percent without Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) approval, or withdrawing from or eliminating zip codes where the abuse is rampant  such as in the tri-county region.

If that happens, Gilway and Rollins said the result would be a market availability crisis, and the depopulation efforts that have brought down Citizens policy count in the last several years will be completely reversed.

The implications of that for us are huge. We are statutorily required to write business in tri-county, so if no one else is writing it, those policies come to us, Gilway said.

Carrier executives on a panel at FAIRs recent conference echoed the sentiments that this is no longer just a Citizens problem.

We will be raising rates by about 5 percent this year because of AOB, said Locke Burt, chairman and president of Security First Insurance.

This is a $1 billion issue  a billion dollars in rate increases this year to the consumer. We can write against it, we can shut down zip codes, we can take action. Citizens cant do that, said Lucas of Heritage Insurance.

Education efforts by Citizens, as well as industry and consumer groups, are helping to raise awareness of the issue but may be having a negative impact in the short term. Severity of claims and AOB lawsuits are still increasing, Gilway said. In fact, Citizens had 1,000 suits in March alone  the highest monthly number over the last two years.

It appears to be a run on the bank scenario with the attorneys saying, I need to get my suit in now, Gilway said. We were seeing about 620 suits a month in the last two years. During that same period our policy count dropped by two-thirds, so you would expect to see a decrease in the number of suits.

Gilway said private insurers are having similar results  with some reporting 12 to 14 new suits a day. As of right now the problem is getting worse and not better, he said.

Results of a data call performed by OIR earlier this year found that frequency of water loss claims has increased by 46 percent and severity has increased by 28 percent since 2010. OIRs report concluded that water loss claims, exacerbated by assignment of benefits, are driving higher rates in South Florida and increasingly across the state.

Outgoing Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty emphasized the effects the AOB issue is having on the Florida insurance market, and ultimately on consumers.

This is a true victimization of homeowners  now everyone else is going to have increased costs. Thats exactly where we dont want to be, McCarty said. We have to have a broad public policy conversation on what can be done.

Legislative Response

Rollins and Gilway agree a legislative solution is the only way to really stop the abuse. However, the effort put forth in the just-ended Florida session fell apart for the fourth year in a row.

Gilway said the reason for that was twofold: lobbying efforts by water remediation companies and contractors, as well as law firms currently benefitting from the AOB provision; and the insurance industrys inability to reach a consensus on what needs to be done to combat the problem.

We got out-lobbied, there is no question. But the other issue is the industry itself  we are not on the same page, Gilway said. There is a lot of work to be done to pull the industry together.

Specifically, Gilway said, State Farm walked away because the insurer said Floridas one-way attorney fee shifting statute blamed for the AOB abuse was not being corrected. Floridas statute allows policyholders, or in the case of an AOB by a policyholder, to recover their attorney fees upon the successful completion of coverage litigation.

Because its a one-way fee shift, if an insurer wins a claim suit it cannot collect its legal fees from policyholders. In other words, claimants have nothing to lose by filing suit. Gilway says State Farm didnt want the Legislature to pass a bill unless it was a comprehensive reform measure that addressed the statute.

As long as you have a statute in place that basically says any contractor on behalf of the insured can sue the insurance company, and when that happens if we pay $1 dollar more than the original estimate the insurance company is responsible for all of the attorney fees, its a no-lose proposition for the trial bar, Gilway said.

There may be hope for next year. State Senator Jeff Brandes said his colleagues are finally recognizing AOB abuse as a crisis. What started as water claims in one part of the state is now spreading to roofing claims in other areas, and what is meant to be a consumer protection is now having the opposite effect.

What youve seen is a situation where a flu in South Florida is turning into a pandemic for the rest of the state, Brandes said. Its risen to the level now where lawmakers are starting to hear that policies are going back into Citizens and that companies are simply not writing in the tri-county area. You are going to see a substantial shift now in policymakers thinking.

Brandes said ideas that have generated some support involve moving towards a managed repair model, that would be similar to the health insurance market where consumers can choose between an HMO or PPO. In this case, policyholders would have a contractor list to choose from for a water loss claim to get a lower rate on their policy.

It might be a solution that drives down costs and allows consumers to have a choice, Brandes said. At the end of the day, this is really a contract between insurance companies and the consumer, so to have a lower rate you would have a defined list of contractors to choose from, and thats a choice the consumer is making. As long as it is well-disclosed and people are upfront about it, its a fair way to do it.

The AOB issue really highlights the need for a discussion of what the future of Florida insurance looks like and I think the HMO/PPO model really creates an interesting discussion, he added.

Brandes said he doesnt know yet if he will sponsor legislation around the issue in the next session, but before anything can happen the industry needs to come together on a solution.

They need to sing it as a chorus, but [so far] theres been a lot of solo acts, Brandes said. At the end of the day, we are hearing the coalescing around a number of ideas that we can begin to support.

Whether that will translate into action next session, however, remains to be seen.

In the Meantime

Citizens launched a policyholder education campaign earlier this year called Call Citizens First to encourage policyholders to reach out to the insurer or their agent when water loss first occurs. Gilway said that today, the average claim comes in 33 days after the event, making it very difficult for the insurer to adequately assess the claim and leading to increased costs. He said by the time Citizens is made aware of a water loss claim in those cases, 90 percent of them already have representation.

Rollins said the severity of the cost of the claim at least doubles when it is litigated.

If you are on the other side of this process as a plumber, water remediator or attorney, you are potentially generating four times the marketplace for yourself by taking a natural claim that is maybe $8,000 and making it a $35,000 claim, Rollins said.

CITIZEN FORM CHANGES To ensure that Citizens has the opportunity to confirm coverage and inspect damage, additional permanent repairs can only begin after the earliest of: 72 hours after Citizens is notified, after Citizens inspects the damage, or after Citizens approves (either verbally or in writing) the repairs. Note that these policy contract changes DO NOT require that a loss be reported within 72 hours.

Permanent repairs performed earlier than 72-hours after Citizens is notified of the loss, earlier than the time of loss inspection by Citizens, or earlier than the time of other approval by Citizens will not be covered, except in the case for reasonable emergency measures.

Reasonable emergency measures are defined as measures policyholders must take to prevent further damage to their property.

Reasonable emergency measures may not exceed the greater of $3,000 or 1 percent of the Coverage A limit, unless the policyholder receives approval from Citizens first

Under Coverage C  personal property of water or steam is not covered

Replacement of water in a swimming pool is covered when there is a covered loss or damage to the swimming pool

Collapse coverage more explicitly states that coverage for collapse of a building does not include coverage for collapse of plumbing that results from age, deterioration or maintenance

Language clarifying what perils are insured against, including additional details to better describe collapse when addressing collapse coverage

Clarifies that coverage is provided for necessary access to repair only the portion or part of the plumbing system that caused a covered loss in the event of accidental discharge of water or steam

Citizens has no duty to provide coverage if failure to comply with duties after loss is prejudicial to Citizens. *The form changes have been updated from an earlier version of this story.

The insurer recently implemented other changes in an attempt to curb the problem. OIR has approved form filings by Citizens that includes new policy language as related to water loss reporting (see box).

In his last interview with Insurance Journal as the Florida Insurance Commissioner, McCarty said OIR worked with Citizens to refine the language in its policies so what has always been intended is spelled out in the contract. It is important to note that this is not a cutting of benefits, he said.

McCarty said OIR has been encouraging other insurers in the state to look at the Citizens filings and submit their own changes. As of the end of April, 13 other companies had done me too filings.

McCarty said OIR is not requiring insurers to make a rate filing to accomplish this form change. We dont see this as a rate change, he said at the recent FAIR conference. We are making sure the insurance company has the ability to do what its responsibility is to do under the contract, which is to inspect the claim.

Communication between the policyholder, insurer and agent is key, Gilway and Rollins said, and they say Citizens has to do a better job ensuring that happens.

Its focus now is making policyholders aware of the form changes and the importance of contacting the insurer when a claim occurs, but Gilway said the company needs help from the more than 8,000 agents it has in the state. He said right now most agents are not involved when a policyholder has a water loss and AOB, and are as surprised as Citizens when a suit is filed.

Agents, he said, have to play a much more significant role in getting the word out.

Rollins said the involvement of the agent community will be the difference between success and failure with Citizens current efforts.

They are the ones policyholders turn to, he said. We need a ground game to succeed and thats where the agents come in. We all have to get on the same page.

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Florida Legislation Agencies Claims Profit Loss Contractors Property Market
Cigna Corp.s acquisition by health insurance rival Anthem Inc. may not be approved this year, Cigna said Friday in a regulatory filing.

Shares of both companies declined. An analyst said the delay could be a sign of trouble for the deal, which is one of two pending health insurance combinations being scrutinized by regulators who have expressed concern about further concentration of the health-care industry.

While the company continues to work toward achieving regulatory approval as quickly as possible and to target a closing date in the second half of 2016, the closing will ultimately be subject to the approval and timing of the regulators, Cigna said in its quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the complexity of the regulatory process and the dynamic environment, it is possible that such approvals may not be obtained in 2016.

Joe Swedish, Anthems chief executive officer, said last week that he expected the acquisition of Cigna to be completed in the second half of this year. On Friday, Jill Becher, an Anthem spokeswoman, said the insurer continued to expect the transaction to be completed on that timeline.

Anthem agreed in July to buy Cigna in a cash-and-stock deal that valued Cigna at about $48 billion. The transaction, along with Aetna Inc.s pending acquisition of Humana Inc., would reduce the number of big U.S. health insurers to three from five.

The Anthem-Cigna merger requires approval from the Justice Departments antitrust division as well as state insurance regulators. In March, Bill Baer, now the No. 3 official at the Justice Department, called the Cigna deal and Aetnas deal for Humana transformational and said they required close scrutiny from the government.

Matt Asensio, a Cigna spokesman, declined to specify why the insurer cautioned that the deal may not happen this year.

This disclosure reflects our current understanding, based on the breadth and depth of the review and where we believe we are in the process now, Asensio said. We feel that its a dynamic environment, and theres a lot of complexity in the regulatory process, so its possible that the approvals may not be obtained in 2016.

Cigna said in the filing that Anthem may owe it a breakup fee of $1.85 billion if the transaction isnt completed by Jan. 31, 2017. That deadline can be pushed back to April 30, Cigna said.

Cigna fell 1.9 percent to $132.40 at 10:30 a.m. in New York, while Anthem declined less than 1 percent to $136.77.

Peter Costa, an analyst at Wells Fargo & Co., said Cignas disclosure indicates the deal could be delayed or not approved at all. The 10Q deal timing disclosure is a significant item that likely widens the spread, he wrote in a research note to clients.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Legislation
Uber Technologies Inc. agreed to start a guild for 35,000 drivers in New York that will help them negotiate with the ride-hailing company, though the group will have less power to resolve disputes than a full-fledged union.

All current and future Uber drivers in New York City will be represented by the Independent Drivers Guild, a newly created affiliate of the International Association of Machinists District 15, according to a statement from the union. Under terms of the five-year contract with Uber, drivers will have a more unified voice to lobby locally and to negotiate with the San Francisco-based company.

The guild is the first of its kind, James Conigliaro Jr., the founder of the Independent Drivers Guild, said on a conference call following the announcement. Drivers need immediate support, and we truly believed it was our responsibility to create a structure to help independent drivers in New York.

With more than $10 billion in capital raised to fund global expansion of its service, Uber has faced push-back from regulators and drivers, while dealing with lawsuits and challenges for workers to organize and receive employee status. In December, Seattle became the first city in the country to allow drivers for ride-hailing services to form unions, prompting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to sue the city.

Uber recently agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by drivers in Massachusetts and California. Uber agreed to pay up to $100 million as part of the settlement. The company held firm on its argument that drivers are independent contractors and therefore are not entitled to benefits, such as paid sick days and Social Security benefits.

The arrangement in New York could become a model for other states, said Mario Cilento, New York state president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the largest trade union association.

A lot of what we do in New York sets a tone for the rest of the country, Cilento said. Im sure that other unions in other states are going to take a look at this.

The New York guilds power to resolve some of drivers main gripes with Uber is limited. The group, which is partially funded by Uber, wont be able to turn to the National Labor Relations Board, for instance, to intervene on issues. The guild will have little power to negotiate over fares. Independent contractors are legally prohibited from collectively bargaining.

Conigliaro said the union had previously tried other structures to give drivers a voice but that it ultimately decided a new framework was necessary. The union began discussions with Uber in late 2015, according to the statement. The formation of this guild provides the best structure to drivers in the industry, Conigliaro said.

According to terms of the agreement, Ubers management will hold monthly meetings with drivers. The workers will also have access to discounted benefits, including life and disability insurance, roadside assistance and education. Drivers in the city who get banned by Uber, known as deactivation, will also have the ability to appeal some of these decisions and can request guild representation during the process.

Harry Campbell, who runs a popular blog for Uber drivers, said there are more pressing issues on drivers minds. Right off the top of my head, I can think of three things more important to drivers than the deactivation policy, he said. Low fares, how much Uber takes from those fares and the ability to receive tips through the app are among the main concerns.

Campbell also questioned the guilds independence. Matt Kallman, a spokesman for Uber, declined to say how much Uber would be paying to support the group. The International Association of Machinists will foot some of the administrative and other costs, Kallman said. Drivers will not be required to pay dues to join the group, he said.

Helping establish a guild is a savvy decision by Uber, said Arun Sundararajan, a professor at New York Universitys business school whos writing a book titled The Sharing Economy. Theyre nurturing their relationship with their drivers, he said. It seems like a smart move.

Uber emphasized that the new organization could help the company better communicate with drivers. Communication is important, said David Plouffe, Ubers chief adviser and a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. On price cuts, we havent always had the best forum to discuss and share data  how price cuts work, what we see afterward.

The guild and Uber said they will work together to lobby for the company to reduce the taxes it pays in New York, bringing them more in line with those for taxis and private for-hire drivers. If successful, the companys savings would be passed onto the guild and to drivers, Uber said. Under the agreement, the guild would set up a benefits fund that would provide drivers with paid time off, retirement savings accounts or other benefits.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics New York Personal Auto
Two Oklahoma men accused of burying a pickup truck that was later reported stolen are now charged with insurance fraud. Arrest warrants have been issued for Robert Campbell II, 49, of Langley and Larry Ezell, 25, of Vinita, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the OID, Langley Police Department, Mayes County Sheriffs Office, Craig County Sheriffs Office, Delaware County Sheriffs Office and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

The pickup truck, a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, was reported stolen on Dec. 4, 2014. The insurance company settled the $28,068 claim about three months later.

The investigation began after the custom wheels and tires from the missing pickup truck were spotted on another vehicle in Craig County. The owner of that vehicle told detectives he purchased the wheels and tires from Ezell, according to the OID.

The OID reported that during an interview with a Langley Police Department officer, Ezell said Campbell gave him the key to the truck and said it needed to go away. The truck belonged to Campbells roommate.

Ezell said Campbell told him his roommate had lost his job and wouldnt be able to make the payments on the truck. Ezell said he buried the vehicle to get out of debt with Campbell.

Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department

Topics Auto Fraud Oklahoma
Great American Insurance Group and Service Lloyds Insurance Co. announced the acquisition of Service Lloyds Texas nonsubscription book of business by Great American. The acquisition was effective April 29, 2016.

The subject business represents approximately $5 to $7 million in in-force gross written premium.

Great American has been providing employers primary indemnity coverage for employers that opt out of the Texas workers compensation system since 2009. In 2012, Great American purchased Employers Comp Associates Inc. (ECA), a provider that has offered alternative workers compensation programs in Texas for more than 20 years.

The Service Lloyds transaction represents Great Americans ongoing commitment to the Texas nonsubscription marketplace, the company said.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Texas
Bad weather moved into the Ohio River Valley on May 10 after a series of powerful storms hit the Plains, including tornadoes that destroyed homes and left two people dead in Oklahoma.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith said the risk on Tuesday was not as great as it was Monday, when about two dozen tornadoes were reported across six states. But communities along the Ohio River saw strong storms, and tornadoes were reported in southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police said in a statement that at least 10 people were hurt and an unknown number of homes and businesses were damaged when a tornado tracked across Graves County in the western part of the state Tuesday afternoon.

The statement said the tornado traveled into the city of Mayfield, causing significant damage to homes and businesses. Those hurt had injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the statement.

State Police also responded Tuesday evening to another apparent tornado near the Trigg and Christian County line. Some structural damage to barns was reported.

The National Weather Service said at least one tornado also touched down in southern Illinois Pope County, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

A separate system was poised to move through north Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while another storm system should bring storms to the area from north Texas to near St. Louis on Wednesday.

In southern Oklahoma, crews were assessing damage from a tornado a day earlier blamed for two deaths that sliced through two counties at speeds of between 135 mph and 165.

Theres a home where basically theres no walls left, Smith, the meteorologist, said. Everything that used to be the home is just a pile of rubble, so theres no roof, theres no walls  theres just kind of the foundation where the home used to be.

Oklahoma emergency officials said two 76-year-old men were found dead after Mondays storms, one near Wynnewood and another about 35 miles away near Connerville. The medical examiners office said it was conducting autopsies to determine how the men died.

Smith said the damage measured in Garvin and Murray counties was consistent with at least an EF3 tornado, a category of tornadoes that are capable of stripping the outer walls from even well-made homes. That storm, caught on video by several storm chasers, appeared white against the dark clouds of a supercell storm.

The Storm Prediction Center said it received about two dozen reports of tornadoes on Monday from parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Windstorm Ohio Illinois Oklahoma
Edison Insurance Co. has launched an online quoting system that offers specific premium quotes for homeowners insurance coverage in Florida.

According to Clint Strauch, Edison Insurance president and co-founder, Edison has developed a system that allows potential policyholders to obtain and customize their own insurance quote online and transfer their information to a licensed agent to complete the transaction.

Edison said it surveyed their current policy holders and determined 85 percent prefer to purchase insurance from a licensed insurance agent. Edison only partners with agents who have committed to contacting the prospective policyholders within 24 hours to discuss their insurance needs.

Strauch said the technology connects local insurance agencies with new customers and gives realtors the ability to more accurately calculate the insurance premium portion of the mortgage.

Edison Insurance Co., originally headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, was purchased by Boca Raton-based Florida Peninsula Insurance Company (FPI) in January of 2010.

Topics Florida Homeowners New Markets
Twenty-five dogs have died in North Carolina after a kennel caught fire.

No. 7 Township Fire Chief Travis Blalock tells local media that the fire started just before 4 a.m. Monday at Lynaire Kennels and Crematory in New Bern, a city near the coast. Half of the building was on fire when firefighters arrived.

Blalock says 25 dogs died in the fire, but 20 other dogs and all of the cats were saved. The surviving pets were transferred to another boarding facility nearby.

Authorities believe the fire may have started in a storage room where computers and phones were.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been called to help investigate.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics North Carolina
A house north of Richmond has become the sixth home in Central Kentucky that state police think were recently burglarized and then set on fire.

Trooper Robert Purdy told news outlets that a Madison County home received a fair amount of fire damage Monday morning before firefighters extinguished the flames.

Purdy says the fire appeared to be connected to the string of rural house fires that have occurred in five different counties in the area, beginning on April 29.

In each case, no one was home at the time of the burglaries, which have all occurred on weekdays.

Purdy says investigators have noticed undisclosed similarities in all six fires that have led them to conclude that they are related.

Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for information regarding the fires.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Kentucky
Lyft Inc. raised its proposed payout to 163,000 California drivers to $27 million in their lawsuit to be treated as employees rather than contractors.

The revised settlement comes after a San Francisco federal judge rejected an earlier $12.5 million offer, saying it would have shortchanged drivers. If approved by the judge, the settlement would let the ride-share company continue to classify drivers as independent contractors.

Lyft was a victim of its own success last month, when the judge rejected the earlier deal because it amounted to merely a sliver of the companys exploding revenue. Along with its larger rival Uber Technologies Inc., Lyft is attempting to avoid a trial over drivers claims for the pay and benefits of employees.

In light of Lyfts continued growth, we agreed to update the resolution in a way that both increased monies paid to drivers and helped preserve their flexibility to control when, where and for how long they drive on the platform, Kristin Sverchek, general counsel at Lyft, said Wednesday in an e-mailed statement.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria prodded the drivers lawyer in March to acknowledge that in agreeing to the earlier deal, she hadnt accounted for the companys skyrocketing growth through the middle of February. Chhabria figured that, if the drivers had won at trial, the actual value of the reimbursement they sought for mileage and expenses was at least $126 million, and that other potential claims might make the case worth about $170 million.

The overall average payout would be $141.98, with about 88,000 drivers who worked less than 30 hours collecting no more than $42 each and about 80 who drove for more than 2,000 hours receiving $5,556 or more, according to a court filing. Drivers who were on duty for at least 30 hours a week for at least half of the weeks they drove for Lyft will receive more generous payouts than others.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, the drivers lawyer, said in an e-mailed statement that the accord also provides protections for drivers through a revised deactivation policy. Going forward, drivers can only be deactivated in specific circumstances and not for any reason. Lyft will also pay fees stemming from arbitration claims brought by the drivers.

Although the agreement does not resolve for the future the question of whether Lyft drivers should properly be classified as employees or independent contractors, we believe this agreement provides a fair resolution of this case, will get money into the pockets of drivers now (rather than perhaps years down the road, if ever), and will provide them greater job security, Liss-Riordan said.

Lyft was hit with another lawsuit Wednesday by drivers who claim theyve been cheated out of prime-time premium rider fees that the company promised to share with them. That case is also in San Francisco federal court.

The case is Cotter v. Lyft Inc., 13-cv-04065, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Personal Auto Contractors Funding
Detectives from the California Department of Insurance arrested more than two dozen people on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud for allegedly staging auto collisions to scam more than four insurance companies out of tens of thousands of dollars.

The suspects reportedly submitted 26 fraudulent insurance claims totaling more than $140,000.

Once the insurers paid the claim, the suspects pocketed the proceeds and did not repair damaged vehicles, according to investigators.

CDI detectives, along with Fresno County District Attorney investigators, launched an investigation after receiving suspected fraud referrals from the insurance company. The California State Automobile Association Insurance Group assisted in the investigation.

The investigation showed the suspects orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud insurers with paper collisions that never occurred or by intentionally damaging vehicles to submit fraudulent claims.

The organized ring reportedly recruited some co-conspirators with promises of cash or fixing their previously damaged vehicles. Another element of scheme included stealing peoples identities to submit fraudulent claims, according to detectives.

Insurance fraud costs insurers billions every year and those costs are all passed along to consumers through higher insurance premiums, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement. Bottom line-everyone pays for insurance fraud.

Suspects were booked into the Fresno County Jail. The Fresno County District Attorney is prosecuting this case.

Topics California Fraud
Editor's Note: Petersmark served on the advisory board of INN's Dig|In conference. Following are his takeaways.

At the recent Digital Insurance Conference in Austin, I had the opportunity to moderate two panels that highlighted the very different perspectives on disruption that digitalization is having on different segments of the industry.

Knowing is only half the battle

The first panel was with a sitting CIO and a former CIO in the P&C industry, and their collective perspectives can best be characterized as those of the disruptees, as compared to the disruptors. I spoke to many carrier people at the conference, and almost all of them acknowledged the new reality of the macro trends that are impacting the industry, most particularly the digitalization of the insurance industry. Thats the easy part. As the CIO panelists pointed out, however, its one thing to acknowledge and recognize the pressures coming from digitalization  particularly as it relates to customer centricity  and quite another thing to have the wherewithal to actually do something about it.

The past is not dead. In fact, its not even past

The CIOs on the panel were both from midsize insurers, and they correctly pointed out that its difficult to make progress on any one of these macro trends, let alone all of them, given the realities of budget constraints, ongoing core systems transformations, the constant shift of priorities, and the difficulty in acquiring and retaining the kind of IT talent that can push this rock forward. Those are real problems, and based on the panel and the many conversation I had with carrier people, that wont be solved anytime soon.

Target-rich environment

On the other hand, the second panel I moderated featured three disruptors who in their own ways were reimagining how the insurance industry should work.

The first panelist had started a customer focused data aggregation service that allows small business owners to get insurance with just a few clicks  a clear threat to existing agent distribution channels in small commercial. The second panelist started a service that while not completely disruptive to the industry, it nonetheless uses intelligent data to quickly compare policy contract contents and highlight the difference, a laborious mostly manual process for the industry. The third panelist has placed themselves squarely between the consumer and the carrier, by creating a smart, wifi-enabled nine volt battery for home smoke detectors that has the potential to contribute to the smart home assault on home insurance premiums. Each one of them viewed the insurance industry as an easy target for disruption, given its poor track record with customer experience and process transparency.

Lack of resources for innovation

That was the general theme from nearly all of the disruptors attending the conference. Many of them had the kinds of ideas and solutions that might play well in other verticals, but the disruption barrier to entry is so low for the insurance vertical, theyve chosen to go there first. Unless youre a Fortune 50 insurer, its becoming increasingly clear that much of the digital transformations entering the industry are and will be from outside the industry, leaving the industry in more if a reactive mode for the foreseeable future.

Who watches the future?

One way for insurers to get ahead of this is to continue to advocate for the strategic imperative of technology and its effective use at the executive and board levels. One way that midsize insurers can accomplish this is by appointing technology experienced board members, and by considering the establishments of board level technology committees as way to place the competitive and market implications of a well-executed technology strategy in their proper place  at the strategic top of the company. Well be presenting our research on this topic at the NAMIC Annual Convention on September 25-28, 2016 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. These are the kinds of actions that might help many carriers change their digital disruption orientation from reactive to proactive.

This blog entry has been reprinted with permission from Novarica.

Readers are encouraged to respond using the Add Your Comments box below.

The opinions posted in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of Insurance Networking News or SourceMedia.
Pillar two will change the international tax system forever. Here Christian Kaeser, global head of tax at Siemens, looks at how businesses and tax administrations can simplify pillar two compliance.
What Is Antitrust?

Antitrust laws are regulations that encourage competition by limiting the market power of any particular firm. This often involves ensuring that mergers and acquisitions don't overly concentrate market power or form monopolies, as well as breaking up firms that have become monopolies.

Antitrust laws also prevent multiple firms from colluding or forming a cartel to limit competition through practices such as price fixing. Due to the complexity of deciding what practices will limit competition, antitrust law has become a distinct legal specialization.

Key Takeaways Antitrust laws were designed to protect and promote competition within all sectors of the economy.

The Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act are the three pivotal laws in the history of antitrust regulation.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission, sometimes in conjunction with the Department of Justice, is tasked with enforcing federal antitrust laws.

1:35 Antitrust

Understanding Antitrust

Antitrust laws are the broad group of state and federal laws that are designed to make sure businesses are competing fairly. The "trust" in antitrust refers to a group of businesses that team up or form a monopoly in order to dictate pricing in a particular market.

Supporters say antitrust laws are necessary and that competition among sellers gives consumers lower prices, higher-quality products and services, more choices, and greater innovation. Most people agree with this concept and the benefits of an open marketplace, although there are some who claim that allowing businesses to compete as they see fit would ultimately give consumers the best prices.



The Antitrust Laws

The Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act are the key laws that set the groundwork for antitrust regulation. Predating the Sherman Act, The Interstate Commerce Act was also beneficial in establishing antitrust regulations, although it was less influential than some of the others.

Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887 in response to growing public demand that railroads be regulated. Among other requirements, the act ordered railroads to charge a fair fee to travelers and post those fees publicly. It was the first example of antitrust law but was less influential than the Sherman Act, passed in 1890.

The Sherman Act outlawed contracts and conspiracies restraining trade and/or monopolizing industries in an attempt to stop competing individuals or businesses fixing prices, dividing markets, or attempting to rig bids. The Sherman Act laid out specific penalties and fines for violating the terms.

In 1914, Congress passed the Federal Trade Commission Act, banning unfair competition methods and deceptive acts or practices. The Clayton Act was also passed in 1914, addressing specific practices the Sherman Act does not ban. For example, the Clayton Act prohibits appointing the same person to make business decisions for competing corporations.

The antitrust laws describe unlawful mergers and business practices in general terms, leaving courts to decide which ones are illegal based on the specifics of each case.

Special Considerations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are tasked with enforcing federal antitrust laws. In some cases, these two authorities may also work with other regulatory agencies to ensure that certain mergers fit the public interest.

The FTC mainly focuses on segments of the economy where consumer spending is high, including healthcare, drugs, food, energy, technology, and anything related to digital communications. Factors that could spark an FTC investigation include pre-merger notification filings, certain consumer or business correspondence, Congressional inquiries, or articles on consumer or economic subjects.

If the FTC thinks that a law has been violated, the agency will try to stop the questionable practices or find a resolution to the anti-competitive portion of, say, a proposed merger between two competitors. If no resolution is found, the FTC may put out an administrative complaint and/or pursue injunctive relief in federal court.

The FTC might also refer evidence of criminal antitrust violations to the DOJ. The DOJ has the power to impose criminal sanctions and holds sole antitrust jurisdiction in certain sectors, such as telecommunications, banks, railroads, and airlines.

Antitrust Law Violation Example

In early 2014, Google proposed an antitrust settlement with the European Commission. Google said it would display results from at least three competitors each time it showed results for specialized searches related to products, restaurants, and travel. Competitors, in turn, would be liable to pay Google each time someone clicked on specific types of results shown next to Googles results, with the search engine picking up the bill for an independent monitor to oversee the process.

The proposal stipulated that content providers like Yelp could opt to remove their content from Google's specialized search services without facing penalties. The search giant also suggested removing conditions making it difficult for advertisers to move their campaigns to competitors' sites; sites using Googles search tool could have shown ads from other services. The proposal ultimately was not accepted.

On Oct. 20, 2020, the U.S. Dept. of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for anti-competitive practices related to its alleged dominance in search advertising.

What Are Antitrust Laws and Are They Necessary? Antitrust laws were implemented to prevent companies from getting greedy and abusing their power. Without these regulations in place, many politicians fear that big businesses would gobble up the smaller ones. This would result in less competition and fewer choices for consumers, potentially leading to higher prices, lower quality, and less innovation, among other things.

How Many Antitrust Laws Are There? There are three federal antitrust laws in effect today. They are the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act.
How the Home Depot Credit Card Works

Home improvement isnt cheap, but sometimes it becomes a must do instead of a want to. When that's the case, a credit card from Home Depot might be just the ticket, especially for emergencies that come with a high price tag.

Home Depot offers a variety of credit cards, including consumer cards and company cards. On the consumer side, Home Depot offers its consumer credit card that can be used by individuals at its stores. This card comes with six months of 0% financing for a purchase of $299 or more.

Home Depot also offers commercial cards for contractors and businesses. Its commercial cards include a commercial charge card and a commercial line of credit account (due in full each month). Home Depots credit cards are issued by Citibank.

Key Takeaways Home Depot offers two credit cards for consumers.

The basic Home Depot credit card offers a promotional 0% interest rate; after that, the annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 17.99% to 26.99%.

Home Depot also offers a project loan credit card, which functions more like a line of credit, with a finite amount of time to pay back a balance as high as $55,000.

The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card

Similar to other store cards, the Home Depot consumer credit card can be used to make everyday purchases at Home Depot. For purchases of more than $299, Home Depot offers 0% interest for six months and other promotions throughout the year. You can often find 12-month interest-free financing on appliances of $299 or more, 24 months of special financing on heating and air conditioning, and seasonal offers, such as $25 off snow blowers in the fall.

But beware of the promotions. The 0% financing makes for a great headline, but its only free if you follow the rules. Like any other deferred interest promotion, 0% for six months means that you have to pay the balance in full before the six months run out. If youre even one day late, Citi (the bank behind the Home Depot credit cards) will charge you the full interest amount for the past six monthsas if the promotion never existed.

Banks offer promotions like these because they know that consumers will have every intention of paying the balance long before the promotional period ends, but many will not. If you dont have a history of consistently paying your credit card balances in full at the end of the month, its best to steer clear of promotional offers like these.

Note that store credit cards are private label and are unlike general use credit cards that have a MasterCard or Visa logostore cards can only be used at the retailer, whereas general use cards can be used at any merchant that accepts them.

The Home Depot Project Loan Credit Card

If youre planning a large renovation or building project, Home Depot has a project loan credit card with credit lines of up to $55,000. This card comes with no annual fees, up to 84 months to pay the balance in full, and a six-month buying window to purchase products.

The starting annual percentage rate (APR) is 7.42% (for the six-month payback) and the card comes with no perks. Think of it as a loan or a line of credit more than a credit card. Although the interest rate is much more attractive than the one on the consumer credit card, if you wait the full 84 months to pay the balance, your project becomes substantially more expensive.

The Home Depot Project Loan Card is more similar to a line of credit. It doesn't offer any perks or rewards, but you can borrow up to $55,000 for home projects and renovations.

Rewards and Benefits

The Home Depot consumer credit card offers an initial zero-percent interest rate for six months on purchases above $299. As of February 2021, Home Depot is also offering various rewards to consumers, including discounts and statement credit for certain purchases. In particular, Home Depot is offering free stain and 5% statement credit for certain pergolas and pavilions, as well as up to $500 off and 5% statement credit for particular sheds and garages.

Where Can Someone Get the Home Depot Credit Card?

Those interested can apply for the Home Depot credit card on their website. As well, the card can be applied for in stores. The decision process for both is generally instant, but it can take up to 10 days to receive the card.

What Kind of Credit Is Required for the Home Depot Credit Card?

The requirements for the Home Depot card are not laid out, but note, the credit requirements are generally more lenient for store cards versus regular credit cards. As with most store credit cards, the credit needed is generally fair to good.

Where Can the Home Depot Credit Card Be Used?

The Home Depot credit card, which is a private label card, can be used online or in Home Depot stores. Note that Home Depots two consumer credit cards cannot be used at other stores or retailers, as it is not a general-use credit card.

Alternatives to the Home Depot Credit Card

If youre not a contractor receiving discounts or benefits for brand loyalty, then many individuals may instead opt to shop at Lowesone of the major Home Depot competitors. Lowes offers a consumer store-only card too, as well as cards for contractors. The Lowes credit card, also called the Lowes Advantage Card, comes with an APR of 26.99% and an introductory rate of 7.99% for 84 months on purchases above $2,000.

Terms and Conditions of the Home Depot Credit Card

The Home Depot card offers APRs of 17.99%, 21.99%, 25.99%, or 26.99%, based on creditworthiness. The card comes with the standard 25-day grace period and late payment fees can be up to $40.

Other than the special offers, dont expect any perks like rewards points or cash back with this card. If you use a credit card responsibly, a card that offers cash back or rewards points might be a better option than a store card unless the promotional offers are appealing to you. The Home Depot Project Loan Card is more similar to a line of credit. It doesn't offer any perks or rewards, but you can borrow up to $55,000 for home projects and renovations.

Who Should Consider the Home Depot Credit Card?

If youre an avid Home Depot shopper, the card may make sense for you. The card does not offer any cash back, but it could be enticing for those interested in the introduction offers currently being made. With that, consumers may want to consider one of the best cash back credit cards if they are going to be shopping at the home improvement store for routine fixes.

Is It Hard to Get a Home Depot Credit Card? Home Depot does not list the credit requirements, but its APR for consumers will be 17.99% to 26.99% To apply, the process is rather easy, which can be done online.

Is the Home Depot Card Worth It? The Home Depot credit card does not offer any cash back or related rewards. It does offer zero interest for six months on purchases above $299. It also has special offers that include initial statement credits and promotion discounts for certain products.

Does Home Depot Have a Rewards Card? Home Depot offers a credit card for individual consumers, as well as various commercial and contractor cards. There are no rewards or cash back tied to the card, however. It does include certain statement credits and discounts.

How Do I Get a Home Depot Card? Although you can apply for a Home Depot card in stores, the easier way is to visit their website. Assuming you meet the credit requirements, Home Depots credit issuer, Citibank, will issue a card within 10 days.

The Bottom Line

The Home Depot credit card can entice consumers looking to make a major renovation. The retailer also offers various commercial cards for contractors. Of note, the card does offer zero interest for six months on purchases above $299. For projects, such as fixing heat or A/C, replacing a water heater, or repairing plumbing, the card can be used for zero-interest financing.
Earlier this summer, Citadel founder and billionaire money manager Ken Griffin spoke out in favor of cryptocurrencies, even though the investment guru had previously compared the crypto space to the 17th-century Dutch tulip craze, or tulipmania. Most recently, though, according to QZ, Griffin went so far as to say that "there's no need for cryptocurrencies."

With these statements, Griffin has joined a list of top investment figures who have been vocal about their dislike of the digital currency world for any number of reasons. But what is the source of Griffin's opprobrium?

'A Solution in Search of a Problem'

Griffin made his most recent remarks to New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, who also appears on CNBC. When Sorkin asked Griffin a question about Citadel employees putting pressure on the company leader to enter the crypto space, Griffin wasted no time in correcting what he saw as an incorrect statement. "I don't have a single portfolio manager who has told me we should buy crypto," Griffin explained. He added that cryptocurrencies are "a solution in search of a problem."

Griffin didn't elaborate, so it's difficult to glean more information on his views. Still, one may assume that the money manager believes that the technology that cryptocurrencies are intending to replacefiat currencyis not in need of replacement at all.

Citadel as Market Maker

Even with his criticism of digital tokens, Griffin has debated whether to make markets for investors who are interested in taking part in the cryptocurrency game. Specifically, this could be done through his market-making business Citadel Securities, a separate company from his primary firm. Still, though, Griffin has expressed hesitation at the thought of doing so, saying that he has "a hard time thinking about" taking part in the trading of a product that he is so skeptical of.

Griffin is far from the only major player in the financial world to speak harshly about digital currencies. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been similarly outspoken, calling cryptocurrencies a "fraud." However, that has not stopped Dimon from launching a crypto strategy. Many other analysts and economists have theorized that the space is a bubble ready to pop. Nonetheless, investors around the world remain tempted by the promise of quick and easy returns.

Investing in cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs") is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or ICOs. Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date this article was written, the author owns bitcoin and ripple.
The annual impact of leaving the EU on the UK after 15 years (difference from being in the EU) EEA Negotiated bilateral agreement WTO GDP level  central -3.8% -6.2% -7.5% GDP level -3.4% to -4.3% -4.6% to -7.8% -5.4% to -9.5% GDP per capita  central* -1,100 -1,800 -2,100 GDP per capita* -1,000 to -1,200 -1,300 to -2,200 -1,500 to -2,700 GPD per household  central* -2,600 -4,300 -5,200 GDP per household* -2,400 to -2,900 -3,200 to -5,400 -3,700 to -6,600 Net impact on receipts -20 billion -36 billion -45 billion

*Expressed in terms of 2015 GDP in 2015 prices, rounded to the nearest 100

Adapted from HM Treasury analysis: the long-term economic impact of EU membership and the alternatives, April 2016.

Leave supporters discounted such economic projections under the label "Project Fear." A pro-Brexit outfit associated with the U.K. Independence Party, which was founded to oppose EU membership, responded by saying that the Treasury's "worst-case scenario of 4,300 per household is a bargain-basement price for the restoration of national independence and safe, secure borders."

Although Leavers stressed issues of national pride, safety, and sovereignty, they also mustered economic arguments. For example, Boris Johnson said on the eve of the vote, "EU politicians would be banging down the door for a trade deal" the day after the vote, in light of their "commercial interests." Labor Leave, the pro-Brexit Labour group, co-authored a report with a group of economists in September 2017 that forecasted a 7% boost to annual GDP, with the largest gains going to the lowest earners.

Vote Leave, the official pro-Brexit campaign, topped the "Why Vote Leave" page on its website with the claim that the U.K. could save 350 million per week: "We can spend our money on our priorities like the NHS [National Health Service], schools, and housing."

In May 2016, the U.K. Statistics Authority, an independent public body, said the figure was gross rather than net, which was "misleading and undermines trust in official statistics." A mid-June poll by Ipsos MORI, however, found that 47% of the country believed the claim. The day after the referendum, Nigel Farage, who co-founded UKIP and led it until that November, disavowed the figure and said that he was not closely associated with Vote Leave. May also declined to confirm Vote Leave's NHS promises since taking office.

Brexit Economic Response

Though Britain officially left the EU, 2020 was a transition and implementation period. Trade and customs continued during that time, so there wasn't much on a day-to-day basis that seemed different to U.K. residents. Even so, the decision to leave the EU had an effect on Britain's economy.

The country's GDP growth slowed down to around 1.4% in 2018 from 1.9% in both 2017 and 2016 as business investment slumped. The IMF predicted that the country's economy would grow at 1.3% in 2019 and 1.4% in 2020. The Bank of England cut its growth forecast for 2019 to 1.2%, the lowest since the financial crisis.

The U.K. unemployment rate hit a 44-year low at 3.9% in the three months to January 2019. Experts attribute this to employers preferring to retain workers instead of investing in new major projects.

In 2018, the pound clawed back the losses it suffered after the Brexit vote but reacted negatively as the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit increased. The currency could rally if a soft Brexit deal is passed or Brexit is delayed.

While the fall in the value of the pound helped exporters, the higher price of imports was passed onto consumers and had a significant impact on the annual inflation rate. CPI inflation hit 3.1% in the 12 months leading up to November 2017, a near six-year high that well exceeded the Bank of England's 2% target. Inflation eventually began to fall in 2018 with the decline in oil and gas prices and was at 1.8% in January 2019.

A July 2017 report by the House of Lords cited evidence that U.K. businesses would have to raise wages to attract native-born workers following Brexit, which is "likely to lead to higher prices for consumers."

International trade was expected to fall due to Brexit, even with the possibility of a raft of free trade deals. Dr. Monique Ebell, former associate research director at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, forecasted a -22% reduction in total U.K. goods and services trade if EU membership was replaced by a free trade agreement.

Other free trade agreements were not predicted to pick up the slack. In fact, Ebell saw a pact with the BRIICS (Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China, and South Africa) boosting total trade by 2.2% while a pact with the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand was expected to do slightly better, at 2.6%.

"The single market is a very deep and comprehensive trade agreement aimed at reducing non-tariff barriers," Ebell wrote in January 2017, "while most non-EU [free trade agreements] seem to be quite ineffective at reducing the non-tariff barriers that are important for services trade."

June 2017 General Election

On April 18, May called for a snap election to be held on June 8, despite previous promises not to hold one until 2020. Polling at the time suggested May would expand on her slim Parliamentary majority of 330 seats (there are 650 seats in the Commons). Labor gained rapidly in the polls, however, aided by an embarrassing Tory flip-flop on a proposal for estates to fund end-of-life care.

The Conservatives lost their majority, winning 318 seats to Labor's 262. The Scottish National Party won 35, with other parties taking 35. The resulting hung Parliament cast doubts on May's mandate to negotiate Brexit and led the leaders of Labor and the Liberal Democrats to call on May to resign.

Speaking in front of the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street, May batted away calls for her to leave her post, saying, "It is clear that only the Conservative and Unionist Party"the Tories' official name"has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons." The Conservatives struck a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, which won 10 seats, to form a coalition. The party is little known outside of Northern Ireland, judging by a wave of curious Google searches that caused the DUP's site to crash.

May presented the election as a chance for the Conservatives to solidify their mandate and strengthen their negotiating position with Brussels. But this backfired.

"The election served to diffuse, not concentrate political power, especially with regards to Brexit," wrote Sky News political correspondent Lewis Goodall. "Ever since election night, Brussels hasn't just been dealing with Number 10 but in effect, the House of Commons too."

In the wake of the election, many expected the government's Brexit position to soften, and they were right. May released a Brexit white paper in July 2018 that mentioned an "association agreement" and a free-trade area for goods with the EU. David Davis resigned as Brexit secretary and Boris Johnson resigned as Foreign Secretary in protest.

But the election also increased the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. The Financial Times predicted that the result made May more vulnerable to pressure from Euroskeptics and her coalition partners. We saw this play out with the Irish backstop tussle.

With her position weakened, May struggled to unite her party behind her deal and keep control of Brexit.

Scotland's Independence Referendum

Politicians in Scotland pushed for a second independence referendum in the wake of the Brexit vote, but the results of the June 8, 2017 election cast a pall over their efforts. The Scottish National Party lost 21 seats in the Westminster Parliament, and on June 27, 2017, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government at Holyrood would "reset" its timetable on independence to focus on delivering a "soft Brexit."

Not one Scottish local area voted to leave the EU, according to the U.K.'s Electoral Commission, though Moray came close at 49.9%. The country as a whole rejected the referendum by 62.0% to 38.0%. But because Scotland only contains 8.4% of the U.K.'s population, its vote to Remain (along with that of Northern Ireland, which accounts for just 2.9% of the U.K.'s population) was vastly outweighed by support for Brexit in England and Wales.

Scotland joined England and Wales to form Great Britain in 1707, and the relationship has been tumultuous at times. The SNP, which was founded in the 1930s, had just six of 650 seats in Westminster in 2010. The following year, however, it formed a majority government in the devolved Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, partly owing to its promise to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.

2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

That referendum, held in 2014, saw the pro-independence side lose with 44.7% of the vote; turnout was 84.6%. Far from putting the independence issue to rest, though, the vote fired up nationalist support. The SNP won 56 of 59 Scottish seats at Westminster the following year, overtaking the Lib Dems to become the third-largest party in the U.K. overall. Britain's electoral map suddenly showed a glaring divide between England and Wales, which was dominated by Tory blue with the occasional patch of Labour red, and all-yellow Scotland.

When Britain voted to leave the EU, Scotland fulminated. A combination of rising nationalism and strong support for Europe led almost immediately to calls for a new independence referendum. When the Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 3, 2017, that devolved national assemblies such as Scotland's parliament cannot veto Brexit, the demands grew louder.

On March 13 that year, Sturgeon called for a second referendum to be held in the autumn of 2018 or spring of 2019. Holyrood backed her by a vote of 69 to 59 on March 28, the day before May's government triggered Article 50.

Sturgeon's preferred timing was significant since the two-year countdown initiated by Article 50 ended in the spring of 2019 when the politics surrounding Brexit could be particularly volatile.

What Would Independence Look Like?

Scotland's economic situation also raised questions about its hypothetical future as an independent country. The crash in the oil price has dealt a blow to government finances. In May 2014, it forecast 20152016 tax receipts from North Sea drilling of 3.4 billion to 9 billion but collected 60 million, less than 1% of the forecasts' midpoint.

In reality, these figures were hypothetical, since Scotland's finances are not fully devolved, but the estimates were based on the country's geographical share of North Sea drilling, so they illustrate what it might expect as an independent nation.

The debate over what currency an independent Scotland would use was revived. Former SNP leader Alex Salmond, who was Scotland's First Minister until Nov. 2014, told The Financial Times that the country could abandon the pound and introduce its own currency, allowing it to float freely or pegging it to sterling. He ruled out joining the euro, but others contended that it would be required for Scotland to join the EU. Another possibility would be to use the pound, which would mean forfeiting control over monetary policy.

Upsides for Some

On the other hand, a weak currency that floats on global markets can be a boon to U.K. producers who export goods. Industries that rely heavily on exports could actually see some benefit.

In 2015, the top 10 exports from the U.K. were (in USD):

Machines, engines, pumps: US$63.9 billion (13.9% of total exports) Gems, precious metals: $53 billion (11.5%) Vehicles: $50.7 billion (11%) Pharmaceuticals: $36 billion (7.8%) Oil: $33.2 billion (7.2%) Electronic equipment: $29 billion (6.3%) Aircraft, spacecraft: $18.9 billion (4.1%) Medical and technical equipment: $18.4 billion (4%) Organic chemicals: $14 billion (3%) Plastics: $11.8 billion (2.6%)

Some sectors were prepared to benefit from the exit. Multinationals listed on the FTSE 100 saw earnings rise as a result of a soft pound. A weak currency was also a boon to the tourism, energy, and service industries.

In May 2016, the State Bank of India (SBIN.NS), India's largest commercial bank, suggested that Brexit would benefit India economically. While leaving the Eurozone meant that the U.K. no longer had unfettered access to Europe's single market, it would allow for more focus on trade with India. India would also have more wiggle room if the U.K. was no longer under European trade rules and regulations.

UK-EU Trade After Brexit

May advocated a "hard" Brexit. By that, she meant that Britain should leave the EU's single market and customs union, then negotiate a trade deal to govern their future relationship. These negotiations would have been conducted during a transition period once a divorce deal was ratified.

The Conservatives' poor showing in the June 2017 snap election called popular support for a hard Brexit into question. Many in the press speculated that the government could take a softer line. The Brexit White Paper released in July 2018 revealed plans for a softer Brexit. It was too soft for many MPs belonging to her party and too audacious for the EU.

The White Paper said the government planned to leave the EU single market and customs union. However, it proposed the creation of a free trade area for goods which would "avoid the need for customs and regulatory checks at the border and mean that businesses would not need to complete costly customs declarations. And it would enable products to only undergo one set of approvals and authorizations in either market, before being sold in both." This meant the U.K. would follow EU single market rules when it comes to goods.

The White Paper acknowledged that a borderless customs arrangement with the EUone that allowed the U.K. to negotiate free trade agreements with third countrieswas "broader in scope than any other that exists between the EU and a third country."

The government was correct that there was no example of this kind of relationship in Europe today. The four broad precedents that existed were the EU's relationship with Norway, Switzerland, Canada, and WTO members.

The Norway Model: Join the EEA

The first option was for the U.K. to join Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein in the European Economic Area (EEA), which provides access to the EU's single market for most goods and services (agriculture and fisheries are excluded). At the same time, the EEA is outside the customs union, so Britain could have entered into trade deals with non-EU countries.

But the arrangement was hardly a win-win. The U.K. would be bound by some EU laws while losing its ability to influence those laws through the country's European Council and European Parliament voting rights. In September 2017, May called this arrangement an unacceptable "loss of democratic control."

David Davis expressed interest in the Norway model in response to a question he received at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. "It's something we've thought about but it's not at the top of our list." He was referring specifically to the European Free Trade Association, which like the EEA offers access to the single market, but not the customs union.

EFTA was once a large organization, but most of its members left to join the EU. Today, it comprises Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland; all but Switzerland are also members of the EEA.

The Switzerland Model

Switzerland's relationship with the EU, which is governed by around 20 major bilateral pacts with the bloc, is broadly similar to the EEA arrangement. Along with these three, Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association. Switzerland helped set up the EEA, but its people rejected membership in a 1992 referendum.

The country allows the free movement of people and is a member of the passport-free Schengen Area. It is subject to many single market rules, without having much say in making them. It is outside the customs union, allowing it to negotiate free trade agreements with third countries; usually, but not always, it has negotiated alongside the EEA countries. Switzerland has access to the single market for goods (with the exception of agriculture), but not services (with the exception of insurance). It pays a modest amount into the EU's budget.

Brexit supporters who wanted to "take back control" wouldn't have embraced the concessions the Swiss made on immigration, budget payments, and single market rules. The EU would probably not have wanted a relationship modeled on the Swiss example, either: Switzerland's membership in EFTA but not the EEA, Schengen but not the EU, is a messy product of the complex history of European integration andwhat elsea referendum.

The Canada Model: A Free Trade Agreement

A third option was to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU along the lines of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, a pact the EU finalized but didn't fully ratify with Canada. The most obvious problem with this approach is that the U.K. had only two years from the triggering of Article 50 to negotiate such a deal. The EU refused to discuss a future trading relationship until December of that year at the earliest.

To give a sense of how tight that timetable is, CETA negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2014. But just over half of the EU's 28 national parliaments actually ratified the deal. Persuading the rest could take years. Even subnational legislatures can stand in the way of a deal: the Walloon regional parliament, which represents fewer than four million mainly French-speaking Belgians, single-handedly blocked CETA for a few days in 2016.

In order to extend the two-year deadline for leaving the EU, Britain needed unanimous approval from the EU. Several U.K. politicians, including Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, stressed the need for a transitional deal of a few years so that (among other reasons) Britain could negotiate EU and third-country trade deals. But this notion was met with resistance from hard-line Brexiteers.

Problems with a CETA-Style Agreement

In some ways, comparing Britain's situation to Canada's is misleading. Canada already enjoys free trade with the U.S. through the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was built on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This means that a trade deal with the EU was not as crucial as it is for the U.K. Canada's and Britain's economies are also very different: CETA does not include financial services, one of Britain's biggest exports to the EU.

Speaking in Florence in Sept. 2017, May said the U.K. and EU "can do so much better" than a CETA-style trade agreement, since they were beginning from the "unprecedented position" of sharing a body of rules and regulations. She did not elaborate on what "much better" looked like, besides calling on both parties to be "creative as well as practical."

Monique Ebell, formerly of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research stressed that even with an agreement in place, non-tariff barriers were likely to be a significant drag on Britain's trade with the EU. She expected total U.K. foreign tradenot just flows to and from the EUunder an EU-U.K. trade pact. She reasoned that free-trade deals do not generally handle services trade well. Services are a major component of Britain's international trade; the country enjoys a trade surplus in that segment, which is not the case for goods.

Free trade deals also struggle to rein in non-tariff barriers. Admittedly Britain and the EU started from a unified regulatory scheme, but divergences would only multiply post-Brexit.

WTO: Go It Alone

You want out? You're out. If Britain and the EU weren't able to come to an agreement about their relationship, they would have had to revert to WTO terms. But this default solution wouldn't have been straightforward either. Since Britain is currently a WTO member through the EU, it will have to split tariff schedules with the bloc and divvy out liabilities arising from ongoing trade disputes. This work has already begun.

Trading with the EU on WTO terms was the "no-deal" scenario the Conservative government presented as an acceptable fallback, though most observers see this as a negotiating tactic. In July 2017, U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox said, "People talk about the WTO as if it would be the end of the world. But they forget that is how they currently trade with the United States, with China, with Japan, with India, with the Gulf, and our trading relationship is strong and healthy."

But for certain industries, the EU's external tariff would have hit hard: Britain exports 77% of the cars it manufactures, and 58% of these go to Europe. The EU levies 10% tariffs on imported cars. Monique Ebell of the NIESR estimated that leaving the EU single market would reduce overall U.K. goods and services tradenot just that with the EUby 2230%.

Nor would the U.K. only be giving up its trade arrangements with the EU: under any of the scenarios above, it would probably have lost the trade agreements the bloc struck with 63 third countries, as well as progress in negotiating other deals. Replacing these and adding new ones would have been an uncertain prospect. In a September 2017 interview with Politico, Trade Secretary Liam Fox said his office, which was formed in July 2016, turned away some third countries looking to negotiate free trade deals because it lacked the capacity to negotiate.

Fox wanted to roll the terms of existing EU trade deals over into new agreements, but some countries were unwilling to give Britain (66 million people, $2.6 trillion GDP) the same terms as the EU (excluding Britain, around 440 million people, $13.9 trillion GDP).

Negotiations with third countries are technically not allowed while Britain remains an EU member, but even so informal talks have begun, particularly with the U.S.

Impact on the U.S.

Companies in the U.S. across a wide variety of sectors have made large investments in the U.K. over many years. In fact, American corporations have derived 9% of global foreign affiliate profit from the United Kingdom since 2000. In 2014 alone, U.S. companies invested a total of $588 billion into Britain. The U.S. also hires a lot of Brits, making U.S. companies one of the U.K.'s largest job markets. The output of U.S. affiliates in the United Kingdom was $153 billion in 2013. The United Kingdom plays a vital role in corporate America's global infrastructure from assets under management (AUM), international sales, and research and development (R&D) advancements.

American companies have viewed Britain as a strategic gateway to other countries in the European Union. Brexit will jeopardize the affiliate earnings and stock prices of many companies strategically aligned with the United Kingdom, which may see them reconsider their operations with U.K. and European Union members.

American companies and investors that have exposure to European banks and credit markets may be affected by credit risk. European banks may have to replace $123 billion in securities depending on how the exit unfolds. Furthermore, U.K. debt may not be included in European banks' emergency cash reserves, creating liquidity problems. European asset-backed securities have been in decline since 2007. This decline is likely to intensify now that Britain has chosen to leave.

Who's Next to Leave the EU?

Political wrangling over Europe is not limited to Britain. Most EU members have strong euroskeptic movements that, while they have so far struggled to win power at the national level, heavily influence the tenor of national politics. In a few countries, there is a chance that such movements could secure referendums on EU membership.

In May 2016, global research firm IPSOS released a report showing that a majority of respondents in Italy and France believe their countries should hold a referendum on EU membership.

Italy

The fragile Italian banking sector has driven a wedge between the EU and the Italian government, which provided bailout funds to save mom-and-pop bondholders from being "bailed-in," as EU rules stipulate. The government abandoned its 2019 budget when the EU threatened it with sanctions. It lowered its planned budget deficit from 2.5% of GDP to 2.04%.

Matteo Salvini, the far-right head of Italy's Northern League and the country's deputy prime minister, called for a referendum on EU membership hours after the Brexit vote, saying, "This vote was a slap in the face for all those who say that Europe is their own business and Italians don't have to meddle with that."

The Northern League has an ally in the populist Five Star Movement, whose founder, former comedian Beppe Grillo, called for a referendum on Italy's membership in the eurothough not the EU. The two parties formed a coalition government in 2018 and made Giuseppe Conte prime minister. Conte ruled out the possibility of "Italexit" in 2018 during the budget standoff.

France

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's euroskeptic National Front, hailed the Brexit vote as a win for nationalism and sovereignty across Europe: "Like a lot of French people, I'm very happy that the U.K. people held on and made the right choice. What we thought was impossible yesterday has now become possible." She lost the French presidential election to Emmanuel Macron in May 2017, gaining just 33.9% of votes.

Macron has warned that the demand for "Frexit" will grow if the EU does not see reforms. According to a February 2019 IFOP poll, 40% of French citizens want the country to leave the EU. Frexit is also one of the demands of the yellow vest protesters.

When Did Britain Officially Leave the European Union? Britain officially left the EU on Jan. 31, 2020, at 11 p.m. GMT. The move came after a referendum voted in favor of Brexit on June 23, 2016.

What Were the Reasons Behind Brexit? There were many reasons why Britain voted to leave the European Union. But some of the main issues behind Brexit included a rise in nationalism, immigration, political autonomy, and the economy. The Leave side garnered almost 52% of the votes while the Remain side received about 48% of the vote.

How Many Countries Are Part of the EU Post-Brexit? Britain's departure from the European Union left 27 member states. They are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden,

The Bottom Line

The European Union was established in November 1993 with the Maastricht Treaty. The original members included Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Fifteen other countries would gain membership in the union. Rising nationalist sentiment, coupled with concerns over the economy and British sovereignty led the majority of voters in the U.K. to leave the EU. Britain left the union at the end of January 2020 in what is commonly called Brexit. But the move didn't come without challenges. It required two years of negotiating a deal and a year-long transition period before everything became final.
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Internationally recognized Irish Chef Stuart OKeeffe is a weekly food contributor for Dublins Evening Herald newspaper and in 2011 he debuted his own cooking show, Stuarts Kitchen (airing in Ireland and New Zealand). Currently residing in Los Angeles, he hosts Kitchen Daily 101 on AOL. Stuarts philosophy is to cook hearty but healthy, marrying the old world goodness of Ireland with the abundant fresh offerings of California.

Ingredients

1 - 5lb leg of lamb, bone in

4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

7-10 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons rosemary, chopped

3 tablespoons thyme, chopped

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper

Sauce

4 tablespoons mixed herbs, parsley and chives, chopped

1 onion, diced

1  cups chicken stock

 cup red wine, such as a cabernet

Method

Preheat oven to 400F.



With your hands, rub the lamb with lemon juice. Sprinkle with garlic, rosemary and thyme and press onto the lamb using your fingers to adhere to the meat.



Season the meat with the salt and pepper, place in a roasting pan.



Put the lamb in the oven for 25-30minutes to seal the meat.



Reduce temperature to 350F and continue to cook for a further 1 hour and 20 minutes for medium.



Remove the lamb from the pan, cover with foil and let rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

Sauce

Place the pan on the stove top. Bring to a high heat and saute the onions for 3 minutes.



Add chicken stock and wine to deglaze the pan using a wooden spoon.



Reduce over a high heat until until the sauce coats the back of the spoon and has a nice semi thick consistency.



Slice the lamb and serve with the sauce.
Last week, some 70 days after the election, Ireland at last got a new government.

A process that normally takes days dragged on for weeks on end as Taoiseach Enda Kenny tried to get enough support to keep Fine Gael in power as a minority government and hold on to the top job for himself. When he finally managed it, there was little sense of celebration. This is the worst effort at putting a government together we have seen here in a very long time.

The ramshackle new cabinet is a mess, a fudge of independents, mediocre newbies and more experienced oldies, some of whom have been shifted into lower profile positions because they might have posed a threat to Kenny.

The only rationale apparent in the Cabinet make-up is Kenny's wish to prolong his time in office. That is why the two main contenders to succeed him, former Health Minister Leo Varadkar and former Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, have been moved sideways rather than being promoted into the most important ministries.

Having failed to win enough seats in the election despite rescuing the country after the crash, Fine Gael barely survived as the largest party. Most people in the party blame Kenny's lackluster performance, and many feel he needs to hand over the leadership sooner rather later. But it's clear from the way he put this Cabinet together that he intends to cling on as long as he can.

Read more: Ireland has paid 42% of the European banking crisis

Varadkar has frequently been mentioned as a likely successor. Kenny moved him from health to social protection, the welfare department which controls huge spending but offers little opportunity for change or innovation.

One of the most articulate and personable young ministers, Varadkar might have hoped for a more prestigious role in the new Cabinet and his new position is clearly a demotion. He could have been left in health, the graveyard of political careers. But it is an indication of how determined Kenny was to clip his wings that he shifted him into a role with lower visibility.

Coveney, probably the most able of the generation behind Kenny, is an even greater threat. He has been moved into the old Department of the Environment, which has been renamed to make housing a priority and which also has responsibility for water services.

At a stroke, Kenny has landed Coveney with the two most contentious issues facing the new government, the housing crisis and the water charges mess. There's no easy solution to either problem and the attempt to find one will take the shine off his image. One can imagine Kenny chuckling away to himself about softening Coveney's cough.

At least there is some sense to those moves from Kenny's point of view. But some of the other Cabinet appointments make no discernible sense at all.

Why make 29-year-old Simon Harris the minister for health, a difficult role that requires proven ability and substantial experience? Harris may be a rising star of Fine Gael, but he's a baby in political terms. Varadkar and his predecessor at health, James Reilly, are both medical doctors so at least they knew the system. Harris is an absolute beginner.

Future health service needs input from all parties says Simon Harris https://t.co/74xGv6JF8A pic.twitter.com/FaJ4zcpp1K  BreakingNews.ie (@breakingnewsie) May 11, 2016

Even more puzzling is the removal of Richard Bruton from the important jobs and enterprise ministry and his replacement with a completely inexperienced newbie, the former junior schoolteacher Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

As the many American company chief executives who dealt with him here will know, Bruton was extremely good at his job. He was an economist (Oxford) before he became a politician and has held several senior ministerial positions. Yet he has been replaced in the jobs and enterprise portfolio by someone with no financial or ministerial know how.

A possible explanation may be that he mounted a challenge to Kenny a few years ago and the taoiseach is eating his revenge cold. Also, Kenny may be rewarding Mitchell O'Connor (best known for almost crashing her car in the Dail) for bringing in a second Fine Gael deputy in her area in the election. If Kenny wanted to reward her, he could have put her in the Department of Education (she was a teacher after all) but instead he sent Bruton to education and gave her the vital jobs role.

As with various ministerial appointments in this Cabinet, it's all political. What matters is what's good for Kenny, not what is best for running the country.

Frances Fitzgerald, the weak, ineffective minister for justice who has failed to tackle the crime wave and drug gang murders, has been left in her job when she should have been moved. Not only that, but she has been rewarded by promotion to tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, and is clearly Kenny's preference to succeed him, presumably because he can rely on her to do as she is told and to wait until he is ready to go.

Then there are the independents. Fine Gael got 50 seats in the election and, with Fianna Fail abstaining, needed an extra eight votes in the Dail to be sure of getting Kenny re-elected by the house as taoiseach. After weeks of negotiating with independents he barely made it, getting 59 votes, just one more than he needed -- and the cost was high, with a 160 page document making all kinds of promises to the independents and giving them no less than five seats at the Cabinet table.

Given the raggle taggle nature of the independents, they don't have coherent and detailed national policies despite paying lip service to hot button issues like "water" and "housing." But they do have lots of issues that are important to their own electoral areas that they want prioritized. Behind all the their talk about new politics and national responsibility, the parish pump is still functioning.

There was farcical evidence of this in the hour or two before the vote for taoiseach was to be taken when one of the independents dug his heels in on the turf cutting rights issue (there is opposition in some rural areas to an EU directive which is trying to preserve the few remaining bogland habitats there are left in Europe). For a while it seemed that whether a few people could continue to cut turf was going to stop the country getting a government after more than two months delay, leading to lots of Twitter jokes about the Dail getting "bogged down" again.

A couple of the independents are actually Fine Gael rebels returning to the fold, but there are also a couple of interesting arrivals at the Cabinet table.

One is the plummy-voiced ex-Trinity College Senator Shane Ross, the new transport minister, who was well known in his student days as a successful poker player (your columnist was a college contemporary).

Given all the caustic remarks he has made recently about the gross inefficiency of CIE, Dublin Airport and the rest of our semi-privatized transport system, he's going to need all his bluffing ability to make his new job work.

Much has already been written about the new Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone, given that she is an American, gay and had a high profile in the Marriage Equality campaign. Some of the work she has done for women in deprived areas is admirable.

Read more: Irelands first lesbian govt. minister, a US native, makes history

But is an academic theologian who has only been in Irish politics for a few years really qualified to be a minister? Or has she been given the job simply because she was the first independent to declare that she was going to support Kenny?

Michael Noonan has been left in the most important job, minister for finance, and one could argue that he deserves as much given his steadying and reassuring hand on the national financial tiller as the last government battled through some very stormy waters. But a lot of the credit for our recovery must go to the Troika program and the targets laid down for us by the EU.

And it could be argued that this was the time to give either Bruton or Coveney (whose brother runs one of Ireland's biggest companies) the job of leading us through the financial challenges ahead. That, of course, does not fit with Kenny's strategy to postpone his own retirement as long as possible, but it's an opportunity lost for the country.

Watching this ramshackle government with a beady eye is Fianna Fail, which has given a commitment -- based on an agreed approach to various issues -- that it will not vote it down for at least the next three budgets. The ridiculous position on water charges and the Irish Water national authority is one example of this, leaving Fine Gael with little or no self-respect. Whether the arrangement between the two big parties will be workable when the going gets tough remains to be seen.

In the meantime, we seem to be facing into an era of government by committee. The young minister for health has already announced a big committee to frame a 10-year plan to sort out our health services. A new commission is to assess the future (if any!) of Irish Water, although it may take it a year or more to report (which will suit everyone!)

This may all sound like inclusive "new politics" rather than the nasty "old politics" where everything was dictated by the government party and rammed through the Dail without delay. But it's hardly likely to produce the strong leadership that will be needed in the next year or two to stop us sliding back into the old ways that wrecked the economy and could now wreck the recovery.

That kind of leadership can only come from a strong government and not the weak mishmash now sitting around the Cabinet table here.

Read more Irish politics stories here
Sadiq Khan , the newly elected, first ever Muslim mayor of London, praised the citys vast Irish population before his election last week, telling The Irish Post newspaper that the Irish helped to make London great.

As someone who was born and bred in London I know just how much we owe the Irish community for the role theyve played in making London great, Khan, a member of the Labour Party, told the paper in the days before last Thursdays election. He handily beat Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative Party candidate, by 14 percentage points.

Whether its the contribution of Irish teachers, nurses and doctors in our schools and hospitals, or the role of Irish entrepreneurs and businesses, we cannot underestimate the difference they make to our city, said Khan.

Like many Irish people, my parents came to London to make a better life for themselves. My dad was a bus driver and my mum used to sew clothes to bring in extra money. We didnt have much, but they were able to save up to buy a house for our family.

Khan is strongly opposed to Britain leaving the European Union. U.K. citizens will go to the polls on June 23 to vote on the so-called Brexit move.

If I am successful on May 5, I will campaign for Britain to stay in Europe. London cannot become isolationist. I want to build stronger links with Dublin and Belfast and showcase the innovation of Londons Irish community, Khan told the Post.

Ive met so many Irish entrepreneurs across London, and I want to celebrate their creativity, not cut their businesses off from the European market.
Crazy as it may seem, Donald Trump could well be the first ever presidential candidate to be able to speak some words of Gaelic due to his Scottish mother. Not that you are likely to hear him utter any.

Trump focuses only on his fathers upbringing, rarely mentioning he is the son of an immigrant himself, from the tiny village of Tong on the island of Lewis, which is located in the Outer Hebrides 40 miles off the Scottish mainland as Politico magazine this week showed.

By making immigrants a focal point and building a wall to stop them a key part of his negative message, Trump is clearly ignoring his own roots deep in Scottish soil.

Indeed, he would never have been born but for a family scandal that eventually brought his mother to America.

It is forty miles and a two hour boat ride to the Scottish mainland and Lewis is where Mary Anne MacLeod, Trumps mother, grew up. She spoke only Scots Gaelic for much of her early life.

Local historians say Trump has land agitators in his past, relatives driven off their land in Tong by absentee landlords who wanted the land for grazing sheep.

The agitators fought back, seeking access to their land. Some referred to them as Bolsheviks  hardly a title Donald Trump would want to own up to.

It was bloody and unforgiving and mirrored the land wars in Ireland. The situation beggars all description, a land manager from the mainland wrote upon visiting Tong in 1828, according to the Scottish historian James Hunter. It is worse than anything I ever saw in Donegal [in Ireland] where I always considered human wretchedness to have reached its very acme.

Trump  before his yellow paint hair makeover  was sandy red in his youth, no doubt a trait he got from Alasdair MacLeod a fisherman born around 1810 and known to everyone by the Gaelic name Ruadh.

#TBT With Donald Trump Jr. almost 35 years ago. A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on Apr 18, 2013 at 11:58am PDT

Mary Anne was born in the Tong in 1912 and moved to America where she met and married Fred Trump, Donald's father after meeting him at a reception.

She had gone to America to be with her sister Catherine, banished from Tong because she had a baby outside wedlock. She brought Donald back to Scotland when he was very young. He has since visited with his sister Maryanne Trump, who is now a federal judge.

Myself with mother and father at New York Military Academy. See, I can be very military. High rank! #TBT #Trump A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on Aug 15, 2013 at 1:32pm PDT

Maryanne is beloved and visits often, and has donated $320,000 to charities on the island. Trump has rarely visited and only spent a few minutes in the ancestral home before racing back to the comfort of his private jet. Locals have little or no time for him.

As a Scottish heritage site put it:

"Mary Anne was born in the village of Tong, in the parish of Stornoway on 10th May 1912, to a fisherman named Malcolm MacLeod and his wife, Mary Smith.

"This couple had been married in 1891 and both were Gaelic speakers, and, although not so widespread as it once was, the language is still alive and well in that region.

"It is thus likely that Mary Anne herself would have spoken it and the young Donald may well have been soothed by Gaelic lullabies as a child."

Charming notion that the man who is be best known for saying 'you're fired' might also be capable of remembering Gaelic words taught to him as a child.

Well he should certainly learn 'Pog mo Thoin' which means of course 'kiss my a..' given his use of rough language and foul comments from the stage.

It may not be too late to hope he reaches back to his own immigrant heritage and remembers so many of those seeking a new life in America are not unlike his own mother.

I wont hold my breath.
On May 12, 1806 James Shields was born in Co. Tyrone.

Many of us may never have heard of Shields, but he could have drastically changed American history, as he once came close to abruptly ending the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Apart from this fact, Shields was a rather extraordinary Irishman. To this day he is the only person to represent three states as US Senator  Illinois from 1849 to 1855, Minnesota from 1858 to 1859 and Missouri in 1879  and with political circles as they stand now, it is hard to say if his record will ever be broken.

Shield was the nephew of another James Shields, who served as a US Senator from Ohio. The younger Shields moved to the US from County Tyrone around 1826.

He first settled in Illinois, where he studied and practiced law, and eventually rose to Illinois State Auditor in 1839. The Democrat was not the most popular person in Springfield, especially with a young Republican rising star named Abraham Lincoln.

During a recession during Shields' time as State Auditor he made the decision that only silver and gold could be used to pay taxes, not paper money. Lincoln, a prominent member of the Whig party, did not agree with Shields instructions and penned an anonymous satirical letter to the local newspaper in which he questioned the intelligence of the State Auditor. This was followed by an equally harsh letter from Lincoln's wife-to-be Mary Todd, but when Shields came to the paper to find out who his critics were, Lincoln claimed credit for both letters.

Read more: The Irishman who captured Abraham Lincolns killer John Wilkes Booth

Shields was seriously offended and challenged the future President to a duel, which was was illegal in Illinois at the time. The pair, therefore, went to the the infamous Bloody Island in the middle of the Mississippi river.

Shields was considered a crack shot. He had served as a brigadier general in the Mexican-American war in 1846, serving under Zachary Taylor along the Rio Grande. Lincoln was much taller, however, which provided an advantage in dueling. Furthermore, Lincoln was the person challenged which meant that he was able to pick the weapons used and set the rules.

The pair faced off on September 22, 1842. Lincoln used his longer reach to fire off a branch above the Irishmans head.

A peace was quickly negotiated when the seconds and other parties intervened in the duel, but it took some time to pacify Shields and convince him to shake Abes hand. He was eventually talked around and the duel came to an end, allowing Lincoln to continue on to change the course of US history and Shields to make his own piece of American history in the Senate.

When the war came to an end in 1848, and despite his unfortunate turn as State Auditor, Shields ran for the Senate from Illinois but his election was made void because he did not fulfill the required amount of years spent as a US citizen. Shields had been naturalized in 1840 leaving him a year short of the nine years he needed to serve in the US Senate. He later returned to reclaim his seat.

When defeated in his bid for reelection in 1855, he moved to Minnesota where he was once again elected Senator from 1858 to 1859.

During the American Civil War, Shields served as a brigadier general of volunteers from California, commanding the 2nd Division of the V Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown on March 22, 1862, but his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat on "Stonewall" Jackson during the campaign.

He moved to Missouri in 1866 and in 1879 he was elected to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Lewis V. Bogy.

Shields died in Ottumwa, Iowa on June 1, 1879, aged 73, shortly after taking office in Missouri. He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri.

Read more: Heres what Abraham Lincoln would have to say about Donald Trump

H/T: MylesDuggan.com
The 1916 Easter Rising took place over the course of five days in Dublin and forever changed the course of Irish history. Writer and historian Dermot McEvoy produced 16 profiles of the Irish Rebel leaders who were executed and who, gradually, have come to be seen as heroes.

Between May 3 and 14, 1916 fifteen leaders of the Rising were court-martialed by the British Army under General John Maxwell and convicted. IrishCentral looks at the leaders from James Connolly to Joseph Mary Plunkett and shares their stories.

One-hundred-and-four years ago yesterday, May 11, there were no executions, but there were two significant developments. In Dublin, according to the Irish Times, The following results of trials, by Field General Court-martial, were announced at the Headquarters, Irish Command, Dublin: Sentenced to death, and sentence commuted to penal servitude by the General Officer, Commander-in-Chief, Edward de Valera, penal servitude for life.

Read more: On this day in 1916, the executions of the Easter Rising leaders began

Across the Irish Sea, there were fireworks in the House of Commons, courtesy of John Dillon, MP of the Irish Parliamentary Party, who stood up to lambast the British over their secret court-martials and executions:

I say I am proud of their courage, and, if you were not so dense and so stupid, as some of you English people are, you would have had these men fighting for you, and they are men worth having. ... ours is a fighting race ... The fact of the matter is that what is poisoning the mind of Ireland, and rapidly poisoning it, is the secrecy of these trials and the continuance of these executions ... enthusiasm and leadership.

[The rebels showed] conduct beyond reproach as fighting men. I admit they were wrong; I know they were wrong, but they fought a clean fight, and they fought with superb bravery and skill, and no act of savagery or act against the usual customs of war that I know of has been brought home to any leader or any organized body of insurgents.

[...] I do most earnestly appeal to the Prime Minister to stop these executions ... it is not murderers who are being executed; it is insurgents who have fought a clean fight, a brave fight, however misguided, and it would be a damned good thing for you if your soldiers were able to put up as good a fight as did these men in Dublinthree thousand men against twenty thousand with machine-guns and artillery [Heckled and responds] ... we have attempted to bring the masses of the Irish people into harmony with you, in this great effort at reconciliationI say, we are entitled to every assistance from the Members of this House and this Government.

Read more: 1916 Easter Rising executions continue to the shock of many Irish people

The Last Two

Although Dillons words may have saved the lives of some rebels sentenced to death, they were too late for two of the most prominent leaders, James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada. Their fates had been already determined because both had been signatories of the Proclamation and Prime Minister Asquith had already signed off on their shootings: There are two other persons who are under sentence of deatha sentence which has been confirmed by the General [Maxwell]both of whom signed the Proclamation and took an active partin the actual rebellion in Dublinin these two cases, the extreme penalty must be paid.

The executions of Connolly and MacDiarmada would constitute a clean-sweep of those who had put their names to Irelands Declaration of Independence.

Read more: Dublin still bears the scars of the 1916 Easter Rising over a century later

The Court-martials of James Connolly (Prisoner #90) and Sean MacDiarmada (Prisoner #91) at Richmond Barracks, May 9, 1916  the two-faced the same charges:

CHARGE: 1. Did an act to wit did take part in an armed rebellion and in the waging of war against His Majesty the King, such act being of such a nature as to be calculated to be prejudicial to the Defence to the Realm and being done with the intention and for the purpose of assisting the enemy

2. Did attempt to cause dissatisfaction among the civilian population of His Majesty

PLEA: Not Guilty (both charges)

(The members of the court and witnesses were duly sworn in)

VERDICT: Guilty. Death (first charge): Not guilty (second charge)

Sean MacDiarmada

Read More: Easter Rising leader executed in 1916: Sean MacDiarmada

James Connolly

Read More: Easter Rising leader executed in 1916: James Connolly

Epilogue

May 12 marked the last day, for now, of the execution of rebel leaders. In the space of nine days, the British had shot 15 insurgentsbut they were not done yet. They still had one more to goSir Roger Casement, who would be hanged in London on August 3.

After the execution of the seven signatories of the Proclamation, the theme of blood seeping from under a closed-door becomes prevalent among the Irish people. The British, in making their point that they would not stand for any more insurrection in Ireland, woke up the deep nationalism that dwells in every Irishmans heart. The shootings guaranteed that Ireland would be a bloodbath for the next six years.

The only clear reason that can be given for any of the remaining non-signatory executions is revenge. Willie Pearse had basically nothing to do with the planning of the Rising and only held the rank of Staff Captain in the Irish Volunteers (the same rank as Michael Collins). The only reason he was shot was because he was the brother of Padraig.

John MacBride was also a revenge killing. He was shot because he had been a consistent thorn in the side of the British for over 20 years, going all the way back to the Boer War. He only joined the battle on Easter Monday when he accidentally ran into the Volunteers assembling on St. Stephens Green when he was on his way to his brothers wedding reception. Also, the garrison at Jacobs Biscuit Factory saw less action than almost any other outpost, so the order of execution had nothing to do with British casualties.

The execution of Sean Heuston was certainly a revenge shooting. It seemed that the British were embarrassed that he had out-soldiered them at the Mendicity Institution.

Con Colberts death is one of the oddest in that he wasnt even in charge of the garrison at Marrowbone Lane.

Ned Daly, by all accounts, both Irish and English, did a brilliant military job at the Four Courts and environs. He caused many casualties among the British, but he and his men fought a clean fight. His biggest sin may have been that he was Thomas Clarkes brother-in-law.

Micheal OHanrahan was the titular second-in-command at Jacobs, but Major John MacBride was really in charge militarily. Also, this was one of the quietest outposts during Easter Week.

Thomas Kent in Cork was defending himself and his family from an onslaught by the RIC in Cork. He was not even active on Easter Monday as Cork remained quiet.

Michael Mallin was in charge of a small force at the College of Surgeons and St. Stephens Green but was not spectacularly successful as a military commander.

Roger Casements execution by rope was also a revenge killing because of what he symbolizedthe utter hypocrisy of the British Empire. He had revealed them for what they wereexploiters of other peoples treasures.

What most of these men had in common is that they were known by the Special Branch detectives of the G-Division, the Intelligence Division, of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. All were picked out because they were known for their activities in the Irish Volunteers. This fact was not lost on Michael Collins. When Collins returned to Dublin from imprisonment in Wales, he made two things his top priorities: 1) Intelligence gathering; and 2) putting together an Active Service Unitthe Squad, AKA, The Twelve Apostlesto take care of Intelligence matters. This eventually led to Bloody Sunday 1920 when Collins Squad executed 14 British Secret Service agents in one morning. In the end, Collins intelligence-gathering was superior to that of the British Empire.

General Maxwells bragI am going to ensure that there will be no treason whispered for 100 yearshad turned into a match and with that match, he would light the fuse which would blast Britain out of most of Ireland after 700 years.

WATCH: Irish Film Institute releases newsreel footage of 1916 Dublin Rebellion

* 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 www.dermotmcevoy.com. Follow The 13th Apostle on Facebook here.

* Originally published in 2016.
By David Raleigh

A 29-year old man who was intercepted by gardai while allegedly on his way to a hotel to have sex with a boy last Monday, has been remanded in continuing custody with consent to bail.

The man gave an undertaking in court, to abide by a number of strict bail conditions, including that, he notify Gardai 48 hours prior to moving address; give officers 12 hours notice of travelling within the State, specify the route of his journeys, and give Gardai his reasons for travelling.

He also gave an undertaking to surrender his passport and all telecommunications equipment, including mobile phones that have access to the internet.

The man also agreed not to contact the alleged injured party, or have unsupervised access with any persons under the age of 18, including family members.

Judge Marian O'Leary remanded the man in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of 1,000, which does not have to be lodged in the court.

If the man is in a position to take up bail he must lodge 2,500 of an independent surety of 5,000, the court ordered.

The man's solicitor, Sarah Ryan, said her client was not in a position to take up bail and that the man's family had not yet been informed.

The man also agreed to abiding by a daily curfew between 8am and 9pm; sign on daily at Roxboro Road Garda station, Limerick; notify the Garda Superintendent at Roxboro Road, or the member in charge at the station, of any intention to leave the jurisdiction.

The man also gave an undertaking not to purchase, use, or access any other electronic equipment, other than a mobile telephone number which cannot access the internet.

"We want to take all iPhones and telecommunications equipment from him but we know that he must have telephone for his work," Sergeant Donal Cronin, prosecuting said.

The man also agreed to supply a contact number to Gardai within 24 hours of achieving bail; that he inform the Gardai of any social media platforms he has used in the past, and that he immediately cease accessing them.

Judge O'Leary described the offence as "very serious".

The man looked tired and hung his head for most of the hearing. He also broke down in court number of times.

The accused was arrested at a location in the State at 9am last Tuesday, and charged before Limerick District Court last Wednesday night, with sexually exploiting a child, contrary to Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.

The offence is alleged to have happened on a date between January 3, 2015, and February 10, this year.

Garda Fiona OConnell has alleged in court that the man befriended the boy on social media applications - Tinder and Snapchat - and sent the boy provocative images and videos of himself masturbating.

She also alleged gardai found 56 naked images of the boy on a phone belonging to the accused.

Phones belonging to both the man and the boy are currently being scrutinised by garda forensic officers.

Garda OConnell said it was her belief that the boy was "coerced" by the accused to send images to him.

Garda OConnell said the man was intercepted by gardai at a pre-planned garda checkpoint last Monday as he allegedly travelled to meet the boy for sex at a hotel at a location in the State.

She alleged the man also booked a hotel to have sex with the boy on February 13 last, but no meeting took place.

She said she believed the accused would interfere and continue to contact the injured party through social media, if granted bail.

The man has also given a sworn undertaking to allow Gardai monitor his phone.

The court has prohibited the media from reporting the identities of the parties involved, as well as any locations heard in evidence.

Further charges are expected to be brought against the man at a later date, Gardai told the court.

The man was remanded to appear before the court again on May 17.
A High Court judge in England who has been asked to decide whether medics can provide only palliative care to a ''profoundly neurologically disabled'' two-year-old boy has told the youngsters' parents that she is not in the "business of ending life".

Mrs Justice Parker, who is overseeing the dispute at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said she had to decide whether to say that steps need not be taken to keep the child alive.

The judge was on Thursday listening to legal submissions from lawyers involved after analysing evidence over a number of days.

NHS hospital bosses with responsibility for the boy's care have asked Mrs Justice Parker to rule that limiting treatment to palliative care would be lawful and in the best interests of the boy.

Specialists say the toddler suffers from an incurable but unidentified neurological disorder - and that his condition is deteriorating.

Nurses say he has stopped smiling and that he grimaces but no longer giggles when tickled.

Specialists said "further invasive interventions" will be distressing and burdensome for the little boy but will have little or no therapeutic benefit.

The youngsters' parents disagree with the idea of providing only palliative care and implementing an ''end-of-life plan''. They say all treatment options should continue to be available.

"This court is not in the business of ending life," said Mrs Justice Parker. "The question is do I say that steps should not be taken to keep him alive?"

The little boy's mother, who is not English but comes from another European country, has told Mrs Justice Parker that she visits her son every day.

She described him as an ''angel'' and said he still smiles - and added that hospital staff mistook his smiles for grimaces.

''Give this little boy a chance to live,'' she told the judge.

''They do not have any proof that he is dying.''

She added: ''How do the doctors know that? There is no proof or any evidence.''

And she went on: ''I want him to have treatment that he needs.''

She told the judge that her son might one day say ''Thank you''.
Hutchisons plan to buy Telefonicas O2 UK mobile-phone business for as much as 10.25 billion (9bn) and merge it with its Three unit risked raising prices and shrinking choice for customers, the Commission said.

The companies pledges to increase investment and freeze prices didnt do enough to appease antitrust concerns.

We had strong concerns consumers would have had less choice finding a mobile package that suits their needs and paid more than without the deal, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.

It would also have hampered innovation and the development of network infrastructure, she added.

The EU ban is a blow to tie-ups in the fragmented European mobile industry. The UK is a vibrant market for so-called MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators.

If you cant find a way to clear four to three in the UK, youre probably not going to be able to find it anywhere else in the EU, said David Cantor, a Brussels-based lawyer at Telecommunications Law & Strategy.

Hutchison said it was disappointed and it is considering a legal challenge among its options. Combining O2 with Hutchisons unit would have led to higher prices for all operators in the UK, the analysis showed.

The merged firms involvement in both of the countrys network-sharing arrangements would have weakened BTs EE and Vodafone, regulators said.

It is the first time the EU has blocked a large mobile merger. The ban may hamper attempts to merge network operators in other countries. Hutchison offered network capacity to one or two mobile virtual network operators, the EU said.

The company also suggested selling O2s stake in a joint venture with Tesco Mobile and striking a wholesale agreement with Virgin Mobile to take some of its network capacity.

The EU, backed by UK antitrust and telecom agencies, didnt accept the companies offers to sell space on their network to MVNOs, saying the concessions didnt resolve concerns over network sharing.

Telefonica, Spains largest phone company, had been relying on the deal to cut its 49.9bn debt load as it strives to maintain its credit rating.
One of the worlds big three, Fitch had unusually for a credit rating firm warned during Februarys election campaign about the danger of political instability facing the country if there were to be a hung Dail.

It nonetheless had upgraded Irelands debt pile to A with a stable outlook.

Yesterday, the rating firm said the election result reduces but does not eliminate uncertainty entirely, even as Fine Gael secured the agreement for a minority-led administration with Fianna Fail and the Independent Alliance.

Fitch said that one possibility would be that in future years that support would grow for radical politicians outside the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail fold.

It said any assessment on the effects of mortgage rate cuts and the slow recovery in profitability and the capital built up in the banks ultimately would depend on the extent of any reduction in rates.

Possible intervention in the mortgage market could be negative for Irish banks, but detailed proposals have yet to emerge, it said.

We think it is positive that a government has been formed ahead of the UKs referendum on EU membership on June 23.

If the UK voted to leave the EU  which is not Fitchs base case  having a government in place to formulate a policy response and engage in Brexit negotiations could help to contain the potential damage to economic confidence in Ireland. The country is one of the most exposed in the EU to the UK via merchandise and service exports, said Fitch.

Nevertheless, political uncertainty has not been eliminated. It is unclear how much of its legislative programme the minority government will be able to implement with Fianna Fails limited support.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said that negotiations with Fine Gael had confirmed the serious and substantive policy differences between our parties, it said.

However, it said the accord between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail pointed to the new administration maintaining its support for EU fiscal controls.
Progress in the currency blocs third-largest economy has been hobbled by dizzyingly high levels of debt for the government and mountains of bad loans that burden the countrys largest banks and weigh on their stocks performance.

Italy is and will likely remain a problem child within the eurozone, said Marco Wagner, an economist at Frankfurt-based Commerzbank.

The problems of the Italian economy and the Italian banking systems are fundamentals, they are genuine problems. They are not cyclical, so not going away anytime soon, he said.

While the economy probably grew for a fifth quarter at the start of the year, GDP remains 8% below its pre-crisis peak reached in 2007.

Within the eurozone that leaves Italys gap second only to Greece in terms of ground to be made up.

The 19-nation region, by comparison, has regained that level, while France and Germany have long surpassed it.

The yield difference, or spread, between Italian 10-year bonds and the equivalent German bund has widened about 40 basis points this year.

Italy returned to growth in 2015 after emerging from its longest economic slump since World War II, and prime minister Renzi is cutting taxes on property and giving lower-paid workers a tax rebate to boost domestic demand.

Still, the Commission cut its 2016 growth forecast to 1.1% from 1.4% this month, citing weaker exports. The Italian data, along with a second estimate for the eurozone, will be published tomorrow.

That period was marked by growing concerns over the nations banking system that have since only partially been weathered. Italys Ftse MIB Index has lost 16% this year and is the worst performer among all developed markets.

Worries about banks centred on their 360 billion gross amount of non-performing loans, a debt burden thats hindering lending and stifling profitability.

While Renzis government and the Commission agreed in January on a plan to help financial institutions offload the debt, it fell short of what the Italians wanted.

The government also facilitated the creation of a bailout fund known as Atlante.

Its first rescue  earlier this month  ran into difficulties when private investors snubbed an initial public offering by Banca Popolare di Vicenza.

Bank of Italy governor Ignazio Visco said last week that while some of the countrys bankers made mistakes or even committed crimes, the bad loan problem is mainly due to a 25% plunge in industrial output in the six years through 2014.

Renzi also has to deal with a sovereign debt pile that amounted to 132.7% of GDP in 2015.
The government will use 205.6 billion kroner (22bn) of its oil wealth, up from the 195.2bn kroner it estimated in October, according to the budget released in Oslo yesterday.

The spending will have a stimulus effect of 1.1 percentage points, up from 0.7 percentage point in the initial budget.
He said yesterday that farm-produce market difficulties were more prolonged than anybody had envisaged, and that any measures taken should be meaningful for producers in difficulty.

I will work with Commissioner Hogan, who I am meeting this week, and other EU Ministers for Agriculture, to ensure that the EU response is appropriate, and can deliver the required response to help producers through these difficulties.

He confirmed that the final tranche of payments, under the direct-aid package agreed at EU level last September for the dairy and pig sectors, was now issuing to farmers.

Ireland was allocated 13.7m, and the Government matched this funding to provide an overall aid package of 27.4m.

This weeks payments are a 1,000 top-up to 1,500 young dairy farmers, who were successful applicants under the Departments Young Farmer Scheme.

Payments went to 17,600 other dairy farmers in December.

In the pig sector, payments of 3,300 each commenced this week to 300 approved applicants.

Ireland is one of the few EU member states to have drawn-down their direct-aid allocation to date, said Mr Creed.

He said: It was an immense honour and privilege to be appointed by An Taoiseach, on Friday last, and to be subsequently endorsed by the Dail, to serve as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Having represented a primarily rural constituency for my entire career, the agri-sector is an area close to my heart and I look forward to serving as minister, and working with all the stakeholders involved in these important sectors.

On Friday, I will meet with Commissioner Canete to outline Irelands strategies on climate-change mitigation, and the development of agriculture, and to discuss issues of mutual concern, in that regard.

"Next week, I will attend my first EU Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels.

I will meet with the various farming organisations at the earliest possible opportunity.
Food trade was a key topic discussed at the Irish-Iranian business dinner for 30 senior executives in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin.

Keynote speaker, HE Javad Kachoueian, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighted the range of business opportunities available for Irish companies in Iran.

Mr Kachoueian stated: The lifting of the international sanctions on Iran and the opening of its trade and business to the world is the biggest opportunity in terms of the emerging global market for almost a quarter of a century.

"It is hard to think of something as big as this opportunity for both Iran and firms around the world. Right now, Iran is seen as one of the great untapped markets of the world.

Irans current trade policy is set to be very positive towards foreign investment, with the possibility of production in Iran and the export of part of that production to neighbouring countries.

"Iran has a ready market of 80m people, as well as access to 300m in neighbouring countries. A new era has started in the Iranian economy.

"The IMF predicted in its latest consultation report that the growth rate of Irans economy for 2016 will be 4% to 5%, with this trend set to continue for the coming years.

The IEA event was also addressed by Liam Hyland, head of exports with Green Isle Foods.

The speakers also referred to the successful recent Bord Bia trade mission in Tehran, which brought together more than 100 key Iranian food buyers to meet with 17 Irish food exporters.

The lifting of international trade sanctions will offer new opportunities in Iran for Irish food exporters to increase the 4m in exports achieved in 2015.

One big opportunity lies in exports of dairy produce, including infant formula; this trade was a feature in the past, but has suffered in recent years.

Ornua has recently opened a 20m cheese manufacturing facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is developing products targeting specific consumer tastes in the Middle East.

Simon McKeever, chief executive, Irish Exporters Association, said: We see many opportunities to grow our trading relationship with Iran across a range of sectors, in particular, pharma, aviation, construction, engineering, aircraft leasing, automotive, dairy and ICT.

"The IEA has been calling for greater links between the two countries for about a year now and we need to create more opportunities for Irish companies to explore the market.

Bord Bia, having just returned from a market visit to Iran and Enterprise Ireland who are preparing their own visit are starting to understand the scale of opportunities available for Irish companies in Iran and this is a good start.

The enthusiasm and openness from the Embassy in Ireland is very apparent.

"I firmly believe weve lagged behind other EU states in focusing on Iran and I am glad to see plans to re-establish an Irish embassy in Tehran are likely to be put before the next government in a bid to cement trading ties with the Middle Easts second largest economy.
Speaking in the Dail, he revealed a Turkish delegation is due in Ireland next week to consider the potential opportunities for live exports.

Mr Coveney said it is a massive live export opportunity as long as we can do it properly, ensure the standards are right, and that we develop the kind of commercial relationships that can be the basis of a lasting and very important outlet for a growing suckler herd.

He also confirmed that the department is working with various groups on establishment of a framework for producer organisations in the beef sector.

We are going to set up a much more professional relationship where farmer-owned producer organisations have the legal entitlement to negotiate on price, quality and a range of issues concerned to get a better deal for farmers.

"That approach has worked in other countries and it will work here too.

We will create an exciting niche market for Irish beef in the US market, said Mr Coveney, who has since been made housing minister.

On securing access to the Chinese market for Irish beef, he said the report of a Chinese delegations inspection visit to Ireland in January is awaited, and preparatory work has commenced to help facilitate a follow-up visit, which we hope will take place later this year.

n However, non-delivery on beef expectations was also highlighted in last weeks Dail debate on agriculture, with SligoLeitrim Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry saying not one animal has been exported live yet to Egypt, following agreement on a live export certificate in February.

Mr MacSharry attributed the exports hold-up to marine issues.

In respect of live shipping, from my own inquiries, I know there is a market for in-calf heifers in the Moroccan market, but we cannot export there.

"There is the marine issue about which I spoke, but there is also the issue of veterinary health certification.

He said Ireland is not interested in exporting to Russia, although France, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark have done bilateral deals to gain access for their 90 VL, visual lean, and 70 VL product.

We need to be more proactive. If the big boys have bilateral deals, then Goody Two Shoes is not the rightful place of the Irish farming community.

He said BSE-era restrictions on the import of Irish beef are prohibitive.

Great Britain, which arguably had a far more difficult and severe issue with BSE, has less prohibitive veterinary health certification in respect of exporting to other countries.

Mr MacSharry also called for regulations to underpin Article 39b of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which states that farmers are entitled to a fair price for their produce.
On a day when waste management company Indaver Ireland prompted laughter with its offer to temporarily close the proposed facility were it required for essential operations of the Air Corps, Commandant David Browne said they remained concerned about the possible impact of an invisible plume on the safety of helicopter operations in the vicinity of Haulbowline naval base.

Given the strategic importance of Haulbowline to the Defence Forces, including marine counter terrorism, joint Naval Service/Air Corps simulated attack, and cargo-slinging for replenishment of ships at sea, any restriction of the Air Corps ability to operate in the area carries strategic implic-ations for the State, he said.

Cmdt Browne, accompanied by Department of Defence principal officer Fred Bradley, was back at the hearing yesterday to refute claims by Indaver that there is no need for a 1,000ft avoidance zone above the stack.

In his view, adding the height of the stack (245ft), the high risk zone of the plume (330ft), and a standard aviation safety margin of 500ft would force helicopters to operate at 1,075ft above ground level. This would affect their final approach to landing at Haulbowline and climb-out following take-off, he said.

Cmdt Browne pointed out that while much of Indavers argument, contained in a report by UK-based Windfarm Aviation Consultants, focuses on regulation laid down by the Irish Aviation Authority, those laws in fact govern civil aviation and not military aircraft.

He said the Irish Air Corps operates under the direction of the military aviation director and is bound by the Air Corps air regulations manual under the Defence Acts.

Cmdt Browne said risk management is about controlling risks where uncertainty exists, and that uncertainty surrounds the potential effects on helicopter jet-engines operating in the vicinity of a proposed Indaver stack.

Considering the catastrophic consequences of a helicopter suffering a double engine failure with 15 people on board, in the light of such uncertainty, robust risk controls would need to be introduced to ensure safe military operations at Haulbowline.

Rory Mulcahy, SC for Indaver, said it would be more than happy to agree a protocol whereby the 240,000 tonnes per annum facility could be temporarily shutdown if required for essential Air Corps operations.

Cross-examining Cmdt Browne, Mr Mulcahy asked if helicopters would have to operate at 1,075ft only if you apply a safety margin on top of a safety margin  saying that a 500ft safety margin would suffice. Cmdt Browne rejected this.

The hearing then heard, via phone link, from Shane Savage of Windfarm Aviation Consultants, and formerly the British defence ministrys military air traffic policy lead. He questioned why the Air Corps might have difficulty operating in the vicinity of an Indaver plume but not in the plume of a ship when they were, for example, cargo slinging.

He said there should be no impact as far as we can see on Air Corps operations in the event of an incinerator being built.

The hearing continues.
The issue was raised by Councillor Paul Hayes (SF) who asked colleagues to support his motion to write to the Department of Communications seeking an immediate reversal to the suspension of the provision of high-speed broadband to rural Ireland.

Clonakilty-based Mr Hayes said it is an essential component in the creation of a rural economy, sustaining connectivity and access to educational material.

He said the council needed to liaise more with the IDA on job creation, but the lack of proper broadband was a serious impediment.

Tourism is a major industry for us and heavily dependent on broadband bookings. This is a disaster. Its also important for schoolchildren and those attending university to access information online.

Councillor Christopher OSullivan (FF) said rural areas were being put at a distinct disadvantage as a result of the suspension until 2022.

Everything now is being done online, but theyre [the Government] now excluding a large amount of people, said Councillor Rachel McCarthy (SF).

Councillor Deirdre Forde (FG) said the issue was recently discussed at a regional assembly meeting. One innovative suggestion at it was the use of drones for delivery of signals to rural areas, she said.

Councillor Danny Collins (Ind) said Ministers Heather Humphries and Denis Naughton should be invited down to West Cork to see for themselves how bad the situation was.

Councillor Alan Coleman (Ind) said two companies based in West Cork are providing line of sight and satellite broadband and should be subsidised by the Government to roll it out in the region.
Allen Field yesterday told the Employments Appeal Tribunal that he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suffered panic attacks and anxiety after his experience of working with Mark Casey, president and CEO of Atlantic Flight Training Limited.

Mr Field, who worked at the company from January 2008 until November 2014, described Mr Casey as difficult to work with, and that their professional relationship suffered after an alleged assault that took place in Mr Fields office in January 2014.

Mr Field relayed to the tribunal how he progressed from deputy chief flight instructor at the company to director of operations and vice-president.

He outlined a number of instances where he alleged Mr Casey acted aggressively towards him or other employees, but said the central issue was the alleged assault in January 2014.

He said it was sparked by a disagreement over the provision of transport for students learning to fly for Air Astana, Kazakhstans principal commercial airline.

Mr Field said he told Mr Casey that he was concerned that Air Astana would be unhappy to learn that Mr Casey had replaced the bus Mr Field had arranged for the students with a taxi.

He said Mr Casey started screaming at him, banged his fist repeatedly on Mr Fields glass desk and swore at him.

He said Mr Casey approached him, placed his hands on the arms of his office chair, and brought his head into contact with his own.

He claimed Mr Casey said Ill effing kill you before stepping back and hurling his mobile phone at him. Mr Field said he raised his hands to protect his face and that the phone hit him on his collarbone.

I was in shock. To be honest, I thought hed kill me. I thought Id get a hiding, a beating for sure, he said.

Mr Field said that he left the office with chief flying instructor Captain Angelo Cunningham, who brought him to the nearby hotel for a coffee.

He said he was embarrassed as he started crying because of the incident.

He went to see a doctor who encouraged him to contact gardai. Mr Field said he reported the incident but did not want Mr Casey arrested as he feared for his livelihood if anything were to happen to his employer.

I wanted there to be a record of it, I was afraid something would happen to me, he said.

Mr Field said attempts to mediate the situation were not successful because Mr Casey would not admit any assault took place.

He said that a combination of the workload demanded of him, and the depression and anxiety he suffered after the alleged assault, led to him taking sick leave in September 2014 before leaving the company on doctors advice the following November.

Terrence J OSullivan, solicitor for Mr Casey, said his client maintains that Capt Cunningham mediated a shaking of hands between the pair, and that witnesses will say their relationship improved after the disagreement.

The hearing was adjourned until September, and is expected to go on for two more days.
The minister for justice was speaking in Geneva as part of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Ireland  its second such review and the first since 2011.

The issue of abortion in Ireland was raised by delegates of other countries alongside other matters such as Irelands response to the migrant crisis, racism, access to education, and homelessness.

Ms Fitzgerald was delayed in attending the session in Geneva due to first Cabinet meeting of the new government being held in Dublin, but when addressing delegates, she admitted that Ireland still has problems and challenges as a society that we have to face.

The issue of abortion continues to be a very live issue in Ireland and we recognise the need for our discourse to be respectful of differing views, Ms Fitzgerald said.

Recent public debate has concentrated on extending the law on abortion to cover cases of fatal foetal abnormalities or cases where a woman is pregnant as a result of rape to a broader legal regime that allows abortion where the health of a woman is of concern.

None of the above measures are possible under the current regulation of constitutional and statute law. The Government have made a commitment in the most recent Programme for Government to establish a Citizens Assembly to make recommendations to the Dail on further constitutional changes and they will consider the Eighth Amendment as part of this work.

The Governments response is being closely monitored by community and voluntary groups here. Mark Kelly, executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, was quick to ask regarding the Citizens Assembly: When, how, and with what powers?

Ms Fitzgerald outlined some of the developments in Ireland on human rights since the last review in 2011, not least what she called the milestone of the referendum which paved the way for same-sex marriage legislation. She also praised the childrens rights referendum and the success of citizenship ceremonies.

Earlier, Eugene Banks of the Department of Justice had outlined how measures to help refugees from the Syrian crisis and elsewhere will be stepped up in the coming months.

He said under the Irish Refugee Protection programme established last year, Ireland will take in up to 4,000 people over two years, including 2,620 people who land in Italy and Greece under the EU relocation programme, and 520 people from Lebanon under the refugee resettlement programme.

He said those coming here would most likely be from Syria, Iraq, and Eritrea, and that 10 people have already come from locations in Greece, with 31 and 40 more to follow in May and June, respectively. Mr Banks said it was planned that 40 people would come to Ireland every eight weeks after that, with all those arriving in Ireland entitled to avail of assistance such as free GP care and access to primary and secondary education for children.

Ireland is ready, willing, and equipped to meet our commitments, he said.

Other issues were raised at the hearing, including a call from the Holy See that Ireland address the separation of young prisoners in detention facilities, while Iran was among those raising concerns over racism here.
The Tanaiste rejected the claim during a heated press conference before the 363-page report  which has been the subject of leaks and was received by the Department of Justice two weeks ago  was formally published, and hours before she flew to a pre-arranged event in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ms Fitzgerald said the Government had accepted the findings in full  including serious garda negligence surrounding murder and assault cases, among others  and apologised to the victims involved.

Maurice McCabe

However, despite repeated questioning she stopped short of apologising to ex-justice minister Alan Shatter and former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, who resigned and retired partially due to the controversy.

She denied the report has been buried, adding: It has been leaked and is all over the media. This morning was the first Cabinet meeting and the first opportunity I had to bring it to my Cabinet colleagues.

This is accountability. I immediately sent it to the Attorney General, I got legal advice, I followed the legal advice. I felt it was important I had the report out today despite the fact Im going to Geneva. Im certainly not trying to do what you suggest.

Asked about Mr Kennys handling of the controversy to date, and whether his judgment was off, Ms Fitzgerald said she still has full confidence in him.

She said the Taoiseach will address those issues if he is asked, but said he was unavailable today because hes obviously chairing a Cabinet meeting this morning. Asked repeatedly if the Government must apologise to Mr Shatter and Mr Callinan, she said on six occasions that she felt sympathy for them and was happy they were vindicated  but did not apologise.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks to the media last night. He says he has not read the OHiggins report yet. Picture: Moya Nolan

Im sure the former minister Alan Shatter and the [former] commissioner will make their own comments about the findings of this report.

What I want to say is that I am very pleased that the report found both the commissioner and Alan Shatter acted properly at all times.

Of course I do [have sympathy for them], of course I do. Ive already said that. Im sure anybody reading this report will understand that. At a personal level this is a very traumatic time for the people involved.

But let me say as well that there are many people, many gardai, many victims out there that have been impacted, she said.

Ms Fitzgerald said the report was very thorough and very detailed, and stressed it found there have been serious failings in the service provided by gardai.

She said many victims of crime did not receive the service they deserved and I am very concerned about that.

She added: It is clearly unacceptable. I am very focused on all of the people who have been affected by this report. I hope they can accept Justice O Higgins has painstakingly and fair-mindedly tried to give justice to all of their positions.

I do believe there needs to be a sea change in the Garda Siochana.
The road is a private one with no guarantee it would be available as an alternative to escaping from the island via the existing bridge.

The uncertainty over use of the road as an evacuation route arose yesterday, during the oral hearing into an application by waste management company Indaver Ireland to build a 240,000 waste-to-energy facility in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

An Bord Pleanala inspector Derek Daly said that the issue here is whether there is certainty in relation to that alternative, but that doesnt seem to be the case.

Rory Mulcahy, SC for Indaver, confirmed the road was a private one but that they expect the emergency services would make arrangements to ensure the route was available.

This is a matter for external services, the fire services. In situations like this, they have the power to access property he said.

The issue of evacuation from the naval base arose after Indaver claimed earlier in the hearing, citing a hazard identification report, that there was no scenario which actually required the evacuation of Haulbowline.

PDForra returned to the hearing yesterday specifically to reiterate that it had 800 members on the island and it was incorrect to say there was no scenario in which evacuation would not be required when the [hazard identification] report outlined a scenario where a fire that burned for six days could require local area evacuation.

Chemical engineer Tom Leonard, on behalf of Indaver, said this was a worst case fire scenario and that modelling had shown there was no risk to people in any of the nearby developments, even for a fully developed bunker fire, and as such, no need for evacuation.

Later yesterday, concerns were raised about the physical and psychological health impact the proposed incinerator could have on people living in the area.

Occupational medicine specialist Dr Martin Hogan, on behalf of Indaver, previously gave evidence that multiple studies did not show adverse impact on human health of modern incinerator.

Joe Noonan, for environmental group Chase (Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment) asked if Dr Hogans opinions were based solely on a desktop review of the literature.

Dr Hogan confirmed this was the case. However it was his contention that a literature review was an accurate and appropriate way of arriving at the conclusions he had put forward. We need to look for evidence rather than simply opinion, he said.
Ryanair boss Michael OLeary, Failte Ireland chairman Michael Cawley, Cork Chamber head Conor Healy, and Chambers Ireland boss Ian Talbot are among a group of Irish business, civic, tourism, and political leaders who have co-signed a hard-hitting letter sent to the influential Friends of Ireland Caucus last night calling for its support for the service, just days ahead of a final decision being made on the licence.

Their letter sets out the facts of plans by Dublin-based airline Norwegian Air International (NAI) for the transatlantic service, and accuses NAIs opponents of repeating claims which are inaccurate, misleading, and simply not true.

The letter states: To our dismay, opponents of NAI have repeatedly and maliciously impugned Irelands aviation safety oversight, regulatory structures, and labour protections, and labelled Ireland as a mere flag of convenience.

This is deeply inaccurate, misleading, and simply not true. The opponents have also misinterpreted provisions of the US-EU Open Skies agreement in a way that directly contradicts the joint and carefully considered views of the [US] departments of transportation, state, and justice.

It asks the Friends of Ireland to help stop these allegations from being further perpetuated and to support the granting of the licence.

The US department of transportation will make a final decision soon after its consultation process closes on Monday.

Opponents, including US labour unions, legacy airlines, and pilot unions in the US and EU, have ramped up their campaign to block the permit.

Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has warned the granting of a licence to NAI could threaten thousands of US jobs. Four Congressmen have sponsored a bill to block NAI access to the US.

The letter was sent last night ahead of a protest outside the White House today in support of the congressmens legislation.

The European Commission said it is poised to engage in arbitration if there are any more attempts to block the licence.
Mr Halligan, TD for Waterford, is expected to be named a junior minister in the Government by Taoiseach Enda Kenny next week, but was bullish in his defiance of Fine Gael calls for himself and Mr McGrath to pay their water bills.

Mr Kenny and several Fine Gael ministers called on Mr McGrath to pay his water bills. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Halligan singled out comments by new chief whip Regina Doherty over the weekend as most unhelpful.

Mrs Doherty advised TDs who havent paid their water bills to do so as they wont magically disappear.

I dont know what they are at. They should have shut their mouths on it and consulted with us first. It is only creating tension and showing a type of arrogance again, he said. He argued Fine Gael knew his position and of Mr McGrath in relation to water charges during the negotiations.

FinianMcGrath150416_large.jpg/timgcap]

Mr Halligan said he hasnt paid any water charges as he hasnt been billed, but that he is opposed to the principle of paying water charges.

It is interesting in that I havent even been billed. I wouldnt pay it anyway being honest.

I think there is two issues. When they were negotiating this Programme for Government with us and ministerial positions, they knew our positions on this, well. It is also a newly structured Dail with the whip being removed on votes of conscious and so on. We are only obliged to support the Government on votes of confidence and the budget, he added. When they were offering Finian McGrath a ministry, they knew he hadnt paid his water charges, he had been saying it in the Dail, the Waterford TD said.

Mr Halligan said for him the decision to back Enda Kenny was difficult enough without this sort of conflict, as he has some people already calling him a traitor for entering Government, even though he won concessions on Waterford Hospital.

Last night, Mr Kenny joined the chorus of Fine Gael ministers who called on Mr McGrath to pay his water charges.

Yes, he should pay his water charges, of course, the Taoiseach said at an event in Dublin city centre.

Earlier, ministers Simon Harris and Paschal Donohoe led the charge by saying they expected a fellow minister to comply with the law of the land and pay his charges.

Mr McGrath released a statement through the Department of Health, in which he said he would seek advice as to his non-payment of water charges.

Minister McGrath is getting advice from the Attorney General and will be consulting with his Independent Alliance colleagues, the statement said.
The party will today outline a bill which would allow the Government sanction the refund of charges within six months, once bills are suspended.

Labour, as revealed by the Irish Examiner, is also working on separate legislative for a referendum to ensure all natural resources, including water, are kept in public ownership.

Potential Labour leader candidate Brendan Howlin said that his party still supported the idea of water charges. Water charges were finished, he conceded, but households should also be repaid. Labour believe in a generous allowance for users and anything over this must be paid for, he said.

The biggest mistake for Labour, he said, when in government was when the junior coalition partner did not get its way on the timescale for introducing Irish Water in 2014.

Brendan Howlin

We should have, even if it meant taking down the government at that stage, held our ground on that.

Mr Howlin said it was now also constitutionally unacceptable that there was a member of government, Disability Minister Finian McGrath, who was not paying his water charges.

He should pay them, Mr Howlin told RTE.

Labour will now produce two pieces of legislation relating to water charges. The first, to be launched today,envisages Irish Water being forced to pay back all water bills within six months of a suspension. The Government expects the suspension, as agreed in exchange for Fianna Fails support, to begin at the end of June. This means that the bill could provide for full refunds being paid by December.

The legislation, called the Water Charges Fair Treatment of Customers Bill, comes after confusion about if charges will be suspended and what happens to those who have already paid. Government chief whip Regina Doherty yesterday said the suspension could come into effect by the end of June.

The Labour bill also provides for the return of payments, even if charges are permanently abolished.

Labour are expected to propose that refunds be provided through banks or by cheques.

Meanwhile, further pressure continues to be applied on Mr McGrath to pay his water bill. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald added her voice to the argument yesterday, saying he should pay. Asked if Mr McGrath was fit to stay in Cabinet if he wont, she said: Ive made it clear what I think about Finians bills. They [non-payers] need to pay those bills and that is certainly essential.
Limerick Circuit Court was told Shane Byrnes is a danger to women. It was the second time he had carrying out this kind of attack on a woman in a hotel gym and a probation report stated he was at risk of committing a similar offence within 12 months.

Byrnes, age 26, of 34 Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at the leisure centre of the Castletroy Park Hotel on April 18, 2014.

Garda Colum OShea said the woman went to the leisure centre that day.

After leaving the gym she went to the changing where she began to put on a swimsuit. The bottom part of the swimsuit was on when she heard water being flushed in a toilet cubicle. A man then came out of the cubicle carrying a duffle bag. The top of her swimsuit was not fully on and she covered herself with her hand.

The man said sorry I thought I was in the lads changing room.

The victim said grand, just get out.

She then realised he had moved over beside her and his bag brushed off her leg. Byrnes then put his hand over her shoulder and grabbed the hand covering her front.

Referring to her breasts he said very nice, let me see them and let me touch them. She still had not the top of her swimsuit on and he grabbed her breast. As he did so the victim managed to elbow Byrnes and shouted at him to get away.

Byrnes stood and stared at her before leaving.

The management were alerted and gardai were called.

When questioned, Byrnes said when he saw the woman either naked or topless he got turned on and asked her to show him her breasts.

Jailing Byrnes for 18 months, Judge Tom ODOnnell said it was the second time Byrnes had sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel gym. He said a probation report indicated that Byrnes was at high risk of reoffending and moderate risk of carrying out another sexual assault within 12 months.

He said Byrnes failed to complete a course to deal with his sexual offending. The report stated that even if Byrnes fully engaged with this course, there was no guarantee that this could cure him of his behaviour.

Judge ODonnell ordered Byrnes name be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
According to the annual social media and employment research report by law firm William Fry, 78% of employees are accessing social media using personal devices while at work  up from 60% in 2013.

The report finds that men spend more time on social media (39 minutes) than women (25 minutes) during the working day.

The average number of minutes spent on social media while at work is 29.

More than one third of employers admitted to not having any social media policy or guidelines in place, while one-quarter of employees said they were not sure if their employer such a a policy or guidelines.

The continued popularity of LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms has seen one quarter of employees using social media to search or apply for new jobs.

A total of 46% of employees said that what prospective employers might see on social media accounts influences their posts  up from 28% in 2013.

Catherine OFlynn, a partner in William Frys employment and benefits department, advised employers who have not done so to put a social media policy in place.

Our research finding that more and more employees are using personal devices to access social media at work is of note, she said.

Businesses risk serious reputational and/or financial consequences from employees inappropriate activity on social media channels.

Accordingly, it is vital that organisations address use on personal devices as well as company devices when preparing their social media policies.

Ms OFlynn pointed to case law that has emerged over the last year highlighting the continuing need for employers to have a policy in place so they can defend claims of vicarious liability brought by employees against the organisation in relation to the conduct of their colleagues.

The report notes that 44% of employees have work-related contacts on their personal social media accounts with 96% stating they have never discussed with their employer what will happen to these contacts once they leave employment.

Ms OFlynn said: This is another area that organisations need to address to prevent the loss of valuable contacts and information. This is especially important as the market continues to pick up and employees move from one job to another with more frequency and speed.
The fire in St Colmans Park estate claimed the lives of Kenneth, 27, and Noel OMahony, 62, who was visiting the house. Kenneths mother, Noirin McAuliffe, 61, only escaped the blaze after jumping from an upstairs window.

Sinead McAuliffe said her mother had lost everything in the fire and appealed for the publics help in providing anything they could to make Noirins life easier when she is released from hospital.

She is broken-hearted, of course. She cant see how she is going to get through it but she will be OK physically. Mentally, Id say she will never again be OK, Sinead McAuliffe told 96FM.

Ms McAuliffe said she had been down to the house every day since the fire but that more than four decades of family memories had been lost in the fire.

Theres nothing. Forty-two years of family and memories just gone completely from it, she said.

I went into Kennys room and there was his horse- riding gear. I got that out. I had that for the church. That was really important to him because he loved his horse riding and he loved going to the equestrian centre in Farnanes.

Ms McAuliffe said they had broken the news to her mother that Kenneth had died in the fire only on Monday. Myself and my brother broke the news to her on Monday. She couldnt believe it. When we told her there was a house fire, she said, Where was Kenny staying, was he staying with you, Sinead?

We just had to tell her then. She wanted to know if he was buried . He was. He was buried last Saturday but I got it recorded for her by a local man here.

Ms McAuliffe said her mother remains in hospital with broken ribs and a broken shoulder. The family is working with the council to source accommodation for Noirin when she is discharged. I dont want her coming out of there with nothing. She is after losing enough. It could take six months, it could take longer... The council have been outstanding.

People wishing to help the McAuliffe family can go to gofundme.com/22bh4zgh or can donate through Bank of Ireland, Macroom; account number 77183466, sort code: 90-57-90.
Mr Justice Kevin OHiggins said he hoped that with the closing of his inquiry, gardai in Bailieboro could put the unhappy events... behind them.

These events included a litany of flawed investigations and prosecutions and poor treatment of victims, which the judge said were mainly due to failures of probationary gardai and their supervisors.

The most controversial involved Jerry McGrath, who murdered Sylvia Roche Kelly in December 2007 while on bail for a savage assault on Mary Lynch and, separately, an attempt to abduct a child.

Mr OHiggins said gardai in the area had worked under the shadow of those events for a long time.

He said: It is hoped that the closing of this inquiry will enable the gardai in the area to put the unhappy events, the subject matter of this inquiry, behind them, learning lessons where appropriate.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, and in the very particular circumstances pertaining, the commission considers the institution of any disciplinary proceedings, which might conceivably arise out of its findings, would not be helpful.

Ms Lynch told RTE she was unhappy no one was being made accountable. My case was treated very badly and that shows up on this report and that Im glad about. What Im not glad about is that nobody is being held responsible.

Lorcan Roche Kelly, Sylvias husband, has said he was disappointed with the commission and had no faith in the gardai.

Sylvia Roche Kelly

The Garda Representative Association said probationary gardai had been left hung out to dry.

Young probationary gardai, some of them in their first months of service, were sent out to do investigations they werent capable of dealing with, said James Morrisroe, GRA executive member from Cavan/Monaghan.

The only people to face disciplinary sanction were probationary gardai. No one else of any rank has faced [it].

The OHiggins report said it would be unfair to regard criticisms of individual gardai as applicable to their work in general.

The Policing Authority yesterday said it will study the report before deciding on its next steps, adding that it expected the matters will be discussed further with the commissioner.

The Garda Siochana said it accepted the reports findings and recommendations and noted it had found the failures were at a human level.

The report was published yesterday by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, two weeks after it was submitted and in the wake of media leaks. The minister rejected claims the Government was trying to bury the report.

She said she was sad and disheartened by the experiences of victims in the cases investigated.

Taioseach Enda Kenny said it was an absolute tragedy for the Roche Kelly family and a very traumatic period for them.

The 365-page report comes two years after the Guerin scoping report, which led to justice minister Alan Shatters departure.

Contrary to Guerin, OHiggins found no fault with Mr Shatter. Mr Kenny said Mr Shatter had set out his reasons for his resignation.

The report said Sgt McCabe was a dedicated and committed garda who had highlighted investigations where the public was not well served.

It said he impressed the commission as being never less than truthful but added he was prone to exaggeration at times.

Mr OHiggins said some of his complaints had been upheld, others were overstated, while some were unfounded.

He said there was not a scintilla of evidence to support allegations of any corruption by Mr Callinan.

The commission said there was a closing of ranks in internal investigations into Sgt McCabes complaints.
Most shocking and serious of all was the case involving Gerard McGrath, who savagely assaulted a female taxi driver in what Judge OHiggins described as a terrifying attack in Cavan in April 2007, only to be charged with minor assault against DPP instructions.

That ensured he got bail and set in train a chain of devastating events. Within months, he attempted to abduct a five-year-old girl from her home in the middle of the night in Tipperary, and, despite being caught red-handed, was released, and, weeks later, murdered mother of two, Sylvia Roche-Kelly, in Limerick.

Judge OHiggins lists 10 major failings in the handling of the case by Cavan gardai alone, not least of which was the initial decision to charge McGrath with a Section 2 offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, which constitutes a minor assault, rather than the more serious Section 3 offence the DPP had sought.

The garda responsible in a subsequent report stated that the Section 2 charge was instructed by the DPP. He later said he couldnt say why he put this in his report. I typed it in error, he told the commission.

This charge was meant to be reviewed by a sergeant but, Judge OHiggins said: as appears to have been the practice, it was not reviewed in any meaningful way. Rather the matter was clicked as reviewed in a superficial sense.

McGrath was released on station bail, and got continuing bail when he appeared in court. Even when the charge was later upgraded to Section 3, there were no fresh bail proceedings.

When a garda from Tipperary investigating the abduction case contacted the station to inquire about McGrath, he said he was told the incident was a dispute with a taxi driver, so he had no idea of how serious it was, and did not have details to give to a judge when McGrath applied for, and was granted, bail in that jurisdiction. It was while on bail this time that he murdered Mrs Roche Kelly.

By the time the original assault case came to court in January 2008, McGrath was already under arrest for the abduction and murder. The taxi driver told the commission she got a call from a garda telling her she neednt be in court that day as the case would not proceed.

It did and was concluded, without giving her a chance to give evidence or a victim impact statement. The garda who told her not to come to court told the commission he had done so on the instructions of Sgt McCabe, who was going to get the case moved to the circuit court.

Sgt McCabe denied this and the commission believed him, but did not hold with Sgt McCabes complaint that the claims were meant to discredit him. It can not be safely said that there was a deliberate attempt to wrongly implicate Sgt McCabe, Judge OHiggins said.

However, Sgt McCabes fears in that regard, at that time, were perfectly understandable.

Maurice McCabe

The garda who made the claim did not explain it, saying only when he spoke to the victim, he relayed what I presumed or assumed would have happened.

Judge OHiggins said the deficiencies in the case included the inappropriate charge brought against McGrath, communication failures, the failure to revisit bail when the charge was upgraded, the inordinate delay in furnishing a file to the DPP in the first place despite McGraths admission in a station interview of what he had done only hours after he had carried out the attack, the failure to keep the injured party properly informed of developments, and the failure to supervise the garda who had initially charged McGrath.

Judge OHiggins said criticisms made of the Garda handling of the Tipperary case in a subsequent GSOC report was unduly harsh as he was entitled to rely on what he was told, which was that the incident in Cavan was a minor offence.

Sgt McCabe in his dossier said he felt that once the abduction and murder became known to his station, there was an urgent attempt to dispose of the assault case as quickly as possible and at all costs.

Judge OHiggins said: The commission can find no evidence to substantiate this complaint.

Lakeside Manor Hotel dangerous driving case
Adrian Smith, aged 33, of Curkish, Bailieborough, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and attempted sexual assault of a woman in McDonalds on Grafton St on June 14, 2014. He will be sentenced in July.

Garda Siobhan Murray told Karl Finnegan, prosecuting, the woman tried to reason with Smith on two occasions and told him it was not worth the hassle as they were in a public place and he would be caught. As she started to scream, he told her to shut up.
The radical plans have yet to be approved by the Department of Social Protection and are only being reviewed by its new minister, Leo Varadkar.

However, the Childrens Rights Alliance reacted with dismay at the proposals which are in the Programme for Government.

The Irish Examiner understands the proposals were agreed, after strong lobbying by newly appointed Minister for Communications Denis Naughten during the Government formation talks.

If introduced, the changes would see families penalised and deducted state benefit if their child or children were unable to attend school.

Addressing the proposals, the programme for government says: We will reform the monitoring of child benefit payments by amalgamating the two existing school attendance monitoring systems, currently run by the Department of Education and Tusla, to address poor attendance within some families.

Reacting to the proposals, childrens rights alliance CEO Tanya Ward warned that principals could potentially decide who does or does not get benefit payments:

Tanya Ward

This is a daft proposal that would seriously undermine the rights of children. Child Benefit is a universal payment designed to help families with the cost of caring for their children. It should in no way be used as a tool to punish parents and families. In practice, it would indirectly lead to school principals actually making decisions on who gets child benefit.

Mr Varadkar said he was still working through the new programme and scoping out its implications for his new department.

Government sources though have confirmed that fellow Cabinet member, Denis Naughten, had pushed for the benefit reforms during the government formation talks.

While the Independent TD ultimately took another portfolio, the Roscommon-Galway TD has for years advocated linking benefit payments to school attendance.

Mr Naughten has said changing the system would save 50m partially by removing the need to pay 13m annually to children not resident in Ireland and would also clamp down on fraud.

The Programme for Government contains key priorities for the Government which include the establishment of a rural broadband taskforce and the reactivation of a national treatment purchase fund to reduce hospital waiting lists.

A reduction in the number of patients waiting longer than six hours in emergency department from 32% to less than 7% by 2021 is one of the stated aims of the programme. These include reforming the HSE into a more efficient and transparent service, as well as implementing a national obesity plan.

The document commits to creating 200,000 jobs by 2020 and increasing spending on public services by at least 6.75bn by 2021. It also says the Government will aim to meet the target of building 25,000 new homes needed every year by 2020.
The former Miss Universe Ireland, author and online blogger took to the stage dressed casually in cropped black trousers and a bronze ruffled top, to reveal how she has used social media to drive her Natural Born Feeder food business.

The model and foodie told the audience of social media and digital marketing professionals how she is as passionate about posting online and social networking as she is about food.

Its nice to be up here talking about something so personal and something Im so passionate about. I just love to talk, so stop me if I go over time she joked.

Roz, 25, who was accompanied at the event by her sister Rachel  a digital marketing manager working with one of the event exhibitors, Connector.ie  said she uses multiple social platforms to connect with consumers.

Roz Purcell

Instagram is my best friend. I post images to it all the time. It allows me to draw viewers in through the senses and to engage with people easily. Its also led me to new people and new places all around the world, said Roz.

Initially reluctant to try out Snapchat, Roz says she is now addicted to the instant messaging site.

I was hugely against Snapchat at the start. I didnt think I had time for a new social media channel but Im totally addicted to it now.

It shows people the unedited version of everything I do, online. It shows my personality and my personal life and people have been hugely responsive to it, she said.

However, the models constant use of social media has occasionally led to complaints from her boyfriend of four years, musician and mental health advocate, Bressie, she told the Irish Examiner.

Bressie

Bressies not as into social media as I am and hes always telling me to put the phone down!

But I think he understands how its helped me connect with people and build a brand following. Im mentoring him a bit now on the IT side of things so maybe hell start using social media more to his advantage, she said.

The food writer who admits to having had a downward relationship with food while she was modelling full time, said her openness and honesty online have helped her build trust with her followers.

A lot of young girls could relate to that and it brought a lot of people into my social media channels and built a sense of trust because people knew I was being very open and honest about myself.

Social media got me my first book deal and transformed me from being a model to an author. Its allowed me to grow my audience and branch out internationally and who knows where it will take me, she said.
A moment of madness on the foothills of Carrauntoohil saw a farmer take an already loaded double-barrel shotgun and discharge it at his daughters then partner, injuring him.

Whiskey had been produced during a New Years Eve party, and old wounds were re-opened in an act that was out of character for Martin Clifford, a married father of three, the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee was told.

Judge John Hannan slammed the loose control of the licensed weapon as outrageous and said he wanted to send a strong message to farmers and others privileged to have access to guns.

Clifford, aged 51, of Glencuttane, Kilgobnet, Beaufort, Co Kerry, had pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment and one count of reckless discharge of a firearm at Glencuttane on January 1, 2014.

John Foley, aged 33, of Boheshill, Glencar, had to spend three days in hospital having gunshot pellets removed from his right side, the court was told.

However, Mr Foley regarded what happened as a moment of madness, linked to intoxication, he still saluted Clifford and he bore him no animosity, and did not want him jailed, he said in a victim impact statement read by Sgt Leo Randles.

It was New Years Eve on the foothills of Carrauntoohil, and Clifford had earlier had gone to the town of Killorglin and had two pints.

Later whiskey was produced at a party, said Sgt Leo Randles, agreed with Tom Rice, prosecuting.

The relationship between Mr Foley and Nicola Clifford had been volatile and tumultuous and the Clifford family were concerned about their daughter, Sgt Randles also said.

Old wounds were opened up due to intoxication, Sgt Randles replied to Brian McInerney, defending.

Clifford went to the shed and took the shotgun and discharged one barrel from 15 yards away at Mr Foley.

Farmers not uncommonly kept a shotgun loaded so that they could get at it quickly, particularly at night, Mr McInerney said  after Judge Hannan intervened to ask if it would be normal for farmers in Kerry to have weapons with cartridges in the breech sitting in the shed.

The judge said he viewed such loose control  and contravention of the basic rules for handling a weapon as outrageous.

Judge John Hannan accepted the incident was out of character. But the fact that Clifford, a licensed gun holder, had kept his gun in an open area, ready for use, was reckless.

He convicted Clifford on both counts, sentencing him to two years on each and suspending the sentence for three years, binding him to the peace.

He also fined Clifford who the court heard was a modest farmer  8,000.

After the court, Padraig OConnell, solicitor for Clifford, said his client truly regretted the incident which was indeed a moment of madness.
The Security Service increased the level from moderate to substantial  which is the third most serious category out of five and means a terrorist attack is seen as a strong possibility.

Ms May said the move reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity.

In a statement to the House of Commons, she said: As a result of this change, we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

The threat level to Britain from international terrorism remains at severe  meaning an attack is highly likely. This has not been changed.

Ms May said the threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism is also unchanged at severe.

She added: The public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police.

The main focus of violent dissident republican activity continues to be in Northern Ireland where they have targeted the brave police and prison officers who serve their communities day in and day out, Ms May said.

She added: The reality is that they command little support.

They do not represent the views or wishes of the vast majority of people, both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, who decisively expressed their desire for peace in the 1998 Belfast Agreement and have been transforming Northern Ireland ever since.

The Home Secretary went on: However it is sensible, given their stated aims, that the public in Great Britain should also remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police.

But we should not be alarmed, and this should not affect how we go about our daily lives.
IF YOU get a large F stamped on a school or college test then its generally bad news  but now its a sign of approval for certain films. Films where women arent just props for male heroes, and where women are significantly involved in the film production.

Weve got PG rated and 12s and 18s movies  and now you can look out for F-Rated films as well. This new film classification aims to shine a light on the work women are doing in film.

Basically, if you can answer yes to one or more of these questions about a film, then it earns the F-Rating stamp of approval.

Does it have a female director?

Is it written by a woman?

Are there complex female on-screen characters who exist in their own rights and arent simply there to support the male lead?

The F stands for feminist  the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

F-Rating founder and Bath Film Festival director, Holly Tarquini, will be at the Cinemagic Festival in Dublin next week to discuss this classification.

She explains that this rating is to support women in film and is not about discriminating against men.

The majority of films are made by white middle-class men  only 3.3% of big-budget feature films (more than 30million) are directed by women. We want to expand who is telling the stories. It is about asking Do we care that almost all the heroes are men and Are we happy with that?.

COMPLICATED SITUATION

Tarquini says she certainly isnt claiming shell expose a secret pact between male directors and producers to stamp down female talent.

Its more complicated than that  you have studio executives or directors who are male and people typically nurture people who are like them and thats when the industry becomes exclusive. So then being brilliant isnt enough.

And shes not too concerned that seeing an F-rating stamp of approval on a film will put men off. Patriarchy has been putting me off things for a long time. So I dont think I mind about that.

Some F-Rated films are indeed celebrated in mainstream arenas  Oscar-winning Room which has Brie Larson in the lead role and was written for screen by Irelands own Emma Donoghue, who also wrote the original novel, is one such film. But many others dont get top-billing in commercial cinemas and are more typically found at film festivals and movie clubs.

Professional association, Directors UK, has almost 6,000 members. The association has just this month released a report called Cut Out of the Picture: A Study of Gender Inequality among Directors within the UK Film Industry.

Tarquini explains: 50.1% of film students (in Britain) are women but Directors UK analysis reveals that by budget only 3.3% of key players are women. The film industry is even worse than law.

There are some very strong female characters in TV drama series such as Happy Valley and The Killing; so is television beating film in the F-Rating stakes? Happy Valleys lead character, Catherine Cawood, is in her 50s and takes no nonsense; she mentors a young female colleague and treats women ranging from her alcoholic sister to local prostitutes with respect  and the series was written, created and directed by Sally Wainwright.

Yes, confirms Tarquini. TV does better than film because the risks are lower.

This is mirrored in the recent Directors UK report also: Once they [women] become directors they struggle to progress to larger budgets (16.1% female directors on low-budget films compared to 3.3% on high-budget films).

BECHDEL FAILINGS

The F-Rating itself is a step on from the Bechdel Test. This test is based on a 1985 cartoon strip by Alison Bechdel  in this a woman explains to a friend that she only wants to go to a movie if it has at least two women in it; who talk to each other; about something other than a man.

And there is a difference between the two tests because, as Tarquini notes: The Bikini Carwash Company passes the Bechdel Test because several of the women in this movie talk about a way to earn money.

In case you couldnt guess from the title The Bikini Carwash Company is about a group of women who boost sales at a carwash by wearing a lot of suds and not a lot of clothing  so it passes the Bechdel test but isnt F-Rated. Some films merit double and even triple F-Ratings because they star women and are written and directed by women.

Were not saying that these films are only for women, or that theyre necessarily about womens issues.

But Tarquini is optimistic that things are only going to improve: There are lots of campaigners for diversity and they are starting to make a difference. We are on the brink of critical mass. It is crucial that the medium has more storytellers and film studios will look increasingly stupid if they dont recognise this.

F-Rating founder, Holly Tarquini will be at the Cinemagic festival in Dublin on May 19 to host a discussion event for the next generation of budding filmmakers, before a screening of Suffragette. The festival runs from May 13 to 22. See cinemagic.ie

Other films that pass the F-Rating

Pitch Perfect 2 is a triple F-Rated blockbuster. This 2015 American musical comedys screenplay is by Kay Cannon and the director is Elizabeth Banks. The film focuses on an all-female a capella singing group and grossed more than $287 million. Pitch Perfect 3 is set to be released in August 2017.

Mustang is a 2015 drama film directed by Turkish-French film director Deniz Gamze Erguven. This film is set in a remote Turkish village and shows the challenges faced by five orphaned sisters in a conservative society.

Janis: Little Girl Blue is a documentary on the life of rock and roll legend, Janis Joplin. Its directed by Amy Berg and narraged by Cat Power and traces Joplins evolution into a drug and alcohol-addicted musical star.

Despite the Falling Snow is written and directed by Shamim Sarif and stars Rebecca Ferguson. The film is set in Cold War Moscow and focuses on a female spy.

Testament of Youth, based on Vera Brittains memoir, and stars Alicia Vikander as the strong-minded war nurse.

Wild: Reese Witherspoon stars in the true-life adaptation of Cheryl Strayeds 2012 memoir.
This year heralds the 61st anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest. For over 60 years now we have had our musical sensibilities tested by a bizarre collection of song lyrics. A close examination of these head scratching couplets have left this listener perplexed. I wonder has anyone actually listened to what is being sung at the annual European-wide, musical extravaganza.

Beginning on home soil, Ireland (a seven-time winner) took its first dip in the Eurovision waters in 1965 with a song about, you guessed it, the weather. Butch Moore sang , Walking the Streets in the Rain:  My tears are mixed through the raindrops, cause Im walking the streets in the rain. The wheel has come full circle weatherwise with Nicky Byrne singing Sunlight  for Ireland in this years contest. Although dermatologists would frown at Nickys invocation to:  live forever in the sunlight.

Moving swiftly away from weather and on to cheese. Eamon Toal was Irelands entry at the millennium edition of the show in 2000. Eamons song, Millenium of Love pleaded with us to: celebrate the new millennium of love, where our footprints leave a harvest for the children.

Liam Reilly sang his heart out for Ireland in 1990 finishing a credible second. Liam in his song, Somewhere in Europe seemed to have lost his better half. He takes us on a tour (in three minutes) of all the places she could be, which included; Paris, Amsterdam, the Black Forest in Germany, the Adriatic, London Trafalgar Square (quite specific that one) and finally drinking in old Seville.

Linda Martin (1984) knew exactly where to find her lover  Terminal Three  and the flight was on time. She implores her lover to: Fly to me on the wings of all you meant to me. Having just written that down I still dont know what it means.

Back in 1981, Sheeba sang Horoscopes, pleading with us to: Dont let the planets take control of our lives. Believe in the truth and not celestial lies. As if we needed telling.

Stepping away from Ireland and into Europe and beyond. We Irish are mere amateurs when it comes to strange and weird Eurovision lyrics. For me the strangest has to be Swedens 1973 entry sung by Nova. Ill give it to you straight. It went like this:  oh...Your breasts are like swallows a-nestling. You just read that and its 100% real.

Moving southwards to Austria a group named Trackshittaz (correct spelling) sang the following in Eurovision 2012: your bum has feelings, your bum is part of you, dont put it on chairs, your bum has an opinion, yeah.

After that I need to sit down.

Songwriting, as an art form involves the use of sophisticated musical arrangements, elaborate metaphors and patterns or combinations of sound. Many of the great songwriters wrote about their personal life experiences with sensitivity and style. Lets compare Austrias Bum Song with say The Cures, Just like Heaven which included the lines: And moving lips to breathe her name. I opened up my eyes. And found myself alone, alone, alone, above a raging sea. That stole the only girl I loved, and drowned her deep inside of me.

Sixty years of Digg-Loo, Diggi-Ley, Ding-A-Dong, La-la-la, Boom-Bang-A-Bang, With a high-high-ho and a high-high-hey (Latvias pirate song in 2008, dont ask) and the classic: Clap your hands, celebrate, have a good time, pump, pump. This short compendium of Eurovision gems is enough to claim auditory assault on a European scale.

Our only refuge for our sanity is to enjoy the show for what it is: a bit of nonsense. My thoughts go back to Austrias entry for 1977 and I smile, the great musical classic Boom Boom Boomerang with the memorable lyrics:  Boom Boom boomerang up in the sky, kangaroo, boogaloo, go out and buy, Ding dong, sing the song, hear the guitar cry, Kojak, hijack, dont ask why.

Maybe thats the secret of surviving Eurovision week, not to ask why? Speaking of survival, Finlands 1982 entry offers a unique perspective on the nuclear threat: If someone soon throws some nuclear poo here on our europe, what will you say when we get all the filth on our faces.

Im sure, university professors are working on those lyrics as we speak.

The Eurovision has thrown up some odd lyrics over its sixty years and maybe its one big elaborate metaphor for the European experiment. Leaving the final words (my all time favourite) to Montengros 2012 entry Rambo Amadeus, with the haunting lyrics:  I only got one rule, always stay cool like a swimming pool. Youve got to love it.
This latest buy, with provision for at least 120 bedrooms, will give it control of some 20% of greater Corks hotel stock, or over 530 bedrooms, according to Dermot Crowley, Dalatas Deputy CEO, Business Development and Finance.

Cork now holds the second largest concentration of Dalata hotel rooms, after Dublin.

The company, which floated two years ago, has rapidly evolved with a firm, disciplined three-and four-star business model.

It now controls 7,700 hotel beds in Ireland and the UK, posting pre-tax profits of 28.5m for 2015, on turnover of 225m for 2015, up a staggering 185% on the previous year thanks to acquisitions.

It is keen to grow and consolidate in Irish cities, including Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick (where it bought the Clarion), as well as Derry and Belfast in the North.

It owns 20 hotels in Britain and Ireland, after the Moran Bewley acquisition of nine hotels, and leases a number of others, controlling 42 in all.

Last year, it bought the Clarion Cork for 35m via Savills, and since then it also bought the leasehold interest on the Clarion and three other hotels, including the Gibson, Dublin, for 40m.

Corks Clarion, said to be the most successful hotel in the city, will be rebranded later this year as a Clayton Hotel, and will see a rolling investment and upgrades.

But, despite being keen supporters of the Events Centre due on site in the southern city, Dalata doesnt plan further Cork hotel acquisitions, Mr Crowley stated when asked if theyd get involved in BAMs Sullivans Quay hotel site.

And, while they looked at the Metrolpole Cork, they decided not to purchase.

Similarly, despite still having a war-chest of 70m left for acquisitions after raising cash and debt, the company is not interested in the headline historic hotel Dublin sale of the Gresham, reportedly making c 80m, the company indicates.

Dalata, which operates under the Clayton and Maldron hotel brands, is currently spending about 4m on upgrades to the Silverspring Clayton Hotel, including a 2.5m investment in a total refurb of the conference centre, facade upgrades and window replacement, and will refubish 60 bedrooms later this year, said Cork-born deputy CEO Mr Crowley.

The company intends to significantly build business at the Silversprings Clayton conference centre, and drive the extra bednights to its hotels in the city centre such as the Clarion on Lapps Quay, and the Maldron in Shandon, where it is investing up to 2m and which Mr Crowley adds does a very strong weekend leisure and summer family break business.

Also in that alliance will be the 120-bed Maldron to be delivered at Beasley St/Parnell Place.

Total investment at the Beasley St site is likely to come to 20m, will employ 60, and it will be run as a four-star, similar to four-star Maldrons it runs at Pearse St Dublin, and at Dublin Airport, Mr Crowley told the Irish Examiner.

Following completion of this 10.2m hotel opportunity purchase from Nama (first reported in these pages in January, where the former Corbett family project with had been left in shell and core state for close to a decade,) Dalata hope to meet in coming weeks with City Council officals to see how they see the largely-pedestrianised Beasley Street hotel fits in to overall plans for South Mall, Oliver Plunkett St, and Parnell Place.

The company may seek to get more bedrooms in at ground level, and may also seek to improve access/presence to South Mall: but, it has no plans or wish to buy the classic AIB former bank at 97 South Mall as a statement entrance, Mr Crowley confirmed.

Right now, it has its most striking facade onto the narrow Beasley St, with angled limestone section, and theres two basement parking levels with car lift.

Design was by James Leahy Architects and its understood Dalata is talking to several design firms about completing and maximising the interior and bedrooms tally.

Cork is quite unusual, in that a lot of its hotels are outside of the city centre: we really like the idea of city centre locations, and we are very upbeat about the prospect for Cork City and also for Galway, while Limerick is recovering too, but from a low base, said Mr Crowley.

Cork hotels like the Clarion had a very strong FDI business from the likes of Apple, EMC, Boston Scientific, and other positive indicators for the city include the Event Centre, which will be critical in generating new business, Green REITs purchase of JCDs One Albert Quay offices, the Capital Cinema site and the prospect of transatlantic air routes using Cork Airport, said Mr Crowley.
Its the first, and only, speculatively-built facility of any scale to come to market in Cork in several years, say agents Savills.

The sizeable building on a four-acre site is nearing practical completion for the start of June, and can suit or be adapted for pharma, storage, distribution and other uses, says agent Niall Guerin of Savills.

Behind the build is the development wing of the OConnell Group, a logistics company with a 30-year business pedigree and which controls 750,000 sq ft of warehousing and runs a fleet of 24 trucks.

The OConnell Group bought an older plant from pharma, health and nutrition company FMC several years ago, demolished it and now has replaced it with a Grade A new modern HQ-style warehouse facility: its being completed to standard shell and core and landlord spec, allowing potential occupiers to engage now as modifications can be accommodated at this stage in the programme of box building development, its stated.

The four-acre site can allow future expansion, of up to 30,000 sq ft, say the agents, and the building has a one dock leveller, four grade level doors and planning for two further docks, and additional capacity if required. Eaves height is 13 metres.

Rent sought is 7.50 per square foot, which Mr Guerin says is competitive for such a good quality building in a long-established hub like Little Island, catering for IDA/IT, logistics and pharma sectors.

Comparable rents in Dublin are in the region of 8.75, and recent deals in Cork have gone in the 6-7/7.50 level, albeit for smaller units, according to Mr Guerin.

Industrial rents have come back well in the last several years, almost two-fold in some cases, he observes.

Its the only speculative warehouse building in the Cork area for a number of years and the developers recognised the needs of existing and future occupiers in the market for new, modern, well-designed component functional and efficient facilities.

Details: Savills 021-4271371
Serial leaker Evan Blass tweeted that the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 is scheduled for release in the US in the week of August 15, 2016. Its unclear if it will be released elsewhere in the world that week or if everyone else will be waiting.

Rumours indicate that the Galaxy Note 6 will feature a 5.8-inch QHD screen, a massive 6GB RAM, up to 256GB internal storage, and a huge battery.
Having stood for the position twice in the past and defeated on both occasions, the Wexford TD is emerging as the strongest rival to the heir apparent Alan Kelly.

Kelly is not loved by his party colleagues as he is too conservative, too combative for many of them.

In an interview with me last November, he conceded: I am no bastion of the left.

Kelly, as the outgoing deputy leader of the party, has made no secret of his desire to be the leader.

But given the resistance to him within the much reduced ranks, the intentions of Howlin, the now former Public Expenditure Minister, have come into sharp focus.

Once it became clear that the failed Joan Burton would resign, Howlins name was immediately linked with the post, largely as an interim leader.

The thinking was, Howlin is the sort of consensus candidate the party wants, the sort of leader the party could rally behind at this low ebb.

Howlin it seems made it clear that he was only interested in the post if an election was avoided. When that was not forthcoming, he appeared to lose momentum to the nakedly ambitious Kelly.

But, it is clear that since last Friday, when Howlin, Kelly and Burton all were formally booted out of Government, the Wexford TD has come under pressure to stand.

Yesterday, on RTEs Morning Ireland, Howlin all but declared that he wants to be the next leader of the party. Howlin put himself in contention for the top post.

He said he would take this weekend to decide if running for leadership would be right for himself and the party. Im giving very serious reflection on that, he said. Ive said many times that I want to be leader of the Labour Party. I want to contemplate if its the right thing for me and the party over the next few days, he added.

I will decide over the weekend, and make my decision known to colleagues next week, he said.

Asked about his vision for the future of the Labour Party, Howlin said he was interested in a collective leadership with regular meetings with councillors and party activists across the country. I want to be in leadership, he said.

A number of the partys big beasts have already signalled their willingness to support his candidacy.

Willie Penrose has called for a consensus candidate to come forward, saying the party can ill-afford a lengthy leadership race, so soon after the last one in 2014.

Howlin also won the backing of former Communications Minister Alex White.

Agree one candidate. Howlin has experience & judgement we need. Others can lead in future - not time for divisive contest, White tweeted.

With Kelly due to appear on The Late Late Show this Friday, it was significant that himself and Howlin were seen chatting in the corridors of the Dail yesterday.

They joked to our own Fiachra OCionnaith to take a photograph of them talking, a sign that whatever happens a bloody feud is unlikely.

The Labour Partys executive board is to meet on Saturday to decide how that process will work.

There are two other likely candidates in the race  Cork Easts Sean Sherlock and Limerick TD Jan OSullivan  but all eyes are on Howlin.

Sean Sherlock

There has been some suggestion that Howlin and Kelly will come to some arrangement before Kellys sit down with Ryan Tubridy.

Having been beaten twice before, there is a lot of sense in plumping for Howlin on this occasion.

Yes, he has a massive ego and often portrays a sense that he saved the country from destruction all by himself.

He too was the minister who previously abolished water charges in 1997 so could be accused of hypocrisy now given his partys recent outcry and their pending suspension.

Yet, his role in the last Government was immense and he played a pivotal role in seeing the Troika leave the country on time in 2013.

He and Michael Noonan were the bedrock of the last Government which achieved a lot in terms of recovering the country from the mess left behind by Fianna Fail and the Greens.

So, in the coming days, Howlin, aged 60, has a choice to make. This could be his best opportunity to lead his party. Its now or never.
ACCORDING to the OHiggins report Maurice McCabe has done the State some service.

But what of the treatment of McCabe within the force as he attempted to have the serious issues of malpractice addressed?

OHiggins says that McCabe is a man of integrity, whom the public can trust in the exercise of his duties.

He had acted out of genuine and legitimate concerns has shown courage, and performed a genuine public service at considerable personal cost.

The retired judge does say that McCabe was prone to exaggeration in places, but put yourself in his shoes, running into brick walls and rejection for seven years while he attempted to have the issues addressed. Would you be prone to exaggeration at the end of all that?

What stands out in the report in relation to McCabe is the treatment that was meted out to him within the force while he was trying to have the issues addressed.

OHiggins highlights five separate incidences in which there were attempts to blame McCabe for poor policing or worse himself. Four of those relate to cases he had brought to the attention of his superior officers to be addressed.

The fifth, probably the most sinister, involved an attempt to blame him for the disappearance of a computer seized from a priest who was convicted of child sexual abuse.

In each case, OHiggins deems that McCabe was targeted in the wrong. Where there was a conflict of evidence between McCabe and other garda officers, OHiggins accepted McCabes version of events.

In relation to the most serious case  that of Jerry McGrath who went on to commit murder  OHiggins reports that McCabe had reason to believe that he was being set up and wrongly implicated.

The retired judge finds such fears unproven but one is ultimately expected to accept that its merely coincidences that McCabe was wrongly blamed in so many cases.

Jerry McGrath committed what was characterised as a vicious assault on taxi driver Mary Lynch, in Virginia, Co Cavan, in 2007. He was charged with a minor offence initially and released on station bail. He subsequently attempted to abduct a child in Tipperary, but was released on bail again. That court was not told that he was already on bail in Cavan. He went on weeks later to murder Sylvia Roche Kelly.

Sylvia Roche Kelly

In an earlier investigation, there was an attempt to blame Sgt McCabe for releasing McGrath. The judge rejected that.

The commission accepts Sergeant McCabe had no role in the investigation of the offences committed by Mr McGrath, nor in his detention or release.

In Janaury 2008, when McGrath was due before the court on the assault charge, Mary Lynch got a call telling her the matter wouldnt be dealt with on the day in question. This denied Ms Lynch her day in court when she may have aired her grievance on how the gardai had handled the matter.

One garda said he was instructed by McCabe to make the call. McCabe emphatically denied this, and OHiggins preferred his evidence to that of his colleague.

In a case of alleged sexual assault in Cootehill, a garda told the OHiggins commission that McCabe had told her release the suspect from custody.

OHiggins reported, It is unlikely that Sergeant McCabe would have authorised the suspects release, before providing a detailed explanation for his conclusion.

In a case of dangerous driving that had not been properly investigated, there was an attempt to say that Sergeant McCabe  who complained about the investigation  had actually conducted it himself.

Sergeant McCabe did not take over the investigation from the gardai in Virginia nor was he asked to do so, OHiggins concluded.

The worst example was the missing computer. McCabe had no role in the investigation, and did not take custody of the computer. Yet when the computer went missing, a disciplinary inquiry was initiated, which targeted him and him alone.

OHiggins concluded: It is difficult to understand why Sergeant McCabe was the only person subjected to disciplinary proceedings for the loss of the computer. The decision was based on a paper review in which there was a clear conflict of fact. It was the first time in a long career that he faced such proceedings. He was, quite rightly, exonerated.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks to the media last night. He says he has not read the OHiggins report yet. Picture: Moya Nolan

That exoneration, however, only came after 18 months of a deeply stressful time for him and his family.

OHiggins makes no connection or observes no pattern between the five instances above.

He does note that many organisations are instinctively hostile to whistleblowers. Any criticism from within is regarded as suspect, disloyal or even treacherous, he reports.

Whether that kind of attitude informed the attempts to blame Sgt McCabe for some of the malpractice that he had dragged into the light is not a subject the chair of the commission explored.

Members of the public will have to make up their own minds.
A series of trade agreements which the EU has negotiated in secret have the power, if passed, to start by destroying our food standards and our farming sector, and go on to destroy our hopes of containing global greenhouse gas emissions.

They will make of Europe and North America one vast single market constituting half of the worlds GDP with one set of standards set, more and more, by large corporations. They will force developing countries to play to lose by rules which they cannot influence.

Shes bonkers, youre saying. Me and Darina Allen, then. Did you know that formal negotiations between the EU and US on their Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) concluded last month and that the agreement will be discussed tomorrow by EU Foreign Affairs Ministers? That Angela Merkel wants the deal done by the end of this year? That the EUs trade deal with Canada, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which could be approved by the European Council as early as tomorrow, applies not only to Canadian companies, but also to companies with offices in Canada, such as nearly every major US corporation? That once the Council gives the go-ahead CETA can be implemented on a provisional basis and it will be almost impossible to disentangle it from our economy if it is ultimately rejected by the people of Europe themselves?

This is particularly galling considering 97 percent of Europeans in a public consultation rejected the controversial Investor to State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism which exists in CETA and TTIP and a range of other trade agreements. This is the mechanism which gives corporations the right to sue national governments if their business interests are negatively affected by government decisions.

ISDS mechanisms are working well for corporations worldwide. Lone Pine Resources has sued Canada for its moratorium on fracking. The Swedish energy company Vattenfall has sued Germany for phasing out nuclear power. The Philip Morris tobacco company sued Australia for the loss of its intellectual property when the government decided on plain packaging for cigarettes. Chevron sued the government of Ecuador because it awarded over US$9 billion in damages to indigenous people allegedly affected by the dumping of toxic sludge in the Amazon rivers. As the UK journalist George Monbiot says, ISDS mechanisms are being used all over the world to kill regulations protecting people and the living planet. Did I forget to mention that the governments in question cant sue back?

No wonder Darina Allen has gone as far as to talk about a threat to democracy.

But the more direct threat is to the standards which we in Europe have evolved through our national and EU parliament. Forget about them if CETA, TTIP, Mercosur (the EUs trade deal with Brazil and Argentina) come into force. These countries have lower standards for food production than we do but theyll be able to flood our market with their foods and we wont be able to compete. They wont even have to explain on their labels how their foods were produced - if the chickens were was washed out with chlorine, the grains produced from genetically modified seed, the cows injected with hormones or antibiotics to affect their meat and milk production.

Darina Allen talks in terms of a risk to public health but the more immediate threat is to the livelihoods of Irish farmers, who cant compete with the economies of massive scale in the farmlands of the US or Argentina. They shouldnt have to, she argues, because we are producing food to a higher standard and she points out that Ireland has worked hard to promote this difference through initiatives like Origin Green. What is the EU for, asked the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association as they protested last week about Mercosur, if it isnt for supporting a viable agriculture sector in Europe? And the higher standards here are obvious to consumers. I was shocked by the standard of the food I bought in supermarkets in the US when I was a student. A friend in the US who works in catering buys her food like a detective, sourcing from local producers and going through the labels line by line.

Being an informed consumer is all the more important in the US because you are not protected there, as you are in the EU, by the precautionary principle which means an additive or chemical or process can be banned if there is a risk to our health or the health of the environment. Examples are the so-called endocrine disruptor chemicals in food, metals, cosmetics and other products which may cause serious health issues and the insecticides which may be hastening the collapse of our bee populations.

The EU

The EUs precautionary principle is relatively strong compared with that of the US but if we agree to TTIP our market will be open to goods produced without these safeguards against which EU products may struggle to compete. Already EU negotiators are inundated with industry lobbyists who want standards lowered in anticipation of TTIP. UK Green MEP Molly Scott Cato, who managed to read some of the negotiating documents, reported that 92 percent of representations came from industry lobbyists. Before she got into one of the reading rooms on the trade agreements to which MEPs are meant to have access she had to sign a 14-page document and leave all her personal belongings locked up because of how small cameras can be these days.

You really do have to wonder at the content of negotiations which are cloaked in such extreme secrecy. Massachusetts Senator, Elizabeth Warren, has said, I have supporters of the deal say to me, The negotiations have to be secret because if the American people actually knew what was in them, they would be opposed. An EU Citizens Initiative which collected three million signatures against TTIP as it now stands should have allowed them to present legislation to the European Commission was dismissed on a technicality. EU parliamentarians have been told to sell the deal back home and MEP Brian Hayes has been doing the business for us, describing opposition to the largest bi-lateral trade deal in history as loose comment. A spokesperson for the Department of Trade gave me a dose of spin about the growth that the deal would mean  a 1.1 increase in Irish GDP  without addressing the question of growth hormones, among many others.

When will this new Government speak out for basic European values from decent food to the right of our governments to make our laws?
Thats as many as the combined populations of New York City, London, Paris, and Cairo  or an average of 66,000 people displaced every day in 2015.

A report by the Norwegian Refugee Council said 8.6m of last years internally displaced were uprooted by conflict, more than half of them in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Sapin said that he was sorry about what he did but insisted that that should not be confused with the seriousness of harassment or sexual assault.

During a trip to Davos in January 2015, amid about 20 people, I made a comment to a journalist about her clothing and put my hand on her back, Sapin said, in a statement that partly denied what French journalists wrote about what happened at the World Economic Forum  that Sapin twanged the elastic of her knickers.
Italy had been the last major Western country not to legally recognise gay couples, and an original draft law had to be heavily diluted due to divisions in Renzis ruling majority.

The premier promised to prioritise legislation for gay rights when he took office in early 2014, but the bill proved to be one of the most contested of any he has pushed.

It was the second confidence vote on the bill, which was originally presented in 2013. Such votes, called to curtail debate, force the government to resign if they lose. But Renzis healthy majority in the lower house made this unlikely.

The Chamber of Deputies voted in favour by 369 votes to 193. The measure was due to be passed into law last night.

The bills long slog through parliament was accompanied by fierce debate and mass protests by Catholic groups, saying it went too far, and gay activists saying it did not go far enough.

The original bill had included the right for couples to adopt each others children and referred to a duty of fidelity, stirring concerns that it was too close to traditional marriage.

The final version gives gay couples the right to share a surname, draw on their partners pension when they die, and inherit each others assets in the same way as married people.

Unmarried heterosexual couples get the right to be treated as each others next of kin if one partner is taken ill, dies, or is imprisoned. They also get some rights to a shared home.

We are putting this to a confidence vote because it wasnt possible to wait any longer after years of failed attempts, Renzi said .

The so-called stepchild adoption clause was arguably the most disputed aspect of the bill. It stoked outrage among social conservatives and Catholics who saw it as a step towards legalising surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy.

The new legislation specifically allows courts to keep granting homosexuals parental rights regarding each others children in certain circumstances, a practice which has led to a handful of recent rulings in favour of homosexual parents.
The Kiss frontman compared the music legends death to David Bowies in January, revealing that learning of the 69-year-olds passing was worse because he was taken by cancer  not by drugs and alcohol.

Asked if he thought Princes death was tragic, he told Newsweek Europe: His drugs killed him.

What do you think, he died from a cold? I think Prince was heads, hands, and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that.

But how pathetic that he killed himself. Dont kid yourself, thats what he did. Slowly, Ill grant you but thats what drugs and alcohol is: A slow death.

Simmons took to Twitter to apologise: I just got such shit from my family for my big mouth again.

I apologise  I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts. I get angry at drug users because of my experience being around them coming up in the rock scene.

Simmons added, Needless to say, I didnt express myself properly here  I dont shy away from controversy, and angry critics really dont bother me at all. If I think Im right, Ill throw up a finger and dig my heels in and laugh. But this time, I was not. So, my apologies.
Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will visit Republican lawmakers today in a pivotal meeting where he will face pressure to tone down his rhetoric and clarify his policy positions as a step toward unifying the fractured party.

Trumps takeover of the Republican Party has shaken the partys establishment and prompted soul-searching over whether to reluctantly get behind him or cede any role in the November 8 presidential election, when Hillary Clinton is expected to be the Democratic nominee.

Republican officials and lawmakers say Trump has the potential to appeal to a greater number of Republican voters but must make changes to make party leaders more comfortable with him.

I think he has to show what kind of president that he would be, said Senator Susan Collins of Maine.

Donald Trump is "ignorant about Islam," London's Muslim mayor says https://t.co/advmLnEmXZ pic.twitter.com/YaKi1GsK1b  The New York Times (@nytimes) May 11, 2016

But I believe he can do that, so I am not one who has foreclosed the possibility of eventually supporting him. But I need to see more from him.

Many Republicans have been appalled at Trumps incendiary style, such as his suggestion last week that former rival Ted Cruzs father was in contact with Lee Harvey Oswald before Oswald assassinated President John F Kennedy in 1963.

Some Republicans have also been disgusted by some of Trumps policy proposals, including his declaration that NATO is obsolete and his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country.

The most high-profile holdout for Trump is House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who is to meet the billionaire real estate developer and Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus.

Donald Trump's tax plan:

1. Cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans

2. Saddle the rest of the country with the debthttps://t.co/xL95NA3Ofn  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 11, 2016

Ryan said last week he was not yet ready to support Trump, prompting Trump to fire back that he was not ready to support Ryans agenda.

But yesterday, Trump had warm words for Ryan and said he thought they were doing fine.

Well see what happens at the meeting, Trump told Fox News. If we make a deal, thatll be great. If we dont, well trudge forward like Ive been doing.

Trumps victory in the Republican nomination fight has created rifts in the party not seen for decades, leading Priebus and other Republicans to try to mend the fissures in order to avoid a potentially disastrous Election Day when control of Congress will also be at stake.

His hot rhetoric is one of his strengths. He just has to be wiser on when to use the hot rhetoric and pick smarter fights, said Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary to President George W Bush.

One of Trumps biggest backers in Washington, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, is trying to win over sceptics on Capitol Hill by arguing that Trump would advance a mainstream Republican agenda.
Guinness said Scooter celebrated his 30th birthday on March 26. He lives in Mansfield, Texas. Owner Gail Floyd attributes Scooters longevity to staying active. She said he keeps busy by travelling and has visited 45 of the 50 states. Some of his favourite activities include getting blow-dried after baths and snacking on chicken every other day.

Scooter is not Guinnesss oldest cat of all time, though. That honour belongs to a fellow Texas cat, who lived to be 38.

Iron tub

ENGLAND:

The grandson of a British sailor who survived the Battle of Jutland has kept a unique memento of the 100-year-old conflict  a rum tub made from deck splinters of HMS Iron Duke.

Reg Wilkinson, 80, inherited the barrel his grandfather, George Wilkinson, had made following the 36-hour First World War battle from May 31 to June 1 in 1916.

George Wilkinson, a stoker and ships diver during the battle, visited an opposite number on the damaged HMS Iron Duke when the fighting ceased and took some of the teak splinters back to his ship, where he asked the carpenter to create a rum tub with them.

Gut reactions

ENGLAND:

An artificial gut that mimics bacterial interaction with intestinal cells is shedding light on how events in the digestive tract affect the brain.

The HuMiX model  about the size of a beer mat  houses growing cultures of gut cells and bacteria which are exposed to nutrients flowing from a supply chamber.

Different bugs can be tested to see how the human microbiome  the community of all the micro-organisms living in the human body  impact on health via the gut.

Monkey about

USA:

A new web-based programme has been created to help zookeepers encourage chimpanzees to behave more like they would in the wild.

The design tool developed by University of Birmingham scientists helps create new features for enclosures that are more like the animals forest homes to keep endangered chimpanzees physically and mentally active and interacting socially.

Lead investigator on the study, Dr Susannah Thorpe, said the programme aimed to improve the welfare of the chimps in zoos and give visitors a better idea of how they behave in the wild.

Musical moose

USA:

The Alaska wildlife is grooving to the smooth music of wind chimes. Britta Schroeder shot a video of a moose playing one-part harmony with the wind chimes on the porch of her rural cabin near Denali National Park and Preserve, and it is quickly making its way across the internet.

Ms Schroeder looked out of the window of her home near Healy, Alaska, and there was a moose, rubbing its head against the wind chimes and gumming the glass disc pendulum that hangs down from the middle of the instrument.

Ms Schroeder said a cow and two moose calves had spent some time near her cabin since last summer but she had not seen the family since March.

Shackles for chivalry

USA:

Politely holding a door open for a police officer has landed a Massachusetts man in jail.

Authorities said Kayvon Mavaddat was at the Natick Mall when he held the door for the leaving officer. The officer thought Mavaddat looked familiar, and went to check his vehicles computer. The officer found there were three warrants out for his arrest  for heroin possession, shoplifting, and driving with a suspended licence.
Asia High-Tech Devices Take Cheating to New Level in Thai Schools

Glasses with embedded cameras and smartwatches with stored information seem like spy equipment, but for three Thai students, they were cheating devices.

BANGKOK  Glasses with embedded cameras and smartwatches with stored information seem like regular spy equipment for the likes of James Bond, but for three students applying to medical school in Thailand, they were high-technology cheating devices.

Bangkoks Rangsit University canceled its examinations on Saturday and Sunday for admission to its medical and dental faculties following the discovery of the unusual modus operandi by three female students.

While cheating has long been a problem in Thai schools and colleges, the use of high-tech gearthe cameras were used to take pictures of the test sheet and the smartwatches to receive answers from someone outsidehas taken the practice to a whole new plane.

Weve never found cheating of this levelinvolving high-technology, university official Kittisak Tripipatpornchai told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Weve had some cases of students copying from one another, which is quite normal. But now were going to be paying much closer attention, said Kittisak, the director of academic standards office at the private university.

Cheating is a marked aberration in the list of good behavior expected of Thais. From a young age, Thais are taught to be polite, tolerant, respectful and to avoid confrontation. But educators say cheating has flourished because of an education system that makes exam scores the only criterion for assessing a students ability and granting admission into places of higher learning.

The three students caught red-handed have been blacklisted by the university and will not be allowed to take the replacement exams on May 31 and June 1.

It was an elaborate scheme.

Three agents posing as students photographed the question sheets with tiny cameras embedded in their eye-glasses. They left the room after the mandatory 45-minute lock-in period and transferred the pictures to a laptop manned by another person. That person transmitted the images to one or more private tutorial institutes where the three students were enrolled. Exam answers were then electronically transmitted to the smartwatches worn by the women, still in the examination room.

Test supervisors were alerted after the first watch was seized during the Saturday morning session, the second was found on the same day in the afternoon session. The third watch and two glasses were seized Sunday.

Kittisak said the three students purchased 100 percent-guaranteed admittance packages from the private tutorial institutes for 800,000 baht (US$23,000).

Cheating is so rampant that schools have tried to find creative ways to combat it. Chulalongkorn University installed overhead cameras in some of its examination rooms, while in 2013 Kasetsart University created anti-cheating hats made from stapling two A4 paper sheets to a headband to resemble blinders worn by horses.

Rangsits president, Arthit Ourairat, posted pictures of the electronic devices on his Facebook page, getting nationwide attention from the media and the public.

If you cant take responsibility for your own life, you dont deserve to become a doctor, which is a career that has to take responsibility for others lives, wrote Namstok Punika, a Facebook user in response to Ourairats pictures.

One students parents met with university officials.

The father said he didnt know anything about the cheating, said Kittisak. But then how would a high school student be able to pay 800,000 baht on their own?
Burma Former Diplomat, Junta Apologist to Lead Powerful New Ministry

Kyaw Tint Swe, a career diplomat and apologist for Burmas former junta, is picked by the NLD to head a new ministry under State Counselor Suu Kyi.

RANGOON  A career diplomat, and past defender of Burmas dire human rights record under military rule, has been chosen to head the powerful new Ministry of the State Counselors Office under Aung San Suu Kyi.

Win Htein, a senior member of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), confirmed to The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the name of Kyaw Tint Swe, a former ambassador and permanent representative of Burma to the United Nations during the military regime, would be submitted to the Union Parliament on Friday.

The creation of the new ministry was approved on Tuesday in the Union Parliament. President Htin Kyaw has defined the ministry in broad termsimplementing the missions of national reconciliation, domestic peace, national development and the rule of lawsuggesting a powerful if unclear role within Burmas new balance of executive power.

The ministry relates to the position of state counselor, created for National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi the previous month, to the chagrin of the military. The position guarantees Suu Kyi access to Parliament and all branches of government, and a mandate to shape policy at the highest level. Suu Kyi was barred from the presidency by a clause in the military-drafted 2008 Constitution disqualifying those with foreign spouses or children.

The 71-year-old Kyaw Tint Swe joined Burmas Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1968 and worked in Burmas embassies in Israel, Malaysia, Germany, Thailand and Japan, according to a UN website. From 2001 to 2010 he served as Burmas permanent representative to the United Nations.

Representing Burma in several international conferences, Kyaw Tint Swe countered allegations of the Burma Armys violation of human rights and abuses against civilians in conflict zones. He claimed that Burma was a victim of a systematic disinformation campaign, according to a 2012 report by Burma Partnership, a Thailand-based pro-democracy group.

I reiterate that these allegations were maliciously fabricated by two well-funded NGOs, Burma Partnership quoted from Kyaw Tint Swes statement to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in 2003.

Until 2013, Kyaw Tint Swe also served as vice chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), a body founded in 2011 under former President Thein Sein. The MNHRC has been harshly criticized by human rights advocates as lacking independence, transparency and effectiveness in safeguarding the fundamental rights of Burmese citizens.

Kyaw Tint Swe also worked alongside Suu Kyi on the Letpadaung Investigation Commission, which in 2013 produced a controversial report on the Chinese-backed Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Divisionrecommending that mining should proceed if certain environmental and social safeguards are metprompting fury from local farmers who had lost their land to mine.

The NLDs pick for Suu Kyis State Counselor Offices ministry has put to bed widespread speculation that her close ally and longtime personal physician, Dr. Tin Myo Win, would take the position. Tin Myo Win has also been tipped to assume a leading role in negotiating peace with Burmas ethnic armed groups.
Burma Push for Citizenship Verification Brings Contentious Law Into Focus

An Arakan National Party lawmaker proposes a nationwide citizenship verification drive in strict adherence to the contentious 1982 Citizenship Law, which excludes the Rohingya.

RANGOON  A proposal submitted to the Lower House of Burmas Parliament late last week by a lawmaker of the Arakan National Party (ANP) urged the government to resolve citizenship issues in Burma in accordance with the 1982 Citizenship Law. The proposal suggested that a nationwide citizenship verification drive be undertakenalthough it remained vague on the focus and scope of the proposed exercise.

The contentious 1982 legislation defines eligibility in racial terms and renders stateless most Rohingya, a Muslim minority residing in western Arakan State.

The ANP lawmaker Khin Saw Wai stated that illegal migration from another country and an influx of Bengalis had led to violence and instability in Burma.

Bengali is the term used by the Burmese government and much of the general population of Burma for the Rohingya, implying they are interlopers from Bangladeshthe country alluded to by Khin Saw Wai.

Illegal immigration has affected rule of law and the security and sovereignty of Burma, Khin Saw Wai of the ANP went on. Resolving citizenship problems is a national concern, and the lack of action taken to address this fragile situation is sad, she told the Lower House of Parliament.

Khin Saw Wai cited the long borders Burma shares with China, India and Bangladesh, and the communities dispersed on either side of these fluid boundaries, as a source of vulnerability for Burma. She blamed misconduct, abuse of power and corruption from government agencies for the alleged numbers of illegal migrants holding citizenship.

Khin Saw Wai cited former holders of white cards, which bestowed temporary citizenshipestimated at 700,00 by the United Nations, the overwhelming majority being Rohingya in Arakan Stateas being in need of proper verification by the government, as well as the large numbers across Burma without any documentation, many of which could be illegal, she said.

The 1982 Citizenship Law is a strong law, Khin Saw Wai said, which lays out clear rules for gaining citizenship. She cited the chapter which states that naturalized citizenship, a subordinate category to full citizens with fewer rights, can be obtained by members of non-recognized ethnic groups if they have lived in Burma prior to 1948 or one of their parents holds a category of citizenship.

Another ANP lawmaker, Aung Thaung Shwe, supported the proposal for the government to systematically examine the citizenship status of residents across Burma, to strengthen sovereignty, security and the rule of law. He said that the problem of illegal migration started during the British occupation of Burma: The British allowed foreigners to enter freely into Burma.

The British annexed the Arakan coast, along with the southeastern coastal strip of Tenasserim, after the first Anglo-Burmese War concluded in 1826, making it one of the first British-ruled territories in Burma. Under British rule, a growing economy and demand for labor brought substantial immigration, particularly from Indiaof which Burma was designated an administrative province up until 1937. Bangladesh later gained independence from Pakistan, also part of the British Raj, in 1971.

The 1982 Citizenship Law suffers from weak enforcement, due to a general absence of the rule of law, said Aung Thaung Shwe of the ANP. That is why illegal migration takes place, especially in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, which border Bangladesh. These now suffer from overpopulation, Aung Thaung Shwe said.

Members of the Lower House voted to discuss the ANP proposal, potentially as soon as this week. Those wishing to discuss the matter were to register for a speaking slot by Wednesday of this week.

These comments in Parliament come against the backdrop of an existing, but stalled, citizenship verification program aimed at the displaced Muslim population in Arakan State. The program remains a pillar of the Rakhine State Action Plan, first unveiled by the Burmese government in 2014 in response to the sectarian violence of 2012. The scheme would allow Rohingya individuals to apply for citizenshipunder the 1982 lawon the condition that they self-identify as Bengali.

A pilot citizenship verification program was then carried out in IDP camps in Myebon Township. Out of the 1,094 Muslims applicants, 209 were declared eligible for citizenship in September 2014although most were reportedly Kaman, a recognized Muslim minority group, and 169 qualified only for naturalized citizenship.

After an outcry from Arakanese Buddhist residents in Myebon and the state capital Sittwe, the program was swiftly suspended. It remains stalled, and a reluctance of many Rohingya to identify as Bengali, which they consider undermines their claim to belonging in Burma, has contributed to the stalemate.

The magazine Frontier Myanmar on Wednesday reported that the verification program had resumed on May 1, citing the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population. Contacted by The Irrawaddy, however, Sittwe-based Rohingya rights activist Aung Win said he had heard no word of a resumption.

Under previous laws, such as the 1948 Union Citizenship Act and the 1949 Residents of Myanmar Registration Act, most Rohingya enjoyed de facto citizenship rights by virtue of being born within Burma, and from 1958 held what were known as National Registration (or tri-fold) Cards that entitled them to equal rights with other Burmese citizens, including running for elected office. Many still posses them.

The 1982 Citizenship Law, enacted under the military-socialist regime of Ne Win, narrowed eligibility for full citizenship along racial lines. Those not included within 135 recognized ethnic groups must demonstrate that all four grandparents made Burma their home, and that both themselves and their parents were born in Burma. However, since the vast majority of people in Burma went without documents prior to rules requiring registration introduced in 1951, this is very difficult for most to prove.

Second- and third-class categories of naturalized and associate citizenship were established by the 1982 law, with diminishing rights, including ineligibility for political office or enrollment in medical and engineering colleges. Many of Indian and Chinese descent were placed into these categories.

The law rendered the majority of the Rohingya in Arakan State stateless, since they are conspicuously absent from the 135 listed ethnic groups and found it difficult to prove residency over multiple generations. For tens of thousands displaced be the 2012 violence, the problem is compounded by the fact that they fled their homes, many of which were burned to the ground, leaving documents attesting to family histories behind.

In a nationwide citizenship verification process begun in 1989 and extending into the 1990s, many Rohingya received Temporary Registration Certificates (popularly known as white cards), designating them as temporary citizens. This secured their residency but denied them the rights of even associate or naturalized citizenshipincluding leaving ones home township without official permissionand left their status vulnerable to arbitrary administrative action.

In February 2015, former President Thein Sein declared white cards invalid. They were replaced with so-called turquoise cards on an uncertain legal basis. The new cards appear to offer the same limited rights as white cards, providing for residency but little else. Temporary citizens also had their voting rights removed last year in an amendment to the electoral laws prior to the November general election

The 1982 Citizenship Law has been strongly criticized as discriminatory by members of the international community. The UN General Assembly in December 2014 adopted a resolution calling on the Burmese government to amend the law so that it no longer discriminates against the Rohingya. In an open letter sent to President Thein Sein in January 2015, US-based advocacy organization Human Rights Watch urged the Burmese government to accept the UNs call.

Burmas discriminatory citizenship law not only deprives Rohingya of citizenship, but for decades has encouraged systematic rights violations, said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch. Amending the law to bring it in line with international standards is the first step for resolving this long-standing human rights abomination.

Criticism of the 1982 law within Burma has been more muted. However, Ko Ni, an outspoken legal advisor to the NLD who strongly criticized the previous governments policies toward minorities, told The Irrawaddy that the 1982 Citizenship Law does not align either with existing Burmese law or with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It was a discriminatory move made under the military dictatorship of Ne Win and the law needs to be amended, Ko Ni said, adding that ethnicity and religion should not feature on citizenship documentation, since this also can lead to discrimination. If someone is born in Burma and lives there all their lives, we have to regard them as a citizen of Burma, Ko Ni said. It is harmful if people are divided into classes.

Correction: A previous version of this story erroneously stated that Bangladesh gained its independence from India. In fact it was Pakistan from which Bangladesh seceded.
Burma Return of Seized Land a Top NLD Priority: Deputy Agriculture Minister

The NLD government intends to return all land confiscated from farmers, says the Deputy Agriculture Minister Tun Win, who called for patience over this complicated issue.

NAYPYIDAW  Land tenure rights and food security for all farmers in Burma has been described by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Tun Win as one of the top priorities of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Our government wishes to give back land to the rightful owners, said Tun Win, referring to the smallholder farmers who still make up the bulk of Burmas population. He was speaking to reporters from his office on Tuesday.

A legacy of land seizures by the former military government, in collaboration with crony companies, has in recent years been compounded by large-scale investments from neighboring countries, notably in extractive industries and energy production. Some of the more high-profile examples, such as the vast Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Division, operated jointly by Chinese company Wanbao and a Burmese military conglomerate, have been met by the sustained mobilization of dispossessed farmers claiming higher compensation or the return of their land. This has led, at times, to violent confrontations with the police.

In his statement, the deputy minister implored people to be patient over this complicated issue, while the government formulates clear laws and procedures for the return of confiscated land.

Government authorities at various levels, including township development committees, and the military have grabbed land on false public pretexts and sold it off in plots, said the deputy minister.

Roadside land with signboards reading No Trespassing can be seen in many places. In fact, those lands have been sold, added the deputy minister, who described such acts as black marks on the nations image, tantamount to misappropriating the countrys soil. It is the duty of the new government to give back these lands to the rightful owners.

In 2012, Burmas Union Parliament set up the Farmland Investigation Commission to probe cases of land confiscation. The following year, the Land Utilization Management Central Committee was established. Headed by former Vice President Nyan Tun, it was charged with implementing the findings of the commission and facilitating the return of seized land.

Earlier this week, more than 8,000 villagers from Kachin State in northern Burma sent an open letter to the new government calling on it to resolve a massive land confiscation dispute with Yuzana Company Limited, a Burmese conglomerate blacklisted by the United States.

More than 270,000 acres of farmland in the remote Hukawng region of Hpakant Township was seized by Yuzana in 2007 for agricultural ventures, including cassava and sugarcane plantations, according to the villagers.

Ta Gon, one of the villagers party to the letter, said, I believe the government for which we have voted will help us with this. We have suffered for 10 years and could not even afford to provide schooling for our children.

According to findings of the Farmers Affairs Committee in the Upper House of Parliament, as many as 2 million acres of land across Burma could be considered confiscated.

Also earlier this week, President Htin Kyaw formed a Central Review Committee on Confiscated Farmlands and Other Lands, chaired by Henry Van Thio, one of Burmas two vice presidents. The committee is couched within the executive branch and distinct from existing parliamentary committees with similar portfolios. It is tasked with monitoring state and divisional governments handling of land disputes, and enabling the return of land to dispossessed farmers from government ministries, state-owned enterprises and private companies.

At the time this new executive committee was announced, the Presidents Office urged that further land acquisition be postponed until disputes are settled in accordance with the law.
Burma Rohingya a Term People Cant Accept, Shwe Mann Tells US Ambassador

Shwe Mann tells the new US ambassador to be careful about using the term Rohingya, a stance effectively in line with that of Aung San Suu Kyi.

RANGOON  Shwe Mann, chairman of an influential legal review committee and former member of the military ruling elite, warned new US Ambassador to Burma Scot Marciel to be careful about using a term that the Myanmar people cant accept, during a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday.

The term in question is Rohingya, referring to a largely stateless Muslim minority residing in western Arakan State. The Burmese government and much of the population do not recognize the right of the persecuted minority to self-identify as Rohingya, instead labeling them Bengalis, implying that they are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

Shwe Manns words represent a marginally strongerbut consistentstance to that of Aung San Suu Kyi, state counselor and minister of foreign affairs, who last week asked the US Embassy not to use the term after nationalist protesters demanded that her National League for Democracy (NLD) government condemn the use of Rohingya by members of the international community in Burma.

During the Naypyidaw meeting, Shwe Mann talked about a recent protest in front of the US Embassy in Rangoon. He said it was caused by the use of a term that is not accepted by Myanmar citizens.

On April 28, hundreds of Burmese nationalists, and a contingent of monks from the ultra-hardline Buddhist association Ma Ba Tha, staged a protest outside the US Embassy to condemn the Americans mission use of Rohingya in an April 20 statement offering condolences and expressing concern after at least 21 internally displaced Muslims died when their boat capsized near Sittwe, the Arakan State capital. The protesters contended that there are no Rohingya in Burma.

Shwe Mann told the ambassador to be mindful of using a term capable of sparking such conflagrations.

Shwe Mann is considered a close ally of Suu Kyi, and has fallen substantially out of favor with both the military and the retired military elite of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), including former President Thein Sein.

In August last year, Shwe Man was ousted as the USDP acting chairman in an internal party coup. Then on April 22, Shwe Mann received a letter of expulsion from the party after he was appointed by the NLD to the chairmanship of the Legal Affairs and Special Issues Commission, an influential body tasked with reviewing laws and assisting parliamentary committees. He is still fighting his expulsion.

Marciel began his tenure as ambassador in Burma last month, succeeding Derek Mitchell, who was appointed in 2012 as the first US ambassador in the country since 1990.

If you proceed carefully around such issues, the relationship and a level of collaboration between Myanmar and America will be much improved, Shwe Mann said, according to a post on Shwe Manns Facebook page about the meeting.

According to the Facebook post, Marciel said he had used the term because there was no alternativenot because he wished to stand against or disrespect the Burmese peoples wishes.

In the future, I will be careful about using terms that displease the Myanmar people, the ambassador was quoted as saying in Shwe Manns Facebook post.

A day before this Naypyidaw meeting, Marciel was asked about the embassys position in the aftermath of the Foreign Affairs Ministrys request, during his first meeting with the media and civil society groups in Rangoon.

They get to choose what they want to be called, he said at the event, referring to the Rohingya. Thats a fundamental international practice and we respect that. Thats been our approach and it will continue to be our approach.
Burma Talks Fail, Sagaing Labor Protestors Resume March to Naypyidaw

Labor rights protestors from a Sagaing-based plywood factory continue their march to Naypyidaw following five days of unsuccessful negotiations.

MANDALAY  Protestors from a plywood factory in the Sagaing Industrial Zone resumed their march to Naypyidaw on Thursday, following five days of negotiations in the capital and Wundwin Township, where they rested, with no results.

The workers said negotiations between the protestors, the factory and the Ministry of Labor did not fulfill their demands, and so they have continued their march in an attempt to meet with President Htin Kyaw.

During last weeks meeting at the Ministry of Labor, authorities agreed to re-employ and compensate 60 protestors who were previously fired, take action against any company found flouting labor rights laws, and not sue the workers who continue to protest.

However, the workers did not get a copy of the agreement and found themselves lacking proof of these pledges.

[The authorities and the company] did not give us any assurances or tell us when they would finalize the agreement, said Khaing Min, a worker who represented the group during talks in Naypyidaw.

By the end of the meeting, the authorities had not given us a clear solution or timeline for what we had agreed to. We felt insecure and had no guarantee for our rights or job security, he added.

On Monday morning, protestors who had been resting in Wundwin Township, in Mandalay Division, resumed their march.

We have no other choice. We need to meet with President Htin Kyaw. He is the only person who will handle the dispute fairly, said Hnin Aung, a protestor.

Dozens of workers from Myanmar Veneer Plywood Private Ltd. began their march from Sagaing Division to Naypyidaw two weeks ago to demand workers rights. They have asked the factory to reduce their daily work hours from 12 to eight and to re-employ workers who had been fired following an initial protest.
Burma Urban Planners Urge Change of Direction on Rangoon New City

Rangoons city planners push for expansion of the commercial capitals northeast sector, while tender-winners bide their time for southwest development.

RANGOON  Urban planners in Rangoon are arguing for the commercial capitals expansion to be focused on meeting the needs of the people, rather than enriching real estate developers, according to interviews with The Irrawaddy.

According to Toe Aung, director of urban planning at the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), the municipal body is encouraging development of Rangoons northeast sector.

The northeastern area covers more than 17,000 acres, has a low population and would not require a new bridge to transport construction materials and equipment, said Toe Aung. This would make its development less complicated than in the southwest area, which is separated from the rest of the city by the Hlaing River.

There also would be fewer complications due to land confiscations [in the northeast] because the majority of the land there is owned by the government, Toe Aung told The Irrawaddy.

Outside of the citys core, Greater Rangoon was split into seven zonesNortheast, Southwest, Thanlyin Township, Dala Township, Htantabin Township, Hmawbi Township and Hlegu Townshipin a plan for the city put forward by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. In 2013, the Japanese organization released a city plan and predicted Rangoons population would balloon to 10 million by 2040, and recommended to the Rangoon Division legislature that the northeast zone be developed first.

A Rangoon-based urban planning expert, Than Moe, told The Irrawaddy that the government should prioritize areas that are close to job and education opportunities, and their top concern should be the welfare of residents, not the profits of real estate developers.

The government should not let developers plan projects for the city expansion, he said. The government has to take the lead when it comes to urban planning and policy-making. Then it could open bids to developers, who would help them realize [the governments] goals.

Developing the southwest sector, a top priority for the previous government, was not a suitable choice for the initial city expansion, said Than Moe.

We have to think about water and electricity supply issues before deciding to develop a new part of the city, he said.

For the past two years, development of the southwest has been shrouded in controversy extending beyond the concerns over infrastructure.

In 2014, Myanmar Say Ta Nar Myothit won the exclusive contract to develop the area. The company was run by two Chinese businessmen, known as Xiao Feng and Xiao Sen, who had close ties to then-Rangoon Chief Minister Myint Swe. The shadowy tender generated public outcry due to its lack of transparency, and the city decided to suspend the project in June 2014.

In January this year, a new tender was offered, and three companies won with a US$8 billion bid: Yangon South West Development Company, Shwe Popa Internationational Construction Company, a subsidiary of conglomerate Shwe Thanlyin, and Business Capital City Development, a company run by prominent developer Maung Weik. Yangon South West Development Company is run by the two Chinese businessmen who had won the first tender.

No progress has been made on the development since the project was awarded in January.

YCDCs Toe Aung said the project should be put on hold until bridges and other infrastructure can be built.

Without proper transportation infrastructure, it would be more costly for developers and everything would become more expensive than it should be for the future residents of the area, he said.

The request for tenders was premature, he said. At the time, [YCDC] had only completed a conceptual plan and hadnt done any detailed surveys of the area. Rushing a project like this would only be of benefit to developers, not the people.

Kyaw Latt, an urban planning expert and an advisor to YCDC, wrote in the April 21 issue of the state-run daily, The Mirror, that the government should enact a proper urban planning law that would govern the behavior of developers and regulate the compensation of property used for building.

Developers investing in projects for their own benefit at the exclusion of important buildings like public schools, hospitals and markets are a big obstacle to healthy urban development, he wrote.

In an interview with The Irrawaddy last month, Rangoons new chief minister, Phyo Min Thein, pledged to review all controversial city projects and prioritize the public good over corporate interests.
Business Controversial Private Rangoon Hospital Project Scuttled

Burmas Parliament responds to public outcry as Singapore-backed private hospital to be built on government land in Rangoon is halted.

RANGOON  Burmas Parliament put the brakes on a controversial multi-million dollar international private hospital project on Thursday. The hospital had been approved by the previous government to be built on government-owned land in Rangoon, but it provoked a public backlash due to the projects lack of transparency and the perception that public land was being misappropriated.

On Thursday, five out of seven lawmakers who registered to discuss the bill, and the Union minister of health, argued to scrap Parkway Yangon, a US$70 million international private hospital project being built on land owned by the Ministry of Health near Rangoon General Hospital.

Union Minister of Health Myint Htwe joined the five lawmakers to voice his opposition to the hospital project, saying, After considering the pros and cons of the project from a professional standpoint, I support the proposal to halt [the lease of the land to a private hospital].

The proposal was put forward by a lawmaker last week who objected to the private sector use of government-owned property as the land should be used for the public [Rangoon General] Hospital since Rangoon residents overwhelmingly rely on public hospitals for medical care.

Situated on a 4.3-acre plot of land at the corner of Pyay and Bogyoke Aung San roads, IHH Healthcare Berhad, through its subsidiary Parkway Healthcare Indo-China, broke ground on the 250-bed hospital in Rangoon in January. However, the project was quickly attacked by critics who said it was siphoning off government resources for private use.

Two military lawmakers offered a contrarian viewpoint. The project would support the private sector, they said. And having an international hospital in the country would save money.

But the vast majority of lawmakers were unmoved, and the motion was passed by acclamation, halting the land lease.

As there is no objection, the Parliament has approved the measure halting [the land lease], said Win Myint, the Lower House speaker.

In his address to Parliament, Myint Htwe said the investors first approached the Ministry of Health in September last year, and the previous administration allowed them to use the plot of land in December.

The ministrys decision was approved by the government in December last year, he said. But there was no tender.

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, the Parkway hospital project was jointly run by Singapore-based Parkway Pantai and Burmese investors, with 67.5 percent stake held by the foreign firm and 32.5 percent owned by local partners.

The Burmese partners reportedly include Win Aung, president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and his Dagon Group, and Aung Moe Kyaw, the chairman of International Beverages Trading Company.

Neither Parkway nor its Burmese partners were available for comment on Thursday.

The project drew criticism from medical professionals and students in the Black Ribbon Campaign for Myanmar, a movement launched last year to protest against the appointment of military officers to positions within the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Ahlinka, the leader of the movement, told The Irrawaddy that the groups effort to gather a petition from medical professionals and the public achieved success. She said the group was able to collect nearly 2,000 signatures and submitted them to the president, the minister of health and the Union Parliament in March.

Im really happy because today we have witnessed the Parliament living up to its motto, The Parliaments voice is the peoples voice, Ahlinka said. The land should belong to the people.
Enterprise Mobility Management Myth Busters: Users vs. IT Reality

AT&T and Sprint this week announced enhancements to business services. At the same time, it is becoming apparent that the strike Verizon is experiencing is creating problems for its business customers.

AT&T said that it is increasing speeds of its Business Fiber service in four markets. Subscribing businesses in Chicago, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco now will have access to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) speeds in both the upstream and downstream directions. The telcos website has links to press releases specific for each market.

The upgrade was a bookend move to new offerings on the consumer side. FierceTelecom reports that the carrier is launching its GigaPower service to homes, multiple dwelling units (MDUs)  as well as small businesses  in parts of Atlanta, Kansas City (KS) and Oklahoma City. The services will be available later this year.

The commentary in the story on the business expansion said that the fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network will be driven by on-demand Gigabit passive optical network (GPON) and Ethernet services.

Sprint made an announcement as well. Though it didnt provide a precise date  it only says recently  the company said that it has created the Global Wireline Business Unit.

The new unit, the company says, will offer products that rely on a number of Sprint assets. They include its global multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) and dedicated Internet access network, which are available in about 155 countries; its global Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking and toll facilities; unified communications (UC) and managed network and security services. It also offers services for disabled, wireless and wireline options and the Compass Web-based management tool.

The month of May has not been as upbeat for Verizon or its business customers, however. The strike that began April 13 is taking a toll. TechCaliber senior consultant David Rohde is quoted at Network World to the effect that while the brunt is being felt on the consumer side, enterprise customers are not avoiding inconvenience.

It seems to be indirect, however. Rohde says that enterprise requests are not being met because the personnel capable of fulfilling them are taking the place of strikers and serving residential customers. Two examples were cited in the story:

A police department in Pennsylvania has blamed the strike for a telephone outage that lasted some two weeks. In Syracuse, N.Y., a century-old purveyor of safety shoes and supplies called Henry Frank Wholesale has been without phone or DSL Internet service for more than a week, despite multiple service visits from Verizons replacement roster.

According to the story, Verizon said that the Syracuse outage was not due to the strike.

Enterprise customers are vital to the welfare of the telephone companies. The past few months have seen new services offered by two  and problems for a third.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Drones are expected to have a huge effect on industries across the board in the coming decade. So much so that business owners like Chuck Williams, owner of Float Avionics, believe that drones able to move autonomously as well as digitize and send that information to the relevant people will be as important to businesses as the spreadsheet has been. Drones, Williams added, are the physical extension of an increasingly digital world.

Usually when one thinks of drones and security, the first thought is the dangers to airplanes or privacy violations. But because drones are basically flying computers, the potential for security-related flaws and vulnerabilities is there. In fact, at least one strain of malware has been found to directly affect drones; it can allow attackers to remotely control the device.

Drone security is complicated, however, because it encompasses so many different types of security threats. This is creating challenges for programmers, lawmakers and the general public, who need to address drone security without lessening the positive aspects of the devices.

Drone Security 101

Click through for a rundown from Sue Marquette Poremba on what you need to know about drones and the security challenges they pose.

Read more: Drones and Security: Limitless Potential for Danger

Top Security Concerns for Users

According to Richard M. Lusk, director of the UAS Research Center with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the largest risks to users of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), usually quadcopters, include, in order of likelihood:

Financial loss due to destruction or fly away of the vehicle itself. Physical injury due to cutting injury by propellers. Legal liability for disobeying FAA regulations or violating federal, state or local laws.

Top Security Concerns for Programmers

For programmers, the most pressing security concern is developing a product that always works but that also avoids vulnerabilities that hackers can compromise. When something goes wrong in the air, you dont have time to make many decisions as most errors will put a drone on the ground pretty quickly or result in it going haywire, said Float Avionics owner Chuck Williams.

Top Security Concerns for the General Public

Privacy is the issue that the general public tends to worry about most. While Williams stated that the Peeping Tom aspect may be overblown, the fact is that most commercial drones do have cameras and many photographers, both professional and amateur, are using drones for aerial pictures. The general public simply doesnt know if and when their likeness is being captured.

Drones can be a threat to physical security for the general public, as well, said Ryan Jones, partner at Coalfire Labs, as more users are modifying their drones to be weaponized and to carry everything from handguns to rifles to chainsaws.

Malware Developed to Specifically Target Drones

Malware is definitely a consideration for sUAS as they become more involved in commercial enterprises, and as they become more ubiquitous in performing missions in support of agriculture, infrastructure and environmental monitoring and first response, Lusk pointed out, adding that military mission-capable, large drones have already been hacked.

A piece of malware known as Maldrone is believed to be the first backdoor malware developed specifically for sUAS devices. On the military side of things, there was at least one incident of a keylogger malware infecting a drone fleet at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, which supposedly happened due to an operator using the control PC of a drone to play a video game.

Why Malware Targeting Drones Matters

Drones are controlled by a remote control computer with differing levels of human input, explained Williams. Some drones can fly autonomously on a programmed route, some can see obstructions in front of them and avoid them (though that technology is still lacking). Remote controls on various frequencies send different signals back and forth to the drone (controls; video signals; information like speed, altitude or range). Malware can disrupt any or all of these control signals.

Regulators and Lawmakers

What regulators/lawmakers are doing to handle security risks caused by drones

According to Lusk, at least 41 states are considering legislation related to drones in the 2016 legislative year, while six states have actually passed something. While most of those new laws deal with outlawing drones for hunting, Oregon legislation makes it a misdemeanor to operate a weaponized drone and can regulate the retention of data collected via drones.

As of yet, it does not appear much is being done to address malware risks.

Drone Security Concerns of the Future

This is emerging technology, so you know bigger security risks are on the horizon. The experts agree that the scariest future security concern for drones is the ability to carry explosives and be used in a targeted terrorist attack.

Decreasing Security Risks

What can be done to decrease potential security risks caused by drones

To decrease potential security risks involving drones means investing in anti-drone research, which is expected to grow rapidly over the next six years. Terrorist threats, security breaches and cybersecurity issues are driving the anti-drone research push.

According to Jones, Los Alamos National Labs is doing research into making drones more unpredictable while still achieving their goals, in order to reduce the possibility of an ambush in military situations.
Lately, the brilliance of human mind has reached people to the extent beyond the horizons. Humans are able to answer questions that seemed unanswerable. In fact, decades ago, scientists proved that humans can go beyond the Earth's atmosphere and go to the Moon. These days, numbers of scientific experiments have done to seek and answer more questions that linger in the human mind.

Just recently, scientists have done another space research that will help humans discover new facts and information. According to a web post via Florida Today, SpaceX Dragon is back on Earth. It came back from the outer space since its launching last April 8, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air force Station. The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed in the Pacific Ocean before 3 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. That wrapped up a month-long visit to the International Space Station.

According to Fox News, the SpaceX Dragon came back to the Earth with scientific loads and specimens for research purposes from NASA's 1-year space station residence. The SpaceX Dragon reached the Pacific Ocean less than 6 hours from leaving the space station.

In addition, the British astronaut Timothy Peake radioed from 250 miles up that the SpaceX Dragon has served the entire six-man crew very well. The Dragon filled up nearly 4,000 pounds of items, which include blood and urine samples from the crew. According to the source, the researchers will use these samples and medical specimens to study how the body of the astronaut withstands long journeys in space. This will be in preparation for an eventual mission to Mars in the 2030s.

According to Florida Today, SpaceX and NASA are targeting late June launch from the same Air Force station in Florida of the company's next supply mission. It is the company's eighth return flight since 2012. The SpaceX chief, Elon Musk, wants to recover and reuse his rockets to avoid costing too much money.
Researchers and scientists bang their heads for more discoveries. Almost every now and then, these groups of highly intellectual people work their might to find out if there is life beyond Earth. Astronomical studies have been conducted and the scientists have discovered planets, galaxies and constellations. Yet, no one has said that there is another habitable planet in the outer space.

However, just recently, scientists confirmed that there are more than a thousand planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. They said that there are 1,284 more planets, which are there beyond Earth, hence giving the higher possibility of having habitable planets.

According to a web post via Los Angeles Times, scientists confirmed the existence of 1,284 planets orbiting other stars in the galaxy. They have gathered the data from NASA's Kepler space telescope. It doubles more than the number of the validated planets discovered by the said space telescope to about 2,325. Scientists added that the discovery is super exciting because these planets lie around the habitable planet zones. Habitable zones mean the ring-shaped region around a star where temperature is just right for liquid water to remain stable.

According to BBC, NASA's Kepler telescope has discovered 100 Earth-sized planets. In addition, the space telescope discovered nine small planets within the habitable zone in which the condition is favorable of water and potentially life.

Dr. Natalie Batalha is the Kepler mission scientist at NASA. She added that these are within the closest distance --11 light years away. The validation of planets are explained here.

More often than not, these scientists have told the public about their discoveries. Whether there are habitable planets or none -- that remains a question. Surely, this quest is one of kind. It will surely bring encouragement to the people to be more Earth-loving individuals. These discoveries are really very amazing.
Scientists finally have detected atomic oxygen in the atmosphere of the planet Mars. The last attempt at finding the element in the atmosphere of the planet was made 40 years ago.

According to NASA's website, the atoms of oxygen were discovered in the upper layers of the Martian atmosphere, called the mesosphere. The discovery has been presented in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. This important finding will enable scientists to better understand Mars' atmosphere and the planet's history.

Atomic oxygen can also enable scientists study Mars' atmospheric erosion and understand how other gases escape the planet's atmosphere. Oxygen also affects the Martian thermosphere located above the mesosphere, especially the phenomenon of radiative cooling from the carbon-dioxide bands.

The atomic oxygen was discovered with the help of an instrument on board of SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP jet modified to carry a 100-inch diameter telescope for research purposes.

In the past, with space missions such as the Viking and Mariner missions of the 1970s, it was difficult to detect atomic oxygen in the Martian atmosphere. Back at the time, scientists did not have instruments capable to measure accurately the wavelengths associated with atomic oxygen.

CNN reports that the SOFIA team working with the German Aerospace Center was able to observe the far-infrared wavelengths while the SOFIA jet was flying between 37,000 feet to 45,000 feet. That altitude allowed the instruments to avoid the moisture in Earth's atmosphere that blocks infrared wavelength detection.

Researchers were able to distinguish between oxygen from the Martian atmosphere and that of our atmosphere. But most likely due to variations in the atmosphere itself, they discovered only half the amount of atomic oxygen expected. Scientists will continue to study the Martian atmosphere using SOFIA.

According to Business Insider, atomic oxygen is very different from the one we breathe. However, it may affect how easily gases escape the Martian atmosphere. Those protective gases enveloping Mars may have played a critical role if the planet ever supported life.
The new buzzword is composable infrastructure  in essence it means the entire physical compute, storage and network fabric resources are treated as services and called by using APIs.

There is lots of talk about infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and pretty well anything as a service  AaaS but what does it mean to the average enterprise.

According to Raj Thakur, Vice President & General Manager, Hybrid IT, Hewlett Packard APJ its the new balance of infrastructure  bare metal, on-premise, virtual machine or containers  to deliver high velocity IT  and it should deliver time and cost savings. Its related to things like software-defined networking, fluid IT, converged infrastructure and DevOps.

Raj has penned a piece on composable infrastructure to explain where the term has come from and where its going.

IT leaders are continually searching for ways to do two things: deliver stable and reliable services, and build in the flexibility and agility to adapt those services to new business needs. And the need for speed can come from the need for the business to survive  with digital business its often the first mover that takes home not only market share but also most of the profits.

On the one hand, much of what IT has been doing depends on stability and meeting Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Once a service like a payroll or pricing and order entry is running, businesses depend on it running every time, 24x7, and thats true of most of the services that IT delivers.

On the other hand, there are so many business opportunities that new technologies enable and IT needs to be able to exploit and respond to them quickly. The local banking industry for example  Australian banks are now trying to establish competitive advantages in the mobile app space. As weve seen, the banks that are pulling ahead of the competition are the ones that are fast and adaptable to changing needs, while still providing a high degree of reliability.

And the same goes for the new consumption models. The pay per use, rapidly scalable cloud model is a great way to add speed and agility to an infrastructure plan.

The tough balance that IT leaders must now strike is to get the most out of the data centre today and to increase the speed and agility with which they can respond. High velocity IT describes this state  the ability to deliver both reliability and rapid changes from the same hybrid infrastructure.

Many organisations are using automation tools to not only simplify the provisioning of new infrastructure but also to treat system configuration the same way as software. This means mapping source code management to configuration management and mapping test-driven development to tools that ensure that a composed infrastructure is appropriate for the application to run the needed workload.

These automation tools go far beyond simple scripts and automation tools in use today. Composed configurations can be stored externally in source-control systems, enabling not only version control but the ability to ensure that any changes to the virtual infrastructure are automatically tested and easily replicated when new instances are needed to support growth or expanded to meet peak demand. This is Infrastructure as Code in practice, and although it has been gaining a foothold in the cloud native and DevOps community for a while, its benefits are now becoming clear to enterprises of all types, whether their infrastructure is in their datacentre, the cloud, or a hybrid of both.

When developers and ISVs can treat hardware infrastructure as code, some new benefits materialise. First, new workflows and infrastructure can be provisioned, configured and monitored centrally. This enables businesses to completely disaggregate compute, storage, and network fabric resources into pools that can be provisioned, deployed, retired and returned to pools all under programmatic control. The result is faster time to value for development, testing and production teams, which ultimately helps business bring new service to market quicker.

Composable Infrastructure is put together like a piece of music, built specifically to support a particular workload or application, just as that workload was built to solve a specific business need. So, just as a composer decides which musical phrase works best on what instrument, infrastructure as code practitioners craft their composition through repeatable templates. The composer pulls together the exact combination of compute, storage and fabric resources, as well as firmware and software that are best suited for a particular workload.

Composable Infrastructure also enhances reliability, since any actions that affect the infrastructure are now tested thoroughly before deployment to live into a production environment. In todays age of rapid-fire demands, the only way to speed deployment and satisfy shifting business needs quickly is through automation.

Additionally, this disaggregation of the physical infrastructure  compute, storage, and networking  enables higher degrees of efficiency through no stranded resources. This new approach does more than help organisations get the most out of their IT infrastructure. Infrastructure as Code has broad policy implications, ensuring and improving compliance, security and governance while increasing agility and efficiency of existing hardware.

As this is a leap for some organisations, finding the right technology partner will be critical to providing the roadmap for the optimal use of automation in their environment. It can be easy to pilot a technology, but having the right expert consultation, holistic enterprise-grade support and tools are critical to utilising infrastructure automation on a larger scale.

HPE has a paper on this here.
NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection) is a set of requirements designed to secure the assets required for operating North America's bulk electric system. Compliance should be globally mandatory.

Check Point Software has teamed up with RAD to offer cyber security solutions for critical infrastructure and utility organisations. The solution, part of RAD Service Assured Networking portfolio, integrates Check Points ICS Security Gateway with RADs secure-by-design networking platforms. It securely manages all electronic access to the substations electronic security perimeter (ESP) and protects the cyber assets within it from external and internal attacks.

Cyber threats to critical infrastructure have become a matter of national security, notes Ulik Broida, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at RAD. RAD and Check Point have harnessed their considerable expertise to deliver a joint cyber security solution that provides the ultimate protection for power utility networks.

It may have saved the Ukraine from hackers that turned off the lights for 225,000 residents and did untold damage to the IT systems.

Check Points ICS/SCADA cyber security solutions provide advanced threat prevention and comprehensive protocol support to ensure vital Australian and New Zealand assets such as power generation facilities, traffic control systems, water treatment systems and factories are never compromised, said David De Laine, Regional Managing Director ANZ, Check Point. Our partnership with RAD adds a new way to deliver these advanced capabilities to our customers and will help us to drive further awareness of the importance of cyber security in the community alongside the Federal Governments recent investment of $230 million in its own cyber security strategy.

RAD provides field-proven cyber-secure solutions for operational WAN, ruggedised substation LAN, automation backhaul, Teleprotection, wireless PTP/PTMP, and broadband mobility.

The solution, part of RAD Service Assured Networking (SAN) portfolio, integrates Check Points ICS Security Gateway with RADs secure-by-design networking platforms. It securely manages all electronic access to the substations electronic security perimeter (ESP) and protects the cyber assets within it from external and internal attacks, including man-in-the-middle attempts, session hijacking, source-spoofing and distributed denial of service (DDoS) assaults. The joint solution fits any network, either one that is built using RADs networking platforms, or as an overlay add-on for existing networks.



Power utilities are provided a full suite of multi-tiered cyber security defenses, including encryption, authentication, intrusion prevention, anomaly detection and integrity verification, among other tools. The solution enables power utilities to comply with new requirements issued by the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).
The Panama papers leak has revealed poor to very poor security for law company Mossack Fonseca that prides itself on handling sensitive matters.

The 11.5 million+ leaked documents revealed the offshore holdings of individuals and companies from more than 200 countries and territories. It includes at least 33 people and companies blacklisted by the U.S. government because of links to drug trafficking and terrorism.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which coordinated the yearlong investigation into the leaked documents, described Mossack Fonseca as "One of the world's five biggest wholesalers of offshore secrecy."

According to WatchDox (a BlackBerry company) for an organisation that supposedly prides itself on secrecy, the measures taken by the company to protect its records were abysmal. Had Mossack Fonseca acted with even slightly more competence, the Panama Papers might never have been exposed in the first place. Of course, Mossack Fonseca, a law firm, denies any wrong doing!

It lacked basic network security such as server-side document encryption and user access controls. This left them vulnerable to a relatively run-of-the-mill spear-phishing attack (you have to believe that the hacker was thinking, It actually worked?!?!). That lapse in security is unforgivable  the fact is that people make mistakes, and even well-managed networks can be compromised. Thats why file-level security is so important. It adds another layer of security and protects your core IP when, not if, your network is compromised.

More from WatchDox follows.

WatchDox operates in what may be best described in marketing parlance as a blue ocean  document watermarking (pun intended).

If files had been dynamically watermarked - which is a significant deterrent to leaks (as opposed to hacks)  and if said leaker had their name splashed across every document that they accessed, they are much less likely to share it with an unauthorised user since this creates an indelible electronic trail right to the original source.

It also encrypts and segments all sensitive information, both at-rest and in-transit, while its advanced authentication ensures that only authorised users have access to the files independent of whether they reside on the server, a desktop or a mobile device (WatchDox has clients for web browsers, PC, Mac, iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10).

An employee might still make a mistake and provide a doorway for a bad actor but the security team would be able to easily slam that door shut. Even if the attackers managed to pull some documents off Mossack Fonsecas servers the system administrator could remotely revoke access to the files the moment they noticed suspicious activity; with a few clicks, unauthorised files would be turned into worthless 256-bit-encypted data blobs.

WatchDoxs logging and reporting features would have helped to identify and locate the bad guys. The enterprise security team would immediately know which account accessed files, which files they accessed, what device they accessed them on, what they did after gaining access, and even where the files were accessed from. All of this information could have then been shared with law enforcement to help identify and capture the bad actor.

Assuming even the worst case scenario where a hacker has someones credentials to access the stolen files, WatchDoxs powerful digital rights management (DRM) file protection severely restricts what the attackers can do with the data. In the case of Mossack Fonzeca, WatchDox could have prevented the attackers from editing, sharing, or downloading the files in the first place; WatchDox can even restrict the ability to copy text or images from files. This limits the bad guys to, at best, taking screenshots of stolen documents, page by page.

In other words, it was easily preventable! While WatchDox was kind enough to provide the commentary above its all about security, document leak protection(DLP) and layered security. This was one leak that was easily preventable  perhaps the Panama heat and a little too much Seco Herrerano was to blame.

BlackBerry WatchDox been recognized by Forrester again, in its 2016 Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing (EFSS) Hybrid Wave. In an evaluation of 10 EFSS vendors, WatchDox by BlackBerry was recognized as a Leader, receiving perfect scores in 17 of Forresters 37 evaluation criteria, and the top rank in the Security Capabilities category of the report.
There must be money in vacuum cleaners, blade air dryers and bladeless fans. The James Dyson Foundation has made a 8m donation  the largest gift ever received by Cambridges Department of Engineering.

James Dyson opened one of the worlds most advanced engineering facilities at the University of Cambridge  giving the institutions students and academics the space and means to prototype, invent and collaborate on cutting-edge research.

The Dyson Centre for Engineering Design is the focal point for teaching Cambridge students about the design process, providing specialised printing machinery, scanners, lasers and routers. It provides space for over 1,200 bright engineers to conduct their project work. An open plan design encourages the sharing of ideas and a collaborative environment. Student-led projects housed within the centre include solar powered electric racing cars, vehicles engineered for Arctic ice, quad-rotor drones, and helium balloon spaceflight systems.

A separate new four storey building, the James Dyson Building for Engineering, houses postgraduate researchers and supports world-leading research in areas including advanced materials, smart infrastructure, electric vehicles and efficient internal combustion systems. A bridge link offers easy access to testing laboratories housing world-class fluid dynamics machinery, aerodynamics equipment and areas for aeroacoustics analysis.

The building itself is as smart as the minds it houses: fibre-optic sensors in the foundation piles offer live data, about everything from temperature to strain  providing a picture of how the building is behaving. The result is a building thats more of a living creature than a passive block of material.

Research undertaken in the hub will build on a rich tradition of invention: Cambridge alumni include internal combustion pioneer Harry Ricardo and Jet engine inventor Frank Whittle.

The Department is located at the heart of the Cambridge cluster, Europe's largest technology cluster, which employs around 57,000 people in more than 1,500 technology-based, which have combined annual revenue of over 13 billion. Cambridge has created over 1,500 spin-out companies over the last decade, with a 97.4% five-year survival rate, compared to 44.6% nationally.

James Dyson said: Developing the intellectual property that will help Britain succeed in the global technology race depends on applying our brightest minds to ambitious and exciting research projects. Im hopeful that this new space for Britains best engineers at the University of Cambridge will catalyse great technological breakthroughs that transform how we live.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, said: The research taking place in this building exists at the very cutting edge of engineering excellence. Allied to new ideas generated within the Dyson Centre, this will produce not only world changing discoveries and inventions but the future generations of engineers the world requires to address the major challenges of the 21st century.

Head of the Department of Engineering, Professor David Cardwell, said: Collaboration is at the heart of solving global engineering challenges and the new James Dyson Building brings brilliant researchers from across disciplines together with industrial practitioners to serve our cities, transportation and energy systems with novel techniques. The adjoining Dyson Centre for Engineering Design enables students to express their creative talents and test their engineering skills using high-tech and diverse machining and prototyping equipment. Here we will also welcome schoolchildren to see engineers at work and captivate the next generation of competent engineers. An updated and redesigned Engineering Library will guarantee flexible spaces for collaborative as well as silent work spaces for our students and researchers.

About the University of Cambridge

Consistently rated in the worlds top 5 universities, Cambridge is the worlds third oldest university established in 1209. As well as producing 92 Nobel Laureates, its alumni include Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Ernest Rutherford, Alan Turing and Frank Whittle. Its contributions to society have included the discovery of the structure of DNA and the development of the IVF technique.

Cambridges Department of Engineering is Europes largest integrated engineering department and is a world leader in academic research in engineering. It is known worldwide for its work into computational fluid dynamics, electrical engineering, and mechanics, materials and design.

About the James Dyson Foundation

Founded in 2002, the charity supports design, technology and engineering educational work in the UK and internationally through Foundations in America and Japan. To date, the James Dyson Foundation has donated 55m to charitable causes, including 12m to Imperial College London to create the Dyson School of Design Engineering. The Foundation also offers bursaries and scholarships to engineering students at Bournemouth University, Brunel University, Loughborough University, the University of Bristol, the Royal College of Art and the University of Bath. At school level, the James Dyson Foundation offers prototyping workshops with Dyson engineers, and sends out free educational resources that introduce students to the design process  and lets them take apart Dyson technology to see how it works.
The Australian Government is to review cost and benefit adoption of eInvoicing according to recent budget papers.

The Digital Business Council (Council) is an industry driven initiative of peak industry bodies, technology providers and Government Agencies. Council was formed to oversee the definition of a national framework of standards for exchanging data between software solutions with an initial focus on eInvoicing.

On 11 April iTWire reported on the Australian small to medium enterprise consultation phase and now its the Federal Governments turn.

The eInvoicing project is predicted to transform the Australian economy with an estimated $7-$10 billion a year, the Federal Government has agreed to undertake a detailed Cost and Benefits Study on widespread government adoption.

The announcement supports the work currently underway by Council targeting publication of an eInvoicing Interoperability Framework on 1 July 2016 and enhances the considerable efforts already underway in the business community to promote and adopt eInvoicing. Council is encouraged that Government, as a business, has also recognised the potential benefits of eInvoicing, especially now that an open framework of standards is being developed.

Council sees the adoption of eInvoicing as a critical first step to digitising the full procure-to-pay process. The budget statement confirms that we are progressing down a sensible, positive path for economy-wide benefits, said Peter Strong, co-chair of the Digital Business Council.

Government expenditure accounts for approximately 22% of overall GDP. The Budget Line, found on page 150 in Budget Paper Two (see below), says the Study will identify how the Government can unlock the potential for eInvoicing to improve government efficiency. Broader adoption of eInvoicing with State and Territory and local governments will also be considered in the Study.

The Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, Kelly ODwyer said that the study is expected to benefit small businesses as they will spend less time entering invoice data for government and more time developing and growing their business.

Government adoption of eInvoicing not only has the potential to save government agencies time and money, but also means that each of their business partners, including small business, can uncover significant productivity benefits, said Strong. eInvoicing is cheaper, faster and more efficient than traditional paper-based invoicing. The time and money saved using eInvoicing allows a business to allocate those resources to areas that will enable further business growth.

eInvoicing is a broadly used term covering the automated exchange and processing of invoice-related documents between suppliers and buyers in a structured electronic, or digital, format.

The eInvoicing Interoperability Framework is a set of standards that will provide certainty on how a prescribed set of established open standards can be used to extend eInvoicing to all Australian business, including the government.

eInvoicing Budget Paper Extract

Budget Paper No. 2, page 150

eInvoicing

The Government will undertake a detailed study into the costs and benefits of adopting electronic invoicing (eInvoicing) by the Australian Government. The study will help the Government identify the feasibility of eInvoicing and how the Government may best unlock the potential for eInvoicing to improve government efficiency.

Broader adoption of eInvoicing with State and Territory and local governments will be considered in the study.

The cost of implementing the measure will be met from within the existing resources of the Australian Taxation Office.

This measure builds on the Governments Fintech Statement released on 21 March 2016.

Budget Paper No. 4, page 3

Other key elements of the Transforming Government reforms

Public sector savings  shared services. The Government is realising efficiencies within the 2016-17 Budget from reforms that directly target specific areas of inefficiency within the corporate areas of agencies. The Government will build upon the $40.9 million in targeted savings delivered through the Shared and Common Services Program in the 2015-16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) by further consolidating the provision of common corporate services to a small number of shared service centres and thereby driving efficiencies through economies of scale. Opportunities to modernise business processes, including through the adoption of whole-of-government electronic invoicing, will be assessed as the Government is committed to putting an increased focus on leveraging economies of scale, standardisation and performance. Efficiencies should allow agencies to reallocate resources to functions better aligned with the policy priorities of the Government.
The former chief executive of Sun Microsystems, Jonathan Schwartz, took the stand at the second Google-Oracle trial on Wednesday, testifying that Sun and Google tried to negotiate a deal for the latter to use parts of Java but failed to come to an agreement.

The trial is trying to decide on what damages, if any, Google should pay Oracle  which became the owner of Java when it acquired Sun in 2010  for the use of 37 APIs in its Android mobile operating systems.

Schwartz testified that Java and its APIs were free and open to use when the language was under Sun's umbrella. But subsequently, APIs have been declared copyrightable following the reversal of a judgement that was made in the first trial in 2012.

The same judge who is presiding over the current trial, Justice William Alsup, made the initial determination in 2012 when the case that Oracle launched against Google in 2010 came to an end. But that verdict was overturned.

Schwartz said Sun wanted the deal so it could push Java through Android. Google pulled out of talks because it did not want to rely on anyone.

While Schwartz publicly supported the arrival of Android, he had privately been ambivalent about it,in an internal Sun email about Googles Android strategy: "I have no clue what they're up to. My sense is theyre playing fast and loose with licensing terms".

Earlier, Eric Schmidt, the chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, said he had been willing to pay between US$30 million and US$40 million to Sun for a licence that lasted five years beginning in 2006. It would have meant that Google would use Sun's logo in some parts of Android and include more Java software than it ultimately ended up including.

Schmidt said he believed due to his experience with Java, that Google did not need a licence to use the APIs which it ended up using as long it used its own code.

Oracle's lawyers pointed Schmidt to a programming book produced by Sun in 1995 wherein a sample Java licence was contained but Schmidt said he had not seen the book for more than a decade and could not recall whether it had a sample licence or not.

In an email that was produced in the 2012 trial, and again on Wednesday, a software engineer from Google, who had been asked by founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to evaluate technical alternatives to Java, wrote that everything else sucked and Google needed to negotiate a licence to use Java.
If you have heard the term Blockchain recently you are not alone  it is the foundation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin and its applications now way exceed its roots.

Feeling a little less than the full bottle on this technology I decided to embark on a learning journey. I hope you learn more about this amazing technology too.

In its most basic form, Blockchain is a database that maintains a continuously growing list (chain) of transactions. It comprises data structure block (links in the chain) that hold batches of individual transactions. Think of it as an old-style accounting ledger book where pages are sewn and bound in, and entries are written in ink  it is impossible to change or tamper without someone knowing.

The blocks are timestamped and validated and link to the prior block which links to a prior block ad infinitum. Since invented in 2008 to support Bitcoin it has evolved to Blockchain 2.0 as a programmable distributed trust infrastructure and there are now new scalable features of on-chain utility and extensibility  side-chains.

Proponents of the technology say its advantages include

The ability for links in the chain to be easily be rebuilt and validated  greater resistance to cyber attack

The ability for any well-connected node to determine, with reasonable certainty, whether a transaction does or does not exist in the data set

The ability for any node that creates a transaction to, after a confirmation period, determine with a reasonable level of certainty whether the transaction is valid, able to take place and become final (i.e., that no conflicting transactions were confirmed into the block chain elsewhere that would invalidate the transaction, such as the same currency units "double-spent" somewhere else)

A prohibitively high cost to attempt to rewrite or alter transaction history.

Automated conflict resolution that ensures that conflicting transactions (such as two or more attempts to spend the same balance in different places) never become part of the confirmed data set

Opponents of Blockchain (specifically Bitcoin) say it is controlled by criminals, allows hidden transactions, and should be regulated and run by a trusted authority.

Let's look at its use outside Bitcoin.

The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) has invested A$14.9 million in Digital Asset Holdings started by former JPMorgan banker Blythe Masters. "I believe the project the ASX is running has the potential to be one of the first successful [blockchain] projects in the world," she told a packed ballroom at the ASIC Annual Forum in Sydney.

Masters said the technology could eliminate reconciliation activity, which adds up to tens of billions of dollars and waste in banks and brokers around the world. There are ultimately some real benefits regarding cost reduction. Her clients also include the ANZ and many other global banks that would benefit enormously from blockchain.

One of the key challenges for the technology is determining common standards like those being proposed by the Linux Foundation's Hyperledger project that, with the assistance of global technology giants IBM, Intel, and Cisco, is building standard rails on which blockchains can sit. Once these are established, then Blockchain 3.0 may take off.

Non-currency uses so far include chain of ownership things like property settlement, property title, or any asset provenance like music, art, IP and even electronic voting. It is useful because its impossible to cheat.

Work is being done on smart contracts - software programs that self-execute complex instructions  using blockchain. Imagine if a music artist could sell directly to the public cutting out the label and distribution costs  it offers a native payment system that anyone selling anything can use. It could stop piracy because if you dont have a link to prove where you bought it then you may have explaining to do.

In the sharing economy, blockchain could manage every shared asset without the need for complex software systems. Uber is working on going this way.

What is clear is that Blockchain will reintroduce trust in the data  unless it is hacked and at present that looks unlikely because you cannot rewrite a whole chain.
Samsungs Galaxy Note 6 is rumoured to be launched on 15 August. Its the work version of the popular S7 and S7 Edge and includes a stylus and pen productivity apps.

Few smartphones have generated as much interest as this one  already there are over 53 million search results  three million more than for Samsungs Galaxy S7.

iTWire has gathered all the rumours, discarded the dross, and is adding one more article to the search results.

Screen: 5.8, 2560 x 1440, QHD, AMOLED, - Samsung wont release an S7 Edge+ to cover this market so it may share the Edge design. 3D Touch is also possible.

Processor: Likely to be Samsungs own Exynos 8890 (Same as S7) but could be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 823

Memory/storage: 6GB RAM, 128GB storage and microSD slot for at least 200GB. I would not be surprised in Samsung offer a free 128GB microSD card as a sales enticement as some rumours also say it will have 256GB UFS 2.0 internal storage.

Battery: 4000 to 4200 mAh, non-removable battery with fast wireless and USB-C charge

USB-C  at last

A very high screen to body ratio indicating that the home/fingerprint sensor may be a soft key. This would be seen as innovative and help squeeze the larger screen into the smallest possible body. Although there are rumours of an iris scanner and that may remove the need for a fingerprint scanner entirely.

may be a soft key. be seen as innovative and help squeeze the larger screen into the smallest possible body. Although there are rumours of an iris scanner and that may remove the need for a fingerprint scanner entirely. Android Version: N but I doubt that at launch  more likely M 6.x

Camera: Same 12MP rear camera as the S7 but there are rumours of enhancements for text scanning and whiteboard image capture. It will have OIS and possibly infrared focus.

Other S7 features will include the S7, IP68 water resistance, massive LTE Cat 11 band support and its TouchWiz User Experience, apps and skins. I have found that Samsungs apps exceed the stock Android equivalents. Its rumoured to be working on a new communications hub called Samsung Focus that may combine social media, email, SMS and more into one place.

rumoured to be working on a new communications hub called Samsung Focus that may combine social media, email, SMS and more into one place. S-Pen: It wont be able to be inserted backwards - #pengate  and will remain a passive device e.g. no battery but additional sensors in the screen will make it work as if it was an active device. A new calligraphy mode that makes writing on a glass screen easier is expected .

. Price: One rumour is that the new tech and features will drive the price to more than A$1200 and a lower specified  Lite  version may also be on the cards  in any case, it will still be an awesome phablet.

 version may also be on the cards  in any it will still be an awesome phablet. Options: There are rumours that a chrome style laptop dock powered by the phone will be available but given Samsungs recent commitment in this area to Windows 10, I am not so sure. Another rumour is a range of USB-C accessories including an updated Gear VR headset. One thing is for sure there will be some add-on accessories to enhance profit.

Comment

I used the Note 5 for a few months last year and in the full review I said it was the best Android, pen-based, phablet bar none. It is a fully featured workhorse compared to the pretty Edge show pony.

The Note 6 may be an evolution of the Note 5 but under the skin it is a revolution  6GB RAM, potentially super-fast UFS storage, and the work on the S-Pen and interface could make this the best phablet in 2016  bar none.

Regarding category competition it really has none - Apple dont make a stylus version of the iPhone but we have heard rumours of an LG Stylus 2 based on the G5.

August is not too far away. The dock patent is below.
Dell may be the largest tech company to ever go private, but it is by no means the only vendor that has decided it would be better off to pursue strategic options without the constant second guessing of public investors. To learn more about the trend, Network World Editor in Chief John Dix talked with Seth Boro, a Managing Partner at Private Equity firm Thoma Bravo, which has taken Riverbed, Dynatrace and other network companies private, and with Kevin Thompson, CEO of SolarWinds, a supplier of IT management tools that Thoma Bravo helped take private in a $4.5 billion deal last February. Below is the interview with Thompson from SolarWinds. Click here for the interview with Boro from Thoma Bravo.

Before we reflect on why you went private, lets start with a thumbnail description of your company?

Kevin Thompson, CEO of SolarWinds

Ill give you the brief history lesson. The company was founded by Donald Yonce in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1998, so were about 18 years old. Don was a network engineer who worked for Walmart and believed the tools he had been given to do his job werent very good and that he could build better ones. So thats what he did.

He wrote a tool at home and he built a website and stuck it up there and made it freely available to download and try for 30 days, and the product started to sell. He never took any outside money. The only money he put in it was his own time to start.

But eventually the product started generating enough cash that he could invest in the business. He didnt have any real sales guys. He had a couple order-takers. He didnt have a real support organization. Basically whoever picked up the phone when a customer called would help that customer out. He managed to get the business to about $20 million in revenue and $18 million in profit with about 15 employees.

When the professional management team got here, and I was part of that, there were 18-20 employees, we had 40,000 customers, and we were smart enough to not screw up the equation. We just put it on steroids. We expanded it. We have about 34 products today compared to the two they had when I got here, but we continue to be a try-and-buy model, we dont customize the software, we dont have any consultants and we dont do custom contracts.

There are so many nuanced pockets in this market, how do you define what SolarWinds targets?

Basically if you are trying to manage performance of any piece of IT infrastructure, we believe that is the market we play in. Do we manage the performance of every single piece of IT infrastructure? No. Not yet. But we manage the performance of all the critical pieces of IT infrastructure today.

We define it that way because we believe the technical professional thats responsible for performance has a couple of characteristics we can play on. One, they have some amount of budget they can deploy without asking for approval. Thats important in our model. Every product we sell has an entry price point below $5,000 because every IT pro has $3,000-$5,000 of procurement authority where they dont have to ask for approval.

+ ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD Best practices for network security management +

We also believe that technical professionals in the performance management space are inquisitive, theyre out on the web on a constant basis looking for content, looking to have conversations with others trying to solve similar problems, and looking for products to help.

Given that breadth, who do you compete with?

We compete with a bunch of very small vendors and the worlds largest vendors. We believe we have an advantage against all of them. Against the bigger vendors, we think our products are just better and theyre much less expensive; typically 70%-80% less. With the smaller vendors, were typically on a par with their pricing, but we have much more technology, we scale much more effectively.

And we serve the smallest companies in the world to the largest companies in the world. My 30-person dental office here in town uses our product to manage the performance of their network because if their network goes down they cant see a single patient because everything is electronic now. They use the exact same network management product from us that Nike uses, that the U.S. Army uses.

When did the company go public?

We went public in the worst market in the history, in May of 2009. We were the first software company to get out in over 12 months. The reason we were able to get out in a really bad market is because we were both growing fast and we were incredibly profitable. Weve always been the most profitable company of our size, and always one of the most, if not the most, profitable public software companies AND growing fast at the same time. On a percentage basis, were more profitable than Oracle and have been for a number of years.

The obvious follow-up question, then, why go private?

Coverage is one. We werent looking to go private. I wasnt out there trying to find somebody to take us private. We got inbound interest. It was unsolicited and that inbound interest was at a high enough premium to our trading price that we needed to at least consider it. Once we considered it as a board, we reached the consensus of opinion that, given where the stock prices were at the time, and how the market would require us to grow our valuation over a two or three-year period of time, it made sense to explore the opportunity.

As a management team, we were open to it both because of the evaluation and because what we do really well is grow fast at a very high level of profit. We dont maximize our growth. We set a profit target and we maximize our growth at that profit target, and we believe thats the best way to build a great company. The public markets dont reward that very well. They just want you to grow fast at all costs, and thats not what we wanted to do.

We always believed after we went public that we werent getting the level of credit we should for our ability to grow at a high rate. Not the highest rate, but to grow at the highest level of profit at a high rate and build a great business that will be here for the next 20, 30, 40 years. Thats hard to do as a public company, having people watch you through a glass window while you do everything. Thats why as a management team we were open to the conversation, coupled with the fact that the initial interest was at a high enough value that we felt like we had to consider it.

It is never an easy decision to go private because its a change in the strategy and course you were on, and ultimately you need to get 100% alignment with your board and your management team.

If I understand it right, you were about $550 million in revenue when this happened and taken private for $4.5 billion?

Almost $4.6 billion, a little over a 50% premium to our trading price before we got the initial inbound interest.

What did you have to give up for that?

The way the ownership of the company is structured today is Silver Lake Partners and Thoma Bravo each own 50% of the business, at least initially. They will end up each owning, fully diluted, 46% because about 8% of the company is going to end up in the hands of employees and management. Were in the process of doing that right now.

They have equal representation on the board. They have equal decision-making authority and they obviously will make the decisions. In terms of what we give up, we gave up a lot of cash because its a leveraged buy-out, take-private transaction. We had a bunch of cash on the balance sheet and a lot of that is gone because they used it to lower the amount of debt and equity that they had put into the company.

However, we are cash-flow-positive every day of every quarter of every year, so well put that cash back on the balance sheet pretty quickly. We do have debt now and so were going to have to pay that debt off. That removes a little flexibility on making acquisitions for cash. However, we still have flexibility because it doesnt take even close to all of the cash were generating to service the debt.

In addition, we have the ability to borrow more money, and we gain two partners that have a meaningful amount of equity dollars set aside. If we find the right strategic acquisition they can help us grow faster at a high level of profit. So were able to look at things we couldnt look at before. Before, I couldnt look at any acquisition if it wasnt going to grow at least 25% in revenue year over year. But there are things strategically we should own, that we should be providing, that may not be able to grow 25%. Maybe it will only grow 10%, but its a piece of technology that solves a problem for our customers and it creates a deeper relationship with them. If youre a public company youve got to be willing to take a bit of a beating when you make an acquisition like that, and sometimes thats a hard decision for a board to make, so we got that added flexibility.

Are the new board members second-guessing everything you do?

We are fortunate in that both Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo, even though they had not worked together before, have a similar view in that they invest in companies and in management teams they think are great and they dont bring in their own management.

They dont want to second-guess the existing management. Our company wasnt broke. We were growing fast and we were growing fast at a high profit, so we werent broken. We just made a strategic decision to be private for a while. Odds are we go public again someday. Whether thats three years, four years, five years, we probably will become a public company again, and were going to become a public company at a much larger size and at an even higher level of profitability than we were before.

Theyre not second-guessing what were doing. However, they have a lot of smart people that work for them we can choose to leverage as we need them. Theyve got some great operating partners, some of whom come out of our space and are very, very technical, and I have already been able to leverage them to both help me hire some new executives where I had some gaps, and use them as a sounding board to make sure I wasnt missing anything.

You said they approached you guys. Did you consider others?

Yeah, we did. In fact, they did not approach us together. We were approached by one private equity firm. We looked at it, said it was good but not good enough. Once you get an offer thats high enough youve got to see if you can maximize existing shareholder value, so we hired a banker at JP Morgan to work with us and we went out to see who else might be interested in the company. All the largest private equity firms were very interested. We were fortunate everybody wanted to be involved and they were very aggressive in the process.

I imagine there was apprehension on your part when this whole process first started?

I wouldnt say we embraced it from the get-go. There was definitely some level of apprehension. You want to make sure youre making the right decision for the company. You want to make sure youre making the right decision for your employees. As a public company CEO, I had a board, but a public company board and a private equity board are very different in terms of level of involvement and its mainly because of level of investment.

These guys wrote, between the two of them, a $2.5 billion equity check and when you write a $2.5 billion equity check youve very involved in whats going on. I knew we were going to have a more involved board than my public company board, which are a bunch of guys that had been with me a long time.

Without a doubt we considered it carefully, we looked at both the pluses and minuses of staying public and going private. Some of that was the timing of the public market and what we believed the volatility of that market might be, so we considered all that very carefully. And then as we went through the process, we got to know the partners of the private equity firms so we would have some feel as to what it was going to be like to work with them.

It was the first time I went through a take-private transaction, but I think we did it about as well as anyone could. Its one of the largest software deals ever done on the take-private side, and one of the highest premiums. I think the process was a good one. We got a great value for our shareholders. We got really great partners and, while they know they paid a high price, they think were going to make them a lot of money in the end and we believe we will also. But to say we didnt have any apprehension and werent nervous about it would be a lie because we had never been through it.

You mentioned a likely exit strategy, but why go public again?
Mozilla yesterday cranked up Test Pilot -- restoring a 2015 project with a name from 2009 -- to collect feedback on proposed new features for its flagship Firefox browser.

Test Pilot, which Mozilla dabbled with six years ago, was then aimed at gathering data on how people were using the web in general, Firefox in particular. In its original format, Test Pilot used a Firefox add-on to collect browsing and usage data, and provide tools to answer feedback questions.

Mozilla's goal this time around the Test Pilot block is different.

"Test Pilot is a way for you to try out experimental features and let us know what you think," Nick Nguyen, vice president of Firefox, wrote in a Tuesday post to a company blog.

In fact, while Test Pilot is the project's name, it's actually based on a 2015 concept that Mozilla called "Idea Town." Mozilla renamed Idea Town as Test Pilot in January.

Idea Town was billed as a way for Firefox users to try out new features, and for developers to evaluate user reaction before deciding whether to stick the proposed tools into the browser.

The first three features run through Test Pilot were a visual-heavy new tab page, dubbed "Activity Stream," that displayed thumbnails of both frequently-visited sites and selected past pages from the browser's history and bookmark lists; "Tab Center," which shoved tabs into a vertical stack on the left rather than show them along the top; and "Universal Search," which combined Firefox's current dual search fields.

Other browsers adopted a single search field long ago; Firefox was the last of the top five to stick with the old-school split search.

Desktop Firefox users, whether running the browser in Windows, OS X or Linux, can participate in Test Pilot by downloading the add-on. A Firefox Account -- typically used for synchronizing the browser across multiple devices and platforms -- is required.

Nguyen warned users to expect problems with the features put through the Test Pilot mill. "As you're experimenting with new features, you might experience some bugs or lose some of the polish from the general Firefox release, so Test Pilot allows you to easily enable or disable features at any time," he said.

Although Mozilla, like all browser makers, distributes more than one version of Firefox at a time -- running from the least-polished Nightly build to the production-quality Release edition -- neither the original Test Pilot or the later Idea Town were popular among users.

Test Pilot aims to change that. "Feedback and data from Test Pilot will help determine which features ultimately end up in a Firefox release for all to enjoy," Nguyen said.

More information about Test Pilot has been published on Mozilla's website. Interested users can get started with Test Pilot here.
The percentage of health care data breaches due to criminals has risen from 20 to 50 percent since 2010, but health care organizations are failing on defense, according to a new study.

On average, the percentage of health care organizations hit by a data breach has stayed steady, in the high 80s and low 90s, according to Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder at Ponemon Institute, which conducted the study, but the number of breaches due to accidentally lost devices has dropped.

Most recently, ransomware and denial-of-service attacks have become top security concerns. These kinds of attacks have the potential to shut down the operations of a health care organization, putting lives at risk.

Ransomware typically encrypts all data, making patient records inaccessible to doctors and nurses.

RELATED: Healthcare breaches need a cure for human errors

Denial-of-service attacks shut down the tools and systems used to access those records.

"A lot of these tools now are Internet-facing or are actually in the cloud," Ponemon explained.

"I think we're actually in a situation where the bad guys are winning at this point," said Rick Kam, president and co-founder at ID Experts, which sponsored the report.

One reason is finger pointing, he said. Health care providers point to third-party business associates, such as drug companies and claims processors, while the business associates point the finger back at the health care providers.

"Neither the business associates nor the health care entities are doing their job," he said. "There's a small increase in security budgets, but that incremental spending is not keeping up with the threat."

Another contributing factor, he added, is that the majority of the health care organizations are regional and local hospitals, which are not flush with cash.

Health care organizations understand that they are targets.

More than two-thirds, or 69 percent, said that they are at greater risk than other industries for a data breach.

And there has been some improvements.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said they have policies and procedures that are in place to effectively prevent or quickly detect unauthorized patient data access, up from 58 percent in 2015.

And 57 percent said they have the expert personnel to be able to identify and resolve data breaches, up from 53 percent in 2015.

In addition, 71 percent have an incident response plan process in place, with involvement from information technology, information security and compliance, a slight increase from 69 percent in last years study.

However, slightly more than half of health care organizations, 52 percent, said that security budgets have stayed the same since last year, and 10 percent said their budgets decreased.
A victory in the final this Saturday means they will be playing in the National League for the first time in their history.

The tournament was held at the EHA National Stadium in Milton Keynes over last weekend.

Purley Walcountians had to play Sheffield and ISCA in their play-off group,

The winner of the group would gain the advantage of playing at home in the final.

Walcountians played Sheffield on Friday and lost 2-3, after leading 0-2 for most of the match.

Therefore, they had to beat ISCA on Sunday by at least two goals to go through to with home advantage.

Within 20 minutes Daniel Byfield scored the first goal for Purley Walcountians from open play.

The second half started with ISCA pushing forward, but Purley Walcountians' defence held out.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, Daniel Byfield scored his second and the crucial goal.

Purley Walcountians continued to defend well and secured the win and the home advantage for the final.

The finals of the tournament is being played tomorrow (Saturday) at Purley Walcountians ground Carshalton Road Woodmansterne at 1pm.
Library bond unanimously approved Voters waited in line for 45 minutes Tuesday to participate in an eight-minute meeting that resulted in the unanimous approval of a $600,000 bond to help renovate the North Road...

Ferryboat business told to halt operations The ferryboat company operating from the municipally owned docks at East Ferry is illegally using that space, according to correspondence mailed to business owner Bill Munger. Town Administrator Jamie Hainsworth...

A DOGGONE NEW BUSINESS A former business that used to clean peoples clothes is reopening as a groomer to tidy up the fur of those peoples four-legged companions. The defunct laundromat at the McQuades...
A recent report claimed that if Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders succeed in getting their party's nomination as presidential candidates, it would not be due to their ideologies, but more on disaffection.

Many of the poorer Americans and less-educated folks are feeling they are being left behind in the advancing 21st century. They have seen their wages frozen, their chances of improving their status in life disappear, and their life expectancies get shorter and shorter.

Trump and Sanders have been promising American voters that they will put a halt to these issues. That is why they are leading their rivals, Cruz and Clinton respectively.

Bernie Sanders on April 10 beat Hillary Clinton and enjoyed a landslide victory in West Virginia. This significant win came right after a 5-point victory in Indiana last week.

Michael Smerconish, the radio and TV host said the "Democratic super-delegates might have to rethink" their support of Hillary Clinton given how significantly better Sanders fares in a head-to-head battle with Donald Trump.

After Clinton's loss in Indiana, John King told CNN viewers that "if Sanders were to win nine out of ten of the remaining contests, there's no doubt that some of the super-delegates would panic."

"There's no doubt some of them would switch to Sanders. What he has to do is win the bulk of the remaining contests. Would that send jitters, if not panic, through the Democratic Party? Yes. Yes it would," King added.

Sanders carried each county in the Mountaineer State, which by every means of measurements were being left behind. Meanwhile Trump, now regarded as the presumptive Republican nominee has already won 77 percent of the vote in the uncontested GOP primary.

If Hillary Clinton wants to gain ascendancy to the Democratic throne, she needs to address the issue of disaffection which is propelling her two rivals, Sanders and Trump.
Recent Airbnb news 2016 has confirmed that the company has rolled out a new smart pricing feature. This is expected to boost revenue for hosts.

CNBC reported that Airbnb has created dynamic pricing tips, known as smart pricing, for all hosts on the platform this week. Joe Zadeh, the company's vice president of product, revealed that the system will boost revenue by 13 percent on average.

"That is one of the great things about our marketplace and our business model," he said. "Our business scales with them."

The company gains three percent from hosts and between 6 to 12 percent from guests in all transactions. With the program, revenues are expected to rise as more users adopt the program.

Airbnb's smart pricing gives recommendations to hosts based on supply and demand, the offered amenities as well as comparative listings and reviews. The company gathers data from over 2 million listings and makes the suggestions to the user.

"Everything on our platform is incredibly unique," Zadeh added. "That provides an interesting challenge to our hosts - there's no standard way to price."

Hosts can turn on smart pricing by going to Manage Listings on airbnb.com. They can set the minimum and maximum price that they want to charge.

According to L.A. Times, home-sharing in the area through Airbnb has added $920 million into the local economy last year. The figure is about three times higher than the company's economic impact between May 2013 and Apr. 2014.

Business Insider added that Airbnb will continue to gain dominance in U.S. cities such as Miami, New York and Los Angeles. San Francisco and Philadelphia are part of the top five cities for the company.

"Thematically, we do not believe Airbnb represents an existential threat to the traditional lodging industry; however, home-sharing is an important phenomenon that is not going away," Shaun Kelley said in a note to clients. "At present, we believe Airbnb's impact will be particularly felt in certain urban areas, among longer-stay guests and during peak leisure travel periods."
In the latest Dropbox news, it was revealed that the Silicon Valley startup has decided to cut back on some employee perks. This comes in an effort to increase profitability and to adapt to the changes in the financial environment.

Business Insider reported that Dropbox has become a part of several startups that have taken cost-cutting measures in order to focus more on profitability. The company, though, has decided to keep its 5-foot chrome panda statue, which is rumored to cost around $100,000.

"Pandas have meant many things to Dropboxers over the years, and the idea here was to commemorate the original...it wasn't the right call," a note next to the statue read. "When it comes to building a healthy and sustainable business, every dollar counts. And while it's okay for us to have nice things, it's important to remember to ask ourselves, 'would I spend my own money this way?'"

"We're keeping the panda as a company-wide reminder of the importance of both our past and future in thoughtful spending - but it's just one example. If you spot other ways we can help Dropbox save, please share them."

Dropbox has also canceled its free shuttle in San Francisco as well as its gym washing service. The employee perks cost the company at least $25,000 a year per employee.

Evernote, Jawbone and Tango are among the startups that have decided to push through with cost cuts. Layoffs, office closures and reduced employee perks are just some of the ways that these companies have reduced their spending.

The publication noted that the changes have something to do with the slowing venture-funding environment in Silicon Valley. Apparently, investors have lost their patience for startups that have failed to gain good returns after years of free spending.

According to Silicon Beat, venture capital funding has already dropped since last year. Companies such as Zenefits, Optimizely, Jawbone, Mixpanel and Zoosk have started to cut their workforce number while others, such as SpoonRocket, have ultimately closed.
Millennials have been stereotyped to be whiny brats that only complain about everything. With the workforce getting younger and younger through the years, knowing how to deal with this new breed of employees will definitely help you with your business.

According to Business Insider, as these young workers gain top positions in the industry, it is important to learn more about their needs and help them achieve their fullest potential. Although millennials are very different from previous generations of workers, they also have some similarities.

Last April, the publication spoke with representatives from IBM's Millennial Corps: Samantha Klein, Sara Sindelar and Masharn Austin. The group discussed about the truths and myths surrounding young employees and how bosses can motivate them to do their best.

The Millennial Corps is a team of more than 4,000 IBM staffers of all ages from different parts of the world. The group was created to research on how to improve millennials' experience in the company. Listed below are the top three things that millennials need from their bosses.

First, millennials want constant feedback. IBM has recently remodeled its annual performance review system last February. The system, called "Checkpoint," now lets managers give feedback at least once per quarter.

"We [millennials] don't want an annual review," Samantha Klein said. "We don't want to wait until the end of the year to hear about what we've done right or wrong what we can improve upon."

Second, talk about the bigger picture. After giving them regular reviews on their work and progress, millennials also want to know that their career is moving forward.

"When I think about managing millennials, I think about the notion of career velocity," Masharn Austin, a workforce strategy and talent leader, noted. "[It is] being able to provide leadership and guidance around their career and their job and where they are in relation to where they want to be."

Third, encourage young employees to share their ideas to the team. Create a trusting environment that is open to suggestions. It is also important to tell them straight.

Mic chief executive Chris Altchek, via the New York Times, also said that he would rather have "a lot of people speaking their minds than a very controlled environment." Mic is a website created by millennials for millennials.
It seems that Disney is in a bit of trouble. Even with the massive influx of revenue from Star Wars, their quarterly earnings report has shown negative growth. This is mostly due to the fact that ESPN had lost subscribers and ad revenue had fallen.

There was a gain in operating income though due to lower costs. At the end of Tuesday, stocks fell 7%.

Another major factor for this loss is the fact that Disney had decided to discontinue its self-published video game business. Included here is the formerly popular Disney Infinity franchise. In doing so, Disney absorbed a $147 million charge. Disney now plans to license its properties to other game makers. In the process 300 people lost their jobs.

Disney posted $1.36 per share and revenue of $13 billion. This was below target since the conglomerate was expected to to post $1.39 per share in revenue with $13.2 billion.

Another cause for the dip was uncertainty over succession at Disney headquarters. CEO Bob Iger has expressed his intention of not renewing his contract after it expires on June 2018. Heir apparent COO Thomas Staggs had also announced last month that he plans on resigning, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

According to another report also from The Hollywood Reporter, analysts are unfazed by this news. FBR analyst Barton Crockett said, "Disney does less to steer Street estimates than any other media conglomerate, yet its business is in some ways lumpier. Therefore, if the fundamental story is intact, it should not really matter if quarterly earnings miss by cents."

He concluded by saying, "We continue to see durability in TV, rock-star momentum in movies and an encouraging Shanghai park launch next month as factor to support the stock."

Analyst for Drexel Hamilton Tony Wible also kept his "buy" rating but with a slightly lower price target of $117, $1 lower. He said, "Although the results will reignite fears around Disney's exposure to the challenges facing the TV ecosystem, we still believe it is well-positioned through its ownership of major brands, a strong studio, broadcaast hedges, and its ability to launch a premium digital network that would allow it to directly monetize its non-sports content."
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Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday.
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Paul Ryan appears to face little political pressure right now from Republicans back home to endorse Donald Trump, his partys presumptive nominee.

Thats because the House Speaker is far more popular than Trump among GOP voters in his southern Wisconsin congressional district, according to recent polling.

Ryan and Trump plan to meet in Washington Thursday morning to begin to get to know each other and work out their differences.

Ryan was viewed favorably by 81% of Republican voters in his district and unfavorably by 12% in a late March poll by the Marquette University Law School.

By contrast, Trump was viewed favorably by 28% of those voters and unfavorably by 59%.

Thats a pretty massive gap.

The survey was taken before Trump became the presumptive nominee and before last weeks dramatic announcement by Ryan, the partys highest-ranking public official, that he isnt ready yet to make an endorsement.

But a new survey of Ryans district released Tuesday by a different pollster, Remington Research Group, also shows a big gap in popularity between the two men.

Its no surprise Ryan doesnt sound worried about Republican backlash at home over his stance on Trump.

Asked by Janesville radio host Stan Milam Tuesday how much sleep he was losing over the specter of Sarah Palin coming to town to campaign against you, Ryan laughed and said: Im not. Im doing just fine ... Im not sweating that stuff.

The speaker said his constituents were not prone to outside agitation like that.

Palin vowed last Sunday to campaign against Ryan in his August congressional primary because of the Speakers refusal to back Trump.

"I think Paul Ryan is soon to be 'Cantored,' as in Eric Cantor," Palin said, referring to the onetime GOP majority leader of the House whose surprise 2014 defeat in a Virginia primary became a symbol of unrest within the Republican base.

Ryan faces a challenge in his party from businessman Paul Nehlen, who also has criticized the speaker for not backing Trump.

But the combination of Ryans positives in his district and Trumps negatives suggests a pro-Trump backlash against Ryan in Wisconsin is unlikely anytime soon.

The Wisconsin poll numbers in this story come from a statewide survey by Marquette of 1,405 registered voters statewide. Pollster Charles Franklin extracted a smaller sub-sample from that poll that approximates Ryans congressional district.

The polling is in keeping with Trumps weak performance in Ryans district in the April 5 Wisconsin Primary. Trump lost the First Congressional District by 19 points to Ted Cruz, one of four House districts in the state that Trump lost by lopsided margins.

But there are two caveats to all these numbers.

One is that Ryan is facing more GOP pressure at the national level to back Trump than he is at home.

In a new poll by the Economist/YouGov, Trump is much more popular nationally than Ryan among Republican primary voters, the reverse of the pattern in Wisconsin.

The other caveat is that events right now are very fluid.

Within his district Paul Ryan holds the upper hand as a long-serving member of Congress, not to mention a native of the district, Franklin said. But all of this is happening so quickly right now.

In the new survey of Ryans district conducted by Remington, Ryans ratings among GOP voters are very positive, just as they were in Marquettes late March poll.

But Trumps numbers arent nearly as bad as they were in Marquette's poll: He is viewed positively by 41% of Republican primary voters in the district and negatively by 43%.

The polling nationally suggests Trump is gaining popularity with Republicans now that hes clinched the nomination.

And that could raise the pressure on Ryan to eventually endorse Trump.

Follow Craig Gilbert on Twitter @WisVoter
Workers at Alliance Laundry Systems test finished washers in 2014 before they are boxed up and shipped out. The company plans to break ground in June on a $62.6 million expansion that would ultimately add 200 jobs at its Ripon campus. Credit: Doug Raflik / Action Reporter Media

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With incentives from state and local stakeholders, Alliance Laundry Systems plans a $62.6 million expansion to its Ripon campus, ultimately adding 200 jobs.

The expansion marks Alliance's largest in Ripon.

The company plans to break ground in June and, as the project nears completion in 2018, begin much of the hiring for newly created jobs, said Todd Kaull, plant manager at Alliance. The company is hiring now for current open positions.

"Alliance Laundry Systems has been headquartered here in Ripon for more than a hundred years," said Mike Schoeb, Alliance president and CEO. "During that time we have developed a tremendous partnership with both Fond du Lac County and the state of Wisconsin. Those partnerships have allowed us to continue to invest in growing our business and keeping our workforce in Wisconsin."

The expansion would not be possible without an incentive package from local stakeholders, Kaull said in April.

The agreement  between the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corp. (FCEDC), Fond du Lac County and Alliance  would amend a prior $6 million loan to the company and commit up to $1.5 million if Alliance creates 202 jobs through 2021. FCEDC would audit the company each year to keep track of how many workers the company hired. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and the City of Ripon also have provided support for the project.

Alliance Laundry began a $46 million expansion with a $6 million low-interest loan from Fond du Lac County and FCEDC in 2013. That followed the company's $25 million expansion in 2012, adding 270 jobs. Alliance now employs more than 1,700 in Ripon.

From its 2013 project, Alliance promised to add 150 jobs as part of a $46 million upgrade to its manufacturing space in Ripon, with local incentives funded through sales taxes. As of last year, the company added 196 jobs, according to Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel.

A new company board of directors approved the expansion. BDT Capital Partners, a Chicago firm founded by former Goldman Sachs banker Byron Trott, bought a controlling stake in the company last summer. Alliance in 2014 posted a 37% hike in gross profits to $230.2 million from a year before, with $726.3 million in revenue.

The newest project would add jobs in all aspects of the company's manufacturing operation, according to a news release Wednesday.
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Connecture Inc., a Brookfield software company, reported lower revenue and a larger net loss for its first quarter.

The company, which develops software for selling health plans online, reported a net loss of $7.3 million, or 33 cents a share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with a net loss of $5.1 million, or 24 cents a share, in the same period last year.

Revenue fell to $17.6 million, down from $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Connecture ended the quarter with $200,000 in cash and $49.4 million in debt. But this month it received a $52 million investment, of which the company netted $49.3 million, led by Francisco Partners.

The company said it had a total contracted backlog of $93.9 million and that it expects total revenue of $100 million to $110 million this year.
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The first franchise of the burger and Bloody Mary bar Sobelman's Pub & Grill is due to open this summer near West Bend.

Business partners Travis Dowden and Ben Anderson will open the pub in the community of Cedar Creek, southwest of the city of West Bend, at 3747 Cedar Creek Road. The wooden building with a fieldstone foundation held Schwai's tavern and hall for decades, until 2005. It most recently was the site of Emily's Restaurant.

The building itself dates to 1850, Dowden said.

Dowden began frequenting founder Dave and Melanie Sobelman's original pub on W. St. Paul Ave. in Milwaukee when his wife attended Marquette University's dental school nearby. Within the past year, he and Anderson looked into becoming Sobelman's franchisees.

"We always wanted to open our own business and be our own bosses," Dowden said.

They looked for a building with historical character, like the St. Paul Ave. and Mequon Sobelman's Pubs have, and found the Cedar Creek building.

Building owner Kevin Zimmer bought the structure a couple of years ago and renovated it from top to bottom. "It still has a very rustic character," Dowden said.

The first floor will seat about 100 customers; a second floor will be used for overflow seating on weekends and for parties.

In a nod to the building's past, Dowden and Anderson will add sausages from Schwai's Meat & Sausage Market to the standard Sobelman's menu. Schwai's has butcher shops in Cedarburg and Fredonia.

Dowden said he hopes to open the Cedar Creek pub in early to mid-July.
Bunnie Reiss will visit Milwaukee from Los Angeles to paint a mural as part of the new Black Cat Alley street art festival. Credit: Marnie Schayek

Mary Louise Schumacher Art City An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue. SHARE A mural by MTO in Sarasota, Florida. MTO

Street art has taken on a new life in the digital age. Once the domain of guerrilla artists working in the cover of night for the delight of unsuspecting local audiences, it is now a global phenomenon in which artists become internet famous fast.

A new annual street art festival  the Black Cat Alley  intends to bring that global community of artists, many of whom remain anonymous, to a Milwaukee alley each fall.

The hope is to create an outdoor gallery and a significant destination for murals created by artists who are locally, nationally and internationally known.

One European artist, who has made work in Berlin, Paris, Venice, Lisbon, Los Angeles and New Orleans and goes by MTO, will arrive in early July to paint a major wall piece on the exterior of the historic Oriental Theatre. The Oriental mural will be his first artwork in the Midwest.

The 11 artists selected for the inaugural festival include six local artists, Andrea Guzzetta, John Kowalczyk, Jenny Jo Kristan, Brandon Minga, Tia Richardson and Adam Stoner. Two national visiting artists are Bunnie Reiss from Los Angeles and the artist known as CERA of Philadelphia, who is a graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Two student artists will also be included. They are Ian McGibbon of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts and Renee Martinez of MIAD.

The Black Cat Alley festival will take place Sept. 17 and 18 in the alley behind the Oriental, between N. Prospect and N. Farwell avenues and E. Ivanhoe and E. Kenilworth places. An event to celebrate the "MTO" mural will take place July 21. The festival, organized by local artist Stacey Williams-Ng, has received funding from the Milwaukee Arts Board, Roundy's and Colectivo Coffee and will continue raising funds during the summer.

For more information go to Black Cat's website at blackcatmke.com, or follow it on Twitter (@blackcatmke) or on Facebook (facebook.com/blackcatmke).
Summerfest revealed this week that Pitbull would headline the Marcus Amphitheater June 30, completing the Big Gigs lineup on its biggest stage. Credit: Rick Wood

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Every Thursday at 8 a.m. on WYMS-FM (88.9), 88Nine Radio Milwaukee program director Jordan Lee and I talk about shows to see, local music you'll love and more on "TAP'd In." But in case you missed it on air, you can hear the latest episode below.

Following Pitbull's confirmation for the 11th and final Marcus Amphitheater show at Summerfest this year, the headliner lineup is essentially complete. Jordan and I talk about the highlights (Paul McCartney, Sting with Peter Gabriel), and shortcomings, including the loss of its local music stage and an underwhelming hip-hop showing.

We also talk about Augie Haas, the Milwaukee native who plays lead trumpet in Harry Connick, Jr.'s band, and will be playing a hometown show Saturday at the Riverside Theater. And we discuss the debut full-length album from Nineteen Thirteen, the local drum and cello rock duo featuring Violent Femmes co-founder Victor DeLorenzo and Janet Schiff.
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As a small-business owner in New Berlin, I know that every penny from every sale is incredibly important to my success, and those sales are driven by the customers I am able to reach around the world through the Internet and platforms such as eBay. Today, any business  no matter how small or in what industry  must have an online presence to succeed. For my company, which sells scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies domestically and abroad, online sales represent a significant portion of our total revenue every year.

Last week, I joined 25 other eBay small business owners in Washington D.C., to meet with members of Congress, including Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, to discuss Internet sales tax legislation. Current law requires online retailers to collect and remit a single sales tax rate to a single taxing authority for in-state sales  just like main street retailers treat in-store purchases. However, the Marketplace Fairness Act and the Remote Transactions Parity Act would require very small retailers, including me, to collect sales tax for nearly 9,600 jurisdictions and would subject me to audits from across the country.

For big box retailers that so many small businesses compete with, these new compliance requirements could be absorbed. However, the burden this would place on my business would upset my online operations.

Small businesses and start-ups face significant burdens as it is, and many are already at risk of being put out of business by large retailers. As a country, we should be breaking down barriers, opening markets and encouraging small businesses through tools like eBay and the Internet, that support growth and create new economic opportunities.

Along those lines, modernizing trade policies to account for the online economy is also important. Eighteen percent of my company's sales last year were to customers overseas, and those international sales helped me grow my business here at home. Congress has taken steps to update U.S. customs rules and better reflect the current retail market, but more needs to be done. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will modernize trade policies for small business exporters, and future trade policies should build off this model.

While in Washington, I was reminded how important it is for Congress to hear from small business owners. Policymakers often talk about the notion of small businesses being the "foundation of our economy," and the phrase gets tossed around so much that its meaning and significance are almost in jeopardy of being diluted. We are, in fact, the foundation of our economy, and that's why our leaders in Congress must work to protect it.

Rebecca Germain is the owner of Midwest Scrapbook in New Berlin.
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Look for realistic returns

In his letter to Milwaukee County employees, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said that the recent decision to reduce the pension's targeted rate of return on investments could have "an unintended and adverse consequence for county employees" ("County pension contribution to increase," May 4).

Labeling these increased payments as an "adverse consequence" is mischaracterizing to both public employees and taxpayers. By lowering the expected rate of return, both employees and employers are recognizing the true cost of pension benefits and that both groups are responsible for paying these costs.

Failure to adopt realistic rates of return result in underfunding that can have horrible adverse consequences. Just ask the public employees of Puerto Rico, Detroit, and Central Falls what happens when retirement plans are underfunded and governments run low on money.

State and local governments carry approximately $4 trillion in pension debt due to systemic underfunding caused in large part by using unrealistic assumptions of market returns. When plans are underfunded, retirees, employees and taxpayers are all at risk.

The county pension board made a step in the right direction by reducing its target rate to 7.5%; many economists argue that these rates should be even lower. Few pension managers count on 8% returns these days, and more than two-thirds of state retirement systems have decreased their assumptions since 2008.

Reducing expected rates of return reduces risk of "adverse consequences" for retirees, current employees and future taxpayers. That's a good thing.

Chuck Reed

board president

Retirement Security Initiative

former mayor

San Jose, Calif.



Meeusen's potential payday

What a week for Milwaukee businesses! Rich Meeusen of Badger Meter will reap $8.4 million if Badger Meter is sold ("Meeusen could reap big payday," May 6).

Since he was very supportive of the right-to-work bill, you can guess employees will reap nothing with the sale except loss of benefits when a new owner wants to reap quick profits and cover Meeusen's exit package. The question to Meeusen and other CEOs like him is, when is enough money enough?

On the other hand, you have Donald and John Baumgartner of Paper Machinery Corp. who will turn their company over to their employees ("Party turns into owners meeting/Paper Machinery Corp. family transfers company to employees," May 7).

What stand-up people. This is true investment in Milwaukee and its citizens.

Richard Hehn

Mukwonago



Trump and bullying

It was with sadness and anger that I read the article about bullying in the Journal Sentinel issue of May 9 ("Report rejects zero-tolerance on bullying.").

I am sad because I keep hoping that we will get beyond prejudice and bullying in our country. As a retired educator, I know that these problems are extremely difficult to handle. Not much was said in the article about the parents of the students doing the bullying. Children do not develop prejudiced minds or become bullies totally on their own. Because you have to overcome the attitudes in some homes, changing the culture in a school is very difficult. Things are better, but we have a long way to go and change is a long, slow process. We must keep trying, realizing we will not always be thanked (and may be bullied) for our efforts.

I am angry because I see one of our presidential candidates, Donald Trump, run virtually his entire campaign on the idea of bullying others. As I said, children and young people do not develop these attitudes simply on their own. Trump is helping to keep alive the very thing that schools are expected to change. On this basis alone, Trump is totally unfit.

Floyd Brenholt

West Bend



A hero

A big thank you to Jason Stein for the excellent coverage about the boy at Lincoln Hills who saved his roommate from suicide ("Response to suicide attempt criticized," May 8).

That young man is a true hero. He does not belong in a segregated cell. He belongs in a hospital where he can receive the proper care and emotional support he needs.

Julianna Ksicinski

Shorewood
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Trump's standard: America first

The editorial of May 8, "A leader without standards," is deceptive in its portrayal of a conflict between Republican leaders Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

A recent report stated that the Obama administration has allocated more than $1,700 for every unaccompanied minor who invades this country. Meanwhile, the average monthly Social Security check for law-abiding American citizens is $1,300. Ryan's response? He hopes to cut Social Security. Why does he not seek to defund Obama's program of aiding and abetting this invasion?

Ryan favors some form of amnesty for the millions of invaders. If the Obama-Ryan crowd succeeds, perhaps 10 million more will be eligible for preferences. That means the invaders will jump to the head of the line in university admissions, scholarships, jobs, promotions  above most law-abiding Americans.

Trump's standard is America first! Build the wall. Deport the invaders. If some allege they are refugees, if they are Muslims make sure they are the persecuted and not the persecutors. Trump wants to protect America and American jobs.

Hugh Murray

Milwaukee



A venomous commentary

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has now stooped to a new low with its publishing of "Exile for conservatives" on May 6 by Steve Deace (Editorials).

The man calls himself a Christian, then uses venomous, ugly, name-calling language to disparage and insult our president, other presidential candidates and our citizens in general.

It seems to me that one way to focus the paper's readers on a meaningful dialogue about the issues would be to print articles by people who can use the English language to positively and considerately discuss real issues, like health care, economy, world affairs, resources and fairness.

Cheri Briscoe

Milwaukee



Remember the past, indeed

Columnist Christian Schneider claims former Sen. Russ Feingold would like people to forget the last 24 years, like they were "born yesterday" ("Feingold is counting on voters having a short memory," Crossroads, May 8).

All the while his own party, the Republican party, would like us to forget the last 100 years. His party's representatives are doing their best to send us back to a time when there were only two classes of people, the poor and the privileged! Back to the times when only the well off received educations and when women and minorities had no rights.

John Drew

Oak Creek



Walker should follow own advice

The May 11 front page Journal Sentinel article, "UWM faculty backs protest vote," quotes the governor of Wisconsin when he stated: "The university should not be about protecting the interests of the faculty, but about delivering value and excellence to Wisconsin" ("UWM faculty backs protest vote").

It would be gratifying if the governor of Wisconsin would apply such wisdom to operation of his state. The front page of the May 11 Journal Sentinel also has an article titled, "Walker delays debt payment," which concludes that tax payers will pay millions more in interest payments on deferred debt  hard earned money down the drain ("Walker delays debt payoff").

I suggest the governor stop protecting the interests of his big money donors and lobbyists and begin "delivering value and excellence to the people of Wisconsin."

Kurt Fifer

Muskego



Johnson's logic

I read with great amusement Sen. Ron Johnson's statement after his meeting with President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court ("Johnson meets with, still opposes Garland," May 11).

Johnson contends that the Senate shouldn't consider the nominee because there is a presidential election this fall and to do so before the results are in would thwart the will of the people, even though the president was elected to a four-year term, which ends on January 20, 2017. That is to say, the president should cease to fulfill his constitutional duties today because his term ends after this November's election.

Can we assume that Johnson will apply this same logic to himself and immediately refrain from casting votes in the Senate because his term also expires after the election?

John W. Miller

Cedarburg
President Barack Obamas signature legislative accomplishment has been a disaster, according to U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner. Credit: Getty Images

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By

Main Street is the epitome of the American dream. It's the culmination of years of painstakingly hard work, dogged determination, and the desire to succeed. These things have defined America since its conception. For more than 200 years, we have been a nation of doers, and nowhere is that more apparent than in our small business sector.

The United States is home to roughly 28 million small businesses. They represent more than 99% of all employers and employ half of all private-sector workers. They provide roughly 70% of net new jobs annually, pay 44% of the total private payroll in the United States, and produce an approximate GDP of $6 trillion.

America's small businesses drive our economy. They employ our citizens, provide vital services, and create products that improve our lives. Yet, despite the powerful impact they have on this country, small businesses are struggling under the heavy hand of Big Government. The burdensome regulations pushed on small businesses by President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, are the most significant in recent years.

The Congressional Budget Office predicted that the combination of subsidies, taxes and Medicaid expansions would discourage work, reduce labor, and cut aggregate compensation. Conversely, President Obama promised that his signature legislation would mean "more choice, more competition, and lower costs for millions of Americans." The president also claimed that "if you like your health care plan, you can keep it."

It turns out that the CBO prediction was right, while the president received Politifact's "Lie of the Year" in 2013 for his broken promise to the American people.

Plans available to employers vanished as the law was implemented  replaced with more expensive alternatives. Nearly two-thirds of people with health coverage have employer-sponsored plans, resulting in significant costs for business owners. As health insurance premiums continue to increase, small business owners are faced with difficult choices concerning what coverage, if any, they will provide their employees.

In a 2014 study conducted by Devon M. Herrick, senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, Herrick found that employers pass increased health care costs on to workers, such as higher co-payments, delayed hiring, and reduced work hours. All these things mean less money for middle class families.

When forced to choose between their bottom lines or covering higher employee health care costs, many employers opt to drop coverage all together because it is more cost effective to pay noncompliance penalties to the IRS than absorb the heightened financial burden. Other business owners choose to forgo expanding their companies in order to remain under the 50-employee threshold dictated by the law, allowing them to abstain from offering employee health insurance at all. Still others reduce workers' hours in efforts to curb costs. Again, these realities mean less opportunity and lower incomes for middle class families.

These options not only harm national, state, and local economies, but also handicap innovation and growth while putting unnecessary burdens on the American people.

Six years of the Affordable Care Act have negatively impacted the states, and although Gov. Scott Walker had the foresight and common sense to reject Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, opting for a more creative, state-centric plan, Wisconsin small businesses are still feeling the pain of the law's mandates.

At the time his study was released, Herrick found that about 10,000 Wisconsin workers would lose or leave small group employer plans due to regulations in the Affordable Care Act by this year. He also found the average cost of a family employer plan in Wisconsin to be higher than those of 42 other states.

It is no surprise that the majority of Americans disapprove of the president's health care law. According to a recently published Pew Research Center national survey, 54% of respondents said Obamacare has had a mostly negative impact on the country. Congressional Republicans have put forward many repeal efforts, all of which have either been blocked by Democrats or vetoed by President Obama.

The Affordable Care Act has been a disaster for our country. As we look forward to the future, it's clear that the nation's economic success rests heavily on the ability of our small businesses to grow and flourish. In order for that to happen, we must repeal and replace Obamacare, free our businesses from its onerous regulations, and pursue a limited government, free market approach to our health care.

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, a Republican, is from Menomonee Falls.
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By of the

A Madison lawyer nominated by President Barack Obama to fill a long-vacant seat on a federal appeals court will finally get a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The committee announced it had scheduled a hearing on Donald Schott for Wednesday.

In a news release, Sen. Tammy Baldwin called the hearing "an opportunity for Senator (Ron) Johnson to join me in supporting this nomination and returning the Seventh Circuit court to full strength."

Baldwin, a Democrat, and Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, have been blaming each other for delays in filling the seat.

"I don't believe we have completed our responsibility until this nominee is confirmed by the Senate and I will continue to push for a vote so we can finish the job we were elected to do," Baldwin said in the release.

"I signed the blue slip for Don Schott, recommending that the Judiciary Committee consider the nomination, which they are now doing," Johnson said via email Thursday.

A home state senator's decision to withhold the blue slip can delay or derail a judicial nominee's chances for Senate confirmation.

Johnson indicated to the Journal Sentinel last month that he thought it was unlikely that the Senate could confirm Schott.

Johnson also stopped short of saying he personally would back Schott.

Last month, Baldwin wrote to committee chair Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) urging a hearing on Schott, who was nominated on Jan. 12 to fill an opening on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that has been vacant for six years.

The Chicago-based court hears appeals from federal courts in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

Johnson is facing a re-election challenge from former Sen. Russ Feingold, a Democrat Johnson defeated six years ago.

Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who closely follows federal judicial selections, called the judiciary committee hearing a critical step but said that Schott needs to pass several other hurdles for confirmation.

He said if Johnson would introduce Schott to the committee and express support, it would probably approve him.

But if Schott made it to the whole Senate, Tobias said, there will be several nominees ahead of him, some who may have waited months for a vote.

"Johnson will be critical at this point, because he could convince (Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell to hold a floor vote," Tobias said.
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Daesh (ISIL, ISIS) launched a series of suicide car and truck bombs in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 and wounding nearly 200 persons. Baghdad security had improved over the past couple of years, but the Coalition United for Reform blamed political wrangling on sectarian and party bases for the security lapses that allowed the attacks to take place. The presidents spokesman suggested that Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi might need to fire some security officials responsible for the capitals well-being for this major lapse.

Massive popular protests late this winter against corruption and the dominance of high government posts by a handful of parties forced PM al-Abadi to attempt to appoint a cabinet of neutral technocrats. Iraq is governed by a spoils system, so the parties are given control of ministries, and use the ministries to employ relatives and clients. In a country of 32 million, some 7 million people are now said to work for the government. When al-Abadi threatened to take away that party patronage in the ministries by appointing a cabinet of neutral technocrats, the party elites mobilized against him in parliament and stopped him from going forward. Parliament split on the issue, and now has two elected Speakers, each of which denounces the other as an impostor. Under these circumstances, it is almost impossible to have parliament confirm the new cabinet members.

In the face of this elite feet-dragging, a large crowd of followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr recently invaded the Green Zone and went into the parliament building, from which the obstructionism was emanating.

It is being alleged in Baghdad that this factionalism led the citys security forces to be unprepared for Wednesdays bombings.

As for Daesh, it has faced very severe reversals just this year, losing Ramadi and Palmyra and many more. Daesh faces a reverse snowball effect and the danger it will just dwindle away. Its oil receipts are way down and it faces substantial pressure in the urban world.

It is in danger of not being able to attract high-value Westerners with arms training to its violent aggressions. It has also seen its oil revenue plummet. Daesh has lost much of its 2014 territory. These bombings of soft targets in Shiite neighborhoods, killing children and women, were designed to announce to like-minded Salafi puritans that the organization is still powerful and that joining it can bring devotees loot from razed or occupied towns.

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

ABC News: Baghdad Bomb Spree | Iraqi Capitals Most Violent Day of the Year
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By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus) |  

The victory of Sadiq Khan has "normalized" Muslims in UK politics in much the same way that JFK normalized Catholics in American politics. But American Muslims are still waiting for their JFK moment.

Even his own sister was mortified.

In the recent mayoral race in London, the Conservative Partys Zac Goldsmith was in many ways the perfect candidate: a young, handsome fellow who possessed full-spectrum appeal.

To win the election, Goldsmith could have focused on all the work hed done on the environment, as a journalist and former editor of the magazine The Ecologist. To further woo liberals, he could have highlighted his considerable international experience and his support of the rights of indigenous peoples. Conversely, he could have cemented his popularity among conservative populists by emphasizing his skeptical attitude toward the European Union. If hed played it safe, Goldsmith could have translated an early lead in the polls into a victory at the ballot box.

Instead, the Goldsmith team prompted a huge backlash by suggesting that his opponent, the Labor Partys Sadiq Khan, was a Muslim extremist because of his associations and his political bedfellows. The rhetoric from the Conservative camp was nothing so blatant or ugly as some of the proposals in the Republican presidential primary, such as prohibiting Muslims candidates from entering the Oval Office (Ben Carson) or prohibiting Muslims immigrant from entering the country (Donald Trump).

Still, the insinuations prompted Goldsmiths sister Jemima, a prominent journalist and convert to Islam, to write on Twitter: Sad that Zacs campaign did not reflect who I know him to be. Even fellow Conservatives distanced themselves from the candidate. Former Conservative cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi, for instance, decried the appalling dog whistle racism, and the Conservative leader in the London Assembly, Andrew Boff, called the tactics outrageous.

Last week, when Londoners went to the polls to elect their mayor, the billionaire conservative suffered a humiliating landslide defeat. Sadiq Khan will be the new face of multicultural London.

Whats most interesting about the handling of Goldsmiths campaign is the perception, among his advisors, that the instrumental use of Islamophobia would be politically helpful. It wasnt such a reach, perhaps. On the continent at least, the tactic seemed to work in boosting the fortunes of what should otherwise be fringe parties like the National Front in France, the Alternative fur Deutschland in Germany, and the Sweden Democrats. And the blatantly anti-Muslim UK Independence Party (UKIP) has been steadily gaining support, nearly doubling its representation in the same local elections.

London, of course, is a city, and a very diverse one at that. What might work in Britain as a whole clearly failed with the more cosmopolitan voters in its capital. Polling at 20 percent across most of the country in the 2014 elections, UKIP managed only 7 percent in London. One UKIP candidate attributed the difference to the more media-savvy and educated population of the capital city.

It would be reassuring to believe that Sadiq Khans victory will banish Islamophobia from the electoral toolbox, particularly here in the United States. But America is not London. And our billionaire conservative is no tree-hugging friend of indigenous peoples. He doesnt care about offending liberal sensibilities.

Moreover, anti-Islamic sentiment has been steadily rising in the United States, thanks to a relatively small group of well-funded organizations and individuals. Even if Donald Trump loses in November, as he most assuredly will, Islamophobia will not slink into the shadows along with its mouthpiece, the disgraced reality star.

Astounding Misinformation

Since 2001, the United States has resettled about 800,000 refugees inside its borders. Of that number, five have been arrested on terrorism charges. Two were arrested this January, another in 2013, and the other two in 2011. Five out of 800,000 equals .000625 percent. Thats practically the definition of statistically insignificant.

Yet, as the Brooking Institutions Robert McKenzie pointed out at a recent panel in Washington, DC sponsored by Brookings and Duke University, 31 out of 50 governors have announced that they want to bar Syrian refugees from entering their states. All but one of these governors is a Republican. Its an important reminder that the scaremongering of Trump, Carson, and the other erstwhile presidential candidates poisons the party as a whole.

The problem extends beyond individual Islamophobes. Equally troubling is the overall climate of bigotry and fear. Christopher Bail, a Duke University researcher who also participated in the panel, has been documenting the spread of Islamophobia. He presented a series of graphs that revealed that:

Over the past decade, 32 states proposed shariah law bans, controversies about the construction of mosques have increased by more than 800 percent, and the number of Americans with negative opinions of Islam has more than doubled.

To understand how astonishing these results are, imagine if I wrote that 32 states had proposed anti-UFO laws, that controversies over the construction of playgrounds had increased by 800 percent, and that the number of Americans with negative opinions of Judaism had more than doubled. Youd think that the country had been taken over by delusional, child-hating Nazis.

After all, there is zero evidence of a campaign to impose shariah law anywhere in the United States  the only case ever cited is one in which a domestic court judge based his judgment on shariah law, which the appellate court sensibly overturned  just as theres no evidence of an alien plot to take over the world. Mosque attendance has been definitively demonstrated to reduce extremism, not encourage it. And although anti-Semitism is universally reviled, anti-Islamic sentiment flourishes because many Americans associate the religion with the tiny number of extremists who call themselves Muslims rather than with the 99.9 percent who are not followers of the Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

For information on the negative correlation between mosque attendance and extremism, you can turn to an important 2010 study, also from Duke University. Or you can look at recent polling from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), which Dalia Mogahed also presented at the Duke-Brookings panel.

Muslim Americans who regularly attend mosques are more likely than those who do not frequent mosques to work with their neighbors to solve community problems (49 vs. 30 percent), be registered to vote (74 vs. 49 percent), and are more likely to plan to vote (92 vs. 81 percent).

ISPU also found that Muslims in America are just as likely as members of other religious groups to oppose the targeting and killing of civilians by individuals or small groups and far more likely to oppose the targeting and killing of civilians by the military (65 percent, versus 45 percent of Jews and slightly less for Catholics and Protestants, say such practices are never justified).

The fact that Americans are so ignorant of the basic facts about Muslims in America isnt simply the result of a lack of contact (most Americans dont personally know any Muslims) or the absence of information in school curricula. Much of the ignorance around Muslims, particularly as it relates to security issues, is manufactured.

A relatively small industry of pundits and activists  Pamela Geller, Frank Gaffney, Walid Phares, Robert Spencer, and their associated donors  have managed to inject their views into mainstream organizations (if you consider the Heritage Foundation mainstream) and into the news media (if you consider Fox to be news). And from there, these calculated distortions have entered the political discourse (if you consider what Donald Trump says to be discourse).

But its not just The Donald.

From the Margins to the Center

In her victory speech after the Pennsylvania primary last month, Hillary Clinton gave a shout out to all the various constituencies that make up her voting bloc: women, workers, LGBT, people with disabilities. She also warned of what would happen should candidates from the other side prevail:

They would make it harder to vote, not easier. They would deny women the right to make our own reproductive health care decisions. They would round up millions of hardworking immigrants and deport them. They would demonize and discriminate against hardworking, terror-hating Muslim Americans who we need in the fight against radicalization. And both of the top candidates in the Republican Party deny climate change even exists.

At first glance, Hillary is hitting all the right notes. But as Omid Safi, the head of the Duke Islamic Studies Center, pointed out at the above-mentioned panel, only Muslim Americans merited an ominous qualifier: terror-hating.

Hillary is implying that, without such a qualifier, Muslim Americans are somehow guilty by association. They are connected in the public mind with the San Bernardino couple who killed 14 people at the end of last year  unless they explicitly say otherwise  in a way that white Christians are not expected to disavow their connection to Dylann Roof, who likewise killed nine people last year.

For most Americans, Muslims are the other, a group of people who have to constantly prove the negative: that theyre not terror-loving. Good luck proving the negative. In such an environment, Muslims will never be above suspicion. Muslim organizations have repeatedly decried every terrorist act linked to Muslims, but the mainstream media has just as repeatedly ignored them. And so continues the myth that Muslims secretly approve of what al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are doing.

To defeat Islamophobia, or at least to stigmatize it to the same degree as racism and anti-Semitism, political victories over candidates who use both dog whistles and megaphones to trumpet anti-Islamic sentiment are, of course, essential. But the challenge is greater.

First, as Omid Safi pointed out, you shouldnt fight intolerance with tolerance. A concept emerging from ancient pharmacology, tolerance meant the degree to which a body could put up with a toxin. Muslims are not toxins. They are part of the fabric of American society. Like all other Americans, they deserve to be respected for how they are the same as everyone else  and different.

On the side of difference, they practice a religion that has features in common with other monotheisms as well as quite a few unique features. But whether its praying toward Mecca, making annual charitable contributions, or undertaking the hajj (pilgrimage), the essential features of Islam have been part of the American landscape since before even the birth of the country. Difference is what makes America great. Those who prefer cultural uniformity should relocate to, well, Saudi Arabia, for instance.

On the side of similarity, its time to stop securitizing Muslims  thinking of them only in terms of terrorism, national security, and threat. As the ISPU polling indicates, American Muslims have the same preoccupations as the rest of America: the economy. They identify strongly as patriotic, and the more religiously observant they are, the more being American is important to their identity. They are far more satisfied than any other religious group with the direction the country is currently heading. And they are far more diverse a group than any other religious community. With large numbers of African American, Latino, and Asian adherents, the American Muslim community looks more like America than Protestants, Jews, or even Catholics.

The victory of Sadiq Khan has normalized Muslims in UK politics in much the same way that JFK normalized Catholics in American politics. American Muslims are still waiting for their JFK moment. True, for the last seven years, large numbers of Americans have thought that their president is a Muslim, which in Islamophobic America has been just another way of saying that these conspiracy theorists dont like Obama. So, obviously, that doesnt count.

The presidential victory of Obama was not the end of racism. But it did serve as a watershed moment in the evolving status of the African American community and represented a significant nail in bigotrys coffin. Some day in the future, when the grotesqueries of Donald Trump are a fading memory and even the Islamophobia-lite of mainstream politicians will seem as archaic as the anti-Semitic insinuations of polite 1950s America, the occupant of the Oval Office will state that she is proud to be both American and Muslim.

There will be cheers. There will be boos. But well know that the era of Islamophobia has passed when the most common reaction is a shrug and a yawn.

John Feffer is the director of Foreign Policy In Focus.

Foreign Policy in Focus



Related video added by Juan Cole:

The National: London Mayor Sadiq Khan slams Donald Trump
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 12, 2016) - Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. ("Kirkland Lake Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:KGI), an intermediate gold producer with operations in Ontario, Canada, today announces first quarter financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 ("Q1/16"). All figures in this release are in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise.

The Company changed its fiscal year from an April 30th year end to a December 31st calendar year end effective January 1, 2016. As such, for comparative purposes, the Company will compare the current quarter results to a similar period in the previous year (see table below). The Company also advises that it will now report measurements in metric as opposed to its previous form of imperial measurements. The conversions are 1 short ton = 0.9072 tonnes; and 1 troy ounce per ton = 34.2857 grams per metric tonne ("g/t").

The following abbreviations are used to describe the periods under review throughout this press release.

Abbreviation Period Abbreviation Period Q1/16 NEW: January 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016 FQ4/15 February 1, 2015 - April 30, 2015 Q3/SY15 November 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015 FQ3/15 November 1, 2014 - January 31, 2015 Q2/SY15 August 1, 2015 - October 31, 2015 FQ2/15 August 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014 Q1/SY15 May 1, 2015 - July 31, 2015 FQ1/15 May 1, 2014 - July 31, 2014

Q1/16 Highlights

Pre-released production of 69,464 ounces of gold in Q1/16, on track to meet its production guidance of between 270,000 to 290,000 ounces for 2016.

Sold 69,309 ounces of gold at an average realized price per ounce of $1,584 (US$1,154) during the quarter.

Achieved operating costs per ounce of gold sold 1 of $846 (US$616); and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold 1 ("AISC") of $1,246 1 (US$907) in Q1/16.

of $846 (US$616); and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold ("AISC") of $1,246 (US$907) in Q1/16. Realized income before income taxes of $19.9 million during the quarter and net and comprehensive income of $12.5 million and $12.6 million respectively, or $0.12 per share.

Generated cash flow from operations during the quarter of $43.7 million.

Generated free cash flow1 of $23.6 million during the quarter.

Mr. George Ogilvie, Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented, "We are pleased to report strong financial results for the first quarter of 2016, with a healthy balance sheet that will allow us to execute our plans over the next 12 months."

"We look at 2016 as a transformational year for Kirkland Lake Gold as we continue to work towards a successful integration of East Timmins; execute at the operations which will allow us to further deleverage the balance sheet; and of course, push forward with our exploration programs which we believe will allow for tremendous upside in the future."

Financial Summary

* Comparative figures prior to Q1/16 do not include results from the East Timmins Operations. Consolidated results do not include results from ETO from January 1st to January 25th, 2016, prior to close of the transaction with St Andrew Goldfields Ltd. ("St Andrew").

CAD$ Q1/16 FQ4/15 Change Gold Ounces Sold 69,309 39,109 77 % Average Realized Price ($) (per Oz)1 1,584 1,481 7 % Revenue (000's) 109,788 57,935 90 % Income before Income Taxes 19,915 8,262 141 % Income Tax Expense 7,396 388 1806 % Operating Cost per Tonne1 262 392 (33 %) Operating Cost per Oz Sold1 846 842 0 % Capital Development Investment 16,727 10,896 54 % Purchase of Property, Plant and Equipment 3,379 2,003 69 % AISC per Oz Sold1 1,246 1,258 (1 %)

USD$ Q1/16 FQ4/15 Change Exchange Rate (Average Noon Rate) 1.3732 1.2485 (10 %) Consolidated Ounces Sold 69,309 39,109 77 % Average Realized Price ($) (per Oz)1 1,154 1,186 (3 %) Revenue (000's) 79,950 46,404 72 % Income before Income Taxes (000's) 14,503 6,618 119 % Income Tax Expense 5,396 311 1633 % Operating Cost per Tonne1 191 314 (39 %) Operating Cost per Oz Sold1 616 674 (9 %) Capital Development Investment 12,181 8,727 40 % Purchase of Property, Plant and Equipment 2,461 1,604 53 % AISC per Oz Sold1 907 1,008 (10 %)

Financial Results Summary

The Company reported net and comprehensive income for the quarter of approximately $12.5 million and $12.6 million respectively, or $0.12 per share compared to $7.9 million or $0.11 per share for the quarter ended April 30, 2015 (FQ4/15). The current reporting quarter does not include financial results from the East Timmins Operations for the first 25 days of January prior to close of the acquisition and also includes transaction costs of $1.9 million and integration costs of $0.6 million on a pre-tax basis.

Free cash flow for the quarter was $23.6 million compared to $7.8 million during FQ4/15 reflecting higher realized gold prices, lower AISC per oz sold, and increased production and sales as a result of the additional production from the East Timmins Operations. As a result of the free cash flow generation and the $10.9 million in cash acquired through the transaction, cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter was $130.5 million compared to $93.7 million at December 31, 2015. Working capital for the Company stands at $120.9 million as at March 31, 2016, compared to $86.3 million as at December 31, 2015.

Acquisition of St Andrew

On January 26, 2016, St Andrew became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and each of the issued and outstanding common shares of St Andrew were acquired by the Company in consideration for 0.0906 of one common share of Kirkland Lake Gold.

Since the close of the transaction, the Company has been focused on the successful integration of the teams and business units and to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership for all parties. While this process is expected to take up to 12 months to be fully complete, this has been a relatively smooth transition for all, especially in light of the close proximity of the operations and labour force.

Operations Overview

Kirkland Lake Gold pre-released production results on April 14, 2016, with a total of 69,454 ounces of gold production from the Macassa Mine Complex and the East Timmins Operations (which included 7,189 ounces of production for the first 25 days of January).

The operations performed well during the quarter with grades, recoveries, and throughput all in line with expectations. A breakdown of operational performance at each asset is outlined in the table below.

* Comparative figures prior to Q1/16 do not include results from the East Timmins Operations. Consolidated results do not include results from ETO from January 1st to January 25th, 2016, prior to close of the transaction with St Andrew.

Consolidated Operations Q1/16 Q4/15* Change Tonnes Ore Mined 221,599 83,944 164 % Average tpd 2,435 943 218 % Average Head Grade (g/t) 9.1 14.6 (46 %) Tonnes Ore Milled 223,450 83,944 166 % Recovery - % 94.7 % 96.6 % (2 %) Gold Produced (Oz) 62,275 37,979 64 % Development metres - Operating 2,896 1,590 82 % Development metres - Capital 2,901 1,923 51 % Macassa Mine Complex Q1/16 Q4/15* Change Tonnes Ore Mined - SMC 67,929 56,499 20 % Tonnes Ore Mined - Main Break 17,780 27,444 (35 %) Average tpd 942 943 0 % Average Head Grade (g/t) 15.3 14.6 5 % Tonnes Ore Milled 85,845 83,944 2 % Recovery - % 97.3 % 96.6 % 1 % Gold Produced (Oz) 41,054 37,979 8 % Development metres - Operating 1,619 1,590 2 % Development metres - Capital 1,417 1,923 (26 %)

East Timmins Operations Q1/16 (January 26 to March 31, 2016) Holt Holloway Taylor Tonnes Ore Mined 74,390 31,677 29,822 Average tpd 1,127 480 452 Average Head Grade (g/t) 4.3 4.5 7.6 Tons ore milled 74,453 31,664 31,487 Recovery - % 94.6 % 91.1 % 95.8 % Gold Produced (Oz) 9,662 4,212 7,347 Development metres - Operating 506 478 293 Development metres - Capital 701 49 733

Exploration

During the first quarter, exploration programs were focused on underground drilling at the Macassa Mine Complex and regional surface drilling testing eastwards of the SMC. Underground drilling commenced from a new exploration drift on the 4250m Level to follow up on mineralization encountered on the '04 Break above the 3400m Level (see press release dated February 23, 2015). Underground drilling from the 5300m Level exploration drift continued to test eastwards and to the south, expanding the known zone of mineralization as well as infill drilling. Surface drilling to test deep targets eastwards of the SMC continued with 4 drills and is aimed at following up on the results released in November 2015 and January 2016 (see respective press releases dated November 3, 2015 and January 19, 2016). Results from these programs will be released as they become available.

The Company released guidance for 2016 which included an expanded exploration budget of $8 million to be spent at the East Timmins Operations, mainly on resource expansion at the Holloway and Taylor mines (see press release dated April 14, 2016). A combination of surface and underground drilling has commenced to test a number of targets at each operation. As well, a number of regional targets have been identified across the Company's 120km strike of land situated along the Porcupine-Destor Fault Zone, and drilling is expected to commence towards the end of 2016 or early in 2017.

Q1/16 Key Performance Indicators

The 2016 guidance metrics were released on April 14, 2016, and are summarized against the first quarter results below. The lower spend on Property, Plant & Equipment ("PP&E") during Q1/16 is attributable to a delay in the delivery of equipment, which is expected in the second and third quarter of this year. As a result, the Total Capital Expenditures (which includes capital development as well as PP&E) and AISC1 have been positively affected in Q1/16, and are expected to be higher in the next two quarters.

2016 Guidance Guidance Metrics Q1/16 Results 270,000 - 290,000 Gold Production (ounces) 69,454 7.7 Head Grade (g/t Au) 9.1 $800 - $850 Operating Costs1 (C$/Oz) $846 $1,300 - $1,350 All-In Sustaining Costs1(C$/Oz) $1,246 $120 million Total Capital Expenditures (millions of dollars) $20.1 million

(1) The Company has included the following non-GAAP performance measures in this press release; average realized price per ounce sold, operating cost per tonne sold and operating cost per ounce sold, AISC per ounce sold, and free cash flow. These are common performance measures in the mining industry but do not have any standardized meaning. Refer to the end of this press release or Appendix B of the MD&A for a reconciliation of these measures to the accompanying financial statements.

For a description of risk factors affecting the Company and 'Forward Looking Information', see the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the Company's MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2016, filed with certain securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For a description and reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures please see below and refer to Appendix B of the Company's MD&A for period ended March 31, 2016, as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, or at the end of this release.

Q1/16 Earnings Call (May 13, 2016)

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results tomorrow, Friday May 13, at 10:00am EDT. The Company invites you to participate via teleconference, the details of which are outlined below and are available on the Company's website at www.klgold.com.

Participant Dial-In Numbers

Toll-Free North America: +1 (877) 291-4570; Local and International: +1 (647) 788-4919

Local from Switzerland: (0-800) 835-354; Local from the United Kingdom: (0-800) 051-7107

Conference ID: 93207658

Replay Dial-In Numbers

Local and International: +1 (416) 621-4642

Toll Free North America: +1 (800) 585-8367

Conference ID: 93207658

Replay Available Until: June 13, 2016 at 11:59PM ET

Qualified Persons

Production at the various operations and processing at the Company's milling facilities are under the supervision of Mr. Chris Stewart, P.Eng, the Vice President of Operations. The Company's exploration program is under the supervision of Mr. Doug Cater, P.Geo, the Vice President of Exploration.

Messrs. Stewart and Cater are 'qualified persons' for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, of the Canadian Securities Administrators, and have reviewed and approved this news release. As the Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Exploration, Messrs. Stewart and Cater are not considered independent.

Selected Financial Information & Review of Overall Performance

* Comparative figures prior to Q1/16 do not include results from the East Timmins Operations. Consolidated results do not include results from ETO from January 1st to January 25th, 2016, prior to close of the transaction with St Andrew.

Financial Highlights

(All amounts in 000's of Canadian Dollars, except gold price per ounce, shares and per share figures) 3 months ended

Mar 31, 2016 2 months ended

Dec 31, 2015 3 months ended

Apr 30, 2015 Gold Sales (ounces) 69,309 25,284 39,109 Average Realized Gold Price (per ounce sold)1 1,584 1,486 1,481 Revenue 109,788 37,581 57,935 Production Expenses 77,742 28,444 43,551 Exploration Expenditure 2,581 1,527 1,798 Other Expenses 9,551 4,844 4,324 Income before Income Taxes 19,914 2,765 8,262 Net Income 12,519 1,040 7,874 Comprehensive Income 12,601 1,040 7,874 Per share (basic and diluted) 0.12 0.01 0.11 Cash flow from operations 43,702 15,362 20,728 Cash flow (used in) from financing activities (7,581 ) (5,724 ) 28,303 Cash flow from (used in) investing activities 1,057 452 (12,385 ) Net increase in cash 36,784 10,337 36,304 Total cash resources 130,511 93,727 80,322 Other Current Assets 46,557 25,506 26,536 Current Liabilities 56,172 32,949 35,854 Working Capital 122,023 86,284 71,004 Total Assets 713,063 484,740 467,259 Total Liabilities 221,962 172,146 165,272 Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding 105,281,126 80,954,117 73,674,090 Dividends per share NIL NIL NIL

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included non-GAAP performance measures throughout this document. These include: operating costs per tonne and operating costs per ounce of gold sold, all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold, free cash flow, average realized sales price and working capital. Operating costs per tonne of ore and ounce of gold sold and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold are common performance measures in the mining industry but do not have any standardized meaning. The guidance provided by the World Gold Council for calculating all-in sustaining costs was reviewed and followed. Total operating costs include mine site operating costs (mining, processing and refining, in-mine drilling expenditures, administration, and production taxes), but are exclusive of other costs (royalties, depreciation and depletion, off-site corporate costs, reclamation, capital, long-term development and exploration). The Company currently considers all capital spending to be sustaining in nature. These measures, along with sales, are considered by the Company to be indicators of the Company's ability to generate operating earnings and free cash flows from its mining operations. The Company believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flows. These should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of production costs presented under IFRS. The following tables provide reconciliation of such costs to the Company's financial statements for the periods as noted:

Free Cash Flow

(All amounts in 000's of Canadian Dollars, except shares and per share figures) Three months ended Three months ended Mar 31, 2016 Apr 30, 2015 Cash Inflows from Operations $ 43,712 $ 20,728 Mineral Property Additions (16,727 ) (10,896 ) Property, Plant & Equipment (3,379 ) (2,002 ) Free Cash Flow $ 23,607 $ 7,830 Weighted Average Shares outstanding 105,281,126 73,334,778 Cash Inflows from Operations per share 0.42 0.28 Free Cash Flow per share 0.22 0.11

Operating Costs

All amounts in 000s of Canadian Dollars except tons ore produced, ounces of gold sold and unit costs Three months ended Three months ended Mar 31, 2016 Apr 30, 2015 Production Expense $ 77,742 $ 43,550 Amortization and Depletion (14,708 ) (8,868 ) Stock-based compensation (69 ) (180 ) Royalties (4,332 ) (1,571 ) Operating Costs $ 58,633 $ 33,931 Tonnes of Ore Produced 223,450 83,944 Ounces of Gold Sold 69,309 39,109 Operating Cost per Tonne $ 262 $ 392 Operating Cost per Ounce Sold $ 846 $ 842

AISC per Ounce Sold

All amounts in 000s of Canadian Dollars except ounces sold and unit costs Three months ended Three months ended Mar 31, 2016 Apr 30, 2015 Operating Costs $ 58,633 $ 32,931 Royalties Expense 4,332 1,571 Stock Based Compensation 69 762 Exploration Expense (no Surface) 901 435 Corporate Expense (no financing costs) 2,374 615 Mineral Property Additions 16,727 10,896 Property, Plant & Equipment Purchases 3,379 2,002 AISC $ 86,415 $ 49,212 Ounces of Gold Sold 69,309 39,109 AISC per Ounce Sold $ 1,246 1,258

Working Capital

(All amounts in 000s of Canadian Dollars) Mar 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2015 Apr 30, 2015 Current Assets 177,079 119,233 106,858 Current Liabilities 56,172 32,949 35,854 Working Capital 120,907 86,284 71,004

About the Company

Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. is a Canadian focused, intermediate gold producer with assets in the historic Kirkland Lake gold camp, and east of the Timmins gold camp along the Porcupine-Destor Fault Zone, both in northeastern Ontario. The Company is currently targeting annual gold production of between 270,000 to 290,000 ounces from its cornerstone asset, the Macassa Mine Complex and the recently acquired East Timmins Operations.

The Company is committed to building a sustainable mining company that is recognized as a safe and responsible gold producer with quality assets in safe mining jurisdictions.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made such as, without limitation, opinion, assumptions and estimates of management regarding the Company's business, including but not limited to; the development of the Macassa Mine Complex and the East Timmins Operations and the anticipated timing thereof, estimated production results, the anticipated timing and commencement of the East Timmins Operations exploration program, the ability to lower costs and gradually increase production. Such opinions, assumptions and estimates, are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

These factors include the Company's expectations in connection with the projects and exploration programs being met, the impact of general business and economic conditions, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, fluctuating gold prices, currency exchange rates (such as the Canadian dollar versus the United States Dollar), possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in the Company's corporate mineral reserves and resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in project development, construction, production and commissioning time frames, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, higher prices for fuel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, unexpected changes in mine life, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, and limitations on insurance, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the interim period ended December 31, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Nearly 150 individuals, including 11 children, have died this year in Nigerias military detention barracks, Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] reported [text; press release] Wednesday. According to the report, the Giwa detention barracks detains around 1,200 people, many of whom were arbitrarily detained and are being held without evidence. The detainees are allegedly housed in dirty, overcrowded cells and struggle with starvation and dehydration. AI claims the overcrowding is a consequence of a system of arbitrary mass arrest and detention in the governments fight against Boko Haram. Netsanet Belay, AIs Research and Advocacy Director for Africa, called for an immediate closure of the Giwa barracks. Nigerias military spokesman Rabe Abubakar rebutted the report, stating that Nigeria has made improvements to the barracks, and the reported conditions are overstated.

The militant Islamic group Boko Haram, whose name means Western education is a sin, has been fighting to overthrow the Nigerian government in the interest of creating an Islamist state. In February UN human rights experts urged [JURIST report] the Nigerian government to guarantee the safety of areas liberated from Boko Haram. In November the UN Secretary-General condemned [JURIST report] yet another attack by Boko Haram in Nigeria that left 30 dead and approximately 80 injured. In April 2015 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein reported [JURIST report] that Boko Haram militants in Nigeria have been murdering women and girls previously taken captive by the group. The group has been increasing the intensity and frequency of its attacks [JURIST report] ever since it lost most of the territory it overtook earlier last year to the Nigerian army. Most of these attacks have centered around markets, bus stations, places of worship and hit-and-run attacks on villages.
The senate of Brazil voted [press release, in Portuguese] on Thursday to suspend and initiate an impeachment trial against President Dilma Rousseff for allegedly borrowing from state banks to cover a deficit and pay for social programs to secure her re-election in 2014. The senate debated throughout the night and voted on Thursday morning 55 to 22 [tally, official website] to suspend the president. Vice President Michel Temer [NYT report] will act as leader of Latin Americas biggest country while Rousseff steps aside for her impeachment trial that could last six months [NYT report]. During her suspension, Rousseff will not have access to the presidential offices in the Planalto Palace and will not be part of any official host delegation during the upcoming summer Olympics.

Brazils political establishment has been in turmoil as many powerful politicians have been recently brought to the center of embarrassing corruption investigations. Last week Brazils Supreme Court suspended [JURIST report] lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha after being suspected of obstructing investigations into his allegedly corrupt activities. Also last week local Brazilian media reported [JURIST report] that the countrys top prosecutors had requested an investigation into Rousseff over alleged connected to the Petrobras corruption scandal. Although there is widespread opposition against Rousseff, her supporters who have rallied [JURIST report] in her support in the past could spell future turmoil in the country.
Italian members of parliament on Wednesday voted [press release, in Italian] in favor of a law recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples. The Italian Parliament voted [NYT report] 372 to 51 with 99 abstentions in favor of the law. The vote makes Italy the last major Western country and last nation in the 28-nation EU to grant [NPR report] legal recognition to civil unions. The law stops short of granting same-sex couples the ability to adopt their partners biological children, and many advocates have simultaneously applauded the vote and admitted that it does not grant full equality to same-sex couples. Opponents of the law have vowed to call for a referendum to repeal the law.

The issue of same-sex marriage continues to be a controversial international issue. This week the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Mississippi filed [JURIST report] a federal lawsuit challenging a law that allows state employees to refuse to issue same-sex civil union licenses and allows private businesses and religious groups to deny services to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities without the threat of punishment. Last month, the Constitutional Court of Colombia made [JURIST report] the country the fourth Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage. Also last month, a judge in China refused [JURIST report] to allow a same-sex couple to register as married. In addition, JURIST Guest Columnist Jeremiah A. Ho of the University of Massachusetts School of Law, discussed [JURIST Commentary report] last month with JURIST the recent anti-LGBTQ legislations in several conservative states and suggested that marriage equality is not enough to protect the LGBTQ minority group.
Planned Parenthood [advocacy website] filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] against Ohios health department on Wednesday over a law designed to reduce funding to the organization. Planned Parenthood claims that thousands of patients will be denied access to HIV tests, cancer screenings, health education and prevention programs without the funding. The Ohio law [JURIST report] is to take effect May 23, but Planned Parenthood is attempting to prevent the enforcement. The complaint argues that the law violates their First Amendment rights because they were denied funds for providing abortions. Opponents claim the lawsuit is frivolous, stating that Planned Parenthood is not entitled to any funds at all. This is one of the many laws recently passed in Ohio in efforts to restrict access to abortions.

Planned Parenthood has recently been fighting against many laws seeking to defund the organization. In January US President Barack Obama vetoed legislation [JURIST report] that would have defunded Planned Parenthood. In August Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] in the US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, alleging that Alabama Governor Robert Bentleys termination of Medicaid provider agreements for the facility violates a federal law that requires Medicaid beneficiaries to have a choice in provider for family planning. Also in August the Alaska Superior Court struck down [JURIST report] a state law it says would have unfairly burdened low-income individuals by limiting Medicaid funding for abortions.
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The criminal trial charging Daniel Miller, 26, of Elliott with first-degree murder never began Tuesday as prose-cutors announced all the witnesses for the state "developed a case of selective amnesia."Miller was arrested in Walker, Minn., on Nov. 29, 2006, and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the disappearance and death of April Corter, 24, of Red Oak.

Corter was reported missing by her family on Oct. 13, 2006. She was last seen in the company of her boyfriend, Miller, on Sept. 26.

Authorities received tips from the community that led them to an abandoned well on a farm five miles outside of Oakland near 480th Street and Elmtree Road.

Corter's body was removed from the well on Nov. 27, 2006. She was found to have large plastic zip ties around her neck and ankles. An autopsy determined the cause of death was strangulation.

Chief Deputy County Attorney Jon Jacobmeier said at the beginning of the investigation more than 70 people were willing witnesses to ongoing domestic assault in the relationship as well as drug abuse.

Miller previously waived his right to a jury trial, and 20 witnesses were prepared to testify in front of District Court Judge Greg W. Steensland until today, according to Jacobmeier. He said almost all of the witnesses developed "selective amnesia" and all but four recanted their intended testimony.

"I couldn't stand to see him walk out that door on Thursday," Jacobmeier said. He said that without reliable wit-nesses a judge might have found Miller innocent.

The charges were amended to willful injury causing serious injury and third-degree kidnapping, both Class C felonies punishable up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 to $10,000 fine.

Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber explained the amended charges to the court, saying that there was no direct physical evidence or circumstantial evidence to positively convict Miller of murder.

"There is no question that April Corter was brutally killed. The question in this case was not whether or not it was a homicide but who committed it," Wilber said. "We had several witnesses that (Miller) admitted killing April Corter to. Those witnesses had credibility problems."

Wilber said that two of the remaining witnesses are incarcerated, a third has been identified in a drug investiga-tion and the final willing witness had questionable mental health.

Wilber gave credit to Melissa Miller, the defendant's sister, for coming forward with the location of the body in the first place. He said thanks to her tip, the case made it to court; and thanks to her memory lapse it could go no further.

"I've agreed (to amend the charges) because I think as a professional it's the right thing to do. I'm not happy about it," Wilber told the court. "I was there, your honor, when we pulled her out of the well."

Miller pleaded guilty to the amended charges, waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and was sentenced by 11 a.m. He must serve two consecutive 10-year prison terms and pay $2,000 in fines. Steensland also ordered Miller to pay $150,000 restitution to Corter's estate or heirs.

Theresa Bias, Corter's mother-in-law, gave a victim impact statement in court and repeatedly asked Miller to look her in the eye as she spoke.

"I want you to realize exactly what you've done. When you took April's life, you not only destroyed her life but her son's," Bias said. "Her son will never have his mother's touch and his mother's kisses that only a mother and son can share."

Throughout her statement, Bias paused several times and waited for Miller to look at her again.

"(April) told me a long, long time ago that you were a good guy," Bias said. "I hope that when you are alone in your prison cell that you hear April's voice."

Miller was given the opportunity to address the court and apologized to the families of the witnesses for the in-vestigation. He said he was sorry that the county attorney's office and police officers "drug them through the mud."

"He's a cold-hearted, unrepentant killer," Wilber said. "This is not a satisfaction. There was a better than even shot of losing, and I didn't want to let him walk."
GRAND ISLAND  A Grand Island man charged with a drunken-driving crash that killed his fiancee has pleaded no contest to felony motor vehicle homicide.

Johnny Alvarez, 30, of 1704 S. Lincoln Ave., also pleaded no contest to misdemeanor third-offense driving under the influence, reduced from felony aggravated third-offense DUI, for the Aug. 11, 2013, incident. The motor vehicle homicide charge was amended from a Class II felony, which carries a penalty of one to 50 years in prison, to a Class III felony, which carries a penalty of one to 20 years in prison and a possible $25,000 fine.

The crash killed Jamie Lohman Sandate, also known as Jamie Lohman Sandate Alvarez, and severely injured Alvarez.

Alvarez's blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was more than 0.15, while the legal limit for driving in Nebraska is 0.08, and he has two previous convictions for driving under the influence  in 2004 in Adams County and in 2012 in Hall County.

The fatal crash occurred at about 1:30 a.m. when the Chyrsler 300 driven by Alvarez went out of control on West Old Highway 30, hit an electrical pole, went through a fence and hit a tree in the yard of a nearby home. Sandate, a passenger in the car, died at the scene of the crash. Alvarez was flown to a Lincoln hospital, where he was a patient for about four months. Due to the serious nature of his injuries, police weren't immediately able to speak to him about the crash.

His sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 18 in Hall County District Court.
There was no hiding the child's disfiguring injuries in a Douglas County district courtroom Tuesday.

Nor was there any concealing of the abuse of the child by his father and the father's girlfriend.

Not like Chad Cymbalista and his then-girlfriend, Nicole Corcoran, had tried to do April 24, 2012, when they caked makeup on the boy's face and took him to the Nebraska Medical Center.

Tuesday, their abuse of the little boy was laid bare.

Several times, prosecutor Molly Keane held up a photo of the 2-year-old  taken moments after doctors removed the makeup.

In the photo, the toothy toddler has a goose-egg knot in the center of his forehead, both eyes swollen shut, abrasions on his cheeks and a lower lip marred by what doctors believe was a burn. Doctors further found marks in the shape of adult hands on his arms  and other bruises in various stages of healing.

The photo of the boy  in a hospital gown adorned with big-eared dogs  cried out for punishment, Keane said.

This was horrific treatment, Keane said, noting that one investigator described it as torture.

Shuffling through that photo and others, Douglas County District Judge Greg Schatz rejected a probation officer's recommendation of probation for Cymbalista, who had no record.

Cymbalista and Corcoran, both 27, faced up to 20 years in prison.

The judge sentenced Cymbalista to four to five years in prison for attempted child abuse  the reduced charge to which he pleaded guilty. He then sentenced Corcoran, mother of three other young children, to eight to 10 years on the same charge.

In giving Corcoran twice as much time as Cymbalista, Schatz cited comments made by Corcoran's children, who witnessed the beatings.

The children, who lived with Cymbalista and his child, said Corcoran would call the toddler dumb and stupid and beat him in the face and head while Cymbalista was at work. She and Cymbalista would force him to sleep on a urine-soaked blanket. And they would use toddler gates to pen in the boy for daring to seek out food, Keane said.

And, Keane noted, the two did all that damage in just the six weeks that they had taken over custody of the boy.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine called the abuse brutal.

Sometimes it's hard for people to imagine that anyone is capable of hurting a defenseless child, he said. There are so many people who would just love to have this child and would be willing to do whatever it takes to raise the child the way it should be raised.

Fortunately, the child is in one such home now  with a foster family that dotes on him and cares for him, authorities say. Now 3, he's eager and bright and talkative, said Shakil Malik, a deputy Douglas County attorney who met with the boy a couple of months ago.

He's mostly overcome his injuries. There's no discernible brain damage, but the child may have slight scarring beneath the eyes.

The biggest lingering issue: A plastic surgeon testified that the boy likely will need surgery to repair his lower lip. After losing a third of his lip, the child had a severe drooling and dribbling problem  and was unable to swallow properly.

But he's now able to eat and drink.

He's doing as well as can be expected, Kleine said.

Cymbalista and Corcoran had told authorities that the toddler tore open a cut to his lip by eating popcorn salt. He then picked at it for more than a month before the two decided to take the boy to the hospital, they said.

Doctors found the popcorn-salt story incredible. They suspect that the child suffered a burn to his lower lip that wasn't treated for weeks.

Cymbalista admitted that they covered up the boy's injuries with makeup. However, neither Cymbalista nor Corcoran admitted to the abuse.

As Corcoran's attorney, Bill Eustice, pointed out, Cymbalista blamed Corcoran and vice versa.

Cymbalista had taken classes and had since made efforts to become involved in the boy's life, with the goal of having custody of him again, said his attorney, James Kozel.

Corcoran, for her part, read a five-minute statement in which she denied abusing the boy. She insisted she loved him as if he were her own. She also said she was born to be a mother.

I don't have a mean bone in my body, Corcoran said. I love all children. It breaks my heart to see them in any pain. ... I'm only responsible for not asserting myself in my relationship.

To that, Schatz pointed to her children's accounts of their mother's abuse of the young boy.

The judge did a good job in discerning who was the more responsible of the two, Kleine said. Even so, it's hard to imagine that the child's own father could just stand by and allow this to happen.

Under state sentencing guidelines, inmates must serve half the lower term of their sentences before being eligible for parole and most are released after serving half the upper term.
LINCOLN  The embattled Nebraska Tourism Commission has called a special meeting here Friday morning to discuss whether to keep its director, Kathy McKillip, and to air a recent state audit critical of its financial oversight.

In the wake of the audit, Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov. Dave Heineman and the states top two travel associations have called for McKillip to be fired.

The audit indicated, among other things, that the agency had overspent its advertising contract by more than $4 million, had spent $44,000 on a speaker for a convention of 150 people, and had a general lack of accounting and oversight of its spending and contracts.

Asked for comment Wednesday, McKillip said she had nothing to say about the meeting.

Im on vacation this week, she said.

Previously, the director has said that the financial problems at the Tourism Commission were caused by a lack of policies and procedures and that recent steps have been taken to adopt such rules.

McKillip has been the director since October 2011 and kept the job when Tourism became an independent state agency in 2012. The job now pays $86,364 a year.

Fridays meeting agenda calls for a report on the audit by a four-member committee as well as the committees recommendation on the directors job. The meeting is to start at 10 a.m. at the Executive Building in Lincoln.

John Chapo, head of the nine-member Tourism Commission that is charged with overseeing the agency, declined to comment Wednesday. Chapo is director of the Lincoln Childrens Zoo.

Both Ricketts and Heineman have said the agency lacked sufficient financial oversight because it was removed from the supervision of the Governors Office. It formerly was part of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

On Wednesday, the Platte Institute for Economic Research, in a column written by staffers Adam Weinberg and Sarah Curry, questioned whether Nebraska even needs a government-run agency to promote tourism, if it wants to avoid irresponsible spending of state money.

The Omaha think tanks column pointed out that the State of Washington eliminated its tourism office, handing the promotional task to a private association.

The Nebraska Travel Associations as well as the Nebraska Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus both say they want to retain an independent State Tourism Commission but say that new leadership is needed to regain public trust.
In this photo provided by Solar Impulse, people gather prior to the takeoff of a solar powered plane, "Solar Impulse 2," in Goodyear, Ariz., Thursday, May 12, 2016. The solar-powered airplane that landed in Arizona last week is headed to Oklahoma on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey. (Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A family walk on their way to Idomeni camp, Greece, after a group of migrants and refugees tried to cross the Macedonia's border, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Around 9500 stranded refugees and migrants are camped at the makeshift refugee camp of the northern Greek border point of Idomeni. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Pro-government Rep. Moema Gramacho holds a placard with a message that reads in Portuguese; "Temer will be never be president; He will always be seen as leader of the coup" in protest against the impeachment proceedings against Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in the Chamber of Deputies, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Brazil's Senate on Wednesday neared a historic vote on impeaching Rousseff, likely ending 13 years of government by her leftist party amid a spate of crises besetting Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
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As physicians, we are charged with extending empathy to our patients. In addition to a professional responsibility, empathy is also a mechanism for improving patient care and professional satisfaction. It has been associated with better patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, fewer medical errors and lawsuits, as well as provider happiness. However, while physicians can be expected to pursue the ideal of empathy towards individual patients, that of empathizing with populations is more challenging. As the old saying goes, a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths are a statistic.

For example, more than 4 million refugees have fled Syria since the conflict in that country began. Often, these refugees flee one impossible situation only to find themselves caught up in another. In urban Jordan, for example, 86 percent of Syrian refugees are living below the local poverty line. Despite such statistics, the international community has not rallied to the aid of these desperate people. By the end of 2015, just 61 percent of the UNs humanitarian appeal for Syrian refugees had been funded.

There was, though, one notable uptick in donations last year. It was after the body of a 3-year-old Syrian boy named Alan Kurdi was photographed lying on a beach, where he had drifted after the boat carrying him and his family away from the conflict apparently capsized. The image of the dead boy was so shocking that donations to help migrants surged in. One charitable organization, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, reported a 15-fold donation increase within a day of the photographs release.

The case of Alan Kurdi, reinforces a familiar, if not perplexing, dynamic: Individual death usually rouses public sympathy in a way that death and misery en masse do not. How might we better understand this dichotomy?

The trigger for empathy has a structural basis in neuroscience. There are also psychological reasons why people feel (or do not feel) empathy towards individuals. Psychological and neurological theories suggest that there are two fundamental systems in human cognition: the experiential system and the analytic system. When we witness suffering, our experiential system triggers the empathetic part of the brain, and perhaps moves us to offer to help the person in need. By contrast, the analytic mode is often triggered when we contemplate about suffering populations. The perception can blunt our empathetic impulse, and lead to compassion fatigue.

This suggests that, in many ways, our own neurobiology is working against our effort to understand and improve the health of populations. It poses a challenge for us to ensure that people do not become just numbers to ourselves or to anyone else. It encourages us to engage with empathy on the individual level, in order to inform action that aims to help groups of individuals, to help whole populations.

Despite these counteracting neurological and psychological tendencies, it is becoming increasingly important for clinicians to empathize with populations. There is a growing shift and imperative for physicians to think clinically about patients in view of population health, not only just as individuals. National policies, such as accountable care irganizations and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, encourage providers to deliver care via broad, population health strategies. Also, to the extent that empathy provides the benefits mentioned above for clinical care, these should be maximized and scaled to populations.

There are several ways that clinician can begin to think abut both patients and populations with greater empathy. First, we can remember the power of individual stories and link them to diseases that we treat in our clinical practices. While that might seem like an obvious task, ongoing discussions about socioeconomic factors and their influence on health reveal there can be sustained inattention to problems facing vulnerable populations. Finding every opportunity to connect a name and face to the population-level issues we hear and read about can be a powerful first primer for subsequent action.

Second, physicians can take active roles in communicating the ongoing narrative of population health to broader audiences, doing so in a way that is energetic and creative. Whether through community groups, organizing efforts, professional societies or other avenues, physicians can work with colleagues to magnify individual stories on a larger scale to call public attention to important population-level issues. Telling notable stories  taking great care, of course, not to be exploitative  is an important part of conveying the events and circumstances that are putting populations (and the patients whom comprise them) at risk.

Third, given the broad social origins and impacts of many issues affect populations, physicians can make inroads to collaborate with non-health care entities to increase empathy about the health of populations. Departments of public health, health-related non-profits, and school and justice systems represent a few of the cross-sector collaborators that physicians and provider organizations can ally with to create the social, economic, and cultural conditions needed to safeguard the health of populations.

As one of our most sacred and cherished ideals, empathy has long had a central role in individual patient care. However, with changing policy and ever-increasing evidence of significant population health needs, physicians now have an opportunity to take up a similar charge for the communities from which those patients come.

Liang Chen is a physician. Sandro Galea is a physician and dean, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. A version of this article appears in the Deans Note column at Boston University School of Public Health.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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I was saddened to hear that one of my favorite libertarians, the wonderful journalist John Stossel, has taken ill. True to form, however, hes taking it in stride (he nonchalantly quipped, seems I have lung cancer), and I want to take this opportunity to wish him very well indeed. I enjoy his reporting and writing, and have learned a great deal from Mr. Stossel over the years.

But that doesnt mean hes always right.

In a great piece about his recent diagnosis and workup at one of Americas premier hospitals, Stossel goes to great lengths to praise the quality of medical care hes received throughout his ordeal. He also uses the article to ruthlessly bash the customer service, or rather lack thereof, that he has experienced during the experience.

In his usual style, Stossel makes point after cutting point by calling out the illogical elements that dont make sense anywhere but health care. About how he has to fill out mounds of paperwork but then isnt filled in with the results of his tests. About how he is kept awake all night by emergency alarms that arent emergent after all. About how a fear of being sued means rigid rules get followed instead of common sense.

Well said, John. As usual. Of course, he totally gets it right, and for all the right reasons: the American health care system may be the best in the world, but at the same time, it can deliver customer service that would make patients rather stand in a Soviet-era toilet paper line. In the cold. Naked.

So what then could this otherwise spot-on, hard hitting truthsayer possibly be wrong about?

To put it simply, the patients role as a consumer in the health care marketplace.

At the end of his article, Stossel makes his ultimate point by stating the obvious: that markets only work when buyer and seller deal directly with each other. He then goes on to say that, aside from cosmetic and vision correction procedures not covered by health insurance, in health care theres practically no free market  patients will have a better experience only when more of us spend our money for care.

Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you Mr. Stossel, but guess what? In a world where the average health insurance deductible  never mind the out of pocket maximum  is well into the four-figure range, the majority of those who have private health insurance are spending their money, for their own care.

See, the golden age of health insurance  when patients paid their premiums and their policy took care every ting a la Tony Soprano  is dead and gone. Its not about a $20 copay anymore.

But in what is a most common misconception, the idea of comprehensive health insurance coverage still lingers, and Stossel isnt the only famous figure to miss this very important point, or its even more important implications.

In fact, no one that Ive ever heard in the media gets it right. Even that bastion of right wing fiscal conservatism Glenn Beck misspoke last year, when he told me that weve never had a free market health care system in the U.S. But I have to hand it to him, because Glenn did have the chutzpah to change his mind when I pointed out that we do, already, have a free market for health care in this country.

Those in the media arent the only ones who are blind to the facts, either. Even doctors, our supposed ultimate authorities in Western medicine, get it dead wrong when they propose solutions to the status quo.

Dr. Thomas Paine wrote an article last year that explores why doctors are burning out. An emergency physician like me, Dr. Paine nailed it when he said that physicians lost control by handing over their administrative and financial duties to businessmen over the past forty years.

But he too got it wrong when he threw his hands up and wrote that the idea of patients paying out-of-pocket  is officially dead in America.

That just isnt true; and in fact, quite the opposite exists. The average American worker now has to pay almost $1,500 out of pocket before health insurance kicks in. Which means that the average American worker is now a health care consumer. The problem is that the patients  just like the pundits  dont understand this.

Or I should say they arent aware of it, until they have to pay.

But just as no one would ever sit down to a meal at a restaurant where the menu had no prices listed, neither should American patients shop for health care without a healthy knowledge of what they will be charged. After they hand over their co-pay.

Its not just up to patients, though. Physicians and other health care providers need to do their part too, before any real change occurs. They need to stop billing health insurance for every routine office visit, lab, or x-ray, which most high deductible policies dont cover anyway. Instead, offer a menu of services at reasonable prices and let the free market forces of competition begin!

Only then will prices plummet, and only then will customer service increase, Mr. Stossel.

And best of all, the fix to our Great American Health Care Crisis doesnt require any new legislation, regulation, or administration. It only requires a change in attitude  and when patients and providers start applying our sense of good old fashioned, American consumerism toward the free market conditions that already exist in health care, we can all breathe easier.

Remember, its not the costs of health care that are outrageous; its the charges.

Kevin Wacasey is an emergency physician who blogs at Healthcarenomics.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
On www.kitcrowd.de, crowdfunding and crowdinvesting projects of KIT are presented. (Graphics: KIT)

In the first year of its existence, seven projects managed to acquire funding on KITs portal for crowdfunding, www.kitcrowd.de. Examples are a 3D ultrasonic tomograph, a smart emergency call system for private homes, and a bakery in Sri Lanka. More than EUR 120,000 were collected. Now, the portal has been extended by a crowdinvesting component for small investors to directly participate in KIT startups. The redesigned KITcrowd portal offers more options and partner platforms.

Crowdfunding links scientists and founders with all parties interested in technological and societal progress, i.e. citizens, politics, industries, and investors all over Germany and in particular in the Karlsruhe Technology Region, Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs, says. KITcrowd is not only a platform for promising project ideas of KIT, but also a showcase for a possibly better future. Via the redesigned portal, sponsors can participate in and support the execution of scientific and philanthropic projects in many more ways.

www.kitcrowd.de presents crowdfunding projects of the KIT and its environment. Private persons and companies are invited to support these projects both financially and ideationally. If many sponsors are found, also smaller investments may lead to successful funding of a project.

Today, the redesigned website has been put online. Project Head Thomas Neumann explains: We found that many projects of students and scientists of KIT have already been executed with the help of various crowdfunding and crowdinvesting platforms on their own initiative. In the future, these projects will be published on KITcrowd, a win-win situation for the project starters and sponsors. Project starters will profit from the additional attention through the KITcrowd network and sponsors will be given a larger selection of current projects of KIT.

KITcrowd is planned to list both technology projects as well as non-commercial projects initiated by e.g. university groups of KIT. The platform is organized together with the Relationship Management Service Unit of KIT. Crowdfunding campaigns are presented directly on KITcrowd or as a partner project on external platforms. In the past, KIT already cooperated with the Startnext portal. Now, many other national and international partner platforms are added, such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Betterplace, Vision Bakery, Wemakeit, Oneplanetcrowd, and Sciencestarter.

In the future, KITcrowd will not only present crowdfunding campaigns to be financed by donations and sponsoring, but also crowdinvesting campaigns. This type of project funding is highly attractive for many sponsors, as they can invest money in a startup or emerging company and, in return, are granted a participation in the company or profits. On the redesigned KITcrowd platform, these different project types are distinguished.

But not all elements of KITcrowd were changed. The KIT Lever, for instance, will be maintained for leveraged crowdfunding of selected technology projects of KIT, which means that these projects will profit from additional financial support. The funds acquired via the crowd are co-financed by funds from the KIT Innovation Fund. For this purpose, close-to-research projects and spinoff projects with a high need for funding are selected.

Currently, KITcrowd.de presents the crowdfunding campaign Gramodaya  Wo Gemeinschaft ein Zuhause findet, a project of the university group Engineers without Borders (EWB) to fund a community center in a village in India and another one to support construction of the KIT Mechatronics Learning and Application Center. In addition, the crowdinvesting campaign of RESTUBE can be found on the platform. This startup of KIT produces an inflatable life buoy to rescue lives of drowning people and searches for investors to push the internationalization of the company.

From April 27 to May 11, 2016, a citylight campaign in the city center of Karlsruhe will be organized to make KITcrowd better known outside of KIT.

KIT Founders Forge

KITcrowd is a project of KIT Founders Forge. By this initiative, students and KIT staff members are informed about aspects relating to entrepreneurship using new teaching and advanced education formats and advice and by granting of access to infrastructural facilities and funds. All efforts of the KIT Founders Forge are financed from funds of the EXIST-IV program Grundungskultur of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.



For further information in German, click: www.kit-gruenderschmiede.de

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.
(Kitco News) - It was the culmination of five factors that helped the gold market see its strongest first quarter on record, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

In its first quarter Gold Demand Trend Report, released Thursday, the WGC said that gold demand totaled 1,289 tonnes, an increase of 21% from the first quarter of 2015.

The biggest factor behind golds unprecedented performance from January to March was a resurgence of global investment demand, specifically in exchange-traded funds. The report highlighted that ETFs saw inflows of 363.7 tonnes, more than reversing the total outflows seen in 2014 and 2015.

While the investor-led rally has been almost unparalleled, in an interview with Kitco News, Juan Carlos Artigas, director of investment research at the WGC, said that they arent completely surprised.

I think in some sense there has been a lot of pent-up demand among investors and they have been waiting to get into the gold market since the end of 2015, he said.

The five factors that led to the gold markets 16% rally in the first three months of the year, according to Artigas, are: growing instability in equity markets, a weaker U.S. dollar, implementation of unorthodox monetary policy  including the introduction of negative interest rates,  the return of pent-up demand and strong price momentum.

Artigas added that the WGCs gold outlook for the year remains very constructive as it doesnt expect to see investment demand dwindle even if some of these factors are resolved.

I think we have seen a structural shift in the gold market, he said. The globalization of markets have increased the frequency and intensity of tail risk events and investors are seeing the benefits of using gold in their portfolio to manage and balance those risks.

While investor were once again enthusiastically jumping back into the gold market, the WGC noted weakness in other sectors including jewelry and technology demand, as well as central bank reserve purchases.

Looking at regional demand, the two biggest gold-consuming nations saw weaker demand in the first quarter. Indian demand took the biggest hit as it declined 39% to 116.5 tonnes. The drop meant that China was the undisputed leader for consumption, which hit 241.3 tonnes, down 12% compared to the first quarter of 2015.

While consumer demand was weak in Asian markets, Artigas said that it not surprising as that market is price sensitive; however, he added that the WGC expects that this sector will pick up later in the year.

Its undeniable that Asian markets will continue to play an important role in markets. But that is just part of the globalization of the gold market, he said.

Although central banks continue to add to their official gold reserves, it was at a slightly slower pace compared to 2015. The WGC said that central banks bought 109.4 tonnes of gold from January to March, down 3% from the first quarter of 2015.

Artigas noted that similar to main street investors, the WGC expects central banks, particularly in emerging markets, to continue buying gold and diversify away from negative yielding sovereign bond.

For central banks, increasing their gold reserves is more compelling because a large portion of sovereign debt has real negative yields, he said. 

By Neils Christensen of Kitco News; nchristensen@kitco.com

Follow @Neils_C
Kitsap firefighters work multiple brush fires along Highway 3 near Sherman Hill Road on June 11, 2014. Hot, dry conditions could lead to another early start to what firefighters call brush fire season. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN FILE)

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By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

Grass grows green and moist beside the roadways, but crews already are responding to brush fires.

Two broke out May 6 along Highway 16 just west of Tremont Street. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue responders quickly snuffed them but not before a lengthy traffic backup developed. Officials believe the fires were started by a vehicle sparking or dragging something that sparked.

A beach fire flared up May 3 at Point No Point County Park. North Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighters doused and scattered the wood to make sure it wouldn't reignite.

If warm, dry weather persists, a burn ban might come earlier than last year's June 19 start. Though rainfall is 10 inches above normal this year, there only has been a trace of moisture in May. Temperatures rose into the 80s several days over the past month, breaking records.

"It may be harder to recognize that fire danger is increasing when you look at the calendar and it's May," NK Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Michele Laboda said.

The department has responded to several vegetation fires. There would be fewer if people fully extinguished bonfires and didn't light them where prohibited, such as county parks, Laboda said.

The long-range forecast projects a hotter and drier Northwest summer than average, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

"As we approach summer, we're already seeing records for low rainfall and high temperatures," Laboda said. "We strongly encourage the public to limit any ignition sources so that we can limit the chance that we're going to have brush fires."

SK Fire and Rescue fought four brush-related fires during the first 10 days of May, said Deputy Chief Guy Dalrymple. That's high, in line with a busy 2015.

"It's gearing up to be bad," he said.

Though the roadside grass looks lush and inflammable, it doesn't take much to dry out. Intermittent showers only encourages growth.

"Blades of grass ... can dry out and be tinder just in a day like today,"Dalrymple said. "On a hot day like today, by 4 o'clock in the afternoon they're ready to go."

Bremerton Fire Chief Al Duke said his department has dealt with three vegetation fires this year. At Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, there's been one, Chief Scott Weninger said.

Two small fires have burned in Washington's northwest region and a couple of others near Chelan, said Janet Pearce of the state Department of Natural Resources. All indications show fuel is drier than it was a year ago.

"It's feeling like as the snow is melting faster and little fires are starting to pop up, fire season is here," she said.

In the past, fire season kicked off around the Fourth of July, Pearce said. It's now earlier, as illustrated last year by the Sleepy Hollow fire in Wenatchee. It started June 28 and burned 3,000 acres and 30 structures.

Fireworks are a common source of brush fires. Kitsap County, following the lead of Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, is seeking to change its fireworks code to allow commissioners to temporarily ban the sale or use during drought or other conditions that pose a threat to the public.

A public hearing will be held 5:30 p.m. May 23 at the commissioners meeting at the county administration building, 619 Division St. in Port Orchard. The change wouldn't go into effect until next year.

County Fire Marshal David Lynam said predicting summer weather this early is a crapshoot, but the hottest April on record and 80-degree days already in May might provide a hint.

"We expect to cut outdoor burning off pretty early," he said. "More than half of the snow pack has already melted. Eastern Washington has already had a 50-acre fire in Entiat and they've been on the sides of the roads here. We're all expecting another hot, dry one."

Fire safety is everybody's business, SK's Dalrymple said. Residents should keep wild grass cut down around their property, maintain their home exteriors and don't leave fires unattended.

"It really comes down to the idea that fire is everybody's fight," he said.

CK's Weninger said it's a good time for homeowners to prepare for the fire season. Information about how to make a home "firewise" can be viewed at www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/teaching-tools. aspx.
Stuff reports:

Labour leader Andrew Little has been given a week to retract and apologise for his comments that a Niue resort tender process stunk to high heaven or face defamation proceedings. Last month Little called on the Auditor-General to investigate Scenic Hotel Group being awarded a management contract at the Matavai Resort.

Calling on the Auditor-General to investigate was fine. In fact Ive said they should investigate also.

But his comments that the tender stunk to high heaven were very unwise, and if it does go to court he could face a real problem.

The tests for defamation include:

Did the statement harm the reputation of the person?

Is it true?

Is there malice?

Is there qualified or absolute privilege?

It seems to be there is no doubt it harmed the reputation of the Hagamans. And I doubt there is any evidence at all that it is true that there was any wrongdoing or improper influence (unless you believe the father of a Labour MP is part of a conspiracy to raise money for National). So it may come down to qualified privilege and fair opinion.

What would be fascinating if it goes to trial, if if the trustees would be asked to testify, and to hear the testimony of Ross Ardern as to the statement by Little that the process of the board he appoints stunk to high heaven

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Richard Harman writes on Politik:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has simply dismissed claims that some of the economic modelling on the TPP contained a basic arithmetical error.

The report back to Parliament yesterday of the Select Committee considering the TPP does not show any substantial reasoning behind the Ministrys conclusion.

The error was allegedly contained with the modelling of the economic cost of extending the copyright term on recorded music from 50 to 70 years.

The Ministrys National Interest Assessment claimed this would cost New Zealand consumers $55 million.

In fact, said an internationally recognised copyright lawyer and economist, Dr George Barker, Director of the Centre for Law and Economics from Australia National University the total cost to New Zealand of the copyright extension term was more likely to be around $250,000.

In his evidence to the committee, Dr Barker said Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment officials who did the calculations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had simply guessed how much the cost to New Zealand of extending the copyright term on film and television would be by assuming it would be exactly total figure as for recorded music.

But, he said when they did that they did not realise that the original calculation supplied by an Australian consultant had seriously overestimated the costs for music by more than 40 times

The Government officials may have inflated the already overestimated annual cost of term extension by around $49 million, he said.
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SHARE Eggs line the shelves of a cooler at a Dollar General store in Knoxville on Thursday, May 12. Eggs are no longer in short supply, and prices that had risen above $3 a dozen after last summer's bird flu outbreak in the Midwest have dropped considerably. G. CHAMBERS WILLIAMS III/NEWS SENTINEL An egg entree waits to be served to a diner at the OliBea restaurant in the Old City in this file photo. The restaurant last year switched to buying eggs from local farms as nationwide supplies dwindled in the wake of a bird flu epidemic that brought the slaugher of millions of laying hens. G. CHAMBERS WILLIAMS III/NEWS SENTINEL

By Staff And Wire Reports

The egg shortage appears to be over, grocers and restaurateurs in Knoxville and across the nation say.

And not only have shortages disappeared, but there are signs of an emerging glut. U.S. prices have tumbled about 75 percent from a record in August, after the biggest bird-flu outbreak ever forced farmers to destroy thousands of flocks with millions of hens.

Since then, the laying-hen population has rebounded faster than expected while demand languished, from home chefs to food makers.

With supplies returning to normal, wholesale prices are near a five-year low. The cost of making everything from quiches to cakes is less than before avian influenza killed more than 35 million laying hens and the government spent $1 billion to prevent the disease from spreading.

"The price of eggs has gone down for sure," said Sheri Maydak, manager of The Egg & I on Kingston Pike. "They just recently went down again. It's definitely helped my food costs. We didn't really change menu costs last year; we just dealt with [the rising prices]. But this is helping us a lot right now.

"We use Sysco (for egg purchases), and prices almost doubled last year," she said. "We quit buying egg whites for a while and just started cracking our own eggs. Now everything's back to normal, and it's great."

Grocery shelves have ample stocks, and prices have dropped for consumers, as well. For instance, at a Dollar General store on Western Avenue on Thursday, Grade A large eggs were just $1.50 a dozen; in August, they were around $3.

Some local restaurants chose to change suppliers when the shortage hit last year, opting to buy from local producers whose flocks had not been hit by the bird flu. The prices are higher, but that's OK if the supply is guaranteed, and the quality is good, said Jeff D'Alejandro, owner of the Old City breakfast/brunch spot OliBea. He uses about 120 dozen eggs each week.

"I don't get commodity eggs, I get them from Circle V, a farm in Jefferson City," D'Alejandro said. "We're 100 percent local eggs. Last year when the prices of eggs went up, I said 'I'm not dealing with this,' and I reached out to local farmers. It's a little bit more expensive, but why should I not get local eggs? The quality is better."

Cheaper eggs are providing relief to buyers like Marybeth Flynn, the owner of Loretta's Bake Shop & Cafe in Chicago, who wasn't able to raise menu prices fast enough last year.

"I lost profits," said Flynn, who uses more than 500 eggs a week at her shop in the city's trendy West Loop area. Last summer, every case of 15 dozen cost $40, which was "much too high a price for my small business to absorb," she said. "Now, its as low as $13. We have since lowered some prices."

The collapse was swift. While the outbreak last year killed about a 10th of U.S. egg-layers, farmers have since contained the highly contagious disease. They destroyed flocks, built fences to keep out sick birds and installed automatic car washes to disinfect their vehicles. For the first time, some processors in Iowa imported foreign supplies to fulfill contracts.

After prices paid by Midwest supermarkets more than doubled in three months, to a record $2.77 per dozen on Aug. 7, the industry set about cleaning up and started boosting production. It only takes about five months from the time a chick is hatched until it is big enough to start laying. As supply increased, a carton of 12 slid to 68 cents wholesale as of May 6, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has cut its 2016 forecast for average prices in New York seven times in as many months.

Production of table eggs, which account for more than 80 percent of supply, reached 613 million dozen in March, up 5.4 percent from December and the biggest increase to start a year since at least 1994, according to the most recent government data. In 2016, total output for all types of eggs will rise 4.5 percent to 8.34 billion dozen, the USDA said in a May 10 report.

The availability of baby chicks and pullets to replace lost hens "surprised virtually everyone," and the cleanup was faster than forecast, said Chad Gregory, president of United Egg Producers in Alpharetta, Ga., a cooperative that accounts for 95 percent of the industry's hens. There also was expansion in areas unaffected by the virus, where farmers saw their income surge along with prices, he said.

"It turned out to be one of the best years ever for the U.S. egg industry," Gregory said.
Mabry-Hazen house, 1711 Dandridge Ave. (J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel)

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PIGEON FORGE SAVINGS

Fee/Hedrick theaters in People Forge are offering discounts through May 19 to residents of Sevier, Blount, Knox, Greene, Anderson, Cocke, Jefferson, Loudon, Roane, Union, Grainger and Hamblen counties.

A $9.95 admission applies to The Comedy Barn, The Smith Morning Variety Show, Magic Beyond Belief and The Smoky Mountain Opry. A special dinner/show rate for The Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children.

Info: 865-908-7469

RUMMAGE SALE

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6632 Chapman Highway, will hold a rummage sale on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain or shine. Proceeds go to selected charities.

TEA & TATTLE

On Sunday, May 22, Mabry-Hazen House will host a traditional tea on Mabry's Hill.

Nina Martyris, a freelance journalist who moved to Knoxville from Mumbai in 2009, contributes regularly to NPR's Tea Tuesday column, which explores the fascinating social and political history of tea. She will discuss the tradition at the 3 p.m. event.

Tickets for Tea & Tattle are $40 and may be purchased at www.mabryhazen.com/tea or by calling 865-522-8661. A tour of Mabry-Hazen House will be offered after the tea.
SHARE Jim Galloway with his son, Jason, about 1975 Jim Galloway held two friends on his shoulders in about 1945. Even today, he does strength training. Jim Galloway with his third wife, Gail, in about 1994. Submitted photo Rebecca D. Williams/Special to the News Sentinel Jim Galloway, 88, with his Korean War medals, framed with the Bible he had during combat.

By Rebecca D. Williams, Special to the News Sentinel

At 88, Jim Galloway of Knoxville has an eye for beauty. He writes poems. His yard is filled with flowers. And he's always a dapper dresser, his closet lined with colorful suits and matching handkerchiefs. "I've outlived three beautiful wives, and I now go with my high school sweetheart. She was the prettiest girl in the school," he said.

Galloway was born on July 26, 1927, in Lynch, Ky., the youngest of two sons to W.L. "Chief" Galloway and Alta Miller Galloway.

"My dad had a dairy and farm when I was little, but then the Depression hit, and he lost his farm and dairy. He went with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) as a stake driver and moved up quickly. Soon he was starting new camps, and he moved from camp to camp."

The family moved eight times in less than 10 years, and Jim Galloway, small for his age, developed an outgoing, big personality. "I never met a stranger," he said. "Of course, I had to whip the bully everyplace I went."

When he was 11, his parents divorced. "When they broke up, my mother left everything and took us on a bus back to LaFollette, Tennessee, where my grandfather was. I went to school there and worked at Winkler's Drug Store as a soda jerk."

One day in the drugstore, he met a girl named Ernestine Raleigh. They dated, and he gave her a promise ring. But he soon moved with his mother to Oak Ridge, where she got a job. He lost touch with Raleigh.

In the spring of 1944, after his junior year of high school, Galloway joined the Coast Guard. "I wasn't 18, so I got my mother to sign for me to join," Galloway said. "My first trip to France was in 1945, during the worst storm in 27 years. The waves were 55 feet high. I was on the (USS) General J.C. Breckinridge, carrying troops from France, Panama and the Philippines, to home."

After his service, Galloway got his GED at the University of Tennessee and then went to Nashville to learn air conditioning and refrigeration in 1946. He worked for his father, who owned about a dozen marinas on the TVA lakes, including Galloway's Landing on Douglas Lake.

It was at the marinas that Galloway first became interested in strength training. "I was only 5 foot 8 and weighed 150 pounds, but I could pick up 400-pound gangways," he said.

In 1950, Galloway was drafted in the U.S. Army and sent to Korea.

"I lacked 18 days of being ineligible, and they drafted me," said Galloway, who served with the 13th Combat Engineers. He was in several battles. At one point, a soldier in his unit was killed by a land mine, and many others were injured. "I told them we were laying mines on top of mines, and it wasn't safe. That man didn't have to die," Galloway said, weeping at the memory.

Galloway received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, a Presidential Unit Citation from Harry S. Truman, a Presidential Unit Citation from South Korean President Syngman Rhee, and many service ribbons.

"They must have thought I was brave, but I wasn't. I was scared to death," Galloway said. "The Lord was looking after me. I've often had those men in my mind. After my men were hurt, I decided not to stay in Army."

After Korea, Galloway worked briefly in circulation for the Knoxville Journal and then got hired in Oak Ridge. He worked in all the uranium plants and then at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 32 years, retiring in 1992. Galloway said he was exposed to beryllium over the years. "They about killed me," he said. "I breathed it for years and only wore a mask the last two years."

Now with a number of health problems, Galloway still works on his strength. He does isometric exercises every day. "I can work 98 percent of my muscles without moving an inch!" he said. "It's kept me out of a wheelchair."

After retirement, Galloway sold and developed real estate. He was divorced once and widowed twice and had four children. He was married for 37 years to his third wife, Gail. After she died, Galloway found and reconnected with Raleigh, now Ernestine Smith, his girlfriend from high school. She lives nearby.

"It was like we had never broken up. She is the kindest person I've ever known," Galloway said.

Galloway attends Grace Baptist Church regularly and does not hesitate to list what is most important in life to him. "Our families are so important, and so is our freedom," he said. "I've learned that life is short and precious."
photos MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL Pastor and author John Piper is living in Knoxville for a year while writing and praying for direction for the future.

SHARE photos MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL Pastor and author John Piper is living in Knoxville for a year while writing and praying for direction for the future. Pastor and author John Piper is living in Knoxville for a year while writing and praying for direction for the future. Pastor and author John Piper is living in Knoxville for a year while writing and praying for direction for the future. Pastor and author John Piper is living in Knoxville for a year while writing and praying for direction for the future.

By Trillia Newbell

Though for many he will always be Pastor John Piper, this spring marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the renowned minister's life and ministry. Piper, 67, who served as lead pastor at megachurch Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, preached his last sermon as its pastor this spring after 33 years of ministry.

Piper left Minneapolis to spend the year in Knoxville writing and serving his ministry, Desiring God. He is the author of more than 50 books, the founder and teacher of www.DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He is considered one of the most influential evangelical pastors and theologians of the 21st century. A 2010 survey of U.S. pastors ranked him among the 10 most influential living preachers, alongside Billy Graham, Rick Warren and Max Lucado.

"When others ask how they can pray (for me), what I want to happen here is for God to give me clarity on what the next 10 years should look like. All I've done is preach and lead for the last 30 years, so I don't know what is next. It will be some proportion of teaching seminary, leading Desiring God, missions and travel and writing," said Piper.

Though the year in Knoxville will provide an opportunity for him to complete books and other projects, much of his motivation for leaving his hometown was to serve his successor, Jason Myer, the recently appointed pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist.

"The main reason I left was to make room for my successor. To make sure he has the greatest amount of freedom possible for his leadership. When you've been in a church for 33 years, the influence is big, and we wanted to make space. We're here because Noel had family with a house that we could rent out," he said.

Piper has a doctorate degree from The University of Munich. After completing it in 1974, he sent letters to more than 30 churches, colleges and ministries and just one door opened. That door was at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn. He began teaching New Testament and, after sensing a call to pastoral ministry, he began at Bethlehem in 1980 where he remained teaching and preaching as the congregation grew to some 5,000 members.

"Out from under the pressures of leading a 5,000-person church, there is a new sense of freedom for Noel and the kids. Here, I feel like my evenings are hers. I tried to make a lot of them hers, but for 33 years I belonged to the church. The future holds not just writing books, teaching in seminary, speaking at conferences but being a grandfather and a father and a husband. I hope to do that well. I hope it looks happy to Noel," he said.

John and Noel recently celebrated the 47th anniversary of their meeting. They met on 06-06-66, which he laughs about. She was 18, he was 20, between his sophomore and junior years at Wheaton College.

"I didn't date and didn't know how I would ever get started. I was afraid of girls," he recalled, "God put us together in a group, and the group peeled away and we were together, and I thought to myself, I am alone talking with a girl. This is like a date. It went fast; within three weeks we were talking about marriage."

Though they began discussing the prospect of marriage early on, it would be another two years before an engagement, which Piper says was terribly too long. They were engaged in May 1968 and married on Dec. 21 of the same year. The two had four boys, Karsten, Benjamin, Abraham and Barnabus, but one phone call would change the makeup of their family and their lives for the better, forever.

The call was from a friend and social worker out of Georgia who assisted mothers with alternative options to abortion.

"We got to know a social worker, Phoebe Dawson, out of Georgia. She rescued a baby, called Noel and said, ?I have a little girl here, and I think she's for you.' Noel had been wanting a daughter ever since we had out first son. Her mother's heart was just aching. She had been praying about that," he said.

The two had not considered adopting until that moment. Piper was 50 years old and the thought of adoption was intimidating.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks. I said, ?You got to be kidding me; nobody adopts at that age. I'll be 65 and have the first daughter I ever had, and I'll be an old man,' " he said.

Despite his hesitation, Piper had written Noel a long letter detailing all of the reasons why he should say yes to proceeding with the adoption. On Dec. 15, 1995, two weeks after the phone call, John and Noel along with sons Abraham and Barnabus were in the airport, awaiting the arrival of their daughter, who Noel would name, Talitha Ruth.

"There she was in our hands, has been for 17 years. She was absolutely beautiful. Abraham and Barnabus fell in love with her immediately. We weren't planning to adopt and then went out and found a baby. A baby found us. God has been good to us and Talitha. I always tell her, you were doubly wanted by God and by us. We've talked about her adoption as a beautiful thing," he said.

Talitha is a reference to Mark 5:41, Talitha cumi, which means "little girl arise" in Aramaic. Ruth, Talitha's middle name, is named after John's mother and Ruth of the Bible.

The Pipers' youngest was 12 when they brought home Talitha. Piper remembers feeling inept for the task of fathering a daughter.

"All I knew was son raising, and none of it worked. Playtime for the boys was kick a ball, climb a tree; she never ever wanted to do any of that. She's domestic to the core. She loves to cook. If you saw her room upstairs, it's immaculate, she's incredibly artistic. If I were to build anything, the boys would want to knock it down. For Talitha there were always people in it, and they were talking to each other. I tried to teach her chess one time, and she tried to turn it into a marriage" he said.

And though raising a daughter was foreign to him, Piper did find special ways to bond with his daughter, including singing to her every night before bedtime. One particular night is etched in his mind; that night at the young age of 8, Talitha professed faith in Christ.

"That night she asked me to pray with her, and I did and we wrote it in her Bible. I sang over her a blessing for 15 years but that night when we were done, she said, ?I feel the Holy Spirit.' I said, ?There's a reason for that,' " he said.

When asked for one thing he loved most about fathering Talitha he said, "Watching her mother be her mother. It has been a profound pleasure to have Noel have a daughter and then to watch the two of them bond. I can't step inside the skin of a mother and daughter. It's been a huge education to realize the difference. I have to laugh when people still argue that men and women become who they are by virtue of socialization rather than by virtue of genes and providence and manhood and womanhood," he said.

Piper doesn't take the calling of fatherhood lightly. By definition he says fatherhood is a sense of God-ward responsibility for people.

"(In the Bible) Paul says children obey your parents and then the next thing he says is fathers don't exasperate your children, in which he turns from parents to fathers, which means he is putting a special charge on the fathers that he shares with the mother, but he has a unique responsibility to bring them up (in the Lord).

"That responsibility is a responsibility of love. When the Bible pictures God as our father it means for us to believe that we are uniquely loved. If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him because that's what fathers do; they're eager to give to their children.

Asked what advice he would have for dads he said, "Dads, start with being a son, and I mean a son of God, and if you're not a son of God get that right through faith in Jesus. Start by being reconciled to your Father.

"Secondly, don't let your imperfections presently and failures of the past dictate your efforts at love in the future. I think all of us, if we are honest, look back and say, ?Good night, I could have done this better!' Because you learn so much as you get old. You learn from your grown kids, really. And it's easy then to be paralyzed.

"God is in the business of taking a mess and making it useful in the future. Don't let the past failures hinder your future with your kids. Your kids may be 40, 50 years old, and you can venture new things, you can reach out in new ways to them because God is a God of redemption."

Piper plans to complete three books while in Knoxville, tentatively titled "Five Points Towards a Deeper Experience of Grace," based on the doctrines of grace also known as Reformed Theology, "Loving the God Who Loves You," a book of 50 devotionals, and the sixth volume in the "Swans Are Not Silent" series featuring George Herbert, George Whitfield and C.S. Lewis.

Piper's kids range from age 40 to 17, and he and Noel have 12 grandchildren.

Honor Thy Majestic Father

Fathers Who Give Hope (Father's Day, 1986)

Fathers, Bring Them Up in the Discipline and Instruction of the Lord (A Tribute to My Father, William Solomon Hottle Piper, 2005)

Ebook: A Tribute to My Father for Father's Day

Trillia Newbell is a freelance writer and author who also contributes to www.DesiringGod.org.
Please forgive me for thrashing a horse so dead its carcass is bloated worse than an interstate 'possum at high noon.

I realize members of the Tennessee General Assembly have lit out for their home territories to rally the hoi polloi on matters of (1) nonsensical, pandering legislation they approved this time around, (2) the need to be re-elected so they can approve more nonsensical, pandering legislation next time and (3) whether they should align themselves warmly, or flee from in horror, presidential wannabes Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Nonetheless, there's plenty of "official" business remaining. Especially in the coloring book department.

This became apparent after my recent column about a legislative move to designate purple as the official state color of Minnesota in honor of recently deceased native son Prince. Since Tennessee leads the nation in official this-and-thats, it stands to reason our dedicated solons would hop to the hue and add this item to their list.

A number of readers concurred. Herewith a sampling of some suggestions I received:

"It may not be law yet, but Tennessee already has an Official State Color," said Bob Defenderfer. "It is red. The vast majority are rednecks. The rest of us are red-faced after being laughed at by the rest of the country."

"Did my eighth-grade course in Tennessee history at Norris School fail me?" asked Russ Clapp. "I thought the lovely color of purple iris, our Official State Cultivated Flower, had been chosen long ago.

"To bolster that memory, I flashed back to 1950-51. If memory serves correctly, Tennessee hosted the State Governors' Conference, and attendees were provided purple Ford sedans for their transportation needs while here."

"It's gotta be gray!" insisted Tom Knight. "That way, we won't be caught up in a battle with the ACLU for discriminating against color-blind citizens."

While he had the floor and was on a roll, Knight also suggested clay (wet form: mud) as Official State Soil; Alley as Official State Cat, the aforementioned 'possum as Official State Roadkill and East-Southeast as Official State Wind.

Tom didn't point out the obvious, but we all know this wind would be required to maintain an exceedingly high temperature to simulate hot air spewing from Nashville.

Kenny Shreve painted with a wider brush than anyone: "I nominate the entire Tennessee Legislature as Official State Dumba**es."

(You will note I used stars for two letters in Kenny's suggestion. This was done so as not to embarrass the excellent word "dumbasses," which in Official State Dialect is pronounced "bunchadum-aaayzez.")

Sam Venable's column appears Sunday and Thursday. He may be reached at sam.venable@outlook.com.
SHARE (BOB FOWLER/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Bob Fowler of the Knoxville News Sentinel

CLINTON  After more than seven hours of deliberations over two days, an Anderson County jury sentenced a man convicted of killing his elderly uncle to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"We're glad this defendant will never walk as a free man again," said prosecutor Tony Craighead after the verdict against Norman Lee Follis Jr. was announced.

Jurors had the option of sentencing Norman Lee Follis Jr., 52, to death for the December 2011 murder of Samuel J. "Sammie" Adams.

But the jury foreman told presiding Judge Don Elledge the panel thought that while there were aggravating factors worthy of the death sentence, they were outweighed by the mitigating factors.

Jurors agreed that the crime  strangling Adams with an extension cord  was particularly heinous and cruel and the victim was vulnerable and had a significant disability. But in closing arguments, defense attorneys pointed to Follis' life experiences  beaten by his father, who plied him with alcohol when he was 5 years old, and his struggles with alcohol and drugs both as a teen and an adult  as factors that should be considered in weighing sentencing options.

"You rest easy," the judge told jurors, telling them they performed a "duty and a service."

Adams and Follis and his longtime girlfriend, Tammy Sue Chapman, were neighbors in the close-knit neighborhood on Patt Lane in the Claxton area of Anderson County.

Adams disappeared in mid-December and neighbors alerted authorities. Follis was later seen driving Adams' 1997 Mercury Marquis before testimony indicated he sold the vehicle in January to a Knoxville man for $1,000.

The defense theory was that Follis strangled Adams after he caught the elderly man pinning down and groping Follis' girlfriend.

After the slaying, Follis dragged his uncle's body into a closet, and prosecutors maintain he heaped 10 blankets on top of the corpse and barricaded the closet with a couch, testimony revealed.

While Follis was a suspect from the start, the major break in the case came after Chapman was nabbed at Follis' stepmother's house after she'd used Adams' keys to enter and take a piece of lemon cake.

Chapman was interrogated by Anderson County Sheriff's Department Detective Donald Scuglia, followed by a two-hour interview with Follis, who at first denied the incident before admitting to killing his uncle.

"Our thoughts are with the victim's family, who had to endure a trial and public discussion of the crime that would be difficult for any family to relive," Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a statement released Thursday morning.

"It's closure for my father," said Adams' son, Danny Adams, adding that he and his sister approve the jury's decisions.

The judge set an Aug. 12 sentencing hearing for Adams' conviction for theft, and scheduled a Dec. 2 hearing on an expected motion for a new trial.

Chapman, also charged with first-degree murder, remains in the Anderson County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
SHARE David Brake Lynn Brake

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  A Knox County couple have been arrested and charged with aggravated child neglect, authorities said.

David Lee Brake, 54, and Lynn Brake, 49, were taken into custody at East Tennessee Children's Hospital about 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from the Knox County Sheriff's Office. The couple were taken to a Knox County jail, where they each bonded out on a $15,000 bond.

Both are scheduled to appear in court on May 18.

According to arrest documents, the Brakes' 9-year-old son told authorities that on Monday his parents had pulled him off the top of a bunk bed and he fell and hit his head on the hardwood floors.

David Brake admitted to striking the child in the mouth with an open hand, which caused the boy's upper and lower lips to swell and bleed. He also admitted to kicking his son on the bottom, which also caused a bruise, according to documents.

A Children's Hospital doctor told authorities that the child suffered a concussion from the fall and had signs of significant physical abuse.

Both parents told authorities that they were aware that their son had fallen and hit his head because of their actions and never sought medical treatment for him.

The Sheriff's Office Family Crisis Unit investigated the case.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
Raynella Dossett Leath reacts to the medical examiner's testimony that there was no visible gun powder on her husband's face during the autopsy. Leath was trying to convince Senior Judge Paul Summers to overturn her 2010 conviction in the death of her second husband, David Leath Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A senior judge on Thursday not only awarded a suspected black widow a second trial but issued a condemnation of those within the judicial system who ignored and even covered up for the drug-addicted judge who presided over the first one.

"The system failed," Senior Judge Paul Summers wrote in an opinion granting a new trial to Raynella Dossett Leath.

PDF: Senior Judge Paul Summers' opinion granting new trial to Raynella Dossett Leath

Summers ruled former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner was so high and pill obsessed during Leath's January 2010 trial that he robbed her of a constitutionally sound proceeding in the 2003 death of her second husband, David Leath.

"We are pleased with the court's ruling and believe that the court made the right decision," said attorney Joshua Hedrick, who represented Leath in her bid for a new trial along with attorney Rebecca Legrand.

But Summers did more than detail what he said was clear proof in the court record of Baumgartner's impairment and its impact on the trial and his role as 13th juror. He lambasted Baumgartner's Knox County court colleagues, including fellow judges and prosecutors, for keeping quiet. He carved out praise, however, for two women  Baumgartner's secretary, Jennifer Judy, who intervened to keep him off the bench when others wouldn't, and former bailiff Meredith Driskell, who quit her job in protest of Baumgartner's behavior during the Leath trial and other officials' failure to do anything about it.

Both women testified earlier this year at a post-conviction appeal hearing over which Summers presided.

Continuing with his theme of a failure by the system, Summers wrote, "It failed Mr. Leath; it failed Ms. Driskell; it failed Ms. Judy; it failed Ms. Leath; and it failed the citizens of Tennessee."

Baumgartner was quietly forced into treatment in 2008 for alcoholism and pill addiction, but, as the TBI probe showed, he was doctor shopping for pills a year later. The TBI ultimately proved Baumgartner bought pills from a felon on probation in his court and used his mistress  a former participant in the Drug Court program he helped found  to get more.

Driskell testified at a hearing earlier this year that during Leath's trial Baumgartner repeatedly nodded off, forcing her to slam a door to rouse him, repeated himself and forgot testimony and arguments he had just heard. She said his behavior was so bad even jurors asked about his welfare.

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Summers did not shy away from the fact that the Tennessee Supreme Court, in rescuing from wholesale retrial orders in a January 2007 torture slayings case, had opined that Baumgartner's mere addiction and crimes off the bench were not enough to rate a finding of constitutional structural error in the cases over which he presided.

But, Summers said, in Leath's case such a finding was the only just resolution, given what he said was clear proof Baumgartner's drug use impacted the trial itself.

"This court finds from the record of the Leath trial and motion for new trial hearing sufficient details of misstatements; failures to respond; prejudicial statements; lapses of memory; slurring of speech; confusion; sleeping on the bench; and failure to properly control his courtroom," Summers wrote. "Considered in its entirety they indicate to the satisfaction of this court that the trial judge was impaired on the bench and that impairment rose to the level of a structural defect of constitutional proportions."

Leath had been sentenced to life in prison in her second husband's death. David Leath was found shot to death, and she insisted it was a suicide. The gun had been fired three times, and prosecutors said she staged the scene. After his death, the body of her first husband, former Knox County District Attorney General Ed Dossett was exhumed. Knox County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan opined Dossett did not die from an accidental cattle trampling but had been given lethal doses of morphine. Leath was charged in his death, too, but that case was dropped after her conviction in David Leath's death.

Summers wrote in his order that he would hold an arraignment and bond hearing for Leath within 30 days and planned to preside over her new trial.

Related:

Raynella Dossett Leath timeline: Charges and legal battles

Ex-bailiff: Judge high, impaired during Raynella Dossett Leath trial

Ex-Judge Richard Baumgartner exhibit A in alleged black widows bid for new trial

Photos: Raynella Dossett Leath through the years

New witness in Raynella Dossett Leath case discredits staged suicide claim

Black-widow suspect wins release of part of file on disgraced ex-judge

Raynella Dossett Leath wants TBI file on former Knox County judge

Appeals court upholds Dossett Leath conviction

Civil court ruling against Raynella Dossett Leath reversed

Raynella Dossett Leath case subject of book, TV show

Cable channel to air segment on David Leath killing

Raynella Leath won't inherit all of dead husband's estate

Raynella Dossett Leath witness changes story

Seven years after death, David Leath's ashes buried

Dossett Leath arrives at Nashville prison

Jury convicts Raynella Dossett Leath of first-degree murder in husband's death

Prosecution will try Dossett Leath again after mistrial

No way' mom killed stepfather, woman says

Bid denied to exhume Ed Dossett

Widow charged in Dossett's death

Judge again denies Dossett exhumation

Former DA's widow charged with his murder to plead not guilty

Widow charged in Dossett's death

Appeals court nullifies Leath's missing will

Exhumation requested in 'highly suspicious' death

Prosecutors: Former DA Dossett's death 'suspicious,' want to exhume body
SHARE Fashion designer Marcus Hall, left, of Marc Nelson Denim, and Karen Moggle, who creates custom belts for Hall are shown on Aug. 1, 2012. (Chad Greene/Special to the News Sentinel)

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville fashion designer Marcus Hall is either a criminal whose redemption story is cut from whole cloth, or a man for whom crime was merely a thread in the overall tapestry of his entrepreneurship and good works.

In the run-up to the June sentencing of Hall for his role as operator and profiteer in a $20 million gambling operation in Knoxville's inner city, the prosecution and defense are designing two disparate wardrobes with which to clothe him, federal court records show.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman seeks in her sentencing memorandum to strip Hall of the embellishments of fame and accolades. Hall, she says, is nothing more than a lifelong criminal who ran a con on the fashion world and the Knoxville community.

PDF: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman's sentencing memorandum



"(Hall) has taken great pains to project a public persona that focuses on his status as a minority business owner with a passion for community involvement but leaves out all of the unfavorable facts," Kolman wrote. "This court should look past (his) attempts to protect his fabricated public image."

Defense attorney Robert Kurtz, on the other hand, casts Hall's criminality as an unfortunate thread in Hall's quilt of good intention.

"Marcus Hall readily acknowledges his conduct in this case," Kurtz wrote in his sentencing memorandum. "He used the proceeds from illegal gambling to keep his clothing business afloat. But more than that, Marcus Hall recognizes that he also misled his community  At the same time, however, Marcus accomplished some good things."

PDF: Defense attorney Robert Kurtz's sentencing memorandum



Hall pleaded guilty last year to conspiring with two Lonsdale businessmen to operate a yearslong illegal numbers game in which participants placed bets on the daily winning numbers in the Illinois lottery. An IRS Criminal Investigation Division probe showed the gambling operation brought in $20 million until it was shut down last summer.

News of Hall's role  and that he used his cut of the proceeds to fund his entrepreneurship as an inner-city real estate developer and founder of Marc Nelson Denim raw denim manufacturing firm on Depot Avenue  sent shock waves through the fashion world in New York and Atlanta and among Knoxville's community service organizations, which had given Hall awards and seats on their boards.

Kolman contends Hall has long used the proceeds of crime to pay for the lifestyle of his dreams.

"This defendant's career to date is one of crime," she wrote. "In 1994, he started off simply enough with possession of marijuana and an assault of an officer when he shoved the officer and fled. In 1996, he pleaded guilty in this federal court to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 30 months. Then in the early to mid-2000s, the defendant entered into his illegal gambling, "numbers game" and money laundering scheme which ran until June 8, 2015."

Kurtz countered Hall began adulthood as a licensed barber and salon owner in Knoxville but succumbed to the temptation of "quick and easy money that he witnessed being made by his friends" dealing drugs. Upon release from prison, Hall tried his hand at acting in Los Angeles but couldn't afford living there. He returned to Knoxville to work as a barber and was eyeing real estate development when his now-confessed gambling partner Clarence McDowell offered him another chance at easy money via gambling, Kurtz wrote.

Still, the defense attorney contends, Hall put "sweat equity" into his real estate ventures and fashion business. His mother, Kurtz said, taught Hall to sew as a child.

Kurtz is pushing for a sentence of one year and a day, with that extra day ensuring Hall can cut his sentence by 15 percent for good behavior. Kolman is pushing for a sentence on the high end of the 30- to 37-month penalty range.

Hall has agreed to forfeit four vehicles, 15 properties and $5 million. Marc Nelson Denim was not seized as part of his plea deal, and Hall has insisted the company remains a going concern.

Kurtz noted in his sentencing memorandum that the business has lost half its clientele since Hall's arrest.
A photograph from the Knoxville Police Department investigative file shows bus 57 from Sunnyview Primary School after the fatal accident Dec. 2, 2014, on Asheville Highway. (KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT)

By News Sentinel staff

KNOXVILLE  The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that "risky behavior" by a Knox County Schools bus driver led him to crash with a second bus, killing two students and a teacher's aide in 2014.

The NTSB's findings mirror those of the Knoxville Police Department that were released in June.

According to the NTSB report, the Dec. 2, 2014, collision was caused by the "late reaction and subsequent loss of control by the driver of Bus 44 when he swerved to avoid traffic stopped ahead of him due to distraction caused by his reading a text message on his cellphone while driving."

Sunnyview Primary School students Seraya Glasper, 7, and Zykia Burns, 6, along with teacher's aide Kimberly Riddle, were killed when Bus 44, driven by James Davenport, slammed into the side of their bus on Asheville Highway.

There were no recommendations included in the NTSB report, but the agency did note a "safety issue," as part of the report.

"The NTSB believes that focusing on any task while driving impairs performance and can have deadly consequences, as it did in this case," the 10-page report read.

"The fact that even while transporting children a driver would engage in such risky behavior shows how prevalent it has become on our roads."

Police said Davenport was in the midst of a tumultuous text exchange with a convicted prostitute at the moment he swerved across the median and slammed into the other bus.

Investigators discovered Davenport had a fanny pack on the bus containing three prescription medications, including the painkillers morphine and oxycodone. He told authorities he had two slipped discs. He had applied for disability, been denied and was appealing the decision.

Davenport, who died on June 1 of natural causes, said he had not taken any pills on the day of the crash. Drug test results likewise showed he had no drugs in his system.

A number of changes, at both the state and local level, came as result of the crash.

At the beginning of the school year, the school system implemented a number of strategies it said would increase accountability and safety to its transportation department after the crash. They included additional training for bus drivers, particularly around distracted driving; the addition of two cameras on each of the school system's buses; a safety check ride program and the review of the district's transportation department and operations by an independent consultant.

Last month, the state lawmakers gave final legislative approval to a bill that increases the penalties for texting and using mobile electronic devices while driving a school bus.
Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are investigating a hiker's report that he was bitten by a black bear while he slept along the Appalachian Trail.

By News Sentinel Staff

Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are investigating a hiker's report that he was bitten by a black bear while he slept along the Appalachian Trail.

According to park spokeswoman Dana Soehn, a 49-year-old thru-hiker told Graham County, N.C., authorities he was sleeping in a tent near the Spence Field Shelter on Tuesday night when a bear bit him on the leg through the tent. The bear ran from the area before the hiker or other backpackers saw the animal.

Soehn said the bear later returned to the area, tearing through the same tent  which had been vacated by the injured hiker  and a second tent.

The injured hiker was brought out of the backcountry by park rangers via horseback, then transported by Rural/Metro to Blount Memorial Hospital, Soehn said.

A park wildlife technician and park ranger responded to the area Wednesday morning, she said.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.

Related stories about bears in the Park:

NPR: Wildlife Biologists Manage Bear Interactions In America's National Parks

New GPS collars track nuisance bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Black Bear Management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Teen attacked by bear in Smokies recounts ordeal

Bear activity increasing in Smokies

TWRA kills family of miscreant bears in Gatlinburg

Smokies hiker: 'I'm in no way a villain' in death of Laurel the bear

Some hope euthanized bear's story will educate

8-year-old boy, father injured in Smokies bear attack

UT ends study of Smokies' black bears

Are bear encounters on the rise in the Smokies?

Bear encounters
By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Councilman Nick Della Volpe used a fable about a "fun-loving grasshopper" and "industrious ants" in an email to the Knoxville Homeless Collective last week, prompting an angry response from critics during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"This incoherent, irrelevant, condescending email was written by someone who actually helps run the city of Knoxville  God help us," said Drew Krikau, a homeless resident who spoke during the public forum Tuesday. "I'm not living in a fable. This is real life, a raw life that neither you or a grasshopper knows anything about."

Della Volpe's email came in response to a letter the collective sent to Mayor Madeline Rogero and council members late Friday morning.

PDF: Read the collective's letter and Della Volpe's response

Members of the collective, which is comprised of homeless residents and run out of the East Tennessee Peace and Justice Center, have been attending City Council meetings for two months, urging the body to consider adopting a "Homeless Bill of Rights."

The group's letter Friday expressed frustration that the issue hadn't been placed on a council agenda for public debate.

"We are outraged from the apparent lack of concern you and the council have shown in our attempts to get on the agenda to try to contribute to solving the extreme lack of housing in this city, as well as the lack of civil and human rights afforded those who are without housing!" the email signed by the collective reads.

Della Volpe's response, sent an hour later, pointed to existing city programs funded through "hardworking taxpayers (who) are being taxed to provide monies to support homeless services."

"Frankly, your 'demands' show a gross lack of perception on your anonymous, 'collective' part," he wrote. He went on to tell a fable about a fun-loving, fiddle-playing grasshopper who did not prepare for the winter and died. He contrasted that with the "industrious ants" who "slept warmly in their prepared underground and stocked shelter."

"Learn from those ants: they worked hard for their future living," the councilman wrote.

Della Volpe said Wednesday he stands by the response and he was surprised by the reaction Tuesday to his email.

"I wouldn't have interpreted that as calling anyone a bug or an ant," Della Volpe said, responding to one public speaker Tuesday who said the councilman had called them insects. "This (fable) illustrates our expectation for you that you will get on your feet, restore yourself and pull your own weight.

"I sent it, it was addressed to the homeless collective. I hadn't heard back since the meeting."

Eddie Young, executive director of the Peace and Justice Center, said the response highlighted the lack of understanding about the homeless community.

"It's extremely ignorant of the Bill of Rights; it was ignorant of what these guys are trying to accomplish and what they're asking for," Young said. "It's ignorant of the complexities and complications come with being homeless and of poverty, and on top of that, it was condescending and insulting."

The "Homeless Bill of Rights" proposed by the collective is a three-page list of a dozen rights that should be afforded to homeless individuals.

It includes, among other things, the right to use and sleep in public spaces, such as sidewalks, parks and public buildings; the right to sleep in a vehicle parked legally on public property; the right to use a public bathroom and to "discretely" relieve oneself if no bathroom is available; and the right to solicit donations "in a non-aggressive manner."

The city has been reluctant to pursue the homeless bill of rights, said Michael Dunthorn, the city's coordinator for the Office on Homelessness.

"I understand where they're coming from with that. If you're the person in the camp, it's frustrating to have to move on," Dunthorn said. "But ultimately, when I read that Bill of Rights document, several things strike me. One is that it's entirely focused on maintaining the right to remain homeless, and it doesn't say anything in it about finding a way out of homelessness."
SHARE CITY OF KNOXVILLE A homeless camp in North Knoxville on the contaminated site belonging to PSC Metals is pictured on April 1. The city has evicted about 40 people and has hauled out 160 tons of trash from the site. A syringe in a homeless camp in North Knoxville is pictured recently in a photo provided by the City of Knoxville. City crews and police have evicted about 60 people and hauled out 160 tons of garbage from the site. The property is owned by PSC Metals and has been contaminated for years, with runoff tainting Second Creek. (CITY OF KNOXVILLE) AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL Debris and overgrown green space are cleared during cleanup of a homeless camp near Richards Street, which runs parallel to the PSC Metals site and Second Creek near downtown Knoxville on Wednesday. The site has been contaminated for years, and the people living in the camp have disturbed the soil. The contaminated soil, along with human waste from people at the camp, have been contaminating Second Creek, which runs by the site. Knoxville Police Department Officer Thomas Clinton talks with Public Works Director David Brace about the efforts to help individuals in homeless camps connect with services on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. City crews and police evicted roughly 40 people who had been living near the PSC Metals site and so far have hauled out 160 tons of garbage. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Related Coverage Councilman's email to homeless collective stirs backlash

Man facing life in triple killing in Knox homeless camp

By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel

City crews have evicted more than 40 people and hauled off 160 tons of trash from a North Knoxville homeless camp, three years after a triple killing at the same site.

The camp, which had become the city's largest, was overrun with used needles and tampons, human waste, rotting food, empty pill bottles, dirty blankets and other trash.

But perhaps more alarming than the living conditions was the exposure to toxic chemicals at the site and contamination of the nearby Second Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River, city officials said.

"What I saw was just deplorable," said Vice Mayor Duane Grieve, who visited the cleanup Friday. "This was not a safe place for the homeless to live. And what they were doing in terms of occupying this area, it wasn't safe for the rest of us with everything they were throwing in the creek. There was trash everywhere."

A portion of the camp was on the former site of PSC Metals off Central Street between Fifth and Bernard avenues, where the soil is known to contain mercury, arsenic, barium, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl and 13 other contaminants, according to the city. City officials didn't say exactly how much ground the camp covered.

City staff discovered homeless people living at the camp had been digging in search of scrap metal, exposing themselves to the contaminants and causing erosion and pollution of the nearby creek, said David Brace, the city's public works director.

"This is where we had homeless digging for scrap metal in soil that is believed to be contaminated, and that was our real concern," Brace said.

Residents of the camp had also been bathing, disposing of human waste and throwing garbage in the creek, he said.

The city tested for bacteria in the creek near the camps in October and found levels "exceeded the (safe) threshold for human contact" compared to upstream, where levels were far below the safety threshold, said David Hagerman, with the city's stormwater management division. Detailed test results were not immediately available Wednesday.

The city began issuing notices to people living in the camps about three weeks ago, officials said. When crews of about 15 workers arrived on May 2 to begin the cleanup, only two people were still on the site.

City staff also worked with service providers and case managers, which allowed time to make room for anyone interested in assistance. Two people from the camp have since been placed in housing and six others are "in the pipeline, promisingly," said Michael Dunthorn, the city's program coordinator for the Office on Homelessness.

"We're trying to be respectful. We have reasonable objectives," Dunthorn said. "We're not trying to criminalize this. We're trying to deal with a need and deal with the community's need."

The city cleans up about 80 such camps a year and has a general policy of giving camp residents 72 hours to collect their belongings and leave, Brace said.

The camp dismantled last week is within walking distance of downtown and most of the homeless service providers. Because it was set back from frequently travelled roads and had access to water, it made for an attractive camp site, Brace said.

Tents had been set up on both sides of Second Creek. The property on the west side of the creek belongs to PSC Metals, which had moved all its operations off the site several years ago. On the east side of the creek are train tracks and a railroad yard belonging to Norfolk Southern.

The PSC Metals property is the same site of a camp where three homeless people killed three others in 2013. Hope Carol Warvi, 24, and Brandon Roberts, 31, pleaded guilty in that case, and Joshua Cool was convicted in March by a jury on two counts of first-degree murder.

Since the crime, city crews cleaned up the camp, Brace said including as recently as three or four months ago. But after each dismantling, the camp eventually built back up again.

"There were buildings here when there were the murders, so the buildings have been removed and PSC fully left this site," Brace said Wednesday. "We clean homeless camps on a regular basis, and I think the decision on this cleanup was, because the conditions had gotten so bad and (because of) the digging on the PSC site, we decided to make a stronger effort this time."

Railroad crews started clearing out foliage and removing piles of gravel and railroad ties. On public property, the city has been cutting down the vegetation.

Doing so should make the properties less attractive to the homeless and easier to patrol for police, Brace said.

PSC, meanwhile, has been working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on long-term solutions for cleaning up the site for possible redevelopment in the future, Brace said.

Calls to PSC Metals late Wednesday afternoon were not immediately returned.
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By News Sentinel Staff

A 68-year-old Virginia man was killed Wednesday when the motorcycle he was operating collided with a pickup in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, authorities said.

According to park spokeswoman Dana Soehn, Thomas Bailey of Meadows of Dan, Va., was riding his motorcycle at 1:04 p.m. on Little River Road about 1 miles of the Sinks when it collided with a Toyota Tundra occupied by an Oregon couple.

Bailey was declared dead at the scene. His body was transported by a Rural/Metro ambulance to Blount Memorial Hospital.

Further details about the crash were unavailable.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
SHARE Terry Frank, Anderson County mayor.

By Bob Fowler of the Knoxville News Sentinel

CLINTON  The Anderson County Budget Committee is calling for a 1-cent cut in the county property tax rate for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and keeping most county departments at current year spending levels.

Panelists unanimously endorsed what Mayor Terry Frank says is her administration's proposed budget earlier this week. No raises for county employees have been included, while workers will see the costs for health insurance increase.

The school budget, meanwhile, includes 2 percent raises for teachers and support staff, with the state chipping in $584,000 for those pay hikes.

The increase in health insurance for county employees stems from a year of high claims in the county's self-insured program as well as "general escalating costs," Frank said in a news release. She said participation in the county's new wellness program can help offset the boost in health insurance premiums.

Frank said after the school system presented its budget plan, "the assessments of property tax came in $692,109 above what the schools had projected." She said the committee is recommending part of that excess revenue be set aside to buy "one-to-one technology," or the proposal to get computer devices in students' hands.

Foster said schools want the county to set aside $400,000 each year for three years to get the computer device program up and running. "We think the county's fund balance is lucrative enough they could provide the $400,000," he said.

Frank in her news release said the budget committee has endorsed a plan to "strengthen fund balance policy" by increasing the county's unassigned general fund balance, also called the rainy-day fund, from $4.5 million to $4.75 million.

In that event, it would take a "supermajority vote" from County Commission to dip into reserves below $4.75 million.

Other county budget proposal highlights include a small increase in contributions to the county's volunteer fire departments and rescue squad, and the setup of a new capital fund to start raising money for a larger county senior center. The current center, just recently opened, is "already bursting at the seams," Frank said.

The county general budget totals $26.1 million, while the school system's budget is $55.7 million. The current county tax rate outside municipalities is $2.79 per $100 assessed value.

A public hearing on the committee's fiscal plan is scheduled for May 24, followed by the budget proposal advancing to County Commission on June 20.

The budget committee's action this week marks the end of an era. Next fiscal year, a seven-member Finance Committee will take on the task of creating the budget proposal as part of a controversial change strongly opposed by Frank.
SHARE Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Richard Locker of the Knoxville News Sentinel

NASHVILLE  The top two legislative leaders said Thursday they don't expect Gov. Bill Haslam to veto any of the controversial bills still awaiting his review, including repeal of the Hall income tax, defunding the University of Tennessee's diversity office and a lawsuit to restrict the federal refugee resettlement program in Tennessee.

House Speaker Beth Harwell and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said the governor hasn't signaled any intention of a veto to them but said it's possible he might allow one or more of the bills to become law without his signature.

Haslam was on an economic development trip to Korea, China and Japan from May 2 through Wednesday and has not been available to talk with reporters. Ramsey and Harwell were in Nashville for the monthly meeting of the State Building Commission and spoke with reporters afterward.

"I don't think he'll veto them. That's just my gut feeling. He hasn't told me that," said Ramsey, R-Blountville. "Are there some he may let become law without his signature  possibly  but we haven't even talked about that. Just from the relationship we have, I think if there was going to be a veto I'd have heard about it by now and I haven't. I could be surprised.

"Before we left (after the Legislature adjourned for the year April 22), I got the strong hint we wouldn't need a veto override session. Whether he signs them or not that's a different story," Ramsey said.

Harwell, R-Nashville, also said Haslam gave her no indication he would veto anything.

"He indicated toward the end (of the legislative session) that he didn't see anything that would cause us to need an override session, so I'm anticipating that means he's going to sign them. Or at least allow them to become law without his signature," she said.

The House last month rejected a proposal to reconvene later this spring to consider overriding potential vetoes by Haslam. His last veto occurred before the Legislature adjourned  a bill designating the Bible as "the official state book of Tennessee"  and an attempt to override the veto failed in the House.

Since then, he has allowed one bill to become law without his signature: a measure allowing full-time employees of the state's public colleges and universities who have handgun-carry permits to go armed on their campuses, provided they notify the police agency with jurisdiction over the campus.

A bill to reduce the state's Hall income tax on certain stock and bond dividends and interest from 6 percent to 5 percent effective with the current tax year  and to totally eliminate the tax in 2022  hasn't yet arrived on the governor's desk. When it does, he'll have 10 days  counting Saturdays but not Sundays and holidays  to sign it into law or veto it or it automatically becomes law without his signature.

Haslam favored the tax cut but expressed concerns about its elimination six years from now, saying that should be left to future state leaders depending on the state's finances at the time.

The bill to reallocate about $436,000 from UT Knoxville's diversity office and into minority engineering scholarships for one year arrived on the governor's desk Monday, giving him until May 20 to act on it. A resolution directing the state attorney general to file a lawsuit against the federal government to force compliance with the federal Refugee Act of 1980 and seek state approval for resettlement of refugees in the state also was transmitted to the governor Monday.
Donald Trump thumbs-up the crowd after giving a speech at the Knoxville Convention Center on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

When Donald Trump came to Knoxville in his campaign for President of the United States he gave a decidedly un-presidential speech.

Actually, it wasnt a speech. Rather, it was a stream-of-consciousness series of comments sounding like the political musings of a guy in a bar after hes hoisted a few.

Nevertheless, according to the Reuters-Ipsos poll released May 11, Trump is in a virtual dead heat with Hillary Clinton. Its a little hard to identify anything Trump has done to bring him to this point; rather, its perhaps more a reflection of Clintons weaknesses as a candidate.

The proof is in the numbers: shes been matched up for months against 74-year-old Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, who nevertheless keeps winning state after state against what was once thought to be the Clinton electoral juggernaut.

The argument can be made that her problem is that the more voters see and hear her, the worse she does. Its either that or all you have to do to be taken seriously as a Democratic candidate is to promise people free stuff paid for by someone else, as Sanders has done.

Trump isnt a Republican. Hes not a Democrat. Hes a Trumplicrat. Or a Trumprecrat. His party is himself. Actually, what Republican voters have done, in their irritation with government in general, is put in place a presumptive nominee who is, in reality, a third-party candidate. Perhaps its the ultimate triumph of celebrity politics. Or nearly the ultimate triumph.

With Clinton as the Democratic nominee Republicans were in an extraordinary position to win the White House. With Trump as the Republican nominee, all bets on that score at this point are off.

Nevertheless, if Clinton wins shes going to have earned it. What Trumps going to put her through from the conventions until the elections will bedaunting. And then theres the other problem: shell have to campaign, and so far its not proving to be her strong suit.

Thank you, Officer Richard Sadulski

Law enforcement officers dont always get praise for doing nice things. Id like to praise one.

A few weeks ago, after arriving at the Melbourne, Florida at about 11 p.m., I picked up a rental car and drove to where I was staying. After arriving, I busied myself for a while, then went to get my computer from my briefcase.

It wasnt there.

My dismay was exhibited immediately  and loudly. Id left my computer on the plane, stuck in the seatback pocket. After finishing some work Id meant to put it back in my briefcase, but I was in a window seat and didnt want to disturb the person sitting next to me. So, I decided to wait.

Of course, when it came time to get off the plane, all I thought about was exiting. And my computer remained behind.

My anguish was compounded in that this wasnt the first time Id made this mistake. A year earlier I did the same thing, but miraculously, after turning in a lost and found form, my computer was returned to me several weeks later (my wife doesnt know about this latest event; lets keep it between us, please).

But this was the last flight of the night. The plane was still there. I jumped into my car and raced back to the airport, 30 minutes away. It was now approaching midnight.

Melbourne is a nice city, but its not New York. Parking in front of the terminal, I ran inside the seemingly-deserted building and started yelling Hello, is anyone here?

I was only there a few seconds when I looked back outside and saw Richard Sadulski, an airport police officer, eyeing my wrongly-parked car with concern. I came up to him and explained the situation.

He could have said he was sorry, everyone was gone, and Id have to come back in the morning, which at that point was just a few hours away. Thats what I expected. But thats not what he did.

He asked me to wait in my car in another spot and went back inside. Ten minutes later he returned  with my computer. Hed found a crew waiting for a late flight, asked them to look in the plane, and they found it.

He helped me when he didnt have to, and the next day I called Melbourne Airport Police Deputy Chief Renee Purden and told her the story and how much I appreciated his help.

And now Ive told you.

Bob Thomas and the early bird gets the mayors office?

County Commissioner and longtime radio personality Bob Thomas has announced hes running for county mayor. The election is in 2018.

Some wonder, is it too early?

No.

Some 20 years ago on a WATE-TV (where I serve as political analyst) program I mentioned that we were entering into an era of year-round campaigning for offices local to national.

Id like to say its prophecy fulfilled, but modesty prohibits me. So Ill just say I was right.

Thomas is forcing potential competitors to decide whether to wait and let him build up a reservoir of campaigning and fundraising or hit the campaign surf themselves.

Strategically and tactically, Thomas has made the right move. If he wins.

George Korda is political analyst for WATE-TV, appearing Sundays on Tennessee This Week. He hosts State Your Case from noon  3 p.m. Sundays on WOKI-FM Newstalk 98.7. Korda is a frequent speaker and writer on political and news media subjects. He is president of Korda Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm.
SHARE Andre Canty

By Andre Canty

State Rep. Martin Daniel recently stated that the Knox County Board of Education should address future subject matter that pertains to social justice, which may "indoctrinate" the youth based off an exercise in a fourth-grade textbook.

The exercise gave the scenario of a student in a black community receiving damaged books, which leads to the school board revising the system to provide equity in terms of resources. Students explained the "whys" and "whats" of the scenario, which I believe is the definition of critical thinking.

Why should we not want our students to learn social justice? In the last five years, we have been witnessing so many young people carrying on the legacy of their great-grandparents who, because of social justice, changed our nation.

Whether it's diversity funding cuts at the University of Tennessee, changing the name of Forrest Hall at Middle Tennessee State University, mass imprisonment, the school-to-prison pipeline or giving some liberty to discriminate against the LGBT community, these students would benefit in learning that they have the ability to question injustice for this state to progress. Tennessee is now one of the main fronts in the battle for equity and human rights, so to deprive our kids of critical thinking in order to analyze the world that they will soon inherit would be stifling their development as leaders.

The circumstances surrounding the exercise are both historical and unfortunately current. It is not so far back in history to remember that there were separate schools based on race where students were forced to read from torn-up pages. It's also not far-fetched to believe that inequity still exists. We have to be aware that there are people who are oppressed, and to ignore that would be setting up children to believe that groups that have been discriminated against are simply those who didn't apply themselves enough.

Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd and Sandra Bland died without justice, yet youth are indoctrinated to believe that they died because of their own misbehavior, with no accountability on the part of their murderers. Social justice takes unjust laws and practices head on. So we can believe that racism existed 50-plus years ago, but cannot conceive of it being present now?

Social justice is why there's a need for a living wage. Social justice is why schools were desegregated in the first place. It's why the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington.

King marched to address economics and racism. His legacy has been co-opted and used to de-legitimize young people on the ground now fighting for freedom.

I was also indoctrinated to believe that:

* Columbus discovered America, though it was already occupied by natives.

* George Washington cut down a cherry tree.

* My history started with slavery.

* The Civil War was not fought over slavery (though it was the very cause of the war).

* Rosa Parks was just a normal seamstress instead of a seasoned activist.

* Rap music, which influenced me as much as books, is the harbinger of the apocalypse.

I learned about injustice when I was in third grade, and if I didn't know about social justice as a kid, I would've succumbed to a society that taught me that I'm a worthless human being and my race is a death sentence. In fact, learning how the world perceived me compelled me to succeed as an individual and give back to the community where I came from by empowering youth to be agents of change.

It is not indoctrination to teach social justice. It is intelligence. If there were no injustice in society, then there would be no need for a social justice exercise.

Andre Canty is on the Development Team at the Highlander Research and Education Center.
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The American people have voted and said that they want Donald Trump as the Republican Party's candidate for president. The Republican leadership did everything they could to keep Trump from winning, and they lost. Why? Because the people are tired of the Washington do-nothings. Now that they have lost to Trump, they are behaving like little boys. President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush, wanna-be president Jeb Bush, John McCain and Paul Ryan are refusing to abide by the will of the Republican voters. It almost makes you ashamed to say you're a Republican.

Richard Gang, Lenoir City
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It is way too obvious that Greg Johnson has no interest in being anywhere near objective or impartial when he births his bloviations. In the column titled "Tenn. better off than progressive states," he tries to create the impression that Republican legislatures are better than Democratic ones. He does this by cherry-picking his data and misconstruing his "facts" with abandon. For example, he cites Michigan as one progressive state that is screwed up, which he blames on past government dominated by Democrats. I think it is a little more complicated than that, given a state economy that was so heavily dependent on an auto industry that was so slow to respond to very aggressive foreign competition. And how convenient it is of Johnson to completely ignore the horrifying facts surrounding the lead poisoning fiasco with Flint's water supply as a result of Republican malfeasance.

He goes on to laud Tennessee's "super stupendous GOP supermajority" and its successes, while completely ignoring some rather significant statistics. Tennessee is first in meth abuse; second in violent crime; third in corruption; fourth in human trafficking; fifth in women killed by men; sixth in low birth weight; seventh in "Most Miserable"; eighth in fatal overdoses; ninth in hospital readmissions; and 10th in dumbest state in the union.

The icing on this ludicrously dubious success cake, as per Joy Harris, the assistant treasurer for financial empowerment at our state's Treasury Department, is that despite being "at the top of our game managing the state's finances  on an individual basis, we're sort of at the bottom of some things," namely being the No. 1 state for bankruptcy filings.

In what universe are these successes? Words that come to my mind are inadequacy, ignorance, infamy and ignominy, for starters.

Robert A. Christiansen, Knoxville
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

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By The Commericial Appeal

Sen. Bob Corker spoke with columnist Otis Sanford in a podcast Wednesday, a day after speculation picked up over the Tennessee Republican's viability as a possible vice presidential choice for Donald Trump.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week offered to help Trump develop a foreign policy platform and complimented Trump on a recent foreign policy speech, making him one of the few senators to publicly embrace Trump as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

But a statement from Corker's office Tuesday appeared to dismiss talk of a spot on a Trump ticket.

Continue reading at The Commericial Appeal
By Lee Hyo-sik





Park Yong-maan

KCCI Chairman

Incoming lawmakers should better listen to public opinions and work together to pass the laws that bolster economic activities and improve people's livelihoods, the country's largest business association said Thursday.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) representing 160,000 small and large companies also called on the 20th National Assembly, which will open on May 30, not to engage in political infighting to protect their vested interests.

"We expect the incoming Assembly will play a crucial role in revitalizing business activities and promoting social harmony," KCCI Chairman Park Yong-maan said at annual gathering of 60 heads of regional chambers in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. "To do so, (the lawmakers) must place top priority on reflecting the will of people and boosting cooperation among themselves."

Park, who is also the chairman of Doosan Infracore, said companies and individuals should refrain from blindly criticizing politicians, adding that now is the time for the public to root for the Assembly so that it can do a better job.

"If we cheer for lawmakers, they will perform better," the chairman said. "I hope the incoming Assembly will be different from its processor. It should work more closely with business communities to create a better environment for companies and its workers."

Park then called on the current Assembly to pass pending economy-related bills. "Both ruling and opposition parties must set aside their political differences and work together to deal with much-needed bills to revive the sagging economy and create jobs. Lawmakers need to pass bills aimed at lowering entry barriers in the services industry and easing rigidity in the labor market. We don't have much time."

The chairman also said Korea needs to further accumulate "social capital," such as reciprocity, trust and teamwork, to achieve a sustainable economic growth.

"For the past half century, the Korean economy has been moving forward mainly on economic capital,' such as labor, capital and technology," he said. "We can enter the league of advanced economies when we successfully grow on both economic capital with social capital."

On Thursday, KCCI also released the results of its latest survey of 120 economists and others, who serve as a KCCI policy advisor.

About 75 percent said the 20th Assembly should prioritize the needs to bolster communication and cooperation among themselves. This reflects the widespread public disappointment at the current Assembly, which has long been marred by political wrangling between ruling and opposition parties.

About 16 percent of respondents cited professionalism as the most important virtue for incoming lawmakers, followed by integrity with 5 percent.
South Korea's exports of information communication technology (ICT) goods dropped 14.3 percent last month due mainly to a continued slump in sales of semiconductors and displays, government data showed Thursday.

ICT exports reached $12.53 billion in April, down from $14.62 billion a year ago, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Exports of ICT goods accounted for 30.5 percent of the country's $41.05 billion worth of overall shipments abroad over the cited period.

South Korea's overall exports have been in a deep slump for 20 straight months, posting an 11.2-percent on-year drop in April.

Imports of foreign ICT products also fell 4.9 percent on-year to $7.27 billion last month, with the country logging a surplus of $5.26 billion in the sector.

The trade ministry said weak exports of display panels and semiconductors led the decline due to an oversupply and flaccid demand in the sectors.

Shipments of flat screens sank 27.6 percent on-year to $2.13 billion and those of chips slid 11.8 percent on-year to $4.55 billion over the period.

Overseas sales of mobile phones also contracted 7.9 percent to $2.15 billion on the waning impact of new smartphones releases.

By region, shipments to China and Japan plunged 18.9 percent and 50.9 percent on-year, respectively, while those to the United States jumped 25.3 percent, the data showed. (Yonhap)
Subcontractors of Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's auto giant, plan to employ about 18,000 new workers this year, providing a much-needed boost for the country's slumping job market, industry sources and company officials said Thursday.

The employment plan involving about 380 subcontractors supplying parts and other products to the group is similar to the level of recruitment they made last year, according to the sources.

Hyundai Motor Group, which holds Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. under its wing, earlier unveiled its plan to hire some 10,000 new workers this year, almost the same level as the 9,500 employed last year.

This comes amid worries over the freezing labor market hard-hit by ramped-up corporate restructuring going on in the country's top three shipbuilding companies, once regarded as major job creators for the country.

Recently, Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest carmaker in terms of sales, held a job fair for its subcontractors, which ended on Tuesday. About 350 subcontractors joined the fair.

Group officials said that some 25,000 people visited the event held in five regions of the country, underlining the keen interest among job seekers in new employment opportunities.

Younger people in South Korea are faced with tougher labor market conditions than other age groups.

Latest government data showed that unemployment rate for those aged between 15 and 29, reached 10.9 percent last month, much higher than the 3.9 percent reported among all surveyed people. (Yonhap)
Korean banks saw their first-quarter earnings rise 8.6 percent, but the rise was mostly helped by one-off gains, data showed Thursday.

For the three months ended March 31, the combined net profit of 17 local banks stood at 2.27 trillion won ($1.94 billion), compared with a profit of 2.09 trillion won a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

"The rise was largely attributable to Korea Development Bank's one-off dividend income worth 900 billion won from its investment in the state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp.," said an FSS official.

"Moreover, banks had to put aside a sizable amount of loan-loss provisions in the first quarter against potential losses stemming from the financially troubled Hanjin Shipping Co. and other shipping lines. Increased provisions weighed on their bottom lines."

Their collective loan-loss provisions jumped to 3.1 trillion won in the first three months of the year, from 2.7 trillion won a year earlier, due to troubled shipping companies. Their net interest margin fell to a record low of 1.55 percent in the first quarter from 1.63 percent during the same period, the data showed. (Yonhap)
By Nam Hyun-woo



Shinhan Investment said Thursday that it has started the Meritz China Fund which invests in Chinese companies listed on bourses around the world.



According to the brokerage house, the fund takes a bottom-up approach to analyze companies that have talented management and sound business structures in China.



Also, the fund will invest in companies listed on the A-share, B-share, and H-share markets as well as those on markets in the U.S.



According to Shinhan, Meritz Asset Management and China's BinYuan Capital will operate the fund together with a strategy focused on companies with strong growth potential through joint research and inquiry.



BinYuan Capital conducts more than 450 visits to each company and its factories for due diligence and has analysts working in each industry. Shinhan Investment said the fund will include companies that it can invest in and put in its portfolio for at least three years.



"Expectations are high on China-bound investments as the country is expected to join the Morgan Stanley Capital International Index," said an official at Shinhan. "Against such a backdrop, the Meritz China Fund will likely be an attractive product."




Captain America: Civil War







Damage from past incidents involving the Avengers suggests a need for a governing body to oversee and direct them. Captain America believes superheroes should remain free to defend humanity without government interference. Iron Man disagrees and supports oversight. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.

Phantom Detective





Hong Gil-Dong (Lee Je-hoon) is a private detective possessing an extraordinary memory and a unique personality. While tracking down Kim Byung-duk for his own revenge, Hong becomes involved in a massive criminal case. Directed by Jo Sung-hee.

The Wailing





A police officer (Gwak Do-won) investigates a series of unexplained deaths. He believes that the arrival of a stranger is in some way related to the case. This suspense thriller also features Hwang Jeong-min, Chun Woo-hee and Jun Kunimura. Directed by Na Hong-jin.

My New Sassy Girl





As a sequel to an international hit film "My Sassy Girl," this film depicts Gyeon-woo's life after breaking up with his old sassy girl. He soon reunites with his first love from elementary school.

Cha Tae-hyun and Victoria Song co-star as Gyeon-woo and the new sassy girl. Directed by Jo Geun-sik.

The Family Fang





Annie (Nicole Kidman) and Baxter (Jason Bateman) Fang are the children of famous performance artists. When their parents suddenly go missing, they investigate further to figure out whether it is real or a part of their parents' performance. Directed by Jason Bateman.
By Kang Seung-woo



President Park Geun-hye's administration shows no signs of changing its hard-line stance on North Korea, but now even some ruling party lawmakers are cautiously voicing the need for inter-Korean dialogue to defuse tension.



Their calls came after Seoul rejected North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's proposal for military talks, made at the North's rare Workers' Party Congress, citing a lack of sincerity.



"If the government wants to improve inter-Korean ties, there needs to be informal dialogue with North Korea at least," said Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Young-woo at a meeting of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee with Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, Wednesday.



"Even when North Korea attacked Cheong Wa Dae in 1968 and bombed a South Korean airplane in 1987, the two Koreas continued to hold talks. Without any informal contact between the two sides, we cannot gauge the North's intentions."



Na Kyung-Won, another Saenuri Party lawmaker who heads the committee, echoed Kim's view.



"Although I agree with the government's stance, it needs to take a more flexible approach to achieving denuclearization," she said.



Na added that currently South Korea may not have much of a say in issues related to inter-Korean relations.



"Amid ongoing chatter about peace treaty talks between North Korea and the United States, the government should pay more attention to the issue rather than just passing it off as not true," the lawmaker said.



Rep. Choung Byoung-gug also raised the need for inter-Korean dialogue, saying that sanctions are aimed at changing the North's bad behavior, not shutting the door to dialogue.



However, the government is still refusing to budge an inch from its hard-line stance.



"For now, more sanctions and pressure are needed on North Korea," Hong said in a forum organized by the Korea Future Foundation on the same day.



The United Nations (U.N.) imposed fresh sanctions on the repressive state in March for its Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 long-range rocket launch, both of which violated U.N. sanctions already in place.



"Now is not the right time for talks," he said, adding that inter-Korean dialogue at a time like this will only allow North Korea to gain time.



While offering to engage in military talks, the North Korean leader asserted his intention to hold onto the nation's nuclear weapons in defiance of the sanctions, which resulted in the South's rebuff.



Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said the government should leave the door open to dialogue with the North as the peninsula is expected to repeatedly see tensions grow and conflicts take place.



"Dialogue can coincide with imposing sanctions," he said.



"The government needs to drop the idea that holding talks with the North will encourage the hostile state to continue its nuclear weapons program."



Chang added that the government's approach may lead to Seoul losing the initiative in inter-Korean affairs and becoming a third party.



"South Korea has seen its strategic role in inter-Korean issues diminished and not engaging in talks with the North may further isolate the South," he said.




By Lee Kyung-min



Prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations that government officials who moved to the new administrative capital of Sejong, made illegal profits by selling off their apartments which the government had allowed them to buy at far below market prices.



The Daegu District Prosecutors' Office said Thursday that it raided six real estate agencies in the city last week and secured apartment transaction records.



The raids followed a complaint filed by the Sejong City Government (SCG) asking for an investigation into the allegation that more than 2,000 government workers were engaged in such property transactions.



Since 2012 when government agencies began to move to Sejong from Seoul and the nearby metropolitan area, the government had allowed 9,900 workers of the agencies to purchase homes there at below-market prices to help them better settle into their newly designated workplaces located some 120 kilometers south of Seoul.



As part of the special offer, the government initially banned the homeowners from selling the apartments for at least one year after purchase, but increased the limit to three years in 2014 following suspicions that government workers have profited by selling the homes. Violators could face fines of up to 30 million won or a prison term of up to three years under related regulations.



Of the 9,900 homes, only 6,198 homes were occupied by government workers as of last year, according to SCG. The local government suspects the original civil servant owners of the remaining 3,702 homes sold the properties and earned tens of millions of won in illegal profits.



In January, the SCG found nine officials who sold their apartments less than two years after purchasing them.



Since 2012, 36 government agencies with more than 10,500 employees in Seoul have moved to the administrative city, as part of the government's effort to spur the development of the regional economy.




By Lee Kyung-min

The Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling, Thursday, that sentenced a man to 18 months in prison suspended for three years for beating an intruder until he was brain dead.

The man, surnamed Choi, 22, beat the thief, surnamed Kim, 55, who broke into Choi's home and rummaged through his drawers at around 3 a.m. on March 8, 2014.

Choi punched and kicked Kim until he fell to the floor, and further attacked him by using a leather belt and an aluminum pole taken from a laundry drying rack.

Kim remained in a coma for nine months in the hospital and died in December 2014.

Choi, who had been charged with assault with a weapon, was later charged with manslaughter.

The lower court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, and the high court suspended the term for three years, considering that Kim caused the deadly confrontation by breaking into Choi's home.

While Choi argued that he attacked the thief out of self defense, the top court upheld the rulings of two lower courts that dismissed his claim, saying Choi acted excessively.

"Choi went beyond self defense and his attack became an assault, as he kept on beating Kim in the head for a long time even though Kim was trying to flee without posing any additional physical threat to Choi's safety," the court said.

"Choi continued to beat Kim instead of seeking other less violent means to overpower him such as tying him up. His act constitutes an assault," the court added.
By Jun Ji-hye



U.S. armed forces are considering conducting Zika virus detection tests in the laboratory at the Yongsan garrison, central Seoul, according to the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC).



The plan, which was posted on the ECBC website on April 15 but belatedly released to the South Korean public through a media report, Thursday, is provoking controversy. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) was blamed last year for a mistaken shipment of a possibly live anthrax sample to another laboratory on its air base in Osan, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.



"The participants in the (JUPITR) project are already looking to add Zika virus detection capability at Yongsan," Ph.D. Brady Redmond from the ECBC said in an article posted on its website.



ECBC is managing the Joint USFK Portal and Integrated Threat Recognition Program (JUPITR), which is being carried out by USFK to improve methods of identifying toxins and pathogens.



Redmond is in charge of upgrading the USFK's laboratory capabilities to analyze samples of suspected biological warfare agents.



"The capabilities we are currently providing are just a starting point," he said. "They can all be upgraded to detect any number of other naturally occurring biological threats."



These comments were part of an article promoting ECBC's recent efforts to enhance military laboratory capabilities.



USFK said the U.S. military has not brought any Zika virus samples to Korea. But it did not mention whether it planned to conduct a test at Yongsan.



"The report about the U.S. government testing the Zika virus at a laboratory in Seoul is not true," it said, adding that, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is always working together to better protect the Republic of Korea through enhancing scientific capabilities."



USFK's previous tests on anthrax samples in its labs at Yongsan and Osan were also part of the JUPITR project.



The latest news is worrying South Koreans, especially after health authorities here confirmed the nation's fifth case of Zika virus infection, Tuesday.



Rep. Park Jie-won, floor leader of the People Party's, said Thursday: "The people will explode with anger. The USFK must not conduct Zika virus tests on the Korean Peninsula under any circumstances."



He also called the Seoul-Washington alliance into question, referring to the anthrax tests.



The Justice Party said: "The U.S. plans came as a shock as no preventive vaccines and medicines have been developed to cure the Zika virus."



South Korea Ministry of National Defense spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said the government will handle the issue according to procedures, referring to the new rules signed by the allies in December that oblige the USFK to notify the Korean government in advance of bringing bio samples into the country for tests.




Choe Ryong-hae Pak Pong-ju



By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea is expected to focus on restoring ties with China in an effort to overcome the economic sanctions imposed on it by the international community, according to a North Korea expert, Thursday.

Relations between the two nations have been increasingly strained since the North's fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch earlier this year.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, said that the North's decision to promote the ruling Workers' Party secretary Choe Ryong-hae and Premier of the Cabinet Pak Pong-ju to become standing members of the party's politburo is aimed at recovering ties with Beijing.

The decision was made during the four-day seventh party congress that was wrapped up on Monday.

"It is highly likely that Choe, who had visited China and Russia as an envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, will be tasked with the mission of improving Pyongyang-Beijing relations," Cheong said during a forum hosted by the Sejong Institute.

"Pak's promotion was also meaningful in that the North gave the reform-minded figure power, which has been rare in that regime."

Cheong added that Choe and Pak's promotions to core positions in the party will also resolve a matter of the "level" of negotiators when high-level talks take place between North Korea and China.

China has been the major supplier of fuel and food for North Korea.

But China has cooperated with the United States in producing the harsher sanctions against the North at the United Nations Security Council in early March to punish the North for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and for the long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7.

Vowing to sincerely enforce these sanctions, in April Beijing unveiled 25 items banned in trade with Pyongyang that included imports of gold, coal and rare earth metals from the North, and exports of jet fuel and other oil products to the North.

The mining sector is a key part of Pyongyang's economy that is largely used to fund its military.

According to the Global Times, a newspaper with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party, China's representatives were not invited to the North's party congress. Observers say the rare absence apparently reflects the increasingly strained ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.
By Kang Seung-woo

Ban Ki-moon

A scheduled visit by United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Korea this month is drawing attention due to speculation about whether he will run for president next year.

The soon-to-be-retired U.N. chief has long been regarded as one of the strongest potential candidates for the 2017 presidential election. His U.N. tenure is scheduled to end in December this year.

According to sources, the U.N. chief will arrive in Korea to speak at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on May 26 and attend the U.N. Department of Public Information and Non-Governmental Organizations Conference in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province from May 30 to June 1. In between the events, he will also travel to Japan for a Group of Seven (G7) summit.

His visit carries extra weight, given that the ruling Saenuri Party's high-profile presidential hopefuls, including former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and former Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, had their presidential hopes dashed in the April 13 general election after failing to win National Assembly seats. Former Chairman Kim Moo-sung also had his reputation damaged due to the party's crushing defeat.

As a result, Ban is emerging as the strongest candidate that the Saenuri Party can field for the presidential election.

"As the Saenuri Party lacks competitive candidates, Ban is highly expected to draw political attention during his visit," said Choi Chang-ryul, a professor of political science at Yongin University.

Although Ban has not officially declared his presidential candidacy, he has prompted speculation that he may seek the Korean presidency.

Late last year, he sought to visit North Korea, which was regarded by some as the beginning of his election campaign.

Also, he had several private talks with President Park Geun-hye during her trip to the U.N. headquarters in New York in September last year.

President Park's five-year term ends in February 2018.
This is the last in a three-part series on the scandal over a humidifier disinfectant which was allegedly responsible for more than 140 deaths.  ED.



By Kim Se-jeong



As the public uproar over a toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal grows, it is becoming clear that the government's hands off approach for five years led it to miss critical opportunities to save lives.



The government announced in 2011 that the sterilizer products were responsible for the deaths and lung diseases among many children and pregnant women.



But activist Choi Ye-yong from the Asia Citizen's Center for Health and Environment said the country's worst biocide crisis could have been detected earlier if the government had cared more about the situation.



In 2008, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) learnt of several cases involving lung diseases in children with seemingly no underlying cause. It concluded that it was not due to a virus, but that was all  it conducted no further studies.



"The center tested for an infectious disease and concluded it wasn't. And the story ended there. What if the KCDC officials asked more questions?" Choi said.







Poor chemical management



According to experts, the government's poor chemicals management is partly to blame for the scandal.



Regulations were too loose on screening disinfectants and sterilizers, and manufacturers took advantage of this.



For instance, SK Chemicals introduced PHMG as a carpet cleaning agent. When Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Korea used it as humidifier disinfectant, the company skipped an inhalation test because there was no rule obliging them to do so, despite it being used for a different purpose.



"The law concerning chemicals management has a lot of loopholes," a chemist told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.



On Wednesday, Choi said that a Danish chemical company told him recently that it did not sell the chemical PHG to a local manufacturer Butterfly Effect. The government on the other hand said Butterfly Effect used the company's PHG, showing a failure to properly monitor chemicals used here.



Since the announcement in 2011, the government's approach to the scandal has seemed uncaring. The Ministry of Environment, responsible for taking care of victims, has come under fire for showing little respect to them. One victim said the ministry treated her like a "whining child."



When the victims turned to the government for help in its fight against the manufacturers, the administration turned the request down. Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu said, "It is a private matter between the companies and the victims."



Yoon defended his statement Wednesday before lawmakers while being grilled on the ministry's inaction. Lawmakers wanted to him to apologize but he only said the situation was regretful.



Victims have also criticized the government  the only channel through which victims can be recognized and receive financial support  for refusing to recognize more affected people.



Of the 530 people whom it has recognized, only 221 suffering serious lung problems are receiving financial support. The government argues that there is no clear correlation between the disinfectant and the other peoples' symptoms.



Those who don't receive anything are struggling to make ends meet because they are too sick to work or have to take care of sick children.



"It's inappropriate to spend taxpayers' money to support them," Yoon said during an interview with The Korea Times in October last year.



However, as public criticism has risen, the ministry said earlier this week that it would change its position.



Until recently, it had rejected victims' requests to study the relation between exposure to the disinfectants and skin and other respiratory problems.



Kang Chan-ho, the father of a victim, expressed his profound distrust in the administration.



"I have lost faith in the government. I am not sure if Korea is a safe place to raise my child," Kang said at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday.




By Chung Hyun-chae



Dongguk University is making concerted efforts to support its students in starting their own businesses.



"A university is no longer an institution where students only study their academic courses," Dongguk University President Han Tae-sik told The Korea Times.



"I feel the responsibility, as university president, to help our students discover how to make a living after graduation, either by entering good companies or by creating their own businesses."



The university introduced a program in 2014 that allows students to take a leave of absence for up to two years if they need that much time to start their businesses.



So far, 39 students have taken advantage of the program to devote themselves to getting their startups off the ground.



"We try our best to create a business-friendly environment," Han said.

The university also put together an interdisciplinary study course to cultivate talented students with academic knowledge as well as practical business skills.



This was the first attempt by any higher education institution in the nation.

If a student earns more than 36 credits by taking business startup lectures in engineering, business administration, economics and law, he or she can obtain a bachelor's degree in business startup in addition to their own major.



The university set up the Technology Entrepreneurship Department in its graduate school to provide advanced training in its startup programs.



It also began another special program to help students gain experience in contributing to the development of their communities.



"Under the program, the students are required to find real problems in their communities and come up with solutions," Hans said. "This can help them develop practical business skills."



Recently, the university established i.SPACE, where students can receive training as entrepreneurs, attend seminars and gather together to come up with their own ideas.



"Students of various majors are able to gather in one place and start new businesses by putting their ideas into practice," Han said, adding that many students actually start their own clubs to develop their enterprises.



The number of business startup clubs increased from 12 in 2012 to 15 in 2013, 28 in 2014 and 34 in 2015.



One example is the club named MUA that consists of six members, including four Dongguk University Buddhist art students: Kim A-na, Ko Hye-min, Kim Da-bin and Park Chae-won.



They created and commercialized educational content and souvenirs using traditional Korean arts including Buddhist art.



"When I was traveling in Europe, it struck me that there are a number of unique souvenir brands promoting their cultural heritage," Kim A-na said. "We will make our own brands of Buddhist souvenirs to promote traditional Korean culture to the world as well as help the young generation learn Buddhist art."



As part of the project, the students received 7 million won in financial support from the university this year.



Thanks to its efforts to support students' business startups, Dongguk was recognized by the Ministry of Education six years in a row. This year the university obtained 2 billion won in financial aid from the ministry.



"As the job market is getting more competitive day by day, I hope more students will succeed in their own businesses," Han said.




North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's call for global denuclearization could be part of a ploy to entice either the fading administration of President Barack Obama or his successor into negotiations over its nuclear weapons program, a former U.S. ambassador said Wednesday.



John Bolton, who served as top U.S. envoy to the U.N. in 2005-2006, made the point in an article contributed to the Boston Herald, calling for caution in dealing with a regime that has a track record of violating a series of agreements over its nuclear programs.



The North's leader made the call for a denuclearized world during a key meeting of the Workers' Party while at the same time pledging never to use its nuclear weapons first unless its sovereignty is infringed upon and vowing to fulfill its non-proliferation obligations as a "responsible nuclear state."



South Korea denounced the remarks as an expression of his intention to hold on to the nuclear programs.



"But in much of the foreign press coverage of his remarks, Kim got what he wanted: The media detected a new tone amidst all the familiar rhetoric. For those Westerners obsessed with finding conciliatory gestures by nuclear-aspirant authoritarian regimes like Iran and North Korea, the new tone is never hard to find," Bolton said.



Bolton, currently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, also said the North may be trying to "reprise circumstances at the end of the Clinton administration," referring to late 2000, when relations between Washington and Pyongyang warmed so significantly that then-President Bill Clinton even considered visiting the North.



A Clinton trip did not materialize, but a top North Korean military official paid a visit to Clinton at the White House in October 2000 and then-U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright traveled to Pyongyang later that month and met with then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, father of the current leader.



"Although Kim's father had to be satisfied with a visit by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Obama would be an easier get. Kim could figure that even a farewell visit by peripatetic Secretary of State John Kerry would at least return the North to the status quo in 2000, after long years of isolation from Washington's top leadership," Bolton said.



The North could also be targeting Obama's successor, he said.



"Kim may be calculating that Hillary Clinton would like a significant foreign-policy accomplishment early in her presidency, thereby demonstrating her seriousness and, early on, setting herself ahead of Obama's international pace," Bolton said. "While Donald Trump authored 'The Art of the Deal,' Kim knows that Pyongyang has outmatched Washington in every negotiation since the Korean War. He may think the challenge is worth the risk."



Bolton also called for greater attention on the North Korea issue.



"Since the North has fully mastered the art of saying (and promising) one thing while doing precisely the opposite, how to handle the rogue regime should be a significant topic in our upcoming presidential debates," he said. (Yonhap)




The total value of products churned out from the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea reached $3.23 billion in the 11 years of its operations before it was shut down earlier this year, a report by South Korea's unification ministry said Thursday.



The joint factory park that began production in 2005 as part of a deal reached between the leaders of the two countries in June 2000, had been the last remaining economic link between the two countries. On Feb. 10, Seoul announced the closure of the joint venture as punishment for North Korea's defiant nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in February.



The ministry's white paper said in 2015, the annual production volume reached its peak at $563.3 million. Last year also marked the first time yearly production numbers exceeded the $500 million threshold, data showed.



In the first year of operations in 2005, the corresponding number stood at $14.9 million before it grew steadily to $323.3 million in 2010 and $469.5 million in 2012, according to the findings.



A four-month suspension of operations, amid escalating inter-Korean tensions, caused annual production to drop to $223.8 million in 2013 before numbers rebounded to $470 million the following year.



As of the end of 2015, a total of 54,988 North Koreans were employed at the factory park designed to combine South Korea's capital and the North's cheap labor force. The numbers marked a growth of more than 1,000 workers from a year earlier.



Spurred by last year's biggest-ever production at the factory, trade volume between the South and the North reached $2.71 billion, the highest figure recorded to date, the white paper also showed.



The brisk performance helped push up the number of travelers between the countries in 2015, with the figure rising to an eight-year high of 132,101.



The unification ministry's report then said South Korea's humanitarian assistance to the North soared to a six-year high of 25.4 billion won ($21.8 million) in 2015.



In the same year, the number of North Koreans defecting to the South reached 1,276 last year, the smallest tally since 2001 when the figure stood at 1,043, according to the ministry.



The annual addition of North Korean defectors took the total population of North Korean defectors in South Korea up to 28,795 as of the end of last year, with about 70 percent of them being women.



"Based on the principle of maintaining solid security, the government has strived to normalize South-North relations and bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said in assessment of its performance in 2015.



"The government is keeping the Kaesong factory park venture closed and taking stringent sanctions in collaboration with the international community," the ministry said, denouncing North Korea's defiant nuclear test in January that was followed by numerous military threats. (Yonhap)




The Pentagon announced Friday that U.S. forces are now engaged in Yemen, joining those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Syria in combat in wars in the Middle East.



The deployment a few weeks ago was not preceded by a U.S. declaration of war, nor was it authorized by any act of Congress. The Pentagon spokesman called it "a very small team" that will be "providing intelligence support" and whose role will be "short term." We've heard that before.



The political and military situation in Yemen, a nation of some 25 million, the poorest in the Middle East, is especially complex. There are the forces of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Sunni. The president, chosen in 2012 in a single-candidate election, is Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi, also a Sunni, who shuttles back and forth between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, depending on how forces supporting him are doing. The principal challenge to these two Sunni rulers are Houthi Shiite rebels, their religious orientation having attracted the opposition of the Saudis and Persian Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates.



The political and military chaos in Yemen has also provided an opportunity for al-Qaida and the Islamic State to gain a foothold, and this presence and the alliance and the military sales relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the UAE has served as the basis for U.S. involvement. The Saudis and UAE have been bombing Yemen heavily for months now, supported by the United States with intelligence, spare parts, ammunition and, perhaps, pilot support.



Yemeni deaths since March from the war are estimated at 6,400. Another 2.8 million inhabitants have been displaced, adding to the refugee flow in the region and into Europe.



Into this maelstrom of conflicting formal and other military elements, President Barack Obama has sent U.S. forces, and is providing pro-Hadi and perhaps pro-Saleh forces as well as intelligence, drone, air and offshore U.S. Navy support.



It is hard to explain why America is playing the active role that it is now increasing in the war in Yemen. If there is a valid explanation, the public needs to hear it. Otherwise, the U.S. troops and other U.S. intervention in a war that seems to have nothing to do with American national interests should end immediately.



This editorial appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.




By Moon Tae-young

We are living in the era of globalization, witnessing diverse domestic issues crossing national borders and affecting other countries. New challenges from nuclear security, climate change, stalling economic growth, terrorism, new epidemics, and cyber-terrorism pose problems that cannot be solved by any single country. The world is, therefore, in dire need of cooperation between countries and regions and efforts to find new communication channels for the sake of coexistence.

For this reason, global discourse venues such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, attended by world opinion leaders, and the BOAO Forum, wholeheartedly supported by the Chinese government, draw greater attention. Korea also has an international forum that brings together government officials and civil experts to discuss diverse global issues, including diplomatic and security agendas, which is the "Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity," slated for May 25-27 this year, on Jeju Island.

The 11th Jeju Forum, with the theme "Asia's New Order and Cooperative Leadership," has comprehensive agendas for 69 sessions operated by 39 organizations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, and the Korea Foundation, as well as U.N.-affiliated agencies and business organizations. More than 4,000 participants from 60 countries are expected to attend. The forum's agendas cover all aspects of current issues, including North Korea's nuclear threats, the new climate system after the Paris Agreement, the safety of nuclear energy, responses to terrorism, the startup ecosystem, and the electric car revolution.

Similar to the BOAO Forums, the Jeju Forum was started in 2011 at a representative vacation spot, Jeju Island, as a multilateral dialogue for peace and co-prosperity. Presidents or prime ministers of Korea attended previous forums and were joined by high-profile figures such as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, former German prime minister Gerhard Schroder, former Japanese prime minister Fukuda Yasuo, former Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen, who all delivered peace messages at the forum.

This year's forum will be joined by former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, former Singaporean prime minister Goh Chok Tong, CEO of Siemens AG Joe Kaeser, co-founder of Tesla Motors Jeffrey B. Straubel, as well as other global leaders.

The Jeju Forum is the only international forum focused on diplomacy and security held under the co-sponsorship of the central and local governments of Korea. It is now said to emulate other esteemed international forums, judging by the high-profile participants, speakers and relevant topics.

We need to further develop the Jeju Forum, which is a "1.5 track (a mixture of government and civil sectors)" dialogue, as Asia's representative forum. As China propagates development strategies and international policies via the BOAO Forum, which is nominally operated by civil organizations, Korea should utilize the Jeju Forum as a channel to distribute valuable information, opinions, wisdom, and ideas. The need to do so is confirmed by the achievement of the public diplomacy networks that the forum has established thus far.

With the advent of the 21st century, Asia has emerged as one of the major engines of the world's economic growth. However, there exists the "Asian paradox" of deepening conflicts over political and security affairs in

conjunction with widening economic interdependency among Asian countries. The Jeju Forum is a communication channel for mapping out Asia's future.

The Korean government needs to enhance the forum's international status and utilize it as a platform for global issues. To do so, the president of Korea and other high-ranking government officials should attend the forum on a regular basis. It is time for the forum to gather wisdom and play an active role in pursuing a new Asia.

Moon Tae-young is President of the Jeju Peace Institute and Executive Chairman of the Jeju Forum for Peace & Prosperity. He had a diplomatic career serving in Canada, Thailand, and the United Nations. He served as Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Ambassador to Panama and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
Foreign ministry acts spinelessly, disappoints people



We can't but wonder whether it is proper to use taxes to pay the wages of our diplomats who appear incompetent at best and engrossed in self-interest at worst, concerning their response to U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to visit Hiroshima.



The way the ministry reacted to this rather anticipated affair is not just disappointing but, worse, makes the Korean people feel a sense of shame. The diplomats should have more clearly stated the country's stance, asking for the public's understanding, if necessary, or using the Obama plan to call attention to Japan's wartime atrocities and warn against Japan's efforts to feign as the victim of World War II. (Remembering that FDR declared the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as, "A day that will live in infamy," it would make him turn over in his grave to see the Japanese pleas of victimhood today.).



Our diplomats should look no further than Beijing  warning Japan not to use the Obama visit as a ruse to whitewash its colonial rule of barbarism, while refraining from directly raising any issues about the visit itself in its apparent consent for the need of a nuclear-free world Obama's visit symbolizes.



In contrast, the Korean ministry, in its official response, tried to emphasize that Washington had consulted with Seoul in the process of the Obama decision.



The government was most concerned about a public that would feel easily slighted by the United States and the political opposition, now in control of the National Assembly, which would use it against the government. The ministry would claim its action is restrained by a more important need to keep the U.S. and Japan on the same page as it is for the ongoing efforts to denuclearize North Korea.



This usual litany of excuses would mean the foreign ministry has their priorities in the wrong order, revealing they are still stuck in an inferiority complex that was overcome by the rest of the nation before the new millennium.



Just in case they don't know, their top priority should be to act boldly in the nation's interest and for the pride of the people on the basis of popular consent. Its behavior, however, exhibits nothing of the above. In other words, the ministry ended up insulting the people's intelligence and let go of a chance to build national consensus and keep pressing Washington or Beijing.



Rhetorically, the statement deserves scrutiny only for it is used as a bad example.



Through an anonymous official, a method that gives the impression of the lack of transparency and confidence, the ministry said without identifying who was making the statement, "President Obama's decision was made on the basis of his conviction in pursuing global peace and stability through a nuclear-free world."



It sounded as if Seoul was a bystander in the Obama decision contrary to the ministry's insistence that it was consulted but didn't share his vision, when Korea could be the biggest beneficiary from a North Korea that is separated from its nukes.



The ministry went a step further by saying that the U.S. position about the use of its nuclear weapons against Imperial Japan has not changed. This obviously means Obama's intention not to apologize for the bombings. Then, the ministry lost its coherence completely, saying, "The U.S. clarifies that the public acknowledgement of historic facts is indispensable to understanding the past." Whose acknowledgment and understanding does this mean?



Not least, it ended by a highly questionable claim without corroborating evidence by saying that the Obama visit would also aim at bringing consolation to Korean victims of the Hiroshima blast. It is not until Obama mouths such a consolation that it should be seen as the ministry's wishful thinking.



Obama's Hiroshima visit can be meaningful in that it is an effort to remove one of the biggest existential threats to humankind. However, it is worrisome for Korea and China, the victim countries that can't forget Japan's brutal colonial rule and its consistent efforts to shun its culpability for the war. It's deplorable for the ministry to fail to register this national feeling openly and passionately. Who does this ministry work for? We wonder.




SK Telecom global business division head Lee Eung-sang, right, poses with Telkom's chief innovation strategy officer Indra Utoyo, left, Telkom's digital service business chief Arief Mustain, third from left, and Lee Jong-ho from SK's global business division, holding a signed agreement at Telkom's headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday.

/ Courtesy of SK Telecom



By Kim Yoo-chul



SK Telecom said Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Telkom Indonesia to cooperate in new business sectors with products related to the Internet of Things (IoT), media and lifeware.



Telkom is Indonesia's largest telecommunications firm with a total market value estimated at 32 trillion won.



The signing ceremony took place at Telkom headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 12, and was attended by senior executives of both companies.



Ahead of the 2018 Asian Games, Indonesia has been providing more subsidies and incentives for business projects related to telecom infrastructure and the construction of smart cities using IoT technologies.



Upon the agreement, the two parties will work closely on developing services and products to be used in smart cities and IoT services, said SK Telecom in a press release.



"SK Telecom plans to introduce to Telkom its IoT platform ThingPlug and share its knowhow in the deployment and operation of LoRa networks with the aim to jointly develop IoT technologies and services that are tailored to the Indonesian market and customers," the statement added.



Cindy Kang, a spokeswoman for SK Telecom, said the two companies will also discuss the idea of a joint venture for their IoT business "within the next two years."



The statement said SK Telecom also reached an agreement with Telkom to collaborate in the development of cloud-based TV services by utilizing SK Telecom's media product  "Cloud Streaming."



Developed and provided by SK's wholly owned subsidiary ENTRIX, "Cloud Streaming" enables media companies including cable, TV and Internet-based TV service providers to realize high-performance, high-quality service regardless of set-top box performance.



It significantly enhances content transmission speed by utilizing cloud servers to handle data, thereby improving user convenience and satisfaction, said Kang.



Under the collaboration, SK Telecom's latest pico projector  UO Smart Beam Laser  will be available for customers using Telkom services in Indonesia.



"Going forward, SK Telecom plans to join hands with PINS, Telkom's distribution subsidiary, to launch more UO-branded products including the UO Smart Beam 2 pico projector and UO Linkage portable hi-fi audio device  in Indonesia," said the statement.



"Building on this partnership, the two companies will continue to make joint efforts to expand their presence beyond the Indonesian market," Lee Eung-sang, head of global business division at SK Telecom, said in the statement.



The boosted partnership comes as the Korean carrier has been expanding its foothold in some Asian markets, pushing educational and e-commerce services as part of its strategy to cut the company's heavy reliance on the local market.



Previously, SK Group's telecommunications unit agreed with Telkom to launch its smart-learning service  English Bean. The service allows users to get English education via the Internet, mobile devices, fixed calls and Facebook.



Spokeswoman Kang said SK Telecom will approach top telecom companies focusing on emerging Asian countries to further promote its connected telecom services via strategic partnerships.
By Kim Yoo-chul



The world's biggest memory chip producer is "closely monitoring" Chinese companies' rapid output expansion, a senior Samsung executive said Thursday. But the company is not worrying too much about the "China factor."



"Samsung did an excellent job in manufacturing smartphones and semiconductor chips," Samsung SDS CEO Chung Yoo-sung told reporters on the sidelines of an industry forum at the Chosun Hotel in downtown Seoul. "But China's semiconductor industry is heavily backed by China's central government."



Chung did not elaborate. But the remarks come after Chinese companies are challenging Samsung Electronics' decades-long leadership in the memory chip segment.



China's ambition in the semiconductor market is no secret. With an appetite for $150 billion to $170 billion of semiconductors a year, the nation accounts for more than 50 percent of the world's total semiconductor consumption, according Bernstein Research, a leading market research firm.



Market analysts and officials say that makes China the world's largest semiconductor market, giving it more bargaining power in the industry.



Beijing established the China IC Industry Fund (CICF) as the main vehicle of its expansion policy push. The fund has some $21 billion but is designed to trigger as much as tenfold more investment from provinces, cities and private companies to inject a total of about $155 billion over the next five years.



Samsung Electronics is diversifying its chip portfolio by expanding in non-volatile and more-profitable logic chips  a segment in which China is relatively weak.



"Despite growing challenges, I think the outlook for Korea's semiconductor industry is looking bright," Lee Yoon-woo, a former Samsung Electronics vice chairman, said during the forum.



An executive, who asked not to be identified, said Samsung Electronics is concerned about China's growing "shopping spree" to acquire technology and assets abroad to accelerate its expansion in the market.



"I've thought whether or not Korea has a future in semiconductors," the executive said. "Some say the semiconductor industry will follow similar suits seen in the shipbuilding industry, which has been falling. However, this expectation has gone too far."



Some argue that market statistics analyzing China's expansion may be misleading, because they include the consumption of foreign companies that have operations in China. These operations are often for manufacturing, while system design and component selection are done in other countries, Bernstein Research said.



Kim Ki-nam, president of Samsung's semiconductor business division, spoke about the future of Korea's semiconductor business during the forum. LG Chem President Lee Woong-beom and former telecom ministry minister Chin Dae-je also attended the event.




Telecom equipment developer Ericsson-LG said Thursday it has developed a new solution that paved the way for a faster data transmission speed, in line with its efforts to develop the fifth-generation (5G) network technology.

Ericsson-LG, a joint venture of Sweden-based Ericsson and South Korean tech firm LG Electronics Inc., said it has showcased a data transmission speed that is 350 times faster than the existing long-term evolution (LTE) technology, which may help the development of the 5G network.

The company said it has utilized the so-called MU-MIMO, which refers to a form of network technology for multiple user, input and output.

Established in 1876, Ericsson first tapped the Korean market in 1896 by introducing telephones to the royal palace. Ericsson-LG was established in 2010 as a joint venture to bolster exchanges of the two firms.

Ericsson-LG said the company will continue its contribution to the development of telecommunications technologies, adding it will also lend support in making South Korea an industrial leader around the globe. (Yonhap)
/Courtesy of Twitter



By Lee Jin-a

Italy has finally made the decision to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples, after years of effort by gay rights advocates to overcome Catholic Church opposition.

According to the New York Times, the Italian Parliament on Wednesday evening (local time) gave final approval to the same-sex union bill, voting 372 to 51, with 99 abstentions.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi praised the decision as "writing another important page for the Italy that we love."

He wrote on Facebook: "Today is a day of celebration for so many, for those who finally feel recognized."

The law will grant gay couples almost the same rights as married couples, covering inheritance, hospital visitation, medical decision-making and the possibility of having the same last name. But it does not allow gay couples to adopt children.

"This law is born as an old law that should have been voted 20 years ago," Michela Marzano of the Democratic Party told the New York Times. "Italy remains a culturally backward country where the only possible family is still the traditional one."
Business / Companies

by Thobekile Zhou

Transport minister Jorum Gumbo has revealed that the Airbus A320 from China are not new and are rented at a cost of $200 000 per month each.He said the two aircrafts from China which are on lease were not purchased from diamond money.He was disputing suggestion by MDC-T MP Eddie Cross in parliament on Wednesday that diamond revenue was splashed on the planes.It is understood that one of the planes is grounded in South Africa after operating for about a month before developing a fault yet it is still accruing arrears."These were part of efforts by the government to support the turnaround process of Air Zimbabwe. The aircraft are on a dry lease from China Sonangol at $200,000 per month per plane."
Business / Companies

by Staff reporter

Delta Beverages says it does not expect any change in its operations and product offering following the proposed takeover of SABMiller by Anheuser-Busch (AB) InBev.Speaking at a results presentation on Thursday, CEO Pearson Gowero said the SABMiller deal will not affect its product offerings as well as its agreements with Coca-Cola.Delta is the official bottler of Coca-Cola products in Zimbabwe. Media reports say the SABMiller, AB InBev deal could complicate relations as AB InBev is a key PepsiCo soda bottler in Latin America, while SABMiller is a key Coke bottler in Africa."We have our own agreements with Coca-Cola so the deal between SABMiller and AB InBev will not affect us," said Gowero.Gowero also said Delta is currently leveraging on its association with SABMiller to introduce a number of new products.The company's performance for the year ended March 31 2016 was partly impacted by the importation of cheaper offerings from neighbouring countries."Some of the imported products we are seeing on the market are similar to our product offerings," said Gowero, adding that parallel imports from Botswana and Zambia were benefiting from trade agreements that allows for lower duties.Gowero also noted that competition from other forms of alcohol had increased while performance was also negatively impacted by falling disposable incomes and cash shortages.In the period under review, revenue was down 7% to $538.2m as consumers shifted towards cheaper offerings and value products.This resulted in declining operating margins to 20% from 22.08%.The company is, however, still able to pay a healthy total dividend of US 4.70 cents taking its yield to 6.49% an all time high.
A Pipkin Middle School Student was turned over to Greene County Juvenile Justice Court officers last week after being accused of giving a prescription drug to at least four classmates. One of those classmates ended up being treated at a hospital emergency room.

Springfield School District police were called to check on the students after faculty or staff noticed them acting overly tired.

Students said they were at a field trip to a concert at Missouri State University on April 29 when a classmate gave them a "little blue pill." That pill turned out to be the drug Klonopin. Thats a brand name of clonazepam, a drug used to treat seizure disorders in adults and children, and panic disorders in adults.

School police say the student admitted to handing out the drug to his classmates. The school district wont say what his punishment is but, according to the student handbook, its a least a 10-day suspension and possibly could be as long as 180 days.

Here is an edited version of the Springfield School District school police officers report on her investigation. Names were redacted to protect the identity of the students who are involved.

On April 29, around 10 a.m., a Pipkin Middle School student was distributing the prescription drug Klonopin at a school event that took piece at Missouri State University. I was called to the office for two students acting strange and lethargic during class that day.

I checked one student at the office. I asked him if he had taken anything at school or before school that day. He told me he did not. The boy did not smell of any controlled substance, his eyes were not blood shot or look glazed over, nor was his tongue green, which in my experience and training are normal signs of marijuana usage.

The boy said he was just very tired from staying up until 2 a.m. that day and waking up early at 5 a.m. to work out in the morning. I asked him to stand up to get a better look at his eyes, and he could not hold his balance. He could not stand up straight, could not keep from swaying, and wanted to keep holding onto the desk to maintain balance. I again asked him what he had taken that day, and he told me he did not take anything, he was just extremely tired.

He stayed in the office. I spoke to him after his parents arrived and were taking him home, and he admitted to me he had taken a little blue pill. His parents were told about his medical situation and he was released to his parents without anything further to report.

I went over to another office where another student was located to keep him and the first student separated. I asked him if he had taken anything that day, and he said he did not take anything. I saw he had similar unbalancing issues as the first student. He could not ever keep his head up kept saying, "I am so tired."

A nurse checked his vitals in front of me, and she noticed his pupils were not dilating/ constricting properly. When she shined a light in his eyes, she informed me that, in her professional opinion, his pupils did not constrict as far as they should when a light is shined into them. She checked his blood pressure and it was 140/100, which she stated was high for a teenager. She checked his pulse rate and it was 140 bpm, which she said was very high.

I told the second student that I thought that his vital being so high was very strange because his resting heart rate was so high and him being so lethargic and about to fall asleep. I asked again if he had taken any substance that he should not have at school or before school that day. He maintained that he had not taken anything he was not supposed to take that day.

The student was released to class, and I followed him to his next class. I watched him lay his head down on the desk and was trying to fall asleep. Directly after this, the bell for the next class rang. He was in need of an escort from another student to get down the stairs to his next class. He walked down the stairs but was not able to stop himself from running into the wall at the landing, even with an escort next to him.

I escorted him to my office and asked him again what he had taken that day. He finally told me he took a "little blue pill." I asked him what kind, and he said he did not know. I asked him when he took the pill, and he said he took it after the field trip that day. I asked where he got the little blue pill from, and he said, from a "Jarrett student at the concert."

I asked him whether he knew the student's name, and he said no. I asked him why he took a pill from someone he did not know, a pill he had no idea the side effects, and a pill that has made him physically ill. He said he did not know. He then said the guy who gave it to him was tall and black.

I spoke to his guardian in regards to his medical situation. She said she was going to take him to a hospital to get his "stomach pumped". He was released to his guardian without further incident to report.

I went to report all the findings to an administrator, and he said we have two more students who seemed to have symptoms similar to the first two students. I asked him who they were and he said one was in the office, and the other was in the nurses office.

The third student was in the office and a nurse checked his vitals and he was checked out as normal. I asked him what he knew about the situation at the field trip that day, and he said another student had taken a pill him that was given to him. The supplier was identified as an 8th grade student who went on the field trip with Pipkin Middle School that day. I thanked him for his help and told him about the importance of reporting dangerous activity among his peers. He was released to class.

The fourth students vitals were checked and his blood pressure was 180/100 and his heart rate was 140 bpm. The nurse checked him for pupil constriction, and her professional opinion was that students pupils did not constrict properly either. I asked him if he had taken any substance that day and he gave a name and said that student asked I not bring his name up, because he did not want any repercussions or retaliation to back on him. I told him I would not tell that student he reported the issue.

The nurse spoke to the fourth students parent in regards to his medical situation. He was released to his fathers care.

I called the named supplier to my office and asked him if he had heard anything that had been going on at Pipkin Middle School that day. He said, "Nope." I asked him to describe his day that he had that day. He said, I got up, went to school, went to the dance thing, came back and now I am here." I asked him why he thinks he was in my office today. He said, "I have no idea."

I asked him why he would lie to me, and he said, "I don't know." I asked him again what happened that day. He replied, I guess that is for you to find out." I told him there were four students who were very sick at school today, and I was told by one student's guardian that he had to go to the hospital.

I told need him to tell me the truth so they could get to feeling better. I need to know your involvement with them, I said. He put his head down and asked, "Off one pill?" I said yes, they all reacted very differently to the pills. I asked him how many he gave out that day. He said two: one to one student and another to another student. I asked him what kind of pills were they and he said they were Klonopin.

I thanked him for his help in identifying the substance that the boys took. I informed the nurse of the pill type, and she called the parents and the emergency rooms to tell them of the substance for their knowledge to get the students help.

I asked the supplier if he had any more pills on him, and he said no. I asked to search his person, and he said yes, and I did not find anything. After the search, he said, I watched them take the single pill. Are you sure this could have happened because of one pill? I told him people react differently to medication, that is why he and I are not pharmacists and don't know what type of dosage to give to people. I said, "We should not give medication that is not ours to our friends, or ingest ourselves without the written approval from our doctors."

I searched another student that day and he did not have anything on his person. He told me that the supplier gave him a pill, but he did not ingest it, but instead someone flushed it down a toilet. The nurse checked his vitals and he was found to have normal vitals.

The supplier began to cry because of the remorse from hurting his friends and was afraid of getting in trouble with his parents. I called Juvenile and they requested I transport him to their facility per the order of Juvenile Officer Dustin Hathcock. I handcuffed the boy, double locked them for his safety and placed him in the patrol car.

During the walk from my office to the patrol car, his father came to Pipkin Middle School. I told him to meet his son and me at Juvenile and he understood. The trip to the Juvenile Office took three minutes. I met his father at the Juvenile office, and I released the boy to Juvenile Officer Hathcock's care.
Entertainment / Music

by Sukoluhle Ndlovu

JOURNALIST-cum-musician Nyasha Wenyasha Chingono has released his debut album - Mbiri Kuna Jesu - with high anticipation that it will make a mark on the gospel music scene.The diverse seven-track album has a fusion of afro jazz, traditional and worship music which have been blended with the saxophone, acoustic guitar and mbira. Featuring tracks, Anogona Zvese, Nyasha Dzenyu, Mbiri Kuna Jesu, Poreswa and Musadzokere Kumashure, the album will be launched in Bulawayo on May 21 at Harvest House International church.Although virtually unknown in the gospel music industry, the 26-year-old musician has worked with popular artistes Takesure Zamar Ncube and Worship Addicts who have imparted knowledge to him.He has also graced international stages as he has performed in South Africa and Botswana with support from Harvest House International church."I started composing music at a tender age of 16 when I was still based in Harare. I tried to release my first single in 2007 but to no success after the record label turned me down."After that, I decided to pursue journalism studies at Midlands State University and graduated in 2014. I worked for a brief period at the Daily News," said Wenyasha.Wenyasha, who has been a back up for Worship Addicts for the past five years, said: "I think I've since matured to start my own project hence my decision to go solo."I'll continue working with Worship Addicts as an opening act. There're also plans to feature one of my songs on Praise Addicts 3, which is very encouraging as they're recognising my work."On his debut album, Wenyasha worked with Vocal Ex who backed his music with soothing vocals. The Outfit band, Takesure Zamar, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Daniel Ndlovu, Sydney Mutsinze and Joseph Chinouriri also contributed.Anogona Zvese, Wenyasha said, was a song that encourages people to pray and trust God while Nyasha Dzenyu chronicles how God has helped him over the years."Nyasha Dzenyu is my testimony showing how God has fought for me over the years. It's no coincidence that my name is Wenyasha, I believe in the power of grace to change people's lives," said Wenyasha.Last year, the artiste's young brother, Tafadzwa Chingono, produced Wenyasha's debut jazz single  Musadzokera Kumashure  which features Takesure Zamar. The song was received well by the public.
News / Africa

by Loyiko Theatre

Siphesakhe Youth Organisation would like to thank the outstanding support we got from the people of Matabeleland and beyond since we started Uloyiko theatre play that seeks to spread awareness about the Gukurahundi Genocide.Majority of people have sent us prayerful emails, messages and calls after the publication of our first statement and engaging a number of people in different forums especially from Matebeleland. They have encouraged us to carry on with our project. We were and remain so touched by messages of the survivors and we therefore feel the pressure on our shoulders of taking up the project with great vibe to its greatest heights of publicity continentally and internationally.A handful of Shona speaking people contacted our team and tried to convince us that there was nothing like Gukurahundi Genocide that happened against the Matebele. They went on to justify themselves by claiming that the government of Zimbabwe was dealing with dissidents who were a threat to the government at the time.As young South Africans we do respect their version of the genocide despite the fact that we strongly dismiss the claims because of the number of survivors who have contacted us and informed us of what was really going on at the time.We are aware that Gukurahundi Genocide has been declared as Genocide in September 2010 by Genocide Watch, an organization that exists to "predict, prevent, stop and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder and to build an international movement to prevent and stop genocide".We therefore have every rationale and justification to condemn Gukurahundi genocide as a diabolic event that happened to our cousins across the border.We have also heard the version that say Matabeles once committed genocide under King Mzilikazi and according to our research there was no Shona tribe in Matebeleland but the Kalanga , Venda and the San people. Moreso we are reliably informed by the survivors that 60% of people claiming to be Shona today are from Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania.In our preparations to launch the play we have been offered few offers to help launch any play as long as it is not about Gukurahundi and we have turned the offers down. We refuse to be bought with money in order that we do not showcase this tragedy of gigantic proportions in Africa.That being said, Uloyiko theatre play is set as a social enterprise. We sell T. shirts to run the project and are ajar to any help from people who support the project without any conditions of changing the content of our play or offering that we withdraw the play.We are not a political entity but theatre activists and social commentators of events. We do not want to affiliate to any political party as other Zimbabwean parties have tried to woo us to affiliate to them on the claim they are a majority opposition party in that country. We are just theatre activists who want to spread awareness of an evil chapter that was conducted by the current Zimbabwean government without any fear or favour.Our aim is to let the whole world know about this especially South Africans. We are prepared to move around the country and beyond to tell this gruesome story through theatre.What happens after the awareness is upon the people's choice whether to seek justice further or to just watch oppression overflowing. We will at least have played our moral role to do something about this sad chapter.Our T. Shirts are written "Free Matabeleland" because we believe that the people of Matebeleland are still oppressed via a Gukurahundi system that is still in place today and other forms of oppression because two decades since the genocide occurred, the survivors have not been given a chance to mourn their loved ones.It is on record that Ibhetshu likaZulu, a Matebele human rights group that seeks to undertake public Gukurahundi Memorials, has time and again been banned from conducting the Memorials of the Gukurahundi Genocide in Zimbabwe. Secondly no perpetrator of this Genocide has openly and publicly apologised or taken responsibility for it, thus we still believe that Matabeleland people are oppressed.Any folks out there who wish to support Uloyiko theatre play, we urge them to buy our T-shirts at 200 Rands only.We say, " Gukurahundi Must Fall!" "Free Matebeleland!"Please contact us on contacts provided bellow. All those interested to join our whatsap group please indicate when contacting us.Contact: uloyikotheatreplay@gmail.com or call one of our team on0027717548206/ 0027627649602/0027849603154
News / Africa

by Staff Reporter

Chad President Idriss Deby has reportedly heaped praise on 92 year President Robert Mugabe.

According to reports from Uganda where Mugabe is attending President Yoweri Museveni's swearing-in ceremony, Deby said Mugabe is "one of the wisest African leaders".
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

Read more
Donald Trump has changed his mind about raising money for his presidential bid and will join with the Republican National Committee on a series of events aimed at bringing in $1 billion, the Washington Post reports. The first event is later this month in Los Angeles, the Post says. The host will be Investor Thomas Barrack Jr., a former Reagan Administration official who did real estate deals with Trump in the 1980s and has endorsed the presumptive Republican nominee.

The scheduled May 25 fundraisers at Barrack's home will "include a photo line, cocktails and dinner," per the Post.

The dinner fundraiser is set to be the first of as many as 50 finance events that the campaign and party are racing to set up as they try to rapidly build out a structure to appeal to major donors. Trump's willingness to participate in the functions  after months of bashing other candidates for their ties to wealthy contributors  represents a dramatic shift in his posture.

The Trump campaign, which has no apparatus to solicit contributions, is now finalizing plans with the RNC to participate in a joint fundraising committee that can accept large contributions. The so-called victory fund is expected to be led by a group of senior party financiers, including Ray Washburne, a former RNC finance chairman, according to several people familiar with the plans. Washburne left his RNC post last year to serve as finance chairman for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign. In a brief phone conversation, Washburne declined to comment. Trump faces an incredibly steep climb to raise the $1 billion that he has said is needed before November. While he has secured the backing of some prominent donors and fundraisers, including New York investor Anthony Scaramucci, many top GOP bundlers have been privately discussing their reservations about helping the real estate magnate raise funds. The angst is so acute that some have offered to quietly send over a list of the donors they know, but do not even want to be assigned a bundler number to get credit for the checks they bring in.



Elsewhere on the California front, Trump's team quickly clarified that white nationalist leader William Johnson was included on Trump's official list of prospective delegates by mistake. But later today, former state assemblyman Bob Pacheco said he was listed as a Trump delegate without his knowledge.

Also, Los Angeles artist Illma Gore writes in The Guardian that she has been harassed with death and rape threats and punched in the face on the street in her neighborhood after painting a naked Trump with a small penis. "If anyone is going to be threatened by a small penis, it's Trump," she says.

Crop of Gore's painting. Here is the whole thing.
This article appears in the May 13, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

MANHATTAN PROJECT DIALOGUE

To Present a Solution of Something

Not Considered Before!

[PDF version of this article]

This is an edited transcript of Lyndon LaRouches Dialogue with the Manhattan Project on Saturday, May 7, 2016.

Question: Good afternoon, Mr. LaRouche. Obama and his ilk have been mocking Putin, saying that Putin is trying to portray himself as this big leader, a big man, trying to portray himself as a force of good in the world. And that the United States really is the power in the world, and we are the ones that really are going to defeat ISIS, and were doing all these wonderful things to fight terrorism.

I want to bring everyones attention to that situation, where we know that Obama has sent in 250 military personnel. He doesnt call them boots on the ground. He calls them military personnel, so they cant possibly be troops, without the consent of Congress. So, again, hes kind of slipped by that one.

I also want to bring everyones attention what you had to say under the picture of the amphitheater. Im not going to read it out loud, but everyone can read it. Its quite wonderful; it concerns the Classical music composition, and how we need this uplifting, and this wonderful optimism, at a time when our world could end, very abruptly.

Could comment on that, please?

LaRouche: I can tell you, that anything thats intelligent, which is done by an intelligent person, would be something which would be a challenge to any audience, because it would present a solution, of something which had not been considered before. Thats the whole idea. The meaning of existence, the meaning of what we can accomplish, is something which has to be placed in the right place.

The Meaning of Human

Question: We are close to the anniversary of Alan Shepard going into space, and about a month ago we had the anniversary of Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin orbiting the planet. Now, 55 years later, in some sense progress has been suspended. When it comes to the human species, you either progress, or you head for annihilation. And we have the threat of nuclear war, but also the extinction of the sense of progress and development, in the species.

Youve called for a space program; Kesha Rogers has been organizing for this. I think in some ways the deep importance of it, in the sense that this is the evolution of the human species, it would have to be a crucial part of a Renaissance. Not only should Americans recognize this, but this is something that is at the core of our ability to succeed.

I want to ask you if you have more? And also this idea that we should be recognizing that this was the end of progress. Obama, of course, has had the role of finishing it off, or trying to. So, I want to see what thoughts you have.

LaRouche: What mankind is going to be able to do, is to discover the meaning of the birth of human beings. Now, the problem today is that most human beings have no mark of distinction. Theyre simply things that were dropped into the case, and therefore, you just simply went along; to sing along, as if to sing along. And that is not what you need.

What you need is to understand that the human individual is not an animal. Now, most people treat human beings as animals; they believe they are animals. The fact that they talk does not detract from that. So therefore, they dont understand the meaning of human. Most human beings, today, do not know the meaning of human. The difference of human from monkey, for example; they dont really know the difference. They recognize there is a distinction, but they dont know what the distinction means.

So therefore, their problem is: What is the source of human existence?

CC/Paul Wiesinger

Human existence lies in the Solar System and beyond the Solar System. And, its in those areas that mankind is able to reach a voice, which reaches into a more creative form of existence. In other words, the baby is not just born, but the baby is given an ability to develop the babys own abilities and futures.

In other words, a great scientist will actually create the idea of the subject matter. And so therefore, the point is to get human beings to be able to think in terms that normal human beings cannot; and one way is going into space, going into service in space. Thats one way to do it. The skill to do that, on command, is very important.

And therefore, when you really get at this thingYou want to get at it? Get at the future! And, thats the way you have to do it. You say, What is this? Im not a baby. But I have a future, and Im going to express a future, and Im going to find a way to do that. So I will do something so that a parent is astonished, because the child knows better than the parent.

Question: Good afternoon, Mr. LaRouche. R from Brooklyn. In reading EIR, I see why you dislike Bertrand Russell. His writings and ideas through the Truman administration and the FBI dealt a death-blow to this republic, especially our educational system. Would you care to put more gasoline on the fire?

LaRouche: [Laughs] Well, I dont like to throw gasoline on fire all over the place. That is not one of my intentions.

I would say, no, the point is we have to understand exactly how people become stupid enough to make those mistakes. And we have to chide them and remind them, Where did you go to school? or Where didnt you go to school? and thats the way to approach it or to reply to that.

Question: [follow-up] The way the current universities are teaching history, I doubt if most people even know that Bertrand Russell existed, and what his effect on this society has been.

LaRouche: Im afraid that all too many people remember Bertrand Russell. They should never have remembered him at all! [Laughter] So anyway, theres no hope for anything about Bertrand Russellnothing! Theres nothing good about him and never will be, and hes still rotting in his grave. Its not really something that we want to waste our time on. Hes waste matter.

The Fraud Against Einstein

Question: I want to ask you your take on why Einstein had an approach to the composition of the universe, that gave him the ability to hypothesize gravitational waves. I wanted to offer two other ideas on this: One is that its amazing to me that for 100 years there was an attempt to demonstrate whether that was true or not, because thats a long time to concentrate on this hypothesis. But now we have this verification and you have the idea that Einstein had this concept 100 years ago, basically, and his idea of the composition of the universe.

So I want to ask you what you thought about Einsteins approach that gave him this concept of the structure of the universe itself, that were now seeing demonstrated in this way?

LaRouche: What happened is that, in his life, there are a number of things which he did that were rejected by the majority of the scientific community. And what has happened in the intervening hundred years, is that he was right and they were wrong. The question is, why did they do the thing that was wrong? Why? Because they were suckers, and its an all-day sucker or something like that. Thats what they were, they were suckers.

See, the point is, people are always trying to get a deductive approach to things which are important, important enough to attract attention. And that he had a correct understanding of the way to approach developments in space. He was right. They were wrong. In other words, it wasnt a case of people being out there, making a sudden discovery innocently. Everything that was charged against him in this respect, was a fraud against him. And finally the fraud got to squeaking so loud that nobody could deny it after a century.

And what happened is, a century later, they had a fraud on their hands, not a croaking fraud but a different kind of fraud. It was always a fraud. He made the discovery; he defined the discovery. He laid out the characteristics of the discovery. Then, a century later they say, I dunno how this happened, or something like that.

Einstein was unique, and what you find is that most people in science, in physical science, do not understand physical science. Why? Because they do not want to offend the people who are making up the bad stories.

Question: [follow-up] I want to ask about your proposal that Kesha and the organization launch a big fight to revive the space program, and about the way this would impact peoples ability to understand the universe, to make breakthroughsthe average citizen. That is what you saw in the early stages of the space program and how important that is in reviving a culture, a commitment to production and scientific advancement among average people.

The Chinese are talking now about going to the far side of the Moon and what can be discovered by doing so, and how that would be transmitted to the population at large. It was pointed out to me that Gene Kranz, one of the famous NASA administrators, in 1972, in his book he talks about a big discussion among scientists about what to do with the shutdown of the later Apollo missions. And in 1972, Gene Kranz said, Well, weve got to grab the imagination of the American population for space. Why dont we go to the far side of the Moon? And Kranz said in his book, we had the capability to do it in 1972.

U.S. Air Force/Melanie Rodgers Cox

So now the Chinese are doing it, or theyre proposing to do it, again, to achieve it, but also to grab the imagination of people. It seems that this idea that you have to grab the imagination of the people, to move the program, is critical, and it relates to what Einstein did, because what do we now know about the universe that we didnt know before, and can that be communicated to inspire the average American?

LaRouche: Thats a difficult thing to spin that way. Yes, that happens; things like that happen. But whats the authority on which to define the success of such a program? Thats the question. And this meanswhat has happened along the way? Its not a question of discovery in the ordinary, silly sense of discoverynot that sense at all. The point is that theres a recognition that there is something missing in the process. Something is already missing. Now people having found themselves holding something up, which is missing, and looking for it; now they make a discovery. But the discovery is that while theyre sitting out there, they suddenlyOh, Im a genius, I just had some kind of a sexual experience or something which made me very happy. Something like that.

No, this is not anything of that type. The point is, mankind is ignorant of his own knowledge! And these people who go out there and say these things and say this is my discovery, my discovery, its not their discovery. They dont know what theyre talking about. And even the people who are doing this thing, on the so-called discovery of Einsteins gravitational waves, thats nonsense, absolute nonsense! Its a way of trying to cover up what they were trying to hide.

Real Intelligence

Dennis Speed: Lyn, I remember you telling me a storythis was in 1973, about how you used to go up to Malcolm Xs talksI dont know if it was at the Audubon Ballroom or where it wasand you heard him in Harlem, and what he would do in the individual talks . . . And he would imitate the pimps, the prostitutes, the various other characters, the drunks; and what would happen is, people would at first be uncomfortable and then they would begin to laugh, uproariously, and then he would turn to them and say, You see what youre like?!

You see what youre like?that is the core of real intelligence. Thats what made Malcolm important, and thats whats missing from this issue, when people talk about things like Einstein and the gravitational waves. Now, you have attacked Bertrand Russell continually as the most evil man of the 20th Century. People then say, Oh, what does that mean? Do we have to look at this Four Essays on Philosophy, do we have to look at what he said about Riemann? Do we. . .? And you just said: Look, the whole way that people are talking about discovery, about thoughtall of this is a game, its a fraud. It doesnt work this way. Youre being, as Malcolm used to say, You been took, youve been bamboozled, youve been baffled.

And what Im reminded of, and what youre laying out here now, is you see, last week when you spoke here, and you laid out this whole thing about the FBI, there was real, real awe meaning terror, as well as admirationbut like, Yeah, well, maybe he can do that, but I dont know, I mean, is this really what were all supposed to do?

And Im saying this, because this issue of our actions in Manhattan and the way in which you understand how ideas and intelligence workto me, I think, that is what Im hearing from you.

LaRouche: Well, I always have been very opposed to my parents, and to almost everybody else that I was associated with, because I had known very quickly that they were wrong. So, when you go through life knowing that the people who are trying to teach you something are wrong, that has an effect. And I found that I had some things that I had discovered, and these other guys didnt know what they were talking about. But I did.

If you want to be educated in schools, by and large, with some exceptional cases, people will not be able to recognize what the truth is. Most of the population does not have the ability to distinguish the truth from fraud. But when somebody helps them and comes along and gives them an explanation, and they go through it and begin to re-examine their notions, that is when you get that kind of an effect.

Speed: You were able, in the period 1970, 1971, 1972, to pull a bunch of us out of campuses, in which this sort of fraud was not only practiced, it had been nearly perfected. And it was sort of nonstop fraud. And we used to like watching you deal with these people, which I think is how a certain disposition was passed on to some of us; because it was fun, it was great to do . . . Now, heres what I want to know from you: How do we go about creating that disposition, where people like the idea of actually beating up, destroying fraud?

LaRouche: Well, Manhattan was a very peculiar kind of environment in those days, but you would have people who would actually do that, as I would do it, and did it in schools earlierrecognize the thing is a fraud. In other words, they were laying out a solemn foundation for a great discovery, or something like that. And you turn around, and you look around and you say, whered this damned idiot come from?

And so we would have people in a community, Manhattan in part, other places, and internationally also, and we would succeed in making discoveries. And we made the discoveries by rejecting the opinions of foolish people.
News / Africa

by Staff Reporter

Botswana based Zimbabwean, Gift Ncube, who lost both his arms after being shot by his employer Keitumetse Khunou in that country, has spoken about what his life is like now. Ncube is asking for help paying a girl from Botswana who is helping with his daily care.In May 2015 Ncube told a Botswana court that on the fateful day, his employer, Keitumetse Khunou, who was armed with a shot gun repeatedly fired at him four times as he tried to dodge the bullets and screaming for help."The first shot grazed me on the forehead because I ducked. The second bullet caught me on my left arm, the third caught me on my right arm and the last shot went through my chest and I fell down," Ncube said.
This article appears in the May 13, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

EDITORIAL

For a National Space Day

[PDF version of this article]

Kesha Rogers addressed NASA Veterans and others in Houston on the 55th Anniversary of Americans in space, May 5, 2016.

Good evening everyone! I want to welcome those of you who are here today on behalf of the Schiller Institute, and thank you for joining us tonight. My name is Kesha Rogers, and I am a former Democratic nominee for Congress and member of the LaRouche PAC Policy Committee.

I continue to campaign nationally in the efforts to defend our space program against egregious attacks and the cuts in funding, including our manned space program. I continue to rally the scientific community and the population, starting with those who witnessed and were engagedto the great benefit of the country and the worldin the developments of our space program, and have been inspired by the space program. I want to rally the scientific community to again be an inspiration to Americans and to the world in advancing the fight for our future in space.

After these brief remarks, the plan for tonight is just to get feedback from all of youto have members of the scientific community and the others who are here tonight, particularly the scientific community, share your experiences and say what we can do to inspire the population again to recognize that the space program is our future, and that we desperately need to save it and bring it back again.

I hope this meeting will be a stepping stone to something much greater: I would like to have a larger conference to advocate a National Space Day here in the United States, centered around our first Moon landing. So we have to go out and organize the population and our political figures as to why that is absolutely critical today.

We are here tonight to celebrate a great achievement 55 years ago today. Today is the anniversary of the beginning of Americas venture into space. As many of you know, May 5, 1961 was the day that American astronaut Alan Shepard made a 15-minute suborbital flight into space on the Freedom 7 spacecraft. He was the second man in space, following Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Shepard had been chosen as one of the first seven astronauts for NASA, who were brought into the Mercury 7 mission. The mission was announced on April 9, 1957. Probably most of you in this room can name the other six astronauts. Anyone in this room who worked with any of the seven, I would like to hear those stories.

Without Vision, the People Perish

We inspired Americans, and we inspired the world. On April 9, 1957, when the Mercury 7 mission was announced on national television, it was a great stepping stone for all the world to see. When John Glenn became the first American in Earth orbit in 1962, there again, the population was there to see and celebrate. And the remarkable feat that came about from all of the accomplishments and hard work and commitment to this great visionand to the great visionarieswas that America became the first to land a man on the Moon. Despite all the odds, we realized the challenge of President John F. Kennedy on July 20, 1969. Kennedy had called for landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. This is something, again, that the entire world rejoiced in, and it was looked at as a great advance for all of mankind.

So I find again, that its very fitting, for people who dont know, that when the Apollo 11 missionof Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and one of my favorites, Michael Collins (whom we dont want to leave out!)went to the Moon, the plaque that the astronauts left there read: We came in peace for all mankind.

That should be, once again, our mission, to come in peace for all mankind. And that should be the mission of our space program.

In a statement published in our Executive Intelligence Review, titled A Unified Mission for the Common Aims of Mankind, I call on the scientific community to restore its commitment to the future of our nation in the exploration of space. This is not going to be done with cheap gimmicks, but only through real leadership. There are a lot of cheap gimmicks going on out there; people want to make side-cuts, thinking that we can turn the space program into some kind of marketplace, or going into space and making it a tourist attraction or amusement park. And that is not what our space program represents.

We need the type of leadership to fight for our space program that President John F. Kennedy represented, or visionary leaders like Krafft Ehricke, who was a great space pioneer, and someone whom I often mention, who recognized that space was a mission for mankind: That it was our prerogative, and our duty to our own species, to advance beyond Earth and go out into the Solar System, because this is where we are going to learn how to improve our conditions here on planet Earth and how to better understand our own creative powers as human beings. Because, as Ehricke said, there is nothing and no one under the stars, that can put limitations on mankind, except mankind himself. And I think that is absolutely true: We have to stop putting the limitations on ourselves, and to actually start to move forward with our mission in the conquest of space.

Kennedy said, quoting Proverbs 29, that where there is no vision the people perish. Now, I have to tell you, perishing is just the direction we are heading in under this collapsing financial system, and under the direction of the current administrationthe collapsing trans-Atlantic financial system and the push for total war and chaos that were seeing right now.

Right now we are in a complete slide into war. We are continuing the escalation toward war against some of our great alliesagainst China, by putting aircraft carriers and missile defense systems right on its borders and on the borders of Russia. This is a problem! Because we should be committing ourselves to collaborating as human beings, in the fight for increasing the understanding of who we are as human beings.

And that is what the space program represents. Its very interesting that on April 24, China celebrated its first National Space Day, joining with Russia, which celebrates on April 12 the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. As I said in my statement, the United States right now is spaced out. We dont have a Space Day, we have people who are completely spaced out. [laughter]

We do not remember that our nation was once an inspiration for the world! Now, were bullies to the world and the world is afraid of us, because instead of inspiring, were starting wars, causing economic collapse, and wanting to be the great hegemonic world power. And thats not what the United States represented under the vision of Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, or that of our Founding Fathers and Alexander Hamilton. Thats the nation we need again today.

Why a National Space Day?

Why is it that China and Russia have a Space Day? It is not just to celebrate an individual event or an individual person. They are celebrating their respective national Space Days because they want to celebrate the achievements of a nation and its commitment to the future of mankind, to those children not yet born, to the advances in science that have yet to be made, the advances and discoveries that still await us. That is why we must have a National Space Day.

What we have already achieved is the landing of a man on the Moon. Now China is going to do something even more remarkable: It is going to be the first nation to put a spacecraft on the far side of the Moon. Think about that one! Theyre calling for the development of helium-3 mining on the Moon. The United States has to renew its commitment. Chinas announcement of its plan to land a spacecraft on the far side of the Moon should be a wake-up call to the United States that we should be joining in this effort. But we have insane politicians who say we shouldnt be working with China in space. This is going to set us back a long way! Weve got to push for leadership to fight now to reverse the policy that the United States should not be working with nations such as China.

I have just been reading Gene Kranzs book. If you havent seen this, it is very, its called Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo and Beyond. In this book, Kranz is talking about the commitment and the fight led by members of our space program at the time, in the Apollo mission and so forth, against the ending of the Apollo mission. And against those who said then, as they do today, Oh, we dont have the resources for that, we dont have the money to go into space.

You know, thats just all lies! Because we have the money to build more nuclear arsenal, we have billions of dollars for more bailouts for the financial looters, and we have money for more wars. And, as you know, when the Apollo mission was being attacked, we were increasing spending on the Vietnam War, which itself was taking away the vision. This came about in the wake of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

After President Kennedy was killed, there was a fight to keep his commitment alive. But today we see that its been completely ripped apart. China is now committing itself to landing on the far side of the Moon. Do you guys know that we had this as a mission? There were people working with Kranz, working with former astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who were actually putting together plans for the United States to be the first to land on the far side of the Moon! Schmitt, of the Apollo 17 mission, was one of the leading advocates for the United States to do this and for the United States to realize the importance of mining helium-3 on the Moon.

I Felt Betrayed

But those efforts were defeated. And given the direction in which we are now going, under the current policy of the administration, it may not be able to be realized. We have to actually fight for a commitment to a unified national mission again. The Moon is just the place to do that. Most nations right now recognize that, including India, which has just also announced its commitment to development and research for mining of helium-3 on the Moon. And most nations recognize that the development of the lunar surface, as I said, is the key to the success of any type of further mission in space, including the Mars mission, or a mission to any other planetary body.

I have a paragraph from Gene Kranzs book that I want to read. In the course of describing the fight around the ending of the Apollo mission, Kranz says:

The space program was also suffering. The lunar program was coming to an end. With the cancellations of the last Apollo missions18, 19, and 20I felt betrayed. It was as if Congress was ripping our heart out, gutting the program we had fought so hard to build. Leadership is fragile. It is more a matter of mind and heart than resources, and it seemed that we no longer had the heart for those things that demanded discipline, commitment, and risk.

It is very true today. There are many new developmentsin terms of the direction the world is taking right nowthat I can speak on today, and there are probably some that you here can tell me about as well. Particularly regarding nations like China, Russia, and India, that have committed themselves to the advance of mankind in space, this is the economic driver for the world. This has to be the economic driver once again for the United States. And I think we have to realize that it is in our national interest and the interest of the world that we, the United States, commit ourselves again to a unified national mission in the exploration of space. I think that we can do it, if we just choose to fight.

So I will stop there. What I hope to hear from you is where you see the future of our nation, and how we can actually come together and make sure that we rally the American people to recognize that this is their future. This is not just some side issue here. It is something that I have been fighting for, for some timeprobably not as long as some of you. We need to get people to realize that the whole political spectrum right now is just a joke! If you are not talking about this, if there are not meetings and discussions from political candidates, the Presidential candidates, about the future of our nation in space, what are you talking about?

So thats what we should discuss here today, and I think the message will get around. And you should tell all your friends, Hey, somebodys fighting. So, what do you have?
This article appears in the May 13, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

EDITORIAL

The Only Way You Can Win Is

the Hard Way

[PDF version of this article]

May 5In just a few words spoken over a few minutes on Tuesday evening, May 3, Lyndon LaRouche spelled out starkly what he himself has long known, and what every successful architect of victory has known, but what others refuse to face. He showed that victory is only possible through doing the things that have never been done before, indeed never even thought of beforebased on a totally new original insight.

You can only win by doing what all the smart people knew was absolutely impossible. This is the story of the Inchon Landing of Sept. 15, 1950. MacArthur told the nay-sayers, namely the entirety of the U.S. high command, that the very arguments you have made as to the impracticalities involved confirmed his faith in the plan, for the enemy commander will reason that no one would be so brash as to make such an attempt. MacArthur finished his statement (like LaRouche, he knew when to finish), by whispering, I can almost hear the ticking of the second-hand of destiny. We must act now or we will die. . . .

But LaRouches leadership has long been on a profounder level than even the genius MacArthurs. Better to think back to MacArthurs friend Gen. Charles de Gaulle. In his memoirs, de Gaulle recalled the moment in 1940 when all the French officials turned their back on his struggle against the treasonous French government at Vichy. I felt like someone approaching the ocean, he wrote, preparing to swim across.

(Yet he did swim across!)

This is almost impossibly difficult, but it can be done. It must be done, even if you can never say in advance how to do it. It has been done. And Lyndon LaRouche in particular has done it repeatedly and successfully. He debated and soundly defeated the chosen representative of the British system in 1971. Impossible! Then, later, through the Strategic Defense Initiative, he transformed the incoming U.S. Reagan Administration into the instrument of what would have been a new world system of peace and dramatic human progress. The British tried to assassinate Reagan, and went all-out to destroy LaRouche. They jailed him, but couldnt destroy him, although his influence was effectively contained for years.

Achieving the Impossible While Under Attack

Yet even under this attack, LaRouche and his wife Helga succeeded in laying the basis for the Eurasian Landbridge/Silk Road policy and the BRICS, without which humanity would have no prospect for the future.

Beginning in October 2014, LaRouche set out again to accomplish the impossible. He outflanked the resistance and founded a new organization in Manhattan on a new basis, prominently including Classical choral work and competent Classical musical performance, both of which are linked to a weekly live dialogue with LaRouche. It seemed impossible; for years, every previous attempt had failed. But it is demonstrably succeeding and spinning off new organization on a new basis in Northern California, in Boston, and in a special way in Houston, Texas, where LaRouche leader Kesha Rogers has vigorously and effectively taken up the fight to revive the Space Program.

In the referenced Tuesday discussion, LaRouche also specified that, Right now, the question is, how will Russia and China survive this situation? Because if they dont survive this situation, there is not going to be a civilization; it just wont happen. Now, this depends upon maneuvers and things of that nature on the part of the leading parties; thats the only chance. You cannot use deductive methods; they dont work. They cant work under these circumstances.

You actually are going to depend largely on a contributing factor in which Russia and China are going to play a controlling role. If they cannot successfully do that, then I think the case for humanity is poor; more than poor. In other words, it is not just this piece of equipment out there; it has to be the way in which this thing is orchestrated. And the orchestration has to come chieflychiefly, from Putin and from China, chiefly. And it will have to be an act of choice, chiefly; and it will be so clever, that it will take the enemy forces off their heels, before they can really come to an understanding of what theyre being threatened by.

It can be done; this kind of thing can be done. But it has to be done; or it doesnt work.

These thoughts touch on the most profound issues we know: One hopes that this account is truthful as far as it goes; it is not complete.
Landing rocket boosters on an open-ocean platform has been a massive engineering hurdle for SpaceX.

Politics are proving to be a different sort of challenge.

As competition in the satellite-launch sector intensifies, the battle between traditional aerospace giants and upstart companies backed by tech billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson is increasingly shifting to Congress.

Both sides have boosted their spending on Washington lobbying and are marshaling support from legislators, especially those whose districts contain rocket facilities.

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Last month, as part of its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act, the House Committee on Armed Services called for a study on how a government sale of excess intercontinental ballistic missiles would reshape the commercial-satellite launch business. Emerging small-satellite launch outfits say that change in policy could destroy their burgeoning industry.

The committee also approved a hotly debated amendment to that same bill that would allow for additional purchases of Russian rocket engines. The move was pitched by proponents as a way to guard against a potential SpaceX monopoly on national security launches, giving the current launch consortium -- itself a monopoly until recently -- time to transition to an American replacement engine.

Traditional launch providers see their market being threatened by nontraditional entrants, said Loren Thompson, aerospace analyst with the Lexington Institute, an Arlington, Va., think tank. Basically, this is competition between launch providers over market share and money that in the political process gets related to local interests.

In 2015, United Launch Alliance spent $1.4 million on lobbying, up from $1 million the year before, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks federal campaign contributions and lobbying efforts on its website opensecrets.org.

That same year, SpaceX spent $1.7 million on lobbying, up from $1.5 million in 2014.

The move away from the Russian RD-180 as the launch engine for Pentagon surveillance satellites has proven to be a flashpoint for rocket politics, pitting Hawthorne-based SpaceX against ULA, a joint venture of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.

The RD-180 powers ULAs Atlas V launch vehicle, which is used to blast military satellites into orbit. The U.S. has used Russian rocket engines for government and commercial launches since 2000. That decision was a product of post-Cold War cooperation between U.S. businesses and the Russian defense industry, which Washington also saw as a way to head off proliferation of Russian missile technology.

Congress limited the use of the engines in 2014, however, after Russia annexed Crimea, and it has called for the development of an American-made alternative by 2019.

That opened the door for new space companies. Leveraging private business models that allow for more experimentation without fear of alienating shareholders, upstarts such as Bezos Blue Origin and Musks SpaceX have upended the existing launch market.

SpaceX already boasts lower launch costs than its traditional competitors -- the starting price to launch the companys Falcon 9 rocket is $62 million, while a former ULA executive said earlier this year that at its best, the joint venture will bid at $125 million.

If Musk succeeds in making his first-stage rockets routinely reusable -- as demonstrated in two straight landings on a droneship -- SpaceX could drop its prices as much as an additional 30%.

Those low costs already have forced established competitors to fight back on a number of fronts.

ULA is developing the new, cheaper Vulcan rocket, which will be powered by an engine built by Blue Origin, the space company started by Amazon founder Bezos, and is intended for the national security launch market.

That BE-4 engine will run on liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas. That new technology could be cheaper, analysts say, though potentially more risky than a more conventional engine option being developed for ULA by Sacramento manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne.

ULA could continue to compete with SpaceX if it is allowed to increase its purchase of Russian rockets, from nine to as many as 18, as proposed in the defense-bill amendment approved by the House committee late last month. The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), whose congressional district includes ULAs headquarters.

During the bill markup, Coffman said a hasty prohibition on Russian rocket engines would harm national security, launch competition and raise concerns about fiscal responsibility.

The Air Force has asked for 18 Russian-made engines to ensure a safe, practical and responsible transition away from RD-180 powered Atlas V rocket, and that is exactly what my amendment does, he said. Ending our reliance on Russian engines is clearly in the national security interest of the United States, but not at the expense of the paramount requirement of assured access for national security missions.

SpaceX backers came close to blocking the Russian rocket amendment, according to Politico, citing unnamed sources. The website described a scene where Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), whose district is just south of SpaceXs headquarters, was waiting for Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) and the Intelligence Committee to sign off on a waiver that would have countered the amendment. But, Politico reports, the waiver never came.

SpaceX, meanwhile, has benefited from eagerness to cut ties with the newly assertive Russians.

Hunter noted that Musks company saved the Air Force money on a recent satellite launch.

Guess what it cost them? $82 million, he said. The same launch from ULA cost $200 million. Theres no reason for us to line Putins pockets right now.

Another battleground is shaping up in commercial satellite launch, where Orbital ATK -- a Dulles, Va., company formed by the merger of two legacy aerospace outfits -- is pushing for clearance to use low-cost former intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs.

Those ICBMs were originally intended to launch nuclear warheads thousands of miles, but as the U.S. and Russia negotiated smaller missile forces, the rockets were taken out of service.

Orbital ATK wants the government to sell the decommissioned missile motors, arguing that it would allow that company and others to better compete with cheaper international rivals that launch small satellites weighing 1,100 to 4,400 pounds.

Orbital ATK currently uses decommissioned ICBM motors in its Minotaur launch vehicles, but only for blasting government payloads into orbit. The U.S. has not allowed excess ICBMs or their components to be used for commercial launch services since 1998.

The commercial market in that class payload is very vibrant, said Mark Pieczynski, vice president of business development at Orbital ATK. We look at that and say, Well, weve got a perfectly good rocket that can launch from U.S. soil, but its not because it cant compete commercially. So were sending that business to Russia, were sending that business to India.

But critics of the plan contend that government sales of the cheap missile motors could damage the dozen or more small-satellite launch companies that have cropped up. Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Branson, is currently building LauncherOne, a launch vehicle designed to blast small satellites weighing less than 1,102 pounds into orbit.

These companies have said they cannot use the solid-fuel rocket motors in their launch vehicles and that the Minotaurs larger size means it could piggyback a number of smaller satellites onto the already cheaper rockets, driving down launch costs.

Pieczynski said Orbital ATK is focused on dedicated payloads for the Minotaur and that SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket and ULAs Atlas V already load up a variety of satellites.

We have no intention of diminishing any of their market share, he said of the smaller companies. Were dealing in completely separate markets.

But Space Angels Network, a New York City-based investor in early-stage space companies, sent a letter to the Senate last month saying that a reversal of the policy could disrupt strong positive momentum in the market and increase investor uncertainty.

It could have a big impact on a lot of the small commercial launch companies that have invested a lot of private investment capital and a lot of innovation, said Eric Stallmer, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation trade group, which opposes changing the missile-use policy.

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SuperShuttle International was in the ride-sharing business long before Uber and Lyft. But like those Web-based companies, the airport shuttle provider is fighting to defend a business model that defines drivers as independent contractors, not employees.

SuperShuttle is embroiled in a long-running legal dispute with California, as the state grapples with the labor rights of this growing class of workers. A recent study by Princeton and Harvard economists found that contractors make up 8% of the U.S. labor force.

Like many employers, SuperShuttle started treating its workers like freelancers to help grow its business. The company has spent the last several years fending off lawsuits brought by drivers in California and five other states, who have contended that they were employees rather than independent contractors.

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Drivers, who the company calls franchisees, lease or buy their own vans, which must be covered with SuperShuttle logos. They pay the company up to $40,000 over 10 years, in addition to $250 in weekly fees. They give the company 25% of their gross revenue.

The most critical battle for the company is its lawsuit against the state Employment Development Department, which forced SuperShuttle to pay employment taxes for drivers whom the state said should have been compensated like employees.

The EDD charged SuperShuttle more than $783,000 for failing to pay into state unemployment insurance and disability funds on behalf of drivers from 2006 through 2009. In 2014, SuperShuttle sued the EDD. The case is set to be heard in September.

Its not about the money. Its about the EDDs effort and desire to eliminate the independent contractor status in the state of California, said Alan Moldawer, the general counsel for Transdev North America, the French transportation company that acquired SuperShuttle in 2006.

The company used to have employees, but turned them into franchisees in 2002 after taking a business hit in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The new model helped SuperShuttle expand rapidly; its revenues increased from $35 million in 1997 to $340 million in 2015, according to a financial filing.

But in the last several years, Uber and Lyft have aggressively staked out a spot on SuperShuttles turf -- U.S. airports -- and eaten into the companys business. Moldawer said that drivers were in favor of becoming franchisees a decade and a half ago, but that some of them are unhappy now because their business is suffering.

We have more and more frustrated operators primarily because of the competition from unregulated competitors, Moldawer said. The EDD declined to comment.

Drivers who have sued SuperShuttle say they have more fundamental problems with life as independent contractors.

Ravil Aysov, a Russian immigrant who drove for the company in San Francisco, said in court documents that he was often scheduled into 24-hour shifts and was fined $50 when he declined a ride if he was too tired or sick to drive. The company monitored his driving, berated him if he arrived late to a pickup, and would unilaterally cancel rides as a punishment for poor performance, Aysov said.

Paul Marron, SuperShuttles lawyer, said in an emailed statement that the company did not fine drivers if they were too sick to drive and that Aysov could have opted out of the system used to map drivers routes. The company can fine franchisees $50 if they cancel a ride that they had previously accepted.

SuperShuttle made no effort to hide the rigors of their domination and control over our work, wrote Aysov, who is one of five former drivers who brought a separate claim for back pay against SuperShuttle in front of the states labor commissioner.

SuperShuttle successfully sued Aysov and four other former drivers last year to block their claims, citing an agreement they had signed to arbitrate all disputes. The drivers have appealed that decision.

In 2014, the company settled a federal class-action suit in California brought by drivers who said they were actually employees. SuperShuttle paid the drivers $12 million, but maintained their freelancer status.

SuperShuttle has settled similar suits in New York, Florida and Minnesota. Denver is the only city where the company has shifted drivers back to employee status, after the National Labor Relations Board ruled that drivers could unionize in 2011.

But the company contends that the stakes in the EDD case go beyond just a six-figure refund from California taxpayers.

It would threaten the continued viability of the business if our franchisees didnt have any value, if they were converted to employees against their will, Moldawer said.

Natalie.Kitroeff@latimes.com

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The president of Theranos Inc. will retire as the embattled blood-testing company shuffles its leadership.

The Palo Alto company  which has been the target of multiple federal investigations since questions arose about the accuracy and reliability of its tests  added three new members to its board of directors and said it will change its organizational structure and implement specific corporate divisions for technology and clinical operations.

President Sunny Balwani, who also served as the companys chief operating officer, was key to the firms product development and growth, Theranos said in a statement Wednesday. The company also said it has initiated searches for multiple executive positions. No date has been set for Balwanis retirement; the company said he will stay on through the transition process.

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Sunny has made invaluable contributions to Theranos technology and business, the board of directors said in a statement. We will miss him as a board member and are grateful for his extraordinary service.

The three new board members are Fabrizio Bonanni, a former Amgen Inc. executive vice president; Richard Kovacevich, former chief executive of Wells Fargo & Co.; and William Foege, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Theranos said Foege has been working closely with the company as it prepares to publicly introduce its technologies.

Theranos spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said the additions to the board, as well as the reorganization, are part of the next evolution of Theranos as a company.

The company, founded in 2003, gained attention for its claims that its technology could test for a variety of conditions with just a few drops of blood. But it has faced increased scrutiny by federal and state regulators about the reliability and accuracy of its tests after an investigation by the Wall Street Journal raised questions about the capabilities of Theranos Edison lab instrument. The company told the Journal that it did not exaggerate its achievements.

Last month, the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Theranos was out of compliance with certain federal lab requirements. In a letter sent to the company, regulators proposed revoking the federal license for Theranos California laboratory and banning its two top executives  Balwani and Chief Executive Elizabeth Holmes  from the blood-testing business for at least two years.

Buchanan said Balwanis retirement was not related to these proposed sanctions.

Theranos is also being investigated by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said last month that investigations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the state departments of health in Pennsylvania and Arizona had been successfully closed out.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

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Lower prices, fewer workers and a smaller selection: This is not your mothers Whole Foods.

The Austin, Texas, grocery chain is gearing up to open its new 365 by Whole Foods Market concept, choosing Silver Lake for its first location.

When the store opens May 25, shoppers will take more of a do-it-yourself approach.

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There is no wine guide in the alcohol section to guide customers to the right vino. Instead, shoppers can scan labels using in-store iPads or on their smartphones to read reviews. Those looking for a quick bite can also order from iPads located near the store, picking them up at the kitchen in the back.

This DIY approach is a core part of the new 365 stores, a concept that seeks to marry the high quality that Whole Foods is known for with lower prices. The goal is to attract new shoppers, including younger customers with less disposable income.

I dont know if it takes business away from Trader Joes or Sprouts or if it just takes most of its business away from Whole Foods.  Jim Hertel, senior vice president, Willard Bishop, a food analytics company

Whole Foods is rolling out its 365 concept at a challenging time for the company. The Austin, Texas, chain boomed for years by bringing organic, natural and tasty foods to high-end shoppers willing to shell out $23 for a rib-eye steak or $6 for a loaf of organic wheat bread.

But many grocers have taken a page out of the companys playbook, with traditional supermarkets such as Ralphs and Safeway expanding their organic produce offerings and big-box chains such as Wal-Mart and Target are bulking up their food selections. In the Southland, the intense competition did in grocery upstarts such as Fresh & Easy and Haggen.

Whole Foods is feeling the pressure. It has posted three straight quarters of sales declines at stores open at least a year. In its second quarter ended April 10, Whole Foods reported flat sales compared with a year earlier.

Their performance of late has not been as strong, said Joseph Feldman, senior managing director at Telsey Advisory Group. Mom can buy organic and natural stuff at Kroger now.

Thats where 365 comes in. Turnas said the goal is to attract new customers who normally would not shop at Whole Foods, or shop there infrequently.

The 365 store in Silver Lake, opening May 25, will be the first of three locations slated to open this year (the other two are in Bellevue, Wash., and Lake Oswego, Ore.). Another 10 will open next year.

We want people who dont shop at Whole Foods, Jeff Turnas, president of 365, said Wednesday during a hard-hat tour of the store, where construction workers in orange vests were still drilling concrete outside, and installing displays and testing the fire alarm inside. We want to be easy to navigate and understood.

That starts with the design of the store, which is splashed with bright colors throughout and lower shelving, enabling a relatively unobstructed view of the space.

Unlike a regular Whole Foods store, where there can be big differences in design, Turnas said 365 locations will have a very similar smaller-format look -- saving money on architects and also optimizing efficiency. (365 stores will average about 30,000 square feet, compared with 45,000-square-feet for Whole Foods stores).

Cookie-cutter at 365 is more what we are trying to do, Turnas said. We have a layout were just going to plop in.

The stores themselves also cost less to build; the Silver Lake store, for example, has exposed insulation on the ceiling and its walls are covered with inexpensive pale-grey panels.

Prices are kept low in part by reducing labor. 365 stores will have about 100 workers compared with 250 to 500 at Whole Foods, and stores will not have butchers slicing cuts of meat to order or bakers baking bread on-site each day.

But the 365 store in Silver Lake will offer prepackaged meats and source most of its bread and pastries from the Larder Baking Co. in Los Angeles.

That eye on keeping prices low can be seen in the selection. In produce, for example, there will be more non-organic produce, compared with Whole Foods stores. Instead of a package of four chicken breasts, Turnas suggested, 365 may offer smaller packages of two breasts.

Its not just about lowering prices, its about portion size and the items well carry, he said.

A more affordable grocery store would be a welcome change for Whole Foods shoppers who jokingly refer to the chain as Whole Paycheck.

At a Whole Foods in Pasadena this week, Claudia Reyes, 35, of Sylmar intended to buy just bread and deli meats for her daughters school lunches. She walked out with nearly $120 worth of staples and snacks.

I hope its significantly cheaper, because shopping here can get expensive, the human resources worker said, pointing to her bulging bags. If it is, I would shop there more often.

Turnas emphasized that 365 -- which got its name from Whole Foods private value brand already sold in its stores -- still prioritizes quality and great taste. His team worked with olive oil maker Frankies in New York to develop a bottle that will retail for under $10.

They also spent time developing new recipes and tasting offerings from potential vendors, looking for products -- such as pre-made soups and frozen pizza crust -- that will cut down the amount of cooking needed in store.

Retail partners will be brought in at each 365 location to customize the experience. The Silver Lake store will have a restaurant by the chef behind New York vegan eatery By Chloe, a coffee and beer spot by Allegro Coffee Roasters and a robotic tea kiosk called the teaBot. In the future, Turnas suggested, it may bring in a bike shop or a music store.

Analysts said that Whole Foods is smart to go after new shoppers, but that pulling it off can be tricky.

The grocer runs a real risk of cannibalizing its own customers, encouraging Whole Foods shoppers to switch to the lower-price alternative. And the stores could dilute the high-end brand image that Whole Foods has cultivated.

Theres a balancing act they have to perform, said Jim Hertel, senior vice president at Willard Bishop, a food analytics company under Inmar. I dont know if it takes business away from Trader Joes or Sprouts or if it just takes most of its business away from Whole Foods.

Those potential obstacles are making investors hesitate, analyst Feldman said. Shares of Whole Foods closed Thursday at $30.51, down from an all-time high of $65.24 in October 2013.

One big challenge is creating stores that are unique enough to stand out from rivals, but with a focus that both complements Whole Foods and sets it apart. The grocer has said it wants to appeal to millennial shoppers, but some analysts questioned whether the lower prices and tech components will be enough.

The reality in todays world, especially in food retailing, is the more sharply differentiated you are, the better off in general you have done, Hertel said. If the goal is to become much more relevant to millennial shoppers, then focus on that.

Turnas acknowledged that there will likely be some cannibalization of nearby Whole Foods stores. But he sees 365s rivals to be chains such as Trader Joes and Sprouts, which often cluster around bigger Whole Foods stores. Eventually, 365 may go into neighborhoods that are less affluent or more in need of grocery stores, Turnas said.

There are a whole lot of players who... are not committed to natural and organic the way we are, he added. They are able to price competitively because of that. This is our way of playing in that space.

For now, Turnas said he hopes 365 will add to L.A.'s thriving food scene. More 365 stores are in the pipeline for the Southland: five additional locations have been announced in Santa Monica, Long Beach, North Hollywood, Los Alamitos and Claremont, although no opening dates have been set.

shan.li@latimes.com

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Lyft Inc. offered Wednesday to pay $27 million -- more than double what the company had originally proposed  to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by California drivers who wanted to be classified as employees.

The San Francisco ride-hailing firm initially offered to pay $12.25 million in January to settle the lawsuit, which was filed in 2013 by drivers who said Lyft wrongly treated them as independent contractors.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria rejected the settlement agreement in April, saying it did not fall within the range of reasonableness, and that drivers were being shortchanged.

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Plaintiff attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan said in a prepared statement that the new agreement will provide significant payments to Lyft drivers who have put a lot of their time into this company. Drivers who have worked more than six months could receive more than $6,000, on average, she said.

A settlement would affect an estimated 100,000 Lyft drivers in California.

As part of the proposed settlement, Lyft would change its terms of service so there is more transparency around driver termination.

The revised settlement agreement still needs to be approved by Chhabria.

Lyft competitor Uber recently agreed to settle a similar class-action lawsuit. The ride-hailing giant offered to pay up to $100 million to settle the case. That settlement also awaits court approval.

tracey.lien@latimes.com

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The newest plan to remake downtown L.A.'s Pershing Square is elegantly simple. If only the same could be said for the process that will now be required to get it approved, paid for and built.

A team led by Agence Ter, a French landscape architecture firm that is prolific in Europe but barely known in this country, was named the winner Thursday in competition organized by Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and a nonprofit group called Pershing Square Renew.

The winning design focuses on opening the park directly to the sidewalks around it, replacing concrete with grass and providing extensive new pockets of shade. It is very much a reaction to, if not an outright apology for, the visual clutter of present-day Pershing Square, which remains a conspicuous dead space in an otherwise revived and money-soaked downtown.

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One of L.A.s oldest public spaces, Pershing Square suffered the indignity of having its trees and grass torn out so that a parking garage could be sunk beneath it in 1951. In 1994, after an earlier design competition fizzled, Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and landscape architect Laurie Olin were hired to redesign the square again; along with bright color and a good deal of hardscape, they added walls and towers to the existing parking ramps along the perimeter, redoubling the sense that the park was cut off from the life of the surrounding city.

The Agence Ter proposal, which beat out entries from three finalists, aims to solve those problems by relying on what Henri Bava, one of the firms founders, describes as a radical flatness.

Its plan would slice off the top five feet or so of the parking garage and lower the surface of park, now raised slightly, back down to sidewalk level. It would have parking ramps on two sides  along Olive and Hill streets  instead of four.

In trying to make up for the sins of parking-obsessed planners of an earlier generation, the Agence Ter team faces a challenge familiar to designers and urban planners across Southern California. Retrofitting the car-centric urban landscapes of postwar Los Angeles to make them more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and the users of public transit stands at the center of the citys ongoing effort to reshape and redefine itself for the 21st century.

When it comes to the design of public plazas, that effort sounds straightforward enough. After all, the great urban parks around the world, from Trafalgar Square in London to Central Park in New York, are both flat and wide open to city life around them.

But in Los Angeles we face particularly daunting challenges simply because of the degree to which we embraced car-based planning strategies in the decades after World War II.

1 / 7 L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar announced Thursday that a team led by French landscape architecture firm Agence Ter has won a design competition to remake Pershing Square, shown last month. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 7 Pershing Square in 1937. (Andrew H. Arnott / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 7 Pershing Square was remade to make room for a parking garage underneath it in the 1950s. This image is from July 24, 1951. (Paul Calvert / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 7 Construction of the underground parking garage at Pershing Square continues on Feb. 1, 1952. In the background is the Biltmore Hotel. (Paul Calvert / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 7 Pershing Square photographed from the roof of the Biltmore Hotel in 1984. (Ian Dryden / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 7 Pershing Square was most recently redesigned in 1994 by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and landscape architect Laurie Olin. Along with bright color and a good deal of hardscape, their design added walls and towers to the existing parking ramps along the perimeter. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 7 The winning proposal to redesign Pershing Square calls for the walls, ramps and other barriers that line the edges of the park to be cleared away. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

It is not enough simply to endorse the idea that we want public spaces in L.A. to be more welcoming, our civic realm livelier. We also have to find the money to remove the extensive automotive infrastructure that helped deaden those spaces in the first place.

That removal can be pricey: Bava said Thursday he thinks his team will need to spend least a third of the parks estimated $50-million budget just to perform the planned surgery on the top level of parking garage. (Rios Clementi Hale Studios, the firm that designed nearby Grand Park, spent a similar amount removing parking ramps.) And Bava will have to be careful not to slice too deeply because the revenue from the garage is not something officials are eager to give up.

In the longer term, according to many urban planners, demand for parking is likely to decline as ride-sharing services grow, autonomous vehicles gain approval and Los Angeles County continues to expand its transit network.

There are also political and fundraising challenges ahead. Though the citys Recreation and Parks Department made a show of solidarity with the redesign effort on Thursday  the stage in center of the square set up for the news conference was draped quite prominently in Rec and Parks signage  the competition has been run to a significant extent by Huizars office and funded by real-estate developer MacFarlane Partners, which is building a new residential complex across 5th Street from the square. Whether City Hall  or to be more specific, the ranks of the bureaucracy that builds and maintains parks in Los Angeles  enthusiastically embraces the redesign is an open question.

Pershing Squares facelift will be paid for with a mixture of private and public funds, though its unclear precisely how the final total will be divvied up. The remade square is expected to open by 2019 if  and this is a pretty big if  there are no major fundraising snags.

Huizar said Thursday that a more definitive timetable and financing plan, including news of some public funding, would be announced in two weeks or so.

The winning team, headed by Agence Ter and L.A.s SALT Landscape Architects, came together thanks to connections among Bava, USC landscape architecture Dean Kelly Shannon and SALTs Allen Compton. It also includes the graphic design firm Pentagram, Deborah Murphy Urban Design + Planning and architect Rachel Allen.

There is a directness in the teams proposal  even a minimalism  that clearly appealed to the nine-member competition jury, which included Janet Marie Smith, an executive with the Dodgers who was trained as an architect and planner; Toronto landscape architect Janet Rosenberg; and Cal Poly architecture dean Michael Woo, a former Los Angeles city councilman and mayoral candidate.

The Agence Ter design is noticeably calmer and less formally aggressive than the other proposals, which called for lifting sections of the park into the air, building a high-rise urban farm or creating rolling hills.

It also includes a giant pergola  what the designers call a smart canopy  that will run along Hill Street. Lined with photovoltaic panels, it would generate electricity while also providing shade.

At night the canopy will be illuminated with a design by artist Leo Villareal, best known for the Bay Lights installation on the section of the Bay Bridge nearest San Francisco. Tucked beneath the canopy will be a series of small kiosks; designed by Allen, they will include space for a cafe, restaurant and welcome center, among other amenities.

The park would be most thickly planted along its Olive Street edge, with an edible garden and a water feature in front of the Biltmore Hotel. The plan imagines not just a wide public plaza along 6th Street but new bike paths and wider sidewalks surrounding Pershing Square.

At the literal (if not quite the conceptual) center of the Agence Ter design is a Great Lawn, sure to be a controversial feature given the severity of Southern Californias ongoing drought. Let me go on record, then, as supporting it: In a city as lacking in attractive and accessible park space as Los Angeles the last place we should be banning lawns is in the civic realm.

If we need to cut private water use to make public lawns possible, we should have no regrets about cutting away. Radical or not, flat, green, open and shaded places for people to gather are precisely what we need more of in Los Angeles.

MORE:

Pershing Squares 1994 redesign concept was aiming for humane and romantic

Photo slider: Pershing Square then and now

Two downtown L.A. parks and the tricky task of designing them to best serve the city

Pershing Square redesign: New renderings of the four finalists

Downtown L.A.: The hot spot moves, but the rise continues

christopher.hawthorne@latimes.com
Charter Communications has cleared a final regulatory hurdle in its nearly year-long quest to clinch its $71-billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

California Public Utilities Commission members on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the transfer of phone licenses, a blessing needed by Charter to complete the merger of three cable companies.

Charter is expected to finalize the Time Warner Cable and Bright House transactions next week, and then work to consolidate its cable systems nationwide. The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal last week after attaching several conditions aimed at expanding the availability of broadband Internet to begin to close the so-called digital divide.

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The FCC also won a pledge from Charter that it would not try to thwart the development of video streaming services.

Charter will become the largest Internet service and pay-TV provider in Southern California with more than 2 million customer homes. It also will become a major provider in New York, Dallas and parts of Florida.

We are pleased to have now obtained all approvals, Charter Chief Executive Tom Rutledge said in a statement. We look forward to closing these transactions next week and to begin delivering the many benefits of these transactions to consumers.

California PUC members applauded Charter for agreeing to lay cable lines in some geographic regions without lines and for establishing a program to offering affordable Internet service for low-income families with children and low-income seniors.

Charter also committed to rolling out higher Internet speeds to its customer base, a pledge embraced by several PUC members.

This is going to be critical for economic development in this state, Commissioner Carla J. Peterman said during Thursdays PUC meeting, which was held in Sacramento.

Peterman noted that Charter was more cooperative than was the Philadelphia cable company, Comcast Corp., which failed last year in its push to purchase of Time Warner Cable after it ran into a regulatory buzzsaw.

I expect Charter to live up to the agreements and be a good corporate citizen in California for years to come, Commissioner Mike Florio said Thursday.

State and federal reviews sought to address the so-called digital divide, recognizing the Connecticut company was poised to become the nations second-largest high-speed Internet provider, behind Comcast.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

Federal regulators tailored several conditions to address Charters rising Internet clout -- requiring Charter to expand broadband service in areas with spotty service and to sign up poor families who cannot afford Internet service. Charter pledged to provide low-cost Internet service to at least 525,000 low-income homes nationwide.

In addition, Charter agreed not to impose data caps on its customers nor institute usage-based fee structures for at least three years.

Another provision would require Charter to comply with the FCCs Open Internet rules that require Internet service providers to all treat traffic equally.

In the state of California, Charter will be obligated to build at least 150,000 new line extensions in California and bring broadband service to regions, such as in San Bernardino County, that currently have areas that lack coverage.

There is an absolute imperative in closing the digital divide, community activist Larry Ortega from Pomona told PUC members in Sacramento. Right now, there are 2 million children in California without Internet access.

Ortega said that Charters proposal to provide affordable Internet service did not go far enough to meet pressing needs in Southern California.

As part of the federal requirements, Charter also was tasked with providing 1 million new Internet connections in areas where other high-speed operators deliver service in an effort to encourage more competition.

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60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer is retiring from CBS News

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Editors note: Morley Safer has died at age 84, CBS News confirmed May 19.

Morley Safer, the longest-serving correspondent at CBS News, will retire after Sundays edition of 60 Minutes.

Its been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air, Safer said Wednesday in a statement. But most of all, I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast.

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Safer, 84, has been a regular on 60 Minutes since 1970. The news magazine is currently in its 48th season.

A Toronto native, Safer first joined CBS News as a London-based correspondent in 1964 and a year later became the networks first Saigon bureau chief. He quickly distinguished himself with his coverage of the Vietnam War.

The network will honor the veteran journalists career with an hour-long special, Morley Safer: A Reporters Life, which will air Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m.

Safers final piece for 60 Minutes -- a profile of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels -- aired in March.

In an interview that airs on Sundays special, Safer, a former newspaper reporter, expresses his ambivalence toward television.

It makes me uneasy, he said. It is not natural to be talking into a piece of machinery. But the money is very good.

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
News / International

by Thabo Kunene

Johannesburg - A Zimbabwean student is languishing in a Chinese jail with no access to a lawyer or visits from family members. Paul Mbongeni Nyoni, a 21-year-old law student at Zhejiang Gongshang University in Zhejiang Gongshang province was arrested on March 21 this year together with another student from Zambia.The two students had been working part-time for a debt collecting company owned by a Chinese man described some students as a bad character.A staff member at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Beijing said the Zimbabwean student was being held at Choucheng police station under Yiwu municipality in Zhejiang province. The official said no one from the embassy has visited Mbongeni who is from Phumula South in Bulawayo.His mother, Sibongile Nyoni said she managed to get in touch with the Zimbabwe embassy official identified as Mavis Sibanda who promised to assist her to reach her son but nothing has materialized since March.She said she recently sent him money to pay his university fees but she did not know if he received it since he was in jail."I just want to know if he is okay and also to find out if he will be taken to court so that we assist him," said the mother who was showing signs of depression as a result of the stress caused by the arrest of her son.She said she tried to contact the police officer dealing with her son's case but the problem was language barrier between her and the officer. Very few Chinese police officers can speak English which could make life a living hell for her son.Mrs Nyoni appealed to the Zimbabwe government for assistance in getting her son back home. There are 150 Zimbabwean students who leave the country every year to study in China. International students studying with Zhejiang Gongshang University in Zhejiang Province are allowed to apply for scholarship funding from the provincial government.Mbongeni is a private student not covered by the Zimbabwe government. Most of the students from Zimbabwe are from Harare and the majority of them are sent under the government scholarship fund with assistance from the Chinese government.
Chloe Sevigny is bringing a movie she directed to the Cannes Film Festival.

Its about a young girl who turns into a cat.

That statement is worth pausing over, just to let the full weight of its weirdness sink in. Chloe Sevigny  the epitome of Gen-X cool, an early exemplar of upscale cable TV  has turned to filmmaking. And for her first project she has chosen Kitty, a short film that  and this is as accurate a description as could be offered  channels The Metamorphosis by way of Meow Mix.

Oh, and did we mention its sneakily autobiographical?

Shes still letting it all sink in herself.

Did the film make sense? I hope it made sense, said Sevigny, partly convinced, over lunch at a Brooklyn diner earlier this month. I mean, it is a big leap. Im trying to tell an emotional story from the point-of-view of a cat.

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At 41, Sevigny is something of a paradox. Her very presence is a reminder of times passage  she will, after all, forever be associated with the 90s indie-film renaissance thanks to roles in the likes of Kids and Boys Dont Cry.

And she evokes a bygone period of celebrity culture. Canonized at 19 as the coolest girl in the world by Jay McInerney in the New Yorker for doing little more than hanging out at downtown flea markets, Sevigny was famous without trying to be famous. This was a sharp contrast to the reality-television era that followed, in which many people tried very hard to be famous and were quickly forgotten.

Yet Sevignys presence as a filmmaker circa 2016 also speaks to a more modern moment. The actress has become part of a wave of women entertainers tired of seeing the directors chair occupied overwhelmingly by men, tired of roles they say dont do them justice.

I just want to do really interesting character parts. But are they out there? Its either network television or Jessica Chastain. Theres not much in-between.  Chloe Sevigny

I just want to do really interesting character parts. But are they out there? Its either network television or Jessica Chastain, she said. Theres not much in-between.

You get to a point where you think, OK, how am I going to make a living? she continued. With steady work in fashion and television (including her recent turn on American Horror Story), no one expects to see Sevigny on an unemployment line any time soon. But she said its been a challenge to find meaningful, profitable work. So in a sense shes starting over.

Dressed in black jeans and a gingham top colored her signature pink, Sevigny comes off as at once swaggering but vulnerable. Its easy to see why McInerney and many others that followed described her as the person everyone wanted to be friends with, even as (or because) she maintains a certain toughness. She peppers conversation with casual-cool references (Claire Denis, Sandra Bernhard, the photographer Sally Mann, the artist Rita Ackermann). A wrong word from a conversation partner, or a reference not sufficiently on-point, can prompt a questioning response or a skeptical glance.

But she also can sound unsure of her next step, doing away with the actor-interview pretense that her career is squarely in her hands.

I dont get those parts. How do you get those parts? she said, genuinely, when asked what made her turn down not-quite-meaty love interest or female-partner roles in studio tentpoles.

Her career poses a question so simple its surprising it doesnt get asked more often: What happens to the It Girl after the labels have gone?

It may be no accident that Sevigny chose this as her directorial debut. In Kitty (the film, based on a Paul Bowles story, will eventually be made available on the feminist website Refinery 29), a young heroine spends her waking hours thinking about all things feline. Neglected, if benignly, by her mother, she grows excited when she sprouts whiskers, then pointy ears, even as no one around her seems to notice. (For all her art-film signifiers and its magical-realist qualities, the films radical, childlike point of view may owe as much to Steven Spielberg.)

Soon the transformation is complete, at which point the viewers perspective, not to mention Sevignys directing challenge, makes the shift to cats.

Its hard to avoid the films connection to Sevignys own life and career: discomfort at being defined by others and wanting to morph into someone else, even without fully grasping the consequences.

The hardest thing for me being an It Girl was people always equated me to Edie Sedgwick instead of Clara Bow, she said, then, after a moment of reflection, added, Im not an It Girl. I never wanted to be an It Girl.

The hardest thing for me being an It Girl was people always equated me to Edie Sedgwick instead of Clara Bow. Im not an It Girl. I never wanted to be an It Girl.  Chloe Sevigny

Even her pursuits in fashion  she has modeled for the likes of Miu Miu and published a style book  are a result of a kind of identity ambivalence. Part of my love for fashion is I didnt feel especially interesting in high school. It was a way of adorning myself in this armor.

Kitty happened like this. Back when she was making Gummo with her ex, Harmony Korine, Sevigny would create some collages, just to pass the time. She found herself talking about them with Jean-Yves Escoffier, the late cinematographer who was working on the film, saying shed like to make a movie based on the Bowles story in the same spirit. Escoffier told her he could make it happen. Then things got in the way a breakup with Korine, Escoffiers death in 2003, her own psyche.

At 20 I had confidence but mostly because I wasnt self-aware. And then in my 30s my confidence dipped. I had all these friends who were successful in their artistic endeavors. But instead of inspiring me it made me feel more lacking or insecure.

That changed when she first saw the work of, then shot a part for, Tomas Alfredson, the exacting Swedish director of Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. She saw a template for following your own quirky muse.

I mean, I dont know if it will work, she said of her attempt to shoe-leather her way into a directing career. But Im hoping this becomes a calling card and leads to a lot of other things.

But while more cable television is a possibility, she appears in no rush to get embroiled in another Big Love scenario, which wore on for five seasons on HBO. Besides, she says, she wants to be in film right now, where it all began for her  where it was all at when she first got into the business.

Kitty is part of a planned series of about a dozen shorts by Refinery 29 of directorial debuts from other prominent female entertainers; they include a host of directors by trade, but also people like Kristen Stewart and Gabourey Sidibe. We really want this to be about the dynamics of power, said Amy Emmerich, Refinery 29s chief content officer. And Chloe represents that. Weird and cool, thats what we want.

Cannes is about the best venue around for a quick career reset, of many kinds.

To aficionados, Sevignys return to the Croisette will bring a knowing, possibly amused nod. The actress is at the center one of the  how to put this delicately?  well-known moments in Cannes history. In 2003, she could be seen performing a real-life oral sex act at the end of Vincent Gallos The Brown Bunny. For a festival whose claims to edginess can outstrip its appetite for it, the scene was a stunner, a hand-grenade in the middle of a pacifist rally. (She said she remains proud of the film and remains perplexed by the volume of the reaction.)

Sevigny will, notably, be in Cannes at the same time as Stewart, who is in the middle of her own transformation, arriving at the festival with two films, from Woody Allen and Olivier Assayas. Stewart is currently contending with the privileges and burdens of a 21st century It Girl status. That would seem to give Sevigny and her a bond.

Maybe.

Im really intimidated by Kristen Stewart. I want to be friends with her really badly, Sevigny said.

We text a little and see each other at parties. But shes intimidating, the filmmaker added, alluding to Stewarts fast-talking, no-nonsense demeanor.

Sevigny paused.

Also, shes so famous. It must be hard to be that famous.

@ZeitchikLAT

MORE:

Photos: Cannes Film Festival 2016

Column: Woody Allen speaks at Cannes, but questions go unasked

An apocalyptic air hangs over the Cannes Film Festival. Will Woody Allens latest lighten the mood?
On Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival, journalists at a news conference for Cafe Society refrained from asking writer-director Woody Allen about the elephant in the room: the publication earlier that day of an essay by Allens estranged son Ronan Farrow about the medias approach to allegations of abuse by daughter Dylan Farrow.

That changed Thursday, as a series of lunch roundtable interviews with the director saw the question posed. Maybe it was the passage of a day, or the group in question, or maybe just the fact that journalists were given much freer rein than at a Cannes news conference, where a moderator calls on specific people and leaves many with their hands raised.

Whatever it was, the opportunity finally came up to raise the elephant. And Allen addressed it. Sort of.

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When asked by the L.A. Times how it felt to hear about public accusations such as the Farrow essay, and the fact that moviegoers now may see (or not see) his movies with that in mind, he waved the issue aside.

I never think about it, Allen said. I made my statement in the New York Times a long time ago, referring to a much-read op-ed several years ago. They gave me a lot of space.

I think its all silly, he added. The whole thing  it doesnt bother me. I dont think about it. I work.

That followed a question from the Washington Post, in which a Cafe Society joke about an in-family romantic relationship of sorts evoked thoughts in many audience members of Allens relationship with Soon-Yi Previn. How did the director feel that the audience was laughing with that meta understanding in mind?

I just thought it was a funny line, he said of the joke, then elaborated. Im OK with what gives the audience pleasure. Whatever moves them, he said, was a godsend to me. (For a not dissimilar exchange at a different table, see this post at Variety.)

For what its worth, Cafe Society star Kristen Stewart had an opinion about the lack of any questions at the news conference the day before: I was shocked, she said simply, when asked about it by The Times.

FULL COVERAGE: 2016 Cannes Film Festival

She said the actors had not really discussed it before the news conference. But Stewart, who is no stranger to reporters using junkets to ask about entertainers personal lives, was aware of the piece when she came with Allen and her castmates to the podium and was expecting at least a question.

Meanwhile, Allen on Thursday was keen to talk about the film. Though Cafe Society is a romantic dramedy set in 1930s Hollywood, he said it was the love triangle in the film that preceded the setting.

Originally it could have been Wall Street or the garment district. And then it occurred to me to give it the Hollywood atmosphere.

He said his next movie, which hes written and will begin casting imminently, will be set in an amusement park and could possibly be shot in New York  maybe even Coney Island, if he could work out the logistics.

Other Cafe Society stars, meanwhile, were eager to talk about its themes, including how the filmmaker has tackled female characters.

Its amazing what Woody has written for women, said Blake Lively, who plays a Midwestern woman of some elegance, noting a series of complicated female characters dating back to the 1970s.

Lively said any news coverage of Allens personal life did not register as she was making the movie.

Its very dangerous to factor in things you dont know anything about, she said. I could [only] know my experience. And my experience with Woody is hes empowering to women.

Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT

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Cannes: Woody Allens less-than-polite Society reception
When the end credits roll in The Lobster, Yorgos Lanthimos hypnotically strange and suggestive new movie, you may find yourself scanning a bit more intently for the usual reassurance that no animals were harmed during production. There is, for starters, an arresting early scene in which a woman drives out to a remote field and puts three bullets in a donkeys brain. Sometime later, a rabbit is caught in a trap and presented to a lover as a gift. And in between, there is one act of animal cruelty so chillingly unmotivated, you might be reminded of one of those haunted-house freakouts where it doesnt pay to get too attached to the family pet.

As it happens, The Lobster is very much its own brand of horror movie, as well as a deranged thought experiment, a stealth love story, and a witty dismantling of the usual barriers separating man from beast. I mean that last part quite literally. Lanthimos (who wrote the screenplay with his regular collaborator Efthymis Filippou) has imagined a curious dystopian parable in which society is divided between the romantic haves and have-nots, and those who fail to land a spouse within a designated time frame are transformed into animals and cast into the wild.

Our test subject for this procedure is David (a sublimely morose Colin Farrell), to whom we are introduced just as his wife is leaving him for another man. To remedy this sad situation he is sent to a countryside hotel, where he is questioned upon arrival about his sexual preference and the animal he would like to be turned into should he fail. (His answer and his astute rationale for it give the movie its title.) From that point on, David has 45 days to scour the premises for a proper mate, the criteria for which turn out to be highly specific to say the least.

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Its a wondrously silly premise, and one that Lanthimos, not unlike those great cine-surrealists Luis Bunuel and Charlie Kaufman before him, executes with rigorous illogic and immaculate formal control. He also operates with the straight-faced conviction that even his most fanciful conceits are no more absurd or arbitrary, really, than the accepted but always-evolving rites of modern courtship.

Much of the fun of The Lobster derives from figuring out those conceits, which are methodically unpacked by the hotel manager (a superb Olivia Colman), and elaborated upon by some of Davids fellow inmates, who approach their own conquests with varying degrees of calculation (Ben Whishaw) and cluelessness (John C. Reilly). And then there are those who forge their own destiny, like the hotel guest credited only as Heartless Woman (a terrifying Angeliki Papoulia), whom David unwisely latches onto as a potential soulmate.

In reimagining the dating game as a sort of endless work convention from hell, Lanthimos unapologetically takes aim at the cherished ideal of monogamous commitment, as well as the ingrained tyranny of any society that regards the single life with contempt or (worse) pity. Even in a time of unprecedented personal and sexual freedom, where marriage and children are increasingly regarded as an option rather than a necessity, The Lobsters ruthless vision of human coupling as a system of mercenary acquisitiveness cant help but strike a nerve.

But the perversity of the movie  and the pleasure it generates, and mostly sustains, over two steadily absorbing hours  runs deeper than its most obvious application points. Those who have seen Lanthimos prior films  including the unnerving Dogtooth (an Oscar nominee for best foreign-language film) and the chilly, formalist Alps  may marvel at how fluidly and recognizably his sensibility translates to a broader, more ambitious canvas. While this marks the first time the director has worked outside his native Greece (the picture was shot in Ireland), it is scarcely the first time he has brought his deadpan, diorama-like sensibility to bear on a tale of physical and psychological captivity, as he did in Dogtooth.

The Lobster, for all its mordant humor and spasms of cruelty, is a gentler, less assaultive piece of work, which doesnt mean it wont get under your skin. To watch it is to experience an eerie, prolonged immersion in a world governed by utterly bizarre codes of behavior, which are enforced not only by the reigning authorities, but also by the exacting particulars of Lanthimos style. The deliberate pacing, the actors odd, herd-like formations and the meticulously composed images (shot by cinematographer Thimios Bakatakis) at times convey the uncanny sensation of peering into a zoo enclosure, the better to study the mating habits of a vaguely familiar and frankly preposterous species.

It doesnt take long, of course, to realize that the screen in this case is not just a window but a mirror. And the images we see reflected back at us, while harsh and unflattering, are also streaked with tenderness and compassion. Farrells finest performances (in films like In Bruges and Cassandras Dream) have always de-emphasized his charisma and brought out his natural vulnerability, and here, rocking spectacles, a mustache and a slight paunch, he becomes a moving avatar of hangdog desperation and romantic yearning. And hes matched, beat for melancholy beat, by Rachel Weisz as a downcast yet luminous Ms. Right who chooses exactly the wrong time and place to materialize.

That encounter occurs deep into the films rich but wobbly second act, which finds David fleeing the hotel and taking refuge in the nearby forest with a group of militant singles called the Loners, whose leader (a sharp Lea Seydoux) offers a sly reminder that even liberation can be a trap. Fittingly enough, its at this point that the film seems to box itself into a corner. The dense green overgrowth makes for a striking change of scenery, but just when they should be accelerating, the ideas begin to thin out, and the new twists that develop mostly seem to be treading water.

Weiszs appearance introduces a vital but tricky variable in an emotional equation the film cant quite bring itself to solve. Lanthimos, in attacking the rigid machinery of social conditioning, exerts his own overly controlling hand, stifling the ardent and unruly romanticism that we sense is just beginning to take root beneath the films fastidious surface. But even that suppression is very much to the storys point: In a pinch, turning into a lobster might well be preferable to the curse of remaining human.

justin.chang@latimes.com

-------------

The Lobster

MPAA rating: R for sexual content including dialogue, and some violence

Running time: 1 hour, 58 minutes

Playing: In limited release

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While still recuperating from double pneumonia in February, Merle Haggard returned to the studio for what turned out to be the final time to record a new song, Kern River Blues, which premieres at 2 p.m. Thursday on SiriusXM satellite radio.

The song, to be unveiled on Willies Roadhouse on Channel 59, expresses Haggards feelings about leaving Bakersfield in the late 1970s, after which he made his home in Northern California near Lake Shasta.

Im flying out on a jet plane

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Gonna leave this town behind

Theyve done moved the city limits

Out by the county line

Put my head close to the window

Watch Oildale fade away

The blues back in the 30s

Just like the blues today

He references Oildale, the town adjacent to Bakersfield where he was born and spent much of his youth, long before becoming one of country musics most respected songwriters and vocalists.

In characteristically to-the-point language, Haggard evokes the changes he witnessed in the region over time, and concisely expresses his thoughts about one of the reasons behind those changes.

Well, they used to have Kern River

Runnin deep and wide

Then somebody stole the water

Another politician lied

Following the SiriusXM premiere of the song, it will be available to download on Haggards official website, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to charities aiding the homeless.

The recording session came two nights before he returned to the stage, having canceled several shows because of illness. He performed with Kris Kristofferson at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Two nights later, they both performed in Oakland, before Haggards illness flared up again and prompted him to cancel other scheduled dates. It was his final public performance.

Haggard died April 6  on his 79th birthday. Kristofferson recently announced that he will resume touring, backed by Haggards longtime band, the Strangers, to fulfill commitments for several shows Haggard was set to play before he developed pneumonia.

Follow @RandyLewis2 on Twitter.
Ted Kennedy was sailing in the polls in 1979 as a challenger to fellow Democrat President Jimmy Carter when he sat down for a nationally televised interview with CBS correspondent Roger Mudd. Prim and coiffed, the senator tilted his head and looked very much the scion of a dynasty. Mudd took a seat and asked a simple question: Why do you want to be president?

What followed was excruciating. Kennedy rambled and stammered; he was drained of eloquence. He droned on, and the more he spoke, the more incoherent his answer became. He never recovered. The exchange marked the turning point when a prospective candidate began his slide into a cautionary tale that allowed Carter to push ahead and win the nomination.

Such interviews can be snapshots of a nations psyche, a time when clarity is distilled from clamor. They make for compelling television, turning unexpected moments into mythology while illuminating strengths, weaknesses and sometimes painful falls from grace, such as Richard Nixons apology years after the Watergate scandal with David Frost and Sarah Palins vacuous comments on foreign policy and her newspaper reading during the 2008 campaign with Katie Couric.

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Donald Trumps one-on-one interview with Fox News Megyn Kelly scheduled for Tuesday is also likely to make for intriguing political drama. It comes as Trump faces increasing scrutiny after his defeat of Republican rivals to emerge as the partys presumptive nominee. Despite his divisive stands and eviscerating asides, Trump, who has targeted everyone from Republican power brokers to the pope, has been immune from self-destruction.

In facing Kelly, who over the last year has doggedly questioned him, the candidates campaign is entering a high-stakes cultural and political crossroads as Trump seeks to reach beyond his core constituency of predominantly white, male voters. Many will be watching to see if he can holster his rhetoric  he has been somewhat less raucous of late  to burnish his image among minorities, women, world leaders, social conservatives and others who are wary of him.

Trump is brilliant at surprising you. When you think hes going to be combative he isnt and when you think hes not going to be combative he is.  TV news producer Steve Friedman

Trump and Kelly have a fraught relationship ideally suited for the incendiary populism and outsized personality that have shaken the Republican campaign and highlighted Fox News relentless determination to shape national politics. Their first matchup during a debate last August set a contentious tone as she attacked his derisive comments about women and he later suggested that she was angry and having her period. The encounter, which highlighted her steely cool and his pugnaciousness, crystallized the passions of their followers.

They now face risks to their calibrated television personas and one has to wonder, given the insatiable cravings for polls and ratings, what will unfold when the hair  his ginger whorl and her meticulous comb-back  is tweaked and the microphones click on. This is the age when an errant tweet, a Facebook tempest or a damning sound bite could alter the trajectory of a campaign, even for a candidate who starred in his own reality-TV game show, The Apprentice.

I think its a big deal for both of them. Its an opportunity for Megyn Kelly to continue on being seen as tough on Donald and an opportunity for him to use the media for his benefit, said Steve Friedman, a veteran TV news producer. Trump is brilliant at surprising you. When you think hes going to be combative he isnt and when you think hes not going to be combative he is. Shell be good. Shes always good. But the question is how he reacts.

In his presidential bid, Trump has recast campaign coverage. His showmanship and masterful use of television have captivated the country and perplexed a news media that went easy on him in the early days as they were drawn toward the force of spectacle. He was a novelty who became a contender who morphed into a meteor. He crashed American politics as an outsider, but he was the consummate entertainer, an abrasive impresario in the age of ravenous news cycles and social media.

Youve called women you dont like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals.... Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?  Megyn Kelly

The Kelly-Trump show echoes like a family squabble inside the larger campaign. Nearly 24 million viewers watched the August debate when Kelly told him, Youve called women you dont like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals.... Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?

He fumed and said afterward that she was mad at him and that you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. Many believed the line was a reference to menstruating.

Trump refused to attend a January debate Kelly moderated, saying, Lets see how much money Fox is going to make on the debate without me. He attacked Kellys professionalism, but in March he showed up for a third debate in which they played nice before Kelly bore into his stand on immigration. The billionaire candidate, at the urging of Fox News chairman and Chief Executive Roger Ailes, has since agreed to sit with Kelly for the interview Tuesday.

Trumps reactions to Kelly marked a feud with Fox News, which the real estate tycoon, who has his own brand of steaks, relished with characteristic aplomb. Although more boisterous than most politicians and at times less in command of facts, Trump is not alone in testy and often revelatory exchanges with journalists. Such moments have made for gripping television over the years.

In 2008, CBS correspondent Katie Courics interviews with then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was running as John McCains vice presidential nominee, became an embarrassment for the campaign. When asked what foreign-policy credentials she possessed, Palin responded that Russia and Canada were close to Alaska. When asked what newspapers she read, she could not name one and said that she read all of em, any of em that, um, have been in front of me over all these years.

Palins performance damaged the Republican campaign and led to skewering on late-night talk shows and Saturday Night Live, where Tina Fey satirized her with a scalpels precision.

When his presidential bid was in jeopardy in 1992 over allegations of infidelity, Bill Clinton, with Hillary at his side, appeared on 60 Minutes with Steve Kroft. Clinton denied a long-time affair with Gennifer Flowers and blamed the media for turning the campaign into a game of gotcha. Hillary defended her husband in remarks opponents criticized as political duplicity and supporters praised as heartfelt and loyal.

Im not sitting here as some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette, she said. Im sitting here because I love him and I respect him and I honor what hes been through and what weve been through together. And you know, if thats not enough for people then heck, dont vote for him.

The performance by the Clintons helped quell questions about his character  at least until Monica Lewinsky made headlines.

Other showdowns between reporter and politician revealed as much about the journalist as the candidate or president. In a 1974 news conference during the Watergate scandal, Dan Rather, a CBS White House correspondent criticized by conservatives for his coverage of the embattled leader, stood to ask a question to both applause and taunts.

Are you running for something? Nixon joked.

No, sir, Mr. President. Are you? Rather responded.

Nixons smile wavered.

Few television sit-downs were more riveting and revealing than a series of 1977 interviews British broadcaster David Frost did with Nixon three years after the president resigned in disgrace rather than face impeachment. Unless you apologize to the American people, Frost told Nixon at one point, you are going to be haunted for the rest of your life.

An uncharacteristically vulnerable Nixon responded: I let down my friends. I let down the country. I let down our system of government. [The] dreams of all those young people.... Most of all, I let down an opportunity that I would have had for 2 more years to proceed on great projects and programs for building a lasting peace.

Such is the history of the unanticipated reactions that become the grist of career triumphs and political epitaphs. Kelly and Trump each face risks as they enter the prime-time interview to be aired on the Fox broadcasting network, a wider platform than Fox News. A former Fox TV executive said if the ratings are high it will help Ailes keep Kelly in the fold when her contract comes up next year.

The consensus among TV news executives, some of who would like to have Kelly on their networks, believe she will be firm with the candidate. Shell be expected to further her reputation as an independent and rigorous interviewer in order to broaden her audience outside of the conservatives who turn to Fox News as a counterbalance to what they perceive as the liberal media.

I dont think there is any chance shell have an interview with him that will be softball questions, said Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia. No. 1, thats not who she is, and No. 2, shes not about to give in to him. I think shell be tough.

Sabato believes Trump, whose grimaces and snickers send Twitter into fits of glee and rage, will behave when he appears with Kelly. But that demeanor is not likely to last.

The problem is it doesnt make any difference what he does on her show. It wont take 24 hours for him to start tweeting that she was so mean or unfair for bringing something up. Its all so predictable. There is no way there will be a permanent kind of detente. He doesnt know what that means.

jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

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Ballast Point, the popular San Diego-based brewery, best known for Sculpin IPA and all its flavorful variations, is opening a restaurant in L.A. County.

Moving into the former home of Khourys Restaurant at 110 Marina Drive in Long Beach, the 11,427-square-foot space promises plenty of room and some great ocean views to go with the nautical-themed brews. Ballast Point also applied for a brewing permit for the location, so you can expect some small-batch beers made on-site, but few other details are currently available.

>>Los Angeles craft beer guide

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Ballast Point is already the among the largest breweries in California, with five locations including a sprawling production facility in Miramar that brewed up over a quarter-million barrels of beer in 2015. Last year the company was purchased by Constellation brands for over a billion dollars. Though the brewery is no longer independently owned, the buyout has done little to deter Ballast Points fans. It was one of the fastest-growing breweries in the country in 2015, and with more expansion on the way.

Ballast Point has long been known for innovative brews made in small batches before being rolled into full production. Smash hits such as Grapefruit Sculpin and Mango Even Keel started as experimental one-off brews and are now cornerstones of the brewerys portfolio, and they launched the industry-wide trend of adding fruit flavors to IPAs.

The new Long Beach brewpub is staffing up, so a soft opening cant be too far away. Expect the Ballast Point brews to start flowing in Long Beach sometime this summer.

110 Marina Dr., Long Beach, www.ballastpoint.com.

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Everything you need to know about the L.A. Smorgasburg, including what to eat when it opens

Can you keep yourself from eating more than one of these walnut praline shortbread cookies? Unlikely.
The next great place to eat in L.A. may actually include all of the following: banh mi, rice porridge, tacos, ice cream, Thai food, sandwiches, doughnuts, bagels, mozzarella sticks and ramen burgers. Its a large outdoor market called Smorgasburg, which opens at the Alameda Produce Market on June 19.

The Brooklyn-originated weekly Sunday market has curated an impressive list of L.A. and New York City food vendors  with the return of Minh Phans Porridge and Puffs, and the debut of Mexicali Taco & Cos new taco concept, Califas Tacos.

Eric Demby, who created the original Smorgasburg in Brooklyn in 2011 (a spin-off of Brooklyn Flea, which he created and runs with Jonathan Butler), and Zach Brooks, a food writer in Los Angeles, are in the process of choosing vendors for the new project.

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There is a certain style of vendor, said Demby, who notes that many of them have a similar story to that of Porridge and Puffs, a restaurant for which Phan has built a strong following from various pop-ups. Some are chefs who have been cooking at a restaurant and ready to go out on their own.

Most vendors in New York, when they started, were unknown, said Brooks. Thats a majority of the L.A. vendors, but we also have a couple of really well-known ones. Were trying to build a sustainable place to eat.

Demby and Brooks anticipate having 80 to 90 vendors when the market opens.

On the list of confirmed vendors is Califas Tacos (Mexicali owner Esdras Ochoas new taco concept), McConnells Ice Cream, the Jolly Oyster, Wax Paper, Raindrop Cakes, Banh Oui, Calo Provisions, Good Gravy Bakes, Maurys Bagels, RiceBox L.A., Stand Coffee, Semolina Artisanal Pasta, the Sprouted Nut Company, T.Js Tacos L.A., Paloma Paletas, Poke Alaea, White Guy Pad Thai, Wax Paper, Bub and Grandmas Bread, Burritos La Palma, Guerrilla Tacos, Carnitas el Momo, Donut Friend, Greenspans Grilled Cheese, Belly & Snout, Art of Tea, BigMozz, Elvios Chimichurri, Goa Taco, Little Branch Foods, Little Spoon Frozen Pudding, Lobsterdamus, Mama Musubi, Monsieur Egg, NanaPops, Pizzanista, PopdUp, Primera Taza, Ramen Burger, Ruckers Pie (from noted L.A. pastry chef Nicole Rucker), Smoke Loaf & Saucer, Sticky Rice, Three Jerks Jerky, Todo Verde, Ugly Drum, Venice Cold Brew and We Have Noodles.

The quality here is just as world class as back home, said Demby. Its for people who may think I dont know if I would go eat at a food truck normally, but we put it all in one place for them.

The vendors will take over half of the six-acre market every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its all part of the new 30-acre ROW DTLA development that will include retail space, offices, galleries and restaurants.

Smorgasburg will also have a shaded seating area in the middle and possibly water misters. Theres also an adjacent parking structure, which can accommodate more than 5,000 cars. (Parking will be free for the first two hours.)

A lot of people were like, Oh, L.A. people dont like to get in their cars on the weekend, said Demby. But the food scene here is similar to Brooklyns in 2008, with a lot of entrepreneurial food businesses. And the idea of pop-ups is already fairly integrated into L.A. culture.

Some of the markets upcoming events include a collaboration with the RED campaign June 26, an ice cream event July 17, a record fair July 31 and a pie-related event with Evan Kleiman on Aug. 28.

The big thing for us is that its a way of discovering whats happening in your own city, said Demby.

746 Market Ct., Los Angeles (parking lot and entrance off Alameda Street). www.la.smorgasburg.com.

Eat hard. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Jenn_Harris_

------------

For the Record

May 12, 10:04 a.m.: An earlier version of this post said the market opens June 16. It opens June 19. Also, the new Mexicali Taco & Co concept is called Califas Tacos.

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The chairman of the California Coastal Commission on Wednesday asked the agencys attorney to determine whether he should recuse himself from voting on a massive development along the Orange County coast after he held two unreported private meetings with project representatives.

Steve Kinseys surprise announcement comes a week after he acknowledged failing to publicly disclose a private meeting he attended Dec. 22 with developers of the Newport Banning Ranch project, saying he lost track of it during the holidays.

This week, the Los Angeles Times asked Kinsey about a second, earlier undisclosed communication with representatives of Banning Ranch, an enormous housing and retail project proposed for the largest remaining parcel of undeveloped coastal land in Southern California. Kinsey has not filed the required disclosure form about that Nov. 4 meeting, records show.

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I see the importance of the law, Kinsey said at the beginning of Wednesdays Coastal Commission meeting. I take my responsibilities seriously.... I will be ever more cautious going forward. I apologize to the public, the commission and the applicants themselves.

Kinseys remarks came as three other commissioners, Carole Groom, Mary Luevano and Wendy Mitchell, decided not to participate in so-called ex-parte communications with third parties, at least until the Legislature takes action on a bill to ban the practice at the powerful planning agency.

Ex-parte communications have become an issue since commissioners fired Executive Director Charles Lester in February amid criticism that some commissioners were getting too cozy with developers. Opponents of Banning Ranch say the project is a prime example of the agencys shift toward development and the way some commissioners have been questioning the staffs scientific findings related to the proposal.

Ex-parte communications are private verbal or written communications between individual commissioners and interested parties that could influence a decision.

Agency rules require commissioners to fully disclose meetings, phone calls and written communications that occur outside of official public meetings within seven days of the communication. They also must report ex-partes orally from the dais if they occur within seven days of the matter being heard by the commission.

Those who fail to report a private contact can be prohibited from voting on the matter that was discussed and from trying to influence the commissions decision. Violations of the disclosure requirements also carry fines of as much as $7,500, and commission decisions affected by a violation can be revoked.

Ralph Faust, who was the general counsel for the Coastal Commission from 1986 to 2006, said that the ex-parte disclosure rules are clear and that violations can open the commission to civil lawsuits that could overturn decisions and result in penalties.

It puts the decision at risk, Faust said. It creates a separate ground on which to challenge whatever decision the commission might come to.

Faust and attorney Deborah Sivas, director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford University, said they do not know of any disclosure-related cases that have been brought against the commission.

Sivas added, I would say about Kinsey there is some cause for concern.

In a story about Banning Ranch published Saturday, The Times reported that Kinsey did not file a disclosure form on the Dec. 22 meeting until after being questioned by the newspaper. Kinsey said he subsequently disclosed the meeting and intended to participate in future hearings involving the controversial proposal.

Kinsey said his delay in submitting the required form will not have a material impact on the proceeding given that I have now filed. He said he also discussed the matter with the commissions general counsel, the executive director of the Banning Ranch Conservancy and Banning Ranch representatives.

My lapse in filing occurred when I returned from the ensuing 10-day holiday, Kinsey said. I simply lost track of filing my ex-parte, and the new year brought a wave of other commission duties that occupied my attention.

He has offered no explanation for failing to disclose the Nov. 4 meeting.

The Banning Ranch project calls for 895 homes, 45,100 square feet of retail space and a hotel to be built on 400 acres about 1,000 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Dotted with oil facilities, the land is the largest undeveloped coastal parcel in Southern California.

The 12-member commission is scheduled to vote on the project this summer.

After Kinseys two private meetings with the developer, which included a five-hour site tour, he wrote a detailed memo in January to commission Deputy Director Sherilyn Sarb.

In it, he made reference to the tour and challenged the staffs assessment of environmentally sensitive habitat on the Banning Ranch property. Staff scientists determined that those areas should be protected from development.

My overall impression is that the site has been so heavily degraded by historic oil operations that many of the areas identified as environmentally sensitive habitat in the staffs October presentation seem unwarranted, Kinsey wrote.

The Nov. 4 private communication involved Kinsey, commissioner Dayna Bochco and three Banning Ranch representatives.

Bochco disclosed the meeting two days later. However, there is no record that Kinsey filed the appropriate public document, which contains the date, place, participants in the ex-parte and a summary of the discussion.

After he was contacted Tuesday by The Times about the Nov. 4 meeting, Kinsey said he would address the matter at Wednesdays commission meeting.

Meanwhile, the bill to ban ex-partes by commissioners is scheduled for a vote in the state Senate this week.

Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), the author of the measure, said it would protect the integrity of the commissions quasi judicial process  a court-like proceeding in which the panel hears from both sides much like a judge hears evidence before making a decision.

This bill will level the playing field between big-moneyed interests and those without such financial resources, Jackson has said of the legislation. It will remove the possibility of backroom decision-making or the perception that its occurring and will help ensure that decisions are made more openly and transparently.

dan.weikel@latimes.com

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Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, lost a legal battle Wednesday to keep records and testimony about its bestselling and widely abused painkiller secret.

A judge in Pike County, Kentucky, a region hard-hit by prescription painkiller abuse, granted a motion by a news outlet to unseal records from a lawsuit by the state accusing the company of fraud, conspiracy and negligence in the development and marketing of the drug.

Purdue settled that suit in December for $24 million without any admission of wrongdoing.

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Circuit Judge Steven Combs granted the request of Boston Globe-affiliated investigative health news outlet STAT to unseal the documents, writing: The Court sees no higher value than the public (via the media) having access to these discovery materials so that the public can see the facts for themselves.

The judge said the order would not take effect for 32 days, allowing Purdue time to appeal.

We look forward to appealing this ruling, Purdue lawyer Richard Silbert said in a statement.

The company had argued that the public had no right to see the material, in part because it contained sensitive information about its internal business operations. When patients and others have sued Purdue, the company has sought protective orders prohibiting company documents used as evidence from becoming public.

Among the information Combs ruled should be public is the deposition testimony of Richard Sackler, a former company president and member of the family that owns Purdue. Sackler was questioned under oath in September by lawyers for the Kentucky attorney generals office. A medical doctor, Sackler was involved in the development of OxyContin in the mid-1980s and the marketing of the drug a decade later, according to internal Purdue documents obtained separately by The Times.

When OxyContin addiction became an enormous problem in Appalachia and elsewhere, Sackler met with top company executives about how to respond to concerns about abuse, according to the internal records reviewed by The Times.

In one 1997 email, Sackler suggested to colleagues that insurance companies were using abuse of the drug as an excuse not to foot the bill for the painkiller.

We should consider that addiction may be a convenient way to just say NO,  he told executives.

A Times investigation published last week found that a fundamental problem with the drug could increase patients risk of addiction.

Purdue bills OxyContin as a 12-hour drug and encourages doctors to prescribe it only at that interval. But The Times found that Purdue had evidence for decades that the painkiller, a chemical cousin of heroin, wears off early in many patients, exposing them to excruciating symptoms of narcotic withdrawal.

Purdue has disputed The Times findings and pointed to the FDAs approval of OxyContin as a 12-hour drug.

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who filed the initial lawsuit in 2007 when he was the states attorney general, said Wednesday that the documents would be vindication for the many families in the area who have lost loved ones to overdose or addiction.

I think it would mean a lot. I dont know that it would bring closure, Stumbo said. I was hoping for a day when Purdue Pharma would have to sit facing a jury.

The state filed the case in Pike County, a rural coal-mining area of 65,000 enveloped by mountains, because it was the epicenter of the prescription drug problem in Kentucky, Stumbo said. Nearly every family in the area has someone whose life has been unraveled or cut short by OxyContin or a similar drug, the speaker said, noting that the son of his cousin died of an overdose.

Were seeing a whole generation of people introduced to opiates by OxyContin, and were still seeing the aftereffects of it, said Rick Bartley, Pike Countys chief prosecutor. Weve lost a whole generation of people here, frankly.

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Magnet schools in Los Angeles are growing.

Los Angeles Unified School District board members unanimously voted Tuesday to create or expand 13 magnet programs for the 2017-18 school year, for a total of 4,677 new magnet seats costing around $3.5 million.

This boost comes in addition to around 6,300 seats that will open this fall through 16 new magnet programs and 14 existing ones that are expanding.

Magnet schools are the themed schools originally introduced as the keystone of L.A.'s school desegregation plan: About a fourth have racial quotas, and unlike other L.A. Unified schools, the district provides busing for students outside neighborhood bounds. These schools are now becoming a key component of the district's attempts to keep students from fleeing to charter schools.

By fall 2018, there will be at least 225 magnet schools and programs in Los Angeles Unified, compared with 198 this year with about 67,700 enrolled.

Most of the programs approved Tuesday focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math, known as "STEAM." One elementary school is named slightly differently, as a "Design, Research, Engineering, Arts, Math and Science" magnet.

(Test)

There is demand for the programs  magnets in L.A. Unified accepted fewer than half of the 44,000 applicants for magnet schools in the 2016-17 school year.

The magnets are what our parents want, board member Richard Vladovic said during Tuesday's board meeting. We should do everything possible to facilitate that. ... I think every school in our district should be a thematic school.

Almost all of the new magnets will share campuses with existing schools. Usually magnets are able to expand because there's already space on campus, from changes such as declining enrollment or because the campus used to share its space with another school.

The number of seats range from 132 to more than 1,000 per campus, and they're located throughout the district, from the San Fernando Valley to San Pedro. Three of the new programs are in Wilmington.

At Westminster Elementary and Griffith Middle School, the magnets will take over the entire campus with an added 201 seats and 1,020 seats, respectively.

The board also approved a Center for Enriched Studies for grades 6-12 in Maywood, which will occupy a new campus near Bell High School. One goal there is to reduce overcrowding at Bell High School and convert it from the last year-round school in L.A. Unified to a two-semester system.

The Maywood magnet will have 1,194 seats in the 2017-18 school year and a total of 1,425 by 2018-19.

Reach Sonali Kohli at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com or on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli.
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

A 24 year old man in Harare is in trouble after he threatened to shoot to death two female business competitors.Mugove Victor Chinyamakobvu appeared before Harare magistrate facing charges of threatening Tariro and Mirriam Pamhere with death.The two who are sisters are employed at shop which is located to Mugove's shops which specialises in trading hair extensions.Mugove pleaded not guilty to the charge before Tafadzwa Muzhami whop remanded him out of custody to May 24 for trial.The court heard that the threats were made on April 16 this year when Tariro was assaulted by four hair dressers for reasons which were not known to her.Tariro and her sister went to complain at the police over the threats leading to Mugove's arrest.
Californias schools are going to have to answer for more than just test scores, by the year after next. The state may also judge them on suspension rates, graduation rates, attendance and the rate at which students who are still learning English are becoming proficient.

Those are the measures the California State Board of Education voted on Wednesday to include in its new school ratings system. The vote came after more than 100 members of the public spoke about what they think a good school looks like. They pressed the board to include non-academic factors, such as surveys on school climate  a measure of how safe a school feels  parental engagement and suspension rates.

Draquari McGhee, a Fresno high school student, told the board he could remember the moment he nearly gave up on school. It was earlier this year, when, he said, he was suspended for three days for being on his phone while walking to class. The vice principal told him he would be arrested for trespassing if he didnt leave class, he said, and the experience left him feeling like he couldnt excel.

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My engagement deteriorated overall, he said. I felt like I was a bad student. Thats why, he told the board, the state should use suspension rates as a key metric for schools.

Follow the Times education initiative to inform parents, educators and students across California >>

A teacher known as Mama B supported McGhee and helped him get back on track. But the suspension almost derailed him, he said, as it could other students.

School discipline rates, and particularly the disproportionate numbers of students of color being punished at school, have faced recent scrutiny. Los Angeles Unified, for example, banned suspensions for defiance recently, but since then, teachers have reported struggling with the classroom management strategies devised to take their place.

The changes come as California revamps its method for measuring schools, and how it intervenes in those deemed to be performing poorly. They follow years of reliance on the now-suspended Academic Performance Index, a measure that depended on test scores that, in the words of board member Bruce Holaday, make real estate agents so happy in its simplicity. The index, many say, was far too simplistic and did not provide a cumulative glimpse of what happens inside schools.

To correct that problem, satisfy a new federal law and align state and local methods for measuring schools, the state is devising a new system for use in the 2017-18 school year. Late last year, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bill that largely lets states devise their own ratings systems  a replacement to the No Child Left Behind Act, which, similar to API, relied primarily on test scores. Under the new law, states must take into account at least one out-of-classroom factor in rating schools.

Shortly after McGhee spoke, the board voted and approved the motion, which specified that the academic component will measure both raw test scores and student growth in reading, math and science, once the state has results from its upcoming new science test. It also includes chronic absenteeism, a metric of students who are absent for many days, when that information becomes available.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

In July, the board will revisit potentially adding school climate and a factor that measures how prepared for college Californias students are. These ingredients will also be part of the Local Control Funding Formula, a new school funding system that has additional factors used in school district-level ratings.

Any decisions the board makes at this point could be vulnerable to change, given that the U.S. Department of Education has yet to regulate the parts of ESSA that touch on the accountability question. The law requires that each state create a system that meaningfully differentiates using the new evaluation systems. Under the law, states must intervene in the lowest-performing 5% of schools, as well as schools with the lowest graduation rates and those where specific groups of students consistently underperform.

My engagement deteriorated overall. I felt like I was a bad student.  Fresno student Draquari McGhee, on his suspension

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

One major question is whether the law means that states have to rank schools against one another. Board President Mike Kirst has said that California will not do that, since there is no research-backed way to boil down all the different factors that go into the evaluations down to one number.

The desire to measure schools more holistically is butting up against another priority: creating a system that is clear and coherent to parents. Sue Burr, a board member and Gov. Jerry Brown advisor, reiterated the need for a set of concise indicators, for purposes of state decision making. Many of the additional factors used by districts, she said, cant even be used by the state because they cant be standardized or proved to be statistically valid.

Before the vote, a task force appointed by the state superintendent to look at accountability presented its recommendations, which included a focus on child health and wellness. Beyond the factors required to rate schools, the report recommended having the state report on things like the completion of A-G requirements, Advanced Placement completion statistics and physical fitness. You can read the report here (PDF).

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Joy.Resmovits@LATimes.com

Follow me @Joy_Resmovits.

UPDATES:

6:47 a.m.: This story was updated to include a link to the motion, and information about the states new science tests.

This story was originally published at 3 a.m.
A judge on Wednesday ordered a man charged with starting a massive downtown Los Angeles fire that destroyed the Da Vinci apartment complex and caused $100 million in damages to stand trial on arson charges in connection with the 2014 blaze.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar delivered the decision following a two-day preliminary hearing for Dawud Abdulwali, who is accused of starting the Dec. 7, 2014, fire that charred the unfinished, seven-story complex along the 110 Freeway.

There is overwhelming circumstantial evidence, she said.

There were no injuries or deaths caused by the fire, but prosecutors say the blaze put lives at risk. Abdulwali, 57, has pleaded not guilty.

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On Wednesday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Sean Carney showed the judge a video recording from a building across the 110 Freeway from the Da Vinci site that depicts the minutes leading up to the fire.

1 / 39 More than 200 firefighters work to control a massive fire as it destroys a seven-story building under construction in downtown Los Angeles. (MARIANA ROSALES / EPA) 2 / 39 A staircase to nowhere sits by itself after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8 leveled an apartment tower under construction. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 39 Arson investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on scene to conduct an investigation into Decembers Da Vinci apartment complex fire. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 39 An elevated view of all that is left of the 1.3 million-square-foot Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 39 Traffic flows along the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles next to the remains of what was to be the Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 39 A massive fire engulfs a apartment building construction site near downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Nancy Yuille / Associated Press) 7 / 39 A crane begins to tear down the seven-story Da Vinci apartment complex. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 39 The smoldering ruins of the Da Vinici building. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 39 Work crews walk past a still-smoldering construction site after it was destroyed in an early morning fire. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 39 Investigators outside a building that was partially destroyed in an early morning fire next to the 110 Freeway. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 39 Arson investigators survey the scene after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 39 Caltrans workers remove signs over the 110 Freeway after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 13 / 39 A firefighter hoses down hot spots after battling a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 14 / 39 Arson investigators and an ATF agent, center, walk along the 110 Freeway near the site of the blaze on Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 39 Firefighters spray water on hot spots after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 39 The extreme heat from the fire melted a nearby parking sign. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 39 Firefighters look out from the shattered windows of a nearby office building damaged by the morning blaze. The huge L.A. fire that engulfed an apartment tower over an area the size of a city block is being treated as a criminal fire. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 39 A firefighter looks at the twisted metal that used to be scaffolding surrounding an apartment complex under construction brought down by a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 39 A burnt palm tree is all that if left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 39 As freeway traffic passes by, smoke rises from the scene of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 21 / 39 Blown-out windows are seen on the Lewis Brisbois Building on Dec. 8 as smoke lingers after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 22 / 39 Firefighters stand on the 110 Freeway on Dec. 8 after battling a massive fire at the nearby Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 23 / 39 Firefighters tackle the remnants of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 24 / 39 A stairwell is all that remains standing Dec. 8 as firefighters work on subduing a blaze at an apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 25 / 39 Firefighters battle a blaze at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 26 / 39 Firefighters tackle a fire at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 27 / 39 CalTrans crews begin the clean up process on the 110 Freeway after a massive fire that engulfed an apartment tower under construction left freeways signs damaged and debris scattered across lanes. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 39 Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 39 Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 39 Firefighters hose down hot spots after battling a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 39 Smoke lingers on Dec. 8 after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction. (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Times) 32 / 39 Firefighters spray water on the remnants of a structure fire in downtown Los Angeles. The building was completely destroyed and the intense heat heavily damaged two nearby buildings while also forcing the closure of Interstate 110. (PAUL BUCK / EPA) 33 / 39 Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) 34 / 39 Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) 35 / 39 Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) 36 / 39 Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) 37 / 39 Firefighters work to put out flames at an apartment complex under construction in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 39 A fire lights the night sky near the 110 and 101 freeways in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) 39 / 39 Firefighters deal with heavy smokes as they battle a blaze in the 900 block of Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick J. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Fire arson Investigator Robert McLoud, who reviewed the footage during his investigation, explained that the video shows a vehicle stopping on the shoulder of the northbound 110 Freeway alongside the apartment complex at 11:18 p.m. The driver puts on the cars emergency lights and exits the vehicle, making his way up an embankment and into the complex. A few minutes later, there appears to be a flash from inside, McLoud said.

McLoud said that vehicle appeared to be a taxi cab with a dark colored top and lighter colored sides.

The investigator testified that he later received Abdulwalis name as a person of interest in the case and found someone by that name on Facebook. One post on the persons Facebook page showed a photograph of a taxi cab from the Independent Taxi Cab Co., he said. The taxi in the photograph looked the same as the one on the video, he testified. Other posts included derogatory remarks about police officers and comments about high-profile police killings of African Americans.

McLoud quoted one comment as saying, How many buildings have to be burned to the ground for the killings to stop?

Special Agent Sam Chung of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testified that he met with the owner of the Independent Taxi Cab Co. The companys records showed that the car in question was no longer being used as a taxi and had been sold.

Chung testified that DMV records showed that the car was purchased by Abdulwali.

An undercover LAPD officer testified that a team of investigators surveilled Abdulwali and saw him driving the same cab.

LAPD Det. Peter Lee said that information from a cellphone provider showed that a phone belonging to Abdulwali was near the Da Vinci site during the time the fire started.

The testimony came a day after another man told the court that Abdulwali, 57, bragged to him at a party a week after the fire that he had set the blaze and was angry about the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo.

He was mad, Popaul Tshimanga said, adding that the defendant said he burned the building near the 110 Freeway. He didnt like the way the cops were killing black people.

The prosecution also played a recording of Abdulwalis former roommate telling police that he, too, heard Abdulwali speak passionately about the protests in Ferguson following the fatal shooting of Brown and about wanting vengeance.

Cops kill my people, Edwyn Gomez recalled his roommate saying. We should go do this, we should go burn some [expletive] down.... We should go break some windows.

Both men testified that they didnt go to police at the time because they didnt think Abdulwali was serious about burning buildings.

On Wednesday, L.A.s mayor and police chief had harsh words about the link alleged between Browns killing and the downtown L.A. fire.

To think that this is any kind of justification for burning down and risking lives in Los Angeles is absolutely ridiculous, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti noted that many people were upset about events in Ferguson but didnt resort to violence.

There are a lot of people who are angry about images that we see and what we saw in Ferguson. But I didnt go lighting up a building, Garcetti said. All the other people I know who were upset didnt go out destroying property, causing us millions of dollars of damage and risking lives.

Abdulwali is scheduled to be arraigned May 25 on aggravated arson and arson of a structure charges.

Times staff writer Kate Mather contributed to this report.

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MORE ON THE CASE

Man accused of Da Vinci apartment arson was angry about police killings of African Americans, witnesses say

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stephen.ceasar@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @sjceasar
About a block from Disneyland, federal agents seized $2.3 million in cash that allegedly came from a drug-trafficking and money-laundering group with links to the hometown of the notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, authorities said.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies found the cash after raiding an Anaheim home on May 5, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. The home, located in the 1200 block of West Katella Avenue, is less than a block from the sprawling, iconic Orange County resort.

The home was among several locations targeted by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and local law enforcement during a two-year-long investigation that has included wiretaps and surveillance, authorities said.

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Investigators also have identified several individuals they say are members of the drug ring, which is believed to have ties to Culiacan, the largest city in Mexicos Sinaloa state and the hometown of the now-captured Guzman.

During the probe, agents seized a large amount of cash and narcotics, Eimiller said. No drugs were found inside the Anaheim residence, although agents suspected the home was a storage site for large amounts of narcotics, she said in a statement.

Several U.S. and international bank accounts also have been identified during the investigation, and agents are scrutinizing the financial records, she said.

Agents did not arrest anyone in connection with the Anaheim raid. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBIs field office in Los Angeles at (310) 477-6565

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno

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Starting June 9, terminally ill Californians can request prescriptions from physicians for medications that would end their lives. Here are questions and answers about the End of Life Option Act.

Who can get these prescriptions?

You must be a California resident, at least 18 years old and terminally ill with no more than six months to live.

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Who can prescribe lethal medications?

All licensed medical doctors in California. A patient must be deemed terminally ill and mentally competent by two physicians to receive a prescription.

When was Californias law passed?

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act in October.

In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death, wrote Brown, a former Jesuit seminary student. I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldnt deny that right to others.

Do other states allow this practice?

Oregon became the first state to allow doctors to prescribe lethal medications starting in 1998. The practice has since become legal in Washington state, Vermont and Montana.

Is aid-in-dying the same as euthanasia?

No. Euthanasia means that the physician administers the medication or treatment that kills the patient. In aid-in-dying, the patient ingests the medicine on his or her own.

Californias law prohibits the practice from being referred to as euthanasia, mercy killing, assisted suicide or homicide.

Are doctors required to comply?

No, doctors are required to neither prescribe the medications nor refer patients to doctors who will write such a prescription.

How can I find a doctor that will write a prescription?

Other states dont have databases of doctors who will prescribe these medications, and that will likely also be the case here. However, the organization that leads efforts nationwide to pass such laws, Compassion & Choices, runs a free hotline that might be able to help answer questions: (800) 893-4548.

What is the process for getting a prescription?

A patient must tell her doctor on two separate occasions, at least 15 days apart, that she wants the lethal medicines. She must also submit a written request to the doctor.

The doctor has to determine whether the patient is terminally ill with a life expectacy of no more than six months and that the patient has the mental capacity to make such a decision. The physician then must discuss details of aid-in-dying with the patient, as well as other treatment options, such as hospice care and pain control.

The physician then has to refer the patient to another doctor, who must separately confirm that the patient is terminally ill and of sound mental capacity to make such a decision.

Does a patient need to undergo psychiatric evaluation?

Not necessarily. According to the law, if a physician is concerned about a patients mental state, the doctor must refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Both physicians who evaluate the patient must agree the patient is mentally competent.

In Oregon, 5% of those who have used the aid-in-dying law had been referred for a psychiatric evaluation, according to state data.

How many people in California are expected to take advantage of the law?

State officials expect that California will mirror Oregons trend of very low utilization, according to a state budget report.

In 2014, 155 Oregonians obtained prescriptions, or .00489% of the adult population, wrote a state analyst. He estimated that if the same percentage of Californians take advantage of the law in its first year, 1,476 would obtain prescriptions.

However, based on what happened in Oregon, that number could be much lower. In the first year that Oregons law was in effect, only 24 people requested prescriptions, though that number had climbed to 218 in 2015.

Plus, only some of the people who get the prescriptions actually take them. In Oregon, 64% of those whove ever received a prescription for the medicines died from ingesting them, according to state data.

What is the medicine that is used?

The most common drug is secobarbital. It is usually prescribed with drugs that help suppress nausea or vomiting. Together, the medicines typically cost about $5,000.

Does insurance cover the cost of the medicine?

The law does not require insurance companies to cover this treatment. Administrators for private health plans are still figuring out how theyre going to implement the law, and people should contact their insurance company with questions, said Nicole Evans, spokeswoman for the California Assn. of Health Plans.

Medi-Cal, the states health plan for low-income Californians, will cover the treatment. The state has allocated $2.3 million for an estimated 443 people on Medi-Cal expected to request the medications in the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1.

However, both Medi-Cal and insurance companies are barred from informing patients that the treatments are covered. A controversy in Oregon in which the states Medicaid plan sent letters to terminally ill patients that both denied them an expensive cancer drug but notified them that aid-in-dying treatment would be covered was part of the reason why this line is included in Californias law.

Is the law permanent?

The law will expire in 2026 if the state Legislature doesnt act to renew it.

Follow @skarlamangla on Twitter for more health news.

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Oracle founder Larry Ellison never finished college, much less attended USC.

But he donated $200 million to the school  matching the largest gift in Trojan history  to fund a cancer research center because of a relationship he developed with a USC doctor who treated his nephew and several other close friends, including Apple founder Steve Jobs.

Ellison first met Dr. David B. Agus when the tech mogul accompanied his nephew for his initial prostate cancer consultation nearly eight years ago.

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Agus, an oncologist who was working at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the time, recalled being nervous when he heard Ellison was arriving. It didnt help that Agus was also late to the initial meeting.

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When you hear Larry Ellison is coming, you dont know what to expect, he said.

But Ellison immediately began asking questions about the molecular biology of his nephews cancer and if a gene had mutated. You could tell he had done his research, Agus said.

Agus is still treating Ellisons nephew, a circuit court judge in Cook County, Ill. He also has treated Jack Kemp, the late former congressman and vice presidential candidate who also served on the Oracle board, as well as the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who battled pancreatic cancer.

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FOR THE RECORD

8:21 a.m., May 13: An earlier version of this article referred to Jack Kemp incorrectly as a former senator. He was a congressman.

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Jobs was also one of Ellisons best friends. Ellison, who was named the worlds second-richest man by Forbes last year with a $50-billion net worth, would send his private plane to pick up Agus so he could treat Jobs in Palo Alto and still get back in time to Los Angeles to keep his appointments with other patients, Agus said.

Larry is a remarkable friend, Agus said.

About a year and a half ago, after a Japanese-style breakfast of white fish and other small dishes at Ellisons Malibu home, Agus and Ellison were talking about new ways to treat cancer, including starting a center that would employ doctors, mathematicians and other scientists.

How much would such a thing cost? Agus recalls Ellison asked.

After thinking about it for a few moments, Agus said: I bet you its about $200 million.

Ellison agreed on the spot. I almost fell off my chair, Agus said.

Money doesnt mean that much to me, Ellison said, according to Agus. I want to see progress in cancer research.

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Ellison and other USC officials negotiated the final details of the gift before it was announced Wednesday. It matches the 2011 gift from alumnus David Dornsife, the chairman of a large steel fabricating company, and his wife, Dana.

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FOR THE RECORD

5:55 p.m., May 12: An earlier version of this post said Larry Ellisons gift to USC was announced Tuesday. It was announced Wednesday.

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Agus came to USC six years ago and is a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He will now lead the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC, which will also employ physics, biology, math and engineering experts engaged in research to prevent, detect and treat cancer.

Ellison is a believer in multi-disciplinary approaches to solving problems and, obviously, emerging technologies, Agus said.

Were in a new era, Agus said. Before we werent able to sequence cancer or do big data studies. We can make discovery after discovery, and the quicker we can apply them, the better.

Ellisons gift is among the largest ever made to a U.S. college or university. Hedge fund manager John A. Paulson gave $400 million to Harvard University in 2015, and Columbia University received $400 million from broadcasting mogul John W. Kluge in 2007.

Ellison, who is scheduled to give USCs commencement address Friday, canceled a planned $115-million donation to Harvard University in 2006. The gift would have been Harvards largest donation at that time and was intended to create a global health foundation.

Ellison reneged on the gift after then-Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers stepped down, he said. I lost confidence that that money would be well spent, Ellison said at the time.

Twitter: @byjsong



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Days after a violent brawl rocked their campus, hundreds of Sylmar High School students walked out of classes Thursday to call for unity and refute claims that the massive fight was racially motivated.

As news helicopters clattered overhead, students interlocked arms and chanted, Its not about race, as others held up banners that read Hey media and "#SHS United.

Were not doing this out of defiance. Were doing this out of unity, said Luis Abundez, a senior. We want everybody to know that this little incident that happened at our school doesnt define Sylmar High School.

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Mondays brawl involved some 40 students, and video of the incident showed students kicking and punching wildly as police officers struggled to separate them. It still remains unclear exactly what triggered the violence, but students suggested afterward that gang tensions, race and a dispute stemming from the recent prom may have been factors.

After the two-hour demonstration on Thursday, students insisted that the incident had been blown out of proportion by the media.

It was no race war, nothing like that. It was a typical fight, said Sebastian Cooks, a senior. Sylmar is a good school.

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When discussing the fight, other students said people who did not attend the school -- and who they identified as gang members -- had jumped the fence to get in. And students then had to defend themselves, they said.

The students said they do not see gangs within the school and that the fight was one that just got out of control -- sparked by a misunderstanding.

More than 2,300 students are enrolled at Sylmar High School. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 2,157 are Latino, 72 are black, 44 are white and 30 are Asian or Pacific Islander.

Thursdays rally lasted from roughly 8:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Participating students shared videos of the walkout on Twitter and said the fight was not racially motivated.

You guys are handling this very well, school Principal James Lee told students at the rally. You are acting better than adults on this.

However, Supt. Michelle King of the Los Angeles Unified School District, issued a statement after the demonstration in which she said: The district does not approve of activities that take students out of the classroom.

In a prepared statement, King said: We appreciate the show of unity by students of Sylmar High School and the Sylmar Leadership Academy and their enthusiasm in expressing support for their schools. However, this should not overshadow the importance of instruction and student learning.

King also reiterated that the safety of students was critical to the district.

Safety remains the districts top priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation, she said in Thursdays statement.

Not all Sylmar High students or their parents have taken that message to heart however.

Parent Beatriz Camarillo arrived at the school Thursday morning to pick up her son Emmanuel Tinoco. The 17-year-old said he did not feel safe and wanted to go home.

How can I not be worried? his mother asked in Spanish. Not just for him, but for all of the students.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

Tinoco said there seems to be a lot of tension within the school and he preferred to be at home.

Everyone is cautious and everyone is on high alert, he said. Im just afraid if people are planning on doing something like that again. I just dont feel safe at all.

Other students outside the school said they felt safe coming back and encouraged others to return.

I know the parents and why they want to keep their daughters and sons at home, but at the end of the day -- were going to get through it as a school, as a family, said Darnae Lynch, 18. "... Come to school.

On Wednesday night, students, parents, and school officials held a community meeting to discuss Mondays fight.

I dont feel safe in school, student Shane Bennett said. We have to walk around in groups at school because we dont feel safe.

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Among those who attended Wednesdays community meeting was actor Danny Trejo, who is known for his violent cult films. The Machete star had this message for school officials: Listen to students for a solution.

After school officials talked about their plans to deal with the brawl, and students still hadnt been given the floor to voice their concerns, Trejo, a San Fernando Valley resident, stood up and declared: You are not listening to them.

As the actor pointed at the crowd, he said: Theyll come up with the solution.

L.A. schools Police Chief Steve Zipperman said it is unclear whether any criminal action will be taken against the students involved in Mondays fight. Officers are still reviewing video footage, evidence and interviewing witnesses.

In an email to parents earlier this week, Principal Lee said several students were involved in the fight and that disciplinary action had been taken.

Twitter: @brittny_mejia and @VeronicaRochaLA

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Teachers handed out bottled water to hundreds of students at Grape Street Elementary School on Wednesday amid concerns about murky, discolored water flowing from taps and fountains at that school and four others in South Los Angeles.

The precautions are the latest hits to Watts and the neighboring community of Green Meadows where residents have complained for months of cloudy and yellowish tap water not fit for bathing or drinking.

Their frustrations were stoked recently with the revelation that for six hours in January residents received untreated well water  and were not notified of the lapse for more than three months.

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At Tuesdays City Council meeting, Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson held up a water bottle with copper-colored water. He said that residents have brought him samples from their water faucets that range in color from a deep red clay to opaque.

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Harris-Dawson and Councilman Joe Buscaino, who represent residents in the affected area, called on the Department of Water and Power to explain both the delay in notifying residents and the cloudy water.

We learned a lot from the failed leadership in Flint, Michigan, Buscaino said, referring to the lead water contamination crisis that city and state officials have been accused of mishandling. We are no Flint, Michigan.

On Jan. 15, between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., officials said, a water treatment pump malfunctioned at the 99th Street Wells Water Treatment Facility, affecting 20,000 residents in Watts and Green Meadows. The DWP sent letters in April notifying residents of the incident.

The State Water Resources Control Board said the DWP violated federal law by failing to disclose the incident within the next business day. DWP faces a penalty of up to $1,000 per day for each day the violation occurred, according to a 14-page citation issued by the state water board.

Marty Adams, DWPs senior assistant general manager in charge of the water system, said the water treatment operator on duty missed the alarm that sounds when the water pump malfunctions. When the problem was discovered, staff members rushed to fix the treatment equipment. However, the operator did not report the incident.

It was not reported up the chain, Adams said at Tuesdays City Council meeting. This was why there was a delay in the letter. DWP didnt find out about it until the monthly audit of water quality.

Adams said the failed water pump is not related to the water discoloration experienced by residents, which is still being investigated.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

Causes could come from higher levels of iron and manganese in the Central Basin wells that serve the area, high velocity pumping by street sweeping trucks from fire hydrants which may stir up sediment in the pipes, and a recent incident of a damaged fire hydrant in the neighborhood that kicked up sediment within the pipes.

The age of pipes is not a factor, DWP said in a press release, because the pipes in this area of the city are relatively new, having mostly been replaced in the 1980s and 1990s.

At Grape Street Elementary, meanwhile, plastic bags covered water fountains to discourage students from drinking the tap water. The Watts school, with 660 pre-K to fifth-grade students, is awaiting the results of water quality tests.

Grape Street is one of five schools to raise concerns over water safety. Administrators at Compton Avenue, Florence Griffith Joyner, 96th Street and Lovelia Flournoy elementary schools have also complained of murky tap water in recent weeks.

Testing conducted by the Department of Water and Power at those schools detected no bacteria and found the chlorinated levels met federal guidelines. DWP officials maintain the water is safe to drink.

Still, crews flushed the plumbing lines at the four schools to clear any debris that may have caused the discoloration, said Robert Laughton, LAUSDs director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

Watts resident Manuel Burgos said sometimes the water is tinted yellow and other times its cloudy. On a few occasions, he said, he has had to let the water run for an hour before it was suitable to bathe his children.

I thought maybe our pipes were old, Burgos, 44, said. I didnt know it was a citywide problem.

His family doesnt drink from the tap, and he never thought the neighborhood elementary school was experiencing the same issue until he picked his daughter up from pre-kindergarten at Grape Street on Wednesday.

Four-year-old Heaven Davila exited the school and grabbed her fathers hand. In her free arm, she cradled a bottle of water.

angel.jennings@latimes.com

For more California breaking news, follow @AngelJennings.

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A stretch of Sunset Boulevard near Bronson Avenue reopened Wednesday after an hours-long standoff ended between authorities and a man who had climbed the iconic KTLA radio tower.

For nearly three hours, the man clutched the trestles of the 160-foot tower, located at the Sunset Bronson Studios just west of the 101 Freeway. At one point he rebuffed crisis negotiators and climbed upward.

But shortly before 8 p.m., the man in a green sweatshirt and black cap safely returned to the ground, where he was taken into police custody for a mental evaluation, according to Los Angeles police Officer Ricardo Hernandez. His name was not released, but police said he is 55 years old and possibly homeless.

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Sunset Boulevard was reopened about 8:30 p.m., police said.

 Sunset Boulevard was shut down Wednesday evening as authorities responded to a man who had climbed the iconic KTLA radio tower and apparently refused to come down.

Authorities were first called to the scene about 4:45 p.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department assisted the LAPD in the incident, and witnesses reported that the LAFD had set up a cushion beneath the tower.

At one point, the man appeared to be calmly waiting and smoking a pipe or cigar while his left arm clutched the towers metal cross-brace.

Shortly before 7 p.m., the ladders of two fire trucks were extended toward the tower, and crisis negotiators attempted to make contact with the man, who was wearing a green sweatshirt, white high-top shoes and a black hat.

But the man moved higher up the tower, ascending above KTLAs 5" logo and apparently thwarting police efforts to coax him down. The man continued climbing up the tower, with the Capitol Records building and the rest of the Hollywood skyline visible in the background.

The standoff took a turn about 7:30 p.m., when the man climbed down to the catwalk behind the KTLA sign, where police had left a cellphone and some water, KTLA-TV reported. The man later climbed down to the ground and appeared physically uninjured.

In 2011, a man who climbed KTLAs tower also prompted police to respond. That man also came down and was taken into police custody.

The KTLA tower was erected in 1925 and was one of two radio towers that served Warner Bros. affiliated radio station, KFWB.

For more than 50 years, starting in 1955, the tower was located at the corner of Sunset and Van Ness Street. In 2014, the tower was dismantled and moved to its current location.

Times staff writer Francine Orr contributed to this report.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno

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A woman is suing a Newport Beach car dealership, claiming that one of its mechanics raped her after looking up her address in the dealers computer records.

Travis Dewayne Batten, a mechanic for Fletcher Jones Motorcars, was convicted in 2014 and sentenced to 107 years in prison in a pair of sexual assaults, including a 2005 attack on Karen Sommers.

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FOR THE RECORD

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May 12, 8:05 p.m.: An earlier version of this story said that Travis Batten was sentenced to 105 years in prison. Batten was sentenced to 107 years.

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Sommers purchased a car from Fletcher Jones around 2004 and had it serviced there. Sommers and Batten did not know each other, authorities said.

Sommers civil suit claims that Batten accessed the companys records to find her address in Newport Beachs Eastbluff neighborhood.

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Prosecutors said Batten broke into Sommers residence through an unlocked door while she wasnt there, and when she returned home he attacked her, constraining her hands with duct tape before sexually assaulting and punching her.

After the incident, it was the worst. I lived in complete despair, Sommers, 51, told KTLA-TV.

She added that Fletcher Jones should secure who has access to its customer records because they can get into the wrong hands.

In most cases The Times does not publish names of victims of sexual crimes. Sommers came forward with her allegations publicly.

Karl Lindegren, an attorney for Fletcher Jones, said Wednesday that the company cannot comment on active litigation.

According to court records, Fletcher Jones conducted a criminal background check on Batten before his employment but found nothing. A judge decided that the dealership also was not put on notice that Batten had been misusing and/or misappropriating customers private information.

Zint writes for Times Community News.

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Former Republican Assemblyman Bob Pacheco says he was wrongly placed on a slate of California delegates who would back Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, at the Republican National Convention this summer.

I told the Trump campaign that Im not endorsing him, Pacheco said Wednesday, adding that he was very surprised to see his name on Trumps delegate slate.

The news comes the day after the revelation that a Los Angeles-area white nationalist had been named a member of Trumps slate. A Trump aide said William Johnsons inclusion on a list of delegates submitted Monday to the California secretary of states office was an error.

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The campaign has since said Johnson and Pacheco will be struck from the delegate rolls.

Pachecos case seems to be another example of the shortcomings of Trumps campaign. When the Republican nomination race was still competitive, Trumps lack of organization cost him delegates in states where he had trounced Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump continued to win races because his message resonated with voters, and his campaign was buoyed by the unprecedented amount of free media time he received. But the candidate appeared to recognize he had a problem, and in recent weeks began signing on seasoned Republican operatives.

In California, Katie Lagomarsino is Trumps delegate coordinator. But according to public records and a person who knows her, Lagomarsino is a 22-year-old who was in the midst of studying for college finals as the delegate selection process took place. She worked briefly as an assistant at a Sacramento-based political fundraising firm.

Tim Clark, Trumps California campaign director, said Lagomarsino does not speak to the media, and declined to discuss her background. He said Pacheco was included on one of several lists of potential delegates compiled by volunteers before Lagomarsino joined the campaign in mid- to late April.

Jim Brulte, chairman of the California Republican Party, said Pacheco signed up as a Trump delegate with the state party, which then turned over those names to the Trump campaign.

Pacheco, the mayor of Walnut, provided The Times with emails from April and May in which he repeatedly told the Trump campaign he did not want to be a delegate for the businessman-turned-reality television star.

I am reconsidering my support for Mr. Trump, Pacheco wrote in April, in a response to a request that he fill out a delegate application form. Please do not include or consider me as an endorsement.

Clark said this email was never turned over to Lagomarsino.

On Monday, in response to an email from Lagomarsino congratulating him on being named a Trump delegate, Pacheco responded, Please do not include me on any list of endorsement or as a delegate.

Pacheco, who backed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush until he dropped out of the presidential race, said he does not plan to attend the GOP convention and does not know whether he will vote for Trump in Californias June 7 primary.

Im not sure what Im going to do, he said, me, along with a lot of other people.

Twitter: @LATSeema

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News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Harare Residents Trust has praised 35 councillors in Harare for blocking the appointment of James Mushore as town clerk.Mushore's apointment recently saw Local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere suspending mayor Bernard Manyenyeni."Harare City Councillors, 35 of them, who resolved to discontinue James Mushore's stay at Town House last Thursday did a splendid job on behalf of Harare residents," said the trust. "The question of whether or not they were right or wrong should be settled by the courts in a matter pending before a High Court judge. For now the councillors have made a resolution that is in the best interests of Harare residents and the HRT stands by them."The trust said however, threats that three of the Councillors, namely Paula Macharangwanda (ward 5), the MDC-T council's Chief whip, Christopher Mbanga, the Acting Mayor (Ward 9) and Councillor Stewart Mutizwa (Ward 8) should be recalled are misplaced and ill-advised."Even if they are recalled, the MDC-T will not be able to replace them because the current legislation does not provide for a recall of councillors. The three councillors have distinguished themselves as professionals who look at issues and not personalities, and we commend them for their work as councillors so far," the trust said."The HRT urges the MDC-T as the party with the majority to desist from interfering with the Harare City Council and allow the rule of law to prevail. This is the main reason the HRT has repeatedly called for the depoliticisation of Local Government to protect it from abuse by power hungry politicians who want to subvert the will of the citizens by stifling debates on important issues at Town House."
Here in the capital of Mormon country a downtown street has been renamed for Harvey Milk, the San Francisco politician and gay activist gunned down in 1978.

The street naming comes as battles over LGBT rights have reached a fever pitch: North Carolina is defying the federal government over transgender bathrooms, Mississippi is being sued over its new religious liberty law, and Alabamas chief justice has been suspended for blocking same-sex marriages.

But in this red, red state, gay politicians and activists say the street naming speaks to their ability to work with the church, an ultra-conservative Republican Legislature and a community thats two-thirds Mormon.

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The issues that are dividing America are kind of elevated here, said Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah. If we can learn to solve them in Utah, theres hope for the nation.

The push to turn a 20-block stretch of 900 South street into Harvey Milk Boulevard began with Williams, who notes that though San Diego in 2012 became the first city to name a street after Milk, its only two blocks long. Williams office wall downtown is covered with portraits of the gay rights pioneer, including a Milk poster urging people to join the gay liberation front.

On the opposite wall is a framed photo of Republican Gov. Gary R. Herbert signing a nondiscrimination bill last year that protected gays and lesbians  the same governor whose office Williams and other protesters were arrested for blocking two years ago with a sit-in.

Williams, who was raised Mormon, said he and other activists made inroads with state lawmakers by first reaching out to the church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has fought same-sex marriage, considers homosexuality a sin and announced last fall that children of same-sex couples must disavow their parents relationships and receive church leaders approval to be baptized and participate in church functions. But church officials also supported the nondiscrimination law.

The church believes in a fairness for all approach on the issues of housing and employment, which balance LGBT rights and religious rights and which were at the heart of the nondiscrimination legislation, said church spokesman Eric Hawkins.

Williams noted that a religious liberty law similar to the one adopted in Mississippi was proposed in the Utah Legislature but never made it to a vote. Last month, when the Milk street name change came up for a vote before the City Council, all seven members approved it, including the chair and three other Mormons.

Utah is a red state, but not a redneck state, Williams said. Theres a willingness to collaborate.

Now he and others are walking the fine line between advocacy and tolerance as they push for transgender rights in healthcare and public accommodations (including bathrooms, the issue that sparked outcry in North Carolina). Harvey Milk Boulevard, Williams said, will be both sanctuary and rallying point.

Its about having a presence. This was Harveys whole thing: come out. Because if you come out, theyre going to have a harder time taking away your rights, he said.

Utah is a red state, but not a redneck state.  Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah

A few residents opposed the name change at a council meeting before the vote. But Stan Penfold, the states first openly gay councilman, whose district includes the Mormon Church headquarters, pointed out that church leaders did not fight it.

If we were looking at a liquor law change, wed hear all about it, said Penfold, who was raised Mormon. Part of that comes from the relationships that were forged when the nondiscrimination law passed.

But its also the attitude of conservative Utahns, whom Penfold described as a really tolerant community, even though they disapprove.

Salt Lake City, like other blue islands in red states, has been a beacon for gays and lesbians for generations. They have not elected a Republican or practicing Mormon mayor in 33 years, and the recent infusion of young tech workers has made the city even more progressive.

Last year, another openly gay city councilman joined Penfold and successfully sued to overturn the states same-sex marriage ban (hes opening a deli on Harvey Milk Boulevard). In January, the city elected a lesbian mayor and last month banned city-sponsored travel to North Carolina and Mississippi because of their laws that critics view as discrimination against gays.

Salt Lake City has the seventh-most gay residents per capita in the U.S. (Los Angeles has the eighth-most), according to Gallup.

Salt Lake is known for Temple Square with its gray granite church and adjacent tabernacle where the famous choir sings.

But the heart of the citys gay community has long been the maple-lined street about nine blocks away thats being renamed for Milk, particularly the festive, pedestrian-friendly area known as 9th & 9th. When Equality Utah staged an online fundraising campaign to pay for the new street signs here, the $8,000 was raised in just days.

Last week, a teenager in a rainbow T-shirt sat giggling with friends at 9th & 9th. A couple of women walked hand-in-hand past rainbow flags in the window of Cahoots Cards and Gifts to Dolcetti Gelato, where the gay-friendly Mormon owners put a sign on the door, Because of our religious convictions we choose to serve everyone!

The youths said they were encouraged by the name change. In other parts of town, they have been harassed and assaulted.

I am so much more afraid of being who I am in Utah, said the one in the rainbow T-shirt, Isabelle Srivastava, 16, who spent last summer attending the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia.

Some residents objected to the street renaming, and their concerns foreshadow challenges gay activists face as they push for greater protections.

Marla Foote has lived on the street for 17 years, and spoke against the name change before the City Council. She came to the screen door of her brick tract house in a purple flowered dress, gray hair swept up into a bun, and pointed to the homes of other neighbors who agreed.

We see absolutely no reason to rename it for someone who has no ties here, she said. Hes never even been to Utah as far as we can tell. Hes a California person.

Foote, 63, a UnitedHealthcare analyst, acknowledged that other streets here have been renamed for nonnatives: the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez and former Utah Jazz stars Karl Malone and John Stockton.

But that wasnt the only reason Foote opposed the name change. She said 9th & 9th has evolved into Little Castro, referring to San Franciscos Castro District  one of the nations first gay enclaves.

She pointed to the nearly identical red brick house next door, where a gay couple live. They share dinners, and she attended their wedding on the front patio. Last year, Foote  a registered independent - wrote to state lawmakers to support the nondiscrimination law, she said.

But the street renaming put her on the defensive. Now she thinks Utah might need a religious liberty law.

They do have a right to have the same jobs, the same pay for the same jobs. Im fine with that. As long as theyre not shoving my face in it, she said. I want my rights protected, too.

On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered with the mayor and other city officials at 9th & 9th to help lift a silver-and-gold veil from the first Harvey Milk sign. And in honor of the street naming, the Tower Theatre at 9th & 9th is screening Milk, the Oscar-winning 2008 film starring Sean Penn, all weekend.

Im hoping this begins a trend, Williams said afterward. If Salt Lake City can have a Harvey Milk Boulevard, any city in America can do this.

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molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

@mollyhf
House Republicans won Round 2 in a potentially historic lawsuit Thursday when a federal judge declared the Obama administration was unconstitutionally spending money to subsidize health insurers without obtaining an appropriation from Congress.

Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer broke new ground by ruling the GOP-controlled House of Representatives had legal standing to sue the president over how he was enforcing his signature healthcare law.

On Thursday, she ruled the administration is violating a provision of the law by paying promised reimbursements to health insurers who provide coverage at reduced costs to low-income Americans.

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The judges ruling, while a setback for the administration, was put on hold immediately and stands a good chance of being overturned on appeal.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

But the 38-page opinion highlights the repeated complaint from Republicans that Obama and his administration have ignored constitutional limits on their authority.

The Constitution says No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law, Collyer noted, but the administration has continued to pay billions to insurers for their extra cost of providing health coverage.

Paying [those] reimbursements without an appropriation thus violates the Constitution, she wrote. Congress is the only source for such an appropriation, and no public money can be spent without one.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the ruling a historic win for the Constitution and the American people. The court ruled that the administration overreached by spending taxpayer money without approval from the peoples representatives.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the administration remained confident it will prevail in the end.

This suit represents the first time in our nations history that Congress has been permitted to sue the executive branch over a disagreement about how to interpret a statute, he told reporters. Its unfortunate that Republicans have resorted to a taxpayer-funded lawsuit to re-fight a political fight that they keep losing.

Two years ago, House Republicans sued Obama under then-Speaker John Boehner and claimed the president had violated the law by delaying enforcement of several provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

But lawyers later focused on the reimbursements for health insurers that had received little attention before. They said these payments would come to $175 billion over a decade.

The healthcare law says insurers who enroll eligible, low-income Americans shall cover the costs of their deductibles and co-payments, but promises the federal government shall make periodic and timely payments to cover those costs.

The law is not entirely clear on where this money will come from, however.

At first, the administration asked Congress for an appropriation to cover these costs.

But when that request went nowhere in Congress, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services said they could continue to pay these required reimbursements.

They said payments were like other appropriate entitlements like Medicaid that are covered by permanent federal funds and not subject to an annual appropriation.

Judge Collyer called that claim a most curious and convoluted argument whose mother was undoubtedly necessity.

Collyer, an appointee of President George W. Bush, said she would block any further reimbursementsuntil a valid appropriation is in place, but then put her order on hold while the administration appeals.

The case of House of Representatives v. Burwell will move to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, where Democratic appointees have a solid majority.

Obamas lawyers will likely renew their argument that this lawsuit should be thrown out because lawmakers do not have standing to sue the executive branch.

In the past, the Supreme Court has tossed out suits from senators who objected to how the administration was interpreting the law.

But a ruling may not come until after Obama leaves office next January.

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Criticism abounds as Border Patrol agents union endorses a presidential candidate for the first time: Donald Trump

UPDATES:

2:43 p.m.  This story was updated with comment from House Speaker Paul Ryan

10:38 a.m.: This post was updated with a staff-written account replacing wire service reporting.

This was first posted at 10:20 a.m.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan all but reversed course Thursday and moved toward accepting Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee, saying he was very encouraged after meeting with the billionaire businessman and optimistic about unifying the party to fight Democrats in the fall.

The speakers comments offered a sharp shift from his public show of discomfort with Trump just a week ago. The sudden about-face showed the pressure on Ryan, the intellectual torchbearer for the conservative movement, to drop his ideological purity tests and unify Republicans behind their unorthodox nominee.

Great day in DC, Trump wrote in a message on Twitter. Things working out really well.

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The move toward unity exposes Ryan to the political risk that comes with linking his well-polished political brand to that of Trump -- an outsider whose policy views and public persona differ dramatically from those of the GOP leaders Ryan has tried to emulate.

Ryan had little choice, however, other than to make peace with the partys presumptive nominee. Failing to do so would prolong the fight within the party and risk exiling himself to a no-mans land as Trumps chief opponent in a divided GOP.

House members increasingly were making clear to Ryan that continuing the split was putting them in an untenable position given Trumps popularity among their constituents back home.

Ryans lack of an alternative stems in part from the waning of Ryans brand of conservatism, which has defined the party this decade: an exercise in fiscal restraint, including cuts to Medicare and the federal safety net, that has proved more popular with conservative think tanks than with voters.

Trump has panned Ryans approach. The candidates positions on taxes, trade deals and military intervention, even as they have shifted, have put him at odds with the kind of conservatism that Ryan has fostered.

But GOP voters have sided with Trumps approach, not Ryans. And with the Never Trump movement failing to provide a viable option, the Republican establishment has tried to catch up with the partys newly empowered populist element.

I do believe that we are now planting the seeds to get ourselves unified, to bridge the gaps and differences, Ryan said after the morning meeting as protesters carried a coffin and RIP GOP poster in a mock funeral procession outside.

Ryan went on to call Trump a very warm and genuine person after the two met for 45 minutes as part of the businessmans tour of Capitol Hill.

I heard a lot of good things from our presumptive nominee, Ryan said. From here, we are going to go deeper into the policy areas to see where that common ground is and how we can make sure that we are operating off the same core principles.

Other Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, have already moved toward Trump, on tiptoes in McConnells case.

Increasingly, rank-and-file lawmakers are cautiously saying they will support the nominee  often without mentioning Trump by name.

We had a very constructive meeting, McConnell said after Trumps session with the Senates Republican leaders. I think that everybody felt it was quite good.

While Ryan stopped short of giving Trump his endorsement, that specific language mattered.

The speakers comments signaled he was laying down arms just a week after saying he could not yet back Trump.

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At the time, Ryan invoked the GOP as the party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan in suggesting Trump needed to show conservatives he was one of them and temper his tone to be more inclusive. The bulk of the burden, Ryan warned, would be on Trump to win votes of reluctant Republicans.

But the priorities of Ryans lifes work  reducing debt and cutting the federal government safety net -- have proved less compelling to many GOP voters than Trumps attacks on the Washington establishment. Many Republican voters rely on parts of that safety net, particularly in regions that are economically struggling.

For Paul Ryan, heres a guy who spent his whole career talking about the need to put the country on a a sustainable fiscal trajectory. And when the nominee says, Well, we can pretty much ignore Medicare, Social Security and all the issues that are driving the fiscal challenges, ... thats an issue thats got to be reconciled, said Rep. Charlie Dent, a centrist Republican from Pennsylvania.

Its difficult, said Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative from Arizona. Mr. Trump has held a number of different positions that are antithetical to the Republican platform. Im hopeful some of that is a misunderstanding on his part.

Ryan appeared hopeful, too, that his latest project  a series of policy prescriptions being drafted for Republicans under the banner Confident America  would still have a place in a Trump campaign and, if successful in November, a Trump White House.

The question is, can we unify on the common core principles that make our party? Ryan said. And Im very encouraged that the answer to that question is yes.

But more to the point, Ryan was buoyed by the prospect of bringing Trump voters into the GOP fold after the the unlikely presidential candidate won more primary votes than any other Republican hopeful in party history.

Hes bringing new voters that weve never had for decades, Ryan said. Thats a positive thing.

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Union for Border Patrol agents under fire for endorsement of Trump

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

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The tears begin flowing the moment the U.S. Border Patrol agents swing open the doors of the border enforcement zone, allowing Mexican families to step through and reunite with loved ones at the border fence near San Diego.

The weekly encounters at Friendship Park, across the border from Tijuana, showcase the soft-hearted side of the force protecting Americas Southwest border. But during one recent visit some youngsters didnt seem to be buying it.

In March, the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents agents, had endorsed Donald Trump for president. One teenage boy, a high school student from Oakland, asked a pair of agents why.

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A family in Tijuana speaks to relatives through the U.S.-Mexico border fence. (John Moore / Getty Images )

He asked how can Border Patrol agents be supporting hateful rhetoric that seems to contradict the spirit of the  event, said Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee, who led the field trip of youngsters to the border and witnessed the exchange.

Its a line of questioning that agents are hearing more often these days. And though the agents that April day didnt respond to the youngsters query, the rank-and-file seem as polarized about Trump as the rest of the nation, with some going so far as to challenge their union leaders decision.

The union leadership, in a strongly worded endorsement letter that mimics Trumps brash stylings, commended Trump for not backing down from statements considered racist by many. Trump has referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals.

Mr. Trump is correct when he says immigration wouldnt be at the forefront of this presidential campaign if months ago he hadnt made some bold and necessary statements. And when the withering media storm ensued he did not back down one iota, read the endorsement letter from the union, which represents 16,500 agents.

Criticism of the endorsement, the first time the union has taken sides in a presidential campaign, has come from all directions. Many agents lean conservative and were Ted Cruz supporters.

Others take issue with backing a campaign built in part by disparaging Mexican immigrants. Thats not surprising given the fact that about half of the nations 18,000 agents on the Southwest border are Latino. And theres no shortage of white agents who hear the Trump backlash from their Latina wives.

The Border Patrol has changed tremendously in the last 10 to 20 years. It has more than doubled in size and has brought in a lot of new recruits from all over country. That has increased the diversity of the agency, said David Shirk, an associate professor of political science at the University of San Diego.

While all of them are committed to the agencys mission and believe strongly in work that theyre doing, they dont reflect some of the more traditional stereotypes of the Border Patrol as a bunch of white guys chasing Mexicans.

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The agency has long cultivated a tough but humane image, befitting its role securing a frontier between two friendly nations. Agents break up human smuggling rings, interdict drugs and apprehend hundreds of thousands of migrants annually.

The agency also has specially trained units that rescue hundreds of lost and dehydrated migrants annually, and coordinates with migrant rights groups in identifying dead bodies and facilitating reunions at the border fence, like the ones held weekly in San Diego.

The efforts earn praise from some community and migrant rights groups, even those who criticize the agencys controversial use-of-force guidelines, which have led to several fatal shootings of unarmed suspects in recent years.

To some, the Trump endorsement could cast doubt over agents, raising questions about whether their actions are motivated more by personal animus against migrants than their professional duty to carry out the law.

Don McDermott, a former supervisor of an anti-smuggling unit in San Diego, said the endorsement vote by a small group of union leaders  11 in all  threatened to reflect negatively on all agents.

It is probable that the endorsement of Mr. Trump would expose both the union and the individual members to accusations of xenophobia and even racism, McDermott said. The reputation of the agency and of every agent is called into question.

Some think the threats of image damage are overblown. In the deserts and mountains, after long treks and mistreatment by smugglers, the sight of an agent is often a relief, they say.

When you talk to people, migrants say they want to call for help from us. They tell me, I dont fear Border Patrol; I fear the cartels, said one veteran Latino agent from Arizona who requested anonymity because agents are not authorized to speak with the media.

A Border Patrol agent stands guard as families prepare to meet loved ones at the U.S.-Mexico border fence separating Tijuana and San Diego. (John Moore / Getty Images )

Union leaders said the leadership backed Trump because hes the only candidate who makes border security a priority. Trumps border wall proposal, along with mass deportations and other security measures, are necessary to reduce illegal immigration, they say.

Shawn Moran, the unions vice president, dismissed concerns that siding with Trump tarnishes the agencys reputation. I think Border Patrol agents will be tough on enforcement but very generous in terms of empathy and how they take care of those that are in their custody, he said.

But in communities where relations with the Border Patrol have been fraught with mistrust, leaders and agents fear the overheated rhetoric could manifest in ugly ways.

A group of agents in El Paso asked that their local union disavow the endorsement, drawing support from numerous business and community leaders. Their attempt narrowly failed in a 14-13 vote.

One of the reasons that El Paso is the safest city in the United States is because of the trust developed between law enforcement and the El Paso community, read a statement signed by several law enforcement and city officials from the area. This trust is undermined by the [union] endorsement of a candidate for president who demeans and degrades immigrants and who has lied about the threats that exist at the U.S.-Mexico border to advance his bid for president.

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Clinton looks to general election, while Sanders focuses on real delegates

As Hillary Clinton begins executing her general election strategy against Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders is outlining what he views as his admittedly narrow path toward wresting the Democratic nomination away from the former secretary of State.

In an interview on New York radio station WABC (with an eye toward the looming vote in neighboring New Jersey), the Vermont senator said that he has 45.5% of the current share of pledged delegates that have been awarded in primaries and caucuses so far, a figure on par with the latest estimates.

My goal is to make that 50% plus 1, he told WABC. In other words, as he put it, end up with more pledged delegates, i.e. real delegates: delegates that the people vote for.

If that were to occur, Sanders said he would head to the party convention in Philadelphia and do everything that we can to ensure the nomination.

Heres where his strategy gets murky.

First, to reach that 50%-plus-1 threshold would require a series of overwhelming victories in the 11 primaries and caucuses that remain. There are 897 pledged delegates still up for grabs, and Sanders would need to win more than 66% of them to hit his target, a steep climb given the proportional allocation rules.

Secondly, theres the matter of the audience Sanders would then need to win over.

During the WABC interview, Sanders continued to say that if he had the pledged delegate lead he would then seek to win over the elected leaders and party officials who represent the nonpledged delegates, or so-called superdelegates, that would be required to hit the magic number of 2,383.

The nomination, should not be won solely by someone who has all these establishment super PACs, he said, before correcting himself: superdelegates. That kind of Freudian slip is not the best way to begin that lobbying effort.

Clinton, of course, has a lopsided advantage among that group of voters, with more than 500 superdelegates to Sanders roughly 40.

Another superdelegate ostensibly on the sidelines, Vice President Joe Biden, all but added himself to the Clinton column this week in an interview with ABC News.

It was a conspicuous statement, coming several weeks before the White House has indicated President Obama will begin taking a more active role on the campaign trail in favor of a presumptive nominee.

White House aides have said Obama would remain on the sidelines until the primary voting is over, while reserving the right to wade in to avoid a messy floor fight at the partys convention.

For now the White House remains in a holding pattern.

President Obama is keenly aware of the significant stakes of the outcome of the next election, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Thursday. And I assure you that over the next six months, the president will be actively engaged in that debate.
In its latest stranger-than-fiction move, Donald Trumps presidential campaign selected a self-described white separatist to be one of his California delegates at the Republican National Convention.

William Johnson, who has written a book calling for African Americans and other nonwhites to lose their U.S. citizenship and be deported, is on the official list of 169 delegates submitted by the Trump campaign to the secretary of States office.

In an ordinary campaign year, this might be shocking news. This year, less so. The response from Trump campaign officials when Mother Jones magazine called them out on it was essentially: Oops. Trumps California campaign director put out a statement saying that Johnson was included in the delegate list by mistake.

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But, really, this is a pretty significant goof-up considering that Johnson makes no secret about being chairman of the American Freedom Party, which seeks to represent the political interests of White Americans. Johnson conducted robocalls with a white nationalist message in support of Trump during the primaries. Trump was even questioned on the trail about accepting contributions from white supremacists, and he said he would return them. Johnsons $250 donation was sent back.

Even if it was an honest mistake, oops is an insufficient response from a candidate who has screwed up this badly  especially one who has already been accused of racism and xenophobia for his comments about Mexicans and Muslims, and whose campaign has flirted with white nationalists in the past. Trumps son appeared on a white nationalist radio show. Trump himself has retweeted comments from white nationalists. Each time, the explanation is: oops. Trump was also slow to disavow an endorsement from KKK leader David Duke.

Candidates shouldnt have to disavow every unpalatable person who supports them. But in this case, it was Trumps own campaign that selected Johnson, and as a result, the candidate owes voters a clear explanation. Will Trump state clearly and unequivocally that he does not want the support of white supremacists; that he rejects their ideology and sees no place for hate, racism or ethnic division in the United States? Or wont he? California Republicans ought to watch and listen closely, and ask themselves: Is this the man to lead the GOP?

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In science as in politics, most people agree that transparency is essential. Top journals now require authors to disclose their funding sources so that readers can judge the possibility of bias, and the British Medical Journal recently required authors to disclose their data as well so that experts can run independent analyses of the results. But as transparency becomes the standard, many academics are resisting the trend without pushback from their universities.

After researcher Wei-Hock Soon of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics was caught taking money from fossil fuel companies while claiming that climate change is not happening, the Smithsonian Institution revised its disclosure rules this April. Days later, Soon received $65,000 from Donors Trust, an organization that funnels anonymous contributions to conservative causes. According to the Guardian newspaper, Donors Trust has dispensed nearly $120 million to more than 100 groups casting doubt on climate science. Harvard-Smithsonian declined to explain why Soon received the money, and said that simply acknowledging his ties to Donors Trust allows Soon to meet ethical standards.

Its not hard to find examples of scientists accepting grants from sources that have a financial stake in their field of study  while failing to make clear the nature of the relationship. In 2014, Coca-Cola donated more than $1 million to the University of Colorado School of Medicine to create the Global Energy Balance Network. Initially, involved parties claimed the researchers would work independently of the company. Yet as the universitys internal emails later revealed, Coca-Cola had direct influence on the groups missions and activities, forcing Cokes chief executive to admit that there was not a sufficient level of transparency with regard to the companys involvement with the Global Energy Balance Network.

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Further complaints led the university to return $1 million to Coca-Cola, and the Global Energy Balance Network later shut down. No loss there: Public health experts accused the group of scientific nonsense designed to deflect attention from the role sugary drinks play in the obesity epidemic.

One name that often comes up in these transparency scandals is the agrochemical company Monsanto. Chicago public radio recently ran a story on the University of Illinois, where professor Bruce Chassy helped Monsanto route gifts for him through a universitys foundation. Chassy then accessed this money to pay expenses for biotechnology outreach to scientists, policymakers and the public, but never disclosed Monsantos involvement.

And last year, the New York Times revealed that Monsanto had enlisted academics in a public relations campaign against tightening regulations on genetically modified organism crops. One researcher at the University of Florida, Kevin Folta, received $25,000 from Monsanto to educate voters and fellow scientists about GMOs. In his proposal, Folta explained how Monsanto should fund the project so that it is not in a conflict-of-interest account and would not have to be publicly reported.

Disclosure matters because when a special interest sponsors research, that research is likely to produce results in favor of the sponsor.

Disclosure matters because when a special interest sponsors research, that research is likely to produce results in favor of the sponsor. This is not an opinion but a scientific conclusion based on studies of published research on drugs and devices, tobacco and chemicals. For instance, in 2006, a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry examined every publicly available trial funded by the pharmaceutical industry for five antipsychotic drugs. The paper found that nine out of 10 published studies concluded that the best drug was the one sold by the company funding the trial.

Back in 2007, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee began a multiyear investigation into the ties between the pharmaceutical industry and academic researchers. The committee found that companies were trying to influence doctors by paying bonuses, providing free meals and trips, sponsoring their research and supporting their professional societies. In response, the Senate passed the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires companies to report money and gifts they give to physicians. The federal government has now reported that, in 2014, companies paid $6.49 billion to more than 600,000 doctors and 1,100 teaching hospitals, for meals and gifts, consulting fees, research support, and honorariums to promote drugs.

Those numbers may sound alarming, but at least we know the scope of the problem  and thats not the case outside of medicine.

As public funding for research falls and more academics have trouble obtaining government grants, they will turn increasingly to the private sector. An obvious remedy is to extend a law like the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to other areas of science, requiring all industries to report when they fund academics. In fact, a leading scholar has suggested that failing to disclose funding should be considered research misconduct. But disclosure is only a first step.

Universities need to put the public interest first and exclude some academic-corporate relationships. The University of California tightened funding standards in 2007, requiring further scrutiny for grants paid for by tobacco companies. Since we now have evidence suggesting that fossil fuel companies create disinformation on climate change and that the pharmaceutical and medical device industries create disinformation in medicine, perhaps similar restrictions should be considered on their funding.

Disclosure and restrictions do not harm academic freedom. These policies still allow scientists to pursue research, while ensuring that public health is not put at risk in service of corporate profit.

Paul D. Thacker is a journalist and writer living in Spain. Curt Furberg is a retired professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest School of Medicine.

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On June 9 California will join four other states  Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana  in allowing physician-assisted suicide. Meanwhile, my state, Arizona, and a dozen or so others are considering their own right to die laws. As a hospice physician, about twice a year I am asked by a patient to prescribe a lethal dose of a medication. Oncologists throughout the country report that up to half of their patients at least ask about it.

But even if it were legal in Arizona, and I knew a patient met all the criteria established by law, I would still not hasten his or her death. That would be my right as a doctor, and it will be the right of doctors in California as well.

The reasons I wont participate begin with the Hippocratic oath I took when I became a doctor  First do no harm. I have also seen too many late-breaking healed relationships and radical changes of heart in my patients last days to think that taking a prescription in advance of the end is the best way to die. Most important, I believe that physician-assisted suicide is an unnecessary defense against fear and suffering.

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Right to die laws require that patients be screened for depression; they try to make sure they are acting intentionally, with a full understanding of their options. Yet in the records kept by states that have legalized physician-assisted suicide and in my experience in hospice care, I find that people often want help dying because they dont know what to expect and they dont want to lose control. They want to choose death with their head, to avoid suffering, and they dont know that they can do that without a prescription and without the states permission.

It is actually easy. They can just stop eating and drinking. In fact, this is the natural process of dying for many people  the body starts to shut down; appetite disappears along with the ability to swallow; the dying stop taking in food or drink.

Here is the surprise: It is a pleasant way to go. Hunger is gone after the first three days. Really. And thirst can be managed by rinsing the mouth or taking ice chips. Patients drift off into a coma over the course of a few weeks. It may be one of the most comfortable ways to die. If, on the other hand, we pump the dying with intravenous fluids and force-feed them with a feeding tube, we may prolong the process and create a worse death, causing coughing, choking and swelling all over the body.

I believe those who push for physician-assisted suicide arent educating themselves about how to manage life at its end, or how to have a good death.

I know that a no-food, no-water prescription may seem heartless and difficult nonetheless. It feels counter-intuitive to anyone used to the life-saving mission of hospital medicine. I had to see such deaths in my practice many times to believe that not eating and drinking at the end of life was a good thing.

Dying this way doesnt preclude pain medication. I can prescribe such medication and I can suggest many ways to keep patients comfortable as they die at home. And if pain cant be managed with such medication, I can prescribe palliative sedation  a medical coma. Death still comes naturally: No food and water while the patient sleeps.

Some people will say they dont want to make their families go through that. But I know it is often comforting for family members to visit their dying loved one as the process begins and while they are sleeping, to hear their breathing, to have time to prepare for the death and to have a chance to say aloud what might help heal old wounds.

By understanding palliative care and the processes of dying, we can take responsibility for our deaths without fear. I believe those who push for physician-assisted suicide arent educating themselves about how to manage life at its end, or how to have a good death. They want agency up to a point, but then they want physicians to be responsible by prescribing a medicine. I wont take that on.

While legislators decide what is legal and not legal, and while doctors decide if they will or wont write suicide prescriptions, if you are at the end of your life and you want more control, just turn off the IV. Say no to the food, yes to ice chips, and then rest. Turn on some music; look out the window. The body knows how to die. You know how to die. It is gentle and easy. This I will help my patients do.

Dr. Ann Marie Chiasson is a hospice and palliative care specialist and the assistant fellowship director at the University of Arizonas Center for Integrative Medicine.

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To the editor: As a 1976 graduate of Scripps College, I can only imagine what the founder, Ellen Browning Scripps, would have to say about the current commencement controversy over having former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speak to the graduates. (War criminal or role model? Madeleine Albright as Scripps College commencement speaker hits a nerve, May 9)

Scripps loathed discrimination and privilege. She believed in free speech and she was an advocate of womens suffrage as well as world peace. Ironically, Albright possesses the qualities that Scripps passionately wanted to instill in the women of Scripps College.

In Scripps own words, The paramount obligation of a college is to develop in its students the ability to think clearly and independently and the ability to live confidently, courageously and hopefully.

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The Scripps that I attended fostered and encouraged intelligent discourse. I can only hope that the college can return to the vision upon which it was established.

Linda Lebenbaum Sanoff, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: When Albright was queried about the deaths of countless Iraqi children due to U.S. sanctions in a 1996 interview, her response was that is was worth it. These sanctions were imposed upon Iraq in part for that countrys nonexistent weapons of mass destruction.

The students and faculty at Scripps College who are opposing Albright as the commencement speaker are to be commended for their moral stand.

Bob Lentz, Sylmar

..

To the editor: As yet another college protests yet another highly qualified speaker at commencement, one wonders whether the tide of political correctness and suppression of different voices has yet reached its peak.

The fact that one student (a media studies major) vehemently voiced her preference for a lifestyle blogger as commencement speaker over a former secretary of state is very telling about her cohort, and not in a good way. To insist upon hearing only from those whose opinions and values mirror your own seems like the antithesis of education.

Why go to a college at all? Groupthink is the death of critical thought and intellectual development.

Nina Belfor, Westlake Village

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News / Local

by Staff Reporter

Makausi Thomas Makonese, the first black lawyer to run a law firm in Masvingo and probably the most prominent attorney in the province has died.He was 58.Masvingo Mirror reported that described at the funeral as an epitome of integrity in the law profession, Makonese died of lung cancer at the Avenues Clinic at 405pm last Thursday (April 28) 2016. He was buried at the Lawn Cemetery on Saturday after a church mass conducted by the head of Masvingo Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Michael Dickson Bhasera.Makonese ran Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube Law firm in Masvingo.Makonese who was the first president of the Law Society to be elected outside Harare was a leading member of several voluntary organisations including Legal Resources Foundation and the Rotary Club where he made immense donations and gave his time for free.He also sent a lot of disadvantaged children to school and some up to University level.Speaking at the funeral, the President of the Law Society ......Nyemba who was flanked by a large group lawyers said Makonese was a lawyer of immense integrity and was a good example to the young lawyers."Makonese was a man of immense integrity. He was totally against corruption. He did not tolerate corruption. He was genuine, well-meaning and had not one single bad record at the Law Society."We always invited him to our Summer School for his invaluable advice. This time when we looked for him for the same event, we were shocked to be told that he was in hospital," said Nyemba.....Chihambakwe who is the founder of the law firm and one of Makonese's partners described the late as an excellent lawyer, hardworking and disciplined. He reiterated that he was a man who was against corruption."We employed him as a lawyer in 1981 and he is the one who opened our law firm in Masvingo. He became a partner around 1989 and had his name on the law firm's name in 1995. He was a dependable man and we relied on him for everything in Masvingo," said Chihambakwe.Senior legal practitioner, .......Muzenda said Makonese was a"lawyer of lawyers", (gweta remagweta), an intelligent attorney and an avid reader.According to his brother Mandava Gonese, Makonese was born on April 18, 1958 in Chikonye Village in Chief Nyamande in Gutu. He went to Mabhugu and Mutero primary schools before joining Gokomere up to A Level.He did a law degree with the University of Zimbabwe and joined Government for a short stint as a magisterial assistant in Masvingo. In 1981 he was recruited by Chihambakwe to join Chihambakwe, Chirunda and Chikumbirike.The company later became Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube in Masvingo.Makonese was born to Felix Makausi, a businessman and was married to Martina Vhudzijena Makonese. They had three children Agnes, Pamela Francis and two grandchildren Tafara and Kyla.He also had prominent brothers, .....Makausi (late) who a head of department at Zimsec and Mandaba Gonese who was a district administrator with various districts in Zimbabwe. He had sisters Eustina Musenda, Placida and Esther.
To the editor? Thank you for calling out the city of Oakland and its partner the California Capital and Investment Group for misleading the public about coal transport being included in their plan for redeveloping an old Army base and their willingness to cause damage to the global environment and potentially the health of nearby residents through their planning decisions. (If coal is too dirty for the U.S., why would Oakland build a dock to export it to Asia? editorial, May 9)

Social Studies 101 teaches that the function of government is to protect and ensure the welfare of the people. When that goal conflicts with the wishes of moneyed interests, then public well-being should take precedence. Oakland is forgetting its responsibility not only to its own citizens but the global commons as well, and it needs to be reminded.

The Oakland port, as planned, would keep us firmly on the path of greenhouse gas and pollution-related disasters. Its past time for governments at all levels to fully commit to safe, alternative energy sources and make decisions reflecting that commitment.

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Cher Gilmore, Newhall

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To the editor: I agree with Max Boot: The Republican Party lies somewhere between being on life support and dead. I do not, however, think that its presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump caused its demise. (The Republican Party is dead, Opinion, May 8)

The GOP has been winning elections for more than half a century by appealing to the fears and prejudices of much of its base. Recall Richard Nixons southern strategy, Ronald Reagans welfare queens, the Willie Horton ad in 1988 and the vilifying of Latinos for Proposition 187 here in California.

As a celebrity and demagogue, Trump is simply taking advantage of the work done by the party before him. He also has a keen understanding of both his supporters and the media, and he uses them masterfully.

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Steve Varalyay, Torrance

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To the editor: Trump got the top slot against a field of 16 articulate, well-financed opponents, winning more primary votes than any Republican in history. The voters liked his message better than what the establishment Republicans had to offer.

Boot mischaracterizes Trumps position regarding Mexicans and Muslims. Trump calls for rule of law regarding how immigrants can enter the United States and suspending Muslim immigration until they are properly vetted. These common-sense positions are embraced by most Americans.

As to other foreign policy issues Boot takes issue with, Ill take a chance with Trumps gut instinct that we dont need to go abroad looking for monsters to slay.

Unlike Boot, I hope Donald Trump wins by a landslide because this country will not recover from a Hillary Clinton presidency. As to establishment wunderkind and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) riding to the nations rescue, hell be lucky to hold onto his seat this November.

Ray Markarian, El Cajon

..

To the editor: As a late-in-life Republican, Ive had trouble putting into words my disgust at the party and its voters who have selected Trump as its candidate for president of the United States.

I grew up as a JFK Democrat  socially moderate and fiscally conservative  and I feel that Boot has written an eloquent opinion piece that perfectly represents how I view what my party should, and must, represent.

Im not very optimistic that Ill ever again in my lifetime see the party that inspired me to leave the Democratic Party because of the common-sense solutions it once espoused.

Jeff Tome, Santa Clarita

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During the 2008 election, I never heard a presidential candidate promise to save jobs in the newspaper industry. Technological changes had shattered the business model, newspapers were shutting down or laying off workers, and serious journalists with suddenly stunted careers were scrambling for PR jobs or starting up blogs that would never earn them a living.

A year later, the newspaper I worked for in Seattle stopped print publication and soon thereafter I headed to L.A. to reboot my career. Neither I nor any of my colleagues ever thought to ask a politician to save us, to somehow prop up our struggling industry and guarantee wed not have to reinvent ourselves or train for something new. If we had asked (or been in any other industry), Im sure we could have easily found candidates willing to promise an easy fix because, in politics, the economic debate is generally built around reassuring fables. Nobody wants to deliver the bad news that America is unlikely ever to return to the economy of the 1950s when even people with limited schooling could find jobs that would sustain a middle-class lifestyle.

Most candidates pretend the good old days can be restored by some vague magic right after the next election. Usually such hocus-pocus involves tax cuts and stripping away regulations. Todays prime example of this phenomenon: Donald Trump and the West Virginia coal miners.

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Campaigning in West Virginia before last Tuesdays primary and with an eye on the Kentucky primary next week, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee told the states beleaguered coal miners that, once he moves into the White House, their industry will thrive and their jobs will come back. He laid into Hillary Clinton, his likely Democratic opponent in the fall campaign, slamming her for a provocative remark she made in March. Clinton had said she was the only candidate with a policy about how to bring economic opportunity using clean, renewable energy as the key into coal country, because were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.

Thats a tough one to explain, wouldnt you say? Trump asked a West Virginia crowd that took Clintons words as an assault on their way of life.

Clinton has apologetically tried to explain herself, saying she simply meant the decline of the coal industry is inevitable, which is why she is offering a $30-million plan to retrain coal miners for jobs in the rising alternative energy sector. That mea culpa is not likely to keep West Virginia from going for Trump in November, even though all he offers is false hope. Trump blames the coal industrys difficulties on the Environmental Protection Agency, ignoring the reality that coals real problem is losing market share to natural gas and renewable energy.

Trump ignores another reality: climate change driven by the burning of coal and other fossil fuels. Trump believes President Obama was born in Kenya and Ted Cruzs father hung out with Lee Harvey Oswald, so it is no surprise he dismisses climate change as a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. That most of the worlds scientists and governmental leaders would call that deluded thinking does not matter to Trump or to the voters who love him because he says what they want to hear.

Hillary Clinton may have expressed herself poorly, but at least she was trying to do something politicians hate to do  address hard economic reality. Meanwhile, Trump, the outsider, promised the coal miners it will all be easy. How like a politician he has become.

Folks in coal country need to face an unsettling fact: their lives cannot stay the same. As a source of energy, coal is a threat to the environment. As a job, coal mining is dirty, unhealthy, dangerous and anachronistic. As an industry, coal is in worse shape than newspapers.

On the bright side, neither the information industry nor the energy industry is going away. Both are growing, even as they change. That is why people in the news business are busy reinventing themselves to engage with readers who now get their information on screens, not on newsprint. Coal miners, too, need to reinvent themselves for a world where people will get their energy from the wind and sun, not from carbon scraped from holes in the ground.
The drugmaker Purdue Pharma launched OxyContin two decades ago with a bold marketing claim: One dose relieves pain for 12 hours, more than twice as long as generic medications. On the strength of that promise, OxyContin became Americas best-selling painkiller. But our Los Angeles Times investigation found that OxyContins stunning success masked a fundamental problem: The drug wears off hours early in many people, exposing them to painful symptoms of withdrawal and an increased risk of addiction.

We hosted a Q&A on Reddit on May 11 and received thousands of questions for reporter Harriet Ryan and editor Matt Lait. Heres a selection of those questions and answers, lightly edited for length and clarity.

On taking OxyContin

Im a junior in high school, and Ive seen Oxy completely take over the lives of so many people I know. How can I best inform my friends and community on the dangers of opiates? It seems like things like Oxy or Percocet or Vicodin are the only options after surgery, so do my friends and I even have options when it comes to painkillers?

Harriet: This is very scary. I think sometimes teens and young adults view prescription pain meds as less dangerous than street drugs like meth and cocaine. One guy I talked to said he wouldnt even try marijuana, but he dove right into OxyContin because it was a pharmaceutical and he thought it was safer.

One recommendation the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recently made that may help address the problem of teen access to painkillers: It urged doctors not to send people home from surgery with a full prescription of pills. The CDC said that only a few days of painkiller are needed and thats all a doctor should write. Otherwise, they end up unused in medicine cabinets and ripe for pilfering.

As for what you can tell your friends, I think former addicts are the best messengers. Go on YouTube or some of the Reddit message boards, and youl find people telling their stories and it will break your heart/wake you up.

Are there safer, less addictive alternatives out there, or will effective pain medication always carry that risk?

Harriet: This is a great question. A pain researcher recently told me that this country needs to have a Manhattan Project to develop non-addictive pain meds. The CDC says the best treatment for chronic pain is not opioids but alternatives like NSAIDs, physical therapy, interventional treatments, meditation, etc.

Would you ever take any painkiller, or recommend them to anybody?

Harriet: I would  short-term for acute pain or if I was in hospice. The CDC has said painkillers can be appropriate treatment in those cases.

Would you take OxyContin?

Matt: After doing this research, I personally would avoid taking the drug. If you do so, do so carefully and check in with your doctor.

I badly broke my neck in an on-the-job accident working for the fire department and am now partially, legally disabled. I live every day of my life in severe, intractable pain.

While I regret the fact some folks have abused this medication, journalists such as yourselves have demonized OxyContin to the point that millions of individuals around the world who live in severe pain now have significant difficulty obtaining access to pain medicine so that they can have any possibility of a real life.

Do you admit, or deny, that your efforts have made it more difficult for individuals with severe pain to obtain effective treatment?

Harriet: I deny. I am sorry that you suffer chronic pain. There are very few problems that are more challenging, and I recognize the bravery it takes to get up every morning and live when you are in severe pain. But I don't think it is fair to blame journalism for trying to shed light on the very serious problems that have accompanied the broad use of painkillers in this country.

As our story notes, more than 190,000 people have died from overdoses involving these drugs since 1999. Many of them died after years of addiction that stripped them of their dignity and wrecked the lives of their families. It's not only advocacy groups and reporters who have noted the problems with painkiller use. It's the federal government and the CDC. I urge you to read what that agency said two months ago about how doctors should and shouldnt treat chronic pain.

How we investigated

As far as collecting sources, how did you manage to find people willing to go on the record, and was it difficult finding them to begin with? What was the process like when searching for people to talk?

Harriet: I was surprised at how willing recovering addicts were to speak publicly about their experiences. I think that some feel its their mission to get the word out that recovery is possible. We found people by contacting rehabs, support groups, addiction doctors and others and saying, We want to talk to people who became addicted to OxyContin after being prescribed it for legit pain. A bunch of people were recommended. We didnt tell them about the duration issue. We just said, What happened? And again and again, we heard that the drug didn't last.

What was the most weird route to addiction by a patient?

Harriet: The most surprising  and sad  route to addiction to me was teenagers who were given OxyContin for post-surgical pain. In one case, it was for dental surgery. I was shocked that doctors would send teenagers home with a bottle of OxyContin for minor surgeries.

Its worth noting that the doctors who wrote those prescriptions were going off-label. Thats not the use of the drug the FDA approved.

What was the most alarming discovery you made?

Matt: We were struck by how the company responded to information it received that doctors were prescribing the drug for eight hours rather than 12 for many patients. They held special training sessions to get sales reps to refocus doctors on so-called q12h dosing. Records show that company executives were concerned that insurers would stop paying OxyContins hefty price if it werent a true 12-hour drug. There were other cheaper painkillers on the market that lasted four, six or eight hours.

We were also struck that the companys solution to the drug not lasting 12 hours in many patients was to prescribe stronger doses, which comes with increased risks to the patients. One of the documents that most surprised us was the one in an FDA petition in which company lawyers acknowledged that eight-hour dosing might be the optimal treatment for some patients, but that the company intended to continue marketing it for 12 hours, in part, because of the competitive advantage.

Great piece of serious investigative journalism. Very eye-opening. I was wondering, how were you able to obtain the Purdue documents that were sealed by courts? It seems like there were some smoking guns in there.

Matt: Thanks. As with many investigative pieces, we drew from a variety of sources  some of them confidential. Those sources gave us information with the understanding that they would not be identified. Some of the information, however, was from public sources and files such as previous litigation and regulatory reviews.

Im fascinated by the nuts and bolts of producing a story like this. What is it like behind the scenes on such an epic, long-term investigation? How much percent of a reporters time is focused on this story versus other work demands?

Harriet: Three reporters worked on this investigation (this story and ones that will be published later): Lisa Girion, Scott Glover and me. For the most part, we worked on it full time, although we got pulled off occasionally to work on other stories, e.g., the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Investigative journalism is reading through lots and lots of records, occasionally interrupted by attempts  usually unsuccessful  to get people to talk to you who really dont want to.

Why investigate a drug that does give many people relief from pain, even though it may not last as long for a good portion, as opposed to something more sinister  doctors who abuse their power or miracle cures who are actively and knowingly causing harm?

Harriet: We did a lengthy series examining the role of the medical establishment  doctors, pharmacists and medical boards  in the prescription drug epidemic. But do I think its fair to look at the role of drug companies, too? Yes. And why Purdue Pharma? It makes the best-selling painkiller in the country and the one widely blamed for setting off the epidemic.

Tell us more about OxyContin and Purdue

Did you see whether there were any biological indicators as to what made the drug wear off faster for people? Did things like age, gender or body structure affect how fast the drug wore off?

Harriet: Great question. In general, younger, more active people metabolize faster. I think I mentioned that one pain specialist told us that in his experience, OxyContin wore off early in almost all patients, but that he thought it might last the full 12 hours in one type: very elderly invalids.

Do you know of any state or federal prosecutions, current or contemplated, to hold Purdue accountable for deceiving regulators, doctors and the public on OxyContin?

Harriet: The city of Chicago is currently pursuing a lawsuit against Purdue on a variety of grounds, including the duration issue.

A lot of states  and the federal government  settled claims against Purdue for misrepresenting OxyContin in the mid-2000s. The Justice Department and a bunch of states settled in 2007, and Purdue paid $634 million. Kentucky just settled in December. All of these were before our story.

Are there reasons other than sales/marketing for keeping up the 12-hour dosing schedule? What would be required for doctors to be able to deviate from the manufacturers recommendation?

Harriet: Doctors are free to deviate from the product label. Thats called off-label prescribing, and its done quite frequently. In our reporting, we found that many pain specialists prescribe OxyContin at eight-hour intervals. They told us this was based on their day-in and day-out experience. They felt confident in rejecting the product label and the advice of Purdues sales reps because of their many years of practicing pain management.

OxyContin is widely prescribed by family practice and internists too, and these doctors, who are handling the kitchen sink of medical issues, may not be as comfortable deviating from the product label. Some are worried about using narcotics in general and just want to go by the book, and others feel like they will be less susceptible to malpractice suits if they are strictly following the label.

What were the most common illnesses you found doctors prescribing these pills for?

Harriet: OxyContin is prescribed for moderate to severe pain that lasts more than a few days. People take it for a whole range of conditions, including migraines, arthritis, surgical recovery, backaches, bad knees.

Did OxyContin's lawyers threaten you with defamation, along with other legal claims?

Matt: Heres Purdues response to our story and our reply.

Lets talk about painkillers in America

What is it about the American medical system that makes us much more likely to prescribe painkillers vs. other countries?

Harriet: Some things to consider: Other countries have had painkiller problems, including with OxyContin  Canada, New Zealand, Cyprus, Australia. Secondly, in many places around the globe, there is zero use of painkillers because of poverty. Those places cant afford morphine drips for terminal cancer patients, let alone brand-name drugs for lumbar pain.

Are there any current legal discussions of the danger of opioids and removing them from pain treatment scenarios?

Harriet: I dont know about legal, but theres a sea change underway in the medical community about the use of opioids. Leading health authorities in our country are increasingly skeptical about painkiller use long term.

Earlier this year, the CDC issued guidelines for primary care doctors that discourage them from treating chronic pain with opioid painkillers like OxyContin. The agency said that theres just no evidence that they work long term to relieve pain, while theres a wealth of evidence that they cause harm. The guidelines urge particular caution with extended-release medications, like OxyContin, and high-dose prescriptions. To be clear, the guidelines dont apply to short-term use for acute injuries or to end-of-life care.

How related are the problems with opioid overprescription and the heroin problem on the East Coast? Do you think that increased border security could drive up the price of heroin and make it less of an alternative to OxyContin? What do you think is the best path to solving this problem?

Thank you for doing this. I have been lucky enough to not have any of my friends dead from this, but I know too many people who say they have friends or old classmates who started on Oxy and then switched to heroin and then died. This problem affects so many people. It is so sad.

Harriet: Its super, super sad. I hope you guys will read our next story, which is about black-market Oxy and how it devastated one community. Personally, I think theres some amount of society that is going to abuse drugs, whether thats pharmaceuticals or heroin or meth or crack. And then theres a segment that could go either way. And the fate of those people depends on how accessible the drugs are. If they are well-controlled, then those people wont end up using.

Tell us your story: Do you have an experience with OxyContin, or do you know someone who has?
Im Christina Bellantoni. This is Essential Politics, and its a big moment for the Republican Party.

TRUMP IN D.C.

Donald Trump has descended on Capitol Hill Thursday for a meeting with Republican leaders that is looking more like a showdown than a kumbaya moment for the partys presumed presidential nominee.

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Lisa Mascaro examines the forces at work and finds that in both substance and style, the political gulf between the partys nominee and its leaders in Congress is so vast on core policy issues it may prove too difficult to bridge.

Well cover Trumps meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as its happening  and the aftermath  on Trail Guide. Make sure to follow @latimespolitics, too.

CLINTONS STRATEGY

The Democrat with the most likely chance of facing Trump this fall has a two-pronged approach in the final month of the primary.

Even as Hillary Clinton continues to absorb fire from a challenger on her left, she has begun executing a methodical general election strategy aimed chiefly at winning over voters in the center. Her campaign has laid out a road map for controlling crucial battleground states that centers on the anxieties of independents and moderate Republican voters, particularly women, who are alarmed by what they have heard from Trump.

Evan Halper and Michael Memoli write that polls suggest moderate voters, at least for now, lean against the GOP standard-bearer in numbers that outpace those from recent presidential races.

STATE SENATE SCRAPS FUNDRAISING RULE

The next few days are going to be critical on a host of fronts in California.

In the wake of the 2013 campaign finance scandals involving two state senators, the California Senate put into place new limits on when its members could raise campaign cash.

Breaking this morning, the upper house will vote to cancel part of that fundraising blackout. As Patrick McGreevy reports, senators would again be able to raise money during the one month between the governor revising his budget plan  which Gov. Jerry Brown will do Friday  and final approval of the budget by the Legislature.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said the reversal is, in part, a reflection that the Assembly never agreed to the same rules.

POTHOLES REMAIN IN BIG ROAD FUNDING PLAN

For a year, the governor has tried to push through a plan to raise the gas tax along with other revenues to deal with the states massive backlog of road repairs. But as Liam Dillon reports, the proposal  along with others from Democratic lawmakers  hasnt gained much traction with Republican legislators, whose votes would be needed for any tax hike.

One state senator has tried to provide cover in the way of spending and regulatory reforms for GOP lawmakers to vote yes. And an assemblyman believes that if Republicans are going to vote for a tax increase, they should go big.

Well be covering Browns revised budget release on Friday live on our Essential Politics news feed.

INCOME TAX MEASURE TAKES AIM FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT

Four years after Brown asked voters to temporarily raise income taxes on the wealthy and sales taxes on everyone, a coalition of labor and healthcare groups is poised to ask for a do-over.

On Wednesday, they began submitting more than 980,000 signatures on a fall ballot measure to keep those high-earner income taxes in place. As John Myers reports, that would mean 18 straight years of higher taxes  worth billions of dollars  from Browns 2012 initiative until this one expires in 2030. Its expected to be one of the marquee measures on the Nov. 8 California ballot.

WHATS NEXT FOR SANDERS GOLDEN STATE CAMPAIGN?

Bernie Sanders plan to win an upset victory here was dealt another setback Wednesday when the staffer directing all of the insurgents California operations left the campaign.

California state director Michael Ceraso, who has been working with the Sanders campaign since the early days of the race, parted ways with it. The Sanders campaign did not respond to questions asking why.

A CLINTON CASH RUN TO CALIFORNIA

Look for a blitz of Golden State events from Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, as both are scheduled to attend a handful of fundraisers just two weeks away from the June 7 statewide primary.

According to invitations obtained by The Times, Hillary Clinton will hold two Los Angeles events on May 23: one at the home of Hollywood agent Bryan Lourd and restaurateur Bruce Bozzi we reported on last week; and a second event that same night hosted by airport/hotel concession CEO Clarence Daniels.

Shes then slated to be in Silicon Valley on May 25 for a fundraiser at the home of eBay executive Sharon Meers and developer Steve Dostart.

For the former president, its a trip to Sacramento and a May 23 fundraiser at the home of former state treasurer and 2006 gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides.

The Washington Post reported that Trump has fundraising plans for Los Angeles as well.

BROWNS DROUGHT PLAN

Brown unveiled his long-term drought policy Monday, making permanent some conservation measures that were once temporary. Residential water users bear the brunt of the policys restrictions while agriculture seems to get a pass, George Skelton writes in his Thursday column.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

 Dont expect to see Trumps tax returns any time soon.

 Cathleen Decker details how five California candidates in one hour made for an unsatisfying U.S. Senate debate.

 San Bernardinos police chief and county sheriff have endorsed freshman Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilars re-election bid.

 Orange County Democrats arent worried about Trump.

 The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board has endorsed Rep. Janice Hahn in the county supervisor race.

 Doyle McManus writes on the op-ed page that the Crooked Hillary label could stick.

 What do you think of Trump? Readers can weigh in with our quick survey.

LOGISTICS

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Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.
Two years after the state Senate adopted fundraising restrictions in response to a series of scandals, lawmakers plan to rescind the ban on collecting money during budget season.

The proposed rollback was criticized Wednesday by good-government advocates, but Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said the change is only fair.

With the budget scheduled for a vote June 15, the blackout period is set to begin Monday. De Leon plans to seek a Senate vote to revoke the fundraising restriction as early as Thursday.

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The decision was made because a blackout was not adopted by the Assembly or applied universally to all candidates, putting Senate incumbents at a disadvantage.

The Senate remains strongly committed to statewide campaign finance reform that applies universally, but in an election year with unprecedented millions of dollars pouring in from outside special interests, we cant continue to unilaterally disarm and prevent our members from defending themselves when no other elected officials or candidates are abiding by the same rules, De Leon said in a statement.

Campaign finance reform only works when its a fair and level playing field, he added. When it isnt, deep-pocketed special interests win.

The blackout period  along with another in effect during the four weeks preceding the end of the legislative session  was adopted by Senate resolution in 2014 as part of an effort to restore public trust after a series of corruption scandals.

That year, now former Democratic Sens. Ronald Calderon and Leland Yee were indicted on charges of taking payments for official actions as part of separate FBI sting operations, while Sen. Roderick Wright was convicted of voting fraud for lying about living in his Senate district.

At the time, De Leon said the blackout periods will ensure that elected officials are focused exclusively on the peoples business at the busiest times of the legislative year.

De Leon added then that the rules were preserving the ability for members to wage effective campaigns by raising the necessary money at more appropriate times of the year.

The proposal to rescind the blackout rule at least for the budget season and possibly for the end of the session drew criticism from Gavin Baker, the open government program manager for California Common Cause.

The fundraising blackout period is an important safeguard for preventing undue influence by special interests during the most critical times in the legislative calendar, Baker said. The Senate should not abandon it.

Baker said voters are frustrated with the growing influence of money in politics.

Now is the time to strengthen campaign finance reforms, not roll them back, he said.

Last year, Assembly members held 42 campaign fundraisers in the four weeks before the budget was approved. Some of the fundraisers were held by lawmakers who were then considering possible runs for state Senate, including Assembly members Mike Gatto of Glendale, Das Williams of Santa Barbara and Toni Atkins of San Diego.

But last year was not an election year, so the pressure on senators to raise campaign funds was not as strong as it is this year.

This year, Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose) is lagging behind in the money race while facing a competitive challenge from Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose).

Bealls campaign has directly raised about $596,000 compared with $323,000 by Campos, but a campaign committee backed by oil companies Chevron, Tesoro and Valero has independently spent $340,000 in favor of Campos.

De Leons push to help Beall defeat Campos comes after previous friction between the senator and assemblywoman.

In 2014, De Leon backed his former girlfriend, Magdalena Carrasco, with whom he has a daughter, as she unseated San Jose City Councilman Xavier Campos.

The former councilman is Nora Campos brother and beat Carrasco in a bitter contest for the same council seat in the previous election.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Follow @mcgreevy99 on Twitter

ALSO:

Calif. Senate adopts new ethics standards, rejects others

California Senate panel shelves GOP ethics bill

Updates from Sacramento
The state Senate voted Thursday to suspend a rule barring campaign fundraising during the budget-writing season after Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said the rule was giving an unfair advantage to moneyed special interests opposing incumbents.

The vote was 24-8 to suspend the rule adopted two years ago as part of an effort by the Senate to regain public trust after three of its members were charged with crimes. The suspension is effective immediately.

After careful review, the Rules Committee has determined that the restrictions are too limiting to apply unilaterally to only one legislative house, De Leon said in a floor speech in which he asked for the rule to be suspended. I do so with reluctance as well as regret.

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With the state budget scheduled for a vote June 15, the blackout period for raising money from special interests that hire lobbyists is set to begin Monday. The decision was made, De Leon said, because a blackout was not adopted by the Assembly or applied universally to all candidates, putting Senate incumbents at a disadvantage.

Republican state Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber was one of those who opposed dropping the rule, which also bans fundraising by senators during the last month of the legislative session. Nielsen said it does not look good to the public for lawmakers to shelve the rule right before it takes effect.

The timing is certainly not the best right now, Nielsen said. We have a rule in place. Is it working? Probably not. But I feel the timing was inappropriate. Why now?

The rule suspension disappointed Gavin Baker, open government program manager for California Common Cause.

Legislators should be able to fully focus on governing during these key times, he said Thursday.

He agreed that it was unfair for one house to operate under restrictions while the other one does not.

But the best way to strengthen Californians confidence in our elected officials is for the Assembly to follow suit in adopting the Senates fundraising ban  not for the Senate to follow the Assembly in a race to the bottom, Baker said.

Last year, Assembly members held 42 campaign fundraisers in the four weeks before the budget was approved. Some of the fundraisers were held by lawmakers who were then considering possible runs for state Senate, including Democrat Toni Atkins of San Diego.

Senate leaders are particularly concerned this year that the reelection campaign of Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose) is lagging behind in the money contest in a competitive race with Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose).

Bealls campaign has directly raised about $596,000, compared with $323,000 by Campos, but a campaign committee backed by oil companies Chevron, Tesoro and Valero has independently spent $340,000 in favor of Campos.

De Leon said democracy requires fair elections.

But in the current election environment with unprecedented millions of dollars pouring into our political system and threatening to drown out the candidates themselves on both sides of the aisle  Democrats as well as Republicans  we cannot in good conscience or as a matter of good policy force our members to unilaterally disarm, play by a different set of rules and cease to defend themselves, De Leon told his colleagues.

If we do we arent standing up for democracy, he added. We are giving an unfair advantage to the powerful and very wealthy special interests who are attempting to gain their results.

Beall was the lone Democrat to vote against suspending the rule, seeing it as a conflict of interest to vote on a rule change that would benefit him, said his campaign spokesman, Michael Terris.

De Leons push to help Beall defeat Campos comes after previous friction between the senator and assemblywoman.

In 2014, De Leon backed his former girlfriend, Magdalena Carrasco, with whom he has a daughter, as she unseated San Jose City Councilman Xavier Campos.

------------

FOR THE RECORD

May 12, 3:55 p.m.: An earlier version of this article said that state Sen. Jim Beall backed Magdalena Carrasco in her run for San Jose City Council in 2014. Bealls representative said he did not endorse her.

------------

The former councilman, who is Nora Campos brother, had beaten Carrasco in a bitter contest for the same council seat in the previous election.

The blackout rule was adopted in 2014, when now former Democratic Sens. Ronald Calderon and Leland Yee were indicted on charges of taking payments for official actions as part of separate FBI sting operations, and Sen. Roderick Wright was convicted of voting fraud for lying about living in his Senate district.

At the time, De Leon said the blackout periods will ensure that elected officials are focused exclusively on the peoples business at the busiest times of the legislative year.

De Leon added then that the rules were preserving the ability for members to wage effective campaigns by raising the necessary money at more appropriate times of the year.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Twitter: @mcgreevy99



ALSO:

Calif. Senate adopts new ethics standards, rejects others

California Senate panel shelves GOP ethics bill

Updates from Sacramento
Developer executive Jim ONeil stood on the top floor of the parking structure across the street from the IKEA store at the Burbank Town Center and described the site as an opportunity to give the area new life.

Officials with Crown Realty and Development Inc. recently announced their plans to revitalize the shopping center once the Swedish retailer moves to its new location down the street at 805 S. San Fernando Blvd. in spring 2017.

ONeil, vice president of Crown Realty, said the company is proposing to build a six-story, mixed-use project with 765 apartments and about 40,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level. He said he also envisions converting the site into a community gathering area where an outdoor ice rink could be built and a farmers market could be held.

Were trying to give the city a sense of place, a community space where people can come and gather, he said. Its a place for the citizens to come and be with their friends and family and just enjoy themselves. Its also a place where new employees that are coming into Burbank can call Burbank their home instead of having to live outside the city.

Plans for the proposed project are still at early stages and have yet to be submitted to the city. ONeil said his company will do what it takes to build the mixed-use development within the Downtown Specific Plan and not ask for any variances.

Join the conversation on Facebook >>

He added that Crown Realty is expected to submit the project to the city in upcoming weeks.

While the developer is waiting for the citys approval on the proposal, Crown Realty will be working with real estate operator CAPREF Manager LLC to revamp the shopping mall.

CAPREF is no stranger to malls in Southern California. It currently manages the Glendale Marketplace in Glendale, the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena and the Strand in Huntington Beach.

We looked at Burbank and it seemed to be a little underserved, said Lance Taylor, a director at CAPREF. We asked ourselves, Can we utilize our vertically integrated company to help revitalize and take Burbank Town Center to its next phase in its life cycle?

One of the major proposed changes to the Burbank mall will be redesigning the entryway at San Fernando and Magnolia boulevards. A section of the second-floor roof will be removed to create an open-space feel and an escalator will be installed to allow pedestrians to get to the upper level from the street.

Other amenities  such as the food court, childrens play area and elevators  will be moved around to create a better flow and atmosphere in the mall, ONeil said.

Taylor said work on the Burbank Town Center could start as soon as this summer, but a majority of the changes are expected to start in January 2017.

--

Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio

--

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by Staff Reporter

FIVE suspected armed robbers were yesterday nabbed by police detectives in a botched robbery before they could carry out their mission.The gang was presumably keeping surveillance on a courier services company and nearby restaurant along Enterprise Road in Highlands, Harare.The police pounced on the suspects after they swiftly reacted to an anonymous call from a person believed to be an employee at the targeted companies.The five were driving a Mercedes Benz C200 sedan with registration number ABI-7124."They had parked opposite the two companies as if they had had a breakdown. Two of them then went into one of the companies and asked for water but while they did so, somebody identified them and that person should have called the police immediately."Their car bonnet was open as if they had had a breakdown before some of them went to ask for water presumably to cool the car."Within minutes, armed police arrived and fired three warning shots before pouncing on the suspected robbers," one of the witnesses said.Another witness said the suspects could have been identified by one detective and they could have already been on the police wanted list:"They were identified by a detective as he drove past while they were parking and he could be the one who called for the backup."The five were said to be assisting police with investigations by the time of going to press.When contacted for comment, CID spokesperson Detective Assistant Inspector Portia Chinho said she had not received the report on the matter.
A potential investigation concerning an Orange County Board of Education trustees controversial emails about sexual orientation was not discussed at the boards meeting Wednesday in Costa Mesa after the item was moved up the agenda to a time when trustee David Boyd, who planned to request the investigation, was not present.

Boyd is a Costa Mesa resident whose trustee District 2 includes Huntington Beach and portions of Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley. He said he started his inquiry after a public records request filed by former Orange Unified School District trustee Barry Resnick turned up an email that Orange County trustee Robert Hammond sent to a county Department of Education employee in April 2014.

In the email, Hammond wrote, I hope you dont mind, but I plan on asking you about your sexual orientation publicly during our next board meeting.

In another email obtained through the records request  this one sent last June to fellow trustee Ken Williams  Hammond, whose District 1 includes Fountain Valley, ended the message with PS  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that Sodomites can now be married!

Boyds agenda item suggesting that the board discuss whether legal counsel was needed to investigate Hammonds actions was originally placed toward the end of the meeting.

Boyd said he was unable to attend the early portion of the morning meeting because of a previous engagement in Long Beach for the American Arbitration Assn.

Associate Supt. Nina Boyd informed the board during the meeting that Boyd would be arriving late.

During Boyds absence, trustee John Bedell suggested moving the item up the agenda so it would follow the public comment period, saying it would honor the people who are here for their participation.

After multiple public comments about Hammonds emails  a mix of defense and opposition  none of the four board members present made a motion to discuss the matter.

The item fails due to lack of motion, said Hammond, the boards president.

Boyd arrived to the meeting in the early afternoon.

Its disappointing, but not surprising, Boyd told the Daily Pilot, referring to his item being moved up on the agenda. I suspect that its a dialogue that Mr. Hammond didnt wish to enter into.

Boyd said he is unsure whether hell reintroduce the item at the next board meeting in June.

Laura Kanter, director of policy, advocacy and youth programs for the LGBT Center OC in Santa Ana, was one of several speakers during public comments who lambasted Hammond for his emails. She said she wondered whether the board purposefully moved the item in Boyds absence.

Hammond said in an interview after the meeting that I think its all political, him asking for the investigation.

Former trustee Liz Parker, a Costa Mesa resident who left the board in 2014, told the Daily Pilot earlier this month there has been friction between Boyd and Hammond in the past.

Williams and Bedell could not be reached immediately after the meeting, and trustee Linda Lindholm declined to comment.

Costa Mesa resident Liz McNabb sat in the meeting with a rainbow flag visible from her purse.

It is improper, indecent and incomprehensible that sitting board member Robert Hammond used sodomite in any concept, McNabb said. He is supposed to represent every student, not just the ones he approves of.

At the beginning of the meeting, Hammond said the other email, to the Department of Education employee, was in regard to a question in the California Healthy Kids Survey that asks adolescent students about their sexual orientation.

Hammond said he was trying to make a point in the email that no one should be asked that.

If were OK with asking a student this, are you OK with being asked this? Hammond said. "[Trustee] Williams and I have tried for over two years to have this question stopped.

Laguna Beach resident Chris Tebbutt said: I think its very fair for Hammond to question the survey, but to say that to an employee  the question is really that of discrimination and harassment. Its really about the right to privacy and freedom from sexual harassment in the workplace.

Some speakers defended Hammond for his efforts to change the survey.

I hope theres not a waste of tax dollars on some sort of investigation for comments that were taken out of context, said Ashley Collins, a Huntington Beach resident.

Ronald Wenkart, the Department of Educations general counsel, said in an interview that there is nothing illegal about the anonymous, voluntary survey and said it helps schools identify issues on campus, such as bullying or drug use.

Public records requests for emails Hammond exchanged with department staff were made to the Department of Education by both Resnick and Susan Mercer, president of the Santa Ana Educators Assn.

Mercer told the Daily Pilot that she made her request after hearing rumors about employees being called names via email.

I was very concerned, but I dont like to go after people without all the facts, and this was a way for me to get the facts, Mercer said.
Since I moved to California 25 years ago, San Francisco has been the focus of my trips to the Bay Area, and Ive loved it. But after hearing so much about how Oakland, across the bay, has become a new hipster haven, last month I made a day trip from San Francisco and found it lived up to the hype.

Although I could have gotten there by BART subway, I chose a much grander arrival courtesy of a 25-minute ferry ride, snapping awe-inspiring photos of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge.

At the Port of Oakland, giant shipping cranes, their necks extended like giraffes, stood as if in postmodern welcome. The tab: ferry from San Francisco: $6.40, lunch for one at Calavera: $38, museum admission: $15.95.

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The bed

Steps from the dock, I checked out the 145-room Waterfront Hotel (10 Washington St.; [888] 842-5333) cantilevered over the water next to Jack London Square, the citys bayside gathering place. Interiors are done up in nautical motifs (blues and whites, compasses, deck flooring and oars), and on my visit, rooms were being refitted with soundproof windows, helping block out noise from trains that run along the far side of the square. Dont expect bay views  Alameda Island blocks them  but I was happy to watch kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders on the pleasure boat channel. (There are rental shops nearby.) More central is the Oakland Marriott City Center (1001 Broadway; [510] 451-4000), next to a BART station and connected to the convention center. Its 489 rooms are being upgraded from standard-issue corporate decor to 21st century Oakland-esque: post-industrial gray and silver with pops of orange and yellow (scheduled for completion this summer). Upper floors offer panoramic views of the Oakland hills or across the bay.

The meal

Sure, we have scores of Mexican restaurants in L.A., but none quite like Calavera (2337 Broadway; [510] 338-3273, www.calaveraoakland.com), started by disciples of noted Washington, D.C.-based chef Jose Andres (also of the Bazaar in Beverly Hills). I met a friend for lunch, and because it was a sunny day we bypassed the indoor seating (warehouse designer-y with big windows, brick walls and a generous bar) for the covered terrace. We shared yellowfin ceviche (like Hawaiian poke, with spice and zing punctuated with crispy amaranth), a salad of deconstructed gazpacho (cucumber, jicama, mango and pineapple in yogurt sauce), and tacos with hongos guisados (stewed wild mushrooms) that made us melt. Its in the Hive, a new collection of hipster-chic establishments in the Uptown neighborhood about 1.5 miles north of the pier.

The find

The Oakland Museum of California (1000 Oak St.; [510] 318-8400) was well worth the visit. Its comprehensive exhibit on California history should be required viewing for any Californian, lifelong to wannabe, examining our vast states diverse and complex past. I also give the museum props for pushing limits with its temporary exhibition Altered State: Marijuana in California. Its billed as the first-ever museum exhibition on cannabis, and like marijuana itself (so Im told), its alternately titillating and thought-provoking -- and a little tongue-in-cheek as it probes intelligent questions from 10 perspectives: historical, business, legal, medical and more. It runs until Sept. 25.

The lesson learned

Over and over that day, I heard Oakland described as a West Coast Brooklyn. Like Manhattan, San Francisco real estate values have skyrocketed and residents seek more affordable options, and like Brooklyn, Oakland seems glad to absorb them after generations as the regions grittier, rougher, neglected stepchild. The incoming beard-and-tat set is injecting new life into Oaklands restaurants, coffee houses, craft breweries, retail scene and an Urban Wine Trail. Meanwhile, new-economy corporate offices (Uber, Blue Bottle Coffee, Ask.com) are joining decidedly old-economy stalwarts such as Clorox and Kaiser Permanente. One big difference: Although parts of Brooklyn are now as expensive as Manhattan, itll be awhile  if ever  before Oakland reaches San Francisco levels. Still, it does make one wonder when the cycle will repeat itself, and where next.
Hawaiis signature fish dish called poke has taken the country by storm. But the dishs roots are clearly in the islands, where youll find a variety of preparations from high-end restaurants to the corner 7-Eleven.

To the uninitiated, poke (its pronounced POE-kee) is, at its core, raw fish  often tuna  that has been cut into bite-size pieces and seasoned. Think sushi, but different.

As Hawaiians desire for the healthful, sustainable dish grows, so too does its presence on menus.

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On Maui, at the upscale Montage Kapalua Bay, the Cane & Canoe restaurant has begun offering a flight of three very different poke presentations.

Guests may start by sampling the most basic of the dishes, the traditional ahi poke. It is thinly sliced ahi tuna with a light sauce, scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

Octopus is the star of the kim chee tako poke. Slightly more sophisticated, its prepared with chunks and thin slices of octopus served in a sauce with Napa cabbage, red onion and daikon radish.

For the flights third dish, hamachi poke is made using yellowtail, a fish commonly used in sushi in Japan. Placed on a bed of salad, the fish is topped with an avocado-yuzu mousse and paddlefish roe.

The poke trio is priced at $28.

On Hawaii Island, visitors often find themselves standing in line at Da Poke Shack. In 2014, Yelp users voted it the top restaurant in America.

This unpretentious eatery built its reputation, pure and simple, on poke.

The offerings include Dynamite, prepared with an avocado aioli; the spicy Peles Kiss; and the sweet Shack Special. Bowls come with the usual scoop of rice and a choice of sides.

In the islands, though, a poke fix can be had at a convenience store or supermarket, most of which sell poke bowls.

Honolulu Magazine described the dish as Hawaiis hamburger in a 2010 feature.

Its explosion in popularity and rise as a culinary icon has made poke Hawaiis hamburger, another foodstuff that began with humble origins and has taken on a cultural identity, whether enjoyed in a backyard or in a restaurant, the magazine wrote.

Home cooks in Hawaii experimented with poke for potlucks, while cooks on the Mainland tinkered with hamburgers at backyard BBQs.

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Wyndham Hotel Groups generous loyalty program gained about 5 million new members last year, which was its first year of a simplified rewards program.

What do you do when youve achieved that kind of success with Wyndham Rewards? Make it even better.

We are adding [to the program], said Noah Brodsky, senior vice president of worldwide loyalty and engagement for Wyndham Hotel Group. We are taking away absolutely nothing away.

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We are throwing down the gauntlet on what a rewards program should be.

CardHub chose Wyndham, which has 16 brands, from the swank Wyndham Grand to the budget Super 8, and 7,800 properties, as the top hotel loyalty program in 2015 for travelers of every budget. In this loyalty program, when you accumulate 15,000 points, you can stay free at any of the groups properties.

Now you can start picking up other perks under a program unveiled Thursday.

The program now has categories of travelers: Blue (which you become upon enrolling), Gold (five qualifying nights get you to this level), Platinum (15 nights) and Diamond (40 nights).

Those arent just bragging rights. You get cool stuff. Some examples: As a Blue, you get free wi-fi. Gold gets late check-out. Platinum early check-in. And Diamond two free tickets to local experiences.

There should be a drum roll on that last category. Among the experiences: indoor skydiving in Orlando, Fla.; an architectural tour by boat in Chicago; a Champagne trip on the London Eye, a Great Wall tour outside of Beijing.

The awards will be available in 25 markets to start, said Brodsky said.

These perks (and more) are often used for family travel, he said. The business traveler who is away from home can give back a bit to his or her family by vacationing at one of Wyndhams top-tier hotels and sharing those perks with their loved ones.

Awards programs can be tricky business. More than 3.3 billion people participated in loyalty programs in 2014, Jeff Berry, research director for Colloquy, which studies such programs along with consumer behavior, writes in a report titled Customer Loyalty in 2015 & Beyond: Are You Wasting Your Money?

But, he notes, Active participation in those programs continues to decline. Our Census revealed a stagnant market in which more than half of members  58%  dont even bother to participate, much less become engaged and enthusiastic members.

Among Berrys antidotes for loyalty program fatigue: Keep benefits simple and clear cut and Personalized rewards based on what motivates members.

Which is, Brodsky said, what Wyndham is doing. It won members by keeping is program simple. Now its motivating members by providing rewards that can be shared with the family.

The business traveler, Brodsky said, wants to be the hero to his or her family, partly as thank you for bearing their absences.

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On a cool, calm morning, the waters of vast Dong Mo reservoir shimmered like green-gray cellophane.

In a gently paddled canoe, three employees of the Asian Turtle Program and a lone reporter glided forward. After a few silent minutes, the men aimed cameras and began speaking in soft but excited tones.

You brought luck! Pham Van Thong said, displaying on his digital camera the distant image of something disrupting the lakes surface. (The reporter had missed it and felt unlucky.)

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But they had no doubt: It was him, the only giant Yangtze soft-shell turtle known to remain in the wild  and one of only three Rafetus swinhoei known to exist anywhere. The others, an aged female and her apparently impotent male companion, reside in Chinas Suzhou Zoo.

The rare species received a flurry of international attention in January as Vietnam mourned the death of Hanois beloved 360-pound Cu Rua, or Great-Grandfather Turtle, about 30 miles from this village. For as long as anyone could remember, the reptile, well over 100 years old, had resided in small Hoan Kiem Lake and was revered as a link to Vietnams heroic mythology.

The course ahead for the species is unclear, given the centuries-old tension between Vietnam and China, now focused on disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Twenty-odd years of searching have produced no others, said naturalist Peter Pritchard, a leading turtle expert whose latest book was titled Rafetus: The Curve of Extinction. He professes optimism, however, that the Dong Mo turtle and the Chinese female have a chance to rebuild the population, much as a Galapagos species was brought back from the brink.

For the Vietnamese, the Dong Mo turtle is a reminder of the tale of 15th century emperor Le Loi: of how the heavens provided him with a magical sword to drive invaders back to China and how he then returned the weapon to a turtle in the lake. The place was renamed Hoan Kiem, or Lake of the Restored Sword.

Until the 1990s, the largest of Asias turtle species was not uncommon in the wetlands of major river systems of southern China and northern Vietnam. Its possible, conservationists say, that the turtles thrived in Hoan Kiem long ago.

In the 1880s, the postcard-ready Turtle Tower shrine rose on a small island in the lake, offering a sunbathing spot for the turtles. Today, Vietnamese and tourists alike frequent a popular temple on the lake that exhibits the preserved remains of Cu Ruas former companion  6 feet long, 3 feet wide  which died in 1978. (Plans call for Cu Rua to be preserved and displayed at a national museum.)

Over the last generation, hunting and urbanization have all but wiped out the species, though hope endures that a few of the stealthy creatures may yet lurk in the marshes, mud and water.

Pham Xuan Tu, 60, is a one-armed farmer and fisherman who for decades has managed the Dong Mo fishery. He remembers when scores of the turtles destroyed nets and ate my fish. Decades ago, he explained, nobody cared that these pests were the same species as the Hoan Kiem turtles. Tu and a trapper caught as many of the big turtles as they could to sell as food and folk medicine, with many winding up in China.

Tu, who fought against the Chinese in the 1979 border clash, laughed when asked whether he lost his left forearm to warfare. It was a fishing accident, he explained, with faulty Russian explosives.

The Dong Mo reservoir is about 1,000 times the size of Hoan Kiem, which has raised hope that the reptile may not be as lonely as is commonly assumed. Nghia Son native Nguyen Van Trong, a former fisherman who works for the internationally funded turtle project, bases his optimism on his observations from a distance and sightings reported by others. His colleague Thong says that anecdotes, but no photographic evidence, have raised hope at two other locations in northern Vietnam.

Thong and colleague Hoang Van Ha, graduates of Vietnams forestry university, learned the legend as children. They became more familiar with Cu Rua in early 2011, when sightings of the turtle, once rare, became common as the aging, ailing reptile struggled for oxygen. Authorities worked to clean the polluted lake and nursed Cu Rua back to health.

Vietnamese culture is rich in superstition, and many citizens tried to divine meaning from the fact that Cu Rua succumbed on the eve of a vital Communist Party conference.

A close examination cleared up one mystery. A previous examination of the ailing Cu Rua in 2011 prompted one biologist to declare that Great-Grandfather was actually female. Determining the sex of a turtle is difficult, according to project director Tim McCormack, but now biologists agree that Cu Rua was male after all.

McCormack and Ha came into close contact with the leathery beast at Dong Mo on a memorable day in 2008 when a flood had damaged the dam and the turtle wound up in a rice paddy a few miles downstream.

The rice farmer who found the turtle, Ha recalled, turned down an offer of about $2,000 rather than run afoul of the law protecting endangered species. He accepted the turtle projects modest compensation for the damage caused by the turtle. The priority, Ha recalled, was to return the specimen to its habitat as quickly and safely as possible.

Cu Ruas demise inspired speculation that Vietnams leaders might attempt to move the Dong Mo turtle to Hoan Kiem for sentimental reasons. The much better course, conservationists say, would be to capture and transport him to China, but the politics are complicated. Hostility between Vietnam and China has intensified after Beijing initiated mineral exploration and construction of islands that both countries claim as sovereign territory.

Vietnamese conservationists express doubts that authorities would be willing to send Vietnams only known Rafetus to China. A better possibility, Ha suggests, would be to deliver his sperm to the Chinese zoo.

Tu, the one-armed fisherman, is now cooperating with efforts to save the species he once hunted. Between shots of home-brewed rice wine, Tu gave an unsentimental assessment of the Vietnamese legend and said that species peril is just a matter of nature taking its course.

The good news, Ha says, is that fishing with explosives is now illegal.

Harris is a special correspondent.

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The new mayor of London isnt shy about weighing in on U.S. politics. Days into his new job, Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a major Western city, called Donald Trumps view of Islam ignorant and threw his weight behind Hillary Clintons presidential campaign.

Khan said that the Republican presidential hopeful was playing into the hands of extremists. Daesh, ISIS, all those guys, hate the fact that I am mayor of London, he told the New York Times. Why? Because it contradicts what they say, which is that Western liberal values are incompatible with Islam.

In interviews with U.S. media this week, the new mayor said he has no doubt whom he would cast his vote for if he were American. Khan urged U.S. voters to take a leaf out of Londoners book and choose hope over fear by electing the countrys first female president.

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See the most-read stories this hour >>

The human rights lawyer-turned-politician said that he is a proud feminist and that Clinton would be an incredible role model for women and girls worldwide, including his two daughters.

Khan has been outspoken against Trumps proposed total and complete ban on all Muslims entering the United States. Trumps comments were received so negatively in Britain that lawmakers debated whether to ban him from the country, after an online petition to do so amassed more than half a million votes.

On Wednesday, Trump backpedaled, saying that the ban was only a suggestion and that he could also make an exception when it came to Khan.

But the new mayor, who was born in London to Pakistani parents, dismissed the offer bluntly.

Im not exceptional, he said in an interview with CNN. So for Donald Trump to say, oh, Mayor Khan can be allowed but not the rest is ridiculous.

He cited the British businesspeople, young people and tourists seeking to work, live in or visit the U.S. who would be negatively affected if Trumps idea became reality.

Khan also said he had friends and relatives in the U.S. and happy memories of family vacations to Disneyland with his kids.

Its not just about me. Its about the message it sends from the greatest country in the world. And what is the story of America? Khan said. I think Donald Trump doesnt get the history of America.

Khan was named mayor of London on Friday, winning 57% of the vote compared with 43% for his closest rival, Conservative candidate Zach Goldsmith.

TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >>

The victory makes him the elected leader of a capital that is home to 8.6 million people, more than 1 million of whom are Muslim.

Goldsmith has been accused of running a divisive, racist campaign, during which he referenced Khans religion and suggested London would become less safe under Khans leadership.

During his acceptance speech, Khan pointedly chose to celebrate the fact that those arguments did not prevail. Writing in the Observer newspaper the day after his victory, he has accused the Conservative Party of using a Donald Trump playbook.

Khan has, however, also been quick to stress that he does not seek to be a spokesperson for Muslims, but for the whole city.

In 2016 we are all global citizens, we have multiple identities, Khan told CNN. Im a Londoner, Im British, Im European, Im a father, Im a dad. Im of Islamic faith, Im of Asian origin, of Pakistani heritage, so no one thing defines who we are.

Khan says he welcomes the chance to meet with some of his counterparts across the pond, such as New Yorks Bill de Blasio or Rahm Emanuel in Chicago -- but those meetings might have to take place before January, if Trump wins the nomination, and then the election.

If Donald Trump becomes the president, Ill be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I cant engage with American mayors and swap ideas, Khan said in an interview with Time magazine published Monday, in which he directly challenged Trumps anti-Muslim comments. Conservative tacticians thought those sorts of tactics would win London and they were wrong. Im confident that Donald Trumps approach to politics wont win in America.

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Boyle is a special correspondent.
Pope Francis said Thursday that he will establish a commission to consider the ordaining of female deacons in the Roman Catholic Church, reflecting a willingness to end the churchs tradition of all-male clergy.

Francis agreed to the proposal for a commission when he faced questions on the role of women in the church from 900 superiors of womens religious orders at a Vatican audience.

It would do good for the church to clarify this point. I am in agreement, the pope said.

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Deacons are ordained ministers in the Catholic Church but do not have the rank of priest. They can give homilies and preside at weddings, funerals and baptisms, but they cannot celebrate Mass.

There are 42,000 Catholic deacons, all men, of which about 18,000 are in the United States.

Francis comments were reported by the National Catholic Reporter and affirmed by a report on Vatican Radio.

Any move to ordain female deacons would represent a huge change in the church and reflect Francis acknowledgment of the growing role women play in Catholic life.

This is amazing, and the debate is going to be very interesting, said Father Thomas Reese, an analyst with the National Catholic Reporter. There have been no previous efforts by senior church officials to discuss this. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict were not interested in this conversation.

Reese said the idea of a commission was in keeping with Francis belief in holding consultations over important decisions. Its a smart move, Reese said.

Until about the 12th century, women were ordained deacons in the Catholic Church, often leading prayers for female Catholics, before the practice died out.

Pope Francis will want to dig into the tradition and ask, Why did we do this? Reese said. They will also look at the role of female deacons in the Greek Orthodox Church, which is conservative and traditional. It will be a very interesting discussion.

The new move is likely to stir fears by conservative Catholics that Francis has put the church on a slippery slope toward the ordaining of female priests.

But Francis has firmly rejected that possibility. In September, he recalled that Pope John Paul II had decided that cannot be done. He said that women might be capable of becoming priests, but it would not happen.

Pope St. John Paul II  after long, long discussions, long reflections  said it clearly, he said.

Phyllis Zagano, senior research associate-in-residence at the Department of Religion at Hofstra University, said the ordaining of female deacons would be a great step for the church.

Women are leading the march away from the Catholic Church, she said. But having a woman deacon proclaiming the gospel in St. Peters Square  what would that say to the world? This is a wonderful thing and shows Francis is an open-minded Jesuit ready to discuss things.

Kington is a special correspondent.

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Malaysias government says two more pieces of debris, discovered in South Africa and Rodrigues Island off Mauritius, are almost certainly from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which mysteriously disappeared two years ago with 239 people on board.

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In March, investigators confirmed two pieces of debris found along Mozambiques coast were almost certainly from the aircraft. Last year, a wing part from the plane washed ashore on Frances Reunion Island.

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Flight 370 is believed to have crashed in a remote stretch of the southern Indian Ocean, but a search has found nothing so far.

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Her slender hand sheathed in a black glove, Saira Nizamuddin gathered the fabric of her full-length abaya as she stepped across an alley strewn with rocks and trash.

The 19-year-old health worker walked alone, the mid-morning sun pressing down on the dirt streets and soaking into the black fabric covering her from head to toe. It was better this way, she thought. In the past, for security reasons, police officers had followed her as she visited houses to administer the polio vaccine to children.

Now, she and 10 vaccinators, all local women, were working unguarded. The low-profile approach was meant to assuage fears in their community that the vaccine was unsafe, forbidden by Islam or a cover for Western espionage  myths that have given the crippling virus, eradicated nearly everywhere else in the world, a lifeline in conservative Pakistan.

Polio workers write in chalk outside a house to indicate the vaccination status of those inside in Karachi, Pakistan. (Shashank Bengali / Los Angeles Times) (Shashank Bengali )

This is my neighborhood, Nizamuddin said. Were fine without the police.

On the third day of a weeklong anti-polio drive last month in Karachi, a sprawling seaside metropolis, Nizamuddin turned left down an unmarked road. Two colleagues were waiting outside a residence. A metal gate opened slightly, and the women slipped inside.

Two hours later, however, the campaign was suspended across the city. Nizamuddin and her team were instructed to go home immediately. A few miles away, in a rough-and-tumble district called Orangi Town, seven police officers providing security for a polio team had been shot to death by gunmen riding motorcycles.

Pakistans long struggle against the disease was interrupted once again.

The militant violence that has claimed tens of thousands of Pakistani lives in the past decade also has stood in the way of a multibillion-dollar global campaign to wipe out what once was among the worlds most feared afflictions.

From 1988, when the world reported more than 350,000 new polio cases, the number dropped to just 74 last year: 54 in Pakistan, the rest in Afghanistan. Those are the only countries where the virus hangs on, finding sanctuary in the remote, mountainous border region and in the open sewers of hot, crowded neighborhoods in Karachi, a melting pot of 22 million-plus inhabitants.

India was declared polio-free in 2014, five years after it accounted for half the cases in the world. Nigeria, formerly a reservoir for the disease in Africa, hasnt reported a new case in nearly two years.

Polio cases 1988 vs 2016

It feels like all the fingers are pointing at us, said Aziz Memon, chairman of Rotary Internationals PolioPlus campaign in Pakistan.

Polio invades the central nervous system, can trigger life-threatening paralysis and is easily transmitted between humans in places with poor sanitation. There is no cure, but the virus can be eliminated from a population through mass immunizations. In the United States, that has meant injecting young children with the vaccine introduced by Jonas Salk in the 1950s.

But in countries like Pakistan, where children are more vulnerable to infections and there are fewer trained health workers, community-wide resistance to the disease has been improved with a less-expensive oral vaccine  a couple of drops on a childs tongue, administered multiple times before age 5.

Workers go door-to-door throughout the year in an effort to reach every child, a painstaking mission underwritten by international donors at a cost of $1 billion every year. The U.S. has spent more than $1.3 billion on global anti-polio efforts since 2009.

But health officials and international experts think Pakistan could finally stop the spread of the disease this year. One of their reasons for optimism is people like Nizamuddin, who is part of a new strategy to employ local women to administer the vaccine and make regular house visits in some of the highest risk areas.

That includes her neighborhood in Gulshan, a warren of low-slung concrete blocks in eastern Karachi that is home to a large population of migrants from the Afghan border region, and the remote province of Baluchistan, both polio hotbeds. A 17-month-old boy was diagnosed with the virus here in December, the seventh case in the city last year.

Reports said the boys family had refused the vaccine. For years, Pakistani Taliban militants waged a propaganda war against the immunizations, describing them as a Western plot to sterilize Muslims and issuing a fatwa, or religious decree, against female health workers.

In 2012, militant leaders in the border area banned vaccinations in protest of U.S. drone strikes, leaving half a million children out of reach. The same year, immunization teams came under attack after it emerged that the CIA previously had enlisted a Pakistani doctor to snoop on Osama bin Ladens hideout using the cover of a fake anti-hepatitis campaign.

Attacks blamed on extremists since have killed more than 100 health workers and security forces assigned to protect them. Male vaccinators in particular were suspected as spies, making them reluctant to travel without escort.

People would ask me, Are you a real health worker or a fake one?  recalled Nizamuddin, who has worked on polio drives for four years. Or parents would refuse on religious grounds.

From 2012, when Pakistan recorded just 58 new polio cases  and none in Karachi  the number jumped to 306 in 2014, by far the most of any country.

Over the past two years, a security crackdown against militants in the border area and inside Karachi has allowed polio workers back into many former no-go zones. By late 2015, only about 30,000 children remained inaccessible, and transmission had slowed considerably: In the first four months of this year, Pakistan saw eight new polio cases, down from 22 over the same period in 2015.

But the Global Polio Eradication Initiatives Independent Monitoring Board warned that without successful vaccination campaigns this spring, the disease would reemerge in the heat of summer.

We were very close in the last decade, said Memon, the PolioPlus campaign chairman in Pakistan. This time, we hope were not going to miss the opportunity.

We were very close in the last decade. This time, we hope were not going to miss the opportunity.  Aziz Memon, chairman of Rotary Internationals PolioPlus campaign in Pakistan

From the parking lot of a spartan government health clinic in Gulshan, pairs of female health workers, covered from head to toe in headscarves and black abayas, set off into the neighborhood carrying vials of polio vaccines in unmarked thermos bottles.

Three paramilitary Rangers in drab uniforms watched from a parked pickup, then drove off to patrol the periphery of the neighborhood. The women didnt see them again for hours.

Theres no need for security, said Sikander Ali, a local health department official, who added that the presence of gun-toting police often scared residents. People view the female health workers as locals.

In the monochrome crowd, Nizamuddin, a team leader, stood out with a glittery blue headband, oversized purple watch and yellow trousers peeking out from under her abaya.

She comes from a family of polio workers. Her two elder sisters volunteered until they got married; her mother worked for eight years until she had to drop out this year because she couldnt read, and the World Health Organization sought to recruit more educated women.

She feels bad, Nizamuddin said of her mother. But she is happy that I can still help the cause.

The WHO increased funding for female health workers, who earn full-time salaries of $150 a month. Attendance and morale have improved over the earlier system, which employed part-timers, including men, whose $5 daily wages were paid by the government, and often delayed.

The men werent as dedicated, Nizamuddin said. And families used to refuse male workers. The interaction we have is totally different.

One of her team members, Nagma, a mother of four, said few families reject the immunizations now. In one case, she persuaded a reluctant mother to allow the vaccine to be given by showing her cellphone pictures of her own children, who had been vaccinated multiple times.

In more difficult cases, the women called on Surat Khan Osman, a genial local cleric with a black beard that shone like lacquer and a battered cellphone that flashed with text messages notifying him of families who declined vaccinations.

Officials say clerics have become key partners. That morning, Osman and a team of female vaccinators visited two houses where parents claimed the vaccine would cause infertility. He won them over with a copy of a 2014 fatwa from religious scholars that said the vaccine was fully permissible under Islamic law and that parents were obligated to protect their children from polio.

We are part of the community, Osman said, so people cannot refuse us.

Saira Nizamuddin, right, confers with a fellow polio vaccinator. (Shashank Bengali / Los Angeles Times) (Shashank Bengali )

The morning after last month's shooting death of the officers, shaken health workers resumed the drive across the city. Rangers beefed up their presence in some areas; plainclothes security forces shadowed teams in others.

In Nizamuddins neighborhood of Sachal Goth, the women opted for an even lower profile. They avoided being seen in groups and varied their schedules. For the rest of the week, they tried to complete their rounds before lunch.

By weeks end, the teams in Sachal Goth inoculated 2,117 children  two dozen more than had been counted in a pre-campaign survey days earlier. One of Nizamuddins teams found a child whose family was visiting from outside the city and wasnt on their list, but took the opportunity to administer the polio drops because he was scheduled to be vaccinated.

The female teams are now covering nearly 40% of Karachis 2.2 million children younger than 5, and the initiative soon could be expanded further. International officials describe its success as part of an overall improvement in Pakistans management of the crisis.

The results are very promising, said Huma Khan, a UNICEF polio specialist who has worked in the field for seven years. It looks like were getting close to eradication. Ive never been so hopeful that this can be done."

For more news on global sustainability, go to our Global Development Watch page.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia
A new National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund report finds that nearly one million Latino voters could find it more difficult to vote in the critical 2016 presidential election based on new restrictive voting changes.

The "Latino Voters at Risk: Assessing the Impact of Restrictive Voting Changes in Election 2016" report compares this year's voting bylaws with those on the books in 2012.

The findings were released at a recent Washington D.C. gathering attended by former Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Artuto Vargas.

SCOTUS Ruling in 2013 Paved Way for Changes

In all, at least 875,000 Latinos are expected to be impacted this election season stemming from a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that eliminated certain protections of the Voting Rights Act.

"More than 13.1 million Latino voters are expected to cast ballots in 2016," said Vargas. "While historic, we know millions more will stay at home on Election Day. To maximize participation among Latinos, we need to be promoting policies that make voting and registering to vote more accessible, and not less accessible, to the nation's second largest population group and all qualified U.S. citizens."

Overall, 27.3 million Latinos are estimated to be eligible to take part in the 2016 election, made even more critical this campaign season by the contentious debate over immigration.

Immigration: One of Election Season's Biggest Issues

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has taken a hard-line stance on the issue, vowing to deport millions of immigrants and build a wall along the Mexican border to further keep them out.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have both pledged allegiance to a plan of immigration reform.

Among the changes that could adversely affect Latino voters are stricter voter ID laws, restrictions placed on registration, truncated early voting periods and changes to absentee voting policies.

NALEO estimates that as many as eight million Latino voters could be somehow impacted by the changes, with many of them residing in jurisdictions that have been freed from all governmental oversight despite having histories of being oppressive toward minority voters.

Over the last four years, 19 states have adopted barriers that could impede the Latino vote, with many of them coming in states where the Latino population has been most on the rise.

Prior to 2013 states and other jurisdictions that had a history of discriminating against minorities were required to gain federal approval before enacted any voting rights changes. The aforementioned Supreme Court ruling struck down all so-called pre-clearance safeguards as outdated.
News / National

by Daniel Nemukuyu

THE High Court has confirmed the suspension of Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni, saying the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Saviour Kasukuwere's decision was proper and in terms of the law.Clr Manyenyeni was suspended from office by Minister Kasukuwere on March 20 this year, pending an investigation into his conduct of employing banker Mr James Mushore as town clerk without the ministry's approval.He then filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking nullification of the suspension.Clr Manyenyeni was seeking an order directing his reinstatement to the post with full pay and benefits.He also wanted the court to bar Minister Kasukuwere from interfering with his operations as Mayor of Harare.Dismissing Clr Manyenyeni's urgent chamber application yesterday, Justice Mary Dube said in terms of the law the minister was only empowered to suspend a Mayor, but removal from office required the appointment of an independent tribunal to determine the matter."The conduct of the minister in suspending the applicant was in accordance with the law. The applicant's application has no merit and ought to be dismissed," the judge ruled.Justice Dube said Manyenyeni should simply wait for his hearing within 45 days from the suspension date."He (minister) may do nothing more after suspension. The suspension only runs for 45 days during which period the dismissal is expected to take place in terms of Section 278 or the suspension lapses."In my view, if an independent tribunal is not in place in terms of the Constitution within 45 days of the suspension of the matter, that is the end of the matter."Applicant will be entitled to be released from suspension by operation of law," she said.Government argues the appointment of Mr Mushore violated the Urban Councils Act.During the chamber hearing, Advocate Lewis Uriri instructed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights lawyers Mr Dzimbabgwe Chimbgwa and Mr David Hofisi, argued the matter for Clr Manyenyeni while the Attorney-General's Civil Division acted for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and the AG Advocate Prince Machaya.But Mr Luckson Muradzikwa of the Civil Division in the AG's Office said the issue for determination related to the mayor's suspension and removal from office.In this regard, he said, Minister Kasukuwere did not breach the provisions of the Constitution as claimed by Clr Manyenyeni's lawyers. It was also argued that Minister Kasukuwere has since appealed the High Court decision in the Clr Kombayi case, hence the minister acted properly in terms of the Urban Councils Act.In his urgent application, Clr Manyenyeni contended that in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, removal of mayors, councillors and chairpersons is done by an independent tribunal in terms of an Act of Parliament."There is neither that Act of Parliament nor independent tribunal," argued Clr Manyenyeni."The first respondent (Minister Kasukuwere) has thus arrogated to himself powers he no longer has in violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe."
Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani's administration is going to sue the US in International Court of Justice over a ruling delivered by the US Supreme Court. The court ruling has upheld a 2012 law passed by Congress permitting to receive damages by the American victims of terror attacks in Beirut and Saudi Arabia. $2 billion from Iranian central bank's frozen assets has been ordered to cover up compensation fund.

The dispute appears although a better bilateral relation has been expected in between Tehran and Washington following a landmark nuclear deal during last July. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General has expressed eagerness for resolving the dispute subject to receipt of requests from both the governments, reports The Daily Star.

The Iranian President has vowed to take the case of the $2 billion to international court while addressing a public rally in Kerman of southeastern Iran on Tuesday. He has also committed not allowing the US to swallow the money so easily, reports RT.
News / National

by Lloyd Gumbo

AIR Zimbabwe is leasing two airbus aircraft at $200,000 each per month since 2012 from a Chinese company Sonangol, which has seen the national airline accruing arrears as it is failing to break even, Parliamentarians heard yesterday.All things being equal, the national airline must have paid the Chinese company about $20 million for the two aircraft by end of April this year.It is understood that one of the planes is grounded in South Africa after operating for about a month before developing a fault yet it is still accruing arrears.The deal was sealed during former Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Nicholas Goche's tenure and was negotiated by jailed Hong Kong business tycoon, Sam Pa.Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo told the National Assembly yesterday that the two aircraft were secondhand when they were leased to Air Zimbabwe.He was responding to questions from MDC-T MP for Bulawayo, Nicole Jane Watson, who wanted to confirm whether Air Zimbabwe bought the two aircraft. "The aircraft weren't purchased but are being leased from China Sonangol since 2012," said Gumbo."These were part of efforts by the government to support the turnaround process of Air Zimbabwe. The aircraft are on a dry lease from China Sonangol at $200,000 per month per plane." But legislators asked Minister Gumbo whether the national airline was able to pay the lease fees per month.Responded Minister Gumbo: "The aviation business is intricate and not doing well the world over. When this deal was agreed upon it was possible to meet the payments but as of now it's not possible."Those in the aviation industry are finding it difficult but it's about us making a decision of whether we remain in the business or we pull out." One of the airbuses arrived in January 2012 while the second one arrived later that year.Gumbo said Cabinet on Tuesday gave his ministry the go-ahead to engage a partner for Air Zimbabwe as part of its turnaround strategy. Zanu-PF MP for Chegutu West, Dexter Nduna, also asked Minister Gumbo to give an update on the completion of the Victoria Falls Airport."The $150 million project financed by a China Eximbank concessionary loan facility is progressing well and overall progress to date is that the runway, the terminal building and the air traffic control tower were completed and are now in use since December 2015."The conversion of the old terminal building into a domestic terminal has now commenced. This together with a bigger fire station and expanded car park should be completed by May 31, 2016," said Minister Gumbo.
News / National

by Freeman Razemba and Auxilia Katongomara

POST mortem results for the Air Zimbabwe public relations executive, Shingai Dhliwayo, who was found dead in a bush in Botswana, have revealed that she was strangled to death.The post mortem was conducted at a Francistown hospital in the presence of a team of senior police officers from Zimbabwe who were dispatched to assist in probing the death of Dhliwayo.The team was made up mostly of officers from Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces. Some of them left the country on Tuesday night. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed the latest developments and said investigations were still in progress."Post mortem has been conducted today (yesterday) and the results are; 'Homicide as a result of a combination of strangulation and gagging'. Our officers who are being led by Superintendent Musasira were present when the post mortem was conducted and later on they got a debriefing from their counterparts about the results."Investigations on the case are, however, still in progress," she said. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said there was also another post mortem that was conducted for another Zimbabwean man who was shot in the neighbouring country for a case of burglary.She, however, could not divulge much information concerning the burglary case. Meanwhile, Air Zimbabwe passenger and cargo general manager Chris Kwenda said Dhliwayo's body had since been handed over to her relatives by Botswana authorities."They're now working on the paper work to repatriate the body back to the country and hopefully by tomorrow (today) the body will have arrived," he said.Family spokesperson Webster Taruvinga said the body was expected in Bulawayo last night and would be flown to Harare this morning. "The body will arrive at the Harare International Airport where friends and family will receive it and then it'll be taken to Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour."He said a church service would be held at the Salvation Army church tomorrow (Friday) before the body is taken to the family home in Norton where it will lie in state."Saturday is the day of burial at 1PM at Norton Cemetery," Taruvinga said.On Monday, police and their Batswana counterparts with the help of the International Police Organisation (Interpol), intensified investigations to ascertain the cause of Dhliwayo's death.Dhliwayo's body was found tied to a tree with both hands and legs also tied with a rope in a sitting position.Her mouth was gagged with a cloth and she was bleeding from the nose.The body was found about 5km from Plumtree Border Post in a bushy area and it is suspected that she had been lured by unknown assailants to travel to Botswana in a bid to rob her.It is suspected that there is a syndicate that is luring Zimbabwean businesspeople after promising them "lucrative deals" and then rob them after crossing into Botswana.Air Zimbabwe has also put in place a team that will assist till the case is finalised.
News / National

by Pamela Shumba

MATABELELAND North provincial registrar Willard Sayenda yesterday said there is a need to expedite the provision of infrastructure in Lupane to decentralise the issuance of passports.Sayenda told members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services during their visit to Bulawayo as part of an assessment of services offered by the Registrar General's Office countrywide, that Matabeleland North registry officers were still operating from Bulawayo due to lack of accommodation in Lupane."Provincial staff are still operating from Bulawayo because there's no accommodation in Lupane. There're 32 officers who are supposed to relocate from Bulawayo to Lupane. We've approached the Ministry of Local Government on the issue and they've said they can't provide sufficient accommodation for all the 32 officers."They're in the process of constructing 19 houses which are for all civil servants in different government departments and ministries. We would be grateful if the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee engages the government in solving this problem so that we're nearer to our people," said Sayenda.He said people residing in Matabeleland North travel all the way to Bulawayo to apply for passports."Just think of a person based in Victoria Falls or Binga. They've to travel all the way to Bulawayo for a passport. That's a long distance. We need to reduce the distances travelled by our clients," Sayenda said."We've a district office in Lupane that's 80 percent complete and people have started vandalising it. We also have new district offices in Binga which are at foundation level. If these projects get funding, it'll go a long way in reducing distances travelled by our clients," Sayenda said.
A Northampton Community College student early Thursday was assaulted by her boyfriend inside a dorm room, police said.

Devonte Jonique Crim (Courtesy photo)

Bethlehem Township police shortly after 1 a.m. were dispatched to the college, 3835 Green Pond Road, for a report of a domestic dispute.

The female victim told police her boyfriend, Devonte Jonique Crim, 20, of Columbia, South Carolina, walked into her dorm and punched her in the mouth.

Crim then took the victim's cellphone to prevent her from calling for help, police said. He allegedly grabbed her as she tried to escape.

The victim eventually fled the dorm and reported the alleged attack to security.

Crim is charged with simple assault and harassment. He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Robert Hawke, who set bail at $5,000.

In lieu of bail, Crim was taken to Northampton County Prison.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A woman who received a time-served federal sentence for trying to hire a hitman to kill witnesses in her husband's murder trial is headed back behind federal bars.

Sonia Panell, 39, was granted parole Monday for assaulting a woman back in December in Slatington. In that case, Panell served about five months in Lehigh County Jail on a four- to 23-month sentence.

Panell, however, was not released. She was on federal probation at the time of the assault, after being given a time-served sentence for trying to hire a hitman to kill witnesses against her husband, Rene Figueroa.

Rene Figueroa killed Yolanda Morales and paralyzed Angel Figueroa during the South Side Bethlehem gunbattle Dec. 2, 2012 outside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society.

Panell was brought Wednesday to federal court in Philadelphia for the probation violation, and federal Judge Edward Smith ordered Panell to serve 10 months in federal prison, followed by 26 months of probation.

In the assault case, Panell assaulted a woman and pulled out pieces of her hair, and then scuffled with police.

Panell punched, kicked, scratched and pulled officers' hair, as well as tried to pull her hands away when they tried to handcuff her, Allentown police said. She used vulgar language and called the officers racial slurs, police said.

In the deadly gunbattle case, Panell provided an FBI informant with her targets' names, addresses and tips on where to find them, according to a federal grand jury report. Prosecutors said she used a fake Facebook page to spy on the targets.

Panell pleaded guilty in February 2015 to attempting to hire the hitman, after backing out of a similar deal at the end of 2014. She was given a time-served sentence in August, and placed on three years of probation.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
See what the Lehigh Valley's newest K-9 is trained to find

The South Whitehall Township Police Department's newest K-9 officer, Kimber, is seen with her handler, officer Colin Beaumont, center, and Luiz Perez, chief of patrol at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, in a photo provided May 11, 2016, by the dual amusement-water park located in the township. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

A new K-9 officer is coming to South Whitehall Township, thanks to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

The dual amusement-water park in the township announced Wednesday it is paying for Kimber, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, to join the township's police force.

Set to begin duty the last week of May with her handler, township police officer Colin Beaumont, Kimber has been trained in explosives detection at Stapleton Security Inc. in Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania, according to a news release from Dorney Park.

The department's ranks also include Cirrus, a patrol and narcotics K-9, according to the township website.

South Whitehall officials presented Dorney Park with a proposal from Stapleton Security for the training and acquisition of Kimber. The park's sponsorship of the K-9 is in addition to a contract signed by township commissioners on May 4 for two officers to patrol the park 40 hours a week in 2016, beginning May 28, WFMZ-TV 69 reports.

Under the contract, Kimber will help enhance security in the park and be available to assist other departments throughout Lehigh County as needed, the release states.

Beaumont, her handler, has experience with the destruction explosives can do, WFMZ reports: He was injured in an improvised-explosives device blast in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.

Dorney Park opened for the season April 30.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A manufacturer is recalling more than 47 million pounds of meat and poultry products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Wednesday night.

Ajinomoto Windsor Inc. shipped the products nationwide and to Canada and Mexico.

The problem is with the products' frozen vegetables, which came from CRF Frozen Foods, according to the USDA. CRF last week recalled 358 products sold under 42 brands in all 50 states and four Canadian provinces because of the potential for listeria contamination.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of Ajinomoto Windsor's products, the USDA said.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns.

According to Wednesday's announcement, the heat-treated, not fully cooked, not-shelf-stable meat and poultry items were produced on various dates between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2016. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 21225," "EST. 9281," "EST. 1623A" or "EST. 18356" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them, the USDA said; these products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The department's Food Safety and Inspection Service advises consumers to reheat any ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Click here to be taken to labels for the following products the USDA lists as subject to the recall announced Wednesday:

14.2-oz packages containing "Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 01/02/2015 to 10/27/2017.

14.2-oz packages containing "Tai Pei Pepper Beef" with best-by dates ranging from 11/02/2015 to 10/19/2017.

12-oz packages containing "Tai Pei Combination Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 11/06/2015 to 10/27/2017.

12-lb cases containing 32-oz packages of "Fred's Jalapeno, Corn & Bacon Cornbread Pop" with product code 0945137.

2-lb boxes containing "InnovASIAN Cuisine CHICKEN FRIED RICE" with best-by dates ranging from 5/15/2015 to 4/09/2017.

20-oz packages containing "Trader Joe's Chicken Fried Rice" with case codes ranging from 261231 to 281211.

18-oz. bags containing "InnovASIAN Cuisine CHICKEN FRIED RICE" with best-by dates ranging from 05/01/2015 to 04/29/2017.

18-oz. and 24-oz. packages containing "Simmering Samurai Orange Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 5/12/2015 to 3/18/2017.

20-oz. packages containing "HyVee chicken fried rice" with best-by dates ranging from 7/11/2015 to 3/03/2017.

20-oz. packages containing "First Street Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 7/11/2015 to 3/15/2017.

54-oz. packages containing "Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-Style Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 6/28/2015 to 5/2/2017.

18-oz. packages containing "Simmering Samurai Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 8/11/2015 to 3/18/2017.

18-oz. packages containing "Simmering Samurai Hibachi Seasoned Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 8/11/2015 to 11/16/2016.

18-oz. packages containing "Simmering Samurai Spicy Hibachi Seasoned Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 8/13/2015 to 11/16/2016.

18 oz. and 24-oz. packages containing "Simmering Samurai General Tso's Chicken Fried Rice" with best-by dates ranging from 8/18/2015 to 12/26/2016.

1.53-kg packages containing "Arroz Frito Estilo Japones Con Pollo Yakitori" with best-by dates ranging from 1/22/2016 to 1/03/2017, exported to Mexico.

1.53-kg packages containing "Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-Style Fried Rice (Poulet Yakitori Avec Riz Frit A La Japonaise)" with best-by dates ranging from 1/21/2016 to 3/7/2017, exported to Canada.

30-oz. packages containing "Daily Chef Chicken Poblano Firecrackers" with packaging dates between 8/10/2015 to 1/25/2016.

12.5-lbs packages containing "Golden Tiger SANTA FE BRAND CHICKEN EGG ROLLS" with packaging dates between 8/22/2014 to 11/6/2015.

6.25-lb packages cases containing "Jade Mountain SOUTHWEST CHICKEN EGG ROLL TWISTS" with packaging dates between 6/3/2014 to 3/23/2016.

30-oz packages containing 30 pieces of "Petite Cuisine CHICKEN POBLANO Hand Made Firecrackers" with packaging dates between 7/15/2014 to 1/15/2016.

6.25-lbs. cases containing "Golden Tiger Firecracker Southwest Brand Chicken" with packaging dates between 6/2/2014 to 3/23/2016.

7.5-lbs. packages containing "Posada Southwest Brand CHICKEN EMPANADA" with packaging dates between 5/12/2014 to 3/8/2016.

8-oz packages containing 8 pieces of "The Original Appetizer Company CHICKEN POBLANO Handmade Appetizers (Firecracker) with packaging date of 11/4/2014.

30-oz packages containing 30 pieces of "Petite Cuisine SOUTHWEST CHICKEN Handmade Firecrackers" with packaging dates between 10/9/2014 to 11/6/2014.

8-oz packages containing 8 pieces of "Taste of Inspirations Chicken Poblano Firecrackers" with packaging dates between 8/12/2015 to 2/26/2016.

6.89 kg. cases containing packages of "Golden Tiger SOUTHWEST SPICY CHICKEN SPRING ROLLS" with packaging dates between 5/7/2014 to 3/31/2016.

8-oz. packages containing "archer farms Chicken Poblano Firecrackers" with packaging dates between 7/15/2014 to 3/21/2016.

1.15-kg packages of "Molly's Kitchen Mini Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas" with packaging dates between 6/4/2014 to 1/7/2015.

7.5-lb packages of "CASA SOLANA SOUTHWEST BRAND CHICKEN EMPANADA MADE IN CALIFORNIA" with packaging dates between 11/4/2014 to 2/16/2016.

15-lbs packages of "Perkins SOUTHWEST STYLE CRISPY ROLL" with a packaging date of 3/11/2015 and date code 5255070.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The "Power in the Pines" Open House and Air Show returns Saturday and Sunday to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

It features displays of military air and ground equipment as well as performances, including by the U.S. Army Golden Knights.

Aerial maneuvers are scheduled from two teams of jets: the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in high-flying F-16 Fighting Falcons and the Breitling Jet Team in L-39 C Albatros jets capable of speeds of up to 565 mph.

Bordering Ocean and Burlington counties, the base is about an hour and 50 minutes' drive from Bethlehem.

The show was not held in 2015. Admission and parking are free. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Visit www.jointbasemdl.af.mil for a complete schedule of events.

The show comes as Pocono Raceway in Monroe County continues working to host an air show in August featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, track spokesman Ryan Yanoshak said.

The U.S. Defense Department hosts events such as "Power in the Pines" to make the public more aware of the military's mission, equipment, facilities and personnel and to promote positive public relations, a news release states.

"We are looking forward to welcoming our community partners to our open house and air show," Lt. Col. Pat Rayner, director of the open house and air show, says in the release. "This is a great opportunity to thank our community for their support and to showcase what goes on behind our gates and in our skies each day."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Like the blooming of daffodils and flight of the robins, it's a rite of spring.

Barnyard Days is being held at Phillipsburg High School.

The exposition of farm animals is a popular attraction and raises money for the high school's Future Farmers of America group.

The two-day event wraps up Thursday. An estimated 900 people visited Wednesday and about 800 are expected Thursday.

Sue Beyer may be reached at sbeyer@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sbeyer_photo. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
News / National

by Daniel Nemukuyu

PROSECUTOR-General Johannes Tomana yesterday lost his bid to have his dispute with the Judicial Service Commission presided over by a retired or a foreign-based judge.The High Court dismissed his application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court. In the dismissed application, Tomana had raised constitutional issues, chief among them being that serving judges of the High Court would not handle his case fairly.Tomana is seeking to block the JSC from continuing with proceedings that could lead to his removal from office. While the main challenge was pending, Tomana filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking to bar the JSC from either suspending him or setting up a tribunal for determination of his fitness to remain in office.In the middle of the urgent chamber proceedings, Tomana raised constitutional questions alleging possible bias if serving High Court judges hear his matter.He argued that all sitting judges of the High Court, who are subordinates to Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, would not be able to criticise or uphold the conduct of their boss.This was because Chief Justice Chidyausiku, apart from being the head of all judges, is also the chairperson of the commission (JSC) that instituted proceedings for his possible removal from office.Yesterday, Justice Lavender Makoni dismissed the application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court. The judge described Tomana's application as frivolous. "In the result, the applicant has failed to establish a factual basis for his request for referral to Constitutional Court."The reasons he advanced are groundless, utterly hopeless and without foundation in the facts on which they are purportedly based. I'll therefore make a finding that the request is frivolous," ruled Justice Makoni.She did not make any order for costs. "The application is dismissed. There'll be no order as to costs," the court ruled. The judge said Chief Justice Chidyausiku was the head of two distinct offices and his position as JSC chairperson did not affect his judicial powers as a judge."With regard to the conflicted position of the Chief Justice, the applicant is falling into error of conflating the two distinct functions of the Chief Justice as provided for in the Constitution."In one of the offices, he'll be exercising his judicial powers as a judge and in the other, administrative powers as head of the Judicial Service Commission."The decision he makes using his administrative authority can be reviewed by any judge in the ordinary way. In any event, the issues that the applicant raises in the urgent chamber application are legal issues," said Justice Makoni.Tomana faces possible removal from office due to non-compliance with court orders. He is facing criminal charges at the Harare Magistrates' Courts involving the attempted Gushungo Dairy bombing.In October last year, he was slapped with a 30-day term of imprisonment for contempt of court after he defied court orders to issue certificates for the private prosecution of Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke and Telecel shareholder Jane Mutasa.Kereke is accused of raping an 11-year-old relative while Mutasa was facing charges of swindling the company of airtime recharge cards worth millions of dollars. Tomana was fined by a nine-member judge's panel of the Constitutional Court led by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku.The sentence was, however, wholly set-aside on condition that he complied with court orders and issue private prosecution certificates to Francis Maramwidze and Telecel, failure of which he would be barred from practising as a lawyer in Zimbabwe.
A 51-year-old Bangor woman caused a crash that sent another car into the front of a home in Upper Mount Bethel Township on Wednesday night, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The woman, whose name has yet to be released, was arrested after showing signs of being intoxicated while performing field sobriety tests, state police said.

The crash occurred at 8:23 p.m. at Route 611 and Potomac Street in Upper Mount Bethel Township.

State police at Belfast said the woman was eastbound on Railroad Avenue in a Toyota Corolla when she failed to yield to a southbound Chevrolet Blazer on Route 611. The Blazer was operated by a 20-year-old man from Columbia in Warren County.

State police said the Blazer swerved to avoid the Toyota but struck the front of it before leaving the road and going into the front of a house.

State police took the Toyota driver to the Northampton County DUI center in Easton for blood testing. Charges will be filed pending the test results, according to state police.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
A husband and wife from Roseto are accused of tying up a dog for years outside their home with little food and leaving a collar embedded into its neck that had to be surgically removed.

Lauribel Shipps, 42, and Howard Shipps, no age provided, formerly of the 100 block of Dewey Street in East Bangor, both are charged with three counts of animal cruelty.

Plainfield Township police on Jan. 14, 2015 found a St. Bernard breed running loose at Delabole and Pen Argyl streets. Officers saw the dog had a "very thin" body condition and a chain was embedded into the animal's neck, causing an infection, pain and strong odor, according to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A veterinarian had to surgically remove the chain from the dog's neck and treat the infection. Dog warden Julie Andrews was familiar with the dog and suspected the owners were Lauribel and Howard Shipps, court records say.

The couple in 2012 were subject to an investigation of dog violations and one of the dogs had been the St. Bernard named "Penny," the SPCA said.

An East Bangor man familiar with the couple reported to East Bangor police Penny had been chained up in front of the Dewey Street home without food and had been eating its own feces. The witness told police the dog had been chained outside for 2 to 3 years.

Roseto police met with the couple on Jan. 18 at the trailer of a family member. Lauribel Shipps told an officer Penny had died in late 2014 and was buried under plywood off of the trailer, police said.

Another dog, named "Coco," ran away in 2013 and never returned, Lauribel Shipps told police. She provided police with two dog collars with rabies and dog license tags attached for "Penny."

Police disproved Lauribel Shipps' account of events after investigators dug up the carcass of the deceased dog. Testing on the remains of the deceased dog proved that dog died one to two years prior to recovery, according to the SPCA.

Further testing showed DNA on the dog collar provided by Lauribel Shipps matched DNA of the St. Bernard found in Plainfield Township, according to Roseto police.

When confronted by investigators of the findings, Lauribel Shipps allegedly became upset and angry, telling police neighbors must have tampered with the deceased dog's carcass.

Both Lauribel and Howard Shipps Thursday were arraigned on the charges before Senior District Judge Sherwood Grigg. The judge set bail at $1,000 unsecured for each. The judge ordered the couple only own one dog per household.

A number listed for the couple was disconnected and they couldn't be reached for comment.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Motorcyclist critical after I-80 accident, police say

(Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

A motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon temporarily closed all lanes of Interstate 80 in Warren County, according to New Jersey State Police.

It was reported about 3:25 p.m. near mile-marker 15.2 on I-80 East, just east of Exit 12 (Route 521/Hope-Blairstown Road) in Allamuchy Township, officials said.

A medical helicopter landed about 3:45 p.m. to take the lone rider for treatment, said state police at Hope Township. Police said they expected the eastbound lanes in the area would remain closed until about 4:25 p.m.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The long term plan for Portlaoise hospital, which could call for the A&E's downgrade, is nearly complete and should be published within weeks, according to the group that oversees the facility.

However, hospital sources have heard nothing from management saying there has been 'radio silence' on future plans.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group told the Leinster Express that the review and plan for services was at an advanced stage and would be complete in the next few weeks.

The spokesperson said the report would represent a roadmap for the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and how it integrates with other services.

Following on from its completion there is to be wide consultation on its contents.

Before and during its implementation, there is due to be some further consultaiton, said the spokesperson.

No details or timescale was given for what is contained in the report.

The review is led by Dr Susan O'Reilly, who is chief executive of the Dublin Midlands Group.

The review has been underway for some time and involves other HSE management. The Department of Health is also due to have a say.

However, one well-placed staff source told the Leinster Express that there had been no sign of any report specifically to deal with Portlaoise.

It is understand that it has been extremely difficult to finding consensus among national clinical leadership over what should be located in Portlaoise.

It is understood that that there has been no meeting with hospital consultants.

The Dublin Midlands said the future of the new Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) would be set out shortly.

The new MAU is scheduled to be completed during Q3, 2016. The operation of the MAU is currently being considered as part of the wider review of services at MRHP, said a statement.

The first floor of the building, which will house the MAU, is already being used as a day ward though no new staff have been recruited.

Meanwhile, both the HSE and Dublin Midlands Group declined to comment on a report that the findings may not be made public from an investigation into staff and management arising from from the maternity unit controversy.

The Irish Times reported that HSE director general Tony OBrien told the Department of Health the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings into the deaths would have to remain confidential.
Arthritis Ireland has 20 active branches nationwide and 30 walking groups. The Arthritis Ireland local branch network offers a range of vital services for all people with arthritis in the community, including a Living Well with Arthritis course in Carrick-on-Shannon and previously in Drumsna.

Developed by Stanford University, this award-winning course covers every area of arthritis self-management and provides a variety of tools and techniques to help you better manage your condition.

There are approximately 6,000 people living with arthritis in Leitrim. Arthritis Ireland is in the process of setting up a new branch in Leitrim with the aim of providing activities and events for people living with arthritis in the local community.

Sinead Frawley, Regional Development Executive with Arthritis Ireland says; We are looking for anyone who is interested in volunteering to help arrange exercise classes, information evenings and fundraising, all of which are of huge benefit both physically and mentally.

If you are interested in volunteering, just a couple of hours a month can make a huge difference.

Sinead can be contacted on 086 0279379 if you wish to volunteer.

Arthritis Ireland is hosting an information evening on Thursday, May 12 in The Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon at 7.30pm.

Guest speaker on the night is Noreen Harrington, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton. Noreen will be presenting a talk on Osteoarthritis and Inflammatory Arthritis. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend!

For more information on the services that Arthritis Ireland provide, visit

www.arthritisireland.ie or locall 1890 252 846.
Sligo University Hospital has thanked the public for their co-operation in managing the current outbreak of Norovirus (Winter Vomiting Bug) at the hospital. The situation has improved in the last week, however, the virus still remains in a number of wards.

The following visiting restrictions apply:

No visiting is allowed except in exceptional circumstances, such as End of Life care, as agreed with the Ward Manager in advance of visiting.

No children are allowed visit at this time, as they may be particularly susceptible to the illness.

The public is encouraged to contact their GP or GP Out-of-Hours service in the first instance and not to attend the Emergency Department unless absolutely necessary.

Patients with pre-planned hospital appointments such as outpatients who have not had any symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea should attend their appointment as normal, unless otherwise advised by the hospital.

The restrictions will continue for the next week.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Tafara MDC-T MP James Maridadi has said all parastatals in the country are in the red and need urgent revival.Speaking in parliament Maridadi said there are more than 75 parastatals in this country."The Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development (Patrick Chinamasa) is actually on record saying that, prior to Independence and into independence, parastatals contributed 40% of GDP. Parastatals are the nudes around the Minister of Finance's neck. There is not a single parastatal which is not in the red - National Railways of Zimbabwe, Air Zimbabwe, ZBC, CSC and all of them," he said."I will go straight to the Reserve Bank Debt Assumption Bill because it also talks about inconsistencies in policies and disharmony in the Executive. The Reserve Bank Debt Assumption Bill which was passed by this Parliament, three quarters of the debt that was assumed by this State with the approval of this Parliament, is yet to be verified."He said they do not know how much people borrowed; they do not know what what that money was used for."It is yet to be verified and yet this Parliament has passed that Bill and it is now a law. $1, 3 billion," Maridadi said.Maridadi said the country would be able to deal with hunger when it has money."If you have no money you cannot deal with the issue of hunger. The reason why I am talking about corruption at ZIMRA is because it is money that will be collected by ZIMRA that will be given to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for him to be able to import maize, grain or food subsidies. That is why I am talking about corruption at ZIMRA, otherwise I have no business talking about corruption at ZIMRA," he said."The reason why I am talking about parastatals is because parastatals are at the core of Government service delivery. The reason parastatals were formed is because they deliver service to the people on behalf of Government and parastatals should do so profitably. That is why I am talking about parastatals."
Sligo/Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny and the party's Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald were among those who addressed the 100th anniversary commemoration for 1916 Leader and Proclamation signatory Sean Mac Diarmada in Kiltyclogher on Sunday last.

Addressing the large crowd, which included visitors from all parts of Ireland and further afield including the County Leitrim Society, New York and the Leitrim Society, Boston, Deputy Kenny said Sinn Fein was very clear that the Rising was right and just, that it had asserted Ireland's right to freedom, and had set an example for colonised people all over the world.

He insisted Sinn Fein was out to complete the task for which Sean Mac Diarmada had sacrificed his life - a 32-County republic based on the principles of justice and equality for all.

Deputy Kenny thanked the people of Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan and South Donegal for electing him to the Dail and said that as the only Sinn Fein TD from Connacht he would work hard to represent the interests of everyone in the West, citing the need for greater investment, infrastructure, service provision and jobs in the region.

The large crowd was also addressed by Sinn Fein Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald who stated that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail need to recognise that Ireland does not stop at the border.

Partition has created false divisions. The artificial border, just over 100 metres from where we are standing, for decades cut the village of Kiltyclogher off from its natural hinterland.

This border has separated families, farmlands and communities.

How would Sean Mac Diarmada feel about the country he died for, still being partitioned 100 years after the Easter Rising?

And so, in much of the state commemorations of 1916, it seemed that for many in official Ireland, our country ends 150 yards from the statue of Sean Mac Diarmada here in Kiltyclogher.

The Sinn Fein Deputy Leader told the huge crowd in Leitrim border town that the men and women of 1916 would have readily understood the republican struggle in the North of recent decades, and would have identified with the brave men who sacrificed their all on the 1981 Hunger Strike, the 35th anniversary of which coincides with the 1916 Centenary.

Pointing to the harsh conditions in Leitrim during Sean Mac Diarmadas youth, she said that Leitrim and other counties had continued to suffer from emigration and neglect.

Leitrim, like much of rural Ireland has been hard hit in recent years by a decline in public and commercial services. Rural communities have lost local hospitals, Garda stations, post offices and vital transport links.

She added, Sinn Fein is absolutely serious about tearing down Ireland as it has been and replacing it with a real Republic of fairness, decency and equality.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Tafara MP James Maridadi (MDC-T) has blamed the $1,3 billion debt of the nation as the reason why the country can not adequately feed its people.Speaking in parliament, Maridadi said one of the reasons why some people did not want to vote or did not want the Reserve Bank Debt Assumption Bill to pass is because of what is happening in the parastatals and also what happened with the mechanisation money."That is one of the reasons why we did not want to vote for that and I will come to the policy inconsistencies. The reason why there is hunger and Government cannot feed its people is because Government is carrying a debt of $1,3 billion internally," he said. "For that debt to be extinguished, money must be collected in taxes. For money to be collected in taxes, ZIMRA must be playing ball, but if there is corruption at ZIMRA and they are failing to collect taxes, it means Government is not able to extinguish the internal or external debt and people will go hungry. That is why I am talking about all this."Maridadi said he was praying that the thing that will bring policy consistency to this country is one."Let us not have many ministries. Ministries of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment; Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development; Economic Planning and Policy Implementation - all those ministries must be disbanded and become departments in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development," he said. "When they become departments in the Ministry of Finance, it means there is one Minister. All these other people working in those departments will simply be feeding information and giving advice to the Minister. When it comes to pronouncing policies, it will be one person making policy pronouncements."Maridadi said the reason there is policy inconsistencies is that there are many Ministers without a lot of mandates and at the end of the day, they are stepping on each other's toes."That is why there are policy inconsistencies because when Hon. Zhuwao was basically saying, ignore the Minister of Finance and Economic Development because he does not know anything - it is a headline which is here. It says, "Zhuwao: investor rules unchanged, ignore Chinamasa" in a press conference," he said. "I will not bother you by getting into the details of that press conference. If he were a director in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, he would not have called for a press conference. He would have gone to the Minister to seek clarity and the Minister would have told him how the indigenisation law is interpreted and he would have gotten out of the Minister's office wiser."Maridadi said the Minister would have made a pronouncement as one Minister. But then, there are five people talking about the same policy differently, so there is inconsistency."My first advice is that we must disband many ministries and come up with one Ministry of Finance and in any case, Minister Chinamasa is doing a very good job, he is a very sober Minister. He is very honest and I think he should preside over the Ministries of Small and Medium Enterprises and Youth and Indigenisation, and all those other ministries," he said."It is the prerogative of the President to appoint Ministers but I think the nation must play a role. When these Ministers are being employed, I think people out there must play a role as they do in other countries like what they do in Kenya."Maridadi said the President will announce names of those that he wants to appoint and Ministers go live on television and get interviewed."When you interview Ministers live, you are able to tell the calibre of the person that you are engaging. What must happen is that people must have an input into the appointment of Ministers. The President must then go out and say, I want to have 15 or 20 ministries and these are the ministries," he said. "Those that are interested in the job must apply and their CVs put in the newspaper and they get interviewed by the members of the public. If they are interviewed by the members of the public Mr. Speaker, we will not have people that get into Government who are not equal to the task."
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

President of the senate Ednah Madzongwe on Tuesday announced the new Zanu PF sentator Tabeth Murwira for Seke to replace Olivia Muchena who was booted out of the party being accused of aligning her self with former Vice President Joice Mujuru.."In terms of Section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has notified the Clerk of Parliament of the nomination of Hon. Sen. Tabeth Murwira as a Senator," Madzongwe said. "Hon. Murwira is a registered voter in Ward 17 of Manyami Rural District Council in Seke, was nominated by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) party to fill in the vacancy that occurred in the Senate following the recall by Zanu PF party of the incumbent member, Hon. Olivia Muchena on the grounds that, she had ceased to be a member of that party. Hon. Sen. Murwira was duly appointed Senator for Mashonaland East Province with effect from the 29th of April, 2016."She said Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the member must take the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the Third Schedule."Section 128 (2) states that before the oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament. I therefore call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the oath of a Member of Parliament to Hon. Sen. Tabeth Murwira," she said.
In recent elections, both the General Election or the European Election, Liberal Democrat candidates have included officials or civil servants working for EU institutions in Brussels.

There is no restriction on them standing in these elections. I saw many of them do an excellent job.

On the other hand, UK civil servants are generally banned from standing as candidates to be MP or MEPs.

Isnt it time to address this inconsistency and relax the rules that mean civil servants cannot be chosen by their peers to represent them in our parliaments?

Some of the UKs most talented, dedicated, civic minded citizens work as civil servants.

These are people who work for parts of the national government. They might work in a Whitehall office building. for say the Ministry of Defence or Foreign Office or Department for Health, or in another part of the country. They might work in the JobCentre or for HMRC. They might work indoors or outside for the Forestry Commission or the Environment Agency. They might work at the Charity Commission, the Land Registry ot the National Archives.

All of these people frequently have skills that would make them ideal candidates for public office. But generally speaking (the rules vary for department to department) they are barred from standing for the UK Parliament and European Parliament.

Many of them cannot stand even if they are not otherwise politically restricted. I dont mind if my car mechanic or my doctor canvasses for a political party and I dont mind if the person who might help me at the JobCentre does either.

The basis for this rule is often holding an office for profit under the Crown going back to the days when the monarch was politically active and the public did not want the Commons to contain kings men, whose independence was compromised by government money coming into their pockets.

This rule is slightly meaningless today. A candidate cannot be allowed to be an employee of Her Majestys Government but can own a company that does work for and thereby receives funds from the Crown.

UK civil servants can stand if the are willing to resign their job (not just take a leave of absence) with no right of reappointment should they not be elected.

This is an inconsistency that should not be allowed to continue.

* Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup.
In my view, trade benefits all countries. It spreads technology and good practice; it stimulates competition and rejuvenates economies.

Vince Cable, less than six months after being appointed Business Secretary, said that back in 2010 as he welcomed the EU-South Korea trade agreement.

Liberal Democrats should loud and proud make the case for Free Trade.

It ought to be inconceivable that we have to have this argument again.

For most of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, the bone of contention between Liberalism and Conservatism (including the peculiar form of Socialist Conservatism practised by Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party) has been between Free Trade and Protectionism.

Time and again, from the Corn Laws to the Great Depression to  it has been said  the causes of the World Wars, protectionist policies have led to disaster, hurting most the very people they were supposed to protect, alienating neighbours and allowing bad businesses to get away with bad practice.

Wherever free trade has flourished, there has been prosperity and higher living standards and indeed peace.

And yet here we are again, with the current referendum brewing up a toxic alliance between the Nigel Farrage-ist right who want to throw up barriers between us and the Twenty First Century and the Big Statist left who spread paranoia about the supposed evils of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Charity begins at home, look after your own first  its such an easy sell. Thats why the populists sell it.

And yet its the ordinary man in the street, or woman doing the shopping, who are hit by the tariffs.

Trade barriers actually help big business. Their prices go up, so they sell a bit less but they have the scale to absorb it. Its the little guys who are forced out. And its the customer who pays. And then the big companies without competition become lazy take the customer for granted and exploit them.

And we all suffer. Prices go up, so sales go down and a little bit of the profit is lost along the way. The economy shrinks, the government gets less taxes, were all paying more for stuff and everyone is a little bit worse off.

The great advantage of free trade is that it gives the small business an edge over the corporate giant: the ability to change, innovate, create new products and bring them to new markets. More people able to trade means more choice for the consumer and lower prices and more new ideas.

The Tory governments obsession with immigration is all about throwing up barriers to free trade  the trade in peoples skills and labour. And at the same time they are increasingly serving the interests of big businesses and big banks, pushing policies to make it easier for them to exploit near-monopoly status. The Labour Party  when it can forget its internal strife long enough to have an answer  thinks that nationalisation is the cure to all ills. Liberals are properly wary of anyone having that sort of power, state or big business.

Free Trade is such a win-win for Liberal Democrats: its individual and its internationalist. When people ask us what are the Lib Dems for? this is it!

We need to be strong on the economy, to make this an issue where people know we are the party on their side, who will make them better off.

The economy motion that we passed at Federal Conference in York, while good in its own ways, had a big hole in it where Free Trade, the most important issue of the day, should have been.

Thats why Id like us to bring a Free Trade motion to Brighton.

And our draft A Liberal Approach to Free Trade in a Globalised World Economy is available to read online here.

Sir Vince is on board and Catherine Bearder, for the European dimension, has made valuable contributions, and I am looking for more people to sign up to support. Please help us reclaim our title as the party of free trade by taking these three steps:

Sign the motion here (all Lib Dem members can do so); Share this post and the link to the sign-up form with other members; Ask your local party to support the motion (a representative of any local party willing to support can fill in the same form, ticking the box at the bottom).

* Richard Flowers has been a Party member for 20 years. Hes campaigned in many an election, stood as a local councillor, and Parliamentary candidate, was Chair of Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats, and in 2020 was Liberal Democrat candidate for the Greater London Assembly constituency of City and East. He is currently English Party Treasurer. Thanks to Liberal Democrats in government, he is married to his husband Alex Wilcock. He also helps Millennium Elephant to write his Very Fluffy Diary.
Despite a slight kick-start in the most recent elections we are still a long way off form truly having a #libdemfightback. If that is something we really want to do then we must start taking a real look at campaign strategy and the way we are fighting these elections.

For years now the Liberal Democrats have been running a campaign that, whilst it does reach certain people, it is not working as well it perhaps could be. Targeting strong seats is very sensible and admirable but if feel we are potentially missing out on capturing other constituencies.

Having lived in several London boroughs it is a shame I have not been visited by any of the local Liberal Democrats standing for Parliament or local council. I believe our lack of presence may mean we arent reaching potential voters.

#LibDemFightBack must be more than just an ideology or a slogan. Targeting key seats is of course a great idea, but I think we cant underestimate how much we can make an impact in other areas. I know we will not get immediate results and other parties are also on the streets as well. It will of course take more than flyers and canvassing and I think if we can have a strong and captivating message we can potentially meet and sway new voters and even new members. I am not entirely sure what the answer is but I think we must attempt to re-evaluate our approach and try new things out. Whether it is as simple as canvassing in areas we are weak or organising events, publicity stunts, getting digital or just re-thinking our messaging. Whatever form that may take I think we must continue to keep our message alive and positive in any new ways we can and try and get both members and non-members really passionate about the party and our policies.

I believe if we constantly talk to each other openly and try to scrutinise our strategy in how we campaign then we can really invigorate the fight back. Im sure people in many constituencies are doing this already, and I applaud those members. I simply worry that we dont have as strong a presence as we perhaps could.

I believe that our campaign has to be re-thought and maybe trying out new things might not be a bad idea, not necessarily better, but worth a try. I think we should be pragmatic and realistic when approaching our planning and we should try and present our ideas and policies as robustly and as vigorously as we can

* The author is an actor, writer and Lib Dem member
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said there is no way that the First Minister can keep Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead in his post following repeated delays to vital EU payments.

Farmers and crofters have been hit by extended delays to Common Agricultural Policy payments as a result of the failure of a Scottish Government IT system. Mr Lochhead was informed of potential problems with the 178m IT system before the referendum but waited for months before warning farmers that payments could be delayed.

It also emerged during the election campaign that farmers receiving support from an emergency Scottish Government scheme could face punitive interest charges.

Willie said:

Richard Lochhead knew about potential problems with the new IT system before the referendum but told farmers nothing until the middle of last year. He left farmers struggling for months before introducing an emergency payments scheme that could see businesses clobbered with unfair interest charges as a result of the governments incompetence. There are only so many mistakes a Minister can make before their position becomes untenable. Richard Lochhead is now beyond that point. There is no way that the First Minister can keep him in his post and he should be replaced. It is time that we got a Rural Affairs Secretary who will deliver for farmers and crofters.

Of course, replacing Lochhead on its own isnt enough. The SNP need to sort this out. Upsetting the people who produce our food is never a good thing.
You cant really imagine it, Dave, Jez, Angus Robertson, Tim and all the Westminster leaders all lined up waiting to meet some VIP and suddenly one says to the others I bet you 100 you wont say (something slightly unexpected) to said VIP. For a start, if Jez or Angus actually did it, the Daily Mail and the Sun would be screaming outrage and horror for at least a decade. There would probably be a constitutional crisis.

Its not quite like that in Scotland. Theres a lot more genuine banter between the party leaders. Last year, they all made out on Twitter that they were going to watch Andy Murray play in some major match rather than bother with First Minsters Questions. They also organised a shoe shopping trip for charity. But last night it took a slightly different turn.

MSPs had just attended the Kirking of the Parliament with Prince Charles and were waiting to meet him in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The party leaders were lined up first. Labours Kezia Dugdale dared Willie to ask the Heir to the Throne what hed bought yer maw for her birthday.

Now, Willie has form for saying slightly unusual things to famous people. He has this habit of just treating them like everyone else. He suggested to the Dalai Lama that he watch Rikki Fultons comedy programme Scotch and Wry, which is one of the funniest things Scotland has ever produced. Anyway, Willie even sent him a DVD.

So, he was game for Kezs challenge as the Courier reports:

Ms Dugdale dared the North East Fife MSP to ask him what he gave the Queen as a 90th birthday gift, with the prince looking taken aback by the question when he was introduced to the Lib Dem leader by outgoing presiding officer Tricia Marwick. Although Charles did not reveal what his gift was, he reportedly said it was something she wanted, before being ushered away.

And Gorgie City Farm, where Willie had so much fun with some porcine friends and they had so much fun while he wasnt looking is now a cool 350 better off thanks to him. Theres Kezias 100:

And theres 250 from the naming of the plastic pigs, given to Willie by a BBC journalist, that he was holding at his count last week. They are called Kama and Sutra for some reason and will be going to live in Glasgow with the competition winner:

She told the newspaper: I dont think anyone will forget those pigs. I wont, as Ill be keeping them on my mantelpiece.

At last weeks Holyrood election, Mr Rennie won the Fife North East seat, beating SNP candidate Roderick Campbell by 3,465 votes.

Ahead of taking to the stage at the count in Glenrothes, the politician was handed the two pigs by BBC reporter Ken Macdonald.

Mr Rennie later thanked the journalist for the gift which ended up raising money for the city farm which is under threat of closure.

All this larking about comes pretty naturally to Willie. What you see is what you get with him. He fights political battles and takes things very seriously, but he also has a fairly irrepressible sense of fun. The teenagers who regularly visit my house all love his exploits. The big question now, of course, is what he will dare Kezia to do in return. VIPs visiting Holyrood should prepare themselves.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
LORD Alfred Tennyson, Franz Liszt, Daniel OConnell, Richard Nixon, and Ted Kennedy are among a long, illustrious list of people who once stayed in the former Cruises Hotel on OConnell Street.

Demolished in 1991 and currently occupied by Costa Coffee, the premises on George Street, as it was formerly known, has now been earmarked to tourists and locals alike for another famous connection.

Charles Dickens stayed in the hotel in 1858, during an Irish tour of his work, and the Limerick Writers' Centre on Friday last unveiled a commemorative plaque in his honour, as part of their growing literary trail throughout the city.

This is part of our ongoing mission to record publicly the literary heritage of Limerick and weve been on this mission for quite a while, said Donal Thurlow, one of the directors of the writers centre.

Dickens wrote to a nephew from Limerick nearly 158 years ago, describing it as the oddest place of which nobody in any other part of Ireland seems to know anything.

I read in the Theatre [Royal on Henry Street, now demolished]  a charming Theatre. The best I ever saw, to see and hear in. I am bound to say that they are an admirable audience. As hearty and demonstrative as it is possible to be. It is a very odd place in its lower order aspects, and I am very glad we came, though we could have made heaps of money by going to Dublin instead, he wrote.

Plaques have already been erected in the city in memory of the war poet Robert Graves at the Locke Bar, the poet Desmond OGrady, outside his spiritual home at the White House bar, in honour of the citys only Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt at Souths bar, where he enjoyed his first pint. Richard Harris, who was also a poet as well as an internationally renowned actor, is remembered with a plaque outside his second home, Charlie St Georges bar.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

MDC-T senator Siphiwe Ncube has expressed concerns over the delay by government to implement the clause of devolution of power which is in the constitution indicating that this has led many parts of the country to lag behind."Noting that Section 2(1) of the Constitution provides for the Constitution as the supreme law of the country, therefore there is need to speed up the realignment of laws that are not consistent with the Constitution," said Ncube during senate."Our residents are very informed that the provisions of Section 2(2) which are imposed by the Constitution are binding on every person, natural or juristic including the State and all Executive, Legislative and Judicial Institutions and agencies of Government at every level."She said therefore, she wanted to concur with the residents of Bulawayo whom I represent that as Parliament, we are failing to fulfill our mandate of making laws for the good governance of the nation."Section 3 (3) (l) under the principles of governance, clearly states that the State has to ensure the devolution and decentralization of Government powers and functions."She said there were challenges being faced by Local Authorities in Budget Approval."Section 264(f) provides as follows: "to transfer responsibilities and resources from the national Government in order to establish a sound financial base for each Provincial and Metropolitan Council.""Most of our local authorities are operating without a 2016 budget, as a result they are forced to adhere to 30% salaries and 70% service delivery, which the Central Government is failing to attain. I strongly concur that there is need to cut costs but we also must admit that the economy is in doldrums; hence our poor residents are failing to timeously pay their council bills," she said.Ncube said the responsible Minister, because powers are not yet devolved, is delaying the budget approval, thereby crippling the operations of local authorities in implementing what would have been proposed. There is need to urgently address this challenge."It is the public domain that Treasury disburses 5% of the national fiscus to the 92 local authorities to be used for service delivery. Madam President, our 2016 Budget stands at $4 billion hence if $200 million is given to these local authorities, such resources will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges being faced by the citizens of Zimbabwe," Ncube said."When local authorities make follow ups on the utilization of this money, they are told that there is no enabling Act of Parliament to release the required funds. It is incumbent on us to prioritise devolution for the sake of service delivery."She said Section 267 provides that there shall be Bulawayo Metropolitan and Harare Metropolitan Provinces and Section 260 also provides that for each Metropolitan Province, there is a Metropolitan Council."Section 270 - functions of Metropolitan Councils provides as follows: Planning and implementing social and economic development activities in its province," she said."Coordinating and implementing governmental programmes in its province, for example, food aid where there is no rain. Monitoring and evaluating the use of resources in its province. Exercise any other functions including legislative functions that maybe conferred or imposed on it by an Act of Parliament."Ncube said an Act of Parliament must provide for the establishment, structure and staff of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils and the manner in which they exercise their functions."Section 269 (1) (e)  As Senators, we are supposed to sit in their Metropolitan Councils but because of the absence of devolution, this will remain a dream. Furthermore, because of company closures in Bulawayo and around the country, this can help create employment for our people,""Whenever appropriate, governmental powers and responsibilities must be devolved to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities which are competent to carry out these responsibilities efficiently and effectively.""Therefore, I note with concern the appointment of resident Ministers, it was very unconstitutional. Residents of Bulawayo fumed, airing that it was a serious violation of the Constitution which is the supreme law of Zimbabwe. So devolution in this regard will help the operationalisation of Metropolitan Councils," she said."The Constitution of Zimbabwe supersedes an Act of Parliament and therefore, the local government Ministry is using the Urban Councils Act which is inconsistent with the provisions in the Constitution. We are then faced with a lot of discord, which then affects the peace and tranquility in our Local Authorities," she said."It is my hope and prayer that let us prioritise the realignment of our Constitution to enable the running of our Local Authorities efficiently and effectively."
BORN again is not a phrase you would often associate with women in their 60s, post retirement.

But the therapeutic effects of being on the water are being heralded by a group of Limerick women and men, who found kayaking to be their great escape, and who want to introduce still waters and the thrill of threading white water to the masses.

Helen ODea, a 61 year-old nurse and midwife, said that she had not been involved in sport since adolescence. But after being offered an introductory session, she was hooked.

For very little investment  35 - I was given an instructor, a canoe, paddles, a wet suit, a floating device, a helmet and a bunch of new associates who looked as nervous as I did. I was very nervous at first but now I am so delighted.

Last night, I came down on white water, rocking my way back to the pontoon at UL, I could not believe I was managing so well. I felt so confident. I am alive again, starting a new phase in my life, born again, she said.

Brid OConnell, 57, took up kayaking just over two years ago and later this month shell be white-water paddling in the Alps to celebrate the end of her radiation treatment, after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

It has become a passion and given me a new lease of life. I feel alive again, she said. When you have cancer your existence is brought into question; it hits you at a gut level, right to your very core and it isnt easy to recover from. Your mood is one of the things that will suffer ups and downs.

But when you go out on the water, your mood lifts, you see beauty around you, its just extraordinary. My only regret is that I didnt find this in my 20s. It was there all along, but I just didnt find my way to the water, said Brid, a member of the Limerick Kayak Club.

However, Brid said that her love of being in the water began before her cancer diagnosis this January, and she is encouraging others to take up an upcoming 10km paddle challenge.

The free introduction to the waters, lasting about 20 minutes, will take place this Saturday, May 14, from 10 am to 12 noon, from the slipway near Sarsfield Bridge. The Kayaking Company in Castleconnell will be running a similar event on the same day.

In the city, all the necessary equipment will be provided free of charge by Paul Austin of GetWest, a local kayaking and adventure company. If you like it, you can register for the training programme and expect to be out on the water up to twice or three times a week during the summer, culminating in the 10k paddle challenge on August 20.

Waterways Ireland have teamed up with the Irish Canoe Union to launch this initiative. The exact route of the 10km has yet to be decided.

If youre sitting at home thinking to yourself that you really must do something to get fit, then thats one reason. Another is, speaking as a psychotherapist, without a doubt, paddling is one of the best things Ive ever come across for mental health and well-being. Its just great fun. It releases all the endorphins, said Brid.

We have this wonderful river flowing through our city, and unfortunately its mostly associated with tragedy whenever we read about it. But the river Shannon is a wonderful resource, full of life and movement, and we need to reclaim it. Its a huge source of life-giving pleasure, joy, well-being, and happiness.

Youre out in nature, youre in your own boat, youre part of a group, its a little bit of an adrenalin rush, you might capsize, you might not, youve to learn how to move forward, sideways, backwards and yes, eventually upside down! The mum of three, who has done a top drop down part of the Clare Glens describing it as the best adrenalin rush ever, said her husband has now followed her out onto the water, joking that If I dont go out on the water, Ill never see her.
A SERIAL offender who robbed more than 800 from a bookmakers premises in the city centre was, this week, sentenced to four years imprisonment.

Willie ODwyer, aged 28, of no fixed abode, admitted taking 810 from Ladbrokes, Cecil Street after threatening two members of staff with a knife.

During a sentencing hearing, Garda Enda Clifford told Limerick Circuit Court the defendant, who has almost 100 previous convictions, entered the premises at around 6.30pm on April 17, 2015.

ODwyer, who was wearing a hoodie and had a scarf covering his face, produced a knife and threatened the two workers before ordering them to open the till.

The employees retreated and locked themselves inside a toilet from where they rang the gardai.

After jumping the counter the defendant started banging on the toilet door and demanding that they come out.

When they refused he took the cash and a results docket from the till.

Garda Clifford said after leaving the premises, O'Dwyer cycled to McGarry House at Alphonsus Street where he was living at the time.

He told the court that when he called to the defendants room a short time after he was alerted to the incident, he observed ODwyer changing his clothes.

He told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting that a large quantity of cash was found on the bed along with a results slip which matched the one which had been taken during the robbery.

While the defendant did not make any admissions while in custody, it was submitted by Mr OSullivan that the case against him was coercive.

However he accepted that while CCTV from Ladbrokes was helpful ODwyer was not identifiable on the footage.

During the sentencing hearing, which was heard in February, Mark Nicholas BL, defending, said his client, who has been in custody since his arrest, was engaging with the prison authorities and making efforts to deal with his drug addiction.

He said ODwyer regrets what happened and wished to apologise to the staff members who he threatened.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell commented that ODwyer is a career criminal and he said it was an aggravating factor that he continues to get into trouble and reoffend despite having served a number of prison sentences in the past.

He said the offence was premeditated and planned and that the defendant had selected an easy target.

He added the incident had been extremely frightening for the two Ladbrokes employees  particularly as a knife had been produced.

While ODwyer did not make any admissions following his arrest, he said his guilty plea was a mitigating factor as was the fact that he is now engaging with the Merchants Quay project.

He imposed a four year prison sentence, which he backdated to the date of the offence.
THERE are fears for dozens of jobs at Debenhams in Limerick following the appointment of an Interim Examiner to Debenhams Retail (Ireland), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Debenhams.

The High Court has appointed Kieran Wallace of KPMG to oversee the process following an application by the directors of the company.

Debenhams has 11 stores around the country employing more than 1,400 people. Its Limerick store is located at OConnell Street in the heart of the city.

The retailer says all of its stores and its online operations will continue to trade as normal during the examinership process.

In a statement it added that all prepaid goods and services, together with gift vouchers and credit notes, will be honoured.

"The Directors of Debenhams Retail (Ireland) will work hard to secure the long term future of the business in Ireland, enabling us to continue to serve our customers well, to provide sustainable jobs for our colleagues and to support the Irish economy," commented John Bebbington, who is a director of he company.

"A key element of the examinership would be to protect as many jobs as possible. We believe this will be in the best long term interests of all our stakeholders. During the examinership process it will be business as usual for all of our stores and online trading," he added.
LABOUR deputy Jan OSullivan said shell decide by early next week if she will contest the leadership of the party, after Joan Burton stepped down this week.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, the former Minister for Education & Skills said that she initially didn't give it too much serious consideration, but she began to think about it again recently.

She said shell be consulting with her family and members of the Labour party in Limerick over the weekend, before making her decision on Monday or Tuesday.

If I did decide to run, I would get a proposer and seconder. Ive had those discussions already. It would involve a fairly long time commitment, both in terms of being willing to stay the course beyond the next election, plus a huge amount of organisational work all around the country, and a lot more time in Dublin, she said.

Regardless of whether any leadership bid is successful or not, she said she intends to become very active in the party anyway, because what we want to do both in the Dail and the Seanad, despite our small numbers, is to have a strong presence and be a constructive Left in opposition.

Brendan Howlin, Alan Kelly and Sean Sherlock are also likely to contest a leadership battle.

Asked about her male competitors, deputy OSullivan replied: That wouldn't bother me one way or the other. I do think it would be good to have a woman in the mix, but either way I've never seen myself specifically as a woman politician - I'm a politician.

I do very strongly believe in more women being involved in politics. I'd be arguing on the basis of what I stand for and my style of leadership, and not because of being a woman.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Leigh Anne (22), the daughter of prominent Masvingo businessman Rannie Mahachi who was murdered in the UK last month will be buried in Masvingo on Monday next week.Masvingo Mirror reported that Mahachi confirmed the latest developments saying his daughter's body will be landing at the Harare International Airport from the UK on at 915pm on Saturday. It will then be brought to Masvingo on Sunday morning and burial will be on Monday morning at the Pioneer Cemetery.Anne was murdered by Tapiwa Douglas Furusa who is said to have been her lover. She was stabbed 21 times as she left home to go to work and this happened as her mother watched helplessly from her first floor flat."Burial will take place at the Pioneer cemetery and mourners will be gathered at Number 14 Protea Avenues in Rhodene," said Mahachi
Congress set to address financial plight of U.S. Postal Service

May 11, 2016, 12 PM

Congress is about to address the long-standing financial plight of the United States Postal Service, a situation lawmakers largely created with a 2006 law.

By Bill McAllister, Washington Correspondent

There is something new in the air these days in Washington, and it isnt the aroma of spring flowers.

Its the idea that after years of delay, Congress is about to address the long-standing financial plight of the United States Postal Service, a situation lawmakers largely created with a 2006 law.

Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan, not one to make rash promises, acknowledged May 10 that she was cautiously optimistic that lawmakers might finally address her agencys financial woes.

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Fredric Rolando of National Association of Letter Carriers, who has been arguing that the mail service already is back on track financially, spoke of an emerging consensus among key lawmakers, the Postal Service, postal unions, businesses, mailers and industry groups to move forward with practical reform that all stakeholders can buy into.

Those hopes were buoyed significantly May 11 when House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, gaveled his committee to a hearing on Finding a viable solution to the USPSs problems.

Chaffetz, whose panel has been less active than the Senate on postal issues, promised action.

We cannot ignore this, he said, calling a healthy postal system vital to the U.S. economy.

At the end of the session, the chairman surprised some by announcing that his committee would have draft legislation to address the Postal Services financial trouble in a couple of weeks.

We are going to get postal reform, agreed Rep. Gerald Connelly, D-Va., one of several committee members who have been working on the legislation for several weeks.

Connelly cautioned that it may be not everything all sides want.

For the Postal Service, Brennan made clear what four markers the USPS has for the legislation.

First and foremost, she said, was requiring postal retirees to use Medicare as their primary insurance. The step alone could save the USPS $17.5 billion over the next four years and reduce significantly the Postal Services mandate to prepay the healthcare costs of its retirees.

Brennan also wants Congress to order a return of the 49 first-class postage stamp and other temporary rate increases that ended April 10.

She also wants the Postal Services retirement liability to be calculated on postal-specific assumptions rather than government-wide retiree assumptions and limited additional product flexibility.

Gone from her demands were a return to five-day home mail deliveries, mandatory use of neighborhood style mailboxes, and other suggestions that have gained no political traction in Congress.

Those requested steps could give the USPS $32 billion in savings through 2020, she said, putting the nations postal service on a path to financial stability.

The questions she got, especially from several conservative Republicans, indicate that there are still lawmakers yet to be convinced that the plan is a good one.

Democrats seemed to be supportive and eager to move legislation quickly.

We cannot kick the can further down the road, agreed Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

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May 12, 2016, 5 AM

In 1936, the Cleveland, Ohio, postmaster caused this brief message to be put on airmail letters being delivered in Cleveland.

Shown back and front, this 1940 cover from Colombia bears a notice on the reverse from the Utica, N.Y., post office suggesting that lack of a special delivery stamp delayed delivery of the letter.

The paste-on message from the Dayton, Ohio, postmaster on this 1938 letter from El Salvador promotes the use of special delivery.

By John M. Hotchner

Postal service messages on covers are an interesting area to collect, and it is a field full of surprises.

Routine examples of such messages advise of inability to deliver, explain why a cover might have been damaged or delayed in transit, or indicate why and how much postage due has been assessed.

There is, however, a special class of messages in which the postal people take the time and trouble to promote their services.

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The three examples shown with this column are all from the same general era when the United States Post Office Department was trying to increase use of special delivery.

The most recent is a 1940 cover from Bogota, Colombia, to Utica, N.Y. The rather long message on the back reads:

 Air Mail on a letter presupposes that its transportation is urgent. Why not its delivery? The sender of this letter did not realize it would arrive in Utica too late for carrier delivery on Saturday and consequently it could not reach you until Monday. The use of combined Air Mail and Special Delivery service, costing but little more, would have insured delivery on date of arrival at this office, information which you may wish to convey to your correspondent and the same practice can be followed to good advantage on Air Mail letters mailed at Utica, N.Y.

The second is a 1938 letter from El Salvador to Dayton, Ohio. The message stuck to the back is headed Speed Delivery of your air mail  Use Special Delivery. The message reads:

The Air Mail Stamp on a piece of mail is, as a rule, indicative of its importance. Possibly it did not occur to the sender of the accompanying letter that it might arrive at Dayton, Ohio after the last delivery of the day and would not reach you until the following morning. A Special Delivery stamp would have permitted it to be delivered immediately upon arrival at Dayton, Ohio.

The Post Office Department desires to acquaint all its customers with the advantages of Special Delivery Service. By advising the senders of important Air Mail letters to use Special Delivery Stamps on mail which might arrive here after the last regular delivery of the day, it is believed that your postal service will be of greater value to you.

It is signed, C.N. Greer, Postmaster.

The third example is the short and sweet handstamp in red on a domestic 1936 airmail letter sent to Cleveland, Ohio. It says: Dear Patron  Use Special Delivery in addition to Air Mail. This omission caused Delayed Delivery. M.E. ODonnell, P.M.

Special delivery service began in the United States in 1885, and immediately became a popular means of moving urgent mail. Starting as a domestic service available at only 555 post offices, within a year it had extended nationwide.

By the 1930s, a series of bilateral agreements with foreign governments allowed for reciprocal special delivery with prepayment using stamps of the originating country.

This greatly simplified a system that formerly had required that a U.S. special delivery stamp had to be used on international mail to the United States to guarantee that service.

Special delivery did meet a real need, but it was rendered obsolete by the introduction of Priority Mail and Express Mail in the 1970s.

From 1991, when 21.1 million pieces of mail were sent by special delivery, the total had dropped to a mere 300,000 in 1995.

In that same period, Priority Mail grew from 530 million pieces to 869 million, and Express Mail was up to 60 million pieces.

Special delivery service was eliminated on June 7, 1997.

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May 12, 2016, 11 AM

Members of the U.N. peacekeeping forces are shown raising the forces blue flag on Austrias International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers stamp.

Six stamps from the United Nations Postal Administration celebrate the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers, which is observed annually on May 29. The stamps, which show the peacekeepers at work, are part of a joint issue with Austria.

By Denise McCarty

A joint issue of the United Nations Postal Administration and Austria Post pays tribute to United Nations peacekeepers.

The stamps are being issued May 29, the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers. A ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at World Stamp Show-New York 2016 at the Javits Center in New York City.

The set from the UNPA includes six stamps, two for each U.N. post office located at New York headquarters in New York City; the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; and the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria.

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The denominations are 47, $1.15, 1 Swiss franc, 1.50fr, 0.68 and 0.80.

Austria Post is issuing a single 0.68 commemorative.

All of the stamps show photographs of members of U.N. peacekeeping forces. Each design also includes an image of the blue helmet of the peacekeeping forces and a laurel branch in the lower left.

In addition, the U.N. stamps show the U.N. emblem on a gold background on the right side of the design. The stamp from Austria depicts the emblem in white superimposed on the photograph.

Each stamp measures 30 millimeters by 40mm.

Sergio Baradat of the United Nations designed the U.N. stamps. Lowe-Martin of Canada printed them in offset-lithography with gold foil in sheets of 20.

The quantities are 150,000 each of the U.S. denominations (47, $1.15); 120,000 each of the Swiss denominations (1fr, 1.50fr); and 130,000 each of the Austrian denominations (0.68, 0.80).

Anita Kern designed the stamp for Austria Post. The Austrian State Printing Office printed it by offset in sheets of 50 in a quantity of 250,000 stamps.

The first U.N. peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), was established May 29, 1948, in the Middle East.

In the 68 years since then, 3,400 military, police, and civilian personnel of the U.N. peacekeeping forces have lost their lives.

The International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers was created to honor their memory, as well as to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

According to the United Nations Peacekeeping website, more than 1 million men and women have served under the peacekeepers blue flag.

The 1988 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the U.N. peacekeeping forces.

In the press release announcing this award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said: The Peacekeeping Forces of the United Nations have, under extremely difficult conditions, contributed to reducing tensions where an armistice has been negotiated but a peace treaty has yet to be established. In situations of this kind, the UN forces represent the manifest will of the community of nations to achieve peace through negotiations, and the forces have, by their presence, made a decisive contribution towards the initiation of actual peace negotiations.

The UNPA issued three stamps March 17, 1989, to commemorate the awarding of this Nobel prize (Scott New York 548, Geneva 175, Vienna 90).

Several other U.N. stamps have highlighted the work of the peacekeepers. For example, a 1965 issue honors the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Scott New York 139-140).

Four commemorative stamps issued Nov. 21, 1975, show a wild rose growing from barbed wire (Scott New York 265-266, Geneva 55-56).

The peacekeepers blue helmets are depicted on stamps issued in 1980 (Scott New York 320, Geneva 92) and 2007 (New York 940), and illustrations of peacekeepers at work are featured on a 1966 stamp (New York 160), the 1998 set commemorating their 50th anniversary (New York 737-738, Geneva 325-326, Vienna 242-243), and on stamps in the United Nations in the 21st Century set issued Sept. 15, 2000 (New York 783, Geneva 361, Vienna 278).

For ordering information for the new International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers stamps, click here; email unpanyinquiries@un.org; telephone 800-234-8672; fax 212-963-9854; or write to UNPA, Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5900.

The online shop of Austria Post can be found here.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu PF government officials have come out guns blazing to defend their recent controversial policy announced by the RBZ to bring into circulation Bond Notes.Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, said Government was fully behind the announcements by RBZ Governor, John Mangudya, saying there were adequate consultations on the matter.He said this in the National Assembly during a Questions without Notice session yesterday, when legislators sought to know the implications of the statement by Mangudya.Zanu-PF MP for Harare East, Terrence Mukupe, first asked for clarification on the five percent incentive for exporters whether middlemen would also benefit from the scheme."We are targeting producers who are producing for exports not middle people," said Minister Chinamasa.MDC-T legislator for Kuwadzana East, Mr Nelson Chamisa, followed up demanding to know whether the Central Bank was allowed to announce introduction of bond notes arguing that it was a prerogative of Minister Chinamasa who was expected to bring the issue to Parliament first.However, Chinamasa said there was consensus between the Central Bank and his ministry adding that they respected each other's boundaries.Chamisa insisted that what Dr Mangudya did was illegal prompting Minister Chinamasa to invite the former for a legal battle in court.Minister Chinamasa reiterated that the bond notes would be backed by a $200 million loan facility from the Afriexim bank.
May 12, 2016, 4 AM

The 2014 Lebanon 2,000 Armenian Genocide Monument, Bikfaya stamp (Scott 703) is in demand as both single stamps and panes of 20.

By Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

The 20th century could be called the century of genocide. Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.

Among the sad milestones on this dreary road we find the Holodmor (1932-1933, Soviet extermination of approximately 5 million Ukrainians); the Holocaust (1941-1945, Nazi murder of more than 6 million Jews); the Cambodian genocide (1975-1979, the systematic murder of more than 2 million Cambodians by the Communists); and the Rwanda genocide (April to July 1994, the murder of approximately 1 million Tutsis and noncompliant Hutus by radical Hutus).

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Stalins murder of an estimated 20 million Russians and other ethnic groups during his reign and the estimated 78 million victims of Maos Communist government in China were by definition genocide, although they are rarely called that.

The event leading off this century of mass death was the genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire. At war with the Allies in World War I, the Turks feared that their Armenian Christian population would aid the Russia enemy.

From 1915 to 1918, the Ottoman government carried out an official policy of extermination, killing approximately 1.5 million Armenians and forcibly converting many women and children to Islam. Many of the survivors of the Turkish atrocities fled to Lebanon where they were welcomed by the Lebanese Christian population.

Although both the Lebanese Christian and Armenian populations have declined steeply since the Lebanese civil war, ethnic Armenians still make up about 4 percent (156,000) of the population of Lebanon.

The market for Lebanese stamps is generally strong for better items through the 1940s. Demand for souvenir sheets is particularly healthy.

Close study of the market is required to know which items are currently selling for 33 percent to 40 percent of 2016 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue value, and which are realizing full Scott catalog value in their sales.

A newer issue that we think is a good buy is the Lebanon 2,000 Armenian Genocide Monument, Bikfaya stamp (Scott 703) issued April 15, 2014. The stamp commemorates the monument erected in 1965.

The 2016 Scott Standard catalog values it at $4.75 in mint never-hinged condition, and it sells consistently for $4 and up. The stamp was issued in panes of 20, which are also popular with collectors.

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May 3, 2021, 6 AM

A pane of 10 stamps and se-tenant labels salutes the 65th anniversary of the United Nations Postal Administrations New York office. The stamps show stamp-on-stamp designs of U.N. stamps issued for use in New York and Vienna.

One of the stamp-on-stamp designs in the UNPAs 65th Anniversary pane shows the 1986 Stamp Collecting commemorative with a self-portrait of engraver Czeslaw Slania at work.

By Denise McCarty

The United Nations Postal Administration commemorates the 65th anniversary of the UNPA New York office on a pane of 10 stamps and se-tenant labels being issued May 30 during World Stamp Show-NY 2016 in New York City.

The stamps feature stamp-on-stamp designs of U.N. stamps, and the se-tenant labels show photographs of the interior and exterior of the headquarters.

Each stamp is denominated $1.15 to pay the basic international rate and has the text Celebrating 65 Years at the top of the design.

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The selvage of the pane includes the WSS-NY 2016 Statue of Liberty logo in the upper right and a reproduction of the U.N. The Rampart of Peace poster by French graphic designer Jean Carlu (1900-97) on the left.

A brief history of the UNPA New York office is inscribed in the selvage: The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) New York office is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. Established by a U.N. General Assembly resolution in 1950 and subsequently by an agreement with United States Postal authorities in 1951, the first United Nations stamps were issued in US dollar denominations on United Nations Day, 24 October 1951.

The 1 Peoples of the World stamp from the 1951 first issue (U.N./New York Scott 1) is shown in the stamp-on-stamp design in the upper left.

Another stamp from the 1951 issue, the 5 U.N. International Childrens Emergency Fund stamp (Scott 5), is depicted in the lower right.

This is actually a stamp-on-stamp-on-stamp design because the 5 stamp is shown on a 1991 commemorative marking the 40th anniversary of the UNPA (U.N. Vienna Scott 122).

Two other stamps in the pane also picture stamps issued for the U.N. post office at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria: a 1988 Human Rights stamp (Scott 86) on the left in the second row, and a 1990 Fight AIDS stamp (100) on the right in the fourth row.

Stamps for the U.N. office in Vienna were first issued in 1979. A third U.N. post office, located in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, opened in 1968.

The remaining six stamps in the 65th anniversary pane picture stamp-on-stamp designs of U.N. stamps issued for the New York office.

Starting in the upper right, they are the 1964 10 Three Men United Before Globe (Scott 127), the 1983 20 35th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (415), the 1978 18 General Assembly (301), the 1989 25 U.N. Peacekeeping Forces (548), the 1986 44 Stamp Collecting (474), and the 1986 33 International Peace Year (476).

The 1986 Stamp Collecting stamp was issued May 22, 1986, the opening day of the Ameripex 86 international show, and features a self-portrait of stamp engraver Czeslaw Slania (1921-2005) at work.

For ordering information, click here; email unpanyinquiries@un.org; telephone 800-234-8672; fax 212-963-9854; or write to UNPA, Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5900.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Suspensions have hit four officers from the Registrar-General's office in Kwekwe District, pending disciplinary action over acts of alleged misconduct.Midlands Provincial Registrar, Agnes Gambura, briefing members of the Defence and Home Affairs parliamentary portfolio committee during an outreach meeting at Kwekwe RG's office on Tuesday, Gambura said two of the suspended officials demanded a $20 bribe from a member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), who was applying for an identity card to replace one that had been lost.Gambura did not state the charges that the other two suspended officers were facing.Turning to the operations of the RG's office in the province, she said inadequate vehicles and staff were hampering service delivery.Gambura said they were also faced with a shortage of accommodation for members of staff in some areas.Committee chairperson, Ronald Muderedzwa, who is also Zanu-PF's Buhera Central MP said they would take up the RG's Office concerns to the National Assembly for consideration. The team also toured other RG's office substations in Silobela.
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News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The MDC has welcome plans by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to introduce the biometric voting system for the 2018 elections.In a statement MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said however while we welcome the move and give it our full support as the system deals with multiple registrations and double voting, which have been the bane of our electoral system, it is important to note that the biometric system alone cannot address the plethora of challenges currently affecting our electoral environment."The system needs to be complemented by a supporting environment, including security reforms and full implementation of electoral reforms as prescribed in the electoral act," said Chihwayi."It is our view that BVR addresses only part of the problem in our electoral system and a lot still needs to be done to improve it. BVR will not deal with the militarism that pervades our politics and the freedom and security of the voter, before, during and after voting. It will not deal with the presence of state security personnel at polling stations as is usually the case, which only serves to heighten fear and intimidation of voters."Chihwayi said the BVR will not deal with the partisan coverage by public media which is currently just a preserve of Zanu PF and it will not address availability of the voters roll."Electoral bodies, electoral funding, voter education, voter registration; observation and monitoring; access to public media, counting and post -election happenings, freedom and security of the voter - are some factors still heavily skewed in favour of Zanu PF," Chihwayi."We further advise ZEC to ensure there are proper resources in place to facilitate the smooth running of the system. It must be preceded by a comprehensive voter education exercise and engagements involving all stakeholders including the electorate and political parties."
News / National

by Staff reporter

An Indian firm, Jaguar Overseas, the winning bidder for the Harare Power Station re-powering project has failed to secure funding for the project.The development comes a few months after Jaguar was also awarded a tender to re-empower Munyati Power Station in conjunction with its local partner Intratek Zimbabwe owned by Wicknell Chivhayo.The Munyati Project will see the replacement of 15 existing boilers, overhaul of cooling towers and water treating plant, refurbishment of two 50 megawatts steam turbines and carrying out civil works.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Priscilla Mupfumira has dismissed a plan by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to put NSSA under the Insurance and Pensions Commission.Chinamasa wanted NSSA to fall under IPEC, a move which he said would improve transparency and accountability at the compulsory pension fund.The idea angered trade unionists who said the move would be against international best practices.Chinamasa's proposal entailed taking NSSA away from the Labour ministry to the Finance ministry, which houses IPEC. Mupfumira said she had personally stopped the move.
News / National

by Staff reporter

More Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials accused their employer of swindling their various amounts of money following botched car import deals ,appeared in court yesterday.Zimra Director Internal Audit, Clive Charles Manjengwa, 52, Director Loss Control, Charlton Chihuri, 40, and director human resources and administration Sithokozile Mrewa 47, appeard before Harare magistrates Tendai Mahwe facing criminal abuse of duty charges.They are being charged with criminal abuse of duty. Mrewa, Manjengwa and Chihuri were granted $500 bail each.
News / National

by Lovemore Kadzura

TWO Mozambicans who were caught red-handed siphoning crude cooking oil from a truck they were driving were last week jailed three months for theft.Manica Post reported that Abdul Mussa Sulumane (39) of Munyava Village, Beira, Mozambique, a truck driver employed by Lalgy Transport and his friend, Quefasse Panganane, were, however, lucky to escape jail after Rusape magistrate, Elizabeth Hanzi wholly suspended the jail term on condition of good behaviour.The duo were not represented and pleaded guilty to the theft charges.Public prosecutor, Kudakwashe Brown, told the court that the two acting in connivance tampered with the security seals while at Truck Inn, Rusape and siphoned crude cooking oil worth $240."On May 3, Sulumane was delivering crude cooking oil from Beira to Harare which was secured with security seals. On May 4 at around midnight, Sulumane who was in the company of his friend, Panganane stopped at Truck Inn, Rusape along Harare-Mutare Highway."The two broke security seals on the tank and started draining crude cooking oil from the tanker. Lalgy Transport manager, Elisha Uranda, acting on a tip-off teamed up with police detectives and arrested the accused persons at the crime scene. A total of 240 liters of crude cooking oil which they had siphoned into two plastic containers was recovered," said Brown.
A "sixth sense" may protect drivers when they're a bit distracted behind the wheel  but not if they're texting while driving, a new study finds.

Drivers in the study were able to stay in their lanes when researchers distracted the participants with challenging questions, the researchers said. This likely happens because the brain subconsciously corrects for any mistakes that are made, the researchers said.

But when the drivers were asked to text while behind the wheel, they tended to drift between lanes, said the study, published today (May 12) in the journal Scientific Reports. The work was led by researchers at the University of Houston and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and was funded in part by the Toyota Class Action Settlement Safety Research and Education Program. [Understand the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors]

Normally, "the driver's mind can wander, and his or her feelings may boil, but a sixth sense keeps a person safe, at least in terms of [avoiding] veering off course," Ioannis Pavlidis, a professor of computer science at the University of Houston and the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

"What makes texting so dangerous is that it wreaks havoc into this sixth sense," Pavlidis said.

A study participant sits in the high-fidelity driving simulator. (Image credit: Malcolm Dcosta)

In the study, 59 participants were asked to drive, in a driving simulator, down a challenging stretch of virtual highway under normal, nonstressful conditions. Then, the participants drove the same stretch under three different stressful conditions: cognitive stress, during which the driver was asked mathematical or analytical questions; emotional stress, during which the driver was asked "emotionally stirring" questions; and "sensorimotor" stress, "where the driver needs to move [his or her] eyes and one hand between the car's controls and the smartphone all the time." In this study, the sensorimotor stressor was texting.

The researchers measured every driver's biological stress response during each condition by looking at how much the driver was sweating around the nose. They also measured how many times the driver drifted into another lane.

In all of the stressful situations, the drivers' stress levels went up, the researchers found. In addition, the increased stress levels were associated with jittery handling of the steering wheel, which could result in drivers drifting into other lanes, the study said.

However, when drivers were challenged cognitively or emotionally, they were able to correct for these "jitters" and stay in their lanes, the researchers found. It was only when the drivers' hand-eye coordination was disrupted, such as while texting, that they drifted into other lanes, the study said.

The "sixth sense," or the ability of drivers to correct their driving mistakes, may come from the part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, the researchers wrote.

This part of the brain "is known to automatically intervene as an error corrector" when there is a problem, Pavlidis said. For example, if a jittery, stressed-out driver turns the steering wheel to the left, the brain responds instantaneously by steering back toward the right, he said. This ensures that the driver's steering is straight, he said. [10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain]

But this "sixth sense," or subconscious correction, requires hand eye-coordination, the researchers said.

When drivers text at the wheel, they interrupt the necessary hand-eye coordination, and the brain no longer immediately corrects the mistakes, the researchers wrote.

Still, the results of the study don't give people license to let themselves get distracted while driving. The researchers noted that extreme levels of cognitive and emotional stress would lead to unsafe driving, and that the threshold for the amount of stress that could cause unsafe driving is unclear.

Follow Sara G. Miller on Twitter @saragmiller. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on Live Science.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Zimbabweans have been urged to immediatly withdraw all their cash in banks. Zimbabwe Informal Sector's Organization Director Promise Mkwanazi made the call to all those in the informal sector saying the introduction of Bond notes will wipe all their savings."The people in the informal sector must with immediate effect withdraw their money from the banks and secure it elsewhere as we assess the situation" he said."History has it that when we transited from Zim-dollar to US-dollar so many people lost so much money and it has not been compensated."Banks are currently allowing clients daily withdrawls of only $200.
Fragments of the ground-edge stone ax blade found at the Carpenter's Gap archaeological site in northwestern Australia and dated to between 46,000 and 49,000 years ago.

What could be the world's oldest stone ax blade has been identified from fragments found in an ancient rock shelter in northwest Australia, according to archaeologists.

The ax fragments were found in layers of sediment at Carpenter's Gap, a large rock shelter in Windjana Gorge National Park,in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Using carbon dating, the fragments are estimated to be between 46,000 and 49,000 years old  much older than similar composite stone axes found elsewhere in Australia and Japan that date from between 30,000 and 35,000 years ago, the researchers said.

A key feature of the newfound ax is that its stone blade has been ground down on both sides to form a beveled edge  an early tool technology unique to the modern human species (Homo sapiens sapiens) that would have taken hundreds of hours of grinding to achieve, said study lead author Peter Hiscock, an archaeologist at the University of Sydney in Australia. [See photos of the newfound ax blade from Carpenter's Gap]

The ground stone edge distinguishes the tool from much older and smaller "hand axes" that were made by flaking, or "knapping," stones to form a cutting edge. Archaeologists think hand axes were used mainly for cutting and scraping, and were not attached to a haft or handle, Hiscock said.

An example of a complete ground-edge ax head from Australia. (Image credit: Australian National University)

Early hand axes that are up to 1.6 million years old have been found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, where they are thought to have been made by communities of the human ancestor Homo habilis. Later hand axes, some up to 1 million years old, have been found in Europe with the remains of the early human species Homo erectus.

But Hiscock said hafted (or handled) and ground-edge stone-headed axes for heavier work, similar in function to modern steel-headed axes, were distinctive to modern humans.

"Because they're heavy objects, you can put in a percussive force with an ax that's hafted, whereas if you hold it in your hand you can't really do that," Hiscock told Live Science.

In most of the world, hafted stone axes appeared in human societies around the same time as the beginnings of agriculture, about 6,000 years ago. But in Australia, the development of hafted axes appeared to occur much earlier, he said.

"The importance of this ax is that it dates to about the same time as the arrival of humans in Australia, and so it tells us about the journey from Africa to Australia as modern humans expanded across the globe," Hiscock said. [Image Gallery: Our Closest Human Ancestor]

Archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and India from the same time period, and where the first Australians are assumed to have arrived from, did not have evidence of hafted axes: "It looks like this is a technology that was independently invented in Australia, and, as it turned out, earlier than anywhere else in the world," he said.

"This tells us that the humans who were dispersing were successful partly because they were very innovative  they were able to construct new technologies to exploit new environments," Hiscock said. "And what we're seeing is one snapshot of that new technology that was developed for a new environment, in this case Australia."

Analyzing the fragments

The ax fragments were found by archaeologist Sue O'Connor, a professor in the School of Culture, History & Language at the Australian National University (ANU) and co-author of the new study, during digs in the 1990s at Carpenter's Gap, one of the continents' earliest human habitation sites.

A map of northwestern Australia showing the location of archaeological digs at known early human habitation sites, including Carpenter's Gap. (Image credit: Australian National University)

"It's just the most beautiful place," OConnor told Live Science. "You have these rock shelters with stal [stalagmite and stalactite] formations hanging down at the entrance, and spectacular rock art galleries with paintings and engravings  it's an incredibly spectacular environment."

When some of the smaller basalt stone fragments from the digs were reanalyzed by Hiscock and ANU doctoral student Tim Maloney in 2014, they showed marks on the surface that could only have been caused by deliberately grinding it against another stone.

Further analysis of the fragments revealed that they included part of the cutting edge of the stone ax blade.

"This is modern human technology, and nowhere else is it found as old as in Australia," O'Connor said. "Elsewhere, they appear in the Neolithic period, along with pottery and agriculture, [but] here they are tens of thousands of years earlier, and found in a hunter-gatherer context."

Although the fragments did not include the attachment of the haft, the design of the cutting edge matched ancient stone axes found elsewhere in Australia, the researchers said. [The 7 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds on Earth]

"We have whole examples [of axes] dating back to 30,000 years [ago] that we know were hafted, and our assumption is that when we've got these intersecting facets on these flakes that it has come from a hafted tool," O'Connor said.

She thinks the development of ground-edge axes by early human settlers in Australia may have been a consequence of the continent's unique vegetation, which includes some of the toughest hardwoods in the world.

While most tools used by early humans in Australia would have been made from wood, like spears or digging sticks, they may have needed stone tools to make wooden tools from the available timber, she said.

O'Connor added that when the first British settlers arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788, they found the native timber so tough that they had to request supplies of tougher nails, axes and other tools to handle it.

"In mainland Southeast Asia, [early humans] would have used bamboos, which are very light and easy to work, and more rainforest softwoods," OConnor said.

"But Australia has a unique flora  and just as the first British settlers had to call back for stronger tools from Sheffield [a steel-working city in England], the first Australians had to be incredibly innovative in the face of this new vegetation, on this new continent with its unique sets of challenges," she added.

O'Connor and archaeologist Jane Balme, of the University of Western Australia, are seeking funding for further excavations at the Carpenter's Gap site, which they hope will include much larger excavation areas in the rock shelter, as well as excavations in open locations nearby.

The new research was published online Monday (May 9) in the journal Australian Archeology.

Follow Tom Metcalfe on Twitter @globalbabel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
Though his ideas were controversial, Sigmund Freud was one of the most influential scientists in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. It has been over 100 years since Freud published his theories, yet he still influences what we think about personality and the mind.

Life

Freud was born to a wool merchant and his second wife, Jakob and Amalie, in Freiberg, Moravia, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on May 6, 1856. This town is now known as Pribor and is located in the Czech Republic.

For most of his life, he was raised in Vienna, and he was married there in 1886 to Martha Bernays. They had six children. His daughter, Anna Freud, also became a distinguished psychoanalyst.

In 1909, Freud came to the United States and made a presentation of his theories at Clark University in Massachusetts. This was his first presentation outside of Vienna. By this point, he was very famous, even with laymen.

In 1923, at age 67, Freud was diagnosed with cancer of the jaw after many years of smoking cigars. His treatment included 30 operations over the next 16 years, according to the PBS program, "A Science Odyssey."

Freud lived his adult life in Vienna until it was occupied by Germany in 1938. Though Jewish, Freud's fame saved him, for the most part. The Nazi party burned his books throughout Germany, but they let him leave Austria after briefly confiscating his passport. He and his wife fled to England, where he died in September 1939.

Work

In 1873, Freud entered the University of Vienna medical school. In 1882, he became a clinical assistant at the General Hospital in Vienna and trained with psychiatrist Theodor Meynert and Hermann Nothnagel, a professor of internal medicine. By 1885, Freud had completed important research on the brain's medulla and was appointed lecturer in neuropathology, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Freud's friend, Josef Breuer, a physician and physiologist, had a large impact on the course of Freud's career. Breuer told his friend about using hypnosis to cure a patient, Bertha Pappenheim (referred to as Anna O.), of what was then called hysteria. Breuer would hypnotize her, and she was able to talk about things she could not remember in a conscious state. Her symptoms were relieved afterwards. This became known as the "talking cure." Freud then traveled to Paris to study further under Jean-Martin Charcot, a neurologist famous for using hypnosis to treat hysteria.

After this new line of study, Freud returned to his hometown in 1886 and opened a practice that specialized in nervous and brain disorders. He found that hypnosis didn't work as well as he had hoped. He instead developed a new way to get people to talk freely. He would have patients lie back on a couch so that they were comfortable and then he would tell them to talk about whatever popped into their head. Freud would write down whatever the person would say, and analyze what they had said. This method of treatment is called free association. He published his findings with Breuer in 1895, in a paper called Studien uber Hysterie (Studies in Hysteria).

In 1896, Freud coined the term psychoanalysis. This is the treatment of mental disorders, emphasizing on the unconscious mental processes. It is also called "depth psychology."

Freud also developed what he thought of as the three agencies of the human personality, called the id, ego and superego. The id is the primitive instincts, such as sex and aggression. The ego is the "self" part of the personality that interacts with the world in which the person lives. The superego is the part of the personality that is ethical and creates the moral standards for the ego.

In 1900, Freud broke ground in psychology by publishing his book "The Interpretation of Dreams." In his book, Freud named the mind's energy libido and said that the libido needed to be discharged to ensure pleasure and prevent pain. If it wasn't released physically, the mind's energy would be discharged through dreams.

The book explained Freud's belief that dreams were simply wish fulfillment and that the analysis of dreams could lead to treatment for neurosis. He concluded that there were two parts to a dream. The "manifest content" was the obvious sight and sounds in the dream and the "latent content" was the dream's hidden meaning.

"The Interpretation of Dreams" took two years to write. He only made $209 from the book, and it took eight years to sell 600 copies, according to PBS.

In 1901, he published "The Psychopathology of Everyday Life," which gave life to the saying "Freudian slip." Freud theorized that forgetfulness or slips of the tongue are not accidental. They are caused by the "dynamic unconscious" and reveal something meaningful about the person.

In 1902, Freud became a professor at the University of Vienna. Soon, he gained followers and formed what was called the Psychoanalytic Society. Groups like this one formed in other cities, as well. Other famous psychologists, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Jung, were early followers of Freud.

In 1905, one of Feud's most controversial theories, those about sexual drive, was published as "Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie (Three Contributions to the Sexual Theory)." He theorized that sexual drive is a large factor in determining a person's psychology, even in infants, an idea he had touched upon in earlier works. He also developed the theory of the "Oedipus complex." This theory states that boys have sexual attractions toward their mothers that can create jealousy toward the father.

Another of Freud's controversial sexual theories was talked about in his 1933 lecture titled "Femininity." The theory, which he called "penis envy," stated that females become envious of penises as children, and this envy manifests as a daughter's love for her father and the desire to give birth to a son, because those are as close as she would ever get to having a penis of her own.

Freud is often joked about for his propensity to assign everything with sexual meaning. A likely apocryphal story is that, when someone suggested that the cigars he smoked were phallic symbols, Freud reportedly said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Some have called this "Freuds ultimate anti-Freudian joke." However, there is no written record that this quote actually came from Freud, according to Alan C. Elms in a paper published in 2001 in the Annual of Psychoanalysis.

There has been much arguing in psychology and psychiatry circles about Freud's theories during his life and since his death, which may just prove his ideas, according to some. "Freud discovered and taught about the unconscious mind and psychological defenses, including denial and repression," said Dr. Carole Lieberman, a Beverly Hills psychiatrist who studied under Anna Freud at her London clinic and practices Freudian psychoanalytic therapy. "So, in fact, in trying to deny Freud's insights, people are actually affirming them."

Additional resources
Radar echoes plotted over the course of two days show how the signal emerged at dawn, descended toward the ground, and then rose again over the course of the day.

More than 50 years after weird radio echoes were detected coming from Earth's upper atmosphere, two scientists say they've pinpointed the culprit. And it's complicated.

In 1962, after the Jicamarca Radio Observatory was built near Lima, Peru, some unexplainable phenomenon was reflecting the radio waves broadcast by the observatory back to the ground to be picked up by its detectors. The mysterious cause of these echoes was sitting at an altitude of between 80 and 100 miles (130 and 160 kilometers) above sea level.

"As soon as they turned this radar on, they saw this thing," study researcher Meers Oppenheim, of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University, said, referring to the anomalous echo. "They saw all sorts of interesting phenomena that had never been seen before. Almost all of it was explained within a few years." [In Photos: Mysterious Radar Blob Puzzles Meteorologists]

Peculiar radar echoes

Though the other phenomena detected by the observatory got explanations, these radar echoes continued to baffle scientists.

To see what was happening at that altitude, researchers at the time sent rockets, equipped with antennas and particle detectors, through the region. The instruments, which were designed to detect radar waves, "saw almost nothing," Oppenheim said.

Adding more peculiarity to the puzzle, the phenomenon showed up only during daylight hours, vanishing at night. The echo would appear at dawn every day at about 100 miles (160 km) above the ground, before descending to about 80 miles (130 km) and getting stronger. Then at Noon, the echo would start to rise back again toward its starting point at 100 miles above the ground. When plotted on a graph, the echoes appeared as a necklace shape.

Here, the radar echo detected by the Jicamarca Radio Observatory in Peru. The echoes, when plotted over the course of a day by altitude, form a necklace shape. (Image credit: Jorge Chau.)

And in 2011, during a partial solar eclipse seen over the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory in India, the echo went silent.

"And then there was a solar flare, and it sort of went a little nuts," Oppenheim said. "There was a solar flare, and the echo got really strong."

The sun takes charge

Now, with a lot of supercomputing effort, Oppenheim and Yakov Dimant, also at the Center for Space Physics, have simulated the bizarre radar echoes to find the culprit  the sun. [Infographic: Explore Earth's Atmosphere, Top to Bottom]

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun, it seems, slams into the ionosphere (the part of Earth's upper atmosphere located between 50 and 370 miles, or 80 and 600 km, above sea level), where the radio echoes were detected, they said. Then, the radiation, in the form of photons (particles of light), strips molecules in that part of the atmosphere of their electrons, resulting in charged particles called ions  primarily, positively charged of their electrons, resulting in charged particles called ions, primarily positively charged oxygen  and a free electron (a negatively charged particle that is not attached to an atom or molecule).

That ultra-energized electron, or photoelectron, zips through the atmosphere, which, at this altitude, is much cooler than the photoelectron, Oppenheim said.

Making waves

Using a computer simulation, the scientists allowed these high-energy electrons to interact with other, less energized particles.

The Jicamarca Radio Observatory, which was built in 1961, studies the equatorial ionosphere. (Image credit: Jicamarca Radio Observatory (JRO), Public Domain)

Because these high-energy electrons are racing through a cool, slow environment in the ionosphere, so-called kinetic plasma instabilities (turbulence, in a sense) occur. The result: The electrons start vibrating with different wavelengths.

"One population of very energetic particles moving through a population of much less energetic particles  it's like running a violin bow across the strings. The cold population will start developing resonant waves," Oppenheim explained.

"The next step is that those electron waves have to cause the ions to start forming waves too, and they do," Oppenheim said.

Though this last step isn't clearly understood, he explained that periodic waves of ions bunch up with no dominant wavelength winning out. "It's a whole set of wavelengths; it's a whole froth of wavelengths," he said.

That "froth" of wavelengths was strong enough to reflect radio waves back to the ground and to form the mysterious radar echoes.

"The reason it wasn't figured out for a long time is that it's a complicated mechanism," Oppenheim said.

As for why the rockets missed the bizarre echoes, Oppenheim pointed to the messy nature of the waves.

"Turns out, it looks like what the rockets saw is what we see with our simulation," he said. "You don't see strong coherent waves. What you see is sort of a froth of low-level waves, above the noise of thermal material," and those waves are sort of like "foam on the top of sea waves," he added.

Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
The Wolong Nature Reserve in southwestern China is home to about 10 percent of the worlds wild pandas, as well as a research center to breed pandas and lay groundwork for successfully reintroducing pandas into the wild.

Sue Nichols, assistant director of theCenter for Systems Integration and Sustainability at Michigan State University, and Jianguo "Jack" Liu, director of the Center, contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

If Facebook is any gauge, pandas are an endless font of cute. But revelations about where pandas live and how they coexist with people are boosting their impact beyond more than the warm and fuzzy.

Wolong Nature Reserve is at the center of these discoveries. This beautiful, mountainous wildlife sanctuary in southwestern China is home to about 10 percent of the world's wild and endangered giant pandas and provides resources for roughly 5,000 people who depend on the forest. [See Photos of the Cute Giant Pandas at Wolong]

People living with pandas

China, like many developing countries, allows its citizens to live within the boundaries of nature reserves. This means that some of the most elemental struggles between nature and these local, human populations play out daily.

Our center, directed by Jianguo "Jack" Liu, who holds the Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability,has been working to better understand those relationships at Wolong since 1996. Liu, whose expertise fuses ecology and social sciences, has long viewed the reserve as an excellent laboratory because its truths have proven universal: Honor the needs of both people and nature  and acknowledge the dynamic, complex nature of that relationship  and sustainability is possible.

Liu, along with other scholars in the field of sustainability from MSU and around the world, are applying the lessons they learned in Wolong to global challenges rooted in land use, trade, habitat conservation and resource and ecosystem service management. The researchers are bringing to bear the viewpoints of many disciplines  from ecology, plant and wildlife sciences to social, economic and behavioral sciences. The researchers, who are an international group of students, former students and collaborators, share Liu's holistic view of a world in which the fate of humans and nature are firmly entwined. They have published "Pandas and People: Coupling Human and Natural Systems for Sustainability" (Oxford University Press, 2016). The research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

From those experiences, four key lessons stand out.

1. Humans + nature can turn loss into recovery

For sustainability to work, society must understand how human and natural systems form a couple that work together. Such findings can guide recovery from natural disasters and the ecological damage from mismanagement and exploitation of the natural environment. [Why Sustainability Is No Longer a Choice (Op-Ed)]

Push and pull between wildlife conservation and human need define China's efforts to protect its treasured and endangered giant pandas. Well-intentioned policies to preserve or restore wildlife habitat often placed hardships upon the people who live in the Wolong Nature Reserve. Ironically, even love for pandas has proven dangerous. The tourism that grew from a human fascination with pandas degraded their forest habitats as trees were chopped down to cook food and build lodging for the tourists.

A study published in the journal Science in 2001showed that panda habitat was degrading faster in the reserve than it was outside its borders. Liu and his colleagues used precise data from satellite imaging and on-the-ground measurements to shed light on where, how and why vegetation was disappearing  especially bamboo, the plant that pandas eat exclusively. The information brought about better habitat-protecting laws. Bringing in social science research helped reveal how people reacted to environmental policies as well as ways to engage, compensate or redirect people to curb harmful behaviors.

In 2003, Liu and his colleagues learned that collective actions, like organizing forest residents to participate in conservation efforts  can get bogged down if groups get too big. In that case, "free riders"  individuals who dodge their duty and still reap the benefits  can make the collective actions less effective. (For instance, some free riders were not helping with forest monitoring, but were still enjoying the resulting benefits brought by forest restoration.)

But in small groups, participants can be overburdened. The researchers found the middle "sweet spot" to guide policymakers to shape effective participation.

A path for recovery is emerging  one that demands a melding of sciences from both the human and natural world.

2. Walk a mile in your subject's shoes

Science is all about data points, though insight comes not just from doing research, but also from living it.

In Wolong, the research team has dissected what motivates people to act in the best interest of the environment and how money plays a role in sustainability  when it motivates, when it doesn't and when other things matter more. For example, a study published earlier this year in the journal Conservation Biology showed that financial incentives had to be substantial enough to motivate people to trek into their mountainous forests to monitor for the illegal harvesting of trees. Residents who lived farther away and were offered less money were less inclined to participate.

The researchers also had to move beyond just taking a simplistic point of view  siding with the pandas and their global appeal. To achieve a balance, for two decades the team members steeped themselves in the less publicized lives of generations of Wolong residents. They learned the reality of everyday choices: Do I chop down this tree and make it hard for a panda, or do I pay for my child's school? When is money enough of an incentive to persuade people to monitor a forest? How much do I care about what my neighbors think? (A study Liu and colleagues published in 2009 showed that people are more likely to enroll in conservation programs if their neighbors have done so  insight the authors noted could be employed by policymakers.)

Combining the insight with research has helped parse out how people react to conservation policies. It has helped the research team craft productive questions to determine how the community members make their everyday decisions.

Being present in the community also helps researchers tackle surprises. For example, in 2001, the Chinese government paid local households to switch from firewood to electricity to heat their homes and cook. It seemed to be an environmental win until multigenerational households found their own take on winning. For them, the subsidies per household made it financially sensible  and personally appealing  to split up the crowded arrangements and set up new, independent households. And that meant more households using more natural resources. Pinpointing the problem helped inspire the Chinese government to find new ways to make electricity affordable, including building a new hydroelectric power plant.

3: What happens in Wolong doesn't stay in Wolong

The truths learned from 20 years in Wolong resonate in other parts of the world, even if the particulars are different. In China, benign pandas inspire adoration, but in Nepal, tigers, despite having their own fans, bring an element of fear. Pandas, after all, eat only bamboo. Tigers, on occasion, attack people.

Yet applying the Wolong framework to Nepal may help preserve habitats while allowing the people who share the forests with native animals to thrive.

MSU's research team has studied both people and nature in Nepal's Chitwan National Park. They've researched shifts in the number and composition of households, and the effects of sweeping changes like industrialization and globalization on rural areas and conservation.

For example, as people venture into the park more frequently, tigers seem to shift their natural body clocksand move around more at night to avoid their human neighbors. This coupled human-and-nature approach also has led to important insights into why some policies that restrict access to forest resources have floundered as they run up against long-held traditions and practices. The result has been to open the door to new insights that should help to improve policies in Chitwan as they did in Wolong.

The multidisciplinary methods that honor both nature and people are leading sustainability efforts around the world, whether they're used for the management of a nature reserve to preserve an endangered species, such as in Chitwan, or to understand people's attitudes toward black bears in East Texas to make conservation more effective.

4. It's a small world

Understanding how the flora and fauna in Wolong coexist with the people who live there offers a model for how a web of interconnected people and environments spans the globe.

In today's world of hyperconnectivity, "remote"doesn't mean so much anymore. The research group is turning its attention to how tightly bound the world is. They are starting to connect the dots to prove that what happens in China affects people on the other side of the world.

For example, between 2004 and 2010, 63 Wolong pandas have been loaned to zoos in China and elsewhere around the globe, such as Washington, D.C., and San Diego, California. Those seemingly simple transactions of furry creatures and good will have broad consequences: Pandas mean jobs  from the pandas' keepers and veterinarians to those who grow and deliver their mountains of bamboo, to the people who broker and manage the loans and manage the public appearances of the pandas. Pandas move merchandise that is manufactured, delivered and sold. Guests travel nationally and internationally to visit these imported celebrities. Money changes hands over and over all over the world.

So imagine what it means when a major earthquake hits "remote" Wolong, as it did in 2008. The shake was felt 'round the world.

That's just one example of telecoupling  socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances. There are new and faster ways of connecting the whole planet, from big events like earthquakes and floods to tourism, trade, migration, pollution, climate change, flows of information and financial capital, and invasions of animal and plant species.

Telecoupling is about connecting human and natural systems across boundaries. Telecoupling is a way to express one of the often-overwhelming consequences of globalization  the way an event or phenomenon in one corner of the world can have an impact far away. In effect, systems couple  connecting across space and time.

Indeed, the research that originated in Wolong is resonating across the globe. The researchers have underscored the point that the lifestyle choices we make have an impact far beyond our front door. They've discovered that the number of households in the world is more significant than population size, because of the great burden it places on the environment. That means that factors like moving out of our parents' home, divorce and having lots of children or none, do affect the natural world around us. And the researchers have witnessed successes with programs that don't just dictate, but also offer people partnership and guidance. Wolong's panda habit is stabilizing. China's forests show signs of recovery.

And those successes shape new opportunities to learn that both people and nature must be able to thrive to survive. And that research is continuing to show how that's possible following a path that started in the land of pandas.

Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates  and become part of the discussion  on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on LiveScience.com.
Oops!

An X-ray shows a SpongeBob pendant that a toddler swallowed. (Image credit: Dr. Ghofran Ageely)

It's probably not a good idea to swallow anything that isn't food or medicine. Yet doctors have seen cases of people who've swallowed all sorts of weird objects, from household items like lighters to tech gadgets like an entire cellphone. One 10-year-old girl even swallowed a part of her fidget spinner. Take a look ...

Fidget spinner

On May 13, 2017, in Texas, Kelly Rose Joniec's 10-year-old daughter accidentally swallowed part of her fidget spinner. (Image credit: Courtesy of Kelly Rose Joniec)

It was only a matter of time  Fidget spinners sprouted up out of nowhere, reaching a frenzy of popularity in the spring of 2017. With so many little kids spinning these three-paddled toys on their fingers and elsewhere, someone was bound to get hurt, somehow. On May 13, 2017, in Texas, Kelly Rose Joniec's 10-year-old daughter accidentally swallowed part of her spinner. Joniec noticed her daughter was choking while driving home from a swim meet, Joniec wrote on her Facebook page. She immediately pulled over and got her daughter to urgent care; when the doctors there couldn't figure out the problem, an ambulance brought the Joniecs to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Apparently, her daughter had put part of the fidget spinner into her mouth to clean it. An X-ray taken at the hospital showed the spinner's bushing, or one of the metal disks that can pop out from the toy  lodged in her esophagus. A doctor performed endoscopic surgery and removed the object, Joniec wrote. [Fidget Spinners: What They Are, How They Work and Why the Controversy]

A lighter

An X-ray showing a lighter that a man in Croatia swallowed. (Image credit: S. Karger AG/University Hospital Split/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

A man in Croatia was found to have a lighter in his stomach, which had been there for 17 months. The man admitted to his doctors that he intentionally swallowed the lighter when he was at a police station, where he was being questioned about possibly smuggling drugs, according to a 2012 report of the case. The man had wrapped the lighter in cellophane, so he wasn't exposed to the toxic chemicals in the lighter, even after all that time. Doctors were able to successfully remove the lighter by using a snare-like medical tool, and pulled it out through the man's esophagus.

Cellphone

A 29-year-old prisoner in Ireland went to the emergency room after he swallowed a cellphone. (Image credit: Dublin Incorporating the National Children's Hospital/CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

A 29-year-old prisoner in Ireland went to the emergency room after he swallowed a cellphone. An X-ray showed the phone was in the man's stomach. Since the phone didn't pass through the digestive system on its own, doctors tried to remove it using medical tools to pull the device up through the esophagus. However, they couldn't align the phone correctly to get it out of the stomach without potentially damaging the esophagus, according to a 2016 report of the case. Ultimately, the doctors needed to make a make a surgical incision into the man's stomach to get the phone out.

Doctors at the Dublin Incorporating the National Children's Hospital described the case in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports in 2016.

SpongeBob

An X-ray shows a SpongeBob pendant that a toddler swallowed. (Image credit: Dr. Ghofran Ageely)

Doctors who treated a 16-month-old boy got a surprise when an X-ray of his throat revealed SpongeBob SquarePants looking back at them. It turned out that the child had swallowed a pendant featuring the cartoon character that belonged to his sister. The doctors were able to remove the pendant without any complications.

A toothbrush

An X-ray showing radiopaque part of the toothbrush in the stomach of an 18-year-old woman. (Image credit: S. Karger AG/Clinical Hospital Split/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

An 18-year-old woman went to the doctors after she accidentally swallowed her toothbrush, according to a 2011 report of the case. The woman admitted she had been using the toothbrush to induce vomiting when she swallowed it, the report said. Doctors were able to successfully remove the 8-inch toothbrush using a snare-like medical tool. The women recovered and went home 6 hours later.

A fitness tracker

A teenage girl in South Korea accidently swallowed her Misfit Shine activity tracker, but doctors were able to remove it from her stomach. (Image credit: Copyright  2016 Jason S. Radowsky et al., "A Timely Intervention: Endoscopic Retrieval of a Swallowed Magnetized Activity Watch," Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine )

A 13-year-old girl in South Korea accidentally swallowed her Misfit Shine activity tracker after she put it in her mouth while swimming. After 30 hours of waiting for the device to pass on its own, it remained in the girl's stomach, and so doctors decided to try to remove it. They were able to use a snare-like tool to lasso the tracker, and take it out. The Shine still worked, and the girl recovered quickly.

Dentures

This picture shows the piece of the denture (red arrow) that was removed from the mans esophagus, along with the remaining part of the denture that was not swallowed (black arrow). (Image credit:  BMJ 2015)

A 55-year-old man in India accidentally swallowed a part of his denture when he had a seizure while sleeping. But the man didn't realize what he had swallowed until he went to the doctor eight days later, after he experienced chest pain and difficulty swallowing. An X-ray showed that part of the denture was stuck in his esophagus. Removing the denture proved difficult, but doctors were eventually able to extricate it without needing to perform surgery.

Dental instrument

An X-ray showing a dental instrument swallowed by a 4-year-old boy. (Image credit: Journal of International Oral Health/CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

A 4-year-old boy in India was undergoing a root canal when he suddenly moved his head, and swallowed a sharp dental instrument called a pro taper file, which is used for root canals and looks like a small screwdriver. Initially, doctors weren't sure if the boy had inhaled the file or swallowed it, but an X-ray suggested the instrument was in his stomach. The boy wasn't in pain, and so doctors waited to see if the instrument would pass through the digestive tract on its own. X-rays taken later showed that the instrument was moving, and 41 hours later it passed, according to a 2015 report of the case.

Bobby pin

This X-ray of the boys abdomen shows two sharp, opaque pieces of a bobby pin in the boys body. (Image credit: BMJ 2015)

A bobby pin may seem benign enough, especially if you're a toddler who sees everything mouth-size as something to be, of course, put in your mouth. But for a 4-year-old boy in Saudi Arabia, swallowing a bobby pin meant a trip to the hospital, according to a case report published Nov. 5, 2015, in the journal BMJ Case Reports. The boy had apparently swallowed the hair accessory months before his hospital visit, long enough that the bobby pin had rusted and become sharp, the researchers said. The sharpened bobby pin had pierced through the first section of his small intestine and pierced his kidney, according to the report. Doctors surgically removed the bobby pin, and the boy recovered successfully, they said.

"Children actually start exploring the world using their mouth as soon as they are able to pick up objects," said co-author of the case report Dr. Yasmin Abdulaziz Yousef, of the department of surgery at KAMC-JD, National Guard Health Affairs in Jeddah, who treated the boy. However, such swallowed objects typically "pass through the gastrointestinal tract and end up in the diaper," she said in 2015.

Light-bulb moment

This x-ray shows the object lodged in the girl's right bronchus. (Image credit:  BMJ 2015)

A 15-month-old girl who was brought to the ER at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong in 2012 with breathing difficulty gave doctors a light-bulb moment, literally. After X-raying her chest, the doctors thought she had swallowed her grandmother's hairpin. But when the doctors had a closer look through a scope inserted into her nose, they realized a href="http://www.livescience.com/52151-led-light-bulb-toddler-cough.html">the girl had inhaled a light-emitting diode, or LED, bulb, intact, and it was lodged in her windpipe. Using forceps, the doctors removed the LED in pieces to minimize damage to the girl's airway, they reported online Aug. 26, 2015, in the journal BMJ Case Reports.
A teenage girl in South Korea accidently swallowed her Misfit Shine activity tracker, but doctors were able to remove it from her stomach.

A 13-year-old girl swallowed her Misfit Shine activity tracker while swimming, but the gadget still worked after doctors retrieved it from her stomach, according to a new report of the case.

The girl said she took the disc-shaped tracker out of its band, and placed it in her mouth while she was swimming, but accidently swallowed it. (It is not clear why the girl put the device in her mouth. The Misfit Shine is waterproof and can be worn while swimming to track laps.)

At the hospital, an X-ray showed the device was in her stomach.

Doctors waited 30 hours to see if the device would pass through the rest of the girl's digestive system, but the tracker didn't budge. The physicians became concerned the device might come apart, exposing the internal lithium battery, which could damage the girl's stomach or intestines.

An X-ray showing the Misfit Shine in the girl's stomach. (Image credit: Copyright  2016 Jason S. Radowsky et al., "A Timely Intervention: Endoscopic Retrieval of a Swallowed Magnetized Activity Watch," Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine )

As a result, the doctors decided to try to remove the tracker using a procedure called an endoscopy, which involves using a flexible tube with a camera to see inside the stomach. The doctors were able to use a snare-like medical tool to lasso the tracker and remove it through the girl's esophagus. [7 Weird Things People Have Swallowed]

"The watch retained normal function despite the low pH [or, acidity] of the stomach and manipulation upon retrieval," the doctors, from the Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital in Yongsan, South Korea (a U.S. military hospital), wrote in the Jan. 19 issue of the journal Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine.

"When synchronized to her mobile device, the [Misfit Shine] watch accurately recorded all advertised data points, to include steps taken, calories burned [and] sleep cycles, and [it] maintained accurate time," the doctors said.

The girl recovered well, and went home the next day.

Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
If you're a soldier, firefighter or even a hiker, a new soft robotic suit could one day help you carry hefty loads, a new study finds.

The wearable robot, or exosuit, reduces the amount of energy used while carrying a heavy weight by about 7 percent, on average, the researchers found. The suit also reduced the amount of work done by the hip, knee and ankle joints, all without affecting a person's stride, the researchers said.

"The goal wasn't to create a system to give someone superstrength, but rather to provide small levels of assistance during walking over a long period of time, with the goal of reducing fatigue and the risk of injury," said study senior researcher Conor Walsh, a professor at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University in Massachusetts. [Bionic Humans: Top 10 Technologies]

Unlike a rigid exoskeleton or even a flashy Iron-Man-like suit, the exosuit Walsh and his colleagues built consists of textiles and soft materials that attach to a person's legs, waist and back. The soft suit doesn't hinder people's movement, allowing them to walk like they aren't carrying a load at all, the researchers said.

Users simply have to put on a waist belt, two thigh pieces and two calf straps, which are connected by cables to two motors on a backpack. The motors' energy travels through the cables to the suit, and is then transferred back to the person.

Hiking with the exosuit can save people about 7 percent of the energy they would normally use while carrying a heavy load. (Image credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

This energy then helps the hip and ankle joints, which together provide about 80 percent of the power produced by the leg joints while a person is walking, the researchers said.

To test the suit, the research team examined people moving under three different conditions: while wearing a powered-off suit, while wearing a powered-on suit and while wearing a powered-off suit with the weight of the suit (14 lbs. or 6.5 kilograms) removed from the backpack.

Seven people walked on a treadmill at a constant speed of 3.3 mph (5.4 km/h) while carrying a load equivalent to 30 percent of their weight. The researchers used motion-capture technology and physiological measurements to study how people fared while walking, the investigators said.

Previous research found that muscles in the lower legs work harder when people carry heavy loads, largely to sustain the load and maintain balance, the researchers said. This increased muscle activity is associated with more metabolic cost, which can lead to fatigue, less maneuverability and reduced performance overall. [Watch a Video of the Exosuit in Action]

What's more, people are more likely to injure themselves when they carry heavy loads, the researchers said. And the suit is easy to wear, they added.

"It feels like the muscles in the leg are doing less work, and it becomes very noticeable if the system is turned off very quickly," Walsh told Live Science in an email. What's more, the exosuit could help military personnel, first responders, patients in rehabilitation centers and, of course, hikers, he said.

But don't expect to see the exosuit on sale anytime soon. It's still a research project, and engineers are still tweaking the design, Walsh said.

"A big unknown is how do the muscle and tendons in the body react and adapt to external assistance from a wearable robot," he said. "So, basic science studies that attempt to understand how the wearers neuromotor system responds will be important to maximize the benefit that can be achieved."

The study was published online today (May 12) in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) member of parliament Jessie Majome has warned the government of president Robert Mugabe that it faces a revolt from legislators if the current infighting within cabinet continues, Now Media reported.Several crucial government programmes are stalled, ranging from science education and digitalizing broadcasting to indigenisation of foreign-owned firms and export of quail birds. Many projects were in a state of chaos after different cabinet ministers contradicted each other publicly.Majome, who supported a motion for current squabbling among cabinet ministers to stop raised by MDC-T Mabvuku MP James Maridadi, said "there will be a vote of no confidence in the Government if it does not get its House in order".She said the infighting had damaged government programmes and was a violation of the Constitution."It is really sad to note that by the Executive's failure to show consistency and to agree with each other in public; they are actually contributing to disharmony and disunity in this country. They are now a threat to the peace of the country that is required by our national objectives of peace, unity and stability. There cannot be any bigger example of instability than to see Government Ministers shouting at each other in public; in the media; on the streets; wherever it is. That does not augur well, that is not stable at all. It communicates clearly that there is trouble in the land," said Majome, the MP for Harare West and MDC-T shadow minister for women's affairs.Majome issued what she said "may be called a warning or even a threat to the Executive for them to put their house in order or consequences that are created by the Constitution can actually fall upon them".Apparently, acting speaker of parliament and Zanu PF activist Melody Dziva attempted to stifle the debate by interrupting Majome when she started talking about the sensitive Marange diamonds.MDC-T policy chief and Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa weighed in saying there was need for policy, leadership and consistency'."Why consistency? Consistency are the signals that you send to investors, to those who would want to come and invest their resources in our country. Consistency is that which you even give to the citizens to believe in a Government. When you indicate left and turn right, when you blow hot and cold, you are confusing those who are supposed to be your subjects; your citizens who are supposed to be creatures of your Government," Chamisa said before he was interrupted for lack of quorum in the National Assembly on Tuesday after most Zanu PF MPs ducked outside.
DSV said its integration of UTi was progressing as planned, with no hidden surprises discovered following the completion of the acquisition at the end of January and the acquired business expected to be profitable by the third quarter.

CEO Jens Bjrn Andersen told Lloyds Loading List in an interview this morning: Weve said that the overall integration (of DSV) will take two to three years and its progressing to plan. We are migrating (UTi) over to our IT system; we are moving offices together; its going very well.

There have been no negative surprises; no skeletons have fallen out of any closet. We have a good feeling with the integration.

Having acknowledged in the build-up to the acquisition that there was the potential during the integration phase to be distracted by internal matters, he stressed the utmost importance that we take good care of our customers during this phase  so far we have been successful doing that and it is something that we monitor closely.

Announcing the Copenhagen-headquartered groups first quarter results, he said that, as anticipated, UTi contributed a loss in the first months of the year, but the existing DSV operations continued the positive development of 2015.

All in all, we are very pleased to report a Q1 operating profit in line with last year, he said, confirming that DSV maintains its previously announced full-year outlook for 2016.

Andersen revealed that UTi had made a loss of DKr47m ($7m) in in the first quarter, having lost $60m in full-year 2015, mainly from freight forwarding.

He confirmed that the red figures continued to stem largely from UTis forwarding activities, which represent 65% of its global revenue; contract logistics and road freight accounting for 20% and 15%, respectively.

Overall, the main problems of UTi have been related to its air and sea freight activities, he t told Lloyds Loading List. It (the loss-making performance) is what we expected when we bought the company.

Despite acquired UTi forwarding business running at a loss in the first period, DSVs Air & Sea forwarding division managed to increase its EBIT operating profits before special items from DKK 388 million to DKK 414 million, thanks fo market-share gains from the old DSV business.

The Air & Sea Division reported an increase in sea freight volumes (TEUs) of approx. 40% for Q1 2016 compared to the same period of 2015, although most of the growth (approximately 36%) originates from the addition of UTis volumes. For air freight, the Air & Sea Division reported a volume increase (tonnes) of 71% for Q1 2016 compared to the same period of 2015, with most of the growth (approximately 66%) again originating from the addition of UTis volumes.

While the original DSV air and sea freight operations continued the positive trend of 2015 of above-market growth rates, seen in isolation, UTi saw a decline compared to the same period last year. The negative volume development in UTi is attributable partly to a number of large air freight shipments in the first quarter of 2015  as a result of the US West Coast port strike.

Furthermore, UTi lost a couple of large contracts in the first and second quarters of 2015, the full-year effect of which has not yet materialized, DSV said. Adjusted for these events and the general impact of seasonality, UTi has reported stable activity levels since the acquisition.

DSV Road, which is among the top three road freight companies in Europe, following the acquisition of UTi now has activities in US and South Africa. But excluding the new UTi activities, the division reported 4% growth in number of consignments, increasing its market share as the wider market shrunk by an estimated 1-2%. EBIT operating profit for the unit before special items was in line with last year and was negatively impacted by the low number of workdays in the quarter.

DSV said the acquisition of UTi had considerably strengthened the activities of its Solutions division, which specialises in contract logistics, contributing activities in North America, South Africa, Asia and Europe and doubling the total capacity of the Division to 4.7 million square metres.

Net revenue was up 41.9% and totalled DKK 2,043 million for the first three months of 2016. The increase is mainly attributable to UTi. Excluding UTi, DSV Solutions reported net revenue in line with the same period of 2015.

DSV Solutions reported EBIT before special items of DKK 47 million for the first quarter of 2016 against DKK 36 million for the same period of 2015.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

A SEKE man reportedly wrecked four marriages, bedding women while masquerading as a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation.Reevson Simbini's shenanigans have left villagers in the Zin'anga Village under Chief Seke with no option but to summon him for a meeting.Relatives of the people who suffered much through Livingstone's shenanigans recently convened a meeting at Village Head David Shonhiwa's homestead to map a way forward.To date, Reevson is alleged to have bedded more than 10 women in the area and wrecked more than four marriages, snatching the women and renting them in different places.He admitted to impregnating Gray Kabuya's wife Priscilla Mbano who has since given birth to a child on March 24.Mbano's husband is staying in South Africa and he is renting a place for her somewhere in Dema.Arrundel Shonhiwa, 30, the son to Village Head Shonhiwa, was left a bachelor in November last year when Reeveson dated his wife and later snatched her.Another girl, Nolleen Tapfumaneyi was reportedly impregnated by Reevson, while Sindi Mhlope, 20, from Kwekwe was chased away by her lover for having an affair with him.Reports are that Reevson has made life a hell on earth for many who believe that he owns love concoctions."This man must have juju that lures married women and girls to have sex with him," said Arrundel."I do not understand how he does his dirty games but just coming to think of it that my wife left me for him leaves is unbelievable. There is nothing special that you may think could be the source of his powers."He took my wife in November last year. This was after his wife answered a call made by wife. Reevson is our nephew and his wife came demanding answers from my wife saying ambuya murikudanana nemurume wangu," recalls Arrundel.The father of two said, "I asked her to prove her allegations and she said she had discovered love messages in her husband's cellphone. My wife's number was saved as Gogo wekwaSabhuku and she (Reevson's wife) called to verify if it was true and my wife replied saying she was not and was actually in Gokwe."My wife asked for my cellphone and she went to call outside. Reevson's wife came before 7pm and I checked on the dialed numbers to see who my wife had called and discovered it was him," said Arrundel.This was the beginning of their marital problems."My wife's sister came and took her, to her home. They returned the following morning and admitted that Priscilla was having an affair," he said.Tafadzwa, younger brother to Gray, said the latter came home in January and spent 10 days before he returned to SA."My brother came home and left after a short period. We discovered that Priscilla was pregnant but she denied the accusations only to admit later after further scrutiny."However, to our surprise, she claimed my brother was responsible, but we traced the period and realised that she conceived last year".Cosmas, elder brother to Gray said, "The illicit affair came to light on March 24 after we suspected that she was pregnant."We asked her to prepare so that we could go for a scan. I think she had been tying the bulging stomach when her shenanigans were exposed."Cosmas's mother Gogo Kabuya gave a detailed account of how her daughter-in-law gave birth in their toilet."Musi uyu aiti ane manyoka saka aingoenda kutoilet kasingaperi inini ndainge ndiri mumunda pandakashevedzwa naiye arimo. Ndakapinda ndokuwana mwana ari paside pegomba, anenge aitoda kumudonhedzeramo."Muroora wangu ainge atodambura kare rukuchute," she said fighting back tears.Nolleen, believed to be impregnated by Reevson, poured cold water on the allegations."I do not carry Reevson's baby. He only proposed but I turned him down," she said.However, this did not go down with her mother who demanded answers saying if she was pregnant she must take her bags and elope to Livingstone."I heard the news from her brother in the morning and I asked her to come here (at the meeting) to get the truth. If she is pregnant, she should go to her husband," she charged.Paidamoyo Warirai, an aunt to the 20-year-old Sindi Mhlope, said they chased her back to Kwekwe after getting the news."Sindi was staying with my young sister and was asked to go back home to Kwekwe after we came to know that she was having an affair with Reevson," she said.Other villagers also concurred saying they saw Sindi kissing Reevson on several occasions in his car before they left to have quality time at secluded areas.Village head Shonhiwa was at a loss for words after his daughter-in-law was snatched."I am at pains because of what happened to my daughter-in-law who left for another man.She went with my grandchild and my son is being forced to take another man's child and is now paying maintenance."The only thing I am going to do now is get in touch with Chief Seke to map the way forward, if the solution is to kick Reevson out of my Village, I will do so," he said.Contacted for comment, Reevson threatened an H- Metro reporter."Eeeh varume ibvai pamba pangu ikozvino nekuti pane zvinhu zvangu zvakabiwa saka munogona kupinda panguva yakaoma," he said.
Only one in 15 ambulance call-outs to patients in 'life-threatening' situations in rural areas are meeting the target response time of eight minutes, a report has found.

In an audit conducted by UK-based consultants Lightfoot Solutions for the Health Service Executive (HSE), it was found that just 6.6 per cent of such call-outs are meeting the target, compared to 36.7 per cent in major urban areas and 45.6 per cent in minor urban areas.

In a separate category evaluating response times for patients in 'potentially life-threatening' situations, just 44 per cent of call-outs to rural areas were responded to within the target time of 19 minutes, while 87 per cent of call-outs in major urban areas and 76.7 per cent in minor urban areas were within this timeframe.

In Ireland, 40 per cent of incidents are in a rural location, compared to 12 per cent in a typical English service, the report stated.

Independent Roscommon-Galway TD and newly-appointed Minister for Communications and Climate Change, Denis Naughten, who has been critical of the state of the ambulance service, said he had not had the opportunity to read the media coverage in full but will be contacting the Department of Health on the matter.

I only had a chance to see a headline, which I think compared response times to those across the UK. That's like comparing apples and oranges. They're completely different; the geography is different and so is the population density. A more equitable comparison could be made with Northern Ireland or Scotland.

I have raised a query with the Department of Health on the matter and will make my views known when it comes before cabinet, Minister Naughten added.
Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 12 2016

Governor Cuomo today announced that the first school district funding requests from the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act have been approved.

Albany, NY - May 11, 2016 - Governor Cuomo today announced that the first school district funding requests from the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act have been approved. The Act, proposed by the Governor and overwhelmingly approved by voters, supports investments in education technology that will equip students with the skills they need to thrive in a 21st century economy. These investments will help close the "digital divide" by increasing access to technology and high-speed broadband for all students throughout the state, ensuring that no student gets left behind.



As technology continues to shape the landscape of our economy, we must reimagine our classrooms into modern centers of learning so that our students are prepared for the jobs that meet the demands of tomorrow, Governor Cuomo said. With this bold initiative, we are taking an important step towards strengthening our learning environment and connecting students in every corner of the state with the opportunities necessary to succeed in the 21st century economy.



The Smart Schools Review Board met today for the first time to approve investment plans submitted by school districts. The Board is comprised of the Director of the Budget, the Chancellor of the State University of New York, and the Commissioner of the State Education Department. The Board approved previously issued guidelines on the required components of Smart Schools Investment Plans, and reviewed and approved the first batch of submissions.



The 52 plans approved today budget a total of $45 million for projects, including $26 million for Classroom Technology purchases, $15 million for School Connectivity projects, $4 million for High-Tech Security projects, and $23,000 for Community Connectivity projects.



A summary of these 52 plans is available here.



Following the proposal of the Bond Act, Governor Cuomo established the Smart Schools Commission to gather information on strategies for how schools can most effectively invest the bond funds. This advisory commission produced a report recommending a focus on expanding robust broadband and wireless connectivity and utilizing transformative technologies. The plans approved today by the Smart Schools Review Board reflect many of the best practices identified by the Commission.



New York State Budget Director Robert Mujica said, These unprecedented State investments demonstrate once again the Governor's commitment to education, and will benefit children across the state for years to come.



SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said, An investment in Smart Schools is an investment in the success of New Yorks students at every stage of their education, from cradle to career. The broader access to modern technology and infrastructure enabled by these funds will support our work to ensure that all students have the tools and resources they need to excel in school and come to college ready. Congratulations to all of the schools and programs that will benefit from this first round of awards.



State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said, Our kids are capable of doing amazing things. Its our job to make sure they have the tools and the knowledge they need to come up with the next big thing. And the Smart Schools funding were announcing today will help us do just that. Districts are making major investments in school connectivity, school security, and in individual devices that will allow students access to the internet to expand their knowledge, to practice skills where they need additional help, and to learn how to communicate and share their knowledge with others.



With Smart Schools funds, school districts are investing in technology such as computer servers, interactive whiteboards, tablets, desktop and laptop computers, and high-speed broadband and wireless connectivity. This technology will help students to learn at their own pace, expand access to advanced courses and interactive curriculum, and enhance communication between parents and teachers. Smart Schools funds will also facilitate necessary investments in prekindergarten classrooms, removal of classroom trailers and high-tech school security.
LIRR Cannonball to Montauk & Other Summer Service Enhancements Highlight New Train Timetables Going into Effect on Monday, May 23

Local News, Travel & Local Attractions, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 12 2016

To get you in the summer spirit, the LIRR is introducing new system-wide train timetables featuring traditional seasonal service enhancements such as the mighty Montauk Cannonball as well as a number of new options.

Long Island, NY - May 11, 2016 - To get you in the summer spirit, MTA Long Island Rail Road is introducing new system-wide train timetables on Monday, May 23 featuring traditional seasonal service enhancements such as the mighty Montauk Cannonball, the fastest way to the East End, as well as a number of new options that should be welcomed by the weekend traveler. The new train schedules will remain in effect through Monday, September 5, 2016.

Cannonball Service Kicks Off on Friday, May 27

The Cannonball, of course, is the popular 4:06 p.m. Friday departure from Penn Station, featuring the LIRRs premier Hamptons Reserve service, that gets you to Westhampton in 95 minutes and returns on Sundays, leaving Montauk at 6:37 p.m. You get to your destination quickly with the added comfort of a reserved seat as well as at-your-seat bar service. Hamptons Reserve seating is limited to the first three passenger cars and available only by advance reservation.

Eastbound Service - $49.25 in advance

Departs Fridays  4:06 p.m. from Penn Station - May 27th through September 2nd. For the 4th of July holiday weekend the Cannonball East will depart on Friday, July 1.

Westbound Service - $41.50 in advance

Departs Sundays at 6:37 p.m. from Montauk, East Hampton at 7:01pm, Bridgehampton at 7:10 p.m., Southampton at 7:20 p.m., Hampton Bays at 7:31 p.m. and Westhampton at 7:39 p.m., then express to Jamaica arriving at 9:10 p.m. and then on to Penn for a 9:31 p.m. arrival.

More Summer Service Improvements

Extra Service to Montauk, the Hamptons and Long Islands South Fork

12:43 p.m. from Jamaica to Speonk every weekday.

4:06 p.m. from Penn Station to Montauk on Thursdays.

1:47 p.m. on Fridays from Hunterspoint Ave. to Montauk; 5:09 p.m. on Fridays from Penn Station to Montauk and the 7:38 p.m. on Fridays from Jamaica to Montauk - all in addition to the Cannonball.

Extra Service to Fire Island Destinations (Summer Fridays July 1  September 2)

8:04 a.m. from Jamaica and 10:59 a.m. from Penn Station making stops at Babylon, Bay Shore, Sayville and Patchogue for connections to ferry service to Fire Island. These special Fire Island trains will run just ahead of Montauk service in order to relieve crowding on the trains bound for the East End.

Extra Service to Greenport and Long Islands North Fork

5:21 p.m. Friday train from Ronkonkoma to Yaphank will be extended to Greenport beginning May 27.

8:38 p.m. from Greenport making all stops to Ronkonkoma, then stopping at Jamaica for connections to points west.

Extra Weekend Service to Freeport & Jones Beach

7:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. eastbound trains from Penn Station to Freeport with bus transfers available for Jones Beach, and for the return home,

5:48 p.m. and the 6:21 p.m. westbound trains from Freeport to Penn Station.

Extra Weekend Service to Long Beach

10:09 a.m. EXTRA from Penn Station to Long Beach

4:57 p.m. EXTRA from Long Beach to Penn Station.

Extra Sunday & Holiday Service to Hunterspoint Ave. & Long Island City

4 p.m. summer Sunday and holiday departure from Montauk will operate through to Hunterspoint Ave. station and Long Island City station instead of terminating at Jamaica.

Timetable Adjustments Due to Scheduled Track Work & Construction

Service on the following branches will be adjusted, in some cases with buses or vans replacing trains and customers departing earlier than usual and arriving later than usual over one or two-day periods. Customers should consult the special branch timetables for each project.

Far Rockaway, Long Beach & West Hempstead Branches

Weekend schedules on the Far Rockaway, Long Beach and West Hempstead branches will be adjusted from 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the branch, for 48 hours over three consecutive weekends, June 4-5, June 18-19, and June 25-26 while one of two main tracks is out of service between Jamaica and Valley Stream for waterproofing of the 150th St. Bridge in Jamaica.

Most westbound Far Rockaway trains will depart up to 5 minutes earlier. All westbound West Hempstead trains will depart 5 minutes earlier from stations West Hempstead thru Westwood.

Oyster Bay Branch

On Saturday, June 18, buses will replace trains on the Oyster Bay Branch between Mineola and Oyster Bay for track resurfacing during an eight hour period 12:39 a.m. to 8:39 a.m. on Saturday, June 18.

Eastbound

Customers will depart Penn Station 11 minutes earlier than normal, and will transfer to buses at Mineola for service to stations East Williston through Oyster Bay, with increased travel time up to 33 minutes.

Westbound

Customers will board buses at stations Oyster Bay through East Williston, then transfer to trains at Mineola. Buses will depart up to 64 minutes later than normal train service with increased travel times of up to 27 minutes.

Also on Saturday, June 18, van service will replace trains on the Oyster Bay Branch between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley beginning at 9:30 a.m. for 28 hours through 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 19. Eastbound customers will experience up to 14 minutes additional travel time. Westbound customers will depart Oyster Bay up to 15 minutes earlier than normal.

Port Washington Branch

Service on the branch will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly between Great Neck and Penn Station for 12 hours on Saturday, June 4 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for completion of drainage work related to the new Colonial Road Bridge project.

Eastbound

Buses will replace trains eastbound between Great Neck and Port Washington. Customers can expect up to 25 minutes of additional travel time.

Westbound

Customers traveling from Port Washington, Plandome and Manhasset will board buses for Great Neck where they will transfer for train service to points west. Customers will board buses up to 25 minutes earlier than normal at Port Washington, Plandome and Manhasset.

Long Beach Branch  Weekday Service Change

As a result of post-Super Storm Sandy restoration work, five eastbound Long Beach Branch trains will depart Penn Station 30 minutes earlier than usual. The trains that usually depart at 9:41 AM, 10:41 AM, 11:41 AM, 12:41 PM and 1:41 PM will instead depart at 10:11 AM, 11:11 AM, 12:11 PM, 1:11 PM and 2:11 PM
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 12 2016

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was inducted into the Sons of the American Legion (SAL), Malverne Squadron, by Nassau County Veterans Service Agency Director Ralph Esposito and Past County Commander of the American Legion ...

From left are Frank Colon, Past County Commander of the American Legion; John Hassett III; County Exec. Edward Mangano; Abigail Hassett; John L. Hassett Jr. M.D.; and Dir. of Veterans Services for Nassau County Ralph Esposito.

Nassau County, NY - May 11, 2016 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was inducted into the Sons of the American Legion (SAL), Malverne Squadron, by Nassau County Veterans Service Agency Director Ralph Esposito and Past County Commander of the American Legion Frank Colon on May 9th. John L. Hassett Jr, MD, presented the County Executive with a cap, honoring him with membership into the American Legion as a son of a veteran. County Executive Manganos father, John Mangano, Sr. served the United States Army in the Korean War.

Founded in 1932, SAL exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires. SAL members include those whose parents or grandparents served in the United States Armed Forces and were eligible for American Legion membership. Members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders comprise the Legion Family, which has a combined membership of nearly 4.2 million.

Since taking office in 2010, County Executive Mangano has enhanced services for Nassaus 100,000 veterans, including free transportation to the Northport VA Hospital and the East Meadow Clinic. The Mangano administration also established 42 homes, located on Mitchel Field, to provide affordable housing for veterans and their families and an additional 18 homes for active-duty military personnel. Additionally, the County helped rehabilitate five two-bedroom townhouses in Hempstead for homeless veterans and their families. Last month, Nassau County enhanced opportunities for Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses to further participate in government contracts.

For more information on Veteran Service Agency programs, veterans may visit the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, Building Q, in East Meadow or can call (516)-572-6565. If transportation is needed, veterans may call (516) 572-6526.
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
News / Regional

by Staff Reporter

A village head in Shirville, Nyamandlovu - Shadreck Mabone is allegedly giving villagers a torrid time as he is said to be randomly sleeping with scores of married women.Mabone is not married, angry villagers told uMthunywa.According to the publication, villagers now fear blood shed if one of Mabone's lover's husband returns from South Africa and get wind of his wife sex ropes with the village head."We are living in fear because one day there will be bloodshed" said one villager.According to the publication, the headman denied that he sleeping around with married women.
Opinion / Columnist

For 4 years I was a student of Lazarus Dokora, the loony Zimbabwean Minister of Education. Dokora was assigned as an English Teacher on the Cuba Teachers Training Program ,a role which was meant to keep Student Teachers' English language proficiency up to speed in an all Spanish learning environment.He was always sneaky and had some aloofness in him. He was different and we did not know why. A few years later after I graduated I was shocked to hear that Dokora visited my friend's house in the middle of the night with CIO operatives demanding property he had given to my friend as a courier upon leaving Cuba.Dokora and his hoodlums were ruthless in executing a military style operation which left the family deeply traumatized. The crime was that their son kept the TV and stereo instead of taking it to Gweru where Dokora intended to sell the merchandise .Hearing this horrifying story it finally dawned on us that all along Dokora was less a lecturer than a Mugabe assigned man in our classes. His English classes we all knew were worthless and nobody ever cared whether they attended or not.He was just being there and enjoying the Cuban sunshine and the perks that came on being Mugabe's eye on the program.When he finally left his lecturer post in Cuba Dokora became a Director in the Ministry of Higher Education and eventually a Deputy Minister and of late perennial Minister on Mugabe's know nothing cabinet executing the geriatric's crazy missions .That's Dokora's brief resume you. He is mean, arrogant and vicious. And Mugave blue eyed boy. Those who live in Mashonaland Central have horrific stories to tell about this man from past election cycles when he commandeered troops of political thugs .Dokora the minister:In a country facing economic doom he is in the news everyday. First for banning Scripture Unions in Schools, then the decree on the pledge in Schools and the latest decree on making teachers wear uniform . The Emperor has no clothes . What a shame!Why is Dokora is doing all this?The answer is anybody's guess but my best shot is that he is simply following orders from the man who brought him on board the gravy train. Mugabe is 92 years old and senile.He is married to a narcissistic wife. The combination of senilism (word is my invention) and narcissism is what we witness today. True to their behavior Mugabe and his wife want to create diversions so that people don't focus on the myriad of illnesses afflicting the nation .Everything has broken down in Zimbabwe and what a better way to distract the attention of Zimbabweans than make them focus on trivialities. Predictably we have fallen for the trap once again. Social media is awash with Dokora crazy stuff. Dokora this, Dokora that and nothing is neither progressive nor productive.It's all regression but to his credit Dokora is doing Mugabe's dirty bidding very well . He is a man who owes Mugabe years of riding on the gravy train and so far he gets a pass on repaying his debt.More horrible stuff is expected to come from the pot cooked by Mr Senile and Mrs Narcism and dished by none other than Lazarus Dokora.We will change that without fear.@zimfirst will do away Mugabe-Dokora-grace craziness .
Opinion / Columnist

News that the Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) leader, Joice Mujuru, last week attended an event in Dubai linked to some so-called 'US icon' did not surprise many Zimbabweans as the opposition leader had previous secretive escapades with the Americans, which were bared through the Wikileaks in 2011.From what was exposed in the Wikileaks, it was clear that Mujuru was embedded agent of the US, tasked with destabilizing ZANU PF from within.She leaked confidential information to the US and was subsequently tipped by US emissaries as a 'moderate politician' who should replace President Robert Mugabe.So, Mujuru had long been working in cahoots with the country's political nemesis way before her expulsion from Government and ZANU PF in 2014.The only difference now is that the relationship is now being made public for the convenience of pushing her candidacy for the country's Presidency in 2018.It is a long standing relationship whose beginnings were globally exposed through the 2011 Wikileaks.Mujuru is now getting rewarded for her Trojan horse role of infiltrating ZANU PF and attempting to destroy it from within.She is now been officially unveiled to the world by the US as the horse they will back come 2018 and to cap it all, she was given an award for her supposed valour of challenging President Robert Mugabe.It is a clear instruction to all US political purse holders and other regime change bedfellows to coalesce their funding efforts around the candidacy of Mujuru.Mujuru has officially displaced Tsvangirai as the official opposition figure supported by the US and its entire neo-imperial juggernaut.For all intends and purposes, her political script is in tandem to Tsvangirai's own theatre lines, for we have seen the MDC-T leader being branded with the same paint and awarded for neo-imperial bravery.From a heap of meaningless political awards, Tsvangirai got an honourary doctorate, some French Legion of honour and was paraded before some conferences, with the intention to spruce up his checkered political and personal history to no avail.Such awards, were not only limited to Tsvangirai, but were also accorded to other rabid anti-President Mugabe activists, who include civic society leaders directors and opposition lawyers such as Jestina Mukoko and Beatrice Mthethwa, respectively.The western-linked awards are meant to incentivize and energise the local regime change apparatchiks to maintain their neo-imperial bid to depose President Mugabe from power.For all their labour and sweat, the ploy has so far fallen on the rocks.With all those accolades and awards breathlessly laden in his trophy cabinet, Tsvangirai has been consecutively rejected by Zimbabweans, for it is not foreigners or their awards that stand in the polling booth to mark the ballot during elections but the sanctions-emaciated voters from villages and suburbs in the country would wield the vote.As is the case with Tsvangirai, Mujuru's awards would fizzle into nothing.The westerners and their funding and branding units could stampede all they want to confer Mujuru with awards and other hollow accolades but what they should know is that they are pouring their resources into a bottomless pit, for Mujuru, just like Tsvangirai before her, would resoundingly be rejected by the electorate come 2018.Unfortunately, Mujuru's imperceptive followers such as Rugare Gumbo, who are gleefully cheering westerners for branding Mujuru their acolyte, are oblivious of the fact that politics in Zimbabwe is decided by association.It is a polarized situation, where any politician associating himself or herself with westerner neo-imperial ambitions would be comprehensively punished during elections.Despite being taunted as having extra war liberation credentials compared to Tsvangirai, Mujuru is unquestionably going to be rejected by voters for canoodling with western regime change mongers or their associates.
Opinion / Columnist

(Believe Chikomo is a political writer who developed much interest in History and matters of governance)

Contact: bilivchikomo@gmail.com

A couple or more weeks ago, l came across a certain article in one of our local news papers which was directed to the former prime minister and the president of the largest opposition party in Zimbabwe Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai.It was from a ZINASU president one of the students union in this country. The writer was boastful enough that he began with reminding the MDC president that ZINASU is apolitical and MDC shouldnt be part of it or interfere with the student body. The writer who boasted as the president speaking to another president went on to caution and threaten with unspecified action to the former prime minister if he continue to infiltrate or if his party members brand ZINASU as an extension of the MDC.Besides being too senseless the latter gave the opportunity to the reader to reflect on its writer. It shows how the student body was infiltrated and manipulated by the very powers which suffocates the student. It shows how the objective and thrus of student movement has been reduced and dragged into the mud by zanupf. The latter vindicates the assertion that ZINASU has bein infiltrated by zanupf. Apart from other ridiculous conclusions that can be drawn from the latter, the latter shows how cowardice is now glorified and viewed as a principle whilist bravery of the student bodies of the 80s and 90s is now viewed as an out dated methods of activism. One needs to take a look at the history of students unions in the past, first from abroad and then locally in a far more informed manner. I am sure a few examples will help not only those who read the latter but others also who didnt know how useful can be a student movement be in face of national upheavals and struggles for freedom and emancipation from oppressive polices and incompetences in service delivery. Particularly those who think it is modesty and smart to make it apolitical.History will never disregard the role played by the students in the gigantic process of the unification of Germany, students partnered the unionists and played a very imperative role in the history of the Germany for tis unification to complete, likewise in ltaly. If the students fight for a greater cause augmenting the national politicians for the national good, in the mind of a right thinking man that is more smarter than to be arrogant and be a stand alone. A political party can stand without a student body and register successes but a student body will never achieve far or long term goals without augmentation of a vibrant political party thats why zanupf doesnt lose sleep over student cries anymore worse from zinasu. This is visible in fees hikes that continues to go unabetted, shortages and expensive residential areas, etc. The reason is it knows that its a bull dog which has long lost its teeth.In 2014 more than 300 universities and colleges gathered at the "2014 Collegiate Panel Discussion: Youth Voices on Korean Unification" on August 14th at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. to affirm their generational desire for the unification of Korean Peninsula. They registered their voices in solidarity with nationalist movements which also wanted unification. I imagine if it was here, where a nation needs a unanimous convergence to remove a corrupt and incapable gvt, a certain informed boy driven by cowerdice, profiteering and racketeering is agitating against student involvement in serious issues of removing their burden once and for all.In Zimbabwe students played serious national roles. The history of student activism is dated as back as 1973, during the colonial era, the famous Chimukwembe demonstration against racism, favouratism, oppression and against white minority rule is a foundation and an example to follow for all time to come that student activism is not apolitical rather a national political movement in model and function. Whoever disputes this or fund in support of this wtetched lie is somewhat profiteering in disarming the students body. Our students, strong in their resolve are proud combatants in the liberation struggle alongside other war comrades. Were they not students who demonstrated and campaigned against one party state in 1988 which was advocated by this gvt under fraudulent means? The failure of this dastardly crime was averted by the students alongside other civic organisations during that time.Students also stood up and demonstrated the death of Samora in 1986. They also stood up against essap and its horrible consequences in the 90s. Apart from that students have also demonstrated against a number of scandals in the 90s in gvt and parastatals. When the MDC was formed students were a recognised body and from it other students later became heroes and icons in opposition politics, like Advocate Nelson Chamisa. Who is today a role model and pride of the living products of student body in Zimbabwe.We know of cause the 1990 UZ amendment act which clipped the wings of the student, how activities and activism was controled by the state. This ceases to be an excuse ones ZINASU begins celebrates its own detoothing throughout latters to opposition party president.Students! Resist the call by that ignorant boy. Remain focused and remember there is a struggle to be completed, a struggle that awaits, whose victory has fruits after being a student. Gone are the days when you demonstrated for more meat, clean plates, more sadza and more books and more time to read in the library,. Such is just luxury which cannot be anticipated at this moment. Rally behind the party which shall provide for the student of tomorrow and for your life after being a student. Rally behind the party you helped to establish!!!
Opinion / Columnist

I could laugh my lungs out after reading an article from a local press which assumed that MDC-T brand was at its strongest. Truth be said, the opposite is real. MDC-T is currently at its weakest point; hence carrying out demonstrations as a way of trying to regain the lost grassroot support.As a matter of fact, no political party on this earth has ever won an election through either mother or father of all demonstrations. It's actually surprising that Tsvangirai and his cronies are once again planning for another demonstration to be held in Bulawayo. This man should not waste people's time by disrupting their businesses through such protests.If MDC-T demonstrations continue to cause havoc and disruption of other people's business in towns and cities, the responsible authorities should consider blocking them. Yes, it's a constitutional right for any party to hold demonstrations, but that should be done peacefully.It is unfortunate that Tsvangirai is gauging his purported strength through demonstrations, hence his continued efforts to go in the streets. However, the truth is known that those demonstrations are part of MDC-T fundraising. The more they demonstrate, the more they receive funds from their Western donors. Tsvangirai should also be reminded that demonstrations are not the correct and best way of measuring how strong a political party is. This can only be observed through the ballot box.In an interview with a private press, MDC-T secretary for recruitment, Job Sikhala tried by all means to shower lots of praises to his present boss, Morgan Tsvangirai. It is in Sikhala's personal illusion that Tsvangirai is the right person to lead this nation. All the same, Sikhala's analysis shows that he is only singing for his supper.After realization that his separation with Tsvangirai was fruitless as he had no followers, Sikhala decided to call it quits with the so called MDC-99 and rejoined Tsvangirai. As it stands, Sikhala is trying by all he can to please his boss. In actual fact he wants to be seen visible by his leader lest he loses his job, which is like a replica of organizing secretary in that same party.As a recruiting secretary, one wonders how many people were recruited into that party by Sikhala following his acceptance in the MDC-T.Sikhala has nothing that he can offer to MDC-T rather than seeking political relevance. All he wants is to be recognized by MDC-T and its supporters.Party conflicts within MDC-T are a sign that all is not well in that party. Therefore, it's a blatant lie to label that opposition party as strong especially when tracing back its formation history. It was then, when MDC was still a vibrant MDC. That party was strong well before the likes of Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Welshman Ncube and many others parted ways with Tsvangirai. Additionally, the current intra party conflicts in MDC-T can also lead to further fragmentation of that opposition party, thereby making it even more weaker.MDC-T's failure to provide distinct policy alternatives to the electorate is a clear indication that it's a frail opposition party. While he was addressing students at University of Zimbabwe last month, Tsvangirai noted that he has no solutions essential for the transformation of this nation. Tsvangirai's admission that he is clueless is a clear-cut indication that he is only interested in donor funds at the expense of serving people's interests.Sikhala's argument that Tsvangirai played a vital role in the inclusive government is nothing but water under the bridge. Who didn't contribute in the Government of National Unity? Why then should Sikhala boast about Tsvangirai as if he was a lone figure in that GNU? Actually, GNU is a thing of the past which the nation cannot continue banking on. Presently, the nation is focusing at reviving the manufacturing sector and not demonstrations.Tsvangirai has a destructive mentality that each time Government comes out with new policies and remedies that try to resolve problems bedeviling the nation, Tsvangirai will be in front trashing that idea. As we speak, Tsvangirai is busy mobilizing people to demonstrate against the introduction of the bond notes. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr John Mangudya came out with a positive measure against cash shortages and externalization of cash, through bond notes, however, bigheaded people like Tsvangirai are inciting people to against the idea. Zimbabweans should not heed Tsvangirai's words, as he is a regime change agent with an intention of destabilizing the economy.
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Opinion / Columnist

It's now the second week since schools have been opened for the second term. Second term is normally a busy term as most exam classes will be busy preparing for their final exams. Non exam classes will also be preparing for their midyear examinations. This keeps every child, teacher and headmaster busy despite the harsh weather conditions.However, despite all these efforts to prepare for both midyear and final year exams, some school authorities are disregarding the children's right to education by sending them back home for failing to pay school levies and school fees.The laws prescribes that all the children in Zimbabwe should have the right to education. According to section 75 of the new Constitution, "Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to (a) a basic State-funded education, including adult basic education and (b) further education, which the State, through reasonable legislative and other measures, must progressively available and accessible."Education is an enabling right that enhances the fulfillment of other children's socio-economic rights hence must be accessible to all children. It is an essential element of development of school children. Through basic education and skills development practice, children can develop their communications skills and the way they relate with the society.Minister of primary and secondary education, Dr Lazarus Dokora once noted that school children should not be send home for nonpayment of their levies and fees, instead, parents and school authorities should agree on payment plan whilst their children are in class.However, it seems tables have turned upside down, as school development associations (SDAs) are barring children from attending lessons if they haven't paid their fees. SDAs should be encouraged that it is a Constitutional right for children to access education; hence they should consent with parents on best payment methods of school fees. It is worrisome that some school authorities were rejecting even half payment of the school fees demanding full payment. Barring school children from attending lessons is a violation of the Constitution.In that manner, parents should ensure that they do not deprive their children the right to education by paying their school fees in time. The generation of today's school going children are the future leaders of tomorrow. Hence, efforts should be made to ensure that every child access education without fail or else as a nation we risk breeding a society that will encounter a lot of challenges in years to come.Parents should be enlightened that some of the school funds will be used to purchase stationery that is used by the school teachers; hence the fees should be paid on time.In a country that prides itself as one of the highest literacy rates in Africa it is important that more focus is given on the education sector. Parents and SDAs should not threaten this sector by depriving children their rights.Honestly, it doesn't help that a teacher will only attend to 5 students in class of 45 students, whilst the rest 40 students will be send back home for failing to pay fees. Such a move has a strong impact on the education sector as it affects the pass rate of each school and the entire nation. Mutual understanding on fees payment between SDAs and parents is the only way for the betterment of our children's education.
Opinion / Columnist

The opposition political parties and their allies in various sectors, have, for the umpteenth times, attempted to trigger national panic through sounding a false alarm of a collapsing economy.It is undisputable that the economy is not at its best. However, the adversity of the national economic status has been hopelessly exaggerated to achieve a sinister motive. That alarm has now become so familiar that it no longer elicits the desired reaction from the public. They have been sold a dummy for long. Abraham Lincoln was dead right when he said: "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."Those in the opposition camp cannot fool the public all the time. Since 2013, the Zimbabwean economy was said to be in the intensive care unit (ICU). Three years down the line, same is still said to be in the ICU. Ordinarily, nobody can survive for three years in the ICU. The economy should have long given in or discharged. Admittedly, the economy was in that unit in 2008 and it has since been discharged. Here we have a situation where a doctor is saying a patient was discharged while someone from nowhere is insisting that the patient is still in the ICU. You don't need to be sophisticated to know the right person to believe.Zanu PF government, which is running the economy, is saying the economy is on the rebound and the opposition is saying it is dying. In a speech to mark Zimbabwe's 36th Independence Day anniversary, President Mugabe told the nation that the economy is on the rebound as witnessed by the resuscitation and formation of companies that have also created employment. He also said that some of the parastatals which were financially troubled were now out of danger. The improvement might not be that colossal but there are positive indicators of improvement.For instance, there is a noted improvement in the mining sector. "The re-organization of the mining sector, which include the consolidated state ownership of the diamond mines and the strategic management of gold mining and gold products has started showing improved results with gold output now 20.2 tonnes, rising expectedly to 25.5 tonnes by year end," said President Mugabe.This is the CEO's economic statement of the country that he availed to stakeholders. It boggles the mind that some people who are not even privy to government transactions, dispute the statement. Every corporate company produces similar statements which nobody outside the company's management structure can dispute. Who are Obert Gutu, Jacob Mafume, Issis Mwale, Maxwell Saungweme and John Robertson to dispute the CEO's statement? They have never been in government to have an inkling of government business. Their analysis on government business is tantamount to pub talk which must be dismissed with disdain.Then opposition thinks that the imagined collapse of the economy has given them an avenue to join government. They have urged President Mugabe and his government to step down and pass over the baton to another administration  maybe MDC-T, PDP, MDC or ZPF. They cannot just get power that easy. They must look back and see how Zanu PF got it. Tens of thousands lost their lives in the fight to wrestle power from the Smith regime. They are luck because they can get power through the ballot. So they must work hard to lure votes instead of trying to thrive on crises. Those demonstrations, which have become fashionable in their camps, can never get them to state house.While they are telling Zanu PF to pass on the baton, they are not telling the nation what they will do when the baton is in their hands. They just find joy in criticizing Zanu PF without proffering alternatives. The electorate wants to hear their alternative policies that will take the nation out of the woods. For instance, there is a liquidity challenge that the government is battling to alleviate. What do Mafume and Gutu's parties intend to do to arrest this challenge if Zanu PF decides to hand over the baton to them today.As for the MDC-T, they have already shown that they are clueless. Their leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai always thinks of demonstrations as the panacea to the problems the country is facing. He is even mulling staging a demonstration over the proposed introduction of bond notes, which are meant to deal with cash shortage. Unfortunately, the Reserve Bank Governor, Dr John Mangudya has managed to convince most of the people on the merits of the bond coins. Tsvangirai is likely to embarrass himself should he proceed with his bond notes demonstrations.It is unfortunate that Zimbabwe suffers a dearth of opposition parties that add value to the political matrix. In other countries like South Africa, the ruling party is always on its toes because there is vibrant opposition breathing down its neck. Here we have an opposition that dwells in the past. An opposition that speciously thinks that the cash shortage is linked to the 2013 elections which they believe was stolen from them.
Our Back Pages

Issue 85

Issue Date: Winter 1988

Editor: Constance Rooke

Pages: 148

Number of contributors: 26

Buy Issue 85: Print Edition

Issue 85 opens with a searing story from the late Holley Rubinsky (1943-2015). Here are the first two sentences, a classic storytelling approach with punch: Ginger Dawn, who is nearing seven now and just full of it, is down the road picking on some chickens. I am on the veranda, reading an eviction letter written by some lawyers in Seattle, Washington. And from there, I couldnt stop reading Rubinskys Grounding, which explores the desperate weeks after the narrators elderly friend and caretaker has died and she is forced to confront the fact that she and her daughter may soon be homeless. Rubinsky, who died last August, was a respected fiction writer and mentor from the West Kootenays. In 1989 she was the first-ever recipient of The Journey Prize for her story Rapid Transits, which appeared in The Malahat Review. Her last collection of short fiction, South of Elfrida, appeared in 2013 from Brindle & Glass.

From Rubinsky, the issue moves into poetry, including work from Vancouver poet Rhea Tregebov, Saskatchewan-born poet Monty Reid, Okanagan Valley poet Nancy Holmes, and two contributions from American Angela Ball, whose work has been published in The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly and The Best American Poetry. The second prize poem in the Malahats Long Poem Contest, Judith Ponds An Early Day, appears in the last third of the issue. Six works by Governor Generals Award and Griffin Poetry Prize winner Roo Borson rounds out another strong issue for poetry. Tip of the hat goes to Alan R. Wilsons Thirteen Ways of Looking at Pepper, which made me laugh out loud. Victoria-based novelist and short story writer Bill Stenson closes this issue with the story Click: A girl with two pails, that may document the first description of a selfie in fiction. I chuckled while reading editor Constance Rookes sharp contributions to Books in Review, including a rebuke of Jay McInerneys Story of My Life: a trendy, rather trashy novel, thats not a bad book to take to bed with a box of chocolates, if you dont mind feeling a little sick when they partys over. Amen.

Stephanie Harrington

About Our Back Pages
Opinion / Columnist

As the one million-men march date draws closer, there is need for the youths and the war veterans, both vanguards of the revolutionary party, to bury the hatchet and show the MDC-T that Zanu PF still commands multitudes.The march is being staged against antagonistic relationship between the two important constituencies of Zanu PF. There is a lot of mistrust from the ex-freedom fighters who doubt the sincerity of the march which they suspect to have been chiefly designed against them. On the other hand, the youth league insists that the march is solely a show of support for President Mugabe.The deputy youth secretary, Kudzai Chipanga who is at the forefront of organizing the march, has fallen out of favour with the war veterans after he uttered statements that the war veterans viewed as disparaging. The war veterans spokesperson, Cde Douglas Mahiya was also, on several occasions, in the media attacking the youths for disrespecting them.In a sense, the planned march is a welcome initiative that deserves wholesale support from anyone who belongs to the Zanu PF family. However, the animosity between the two groups might jeopardize the march. Already there are reports of planned sabotage from those who are anti the march. The war veterans have vowed that they would not join the march which they have poured scorn on, in the MDC-T fashion. That is very unfortunate and unhealthy for the revolutionary party.The MDC-T staged its demonstrations in Harare recently and managed to pull a sizeable number of supporters, although it was overstated. People are waiting to see how Zanu PF will fare in its own march. A divided Zanu PF risks attracting an embarrassing small crowd. Real patriots cannot put the good name of the revolutionary party into disrepute because of petty differences.It's unfortunate that the war veterans are planning to snub the march organized by colleagues they view as nemesis. If that is the case, does that mean they will not campaign for the same people in the 2018 elections? If so, who then will they campaign for? The Cdes should learn to separate personal differences from party interests. They must pluck a leaf from baboons which fight over food but unite when one of them is under attack from external forces.The youths must redefine its agenda for the march. They must alley fears that the march is driven by factional motivations. They must instill confidence in those who have a lot of mistrust on the march. As they invite the war veterans, the agenda should be clearly spelt and they must even seek guidance from their war veterans elders.The youths must swallow their pride and engage the war veterans if they want the march to be a resounding success. They must remember that the war veterans have walked the path. They staged their own million-man march which came out successfully.The march should be done for President Mugabe and nobody else. There is no need for the war veterans to snub it, especially if the youths extended their invite to them with a clearly spelt agenda. There is no need to ridicule the march as Cde Mahiya is doing in the media. Cde Mahiya was quoted in the Newsday questioning the wisdom of expending scarce resources on the march while the country is facing economic challenges. That line of argument is for the MDC-T Cde! We have been experiencing these hardships ever since the illegal sanctions were imposed on us. However, that does not stop the ruling party to engage in its own activities.Cde Mahiya has forgotten so quickly that his organization also organized a similar march in 2007 when the economy was also teetering on the brink of collapse because of the illegal sanctions. It was even worse than today. The Cde must not let emotions carry him away, for he risks backfiring. The march is not about seeking relevance as Cde Mahiya seems to suggest. It is about President Mugabe and President Mugabe alone. Although it might sound like blackmail, failure to partake in the march is a bold statement that you are not in solidarity with President Mugabe.The fact that the march was sanctioned by politburo which is chaired by the President must force the war veterans to revise their stance. It is their constitution right to or not to participate. However,we take cue from Jesus Christ's statement in the books of Mathew 12v30 and Luke 11v23 where he said: "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."
Integrated electronic navigation specialist Navico has secured type approval for its SIMRAD MARIS ECDIS900 Mk 5 and Mk 15 electronic chart data information systems (ECDIS) by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

The IMO type-approved navigation systems are designed for use on board merchant vessels which must meet mandatory compliance deadlines as set out in the International Maritime Organizations SOLAS Convention regulations, as amended.

This is a big step for Simrad-branded ECDIS after a thorough type-approval process initiated in 2014, said Nicolas Queru, VP Commercial Marine Division for EMEA, Navico. It follows up on RMRS approvals granted last year for a suite of Navico/SIMRAD equipment, ranging from heading and position GLONASS systems, autopilots, gyrocompasses, electronic chart plotters, instruments and radar/navigation systems that include the state-of-the-art Broadband 4G. ECDIS is becoming mandatory for a growing percentage of the worlds commercial shipping fleet, so this approval is as timely as it is welcome.

Under the IMOs Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), ECDIS with suitable back-up systems have been required on new passenger vessels of 500 gross tons (gt) upwards and new tankers of 3,000 gt and over from July 1, 2012, with rules covering other vessel types phased in to July 1, 2018.

Between now and mid-2018, existing cargo ships other than tankers of more than 50,000 gt constructed before July 1, 2013 must have approved systems installed not later than the first survey after July 1, 2016; existing cargo ships other than tankers of between 20,000 gt and 50,000 gt built before July 1, 2013, not later than the first survey after July 1, 2017; and existing cargo ships of between 10,000 gt and 20,000 gt not later than the first survey after July 1, 2018.

Navico said the approval of the latest SIMRAD MARIS900 Mk 5 and Mk 15 opens up opportunities for the most recently developed Simrad ECDIS products in Russia and beyond, where the Russian class organization had formerly granted approval for the earlier generation MARIS900 Mk 4.

We have committed significant resources to ECDIS development, Queru said. SIMRAD MARIS ECDIS900 units and software have been developed for their ease of use, with a standard Windows PC interface. They facilitate advanced route planning and optimization tools with special-purpose modules including search-and-rescue planning.

In addition to being a commercial hub for Navico and its Simrad-branded products within the region, St Petersburg represents a centre of excellence for software research and development for the wider Navico group, Queru said.

The Mk5 system comes with a 24- or 26-inch flat panel monitor and standard PC. The Mk 15 has a 24-inch flat panel display and an integrated PC.
Italy's coastguard said it helped rescue 801 migrants from two boats off western Sicily on Thursday, including many Syrians, amid signs that refugees from the Middle East are increasingly shunning the Greek route into Europe.

More than a million migrants, many from Syria, have entered Europe via Turkey and Greece in the past year but the number has fallen sharply since March, when Ankara agreed with the European Union to take back refugees landing on the Greek islands.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said the two boats aided on Thursday, which were also carrying some Iraqis, represented the largest such attempted mass migration from Syria and Iraq to Italy for at least a year.

An Italian coastguard statement said 515 people had been plucked from one boat and a further 286 people rescued in another operation involving a Finnish naval vessel.

A coastguard spokesman said most of those taken to safety in the first operation were Syrian, while he was unable to give the nationalities of those saved from the second boat.

Another coastguard spokesman had previously said the second operation had rescued around 380 people.

UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said the Syrians and Iraqis had set sail from Egypt rather than Libya, the launchpad for most migrants heading to Italy.

The UNHCR says more migrants looking to reach Europe arrived in Italy in April than in Greece - 9,149 against 3,650 - the first time that had happened since May 2015.

As of May 10, 31,250 migrants had reached Italy by boat this year, a 14 percent decline from the same period last year, according to the Interior Ministry.

The vast majority came from African countries, led by Nigeria, Gambia, Somalia and the African Coast.

In addition to the European Union's repatriation deal with Turkey, Balkan nations, Hungary and Austria have tightened border controls in an attempt to deter the migrants entering from Greece. Most who take the Balkan route head to Germany.





(Reporting by Isla Binnie and Gavin Jones; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Gareth Jones)
Cash-strapped South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its creditors to receive a KRW 120bn ($103m) cash injection, and will sell off property and businesses worth KRW 2tr ($1.71bn) as part of its self-restructuring plans.

The shipbuilder entered workout program with nine creditor institutions led by its main creditor Korea Development Bank (KDB), four months after it applied for the procedure to seek debt relief and bailout.

HHIC filed a request to restructure its debt with its creditors in January, having been faced with liquidity shortage.

"Under the deal, valid until 2018, the company will receive KRW 120 billion of new funding from its nine creditors. HHIC has agreed to in turn sell its non-core assets, such as energy units Daeryun Power Co. and Byeollae Energy Co., cashing in expected total of KRW 2 trillion," says sources.

In addition, creditors agreed to a refund guarantee for Subic Shipyard in the Philippines if the shipbuilder fails to deliver a ship on time.

The creditors have previously approved an emergency financial boost of USD 109 million to Hanjin Heavy in January this year.

Hanjins lenders easily agreed to the companys request as it does not have offshore ventures that posed as the biggest burden for other shipbuilders and its debt structure is less complex since its borrowings are mostly from banks.

The agreement with creditors was already expected as the shipbuilder was not hit by the ordering slump in the offshore oil and gas industry as is the case with its counterparts DSME, HHIC and SHI.
BMT Asia Pacific (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has been appointed Owners Engineer and lead design consultant by Endeavor Energy, for the development of the LNG storage and regasification facility as part of the Songon Gas-to-Power Project in Cote dIvoire.



Songon, a greenfield development, will consist of combined cycle gas to power generation with an integrated fuel solution, featuring purpose-built LNG infrastructure and a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).



This appointment builds on the successful relationship established with Endeavor last year in developing Africas first ever LNG import terminal via Endeavor and GEs Ghana 1000 Power Project. At Songon, BMT will be conducting FEED level studies including operability assessments, infrastructure design and optimisation studies for the supply of gas from the LNG FSRU via subsea infrastructure to the onshore gas turbines outside Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.



Andrew Bridson, Business Development Manager at BMT, comments: The Songon Power Project, jointly led by Endeavor Energy and Starenergie2073 is expected to add approximately 375 MW to Cote dIvoires national grid, a boost in generation capacity that will sustain and propel the countrys rapidly expanding economy.




Danish wind farm developer DONG Energy, which analysts value as high as $13 billion, said on Thursday it plans to list its shares on the Copenhagen stock exchange this summer.

Having built more than a quarter of the world's offshore wind farms, the company is a major player in Britain and Germany and has recently opened offices in the United States and Taiwan to cater for new growth markets.

With a potential valuation as high as 85 billion Danish crowns (11.4 billion euros), Dong Energy is set to be the biggest company to raise money on European exchanges so far this year and would be the biggest ever to try its luck in Copenhagen.

At least 15 percent of the shares will be sold in the initial public offering (IPO) and the Danish government, which in 2014 sold an 18 percent stake to a group of investors led by Goldman Sachs, will keep 50.1 percent.

Since it was formed from the merger of a Danish state oil and gas entity and five regional utilities ten years ago, the company has been through a massive transformation to become the world's largest offshore wind farm developer.

"The whole energy sector is moving from black to green and on the back of that we have also transformed DONG Energy," chief executive Henrik Poulsen said at a press meeting on Thursday.

Last year more than half of Dong's operating profit was still generated from its oil and gas business, but Poulsen said that was bound to change. This week, DONG divested its Danish gas distribution grid for 2.3 billion crowns.

With a market capitalisation potential of around 11 billion euros, Dong would become a mid-size player in the European utilities industry. With just a third of last year's earnings coming from its offshore wind business it cannot be seen as a renewable energy pure-play.

DONG has a pipeline of major wind projects in Britain and Germany, including the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea 1 which will become the world's largest offshore wind farm. Poulsen said he expects a rapid expansion of the technology outside Northern Europe.

"The technology has been accelerating in recent years, growing at 20-30 percent," he said, adding he expects that growth curve to accelerate as new markets open up.

Dutch Sif Group, a maker of steel tubes used in offshore energy platforms, had a muted debut in Amsterdam on Thursday, where its shares traded just above its listing price.

Sif's IPO process took more than a year because of a cautious mood among investors towards companies linked to offshore energy.

DONG did not provide a listing date but normally an intention to float is followed by a prospectus within a couple of weeks and a flotation another couple of weeks after that.

DONG posted a 35 percent rise in first quarter core operating profit last month mainly driven by its offshore wind business.

JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Nordea are global co-ordinators at the listing while Citigroup, Danske Bank, UBS, RBC, Rabobank and ABG Sundal Collier are also involved.

($1 = 6.5228 Danish crowns)





(1 euro = 7.4376 Danish crowns)





(By Teis Jensen; Editing by Mark Potter and Elaine Hardcastle)
Opinion / Columnist

South Africa is a democratic country as we all know that. In a democratic country people are suppose to be governed through the constitution. This country has been through a lot in the past, a lot of pain that came with the struggle to defeat the apartheid government. After the first democratic national elections in 1994, this country got a chance to start afresh and re-write it's history. Freedom and democracy was the best thing that has ever happened to this beautiful and blessed country. Every black South African was now given an opportunity to rebuild their lives and to give their families a lifestyle they were deprived to have. A life of dignity and success, that's what everybody hoped for in this country.After 22 years of democracy, when look back from where we come from and where we are, we turn to realise that the only good thing we have achieved is freedom from racial prejudice, but most of the things are more or less the same for many black South Africans. We can't argue with the fact that our government has been trying their best, but all I'm saying is that their best in not good enough. Many black South Africans are still swimming in poverty and lack of basic services. Imagine in 22 years we still have places in our country that has no access to clean water and electricity, this are basic things that every South African should have by now. People we elected to lead and represent us are carrying their own best interest at heart, they are wealthy and their families are very comfortable. While many black South Africans struggle to put a plate of food on a table.The unemployed rate is growing daily, if people who are employed and those who are in business are complaining and stressful because of this recession, I can't imagine what the unemployed and the less privileged are going through at this moment. The future of our youth is vanishing right before our eyes. Teenage pregnancy obviously shows that the youth they are not condomising, drug abuse, violence and school drop outs, the list is endless. One might say we can't blame the government for the mentioned problems, of course we can't blame the government for everything. "But I mainly blame the government for giving young people so much rights to an extend of instead of those rights becoming a rope to climb hill, it actually became the rope for future suicide." The youth are misusing and misinterpreted their rights, but I guess the one who gave this rights to them should have made sure they are well used, not miss-used. At this point even educators and parents can't even descipline the students and their kids, because they have rights. What kind of rights, that destroy out future, what kind of rights that makes educators and parents defendless and powerless.This is a democratic country I know, but we shouldn't let democracy affect our values and morals within our society. Democracy is the best thing that has ever happened to this country, but we must honour it, for people died for it. We shouldn't disrespect their sacrifices and memories by misusing our freedom. In this country everyone has rights according to the constitution, however believe it or not the less privileged don't enjoy never mind knowing clearly their rights. The rich, famous and powerful citizens enjoy their own rights and they also tremble on the rights of the poor citizens. In our country is about wealth and connections, the wealthy and well connected citizen they govern, while we the less privileged think we are governed by the constitution. The very same constitution it applies to others not to all. Come to townships and hear how people are mistreated and being left vulnerable as if it's not a democratic country, I speak from experience.The ruling party has done really well for this beautiful country in the past. This country has a very rich heritage because of the ANC. I was too young to have experienced the apartheid era. But I clearly remember the joyful celebration of my community and the country as a whole when we won the first free and fair national elections. People sang and matched with hope for a better future. I visited Freedom Park twice, it's really deeply touching to hear and see how our freedom fighters, fought fearless and courageously to the point of losing their lives for this democracy. I really salute them, and I am grateful for their sacrifices. But I still believe this democracy should benefit all South Africans, despite who you are or who you know. Please find the attached, thank you!
Ian Taylor Peru chooses ASD 2810 for harbour duties in the Port of Callao



Launching the business relationship between the two companies, Ian Taylor Peru has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Group for an ASD Tug 2810. The vessels MTU engine and rapid delivery time were both key aspects of the contract. The two companies are also concluding negotiations for an additional order of a second identical vessel.



Ian Taylor Peru, the Peruvian subsidiary of the Chilean group of companies Empresas Taylor, has been active in Perus towing sector since 1991. The company currently has four tugs in operation there. Looking to expand the fleet within a short timescale, the company turned to Damen: We wanted the vessel this year and fortunately Damen had one which could be ready in June, says Empresas Taylor Chief Legal Officer Jack Howard.



Choice of Engine



Damen is currently performing the finishing touches to the new tug at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. The outfitting includes modification of the FiFi equipment to bring the capacity up to 600m3 per minute and the addition of a preventative maintenance system.



The fact that Damen is installing an MTU engine into the new 28-metre vessel was also an important factor of the contract. Almost all of our tugs in Peru have MTU engines. Considering inventory and maintenance, it is easier for us to stick with this brand.



A matter of trust



Another notable aspect of this contract is the fact that Ian Taylor Peru  a first-time customer with Damen  decided not to carry out inspections during the construction period, being satisfied with visiting the yard in Vietnam at the moment of sea trials in June. We are dealing with a first class and highly reputable company whose vessel is a proven product, continues Mr Howard. Simply put  we know that Damen builds excellent vessels so we trust them and we trust that we will get what we asked for.



With this new vessel, Ian Taylor Peru will continue its tradition of naming its vessels after Peruvian mountains: this ASD 2810 will take the name Tayco Rasac. The contract also includes transport of the completed vessel from the yard in Vietnam to the Port of Callao, Perus primary seaport.



We are proud to welcome Ian Taylor as a new client, comments Damen Sales Manager Americas Ezequiel Najmias. We are already talking to them about a second identical vessel  which we could also deliver very quickly as we have one on stock.



We now have tugs on stock with either Caterpillar or MTU engines. We are pleased to be able to offer our clients this choice of engine supplier.


1780 - The city of Charleston, S.C., falls to the British when Continental Gen. Benjamin Lincoln surrenders during the American Revolution. Three Continental Navy frigates (Boston, Providence, and Ranger) are captured; and one American frigate (Queen of France) is sunk to prevent capture.



1938 - USS Enterprise (CV 6) is commissioned. Notable service during WWII include the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Okinawa Campaign, where she was badly damaged by a kamikaze strike.



1942 - USS Massachusetts (BB 59) is commissioned. She serves in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II, notably participating in Operation Torch, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the bombing of the Japanese homeland.



1975 - SS Mayaguez, a tanker ship, is seized by Khmer Rouge, the Communist party of Kampuchea, and is escorted to Koh Tang Island with her 39 crew. President Gerald Ford sends in Marines who meet heavy resistance, but after crew is found safe, they retreat, although three Marines are inadvertently left behind and killed.



1986 - USS David R. Ray (DD 971) deters an Iranian Navy frigates attempt to board SS President McKinley in the Gulf of Oman.





(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division)
Brexit is the notion that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union. What would be the impact of Brexit on the shipping sector? Dr Vincent Power, EU & Competition Partner, looks at impacts of Brexit on the shipping sector.

Shipping is extremely important to the EU. In 2014, more than 51.5% of EU external freight trade by value was transported by sea. More than 400 million people are transported by sea from EU ports annually.

The EUs 22 coastal Member States have more than 1,200 seaports offering direct employment to around 110,000 people and providing indirect support to around three million more. Almost 90 per cent of the EUs external trade by volume is facilitated by seaports, as are 40 per cent of freight exchanges between member states.

The EUs seaports are the gateway for two-thirds of all goods which are imported by more than 60,000 cargo ships from non- EU countries. Over 3.8 billion tonnes of cargo are handled in these ports annually.

Shipping is also extremely important to the UK. The sector contributes around 12 billion annually to the UK economy. Around 240,000 people are employed in the sector in the UK. The UK is one of the top 10 ship owning nations according to UNCTAD with about 3% of the world tonnage.

Bringing the two strands together  the importance of shipping to the EU and to the UK  leads to some important conclusions. The rest of the EU is the UKs biggest trading partner.

Almost half of the UKs imports are from the rest of the EU (53%) and almost half of the UKs exports are to the rest of the EU (45%). It is believed that several million jobs in the UK are linked to trade with the rest of the EU and the most common estimate is that there around three million people employed in this context.

No-one can suggest realistically that trade between the UK and the EU would stop if the UK left the EU but the terms of the trade would change.

Since the early 1970s  but particularly since the mid-1980s  the EU has become involved in the shipping sector. Over time, an enormous volume of law has been adopted  regulations, directives and decisions as well as case law.

If the UK were to leave the EU then the logical question would be as to what would happen to that law vis-a-vis the UK. Answering that question is not simple given that it is not yet known whether the UK will vote to leave and, if it does vote to leave, what arrangements would be put in place to replace the current ones.

It is possible that some of the legislation will remain in place (for example, because it is already part of UK law (such as where a directive has been implemented) or because the UK has opted into that piece of legislation) or it may simply disappear from the UK legislative environment.

Indeed, if the EU legislation is retained by the UK, it may be somewhat frozen in time if amendments or interpretations by the courts are not also taken on board. There is little doubt that EU shipping law and UK shipping law would diverge in a post-Brexit environment but it is not yet clear (and would not be for some time) as to the extent of that divergence.

So what could happen if the UK were to leave the EU? It is clear that trade between the UK and the EU would continue but what would differ would be the terms on which that trade would occur.

Today, the UK is part of the internal market and there are, for the very most part, no barriers to trade among the 28 Member States (whether those barriers are, for example, physical, technical or fiscal) and there is a common external customs tariff vis-a-vis the rest of the world. It is meant to be as convenient to trade between Liverpool and Lisbon as it would be to trade between Liverpool and Leeds.

If the UK leaves the EU then trade will become more difficult  the degree of difficulty depends on the arrangements concluded between the UK and the EU post-Brexit. The campaigners for Brexit are probably correct in saying that there will be trade agreements between the EU and a Brexited UK but the difficulties involved and the time such arrangements would take to adopt should not be underestimated.

The EU- India Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement negotiations commenced in 2007 (nine years ago) and are stalled since March 2015. The Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) agreement between Canada and the EU is a mammoth exercise. Work on it commenced in October 2008.

The launch of negotiations was announced in 2009. An agreement in principle was signed in 2013. The negotiations were concluded in 2014. The 1,634 page agreement has to be translated into 24 EU languages and ratification has been an on-going process. In regard to the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the negotiations are currently in their 13th round!

The Chairman of Lloyds of London, John Nelson, is reported as saying that it would be fantasy to think that bilateral negotiations on trade agreements would be simple and he also said that it would take many, many years to negotiate such arrangements.

Clearly, there would be trade agreements to be negotiated  not only between the UK and the EU but between the UK and all the States with which the EU has a plethora of arrangements with various countries worldwide. So, it is not just a matter of negotiating a single trade agreement, it would be a matter of negotiating a range of agreements.

Not only would many trade agreements have to be concluded but there would also be uncertainty arising from Brexit itself which would impact on trade. Examples of that uncertainty would be currency volatility which has already commenced and may continue further.

There is also no guarantee that the Member States which remain would not seek to either strengthen their own position in the event of a Brexit or even punish the UK so as to deter others from leaving.

Guy Platten, the Chief Executive of the UKs Chamber of Shipping has said: no one has left the European Union before, and the EU may seek to punish the UK for leaving, in order to discourage others from leaving too. The Brexit negotiations are unlikely to be quick or easy.

There is already considerable uncertainty in the run up to the referendum on 23 June 2016. If the UK votes to leave the EU then there would be, under Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union, a prolonged period of negotiation on the terms of its departure.

Not only would there be that period of uncertainty but there could even be a second referendum on whether or not the UK should accept the terms of the Withdrawal Treaty. One could see the Britremain supporters arguing that the precise terms of the withdrawal  which were not known on 23 June 2016  should be put to the electorate.

All of this means that the uncertainty which currently exists could well be prolonged in the event of a Brexit vote and there could even be two Brexit referendums!
The Damen Shipyards Group informs it has signed a contract with the Dutch and Swedish Ministries of Defense for a seven-year, in-service maintenance contract covering a total of five tugs, all of which were purchased from Damen.

The agreement with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) covers three Damen ASD 2810 Hybrid tugs. Two of these, the Noordzee and Waddenzee, were delivered in February and April respectively. The third, named the Zuiderzee, is due for delivery in June. Their maintenance will be provided by the nearby Damen Shipyards Den Helder.

For the Swedish Royal Navy, Damen Shiprepair Oskarshamnsvarvet on Sweden's Baltic coast will be performing the maintenance on their two Damen ASD 3010 tugs (ICE class), named HMS Hector and HMS Hercules.

The agreement covers all maintenance, both scheduled and nonscheduled, with the exception of the routine operational activities which fall within the remit of the crew. The scheduled maintenance will take place according to a predetermined plan that has been agreed between all the parties concerned. Both ministries will also have full access to a 24/7 service desk in the event of additional works being required.

The crews may receive training from Damen for their routine maintenance tasks, and training in vessel handling and maneuvering at the simulator training centre operated by 360-Control in IJmuiden.

MX-suite software will be used to remotely monitor the operations of all five tugs, with real-time information on data such as engine hours being used to ensure that servicing takes place exactly when it is due.

The procurement of the tugs is a joint venture between the Defence Material Organisation of the Netherlands and the Swedish Forsvarets Materielverk (FMV). The maintenance contract was signed by Anders P. Nilsson, Head of Surface Warfare, Swedish Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Captain RNLN J. F. Kwak, Head of Project Procurement, on behalf of the Dutch Materiel Organisation), Jelle Loosman, MD of Damen Shipyards Den Helder and Rene Berkvens, CEO of the Damen Shipyards Group.

Peter van den Berg, Deputy Director of Damen Shipyards Den Helder, commented, The maintenance management solutions that we and Damen Shiprepair Oskarshamnsvarvet will be providing will relieve the navies of the time and effort needed to ensure that these vessels are fully operational at all times. The Den Helder location ensures that we are just a short distance from where the Dutch tugs are based, and means that we can also take responsibility for storing the spare parts. At Den Helder we have also established a specialised training team to support organizations and companies adapting to the new technology of hybrid vessels. The Oskarhamn location is situated exactly between the operational areas of the Swedish tugs. The two ways flow of information that is generated as a result ensures that our vessels continue to develop so that they best meet the needs of our customers.
The Maritime Cluster concept is blooming across Europe, leading to the reinforcement of the ENMC

Given the success of the first meeting he had in 2015 with the chairmen of the national maritime clusters forming the ENMC, Commissioner Vella expressed the wish to reiterate this high-level forum every year. In that spirit, the 2016 two-hours meeting took place in Luxembourg last week in the presence of eleven maritime clusters from Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Main topics of the agenda discussed with Commissioner Vella were the follow-up of the International Ocean Governance, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (ie Juncker Plan), the stumbling blocks experienced by maritime professionals and the possible work priorities of DG Mare in 2017 as seen by the various national clusters and the ENMC itself.

ENMC Chairman stressed, We are very grateful that Commissioner Vella took the time to hear representatives of the European blue economy. With regards to international governance, we thanked the Commission to have heard our previous appeal to endorse and actively support the idea of a special report on the oceans by the IPCC. Besides wee stressed again the need to have international and not regional solutions when it comes to maritime regulation, hence insisting on the paramount role of the IMO.

Then several clusters mentioned a series of specific and concrete stumbling points their member companies faced and reported. ENMC will now liaise with Vellas Cabinet to ensure a proper follow-up.

Again the participating clusters enquired about the possibility for the European Commission to setup a program to support the emergence of pan-European Clusters and to which the ENMC could apply. Indeed, according to the Commission and very much to Vellas regret, the current rules do not allow to provide seed capital in order to financially support transverse clusters of clusters and only apply for narrower initiatives.

ENMC Chairman commented: Maritime clusters across Europe have a proven track record and are indispensable facilitators for companies. There is a very good opportunity to replicate this success at European level via the ENMC. If the existing rules are not appropriate or working bad, we should not be afraid to change them.

Hence make inappropriate rules change has now become the first fight of the ENMC.

ENMC will soon welcome the newly created Maltese Maritime Cluster. The Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) which was set up in October 2015, and is currently gathering 40 companies and institutions, is the next national maritime cluster which will officially join the European Network of Maritime Clusters on the occasion of the yearly meeting to be held in October in Southampton. The MMF is chaired by former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Dr. Joe Borg.
As of April 2016, Shell Marine Products (SMP) has analyzed more than 50,000 cylinder drain oils samples via its Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis (RLA) oil condition monitoring service. By identifying potential oil or equipment issues before they become critical, many shipping companies use Shell RLA as part of their planned maintenance regime. Shell RLA helps to deliver greater equipment reliability and reduced downtime.

Shell said this service has grown rapidly in recent years, with OEMs such as MDT and Wartsila both recommending cylinder drain oil analysis for both new design engines and older models which have been economy tuned.

Ship operating profiles have changed due to various external complexities which have an impact on marine engines. Therefore, we worked with customers to identify the right maintenance strategies to optimize their operations and tailor our services around their requirements and needs, said Marcus Schaerer, Global Technical Manager, Shell Marine Products.

SMP currently serves more than 1,200 customers, with more than 9,000 vessels. SMP receives more than 200,000 oil samples every year, and analyses them in six ISO-accredited RLA marine laboratories across the globe. A dedicated team made up of lubricants scientists and chief engineers personally diagnoses the received samples.

Dr. Damir Blazina, who leads the RLA diagnosticians team, explained, The number of samples has been increasing year-on-year and we would expect to analyze somewhere around 18,000 cylinder drain oil samples in 2016 alone. With the advent of cold corrosion, the advice that the diagnostician team gives is more important than ever. In the last couple of years we have diagnosed and offered individual tailored advice for nearly 2,000 critical samples. Think about it, we have offered advice on how to help in more than 2,000 instances. It is critical to get the right advice as corrosion or scuffing can destroy a cylinder liner very quickly.

However the technical bods at Shell are not satisfied with this service alone and are poised to introduce a new offer to customers later this year  Shell Lube Monitor.

Shell Lube Monitor is a new cylinder condition monitoring service that runs in tandem with the Shell RLA cylinder check. RLA data and data generated onboard from Shells Onboard Alert iron analyzer and Shells Onboard Plus BN test kit will be evaluated to ensure Shell Lube Monitor customers get the right advice to strike the balance between cost reduction and reliability.

Claudio Cocco, Technical Lead for Shell Lube Monitor proudly explained, All findings are delivered in an easy to read report and include a complete engine overview, historical data from both onboard and laboratory; but most importantly, are the comments from the Shell Lube Monitor experts highlighting areas for concern or possible places for optimization.

Shell Lube Monitor is scheduled to roll out across Shell Marine Products global network in the second half of 2016.
Chinas Cosco Pacific Ltd. will buy 35 percent of Euromax Terminal Rotterdam BV for 125.4 million euros ($143 million) for shares and loans amid an overseas expansion drive by Chinese companies.

Euromax is indirectly owned by Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd. (HPH), which in turn is owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shings CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

Cosco Pacific will pay 41.4 million euros and assume 84 million euros of debt equivalent to 35 percent of a loan, Cosco Pacificsaid in a statement.

Euromax is principally engaged in the business of operating the Euromax Terminal Rotterdam, which is located in Maasvlakte I of the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

It is an automatic container terminal which commenced operations in mid-2010. It has an annual handling capacity of 3.2 million TEU. The total throughput of the terminal in 2015 was about 2.28 million TEU.

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and one of the major hub ports in the world. Rotterdam is located at the junction of land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" and ocean-going "Maritime Silk Road".

Signing of this Agreement will further strengthen the long-term relationship and co-operation of COSCO Shipping and HPH to capture the investment opportunities arising from the Chinas Belt and Road initiative.

Meanwhile, Port of Rotterdam will further consolidate its position as a major hub port and gateway of Europe. Going forward, COSCO Shipping and HPH will be mutually benefitted by enhancing their complementary advantages for further co-operation in future port investments.
International container carrier focused on trade to and from Africa, West and Central Asia, Safmarine will move its head office to Cape Town, South Africa, thereby returning to its roots.

Safmarine was acquired by Maersk Line in 1999. Since 2012, Safmarines head office has been located in Copenhagen. The move is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

Success in Africa matters to you and your business. That's why you deserve a shipping partner with African expertise and knowledge of its growing market. Apart from giving you unmatchable transportation services, we aim to share with you relevant insights into African markets to help you grow your trade.

No matter where in Africa you are shipping to or from, Safmariners are available to offer you their comprehensive understanding of the local shipping and business environment. We have 48 offices across the continent where you can receive personalised, hands-on solutions for all your shipping needs.

We are committed to Africa. We want to continue to support the development of its emerging economies. And in doing so open markets and provide opportunities for current and new customers. I am convinced that todays announcements will help do just that, Vincent Clerc, Chief Commercial Officer of Maersk Line.

Safmarines CEO, David Williams, will not only relocate with the head office, but also take over the position as Maersk Lines Regional Manager for Africa (sub-Saharan) on 1 August 2016. We have two strong brands in Africa: Safmarine and Maersk Line. In order for them to continue to be successful, we need to strengthen the local coordination. We believe this can best happen under one leadership team based in the region, says Vincent Clerc.
Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 simulated aircraft salvage and recovery operations during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016.



The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness.



The aircraft salvage and recovery was conducted to show that our unit is capable of performing these types of operations, said 1st Lt. Frederick Holwerda, current operations officer with MWSS-171. These operations could be conducted anytime an aircraft makes an unexpected landing and cannot make it back to its maintenance area on its own.



Motor transportation operators, combat engineers, heavy equipment operators, and aircraft rescue and firefighters worked together to recover the simulated downed aircraft.



The opportunity to train in this environment helps Marines within different squadrons enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities.



We had to learn to overcome obstacles when working in the mud and conducting our jobs fluently while wearing gas masks, said Pfc. Dalton Tennyson, a motor transportation operator with MWSS-171.



The Marines received a brief about the situation, conducted a convoy to the crash site, posted security, searched and assessed the area, located missing debris from the aircraft, lifted the aircraft, set it down on the back of a 7-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement and disguised the aircraft before returning back to friendly lines through a tactical convoy.



We had the expeditionary fire rescue Marines out there, and they were the first on scene, said Holwerda. They conducted extrication operations where they cut into the aircraft to assess the situation, extract any victims on-board and take out any sensitive equipment from the aircraft.



The Marines conducted the recovery operations once in the morning and again in the afternoon. During the second recovery, Marines had to overcome difficulties such as working in gas masks, having access to only one side of the aircraft and driving vehicles through tougher terrain.



Confidence in the Marines was through the roof the second time we conducted this training, said Staff Sgt. Justin Barnes, assistant chief of operations with MWSS-171. The team building and camaraderie we hoped for during this exercise happened."



Seeing the gained knowledge and confidence from the Marines gratified me.



Holwerda said this is the first time MWSS-171 has trained in aircraft salvage and recovery at this magnitude.



This is extremely important because if an aircraft has a mishap for some reason in Japan, we are trained and ready to execute the recovery of an aircraft, said Holwerda. We have the capabilities and the knowledge within the squadron who know how aircraft salvage and recovery works. That allows us to support the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and give the Marine Corps a few more valuable assets.



Barnes said the exercise helped him recognize his capabilities, limitations, strengths and weaknesses as a Marine, which will help him become a better leader.



I appreciate the struggles the Marines encountered, said Barnes. Being able to push myself and my Marines through until the end increased our confidence, and we become a better team.


Marines gathered from around the Corps at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, May 11, 2016, for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Combined Awards Ceremony.The ceremony recognized top performing Marines serving in B-Billets, as career planners and athletes from throughout the Marine Corps.

Marines build teams, said Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps. You are here as an individual, but I know youd say you were successful because you were part of a team. Its a great honor to present these awards.

Each finalist was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by Neller and Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green, the sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

The ceremony is about recognizing the men and women who are globally impacting the Marine Corps by recruiting, retention, training or security across the world, said Sgt. Maj. David Jobe, sergeant major of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, MCB Quantico.

Two finalists from each category were recognized with one Marine from each category announced as the winner. The categories of recognition were Recruiter of the Year, Prior Service Recruiter of the Year, Drill Instructor of the Year, Marine Combat Instructor of the Year, Career Planner of the Year, Reserve Career Planner of the Year, Marine Security Guard of the Year and a male and female Athlete of the Year.

Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Soto, Recruiting Station San Francisco, 12th Marine Corps District was selected as Recruiter of the Year. Gunnery Sgt. Eric Gulbranson, Recruiting Station Oklahoma City, 8th Marine Corps District was selected as Prior Service Recruiter of the Year. Gunnery Sgt. Miguel Cortes Jr., Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, was selected as Drill Instructor of the Year. Staff Sgt. Jonathon Manuel, School of Infantry East, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was selected as Marine Combat Instructor of the Year. Gunnery Sgt. Justin Gregory, Training and Education Command, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, was selected as Career Planner of the Year. Staff Sgt. Christopher Smith, Force Headquarters Group, New Orleans, was selected as Reserve Career Planner of the Year. Staff Sgt. Stacey Sherbert, American Embassy Harare, Zimbabwe, was selected as Marine Security Guard of the Year. Capt. Bryce Saddoris, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Capt. Christine Taranto, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, both were selected as Athletes of the Year. Soto, Gulbranson, Manuel, Gregory, Smith and Sherbert were also meritoriously promoted to their current ranks.

Gifts were also presented to each finalist by the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, the Fleet Reserve Association, USAA financial services company and Geico.

To the families who are here, thank you so much for supporting your Marines, said Neller. I know it is not easy. Im glad youre here with us today.

Family members of each finalist were also recognized with a presentation of certificates by Neller and Green, for their sustained faithful and devoted service and support of their Marines.

The CMC Combined Awards Program began in 1995 under the direction of Gen. Charles Krulack, 31st commandant of the Marine Corps, by recognizing the Recruiter of the Year. The awards have expanded since to include the current categories of recognition. The finalists were all recognized by their units as top performers who competed against their peers throughout their command. The two finalists competed against each other on a board to determine the winner.

Its very humbling to know I was selected from a group of Marines who deserve this award just as much as I do, said Cortes, Drill Master, Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. I think of this award also for the Marine drill instructors on the West Coast because they work just as hard as I do.

The finalists from each category spent May 12 touring the White House and Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with their families.
Martinsville City Council is thrilled with efforts by the Chambers Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) to help the city attract and retain small businesses.

As a result, the city plans to renew its agreement with C-PEG, an independent affiliate of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce that supports and helps fund efforts to boost the local economy.

"Weve gotten some results we can see," Mayor Danny Turner told chamber President and C-PEG Executive Director Amanda Witt during Tuesday nights council meeting.

"Youve excelled at everything youve done for us," added Councilman Gene Teague. "We look for even better things (from C-PEG) over the next couple of years."

Around this middle of last year, the council took $60,000 from the citys annual allocation to the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. and redirected it to the chamber/C-PEG for help with small business development and retention. The move came after council members expressed concerns that the EDC might not be doing all it could to help the city along that line.

For the new fiscal year that will start July 1, the city will reduce its contribution to the EDC from $219,500 to $100,000. However, it gave up one of its two seats on the organizations board in order to reduce the funding.

C-PEG also is giving up one of its two seats on the board in exchange for no longer having to make an annual $25,000 contribution.

Under an agreement with the city, C-PEG was charged with providing mentoring services to small businesses to help them grow and prosper and make them aware of other opportunities to receive assistance, create activities to help draw new customers to uptown businesses and research whether the West Piedmont Business Development Center (WPBDC), a small business incubator uptown, should be expanded to other parts of Martinsville.

Ultimately, the chamber wants to help Martinsville increase activity in commercial areas, increase the citys tax base and help the city to create jobs, according to Witt.

She told the council that chamber/C-PEG employees are providing one-on-one counseling to an average of 50 local small businesses each month.

"Everyone speaks highly of you," Vice Mayor Jennifer Bowles told Witt, based on comments she has heard from people who received mentoring.

Recently, the chamber and C-PEG conducted Startup Martinsville, Virginia, an intensive, boot camp-style program for entrepreneurs that concluded with a business plan competition among participants. The winners include five new businesses that will open uptown before Sept. 30 and an existing firm that will expand in the business district.

The winners will receive a total of $53,730 in grants, rent and utility subsidies to help them be successful.

One of the businesses, a bookstore, plans to locate in space inside the former Henry Hotel, which recently was renovated into an apartment complex although it has some commercial spaces. Witt said the store is to be like an "anchor business" for uptown, and the chamber and C-PEG aim to recruit other similar businesses.

Plans are for Startup Martinsville, Virginia, to be held again next year and expanded to all of Martinsville, Witt said.

Also in the works is "Startup Martinsville 2.0," which Witt said will be like a refresher course for entrepreneurs.

Among other progress of the chamber in helping the city, Witt mentioned, is:

Creating an online form, "Doing Business in the City of Martinsville," that lists opportunities for grants, loans and other incentives for small businesses. The form is on the chambers website at www.martinsville.com

Creating new activities uptown such as an Easter egg hunt, a NASCAR Driver Chase Parade and the Spring Fling street festival planned on Saturday.

Securing new sponsors for the uptown farmers market as well as the TGIF and Oktoberfest events.

Developing a strategic marketing plan for small business and entrepreneurship strategies.

Witt said chamber/C-PEG officials have determined that expanding the WPBDC to other locations in the city probably is not appropriate due to its "revolving door" concept  new and emerging businesses locate there and share resources until they are financially well-off enough to move out and fully stand on their own.

She said, though, they are seeking a planning grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development toward converting the incubators second floor into a "skilled trades cooperative" designed to help electricians, pipefitters, plumbers, carpenters and heating and air-conditioning technicians.

Witt could not be reached on Wednesday for further comment.

She and City Manager Leon Towarnicki are working on a draft agreement between the city and C-PEG for the coming fiscal year, she told the council.
Hillary Clinton "will almost certainly be the Democratic (presidential) nominee," Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginia Center for Politics said Wednesday. He added that Bernie Sanders "has to win a near-impossible percentage of the remaining elected delegates to have any chance of catching her in that count, and shes also supported by an overwhelming number of superdelegates who are not going to move in Sanders direction."

However, two local Sanders supporters said they will not support Clinton if she is the Democratic presidential nominee and that theyll write in Sanders name if it comes to that.

Skelley is media relations coordinator at the U.Va. Center for Politics and associate editor of its Sabatos Crystal Ball. He stated in an email: "In a number of ways, primary exit polls have generally shown Democrats are more unified than Republicans. For example, in Virginia, 80% of Democratic primary voters said theyd be satisfied if Clinton won the nomination versus just 44% of Republican primary voters saying the same for Trump. Now, Trump has performed better with Republicans in recent weeks than he did at the time of the Virginia primary, but primary exit polls in states such as Pennsylvania found that a larger share of Democratic voters said they would definitely or probably vote for Clinton than the share of Republicans who said the same for Trump."

"Undoubtedly, Trump has some work to do to better unify his party going toward November. At the same time, the Democratic race could go on until the July convention, which might cause some bad feelings between the Clinton and Sanders camps to linger. So no ones in perfect shape, to say the least!," Skelley added.

Asked about the possibility of Clinton naming Sanders as her vice presidential running mate, Skelley said: "A Clinton-Sanders ticket seems very unlikely. Sanders would help Clinton unify the Democratic Party to some degree, but its questionable how much he would help her with the general electorate as he will pull the ticket much further to the left. If he were selected, Sanders might find himself at odds with Clinton on the campaign trail and possibly in a new administration as well if they were to win in November."

Skelley added: "Sanders has already had a pronounced influence on the Democratic race, highlighting issues such as income inequality and opposition to free trade, thus forcing Clinton to move to the left on these matters. He has also won over most young voters in the Democratic primary, perhaps influencing their long-term political viewpoints."

Heather Webb of Woolwine, a local Sanders supporter, said she will not support Clinton if she is the Democratic presidential nominee, and most local Sanders supporters she has talked with say they will not vote for Clinton.

However, Webb said she would be "more conflicted" about whether she would vote for Clinton if Sanders were her vice presidential nominee. Webb said she thinks it would be a smart move for Clinton to ask Sanders to be her running mate.

Webb said she doesnt think it is impossible that Sanders still might win the Democratic presidential nomination. For example, if Clinton were to get indicted or there was other bad news about her, it would give Sanders a leg up, Webb said.

She thinks Sanders is "a wonderful person" who has "the best interests of the people in mind."

Webb said she is not a member of any political party. "Im tired of voting for the lesser of two evils."

"Ive known about him (Sanders) for several, several years," Webb said.

She believes most of Sanders critics are misinformed about him.

Webb said a take-away from Tuesdays West Virginia primary, where Sanders defeated Clinton (the same state where Clinton defeated candidate Barack Obama in 2008), is that Sanders "is the voice of the people, someone not indoctrinated to business as usual."

Another local Sanders supporter, Mark Clemmons of Figsboro, said, "Im Bernie all the way, even if I have to write him in. Ill never support Hillary. Im a former Democrat; Im too liberal; the party left me."

The way Clemmons sees it, "The Democratic Party puts party before principle. We (Sanders supporters) put principle before party and vote our conscience."

Clemmons noted that he wont vote for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump either.

Clemmons said if Sanders does not get the Democratic presidential nomination, he hopes Sanders would run as an independent or third-party candidate. However, Clemmons thinks it is possible Sanders still might win the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Atlantic magazine reported that a recent poll (of about 1,000 people) conducted for CNN found that 86 percent of Sanders supporters would vote for Clinton over Trump.
SPRINGFIELD - Dr. Robert E. Kleine III has been named Dean of the Western New England University College of Business. Western New England University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Linda Jones, announced the appointment, citing Kleine's academic accomplishments and strong record of institutional leadership. "I am pleased to welcome Dr. Kleine as our new Dean, and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to develop new academic programs and to advance the College of Business and the University." The appointment is effective July 1.

Robert (Rob) E. KIeine III, joins the College of Business at Western New England University, after serving as Associate Dean and James F. Dicke Professor of Marketing at Ohio Northern University, where he served for 14 years. While at Ohio Northern he collaboratively led the creation of several programs including a whole campus entrepreneurial mindset initiative, the Pharmaceutical Business major, for which he served as coordinator for several years, and more recently a Risk Management & Insurance major. He previously served as marketing faculty, with graduate faculty status, at Arizona State University, and served as a marketing consultant to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. He earned a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati and a BSBA from the University of New Hampshire.

Dr. Kleine's research, published in top marketing journals including the Journal of Consumer Research, Psychology & Marketing and the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, is widely cited and influential. He received the Ferber Award, for best interdisciplinary article based on a dissertation published in the Journal of Consumer Research. The Marketing Science Institute recognizes his work as "essential reading in marketing."

Kleine is an accomplished educator, and certified master teacher. In 2012, he received the Instructional Innovation Award, recognizing his innovative experiential curricular development efforts. He is a member of Alpha Mu Alpha, Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Gamma Theta Upsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi.

"Western New England University generally, and the College of Business specifically, presents a great opportunity," says Dr. Kleine. "The University is blessed with strong leadership and the College of Business has an abundance of talented faculty and staff. As Dean, I look forward to building on the College's strengths, working collaboratively across the University campus to strengthen existing programs, and to identifying unique high value differentiated new program opportunities in ways that positively impact the College's enrollment and reputation."

Klein succeeds Dean Julie Siciliano, who is retiring after 30 years of outstanding service for Western New England University.
Vet 8.jpg

The Victory4Vets annual ride to benefit the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke is set for May 21. Here is a scene from a previous ride. Each of the past four years has drawn hundreds of motorcyclists for the 50-plus mile ride and after-party to benefit recreation programs at the home.

(THE REPUBLICAN / FILE PHOTO)

Given that most bikers are a gregarious lot, it is not surprising that when not out riding they enjoy congregating with their own kind where they can talk bikes and check out other people's rides.

Throw in the fact that most of them also enjoy good music and food, and then you have a recipe for a gathering.

Never was that more evident then when Thursday nights rolled around in downtown Springfield during the summer months. Stearns Square was the place to see and be seen, and it enjoyed a good long run with its weekly Bike Nights. But, all good things must come to an end eventually.

With casino money in hand, it became inevitable that Springfield would try to change its image along with the fact that many people did not care for the motorcycles and the noise that they bring. Their chance to make the Stearns Square Summer Concert Series less biker friendly came to fruition last year.

Enter Bob Alves, publisher of Throttle Rocker magazine. Starting late in the 2015 motorcycle season, Alves seized upon the opportunity to put on Thursday night bike nights with a twist. He would have them at different locations.

Thus was born Destination Bike Night. It was a risky move. "It was not easy," says Alves, "We threw together six bike nights in a very short amount of time. It was difficult to get people and sponsors to subscribe to the idea that this would be successful but once again the biker community stepped up and we were pretty happy with the results. Many bikers showed up at the handful of events and the consensus of opinion was that everyone liked going to the different spots every week instead of just the one. This year, the sky's the limit."

Indeed, this year Alves has booked a full slate of Destination Bike Nights, 14 at last count. All of the Destination Bike Nights will include live music by many of the area's premier bands as well as food, vendors and refreshments.

Locations range from Chicopee to East Hartford with many stops in between.

"Another thing we intentionally did," says Alves, "is that we booked a number of the events at American Legion and AmVets posts. We felt the need to share in the proceeds with our veterans. It's the least we could do."

To that end, the Destination Bike Night on June 16 will be held at AmVets Post 12 on Montgomery Street in Chicopee where they will also be having an American flag retirement ceremony. If you have a flag that needs to be retired, you can drop it off at the post a few days beforehand.

"I have no doubt that this will be a success," says Alves, "I also believe that this could lead to bigger and better things down the road. The future looks very promising."

Alves would also like to thank his sponsors which include Haymond Law, Coors Light, Irockradio.com, Southampton Harley-Davidson, TSI Harley-Davidson and Gengras Harley-Davidson.

To see the full schedule of Destination Bike Nights, pick up a copy of Throttle Rocker magazine (available at most bike shops and many area dinning establishments) or go online to throttlerockermagazine.com.

Holyoke Soldiers' Home Ride: Just a reminder that the fifth annual Holyoke Soldiers' Home Motorcycle Run will be taking place on May 21. The ride starts from the Soldiers' Home on Cherry Street in Holyoke. Staging will begin at 9:30 a.m., with kickstands up around 11:30.

After a scenic ride through the countryside, there will be a huge after-party at the Moose Family Center in Chicopee. You will be treated to a barbecue meal as well as refreshments and live music by two of the areas most popular bands, Trailer Trash and Bad Majik. There will vendors galore and Leslie from Lazer 99.3 will be on hand in the morning.

This ride has become the most prestigious in Western Massachusetts, and it gives the participants the opportunity to spend time with some of the brave men and women who have done so much for our country. The cost is $30 and $10 for passengers; a ticket to the after party only will run you $20. You can purchase tickets on line at victory4veterans.com or at the ride itself. All proceeds go to the Soldiers' Home and several veterans outreach programs.

On June 4, the Renegade Souls present Kelsey's Ride. The ride will start and end at American Legion Post 338 on Powdermill Road in Southwick. Registration is from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with kickstands up at 11. The cost is $20 and $10 per passenger. A meal is included with your ticket as well as live music by the band Shakedown. All proceeds will go to the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Until next time, ride safe and ride smart.

Tim Aloisio of Chicopee has been a recreational motorcycle rider for over 40 years. He is a member of the national Harley Owners Group. He can be contacted at travelintim@hotmail.com.


East Longmeadow Public Library.jpg

EAST LONGMEADOW  From reading to knitting, the East Longmeadow Public Library is hosting events over the next month that should appeal to plenty of town residents.

The following events will take place at East Longmeadow's library on 60 Center Square:

Not Just Knitting

10-11:30 a.m.

Meets every other Thursday. Upcoming meetings are May 19, June 2, June 16 and June 30. It's an open space to connect, share and chat with others while working on your needlework project.

Tuesday, May 17: A.M. Book Group

10-11:30 a.m.

The group is reading "One Thousand White Women," by Jim Fergus, a fictional tale of a band of pioneer women under the direction of the U.S. government who travel to the Western prairies in 1875 to intermarry with the Cheyenne Indians.

Wednesday, May 18: Outside the Lines

11 a.m.-noon and 6-7 p.m.

The library's monthly adult coloring group. Visit the library for a relaxing hour of coloring, refreshments (evening only) and good company. All materials are provided.

Saturday, May 21: Movie Matinee

1 p.m.

The library is showing "Joy," starring Jennifer Lawrence. "Joy" is the story of the title character, who rose to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously approved MGM Springfield's long-debated redesign during a meeting at the MassMutual Center Thursday morning.

"Seeing this again, it reminds me why we're really excited about it," said Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby. "It's a really exciting attempt to lift a city and integrate a casino into a whole lot of other stuff."

The redesign, which included the removal of a 26-story hotel tower in favor a low-rise six-story building and a reduction in the project's overall footprint, sparked months of controversy and discussion over whether the company was maintaining its full investment in the city.

The Springfield City Council approved the redesign in February by a 12-1 vote. With the commission's sign-off, all legal roadblocks appear to be cleared for the bulk of the project, with the exception of housing and daycare developments whose design has not been finalized.

MGM executives have said the company remains committed to the project, which is expected to open its doors in late 2018. The company has characterized the shift as both a cost saving measure as the casino's overall budget expanded from $800 million to $950 million, and as a means to better preserve downtown Springfield's historic character.

MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis described the project as a major boost to Springfield's economy. He touted the millions in yearly payments to the city, and an estimated $50 million in annual spending to local businesses, as evidence of the project's future impact.

"[The $950 million budget] makes it by far the largest private development project in Western Mass, and puts it on the list of the largest developments in the entire commonwealth, which frankly has for too long been centralized in the Boston and Cambridge area," Mathis said.

The hotel will have the same number of rooms and remain a four-star experience, Mathis said, comparing it to the XV Beacon and Hotel Commonwealth in Boston.

"You can have luxury that's not necessarily in a high-rise tower," Mathis said.

MGM Springfield Vice President and General Counsel Seth Stratton described the negotiations with the city council as extensive.

"It was a mild winter, but Mike and I were fortunate to miss most of the bad weather because we spent most of it in the Springfield City Council chambers," Stratton said.

Among the items hashed out with the city council, and affirmed by the gaming commission, were concessions to abutting property owners and commuters worried about the loss of public parking spaces.

Those included:

A commitment to allowing two-hour free parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the casino's surface lots, to replace lost street parking. The spaces will include handicapped spaces to replace those eliminated due to the project.

At least 700 paid public parking spaces, to replace paid lots lost during casino development.

For the Pride gas station on Union Street: MGM Springfield will install "do not block the box" street markings to mitigate traffic problems.

The provision of public parking lots near the corner of East Columbus and Bliss Streets to address resident concerns.

The debate over the redesign led to brief tension between the company and the office of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who has been one of the projects strongest supporters.

A Republican report on the footprint reduction, which MGM later said overstated the changes, caught the city by surprise and led to a press conference at city hall, during which MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren pledged to improve communication and said his faith in the project had "never wavered."

The city council granted authorized for the company to begin major site work on the 14.5 acres that will house the casino in Springfield's downtown in December. Buildings have been demolished and the historic First Spiritualist Church was moved last month, as the company prepares to start construction on its parking garage later this year.

The casino complex is expected to house 75 gaming tables, 3,000 slot machines and 250 room hotel. Some 2,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created due to the project, according to MGM Springfield.

The commission's approval does not include plans for market-rate housing and a daycare facility, which are still in the planning phases and will be considered once they are finalized.
SPRINGFIELD -- MGM Springfield announced Thursday that it has awarded a contract to Tishman Construction of New York, in partnership with Fontaine Bros. Inc., of Springfield to erect a seven-level parking garage as part of its $950 million casino project.

Construction is slated to begin this month, with the new garage providing 3,400 parking spaces for the casino visitors and general public. Construction of the garage at Union and East Columbus Avenue is expected to be completed in approximately 20 months, according to MGM Springfield.



Tishman Construction, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AECOM, has its MGM Springfield project team in Boston, and was already under contract on the casino project.

Advance site work has included demolition and partial demolition of many buildings on the 14.5 acre casino footprint between State Street and Union Street.

The parking garage will be the first new building constructed on the site. The cost of the garage was not immediately available from MGM

"We are delighted about our continuous progress toward building MGM Springfield. Today's announcement is yet another example of how we are engaging top global companies and local businesses to develop this tremendous project," said Michael Mathis, president and chief operating office of MGM Springfield. "We are excited to see construction on the garage move forward, as the foundation is poured and we watch this structure rise out of the ground over the coming months."

Fontaine Brothers, Inc. is a local fourth generation, family-owned and operated construction firm that was founded in 1933 by brothers Eudore and George Fontaine, according to the release.

"Fontaine Bros. is elated to partner with Tishman Construction and MGM Springfield on this exciting project," said David Fontaine, Jr., Vice President, Fontaine Bros. Inc. "We are thrilled to join this world class team and to play an active role in the continuing revitalization of the City we call home. We look forward to working with Tishman to manage the construction effort while continuing to help the team connect and partner with more talented contractors based here in Western Massachusetts."

Edward Cettina, chief operating office of AECOM's Building Construction group said the company is "thrilled to be part of another iconic MGM Resorts development, and excited to continue our work with the City of Springfield, Pioneer Valley Building Trades and Fontaine Brothers Inc. to bring the vision of MGM Springfield to life."

MGM Springfield stated that as part of its commitment to engaging the community and creating a diverse workforce, Tishman Construction will host information sessions for diverse companies interested in working as subcontractors on the project.

MGM Springfield is expected to open in fall 2018.
Taunton stabbing suspect gurney.jpg

The suspect in attacks at Silver City Galleria mall is transported on a gurney into an ambulance by medical personnel in Taunton, Mass., Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Multiple people have been stabbed in separate deadly attacks at the mall and a home in Massachusetts. Authorities say an off-duty law enforcement officer shot and killed the suspect. (Charles Winokoor/The Daily Gazette via AP)

The hospital which treated Arthur DaRosa, the apparently suicidal man who went on a stabbing spree in Taunton after his release from care, has cut ties with a state subcontractor responsible for evaluating the mental health of patients.

Morton Hospital had released a statement Wednesday saying the evaluation of Medicaid patients was in the hands of state subcontractors, not its doctors -- a policy it said it opposed.

"Effective today, Morton Hospital has banned the state selected sub-contractor Norton Emergency Services AKA Taunton/Attleboro Emergency Services (NES/TAES) from evaluating or recommending treatment for any patient at Morton Hospital," Morton Hospital spokeswoman Michele Fasano said today in a statement.

"During the period of 12:30A.M. to 8:00 A.M. this morning, NES/TAES failed to evaluate multiple patients in our Emergency Department in a timely way and when Morton Hospital proposed to do the evaluations ourselves we were rebuffed or ignored by the subcontractor," Fasano continued. "This inability of the state subcontractor to provide critical and timely services continues to put patients at risk."

The hospital did not specifically reference DaRosa, and said in its statement Wednesday that it is legally prohibited from discussing the treatment of any individual patients.

DaRosa's family told WBZ-TV DaRosa had been admitted to a hospital Monday because he was having suicidal thoughts. They said DaRosa was released Tuesday morning.

CNN reports DaRosa entered a home where he stabbed and killed an 80-year-old woman and stabbed and injured her daughter. He was seen fleeing the rear of the home.

DaRosa then reportedly stole a car and crashed it into Macy's at the Silver City Galleria Mall. He assaulted three people there before entering a Bertucci's where he stabbed four people, killing a 56-year-old man.

He was then shot dead by an off-duty police officer.

Morton Hospital came under scrutiny after DaRosa went on his rampage hours after his release from treatment.

In its statement yesterday, the hospital directed questions about mental health evaluations by state contractors to the "appropriate state agency."

"If the state contracted agency responsible for conducting evaluations in the Emergency Department had requested an admission to a psychiatric bed, there were beds available within the hospital's network," the statement said. "Morton Hospital has been advocating for years that the state review and revise its policies that require outside third party vendors to evaluate and determine the course of treatment for Medicaid patients in emergency departments."

The widow of George Heath, one of the stabbing victims, said Wednesday that her husband was fatally wounded while attempting to stop DaRosa.

State health officials are launching their own investigation into the hospital's treatment of DaRosa, according to the Boston Globe.
LOS ANGELESAdult performer Luna Star is the next one to have a doll in her likeness: 1amdollusa will release the Luna Star doll this fall.

I am so excited about this doll, and it is an honor that 1amdollusa has chosen me as their next signature star. Its going be life size, and its completely posable, so you can be able to bring me to bed with you anytime you want, and you can fun with me every night, said Star

We are very happy to welcome Luna to the 1am Doll USA family, said Brent, 1am Doll USA Inc. president. Lunas performances in mainstream and adult projects are always top notch, and if you add in her incredible curves and ethnicity, you have a perfect formula to be our next Signature Starlet.

The first signature star series doll of Misty Stone will be coming out in a few weeks.

Luna Star also has a figurine doll out now from Kokreeate Studios and Dillinger Studios. You can contact Luna on Twitter to order.

Besides Luna Stars many XXX releases, she is also working in mainstream world, recently having appeared on two Comedy Central programs: The Daily Show and Not Safe with Nikki Glazer on Comedy Central.

You can follow Luna Star on Twitter at @cutelunastar and on Instagram at luna5star.

You can visit the site now to see this and many of the other incredible dolls and deals at 1amdollusa.com.
The businesspeople hopped on a bus tour of possible new headquarters sites, and then in the evening they settled in to eat: Date night, of a sort, at Tresca in the North End.



The story behind Boston's wooing of General Electric after the company decided it was time to move its headquarters out of Connecticut is now well known.



But what about the nice September night in the Boston neighborhood that was once home to Paul Revere?



Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Baker's economic chief Jay Ash and GE executives converged Hanover Street that night. More than four months later, GE said they're putting their headquarters right on the Fort Point Channel.



MassLive.com put in a public records request to the state's economic development secretariat an attempt to get a behind-the-scenes look at how Massachusetts landed the massive conglomerate.



Along with emails about how both GE executives and Massachusetts officials felt the dinner went well, leaving everybody in high spirits, one of the things that came back in a CD full of documents from the secretariat was the bill for the food at Tresca and a table of 21 people.

We had also asked Boston City Hall for records, but a spokeswoman said the mayor didn't stay for dinner, instead speaking at the beginning and then leaving.

During their courtship, GE + Mass. officials dined at Tresca in N. End. Here's the receipt. #mapoli #bospoli pic.twitter.com/X1kTLITakH  Gintautas Dumcius (@gintautasd) May 12, 2016

Displaying a total of $1,445, the scanned copy of the bill is faded. And that number didn't count the wine. You can make out only a couple of purchases, a $10 house salad and a $29 Statler chicken.



The gratuity clocked in at 25 percent, or $289.



According to the documents obtained by MassLive.com, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, which bills itself as the "state's one-stop source for businesses seeking to relocate to Massachusetts and businesses wishing to expand their current operations here," picked up the tab for the food.



As for the wine, someone else privately paid for that on a separate bill. That bill was not included as part of the public documents released via CD.
SPRINGFIELD  Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara on Thursday sentenced 30-year-old Richard Almonte to five years in state prison followed by three years probation after Almonte pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge.

Almonte was arrested at his 16 Webster St. home on October 14, 2014 and charged with trafficking heroin in the amount of over 200 grams. The charge was reduced as part of the plea agreement to trafficking heroin in the amount of 18 to 36 grams.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

After Almonte's arrest that day, the same investigation resulted in the arrest of four other people in different locations. Over $100,000 worth of heroin was seized.

The arrests were part of a joint investigation by Springfield narcotics officers and members of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI.

Almonte has 576 days credit on his sentence for time spent in jail awaiting trial. He agreed to forfeit $496 seized by police, according to Assistant District Attorney Amy D. Wilson.

Defense lawyer Tracy E. Duncan said Almonte was "simply the middle man." She said the transaction was set up by someone working undercover with police.

Ferrara noted Almonte's record involved a previous assault that led to a state prison sentence. He said Almonte has been incarcerated a number of times and was in danger of becoming a person who serves "an interrupted life sentence," meaning a person who is in and out of prison all the time.

"From my perspective you're still a young man," Ferrara said, urging Almonte to do something productive with his life.

Orlando Genao, 52, of 78 Oak Grove Ave., and Wilkins Rivera, 39, of Philadelphia, are charged with heroin trafficking in the amount of more than 200 grams. They are awaiting trial.

Eric Barbot, 49, of Springfield, previously pleaded guilty to trafficking heroin in the amount of 18 to 36 grams and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. He got a 3-year state prison sentence followed by two years probation.

Luis Pena of Springfield previously pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and was sentenced to two years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow followed by two years probation.
AGAWAM  From bedbugs to drugs, the former Agawam Motor Lodge is gone.

Well, almost.

Demolition of the notorious Suffield Street motel began Thursday morning, and you'd think the Pope was in town. A crowd of onlookers watched from the nearby Rocky's Ace Hardware parking lot as a sharp-toothed excavator tore into the Kennedy administration-era structure, spitting out chunks of splintered wood and drywall before diving in for another bite.

The two-story motel near the corner of Suffield and Main streets managed to withstand more than 50 Agawam winters, but it was no match for the mechanical jaws of the hydraulic killing machine. "Good riddance," declared Agawam native Ronnie Rindels, watching the excavator cut through the building like a knife through butter.

"It was a haven for hookers and heroin," said Rindels, a business owner who now lives in East Longmeadow but still crosses the river daily to begin his day in Agawam. "I'm happy to see it come down, absolutely. It's an eyesore. And I'll tell ya, I'm not the only one in this town who's happy," he said.

Indeed, Rindels wasn't alone in celebrating the destruction of the old motor lodge, variously referred to as a crime magnet, fleabag motel, hot-sheets joint and den of iniquity.

"Very happy to see it go," said Cindy Fountain, who lives nearby and watched the demolition with her husband, Richard Fountain. For the Fountains, there was no love lost  the place was an eyesore, an embarrassment and bad for business.

"It was almost like a police substation," Richard Fountain said. "Every time you go by, you see the police here."

On Thursday, however, the only cops on hand were there to keep people away as crews dismantled the 54-year-old motel.

To give people a snapshot of how bad things were at the motor lodge, a longtime headache for the city of Agawam, police and firefighters responded to the motel more than 250 times over a five-month period last year, with calls ranging from drug activity to disturbances, domestics, deaths and more.

That's why Colvest Group Company, the group that bought the property and hopes to redevelop the site, have received a hero's welcome from Mayor Richard Cohen and other city officials. Cohen called the location, just over the bridge from West Springfield, a "gateway" site.

"It's a great day in that Colvest has invested in our community and they're demolishing what had become a public nuisance to this area of town," the mayor told The Republican on Thursday. "We look forward to working with Colvest for the redevelopment of this site and seeing the demolition of what has become ... an eyesore in our community."

The old motor lodge was an unwelcome mat, of sorts, and not the impression Agawam wanted to make on tourists streaming into town for the Big E. Colvest also owns a neighboring corner lot bordering Main Street, which makes the combined lots ripe for redevelopment, according to city officials.

In February, Frank Colaccino, president of Colvest, said the company hopes "to attract high quality tenants to this location."

Over the years, the Agawam Motor Lodge had gained negative attention for numerous code violations, drug activity, cockroaches, claims of bedbugs, unattended deaths, and more.

MAP showing approximate location of Agawam Motor Lodge:
Police Pursuit

This aerial image made from a helicopter video provided by WHDH shows several officers pummeling Richard Simone, who had exited his vehicle and kneeled on the ground after a high-speed police pursuit, in Nashua, N.H., Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The chase went through several towns before ending in Nashua. (Courtesy WHDH via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT; BOSTON OUT

(AP)

State Police say they will review the level of force used during an arrest that occurred after a multi-town car chase on Wednesday, according to WCVB.

The incident began at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday, when the suspect, Richard Simone, 50, of Worcester, refused to stop for authorities in Holden. At the time, Simone was wanted on multiple warrants, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

At speeds of up to 90 mph, Simone lead police through Billerica, Concord, Chelmsford, Littleton, and several other towns, before he crashed his truck in Nashua, New Hampshire.

After crashing, video of the incident appears to show Simone exiting his vehicle and kneeling down  as if to surrender himself to law enforcement. However, officers then appear to "pummel" Simone while he is lying on the ground. Police can be seen "punching" and "beating" him before he is taken into custody, said The Washington Post.

Now, the Massachusetts State Police say they will conduct two separate reviews of the incident to make sure officers conducted themselves according to procedure. One review will go over the car chase, and another will review how officers interacted with Simone after he had exited his vehicle.

"The pursuit, like all pursuits that involve Massachusetts State Police, will be reviewed by the department's pursuit committee," State police said in a statement. "Additionally, MSP will also review the apprehension of the suspect, to determine whether the level of force deployed during the arrest was appropriate."

Simone will face charges related to the chase, as well as to his previous warrants, authorities said.
ELM Philly 2.jpg

Members of East Longmeadow High School's orchestra play at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.

(SUBMITTED PHOTO)

EAST LONGMEADOW  A trip to Philadelphia last month was an eye-opening experience for the 89 East Longmeadow High School music students who saw sights, attended performances and played music in the City of Brotherly Love.

The group boarded a bus at the crack of dawn on April 14, and returned to East Longmeadow on the night of April 17, said Carol Forward, East Longmeadow High's chorus teacher.

"The kids came back with such meaningful (experiences)," Forward said. "They just all felt like they learned so much."

Planning for the trip began early in the school year, when Forward and band teacher James Kiernan began looking into the possibility. Both had taken students on day trips to New York City, but never on an overnight trip.

Members of East Longmeadow High School's choir sing at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.

For their part, students going on the trip raised more than $3,500 in contributions to the trip fund. Efforts included selling coffee, pizza and advertisements in the program for a school concert.

Students had a blast on a three-hour historical tour of Philadelphia, and got valuable musical advice in a practice session with instructors at Temple University, Forward said. They also soaked up and contributed to the city's musical tradition.

"We went to the Philadelphia Pops and saw the best of Broadway," Forward said. "We got to perform at the Ben Franklin rotunda."

The kids also enjoyed a non-musical excursion to Six Flags, Forward said.

While they have not yet begun planning for a future overnight trip across state lines, Forward said that with the success of the Philadelphia trip, she hopes that East Longmeadow High School's music department can make the trip a regular event.

"We had such a great time that we would love to explore possibilities for a couple of years from now," Forward said. "We can definitely see this becoming an every other year event."
NEW YORK, NY  Nasstoys has been nominated for five Storerotica Awards. The awards show will take place in July during the ANME Founders show.

This year's list of Nasstoys nominations includes Pleasure Product Company of the Year, Retailer Favorite of the Year, New Product of the Year for the Surenda Oral Vibe, Male Pleasure Product of the Year for the Mack Tuff Bendable Anal Rod, and Tony Sicilia was nominated for Brand Ambassador of the Year.

As a 20 year veteran in this fantastic industry, I must say, it is a huge honor to be included in this wonderful event as a Nominee for Brand Ambassador of the Year. Id like to give a special thank you to Storerotica for making this event possible. It is a humbling experience and I am incredibly happy to be surrounded by such outstanding talent. I congratulate all the nominees and I thank you all, said Sicilia.

The Surenda Oral Vibe is a five function vibrator that hooks into the cheek giving a whole new dimension to oral lovemaking. The Oral Vibe is the number one selling product in the Surenda Collection. The Mack Tuff Bendable Anal Rod is unique to the market with its multi-level graduated beads on a fully bendable rod for maximum p-spot stimulation.

We are very excited about our five nominations this year, and especially happy for Tony, who is an indispensable member of the Nasstoys family. Both of our products that received nominations have been top sellers and I was thrilled with the nominations overall. We are looking forward to the 10th Anniversary celebration with our longtime friends and colleagues, said Elliot Schwartz, President of Nasstoys.

To learn more about Nasstoys products and collections visit Nasstoys.com.
The most valuable element in every life is the focus of the most successful technology developments. Read the following and see if you can figure out what that is. Answer at the end of the article.

In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide.

Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they went bankrupt.

What happened to Kodak will happen in a lot of industries in the next 10 year  and most people dont see it coming. Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you would never take pictures on paper film again?

Yet digital cameras were invented in 1975 but you didnt have to wait to get the film developed. The first ones only had 10,000 pixels, but followed Moores law. So as with all exponential technologies, it was a disappointment for a long time, before it became way superior and got mainstream in only a few short years. It will now happen with Artificial Intelligence, health, autonomous and electric cars, education, 3D printing, agriculture and jobs. Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Welcome to the Exponential Age.

Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years.

Uber is just a software tool, they dont own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world. Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they dont own any properties.

Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected. In the US, young lawyers already dont get jobs. Because of IBM Watson, you can get legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans. So if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% less lawyers in the future, only specialists will remain.

Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, 4 time more accurate than human nurses. Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.

Autonomous cars: In 2018 the first self driving cars will appear for the public. Around 2020, the complete industry will start to be disrupted. You dont want to own a car anymore. You will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination. You will not need to park it, you only pay for the driven distance and can be productive while driving. Our kids will never get a drivers licence and will never own a car. It will change the cities, because we will need 90-95% less cars for that. We can transform former parking space into parks and garages, driveways and alleys into living spaces. 1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide. We now have one accident every 100,000km, with autonomous driving that will drop to one accident in 10 million km. That will save a million lives each year.

Most car companies might become bankrupt if they dont partner with tech companies. Traditional car companies try the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels. I spoke to a lot of engineers from Volkswagen and Audi; they are completely terrified of Tesla.

Insurance companies will have massive trouble because without accidents, the insurance will become 100x cheaper. Their car insurance business model will disappear.

A fleet of semi trucks just completed a cross-Europe without drivers.

Consider the fate and employments of collision repair companies, traffic lights, car advertising, auto racing, gas stations, garbage pickup this list is endless.

Grocery stores will become much smaller and very different than today as the internet of things in each home automatically orders and receives whatever the home owner has programmed into the needs of their pantry and refrigerator which are connected to an automatic recipe system that makes sure that every ingredient is available for any meal. 3-D printing will eventually prepare all meals. See how Captain Kirk got his meals on Star Trek.

Real estate will change. Because if you can work while you commute or work remotely (VR technology will put you in the office even though youre miles away), people will move further away to live in a more beautiful neighborhood.

Electric cars will become mainstream by 2020. Cities will be less noisy because all cars will run on electric. Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean: Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can only now see the impact. Last year, more solar energy was installed worldwide than fossil. The price for solar will drop so much that all coal companies will be out of business by 2025. There is already an all electric version of Formula 1 racing.

With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination now only needs 2kWh per cubic meter. We dont have scarce water in most places, we only have scarce drinking water. Imagine what will be possible if anyone can have as much clean water as he wants, for nearly no cost.

Health: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There will be companies who will build a medical device (called the "Tricorder" from Star Trek) that works with you phone, which takes your retina scan, you blood sample and you breath into it. It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. It will be cheap, so in a few years everyone on this planet will have access to world class medicine, nearly for free.

3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from 18,000$ to 400$ within 10 years. In the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies started 3D printing shoes. Spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space station now has a printer that eliminates the need for the large amount of spare parts they used to have in the past.

At the end of this year, new smartphones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoe at home. In China, they already 3D printed a complete 6-storey office building. By 2027, 10% of everything thats being produced will be 3D printed.

Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in, ask yourself: "in the future, do you think we will have that?" and if the answer is yes, how can you make that happen sooner? If it doesnt work with your phone, forget the idea. And any idea designed for success in the 20th century is doomed in to failure in the 21st century.

Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a small time.

Agriculture: There will be a 100$ agricultural robot in the future. Farmers in 3rd world countries can then become managers of their field instead of working all days on their fields. Aerophonics will need much less water. The first petri dish produced veal is now available and will be cheaper than cow produced veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all agricultural surfaces is used for cows. Imagine if we dont need that space anymore. There are several startups who will bring insect protein to the market shortly. It contains more protein than meat. It will be labeled as "alternative protein source" (because most people still reject the idea of eating insects).

There is an app called "moodies" which can already tell in which mood you are. Until 2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial expressions if you are lying. Imagine a political debate where its being displayed when they are telling the truth and when not.

Bitcoin will become mainstream this year and might even become the default reserve currency.

Longevity: Right now, the average life span increases by 3 months per year. Four years ago, the life span used to be 79 years, now its 80 years. The increase itself is increasing and by 2036, there will be more that one year increase per year. So we all might live for a long long time, probably way more than 100.

Education: The cheapest smartphones are already at 10$ in Africa and Asia. Until 2020, 70% of all humans will own a smartphone. That means, everyone has the same access to world class education. Every child can use Online academy for everything a child learns at school in First World countries. We have already released our software in Indonesia and will release it in Arabic, Swaheli and Chinese this Summer, because I see an enormous potential. We will give the English app for free, so that children in Africa can become fluent in English within half a year.

This is not a complete list. The changes coming will improve our lives well beyond what we can envision now.

Please add your ideas of what will change as a comment to this post. http://www.matr.net/login.phtml

There is one element that each of us has that is the most precious. We dont know how much each of us has but we know its finite. Once its gone, we cant retrieve it or refill the tank. Anything that can be done to maximize it is highly desirable.

Its "Time". Its the hours and minutes in each day. You have less of it than you had when you started reading this. You can never get it back but you can use things that let you do exactly what you want to do instead of what you "must" do. Think of how many hours youve spent getting ready, going to, finding the items you need, checking out, returning home, putting everything away and then remembering that you forgot to buy milk when buying groceries. What if everything was automatically always available in your kitchen without you having to do a thing. Its coming. Youll have more time and hopefully a more fulfilling life.
A new reciprocal frequent flyer partnership was launched between Air Mauritius Kestrelflyer and Air Canada Aeroplan on 14 December 2021.

Effective 14 March 2022, Air Mauritius Kestrelflyer members will earn miles while flying on Air Canada domestic and international flights.

Similarly, Air Canada Aeroplan members will also earn miles when they travel on Air Mauritius flights. This collaboration offers both Kestrelflyer and Aeroplan members the ability to earn and redeem miles on each others flights.

This new partnership enriches Air Mauritius loyalty programme offering, by enabling Kestrelflyer members to access more premium air products in the North American region.

Air Canada is Canadas largest domestic and international airline with a four-star Skytrax ranking. In 2020 it was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canadas flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance

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Le Board of Racing Stewards de la MTCSL compose de S. de Chalain (Chair), Ms J. Keevy, Messrs H. Maigrot et A.Rousset a publie leur Racing Stewards Report de la journee des courses du 16 octobre 2021.Racing Stewards' Report de la 27e journee de 2021



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Sunil Bholah a pris la parole lors de la ceremonie douverture dune atelier de travail organise par lInternational Organization for Standardization en collaboration Mauritius Standards Bureau sur le Leadership and Management Programme le 26 novembre 2019.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to address you this morning on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the ISO workshop on Leadership and Management Programme organized by the International Organization for Standardization in collaboration with the Mauritius Standards Bureau.

On behalf of the Government of Mauritius and in my own name, I wish to extend a warm welcome to all the overseas delegates and resource persons who have travelled all the way to attend this workshop. I hope you will be able to spare some of your precious time to visit Mauritius. I also wish to thank the International Organization for Standardization for choosing Mauritius for this workshop. It is indeed a matter of pride and prestige to host this ISO flagship event. This gives Mauritius its rightful place in the fraternity of ISO Members and will evidently further consolidate our relationships as regards international standardization.Ladies and Gentlemen,

On 1st January 1995, Mauritius Standards Bureau became a full Member of the International Organization for Standardization. It marked a new beginning for the Bureau as it opened the door for international standardization. This was in consonance with the Government policy to adhere to WTO-driven trade liberalization process and to eliminate and reduce technical barriers to trade through the use of international standards and harmonized standards.

This event was a game-changer for the Mauritius Standards Bureau as it kick-started a long and fruitful journey for collaboration, cooperation and partnership between our two institutions.

It is worth mentioning that the building at Moka which houses MSB purpose-built laboratories and offices was inaugurated in the presence of the late Secretary-General of ISO Dr Lawrence Eicher and the late President of ISO, Mr E. Mollmann.

It would be appropriate here to briefly highlight the collaboration between ISO and MSB during the last two decades.

In 2012, the Bureau hosted the ISO Regional Workshop on Stakeholder Engagement and Participation in Standardization which enlisted the participation of Standards Bodies from several African countries. The workshop provided an overview of the importance of international standardization as a key enabler for unlocking world markets, promoting technical progress and ensuring sustainable development.

In the same year the Mauritius Standards Bureau conducted a study on the economic benefits of standardization in Mauritius in collaboration with ISO to determine the contribution of standards to the national economy and industrial productivity. The report of the study and similar reports from other countries have been published by ISO in a compendium.

Similarly, MSB is in the process of developing the National Standardization Strategy of Mauritius based on a framework established by ISO. As a first step, an intensive consultation has been conducted to assess the needs and demands of our stakeholders. The strategy will map out the standardization activities of the country for the coming five years and will support the socio-economic development of Mauritius.

The Mauritius Standards Bureau has also benefitted from an ISO Project Sponsorship Programme to be a Member of the CASCO Working Group 46 for the development of the International Standard ISO/IEC 17029 on General Principles and Requirements for validation and verification bodies. The Acting Director of the Mauritius Standards Bureau attended all the meetings of the Working Group for the full cycle development of that standard. The standard has been recently published. This was a first milestone for Mauritius and its National Standards Body.

The Mauritius Standards Bureau was also invited by ISO at the 34th ISO CASCO Plenary Meeting and Workshop this year to share its experience as a Member of ISO Working Group 46 with other National Standards Bodies from developing countries.

The Mauritius Standards Bureau has also the privilege to get the support and partnership of ISO within its Action Plan for Developing Countries to define the content of a CASCO toolkit which will provide the technical underpinnings to public policies to facilitate trade and enhance ease of doing business.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Overcoming the steep curve of learning is one of the major challenges of National Standards Bodies in developing countries. Without a strong and

synergistic partnership with world-class standards bodies and ISO, it would be impossible for standards bodies to scale up their capacities and capabilities.

It is useful to recall that out of 164 Standards Bodies affiliated to ISO over 120 are from developing countries.

These national standards bodies will not be able to derive benefits from international standardization unless they build their capacity and participate more actively in the development of international standards. Most of these national standards bodies like the Mauritius Standards Bureau are standards takers. They should make the shift and become standards setters. To this end, ISO should enlist the participation of its Members from developing countries in Technical Committees or Working Groups.

It is comforting to note that ISO has renewed its commitments for capacity building and inclusive international standardization in its Strategic Plan 2030. The Workshop on Leadership and Management Programme is a step in the right direction as leadership and management are key elements which determine the success of a country and an organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is often said that the standards and conformity assessment infrastructure of a country is anchored in the social, economic and cultural realities of that country. In this sense the Mauritius Standards Bureau has evolved in response to the economic, industrial and social needs of Mauritius. It has continuously provided the scientific and technical underpinnings to the economic and industrial operators to boost the economic growth, bolster regional and international trade, promote the welfare of the citizen and protect the environment.

The Bureau has adopted a horizontal approach to standardization whereby Metrology, Standards Development and Conformity Assessment services are provided under a single roof. This model is adequate and suitable given the limited technical and financial resources available.

It is widely acknowledged that Mauritius is today at the cross-road of its development path. The strategies and policies which propelled the nation from a low-income economy to a middle-economy have outlived their purposes and are inadequate for the next phase of its development. A new Economic Model including innovative strategies are required to fuel the economic growth and uplift the standard of living of the citizens. A new development plan has already been elaborated to transform Mauritius into a high-income economy while ensuring inclusive growth and sustainability.

My Ministry is in the process of reviewing the National Export Strategy with the main objective of establishing the building blocks and engines of growth of the future. The strategy outlines the roadmap for the development of key sectors having high export potential.

The next phase of development will no doubt pivot on the strengthening of the standards and conformity assessment infrastructure as a competitive tool to spur growth and create gateways for trade in the complex world of market access and market acceptance.

Ladies and Gentlemen

With these remarks, I have now the pleasure to declare the ISO Workshop on Leadership and Management open and wish all the participants fruitful deliberations.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a consultation into whether changes should be introduced to the chilling requirements of Qurbani meat and offal supplied from slaughterhouses in England and Wales during the period of Eid al-Adha.
Theres a new player in the city (of Toronto). Yesterday, Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS opened their life sciences incubator in the MaRS Discovery District. Theyre launching with 22 start-up companies (their biggest launch yet), ranging from big data cloud services for genomics to a company for a wearable sticker that tells you when you need to reapply sunscreen. Their mandate is to bring together early-stage life science companies into a centralized hub and provide easy access to the resources of Big Pharma. By combining people of different backgrounds, they aim to create new atypical collaborations that could solve medical problems from a new approach. Disruptive healthcare innovation? Get ready, Toronto. Get ready, world.

Heres J&Js announcement regarding the opening of JLABS, followed by Medgadgets exclusive photo tour and interview with the Head of JLABS, Melinda Richter.

Ben Ouyang, Medgadget: How does JLABS work?

Melinda Richter, Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS: The basic premise behind Johnson & Johnson Innovation is that we believe that great science is just as likely to come out of the walls of a big company like J&J as it is inside. When its out there, it faces many more hurdles to becoming a patient solution. We want to take down those hurdles and help those innovators become successful.

Our goal at JLABS is to enable and empower the local innovation community to turn the research into a commercial entity. Well do educational programs, networking events, funding series with VCs, granting agencies, corporate ventures, or other corporations (even if they are our competitors). Our goal is to help our companies build skills and networks to build their own company. Most importantly, we want to instill in them a sense of confidence. You dont have to be in Silicon Valley. You can do it right here in Toronto.

The second thing is that we want to give them a platform and resources that is equivalent to what our internal R&D teams have. In a space like this, you have a core set of research labs that have state-of-the-art equipment. Instead of raising capital, you can come in and pay-as-you-go on a monthly dime instead of raising a bunch of money at once. Youll get your own individual personalized lab: biology, chemistry, prototyping. We provide business, HR, legal services. Were trying to catalyze the ecosystem to build up the volume and quality of companies here in the region.

As you come into JLABS, there are no strings attached. You pay for your spot, but then you get to work with different experts at J&J and move it forward. Well give them access to resources that small companies dont usually have, like regulatory experts, or market access experts, etc. After some time, we might strike a deal with the companies. We can do the traditional equity deal, or license, or collaboration, or a very creative deal. For example, you might be working on something thats revolutionary. Youre really excited and were really excited, but neither of us is really sure and its too early to put in a lot of money. So well fund a killer experiment and might fund $50,000 for 3 months  no strings attached. Well do that and that allows us to move that ball forward.

Medgadget: What areas are you focusing in?

Richter: From a pharmaceutical perspective, we look at neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular, metabolics, infectious disease and vaccines, and immunology. From the medical device side, we have a broad spectrum, but surgery, orthopedics is important to us. On the consumer side, we look at health, beauty, oral, and digital health.

Medgadget: Why Toronto?

Richter: Its an incredible urban landscape that includes the University of Toronto, SickKids, Princess Margaret Hospital, UHN [University Health Network]. All of the different hospitals are around here, and now you have bench to bedside researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, clinicians, patients. Now youre in a microcosm of the entire healthcare system, all right here, all within a block. Think about how easy it is to go iterate. Thats why Toronto is so unique. I expect amazing things to come out of JLABS at Toronto.

Theres also a diverse population of patients. When you think about personalized medicine, you want to be able to have access to a broad diversity of patients that allow you to find commonalities between them that allow you to fine-tune your solutions for them. Most importantly, you have a population of people here that are ambitious. They want to make healthcare better. So it was that entrepreneurial spirit that we saw here that needed something else in the mix. You have the universities and thehospitals, but needed the commercialization platform like JLABS. We thought we could help make a difference; that we could be complimentary to all the assets that are already here. And so together, wed become a much stronger partnership.

Medgadget: Whos your competition?

Richter: Were in competition with different industries, like the tech industry. Everybody wants to do Google, Facebook, and all that fun stuff. But we want to make the life sciences industry a place where investors want to go first. Where the best talent wants to go first. We think we can get more high-potential talent into this industry, and that will create more opportunities for everybody.

Medgadget: What are you looking for in the companies that apply to join JLABS?

Richter: Is the technology and science really interesting to us? Is the team a rockstar team? Also, we want to find that hot, young talent thats never done it before that has the ambition and the drive. Because theyve never done it before, we can have the most impact with those teams. If we give the access to the experience and wisdom from experts, combined with the exciting possibilities of this dynamic new talent, we might be able to do some pretty revolutionary things together.

Medgadget: How did you switch from a non-biotech background into running a multinational biotech innovation hub?

Richter: Its one of those things that if I knew what I was getting into, I probably wouldnt have done it. Its so hard. But its so meaningful.

One of the biggest things was to look at it from a different perspective than what everybody else had been looking at it for years. How do we make this more efficient, accessible, and affordable, so that everybody can have an opportunity to do it? Tech companies can start off with a few thousand dollars, and in a couple of years, can sell to a Microsoft or Google for millions of dollars. Thats because they have all the platform and resources they need quite quickly and easily. I looked at what it takes for the life sciences. It can take years and millions of dollars to get your infrastructure up and running, buy your equipment, get your experts. So what can make it better? I went back to my old corporate days where I was rotating into a new position and running new projects in a short period of time. I could dothat because every new place I landed, there was infrastructure, equipment, legal teams, operational teams, and so on. This made it much easier for me to execute on my project. So I thought about taking that model of a big corporation and creating a small microcosm of it for early-stage life sciences companies, and providing everything they needed in one building and one place. It would include not just infrastructure and equipment, but people who could help you focus on just your project.

Medgadget: Anything else we should know about JLABS?

Richter: We designed this space for todays 8th grader. Make sense? Ill tell you why. We wanted the 8th grader to walk in here and say: wow, this place is so cool; when I grow up, I want to work in a place like this. We want to get kids excited about STEM programs, and about the business of health. We also thought that if you in a working environment like that, you could imagine doing tomorrows solutions today. We want to inspire people to go for it; go for broke; go for the futuristic, space-age kind of stuff. And you can do it today, if youre in an environment like this. We hope to inspire the innovators in this community to be on the world stage, and to be the next Elon Musk of healthcare.

Link: JLABS
by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, May 11, 2016

While there will be billions of Internet-connected consumer things ranging from wearables to appliances, one of the most visible objects for marketers still will be beacons, at least into the foreseeable future.

Beacons are quite nicely maturing from simply on-the-spot-ad-triggering systems to devices that facilitate the collection of consumer location data combined with analysis that translates that into new behavioral insights.

And based on new forecasts just out, that potential can be dramatically increased from now well into the future.

The market of Bluetooth Low Energy beacons is going to more than double this year, according to ABI Research.

Even more significantly, the number of beacons is on track to break the 400 million shipments mark by 2021.

Retail is the main focus of beacons today, according to ABI, and some contracts with beacon sellers are starting to pass 1 million-units.

Beacons are going to impact mobile advertising leading to a new generation of advertising companies, according to the researchers.

The dedicated beacon advertising market is projected to grow strongly and collaboration and aggregation of beacon networks will develop this year, driven by the need for larger scale.

Beacons this year are projected to support up to five-year battery life, concurrent transmission of Googles Eddystone and Apples IBeacon standards, sensor integration and proprietary transmission of data.

Beacons also are expanding beyond traditional ad-triggering uses, with data being gathered as consumers pass by beacons for later usage.

Some of these uses involve the capability to more accurately predict when a person is likely to go shopping, so that more timely and relevant ads can be sent, as I wrote about here yesterday (Beacons Determine Best Time To Send Ads, ID When Shopper Due For Store Visit).

Beacons are also being used outside of advertising, with more of a service bent.

For example, Citibank and beacon-maker Gimbal just introduced beacons integrated with the Citi app at some bank branches in New York.

Customers with the app passing by an ATM machine in a branch get a beacon-triggered message allowing them to tap their smartphone screen to unlock the door, rather than using a bank card.

This is a similar idea to airport check-in, where beacons can trigger smartphone activity when a person nears a certain location.

The marketing potential using beacons is almost limitless.

Especially with there being several hundred million of them in place.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 11, 2016

The Skinny Cows pink packages were designed to appeal to women seeking delicious treats with fewer calories and less fat than standard fare.

But plenty of guys enjoy them, too. In fact, many female fans say theyre often left high and dry, because the men in their lives, shy about eating something perceived as unmanly, sneak the products out of the freezer.

We know that women are the predominant purchasers of Skinny Cow, and that has been at the core of our marketing campaigns to date, Kevin George, director of marketing-snacks portfolio at Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream, tells Marketing Daily. However, through customer feedback and social chatter we began hearing, more and more, that once the product was brought home, the men in the household were eating the Skinny Cow ice creamessentially stealing Skinny Cow from the ladies in their life.

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This insight has inspired an elaborate, tongue-in-cheek marketing effort.

The brand has created a limited edition of its new Chocolatey Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches boxed in special, blue Skinny Cow for Him packaging. These are the exact same sandwiches being sold in the brands standard pink packages through Skinny Cows normal retail distribution channels, but in a manlier package  and only through one special promotional platform.

Between May 24 and June 4, female fans will be invited to register their names and email addresses on a dedicated microsite in order to request a free Skinny Cow For Him package. Flash giveaways of the limited number of packages will be held on the site each Tuesday during the promotional period, on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to George, Nestle currently has no plans to launch Skinny Cow for Him as an actual product; the brand is just using the special packages as a fun way to bring our customers feedback to life.

The microsite will also feature results (including an infographic) of a survey in which men and women were asked about the various types of things men steal from women.

In addition, female YouTube influencers and their husbands will create four original videos that showcase items the men steal from their wives.

Also, the brand will feature a video (15- and 40-second versions) about the Skinny Cow for Him promotion, with callouts about the microsite and the giveaways, on paid Facebook and on Skinny Cows YouTube channel (as well as on the promotional microsite itself).

Skinny Cow will also work with social media influencers to drive awareness of the promotion.

The brands recent messaging puts more stress on indulgence and taste than calories or fat content (a message that might, intentionally or not, attract more of those stealthy men, as well as more women). However, Skinny Cow remains committed to delivering products that are everyday indulgences with fewer calories and less fat than full-fat competitors, according to Nestle.

This commitment is in our name, Skinny Cow, so we are putting less emphasis on this attribute in our marketing messaging, a brand representative explains.
by Amy Corr @MediaPostOTL, May 11, 2016

Take a look at the cutest candidate for president. Her name is Zoe, and she's potentially running for president in 2064. Thelaunched "Zoe for President" to address actual issues faced by youth and families -- and the Y's role in alleviating them.

The 50-second ad features the adorable Zoe underneath an American flag. While she maneuvers out from the flag, a voiceover explains her potential to change the world if she receives proper nurturing and mentorship at a young age.

Check out the ad here and Zoe's campaign Web site. Droga5 created the campaign.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, May 11, 2016

Allowing Internet service providers to serve targeted ads to subscribers based on their Web activity, without their permission, would mark a significant "retreat from privacy" as well as a "retreat from what Americans have always expected from their networks," Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler told lawmakers today.



"When I made a phone call to order something, and then got on the mailing list of Hammacher Schlemmer, that was between me and Hammacher Schlemmer," Wheeler said during this afternoon's hearing on privacy. "The network delivered me there without taking my information."

He added that an attempt by ISPs to serve ads to consumers based on their Web activity would represent a significant shift from the historic practices of telephone companies. "It's crucial that we understand that that is a retreat from privacy," Wheeler said near the end of a 90-minute hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law.

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The hearing centered on the FCC's proposal that broadband providers obtain consumers' opt-in consent before using data about their Web-surfing activity for ad purposes. Consumer advocates support the proposal, while the ad industry, cable companies and telecoms oppose it.

Wheeler argues that the privacy rules are necessary for a few reasons, including that ISPs have far-ranging views into their subscribers' Web use.

Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai disagrees. He says that the proposed rules will give "edge providers" like Google and social networks an advantage over Internet service providers.

"Search engines log every query you enter. Social networks track every person youve met. Online video distributors know every show youve ever streamed. Online shopping sites record every book, every piece of furniture, and every medical device you browse, let alone purchase," he stated in his prepared testimony. "And yet the FCC only targets one corner of the marketplace."

Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez told lawmakers the agency will weigh in on the FCC proposal. But Ramirez didn't say whether the FTC intends to support those rules.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 11, 2016

Washington D.C.-area independent ad agency White64 has appointed Alicia Gehring VP media strategy. She will oversee all aspects of traditional and digital media planning and buying operations for the full-service agency.

Gehring replaces Jacqui Hannigan, who left the agency in April. She will report to agency Chairman and CEO Matt White.

The appointment marks Gehrings return to the agencyshe was there in the early 2000s as a senior media planner.

Gehring has more than 20 years of experience overseeing national campaigns and working with regional clients including the National Guard, Amtrak, and Chevy Chase Bank (Capital One).

She most recently worked as media director at Kinsella Media in Washington, D.C. Previously, she held senior media positions at various shops, including Messner Vetere Berger McNamee in New York, Doe-Anderson in Louisville, KY, and LMO Advertising in the Washington, D.C., area.

Current White64 clients include Washington, D.C. Metro, PenFed Credit Union, Delaware North, Luray Caverns, Bio Industries, Hilton, Tysons Corner and the Washington Nationals.
by Thom Forbes @tforbes, May 12, 2016

Nissan Motor is taking a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in a far-reaching alliance that will make it the largest shareholder of its scandal-plagued rival going forward. The deal, which is valued at 237 billion yen ($2.2 billion), is expected to close by the end of the year and must be approved by regulators and Mitsubishi shareholders.

The agreement, announced in Nissans headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, this morning, extends an existing partnership between the two automakers under which they have jointly collaborated for the past five years.

Nissan is determined to preserve and nurture the Mitsubishi Motors brand. We will help this company address the challenges it faces, particularly restoring consumer trust in the fuel-economy performance, Renault-Nissan Alliance chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a news conference with Mitsubishi chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko.

Mitsubishi is grappling with declining sales and growing costs after admitting in April to falsifying data relating to fuel economy on at least four minicar models sold in Japan. Two of the models were manufactured by Mitsubishi and sold under Nissans brand name, reports the Wall Street Journals Yoko Kubota.

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Yesterday, in fact, Mitsubishi said it was investigating falsified fuel tests on nine additional models, which means nearly all models sold by Mitsubishi in Japan are now being examined, CNN Moneys Sophia Yan reports. Mitsubishi said its initial investigation showed that company managers were under intense pressure to keep pace with fuel economy rates reported by competitors, and used a procedure to calculate efficiency that did not comply with Japanese law.

It is not an easy task to regain trust, so through the alliance with Nissan Motor, we will be starting our step forward on this difficult task, Masuko said.

The decision by Nissan to acquire a strategic stake in MMC marks the latest expansion of its Alliance model, built around a 17-year cross-shareholding arrangement with Renault. Nissan has also acquired stakes or signed partnerships with other automotive groups including Daimler, and AvtoVaz, according to a news release characterizing it a win-win transaction.

The deal is a lifeline for Mitsubishi Motors, which is mired in its third scandal in two decades, but should also be a boost for Nissan, write Reuters Maki Shiraki and Naomi Tajitsu. Japan's No. 2 car maker has struggled to make inroads into Asia outside China, in countries like Thailand and the Philippines, where Mitsubishi's models are popular.

It also will gain a leg up in Japan's small car market  where it is dwarfed by Suzuki and Toyota's Daihatsu  and in key emerging economies, Shiraki and Tajitsu point out. Asia, excluding China, accounted for about 7% of its global retail sales in April-December.

The alliance will build economies of scale and create synergies in areas including platform sharing, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks in those markets, write Bloombergs Ma Jie, Yuki Hagiwara and Masatsugu Horie.

Both Ghosn and Masuko said the companies have held talks over the years on options to deepen the partnership, with the recent turn of events accelerating the process. The companies plan to sign an agreement by May 25 in which Nissan can name four directors to Mitsubishi Motors board, including the chairman, they continue.

In the New York Times, Jonathan Soble observes that the rescue has parallels with how Renault saved Nissan from collapse a decade and a half ago by buying a large minority stake in the then-ailing Japanese producer. Today, Carlos Ghosn, the executive Renault sent to Japan to turn Nissan around, is chairman of both companies.

We have been there not a very long time ago, Ghosn said. We have the track record to make it work.

Ghosn said he has a close relationship with Masuko and they have a good relationship built on trust, the AP reports. The automakers will maintain separate identities, brands and dealerships.

In other news, Nissan reported a 40% plunge in January-March profit of 71 billion yen ($651 million), as sales dipped and currency perks faded, the APs Yuri Kageyama reports. Quarterly sales edged down 1.2% to 3.25 trillion yen ($29.8 billion). For the fiscal year, Nissan's profit rose 15% to 523.8 billion yen ($4.8 billion), and Nissan forecast a 525 billion yen ($4.8 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March 2017.

Kageyama points out that a weak yen had worked as a plus for exporters like Nissan, but the currency is strengthening in recent months.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 12, 2016

Officials at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly are revisiting the question of whether Google has abused its dominance in the Internet search market, according to one report.



The U.S. agency closed a similar investigation surrounding its search practices without charges more than three years ago, but apparently FTC antitrust officials have discussed the matter in recent months with representatives of a major U.S. company that objects to Google's practices, Politico reports, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

Critics complain that Google continues to use its online dominance to treat competitors unfairly. It's possible for Google to build algorithms that favor specific results, even its own. Earlier this year the company began giving preference to pages built with its fast-loading technology called Accelerated Pages (AMP). Those pages that adhere to Google's AMP practices take priority,

Unlike Facebook Instant Articles, a similar technology that speeds pages on Facebook, Google started the AMP project to speed pages across the mobile Web. Many believe that if Google can give preference to AMP-optimized pages, it also can continue to give preferential treatment to Google-related pages in search engine query results.

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Last year The Wall Street Journal went a bit farther to report that FTC officials concluded in 2012 that "Google used anticompetitive tactics and abused its monopoly power in ways that harmed Internet users and rivals."

Search isn't the only Google technology that government officials point to when investigating abuse. The European Union's competition commissioner in April charged Google with unfair business practices for forcing phone makers to install its apps in return for access to Google's Play Store, according to reports.
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, May 12, 2016

With the general election in everyones sights, there has been talk of significant crossover between Democrats and Republicans, considering both candidates heavily below-average approval ratings, even within their own parties.

FiveThirtyEight wrote last week that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the most disliked nominees in the last 10 presidential cycles at this point in the race. The strongly unfavorable rating for Trump nationwide surpasses 50%, whereas Clintons is hovering just below 40%.

Following the vote in West Virginia on Tuesday, exit polls showed that an incredible one-third of state Democrats expect to vote for Donald Trump come November, regardless of who ends up being the Democratic nominee.

This would be bad news for Hillary Clinton if these numbers had appeared in a state more liberal than West Virginia. Despite Clintons imprudent comments on the coal industry, Democrats in the state are significantly more conservative than the average Democrat.

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According to CNN, almost 40% of Democratic voters in West Virginia expressed a desire for a less liberal president than Barack Obama. In contrast, Obama has a 52% job approval rating, stretching across both parties, as well as the non-affiliated.

So, not much should be extrapolated from many West Virginia Democrats, who sound averse to Clinton. Other pieces of this labyrinthine puzzle: Clinton beat out Obama in West Virginia by a huge margin in 2008 and according to Mark Salter, former top John McCain adviser, conservatives should actually be flocking to the former New York senator.

Salter spoke with Glenn Thrush of Politico on his podcast Off Message to give his take on the nominees. Salter explained: My point is that if my only choice is Trump or Hillary, Ill vote for her. He added: Its because shes the more conservative choice, [Trump is] not a conservative.

Unlike what is happening on the GOP side, no career Democratic operative has publicly defended voting for Trump over Clinton in November. The talk that Sanders supporters would switch to Trump, while maybe partly true in West Virginia, is untrue elsewhere in the country.

A CNN/ORC poll conducted at the end of April found that Sanders voters prefer Clinton over Trump by a margin of 86-to-10. That is compared to non-Trump Republican voters, who do favor their presumptive Republican nominee, but by a smaller margin of 70-to-24.

Will there be a crossover between the parties? There always is. Will this cycle change the map of American politics? Maybe, but the movement may well be concentrated within just one of the parties: the GOP.
Researchers demonstrate how a highly sensitive photoacoustic catheter probe has the potential to help better identify heart disease.

As plaque accumulates on the inside of arteries, it can cause the arteries to thicken and harden. When that plaque ruptures, it can ultimately block blood flow and lead to a heart attack, stroke or other problem throughout the body.

The condition, known as atherosclerosis, is a major form of cardiovascular disease, which over the past century has become the leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, no imaging tools are available to consistently and accurately diagnose plaque at risk of rupturing in living patients.

A new imaging system known as intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging that produces three-dimensional images of the insides of arteries, however, has the potential to help doctors diagnose plaques on the brink of rupturing. But scientists have struggled to develop imaging instruments that meet clinical requirements while illuminating arteries to a useful depth and at quick enough speeds.

Now, a team of researchers from Purdue University, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA and the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Shanghai, China, have improved upon previous instruments, developing a new IVPA catheter design with collinear overlap between optical and acoustic waves with a tiny probe. The design can greatly improve the sensitivity and imaging depth of IVPA imaging, revealing fatty arteries in all of their unctuous detail.

"The most exciting part of this work, which will be reported at the upcoming CLEO 2016 conference, is the collinear design of the catheter that enables the intravascular photoacoustic imaging system to see much deeper and much more lipid information in the arteries," said the first author Yingchun Cao, a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Ji-Xin Cheng's group at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. "That could provide valuable help for the doctor to better identify and diagnose the plaque vulnerability in patients."

IVPA imaging works by measuring ultrasound signals from molecules exposed to a light beam from a fast-pulsing laser. The new probe allows the optical beam and sound wave to share the same path all the way during imaging that's the "collinear" overlap part rather than cross overlap as in previous designs.

This increases the sensitivity and the imaging depth of the instrument, allowing for high-quality IVPA imaging of a human coronary artery over 6 mm in depth from the lumen, the normally open channel within arteries, to perivascular fat, which surrounds the outside of most arteries and veins.

The Cheng laboratory had previously tried a design based on a ring-shaped transducer to accomplish the same collinear overlap idea. But the size of the transducer prevented its further application in clinic. The team came up with the current design by transmitting the optical wave while reflecting the sound wave on an angled surface. "It wasn't easy," said Cheng. "We tried different fibers, micro mirrors, and various assembly methods. Fortunately, we finally got this idea to work."

The presentation, "Highly Sensitive Intravascular Photoacoustic Imaging with a Collinear Catheter Probe," by Y. Cao, A. Kole, P. Wang, M. Sturek and J. Cheng will take place from 17:45 -18:00 on Thursday, 9 June 2016 in the Salon I and II of Marriott San Jose, San Jose, California, USA.

High-sensitivity intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipid-laden plaque with a collinear catheter design . Scientific Reports. Yingchun Cao, Jie Hui, Ayeeshik Kole, Pu Wang, Qianhuan Yu, Weibiao Chen, Michael Sturek & Ji-Xin Cheng. DOI:10.1038/srep25236. Published online 28 April 2016.
Many cancers could be successfully treated if the patient consulted the doctor sufficiently early. But how can a developing cancer be detected if it doesn't give rise to any symptoms? In the near future, suitably early diagnosis could be provided by simple and cheap chemical sensors - thanks to special recognizing polymer films developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.

Share on Pinterest A special polymer film, developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, recognizes molecules of neopterin. The film is a key element of future cancer detectors.

Credit: IPC PAS, Grzegorz Krzyzewski

These days, cancer is no longer a death sentence for the patient. However, the best chances of recovery are when the correct treatment is undertaken at an early stage of the disease. This is where the trouble starts, because many tumours develop over a long period without any symptoms. One solution to this problem could be diagnostic tests available to everyone that could be performed by people themselves and on a relatively regular basis. A step bringing us closer to this sort of personalized medical diagnosis and cancer prophylaxis is the chemical sensor devised and fabricated by Prof. Wlodzimierz Kutner's group from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw using a grant from the National Science Centre, in collaboration with the team of Prof. Francis D'Souza of the University of North Texas in Denton TX, USA.

The most important element of the chemosensor devised at the IPC PAS is a thin film of the polymer that detects molecules of neopterin. Neopterin - in chemical terminology known as 2-amino-6-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)-1H-pteridin-4-one) - is an aromatic compound present in human body fluids, such as serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Produced by the immune system, it is regarded as a universal marker in medical diagnosis. The concentration of this biomarker rises significantly particularly in the case of certain neoplastic diseases, e.g., malignant lymphoma, although elevated levels of neopterin are also seen in some viral and bacterial infections, as well as in diseases of parasitic aetiology. In turn, in transplant patients, increased levels of neopterin signal probable rejection.

"How can we detect the presence of neopterin? A reasonable approach is to use special recognizing materials for this purpose, prepared by molecular imprinting. This technique involves 'stamping out' molecules of the desired compound - their shape, but also at least some of the chemical characteristics - in a carefully designed polymer," explains Dr. Piyush Sindhu Sharma (IPC PAS), the lead author of an article published in the Biosensors and Bioelectronics journal.

During the preparation of the polymer film, molecules of the substance being detected - in this case neopterin - are in a working solution in which their binding sites have to link with recognizing sites of so-called functional monomers. In turn, these monomers should be able to form connections with another monomer, a cross-linking agent which together, after polymerization, form a rigid support structure of the polymer. Next, the molecules of the compound used as a template are washed out from the structure. The result is a durable polymer with molecular cavities of a shape and chemical properties ensuring the capture of molecules of the desired compound from its surroundings.

The basic difficulty in molecular imprinting is the selection of the appropriate functional and cross-linking monomers as well as solvents, their proportions and reaction conditions. PhD student Agnieszka Wojnarowicz (IPC PAS) explains: "With the aid of quantum-chemical calculations, we first check whether there is bonding between our template molecule and selected functional monomers, and whether they will be stable in the solvent used. We also check whether the molecular cavities formed are sufficiently selective, i.e., whether they will primarily capture the molecules we are detecting, and not any that are similar to them. When the calculation results confirm our expectations, that is when we proceed to their experimental confirmation."

At the IPC PAS a recognizing polymer film with molecular cavities from neopterin has been produced on the surface of an electrode. After immersion in artificial blood serum spiked with neopterin, the film on the electrode captured molecules of the latter, thus leading to a decrease in electrical potential in the connected measuring system. The tests showed that the molecular cavities of the polymer were almost entirely filled with molecules of neopterin despite the presence of molecules of similar structure and properties. This result means that the probability of false positive detection (detecting the presence of neopterin in body fluids not containing it) is negligibly small. The new chemical sensor therefore mainly reacts to what it should react to - and nothing else.

"At present, our chemosensor is a piece of laboratory equipment. However, the production of its key element, that is, the recognizing polymer film, does not pose major problems, and the electronics responsible for electrical measurements can easily be miniaturized. There is nothing standing in the way of building simple and reliable diagnostic equipment, based on our development, in just a few years' time, which would be affordable not only for medical institutions and doctors' surgeries, but also for the public in general," predicts Prof. Kutner (IPC PAS).

Potentiometric chemosensor for neopterin, a cancer biomarker, using an electrochemically synthesized molecularly imprinted polymer as the recognition unit. Piyush Sindhu Sharma, Agnieszka Wojnarowicz, Marta Sosnowska, Tiziana Benincori, Krzysztof Noworyt, Francis D'Souza, Wlodzimierz Kutner. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2015.10.013. Published 15 March 2016.
A new psychological disorder has been identified in a series of recently published studies - Maladaptive Daydreaming (MD). Researchers from the University of Haifa, in Israel, Fordham University in New York City and University of Lausanne, Switzerland, have found that people with the disorder spend an average of 60% of their waking time in an imaginary world which they themselves have created, realizing that it is a fantasy, and without losing contact with the real world. "Daydreaming usually starts as a small fantasy that makes people feel good, but over time the process becomes addictive until it takes over their lives. At this stage the disorder is accompanied by feelings of shame and a sense of lack of fulfillment, but because till now the disorder has been unknown, when they come to receive treatment, therapists usually dismissed their complaints," explains Professor Eli Somer of the University of Haifa, one of the researchers and the first to identify the disorder.

Wandering of thoughts, fantasies and daydreams are part of the inner world of almost everyone, and they are depicted in popular culture - in literature and film, for example. However, until now science has not addressed the pathological aspects of this, otherwise normal mental activity. A series of new studies published recently in several leading journals in psychology and psychiatry shed light on a psychological disorder that was not known until now. The story begins in 2002, when Prof. Somer was treating adults who had been sexually abused as children. Somer identified six survivors who used to escape regularly into a world of the imagination, where they fantasized compensatory empowering stories in which they enjoyed traits and life experiences that were missing in their real lives. Professor Somer named the phenomenon "maladaptive daydreaming" (MD) but at the time did not continue his investigation of the phenomenon. This article was followed in 2011 by a study by Jayne Bigelsen and Cynthia Schupak of 90 people who complained of excessive daydreaming. Their study that showed that MD is also spread among many individuals who have not had adverse childhoods. In the wake of these two studies, Somer and Bigelsen began to receive communications from countless individuals from around the world who related to them how they had suffered from exactly the same phenomenon asking for their advise and help.

Together with Prof. Daniela Jopp from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and Liora Somer from the Multidisciplinary Center for the Treatment of Victims of Sexual Abuse at the B'nai Zion Medical Center in Haifa, he conducted two additional qualitative studies and interviewed dozens of individuals who claimed to be suffering from the phenomenon. In these studies, they discovered recurring themes. For example, although maladaptive daydreaming first started as a positive experience providing pleasure and relaxation, it quickly developed into an addictive habit that took over their lives and impaired their functioning. "Maladaptive daydreaming naturally necessitates isolation from others and is almost always accompanied by repetitive body motions, such as pacing or rocking. About a quarter of these individuals had endured childhood trauma and many suffered from social anxiety" said Professor Somer.

Somer and Jopp were recently joined by Jayne Bigelsen and Jonathan Lehrfeld, investigators from Fordham University in New York City, who shared similar interests. Together they published two extensive quantitative studies published very recently in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. One study reported the development and validation of a maladaptive daydreaming scale (MDS) using a large sample of 447 individuals. The MDS was shown to differentiate very well between normal and maladaptive daydreaming and offered the first diagnostic and research instrument for the newly discovered disorder. In the second study, 340 participants aged 13-78 from 45 countries from the world were tested. The data showed that individuals affected by the disorder spent about 60% of their waking time in daydreaming, and more than half said that the disorder disrupted their sleep and that the first thing they are aware of when they wake up in the morning is their urge to daydream. Respondents reported having rich fantasy worlds with complex storylines. They tended to daydream significantly more about fictional tales and characters, in contrast to the daydreaming among the control group which were usually anchored in reality (e.g., the desire to earn more money, to find an attractive partner, etc.).

"One woman told us about the 35 characters "starring" in the plots she imagines in his mind. She related how these characters have been with her since childhood, and she doesn't recall a moment when her mind was clear of them and she was living internally only with himself. Another woman told of how for 30 years she has continued imagining in her mind the plot of a series that she saw when she was 10 years old, but how the plot is constantly changing and evolving. She related that there were entire days in which all his time was spent imagining, and how she even fought off sleep so that she could continue his imaginings," said Bigelsen and added, "almost all of the subjects developed a love/hate relationship with their fantasy world, and 97% reported different levels of distress as a result."

"People with this disorder have developed an extraordinary ability to become completely immersed in daydreaming, to such an extent that their daydreams can make them laugh or cry. This ability to feel fully present in a self-directed imaginal plot is not only a powerful source of the attraction, but it also makes it difficult to disengage from it, creating a mental addiction" said Professor Jopp. Professor Somer concluded by saying that "when people spend about 60% of their waking time daydreaming, it's no wonder that they feel frustrated that they can't achieve their goals in life. The next step in our research should focus on developing an effective treatment for sufferers."

Articles: Development and validation of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), Eli Somer, Jonathan Lehrfeld, Jayne Bigelsen, Daniela S. Jopp, Consciousness and Cognition, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2015.12.001, published online 17 December 2015.

Parallel Lives: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Maladaptive Daydreaming, Eli Somer, Liora Somer & Daniela S. Jopp, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, doi: 10.1080/15299732.2016.1160463, published online 4 March 2016.

Childhood Antecedents and Maintaining Factors in Maladaptive Daydreaming, Somer, Eli PhD; Somer, Liora MA; Jopp, Daniela S. PhD, Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000507, published 21 March 2016.

Maladaptive daydreaming: Evidence for an under-researched mental health disorder, Jayne Bigelsen, Jonathan M. Lehrfeld, Daniela S. Jopp, Eli Somer, Consciousness and Cognition, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2016.03.017, published online 12 April 2016.
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"We tell women to be sure to get folate early in pregnancy. What we need to figure out now is whether there should be additional recommendations about just what an optimal dose is throughout pregnancy."Folate is a B vitamin that is naturally present in fruits and vegetables. A synthetic version, folic acid, is commonly used to fortify cereals, breads and is contained in vitamin supplements.When pregnant women do not get enough folate, their babies face a higher risk of brain and spinal cord defects.The study tracked 1,391 mothers and their children from the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly low-income minority population.The mothers' blood folate was checked once only, and that measurement was taken within the first one to three days of delivery.Mothers with very high folate right after giving birth faced twice the risk that the child would develop an autism spectrum disorder.Women with high vitamin B12 levels saw triple the risk of autism in their offspring.If both levels were extremely high, the risk that a child would develop the disorder increased 17.6 times, according to the research presented at the 2016 International Meeting for Autism Research in Baltimore.Most of the mothers reported taking prenatal vitamin supplements.Very few -- one in 10 -- had what researchers consider an excessive amount of folate in their blood, or more than 59 nanomoles per liter.Six percent had an excess amount of vitamin B12 (more than 600 picomoles per liter).The World Health Organization says the adequate amount of folate for a woman in her first trimester of pregnancy is between 13.5 and 45.3 nanomoles. Ideal vitamin B12 levels are not well established.Outside experts cautioned that the study measured folate at birth, while the crucial window for supplementation to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida is in the first weeks and months of pregnancy."This research does not suggest any harmful effects of recommended folate supplements taken in early pregnancy which are beneficial," said Andrew Sherman, a professor of obstetrics, at King's College London."Women should continue to take these," added Sherman, who was not involved in the study.James Cusack, Research Director of Autistica, agreed."Although this finding is striking, it is vital to remember that this research is at a very early stage. In fact, this information has simply come from a single poster at a conference," Cusack said."It is far too early to say whether this finding is correct and so families should not be overly concerned."Craig Newschaffer, professor at the Drexel University School of Public Health, said the research calls for a better understanding of the role of folate throughout pregnancy."The role of folic acid supplementation in neurodevelopment may be quite complex," he said.About one in four women in the United States do not get enough folate in pregnancy, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects as many as one in 68 children in the United States. Its causes remain poorly understood, but researchers say it is likely a result of some combination of genetic and environmental factors.Source: AFP
Often oblong, light green in color with white bands running from one end to another, watermelons can weigh anywhere between 2 to 70 pounds. With 92 percent water content making it the most loved summer fruit, watermelons burst with the goodness of potassium, vitamins A, C and B 6 and lycopene, making it a low calorie, nutrient dense food. Interestingly, watermelon has the highest concentration of lycopene, a powerful anti-oxidant which protects against prostate, lung, colorectal, endometrial and breast cancer.

Watermelon, botanically known as Citrullus lanatus, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, a vine-like flowering plant from West Africa which includes honeydew, cucumber, squash and cantaloupe.

Along with its sweet and juicy pulp, watermelon seeds pack a solid nutritional punch offering a bevy of nutrients like magnesium, protein, zinc, iron and omega-6 fatty acids. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content in watermelon seeds lower cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They bear a similar taste to sunflower seeds, but are less nutty.

Approximately, 200 varieties of watermelon are grown in the United States and Mexico.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

Citrulline and lycopene contribute more to the health benefits of watermelon. Lowering blood pressure, improving skin texture, promoting heart health, reducing muscle soreness, and hydration are some of the benefits derived from eating watermelon. Being a low calorie, fat-free and high fiber fruit, watermelon is a must include for weight watchers.

1. Good for Heart Health

A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension concluded that watermelon extract lowers blood pressure in obese adults.

Citrulline is the key compound in watermelons hypotensive powers as it helps the body produce arginine. Arginine aids in synthesizing nitric oxide, which acts as a muscle relaxant assisting in maintaining healthy vascular tone and blood pressure.

Citrulline lowers LDL cholesterol levels and reduces deposition of arterial plaque.

Additionally, the low sodium, high potassium content in watermelon make it an ideal food for hypertensive people.

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Lycopene and vitamin C prevent hardening of arteries, increase elasticity of blood vessels and decrease inflammation, thus lowering the risk of atherosclerosis.

2. Helps in Pregnancy

With its high water content and natural sugars, watermelon eases heartburn, reduces swelling, alleviates morning sickness and prevents dehydration. In addition to that, the mineral content in watermelons like calcium and magnesium help prevent third-trimester muscle cramps. The fiber and water content in watermelon keep constipation, a common problem in pregnancy away. Watermelon is rich in nutrients like potassium, vitamin A, C and B 6 which are vital for the development of the baby's vision, brain and immune system.

A study published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics discovered that lycopene reduces the incidence of preeclampsia by 50 percent.

3. Lowers Body Fat Accumulation

A new research has discovered a link between watermelon and the deposition of body fat.

Watermelon contains citrulline which gets converted to arginine. Conversion of citrulline into arginine results in the formation of arginine-related molecules called polyarginine peptides, which block activity of an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP).

When TNAP activity is shut down, adipocytes create less fat (adipogenesis), thus lowering the accumulation of body fat.

4. Benefits the Kidneys

Potassium content in watermelon lowers uric acid levels which may otherwise contribute to kidney damage. The high water content facilitates frequent urination which helps kidneys flush out toxins. The combination of magnesium and vitamin B 6 in watermelon reduce incidence of calcium oxalate stones.

5. Good for Hydration

With 92 percent water content, watermelons are ideal thirst quenchers in sweltering summer heat which also prevents heat stroke by reducing the body temperature.

Rich in electrolytes and rehydration salts, watermelon nourishes the body by replacing electrolytes lost through sweat, hydrates cells and maintains cellular water balance.

A study at the University of Naples demonstrated that phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin in watermelon boost hydration levels even further.

6. Reduces Muscle Soreness

Watermelon juice is on its way to becoming the athletes favorite pre-exercise drink.

According to a study published in ACS Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the citrulline content in watermelon relieves post-exercise muscle soreness by lowering inflammation and reducing muscle damage.

7. Promotes Healthy Skin

Being a rich source of powerful anti-oxidants - vitamin A, C and lycopene, watermelons safeguard against free radicals that are responsible for wrinkles, fine lines and skin blemishes.

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for maintaining integrity of skin, reducing acne and moisturizing the skin. Vitamin C which aids in collagen production, is essential for maintaining elasticity of skin and improving skin texture.

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Watermelon Recipe

Learn How to Make Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients

3 cups finely diced watermelon

2 chopped jalapeno peppers

1/3 cup chopped coriander leaves

1/4 cup lime juice

1/4 cup minced red onion

1/4 teaspoon salt

Method
On May 9, 2016, Russia marked the 71st anniversary of its Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 - that is, World War II. The war ended on the night of May 8, 1945, when the definitive Act of Military Surrender was signed in Berlin by representatives of the Nazi Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and the Allied Expeditionary Force, together with the Supreme High Command of the Soviet Red Army. Russia observes Victory Day on May 9 because the signing took place after midnight Moscow time.

For this year's celebrations, Russia's Aerospace Forces gave a show of military strength during the military parade in Moscow's Red Square, with Su-24 and Su-34 bombers, Su-25 attack planes, MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft, and other aircraft flying over the Red Square. The same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a reception at the Kremlin; at it, he stressed that the Soviet Union's "victory... a stern warning to all who would consider challenging us."

It is worth noting that Putin's remarks included no mention of the Allied forces, giving the impression that the Soviet Union had defeated Nazi Germany entirely on its own.

Following are excerpts of Putin's remarks at the Kremlin Victory Day reception:[1]



Putin speaking at the Kremlin Victory Day reception (Source: Kremlin.ru, May 9, 2016).



Victory in the Great Patriotic War parade in Red Square, Moscow (Source: RIA Novosti, May 9, 2016)

"...Today we feel, with particular intensity, the grandeur and sincerity of this date, its deep sorrow, and its tremendous unifying strength. The defeat of Nazism will never be simply just history for us. It is the great achievement of all generations, present and future. This Victory embodies the very best, the most worthy and heroic features of our people's spirit. It represents our pride and our readiness to defend this country's interests. It is a stern warning to all who would consider challenging us.

"Our people accomplished the immortal feat of saving their homeland. We will always remember that it was the Soviet people that vanquished Nazism and achieved the grandiose and triumphant Victory. We know that a war turns into a patriotic war when people stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of their homeland. This was the case in that heroic and tragic year of 1941, when the Soviet Union's multi-ethnic people rose as one to fight the enemy...



Victory in the Great Patriotic War parade in Red Square, Moscow (Source: Kremlin.ru, May 9, 2016)

"Our people accomplished the immortal feat of saving their homeland. We will always remember that it was the Soviet people that vanquished Nazism and achieved the grandiose and triumphant Victory. You, the veterans, traversed the roads of war with honor, fought bravely on all fields and heights, took part in the biggest battles and each contributed to Victory. You were all fighting for our homeland, on the frontlines and on the home front, the elderly and the children. Everyone went through great hardships and suffered terrible losses, and everyone followed the laws of courage, steadfastness, friendship, and selfless love for one's country....

"You, our dear veterans, have retained these lofty moral qualities and your sense of personal responsibility for this country throughout your lives. The war forged your character and Victory inspired you to new achievements. You rebuilt plants and factories in the shortest time, revived and developed our agriculture and took culture, science and technology to new heights. Your acts and achievements, your ability to value life and cherish friendship and the family home and hearth will always be an example for us. Your destiny incarnates in full measure the true grandeur of an entire people's great feat - the achievement we speak of in firm and simple terms: 'We knew what we were fighting for and dying for. We fought for our Motherland!' Let me raise a toast to the outstanding generation of victors! To Russia! To our Great Victory!"

Endnote:
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The Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, met at the Foreign Ministry today with the UN Special Rapporteur for the human rights of migrants, Francois Crepeau.



During the meeting, which took place in a very friendly atmosphere, Mr. Crepeau expressed his admiration for the charitable stance of Greeks on receiving thousands of refugees since the beginning of the refugee crisis.



The discussion focused on the refugee and migration issue, in light of developments in the unstable geopolitical environment of the wider region of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Reference was made to the EU-Turkey agreement and issues arising from its implementation. The collocutors highlighted that, to substantially protect the rights of the thousands of people fleeing the persecution of war, knowledge and understanding of the special political and social conditions of the countries receiving and hosting refugees is needed in order to optimize the solutions that are being proposed and implemented.
The Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, met at the Foreign Ministry today with the UN Secretary Generals Special Representative for Migration, Peter D. Sutherland.



In a very friendly meeting, the collocutors focused on the issue of the refugee and migration crisis and the actions that need to be taken to find solutions benefitting not only the people escaping from war zones, but also transit and reception states. Mr. Sutherland briefed Mr. Xydakis on the initiatives being developed on a European and global level to find solutions to the multifaceted phenomenon of migration.



With regard to the creation of refugee flows, they noted the pivotal role played by the geopolitical turmoil seen in the wider region of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, while they highlighted the need to achieve peace and stability in the region.



The collocutors both approached the issue of the refugee crisis as a phenomenon that requires global vigilance, stressing that the solution to the issue needs to be based on strengthening cooperation and solidarity, not only between EU countries, but also in the international community as a whole.



Finally, mention was made of the need to enhance the effectiveness of the mechanisms for relocating and resettling refugees.
The Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, stressed in his speech at the first Greek-Russian Tourism Forum  which was co-hosted today by the Ministry of Economy, Development & Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT)  on Greece-Russia: Reality and Prospects for Cooperation in the Tourism Sector, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is striving to respond successfully to the increase in the numbers of Russian tourists, not just for tourism and to support the national economy, but because visitors from one country to another bring our two peoples closer together and help to build a stable, open, friendly, creative relationship between Greece and Russia, in a world that is currently plagued by imponderable factors.



Mr. Xydakis briefed the forum on the Foreign Ministrys initiatives for improving visa services for Russian citizens who want to visit Greece and for resolving the issues that arose with the introduction of the new visa issuing system (VIS). The consulates throughout the world, but mainly the one in Moscow, were bolstered in good time. In Moscow, the consulate expanded to an additional floor, the number of work stations was doubled, the visa software is being improved from day to day, and, above all, it was decisively bolstered with personnel, so that from 5 or 6 people in December, the visa section currently has over 40 personnel, while that number will increase to over 100 within May and be continuously bolstered as needed.



Mr. Xydakis noted that up until December there were 20 visa application centers (VACs)  one in Moscow and 19 in major cities. And due to the Ministrys moves towards the provider, there are now 28, with two in Moscow to meet demand in Russias largest city, and the others in 26 more cities. And I am announcing here, for the first time, that with our insistence on serving the Russian citizen in as many places as possible, the provider is opening small VACs  mini-VACs  mainly in banks and exclusively for Greece, in Surgut, on 16 May; in Tomsk, on 3 June; in Chelyabinsk, on 17 June; and in Tyumen, on 1 July. Our effort will continue, because we know that the mobile biometric units can serve even the most remote village, though they cost more for the citizen.



Also, in the same direction, we are already issuing long-term visas for multiple entries over the course of a year, and, progressively, to the degree allowed by the Schengen regulations, at a difficult and sensitive time, visas will be for greater periods of time. Because our country sees Russian citizens for what they really are: good and reliable tourists. We do not want to drag them to the VACs every year, and nor do we want to burden them with repeated visa costs. We want them close to us, easily, simply, with dignity and respect for their person, Mr. Xydakis stressed.
The Tennessee Department of General Services, which manages state-owned motor vehicles through its Motor Vehicle Management division, and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which includes the Tennessee Highway Patrol, have collaborated on a new effort in which the distinctive black-and-cream color scheme for Tennessee Highway Patrol vehicles is applied with adhesive vinyl instead of paint.

The cost savings are projected to be at least $1,910 on each marked THP vehicle, said Bob Williams, assistant commissioner for vehicles and asset management.

This is money that can be used for vital programs and services for all Tennesseans rather than on administrative costs of government, Mr. Williams said.

After some research and discussion with General Services, we decided to go ahead with the project, said Col. Tracy Trott of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. "With the savings of the wrapping the cars, General Services is planning to replace THP cruisers sooner. This is so important as we try to lower our vehicle trade-in mileage and serve the public with new and safe equipment for our troopers. This partnership has been extremely successful and cost efficient."

Adhesive vinyl has for years been used to place advertisements and logos on motor vehicles. More recently, advances in technology have allowed whole-car wraps to begin replace painting for entire cars.

Mr. Williams said his division began investigating the cost of wraps for THP since its vehicles make up about 25 percent of the states entire motor fleet and offered significant opportunity for cost savings.

Tennessee purchases its THP vehicles in black, and in the past has applied the cream paint to create a two-tone color scheme at a cost of $2,300 per vehicle.

When a vehicle reaches the end of its service life, the THP markings are covered by painting the entire vehicle white, at an additional cost of $350, before the vehicle is sold as surplus property.

Mr. Williams said the cost of a vinyl wrap is $740, a savings of $1,910 over the cost of painting and repainting a THP cruiser.



With the state purchasing 150 new cruisers this year, that will create a savings of $286,500 in the first year.

In addition, Mr. Williams said, because the vehicles will wear a protective vinyl coat throughout their use by the THP, when the wraps are removed, the black paint underneath will be in much better condition  likely increasing the vehicles resale value.




The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga will hold its first Help Our Children Play Business Pentathlon on Saturday to benefit the East Lake Elementary School Playground Project, for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment at the Title I school. The event will be held at McCallie School, at 500 Dodds Ave., and will begin at 9 a.m., with registration opening at 8 a.m.

East Lake Elementary is operating at 133 percent of its designed capacity, and its current playground does not serve the needs of the growing student body. Our club was looking for a playground project, and when we heard about the situation at East Lake Elementary, we immediately contacted the school and offered to help, said Bobby Dann, Kiwanis Club member. We wanted to create an event that gets the business community involved but also encourages team outdoor play for kids.

At the Business Pentathlon, area businesses will sponsor teams to compete in five different fun events, including a Team Plank Relay and a Caterpillar Relay. Teams will be comprised of three employees, three to four children of employees (ages 6-12), and three to four East Lake students. Sponsorships are $500 per team, with no limit on how many teams a business may sponsor. The winner of the pentathlon will have a plaque with their name on it installed with the new playground equipment.

The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga is partnering with PlayCore, a local manufacturer of playground equipment. The goal for the event is to raise $15,000 for the purchase of new equipment to supplement the existing playground equipment, all while encouraging play among children and community members.

Teams are invited to register for the event, and donations in any amount are appreciated. To register a team or make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact the Kiwanis Club at kiwanischatt@comcast.net or 267-6568.

Club members, PlayCore employees and East Lake Elementary families and staff will install the playground equipment later this summer.

For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga and the work they do, go to their website at www.kiwanischatt.org, email them at kiwanischatt@comcast.net, or visit them on Facebook.
On July 27, 2009, 75 girls made statewide history when they entered the doors of Tennessees first single-gender, public charter school - Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. Fifty of those girls were sixth-graders. On Friday some of those same young ladies will make history again as they cross the stage to receive their high school diplomas.

Of the 21 members of the Class of 2016, eight inaugural students have been enrolled at CGLA since the school first opened. Like the school they helped launch, the graduating seniors have grown amid challenges and setbacks, said school officials. As sixth-graders, 45 percent of their class was below basic in mathematics. In their freshman year, they faced the threat of CGLA closing its doors due to failing academic scores. By their sophomore year, no one in the class was below basic. As juniors, their improved TCAP Algebra scores helped put the school in fourth place of all Hamilton County schools.

The graduation ceremony will be at 6 p.m. at Redemption Point Church, 1907 Bailey Ave.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, will host the 2016 Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum on Thursday and Friday at the UTC University Center.

The first day will feature the inaugural launch of the Tennessee Green Fleets certification program. It will be followed by a showcase of 20 alternative fuel vehicles, including Oak Ridge National Laboratorys 3D-printed natural gas and electric-powered utility vehicle, as well as a variety of electric, solar, natural gas and propane powered vehicles.

Panels focusing on innovation in fleets and fuels and cleaner technology for off-road transportation will also take place on the first day, following a keynote presentation by Eric McCarthy, vice president of government relations and general counsel for Proterra, the nations leading manufacturer of electric buses. The day will conclude with a networking reception in the UTC Library. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

The second day will feature the 2016 Sustainable Transportation Awards, as well as several sessions.




A senior Facebook executive said the company has found no evidence to back up the anonymous allegations.

In a letter to chairman and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, South Dakota Sen. John Thune requested information on who at the company made the decisions on stories for Facebook's Trending Topics feature, what training is provided to employees, whether the company is investigating and what steps it will take to hold people accountable.

"If Facebook presents its Trending Topics section as a result of a neutral, objective algorithm, but it is in fact subjective and filtered to support or suppress particular political viewpoints, Facebook's assertion that it maintains 'a platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum' misleads the public," wrote Thune, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

He asked for answers by May 24.

News reports say Facebook employees excluded links to stories they considered less reliable in its list of trending stories, though individuals could post links to conservative stories on their own Facebook feeds.

Tom Stocky, Facebook vice president of search, said his team is responsible for the Trending Topics and the company has "found no evidence that the anonymous allegations are true."

"There are rigorous guidelines in place for the review team to ensure consistency and neutrality," Stocky wrote. "These guidelines do not permit the suppression of political perspectives. Nor do they permit the prioritization of one viewpoint over another or one news outlet over another. These guidelines do not prohibit any news outlet from appearing in Trending Topics."

Adam Jentleson, an aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., maintained there are more pressing priorities than the Facebook issue.

"The Republican Senate refuses to hold hearings on (Supreme Court nominee) Judge (Merrick) Garland, refuses to fund the president's request for Zika aid and takes the most days off of any Senate since 1956, but thinks Facebook hearings are a matter of urgent national interest," Jentleson said. "The taxpayers who pay Republican senators' salaries probably want their money back."

Questioned later in the day about his inquiry, Thune defended the committee's actions and insisted he wasn't suggesting "anything untoward" on the part of Facebook. He said the panel was responding to media reports and asking for a clarification on policy.

"We think this is perfectly legitimate line of inquiry," he said.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan expressed concern over the way police rushed Richard Simone Jr. after he stepped slowly from his pickup truck, knelt and put his hands on the ground after a lengthy pursuit that started in Holden, Massachusetts and ended 50 miles away in Nashua, New Hampshire.

News helicopter videotape from Wednesday appeared to show Simone surrendering before officers set upon him, throwing punches.

"I thought the video was incredibly disturbing and I'm anxious to work with the folks in New Hampshire to get moving on the investigation and to figure out what's what as quickly as possible and take the appropriate action," Baker said.

Hassan echoed Baker.

"The footage from yesterday raises serious concerns, and I have been in contact with the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Safety," Hassan said in statement. "All New Hampshire public safety officials are held to the highest standards, and it is important and appropriate that the Attorney General's office has opened an investigation into the incident."

In court Thursday, Simone agreed to be taken back to Massachusetts to face outstanding warrants there on assault with a deadly weapon and larceny.

The focus, however, centered on the officers' actions following the chase that reached speeds of more than 100 mph.

Jeffery A. Strelzin, a senior assistant attorney general in New Hampshire, said in an email that "our office will be conducting a criminal investigation to determine what force was used, by whom, and whether it was appropriate under the law."

Simone was arraigned on a fugitive-from-justice charge in Nashua District Court and was expected to be turned over to Massachusetts authorities. It wasn't clear when that would happen.

He was shackled at the waist and ankles. He was wearing a Boston Red Sox T-shirt and shorts. His public defender made a reference to Simone's "medical condition" and got approval for him to sit in court. The judge said it was his understanding Simone would be seeking medical treatment, and the lawyer agreed. While not showing any visible bruises, Simone's mug shot showed him with blood on his left ear.

Simone was taken into custody in New Hampshire, but Massachusetts State Police were also involved in the pursuit and plan to review the apprehension of the suspect, "to determine whether the level of force deployed during the arrest was appropriate," state police spokesman David Procopio said.

The chase began when Simone refused to stop for police in Holden. He was wanted on multiple warrants for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny and failure to stop for police, Procopio said in a statement.

Holden police chased him, and a Massachusetts State Police cruiser followed.

"We saw about 15 out-of-state cops, state police and some from Holden, Massachusetts, chasing a pickup," witness Monty Hays told WMUR-TV.

The chase went through several towns at speeds exceeding 100 mph, with the pickup truck "making abrupt lane changes as the (suspect) continued to try to evade capture" and crashing at least once, Procopio said.

Spike strips laid out by police eventually took their toll. In Nashua, where the chase ended in a residential neighborhood, witnesses said the truck was moving slowly.

"Its tires they just were exploded," Hays told the television station. "They were on rims. Rubber was flying everywhere."

The pursuit lasted about an hour.

Helicopter video showed the pickup truck stopped next to a utility pole on a dead-end street before police officers surrounded it with their weapons drawn. The driver stepped from the truck, got onto the ground and was on all fours and lowering himself when the officers moved in.
In 2011, Dominique Strauss-Kahn's scandals exposed widespread sexism in French politics, prompting uproar and hope among feminists for a new era. And in 2016? Little has changed, activists say, so they're holding a protest Wednesday outside Parliament to say enough is enough.

What prompted the renewed anger were recent media reports and a book, "L'Elysee off," which allege misconduct by two government ministers and a deputy parliament speaker. The accusations pose yet another problem for President Francois Hollande's embattled government.

The most high-profile target is Finance Minister Michel Sapin, accused in the book of touching a journalist's underwear during the World Economic Forum gathering of the global business elite in 2015. French media reported that Sapin issued a statement Tuesday to Agence France Presse acknowledging that he touched her back, and later apologized.

Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Wednesday said that Sapin acknowledged an inappropriate gesture. "Michel Sapin spoke out to say what he had to say, to say that he regretted it," Le Foll told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

Paris prosecutors are investigating allegations of breast-grabbing and other behavior by green party politician Denis Baupin, who resigned as vice president of the lower house of parliament this week after investigative website Mediapart and France-Inter radio released testimony by women who say he abused them. He denies misconduct.

A recent Buzzfeed report, meanwhile, exposed long-buried accusations that Territories Minister Jean-Michel Baylet repeatedly hit a female aide in the face and then settled with her privately to drop charges. His office did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Speaking about all the recent accusations, Le Foll cautioned male politicians to watch their behavior and "the attitude that politicians should have in all contexts where they exercise their responsibility. There needs to be vigilance."

Female politicians have taken to French airwaves this week to say that the alleged acts aren't isolated incidents and to describe sexism they face routinely.
BAD AXE  This summer, two alumni will join a selective list of honorees for one school districts distinguished awards.

Each year, the Bad Axe School District honors past graduates who personify service to their community and serve as positive and inspiring role models to young adults and others as part of its Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Since 2014, Bad Axe has honored six alumni, and two more will have their names on that list next month. Nominations were taken from members of the community throughout the year and a committee reviewed the nominees to select its candidates.

They (committee) look at alumni who have since left the Bad Axe School District and see what kind of positive impact have they had in their communities, said Superintendent Greg Newland.  Whether its an impact in the community or their professional career  its a collective outlook of all their lifes work.

Cheryl (Rivard) Rice is a 1974 graduate from Bad Axe High School. She attended Michigan State University and later the Hurley Medical Center School of Nursing in 1978.

Rice has served patients for 37 years as a registered nurse for the Huron Medical Center. She has worked in a variety of positions at Huron Medical Center including 28 of those years in the Oncology/Infusion Center. Rice has been named Nurse of the Year on three occasions.

With Cheryl, shes dealing with people that are at their toughest points with being that strong support system for those people, Newland said. Shes been very involved in our community in many different ways.

Donald Clark graduated from Bad Axe in 1963. He attended the University of Detroit where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1967. Clark went on to the University of Michigan where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree in law in 1972.

Clark served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1970. He fought in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star of Merit. Clark has practiced law in Huron County for 38 years and is a member of the Michigan Law Review Editorial Staff and Huron County Bar Association.

He is a longtime member of the Bad Axe Lions Club, Huron Medical Center Board, Care & Share program as well as a founding member of the Bad Axe Christmas Parade committee. He has also assisted for more than 20 years with the track and theater programs through Bad Axe Schools.

With Don, hes done a lot with the programs hes helped in and helped keep long traditions going  the Christmas parade for example, Newland said.

Rice and Clark will be honored at this years graduation ceremony on June 5.

They are a good representation for this years graduating class to see what kind of impact a kid from Bad Axe Schools can have, Newland said of the recipients.

The six recipients from past years are: Steve Moore, Thomas Otterbein, John Roland, George Haley, Dr. Lea Shelke and Jim Bolk.
BAD AXE  Beginning Sunday, National Police Week will kick off, honoring those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Wednesday morning, the Huron County Sheriffs Office hosted a public gathering on the north side of the jail in remembrance of those law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. About 20 officers from several local departments were in attendance, as well as several local dignitaries and family members of the fallen.

As we honor those who have fallen, we also need to recognize your efforts, said Pastor Jerry Sutton to the group of officers. Youre the ones that help fill the gap and chip away at it every day.

During the ceremony, Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson recognized the five officers from Michigan that have lost their lives in the line of duty since 2014, before recognizing two of the countys own that lost theirs some years ago:

Huron County Sheriff Joseph J. Murray, who drowned while investigating an illegal fishing incident June 2, 1932, off shore of what is now known as the Port Crescent State Park Day Use Area, and Deputy Sheriff Kelly J. Vermeersch, who died June 11, 2000, after he lost control of his patrol car while on his way to back up another deputy during a rain storm in Caseville Township.

National Police Week has been observed nationally since President John F. Kennedys 1962 proclamation that designated the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. The same proclamation named May 15 as National Police Officers Memorial Day to honor those officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

Hanson said deputies will be wearing black ribbons on their badges next week in remembrance.

Since January of this year, 35 police officers across the nation have died while on duty.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP will host the 9th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar on Saturday, June 4, at the UTC University Center from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

"Through public advocacy, workshops, presentations, and forums, the seminar strives to shed light on how legal issues, social challenges, and advents in the legal system effects the social welfare, upward mobility, and life sustaining options of average everyday citizens," said Dr. Eleanor Woods, president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP. "Trust in the law, faith in the legal process, and hope for a better tomorrow are all key elements of allowing justice to live throughout the community. The necessity of this event is also meant to be a way to address many of the legal grievances and complaints received on an annual basis as well."

The theme this year is Focus on the Community: Our Struggles! Our Strategies! Our Solutions! Featured presenters this year include: Hon. Nancy Harr, U.S. attorney Eastern District Tennessee, who will discuss the Department of Justice's Road Map to Reentry: Reducing Recidivism through Criminal Justice Reform. Robert Ford, president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Executives, will highlight Vantage Points Law Enforcement and Public Perspectives.

The featured youth series includes Camilla Bibbs Lee, Hamilton County Coalition: Rational decision making and conflict resolution.

One of the longstanding purposes for the seminar is "Know Your Rights" education, and Chattanooga State Community College Police Chief Curtis Greene, UTC professor Gail Isles, Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw and other featured panelists will provide an analysis and overview on how schools, students and parents can become more aware of these rights in schools and in the community.

The keynote speaker will be Craig Hargrow of the Tennessee Commission of Children and Youth, who is head of Tennessee's Second Look Commission which advocates against child neglect and abuse. Topics Mr. Hargrow will detail are the significance of understanding ways to eliminate Adverse Child Experiences, Juvenile Justice, strategies to sever the school to prison pipeline and other examine disparities in minority confinement.

Chattanooga Assistant Police Chief Tracy Arnold is the recipient of the 6th Annual Thurgood Marshall Award.
Updated at 8:10 PM EST

A Twitter message from Col. Brad Hoagland, 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews commander stated that "... this incident was diffused quickly and was determined to be a false-alarm. An earlier tweet form Joint Base Andrews said that the woman involved had been detained.

Original Story

Officials at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., locked down the main gate Thursday evening after reports of a bomb threat.

Police and emergency rescue personnel around 5:15 p.m. responded to a "security incident" at the Visitor Control Center, according to a notice the base posted on its Facebook page.

"The Main Gate is currently in lockdown," it states. "All personnel and residents should avoid the area until further notice. More information will be released as it becomes available."

A resident said the incident involved a woman who claimed to be wearing a bomb.

Air Force Capt. Connie Dillon, a spokeswoman for the base, was unable to confirm that report. She said she didn't know if any air traffic was being directed away from the base.

The installation located about 10 miles outside Washington, D.C., in Prince George's County, Maryland, is home to several thousand service members and their families. It also houses the two VC-25 aircraft known as Air Force One when the president is aboard.

Joint Base Andrews falls under the command of the Air Force's 11th Wing in the Air Force District of Washington. It was formed in 2009 after the merging of Andrews Air Force Base and the Naval Air Facility Washington.

-- Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this report.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
The U.S. Army identified the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldier that died Tuesday from injuries sustained during a live-fire training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Pfc. Victor J. Stanfill, an infantryman with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, known as the "Rakkasans," was pronounced dead at approximately 11:08 a.m., at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital on Fort Polk, unit spokesman Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny said in statement released Thursday.

Stanfill, 19, was a native of Fulton, Maryland. He enlisted into the service on Sept. 22, completed infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 506th in January, the release states.

His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War of Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon, it states.

The training accident is currently under investigation, according to the release. An accident Investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, headquartered at Fort Rucker, Alabama, deployed to Fort Polk to lead the investigation of the accident, it states.

"The USACRC does not release any information concerning accident causes, analysis or internal recommendations due to limitations set forth by Department of Defense instructions and Army regulations," it states.

The training death comes two days after the U.S. Navy announced a 21-year-old Navy SEAL trainee died last week during his first week of training in Coronado, California.

Seaman James "Derek" Lovelace was pulled out of the pool Friday after showing signs he was having difficulty while treading in a camouflage uniform and a dive mask, Naval Special Warfare Center spokesman Lt. Trevor Davids said.

Lovelace lost consciousness after being pulled out of the pool and was taken to a civilian hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Davids said. He was in his first week of SEAL training after joining the Navy about six months ago, Davids said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare

Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV.
The former head of the Marines' Wounded Warrior Regiment will spend the next weeks or months behind bars as he awaits trial on charges of steroid abuse and abusive sexual contact, among other offenses.

Col. Shane Tomko was ordered to pretrial confinement May 6, Marine Corps Installations Command spokesman Rex Runyon told Military.com. He was confined at Rappahannock Regional Jail until this morning, Runyon said, and is now in the process of being transferred to Navy Consolidated Brig Chesapeake, Virginia.

Tomko was charged April 11 with conspiracy to obstruct justice, violations of lawful general orders, wrongful possession and use of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance, abusive sexual contact, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, fraternization, and obstruction of justice.

Tomko, 53, was relieved from his post as commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, Virginia in February 2015 due to a "loss of confidence in his leadership," Marine officials said at the time. He enlisted in 1983 and had previously served as the operations officer for 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Following his relief, Tomko was reassigned to Manpower and Reserve Affairs staff at Quantico, where evidence shows he continued to participate in high-profile events. In October 2015, eight months after he was relieved, the Associated Press photographed him meeting with the first lady, Michelle Obama, as she visited the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir, Maryland.

Runyon told Military.com Tomko was ordered to confinement after violating terms of pre-trial restriction.

"I cannot discuss exactly how the restriction was violated since those matters are currently being evaluated," he said.

The next hearing for Tomko, an arraignment on the charges he now faces, has yet to be scheduled.

The Washington Post reported in March that Tomko had been investigated on accusations of sexually assaulting women during his tenure as head of WWR. The paper cited a lawsuit filed in Circuit Court in Prince William County, Virginia by a civilian woman who alleged Tomko sexually assaulted her during a work trip.

Court records show the lawsuit was filed in October 2015, but withdrawn in January.

Tomko's military lawyer, Marine Reserve Col. Terri Zimmermann, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Tomko could be in the brig for some time. A long-range military docket shows a motions hearing scheduled for late July, and a trial tentatively set to begin Aug. 15.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
A Florida man who lost his left arm above the elbow to cancer eight years ago stopped by the Pentagon courtyard on Wednesday to show off the U.S. military's latest research into prosthetic technology.

The futuristic prosthetic caught the attention of numerous attendees -- not only could he control the hand and fingers with his mind, the device was also attached by way of a titanium stud surgically implanted and affixed to the living bone of his upper arm.

Johnny Matheny of Port Richey last year became the first person in the U.S. to undergo a medical procedure called osseointegration, which is the direct surgical attachment of a prosthesis to the body.

The Defense Department is moving quickly to better develop the technology -- it has already agreed to finance 17 such operations this year and another 17 next year, he said.

Matheny's surgery was performed last June at Johns Hopkins University, a leader in prosthetics and a partner with the Pentagon's research arm, known as Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

Matheny and his arm were among more than 60 agency-funded programs on display at the Pentagon Wednesday for an event known as DARPA Day.

Attaching a prosthetic directly to the body has long been a goal of scientists and patients, but one that until recently was relegated to the realm of science fiction. Even controlling a prosthetic arm by thought was achieved before doctors successfully integrated a prosthesis to living tissue.

The latest breakthrough brings scientists and doctors even closer to what has come to be called the Luke Skywalker Arm, named for the protagonist of the "Star Wars" movie franchise whose severed arm was replaced by a robotic one that appeared and functioned like his natural arm.

Matheny's state-of-the-art robotic arm attaches to a stud inserted directly into his arm at the remaining part of the limb, and nerve reassignment surgery allows him to control the arm and hand.

"It's got the dexterity to reach down and shake a young child's hand and, if someone yells 'Fire! Fire!' and the car behind me is on fire, [I] can reach around, grab hold of the car door and 'bam!' Pull the door right off."

The arm and hand has a motor for each joint, enabling the latter to do pretty much what any healthy hand can do -- point, pick things up, grasp, shake hands, and make the "okay" sign -- tips of thumb and index finger touching with the other three fingers pointing up.

"This hand has the ability to do everything your hand does, with the exception of the Vulcan 'V'," he said, referring to the "Live long and prosper" greeting created by "Star Trek's" Mr. Spock.

Beyond that, it's all good, according to Matheny.

The surgery has been done a few times in Europe, though reportedly there have been problems with infection.

Matheny said that has not been a problem for him.

Doctors found that by leaving a one-inch gap all around the implant area, the covering it up for a week and then leaving it to heal, antibodies "keep flushing the bad bacteria out as [the opening] slowly heals" around the stud.

"Me being the first one" to have this surgery, he said, "you'd think I'd want to baby it. I didn't. I threw everything under the sun at it. At home I was out mowing the grass, amid the pollen, the grass, the dirt."

He said he kept it clean -- washing the area in the morning and at night -- with a non-bacterial soap that contained no perfumes or dyes.

The next phase includes a home study, with Matheny taking the arm home with him. As of now, it stays in the lab.

The fingertips of the hand already have tactile sensors that will provide Matheny with the ability to feel soft and hard, hot and cold, liquid and solid when the project advances yet again. Doctors at Johns Hopkins already have performed the targeted muscle reinnervation needed to help restore a sense of touch.

"They're going to put an implant in the nerve endings" under the Myo armbands around the bicep, he said, and the signals will travel from fingers to nerve endings and to the brain via Bluetooth.

"They're expecting high hopes out of it," he said. "They're expecting me to reach over, touch your head, let you know if you have thin or thick hair, curly or straight. Touch your shirt, let you know if it's a silky feel, a cottony feel. The difference between cool to cold, warm to hot."

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at Bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BryantJordan.
A Unitarian Universalist Church minister and U.S. Army chaplain who served in Afghanistan has submitted his resignation in protest over the military's use of drone warfare and decision to place nuclear warheads on air-launched cruise missiles.

In an April 12 letter to President Barack Obama, Rev. Christopher John Antal of New York said the White House "continues to claim the right to kill anyone, anywhere on earth, at any time, for secret reasons, based on secret evidence, in a secret process, undertaken by unidentified officials. I refuse to support this policy of unaccountable killing."

Antal's position on drone killings isn't new -- he condemned it during a sermon to troops and civilian contractors in 2012 in Kandahar, where he was a battalion chaplain.

That led to his unrequested departure from Afghanistan, a do-not-promote recommendation and a separation from the Army that was overturned only after a congressional inquiry, he told Military.com on Wednesday.

Antal is a minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern, New York, a chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, and a founder of the Hudson Valley, New York, chapter of Veterans for Peace.

Antal's letter of resignation to Obama wasreprinted on the UUC Rock Tavern website last month, as well as on the Veterans for Peace site. In it, he also offered among his reasons his refusal to support a nuclear weapons policy that costs billions to maintain and threatens human existence.

He was further troubled by Obama's decision to support a nuclear air-launched cruise missile, he told Military.com. Before writing and sending off the letter, he said he and his congregation at Rock Tavern wrote letters to the White House urging the administration to change its drone and nuclear policies.

But what finally forced his hand to resign was a the February report on Obama's targeted drone killing policy from The Stimson Center, a nonpartisan think tank, which gave the administration largely failing grades in meeting earlier recommendations to reform the program and make it more transparent.

"That upset me. That was a big part of it," he said. "I didn't see any progress."

In addition to spelling out his opposition to the drone policy and nuclear weapons, Antal wrote that he could not support "preventive war, permanent military supremacy, and global power projection" and "imperial overstretch."

Capt. Eric Connor, deputy chief of media relations for the Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, confirmed the service is processing Antal's resignation but said its current status is pending. Until it is final, Antal remains a chaplain with the 354th Transportation Battalion at Fort Totten, New York, with his assigned higher headquarters the 377th Theater Support Command, New Orleans, Connor said.

Connor said Antal, like all soldiers, enjoys freedom of speech under the Constitution.

"We encourage our soldiers to have a conscience and let their conscience be their guide," he said. "But sometimes their conscience leads to other things, and in this case we're letting them know if your conscience says the military is not for you, we totally understand."

'A Veterans Day Confession'

Antal's opposition to drone warfare and the White House's program of targeting killings was known to some Army officials at least since 2012, when mentioned it at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan.

Antal -- then a lieutenant -- spoke out against the program to troops, civilian employees and contractors who attended his Unitarian service at Kandahar, where he said he was assigned to a signals battalion supporting the 3rd Infantry Division.

He recapped the sermon -- which he called "a Veterans Day Confession for America" -- last month during a symposium on drone warfare at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Law School.

"I confessed to broken promise to Afghan interpreters, I confessed to extrajudicial assassinations and death by remote control," he said inthe speech recorded and posted online. "I confessed to war made easy without due process, and I confessed to a national closet bursting with skeletons with innocent dead, killed by our government in the name of America."

He said he preached the sermon because he believes that "public confession" is one of the best ways to examine the collective conscience, purify intentions and to relieve the"moral injury" that service members can experience when they witness something or act in ways that conflict with their ethical or moral beliefs.

He also said he considered the sermon to be an act of "speaking truth to power," which he said Army Regulations supported until just over a year ago, when it changed some of the wording ofAR-165-1 (Army Chaplains Corps Activities). Section 3, paragraph 3 now reads: "Chaplains, in performing their duties, are expected to speak with candor as an advocate to confront and support resolution to challenges and issues of the command."

At the time he spoke in Kandahar, he said, the same regulation stated that "Chaplains, in performing their duties, are expected to speak with a prophetic voice and must confront the issues of religious accommodation, the obstruction of free exercise of religion, and moral turpitude in conflict with the Army values."

Military.com could not find the earlier version on the Army site but it is posted on the website of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.

An Army spokeswoman told Military.com on Friday that the change was made to be more inclusive of the diverse religions/denominations represented by Army chaplains.

"The reference to a prophetic voice has a Judeo-Christian background and history," Tatjana Christian said. "The concept of a prophet may not be common to other religions/denominations such as Buddhist or Hindu. The function of speaking 'truth to power' by Army chaplains still exists in our regulation."

Antal said he took seriously that he was expected to speak "with a prophetic voice" in confronting "moral turpitude in conflict with the Army values."

After preaching and then handing out a copy of the sermon to those in attendance and posting it to a UUC website, he said he was called before his battalion commander at Kandahar and told his sermon made Americans out "to be the bad guys" and "does not support the mission."

He was ordered to remove the sermon from the website, which he did, but following an investigation he said he was given an official reprimand in January 2013 for "politically inflammatory speech."

He then found himself being sent back to the U.S. with a "do not promote" evaluation and separated from active duty, he said in the Las Vegas speech. He challenged the Army's actions and, following a congressional inquiry by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, he was reactivated and promoted to captain.

Antal said his congregation has been supportive of his action throughout. But he also said it is not just about him.

"It's about something bigger going on in our culture, and also about the relationship of the church and the government in this country," he said. "The church must reserve the right to speak for God against the nation and its policies under the Gospel. That's Christian language but I mean that in a very inclusive way, whether in a synagogue speaking for their God as they understand it under the Torah, or however you want to interpret it."

Also, he said, if the country claims to be one nation under God, then it has to accept that means not only under God's mercy and protection, but under God's judgement, as well.

"That flies in the face of American exceptionalism in the sense we can do whatever we want in the world," he said.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the Army's explanation for a change in AR-165-1, Army regulations detailing the activities of the chaplain corps.

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at Bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at@BryantJordan.
Work is finally set to start on a new entrance road to Daisy Elementary School.

The school has always been reached by having to drive through the Soddy Daisy High School campus.

The new entrance is down Sequoyah Access Road separate from the high school entrance.

Talley Construction Company had the low bid of $554,368.78.

Funding will come $100,000 from discretionary funds of former Commissioner Fred Skillern, $250,000 from proceeds from the sale of Ooltewah Elementary, and a $204,369 reimbursement from the county schools.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger said the project was greatly complicated by the difficulties in obtaining easements. He said it appeared at times it would not work out, but he said Paul Parker, real property manager, persevered.

Mr. Parker said it took a lengthy time to get an easement from TVA across a long-abandoned railroad. The rail line was used during the construction of the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant.

He said he also had to deal with an estate involving 18 family members.


Marcos Pizza kicked off its annual convention last week with a pizza contest to find its next LTO menu item, and named the winner local high school student, Zach Schreeder, for his Chorizo Chicken Pizza. Zach is an employee from Marcos Pizza in Chattanooga.

His pizza was selected from a total of 22 entries, out of which 10 finalists were invited to bake their creations on the convention room floor in San Antonio last week to share with attendees and a panel of judges.

Scored based on taste, visual appeal and store viability, the Chorizo Chicken Pizza has been presented to Marcos Pizza corporate to be considered as an LTO menu item system-wide.

Zach looks forward to putting his cash prize of $1,000 toward his college tuition.
DETROIT, MI - Nissan Motor Co. could buy about a one-third stake in Mitsubishi Motors, Reuters reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plans.



The talks are described as in advanced stages, and put Nissan's investment in Mitsubishi at about $1.8 billion.



The boards of the two Japanese automakers will reportedly meet separately on Thursday to discuss the potential investment and how it would affect operations.

News of the talks comes less than a month after Mitsubishi first admitted to manipulating fuel economy data on four model vehicles sold in Japan - a discrepancy that was discovered by Nissan.

Mitsubishi has admitted to tampering with fuel economy data since at least 1991.

The company's cars in the U.S. have not been included in the scandal. Mitsubishi sells five models in the U.S., including the Outlander, Outlander Sport, Mirage, Lancer and I-Miev electric car.
HaywardPalmer.jpg

Amanda Elizabeth Hayward, 30, (left) and her daughter, Sapphire Elizabeth Palmer, 7, were last seen in Hamburg Township on May 10.

(Courtesy of Hamburg Township police)

UPDATE: Sapphire Palmer and Amanda Hayward were found in Florida.

HAMBURG TWP, MI - Police are trying to find a woman and her 7-year-old daughter who went missing Tuesday.

Amanda Elizabeth Hayward, 30, was last seen about 3 a.m. May 10 leaving her home in the area of Chilson and Bishop Lake roads in Hamburg Township with her daughter, Sapphire Elizabeth Palmer, according to a press release on the Hamburg Township Police Department's Facebook page.

Hayward's purse, including her credit cards and cash, was found on the side of the road several miles from her home about 6:30 a.m. on May 10. Her daughter also failed to show up to school on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At about 6 p.m. Wednesday, a member of the Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team found the black 2001 Chevrolet Prizm with a Michigan license plate number of CC86371 that the two were last seen driving in, police said on their Facebook page.

The vehicle was found unoccupied in Ypsilanti Township. Police did not state the exact location, but Fox 2 Detroit reports it was located at the Budget Stadium Towing car lot, at 826 Railroad Street.

Hayward's father said his daughter was acting erratic prior to leaving, Fox 2 reported.

Hayward is described as a 30-year-old white woman, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 120 pounds with blue eyes and long, strawberry blond hair.

Sapphire Palmer is described as a 7-year-old white female, 4 feet tall and 55 pounds with green eyes and long red hair. She was last seen wearing a purple night gown.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Amanda Hayward or her daughter is asked to call 911.

Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran.
DETROIT - Filson isn't a new brand.

They've been around since 1897, but it wasn't until about three years ago that the Seattle-based outdoor clothing outfitter started opening satellite stores.

The Detroit location at 441 West Canfield will be their 10th.

"We're sort of deliberate," said Steve Bock, an executive with Bedrock Manufacturing.

Bedrock Manufacturing -- not to be confused with the real estate company owned by Quicken founder Dan Gilbert -- owns Filson and Shinola, the popular watch and bike maker located down the block.

The Detroit store officially opens Friday morning. Melissa Ziegler, director of marketing for Filson, said the product Filson puts out is perfect for Michigan.

Rugged workwear and outdoor brands are trendy. Dearborn-based Carhartt opened a store in Midtown last year, and Will Leather Goods has a store around the corner from the popular Canfield block.

But Ziegler said that if the Filson brand items, like beanies or flannels or earth-tone clothing, fall within current trends, that's coincidence.

Though Bedrock bought the company in 2012, the Filson brand has been around for 119 years, and it's been successful as a supplier of tough, durable clothing for hunters and fishers that comes with a lifetime guarantee.

They call their products "unfailing goods."

The Midtown location is small, keeping with a cabin-in-the-woods feel amplified by the wood burning stove Ziegler said they'll fire up in the colder months.

Like the upscale retailer Willys, which filled the space before Filson, prices are high. A keychain runs $35, a plain white, one-pocket T-shirt: $38, but then there are $98 shooting shirts, $135 Mackinaw Wool vests, $295 jackets, $108 wool beanies and an array of leather goods.

Bock said Thursday that Filson recently underwent a revamping of sorts. Everything from the styles their patented materials are used for to the bags that go home with customers was rethought.

Filson did well as a catalogue retailer, Ziegler said. Opening storefronts makes the brand a little more accessible.

She said she hopes the Midtown store will draw Michiganders from all over the state who need outdoor gear into Detroit.

Catalogue sales in Michigan have always been good, she said.

The store is currently filled mostly with men's clothing. Ziegler said the women's line will be expanded in the next few months.

Bock said it's nice to see Filson move into Midtown location.

Bedrock Manufacturing said a month ago an outdoor outfitter was something Midtown shoppers wanted.

Watching the neighborhood see an influx of cash and growth in the past four or five years has been amazing, Bock said, but exclusivity is not part of the plan on the increasingly upscale Canfield block in Midtown.

"We a very humble company," Bock said. "(We have) our feet on the ground ... there's no ego here."

He said Filson plans to open five more locations around the country next year.

They currently have stores in Seattle, Minneapolis, New York, Portland, Washington, D.C., London, Dallas and San Francisco.

This is the first and only store in Michigan.

Filson's Midtown store will be open Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Ian Thibodeau is the business and development reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. He can be reached at ithibode@mlive.com, or follow him on Twitter.
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Troy Wayne Poteete will be visiting Cleveland on Saturday. He will appear on Old Town Cleveland on WOOP fm 99.9 from 10 a.m. until noon .

Old Town Cleveland is a local history talk show that has been on the air for over six years. Ron and Debbie Moore, the hosts of Old Town Cleveland, became acquainted with Poteete through their Cherokee history research and by attending National Trail of Tears meetings.

Troy Wayne Poteet was appointed to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council by the late Chief Wilma Mankiller in the 1990s. Poteet is a founding member of the National Trail of Tears Association in 1993 and served on the Board of Directors until 2014 when he assumed the duties of Executive Director. In 2007, he was appointed to a ten year term on the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court.

Mr. Poteet is a storyteller, telling true tales drawn on a rich Cherokee heritage. He often portrays Sam Houston who grew up among the Cherokees on Hiwassee Island located in Me Poteet is a storyteller, telling true tales drawn on a rich Cherokee heritage. He often portrays Sam Houston who grew up among the Cherokees on Hiwassee Island located in Me igs County, Tennessee.

Mr. Poteet resides in Webbers Fall, OK, the capital of the Cherokee Dixieland, and lives on Deep Branch atop Council Hill overlooking the Cherokee Old Settler Capital, Tahlonteskee, in Sequoyah County, Ok.




After more than five years of community leadership, Anne Willson has announced her decision to step down as executive director of the Association for Visual Arts effective June 2016.

During Ms. Willsons tenure, AVA has grown in its mission to connect visual arts and community through:

4 Bridges Arts Festival. Under Ms. Willson's skilled direction, the 16th annual festival earned the prestigious designation as a Top 50 Fine Arts Fair in the US by Art Fair Sourcebook.

Capture. In 2013, Ms. Willson introduced this innovative program to the community. Capture is a 48-hour film project open to anyone with a digital camera or smartphones. Videos are shot, uploaded, edited and submitted to professional editing teams to create three short competing films. In 2015, Capture was expanded to Kansas City, creating a creative filmmaking competition between two gig cities.

AVA Gallery Exhibitions and Gallery Hop: Ms. Willson created the Community Arts Program in which AVA annually partners with another area nonprofit for the showcasing of their mission and related art in the AVA Gallery. In addition, she reinstated the Art Loan program with select area businesses, expanded opportunities for AVA members to exhibit their works in the AVA galleries, and broadened Gallery Hop to be a collaborative community effort.

Each of these community-wide events and activities has contributed to the expansion of visual arts and the support of the artists in Chattanooga and the surrounding counties. These accomplishments can be attributed to Ms. Willsons strategic restructuring of the organization and development of a highly capable staff. Her focused attention to the execution of the mission and the successes during her tenure leave AVA a stronger organization.

Her latest accomplishment will be the completion of the renovation of AVAs gallery space at 30 Frazier Ave. that is expected to re-open on July 1.

The board of directors of AVA thanks Ms. Willson for her important and passionate service to AVA and the Chattanooga community. A search committee has been appointed to find a new executive director as soon as possible.
Cleveland High School announced the 4th Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees. They are:

Danny Abshire, Class of 1975, co-founder, Newton Running

Deborah Burnette, Class of 1969, captain, United States Navy

Wendy (Clevenger) Cory, Class of 1988, associate professor, College of Charleston

Caleb Crye, Class of 1993, executive director, Crye Precision Designs and Manufacturers

Greg Davis, Class of 1969, educator, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas

Lee Fretwell, Class of 1982, lt. colonel, United States Army

Gregory Hicks, Class of 1992, owner, Impressions Catering

Alan Lacy, Class of 1971, former CEO, Sear Roebuck and Co.

James McKissic, Class of 1990, director, Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, Chattanooga

Aubrey Preston, Class of 1977, entrepreneur, philanthropist

Kevin Tucker, Class of 1993, co-founder, Collide Creative, LLC

Brandon West, Class of 1993, physicians assistant, medical volunteer

It is the mission of the Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize graduates of Cleveland High School "who have high levels of achievement in their field of endeavor and who make significant contributions to that field."

These honored alumni are people who exemplify the tradition of excellence fostered at Cleveland High School. Criteria considered includes: Cleveland High School graduate (alumnus of at least 10 years), outstanding achievement, community impact, life for service and heart of a raider.

The community is invited to a ceremony recognizing their accomplishments on Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. in Raider Arena.

For more information, contact Eric Phillips at 478-1113 or ephillips@clevelandschools.org.
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Myanmar investors are to get a second chance to invest in Malaysias luxury property market. Singapore-based KAE Alliance is selling another set of units at the Paradiso Nuova luxury condo in Medini city, said Ko Naung Ko Ko Latt, the companys sales consultant.





The high-rise condo, on a 2.2-acre (0.88-hectare) plot, involves two 35-storey towers built by the Chinese Zhuoda property group and the Malaysia-based Medini Islanda company.

The development is located in Iskandar, Malaysia, on a purpose-built site near the border with Singapore.

At K250 million, the units are cheaper than some Myanmar luxury condominiums. The Malaysian ringgit has fallen in value this year, so its a good time to invest in Malaysias property market, said Ko Naung Ko Ko Latt.

Units from the first phase of Paradiso Nuovawere first offered for sale in Myanmar in January, said Ko Naung Ko Ko Latt.We sold nine units in phase one, and hope to sell more in the second phase, he said.

Ko Kyaw Min Zin, chief executive officer of KAEs local subsidiary, told The Myanmar Times in January that he hoped to sell 20 apartments to Myanmar buyers at the start of the year. Myanmar buyers who do purchase property will be able to travel to Malaysia without a visa under a special promotion, known as Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), said Ko Naung Ko Ko Latt.

MM2H is promoted by the Malaysian government and provides a 10-year social visit pass for foreigners who meet certain criteria.

The developers will also pay the state tax, 2 percent of the unit price, and service fee, 1pc of the unit price, for one year, he added. This one-year tax payment was available only to Myanmar citizens, he added.





Buyers have to pay 10pc of the unit price when they sign to purchase an apartment and the remainder before the scheduled completion date, he said.

The luxury units, which come with a 90-year guarantee, are due for completion in December 2017. They range in size from 696 square feet to 1475 sq ft.
This is my God, Hein Htet Aung says, pointing a thumb first at himself, and then gesturing proudly to a metre-tall Buddha statue that sits in his familys workshop. My uncle taught me how to carve this and paint them. Next to him, his friends sit in a yard of marble, hunched over, chiseling feet into faceless Buddhas. Thick white dust fills the air and clogs the boys lungs, and they spit wads of betel nut every few minutes, staining the stone red.





Pantamaw, the art of carving stone and marble, is one of Myanmars oldest traditional crafts. For generations, artisans have cleaved slabs of alabaster from the mountain quarries in Sagyin, which translates to marble, and brought the boulders to local workshops and the streets of Mandalay 30 miles (50 kilometres) south. Pantamaw sculpture dates back to the pre-Bagan era, when the highly refined art form took years of apprenticeship training before craftsmen were considered ready to produce figurines. Grandfathers and grandsons have passed their knowledge down to younger generations, and families have carved a livelihood out of this stone.

But the methods that made the marble-carving workshops of old so unique are being replaced. As the power grid in Myanmar continues to stabilise, the use of electric tools is replacing the traditional hammer and chisel, and government-backed private companies are blowing up the mountainsides to more quickly harvest marble for the increasing demand of Buddha statue shipments abroad. As a result, Buddha statues are being mass-produced and machine-made, and many of the young craftsmen skip learning how to create a statue by hand  the pantamaw practice once considered important.

After the government took over, it became more difficult [to get marble], says U San Thein, 78, who Hein Htet Aung eagerly fetched and brought to his workshop before explaining that U San Thein is one of the oldest men in the village. He still remembers a time when the whir of machines didnt fill the air and he crafted Buddhas with a ya tenth sue, a tool cranked by hand to drill a single hole with a skinny, sharp point.

U San Thein, who was born in Sagyin, began carving at the age of 20 under his fathers guidance. Back then, he used to get the marble out of the mountains himself. But during the junta years, the government took control of Kam Ma Taung mountain and now U San Thein has no option but to buy from the government at high prices.

Its difficult to turn a profit that will support your family, he says. This is why many carvers have picked up electric machines, and while it would have taken Hein Htet Aung a month to create a foot-high statue with a ya tenth sue, now it takes him two days.





Ma Mon, 40, is an officer in charge of stone exports for the government and paying the salary of the 85 men who run the dynamite mines and factory on Kam Ma Taung. It used to not be so popular abroad and was a traditional [Myanmar art], but now so many companies are [trying to get in on the business], she says, as dynamite shakes the mountain behind her. The government factory arrived here about 45 to 50 years ago, and then the Myanmar Economic Corporation [MEC].

Koh Thi Ha Tun, 40, the manager of a workshop down the road from Kam Ma Taung mountain, made statues by hand for 10 years. But about a decade ago, more dependable power and electricity came to the area. Blackouts still occur, but he became the first in his family to use machines while carving for a living.

With a buzzing electric saw in his hand, he carves a Buddhas drooping ears in the stone. The owner of the factory Ko Thiha Tun works for adopted machines so that he could grow his business and produce more statues, and in return buy marble from Ya Thate Taung, a high-quality MEC-operated mountain. Its the only way to keep up with the demand and the governments inflated prices, Tun says. It is impossible to only create handmade [statues], it takes too long.

On Kyauk Sit Dan, which translates to stone carving road, not far from Mahamuni Pagoda, a few of Ko Thiha Tuns Buddhas sit under a tarp awning. Carvings rest on every corner, and a group of women sponging and glazing a statue appear older than their years because of the white dust settling in their black hair and on their skin. Soon, their Buddha will be sent to sit regally in a temple in southern Myanmar.

Families from Korea and Thailand will often review a craftsmans work on Kyoto Sit Dan before placing an order for a Buddha to be made on commission. U Aung Soe, 53, fans himself and hikes up his longyi. His son, no more than 18 years old, is working on a carving for a Chinese family. Its a skill passed through generations, but many worry that if the mountains continue to be decimated, the old way of life will disappear too.

In some ways its already faded. U Aung Soes daughter has left for Yangon, because she believes her fathers factory will not be around much longer, even with the demand from foreigners.

As Ma Mon pointed out, Once it is gone, [marble] will become very expensive for Myanmar.
Just as two performers finished their second blues number at Seventh Joint bars open mic night on May 10, the lights turned on. A confused crowd booed.





It was only 10:30pm, too early for the show to be over. But moments later, owner Mario Ebanks stepped to the stage to deliver some unwelcome news  the bar was closing by 11pm due to rumours of police visits from other bars nearby.

The rumours turned out to be true yesterday, when Police Major Thein Aung confirmed that his officers will now be enforcing a curfew of 11pm. Licensing agreements already stipulate that bars and clubs close by that time, but lax enforcement has long allowed revellers plenty of lee way into the midnight hours.

He was unclear on how long police will maintain this newer, more stringent observation of the nightlife.

If the reason is security  a few hours will not change that, said Daniel Ruiz, one of the more than 40 people who left Seventh Joint early. The whole situation affects people who depend on bars being open late, like taxi drivers that do multiple rides  and of course bars will make less money.

He added that he was disappointed, as nobody expected the bar to be shut down so early.

Enforcing the curfew represents the local implementation of the National League for Democracys agenda, which is focused on security, rule of law and reducing crime during its first 100 days in power. Police Major Thein Aung said his officers are merely responding to the new governments orders.





Bars and clubs are allowed to stay open until 11pm regularly, he said, but we do not allow overtime. Their work licences allow sales until 11pm. If they stay open overtime, we will take action according to section 188 of the local laws.

Section 188 states that anyone who disregards the polices orders is subject to one months imprisonment or  in a nod to the legislations colonial-era origins  a fine of 200 rupees.

Curfews are not uncommon in Yangon, with bars closed as early as 9pm during the lead-up to last Novembers election and matriculation exams in March. But this new curfew comes as a surprise to bar operators like Sammy Grill, who manages 50th Street Bar and Grill.

No idea why this is happening, she said, adding that the police had closed 50th Street down at 10pm, not 11pm. I mean, they havent told us anything at all.

Sources from Fahrenheit also confirmed visits from the police late on May 10, but the Fat Ox was apparently given a pass for the night. After being herded out the door, some of the Seventh Joint patrons headed there: It appeared closed from the outside but continued serving drinks until midnight.

Beer stations also heard from police last night.

The police called at 10pm last night and told us that we had to be closed by 11pm at the latest, said Shine Aung, the manager of a beer station on Bo Aung Kyaw Street. They said they were telling every other bar the same.

Tay Zar Soe, who runs Star World restaurant on Bogyoke Aung San Road, said the police visited in person at 10:30pm. The staff had already closed, but left the metal gate open; two police officers stopped to tell them to completely shut the gates.

They did not explain why, we just did it, he said.

Late-night partiers may seek refuge at hoteliers such as Alfa Hotel on Nawaday Street, which has a roof-top bar 12 stories high. On May 10, Alfa remained open until 3am and no police were seen.

Additional reporting by Ashok Manandhar and Toe Wai Aung, translation by San Lay
With the encouragement of Jenise Gordon, head of the GPS Upper School, the sophomore class officers joined with their classmates on Tuesday to plant a dogwood tree in honor of their Class of 2018. The tree replaces a tree on the DeFoor Patio that had to be removed.



Class president Khadija Aslam dedicated the tree by comparing its growth, strength and canopy of leaves to the 106 members of the class. This tree is growing strong on our campus, she said. Each leaf captures sunlight and oxygen, helping the tree to grow taller and the roots stronger. Every one of us contributes to the growth of the class and we keep each other grounded.

She reminded her classmates that the flowering dogwood will be providing shade on the patio and growing strong when the class returns to celebrate their reunions.

Other class officers who took part were Olivia Plunket, vice president; Mary Margaret Arrowsmith, secretary; and Hollis Gaffney, treasurer.
Clashes involving the Tatmadaw and two rival ethnic armed groups persisted yesterday in northern Shan State, as aid convoys started reaching displaced civilians converging on major towns.





Military sources said there was continued fighting between government forces and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme township.

The TNLA was also said to be engaged in heavy fighting with the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), an ethnic Shan non-state group that was among eight ethnic armed groups to sign last years nationwide ceasefire agreement with the then-government and Tatmadaw.

 The tensions between the Shan and Taang armed groups are really high at the moment. The Tatmadaw is trying to control the area to maintain peace and stability there, a Tatmadaw source said.

Casualties were reported but none of the three forces involved released detailed information.

The RCSS and the Tatmadaw both deny accusations by the TNLA that they are coordinating their attacks on the ethnic Taang group, which was excluded along with two allied forces from last Octobers ceasefire pact.

Local residents said the village of Tove San was in flames following heavy weapons fire from the Tatmadaw. As is often the case given the fluid nature of the clashes in northern Shan, the source of the attack could not be confirmed. The TNLA has repeatedly denied being responsible for the burning of more than 50 homes and a Buddhist monastery in Ho Pan village in Namkham township last week.

U Myint Kyaw, chair of the Taang Literature and Cultural Organisation in the border town of Muse, appealed for an end to the fighting between the two armed groups which he said was not a broader conflict between the two peoples. I hope this conflict ends very soon,  he said.





The number of displaced people in the Kyaukme area had risen to close to 1100 by May 10, with people scattered between seven IDP camps, according to U Tin Maung Thein, chair of the Ziwitha Philanthropic Organisation in northern Shan State.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society has distributed some relief items in Hsipaw and distributions in Kyaukme are ongoing today, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday.

It said an inter-agency team of UN and NGO humanitarian staff were travelling yesterday to Kyaukme and Thibaw/Hsipaw for an assessment of humanitarian needs.

OCHA quoted the governments Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) as saying 1037 newly displaced people had arrived in Kyaukme town and were staying in seven sites, while 596 people had gone to the town of Hsipaw and were sheltering in two monasteries.

The RRD has also provided relief kits and food sufficient for three days in both locations, the UN said.
After an MP ranted on social media about a rejected proposal to discuss the IDPs in Rakhine State, the Speaker shot back. U Win Myint told all parliamentarians yesterday they must avoid discrediting the hluttaw to the public.





I would like say avoid making statements that could damage the prestige of the hluttaw and could cause misunderstanding about the activities of the hluttaw, he said.

He made his comment after the Rathedaung township MP for the Arakan National Party, Daw Khin Saw Wai, criticised the Speaker on social media for rejecting a proposal to discuss the armed conflict in Rakhine State.

Daw Khin Saw Wai had submitted an urgent proposal to debate providing aid to IDPs. But the Speaker rejected it on the grounds that, despite what the title of the proposal suggested, the gist would have been to allow the Arakan Army (AA) to participate in the peace talks. The Arakan Army was excluded from last Octobers nationwide ceasefire agreement, and has not been invited to participate in political dialogue. The group is currently involved in skirmishes with the Tatmadaw.

The essence was for the hluttaw to allow the AA to be included in the peace talks, said U Win Myint, referring to the rebuffed proposal.

The Speaker added that it would be a worrisome development for the country if other armed groups sought to channel their demands through the parliament. He emphasised that rejecting the proposal did not mean he does not want to provide help for the refugees.

A similar proposal was submitted in the Amyotha Hluttaw earlier this month by U Wai Sein Aung, an Arakan National Party Amyotha Hluttaw MP. The previous urgent proposal was accepted for debate despite objections from military MPs.

But Daw Khin Saw Wai insists her proposal was unfairly rejected.





I submitted an urgent proposal to provide aid for war-displaced people, but I am not allowed, she said.

He shows his views and his opinions. I also submitted mine. I did it to serve the people I represent. That is democracy, Daw Khin Saw Wai said.

On May 6, Daw Khin Saw Wai had submitted a separate proposal calling on the government to address the citizenship status of Muslims living mainly in Rakhine State whom she referred to as Bengali, but who self-identify as Rohingya.

United Nations workers said 1400 people have been displaced by fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Villages who say they have received too meagre compensation for land seized by large conglomerates in Kachin State have urged the president to resolve the issue.





The appeal was a joint one, with villagers affected by the Myitsone hydropower dam project and a casava plantation operated by Yuzana company joining forces.

In a letter to President U Htin Kyaw, the residents said that if the dispute was not addressed, there could be conflicts. They asked the government to stop the Myitsone project and return the lands seized by Yuzana.

In 2006, Yuzana received more than 300,000 acres of land in the Hukawng Valley area for a cassava plantation. While most of the land was unoccupied, thousands of farmers lost their lands.

Yuzana is chaired by U Htay Myint, a Union Solidarity and Development Party member who was a close ally of former Senior General Than Shwes.

After regional officials failed to act on their complaints, farmers brought charges against Yuzana in 2010. While the farmers won the case, they were awarded compensation of just K80,000 an acre. Appeals to higher courts were rejected.

U Aung Latt, leader of Mungchying Rawt Jat, said the dispute required immediate government action.

If the government doesnt respond to our demands, there will be conflict between us and the company. Therefore, the president must act, he said.





The residents no longer want compensation from the company and just want their lands back, U Aung Latt said.

We believe the NLD [National League for Democracy] government will resolve our issues because the government is elected by the people, he said.

Those resettled because their villages were within the planned Myitsone flood-line said they wanted to move back home, citing health, education and work problems in the new village.

Daw Ja Hkaung, whose farmland in Tang Hpre village was confiscated, said jobs were the main issue.

In the new village, we have problems securing our livelihoods. That is the main point and the government should know it, she said.

The US$3.6 billion hydropower dam project was suspended in 2011 by former President U Thein Sein for the duration of his term. It is up to the new government now to decide on the projects fate. CPI Yunnan International Power Investment Company has said it hopes to restart construction soon.
A former ambassador to the UN who routinely defended the military that incarcerated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is set to become her closest minister.





U Kyaw Tint Swe has been appointed by President U Htin Kyaw and his name will be put to parliament tomorrow as minister for the newly created office of state counsellor, senior National League for Democracy official U Win Htein told The Myanmar Times yesterday.

We assume that he is the most appropriate candidate for the position, with his vast diplomatic experiences, U Win Htein said.

U Zaw Htay, deputy director general of the Presidents Office, declined to comment, saying it was inappropriate to speak before parliament was told.

A veteran of the diplomatic corps, U Kyaw Tint Swe joined the foreign ministry in 1968. The pinnacle of his long career came from 2001 to 2010 when he served as Myanmars ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations.

He later served as vice chair of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), a much criticised body set up under then-president U Thein Sein.

The MNHRC Chairman and Vice-Chairman have routinely denied the existence of human rights violations in Burma and defended the military regimes abysmal human rights record at the UN for nearly 15 years, said Burma Partnership, a network of pro-democracy groups.





At the UN, on several occasions Kyaw Tint Swe claimed that Burma was a victim of a systematic disinformation campaign. He also denied allegations of child soldier recruitment as well as the regimes involvement in the Depayin massacre, Burma Partnership said, referring to an incident in 2003 in which at least 70 NLD associates were killed by a government-backed mob.

Critics have questioned the necessity of setting up a new ministry while the National League for Democracy-led government already has 21 ministries, 18 ministers and five deputy ministers, having pared down the number of ministries set up by U Thein Sein. U Htin Kyaw said the new ministry would help the state counsellor work more effectively.

Parliament approved the presidents May 5 proposal for the new ministry on May 10 through default. No MPs, not even from the unelected military contingent, registered to debate the proposal, allowing it to go through automatically.

The size of her ministry and budget are as yet unknown.

The president told parliament the ministry would tackle national reconciliation, peace, development, rule of law and other government tasks.

U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, says the new ministry is unnecessary.

Shes got legitimate power under the current political circumstances and the constitution. To my understanding, the granting of the state counsellor position to her was quite personal, and it has already created a bottleneck in relations with the military, he said.

As well as his long stint at the UN, 71-year-old U Kyaw Tint Swe served as ambassador to Japan from 1994 to 1997, and was a diplomat in Israel, Malaysia, Germany and Thailand.

From 1998 to 2001 he was director-general of international organisations and economic development at the foreign ministry and also acting director general of the ASEAN department.

He worked closely with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 2013 on the Letpadaung Inquiry Commission looking into the Chinese-operated copper mine in Sagaing Region. The NLD leader, then an MP, chaired the commission whose controversial report did not hold police accountable for using smoke bombs containing phosphorus against protesters and concluded that mining activities could continue.
The government is clamping down on Hpakant jade mines. In its latest bid to curb deadly landslides at the poorly monitored mines, the government has announced no new permits will be issued in the gemstone tract.





Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win stated his decision during the Amyotha Hluttaw session on May 11, in response to a question from a Kachin State representative about the ministrys plans to stop deadly accidents in the area.

U Khin Maung Myint, MP for Kachin State constituency 9, had asked whether the government had a plan to control mining companies, as many people had lost their lives due to environmental degradation as a result of the limitless excavation of jade and because of the undisciplined discarding of mine tailings.

U Ohn Win said new working permits will be granted for new, existing or joint venture blocks in the Lone Khin gemstone tract in Hpakant.

Deaths are not uncommon at the disaster-prone mining outpost, especially near sites where scavengers pick through huge rubble heaps amassed by excavating machines. A landslide in the Lone Khin area killed 114 workers  up to another 100 were left missing  in a single accident last November when a giant pile of tailings collapsed. Dozens more have lost their lives since then, as companies continue to flout environmental and safety rules.

The latest landslide on May 6 buried at least 10 itinerant miners who were hoping to find a bit of luck in the slag heap left by a large company.

The government has pledged it will step up supervision of jade mining in Hpakant, following a visit to the area by U Ohn Win earlier this month.

The ministry  has drawn plans in line with the law, which will allow for jade from Lone Khin to be used by successive generations. Limitless jade excavation will be stopped, the collapse of tailings should not be repeated and environmental impact can disappear, U Ohn Win said.





He added that a second amendment to the Myanmar Gemstones Law had been enacted on January 29 and that the ministry was currently drafting by-laws that would limit the numbers of blocks awarded to different companies.

While the jade industry at Hpakant has become synonymous with corruption, lawlessness and drug addiction, it is also staggeringly lucrative for the few firms reaping a profit. According to a recent report by international watchdog Global Witness, which calls the mines a dystopian wasteland, approximately US$31 billion worth of jade was unearthed by mostly military-backed mining companies last year. The figure for the past decade could be more than $120 billion.

The Lone Khin gemstone tract in Hpakant is 1,744,757 acres. Currently, 305 joint ventures with the state and 7344 privately owned businesses have been granted working permits in the area.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
In response to protests outside the site of a controversial, re-launched copper mine, the company behind the project released a statement ridiculing the demonstration as representing a reckless minority.





We have overwhelming support for this project, the Myanmar subsidiary of Chinese-backed Wanbao said in a May 10 statement.

We are saddened that a small group of people see disruption and anger as a way to bring attention to their views, it continued.

Villagers organised a swelling protest at the end of last week after Wanbao Mining Company, which jointly operates the mine along with military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, said operations would resume on May 5.

The project has long been mired in controversy, accused of environmental degradation and land grabs. Activists protesting the project have been met with violent police crackdowns, including in 2012 when police tried to disrupt a demonstration by using white phosphorous, an internationally prohibited chemical weapon. Scores of protesters, including monks, were left with disfiguring burns.

In December 2014 Daw Khin Win, of Moe Kyo Pyin village, was shot dead, reportedly by police, though no charges were laid.

But Wanbao insists it has made good faith efforts to engage with the local community in Sagaing Region, and has even got the majority on board.





71% of land-lost villagers accept[ed] our second subsidy and 83% among 35 villagers who were consulted accept[ed] our contribution plan, Wanbaos statement said.

Wanbao has not returned The Myanmar Times repeated calls for comment.

But according to Satae villager Ma Mar Shwe, the local administrators fixed the list of residents willing to accept compensation.

Many didnt take the compensation, but the administration department wanted a list which showed most of the villagers were willing take the compensation. So they made one, she said.

Residents are calling on the government to intervene, and have said the mine should not be allowed to resume, as it has yet to meet the requirements outlined in a 2013 parliamentary inquiry headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The commission recommended that construction should continue, but only if certain conditions were met, such as better transparency, land grab compensation and an environmental impact plan.

According to the protesters, the investigation commission said that 1900 acres of land would be returned to the farmers, but many farmers have yet to be given anything.

Wanbao said the only way forward must be peaceful dialogue but added the locals have rebuffed invitations.

If they accepted our offers of real dialogue they would have learnt from us directly how we have followed the recommendations of the Investigation Commission and have applied them rigorously, in terms of land subsidies, contribution plan, environmental monitoring, job creation, and SME development, the statement said.

Daw Mar Cho, a protest leader from Tone Ywar village, said if Wanbao is truly offering to negotiate, the locals will accept a four-party meeting with Wanbao, Myanmar Economic Holdings, the government and locals.

U Thein Naing, the Salingyi township National League for Democracy chair and a region hluttaw MP, arranged for a temporary cessation of the protest in order to hold a meeting with the region chief minister. The date has yet to be fixed.

If he wont accept to meet with the locals, I will raise the question in hluttaw about why he wont, U Thein Naing said.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Myanmar's Lower House has voted to cancel the controversial Parkway Hospital lease.





The US$70 million, 250-bed hospital was slated for development on a Ministry of Health owned plot in downtown Yangon.

Health officials have argued that the 4.4-acre site just down the street from Yangon General Hospital could be put to better use for the public. The private hospital facility, critics maintain, would be financially out of reach for most Yangon residents.

Seven MPs discussed the long-term lease to Malaysian firm IHH Healthcare through a Singaporean subsidiary. The parliamentarians agreed with National League for Democracy representative U San Shwe Win who had proposed cancelling the project. He said the hospital would bring no benefit to the people and the agreement has not been conducted transparently. Health Minister Dr Myint Htwe also supported cancelling the hospital deal.

IHH Healthcare broke ground at the Lanmadaw township site in January, and had anticipated the project would be complete by 2020.

On February 26, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar carried an article titled Parkway plot not sold in response to rumours that the government had sold the 4.4-acre site to a foreign consortium. The article said the land had been leased under a 50-year contract after which the hospital would revert to government ownership.

The Myanmar Times was not able to immediately reach the Malaysian investors or local partners in the hospital project for comment.
The US will be careful in its choice of wording and avoid inflaming tensions with the term Rohingya, American ambassador Scot Marciel reportedly told Thura U Shwe Mann.





The two met yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw, according to a Facebook post by the expelled Union Solidarity and Development Party leader.

Thura U Shwe Mann, who heads the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues, said the ambassador acknowledged the term is disliked and even unacceptable for many Myanmar people. The ambassador reportedly said he had no choice but to avoid using the term.

Just one day prior, in his first address as Myanmar ambassador, Mr Marciel said the US respects the internationally condoned norm of letting people self-identify. He did not himself use the controversial terminology however.

The debate around the term Rohingya has flared since nationalists staged a protest outside the US embassy in Yangon on April 28, condemning a recent statement that used the term.

Capitulating to pressure from groups like Ma Ba Tha  formally called the Committee to Protect Race and Religion  Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi requested the US avoid the term.

Spokesperson for the ministry Daw Aye Aye Soe told TIME magazine that the government is not objecting [to] the term [Rohingya] but requesting not to use it.

If the US can be more careful, relations between Myanmar and the US can progress, Thura U Shwe Mann said.





The Rohingya are not included among the official list of 135 recognised ethnic groups and they were excluded from the 2014 census.

Under the previous government, the term Bengali was officially used to refer to Muslim residents of Rakhine State who self-identify as Rohingya. The new government has shied away from using the term Bengali which has been used to suggest the residents are interlopers from Bangladesh. When pressed, government spokespeople have so far declined to provide the preferred, official terminology.
A crackdown on crime in Yangon under the new NLD government has widened to include bars staying open late at night, including haunts favoured by the foreign community.





Police patrols on the night of May 10 targeted street-side beer stations as well as high-profile bars, with managers ordered to close on time at 11pm or face court action.

In recent weeks bars in downtown Yangon had been keeping their doors open well beyond specified closing times, taking advantage of what had appeared to be a relaxation of rules following months of periodic clampdowns.

But Police Major Thein Aung made clear yesterday that the 11pm closing time would be enforced as part of the new governments 100-days crackdown on crime and rule-of-law campaign. Illegal massage parlours have also been raided and closed and will be prosecuted, police said.

Brigadier-General Win Naing of the Yangon police told a meeting of security chiefs on May 10 that the wider crackdown on crime had started on May 1. Since then, he said, police had seized 70 suspects, including deserters from the police and army, escapees from labour camps and criminal fugitives.

Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein of the National League for Democracy said police forces in the city had to be brought up to strength to ensure the peoples safety. Speaking at the May 10 security meeting, the chief minister pledged to target criminal gangs, particularly those that had made death threats against the police, The Global New Light of Myanmar, a government daily,reported yesterday.

Police numbers would be raised and modern equipment provided, the chief minister was quoted as saying.





Statistics cited by security chiefs on the size of Yangon Regions police force suggested that Myanmars largest city and surrounding rural areas are well short on manpower and even decreasing. The figure given of 5780 police officers for the entire region would represent less than one third of the number of police per capita in next-door Thailand.

According to UN date from 2012, Myanmar overall had 154 police per 100,000 people, while Thailand had 344 on average and Cambodia 428.

Colonel Tin Aung Tun, the military-appointed regional minister for security and border affairs, said a system of reward and punishment would be implemented within the police during the 100-days plan. It was unacceptable to keep taking in bad members that can affect the whole organisation, he said, according to the government daily.

The General Administration Department, which issues licences to venues to serve alcohol, sets closing times at 11pm. In the past this rule has often been broken. Last year, police also clamped down on closing times using a report of an attack by a male taxi driver on a female passenger to reinforce the law.

Translation by San Lay
On May 20, the national emergency that underpins the remaining US sanctions on Myanmar will expire unless renewed by President Barack Obama.





The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) provides most of the legal authority for US sanctions for Myanmar. The statute grants the president broad authority to regulate transactions subject to US jurisdiction. However, the president must first trigger those authorities by declaring a national emergency with respect to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.

Three presidents have renewed the national emergency 17 times already, suggesting that the 18th would be a fairly routine step to maintain the existing measures. President Bill Clinton declared such a threat for Myanmar in 1997, determining the government of Myanmar had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Myanmar and the actions and policies of the government of Myanmar constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat. Presidents George W Bush and Obama subsequently expanded the scope of that national emergency based on the developing situation in Myanmar.

However, allowing the national emergency to lapse would be much more than a symbolic action. The last 12 months were no routine year in Myanmar. In light of the landmark elections last November and the rise to power of Daw Aung Sun Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), many in Myanmar are speculating whether Mr Obama will renew the emergency, thereby maintaining the sanctions.

If Mr Obama were to allow the national emergency to lapse in mid-May, the sanctions that rest on that national emergency and imposed pursuant to those executive orders would expire. While that may seem appropriate given the great strides Myanmar has made toward democracy and an open society in the past few years, the decision would have significant practical consequences for Myanmar, US businesses, and the authority of the current American administration as well as the next to shape Myanmar policy. If the national emergency is not renewed, the following restrictions and authorities will evaporate.

Reporting requirements for new investments

A centerpiece of the US administrations initial efforts to ease sanctions on Myanmar in 2012 was the reporting requirements on new investments in the country. While the administration did not outright lift the ban on new investments in Myanmar, the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a general licence to allow new investments so long as any US persons investing an aggregate of US$500,000 in Myanmar file an annual report with the Department of State. The report must outline a range of policies and procedures with respect to the investment. This includes human rights, labour rights, land rights, community consultations and stakeholder engagement, environmental stewardship, anticorruption, arrangements with security service providers, risk and impact assessment and mitigation, payments to the government, investments with Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), and contact with the military or non-state armed groups. In addition, a US person undertaking a new investment pursuant to an agreement with MOGE must notify the Department of State.





The reporting requirements were an unprecedented way to ease sanctions in Myanmar while also promoting transparency and cementing the brand of US companies as transparent and accountable. Over a dozen companies have filed reports. Three years later, these reporting requirements would lapse if the national emergency, and therefore the ban on new investments, were to expire.

Individual and entity designations

A number of the executive orders for Myanmar authorise the blocking of individuals and entities designated because of certain specified behavior in the country. The orders designate a number of individuals and entities, and authorise the Secretary of the Treasury to designate further persons who meet the specified criteria. Once designated, any of the persons property that is subject to US jurisdiction is blocked, and US persons are prohibited from engaging in any transaction involving the blocked person. These individuals and entities are placed on OFACs List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN list).

The existing criteria for designations cover a continuum of activities from providing support to the government to engaging in human rights abuses in Myanmar. The largest number of blocked individuals and entities fall into the former category.

Approximately a dozen individuals were designated for providing support to the government when it was under the control of the military junta, the so-called cronies. These individuals tend to be quite wealthy  often as a result of benefiting from government contracts  and own a significant number of companies, all of which are subject to the same blocking restrictions.

Many state-owned enterprises, including the commercial branches of the military, are under the same restrictions for US persons. Given the vast holdings of these individuals and the military, these designations put much of the Myanmar economy off-limits for US businesses. As a result, Myanmar has faced some significant practical problems such as those stemming from US banks refusal to process fees for imports to Myanmar because of an SDNs ownership interests in the ports.

The US government has initiated a program for de-listing the SDNs and has developed criteria for de-listing the cronies as well as separate criteria for the state-owned enterprises. The criteria, like the investment reporting requirements, are intended to encourage reforms for Myanmar, including cutting commercial ties with the military, promoting responsible business conduct, and respecting land rights. If the national emergency is not renewed, the designations will be lifted and the de-listing process made moot.

Jade and ruby import ban

In August 2013, the statutory ban on importing Myanmar goods to the United States expired. However, because of the continuing concerns about the state of the jade and ruby mining industries in Myanmar, the president issued an executive order to maintain the ban on those minerals pursuant to the national emergency declared under IEEPA. As a result, the jade and ruby import ban would lapse if the president did not renew the national emergency. The administration continues to have concerns over labour and human rights in the jade and ruby mining industry, and most of these mines are located in areas of Myanmar with long-simmering ethnic tensions.

The presidents decision whether to renew the national emergency for Myanmar will have significant consequences, which is likely to weigh heavily against a major shift in the administrations approach to the national emergency. If the president does renew the national emergency, the administration is likely to include a package of measures to ease sanctions in recognition of the significant steps taken toward democracy over the past year, and to encourage US business to enter the Myanmar market. Many in both the United States and Myanmar are eagerly anticipating the presidents choice.

David Mortlock is a partner in the Government Relations Group of Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Washington. This article originally appeared at KWR International on May 5.
A Tradition Returns



A little over 20 years ago, each graduating class was honored with a dinner and nostalgic presentation by a selected faculty member. The Senior Dinner tradition, which stopped in the early 1990s, returned on Tuesday.

I have learned about a few traditions that are no longer a part of our GPS experience, said Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves, finishing only her second year at the helm. The Senior Dinner is one of those and one that I thought important to bring back.

Her introduction to the evening was followed by an invocation by math teacher Diane Walker, who noted that the dinner was the girls last meal at GPS. She encouraged the seniors to instead think of the dinner as the first meal together in a lifelong sisterhood who have been honored to wear the GPS dress. Love, serve, and encourage one another, she said.

After dining hall favorites such as poppy seed chicken and chocolate chip cookies, the event turned to talks by faculty member Callie Hamilton, a teacher who has taught each girl at least once if not twice; and alumnae Bailey Hixon Bullard 06 and Anne Campeau Burley 05.

Mentioning each girl and her talents, mischievousness, interests, leadership, and personality, Ms. Hamilton compared the seniors' seven years at the school to a kaleidoscope backlit with friendships. Noting that kaleidoscope is a Greek word meaning beautiful to see, she described the girls as scientists, mavericks, techies, creatives, multi-faceted, curious scholars, and optimistic problem-solvers. Looking out over the tables of seniors, many who had re-purposed their May Day dresses for the event, and several who were wiping away tears, she challenged them to savor this present of saltiness and sweetness. GPS, she said, has been enriched by your diversity. The world needs more like you.

Welcoming the Class of 2016 into the sisterhood of GPS alumnae, Bailey Bullard said, GPS has equipped you with the ability to run toward danger, to reach beyond your level of comfort and to shake up the conventional idea of wisdom. Remember how you got where you are and those teachers who inspired you.
Almost half a century ago, there was a famous television show in the United States called All in the Family.





It was such an immense hit that it became the first series to be rated as the most popular in the country for five consecutive years. It was funny and down-to-earth, and its characters spoke common street language that was rather shocking, if not borderline profane in that era.

The parents and their daughter and son-in-law argued constantly over the same silly things we all argue over; but they always stayed together and ultimately made up.

That is how it is in this regions politics these days and it is becoming more pronounced  not just the family ties, but the bickering and the begrudging reconciliation.

Take a look at Singapore, for instance, where the long-ruling Peoples Action Party held a by-election on May 7 after one of its members had quit due to an extramarital affair.

The PAP retained the seat, which rather deliciously was the second consecutive by-election caused by the resignation of a government MP over an extramarital affair.

Still, lets not dwell on how supposedly squeaky-clean PAP members cannot keep their pants on, but rather consider how the surrounding events illustrated a fascinating and TV worthy family squabble.





Shortly before the by-election, Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of Singapores founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, berated her brother, the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for exploiting their fathers death.

Ms Lee made this accusation publicly when she alleged that Singapores flagship newspaper, The Straits Times, had rejected an article she had written about her brothers abuse of power.

She said she could not stand idly by and allow her revered fathers name to be sullied by a dishonourable son.

According to Ms Lee, who said she was at odds with her brother on a matter of principle, their late father would have cringed at the excessive hero worship bestowed on him by the government.

PM Lee replied that he was deeply saddened by his sisters comments, especially her claim that events marking the one-year anniversary of their fathers death were an attempt to foster a political dynasty.

He rubbished the notion, saying, Meritocracy is a fundamental value of our society, and neither I, the PAP, nor the Singapore public would tolerate any such attempt.

Of course, the fact that his father ruled Singapore for 31 years and that he has now ruled for another 12 years, does not indicate in any way that there is a family dynasty being established in Singapore.

He is just following standard practice in the region, as indicated yet again by the stunning performance of Ferdinand Marcos Jr in this weeks elections in the Philippines.

Although his namesake father became a much reviled dictator, the Marcos name  and the family wealth  have propelled Marcos Jr into a neck-and-neck fight for the nations vice presidency.

Nor should we forget Malaysias all-in-the family politics, where Prime Minister Najib Razak is the son of Razak Hussein and the nephew of Hussein Onn, both former prime ministers.

Ironically, Najibs family, like Singapores bickering Lees, have turned on him over an allegedly corrupt US$700 milion payment to his bank account from a debt-ridden investment fund of which he is the chair.

Recently Najibs younger brother, Nazir, took a leave of absence from being the head of one of the regions biggest banks, CIMB, and joined with his mother and siblings in chastising Najib for maligning their fathers reputation.

Talk about all in the family  the television show had nothing on the feuding Malaysians and Singaporeans, whose ruling families have honed it to a fine art.

And it does not seem to faze the general public. After all, whether the corruption charges against Najib are true or not, he has just helped his governments coalition partner in Sarawak win a landslide election.

So there you go: Family ties, landslide wins, it all sounds familiar when you think of our own dear leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmars founding father, General Aung San.

She has not criticised her father about anything, at least not as yet; although looking at Lee and Najib, as well as other ruling elites in Brunei, Cambodia and Indonesia, it cannot be ruled out.

Certainly, there are differences between father and daughter. For instance, let us recall U Razak, one of the revered comrades who was assassinated with Gen Aung San in 1947.

He graduated from the prestigious Rangoon College, where he upset the governor when he helped lead a student boycott against the British colonial education system.

He was noticed by Gen Aung San, who judged people by their merit, not the colour of their skin or their ethnicity or their religion, which in U Razaks case was Muslim.

Gen Aung San brought him into the family of future leaders and appointed him minister for education and national planning in the pre-independence cabinet. Regrettably, the assassinations ended those dreams.

Three years ago, looking ahead to a future National League for Democracy government, I wrote, Under Aung Sans daughter Suu Kyi there will be no Muslims in the cabinet and precious few, if any, in her entire party.

That is the case today. It is a profound break from what her father would have done, but it is all in the family for this region.
[May 12, 2016] Infographic: Mississippi Moms and Amazon Win Big in P3 Mother's Day 2016 Insights

MORRISTOWN, N.J., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mother's Day may have started in West Virginia in 1908, but it's Mississippi moms who saw the biggest increase in wireless phone calls from family and friends on Mother's Day 2016. And when it comes to gifts, Amazon.com racked up the most traffic from smartphones during the week leading up to the annual tribute to Mom. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366483-INFO This year marked the first annual look at the Mother's Day communications habits of America's digital natives by P3 group, the global company that set the worldwide standard for wireless network benchmarking, testing and measurement. The P3 snapshot is based on real data collected anonymously from more than 3,000 smartphone users across the United States during Mother's Day week, May 1- 8, 2016. Voice call data and app usage were compared to use during an average week. "Apparently children in the Southeast really love their Moms," said Dirk Bernhardt CEO of P3 communications, Inc. "Historically, there are more calls made on Mother's Day than any other day of the year. While calls in Mississippi on Mother's Day showed the greatest increase over an average Sunday, Alabama came in a close second, followed by Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee." With the National Retail Federation predicting Mother's Day spending of $21.4 billion this year, the P3 study showed online retail titan Amazon.com enjoyed a significant increase in mobile traffic in the week leading up to Mother's Day. Other one-stop shops, eBay and Walmart.com, came in second and hird respectively. While the use of shopping apps was higher than normal throughout the entire week, online shopping peaked on Thursday, May 5th, likely the last day for an on-time delivery for Mother's Day.



Other apps that had fewer users, but showed a strong surge in usage during Mother's Day week, were online marketplace OfferUp and Geek  Smarter Shopping. "The jump in traffic on these two lesser known, but increasingly popular, sites suggests that Millennials and others were looking for good buys and tech gifts were popular choices for Mom this year," Bernhardt said.

Other interesting Mother's Day usage trends uncovered in the P3 study include the fact that participating users consistently made one more call than they would on a normal Sunday  a call to Mom, of course. "Callers in our study also did not want to keep Mom waiting for her Mother's Day greeting," Bernhardt added. "The volume of calls placed in the morning increased significantly over a normal Sunday." P3's crowdsourced panel is comprised of smartphone users who download P3's proprietary measurement software via a variety of apps, including U get, which enables them to test their personal wireless performance. U get works in the background 24/7 anonymously recording individual, everyday smartphone use. It shows data speeds and signal strength, and time spent on 4G LTE, 3G, 2G and WiFi networks. Available for Android devices at Google Play, consumers who download the free P3 apps will join the global community of smartphone users who contribute to studies like this one. For a copy of P3's Mother's Day Infographic and more information about the U get app, visit http://uget-app.com/. About P3

P3 is a global consulting, management and engineering services company, with a rapidly growing team of more than 3,000 consultants and engineers working to develop and implement innovative solutions to today's complex technology challenges. Offering a broad portfolio of services and proprietary tools to the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and energy industries, P3 adds tangible value that helps clients succeed at every stage, from innovation to implementation. In the Americas, P3 has offices in Morristown, N.J; Detroit, Mich.; Dallas, Texas; Greenville, S.C.; Los Angeles and San Jose, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Wash.; Mississauga and Montreal, Canada; and Mexico City, Mexico. For more information please visit www.p3-group.com. CONTACT:

Lynette Viviani

973-534-1004

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infographic-mississippi-moms-and-amazon-win-big-in-p3-mothers-day-2016-insights-300267117.html SOURCE P3 Group

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The Little Caesars Love Kitchen will roll into the Chattanooga Community Kitchen to provide Little Caesars pizza meals for approximately 275 people in need on Saturday.

The Love Kitchen was created to provide quality meals for people who need them, said Little Caesars franchisee Tom Getz. As a member of the area business community, its important for us to support people when they need it and help make the community stronger. Were excited to support this program with food and staff to provide a quality meal for people who otherwise may not get one.

The Little Caesars Love Kitchen has fed more than three million people in 48 states and four Canadian provinces. It has also responded to disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as the site of the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the 1995 Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. Established by Little Caesars in 1985, the Love Kitchen exemplifies Little Caesars tradition of giving back to Americas communities, said officials.

We know that its important to reach out to the communities where we do business and help make a difference, said David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars Inc. As a family company, we are proud to work together with our local franchisees and company-owned stores to coordinate the vehicle, staff and food and to be there for the people in Chattanooga who need assistance.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush awarded The President's Volunteer Action Award Citation to Little Caesars for its volunteers' contributions to the Love Kitchen. Little Caesars also received a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives for the Love Kitchen program under the Reagan administration. It has received a certificate of appreciation from the State of Michigan and was recognized by the Detroit City Council for its efforts in the Gulf Coast region.

Local Little Caesars franchise owners and company regional offices donate all food and labor costs for the Love Kitchen servings. An estimated 50,000 Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered their time over the years to support the program in their local communities.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies. By Ashraf Shazly (AFP/File)

12.05.2016 LISTEN

Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir returned Thursday from a "short visit" to Uganda, his first trip to Kampala since his International Criminal Court indictment in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Sudan's official news agency SUNA had earlier reported that Bashir was on a two-day visit to Uganda, which is a signatory of the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

"From the start this was meant to be a short visit. It was only to attend a special event," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Ismail told reporters at Khartoum airport after Bashir returned.

In Kampala, Bashir attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Musevini, who took office for a fifth consecutive term.

Relations between Khartoum and Kampala have been strained for years amid accusations that both support rebel groups in each other's country.

But after South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, ties improved, with Museveni visiting Khartoum last year.

Sudan has previously accused Uganda of backing rebel groups in the south before independence as well as in the vast war-torn region of Darfur.

Several leaders of Sudanese rebel groups from Darfur still reside in Uganda.

Kampala for its part has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group from Uganda.

Hours after he left for Uganda, rights group Amnesty International urged Kampala to arrest Bashir given that it has signed up to the ICC.

"Uganda must face up to its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide," Amnesty's director for East Africa, Muthoni Wanyeki, said in a statement.

"Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict."

But Ismail said: "The visit was successful ... The people of Uganda and officials of Uganda gave President Bashir an official and public welcome."

Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan that he denies.

Darfur has been gripped by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region.

Bashir launched a brutal counter-insurgency, in which at least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million forced to flee their homes, according to figures released by the United Nations.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies. By Ashraf Shazly (AFP/File)

12.05.2016 LISTEN

Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir flew to Uganda Thursday, state media reported, in his first visit to Kampala since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged war crimes in war-torn Darfur.

The rare-two day visit to Uganda -- a signatory of the Hague-based International Criminal Court -- is aimed at boosting often-fraught ties.

Relations have been strained for years amid accusations that both Khartoum and Kampala support rebel groups in each other's country.

But after South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, ties improved slightly, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visiting Khartoum last year.

"President Omar al-Bashir has left for a two-day visit to Uganda," the official SUNA news agency reported.

Sudan has previously accused Uganda of backing rebel groups in the south before independence as well as in Darfur.

Kampala for its part has accused Khartoum of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group from Uganda.

Even now several leaders of Sudanese rebel groups from Darfur reside in Uganda.

Experts say Bashir's visit is part of his strategy to enhance relations with neighbouring countries in an attempt to curb their influence on rebel groups in Darfur and other conflict-hit regions of Sudan.

Bashir was indicted by the ICC in 2009 for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies.

Darfur has been gripped by conflict since 2003, when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Bashir, complaining that his Arab-dominated government was marginalising the region.

Bashir launched a brutal counter-insurgency, in which at least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million forced to flee their homes, according to figures released by the United Nations.

He is accompanied on his visit to Kampala by Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the head of the powerful National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohamed Atta, along with other senior Sudanese officials.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

"Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, 'I saw a little cloud about the size of a hand rising from the sea... " 1Kings 18:44

Divine projects will always start like a little cloud, but will end up a rainstorm! True! When God wants to do any great thing, it always starts small and if you are not careful, you will be tempted to ignore, despise or even trample it. But we have long been warned not to despise the days of the little beginnings.

In fact, Jesus summed it up by telling us about the mustard seed phenomenon in the kingdom, "though it is currently the smallest, but it will definitely grow into greatness, tall above others. And not just the growth, it will also serve as a shelter for so many". Now, I have a mandate to tell you that that project in your hands will grow beyond your wildest imagination. Yes, you're starting small, but look at it growing rapidly and overtaking others!

Why are you despising this little beginning? Has God done anything big that did not start small? When He wanted to flood the earth with people, He started with just one man - Adam. When He decided to bless the whole world, He called out an Abraham. When He planned to save the whole of mankind, He sent in a little baby that was born in a manger to an unknown carpenter.

When it was expedient to save His bruised people from the merciless Egyptian taskmasters, He also sent a new baby born to another unknown family; who was later abandoned to hope on the Nile (the river that is known for some of the most dangerous reptiles and crocodiles). He later became a frustrated fugitive and cattle rarer in a foreign land. But when it was time, the vision spoke and Moses accomplished the dramatic, commando deliverance of the Jews, and also became of the greatest prophets ever-lived. The only that constantly spoke with God face to face.

Today, God is telling you that that project in your hands will grow mightily. You are in for a divine surprise. Yes, it is starting just as a thought, a dream, a sketch, but it will grow and overtake others. This prophecy is for you and that is why you're coming in contact with it today. As long as you believe what you are reading now, these words must surely come to pass in your life. Now, look at our main text at the beginning.

When God was to release (restore) rain to Israel after a three and half year drought, it came through the same principle. The drought came because of Israel's disobedience. They left the true God - God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel and were worshiping idols. Now, after Elijah defeated the false prophets at that decisive battle of Mount Carmel, he immediately announced to King Ahab, "Get thee up, eat and drink: for I hear a sound of abundance of rain." My God!

Even when the rain was yet to come, the man of God was already hearing the sound of the heavy rainstorm in the spirit. And this is because the Almighty had spoken to him. What are you hearing in the spirit now?? Do you know that the spirit controls the physical? Now, immediately after the declaration, Elijah climbed the top of the mountain, hid his face between his knees and began to pray down the rain. You cannot birth the will of God in your life, family, business, relationship, in your nation without prayer. Prayer is the master key. True!

As he prayed, he sent out his servant to see if the rain was coming and the guy saw nothing. But at the seventh time, the servant reported that he saw a little cloud like a man's hand rising from the sea and Elijah shouted, "That is it!" The rain immediately followed in torrents. It was indeed a great storm! Out of this small beginning, there is going to be a mighty rainstorm! The word of God does not fail. As I write, I'm already hearing this sound of the abundance of that rain coming your way. The release and restoration will be sudden, great, complete and unprecedented. A rainstorm! Share this with others. Till next week, God bless!

Rev. Agbo is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer. Website: Pastor Gabriel N Agbo (author) on AuthorsDen Tel: 08037113283 E-mail: [email protected]
One is a democracy; the other, a monarchy. But one thing that stands Ghana and Morocco out among fellow African countries is political stability.

In contrast to many of its neighbours, Ghana has had two decades of stable democracy, with free and open elections, and where electoral disputes are resolved by judges, not armed factions.

It also has comparatively low levels of corruption and a lack of broader social instability.

This political track record rightly inspires enthusiasm both in and towards Ghana. Stable governments, combined with its lucrative deposits of oil, gold and agricultural commodities, have made Ghana a key destination for foreign investors.

This, combined with rapid economic growth, has helped bolster investment, as have strong relations with the likes of the UK, the US, the EU and, increasingly, emerging powers such as China, India and South Africa. In fact, the country often punches above its weight in the diplomatic arena.

Like Ghana, Morocco also ranks as a medium risk country, ahead of every other country in North Africa in terms of safety and stability, according to a new report.

Morocco is a monarchy of North Africa, relatively stable, with a business environment relatively strong compared to other countries in the region, and a moderate level of political risk. The difficult transitions that took place in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Libya were a lesson for the Moroccan population, which reduces the pressure on King Mohammed VI, who has strengthened the role [of the government and parliament] while retaining the ultimate power, said an analysis accompanying the map by the consulting company AON.

The map, which has been published annually for 19 years, measures the level of political risk in several emerging countries in the world as an informational tool for companies looking to invest abroad.

Three of Moroccos neighbors on the Mediterranean Sea  namely, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt  were classified as high risk countries, and Mauritania, which neighbors the kingdom from the south, fell in the same category. Tunisia fared better, as it was listed in medium-high risk category.

The report says it expects Morocco to grow in the long-term as it has managed to attract many European companies to conduct their Africa operations from Casablanca, but the authors added that the neighboring continents economic vulnerabilities and the kingdoms unpredictably hostile weather conditions could hurt future economic growth  as it has this year.

The 2015 report also identified some key indicators for foreign investors considering opportunities in Morocco, including the default risk probability  reflecting the chances a government does not repay its debts  which amounts to 0.96 percent and the likelihood of confiscation  measuring the probability that a business is confiscated or appropriated by the local government  which stands at a mere 0.54 percent.

With its 32,987,206 people, Morocco is the 38th largest country in the world by population; and, the 58th largest country in the world by area with 446,550 square kilometers.

But would Ghana and Morocco let their shared commonality of political stability rub off on their fellow African countries? Can these two good apples make good the whole bunch?

Ironically, ties between the two countries run deep from 1961 when Ghana's first President Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah and Morocco's King Mohammed V played crucial roles in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, now African Union or AU) through their strategic leadership of the Casablanca Group.

The Casablanca Group which also comprised Algeria, Egypt, Guinea, Libya and Mali pursued a radical, progressive stance in the then burgeoning Africa emancipation struggle, and shared values on the question of African unity, which culminated in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.

Ghana and Morocco have also been important members of the non-aligned movement since 1961.

Morocco proclaimed the principle of non-alignment immediately after independence in and subsequently launched a struggle for the evacuation of foreign troops from the country as well as the closing of foreign military bases. In 1961, the last French troops withdrew from Morocco. In 1963, the United States was also compelled to close its military bases in Morocco.

Similarly, Ghana, at independence, adopted a policy of non-alignment with any of the major world powers; but rather adopted a pragmatic outlook in seeking economic cooperation with a number of countries, both in the East and West.

Both countries are equally committed to good neighbourliness, regional economic wellbeing and maintenance of peace and security locally and in the sub-region and beyond so much so that they are among Africa's leading contributors of military troops involved in UN peacekeeping operations.

Today, both traditional allies may have beaten different economic tracks and churned different results decades after their initial collaboration on pan-African unity, but with a new understanding in Accra and Rabat, the two stars of Africa can again lead the way to a new era of stable African states holding hands together to this century truly Africa's century.

African Leaders

Ghana's President John Mahama (1)

Ghana's President John Mahama (2)
Following months of renovations, Terra Mae has reopened its doors with a "fresh, swanky" look inspired by the glamour of old Hollywood, as well as a new menu full of international flavor.

Matilda Midnight, a cocktail bar in the same building, is also up and running. The bars look and feel is intended to emulate a starlit evening, and its separate menu features a variety of traditional spirits and original concoctions, as well as an assortment of small plates.

Owner Seija Ojanpera bought Terra Mae and the hotel where it resides  the Stone Fort Inn  in November 2015. Rebranded as The Dwell Hotel, the former bed-and-breakfast has been transformed by Mr. Ojanpera into a boutique hotel. Each of the 16 retro-posh suites boasts well designed luxury while honoring the historic charm inherent to the building, said officials.

The Dwell Hotel, Terra Mae and Matilda Midnight will exceed the expectations of discerning travelers, foodies and cocktail enthusiasts  whether theyre staying for the weekend, dining for an evening or popping in for a nightcap, Mr. Ojanpera said. We cant wait for locals and out-of-towners to experience the unique, retro-glam ambiance  and of course, to taste our completely revamped Terra Mae menu and sip cocktails under the stars at Matilda Midnight.

The design updates and changes were made with events in mind: Terra Maes various spaces can be used for private dining and reception areas, and hotel blocks are available at The Dwell Hotel. LErin Chidester, the hotel and event manager, is on staff to plan menus and manage logistics before, during and after events  such as luncheons, showers, dinner parties and wedding receptions.

This beautiful building has served as a place of hospitality and happy gatherings for many years, and my hope and vision is to further its original purpose through these three brands, Mr. Ojanpera said. We cant think of a better spot to call home than downtown Chattanooga, and we hope to become among the fabulous mainstays that have made this city what it is.
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The Deputy Communications Minister, Ato Sarpong has urged the telecommunication companies in the country to desist from opposing the proliferation of new technologies.

According to the minister, rather than openly calling for a stringent regulation of these new technologies, the telcos should learn to take advantage of them to expand their businesses.

Mr. Sarpongs comment comes in the wake of a public outcry following a publication by the National Communication Authority (NCA) that it had received a petition from the telcos calling for a restriction on international voice calls transacted via the internet such as Whatsapp.

The NCA on May 11 issued a statement diffusing some claims making the round in the media that it is considering the petition by the telcos.

The telcos regulator argued it is yet to take a decision on the petition and assured Ghanaians that any decision taken would be in the interest of the nation.

But reacting to the issue, Mr. Sarpong said it is unthinkable to oppose technologies especially considering their many benefits to developing countries.

He argued, As government and as regulators, I dont think it is our responsibility to regulate technology and how it affects the lives of people.

We believe that it is the responsibility of MNOs [Mobile Network Operators] and regulators to take advantage of new technologies as we are doing, he said.

He encouraged the MNOs to look more into the future, change your business now to take advantage of new technologies and new trends that will come.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe

12.05.2016 LISTEN

Former Ghanas Ambassador to Serbia, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, has accused Nana Akufo Addo of neglecting families of eight persons who lost their lives in the epic Kumi Preko demonstration staged in Accra 21 years ago.

Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, who jointly organized the mammoth demonstration in Accra with Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako, Charles Yves Wereko-Brobbey, Victor Newman, Akoto Ampaw, Kwaku Opoku, Nana Akufo- Addo and others, said the NPP leader neglected families of the some protestors who were fatally shot by some armed cadres in the course of the demonstration.

Speaking with Kwame Adinkra, host of Atinka FMs AM Drive Wednesday, Dr. Tamakloe, who is now an avowed critic of the party he helped found noted, Out of Kumi Preko we lost about eight people and up until this very day nothing has been done for the families of these fallen ones. Believe me or not, through Kumi Preko, a young man of thirteen years, Ahunu was shot in front of the Adabraka Primary School so you can imagine if he was alive today what his age would be. But when we came to power under President J.A Kufuor, we had then promised to help these people but we did nothing for them. They are there at Adabraka as I talk now. This same family approached Nana Addo but he did nothing for them when we were in power. Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe said and added that Kwesi Pratt Jnr could corroborate the claim.

When President Mahama came to power recently, one time he called and asked me how he could see Ahunus father. I went and luckily I found the father and mother who are alive and came back and told the President that I found them. And in his usual quiet way, he [Mahama] went there to see the family and he asked the old man what the state could do for his departed son. The old man replied that one of the principal streets in Accra be named after his son, he said

Dr. Tamakloe stressed, Politics needs to be done with open mind and open heart because you are dealing human beings. I will never and ever allow anybody to take me for a ride in my life.
VIAM Africa has demanded the government disclose the whereabout of the sum of 282 million cedis which was scrapped from the teachers allowances.

The government announced it is replacing the teachers allowances with the student loan scheme.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) argued this will help the government save up to 12 million cedis monthly to improve educational infrastructure across the country.

However, VIAM Africa's statement copied Myjoyonline is asking the government to " states clearly the specific projects that the money will be used for."

It said two clear years into the governments decision much has not been done in terms of what it promised to achieve by scrapping the allowances.

Read full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

ACCOUNT FOR THE GHC 282 MILLION SAVED FROM THE SCRAPPED TEACHERS ALLOWANCES  VIAM AFRICA URGES GHANA GOVERNMENT

Aberdeen, UK, May 11, 2016 - Following our December 22nd, 2015 press release on

scrapping the teacher

training allowances, VIAM Africa Centre for Education and Social Policy wishes to commend the government of Ghana for remaining steadfast on its policy decision to abolish allowances for teacher trainees. The withdrawal of the allowance has ultimately led to the cancellation of the quota system, thereby increasing enrolment rates from 9000 to 15000. Hitherto, the allowances had created a perverse set of incentives creating an artificial ceiling on student intake. The limitations on student enrolment at the Colleges of Education (CoEs) should be on the basis of available facilities and not quotas.

In our previous publication , we estimated that, t he abolishing of the allowance system would

help government to

save up to Ghc12 million monthly to improve educational infrastructure across the country (see http://tinyurl.com/zpu5gcp , http://tinyurl.com/j5damka ). Per this estimate, the introduction of the student loan scheme, which replaced the allowances, and consistent with what pertains in all other tertiary institutions that train teachers, has created the opportunity for Government to save over GHC 280 million over the last two years that would have been paid to teacher trainees. President John Mahama confirmed this when he addressed a cross section of students of the University of Education, Winneba as part of his Accounting to the People tour in the Central region. In his speech, the President revealed that  government will be able to plough back the Ghc282 million that would have been paid to teacher trainees in expanding education so that we can employ more teachers . We are happy to see VIAM Africas recommendations being implemented. We are however requesting that government states clearly the specific projects that the money will be used for.

Currently, the only major policy intervention at the CoEs appears to be the Transforming

Teacher Education and

Learning (T-TEL) project funded by the United Kingdom Government through its Department for International Development (DFID) at cost of 17 million over four years (2015-2018). Although this project seeks to reform and improve the teacher education sector, it has limited focus on providing physical infrastructure at the 38 CoEs to meet the demands of tertiary institutions. In addition, Government has absorbed five private CoEs into the public stream which has wide implications for the T-TEL project especially in relation to funding for the five additional CoEs, a position the projects quarterly report of August 2015 tends to support. A lot of the training colleges, especially those in the Northern region, do not even match up to a standard secondary school. We therefore urge the Government to plough back the Ghc282million accrued from the scrapping of the teacher trainee allowance into infrastructural projects particularly in the 38 CoEs and the five private CoEs it has absorbed into the public stream. To ensure accountability and sustainability, VIAM Africa recommends the setting up of a distinct fund into which the accrued savings can be deposited. The CoEs can subsequently apply for funding for specific infrastructural projects with view to fostering public interest accountability.

Beyond this, VIAM Africa contends that prospective teachers must be offered the opportunity

to live their own life

and take responsibility for their action, in order to develop the requisite attitude and values they would need to succeed as leaders of their classrooms. They must be afforded the opportunity to experience the social life that their colleagues in other tertiary institutions and in particular teaching universities enjoy. After all, they have always demonstrated their ability to live independently during their one year off-campus teaching practice. We therefore recommend the provision of hostel facilities and halls of residence instead of the present boarding system as in the case of all tertiary institutions in Ghana. This should also mean that, wearing prescribed school uniforms, taking exeats, responding to school bells, weeding and cleaning compounds, among others, which presently pertain in the CoEs, should be abolished.

Signed:

Dr. Prince Armah

Executive Director
Tanzania's digital lifestyle telecom operator, Tigo (www.Tigo.co.tz), is now the leading mobile telephone company with the fastest and widest 4G LTE network in the Tanzania.

Tigo 4G has impacted positively on Tigo customers lifestyle enabling them to enjoy a faster internet connection. The Tigo 4G technology is five times faster than 3G technology.

From inception in April 2015 in Dar Es Salaam, Tigo 4G LTE has expanded to Arusha, Tanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, Moshi, Mwanza, Tabora, Musoma, Bukoba, Kigoma and Shinyanga and plans are underway to cover all major cities before the end of this year.

The Tigo 4G LTE network provides faster internet speed to surf and download content and in making uninterrupted Skype calls. The 4G LTE significantly enhances the customer experience in in high definition video streaming. With the current partnership with YouTube, Tigo customers can also enjoy free video streaming at night.

Tigo General Manager, Diego Gutierrez says the expansion of 4G technology to all corners of the country is in line with our commitment to provide our customers with world class services that enable them to enjoy a fully digital lifestyle.

The countrywide expansion of 4G once again demonstrates not only Tigo's leadership in delivering cutting edge technology and innovation in Tanzania but also emphasizes our commitment to increase access to the Internet to as many Tanzanians as possible, says Gutierrez.

Diego Gutierrez assures customers that Tigo is currently embarking on a network modernization program which includes increasing capacity to all the 12 4G LTE covered cities as well as increasing considerably the 3G coverage countrywide and optimizing the 2G network.

Tigo customers have welcomed the Tigo 4G LTE technology which promises a stable mobile internet connection that eliminates the past frustrations of internet buffering, thus ensuring seamless and reliable data access.

The Tigo 4G has come at the right time because I can now video-stream without the videos getting stuck; the network access has no breaks and the skype calls are much better and clearer, says Isack Ernest, a Social Communications Consultant based in Dar es Salaam.

His comments are echoed by Hellen Elibariki, a Tour Guide based in Arusha. She says: working in the tourism industry means I have local and international contacts that need fast and efficient communication. The Tigo 4G has really simplified my communication with my business contacts because now am able to transfer large data faster, conduct clearer, quality and seamless Skype calls and give my prospective clients, especially tourists, large amounts of up-to-the-minute information about our services, thus boosting our business.

According to Diego Gutierrez, Tigo will this year be investing over US$ 75 million on the network expansion and quality improvement by scaling up its 4G and 3G sites, fiber network as well as increasing the number of customer service outlets countrywide.

For further information visit:Tigo.co.tzor contact: John Wanyancha  Corporate Communications Manager Mobile: 0658 123 [email protected]

About Tigo: Tigo Tanzania (Tigo.co.tz) is the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand. Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as Facebook in Kiswahili, TigoPesa App for Android & iOS users, Tigo Music (Deezer) and East Africa's first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion. The Tigo 3G network guarantees the best services to its subscriber's in all regions across the country, and we have recently launched the 4G network available in specific regions and soon to be available all over the country. In the past three years, the company has launched over 500 new network sites, which translates to over 2,000 network sites and plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas. With over 10 million registered subscribers to their network, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 300,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors. Tigo is the biggest commercial brand of Millicom, an international company developing the digital lifestyle in 11 countries with commercial operations in Africa and Latin America and corporate offices in Europe and the USA. With the certain knowledge that only constant innovation will keep them on top, Millicom keeps creating greater shareholder value; applying their concept of demand more is how they do business and retain their position as digital lifestyle leaders in some of the most unique and challenging markets.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

Zoonaayili is about 60 household community with a total population estimated about six hundred (600) people. It is located in the Northern part of Ghana. Moving from Savelugu to the west, Zoonaayili land mark marks the end of the boundaries of Savelugu/Nanton Municipality. It is often described as Tampion-Zoonaayili because of its nearness to Tampion which is a bigger and a popular community in the Savelugu/Nanton Municipality.

Zoonaayili is one of the numerous communities in Ghana whose names are only mentioned and recognized during national polls. The community that is largely use by politicians for political gains. The community that participates in choosing who the governor should be, but gains just a little from the governor. For this reason, Zoonaayili lacks a lot. From basic human needs to basic social amenities. No portable drinking water, inadequate class rooms and the worst of it all is its lack of toilet facilities.

The only visible toilet facility in the community is the primary schools KVIP facility which is unfortunately used by both the pupils and some of the people in the neighbourhood. Sometimes, the pupils and the community folks have to take turns to use the toilet. No wonder the toilet is chocked with human faeces, toilet sticks and toilet papers. Nobody cleans that KVIP, people defecate on the floor and the facility itself is even dilapidated to an extent when one stands outside the facility, you have a direct view of human faeces in the toilet holes.

In a community like Zoonaayili where there is a limited number of elites, everybody looks onto the assembly member for community development. The assembly member in his capacity tried to secure a toilet facility for his people but, his efforts were fruitless. He resorted to community member contribution to build the toilet but, we could only do little to mould some few blocks.

With the little you known about Zoonaayili, I do not think you will expect the people in the community to use any other method of defecation other than the open defecation method, aka, free range. It is pathetic to witness people in Zoonaayili going to toilet. People have to use bicycles and motor bikes to commute from their houses to places of defecation. At times men and women unwillingly see each others nakedness because they use the same forest to attend Natures call (defecate). At Zoonaayili, it is not uncommon to see people playing music on their mobile phones when defecating, just to alert others who come into the forest to defecate too.

Apart from the social trauma, the open defecation also has a health implication on the innocent souls of Zoonaayili. Of course, as people defecate openly around the village, when it rains all the human faeces are carried into the already unhygienic water bodies of the community. I hope you need no soothsayer to tell you such water is not safe for drinking.

Any time I visit my community, I always think of projecting our plight to you as a Helper, Counsellor, Philanthropist, Leader and a Good Samaritan. I am sure you have helped nations come out of their troubles, how much more a community like Zoonaayili. In your own little way, help us come out of our difficulty. Contact the writer of this article so as for us to arrange for any help you have for Zoonaayili.

May your effort be rewarded. Thank you.

Abdul Latif Alhassan,

[email protected]/[email protected]

0247011871/0203171028
12.05.2016 LISTEN

Growing up in the North in the 1980s and 1990s, one felt good as a Gonja, when we were the reference point for how chieftaincy successions can take place in peace and harmony. Today, that reputation is all but gone, thanks largely to what I believe is an alarming rise in the number of Chieftaincy disputes in recent times. I believe we have had more chieftaincy disputes in the last one decade than we had in the whole of the last century (May be not literally).

Wasipe (between Uncle Bob Saaka and Muwura) was the first time in my young life that I heard death resulting from a Chieftaincy dispute in Gonjaland. When that unfortunate incident happened, many of us hoped and prayed that it would go down in history more as a story telling aberration. In the end, hope and prayer would not replace delibrate planning and strategies to nip these conflicts in the bud. So Buipe happened on a much larger scale, leading to loss of more lives either through death or incarceration awaiting death. A precedence had been set from which we failed to move away as a people.

I grew up at an important Gonjaland town in the 1980s, and I still have fond memories of the times we spent listening to our chiefs resolve all kinds of disputes at the Palace. It was a beauty to behold. At the end of a case, even as kids, we got a sense that justice had been done. In most cases, parties who were at the wrong end of decisions did not feel the need to appeal at the higher level, because, they would most certainly have received the same outcomes. That time seems like the stone age now. (Enter Money/Corruption, politics, greed, technology and half-baked scholars). The combination of these new factors, have increased the potential for conflict even by a remote control.

Everyone with money now feels they can make a claim to a chieftaincy title, damn the laid-down succession processes and procedures. Any one with a hint of political power feels they have a right to decide who is chief, even more disturbingly, anyone with a keyboard and a whatsapp or facebook account feels they are an expert on Gonjaland chieftaincy matters.

Yes, in a free society, everyone is entitled to and responsible for their opinions. But when opinions on chieftaincy disputes are presented as incontrovertible facts, a line has been crossed. As we say in Gonja, a handshake that extends beyond the elbow is a wrestling invitation.

We often say that there are two sides to every issue, but actually, there are three. There is the side of one party, the side of the other party, and there is the truth somewhere in between. This is what Cardinal Arinze summarised as  your truth, my truth and the truth.

Whatever the truth in this Damongo Chieftaincy issue is, we need to find it. Damongo is too important in Gonjaland traditional affairs to be allowed to join the unenviable ranks of Chieftaincy flashpoints in Ghana.

I have read several mentions of a 1986-document adopted by the Gonja Traditional Council Meeting in Bole, which defines the rotational lines of succession and lists the chieftaincy titles that ascend to each skin. There are a few challenges with that narrative; none to do with the authenticity of the document.

First, I am quite sure that not more than 50% of the Chiefs in Gonjaland (including sub-chiefs) are aware of the existence of this document, or even if they are aware, understand its content. This is a document whose content must be so widely available, a three-year old should be able to recite its content like a KG rhyme. It is an instrument for dispute prevention not conflict resolution. You cant wait and pull it out at the time tempers are already boiling hot and waive it around like a documentary magic wand. It is too late, the harm is well and truly underway.

Second, it is my understanding that this document, how ever well-intentioned, does not have the force of law (I stand for correction on that). If that was the case, steps must be taken to give it the necessary legal improvements to make it binding. Then extensive workshops and seminars must be organized to educate the chiefs, who are primarily affected by its content. The annual Gonjaland symposia that have been instituted as a prelude to the annual Congress, can be an ideal venue for such seminars. The easiest way to hide such information is to put it in a document/book. Many would not care to read, even if they can. I am not oblivious of the jurisprudential axiom that ignorance of the law is no excuse. However, the object is to render the legal battles unnecessary, or at the very least, reduce them to the bearest minimum.

Third and more importantly, there needs to be consistency in the use of the document as a reference for Gonjaland Chieftaincy successions. Principles are either fully adopted or not at all. We cannot have an Orwellian application, where we pick and choose when to apply the document, depending on the outcomes we expect. Sometimes, its application might bring up candidates who may not necessarily measure up. The application of principle must be neutral to the outcomes it generates, otherwise, there is another term for it: double standards. We could get away with double standards for a while, but in time the chikens will always come home to roost. There is peace in the certainty that, at all times the chips will be allowed to fall where they may, no matter whose ox is gored.

In all of this, our chiefs for whom I have the utmost reverence need to have sober reflections. We need to go back to doing the things that won us the reputation as the traditional area with the fewest chieftaincy disputes in Northern Ghana. We need to distance ourselves from the new phenomenon of installing two chiefs for one place. It imposes the biggest burden on neutral minded individuals who just want to go about their own business. Talk less of the strain it puts on family ties that have been estabalished over generations. It is akin to selling a piece of land in Accra to several persons; a sure recipe for landguards. With unemployment being what it is, and guns being so freely available, there is a large army of potential landguards everywhere, Gonjaland included.

We cannot take our peace for granted, for I dare say, peace is an exagerated concept, which gets more credit than it deserves; for it is always one gunshot away from extinction. Therefore the price of peace is perpetual vigilance.

When you hear people say the Damongo issue is very delicate, that is code for saying some big man has messed up, but we cant tell him because we are afraid. Fear is a natural emotion and we all are afraid. But as Nelson Mandela so succinctly put it, the fear of prison is a hindrance to liberty. I dont know if we have it, but there must be someone who is able to tell the big Chiefs what mere mortals are afraid to tell them, especially, when they are doing the wrong thing.

The roll call of chieftaincy disputes should worry all of us. Buipe only got settled not too long ago, Bolewura for a long time was having problems, Tinga, Mandari, Sonyo are all still shaky. The situation runs counter to the our long cherished accolade as an oasis of peace.

As an alumnus of the University of Cape Coast I believe in the creed of Veritas Nobis Lumen. Truth, our Guide. Let the truth be our guide at all times in Gonjaland Chieftaincy affairs, and long may it be told in ballads and legends, in Damba songs and ululations, that Gonjaland; the land of Jakpa, Kurabaso and Timu, the Land of John Dramani Mahama, is the quintessential oasis of peace in Ghana.

We are the heirs to a great legacy of peace, and we have a responsibility to bequeath to the next generation, a Gonjaland they would be proud to call home. In whatever we do, lets think of this first.

Issahaku Gbankuliso

P. O. Box 50 E/R

Tamale N/R
Ace Ankomah

12.05.2016 LISTEN

"...Ghanas attempt to unveil the true owners of businesses...through legislation has been received with low commitment, the Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Steve Manteaw has said... Rather, attempts to introduce the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure clause in both the Companies Act and Exploration and Production (E&P Bill)...was met with opposition and has subsequently being expunged...", (Graphic Business News, 10 May 16).

"...In another transaction identified by ActionAid as a tax dodge, Accra Brewery borrowed 8.5m...in 2009-10. The loan was more than seven times Accra Brewery's total capitalisation...(The)..interest costs on this loan charged to Ghana will wipe out 76,000 of Accra Brewery's tax liability each year.... SABMiller has numerous subsidiaries offshore, including 11 in Mauritius, eight in the British Virgin Islands, six in Switzerland...six in British crown dependencies..." (The Guardian, 2010) .

We learned today that ministers in Ghana have deleted a section of a public interest bill that would force owners of companies with interest in Ghana to show directly who owns those companies. This includes the more than 32 companies we last counted that had "interest" in Ghana's oil, and of course, every other company. That, we must say, is a perfect "haven" for those individuals making billions from Ghana's oil and other resources whilst the vast majority of Ghanaian suffer without good schools, hospitals, roads, housing, doctors, and electricity/POWER.

As we said the last time, it is a mighty long way from Panama, Central America, to Accra, Ghana! In fact, according to our ace internet-information robot, Panama, where the HQ of the Mossack Fonseca law firm sits, is precisely 8,725 miles from Accra, as the crow flies. As such, from Accra, we'd have hoped that our Mr. Ace Ankomah would not have trivialized, in a rather petty fashion, the "Panama Papers" Tax Haven, cum money-laundering, cum tax-evasion, scandal.

In fact, it is painfully apparent to us that our Mr. Ace Ankomah is "merely" looking at the Mossack Fonseca Tax-Dodge facility for rich and powerful politicians from Africa (and Ghana where it truly matters to us), from the perspective of a solitary but pompous individual with too much into theory. That is the world of the private company desiring to preserve, and add to their "shares", resources that actually did not belong to them in the first place.

Ace Ankomah totally neglects the important detail in the record that shows Mr. Kuffour and his family did not have that account until he became the President of Ghana, that, staffers in an office of Mossack Fonseca warned supervisors about multiple instances of corruption related to the Kuffours and their accounts. In fact, of the records thus far published, none is so disgracefully read.

Significantly, our pompous Ace Ankomah totally neglects aspects of public policy that are inter-twined, that ought to be of concern to taxpayers, as citizens, including those who happen to be lawyers, accountants, politicians, and prosecutors. And so, we will admit that from our lowly vantage position, unlike Ace Ankomah, we've not seen citizens anywhere:

"...the whole world...jumping up and down like... (they)... have ants in...(their)...pants because some people choose to keep monies and incorporate companies in tax havens...".

Maybe Mr. Ankomah is too mired in his old "grad school" days when he found the "sexy" in "Tax law", notwithstanding the counsel he received from professors practicing with century old textbooks that Tax Law in college was actually "supposed to be boring".

So, maybe, just maybe, Mr. Ankomah has been counting too many "beans" that are not his. Or, they may be beans not earned the old-fashioned way, as in, "legally" and totally free of "Dodgy-Dave International Crow-Flying Business Acrobatics", (ICFBA).

Fact is, today, we all live in a global, inter-dependent, information age. Today, business is still king and agile, multi-billion dollar companies are controlling titans. Most of the titans seek the cheapest rents so they can pay the lowest. That affords them the ability to award themselves and their corporate chief executives and financial officers multi-million dollar annual incomes and golden parachutes. Increasingly, with sophisticated marketing strategies and public relations budgets and annual sales several orders bigger than the annual incomes of many African countries combined, the "Panama Papers" and the tax havens they speak of constitute another cruel grievous betrayal of Africans by their politicians, after colonialism and neo-colonialism.

There is a lot more to any value than "merely" the "legal", Mr. Ace Ankomah!

Today, there are at least seven (7) things we knew before, and know even now, that must have escaped Ace Ankomah since the leak of the Panama Papers.

Today, we know that:

1. NDC MPs, abetted by NPP MPs, are indirectly promoting tax havens surely under the eyes of Ghanaians in their refusal to pass laws requiring identification of persons who own oil and other business interest with origins in/from Ghana.

2. The Guardian, (2010) reported back in 2010 that ActionAid identified SABMiller, owner of Accra Brewery, as a tax dodger that uses the business strategy called "thin capitalization:

"...In another transaction identified by ActionAid as a tax dodge, Accra Brewery borrowed 8.5m from the same Mauritius company in 2009-10. The loan was more than seven times Accra Brewery's total capitalisation. ActionAid's tax expert estimates that the interest costs on this loan charged to Ghana will wipe out 76,000 of Accra Brewery's tax liability each year.... SABMiller has numerous subsidiaries offshore, including 11 in Mauritius, eight in the British Virgin Islands, six in Switzerland and six in British crown dependencies..." (Felicity Lawrence, The Guardian) .

3. It is politicians such as Mr. Agyekum Kuffour who make laws. It is they who create tax loop-holes that allow people like Mr. Ankomah to simply grab using self-serving Dodgy-Dave ICFBAs.

4. We know now that at least in the case of Ghana, former president Mr. Kuffour his son (also an accountant), and his wife, have all been implicated in the "Panama Tax Haven" expose

5. We know that the Prime Minister of Iceland, Mr. Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, before charges have even been filed, has resigned amid the controversy over his offshore tax haven holdings

6. We know that "....Officials in France, Germany, Austria and South Korea....were beginning investigations into possible malfeasance, from money laundering to tax evasion. Frances finance minister, Michel Sapin, told Parliament the government was putting Panama back on a blacklist of havens for tax evaders..." . (As we are writing this article the offices of Mossack Fonseca is being raided by Panamanian officials,

7. We know that based in part on the disclosure of the Panama Papers, the United States treasury has now tightened the approval limits for inversions. "Inversion" is the practice whereby American companies acquire companies from other countries where taxes are lower, "merely" to relocate their Headquarters to those countries on paper.

8. We know that in Britain as well, Prime Minister David "Dodgy" Cameron is facing strident calls his resignation and a government inquiry into the matter. Dodgy Dave is being accused of bald-faced hypocrisy by championing financial transparency while benefiting from his family offshore tax haven accounts at the same time.

So, the way we see it, what Mr. Ankomah wrote is "merely" a theoretical exercise.

Ankomah talked a lot about the many courses in tax law he took, many years ago. Unfortunately, he does not seem to recognize, directly or indirectly, that tax laws do not come from "Haven". Rather, they are in reality written and enacted by politicians like Mr. Kuffour. As a result, there is actually nothing serious or "applied", in the critical sense, looking at Mr. Ankomah's boastful homage to tax havens.

In fact, if Mr. Ankomah, the African, was a tad serious, rather than "jump like ants were in his pants" when he read about Mossack Fonseca, he would have instead hollered the following 5 pointers to the open Ghanaian skies for the record:

1. Hear it, Mossack Fonseca customers from Africa have already paid taxes on the money they've sent to the tax havens

2. Hear it, Mossack Fonseca customers from Africa are actually spending the money in the African countries in which they made those incomes and profits, thus benefiting the economies of those countries directly, and indirectly

3. Hear it, Mossack Fonseca customers from Africa are merely shifting their tax obligations to a lower tax administration area within the same political boundary, within the same country

4. Hear it, the Mossack Fonseca tax havens pay higher interest than they can get in their own countries!

5. Hear it, there are absolutely no ethical boundaries that when crossed, permit a sacking of politicians involved with a Mossack Fonseca tax haven by citizens who pay the salaries of politicians by the "mere", simple, act of that ownership.

But Mr. Ace Ankomah makes none of those claims.

Instead, Mr. Ankomah merely reminisces about 25-year old lectures that were in reality probably more than half-century old at the time he heard them because the people who originally wrote those papers had been mostly dead the previous half-century, and counting.

Talking about confused minds!

But, this is still the global, information, inter-connected, business age!

It is politicians who still decide what tax laws they will write and enact!

It is top-echelon state tax law administrators who still decide what tax cheats they will go after!

And, there are numerous cases where politicians have not changed or passed laws because the status quo benefits them, and their fat pockets.

So yes, Ace Ankomah, even if we were to throw away all unethical prohibitions that cry "sacking" and "resignation" of public officials and bureaucrats for engaging in Dodgy-Dave ICFBAs:

"...the mere use of tax havens (CAN) be a crime or evidence of corruption...".

In fact, in addition, those same factors could then be evidence of civil offenses where, for example, the "managers" come way ahead with billions of dollars in their pockets, while shareholders are left holding empty bags.

So tell us now, Mr. Ace Ankomah!

Shouldn't we be a lot more critical and reflective?

Can't we try to be more balanced in our reflections, "grad" school graduate, or not?

Can't we try to discern the larger public policy implications for the things we see, say, hear, and do?

Is it not those things that also ought to matter more to Africans and the hyper-poor communities in this age, inside and outside Accra?

Again, in closing, we urge our Mr. Ace Ankomah, the Philip Baidoos, and others of similar mind, to take a minute to watch that 30-second video2 about that 10-year old American lad talking about the law, lawyers, taxes, and yes, prisons!

Get the dockets, partners!

Get the readings glasses with all those imported gold rims, partners!

So it goes Ghana!

NOTES & SOURCES:

1. Jessica Acheampong. 10 May 2016. Graphic Business News. Low commitment to beneficial ownership disclosure

(http://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/63606-low-commitment-to-beneficial-ownership-disclosure.html/).

2. Dodgy-Dave International Crow-Flying Business Acrobatics (ICFBA, pronounced, 'Ikf-ba', Prof Lungu(2016).

3. Ace Ankomah. Merely using a tax haven isn't a crime- Ace Ankomah, ( http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Merely-using-a-tax-haven-isn-t-a-crime-Ace-Ankomah-429481 /).

4. Caroline Humer and Ankur Banerjee. Pfizer, Allergan Scrap $160 Billion Deal After U.S. Tax Rule Change, ( http://www.reuters.com/article/us-allergan-m-a-pfizer-idUSKCN0X3188/ ).

5. Felicity Lawrence. 2010. Brewer accused of depriving poor countries of millions in revenue. The Guardian, ( http://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/nov/29/sabmiller-india-africa-actionaid-report/ )

6. Philip Lewis (Mic). 10-Year-Old Explains Wealth Inequality in the Justice System Better Than You Ever Could, ( https://www.yahoo.com/news/10-old-explains-wealth-inequality-190400061.html /).

www.GhanaHero.com . Visit for more information.

(Read Mo'! Listen Mo'! See Mo'! Reflect Mo'!).

Subj: RE: Merely Using a Tax Haven Isn't a Crime-Ace Ankomah

Twitter: https://twitter.com/professorlungu

Brought to you courtesy of www.GhanaHero.com11 May 16-Rev.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

It was a dark night, the stars were shining, and the air, after a long hot day, had gotten chilling cool. He had looked up and had seen the stars all at their rightful place unchanged since the time of earths existence, one star for each of us. Only at nights they are visible for the human eye even while during day-light they remained at their given place on the firmament. He had heard that we all have our individual star that would eventually leave with us to heaven once it is our time to depart from life to eternity.

The two young men had discussed the whole cold night long looking unto the cotton fields before them on the other side of the road discussing the wickedness humans had shown during all their time of creation. He had challenged Jan about his recorder that had been so important to him like a good friend keeping his spirit up during his long time alone with his bike from Germany across many countries up to Israel and possibly further as time would tell. For him having gone from school directly to University, the idea of leaving everything behind to find absolute freedom had been surreal, nothing a person with senses would ever engage in.

At the same time he had known he was learning the most from people that were the opposite from himself as human thinking and acting are the products of the opposites. We can only think when there is GOD and Devil, sweet and sour, day and night. In between these extremes are many different colours that determine our personalities and the outcome of our life. We need these extremes as guiding pillars helping us to stay in place, giving us security on our journey through space and time. Mad people have stepped beyond these boundaries and fly in unknown territories making interaction with fellowmen impossible and therefore a constructive and benefitting outcome of a mans path to destiny. Because we know what we do not like, we can know what we like.

An idea came into his soul in a blitz second scaring him down to his bones. Sadness sneaked into his heart making him bow his head to the ground. He had picked up small stones and soil, had squeezed them between his fingers of his right hand, allowed the soil to run through his fingers; had swallowed his tears away. His chest had gotten closed in, his breathing had become difficult. Was it really possible what his spirit through his soul had told him? What a catastrophe it would be, he had spoken into himself. His inner eyes had gotten open up, he had seen a rain forest full of trees. His spirit had told him to come down to the roots of his very own existence, deep down and discover the truth about his assignment and the I in him, that I that made him a person, a human and created the destiny he was supposed to uncover in life and fulfill at the end of his life-time. For that reason he had to cut down the trees representing each one aspect in his life like a puzzle making a complete picture when assembled step by step and us visible to our fellowman from the outside.

It was like a Puzzle play. The owner and user of the puzzle has the calling on him to assemble each piece of the puzzle, make it fit into the different pieces at the right place to finally come to the whole picture that long before had been already created by the creator of the puzzle as a complete piece. When not sharp enough, he know, it would take him more than a life-time to finish the puzzle complete leaving stones aside untouched outside the uncompleted picture or when making mistakes and thinking and acting in a wrong way, wasting precious time to complete, with frustration involved, and having to ask friends for help to complete the task.

His ambition was greater, he wanted to come down to the bottom of the matter. He had rooted out all the roots that were the life-line of the trees and had hold his breath.

What he had seen was a soil that had been destroyed, smaller and bigger wholes appeared before him in the earth were once roots of trees had given life to the producers of fresh and clean air. The earth, his foundation, the substance of his life, had been destroyed and, no more intact. He had come to understand when he had wanted to find himself at the bottom of his existence he had to go deep down into himself, while at that very same moment he would come to destroy the chance to uncover the reason for his being and the I, only being left with the destiny, his assignment in him that works like fibre in plantain, something that gives the human a structure but not being the ultimate answer to the I in us.

His mind had made him sad, so sad realizing humans are destined to find the truth in life, once very, very close to it, by their own thinking and actions they would destroy the real truth and remain with only explanations seen and heard of by generations past and present. Bible and Prophets can tell us where we as humans came from and give us a guiding line of what needs to be done in our small, individual life. The absolute truth about us on the other hand will never be possible for us humans to unveil for which reason we would have to be GOD himself and not only an image of him!

He had looked to his right seeing Jan looking into the far distance still having hope to find the ultimate freedom in his and a humans life by which embracing finally peace and harmony in body, soul and spirit with no more work to be done. He had come to realize when no work needs to be done, everything is finished, and time will stand still. And as Humans are time embodied in flesh, there would be no justifications anymore for them to exist. He had looked up, had seen the stars and the moon on the dark heaven, had bowed his head in dignity, had been holding his breath for a few seconds, had gotten up unexpectedly and had walked home, the place he had known for the past three months.

Author: Dipl.-Pol. Karl-Heinz Heerde, Sakumono Estate, Block D10, Aprt. 9, Tema West, Ghana, phone +233(0)265078287, [email protected] , 27.04.2016
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) is calling for the removal of the CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen K. Opuni from office.

The workers, clad in red garments and wielding placards gathered, at the Labour Ministry, Thursday to present a petition to the Employment and Labour Relation Minister, Haruna Idrisu.

Some of the messages on the placards read: "Corruption at COCOBOD", "Dr Opuni stop destroying COCOBOD", "Sharp decline of cocoa industry under Dr Opuni's tenure."

More soon;
Being a responsible corporate citizen by giving back to the communities it serves is central to Advance Financials mission, which is why the Nashville-based financial services company created the Advance Financial Foundation in 2014. On Thursday, Advance Financial took the next step in community engagement with Vice President of Community Outreach Shantrelle Johnson being named one of 2,000 people globally to obtain the Corporate Citizenship Practice Certification.

Giving back  to our employees and to our community  is a top priority for Advance Financial, so when Shantrelle proposed the idea of the certification, we were all in, said Tina Hodges, Advance Financials chief executive and chief experience officer. We are thrilled about how this national recognition of Shantrelles expertise will contribute to the important work of the Advance Financial Foundation.

As a board member and the current treasurer for the Volunteer Tennessee Commission, it is Ms. Hodges belief that corporations must take a leadership role in promoting volunteerism and community service initiatives and partnerships throughout the state. Ms. Johnsons elite certification will help Advance Financial to understand and meet the community needs on an even deeper level.

With Ms. Johnson at the helm, the Advance Financial Foundation supports philanthropic community efforts in three areas: education, health and employees in need of assistance. The Foundation has partnered with more than 35 organizations and events in Tennessee including the Chattanooga JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Ms. Johnson earned her Corporate Citizenship Practice Certification from Boston College, completing classes and training sessions across the country over the past two years. Training included courses on designing a corporate citizenship strategy, measuring and evaluating corporate citizenship initiatives and the fundamentals of communication. Approximately 2,000 people throughout the world have completed Boston Colleges Corporate Citizenship Practice Program since it began in 1985.

The Corporate Citizenship Practice certification will serve Ms. Johnson in her role as vice president of community outreach, aiding her in audience identification, channel selection, message development and strategy for the Advance Financial Foundation. The certification was fully funded by Advance Financial.

Im honored to receive this certification, as Boston College boasts one of the top programs in the country for corporate citizenship. And Im grateful to have reached this milestone with the support of my Advance Financial family, says Johnson. It is a huge step toward making the Advance Financial Foundation the best it can be.
A new study has revealed that Ghana loses over 290 million dollars yearly due to poor sanitation.

The money is the cost of spending on clearing huge refuse within cities and health care spending as a result of sanitation related disease outbreaks among others.

Also, five out of six Ghanaians representing 85 percent of the population do not have access to proper sanitation.

These details were revealed at a seminar organized by the government and UNICEF in the Upper West region.

On water the research revealed that six in ten households have access to safe water making up 60% of the population and a further three in 10 drink bottled or sachet water representing 30 percent of the entire population.

It also stated that more than three in five basic schools have no water supply while more than two in five basic schools have no toilets.

It also revealed that less than two in five Ghanaians drink water that is safe to drink, representing 37 of the population. The report added that 17 million Ghanaians drink unsafe water.

The damning research also revealed that 3,600 children under five die annually in Ghana from diarrhoea. While 79 million dollars a year is lost due to open defecation.

According to the research 946 million people defecate in the open globally with five million in Ghana.

The research also revealed that 85 percent of Ghanaians do not have access to improved sanitation. Ghana is currently ranked 7th worst in the world for access to improved sanitation.
Al-Bashir

12.05.2016 LISTEN

Uganda must immediately arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), said Amnesty International today. Omar Al-Bashir, who is on the courts wanted list, arrived in Kampala this morning to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.

Uganda must face up to its international obligations and arrest Omar Al-Bashir who is wanted on charges of genocide, said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda has an absolute obligation to surrender him to the ICC. Failure to do so would be a breach of its duty and would be a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict.

The situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to the ICC in 2005 by the UN Security Council. Arrest warrants against President Al-Bashir have been outstanding since 2009 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur from 2003 to 2008.

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court of South Africa called the behaviour of South African authorities disgraceful for their failure to arrest President Al-Bashir according to their obligations under South African legislation implementing the Rome Statute, when he travelled to Johannesburg to attend the African Union Summit in June 2015.

In March 2010, the Ugandan parliament passed the International Criminal Court Bill which fully incorporated the law of the ICC into Ugandan law. The bill also provides for the arrest and surrender of suspects to the ICC. Speaking at the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC in November 2015, Ugandas representative unequivocally stated the countrys support to the International Criminal Court in the fight against impunity and that this commitment remains unwavering However, Uganda has also at times been critical of the ICC.

President Al-Bashir cannot be allowed to evade justice any longer, said Muthoni Wanyeki.

The government of President Museveni must act now to arrest him and ensure that the next flight he takes flies directly to The Hague where justice awaits him.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Seif Magango on +254 20 4283020, or +254 788 343897 or by email [email protected]

Background

In July 2009, it was reported that Al-Bashir was invited to Uganda to attend the Smart Partnership Dialogue conference. However, he sent a deputy in his place.

The ICC has also issued several arrest warrants related to crimes committed in northern Uganda by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) since 2002, including against LRA leader Joseph Kony. The first trial of a former LRA Commander, Dominic Ongwen, is expected to start this year.
The Writer

12.05.2016 LISTEN

Introduction

In the present era of globalization, organizations are expected to work with a creative rather than a reactive perspective and grow to be flexible, responsive and capable organizations in order to survive. In the existing scenario people are exposed to diverse knowledge through internet, there is much to learn and more to assimilate. Senges (1990) model of the five disciplines of a learning organization emphasizes on the concept of systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, building shared vision and team learning.

This points on continuous learning for individuals and organizations, with a great stress on the idea of bringing change with innovation and creativity. If the future organizations are driven by individual and collaborative learning, it is advisable to transform schools also into learning organizations, instead of school education being restricted merely to the process of acquiring facts and loads of numerical information to reproduce in examination using rote learning methodologies (current scenario in Indian schools).

In line with the needs of education system in India, schools should become more effective learning organizations that ultimately increase the leadership capacity and support the personal development of every individual at the institution. In chalking out the aims of education in India, Kothari commission report (1964-66) stressed that education has to be used as powerful instrument of social economic and political change.

The blending of conservative trend and progress is the basic characteristics of a healthy society. In a modern society individuals learn about intricate changes that are occurring around them. School of course is an important agency to usher in the changes. However, years after these recommendations, the Indian schools are still perceived as institutions; transferring knowledge, fulfilling educational tasks and realizing educational objectives. They reflect upon syllabus, and follow a set of educational objectives framed to show them direction of activity at particular stages of education.

There is hardly any effort to bring change in the system of education. Our education system is not governed with new educational tasks and essential new ideas for the educational organizations. Instead schools in their effort to become learning organizations are already feeling the tidal wave of change in many ways and this has resulted in confused, exhausted and disappointed school leaders who are unable develop the capacity of the school and every individual therein to manage change.

Indian Schools and Challenges

As educator Roland Barth has said, "Relationships among educators within a school range from vigorously healthy to dangerously competitive. Strengthen those relationships, and you improve professional practice. Indian schools fail to develop themselves into true learning organizations due to; the existing school culture, amount of competition and working in isolation. In our schools there is little or no resistance against isolation and unproductive school competitions. Teachers teach in isolation, rarely does a teacher have the opportunity to go beyond her classroom to visit the pedagogic worlds of her peers, to learn from their classrooms. Improving school and community cooperation is another important area for learning organization.

There is hardly any interaction between our schools and community. Little efforts are seen from schools to encourage children to get an access to learning resources in the community, to meet outstanding members of the community or involving parents in actively organizing extracurricular activities. One way of building connect with community is involving community elders in developing curriculum, but hardly our schools take suggestions from community elders on the topics to be included in the curriculum.

There are negligible efforts to remove traditional education boundaries. It is becoming clear that schools can be re-created, made vital, and sustainably renewed not by fiat or command, and not by regulation, but by taking a learning orientation. This means involving everyone in the system in expressing their aspirations, building their awareness, and developing their capabilities together. Senge calls this the rudder that can keep the organization on course during times of stress. Not to mention, stress among teachers and leaders is a common scenario in majority of Indian schools today.

The way forward

The learning organization approach is capable of making an organization more competitive and adaptive in response to change in a school context. Thus, existence of teacher practices conducive to environment of strong learning environment supported by transformational leaders will enable schools to achieve continuous improvement and excellence in terms of student and teacher learning.

The powerful pathway to becoming a better practitioner is to observe an expert peer in action, to reflect and improve upon ones own practice as a result. When professionals like doctors, engineers or architects can do it then why not our teachers? Why cant we bring teachers rich knowledge-in-practice from the confines of their classrooms into the public domain? The reason that we are unable bring this change is because our teachers do not have the opportunity to go beyond classrooms to visit the pedagogic worlds of their peers or learn from their classrooms. Neither do the schools organize regular on the job staff development programs for teachers to promote shared vision. On the positive side, today, majority of school teachers and Principals are finding themselves involved in professional learning activities. School and curriculum reforms have necessitated regular review of practices and attitudes.

This is for the reason that schools are finding it difficult to resist the pressures of change and improvement especially in response to the demands of professionalism and accountability. It is high time our schools realize that the goal of learning organizations is not the occasional burst of professional activity each time new demands are made of the school, curriculum or practices. Schools and their staff need to be ahead of the change game. Thus, the philosophy of a learning organization must be that learning is a way of working just as it is a way of living.

Last word

The learning organization management approach is capable of making an organization more competitive and adaptive in response to change. The unit of innovation in Indian schools has usually been the individual teacher, the individual classroom, or a new curriculum to be implemented individually by teachers. But the larger environment in which innovation is supposed to occur is neglected. So few innovations occur and in the meantime either the innovative teacher is siphoned for few more bucks by other schools or a teacher who successfully innovates becomes threatening to those around him or her. Thus our fundamental challenges in education involve cultural changes that will require collective learning.

By involving people at multiple levels and thinking together about significant and enduring solutions we can bring a positive change in the system. However, the role of our schools as learning organization can only be furthered when the school leadership is committed to transform schools by getting engaged with the learning process themselves. At the same time our teachers also must make effort to develop themselves and be updated before they show high expectations from students. All these constraints have apparently become a hindrance to the transformation of schools into strong learning organizations.

Dr.Swaleha Sindhi is Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Administration, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. Decorated educational practitioner Dr. Sindhi is a frequent columnist on related topics, too. She is the Vice President of Indian Ocean Comparative Education Society (IOCES). Contact: swalehasindhi(at)gmail.com
A youth-focused organization has urged various political parties to "as a matter of urgency" make their manifestos available to the public by May 31, 2016.

Youth Bridge Foundation in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Seth Oteng called on civil society organisations and other groups to mount pressure on political parties to make their manifestoes public.

Below is a full statement from the group.

CALL FOR POLITICAL PARTY MANIFESTOES

The Youth Bridge Foundation has noted with grave concern that with less than six months to go for Ghanas 2016 Elections, no political party has issued their manifesto, or indicated when their manifesto would be released to the public for review and interrogation by the Ghanaian electorate. Indeed, we are uncomfortable about this loud silence over party manifestos, particularly at this crucial time on Ghanas political calendar.

We at the Youth Bridge Foundation recognize that the manifesto is the authentic policy blueprint of political parties. Party manifestos provide a useful tool for promoting issues-based campaigns and elections and promoting inclusive governance. How can the youth, and indeed the wider Ghanaian electorate, make an informed choice at the polls on November 7, when to date the policy plans of the parties are still not available for interrogation and discussion?

Again, we have noted with interest the readiness of the forerunners of the political parties to engage in debates, and while we commend efforts by some prominent civil society organizations in calling for a debate, we are of the view that debates are by themselves woefully inadequate at informing the electorate on the policy positions of the candidates. In order to make debates more meaningful, and empower the electorate to demand accountability, the debates must be anchored on the manifesto positions of the various candidates. Where debates are held without first putting forward manifestos, the winner is often determined by the sheer eloquence of the candidate, and his or her ability to marshal cheer-leaders.

Action Call

Against this background, the Youth Bridge is calling for:

Political parties to, as a matter of urgency, make their manifestos available to the public by 31st May 2016;

Civil society organizations, youth groups and all stakeholders to rally together and mount concerted pressure on political parties to produce their manifestos by the said date. This would provide the electorate with at least 5 months to scrutinize the policy blueprint of the political parties.

Conclusion

Early release of the manifesto will ensure adequate interrogation of the issues on all media platforms, including discussions in the local languages for maximum public education. This will shift the focus of campaigns from violence to issues. Youth Bridge Foundation maintains that this is in the best interest of the youth in particular and the Ghanaian electorate in general, whose aspirations are hinged on the policy blueprints of the various political parties seeking to govern.
Today, the first shipment of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles from the United States arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian military. The heavily armored MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines, and from other types of attacks. Today's delivery is the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States is transferring to Egypt. This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.

Originally designed to support United States military operations in Afghanistan, MRAPs provide enhanced levels of protection to soldiers, and are proven to save lives. The U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official in Cairo, Major General Charles Hooper, stated, The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the U.S. and Egypt.

This delivery of MRAPs is part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Excess Defense Articles grant program, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to the Government of Egypt. This delivery is the most recent step taken by the U.S. government in support of Egypt's fight against terrorism and is part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries.
Washington (AFP) - US special operations forces working with African partners clashed with Shebab militants in Somalia early Thursday, killing five, a US defense official said. There were no US injuries.

The official said the US forces were advising and assisting Ugandan troops from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in southern Somalia, west of Mogadishu.

The AMISOM troops were on a mission to "disrupt" an illegal Shebab roadblock where the jihadists were extorting payments from drivers.

Shebab fighters "had posed an imminent threat to AMISOM forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, at which point US troops "conducted defensive fires."

Five Shebab fighters were killed. There were no reports of injuries to the Ugandan or US troops in the operation, which was first reported by CNN.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group was chased out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but remains a dangerous threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where it carries out frequent attacks.

The United States has a small special operations presence, assisted by air power, in the impoverished country.

The Pentagon periodically announces results of its strikes in Somalia, including one in March on a Shebab training camp that killed more than 150 fighters who were planning a "large-scale" attack.

US special forces are working alongside local partners to fight jihadists in several countries across Africa and the Middle East.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

The next international climate meeting will be in Bonn from 16-26 May, 2016.

The Bonn meeting follows the adoption of a new global agreement on climate change in Paris in December, 2015.

Parties will now begin negotiating how they will reach the goals set down in Paris.

In the lead up to this important meeting, the Chair of the Least Developed Countries group, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, has stated that "reaching global agreement in Paris does not mean we can become complacent. We have drawn the blueprint and we must now begin construction of the rules and procedures that will bring the next phase of our global climate regime to life. A record-breaking 175 Parties united in New York on April 22 to sign the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that we have the political momentum to achieve this."

He said building off current political momentum, the LDCs will continue to push for early entry into force of the Paris Agreement, so that the world can benefit as soon as possible from its implementation.

"Even if current pledges are fulfilled, the world is on a path to over 3 degrees C of warming, well above the global goal of 1.5 degrees set in Paris; and that is without considering that developing countries need support to the tune of $4tn to meet these pledges," he noted.

On the issue of climate finance, Tosi Mpanu Mpanu said: "The least developed countries are the least responsible for climate change, with developed countries bearing both the historic responsibility and the capacity to respond. Public finance to support developing countries needs to rise to meet the challenge that lies before us."

On the importance of adaption, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu stated: "The earth's oceans are rising, disease is spreading, our land is no longer producing the food we need to survive. The world must adapt to meet the unavoidable impacts of climate change head on, or face the consequences."

Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu also emphasised the necessity of pre-2020 action: "We cannot sit idly waiting for the Paris Agreement to commence, the window of opportunity to act on climate change is closing. We must harness the power of fresh global cooperation to strengthen pre-2020 action."
12.05.2016 LISTEN

From Edmond Gyebi

The Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, Alhassan Andani, has presented two ambulances to the Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service to boost health service delivery.

The two ambulances, which were bought to immortalise the memories of his beloved late mother and brother, Hajia Zeliatu Alhassan and Dr. Andani Andan respectively, are to be stationed at the Savelugu-Nanton and Yendi Municipal hospitals.

Presenting the vehicles in Tamale, Mr. Alhassan Andani said that his decision to donate the two ambulances was borne out of his personal desire to complement the good efforts of the government, and for that matter, the Ghana Health Service in fighting the high rate of maternal deaths in the region, and promoting quality healthcare.

He said that he had deliberately labelled the ambulances with the names of his mother and brother because of the roles they had played in making him what he is today.

Mr. Alhassan Andani, who pledged to provide funds for the regular maintenance of the two ambulances for one whole year, said that the vehicles would bring great relief to his people and the management of the two hospitals in referring patients to access advanced healthcare in and outside the region.

He said that even though the government was doing its best to provide the desirable health services, ranging from infrastructure to medical equipment and provision of qualified personnel, there was still the need for people like him, who were influential in the region, to complement the efforts.

Mr. Alhassan Andani, therefore, called on other influential persons living within and outside the Northern Region to give back to their people at the community level in any form, to ensure better conditions for them.

On his part, the Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Jacob Mahama, who received the ambulances on behalf of the Savelugu-Nanton and Yendi Municipal hospitals, commended Mr. Alhassan Andani for the gesture.

He said that the donation could be described as one of the biggest received by the Directorate.

According to Dr. Mahama, the issue of transportation remained a major challenge to all the health facilities in the Northern Region, and as a result, the region had lost a lot of pregnant women because of delays in transporting them to other higher facilities.

He, therefore, appealed to other organisations and influential individuals to emulate what Mr. Alhassan Andani had done.

The Northern Regional Director of Health assured Mr. Alhassan Andani of the proper handling and maintenance of the ambulances for longer lifespans.
Police must be cagey with recruitment

Joy FM recently broadcasted the pathetic story of a 24-year-old man, who has been left paralyzed after a policeman opened fire on a Nissan March he was on at Bowjiase barrier around Kasoa. The incident, according to the story, which happened on January 4, 2011, has rendered Stephen Arthur bedridden.

Recounting the incident to the radio station, Mr. Arthur said: I was in a car heading for Kasoa and when we reached the Bowjiase barrier, a policeman stopped the car and requested the driver to give him a Christmas gift.

When the driver handed him GHC10, he said another policeman who was sitting close to the police booth approached his colleague and demanded why he took the money from the driver.

There was a heated exchange between the two policemen and the one who took the money asked the driver to park properly, until the issue was resolved before we could continue, he said.

According to him, as soon as the driver revved the vehicle to park properly, there was a noise followed by a gunshot.

The angry policeman opened fire on the car. Arthur fell into coma and recovered to find himself hospitalized at the Korle Bu teaching hospital.

When I recovered from the coma, I asked the doctor what had happened and he explained that, I will be unable to walk again because I was shot through the spinal cord, he said.

Apart from the pathetic side of the story, Arthur's unfortunate situation also raises the issue of the caliber of people who are enlisted into the security agencies in the country.

The high unemployment rate in the country is driving many young men and women to join the security agencies when they do not have affinity for the work. Such young people, no matter the training they receive, would still be showing their dislike for the job.

These are the people who indulge in despicable acts when they join the forces, such as the case under reference.

Elsewhere in our pages today is a story of a university graduate who has gone to buy a form with the aim of getting enlisted into the police service.

The graduate, who gave his name only as Noble, told our reporter: I have been at home for three years since completing University. I have no job and no company is willing to employ me so I have no other option than to try my luck in the Police recruitment'.

Asked if it was his sincere intention to work as a Police man, Noble replied in the negative. However, since he had no job, he could not continue to sit at home hence the decision to join the police. If I am lucky and I get it, I will work as Policeman, he added.

From Noble's narration, it is clear that but for sitting at home for close to three years without a job, he wouldn't have joined the police service. Such a recruit obviously has no love for the job as a police officer and would always misbehave when he is finally recruited.

From paralysed Arthur's account, there was no need for the police officer to have opened fire on the car he and other passengers were sitting in, because there was no justification for it, but this is what happened.

The Chronicle is, therefore, advising the Police Administration to properly sieve the applicants and recruit only those who have affection for the job.

A police man can only open fire when his or her life is under threat, but that is not the case in Ghana, as some of the officers are trigger happy and open fire on innocent civilians under least provocation.

These are officers who should have found themselves in other trade but because of lack of job, they have been recruited to join the police.

Whilst advising the police hierarchy to be circumspect with their recruitment, we equally advice the government to put pragmatic measures in place to solve the high youth unemployment situation in the country.

As we put this piece together, there is a freeze on public sector employment, thanks to IMF prescription and the private sector, which would have intervened, is also dying gradually. In a circumstance like this, where are the youth going to get employment?

We have a serious problem on our hands and the earlier something is done about it, the better it would be for this nation.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

By Bernice Bessey

Rev.Dr. OPUNI

The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Reverend Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, has strongly criticized the leaderships of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for inciting fear and panic in the citizenry during election periods.

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpongs observation was triggered by the recent comments of the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, where they openly accused each others party for aiding minors to register in the just ended limited voters registration.

He questioned: Do we have Christians in NDC and NPP? We, therefore, call on all Christians who are into politics to bring their Christian values to bear.

The General Secretary made this revelation at the opening of the 42nd General Council Meeting of the Church of Pentecost at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, yesterday.

The General Meeting was under the theme: Hearing and Obeying the Lord's Voice in my Generation, and it was quoted from1Samuel 3-9-10 of the Holy Bible.

Dr. Opuni-Frimpong expressed worry about how election malpractices could jeopardize the lives of the minors in the near future, saying: Young people must be made to know the implication of their engagement in electoral violence.

He, therefore, called on the Christian fraternity to take up the mantle to educate their congregation against election discordance, political indiscipline, violence and injustice.

The Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, addressing the meeting, said election is a competition to serve, but not a competition of who emerges victorious.

Mr. Amissah Arthur explained to the congregation that leadership was not about responding to every false accusation and being judgmental, but rather treating every one equal, by respecting their choices.

He promised that the state would do everything in its power to ensure peaceful and non-violent election.

Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, urged the government to ensure free and fair elections come November 7, 2016, saying: I will like to use this opportunity to encourage every individual Ghanaian to facilitate and pursue a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections.

Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, General Overseer of the Royal House Chapel and Vice Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council added that the purpose of the election was to unite the people but not to divide them on ethnic and party lines.

He, therefore, charged the church to pray against individuals who would want to occupy high positions to satisfy their personal interests.

Sam Korankye Ankrah indicated that, leaders ought to teach the new generation how to listen to the voice of God, instead of resorting to the practice of sorcery, false prophesy and manipulation of people, all in the name of the Bible. God will never speak unless the servants are willing to listen, he stressed.
12.05.2016 LISTEN

From Alfred Adams, Takoradi



INVESTORS who have invested their monies with SafeWay Estates and Tilapia Company Limited are seething with anger over the failure on the part of the investment company to comply with the terms of payment of interest on their investment as agreed on paper.

The investors, who are mainly from the western region, say they have invested between GHC20,000 to GH50, 000 for a period of 1 to 3 years in the Tilapia Company, but the latter had failed to go by the dictates of the investment, though time to recoup their investment and interest had long expired.

The investors say they are shocked that some Ghanaians could deceive the public by putting into the public domain sugar-coated advertisement to lure unsuspecting investors into what they considered as 'evil devices' and leave their clients in agony.

Addressing a press conference in Takoradi on Sunday, the investors said they had banked their hope on the investment company based on the advert it had run in the state media only to be left in the dark.

They explained that the interest, as indicated by the Investment Company, wooed them into the business.

One of the investors who did not want to be named, told this reporter: I had invested GHC30,000 and since last year, May, that my investment matured, the company has been giving me flimsy excuses.

The leader of the Investors, Mr. Francis Affeizie, appealed to the government to intervene in the brouhaha. This is because the SafeWay Tilapa Company was a publicprivate partnership between the Safeway Group and the South Dayi District Assembly.

By this relationship the company claimed to have boosted investor confidence by involving the Assembly directly in its operations.

Mr. Affeizie quoted the former Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Acquinas Quansah at a ceremony to inaugurate hatchery for the production of fingerlings by the Safeway Group at the Abui Site that his Ministry would continue to facilitate such ventures through the provision of relevant infrastructure.

'Mr. President, this is enough evidence for you to see that the investors in the Western region were driven enthusiastically by the heart-warming remarks by your Minister who assured us that all will be well.

But it has turned out to be negative by the misbehaviour of those put in charge of Safeway Group.

We are, therefore, giving the government up to the end of May to summon Safeway Tilapia and South Dayi Assembly to meet all affected investors with a clear cut payment plan.

Failure to hear from the government as indicated above will give affected investors no choice but to hit the street with a massive demonstration to express our frustration and disappointment.

The Safeway Estates and Tilapia Company won the 2014 National Best Fingerlings Producer Farm Award.

The company's tilapia cage farm at Jeketi, north of Akosombo managed by Safeway estates also won the 2014 National Best tilapia Farm award.
The Commandant at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has urged Ghanaians to show leadership in democracy on the continent with the upcoming elections.

Major General O.B Akwa said this year's election will be another avenue for the country to prove it can conduct credible and peaceful elections as Ghana is preparing to hold its general elections in this November.

Citing some conflicts in some African countries which arose as a result of political contestations, Major General Akwa said at the Reflection on Security Series, "the tool of diplomacy should be adequately explored."

This year's election is expected to be very crucial because if the opposition party loses, it would be staying in opposition for 12 years and if the incumbent president loses, he will be the first President to have lost after four years in Ghana's political history.

Major General Akwa's call adds to the number of organisations who have urged various stakeholders as well as the electorate to ensure that process is done in peace.




Seventeen years ago, in April 1999 to be precise, forty-eight year old Nana Barima Kwaku Dua ascended one of the most important thrones in the word today, the Golden Stool of Asanteman. And he did that in style and with some controversy. The ruling government had wanted to lobby for a man of their choice to be the next king, probably to win over the region which had remained the opposition's stronghold since democratic governance was reintroduced. But that was not to be, as Nana Barima Kwaku Dua was nominated as Asantehene almost immediately after the government delegation left for the nation's capital. The high powered government delegation that attended the funeral of the late king was completely missing during the coronation of the new one.

The new Asantehene took the name Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and as an act of courtesy, paid a visit down south to formally introduce himself to the President of the Republic. He had a rude shock of his life. In less than three months of his reign, ethnicity reared its ugly head in public affairs in Accra.

In an effort to instill obedience to the annual tradition order on ban on noise making in Accra, some traditionalists went overboard in the application of sanctions against those who flouted the law. This brought up a heated public debate, and during a radio newspaper review section, a caller, who only identified himself as Anthony, in response to another caller, said the Ga chiefs should never compare themselves to the Asantehene. These unfortunate words led to some limited xenophobic attacks on shoeshine boys in Osu.

This happened in Accra, and out of the jurisdiction of the Asantehene, and even out of his ears, since coverage could not get to Kumasi.

Nonetheless the then President, H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, blamed the new king for not instilling discipline among his subjects, and in an effort to physically express his displeasure, he almost poked his fingers into the eyes of King Otumfuo Osei Tutu. This was a provocation which was unjustified, because the tribe of that caller could not be identified. The royal visit of that Thursday June 24, 1999 did not turn out as all expected, but the King, full of wisdom and humility, took in the insults and never commented, even to this day. He refused to be provoked.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, however, implemented his agenda and ambition to educate the brainy yet poor and needy, and went on a massive fundraising, home and abroad, targeting mostly his subjects. His education endowment fund was for all who resided in his kingdom, and it did not matter whether they were Asantes or other tribes.

He took his launch to the capital in an area called La, but again, met another embarrassed moment, when the chief and elders in the area refused him permission, sinc,e to them, it violated their traditional laws. Which laws? Well, their laws, and that was what mattered. The Asantehene was not wanted on La soil. He went on with his fund raising elsewhere, and refusing to be provoked, he assisted students of all tribes, including Gas.

Asanteman used to be a very large and important kingdom which stretched beyond the boundaries of the Gold Coast, now Ghana. With well over fifty or even sixty paramountcies found in about four regions, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta and Western, makes this monarchy one of the well-known and respected in the world. Almost every foreign dignitary who visits Ghana would love to visit the Manhyia Palace, the seat of the kingdom, and see the Asantehene.

It came to pass that the Chief of Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region kidnapped the Chief of nearby Tuobodom, also in the region, for paying homage and owing allegiance to Otumfuo. A very provocative move, and even though some residents in Kumasi who were indigenes of the North pleaded with the King to give them the go-ahead, without funds and logistics, to abduct to the Techimanhene and bring him to Kumasi, he refused, but rather admonished them to be law abiding. He refused to be provoked.

But a more worrying kind of provocation, which could easily call for war, came from down South, and from the chiefdom of the Okyenhene, which is the title of the Akyem Abuakwahene, the youngest of the three Akyem paramountcies, which included Akyem Bosome and Akyem Kotoku. The title Okyenhene has no relation to the name, Akyem. It is the local name for a tiger or leopard, which defines the Abuakwa stool.

In early February of the year 2006, at the funeral of the late Oyeeman Nana Wereko Ampem II, Chief of Amanokrom in Akwapim, who was known in private circles as Emmanuel Noi Omaboe, the Asantehene sent a representative in the person of the Tepahene, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Apem I, to represent him. As tradition enshrines, anyone who represents a chief or overlord at any function or activity should be given the full respect as would have been given if the one he represents had been around in person.

Upon arriving at the funeral grounds, the Okyenhene could not fathom why the Tepahene, who was in the person of the Asantehene, refused to stand up to accord him respect. His asafo groups (guards) went on to fire continuously for fifteen minutes into the umbrella of the king's representative, completely destroying it. Some of the spent gunpowder showered the expensive and rich garment of the Tepahene. His elders assisted him in dusting it off. The fact is that the incident took place in Akwapim, out of the jurisdiction of the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II. He was the chief mourner, and tradition even demanded that he should be seated before all important dignitaries arrived. The matter was quietly resolved with an apology from the Okyenhene. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, once again, refused to be provoked.

When things seem to be peaceful between the two royals, the Okyenhene did it again. On Saturday, April 15, 2016, at the funeral of the slain MP for Abuakwa North, J.B. Danquah Adu, which took place in Tafo in Akyem Abuakwa, the Asantehene delegated the Sompahene to represent him. The Chief, now in the person of the Asantehene, arrived on the grounds in a palanquin and went round greeting all the chiefs. When he got to the Tafohene, he had his palanquin lowered and greeted the overlord of that area. Then he got seated at a place reserved for him and his entourage.

Later the Okyenhene and Overlord of Abuakwa arrived in his car. When he got to the 'Asantehene', he beckoned him to stand in respect to him. The Sompahene, knowing tradition and the fact that the Asantehene stands up to no chief, just continued to sit down. After attempts to signal the Asantehene to stand had been ignored, the Okyenhene attempted to move into the guards of the kings representative to force him to stand up. Of course, seeing the provocation and what could ensure if the Okyenhene was allowed to get close, the guards closed in and pushed the invading chief away.

In anger he left to his place. As custom demanded, the Asantehene sent delegates to traditionally greet the Okyenhene. When they arrived there, they were pelted with sachet water and missiles, and the delegation had to beat a retreat.

This was more provocative than the first assault on Asanteman by the Chief of Akyem Abuakwa. For the sake of peace, the government of H.E. John Dramani Mahama quickly moved in to render profound apologies to the Sompahene and Asanteman.

Meanwhile, what is more worrying is that Akyem and Asanteman are the two of the strongholds of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Such usurping of power over Asanteman by the Okyenhene first took place before the 2008 elections, and the NPP lost it. Now, at a time when the party has all in its favour to pick up the governance of this nation, the Okyenhene has, again, provoked Asanteman.

What would be the chances of the NPP in Asantemen if Asantes take this persistent act of provocation and disrespect as coming from the Akyems, and for a fact that the NPP has an Akyem flag bearer?

The Asantehene had been highly provoked by key supporters of the NPP who had accused him of influencing the decisions of the Supreme Court on the case against the EC. Meanwhile, earlier before that this noble and humble king who stands for peace even under extreme provocation was represented as an anti-NPP in the city where the party is most revered. Video and audio recordings on social media had people allegedly believed to be Asantes condemning their king. Suddenly, this highly respected proud monarchy was brought low by Asantes themselves, most perceived to be NPP. The King was tagged with the pro-NDC label, and even was alleged to support Accra Hearts of Oak FC against the great Asante Kotoko FC, which is the property of Asanteman.

All of Asanteman most revere the Golden Stool and its occupant, the Asantehene. It is a highly regarded institution with is richness in culture and material and natural resources. An attack on the Asantehene is an attack on Asanteman. These persistent provocations from the Okyenhene should not be seen as the collective decision of all Akyems, what with the wife of the Asantehene being an Akyem. The wisdom and peaceful demeanor of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the most powerful expression of maturity, and shows that, indeed, man's strength is measured on how he controls his emotions.

Tradition is tradition, and even in all other circles, people of higher ranks are accorded the necessary respect when they go to jurisdictions other than their own.

A lower rank chief who represents his overlord must be accorded all the respect of an overlord, even by chiefs who rank higher than that representative. And we are talking here not of a chief, but a king with lots of paramount chiefs under him, some of which are overlords of areas many times bigger, more resourced, and more populated than Abuakwa. In some traditions, such a display of gross disrespect would spark civil conflicts. But we thank God we have a King who refuses to take notice of any form of provocation, however, must we continue to dare him to push Ghana into a major inter-tribal conflict?

Hon. Daniel Dugan


12.05.2016 LISTEN

Sanders beats Clinton



Bernie Sanders will win the West Virginia primary Tuesday, CNN projects, besting Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Sanders victory serves as a reminder to Clinton that despite her looming showdown with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, she has yet to formally wrap up her own partys presidential nomination.

We now have won primaries and caucuses in 19 states, Sanders said at a rally in Salem, Oregon Tuesday evening. Let me be as clear as I can be. We are in this campaign to win the Democratic nomination.

Sanders acknowledged, however that he faces an uphill climb. And he added a subtle hint that he would seek to unite the party in a general election if he fails to win the nomination.

While we have many disagreements with Secretary Clinton, there is one area where we agree and that is we must defeat Donald Trump.

The Vermont senators triumph does little to change the overall shape of the race. Clinton still enjoys a lead of nearly 300 pledged delegates and appears on course to formally clinch the nomination in the final round of big state primaries, including in California and New Jersey next month. Vice President Joe Biden, who has stopped short of endorsing either candidate, acknowledged Tuesday that Clinton will ultimately become the Democratic nominee.

I feel confident that Hillary will be the nominee and I feel confident shell be the next president, Biden told ABC News.

Still, Republicans were quick to taunt Clinton for losing another race to Sanders. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted its nothing short of embarrassing that Hillary Clinton has now been defeated twenty times by a 74-year old socialist from Vermont.

Source: CNN
The National Youth Wing of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unreservedly condemned the crude and deceitful modus operandi adopted by President Mahama and his National Democratic Congress in sending its message across to the Ghanaian electorate ahead of the November Polls.

In a statement signed by the National Youth Organizer of the party Sammy Awuku, he stated that it is rather unfortunate and very disheartening, that the self acclaimed 'youthful' president and his agents would out of desperation resort to total deceit and clandestine moves to market themselves

. .we find it as rather unfortunate and very disheartening, that the self acclaimed 'youthful' president and his agents would out of desperation resort to total deceit and clandestine moves to market themselves in a 'constituency' they so much took pride in few years ago, he said.

We wish to admonish the teeming youth of our country who are eager and yearning for change to be constantly vigilant as a means of escaping NDC crude machinations, he added.

Read Full Statement Below:

HALT THE SHAMEFUL ACT

The National Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party unreservedly condemns the crude and deceitful modus operandi adopted by President Mahama and his National Democratic Congress in sending its message across to the Ghanaian electorate ahead of the November Polls.

.

Whiles it remains highly indisputable that President Mahama on account of his numerous failed promises would go down in history as Ghana's most ineffective and inefficient President of the fourth Republic, we find it as rather unfortunate and very disheartening, that the self acclaimed 'youthful' president and his agents would out of desperation resort to total deceit and clandestine moves to market themselves in a 'constituency' they so much took pride in few years ago.

We all recall how few days ago, the National Democratic Congress sanctioned some of its agents to pose as officials of the Electoral Commission to recruit unsuspecting students of the University of Ghana for an advert to further its cause.

For a party in government to resort to such dubious and fraudulent moves without recourse to the concerns of the persons involved is an apparent indication that, the National Democratic Congress has lost its sense of attraction among the youth of Ghana and can therefore not be considered as an option come November 2016.

Again on 7 May, 2016, citizens who attended the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) at the Accra International Conference Centre became victims of yet another shameful conduct which was carried out by some 'agents of darkness' of the NDC. It is striking to note that, out of their desperation, these agents of darkness posted stickers of President John Mahama on vehicles of persons who by reason of their profession are required to be strictly non-partisan. By this shameless and irresponsible act, the NDC has set the stage for the general public to lose confidence in some institutions and personalities who are only victims of an irresponsible behaviour.

It is instructive to note that, when the National Youth Wing of the NPP on April 27, 2016 decided to embark on a national sticker campaign, it did so in broad day light with the active support and participation of the general public unlike the shameful midnight act of the NDC on May 7, 2016.

The Youth Wing of NPP is left in no doubt that the NDC out of its poor performance lacks the confidence to publicly engage the electorate, hence its covert operations.

We wish to admonish the teeming youth of our country who are eager and yearning for change to be constantly vigilant as a means of escaping NDC crude machinations.

Signed

Sammi Awuku

National Youth Organizer


12.05.2016 LISTEN

By Kodjo Adams, GNA

Accra, May 12, GNA - Ghana has signed an agreement with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), a non-profit research organisation, to provide legal status to the Institute's operations in the country.

The agreement, in line with the country's laws, provides key reliefs, including exemptions for communication and transportation controls.

Dr Tia Alfred Sugri, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said the establishment of IITA West Africa Hub in the country will benefit the tourism sector as officials of IITA will be drawn from various countries to access research facilities.

It will as well benefit farmers through individual and institutional capacity enhancement in science and technology, improved farm productivity and profitability.

Dr Sugri said IITA's presence would involve more Ghanaian researchers, extension agents, technicians, farmers, traders and other value chain actors to work together and enhance development.

He said the gesture will strengthen IITA's collaboration with Agricultural and Research and Development Innovations, state agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector in sharing new knowledge on major staple crops.

He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the partnership with IITA to improve research activities and increase agricultural production.

Dr Asamoah Larbi, Country Director of IITA, expressed his appreciation to all who made the agreement possible saying scientific research is the way forward with emerging the climate change.

He said climate change is affecting food crop production and that there is the need to focus on scientific research to adapt to environmental changes.

GNA
Accra, May 12, GNA - The Kwahu Peace Preachers, a social association, has called on all Ghanaians to endeavour to ensure peaceful coexistence as the election campaign intensifies.

A statement signed by Mr Kwadwo Asante, the Secretary of the Kwahu Peace Preachers, said the quest for development could only prevail in an atmosphere of peace.

The statement was issued in the wake of a recent pronouncement by the Acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Council which was perceived by some people as a declaration of support for a political party.

The pronouncements occurred when he delivered his welcome address at a durbar at Abetifi-Kwahu during the recent 'Accounting to the People Tour' to the Eastern Region by President John Mahama.

'Traditionally, our chiefs are expected to work assiduously for our welfare and development. However, no chief can bring about any meaningful development to his area of jurisdiction unless he does so with the help of the central government,' it said.

'It is not surprising that a number of chiefs have incurred the displeasure of some people in the course of their fight for development when their speeches were perceived to be political in nature,' the statement said.

It said the traditional ruler expressed his wish that the present administration would complete its unfinished projects before its term of office is over.

'Unfortunately, the appeal from the traditional ruler to the government was misconstrued to represent his support for a particular political party, knowing very well that chiefs are strictly barred from doing so,' the statement said.

It said we are duty bound to respect our Head of State, all heads of political parties, chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and indeed ourselves.

The statement said, 'It is the fervent prayer of the Kwahu Peace Preachers that we freely stay divided in our political persuasions but tightly united in our search for the upliftment of our communities.

Let us analyse everything in this period of election campaigns in the light of truthfulness and brotherliness in order to avoid suspicion and mistrust among ourselves, it said.

GNA
Tunis (AFP) - The Tunisian government said Thursday that 37 suspects, including several jihadists linked to the Islamic State group, had been arrested in the security operations carried out the previous day.

Two "dangerous and wanted terrorists" were killed during the raid Wednesday in Mnihla near the capital, while 16 suspected jihadists were arrested, the interior ministry said Thursday.

Another 21 other suspects were arrested in raids that followed, the ministry added.

All those arrested were members of "terrorist cells operating across (Tunisian) territory".

"They have been monitored and followed by the national guard for more than four months," the statement said.

In a deadly confrontation that erupted during one of the raids in the Tataouine governorate, four policemen were killed when a militant detonated his explosives belt after a firefight erupted.

The men arrested in the raids had all been trained in the use of firearms, the ministry said.

"They were preparing to gather in Tunis to attack vital, sensitive targets in the capital and the rest of the country, as well as security positions and agents," it said.

The suspects had been planning bomb and "suicide attacks", it added.

Some of those arrested were "implicated in the terrorist acts that hit the Bardo Museum, the Imperial hotel at Sousse, the presidential guard's bus and most recently Ben Guerdane," the statement said.

- 'Links' to IS -

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since its 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the Bardo Museum in Tunis and the beach resort near Sousse that killed a total of 60 people, all but one of them foreign tourists.

A November suicide bombing in the capital, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards and prompted the authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Ben Guerdane, one of the North African nation's poorest towns, was the target of a jihadist assault that killed seven civilians and 13 security personnel in March as well as 55 extremists.

"They were also active elements of the terrorist groups in the Tunisian mountains... and had links with Tunisian members of... Daesh in Libya, Syria and Iraq," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

None of the suspects' identities were revealed.

Thousands of Tunisians have joined jihadist groups in conflict zones such as Iraq, Syria and Libya over the past few years.
Democrat Assessor of Property candidate Mark Siedlecki said the campaign of Republican nominee Marty Haynes "is running scared."

He said, "If someone is attacking you, you know you're doing something right.



"This week, the Hamilton County GOP Chairman Tony Sanders sent an email on behalf of Commissioner Marty Haynes campaign for Assessor of Property, which apparently cant speak for itself. The email, among many other things, attacked me for supporting a freeze on senior citizens' property taxes and erroneously claimed that seniors were not at risk of higher tax bills. Commissioner Haynes did not put his own name on the email, preferring to hide behind his party chairman. I can only assume this is because it was laced with many dishonest statements and disregard for our countys senior citizens.

"Im running to serve all the residents of Hamilton County, not just those who live in 1 of the 10 municipalities here. Why cant we enact a tax freeze for all low-income seniors across the entire county? Chairman Sanders seems to think that only those within city limits are deserving of protection. I completely disagree.

"Many seniors in our county have seen tax bill increases of 300% or more in the last decade. For those living on a fixed income, this can be catastrophic and possibly result in homelessness. With the county commission currently considering a property tax increase this year, why wont Commissioner Haynes lead the charge for a tax freeze for seniors? All it takes is a simple vote of the County Commission, yet they do nothing.

"Join with me in calling on Commissioner Haynes and his colleagues to do the right thing and protect our most vulnerable citizens. Its time that we demand a county government that works for everyone, not just the special interests and political cronies."
business Oil prices jump on US data At around 1600 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in June was up USD 1.24 at USD 45.90 a barrel.
business Operators must focus on flawless service:Telecom Minister The telecom sector has seen good growth with Rs 26,000 crore FDI flows coming into India. But telecom operators need to identify gaps, says Ravi Shankar Prasad.
business There will be a fleet growth of 50 a year: Airbus Airbus will be delivering, on an average, one aircraft every week for the next ten years, says Srinivasan Dwarakanth, Airbus' India president.
business Will increase capacity utilisation to 115%: Greenply Industries The company will increase capacity utilisation to 115 percent from 100 percent with product mix and better products, says Shobhan Mittal, Joint MD, Greenply Industries.
business AIIB forays into India, Power Grid may get 1st loan: Sources Quoting sources, Ronojoy Banerjee of CNBC-TV18 reported that AIIB is likely to lend about Rs 800-1000 crore to Power Grid.
you are here:
Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County:

U.S. 27 (I-124) widening from I-24/U.S. 27 interchange to north of the Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River, including widening the Olgiati Bridge: Work on this project continues. The speed limit on U.S. 27 in the construction zone has been lowered to 45 MPH. The contractor may have temporary lane closures on U.S. 27 between 7 p.m.-6 a.m.

On Thursday evening the contractor will implement temporary lane closures from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. on U.S. 27 North between the 12th Street bridge and Manufacturers Road for milling and temporary striping between the 6th Street bridge and the Olgiati Bridge. This work will require multiple lane shifts and traffic will be moved around throughout the night to facilitate the work.

On Friday evening from 7 pm. Saturday at noon, the contractor will implement a temporary lane closure on U.S. 27 North between the 12th Street bridge and Manufacturers Road for paving, removing existing markings, restriping and installing pavement markers between the 6th Street bridge and Manufacturers Road to shift traffic for the Olgiati Bridge construction. This work will require multiple lane shifts and traffic will be moved around throughout the night to facilitate the work.

As the project progresses, there may be short term temporary lane closures for the safety of the traveling public on city streets within the project area. Flaggers will assist with these closures and they will be properly signed in accordance with the Federal Highway Administrations Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. During Phase 1 of the U.S. 27 project, the contractor will be working on the northbound side of U.S. 27 on the bridges. Work will consist of demolishing and reconstructing the outside sections of the bridges along U.S. 27 North. Also on U.S. 27 South, they will be constructing a large retaining wall between the Olgiati Bridge and 6th Street. At least one lane will remain open in each direction on U.S. 27. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary. Estimated project completion date is July 2019. For more info, visit the project website http://www.tn.gov/tdot/topic/US27-reconstruction-chattanooga. [Dement Construction Co., LLC/JM/CNP230]

SR 317 (Apison Pike) the grading, drainage and paving on from Old Lee Highway (LM 5.58) to SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) (LM 7.84): Work on this project continues. During this report period, the contractor will be working on storm drains, conduits and grade work. The contractor may have short term lane closures to perform various operations on an as-needed basis. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is May 2017. [Wright Brothers Const. Co. /Pruett/CNN279]

SR-320 (East Brainerd Road) grading, drainage, installation of signals, construction of seven retaining walls and paving from east of Graysville Road to east of Bel-Air Road: Work on this project continues. The contractor will have intermittent lane closures during this report period between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This work may affect either direction of East Brainerd Road or side streets from Graysville Road to Hamlett Drive as the contractor installs road crossings and borings. The contractor may have short-term lane closures to perform various operations on an as-needed basis. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion is June 2017. [Mountain State Contractors, LLC /Pruett/CNN383]

Shepherd Road over SR-153 construction of a rolled steel girder bridge from West Shepherd Rd. to Shaw Avenue in Chattanooga, including grading, drainage and paving: Work on this project continues. The bridge has returned to two lanes of traffic. During this report period, the contractor will continue retaining wall and widening work on the Airport Connector Road west of the Shepherd Road Bridge. This work will require that the shoulder and right travel lane heading to the airport on Shepherd Road be closed. This change should only affect those turning right at the top of the ramp from SR-153 South, as they will not have a designated lane to the airport during this work. In the coming week or weeks we may need to close the right shoulder and lane of eastbound Airport Connector Rd. (leaving the airport and going toward SR-153). Traffic should not be impacted other than flagging to let trucks enter and exit the work zone. We will have signs and a message board alerting motorists to the change in traffic pattern. The through lane from the bridge will remain unobstructed except for the occasional flagging for equipment to move in and out. During the project, there may be intermittent nighttime lane closures as necessary in both directions on SR-153 between 8 p.m.-6 a.m. THP will assist with traffic control as necessary on the project. Estimated project completion is October. [Jones Brothers Contractors, Inc./Micka/CNP105]

SR-317 (Bonny Oaks Drive) improvement of the intersection with Volkswagen Drive (LM 3.85) serving Volkswagen Group of America, including grading, drainage and paving: Work on this project continues. During this report period, the contractor will have intermittent lane closures on Bonny Oaks Drive at Volkswagen Drive to various operations between 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on as-needed basis. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is May. [Talley Construction Company, Inc. /Pruett/CNN304]

The tunnel cleaning of the McCallie Tunnel on U.S. 11 (US 64, SR-2), the Stringers Ridge Tunnel on U.S. 127 (SR-8), and the Bachman Tubes on U.S. 41 (U.S. 76, SR-8): The nighttime cleaning operation of McCallie Tunnels, Stringers Ridge Tunnel, and Bachman Tubes occurs normally on Wednesday and Thursday nights during the week with the 3rd Tuesday of the month. There will be no tunnel cleaning this week. Work hours are between 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Tunnels will be closed during cleaning, and detours will be marked accordingly as each tunnel is cleaned. Contract completion date is June. [Diamond Specialized, Inc./Micka/CNP212]






business Govt must push GAAR by 2 yrs; most FIIs may fail test: Enam Experts feel instruments such as participatory notes, which allow foreign investors to skip registration with Sebi to invest in India, may take a hit and that the regular route of investments was too cumbersome for FIIs
business No near-term effect on p-notes due to Mauritius treaty:Tulsian In an interview with CNBC-TV18, market expert SP Tulsian talked about the sugar sector and gave his views on EID Parry, Mawana Sugar, DCM Shriram, Dhampur Sugar.
business Nestle Q1 net seen down 19%, Maggi re-launch may aid margin Sales decline may moderate in Q1CY16 due to few more Maggi variants released in the quarter. During the period, EBITDA may slip 27 percent at Rs 445 crore compared to Rs 610 crore while EBITDA margin is seen at 20.5 percent versus 24.2 percent year-on-year. EBITDA margin will be impacted by start-up costs of noodles.
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
The Supreme Courts Indigent Representation Task Force will make stops in Johnson City and Knoxville as it continues its listening tour across the state to hear from anyone interested in sharing thoughts about representation for those who are accused of a crime and unable to afford an attorney.

The Task Force invites anyone wishing to speak on the topic of indigent defense to submit their intention using the online form available here.

Johnson City Listening Tour Session

Thursday, May 19, 3-6 p.m.

East Tennessee State University

Culp Center Auditorium

1276 Gilbreath Dr.

Johnson City, TN 37604



Knoxville Listening Tour Session

Friday, May 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

University of Tennessee - College of Law

1505 W. Cumberland Avenue, Room 132

Knoxville, TN 37996

The Task Force met in late April in Memphis and Trenton, where more than 50 people attended the meetings and heard from a total of 10 speakers. Additional tour stops are planned in June and July:

Cleveland  June 9  3-6 p.m. CDT

Cookeville  June 10  10 a.m.-1 p.m. CDT

Nashville  July 29  8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Specific details about those stops are available here.

The Task Force was created by the Tennessee Supreme Court in late 2015 to study how indigent representation is administered in the state. The Indigent Representation Task Force has been charged with reviewing practices regarding how attorneys are compensated for work with defendants who are unable to afford legal counsel.More information about and materials from the Task Force can be found here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga is the non-profit winner of the 2016 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, presented by the Better Business Bureau serving Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.

The mission of the BBB is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer business education, and service excellence. In this spirit, the BBB conducts an annual award program to gain public recognition for businesses and organizations that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business practices in an ethical fashion. Companies of different sizes are selected annually through a regional competition to receive a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, said officials.

The Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics is designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that our marketplace remains fair and honorable, said officials.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga changes the way vulnerable children see the world and interact with it. It depends on donations to ensure child safety and provide support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain relationships. The programs are proven to reduce a childs risk of dropping out of school, becoming violent, using drugs and alcohol, and falling victim to other negative cycles that threaten society. For more information visit www.bbbschatt.org.




On May 11, Margrethe Vestager, the EU competition commissioner, rejected CK Hutchison's 3 UK's proposed acquisition of Telefonica's U.K. division O2 UK. We had thought the odds of approval were about 50%, so we aren't surprised by the rejection. We think this makes approval of CK Hutchison's 3 Italia's proposed merger in Italy with VimpelCom's Wind division highly unlikely. Competition is much lower in Italy, as evidenced by fewer mobile virtual network operators and much higher EBITDA margins.

It would have provided fuel for the fire of politicians in favour of Brexit

However, the Italian deal has two advantages. First, the U.K. deal was complicated by 3's network-sharing agreement with EE, and by O2's network-sharing agreement with Vodafone. Allowing 3 and O2 to merge without changing the network-sharing agreements could have potentially provided the combined firm with a network advantage. Second, the deal became tied up with Brexit, as both Ofcom, the U.K. telecom regulator, and the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority came out strongly against the deal.

If the EU had approved a deal that the local regulators were against, it would have provided fuel for the fire of politicians in favour of Brexit. Owing to the political sensitivity of this issue, we don't expect Hutchison to appeal the ruling until after the U.K.'s vote on Brexit on June 23. Despite the deal's rejection, we are not changing our fair value estimates or moat ratings on any of the companies involved. We still believe Telefonica is undervalued and it has other means of raising cash to reduce debt. These include looking for another buyer of O2, possibly Liberty Global, or spinning off part of it. We also believe the firm can sell some of its other long-term financial assets, as well as possibly listing Telxius, the company it recently created to hold some of its telephone tower portfolio. We also assume it will pay a significant portion of its 0.75 per share dividend in shares rather than cash. Paying 50% in shares would save it 1.85 billion.
Body Of Medical Student Missing Since April Found In Lake Michigan

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on May 12, 2016 7:13PM



Ambrose Monye (Courtesy of family)



Ambrose Monye (Chicago Police Department)

The body of Ambrose Monye, 28, was found Sunday afternoon near the 5400 block of South Lake Shore Drive, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Cook County medical examiner's officer told the Tribune that an autopsy performed Monday was inconclusive about how Monye died.

Monye was a medical student in Guadalajara, Mexico who had been performing clinical rotations at Jackson Park Hospital. He was last seen on April 21 at the University of Chicago's Crerar medical library, according to ABC7. The Tribune says police had later received a report that he was spotted around 55th Street and Lake Park Avenue the following day.

The case has been baffling to friends and family. Classmates said that he spent most of his time at the hospital, his apartment or the gym, according to ABC 7.

His brother Joseph Monye, also a medical student at the same school, had recently received career advice from his older brother. Ambrose was getting ready to graduate next month, and he had purchased his ticket back to school.

"He was excited for graduation," Joseph Monye told the Tribune. "There was no reason to think anything was going on."
A Whole New Neighborhood Is Coming To The Prairie South Of South Loop

By Mae Rice in News on May 12, 2016 3:38PM



Land southwest of Clark Street and Roosevelt Road (photo via Google Street View)

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and we're slated to get a whole new one. Developer Related Midwest has signed on to lead development on a 62-acre parcel of land between the South Loop and Chinatown, and plans to develop it into a new Chicago neighborhood, the Tribune reports in a big feature on the project.

Related's president Curt Bailey told the Tribune he estimates it will take 15 years to complete the project. The land, hemmed in by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street, and riverfront, is currently a chunk of prairie that has neither roads nor sewer accessso the project will involve urbanizing the land as well as buildings homes by the thousands, retail space and offices.

The city currently plans to help the project along by extending Wells Street, which dead-ends under the Roosevelt flyover, through the neigborhood-to-be. Chicago's planning and development commissioner David Reifman told the Tribune that the development is "a priority for the mayor."

Though the development process will be a collaborative effort, Related Midwest plans to lead the charge, the Tribune reports. They've worked on numerous projects in Chicago, though their highest profile property may be the site of the non-existent Chicago Spire, which the Tribune reports they've owned since last year. Currently, the spire site is an abyss surrounded by dirt piles.

It's worth reading the full Tribune feature, which you can find here.


Podcast 'Reply All' Revisits The Palatine Brown's Chicken Massacre

By Sophie Lucido Johnson in News on May 12, 2016 4:19PM

If you haven't heard of the Palatine Brown's Chicken massacre, chances are you grew up in the Internet age. Reply All, a podcast about the internet, is counting on that as it airs its first of a three-part story about Paul Modrowski, a prisoner implicated in the 1993 mass murder case. Episode #64, "On the Inside," comes from show producer Sruthi Pinnamaneni, who has been working on a report about Modrowski for more than a year.

Pinnamaneni grew interested in Modrowski after she found his years-running blog while working on an unrelated story. If it sounds strange that a person in a maximum-security prison could actively maintain a blog, it is: Prisoners don't have access to the internet, so Modrowski wrote his blog posts by hand and mailed them to his mother, who posted them online. That's enough to pique the interest of an internet-loving listening community, but the truly salacious detail here comes in the last five minutes of the episode: Modrowski had been implicated in one of the highest profile, CSI-evoking murder sagas in the history of Illinois.

The Palatine Brown's Chicken massacre rocked the state in 1993. The mass murder, which took place after closing time at a Brown's Chicken restaurant in Palatine, resulted in the killing of seven workers, whose bodies were subsequently placed in freezers and refrigeration units at the restaurant. All the victims were shot; one woman, Lynn Ehlenfeldt, had also had her throat slit, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. It took the police almost nine years to solve the case; the trial wasn't finished until 2009. Juan Luna and James Degorski were both found guilty of all seven counts of murder, and were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Modrowski was almost certainly nowhere near the scene of that crimeit's not the one he was charged with. Ten days after the Brown's Chicken massacre, a body was found along the railroad tracks in Barrington; its head and arms had been removed. Because of the grisly nature of both murders, it was widely assumed in 1995 that Modrowski had been involved with both. He was never charged with the Brown's Chicken slayings, but the case has followed him around.

Modrowski vehemently denies involvement in any murder; he pled not guilty at his trial, accusing his friend Robert Faraci of the crime. (Faraci was found not guilty.) A description written by his mother at the top of his blog reads:





Paul was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole at age 18 on an "accountability" theory for supposedly lending his car to a friend who supposedly murdered a manalthough the friend was acquitted by a different jury. Paul has been in maximum security prison for over 20 years. Paul has autism.

Paul writes this blog himself! Thank you for reading!

Modrowski's autism has been a major topic of discussion in Pinnamaneni's story. In interviews, Modrowski asks Pinnamaneni if he seems autistic to her. She tells him that when they began speaking he had come off as a little monotone; he replies, "I come across as very stoic, indifferent, and cold to strangers." This self-characterization matches the description in the Chicago Tribune article about his trial published in 1995: "Modrowski was characterized by the prosecution as cold and unfeeling, and he showed little emotion during the monthlong trial and during most of his sentencing hearing."

Reply All will post its second installment of Modrowski's story next week. You can stream the first installment below.
A New York lawmaker and his son are headed to federal prison after orchestrating a kickback scheme that targeted an insurer and other businesses.



Dean G. Skelos, the former Republican majority leader of the New York State Senate, was sentenced to five years in federal prison Thursday on federal corruption charges. His son, Adam Skelos, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.



Dean Skelos is the second former New York state lawmaker in 10 days to be sent to prison for abuse of office, according to a New York Times report. Last week, former Democratic speaker of the State Assembly Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in a separate corruption case.



Prosecutors said the elder Skelos, a legislator with three decades of service, used his position as majority leader to pressure companies  including real estate developer Glenwood Management, a medical malpractice insurer and an environmental technology company  into enriching Adam Skelos through a direct payment of $20,000, consulting work, and a job at which the younger Skelos was essentially a no-show, the Times reported.



Father and son sought to monetize Dean Skeloss public position for Adam Skeloss private gain, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The two attempted to extort more than $760,000 from the businesses in the form of payments, bribes and gratuities, and ultimately obtained more than $334,000 to line their familys pockets, prosecutors said.



Some of that money was a $4,000-per-month salary for the job Adam Skelos took with real estate firm Glenwood Management, according to the New York Daily News. During the trial, witnesses told the jury that the younger Skelos rarely showed up for work  and that when he did, his behavior was objectionable. When confronted by a supervisor, Adam Skelos threatened to smash his head and said that men like him couldnt shine Skeloss shoes, the Times reported.



In addition to their prison sentences, the court imposed a $500,000 fine on Dean Skelos and a $334,120 forfeiture to be paid jointly by both father and son, the Times reported.


Two Kamiposi concerts

This weekend, Kamiposi is bringing the audiophiles of Midland a few genre options normally difficult to catch in the Tall City. On Friday, the art gallery hosts its new series Lyricist Lounge featuring New Orleans poet, hip-hop artist Jonathan Brown and Portlands Aerial Ruin.

The vibes will be different on Sunday with Linear Downfall, a group with intense melodies from Nashville, Tennessee. Static of Masses from Midland rounds out the show.

So whether youre into weird electronic sounds or the rhythmic words of traditional MCs, Kamiposi has you covered.

Lyricist Lounge, 7 p.m. Friday. Linear Downfall and Static of Masses, 7 p.m. Sunday at Kamiposi, 510 S Big Spring St. $5 cover for Sundays show. facebook.com/kamiposi.

Friday Night Funnies at DoubleDaves

How about a slice with that punch line? Pairing live comedy with a $5 pizza buffet could be one of the most brilliant ideas ever. Sure it lacks the star power of the Comedy Get Down tour (read below), but at that price and with quirky local comics, this is a cant miss for those in search of a laugh-filled weekend.

9 p.m. on Friday at DoubleDaves Pizzaworks, 3208 N. Loop 250 W. Ste 100.

Bread-making workshop at Hight Foods

If youre in the mood for hands-on activities, look no further than Saturdays Simply Real Food Workshops which will focus on the basics of bread making. The workshop will feature 30-minutes of kneading and configuring the dough into bread that can last up to two weeks on your counter. The class includes a take-home kit with ingredients for the first loaf that emerge from your oven and fill your kitchen with that fresh bread aroma.

10 a.m. on Saturday at Hight Foods, 3320 N. Midkiff Road. $55 Call 432-934-6118 for reservations.

Astronaut Mark Kelly visits Museum of the Southwest

The Musem of the Southwest knows how to celebrate 50 years. After closed doors for the last year, the renovated and redone mansion and galleries will be open to the public. They go one better by celebrating International Astronomy Day with visiting guest and former NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly. Kelly will be presenting Endeavor to Succeed for the museums Relativity Lecture Series. The event is free but tickets are required. The day will also feature space and science activities.

Activities 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Q&A with Kelly 3 p.m., meet and greet 4 p.m., 5:30 lecture. Saturday at Museum of the Southwest, 1705 W. Missouri Ave. museumsw.org.

The Comedy Get Down brings major players to West Texas

The Ector County Coliseum is going to need a bigger marquee. With the likes of Eddie Griffin, Cedric The Entertainer, George Lopez, D.L. Hughley and Charlie Murphy, The Comedy Get Down Tour is a powerhouse of a show. These are names that carry a ton of weight and significance in contemporary comedy and on television. Catch them all in one night and fill your quota of laughs for a good while.

8 p.m. Saturday at the Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway, Odessa. Tickets are available at ectorcountycoliseum.org.
DALLAS (AP)  Top Republicans were anxious to bring the fight raging in North Carolina over transgender rights and public restrooms to America's largest conservative state, as thousands of party activists gathered Thursday for the Texas GOP convention.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced he's been talking to his North Carolina counterpart, Pat McCroy, about how to battle the U.S. Justice Department, which is suing North Carolina over its new law requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates. Abbott also suggested he'd like to see a similar law come to Texas soon.

"Obama is turning bathrooms into courtroom issues," Abbott told thousands of delegates at Dallas' convention center. "I want you to know, I am working with the governor of North Carolina, and we are going to fight back."

He added: "Our country is in crisis, and Texas must lead the way forward."

Abbott's office said it expects to announce its next steps as soon as Friday. Abbott is a former Texas Supreme Court justice and before becoming governor last year used his power as state attorney general to sue the Obama administration around 30 times.

Texas Republicans have used the issue to reinvigorate their conservative base, even though legislative action isn't likely until state lawmakers reconvene in January. A campaign sticker imploring men to be kept out of women's bathrooms was affixed inside at least one women's restroom inside the convention hall.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has demanded the resignation of the Fort Worth school district superintendent over guidelines meant to accommodate transgender students, and Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested the district's policies may violate Texas' education code.

Paxton, who appeared in an appeals court Thursday a few blocks away on felony securities fraud charges, also released a statement this week applauding North Carolina's countersuit against the Justice Department, which considers the state's law discriminatory.

"My office stands with Governor McCrory and the people of North Carolina regarding this unconstitutional form of federal overreach," it read.

The effort to put a Texas stamp on a national issue comes as supporters of Sen. Ted Cruz's defunct presidential campaign have vowed to head to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and win positions on committees shaping the party's platform.

Cruz backers want to fight for conservative values  including in public restrooms. As Cruz campaign adviser Ken Cuccinelli put it, "Boys should only be allowed to go in the boys' bathroom, and girls should only be allowed to go in the girls' bathroom."

Texas' delegation will be chosen this weekend at the convention. Cruz supporters far outnumber those backing Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump, meaning that, potentially, all 155 delegates to the national convention from Texas will be loyal to Cruz  and poised to back conservative national platform positions on social issues that Trump may not agree with.

Still, Sandy Galvan, a San Antonio business owner and Trump supporter, said she didn't feel outnumbered in Dallas.

"We have a lot of respect for Senator Cruz but he didn't win," Galvan said. "It's time to get behind a candidate who can."

Abbott endorsed Cruz but says he will ultimately vote for any Republican presidential nominee. He called for unity to defeat Hillary Clinton in Thursday's speech, but didn't mention Trump by name.

"Ted may have come up short, but that does not end the war," Abbott said, sparking a standing ovation that lasted longer than the governor's salutes to a new state law allowing license holders to carry handguns holstered on their hips or otherwise in plain sight  something a number of convention attendees did.

"America does not have the luxury to get this election wrong," Abbott said. "Republicans must unite to prevent Hillary from continuing the Obama agenda of ignoring our Constitution."
HOUSTON (AP)  A court hearing Friday over the licensing of immigrant detention centers in Texas is likely to delve into the unresolved question of whether children illegally crossing the southern U. S. border can be held for long periods at facilities that federal officials say are vital to prepare for another wave of immigrant families this summer.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues housing children at two detention centers in Texas while it appeals California U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee's ruling last July ordering that the children should be released "without unnecessary delay."

The federal agency has said it is trying to comply with the order by using additional resources to process and either release or return families "as expeditiously as possible." The agency has also  through the private prison firms that run its two Texas detention centers  sought to have the facilities licensed as child care centers so that the care of immigrant children can be properly reviewed.

But immigrant advocates are challenging whether the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has the authority to license such detention centers as child care facilities. A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Friday in an Austin courtroom.

Advocates say the lawsuit is part of their broader legal efforts to have federal officials again adhere to a longtime agreement that called for children and their families to be held only for a short time before being released to family, friends or others while their cases are decided.

Federal officials say these ongoing courtroom battles  in Texas and California  make it more difficult for them to respond to this summer's expected influx of immigrant families. They believe the centers help deter illegal immigration.

Austin-based Grassroots Leadership wants a temporary injunction that would delay the granting of a child care facility license to the 2,400-bed South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. The other Texas detention center, the 500-bed facility in Karnes City, was granted a temporary license in April.

"This is part of a broader effort, both federal litigation and a lot of advocacy, calling on the administration to not make the largest trend in locking up families since Japanese internment part of its immigration legacy," said Bob Libal, Grassroots' executive director.

While illegal immigration has tended to rise during the summer months, federal immigration officials have not offered predictions for this summer, only saying that during the current fiscal year, each month  except for March  has seen record monthly apprehensions of families at the border.

ICE spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea called the licensing of Karnes "an important step" in improving oversight and transparency of family detention centers.

The two Texas centers, both south of San Antonio, opened in 2014.

Immigration advocates say the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has ignored concerns that keeping children at the centers is physically and mentally harmful to them.

The Texas agency declined to comment ahead of the hearing.

"To the extent state inspections and the enforcement of safety standards can safeguard children in any residential facility, the children will be less likely to suffer alleged harm based on detention if (the agency) is allowed to regulate the facilities," lawyers with the Texas Attorney General's Office said in court documents filed Tuesday.

ICE is also facing problems at its third family detention center  in Pennsylvania  as state officials there in January announced they wouldn't renew its child care license. The facility, which has a capacity for 96 residents, remains open pending an appeal.

ICE has suggested it might change how it houses families and children caught at the border but has offered few specifics. The agency recently sought potential service providers to run state-licensed residential care facilities for families and children held by the agency, ideally in Arizona, California, New Mexico and/or Texas.

What is happening in Texas could set a precedent for bypassing licensing laws if officials decide to open new detention centers in other states, said Wendy Cervantes, vice president of immigration and child rights for Washington, D.C.-based First Focus, an advocacy group for children and families.

___
For a while, the issue of regulating transportation network companies, including Uber, had not been kind to the Midland City Council.

Tuesday, the council said enough was enough. It took a proactive stance and delivered a very direct message to TNCs, especially Uber, that the city of Midland is willing to work with those companies but they are done playing games.

While Tuesdays agenda showed one item up for approval  a modern transportation network company ordinance  the council impressively checked a few boxes.

The first box was the most important one. Midland residents spoke loudly when Uber pulled out of Midland. It didnt matter that the TNC allegedly agreed to terms of an ordinance passed by the council. The community peppered their representatives with emails and calls, expressing their disappointment with the outcome.

Spencer Robnett delivered to his colleagues a new agreement, and they passed it on first reading. Check.

The second box was probably unintended but impressive never-the-less: the call for a smaller government footprint. The more modern transportation network company ordinance cuts regulations. That was easy to see. Financial, security and safety requirements had changed. Everyone inside council chambers at City Hall could see it, including the taxi and limo drivers who came to provide opposition to the ordinance. And before those drivers could deliver their opposition, Councilman Scott Dufford delivered a most unexpected statement when he said the city needs to level the playing field for all. He said that after the TNC ordinance is passed, the council ought to look at requirements for taxis and limos and make similar changes.

In a matter of moments, Midlanders were closer to a more modern transportation network company ordinance but also could be closer to decreased regulations for taxis and limos drivers. It was win-win. Check.

The last box is an important one. There were a lot of expressions of frustration, not for ride-sharing programs or TNCs in general, but how Uber has played the system with municipalities across the state and how Uber previously dealt with the city of Midland. They were quick to say that Uber and other TNCs had an obligation to act as a responsible members of the business community. And if safety concerns arise or some other issue comes up, the council could resume the ordinance process if needed. The city, and not TNCs, will be in control of whats best for Midland. Check.

In our view, the Midland City Council made the right call with the first reading of the so-called Uber ordinance. It showed good judgment by proposing a leveling of the playing field for taxis and limos, and council leaders were right to call out those who want to play games and not take seriously a good member of our community.

It might have been only an item on the agenda, but it certainly was an impactful one.
Chicago's Rich Kids Live In An 'Affluence Bubble,' Report Says

By Sophie Lucido Johnson in News on May 12, 2016 6:27PM



A mirage version of Chicago's skyline (photo by Seth Brown)

Chicago's infamous segregation problem is evident, almost no matter which neighborhood you visit. A new study focused on how it affects children in particular found that children in affluent families in Chicago (and its suburbs) are more likely to be isolated from lower-income residents than in most other U.S. metro areas.

Income segregation is higher for families with kids in Chicago than most U.S. urban centers, and its relative increase may be due to the city's struggling and messy school system. The study by Professor Ann Owens, a Chicago native, found that income segregation is particularly high for families with children (in fact, households without kids are increasingly less segregated by income). In Chicago, households with kids face income segregation that is higher than it is in 70 of 100 largest U.S. cities.

Of the students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, 86 percent are economically disadvantaged, according to CPS' website. In Chicago, where you can't talk about class without also talking about institutionalized racism, it also bears noting that just 9.4 percent of CPS' students are white. (As a point of comparison, 45.3 percent of the city's total population is white, according to the latest Census data.) Schools with high performance scores, public and private, attract families with higher incomes. This creates what Owens calls an "affluence bubble." As people who can afford to move to neighborhoods close to top schools, those neighborhoods become more expensive to live in. It's a vicious cycle.

Nearby Chicago suburbs Winnetka and Highland Park boast the best school districts in the state according to the consulting group Niche. The per capita income in Highland Park is nearly $70,000 (and the median is $115,000); in Winnetka, the per capita income is $202,867.

Owens' report found that income segregation for families rose about 6 percent between 2000 and 2010, when the last U.S. Census was taken. She predicted that the school closings and ongoing problems with public schools in the city are almost certainly increasing income segregation. As Chicago's school system becomes more confusingcharter schools, magnet schools, and alternative schools are sprouting up amidst traditional public schools, and can be hard to navigateparents opt for suburbs where a good school is a guarantee.

According to Crains, University of Illinois at Chicago professor Janet Smith analyzed the 2010 Census data and found that about 65 percent of the 200,000 people the city of Chicago lost over the prior decade were under 18, meaning that the vast majority of people leaving the city were families. As affluent families leave, children in low-income families become more isolated. There are less networking opportunities across classes, reinforcing the lack of resources that have long plagued poor neighborhoods.


In an attempt to intimidate his nephew, Aemond threatened to take out Lucerys' eye and later went after the young prince on dragon's back. The situation escalated to a bad one when Lucerys' dragon Arrax blew fire on Aemond's dragon Vhagar.
Six Chicago Cops May Have Lied Under Oath

By Sophie Lucido Johnson in News on May 12, 2016 5:17PM



Shutterstock according a recent Tribune investigation.

The investigation showed more than a dozen examples of officers providing questionable testimonies to authorities, and the police department has now launched an internal investigation into the matter. This scrutiny adds fuel to the ever-swelling argument that the CPD requires a major overhauland soon. While the officers under investigation are still on the streets, they may be stripped of their powers very soon.

At least one officer is already likely on the way out: Jorge Martinez's testimony on a narcotics case led to the release of two suspects, according to a judgea finding that caused the Cook County state's attorney's office to file a so-called disclosure notice on Martinez. A disclosure notice is issued to a criminal defense lawyer to explain that a trial witness has been found to give false testimony. In cases like these, officers are typically stripped of their duties while investigations into whether they lied are ongoing.

Martinez was the only witness in the drug case. According to court documentation acquired by the Tribune, he testified that he saw a minivan fail to signal a right turn, and abandoned a drug surveillance operation because of the infraction. After pulling over Miguel Rodriguez and Antonio Garcia, Martinez said he seized a $50,000 brick of cocaine found inside the van. Lawyers for Rodriguez and Garcia countered that it wasn't credible that members of a special unit would break off drug surveillance to make a traffic stop. Judge William Hooks agreed, and threw out the evidence; prosecutors eventually dismissed the charges.

A transcript of the hearing indicates that Hooks told the prosecutors they should charge Martinez with perjury; he also summoned a supervisor from the state's attorney's office to the next court date. Something went awry, though, because the disclosure notice on Martinez was not sent to the police department until almost four months later, when the Tribune asked about it.

Since a disclosure notice regarding Martinez has been made public, his testimonies in other cases have come into question. At least one defense lawyer has challenged Martinez's credibility regarding a separate case, and he will probably not be alone. The other officers whose testimonies have been brought into question are still under investigation.
New Smack Dab And Cafe Jumping Bean Locations Will Open Inside 2 CTA Stations

By Mae Rice in Food on May 12, 2016 4:43PM



The pastries at Smack Dab. Photo by Heather Lalley

Two beloved neighborhood cafes are slated to open concession spaces in El stations, the Chicago Transit Authority announced Wednesday: Smack Dab in the Wellington Brown Line station and Cafe Jumping Bean in the Damen Pink Line station. Both will open this summer.

Rogers Park's Smack Dab (6954 N. Glenwood Ave.)which makes pastries, many of them gluten-free and vegan, that we freaked out over back in Septemberwill have a base five-year lease on their Wellington concession space. They plan to open mid-July, Smack Dab owner Christine Forster told Chicagoist.

Pilsen's Cafe Jumping Bean (1439 W 18th St.), a more than 20-year-old operation known for their coffee and bagels, will have a base 10-year lease on their Damen concession space, which they plan to open mid-June, Jumping Bean owner Eleazar Delgado told Chicagoist.

As far as Smack Dab's menu is concerned, Forster said they plans to focus on "the time-sensitive but really amazing meal" at the concession space, served with coffee from Halfwit Roasters. (Halfwit is the local roaster that owns Wicker Park's The Wormhole). The menu will include biscuit sandwiches, like Smack Dab's cheesy biscuit egg sandwich; Smack Dab's house-made jams, including savory styles like tomato jam; and a rotating selection of seasonal meat and veggie hand-pies. Forster also plans a "very limited selection of sweet pastries," including a brown butter teacake and "coincidentally vegan" donutsthough the donuts might not launch right away.

In Cafe Jumping Bean's concession space, Delgado plans to have a full coffee and espresso bar, a full pastry menu (excluding cakes), and bagels"definitely" including a lox bagel. Delgado gave egg sandwiches (the paragon of breakfast food) a "maybe." Jumping Bean doesn't currently serve them in their flagship space, but diners have requested them.

As for other sandwiches, it's unclear how many (if any) of the cafe's 15 styles will be served at the Damen concession space. Delgado's definitely not bringing Jumping Bean's wildly popular chicken salad sandwich to the train stationthat one will remain exclusive to the cafe. There's even a chance they'll do "something completely different, foodwise" in the concession space, so as not to sap demand from the existing restaurant.
Someone should sue the President for ...
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File photo taken on Feb 14, 2015 shows a CRH2G bullet train running for a test on the Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway, northeast China. [Photo/Xinhua]

A three-year action plan to improve the country's infrastructure has been formally launched, with a total investment of 4.7 trillion yuan ($723.8 billion), the Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday.

The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport, aims to improve the rapid transit net, basic traffic net and urban transit net, establish an integrated transportation network and better leverage the fundamental role of combination advantage and network efficiency.

The action plan includes 303 projects covering railways, highways, waterways, airports and urban rail transit, with 131 projects in 2016, 92 projects in 2017 and 80 projects in 2018.

In terms of railways, the country plans to invest 2 trillion yuan to promote 86 projects, build and rebuild about 20,000 kilometers of railway.

The country also plans to invest 580 billion yuan, 460 billion yuan and 60 billion yuan respectively to promote 54 highway, 50 airport and 10 waterway projects.

When it comes to urban rail transit, the country will promote 103 projects and build 2,000 kilometers of new lines, with investment of 1.6 trillion yuan.

The plan also calls for improving fund support and increasing the capital investment from the central government. Meanwhile, the country should speed up reforms on investment and financing system, boost public-private-partnership cooperation.
The central government will provide financial support for corporate debt restructuring and training of laid-off workers, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank's Board of Governors in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday.

The Finance Ministry's current priority, Lou said, is assisting China's supply-side reforms and alleviating the fallout from the painful process of shedding overcapacity and piled-up debt.

Subsidies will support the restructuring of corporate debt and help train laid-off workers for new jobs as the coal and steel industries see shutdowns or shake-ups, Lou said.

He said China has not subsidized coal, though it has been accused by other countries of dumping cheap steel products worldwide and disrupting the global market.

Subsidies are also being provided to the country's farmers, supporting tree planting and the use of organic fertilizers to help them shift to sustainable models, he said.

China has also stopped subsidizing diesel-fueled fishing boats and public buses, instead shifting money to clean-energy vessels.

Lou twice referred to Germany's successful transformation from "the sick man of Europe" to an economic powerhouse in the 2000s, to make his case that reforms incur short-term pain but reap long-term rewards.

"Germany seized the opportunity and pushed through structural reforms," he said. "As we all know, if we do not reform, we'll fall off the cliff."

In the early 2000s, Germany's economy had gone from being a post-World War II miracle to a laggard in Europe after its bloated social welfare programs and narrow labor rules eroded the country's competitiveness. By 2003, then-chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was engaged in an overhaul.

In Lou's view, Germany's reform of its social welfare system and improvements in the flexibility of its labor market laid the foundation for the nation's resilience in the face of the global financial crisis.

Wei Shangjin, chief economist of the ADB, agreed that money should not be used to shore up unprofitable companies in industries plagued by overcapacity, but rather should facilitate the formation of a "new economy" that includes channeling laid-off workers into other jobs.
Sacramento, CA  Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill authored by Republican Kristin Olsen that aims to curb predatory lawsuits filed in relation to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The bill was co-authored by Democratic Senator Richard Roth and Republican Andy Vidak. Several Central Valley lawmakers have been complaining about a spiking number of lawsuits that have been filed against businesses by residents looking for ADA violations. Instead of fighting the lawsuits, several small businesses have chosen to simply close. The new law will give business owners 15 days, after being notified of the lawsuit, to address any specified violations. Those that have hired a Certified Access Specialist will receive 120 days to make repairs. The legislation also requires state agencies and local government building departments to send regular updates about changing ADA laws.

Olsen says, Small businesses should be spending time and resources providing goods and services to their communities, and opportunity for their employees, not fighting predatory lawsuits. I applaud Governor Brown for taking a stand for Californias small businesses by signing this legislation that will protect them from frivolous lawsuits, while ensuring that those who have legitimate ADA claims are not denied due process.

Lawmakers in favor of the bill noted that California has 40% of the nations ADA lawsuits, but only 12% of the countrys disabled population.
 Flash

Eight Chinese tourists hospitalised after being forced to jump from a catamaran off Australia's northeast coast have been released, health authorities said on Thursday.

Eleven of the 42 passengers aboard the catamaran were taken to hospital after being told to jump from the catamaran and seek refuge in life rafters after its engine room caught alight, 10 nautical miles off a small Queensland state township on Wednesday afternoon.

Eight of the victims, Chinese tourists all aged in their 60s, were discharged on Thursday morning after suffering minor injuries including cuts and dehydration, a Bundaberg Base Hospital spokesperson told local media.

Nineteen others required treatment on shore for seasickness and hypothermia.

The 42 passengers, mostly Chinese tourists, and four crew were returning from a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island on Australia's Great Barrie Reef.

Australian authorities sent three vessels to rescue the passengers and crew, but did not return to shore for several hours due to transfer complications.

"It was terrifying for all of them, we're just thankful that everyone is accounted for and no one suffered any major injuries," Queensland Police Inspector Darren Somerville said.
Volusia Countys planning and zoning committee turned down a request to rezone a closed school to become a shelter for homeless families.

Daytona Beach residents fighting planned Hope Place center

Center would be for homeless families and children

Residents against placing center in now-closed neighborhood elementary school

Homeowners who live near the now-defunct Hurst Elementary School in Daytona Beach applauded the P&Z's recommendation  but they know the county council still has the final word.

Halifax Urban Ministries wants to turn Hurst Elementary into Hope Place, a refuge for homeless families and children.

The county council approved the purchase of the school, but homeowners who live nearby are fighting to keep the shelter out of their neighborhood.

Barbara Herbrand feels a sense of urgency to stop the project. She says it would bring crime to her neighborhood.

"Put your windows up, lock your door and have your .38 with you, Herbrand said. And really, truly you're going to have to have more than a .38 here, you're going to have to have cops on site."

County leaders and Halifax Urban Ministries are careful not to call Hope Place a homeless shelter.

"It's a family and children's center," said Volusia County Council Chairman Jason Davis.

"And these plans took place without ever talking to anybody out here," said a very upset Linda Carter, who also lives near Hurst Elementary.

Carter and her neighbors attended a packed meeting Monday where Halifax Urban Ministries promised the facility would not bring crime into the area.

However, officials also said they cannot keep anyone from leaving the center.

Homeowners are so passionate about this issue that they even posted meeting dates regarding the proposed center on a placard nailed to a post outside the center.

They also posted the county council chairman's name with his phone number underneath.

That's one of several numbers Herbrand called regarding this issue. She's frustrated no one is returning her calls.

"I even went down there today and it's like they're putting a buffer that we can't get to them," said Herbrand.

Herbrand, Carter and their neighbors plan to be at the county council's next meeting to make sure they are heard on the issue.

"We do not want it in our neighborhood," said Carter.

County Council members are scheduled to talk about Hope Place May 16.
A dog stolen while tied to a tree outside a Port Orange restaurant has been found and is back with her family.



Family dog Hannah was tied to tree outside of restaurant

Police say man was seen on surveillance video taking her

Family was heading to Fort Pierce from Ohio

Owner Steve Hunt confirmed to News 13 that Hannah, the family's dog, has been found. He has not given more details yet.

Hunt's family was heading to Fort Pierce from Ohio and had left their dog, Hannah, tied outside Culver's restaurant Sunday while they ate.

In the surveillance video, a man is seen going into the restaurant after walking past the dog. He then heads back outside, chats with two women and goes back into the restaurant.

Soon after, the man is seen in the video running outside and taking the dog.

We came back to give her some water and found out she was gone," said Steve Hunt, the dog's owner. "We started looking all over, looking through cars, asking anybody and everybody we could find.

If Hunt could do it all over again, he would have never left the dog outside.

We do that quite often because it's cooler than leaving her in the car," Hunt said. "We dont want to leave her in the car either, so we pretty commonly do that, but looking back on it now, I wouldnt have done it again.

Capture of fugitive leads to stolen dog



The stolen dog was found with 29-year-old Jesse Hoyte, who was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over in Deltona Wednesday.

The Volusia County Sheriff 's Office and the U.S. Marshal's Service were searching for Hoyte, a fugitive from New York.

They tracked him down to a vehicle on Interstate 4 and pulled the vehicle over for a traffic violation.

Hannah was found inside the vehicle with Hoyte.

Owner Steve Hunt said whoever had Hannah was on their way to the Culver's restaurant to return the dog and collect a reward offered by the restaurant. Instead, Hoyte was taken into custody.

On Thursday, the driver of the vehicle, 27-year-old Christopher Gibbs, was charged with grand theft.



Jesse Hoyte was a passenger in the car where Hannah was found. The U.S. Marshal's Service said Hoyte is a fugitive for a parole violation out of New York.



Port Orange Police say this man was seen in surveillance video taking a dog that was tied to a tree outside of the Culver's restaurant Sunday, May 8, 2016.
A man arrested for killing another man and dumping his body was able to get his hands on two shotguns after being placed in handcuffs in an Orange County Sheriffs patrol car.

Jose Torres is accused of killing James Watrious

The sheriff's office said he got his hands through the partition in the patrol car twice to grab a shotgun

The suspect never escaped and deputies were OK

The Orange County Sheriffs Office said there was likely a defect with the partition.

Jose Torres was arrested for killing a Seminole County man and dumping his body in Casselberry.



He was left handcuffed in the back seat of an Orange County Sheriffs vehicle while deputies were outside.

However, the sheriffs office said while Torres was in that patrol car he was able to get his hands through a divider and onto a loaded shotgun.

The deputies realized what was happening and quickly secured him. Torres attempted to grab another shotgun after being left unsupervised for a second time.

They were able to secure him; unfortunately he was also fighting at that time. They went to the ground, he was trying to bite the deputies and tried to commit an escape, said Angelo Nieves with the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

Currently, the sheriffs office is working with Sentina Manufacturing, the maker of the partition, to determine what went wrong.

The sheriffs office will also look at why the deputies did not remove him from the vehicle after he was able to get a hold of the gun the first time.



They thought that they had secured all the weapons. They did not know of the defeat of the vehicle because it was an area that wasnt easily detectible, Nieves said.

The sheriffs office will take a look at what practices should be used in the future by deputies. They will also be looking at other cars in the fleet.

We have a situation in which you have an individual who has already committed a murder. This guy is willing to kill someone in order to get what he wants, said Nieves.

We reached out to the company who makes the dividers. The company said it had no comment at this time.

Deputies arrested Torres and Jennifer Smedley for the murder of James Watrious.

Investigators said Watrious was tied up and eventually strangled to death.

His body was found in the woods near the Seminole County Public Library.
Charges won't be filed against a DeLand Police sergeant who shot and killed his uncle, whom he said attacked his mother, the State Attorney's Office said Thursday.

DeLand Police Sgt. Bobby Harrelson shot uncle Nov. 9, 2015

Harrelson told 911 dispatchers that his uncle, Raymond Davis, choked his mother

In November, Sgt. Bobby Harrelson Jr. called 911 and told the Volusia County Sheriff's Office that he'd been involved in a shooting incident in Deltona. The off-duty officer said he'd shot his uncle, Raymond Davis, in the head after he claimed Davis attacked his elderly mother and tried to choke her.

In a statement, DeLand Police Chief William Ridgway said a Sheriff's Office investigation determined that the fuse of force was "reasonable and justified to protect the life of another person," Ridgway said. The State Attorney's Office agreed with the findings, he said.

Before Harrelson can be brought back to active duty, an internal review will be conducted, the police chief said.


 Flash

A student from Central China's Hunan province will become the first Chinese student to deliver a commencement speech at Harvard University on May 26, 2016, China Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

He Jiang will become the first Chinese student to give the commencement speech at Harvard University. [Photo/Sina Weibo]

He Jiang, a doctoral student in biology at the university, was chosen by the prestigious university as the only representative of postgraduates at the commencement. Director Steven Spielberg will also give a speech at the commencement.

Accorded the highest honor by the university, He, who was born in a village in Hunan province, said: "People living in Chinese villages often believe that it's useless to study and children from humble families cannot be successful in their careers. However, I cannot agree with those opinions," he told the Daily.

He added: "Education can change a person's life as it can bring a person from one world to another world. I hope my experience can encourage the rural students to pursue their studies and realize their dream."

According to him, his parents in the small village always encouraged him to study hard.

Unlike many other families in his village, his parents never thought about finding a job in big cities like their counterparts and leaving their two sons at home without their care.

"Though my father didn't finish high school, he kept telling stories to my younger brother and me," said He. In the man's memory, father's stories are all supportive of hard work, the Daily quoted him as saying.

He's father was strict with his sons' studies. He and his younger brother studied inside their home, while the other boys in the village played in the fields. "At that time, I felt my father was very 'inhuman'. But now I realize that's the best choice he made in that rural environment," He said, according to the report.

Unlike his strict father, He's mother took her sons' side when her husband criticized the boys. Though his mother was illiterate, she preferred to sit with her sons when they studied rather than gossip with other women in the village.

He remembers that he and his younger brother liked telling stories from their books to their mother and discussing them with her. The childhood experience made the boys keen to study hard.

He says his mother's encouraging style is exactly the same as the habit in American culture.

"During my first days in Harvard, I often felt puzzled when my tutor encouraged me to try all my suggestions," said He, according to the Daily.

Encouraging others is embodied in American's daily lives, he said. Nobel Prize winners or distinguished people are used to encouraging the younger generations and letting the youth feel that they have promising futures.

He said the opportunity to speak at the commencement would not have happened without Professor Diana Eck's encouragement.

"The professor told me you can have a try if you think you can speak at the commencement," said the young man, who was afraid to apply for the chance as very few Chinese students had applied before, the paper quoted him.

After beating three students from Harvard Kennedy School in the third and final round, the Chinese student got the chance to realize his idea of letting his counterparts hear the voice from China.

About the upcoming speech at the commencement, He said he will introduce the development of traditional Chinese medicine in the rural area of China. Based on this introduction, "I want all Harvard students to think about the uneven distribution of science and technologies in modern world, and realize the social responsibilities they should undertake," said He to the Daily.

He plans to go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral research fellow after graduating from Harvard University.
Ocoee police say they believe a pursuit that ended with a serious crash on Orange Blossom Trail Thursday morning was justified.

A police patrol car crashed early Thursday morning

The crash involved another car

Orange Blossom Trail was shut down in both directions

The crash happened sometime before 5 a.m. at the intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Holden Avenue in Orlando.

The crash seriously injured an innocent bystander and an Ocoee police officer. A spokesperson with Ocoee police says Officer Chris Bonner went into surgery Thursday afternoon after suffering serious injuries following a crash.

"He had some pretty extensive damage to his left side, his wrist his ankle, I believe his femur may be broken. So he has a long road to recovery," said Ocoee Police Department spokesman Lt. Mike Bryant.

According to Ocoee police, Bonner, 29, was assisting Altamonte Springs police in pursuit of two armed robbery suspects.

The men ripped off a bar and took off in a dark colored Honda.

Officer Bonner spotted the car and was traveling northbound on Orange Blossom Trail with emergency lights and siren activated, approaching the intersection, troopers said.

A Toyota Corolla driven by Yadira Montalvo, 26, of Orlando was traveling eastbound on Holden and had the green light. The two vehicles collided.

The police cruiser traveled off the roadway, striking a pole and fire hydrant.

Police stand by Bonner's decision, saying the two armed men posed a greater danger to the community.

Bryant says Florida Highway Patrol will ultimately determine if the high-speed pursuit was justified.

"There will be an investigation here to see who did what wrong," said Bryant.

Lt. Bryant says Ocoee's police chief visited Montalvo to see how she was recovering. Right now we only know her injuries are serious.



A Toyota Corolla traveling eastbound on Holden Avenue collided with an Ocoee police cruiser.

Both the officer and the driver of the Toyota were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Troopers said both are in serious but stable condition.



Orange Blossom Trail was shut down in both directions while law enforcement worked to clear the scene. Southbound lanes on OBT and two northbound lanes have since reopened.



This is a developing story; check back for updates.
An investigation is underway in Marion County after two people were killed in a shooting Thursday at a retirement community.

Reports of a shooting came in at 8:40 a.m.

Deputies responded to On Top of the World retirement community

1 woman was found shot in the front yard

The Marion County Sheriff's Office was called out to 8747 Southwest 93rd Place in reference to a shooting.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered June Jackson, 60, suffering from a gunshot wound in her neighbor's front lawn.

Jackson was immediately taken to the hospital, where she died.

Deputies secured a perimeter around the residence and throughout the On Top of the World neighborhood.

Clifton Erhardt, 51, was identified as a possible suspect through investigative leads, deputies said.

Erhardt wasn't seen leaving the residence after the shooting, and so detectives at the time thought there "was a strong possibility" that he was still inside the home, deputies said.

The Sheriff's Office bomb squad's robot entered the home, and deputies were able to see Erhardt was dead inside the home with the robot's cameras.

Detectives are still investigating to determine whether Erhardt's wound was self-inflicted.

The preliminary investigation shows that Jackson and Erhardt were dating. The motivation behind the shooting remains under investigation.
Altamonte Springs Police are looking for suspects involved in two early morning armed robberies, just minutes apart from each other.

Robberies happened just minutes apart in Altamonte Springs

While pursuing suspects, Ocoee Police cruiser collided with another vehicle

Police still looking for 2 suspects who are said to be armed

The first armed robbery occurred in the parking lot of Bobby Gs Bar on State Road 436, according to police. The second armed robbery occurred at Kiwis Pub & Grill on the other side of S.R. 436.

Officers said there were no injuries reported in either of the armed robberies.

Investigators determined that the vehicle in which the suspects fled was a Honda stolen out of Oviedo.

Altamonte Springs Police alerted other agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle with two armed men inside.

Ocoee Police tried to stop the vehicle after realizing it matched the description of the one used earlier in a robbery in Altamonte Springs.

The suspect vehicle fled a traffic stop, and officers pursued. An Ocoee officer's car collided with another car during an attempted apprehension in Orlando.

Both armed robbery suspects are still on the loose. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS or Altamonte Springs Police at 407-339-2441.
The wife of the man accused of trying to shoot and kill her in a hospital parking lot last year testified in his defense Thursday.

Gavin Chung is on trial for allegedly shooting at Sherry Chung

Sherry Chung avoiding contacting prosecutors

She testified in her husband's defense Thursday

Gavin Chung is on trial for attempted pre-meditated murder in Brevard County.

Prosecutors had been trying to contact Sherry Chung for months, so she could testify at trial against her husband of 30 years.

They even served her a subpoena ordering her to come to court.

During a January bond hearing, prosecutors say she described in detail his attempt on her life the night of October 19, 2015.

Sherry Chung testified Thursday she had gone on a month-long trip, only returning Wednesday afternoon to now testify for her husband.

The defense claims the shooting incident was an 'accidental discharge' of the gun.

"Ma'am did you see your husband point a firearm at you and pull the trigger?" her defense attorney asked.

"No, sir," said Sherry.

Chung is accused of tracking his wife to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne where she was picking up their daughter from work.

Investigators say as she was pulling out of the parking lot, Chung came up to her open window and fired a shot from a handgun.

The bullet narrowly missed Sherry Chung's head, and struck the phone she was holding in her hand.

Gavin Chung sped away, and was later found after 12 hours on the run. Prosecutors say the couple had an argument the night before.

They say she was being held hostage, something she now denies.

Sherry Chung also now claims she doesn't remember if her husband had a gun in his hand that night.

"When you were driving off you tried to call 911?" asked the prosecutor.

"I was looking for a phone to call 911, but there was none," said Sherry Chung.

"Because your phone was shot, right?" the prosecutor asked.

"Yes, it was shattered," she testified.

Under cross-examination, Chung testified that shortly after the incident she told a police officer that her husband shot at her.

Gavin Chung was on the witness list to testify, but has decided to plead the Fifth.

Closing arguments are set for Friday.



Gavin Chung is accused of trying to shoot Sherry Chung in a hospital parking lot last year.
Get ready to support young entrepreneurs this weekend as the Plainview Chamber of Commerce prepares to host the community's first official Lemonade Day.

Kicking off this Saturday, more than 35 stands and about 200 students are slated to participate in the sweet event.

Lemonade Day is a community-wide educational program designed to teach young people on how to start and operate their own business through a lemonade stand. Young entrepreneurs are required to develop a business plan, set goals, create a budget, advertise their business, build a stand, secure materials and provide good customer service.

Many of the stands will be operated by students from Coronado and Estacado Junior Highs, Plainview High as well as younger pint-sized entrepreneurs.

The stands were matched up with local business to provide a sort of mentorship opportunity for the kids. The stands will also bring more foot traffic to the individual store fronts.

Awards will be given to a number of stands in different categories.

Judging will begin from 12-2 p.m. with awards being announced on Monday.

Customers visiting the stands can register for a chance to win four Kenny Chesney concert tickets in Dallas.

Awards will be given to stands for the Best Tasting, Best Decorated Stand and The Most Successful Plan and Stand.

Winning stands will receive tickets to Wonderland Park, Schlitterbaum and Texas Rangers game tickets, and the businesses hosting the winning stands are eligible for free radio spots courtesy of the High Plains Radio Network.

Chamber of Commerce Linda Morris thanked Plainview Water Solutions-Culligan's for supplying ice and water for the event, the Plainview Herald for their coverage and McCoy's Building Center for building plans for stands. Morris also thanked the support of Estacado, Coronado and PHS and all the businesses hosting stands.

Listen for radio ads for locations or check out the Friday edition of the Plainview Herald for a listing of all stand locations.
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Ash High School held its annual Awards Banquet Tuesday in the Ash High School cafeteria.

Principal Rodney Wallace acted as master of ceremonies.

Cecilia Calderon, Student Council vice president, gave the welcome address.

Student Council member Iris Pacheco led the pledges and read the schools mission statement.

Student speakers Jordan Uvalli and Vanessa Valadez shared personal stories of why they elected to attend Ash.

I totally belong here at Ash, said Uvalli, adding that she had coped with anxiety during her life. It is a testament to Ash that I am speaking to you tonight. I will be attending South Plains College with plans to eventually major in Pre-Med. I hope to pay it forward by helping others as a medical professional.

Valadez said she met her husband at 16 and was pregnant by age 17.

I considered dropping out, but I wanted to rise above the stereotype of teenage mothers, she said. At Ash, I was able to finish school without judgment on an accelerated schedule. I have had the opportunity to be a leader and have served as student council president. Here they help us reach our full potential. I have gained confidence. The next step for me is college to study nursing so that I can help my husband support our family.

Wallace presented the top three student awards. Students receiving these awards will have their names engraved on permanent plaques hanging at the school.

Vanessa Valadez was named female Student of the Year.

Dontae Odums was named male Student of the Year.

The Phoenix Award, presented to the student who has shown the most growth during the year, was given to Jordan Uvalli.

Ash teachers presented academic awards in their field to:

--English II  Nicolas Jones

--English III  Yurima Alvarez

--English IV  Anthony Alvarez

--Business English  Vanessa Valadez

--Business Information Management  Jordan Uvalli

--Digital and Interactive Media  Jon Ybarra

--Professional Communications  Andreanna Williams

--Algebra I  Nicolas Jones

--Geometry  Andreanna Williams

--Math Models  Dionna Kemp

--Algebra II  Jordan Uvalli

--Advanced Quantitative Reasoning  Yurima Alvarez

--Physics  Starliene Roth Mountain and Yurima Alvarez

--Biology  Nicolas Jones

--Environmental Systems  Natalie Castro

--Chemistry  Jordan Uvalli and Jose Parga

--World History  Jose Parga

--U.S. History  Jazmine Griego

--Government  Natalie Castro

--Economics  Toni Garcia

--Spanish II  Andreanna Williams

--Spanish III  Tyler Botello

--Art I  Nicolas Jones

--Art IIAbdiel Mireles Jr.

--Personal Fitness  Jordan Uvalli

--Health  Andreanna Williams

Citizenship Awards went to:

--Best Attitude  Salma Sanchez

--Most Reliable  Dina Castro

--Most Respectful  Corina Alegria

--Most Helpful  Alexis Gutierrez

Jay Jay Wiseman, school counselor, presented scholarships to:

--Wes Delz Memorial Scholarship  Salma Sanchez

--Leah Dayton Memorial Scholarship  Jordan Uvalli

--Student Council Scholarship  Vanessa Valadez

--Judy Buchanan Honorary Scholarship  Yurima Alvarez

--Ron Miller, Dell Brown, Tommy Chatham Honorary Scholarship  Vanessa Valadez

--South Plains College Scholarships  Cecilia Leija and Mercedez Alcantar

--Ash High School General Scholarship  Jon Ybarra and Natalie Castro

Special guests were scholarship donors, parents and district administrators.

Weekends BBQ catered the event.
The Central Plains A&M Club 2016 Scholarship was announced at the annual Muster on April 21. Scholarship coordinator and club treasurer Kenneth Hooper introduced Jaci Wirth and Whitney Neil as this years recipients.

Both seniors have been accepted into the fall 2016 Freshman Class at A&M. Wirth will be a Biomedical Science major, and Neil will study Kinesiology.
 Flash

Iraqi security forces on Thursday repelled two major attacks mounted by Islamic State (IS) militants west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, security sources said.

The attacks involved five suicide bombers, the sources told Xinhua.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters destroyed three suicide truck bomb attacks who tried to approach their positions in Albu Eitha area, just north of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Immediately after the suicide attacks, the troops, backed by U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, repelled dozens of IS militants attacking the same security positions in the area, killing eight IS militants in addition to the three suicide bombers, the source said without providing details about the casualties among the security forces.

Separately, two suicide bombers wearing explosive vests attacked a police station early Thursday morning in the Abu Ghraib area, about 25 km west of Baghdad, and blew themselves up, a police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The two suicide bombings were followed by another attack by a group of IS militants armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades, sparking heavy clashes with the police in the station, the source said.

Three policemen were killed and 10 others wounded in the suicide bombings and the subsequent clashes, the source added.

The source could not give information about the casualties among the attackers, except for the two suicide bombers.

He said that IS militants apparently withdrew from the scene and evacuated their casualties as reinforcement troops were about to intervene.

Thursday's attacks came a day after the IS militant group claimed that its suicide bombers detonated three car bombs in crowded Shiite areas across the Iraqi capital, killing at least 93 people and wounding more than 100 others.

Last December, government troops recovered Ramadi, the provincial capital of the country's largest province of Anbar.

Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary units have been battling IS militants to recapture territories in northern and western Iraq that was seized by the IS since June 2014.
First there were Boban-inspired memes when the big man first took the court for the Spurs this season, then meet-and-greets, commercials and haircuts featuring his face followed. Now, Marjanovic has a burger dedicated to him that may be so big even he couldn't finish.

Everybody Loves Raymonds has made a whopper towering above their menu like Marjanovic towers over the Spurs roster.
The Justice Department will not bring criminal charges against former executives of The Scooter Store, the one-time distributor of power-mobility devices and scooters, an agency spokesman confirmed today.

Based on the results of a five-year investigation  the Justice Department does not believe it has sufficient evidence to prove criminal liability beyond a reasonable doubt as to senior managers at The Scooter Store, agency spokesman Peter Carr said in an email.
Nude photos of a teacher in a southwest Texas town close to the border has administrators there scrambling to figure out how the images ended up online.

The teacher, whose name has not been released by the school district, filed a report with the City of Eagle Pass Police Department during the last week of April that someone posted her nude photos on social media.
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The New Braunfels Police Department will be out in full force with an extra set of officers for what is expected to be a good season for tubing down the river.

The New Braunfels City Council on Monday approved a request by Police Chief Tom Wibert to hire reserve officers for the upcoming tubing season, The New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung reported.

RELATED: The ultimate guide to tubing in Texas rivers

Wibert initially asked for 15 reserve officers, but the council approved hiring for as many as 30. The police chief told the Herald-Zeitung the additional officers will help the department during the busiest season of the year for them, spanning Memorial Day through Labor Day.

More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday

The New Braunfels Police Department deploys up to 30 officers to patrol the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers around lunchtime until sunset on normal tubing days.

NBPD spokesman David Ferguson said reserve officers would make about $25 an hour, which is the average starting pay of a full-time officer.

Ferguson said the reserve officers acts as a stress reduction on both department funding of overtime for full-time employees and for the officers themselves who may otherwise work extra hours on weekends.

RELATED: Out-of-towners must now pay $2 for access to Comal River in New Braunfels city limits

Ferguson said all police officers will be asked to work during high-volume tubing days, such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July - considered all-hands-on-deck days by the department.

More than 100 officers can be deployed on these days, Ferguson said.

Recently approved entrance fees for parks adjacent to the local rivers and parking fees will help fund the cost of reserve officers. He said the overall goal is for river operations to be revenue neutral at minimum.

RELATED: Float Fest lineup announced

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority spokeswoman LaMarriol Smith said in an interview with mySA.com that she expects this summer to be a "good season" for tubing along the rivers in the New Braunfels area, attributing the positive outlook to a healthy amount of recent rain.

Smith also said the weather can be a factor in determining if that outlook remains as positive.

Last year, there were numerous citations and arrests on the rivers. There were 21 citations and 4 arrests on Memorial Day weekend, 122 citations and 25 arrests on Fourth of July weekend, and 75 citations and 10 arrests on Labor Day weekend, according to NBPD.

Citations included criminal trespassing, littering, glass or Styrofoam on the river and parking and traffic violations. Arrests included public intoxication, drug charges, bridge jumping, theft and furnishing alcohol to minors, among others, Ferguson said.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite